E-paper PakistanToday 30rd January, 2012

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Awan asked to cite precedent where verdict like ZAB’s was revisited

The coming collapse of China

Syria’s Assad has only ‘few weeks’ left in control: Israel

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pakistantoday.com.pk

rs15.00 vol ii no 187 22 Pages islamabad — Peshawar edition

tuesday, 3 January, 2012 Safar 8, 1433 g

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punjab chambers of commerce threaten civil disobedience apCNGa, Transport association announce indefinite strike Govt lifts ban on refilling CNG in commercial vehicles ISLAMABAD AMER SIAL

PESHAWAR: Protesters gather during a demonstration against the shortages and hike in gas prices on Monday. afp

90b needed Haqqani, ISI DG fail to turn up Rs to generate before judicial commission extra power g

Commission seeks embassy’s record to establish Haqqani-Ijaz link ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

As the main character in the “memogate”, Husain Haqqani did not turn up before the commission on Monday, the body asked Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq to contact Research In Motion (RIM), the BlackBerry company in Canada, for authenticity of the communication between Haqqani and Mansoor Ijaz and directed the foreign secretary to obtain official record from Pakistan’s embassy in Washington regarding meetings between them in order to establish links, if any.

On the very first day of its meeting, the commission expressed annoyance over Haqqani’s absence. To a question by the commission chairman, the AG said Haqqani was in Islamabad and had not conveyed to him (AG) any concern regarding his security. “Has he chosen not to come or were the notices not served on him (Haqqani)? We want to ascertain it,” Commission Chairman Justice Qazi Faez Isa said. The AG said Haqqani had been served a notice. The ISI DG also did not appear before the commission; however, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Cabinet Division Secretary Nargis Sethi were present. To a question, Salman Bashir said “as of now, no departmental inquiry has been initiated on the memo issue”. He said there was a normal procedure to be adopted by the ambassador for his engagements.

Justice Isa asked whether the entries in the register maintained by the Pakistan’s embassy in Washington pertaining to the meetings of the ambassador confirmed any meetings between Haqqani and Mansoor Ijaz. The foreign secretary said he would have to check the same and was duly directed to report to the commission if some record was available on the meetings between the two.

When further pressed, Bashir said Haqqani was the right man to answer such queries. The commission directed the attorney general to contact RIM for getting confirmation about the authenticity of the communications exchanged between Haqqani and Ijaz. The AG assured the commission that RIM would be contacted to get the confirmation. The commission also asked the AG to issue summons to Haqqani to appear at the next hearing. It directed the government to provide him requisite security and enable him an opportunity to arrange counsel. The AG suggested mobile phones of Haqqani and Ijaz be produced along with any other document and device they relied upon. The commission also decided to serve notices on General James Jones and others in the case.

The foreign secretary told the commission that Haqqani had submitted a note to the ministry on November 25 after he resigned as ambassador. Reading out the note, he quoted Haqqani as having submitted that he was ready to face an inquiry. He said according to the note, Haqqani

had rejected Ijaz’s claims. At one point, the AG asked the commission to first summon Ijaz and start with him, upon which Justice Isa said, “In the meantime, we can cover some of the neutral ground as during cross examination, presence of both the sides is a must.” In its order, the commission said notices were issued to the AG, Cabinet Division secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary, Haqqani, Ijaz, James Jones and the ISI DG. Notices were also issued to PID for publication in newspapers, however, such publication was not made.

The order said the AG expressed his regret over the non-publication of the advertisement and assumed that such a lapse would not take place in the future.

To a question, the AG said he had been informed that notices were dispatched to the Pakistani embassy in Washington for onward transmission to Ijaz and James Jones, however, he further informed that he had not received any confirmation whether the notices were served to them.

The commission sought assistance of IT experts of FIA and the Ministry of Information Technology, to which the AG informed the commission that he would check with the organisations. The head of the commission said there was ISI’s role in the probe as well. The commission, while issuing notices to all parties, adjourned the hearing of the case until next Monday.

govt yet to contact rim | Page 03

during January

Chambers of commerce threatening to launch civil disobedience movements against the gas shortage and thousands of furious people protesting against the unavailability of gas and the increase in the prices of whatever little gas is available, also rejecting a ban on refilling Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in public service vehicles, forced the government on Monday to withdraw the ban for 15 days and form a committee for proposals on the price issue within four days. In Rawalpindi and Islamabad, protesters carrying sticks burned tyres and chanted “Down with the government, stop suffocating the poor”. They blocked GT Road at Rawat and Tarnol, and the road linking Murree and Azad Kashmir at Barakahu. All road links between Rawalpindi and Islamabad also remained blocked throughout the day, disrupting all kinds of supplies to the cities. Police used teargas and baton charged the protesters but the roads remained closed late into the evening. The protesters chanted slogans against the federal government, the petroleum minister, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). Similar demonstrations were also held in the big cities of Balochistan and Sindh. More than a dozen small protests were also held across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Multan, up to 1,500 people, mostly transporters and CNG dealers, held a demonstration and blocked roads in protest. In Lahore, the presidents of all chambers of commerce and industry of the province threatened to start a civil disobedience movement in case the federal government continued to discriminate against Punjab in the supply of natural gas. They decided to stage a protest in front of Governor’s House and a sit-in at the Lahore residence of the prime minister on January 7. People in the twin cities suffered the most as public transport also observed a complete strike. Minimum attendance was witnessed in offices as most government servants and private sector employees could not reach their offices in the absence of public transport. Taxi and rickshaw drivers took full advantage of the situation and jacked up their fares.

ISLAMABAD AMER SIAL

The government, which is grappling in the dark for the last few months because of its failure to find a solution to the current energy crisis, was shocked on Monday when the Water and Power Ministry said that a hefty sum of Rs 90 billion was required to generate 10,000 megawatts of power for uninterrupted supply during the month-long canal closure period. An official source said the information was provided to a meeting of the energy committee chaired by the prime minister to review the contingency plan for power generation during the canal closure period.

The required sum also included receivables from the government’s departments and subsidy for the month to be paid in advance to keep thermal power generation at optimal levels. The canal closure period has cost 3,700MW to the system, which requires an estimated 11,000MW of supply. The ministry said that because of the failure to pass FPA and increase in power tariff, Rs 700 million per day were piling up in government liabilities, the source said. The meeting directed the ministry to speed up recoveries, but estimated that Rs 45 billion was still required even if dues and subsidy were cleared. However, the Finance Ministry contested the figure and finally it was decided that officials of both ministries would meet to finalise the final sum required. The source said the estimated subsidy amount of Rs 50 billion set for the current fiscal year was consumed during the first half of the year.

The Finance Ministry has paid Rs 48 billion in power subsidy during the first half of the current fiscal year. The meeting was told that the power sector receivables had swelled to Rs 370 billion, with the inclusion of Rs 70 billion in dues from not being able to pass on fuel price adjustment to the consumers. continued on Page 04

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02 News Today’s

Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

ISlAMABAd

NewS

wORld vIew

Protest jams capital roads

Imran to attend WEf meeting this month

Present at the Asian creation

Story on Page 05

Story on Page 10

Quick Look

Story on Page 14

MQM tables 20th Amendment Bill ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday submitted the “20th Constitutional Amendment Bill” in the National Assembly for making Hazara a separate province and carving out province/provinces out of Punjab.

According to the text of the bill, six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mansehra, Abbotabad, Kohistan, Haripur, Batagram and Toor, should be merged to form Hazara province, while 22 districts of southern Punjab have been identified for new provinces. The bill suggested amendments in sub-clause of Article 239 of the Constitution and Article 1. The bill pertaining to province/provinces in south Punjab stated that province/provinces should be made on the basis of districts or divisions, adding that their names should be selected as per the opinion of the people through referendum. Addressing a news conference later, MQM Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar said the people should be given their rights. He said the situation in Punjab was demanding the creation of new provinces. “National consensus is required on the issue … therefore the MQM is approaching other parties,” he said, adding that the formation of new provinces was imperative.

To a question, he warned against a Balochistan-like situation if the provinces of Hazara and southern Punjab were not created immediately.

Govt to arrest Jamaat Ali Shah through Interpol: Malik KARACHI

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari chairing a meeting on Pakistan Card and Irrigation Projects in Sindh at the Bilawal House on Monday. ONLINE

onLInE

Interior Minister Rahman Malik on Monday said the government would seek Interpol’s help to arrest Jamaat Ali Shah, former commissioner of the Pakistan Indus Water Commission, adding that they were also investigating who helped Shah to escape from Pakistan. Taking to journalists, Malik said the security situation had improved in Karachi due to the government’s efforts. He said the security forces had arrested several terrorists trying to enter the city and seized a huge quantity of ammunition, including suicide vests from their possession. The interior minister said that security had improved in the city, and praised the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) police for restoring peace in Karachi.

SC asks Awan to cite case where verdict like ZAB’s was revisited

23 insurgents killed in Upper Orakzai, Khyber Agencies

He Supreme Court on Monday asked federation’s counsel Babar Awan to cite any case from around the world where a verdict was revisited in such a case that was decided through due process of law, like the case of former prime minister and PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

An 11-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing a reference filed by President Asif Ali Zardari under Article 186 (advisory jurisdiction of Supreme Court) seeking review of the death sentence awarded to Bhutto in 1979.

At the onset of hearing, one of the amicus curiae, Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood, submitted a request before the court, stating, “In view of the apprehensions expressed by Ahmed Raza Kasuri over the amicus curiae, I express my inability to assist the court in the reference - thus it is accordingly, prayed that I may be relieved from the assignment”.

He informed the court that he was unable to assist the court in the reference as he had been af-

HANGU InP

Security forces killed 20 militants in Upper Orakzai Agency in two separate operations on Sunday night and Monday morning. Official sources said the military pounded militants’ hideouts with heavy weaponry, killing 10 militants in Upper Orakzai on Monday. “Security forces had earlier killed at least 10 other extremists during overnight operation against the militants in Upper Orakzai,” official sources added.Meanwhile, three more terrorists were killed in a clash with the Qaumi (National) Lashkar in Landikotal, Khyber Agency. According to details, militants using automatic weapons clashed with the Qaumi Lashkar, and as a result three terrorists and a volunteer were killed.

Sources said the security forces had stepped up the offensive in Orakzai Agency against militants linked to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al Qaeda.

ISLAMABAD MASood REHMAn

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filiated with the PPP in the past. The court accepted his request and relieved him.

In his reply to the court’s notice, Kasuri questioned the impartiality of seven of the 10 amicus curiae appointed by the SC to assist it in the reference, saying they could be friends of the court, but certainly not friends of the complainant (Kasuri).

According to him, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Fakhruddin G ebrahim, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, Abdul Latif Afridi, Barrister Zahoorul Haq, Ali Ahmad Kurd and Tariq Mehmood had a strong leaning and unstinted loyalty towards Bhutto.

Another amicus curiae, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, told the court that although his name had also been objected to by Kasuri, he would continue to assist the court by setting aside his political affiliations with the PPP, only if the court allowed.

To a court query, he said he was a PPP worker and his sympathies would remain with the party, however, he would try his best to assist the court neutrally, keeping in mind the law and the constitution and keeping his party affiliations aside. The court then asked him to continue assisting the court. Meanwhile, the chief justice noted that Azizullah, son of Justice (r) Anwarul Haq, had filed an application before the court to become party in

the ZAB reference. Azizullah is the son of former chief justice of Pakistan Anwarul Haq, who had headed a four-member bench and upheld the Lahore High Court verdict of capital punishment to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The court directed that copies of Azizullah’s application be provided to all parties concerned.

The chief justice observed that only concerned parties of the case were competent to approach the court in the matter.

The court asked Babar Awan to present any precedent in the world of reopening an already decided case, to which Awan contended that the apex court might set such a precedent.

The chief justice observed that there was no example in law where an already decided case was reopened. In the Bhutto case, all stages of trial had been completed, the CJ said.

The court noted that although president enjoyed the constitutional authority to send any such reference to the court, the federation’s counsel should give a reference from the judicial history of the world where a constitutional head of the country had sent such a reference and the court had reopened the case. The proceedings were adjourned until today (Tuesday).

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Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

fOReIGN NewS

ARTS & eNTeRTAINMeNT

SPORTS

Prosecutors to take stage today in Mubarak trial

‘Harry Potter’ movies push for oscar glory

England series Pakistan’s toughest: Misbah

News 03 COMMeNT Commission: Justice should not only to be done but seen to be done.

Pak-US relations: Ending the impasse benefits the both.

dr faisal Bari says: Overburdened students: There is just too much pressure on students.

Syed Hassan Belal Zaidi says: For your own good: I will miss Hussain Haqqani

Rabia Ahmed says: Can democracy work? De we have a competent electorate?

Story on Page 17

Story on Page 14

Story on Page 18

Articles on Page 12-13

PPP lawmakers blast coalition for corruption Sumsam Bukhari points fingers at housing and works minister for corruption in his ministry, attached departments g Nasir Ali Shah raises voice against vilification campaign launched by Balochistan government against slain police surgeon g

ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

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Government yet to contact RIM to verify Mansoor’s emails ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

Despite assurance given to the commission probing the “memogate”, the authorities concerned did not write a letter on Monday to the Canada-based company Research in Motion (RIM) for confirmation about the authenticity of the electronic communication exchanged between Mansoor Ijaz and Hussain Haqqani, sources told Pakistan Today. earlier in the day, the attorney general had assured the three-member commission that the government would comply with Supreme Court orders and contact the company for obtaining confirmation at the earliest in order to protect the forensic evidence in the memo scandal.

The sources said after the commission’s proceedings, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq held a meeting to discuss the issue but could not take a decision in this regard.

They said the government would take more time to reach a decision on how and when the company would be contacted.

The report of RIM, which is the sole and exclusive custodian of such information, would be scrutinised and produced before the commission, which would help establish, if any, links between the two main characters of the “memogate”.

On December 30, the Supreme Court had directed the AG to contact RIM through authorities concerned for confirmation about the alleged electronic communications exchanged between Mansoor Ijaz and Hussain Haqqani.

HILe the opposition parties inside and outside parliament are already up in arms against the government, the National Assembly on Monday witnessed an implosion from within the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as two of its prominent lawmakers blasted the coalition for rampant corruption and called for immediate measures to get rid of corrupt practices otherwise the people of the country would hold the regime accountable.

Former state minister Sumsam Bukhari pointed fingers at Minister for Housing and Works Faisal Saleh Hayat for corruption in his ministry and its attached departments, warning the coalition government to take action against corruption or get ready to face the public wrath. Speaking on a point of order, former state minister for information and broadcasting Bukhari said the officials in Pak-Public Works Department (PWD) had indulged in an “unprecedented corruption” in development works in the country.

“Commissions are being demanded publicly in the name of the minister and the secretary. Since this is public money, not a single penny should go in pockets of either the minister or the secretary. If immediate corrective measures are not taken, I am afraid that the people would hold us accountable,” he warned. Adding fuel to the fire, Justice (r) Fakharun Nisa Khokhar said due to uncontrolled corruption, development works had come to a standstill while the government had been keeping its eyes closed from bitter reality. “Why we are keeping our eyes closed? Why we don’t bring in a whistle blower bill against corruption like Anna Hazare (of India),” she asked.

Pointing her fingers towards the law

minister for being a hurdle in the accountability bill, Fakharun Nisa Khokhar said the members of National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice had fianlised the accountability bill thrice and each time the bill was sent to the Law Ministry where it was reversed to initial form.

“Per parliamentary traditions, every bill after passage from the relevant standing committee has to be presented in parliament. However, here this bill after passage by the committee is sent to the ministry. Unless and until we don’t bring in a stern monitoring policy, the sufferings of the people will continue,” asserted the PPP MNA, charge sheeting her own government for resisting passage of accountability law. She blamed the government officials, stating that the policymakers seek money on pretext of arranging dowry for their daughters.

Nasir Ali Shah of the PPP raised his voice in the House against a vilification

campaign launched by the Balochistan government against the slain police surgeon Dr Baqir Shah who had been killed in Quetta last week.

“Instead of capturing the perpetrators of the murder of Baqir Shah, the Balochistan government is accusing the deceased. The late police surgeon has been blamed for being a drunkard and womanizing which are baseless allegations to avoid probe into the heinous crime of his murder,” he asserted. PPP lawmaker Zafar Ali Shah called for an end to hiring of government lawyers on political basis which he claimed was a major reason of the failure of state agencies to prosecute the law violators.

Meanwhile, a bill to further amend the provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 was laid in the National Assembly.

Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Interior Ghulam Mujtaba Kharal moved for laying the bill on behalf of the interior minister.

ISLAMABAd: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani talking to Haider Abbas Rizvi, Asfandyar Wali and Pervaiz Elahi during the national Assembly session on Monday.

NAB recovered Rs 9.52b in last 3 years, NA told ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Moula Bakhsh Chandio told the National Assembly on Monday that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had recovered Rs 9.52 billion in the last three years (2009 to 2011), while avoiding a question by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) legislator Tasneem Siddique about the names of incumbent federal ministers, state ministers, advisors, special assistants, senators and parliamentarians facing corruption cases in accountability courts, high courts and the Supreme Court.

In a written reply, Chandio said the anti-corruption body had authorised 871 enquiries, while completing 587 enquiries from 2009 to 2011. “Out of the completed enquiries, 278 investigations were authorised and 335 investigations, including the backlog from the previous years, were completed.

From the completed investigations, 253 references have been filed in the courts,” he told the House. He added that during the last three years, 164 references had resulted in convictions of the accused persons, while in 125 references the accused had been acquitted. In a separate written reply, the law minister told the House that 25 cases of politicians, 334 cases of government servants, 174 cases of businessmen, and 151 other cases were presently pending with NAB. Separately, Minister for Postal Services Sardar Muhammad Umar Gorgaij told the National Assembly that a summary had been sent to the prime minister for setting up 730 new post offices across the country. Replying to various supplementary questions, he said the cabinet had already approved the new post offices. “Recruitments will be made in a transparent manner soon after the summary’s approval. Currently no one has been recruited to Pakistan Post on regular or contract basis,” he said.

Gas outages force PML-N, MQM MNAs to walk out of NA g

Treasury, Opp lawmakers blast govt’s ‘non-serious’ attitude g Shah says 14% gas tariff hike not too much ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

Lawmakers from two political parties, one from the opposition and one from the treasury, on Monday staged a walkout from a session of the National Assembly against what they called “non-serious” attitude of the government on gas shortage due to which the people had suffered a lot.

After a heated debate on gas load shedding and a strike by CNG stations, the PML-N members staged a walkout against the “non-serious attitude of the treasury benches” which was followed by members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), who were angry because no government minister or parliamentary secretary was present in the assembly hall to respond a calling-attention notice submitted by the MQM.

However, PML-N lawmakers raised the issue on a point of order and grilled the government for its policies regarding gas outages. They also urged the government to announce by-polls if it had failed to deal with matters of public interest.

MNA Barjees Tahir raised the matter on a point of order, asking if the government could not deliver the goods, why was it not announcing fresh elections?

PML-N MNA Malik Abrar slammed the government for having no policy to redress the problems facing the people and sought resignation by the minister concerned. Tehmina Daultana said the PPP government was incapable of delivering the goods on any subject.

Mehtab Abbasi supported his party colleagues, stating that if the government could not deliver the goods properly, they should hold fresh elections. He said countrywide protests were proof of the fact

that people had lost their patience. He also criticised the government for issuing NoCs to 500 CNG stations.

The PML-N members’ walkout was swiftly followed by MQM members as neither the minister concerned nor the relevant parliamentary secretary was available to respond to the calling attention notice raised by MQM members Asif Hassnain, Abdul Waseem, and Abdul Qadir Khanzada. Harsh words also were used by Asif Hasnain against not taking up calling attention notice by Yusuf Talpur, who was chairing the session. earlier, Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar made an attempt to calm the opposition members down, and on behalf of the petroleum minister he said there was a shortage of gas due to a gap in the demand and supply. “Against the six million cubic feet demand, the supply is four million cubic feet,” he said, adding

that the closure of CNG stations was decided unanimously in the standing committee meeting.

Qamar also spoke against protests over gas shortage, saying it was not the proper way to resolve the issue.

Responding to the calling-attention notice by the MQM, Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Shah tried to play down the staggering 14 percent gas tariff hike as ‘not too much’.

Shah defended the 14 percent increase in gas price by calling it a step towards striking an equilibrium between petrol and gas. He said there was a 45 percent difference between gas and petrol prices which needed to be bridged per the international norms and the government had raised prices by 14 percent to do that.

He said the MQM members should have waited for a response rather than staging a walkout.

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04 News Rs 90b needed continued from Page 1 The non-clearance of Rs 150 billion outstanding dues of Independent Power Producers (IPP) was also slowing down power generation as they were facing problems in getting credit lines from banks for daily fuel purchases. The Finance Ministry said it was working on debt swap to pick up liabilities of the IPPs from banks to make possible provision of new credit lines to them. According to a press release, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told the energy committee comprising the finance minister, water and power minister, petroleum minister, the State Bank governor and the Planning Commission deputy chairman to formulate a programme to minimise load shedding and maximise production of electricity during the canal closure period. It was decided that steps would be taken to utilise existing thermal generation capacity with focus on more efficient plants to reduce the cost of production and consequently reduce the burden on consumers. It was also decided to adopt efficient load management to ensure load shedding, which was necessary, and manage its schedule in a way that the consumers had predictability and were not impacted adversely by unannounced load shedding. It was also decided that steps would be taken to ensure timely fuel supply to the power plants so that electricity production remained operational according to this plan for January. The finance minister briefed the meeting on the debt swap being undertaken for the power sector entities to deal with the circular debt issue, and the prime minister directed government power sector companies to make additional efforts to recover the receivables to help address the circular debt issue.

Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

PM wants Nimoo dam case against India in int’l court ISLAMABAD AMER SIAL

P

R I M e Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has directed the Ministry of Water and Power (MOWP) to approach the Court of Arbitration (CoA) against India for constructing a 45 megawatts hydropower plant at Nimoo Bazgo, and receiving carbon credits from the United Nations.

An official privy to the development said Advisor to the PM on Agriculture and Water Kamal Majidullah

was finalising the names of the legal team to file the case in the CoA. The official, who requested anonymity, said Majidullah would be handle the matter instead of the ministry, as he was already dealing with the Kishanganga hydropower project in the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK). The official said the Pakistan Indus Water Commission would assist Majidullah. India had constructed the Nimoo Bazgo hydropower project in the Leh district of the IHK. It even managed to get carbon credits from the UN despite constructing the

pakistan rejects Indian proposal to join fMCT talks ISLAMABAD SHAIQ HUSSAIn

Pakistan has rejected an Indian proposal seeking Islamabad’s inclusion in talks on the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) at the next session of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), which is likely to commence in the third week of January.

At present Pakistan is the only hold-out at the CD among 65 countries in talks on the FMCT, a proposed global pact that will ban the production of nuclear bomb making material. India asked Pakistan to join the talks at the recently concluded two-day PakistanIndia talks on conventional and nuclear confidencebuilding measures (CBMs) and said the proposed treaty could be an important step towards effective nuclear disarmament.

Apart from India com-

ing up with this proposal, Pakistan had also been facing immense pressure from the United States for the last couple of years to sign the FMCT. It was in 2009 that Islamabad decided to block the start of negotiations on the vital treaty in the CD as it was not only advocating a ban on future production of the material used in making nuclear bombs, but also favoured a pact covering the existing stocks of fissile material in the possession of various nuclear states.

“Yes, this proposal came up for discussions from the Indian side during the recently concluded talks on CBMs but Islamabad refused to oblige owing to its stated position on the vital issue that the treaty must cover the existing stocks of fissile material possessed by India and other nuclear states,” said a Pakistani official here on Monday, asking not to be named.

Gas-sparked protests rage on continued from Page 1 To chalk out a strategy in view of the gas crisis, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani directed the Petroleum Ministry to take immediate steps to control the situation and the petroleum secretary hurriedly convened a meeting to engage the CNG and transport associations, with the representatives of the district administration also in attendance.

However, the meeting ended without any agreement as the CNG and transport associations were asked to take back their strike call but they refused to do so until the government addressed all their issues.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Petroleum Secretary ejaz Chaudhary said the government had lifted the ban on refilling public service vehicles for a fortnight and during this time OGRA would notify rules for the placing of CNG cylinders in such vehicles, as placing them under the seats or on the roof was dangerous.

He said he had clarified to both associations that there was no plan to shut down gas supply to the CNG

stations outright. He said the news about indefinite closure of the CNG sector was incorrect and the CNG stations would remain closed as per the mutually-agreed gas load management plan. He said there was no proposal for closure of the CNG stations during the months of January and February. He informed the participants that after February, the situation of supply would stabilise and gas supply to the CNG sector would improve.

The secretary said it was decided during the meeting that a high-powered committee comprising senior representatives of the Finance and Petroleum Ministries and OGRA would look into the issue of the gas pricing and submit its report within four days. He said the government would look into the possibility of imposing gas cess in phases on the CNG sector.

The CNG and transport associations had demanded one day load-shedding for the CNG sector, allowing new cylinders in public service vehicles to replace the substandard cylinders and complete abolition of gas cess which had increased the

CNG prices from Rs 66.42 to Rs 74.34 per kg. The Petroleum Ministry is stressing on bringing the CNG prices at par with petrol prices to reduce the demand for gas.

All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) Chairman Ghiyas Paracha and Transport Association Chairman Sultan Awan later announced that their protest would continue until all their demands - including gas load shedding for one day until February 15 instead of three days a week were accepted. They also demanded complete abolition of gas infrastructure development cess as well as an end to the ban on refilling public service vehicles.

The gap between the local demand and supply has increased to over 1 billion cubic feet per day. To bridge the deficit, the government has increased gas prices by 14 percent from January 1.

Prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) were also increased by Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg on Monday, with cylinders for domestic use now available for Rs 170 each and those for commercial purposes now costing Rs 680 each.

project in the disputed territory. The official said that an enquiry report against the former Indus Water commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah recommended stopping his pension, as he was already retired from the government service. The enquiry report holds Shah responsible for not timely informing the Pakistani government on the construction of the Nimoo Bazgo hydropower project on the Indus River. According to the official source, the delay in informing the government allowed India to complete the project and to get carbon credits from the

UN. A spokesman of the MOWP denied that the ministry had sought restrictions on Shah’s movement or asked to place his name on the exit Control List. He said the enquiry report was forwarded to the establishment Division to seek some clarifications. The government had ordered an enquiry following media reports criticising the authorities for their failure in stopping India from constructing a water storage project on the disputed territory and getting carbon credits from the UN.

Judicial commission challenged in SC ISLAMABAD: An application challenging the formation of judicial commission by the Supreme Court to probe into the memo issue was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday. The applicant, Shahid Orakzai, contended that every judge of the high court had to seek leave of absence under the rules mentioned in Fifth Schedule and the chief justices of Balochistan and Sindh high courts did not do so and therefore, could not sit in Islamabad without such a leave. He said that in absence of a chief justice, the president was duty bound under Article 196 to “appoint one of the other judges of the high court, or may request one of the judges of the Supreme Court, to act as the chief justice”, which also did not occur in this case. StAff REPoRt

Haqqani was involved in memo-like conspiracy against BB: Imtiaz ISLAMABAD InP

Husain Haqqani, the man at the centre of the memogate scandal, had tried to involve Benazir Bhutto in a similar conspiracy during the first tenure of her government at the instance of Nawaz Sharif, when he was the media head of Nawaz’s government, former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Brig (r) Imtiaz Ahmad has alleged.

In an interview to a private TV channel, Ahmad said that Haqqani had prepared and sent a fake letter purported to be written by Benazir Bhutto as prime minister of Pakistan against the country’s nuclear programme and the army.

“Hussain Haqqani was the central character in a Memogate-like scandal against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 1989,” Ahmad said, adding that at that time Nawaz Sharif was the chief minister in Punjab and Haqqani was the head of his media team with vast resources at his disposal.

The former IB chief alleged that Haqqani had manipulated Benazir’s

signature on a fake letter and after photocopying it, launched a campaign to declare Benazir “anti-Pakistan” and a security risk.

Ahmad said that at that time he was holding an important position in Punjab and had expressed strong reservations over it.

About the ongoing memo scandal, he said there “is no doubt that WikiLeaks and Mansoor Leaks (Mansoor Ijaz) are the twins of the CIA”, adding that for the past one year these two were being effectively used against Pakistan’s defence institutions with the purpose to weaken and destabilise Pakistan.

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nature preserved for knowledge-sharing PAGe 07 LIfe wItHout fueL

Protest jams capital roads g

Main arteries blocked as absence of transport and suspended supply of CNG anger people from all walks of life

ISLAMABAD KASHIf ABBASI

H

UNDReDS of furious protesters blocked the main arteries of the city, linking Islamabad with Rawalpindi and Murree, against the non-availability of public transport and suspension of CNG to stations. The protest call was given by transporters and owners of CNG stations against the suspension of gas supply to CNG stations.

Traffic remained suspended at the Islamabad expressway and Murree Road through out the day as several hundreds batting wielding protesters blocked the expressway from various points. The protesters were mainly the commuters with a large number of students who were waiting for the transport since early in the morning and could not find vans to travel till 9 am.

Agitated over the situation, they blocked a section of the expressway near Khana Pul, Kashmir Highway near

Bhara Kahu and GT Road near Rawat.

Around 3000 people protested at Bhara Kahu while around 1000 people protested at Faizabad.

Later on, protesters blocked Faizabad Flyover that connects twin cities for all kind of traffic. Speaking at Faizabad Chairman All Pakistan CNG Association Ghiyas Paracha and President Islamabad/Rawalpindi Transport Association Malik Sultan Awan demanded the government to immediately restore gas supply to the CNG stations.

Malik Sultan said their business was badly affected due to the suspended supply of CNG. He said transporters didn’t’ want to close their roots but they were forced to do that. The charged protesters hurled stones at vehicles, damaging several of them. They were chanting slogans against the government.

Thick black smoke spewed into the air from burning tyres at Faizabad and protesters used stones and tree branches to shut down the road. Through out the day, Islamabad police remained busy to

remove tyres and other barricades placed by protesters from the road.

At Faizabad near the IGP Loop, Inspector Mehr Munawar, while removing barriers, was hit by a speeding van, which also struck a protester, who was later identified as a student of local college. Both injured were taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Science for treatment. Upon seeing the injured, the protesters got provoked and set the vehicle (GV 104) on fire.

Hundreds of policemen led by SP Industrial Area Ishaq Warraich and Assistant Commissioner Imran Ali Sultan managed to stop protesters at Faizabad.

It is relevant to note here that some of protesters were holding Holy Quran in their hands. The situation remained tense between police and protesters at Faizabad till late evening and the protesting group continued attacking police from different sides. Police also resorted beaten charge and used tear gas on protesters to disperse them, as a result some protesters received injuries.

Due to strike, thousands of people, mostly students and government servants, had to travel on foot.

“Owing to non-availability of public transport, I covered some four kilometers distance at foot to reach my office and I am still 1 kilometer away from the destination,” said Ismail Khan, who had to travel on foot from Dhoke Kala Khan to reach his office situated at Pakistan Secretariat. Another citizen Ali Shah said he came at Faizabad from Dhokri Chowk after covering some four kilometer distance on foot. “I don’t know why government is not paying any heeds towards our problems,” he added.

Due to strike, thin attendance was observed in public and private sector organisations in Islamabad as a large number of people could not reach in offices due to strike. Meanwhile, the taxi drivers had a field day and they exploited the conditions and charged three times increased fare. They were of the view that due to closure of CNG Station they have forced to run their cabs on Petrol.

CdA fails to run sewage treatment plant ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to successfully implement the sewerage treatment plant project resulting in huge losses to the civic body. Many sectors and housing societies located in Sector e-11 do not have proper sewage treatment facilities resulting in the blockage of the main sewerage lines.

A CDA official, seeking anonymity, said some of the Sector e-11 housing societies had sued the CDA for depriving them of the facility.

The project was initiated to treat the city’s waste water and to use it for agricultural purposes and for watering parks and greenbelts. The plant was launched decades ago with three filtration units, which stopped working in the late 90s. In 2009 a project for the repair of the three units and the installation of a fourth one using a French loan of Rs 936 million was proposed. According to the source, the government approved the project without examining its cost and utility.

An official of a private housing society in sector e-11 said the authority was pressing the housing societies to construct their own treatment plants. He added that CDA has a single plant for the entire city, where only 10 per cent of the sewage is treated. He added that the civic body was forced to take measures for the disposal of the waste water. Due to poor financial conditions, the authority could not install tanks and a water supply network in the periphery of the plant and that the plant was not serving its purpose due to the negligence of some CDA officials.

dr Zaitoon joins IIUI as acting director ISLAMABAD APP

Dr Zaitoon Begum has taken the charge as acting director, female campus of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), on Monday.

She will continue to work as dean, Faculty of Arabic of the IIUI, said a press release. Commenting on the new assignment, Dr Zaitoon said her focus would be to ensure Islamic values within the campus and enhance academic and research work.

She said that inter-university interaction was essential to enhance opportunities for students and faculty members to exchange their knowledge and views.

Unrest among medics over service structures sparks strike g

doctors and paramedics at state-run hospitals boycott work, stage demo outside Parliament House ISLAMABAD ASMA KUndI

The unnecessary delay by the health managers in addressing the ongoing row among the doctors and other medical staffers regarding new and old service structures at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Monday led to a strike called by the Joint Action Committee of Regular employees of Federal Government Hospitals. The Monday’s work boycott again caused the patients to suffer.

The Out Patient Departments (OPDs) of the public sector hospitals of Islamabad remained closed as nurses, senior doctors, paramedical and non-medical employees staged a demonstration against new service structure.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising the Nursing Association, paramedical and non-medical employees of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences

(PIMS), Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH), also known as Polyclinic and National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), staged the demonstration outside the Parliament House.

The protesters were chanting slogans against the federal government and Cabinet Division Secretary Nargis Sethi. They were demanding more facilities within the Basic Pay Scale (BPS) and rejected the ‘Career Structure for Health Professionals’ (CSHP).

This strike left the patients who visited the federal hospitals in city on Monday to suffer as most of the patients returned without any treatment or medication. The protest march started from the PIMS where hundreds of employees of all the public sector hospitals had gathered by the margining and marched towards the Parliament House.

Addressing the angry medics, the JAC spokesperson, Manzar Abbas Naqvi, said

they would foil all the ‘nefarious’ designs of Nargis Sethi who was planning to make the PIMS an autonomous body and get the CSHP ordinance passed secretly. He said the term for the old ordinance had ended and there it had no legality any longer.

Another member of the JAC, Gul Nargis, said they wanted facilities within the BPS and not under the CSHP, which is also known as new Health Pay Scale (HPS). She said they would resist any move to make the PIMS an autonomous body and warned the privatisation could lead to massive corruption, favoritism, and poor quality of treatment at the hospital.

She said they wanted risk-allowance, a time-frame for promotions and increase in salaries like employees of other departments being run under the federal government.

Nursing Association PIMS Secretary Sadia Bashir said it was an injustice with the employees of lower cadres. She said all

the employees had an equal role to play in their respective fields. earlier the Joint Action Committee had also written a letters to the chief justice, president, prime Minister and Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) secretary to take notice of the ‘discriminatory attitude’ of the administration of all federal hospitals including the PIMS, Polyclinic and NIRMS. According to the letter, the administration, especially PIMS executive Director Mehmood Jamal, who wanted the implementation of CSHP, was displacing the regular employees from their positions simply because they were seeking benefits under the BSP. “Similarly the eD has stopped the promotions of the senior doctors and other regular employees who were pro-BPS scheme but the doctors sided with Jamal on HPS are being awarded promotions”, the letter said.

However the lawful and peaceful request of more than 5000 regular civil servants (who opted to remain in BPS) serving in three Federal Health Institutions (PIMS, FGPC and NIRM) was not given any heed, which caused frustration & unrest and resulted in serious reactions by the regular BPS employees.

Dr Taqqi Anwer, a representative of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) that too opted for the CHSP, told Pakistan Today, “We have nothing to do with the ongoing strike at the PIMS and we demand the implementation of CHSP which is near its finalisation.”

He said that they strongly condemned the propaganda against the doctor’s community and warned ‘the black sheep’ within the PIMS administration against hatching conspiracies against the CSHP. It may be recalled that earlier a similar protest campaign by the doctors continued for one and a half month last year.

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City to get art village soon ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

Promotion of art and traditional handicrafts will certainly add colour to the unique character of Islamabad.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is taking concrete steps to promote traditional art and handicrafts in the capital city so as to reflect the rich tradition, culture and soft image of the country. For this purpose, the Potohari - The Art and Craft Village would soon be made fully functional to help achieve the objective of promoting Islamabad as a hub of cultural activities.

These views were expressed by CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal during a visit to the Potohari - The Art and Craft Village on Monday, says a press statement.

The CDA chairman said all the issues regarding the village would be resolved on a priority basis, adding that it would not only provide opportunities to the artists and artisans but also serve as a hub of cultural activities for South Asia.

He said the Arts and Craft Village had been constructed with a view to promote the indigenous arts and handicrafts and to enhance the inter-provincial harmony. It would host the exhibitions and other colourful activities on regular basis.

He said exhibitions and events would promote a soft image of the country as the foreign diplomats and other delegates would be among the visitors.

He said the facility had been equipped with an exhibition hall, clusters of shops, studios for the artists, tea shops, show rooms, folk theatre and hostel for the visiting artisans.

Farkhand Iqbal promised that the CDA would provide all possible facilities to promote the rich tradition of different regions spread across the country.

ISLAMABAd: MQM Rabita Committee deputy Convener farooq Sattar addresses a press conference at the national Press Club. STaff pHOTO

AIOU welfare Association elections held ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Officers Welfare Association (OWA) elections were held on Monday.

Syed Zia-ul-Hasnain and Malik Tauqir Ahmad Khan were elected unopposed as vice-president and joint secretary, respectively. Mukhtiar Hussain Talpur was elected as president, Abdul Wadood as general secretary, Mazhar Hassan Saeedi as finance secretary while Arshad Hafeez, Shahid Jamil, Mujahid Hussain Nizami, Arifa Salman and Dr Attaullah Shah were elected as executive body members. Prof Dr Shahid Iqbal Kamran was the returning officer and Dr Tanzila Nabeel was the presiding officer while Muhammad Arif and Sadia Anwar Pasha were polling officers for the elections.

After the elections, the newly elected president thanked the administration, the election commissioner and the members of OWA. He said the new body would work for the progress of the university and for the welfare of its officers.

The officers of the main campus of the university as well as the regional campus officers from across the country took part in the polls.

ICT police being revamped to counter terrorism ISLAMABAD APP

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He Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police are being trained under a contingency plan evolved by the Ministry of Interior. The police have taken numerous measures to control law and order situation and improve their performance, particularly identification of points for setting up check-posts to keep an eye on suspicious persons.

According to data obtained by APP on Monday, these check points are being rotated from one place to another, keeping in view the prevailing law and order situation. The break-up of these points is as followed: There would be 24 snap check points in City Zone, 20 in Saddar Zone, 14 in I-Area Zone and four in Rural Zone.

For a fool-proof security, the ICT Police have also set up 55 halting points from 2359 hrs to 0600 hrs, including 17 in City Zone, 21 in Saddar Zone and 17 in I-Area Zone, with deployment of 55 vehicles.

The patrolling system within the ICT has been revamped. Fifteen Falcons alongwith six commando vehicles have been deployed, which perform surveillance duty in three shifts to combat crime.

Another step taken was a survey of rented houses, places and city slums.

Besides this, time to time survey of houses and places given on rent are also being conducted at police station level to ascertain the types of people living there and to keep an eye over their activities as well as to control the crime.

Surveys have also been carried out to ascertain the population residing in the slums to further improve the law and order situation.

The authorities also conducted a detailed survey of mosques situated within the ICT. Some 827 mosques and 280 Deeni Madaris are situated in the Capital. The ICT Administration has reintroduced beat system. experienced officers have been deputed in 44 beats of the capital with patrolling of a Falcon vehicle in each beat.

The citizen and vigilance commit-

Sale of used warm clothes increases

tees are also functioning at police station level. With regard to display of arms, Arms Ordinance, 1965 is fully operative and the violators are being dealt with in accordance with the law, irrespective of their status.

Moreover, to deface the criminals involved in trafficking of illicit arms and ammunition, general hold-ups at outgoing and incoming roads are being conducted.

With the objective to redress grievances of general public and to involve the local police in community policing, 46 Community Police Centres (CPCs) are working within the ICT with deployment of an officer of rank of sub-inspector at each centre, to receive the complaints and to initiate an immediate action.

The police also frequently check the previous convicts physically or through informers. The police have sought the public cooperation to inform them about the suspicious persons. Leaflets and pamphlets are also being distributed for educating the inhabitants of capital.

ISLAMABAD APP

The sale of used warm clothes has witnessed a sharp increase in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad due to the continued chilly weather in the region.

Used clothes sellers are happy with their growing business although they have no settled shops and sell the clothes at makeshift footpath shops at different markets. After the fall in the temperature, people belonging to the low income group rushed to the second-hand clothing markets. Many people buy items like jackets, cardigans, woollen caps and mufflers to protect themselves from the cold. “I have sold a number of second-hand clothes. The demand for used clothes is higher than for the new ones,” said Ali Khurram, the owner of a makeshift shop near G/6-2. Labourers, rickshaw-drivers and employees of both private organisations and the government frequent his shop.

AIOU to attract highly qualified teachers ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

The regional directors’ conference of the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) concluded here on Monday. The participants discussed university’s achievements, targets, planning and development. All the regional directors of the university from its 36 campuses across the country were present on the occasion. Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi, the vice-chancellor presided over the conference.

In his address, Dr Sangi said the re-

muneration of the tutors engaged in teaching various courses should be increased to a ‘reasonable level’ so as to attract highly qualified tutors. He said that all regional campuses of the university would soon be interconnected through state-of-the-art ICT internet.

Dr Sangi said a regional directors’ conference would be held two months before the commencement of each Semester in which all the directors would be required to give a presentation on the performance/achievements of their regions. He hoped that such sessions would help them find new ideas regard-

ing university’s academic activities.

Dr Sangi said that no stone would be left unturned to eradicate illiteracy, poverty and unemployment from the society.

Dr Sangi said the AIOU was established with the main objectives of providing educational opportunities to masses and to those who could not leave their homes and jobs to study. He said the AIOU set up ‘Student Support Fund’ to help poor, deprived, needy and deserving students. He urged the regional directors to try their level best and seek donations for the support

fund. Regarding students’ enrolment, he said, the AIOU was one of the largest universities of the world and it was providing education at par with the international standards and that too the doorsteps of its students.

In his remarks, Regional Services Director Dr Syed Abdul Siraj said the conference aimed to expand the university’s regional network in the rural areas of the country.

He said the AIOU was making progress rapidly under the ‘dynamic’ leadership of VC Dr Sangi.

The participants of the meeting

were divided into five groups to devise future strategies on admission and mailing, exams, facility and resources, tutorial support and workshops, staffing and training, budgeting and payment. The groups chalked out those areas and came up with different suggestions and recommendations.

Dr Siraj thanked all the regional directors for their active participation in the conference and expressed hope that the outcome of the conference would be implemented in its ‘true spirit’ so that the University can cope with the requirement of the present times.

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Communicable diseases straining health system g

Integration of disease surveillance and polio eradication stressed ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

T

H e regularly occurring communicable disease outbreaks put substantial stress on the resource compromised national health system, said health experts on Monday.

They emphasised the need to collaborate in establishing an integrated approach towards disease surveillance and response for Polio eradication.

They were speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Pakistan Field epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (FeLTP), which is modeled on the pattern of the American epidemic Investigation Service.

The ceremony for the third batch of the programme was held at the National Institute of Health (NIH). The batch comprised of fourteen people, including two from Afghanistan. The total number

of disease detectives trained by FeLTP Pakistan has now become 33. As many as 18 public sector medical doctors from across the country, including AJK and FATA are currently undergoing highly specialised training in field epidemiology.

FeLTP Resident Adviser Dr Rana Jawad Asghar said the programme has been implemented since 2006 as a joint project of Pakistan’s National Institute of Health and the Cabinet Division and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Because of the continued patronage of the Cabinet Division and well as the provincial health departments, the graduates of the programme were successful in making significant contributions towards the national health system including surveillance and response during the outbreaks of diseases such as the HumanAvian Influenza, HIV, Polio, Dengue, Hepatitis and diarrhoeal disease etc,” he added.

Afghan Institute of Public Health Director General Dr Bashir Noor Mal said he considered this training to be a more useful addition to the Afghan health system in comparison to the ones conducted in the developed world because of shared borders, similar pathogens and health and socio-economic challenges. emergency Response Network Director General Health Dr Jehanzeb Khan Aurakzai apprised participants about the Cabinet Division’s initiative to strengthen health coordination through the upcoming Prime Minister’s National Health Complex.

He said the trained field epidemiologists were essential in implementing the ‘Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System’ in the country, which was on the agenda of the ongoing US-Pak strategic dialogue.

Considering its significance in the national and international context, he urged USAID to take the measures necessary

for strengthening the FeLTP and initiating the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response during 2012 to help Pakistan in effectively dealing with existing and anticipated health emergencies.

FeLTP officials said it also responds to the specific needs of the health departments. They stated that a total of 412 public health professionals have been trained on disease surveillance and response through dedicated short courses especially during the floods and the 2011 Dengue outbreak.

On the academic front, the graduates conducted 50 surveillance systems evaluations and presented 60 scientific presentations in peer-reviewed international conferences.

The also won the1st prize in eMPHNeT (eMRO regional conferences) in 2009 and 2011 and the 2nd prize in the International TePHINeT conference held in Cape Town in 2010.

USAID Acting Mission Director Dr Nora Matdrigal said: “This subject has become the focus of international and transnational policies. The civil society, the private sector and the international stakeholders must work together to effectively deal with the challenge.”

“She added that the US government considered the FeLTP a high-value programme because of its effectiveness and assured USAID’s continued assistance in the future.

“Faced with the double-disease burden, Pakistan’s health system is simultaneously challenged by the communicable and non-communicable diseases. The geographical location, topography and other environmental factors also place Pakistan among disaster prone countries. The massive earthquake of 2005, the Influenza pandemic of 2009, the floods of 2010 and the Dengue epidemic of 2011 are examples of that,” she said.

10 outlaws held, stolen goods, arms seized ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

The capital police have arrested 10 outlaws from various areas of the city and recovered looted items, 27 bottles o liquor, drugs and pistols.

According to details, Assistant Sub Inspector Sohail Akram from Kohsar police station arrested a thief, Mazhar Iqbal, while ASI Muhammad Hanif from Bhara Kahu police arrested Waheed and recovered stolen goods from them.

Sub Inspector Abdus Sattar from Margallah police arrested Ilyas Masih and recovered 27 bottles of liquor from him.

He also arrested Suleman Feroz and seized two 30-bore pistols from him.

ASI Murtaza Qamar from Shalimar police nabbed Arif for possessing 30-bore pistols while Sub Inspector Rab Nawaz from Tarnol police arrested Phool Bibi during patrolling for having 115 grams of heroin.

ASI Khalid Mehmud from Nilore police recovered a 30-bore pistol from Warasat and ASI Ashfaq Ahmed from Sihala police arrested a thief, identified as Aamir, and recovered stolen goods from him.

Sub Inspector Zulfiqar Ahmed and ASI Haider Ali from CIA police arrested Israr and Sohail Mehmud for having a 30-bore pistol and 90grams of charas, respectively.

CdA to ensure implementation of fire safety laws ISLAMABAD APP

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is continuing its efforts for the public compliance of “Building Standards for Fire Prevention and Life Safety 2010” to ensure the safety of lives and infrastructure in federal capital.

The Directorate of Building Control Service, CDA has notified the standards which are mandatory to comply with by the owners of buildings under the categories II, III and IV. The Category-II includes two-storey buildings, industries and all other nonresidential buildings except farmhouses whereas categoryThe Category-III includes non-residential buildings up to five storyes (including ground floor) and category-IV includes all high-rise buildings that are six-stories and above including ground floor.

In case of non-compliance, the authority can use its powers to vacate or seal any building or impose fine on violators up to Rs 500,000, Ammad-ud-Din, the additional director of the CDA’s relevant wing told APP here on Sunday.

ISLAMAnAd: SCBA President Yasin Azad, IHBC President Chaudhry Ashraf Gujar, World Minorities Alliance Convener J Salik and others cut a cake during a function on law and justice at the national Press Club. STaff pHOTO

‘State policies pushed Pakistan into crises’ ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

experts on Monday said inequality, energy crisis and poor governance threatened stability and security of the country, while social justice and propoor governance were must for a peaceful and prosperous future.

Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) Chairman Imtiaz Gul, Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS Ali Khizar Aslam, Head of Research Business Recorder Arshad H Abbasi and Senior Research Associate SDPI Arif Naveed spoke at the seminar on “Deepening crisis of energy, economy and stability: where do the poor stand?”, organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Monday.

Imtiaz Gul said poor economy and insecurity had pushed the nation into a social and governance paralysis.

“Over emphasis of ruling elite on traditional concept of security particu-

larly Afghan jihad had created a serious crisis of human security in the country.”

Ali Khizar Aslam said Pakistan was currently on the verge of fiscal crisis. He recommended reduction on CNG reliance, enhancement in the usage of alternate energy sources and revision of oil exploration policy. He said energy crisis was a broad-based issue and all the stakeholders, including public, were responsible for it due to energy-inefficient habits. He said lack of harmony in the policies was a central issue to country’s governance since long. He said despite reduced availability, gas consumption was massively promoted in the recent years.

He said printing of more currency would further create high inflation which has been over 15 percent in recent past but is now around 9 percent. He said gas reserves are rapidly depleting and hydro consumption has decreased from 38 percent to 33 percent while oil consumption has increased from 18 to 40 percent.

Arshad H Abbasi said energy crisis had become not only a social crisis but an institutional failure and a challenge to the stability of country. He said transparency and merit, shifting of focus from power sector to renewable sources, completion of under construction hydel projects on fast track basis, and promotion of biogas sources are some of the solutions to country’s current problems.

He said the government in 1994 introduced a policy which diverted focus from hydel to fuel and gas sources. He said gas demand is currently 4.5 billion MMCFD as against the supply of 3.5 billion MMCFD per day. He said we have to shift our focus from burning fossil oil to renewable energy sources.

Arif Naveed stated that the inequality of poverty and wellbeing had emerged as serious challenges for Pakistan. He highlighted poverty in the country was differentially distributed along the ethnic lines, while the overall poverty in Pakistan was 33 percent, but 52 percent in Balochistan and only 19

percent in Punjab.

He elaborated these ethnic differences in poverty were not only evident at the provincial level but also become clearer when the analysis is extended to the district level as strong intra-provincial disparities emerge along ethnic lines. “The incidence of poverty is very high in Saraiki speaking districts in southern Punjab and very low among Punjabi speaking districts. He said poverty in KPK is very high in the highland Pakhtun districts and very low in the Hazara region.”

He said the country should learn from its history particularly separation of Bangladesh and take corrective measures to deal with the ongoing violent struggle in Balochistan and high deprivation elsewhere. ‘Higher levels of deprivation, along ethnic identities have a great potential to cause social unrest, political instability and economic downfall and the state should ensure social justice as its fundamental responsibility’ he went on saying.

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MAHtAB BASHIR

O collect, identify and preserve natural history to develop a reference collection of plants, animals, rocks, minerals and fossils found in Pakistan, meant for serving as repository of all ‘type specimens’, the Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) is not only attracting a large number of visitors but also proving the main source of information about natural history of the country.

Located at the Garden Avenue Shakarparian under along the lush green Margalla Hills, the museum depicts early human history, geology and wildlife of Pakistan. established in 1976 under the Science Foundation (Ministry of Science and Technology), the PMNH has four divisions - Botanical, Zoological, earth Sciences and Public Services.

The first three divisions are engaged in the collection, identification and research activities related to plants, animals, fossils, rocks and minerals resources.

Talking to Pakistan Today, a PMNH official said the facility included various galleries, including Bio, Tethys, Gemstones, eco (also known as children’s discovery room) and Palaeo.

Giving details about these galleries, the official said Bio Gallery provided information about flora and fauna of Pakistan. “It has been divided into two sections; one provides information about different animals, birds and plants found in different regions ranging from the mountainous north to the seashores.”

The museum shows the dependence of different animals and plants for food on each other.

The Palaeo Gallery is based on pre-historic wildlife of Pakistan. Some of the fossils are as

old as 650 million years. The story of human intelligence and evolution has also been narrated through fossils, paintings and write-ups.

The official said, “Scientists, artists and designers are also responsible for science education and creating awareness about environment and conservation through dioramas, exhibits, lectures, workshop, seminar, posters, shows etc. The PMNH also provides consultancy and advisory services to public and private sector.”

PuBLIc EDucAtIon AnD AwArEnESS: The distinction of PMNH lies not only in research but also in implementing mass education and awareness about conservation of biodiversity and environment-related issues through three-dimensional displays and dioramas, a source of attraction for all ages - children and adults, illiterate or the professional scholars.

The scientific information is translated in the form of an easy-to-understand and attractive medium so that it not only reaches general public but is also easily understood and digested by them. Usually, such mass communication medium is in the form of three-dimensional diorama, which is visually quite attractive and informative.

The newly constructed galleries include: 1. BIoDIvErSIty GALLEry: This fascinating diorama depicts life as it exists in areas of permanent snow and ice fields in the Himalayas, alpine meadows, dry coniferous forests, moist temperate forests, tropical deciduous forests and riverine plains, representing some of the major ecosystems of Pakistan.

It is meant for educating the general public about the diversity of national faunistic heritage of the country. Today, more than 1,000 species of animals and 2,500 varieties of plants are facing extinction because of man’s thoughtless exploitation of nature for his own selfish

aLIf LaaM MeeM

ends. His own survival depends on the conservation of nature and natural resources. This is the message conveyed through this diorama.

There are also exhibits depicting serious problems associated with the survival of biodiversity of the country such as population, pollution, industrialization, deforestation, forest fire, soil erosion, desertification, over hunting, fishing and grazing.

2. MArInE EcoSyStEM: A marine diorama showing various aspects of oceanography and submarine geology has been organised on marine environment, coral reef formation, sedimentation and fossilisation.

3. SALt rAnGE AnD SIwALIk DIorAMA: The Salt Range, known as a geological museum of the world, has been beautifully depicted in a diorama. It provides quick geological information about the area. The Siwalik rocks of the Potohar area are known for their wealth of the vertebrate fossils and hence they are the key to understand the evolutionary trends of the vertebrate life in Pakistan.

3. Eco GALLErIES: The ecological Gallery is equipped with several mini exhibitions to display structural and functional peculiarities of animals, plants and rock etc, in order to educate children about fascinating world of nature.

Recently computerized interactive programmes are being prepared to communicate information more effectively. A number of educational activities are organized all the year round. These include lectures, film shows, publication of popular literature for creation of environmental awareness and to enhance aesthetic sense for natural history and to develop such hobbies as bird and butterfly watching, animal behaviour, photography etc. which could be a step towards participation in conservation of natural living wealth of the country.

Thousands of people, mostly school going children, visit the Museum on a monthly basis.

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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Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

News 09

JI to challenge gas price hike PESHAWAR StAff REPoRt

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has decided to challenge the recent increase in gas prices in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday. Holding a press conference on Monday, former provincial minister Kashif Azam said that the JI would submit an application against the federal and provincial governments in the PHC against the increase in gas rates. Flanked by former MPA Javed Mohmand and Khalid Gul Mohmand, he said that 44MB gas was produced from Gargari area while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa needed 22 MB and despite gas load shedding and increasing rates, the commodity was far from the reach of the people. Azam said that the province produced enough electricity to meet its needs but electricity load shedding had created many problems for the business community while companies and industries were closed due to load shedding. He said that the JI would hold protests and strikes across the country on January 6. The JI leader appealed to the PHC to take immediate action on the issue.

Gas price hike challenged in SHC KARACHI

PESHAWAR: People protest against gas and power load shedding on Gt Road on Monday. STaff pHOTO

onLInE

The recent hike in the price of gas was challenged in Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday. The petition pleaded that the court make the federal government, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) chairman, the federal petroleum minister and the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) MD respondents. The petitioner said the raise in gas prices was an additional burden on the people and it would unleash a new wave of price hike, therefore it should be withdrawn.

Oxford to launch book on Bd women LAHorE: The Oxford University Press will launch its latest publication, Women, War and the Making of Bangladesh: Remembering 1971, written by Yasmin Saikia. Based on several oral accounts, the book traces the multiple experiences of Bangladeshi women in the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

Professor Imtiaz Bokhari, Professor Tariq Rahman, Mahfuzur Rahman, Dr Yaqoob Khan Bangash, Dr James Tebbe and Yasmin Saikia will be the speakers at the launch being held on today (January 3) at the Forman Christian College, Lahore at 4 pm. PR

Nowshera on high alert after Qari Kamran’s killing PESHAWAR

T

StAff REPoRt

H e assassination of notorious terrorist Qari Kamran and his accomplices has forced the law enforcement agencies to declare high alert across Nowshehra district on Monday.

The administration has even refused to let Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain attend scheduled meetings in his constituency.

Kamran, chief of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Nowshehra was killed with his 11 accomplices during a military offensive in Kramna area of Khyber Agency on Sunday.

Kamran and his other accomplices had offered resistance when

the security forces raided a compound in his use. After four hours of cross firing, the security forces succeeded in killing 12 of the militants.

Kamran was considered amongst hardcore militants and had recently shifted to Tirrah valley of Khyber Agency where he was assigned the task of attacking NATO convoys passing through the Khyber Pass.

He was considered amongst top ranking Taliban commanders and was charged for deadly terrorist acts in Shabqadar, Charsada, Risalpur and Akbarpura area of Nowshehra district.

The news of his assassination spread like jungle fire across his native town, Nowshehra, forcing the authorities to announce high alert across the district.

Keeping in view possible reac-

tion in Nowshehra, the administration did not give a green signal to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain to attend schedule gatherings in the district. Hussain has confirmed the reports and quoted intelligence sources and police officials as saying that the “accomplices of Qari Kamran have made a plan for revenge”.

Hussain told reporters that the assassination of Qari Kamran was a “success of the security forces engaged in the war on terror”.

He said other militants must keep in mind that the government was firm in its decision of ending militancy and terrorism. He, however, reiterated that the government was ready for talks with those who abandoned violence and recognised the government’s writ.

four killed in militants-peace committee clashes in Khyber KHYBER AGENCY StAff REPoRt

At least four people, including three militants were killed and another two injured in clashes between militants and volunteers of peace committee in Soorghar area near Landikotal town of Khyber Agency on Monday.

Officials said the clashes erupted when the militants attacked the volunteers of peace committee.

The clashes continued for around half an hour wherein both sides used modern and heavy weapons.

According to the officials, three militants and a volunteer were killed and two were injured. The security forces were also put on high alert.

New-provinces bill to test commitment of political elite ISLAMABAD IRfAn BUKHARI

With the new provinces controversy finally entering parliament, the commitment of political elites is all set to face a tough test as most of the mainstream political parties have been claiming support to the popular demand made by people from across the country to create new provinces on administrative or lingual basis.

The question of creating new provinces has hit parliament, as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) after submitting two separate resolutions in both Houses of parliament for the creation of new provinces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab has also submitted the “20th Constitution Amendment Bill’ in parliament for the same purpose.

A resolution has also been submitted in the National Assembly by FATA parliamentarians for declaring Federally Ad-

ministrated Tribal Areas (FATA) a province. The MQM on Thursday submitted two separate resolutions in the National Assembly’s Secretariat for the creation of two new provinces — Hazara province consisting of six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and South Punjab.

On January 2 (Monday), the MQM submitted the same resolutions in the Senate.

Haider Abbas Rizvi said the issue of creation of Hazara province was quite clear, pointing out that it was time to make six districts, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Kohistan, Haripur, Battagram and Torgor a separate province. About his party’s resolution on southern Punjab, he said the MQM would push for conducting a referendum to ascertain whether the local people wanted southern Punjab as a province or two provinces, the other being Bahawalpur.

The MQM also submitted the “20th Constitution Amendment Bill” in parliament on Monday for the creation of Hazara and South Punjab provinces. The draft bill seeks amendments in Article 1, 101 and 151 of the constitution.

The MQM’s move may land the Pak-

istan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in trouble as the latter can neither oppose nor support the bill. “If we oppose Seriaki province, we will loose vote bank in southern Punjab … and if we support it, it would divide our party’s stronghold (Punjab), which is against our political interests,” a PML-N leader wishing not to be attributed said.

Rasool Bukhsh Rais, a well-known political analyst, said the MQM was not interested in creating Hazara, Seraiki or other provinces and the primary motive of its submitting resolutions and bill in the National Assembly was that ultimate debate on the issue of provinces would gradually be reduced to a package deal in which Sindh would not remain immune to further division.

He said the MQM could not directly propose division of Sindh, as it would result into violent ethnic clashes, therefore, the MQM wanted to create hype about creating new provinces, including Sindh, and avoid clashes simultaneously.

Separately, while submitting resolution for declaring FATA a province, Hameedullah Jan Afridi said last Friday that “we have submitted the resolution on

behalf of the FATA Parliamentary Group that FATA should be given the status of a province”.

Talking to Pakistan Today Munir Orakzai said, “FATA has suffered a lot and in the prevalent situation, FATA deserves to be declared a separate province.” On the other hand, PPP’s trusted ally – the Awami National Party (ANP) - is vehemently opposing FATA creation as a separate province unless political activity is generated to influence the opinion in favour or against the issue by political parties.

The demands of people and their representatives for the creation of new provinces in various parts of the country get justification due to the failure of successive governments in giving equal rights and opportunities to all citizens of the country.

This disparity can be gauged from the fact that despite the passage of around four months since President Asif Ali Zardari approved amendments to the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR), the government has failed to establish institutional mechanism for implementing the amended FCR in FATA and the delay

has become a source of anguish for people of FATA and parliamentarians.

Zafar Beg Bhittani, MNA from FATA, said the courts (Appellate Authority & FATA Tribunal) had not been established yet. “The delay in implementation of everything has become a hallmark of the government … even powers have not been devolved to the provinces as passed under 18th Amendment,” he said.

The government’s sincerity in bringing peace and development to the restive areas of FATA could also be gauged from the fact that during the fist two quarters of the current fiscal year (2011-12), only Rs 1 billion were released of the Rs 15 billion allocation.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Akhunzada Chattan, MNA from FATA, said in the last financial year (2010-11), only 30 percent of total allocated funds were released.

“The delay in release of funds badly hampers development in the region which is already lagging behind other parts of the country … from December to March, you cannot execute development works in FATA due to harsh weather conditions,” he said.

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10 News

Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

Govt losing steam to resolve energy crisis g g

Circular debt, failure to reduce price difference of fuels, delayed energy imports washing away government’s dream of resolving issue Remedies provided by incumbent government only proved short term solutions ISLAMABAD

T

AMER SIAL

H e government is losing steam to resolve the energy crisis due to a lack of expertise in the concerned ministries, failure to reduce the price difference of various fuels, delay in backing energy imports, absence of rules for regulating the sector after devolution and above all, the failure to address the circular debt.

According to officials, whatever steps the government had taken during the last four years were short-term and no longterm plan had been envisioned for implementation due to a lack of expertise and planning at the central level.

It is evident from the fact that no new investment in the power sector has been made during the government’s four-year tenure. The Finance Ministry has also failed to decide on deduction at source of power dues of over Rs 150 billion dues of government departments, taking the plea that it was not possible after devolution.

Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain has complained that the Finance Ministry

was non committal on the proposal that sought reducing Rs 10 per litre levy on petrol to bring its prices closer to CNG. He was of the opinion that the reduction in levy would not affect the government’s revenue, as petrol sales volume would increase with price parity. It would at least allow additional gas supply to the fertilizer, power and industrial sectors.

Lack of professionals in the ministries of water and power and petroleum is another major handicap. The ministry of water and power had to temporarily bring in a professional from NeSPAK for better manage its power wing. The petroleum minister has ordered the hiring of an executive director general for hydrocarbons from the market to head the technical wing of the ministry in order to put the existing staff on the right track.

He also ordered hiring of at least 25 percent new staff instead of promoting and deputing incumbent officials. Still, the establishment of technical wings in both ministries was delayed due to the red tapes.

The competence of the existing staff has degraded to such an extent that, sources said, the Petroleum Ministry was

unable to devise a standard petroleum concessions agreement for the last many months, which was to be an integral part of the Petroleum Policy 2011. The implementation of new petroleum policy has already hit snags, as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan want to regulate the sector and own the royalty, without giving any control and share to the federal government. An official source said the situation could have been averted if the officials concerned had bothered to address the concerns of the province before and during policy making. The matter has now been referred to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for resolution, though earlier, the Law Ministry had interpreted that the Centre would continue to regulate the sector and would have a share in royalty.

The delay in drafting petroleum policy means that no new blocks can be awarded for oil and gas exploration – the last auctioning of blocks was held in 2010 before the approval of the 18th Amendment. But there were other constraints in promoting indigenous exploration, as summarised before the National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum by

Petroleum Secretary ejaz Chaudhary, who said the Ministry of Defence had refused permission for an aerial survey of Kharaan block in Balochistan.

The source said changing the expensive fuel mix was a major issue for the government, which could not be resolved by expediting indigenous oil and gas exploration. This requires a national consensus to be implemented on war footing.

The government has opted for the safest way to address the power crisis, by enhancing the power tariff, which despite being increased by a massive 75 percent during the last two fiscal years, has failed to resolve the issue. The people are burdened to pay massive power bills, but still have to fret for hours due to blackouts.

Government agencies are focusing on the expensive, mega hydel power projects, not on easy-to-build run of the river projects that could yield more hydel power in the short run.

Lack of public sector investment is another major cause for slow progress in hydel and coal sectors. Private sector investment has been on the hold, as local banks are reluctant to finance any new project until the resolution of the circular

Muslims clash with Chinese police for destroying mosque

debt. Independent power producers’ receivables have soared to Rs 266 billion by December 31, 2011. They have to repay Rs 150 billion in debts to banks by the year end.

The circular debt is also affecting the prospects of private sector LNG imports in the country, as some of the investors have started seeking sovereign guarantees if their dues were not timely cleared by private sector entities. LNG imports will be used for power generation, but if the circular debt is not rooted out, nobody would be making $2 billion investment for the imports.

The government has an offer to import 1,000MW of electricity from India.

But the move could have serious consequences for Pakistan, as it could be used

by New Delhi to expedite water storage on three western rivers given to Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty, as it could claim that the country was not interested to tap the hydel water resources.

Sources said the most viable project for hydel power generation remained the Kalabagh Dam, but the failure to have a national consensus was delaying its execution.

Court to always work for welfare of people: CJP ISLAMABAD

BEIJING AfP

StAff REPoRt

Hundreds of Muslims fought with armed police who demolished a mosque in north China, local police and a human rights group said on Monday, with several people injured in the “riot”.

The violence between local Muslims and roughly 1,000 armed police began after police declared illegal a newly-renovated mosque in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and moved to destroy it, the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, in Hong Kong, said. The Hui are one of several Muslim minority groups in China. Two people were killed and 50 injured after police fired tear gas and used knives and batons to beat back ethnic Hui Muslim protesters in Taoshan village, Hexi township, the rights group said, citing villagers.

Hexi township police denied any deaths when reached by telephone. A policeman surnamed Ma confirmed that the mosque was torn down. He told AFP a “riot” occurred in Hexi on Saturday afternoon. “Two police officers and two villagers got injured and several villagers were taken away by the police, but I don’t know how many,” Ma said. One Taoshan local who was away when the violence occurred, said his relatives had told him over the telephone that on December 30 an official had shouted “(the mosque) is illegal” and ordered the armed police to tear it down.

“Clashes happened and more than 100 people went missing,” Jin Haitao told AFP. He said many villagers’ injuries were caused by police using highpressure water cannon to disperse those trying to stop destruction of the mosque.

“Now, I can’t reach anyone there,” Jin said, speaking from north China’s Hebei province near Beijing. The Hong Kongbased rights group said in a fax that Muslims from Ningxia and the neighbouring province of Gansu had donated money to build the mosque. Jin said it was first built in 1987 and refurbished last year.

China’s communist government monitors religious activity closely and must approve the building of all mosques, churches and other places of worship as a way to prevent their becoming centres for anti-government organising. China in recent years has seen several outbreaks of ethnic violence involving Muslims, mostly as the mainly Muslim Uighurs of the northwest Xinjiang region bridle under what they regard as government oppression and the unwanted immigration of majority ethnic Han Chinese.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday said the Supreme Court would, without fear or favour, always work for the betterment and welfare of the people and never allow any transgression on the dignity of the citizens.

Speaking during a full court reference over the death of former CJ Muhammad Afzal Zullah, the CJ said, “We have sworn to preserve, protect and defend the constitution. This court will always decide cases according to the dictates of law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

Being the torch-bearer, this court will never let down the dignity inherited from such a legend.” Paying homage to Justice Zullah, who, he said, was a true depiction of the maxim “Let justice be done, though the heavens should fall”, the CJ said the decisions of the Supreme Court stood only on the affirmation of rule of law and constitutionalism. “The court is fully aware of its constitutional role that is to administer justice freely, fairly and impartially, cases are adjudicated on its own facts and disregard of consequences which may follow and irrespective of the status of the parties that appear before it.” He said Justice Zullah’s landmark judgments would always provide intellectual guidance to both members of the bench and the bar alike. “He (Justice Zullah) has been considered to be amongst the pioneers of public interest litigation in the country,” the CJ said.

AttoCK: Students demonstrate against Rawalpindi Board on Monday. STaff pHOTO

Imran to attend wef meeting this month ISLAMABAD: Having made his mark on the domestic political scene, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will speak to an international audience at the annual meeting of the World economic Forum (WeF) in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland this month and share his vision with top world leaders to steer the country out of the economic crisis. Former federal minister Jahangir Tareen, who was developing the PTI’s reforms strategy, will accompany Imran to Davos for participation in the WeF annual meeting from January 25 to 29.

According to sources, columnist Ikram Sehgal would host a lunch for the PTI leader, which foreign leaders

were also expected to attend. Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani will represent Pakistan as the head of government. The Annual WeF Meeting 2012 will be held under the theme–The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models, whereby leaders return to their core purpose of defining what the future should look like, aligning stakeholders around that vision and inspiring their institutions to realise that vision.

Imran, criticising the PPP and PML-N for their failure to give the country a new narrative at a time when it was beset with internal and external pressures, had presented the PTI as an alternative to the two major political forces. StAff REPoRt

fBR meets collection target for first half, Rs 1.111 trillion still to go ISLAMABAD JALALUddIn RUMI

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has collected Rs 201.7 billion during the month of December, making the total tax revenue collected in the first six months of the current fiscal to Rs 840.7 billion, compared to Rs 661.7 billion collected during the same period last year, an increase of 27.05 percent.

According to the provisional figures of its cash reporting system, the FBR had achieved its target for the first six months, Rs 840.1 billion.

FBR Chairman Salman Siddique told Pakistan Today that achieving the target for the first six month was a pos-

itive indication towards meeting the annual target of Rs 1,952 billion for 201112. He said through the broadening of tax base (BTB) campaign, all large taxpayer units (LTUs) and regional tax offices (RTOs) had intensified efforts to ensure maximum collection.

He said through the FBR’s Tax Revenue Reporting Mechanism, the breakup of the tax collection in income tax, sales tax, federal excise and custom would be available soon, while the consolidated figures by Auditor General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) would be available in 10 days.

When contacted, an expert said revenue collection targets for the first half

were traditionally kept on the lower side and higher targets were fixed for the second half. In the past, the FBR had used the technique of “end-loading”, meaning the targets for second half (January-June) were higher as compared to the first half of current fiscal year, he said.

In a letter sent to all field offices, the FBR has pointed out various causes of BTB campaign not getting its due importance due to factors including poor logistic support to BTB units, lack of ownership of the initiative, incomplete regional databases, human resource weaknesses and inadequate IT infrastructure.

The chief commissioners were

asked to own the BTB initiative and to shoulder the responsibility of this key objective. It recommends evaluation and subsequent strengthening of existing physical and human resources, allocating the best resources and establishing new structure of BTB Zones and Ranges to achieve the 201112 BTB targets.

Keeping in view on-the-ground situation, new BTB targets (over 700,000 new taxpayers) have also been assigned, along with the recommended steps to achieve these targets. The FBR is going to contact 300,000 non tax filers by January 12, 2012 and would have to collect Rs 1,111.3 billion more to achieve the target.

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Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

Editor’s mail 11

Appearance in reality

Kasuri’s future

Cultural diversity, an offshoot of globalisation is evident in the media content especially in the hypnotic power of the TV morning shows and telefilms that impair our ability to detect our own sense of individuality and find our distinctive culture amidst the chaos. Such shrewd acceptance of diverse cultures is Christmas day when the morning shows host contested with their opponents to celebrate Christmas morning to their utmost, coupled with many one-act telefims which showed no reluctance to introduce

the superficial glamour of Christmas celebration.

An acting Santa Claus was present on every morning show, distributing gifts in beautifully wrapped colourful glaze papers and streamers decorated all around the set add a great deal to the magnificence to the occasion. Many of the spectators, especially the young ones fall for this carrot and stick tactic; gift giving fiesta magnetises people of all age groups.

In the midst of being mesmerised by this superficial revelry, we tend to forget

the humble nature of our own two festivals as we see nothing supposedly attractive in them. Rather, one might think that celebrating Christmas along with our own festivals blurs the distinction between them and as liberal individual of this globalised world we pay equal homage to every occasion without questioning their moral and spiritual worth.

Celebrating Christmas whether being inspired by its outward show or playing an active role as a liberal individual embracing diverse possibilities with astute

acceptance, is blasphemous because people celebrate their particular festivals to show their piety and devotion to their respective religion. As a Muslim we should be proud with our two festivals and celebrate them according to the confines and festivity authorised upon us by our religion; we should respect the festivals of other religions but not go a step ahead and celebrate them with equal revelry and joy.

HADIA MUKHTAR SINGAPURI Karachi

Gender inequality The word is quite in vogue nowadays even in Pakistan where it is yet to be recognised as an issue officially. Pakistan is no exception to the generally abysmal state of gender equality the world over.

About 50 percent of Pakistani girls drop out of school and our literacy rate for women is amongst the lowest in the world. Although women’s inferior status to men exists in all strata of Pakistani society, the reasons and manifestations of the inequality differ quite substantially as we move from one socio-economic class and region to another.

Looking at countries that have exhibited progress in eliminating gender inequality, the one thing that they all have in common is an expansion in the set of labour-market opportunities for women.

Once women’s earning capacities improve, not only is the economic imperative driving parents to spend resources in favour of boys removed but women also have substantially more freedom with regard to decision-making.

SABEEN IMAN Lahore

women in police force In a society like ours, women have never enjoyed an equal status to that of men. This wide-ranging issue also includes policing and law enforcement, particularly in matters related to women.

Women police is considered as an important part of the society in the developed nations. However, the situation in our country is not so appreciable. A mere four or five percent of women police force in the whole country can’t curtail the rising crime rate in women. Their importance is also increased by the fact that the cultural, traditional and sometimes religious sentiments don’t allow women to go to police stations dominated by men.

In this connection, there is a strong need to increase not only the percentage of women police force, but also the number of police stations headed by women.

Although, efforts were made to make women and men police to work together, the male chauvinism didn’t allow this to succeed. If women are allowed to work separately and with authority, an improvement in policing can be expected and issues related to women will be dealt with in a much better manner.

ZULFIQAR HAIDER Islamabad

Camel or rat “Al-Qaeda, not Taliban, is the US enemy,” a news item.

This reminds me of a joke. The grandfather of some young rats rushed back to their hole to warn them, “Don’t go out as the policemen have arrived to arrest the camel.” “But we are rats and not camels,” came the reply. The grandpa re-

what else can happen?

The devaluation of rupee has reached 90.00 per dollar. It weakened 4.82 percent in 2011, mainly because of import payments and a bleak outlook for the country’s economy; it lost 1.53 percent in 2010 and the pressure is likely to continue in 2012. A similar or even worse is the situation of economy in other sectors.

I think amidst a host of quagmires, like memogate, conflict with Nato, suspension of US aid of $700m, failure of Railways and PIA and extreme shortage of power and gas, as well as spiralling corruption and inflation, this kind of devaluation is no surprise.

The worst can be expected in coming months and year with imminent collapse of the government. Who will determine as to who is responsible for all this? Why

marked, “But the policemen will arrest all of you as well as they cannot differentiate between camels and rats for years.”

Z A KAZMI Karachi

everyone is mum? Why nobody speaks?

FAUAD F ASHRAF Islamabad

Coalition between giants There are news of coalition between Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari. They are uniting against Imran Khan as they claim that Imran Khan is supported by establishment. As establishment doesn’t want to see democracy in this country, we should unite and defeat this evil.

I want to ask some questions from these people. First, where is the proof of establishment’s support to Imran Khan?

If there is any, it should be taken to court like the Memogate case and should be prosecuted.

Second, democracy is not threatened by the establishment but you yourself do

not want it. If you want democracy, why don’t you implement it in your parties?

Moreover, the establishment wants strong democracy because if the politicians are good enough o govern the country, then it could focus on the defence of the country.

Lastly, I want to ask Mr Sharif that a few weeks before he was at the "Go Zardari Go" rallies and now he is forwarding a hand of friendship towards the same person. What is this?

The people of Pakistan will not be deceived by these tactics. They support Imran Khan who is the only hope for Pakistan to put this country on a prosperous road. Mr Sharif and Mr Zardari should also become sincere to their country.

MUHAMMAD IRFAN Lahore

Former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri announced his joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on December 20, 2011 at a public rally in Kasur. Unfortunately, the announcement was overshadowed by the fact that rally participants made off with all the chairs placed in the jalsa. For its part, the media focused more on the chairs episode rather than reporting on the former foreign minister’s decision to join PTI. The media was more concerned with what had transpired after the rally and how surprising it was that no one had stopped the people who took off with a reported 25000 chairs. It was even alleged that some in the rally had actually been hired to do this.

PTI’s Karachi jalsa on December 25 was orchestrated to display PTI’s strength by showcasing all the heavyweights who have joined the party. Surprisingly when Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri came up to speak, the compere got up twice and asked him to hurry up and end the speech.

This was not the way to treat a man of Khurshid Kasuri’s standing, when another former foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, was given much more importance and allowed to make a long and boring speech. If one were to compare the two as foreign ministers, it was during Kasuri’s time that great headway was made in India-Pakistan relations and Pakistan’s foreign policy was quite well respected.

Perhaps, Kasuri has made the wrong choice. He would be better suited to a role in APML under Musharraf, his former boss. Both of them had worked together for five years to run a successful foreign policy, and had come so near to resolving the Kashmir dispute.

APML itself needs weighty party members and Kasuri would be a good addition. It looks like he would be wasting his time in PTI where he will always be overshadowed. His meeting with Musharraf in Dubai has already won him a show cause notice from the PTI high command. This is the time when he should break the rope and join APML. MASOOMA IMRAN Karachi

Biased behaviour It was disgusting to see how low a senior lawyer can stoop to. After not getting her way in the initial appeal, Ms Asma Jehangir is willing to blame all the institutions of the state except the political party that she represents. Such a narrow, biased and partisan behaviour was least expected from the "human rights champion".

DR SOHAIL KIRMANI Ontario, Canada Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan Fax: +92-42-36298302 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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

No gas, no electricity but pay more

By Waheed Hussain

“I

s there any light at the end of the tunnel,” a curious friend asked referring to continuous irritating power and gas loadshedding in the country.

“Are we living in the Stone Age or Age of Darkness?” he again inquired. I just smile and walked away without making any comment. This actually is the state of mind of every individual in our beloved land.

A housewife, who cannot cook food for the family because of suspension of gas supply, will curse the gas authorities. Same is the

case with the business community that has shelved future business plans because of power and gas supply suspension to their business outlets and factories. every morning one can watch on TV screens footage of protesters blocking the main highways and streets across the country. In most of the cases, the angry youth turn violent and ruthlessly damage and destroy public and private proprieties. This is the natural reaction one could expect from the frustrated masses.

Their anger is multiplied when the government increases the prices of electricity, gas and oil and resorts to loadshedding. The public is justified to ask why the government has increased 14 percent gas prices for all categories of consumers including domestic, commercial, industrial and fertiliser makers.

Motorists using CNG in their cars are also in big trouble because of increase in the CNG prices and

four days suspension of gas supply to stations.

According to reports there are 3500 gas stations throughout the country involving over 300 billion rupees investment. Over 3.5 million vehicles using CNG ply on roads. The government has raised CNG rates to Rs 74.30 per kg and revised the gas loadshedding schedule. These decisions indicate that our policymakers want to force CNG consumers to switchover again from gas to petrol and diesel. Motorists preferred CNG over petrol and diesel as it was comparatively cheaper but now the CNG has been brought almost equal to the price of petrol.

The present government accuses the Musharraf regime for the faulty CNG policy which allowed establishment of hundreds of gas stations despite the fact that the country was facing acute gas shortage. But the question is why the public is always being punished for

the wrongs committed by the rulers?

The government may have difficulties to generate revenues; however, the recent increase in gas and petroleum products’ prices has been termed a New Year gift of the government to the people who are already overburdened by high inflation in the country. Naturally the price-hike in gas and petroleum products is going to hit badly the low-income class.

The energy experts have questioned as to why the consumers have to pay for the gas infrastructure development surcharge. Similarly, there is no justification for charging the consumers billions of rupees annually under the unaccounted for gas (UFG) losses of 12 percent both in SSGPL and SNGPL. There is no valid reason to rob masses instead of improving those companies’ inefficiency.

Similarly, the power sector also suffers losses amounting to hundreds of billions due to theft,

land and transmission losses and unpaid bills. The worse part is that all these losses are being recovered from those consumers who regularly pay their utility bills in time.

The people are being made to pay for the crimes committed by others. These are the policy and management related issues that have been ignored by successive governments.

The Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain, recently talking in a TV talk show said the government has formulated a comprehensive policy to restructure oil and gas sector but at the same time he disclosed that there was huge gap between demand and supply of gas in the country, saying the people should be ready for gas outage during the winter.

The story of energy crisis does not end here. Another problem haunting the people is of power loadshedding that has started again. There are reports that

presently the country is facing around 5500 megawatt power shortfall. The shortfall is caused due to reduction in the hydel power generation as well as nonavailability of furnace oil to the IPPs and public sector generation plants.

According to analysts the electricity shortfall could be made up by settling the 350 billion rupees circular debt. If the IPPs and Wapda-managed generation plants are regularly supplied sufficient furnace oil, the existing gap between demand and supply would be reduced and public will get some relief.

We have entered into 2012 with severe energy crisis which has both political and economic implications. No economic growth is guaranteed without provision of adequate energy and no political party can win elections when its voters are without electricity and gas. So, please be serious and act positively before it is too late.

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12 Comment Commission Asma speaks her mind

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he was never known for mincing any words and it appears Asma Jehangir is not about to start any time soon. Her latest bit of candour, however, has greater repercussions than usual. Here is one of the country’s most prominent lawyers, and a former head of the country’s principal liaison body between bar and bench, saying that the commission set up to investigate the memo affair is not going to be neutral. And she backs it up by declining to represent her client anymore after the Supreme Court ruled that the case was, indeed, maintainable.

If nine sitting justices of the Supreme Court can pass a compromised decision, she said in Islamabad while announcing her decision to quit as Hussain Haqqani’s counsel, she does not personally have any faith in a commission comprising of high court judges. As a parting shot, she also told the petitioners (the PML(N) lot) that this case would someday come back to bite them.

What to make of Ms Jehangir’s allegations? Is she contemptuous of court? Not really, because she was equivocal about her belief that the decision should be respected. The bigger question is whether she was right.

The problem here is that the court itself is the only body that can decide that. Decisions like whether or not the case in question is something the Supreme Court should involve itself in don’t hinge on the text of the constitution; possible errors in judgment cannot be pointed out to the honourable lordships by the lawyers. Decisions like these hinge on the interpretation of grey areas in the constitution. What makes a court’s decision on these matters right or wrong depends on the level of acceptability accorded to these decisions by the legal fraternity, the political class and the polity as a whole.

Where does history place, for instance, the judges that passed, say all the PCOs justifying military rule in the country’s history?

On that theme, it is important for justice not only to be done but seen to be done. The Supreme Court and now, the newly appointed commission, is expected to dispel impressions about its neutrality by its words and actions.

Pak-US relations ending the impasse benefits the both

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t is in the best interest of both the US and Pakistan to restore their relations which hit the nadir in the wake of the killing of 24 Pakistani troops in a Nato attack.

What stands in the way is reluctance on the part of the US to accept complete responsibility for the Nato strikes. Despite blaming the incident on poor coordination between the two sides, the Pentagon report suggested that Pakistani troops fired first. Pakistan military rejected the report for not reflecting the reality on the ground and as it was not prepared by an independent body. The continuing standoff is creating hurdles in the fight to root out extremist militancy both in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

With a ban on the Nato supplies by Pakistan the US is finding it difficult to ensure timely supply of vital goods and equipment for its troops in Afghanistan. The diversion of the material through other routes has added to the war expenses at a time when the US lawmakers are demanding cuts in spendings. Islamabad has declined to cooperate in bringing the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table to ensure early peace in Afghanistan.

Absence of coordination with the US is also prolonging Pakistan military’s fight in the tribal areas to establish the writ of the state. Suicide bombers meanwhile continue to target the troops, elders cooperating with the government are killed and there is no respite to hostage taking. A notorious wing of the TTP specialising in sectarian attacks is still on the rampage. On Sunday, serious incidents of the sort took place in Bajaur, Khyber and Orakzai agencies while a Shia leader was killed in Karachi.

The US needs to revise its stand on responsibility for the incident. The ongoing standoff between the government and the military establishment has to be brought to an end. In view of the unprecedented hype in anti-US sentiments, the army will need the support of the civilian government as it brokers an agreement with the US on revised terms of engagement on counterterrorism operation and on the identification of the drone boxes.

Whatever its other shortcomings are, the PPP government has been the most steadfast of military operations against the terrorists. There is a need, therefore, to end the impasse between the civil government and the military establishment at the earliest.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

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

Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

Overburdened students tests, tests, exams, and more tests

By Dr Faisal Bari

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henever I visit a friend’s house, who has four school-going children, I always find, apart from the summer holidays period, inevitably, that all of his children have either just finished giving tests or examinations, are preparing for them, or are in the middle of them. And given there are four children, one of them is always in the middle of tests, and so the household is always ensuring that at least that child, and in general all the children, are always preparing for these tests and keep up with their studies.

I asked the children how many tests/examinations they got. They reported that they had term finals and midterms, and in addition monthly assessments as well as weekly ones. And then sometimes they would get surprise tests as well. So with 6-8 subjects to contend with for every student, it means every week they had some exam or test to worry about. And a lot of teachers took tests at the start of the week giving students the weekend for preparation. Which means the weekends are usually spent studying for more than one test coming up. I checked with some other children in other ‘good’ private schools too, and the pattern was similar.

The story of homework assignments is in addition to the test/examination issue.

But it does add to the time children have to spend studying every evening. Again with 68 subjects, and no coordination between teachers on homework assignments, students get homework for every subject almost every day.

Parents and schools want good results from students, and clearly quality of education is linked to effort as well, but what is an appropriate level of effort that we want our

students to make? Should they be spending all or almost all of their time away from school studying, and should this continue all the time? One can understand more work in key years and at key times, like closer to finals and so on, but such an effort cannot and should not be expected all the time. This will not lead to better quality.

Children, like adults, need time to internalise what they read. They need to play, mentally and physically, with what they learn so that they can make it a part of their conceptual framework. If children are always cramming for exams and working on their homework, when do they get time to reflect on and play with what they are learning and internalise the material? And if they do not do this, they will develop a tendency to cram and will make rather poor students, and more importantly, will end up going through the education system and even getting all the certificates and degrees, but without having the ability to use what they have learnt.

I was surprised to find that many students use ‘study guides’ even at O-Level or A-Level stages. How can this be good? The students feel they have to cram as quickly as possible, but if they are not taking the time to read their textbooks and original sources that have been put in their syllabi, they are shortchanging their learning process.

I have seen this in many students already. If you ask them to define or explain something they will rattle off the definitions and explanations immediately. But, at least in the case of economics, I can tell which books have they usually studied from because they use the same words that are in their books. If you ask them to explain, in their own words, what they have said, many of them are stumped and confused. Furthermore, if you ask them to give an example, from their life or from around them, to illustrate the principle they are talking of, many of them cannot do that. This is tragic. If children are not able to connect what they are learning with their lives while in schools, what are we teaching them and how are we teaching them?

Are private schools, and almost all of the top private ones seem to be quite similar in their approach to education, pushing students too much to cram and reproduce rather than study, understand, and reflect on what they have studied? And are they also over-testing the students and giving

them too much homework? The world is competitive and we have to prepare our youth well, but we should not take things to the point where the preparation we give them kills their creativity and hampers their development and competitiveness. This would be counterproductive at so many levels.

A connected issue, but one that I have been asked to raise by a number of parents, is about the physical load we put our children under. One of my friends tells me that his child, in grade one, weighs less than how much his school bag weighs. The school bag has six text books and six notebooks apart from stationary, lunch box and so on. The child drags this bag to school everyday and drags it back in the afternoon. In higher grades the bags might not outweigh the children but they do remain very heavy. This is another indicator of the load on children, quite literally. Why can’t schools, who can afford it, have lockers for children, or desks that have a drawer in them where children can leave some of the books/notebooks they do not need to bring home on any particular day? But if they have class periods for each subject everyday and get homework for all subjects too, and have tests happening too frequently as well, it will not be possible to leave the books home or at school overnight.

The connection with workload is clear. educational quality should be a concern for everyone: the parents, the school, and the society. There is an ‘optimal’ way of doing things and we should know that time spent on a task and developing understanding of the task is not linearly related: quality of education does not keep improving as we put more and more pressure on children. At some point additional effort can lead to reduced understanding. In some schools, as a pedagogic tool, it seems there is just too much pressure on students. The parents, feeling that this is good, are going along with it. But it is counterproductive. It is forcing children to take sub-optimal routes such as cramming and/or resorting to study guides and so on. Parents and school administrations need to look into the issue in more detail.

The writer is an Associate Professor of Economics at LUMS (currently on leave) and a Senior Advisor at Open Society Foundation (OSF). He can be reached at fbari@sorosny.org

Non-political president

By Ahmed Yusuf

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012: the year when big things are supposed to happen in the political landscape of Pakistan. All parties bar the Pakistan Peoples Party have made some reference to elections; the Tehreek-e-Insaaf and Jamaat-e-Islami are the ones with the loudest clamour for midterm polls. But with a political president at the helm, mid-term polls are a definite no-no for the PPP. But should President Asif Ali Zardari ask Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to seek a vote of confidence?

Back in college, a respected professor and now also an eminent columnist, had argued in class that the Thirteenth Amendment, the one brought about by Nawaz Sharif in 1997 and which took away the president’s powers to dissolve the National Assembly, had taken Pakistan’s democracy back a few years. His argument, at the time, was that democracy in Pakistan needed a

system of checks and balances between the troika. Were these systems removed, the probability of a military takeover was higher.

In theory, Article 58(2)(b) of the Constitution would serve as more than a deterrent against bad governance; even in its employment, there was a mechanism in place for judicial recourse as well as the ultimate measure of public support: elections.

Purely from an academic standpoint, the argument was interesting: not only had successive governments been dismissed, on corruption charges, but we were then living in times when General Pervez Musharraf had swatted Sharif away and made promises of better democracy. Article 58(2)(b) had been removed by the democrats, and democracy had fallen. By 2003, the president’s powers to dismiss a parliament returned through the Seventeenth Amendment, with General Musharraf also receiving direct or tacit support from parties seemingly opposed to him.

Of course, times have changed. The eighteenth Amendment came, and sought to wash away the ills of the Seventeenth Amendment. The president could now only remove the government if advised by the prime minister to do so, or if he was “satisfied that the Prime Minister does not command the confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly”.

There was consensus on almost everything from all political stakeholders inside the Assembly; the only contentious part was the person of the President, that notorious Asif Ali Zardari, who had somehow swapped jail for the Presidency. This despite Justice Wajeehuddin Ahmed, a star within the judicial fraternity, also being a nominee for President.

Most of the opposition to Zardari has been and remains from outside the assemblies, from those who had decided that the government had gone corrupt the moment Zardari became President.

This opposition’s desire for a “non-political” president was seemingly an extension of the principle applied to Musharraf: that the president must not hold any “office of profit.” In Musharraf’s case, his desire for dual office was the issue; in Zardari’s, the issue was his desire to be simultaneously party chairman and hence, a partisan president.

Only that Article 43 (1), which defines the president’s person, does not depoliticise the post.

The principle at stake is not mid-term elections or a vote of confidence. It is over whether the “office of profit” should include a party chairperson or any other political office for that matter.

Critics will point to Zardari, and claim that the PPP could rule as long as it did despite not enjoying mass support because their party chairman is the head of state.

This relationship, it could be argued, makes presidential inaction a logical outcome and gives a government license for incompetence and corruption.

For the PPP, though, neither mid-term elections nor a vote of confidence seems to be necessity.

Had Justice Wajeehuddin Ahmed, very much a political person now, been elected president, he would have heeded to the calls of the massive public gatherings and street protests to ask the prime minister to take a vote of confidence. But were the PTI in government, would Justice Saheb have done the same thing?

Surely not, this would have spelt political suicide for the party and definitely converted him into a Ghulam Ishaq or Farooq Leghari.

For any party that comes to power, Zardari has shown that a political president is of critical importance in perpetuating the rule of his party’s government, and warding off real and manufactured attacks against them. As things stand, the president has the only means to change government, and that too, if he so wishes to. If this is considered a wrong by the elected members of a parliament, a two-thirds majority is needed to change the law.

But the dissenters must wait their turn.

The writer is a Karachibased journalist. Connect with him on Twitter @ASYusuf

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Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

for your own good You are advised to refrain from reading between the lines, as understanding the contents of this article may be harmful to national security

Mighty obvious

By Syed Hassan Belal Zaidi

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mportant people are often told that they are being kept in isolation “for their own safety”. Such people usually include apostates, blasphemers, rapists, murderers, politicians and pop stars. Of these, the only self-respecting category is, of course, that of rapists and murderers, because the right-wing mullahs (with and without beards) will come down hard on apostates, blasphemers and pop stars while politicians (in cahoots with the mullahs) will denounce all those save the aforementioned criminals. Mostly because 99 percent of all rapists and murderers have, at one point, themselves been or been associated with politicians. And there is definitely more honour among rapists and murderers than there ever was among thieves. But that isn’t a real statistic.

Like I was saying, important people aren’t usually allowed to wander freely in our fair backwater. This is primarily because the-powers-that-be do not want important people to associate with other important people so no important ideas can be transmitted. Take the May 12, 2007 arrival of the-then deposed Chief Justice in Karachi. It was obvious from the MQM’s posturing and Musharraf’s bravado that this was a well thought-out move on part of the-powers-that-be. Recall also the premise and circumstances of the exile of the Super Sharif Bros following Abu Hamza bin Musharraf’s declaration of democracy.

Also keep in mind the house arrest of all deposed judges effectively until after the February 2008 elections. While extenuating circumstances were at play in all of these cases, the common denominator was that all of these people, at that time, posed a grave threat to national security.

Remember that the definition of national security is as fluid as mercury at room temperature and has been tempered to suit the purposes of rulers of our fair estate since 1947.

Keeping important people away from other important people is also important because some unimportant people may wish to cause harm to the said important people. This was the justification used to confine Benazir Bhutto to Latif Khosa’s house in swanky DHA, days before her assassination at the hands of (Cough! Sneeze!

Wheeze!) Baitullah Mehsud’s handymen. This was also the excuse used to keep Dr Atom Bomb away from the public eye. Most recently, such treatment is being meted out to the right honourable Hussain Haqqani, our erstwhile envoy to the United States of Great Shaitan. According to highly informed sources (read Twitter junkies), the most controversial man in Pakistan is currently in hiding in the Prime Minister’s house, for fear that if he steps out into the public eye, he may be mobbed by grateful jiyalas, ungrateful establishmentarianists and unscrupulous press vultures, all of whom want their pound of flesh. And rightly so.

But it was not always like this. There was a time when Mr Haqqani was a well respected university professor in Boston, writing books and ticking off ruffians such as the ISI and the military high command from the comfort of his subzero faculty room, somewhere in Massachusetts. At that time, Haqqani’s opinions were no different from the ones voiced in the infamous memo, which to this day Haqqani maintains he never got or wrote. Why then, pray tell, has

he been assumed guilty? Is it because he has a lot of money and is incorrigible in his attitude towards the holiest of holy, their excellencies, the top brass of the armed forces of Pakistan? Is it because he knows too much and has now himself become a threat to national security?

God knows. But what is clear, to borrow from comedian Russell Peters, is that “somebody gonna get a-hurt real bad,” and it isn’t going to be el Jefe himself.

Therefore, the next logical patsy would be dear friend Hussain Haqqani. Sound like a cunning plan? Well, what did you expect?

Many have been busy this past weekend, wishing Asma Jahangir all the best in her endeavours to “stand up for democracy” in Pessimistan. However, it is clear from her withdrawal that the former ambassador is, in fact, a goner. It is painfully obvious that the courts will never bow to the findings of the parliamentary commission on the matter, firstly because no such commission has ever come up with any worthwhile findings, and secondly because even if they did, they would never be made public.

Therefore, it is safe to assume that Asma has expertly ejected herself from a lost battle, ostensibly at the advice of someone who knows more about what is to come than she, or I, or even you. Then, pray tell, what is so heroic about her ‘bold move’? To me, it reeks of yellow-bellied cowardice in a land where principled stands are the last refuge of the scoundrels who is trying to claim the moral high ground because they don’t really have much else to go on. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I will miss Hussain Haqqani. Not because he was a great professor or a better diplomat or an exceptional statesman. I will miss him because he is a goat. A poor scapegoat. Just like you and me.

How’s that for empathy?

Follow @mightyobvious on Twitter for more incoherence in 140 characters or less.

Comment 13

Can democracy work? on the competence of the electorate

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f an elected person or group of persons proves disappointing one can only blame oneself, as with marriage to a person of one’s own choosing. In the case of marriage, both arranged marriages and marriages of choice appear to possess a similar profile of success (or failure), which makes it difficult to prefer one above the other. In fact, the best option is probably a blend of the two.

So why are people so much in favour of democracy to the exclusion of other options, at least here in Pakistan, where we have neither seen much of democracy and have only been disappointed when it (supposedly) existed? In fact the question should be whether what we so fondly call ‘democracy’ in Pakistan is democracy at all.

Democracy appears to have become a cornerstone of civilisation. Suggesting alternatives (‘the ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination,’ Voltaire) results in shock and recoil, as if you’d owned up to having lice. I postulate that this affection for democracy in Pakistan is related to the mysterious rolling of ‘Rs’ which has afflicted us all of a sudden.

Much of Pakistan’s short life was spent under military dictatorship; years of unmitigated disaster – think Zia and Musharraf more than Ayub. However, none of the civilian governments interspersed through these martial episodes of history can claim to have delivered better, their only difference a mandate of sorts to form

By Rabia Ahmed a government. Given that many of those elected assumed office under dubious credentials, it begs the question how strong this mandate actually was. In fact, their performance based on self interest and toeing the party line rather than representation of their electorate only adds to the doubts surrounding this system of government.

Of course the inevitable intellectual argument is that nondemocratic forms of government such as military coups are unacceptable ‘because they do not allow institutions to develop’. Ah, these institutions.

Are any of them really alive much less well in Pakistan today?

One institution, of course, is the parliament including, as mentioned above, several members possessing dubious, even fake credentials. In 2010, the election Commission issued summons against twenty parliamentarians in this connection, seven from the National Assembly, eleven from the Punjab and one each from the Sindh and

Balochistan Assemblies.

We also possess a judiciary suffused with bias against the civilian government of the day. expressing her disagreement with the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision to take on the case and conduct an enquiry into the memo scandal, Asma Jahangir, counsel for Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, questioned whether the court was there to serve and protect the rights of the public or the establishment.

Pakistan’s over-endowed and scandalridden military establishment, addicted to being in government, is unwilling to relinquish foreign policy and security related decision-making into civilian hands where they belong. Hierarchically, it considers itself above the civilian government and the president of the country, both of whom are in fact charged with the command and upkeep of the armed forces under the constitution of Pakistan.

A top heavy Steel Mill, PIA and Pakistan Railways, riddled with corruption, nepotism and cronyism, a similarly afflicted bureaucracy, power providers on the rocks, and the tale of the aforementioned institutions not allowed to develop is told.

Democracy, as Plato found, ‘presupposes a competent citizenry.’ It is also pertinent what Albert einstein said, that ‘an empty stomach is not a good political advisor.’ The question is therefore: do we have a competent citizenry in Pakistan or/and one with a full stomach? And if not, can democracy work here?

We know literacy, education and economic figures for Pakistan. There is moreover no civic or political education in the schools of this country which would enable what educated individuals there are to make informed decisions about the leaders they elect. Neither Mr Zardari’s emotional references to martyred family members ad nauseam, or Mr Nawaz Sharif’s carping on improper removal from office, nor indeed Imran Khan’s hunky good looks – none of these are valid grounds for election.

True we have only ourselves to blame if our choices turn out to be poor, and in Pakistan democracy’s other raison d'êtree does not work either where we can replace our choices, or force our elected representatives to do their job by threatening them with loss of office. Once secure in office these elected individuals appear to develop an uncanny ability to remain there, as well as the thickest of skins, preventing the penetration and efficacy of any external pressures whatsoever.

So once again: why are people so much in favour of democracy, at least here in Pakistan? Is it because there are no alternatives? But wait now, are we speaking here of democracy, or of Imran Khan?

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14 Foreign News

Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

nEW dELHI: An Indian man feeds flocks of migratory birds in the Yamuna river on Monday. Hundreds of migratory birds from Siberia, southeast Asia and other parts of India congregate in Indian capital during winters. afp

first president of independent Macedonia dies SKOPJE AfP

Kiro Gligorov, the architect of Macedonia’s independence and its first president after the break-up of Yugoslavia, has died at the age of 94, his office said Monday. “Gligorov died late on Sunday at home in Skopje, in his sleep, surrounded by his family,” the head of the office, Zivko Kondev, told AFP. Once a top official of the communist Yugoslav federation, of which Macedonia was a part, Gligorov led the then Yugoslav republic to independence in September 1991. He managed to avoid for Macedonia the wars that tore apart Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and peacefully deal with various disputes Skopje had with neighbouring Greece, Albania and Bulgaria. Under Gligorov, it became a United Nations member, though under the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRM) because Athens opposed its use of the name Macedonia, the name of a Greek northern province. As the first democratically elected president of Macedonia, Gligorov served two terms, from 1991 to 1999. In October 1995 Gligorov was the target of a car bomb assassination attempt in Skopje. Despite serious injuries, he continued his presidency until the end of his term. Neither the motive nor the perpetrators have ever been found, while it was speculated that a motive could have been his refusal at the time to join a union with Serbia and Montenegro. Born in 1917 in the eastern Macedonian town of Stip, Gligorov was a member of Yugoslavia’s antifascist movement during World War II.

Snipers, gunfire remain in Syrian cities: AL chief CAIRO

A

AfP

RAB League chief Nabil alArabi said on Monday that snipers and gunfire remain in Syrian cities and called for an immediate halt to the shootings, in his first remarks since Arab monitors were deployed.

“There are still snipers and gunfire.

There must be a total halt to the gunfire,” the League chief said, in the face of mounting criticism of the hard-won observer mission’s failure to stem the persistent bloodshed. Arabi charged that snipers were still deployed on rooftops in protest centres threatening the lives of civilians, even as monitors try to end the Syrian government’s deadly crackdown that has claimed thousands of lives since March.

“We must raise this with the Syrian government because the aim (of sending monitors) is to stop the shooting and protect civilians,” Arabi told a news conference at Arab League headquarters in Cairo. But “it is difficult to say who is firing on whom,” he said.

The head of the observer mission, Sudanese General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, is due to send his “first report in the next two days” on the situation in Syria, Arabi said. “An Arab foreign minister has asked that a

Syria’s assad has only ‘few weeks’ left in control: Israel JEruSALEM: The family of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has only “a few weeks” left in control of the strifetorn country, Israeli Defence Minister ehud Barak told MPs on Monday.

“The Assad family has no more than a few weeks to remain in control in Syria,” Barak told the parliament’s prestigious foreign affairs and defence committee in remarks quoted by the committee spokesman. “There is no possibility in the current situation of evaluating what will happen the day after Bashar’s fall,” he said.

Barak also warned that the fall of the Assad family could have implications

for the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. “In the north, there may be possible implications from Syria on the Golan Heights and a broader area as the result of the loss of control,” he said on Monday in a separate statement released by his office. According to Barak, the Assad regime was deteriorating as a result of the combination of internal and external pressures. “even if it is hard to clearly see the exact date when the regime will fall, the trend is clear, and with every day that passes, the regime is getting closer to the end of its rule, and its grip is loosening,” he said. afp

ministerial meeting be convened to discuss the report,” he added. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least three civilians were killed by gunfire in Syria on Monday, two of them in separate shooting incidents in the flashpoint central city of Homs. The third victim was a farmer who was hit by a stray bullet as security

forces opened fire during a raid on a village near Damascus to hunt down suspects wanted by the authorities.

Arabi said the Arab League may call for a meeting next week of foreign ministers to evaluate the work of the observers, who arrived in Syria on December 26 and began touring protest hubs the following day.

Prosecutors to take stage today in Mubarak trial CAIRO REUtERS

CAIRo: former president Hosni Mubarak lies on a stretcher as he leaves court following his trial at police academy on Monday. afp

The trial of egypt’s ousted President Hosni Mubarak will resume in earnest Tuesday when judges begin hearing arguments from prosecutors, who say Mubarak and his codefendants are to blame for the deaths of hundreds of protesters. Lawyers demanded Monday that the head of egypt’s ruling military council, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, be summoned back to the court to give fresh testimony. They also asked for Tantawi’s deputy General Sami Anan to give evidence.

Mubarak, his two sons, the former interior minister and senior police officers face charges ranging from corruption to involvement in the deaths of around 850 protesters during the uprising that unseated him last February. Mubarak is the first leader toppled in a wave of Arab uprisings last year to stand trial in person and the case has drawn worldwide attention. In a country still grappling with political chaos and an economic crisis almost a near since the uprising began, many people believe

national renewal will be impossible unless justice is achieved for those killed and their families. No official has been convicted over the killing of protesters during the 18-day revolt. Mubarak and the other defendants deny any responsibility for the deaths. The trial was suspended for almost 60 days until last week because some lawyers had demanded the replacement of the panel of judges overseeing the case. They said they were not given a fair chance to question Tantawi when he stood as a witness in September. Presiding judge Ahmed Refaat said he would decide on possible new witnesses during the next few sessions.

Mubarak, who is being held under guard at a military hospital near Cairo because doctors say he has a heart condition, was brought into the court on a hospital trolley covering his eyes with sunglasses, which his son Gamal took off once he entered the court. Lawyers for the dead demanded that Mubarak be transferred to a prison in south Cairo where the other defendants are held because his journey from the military hospital in a helicopter cost the state 500,000 egyptian pounds (52,896.40 pounds) each time.

Iran tests missiles near key oil-transit strait TEHRAN AfP

Iran Monday tested missiles near the Strait of Hormuz, underlining its threats to close the vital oil-transit waterway as the West prepares to impose more economic sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear drive. The launch of two missiles took place on the final day of war games in waters east of the strait at the entrance to the Gulf, a navy spokesman, Commodore Mahmoud Mousavi, was quoted as saying by official media. Another missile was also to be tested Monday, he said. France said the tests were regrettable and stressed to Tehran the Strait of Hormuz must remain open. “We regret the very bad signal sent to the international community by the latest missile tests announced by Iran,” foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said in Paris, reminding Tehran of the “freedom of navigation in straits and the need to maintain a favourable climate in respect to this freedom.” The United States, which keeps its Fifth Fleet based in the Gulf, has warned it will not tolerate a closure of the strategic channel. The longest range of the missiles tested Monday was some 200 kilometres (120 miles). On Sunday, a medium-range surface-to-air missile was also test-fired during the exercises, according to Mousavi. The show of military muscle was designed to show Iran’s ability to close the Strait of Hormuz — through which 20 percent of the world’s oil flows — if it chooses. Iranian political and military officials insist they could take that drastic step if the West imposes more sanctions, on top of others that have already taken their toll on Iran’s oildependent economy.

India summons Chinese envoy over diplomat assault NEW DELHI AfP

India on Monday summoned Beijing’s deputy chief of mission in New Delhi to complain about a courtroom assault on an Indian diplomat in the Chinese city of Yiwu, officials and reports said. Zhang Yue was called to the Indian foreign ministry after the incident on Saturday in which S. Balachandran was injured in a dispute between Chinese and Indian traders, said a government official who declined to be named. Balachandran taken to hospital after Chinese businessmen attacked him during a court case in which he was trying to secure the release of two Indians held over allegedly unpaid bills, the Press Trust of India news agency said. In Beijing, Indian embassy spokesman Vinayak Chavan told AFP that Shanghai-based Balachandran was not badly hurt.

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‘Psycho’ in British court accused of Indian student murder LONDON AfP

A man describing himself as “Psycho Stapleton” appeared in a British court on Monday accused of shooting dead an Indian student in northwest england. Kiaran Stapleton, 20, was remanded in custody for 24 hours at an initial court appearance in Manchester, where he was formally charged with the murder of Anuj Bidve in the Salford area of the city. Stapleton was led into the courtroom in handcuffs wearing a grey T-shirt and grey tracksuit trousers, with four armed officers standing guard in the room. When asked for his name, he replied: “Psycho. Psycho Stapleton.”

Prosecutor Ben Southam said the case would be sent to a higher court. A scrum of journalists surrounded the prison van carrying Stapleton when it arrived at the court, which was packed with reporters. A lone gunman shot Bidve, 23, in the head after approaching him at around 1:30 am (0130 GMT) on December 26 as he walked with a group of friends towards Manchester city centre. The student, from the western Indian city of Pune, died a short time later in hospital. The friends were in Stapleton’s home neighbourhood of Ordsall when the shooting occurred. Police have described the murder of Bidve, who arrived in england in September to study micro-electronics at Lancaster University, as “extremely, unusual, savage and motiveless.”

Foreign News 15

Scores feared dead in South Sudan tribal clashes NAIROBI

T

AfP

HOUSANDS of villagers in South Sudan hid in the bush Monday, waiting for UN and government troops to stop a cattle vendetta which officials feared may have left scores of people dead over the weekend. A column of some 6,000 armed youths from the Lou Nuer tribe marched on the remote town of Pibor in troubled Jonglei state, home to the rival Murle people, who they blame for cattle raiding and have vowed to exterminate. They burned thatched huts and looted a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders, the worst flare-up in a

dispute that has left more than 1,000 dead in recent months and threatened to destabilise the world’s newest country.

“The situation is tense as the Lou Nuer are still around Pibor,” said Jonglei state information minister Isaac Ajiba, adding that army reinforcements were still on their way to the remote settlement. “They (the army) are yet to arrive but we hope to have the reinforcements there soon... We have reports of several casualties, but at present the exact numbers are not verified,” Ajiba added. Newly independent South Sudan was left in ruins by decades of war with northern Sudanese forces, who fuelled conflict by backing proxy militia forces across the south, often exacerbating historical enmi-

ties between rival groups.

A group calling itself the Nuer Youth White Army issued a statement on December 26 vowing to “wipe out the entire Murle tribe... as the only solution to guarantee long-term security of Nuer cattle.”

The government and the United Nations — which has warned the violence could lead to a “major tragedy” — were beefing up their forces in the area. “We are moving in a big number of forces from the army and from the police to the area...to stop what is happening,” South Sudan President Salva Kiir said in a New Year’s Day address. Despite disarmament efforts, guns remain common in Jonglei, an isolated and swampy state about the size of Austria and Switzerland combined but

with limited mud roads often impassable for months during heavy rains.

Reverend Mark Akec Cien, general secretary of the Sudan Council of Churches, an umbrella organisation with members across the area, said they had reports of many killed and wounded in the clashes. “The situation is very bad, there have been heavy casualties, and the Murle have fled out of the town,” Cien said from South Sudan’s capital Juba. “The Lou Nuer are there in the town, but others have left chasing after the Murle.” Over 30 people were killed in Lukangol, some 30 kilometres north of Pibor where Lou Nuer fighters attacked last week, burning the settlement to the ground, Cien said.

New york police arrest dozens of anti-wall Street protesters NEW YORK REUtERS

New York police arrested 68 people overnight after anti-Wall Street protesters streamed back into Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park and toppled security barricades on New Year’s eve, police said on Sunday.

One protester was accused of assaulting a police officer by stabbing the officer in the hand with scissors and of throwing an object at a police van, a department spokesman said. The officer was treated and released from a local hospital. Other protesters face charges of disorderly conduct, trespassing and obstruction, police said. The scuffle ensued after hundreds of protesters marked the new year by returning to Zuccotti Park, the September birthplace of the national Occupy movement against economic inequality. The movement’S momentum was halted as cities around the country have evicted demonstrators from tent camps. Police cleared Zuccotti Park of campers in November.

Iraq war death toll at 162,000: NGO BAGHDAD AfP

Around 162,000 people, almost 80 percent of them civilians, were killed in Iraq from the start of the 2003 US-led invasion up to last year’s withdrawal of American forces, a British NGO said on Monday. Iraq Body Count (IBC) warned that, contrary to apparent trends in figures released by the Iraqi government, the level of violence has changed little from mid-2009, though attacks are markedly down from when the country was in the throes of sectarian war in 2006 and 2007. In all, the nongovernmental organisation said an estimated 162,000 people were killed in Iraq in the nearly nine years of conflict.

It said around 79 percent of the fatalities were civilians, while the remainder included US soldiers, Iraqi security forces, and insurgents. “The violence peaked in late 2006 but was sustained at high levels until the second half of 2008 — nearly 90 percent of the deaths occurred by 2009,” IBC said in a statement. But it warned that “there has now been no noticeable downward trend (in civilian deaths) since mid-2009.”

BEIJInG: People ride sledges on a frozen lake on Monday. Skaters are a familiar sight on Beijing’s lakes and rivers during the december to february period when temperatures usually fall well below freezing. afp

boko Haram threatens nigeria Christians, troops

Bahrain Opp says dozens injured in police clashes DUBAI AfP

MAIDUGURI AfP

A purported spokesman for Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram has issued an ultimatum to Christians in the country’s north and threatened troops after the president declared a state of emergency in hard hit areas.

Meanwhile, Nigeria began sealing off part of its border in the country’s northeast as part of the emergency declaration, while security agencies plotted their next moves in dealing with the Islamists. Abul Qaqa, who has spoken on behalf of the group blamed for scores of attacks in Africa’s most populous nation numerous times in the past, said he was giving southerners living in the north a three-day ultimatum to leave.

“We find it pertinent to state that soldiers will only kill innocent Muslims in the local government areas where the state of emergency was declared,” he told journalists in a phone conference late Sunday. “We would confront them squarely to protect our brothers.”

Speaking in the Hausa language common throughout the north, Qaqa said “we also wish to call on our fellow Muslims to come back to the north because

we have evidence that they would be attacked. “We are also giving a three-day ultimatum to the southerners living in the northern part of Nigeria to move away.” Boko Haram is believed to include different factions with varying aims, its structure remains unclear and other people have claimed to speak on its behalf. Nigeria’s 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.

Muslims have been victims of Boko Haram attacks, but a wave of Christmas day bombings particularly targeting churches set off fears of retaliation from Christians. President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on Saturday in parts of four states hard hit by violence blamed on Boko Haram.

The declaration came in response to scores of attacks attributed to Boko Haram, particularly the bombings on Christmas that killed 49 people, most of them in a gruesome blast at a Catholic church as services were ending. While Boko Haram has been carrying out increasingly deadly attacks for months, including an August suicide bombing of UN headquarters in Abuja that left 25 dead, the Christmas

violence sparked intense fear and outrage. It also led to warnings from Christian leaders that they would defend themselves if such attacks continued, raising deep concern. While declaring the state of emergency in Africa’s largest oil producer, Jonathan acknowledged that the attacks “have threatened our collective security and shaken the foundations of our corporate existence as a nation.”

It was declared in parts of the states of Borno state, where Boko Haram has traditionally had its base, as well as Niger, Plateau and Yobe states.

Borders are also to be closed in hardhit areas, and residents in the northeast reported Monday that the frontier with Cameroon in that area was being shut.

One resident who crosses into neighbouring Cameroonian villages to hawk petrol said he was not allowed to cross at the Banki frontier. Military personnel had taken over the border post, he said. “They are heavily armed and have taken control of the border,” he said.

“They have stopped all cross-border movements. I tried crossing the border through the other two border posts, but the situation is the same. All the borders are sealed.”

Bahrain’s security forces fired tear gas at anti-government protesters and beat them with iron bars leaving dozens injured, human rights activists and the opposition said on Monday. The violence erupted Sunday night in the town of Sitra after the funeral of 15-year-old Sayyed Hashem Saeed, who the opposition says was killed when he was struck on the head by a tear gas canister fired by security forces the previous day. Another teenager, Hani al-Qanish, was also seriously wounded Sunday by a direct hit to the head by a tear gas canister, former opposition MP Matar Matar told AFP. Opposition human rights activist Nabil Rajab said riot police used tear gas and iron bars to disperse the crowds that had gathered in Sitra after Said’s funeral procession. “Dozens of people were injured and treated for tear gas inhalation but they all sought treatment in homes by volunteer doctors, because they feared being arrested if they went to the hospital”, Rajab told AFP adding that the police beat some of the protesters with “iron bars.” The Bahrain news agency, quoting police officials, said that “a group of saboteurs took to the streets in an illegal march and committed acts of sabotage, blocking public roads with garbage bins and hurling stones, iron bars and Molotov cocktails at the security forces.”

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Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

Brand could get

£20m from Katy Perry divorce

IN LIMELIGHT

LONDON

R

AGEnCIES

USSeLL Brand could make up to 20 million pounds from his divorce from pop star wife Katy Perry. The 36-year-old comedian is in line for the huge lump sum in a 50/50 split of the couple’s earnings even after just 14 months of marriage. Brand and Perry hadn’t signed a pre-nuptial agreement when they married in October, so under Californian law, he could be entitled to half of her fortune, the Daily Mail reported.

Brand had announced on Friday that the couple’s marriage was over after they spent Christmas apart and his lawyers filed divorce papers at Los Angeles Superior Court citing “irreconcilable differences”. The Star reported that according to Forbes Magazine, the 27-year-old is worth 28 million pounds, a fortune that industry insiders said has rocked recently to at least 45 million pounds due to her non-stop touring and commercial ventures. Brand, in contrast, has a net worth of about 11 million pounds from his stand-up tours and a string of hit movies including ‘Get Him To The Greek’ and the remake of the Dudley Moore film ‘Arthur’.

fUZHoU: A group of young Chinese acrobats perform as thousands gather for new year festivities in southeast China.

Elton John wants Timberlake

to play him in biopic

LoS AnGELES: elton John is working on a biopic about himself and would like Justin Timberlake to take on the lead role, he said in an interview published Sunday. The British veteran star also spoke about his and partner David Furnish’s love for their son Zachary - whose first birthday was on Christmas Day - saying the child was the “light of our lives”. An announcement about the biopic is due very soon, the 64-year-old told the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

“That’s very much in the works. We’re making an announcement about that very, very soon. We have a director on board, and then it’s just going to be a matter of getting the script exactly the way we want it,” he said. Lee Hall, who wrote megahit ‘Billy elliot’, has written the screenplay, he said, adding they will soon start trying to cast and plan production. On who will play him, he said: “I don’t know. I’ve got a wish list of people. No 1 on my wish list is Justin Timberlake, because he played me before in a David LaChapelle video of (elton classic) ‘Rocket Man’ and was superb.” The film will be a “jukebox musical” with possibly a couple of new songs, he said. AGEnCIES

'Players' is Abhishek and my film: Sonam

MUMBAI: ‘Players’ may have big names like Bipasha Basu, Bobby deol and Neil Nitin Mukesh but Sonam Kapoor says the multistarrer film belongs to her and co-star Abhishek Bachchan. The 26-year-old actress, who will be seen opposite Abhishek after Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 'dilli 6', said she plays the lead in every multi-starrer. "I have always been the lead in my multi-starrer films. Abhishek and I were the lead in 'dilli 6', 'Thank you' was about me and Akshay, 'Aisha' was all me and even now 'Players' is about Abhishek and I. The onus is on me as a lead.

But at the same time there are so many supporting people in the film who help you make it a better product," Sonam said.

"My character Naina resembles what I am in my real life. She is rebellious but at the same time she is nice," she said. She had to lose weight to look more edgy for the character and soon Sonam will be seen donning a bikini for an upcoming project. "This year my audience will see me in a sexy body. I had to undergo particular weight training for 'Players'. I am also taking classes for power and vikram yoga because I want to have the best body," she added. AGEnCIES

Sonakshi sheds inhibitions, gets intimate with Ranveer MUMBAI: After being typecast as the village belle in ‘dabangg’, Sonakshi Sinha has finally dared to shed her inhibitions. In her upcoming film ‘lootera’, the voluptuous beauty found an opportunity to give herself a makeover. Sonakshi would be seen doing a very intimate scene with co-star Ranveer Singh in vikramaditya Motwane’s film ‘lootera’. A crew member revealed, “Ranveer and Sonakshi have a very intimate scene in the film, which was shot last week in film City. A special set recreating dalhousie was constructed. Ranveer and Sonakshi were quite comfortable while filming the scene. Of course, there were a few retakes.” while many in the industry were shocked in the backdrop of her reluctance to do such scenes, Sonakshi maintained, “As an actor, change is important.” A source from the unit confirmed the news and said, “The scene is suggestive and not vulgar. It has been shot very aesthetically. It appears in one of the songs. In the film, Sonakshi and Ranveer are madly in love. Both of them were very comfortable shooting the scene.” ZEEnEWS

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu chose to step into the New year by expressing gratitude to her friends, family, staff and fans for standing by her always. "want to begin the year 2012 by thanking all of you for the love and support over the years! you all are the reason I am 'Bipasha Basu'. Can't thank you all enough!" Bipasha posted on her Twitter page. "Gratitude is the biggest virtue! Am also grateful to have the most amazing family and solid friends who make me who I am. love them the most ever," she added. In 2011, the actress parted ways with John Abraham, whom she was dating since eight years. She also bagged her first international project ‘Singularity’, and is now looking forward to her multistarrer project ‘Players’, releasing friday.

Bipasha also thanked her team who work with her "day and night". "I thank Pasha, my assistant, and Madhu, my hairstylist, they are my extended family! Can't function without them! Am very blessed to be me! It's a happy new year already for me!" she wrote.

AGeNCIeS

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17 ASUnCIón: Paraguayan artists perform during the closing event of the celebrations for Paraguay's Bicentenary.

London: Cheerleaders take part in the new Year's day Parade.

LONDON AGEnCIES

W

ARNeR Bros, the studio behind the ‘Harry Potter’ movies, has launched a campaign to have the ‘Deathly Hallows Part 2’ recognised at the Academy Awards. In the decade since they were first launched, the ‘Potter’ movies have made around 5 billion pounds and won critical acclaim, but an Oscar has always eluded them. Warner Bros is now making one last push to break the spell by lobbying Academy voters to nominate ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2’ in a dozen categories including best picture and best director.

It is also trying to get Daniel Radcliffe and emma Watson nominated in the best actor and actress categories respectively. The most likely chance of success comes in the best supporting actor

‘Harry Potter’ movies push for category with Alan Rickman’s performance as Professor Severus Snape. “I don’t think there is going to be another performance from an actor in a supporting role that is so powerful,” the Telegraph quoted Daniel Radcliffe as saying.

To date, the ‘Harry Potter’ films have been nominated for nine Oscars but have failed to win any. The categories for which the films have been nominated include best art direction, best score and best cinematography. While these

AGEnCIES

Bipasha Basu is on a thanking

KARACHI StAff REPoRt

Krizmah, one of the most exciting names to emerge in the field of handmade bags, recently launched at ensemble, a high-end multi designer boutique located in both Lahore and Karachi. Both boutiques will now be stocking Krizmah bags permanently.

The word Krizmah describes the plant wild iris in the “khowar” language of Chitral. Chitral is a magical valley in the foothills of the Hindukush Mountains, inhabited by a generous and tolerant people who embrace their simple existence with an innocent happiness expressed in time-honoured traditions of creative art, music and dance. The Krizmah bag label is owned by two Lahorebased graphic designers Zainab Ulmulk (a member of the ancient Katur dynasty of Chitral) and Nadia Malik, as well as by women artisans in Chitral. The purpose behind Krizmah is to produce haute couture hand bags for global followers of fashion.

Oscar glory

LOS ANGELES

ABU dHABI: British band Coldplay performs in concert in the Emirati capital.

Chitral-inspired Krizmah bags now at Ensemble

Tom Cruise’s ‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol’ topped the North American box office for a second straight weekend, ringing in the New Year with $30 million in ticket sales, industry estimates showed Sunday. The action film, the fourth in the series, thus far has taken in $133 million, according to exhibitor Relations. In second place was ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’, a sequel to the 2009 film about the detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It took in $22.1 million in the third week since its release. In third place with $18.3 million was ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked’, the third animated film about the adorable singing critters. Fourth place went to Steven Spielberg’s ‘War Horse’, about the bond between a boy and his horse during World War I, which was expected to reap in $16.9 million. ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ — the Hollywood adaptation of the wildly popular Stieg Larsson novel, starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara - took in $16.3 million for fifth place. Family film ‘We Bought A Zoo’ starring Matt Damon finished in sixth place, taking in $14.3 million. Another Spielberg film, ‘The Adventures of Tintin,’ about an intrepid Belgian boy reporter, was seventh with $12 million. Star-studded holiday romance ‘New Year’s eve’ earned $6.7 million for eighth place, while thriller ‘The Darkest Hour’ took ninth place with $4.3 million.

Rounding out the top 10 was ‘The Descendants’ starring George Clooney, which grossed $3.7 million. Final figures were due out Tuesday, after the four-day New Year’s holiday weekend.

are all hard-fought categories, they are outside the ‘big five’ - best picture, best director, best actor, best actress and best screenplay.

Warner Bros has set up a ‘For Your Consideration’ website for the final ‘Harry Potter’ film, which charts the wizard’s final victory over the forces of evil. The studio is running special trailers and advertising campaigns in the film’s honour. The ballot closes on January 13 and the nominations will be announced on January 24.

Cruise rings in New Year

at top of box office

Giselli Monteiro to play

Isma Meer’s trousseau collection an instant hit KARACHI StAff REPoRt

Isma Meer is easily Pakistan’s premier shoe designer, whose products are now being sought after by women all over Pakistan. Her trousseau collection has now hit stores in both Lahore and Karachi, and is getting rave reviews.

Crafted from genuine leather, the Isma Meer trousseau shoe collection is painstakingly and beautifully made and adorned with only the finest of embellishments and stones. With the wedding season in full swing, the new collection Isma Meer has sent is perfect to add that extra bling and shine to a full outfit. Isma Meer shoes can be purchased from her display at Labels, Karachi and Labels, Lahore along with a permanent display at Sania Maskatiya’s flagship outlet on Khyaban-e-Bukhari. Isma Meer Khalpey's designs are aesthetically evocative of her exposure to both western and eastern influences. Her shoe collection comprises of rich, vibrant colours and textures, some of which are decorated with jeweled rhinestones to create "the dream shoe".

Vivek Oberoi's best 2011

moment a role in ‘Krrish 2’ MUMBAI: The ‘love Aaj Kal’ girl, Giselli Monteiro will be seen in a different avatar in Sanjay Mishra's directorial debut ‘Pranaam walekum’. After playing the coy girl in her debut film, Giselli will now be playing a nautanki wali. Talking about her look, Sanjay says, "we were looking for a fresh face and Giselli seemed to be the best choice. She is very confident and it was very comfortable working with her. Iss movie ke liye aisa koi chahiye tha jo beti aur mashooka, dono ke role ko justify kare. Giselli is that girl. Usko dekh ke log kahenge, baap re baap, kabhi aisa nahi dekha." The movie will also have a nautanki dance performance by Giselli, though her look is more classical than sensual. "In a span of 2-3 months Giselli was all trained and set to do Bollywood style latka jhatkas. you will see Giselli as never before in this film," says Mishra, whose movie is based on communal harmony. AGEnCIES

MUMBAI: Actor vivek Oberoi, who was away from the arc-lights last year, says that being offered a role in ‘Krrish 2’ was one of the most memorable moments of 2011 for him. "A very special memory for me of 2011 was that I got a chance to be a part of such a big film, 'Krrish'.

The first time I went to meet Rakesh (Roshan) uncle in his office and he gave me the script. I read the script there in his office only. After reading the script, I went up to him, hugged him and received his blessings. Then I signed the film," the 35-year-old actor said. Meanwhile, vivek has started shooting for his latest film ‘Kismat love Paisa dilli’ with Mallika Sherawat. The film requires vivek to spend a lot of time in the capital and the actor has called over his family to stay with him till the shoot schedule ends. "I am very familycentric. So, I like living with my family. when I live in hotels, I miss that a lot. So, I prefer that where ever I go, I get an apartment or rent a place. So, I can call my entire family and it feels like home," said vivek. AGEnCIES

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Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

Kvitova off to perfect start Page 21

England series Pakistan’s toughest: Misbah Strauss warns team of a resurgent Pakistan

LAHORE

P

StAff REPoRt

AKISTAN skipper Misbah-ul Haq has said his side will focus on playing good cricket rather than just entertaining the crowd, ahead of the upcoming series against england in the United Arab emirates. “The most important thing is to win cricket matches and we are just focusing on winning at the moment. At the moment winning cricket matches is more important than entertaining in Test cricket. Our first aim is to win matches, we want to continue to win matches, build the confidence of the players and the team, then we can look at working on the entertainment aspect in Test cricket,” PakPassion quoted Misbah, as saying.

His statement comes after critics had alleged that Pakistan cricket has become rather dull and boring under Misbah-ul Haq’s captaincy.Misbah said the past year has been satisfying for Pakistan taking into account four series wins against New Zealand, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. “It was a good year for the Pakistan cricket team, the performances have been good. Starting from the tour of New Zealand at the beginning of the year right through to the recent tour of Bangladesh, it’s been a very good show from every player,” he added. He, however, described the World Cup semi-final defeat to India and a Test series draw at the West Indies as low points of 2011.

Injured Junaid doubtful for england series LAHORE StAff REPoRt

Pakistan cricketer Junaid Khan will only play in the Test series against england if he is found fully fit at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on January 6. Junaid is recovering from a partial tear in his abdominal muscle, which he sustained while playing for Lancashire in 2010. Junaid had initially planned to feature in at least one match of the Under-23 Cup but has now dropped the idea. “Initially Junaid was going to play in at least one of the ongoing Under 23 domestic matches, but now he has been asked to join up with the rest of the squad at the training camp in Lahore that starts on January 4, without featuring in any of the domestic matches,” Pak Passion quoted a source, as saying. “A fitness test for Junaid is scheduled for January 6 at the NCA and that test will ultimately determine whether he will travel with the rest of the squad to the UAe to face england. Junaid has been working very hard with the coaching staff, has recently started bowling at full speed and is very confident that he will pass the fitness test and be on the plane to the UAe,” he added. Junaid has so far featured in 16 international matches since making his debut last year.

Misbah, however, feels his side needs to work on fielding and catching, and stressed on the need to develop slip fielders. We need to continue to develop specialists in key fielding positions particularly in Test cricket. Fielders at silly point, short leg and in the slip cordon have to be specialists as these fielding positions are key to your chances in the field in Test cricket. I feel that it’s very important that we develop fielders who can field in these positions, particularly developing youngsters who can do a good job fielding in these key positions,” he added.

LonDon: england Test captain Andrew Strauss has insisted his side are prepared to play against Pakistan players named in the spot-fixing trial that led to three cricketers being jailed. But the opening batsman warned that, despite the impact of the case, it was too soon to say that corruption had been eradicated from world cricket. Wahab Riaz, Umar Akmal and Imran Farhat all named in the trial in London in October as having links with agent Mazhar Majeed, who was himself sent to prison -- have been included in Pakistan's squad for the forthcoming three-Test series against england in the United Arab emirates, which starts on January 17.

Majeed was jailed along with former Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif for their roles in a plan to deliberately bowl no-balls as part of a spot-fixing scam during the 2010 Lord's Test against england. However, left-arm quick Riaz and batsmen Akmal and Farhat had no charges brought against them and Strauss did not regard their selection for the series as a provocative gesture by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "It's there obligation and duty to pick the best side they think is available to them," Strauss, speaking at england's Heathrow Airport hotel ahead of their departure for the UAe, said Monday. "I

think the spot-fixing stuff is something we are desperately keen to move on from. I don't think there's any good that can come from churning it all up again and it's time to just concentrate on the cricket. "We will play whichever XI is selected." But Strauss urged everyone involved in world cricket to remain "vigilant" in the fight against corruption, adding he was unable to say the whole game was entirely "clean". "I don't think it's possible to say that. I think there's more awareness about it, which I think is a good thing. There have been some consequences to what went on at Lord's.

"But it's a hard thing to eradicate completely, policing it is very, very tough and I think there's a huge responsibility on the administrators but also upon the

players to make sure that any inkling, anything we see that might be untoward is reported and acted upon. "We all need to be vigilant," added Strauss, who last year led england to the top of the world Test rankings. "You've got to have a degree of wariness when anyone approaches you who you don't know.

That's just the way the world is and we've got to deal with it accordingly." england-Pakistan series have produced several flashpoints down the years, be they rows about umpires or allegations of ball-tampering, which led to Pakistan's unprecedented forfeit of a Test match at The Oval in 2006. But Strauss insisted there was no reason why england-Pakistan matches should inevitably generate controversy. "This perception that there's always issues between Pakistan and england, we should see this as an opportunity to eradicate that," he said. "There's no reason why that should be the case. "If we approach it in the right spirit then that should be good for relations between the two teams and world cricket in general. "Pakistan are playing a lot of good cricket and that's going to be the challenge for us to overcome them, on the field. "What's happened before is water under the bridge and I hope both sides can play in the right spirit and produce an entertaining and exciting Test match series." AfP

australia put faith in spinner Lyon flintoff reveals mental strain of leading england SYDNEY AfP

Spinner Nathan Lyon has received the backing of the Australian team ahead of his showdown with India's big-name batsmen in the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting Tuesday.

Lyon, 24, faces a daunting task against India's spin-savvy batsmen, headed by Sachin Tendulkar, searching for his 100th international century after being dismissed for 73 in the first innings of last week's Melbourne Test.

Lyon was preferred to fit-again paceman Ryan Harris on Monday in an unchanged Australian team for the Sydney Test and is expected to get more overs than the 22.5 he bowled in Australia's 122-run win in Melbourne. Skipper Michael Clarke has put his trust in the South Australian off-spinner to cope with the anticipated Indian assault.

"This series is a tough challenge for Lyon because India are such good players of spin bowling," Clarke said Monday.

"I thought he did a pretty good job without getting as many wickets as he would have liked in the last Test in Melbourne. "So I'm confident that Lyon can certainly take a few wickets in this match and continue to do a good job for

us." Australia coach Mickey Arthur said Lyon would face a tough challenge against the experienced Indian batsmen, looking to level the four-Test series. "There's absolutely no doubt that

they will try and go after him," Arthur said at the weekend. "Nathan is a pretty skilful off-spinner so I reckon that will develop into the very interesting contest. "We're going to get a lot of overs out of Nathan if it's a typical SCG wicket and I've got full confidence in his ability to tie India down and, in the second innings, strike for us. "I think it could be (a pivotal contest) providing we get enough runs on the board. If we have runs on the board Nathan becomes a very interesting prospect for us." Significantly, Lyon, gearing up for his ninth Test, has yet to play a firstclass match at the usually spin-conducive Sydney Cricket Ground.

Senior Australian batsman Mike Hussey has said the SCG pitch looks likely to take spin. That will be welcome news for Lyon, who was largely a peripheral figure in Melbourne but could come more into his own in Sydney where he confronts the biggest challenge of his fledgling Test career.

Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and V.V.S. Laxman are renowned experts of playing spin and will be keen to belt Lyon out of the attack and place added pressure on the home pace trio of James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus.

LONDON AfP

Andrew Flintoff has spoken of the emotional anguish he experienced leading england during their Ashes thrashing in Australia five years ago and how he wanted to retire at the subsequent World Cup. The former all-rounder talks about his personal struggles and those of other leading sportsmen, including some of his team-mates, in a BBC programme entitled 'Freddie Flintoff: Hidden Side Of Sport,' due to be broadcast a week on Wednesday (January 11).

Flintoff was england's captain when they were whitewashed 5-0 by hosts Australia in the 2006/07 Ashes, a series where they surrendered their grip on the urn before Christmas.

"I was having a quiet drink with my dad Colin on Christmas eve 2006 and as we made our way home I started crying my eyes out," said Flintoff, in an extract from the programme quoted on the Daily Mail website on Sunday.

Petersen to open with Smith CAPE TOWN AfP

Alviro Petersen will open the batting for South Africa with captain Graeme Smith in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka starting at Newlands Tuesday.

Smith also announced Monday that fitagain Vernon Philander would replace fast bowler Marchant de Lange despite De Lange taking seven for 81 in the first innings on debut during the second Test in Durban. Jacques Rudolph, who opened in the first four Tests of the summer, against Australia and Sri Lanka, will move to number six to replace Ashwell Prince, who has been dropped. Smith said South Africa needed to bounce back after Sri Lanka won the second Test by 208 runs to level the series. "It's

been a pretty tough time," he said. "You know you've let yourself and a lot of people down through not performing to the standards you are capable of. "As a team it's about bouncing back and getting it right over the next five days." Sri Lanka captain Tillekeratne Dilshan had a look at a greentinged pitch when his team arrived after rain kept the South African indoors during the morning but said his fast bowlers were as well equipped to take advantage of conditions as the South Africans.

"Our fast bowlers have done a great job throughout the series," said Dilshan. "I am looking forward to their performance on this wicket." Dilshan said Sri Lanka had won the second Test because they adhered to a game plan. "We will stick to basics and try to finish strongly," he said.

Dilshan said he was confident wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal, who hit two

half-centuries on debut in Durban, would be fully recovered after being hit on the elbow in the nets Sunday. There was a slight doubt about fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, who was suffering knee pain. He said Dhammika Prasad would be considered for a fast bowling berth. The South African captain said he could not fault the preparation of the players. "Mentally, maybe we can be a bit stronger. We've had some good chats about areas where we think we have been poor.

"We can play a lot tougher cricket than we played in Durban. We can make Sri Lanka earn a few more things than what they did in Durban." Rain prevented the players from practising outdoors Monday and the pitch was under cover when Smith was at the ground. "I had a look yesterday (Sunday) and it looked ready to play on." He said it

seemed to be drier than the surface on which Australia were bowled out for 47 earlier in the season in a Test which South Africa won inside three days.

Smith said South Africa were looking forward to a good 2012 after dropping to third in the official Test rankings. It will be a testing year for the Proteas, who have away series against New Zealand, england and Australia. "I really believe we deserve to be at the top with the quality we have and the results we have had around the world in the last few years," said Smith.

"We need to step it up but we know we have the capability to do that. In the next year we've got those big challenges and I believe we can compete, starting tomorrow." Smith said the return of Philander would bring "more structure" to the South African attack. He said De Lange had responded well to being left out.

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Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

McGrath predicts India’s whitewash

ex-defender Gary Ablett dead at 46 LONDON

SYDNEY

AfP

AGEnCIES

Gary Ablett, who made history by becoming the only player to win the FA Cup with both Liverpool and everton, has died at the age of 46 after a long battle against cancer. Ablett, who had a season as Stockport manager in 200910, lost his 16-month fight against nonHodgkin's lymphoma on Sunday. "On behalf of Gary Ablett's family the LMA (League Managers Association) has today confirmed that Gary passed away peacefully last night following a hard fought 16-month battle against nonHodgkin's lymphoma," said an LMA statement. "Respected throughout the game by players, coaches and managers alike Gary will be sadly missed. "The LMA's thoughts and condolences are with Gary's wife Jacqueline and children." Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who handed Ablett his debut during his first stint as boss at Anfield, offered his condolences.

Rooney fined over night out MANCHESTER AfP

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been fined a week's wages by the Premier League club for a night out over the Christmas weekend, according to press reports here on Monday. Rooney was dropped by United ahead of their shock 3-2 home loss to Blackburn last Saturday, officially because of fitness concerns.

But several British newspapers reported that the star was punished for a below par training session on December 27 after a Boxing Day evening out with wife Coleen and team-mates Jonny evans and Darron Gibson against team orders.

Rooney was fined approximately 200,000 pounds (310,000 dollars) with defender evans and midfielder Gibson also fined, the reports said.

Former Australian great Glenn McGrath foresees Australia whitewashing India 4-0 in the Test series as he feels the hosts' pace attack gives them a decisive edge over the visitors. "On Sunday, I said 3-0 but I stuffed up because I thought there were only three Tests.

But definitely 4-0 now," said McGrath at the SCG where he was promoting McGrath Foundation for breast cancer. "The way the guys have played, I've been very impressed. I think a team builds itself around a bowling attack and you look at the bowling attack the team has at the moment. "It will give the rest of the guys a lot of confidence so I'm very confident, as confident as I've been in years that this team is something special and expecting big things from them too," he added. McGrath had words of praise for pace bowling sensation James Pattinson. "He has a good action, he bowls in great areas and [has] got good pace and a great attitude. I've really en-

joyed watching him bowl and getting stuck into the Indian batsmen," he said. Pattinson was man of the match at the MCG for his six wickets and unbeaten knocks of 18 and 37 in two innings. Above all, he breathed fire and bowled with aggression at the Indians.

"Definitely, it's all about attitude and we're fast bowlers at the end of the day.

You don't bowl half volleys and skip around the park smiling at batsmen, do you?" said McGrath. "I wish I could bowl that quick and it's been a great start for his career to have a couple of five-wicket hauls under the belt. The confidence has got to be up. "I think he's got a huge future. I wish I started my career as well as James has so I'm expecting huge things from him, definitely." The great fast bowler, who took 563 wickets during his career of 124 Tests, said Australia would do no harm if they opted to play four fast bowlers in this Test. "It has spun in the past in Sydney. I like a spinner in the team to give it a balance but with Ryan Harris, with the form he was in before he got injured, to bring him back into the team would offer so much, especially playing India in Australian conditions.

"I think with the extra bounce, we get extra bit of seam movement which actually works in our favour. I've been very impressed with our bowling attack, the way we bowled in Melbourne was great so I'm expecting big things from the boys in this Test match also," he said.

SYDNEY

AustrAliA vs indiA

REUtERS

The green shoots of Australian recovery will be exposed to the full glare of India's determination to level the series in the 100th test match to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting on Tuesday. Fired by a display of aggressive fast bowling, Australia rebounded from a first home defeat to New Zealand in 26 years to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series with an ultimately convincing 122-run victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last week. While the hosts will be looking for more of the same on a wicket with a tinge of green to it, India will be out to stop a the rot of a run of five successive overseas test defeats going back to

The maTch begins aT 4:30am on sTar crickeT their 4-0 drubbing in england last year.

Crucial to their success will be an improved performance from their much-vaunted batting line-up - particularly the openers - and a century from Sachin Tendulkar would be welcome in more ways than one.

The 38-year-old has been stuck on 99 international hundreds for 10 months and will fancy his chances of finally reaching the milestone at a ground where he has plundered runs at an average of more than 221 per innings in the past. Pace bowling great Glenn McGrath will once again be hoping

BlACKBURN: Blackburn Rovers’ french defender Gael Givet (R) vies with Stoke City’s danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen (2nd R) during the english Premier league football match. afp weekend. Crouch - who has fallen ond from bottom three points adrift BLACKBURN Peter Crouch brought up his century of league goals here on Monday as his double saw Stoke beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 and bring the hosts back down to earth after their fine win over Manchester United at the

Australians have not forgiven Sachin SYDNEY AGEnCIES

Australian players have not forgiven Sachin Tendulkar for his role in the '2008 monkeygate scandal', says a section of the Aussie media. In a virulent verbal attack on Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, an Australian newspaper today slammed the batting maestro for backing his teammate Harbhajan Singh during the '2008 monkeygate scandal' here, saying some Aussie players lost respect for him after that. "While the cricket world is abuzz with anticipation that the Little Master will score his 100th international century during the second Test in Sydney, beginning tomorrow, some recent Australian players have not forgiven his role in the Andrew Symonds 'Monkeygate' scandal," The 'Herald Sun's' Malcom Conn wrote in a column titled 'Sachin's Sin City'. The writer goes on to state that the 'Monkeygate' scandal will forever haunt Tendulkar. "...despite the unparalleled greatness of his achievements, some Australians lost respect for him when he gave completely different accounts of what took place as a key witness in the Harbhajan Singh-Andrew Symonds racism meltdown," he claimed.

australia recovery faces India, Tendulkar Test for the ground to be turned into a sea of pink on the third day of the test for his McGrath Foundation charity, which raises money for breast cancer nurses in Australia. The 41year-old, who took 563 test wickets, is notorious for his predictions of series whitewashes for Australia and the form of quicks James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus had him at it again on Monday. "I think a team really builds itself around a bowling attack and you look at the bowling attack the team has at the moment and that will give the rest of the guys a lot of confidence," he said. "I'm very confident, as confident as I've been in years, that this team is something special and expecting big things from them too." Australia go into the match unchanged from Melbourne, with

Crouch brings up century as Stoke down Rovers

AfP

Sports 19

out of favour with england coach Fabio Capello - struck in the 17th and 45th minutes to take his tally to 101 league goals and kept Stoke eighth in the table. Scottish striker David Goodwillie did reduce the deficit but Rovers could not grab a share of the points and remain sec-

of safety. They could go bottom if Bolton beat everton on Wednesday.

Rovers had started the brightest of the two sides - boosted by a draw at Liverpool and then the 3-2 win over United at Old Trafford on Saturday - with wantaway Congolese international defender Chris Samba

hitting the bar and then having a goal ruled out. Stoke made them pay for that as Crouch did well to tuck away Dean Whitehead's perceptive pass over the Rovers defence and the former Portsmouth and Spurs striker added a second when he converted Matt etherington's cross on the stroke of half-time.

Rovers fought back in the second-half with former Dundee United star Goodwillie halving the deficit and then the hosts went close to levelling but Jonathan Woodgate did well to block leading scorer Ayegbeni Yakubu's goalbound shot. rAnGErS BouncE BAck But HooPS StAy out In Front: Rangers got over their Old Firm derby defeat disappointment with a 3-0 win over Motherwell at Ibrox to remain two points behind Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League. In a rare start David Healy fired Rangers into a first half lead before Sone Aluko netted his first goal for the club ten minutes after the break. Stephen Craigan then turned Lee Wallace's shot into his own net in the 73rd minute to round off a comprehensive victory against third-placed Well.

"I must admit it's been a great start to 2012," Rangers manager Ally McCoist said, though his men still trail Celtic by three points. "I thought the application, skill and football we played was very good and I was really pleased," the Rangers manager said. His Motherwell counterpart Stuart McCall was hugely disappointed with his side's performance.

spinner Nathan Lyon preferred to a fourth pace option in Ryan Harris. India, who look likely to drop number six batsman Virat Kohli and hand Rohit Sharma his test debut, have always enjoyed playing on the traditionally spin-friendly SCG wickets but have only won once in nine previous matches at the ground. Four of the other contests have been drawn and, despite the 40 wickets that tumbled over four dramatic days in Melbourne, another stalemate to leave the series nicely poised going into the third test in Perth would be no great surprise. All concerned are convinced that it will be played in a better spirit than the spiteful 2008 encounter at the ground, when Indian offspinner Harbhajan Singh was accused of racially abusing Andrew Symonds.

Mancini urges City to tighten up SUNDERLAND AfP

Roberto Mancini has warned his title-chasing Manchester City side they need to understand there is more to football than attack after being caught out in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. Premier League leaders City remained on top but on goal difference alone after South Korea's Ji Dong-Won struck deep into injury time here on Sunday.

Their defeat was compounded by the knowledge a win at the Stadium of Light would have put City three points clear of Manchester United after the second-placed champions' shock 3-2 loss at home to Blackburn on Saturday.

City face sixth-placed Liverpool, fresh from a 3-1 win over Newcastle, at eastlands on Tuesday and manager Mancini doesn't want them to make the same mistake twice in a row. "The (Sunderland) goal was offside but I've not been to see the referee about it," said Mancini. "I know football, and for this reason, in the last 15 minutes I almost lost my voice shouting at the defence to hold their line and concentrate because of the danger Sunderland posed on the break," the Italian added. "We seemed to want to attack with 10 players and to do that is impossible. "I don't know how many chances we had, but I'm not worried about not scoring in the last couple of games (City were held to a goalless draw by West Brom on Boxing Day), but what I'm worried about is having players on the pitch who understand the situation when we're vulnerable to a counter-attack.

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20 Sports Army thrash Punjab in National Baseball

Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

DOHA: Tennis star Roger Federer takes part in a show case event ahead of the Qatar Exxon Mobil Open and the ATP World Tour season at an amphitheater in the cultural village of Katara in Doha. afp

LAHORE StAff REPoRt

Army entered the final of the 19th National Baseball Championship after crushing Punjab14-0 in the first semifinal at the Iqbal Park Sports Complex here on Monday. The second pre-final between defending champions WAPDA and Police will be played on Tuesday.

Army were aggressive right from the start as they plundered four runs in the first innings through Imtiaz, Farooq, Zahid and Iftikhar. They added two more in the second innings when Imtiaz and Farooq contributed one more run to increase the lead to 6-0. In the third innings Zafar and Umair produced one run each as the soldiers remained on the front seat, without any big opposition.

In the fourth and last innings Army hit six runs as their Imtiaz, Farooq, Arshad, Iftikhar, Rashid and Arslan added one each to win the match comfortably. earlier, in the last group match, Police defeated Khyber PK 10-1 to confirm a place in the last four. For Police, Dure Hussain (2) Nasir Butt (2), Ahsan Beg (2), Maqsood (2) Muzaffar Hussain (1), and Nawazih (1) were the scorers.

Pepsi-PCB Cricket Star Programme from 16th LAHORE StAff REPoRt

The second phase of the Pepsi–PCB Cricket Star Programme will start at the National Cricket Academy from January 16 under the supervision of NCA elite coaches.

This will be a four-week advanced coaching program and players will report at the NCA on January 15.

The national selection committee has selected 28 players to attend this program based on their performance during the recently concluded Pepsi-PCB Cricket Star U-16 Tournament.

The names of the selected players are as under: Mohammad Ahmad (Lahore), Danish Aziz, Widwan Ullah, Arsalan Bashir (Karachi), Raheel Mayo, Abdul Samad (Hyderabad), Irfan elahi (Sialkot), Farhan Sarfraz, Imran Rafiq, Junaid Zawar, Usman Ali, Hassan Mushtaq (Multan), Muhammad Hanif, Khalid Kail, Muhammad Tariq, Faizan Ali, Sultan Mehmood (Abbottabad), Muhammad Fahad, Dilawar Shah (Islamabad), Jamal Khan, Ghulam Haider, Mukhtar Ahmad (Quetta), Mir Wais, Muhammad Farhan, Aqib Shah (Rawalpindi), Zawan Hikmat (Peshawar), Bilal Ahmad(FATA), Muhammad Asim (Faisalabad).

Nadal gambles to regain former status DOHA AfP

dOHA: Rafael Nadal of Spain speaks during a press conference ahead of the ATP Qatar Open Tennis tournament at Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex. afp

Rafa Nadal admits he is having to take risks in order to achieve the level required to win back the world number one ranking. The French Open champion is gambling with a heavier headed racket here in the first tournament of the 2012 tour, even though he has had little more than a week to get used to the change. Nadal is also taking a chance in coming to the Qatar Open while wrestling with doubts about his mental and physical state after an all-too-short break between seasons.

"I had to make the change even if I am not better in the beginning," he said of an equipment change he first considered making after losing the US Open final to Novak Djokovic in September. "We had to make the decision so that it will be better in the future," Nadal explained. "Probably that hurts my game a little bit to begin

with. Is that a risk at the beginning of the season - yes." Nadal hopes that the change will lend some extra weight to his serve, which at times has been the least potent of the world's top four. His twin problems are that Djokovic last year took his game to a new level of intensity, and that he has been struggling with discomfort in his shoulder for several weeks.

Nadal also admitted that a combination of this injury and continuing twinges in a knee, plus the shortness of the break between seasons, made him consider missing this week and going straight to Melbourne for the Australian Open. He decided to delay the racket change till now because of his commitments to the Tokyo and Shanghai tournaments, which were quickly followed by the ATP World Tour finals and the Davis Cup final at the start of December. That left Nadal, after a short rest, with little more than a week to prepare for the

2012 season, increasing the risks in what he calls an "investment" in the weightier racket. "But it was still the right moment, to change," said the 25-year-old Spaniard.

"If not now, then when?"

Nadal is a conspicuously resilient character, but still acknowledges that this week will be "difficult" as he seeks a good preparation for the first Grand Slam of 2012. Although he is a winner of 10 Grand Slam titles, Nadal has not won a tournament since the French at the start of June, and has lost his last six finals against Djokovic.

"I don't know if it's going to be enough to beat him now or to lose him 100 more times - I cannot predict that," Nadal concluded. "What I can predict is I am going to work hard to try to be enough competitive to play with good chances against everybody, not only against him, because first thing, you have to be in the finals.

That's a very difficult thing to do."

Lampard to the rescue as Chelsea down Wolves LONDON AfP

Chelsea bounced back from their home defeat against Aston Villa with a battling 2-1 win at Wolves on Monday to relieve the pressure on under-fire manager Andre Villas-Boas. A last-gasp strike from Frank Lampard secured a vital three points for the Londoners, the veteran Chelsea midfielder pouncing in the 89th minute just moments after Stephen Ward had equalised for Wolves. The Blues -who were jeered off the pitch after Saturday's 3-1 reverse to Villa -- climbed into fourth spot following the victory although Arsenal can overtake them if they defeat Fulham in Monday's late game.

A fiery encounter saw Chelsea take the lead through Ramires on 54 minutes, and Chelsea's players celebrated by racing over to embrace Villas-Boas in a show of support for the Portuguese manager. However Wolves looked to have grabbed a share of the points when Ward struck six minutes from time only for Lampard to rescue

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Chelsea at the death. "It's a massive win. everyone knows we are having a tough time but the determination shone through and I think we deserved it," Lampard told the BBC. "The character showed as we battled through to the end and that is what the players are all about." Villas-Boas mean-

while refused to single out Lampard for praise. "The players were magnificent today, no matter who scores," Villas-Boas said. "It's a good solid team win." elsewhere, Blackburn were brought down to earth following their away win over Manchester United at the weekend after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Stoke at ewood Park, Peter Crouch scoring twice for the visitors.

Blackburn looked to have got off to a dream start only for Christopher Samba's early effort to be ruled offside. Stoke then went ahead with Crouch netting his 100th league goal from close range after Blackburn failed to deal with Dean Whitehead's chip forward. Crouch then doubled Stoke's lead with his second of the match on 45 minutes to leave Rovers staring at their eighth home defeat of the season.

David Goodwillie scrambled one back in the 69th minute to give Rovers hope but the home side were unable to find an equaliser. Aston Villa's feelgood factor from their win at Chelsea was also shattered, with newly promoted Swansea scoring a 2-0 win at Villa Park.

wOlveRHAMPTON: wolverhampton wanderers’ english defender Roger Johnson (l) vies with Chelsea’s midfielder frank lampard (R) during the english Premier league football match. afp

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Tuesday, 3 January, 2012

Sports 21

Top-form Serena out of love with tennis BRISBANE

S

Gojra, Karachi notch wins in Inter Academy Hockey

SIALKOT StAff REPoRt

Gojra, Karachi and Bahawalpur won their matches in the second PHF Inter Academy Hockey Tournament here at the Sialkot Hockey Stadium on Monday.

Gojra beat Lahore 1-0 and the winning hit was made by Gojra’s Mohammad Qasim in the 21st minute. Karachi had an easy sailing against Quetta when they got 4-1 win.

Karachi took lead in the first half through Sohail Abbas in the 13th minute and the remaining goals came in the second session.

After Quetta leveled the score in the 36th minute through their forward Qasim, Karachi responded with another three goals in the 42nd minute with goal scored by Mohammad Ibrar (PC), Hamza Ali 46th minute (PC) and Salman Khursheed 52nd minute (FG).

In the final match of the day, Bahawalpur beat Bannu 6-1. The first half was in Bahawalpur’s control but only one goal was scored.

Bahawalpur got their goals through Sohail Yousuf (three goals 24th, 41st & 57th minutes, FG), Zohaib Khan 39th minute (FG), Moadid Ali 49th minute (FG) and Umar Hamdi 53rd minute (FG) while Bannu scored their only goal when Jamil Babar scored in the 42nd minute (PC).

Meanwhile, Tournament Director Aamir Shafique has imposed one match ban on Mujahid Afzal, coach Lahore Hockey Academy, and Irfan Mahmood, Manager Gojra Hockey Academy, for their misconduct during the match between Lahore and Gojra academies.

AfP

eReNA Williams says she has fallen out of love with tennis despite recording an impressive comeback win over Chanelle Scheepers in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday. Playing her first match since losing the US Open final to Samantha Stosur in August, Williams showed why she is the most feared player in the draw as she outgunned Scheepers 6-2, 6-3.

Williams, who missed the last four months of 2011, struggled at times with her first serve but still had too much firepower for the South African, sending down seven aces in the 68-minute victory.

The 30-year-old revealed later she was cutting her schedule back in 2012 as she prepares for life after tennis. "I just want to be able to do other things that I'm doing and expand on that. I think that helps keep my motivation up," she said.

Williams, who has won 13 Grand Slam singles titles, admitted she took the latter part of 2011 off because she was tired and said she did not love the sport any more -if she ever had. "I don't love tennis today but I'm here," she said. "I can't live without it -- there's a difference between not loving something and not being able to live without it. "It's not that I've fallen out of love with it. I've actually never liked sports and I never understood how I became an athlete. "I don't like working out, I don't like anything physical. If it involves sitting down or shopping, I'm excellent at it." Australia's Stosur, the tournament top seed, demolished a gallant Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus 6-2, 6-3 and remains on track for a possible semi-final clash against Williams.

Playing her first match in Australia since winning the US Open, Stosur wasted no time reaching the second round to the delight of her home fans in a packed Pat Rafter Arena. Second seed Andrea Petkovic of Germany overcame a second set collapse to defeat Israeli Shahar Peer 7-6 (7/2), 1-6, 6-3. Petkovic, the runner-up in 2011, had problems with her serve throughout the first two sets but recovered in the third to outlast Peer in two and a quarter hours.

Former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic breezed into the second round with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Austrian Tamira Paszek.

Ivanovic raced through the first set then

WatCh it Live STAR SPORTS Hopman Cup Tennis 7:00 AM

TEN SPORTS South Africa v Sri Lanka 3rd Test Day 1 1:30 PM

Pff launches excellence Award

LAHORE StAff REPoRt

BRISBANe: Serena williams of the US reacts during her first round match against Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa at the Brisbane International tennis tournament. afp recovered from a slight wobble in the second to wrap up the match in 79 minutes.

"I really felt I played well and applied a lot of things that I have worked on," the 24year-old Serb said. "Still, there is room for improvement but it is the first match (of the year) and I'm very, very happy to be through." Ivanovic next plays Belgium's Kim Clijsters in a mouthwatering second round clash. Fellow countrywoman Jelena Jankovic joined Ivanovic in the second round with a 6-4, 6-2 win over

Wozniacki wins despite late show PErtH: World number one Caroline Wozniacki arrived in Australia just hours before her match but defied jet lag and fatigue to make a winning start at the mixed teams Hopman Cup on Monday.

She scored an impressive 7-6, 6-2 win over American Bethanie MattekSands after flying in from Thailand, where she was playing in a charity event. Wozniacki and unheralded team-mate Frederik Nielsen upset the pair of Mattek-Sands and Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-3 in the mixed doubles encounter, giving Denmark a 2-1 win over the United States in Group A. Wozniacki said it was an unusual experience to play so soon after her arrival. "It is the first time I have done that and I was bit nervous about how my body would Caroline wozniacki of denmark acknowledges the crowd after defeating Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the US. afp feel," she said. AfP

Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro. Russia's eighth seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also progressed when Slovenia's Polona Hercog withdrew with Pavlyuchenkova leading 6-1, 4-1. In other matches, Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva thrashed Russian qualifier Vera Dushevina 6-0, 60, the Czech Republic's Barbora Zahlavova Strycova saw off Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 and American qualifier Vania King upset Hungary's Melinda Czink 6-3, 6-4.

The Pakistan Football Federation on Monday launched the PFF excellence Award for the top performing teams in domestic events. According to an official of the PFF, the award will be presented on annual basis and the winner association will get Rs one million. “On the directives of PFF President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, the concept of PFF excellence Award was devised and its modalities were presented before the PFF Congress, which unanimously gave approval for it,” a PFF spokesman said.

If a provincial football association is given one million rupees, half of it would be awarded to regional, departmental and club teams for excellent performances respectively. Secretary PFF Col (retd) Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi said: “In order to activate the infrastructure of football throughout Pakistan with a mission to take football to new heights, a comprehensive presentation on PFF excellence Award was presented to PFF Congress Members on September 17, 2011 at Football House here.” He further stated that awards will be given annually and the evaluation period would be from January to December every year. The first award will be given in January 2013.

Kvitova off to perfect start PERTH AfP

World number two Petra Kvitova made a perfect start to 2012 as the top-seeded Czech Republic saw off Bulgaria at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Australia on Monday.

Kvitova opened her new campaign with a straight-sets win over Tsvetana Pironkova as the Czechs took the Group A tie 2-1.

Although the 46th-ranked Pironkova was highly competitive, Kvitova had too much power, winning 6-4, 6-2 in 75 minutes.

Wimbledon champion Kvitova admitted there was added pressure on her heading into 2012 compared to 12 months earlier, when she was ranked 34th in the world. "every season is different," she said.

"One year ago I was 34, now I am two at the start of the season and everyone is seeing me on the court for the first time, and it's not always easy to play on the court.

"The first match for the year is always tough, but I played well."

Kvitova, who is hot on the heels of Hopman Cup rival Caroline Wozniacki, could secure the top world ranking within weeks.

Her team-mate, the world number seven Tomas Berdych, secured the overall tie with a hard-fought three-sets win over talented youngster Grigor Dimitrov, 6-4, 6-7 (9/11), 6-3.

The Bulgarians earned a consolation by staving off three match points to win a marathon dead mixed-doubles rubber 2-6, 6-3, 11-9.

Berdych had lost his only previous encounter to the gifted Dimitrov, but prevailed in what was a high-standard singles clash to start the year.

"He's going to be really dangerous this

PeRTH: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic celebrates defeating Tsvetana Pironkova. afp year," Berdych said. "It gives you even more confidence to have the first win of the year and even to play a really solid game like it was today, so I'm happy for that."

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Taliban to focus on US forces instead of Pakistanis g

discourage ‘unwarranted killings’, kidnappings for ransom g Pakistani commanders, Haqqani agree to form five-member council to resolve differences

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MONITORING DESK

11, according to a militant who attended.

Pakistani militants have long been split over where they should focus their fighting.

The Pakistani Taliban have concentrated on toppling their own government, although they have sent some fighters to Afghanistan.

Other Pakistani groups based in the tribal region have almost exclusively directed their attacks against foreign forces in Afghanistan, said the report. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud attended the two meetings on November 27 in Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan agency, and December 11 in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, TTP spokesman ehsanullah ehsan told channel. Other prominent Pakistani militant leaders who attended included Mehsud’s deputy, Waliur Rehman, and two commanders who have focused on fighting in Afghanistan, Maulvi Nazir and Gul Bahadur, ehsan said. Also there was Sirajuddin Haqqani, an Afghan militant based in North Waziristan who leads one of the most feared groups fighting in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban fighters at the meetings included Zabiullah Mujahid,

ROMINeNT al Qaeda and Afghan Taliban fighters asked Pakistani militants in a pair of rare meetings to set aside their differences and step up support for the battle against USled forces in Afghanistan, militant commanders were quoted as saying by a private TV channel on Monday.

The meetings were held in Pakistan’s tribal region in November and December at the request of the Afghan Taliban’s leadership council. They could indicate the militants are struggling in Afghanistan, or conversely, that they want to make sure they hit US forces hard as the Americans accelerate their withdrawal this year, said the channel. That could give the Taliban additional leverage in any peace negotiations.

“For God’s sake, forget all your differences and give us fighters to boost the battle against America in Afghanistan,” senior al Qaeda commander Abu Yahya al-Libi told Pakistani fighters at a meeting on December

a well-known spokesman, and Maulvi Sangin, who claims to have custody of US Army Private Bowe R Bergdahl, captured in Afghanistan in 2009. The four Pakistani commanders and Haqqani agreed to form a council to resolve differences, two Pakistani Taliban commanders who attended the meetings told the channel. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. A pamphlet handed out in North Waziristan over the past two days announced the formation of the fivemember committee, saying it was established in consultation with the Islamic emirate of Afghanistan, the name given to the country by the Taliban. It called on Pakistani militants to coordinate with each other and “avoid unwarranted killings and kidnappings for ransom”.

“If any holy warrior is found involved in an unjustified murder or crime, he will be answerable to the committee and could face Islamic punishment,” said the pamphlet.

Hakimullah Mehsud has given the name of Maulvi Noor Saeed, the TTP leader in Orakzai Agency, to represent him in the

council while Maulvi Azmatullah will represent Waliur Rehman in the forum. The Haqqani network has chosen Maulvi Saeedullah, Hafiz Gul Bahadur has selected Maulvi Sadar Hayat and Maulvi Nazeer nominated Hafiz Ameer Hamza to represent them in the council, which would be called “Shura-e-Murakeba”. Some sources, however, argued that Mehsud’s nominee would represent the TTP while Rehman’s representative would be sitting in the council on behalf of the Taliban of South Waziristan.

Al-Libi, the al Qaeda commander, asked the Pakistani militants to provide additional fighters to the Afghan Taliban in March, when the snow melts from the passes connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan and the spring fighting season begins. The TTP spokesman said the militants agreed, but that did not mean the group would end its fight against the Pakistani government. “We will continue our jihad against Pakistani security forces,” ehsan pledged.

The five-member council was formed on the orders of the Taliban’s supreme leader Mullah Omar, INP reported. After

weeks of hectic efforts, a high-level delegation of the Afghan Taliban, sent by Omar, finally succeeded in bringing together various Pakistan militant groups on a single platform and make a promise that they would stop fighting the Pakistani security forces and end suicide attacks, kidnappings for ransom and killing of innocent people in the country, particularly in the militancy-hit tribal areas. Taliban sources said Mullah Omar was not happy with the TTP carrying out suicide attacks, kidnapping people for ransom and killing innocent people. Also, the sources said, Mullah Omar was worried by the increasing number of Pakistani Taliban diverting their attention from Afghanistan to Pakistan and making it difficult for the Afghan Taliban to continue their resistance against the powerful NATO and ISAF forces. “Convey my message to the Pakistani Taliban that you have forgotten the real purpose, which is to fight the invading forces in Afghanistan and liberate it from their occupation,” said a Taliban leader quoting Omar.

HC judges are not supposed to collect evidence: asma MONITORING DESK

KARACHI: PML-n President nawaz Sharif waves to party workers as he arrives for a meeting on Monday. INp

Nawaz denies plans to meet Zardari

NaTO wants relations with pakistan back on track

KARACHI QAZI ASIf

kABuL: NATO wants to get relations with Pakistan back on track “as quickly as possible” to reopen its key supply route for foreign troops fighting in Afghanistan, a coalition spokesman said on Monday.

“We... have an interest for the international community and for Afghanistan that relations with Pakistan are normalising as quickly as possible,” said Brigadier General Carsten Jacobsen. “We are aware that there are things that are not travelling to Afghanistan because they are stuck at border control points. “It mainly affects the economy, wages, work for people who are in the transport business in Pakistan and Afghanistan.” The spokesman for NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, however sought to allay concerns among Afghans that the route blockage would force the coalition to buy locally and force a hike in the price of fuel and food. “The people of Afghanistan will not be challenged by NATO buying their fuel and their food. NATO’s stockpiles are more than sufficient,” he said. An official in Karachi earlier said NATO military vehicles and supplies were piling up at the docks, with truck drivers unable to drive them to the northwestern border to cross into Afghanistan. “At present, a total of 3,676 military vehicles and 1,732 containers belonging to NATO forces are at the port,” a port official told AFP on condition of anonymity. afp

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that he did not know who was arranging his meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari and for what purpose, and news regarding any such meeting was not correct. He told workers and reporters at Quaid-e-Azam International Airport after arriving in Karachi that he did not come to the city to meet the president but to hold a meeting with the party’s Karachi zonal council. He said he would support democracy and strengthen it because if democracy had seen continuity in Pakistan, the situation would be very different. He said India developed because of democracy and Pakistan lagged behind.

Nawaz said the government must take bold decisions to come out of crises. “I told Zardari the Charter of Democracy was signed

by Benazir Bhutto and it must be honoured. We presented a complete framework but it was not implemented,” he said. Later, when Nawaz was speaking to party workers at the meeting of the council, slogans of ‘Go Zardari Go’ were raised, which he stopped. Nawaz said during his tenure, the country was on the path of development.

After the motorway, his government

wanted to build a bullet train rail from Karachi to Peshawar, but it was toppled. Criticising Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, Nawaz said PTI was where the cantonment team of former president Pervez Musharraf had manage to gather.

He said load shedding must be eliminated from the country and poverty should also be eliminated. “every institution including the army should be used with the guideline of the government,” he said. He promised that his government would eliminate load shedding and he was in favour of new provinces on an administrative basis, not linguistic. He said his party was also supporting a Hazara province but opposed any new province within Sindh on the basis of language. During the council session, Syed Ghous Ali Shah was elected president of PML-N Sindh while Saleem Zia was elected general secretary of the party. However, the party structure of the Sindh chapter could not be completed as the president and general secretary were announced but other posts of the party could not be filled. Leaders from various districts of the province became angry because of this and walked out from meeting in protest, declaring that they did not accept Shah as the president of the Sindh chapter.

Former Supreme Court Bar Association president and lawyer for former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, Asma Jehangir has said that she did not feel the need to appear before the commission probing the “memogate” because if Supreme Court judges could not see through the grey area in the case, she doubted that high court judges in the commission could do the same.

Speaking in Geo News Capital Talk, Asma said high court judges were not supposed to investigate cases and collect evidence. Asked why had she expressed lack of trust in the commission when her client had not, she said she had been forced to think that way after seeing all nine SC judges thinking alike and putting national security over and above basic human rights. She said lawyers had not worked to restore the incumbent judiciary to see it cut the very roots of the people and deny them basic human rights in the name of national security. She said the petition would have been maintainable in the first place if the piece of paper [memo] had actually sabotaged somebody’s basic right, but it did not. She said if basic human rights were compromised in the name of national security today, then a day would come that the freedom of press, freedom of association and existence of political

parties could also be sacrificed for the same cause. She said her client would have no where to go and no forum to plead his case if the high court judges made mistake in their investigation. “If courts do not follow due process than there is no difference between a panchayat and a court,” she said.

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