LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:32 AM Page 1
Myanmar opposition claims landmark Suu Kyi win
Stallions down Dolphins to claim 7th T20 title
PAGE | 17
Pakistan’s canine fighters forced into blood sport
PAGE | 19
PAGE |05
Rs15.00 Vol ii no 275 22 pages Lahore edition
Monday, 2 april, 2012 Jamadi-ul-awal 9, 1433
Let’s take Sino-Pak trade to $15b: PM Gilani meets prime ministers of Italy, Kazakhstan on the sidelines of Boao summit g Vows to boost relations with Iran in energy and trade g
BOAO
P
Agencies
RIME Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that Pakistan and China had the potential to further enhance their trade ties and called for joint efforts to increase bilateral trade to $15 billion in the next three to four years. He was talking to China’s Executive Vice Premier Li Keqiang, as the two leaders met here on the sidelines of Boao Forum for Asia at the State Guest House, said a statement issued by the PM’s office in Islamabad. Gilani said Pakistan-China friendship was based on mutual trust and respect, and remained a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. He said Pakistan was committed to fighting terrorism in all its forms, adding that strategic and defence cooperation was an important component of Sino-Pak partnership. The prime minister said that Pakistan greatly values China’s economic support and assistance, and wishes to promote closer collaboration in agriculture, irrigation, energy, infrastructure development, railways and security sectors. He expressed satisfaction over the establishment of Pak-China Joint Energy Working Group, which was an encouraging landmark in the economic relations of the two countries. He said that Pakistan looked forward to Chi-
Country boils in anger over massive fuel priCe hike KARACHI/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR Agencies
The masses on Sunday strongly protested against the latest hike in petroleum and CNG prices, which also triggered an increase in transport prices in various cities. Traders and industrialists in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other parts of the country gave a 72-hours ultimatum to the government to withdraw the galloping increase otherwise they would start protests. The Karachi Traders Alliance said that if the government did not withdraw the decision, they would start a civil disobedience movement after 72 hours. Similar threats were given by LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh and the ICCI president saying that they would close industries after 72 hours if the increase was not rescinded. All Pakistan Transporters Association also warned to increase transport fares after 24 hours. In many cities transporters are already charging commuters exorbitantly and there
g
Citizens, transporters, traders and politicians threaten agitation, civil disobedience if prices not reversed
were scuffles between transporters and commuters. Punjab Urban Transport Owner’s Association Secretary General Arshad Khan Niazi warned of an increase in transport fares. He said that transport fare on inter-city routes will be increased by 5 percent while a 10 percent increase will be imposed during days of CNG stations closure. In Lahore, the Inter-City Transport Ittehad announced raising fares of local transportation by 10 percent. In Peshawar, local transporters also raised their fares without any notification, which added to the miseries of the people. Continued on page 04
PML-N to boycott PCNS meeting nese cooperation in the full gamut of energy, including hydro, coal, thermal, alternative and civil nuclear energy. He mentioned the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Government of Pakistan and China’s EXIM Bank in 2009 for $700 million credit line for the construction of small and medium dams in Pakistan. He stressed for the early materialisation of this arrangement to alleviate poverty and help Pakistani farmers. Gilani called for establishing an umbrella corporation under the energy cooperation mechanism known as “Pak-China Power Cooperation”, which would in-
clude specialists and entities from all fields - conventional and alternative. He said that with joint efforts, PakChina bilateral trade increased by 22 percent last year to $ 10.6 billion. He said his government derived satisfaction as the Pakistani exports to China had doubled from $1 billion in 2008 to $2.1 billion in 2011. The prime minister welcomed the support of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China for infrastructure projects as well as Chinese investment in banking sector. Continued on page 04
ISLAMABAD Agencies
The PML-N on Sunday decided to boycott the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) to express solidarity with public displeasure over the government’s sudden decision to increase fuel prices. In a statement, Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali announced holding of a protest in Rawalpindi on Wednesday against the anti-public attitude of the government. He said that for further strategy, the PML-N leadership would be consulted and other political parties would also be invited in countrywide protests. Expressing his utmost disgust with the PPP-led
government’s policies, he said that the “Zardari set up” felt satisfaction in troubling the masses. “If the nation accepts this unjustified decision of price hike silently, it will be inferred that they deserve rulers such as Zardari. Attaching much expectation with the present rulers is futile,” he added. “The current price hike in petroleum prices is an indication of anti-public policies of the government but it also speaks volume about inability and incompetence of the rulers,” he said. Nisar said that the country’s prime minister had been on visits abroad while leaving the nation to bear the burden of load shedding, price hike and other problems. Continued on page 04
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:33 AM Page 2
02 News Today’s
Monday, 2 April, 2012
LAHore
NewS
More protests!
PM is habitual criminal, not shy of jails: sheikh rashid
Story on Page 07
Story on Page 05
CArtooN
Quick Look
PPP govt not serious to resolve issues of Balochistan: Nawaz lAHoRe: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President, Nawaz Sharif, said on Sunday the PPP government was not serious to resolve problems of the people of Balochistan. Talking to PML-N Balochistan leader Abdul Sattar Mandokhel, who called on him in Raiwand, Nawaz said confidence of the Baloch people could not be restored until the missing persons were recovered and killers of Akbar Bugti arrested and put on trial. The PML-N president said it was time to give a healing touch to the wounds of people of Balochistan and vowed that his party would leave no stone unturned to raise its voice for the Baloch people’s rights at every forum. Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Senator Ishaq Dar, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Senator Mushahidullah Khan were also present in the meeting. inP
People being plundered to fill rulers’ pockets, says Imran lAHoRe: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday said that rulers were plundering the poor masses of the country in order to fill their pockets. While strongly opposing the recent surge in the petroleum prices, Imran asked the government to withdraw the hike which had further deteriorated the already worse situation of the poor masses. He said that PML-N was equally responsible for the recent surge in petroleum prices and criticised the same for being a friendly opposition. Meanwhile, the PTI activists took out a rally in Lahore against the hike in petroleum prices carrying banners and chanted slogans against the government. inP
Ameer Muqam unlikely to hold any key position in PML-N iSlAmABAd: The central leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was strongly opposed to give any key position to MNA Ameer Muqam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The central leadership of PML-N in its meeting on Sunday decided not to give any key position to Ameer Muqam, who recently joined the PML-N. It is expected that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif would not participate in the upcoming press conference of Ameer Muqam in Peshawar on April 6, where several other provincial leaders and KP Assembly members belonging to PML-Q would also formally announce to join the PML-N. Online
Meera’s engagement hits the rocks lAHoRe: The father of actress Meera’s fiancé on Sunday said that the engagement between the actress and his son has been broken. According to media reports, Raja Khalid demanded that Meera return the Rs 0.8 million engagement ring, which was given to her by his son Naveed. Khalid also raised doubts about Meera’s marital status. inP
Page 13
Gas supply pipeline blown up in Dera Bugti QuEttA shAhzAdA zulfiqAr
The main gas supply pipeline was blown up in Dera Bugti while a youth was injured in a landmine explosion in Kohlu on Sunday. According to Levies, unidentified people attached explosives with a 16-inch diametre gas pipeline in Pir Koh area of Dera Bugti. The device went off with a huge blast that destroyed a large portion of the pipeline and caused suspension of gas supply to purification plant from Well No 29, 21 and 15. No casualties were reported in the incident. Frontier Corps personnel rushed to the site soon after the blast and cordoned off the area but no arrests were made. Outlawed Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed responsibility for blowing up the pipeline. In anther incident, a youth was injured when stepped on a landmine that exploded with a big bang in Kohlu. He was rushed to nearby hospital for treatment. Two women killed: Two women were killed in separate incidents of violence in Jaffarabad and Dera Bugti on Sunday. In the first incident, Fazila was shot dead by an armed man in Usta Muhammad, who managed to flee. Police said that the motive behind the killing is a domestic dispute and a case has been registered against the accused. In the second incident, a man killed his relative woman in Pehlawagh area of Dera Bugti. Local administration arrested the accused and the motive behind the killing is said to be some enmity.
SIALKOT: Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed addresses at the Difa-e-Islam Conference at Jinnah Stadium on Sunday. ONLINE
Shahi demands operation to cleanse Karachi from weapons ISLAMABAD
A
inP
NP Sindh President Senator Shahi Syed on Sunday said that the ongoing search operation in Karachi was being conducted by the government to please the MQM and it would not bring normalcy to the city. Shahi said that the only solution to restore law and order in Karachi was to launch a military operation to cleanse the mega city from weapons, adding that the operation must be focused only against criminals and mafias and not aimed at pleasing any political party. He said that the operations should be against mafias and not against communities. The senator said that the ANP leadership had decided to challenge the population and
housing census and voters list in Karachi in court to expose wrongdoings of the MQM. He said that there was no Talibanisation in Karachi but admitted that some people were inclined to radical views. Shahi said that Karachi had no caves, mountains or borders to smuggle arms into the city, adding that communities were settled everywhere and no one can hide among them and that was why a maximum number of Taliban were arrested. The ANP Sindh president said that during the recent operation 30 to 40 houses of ANP activists were raided by law enforcement agencies personnel, who arrested some people but failed to recover any illegal arms from ANP workers. The senator said that the operation was one-sided but welcomed the government’s decision to launch it.
He said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Home Minister Manzoor Wassan were responsible for resolution of the situation in Karachi and they must keep reports of every moment. Shahi said they must have information that who was disturbing the peace of the city, adding that the government was not ready to annoy the MQM. The ANP Sindh president admitted that a foreign hand was behind incidents of violence but also pointed out that Pakistan had fostered Jihadi elements and they could also be involved in anti-state and anti-people activities in Karachi. He said that Indian spy agency RAW was also involved in acts of violence to destabilise Pakistan. Shahi described the Defence of Pakistan Council as part of Ziaul Haq’s team, adding that the Taliban had been weakened by 75 percent.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:33 AM Page 3
Monday, 2 April, 2012
foreIGN NewS
ArtS & eNtertAINMeNt
SPortS
News 03 CoMMeNt
Petrol price hikes un must act to stop syria violence, conference told Bieber, swift big winners at slimy Kids’ choice Awards ex-champion Abraham lands shot at world title Not an easy pill to swallow. Averted The attack on the parliament.
Waqqas Mir says: On acid attacks: Mere enactment of a law is not enough.
Arif Ansar says: The Afghanistan conundrum: A political solution is the only solution.
umair javed says: On bombs and parliament: We have a serious problem of varying ideologies at our hands.
Story on Page 14
Story on Page 18
Story on Page 20
Articles on Page 12-13
Rehman Malik orders indiscriminate action against all criminal elements g
Directs removal of all party flags within 24 hours KARACHI
A
4 killed in Karachi violence KARACHI inP
Four people, including one criminal, were killed while three others were injured in various incidents of violence and target killing on Sunday. According to police, armed men shot dead a man near Sindhi Hotel. The man was later identified as Akmal. Police said that two bodies were recovered from Martin Quarter. The deceased were identified as Zakir and Fahim . When the bodies were taken to hospital it was revealed that Fahim was still alive. In Mominabad, unidentified armed motorcyclists, fired near Badar Chowk, killing a man. The deceased was identified as Aamirullah. Another man Ameen was injured when he resisted robbers in Soldier Bazaar. CID SSP Chaudhry Aslam said that police killed
alleged criminal Saqib alias Sakhi and arrested Kashif from Chakiwara area after exchange of firing between criminals and police. He added that they had also recovered a Kalashnikov and 9MM pistol from the arrested. Alsam said that criminals were involved in killing of political activists. ASI Waheed was also injured during the shootout, the SSP added. Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik contacted all political parties and asked them to help the government in efforts to bring peace back in the city. The interior minister said that rangers and police have been directed to take strict action against criminals, adding that intelligence network had also been increased in tense areas such as Orangi, Banaras Colony and Kati Pahari. Malik said that volunteer force of youth would be formed in affected areas which would work with police for restoration of peace.
Agencies
high-level meeting to evaluate security situation in the metropolis chaired by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah here on Sunday decided to take indiscriminate action against criminal elements in the city. The meeting was also attended by Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Home Minister Manzoor Wassain, DG Rangers, IG Sindh and other officials. The meeting evaluated target killings and tension going on between different political parties in the city. Talking to media after the meeting, the interior minister said all the political parties had been given 24 hours to remove their party flags from houses and buildings. He said a decision had been taken to take action against criminal elements in political parties, and FC, Rangers and police would do the same without any discrimination. He said investigations were going on to determine the involvement of
third force in Karachi disturbances. He made it known to every one that action would be taken against those involved in forcible closure of markets and shops. The interior minister said that Rangers and police patrolling had been increased in all sensitive areas of the city and they had been given full
powers to deal with miscreants. He said SHOs would be responsible for law and order situation in their respective areas. He said the city had been divided into different zones and law enforcement agencies would patrol these zones. Rehman Malik said anti-Pakistan forces were out to pit different communities against each other. He regretted raids at Bacha Khan Markaz and two sectors of MQM. He said he would spend at least one day in a week in Karachi to monitor the situation. He said he had told the people four weeks back that there could be incidents of terrorism in Karachi. He said that peace force of youth would be formed in affected areas which would work with police for the restoration of peace. He said he would also meet traders in the city. The interior minister also visited some of the worst affected areas including Bokhari Colony, Katti Paharai and Qasba colony. Meanwhile, police and Rangers conducted raids in Banaras, Qasba Colony, Bukhari Colony and Orangi Town areas of the city and arrested at least two dozen suspects.
Power shortfall crosses 6,000Mws lAHoRe: The country keeps reeling from the acute power crisis and despite tall announcements and claims by the government, the power shortfall crossed 6,000MWs on Sunday. Power demand in the country is 14,000MWs but supply is just 9,000MWs. All big cities are witnessing 12 hours of outages while villages are facing 14-18 hours of power cuts. Furnace oil in required quantity is not being supplied by the government to power producers and there has been no increase in power generation. Hydel power generation is also quite low due to negligible trickle of water at dams. Separately, Swat is facing 20 hours of outages, which has nearly closed all businesses, ruining the already struggling economy of the city. Thousands of factory workers are unemployed making it impossible for them to meet both ends. To make things worse, electricity bills were very expensive. Online/hArOOn sirAj
Central Asian girls being trafficked to Pakistan for prostitution ISLAMABAD Online
Human trafficking from Central Asian Countries to Pakistan is going on and highly educated girls from Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are forced to prostitutions, the trafficking victims have said. At least six girls, trafficked from Central Asian region, say they are doctors by profession and were offered jobs in their field in Pakistan. “But we were deceived on fake jobs offer with high incentives. We were deprived of traveling documents and passports once we arrived in Pakistan so that we could not contact law enforcement agencies,” they told Online. The girls from Uzbekistan said on condition of anonymity that they were persuaded to apply to a job in the health sector
of Pakistan that apparently offered high incentives, 10 times greater than a doctor earns in their home country. “But after arriving here the person who was presenting himself as a recruiting agent snatched our documents,” they said. Uzbekistan’s embassy confirmed that they had complains of human trafficking from the country and then using them as prostitute. “Yes it is an open secret, human trafficking causes several other crimes, but we remain unaware of their identities and whereabouts,” said Lutfullah, First Secretary at Uzbekistan’s embassy said. The Central Asian girls declined to give details of the person, who brought them to Pakistan fraudulently and then handed over to two females forcing them for prostitution. A girl in a guest house in the capital’s F8/3 sector told Online, “Now, I cannot go to
a police station as I have no document and they (the characters involved in the crime) have threatened us of losing life if I or five others girls, two of them from Azerbaijan, cross the limits of uncovering the network”. Three of the girls from Uzbekistan and one from Azerbaijan said that they have contacted their respective embassies to have new passports and documents but they are also delaying provision of support. When asked for his version over the issue of helping in re-issuance of passports and documents, Lutfullah said, “Yes, usually females come to the embassy in routine claiming that their passports and travelling documents were lost. Basically the passports are being issued by Uzbekistan’s Interior Ministry and not the embassy. We deal here only in travelling documents, but we need
certain proofs for issuing such documents.” Online tried to contact the press attaché of the Azerbaijani embassy but he was not available to comment on the issue. Meanwhile, a senior official of the FIA who was not authorised to speak to the media said that human trafficking to Pakistan is continuing from CARs and China but some time it become hard to take a step or fully stop it due to legal complexities. “For example the immigration department is careful about issuing visas to girls from China but still human trafficking is continuing. The reason is that some Chinese workers in Pakistan show prostitutes as their wives and smuggled them here,” he further said. According to an official of FIA’s Anti Human Trafficking Cell more than 400 human traffickers involved in the heinous
crime using air, land and sea routes for their activities. According to certain media reports every day 75-100 illegal immigrants are reached the country airports. There are reports that Pakistan is a destination for men, women and children from Central Asian Countries, Bangladesh and Iran who are subjected to forced labor and prostitution. According to FIA officials investigation from members of this kind of groups revealed that the three main frequent routes used by traffickers in Pakistan include Makran coast, Thar and porous border with Afghanistan, the sea routes of Karachi, Ormara, Pasni Gawadar and Jiwani are easy routes of the trafficking. Reports suggest that trafficked women are sold into brothels for $1,000 to $2,000 depending on age, beauty, race and their virginity.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:33 AM Page 4
04 News
Monday, 2 April, 2012
Republican leaders push Romney’s nomination WASHINGtON
A heBrOn: israeli soldiers detain foreign activists on sunday after they joined Palestinian demonstrators and took refuge in an abandoned house and fly a Palestinian flag on the building near the Beit romano area where several hundred jewish settlers reside, in the West Bank town of hebron. AFP
I won’t handover my BB handset unless satisfied Continued fRoM page 22 Forensic Access Limited and Security and Investigation Professionals have also provided their quotations to the mission for the services. Secretary to the commission has also contacted certain forensic experts independently. The mission has urgently sought information on the handset models and the computer used for emails. It has also contacted Ijaz directly for these details and also asked the attorney general: “Is the extraction of deleted data in the case is more important or the verification of the data available.” The high commission has informed the AG that Ijaz had requested his involvement in the process of the selection of forensic experts. A text mes-
PML-N Continued fRoM page 1 The opposition leader said that the present surge was a move to meet the extravagant lifestyle of the rulers and questioned what they wanted to achieve with such negative policies. “It appears that rulers are ignorant of basic principals of human sympathy,” he said, urging the nation to come on streets for their due rights. Nisar said that all democratic loving political parties, traders, students and civil society members would have to stop the corrupt government.
sage sent to the high commission’s high-ups by Ijaz reads: “Please keep in mind before choosing anyone that I must agree to the firm’s protocols before I hand my devices over for inspection. I won’t do that unless I am independently satisfied with the procedures and that they know what they are talking about. And they must agree to let me be present during their inspection. So it might help to involve me in your process as well”. In response to the queries put by the AG regarding the official cell phones in Haqqani’s use during his tenure as ambassador to the US, Pakistan’s embassy in Washington DC has informed: “As per our records, two Palm Treo 750 cell phones were purchased by
former ambassador Haqqani against 808.89 dollars. The cost of the sets was later reimbursed to the ambassador. There is no record of the Mission purchasing Blackberry handsets for use by the ambassador.” On the question whether the former ambassador had himself applied for, and got the services of the cell phone company, or the mission did that on his behalf, Pakistan’s embassy in Washington replied that the former ambassador had himself applied for the cell phone services. It further informed the AG that the mission was not the signatory of the agreement with the service provider, adding that the contract was between the former ambassador and the service provider.
On the question whether the Blackberry handsets used by the former ambassador were owned by him or they were the government of Pakistan’s property, the embassy replied that there is no record of the embassy purchasing BB handsets for use by Haqqani. But on the other hand, the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC has sent a copy of “Fully Vouched Contingent Bill” for June 27, 2008, according to which payment was made on account of purchase of two Palm Treo 750 cell phones and cell phone covers for Haqqani’s official use. “The above item (two handsets) has been entered in stock register at page no. 24,” the copy of the bill reads.
AfP
senior Republican on Sunday pushed the “overwhelming” case for Mitt Romney to be crowned the party’s presidential nominee, but the frontrunner’s main rival Rick Santorum vowed to fight on. The White House also signaled that it sees Romney as the likely Republican challenger to President Barack Obama in November, with Vice President Joe Biden attacking the former Massachusetts governor in a television interview. Three months into a bitterly fought race for the nomination, Romney has a strong lead and polls suggest he will win three more primaries on Tuesday — in Wisconsin, Maryland and the
US capital Washington. “He’s going to be an excellent candidate, and I think the chances are overwhelming that he will be our nominee,” said Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate. “It seems to me we’re in the final phases of wrapping up this nomination.” McConnell did not explicitly endorse Romney but suggested that the party should follow the lead of former president George H.W. Bush and Congressman Paul Ryan, a leading Republican and representative for Wisconsin, who did. “It’s absolutely apparent that it’s in the best interests of our party at this particular point to get behind the person who is obviously going to be our nominee,” McConnell said on CNN’s “State of the Union” show. “Most of the members of the Senate Republican conference
Jatoi denies role in RPPs KARACHI inP
Former water and power minister Liaqat Jatoi on Sunday said that two rental power plants were brought without his approval during his tenure. Speaking at his residence, Jatoi said that false and baseless allegations of misdeeds in form of rental
power plants had been leveled against him. “I have nothing to do with two rental plants brought to the country during my term as water and power minister. Although I was the minister, my approval was not taken. All was done through the Presidency,” he said There was no power crisis during his term and he had approved 12 en-
2 people commit suicide lAHoRe: Two people, including a teenage boy, committed suicide over petty issues in two different areas of the city on Sunday. A 32-year-old man committed suicide after shooting himself in his head in the Kahna Police precincts. The deceased was identified as Elan Gull, a resident of Halloki Area located on Defence Road. Police said that the deceased was ill since a few months. On Sunday, he got disheartened of his prolonged illness and locked himself in a room and shot himself in the head with his gun. His family after hearing gun shots rushed to his room and found him lying dead in a pool of blood. stAff rePOrt
Country boils in anger over massive fuel Continued fRoM page 1 In Quetta, people protested against the price hike saying this would increase prices of other commodities as well. Prices of vegetables and fruits have already gone up in all cities. All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA), rejecting the hike in CNG prices, asked the government to review the decision, saying it would put an extra burden on the masses, especially commuters. Daily commuters will be badly hit by the increase in CNG price as
90 percent public transport of the country is using CNG. APCNGA Chairman Ghayas Paracha said the government, during the last few months, had increased CNG prices by Rs 16 per kg, adding its price was Rs 44 in July 2008 which reached Rs 78 per kg in March 2012 and after the current hike it hit almost Rs 90 per kg. The Attock Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) rejected the fuel price hike and termed it the government’s failure. ACCI President Tariq Mehmood said that Pakistan consumes
4.5 lakh of petroleum products per day while the government was earning around Rs 1.36 billion per day in shape of controversial Petroleum Levy and GST. After the recent revision, the government will make masses to pay extra Rs 820 million per day for petrol and diesel etc. while those consuming CNG will pay an extra amount of Rs 1 billion, he informed. Separately, citizens of Islamabad and Rawalpindi rejected the fuel price hike and asked the government to immediately reverse the decision.
They threatened to take the matter to the streets if the government did not reverse its decision. Coming hard on the government, its allies the MQM and ANP also rejected the fuel price hike. The MQM Coordination Committee demanded that the increase is a crime against the public and the decision should be retracted immediately. The committee added that the government should cut down its non-developmental expenditures instead of raising petrol prices which has become a huge burden on
the public. PPP-S Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Sikandar Sherpao rejected the fuel price hike and said the move was unacceptable. Addressing a public gathering at Bakhshi Pul Peshawar, he said that the decision would lead to closure of industry across the country. ANP MNA Bushra Rehman said that the rich class should be brought into the tax net instead of putting more burden on poor people. She said that the ANP is against the policy of increasing oil prices every month.
Let’s take Sino-Pak trade to $15b: PM Continued fRoM page 1 He also appreciated Chinese assistance in the wake of massive floods in Pakistan in recent years. The Chinese vice premier said his country wanted to further enhance the existing friendly relations with Pakistan in diverse fields. He hoped that the ties, spanning over six decades, would be further strengthened at the levels of both governments and the two nations. Separately in an interview to China
Radio International, the prime minister said the Asian countries should use platforms like Boao Forum for in-depth cooperation. He said despite difficult economic conditions, the performance of the Asian countries was impressive. Gilani added that US drone attacks were violating the sovereignty of Pakistan and had created a negative impact. During Boao conference, Italy also assured Pakistan of its support to get the status of Generalized System of
Preferences (GSP Plus) in the European Union. iTAlY: Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart hoped that the GSP Plus would have substantial positive effect on Pakistan’s economy. The two leaders met here on the sidelines of Boao Forum for Asia and discussed wide range of issues of mutual interest, including the GSP Plus - the European Union’s generalized system of preferences that provides developing
countries preferential access to the EU markets through reduced tariffs. Gilani mentioned the significant efforts of Pak-Italy Joint Business Commission in enhancing bilateral trade and stressed holding of its regular meetings. IRAN: The prime minister also expressed Pakistan’s strong desire for boosting bilateral relations with Iran, especially in energy and trade. “Realisation of IranPakistan gas pipeline project will open new vistas of cooperation,” Gilani said
are either supporting him, or they have the view that I do, that it’s time to turn our attention to the fall campaign and begin to make the case against the president of the United States.” The Real Clear Politics website average poll had Romney, who has won 21 out of 34 nominating contests so far, leading Santorum 40 percent to 32.5 percent in Wisconsin. But unless Romney can clinch the 1,144 delegates needed for the nomination — he currently has 565 — he could be forced to wait until late August to get the nod at the Republican party’s convention. Santorum, who has racked up 11 victories but has less than half Romney’s number of all-important Republican delegates, said he was determined to fight on despite efforts to anoint his rival.
while talking to Iranian Vice President, Mohammad Javad Mohammadizadeh, as the two leaders met on the sidelines of Boao Forum for Asia. He said the 1,000 MW electricity being supplied from Iran to Balochistan would prove helpful in overcoming the energy shortage. kAZAkHSTAn: Gilani also offered Kazakhstan – the world’s largest landlocked country – to benefit from Pakistan’s shortest route to seaports. In a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Karim
Massimov on the sidelines of Boao Forum for Asia here, the prime minister said Pakistan provides an easy access for the Central Asian states to access the sea for the transportation of goods. Gilani said Pakistan wants to maintain strong trade and communication links with the energy-rich Kazakhstan. He mentioned the Quadrilateral Agreement for Traffic in Transit (between Pakistan, China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan) that facilitates direct land route between the two countries.
ergy projects and out of those four became operational, the former minister said. If the present government had not come into power, all these projects would have become operational, he said. Jatoi said that he was ready to face punishment if it was established in the Supreme Court that he had made a single rupee in any of these projects.
US wants security for NAto vehicles along with resumed supplies Continued fRoM page 22 Pakistan blocked NATO supplies when NATO aircraft attacked its two border posts in Mohmand Agency in November last year and PCNS was asked to formulate its recommendations on future ties with the United States. The committee, in January this year, finalised its recommendations, including the one on NATO supplies which linked their restoration to new taxation against the container and oil tankers by Islamabad. The recommendations were tabled before the joint session last month on 20th but the session had to be put off until April 5 owing to a deadlock between the government and opposition parties with some of them opposing the resumption of NATO supplies, and others linking them to a halt in drone strikes. When contacted, a security official said the contentious issue of NATO supplies was discussed in detail a few days ago when US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General James Mattis visited Islamabad and met Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and other military commanders. He said the US officials wanted the resumption of NATO supplies as soon as possible and they were deeply perturbed over the delay in this regard. “The Americans’ concerns have been conveyed to Pakistani authorities,” he said, seeking anonymity.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:33 AM Page 5
Monday, 2 April, 2012
PM is habitual criminal, not shy of jails: Sheikh Rashid FAISALABAD
A
inP
W A M I Muslim League Chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Sunday that the prime minister is a habitual criminal, as he has been to jail before and ready
to go again. Holding a press conference on Sunday, Rashid said that the rulers had made a mockery of judicial verdicts and such examples were never seen in the past. He lamented that if Nawaz Sharif had accepted his advice, the nation would not have come across such a worst situation. “Pakistan has been overtaken by a gang of five, who are deciding fate of the nation,” he said, adding that through passage of 18th and 20th amendments, the rulers and opposition parties had not provided any relief to the general public. The AML chairman claimed that all parties had signed recommendations of the parliamentary committee and now they were telling lies. About NATO supplies, he said that a referendum should be conducted to seek public opinion and warned that the government not to destroy the future of the youth. Rashid regretted that the country was passing through economical crises, as it was facing a financial loss of Rs 11 trillion while the poor masses were reeling under the pains of unemployment, corruption and price surge.
tANGDHE SAYEDAN
F
AfP
IGHTING can be a way of life in parts of Taliban-scourged Pakistan, but on the farms it is more likely to be dogs who are in training for their own violent and bloody battles. Officially banned by the government and condemned as cruel by animal rights groups, thousands of wealthy Pakistani farmers, landowners and businessmen use the quiet winter months to indulge a passion for bloody bulldog fights. “I love Moti just like my kids. He’s a source of pride,” crowed a jubilant Malik Tassaduq Hussain after his dog won a fight in Tangdhe Sayedan, a village in Punjab province, 110 kilometres (70 miles) east of Islamabad. To the din of drum beats and flutes, men hoisted Moti onto their shoulders, danced through the crowds and showered the animal with banknotes after thousands watched him bite and tear his way to victory on a secluded plateau. In villages such as these, fights between bulldogs, known as “booly” in Punjabi, provide one of the few forms of entertainment while crops grow. The rules are brutally simple: the dogs fight until one bleeds to death, runs off, or until the owner takes pity and withdraws the animal from battle, handing the opponent victory. Winning owners can get small prizes
News 05
7 die, 13 injured in road accidents KARAK APP
At least seven passengers died and 13 others injured in separate road accidents here on Sunday. According to district police, the first fatal accident occurred on BannuKohat Road when an over speedy Peshawar bound flying coach rammed into tractor at Jata Ismail Khel in the limits of Banda Daud Shah police station. As a result, six passengers perished on the spot including a child and 11 others injured. The van was coming to Peshawar from Bannu district.
The injured were rushed to DHQ hospital for treatment. The dead bodies have been identified as Muhammad Wali, Muhammad Ghani, Fazl Ghani, residents of Bannu, and Mir Taj resident of Dera Ghazi Khan. The wounded passengers include Sabir Rehman, Noor Said, Eid Saeed and Mst Ayesha. In yet another tragic road mishap, a passenger bus collided with a truck on Indus Highway near Mir Kalam area, killing one passenger instantly and wounding several others. The incident occurred due to wrong overtaking. Police have registered cases and
‘Pakistan’s presence at Boao moot coincides with govt’s vision’ BOAO APP
He warned that India was constructing dams upon rivers which were lifeline for Pakistan. Officers, who had plundered and looted national entities such as PIA, railways and others, had been posted in high offices in Islamabad. Praising Imran Khan, he said that the PTI leader would contest elections from his own platform; however, his entry had rung alarm bells for many opponents.
such as trophies, cell phones, or televisions while some organizers give prize money ranging from 5,000 rupees ($55) to 100,000 rupees, depending on what the organizers can afford. “We organise these festivals because we love dog fights. Every organiser chooses his own or associates’ land in the village to stage these fights. It’s a hobby of the powerful,” said Abdul Ghaffar, a local organiser. A champion like Moti, whose name means Pearl, costs hundreds of dollars a month in food and requires extensive training before the annual fighting season, which runs from late September to late March. Hussain explains Moti’s complicated, and expensive diet. “We give him two litres of milk, one kilogram of meat, butter and a supplement of an apple everyday. It costs us 50,000 rupees ($548) every month,” said the 59year-old farmer. “Half my family is settled in Britain and my brother, who is a lawyer over there, gives me money to feed the dog and keep our family’s honour.” Moti is two years old but spent a year training for his first fight, running behind a motorcycle for more than 20 kilome-
Pakistan’s participation in the Boao Forum for Asia coincides with the government’s vision of economic integration among regional countries, Federal Information Minister Dr Firdous Aashiq Awan said on Sunday. She said that Pakistan was keen to play a role in promotion of economic diplomacy in the region. The minister said the Boao Forum being annually held in China had a special significance for Pakistan due to friendly bilateral ties between the two countries. Firdous said the meetings of Prime
tres (12 miles) a day, Hussain said. Those who win, bring honour and pride to the owners. But it’s a different story for those who lose. “Please don’t ask me anything. I am disturbed. My dog lost,” said one young man in his early twenties. “I have no courage to speak, it is shame,” he added, rubbing salt into his dog’s wounds to stop them becoming infected. As with bans on terror groups that allow organisations to rename themselves and carry on largely unchecked, Pakistan does little to enforce the prohibition on dog fights and the industry they attract. Traders set up tea and snack
Minister Gilani with world leaders and Chinese leadership on the sidelines of Boao Forum, would help Pakistan strengthen ties with these countries and present its point of view on economic issues. The minister said that China is an important strategic partner of Pakistan, and the two countries enjoy an all-weather friendship which is deeprooted in the hearts of two peoples. She mentioned that President Asif Ali Zardari also gave special importance to relations with China and visited the country several times to cement ties in diverse fields including economy, trade and bilateral relations.
stalls around the field. There are organised parking contracts and every fight is filmed. Videos of major fights go on sale. There is an unwritten calendar of meets, and every fan, dog owner and stall holder knows when and where to ship up within 200 kilometres. “I go to every fight and set up my stall everywhere. I earn around 3,000 rupees ($33) a day which is much more than what I get from my shop,” Ishtiaq Ahmed, 45, told AFP. Police say they do raid fights and arrest culprits but Punjab police spokeswoman Nabeela Ghazanfar concedes that most get bail. The maximum penalty — six months in jail and a fine equivalent to $11 — is hardly prohibitive and activists want the government to do more to outlaw dog fights, which they say are “wrong” and “cruel”. “Many dogs die due to wounds after the fights. Fighting dogs develop skin diseases and many of their wounds do not heal,” said Nasim Ahmad, secretary in Pakistan for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals. Zulfiqar Otho, a vet who volunteers for the Pakistan Anim a l
further investigations are underway. 3 gUnned down oveR moneY diSPUTe: Three persons were shot dead over money dispute in Bannu on Sunday. According to police, the shootout between Arifullah Khan and Ilyas groups started over petty dispute of money at Saidabad area in the limits of Cantonment police station. Arif Ullah and his brother Inamullah from one group and Ilyas Khan from the other group were killed. Both side used automatic weapons against each others. Police rushed to the spot and started search operation after registering an FIR against the accused.
Couple murdered for contracting love marriage kASUR: A couple was murdered over the issue of 10 years old love marriage by the Christians at village Bhoneki in the jurisdiction of Musatfabad police station. Reportedly, Irfan had contracted love marriage with Shakeela Bibi 10 years ago and they had three children. Shakeela Bibi belonged to a Christians’ family but embraced Islam 10 years earlier before contracting marriage with Irfan. His family was very angry with this act of hers. On Sunday, accused Mukhtar with his accomplices axed Irfan and Shakeela to death. Police have registered a case against the accused and further investigations are underway. stAff rePOrt
Welfare Society, told AFP that owners of losing dogs sometimes shoot them after fights and that on average, one dog dies per festival. “They are rich businessmen, feudal lords, members of the parliament and other bigwigs of society. They influence police through their stature and money... Police can’t move against the will of these people,” he told AFP. But the fans are unperturbed. “God created dogs to fight and bite,” said farmer Chaudhry Javed. “Even if we don’t arrange this, they’ll fight each other,” he added.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:33 AM Page 6
06 News
Monday, 2 April, 2012
ANP MPA joins PPP-S PESHAWAR stAff rePOrt
The ruling ANP suffered a major setback on Sunday when its MPA from its hometown Charssada joined the PPP-S. Fazal Shakoor made this announcement after meeting PPP-S chief Aftab Sherpao. Although Fazal was yet to announce his schedule for quitting the ANP but in presence of Sherpao he announced joining his party. He complained of indifferent attitude of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and remained silent in the assembly and party meetings. ANP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa General Secretary Arbab Tahir said, “Holding of meetings with leaders and stalwarts of other rival political forces by MPAs or officebearers doesn’t matter.” He recalled that some one month back Fazal had hosted a lunch in honour of former CM Akram Durrani. Tahir made it clear that the party will definitely take action against all those who violate discipline or indulge themselves in changing of loyalties. Despite his rifts with the party for the last several years, Fazal refused to violate the party policy in the Senate elections. Rich aspirants made attractive offers to Fazal but he rejected it. It is believed that Fazal considers Aimal Asfandyar Wali Khan, son of the ANP chief, a threat to his future. Since coming into power in March 2008, the ANP high command was preparing he ground for Aimal, who was son-in-law of ANP Sindh President Senator Shahi Syed. Aimal was in contact with party workers from Fazal’s constituency. Many other ANP MPAs were not happy with the party leadership and the PPP-S was making efforts to break them from the Walis.
islAMABAd: A handler performs tricks with his goat to onlookers during the three day flower & Birds show on sunday. the show featured macaws, roosters, falcons, ducks and parakeets in addition to food and handicraft stalls. AFP
Army check posts rule the roost in Swat SWAt hArOOn sirAj
The army’s claim of restoring peace in Swat seems half-baked, as a large number of check posts are creating problems for the people. People have to pass from five check posts from Kanju to Matta, which were hardly 15 kilometres apart. To make
things worse, people have to face embarrassment from soldiers, which also strictly check people. Even women were not safe from such situations, as soldiers asked them to come out of vehicles to walk some distance on foot at the Taligram check post, which was against the customs of the area. People asked the Swat GOC to stop all such practices, which were against the customs of the area, adding that tourists were also turning back due to frequent check posts.
Lifting the veil on Afghanistan’s female addicts Drug control groups say over 60,000 Afghan women addicted to opium, heroin, hashish and marijuana g Shared use of syringes creating a serious concern for spread of HIV and AIDS g
KABuL reuters
Anita lifted the sky-blue burqa from her face, revealing glazed eyes and cracked lips from years of smoking opium, and touched her saggy belly, still round from giving birth to her seventh child a month ago. “I can’t give breast milk to my baby,” said the 32-year-old Anita, who like other women interviewed for this story, declined to give her full name. “I’m scared he’ll get addicted.” She was huddled with other women at the UN-funded Nejat drug rehabilitation centre in the old quarter of Kabul, having sneaked out of her home to avoid being stopped by her husband from going outside alone. With little funding and no access to substitution drugs such as methadone, treatment is rudimentary at Nejat for a problem that is growing in a dirt-poor country driven by conflicts for more than three decades. Afghanistan is the source for more than 90 percent of the world’s opium, which is used to make heroin, and more of it is being grown than ever before. While it is not uncommon to see men shooting up along the banks of the dried up Kabul riverbed in broad daylight, women in the ultra-conservative culture of Muslim Afghanistan are expected to stay out of public view for the most part. They often have to seek permission from a male relative or husband to leave their home, and when they do they are encased in the head-to-toe burqa. “I am not allowed to leave home for medical checks. What can I do? I am a woman,” Anita said. Like many of Afghanistan’s female drug users, Anita picked up the habit from her husband. Like other women interviewed for this story, Anita asked that only her first name be used. Shrouded in stigma, female drug users is a topic that is almost never mentioned in Afghanistan. They agreed to tell their stories to a reporter only through an in-
An Afghan woman holds opium at a drug rehabilitation centre termediary they trusted. ConSUmPTion on RiSe: Opium poppy cultivation in a country that has been growing the plant for a thousand years increased 7 percent in 2011 from the year before, due to a spike in prices and worsening security, according to a survey sponsored by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. In 2011, the farm-gate value of opium production more than doubled from 2010 to $1.4 billion and now accounts for 15 percent of the Afghan economy, the UNODC says. Opiate consumption in Afghanistan, where it has long been a medication but in recent years has been used increasingly for recreation, is also on a sharp rise. The UNODC says Afghanistan has around one million heroin and opium addicts out of a population of 30 million, making it the world’s top user per capita. No estimates are available on how many
women are addicted to opium or heroin. Nejat estimates around 60,000 women in Afghanistan regularly take illegal drugs, including hashish and marijuana. “There has been a definite increase amongst women drug users over the last decade,” said Arman Raoufi, director of harm reduction for women at Nejat. Smoking opium costs around 200 Afghanis a day ($4), a very expensive habit in a country where a third live beneath the poverty line. Women send their children to collect scrap and bottles to help pay for their habit, or resort to begging, extending a hand to cars from beneath their burqa on busy streets when their husbands have left home. “My husband took on a second wife and began to ignore me, so I started to smoke his powder (opium) and now must beg,” said Fauzia, 30, a petite mother of five sitting in the corner of Nejat, her embroidered floral slippers poking out from under her baggy
trousers. She said she was terrified that her husband and male relatives might discover she was seeking treatment on her own at the centre. Treatment options are sorely limited. A pilot project launched two years ago by Medecins du Monde, which gives methadone to drug addicts, is the only one in the country. The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) wants to roll it out across the country, but the Ministry of Counter-narcotics has objected, saying it would introduce yet another narcotic onto the black market. iRAniAn ConneCTion: With her fiveyear-old son tugging on her unwashed burqa, 30-year-old Najia said she had been smoking opium for nine years. “It is so hard for me. I have kids. I’m poor. I’m not able to work — my husband won’t allow me,” said the raven-haired mother of four. Najia said she picked up the habit from her husband after he returned from his job as a labourer in neighbouring Iran. Raoufi at the Nejat centre says the return of migrant workers and refugees, who fled to Iran and Pakistan during the Soviet occupation of the 1980s, and the bloody civil war and Taliban rule that followed, is the main reason behind the rise in female drug addicts. Increased street prostitution since the fall of the Taliban, which policed the trade more rigorously than the government does today, has also contributed, he said. Iran has the second highest heroin abuse rate in the world after Afghanistan, according to UNODC. Afghan addicts among the 1 million refugees in Iran have become such an issue Tehran has started to expel them. “Our relatively open borders are not doing us any favours,” said Feda Mohammad Paikan, who heads the NACP working under the Afghan Ministry of Public Health. “Most addicts get hooked in Iran, and many of these men have wives.” PRiSoneRS oF HABiT: Afghanistan’s female narcotics problem is now filling the
country’s largest women’s prison, Badam Bagh or “Almond Orchard”, on the outskirts of Kabul. Of its 164 inmates, 64 are opium and heroin users, double what it was when the clinic started in 2008, said clinic doctor, Hanifa Amiri. “There are simply more drugs out there available to women now,” she said, waving a medical-gloved hand over a prison courtyard, where burqa-clad female relatives were bringing gifts of pomegranates and flat naan bread for the inmates. With cropped black hair, a leather jacket and a henna tattoo of a scorpion on her hand, inmate Madina looks nothing like an ordinary Afghan woman. One of seven injecting heroin users in Badam Bagh, she lives with her teenage son and daughter in prison, where she has been for seven years since she killed her husband. She said she murdered him after he forbade her from prostituting herself to support her habit, said Madina, the only inmate at the prison who agreed to speak to Reuters. “I would love to give it all up, but how am I meant to, as a woman?” the 37-yearold mother of two said as she scratched at the scabs on her arm, dark red from recent use. She supports her habit by selling handmade sexual aid tools — stuffing compacted wool into condoms — to other inmates, several of whom have developed lesbian relationships. HIV and AIDS is becoming a more serious issue, largely spurred by injecting drug use, and could reach the general population if not tackled properly. A new strategy being rolled out by the health ministry to target more women in counselling and HIV testing is being met by opposition from the strong conservative forces in Afghan society. “HIV and drug use are viewed as evil in Muslim society, and even more so for women,” said specialist Mohammad Hahn Heddait, who works at the infectious diseases hospital under the ministry of health.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:33 AM Page 7
Monday, 2 April, 2012
end of ldA-leaks?
You might not be able to leave city! Transporters announce strike, increase in inter-city fares LAHORE
PAGe 07
More protests! g
PtI launches ‘largest ever’ membership campaign
stAff rePOrt
Transporters have joined heads to launch a countrywide strike against recent hike in fuel prices and have also announced a 5 to 7 percent surge in the inter-city transport fares on Sunday. The government had hurled another fuel bomb at masses on Saturday by increasing the prices of petrol by Rs 8.02, diesel by Rs 4.70 and that of Compressed Natural Gas by Rs 11.98. After issuance of the notification of surge, petrol price went up to Rs 106 and diesel jumped up to Rs 108. Meanwhile, the fares of inter-city routes have gone up by Rs 50 to Rs 200. The fare for travel between Karachi and Lahore has been increased from Rs 2,100 to Rs 2,400 while Lahore-Islamabad ride on public transport would now cost Rs 650 instead of Rs 600. Transporters say they were forced by government to increase the fare and they had to earn a living also. All Pakistan Transport Owners Association Chairman Azam Khan Niazi, while talking to Pakistan Today, said that fares were being revised and from today (Monday) new fares would be applicable. He said a strategy was being devised for a country-wide strike and protest against government for increasing prices at regular intervals. He said they were aware of the plight of ordinary people but government had left them with no option. He said the number of passengers declined drastically after each hike in the fares and it was in their loss. He said the transporters associations were coordinating from all over the country and meetings had been called at provincial level. “In a day or two, the transporters will launch a strike against these hikes,” Khan warned the government. He said government had to withdraw increase in diesel prices. Earlier in the day, APTOA General Secretary Arshad Niazi, while talking to reporters, issued a deadline till 8pm on Sunday for government to withdraw otherwise not only the fares would be increased, but strike would also be observed.
LAHORE
A
stAff rePOrt
large number of citizens on Sunday participated in a rally organised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the increase in the petrol prices. Citizens were shouting slogans against Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders
and were demanding for withdrawal of the increase in the prices of the patrol. Citizens were found condemning and shouting slogans at a rally that was started from the Defense Moar and was lead by PTI’s Lahore President Ahsan Rasheed and Information Coordinator Ishtiaq Malik. A number of Insaf Students Federation (ISF) activists and ISF female wing local office barriers were also present on the occasion.
Malik said PTI strongly condemned the recent announced prices of the petrol and diesel and the masses were dying of hunger. He said the whole nation was disappointed and instead of giving them relief, the government had given them the gift of increase in the prices. He said the nation, under the supervision of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, had awakened and PTI would change the whole system of corruption in which poor were com-
mitting suicide due to corruption of government officials. The rally ended in front of General Hospital where local leaders of the PTI also delivered speeches against the price hike in the patrol prices. On the other hand, membership campaign of the PTI was launched by the party while according to Imran, this was the biggest ever membership campaign of the country in which membership would be given to thousands.
Punjab govt to take it out on marriage halls In an effort to control electricity usage, the town administrations have been instructed to come down heavily on weddings that go beyond 10pm g Heavy fines, arrests and cancellation of licences all on the cards g
LAHORE fAizAn sAlAhuddin
Punjab government is all set to swing into action to clamp down marriage functions violating the ban regarding time limit described in the standing orders issued by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. City District Government Lahore is gearing up to raid marriage halls that remain open later than 10pm and squads are being made for this purpose. Well-placed sources told Pakistan Today that CDGL has come into action to teach strict lesson to owners of marriage halls in provincial capital who were violating the orders. The officials of CDGL, local Town Administrations and police cops would raid the halls, sources revealed. Heavy fines and arrests would also be made and the licenses of violating Marriage Halls can also be cancelled, sources added. The ban on the marriage functions after 10pm was aimed at conserving electricity and preventing night-time robberies and terrorist
activities as the law and order situations is often disturbed by events of aerial firing and fire crackers. However, despite ban and crackdown drives in the past, the violations have not stopped. Marriage galls’ owners had also filed petition in Lahore High Court against the ban claiming that the government’s argument to order a cut-off time for weddings was baseless. Marriage Halls Association General Secretary, Javaid Nasir had filed the petition. The petitioner had rejected the justification of government for issuing time limit for marriage functions and dubbed it unjust. Nasir had argued that instead of saving electricity the restriction was actually resulting in higher consumption of power as the citizens were compelled to hold the functions at peak hours of electricity usage instead of late night when the consumptions was lower. The owners claimed that constitution ensured the freedom of doing lawful businesses but the 10pm deadline had destroyed the marriage hall business. It had also made it harder for
families and their guests to enjoy weddings. An owner in Walton asking not to be named said the argument of security reasons for deadline was childish. He said weddings were safer than cinemas, restaurants and theatres, adding that people felt secure in wedding functions because they were in the company of relatives but cinema viewers, theatre visitors and restaurant goers operated in small groups and if a deadline had not been imposed on them why were the marriage hall owners being made to suffer? Not only those running businesses of marriage halls but citizens too have concerns over the ban and said there were many other activities that needed to be banned. “Weddings are the one of very few occasions when families gather and celebrate and restricting them not to do so later than 10pm is a violation of fundamental rights of citizens,” Syed Faizan Abbas Jaffer, a rights’ activist said, adding that the ban was in violation of the constitution and should be lifted.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:33 AM Page 8
08 Lahore
Monday, 2 April, 2012
weAtHer UPDAteS
35 °C High 0C 22 Low
CLoUDY
tUeSDAY weDNeSDAY tHUrSDAY 35°C I 21°C
36°C I 21°C
35°C I 21°C
PrAYer tIMINGS fajr Sunrise 04:28 05:51
Zuhr 12:12
Asr 15:39
Maghrib 18:23
Isha 19:45
CItY DIreCtorY eMerGeNCY HeLP reSCUe eDHI CoNtroL MotorwAY PoLICe PoLICe GoVerNor’S HoUSe CHIef MINISter’S HoUSe fIre BrIGADe BoMB DISPoSAL MCL CoMPLAINtS LAHore wASte DISPoSAL
1122 115 130 15 99200081-7 99203226 16 99212111 99211022-29 1139
HoSPItALS MID CItY 37573382-3 SerVICeS 99203402-11 MAYo 99211100-9 GeNerAL 35810892-8 SHeIkH ZAID 35865731 SIr GANGA rAM 99200572 UCH 35763573-5 IttefAq 35881981-85 CMH 366996168-72 SHoUkAt kHANUM 35945100 JINNAH 111-809-809 ADIL (DefeNCe) 36667275 CHILDreN’S 99230901-3 DefeNCe NAtIoNAL HoSPItAL 111-17-18-19
BLooD BANk fAtMID ISLAMIC ALLIANCe
35210834-8 37588649/37535435
CoMPLAINt wAPDA SUI GAS
111-000-118 1199
rAILwAYS CItY StAtIoN (eNqUIrY) reSerVAtIoN rAILwAY PoLICe
117 99201772 1333
g g
LDA’s sole whistleblower ADG Hafiz Ahsan Ul Haq set to retire today Blew lid off important scams like Bor Housing Society, It and contractor LAHORE
T
YAsir hABiB
HE Lahore Development Authority is doomed to lose its one and only whistleblower in the department, Additional Director General (ADG) Hafiz Ahsan Ul Haq, who is set to retire on April 2 (today). He is known to have always stood up against LDA Mafia to check rampant corruption by showing doors to influential officials who misappropriated million of rupees, overstepped their authorities and dented the image of department. Recently, he had to bear brunt on his activism against the unscrupulous elements in the LDA when a “trap” was crafted to implicate him in departmental and legal cases by LDA top officials as a retaliatory move to teach him a lesson for exposing some Mafia’s titans in enquiry report on BOR housing society tragedy that cased 4 casualties and 21 injuries. LDA Town Planning and legal team were alleged to remain active in preparing a fake “scandalous file” against ADG in which written statements of contractual officers were registered. LDA Mafia spun “cobweb of intrigues” after Hafiq Ahsan
spilled the beans in his enquiry report that Chief Town Planner Ch Muhammad Akram, who was also heading the Commercial, Recovery and Enforcement Directorate of Town Planning Wing, admitted in his statement before the LDA enquiry committee that he had no experience regarding building demolition. His report said the demolition operation was ill-planned, illexecuted and grossly mishandled which resulted in the collapse of the building and caused loss of four precious human lives and injuries to twenty one persons. According to enquiry report, the responsibility lay squarely on all the officers of Town Planning Wing, Engineering Wing and Directorate of Enforcement, who took part in the demolition operation directly or indirectly. It was just because of their negligence/inefficiency (which they committed either by omission or by commission), that the tragic incident took place. LDA officials who licked the wounds on getting pinpointed by LDA ADG Hafiz Ahsan Ul Haq in enquiry report some months back, had already made onslaught against him by sealing his house on commercialisation issue some months back LDA commercialisation wing sealed a residence No 445/G-4
situated at Doctors’ Hospital Road in Johar Town for being used commercially allegedly by the LDA additional director general (ADG). Information disclosed that Doctor Road fell in category “A” list declared commercialised already by LDA administration by laying down specific rules. A major loophole, however, was that LDA had never served a letter to Ahsan’ wife for the payment of commercialization fee. Meanwhile, Ahsan’s wife submitted application on December 8 one day after the sealing on December 7 at LDA one-window cell pleading that she wanted to pay all commercialisation fee to get her housed unsealed. It is to his credit that he exposed LDA IT Project Director Mansoor Butt who was appointed in LDA on fake degree by holding a credible enquiry against him. And eventually, LDA had to terminate Mansoor Butt. Another feather in his cape was that he held a enquiry and found that LDA chief engineer Abdul Rub and influential director Asad Abbass Jafari received Rs 2 million from a contractor. On the basis of his enquiry, then LDA DG Abdul Jabbar Shaheen had to terminate both of them from their services on January 21.
AIrPort fLIGHt eNqUIrY PIA reSerVAtIoN
114 111-786-786
ArAbic cAlligrAPhy
iPSS DOcUMENTAry cOMPETiTiON
AJOKA´S bASANT bAhAr ThEATrE FESTiVAl
CoLLeGeS / UNIVerSItIeS PUNJAB UNIVerSItY kINNAIrD CoLLeGe qUeeN MArY CoLLeGe GoVt. CoLLeGe UNIVerSItY UMt LUMS Uet LCwU SUPerIor CoLLeGe
99231257 99203781-4 36362942 111-000-010 35212801-10 35608000 36288666 99203072 111-000-078
DAte AND tIMe: JUNe 1, 2012, 4PM to 6PM VeNUe: HASt-o-NeeSt CeNter CALLIGrAPHY CLASSeS are on-going, interested students can enroll throughout the year. the duration of one module is three months. there are four modules of learning calligraphyt: primary, secondary, advanced and higher. the course includes traditional pen and traditional paper making.
DAte: feBrUArY 07 to APrIL 07, 2012 VeNUe: INStItUte for PeACe AND SeCULAr StUDIeS Under the initiative ‘Pakistan India relaxed Visa regime’, the IPSS has organized a short documentary competition. this short documentary contest aims at exploring and recording the depth and seriousness of this social cause, moreover being able to capture on film the intense need of a resolve in this conflict zone.
DAte: MArCH 16 — 31, 2012 VeNUe: ALHAMrA ArtS CoUNCIL - tHe MALL Ajoka theatre in collaboration with the Lahore Arts Council presents the Basant Bahar theatre festival March 2012, BULLHA based on the life & times of Baba Bulleh Shah, written by Shahid Nadeem, directed by Madeeha Gauhar on 16th March
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:33 AM Page 9
Monday, 2 April, 2012
Lahore 09
Increase in fuel price is PPP’s death warrant: PML-N LAHORE stAff rePOrt
“PPP government has signed the death warrant of masses by jacking up petroleum and CNG princes,” Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Secretary Information Mushahid Ullah Khan and Media Coordinator Muhammad Mehdi said in a joint press conference held here on Sunday. They also strongly condemned the Karachi mayhem and vowed that PML-N would make Karachi the city of lights again after coming into power. They hailed statements of new Director General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) for announcing to abolish its political wing. “It is really shameful that Prime Minister Gilani claims to be descendant of Ghos Paak (Hazrat Abdul Qadir Gilani) and corruption scandals concerning his own son had come to surface,” they said. Extending support to the protest demonstrations occurring in different parts of country, particularly in Punjab against load shedding, they said PML-N believed that they must continue and their volume should be expanded further. They said that in the prevailing situation, sheer injustice was being done with Punjab where load shedding continued for hours. They said that millions of people had become jobless due to load shedding but government was not paying any attention to this issue. They said rather than linking the increase in petroleum prices with global recession and finding other justifications, the central government should provide relief to the people of all the provinces including Punjab as well. They also said the PML-N would decide the issue of NATO supplies according to the people’s will. They also vowed to build educational institutions, motorways, roads and industrial zones for the economic development of the province. They urged the government to give subsidy to masses on petroleum and diesel by curbing the corruption and tax defaulting in the country. They said that the investors from all over the world would have been investing in the country if the perpetrators of spreading chaos across Karachi by shooting and burning were held accountable in the past.
CINeMA
CINe StAr PH: 35157462
fILM
nOt AshAMed: noor-ul-ain, the owner of noor Paan shop, earns rs 1,000 daily from the pan shop that she has set up close to her home in Badami Bagh. MURTAZA ALI
‘Punjab is modern, educated’ education minister says Punjab govt is providing the maximum funds for education g Says Daanish School would change country’s future g
PPP, PML-N have nothing to offer, says Aleem khan LAHORE stAff rePOrt
LAHORE
P
stAff rePOrt
UNJAB Minister for Education Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said that government is implementing a comprehensive programme for providing modern educational facilities to the children and an all-out cooperation as well as assistance is bring provided to the private schools. He said Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) was providing grant and scholarships to the private educational institutions and students as the private educational institutions were performing a valuable service in the field of education. He said Daanish School project was a revolutionary step of Punjab government which would not only minimise the divide between the rich and the poor but the children of the poor parents will also be able to acquire modern education and play their due role in national development and prosperity. He expressed these views at the inauguration ceremony of international standard school in Harbanspura.
tIMe
BLooD MoNeY JoHN CArter tHe HUNGer GAMeS BLooD MoNeY kAHAANI
02:00 PM 04:15 PM 06:30 PM 09:00 PM 11:15 PM
CINe GoLD PH: 35340000
LoNDoN PArIS NewYork LoNDoN PArIS NewYork JoHN CArter LoNDoN PArIS NewYork LoNDoN PArIS NewYork
12:00 PM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 9:00 AM 12:00 AM
SoZo worLD PH: 36674271
LoNDoN PArIS NewYork LoNDoN PArIS NewYork BLooD MoNeY LoNDoN PArIS NewYork JoHN CArter
12:30 PM 2:30 PM 5:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:30 PM
SoZo GoLD PH: 36674271
BLooD MoNeY tere NAAL LoVe HoGAYA kAHAANI tHe HUNGer GAMeS BLooD MoNeY
12:30 PM 03:00 PM 05: 30 PM 08: 30 PM 11: 00 PM
The minister, Director Muhammad Naeem and the principal also addressed on the occasion besides others. Rehman said the network of Daanish Schools would be spread to the whole province since this programme would open up new avenues of progress and development whereas poorest of the poor students will also avail modern education facilities. The minister said Daanish schools would spread knowledge in every nook and corner of the country and would remove poverty and ignorance from backward areas and a new era of progress and development will usher in. He said government schools had been given the status of English medium schools last year while Punjab government had also lunched a vigorous campaign for primary enrolment and millions of children had been given admission in the schools as a result of this campaign whereas government was giving emphasis on the teachers training and funds had been provided to the concerned department for this purpose.
CM congratulates APNS LAHORE stAff rePOrt
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while congratulating the newly elected members of Executive Committee of All Pakistan Newspapers Society has expressed the hope that the newly elected office-bearers would utilise all their energies for the promotion of newspapers’ industry. The CM said the role of All Pakistan Newspapers Society was of great importance for introducing new trends and modern technology in newspapers industry and this organisation will continue its positive role in future as well.
Central leader of Pakistan Tehrik-eInsaf Abdul Aleem Khan has said that raise in oil and patrol prices has no justification and it would bring a new wave of price hike in the country. He said PTI would oppose any such move that would be a step towards killing the masses. He said prices were being decreased all over the world but the incumbent government was increasing prices. He said the rulers had nothing to do with the welfare of the common man and the masses, who were already facing the problem of load shedding, had been compelled to bear more burden. Khan said to solve the issue of energy crisis, PTI needed only one year. He said the national exchequer was empty and the rate of unemployment was the highest. He said the present government had failed to solve the problems of the country and was only concerned about its own political fate. He concluded that PTI had spread the message of ‘change’ all over the country and it would turn the fate of the country.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:33 AM Page 10
10 Lahore Governor vows to remove all hindrance in the way of marriage
Monday, 2 April, 2012
‘US slaves are pushing people towards mass suicide’ LAHORE stAff rePOrt
J
LAHORE APP
Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa on Sunday underlined the need for removing all hindrances and customs that complicated the weddings of poor girls. Addressing 8th annual mass wedding ceremony held under the aegis of Minhaj Welfare Foundation (MWF), a subordinate body of Tehreek-e-Minhajul-Quran, he said that legislation would be made at federal level to ensure that wedding ceremonies are simple and to remove all difficulties on the way of this sacred obligation. He termed dowry unislamic, adding that the teachings of Islam based on peace, tolerance, equality and brotherhood needed to be followed. He lauded the effort of Tehreek-i-Minhaj-ul-Quran to serve humanity in various fields including education, health and social welfare. The governor also appreciated MWF for holding mass marriage ceremony without any creed and race. He presented gifts to couples and congratulated them and expressed his pleasure for attending the ceremony.
AMAAT-E-ISLAMI leader Munawar Hasan has said the US slaves ruling the country were pushing the nation towards mass suicide. Inaugurating the JI membership drive at Masjid-e-Huda, Model Town, on Sunday, he said the rulers were raising the POL prices and electricity besides gas and tariff every fortnight and the latest raise was cruel and proved that the rulers were simply advancing the IMF agenda. He said the billions of dollars President Zardari had deposited in the Swiss Banks was ill-gotten money made through corruption. On the other hand, the majority of the people were unable to make both ends meet. The rulers had obtained heavy loans from the IMF and the World Bank and had transferred the amounts to their foreign accounts because of which the problems of the people remained unattended, he said, adding that the common man was deprived of even the basic facilities for health and education and the percentage
living below poverty line was increasing. The JI leader said the people accusing the rulers of US slavery on roads and streets were siding with the government in the parliament. He warned that restoring the NATO supplies would be suicidal and would tantamount to endorsing the bond of slavery and declared that the nation would never accept it. Hasan said the agenda of the Dafaie-Pakistan Council and the JI was the end of the US interference in the area. The two had made it clear to the government that if the parliament recommended restoration of NATO supplies, each and every route of these supplies would be blocked. He said those wanting to make NATO supplies conditional with the end of drone attacks were fools and wanted to push the nation in US slavery. Referring to the Karachi situation, Hasan said thousands of MQM’s men involved in heinous crimes had been cleared under the notorious NRO and they were behind the target killings and abductions for ransom. He said if the people wanted to be safe from target killings, they should change their attitude and vote for the JI next time.
Mehndi turns into murder lAHoRe: A 32-year-old man was killed due to aerial firing during a Mehndi ceremony in Nawankot Police Area on Sunday. The deceased identified as Abdul Sattar hailed from Jhuggian Nagra Nawankot and worked in a garments factory. Police said Mehndi ceremony of one Asif was in progress when Asif’s brother Rafiq and his friends, who were under the influence of liquor, started firing shots in the air as a result of which Asif, who was standing at the rooftop of his house received fatal bullet wounds. CoPS Held: Two constables were arrested for using unfair means during examination at Traffic Police Lines Thokar Niaz Baig. The constables were identified as Karam Elahi and Mohammad Saeed. Around 19 constables were also suspended after recovery of cheating material. Similarly, 17 constables were removed from the examination hall. BodieS FoUnd: Bhatti Gate police recovered two bodies from two different places on Sunday. Police claimed that both the men were addicts who had died of natural causes. Meanwhile, Tibbi City police recovered a body of a 45-year-old man from its jurisdiction. Police claimed that the man looked like an addict who had died of natural causes. inJURed dUe To ACid: Some unidentified persons spilled acid on a mentally-ill boy in Shahdara Police Area on Sunday. The injured boy was identified as Attique of Taj Colony. The boy’s family refused to initiate legal action against the unidentified culprits. FiRe: Household items worth million of rupees were reduced to ashes when fire broke out in a house in Chung area on Sunday. The cause of fire was said to be short circuit. Meanwhile, fire broke out in the house of Abdul Ghaffar, a resident of Dhani Ram Road, due to short circuit. Firefighters rushed to the scenes and extinguished fire after hectic efforts. gAng Held: A special team of Muzaffar Garh police arrested three proclaimed offenders. The arrested persons were identified as Naveed, Kali Kaneera and Nasir Sehrani. Police recovered three Kalashnikovs, six hand grenades and a bike from their possession. Meanwhile Nishtar Colony Investigation police arrested five robbers and recovered booty and weapons from them. stAff rePOrt
WhAt WAs Once A PAlAce: A donkey cart passes outside the dilapidated shalamar gardens, which were once the pride of the Mughal empire. ONLINE
Royal Palm Rose Flower Show concludes LAHORE stAff rePOrt
The Royal Palm Rose Show held over three days concluded yesterday at Royal Palm, as a large number of flower enthusiasts from amongst the general public attended the show, looking immensely heartened by the large number of varieties, over 80 in number planted in 99 beds and totalling 14, 000. Some of the extra ordinary varieties like uncle nazir, double delight, Baba de kuli, Benazir, teli, bobo, makan ti rose, Allama Iqbal and Quaid e Millat were appeciated by the experts and the interesting thing is that these varieties were all developed in Punjab.And the men resonsible for the amazing show were Col Jamil and Sabir Hussain. A painting competition was also held on this occasion with categories for
special children, other schools and colleges.Ayaz Ahmed topped amongst the special children, winning a cash prize of Rs.5, 000.In this category Yasir Abbas came second and was awarded a cash prize of Rs.3, 000 while Afifa Islam picked up the third p[rize, with cash of Rs.2000.All these prize winners are from Rising Sun School. In the other schools category, Shaheer Hussain of Garrison School came first and he seems a wonder artist with a lot of acheivements to his credit.While he has topped in many exhibitions, lately his portrait of Queen Elizbateh was selected for display in London.Maham Tariq came second and Wasiq Ahmed was third.As for the college category, Zahara Asim captured the top prize.Sidra Aslam came second and Osama Sohail Khan was third.They are all students of NCA.
Another talented one of Punjab University, Hira Asim fetched the fourth prize. At the conclusion of the Rose Flower
Show, Professor Tawab, Chairman of Rising Sun School awarded prizes to winners in the presence of a very large number of flower lovers.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:33 AM Page 11
Monday, 2 April, 2012
Editor’s mail 11
Changes in PIA
India’s water designs
Is this appointment in PIA of retired Air Martial Rao Qamar Suleman as MD going to be a blessing in disguise like Nur Khan and Rafique Saigol, or another disappointment and disaster like AVM Viqar Azeem, AVM Niaz, Ch Ahmed Saeed, Tariq Kirmani, Aijaz Haroon etc? PIA, inspite of its vast potential for revenue generation with an assured ethnic traffic, has been driven to a state of financial insolvency by a corrupt and incompetent management dominated by mediocrity and political nominees and
cronies. Since 2008, PIA’s vital marketing department has been headed by corrupt mediocrity with nominees who have never had any qualification or experience in commercial aviation sales. Commercial aviation is a specialised field which requires highly qualified professionals with integrity so that pilferage and leakages can be curtailed. The last four years has witnessed PIA losses rising from Rs 42.4 billion in March 2008 to Rs 111.5 billion by September 2011. PIA Liabilities offset
total assets by Rs 83.6 billion, with loss in nine months from Jan to Sept 2011 alone exceeding Rs 19.29 billion and Long Term Financing to the tune of Rs 34.9 billion against unconditional and irrevocable GOP guarantees and pledging all present and future receivables in ticket sales for UK and Saudi Arabia. The government has already reimbursed financial charges totalling Rs 17.29 billion towards equity for Jan to Sept 2011 and also provided unsecured loans of Rs 8 billion. It faces another suspension and
censure by European Union because of compromises in safety and maintenance standards, which it had undergone in 2007. Military aviation is an unregulated operation subject to security requirements and chain of command, while commercial aviation is a highly regulated service industry subject to ICAO regulations, passenger safety requirements, flight regularity and regulatory controls of all states where airline operates into. GULL ZAMAN Peshawar
tourism in Pakistan The tourist trade in Pakistan is flourishing these days. It helps us to earn valuable foreign exchange. Pakistan abounds in natural beauty as reflected in the northern areas of our country. Our Swat valley reminds the European tourists of Switzerland. There are high mountains with snow covered peaks here. Among these mountains is also the K-2 peak, the second highest in the world. The Nanga Parbat peak is the sixth in the order of the highest peaks in the world. There are glaciers in Gilgit which provide excellent opportunities for winter sports. There are many beautiful lakes in the midst of high mountains. We have many historical places worth-seeing like the site of the ancient cities of Mohen-jo-daro, Harappa, Taxilla, etc. We have historical monuments in and around the city of Lahore. ASFAAR AHMED Karachi
the drug cartel
educational system Don’t you think it’s too much now what we, the students of matriculation, have to suffer when there is a Cambridge School System too in the same school? No, because no one seem interested in thinking about this topic. There are thousands of schools presenting Cambridge and Matriculation system both. Teachers of the Cambridge system look upon us as we’re poor and don’t deserve attention even though we are way better in studies and every activity than the students of Cambridge. The teachers should not make students feel like this. Their parents of these students send their children to schools with the same wishes and hopes in their hearts, and they do pay their fees. The government should kink out all deficiencies of the Matriculation system and make a better one. RAMLA MUNIR Karachi
India will complete 40 dams on river Jhelum and Chenab. Four large and 16 small dams have become operational. India is building world’s third largest dam Kargil on river Indus. Also a water tunnel is now working and taking 45 percent water of river Indus. India has completed the disputed Baglihar dam on river Chenab and it is working. India has decided to make Pakistan a desert and its nation on the knees without firing a single bullet by 2015. This is water war. Why is the government and we are sleeping? KARAR ALI Karachi
Another shocker Screeching headlines of all English and Urdu newspapers as well as electronic media on Sunday (April 1) announcing the latest price-hike of petroleum products only reflected the much hurt sentiments and feelings of people from all segments of the society and hinted at how much their domestic budgets are going to hit very hard this time. Higher petrol and diesel prices mean more expenses on transportation and subsequently, the prices of daily use articles are quite viciously hiked much more than actually needed to offset the adverse effect of the freshest POL increase setting new records. Some of the headlines, as all could not be reproduced here for want of space, read: “Govt adds fuel to nation’s misery” “Fuel prices hit all-time high” “Government hurls another fuel bomb at masses” “Petrol price crosses Rs 105 mark”
With this substantial increase in petrol, diesel, kerosene and other POL products prices, how much the domestic budgets of people are going to be adversely hit? This can be worked out by those who are good at minus and plus business and can do figure work required in this regard. As a matter of fact, middle class and lower class people which form majority of the population are going to be hit to the maximum extent in the hardest manner, to say the least. This once again underlines the dire need for fuel saving measures to keep the petrol, diesel and CNG expenses somewhat under check and control despite all the hiked POL products prices. This is so because the federal government is all but determined to keep hurling petrol bombs on the people every now and now on one pretext or the other. MOHSIN A HAQ Lahore
Reports that 9,000 Kgs of Ephedrine, a highly dangerous contraband chemical, which is also used in manufacture of Ecstasy and Cocaine, was allowed to be imported by two pharmaceutical companies based in Multan during 2010 are very disturbing. This irregular import is over and above the total annual legitimate requirements of 10,000 Kgs of Ephedrine for the whole pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan. This unchecked import of a killer chemical, which has resulted in deaths of hundreds of thousands and habitual addiction of millions, is a crime against future generations of this country. Those elected were not given a mandate so that they or their family members could play with lives of citizens and take this country back into stone ages without any electricity or security. Those guilty, irrespective of their political clout, must be punished to serve as a deterrence for others. Even if this Ephedrine was used in drugs which were smuggled across the border, it is an act of terrorism, as heinous as being involved in smuggling weapons of mass destruction. Pakistan will become a country inhabited by millions of addicts while few drug peddlers would become billionaires overnight. This is a very serious crime against people of Pakistan. This is a threat to our national security which is more lethal than that posed by terrorists from across our borders. All those within the bureaucracy, the political executive, customs, health ministry and ANF must be taken to task, for this is a crime against humanity. MALIK TARIQ ALI Lahore Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan Fax: +92-42-36298302 e-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters may be edited for length and clarity. It would be appreciated if letters were addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively.
How money laundering works
By Faisal Zaman
D
oes crime pay? For those of us who claim to be morally correct the answer would be a resounding no. For others who have mastered the skill to draw dispassionate conclusions, the answer may be different. “Obviously crime pays, or there would be no crime” is an exciting proposition that stimulates the analytical faculties of both its supporters and critics. Study Al Capone of yesteryear or Madoff or Fastow and Skilling of today and you would repel or be thrilled, depending upon your natural inclinations, to know that they made hefty gains from their criminal activities and lived lavishly from the proceeds of their crimes. Their stories, for them, did not
have the desired ending but their journey through life, for many, was and still remains something to be desired if not followed. We must however remember that as life unfolded these notorious white collar criminals were stripped of all wealth, status and standing. They spent or are destined to spend substantial part of their lives behind the bars. And all the illegal wealth they had amassed was and is of no help or use to them. Crime in its scale and degree of influence on a society has changed over time but the perennial philosophy behind it remains unchanged. Crime is always perpetrated and often prevented by humans. And humans as specie have not changed. We have survived hundreds of millennia with the same blend of emotions, desires, motivations and beliefs. This blend essentially controls and dictates all our actions. The motive behind a crime today may not be substantially different from the motive behind a crime hundreds of years back. Lust, greed, hate, anger, retribution, frustration, power or money or a twisted combination of all were and still largely remain the basic motives behind a crime. The methods have im-
proved but motives of a crime remain almost the same. It is only natural that gain made from a crime must be protected and preserved. This is the silent pledge taken by all criminals. By hiding the proceeds of crime it was generally believed that the criminal and the crime would also remain hidden. In ancient times, proceeds of crime were stashed away in caves or buried under the earth only to resurface at an opportune time or when some need arose. However, with the introduction of the financial systems, capital/money markets and artificial persons such as corporations, everything changed. Criminals rose to the occasion and used the legal channels to shield illegal gains. Hence the phenomenon of “money laundering” in its notorious glory came to haunt the law enforcers. In common parlance, money laundering, as the name suggests, means cleaning dirty money. Dirty money means proceeds of a crime. This cleaning process includes the available legal means to hide criminal acts and the criminals behind them. Through this process the proceeds of crime are passed through different stages so as to
wash away the stains of crime and to establish that these proceeds were gained through legitimate means. The offence of money laundering originates from a predicate offence. According to Article 2 (h) of UN Convention against Corruption the term “predicate offence” means any offence as a result of which proceeds have been generated. In Pakistan, a predicate offence is defined as an offence specified in the Schedule of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010. Under the said Schedule specific offences under The Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, The Arms Act, 1878, The Foreigners Act, 1946, The Copyright Ordinance, 1962, The Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965, The Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969, The Emigration Ordinance, 1979, The Control of Narcotics Substances Act, 1997, The Anti Terrorism Act, 1997, National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 and The Registered Designs Ordinance, 2000 are considered predicate offences. There are three stages of a successful money laundering operation namely: Placement: Putting the funds into the financial system through
“structuring” or “smurfing” – deposits of currency in amounts under the reporting threshold. “Structuring” occurs to avoid antimoney laundering reporting, to avoid suspicion of commercial activity and to help launder proceeds of crime. “Smurfing” is the term given to the process whereby criminals use a number of individuals (smurfs) to deposit the proceeds of crime. By using a number of different parties to make cash deposits a financial service provider is less likely to question the transaction as an unusual one than if one person had made a single large scale cash deposit. Layering: Moving the money around in financial institutions and from one nation to another to suggest a legitimate source and making it difficult for authorities to link the funds to the ultimate beneficiary. Integration: Integration of the money into the legitimate financial system. Money launderers intentionally target areas that lack desired regulatory or legal controls. Real estate, capital markets, money markets, commodity exchanges, financial institutions, foreign exchange, jewelry and antiquities are
some of the key areas that may be exploited to launder money. The primary reason, in most jurisdictions, is the absence of strict controls and poor application of laws. Astonishingly financial sector and capital markets around the world were at first opposed to strict antimoney laundering regimes fearing a drop in profits and client base. The situation is no different in Pakistan. Dirty money or ill-gotten gains in Pakistan inter alia originate from corruption, drug trafficking, illegal cash couriers (Hawala), financial/corporate crimes including tax evasion, kidnapping for ransom, terrorist activities, smuggling of goods and people, gun running and intellectual property crimes. Predominantly cash based society, Pakistan provides ample space for the money launderers to either route their illegal proceeds through cash couriers in Pakistan or invest in Pakistan with virtually no questions asked. With porous borders and inherent corruption coupled with abject poverty Pakistan is considered a haven for money launderers. The writer is a lawyer based in Islamabad.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:34 AM Page 12
12 Comment Petrol price hikes Here we go again
T
here was, and is, no way to do this right. The government can try to present its side of the picture but the mob shall hear none of it. Where is our cheap fuel, ask the citizens of a nation that produces a paltry 15 percent of the fuel they consume. Oil prices, the government reminds us, are still the lowest in the region. And that all has to change if we are to free up some fiscal space for welfare projects. The president might be able to accomplish the impossible – in the imagination of his supporters and detractors alike – but a godlike command of the international oil markets he most certainly does not wield. The age of cheap fuel, like that of cheap food, is over. If the president of the US is nervous about raising fuel prices in what is an election year for him, would the saviour on horseback that the media routinely imagines as ideal leadership for us manage to do any better? The reaction of the media in the whole affair has been far from ideal. First of all, the rather lazy word play of “petrol bomb” doesn’t really look like it’s on its way to retirement. The whole process has sort of become as mechanical as the Ogra process itself. It is a testament to our vacuous media that there has been no attempt to get an oil markets expert to weigh in on the subject. For the TV channels, to go “vox pops” or man-on-the-street on the subject is much easier and that is indeed what they will do. Asking for folks who are filling in their vehicles what they think of the price-hike is going to yield a predictable, passionate and vastly ill-informed response. Much is made of the government taxation on oil. With individuals who dodge taxes being pegged at around 97 percent of the population, an insistence on avoiding indirect taxation is laughable. We need some grownups directing public discourse. The waxing and waning of the international oil markets are an unactionable variable. It’s about time we deal with the issue rationally.
Averted Attack on parliament
T
he problem with the performance indicators of law enforcement agencies is that you can only be certain of their failures. In another parallel universe, for instance, the federal parliament has been attacked, in what would have been the single, most grave terrorist attack in the country’s history, symbolically speaking. Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that the attack was to take place on the day of the joint session of parliament and the handler of the attack cell, it has been disclosed, was a government official belonging to the finance division. Though not many take our security czar’s word as gospel, there is reason to believe the claim. Militants had been warning since some time now that, were the parliament to pass the resolution that would reverse the government decision on the Nato supply routes, they would take to targeting legislators. What better venue than the house itself? Perhaps Pakistan’s great unsung heroes are those from within the political class. It is the much-maligned politician who has been on the receiving end of the worst kind of state repression in the history of the country. Yet, they are at it. It has been a slow battle of attrition between the democratic and anti-democratic forces in the Republic, which has now culminated at a point where publicly yearning for military rule is impossible, even by political parties that are the darlings of the deep state. The caustic reaction of many, especially those within the non-voting, urban, middle-classes, towards politicians in general reveals the underlying yearning for authoritarian governance in their minds. In democratic dispensations, where the dividends of democracy and, yes, patronage are spread out into the rest of the country, this class feels unattended. In authoritarian regimes, on the other hand, a handful of urban centres are patronised; the junta feels no need, really, to engage the peripheries. In this day and age, the state should ensure the safety of practitioners of the art of the possible. This should not be interpreted as lax security for the rest of the country; just a reminder that the electorate in general has a better shot at realising its hopes and aspirations in the physical safety of the politicians who try to woo it.
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
Monday, 2 April, 2012
On acid attacks We need much more than just promulgating a law
By Waqqas Mir ome weeks ago I argued in this space that we need to celebrate Ms Chinoy’s Oscar because it stood for candour and openness when it comes to confronting difficult issues. I had also argued that her film will force the society to confront an issue that it has often ignored. Cinema can be a powerful medium because it puts issues on a platform and forces us to acknowledge them. Unlike ever before, Pakistani media is now discussing the crime of acid attacks. The heart wrenching story of Ms Fakhra is a part of this. If injustice needs a face to affect our lives and to force us into action then I hope and pray that her story, among others, gives us a much needed wake up call. Acid attacks on women are a horrific crime. However, contrary to what most prime time television commentators would have you believe this problem is not limited to Pakistan. I am all for criticising the failings of my own country but painting it as a place filled with animals in complete ignorance of context is getting rather boring. Till recently, Bangladesh had the highest number of per capita acid attacks against women. The problem also exists to a significant degree in India, Uganda and Cambodia among others. Patriarchy or injustice against women is not limited to Pakistan. This also concedes, however, that the problem does exist to no small degree in Pakistan.
Criminalisation of acid attacks through the insertion of a specific offence in the Pakistan Penal Code is a positive step and yet in many ways it represents the failings of the state. Making something a crime through legislation can help but it should never be seen as the ultimate panacea for a serious problem in a country like ours. Murder is a crime—that doesn’t stop people from killing each other, right? Criminalising such heinous acts is perhaps a necessary step but the devil, as they say, is in the details—and by details here I mean enforcement and an attention to what matters for victims. The provisions that criminalise acid attacks, while laudable in many ways, suffer from vagueness in ways important. The minimum fine is to be a million but there is no mention of the maximum. This could expose the law to constitutional challenges— both at a general and at an as-applied level. Furthermore, the law makes no mention of who will receive the fine. One presumes from the way the law is drafted that the fine will go to the state. This represents a basic flaw if the aim was to help the victims. Victims of acid attacks suffer harm at many levels—this includes but is not limited to the physical, psychological and financial. A law genuinely aimed at providing redress to victims of such a crime should have provided for the fine to be paid to the victims. I do not mean to suggest that acid attacks are a crime solely against women. We know of a number of instances where men have suffered acid attacks from both men and women. However, it is important to recognise that acid attacks do have a gender based dimension. A majority of those affected are women. This crime represents another facet of a patriarchal mindset which treats women as lesser beings and as an object to be used and punished if the “need” is felt. Changing this mindset will involve a long-term focus. This includes awareness campaigns as well as sensitising our children to gender based violence through reform of school curriculum. It is also worth pointing out that while the law regarding acid attacks has been re-
formed, the law regarding sale and purchase of such substances deserves attention too. United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances recognises the dangers that arise from lack of regulation in this regard. The law on the sale and purchase of such substances should impose burdens on both the buyer and the purchaser. Any unregulated sale and purchase of these substances must also be punished. And by punishment I do not mean jail sentences. We need to impose financial penalties. Money coming out of their pockets is what hurts people and these funds can be routed to victims whenever acid attacks involve sale or purchase of such substances in violation of the law. Many acid attacks against women go unreported. This issue needs to be addressed as well. One possible solution to this is for the government is to use a public-private partnership to establish women protection centres in every union council. These centres should have hotlines, accessible by phone, email and SMS which people can use to anonymously report an attack which can then be investigated with the help of police. After the 18th Amendment, provinces have greater legislative competence over criminal laws. They also need to recognise and examine gender based violence in its multiple forms and take effective action against it. Establishing legal aid cells to help the most vulnerable in society is not just incumbent upon all provincial governments but also bar associations. In a few short months I will return to Pakistan. My greatest motivation is that if I am worth my salt as a lawyer then I will always have a fight on my hands—a fight that can improve the lives of people. The millions who struggle and suffer need all of us to take up issues that affect them. The writer is a Barrister and an Advocate of the High Courts. He is currently pursuing his LLM in the USA and can be reached at wmir.rma@gmail.com. Twitter: @wordoflaw
A cloud in the halo indian army chief’s questionable behaviour
third eye By M J Akbar
I
t is an uncomplicated requirement. To get the right answer, you have to ask the right question. This simple fact often seems to escape the curious or even the querulous. In 2011 India’s single-minded Army Chief V K Singh informed our highminded Defence Minister A K Antony that a brother-officer, Lieutenant-General Tejinder Singh, who retired as head of defence intelligence agency, had offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore. Tejinder Singh was senior enough to have been a candidate for army chief himself, stark proof of spreading venality at the top of an institutionally honed pyramid. This was fish rotting from the head, not mid-level grease shared with smooth arms dealers and oily politicians. The army chief clearly had this bribery conversation taped, possibly because he suspected what its contents would be, and wanted a record. There was always sufficient basis for investigation in order to discover in which other directions this rot had travelled. Antony raised a shocked hand to a fevered brow. Then the moral minister and the martial chief decided to cover up this nasty episode in a blanket of silence. Why? Antony’s official, weak and limp answer is that he did not receive any written complaint from General Singh. But there was no
written complaint in March 2012 either. This time around, the general spoke through the press, and more than once when his initial salvo failed to hit. Did Antony order a CBI enquiry because he suddenly became interested in the truth or because he was unnerved by the slosh of muck beginning to swirl around his feet in the middle of a parliament session? Ironically, a confidential enquiry in 2011 would have protected the image of the armed forces. Has, then, the CBI been set up to play a charade? Antony argued that General Singh did not want the matter pursued. So what? The defence minister takes the decisions in our democracy. It was his call. He chose to collude with the army chief in the grey zone of silence. It takes one side to smash a silence. But why did General Singh discover his conscience this March after having put it into cold storage for a year? Was it because the government refused to change his date of birth and give him a 10-month extension? Would he have been such a cheerleader for honesty if the government had buckled before his self-promoting campaign, which he described as a “question of honour”? How honourable is it for an army chief to leak secret letters he has sent, in his official capacity, to the prime minister on military readiness? Did he discover that India was “unprepared” only on March 12, when he sent his letter, because he wanted to embarrass a government that had denied further tenure? He is still wearing his uniform: Does he have any respect for it? It is in the nature of this variable animal called the human being to pay out the highest interest to self-interest. Honour is the abdication of self-interest to the larger good. It is, consequently, the bedrock value of institutions like the defence forces, critical as they are to the integrity and stability of the land we call our motherland. Parliament also considers honour a fundamental virtue. It is still the correct form to address those
who have taken the oath of office in government as “Hon’ble Minister” (I don’t know either why there is an apostrophe in the first word, but maybe no one was ever certain about the accolade). Experience has, however, shown that honour seems to have flexible norms. Shakespeare’s Mark Antony taunted Brutus, the assassin of Julius Caesar, for losing the difference between honour and betrayal. (Our defence minister, incidentally, is named after the Christian St Anthony, not the polytheist Roman general.) An old proverb bemoans that there is honour even among thieves, evident in the protective pact of silence. We have reached a point in public life where the only definition of culpable self-interest is theft and bribery. But betrayal of the code of honour, the parade of lies, deception and overreach can be as, if not more, damaging. General Singh is untainted by allegations of financial corruption. Perhaps this has led to an unconscious sense of superiority, enhanced by the usual coterie of sycophants, which persuades him that his campaign of revenge is burnished by some moral horizon. If the damage he has inflicted were merely upon himself, it would have been a sorry enough sight. But he has also hurt India’s proudest institution, the armed forces, and thereby the nation itself. Antony has spent a lifetime making a virtue of placidity. If you do nothing except wring your hands, your hands are unlikely to get dirty. But there are occasions when indecision is a crime, and crime tends to seek punishment. Antony has been stirred, but not yet shaken. A cloud has darkened the halo that was his preferred headgear. And the weather has not cleared. The columnist is editor of The Sunday Guardian, published from Delhi, India on Sunday, published from London and Editorial Director, India Today and Headlines Today.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:34 AM Page 13
Monday, 2 April, 2012
Comment 13
The Afghanistan conundrum
On bombs and parliament
Only a political solution will stick
talking about greater good or what we call the national interest
Politact By Arif Ansar 011 was a year of turmoil as far as US-Pakistan ties are concerned and was marked by three major events; the Raymond Davis incident in January, Operation Geronimo in May, and Salala check post incident in November. Shah Mehmood Qureshi fell victim to the controversy surrounding the Raymond episode while Husain Haqqani is still dealing with the Memogate scandal. After each of the above developments, Pakistan took punitive actions. For example, soon after the Raymond Davis incident, the nation asked for the US security personnel to leave the country. In the aftermath of Osama operation, the country suspended intelligence cooperation, which included the closing down of Shamsi airbase. And, after the Salala tragedy, Pakistan shut down Nato’s Afghan supply lines, demanded a formal apology, and initiated a serious review of its policy and ties with the US. Moreover, each incident is followed by a predictable pattern of activities. Immediately after a mishap, a media blame game starts, followed by a cooling off and patching up period. Business returns to normal only after a flurry of high-level visits from US and behind the scene agreements on new set of rules. Along these lines, this week a number of critical meetings have taken place. Gen Mattis and Gen Allen visited Pakistan to meet with senior military officials, including Gen Kayani. PM Gilani and President Obama also met in Seoul on Tuesday. The media reported the meetings between the military officials of the two countries to be the first since the Mohmand incident. On the contrary, Gen Dempsey claimed he had met Kayani on five
occasions during this timeframe. Reportedly, Lt Gen Pasha also had a number of encounters with his counterparts. On the political side, Foreign Minister Khar recently met Hilary Clinton in London, and according to reports, she will be travelling to Pakistan in April. So it can be said that behind the scenes political and military officials of the two nations have continued to have exchanges, while publicly maintaining distance, though little is known about the substance of these meetings. These high-level gatherings are taking place as the Afghan war has taken a turn for the worse. Mistrust between Afghan Security Forces (ASF) and NATO troops is on the increase. According to media reports on Tuesday, more than a dozen Afghan soldiers were arrested on allegations of plotting to attack the Afghan Defence Ministry, and 10 suicide jackets were found inside the heavily guarded ministry. The arrests of afghan soldiers have also raised fears of backlash from Afghan forces, following spike in attacks on Nato troops. The incident has once again put a question mark on the ability of afghan forces to take over the security responsibilities after US withdrawal, which has been the bedrock of Nato strategy. In the aftermath of the killing of 16 civilians by a US soldier in Panjwaii District, Taliban and Hizbe Islami both have suspended the peace talks. Meanwhile, Afghan President Hamid Karzai had informed the US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta that foreign troops should be pulled out of Afghanistan’s remote areas, and the transition process of security responsibilities should be completed by 2013, instead of 2014. Despite the setbacks, US officials have emphasised to carry on with their strategy. Gen John Allen recently stated that he has not decided yet on launching offensive in eastern Afghanistan. However, he stated, “We anticipate shifting resources to the east in any case because it remains there that the principal COIN (counterinsurgency) fight will ultimately be shaped in 2012.” He also criticised Pakistan for allowing Al-Qaeda to operate with impunity, and Iran, which he said fuels insurgency.
Speaking at the Brooking Institute in Washington DC on March 26, Gen Allen emphasised on the potential for complementary operations to purge safe havens from terrorists. Depending on Pakistan’s parliamentary review, he commented, the US and Pakistan could talk about combining capabilities for joint operations. He was probably sending a message to Pakistan, indicating flexibility on the joint use of drones. However, Pakistan wants to end the drone strikes altogether or put some kind of conditionality on it. On the other hand, one of strongest supporter of US presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014, Sen Lindsey Graham recently stated that if Karzai did not change his stance on two key US demands, the US military might as well pack up and leave Afghanistan ‘sooner rather than later’. Graham said, “If the president of the country can’t understand how irrational it is to expect us to turn over prisoners and if he doesn’t understand that the night raids have been the biggest blow to the Taliban ... then there is no hope of winning. None.” The tensions between military and political objectives continue to complicate US relations with both Pakistan and Afghanistan. While the emphasis remains on achieving military objectives, the attaining of political goals has become more distant. It is not that Karzai and Zardari do not want to go along with the US strategy but that it has become politically untenable for them to do so, and this represents a paradigm shift on the ground. The type of conflict in question can only be won by winning over more people than losing to the extremists, and the tactics and strategies that help achieve this. At this juncture of the war, the military approach is only complicating and delaying arriving at a political solution. And the longer it takes to reach a negotiated solution; the room to wiggle is only going to shrink. The writer is the chief analyst for PoliTact (www.PoliTact.com and http:twitter.com/politact) and can be reached at aansar@politact.com
witter-world, I’ve realised, is a fun place. It allows people to put their feet, hands, and any other part of the human anatomy into their mouths, all within the extremely reasonable space of 140 characters, and usually with inflammatory consequences. This is exactly what a certain young orthodontist-cum-bloggercum-PTI activist managed to do yesterday evening. In his allocated 140 characters, said activist conveyed his displeasure upon hearing that a plan to attack parliament had been foiled. Being a man of few, and mostly incoherent words, he exhibited his annoyance by repeatedly uttering the most common synonym for human excrement, and telling the world at large that the counter-factual i.e., parliament being bombed, would’ve been a dream come true. We were later told that this was a joke. Rather than apologise for his terrible and frankly, morbid sense of humor, this fellow repeatedly uttered there was nothing wrong with what he’d said. Ultimately, after much persuasion, we were on the receiving end of a halfhearted clarification that focused more on our inability to ‘get’ the joke, as opposed to any wrongdoing on his part. Not to jump to hasty conclusions or anything, but after this ‘clarification’, one cannot be faulted for thinking that this young member of the PTI actually enjoys having his foot in his mouth. By umair Javed The reaction to his comments was fairly predictable. A sizeable contingent of his party’s supporters immediately got the punch line, (I suppose party discipline requires sharing a sense of humor as well) and were ‘LOL-ing’, ‘ROTFL-ing’, and indulging in other such animated acts. Another set of people were outraged by the thought that someone would find the killing of parliamentarians a) humorous, or b) a dream come true. Okay, so maybe I’m reading too much into it. It was a silly thing to say, and to be fair, it was said on the one medium most suitable for nonsense. But despite my best efforts, I can’t seem to look past the reality that there are people out there – not necessarily this dentist or other people from Imran Khan’s party – who genuinely think that Pakistan’s problems can be solved by eliminating a fixed number of individuals cur-
rently occupying high-offices in the country. Get them out of the picture, and things will be fine. It’s a frighteningly simple solution that to some minds makes perfect sense. Politicians are hated the world over, in all cultures, in almost every country. Part of this hatred stems from their own antics, and part of it from the very nature of their job – to run things for the rest of us. Specific to the case of Pakistan though, the people who harbour such sentiment do so because of two reasons. Firstly, they feel there are others who can do a better job – like Imran Khan instead of Asif Ali Zardari, or xyz technocrat instead of some minister, or in some cases, themselves instead of their MNA/MPA. The second reason is more abstract, and has everything to do with their idealised notion of Pakistan, and what it means to do a ‘better job’ running this country. Every person living in this country has some idea of what Pakistan should be like. Some want a secular state, others want an Islamic state. Some want lower petrol prices, others want higher support prices. Some, a very small bunch, want a classless society, others want to enjoy their wealth with no transgressions. All of these voices express themselves in some way or another and each voice, by its very nature, attempts to come across as the real deal. A subset within these idealised notion-holders has come to terms with the idea of a compromised utopia and a shared political process – either by sheer exhaustion/coercion or by choice. Another subset, however, is still struggling to grasp the idea of this shared process. To them, sharing is messy, sharing results in riff-raff rising up to the top, sharing means compromising on the national interest. This last sentiment, apart from being patronising and parochial, is also illegal and historically speaking, has resulted in the derailment of a shared political process. On closer examination, it would be fair to assume that the root of all of this patronising from the idea that a ‘greater good’ or what we call the ‘national interest’ can be defined in abstraction from the realities of the country itself. Kalabagh dam, in its role as the love child of national interest sorts, is one very good example of this phenomenon. The truth, and it will remain so whether some of us like it or not, is that two of the realities of this country are its heterogeneous makeup and a constitutionally ordained democratic framework. Any solution to our problems, and there are many of the latter to go around, needs to come from within the process itself. And contrary to what some might think, bombing parliament (sic), or getting rid of the president (by hook or by crook), will achieve nothing. The writer blogs at http://recycledthought.blogspot.com. Email him at umairjaved87@gmail.com, or send a tweet @umairjav
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:34 AM Page 14
14
Monday, 2 April, 2012
Bieber, Swift big winners at slimy Kids’ Choice Awards LOS ANGELES reuters
T
HE green slime flowed so much that even first lady Michelle Obama could not escape it at the Kids' Choice Awards where singers Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift came away big winners.The programme is an annual stop for Hollywood stars who are popular among teenage and young viewers and this 25th anniversary was no exception.Hosted by ‘Men in Black’ movie star Will Smith, the awards featured performances by Katy Perry and British boy band One Direction, who performed their hit ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ from the album ‘Up All Night.’ But as always, the green slime was the biggest star at the show where Bieber won favourite male singer in fan voting.On stage, Bieber took the orange blimp trophy from Smith, then the show's host had a surprise for the 18-year-old pop star. Bieber was also voted by fans as the celebrity they most wanted to see get slimed, and the green goo flowed from the rafters and water cannons aimed at the stage.There was so much goo splashing around in the finale that it splattered on the face of a surprised first lady.Obama was on hand at the popular show to give the "big help" blimp trophy to country star Swift.Selena Gomez, 19, was named favourite female singer for her work with pop band The Scene, as well as favorite TV actress in the ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’. ‘Twilight’ stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner both grabbed orange blimps. Stewart, 21, was named favourite movie actress. Lautner, 20, earned the title best "butt kicker" for his role as werewolf Jacob Black in the vampire romance flicks.
Leisure Club’s 15th anniversary celebration hosts over 4,000 families LAHORE neWs desK
Leisure Club welcomed four thousand families to their Fashion Circus, in town for one day only, to celebrate the brands' 15th anniversary. The Leisure Club Circus was led by Ring Master ShaanLashari and showcased over 162 performers, men women, and kids - all under the circus’ majestic big top tent. The entourage of performers included flying trapeze artists, acrobats, flame throwers, jugglers, dancers, magicians, knife throwers, balancing acts, marksmanship, roller juggling, gymnasts and spinners. Leisure Club proudly supported Pakistani talent and performing artists and to this end, every act, model and team that is part of their Fashion Circus was a local talent brought together by Leisure Club. It was a never-seen before amalgamation of a mega fashion show with all the tricks and wiles of the Circus folk.
MUMBAI: Vidya Balan and raima Sen, some of the cast of film ‘Parineeta’ pose attend producer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s ‘A film festival’.
LAHORE: The Leisure Club welcomed four thousand families to their Fashion Circus, in town for one day only, to celebrate the brands’ 15th anniversary.
MUMBAI: Shazahn Padmsee, Zarine khan and Jacqueline fernandez share a light moment during the promotion for their forthcoming film ‘Housefull 2’.
MUMBAI: Akshay kumar, John Abraham and ritesh Deshmukh share a light moment during the promotion for their forthcoming film ‘Housefull 2’.
At the family fashion event, Leisure Club showcased their urban Western Spring/Summer 2012 collection that was bold, bright and unrestrained and based on three new lines: the circus spring line, the angry bird line and core colour blocking line, which hit stores this March. In addition, Leisure Club unveiled a limited edition Hi-tech T-shirt line with a surprise performance by Quadrum and the VBoys led by choreographer Veer. The performers dazzled the audience in their shiny and shimmery costumes - all designed and made by the creative team at Leisure Club. The event was attended by over four thousand families from across Lahore including, Sefam Managing DirectorHamid Zaman , Kamran Lashari, Jahanzeb Q. Khan of Pepsi, WaleedZaman Art Director of Kayseria, film director Bilal Lashari, fashion designers KamiarRokni and Sara Shahid, MahmoodRehman and HamzaTarrar.
Akshay and John get down to physical blows MuMBAi: If you had thought that the short-temper that Bollywood has been prey to, is on its way downhill, think again. what with Shah rukh khan slapping Shirish kunder and Saif Ali khan getting into a brawl with Iqbal Sharma, Bollywood actors seem to be tackling a tolerance level of zero. the latest entrants in this club of short-fused actors are John Abraham and Akshay kumar.In a theatre in Mumbai where a special screening of ‘Housefull 2’ had been organised, John and Akshay came down to blows after a silly banter between the two escalated into a physical fight of sorts. the situation had become so volatile that bodyguards of the two actors had to intervene in order to stop the actors from messing it up further. According to eyewitnesses, the incident which had begun as a joke on ‘Desi Boyz’, the last movie where John and Akshay were seen together, soon turned a nasty shade. Speaking to a leading daily, the spokesperson of the film later said, “everything’s well. It was just a silly argument that’s sorted.” the actors, from what the grapevine has, have been on sort-ofloggerheads with each other since their ‘Garam Masala’ days. And with the garam temper that both are known to be victims of, even innocuous banters turn into dangerous fights. Seems like it’s time Bollywood indulged in some meditation. or pills to soothe their temper, may be. Agencies
Katrina Kaif injured while
shooting MuMBAi: Industry’s most bankable actress katrina kaif was recently spotted at the book launch of `raajneeti - the film and Beyond` with an injured leg.while some claimed it to be a tattoo that she was hiding, others insisted that she was shooting and probably forgot to take off the bandage before coming to the book launch. However, a source revealed that katrina got injured while shooting for Yrf`s next when her leg got bruised against the silencer of the bike she was riding. “Nobody knows about this because katrina didn’t go around talking about it to one and all. Injuries on sets do happen, but she doesn’t believe in making a big issue about it,” said the source.“She was sitting on a bike, and when the bike tilted a little more than expected, the silencer, which was very hot, brushed against her skin. It was extremely painful, but she insisted on carrying on the shoot, dismissing her injury. It was only later, when the skin turned raw and the pain became unbearable that she went to the doctor to avoid any complications of the burn getting infected,” added the source. Agencies
Shah Rukh could have been ‘Munna Bhai’ MuMBAi: Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra says that Shah rukh khan had always been his first choice for most of his films, be it '3 Idiots', 'Munnabhai MBBS', or the yet-to-be released 'ferrari
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:34 AM Page 15
Madonna
perfume ad too racy for TV NEW YORK
M
Agencies
A D O N N A ’ S ad for her new perfume Truth or Dare is proving to be too hot to handle for Disney owned ABC as it has asked that the pop starbe covered up for the promo to run on the network. ABC executives ordered producers of the ad to digitally alter offending shots of her body in the 30-second black-and-white promo, which shows her singing over a dance beat, “I’m a bad girl.” “ABC viewed the ad and came
Julia roberts doesn't want kids to see her play evil LOS ANGELES Agencies
Julia Roberts does not want her children to watch the movie 'Mirror Mirror' in which she plays the Evil Queen Clementianna.The mother of 7-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus and 4-yearold Henry doesn't know if she's ready to let her three children with hubby Danny Moder, 43, see their mother in such a villainous role."I think my kids are too young to see the movie, considering my part," Roberts told Us Magazine on playing Snow White's tormentor.In a rare return to the screen, the actress stars opposite Lily Collins in the Snow White remake."It was a lot of fun, I could go off the rails in any direction at any time," the 44-year-old actress said of her role.But she said that there were no signs of the Evil Queen coming out at home. "I am happy to announce that the Evil Queen is not inside me. But without naming names, I drew how to play the part from a couple of people I know," she added.
ki Sawari'."Shah rukh was offered '3 Idiots', 'ferrari ki Sawari', 'Munnabhai' and other films. He is our first guy - we go to him first and if he says no, then we move on," Chopra said. Shah rukh had backed out of 'Munnabhai MBBS' because of back trouble and could not do '3 Idiots' because of date issues.If Chopra had his way, Srk would have been the Munnabhai of 'Munnabhai MBBS' and Sanjay Dutt would have played the small role of Zaheer, a cancer patient."today, I feel Sanjay is perfect as Munna and same way Sharman fits the central role in 'ferrari ki Sawari'. It is all about writing and getting the right actor for the right role, which is difficult," Chopra said. Agencies
back with a list of changes,” a leading daily has quoted a source as saying.A second source also confirmed the news.“ABC has requested some changes be made to the content of the Truth or Dare perfume commercial,” the source said.Even once the requested changes are made, ABC brass think the ad can only run after 9 pm - with the exception of daytime show ‘The View’. It was earlier reported that the Material Girl’s video for her new song, ‘Girl Gone Wild’, had to be re-edited after YouTube banned it from open view and slapped it with an “18 years and over” rating because of racy content.
‘titanic’ theme song nauseates kate winslet, too LOS ANGELES: To paraphrase a Michael Jackson song that may or may not have been covered by Celine Dion, you are not alone in hating Celine Dion’s Academy Award–winning Titanic theme song, ‘My Heart Will Go On.’ This week, in spite of Kate Winslet’s best efforts to promote the 1997 film’s re-release in 3-D as a thrilling and necessary addition to pop culture, the actress could not help but confess that the track triggers an involuntary, nauseating response every time she hears it. Only unfortunately for Winslet—whose career immediately skyrocketed after the James Cameron picture—the song follows her wherever she goes. Winslet told an interviewer that she feels “like throwing up” every time she hears the theme song: “Every time I go into a bar in a hotel where there is a live pianist or a restaurant where they are changing their music according to who walks in the door apparently, it’s thrilling for people to surprise me with the Celine Dion song.” Lesson learned: When you hire a band, rent a vintage bat-wing dress, and prepare a seductively choreographed number for the surprise birthday party that Kate Winslet does not want, but you think she surely deserves, pick a song other than‘My Heart Will Go On.’ Agencies
Amitabh Bachchan gets nostalgic MuMBAi: Amitabh Bachchan has been on a rather relaxed mode lately after recovering from his surgery. Now, the actor is back in the thick of action as he will be the face of the IPL opening ceremony this year, which will be held in Chennai.Big B, who went to the city, said it was like his second home and reminded him of the many memorable shoots here, as Chennai was India's biggest film hub once upon a time.Bachchan will be taking the pledge on behalf of all the captains at the IPL opening ceremony this year. He will also be reading out a special poem on cricket which has been penned by Prasoon Joshi and set to tune by raju Singh. with Big B kickstarting this evening, which will have katy Perry as the finale, it is going to be one night that will leave fans satisfied, without a doubt. Agencies
15 Lindsay Lohan celebrates end of probation
LOS ANGELES Agencies
Actress Lindsay Lohan celebrated the end of her probation with friends and family members at the Chateau Marmont hotel. "The party went until around 2 am.. Alcohol was being served in moderation but Lindsay wasn't seen drinking. It's just rather strange that Lindsay chose to have the party at the hotel, especially after what the judge said to her in court," femalefirst.co.uk quoted a source as saying. "Lindsay's guests ate paella, and watched Elizabeth Taylor's 'Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?' Lindsay was in an extremely good mood and grateful to be off of formal probation. Lindsay would have been much smarter to have just had a few people over to her house, but that isn't her style, and she just loves the privacy and security that Chateau Marmont offers her," the source added.
Charlie Sheen apologises for 'cringeable' behaviour LOS ANGELES Agencies
Charlie Sheen has revealed that he doesn't "recognise parts" of himself when he looks back on his "cringeable" behaviour from last year.The 46-year-old actor, who suffered drug and alcohol problems in 2011 before being axed from hit TV series 'Two and a Half Men', has apologised to the public for his actions last year, and has compared his wild behaviour to having an out-of-body experience."I didn't recognise parts of who that guy was. I just wish it was somebody else's body. You say it's been a year - it's either been a day, or a hundred years," Contactmusic quoted him as saying. Sheen joked that it was a ''team effort'' which led to him ultimately overcome his drug and alcohol issues, but admitted he didn't have many friends through his troubled time.
‘Rockstar’ is now
an old man? MuMBAi: from ‘rockstar’ to old man, ranbir kapoor has donned a new disguise, seemingly for a television commercial. Post the success of ‘rockstar’, ranbir is stepping up on his performances and is not scared of taking the challenges. Hope his latest avatar will go down well with his fanbase.the reunion with his exlovers Deepika Padukone in Himachal during the shoot of Ayan Mukerji's ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ in Manali is also making a lot of buzz in industry circles.the duo, also went on a dinner date in the hill town recently, stepped out again on wednesday, and this time opted for a traditional village setting.reportedly, apart from his love for mountains and Deepika's company, ranbir also paid a visit to the village - where his dad rishi kapoor had shot for ‘Henna’ in the early 90s. Agencies
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:35 AM Page 16
16 Foreign News
Monday, 2 April, 2012
UN must act to stop Syria violence, conference told IStANBuL
T
AfP
HE United Nations must act to stop the violence in Syria, an Arab League official said Sunday as bloodshed on the ground claimed more lives. Arab League head Nabil alArabi called on participants of the "Friends of Syria" conference in Istanbul to demand the UN Security Council make a binding decision to stop the violence. Russia and China have already blocked such a measure, vetoing a resolution on February 4 condemning Syria for its crackdown on protests. As fighting on the ground killed more people and the Damascus regime said it had no immediate plans to pull back its forces, conference host Turkey warned the world would have no choice but to recognise Syrians' right to take up arms if the UN fails to act. "If United Nations Security
Council refrains from taking on the responsibility, the international community will have no chance but to accept Syrians' right to self-defence," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said as he opened the conference. And US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticised President Bashar al-Assad's regime for launching new assaults just days after accepting a peace plan by
UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. "Nearly a week has gone by, and we have to conclude that the regime is adding to its long list of broken promises," Clinton said in prepared remarks. France's Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Assad's regime must be given a deadline to abide by Annan's peace plan. Ahead of the gathering, Assad's regime declared victory
over rebels and again voiced support for Annan's plan, but kept up its shelling of rebel positions and said it had no plans to immediately withdraw troops. At least 16 people were killed Sunday, including eight soldiers who died during ambushes and gun battles in the east, northwest and near Damascus, monitors said. Assad's deadly crackdown on opponents has left more than 9,000 people dead since the uprising began in March last year, according to the UN. The opposition Syrian National Council, meanwhile, called on the international community to recognise the group as the sole representative of the Syrian people. Juppe said the conference would recognise the SNC as the main interlocutor, and had agreed to create a working group to consider further sanctions against Damascus when it meets in Paris in the next two weeks. The SNC also announced it would pay the salaries of all those fighting Assad's regime.
The SNC on Saturday renewed calls to arming rebels, while the US and Gulf Arab states urged Annan to spell out the "next steps" if Damascus fails to implement his plan. But an Arab League summit in Baghdad this week rejected the option of arming any side in the conflict, though members Saudi Arabia and Qatar openly called for arming the anti-Assad movement. The US has also ruled out arming the rebels. Syria's neighbour Iraq said Assad's regime will not fall and any attempts to overthrow it by force will aggravate the crisis in the region. "We reject any arming (of Syrian rebels) and the process to overthrow the regime, because this ... will leave a greater crisis in the region," Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told reporters. Annan's six-point peace plan calls for an end to the violence, a daily two-hour humanitarian ceasefire and access to all areas affected by the fighting in Syria, as well as an inclusive Syrian-led
political process, a right to demonstrate, and the release of people detained arbitrarily. Damascus blasted Sunday's meeting. "Only the naive and those who want to see through the eyes of the Americans believe that this is a conference for the friends of the Syrian people," said Al-Baath newspaper, mouthpiece of Assad's ruling party by the same name. "The call (by Saudi Arabia) ... to arm the terrorists, encourage the bloodbath and destroy infrastructure makes the conference a platform for the enemies of Syria, who are discussing everything but the interests of the Syrians," it added. Annan is not attending the conference and Russia and China, Damascus's two remaining major allies, have also opted out. In Istanbul, a group of nearly 60 Syrians staged a protest in front of the conference building. The group waved Assad's pictures and chanted slogans in favor of the regime. The police later broke up the protest with tear gas.
Damascus blasts 'enemies of Syria' meeting DAMASCuS AfP
Damascus on Sunday blasted a "Friends of Syria" meeting in Istanbul that is seeking ways to up the pressure on President Bashar al-Assad's regime as a "platform for the enemies of Syria." "Only the naive and those who want to see through the eyes of the Americans believe that this is a conference for the friends of the Syrian people," said Al-Baath newspaper, mouthpiece of Assad's ruling party of the same name. "The call by (Prince) Saud al-Faisal to arm the terrorists, encourage the bloodbath and destroy infrastructure makes the conference a platform for the enemies of Syria, who are discussing everything but the interests of the Syrians," it added. The Saudi foreign minister said on Saturday that "arming the opposition is a duty" because it is unable to defend itself, despite the opposition of Washington and other Western and Arab states to the idea. But the Damascus daily accused those attending the Istanbul gathering of seeking to weaken Syria. "This is a regional and international offensive to find ways of killing still more Syrians, and ruining their society and their state, to weaken Syria and transform it into a country resembling those that pander to Washington, Paris, London and Tel Aviv." Separately, state television broadcast images of the opening of the conference and condemned those participating. "(Recep Tayyip) Erdogan speaks of the interests of the Syrian people and forgets that he hosts the terrorists and facilitates their criminal operations in Syria," it charged. The TV channel also lashed out at Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, who also spoke at the start of the meeting.
russia rescues 675 anglers off drifting ice sheet MOSCOW AfP
Russian authorities on Sunday rescued 675 fishing enthusiasts from a sheet of ice that had broken free off the far eastern Sakhalin Island, setting them adrift. An elaborate rescue operation lasted several hours and involved nearly 50 people, eight vessels and two helicopters, the emergencies ministry said. "The state of those who were rescued is satisfactory, no-one needs medical help," the ministry said. Ice fishing is wildly popular throughout Russia in the winter months with legions of keen anglers taking to frozen rivers, lakes and seas to fish through bore-holes in the ice.
A cAPelA: A cyclist rides among burned trees near A capela in the northwestern galicia region on sunday. the fire still active in the fragas do eume wildlife park in galicia has burned over 500 hectares, while in the neighbouring region of Asturias 28 forest fires continue to burn. AFP
Clashes in Syria kill 34 people: monitors BEIRut AfP
Violence in Syria killed at least 34 people on Sunday, among them 15 members of the security forces who died in firefights across the country, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The violence came a day after the regime of President Bashar al-Assad declared that those seeking its ouster had been defeated and that it was now focused on stabilising the security situation nationwide. The latest deaths come as dozens of representatives from Western and Arab countries met in Istanbul for talks aimed at pressuring Damascus to implement a peace plan by UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan to stop the bloodshed. The heaviest fighting erupted in the
town of Quriyeh in eastern Deir Ezzor province, killing five rebel fighters, four soldiers including an officer and a civilian, said the Britain-based Observatory. A group of army deserters killed four other troops in an ambush on their convoy near the town of Jisr al-Shughur in northwestern Idlib province close to the border with Turkey, it said. In the same province, a sniper shot dead a woman near the town of Maaret al-Numan and other fighting broke out near the town of Saraqeb between rebels and the army during a search operation. The monitoring group said that in Daraa province in the south -- where the first protests against Assad's ironfisted rule erupted in mid-March last year -- four soldiers were killed in clashes with rebels near the town of Jassem. Another three soldiers who tried to
defect during the fighting there were recaptured and shot dead by an officer, it added. Security forces also killed two civilians at Um al-Mayazen in eastern Daraaa province, and three members of the security forces died when their vehicles came under attack at Sem elJulan. Two civilians were also reported killed in Homs in the centre of the country, one when the Old City came under bombardment and the other who was shot dead. In the north of Hama province, also in central Syria, three civilians were shot dead as security forces carried out searches in the Latamneh area. There was also trouble in the capital Damascus, with a young man reported shot dead in the Rukneddine district in the north of the city, again during a
search operation by security forces. Another young man was killed in a raid by security forces in the town of Dmeir in Damascus province, where four other people were detained, monitors said. In Maaraba village, also in Damascus province, a soldier was wounded in an attack on a checkpoint. The Observatory also said government forces conducted searches and made a number of arrests near Douma, northeast of the capital. AFP is unable to confirm the accuracy of the information and the tolls because of draconian restrictions placed on journalists by the Syrian authorities. According to UN estimates, more than 9,000 people have died in the unrest that began in March last year, when the protests against Assad's regime first broke out.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:35 AM Page 17
Monday, 2 April, 2012
Foreign News 17
Afghan policeman killed after surviving 16 attacks KANDAHAR AfP
An Afghan police officer who was targeted by Taliban militants and survived 16 bomb attacks was killed by an improvised explosive device on Sunday, officials said. Tor Jan, the leader of a police post in the southern province of Uruzgan, a hotbed of the insurgency against the Kabul government and its Western allies, was renowned for leading attacks against the Taliban. Jan had survived 16 explosions, most of them aimed at him personally, but was killed when his vehicle was hit by a blast in Tirin Kot district where he was based, Uruzgan police spokesman Farid Ail told AFP. "He was very active against the Taliban. The Taliban considered him an enemy," he said, describing Jan as a "brave officer". "He had survived 16 such attacks. Today in the 17th attack he was martyred." Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, are the weapon of choice for Taliban insurgents in the long-running conflict. They are responsible for the bulk of military casualties among both Afghan security personnel and the US-led NATO force, and were also the single largest killer of Afghan civilians last year, according to a UN report in February. The UN Mission in Afghanistan document said that a total of 3,021 civilians died in the Afghan conflict -mostly at the hands of insurgents -- in 2011, up eight percent from 2010. More than 2,900 foreign soldiers have been killed in the conflict, according to a tally by the icasualties.org website.
qaeda gunmen kill seven police in Yemen ADEN AfP
Al Qaeda militants killed seven policemen Sunday in an attack on a checkpoint in Yemen's southeast, a security official said, a day after clashes between the army and militants left 40 dead. "A group of Al-Qaeda terrorists in two vehicles opened machinegun fire on a checkpoint, killing seven policemen" in Shibam, a town in the province of Hadramawt, the official told AFP. Another security official told AFP that suspected Al-Qaeda gunmen riding a motorbike shot and wounded Colonel Abboud Fadhl, an intelligence officer, in the leg late Saturday in the southern province of Lahij. Al-Qaeda-linked militants from the group Partisans of Sharia (Islamic law) have launched a wave of attacks in the region since former president Ali Abdullah Saleh handed power to his deputy, Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, in February. On Saturday, heavy fighting between the army and Islamist fighters who tried to take over several military posts killed 40 people -- 28 soldiers and 12 militants -in Lahij province, officials said.
Brussels: Arrested peace activists from more than 10 european countries sit on sunday in a field after attempting to storm north Atlantic treaty Organization (nAtO) headquarters in Brussels. groups of dozens of activists unsuccessfully tried to enter the perimeter of nAtO through fields in the back of the headquarters in the northern evere area of Brussels. AFP
Myanmar opposition claims landmark Suu Kyi win YANGON
M
AfP
YANMAR'S opposition claimed a historic victory Sunday for pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in her bid for a seat in parliament, sparking scenes of jubilation among crowds of supporters. Hundreds of people clapped and cheered as a giant screen outside her National League for Democracy (NLD) party headquarters in Yangon announced the Nobel Peace Prize winner had won a parliamentary seat for the first time. Some people wept with joy at the news, which if confirmed would mark a stunning turnaround for the former political prisoner, who was locked up by the former junta for most of the past 22 years. "We have been waiting for this day for a long time. I'm so happy," said NLD supporter Kalyar, who goes by one name. Suu Kyi won an estimated 99 percent of the votes in Kawhmu constituency, according to NLD official Soe Win, based on the party's own tally. There was no independent confirmation and official results were expected within a week. The party also claimed it was on course to win all 44 seats it contested in the by-elections, in which a total of 45 seats were at stake -- not enough to threaten the army-backed ruling party's huge majority. Observers believe Myan-
mar's new reform-minded quasi-civilian government wanted Suu Kyi to win a place in parliament to burnish its reform credentials and smooth the way for an easing of Western sanctions. Many of her supporters had earlier waited for hours in searing heat to catch a glimpse of the 66-year-old Suu Kyi, who was running for political office for the first time. Her main rival in the rural Kawhmu constituency, two hours' drive from Yangon, was a former military doctor with the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party. Voters, some in traditional ethnic
Karen dress, queued patiently to cast their votes. In stark contrast to life under the junta, many openly expressed their support and affection for "The Lady". "There's only been one person for us for 20 years," said Tin Zaw Win. "We believe in her and want to vote for her. Almost my whole village will vote for Aunt Suu," he added. Some people complained that their names were missing from the voter lists, although it was unclear how many were affected. "I want to vote for Mother Suu but they haven't given me my ballot paper so I'm here to demand it," Zin
Min Soe told AFP at a polling station. "They can't just lose my vote," he said. The polls were also marred somewhat by allegations of ballot-paper irregularities, notably that wax had been put over the check box for the NLD that could be rubbed off later to cancel the vote. It was not immediately clear how widespread irregularities were. "This is happening around the country," NLD spokesman Nyan Win told AFP. "I have sent a complaint letter to the union election commission." In the run-up to the eagerly awaited vote, the party decried alleged intimidation of candidates and other irregularities. Suu Kyi said on Friday that the poll could not be considered "a genuinely free and fair election" but stopped short of announcing a boycott. A 2010 general election, won by the military's political proxies, was plagued by complaints of cheating and the exclusion of Suu Kyi, who was released from seven straight years of house arrest shortly afterwards. The seats being contested Sunday were made vacant by MPs who joined the government. The NLD swept to a landslide election victory in 1990, but the generals who ruled the country formerly known as Burma for decades until last year never recognised the result.
Thousands march against Hong Kong's next leader HONG KONG AfP
Thousands of people in Hong Kong noisily protested on Sunday against the city's incoming leader and decried Beijing's alleged interference in the election that propelled him to the top job. Holding banners and chanting slogans such as "One person, one vote" and "Leung step down", demonstrators marched through the busy city centre to Beijing's representative office in the semi-autonomous territory. About 15,000 people took part in the 90-minute procession, organisers said. Police estimated the crowd at 5,300.
It was the first major protest since Leung Chun-ying, 57, a self-made millionaire property consultant, was chosen a week earlier as the next chief executive by a 1,200-strong election committee packed with pro-Beijing elites. The former British colony, which reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, enjoys broad freedoms not seen on mainland China under the "One country, two systems" model, but does not yet get to choose its own leader by popular vote. There were chaotic scenes outside Beijing's representative office when police sprayed a fire extinguisher at a protester who repeatedly tried to set a Hong Kong flag on fire.
Police used pepper spray a few times after a small group of protesters attempted to break through barricades during a standoff. The group refused to leave hours after the march had ended. "Beijing blatantly interfered in our election," said retiree Lam Sum-shing, 69, who was wearing a green army uniform and a mask with Leung's photo. "I'm wearing this to show he will be a 'yes' man for Beijing. He was not chosen by the seven million Hong Kong people, he's chosen merely by 689 pro-Beijing elitists," Lam told AFP. Demonstrators held up a huge black banner with the Chinese character "mourning" to highlight what they called
"the death of democracy", and posters saying "The Wolf is here". They also trampled on a wolf-shaped banner. "The Wolf" is Leung's nickname, coined for his perceived ruthlessness and cunning. The ex-government adviser beat Henry Tang, the Hong Kong government's former number two, in the election. Tang was seen as Beijing's favoured candidate until a series of gaffes and scandals wrecked his campaign. The government in China then reportedly relayed to election committee members that they should support Leung instead. Opinion polls before the election suggested that many in Hong Kong backed neither Leung nor Tang, but wanted uni-
versal suffrage to choose a new leader to replace outgoing chief executive Donald Tsang from July. Leung said in a statement after the rally that he respected the right of the public to express their views. "I will adhere strictly to the principles of 'One country, two systems', 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong', and a high degree of autonomy in accordance with the Basic Law," he said, referring to the mini-constitution. Leung will be Hong Kong's third post-handover leader. Beijing has said that at the earliest, the city's chief executive could be directly elected in 2017 and the legislature by 2020.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:35 AM Page 18
Monday, 2 April, 2012
radwanska downs Sharapova to win Miami title Page 21
SL seek series win in landmark Test S COLOMBO AfP
RI Lanka hope to celebrate 30 years in Test cricket by toppling England from the number one ranking when the second and final Test starts in Colombo on Tuesday. Sri Lanka, who won the first Test in Galle by 75 runs, are determined to scalp the tourists again at the P. Sara Oval and clinch their first series victory since 2009 when they beat New Zealand 2-0 at home. Andrew Strauss's spin-wary England will slip to number two behind South Africa if they lose or draw the Test on a traditionally sporting Oval wicket that offers assistance to both batsmen and bowlers. It was at the same venue that Sri Lanka played their inaugural Test in February 1982 against an England side led by Keith Fletcher, which won by seven wickets inside four days. Strauss will look for a similar result from the tourists, but his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahela Jayawardene wants to settle for nothing less than a win in the landmark Test. "I'll be very proud to be on the field on Tuesday and even prouder if we can claim a series victory," said Jayawardene, who hit a brilliant 180 in the Galle Test to put his side on top. It was a morale-boosting win for sixth-ranked Sri Lanka, who have struggled in recent times in Test cricket following the retire-
ment of their world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan. The Galle victory was only their second, and the first at home, in 18 Tests since Muralitharan quit in July 2010 with a record 800 Test and 534 one-day wickets. The other win came in December, when Tillakaratne Dilshan's men thumped South Africa by 208 runs in Durban, but went on to lose the series 2-1. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who claimed nine wickets against South Africa, destroyed England in Galle with six wickets in each innings to earn the man of the match award. Jayawardene was delighted with the way 34-year-old Herath has shaped up and was confident the spinner will continue to build on his 132 wickets from 36 Tests so far. "Herath has been around a long time and is a class act," the skipper said. "He's the most experienced bowler I have right now and he's taken the responsibility to shoulder the attack." Sri Lanka will be bolstered by the return of all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who missed the first Test with a calf injury, but left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara has been ruled out with a groin strain. England, meanwhile, were left to ponder a new bowling combination after Stuart Broad returned home for assessment on a calf injury he sustained in the first Test. Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn are standing by to replace Broad, but both could play if England de-
cide to drop spinner Monty Panesar and leave Samit Patel to share the spin attack with Graeme Swann. England are desperate for a turnaround after their fourth consecutive Test defeat in Galle, following the 3-0 series hammering by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year. While Pakistani spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman claimed a combined haul of 43 wickets in the UAE series, Herath and off-spinner Suraj Randiv grabbed 18 of the 20 wickets in Galle. Jonathan Trott's determined 112 in the second innings and Ian Bell's 52 in the first were the only signs of resistance by the tourists against the turning ball, while Strauss is struggling to find form. The England captain has gone 23 innings without adding to his 19 Test centuries, averaging a poor 28.52, and has managed just one three-figure knock in his past 48 innings. englAnd-sri lAnKA squAds fOr 2nd test englAnd (frOM): Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan trott, Ian Bell, kevin Pietersen, ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Matt Prior, James Anderson, tim Bresnan, Steven finn, Monty Panesar, Graeme Swann. sri lAnKA (frOM): Mahela Jayawardene (capt), tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru thirimanne, kumar Sangakkara, thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Suranga Lakmal, Suraj randiv, rangana Herath, Dhammika Prasad, Shaminda eranga, tharanga Paranavitana. Umpires: Asad rauf (PAk) and Bruce oxenford (AUS) tV umpire: rod tucker (AUS) Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
CoLoMBo: ravi Bopara (L) and tim Bresnan interact during a training session ahead of the second test match against SL. AFP
Former BCCI chief Samuillah gets guard group Spring Polo cup NKP Salve dies NEW DELHI Agencies
LAHore: federal Minister Hina rabbani kher lifts her child on way to the Lahore Polo Club while (r) Guard Group, the winner’s of Spring Cup Polo, with chief guest Shehzad Ali Malik, ex President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. NAdEEM IJAZ LAHORE Asher Butt
Raja Samiullah led Guard Group to a thrilling win in the final to clinch the Spring Polo Cup here at the LPC’s main Aabik ground on Sunday Guard Group and Pessi remained locked four-all by the fourth chukker and Raja in an unusual move earned his team a spot penalty in the fifth chukker that proved a final nail which got his team to the title. Newage got to the third position after it beat Karachi Polo Team in the subsidiary final. Later, chief guest Shehzad Ali
Malik, Ex President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, gave the winner’s trophy to the winner team. Federal minister Hina Rabbani Kher along with her children was also present in the polo lunge to have some light moments away from the hustle of daily life. Raja started the match with a 60-yarder but Saqib Khan Khakwani with his under the neck shot leveled the score. Maj Omer Minhas and Taimur Ali Malik provided two goals lead to Guards and in that too Raja was the leading move-maker. Though Pessi got its second goal in the third quarter through Ahmed
Ali Tiwana but Hamza Ijaz maintained the lead for Guard Group. Saqib Khan with his two back to back goals – one under the neck and the other a long lofted shot – brought the teams at even keel. And Raja scored the golden goal for Guard Group to get the trophy. In the subsidiary final, Newage beat KPT by six goals to four and a half. Shah Shamyl Alam was the star of the win with four goals. Col Asif Zahoor did well from the losing side. The matches were supervised by Sameer Habib, Omar Asjad Malhi, Saqib Khan and Shaukat Ali Malik.
N.K.P. Salve, a former union minister and Congress veteran who worked with Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and headed the Indian cricket board, died here early Sunday due to age-related problems, family sources said. He was 91. A widower, Salve is survived by his son Harish and daughter Arundhati. Harish Salve is a leading lawyer and a former solicitor general of India. Salve's body will be taken to Nagpur, where the funeral will take place Monday. The Maharashtra government has announced a state funeral for Salve. He served the central government with distinction in various capacities. Associated with the Congress for over 60 years, Salve, born in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh March 18, 1921, was a cricketer at heart. He was also a chartered accountant, with an active practice from 1949 to 1982. He was considered an authority on direct taxes. He, however, gave up active practice after joining the central cabinet in 1982. Salve took part in the freedom struggle even as a student leader. Even in college days, he was an outstanding orator, both in Hindi and English. He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1967 and was in the house till 1977. Thereafter he was elected to the Rajya Sabha for four terms (1978 to 2002). As MP, Salve represented the government in various forums and conferences. He was deputy leader of the Congress in parliament under the leadership of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1980-82 and later when Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister (1984-89). Salve was a minister of state (information and broadcasting) in 1982-83, an independent minister of state in charge of steel and mines in 1983-84, and minister of state for parliamentary affairs in 1984. Salve served as a cabinet minister (power) from January 1993 to May 1996.
During his tenure he pioneered the participation of private investors in the power sector. A front ranking orator, particularly on public finance, taxation, macro economics and constitutional issues, he headed the joint parliamentary committee on taxation laws in 1975. He was chairman of the Privileges Committee of the Lok Sabha from 1975 to 1977. Salve was appointed chairman (with cabinet rank) of the 9th Finance Commission. He held cricket close to his heart. In the early years, he played club cricket for Modi Club of Nagpur in Maharashtra. He umpired several first class matches, including Ranji Trophy and Commonwealth matches. He became president of the Vidarbha Cricket Association, one of the affiliates of the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India, from 1967 to 1977. In 1982, he was elected BCCI president. He held the post till 1985.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:35 AM Page 19
Monday, 2 April, 2012
Sports 19
FAySAl bANK SUPEr EighT T-20 cUP
Stallions down Dolphins to claim seventh title LAHORE
S
scOreBOArd
stAff rePOrt
IALKOT Stallions snatched an impressive eight wickets win to claim the Faysal Bank Super Eight T-20 Cup for the seventh time at the Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi. Sialkot Stallions defeated Karachi Dolphins on Sunday to maintain its hegemony in the shorter version of the game. Stallions, led by former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, achieved the score of 170 with seven balls to spare. Malik played a captain’s innings of 62 to leave Dolphins bowlers totally at disarray. He was supported by Haris Sohail at the other end with a brilliant innings of 55 runs. Both these batsmen timed 13 fours while Haris shared two valuable stands in the win – one with Malik of 119 runs and the other with Imran Nazir. Stallions got a rapid-fire
Cancellara crashes out of tour of flanders AuDENARDE AfP
Switzerland's Olympic time-trial champion Fabian Cancellara crashed out of the Tour of Flanders here on Sunday when he fell 62km from the finish. Cancellara, who was one of the pre-race favourites for the second one day classic of the season, stayed seated on the ground clutching his collarbone and could be considered a doubtful starter for next Sunday's Paris-Roubaix. Cancellara, winner of this race in 2010, was looking for his first major win of the campaign after he finished an eye-catching second in the first classic of the season, the Milan-Sanremo, on March 17.
wariner focused on London after toe injury AuStIN
KArAchi dOlPhins 30 shahzaib hasan c Ali b umaid 81 Khalid latif not out 4 rameez raja run out (Ali) Asad shafiq run out (raza) 38 0 sheharyar ghani lbw b naved 9 sarfraz Ahmed st shakeel b raza Mohammad sami c shakeel b raza 0 tanvir Ahmed c Yousuf b raza 0 haaris Ayaz c shakeel b raza 0 5 extras (b 1, lb 3, w 1) 167 total (8 wkts; 20 overs; 96 mins) did not bat faraz Ahmed, rumman raees fall of wickets: 1-38 (shahzaib hasan, 2.5 ov), 2-63 (rameez raja, 5.5 ov), 3-153 (Asad shafiq, 17.4 ov), 4-154 (sheharyar ghani, 17.6 ov), 5-166 (sarfraz Ahmed, 19.2 ov), 6-166 (Mohammad sami, 19.3 ov), 7-167 (tanvir Ahmed, 19.5 ov), 8167 (haaris Ayaz, 19.6 ov) Bowling: umaid Asif 4-0-44-1, raza hasan 4-0-33-4, navedul-hasan 4-0-31-1, rehman 4-0-16-0, shoaib Malik 2-0-17-0,
sarfraz Ahmed 2-0-22-0, sialkot stallions 6 shakeel Ansar run out (raees) 41 imran nazir b faraz haris sohail not out 55 62 shoaib Malik not out 6 extras (w 6) total (2 wkts; 18.5 overs; 89 mins) 170 did not bat shahid Yousuf, Ali Khan, raza hasan, sarfraz Ahmed, umaid Asif, Abdur rehman, naved-ul-hasan fall of wickets 1-6 (shakeel Ansar, 0.3 ov), 2-51 (imran nazir, 5.2 ov) Bowling: Mohammad sami 4-0-34-0, tanvir Ahmed 4-0-43-0, rumman raees 3.5-0-32-0, faraz Ahmed 4-0-37-1, haaris Ayaz 3-0-24-0 toss: Karachi dolphins, who chose to bat umpires: Ahsan raza and zameer haider tV umpire: shozab raza Match referee: Khatib rizwan reserve umpire: Kaukab Butt.
boost from Imran Nazir, who hammered 41 runs while opening the innings and he along
with Haris added 45 runs for the second wicket. Nazir in his 25 minutes stay at the
crease cracked six four and two sixes and faced just 20 balls. He consolidated the innings after Shakeel Ansar was run out for just 6 runs. It was Sialkot Stallions, which played with an average of 9.02 runs per over, got to seventh final in their previous T20 Cup they defeated Rawalpindi Rams by ten runs after an interesting contest in the final played at the National Stadium Karachi. Earlier in the semi-final Karachi beat Lahore Lions by seven wickets and Sialkot defeated Peshawar panthers by 40 runs. Karachi Dolphins cracked 167 for eight in allotted 20 overs with Khalid Latif getting unbeaten 81 runs. Shahzaib Hasan and Khalid provided Karachi strong footing by their 38 runs opening wicket stand and later Khalid joined by Asad Shafiq added another 90 runs for the third wicket. In the process Asad got to 38 runs before being run out. Hasan Raza was the pick of the bowler with four wickets.
Sjodin joins Tseng atop LPGA leaderboard RANCHO MIRAGE AfP
Sweden's Karin Sjodin steered a steady course in gusting winds Saturday, firing a four-under 68 to join world number one Yani Tseng atop the Kraft Nabisco Championship leaderboard. Sjodin, who is seeking a first victory in seven seasons on the LPGA tour, had just one bogey as she joined Tseng on nine-under 207 going into Sunday's final round of the first women's major of the year. "The day was just kind of smooth," said Sjodin, who briefly took the outright lead before Tseng rejoined her at the top. The Swede's effort was even more impressive given she apparently dislocated one of her ribs on Friday. "I never felt like I was ever in trouble. ... It feels great to be there. I don't know if I've really had time to think about it much. It's going to be fun to-
morrow, definitely." Tseng, a five-time major champion, is currently the dominant force in the women's game. But she showed some frustration on her way to a oneunder 71 at Mission Hills. South Korea's Haeji Kang, also seeking a first LPGA Tour title, was two strokes back after struggling to a 72. World number two Na Yeon Choi of South Korea led a group of five players on six-under. Sjodin, who had never made the cut at the Kraft Nabisco before, will play in the final group on Sunday for the first time in her LPGA career. She'll have her work cut out battling Tseng, who has won three of five LPGA tournaments this season, including the last two. The 23-year-old from Taiwan is vying to become the youngest six-time major winner in golf history -- man or woman.
Tseng said she knew by the time she and Kang teed off in the final pairing that the wind would be a problem. "For the front nine, I played very solid, especially in this wind," she said. "I don't think it was as tough as I thought, so maybe I was prepared for this. But on the back nine, I got kind of emotional, maybe thinking too much, trying too hard to play better." After Tseng bogeyed the seventh and Sjodin drained a birdie putt at 11 the Swede had sole possession of the lead, but Tseng rebounded with a birdie at the 10th. But Tseng was put on the clock on the next hole for slow play, and after a poor tee shot she ended up with a bogey at 11. She missed a two-footer for par at 13, where her ball circled the cup but didn't drop. "I'm glad this happened today instead of tomorrow," Tseng said. "I was just thinking too much and trying too hard. It's good to find out earlier."
oosthuizen leads by two at Houston open HOuStON AfP
South African Louis Oosthuizen posted a second straight 66 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead over Hunter Mahan after three rounds of the US PGA Tour's $6 million Houston Open. Oosthuizen bounced back after two early bogeys, stringing together four straight birdies on the back nine as he took a 17under total of 199 into the final round. "It's a great leaderboard behind me," Oosthuizen said. "It's going to be tough, but I feel like I'm ready for it." Mahan carded a 65 for 201 as players put in another long day on the Redstone course to get the tournament, delayed by thunderstorms on Thursday, back on schedule. England's Brian Davis shot a 69 and Carl Pettersson of Sweden a 67 to share third on 202. James Driscoll was alone on 204 after a 71, while defending champion Phil Mickelson posted a 70 to lead a group on 205 that also included Keegan Bradley (69) and Ryan Palmer (66). Three-time major champion Ernie Els, who must win to qualify for the Masters next week, was in a group on eight-under. The South African, whohasn't missed the Masters since 1993, didn't think he'd given himself much of a chance. "I needed to get to 10- or 11-under to really have a shot," Els said. "I need a 62 or 63. It's tough to do on a Sunday, but you might as well give it a go." Seventy players resumed their second rounds Saturday morning. Oosthuizen completed a 66 that put him on 11-under, one shot behind secondround leader Jeff Maggert. Oosthuizen's third round got off to a rocky start with bogeys at the first and second. The 2010 British Open champion drained an 11-foot birdie putt at the sixth, and added birdies at eight and nine to make the turn at 12-under. "After that, I felt really comfortable," Oosthuizen said. "I made really good swings after that." Mahan, who has three top-10 finishes in five previous starts here since 2007, moved up the leaderboard with four birdies in the space of six holes. A whopping 90 players made the 36-hole cut at two-under par or better when the second round wrapped up Saturday morning. Another cut was made after the third round, leaving 70 players in the field for the final round.
AfP
Former Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner has his sights set on the London Games after recovering from a toe ligament injury that forced him out of last year's World Championships. Wariner anchored his Central Texas All Stars squad to victory in the 4x400m relay at the Texas Relays meeting Saturday in 3min 1.54sec, and said afterwards that his left foot was feeling fine. Wariner already has three Olympic golds -- the 2004 Athens solo 400m, and the 4x400m relays in Athens and Beijing 2008 -- as well as the individual 400m silver in 2008. He is gearing up for the US Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, in June. He tore a ligament in a toe last year which forced him out of the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. "It was best for me to stop," Wariner said. "It hurt to do that. I wanted to run worlds but I was looking at the long run, and the long run for me right now is to get back and get ready for the Olympics." Wariner, who has not won a major international 400m title since the 2007 World Championships, plans to run his first individual 400m of the season at a meeting at Texas State University next week. "The last few years I've been kind of taking it easy and trying to get ready at the last second. This year we wanted to start a little earlier and just get going," he said. Women's 400m specialist Sanya Richards-Ross, like Wariner coached by Clyde Hart, won the 100m in a wind-aided personal best of 10.98sec. She then anchored her 4x400m relay squad to victory. She said her strong 100m showing was a good indicator that her 400m training is on course. "I know whenever my speed is on, the 400 gets easier for me, so I'm just really excited about the rest of the season," she said.
China sweep golds at world team DORtMuND AfP
China completed the cleansweep of gold medals at the world team table tennis championship on Sunday as their women beat defending champions Singapore and the men saw off Germany. Both the Chinese teams are defending Olympic champions after their men and women claimed golds at Beijing four years ago when the team event made its debut and China's teams are favourites for gold at the London Games later this year. Overall, China have won 36 gold medals in both the men's and women's world team championships since the tournament began in 1926. After their men beat hosts Germany 3-0 in their final, the Chinese dragon roared again as the women took revenge for their defeat two years ago in Moscow with victory over Singapore. "Again we are world champions and that is well-deserved," said China men's coach Liu Guoliang, whose team won the title for the sixth time in succession. "The German team is the strongest in Europe, I hope they continue developing. "We have felt a lot of pressure coming here, Germany is a nation that tests us, so we were even more prepared then for the last tournament in 2010. Every game was very close." Germany put up a brave fight as their top player Timo Boll came back from 2-0 down to level the first match before losing 3-2 defeat to Zhang Jike. "I've never played in front of such a fantastic backdrop. I was very motivated," said Zhang. Germany's
DortMUND: China´s Jike Zhang eyes the ball to return to Germany's timo Boll durin the men's final of the world team table tennis Championships. AFP Dimitrij Ovtcharov was then dismissed 3-0 by Ma Long, but in the third game Patrick Baum took the first game against Wang Hao before falling to a 31 defeat. In the women's final, China's
Ding Ning put her side ahead with a 3-1 win over Feng Tianwei, while compatriot Li Xiaoxia also had few problems in her 3-1 win against Wang Yuegu. It fell to Guo Yue to seal victory and she
dominated Li Jiawei with a 3-0 win in straight games. The world championships are part of the Olympic qualification process with final places to be decided at forthcoming tournaments.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:35 AM Page 20
20 Sports kenya’s koech wins Berlin half-marathon BERLIN AfP
Kenya's newcomer Denis Koech won the Berlin half-marathon on Sunday after holding off world champion and compatriot Wilson Kiprop in a sprint finish as the Kenyans dominated the men's and women's races. Koech, who won the Ras al-Khaimah half marathon in the UAE in February, came home in a winning time and personal best of 59:14min to beat Kiprop by just a second with compatriot Ezekiel Chebii third at 59:22. The women's race was also decided on the line as Kenya's Philes Ongori held off compatriot Helah Kiprop to come home in a winning time of 1hr 08:25min with Kiprop finishing a second behind.
Monday, 2 April, 2012
Stramaccioni revives Inter in nine-goal thriller
LAHORE: The finalists of the Spring Polo Cup fight for the ball at the Lahore Polo Club ground. NADEEM iJAz
Digvijay Singh ends 12-year title wait
MILAN: Inter Milan's Argentine forward Diego Alberto Milito (back) celebrates with teammate esteban Cambiasso after scoring against Genoa during the Italian Serie A match at San Siro Stadium. AFP "The important thing is that we won. fortuitously turned home Giuseppe ROME AfP
n
NEW DELHI AfP
Digvijay Singh made a late charge to close with a flawless six-under-par 66 and end an agonising 12-year wait for his maiden Asian Tour title at the Panasonic Open India on Sunday. Singh produced a grandstand finish with a 12-foot birdie putt on the last to defeat Siddikur of Bangladesh and fellow Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar by two shots at the $300,000 event. Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit rolled back the years with a 67 to finish in fourth place while overnight leader Ashok Kumar was in contention before dropping four shots in the last six holes at Delhi Golf Club. "This is very special for me. There's no feeling better than winning an Asian Tour title in India at the Delhi Golf Club. I've won on the local circuit before but this takes the cake," said Singh, who totalled 11-under-par 277.
EW coach Andrea Stramaccioni opened his Inter Milan account with a thrilling and vital 5-4 win over Genoa at San Siro on Sunday to keep alive the nerazzurri's European qualification hopes. With Roma romping to a 5-2 win over Novara earlier in the day, Inter needed a victory to keep in the hunt for a Europa League spot. They now trail Roma, who are sixth and occupy the final European qualification berth, by three points with eight games left. At 36, Stramaccioni may be the youngest coach in Inter's history but he turned to experience for his first game in charge, restoring the likes of Esteban Cambiasso and Cristian Chivu to the starting line-up. And the old guard rewarded him as Diego Milito hit a hattrick against his former employers, while Walter Samuel and Mauro Zarate added the other two. Alberto Gilardino scored a brace from the spot for the visitors, with Emiliano Moretti and Rodrigo Palacio -- also with a penalty -adding the others. It was a game that had four penalties and two red cards, with Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar and Genoa's Fernando Belluschi both dismissed.
Certainly it was an explosive victory, maybe even a bit too much so for (president Massimo) Moratti," said Stramaccioni. "It's banal to say that it was important to win but we worked during the week only on this and we managed it. "We were very positive today and we managed to produce a performance of quality." "As for me, the president has given me this crazy opportunity that I didn't deserve but him having faith in me gives me great serenity." Having failed to score in seven of their last 10 league games, of which they only won one, under Claudio Ranieri, Inter were greatly helped by the league's worst defence. Diego Forlan found space on the left to cross for Milito to head home unmarked from the middle of the box. Milito refused to celebrate the goal against his former club and he was soon trying to control his emotions again as Dejan Stankovic's ball over the top of a woeful offside trap released him to smash the ball past Sebastien Frey. Such was the new-found swagger with which Inter were going about their work that centre-backs Lucio and Samuel combined for the third goal, the former crossing for the latter to prod home from inside the six-yard box. Genoa hit back, however, as Moretti
Sculli's overhead kick with his thigh and Palacio scored from the spot after Javier Zanetti was adjudged to have handled. Zarate restored the two-goal advantage with a curling effort from the left edge of the box but Julio Cesar was then dismissed for bringing down Palacio. Gilardino took and scored this penalty, only for Belluschi to be dismissed at the other end for fouling Fredy Guarin. Milito completed his hat-trick from the spot but Lucio brought down Sculli and Gilardino added his second in the last minute. Roma's easy victory kept alive their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League. They trail city rivals Lazio, who lost 3-1 at Parma on Saturday, by just four points in the race for third place and the final berth in Europe's premier club competition. Novara took the lead early on through Andrea Caracciolo but after that there was only ever going to be one winner. Brazilian Marquinho and Pablo Osvaldo hit back before half-time, while another Brazilian, Fabio Simplicio, and Bojan Krkic struck in the second period. Japan forward Takayuki Morimoto scored a late consolation for the struggling visitors, who remain second-bottom and nine points from safety, before Erik Lamela put the icing on the cake deep into injury time.
Ex-champion Abraham lands shot at world title KIEL AfP
kIeL: Poland's Piotr wilczewski fighting against Germany's former boxing world champion Arthur Abraham (r) who landed a shot, at the wBo world super middleweight title, at the Sparkassen-Arena. AFP
Germany's former world champion Arthur Abraham has landed a shot at the WBO world super middleweight title after his unanimous points win over Poland's Piotr Wilczewski. Abraham is now the mandatory challenger for super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz of Germany. The 32-year-old Armenia-born Abraham, the former IBF middleweight champion, picked up the 34th victory of his 37 fights in Kiel on Saturday night in front of 6,000 spectators, but looking convincing only rarely. "I tried to do what my coach told me," said Abraham after the fight. "I will train more, so it works better next time and I will be in shape for the world title." Abraham was later taken to hospital as a precaution after complaining of dizziness and pain in his right ear with a suspected perforated eardrum. Having lost to Britain's Carl Froch and US fighters Andre Dirrell and Andre Ward during the world Super Six contest at super middleweight after stepping up a division, Abraham has struggled to recapture his previous form. He was disqualified against Dirrell in March 2010 for hitting his opponent after he slipped in the 11th round and suffered the first defeat of his career before losing over 12 rounds to Froch, in November 2010, and Ward, in May 2011.
All Pakistan Intervarsity women’s football begins LAHORE stAff rePOrt
National University of Sciences and Technology will be organizing the All Pakistan Intervarsity Women Football Championship 2011-12 from April 1-6 at NUST Football Ground, H-12 Islamabad. The event is being participated by seven teams i.e LUMS, Punjab Uni, Islamia Uni, Bhalwapur, Frontier Women Uni, Peshawar, LCW, Karachi Uni and Sargodha Uni. The teams have been divided into two groups with group A having Punjab Uni, LUMS, Islamia Uni while group B have F.W Uni Peshawar, Karachi Uni, Sargodha, LCW Lahore. On the opening day LUMS beat Islamia Uni Bhawalpur 3-0, LCW and Sargodha played a 1-1 draw while FW Uni and Karachi Uni remained goalless. The semifinal matches will be played on April 5 and final on April 6.
LCCA Super League schedule LAHORE stAff rePOrt
The last six matches schedule of the first phase of the LCCA Super Cricket League has bee announced. All matches will be played from April 2 to April 6 at various grounds of the city. APril 2: Yu sliM Vs MOdel tOWn greens At MOdel tOWn greens grOund; April 3: Model town Club vs Young krishan Nagar at Iteefaq Ground LCCA; April 4: Ist Match Model town Gym vs krishan Nagar Gym at Model town club ground; 2nd Match Model town club vs Bright Morning club at Iteefaq Ground LCCA; April 5: Model town club vs Young P&t Club at Iteefaq Ground LCCA; April 6: Model town club vs Young Model town Club at Iteefaq Ground LCCA. the 297 matches of LCCA cricket league have completed. All matches of east Zone (106) and North Zone (70) have been played from west Zone 121 matches have completed while only six matches have remained to be played.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:35 AM Page 21
Monday, 2 April, 2012
Sports 21 wAtCh it LivE ESPN Sports Center 07:30PM
Del Potro and Nalbandian to play against Croatia BuENOS AIRES AfP
Juan Martin del Potro and David Nalbandian will play for Argentina in the April 68 Davis Cup quarter-final against Croatia, according to team captain Martin Jaite. "We've already thought about lining up Del Potro and Nalbandian on the first day and, all being well, we'll stick to that plan," said Jaite. Nalbandian will also play the doubles with Eduardo Schwank. Croatia, captained by Zeljko Krajan, will be represented by Marin Cilic (world number 23), Ivo Karlovic (54), Antonio Veic (166) and doubles specialist Lovro Zovko (92).
Clubs ask PCB to extend accounts opening date LAHORE stAff rePOrt
Radwanska downs Sharapova to win Miami title MIAMI AfP
Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska captured her maiden Miami women's title Saturday, denying world number two Maria Sharapova a shot at her first victory in four finals appearances. Radwanska earned her ninth career WTA Tour title and second victory of 2012 with a 7-5, 6-4 dismantling of the mistake-prone Sharapova. The 23-year-old from Krakow won earlier this year in Dubai, but this marked the biggest win of her career as she competed in Miami at a new career high ranking of fourth in the world. "I got a lot of good wins this year against top players," said Radwanska. "I was trying from the beginning to focus on my serve, put my first serve in and go for it. I think I did a really good job today and the serve was the key." Radwanska becomes just the second multiple title winner on the WTA Tour this season, behind world number one Victoria Azarenka, as she clinched the Miami crown without dropping a set in six matches. Radwanska clearly won the matchup of her savvy all-court game against Sharapova's power display. "I thought she played extremely well, was very consistent, got that extra ball back and I made that extra mistake," Sharapova said. "She didn't give me many errors. When I had my chances at break point, I didn't take them. When she had them, she did." Radwanska finished with one ace and hit just six winners against Sharapova but limited her unforced errors to 10 in the one hour, 44 minute centre court match played in sweltering temperatures. Radwanska broke in the final game of both sets jumping out to big leads both times. She clinched the title on the first of two championship points when Sharapova hammered a backhand long. Sharapova held serve in the first set to get to 5-5 but then her game started to unravel. Radwanska broke in the 12th game to win the first set in 57 minutes. Sharapova made 26 unforced errors in the first set compared to just eight for the Pole. Radwanska, who improved to 26-4 in 2012, beat Sharapova for just the second time in nine career meetings, but this was
the first time they had met in two years. The only other time she had beaten the Russian was at the 2007 US Open. "I lost against her a few times before," Radwanska said. "Today was a very tight match. I was just better for couple of points each set." Saturday's loss leaves the 24-year-old Sharapova still chasing her first win in Miami, the first professional tournament she would watch each year as a youngster. Her family would make the annual fourhour trek by car to Miami from the international tennis school she was attending at the time. "It feels tough now because it's only 30 minutes after you lose, so not the easiest thing in the world," said Sharapova, who also lost in the final of her last tournament in Indian Wells. "These last two tournaments are the toughest just because they're so close together and playing six matches in an event. I would have loved to be the winner, but that is just the way it goes."
SHARAPovA HoPeS To HAve HeR ClAY dAY: Maria Sharapova says she hopes to put the disappointment of losing her second-straight final on hard courts behind her with a strong showing this year in the upcoming clay court season. "I feel like I've improved with every year that I have been playing on it (clay) and I enjoy it," said Sharapova, after losing 7-5, 6-4 in the Miami final on Saturday to fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. "I feel like you learn so much about the construction of the points and the games -- such a cat-and-mouse game. "I didn't necessarily like that many years back, but I feel like I'm much better at it and I have improved physically as well." The 24-year-old Sharapova is now a four-time runner-up in Miami, having lost in the final back-to-back years twice, 2005, 2006, 2011 and 2012. She has also lost in all three of her finals
in 2012, falling twice to world number one Victoria Azarenka (Indian Wells and Australian Open) and now to Radwanska in straight sets. "It's only 30 minutes after you lose, so it is not the easiest thing in the world," Sharapova said. "But, these last two tournaments are always the toughest just because they're so close together and playing six matches in an event. "I'm looking forward to taking a little break now and getting on the clay and starting the practice." Sharapova has a 30-9 career record at the French Open, the next Grand Slam tournament of the season, with her best result being two semi-final appearances, last year and in 2007. Shoulder and elbow injuries prevented Sharapova from playing in Miami for three years, 2008, 2009 and 2010. But she says the right shoulder problem that gave her so much trouble in the past is behind her now.
The local clubs of the city are facing some difficulties in opening up their club accounts as directed by the Pakistan Cricket Board and have asked the PCB to extend the date of opening the accounts. The PCB had advised the clubs to open the accounts till March 30 but many clubs have not been able to open their accounts due to various objections raised by the banks to open the account. Due to these reasons and to fulfill the bank’s requirement, the clubs have requested Zakir Khan, PCB Director Domestic Cricket Operation to extend the date for the opening of the account.
SPM Stags beat Vehari Veteran LAHORE stAff rePOrt
SPM Stags beat Vehari Veteran by 102 runs and qualify for the regional quarter-final of the 14th National Veteran Senior Cricket Cup. Played at the Ali Garh Cricket Ground, SPM Stags made 278 for 4 after 30 overs. Zahoor Ilahi 104 not out, Imtiaz Tarar 32, Shakeel Malik 38, Kamran Khan 23, Shahid Anwar 15 and Fayyaz Haidar 57 not out. Zahid Alam 2/46, Zaheer Hussain 1/44 and Zia-ul-Hassan 1/44 wickets. In reply Vehari Veteran 176 all out after 29.3 overs. Munawar Khan 28, Nadeem Sheikh 24, Zia-ulHassan 29 and Qaisar Khan 20 runs. Aizad Hussain Syed 1/14, Iftkhar Ahmad 2/46, Shahid Anwar 1/17, Sajjad Akbar 1/24 and Fayyaz Haidar 1/22 wickets. Javeed Ashraf, Qaisar Waheed, Mian Pervez Akhter Match Referee and Abdul Hameed was the scorer. Later, chief guest Pervez Akhtar give away man of the match award to Zahoor Ilahi.
east Zone U-19 trial matches on 3rd LAHORE stAff rePOrt
keY BISCAYNe: Agnieszka radwanska poses with the trophy after beating Maria Sharapova in the women's singles final while (r) Maria Sharapova of russia looks dejected during the women's singles final against Agnieszka radwanska at Crandon Park tennis Center. AFP
The East Zone under-19 players trial matches will be held on April 3 and 4 for selecting teams LCCA Imtiaz Ahmed Under-19. The match between East Zone Red and East Zone Yellow will be held on April 3 at LCCA ground. Red team: Abdul Rauf Manager, M Jahnageer Coach) (Yellow Team Ghulam Abbas Manager, Zaheer Coach). The match between East Zone White and East Zone blue will be played on April 4 at Iteefaq ground LCCA. (White Team Ijaz Shah Manager ,Zubair Butt Coach)(Blue team Khalid Lodhi manager, Javaid Ameen Coach). All 4 teams player are advised to report to manager at 8:30 AM on fixed date.
LHR 02-04-2012_Layout 1 4/2/2012 2:35 AM Page 22
Monday, 2 April, 2012
22
‘I won’t handover my BB handset unless satisfied’ ISLAMABAD
A
tAhir niAz
S the UK-based forensic experts have warned against the examination of Blackberry phones outside the lab as it leaves certain data vulnerable to modification or tempering, Mansoor Ijaz has insisted on his involvement in the process of examination. The central character of the memo scandal has said that he would not handover his devices for inspection to anyone unless he agreed to the inspecting firm’s protocols and was satisfied with its procedures. On the other hand, Pakistan’s high commission in London has asked Attorney General (AG) Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq whether the extraction of the deleted data was more important in the case or the ver-
US wants security for NAto vehicles along with resumed supplies ISLAMABAD
ification of the available data. Pakistan’s embassy in Washington, on the question whether the Blackberry handsets used by Haqqani were owned by him or they were the property of the government of Pakistan, has informed the AG that there was no record of the embassy purchasing Blackberry handsets for use by Ambassador Haqqani, but at the same time it verified that a payment of $808.89 was reimbursed to the ambassador and the items were also entered in the stock register. According to sources, the Pakistani high commission has informed the AG about the details of forensic experts it has identified to inspect the Blackberry handsets used by Mansoor Ijaz. The high commission said it had contacted a number of forensic professional companies located in the UK to provide the services instructed by the memo commis-
Zardari to make ‘personal’ visit to India ISLAMABAD Agencies
shAiq hussAin
Making the already difficult job a daunting task for Pakistan, the United States is not only asking for reopening of blocked NATO supply routes but also demanding the protection of containers and oil tankers passing through Pakistan before crossing the border into Afghanistan. The US demand for resumption of NATO supplies is not only being debated upon in the parliament, which has convened a joint session for a review of relations with US, but also being widely discussed across the country, along with the new condition of taxation on NATO containers that the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) has recommended. However, according to officials privy to back channel talks between Islamabad and Washington, the US administration is also demanding of Pakistan to arrange for foolproof security for NATO supplies in view of attacks on containers and tankers. “The restoration of NATO supplies depends on the outcome of parliamentary debate on new terms of engagement with the US and the country’s lawmakers will decide whether to reopen the blocked supply lines or not. In case, the parliament approves the resumption of NATO supplies, their protection will be a daunting task for Pakistani security forces,” said a diplomat while seeking anonymity. He said NATO containers and oil tankers cover a very long route across the country before crossing into Afghanistan through border entry points at Torkham in Khyber Agency or Chaman in Balochistan. He said if security forces were deployed at the sensitive places at least, it would be a very costly affair. He said the US officials had been informed about the whole situation and it had also been made known to them that in case NATO supplies were restored by the parliament and Pakistan accepted the responsibility of providing security to the convoys, then it would be up to Washington and its allies to arrange for the huge funds required.
sion as: to check and to verify if the data in the two Blackberry handsets of Mansoor Ijaz had been manipulated, interpolated, tempered with or introduced subsequently and retrieve the deleted BlackBerry messages; to check and verify if a particular email had been sent or received on a par-
ticular date and time and if its contents had been tempered with or not. According to the documents exclusively available with Pakistan Today, the mission has short-listed only those companies that could provide the required services at the high commission as “It understands that Mansoor Ijaz would not handover the handsets and the laptop to be checked at the labs of the forensic companies”. On the other hand, the forensic companies have warned the mission during initial negotiations that the extraction of data might involve the physical removal of the memory chip, and the handset might no longer remain in its original state, rendering the device inoperable for future use. It further said that the “completion dates cannot be guaranteed as a consequence of unpredictable nature of chip extraction. Examination outside the lab is not forensi-
President Asif Ali Zardari is expected soon to make the first visit to India by a Pakistani head of state since 2005, with relations between the nuclear-armed rivals at their warmest in years. Zardari’s spokesman said on Sunday that the visit would be personal but held out the possibility that it could be official. Indian media quoted government sources there as saying they hoped there would be formal talks. “It has been on the cards, and now it is confirmed,” spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Reuters. “It was supposed to be a private visit. But what it turns out (to be) finally, whether private, official, or private (and) official has yet to be confirmed,” he added. “The foreign ministries of the two countries have been in touch with each other to finalise details for the president’s visit, which will be private,” presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar told AFP.
Zardari is expected to visit a shrine to a revered Sufi saint in the Indian city of Ajmer. Indian newspapers, citing government sources, said Indian officials were making efforts to hold political discussions during the visit. Zardari is known to be superstitious and his spiritual beliefs have been widely reported in the Pakistani media. According to media reports, one of his rituals is the sacrifice of a black goat to protect him from evil. Scores of black goats have reportedly been sacrificed since Zardari moved into the presidency. The president also has a resident ‘pir’ or Sufi master who lives with him in the presidency. Pir Mohammad Ejaz has even been spotted at official functions organised at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The holy man from Gujranwala in Punjab province has been living in a guestroom close to the president’s room since Zardari moved into the presidency in September 2008. Ejaz recently told the media that he has been with Zardari for the past nine years.
Continued on page 04 Published by Arif Nizami for Nawa Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.
Editor: Arif Nizami, Executive Editor: Sarmad Bashir
cally sound practice as it may limit the experts’ ability to check the validity and retrieval of lost data e.g. outside the lab the experts are able to carry out live read on the Blackberry handsets and to get full image from the memory and in some model the BB chat data and also to find some application on the phone that would be evidence of the ability to manipulate data but not necessarily to show that certain data has been modified or tampered.” The mission has contacted the companies duly certified by ISO with good reputation. The CY40R Limited has quoted approximately 2,040 pounds (plus 20 percent VAT) for the services. The Forensic Telecommunication Services Limited has quoted 1,500 pounds (plus 20 percent VAT) for the services. Continued on page 04