E-paper PakistanToday 14th April 2012

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Karzai in intensified efforts for reconciliation with resistance leaders

Call me a liar again and I’ll sue you, Aitzaz Ahsan warns media PAGE | 03

PAGE | 06

The danger of flying while Khan PAGE |14

Rs 15.00 Vol ii no 287 22 pages Karachi edition

Saturday, 14 april, 2012 Jamadi-ul-awal 21, 1433

In politics, charity begins at home g

Cabinet size swells to 61 with 5 new federal and 6 state ministers, all but one from PPP g MQM and ANP not consulted on new ministers ISLAMABAD

I

Staff RepoRt

n an apparent bid to win back the support of estranged Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) parliamentarians, PPP Co-chairman President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday administered oath to eleven new ministers, including

five federal ministers and six ministers of state to the already beefy federal cabinet.

This was another important development in the wake of rising temperatures between the government and the judiciary, as the government changed its legal team only a day before. The two main characters of the PCO saga were given representation by the government, as Irfan Qadir and Yas-

min Abbasi were appointed attorney general and law secretary, respectively.

The new inductions will bring the number of federal ministers to 37, while the number of state ministers has now reached 14. With five advisers and as many special assistants, the cabinet’s size has gone up to 61, in violation of the 18th constitutional amendment.

Pakistan to import electricity from India ISLAMABAD online

Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed naveed Qamar has said that Pakistan had decided in principle to import electricity from India to meet its energy requirements. He said this while talking to a four-member Indian delegation of Global Energy, who called on him led by Harry Dhaul at his office. The delegation is visiting Pakistan to discuss the possibilities of exporting power from India to Pakistan in continuation with the meeting of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and the Indian prime minister held in China.

The minister said Pakistan was facing difficulties due to a shortage of electricity and early import of power from India would help bridge the demand-supply gap. He said the electricity trade between the two countries Continued on page 04

US cuts aid projects in Pakistan LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Just a day after Pakistan’s parliament unanimously approved new guidelines for the country’s reengagement with the United States, a top US aid official said on Friday that Washington was drastically reducing the number of aid projects in Pakistan as part of reforms aimed at “improving the distribution of billions of dollars in funding”.

According to media reports, Rajiv Shah, the head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), said the total amount of civilian aid will remain the same, but the US hoped the reorganization will produce better, higher profile outcomes that can win hearts and minds in a country where antiAmerican sentiment is rampant.

The move comes over two years after the US launched a five-year, $7.5 billion civilian aid program in Pakistan that supporters

hoped would improve the perception of America, elicit greater support from the government in the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaida and reduce the allure of those groups to average Pakistanis. The vast majority of aid before that went to the military.

Despite spending $2.6 billion in civilian aid, popular support for the US has actually fallen as relations between the two countries have deteriorated, and elements of the Pakistani government are widely believed to have continued backing Islamist militants killing American troops in Afghanistan.

Experts have criticized the aid mission for lacking clear goals and for not providing enough information about how the money is spent. The dominant narrative in Pakistan is that the funds have done little to help average citizens — a message the US has tried to counter.

Continued on page 04

However, the move triggered a new controversy as the PPP leadership did not consult its two coalition partners — the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami national Party (AnP) - prior to inducting new ministers, sources said.

Only one state minister, Raheela Baloch, who was elected from Balochistan, was picked from a coalition partner, the

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) after the resignation by Amir Muqam, who joined the PML-nawaz.

The oath-taking was held at the presidency and was attended by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, cabinet members, parliamentarians and senior officials.

Continued on page 04

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02 News Today’s

Saturday, 14 April, 2012

KArAChI

NewS

Years afrer acid horror, suicide stirs pakistan

Karzai in intensified efforts for reconciliation with resistance leaders

Story on Page 09

Story on Page 06

CArtooN

Quick Look

Fire kills five in Gujranwala

Page 13

Planning Commission refuses to accept decisions of Cabinet Committee ISLAMABAD inp

GUJRAnWALA: Fire broke out in a three-storey store situated in Satellite Town of Gujranwala district on Friday, killing five people and injuring 12 others. Reportedly, the newly constructed roof of the plaza caved in on Friday, causing short circuiting that led to a fire. It took the firefighting squad two hours to put the fire out. One of the injured, Mohsin, who works as an accountant in the plaza, said they were working in the store when the roof of the second floor collapsed and fell on the roof of the first floor. Resultantly, the other roof also collapsed and suddenly a fire broke out. Abu Sufiyan, another worker, said he heard a huge noise and in sheer panic, ran out of the building. “But the roof collapsed and we got stuck,” he said, adding that 22 people worked in a store in the plaza. The rescue squad confirmed five causalities, identified as Imran, Wahab, Ghaffar, nadir and Aslam, while 12 people sustained severe injuries and were transferred to Civil Hospital Gujranwala. Rana Umer, the owner of the store, told Pakistan Today that huge damage was incurred due to the incident, but main loss remained that of five lives. DCO Ch Amin said inquiries of TMA would be conducted and whosoever was found guilty would be brought to justice. Staff RepoRt

Zardari appeals Indian PM to allow Chishti’s repatriation ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has appealed to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allow the repatriation of Dr Chishti to Pakistan on humanitarian grounds. Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the president made this appeal in a personal letter addressed to the Indian Prime Minister.

The letter was sent on Friday to Pakistan’s High Commissioner in India for onward delivery to the Indian Prime Minister, he said.

Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the President had taken up this matter with the Indian Prime Minister during his meeting with Manmohan Singh in new Delhi last Sunday while on way to Ajmer Sharif. The President letter also said that this gesture would add momentum to the goodwill generated after resumption of the composite dialogue between the two countries. nni

CJ asks Punjab govt to provide security to woman declared ‘vani’ ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has directed the authorities concerned to provide security to Tahira, a resident of Bhakkar declared “vani” by her family members. A three-member bench of CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Pervez on Friday heard the case regarding the antiquated traditions to convict women. During the hearing, details of cases regarding convicting women in Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad were presented in the court. The CJ directed the Punjab government to constitute a committee to probe into issue of Tahira, who had been declared vani by her family, and present a report on the next hearing.

The Planning Commission has rejected the recommendations of Special Cabinet Committee headed by Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah regularizing the services of 2,000 employees working on seventeen projects of Ministry of Food Security and Research. Sources in the Ministry of Food Security said the secretary, Shafqat naghmi, had issued necessary orders for the regularization of the services of these employees and with the refusal of the Planning Commission the orders have become ineffective.

According to details, 2,000 employees working on various projects were removed from services after the passage of the 18th Amendment in the constitution and devolution of the Food Ministry to provinces. The affected employees approached the special cabinet committee which after considering all the record ordered their immediate restoration and payment of eight months salary.

After their restoration, the secretary for Food Security and Research approached the Finance Ministry and Planning Commission and also met with the concerned officials on Friday. During the meeting, Planning Commission Secretary Asif Bajwa refused to release salary of the employees and said he did not accept the decisions of the Cabinet Committee.

SIACHEN: A photograph issued by the ISPR shows rescue personnel undertaking the search operation for their missing colleagues in Gayari sector on Friday. INP

International Judicial Conference opens g

CJP says judiciary must be characterised by equality in its objective of dispensing justice ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The judiciary must be characterised by equality, fairness and integrity in its objective of dispensing justice, as its work is a critical element in the good governance of a state, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said on Friday.

Addressing the inaugural session of a threeday international judicial conference at the Supreme Court, he said expeditious and inexpensive dispensation of justice was the mandate of the constitution. He said it was the first priority of the judiciary and that was why efforts were being made to improve the performance of justice sector institutions.

He said nevertheless, every system had potential for reforms and improvement to keep pace with the changing times and emerging realities.

“This is done partly through the process of exchanging views, sharing ideas and learning from each other’s experiences. We are mindful of this process and for this reason all the stakeholders of justice sector are regularly taken on board either through Judicial Conferences or by taking up their

suggestions in the meetings of national Judicial (Policymaking) Committee to further improve the process of administration of justice.”

He said last year’s judicial conference proved highly productive and useful due to the active participation of all stakeholders of the justice sector including academia, scholars, jurists, lawyers, and others. It was unique in the sense that media persons, litigants and prisoners were also invited to attend the conference and share their experiences to develop a workable mechanism to further improve the performance of administration of justice, he said.

He said the judicial policy largely incorporated the letter and substance of recommendations of the working groups in the conference and improvements were made in the trial procedure including non-submission of challan, defective investigations, non-production of under-trial prisoners and other issues having direct bearing on the administration of criminal justice system and stringent steps were adopted to curb the menace of corruption.

The CJP also drew the attention of the participants to a recent Siachen tragedy, where last week

about 139 Pakistani troops, were trapped under an avalanche.

He said the world had changed and turned into a global village and most of the countries had joined hands in various fields to their mutual advantage. “There is room for the stakeholders of the justice sector as well, to sit together and explore the possibilities of benefiting from the knowledge and experiences of each other. I am confident that this conference will provide a platform to all stakeholders of the justice sector to review, debate and resolve issues being faced in the administration of justice in the light of their rich knowledge and experiences,” the CJP said.

He said it was for the first time in the history of the country that the chosen representative of people, who took their offices as a result of election taken place on February 18, 2008 had, commendably, stayed away from unconstitutional acts.

He said the Supreme Court had not only imposed restrictions on dictators but the members of the judiciary had also been restrained from providing protection to the unconstitutional acts. He said free, fair and impartial dispensation of justice is a key principle of Islamic system of governance.

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Saturday, 14 April, 2012

ForeIGN NewS

ArtS & eNtertAINMeNt

SPortS

north Korea supreme leader leads mass rally

Coldplay takes inspiration from ‘Kung fu panda 2’

pakistan probes domestic t20 match

News 03 CoMMeNt Success and challenges MoUs would bring the important area under civilian oversight.

local bodies

The courts are right, of course.

arif nizami says: Consensus, at last: Islamabad cannot expect to have the cake and eat it too.

White lies Last week, when President Zardari spent a few days in Lahore boosting jiyala morale with Sultan Rahi type one-liners, many aimed against his PML(N) rivals, people did note a certain development in his entourage.

Story on Page 15

Story on Page 17

Story on Page 18

Articles on Page 12-13

94% legislators did not debate on PCNS recommendations g

only 28 of 445 legislators took part, senators showed more interest than MNAs ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The joint session of parliament held from March 20 to April 12 saw only one-fourth of the session time spent on debating the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on national Security (PCnS) formed to review relations with the United States and general foreign policy with 94 percent of the parliamentarians staying away from the crucial debate and only 28 (six percent) of the 445 legislators in the national Assembly and Senate debating the PCnS report for a total of 338 minutes.

Only four percent of the

MnAs in the House of 341 and only 13 percent of senators in the House of 104 spoke on the relations with the US, said a FAFEn report.

Spread over nine sittings, the longest joint session in Pakistan’s parliamentary history unanimously approved new recommendations on relations with the US and general foreign policy. However, the debate showed that the parliamentarians were reluctant to share their thoughts on re-setting ties, which included issues of opening land supply lines for nATO troops in Afghanistan and the drone strikes inside Pakistan.

Only one-fourth of the ses-

sion time was consumed on actually discussing the PCnS report and the rest of the time was taken up by discussions on targeted killings in Karachi and Balochistan, sectarian violence in Gilgit-Baltistan, increase in prices of petroleum products and power outages.

The PCnS report was completely ignored in three sittings.

In the eighth sitting, it was discussed for only 15 minutes by a PPP legislator. Though the opposition parties – PML-n and JUIF rejected the first draft of PCnS recommendations, their legislators were conspicuous by way of their absence during the debate.

Three PML-n senators and

two MnAs took part in the debate. The party has 104 legislators in the two Houses of parliament.

One parliamentarian each from the AnP, JUI-F, MMAP and the PML-F took part in the debate. Thirty-two MQM legislators in the two houses and 12 independents in the Senate stayed away from the debate on the report.

Though 11 legislators of the PPP shared their thoughts on the report, they only make up seven percent of the treasury benches in parliament.

Of 55 PML-Q legislators in parliament, only three took part in the debate, said the report.

Call me a liar again and I’ll sue you, Aitzaz Ahsan warns media ISLAMABAD

Pakistan committed to constructive talks with India: FM ISLAMABAD: Underlining the importance of environment of trust between Islamabad and new Delhi, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Friday said that Pakistan was committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented dialogue with India. An Indian media delegation called on the Foreign Minister Khar at the Foreign Ministry, according to foreign office statement. The Foreign Minister briefed the delegation on the recent developments in Pakistan-India relations. She said that the government of Pakistan was committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India. Staff RepoRt

inp

Former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Aitzaz Ahsan on Friday warned a section of the media against legal action for “false reporting”.

Talking to journalists outside the Supreme Court, Aitzaz said that a newspaper termed him as “a liar” for his argument in the court while the court was yet to decide whether he had “lied” or not.

He said that he had put the news item

before the SC bench. Aitzaz said that he could sue the reporters for billions of rupees for false reporting – an action that might cost them their jobs – but that he did not want to bully the media.

Aitzaz said that he was not against the media’s freedom, as it had supported the lawyers’ movement in restoring deposed judges of the Supreme Court.

He said that he was being targeted because he had taken the case of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. He claimed that the case had nothing to do with corruption while the media had depicted it as a corruption case.

SC to hear haqqani’s plea for video link on 19th ISLAMABAD MaSood RehMan

The Supreme Court on Friday set April 19 to hear a petition filed by Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani seeking equal opportunity for recording his statement through a video link from London as it was done in the case of Mansoor Ijaz, the central character in the memogate.

A 10-member special bench headed

by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will hear the petition. This petition was filed before the judicial commission probing the memo controversy by Haqqani’s counsel Zahid Hussain Bukhari.

It was also filed before the Supreme Court on March 24 by Haqqani through his counsel Asma Jahangir. The judicial commission had rejected the application and directed Haqqani to personally appear before it. The same application was pending before the Supreme Court as well for adjudication, for which the chief justice constituted a 10-member special bench on Friday to hear the petition on April 19.

Haqqani had also submitted his 82page written statement before the

three-member commission formed to probe the memo controversy stating that he contacted Mansoor Ijaz on May 9, 2011, not to draft and forward a memo but to ask him to tone down his criticism of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan Army, and the Government of Pakistan. Haqqani said in his statement that he was very active in his endeavour of damage control after the May 2 Abbottabad operation and he has been in contact with several media persons, and has also been promoting Pakistan’s point of view through the western media.

Haqqani’s counsel told the commission that his client had not declined to appear before it in person but filed a request before the commission as well as the Supreme Court for providing equal treatment to him. Bukhari said his client had been facing threats in Pakistan which is why he had applied before the Supreme Court to ask the commission to record his statement in the UK through video link. He said he could not disclose the nature of threats to Haqqani at this juncture. However, he said that Haqqani had been facing “numerous threats”.

Bukhari has pleaded before the

apex court to advance a similar kind of facility to his client that the commission awarded to Mansoor Ijaz in recording his statement from London through a video link.

In his application before the Supreme Court, Haqqani said that he had “grave security concerns” because of many “frivolous” and “sensational” allegations levelled by Mansoor Ijaz, and many intelligence agencies were in contact with Ijaz as he himself had admitted it during the proceedings of the commission, and that his family feared for his life in case he travelled to Pakistan.

Haqqani stated in his statement before the commission that he had no role in creating/drafting or delivering the alleged memorandum to the US Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen which was first reported in the Financial Times by Ijaz. Haqqani said that he was waiting to submit his detailed statement once Ijaz submits his entire evidence in support of his claims. He said there was no human witness to support Ijaz’s claim that he had drafted and delivered a disputed memo to Gen James Jones for onward transmission to Mullen under his (Haqqani’s) instructions because Ijaz’s assertions were false.

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04 News

Saturday, 14 April, 2012

SC allows newly appointed Grossman arriving in a few days to begin crucial round of talks AG to prosecute PM in contempt case ISLAMABAD

Shaiq huSSain

ISLAMABAD MaSood RehMan

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the newly appointed Attorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir to prosecute Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the contempt of court case initiated for disobeying court orders on writing a letter to the Swiss authorities for reopening corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

A seven-member special bench comprising Justice nasirul Mulk, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed, heard the case. The government appointed Irfan Qadir as Attorney General on Thursday, replacing Maulvi Anwarul Haq. At the start of the hearing, Qadir told the court that he had recently been appointed as AG, and if the court would allow him, he would act as a prosecutor in the contempt case.

Justice nasirul Mulk, however, observed that the court had appointed Maulvi Anwarul Haq as the prosecutor in the contempt case; however, he said it was strange that the prime minister, despite being accused in the contempt case, had replaced his prosecutor with a person of his choice.

Aitzaz Ahsen, counsel for Gilani, told the court that Irfan Qadir was not an individual, but an ‘attorney general’, who would act as prosecutor according to the rules.

Justice nasirul Mulk enquired Aitzaz if it could be said that the prime minister had himself appointed his own prosecutor, and whether such assertion was not in violation of Article 10-A, which pertains to “fair trial”.

Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry noted that the attorney general had been replaced by a person against whom a contempt of court

case was in progress.

“Should such an accused be permitted to appoint a prosecutor of his liking?”

Justice Ijaz Ahmad enquired. Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan remarked that if the contempt of court case was against the attorney general himself, should he be made a prosecutor?

Meanwhile, the court called Maulvi Anwarul Haq and asked him if the court had appointed him by name or with his post to prosecute the premier in the contempt case. The court asked Haq if he wanted to continue to assist the court.

The former AG replied that according to the rules, the attorney general was supposed to be the prosecutor. He requested the court to relieve him from the contempt case, which the court accepted and allowed Irfan Qadir to act as prosecutor in the contempt case. Irfan Qadir sought time to go through the details of the contempt case, which the court allowed.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa told Qadir that being a prosecutor he would have to bring all the evidence pertaining to the contempt case, as the prime minister could be sentenced in this case.

Qadir assured that he would assist the court as per law.

During the hearing, Aitzaz Ahsen presented a news item published against him in the court. He said he had been accused of “telling a lie” before the court. He said one newspaper had already reported that he was telling a lie.

“It is very difficult for me to assist the court in such pressure,” Aitzaz submitted. Justice Asif Saeed told Aitzaz that the issue was between him and the media, and the court would not take notice into it.

Aitzaz hinted that he was thinking to file a defamation suit against a section of the media, which was defaming him, so that its staff could lose its jobs. Later the court adjourned further hearing until April 16.

P

AKISTAn and United States are about to engage in crucial diplomatic consultations on the finalization of “new agreement on counter terrorism cooperation” for which the special envoy of the Obama administration, Marc Grossman, is expected to reach Pakistan in the next few days and his trip would be followed by the Pak-US foreign ministers’ meeting to seal the pact.

Pakistani parliament on Thursday approved “new guidelines for the rules of engagement with US” in which it gave a green signal to opening non-lethal nATO supplies meant for nATO troops in Afghanistan by barring only the supply of weapons to the neighboring country. now, Islamabad and Washington would work out the amount involving the taxation of nATO trucks and containers and also finalize measures to ensure smooth supply of Coalition Support Funds (CSF) to Islamabad and for that ambassador Grossman

is coming to Islamabad.

“Grossman’s visit will be followed by the two foreign ministers’ meeting for which either Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will go to Washington or US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive here in the next couple of weeks. It is being finalized which foreign minister will be the host and which one will be the guest,” said a diplomatic source on Friday, seeking anonymity.

Pakistan and the United States also need to work out to mutual satisfaction on another contentious issue of drone strikes in the Tribal Areas.

Pakistani parliament on Thursday once again called for cessation of these attacks but the diplomatic sources said Washington was unlikely to halt them and instead could go for reduction in their number, something which is already being practiced by the CIA. “Grossman will also discuss the drone issue with Pakistani officials and so would Secretary of State Clinton with Foreign Minister Khar and most likely CIA Chief General David Petraeus will also take up this issue with new ISI head Lt General Zaheerul Islam,” the source said. Another diplo-

Pakistan to North Korean rocket launch fails, import electricity draws condemnation from India PYONGYANG

Continued fRom page 01

would enhance the economic ties and bilateral relations.

Qamar said it was Pakistan’s desire that the modalities, tariff and terms and conditions for import of power may be finalized at the earliest so that the project may be started soon.

He said initially, Pakistan might import up to 500MW which may be supplied with the construction of small transmission lines from both sides.

The minister also directed the ministry, nTDC and Central Power Purchasing Agency to finalize the terms and conditions and submit the initial report in the next week for further processing.

Harry Dhaul said they were interested in long-term relations and would export reliable electricity to Pakistan. He said the electricity trade was beneficial for both countries and would open new avenues of economic ties.

During the meeting, it was agreed that Pakistan and India would construct 45 Kilometer 220 KV transmission lines within six months after formal agreement in this respect. The agreement would be for five years and would be negotiable for extension for another five years or more.

afp

north Korea’s heralded longrange rocket test ended in failure Friday, disintegrating in mid-air soon after blastoff and plunging into the sea in a major embarrassment for the reclusive state.

The defiant launch drew condemnation from world leaders who described it as a “provocative” act threatening regional security, despite Pyongyang insisting it was intended to put a satellite into orbit for peaceful purposes.

Some four hours after the rocket exploded over the Yellow Sea, the north admitted the satellite had failed to enter orbit, and that “scientists, technicians and experts are now looking into the cause of the failure”.

The United States and its allies slammed the exercise as a disguised ballistic missile test that contravened United nations resolutions triggered by Pyongyang’s two nuclear tests. “north Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in provocative acts, and is wasting its money on weapons and propaganda displays while the north Korean people go hungry,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

He said the launch “violates international law and contravenes its own recent commitments”, under which Pyongyang had agreed to suspend its nuclear and missile tests in return for US food aid.

South Korea’s defence ministry said the rocket lifted

off at 07:39 am (2239 GMT Thursday) and flew for just over two minutes before it “splintered into two parts, probably due to a blast” and then broke into smaller pieces.

The debris fell into the Yellow Sea off South Korea and its navy launched a salvage operation to retrieve the debris, despite warnings from Pyongyang last week not to attempt such an operation.

“We are keeping a close watch over the north for further provocative acts such as missile tests and a nuclear test,” the ministry said, referring to fears the launch could be followed by north Korea’s third atomic test.

The South’s Defence Minister Kim Kwan-Jin also said that the north’s troops had been placed on heightened vigilance.

Four killed as violence rules in Karachi KARACHI nni

At least four people were killed in several shooting incidents in Lyari and other areas of the port city on Friday morning, police said. The victims included a private school’s principal and a woman.

On Friday morning, Lyari plunged into tension again with sustained intense firing in various areas, including Chakiwara and Lee Market.

Some people also hurled hand grenades at the police.

In other incidents, a man, Hayat Gul, was gunned down overnight in Miran naka. His body was brought to the Civil Hospital. Meanwhile, Aqeel, son of Samad, was killed in a firing incident in Korangi’s Sector51C and another man Majidur Rehman was injured. Both the deceased and the injured were rushed to Jinnah Hospital.

Separately, some unidentified armed miscreants stormed into a private school located in Baldia Town in the limits of Saeedabad Police Station, and shot dead the

school principal, Iftikhar Ahmed. The assassins fled from the scene immediately.

In another incident, unidentified miscreants escaped after leaving behind the body of a 35-year woman at Usman Memorial Hospital in Azizabad. The hospital management informed police about the body. The deceased woman had received two gunshots. The victim could not be identified until the filing of this story. Police said it had started investigating the incidents.

Britain makes it tough US cuts aid projects in Pakistan for Pakistani students Continued fRom page 01

LONDON inp

Britain has decided to make it tough for Pakistani students to step on the English soil, following a pilot scheme finding as many as four in ten applicants may be bogus.

British Home Office figures have revealed that thousands of student visa applicants cannot speak English, despite claiming they want to study here, the Daily Mail reported.

Home Secretary Theresa May has now decreed that anyone wanting to come to study in Britain fromPakistan must be interviewed by border agency officials before a visa is granted. An estimated 10,000 Pakistani students apply to come to the country every year. Presently, if paper applications raise suspicions,

applicants may be interviewed in their home country.

Of these, around 20 percent are rejected. But a recent pilot scheme in which every applicant was required to have a face-to-face interview found that up to 43 percent should be rejected.

A senior Whitehall source said that by far the biggest reason for them being turned down was poor English language skills.

“Britain is open for business to the best and brightest.

But the message to bogus students is clear - you will be found out and you will be stopped from coming,” said the source.

Last month, a report by the national Audit Office found that a flawed immigration crackdown may have allowed up to 50,000 bogus students into Britain.

Shah said the US has done much more in recent years than it receives credit, including providing medical training that saved the lives of an estimated 30,000 children and working to ensure that 900,000 kids were able to attend school.

But he said the US had also tried to do too many things at once in the country, which hindered results and made it more difficult for Pakistanis to see the benefits.

He did not name specific programs likely to be cut. But he said the US is working to cut the number of projects from a high of over 140 to around 35 by the end of September in five key areas: energy, economic growth, health, education and stabilization of Afghan border areas.

“If we are trying to do 140 different things, we are unlikely to do things at scale in a way that an entire country of 185 million people can see and value and appreciate,” Rajiv told The Associated Press in an interview in Islamabad.

“We are just far more effective and we deliver much more value to American taxpayers when we concentrate and focus and deliver results.”

Shah said another potential benefit of concentrating the focus of the aid mission is that it could give the US greater leverage in pressing the Pakistani government to undertake necessary reforms, especially in the energy sector, which Washington has made its top priority.

“You can only be effective at direct engagement with Pakistani

leaders if you say, ‘Look we are big enough and important enough to your energy sector that we should have a real policy dialogue and make sure you are continuing to make these very tough reforms,’” said Shah.

Some American lawmakers have called for aid to be halted unless Pakistan improves its cooperation fighting Islamist militants. These calls were especially loud after Osama bin Laden was discovered hiding in a Pakistani garrison town last May. The US has suspended hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid but has kept civilian assistance flowing.

Shah said it was in US interests to continue providing civilian aid because it would help foster a more stable and prosperous Pak-

istan, making it a less fertile breeding ground for Islamist militants who threaten America.

“Our logo and our tagline says ‘From the American People,’ but in reality this work is very much for the American people,” said Shah. “We are safer and more secure ... when countries are prosperous and when countries trade with us instead of represent a militant threat.”

Earlier in the day, State Department Spokesperson Victoria nuland said, “Washington seeks a relationship with Pakistan that is enduring, strategic, and more clearly defined. We look forward to discussing these policy recommendations with the Government of Pakistan and continuing to engage with it on our shared interests.”

mat when contacted also confirmed the exchange of important visits between Islamabad and Washington in the next few days. He said the trips were aimed at working out a pact on future cooperation in war on terror between Islamabad and Washington. To a question on announcement of the reopening of nATO supply routes by Pakistan for food and other non-lethal goods in the wake of parliament’s joint session, he said first the US would come up with an apology for attacking Salala checkpost and after that we could see that announcement being made.

Pakistani given 12 years jail for militant group support WASHINGTON: A Pakistani man living in the United States was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release for providing material support for the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), US official said. Jubair Ahmad, 24, who lived in Woodbridge, Virginia, received the sentence after being found guilty of promoting and urging recruitment for the Pakistani group, designated by Washington as foreign terrorist organization, the Justice Department said. afp

In politics, charity begins at home Continued fRom page 01

Those who were administered oath as federal ministers included Qamar Zaman Kaira, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, nazar Mohammad Gondal, Rana Farooq Saeed Khan and Farzana Raja.

The ministers of state include nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, Raheela Baloch, Abbas Khan Afridi, Tasneem Qureshi, Malik Azmat Khan and Syed Sumsam Ali Bokhari.

The re-induction of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as federal minister might further ignite tensions between the superior judiciary and the government, as he had been deprived of his ministerial berth in the wake of rental power projects (RPPs) scam.

He was also declared responsible for “corrupt practices” in the RPPs case by the apex court, as the allegations were fully backed by PML-Q Parliamentary Leader Faisal Saleh Hayat.

The heat between Ashraf and Hayat is likely to rise when both will attend the cabinet meeting. The newly-inducted cabinet members are mainly those ministers who had been sent home in the previous cabinet reshuffle in the name of “austerity”, a manoeuvre done by PM Gilani to claim that his government had cut the size of the cabinet “strictly in line with the 18th Amendment”.

Although there was no official word about the portfolios of the newly-inducted ministers, Qamar Zaman Kaira is likely to replace Firdous Ashiq Awan as Information Minister, while Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar might be given the portfolio of Minister for Water and Power.

Moreover, Maula Bakhsh Chandio is likely to be appointed as the minister for human rights, while Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is expected to get an important ministry.

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News 05 wPIL seeks $10 million from tIP LAHORE pReSS ReleaSe

peShaWaR: Markets in most areas remained closed in protest against electricity load shedding on friday. INP

Imran condemns PCNS resolution passage PtI chief says Fazl, PML-N undermined national interest by submitting to govt’s will g Says PtI won’t accept restoration of NAto supply routes as it will prolong the war g Says resolution will cause more harm as it will increase terrorism, economic destability g

ISLAMABAD

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T I Chairman Imran Khan on Friday strongly condemned the unanimous passage by parliament of the PCnS resolution seeking to redefine Pakistan-US relations.

“What benefit will this resolution be to the people of Pakistan who have seen over 40,000 of their fellow citizens die in the US-led war on terror, a loss of $50 billion in the last four years and have seen the FDI dry up?” Khan said.

Citing the development as yet another example of the “muk muka” politics practiced by JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and the PML n, Khan demanded to know what had happened to

osama’s family to be deported next week ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will deport the widows and children of former al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to Saudi Arabia next week after their jail sentence for illegal residency ends, their lawyer said on Friday. The three women and two children were detained by security forces after a secret US special forces raid killed bin Laden in Abbottabad in May last year.

Earlier this month a court sentenced the women to 45 days in prison for illegally staying in the country. It ordered their deportation after the prison term which began on March 3 when they were formally arrested. “They are likely to be deported to Saudi Arabia on April 18, as their sentence ends on April 17,” the family’s lawyer, Aamir Khalil, said. The three widows and the children were among the 16 people detained after the U.S. raid. Two of the wives are Saudi nationals, and one is from Yemen. inp

the principle of “give peace a chance”, which was the central to the APC resolution passed unanimously by all the mainstream political parties of the country.

He reiterated that the new resolution was merely a continuation of making the Pakistani state play a mercenary role for the US and only the price for this had been jacked up. However, he said the money that would come would go into the hands of a few and would be of no benefit to the country.

The PTI chief said it would cause more harm as it would increase terrorism, militancy, greater polarisation within the country and more economic destabilisation.

He said the farce of reviving the nATO supply route for non-lethal

goods would sustain the US war in Afghanistan as all nATO supplies were for their military’s sustenance and war effort against Afghanistan.

“The PTI will not accept any restoration of nATO supply routes through the country as any supply going to nATO forces will prolong the war as it supports the war effort,” Khan declared.

“It is not simply a matter of money.

It is a matter of extricating Pakistan from this war which is not Pakistan’s war at all and which has aggravated terrorism in Pakistan,” he said.

Khan said it was pathetic to see Fazlur Rehman playing his usual game of simply upping his purchase price by declaring that his party would never allow any nATO supply route to be opened

and then whimpering out and accepting the PCnS draft resolution. The same was true for the PML-n which made strong statements against nATO supply route and the US footprint in Pakistan including drones through Chaudhry nisar Ali Khan and then submitting to the government’s will.

Khan felt it was ironic that all these dubious compromises were made in the name of “national interest” when in fact they actually undermined it.

The PTI head also pointed out the shameful manner in which the resolution sought to plead to the US to review its policies such as drone attacks when in fact it should simply have stated that Pakistan would not accept any drone attack on its territory and would use all means to counter it.

resolution bans all types of supplies to NAto forces, claims Fazl ISLAMABAD inp

JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman has claimed that the parliamentary resolution has prohibited all types of supplies including arms shipments through Pakistan to nATO forces in Afghanistan and now the government cannot open the supplies through an administrative order.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, the JUI-F chief said the government would have to follow the recommendations in Section 8 of the resolution and if it resumed the supplies, it would be violating the parliamentary recommendations which the JUI-F would strongly resist.

He said the JUI-F got its viewpoint included in the recommendations and controversial sections were deleted. He claimed that adoption of

the parliamentary recommendations had laid the foundation of a new and independent foreign policy, adding that in the past, a foreign policy imported from the United States was being implemented.

Fazl said the prime minister had assured them that implementation of the recommendations would be carried out and in the light of the resolution, Pakistan was no more an ally of the US. He said a recommendation to end verbal agreements with the US had been included on the JUI-F’s insistence.

The JUI-F chief said the headlines in the newspapers were contrary to the actual recommendations. He said his party forced the government to agree to the amendments in the previous recommendations and the PMLn was informed about after the

agreement with the government was taken place.

Fazl said the PML-n and the PML-Q had proposed linking of drone attacks with supply line and the JUIF took the stand of complete closure of the supply line. He said the drone attacks could be stopped with the use of force and it was the responsibility of the government to stop them.

Asked about change in the stance of the JUI-F after his meeting with the president, Fazl said he had never accepted the demands of the President but it was on the other way round.

Asked about the Pakistan Defence Council’s criticism of the recommendations, Fazl said he had telephoned Hafiz Saeed and briefed him in detail about the new recommendations, adding that Hafiz Saeed had expressed his satisfaction over them.

Walters Power International Limited (WPIL) served a defamation notice on Adil Gilani of Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) for $100 million on Friday. The notice, issued by Ebrahim Hosain Advocates & Corporate Counsel, has been copied to the U.S. Department of Justice and to Transparency International’s headquarters in Brussels. The defamation notice is in response to TIP’s letter of April 9, which was published in local newspapers the following day and levels allegations of wrongdoing against the power company. U.S.-owned WPIL has taken strong exception to TIP’s mischaracterization of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s judgment of March 30, 2012, regarding rental power plants (RPPs), one of which WPIL set up at naudero, Sindh. “Your latest transgression is in keeping with your remorseless, habitual, willful, and chronic misrepresentation of facts that have brought disrepute in Pakistan to you as an individual as well as to Transparency International, whose Pakistan chapter you seemingly represent,” reads the notice to Gilani.

“Your intellectual and financial integrity has been called into question repeatedly and you have also been the subject of federal investigations.” WPIL’s lawyers have called Gilani’s defamatory allegations unfounded, incorrect, and mala fide. “In your unholy haste to obtain newspaper space and personal mileage from the judgment, you have overlooked several key aspects of the same,” reads the strongly-worded notice. “For purposes of your edification, it is emphasized that the court’s observations are prima facie, i.e. of a tentative nature. The court has, in fact, ordered an inquiry to determine the facts. Your contention, therefore, that WPIL has been ‘convicted on corruption charges’ is patently false.”

WPIL adds that all RPP contracts, including its own, were approved by Pakistan’s federal cabinet and that the contracts came with representations from public sector companies that these had been duly authorized by all requisite corporate and governmental action and did not violate the provisions of any law, rule or regulation. WPIL also informs Gilani that the court order is “final subject to the Constitutional right of review as per Article 188 of the Constitution of Pakistan read with Order XXVI of the Supreme Court Rules, 1980.” The notice concludes by demanding an unreserved public apology from Gilani for his slander campaign against WPIL and its associated companies failing which WPIL has threatened to file suit against him, his organization and his parent organization for damages in the applicable jurisdictions to the extent of $10 million.

three of a family killed in Swat roof collapse SWAT inp

A woman and two of her children were killed while another was injured when roof of a house collapsed in Swat on Friday.

According to details, dilapidated roof of a house owned by Abdul Khaliq located in Tarogai area of Khawazakhela tehsil of Swat suddenly came down burying the residents.

Khaliq’s wife, his two sons Ikramullah, 7, and Inamullah, 5, were killed while his daughter Sadaqat sustained injuries.

Locals and relatives themselves dug out the bodies and injured from the rubble and took them to hospital.

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Karzai in intensified efforts for reconciliation with resistance leaders PESHAWAR

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ShaMiM Shahid

M I D S T growing internal pressure from within political rivals and increasing rifts with the US led allies over its troop’s involvement in civilian casualties, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has intensified efforts for reconciliation with the resistance forces.

In this respect, he sent envoys to Qatar for joining or monitoring the dialogue between the US and the Taliban, as the Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan accepted his offer for resumed talks in Kabul.

Pakistan Today came to know through sources that HIA chief Engineer Gulbadin Hekmatyar had give a green signal to his party stalwarts for assembling in Kabul in connection with negotiation with President Hamid Karzai’s government.

The Afghan opposition, recently divided into two main groups, is opposing

dialogue with the rivals, especially with the Taliban and pullout of US led allied troops as well.

The sources said the visible change in President Karzai’s policies towards the US led foreign troops had forced no

other than Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and HIA chief Engineer Gulbadin Hekmatyar consider dialogue.

Karzai and his associates are now desirous of an early pullout of foreign troops and favouring intra-Afghan dialogue for a durable end to decades-old hostilities and conflict.

A highly responsible representative of HIA in Peshawar when contacted confirmed that dialogue between the delegates and Afghan government would be resumed in Kabul on Saturday.

So far a number of delegates have landed in Kabul.

Amongst them are Dr Ghairat Baheer, Adil, Haji Abdul Malik and Hassan niaz who proceeded from Pakistan, whereas they would be joined by norway-based Ustad Qareebur Rehman Saeed.

The HIA representative said they were firm on their conditions, including an early pullout of US and allied foreign troops from Afghanistan and intra-

Afghan dialogues for a suitable and acceptable setup in the war devastated country.

The HIA has since long opposed every sort of foreign intervention in affairs of Afghanistan and on such grounds, its leadership requested all foreign militants, including al Qaeda fugitives, to leave Afghanistan.

The Afghan opposition headed by former speaker Younas Qanooni and Engineer Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai is divided over the dialogue. Qanooni opposes a patch up with the Taliban and Hizb-e-Islami, whereas Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai is suspicious about Karzai’s stance on pullout of US-led allied troops.

Both of them allege that President Karzai is making attempts to remain in power on the pretext of reconciliation.

However, Karzai succeeded in creating rifts amongst the opposition by naming Salahuddin Rabbani as the head of the Reconciliation Commission.

Rabbani is the son of late Prof Burhanud Din Rabbani.

Misappropriation of $4m in schools rehabilitation project in KP: UNICeF NEW YORK inp

UnISEF on Friday said in 2010 its internal financial oversight system uncovered irregularities in a school rehabilitation project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It immediately froze funds to the project and launched a series of investigations.

The investigations revealed that an estimated $4 million was lost when funds were misappropriated through over-billing for substandard repairs.

The investigation did not establish that UnICEF staff knowingly contributed to or benefited from the losses neither did it conclude that UnICEF was defrauded by others involved in overall project implementation but was not able to establish definitely who those other parties were.

Following the detection of the irregularities, additional safeguards were put in place to strengthen financial controls and oversight there.

The project of rehabilitating schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was undertaken in 2009 and 2010.

UnICEF has informed the relevant government authorities and donor governments of the irregularities and was looking into any possible recovery of the misappropriated funds.

over 181,000 have fled recent FAtA fighting: UNhCr GENEVA afp

More than 181,000 people have fled fighting between government troops and Taliban or al Qaeda-linked militants in the Tribal Areas, the Un refugee agency said on Friday. “The number of people displaced by an ongoing government security operation in northwest Pakistan has now surpassed 181,000,” said a statement from the office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UnHCR).

The agency said about 10,000 new arrivals were being registered daily by officials at the Jalozai camp near Peshawar. “The vast majority of those registered – 85 percent – choose not live in the Jalozai camp, opting instead to stay with friends, relatives or in rented accommodation,” said the UnHCR. The body said it had distributed more than 37,000 humanitarian kits and other Un agencies, including UnICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO), were also providing aid. The fighting started on January 20 when government troops attacked militant groups in the Khyber region.

haSSanaBdal: Sikh pilgrims perform religious rituals during the Besakhi festival at Gurdwara panja Sahab on friday. ONLINE

Growth of free, independent media in Pakistan DR FIRDOuS ASHIq AWAN Today, we are living in the age of information. With the advent of modern technologies and social media, it is impossible to ignore the rapid growing need for information in every walk of life. nowadays everyone is dependent on quick, easy and reliable source of information for their effective and efficient working. now, the world has become a global village and information is not less than lifeblood to all government officials, politicians, agriculturists, businessmen, industrialists, stock market professionals, academicians, teachers and even layman citizens. The information is directly linked with the inevitable media growth across the world. Today the media is altogether a different entity as it used to be in the past. The vibrant, independent and responsible media is inevitable to nurture democratic societies.

Last dictatorial regime ended up with dreadful draconian media laws in

2007, which proved to be the direct violation of the Article 19 of the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Musharraf regime in the garb of emergency took action against TV channels and FM radios by raiding their offices, issuing show cause notices, and confiscating equipment on several occasions.

Pakistan’s television industry came to a grinding halt after the government blocked all transmission as President Gen. Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule on this South Asian country.

Curbs were imposed on the media through amendments in two ordinances.

Pakistan Peoples Party believes in the freedom of expression and we consider it as an equivalent to the greater freedom for the country itself. We are not afraid of fair criticism from the Media which ensures that the government remains on track to develop the country and its people. We consider media as a watchdog of the interests of the people.

Following the footsteps of its philosophy, envisioned by its shaheed leaders, the

government repealed draconian media related laws and ensured free access of people to information through amending laws and implementing those which already existed in the law books. no journalist, poet or writer was put behind bars for opposing the government nor were any restrictions imposed on TV channels or censorship on newspapers.

Pakistan, like all other democratic countries believe in access to Information and freedom of speech as envisaged in its constitution. Keeping in view the unquestionable importance of information in the modern world, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (M/o I&B) in Pakistan is fully committed to deliver its best at national and international front. With the emergence of mushroom growth of private TV and radio channels, newspapers and social media the responsibility of the Ministry has also increased manifolds. The ministry with its scanty resources has achieved much within last four years of this democratically elected government.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is the principal arm of the Federal Government, whose function is not only to project and promote strengths & positives of the government but also to build image of the country and highlight its policies and achievements through print and electronic media both within the country and abroad. Dissemination of information for the public awareness, provision of feedback to the government on daily basis and facilitation of the media representatives for good Government-Press relationship is the primary responsibility of the Ministry.

The biggest achievement of the Ministry is to introduce the policy of Selfregulation for the private media in Pakistan. It encourages vibrant, responsible and dynamic role of private media in Pakistan, which was discouraged in the last dictatorial regime.

Another achievement of the democratic government is that the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP), established under

a law in 2002, is now complete and has become a functional body. I hope that the Press Council will play a role of bridge between common masses and media institutions and it will be a non-partisan, independent and autonomous body which will be compatible with the regional and global institutions.

It is top priority of the present government to resolve the problems of the working journalists as if their problems are not resolved; they will not be able to able to properly highlight the problems of the masses. The government desires that journalists should express their thoughts and opinion with full independence and confidence. The government would continue to improve working conditions of media persons and hope that the journalist community would act in a responsible and careful manner in matters of national interest and security of the country.

The writer is the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting

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Sustainable cities in Pakistan: a dream in the ‘new normal’ DhA city Karachi 10

Something fishy: no fish STDC wants Bay-watch boats at Keenjhar for kin of city’s father ■ Sindh tourism Development Corporation to buy two motorboats for picnickers’ rescue

■ DhA restricts indigenous fishermen from entering historical Gizri jetty KARACHI

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aMaR GuRiRo

HE indigenous fishermen of Gizri neighbourhood, relatives of Moriro Mirbahar – founder of Kolachi village – have been denied access to their livelihood as the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) officials have restricted them from using the historical Gizri jetty for fishing.

For the past 15 days, the fishermen have not been allowed to enter the area and their families are facing an uncertain situation as they survive on the earning from fishing trips.

Four years ago, the DHA after talks with fisherfolk community members had allowed fishermen to continue using the jetty.

“For generations, the local fishermen have been earning their livelihood through fishing and should have the right to use the jetty,” said the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) spokesman.

The PFF, an organisation for the welfare of local fisherfolk communities, has been raising its voice against the DHA for a long time.

“The indigenous fishermen are again facing trouble, as DHA has one again erected a barrier, restricting them from going to the Gizri Jetty, which they had been using for several decades,” the PFF spokesman said.

“Four years ago, when we started a series of protest, the DHA held meetings with fishermen along with members of national assembly, community elders and PFF representatives,” he said. “In the meeting, the DHA realised the situation and promised building a separate pedestrian bridge for fishermen to reach the jetty without any hindrance.”

However, later the DHA breached

its promises one after the other and banned fishermen’s entry, the PFF spokesperson claimed.

On Thursday, PFF office bearers led by General Secretary Saeed Baloch and members Mustafa Gurgaz, Talib Kachi and Latif Dhorai and other community elders held a meeting with DHA officials, including its Karachi Director Brigadier Rafiq Qaimkhani and Vigilance Director Colonel Amjad to chalk out a permanent solution.

The DHA officials denied any interruption to disrupt fisherfolk activities but the community people informed them that security guards stationed at the jetty have not allowed them to use the site for the past two weeks.

“It is understood that DHA officials do not like to give space to the [fishing] community people to enter the posh areas of the city from these old routes,” it was stated in a statement issued by the PFF on Thursday.

“We have conveyed to the DHA officials that the move is in violation of basic human rights and the fishermen should be allowed to continue their activities,” it was said.

The PFF spokesman said that in case of DHA’s refusal, the matter will be taken up through the media to higher authorities, parliaments and international human rights groups.

After the meeting with DHA officials, the PFF also informed the Sindh Fisheries Minister Zahid Hussain Bhurgari about the situation, who assured the community people of taking up the case personally to safeguard the fisherfolk’s right to livelihood.

Before the urban expansion in the city, fisher communities had easy access to these waters and traditional jetties, where they used to live peacefully.

After rapid urbanisation, powerful institutions established controlled over all jetties, entrances, putting the community people in a helpless situation.

Another feather in Red Crescent Sindh’s cap ■ Modern diagnostic centre inaugurated at hilal-e-Ahmer, Clifton KARACHI Staff RepoRt

A diagnostic centre equipped with all modern healthcare facilities was inaugurated on Friday at the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Sindh at Teen Talwar in Clifton.

The Red Crescent Diagnostic Centre was inaugurated by PRCS Sindh Chairperson Farzana naek, who applauded the efforts of Secretary General Dr Farooq Memon and Sindh Health Department.

“We offer our patients specialised and personal care at the centre,” she said, maintaining that the PRCS aims to provide high quality treatment to the patients. naek also urged the people to make the best use of the health facility.

The centre equipped with all modern facilities including ultrasound, x-ray, basic investigation pathology labs, echocardiogram, blood sugar monitoring and nebulisation will provide out-patient clinics including geriatric and paediatrics at very low costs.

Male female doctors will attend to patients from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm.

“Our mission is to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable population by mobilising the power of humanity,” said PRCS Provincial Secretary Kanwar Waseem.

The inauguration ceremony was at-

tended by PRCS Vice Chairman Raffique Jaffery, Vice Chairman Raees Ahmed Khan, Honorary Secretary General Dr Farooq Memon, Honorary Treasurer Sheikh Jalaludin, Provincial Secretary Kanwar Waseem and other executive committee members of the PRCS Sindh.

KARACHI aftaB Channa

The Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) is planning to purchase two motorboats worth Rs 20 million for the rescue of picnickers at the Keenjhar lake resort.

Well-sources told Pakistan Today that the provincial chief minister had earlier approved the summary to grant Rs 20 million for the purchase of rescue boats for the lake; however, the Sindh Finance Department is delaying the release of funds.

The Keenjhar Lake in Thatta district is one of the major tourists attractions in Sindh and is frequently visited by tourists from all over the province especially Karachi, Hyderabad and other suburban locations.

On weekends, holidays and vacations, thousands of picnickers throng the lake to enjoy swimming, boating and the natural surrounding; however, there was no facility of risk or emergency management in case of any mishap.

The sources said that the Sindh Tourism Secretary had forwarded a letter to the Finance secretary for the early release of funds to purchase the boats.

“Realising the urgent need, the Sindh chief minister has been kind enough to allow one-time special grant of Rs 20 million for the purchase of two rescue launches vide summary dated 29-5-2011 and necessary allocation was accordingly made in the current fiscal year budget but this budgeted amount has not been released as yet,” it was stated in

the letter. “Since an amount of Rs 20 million stands already allocated with the approval of the honourable Sindh chief minister, it will therefore be appreciated if you may kindly release the amount, enabling this department (STDC) to purchase the motorboats for Keenjhar Lake as a lifesaving measure to help build confidence of picnickers for promotion of water land tourism.”

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karachi 09 Years after acid horror, suicide stirs Pakistan Saturday, 14 April, 2012

KARACHI deClan WalSh foR the neW YoRK tiMeS

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AKHRA Younas went under the surgeon’s knife 38 times, hoping to repair the gruesome damage inflicted by a vengeful Pakistani man who had doused her face in acid a decade earlier, virtually melting her mouth, nose and ears.

The painful medical marathon took place in Rome, a distant city that offered Fakhra refuge, the generosity of strangers and a modicum of healing.

She found an outlet in writing a memoir and making fearless public appearances. But while Italian doctors worked on her facial scars, some wounds refused to close.

On March 17, after a decade of pining for Pakistan, a country she loved even though its justice system had failed her terribly, Fakhra climbed to the sixth-floor balcony of her apartment building in the southern suburbs of Rome and jumped. She was reported to be 33 years old. news of her death filtered back to her home city, Karachi. And by the time her coffin arrived for burial, a storm of outrage had been whipped up – one framed by a glittering Hollywood success.

On February 28, Sharmeen ObaidChinoy, a Karachi filmmaker, won Pakistan’s first Academy Award, for ‘Saving Face’, a documentary that focuses in gritty detail on victims of acid violence like Fakhra.

Despite the film’s disturbing topic, the Oscar gave Pakistanis a welcome shot of national pride, while focusing attention on a social ill.

Acid is the preferred weapon of vindictive men against women accused of disloyalty or disobedience. Common in several Asian countries, acid attacks in Pakistan grew sharply in number in 2011, to 150 from 65 in 2010, although some advocacy workers said the increase stemmed largely from better reporting.

The death of Fakhra galvanised the Pakistani news media. In Parliament, lawmakers vowed to take action, while one political leader called for a criminal investigation into the case to be reopened.

But legal experts were sceptical that would happen, because the man Fakhra long accused of the attack – her ex-husband, Bilal Khar – was acquitted at trial nine years ago.

Unlike most men accused in acid attacks, Khar comes from a wealthy, powerful background. His family owns vast swaths of rich farmland in Punjab province; his father, Mustafa, is a former provincial governor; his first cousin Hina Rabbani Khar is Pakistan’s foreign minister.

In recent weeks, Khar appeared on television several times to defend his reputation. “My hands are clean,” he said during one broadcast.

The appearances won him little public sympathy, with critics saying that the case exemplified how Pakistan’s rich frequently

evade justice.

Yet there was a ringing contrast between the howls of condemnation and the virtual silence that greeted Fakhra after she was attacked a decade ago.

And it raised a question: When this clamour has receded, will Pakistan’s next acid victims stand a better chance of obtaining justice?

Deep-rooted social prejudice and misogyny were part of her story. Born to a heroin-addicted mother on napier Road, Karachi’s red-light district, by puberty Fakhra was a working “dancing girl” – a euphemism for prostitute.

She had a son when she was a teenager. Then, in 1997, at 18, she achieved the vice girl’s version of the Pak-

Tehmina had her own reasons for tackling the Khars – she had divorced Bilal’s father, Mustafa, and had written a searing memoir of the marriage titled ‘My Feudal Lord’.

Other Pakistanis, however, showed little interest in the case. newspapers, even liberal ones, gave the story scant coverage.

General Pervez Musharraf’s government dragged its heels over issuing a passport to Fakhra, concerned that the case would hurt Pakistan’s image.

Khar went on the run, and was declared a fugitive in early 2002. But when the trial started a year later, after Khar had been caught and arrested, the case quickly crumbled.

PakistaN today

fered her an apartment; and a Milan cosmetics company paid for her surgery.

Dr Valerio Cervelli, a plastic surgeon who led the work, said it was difficult at first “because her lower lip was attached to her torso, she had no neck, and her eyes were permanently open.”

Complicating matters, she ignored postoperative advice. “She was so headstrong, so independent,” he said.

Still, things improved: by the 38th operation, in early 2011, Fakhra could move her mouth and one eye.

Her once strikingly beautiful face, although still charred, had regained some of its shape. She had learned Italian, befriended local traders and co-written a memoir, ‘Il Volto Cancellato’, or ‘The

The coffin of Fakhra Younas after its arrival in Karachi in March. Fakhra, who jumped to her death from the balcony of her apartment in Rome, was the victim of an acid attack 12 years ago, for which her ex-husband was acquitted. ASSOCIATED PRESS

istani dream: she married a client, Bilal Khar, who came from the other side of the tracks.

But the marriage collapsed after three years, amid allegations of domestic violence, and Fakhra fled to her mother’s home on napier Road.

She was sleeping there in May 2000 when two men burst into the apartment; one cast a bottle of liquid over her face and chest.

Fakhra struggled and screamed, but it was too late: the acid fused her lips, melted her breasts and destroyed one eye.

During a three-month stay in a hospital, she came close to death.

“She had two little holes for her nostrils, and her mouth was so melted that only a straw could fit in,” said Tehmina Durrani, a prominent Lahore figure who championed the case.

Although four witnesses testified to seeing him enter Fakhra’s home the night of the attack, all later retracted their statements.

Earlier, they had complained of intimidation by Khar, but the judge paid little notice, and in December 2003 he dismissed the case.

In one recent television interview, Khar described himself as the victim of a “media trial.” He pleaded for privacy to protect his three daughters, who, he said, were facing awkward questions over the case at school. “You should be considerate about that,” he chided the host.

Fakhra was not present for the acquittal in 2003; she had left for Rome with her son, noman. There, over a decade, she slowly rebuilt her life.

The Italian government granted her political asylum; the city authorities of-

Supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf prayed for Fakhra Younas in Islamabad last month. BK BANGASH/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Erased Face’, which brought in some income.

She ventured outside fearlessly, armed only with a bawdy sense of humour ingrained on the streets of Karachi.

During a soccer match in Rome, when the noise grew too loud, Fakhra turned to fellow fans and “threatened to throw her false ear at them,” Tehmina recalled with a chuckle.

But the gruelling operations extracted a heavy physical and psychological toll, said Rachele Bonani, an aid worker who helped her.

And, Rachele added, “she always wanted to go home.” But a return to Pakistan was out of the question for Fakhra, partly for security reasons: friends worried that her life would be in danger.

She vented her frustration at the local

Pakistani Embassy. About two years ago, according to several accounts, Fakhra turned up, demanding to meet the ambassador.

A heated confrontation developed during which “security was called”, a senior embassy employee said in an e-mail.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Fakhra was persuaded to leave the building voluntarily; Tehmina insists that she was forcefully ejected by the Italian police, who later apologised.

“She gave up on justice,” Tehmina said. “She gave up on the fact that she could ever come back. She knew how she would be treated.”

Since Fakhra’s death, those close to her have recalled signs of deep-rooted depression. Her son, noman, said he was not surprised by the suicide, because she had tried twice before to kill herself.

“It was a bad time for her, because of a lot of things,” he said in a telephone interview. “I guess she had her reasons.” now in his first year of high school, noman, 15, is in the care of an Italian family. He says he does not intend to return to Pakistan.

Pakistani advocacy workers point to promising signs that future acid victims will be treated better. Legal reforms enacted last year mandate stiff penalties, including a minimum 14-year sentence and Rs 1 million in fine for attackers.

A new Acid and Burn Crime Bill, due to come before Parliament soon, provides for better police investigations, trials and victim treatment. Further off, there are plans to regulate the sale of nitric and hydrochloric acids.

Some experts, however, worry that a notoriously weak police force and lower court system in Pakistan could undercut any legal revolution.

“It’s a systemic problem,” said Faisal Siddiqi, a lawyer who works with acid victims. “Regardless of the laws you bring, if you are poor and a woman, you will not get justice from the courts in Pakistan.”

Fakhra never saw ‘Saving Face’, but was buoyed by the acclaim it received, friends said. Sharmeen, the filmmaker, said, “The tragedy is that it took a film and a suicide to bring the problem of acid violence to the national consciousness. Sometimes it takes extremes for a nation to wake up to what’s wrong within its borders. now I just hope that the man who is responsible for this will face justice.”

Despite the film’s success, Fakhra’s friends say it could not overcome her sense of isolation, heightened by the pain that the attacker who had stolen her beauty and crushed her life remained free.

“Had she been a politician’s daughter or a general’s daughter, then we would have seen what would have happened,” Tehmina said. “But who was going to fight for a dancing girl?”

Gaia Pianigiani and Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Rome.

Relatives of Fakhra Younas in Karachi last month. The man Fakhra long accused of dousing her with acid, her ex-husband, Bilal Khar, was acquitted at trial nine years ago. ASSOCIATED PRESS

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PakistaN today

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Sunrise 6:10

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Maghrib 6:54

Isha 8:13

Starting time in Karachi

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Sustainable cities in Pakistan: a dream in the ‘new normal’ THE HuFFINGTON POST

C

aSif iqBal

An we dream for sustainable cities in Pakistan?

Sustainable cities and towns are no longer a new concept in the world.

However, in a country like Pakistan, they are something new – a hard but not impossible goal.

A number of cities around the world are taking measures to make their cities sustainable. By simple way of definition, a sustainable city would be a city which can generate sufficient revenue to provide basic healthcare and other socioeconomic facilities to its citizens, is self-sufficient in energy production, and is not only environmentally friendly in terms of infrastructure development and resources utilisation but also in its ability to protect its citizens from natural disasters.

Every year, about one million poverty-driven people from across rural Pakistan migrate to Karachi city – the biggest economic hub of the country.

Despite a volatile security situation, people continue to migrate to Karachi in search of livelihoods. A city with more than 20 million, Karachi has become a place of uncontrolled urbanisation, with rapidly growing new unofficial colonies of migrants.

Such rapid expansion to the city’s borders is making it hard for the government to provide basic facilities of life to everyone, such as

clean drinking water, proper sanitation, housing, schooling, etc.

Thinking the concept of sustainable cities a dream in Pakistan, a Harvard architect has, however, initiated an eco-friendly model city project, about 50 kilometres in north east of Karachi.

Working on an 11,640 acre rural site, the project ‘DHA City Karachi’ (DCK) will accommodate 50,000 residential and commercial lots along with other facilities in ecofriendly manner.

Building in compatibility with nature, the project would encourage combination of an efficient transportation system, clean energy supply and tree-lined walking paths for a pedestrian zone to maintain a healthy environment.

However, achieving sustainability would require some extra efforts to deal with weather extremes which are becoming a “new normal”, even though there is nothing normal about it.

Despite our small contribution to global environmental pollution, Pakistan stands as one of the most vulnerable countries to global warming.

Karachi, for example, remains at risks of severe cyclones and sea level rise. The sustainable city concept would thus require good planning and strategies to protect its citizen from natural disasters.

So why take the extra effort? A new report from IPCC reveals that damages due to weather related disasters cost our world $80 billion (Rs

hafta aRt BaZaaR

7.26 trillion) every year.

In Pakistan, the 2010 and 2011 floods are real-life examples which put one fifth of the country land underwater with more than 20 million people affected. Sustainability in this way would mean a counter system to be in place.

We have a history of unexpected weather extremes in Pakistan. In 1992, there was flooding in Jhelum River.

In 1996, Lahore city faced severe urban storm due to 500mm rainfall in 24 hours. In 1999, a severe cyclone hit the coastal areas of Pakistan.

1998-2001 was the period of worst drought, particularly in Balochistan province. In 2001, Islamabad city had 621mm rainfall in 10 hours, causing historical flooding in the twin cities.

In July 2003, flash flooding affected hundreds of villages in lower Sindh province. The 2005 heavy rains in Balochistan, May 2010, record heat temperature, heavy downpours, and flooding of 2010 and 2011, are unforgettable events.

In this “new normal”, efforts to create sustainable cities in Pakistan would not only be vital but also tireless efforts by the government and citizen of Pakistan would be needed to make it happen.

Pakistan should learn from examples of different cities in the world which are on the track to become sustainable cities.

Scientists predict Chicago will

GRoup ShoW

face an 80-160 percent increase in days with 2.5 inches or more of precipitation by the end of the century.

The city has over 55 acres of permeable pavement and more than 100 green alleys throughout the city to prevent urban flooding.

Miami, for example, is vulnerable to sea level rise in the United States. Miami has accelerated restoration of vulnerable coastal areas and working on modification of vulnerable roadways to avoid homes and highways from flooding.

Sydney is on its way to become a sustainable and carbon neutral green city by 2030.

The Karachi DCK project would also construct natural drains to collect rain/storm water into a lake for water recycling and its reuse for plantation and drought resistant native plants.

In addition, the project would use wind, solar and biomass energy along with energy efficient LED lights.

Sustainable cities would be an ambitious plan in Pakistan. However, such initiatives are becoming vital needs to promote eco-friendly sustainable cities, which will not only provide healthy living spaces for their citizens but also will help them protect from weather extremes.

Asif Iqbal is the Presenter, Climate Reality Project; and the Programme Development Coordinator, World Vision.

the Golden ColleCtion

ART MARKET ON APRIL 14 AT 4:00 PM VENuE: FARAAR GALLERY

ART EXHIBITION STARTS APRIL 17 AT 5:00 PM VENuE: GRANDEuR

ART EXHIBITION STARTS APRIL 19 AT 6:00 PM VENuE: uNICORN GALLERY

‘Hafta Art Bazaar’ from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on April 14 at the Faraar gallery. Call 35389033 for more information.

A group art exhibition from April 17 to 24 at the Grandeur art gallery. Call 35435744 for more information.

Art exhibition titled ‘The Golden Collection’ from April 19 to 26 at the Unicorn Gallery. Call 35831220 for more information.

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Saturday, 14 April, 2012

Editor’s mail 11

the Siachen tragedy The Siachen tragedy that struck our 128 gallant soldiers and 11 civilians on April 7, 2012 has no parallel in the history of Siachen. The avalanche that took in its fold hundreds of innocent souls has left innumerable women widowed, and made hundreds of children orphans.

Our valiant soldiers have been courageously guarding the frontiers of their beloved country, at a 17,000 feet high peak close to four of the worlds 14 peaks over 8,000 meters – K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum 1 and 2, since the early 80’s.

Totally oblivious of the dangers their lives are exposed to, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, they stand steadfast in their mission to guard the frontiers of their country at Siachen. On the fateful

on organ donation night of Saturday, April 7, 2012, when the treacherous 80 feet high and a kilometre long avalanche (snow slide) that mercilessly came down on their campsite, without any prior warning, most of them were in deep slumber. Even those who may have been on the vigil may not have been spared.

What a catastrophe this whole tragic incident is. It has brought a wave of shock and grief not only to the immediate families and the kith and kin of those who have lost their lives in the tragedy, but also to the Pakistani nation and the entire world community.

A question that, however, arises is: Has the incident made any impact on the two parties involved in the Siachen conflict? Are they now convinced that their

obstinacy, vis-à-vis the Siachen situation, has cost and is costing them heavily: both in terms of valuable human lives as well as monetarily?

According to figures quoted in a cross section of the Pakistan media, Pakistan is spending approximately Rs 15 million per day to maintain its forces at Siachen.

At Rs 50 million per day, India is spending approximately three and half times more than what Pakistan is spending. Is this all justifiable? no, it is not. Particularly, when seen in the background of abject poverty that persistently haunts a large segment of its populace, neither Pakistan nor India could ever justify such wasteful expenditure.

More importantly, the human lives that are being lost and massive disabili-

ties that are being caused to the forces of both countries by unsafe weather conditions should be a matter of immense concern for both. Whatever has happened at Siachen during the past almost three decades and the recent tragedy that occurred on the fateful night of April 7 should be an eye opener for both countries.

For the sake of humanity and in the larger interest of the people of the two countries, it is sincerely desired that reasonable elements at the helm in India and Pakistan should immediately come to the negotiating table and amicably resolve the Siachen conflict, once and for all.

M FAZAL ELAHI Islamabad

Local government After hearing a case about local government election, the Supreme Court asked the provincial government administration to submit the schedule of local bodies’ election.

It is not clear if the Supreme Court will take any action against provincials governments for not honouring the constitution, and avoiding holding the local body’s election on clumsy excuses and unfounded reasons during the last four years.

It is ironic that a democratically elected political government is always reluctant to hold local bodies’ election in time.

Why does the civilian government not want to empower the ordinary people at the grassroot level? Democracy will not be complete without local governments functioning.

Democracy with all it s weakness is still considered the best system of government, as it ensures the basic rights of people to elect their representative to rule them for a specific period of time.

If the government fails to meet people’s aspirations and expectations, people remove the government with their vote after the tenure of the government ends which is five year in Pakistan.

Without local government, democracy is a sham, as it is not empowering the people at grassroots to from their government, to solve their problems related to civic services, roads, schools, health, sports activities, social welfare activities, matters related to lands ownership etc at district or town level.

During the last four years, the provincial government is depending on civil bureaucracy to manage the local government, instead of elected representatives.

The mindset of the bureaucracy is still shackled by pre-independence methodologies and hasn’t changed much. Its interest and loyalties are with the ruling elite class, and they consider the masses as commoners deserved to be ruled by a more sophisticated class of people of the people.

S T HUSSAIN Lahore

Narcotics use on the rise According to statistics, hundreds of thousands of people are joining the club of drug users every year in Pakistan. By this year, total drug users in the country have reached up to about eight million, out of which 1.5 million use opium, 750,000 are heroin addicts and 200,000 are drug-injecting users while 75,000 addicts are suffering from HIV/AIDS. One out of every 10 college/university students is a drug addict. In one prominent private university in Karachi, many students were recorded as using ‘charas’. Over 50,000 street children are involved in solvent substance abuse in four major cities of the country.

About 40 percent of Pakistan’s prison population uses drugs. More than 200 women are addicted to hard drugs like heroin. Drug production for Pakistan’s domestic market is estimated at $1.5 billion.

However, our law enforcement agencies have failed completely to put an end to this curse, which is fast becoming a culture in our society. Where is the end to this menace?

KHUSHNOODA TAHIRA Karachi

Robberies galore Through your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw attention towards the increasing robbery cases in Karachi. Where the citizens of Karachi face many problems such as inflation, unemployment, load shedding and unmerciful environment, they also have to face the additional fear of robbers and thieves.

The snatching of mobile phones and money is increasing day by day. now, it is has become such a part of our daily life

of political pygmies Even the staunchest of ZAB’s critics will agree that his weakness was not greed for money but political power and his likeness to surround himself with men who dare not question his policies.

We all know fate of men of intellect and integrity such as J A Rahim, Dr Mubashir Hassan, Rasool Bux Talpur etc, whom he could not tolerate for long, when he was in power, in spite of their contributions and political struggle to make the PPP a party that could get into power.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto preferred likes of Masood Mahmood and Saeed Ahmed Khan who roughed up J A Rahim. Perhaps this was the remnant of feudal upbringing, which education and political exposure failed to overcome. It was his choice of pygmies like Ch Fazal Elahi for role of president and men like Kausar niazi, on whom he had files full to checkmate, if they dared to challenge his authority. At the end of day, when he needed few men to stand up when the

that many people defeatistly accept it. For this purpose, neither the government nor the police authorities have taken any action to control the increasing rate of street crimes. It seems like these robbers and thieves are regulating this country. The concerned authorities must pay attention to this issue.

AREEBA HUSSAIN Karachi

going got tough, there was nobody there to put up a fight and save him from clutches of a dictator bent upon sending him to gallows, totally unmindful of the fact that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was after all, a legitimately elected Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Had Ch Fazal Elahi dared to stand up and not resign from his post of president, he could have saved Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from being hanged, using his powers of a president, which were not revoked even after imposition of martial law.

What people in power forget is that you can only pump a limited amount of air into a small balloon, before it bursts under pressure, which is what happened in the case of Ch Fazal Elahi, who Bhutto appointed as president, never realising that when push comes to shove, he will fail to come up to his expectations.

This is a lesson from history, that nobody learns from it and those in power think that they are beyond approach and can get away with their crimes, which history tells us is never true.

The graveyards of this world are full

I appreciate Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplant (SIUT) and the Transplant Society of Pakistan (TSP).

7th April was observed as 'Organ Donation Day' by SIUT and TCP. Transplant surgeons are of view that our country is facing acute shortage of cadaver organ donations and because of that around 50,000 lives are lost every year.

In countries like ours, it is very difficult to start such positive activities.

There are a lot of myths, superstitions and misconceptions. In this modern era of communication, dominant majority of our intellectuals and the intelligentsia uses social media.

We can launch campaign to give awareness and to encourage people for national cause of cadaver organ donation. Social media can prove to be an effective tool for this national cause.

Moreover, democratically elected head of state President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari pledged to donate his organs in 2010.

It was a boost to this national cause.

He is role model for all Pakistanis. He is co-chairperson of Pakistan's largest political party. Hats off to President of Pakistan, who undermined all superstitions and myths attatched with cadaver organ donation. President of Pakistan came forward and became a donor and set great example for others. He is an exemplar.

Leaders of all political and religious parties need to follow him in order to boost our national cause. The head of state has become an organ donor, then why not we common men?

Country's sports and media stars, community and religious leaders, judges, politicians, campaigners and civil society activists must be inspired

by Zardari's exemplary act to further this national cause. In my view, we all should follow Zardari's footsteps and we should pledge to donate our organs. By doing so we can save 50,000 lives a year.

DR SAIFUR REHMAN Islamabad

hooligans on campus

Amar Guriro wrote on 22-03-2012, “The then defence secretary Bob Gates wrote in 2011, any future defence secretary who advises the president to send big American land army into Asia, or into Middle East or Africa, should have his head examined.”

Hopefully, while writing, the replacement of Pentagon’s army with its contractors and available mercenaries and handing over their duties and responsibilities to them was not in the mind of Gates.

Z A KAZMI Karachi

I am the student of Federal Urdu University Karachi. My education is at the mercy of brainless party workers. not a single day passes when we don’t hear about clashes between workers of political parties on campus. They not only impede our education, they beat up innocent students as well.

All the party workers are students but they don’t even know how to protest.

Whenever they protest, they damage the environment of the university. I hope that ministers, politicians and high-ups see the issues here and I am sure they are going to do something about it. If not, it’s a pity they don’t realize the importance of education.

It’s impossible for students to study in this environment where political workers act like this. All the walls of university are filled with the chalking of political parties which looks really bad. We are the next generation of this country and the concerned authorities should take some action for the better future of Pakistan.

Political activities if carried within the democratic norms are admirable but if they veer into hooliganism, they must be stopped.

M MOHSIN SHAHBAZ Karachi

weakened a nation.

We are witness to the economic havoc wrecked on Turkey by a powerful military which had ruled it with an iron hand for decades and even managed to acquire this role by amending constitution. Yet we have seen that in the past few years, an elected government led by highly qualified men of integrity, establish civilian supremacy with the power of massive public support. Had the Erdogan government been involved in financial scams, they could never have managed to assert civilian supremacy.

Unfortunately in Pakistan, our elected civilian governments who have briefly ruled this country, including the present elected civil government, have

failed to assert their civil supremacy because of moral bankruptcy, being tainted with corruption, abuse of power, poor governance record, financial mismanagement, and loss of public support. An elected government derives power from the constitution and other than their moral and legal authority through rule of law, delivering justice etc, they will always be culpable to blackmail, if they are involved in every scam such as recent shameful drug scam involving Ephedrine, fleecing poor Hajis, patronising target killers and responsible for destruction of Railways, PIA, Steel Mills, OGDC etc.

MALIK T ALI Lahore

of such men, who amassed their ill-gotten wealth, earned for themselves notoriety and ill-feelings of their population, but never had opportunity to spend all that they looted and plundered. Asif Zardari and Gilani need to learn from history, but will they?

GULL ZAMAN Peshawar

heads examined

on civil supremacy The 1973 constitution advocates civil supremacy over military establishment.

Unfortunately, Pakistan has been under military rule for more than half its duration and existence. Military takeover of government is based purely on intimidation and show of brute force, because there is no law which legitimises it, except law of necessity, which is what validates a military occupation of another country that it has defeated.

Martial law is always devoid of any moral high ground or constitutional authority. Military dictators are not answerable for their excesses, nor is there any system of checks and balances either through judicial intervention or through force of public opinion. This explains

why nepotism and rampant corruption is associated with majority of military takeovers in the world. In the case of Pakistan, this country has either been involved in military adventures with our neighbours, or obsessed with their concocted and outdated concept of strategic depth and subjective view of national security, which has always been in conflict with majority public opinion and only made this country more insecure.

From the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971 to Zia-ul-Haq’s legacy of religious fanaticism, coupled with sectarian and ethnic violence to Musharraf’s capitulation to a phone call by a Bush subordinate staffer, it is proof if any is required that military rule has always harmed and

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

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12 comment Success and challenges the recommendations come through

D

espite all the wrangling that has gone on, both PML(n) and JUI(F) finally attended the joint session and agreed to vote for the amended recommendations of the PCnS. The revised policy terms do not explicitly address the issue of nato supplies. The provision regarding Pakistan territory or its airspace not to be allowed for the transportation of arms and ammunition, however, implicitly allows the resumption of non-lethal supplies to nato troops. What remains now is for the government to take an executive decision in this regard.

The PCnS report has a long list of demands, the topmost being an end to drone strikes. Other demands include an unconditional apology for the attack, bringing those responsible for the Salala killings to justice, assurances that acts impinging on Pakistan’s sovereignty will not recur nor will there be any overt or covert operations inside Pakistan. The report also foresees the end of foreign bases inside the country.

The international community is required to provide greater market access to Pakistan’s exports in recognition of the sacrifices rendered by the country in the war against extremist militancy.

To encourage Gilani to take an early decision on the resumption of nato traffic, Washington will have to yield on some of the demands to provide Islamabad some sort of face saving. It remains to be seen what is acceptable to the US. The Obama administration considers the CIA-led drone campaign a vital tool to dismantle the ability of Al-Qaeda and its affiliates to target US interests. Washington maintains that the Salala attack was the result of a series of mistakes and botched communications on both sides. Action against the US soldiers therefore remains a difficult proposition. An apology from the US, however, might not pose any problem. While Gilani has called the decision by the parliament a milestone, it is yet to be seen how many of its suggestions can be finally implemented.

The recommendations requiring parliamentary endorsement of military to military agreements and MoUs would bring the important area under civilian oversight. The recommendations regarding regional peace too would allow diplomacy a central role. Both are likely to be regarded historic if they are implemented in letter and spirit.

Local bodies When are the polls?

I

n the backdrop of the tussle between the Supreme Court and the federal government, comes a direction from the judiciary challenging the provincial governments. A directive to all the provincial chief secretaries to present a schedule for holding local government elections after discussing the issue with their respective governments.

And, as opposed to the tussle with the federal government, which is not against the institution of the federal government but merely the party that runs it, this directive of the court’s is adversarial to the provincial tier institutionally. We just might see a rare show of unity by the governments, if not the people, of all four provinces.

The courts are right, of course. The local body elections embody the spirit of democracy and there should be an adequate explanation by the provincial governments as to why these are not being held. But the fact of the matter is that local government is a provincial subject. It is up to the provincial governments to decide how to go about the whole process.

There is much leeway that the provincial governments have. not only can they decide the level of empowerment of the local governments, they can probably tweak around how to go about electing them. They could, theoretically, even come up with different frameworks to begin with if they really wanted.

To be fair, the courts would probably be fine with it if the provinces were to present a case, any case, instead of not taking up the issue at all. KP could plead worsening law and order. So could Balochistan. And, weakly, Sindh, with regards to Sindh Urban, much to the dismay of the party that would probably “sweep” the area. The Punjab would find it difficult to present a similar case.

With the monumental 18th Amendment, the provinces were empowered enough to satisfy the decentralists. now the latter have to show a similar grace themselves. If they want to conduct elections, they, probably could find a way around all the hazardous factors impeding them.

It is in the interest of pro-people, pro-democracy political outfits to conduct local body polls. This gives the electorate an ownership of the political process, one that would, eventually, not take subsequent takeovers by, say, the military, lying down.

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

Saturday, 14 April, 2012

Consensus, at last on the implications of the recommendations

By Arif Nizami

A

fter a period of almost five months of tensions, finally a consensus has been reached on relations with the US and a conditional resumption of nato supply routes through Pakistan. A unanimous agreement by all political parties in the Parliamentary Committee on national Security (PCnS) is no mean feat. Full marks to the chairperson of the committee Senator Raza Rabbani and his political bosses to achieve unanimity in a divided house.

Credit is also due to nawaz Sharif for once again rising above narrow party interests for the sake of national consensus. In an overheated atmosphere of personal recriminations and attacks being hurled at each other between the PPP and the PML(n) during the past week, this is nothing short of a miracle.

The JUI(F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also came around after a lengthy meeting with the president. Interestingly enough, the US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter became so desperate for an agreement that he had to meet nawaz and the Maulana rather than continuing to engage them in behind-the-scenes diplomacy.

The unanimous resolution adopted by the joint sitting of the parliament albeit full of platitudes is the most comprehensive document on foreign policy ever produced by a parliament of the country. Previously, it was only Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who as prime minister of a humiliated and dismembered Pakistan had the unanimous endorsement of the parliament to go to Simla in 1972for a peace deal with Indira Gandhi and engineer the return of 90,000 Pakistani prisoners of war (POWs).

Prime Minister Gilani, the quintessential consensus builder, addressing the joint session has proudly proclaimed that the sovereignty of Pakistan will not be violated by the US from now on. He disclosed that

President Obama had assured him - when PM Gilani met him on the sidelines of the nuclear summit in Seoul last month - that the sovereignty and independence of Pakistan will be respected.

Whether the US President will be able to walk the talk and Pakistan will be in a position to implement the resolution in ‘letter and spirit’ is a conundrum facing most analysts. For instance, the resolution states that there will be no more drone attacks on our soil and this is good to placate the opposition but might be difficult to achieve in practical terms.

Drone attacks since the Salala incident have become fewer and far in between. But despite flawed rules of engagement resulting in scores of innocent civilian casualties, they still remain the most potent weapon in the hands of the US to kill high profile Afghan Taliban and Al-Qaeda targets in our badlands.

Given the Pakistani military’s understandable reluctance to launch a putsch in north Waziristan and a strict no-boots-onthe-ground policy, Washington entirely ruling out drone attacks sounds too good to be true. On the basis of credible human and electronic intel, the trigger-happy boys belonging to CIA’s Special Activities Division based in Orlando are bound to press the fire button.

According to secret diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks last year, the COAS General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani not only tacitly agreed to drone flights but also requested the Americans to increase them in 2008. That was then. With the new rules of engagement and the Shamsi airbase vacated by the US after the Salala incident, it will be interesting to observe how the chips will fall now. With the stakes so high for the US in Afghanistan it is difficult too imagine that it will refrain from using this potent weapon in light of credible intel and the Pak military’s inaction.

A watershed in Islamabad’s relations with Washington was the killing of Osama bin Laden in his Abbottabad abode on May 2nd last year. This was the ultimate humiliation of the military and its premier intelligence agency the ISI as well as a serious breach of sovereignty by an ally.

It demonstrated the state of complete distrust between the US and its so-called major ally in the war on terror. Has anything changed in the past year? Probably relations have deteriorated on all counts.

Merely resumption of humanitarian nato supplies will not be able to repair the fractured relationship.

The PCnS has urged that Pakistan should actively pursue gas pipeline projects with Iran and Turkmenistan. Unfortu-

nately, these projects will remain a pipedreams without Washington’s blessings. With Iran increasingly coming under more stringent sanctions, where is the money to build the pipeline going to come from? Under the threat of sanctions being applied, no foreign donor or even a consortium of Pakistani banks would touch the Iran-Pakistan gas project.

In the committee’s view, the US-India Civilian nuclear Agreement, reached during George W Bush’s Republican administration, has significantly altered the strategic balance in the region. Therefore, it has urged that Pakistan should seek similar treatment from the US. Judging by the budding strategic relationship between new Delhi and Washington, this is likely to remain a forlorn wish.

India is fast acquiring the status of a minisuperpower being increasingly viewed as a counterweight to China’s growing military muscle in the region, both by Moscow and Washington. Recent acquisition of a nuclear powered submarine appropriately named Chakra from Moscow and America’s increased presence in Australia are meant to keep China at bay in the Indian Ocean.

Islamabad cannot expect to have the cake and eat it too. Frayed relations with Washington will require a lot of time to repair. Without changing our strategic paradigm, it might not be possible at all.

Expressing its anger at the US incursion in Bajaur earlier this year, Pakistan boycotted the Bonn conference. In the changed circumstances, Islamabad would expect to be invited to the Chicago summit on Afghanistan due next month. Hence coming weeks will determine whether Islamabad gets a place on the table determining the future of post-withdrawal.

The domestic fallout of the resolution of intent on foreign policy is not difficult to predict. The self styled Difa-e-Pakistan Council and its cohorts in the media are bound to cry ‘sellout’.

However, the hardliners in the PML(n) and JUI(F) will have a tough time criticising an agreement to which their party heads are signatories. The militants unhappy over a deal with Washington can step up their terrorist activities Even the government might have bitten off more than it can chew. The military has got what it had wanted in order to do business with the US. However, it will be difficult to conduct day-to-day foreign policy and also keep the parliament completely on board. In order for such a regime to work, some kind of multi-party parliamentary overseeing system will have to be evolved.

The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today

whitelieS L By ess Aich

ast week, when President Zardari spent a few days in Lahore boosting jiyala morale with Sultan Rahi type one-liners, many aimed against his PML(n) rivals, people did note a certain development in his entourage.

For instance, it was obvious that his political secretary Rukhsana Bangash was more than just a political advisor. In fact, she was doubling as a bodyguard as well. Well-built and never one to spare a shout and a shriek, she was seen physically managing his meetings telling senior provincial PPP leaders how close they could get to the president, who would sit where and who was to get the status symbol seating. But it was her physical activity that made a lasting impression.

She was seen flanking the president like a bodyguard, clearing his path like a bodyguard and even physically removing unwanted political enthusiasts from his path just like a bodyguard. At one point even Raja Riaz was made to realise where he stood in the equation.

W

e hear that someone really high up was very concerned that his son should not participate in the parliamentary discussion on nato supply lines which was in progress. Insiders tell us that the young MnA from Multan had been told not to contribute this way or

That is not as important as Rukhsana Bangash and certainly not next to President Zardari. Raja quietly obeyed instructions and left the coveted seat.

the other on the topic. Apparently, someone up there feared that it would earn the wrath of militant groups or it would annoy the US lobby.

It was a lose-lose situation which the young man was asked to avoid. However what the VVIP forgot to instruct the son

some time ago was to also steer clear of pharmaceutical companies from Multan and that landed him in real trouble. That is in a holiday resort in Cape Town where there is a friendly ambassador to play host and no extradition treaty to hound him.

For feedback, comments, suggestions and, most importantly, tips, contact us at whitelies@pakistantoday.com.pk

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Saturday, 14 April, 2012

On the HRCP report Successes few; failures many

By Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

H

RCP’s yearly reports keep the public informed on the state of the human rights in Pakistan. The conclusions are based on field research and are supported by facts, figures and visuals. The present report which was published a few weeks back records the progress made and goals missed during 2011. Studied along with the earlier reports covering the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 important conclusions can be made about the record of the elected government.

First, the successes achieved. The last four years were marked by greater freedom of assembly, expression, and movement. A new law on industrial relations freed the trade unions from some of the curbs imposed on industrial labour. The 18th Amendment passed in 2010 acknowledged three more rights to the citizens: right to education, information and to fair trial.

The same year the Commission of Enquiry on Missing Persons cited the intelligence agencies’ role in enforced disappearances. For the first time, the SC issued notices to the agencies’ heads. In 2011, with the ratification of a key child rights instrument, all core international treaties related to human rights stood endorsed

by Islamabad. The progress recorded over the last four years strengthens the view that even the worst democracy is better than a military rule, be it direct or indirect.

There still remains, however, a formidable list of consistent failures. Both in the case of the international in-

struments and domestic legislation regarding crucial rights, no attempt was made to evolve an implementation mechanism.

The 18th Amendment recognises free and compulsory education as a right of the children between age 5 to 16. What one sees happening on the ground is the opposite. In the fiscal year 2010-11, the government reduced the education development budget to Rs 9.2 billion compared to Rs 11.3 billion in 2009-10. On Friday UnICEF Pakistan Representative Dan Rohrmann told media that around 20 million children in Pakistan, including an estimated 7.3 million of primary school age, are not in school.

Involuntary disappearances continue to take place.

Earlier those taken away were kept in illegal confinement, sometime for years. now there are complaints of extrajudicial killings of those kidnapped by the agencies.

Another consistent failure is Karachi where incidents of target killings have peaked year after year since 1988 and lawlessness took a toll of 1,715 victims in sudden flare ups of violence in 2011 alone.

Given that criminal mafias enjoy increasing political patronage, the report grimly states, “Weapons, and reliance on criminal elements has become such a feature of the political scene that only those having these tools would be able to contest the next elections in Karachi.” The Election Commission and the government should pay heed to the observation.

Despite considering itself an enlightened party, the PPP looked the other way in 2008 elections when women were not allowed to vote in certain constituencies through an understanding between the local elders and the political parties. The complaints have continued during the subsequent by-elections.

There is a persistent failure in ensuring people’s representation at the grass roots level. It is ironic that while

local bodies elections are regularly held under military rulers, elected governments usually shun them.

Suppression and oppression of minorities and of all those whose beliefs differed from those of the extremists continues as before. Prominent among the incidents is the attack on the Christian community in Gojra in 2009, the Ahmadi killings in Lahore in 2010, the killing of Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti in 2011, and attacks on Shia religious processions and forced conversions of Christian girls throughout this period. Despite claims of providing protection to the minorities, the government has failed to stop the abduction of Hindus for ransom in Balochistan and Sindh.

The HRCP report raises vital questions that need to be debated. Foremost is the question about the expanding role of the Supreme Court and its possible impact on the judiciary’s relations with the executive and parliament.

Hasn’t the SC put more on its plate than it can chew? Can the SC simultaneously function as an ombudsman’s office, an administrative court, an anti-corruption tribunal, as a supreme investigation agency, as the sole defender of not only the constitution but also of public morality besides doing its normal duties?

The report criticises a section of the media for promoting extremist agendas.

The media suggested through insinuations that Taseer had committed blasphemy by criticising the blasphemy law and deserved to be dealt with as a blasphemer. The media also suffers from self-censorship as instead of reporting in an unbiased and responsible manner on major issues confronting Pakistan, the media often prefers to stay quiet.

Has this not happened in the case of Balochistan and attacks on minorities?

The writer is a former academic and a political analyst.

comment 13

The charade time to address the larger problem

T

he manner in which the parliament has been reduced to becoming a shield for advancing the Machiavellian cause of the ruling mafia is indeed reprehensible. The whole thing coming by way of a unanimous resolution at the joint session casts serious aspersions on both the level of understanding of the issue by those associated with the task and their intentions.

Claiming that taking the onerous task of defining the contours of the US-Pakistan relations to the parliament is, in any manner, a democratic undertaking reflects a continuation of the policy of using an artificial apparel to promote a self-serving agenda that is rooted in accepting foreign patronage to define Pakistan’s policies. Instead of wasting precious months in debating the way the nATO supply routes could be re-opened, the question that should have been placed before the Parliamentary Committee for national Security (PCnS) was Pakistan’s continued participation in the so-called war-on-terror – whether it was to Pakistan’s advantage or detriment? The parliament should have debated the matter in the overall context of the massive human loss and the grave economic cost that Pakistan has incurred in the last ten years as a consequence of it being a frontline state in promoting the US agenda in this region. Of course neither the government nor its allies have the gall to stand up for Pakistan’s cause. Instead, they are conspiring to exploit Pakistan’s so-called democratic institutions to blur its interests.

Over the last few months, innumerable instances of the US citizens showing scant respect to the law of the land have been displayed on the print on the electronic

By Raoof Hasan media. When stopped to prove their identity, these haughty individuals refuse even to talk to the law-enforcement officials and keep sitting in their SUVs insisting that they be allowed to move on. And, on practically all such occasions, that is exactly the way it has ended up. So, how can a government that has abjectly failed in forcing the ordinary US citizens, most of whom may have entered the country illegally, masquerading as diplomats, to submit before the rule of law ensure that it could force the US to abide by the stringent conditions contained in the resolution that may pave the way for the re-opening of the nATO supply route through Pakistan? And what is the mechanism that would be followed in ensuring that all the conditions are being met as prescribed? Also, given the government’s woeful credentials, who would be willing to repose trust that, this time around, it would do things in any different manner? Obviously, the initial euphoria will soon drown in the juices of its grandiose pronouncements but, by then, much damage would have been inflicted on Pakistan’s tottering stature and the credibility of its so-called ‘democratic’ institutions.

The incumbent rulers, at the centre

Candid Corner

and in all the provinces, never tire of blaming the despotic interludes for all that ails Pakistan including General Musharraf’s capitulation before a telephone call and plunging the country into the US-led war-on-terror. Well, they have been there for over four years now. What have they done to undo this grievous wrong? What steps have been initiated to pull the country out of a mess that has brought nothing but destruction to the national infrastructure and intense pain to its people who have not only lost their dear ones, but whose futures and those of their coming generations have been shattered? The economy lies in tatters, the state institutions demonised and its industry and homes plunged into darkness.

Conditions or no conditions, the key question that Pakistan needs to address today is whether it should remain part of the continuing US-led drama in the region. But the nRO-tainted government and its allies do not have the courage to re-define national policy in line with national interests. Using the crutches of the parliament, they are only trying to ‘legitimise’ Pakistan’s continued subjugation.

This, in no way, should be construed that Pakistan does not need to fight extremism and address all its root causes. But, this is a fight that Pakistan needs to launch in earnest for its own survival and advancement in the comity of nations, and not to further any external agenda.

What is feared is that now that the cocktail of conditions is on the table which, understandably, would constitute the agenda for initiating a comprehensive dialogue with the US, the government would proceed, ever so stealthily, to re-open the nATO supply routes using the parliament as a leverage and stating that negotiations are continuing for implementing the entire repertoire of recommendations.

This process would prolong to perpetuity while the cardinal purpose for which the drama was so elaborately enacted by the government would be effectively served. Don’t forget that it has less than twelve months left to complete its constitutional tenure. national leaderships measure their words before they speak. But once spoken, they don’t renege.

Understandably, the nATO supply route was closed in the wake of the dastardly attack on the Salala check-post that resulted in the death of 24 soldiers.

Thereafter, Pakistan has been insisting on an unconditional US apology for the unprovoked massacre which has still not come. Instead, the US, after conducting two internal enquiries into the incident, has refused to pin blame on its side. Add to this the massive damage that the transportation of heavy equipment has caused to the national infrastructure and the billions that may be required to make it operational again. What then was the need for enacting such high-profile drama to circumvent the original demand and create a new set of conditions for allowing the supply route to the US and its allies in Afghanistan to continue fighting a war that is only feeding the extremist germs of hatred leading to further destabilisation of the country? Will the charade ever end?

The writer is a political analyst and a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He can be reached at raoofhasan@hotmail.com

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14

Saturday, 14 April, 2012

Lady Gaga comes

FASHION ISLAMABAD: Models present creations on the third and last day of the Islamabad Fashion Week 2012. afp

under fire for ‘glorifying’ anorexia LOS ANGELES aGenCieS

H

A R RUMPHInG fans want Lady Gaga to eat her words. The pop star is being ripped by twitterazzi after she tweeted a hashtag saying that pop stars don't eat, quickly prompting fired-up critics to accuse her of glorifying anorexia.

But what exactly did she write to incite such an appetite for anger? "Just killed back to back spin classes," Gaga tweeted.

"Eating a salad dreaming of a cheeseburger #PopSingersDontEat #IWasBornThisWay." The

post immediately racked up a barrage of livid responses. One user wrote, "dear @ladygaga, you just blatantly endorsed anorexia to over 22 million followers. how do you sleep at night?" while another wondered, "@ladygaga pick a side... Do you want to promote beautiful and healthy kids, or anorexia?" One ex-fan

added, "unfollow @ladygaga 4 her ignorant and stupid message to her fans #popsingersdonteat wow ur a role model act like 1 dont praise anorexia?"

Even the American national Eating Disorders Association weighed in, tweeting, "Huh? This is the same person who recently implored girls to stop dieting?" Gaga herself 'fessed up to suffering from an eating disorder early in her career, but has since been an outspoken advocate of healthy eating and youth empowerment. Guess that vow of media silence she said she'd take didn't do much to stop Gaga from cooking up hearty servings of headline-grabbers.

Farhan Saeed releases

‘Pi Jaon’ music video

NEWS DESK Rock star Farhan Saeed finally released his most awaited ‘Pi Jaon’ music video, which also features Pakistan’s emerging singer Momina Mustehsan. The music video has gained popularity in Pakistani, India and worldwide for its magical underwater theme. Famous Indian dancer and actress

Isha Sharvani stars in the ‘Pi Jaon’ video for the underwater spell with Farhan Saeed. The video was filmed in new Delhi.

Prahlad Kakar of Genisus Films productions and director Kenneth Dawson has directed Farhan’s video and the underwater shots were taken by Sumair Verma. The ‘Pi Jaon’ video was arranged and produced

by Saad Sultan at the Sidereal Studios.

More painful times

ahead for Farhan

MuMBai: essaying the role of an athlete is not easy. After undertaking a rigorous regime to get into the character of Milkha Singh, Farhan Akhtar will now have to work hard to look like the 17-year-old sprinter in the film ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’. this is the time, during the 1950s, when Milkha Singh was a 17-year-old army recruit. Said a source close to the project: "Farhan worked really hard to look at least 10 years less than his actual age to look like Milkha in the 1960s. Farhan would now have to knock off another 10 years from his real age to look like the 17-year-old Milkha, the army-boy in the 1950s."

Farhan, who spent a lot of time researching the army for his war film ‘Lakshya’, would undertake at least a fortnight of on-the-spot training in an army cantonment to get the hang of that particular phase of Milkha's career. taking a breather from shooting, director rakeysh omprakash Mehra said: "we're not looking anywhere except at getting the on- screen Milkha as correctly on screen as possible. It's not about just looking like Milkha Singh or running like him. Farhan got that right once when he trained for the athlete's phase in Milkha's life. I'm sure Farhan would get it right again when we shoot another phase in Milkha's life." aGenCieS

SRK detained at New York airport neW YoRK: Actor Shah rukh Khan has said he was detained at New york's white Plains airport by immigration authorities. Khan, 46, who was in the US to deliver a speech at yale University, received a Chubb Fellowship, the university's highest honour on thursday evening. the actor joked about the incident in his speech. "It was a long flight, we were detained at the airport for an hour and a half, as always happens," Khan said. "whenever I feel arrogant, I always visit America," he said to much laughter in the auditorium.

Khan has faced immigration trouble before, being questioned at Newark airport in 2009. At the time, the actor said he felt "angry and humiliated". on Friday, television channels quoted external Affairs Minister SM Krishna as saying India would take up the issue with US authorities. ReuteRS

Imtiaz roots

for Shahid MuMBai: It's true. First impressions are almost always the most lasting. Director Imtiaz Ali and wife Preeti have decided to cast their blue-eyed boy Shahid Kapoor as leading man in a film Preeti is producing, which is a remake of the 2009 South Korean flick ‘My Girlfriend Is An Agent’.

Interestingly, Bosco of Bosco Caesar will make his directorial debut with this film. A source close to the project said, "Imtiaz was very happy with Shahid's work in ‘Jab we Met’. Bebo and he got a lot of taalis in the film.

Shahid's role won many accolades.

It wasn't an easy role but he did it with so much conviction. ever since, Imtiaz has wanted to work with Shahid. Preeti too loved his acting in the film." As for Shahid, he has simply loved the offer, the source revealed, adding, "the modalities are being worked out. he may not the remake of ‘vettai’ but he might just do this film for them now.” aGenCieS

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15 ‘Believe’ it: Bieber, Swift

team up for new song OS ANGELES: Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has teamed with country sensation Taylor Swift on a new song for his upcoming third album ‘Believe’, though details were scant as the ‘Boyfriend’ singer keeps fans guessing. Shrieking at this point is totally okay. Bieber told a British radio station in a recent interview that Swift was one of several people he had worked with on ‘Believe’. "We worked with Mike Posner for 'Boyfriend,' so that turned out well," he told a radio station. "It's crazy. I mean, I even wrote a song with Taylor Swift, so the whole album ranges differently. With my music it doesn't only stay in a box. Everything is so different and that's why I'm so happy with this album," he added.

Bieber, 18, did not give the title of the song he wrote with Swift, 22, nor did he say if the pair would sing it together. JB has also hinted at wanting to do something with Adam Levine.

"I think we need to do something on @NBCTheVoice," he tweeted to the show coach. And continued with some upcoming news, "Next Tues @nbcthevoice Im gonna WORLD PREMIERE the first clip of the #BOYFRIENDvideo. Might also announce some major #BELIEVE news too." ‘Believe’ is expected to drop this summer and will also include the musical sounds of Drake, Kanye West, Timbaland, Usher and Diplo. ReuteRS

L

Coldplay takes inspiration from

Johnny Depp performs

with Marilyn Manson

at rock concert

Brangelina building

‘Kung Fu Panda 2’ theme park for kids LOS ANGELES aGenCieS

LONDON aGenCieS

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin says he and the rest of the band-mates are inspired by movie ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’. The ‘Fix You’ hit-maker, who has children Apple, seven, and Moses, six, with wife Gwyneth Paltrow, said his band Coldplay has learned some important life lessons from the film. "The baddie sends an evil force right into Po’s head, but the lesson he learns is how to turn that force around and send it back twice as strong. It is a great way

to deal with negativity. We are interested in turning negatives into positives. In life it’s good to learn how to take negatives and turn them into positives.

Every time something like that happens to us, we just flip it around. It is a very good film," he said. The band’s world tour kicks off in Canada later this month, and Marin said he is thankful Coldplay is still going strong 16 years after forming at university. "We are so happy to have our job at this point. If someone doesn’t like us we don’t care. We care about the people who do like us."

Katrina Kaif follows Kajol MuMBai: Most men would want to someday fit into their father's shoes. But Aditya Chopra has not just stepped in but also gone steps ahead. Sources from the sets of yash Chopra's directorial comeback starring Shah rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma reveal that the younger Chopra has not only been keeping a tab on the production but also helping his father direct the romantic scenes in the film. According to the source, Adi was almost like his father's chief assistant on the sets. "when love scenes were being shot, Adi took over the direction. when yashji created the love scenes between rajesh Khanna and Sharmila tagore in ‘Daag’ or Amitabh Bachchan and Parveen Babi in ‘Deewar’, he was closer to the actors' age. By the time, ‘Dil to Pagal hai’ came around, yashji was more comfortable with Adi directing the romantic sequences. And thus, even in this film, he has let Adi take over the mush part. So, while the dramatic scenes bear yashji's style the romantic scenes between Shah rukh and Katrina are heavily reminiscent of Adi's ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’," said the source. when contacted, Katrina too seemed happy with the way the love scenes have thus shaped up. "I'd like to think Shah rukh and I share the same on-screen chemistry as he did with Kajol and Madhuri. I've learnt a lot by simply observing him especially in the romantic sequences." Shah rukh asked Katrina to ease up for the romantic scenes by being the way Kajol was in DDLJ. well, we sure hope that the DDLJ magic works wonders for this film as well. aGenCieS

Hollywood’s A-list couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are building a huge eco-friendly theme park for their six-strong brood. The pair decided to go ahead with the project in the grounds of their chateau in the South of France after last September's visit to Legoland in Windsor, Berks, was cut short due to security concerns in the camp. "Brad and Angie felt really bad having to drag the kids home early when they were at Legoland last year. But if their bodyguards said there were too many people then they had no choice," the Sun quoted a source as saying. "Their eldest son Maddox asked if they could build something similar at the house in France. They were already getting a new pool so they decided it was a great idea," the source said.

However, unlike Michael Jackson's neverland, most of the park will be underground, with turf on top and will be powered by

sunlight, using panels in the roof and the water will be recycled. "Plans include a huge partly underground ecofriendly theme park in the garden with the kids' favourite rides. "There's a massive pool, slides, tunnels, boat rides, a pirate island with a castle, a gokart track and even an old-fashioned carousel. "Brad has designed a mini train that goes around the whole grounds and it's going to go through a door at the side of the new structure and into the park," the source added.

MuMBai: Aamir Khan is known for his perfection as he believes in doing everything from his heart. when all big Bollywood stars made their television debut with game and dance reality shows, Aamir chose a different route. the actor who loves to connect with the common people thought of something unique that will involve everybody. "the show is for everyone. It's an effort to understand ourselves, to make our lives better. the show gave me a chance to connect with common people from different states and cities," he said. Aamir unveiled the theme song ‘tera rang aisa’. Speaking about the song he said, "I wanted a romantic song because I have love in my heart for my country, like every Indian. the song is so beautiful; the lyrics will make you fall in love." he further informed that each episode will have a song. he revealed that he has been working on this show since past few years and shot just 13 episodes of ‘Satyameva Jayate’ as of now. Aamir delayed his forthcoming films like ‘talaash’ and ‘Dhoom 3’ for the show. he also informed that the same channel earlier had offered him to host a game show but he chose something closer to his heart: "television is a powerful medium and I wanted to use it properly. I have taken a route which I understand. I am an entertainer. I am doing things which are close to my heart, things I enjoy the most without compromising with people's emotions," said Aamir. aGenCieS

LOS ANGELES: Johnny Depp let out the rockstar in him recently by displaying his musical skills alongside Marilyn Manson on stage at a concert recently.

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star, 48, grabbed his guitar and joined Manson on stage for a rollicking performance at the Golden Gods Awards concert at Club nokia. In true Depp style, he played it cool keeping his head low, almost to the point of being incognito. After running through the song ‘Sweet Dreams’, Manson, 43, shouted to the crowd, "If you don’t recognise my personal friend, my personal saviour, my personal guitar hero, Johnny Depp,” The crowd roared its approval. next they moved on to Manson’s ‘The Beautiful People’. All the while Depp was straight faced, focusing on his playing, though he broke into an occasional smile absolutely in control, but obviously enjoying himself. The actor has been hanging out with rock stars lately. Back in February he chilled out with Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen at the Foo Fighters’ afterGrammys party. aGenCieS

JK Rowling announces title of first adult novel LONDON: Author JK Rowling has announced her first adult novel will be called ‘The Casual Vacancy’. The Harry Potter writer revealed in February that she was working on the book, and said it would be "very different" from her previous material. The book will be published worldwide on 27 September. "The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry's success has brought me," Rowling said. The story is centred on the death of Barry Fairweather, whose unexpected passing shocks the local villagers of Pagford. Publishers describe the tale as being "blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising". BBC

Won't compromise with people's emotions:

Aamir Khan

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16 Foreign News Gulf states to meet on Iran-UAe island spat DuBAI afp

Foreign ministers of the six Gulf monarchies are to hold a special meeting in Riyadh after Iran’s president visited an island in the Gulf claimed by the United Arab Emirates, a UAE official said on Friday.

Wednesday’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in the Saudi capital comes at the request of the UAE, which recalled its envoy to Tehran on Thursday after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went to the disputed island of Abu Musa, the official said.

Abu Dhabi pulled out envoy Saif Mohammed Abid al-Zaabi “for consultations” a day after denouncing Ahmadinejad’s trip as a “flagrant violation of UAE sovereignty over its territories.” Iran called the visit a purely “domestic issue,” media reported.

Both Iran and the Emirates claim territorial sovereignty over Abu Musa and two other islands in the southern Gulf.

During his visit on Wednesday, Ahmadinejad insisted historical documents proved “the Persian Gulf is Persian,” Iran’s official IRnA news agency said. He said the name “Persian Gulf” derived from the “culture, civilisation and the dominant opinion” of the area. Iran, then under the rule of the Western-backed shah, gained control of the islands of Abu Musa, Lesser Tunb and Greater Tunb in 1971, as Britain granted independence to its Gulf protectorates and withdrew its forces. Abu Musa, the only inhabited island of the three, was placed under joint administration in a deal with Sharjah, now part of the UAE. Abu Dhabi says the Iranians have since taken control of the entire island which controls access to the oil-rich Gulf and has installed an airport and military base there.

Saturday, 14 April, 2012

Syria troops kill three as thousands march S BEIRuT afp

YRIAn forces shot dead three demonstrators on Friday, as tens of thousands marched across the country heeding calls by the opposition to take advantage of a hard-won Un-backed ceasefire. Security forces opened fire at a group of men as they joined a demonstration in Assi square, killing one, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Another demonstrator was shot dead in the village of nawa, in the southern province of Daraa, as he walked out of a mosque to join a demonstration, the Observatory said.

Forces loyal to President Bashar alAssad also shot dead a man in the town of Salqin, in the northwestern province of Idlib, the centre added.

The head of the Britain-based watchdog, Rami Abdel Rahman, said tens of thousands demonstrated in several provinces, a day after a Un-backed ceasefire entered into force.

Protesters held rallies in the Qadam and Assali districts of Damascus, while other demonstrations took place in the

towns of Irbin, and Bibla, outside the capital, according to videos posted by activists on the Internet.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said demonstrations were organised in towns and villages in the northern province of Aleppo, while protesters took to the streets after the the main weekly Muslim prayers in several neighbourhoods of Deir Ezzor, in the east.

The Britain-based watchdog said demonstrators hurled stones at security forces in the Tariq al-Sadd district of Daraa, south of Damascus, cradle of the protest movement that erupted in March last year.

Sporadic clashes broke out between troops and rebel fighters at Khirbet alJoz, on the northern border with Turkey, the Observatory said.

Violence on Thursday killed at least 10 people, including seven civilians, and wounded dozens more. Among the dead were two soldiers killed by rebels after forces loyal to Assad attempted to break up a demonstration in the central province of Hama.

Even so, the toll is markedly lower than it has been in recent weeks, when there have often been scores of people

killed. After the ceasefire came into force at dawn Thursday, Annan declared he was “encouraged by reports that the situation in Syria is relatively calm and that the cessation of hostilities appears to be holding.”

But as Assad’s government and the rebels traded accusations of trying to wreck the ceasefire, Annan insisted “all parties have obligations to implement fully the six-point plan.”

The Un mediator’s plan calls for the withdrawal of forces from urban areas, the release of arbitrarily detained people, freedom of movement for journalists and the right to demonstrate.

Despite the regime’s commitment to pull back, the spokeswoman for the opposition Syrian national Council, Basma Qoudmani, said “we have concrete proof that heavy weapons are still in population centres.” The SnC, the most widely recognised opposition group in exile, and Internet-based activists called for peaceful demonstrations across Syria to test the government’s readiness to accept public shows of dissent.

“We call on the people to demonstrate and express themselves... The right to demonstrate is a principal point

of the plan,” Burhan Ghalioun, head of the Syrian national Council, told AFP. Qoudmani said: “The real test (of the ceasefire) will be if there is shooting or not when people demonstrate.”

The Syrian Revolution 2011 activist group also called on its Facebook page for protests on Friday — the Muslim day of rest when the demonstrations have been the largest after noon prayers — under the rallying cry: “A revolution for all Syrians.” But Syria’s interior ministry insisted people wanting to demonstrate must have permits.

“The right to demonstrate peacefully is guaranteed by law. We call on citizens to apply the law by requesting a permit before demonstrating,” said a statement carried by the official SAnA news agency.

On Friday, the Un Security Council could vote on a resolution authorising the deployment of observers to monitor both sides in a conflict, which the Observatory says has cost more than 10,000 lives since March last year.

An advanced mission of 20-30 observers could be in place early next week, diplomats said. The full mission would be at least 200 monitors.

Amnesty urges Bahrain to probe brutal crackdown DuBAI afp

Amnesty International on Friday urged Bahrain to free prisoners of conscience, probe alleged abuses and hold to account those responsible for a brutal crackdown on protesters. In a briefing issued ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix Formula One race next week, Amnesty said there was a continuing human rights crisis in the Sunni-ruled Gulf state which has a Shiite majority. It called on the Bahraini government “to show real political will for reforms in the country,” in an emailed statement received by AFP. The London-based watchdog urged Bahrain to “immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience” sentenced “solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression.” Among them were 14 opposition leaders, it said without naming them. Amnesty called on the government to “set up prompt, thorough and independent investigations into all allegations of torture, deaths in custody and unlawful killings... committed since the beginning of the February 2011 protests.”

naRathiWat: a thai child splashes water on soldiers on a motorcycle during celebrations of Songkran, the water festival marking the country’s new year in thailand’s southern province of narathiwat on friday. AFP

Nine months after attacks, Norway’s wounds are healing OSLO afp

nine months after Anders Behring Breivik’s traumatic attacks, observers say norway’s wounds have healed and its response has been in keeping with its long-held values of openness and tolerance.

The trial opens Monday of the rightwing extremist who confessed to killing 77 people on July 22, when he gunned down young people attending a Labour party camp after setting off a bomb outside government offices in Oslo.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said afterwards that “nobody will stop norway from being itself”, and com-

mentators say the nation has responded to the crisis without the sort of reactive legislation adopted following attacks in other nations, such as the enhanced domestic wiretapping capabilities approved by the United States in the wake of September 11, 2001.

“We’ve returned to normality remarkably fast. And that’s good: it’s a very healthy sign,” said Harald Stanghelle, chief political editor for daily newspaper Aftenposten.

“The only difference, perhaps, is that we’ve lost our innocence, that now we know that this can happen here too. It raised our consciousness, but without changing our behaviour,” he told AFP.

In what was either a sign of the public’s proximity to power in this oil-rich nation with a generous welfare system, or else just plain naivete, Breivik was able to park a truck loaded with explosives at the foot of a building housing the prime minister’s offices.

Stoltenberg was absent at the time, but the explosion killed eight passers-by and employees.

Breivik then made his way to the island of Utoeya near Oslo, where he spent more than an hour methodically gunning down 69 people, most of them teenagers, attending a Labour Party summer youth camp.

Since then, there have been few signs of tighter security, apart from the

addition of bodyguards for a handful of government ministers and the placement of car barricades around government buildings.

Under norwegian law, Breivik could face up to 21 years in prison if he is convicted and found sane, though a provision makes it possible for him to be held longer if he is considered a threat to society.

He could be committed to care in a psychiatric unit if he is found insane.

While some of norway’s five million or so residents were astonished by the penal code’s apparent leniency and called for tougher sentences, many in the Scandinavian nation remain committed to laws remaining as they are.

Some survivors of the attacks have even told AFP they don’t want to see laws changed.

“It’s more important to preserve the system that (Breivik) wanted to destroy than to change that system to keep him in prison,” survivor Bjoern Ihler said.

Regardless of whether Breivik will be found criminally sane, “everybody agrees that this was the act of a crazy person driven by his political radicalism,” Janne Haaland Matlary, a political scientist at Oslo University said.

“It was an isolated crime and nobody feels the need for a major change in security. It would certainly have been different if it had been the act of an Islamist,” she told AFP.

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Foreign News 17

4 plead not guilty to Danish newspaper ‘massacre plot’ COPENHAGEN afp

Four men pled not guilty Friday as they went on trial in Denmark over a suspected plot to massacre the staff of a newspaper that first published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Sahbi Ben Mohamed Zalouti, Munir Awad and Omar Abdalla Aboelazm, all Swedish citizens of Tunisian, Lebanese and Moroccan origin respectively, along with a Tunisian national living in Sweden, Mounir Ben Mohamed Dhahri, face charges of “attempted terrorism.” Prosecutors say the four were plotting to “kill a large number of people” at the Jyllands-Posten daily’s offices in Copenhagen when they were arrested on December 29, 2010.

A machine gun with a silencer, a revolver, 108 bullets, reams of duct tape, and $20,000 were among the items found in the men’s possession when they were arrested. Danish police, who had been collaborating with their Swedish counterparts and had been wiretapping the men, swooped in just after hearing them say they were “going to” the newspaper office. One of the two prosecutors, Henrik Plaehn, told the Glostrup district court that a ceremony celebrating the Sporting newcomer of the Year at the newspaper was likely the target of the suspected plot.

In addition to a number of sports celebrities, Danish Crown Prince Frederik was present at the ceremony. “It appears this event was the target,” he said, according to Jyllands-Posten, stressing though that the prosecution did not know if the four accused had known the prince was there and did not think they had been after him. Plaehn also argued that there was evidence the plot had links to Pakistan, but said he would provide more details later in the trial, which is set to last until June.

YanGon: British prime Minister david Cameron talks with Myanmar opposition leader aung San Suu Kyi during a joint press conference following their meeting at Suu Kyi’s residence on friday. AFP

Suspend Myanmar sanctions, say Cameron and Suu Kyi YANGON

Nigeria rescues pregnant girls from ‘baby factory’ LAGOS afp

nigerian police have raided an alleged illegal orphanage where they rescued young women thought to have been forced to bear children with the aim of selling them, a spokesman said Friday.

“We discovered the baby factory in Uruah local government area of the state during a raid following a tipoff,” assistant police superintendent Oyekachi Orji told AFP of the operation in southern Akwa Ibom state.

He said seven women between the ages of 18 and 20, including three who were pregnant, were freed from the home during the April 4 operation. no babies were discovered.

B

afp

RITISH Prime Minister David Cameron and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi issued a joint call Friday for the suspension of sanctions against the former pariah state after landmark talks.

Cameron also met Myanmar’s reformist President Thein Sein as he became the first Western leader in decades to visit the country, which languished for decades under a repressive junta until military rule ended last year.

The British premier announced a dramatic shift in stance on sanctions following Suu Kyi’s recent election to parliament, calling for all measures except the arms embargo to be suspended.

“I think there are prospects for change in Burma and I think it is right for the rest of the world to respond to those changes,” Cameron said.

“Of course we must respond with caution, with care. We must always be sceptical and questioning because we want to know those changes are irre-

versible. But as we discussed I think it is right to suspend the sanctions that there are against Burma.”

Britain — Myanmar’s former colonial ruler — has traditionally taken a hardline stance on sanctions because of human rights concerns. The 27-nation European Union already lifted some restrictions against the regime this year and foreign ministers will decide the next steps when they meet on April 23.

Suu Kyi, who spent much of the past 22 years locked up at the hands of the former junta, for the first time also called for the suspension of sanctions against her country.

“We still have a long way to go but we believe that we can get there. I believe that Thein Sein is genuine about democratic reforms,” she said.

A steady stream of foreign dignitaries, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Foreign Secretary William Hague, have visited Myanmar since a new quasi-civilian government took power last year.

But Cameron is the first Western head of government to go there since the military seized power in 1962, ushering

in almost half a century of repressive junta rule and isolation from the West.

He is believed to be the first serving British prime minister to visit Myanmar, which won independence in 1948.

In February, the European Union lifted a travel ban on 87 Myanmar officials, including Thein Sein, but kept an assets freeze against them. Other sanctions include an arms embargo, a ban on gems and an assets freeze on nearly 500 people and 900 entities.

Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight world powers — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States — on Thursday welcomed “significant steps” by Myanmar toward democratic reform.

“The ministers will consider the easing of sanctions to help this country embed reform and fully integrate into international and regional political and economic processes,” they said in a final statement after talks in Washington.

Cameron was accompanied by a group of British corporate executives, but because of the sanctions they were expected to refrain from any businessrelated activities.

egypt Islamists denounce Mubarakera ‘leftovers’ CAIRO afp

Thousands of Islamists demonstrated in Egypt on Friday to demand that members of ousted president Hosni Mubarak’s regime be barred from standing in next month’s presidential election. They gathered in an upbeat mood in the capital’s iconic Tahrir Square, symbol of the popular protest movement that led to last year’s downfall of Mubarak, amid chants of “no to leftovers from the old regime!”

“We don’t want Omar Suleiman!” they cried, referring to Mubaak’s former intelligence chief who was also briefly vice president, and who had sought to make a return to political life as a candidate in the May 23-24 election.

Friday’s demonstration came a day after the Islamist-dominated parliament approved a law that would ban former regime members from standing for public office. The law, which still has to be approved by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), could see former officials such as Suleiman disqualified. The SCAF, which took over when Mubarak stood down on February 11, 2011, is widely seen as backing Suleiman’s candidacy for president.

North Korea supreme leader leads mass rally PYONGYANG afp

pYonGYanG: north Korean leader Kim Jong-un claps as he attends the unveiling ceremony of two statues of former leaders Kim il-Sung and Kim Jong-il on friday. AFP

north Korea’s new leader Kim JongUn on Friday led a mass rally for his late father and grandfather following the country’s failed rocket launch.

The defiant launch drew condemnation from world leaders who described it as a “provocative” act that threatened regional security, despite Pyongyang insisting it was intended to put a satellite into orbit for peaceful purposes.

But Jong-Un proudly appeared for a ceremony attended by tens of thousands of people crowding a central area in Pyongyang to honour new large statues of the nation’s founding president Kim Il-Sung and his son and longtime ruler Kim Jong-Il. The ceremony, televised live,

coincided with the announcement that Jong-Un was elected “first chairman” of the powerful national Defence Commission, apparently a new title.

His late father was named “eternal” chairman of the commission, the country’s top decisionmaking body, at an annual session of the north’s rubber-stamp parliament, state media said.

The new titles complete the transfer of state, military and party power from Kim Jong-Il to his son. “now you can say Jong-Un’s new leadership is fully in place officially,” Jeung Young-Tae, an analyst of Seoul’s Korea Institute for national Unification, told AFP. “He has all top party, military and state jobs under his belt. now he’s undoubtedly the top leader of the state

of north Korea.” north Korea is celebrating the April 15 centenary of the birth of Kim Il-Sung with major events including the long-range rocket launch which ended in failure.

“We are holding our late great leaders in high esteem with these statues on the Mansudae hill” to mark the April 15 anniversary, Kim Yong-nam, the north’s ceremonial head of state, told cheering crowds.

Jong-Un, clad in navy Mao suit, smiled, clapped and looked up to the giant bronze statues along with top party and military cadres.

The young leader has practically assumed all top posts previously held by his father since he took over last December and was appointed as supreme commander of the country’s 1.2-million army.

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wozniacki makes it perfect twelve Page 21

Pakistan probes domestic T20 match KARACHI afp

A

match in Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 competition last month is under scrutiny over allegations of foul play and under-performance by some players, an official said. Karachi Zebras lost the Super Eight tournament game by 31 runs against a weakened Peshawar Panthers side missing injured star Pakistan paceman Umar Gul. The win lifted Peshawar to the semi-final and relegated Karachi. "I myself felt some foul-play and

PCB using cricketers to convince foreign players to play in PPL LAHORE

several players under-performed so the manager of the team has submitted a report in which he has advised investigation," Siraj Bukhari, president of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA), told AFP on Thursday.

Bukhari did not say whether players under-performed for money but said a committee will investigate and submit a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Dan-

ish Kaneria, named by jailed English player Mervyn Westfiled in a spot-fixing scandal involving a 2009 county match, was part of the Karachi team but had to pull out after bowling only four balls due to a fitness problem.

Kaneria, arrested in 2010 but not charged, faces an England and Wales Cricket Board disciplinary hearing next month.

He has denied any wrongdoing.

Pak players occupy slots in ICC Rankings LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

Staff RepoRt

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is seeing a ray of hope in its bid to launch the Pakistan Premier League (PPL), with several national and international cricketers having evinced interest in featuring in the tournament. The PCB has expressed confidence that the PPL, featuring renowned international cricketers, will help revive international cricket in Pakistan. According to an official, the PCB is taking help of the country's leading cricketers to convince foreign players to play in Pakistan. "A senior member of the team is playing a vital role in this regard. The cricketer's representative is also in close touch with the PCB as well as foreign players on the issue. He's already given a presentation which was impressive and is set to give an important one later this month," the official. The official added that former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya and retired Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds have agreed to play in the tournament. "These players have promised to feature whenever they are invited.

This is just the beginning and we are expecting more confirmations. Although these cricketers have passed their prime, their participation will convince other players to come forward. The PCB will also take help from other players who feature on foreign tournaments regularly," he added The name of West Indian legend Brian Lara has already been linked with PPL. The idea of hosting the PPL was first floated by former chairman nasim Ashraf in 2007 but, under Ijaz Butt, the plan was initially abandoned. The PCB, however, revived its efforts to launch the PPL following the success of similar leagues in Bangladesh, Australia and South Africa.

Asif to be released on May 4

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Disgraced cricketer Mohammad Asif is to be released on May 4 from the Canterbury Jail after serving 6 months sentence for spot-fixing. Mohammad Amir, one of the three disgraced Pakistani cricketers convicted by a UK court for spot fixing, was released after serving sentence in the same spot fixing case in February. Salman Butt, a former captain of Pakistan cricket squad and the third member of the disgraced trio convicted in the spot-fixing case, is still serving sentence at the Canterbury jail.

Three Pakistani cricketers occupy top slots in the top ten latest Reliance International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Rankings released on Friday. In the Reliance ICC Test Rankings for batsmen (top 30), Younus Khan of Pakistan stands firm at fourth position with an average of 52.44 and 797 points.

AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis of South Africa hold the first and second spots with 821 and 819 points, respectively.

Michael Clarke 3rd (Australia, 809 points) while S. Chanderpaul of West Indies stands fifth at 785 points.

For the Reliance ICC Test Rankings for bowlers (top 20), Saeed Ajmal retains his second spot with an average of 26.70 and 835 points. Another promising Pakistani bowler Abdur Rehman holds the tenth slot with an average of 27.37and 739 points.

Dale Steyn of South Africa is at first place with 886 points followed by James Anderson 3rd and Graeme Swann 4th of England with 798 and 779 points, respectively.

"We are looking into the matter and await details from the KCCA," PCB spokesman nadeem Sarwar told AFP. "Pakistan Cricket Board has zero tolerance on fixing."

Pakistan has been in the centre of match-fixing controversy since Australian players Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh alleged they were offered a bribe by then home captain Salim Malik to under-perform during Australia's 1995 tour.

Last year three top Pakistan players -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer -were banned and later jailed over a spot-fixing scandal on the tour of England in 2010.

Shillingford called into windies test squad PORT OF SPAIN afp

Off-spinner Shane Shillingford was called into the West Indies squad for the second Test against Australia on Thursday, 18 months after his last appearance. Shillingford, 29, played the last of his five Tests in november 2010 after his bowling action was deemed illegal on the tour of Sri Lanka. But he has since undergone remedial work and took 38 wickets in five matches during the recent domestic Caribbean season. Australia won the first Test by three wickets in Barbados on Wednesday. The second Test starts on Sunday at Queen's Park Oval with the third and final Test in Dominica from April 23. West Indies 2nd Test squad Darren Sammy (capt), Kirk Edwards, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh (wkt), Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, narsingh Deonarine, Fidel Edwards, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Shane Shillingford.

Mascarenhas five-for gives Punjab first win MOHALI CRiCinfo

Dimitri Mascarenhas and Shaun Marsh were the architects of a comfortable win for Kings XI Punjab, their first this IPL after a poor start to the season.

Mascarenhas picked up his second five-for in Twenty20 cricket, in conditions perfectly suited to his accuracy and medium pace. His performance helped bowl out Pune Warriors for just 115 on a slow track, and Shaun Marsh ensured the chase was on track with a composed half-century that marked his own return to form.

On a Mohali track that had some grass and one that was livened up with some rain last night, the Kings XI seamers justified their captain's decision to field, deriving swing and movement with some accurate bowling and picking up wickets at a steady pace in the process. After the early loss of Jesse Ryder, who was run out thanks to a late decision against a single by his partner Sourav Ganguly, Praveen Kumar, Parvinder Awana and Mascarenhas went about slowing down the innings considerably. Praveen got significant away movement and surprised the batsmen with ones that nipped back in.

The top order hasn't really fired for the Warriors and the trend continued. After promising much with a couple of delightful shots, Ganguly was dismissed thanks to the introduction of Mascarenhas. He got rid of Ganguly with some away movement that produced a leading edge, and saw off an edgy Marlon Samuels with a lovely delivery that moved just at the right time to clip the off stump.

At the other end, with the Warriors soon reduced to 29 for 3, Uthappa was forced to curb his natural in-

stincts but found an able partner in Mithun Manhas, whose swift running and busy approach didn't allow his side to buckle down significantly. Interspersed between a spate of singles and twos were a couple of useful boundaries from Manhas, a wristy smack over Piyush Chawla's head standing out.

The 26-run stand for the fifth wicket ended when Uthappa holed out against Mascarenhas in his second spell and Steven Smith followed not long after, bowled off an inside edge. Smith and Uthappa had played a critical role in the Warriors' previous two wins, chip-

MohALI: Kings XI Punjab batsman Shaun Marsh plays a shot during the IPL twenty20 match against Pune warriors at PCA Stadium. AFP

ping in with cameos that proved crucial in the outcome, but weren't able to push on today.

Mascarenhas returned to trouble the Warriors more in his final spell, and wasn't perturbed when struck for a huge six over extra cover by Manhas. He stuck to a straight line, bowling Manhas the very next ball as he tried the scoop, and picked his fifth as Rahul Sharma skied one to deep midwicket; the innings was wrapped up shortly after.

Barring a first-ball setback when Paul Valthaty was cleaned up by Ashok Dinda, Kings XI never really strayed off the track in the chase. Marsh, whose last seven Test innings have yielded just 17 runs, began his innings in style, pulling Dinda through midwicket. It didn't help the Warriors that their fielding was poor, with misfields, overthrows, a missed run-out and a couple of dropped catches preventing them from putting up a fight.

Together with Adam Gilchrist, Marsh saw off the early pressure with two crunching boundaries off Samuels through the off side and Gilchrist matched him, smacking Angelo Mathews for successive fours in the last over of the field restrictions. Marsh, who was reprieved when on 31 and 41, was ruthless when offered width and his adeptness at playing the pull allowed the Warriors bowlers little margin for error.

Both timing and power were on display, a classy flick over midwicket off nehra and a towering six over longon off Rahul Sharma typifying both those features.

Chawla, promoted above David Hussey, gave Marsh good company and sealed the win, the Warriors doing their bit to hasten it through some sloppy fielding.

SCORES: Kings XI Punjab 116 for 3 (Marsh 64*, Chawla 24*) beat Pune Warriors 115 (Manhas 31, Mascarenhas 5-25) by seven wickets.

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Saturday, 14 April, 2012

rizwan steers Sayid Papers to big win

sports 19

AmATEuR NATIONAl GOlf

Sri Lanka win Int’l Team Trophy

Misbah feels fit to play all formats of the game

LAHORE LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

Staff RepoRt

Sayid Papers won by an innings and 100 runs in the Patrons Trophy Grade-II match here at the Jinnah Stadium Gujranwala. Sayid Papers won by an innings and 100 runs. ETPB batting first inning 192 all out after 64.3 overs.

Tasleem Arif 69 runs not out, Salman Ahmad 37, Muhammad Faraz 18 & Babar najam 18 runs. Sayid Papers bowling Ehsan Adil 5/52, Faheem Ashraf 2/22 & Emad Ali 2/45 wickets. Sayid Papers batting first inning 366/5 after 48 overs declared. Rizwan Ahmad batting well 104 runs not out, 6 sixes & 12 Fours, nouman Anwar 71, Muhammad Waqas 49, Muhammad Ayoob 36, Umar Waheed 33 & nadeem Iqbal 32 runs. Salman Ahmad 2/86 & Tasleem Arif 2/72 wickets. ETPB Second Inning batting 74 runs all out after 24.1 overs. Sohail Iqbal 24 & Qadeer Hussain 14 runs. Sayid Paper bowling Faheem Ashraf bowling well 6/29, Ehsan Adil 3/21 & Emad Ali 1/14 wickets. Akmal Hayyat, Khalid Younas Umpire, Ashraf Ali Match Referee & Sohail Zaidi was the scorer.

Nadal confirms return to training MADRID afp

Spanish world number two Rafael nadal announced on Thursday that he has returned to training for the first time since suffering an injury to his left knee at last month's Miami Masters.

"Yesterday (Wednesday), I started to train on clay at the Manacor tennis club (in Mallorca), to prepare myself for the Monte-Carlo and Barcelona tournaments," nadal posted on his Facebook page.

The Spaniard had to pull out of the Miami Masters before his scheduled semi-final against Andy Murray on March 30.

He will be looking to win the MonteCarlo Masters for an eighth successive year when the event starts on Sunday. nadal has also won the Barcelona event in six of the last seven years.

LAhore: one of the ladies’ participants hits the ball out of the bunker during the 51st Amateur Golf Championship of Pakistan. NADEEM IjAz Rana(Pakistan) and Ashiq Husto leave the other teams far behind.

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

I

n this four rounds Royal Palm national Golf Championship in progress at the exquisite Royal Palm Golf Course, the contender in command of the situation is n. Thangaraja of Sri Lanka who occupies the top slot on the leader board, taking over from Ali Hai, with a stunning second round of four under par 68.

Add to this his first round score of 74 and his aggregate of two rounds is 142, two under par which certainly makes him look like a dominant contender in the race for individual honors. And by virtue of his superb performance Thangaraja with a fairly decent support from his playing partner n. Ranga managed to capture the International Team Title which concluded after two rounds.

Over the two rounds Sri Lanka team accumulated an aggregate team score of 286, which was good enough

In the end Sri Lanka emerged as the winner, while Bangla Desh team comprising Dulal Hossain and Sajib Ali ended up as the runners up with an aggregate score of 286. Pakistan B team consisting of Ghazanfar Mehmood and Wasim Rana came third, their team score being 291.

During the second round on Friday at the par 72, Royal Palm Golf Course, some of the individual performances reflected quality golf.

Right on top was Thangaraja of Sri Lanka who started the day with a birdie on the opening hole and thereafter continued to play flawlessly with another birdie on the 8th hole and three consecutive ones on the 10th, 11th and 12th.

In between the birdies, the twelve regulation pars were a treat and made him look like a champion, and he looks confident indeed although the competition from participants like M. Dulal Hossain(Bangla Desh), n. Ranga(Sri Lanka), Waseem

sain(Multan)is close indeed. Interestingly Dulal of Bangla Desh is bracketed with Thangaraja at a two rounds score of 142, two under par followed by n. Ranga, Waseem Rana and Ashiq Hussain at 144. Although Dulal has been steady in both the rounds with 71 on the first day and again a 71 on the second day, the star touch was missing and he will have to struggle to match wits with Thangaraja over the next two days.

And as Thanga said: "I feel better as the game is progressing and my swing is responding more and more to my command and certainly the putting feel is no longer a problem".

As for Dulal, he said, "I am so happy with my performance here and simply love this excellent Royal Palm Golf Course".

As for Ali Hai and M. Rehman, they hope to hit back in the third round and not be taken aback with modest performance of the second round.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq feels that he is fit for all the formats of the game. “I believe I am more fit than a 17-year old player to compete in the fastest version of cricket T-20, besides I am in good form to deliver.” “The best way to judge the form and fitness of a player is a match and in the so far matches I have played I tried to put my best to fit in the role of captain”, he said. Misbah said that national cricketers are awaiting resumption of international cricket in Pakistan. “We (members of the national team) are badly awaiting the start of international cricket in Pakistan ant its is imperative to have international cricket in Pakistan “ he told reporters here at national cricket academy. Misbah said Friday he was impressed with new coach Dav Whatmore's professionalism as he seeks to lift the talented but unpredictable team.

Whatmore, who took over last month on a two-year-contract, guided Pakistan to their second Asia Cup title in Bangladesh and is now training the squad for the tour of Sri Lanka in June-July. "The experience with Whatmore is very good," Misbah told media at Pakistan team's fitness camp in Lahore. "He is dealing professionally and every player is being assessed and the coordination is good." Pakistan plays two Twenty20, five one-day and three Tests in Sri Lanka before taking on Australia in a limited over series -- also in Sri Lanka.

Misbah said Whatmore -- who rose to fame after guiding Sri Lanka to the World Cup title in 1996 -- is taking care of technical matters. "Like a good coach whose job is to take care of the practice, how to prepare the team and what are the strengths and weaknesses of the rival team, he is taking care of all such things so it's nice to work with him," said Misbah.

Monfils, Gasquet out of Monte Carlo Masters PARIS afp

France's Gael Monfils has joined compatriot Richard Gasquet in pulling out of the Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo, French RMC radio reported on Thursday.

Monfils, the world number 14, played no part in last weekend's Davis

Cup quarter-final defeat to the United States at the same venue because of a side strain, from which he has yet to recover.

Earlier, Gasquet's coach Riccardo Piatti said on his Twitter account that he would also be sidelined for the event because of a right shoulder injury.

"Unfortunately that's how it is.

Richard has pulled out of the tourna-

ment. He tried to recover, but it still hurts," Piatti said.

Gasquet, ranked 17th, had also pulled out of the Davis Cup clash against the United States because of the problem.

Gasquet was due to celebrate the tenth anniversary of becoming the youngest player to win a Masters 1000 match in Monte-Carlo aged 15 in 2002.

Tiger back at No.1? We’ll see, says Kaymer KuALA LuMPuR afp

Former world number one Martin Kaymer kept a diplomatic silence Friday on whether Tiger Woods could regain the top ranking -- but backed the "best player ever" to return to regular wins.

The German, who shot five-underpar 67 to stay in touch with the leaders in the Maybank Malaysian Open's round two, said it was just a matter of time before Woods was clocking up the victories again.

But he refused to be drawn on whether Woods, in the top 10 again after a scandal-tainted career nosedive, could fight his way back to the peak of the heavily congested rankings.

"We will see," Kaymer said, praising Woods' victory at last month's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, which

broke a two-and-a-half-year win drought following revelations about his love life.

"The way he played in Florida when he won was amazing, fantastic. I think for him it's just a matter of time when he will compete well every week.

"Obviously he's the best player that ever played the game so it's just a matter of time that he will win plenty of tournaments again." Fourteen-time majorwinner Woods, 36, tumbled out of the top 50 last year but has returned to as high as sixth. After a disappointing US Masters he now sits in eighth, one place behind Kaymer.

The top three of Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood now constitute a formidable roadblock to both Woods and Kaymer, 27, who said it would take patience to return to the spot he held for eight weeks last year.

"I'm playing really well, it's just a matter of time when I'll win again," Kaymer said. "It's just a matter of getting the results on the scorecard. I'm playing fine -- it's just patience is sometimes the most difficult thing.

"If you see Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, and you have Hunter Mahan (fifth) who's playing very well at the moment. I think the top 10, top 15, everyone is so close together. It's great competition each week."

Kaymer carded six birdies against one bogey, on the par-four 13th, and missed an eagle chance on the par-five third as the 10-time European Tour winner seeks his first victory since november's WGC-HSBC Champions.

He said he was glad to tee-off in the morning as sweltering heat descended on par-72 Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club by lunchtime for the second day

running.

"I prefer to play in the morning, especially when you have weather like this," he said.

"Yesterday when I played in the afternoon, it was brutal at times especially if you're standing on one of those tee boxes and there's not a lot of wind going through. It can make a difference, but we know what we're getting into." The 2010 PGA Championship winner was seven-under for the tournament, two off provisional round two leaders Hennie Otto and Jbe Kruger, both of South Africa, who carded 64 and 65 respectively for nine-under-par totals.

Overnight leader Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, and playing partner Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open winner who lost a dramatic play-off at Augusta on Sunday, were among the later starters.

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20 sports CoAS International Squash begins with qualifying round

Saturday, 14 April, 2012

LAHORE: A view of the Royal Palm Golf Course where the 51st Amateur Golf Championship of Pakistan is in progress. STAff PHOTO

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

The 10th Chief of the Army Staff Pakistan International Squash Championship 2012 began here at the Punjab Squash Complex Old Club Road on Friday.

On the opening day pre-qualification matches of the were played with 16 first round and eight second round matches while the third round will be played on Saturday at the same venue.

ReSultS M. Bilal beat Tayyab Ashraf 11-1, 11-0 (2-0) 9 Min; naqash Shahid beat Qadeer 11-2, 11-1 (2-0) 11 Min; Mujahid Hussain beat Ahmed Amin 11-7, 11-7 (2-0) 25 Min; Asim Khan beat Arbab Dilawar 11-2, 11-2 (2-0) 12 Min; Zahir Shah beat Moin Rauf 11-4, 11-7 (2-0) 17 Min; Faisal Sarwar beat Abdullah Bashir 11-9, 11-7 (2-0) 17 Min; Shahid Hussain beat Omer Alauddin 911, 11-5, 11-3 (2-1) 35 Min; M. Farhan beat Sarosh naqvi 11-9, 11-9 (2-0) 20 Min; Farman Ahmed beat Danish Rashid 11-9, 8-11, 14-12 (2-1) 40 Min; noor Ali Khan beat Yasir Khan 11-2, 11-9 (2-0) 16 Min; Haroon Rashid beat M. Waseem 11-6, 11-9 (2-0) 20 Min; Imam Sher Khan beat Zain Khan 13-11, 11-6, 11-8 (2-1) 33 Min; Israr Ahmed beat Tariq Khan 4-11, 16-14, 11-8 (2-1) 29 Min; Hamza Ahmed beat Asghar Abbas 11-4, 8-11, 11-5 (2-1) 24 Min; Yasir Sarwar beat Athar Ali 12-10, 11-8 (2-0) 19 Min; Alam Zaib beat Hasnain Ali 11-7, 11-1 (2-0) 10 Min; Second round: M. Bilal beat naqash Shahid 11-5, 11-5 (2-0) 21 Min; Alam Zaib beat Yasir Sarwar 11-5, 11-8 (2-0) 20 Min Israr Ahmed beat Faisal Sarwar 11-6, 11-4 (2-0) 19 Min Mujahid Hussain beat Shahid Hussain 11-8, 811, 11-8 (2-1) 30 MinImam Sher Khan beat Farman Ahmed 11-4, 11-7 (2-0) 15 Min; Asim Khan beat noor Ali Khan 11-9, 11-5 (2-0) 26 Min; Haroon Rashid beat M. Farhan 14-12, 11-7 (2-0) 20 Min; Zahir Shah beat Hamza Ahmed 11-6, 11-9 (2-0) 20 Min.

Everything’s going down to the wire “Discussing the races for 1st, 4th and 17th” EPL CRYSTAL BALL KuNWAR KHuLDuNE SHAHID

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AKE a bow Wigan Athletic! You can’t help but appreciate the sheer romanticism attached to Wigan’s win over Manchester United – unless you’re one of the Red Devil brigade – on Wednesday. If one were to travel down the memory lane, the 1-0 win has come as a massive anomalous moment especially if one considers how the EPL era has panned out historically. not only 19th beating top was an odd ball on its own; being eight points ahead with six games to go, and having witnessed City losing out to Arsenal you would’ve bet everything you own – and maybe borrowed some more– on a ‘clinical’ performance by Manchester United that would’ve had ensured that they have one hand on the trophy that they are vying to defend. Manchester United don’t let go when they have a lead at this time of the year; let alone to a side that is fighting for survival. Also with Wigan having the fewest home wins (2) and points (13) of any team in the top division, the result was jarring at the very least. now with Wigan outplaying the defending champions a very eager cat has been thrown among quite a few fragile pigeons, and a spanner into the works at both ends of the table.

Wigan might’ve been the principal protagonist on Wednesday, but Manchester City duly followed the script with a ‘clinical’ 4-0 beating ofWest Brom at the Etihad, which included a goal for Carlos Tevez to boot. now with five points the difference with five games to go, City smell the blood that United customarily sniff at this time of

the year. Technically it’s two points that City should hope that United lose elsewhere somehow – despite their considerably easier run – for, City have the game between the two archenemy at the Etihad in their own hands. City also have a better goal difference, and would’ve dug out more than their fair share of optimism from United’s struggles on Wednesday. There’s definitely hope for City even if it’s United’s title to lose by a country mile.

Wigan meanwhile, have catapulted themselves out of the relegation zone with that win and have in turn enlarged their odds of going down this year.

While the three points were invaluable, it is actually the overall performance of the side – something that they have replicated recently, including during the game against Chelsea – that oozes buoyancy. Hence, it’s Bolton and Blackburn – who were victims of a rare Andy Carroll goal – that are now being peddled as relegation favourites with Wolves having all but bit the dust already.

While there was a convulsion at the top and bottom on Wednesday, the race for fourth spot is also getting more scorching after every Gameweek. I think it’s save to say that with their north London rivals locating a precipitous down-

ward spiral, Arsenal are now a shoo-in for third – although the Gunners are no stranger to nosedives themselves.

Spurs and newcastle are now level on points with 59 points each, with Chelsea a couple of points behind. What makes Spurs’ task really tough on paper is that despite currently occupying the fourth spot as things stand, they still have to play QPR, Blackburn and Bolton – three of the relegation contenders, who’d be fighting for their lives. Chelsea have no cakewalk either, and still have to play Arsenal and Liverpool away; and while Liverpool might be out of sorts – quite an understatement – they still

would want to end the season well. Plus Chelsea have a game against newcastle as well, which on current form could be the fourth spot decider.

Of those challenging for fourth it’s newcastle who have the form on their side with a spree of consecutive wins.

But newcastle too have a tough run-in, with a game against City to add to the one at Chelsea as well. In any case, with that potential ‘title decider’ at the Etihad, and games between Arsenal, Chelsea and newcastle to go, there are some absolute humdingers in store that would be pivotal in the final shapeup of the league table.

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Saturday, 14 April, 2012

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Wozniacki makes it perfect twelve COPENHAGEN afp

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OP seed Caroline Wozniacki won her 12th match in 12 career outings at the Copenhagen Open on Thursday as she moved closer to a third title with a 6-2, 6-1 second round rout of France's Pauline Parmentier.

The home star's win was in contrast to her opening round struggle past Poland's Urszula Radwanska. "I got more used to the surface compared to the last match and that was definitely a difference," said Wozniacki, who plays another Frenchwoman, Alize Cornet, in Friday's quarterfinals. "It was a very different match compared to the last one."

Wozniacki is now 12-0 at this event and has won 17 straight sets, the second set of her 2010 semi-final triumph over Anna Chakvetadze being the last one she lost.

Second seed Angelique Kerber of Germany had a much tougher path to the quarters, beating Britain's Anna Keothavong, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, and will face compatriot Mona Barthel in the last eight.

afp

AFC C-Certificate Coaching Course concludes ISLAMABAD

Qualifier Michael Russell stunned top seed Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-1 on Thursday, thrilling his hometown fans as he booked a quarter-final berth at the ATP Tour US Men's Clay Court Championship.

Russell, a 33-year-old who lives in Houston, converted five of his break point chances against the world number nine to tri-

Staff RepoRt

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Vision 2020 Plan, which PFF unveiled on June 21, 2008 PFF Congress, will take Pakistan to new height. This ambitious plan will create pavement to PFF in earning berth in top 15 Asian teams as well earning tickets of World Cup, Olympics and FIFA agelimit competitions in coming decade. But all the coaches had to work harder along with coming coaches to make it reality” This is stated by Lt. Col ® Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi TI (M), General Secretary Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) in his message for closing ceremony of AFC C- Certificate Football Coaching Course at Islamabad’s Jinnah Sports Complex on Friday. Meanwhile, in his message, PFF's President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has urged the coaches to acquire technical know-how and work harder for the promotion of football in the country. Makhdoom added there should be free and frank discussion so that the coaches would be able to share each other’s ideas. He lamented that the coaches should be impartial and implements their knowledge practically on the ground. It is unfeasible to make progress without coaching. Therefore, the coaches must have the ability to watch and scrutinize the strong and weak points of the players while selecting national/regional teams. “I hope this course will hone the skill of the coaches,” he added. "It's now easier than ever to become a qualified football coach by getting on the coaching ladder, individuals have the opportunity to progress through the various AFC Coaching qualifications while constantly enhancing their skills and knowledge” stated by AFC Instructor Morteza Mohases. The participants were; Mohammad nadir (Afghanistan), Ahsan Ali, Ghulam Fareed, Jaffer Khan, Khan Yasir Sabir, Muhammad Tariq Yunus, Qasim Bilal, Shahid Mahmood Khan, Vaqas Ahmed, Misbah-ul-Hassan, Muhammad idrees, Syed Ahmed Rehmat, Muhammad Riaz, Yasser Arfat and Burhan Ali. The AFC ‘C’ Certificate Coaching course aims at training coaches and developing their basic techniques and skills in football. It is designed to teach the coaches to organise, direct and conduct basic coaching practices targeting especially young players. The course lasts 13 days and requires a minimum of 85 hours of study time for both the practical and theoretical sessions. In the final examination, students will be assessed on their practical coaching abilities, knowledge of the laws of the game, in addition to learning and understanding of the theory contents of football.

GEO SUPER IPL-5: Pune Warriors v Chennai Super Kings 07:30PM

U-21 women’s National hockey from 26th LAHORE Staff RepoRt

FArUM: Caroline wozniacki of Denmark returns the ball to Pauline Parmentier of France during their wtA Danish open. AFP

Qualifier Russell shocks top seed Fish HOuSTON

WATch iT LivE

umph in 74 minutes. It was Russell's first victory over a top-10 opponent in 13 attempts.

Russell booked his first tourlevel quarter-final of 2012. He'll face 19-year-old fellow American Ryan Harrison, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Russian Igor Kunitsyn.

Second-seeded John Isner, playing his opening match after a first-round bye, rallied to beat Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 67 (3/7), 6-4, 6-2. Isner arrived in

Houston from Monte Carlo, where he led America to a Davis Cup triumph in France last weekend. He won both of his singles matches in the United States' 3-2 victory in the quarterfinals of the nations tournament.

On Thursday the 26-year-old didn't drop his serve and fired 16 aces in the match lasting two hours and 13 minutes.

Isner, ranked 10th in the world, is seeking a first career clay court title. He next faces defending champion Ryan Sweeting, A 6-3, 6-2 winner over fellow American Bobby Reynolds. Fifth seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa defeated American Sam Querrey 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 7-6 (7/2) to reach the quarter-finals. Anderson, seeking to add a second title of 2012 to the one he captured at Delray Beach last month, next faces fourth-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina. Monaco defeated Japan's Tatsuma Ito 6-3, 6-3.

Monaco, who claimed his fourth career title at Vina del Mar this year and was a semi-finalist at the Miami Masters, is through to his third quarter-final of the year.

The second edition of the U-21 Women’s national Hockey Championship will be played at national Hockey Stadium, Lahore from April 26 to May 6.

For the smooth conduct of the event, the PHF Women’s Wing has appointed following Panel of Technical Officials:TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR: Miss Parveen Sikandar Gill TOURNAMENT OFFICERS: Ms. Uzma Rizvi & Ms. Ghazala Tariq JUDGES: Ms. Gulshan nasreen, Saman Rasheed, Humaira Mughal, Rubina Raza, Farhat Malik, Misbah Arshad, Aleena Afroze, Anjum Sajjad, nabeela Ayaz, Aasia Rasheed & Talat Lubna.

COORDINATOR: M Shafique Bhatti.

UMPIRES MANAGER: Rashad Mehmood Butt.

UMPIRES: Syeda Saima Afzal, Shazia Yousaf, Saman Islam, Aqeela nasim, Shaheena Yaqoob, Beenish Hayat, Haider Rasool, Rana Muhammad Liaqat, Atif Malik & Chand Parveen.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING MEETING: The Tournament Briefing meetings by the Tournament Director will be held on 25th April 2012 according to following schedule:- Managers/Captains of the teams: 2000 hours. Technical Officials 2100 hours ORGANISING SECRETARY: Ms. Parveen Sikandar Gill while ASSISTANT ORGANISING SECRETARY: Mrs. Shagufta Liaqat Randhawa.

LUMS Super 10’s rugby LAHORE Staff RepoRt

LUMS Super 10’s Rugby Championship starts today (Saturday) at LUMS ground under the auspices of the Pakistan Rugby Union. In al 12 teams are participating in this two-day event from all over Pakistan. Participating teams Lahore Rugby Football Club, Govt College University Lahore, Fast University Islamabad, national United Rugby Club, Rising Sun Club, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, DHA Wild Bears, University of Management and Technology, Garrison University, Lahore University of Management and Sciences, DHA Dragon and SInDH Rugby Club. Sindh Rugby club team reached in the city today. The tournament will be played on 10’s A-Side a format. Sec Gen Pakistan Rugby union Arif saeed chief guest on opening cermoney. The event is joint venture of the Pakistan Rugby Union and Lahore University of Management and Sciences. The Pakistan Rugby Union will officiate the tournament and will be played in Cup, Plate and Bowl categories. PRU officials President Fawzi Kawaja, secretary Arif Saeed, head coach Rizwan Malik were pleased with the quality of rugby improved in Pakistan in recent times.

Aqeel, Jalil have no mercy in MT Tennis LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Matches were played on Friday at K21 Club in connection with Atlas Honda Tennis Championship. In the morning session two quarter-final matches were part of the schedule.

In first quarter-final top seed Aqeel Khan treated un-merciful to his opponent Shehzad Khan of FaisalAbad . Shehzad Khan who was amongst the best 4 players in recent past, looked through out in trouble in front of well in farm Aqeel Khan.

Shehzad Khan won the toss and elected to serve . Inaugurating service game of the match was broken by Aqeel Khan which built certain pressure on his opponent.

With powerful ground strokes

and pin point return of serve through out the first set was fabulous demonstration of tennis skills by experienced Aqeel.

Aqeel won the first set 6-3. In the second set Shehzad looked comparatively stable and started serve and volley game for which he is famous for.

This helped till the eighth game . At this stage once again Aqeel showed his mastery and broke his opponent’s serve followed by holding his own.

Aqeel won the match with score line 6-3,6-4 and reached in semi-final.

In the second quarter-final match, Mohammad Abid who was part of the Davis Cup squad against Philippines had no difficulty in defeating his opponent Imran Shoukat 6-4, 6-1. The third quarter-final match was played between Jalil and Rashid Malik.

In first set Malik could not hold his service game which was the inaugurating game of the match. He tried to break Jalil’s service game throughout the 1st set but damage which was done at the start resulted in loosing set 4-6. In second set both the players went with the serve and managed to hold however when score reached two games all Jalil took risks and hit fore hand shots with extra force .This turned the situation and service game of Malik was broken. Jalil from this stage was on driving seat with firm grip at crucial situations of the 2nd set . Jalil won the match 6-4,6-4.An interesting encounter held between yasir Khan seed no 2 and Heeera Ashiq seed 6 which took over two hours to reach finish line . In the first set Heera Ashiq put his opponent in real diffi-

culty with wining it in tie break 7-6(4) . In 2nd set Heera was broken in 7th game and eventually lost 4-6 with further declining in the 3rd set and washed out at 3-6. Yasir Khan won the match with score line 7-6 (4) ,6-4,6-3.

ReSultS: Men’s doubles: Aqeel Khan and Jalil Khan (Seed 1) beat Saif Ali and Saad Mubarik 6-4, 6-3, M. Abid and Usman rafiq beat Faizan Khuram Sada-ul haq (5-7, 6-4, 0-6), heera Ashiq and Khuram Nazir beat Jibran-Ul haq and Ahmed Choudhry, 6-4, 6-3, Shehzad Khan and yasir Khan beat Sana Ullah and Usman Ijaz 6-7, 6-4, (11-9). Boy’s singles U-18 semis: M. Mudasi beat raja Shahid 6-1, 7-6. Ahmed Babar beat hasnain Manzoor 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. Boys singles U14: Syed Nofil kaleem beat M.hassan 6-0,6-0 and Shoib Khan beat Sahibzada M.Ali 6-3,6-1. Boys Singles U-12: Uzaifa beat hambal 6-2, 5-7, 6-1, hafiz Arbaz beat Aqib 6-0, 6-2, Shoaib Khan beat Ali Bhindari6-2, 6-0, haris Irfan beat Ali raza 6-0, 6-1 Mohammad Said beat hashim Javaid 6-1, 6-3, hamza Bin rehan beat Nausher Ali 6-2, 6-2.

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Saturday, 14 April, 2012

Published by Arif Nizami for Nawa Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.

Editor: Arif Nizami, Executive Editor: Sarmad Bashir

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