KHI 27-02-2012_Layout 1 2/27/2012 3:35 AM Page 1
PTI reveals energy policy with promise to overcome shortfall
No more privatisation say trade unionists
PAGE 02
PAGE 10
Drone makers cash in as generals seek less casualties PAGE 06
Rs15.00 Vol II No 241 22 Pages Karachi Edition
Monday, 27 February, 2012 Rabi-ul-Sani 4, 1433
Dengue begins to buzz g
Over 80 suspected dengue cases reported across Punjab, 59 in Lahore alone LAHoRe
A
ABBOTTABAD: Young boys play cricket as bulldozers raze the compound used by al qaeda’s slain chief Osama bin Laden on sunday. afP
sTAff repOrT
S many as 82 cases of unconfirmed dengue, 59 in Lahore alone, were reported from various hospitals of Punjab on Sunday. Per details suspected dengue patients visited outdoor patients departments (OPDs) of various hospitals on Sunday. Around 41 patients were admitted to Mayo Hospital Lahore, 13 to Ganga Ram Hospital, three to Services Hospital, one to Jinnah Hospital and one to Lahore General Hospital (LGH). At least five other cases were reported in Sheikhupura, three in Gujranwala, two in Sialkot, while several other districts reported a case each. The blood samples of suspected patients have been sent to the advisory committee for verification. Dr Saeed Elahi, parliamentary secretary on health, said dengue could not be eliminated altogether, but all possible steps were being taken to reduce the chances of a major outbreak. He said about 21 experts from various countries were present in Lahore and coordinating with the Punjab government to cope with the epidemic. He said anti-dengue sprays would start within three to four days in the city to eliminate dengue mosquitoes. A spokesman for the Punjab Health Department the department had already issued instructions to all public sector hospitals to carry out NS-I test of dengue suspected cases for confirmation during an endemic situation, as advised by the Dengue Experts Advisory Group headed by Prof Faisal Masood. The spokesman added that the number of suspected patients being quoted by the was in fact the number of patients suspected of the disease over the last two months, adding that all cases did not erupt on Sunday. He said NS-I test of a dengue suspect admitted to Mayo Hospital had been conducted and the result had been negative. The health official added that guidelines prepared by the Dengue Experts Advisory Group for diagnosing and treating dengue patients during endemic season had already been issued to the administration of all public sector hospitals across Punjab. According to unofficial data, a total of around 470 people died of dengue in 2010 and 2011. Last year, at least 22,000 people were diagnosed with the deadly disease, while around 17,000 people contracted the illness the previous year.
Controversial Kasur by-poll victory goes to Rasheed KASUR Agencies/WAqAs AshrAf
Independent candidate Malik Rasheed Khan was declared successful by 89 votes in NA-140 Kasur constituency, Geo News reported late on Sunday night. After recount Malik Rasheed Khan was declared to have obtained 47, 295 while Azimuddin Lakhvi obtained 47,206 votes. Earlier in the day, the District Returning Officer Tahir Mansoor Khan had announced the cancellation of the results. Khan said he had cancelled the results for the constituency, adding that a recount would be held soon. Two independent candidates Azimuddin Lakhvi and Malik Rasheed Khan had contested the polls for the constituency, but Lakhvi’s supporters have been protesting and staging sit-ins due to a change in the results late at night. Lakhvi was reported to have won the contest with 47,477 votes by defeating independent rival Malik Rasheed Ahmed who got 47,213 votes, but a controversy arose later when the result was shelved. The Election Commission of Pakistan had offered to hold a recount on Sunday in the presence of both parties to settle the matter. “No candidate has been declared successful as all earlier unofficial results have been suspended for the process of recounting,” Mansoor told reporters.
US-Taliban Qatar talks hit stalemate g
Dialogue hits bottleneck as US still has not released five Taliban leaders from Guantanamo iSLAMABAD shAiq hussAin
The peace dialogue between the US and Taliban in Qatar has been stalled by the US’ failure to transfer five Taliban detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison to Qatar and the Obama administration is engaged in intense efforts to revive the initial talks before their altogether collapse. The Taliban have been demanding the release and transfer of five of its main leaders detained by the US at Guantanamo Bay, which include Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa, Mullah Mohammad Fazl, Mullah Norullah Nori, Mohammad Nabi Omari and Abdul Haq Wasiq. Taliban representatives Tayyab Agha, Shahabuddin and Sohail Shaheen – all close confidants of Taliban supreme commander Mullah Omar and who are now open to talks with the US in Qatar – have been demand-
ing the release of Taliban prisoners, and sources close to Taliban cadres claim that per Taliban understanding with the Obama administration, the five detainees should have been transferred to Qatar a month ago. “However, the talks between the US and Taliban, which were in very initial stages and focused only on the prisoner issue, have been left stalled as a result of the delay on part of US authorities to set free the five Taliban detainees,” the source said, seeking anonymity. “The US is making hectic efforts to revive the talks,” he said. The source said the Taliban would have to release from their detention a US soldier that they had been holding in Afghanistan in exchange for winning freedom for their top five leaders. “The release of Taliban leaders is very important as it will show how serious the US is for talks with the Taliban on more important issues, such as the future Afghan government and the withdrawal of foreign
troops from Afghanistan,” he said. A diplomatic source also confirmed the hindrances in talks, but said the Taliban were happy that at least they had been able to set up an office in Qatar and had taken it as the start of their formal international recognition as one of the major forces in Afghanistan. “The reports that we receive indicate that the Taliban, with their morale boosted by an office in Qatar for peace talks with the US, are now eyeing Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the next venues for their offices,” he said. He added that the Taliban had established contacts with two important Arab countries to have their offices opened on their soil and everything now depended on the success of those talks. “Also, it is to be seen how the US reacts to the opening of more Taliban offices. Whether it supports or tries to block any such move will be an important factor,” he said.
Pasha to head Strategic Plans Division? MonitoRing DeSK Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha is likely to head the body that controls the country’s nuclear arsenal after the end of his present assignment next month, according to report carried by Times of India on Sunday. Pasha is set to step down as the ISI chief on March 18 as the government has decided against offering him another extension. The ISI chief reached the age of retirement in 2010 and was twice given extensions. He is likely to be made the head of the Strategic Plans Division, which controls the nuclear arsenal, the report said. Pasha has served as the director general of the ISI for three-and-a-half years. If Pasha is made the head of the Strategic Plans Division, he will replace Lt Gen (r) Khalid Kidwai, who has led the organisation for over a decade. Sources claimed that Pasha’s possible appointment as head of the Strategic Plans Division would “help the future of Pak-US nuclear and strategic engagement”, the report added.
Following Pasha’s alleged role in the scandal over a mysterious memo that had sought US help to prevent a possible military coup in Pakistan, it was reported he would not be given another extension. The government is keeping mum on the issue of Pasha’s future for now. Prime Minister
Yousaf Raza Gilani will take a final decision after a one-on-one meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, the report added. It added that a source close to Pasha had disclosed that the spy agency chief did not want another extension, particularly after the memo issue which had distanced him from the prime minister. Recent reports have said that Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam and Lahore Corps Commander Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood were among the top contenders for the post of ISI chief. Others who are in contention for the slot include Director General Joint Staff Lt Gen Muhammad Asif, Adjutant General Lt Gen Javed Iqbal. Some reports have suggested that Maj Gen Isfandyar Ali Khan Pataudi, a relative of late Indian cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, and Director General of Military Intelligence, Maj Gen Naushad Kayani, too were in the race. However, commentators have noted that Pataudi and Kayani were not due for a promotion and the elevation of either of them to the post of ISI chief would mean that several generals would be superseded.