E-paper PakistanToday 25th January, 2012

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UN disarmament moot may sink over Pakistan’s reluctance

Egypt parties refusing to commit to women’s rights

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Kayani, pasha meet pM as tensions ease with US Civilian, military leaderships discuss current situation in Afghanistan, pakistan’s role there g pakistan-US stalemate over nATO air strikes also discussed ISLAMABAD SHAIQ HUSSAIN

With the United States assuring Pakistan of the key role of facilitator in peace talks between Washington and the Taliban and also expressing its willingness to give a firm guarantee that there would be no breach of its sovereignty again, the resolution of the current standoff between the two states is on the cards and they are now only days away from the normalisation of relations that came under strain after the NATO strikes on two Pakistani border posts in November last year killed 26 soldiers.

The country’s civilian and military leaders, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt General Ahmad Shuja Pasha held a crucial meeting here at Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday, which was focused on the current situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s role in the Afghanistan reconciliation process and Pakistan-US stalemate over the NATO air strikes. Since President Asif Ali Zardari left for Myanmar on Tuesday, he was not part of the important consultations at Prime Minister’s House but Gilani is said to have held detailed talks with him on the agenda of

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Sharmeen earns first Pakistani Oscar nomination

Tuesday’s meeting before his departure.

In a related significant development, US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter also called on Foreign Minister Khar at the Foreign Office before the meeting of the country’s senior civilian and military leaders and discussed with her matters pertaining to the Pakistan-US stalemate and restoration of NATO supplies. The leaders pondered the country’s role in the US-Taliban peace talks while expressing satisfaction that Washington was willing to accept Pakistan’s role as a facilitator in the talks.

According to a brief official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Gilani asked Foreign Minister Khar to undertake a visit to Afghanistan as the meeting reviewed the ongoing reconciliation process there.

“The civilian and military officials also had discussions on the possibility of reopening NATO supply routes and the meeting was told that the US authorities were willing to pay tax to Pakistan on all containers going to Afghanistan through Pakistan,” said a senior Pakistani official, who asked not to be identified by name. The meeting reviewed the blueprint of Pakistani conditions for the normalisation of ties with the US, including an apology by US and NATO over the Mohmand Agency attack, assurance of no such breaches of Pakistan’s sovereignty in future, taxation of NATO containers, clear information to be given to Islamabad about the activities of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives on Pakistani soil, and limited drone strikes in future, but that too only in accordance with Pakistani intelligence information. According to the official, the Pakistani leadership was inclined to go for normal friendly ties with the US, provided these conditions were accepted and there were also indications from Washington that it would come up with a positive response in this regard.

Continued on page 04

Wednesday, 25 January, 2012 Rabi-ul-awal 1, 1433

Mansoor digs in despite Rehman’s ‘assurances’ Memogate’s central character fears Rehman Malik will ‘kill him’ if he comes to pakistan g Commission refuses to give more time, sets Feb 9 deadline

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ISLAMABAD

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TAHIR NIAZ

S Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, the central character in the memo controversy, refused to come to Pakistan citing serious threats to his life from Interior Minister Rehman Malik, the judicial commission investigating the scandal rejected his petition seeking to have his statement recorded abroad and hoped on Tuesday that the US national would appear before it on February 9, the next date of hearing, saying the assurances made by the attorney general and interior minister were enough to allay apprehensions vis-à-vis his security and the safety of the evidence he would be bringing with him.

The commission said in its order that Commission Secretary Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan would receive Ijaz from his seat in the plane and escort him all the way to the Islamabad High Court for his appearance before the commission, or wherever he wanted to reside during his stay in Pakistan. It also directed the Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Immigration Department to facilitate the commission secretary in this regard.

Commission Chairman Justice Qazi Faez Isa said the “genuine concerns” of Ijaz regarding his security had been addressed and the commission would accept no further excuses from him for not

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik waves to supporters after appearing before the judicial commission hearing the memogate case at Islamabad High Court on Tuesday. inp coming to Pakistan. During the course of the proceedings, Ijaz’s counsel, Akram Shaikh, insisted on the provision of security cover to his client exclusively by the army, to which the commission did not agree, saying personnel of four law enforcement agencies would provide security to him.

As Shaikh told the commission that his client did not choose to come to Pakistan because of security threats, former ambassador Husain Haqqani’s counsel Zahid Bukhari pressed the commission

to not afford another opportunity to Ijaz to testify, as he did not come to Pakistan despite security assurances from the quarters concerned. However, Justice Isa told him: “Why don’t you go for a knockout in case he fails to appear before the commission next time. How will you be vindicated without a finding?

Haqqani himself wanted an enquiry as stated in his resignation. You will stand penalised if you are not vindicated.”

Continued on page 04

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02 News Today’s

wednesday, 25 January, 2012

LAHoRe

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‘Calm down, there can’t be a food street everywhere!’

Indian SC pulls up govt for detention of pak prisoners

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CoMMenT

Quick Look

Mahmood Alam made acting FBR chairman ISLAMABAD: The government has given acting charge of Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to senior customs group officer Mahmood Alam after the retirement of previous chairman Salman Siddique. Alam was serving as Member Strategic Planning and Research and Statistics FBR. He was responsible for formulation of revenue targets and strategic planning for their achievements. The government is looking for suitable candidate for appointing new FBR Chairman, who will be faced with the daunting task of collecting Rs 1,952 billion revenue during the current fiscal year. STAFF RepoRT

Anti-tank landmine found near Gwadar QUETTA: Security agencies thwarted a terror threat on Tuesday by defusing an anti-tank landmine in the Shambey area, some six kilometres off Gwadar Town. Local police said that unidentified miscreants had planted the landmine along the road to target vehicles travelling by. Police said the mine was detected and defused by a team of law enforcing agencies. “The explosion would have caused immense damage had the landmine, containing some 14 kilogramme highly combustible explosive, gone off,” a police official told APP. Police registered a case against unidentified criminals. App

Funeral of pilot killed in Turkey held ISLAMABAD: Funeral of Squadron Leader Masood Hussain, who was killed in an air crash on January 17 in Turkey, was held on Tuesday at PAF Base, Lahore. Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt and Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Babur Hizlan attended the funeral. Guard of honour was also presented to Masood’s coffin. Earlier, the casket was brought from Turkey by a special Turkish Air Force aircraft. Later, Masood was buried with full military honour in his native town Baseerpur, Okara. The Lahore base commander laid a floral wreath on Masood’s grave on behalf of the chief of the air staff. STAFF RepoRT

CCP slams PA resolution on concerts LAHORE: Concerned Citizens of Pakistan (CCP) has criticised a resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly prohibiting the holding of musical concerts in girls’ educational institutions. A press release said the resolution is based on a non sequitor. The tragedy at Arts Council occurred due to mismanagement at the auditorium, not due to the holding of the concert. The remedy lies in improving the management at such public places, not in banning innocent entertainment for female student, it said. The statement said it is a sad reflection on the state of mind of legislators who fail to distinguish between ineptitude and art. They need to be educated in social responsibility by their respective parties when they are awarded party tickets for contesting elections. pReSS ReLeASe

Three suffocate to death QUETTA: Three persons died of suffocation in Quetta on Tuesday.

Police said three first cousins slept on the night between Monday and Tuesday without turning off their gas heater in an airtight room in Killi Abro in the outskirts of Quetta. The heater consumed the oxygen in the room and caused their death. Two died during the night while the third died in the hospital. Neighbours found out next morning people when police shifted the bodies to hospital for autopsy. Police handed over dead bodies after completing legal formalities. STAFF RepoRT

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Shadman police register case to initiate probe into PIC deaths LAHORE: On directions of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Shadman Police on Tuesday registered a case to launch a probe into the deaths of dozens of people, caused by reaction to various medicines given to them at Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC). The chief minister announced Rs 500,000 for the family of each of the deceased patient. The CM constituted a high-level inquiry committee under the supervision of three DIGs – DIG Major (r) Mubashar Ullah, DIG Investigation Ali Amir Malik and DIG Operations Ghulam Mehmood Dogar. Shahbaz ordered the top cops of Lahore Police to launch a massive probe into the PIC deaths. SSP (Investigation) and all SPs of the Investigation Wing would assist the committee and provide support to the inquiry officers to find the real causes behind the mishap. The inquiry committee would check the availability and sale of all drugs available in the market that resulted in the death of dozens of people at PIC. Following the CM’s directions, DIG Major (r) Mubashar Ullah and DIG Ghulam Mehmood reached Shadman Police Station where Ichra Circle DSP Abid Pehalwan filed a complaint for the registration of a case. Case number 47/12 was registered by the Shadman Police against unknown accused on the complaint of Ichra Circle DSP Abid Pehlwan under section 322 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Major (r) Mubashar Ullah said the case had been registered against six pharmaceutical companies and their owners. He said that the police will investigate the criminal negligence of the pharmaceutical companies. He said although FIA officials were also investigating the matter and had arrested the owners of three pharmaceutical companies, they were investigating into the case under the act of spurious drugs. He said they would ask FIA to give them custody of the arrested accused so that they could record their statements. Waseem Chaudhary, owner of Alpha Pharma, Tahir Azam, owner of Mega Pharma and Chaudhary Nadir, owner of Pharmawise are already in the custody of FIA Punjab. Investigators of FIA on Tuesday got the custody of aforesaid men after court granted FIA their remand. STAFF RepoRT

NEELUM VALLEY: An eye-catching view of Chanjath Village after heavy snowfall in the valley on Tuesday. OnLinE

SC refers Afaq’s plea against existence of ‘no-go areas’ in Karachi to SHC ISLAMABAD STAFF RepoRT

The Supreme Court on Tuesday referred a petition filed by Mohajir Qaumi Movement Haqiqi (MQM-H) chief Afaq Ahmad seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the government for not removing no-go areas from Karachi despite court orders, to the Sindh High Court chief justice, saying it was nonmaintainable.

A three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed that the court had not

delivered its final judgement in the Karachi targeted killing case, therefore contempt of court proceedings could not be initiated in the matter.

The court held that the petitioner could approach the Sindh High Court chief justice as he was monitoring the case initiated by the SC. The court, however, said if the petitioner was not satisfied, he could approach the SC again. Upon this, Afaq said he had no objection over it.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters after the hearing of the case, Afaq said the government had still not removed the no-go areas in Karachi and no political opponent

could move in those areas. He said everything was being done under the supervision of the government and one political party.

He said despite the fact that law and order in Karachi was better now, the Sindh home minister had suggested him to shift to Lahore. He said the authorities concerned were not proceeding against the political party, which was involved in terrorist activities. He said the MQM had gotten the public’s mandate on gunpoint and the terrorists were moving freely everywhere. He said the files of NRO cases against the party’s people had still not been reopened.

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wednesday, 25 January, 2012

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FoReIGn newS

ARTS & enTeRTAInMenT

SPoRTS

Muslim activists scuttle Rushdie video address

Veena Malik turns violent; injures co-star

Akram slams British press for questioning Ajmal's action pick-and-choose:

CoMMenT On our army’s standards.

SC versus eCp: Let’s do things practically.

Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi says: Challenges for democracy: It’s still finding its foothold.

Ali Aftab Saeed says: See no evil: Our Parental Telecommunication Authority.

Harris Bin Munawar says: Leave Aitzaz alone: In the dock for doing the right thing.

Story on Page 15

Story on Page 18

Story on Page 26

Articles on Page 12-13

UN disarmament moot may sink over Pakistan’s reluctance GENEVA

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NITED Nations Secretary General Ban Kimoon warned on Tuesday that the UN Conference on Disarmament could fail because of a threeyear stalemate over Pakistan’s reluctance to discuss nuclear power.

“Today, this distinguished body is no longer living up to expectations,” Ban said at the first of three public sessions scheduled this year, in a speech read out by the top UN official in Geneva, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

“The tide of disarmament is rising, yet the Conference on Disarmament is in danger of sinking,” Ban warned the delegates from 65 countries. “Let us restore the conference to the central role it can and must play in strengthening the rule of law in the field of disarmament.” The UN chief lamented that the practice of deciding by consensus “is currently used as a de facto veto power to stall every attempt to break the impasse.” “The future of the conference is in the hands of member states,” Ban said, urging the immediate start of nuclear negotiations.

Citing national security, Pakistan has since May 2009 balked at imple-

nisar demands investigation into ISI’s present role ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali on Tuesday demanded of the Supreme Court (SC) to also investigate the ISI’s role in the present set up and during former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf’s regime. “If the apex court can open the 23-year-old case of ISI’s involvement in politics then its role during Musharraf’s regime and the incumbent government should also be investigated,” he said in a statement. On a resolution passed a couple of days ago by the Pakistan First Group of retired army officers, Nisar said that Musharraf’s remnants should avoid giving lectures on democracy.

“Instead of making such sermons, they should apologise to the nation for their past role,” he said, adding that the group should be named as Musharraf First Group. He also asked PTI Chairman Imran Khan to stop giving an impression that the SC was in his pocket. STAFF RepoRT

menting a work programme established by the UN conference, blocking the resumption of nuclear talks.

Taking advantage of a new climate established by US President Barack Obama, the conference emerged in May 2009 from 12 years of obscurity, adopting for the first time since 1996 a programme of negotiations on fissile materials and weapons.

Since then the reluctance of Pak-

nEpRA approves increase in power tariff ISLAMABAD oNLINe

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Tuesday approved Rs 6.50 hike for power tariff of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and Peshawar Electric Power Supply Company (PESCO).

NEPRA said the increase had been approved for the current fiscal year. Officials said that power tariff of IESCO and PESCO had been increased from Re 1 to Rs

6.50.

Power tariffs for commercial consumers have been raised to Rs 5, industrial consumers to Rs 5 while tariff for domestic consumer has been raised to Rs 6.50 per unit. Power tariff for agriculture consumers have been raised to Rs 3.30 per unit. NEPRA said IESCO would earn Rs 85 billion from this hike, while PESCO would earn Rs 71 billion. NEPRA argued that the increase had been approved in view of increasing power generation cost.

istan to accept a possible treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons has prevented the conference moving forward.

In recent years authorities in Islamabad said they did not wish to enter into negotiations on a treaty which they say endorses an “asymmetry” of nuclear power between Pakistan and its archrival India. The council ends its first session of this year on March 30.

Rabiul Awwal moon sighted KARACHI App

Rabiul Awwal’s moon was sighted on Tuesday. Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Munibur Rehman made the announcement after chairing the body’s meeting. He said that first Rabiul Awwal would be today (Wednesday) while Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH) would be celebrated on February 5.

Malam Jabba: More than a ski resort SwAT dIARy HARooN SIRAj

While Swat was once known as paradise on earth, the valley that fell into darkness under the reign of the Taliban, is now rearing to welcome back tourists and honeymoon couples with the restoration of the Malam Jabba ski resort and the upcoming National Ski Championship in the last week of January, Pakistan Today has learnt.

Located in the Hindu Kush mountain range, home to several ancient cultures, Swat is reputed all over the globe for its fascinating landscapes, crystal clear water torrents, diverse flora and fanna, hospitality, ancient relics and mesmerizing lakes which attract innumerable nature lovers from all over the world.

Malam Jabba, stands at 9200 feet above from sea level, stands on top of a Hindu Kush range mountain, 40 kilometers north east of Saidu Sharif. Surrounded by a wonderful panorama of scenic splendor and mighty mountains, Malam Jabba is much more than just a ski resort. It is a holiday resort that attracts tourists and is home to the remains of ancient civilization. Malam Jabba is 314 kilometers from Islamabad and 51 kilometers from Saidu Sharif airport. Malam Jabba, the land of romance and beauty offers a scenic view that spans the mighty Hindu Kush and Karakorram ranges, one that combines black mountains, gentle slopes, placid plains, torrential streams, lush green meadows and thick green forests of pine. It is nature’s art gallery.

This scenic valley was swept into darkness under Taliban rule when they bombed the PTDC’s Malam Jabba ski-cum-resort,

sold its furniture and equipement and destroyed the 800-metre long chair lift. The tourist economy of Swat was destroyed during the Taliban rule, guides lost clients, hotels lost tourists, but hope has returned to Swat as tourism returns to Malam Jabba with the return of the skiing season.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, Ski Federation In-charge Matiullah Khan said that they will host the National Ski Championship in the last week of January in collaboration with the Pakistan Army. He said the provincial government was not taking interest in the event and had yet to provide any assistance. He said the event is expected to attract winter sports lovers from across the country and generate interest amongst the youth. He said foreign skiers had also arrived for the ski championship, take part in the competition and spend two weeks here. He said the

event will be a positive gesture to Swat’s business sector but the non-availability of chairlifts, a basic requirement for skiing, would be an impediment. “Skiers will have to climb up the snow-filled mountain while carrying their skiing tools. It is

injustice,” said Matiullah, “The government must re-construct the chairlift facility immediately to facilitate skiers.” He said if the government does not assist, the winter sport may loose in charms and shut down in Pakistan.

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wednesday, 25 January, 2012

PML-N refrains from anti-drone walkout

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Senators question why 3/4G licenses being sold less than 2G demand KeSC management be put on eCL for terminating employees g

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ONTRARY to its tirade against drone attacks in Pakistan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday avoided taking part in the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) led walkout from the Senate to protest drone attacks.

Speaking on a point of order, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Moulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said that drone strikes had started again on Pakistani soil contrary to the government and army announcements that they will defend Pakistani ter-

ritory against them. The JUI-F senators along Jamaat-e-Islami parliamentarians staged token walkout from the house in protest. Responding to Haideri’s point of order, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the US government should care about the voice of the people of Pakistan. He said it was a direct hit by the US on Pakistani territory, which could not be accepted. Malik said the Senate should pass a resolution which will be presented in the UN to stop US aggression.

3G/4B MOBILE LIcEnSES A ‘ScAM’: PML-N senator Pervez Rasheed informed the house that Pakistan

Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was poised to sell its 3G and 4G mobile phone licenses at a base price of $320 million US dollars what he termed ‘biggest scam’ in the country.

Speaking on a point of order, Senator Pervez Rasheed quoted an advertisement published in the press

by PTAS which fixed the base price of 3 G, 4G and LTE mobile phone licenses/ spectrum to sell off the licenses at a lower price that 2G licenses.

“PTA sold 2G licenses at the price of $290 million and it is strange the base price of the next technology has been fixed low than the previous one,” he questioned. He said the terms of the advertise-

ment allowed successful bidders to introduce any technology that comes 4G too. Pervez Rasheed said India had sold out its 4G license for $24 billion.

A number of parliamentarians from both sides, including Haji Adeel Ahmed of ANP and JI Professor Khurshid Ahmed urged the chair to pass a ruling to stay the matter. Opposing other lawmakers, Haroon Akhtar said the Senate chair should not pass a stay since the government had already budgeted for the $800 million from license sales. Interior Minister Rehman Malik proposed that the house form a committee to probe the matter. However, the chair re-

ferred the matter to the standing committee concerned. nO nEw pOwER SURcHARGE: Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar told the Senate that the government will not impose any new surcharge on the consumers to pass on the interest of circular debt. Responding to points of order, the minister said Independent Power Producers (IPPs) were taking debts from banks to purchase fuel due to non payment of circular debt.

Qamar assured the house that the government will give the amount to banks but it will not pay IPPs while the interest will not be passed to consumers.

Responding to another point of order, Qamar said the gov-

ernment will discuss the matter with the KESC management since it had violating its promise to the government by terminating employees.

Earlier, Senators including Tahir Mashhadi, Raza Rabbani, Professor Khursheed Ahmed, Haji Adeel, Ilyas Bilor, Abdul Haseeb Khan, Ismail Buledi and Professor Ibrahim said that they will oppose any government move to transfer circular debt interest to consumers. They said the government should take notice of the KESC managements’ decision to terminate employees without reason. “The KESC management should be put on the ECL,” senators demanded.

Sharmeen earns first Pakistani president stresses on PM directs early release of LPC fund oscar nomination boosting economic ties with Myanmar

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy became the first Pakistani filmmaker to earn an Oscar nomination with her film ‘Saving Face’, which was nominated in the ‘Documentary, Short Film’ category, as the Academy Awards nominations were released on Tuesday. Obaid-Chinoy, who has directed several documentary films, won an Emmy Award in 2010 for her documentary ‘Pakistan: Children of the Taliban’. Saving Face, which the Karachi-based filmmaker has co-directed with Daniel Junge, tells the story of a British-Pakistani plastic surgeon who donates his time to heal acid-attack victims in Pakistan. The film is set to be released in March this year, while the Oscars will be held on February 26.

MoNIToRING DeSK

Kayani, pasha meet pM Continued fRom page 1 The official said Tuesday’s consultations at PM’s House were held against the backdrop of ongoing parliamentary review of Pakistan-US relations and the standoff between the two countries, which was about to culminate on January 30 in the joint sitting of parliament, which would approve an important resolution on these important matters. The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS), which was tasked with formulating guidelines on Pakistan-US relations and ‘new terms of engagement’ between Islamabad and Washington on counter-terrorism cooperation, has done its job and has come up with 35 recommendations. The official said the breakthrough on NATO supplies in the shape of their restoration and settlement of the broader issue, the Pakistan-US stand-

off, was on the cards as the PCNS, which also had inputs from military officials and foreign policy managers, had tried to opt for a balanced approach vis-à-vis relations with the US. He said that restoration of NATO supplies and settlement of other conflicting matters such as drone strikes and presence of CIA operatives on Pakistani soil were likely after the joint sitting of parliament scheduled for January 30.

Analysts are also attaching great importance to the meeting in the context of the memogate scandal, as the prime minister had accused the COAS and ISI chief of acting unconstitutionally by submitting their replies directly to the Supreme Court in the memogate case. Sources said the meeting indicated that the strained relations between the military establishment and civilian leadership were easing.

NAy PyI TAw oNLINe

President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday called for enhancing two-way trade between Pakistan and Myanmar and establishing a preferential tariff arrangement leading to culmination of a comprehensive free trade agreement and establishment of a joint ministerial commission mandated to promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

He said this while meeting Myanmar President U Thein Sein. The president called for cooperation in oil and gas sectors and offered to send the petroleum and natural resources minister to Myanmar for exploring prospects of meaningful co-

operation.

Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the president also called for consultations between the respective central banks to study prospects of establishing a currency swap arrangement for closer economic and trade cooperation.

Zardari called for greater interaction between the chambers of commerce and offered to send a trade delegation to Myanmar.

Closer interaction between the respective trade bodies would lead to establishment of a joint business council, the president said. Pakistan and Myanmar have modest trade relations, as two-way trade between the two countries stood at $24 million in 2009-10.

ISLAMABAD App

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday directed the Federal Finance Ministry to immediately release the grant given to the Lahore Press Club (LPC) and favourably consider its proposals for the welfare of journalists.

He was talking to LPC President Sarmad Bashir, who called on him at the PM’s House. The PM directed the Federal Information Ministry to take up the matter with the Federal Finance Ministry and expedite the summary regarding payment of development

29% in favour of SC seeks ECp report fRom page 28 NADRA had issued Computnew provinces TheContinued court expressed satisfac- erised National Identity

charges for providing residential accommodation to journalists of Lahore. He said that the government considered freedom of press as an integral part of the democratic dispensation and encouraged free expression of views to promote plurality and tolerance in society.

Gilani said that he had created an endowment fund for welfare of journalists by contributing Rs 200 million as seed money. Bashir discussed matters pertaining to the welfare of journalists. He requested the PM for release of grant announced for the LPC at the oath-taking ceremony of its office-bearers in October last year.

ISLAMABAD: Only 29 percent of Pakistanis are in favour of the creation of new provinces, says a Gilani Research Foundation survey carried out by Gallup.

According to the survey, a whooping 59 percent opposed the creation of new provinces in the country. However 12 percent did not give a view. A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the all provinces was asked whether there should be new provinces in Pakistan. App

tion with the reply submitted by the Foreign Office over the matter. Hamid Khan, counsel for Imran Khan, and Afnan Karim Kundi, counsel for NADRA, also appeared in court. The court asked NADRA’s counsel to complete the exercise of electoral lists.

“You have to complete the exercise without being influenced [by anyone],” the chief justice told the counsel, adding that the orders of the courts could not be flouted.

Kundi told the court that

Cards to 3.688 million Pakistani expatriates, excluding residents of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

To a court query, Hamid Khan stated that there were 8 million overseas Pakistanis and they deserved the right to vote. When asked whether casting votes was a fundamental right, Hamid Khan said Article 17 ensured it, thus it was a fundamental right.

He said the participation of overseas Pakistanis in the election process could have viable impacts upon the elec-

tions results.

Justice Khilji Arif Hussain observed that the court was fulfilling its responsibility to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country. “Exercising the right of vote in a right manner could change the destiny of the country,” he remarked.

The court also directed the respondents and petitioners to exchange their documents. It also allowed the counsel for the Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry to file a reply. The ministry had told the court that it had no concerns on the issue.

ted to the commission and its orders. “He (Malik) should let us know if he has got some judicial powers,” said Justice Isa, and asked the attorney general to call the interior minister so as to clear his position vis-à-vis his press statements. He was also critical of the statements of the prime minister on the commission’s proceedings.

Malik later submitted to the commission that he had no intentions to put Ijaz’s name on the ECL and had not directed any authorities to do so. He denied the press statements attributed to him to the satisfaction of

the commission.

Justice Isa observed that the courts were sanctuaries and even criminals had the right to approach the court. He said the commission would ensure safe arrival and return of each and every witness who wanted to depose before it as the commission was mindful of the security of every witness.

He observed that the commission was not being allowed to do its work and questioned why these people (government functionaries) were obstructing the arrival of Ijaz in Pakistan. Addressing the inte-

rior minister, Justice Isa said: “Your statements have created this disturbance.

Had these not been there the court’s time would not have been wasted”.

However, Malik stated before the commission that Ijaz would not be put on the ECL and full security would be provided to him upon his arrival in Pakistan.

On two occasions, the chairman asked the court assistants to bring out the Code of Conduct for Lawyers as the attorney general and Haqqani’s counsel interrupted the proceedings. The commission also took it as strange that

the lawyers in the memo case were approaching the media, which it termed a violation of the Codes of Conduct. He hoped that in future none of the lawyers engaged in the case would talk to the media on the issue. The commission was not satisfied with the affidavit submitted by Haqqani as it lacked clarity on all four points the commission had sought replies to.

Haqqani did not say in clear terms when he last used his two missing BlackBerry smartphones or whose property they were. On the question of waiving his privacy rights, Haqqani sub-

Rift erupts in JUI-F over Senate tickets ISLAMABAD oNLINe

Severe differences have erupted between the JUI-F Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Maulana Fazlur Rehman over awarding nomination tickets for Senate elections. Sources said a majority of JUI’s CEC members had ruled in favour of eschewing favouritism and nepotism in awarding tickets for Senate elections; since it would not put a good impression on masses. Earlier, Azam Swati had been a source of irritation for ideological group of the party during the award of tickets.

SC orders action Continued fRom page 28 oil export licence to NATO forces in Afghanistan for two companies of the petitioners, Sahara Gas (Pvt) Limited and Pak Delta Enterprises (Pvt) Limited. He said the accused had not been arrested for almost a year. He said the forgery of signatures on the agreements came to the knowledge of the petitioners when they presented the documents for implementation to the relevant government departments. He said the Petroleum Ministry and Pak Arab Refinery Company (PARCO) informed the petitioners that all the agreements presented by them were forged documents, while no sum was received by them for or on behalf of the petitioners. He also alleged that Rasool had the support of officials of a bank in Islamabad where accounts were opened in the name of fake partnership without observing the State Bank of Pakistan’s instructions for opening of a new account. He said the matter was brought to the notice of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who directed Nargis Sethi, his principal secretary at the time, to write to the interior secretary for initiation of an enquiry into the matter. He said the enquiry found Rasool guilty and a case was registered against him, his brother Shahid Mehmood and other accomplices and officials of the bank in question. He said the FIA neither arrested any of the accused mentioned in the first information report (FIR) nor conducted an investigation, upon which the petitioners filed their writ petitions in the Islamabad High Court against the FIA chief.

Mansoor digs Continued fRom page 1 Some of the petitioners in the memo case asked the commission to make arrangements to collect evidence from Ijaz abroad, but Haqqani’s lawyer opposed the proposal, saying the US national should not be given another opportunity to testify. However, the chairman dropped a hint that the commission would have to seek the apex court’s permission if it wanted to go abroad for collection of evidence. Earlier, Shaikh told the commission that security threats to his client emanated from none other

than the interior minister himself. He referred to the statements attributed to the Rehman Malik in which he allegedly said Ijaz’s name would be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) if the Parliamentary Committee on National Security so desired. Shaikh said Ijaz had no trust in Malik or anybody deployed by him to his security detail. “The gadgets that my client wants to bring with him might be stolen”, he added. The chairman then asked the attorney general if the interior minister’s statements were not contradicting the undertaking he had submit-

mitted that it would be decided after evidence from Ijaz was presented to the commission.

The commission termed Haqqani’s affidavit “ambiguous”. The attorney general told the commission that so far the Canadian High Commission in Pakistan had not responded to its letter, which sought data from the Canadian manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones.

The commission then adjourned the hearing for February 9 and is going to seek more time from the apex court for completion of the task assigned to it.

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wednesday, 25 January, 2012

News 05

one Khasadar soldier killed in Landi Kotal blast LANDI KOTAL STAFF RepoRT

A Khasadar force soldier was killed and two others injured from a bomb blast at Sheikhmalkhel near Landi Kotal in Khyber Agency in the early hours of Tuesday.

Khasadar force personnel were visiting the ruins of a government school blown up by militants when they were attacked again. Reports revealed militants blew up Government Primary School Sheikhmalkhel. This is the 78th school destroyed by militants in Khyber Agency.

Later, another explosion occurred when Khasadar force personnel arrived which killed one and injured two. No responsibility has been claimed.

Traders reject Rs 500 per shop tax MINGORA IBRAHIM KHANKHeL

Traders of Mingora and Saidu Sharif, Swat on Tuesday rejected imposition of Rs 500 tax per shop and urged the government for its early withdrawal otherwise they will resort to strikes and protests. The town municipal officer (TMO), through a notification, directed shopkeepers to pay Rs 1,000 including Rs 500 as tax and Rs 500 as registration fee according to the Local Government Act 2001, which was imposed throughout the country. But traders rejected the new taxes and termed it contrary to constitutional obligations.

During a meeting, trader leader Khalid Mehmood termed the tax as unconstitutional. He said that according to Article 247 of the constitution, PATA was exempted from all taxes. Mehmood urged the government to withdraw the decision.

Quran khawani held for Hakim Ali Zardari DuBAI pReSS ReLeASe

Quran khawani for President Asif Ali Zardari’s late father Hakim Ali Zardari was held at P-21 Emirates Hills, which was attended by Pakistani Ambassador to the UAE Jamil Ahmed Khan and others.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al-Khaimah, Al Ain and other areas joined the prayers.

CHITRAL: Motorists travel through Chitral Lawari Tunnel on Tuesday, which has been opened by the army. The tunnel usually remains closed during the winter season due to heavy snowfall. OnLinE

Indian SC pulls up govt for detention of Pak prisoners

Imran Khan next PM: Cnn

Justices RM Lodha and HL Gokhale say some prisoners kept in detention even without having any case registered against them g

NEw DELHI

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INp

H E Indian Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the union government for prolonged incarceration of several Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails despite their having completed their sentences.

“There is total inaction and laxity on the part of the government.

We are more concerned about the liberty of the persons who continue to be in jails despite serving their sentences,” said a bench of justices

RM Lodha and HL Gokhale while ruing that some prisoners had been kept in detention even without having any case registered against them.

“Please show us the procedure under which you have detained and kept them for prolonged incarceration. We are more concerned with the question of substantial justice which should prevail over the procedures,” the bench observed.

The bench pointed out that the prolonged detention of foreign nationals was in violation of the constitutional right of the life and liberty granted under Article 21 to

every person in the country, including the foreign nationals, infraction of which cannot be condoned by the courts.

The Indian apex court directed Additional Solicitor General Vivek Tankha to furnish to the court the government’s policy, if any, for dealing with such foreign nationals.

The SC pointed out that the case relating to the alleged illegal detention of foreign nationals was pending with the courts since 2005, but the government was not taking any steps to deport them, even after them having completed their respective prison terms.

KARAcHI: The Cable News Network (CNN) has declared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan the most popular politician in Pakistan. During an interview with the cricketer-turned politician, the CNN said Imran Khan was an expected prime minister of Pakistan. The TV gave significance to Khan’s view on US drone campaign inside Pakistan. The dangerous US machines have been wreaking havoc in the Tribal Areas while Khan has been a staunch opponent of the attacks and drew large support from the Pakistanis. INp

Generals versus senators and Musharraf’s dying political ambitions ISLAMABAD IRFAN BUKHARI

The resolution unanimously adopted by the Senate on Tuesday to try former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf for treason upon his return came in response to demands from dozens of former top-ranked army officers to provide a level playing field, as well as protocol, to Musharraf by the government when he returns.

After being disappointed with the performance of his political team and the supposed cold shoulder by the military establishment, Musharraf finally resorted to his former military colleagues and addressed a gathering of some 168 retired army officers last Saturday. Former top generals, including two four-star generals, 17 three-star generals, 25 major generals, and some 50 brigadiers passed a unanimous resolution in support of their former boss and asked the government to provide protocol and security to Musharraf upon his return.

“We feel that General (r) Pervez Musharraf should be provided a level playing field in the political arena, as well as protocol and security by the government as befits any ex-president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the resolution said. Within two days, angry senators from both sides of the divide asked the government to arrest the former military ruler on his return and try him on treason charges.

Pakistan People’s Party PPP Senator Raza Rabbani along with Senators Raja Zafarul Haq (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz), Prof Khurshid Ahmad (Jamaat-e-Islami), Dr Khalid Somroo (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl), Abdul Rahim Khan Mandokhel (Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party), Humayun Khan Mandokhel (Independent), Afrasiab Khattak (Awami National Party) and Dr Abdul Malik Baloch (National Party) moved the resolution. Although Musharraf’s former allies – the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – were not among those who moved the resolution, sources close to the PML-Q leadership said the Chaudhrys of Gujrat were happy with the move.

The resolution stated that Mushar-

raf had twice held the constitution in abeyance, and brought the judiciary into disrepute by removing, ridiculing and arresting the judges of the superior judiciary. The resolution also accused the former president of being an accomplice in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Bugti.

The resolution added that Musharraf had compromised vital national security interests through clandestine deals and unwritten agreements with foreign governments.

The Senate passed the resolution at a time when the former president is visiting Jordon, and also plans to travel to Saudi Arabia to gather support for his political comeback. Meanwhile, the PPP government looks determined to arrest Musharraf as soon as he lands in Karachi in connection with Benazir Bhutto’s murder case. Musharraf and his confidants are also in contact with the United States and the United Kingdom to seek assurances by Pakistani authorities for immunity from detention and trial.

Senator Rabbani moved the resolution after statements by Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan, PPP Secretary General Jahangir Badar and Inte-

rior Minister Rehman Malik, suggesting that Musharraf would be likely welcomed by handcuffs on his arrival. PPP leaders claim a consensus over Musharraf’s trial in Benazir Bhutto murder case, as any leniency or hesitation on the government’s behalf could provide an opportunity to the critics to say that the Zardari-Gilani government compromised Benazir’s blood.

“Whether we try Musharraf under Article 6 or not, we cannot spare him in BB’s murder case in which the court has already declared him a proclaimed offender,” said a PPP leader.

The adventurous political journey of Musharraf that started immediately after the 2008 elections has witnessed no success in three-and-a-half years.

His supporters ditched him for their vested political interests time and again, and some PML-Q leaders who remained close to Musharraf after his ouster from power believe that a group of sycophants having no political constituency and acumen are responsible for Musharraf’s failed political career.

A former PML-Q minister close to Musharraf commented that the few members of Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) were wasting

his money. “Barrister Saif visited European countries numerous times to establish APML chapters there, while he has not yet set up any proper party office in any district of Pakistan,” he said.

A prominent former APML member said he resigned from Musharraf’s party due to his differences with Dr Amjad, Barrister Saif and Fawad Chaudhry. Recently, Fawad Chaudhry also announced quitting the APML, saying the decision-making process in the party lacked democratic spirit. He said the spirit of democracy was to take everybody on board, which was not being practiced in the APML. “Musharraf has been encircled by sycophants,” he said.

Commenting on Musharraf’s announcement to return to Pakistan, prominent analyst Rasool Bukhsh Rais said, “I think he is going to become a political joker and nothing else … he has no following in the society and it is better for him to stay out of the political arena.” He believed that the military establishment would not provide security and protection to Musharraf from his political opponents because it was not responsible for the former president’s political advertures.

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06 News Ijaz’s statement should be recorded abroad: nawaz

wednesday, 25 January, 2012

East Afghan frontline emerges as major hurdle g

US military officials increasingly concerned by challenge of securing 2,640km border ‘too rugged to hold’ COMBAT OuTPOST ZEROK/JALALABAD

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ReUTeRS

ITH snow past their ankles and their view of forbidding mountains blocked by low-slung cloud, US soldiers in Afghanistan’s restive east are taking advantage of a bitter winter to brace for fresh fighting in spring.

The extreme cold has forced a lull in fighting at rugged outpost Zerok in Paktika province, located 20 km (12 miles) from the porous, unruly border with Pakistan, which teems with insurgents linked to the Taliban and al Qaeda. Afghanistan’s east has emerged as the new focus of attention as worries mount over a narrow strip of land that the United States has dubbed the most dangerous place in the world. NATO-led

forces are currently in the process of handing over control of security to the Afghans ahead of a planned exodus of foreign combat troops to be completed by the end of 2014. But officials in the US military and Afghan government are increasingly concerned by the challenge of securing the 2,640 km border that many frontline soldiers believe is too rugged to hold. Failing to do so would allow more militants to cross over, complicating peace efforts in Afghanistan. Ringed by mountains dotted with evergreen trees, Zerok is one of a series of remote outposts that form the first line of defence against insurgents crossing the border into Afghanistan to launch attacks, according to US and Afghan officials.

“It is that first layer where the insurgents are met by a security element that stops their flow,” said Captain Craig Hal-

stead, commander of the US Army’s Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment at Zerok. By training the Afghan army and police, who have been patrolling the frozen peaks alongside his own troops, he hopes that when fighting renews with the March thaw, the Afghans will have absorbed enough for insurgents to find a tougher, more disciplined opponent. But US officers are wary of the hurdles still ahead.

“What the (Afghan army is) not very good at is logistics, planning at levels higher than company (30-60 men),” said Major Joseph Buccino, a spokesman for the US forces in Paktika, where around 3,400 American soldiers are currently serving.

This will drop to just over 3,000 before the summer fighting season.

American soldiers at Zerok said their Afghan partners have only recently started

taking the initiative when planning operations, and handing orders down to soldiers on the ground is still relatively new for them. Drug use, hastily trained ranks and widespread corruption are hindering the Afghan police and army nationally, some Afghan and US officials say. Halstead, who has been at Zerok since July, said another major difficulty is the support local Afghans give to the insurgency, often through fear of militant reprisals. “The people sometimes don’t have a choice, because of intimidation, threats, and the coercive tactics insurgents can use against them,” he said. “We have some serious cross-border threats. We keep pushing Kabul to deal with this effectively,” Nangarhar deputy governor Mohammad Hanif Gardiwal told visiting reporters, saying security forces lacked heavy weapons to counter the insurgents.

ISLAMABAD oNLINe

2011 ‘disappointing’ for human rights in India: HRw

US national Mansoor Ijaz’s statement should be recorded abroad if he feels insecure in coming to Pakistan, PMLN President Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday. Nawaz’s lawyer Mustafa Ramday, appearing before the Memo Judicial Commission, said that his client supported the demand of recording Ijaz’s statement abroad. He said that the commission should go abroad to record the US national’s statement.

NEw yORK oNLINe

Two suspects arrested near wah Cantt RAwALPINDI INp

Police arrested two suspects and recovered arms and maps of sensitive places from their possession on Tuesday. Police on information placed a cordon at motorway near Wah Cantt and began snap checking. During the search, two suspects were arrested with heavy ammunition including two Kalashnikovs, four hand grenades, 200 bullets and maps of sensitive locations recovered from their possession. In the preliminary interrogation, it was revealed the arrested belonged to a banned religious outfit and were residents of a tribal agency. They wanted to target important government installations and buildings. The detainees have been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

peSHAWAR: WApDA Hydroelectric Central Labour Union activists shout slogans during a protest demonstration against privatisation of the company on Tuesday. STAFF pHOTO

Islamists nabbed foreign nGo workers MULTAn: Police on Tuesday accused Islamist militants over the kidnapping of a German aid worker and his Italian colleague, snatched at gunpoint five days ago. The two aid workers were dragged from the home they rented in Multan late on Thursday, bringing to six the number of Westerners kidnapped in Pakistan since July. “The kidnappers have made no contact so far,” Azhar Akram, the head of the police investigation team told AFP from Multan. Masked gunmen snatched the two aid workers, but left behind a guard and a Western woman also staying at the house. “It could be a simple case of kidnapping for ransom, an extremist group may be involved or may be linked to some personal issue,” he added. The German and Italian had been working for a year to help rehabilitate villagers affected by devastating floods in 2010. Another member of the police team confirmed that suspicion was falling on Islamist extremists. “The gunmen are believed to have taken them to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province or some tribal town” in the lawless region on Afghan border,” he said on condition of anonymity. On Sunday, a Kenyan aid worker also went missing with his local driver. Police fear the pair have also been kidnapped. Earlier this month, gunmen kidnapped a British man working for the International Committee of the Red Cross from Quetta. Last August, an American development director, Warren Weinstein, 70, was snatched from his home in Lahore and in July a Swiss couple were kidnapped while driving through Balochistan. The Taliban claim to have the Swiss. Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri claims to be holding Weinstein, but the terror group has released no proof. AFp

India’s human rights record in 2011 got a thumbs down from a global rights group which has criticised the government for its inaction in repealing the controversial armed forces act and for remaining silent on the “gravest abuses” in countries like Syria. In its World Report 2012, Human Rights Watch (HRW) assessed progress on human rights during the past year in more than 90 countries. In India’s case, HRW said it has been a “disappointing year for human rights”. “Custodial killings, police abuses including torture, and failure to implement policies to protect vulnerable communities marred India’s record in 2011 as in the past,” HRW said in its report. Asia director at the city-based organisation Brad Adams said the Indian government took few steps to “prosecute abusive soldiers, undertake needed police reforms, or bring an end to torture. Internationally, India missed opportunities to be a leader at the United Nations Security Council and Human Rights Council in protecting the rights of vulnerable people abroad.” HRW said the Indian government took no action to repeal the “widely discredited Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), disregarding the recommendations of political leaders and advisers”. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s call for ‘zero tolerance’ of abuses by the armed forces has been undercut by the near zero progress in holding the abusers responsible”, Adams said. HRW, however, said violence in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir dropped significantly during 2011.

nATO gives itself upbeat report card in Afghanistan g

ISAF spokesman says Taliban insurgents have been forced onto back foot in their southern stronghold and now rely on Ieds KABuL AFp

NATO-led forces in Afghanistan on Tuesday gave themselves an upbeat report card for 2011, claiming successes on the battlefield, in the classroom and in preparing to hand over to Afghan forces.

In a “remarkably successful” year, Taliban insurgents had been forced onto the back foot in their southern stronghold, said International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spokesman Brigadier General Carsten Jacobson.

“The success has been so great that insurgents have largely lost control of the area and now rely on IEDs (improvisedexplosive devices) as their primary method of attack,” he said.

And in the east, troops “significantly

disrupted the Haqqani network through Operations Shamshir and Knife Edge, where coalition forces captured or eliminated over 500 insurgent leaders and fighters last fall”.

The Taliban faction has been blamed for a series of high-profile attacks in Kabul, including a 19-hour siege on the US embassy on September 13.

The network is based in the AfghanPakistan border region, which Jacobson said would remain a key focus for operations.

Kabul itself had “become a thriving commercial capital, able to absorb and respond to spectacular attempts to disrupt security with resolute response to insurgent attacks, leaving the insurgents largely in a state of failure”.

Jacobson said Afghan forces were

clearly in control of the city, as part of a phased transition ahead of a pullout of NATO combat troops in 2014.

His remarks came in stark contrast to perceptions that security has worsened in the Afghan capital over the last 12 months with a series of spectacular attacks on Western targets, such as the US embassy siege. The United Nations has also disagreed with NATO assessments, saying in September that the number of security incidents was up 39 percent on the first eight months of 2010, while ISAF said they were down two percent.

But Jacobson said the Afghan army was now almost 180,000 strong, the police had nearly 144,000 men and women in uniform, and by spring 2012 more than 50 percent of Afghanistan would be under Afghan control.

Turning to social developments, he said that in 2011 there were more than 175,000 teachers in Afghanistan compared to 20,000 in 2002, with more than eight million children in school compared to less than one million in 2002.

Last year was also “outstanding” in anti-narcotics operations, with more than 97,975 kilograms of opium, 8,823 kilograms of heroin, 61,168 of marijuana, and 148,875 of hashish seized.

In contrast to the successes of the foreign forces and the Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai, the insurgents had “a tough year”, Jacobson said.

“They lost key ground and resources in 2011. They were not able to accomplish any of their stated goals for Afghanistan, whilst their leadership continues to hide across the border in Pakistan.”

But in the propaganda war, the Taliban made their own assessment of the past year some 10 days ago with what they called a “formal proclamation of victory”. “Militarily successful resistance against a gigantic international alliance, full presence on the whole soil and overall perseverance” had forced “invading countries” to review their policies, the insurgents said in a statement.

This was a reference to Washington’s moves towards peace talks and plans for a Taliban political office in Qatar to facilitate negotiations, as well as the decision by the US-led coalition to withdraw combat forces by 2014.

The coalition countries were “fed up militarily and logistically with this war and are planning for retreat”, the Taliban said.

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‘Govt to face power of masses if nATo supplies allowed’ JI ameer’s warning 08

NEPRA smells no rat in KESC-Byco link ■ Regulatory authority gives clean chit to power utility in response to allegations levelled by KeSC’s Share Holders Association ■ Suggests approaching the SeCP over suspicious transaction of money to Byco■ KARACHI

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GHULAM ABBAS

HE National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has given a clean chit to the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) in response to the allegations levelled by the power company’s Share Holders Association (SHA) over the shady business deals between KESC and Byco – a sister company owned by the power utility’s Abraaj-led management Responding to multiple allegations made by the association related with the increase in electricity tariff through fuel adjustment surcharges; suspicious oil purchases from Byco and a loss of at least Rs 3 billion through purchase of costlier electricity from rental power plants, the NEPRA has given an impression that nothing wrong is going on at the privately-run power utility.

The regulatory authority has, however, suggested that the complainants should approach the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) if they consider the transactions between KESC and Byco not per the provisions of companies’ ordinance.

Through a letter sent to NEPRA on December 16, 2011, the SHA had registered the following complaints: a) KESC is purchasing oil from Byco which is a sister concern of KESC. b) The way of delivering oil on trucks by Byco to KESC is suspicious, as it is very easy to steal the oil and increase the supplied quantity by anyone involved in the management of trucks. c) The KESC management has caused an intentional loss of more than three billion rupees to the company by purchasing 50MW power from Aggreko – a Dubai-based company – having a previous relationship with the Abraaj Group.

In response, NEPRA, in a letter NEPRA/TRF-133/KESC-2009/571, claimed that it has carefully considered the contents of the letter and also gave a point-wise response to the complaints written as under: a) The KESC signed a fuel supply agreement with Byco on September 24, 2010 and has submitted the same with the NEPRA. Before allowing monthly fuel charges adjustment in the KESC tariff, the authority verifies

that purchase from every source is made at fair and competitive market prices.

Under NEPRA’s regulations, there is no bar on commercial transactions between associated companies as long as these are done in a transparent manner and at competitive rates.

The Companies Ordinance, 1984 provides threshold conditions for commercial transactions between associated companies, therefore, if you [SHA] are of view that transactions between Byco and KESC are not in accordance with the provisions of companies’ ordinance, you may take up the matter with SECP – the appropriate forum to deal with such matters. b) The authority while allowing monthly fuel charges adjustment to

KESC does not take into account the actual quantity of furnace oil consumed by KESC but determines it on the basis of the quantity of energy generated on each fuel, based on the approved parameters (heat rates) of each power plant; therefore, any loss due to theft of furnace oil specifically or other inefficient operations of KESC, generally, is not passed on to the consumers. c) The KESC has been allowed multi-tariffs by NEPRA that will remain effective till June 30, 2016.

Under the approved mechanism of the tariff, the adjustment in average sale rate on account of power purchase cost variation does not entail the adjustment of total cost of power purchased but only incorporates the variation in cost due to factors which are outside the control of power producer i.e. fuel prices, inflation, etc.

Therefore, if the power purchasing cost from any source is greater than the base rate allowed by the authority to KESC, it will cause losses to the KESC and not the consumers.

“Moreover, since the expiry on March 9, 2011 of the two-year rental agreement signed on September 4, 2008 between the KESC and Aggreko, the NEPRA has not allowed any variation in KESC’s electricity tariff on account of Aggreko,” the letter concluded.

Meanwhile, terming the NEPRA’s clarification biased and unjustified, SHA Vice President Javed Akhtar and Secretary General Mazhar Chaudhry claimed that tariff adjustment on the basis of fuel consumption is still unclear as there is no third party or NEPRA’s representative to monitor or inspect how much furnace oil is consumed at KESC’s power plants.

“The fuel adjustment is still being made on the basis of the data provided by KESC,” the SHA office bearers said, alleging that NEPRA had allowed tariff increase five times during the last two years on the KESC’s request.

on a cloudy Tuesday, many decided to turn up at the Clifton beach, where flocks of birds can be seen flying across the horizon. iMRAn ALi

Two ASwJ activists gunned down KARACHI STAFF RepoRT

Two activists of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) – a reorganised version of the banned militant outfit Sipahe-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) – were gunned down by unidentified assailants outside the city courts on Tuesday.

After the incident, unidentified armed men resorted to aerial firing in the old city areas and forced the shopkeepers to close down businesses.

Reportedly, the ASWJ activists, identified as Muhammad Ali, 35, and Muhammad Noman, 30, were returning after attending court proceedings when two gunmen riding a motorcycle sprayed them with bullets, killing both of them on the spot.

The bodies of the deceased were shifted to the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) and handed over to their heirs

after post-mortem.

Talking with Pakistan Today, Risala SHO Abid Hussain said that both victims were affiliated with ASWJ. “Ali and Noman were in a rickshaw after attending a case hearing in city courts when two gunmen, wearing helmets, shot them dead at Tahir Faisaluddin Road,” he said. “The heirs have not approached the police for registering a case.”

ASWJ spokesman Taj Hanfi claimed that Ali was a legal adviser and ASWJ’s Core Committee chairman while Noman was also an active worker of the organisation.

Condemning the murders, he demanded the government to arrest the criminals involved in the incident.

Separately, another man was shot dead by unidentified attackers in the Mansehra Colony, Landhi.

Sharafi Goth police said that the victim, identified as Zalay Khan, 30, was killed

over a personal enmity.

Police have registered a case against unidentified suspects on the complaint by the victim’s son.

Another man, Ishaq Abbas, was gunned down by unidentified gunmen near the Paan Mandi in Nayyabad, Lyari.

Baghdadi police said the body of the deceased was taken to CHK but the reason behind the man’s murder could not be ascertained pOLIcE cOnSTABLE KILLED: A police constable was shot dead by bandits during a robbery bid in the Ghausia Baloch Mohalla, Sector 11 ½, Orangi Town during the early hours of Tuesday.

Pakistan Bazaar police said that bandits open fire at Shahid, son of Iqbal, who had intercepted two robbers who were snatching valuables from a pedestrian. The police constable received a bullet in his head and died on spot.

‘Keep your Rs 1.1bn, we don’t have gas’ ■ SSGC turns down Sindh govt’s Rs 1,100m offer for supplying natural gas to remote towns and villages KARACHI AFTAB CHANNA

Citing shortage of natural gas in the country, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has refused to sign a Rs 1.1-billion agreement with the Sindh government to supply natural gas to several remote villages and towns in the province, Pakistan Today has learnt.

Well-placed sources told Pakistan Today that the provincial government’s Planning and Development Department wanted to sign a fresh deal worth more than a billion rupees with the pubic utility for provision of gas to far-flung villages and towns in the interior; however, the SSGC management – already witnessing a severe crisis – turned down the request.

Interestingly, the refusal by the gas utility has created a wave of anger amongst the elected representatives of the province in

view of the next year’s general elections, as the politicians ask for votes from the masses under the pretext of development through provision of natural gas and electricity.

“No doubt, the SSGC is playing a pivotal role in providing natural gas to industrial, commercial and domestic customers even at a time when the country is passing through a severe energy crisis, but its refusal to provide gas to more people is sheer injustice with the poor masses,” the sources said.

“Thousands of schemes recommended by the elected representatives have already been setback as the gas utility is yet to provide gas to the selected villages and towns under an agreement signed last year.”

Ironically, the SSGC has also advised the Sindh government not to approve further projects of gas provision and stop the exercise im-

mediately, as the company cannot implement the policy in view of the current energy crisis.

“In view of the prevailing [energy] situation in the country, the SSGC is not in a position to undertake new development schemes in more towns and villages in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, especially under the Loan Agreement with Government of Sindh,” it was stated in a SSGC letter, available with Pakistan Today.

Under the loans from the Sindh government, the gas utility has so far undertaken schemes worth Rs 2.9 billion for providing natural gas to different towns and villages, the sources said.

By laying 823 kilometres of various diameters of pipelines from December 2009 to October 2011, the SSGC completed the schemes in 340 towns and villages at a total cost of Rs 1.89 billion.

The work on another 95 schemes

worth Rs 780 million is expected to be completed by March 2012 while the remaining schemes,

worth Rs 230 million, will be executed during the period of January to June this year.

However, the gas company has refused to sign any further agreements with the Sindh government.

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PakistaN today

08 karachi

wednesday, 25 January, 2012

Sindh’s 75 percent children school-less: survey ■ Floods damaged around 4,000 schools in the province KARACHI

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AMAR GURIRo

ast year’s devastating monsoon rains in Sindh and the following floods completely damaged 1,342 government schools in the southern districts of the province, while 2,638 schools were partially damaged, revealed a report issued on Tuesday by the People’s Accountability Commission on Floods (PACF) – a collaborative venture of several civil society organisations.

The floods that devastated standing crops and inundated vast areas, displaced more than 90 million people as per official figures, besides badly affecting road infrastructure, heritage sites and religious places.

It was stated in the report that during the “super floods” of 2010, around 8,000 government schools were damaged and despite the passage of more than 18 months, the government has not renovated the schools so far.

“In 2011, devastating rains and breaches in the Left Bank Outfall Drain damaged more schools in an already precarious condition, almost halting the educational process in the most backward areas of the province,” the PACF observed in the report.

The PACF recommended renovation of schools damaged in the flood-hit districts of Sindh to ensure that the displaced children remain in schools.

“In Sindh, around 75 percent schoolgoing children are now out of schools. The

children have been deprived of education as schools have not been renovated or repaired by the government, nor any viable arrangements made for students to continue their education.”

The government could not achieve its target of imparting education to 388,509 students who were affected due to the 2010 floods and could provide educational facilities to only 29 percent of students. “It is of grave concern to the civil society that only 10 percent schools have been rehabilitated out of 10,348.”

The government authorities could not allocate the specified budget during flash ap-

peal 2011 for uplifting the school damaged during rains and floods in 2011 in the lower districts of Sindh. Due its slow response, the government could not meet the required targets and 54 percent of children were deprived of education as well as basic food and health facilities.

The report revealed that government response during the floods of 2010 and 2011 was very unsatisfactory to cope with challenges faced by flood-affected communities. The floods and rains badly damaged the infrastructure of the education sector in the affected districts, there was 70 percent loss of learning material in schools and the drop out ratio is 20 percent.

Traders protest robberies at old city area markets KARACHI STAFF RepoRT

Traders staged a protest on Tuesday against the robberies in the markets in old city area.

The traders were reacting to a robbery on Sunday night at the Sarafa Market, in which bandits took away jewellery worth Rs 20 million.

Dozens of protesters gathered at the Kharadar market and demanded that the government should take stern action against the

gangs involved in robberies.

The jewellers said it is becoming impossible for traders of the old city area to carry on with their businesses due to the increasing robberies.

The government, they said, had set up police check posts at the markets, but the law enforcers were not enough in number to arrest the bandits. The protesters also accused the government of patronising some criminal gangs.

Talking to Pakistan

Today, Atiq Mir, chairman of the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (KTI), said traders and customers are feeling insecure, as the criminals roam around at the markets with ease. “They come and deprive shopkeepers and buyers of their valuables at will,” the KTI chief added.

He went on to say that during the last three months, the number of robberies had surged by at least 300 percent, forcing shopkeepers not to keep cash at their shops.

nUST on a formula race car mission KARACHI pReSS ReLeASe

Students of the NUST-PNEC have formed the team Formula NUST, which is in the process of building a race car for a student event in UK this summer.

‘Formula Student’ is an annual educational motorsports competition held under the mentorship of Institute of mechanical engineers ImechE in collaboration with society of automotive engineers SAE. As premiere motorsports engineering competition of the world and it attracts students from the best engineering universities of the world who then design, build and race their cars. It is backed by industry and high profile engineers such as the Patron Ross Brawn OBE. The competition aims to inspire and develop enterprising and innovative young engineers.

Team Formula NUST has taken up the mantle of ensuring that Pakistan also lines up at the grid at this year’s competition. For this purpose, they have been working diligently on this project for the past year and are now currently in the process of manufacturing a Formula Student race car.

High-end engineering is virtually nonexistent in Pakistan and no team from Pakistan has yet participated in this event. Participation in this competition will have Pakistan rub shoulders with the leading engineering nations of the world.

Collaboration with Team ‘Formula NUST’ is also a very lucrative opportunity for local brands and companies from a diverse range of fields to have their logos on display

at the international and national stage.

The students from NUST through this endeavor aim to project a positive image of our nation and aim establish Pakistan as a serious competitor in the field of engineering.

Motorsports is followed passionately by many in Pakistan and many young people dream of being on the race track or in the pit lanes during one of these events. Unfortunately due to the limited means they are restricted to living their dreams vicariously through the coverage of these events on television.

The PACF said that the children between the ages of five and 17, especially girls, dropped out of schools. Around 38 percent boys and girls have dropped out in the floodaffected districts of Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Umerkot , Tando Allahyar , Tando Mohammad Khan , Shaheed Benazirabad and Tharparkar.

The flood-affected communities complained that they are not sending their children to schools, because they are closed, the roads are destroyed, schools are being used as shelters and teachers are absent.

The PACF recommended that water should be drained from the affected districts

of the Sindh.

Around 1,972 kilometres of land is still under water in Badin, Sanghar, Umerkot and Mirpurkhas.

The PACF recommended that the government should set up temporary learning centres in the areas where infrastructure is completely destroyed.

“Parent-teacher committees and school management committees should be reactivated and strengthened. Participatory approach by involving the community in the process of flood response can guarantee sustainability of structure and self-reliance.”

‘Govt to face power of masses if nATO supplies allowed’ ■ JI ameer warns his party will besiege parliament on Feb 3 if ban lifted KARACHI STAFF RepoRT

The Jamaat-e-Islami would besiege the parliament on February 3 if the government allows resumption of supplies to forces NATO in Afghanistan through Pakistan, the party’s ameer Munawar Hasan said on Tuesday.

Addressing a “Meet the Press” programme at the Karachi Press Club, Hasan dubbed the issue of missing people and drone attacks as an “offshoot” of the ongoing military operations in various parts of the country.

“The army chief should rid the country of use of force, which is fanning anti-Pakistan sentiments among the affected people,” he said.

The JI chief claimed that the basis for ongoing negotiations between the US and the Taliban is that the two sides have in custody “very important” figures from each other’s side.

He also condemned what he referred to as “West-backed de-radicalisation” scheme that is aimed at brainwashing the people of Bajaur, North Waziristan and other tribal areas.

The JI chief said if the government lifts the ban on NATO supplies, his party would the power of the masses to block the land routes used transporting these goods to Afghanistan.

About the perceived resumption of NATO supplies, the JI ameer said Pakistan People’s Party’s Raza Rabbani, who heads the committee deliberating on the issue, is expected to present a positive report on the issue in the parliament on February 3. “The JI has started contacting other political parties to launch a joint protest,” he added.

Criticising the “so-called democratic” rulers for their conciliatory policy towards the “dangerous friend” America, Hasan said the government is weighing the conditions for the restoration of NATO supplies. “What condi-

tions can be set at the cost of freedom?” he asked.

Holding the Indian consulates in Afghanistan responsible for destabilising Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, the JI chief said the Baloch should be brought back to the national mainstream by addressing the issues that have caused a sense of deprivation among them.

He was also critical of the government for continuing the Musharraf-era policies as well as prolonging their rule in the name of reconciliation during the last four years.

“Pakistan’s current foreign policy is facilitating Americans achieve their interests in the region,” he claimed.

Calling “dialogue” an ultimate remedy to the US-led international war against terror, Hasan recalled that Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Irish Republican Army of Northern Ireland and Yasir Arafat of Palestine were once considered biggest terrorists. “But their opponents eventually turned to talks and the three ap-

peared as heroes on the international horizon,” he added.

About the forthcoming Senate elections, he said though the JI would lose its seats in the polls, his party has a greater chance to win a number of seats in the lower house in the fast approaching general elections.

About granting the Most Favoured Nation status to India, he said the parliament had denied reports of giving consent to trade concessions for the bordering country and blamed the gove r n ment f o r taking t h e nation arbitrarily.

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karachi 09 PakistaN today

Two-year old Saleha’s heart will go on… thanks to MQM KARACHI AFTAB CHANNA

Saleha, a twoyearold girl hailing

one FoR ALL: A man makes optimal use of his motorcycle at Burns Road.

ASiM REHMAni

50 percent carpeting complete at Hub River Road KARACHI STAFF RepoRT

O

VER 50 percent of carpeting work at the Hub River Road has been completed and a portion of six kilometres of the road would have with three lanes on each side, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed was informed during a recent visit to the site.

Special material and engineering has been used for the construction of the road to make it durable.

Works and Services Department Director General Altaf G Memon briefed Syed that the renovation of the Hub River Road would solve the traffic problem at this important corridor. “All efforts are being made to finish work on the project before the scheduled time,” he added.

The road is used by heavy traffic headed towards or coming from other parts of Sindh and Balochistan, causing it to deteriorate and break up.

The administrator directed the Memon to gear up work on all ongoing projects in the city and ensure

their completion within the scheduled time.

He also directed him to person-

ally oversee the work on development projects and submit a daily progress report.

from a povertystricken family who was brought to Karachi from her hometown Quetta as she could not afford a heart surgery, returned home on Tuesday after a successful and complete treatment, the expenses of which were borne by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Sindh Industries and Commerce Minister Rauf Siddiqui of the MQM brought the girl to the city and admitted her to a reputed private hospital, where her surgery was successfully carried out. Saleha had two holes in her heart and need an immediate surgery for survival. Saleha left for Quetta amid the presence of a large number of her well-wishers, MQM activists and civil society members.

Saleha’s brother Abdul Kareem said his family was not in a position to bear the expenses for his sister’s treatment. However, MQM chief Altaf Hussain took notice of their problem and instructed his party to support his family. On humanitarian grounds, Siddiqui ordered special arrangements of Saleha medical treatment. “I am very thankful to MQM chief Altaf Hussain, Rauf Siddiqui and the workers of the MQM for their cooperation,” Kareem said. “I had time and again requested ministers and senior officials of the Balochistan government to help us, but no one had come forward to support us,” he added.

IGP seeks report on constable torture case KARACHI pReSS ReLeASe

Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Shah has taken action on a letter written by Citizens-Police Liaison Committee chief Ahmed Chinoy regarding a police constable who was tortured by his fellow policemen. In the letter, Chinoy wrote that on Thursday night, they received an application from a police constable about the issuance of a medico-legal letter. The constable was abducted and tortured by the SIU Jamshed Quarter. He was issued a medico-legal letter from the Civil Hospital Karachi that proved marks of torture and electric shocks present on his body. The CPLC chief then wrote a letter to the IGP and Additional Home Secretary Waseem Ahmed for the further inquiry. The IGP then sought a report from AIG Operation Amir Farooqui.

Family park named after Mehdi Hassan opened KARACHI STAFF RepoRT

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan inaugurated a park, named after Ghazal maestro Medhi Hassan, in Block-N of the North Nazimabad on Tuesday. The park is spread over 13 acres.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Mehdi Hassan, his son Arif Hussain, his daughter-in-law and brother Nisar Mehdi.

Federal Ports and Shipping Minister Babar Ghauri, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed, MPA Abdul Moeed Farooqui, Municipal Commissioner Matanat Ali Khan, Central Administrator Nazir Lakhani, actor Umer Sharif, Salahuddin Tinu, Adnan Jilani, singer Ghulam Abbas, Tabassum Warsi, Arif Ansari, PTV general manager Mustafa Mandokhel, PTV Programme Manager Zartaj Ali, Radio Pakistan Programme Manager Agha Muhammad Ali were also present on the occasion.

The Sindh governor paid tribute to Mehdi Hassan and said he is an asset for the country. “Therefore, no stone should be left unturned to provide him [Mehdi Hassan] with the best of medical treatment,” he added.

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PakistaN today

10 karachi

wednesday, 25 January, 2012

weATHeR UPdATeS

25°C High

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THURSdAy

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26°C I 14°C

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PRAyeR TIMInGS Fajr 5:28

Sunrise 7:16

Zuhr 12:44

Asr 3:50

Maghrib 6:12

Isha 7:31

Starting time in Karachi

CITy dIReCToRy

Keeping track of your vehicle was never this easy and fun ■ Trakker nav, country’s most comprehensive GPS navigation system, launched KARACHI

eMeRGenCy HeLP PoLICe 15 BoMB dISPoSAL 15, 99212667 FIRe BRIGAde 16, 99215007, 99215008 edHI 115, 32310066-2310077 KHIdMAT-e-KHALQ FoUndATIon 36333811 Red CReSCenT 35833973 GoveRnoR’S HoUSe 136 CHIeF MInISTeR’S HoUSe 99202051 MoToRwAy PoLICe 130

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STAFF RepoRT

INALLY, Karachi would be navigated with ease amid the heavy traffic mess through the country’s most comprehensive GPS navigation system launched on Tuesday called Trakker Nav. This system speaks all Pakistani languages to guide motorists where to go, and which path should be taken to make a difference, literary speaking.

The team of the system had to work even on terror-ridden days in Karachi to get the house addresses to be put in the navigation system, and the most difficult task was to go to Kati Pahari in Orangi Town, asking for the residents’ addresses.

Yet the biggest challenge was to make people understand what navigation system is.

Currently, it covers more than 100 cities and all major highways but by the end of 2013 every city of the country is to be placed on its 3D Map rendering, guided by global positioning system.

With the launch of Trakker NAV, a new era for road navigation technology has started in the country as it is available for in-car devices, portable navigation devices and downloadable application for iPhones and Android based phone services.

Talking about the product, TPL Holdings Chief Executive Officer Ali Jameel said the launch of the navigation system has let Pakistan to stand among those developed countries that already have this technology. “Trakker Nav is available for iPhone and iPad at App Store and for Android devices at Android Market by the name of ‘SygicPakistan’ and has been one of the top selling Apps in Pakistan,” he added.

He pointed out that TPL Trakker has so far recovered over 10,000 stolen vehicles and cargo worth over Rs 15 billion, while it has also helped prevent several kidnapping and extortion cases and assisted people during emergencies.

“In Pakistan, we also have as partners the law enforcement agencies, the Citizen Police Liaison Committee, the Anti-Car Lifting Cell, the

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pRIVATe CoLLeCTIoN

Madadgar 15, insurance companies, financial institutions and GSM service providers,” he said.

“Trakker is proud to be averaging over 85 percent recovery in Pakistan. This is much better than the worldwide standards of stolen vehicles recovery where similar leading state-of-the art tracking systems are operational.”

Citing some interesting recoveries, he said in March last year, a Hino truck was in transit to Mirpur Sakro from Karachi and was hijacked. It was transporting 22,000 hatchlings worth Rs 0.8 million.

The TPL security team tracked the vehicle to an empty plot, which was used primarily for palm trees plantation. Three hijackers were taken into custody. Similarly, in the same month, 192 cartons of cigarettes valued at Rs 2.4 million were recovered by the TPL security from a Mazda truck, which was hijacked in Rohri.

TPL Holdings head of sales Waqar Ahmed said the TPL Trakker has the most comprehensive infrastructure with nationwide activation, tracking and recovery capabilities, extending to over 7,000 cities and towns with a rapidly growing network. “It also has unmatched state-of-the-art technology compatible with the most advanced auto-electronic systems in Mercedes, BMW, Porche, Range Rover etc,” he added.

“The salient features of Trakker Nav include comprehensive map coverage of over 100 cities; 3D landmarks and house address search; over 0.8 million points of interests; multiple routing options as per convenience, 24/7 navigational support, and availability in SD cards and downloadable applications for smart phones.”

ART MoMeNTS: MeHeR AFRoZ

peRpeTUAL MoTIoN

ART EXHIBITION STARTS JANuARy 26 AT 05:00 PM VENuE: GRANDEuR GALLERy

DISCuSSION ON JANuARy 26 AT 07:00 PM VENuE: T2F 2.0

ART EXHIBITION STARTS JANuARy 27 AT 05:00 PM VENuE: T2F 2.0

Art exhibition ‘Private Collection’ from January 26 to February 11 at the Grandeur Art Gallery. Call 35435744 for more information.

‘Art Moments: An Evening with Meher Afroz’ on January 26 at The 2nd Floor. Call 35389033 for more information.

Hina Farooqui and Najia Omar’s ‘Perpetual Motion’ from January 27 to February 7 at The 2nd Floor. Call 35389033 for more information

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wednesday, 25 January, 2012

Editor’s mail 11

Slow learners look towards the CM Punjab The problem of learning disabilities is on the rise in Pakistan. Some 30 percent of the school going children is facing the problem. There is an urgent need to invest in education and training of slow learners.

Slow learner is a term people use to describe a student who has the ability to learn necessary academic skills, but at a rate and depth below average same age peers. In order to grasp new concepts, a slow learner needs more time, more repetition, and often more resources from teachers to be successful. Reasoning skills are typically delayed, which makes new concepts difficult to learn.

A non-responsive behaviour of the government is pushing more and more students out of mainstream school system. It could be judged from the fact that the Punjab government has recently spent billions of rupees on distribution of free laptops among brilliant students.

But not a single penny has been extended out of this huge fund to the slow learners.

There is no doubt that the policy of merit

was followed in the process and the deserving students are benefited from the scheme. But the question arises as to how the Punjab government can deny that it has distributed laptops among students to fulfil its political agenda of attracting youngsters against the PTI. All right, no problem in doing so if the young students are benefited from such tactics. It will definitely be helpful in excelling their academic skills. However, it is also a bare fact that one big reason for high dropout rate in Punjab is due to the fact that there is no facility of remedial education in mainstream schools, both public and private.

Majority of students lose interest in education as they cannot cope with education system and grasp the lengthy syllabus due to their mental incapacities, mainly due to ADD, ADHD and dyslexia.

The Punjab government has spent too little so far to deal with this problem despite the fact that the Chief Minister Punjab has always been very responsive to the public miseries.

Thar coal project However, he has failed to meet expectations of slow learners. For example, no serious effort has been made is recruiting qualified and trained teachers to deal with the problem of dropouts. The Punjab education department has failed to understand that the problem of high dropouts cannot be addressed through routine measures. The existing teaching staff is not trained to deal with slow learners. Resultantly, the slow learners are being ignored in mainstream education system. Dealing with such students requires a motherly attitude. Those who teach and train slow learners are actually very chosen people of God. They not only carry a peculiar heart but they also have the passion to change the destiny of slow learners.

Secondly, the government should also support the private sector education institutions to dealing with slow learners.

One such organisation is the Foundation for Rehabilitation & Education of Slow Children (FRESH) working for education and training of teachers for remedial ed-

ucation. It is not easy for the Foundation to handle heavy influx of slow learners with meagre resources. It also has no permanent campus. Instead, it is shifting from one place to another due to financial constraints. There are a few philanthropists funding the expenditures of the Foundation since day one. It is not easy for the parents of these students to bear with heavy fees.

Allotment of a permanent piece of land by the Punjab government will be helpful to the future needs of the Foundation. Also, there is need of a state of the art Teachers’ Training Institution where experts on learning disabilities can be trained for on regular basis. A financial help from the Punjab government in this regard will be very meaningful to secure the future of slow learners. And last but not the least; the Chief Minister Punjab should spend time with these students to highlight the problem of learning disabilities in the society.

ASHBA KAMRAN Lahore

Speaking of immunity There is talk to define the parameters of presidential immunity to the neglect of Islamic provisions in the historical perspective of pristine Islamic values. We are involved in discussing the “Foujdari” and “Divani” modes of immunity. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, when presented with the case of a woman thief of a leading tribe to be pardoned, that previous generations had perished due to pardoning their rich people who stole and punished the poor thieves. He further said that he would punish even his daughter if she committed a theft. This is as far as a “Divani” or a civil case is concerned.

In another case, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) offered himself for compensation if he had ever physically injured someone. A person said that one time the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had lightly poked a stick in his side to stand in a straight line. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) offered for the man to take his revenge. The man said that he had no shirt on his back. So the Holy Prophet (PBUH) bared his back upon which the man concerned kissed the prophetic seal between the shoulders of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). This was the lack of immunity in a “Foujdari” or criminal case”.

So where is the immunity in Islam for us mortals, including the president of Pakistan? This is a question that should haunt the people at large.

DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI Lahore

not this time, please Much is being made by the government on Ijaz's security related demands.

I do not blame him at all for expressing his concerns. After all the prime minister of this country, who cynically brushed these security concerns aside, is on record stating on the floor of the National Assembly that the President of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari could not even visit his ailing father in the PIMS for six weeks.

If Mr Rehman Malik's ministry cannot provide security to the President, it is a joke to expect it to provide it for Mr Ijaz, against whom he makes daily statements.

Moreover, if he was so sure of his security apparatus, why is Mr Haqqani holed up in the Prime Minster's House?

This is a serious issue, which must be investigated to the depth. We have played so often with this country's security. Not this time, please.

SAJJAD ASHRAF Lahore

Fleecing the customers Most of the mobile retailers are involved in malpractice of less balance recharging. Why do PTA and mobile companies not take necessary steps for its awareness among the users or for eradication of this menace?

For instance, if a customers pays Rs 30, their number may be recharged with Rs 28 rather than Rs 30. This matter has been discussed with mobile companies' customer services desk, but in vain.

PROF SHERAZ ANAYAT Jhelum

It is an optimistic approach of the US to initiate the Thar energy project in a situation when the country is facing grave energy crisis.

More importantly, while the US is pressurising Pakistan to reject the IranPakistan gas pipeline, this might prove to be strong alternative for US to claim their stance.

According to Pakistan Security Report 2011, the security situation in Pakistan is improving as compared to the previous years. This offers unique opportunity for Pakistan to invite not only US but companies from different countries to exploit the reserves of 175 billion tons of coal.

As the initial phase of the project will be completed in three years, we can engage other companies at the same time, with their short-term and long-term projects, to work in parallel.

Investment by the US in such projects is appreciated because such steps will help improve the already-strained bilateral relations and it will help US to see Pakistan through the prism, other than Afghanistan.

IZHAR HUSSAIN Larkana

A prediction I have a prediction to make. I can guess when power loadshedding would end in Pakistan. I am not a soothsayer and don’t have inside information. But I know this much that the loadshedding crippling Pakistan since the past 4 years would end six months before the general elections.

You can also use this prediction to find out the estimated date of the next general election.

DR SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER Peshawar

Putting Pakistan first

It has been observed that the payments to the police staff and their families are not given on due time because of the red tape engulfing every official process. The families of retired and martyred police personnel suffer the most. It is important that pension and compensation should be paid on time, as this is part of recognising their services and sacrifices in the line of duty.

YASIR HAMEED Islamabad

The formation of the Pakistan First Group (PFG) comes as welcome news.

The group has been created to counter negative propaganda currently being run against the army and ISI, according to Maj Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi.

The group has also warned against the repercussions of damaging the honour of security and military institutions as it would only weaken Pakistan.

The group has also called for Musharraf’s safe return. It was rightly pointed out by PFG that it is the constitutional responsibility of the government to provide proper protocol and security to the former head of state. Many prominent retired generals like retired General Muhammad Aziz Khan and Adm Shahid Karimullah have signed a letter calling for Pervez Musharraf to be allowed to return to Pakistan.

This group of military officers is highly respected and none of them have ever been accused of dishonesty or disloyalty to the country and people or corrupt practices.

PFG is also affiliated with the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society, which has a membership of 93,000 and outreach to 2.5 million ex-servicemen and their families. This highlights the support that the group is capable of getting. Their first meeting is a good beginning and will create further pressure once they gather more support.

They have an ideology that puts Pakistan first and will lend Musharraf all their support.

MASOOMA IMRAN Karachi

brushed off as a routine happening. It is enough to display the level of commitment and dedication that the armed forces of Pakistan still exhibit towards the prime task of eradicating militancy.

There has been no apparent change in troop deployment arrangement nor have Pakistani troops been pulled back that could indicate Pakistan’s refusal in fighting against the terrorist.

What can be seen, however, is the American need to press Pakistan beyond its limits. Having experienced the strike of the famous stick more often than having the good fortune of enjoying the carrot, Pakistani leadership is compelled to redefine its terms of engagement in the war. After being involved in a war for a

whole decade with the terms and conditions becoming fuzzy and the need to safeguard national interest in the light of new developments, Pakistan surely needs to set new targets and develop new and refurbish old relationships to make them strong, durable and beneficial.

Pakistan must come up with a decision that is in harmony with its own interests which must be respected by the international and regional powers too, realizing that Pakistan has had to suffer a lot and that it is time that it should focus on strengthening itself. A stronger and more stable Pakistan would be better able to reverse the terrorist onslaught.

UMAR QAYYUM MALIK Lahore

posing Iran as the devil Now that the US has almost finalised its country-ravaging campaign in Afghanistan and Iraq, hawks in its establishment are beckoning on finding a new target for its military industrial complex.

Iran, in this perspective, fits perfectly in their scheme with

Arab Spring or dark winter When Arab League (AL) took over the task to send its observers to Syria, many people were skeptical about the effectiveness of this move to stop the ongoing bloodshed over there. Regret this skepticism has been proven to be right; nothing has changed on ground – Syrian forces are continuing with their killing machine. More than 400 hundred people were killed only during the observers’ few-week stay while the total casualty figures are now in thousands. We all know Arab League neither has any experience of such missions in the past nor has expertise to coordinate/monitor such a critical task in a conflict ridden country.

The AL is now considering to extend the observers’ mission for another

its nuclear ambitions and flaming statements against Israel. If it continues this way, there is little chance that this region will ever see peace.

ALI HAYAT Lahore

month – is this not the time buying?

The other proposal to send regional forces in Syria is also not practical – even now there is no coherence among AL states on any workable strategy, then how come someone can expect their soldiers on Syrian soil?

We see no option other than AL to ask the UN to intervene. Killing of thousands of people is no more an internal or regional matter; it needs an international solution. We are aware that China and Russia are opposed to any foreign parties-supported military action in Syria. But they can’t go blindfolded of what’ happening over there. Poor Syrians, whose near and dear ones are being killed, injured or simply disappearing, are not interested in big powers’ political games influenced by their interests;

they need immediate action to prevent the Arab Spring to become a dark cold winter.

MASOOD KHAN Saudi Arabia

Pensions for policemen

Pak-US relationship in recovery mode War outcomes can never be predicted one hundred percent and to make high and mighty claims of a definite victory in Afghanistan is turning out to be one of the gravest mistakes the superpower has made so far.

The report of a dangerously dipping trend in the US patience levels towards Pakistan exemplifies that the news is not being accepted very gracefully. For a new term, the Obama administration must maintain the power the US has over the globe.

The fact that Pakistan has blocked the Nato supply routes after repeated American military adventures of unilateral nature into the Pakistani territory is being taken as a symbol of defiance from

the Pakistani side. But the fact that the Pakistani security forces are still fighting terrorism inside the country and continue to share intelligence information contradicts all such claims. A very recent example of intelligence sharing is the killing of a senior Al-Qaeda leader through a drone strike after the Pakistanis had indicated his location.

Furthermore, the brunt of involvement in this war is still being borne by the Pakistani security personnel as scores have been targeted and butchered in cold blood by the militants in the post-USPakistan standoff.

Bullet riddled bodies of 15 soldiers found after being kidnapped and tortured by the terrorists cannot be easily

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 Pick-and-choose Taking credit, avoiding blame

I

t was General Kayani's strong warnings that prevented Nato strikes into Pakistani territory, claims the military. This is a cause for celebration.

For it seems that the western forces in Afghanistan take heed to the Pakistani military chief's warnings. This would, in turn, present a solution to the drone strikes, the latest of which we saw in the Datakhel area in North Waziristan on Monday. All the army chief has to do to stop them is to protest. Taking credit for one development means taking responsibility and blame for another.

There is, clearly, a lack of objective standards with which the military's performance is to be evaluated. A pick-and-choose approach doesn't hold water in any other government department, why should it here?

Much confusion persists, as always, on the role of the military. The military's top spymaster, for instance, reportedly, met with former president Pervez Musharraf in Dubai the other day. Under what mandate did this meeting take place? The chief of an organisation that is tasked with counter-intelligence should not be going about liaising with political figures. If he can meet with the latter, then nothing much could be found wrong with the spy chief's meeting with US national Mansoor Ijaz in London. It seems that the agency's penchant for "political management" (as a former spy chief called it) has not ended.

A recent report by the Human Rights Watch bemoans the encroachment on civil institutions by the military.

The report highlights the threats to journalists and political activists in Balochistan and the tribal areas in particular and the rest of the country in general and points to the general malaise regarding the intelligence agencies regarding them.

But since the HRW report also lashes out at the US for its policy of drone strikes, we know what part of the report the establishment will pick and choose to publicise.

SC versus eCP To each their own turf

W

hen sharp differences between two respectable bodies – one comprising serving judges and the other retired ones – come out into the open, the common man wonders what is happening. Interestingly, there is no difference between the two on the core issue that the existing electoral rolls need to be corrected in order to hold just and fair elections. The dispute centres around the time needed to complete the job satisfactorily.

There is a widespread perception that while undertaking political engineering, Musharraf’s henchmen included millions of fake voters to get his candidates elected. The perception was supported by the facts that NADRA subsequently presented. As many as 37,185,998 entries were found to be fake. The SC ordered the ECP and NDRA to do the required corrections. So far so good. But then the apex court took upon itself to determine the time frame within which the task had to be carried out which was by February 23. One wonders why the court deemed it fit to do so when the matter falls into the category of practicality rather than constitutionality.

A better way would have been to let the ECP and NADRA determine the time needed in the light of the number of trained personnel at their disposal. What the SC should have ensured is that the list was in place well before the elections due early next year. Both NADRA and ECP maintained that the preparation of error free electoral rolls would not be possible before May 25. A new dispute has now arisen between the SC and the ECP regarding the holding of by-elections in seven constituencies which the ECP claims is required by the constitution to be held

by February 20. The elections on these seats have to be conducted therefore on the basis of the already-existing votes list.

The SC should not be seen to be invading the turf of other institutions, a complaint that has been frequently made by the executive and now by the ECP. Similarly, it should not be seen to be rewriting the constitution in the name of interpreting it. Again, the court would do well to restrain itself and enunciate the requirements of law without issuing the cut off dates. Otherwise, it is bound to face embarrassment as happened when appointing a chief enquiry officer to probe the memo case within a specified time frame.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

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

wednesday, 25 January, 2012

Challenges for democracy Not quite there yet

T

here have been considerable gains in democracy and civil and political freedoms in Pakistan over the last four years. Pakistan can be described as more democratic than ever. Non-governmental societybased and society-oriented activity has increased with proliferation of the media, information-technology revolution and the growth of diverse social formations. Societal landscape has become more complex, diversified and at times conflict-ridden and violent.

However, democracy does not necessarily move in a single direction from less to more democracy. This process can stagnate at one point or experience brief or long reverses. This means that a conscious effort is needed all the time to keep democracy progressing by addressing the challenges that threaten it. The major deficiency of democracy is that it can be undermined by democratic means and in the name of democracy.

That often depends on the attitude and disposition of the political payers as they can easily use democratic freedom to undermine democracy. If democracy and freedoms are the rights of the people, these are also their responsibilities.

By Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi A new “Democracy Assessment Report” to be released later this week by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) about 2011 points out the successes and challenges of democracy in 2011 as a mixed track record. Similarly, various reports and studies of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) highlight successes and problems. There are serious challenges to democracy and societal harmony and stability.

The most serious challenge to democracy and civic order in Pakistan is from growing polarisation and partisanship in the political and social circles.

These divisions appear to be sharpening to such an extent that it is difficult to discuss any issue on its merits. It is political and religious affiliations that determine the attitude and disposition of a large number of people who often do not hesitate to display their displeasure and anger towards any divergent perspective.

The widespread religious and cultural intolerance can be traced back to the military rule of General Zia-ul-Haq when Islamic orthodoxy and militancy were promoted as a state project. Even after the end of the Ziarule, the military continued to patronise such groups. Consequently, there is a large section of the population that views every aspect of domestic politics, societal interaction and foreign and security policies as a function of religion. For example, the support and sympathy for militancy and opposition to the United States are products of religious-cumpolitical beliefs rather than the logic of global politics.

Political and religious intolerance has become entrenched in many sections of the educated people, especially the so-called the middle class, who talk of democracy but they demonstrate impatience towards dissent.

There are people in the legal profession who have become politicised to the extent of undermining the reputation of the profession.

Since 2009, there have been periodic reports of intimidation of junior level courts by some lawyer-activists. It was disappointing to watch a group of lawyers engaged in sloganeering in favour of the Chief Justice when the Supreme Court took up the contempt notice against the prime minister on January 19. They were summoned to the Supreme Court for that purpose by their leaders. The same can be said about the attitude of some lawyers when the killer of former governor Salmaan Taseer was brought to the court for initial proceedings in Rawalpindi in 2011.

The success of democracy depends to a great extent on strengthening elected institutions and processes. The primacy of the parliament and provincial assemblies can be asserted if the political parties and leaders make the elected assemblies as the focal points of their political activities and participate effectively in their proceedings.

As the PML(N) and other opposition parties do not have a sufficient number of members in the National Assembly to move a no-confidence motion against the federal government, the PML(N) describes the parliament as an irrelevant institution.

It is unfortunate that political parties question the legitimacy of an elected institution simply because they cannot get the results of their choice. Democracy requires that all should accept the outcome of the democratic process even if it is not to one’s liking.

Other example of neglect of the parliament is that in 2009, no resolution or adjournment motion was moved by the opposition in any house of the parliament for the

restoration of the Chief Justice. However, in March 2009, the PML(N) preferred to launch street agitation for that purpose.

The poor performance of federal and provincial governments also threatens democracy. As the problems of the common people are not being addressed adequately, there is widespread alienation among the common people from the current democratic process. Some partisan groups are using this alienation for propaganda against democracy and suggest naïve solutions to attract popular attention. There are those who argue that their problems will be resolved under an Islamic order without describing the details of institutions and processes of such a system. Others think that the corrupt rulers should be removed to solve the problems.

Still another threat to democracy is the spectre of conflict among state institutions.

The state institutions like the executive, the parliament, the judiciary and the military have not so far learnt the habit of restraint and mutual respect in a democratic framework. Each institution is trying to expand the domain of its authority at the cost of others.

The superior judiciary is using judicial activism to enter into the areas that are essentially the domains of other institutions. The military is so used to an expanded role that it does not like the elected government’s haphazard efforts to retrieve the initiative in security and related matters. The political governments and elected assemblies emphasize their importance by virtue of their representative character without ensuring effective and just governance and improving the economy. Democracy cannot endure if the economy continues to falter.

The state institutions will have to learn to function in a manner that respects each other’s autonomy and role. Democracy will suffer if one institution attempts to overwhelm others or cultivates a self-ascribed mission of reforming all other institutions and people.

Pakistan’s democracy needs to be strengthened and sustained because there is no other option available. However, democracy cannot take strong roots if individuals, groups and state institutions do not respect the constitution and the conventions of the parliamentary system in letter and spirit and they do not try to dominate each other. They must also engage in mutual respect, tolerance and accommodation in governmental and societal affairs.

The writer is an independent political and defence analyst.

See no evil pTA will make sure of it

By Ali Aftab Saeed

T

he Pakistan Telecommunication Authority blocks access to porn sites in Pakistan. The central theme of this piece is not porn per se, but the pros and cons of the decision to ban it. In principle of course, if we decide as a nation that we shouldn’t have porn only a click away, then we should have the right to ban it. What is unacceptable is for some agency to control the flow and content of information. Because when authorities decide the content people should have access to, it is usually not for the sake of providing quality information.

The concern shown by people about the potential misuse of SOPA and PIPA is a valid one.

Porn may be very few Pakistanis’ cup of tea (or is it?), but authorities getting a free hand to ban it will certainly raise similar issues.

This is of course a land where sane, reasonable things are routinely labelled as blasphemous.

There’s very little doubt, as far as I am concerned, that a lot of babies will be deliberately thrown with the bathwater. Even as it is, two Gazans killed by Israeli helicopters somehow get more attention by us than twenty Baloch killed much closer to home.

Let’s leave terrorism, freedom fights, and religious fanaticism aside for a moment, and come back to the issue at hand, that is, porn – or the banning of it to be precise. I think the ball of the PTA ban was set rolling by the report published back in 2010 claiming that among all nations of the world, Pakistan was numero uno on the porn search list. The report appeared in all our leading newspapers. The interesting thing is that nobody found it hard to believe, although we predictably got to hear the usual western-conspiracy-to-defame-us comments, in addition to the self-righteous outrage on Fox News’s multiple jabs via the Pornistan taunt.

From the report it seems the

spirited Pakistanis absolutely blew away the rival nations in all categories, including the bestiality searches. I don’t want to believe the explanation put forward by ‘The Young Turks’, namely: the Pakistanis believe that sex with animals is less sinful than with fellow humans. Rape and child sex searches are of course two other disturbing categories we topped in, which would negate the TYT hypothesis, but then, these could easily be distinct user groups.

I recently watched an audience-based TV program on the issue. Two of the four panelists in the program were convinced that internet was the root cause of all evil, and that the PTA should ban the internet if banning porn sites was a difficult task. The audience seemed to agree with them. This is understandable in a country where having reservations about certain legislation can be seen as being in favour of the crime, as Salmaan Taseer found out.

Personally I don’t buy the different arguments presented from time to time in favour of pornography. I am however convinced that just like we couldn’t eliminate prostitution, alcohol and gambling from the society by pro-

hibiting them nationwide, we won’t be able to stop people from watching porn by banning websites. A lot of people are killed every year by ill-prepared, unregulated alcohol; and a lot of horror takes place in underground, nonaccredited, unmonitored gambling houses, where the gamblers play on credit and pay with their life or limb.

Now I am certainly not for giving legal cover to porn or prostitution because that will be adopting the worst of the western culture. However, since economics determine most everything, the Hall Road DVD shops are sure to again enjoy the old patronage from the porn customer – if they haven’t already – as the ban becomes more and more extensive.

That will likely provide the lurking crazies with more motivation to bomb such markets, where a majority of buyers will have nothing to do with porn. And even if a porn buyer or seller is killed, should death be the penalty for this immorality? These simple-inprinciple matters are not very simple when it comes to application, are they?

The writer is a member of the band Beygairat Brigade

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wednesday, 25 January, 2012

comment 13

GOp’s embarrassment Leave Aitzaz alone A lawyer’s unwarranted media trial

The travelling Republican primary circus

Washington Watch

By Dr James J Zogby

I

t makes no difference that Republican voters decided to give former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich's presidential aspirations a last minute boost rather than ending the party's agony and giving former Governor Mitt Romney a decisive win, that might help him clinch the nomination. It makes no difference, because the story of this Republican primary contest has already been written. In short, it has been more of a fratricidal embarrassment than an election.

And, in the process, real damage has been done both to the Republican Party and to the country.

It was clear from the beginning that the Tea Party and the religious right would cannibalise the GOP. But watching it play out has been ugly. Their first victims were the more solid and experienced "should've run" Republican governors who chose not to enter the race. Next in line were the "never should've run" half-baked candidates who were each, for a short time, catapulted into the lead of this lacklustre field only to be humiliated and forced to drop out when it became clear that they "were not ready for prime time".

It is Romney who is paying the dearest price, and there is something almost sad about this election's Romney story. He is the classic "born with a silver spoon in his mouth", son of power and wealth, with a picture book family.

Other things being equal, one might have thought that Romney would have been "the perfect Republican candidate", but for two deep "flaws": he is a Mormon and his political conversion to conservatism is considered unconvincing by

many hardliners. As I watch Romney in debates, fielding challenges from lesser candidates, behind the starched shirt and crisp smile, you can see in his eyes a mix of desperation and anger. It is as if he is saying to himself "I've worked too long and too hard and have been the 'inevitable winner' for too many months for this to be happening to me". What he knows is that each attack has drawn blood and that continuing attacks can prove fatal.

Now I know that politics is rough business, but in my many decades of following presidential campaigns, I've never seen Republicans behaving like this.

There is an old adage that says "Democrats fall in love,

candidates, the fervent desire of some hardliners to block Romney's bid for the nomination, and the explosion of "super PAC's" awash with money, have all contributed to changing this primary's political dynamic.

The attacks have been harsh and they have been sustained. And over time they have only become more intense and personal. As a result, real damage has been done.

A recent poll, late this week, showed that: one in six Republicans said that they would not vote for Romney should he win the nomination; almost one half of all Republicans believe that Mormons are not Christians; and, at this late date, four in ten Republicans remain unsatisfied with the

This year's presidential contest started out being quite civil. But a combination of desperate candidates, the fervent desire to block Romney and the explosion of "super pAC's" have all contributed to changing this primary's political dynamic.

Republicans fall in line".

Historically, it is Democrats who have the bitter primaries and then have to make up and embrace at their convention as the party faithful swoons over their new nominee.

This is not to say that Republicans aren't, at times, quite nasty. They have been, but for the most part the GOP had tried to adhere to what have come to be known as "Reagan's 11th Commandment"—"thou shalt not attack a fellow Republican". And when GOPer's did attack, it was often done discreetly - with no fingerprints (remember the Bushteam's rumour campaign about McCain having fathered a nonwhite child, just before the South Carolina primary in 2000). In any case, by the time the party's establishment has made their choice clear, the GOP rank-and-file would respond, stopping their attacks and "falling in line" in support of their party's candidate.

This year's presidential contest started out being quite civil. But a combination of desperate

candidates and still hope others will run. None of this adds up to anything good for Romney or for Republican chances in November.

One final observation that I must make is how hurtful this primary has been to America. From my vantage point, here in the UAE (where I am teaching a short three week course at NYU), each of the GOP debates and the rather bizarre storylines that have shaped this campaign, have made the race for the presidency look more like a circus than a serious contest to determine who will lead the mightiest nation on earth. Their marriages, their money, their irresponsible hawkishness, and Islamophobia, and what appears to be their willingness to say almost anything , no matter how outrageous, in order to court favour with the hardest of their party's hardliners - has resulted in producing a long-running embarrassment that, unfortunately, the whole world is watching.

The writer is President of the Arab-American Institute.

T

here is something gratifying about humiliated celebrities – Veena Malik’s bitter black mascara tears, Salman Butt going to jail, or VJ Mathira embarrassed by a caller live on TV. When they deviate from the role they have been assigned, they must be punished. And the higher they had risen, the harder they will fall. To our morbid delight.

Pakistan’s news media had made Aitzaz Ahsan more popular than the chief justice he was fighting for, two years ago. And now they have put him in the dock.

“A friend of the government is a traitor, a traitor!” (Govt ka jo yaar hai, ghaddar ghaddar hai) according to very passionate lawyers trying to muffle Aitzaz’s voice as he talked to reporters after representing the prime minister in the Supreme Court. And then they grinned at the TV cameras.

The slogan indicates that the overwhelming criticism of Aitzaz by a large number of reporters, televanalysts, and lawyers is not legal, but moral.

Reports on TV channels claim he has changed his stance. Aitzaz appears on each of those channels and explains his legal position. Anchors nod like they understand. In the next news bulletin usually a few minutes later, there are more references to a “uturn”. His legal justifications are irrelevant.

The news media alBy Harris Bin Munawar ways refer to lawyers as “the lawyers’ community”, indicating they are not individuals in the legal profession but a group that acts collectively. Aitzaz was part of the community and has now abandoned it. That is his crime.

Pakistani morals are not based on the codified law that Aitzaz Ahsan is an expert in, but kinship rituals. A significant amount of national, regional and family politics in Pakistan revolve around who came to whose wedding and whose funeral, and what gifts or alms were exchanged and how they were reciprocated.

Most Pakistanis do not identify with a social contract or legal documents that form the basis of their nation state.

Their identity, loyalty, and social organisation have been based on com-

Man bites Dog

munity rituals, tribes and castes, and family lineage for centuries.

Many believe in a normative, semi-codified religious law that came with Muslim intruders from the West and continued during the Mughal rule. Aurangzeb Alamgir, the last of the great Mughal emperors, is believed to be the first Muslim king to have put together a uniform legal code.

Queen Victoria gave the Indian subcontinent a comprehensive system of laws that was based on abstract, universal, scientific principles in line with the character of Victorian England. For a large number of Pakistanis, this does not add to its value. Many still believe an uncodified Sharia law would be better for them.

There is one aspect of Victorian ethics that old people love to appreciate. “Victorian ethics of 'honour, decency, truthfulness and running a good show' persisted in India to a quite remarkable degree,” British writer and historian Charles Allen said in his book Plain Tales from the Raj. “'I would have no hesitation in saying that during the years I was in India, bribery and corruption were unknown among the British in India' asserts John Morris, one of the fiercest critics of the moral codes of the Raj... ‘Such attitudes created an administration that was 'probably the most incorruptible ever known'.”

There is no way this claim can be verified, but is clear we did not adopt these morals. The Victorian models we did adopt include public prudence that contradicts our private behaviour, sexual restraint, and strict adherence to the social codes of conduct. Pakistan’s upper-class ethical ideals are predominantly Victorian, and the violation of Victorian codes of conduct by ‘the general public’ is seen as the end of the last remnants of the British Raj in Pakistan.

Our news media do claim to espouse their responsibility of being a watchdog, but they do not agree on what they are watching over and what are the standards that they measure the society against.

While news reports focus on Aitzaz Ahsan’s decision to abandon his community (for legal reasons that they cannot and don’t want to comprehend), morning shows by housewives and for housewives are watching over people who violate Victorian morals.

TV host Maya Khan goes date-busting in a video clip that has caused anger all over Pakistan last week. “Leave those kids alone,” someone says in a YouTube comment. I also think we should leave Aitzaz Ahsan alone.

The writer is a media and culture critic and works at The Friday Times. He tweets @paagalinsaan and gets email at harris@nyu.edu

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14

wednesday, 25 January, 2012

IN LIMELIGHT

Ali turns workaholic as

SÃo pAULo: A model presents a creation by Lino Villaventura of the 2012 Winter collection during the Sao paulo Fashion Week.

creates a boom

AFP

online!

B

NEwS DESK

EING under the limelight and being a part of the entertainment industry can sure give people sleepless nights, well literally so as many from the industry have admitted to not having slept for days by virtue of extreme work pressure. Take the case of singer-actor Ali Zafar who admitted on a micro-blogging site recently that he hasn’t had a day off in a long time. He wrote: “Time to hit bed. Shooting for #Lpny music video. Haven't had an off day

MUMBAI: Shahid Kapoor poses during the launching of the new range ‘MIXTRAX’ technology in-car audio. AFp

since....... 2011. But it’s just that I love my work so much that I don’t mind working a Sunday. As long as there’s good vibe around and #Lpny vibe is 2 cool!” Since the new video for ‘London Paris New York’ has turned out to be a pleasant surprise for those who were hooked on to the internet over the weekend, we would say that all of that hard work has paid off for Ali. The video started going viral within hours of it going online and is generally seeing good feedback coming its way due to a fresh treatment of the subject and the film’s youthful flavour. Well, perhaps now Ali will allow himself some rest.

Lockdown in paradise as Kate jets in for Middleton family holiday LONDON ABC

It has long been an idyllic retreat for the rich and famous – so you wouldn’t think the presence of Royalty would cause a stir. But the arrival of the Duchess of Cambridge and her family on the privately owned island of Mustique has upset fellow holidaymakers.

Heightened security measures to ensure Kate’s privacy mean the Mustique Company, which owns the Caribbean island, is restricting the movements of other guests. Tourists have been told that if they wish to dine at one of the island’s two hotels they must travel in a vehicle provided by the venue. They are banned from using the rented ‘mules’ – the island’s fleet of souped-up golf carts – in case they try to take pictures at the Middleton family’s £15,000-a-week Aurora villa, featuring its own plunge pool and a stunning ocean view. There have also been reports of guests being quizzed by security men while walking on the beach. Kate’s party, which includes her parents Michael and Carole, sister Pippa and younger brother James, is staying at the villa owned by Mark Cecil, a hedge fund manager and friend of the family. Prince William is expected to join them shortly.

HoLLywood: Actress Marg Helgenberger poses at her Hollywood walk of Fame Induction Ceremony. Helgenberger has been playing investigator Catherine willows on the hit television show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, for the past 12 years. AFp

PARIS: Actor Adrien Brody takes part in the Tv broadcast show ‘Le Grand Journal’. AFp

PARIS: A model presents a creation by Italian designer Giambattista valli during the Spring/Summer 2012 Haute Couture collection show. AFp

Imran Khan launches a video

MUMBAI: Not at the box-office but at RiteishGenelia's wedding…Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza’s wedding has certainly become the talk of tinsel-town with the D-day arriving soon. Certainly the guest list includes the best of Bollywood. It goes without saying then that both the warring Khans - Shah Rukh and Salman will be on the guest list. Riteish Deshmukh is close friends with both of them.

Also Genelia D’Souza has been endorsing the CCL team Mumbai Heroes which also has Salman Khan as its brand ambassador. Shah Rukh and Salman have known to be avoiding each other if they have to attend any common public events. The recent case was the Mumbai police event Umang where Shah Rukh Khan entered late after Salman Khan was done with his performance and left the venue.

Many were expecting something similar to happen at Riteish-Genelia wedding. However all of them might be disappointed because it was learnt that Salman Khan might not be attending the wedding. Not for any other reason but because of his professional commitments. A source reveals: “Salman Khan is expected to be shooting for ‘ek Tha Tiger’ in US during that period.” Seems like the wedding just missed some fireworks! AGeNCIeS

MUMBAI: Talk about getting innovative.

Imran Khan has launched a video travelogue –‘ek Main Aur ekk Star’, through which he will share his experiences while promoting his forthcoming film ‘ek Main Aur ekk Tu’. As part of the promotional tour, Imran will travel to dubai, new york, Britain and cities across India. He will document his journey, which will be uploaded on UTv and dharma Productions’ youTube accounts. ‘ek Main Aur ekk Star’ will capture “the highs, the lows, the late nights, the

George Clooney

travelogue planning pre-dawn scrambles for flights, the ecstasy, the euphoria, stress and the struggles that Imran experiences,” said a press statement. each video that will be shot, edited and uploaded on the trip, will be an honest account of life on the road. ‘ek Main Aur ekk Tu’ is a light-hearted movie about a boy in his mid-twenties, going through a breakdown in his personal as well as professional life. That’s when he meets a girl, and his life goes topsy-turvy. The film releases Feb 10. AGeNCIeS

for life after films LoS ANGeLeS: George Clooney has revealed that he is prepared for the day when he has to hang up his boots. despite being tipped for an oscar next month for his role in ‘The descendants’, the 50year-old actor reckons he may be the forgotten man of movies in the next few years.

“I've been around show business my whole life,” the Mirror quoted the ‘ocean’s eleven’ star as saying. “I understand how fleeting all of this is. I understand that they will take those keys away at some point. It doesn't matter.

So I'll keep driving that car until they take the keys away,” he added. AGeNCIeS

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15 Veena Malik turns violent;

injures co-star NEwS DESK

V

PARIS: US singer Gloria Gaynor performs as models present lingerie creations by Russian former model natalia vodianova during the Spring-Summer 2012 etam Lingerie Collection Show. AFp

EENA Malik, the Pakistani starlet, who made headlines last year for allegedly posing nude for FHM magazine is currently in India to shoot for her Bollywood film ‘Mumbai 125 km’. And shooting an action sequence with the actress turned out to be a nightmare for her co-star Vedita Pratap, who was brutally beaten up by Veena.

Veena, who reportedly does not share a good rapport with Vedita, had to enact a fight sequence, which demanded little acting. But Veena got extremely violent in real and ended up injuring her co-star on the head.

Vedita had to be rushed to a hospital immediately. Narrating what happened on that illfated day, a unit member while

talking to a tabloid said: “In the scene, Veena had to pull Vedita by the neck and bang her head on an iron rod. It created a lot of commotion on the sets and director Hemant Madhukar

was brought in to resolve the issue. Vedita, who was furious, told Hemant that Veena purposely hurt her.” Vedita confirmed the incident and said, “It was an action sequence. I was

supposed to be beaten up. I don’t know what happened to Veena. She actually hurt me and she did it so badly that I had nail marks on my body. I don’t know what was wrong with her. And then she pushed me so badly and banged my head on the rod. After the incident, I spoke to the director and told him that she is deliberately doing this. Acting is one thing, but this is just over acting.”

When quizzed if Veena has issues with her, Vedita said: “I don’t know. I think somewhere she is just insecure or just waited for the opportunity to do something like this to me. As a result of the injury, I have marks on my forehead, which I have to undergo treatment to get rid off.” We guess Veena has mastered the technique of being in news for all wrong reasons!

Night of Fashionistas kicks off in Islamabad NEwS DESK A fashion show titled ‘Night of Fashionistas’ kicked off in Islamabad where many fashion models represented creations by top fashion designers. Vision Events International organised a dazzling event for Islooites in which fashion models such as Mehreen Syed, and Ariba Habib walked the runway for fashion designers Sobia Zoha, Yasir Ali Sheikh, and others. Fashion designer Saim Ali also walked as the show stopper on the stage. The hair and makeup of the fashion models was kaleidoscopic themed and was done by Sobia Mustafa and her team. Rezz Ali Shah was the choreographer with the Ali Malik’s co-ordination. Along with the fashion show, dance performances also entertained the guests.

Depilex Men launches The Lounge silk outfit goes on show

jason Segel named Hasty pudding man of the year

LONDON AFp

pARIS: Models present creations for Christian Dior during the Spring/Summ er 2012 Haute Couture collection show. AFP

An astonishing golden outfit made from the silk of spiders goes on display at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum on Wednesday, the largest example of the material in the world. The four-metre-long (13-feetlong) hand-woven textile, a natural vivid gold colour, was made from the silk of more than one million female Golden Orb spiders collected in the highlands of Madagascar by 80 people over five years. It was made by Englishman Simon Peers and American Nicholas Godley, both of whom have lived and worked in Madagascar for many years, and inspired by 19th century illustrations detailing the largely forgotten art. The process is extremely laborious-on average, 23,000 spiders are needed to create about one ounce (28 grams) of silk. The textile is on show at the museum from January 25 to June 5.

LOS ANGELES BBC

NEwS DESK Masarrat Misbah conceived the initial concept for the Depilex Men’s Salon in 2003.

Being a pioneer of the beauty industry, she had the vision of opening a high quality men’s grooming salon where customers would feel relaxed, and where service and quality would be the order of the day. Depilex Men was professionally designed to offer the highest quality and is currently operating successfully in Bahria Town Lahore, F-7/2 Islamabad, DHA Karachi and University Town Peshawar. As part of the 30 year celebration, and under the guidance of the new Creative Director Redah Misbah, Depilex Men opens a one of a kind salon in the heart

‘Agneepath’ strikes right chords with B-Town MUMBAI: Karan Johar's ‘Agneepath’ remake has received a thumbs up from Bollywood celebrities, who attended a special screening of the much-awaited movie. The Tuesday night screening saw attendance from celebrities like Arbaaz Khan and Arjun Rampal and they are all impressed with the remake of the 1990 film. The Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay dutt and Priyanka Choprastarrer, directed by debutant Karan Malhotra, is set for release Thursday, and here's what B-Town had to say about it: Arjun Rampal: “It was mind blowing. It's a superb film. Go and watch ‘Agneepath.’ you guys are going to be blown away.” Zayed Khan: “All the performances are fabulous.

Finally, superb kind of movies are back. It's amazing. Hrithik, Sanjay, Priyanka, everybody was outstanding.” Arbaaz Khan: “I think the director has done a fantastic job and it's a very good remake of the earlier ‘Agneepath’. Sanjay's performance is fantastic, Hrithik is looking very good and he has acted very well as well. I think the star of the film is the director.” AGeNCIeS

of DHA, Lahore and aptly named The Lounge by Depilex Men. The vision is to extend the original concept and idea and create a space that is truly “all-man”! From the outset the focus was on customer comfort - relax on a bespoke leather sofa, drink fresh coffee, watch the latest sporting match on Sky TV or read the latest magazines in a clean and comfortable space. Only the best product lines are stocked, including Label.M, Guinot, L’Oreal, Dermologica, Gilden Tree and many more. A keen eye for detail ensured that the masculine image and colour scheme was carried through to every aspect of The Lounge from the coffee cups to the workstations to the wall colour palettes. The Lounge will be launched formally on 25th January.

Aamir on the lookout for

MUMBAI: After fake songs, fake star looks and fake pictures from movies, it’s the turn of fake posters of a film to be leaked on the internet.

The movie in question this time is the Aamir Khan-Rani Mukherji-Kareena Kapoor starrer ‘Talaash’ that will be released in June. Apparently, Aamir is majorly upset by a fake poster that was released on the internet. The poster claimed to be the first look of the film. It soon went viral and the audience felt that it was the real one.

Later, Farhan Akhtar, the film’s producer came on the scene and clarified that the poster is not a genuine one. He tweeted, “Please beware of a fake ‘Talaash’ poster doing the rounds.... it is not the official first look. That is still to happen (sic).”

But Aamir, it seems, doesn’t not want to take any chance. Reports say he has hired a US-based foreign cyber agency to investigate into the matter. A spokesperson from his team confirmed to a newspaper: “we are all concerned of these fake posters. yes, an online agency has been put on to the job of fact- finding. we would like to clear that none of the poster on net are even remotely close to the actual designs.” Hopefully now the cyber thief will be caught soon. After all, it’s Mr Perfectionist who is hunting him or her down! AGeNCIeS

‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ star Jason Segel is to be awarded this year’s Hasty Pudding man of the year prize.

The award is handed out by Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the oldest undergraduate drama troupe in the US. The 32-yearold actor, who also stars in the TV comedy ‘How I Met Your Mother’, will receive his prize during a ceremony and parade on 3 February. Actress Claire Danes has been named this year's woman of the year. Segel made his name acting in and producing various films like ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’, ‘Get Him to the Greek’ and the ‘Muppets’.

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Gulf states pull observers out of Syria, urge UN action DAMASCuS

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ULF states on Tuesday followed Saudi Arabia’s lead in pulling their observers out of Syria, while urging the UN Security Council to pile pressure on Damascus to end its crackdown on dissent.

“Gulf Cooperation Council states have decided to follow Saudi Arabia’s decision to pull out its observers from the Arab League mission in Syria,” the six GCC countries announced in a joint statement.

They said their decision came after “closely following developments in Syria and after they confirmed that the bloodshed and killings there continue (and after) the Syrian regime did not comply with implementing the Arab League decisions.”

They also called on “members of the UN Security Council... to take all needed

measures at the Security Council to press Syria to implement the Arab League decisions and the Arab initiative on Syria.”

The Arab League, meanwhile, said it has requested a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon so it can present its proposals on resolving the Syria crisis and demand support from the UN Security Council. The request was issued jointly by the pan-Arab body’s secretary general, Nabil al-Arabi, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, deputy secretary Ahmad bin Helli told AFP. Kuwait’s Al-Qabas daily reported that the Gulf states will also take part in a high-level Arab delegation that will visit Russia to press Moscow to end its support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The GCC “countries are moving towards pulling all their monitors” out of Syria, the newspaper reported, because they don’t want observers to remain as “false witnesses to the crimes committed

against civilians by the Syrian regime.”

“Syria is exploiting observers to fudge a solution to the crisis,” the newspaper said, quoting officials.

The report did not specify when the monitors would leave. Saudi Arabia, the largest GCC member, decided on Sunday to pull its observers from a widely criticised Arab League mission to Syria. Other GCC members include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The Arab League, which met Sunday, adopted a proposal calling on Assad to step down in favour of his deputy, paving the way for a new national unity government and elections. Damascus rejected the idea outright as a hostile interference in its national sovereignty.

Western nations are capitalising on the Arab League’s tough new stance to embark on a new diplomatic offensive to push the UN Security Council to take touch action on the Syrian crisis.

Syria rejects solution by Arab League ‘plotters’ DAMAScUS: Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Tuesday rejected an Arab League solution to the unrest sweeping his country, accusing the 22-member bloc of plotting to internationalise the crisis. “Enough of the Arab solutions from now,” Muallem told a news conference, after accusing the Arabs of “plotting” to internationalise the crisis and taking decisions while “knowing that they will be rejected” by the Syrian authorities. His remarks came after the Arab League called on President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power to his deputy and to clear the way for a unity government within two months, in a surprise weekend announcement. “We do not want Arab solutions. We said that two days ago when we refused the initiative and when the ministers council decided to turn to the Security Council,” said Muallem.

“We categorically refused (this proposal).” “The solution is a Syrian one based on the interests of the Syrian people... based on the completion of the reform program proposed by President Bashar al-Assad.” The foreign minister also stressed that Damascus’ traditional ally Russia would never accept any foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs. “No one can doubt the strength of the Russian-Syrian relationship,” based on their history and the interests of both people, Muallem said. AFp

new US ambassador sparks Russia’s fury MOSCOw AFp

The new US ambassador to Moscow came under an extraordinary attack Tuesday from Russia’s parliament for meeting the leaders of protests against strongman Vladimir Putin on his arrival last week.

The fury surrounding President Barack Obama’s former top Russia adviser Michael McFaul marks an inauspicious beginning for a man who helped “reset” Russia-US relations following Putin’s 2008 departure from the Kremlin.

Obama’s strategy then focused on promoting the more liberal leanings of President Dmitry Medvedev — a policy set for a rewrite with ex-KGB man Putin’s expected return for a third term in March 4 polls.

The 48-year-old career academic met with anti-Putin protest leaders a day after attending a protocol session at the Russian foreign ministry on January 16. McFaul — seemingly unaware of the controversy this was about to generate — wrote on his blog at the time that this was part of Washington’s “dual track engagement” with Moscow. “Just as President Obama did when he visited Moscow in July 2009, all senior US officials visiting Russia make a point of meeting with both government officials and civil society leaders,” McFaul said. But a commentator on Russia’s main Channel One television immediately suggested that McFaul — who once penned a book called “Russia’s Unfinished Revolution” — was now on a mission to “finish the revolution”. Similar comments aired over the weekend on a second channel as the furore showed no signs of going away.

A leading member of Putin’s United Russia party on Tuesday relaunched the attacks on both McFaul and the Russians whom he invited to his Spaso House residence on January 17. “US representatives are acting in an incredibly cynical manner,” Andrei Isayev told a rowdy session of parliament.

jAIpUR: Members of the Indian Muslim community and Indian policemen listen to the announcement cancelling Salman Rushdie’s video link session during jaipur Literature Festival (jLF) on Tuesday. AFp

Muslim activists scuttle Rushdie video address JAIPuR AFp

A video address by British author Salman Rushdie to a book festival in India was scrapped on Tuesday after police warned that Islamic hardliners in the crowd posed a security threat to the event.

Some Muslim groups had opposed the video link because of alleged blasphemy in Rushdie’s 1988 novel “The Satanic Verses”, which remains banned in India. Sanjoy Roy, the producer of the Jaipur Literature Festival, said police had advised organisers that Muslim activists were planning to disrupt the address as thousands of festival-goers gathered to listen to Rushdie.

Rushdie last week withdrew from making a personal appearance at the event when Indian intelligence officials told him that assassins from Mumbai were heading to Jaipur, though he later said he believed the plot was a fake. “There are people within this audience who have been sent in here to disrupt the proceeding.

There would be perhaps some violence or an aggressive situation,” Roy told the crowds. Police at the five-day festival, a major social and business occasion that attracts tens of thousands of book fans from India and abroad, had been keen to prevent any protests that could fuel religious tension.Some Muslim groups entered the venue grounds on Tuesday and demanded that Rushdie, who lived in hiding for 10 years due to death threats over “The Satanic Verses”, be prevented from participating even by video. Mumbai-born Rushdie vowed to appear by video link when he pulled out on Friday, saying on Twitter that he had been told by Indian officials that a “mafia don” had issued weapons to two named hitmen to kill him. Local politicians in Jaipur later denied reports that the death threat had been concocted by police to avoid demonstrations at the festival.

Ram Pratap Singh, the owner of festival venue, told the crowd he had taken the decision “on advice of the Rajasthan (state) police who are monitoring the situation, who say there is a large number of people... threatening violence.”

Saudis look to new police chief for greater social freedoms RIyADH AFp

The appointment of a moderate to head the feared Saudi religious police has raised hopes that a more lenient force will ease draconian social constraints in the kingdom, but human rights activists remain sceptical. Less than two weeks into his post as chief of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Sheikh Abdullatif Abdel Aziz al-Sheikh banned volunteers from serving in the commission, a move designed to curb the group’s most outrageous violations.

The volunteers, usually ultra-conservative and fundamentalist Muslims, have often been accused of abuse and violence

against Saudis as they patrol the streets of the kingdom enforcing the strictest interpretations of Islam’s social traditions.

“Even the sight of a religious police car approaching fills us with feelings of fear and horror,” said Um Ibrahim, a Saudi mother, adding that since al-Sheikh’s appointment, “we are already seeing fewer patrols.” “We are very hopeful,” she said noting that even the number of messages posted by fellow citizens on social networks like Twitter, warning of abuses by the police have “almost disappeared” since alSheikh’s appointment by Saudi’s King Abdullah on January 13.

Al-Sheikh, a member of the kingdom’s most powerful religious family, is known for his moderate views on segregation.

In 2010, he backed a religious police official from the Saudi city of Mecca who said Islam does not categorically require segregation and that shops could remain open during prayer time. The religious police prevent women from driving; require them to shroud their hair and bodies in all-black, shapeless abayas; block public entertainment and force all commerce, from supermarkets to petrol stations, to come to a halt at prayer times, five times a day.

They have also been responsible for outrageous abuses and behaviour. In 2002, they reportedly prevented firemen from entering an all-girls school because of the segregationof-sexes policy and blocked girls from escaping the fire because they were not wearing the obligatory veil. Fourteen girls were tram-

pled to death and 50 others were injured in a stampede after the fire broke out.

Since his appointment, al-Sheikh has also announced his intention to establish a nation-wide call centre where all reported complaints regarding inappropriate social behavior can be verified. In the past, anonymous callers could randomly contact members of the religious police and make allegations of misbehaviour, a system that resulted in repeated false allegations and excessive responses by individual police officers.

Easily recognised by their long beards and white ‘dishdasha’ that fall to just above the ankle, Saudi’s religious force, known as the “Mutaween”, are often seen patrolling shopping malls and public spaces looking for violators of Islam’s rules for social engagement.

Turkey warns Iraq against fomenting sectarian conflict ISTANBuL AFp

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Iraqi authorities on Tuesday that Turkey will not remain silent if they start a sectarian conflict in neighbouring Iraq. “(Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri) al-Maliki should know that: if you start a conflict in Iraq in the form of sectarian clashes, it will be impossible for us to remain silent,” Erdogan said in remarks to his lawmakers in parliament, carried on television. “Those who stand by with folded arms watching brothers massacre each other are accomplices to murder,” Erdogan said. The Turkish leader heavily criticised Maliki for his accusation that Turkey was intervening in Iraq’s affairs. “I consider Maliki’s attitude ... as very ugly and very unfortunate,” Erdogan said. “We expect the Iraqi government to leave aside sectarian discrimination and express a responsible attitude to prevent sectarian conflicts,” Erdogan said. Iraq on Sunday claimed that Turkey, Iran and unnamed Arab countries were trying to “intervene” in Baghdad’s month-long political crisis and not respecting its sovereignty.

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Foreign News 17 egypt parties refusing to commit to women’s rights CAIRO AFp

HoNG KoNG: Two people watch on as fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour on Tuesday. Thousands watched the fireworks display on the second day of Chinese New Year to usher in the Year of the Dragon. AFp

Car bomb attacks against Shiites kill 9 in Baghdad BAGHDAD AFp

A series of car bombs exploded in Shiite areas of Baghdad Tuesday, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 60, an interior ministry official said. Two of the bombs exploded within half an hour of each other in the capital’s Sadr City Shiite bastion, killing six people and wounding 32, the official said.

The first bomb ripped through a group of workers at around 6:45 am (0345 GMT) while the second exploded outside a bakery. Among the wounded were two women and a child.

700 militants lay down arms in India’s northeast GuwAHATI AFp

Nearly 700 Indian separatist rebels laid down their arms on Tuesday at a ceremony that the government hailed as a major step towards bringing peace to the restive northeast region.

Home Minister P Chidambaram said the move was the result of a series of peace talks and ceasefires that have dampened violence after decades of militant activity by separatist tribal groups. “Leave the past behind and look at the future positively,” Chidambaram said at the ceremony in Guwahati, the main city of Assam.

“We assure that each one of you would be treated equally and be able to lead a life of dignity and honour,” he added. Rebels wearing green jungle fatigues handed over scores of rifles, machine guns and pistols in front of press photographers. NK Das, a top local official, said a total of 676 militants from nine groups fighting for secession or greater autonomy had laid down their weapons.

Two car bombs in north Baghdad targeted secondary schools, with one exploding in the northwestern Shula district, killing two people and wounding 16, and another killing one person and wounded 13 in the Al-Hurriya neighbourhood, the official said. The bombings are the latest in a spate of attacks against Shiites, which have risen since US forces completed their withdrawal from Iraq on December 18.

Though violence in Iraq is down markedly from its peak during 2006 and 2007, attacks are still common, and more than 200 people, mostly Shiite pilgrims, have been killed since the US drawdown. The troop pullout coin-

cided with a political crisis in Iraq, pitting the Shiite-led government against the main Sunni-backed bloc which accuses Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of centralising power.

Iraq on Sunday claimed that Turkey, Iran and unnamed Arab countries were trying to “intervene” in Baghdad’s month-long crisis and not respecting its sovereignty.

Reflecting the ongoing sectarian tensions, the Honein jihadist forum posted a message on Monday vowing further attacks against Iraqi Shiites.

“The violent attacks against the Rawafid (the name used for Shiites by

Sunni extremists) will continue,” AlQaeda front group the Islamic State of Iraq said in a statement, while claiming responsibility for attacks on Shiite pilgrims over the past month.

“The lions of the Islamic State of Iraq (will not cease their operations)... as long as the Safavid government continues its war. We will spill rivers of their blood as reciprocity.”

The jihadists often invoke Iran’s Safavid past, referring to the Shiite dynasty that ruled Persia between the 16th and 18th centuries, and conquered part of Iraq, when denouncing the Baghdad government, which they say is controlled by Tehran.

Many Egyptian political parties, especially dominant Islamist groups, have refused to commit to protecting women’s rights and to abolishing the death penalty, Amnesty International said on Tuesday. “Most of the biggest Egyptian political parties have committed to delivering ambitious human rights reform in the country’s transition, but have either given mixed signals or flatly refused to sign up to ending discrimination, protecting women’s rights and to abolishing the death penalty,” Amnesty said. The London-based rights watchdog had contacted 54 parties running in Egypt’s first postrevolution parliamentary elections to sign a “human rights manifesto” containing 10 key pledges. “It is disturbing that a number of parties refused to commit to equal rights for women,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s interim director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“With a handful of women taking up seats in the new parliament, there remain huge obstacles to women playing a full role in Egyptian political life,” said Luther.

The Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, which won most seats in parliament, did not respond to meeting requests nor give feedback on the manifesto, Amnesty said. The ultra-conservative Salafist Al-Nur party, which came second, “agreed orally to all pledges with the exception of the abolition of the death penalty and protection of women’s rights,” it said. The Free Egyptians party, founded by telecom magnate Naguib Sawiris, did not respond to meeting requests nor comment on the manifesto.

Only two small parties, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and the Popular Socialist Alliance Party, signed up to all the pledges which also include ending the state of emergency, combatting torture, ensuring fair trials and upholding freedom of association and expression.

Ten parties agreed to the majority of the pledges, but stopped short of committing to women’s rights and/or discrimination, Amnesty said. The first parliament since a popular uprising toppled Hosni Mubarak convened on Monday, with only 10 women deputies. “We challenge the new parliament to use the opportunity of drafting the new constitution to guarantee all of these rights for all people in Egypt. The cornerstone must be non-discrimination and gender equality, Luther said.

Turkey slams genocide bill as racist, vows sanctions ANKARA AFp

Turkey on Tuesday slammed as discriminatory and racist a bill passed by the French Senate making denial of the Armenian genocide a crime and vowed to impose unspecified sanctions against Paris on a “step-bystep” basis. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe appealed to France’s “Turkish friends” for calm as Turks reacted furiously to the Senate’s approval of the bill Monday. “The proposal adopted in France is tantamount to discrimination and racism, and it violates freedom of thought,” Erdogan said in an address to his lawmakers in parliament. The Turkish premier, who dismissed the bill as “null and void,” warned however that his Islamist-rooted government would punish Paris with retaliatory measures if French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose right-wing UMP party initated the bill, signs it into law.

“We will implement our sanctions step by step, without any retreat,” Erdogan declared. “We’ll publicise our action plan according to the developments on the ground.” The measure, approved by a vote of 127 to 85 in the French Senate, makes it an offence punishable by jail to deny that the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turk forces amounted to genocide, drawing ire from Turkey. Juppe, speaking on French television Tuesday, said: “I’d like to appeal to our Turkish friends for calm and extend my hand to this great country, this economic and political power.”

When France’s lower house passed the bill last

ISTANBUL: Members of the Turkish Communist party (TKp) chant slogans against the French president during a protest outside the French consulate on Tuesday after the French Senate approved by 127 votes to 86, the measure which makes it an offence punishable by jail in France to deny that the 1915 massacre of Armenians by ottoman Turk forces amounted to genocide.. AFp month, Ankara recalled its envoy to Paris for consultations and froze political and military ties with Paris while vowing to impose “permanent” sanctions if the measure is finally adopted.

But before French Senate vote, Turkey sent its am-

bassador Tahsin Burcuoglu back to Paris to keep up pressure on French senators to oppose the bill.

Erdogan’s address Tuesday was not as strong as expected, in line with continuing efforts by the Turkish envoy to lobby against the legislation.

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Clijsters topples wozniacki from top spot Page 21

Misbah, Strauss expect heavy workload for bowlers

ABU dHABI: Pakistan's Azhar Ali catches a ball during a practice session at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. AFp ABu DHABI

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IVAL captains Misbah-ul Haq and Andrew Strauss expect tough work for bowlers on a battingfriendly pitch at Abu Dhabi Stadium where the second Test starts on Wednesday.

The two Tests played here were drawn with three double hundreds and two centuries, and the last one saw Pakistan letting Sri Lanka off by dropping seven catches in the second innings.

Pakistan also drew with South Africa here.

But despite that Pakistan have edge with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in good

ABU dHABI: Pakistan's coach Mohsin Khan (R) gives instructions to player Azhar Ali during a practice session. AFp

form, having taken a career-best 7-55 during his 10-wicket haul which helped his team win the first Test by 10 wickets in Dubai inside three days.

"Ajmal got 10 wickets which created so much pressure on England so I think that is really an edge for us but at the same time I think the nature of the pitch here will make it tough to get 20 wickets," said Misbah on Tuesday.

Misbah urged the bowlers to stick to discipline and basics.

"I think you have to come out hard and just bowl a disciplined line and bowl according to the weakness of the batsmen, and just try to exploit the conditions but I think it will be really really tough to get wickets here," said Misbah.

Misbah said his team was ready for

a backlash from England, who have not lost a Test series since January 2009.

"There is no doubt that England, being the world number one team, will try their 100 percent best and stage a strong comeback. We are ready for them," said Misbah, who has not lost a series since taking over as captain in October 2010.

Pakistan were likely to retain the winning combination, but if the pitch seems to offer initial pace they could replace paceman Aizaz Cheema with leftarmer Junaid Khan.

England will wait on the fitness of paceman Chris Tremlett who has a sore back. England captain Andrew Strauss agreed that the pitch looked good for batting.

"At the moment it looks a very good wicket, there's no doubt about that. We are expecting it to be very good wicket for batting," said Strauss, whose team has not lost two Tests in a row since beaten by South Africa in July 2008.

England have also managed to win just three times after going down 1-0 in a three-match series. And Strauss realised it would be a tough challenge.

"It's a big challenge for us and one I personally really looking forward to. We clearly let ourselves down at Dubai, we got to hold up our hands and say there are no excuses for that," said Strauss who will open with Alastair Cook in their 100th innings.

About his own batting form which saw him dismissed for 19 and six in the first Test, Strauss said he hopes to overcome the slump. "It's obviously disappointing and certainly not getting runs in the last game was disappointing for me but having been around the Test match scene for a while now I know form ebbs and flows and one innings can completely change both your perspective and others' perspective in how well you're playing.

"I do think I've been hitting the ball well and hopefully that means there's a nice recipe in place to go on and get a big score," said Strauss, who has scored only one hundred in the last 30 months, at Brisbane in 2010.

When asked whether Ajmal's bowling action, questioned by various quarters after the Dubai Test, could threaten the sense of harmony between the two teams, Strauss said: "Maybe, but you're not going to hear any discussion about it from us.

"It's not an issue for us, it's not something we're concerned about, we're far more concerned about coming onto the pitch and winning this game."

The third and final Test will be played in Dubai from February 3-7. Both teams will also play four one-day and three Twenty20 internationals.

Bd govt gives thumbs up for Pakistan series

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf on Tuesday revealed that the Bangladesh government has given a green signal to its cricket team to visit Pakistan this coming April. Talking to journalists on the sidelines of the Benazir Bhutto Women’s Cricket Challenge Trophy’s final here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Zaka said that his first priority was to see international cricket returning to Pakistan and Bangladesh has agreed to visit here in the coming April. Although the Bangladesh government gave a go ahead to its team to tour Pakistan, their recce team will still visit Pakistan to assess the security situation.

The development came after the PCB told the International Cricket Council that it intends to host a Test series in April to revive international cricket in the country. International cricket teams have been reluctant to tour Pakistan since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore. Ashraf informed the ICC did not voice reservations over sending officials for the upcoming PakBangladesh cricket series possibly to be set in April, adding the world cricket body wants a boost to sports in Pakistan. The board chief said negotiations with other countries besides Bangladesh for Pakistan visit, are in progress. Earlier, the BCB had confirmed that its team will be touring Pakistan in April.“All those things that you must have seen, they are over now,” he said.

“That’s why we want to reorganise cricket and bring it back to Pakistan.” STAFF RepoRT

Ponting and Clarke pile misery on India ADELAIDE AFp

Australia's Ricky Ponting became only the third player in history to pass 13,000 Test runs on Tuesday as he and captain Michael Clarke put India to the sword in the final Test in Adelaide. The resurgent Ponting posted his 41st Test century -- his second in three innings -- while Clarke raised his 19th Test ton, which follows an unbeaten triple hundred in the second Test in Sydney.

The experienced pair shared in a ground record fourth wicket partnership as Australia, chasing a 4-0 series whitewash, plundered the Indian attack to finish on 335-3.

At the close on a sweltering opening day, Ponting was unbeaten on 137 off 254 balls and Clarke 140 off 188 balls. India, who lost their top Test ranking when they were crushed 4-0 in England last year, face their eighth consecutive away defeat if they fail to prevent another Australian victory this week. Ponting and Clarke batted through the last two sessions of the day to add 251 runs together, following their stand of 288 in Sydney. "I felt I played better today than I did in Sydney," Ponting said.

"It was probably a better wicket to bat on today, there wasn't much in it for any of the Indian bowlers. "It's been a really good day for us and we have to make sure we win the first hour tomorrow and make sure this first innings is a big one." To underline the gulf between the two sides, Australia's batsmen have posted six centuries in the series while India have still to register one.

Ponting, who went two years without a Test hundred before the Sydney knock, is

Ricky Ponting (R) steers a ball past replacement Indian wicketkeeper wriddihiman. AFp the third batsman to reach the 13,000-run career milestone after Sachin Tendulkar (15,432) and Rahul Dravid (13,262) -- both of whom were on the field when the former Australia skipper passed the mark.

India, looking to restore some pride after humiliating defeats in the first three Tests, enjoyed some early success with two wickets in the first 10 overs before Ponting and Clarke wore them down on a typically flat Adelaide batting strip. Adelaide is a happy hunting ground for Ponting, who has now scored six of his 41 Test hundreds in the City of Churches, including a knock of 242.

Clarke, who scored an unbeaten 329 in

the second Sydney Test earlier this month, gave two chances, on 50 and 133, both off Ishant Sharma. India removed David Warner (8) and Shaun Marsh (3) cheaply in the opening 10 overs and Ed Cowan (30) nearing lunch. Warner, who smashed a 69-ball century on the way to a swashbuckling 180 in the third Test win in Perth, only lasted 23 balls before he was trapped leg before wicket

by Zaheer Khan. He was followed by Marsh, who again fell cheaply, lasting only 12 balls before he was bowled by a straightened delivery from off-spinner Ravi Ashwin.

Marsh did nothing to dispel doubts over his Test career and has scored just 17 runs in

Michael Clarke plays a shot during the first day of the fourth Test. REUTERS five innings in the series batting at number three. Cowan looked to have done all the hard work in his 110 minutes at the crease before he was caught low down in the covers

by Laxman for Ashwin's second wicket 10 minutes before lunch. Stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag was proactive with his bowling changes in the morning session, wheeling in Ashwin in the fourth over of the innings and was rewarded with Marsh's wicket in the spinner's fourth over.

"I think it was really good batting by Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, they really took the game away from us in the second session," Ashwin said.

SCoReBoARD AUSTRALIA, 1st innings: e. Cowan c Laxman b Ashwin 30 D. Warner lbw b Khan 8 S. Marsh b Ashwin 3 R. ponting not out 137 M. Clarke not out 140 eXTRAS: (lb11, w6) 17 ToTAL: (3 wickets for, 90 overs) 335 Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Warner), 2-31 (Marsh), 3-84 (Cowan) BoWLING: Khan 18-2-52-1 (1w), Yadav 12-0-87-0 (5w), Ashwin 26-4-81-2, Sharma 20-5-52-0, Sehwag 13-0-49-0, Kohli 1-0-3-0 Toss: Australia Crowd; 21,480 Umpires: Aleem Dar (pAK), Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) Video umpire: Simon Fry (AUS) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

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BenAzir Bhutto Women’s CriCket ChAllenge troPhy

ZTBL stun favourites Punjab to clinch title

LAHoRe: The ZTBL team, winners of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Cricket Challenge Trophy, with PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf while (R) the players in action during the final of the tournament. nADEEM ijAz LAHORE

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STAFF RepoRT

TBL ladies grabbed a big 93 runs win over one of the favourites Punjab to lift the inaugural 1st Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Women’s Cricket Challenge Trophy here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

ZTBL skipper Nida Dai played a leading role in her team’s win by leading from the front. She was not only declared the player of the match but was also named

don't pull shirts off, Barmy Army told ABu DHABI AFp

The Barmy Army fans will not be allowed to pull off their tops while watching the second cricket Test between Pakistan and England starting here from Wednesday.

Once the Barmy Army takes the stands, they can enjoy the sun, but cannot take their tops off as the gentle warning already on the fences reads: "Our dress code is very simple, please keep your clothes on."

Around 500 Barmy Army fans are here to watch the three-Test series and the number can increase once the four one-day and three Twenty20 matches are played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Dilawar Mani, the chief executive of Emirates Cricket Board said Barmy Army has been asked to follow dress codes in Abu Dhabi.

"We have a strict dress code in Abu Dhabi so we are going to ask the Barmy Army, in a light-hearted way, that people keep shirts on," Mani told AFP, hoping the fans enjoy the best of hospitality on offer.

Most of the English fans have reserved places on the mounds on either sides of the ground to enjoy the sun, and Barmy Army Colts tour operator Mark Stears said the fans will follow the rules.

"The fans from England will follow and respect the rules," said Stears from St. Albans. "They will not be taking their tops off like they do elsewhere in the world because of the dress code."

But the situation was different when the fans were in Dubai for the first Test.

"We were allowed to take the tops off in Dubai, maybe they had different dress codes," said Andrew Martin. "But here we have to follow the dress code and the cold here will make it difficult to take the tops off."

The Gulf States of Dubai and Abu Dhabi had rare windy weather, with temperatures dropping as low as nine degree over the past two days.

Stears said fans have enjoyed the Gulf visit.

"It is rare that the Barmy Army travels to this part of the world which is not known for cricket," said Stears of the United Arab Emirates, to where the series was shifted over security fears in Pakistan.

the best player of the tournament and in all she earned a total purse of Rs 35,000 for her efforts as in the final - Rs 10,000 and her entire tournament’s performance got her Rs 25,000.

In the final, ZTBL opted to bat first and hammered 174 runs for the loss of four wickets and Nida with her 64 runs innings and Qainta Jalil with 50 runs were the main contributors. Nida took just 47 balls to reach her 64 which was laced with nine hits off the ropes while Qainta also hit the same number of boundaries.

Marium Hasan Shah (Federal Capital) was named the best batswoman, Sana Mir (ZTBL) best bowler, Arman Khan (Balochistan) best fielder Sidra Nawaz (Federal Capital) best wicketkeeper and Qanita Jalil (ZTBL) best all rounder and all of them were awarded Rs. 10,000 each.

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf was the chief guest of the prize distribution ceremony and presented the shields and trophies to the players and other performers of the tournament. Mres Bushra Aitzaz, chairperson PCB women wing and other

In their efforts, Punjab could reach just 81 runs and in the process lost just five wickets.

Ayesha Qazi with 52 was the highest scorer from Punjab. Faryal Awan remained not out at 18 and other than Ayesah and Faryal none of the other players played any suitable role. Sana Mir, Bishmah Maroof and Asmavia Iqbal dented the Punjab batting line-up with their to the line bowling that got ZTBL the trophy and Rs 100,000 win bonus.

Punjab however, received Rs 50,000 and the runners-up trophy.

pFF Talent Acceleration Referee’s Course concludes KHANEwAL STAFF RepoRT

The PFF Talent Acceleration Referee’s Course-2012 concluded on Tuesday here at Khanewal.

PFF Secretary General Lt. Col ® Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi TI (M) was the chief guest at the certificate distribution ceremony. PFF Director Competition and Youth Development Wing Cmdr ® Pervaiz Saeed Mir was also present on this occasion.

Speaking on the occasion the PFF secretary said: “This course will play a vital role as planned by PFF President’s Faisal Saleh Hayat’s to strengthen the refereeing cell of the federation. The five-day course under famous referee instructors will enable the 24 participants to take this challenge. Before advent of Faisal, there were seldom any courses but now the PFF arranges such courses at frequent intervals and it is first of the fifth in this regard,” said PFF secretary said.

The Punjab Football Association arranged PFF Talent Acceleration Referee’s Course from January 20-24 at Khanewal on behalf of the PFF, during which participants from various districts of Punjab and top Lahore-based organizational teams turned up. The course was conducted by Mr. Naveed Bashir Butt as Technical Instructor.

KHAnewAL PFF secretary Col (r) AHmed yar Lodhi and other PFF officials during the concluding ceremony of the Talent Acceleration Referee's Course-2012. pR Rauf Bari acted as Technical Fitness Instructor and Mian Abdul Bari, Course Coordinator.

Lodhi further said that to be successful as a referee one should always be open to new ideas. It’s now easier than ever to become a qualified football referee as compare to the 70s and 80s. By getting on the refereeing ladder, individuals have the opportunity to progress through the various PFF Refereeing qualifications while constantly enhancing their skills and knowledge Later Lodhi gave certificates to Muhammad Ahmed Rauf (Khanewal), Hunain Rasheed (Jahanian), Muhammad Najeeb Sarwar (Sargodha), Asad Ali (Faisalabad), Raja Zubair Shakir

(Rajanpur), Muhammad Yasir Iqbal (Sahiwal), Muhammad Adnan Maqbool (Khanewal), Muhammad Shoaib Khan (Mianwali), Muhammad Husban Ehsan (Mianwali), Arbab Ali Gohar (Nankana), Sajjad Ali (Toba Tek Singh), Naveed Arshad (Faisalabad), Muhammad Islam (Toba Tek Singh), Muhammad Faheem Latif (Khanewal), Muhammad Latif (Kasur), Bilal Fareed Sabana (Sahiwal), Waseem Shafique (Vehari), Muhammad Afzal (Lahore), Muhammad Asad Khan (Lahore), Nawazish Ali (Lahore), Muhammad Ahsan (Lahore), Bilawal Khan (Sialkot), Muhammad Shehraiz Tariq (Dera Ghazi Khan) and Muhammad Umer (Faisalabad).

board officials were also present on the occasion.

Scores: ZTBL – 174-4 in 20 overs: (nida dar 64, 47 balls, 9x4s, Qanita Jalil 50, 37 balls, 9x4s, Javeria wadood namra Imran 1-21, Sana Gulzar 1-34, Bakhtawar 1-39) v – Punjab – 81-5 in 20 overs: (Ayesha Qazi 25, 33 balls, 3x4s, Faryal Awan 18*, 36 balls, 2x4s, Sana Mir 212, Bismah Maroof 1-9, Asmavia Iqbal 1-7) Result: ZTBL won by 93 runs Toss: ZTBL Umpires: Kausar Shah & Shakeela Rafiq Tv Umpires: Tahir Shah Match Referee: Muhammad Anees official Scorer: Muhammad Arif Sr

national women netball C’ship from Feb 9 LAHORE: The Punjab Netball Association (PNA) is going to organise 10th National Women Netball Championship here at the Lahore University of Management and Sciences (LUMS) from February 6 to 9.

PNA secretary Chaudhry Rizwan said this on Tuesday adding that the 10th national championship was awarded to Lahore and in the last executive board meeting, it was decided to hold it in the LUMS. The teams which participating in the event were Army, Wapda, Police, Pak Rangers, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, FATA, Islamabad, Higher Education Commission, LUMS and Lahore Grammar School, he added. “The netball game is improving day by day across the province with the all-out efforts and keen interest of Punjab Netball Association president Syed Shaharyar Ali,” PNA secretary Ch Rizwan concluded. STAFF RepoRT

Pentangular Cup moved to Lahore LAHORE STAFF RepoRT

The Faysal Bank Pentangular Cup First Class Tournament match scheduled to be played from January 25 to 28 at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad has been shifted to Gaddafi Stadium due to unplayable conditions at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad. The match will now be played from 26th to 29th January 2012.

pakistan’s urban Badland, football offers hope KARACHI ReUTeRS

In the heart of one of Pakistan's most dangerous neighbourhoods in the teeming city of Karachi, football pitches are keeping vulnerable teenagers from joining abundant gangs, kidnappers and extortion rackets.

Dozens of hard-scrabble football clubs give youngsters with few chances for education or work the opportunity to get off the streets and even dream of getting a nod to join a national team or a semi-professional club.

"There is so much talent in Lyari. It can be a great way of keeping these kids away from drugs and street crime especially if they are well paid and rewarded," said Ya-

coob Baloch, a soccer coach at one of the clubs. Pakistan, a strategic U.S. ally, spends less than 2 percent of its gross domestic product on education which translates into a lack of skills needed to find work for much of the young population of the country of nearly 180 million.

Pakistan's police and security forces also lack funds, making it easy for criminals to thrive in Lyari, a densely populated area in Karachi with dilapidated buildings, potholed streets and raw sewage.

More than 1,600 people were killed in Karachi last year in either political and sectarian violence or by drug dealers, mafia hitmen and extortionists, marking the worst bloodshed since the army was called in to ease street battles in the 1990s.

But football has proven to be a way out of the chaos for some. "Because of my focus on football, my mind has never wandered off to other things like drugs or violence," said Muneer Aftab, 15, who led Pakistan to victory in the under-16 South Asian Football Federation Championships in 2011, defeating arch-rival India. "Playing football runs in my blood. I just want to play forever." But for people like Aftab, there is only limited time to practice and usually only after being worn down by the daily grind in the sprawling city of 18 million on the Arabian Sea. He wakes up at the crack of dawn to play soccer, goes to school during the day and helps his father who drives a rickshaw along Karachi's chaotic streets, and goes back to the soccer pitch at night.

"I know I am chasing my dream. But it's not easy," said Aftab, well-built, darkskinned and shy.

LYARI IS A LITTLE BRAZIL: Football has become a big hit in Lyari, no small feat because cricket is by far the most popular sport in Pakistan. There are 98 registered soccer clubs, 11 football grounds and two stadiums in Lyari, home to over 600,000 people. If a player gets recognised in Lyari, not only the national team comes into sight, but also the chance to play for teams sponsored by corporations and banks that pay players a monthly salary.

The National Bank of Pakistan, for instance, gives Aftab 10,000 rupees (71.32 pounds) a month to play in the semi-professional league.

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wednesday, 25 January, 2012

Lendl laughs and novak's Ristic idyll MELBOuRNE AFp

A selection of brief stories from the Australian Open on Tuesday: Roger's snooze-flash Roger Federer said he rarely lost sleep over an opponent, and was more likely to be kept up by his two-year-old twin girls. "A little bit. Sometimes. Rarely. It's more the girls than the opponent," he said. "It does occasionally happen, yes." And Federer said he was inspired by seeing Australian great Roy Emerson courtside for his quarter-final victory over Juan Martin del Potro. "I saw Roy Emerson also today sitting there all of a sudden. I said, 'Oh, that's nice to see you.' But I didn't say that and I didn't acknowledge him, because I'm pretending to be focused, right?" he said. "I was very happy to see him. It's nice to see greats and legends come out and watch my generation play on the big courts."

Ivan off-colour joke Ivan Lendl's doing more than helping Andy Murray's game -he's also making him laugh. Murray said the Czech great often kept him amused with his off-colour jokes. But when asked to give an example, he demurred. "None of them are clean enough for TV. None of them," Murray said. Lendl also showed his quirky side when he covered a TV lens with a towel during Murray's last match.

And the Scot demonstrated his dry sense of humour when he joked about Britain's long-running quest for a men's grand slam win. "I don't know if you're away but in the UK we haven't won a grand slam for like 100 years. I haven't heard many people talking about it in the last five or six years," Murray said. Ristic idyll: Novak Djokovic has declared himself off-limits to women after getting serious with girlfriend Jelena Ristic. "There is a lot of temptations, especially when you're at the top.

Obviously you get more attention and more temptations to do some things that can affect your performance in a negative way," Djokovic said, before being asked if he was talking about girls.

dUBAI: The england team train before the second cricket Test match against Pakistan. REUTERS

Akram slams British press for questioning Ajmal's action LAHORE STAFF RepoRT

P

AKISTAN’S pace-bowling legend Wasim Akram is exasperated with the way British press has been harping about the bowling action of Pakistan's off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and termed as "stale" the pressure tactics of the home media. Ajmal took a 10-wicket haul in the Pakistan's impressive 10-wicket win over world number one Test team England in the Dubai Test.

"Instead of praising him (Saeed Ajmal) for he is someone special, instead of admitting their team didn't do well and Pakistan played better cricket, they are after him," said Akram, who was commentating on the final Test between India and Australia.

"It's not funny anymore, it's boring, stale and old." Former England players raised a question-mark about Ajmal's bowling action after the stunning defeat and the British media hasn't stopped carp-

ing on it since then.

"Whenever they lose, they talk negative. It's the English batsmen who played bad shots, sweeping across the line to offspinner. It's no rocket science that you can't play across the line. But probably they don't know. It's the job of umpires and ICC--not British media. "The permissible limit is 15 degrees and he's been tested and tried for bowling well below it. He's been around for 7-8 years. Why suddenly pick on him?" said an agitated Akram.

"I have been reading for the last 3-4 days in British media. We all know what goes through media usually goes through players. Ajmal doesn't turn the ball. He's just quicker. On a placid track, where there was no swing, no spin, no reverse swing, just lust green outfield, he got them playing across the line." Akram sees a trend through all this noise. He believes England has a habit of picking holes through opposition whenever their team doesn't do well.

"The noise now is because it has happened against the mighty England, the number one Test team of the world. On the

tour of 1992, we got them out in every game. Then they accused us of ball-tampering. Then I got a seven in the very next game. We then played county cricket and taught every bowler for 10 years how to reverse swing the ball.

"Instead of saying their team didn't do well and Pakistan played better cricket, they are targeting a special talent. Why it always happens against a sub-continent team."

Akram doesn't feel it would affect Pakistan in the remaining two Tests and might just backfire on the England team.

"I don't think it would affect them. Indeed, it would create a positive impact on them. It would motivate them. Instead of being on the back-foot, it would help their cause."

Pakistan has shown an upward graph in recent times and has done particularly well under the leadership of Misbah-ulHaq, winning seven of their last 13 Tests.

"Misbah is doing a great job as a skipper. Pakistan's confidence is sky high. It's a good sign," Akram said.

Willis no one to judge Ajmal, says Saqlain LAHORE STAFF RepoRT

Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, backing his compatriot Saeed Ajmal's bowling action, has said it is for the International Cricket Council (ICC) and not former England skipper Bob Willis to decide whether doosra was legal or not.

Willis doubted Ajmal's bowling action, especially when he bowls the doosra after Pakistan won the first Test against England in Dubai by 10 wickets last Thursday. Ajmal picked up seven for 55 in the first innings and finished with a match haul of 10 for 92.

Saqlain, who introduced the doosra to world

cricket, said Willis is not an authority to judge the legality of Ajmal's doosra. "There are absolutely no problems with Saeed Ajmal's bowling action. Bob Willis is not the cricketing authority - it's the ICC, the umpires and referees who are there to deem whether a bowling action is legal or illegal," said Saqlain. Saqlain said Ajmal had played county cricket last season at Worcestershire and was never called by the umpires for chucking. "Ajmal has been playing international cricket long enough now for his bowling action to have been thoroughly scrutinised around the world, by all umpire and referees. In addition he played county cricket last season, there was no mention of

his bowling action then. I would urge Ajmal not to worry about anything and instead concentrate on bowling well in the remainder of the series," Saqlain was quoted as saying by PakPassion.net. Saqlain said the doosra is an art. "The doosra is an art, there is nothing untoward or illegal about the delivery. Instead there are a few technical things you have to look at when bowling the doosra.

Flexibility is the key. You have to have flexible hands, you have to have a flexible wrist and fingers too. In addition you have to know which other body parts assist in the bowling of the doosra, for example your calf, your shoulder, your triceps and your back muscles are all key to bowling the doosra.

england seek solution to Ajmal puzzle DuBAI ReUTeRS

England have been working overtime to solve the Saeed Ajmal riddle for the second test after being baffled by the Pakistan spinner in the opening match in Dubai.

The 34-year-old Ajmal, whose action has come under scrutiny, took seven wickets as England were skittled for 192 in their first innings last week and bagged 10 in the game as Pakistan went 1-0 up in the threematch series with a 10-wicket win.

His "doosra" ball caused particular havoc in the England order and the coaching staff have left no stone unturned in the build-up to the second test, which begins at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday. Batting coach Graham Thorpe has used data from the Decision Review System (DRS) to work out lengths bowled by spinners while England physio Ben Langley has been replicating Ajmal's deliveries by throwing the ball down from 20 metres.

"He's very good at it," opener Alastair Cook told reporters.

"Ben can land it quite well."

Much has been made in the British press of Ajmal's action and whether or not his arm straightens more than the permitted 15 degrees, but England batsman Jonathan Trott attempted to take the mystery out of the equation on Tuesday.

"He doesn't actually turn the ball a huge amount," he said in the Times. "It's just subtle variations, doing just enough to either take the edge or get an lbw.

"We have come across world-class spinners before and have scored runs. Our stats against spin aren't as bad as everyone is talking about."

Pakistan wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal had some sympathy for the England batsmen, saying he also found it hard to read Ajmal.

"I had some problems on Ajmal's doosra," he said. "Every time I keep wicket I watch his hand. It's only after a lot of practise that I'm doing better."

While much of the talk has been about Ajmal, England coach Andy Flower will expect a much more resolute performance from his batsman when play begins on Wednesday at a stadium which is a green oasis in the dusty suburbs of Abu Dhabi.

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Nadal sets up dream Federer semi

watCh It LIve STAR SPORTS Australian Open Tennis 05:30AM

STAR SPORTS Australia vs india day 2 05:30AM

MELBOuRNE

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AFAEL Nadal Tuesday set up a mouth-watering Australian Open semi-final with longtime rival Roger Federer, who celebrated his 1,000th match in style by demolishing Juan Martin del Potro. Spanish second seed Nadal was forced to dig deep to beat Tomas Berdych, battling back from a set down in the evening match on Rod Laver Arena to subdue his Czech opponent 67 (5/7), 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 6-3 in 4hr 16min.

In sharp contrast, Swiss maestro Federer, chasing his fifth title in Melbourne, barely broke sweat as he dismantled his Argentine opponent 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in a rematch of the 2009 US Open final won by del Potro.

It means Federer and Nadal will clash in Melbourne again on Thursday, three years after the Spaniard, who leads their head-to-heads 17-9, reduced the Swiss to tears with a five-set win in 2009's epic Australian Open final.

Federer, the third seed, brought up his 1,000th tour-level match with his win, which he described as a "big milestone". "It's nice to win this one. I mean, eventually I will forget which was one was my 1,000th match and someone will remind me again," said Federer, 30.

"I do not remember my 500, and that was the US Open final against Agassi (2005). No bigger matches than those ones." Federer started his match against del Potro in ominous fashion, unveiling his full repertoire of strokes and breaking del Potro at his first opportunity. The tall del Potro, seeded 11th, settled and forced a break of his

nana knows best for hard-working Azarenka

Tiger woods tees off on cricket

AFp

own in the seventh game, but a doublefault cost him the opener. An exquisite backhand down the line gave Federer another break and a 3-1 lead in the second set, and he moved two sets clear after a tough ninth game in which he was forced to save four break points. But that game proved a key missed opportunity for del Potro as he was again broken early in the third set, and an untroubled Federer broke again on his way to taking it 6-2. Federer said he was aware of the dangers posed by the 6ft 6ins (198 cm) del Potro, who has climbed quickly up the rankings after an injury-raved 2010, but that he was "able to manoeuvre him" around the court.

In his evening clash, a repeat of the 2010 Wimbledon final won by Nadal, the Spanish second seed struggled to impose himself early against Berdych, losing the first set, but dug deep to win.

"I tried my best in every moment," said Nadal. "He played very well during

Clijsters topples Wozniacki from top spot MELBOuRNE AFp

MELBOuRNE AFp

Victoria Azarenka Tuesday said a traditional Belarusian work ethic taught by her grandmother had helped put her among tennis's elite, despite her millionaire's lifestyle in plush Monte Carlo.

The world number three, who advanced to her second grand slam semi-final with victory over Agnieszka Radwanska, said homely values from the former Soviet state had kept her grounded during her dizzying rise. Azarenka lives next door to top seed Caroline Wozniacki in Monte Carlo, home to the rich and famous, and she sees men's world number one Novak Djokovic when he is out walking his dog. But the Minsk-born 22-year-old said she had taken inspiration from her grandmother, a former kindergarten teacher who worked into her 70s. "My grandmother is an incredible person. She worked all her life until she was 71, I think," Azarenka said. "We had to make her sign a paper that she's going to give up her job. We actually had to do that, because she would get up at 5:00 in the morning and still go to work." She added: "It's just amazing to see how much people work, and we are here playing tennis and sometimes complaining about little things. It's a little bit silly. It's really interesting to see a different kind of life."

Azarenka said she had had "many" dinner parties with Wozniacki in Monte Carlo and she has also spent time in the United States. But she still regarded Belarus as home, and was inspired by its industrious ways.

"Belarusian people have a mentality of really hardworking people. You can see outside the capitals, big cities, how neat and clean the areas are. So I think that speaks a lot," she said.

almost the whole match."

He described the 2009 final against Federer as "unforgettable" after he survived the longest match in Australian Open history in the semi-finals, against Fernando Verdasco, and then went the distance again versus the Swiss.

"Seriously, that final is one of the memories that will always be in my mind," he said. Czech seventh seed Berdych drew first blood when he won the first-set tiebreak, but Nadal levelled after the second set also went to a breaker. That proved to be the turning point with Nadal seizing the initiative as Berdych faded. He took the third set 64 and broke in the first game of the fourth set with a searing forehand winner down the line. Berdych, whose previous match ended in boos when he refused to shake Nicolas Almagro's hand, accusing him of aiming the ball at his face, could find no way back as Nadal sealed the win.

Defending champion Kim Clijsters ousted top seed Caroline Wozniacki and ended her controversial reign as world number one with a straightsets win in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Clijsters held off a determined fightback from the 21-year-old Dane to win 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) in 1hr 45min and set up a semi-final against third seed Victoria Azarenka, who beat Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska.

By failing to progress, Wozniacki is guaranteed to lose her number one ranking to Azarenka, Petra Kvitova or Maria Sharapova when the new standings are released next Monday.

Clijsters, a four-time grand slam champion and mother-of-one, played much better than in her fourth round win over China's Li Na and showed no ill-effects from the ankle injury she suffered in that match.

She broke Wozniacki four times in the first set as she dominated her

younger rival on both her forehand and backhand sides and although Wozniacki broke twice herself, she was always playing catch-up.

The second set followed a similar pattern, but Clijsters faltered while serving for the match at 5-3.

The tiebreak went with serve

until 4-4, when Clijsters stepped up to win the next three points and seal victory with a simple put-away into the open court.

Clijsters, who said she had faced an intense regime of icing on her left ankle after the match against Li, said it had been a tough contest.

"It didn't feel like being up a set and 5-2," the Belgian said. "I really had to work at it. Caroline changed her tactics (in the second set) and became a bit more aggressive."

Wozniacki has occupied the rankings top spot since October 11, 2010, apart from one week last February, but she has faced constant questions over her right to be considered the best player because she has never won a major title. But the defiant Dane, who lost her only grand slam final to Clijsters at the 2009 US Open, backed herself to bounce back by the end of the year. "You know, to be honest, I don't really think about it," Wozniacki said. "I have been there for a long time already. I finished number one two years in a row.

ABu DHABI AFp

Former world number one Tiger Woods on Tuesday admitted his increasing interest in cricket which coincides with the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship here, saying it's similar to baseball which he loves.

The 36-year-old is here to feature in the January 26-29 Abu Dhabi Golf championship, which goes side by side to the second Test between Pakistan and England at Abu Dhabi Stadium from Wednesday.

"Baseball is huge in Japan and the US, but outside of that cricket is huge. So as I have travelled and I have played all around the world, I have started to watch more and more," said Woods in his pretournament press conference.

Woods, who has modelled in an advertisement with Indian batting master Rahul Dravid, said meeting such people has also helped him understand the game.

"I have met some of the guys, that certainly helps, provides more interest in it.

Because now you have personal interest in it, so that's what makes a little bit more exciting," said Woods in his pre-tournament press conference.

Woods said he does follow cricket a little.

"I am a baseball guy. But have I followed cricket? I have, a little bit. From just what I saw in the news, its been -- I think it's been like a batsmen's paradise here," said Woods of the Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch, known for helping batsmen.

"That's all I know; what, three guys have gone for centuries or something like that, whatever it is. I don't know.

"But as far as watching cricket, I don't watch, absolutely. Especially, when I am travelling overseas. But my being from the USA, our passion is baseball, or football." Woods said in his childhood he played baseball -- similar in some ways to cricket.

"Yeah, you know, because I grow up playing baseball. I was a pitcher myself and my dad was the catcher. My dad played in the negro leagues, professional ball. That type of game certainly has been in my blood.�

Excellent opportunity for Aisam in mixed doubles g

Federer gets better with age FROM ALI AKBAR IN MELBOuRNE

Pakistan's challenge in the Open continues tomorrow as the Czech Pakistani duo of Aisam Qureshi and Andrea Hlavackova face off against the Italians Roberta Vinci and Daniel Braccali. The Italian duo had surprised the top seeded team of Mike Bryan and Peshe Kveta in the first round and followed it up with a straight sets win over the Japanese pairing of Kei Nishikori and Kimiko Date.

Aisam and partner have an excellent chance of getting into the semis where they could run into either his former partner Rohan Bopanna or Leander Paes, each of whom had an experienced partner. Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhu-

pathi are in the lower half of the draw.

This could be an ideal opportunity for Aisam to achieve the finals as the draw was opened with the early defeat of Bryan and Peschke. Roger Federer keeps getting better with age, it seems.

He simply rolled over Juan Marin Del Potro, the Argentinian who had beaten him at the US Open some years ago.

Federer, on the day, was simply flawless, giving no chance to Del Potro.

At the time of writing, Rafael Nadal and Thomas Berdych were locked in a titanic struggle to decide who faces Federer in the semis. In the top half, Novak Djokovic should be too good for the hard working Ferrer while Japan's Kei Nishikori will face Andy Murray.

Nishikori has been the surprise of the tournament. He almost went out in the first round but survived to knock out Tsonga in the quarters in five sets.

Nishikori might find Murray too tough to handle.

The tennis equivalent of the UDRS has been in frequent use and has performed flawlessly. Many observers have commented on the reluctance of the Indian cricketers to use the UDRS in the Test series, the Indians claiming that it was not accurate enough. Experts say that the system is very accurate and above all is consistent, something that all players want from an umpiring point of view. Now that the technology is available, it should be made mandatory

rather than through mutual agreement.

The Rod Laver Arena has a multitude of television cameras on court, but the most interesting one is the floating camera which is tethered by four wires and floats around or zooms up and down to provide images from every conceivable angle. During the breaks it can even be seen chatting up some spectators on the sidelines.

A newer wireless version, that has eight battery powered propellers, is in the works and will be tested in events later this year. It will hover by remote control over the playing area. Hopefully both these cameras are failsafe and will not act up in front a of a world wide audience.

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ISLAMABAD

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MIAN ABRAR

HE Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) discussed on Tuesday reported security threats to Mansoor Ijaz, the main character in the memo case, and decided to defer the matter, directing the attorney general to appear before the committee on Thursday and brief it on security arrangements for the Pakistani-American businessman.

The committee had sent a notice to Ijaz to appear before it on Thursday to record his statement and provide evidence to substantiate his claims in the memo case, but he refused to visit Pakistan because of ‘security threats’. Briefing reporters on the proceedings of the committee, its chairman Senator Raza Rabbani said Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General (DG) Lt General Ahmad Shuja Pasha and former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani had

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PCNS discusses security threats to Ijaz submitted their respective statements to the committee but no verbal or written response had been received from Ijaz. A source told Pakistan Today that the statements of Lt Gen Pasha and Haqqani had been submitted to Rabbani and not to the secretary of the committee, Iftikharullah Babar. “Pasha and Haqqani repeated their statements which they had already submitted before the memo commission. No new information has been shared,” the source said.

The source said further that the committee also discussed how to deal with the issue of threats to the life and evidence of Mansoor Ijaz, and it was decided that the committee would first see the security plan chalked out by the government for Ijaz and then it would decide how to proceed. Rab-

bani told reporters that the attorney general had to appear in front of the committee on Tuesday and present records of communications between the government of Pakistan and Research In Motion (RIM) Ltd, the Canada-based manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones, for provision of communication data between Haqqani and Ijaz. “The attorney general called me and informed that he was busy with the memo commission. He also told me that he would provide the record this evening,” said Rabbani. He added that he had no formal information either from Ijaz or from his counsel, but keeping in view the media reports in which Ijaz had expressed concerns about his security, the committee decided to find out the details of the security provision to

the US national. “We will have a detailed briefing about security arrangements for Ijaz. Only after that will we take any decision on future strategy about him,” he added. Asked whether the committee would take any measures against Ijaz, who had refused to appear, Rabbani said the committee would consider taking formal action only if he failed to appear. Asked to comment on media criticism regarding the jurisdiction of the committee as parliament had not referred the memo probe to it, and it was the decision of the prime minister, Rabbani said he had not heard media critique against the committee. However, he added that the committee members were of the view that the PCNS had jurisdiction to take up the memo case. When asked

whether the committee discussed Ijaz’s point of view on the committee notice, Rabbani said the committee was holding its proceedings as a quasi-judicial forum and it did not go into the details of what was happening outside the committee. Asked why the committee did not seek a response from Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in the memo case, Rabbani said it was the prerogative of the committee to issue initial notices and all necessary respondents were asked to file replies.

When asked whether President Asif Ali Zardari had summoned him and asked him to support Haqqani in the memo case, Rabbani replied: “No such discussion took place with the president regarding the memo case or about Husain Haqqani.”.

FrAud under the Pm’s nose

sC orders action against gilani’s principal secy Lashari accused of helping man who swindled two companies out of Rs 630 million

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ISLAMABAD MASooD ReHMAN

LANDI KoTAL: Residents stand amidst the rubble of a school which was hit by explosives on Tuesday. A homemade bomb exploded at a primary school, killing a policeman and injuring two others. REUTERS

sC seeks eCP report over right of vote to expatriates ISLAMABAD STAFF RepoRT

The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday to review modalities on whether overseas Pakistanis could exercise their right of vote in general elections, analyse the matter in light of the experience of other countries and submit a report to it

by February 6.

A four-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing a petition, filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, seeking to ensure the right of vote to overseas Pakistanis in the election. Appearing on notice, ECP Joint Secretary (Elections) Syed Sher Afgan told the court that problems were being faced while giving the right of vote to

overseas Pakistanis as it was a very costly exercise. He said registering a voter within the country cost about $2, while registration of one overseas Pakistani would cost about $30. He said the facility of postal ballots was confined to the country and even in the most democratic developed countries, the right to cast vote was limited. The chief justice told the ECP and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) officials that under Article 219, the ECP was bound to prepare electoral lists yearly while under Article 218(3), elections had be to held freely, fairly and justly in accordance with the law. He also told them that in providing such facilities to expatriates, they had to consider the prospect of malpractice.

Chaudhry said the idea of providing an opportunity to overseas Pakistanis to exercise their right of vote was good,

however the ECP would have to ensure that the election process was not affected because of it. He said wrong practices must be avoided and the matter should be handled in the most transparent manner. The commission’s joint secretary stated that currently, the right of postal ballots was only given to public servants who, during election time, performed their duties outside their constituencies.

He said the issue of the right of vote to overseas Pakistanis was alive for the last 30 years and it was even taken up in the cabinet meeting during Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif’s government, but it was dropped later on. He said the ECP would have to bear extra expenditures if such an exercise was conducted abroad.

The Supreme Court directed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director General Chaudhry Sajjad Ahmad on Tuesday to record the statement of the petitioner if he had evidence, and in the light of the statement take action against Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, who aborted the arrest of Khurram Rasool, former media adviser to the premier and an accused in a Rs 630 million fraud case, by making phone calls to former FIA directors general Malik Iqbal and Waseem Ahmad and telling them not to arrest him.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Pervaiz Hussain and others against Khurram Rasool, who allegedly embezzled over Rs 630 million from a Karachibased business on the pretext of managing a petroleum export licence for it to NATO troops in Afghanistan and awarding a contract of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The court also told the FIA to take action against Malik Iqbal

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LHC bars federal government from appointing LESCO, FESCO CEOs LAHORE: Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday barred the federal government and the Water and Power secretary from appointing new chief executive officers (CEOs) in Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) until further orders. But the court permitted the government to continue the selection process for the CEOs and also issued notices to the respondents and sought a report from them by February 14, the next date of hearing. The petition was filed

by Engineer Ghazanfar Ali Khan and five others challenging the recruitment of new CEOs from the open market, instead of filling the posts by promoting senior officials working in the companies. STAFF REpORT Published by Arif Nizami for Nawa Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.

and Waseem Ahmad after recording the evidence of the petitioner if he had evidence of his claims. The court directed Chaudhry Sajjad Ahmad to submit a report on the recording of the statement by Wednesday (today).

The court expressed severe dismay over the absence of FIA Director General Tehsin Anwar Shah despite the court’s notice. FIA Director (Legal) Azam Khan told the court that Shah was participating in an important meeting in London. The court, however, directed Azam Khan to produce details of the meeting on the next hearing. Rasheed A Rizvi, counsel for the petitioner, told the court that Lashari had ordered the Iqbal and Ahmad not to arrest Rasool, despite the fact that a fraud case had been registered against him. “Then action should be taken against the high officials,” the chief justice said.

Rizvi said his client had submitted affidavits against Lashari, Iqbal and Ahmad but the FIA’s incumbent chief was reluctant to arrest them. He said a dishonored cheque from Rasool was also on record. Rizvi stated that Rasool had received the sum of Rs 630 million on the pretext of managing LPG quota and Continued on page 04