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Rs22.00 Vol ii no 164 27 pages Lahore edition
TTP talking peace with government
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Taliban commander says govt released 145 prisoners as goodwill gesture while militants have pledged a ceasefire Peace agreement, if reached, would first be implemented in Bajaur Agency and later in other parts of tribal areas
pakistantoday.com.pk
Sunday, 11 december, 2011 Muharram-ul-Haram 15, 1433
US working hard to salvage ties with Pakistan WASHINGTON INP
PESHAWAR StAff RePoRt
ONFiRMiNg that talks between the government and militants in Bajaur Agency were underway, deputy leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Maulvi Faqir Muhammad on Saturday said both sides were close to an agreement that could be inked shortly. “Our talks with the government are in progress and the process is going ahead smoothly,” Faqir said in a telephonic conversation with reporters in Bajaur. He said upon a successful completion of dialogue, “We will be willing to sign an agreement, which can be extended to rest of the tribal belt after its implementation in Bajaur”. “if negotiations succeed and we are able to sign a peace agreement in Bajaur, then the government and the Taliban of other areas such as Swat, Mohmand, Orakzai and South Waziristan tribal region will sign an agreement. Bajaur will be a role model for other areas.” Faqir said the government had realised that there was no military solution to the conflict. “We have no wish to fight against our own armed forces and destroy our own country,” he said. “There has been development in our peace talks, but the government would have to show more flexibility in its stance, and restore the trust of the Taliban by releasing prisoners and stopping the military operation against them.” Faqir refused to disclose the terms and conditions for the agreement, but he expressed satisfaction over the recent shift in government’s policies towards the US. Continued on page 04
A complete lunar eclipse was witnessed across Pakistan on Saturday.
The United States on Saturday said it was working hard to get back to work with Pakistan. “This relationship is complicated. But it’s also essential to both the United States and Pakistan. We are working very hard to keep open channels and to get back to work together,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. The US officials have been in constant contact with their counterparts in Pakistan, the latest being the meeting between the US ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.“We are continuing our intensive engagement. Obviously we are both trying to roll up our sleeves and get back to work together,” Nuland said. She said there was no reason to believe that the Dubai visit of President Asif Ali Zardari had anything to do with other than his health issue.
Nawaz promises he will trace Benazir’s killers LARKANA StAff RePoRt/oNlINe
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) President Nawaz Sharif on Saturday hit hard at the Pakistan People’s Party for not bringing killers of its own former chairwoman Benazir Bhutto to book. Addressing a public gathering in PPP’s stronghold Larkana on Saturday, Nawaz vowed that he would bring the assassins of Benazir to justice. Nawaz said those who ran away leaving Benazir’s body behind
had now become advisers and ministers. He said the incumbent ministers and advisers had nothing to do with Benazir’s PPP. Recalling the day of Benazir’s assassination, he said he was greatly saddened by her death and that PPP workers on the occasion had appealed him to make efforts to ensure the arrest of the killers. Nawaz paid homage to Benazir and said he was greatly saddened over the martyrdom of the PPP chairperson, as he considered her sister. He said those who were not able to arrest the killers
of its own chief could hardly bring dacoits and looters to justice. Continued on page 04
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02 News
Sunday, 11 december, 2011
LAHOre
Today’s
It waxed and waned on the same night!
NewS
wOrLd view
Military not going to take over: Shujaat
US no longer Israel’s ally
Quick Look
Story on Page 09
Story on Page 05n
One killed, four injured in Karachi bomb blast KARACHI: A man was killed and four others injured in a bomb blast near Silver Jubilee gate of the University of Karachi on Saturday. According to details, a bomb having of around five kilogrammes had been planted near the main gate of Karachi University. The blast injured five passers-by and damaged several vehicles. Rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to the hospital where one of them, Munaf Raza, succumbed to his injuries. Security agencies reached the spot and cordoned off the area soon after. Sources said police had also arrested three suspects from the area. The gulshan-eiqbal superintendent of police confirmed the incident and said the blast was of high intensity. investigators said there were several similarities between the attack carried out at the university and the one that targeted Rangers personnel on Friday. tARIq HABIB
UN General Assembly picks Pakistan as member of top UN scientific body UNITED NATIONS: The UN general Assembly has unanimously decided to appoint Pakistan as a permanent member of the UN Scientific Committee (UNSCEAR), a top international body dealing with nuclear radiation. A press release of the Pakistan Mission to the UN said that the 193-member Assembly’s decision was an acknowledgement of Pakistan’s technological advancement in applications of the peaceful usage of nuclear radiations in the fields of health, agriculture, environment and research and development. The UN Scientific Committee, which was established in 1955, consists of 27 member states and is based in Vienna, Austria. Pakistan had been an observer of this committee since 2007. NNI
Court indicts Atiqa Odho RAWALPINDI: A magistrate on Saturday framed charges against renowned TV artiste Atiqa Odho for possessing two wine bottles. Magistrate Hamayun Pervaiz, during a trial, indicted Odho formally in case of keeping two bottles of alcohol in her luggage during a domestic travel a few months ago. Odho, however, pleaded “not guilty”. Therefore, the magistrate directed the prosecution to produce the witnesses on the next date of hearing, December 17. The former APML central leader also filed an application in the court seeking exemption for her personal appearance in the case. But, the court rejected here plea and ordered her to appear before the court on every hearing. StAff RePoRt
Story on Page 15
Ailing former Larkana PML-N leader sets himself on fire LARKANA APP
Former PML-N district Larkana vice- president Syed Nisar Ali Shah attempted self immolation against what he called “ignorance by the PMLN’s central and provincial leadership” at Larkana Press Club on the arrival of PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday. Nisar reached the Press Club, sprinkled petrol on his body and torched himself before the public. Media and others intervened to save him, however 60 percent of his body was burnt. Police did not take preventive measures despite Nisar announcing he would attempt selfimmolation a day earlier. Market Police Station Larkana city SHO reached the location and took Nisar to the CMC Emergency Ward iCU where his condition was said to be critical. Meanwhile, Sindh Law Minister Mohammed Ayaz Soomro along with Deputy Commissioner Larkana Abdul Aleem Lashari and party leaders and workers reached the hospital and enquired after his health. Soomro announced financial assistance and a job for the suffering PML-N worker. Soomro said being PPP district Larkana president and a government representative it was his responsibility to take care of every citizen in his government.
MUZAffARABAD: Activists of Hizbul Mujahideen and Kashmir refugees hold a protest rally against India on Saturday. iNP
Four months on, no mechanism for implementing amended FCR g
Under FrC reforms, govt had to establish Appellate Authority and FATA Tribunal having powers to reverse orders of political agents ISLAMABAD
D
IRfAN BUKHARI
ESPiTE the passage of around four months since President Asif Ali Zardari approved amendments in the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR), the government has failed to establish institutional mechanism for implementing the law in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and the delay has become a source of anguish for FATA dwellers and parliamentarians. On August 12, President Asif Ali Zardari signed two orders that set into motion the far reaching administrative, judicial and political reforms in the Tribal Areas. The two orders signed by President Asif Ali Zardari were Amendments in the Frontier Crimes Regulation (2011) and Extension of the Political Parties Order 2002 to the Tribal Areas. Under FRC reforms, the government had
to establish Appellate Authority and FATA Tribunal having powers to reverse orders/judgments of political agents, but none have been established so far. Zafar Beg Bhittani, MNA from FATA, said the delay “in implementation of everything has become hallmark of the government … even powers have not been devolved to provinces as passed under 18th Amendment”. According to the amended FCR, appeals will lie before Appellate Authority comprising commissioner and a dedicated additional commissioner (judicial) to be notified by the governor. The reforms also envisage setting of a FATA Tribunal headed by chairman and two members of whom one shall be a person who has been civil servant of not less than BPS-20, having experience of tribal administration and other a person qualified to be appointed as a judge of a high court and well conversant with Rewaj. The FATA Tribunal shall exercise power of re-
vision against political agents and judgments of Appellate Authority and shall have powers similar to high court under Article 199. According to the amendments and contrary to past practice, an accused shall have right to bail and it will be mandatory to produce him before the concerned authority within 24 hours of arrest. Under new FCR law, cases will now be disposed of in a fixed timeframe and checks placed on arbitrary power of arrest under the notorious Section 40A of the FCR. Muhammad Sajid Turi, chairman of the Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), told Pakistan Today that the previous version of FCR was being followed in FATA. He said the courts, which had to be established after the amendments, had not been set up. Asked about the possible obstacles to new FCR’s implementation, Turi said the unrest in the Tribal Areas could be a main problem.
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Sunday, 11 december, 2011
FOreiGN NewS
ArTS & eNTerTAiNMeNT
News 03
SPOrTS
COMMeNT
Catalysts for peace: three women receive Nobel Prize Jennifer Aniston named hottest woman of all time Army, Sindh, Punjab enjoy plain sailing
Role of the SC: Activism within bounds.
Reality check needed: We need the US.
Humayun gauhar says: Hail the monkey: A system imploding?
Sikander Ahmed Shah says: On US drone attacks: Legal or not?
M J Akbar says: RIP Dev saab: From evergreen to immortal.
Story on Page 21
Story on Page 18
Story on Page 08
Articles on Page 12-13
JI interested in MMA’s revival ISLAMABAD
A
tAHIR NIAZ
FTER the Jamiat Ulema-eislam Fazl (JUi-F) turned down Jamaat-e-islami’s proposal of seat adjustment on mutual basis in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan for the next general election, the latter has accelerated its efforts for the revival of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Pakistan Today learnt reliably on Saturday. According to sources in both parties, JUi-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Ji chief Syed Munawar Hassan held a secret meeting some weeks ago in which the latter proposed mutual seat adjustment for the next general election.
However, Fazl rejected the proposal, saying it held a number of provincial and National Assembly seats while the Ji had no representation in the assemblies. The sources said a meeting to discuss the revival of MMA was scheduled to be held on December 13, but both parties told Sahibzada Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair, who has been assigned the task for facilitating meetings to discuss the revival of MMA, that before discussing the revival, they wanted to discuss it privately. Both Fazl and Hassan requested Zubair, who is the president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, that the meeting scheduled for on December 13 be postponed so that both parties could discuss the issue at party level and mutually.
did army know of Zardari’s plans?
Sources said Munawar Hassan, who earlier was not interested in the revival of the MMA, had now consented to the idea. He also constituted a committee led by Liaqat Baloch to discuss the revival of MMA with JUi-F before it is taken up at the MMA forum. The sources said that leadership of both the parties has agreed to revive the MMA and then enter into seat adjustment formula with other parties. Meanwhile, religio-political parties of the Barelvi school of thought have shown leanings towards Sunni ittehad Council led by Sahibzada Fazl Karim. “These parties are now least interested in the revival of MMA… all parties of Barelvi school of thought are holding intra-party meetings to discuss how to strengthen the Sunni ittehad Council,” a source in the parties said.
CJP for completing FJA construction without compromise on quality Cabinet to meet in Peshawar on dec 14 ISLAmABAD: The next meeting of the federal Cabinet would be held in Peshawar on December 14, 2011 in which strategic decisions to make the Pakistan Steel Mills profitable and efficient will be taken. According to the Cabinet Division, the Cabinet meeting will be held every week, instead of alternate week, to take up the matters pertaining to the salvation of the public sector enterprises. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza gilani had constituted a Cabinet Committee, headed by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, mandated to give recommendations about the complete restructuring of the public sector organisations. StAff RePoRt
ISLAMABAD
QUETTA SHAHZADA ZUlfIqAR
A number of organisations and political parties staged a protest against human rights violations in Balochistan, particularly of Baloch missing persons, amidst the presence of Dr Fauzia Siddiqi, the sister of imprisoned Dr Aafia in US on Saturday. The rally, arranged by relatives and friends of Baloch missing persons, including women and children outside the Quetta Press Club on Saturday, demanded the United Nations and humanitarian organisations take notice of the issue. Participants observed a black day for the governments’ failure to release missing persons. The demonstration was under the auspices of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) on the eve of international Human Rights Day. The rally led by VBMP chairman Nasrullah Baloch walked through the city roads and culminated in a demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club.
Faisalabad labourers protest gas outages
StAff RePoRt
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday directed the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Engineering Services Pakistan Private Limited (NESPAK) to complete the construction work of the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) Project Phase-ii in time without compromising on the quality. The CJP was speaking at his visit to the FJA construction site where he was briefed about various aspects of the project, including the pace of the construction work that is to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 92 million. The CJP pointed out certain technical flaws while inspecting the construction map, architectural design and quality of the construction material being used. He directed the PAK PWD and NESPAK officials to correct the flaws and complete the work without compromising on quality. FJA in-charge Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, FJA Director general Parvaiz Ali Chawla and the faculty members of the FJA were also present on the occasion.
Rally against human rights violations 6 killed in Balochistan violence QUETTA: Six people, including a woman were killed and another eight were injured in land mine explosions and a hand grenade attack in Dera Bugti and Hub town of Lasbela on Saturday. A man, Bakhshu was going on foot along with three women in Pirko area of Dera Bugti when he stepped on an anti-personnel mine, triggering an explosion. As a result Bakhshu was killed on the spot while all three women received injuries. in another incident, a girl herding her flock in Bakar area of Dera Bugti stepped on another antipersonnel mine blowing herself into pieces. Two people were shot dead and another wounded in firing incidents in Khuzdar and Hub while a dead body was found in Musakhel area of Balochistan on Saturday. in yet other incident, unidentified armed men opened indiscriminate firing on two men, identified as Abdul Hameed Baranzai and Muhammad Hanif, at Chamrok hotel in Khuzdar and fled the scene. Both men were critically injured and were taken to hospital where Baranzai succumbed to his injuries. Separately, according to police, unidentified armed men hurled a hand grenade at a hotel in Mundara bazaar of Hub city. Four people were injred in the attack. in another incident, a man was shot dead in Hub. Police said Elahi Bakhsh, watchman of a private hospital, was on his way when unidentified armed assailants shot him dead. Police moved the body to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, the local administration of Musakhel on a tip-off recovered a bullet-riddled body and moved it to nearby hospital for autopsy. Levies sources said the deceased’s identity had been established as Jan Muhammad. StAff RePoRt
A seemingly innocuous statement issued by a military institute of cardiology asking people not to go abroad for treatment of heart diseases has raised questions about whether the Pakistan Army had an inkling of President Asif Ali Zardari’s plans to travel to Dubai, the Economic Times said in a report. The statement issued on November 23 by the inter-Services Public Relations on behalf of the Armed Forces institute of Cardiology and National institute of Heart Diseases said the state of the art facility “provides the best treatment to heart patients and there was no need for any heart patient to go abroad for treatment”. The institute’s spokesman said its executive director, Maj gen Asif Ali Khan, had taken note of the case of a child from Peshawar who was suffering from a heart disease and had appealed to the president to help with his treatment abroad. The statement in Urdu, which was emailed to reporters, said Khan had asked the child’s family to contact the institute and said: “Since the institute is providing the best treatment, there is no need for any heart patient to go abroad anymore”. The statement and its timing has raised questions in islamabad as to whether the military was aware of Zardari’s plans to travel abroad. “There definitely seems to be more to this than meets the eye,” a Western diplomat who was aware of the statement said. MoNItoRINg DeSK
FAISALABAD: All trade organisations and hundreds of labourers from Faisalabad’s industrial units came out on the roads on Saturday to protest against the 3day gas load shedding which has crippled the city’s industrial production, warning the government of starting a civil disobedience movement if it goes ahead with its plan to curb gas shortage. A large number of daywage workers staged a sit-in outside the Faisalabad District Council and chanted slogans against the government. They said the gas outages were causing unemployment and demanded the government immediately restore gas supply to the industrial units. oNlINe
Sehba petitions for transfer of property confiscation case RAWALPINDI oNlINe
Sehba Musharraf on Saturday filed an application in an Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi, seeking the transfer of the case on the confiscation of property of her spouse general (r) Pervez Musharraf. ATC Judge Shahid Rafiq took up for hearing application filed against confiscation of Pervez Musharraf property in Benazir Bhutto assassination case. During the course of hearing of application Sehba Musharraf, wife of Pervez Musharraf, filed application pleading she did not see the ATC providing justice to her application and requested it be shifted to another court for hearing. The court issued notice to the FiA in connection with hearing of application and sought a reply on December 17. The court will decide on the next hearing about the maintainability of her application.
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04 News
Sunday, 11 december, 2011
Sialkot couple accused of blasphemy ‘over monetary dispute’
Complainant cleric accuses the couple of blaspheming inside a mosque g Family claims police registered case ‘in haste,’ ignored contradictions g
SIALKOT ARIf MeHMooD SHeIKH
i
N what appears like another attempt to use the blasphemy law to settle a personal vendetta, a case has been registered against Amjad alias Toka, a resident of Hundal village near Sialkot tehsil, and his wife Samreena by Sialkot Saddar police under Section 295-C PPC on the report of Jamia Masjid Hundal Khateeb Maulana ghulam Hussain, who alleged that the couple had used derogatory words against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his mosque on Thursday night. The main accused Amjad alias Toka faces a second blasphemy case in
two and half years. The earlier case (FiR No. 389/2009) was registered by Nekapura police under Section 295-C on September 14,2009, on the report of the local mosque’s Khateeb Hafiz Shakeel Ahmed in Nawa Pind village, Sialkot tehsil. The local court in Sialkot had bailed the accused in the earlier case. The family of the suspect accused Sialkot Saddar police of registering the blasphemy case in haste and alleged police were involved in registering a false case. They said police was obliged to verify an incident before registering a case, adding that police had registered two blasphemy cases against Amjad with the first case yet to be proved against him.
When contacted, Sialkot police said they were unable to ascertain whether the accused had blasphemed or not. Police said locals had told them the accused had an old money dispute with the accuser, Mullah ghulam Hussain. Meanwhile, the family of the accused asked, “How, in a society were women do not enter mosques, did Amjad’s wife Samreena Bibi enter the said mosque?” However, accuser Maulana ghulam Hussain refuted the allegation of a monetary dispute with the accused and swore that both accused enter the mosque and blasphemed. On Friday, a local court sent the accused couple to Sialkot District Jail.
FC takes control of Shamsi airbase QUETTA: Most of the US forces’ equipment and officials were airlifted from the Shamsi airbase on Saturday, as geo News reported that the FC had taken control of the airbase late in the evening. “Only one American cargo plane is still parked at the airbase which will transfer the remaining personnel and equipment,” geo TV quoted sources as
saying. Around 12 to 14 military air transporters made sorties to airlift US equipment and 27 of 59 US forces personnel until Saturday. Officials of the Pakistan Army and intelligence agencies, along with a few Federal investigation Agency officials, reached the airbase to supervise the evacuation process. SHAHZADA ZUlfIqAR
TTP talking peace with govt Continued fRoM page 1 He praised the government for banning supplies to US-led troops in Afghanistan and said the TTP was in favour of PakAfghan alliance against the US in the region. “Pakistan and Afghanistan should unite against foreign occupation [of Afghanistan] by non-Muslims,” he said. Mohammad said Pakistan had released 145 members of the group as a gesture of goodwill and the militants had pledged a ceasefire. A couple of months ago, intelligence agencies had charged Faqir of entering into an understanding with Afghan authorities, particularly with those running affairs of Kunar province. “Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, after chairing a meeting of militant commanders in Kunar on June 9, remained a guest of governor Fazal Ullah,” reports had said. Despite his active role as the TTP deputy leader, Faqir played a key role in managing an agreement between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Taliban on May 21, 2008. Similarly, he helped Taliban to slip from Swat to adjacent Buner and Dir regions in early 2009. However, he mysteriously disappeared when the armed forces launched a military offensive in Swat in May 2009. in October 2010, Faqir was removed as the TTP Bajaur leader and Maulvi Dadullah was appointed the new chief. Locals said Faqir and his close aides had recently returned to Bajaur Agency, however, the local administration rejected the claims of Faqir being in the agency.
ISlAMABAD: Neill Wright, UNHCR country representative, calls on Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday. ONLINE
qUettA: Voice for Baloch Missing Persons activists protest against India on International Human Rights Day on Saturday. INP
Nawaz will not get blessings from graves of PPP martyrs: Firdous ISLAMABAD APP
Nawaz Sharif’s efforts to seek political power from the graves of the martyrs of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) after being rejected from Punjab shall be foiled, Minister for information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Saturday. Talking to various TV channels, Awan said Sindh was the PPP’s base and the people will not Nawaz to gain political milage in the name of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. S She said it was Bhutto’s political vision that compelled the disciples of a dictator to visit her grave and concede her vision. However, she said if Sharif had admitted the vision of Benazir during her life, democratic institutions could have been strengthened. She said the visit to the graves of PPP martyrs might have shown Nawaz the amount of sacrifice the PPP had paid to keeping democracy alive in Pakistan. She said the PML-N chief had forgotten the politics of reconciliation initiated by Benazir in the Charter of Democracy (CoD).
New Afghan group claims shrine attack MONITORING DESK Tuesday’s bombing of a Kabul shrine was part of a campaign to target Shia Muslims in Afghanistan, a man claiming to lead a new Afghan group said, the BBC reported on Saturday. The man, who gave his name as Ali Sher-e-Khuda, told the BBC his group was inspired by Pakistan’s Sunni militant Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. He said the group had not officially sanctioned the Kabul attack, but did not deny his men carried it out. it has raised fears of a wave of new sectarian violence in Afghanistan. Afghan officials say the attack was the work of Lashkare-Jhangvi, but they have cast doubt there is a new Afghan group active in the country
with formal links to it. The killing of at least 71 Shia worshippers earlier this week was the first significant sectarian attack in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban. Despite suffering years of violence, the country has not seen the attacks between Sunni and Shia Muslims that have been common in Pakistan and iraq. Ali Sher-e-Khuda spoke to the BBC’s Shoaib Hasan at a secret location in Balochistan. He said his group - which he called Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Afghanistan - is relatively new and operated on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghan border. Sher-e-Khuda said Tuesday’s bombing was about fighting discrimination by “Afghanistan’s ruling Shia elite”.
13 dead in van crash LAHORE AgeNCIeS
At least 13 people, including, three children were killed on Saturday and another 15 injured when a road collision led to a gas cylinder explosion in central Pakistan, police said. A van carrying 32 passengers collided with a truck on Multan road in Vehari district, causing the compressed natural gas cylinder to explode and resulting in a huge blaze. “At least 13 passengers have been burned alive and 15 were injured. Three children are among the dead,” Ali Nasir Rizvi, police chief for Vehari district, told AFP. Most of the bodies were damaged beyond recognition by the explosion and fire, Rizvi said. “The condition of ten of the injured is serious,” he said, adding that five women and a child were also hurt.
Nawaz promises he will trace Benazir’s killers Continued fRoM page 1 Nawaz also slammed the PPP leadership for its failure to address the miseries of flood victims of the province. The former PM pledged that he would provide easy loans to peasants in Sindh, adding that Sindh was changing and the
presence of a large number of people in the rally was a proof of the fact. “We will ensure freedom from load shedding, lands will be distributed among landless farmers and easy loans would be provided to Sindhi businessmen,” Nawaz said.
Talking to reporters at Benazir’s mausoleum, the PMLN president said that he had finished “no-go areas” by coming to Larkana. He said that after breaking the “no-go area” in Larkana, he would head to Karachi and break another “no-go area” in the city.
For Gilani, it’s PPP over politics ISLAMABAD APP
Reiterating his commitment with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Prime Minister Yousaf Raza gilani on Saturday categorically said he would quit politics before parting ways with the party. “i am committed with the party. i am with the party and i would rather quit politics than to stab the party,” gilani said in response to query put up by a panel of a private television channel, which he was visiting as part of its third anniversary celebrations. Commenting on the memo scandal, the prime minister said it was not a worthy issue, as Mansoor ijaz had no credibility. To another question, gilani said when the leader of the opposition raised the question of memo in parliament, he replied that he would summon ambassador Husain Haqqani to Pakistan,
but would not condemn him unheard as per the norms of justice. To another question, gilani said the joint session of parliament would be summoned after the Parliamentary Committee on National Security presents its recommendations. Asked about submitting reply on the petition filed by Nawaz Sharif in the Supreme Court on the memo issue, the prime minister said, “The reply will be submitted in time.” gilani said he did not know who would be the prime minister, but “the parliament will, god willing, complete its tenure”. Asked about Nawaz’s statement regarding delay in the arrest of Benazir Bhutto’s murderers, he said the matter was sub-judice. He said the criticism of parliament was unjustified, as collective wisdom [coalition partners] could not be wrong and no
other party could make miracles. Asked about the high prices of essential commodities, the prime minister the phenomenon was a result of global recession. Commenting on the NRO review case and the issue of sending a letter to Swiss Court, the prime minister said he was mentally prepared for all challenges and would “cross the bridge” when he got there. On the issue of NATO/iSAF attacks on Pakistani posts, the prime minister said internal inquiry was being conducted and it would take up all the aspects, adding that “let the final enquiry report come”, the government would then take a final decision. To a question on negotiations with the Taliban, the prime minister said, “We are already adopting 3D (Dialogue, Deterrence and Development) policy and
PM wants minimum electricity load shedding ISLAmABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza gilani on Saturday directed Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar to make sure that the people and the industrial sector were put to minimum possible load shedding of electricity. He passed on these instructions in a meeting with the water and power minister who called on him at the PM’s House to discuss the overall electricity demand and supply situation in the country. The prime minister directed the minister to tour all the provinces to ascertain their requirements with the purpose of ensuring that the people of the country were not subject to unscheduled load shedding during the winter season. gilani also asked Qamar to explore new avenues of power generation on pro-active basis to overcome the prevailing energy deficiency in the country at the earliest. He also praised the ministry for undertaking new hydel and dialogue process… it is a continuous process.” Regarding the Pak-US rela-
renewable energy projects by using immense hydel and wind resources of the country. The water and power minister informed gilani that the ministry would give a detailed briefing to him on the mega hydel and renewable energy power projects early next week. Qamar said the projects had already attracted large foreign investment offers for the power generation projects of the government. The minister said the Asian Development Bank had already formalised assuming the role of leading financial adviser for the Diamer Bhasha Dam. The minister said the work on Kohala-Jhelum power project was in full swing which would generate more than 1100MW of electricity for the national grid. He said another ambitious power generation project at Patrand, Muzaffarabad, would soon be taken up by the ministry. StAff RePoRt
tions, gilani said, “True friendship starts after quarrel.” “We want to maintain
excellent relationship with the US based on mutual respect,” he said.
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education can transform country’s future: governor PAGe 08
It waxed and waned on the same night!
Photos by Ahmed Nizami, Nadeem Ijaz, Irfan Chaudhry and AfP.
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Last total lunar eclipse of 2011 enthrals locals LAHORE
S
AlI tAHIR
KiES were partly cloudy over Lahore on Saturday, but a lengthy lunar eclipse and the hide and seek between the earth’s shadow and the moon that lasted for almost three hours left the locals of the metropolis amazed.
The lunar eclipse also known as moon eclipse started at 5:46 pm and concluded at 9:18 pm. While talking to astronomy experts it was deduced that this lunar eclipse was witnessed around the world. Complete lunar eclipse was seen in Australia and Asia only while partial eclipse was witnessed in Europe, North East Africa and North America. Accord-
ing to experts, this eclipse is the longest (at 51 mins) till the year 2018. The moon was seen fading away in to the darkness as the eclipse progressed and reappeared as the eclipse concluded. Locals were left amazed to see different sights of the moon as the shadow of the earth took over the moon. “This was the first time i saw a complete eclipse, it was certainly a memorable night,” said Ayesha Shah, adding that she had photographed the entire proceedings. She said that Pakistan was lucky to see two lunar eclipses in one year alone. Whereas on the other hand astrologists were of the view that eclipse was considered to be a “not-so-good” symbol. Many mysteries are associated to eclipse according to astrologist. “Eclipse symbolises darkness taking over a glowing body”, said Huma Bajwa an astrologist. She said though different studies on eclipse can be found most endorse the message of darkness. A Thai astrologer also warned people against watching the eclipse, predicting that viewing the celestial phenomenon could bring them bad luck, especially to women. Amazingly, this was the second lunar eclipse that was seen this year only. The last eclipse was seen on June 15,
PRoMotINg PAtRIotISM: PtI holds a candle-lit vigil at Model town for victims of the NAto attack. IRFAN ChAUdhRy
‘Nawaz wants sympathies of Sindhis’ LAHORE StAff RePoRt
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab chapter, in response to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif’s speech at Larkana, said that he was trying to win sympathies of Sindhis by making false accusations. Hitting back at Nawaz regarding his remarks on the failure of the federal government to arrest former PM and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s killers, PPP Punjab general Secretary
Samiullah Khan said that on one hand, Nawaz was expressing affection with Benazir while on the other, he was using all energies to topple her party’s government. He said that the double-faced attitude of the PML-N’s leadership could not deceive the masses at large and former PM and PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s philosophy would lead the PPP to victory in the next general elections. PPP Punjab Finance Secretary Aurangzeb Burki, reacting on Nawaz’s remarks, said that the PMLN president’s policy of destabilising
the federal government was a sheer violation of his agreement with Benazir in shape of the Charter of Democracy (CoD). Burki said that the PPP was confronting the mindset, which led to assassination of Benazir and also battling against “terrorists’ factories”, which were operational in the country. PPP leader Chaudhry ghulam Abbas said that Nawaz was trying to gain emotional sympathy from Sindhis by talking about Benazir’s killers. He said that people knew Nawaz’s very well role and could not be deceived.
How a total eclipse happens? A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun and moon are aligned with the Earth in between them. Earth then casts a temporary shadow on the moon as it blocks the suns rays. As opposed to a partial eclipse, total eclipses entail a perfect alignment of the three bodies. During the lunar eclipse the shadow of the earth can be seen engulfing the moon. At the peak hour of the eclipse the moon completely disappears and reappears as the sun, earth and moon move out of line. 2011 which lasted for about a 100 mins. Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a certain relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse can be viewed from anywhere on the night side
of the Earth. A lunar eclipse lasts for a few hours, whereas a total solar eclipse lasts for only a few minutes at any given place, due to the smaller size of the moon’s shadow.
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Doc’s negligence kills baby LAHORE
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StAff RePoRt
HE death of a newborn baby in Lady Willingdon Hospital allegedly due to negligence of the doctors infuriated the heirs of deceased and they protested against the doctors. According to details, a baby girl was born to Ahsan’s wife on Friday late night. At time of birth, both mother and child were in stable condition however later the doctors shifted the baby to intensive Care Unit where the baby started bleeding through her nose and throat which led her to death. Family of the deceased claimed that the lady doctor on duty at that time was busy on her phone and did not pay attention to deteriorating condition of baby due to which she died. However, on intervention of ad-
deputy secretary gets a beating from lower staff LAHORE: Clerks and other staff members of the Punjab Civil Secretariat beat up Higher Education Department Deputy Secretary Tariq Masood in retaliation to Masood’s thrashing his messenger Allah Ditta, Pakistan Today has learnt. Per details, the elderly Allah Ditta returned to his duty a little late after which Masood reprimanded him “severely”, to which the elderly staffer protested. Allegedly, this led to Masood giving Allah Ditta a thrashing, and Masood was also joined by a couple of lawyers who were visiting him in his office. Allah Ditta managed to run away from the spot however and raised hue and cry after coming outside the department which gathered dozens of lower staff including drivers and clerks from other departments as well. The staff in turn beat up Masood and the two lawyers in retaliation. During the brawl, Masood was reported to have finally apologised to “save his skin”. Staffers and other employees said Masood was from income Tax group and does not hold a good reputation amongst his staff because of his “bad temper”. Services Secretary Sikander Sultan Raja however said disciplinary action would only be taken after a report is presented on the probe being conducted on the issue by the departmental secretary. The secretary, however, was not available for comment. StAff RePoRt
LHC CJ shuffles judges LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sh Azmat Saeed on Saturday issued transfer and posting orders for three judges of district judiciary of the province. According a notification issued by LHC Registrar Sohail Nasir, Additional District and session judge (AD&SJ) Arshad Mahmood has been transferred from gojra to Sarai Alamgir while AD&SJ Ch Muhammad Hussain has been transferred from Sarai Alamgir to gorja. Meanwhile, Civil Judge Khurram Saleem Mirza has been transferred from Jhang to Sheikhupura against an existing vacancy. StAff RePoRt
ministrative staff and assurance of enquiry, the family left the hospital and took the dead body with them. BROTHER SHOOTS BROTHER DEAD: A man shot his own brother dead over a dispute of property in North Cantt police limits. The deceased was identified as Hakeem Qadeer and his brother, Kabeer, was at large after murdering his brother. According to details, Hakeem Basheer, father of Qadeer and Kabeer, had transferred the ownership of land in Barki area to two brothers in his life. After the father’s death, Kabeer demanded his brother to give him the
roadside patch of land but Qadeer turned his wish down. Both brothers came at odds several times on this issue and attempts of other family members to resolve the matter also went in vain. On Saturday morning, Kabeer visited the land and found some farmers working on it who told him that they had acquired the land on lease from his brother Qadeer. Annoyed, Kabeer rushed to Qadeer’s shop and had a verbal clash with him over it. Later, he returned to his brother’s place and shot him with a gun and escaped. On being informed, Edhi ambulance took the Qadeer to hospital where doctors declared him dead.
WOmAN DIES OF BURN INJURIES: A woman passed away in Mayo Hospital owing to severe burn injuries on Saturday. The deceased identified as Tasleem, a resident of Sant Nagar Sanda, had set herself ablaze on Friday over domestic issue while her husband also sustained minor injuries while saving her life. Both had been shifted to hospital after the neighbors called the Rescue 1122. However, Tasleem succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Heirs of deceased told police that Tasleem got in fire accidentally. SPEEDING CAR KILLS mAN: An employee of a restaurant at Allama iqbal international Airport died in an accident on Ring Road. The deceased was identified as 27-years-old Abubakar and was the resident of Bhagat pura. He was hit by a speeding car on Ring Road and died on the spot.
health sector to be PML-N’s priority: Maryam Nawaz LAHORE StAff RePoRt
When the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) will come into power, the health sector will be given the status of an industry so that best opportunities of service could be available to doctors, nurses and other staff associated with this sector and the brain drain abroad could be stopped, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz said on Saturday. She was addressing the inaugural function of nightshift of OPD in Fatima Jinnah Medical College/Sir ganga Ram Hospital. Maryam said that Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif gave special importance to the uplift of health and education sectors and for the first time in the history of the province, maximum funds were allocated for the health sector this year. She said that provision of free medicines and free dialysis of kidney patients and a pay package of Rs 5.5 billion for doc-
tors were a candid proof of this fact. Maryam said that the recent dengue epidemic was the worst of its kind and the CM took emergent steps for its eradication and due to untiring efforts of doctors, nurses, paramedics and ex-
perts, the death rate was controlled. She appreciated the efforts of the principal, MS and faculty for providing best facilities to students in Fatima Jinnah Medical College and best medical facilities to patients in Sir ganga Ram Hospital. BRAWL: interestingly, a brawl erupted when the PML-N Cultural Wing vice-president was stopped by guards of Maryam, denying him access to Nawaz’s daughter. Rana Saeed Akhtar, husband of MPA Dr Zamurd Yasin, was barred from meeting Maryam. According to Saeed, he was talking to Maryam while her guard kept on pushing him away. He said that Maryam ordered guards to stop manhandling him as he was a party member but they did not listen to her. Saeed said that the guards kept on cursing and pushing him. Later, Maryam got up and walked into a room where Saeed, along with his wife, followed her but were stopped again. Feeling insulted, Saeed hit the guards which resulted in a brawl. The scuffle was settled afterwards.
‘Medical aid, education should be human rights’ LAHORE StAff RePoRt
islam recognises the right of all human to food, clothing and shelter but right to education and medical aid should also be added to the list, Justice (r) Javed iqbal said while addressing the ‘White Coat Ceremony’ at Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Medical and Dental College on Saturday. The ceremony was held to welcome the new MBBS students in the college. iqbal said the students had been given a great responsibility of saving lives of god’s best creature and they should perform it in the best manner. in the ceremony, senior students of the college presented white coats to their juniors. Addressing the ceremony, Shaikh Zayed Hospital Chairman and Dean Prof Dr Zafar iqbal said the main purpose of the ceremony was to make the
students realise that the white coat symbolised compassion, care and selfless service rendered by medical practitioners to the ailing humanity. He claimed that one third of the country’s consultants were trained by the SZH. LDA PLOT AUCTION ON 15TH: Auction of four commercial and 32 residential plots of Sabzazar Housing Scheme will be held on December 15 while 26 commercial plots, situated in various housing schemes of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), will be auctioned on December 19 by LDA. Public utility sites reserved for setting up schools, dispensaries and community centres in the approved private housing schemes will also be auctioned. Commercial plots, which were to be auctioned, were situated in Johar Town, Model Town Extension, Allama iqbal Town, Tajpura, Mustafa Town, gujjarpura and Quaid-e-
UvAS vC appointed LAHORE: The Punjab government on Saturday notified appointment of Talat Naseer Pasha as vicechancellor (VC) University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore for a term of four years with immediate effect. Pasha assumed charge on Saturday afternoon. He is the senior most dean of UVAS and holds DVM, MSc (Hons) degree in Nutrition and PhD in Animal Nutrition from West Virginia University, US. StAff RePoRt
Azam Town. Detailed information about the location, area and terms and conditions of auctions of plots can be obtained from the LDA sales and allotment deputy director from his office at Johar Town. The auction will be held at the LDA Community Centre, 239-A New Muslim Town and proceedings will start at 10am on both dates. All prospective bidders will have to deposit the earnest money for participating in the auction of every plot.
LHC committee takes action against judges LAHORE StAff RePoRt
The Lahore High Court (LHC) Administrative Committee, headed by Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, on Saturday took action regarding disciplinary inquiry against 14 judges of the Punjab district judiciary. According to LHC Registrar Sohail Nasir, the meeting made important decisions on complaints against judges. According to the committee’s decisions, Senior Civil Judge Hamid Pervez Khan was dismissed from service and a final show cause notice was issued to Civil Judge Aslam Dhariwal and Civil Judge Jawwad Alam Qureshi. Taking action on new complaints, disciplinary proceedings were initiated by the committee against seven judges, including District & Sessions Judge (D&SJ) Zafar iqbal, Additional District & Sessions Judge Shahid Mahmood, AD&SJ Sadaqatullah Khan, AD&SJ Aqil Hassan Chohan, AD&SJ Azizullah Kallu, Civil Judge Haris Ali Mian and Civil Judge Dawood Sahi. The committee warned AD&SJ ittefaq Abbasi and Civil Judge Shahbaz iqbal Tarar to remain careful in the future and withheld complaints against them. Disciplinary proceedings were dropped against AD&SJ Muhammad Azam, Civil Judge imran Khurshid with warnings to remain careful in the future.
‘why hasn’t dost been booked yet?’ LAHORE StAff RePoRt
Additional District and Session Judge Chaudhary Nazeer Ahmed on Saturday sought comments from Race Course SHO by Dec 12 for not registering case against former chief minister Dost Muhammad Khosa for allegedly abducting and killing Sapna Khan, his former wife. Ahmed also summoned the record of the case on contempt of court petition filed by Misal Khan, Sapna’s father, who implored that the SHO was refusing to record his statement despite court orders. He said he had approached the SHO with the court orders but both the SHO and the DSP had refused to listen to them. He prayed the court to direct the concerned authorities to register case against Khosa.
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Lahore 07 PGMi Christian employees to get salaries before 20th LAHORE: Christian employees of the Post graduate Medical institute (PgMi) will get their salaries of December before the 20th so they could celebrate Christmas with fervour and enthusiasm. This was informed by PgMi Principal Dr Tariq Salahuddin. He said that the PgMi administration had also been directed to arrange a function in connection with Christmas in which a cake will also be cut to share celebrations of Christians. Tariq said that the Nursing School principal had also been directed to pay salaries to Christians before the same date in order to facilitate them. StAff RePoRt
‘Give us our fund!’ LAHORE: Staffers of Punjab Highway Petrol Police have protested over the decision of withdrawing ‘constable fund’, rewarded by former government of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, from their salaries by Punjab government. After the deduction of this fund, the salaries of the staffers were reduced by Rs 4000. After the CM Shahbaz Sharif doubled the salaries of Punjab police, the payment of this fund was stopped to police but as salaries of PHPP staffers were not doubled, they continued to receive this fund. However, the authorities not only stopped making payments in this fund but also started recovering the fund paid in the last three years. PHPP Dig Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh said he had been told of the decision by additional inspector general. StAff RePoRt
ReADy foR A StAPle DIet? Sellers roast corn early in the morning to head for the market. NAdEEM IJAz
NotwitHstaNdiNg a 50Pc decrease iN sugar Prices
Sugary products’ prices go up and stay up
LAHORE
T
NAUMAN tASleeM
HE prices of sugar has come down to a record level this year but the producers of sweets, beverages, biscuits and other sugary products are not decreasing the prices of these items. The prices of these products were increased some two months ago owing to an increase in sugar prices but now the producers are not ready to give relief to the consumers. They were of the view that sugar was the basic raw material for producing these things therefore a price increase was inevitable. The sugar prices touched Rs 90 per kg level in September and all the bakers and confectioners of the city increased the prices. However, now the sugar price has come down to Rs 55 per kg in the open market but that has left the produces unaffected. interestingly, Punjab government, which is famous for
fixing the prices of products, is silent on the issue. One of largest bakery of the city increased the prices of sweets, rusk, bread and biscuits some one and half month ago by around 10 to 15 percent owing to expensive sugar. Similarly, the price of a half pack biscuit was increased from Rs 12 to Rs 15. The price of sweets was increased by Rs 20 to Rs 40 per kg while the price of cake was increased by Rs 30 per pound in October and November. Sugar prices since then have gone down by 50 percent. Consumers expressed a general dissatisfaction over the increased prices and said the government should take notice of this issue. “There has been more than 50 percent decrease in sugar prices but the bakery and confectionary items are still expensive,” said a housewife Seema Azhar. She said when the price of sugar was Rs 60 then juice price was Rs 15 and when sugar was being sold for Rs 90 then the price of juice jumped to Rs 25. “Why isn’t the price of juice going down with sugar price, if it went up with it?” she lamented. Another consumer Amjad Ali said the government should check the profits and should stop the manufacturers from plundering the public’s wealth. “Punjab government checks the prices of vegetables and fruits but what about the prices of bakery and confectionery items?” he questioned. The bakery and confectionery producers said sugar prices were very instable in the country therefore they would not reduce the prices. They said besides sugar other inputs were also expensive. “Labour, electricity and other products are still expensive therefore it is not possible for us to lower the prices,” the production manager of a bakery-chain said adding there has been an increase in the prices of electricity also. He said there was no certainty and the prices could go up the very next day also. “if we reduce prices and then increase them once again then it would have negative impact on our customers,” he argued.
New judicial complex inaugurated LAHORE StAff RePoRt
good intention and hard work are essential to dispense justice to needy masses and the ideal decision is the one in which both the parties are satisfied, Lahore High Court Justice Umar Ata Bandial said on Saturday while addressing judicial officers and Lahore Bar Association after inaugurating the ‘judicial complex’ at old Sessions Court. He said the poor masses had pinned all hopes on the judiciary and
they would not be disappointed. He said the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) was an international institution and there was no example of it in the world. Responding to the problems raised by LBA President Shehzad Hassan Shaikh that a bridge should be constructed from bar room at Aiwan-e-Adl to the court building and the allowances and salaries of court staffers should be increased, Bindial said every problems will be resolved with the cooperation of LBA. District and Session Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem Ahmed said the
issue of lack of courts was raised in the chamber of the LHC chief justice and Bindial had inaugurated a court in response and a new building was being constructed. Shaikh, Senior Civil Judge Atta Rabani, civil judges and additional district and sessions judges also spoke on the occasion. JUDICIAL COmPLEX: Seven courts on ground floor, eight on fist floor and eight on second floor, 672 lawyers’ chambers and two basements will be constructed. Rs 795.915 million will be spent on the project.
Life and property’s protection is govt’s priority: Shahbaz LAHORE StAff RePoRt
Maintenance of law and order and protection of life and property of the masses is the top priority of the Punjab government and all out resources are being utilised for this purpose, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday. He was chairing a meeting to review the law and order in the province and further improving the performance of police at the CM’s Secretariat. Shahbaz directed officers that solid measures be taken for eliminating crimes, hitting hard gangs involved in various crimes, apprehending absconders and accused involved in heinous crimes and creating a sense of security among the people.
While giving approval to formation of various committees for further improving the performance of police, he said that final recommendations should be submitted within the next three days under a short-term policy for getting immediate results. Separately, Shahbaz chaired a meeting to review the progress of the programme of distribution of 0.1 million laptops to brilliant students of the province. He said that the country could be put on the road to progress and prosperity by equipping the new generation with modern knowledge. Shahbaz disclosed that after iT labs, the programme of distribution of laptops was chalked out and like iT labs, the process of distribution of laptops would also be completed in a most transparent manner.
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Education can transform country’s future: governor
weATHer UPdATeS
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Khosa says universities should pro-actively prepare future leadership and salvage social cultural collapse
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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
LAHORE
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StAff RePoRt
DUCATiON is the single most important factor, which can transform Pakistan’s future, Punjab governor Latif Khosa said on Saturday. He was addressing the 6th Convocation of the Beaconhouse National University (BNU) at its Tarogil Campus. BNU Board of governors Chairperson Nasreen Kasuri, Vice-Chancellor (VC) Sartaj Aziz and others were also present. Khosa said that education boosted the economy, broadens the outlook of society and offers brighter future for the youth. Universities should pro-actively prepare the future leadership, sal-
vage the social cultural collapse, re-build the economy and evolve a mechanism to groom students to compete with the global community of the modern era, the governor said. He said that the future of education lies in modern technology and the nation had to move forward with time to make progress and make Pakistan economically strong and stable. Khosa commended Nasreen, board members and the faculty for pioneering higher-education in novel disciplines and fast emerging as a center of excellence in these disciplines. He said, “it is not the brick and mortar but the soul within a scholar that bespeaks of the academic excellence of the institution”. The governor said that he was certain that BNU scholars will play their role as
effective agents of positive change in their professional lives. Around 243 students received their degrees out of which 78 were from MPhil, MS and Masters programmes while 165 were from bachelor programmes. Sartaj said that BNU was playing its due role in providing quality education and enhancing skills of students on modern lines. He also thanked and appreciated the governor’s efforts and co-operation regarding promotion of education in the province. Around 19 gold medals were awarded to distinction holders in recognition of academic excellence achieved by them in their specific disciplines. Among the gold medalists, 16 were girls.
Al-hamra glows with painting exhibition LAHORE StAff RePoRt
in response to the 16 days of activism against violence against women, college students were given a theme to make paintings and around 68 posters were brought in together from 11 different colleges which were put on display at the AlHamra Art gallery. They included APWA College for Women, Lahore College for Women University, government College for Women gulberg, Aisha Degree College Timber Market, islamia College, Samnabad College for Women, Home Economics College and Queen Mary College. Winners included Ambar Jafri from Aisha Degree College with Rs 5,000 award, Amna Tahir from government College for Women gulberg with cash prize of Rs 3,000 and Umme Habiba from Queen Mary College with cash prize of Rs 2,000. The rest were given participation certificates. The jury included Rahat Naveed Masood from the Art and Design Department Punjab University, Maalik Bhulla and Mumtaz Mughal, regional director of Aurat Foundation. Punjab Social Welfare and Women Development Secretary Javed Akhtar inaugurated the event.
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Sunday, 11 december, 2011
News 09
Al Qaeda strong at the fringes, weak in the centre WASHINGTON AfP
With Al-Qaeda’s core leadership ravaged and its remaining commanders struggling to survive, militants in Africa, Yemen and elsewhere are taking over the anti-Western fight, US experts and officials say. Out of the network’s 10 main leaders listed after the September 11 2001 attacks in the United States, only one is still alive: Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s one-time deputy who took over after his boss was killed in May. in the past year, eight of Al-Qaeda top 20 leaders were eliminated, most by missiles fired from US drones operating under an expanded covert warfare effort launched by President Barack Obama after taking office in January 2009. “The top leadership of the organization has been hit hard in 2011,” State Department counterterrorism coordinator Daniel Benjamin said at a forum in Washington on Thursday. “We believe that the loss of bin Laden,” who was killed by US commandos in Pakistan, “will put Al-Qaeda on a path of decline that will be difficult to reverse,” Benjamin said. “if the lessons of history are right, Al-Qaeda should be finished.” But Benjamin cautioned that the fight is far from over, as Al-Qaeda affiliates based in some of the most unstable parts of the world “have continued to show resilience, to threaten our national security.” Whether in Yemen, with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Somalia’s Shebab militants, groups in iraq and AlQaeda in the islamic Maghreb (AQiM), violent extremists are continuing the fight of the Saudi-born Al-Qaeda leader they revere — and, in some cases, are gaining strength. “Al-Qaeda today is stronger at the periphery than it is at the center,” said Bruce Hoffman of georgetown University, noting that there are now 11 Al-Qaeda affiliates spread across the globe, up from eight in 2004-2005. “This is a movement that depends on sanctuaries and safe havens. And the number of ungoverned places in the world is increasing rather than decreasing,” Hoffman added. in Yemen, where entire regions have historically escaped the grasp of the central government, AQAP — which was led by US-born Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaqi until his death in September — is likely to seize on pro-democracy unrest shaking the country and the state of anarchy that could follow. The group tried to gain global reach when it tasked a Nigerian with trying to blow up an airliner bound for Detroit on Christmas Day 2009, but passengers and flight crew ultimately subdued Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab as he tried to set off explosives he had concealed in his underwear. Although AQAP has been more successful with operations in the gulf, does it “have the capacity to be the global arm, the strategic arm of Al-Qaeda?” asked a doubtful Michael Hayden, who led the CiA from 2006 to 2009. Al-Qaeda is “surviving,” said Hayden, who at the CiA “felt that if they were put under sufficient pressure, they would have to move... Organizations like that when they are moving are more vulnerable.
fAISAlABAD: Industrial workers on Saturday shouting slogans in support of their demands during a demonstration against excessive gas load shedding. ONLINE
NDMA asks UN to close operations in flooded areas g
Foreign aid agencies, NGO say stoppage of assistance to prove disastrous ISLAMABAD
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ARIf tAJ
HE National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has directed UN agencies to close humanitarian operations in flood-hit areas of Sindh and Balochistan, a move that may aggravate crisis for the affected people, a source in the UN told Pakistan Today on Saturday. “The NDMA has asked us to close all humanitarian operations in the flooded areas as now there is no need of further assistance. But situation on ground is entirely different as thousands of people are still stranded and in dire need of relief”, the official source confided. According to the source, NDMA has also shelved its programme to launch a revised appeal to the world donors for the assistance of flood-hit people in the country. “The UN and the NDMA initially started working on the revised appeal meant for fresh donations from the donors, but NDMA has almost shelved the plan and now the revised appeal is unlikely to be launched”, the source added. When asked what could be the reason, the source said, “The NDMA insisted in the very beginning of the flood days that all assistance from donors should be distributed though it which donors refused. The NDMA again faces the same situation. Re-
alising that the NDMA perhaps will not get any aid directly from the donors, it has asked the UN agencies to close operations and the same reason accounts for the NDMA’s shelving of the revised appeal”, the source said. He further added that the UN had expressed concern in this regard but final decision was up to the government of Pakistan, as the UN could not operate without the government. According to the source, the closure of operations would aggravate the humanitarian crisis and badly affect recovery process in the flood-hit areas. “We have expressed our concern to the government of Pakistan as only 10 to 20 percent of the farmers are in position to sow their crops afresh and around 80 to 90 percent of the farmers would not be able to cultivate their lands as a large part of the affected area are is still under water. Thousands of people still need continuation of the operations for the provision of food and shelter”, the source said. Asked if they would continue operations or not, he said that the UN could not continue operating without the collaboration of the government. “We started working for the assistance of the affected people on the direction of the government and we will stop it as we have been directed to do so. But this act of the NDMA, which operates with the UN as arm of the government, is bound to cause a lot of trouble for
the people and even recovery will not be possible in the absence of the revised appeal”, the source said. Amjad Jamal, spokesman for the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), confirmed the reduction in operations and said per the plan designed in the early days of the flood by his organisation, the WFP was required to continue food assistance in those areas where food would be needed even in recovery phase. However, Dr Akash Ansari, director of Badin Development Rural Development Organisation, an NgO actively engaged in flood relief, told Pakistan Today that premature closure of operations by the UN and other international organisations would be disastrous for the flood-affected people. “This act will be disastrous as over 50 percent of the affected land is still under water and thousands of people need humanitarian assistance. The closer of operations means terminating humanitarian assistance. We are planning to start protests against NDMA, PDMA and the government of Sindh over the cruel act of terminating humanitarian assistance,” Ansari said. NDMA spokesman and member Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Ahmed Kamal did not reply to queries, saying he did not have adequate knowledge of the issue.
One shrine burnt down, another blown up KHyBER AGENcy StAff RePoRt
Unidentified militants destroyed two shrines in the remote area of Kam Shalman in Landi Kotal sub division on Saturday night. Local sources told Pakistan Today that unidentified militants poured fuel on the Sheikh Bahadar Baba shrine and set it ablaze. The fire left the shrine badly burnt and caused damage to adjacent areas. The same night, the Sheikh Musa Baba shrine was also blown up with explosives. Official sources confirmed the attack and said militants had planted explosives on the shrine’s stairs, which went off and destroyed the shrine completely. Followers grieved over the desecration and gathered around the shrines and began reconstruction. Over a dozen shrines have been destroyed with fire and explosives in during recent terrorism. in another incident, one individual died and 12 individuals were wounded in road mishap in Afghanistan Torkham. Mustaqeem, son of Raheem gul, resident of Landi Kotal sub tribe Ashkail was traveling to Peshawar from Kabul when the coach collided with truck and left him dead and injured 12 others who were rushed to the Landi Kotal Hospital, hospital sources confirmed
‘dismiss non-FATA clerks’ PESHAWAR StAff RePoRt
Military not going to take over: Shujaat ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt
Commenting on current political situation, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said on Saturday that there was no threat to the system and the military is not coming to takeover the government. “Neither is anyone coming to rule nor is anyone going anywhere,” Shujaat said, talking to media at PML house after chairing a function to mark Human Rights Day and celebrate PML-Q lawyers wing’s secretary general Aslam Zar Advo-
cate’s election as Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) secretary general. He said assemblies and the government would complete their tenure. He said he had met Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to inquire about Zardari’s health. “Anyone can fall sick and falling sick is not a sin … media and political circles have given undue hype to Zardari’s illness,” Shujaat added. He said the rumours being spread were not good for the country. “Asked whether PML-Q would field a candidate on the seat vacated by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, he said the decision will be taken at the appropriate time.
Tribal Clerks Union Political Administration South Waziristan Agency on Saturday has appealed to Chief Justice iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to terminate employees in South Wazirsitan agency who have no FATA domicile. Addressing press conference at Peshawar Press Club, Tribal Clerks Union President said a majority of posts from grade one to grade seven had been filled by the political administration on the basis of nepotism and favouritism. He said the South Waziristan agency political administration had recently appointed two clerks from district Tank and district Lakki Marwat in South Waziristan agency, who had no FATA domicile. He named the nonFATA domicile clerks as Samiullah, son of Syed Badshah, resident of Lakki Marwat and imran, son of Ramzan, resident of Tank. He said they had appealed to the Di Khan commissioner and political agent but neither had heard their demand.
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10 News
Sunday, 11 december, 2011
Pia coMPletes its Haj oPeratioN
Only 15pc flights meet schedule LAHORE
P
IMRAN ADNAN
AKiSTAN international Airline (PiA) completed its Haj operation on Saturday. The cashstrapped national flag carrier had to face a lot of criticism during the Haj season as only 15 percent of flights could match their scheduled time due to mismanagement and aircraft shortage, Pakistan Today learnt on Saturday. Aviation industry experts termed it the worst ever Haj operation in the history of PiA. Sources said of the total 261 post-Haj flights, only 39 could meet their schedule time, while the remaining 85 percent witnessed a delay of two to 18 hours. They said 212 flights were delayed due to mismanagement and ill-planning on the part of the national flag carrier. Speaking to Pakistan Today, PiA
spokesman said the airline had brought back home over 94,000 holy pilgrims on 261 special Haj flights. Flight statistics show that in the post Haj operations, PiA brought back 9,388 pilgrims in Karachi on 21 Haj flights of which 20 flights were delayed due to various technical or operational reasons. Similarly, 17,460 passengers landed in islamabad through 36 special Haj flights, but only one flight matched its scheduled time. Meanwhile, 16,568 holy pilgrims returned to Lahore on 34 Haj flights of which only two flights landed on time. Hajj operations flight statistics made available to Pakistan Today show similar trend for Peshawar-bound flights. During the post-hajj operations 18,197 holy pilgrims were brought back home through 60 hajj flights, but only three flights were landed on time. Similarly, around 15,368 passengers were landed at Quetta airport through 78 flights of which 28 flights were
on schedule. in Sialkot, 3,482 pilgrims were brought back on seven special Haj flights, but not even a single flight was on time. Around 8,424 passengers landed in Multan through 17 flights of which 13 flights missed their schedule. in addition, some 1,470 pilgrims returned to Sukkar through 13 flights of which 11 flights were delayed. The sources revealed that though PiA had officially finished its post-Haj operation, some 16 post-Haj flights were scheduled to return on Sunday (today). A PiA spokesman claimed that most flights were delayed due to crowding of King Abdulaziz international Airport in Jeddah, as over 50 airlines from various countries were operating Haj flights from the airport. He said it was not only PiA which had to face long delays, almost all airlines had to face six to eight hours of flight delays due to infrastructure constraints at Jeddah air-
port. it was also evident form the Saudi ground Services (SgS) Daily Hajj Flight Handling Reports that airlines from Afghanistan, iran, Turkey, Bangladesh, india, Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries had to faced flight delays ranging from two to 11 hours, he indicated. According to the Saudi laws, he pointed out that holy pilgrims, on Haj visa from Pakistan, were handed over to moallims at Jeddah airport who took custody of their travel documents and restrict their movement according to the schedule laid out by them. He blamed the moallims for causing delays as they took time in returning travel documents, which missed flights scheduled time. in addition, cumbersome security, baggage and check-in procedures required lengthy time, nearly 10-15 minutes per passenger or 6-8 hours for some 500 passengers, he said.
Three militants die in Kurram clashes KURRAM AGENcy oNlINe
At least three militants were killed and one soldier sustained injuries during clashes between the security forces and the militants in Kurram Agency on Saturday. According to sources, the militants attacked the security forces in Murghan area in Kurram Agency, injuring a soldier. The security forces retaliated, killing three militants on the spot.
National security not so fragile, says Haqqani ISLAMABAD oNlINe
Former Pakistan ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani said on Saturday that the national security was not so fragile that it could be threatened by one memo. Talking in a private TV channel programme, Haqqani said that he had come to Pakistan to give a reply to the allegations leveled by Mansoor Ejaz. “i have filed a reply in the Supreme Court through counsel in the memogate issue. No charge has been leveled against me legally nor has any legal evidence been presented against me. if opinions from the people have come on one essay, i myself have made the offer for investigation into the matter,” he maintained. Pakistan was a nuclear state and our national security was not so fragile that it could be threatened by memo from a US citizen, he said. Haqqani said he was loyal to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), President Asif Ali Zardari and democracy in Pakistan. Answering a question, he said President Zardari was stable and he would return home and complete his mandate.
Zardari not fit to be president, says Paracha ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt
gHIZAR: People of Mayun village near gahkoch district crossing the river in a temporary boat as the river bridge had collapsed in last year’s floods. INP
Army to establish garrison in Swat SWAT: The Pakistan Army was ready to establish its garrison at Swat and the cantonment opening ceremony at Kanju Township would be held next month, 19th Division general Operational Commander (gOC) Major general ghulam Qamar said on Saturday. Talking to the delegation of local newspapers’ editors who called on him at Khuwaza Khela, he said that the militants would not dare to enter the Swat district again as the borders had been sealed by the Pakistan Army. He said that developmental projects were being carried out in Swat and the infrastructure, which had been damaged during the military operation and later by the floods, was being restored. He appreciated the courage and resilience of the people of Swat who supported the Pakistan Army during the operation and gave sacrifices against extremism in the region. The delegation apprised the gOC with the problems being faced by the people. HARooN SIRAJ
NATO blockade enters third week PESHAWAR AfP
The government’s blockade of the vital US supply line into Afghanistan entered the third week on Saturday, its longest closure of the 10-year war with no imminent sign of the border reopening. The country’s fragile alliance with the US crashed to new lows two weeks ago on November 26 when NATO airstrikes killed 24 soldiers in what the military called a deliberate attack. US President Barack Obama telephoned President Asif Ali Zardari to offer his condolences, but Washington has stopped short of apologising pending the results of a military investigation into what happened, due on December 23. Although Pakistani and US officials dispute the precise sequence of events
in the killings, the government closed its two crossings to US and NATO supplies and gave American personnel until Sunday to leave an air base reportedly used by CiA drones. Officials in the northwest, where the main Torkham crossing into Afghanistan is situated, told AFP there were no plans to reopen. “There is strong public resentment. People are angry about this incident and we cannot take a decision in haste,” one senior security official told AFP. “Pakistan will reopen the border when public anger cools down and the route is protected,” he added. Lieutenant Colonel Jimmie Cummings, a spokesman for the NATO-led iSAF, said the blockade was not affecting troops on the ground, although he declined to comment on what might happen if the border remained closed. “Fifty-two percent of our supplies
come from the northern route and we still have plenty of air assets,” he said. “We have the technology and the assets to support all our troops here on the ground. “Right now we don’t see any problems. i don’t want to speculate for the future.” iSAF and the US have been building up alternative supply routes through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from the north of Afghanistan as relations between Washington and islamabad have deteriorated this year. While few expect the alliance to break down over the strikes, officials gave AFP no date for reopening the crossing. “People are still protesting. How can we take this decision in such an atmosphere?” said a security official in the northwest.
Jamaat-e-islami (Ji) on Saturday said a man of weak nerves such as Asif Ali Zardari was not fit to hold the constitutional office of the President of Pakistan since he could not sustain the pressure of internal and external events. Addressing a press conference, Ji Central Spokesman Fareed Ahmad Paracha said the reports of the President suffering a nervous breakdown due to extraordinary situation in the country and at the borders. He said, “Pakistan would be better served with a man of steel nerves as head of State.” He said the government was passing through a critical phase and democracy faced serious threats. He claimed the memorandum controversy meant people lost trust in elected leaders. He said the leadership had sold the country out in installments. He demanded the government get US forces to vacate the Shahbaz, Pasni and Quetta airbases. He said courts were not being respected and the parliament had become a rubber stamp. However, he said the time of coups had ended and the people would resist any such attempt. He said the Ji was open to a seat adjustment formula with both the PTi and PML-N and exploring political options.
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Sunday, 11 december, 2011
Editor’s mail 11
violence: a panacea of our times? A few days back, travelling on Jail Road, Lahore i read, written in bright white at the dark rear screen of a car: “Violence is a solution to every problem.” i was shocked, and what amplified my shock was the sketch of an ominous looking Kalashnikov accompanying the statement. To me, this statement reflected the violence that has gotten embedded in the psyche of our nation. in case of Pakistan, the history of violence travels back to the trauma of Partition. it is a common psychological truth that violence suffered by the predecessors reflects itself in the attitude of the subsequent generations. But this is not where the violence ended. The history of Pakistan has been beleaguered by military rules. Martial laws have conditioned us to think in terms of weapons. Too much exhibition of firearms and glorification of wars has encouraged our youth to iden-
tify themselves with the people who can do miracles with the shot of a gun or swirl of a pistol. Moreover, Militant organisations promoted in Zia-ul-Haq’s period have had ripple effects on later generations in terms of weaponising society and leading to the entrenchment of militant mindsets. Furthermore, the continuous bomb blasts, suicide attacks and sectarian and ethnic conflicts in contemporary times have desensitised the entire nation to an extent that violence and bloodshed seems like a commonplace phenomenon. That it has become such a commonplace and widespread phenomenon is evident from the fact that even our leaders position themselves in confrontational terms as is evident from their public appearances and hawkish back-and-forth on various forums. No effective antidote to violence is being presented by our education system.
Female prisoners The universities across the country are doing nothing significant in promoting disciplines related to violence, conflict and peace. National Defence University, islamabad, is probably the only university in Pakistan hosting a Department of Peace & Conflict Studies. The organisations conducting research on violence, conflict and peace in Pakistan are almost non- existent. Human Security Project: Pakistan Conflict Monitor, a project dedicated to the cause, has this disappointing statement running on the home page of their website: “The Conflict Monitors are no longer being updated.” (http://www.conflictmonitors.org, Accessed on Dec 4, 2011, 8:05 pm). Pakistan institute of Peace Studies (PiPS), an independent, non- governmental think tank, is the only worth mentioning project doing really appreciable work. given the momentum and severity of violence we face today,
this effort is insufficient. To save the nation form the malady of violence, the following strategies are recommended: Firstly, a bureau of peace studies should be established under the government patronage. Secondly, Departments of Peace, Conflict and Violence studies should be opened at university level throughout the country. A new understanding of the concept of violence is required now because the configuration of the term has undergone radical transformations in post 9/11 era. Thirdly, HEC, Pakistan should fund research in this area, both for indigenous and oversees Pakistani scholars. Lastly, political leaders should not pose as aggressive role models, at least in their public talks and dialogues. WAQAR AZEEM Lahore
defiance of court The government has not implemented the apex court’s decisions, especially its NRO verdict. The review application of the NRO case was pending before the court for the last two years. Now, the petition has been disposed off but the government has made no headway in implementing the verdict. The government is bound to write a letter to the Swiss authorities, which has not been written as yet. it should be done now without further delay. This will help the preservation of constitution and the dignity of the apex court. JAVAID BASHIR Lahore
PiA in trouble if the government was sincere in ensuring that Pakistani passengers stood to benefit from national airline, it would have taken to task the MD who stated that the Hajis should stop complaining and should remember that in the past they used to perform Hajj on camels. Look at the mindset of the individual entrusted with the task of heading the national airline. Since 2008, this airline has been continuously declining. The losses have hiked to such peaks that should have merited drastic remedial measures but that has not happened in our banana republic. This airline unfortunately has been handed over to unqualified and incompetent cronies with a free hand to do as they please. Hajj operations this year have been the worst in the history of PiA and yet this does not merit the attention of either the Minister cum Chairman of PiA, or the Prime Minister and his cabinet. it seems that this government considers it is its right to do as it pleases, without regard to profitability and services of state corporations and the losses they incur. From the appointment of TWA FZE as the sole supplier of parts to the decision to induct more aircraft on lease, there is only one factor in common that is commissions and kickbacks. For an elected government to perform so dismally is sad and unacceptable. GULL ZAMAN Peshawar
dying of hunger Rachelle grimmer, mother of two, killed her children and herself for not getting food stamps in Texas – Bush’s home state – the US. So far, we had only read the heartrending stories of men and women killing their children and committing suicide because of poverty and hunger in our country. Now we know people kill themselves for not getting enough to eat even in the so-called land of the opportunity and abundance. The superpower, whose defence budget runs to $760 billion and it inflicts death and destruction around the world, cannot provide food for its people. instead of invading poor defenceless countries, like Afghanistan, killing its people and causing miseries to women and children, the superpower had better look after its own people dying of hunger. Wars have fattened the top few in the US while millions live in utter misery, joblessness, and poverty. What a shame! MEHRAN LEGHARI Lahore
While male prisoners in Pakistan also suffer, the female prisoners’ plight is truly worrying. Like male offenders, the majority of female offenders are poor. However, women enter the criminal justice system with a host of unique medical, psychological, and financial problems and needs that distinguish them from male offenders. Addiction, poverty, unemployment, physical and mental illness, physical and sexual abuse, and homelessness trap women in a cycle of hopelessness and crime. in particular, female offenders are often young mothers who face the additional trauma of threatened separation from their children. Too many women serve short-prison sentences, often for breaching community orders for crimes that do not themselves carry a prison sentence. Juvenile women offenders face additional difficulties. in the absence of a female probation officer, several juvenile offenders are in an extremely disadvantaged position. On the one hand, there is no separate section for female juvenile offenders. But on the other hand, they cannot be released on probation under the supervision of a male officer. When women commit crimes, their children often become the innocent victims of the criminal justice system. These children, many of whom are placed in foster homes away from both parents and siblings, suffer emotional trauma associated with separation and social isolation. Without intervention, these children are at greater risk for involvement in crime than their peers. As the number of women under the control of the criminal justice system increases, increased attention must be directed to providing this growing population with the supervision and services needed. ANAM HAYAT Islamabad
How the media works?
Sehwag's 219 in just 47 overs against the Windies in the 4th ODi of their series
was a real marvel. The West indian cricket team has been struggling for the past few years. Nonetheless, Sehwag's double hundred surpassing the little master's 200 is a monumental achievement. His batting skills were at his best when he scored 25 fours and seven sixes in his 149-ball blitz. Pakistani cricketers must learn some tips from Sehwag to bat aggressively in one day form of cricket. Congratulations to Sehwag for achieving a great feat. IFTIKHAR MIRZA Islamabad
in theory, journalism and media are bound by many ethics and laws but in practice, they do not uphold them. Unfortunately, professionalism and objectivity are the traits that are missing in the modern media circles. They frame any issue as per their liking rather than presenting an objective picture to the audience. How media works and to know how sources organise media strategies to achieve their ends, Edward S Herman and Noam Chomsky (media critics) expounded the ‘propaganda model’ in 1988. This model was about media behaviour and performance. Herman & Chomsky identify five filters: ownership, advertising, sourcing, flak and anti-communist ideology. These filters interact with and reinforce one another. Dominant media works for profit and they are funded largely by advertisers, and they also work for profit. Media are also dependent on government, therefore government and advertisers and nonmedia business firms are in such position that they can easily pressurise media organisations with threats of stoppage of advertising or TV licenses, libel suits and other direct or indirect modes of attack. As a result, media policies are framed according to a set agenda and often for the purpose of pre-planned propaganda. And the audiences become the part of this propaganda willingly or unwillingly. MARIAM KHAN Lahore
which they struggled for years. There are a number of scenarios on which our establishment could be working: another military coup to put the democracy in its coffin for this decade, go for Bangladesh model wherein judiciary to take over the government for a year or two as front-man for military, or field a political party/candidate who can discredit others with full financial and tactical support from agencies. Let’s see, what is going to unfold in these trouble weeks to come for Pakistan’ fragile democracy. it’s unfortunate that the actions of opposition parties are also not doing anything to sustain democracy. Apparently, Nawaz Sharif’s writ petition in the SC on the memo scandal, while very well know-
ing the superior judiciary’s differences with the government on every other issue, might result in a heavy blow to the very democracy which has brought him in power in Punjab. it may plunge the country in another crisis (as if we are short of crises!). The SC’s verdict on Memogate can be very well predicted from the way another judicial commission (the one on OBL’s presence/May 02 operation) is proceeding. in an un-called for press conference, Dec 08, commission questioned the very presence of OBL in Pakistan, let alone his elimination on May 02. This view may please many in Pakistan (among those who believe 9/11 never happened) but will we get any buyers in international community. i am quite doubtful on that
count. if we want a stable democracy to take root in Pakistan, then all progressive forces have to come together to fight the unholy alliance of the forces of dictatorship. But at the same time, the democrats need to deliver and perform. Otherwise, murder and exiling of elected leadership will continue. Unfortunately we never learn from our mistakes and knowingly or unknowingly become a tool in the hands of agencies to destabilise the governments. The Zardari government should stand up and fight back from islamabad not from Dubai. Otherwise, another exile is waiting for them. MASOOD KHAN Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Up in flames The 26/11 Nato attack on Pakistani military check posts in Mohmand Agency has led Pakistan to the most critical juncture of its recent history. The Pak-US ties are on the stake and they are creating distrust with the passage of each moment of time. Burning up of Nato containers in different parts of the country also hints at how their presence can cause problems for common citizens. These containers can become another security threat for us if they are not removed from here in time. Experts and analysts here and abroad see Nato attack as the continuity of US policy of expanding its imperialistic designs in the region beyond 2014, the year it fixed to evacuate
Account details WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has said that Swiss Bank account details of Pakistan and indian personalities including politicians will be made public by next year. i am happy to hear this news as it will reveal the real assets of Pakistan politicians and other personalities. Released WikiLeaks cables have exposed the real face of many a politician before as well and these may be successful in exposing their real worth.
Afghanistan. The episode of Raymond Davis killing two persons in Lahore, the incident of Abbottabad, and the deadly assault of terrorists on PNS Mehran Naval Base in Karachi in May and now this one have been the worst for the nation. in light of imploring statements from the US, Nato and isaf a perception has grown that neither Pakistan nor the US would be beneficiary of the consequences of the current row of conflict between them. it is the Taliban, who are the happier ones in this clash. SALEEM SHAHID MEO Lahore
There is a lot of politics being played around the declaration of assets these days in Pakistan. This move by Julian Assange might potentially throw a spanner in the works by outing the bank balances of many of our political stalwarts. MUBASHIR MAHMOOD. Karachi
Smokin’ Sehwag
dire-straits democracy The sudden departure of Pakistan’ President Asif Zardari for medical treatment in Dubai and confusion among government circles about how to put up a brave face after this ‘sudden’ departure has forced the rumour factories in islamabad to work overtime. it is a fact that present government is under siege by a coalition of right-wing parties, a hostile judiciary and military. The government has been facing one crisis after the other, some genuine but also some cooked up to discredit the government or to express simple hate for a civilian setup in islamabad. But as the same time, the government’s performance has been hopelessly not up to the mark, leading to a general disillusionment among the masses about the very democracy for
Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. Fax: +92-42-36298302. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk. Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively.
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12 Comment role of the SC within defined limits
T
he people of Pakistan have been denied some of the fundamental rights in the past on account of collusion between the military rulers and the higher judiciary. They breathed a sigh of relief therefore when the courts finally gained freedom. The present Supreme Court under CJ iftikhar Chaudhry is the outcome of a long struggle waged by the independent judges supported by the lawyers, their professional organisations and the civil society at large. There is a need to sustain and strengthen the independence of the courts gained after a heroic struggle. The revival of an independent judiciary took place simultaneously with the revival of democracy. The new Parliament refused to endorse the state of emergency enforced by Musharraf, a measure employed by him to dispense with the independent judges. Subsequently, the judges were rehabilitated through an executive order issued by the prime minister. Democracy and an independent judiciary, thus, go hand in hand. A perception has meanwhile emerged that there is an ongoing tussle between the judiciary and the executive to extend their respective spheres. This is in a way understandable because the country has yet to develop healthy parliamentary and judicial traditions. it is, however, necessary on the part of both the judiciary and executive to determine if any tendency of the sort exists in order to check it, if it is so. While the constitution has set limitations for every institution, the SC has the sole authority to interpret the relevant constitutional provisions. The apex court has therefore to be extra careful in defining its jurisdiction. The SC has limited time at its disposal while it is required to respond to cases of violation of fundamental rights, enforce the freedom of life and give authoritative opinion on issues in question of law and public importance. The court has to realistically review if it can interfere in the working of the markets, take up complicated issues related to urban traffic or, as suggested by the CJ, ensure the quality of life for the citizens. People have high expectations from the SC. Topmost on the list is that it would help the fledgling democracy stand on its legs. it has to realise that every system in evolutionary process has problems in its working. The desire for efficiency must not lead to a situation where the baby is thrown out with the bath water.
reality check needed Pragmatism over populism
A
s American leadership remains reluctant to extend an apology to Pakistan over the November 26 strikes on the army posts in Mohmand Agency, Prime Minister gilani has warned the US and its Nato allies that no such attack on the country’s sovereignty will be tolerated in the future. The warning came from Mr gilani during his meeting with Army Chief gen Kayani at the PM House on Friday. They discussed the issues pertaining to the national security with a focus on the situation on the Pak-Afghan border in the aftermath of recent transgression by the allied forces. The COAS also briefed the PM on the steps taken on the western frontier to revamp defence capabilities aimed at countering incursions into our territory. in a related development US Ambassador Cameron Munter called on Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to discuss “the current status of bilateral relations between islamabad and Washington. in response to Mr Munter’s assurance of an early conclusion of the US-ledinvestigations into November 26 strikes, Ms Khar made it clear to him that normalisation of the frayed ties would be possible only after the completion of the review process. The review process initiated by the government has been assigned to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security which has sought details from the government of all the past agreements, written and verbal, between islamabad and Washington to frame its recommendations to be tabled before a joint session of both houses of parliament. The committee has yet to accomplish its task but keeping in view the prevalent anti-Americanism in the country it might go for lowering the level of cooperation with the US. However, Mr gilani and the Foreign Office have repeatedly emphasised the criticality of relations between the two countries. With the Nato supplies already blocked and the Shamsi Airbase vacated, it’s time the political and military leadership made an honest assessment to determine if the public expectations to sever ties with the US conform to reality.
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
Sunday, 11 december, 2011
hail the Monkey Spiralling downwards
By Humayun Gauhar
O
ne afternoon while sitting on the lawns of a friend’s house near the Himalayan foothills of islamabad, there was a rustling in the trees and down jumped a most impressive monkey – big, young, beautifully groomed and powerful. Scornful of our presence, he made straight for the kitchen. “Today it is this beautiful monkey,” i said. “Tomorrow it will be the people.” That day is nearly upon us. Want to see the mirror, my friends – “Mirror, mirror on the wall” and all that jazz? i fear that the mirror will tell us: “You are so pathetic that an odious Pakistani-American loudmouth of a show-off with a comically fake accent could stand your country upon its head with a single article. in which Special Export Zone do you make such characters? go drown yourself.” Rulers come and rulers go. What is important is that the country goes on. The idea behind the graveyards of the world being full of indispensable people is that no matter how ‘great’ anyone might be, life goes on. Sudden illness takes the president to Dubai. gossip junkies break into frenzy. Speculation explodes. Chattering goes into overdrive. Media fuel the fever. Theorising hits the stratosphere. Every Mr Know-All, every American mouthpiece, every establishment parrot has some information, some theory. No one really knows. How could they when officialdom itself is singing different songs? What is the excitement about, anyway? it is not that those waiting in the wings can navigate us out of our dire straits. No product of this decrepit system can. Speculation is rife. How ill is Zardari? Has he escaped? Has he gone to reset his deal with America? Will he return? Will he be ‘allowed’ to? Why is his son here? is this a ‘soft’ coup? Will there be a ‘hard’ coup? Was it a heart attack? Was it brain hemorrhage? The most credible information is that it was a “seizure”, a sort of mental or nervous breakdown, some say a mental bi-polarity, brought on by inordinate pressures from Abbottabad,
the ‘Memo-trap’, the attacks on the Mohmand checkposts, the NRO… Such mental pressures could trigger a heart incident and or a small brain haemorrhage. Add embolism to that, pulmonary or elsewhere. A ‘nervous breakdown’ builds up over days, which explains Zardari’s “incoherent” conversation with Obama, who wanted to speak about Mohmand while he rambled on about the memo. it is said that he also spoke to the army chief in this condition. Stupid of his handlers, exposing him to the two men who matter most and would also worry most about whether he can still discharge his duties. Or did his handlers deliberately allow him to expose himself? Will he resign? Or will he return for a time and then resign? He is a fighter, remember, and will not step out of the rat race unless he absolutely has to. His detractors can use the constitution against him; those medical reports from US doctors to a Swiss court that his memory is compromised, even if they were an excuse at the time, don’t help. Neither will the reports of the Dubai doctors. Remember, someone with a nervous breakdown type ailment can start sounding coherent after a few days only, but the problem remains and usually returns. Will there be elections? Will we have an even more fractured parliament and an even more unlikely coalition of more cats and dogs with their tails tied together by the ‘establishment’? Or will there be a technocrat’s government of butchers, barbers and the baker man, for they are all ‘skilled’, which is precisely what ‘technocrat’ means – ‘skilled people’, technicians. Today’s economists and bankers are bogus technocrats, skilled illusionists who thrash around in a sea of assumptions, lucky if some turn out right. You just have to see the condition of America and Europe to believe me. Who has been incubated to head the technocrat government? Those that claim they can bring the economy back to life have all been tried, tested and found wanting. Regardless, this doesn’t deter people from overrating themselves and seeking a place in the old-new sun yet again. These ‘Smart Alecks’ with simplistic solutions have started preening their wigs and brushing their dyed hair transplants for the many slots that will become available. Bespoke tailors are busy – real technocrats again. The bogus technocrats only need to ingratiate themselves with important generals and the US and, hey presto, the Pakistani flag will soon be flying proudly on their bullet-proof cars in comical motorcades, sirens wailing, strobe lights gone mad, police in hysterics, announcing to all: “Yes, i am a prime candidate for killing or kidnapping.” These people unfailingly wail for democracy when there is dictatorship and hanker after dictatorship when there is democracy. Since they are all from the
same ruling class in different garb, what ‘change’ are we talking about? When or how will we be rid of them? One way is to let the process continue. Such people cannot be destroyed; they destroy themselves, if only we would let them. We are like a yoyo, swinging between what passes for democracy and what passes for dictatorship. ironically, neither is quite what it claims to be: every democratic government tries to become dictatorial and every dictatorship tries to become democratic. in the end, each ends up doing more for the other – our democracies foster dictatorships and our dictatorships foster democracies. Shows that we understand neither. it is just not in us to go for the obvious: have the patience to let the political process take its course and either correct or destroy itself and the people to learn. Hardly four years have passed since yet another return of democracy and everyone wants the president, parliaments and governments out, with out-of-thesun politicians leading the fray. Being a federation, i don’t have faith in this unitary British parliamentary system anyway, but it has to die its own death. Try killing it and you actually give it a longer lifespan –interventions are its best tonic. Of course, letting the process continue might still not stop the ‘wretched of the earth’ from running out of patience and exploding into anarchy. Then it could go the other way. But that would be natural too and perhaps for the best. What people call ‘collapse’ will be a collapse of our iniquitous status quo and the degenerate political system that it has spawned, which have given us nothing but tears and heartbreak. its collapse is a necessary precondition for a new status quo to arise, like the mythical Phoenix from the ashes. There is no guarantee that it will be better – a Phoenix is a firebird that burns and chars. Better this happens than dying atom-by-atom, cell-bycell. No point in worrying that the present status quo will be replaced by one worse. Worse for whom, one might ask? A better status quo will be worse for the rapacious ruling elite, not for our multitudes of poor and naked getting hungrier. it could break our iniquity and perhaps make a nation of us, a nation that can hopefully forge a more equitable dispensation no matter what i, you or countless others have to pay for it? Meantime, considering that we are going only one way – downwards – make the beautiful monkey head of the next caretaker government. He would be better than any ‘naked ape’ undertaker. He knows exactly what he wants: he is efficient, purposeful, powerful, brimming with pride and self-esteem. A ‘technocrat’ made to order. The writer is a political analyst. He can be contacted at humayun.gauhar786@gmail.com
On US drone attacks Consensual intervention or illegal violation?
By Sikander Ahmed Shah
T
he NATO attacks that caused the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers in Mohmand have infuriated the government, with the result that it has boycotted the recent Bonn talks. in retaliation to the attacks Pakistan has demanded that the US vacate Shamsi airbase in the coming weeks. it is suspected that the Shamsi base is regularly used by the US for carrying out drone attacks and surveillance flights in Pakistan. Officially, the government of Pakistan asserts that the drone at-
tacks are illegal under international Law and are a violation of its sovereignty. indeed, absent special circumstances, the drone strikes in FATA would be in violation of the UN Charter. They do not qualify as acts of self-defense, which is the only basis under which a country can unilaterally use force against another state, absent consent. An act of self-defense must be immediate, necessary and proportional. interestingly, no immediate danger was presented to the US if it did not conduct its drone campaign. Drone attacks are unnecessary, keeping in mind that the US has not exhausted peaceful means of dealing with the threat. in fact, drone strikes fuel militarism. Drone strikes are also not a proportional response considering those primarily targeted a decade later, are not responsible for the September 11 attacks. Drone strikes also result in civilian deaths and cause unacceptable levels of collateral damage, as can be seen. The fact, however, that Pak-
istan has recently asked the US to vacate the Shamsi airbase, strongly indicates that it had acquiesced or implicitly authorised how the base was going to be used. The question to ask is whether the level of such authorisation amounted to Pakistan consenting to the drone attacks, with the result that the US had neither violated Pakistan’s sovereignty, nor undertaken a wrongful or unlawful act. Under international law, consent provided by one state removes responsibility for wrongful actions against another. However, the defence of consent cannot be invoked if the intervention amounts to the commission of an unlawful act, such as aggression, slavery, racial discrimination, genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, etc. it is fair to say, however, that if a state provides free consent, which has not been effected by coercion, deceit or mistake and allows another country to carry out attacks on its territory, the use of force will be legal under interna-
tional law. However, if the attacks qualify as unlawful aggression or exceed the amount of force originally consented to, then state wrongfulness would not be precluded. importantly state consent can be accorded by an official who operates within the scope of his authority, keeping in mind the nature of the intervention being consented to. Therefore, in order to determine whether the drone attacks carried out in FATA are wrongful under international law, it must first be determined whether Pakistan consented to drone strikes on its territory freely, whether the US exceeded the ambit of attacks authorised, whether the attacks amount to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, etc., and whether the appropriate organ or agent of the government of Pakistan sanctioned the drone strikes. The writer is a Professor of Public International Law at LUMS. He may be contacted at sikander@lums.edu.pk
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Sunday, 11 december, 2011
RIP, dev saab! Death takes no prisoners
third eye By M J Akbar
D
ev Anand hated death as intensely as he loathed the consequences of time. Age itself was an unbearable coffin; and in some unfathomable way he believed that death could be postponed indefinitely. He thought of death as some kind of personal defeat, and defeat did not enter his vocabulary. He might falter, but never fail. For a six-decade superstar life does not imitate art so much as become an art form. His movies always had a happy ending, and there was no way he was going to deny himself the same privilege off screen. He was not quite a Peter Pan, the child who froze time, but he remained rooted in his Twenties, unable or unwilling to step beyond a bracket that distilled the exuberance of existence into love, sex, success and adulation. But a body does not have the flexibility of the imagination, and Dev Anand chose to wrap his neck in flowing scarves to curtain the tell-tale desolation of skin stretching away from flesh. He could hardly hide his face, but a miracle occurred each time i met him. The years visibly peeled off, through his eyes, driven out gradual layer by layer by the dazzle of his smile and the mystique of memory as conversation crept inevitably back into the past. There was nowhere else to go. The past was the only golden age, and if gold needed constant burnishing to glisten, it would get all the massage it required. in that exultant narrative, Dev Anand was both his name, a god of Joy, as well as Kama Dev, god of Love; the two were indistinguishable. The one startling variation in a resplendent career was Guide. The film had very little to do with its origins in R K Narayan’s book;
Dev and his brilliant younger brother Vijay, who directed the best of Dev’s oeuvre, threw it out of the window and made their own movie. Guide’s Rosie, played exquisitely by Waheeda Rehman, was not mere rebellion, but a revolution that injected gender independence into the consciousness of an india still wandering through the fog of social norms. Guide is also the only film in which Dev Anand dies. But this death was a strategic manoeuvre. He resurrects triumphantly as eternal truth, beyond the tragedy of time. No ghost has ever been so handsome. While Dilip Kumar made a lachrymose fortune as part of his public persona obliga-
Naked Veena, burning Raja What got our attention and what didn’t
U
Suchitra Sen, Nutan, Vyajayantimala, Hema Malini and finally the only woman who broke his heart because she went over to Raj Kapoor for a role in Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Zeenat Aman. As he grew older, his girlfriends became younger. He had broken so many hearts it was but fair that someone should break his at least once. When history is written, as it should be, the tipping point will be a subject of legitimate debate. When did the decline begin? His hand, it is true, began to go limp from the wrist in Kala Bazar (1960), but that remained no more than a personal oddity even when his pistol in Jewel Thief no-
Dev Anand had the rare ability to make a stranger seem a friend, and a friend feel irreplaceable. Alas, now that there is no one to contradict them, stories about personal encounters with Dev Anand will both magnify and multiply tions, and Raj Kapoor evolved from saving his trousers in Awara to saving the nation in Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, Dev Anand stayed faithful to an insouciant street smile, whether in Baazi’s cheap gambling dens, or amid diamonds in Jewel Thief. He seemed ambivalent about smart theft; his loyalties were securely with law and order, but there was always a faint suggestion that his heart belonged to the panache of sophisticated crime. Dev Anand was 42 when Guide was released in 1965. He solved his unacknowledged midlife crisis with style. He created the 1960s look with a sequence of memorable hits: Kala Bazar, Hum Dono, Bombai ka Babu, Asli Naqli, Tere Ghar ke Saamne, Guide, Jewel Thief, Johny Mera Naam, Tere Mere Sapne and Hare Rama Hare Krishna. He was the Sixties. His high collar shirts, exotic hats and ankle-length corduroys ended the baggies era. His heroines were a cast from heaven: Waheeda Rehman, Nanda, Sadhana,
toriously pointed 45 degrees south instead of straight at villains. The ebb began with gambler, offered to a shocked public in 1971: Dev Anand had a straight handlebar moustache that groucho Marx would have shunned. The icon of charisma had lost it. By the 1980s his films were nothing more than a tawdry list of embarrassments. But, to use a phrase that has never seemed more appropriate, it was “Never say die”. Dev Anand had the rare ability to make a stranger seem a friend, and a friend feel irreplaceable. Anyone who entered his aura returned with at least an anecdote. Alas, now that there is no one to contradict them, stories about personal encounters with Dev Anand will both magnify and multiply. But that is how a life becomes a legend. 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.
Comment 13
By Ali Rizvi
nfortunately for most of us in Pakistan, our ideals of heroes have changed drastically. When a country of more than 180 million people is moved more by a naked Veena, than a burning Raja Khan outside the parliament, you know something is seriously wrong somewhere. For me though, i’ve had enough of nudity for the last few weeks. First there was Alia Mahdi, the Egyptian girl who posted a nude picture of herself, ‘self shot’ wearing nothing but red ballet pumps, stockings, one foot resting on a stool and a red rosette in her hair. in a normal setting, this would have easily passed for paedophiliac erotica, but when you add some well articulated rhetoric about women rights, freedom of expression, liberty, liberalism, countering the threat of a regressive islamist mindset, what could have easily passed for vintage erotica magically transforms into something revolutionary. There are certain regressive tendencies in our flawed perception of the scenario. The picture troubled me for quite some time: it compelled me to question a belief system that we hold very close to ourselves. i wondered, if in that situation, if in the name of liberty, if in what is being termed ‘defiance’, a slap on the face of oppressors of women, the act of posting a nude picture was truly revolutionary. Commodification. The same champions of liberty and freedom of rights, champions of liberalism, use this word time and time again, the commodification of religion, the commodification of sexuality, the commodification of education. it all makes sense. Commodification of objects we hold close to ourselves, objects we cherish, objects we attribute value to, is derogatory and offensive for us. Similarly, women are not mere objects of sexuality but more than that. They are not mere objects of pleasure and consumption. in presenting them as such, in presenting them as a commodity, where they are merely another product, the sole surviving caged animal of the planet, up for display is not only denying them their humanity but stripping them of the equality that they so often campaign for, equality they truly deserve. The nude image of the 20 year old Alia Mahdi instead of evoking in me even an iota of inspiration, repulsed me. it was a
contradiction in terms. On the one hand, she said it was an act of defiance against the oppressors of women, and on the other she herself chose to post a sexualised picture of herself presenting her in a male-pleasing eroticised manner, indirectly advocating the very sexism she supposedly was campaigning against. And if Alia wanted to be noticed, she sure did get all the attention she wanted because ‘flesh sells’. My problem is not with a woman’s right to reveal herself, but how in the act of ‘supposed defiance’ she has resorted to the same commodification that she detests. Which brings us to Veena Malik and the recent furore over her ‘asset revealing’ shenanigans. All of us are well aware of her attention-seeking antics. intriguingly Veena Malik in an interview for BBC has acceded to the fact that she posed topless and not nude for the indian magazine. Therefore all the ‘optimists’ who were hoping that the image was indeed morphed have been silenced by her own admission. There has been the islamist camp that has reacted vociferously against her ‘topless’ act while there have been those liberals who have supported Veena’s right to nudity. For those liberals who are viewing Veena’s nudity as something bold that aims to break free from the fetters of the taboos haunting our society, a reality check: Posing nude really isn’t doing any wonders for the cause of women in Pakistan; she through her act merely dismembered herself into a thing, broken down into components, legs, torso, hips, female body parts. She reinforced the idea that a female is wanted more for her curves than her brain, more for her external form than her intellect. That women are, in fact, objects of consumption. The fact that a nude Veena has managed to move a nation sickens me. The attention being giving to Veena, was denied to Raja Khan, a man who stood for real change. A man who burnt himself outside the parliament because he could no longer afford to feed his children, a man who died in vain. it took a single man burning himself alive in Tunisia to topple a government and bring a tsunami of change in the region. For us, however, a naked Veena is more important, because she is ‘in her own way challenging the limits of the dominant religio-cultural discourse in Pakistan, which seeks to conflate superfluous notions of honour with the female self.’ ‘Wah yaar, clapping hojaye.’ The writer is News Editor, Profit, Pakistan Today. He can be reached at ali.rizvi7957@gmail.com
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14 Comment
Sunday, 11 december, 2011
delhi’s own tea party Any time is chai and halwa time
i
s this the winter of discontent in Pakistan? Suddenly President Asif Ali Zardari has mysteriously flown abroad. The rumors are of a coup. in Delhi drawing rooms, one of the many rumors circulating about Zardari is that some venerable mullah convinced him that he could scare away the assassination bids and prolong his life by sacrificing a goat every day. So, the heavily secured President’s House in islamabad is the site where a big fat goat is martyred each day so that Benazir Bhutto’s widower could live from one day to another. Friends, none of my friends in RAW could confirm this rumour but do ask around your iSi contacts. Meanwhile, this week winter has finally started showing its true colours in Delhi. The temperature has dipped; the all-day fog is making me feel depressed. To lift my mood, i find solBy Mayank Austen Soofi ace in Delhi’s street chai. However, as the city acquires the trappings of a modern metropolis, the carts dedicated exclusively to serving tea are becoming fewer. Every morning, be it winter or summer, an old sari-clad woman – a migrant from Bihar – would pull in her chai cart at the entrance of Hauz Khas Village, my neighbourhood in south Delhi. As the tea boiled on her kerosene stove, morning walkers from the adjacent Rose garden and Deer Park arrived to sit on cement blocks placed beside the cart. They ordered the chai while reading the newspapers and discussing how india is going to the dogs. Apart from the stove and kettle, the tea
Delhi Calling
cart had plastic jars of fen and rusks, the classic chai accompaniments. Yet the chai was perfect on its own. With a hint of crushed ginger, it was neither too strong, nor too milky or too sugary. Sometimes a leaf from the neem tree above fell into the kettle. Unfortunately, that tea woman has vanished. Perhaps she has returned to her village in Bihar. The more boisterous chai experience can be lived at Ballimaran in Shahjahanabad. The Firdaus Mithai Shop, near Mughal-era poet Mirza ghalib’s haveli, has been brewing sweet, milky chai for 60 years. When a customer wishes to be generous to his friend, he asks the waiter for the chai to be topped with malai (cream). A curious feature of chai-drinking in Shahjahanabad is that it is drunk from a glass tumbler kept inside a china cup. The cup’s handle protects the bare hands from the chai’s burning heat. in the colonial-era Connaught Place, the park above the Palika Bazaar parking lot is where the city’s lonely people look for companionship and love. There, chai vendors are the only welcoming interference. Moving with thermos flasks and plastic cups, these bhayyas from UP are perhaps the only friends to the park’s lonely regulars. There is no doubt if Delhi were a country, roadside chai would be its national drink. And if Shahjahanbad were to be an independent republic, its national dessert would be… wait, don’t mind the slur. The name of this dessert is politically incorrect. Habshi is the Urdu equivalent of Negro. i’m talking of habshi halwa. “The halwa is as kaala (black) as a habshi,” says Firoz Ahmed, a portly man sitting behind the glass counter at Haneef Doodhwalla, a mithai shop. Ahmed’s father, Haji Mohammed Haneef, founded it in 1948 in a dark alley in Ballimaran. it’s a Shahjahanabad neighborhood lined with stores selling made-in-China shades and Agra-made shoes. As i said earlier, the area is noted for being the final address of Urdu poet Mirza ghalib. While it also sells buffalo milk and
Delhi’s famous Habshi Halwa.–Photo by Mayank Austen Soofi
yogurt, Haneef Doodhwalla is best known for its habshi halwa, a sticky sweetmeat made in the less hot season, from October to March. Boiling milk for 8 hours in giant cauldrons until it is reduced to a black mess, the halwa is prepared over firewood. it has desi ghee (clarified butter), maida (refined flour), samnak (sprouted wheat), sugar, kewra (rose essence), zafran (saffron) and crushed dried fruit like almonds, cashew and pistachio. Said to heat up the body, habshi halwa is recommended for men wanting to increase their stamina in lovemaking. Most Shahjahanabad men i talked to say Haneef Doodhwalla makes the town’s best habshi halwa. According to Ahmed, his father’s childhood was spent as a kitchen boy in the house of Mohammed Deen Chatrriwalle, a wealthy Punjabi Muslim family that migrated to Shahjahanabad
from Multan in the 18th century. Their community settled in a gated neighbourhood in Ballimaran, now Punjabi Phatak. The Chattriwalles showed gratitude to Haneef’s services by helping him set up a paan stall in Haveli Hisamuddin, just inside the entrance of Punjabi Phatak gateway. He later turned the stall into a dairy. Today, Haneef’s four sons live in what was once the house of the Chattriwalles, who had moved to south Delhi. The cardboard mithai boxes of Haneef Doodhwalla show an illustration of a ghantaghar (clock tower). The tower in Chandni Chowk was destroyed by fire in the 1940s. Nearby was the halwai shop of a certain Abdul Khaliq, under whom Haneef learned habshi halwa making. After partition, while Khaliq migrated to Karachi in Pakistan, Haneef stayed back. The ghantagar on the box is Haneef’s tribute to his ustad (master).
in 1992, Haneef died; he was buried in the Dilli gate graveyard. The family business has been expanded by his sons to include guesthouses and retail stores. They have not abandoned their father’s calling. in the winter, 50 kg habshi halwa is sold everyday. Priced at Rs 320 per kilo, the cardamom-flavoured halwa is gooey, rich and – as they say – potent. According to newspaper reports, all is not well between Pakistan and the US. May be a new beginning can be made. Perhaps Pakistan’s army chief considers sending a mithai box of habshi halwa to President Obama. Of course, no disrespect intended. Mayank Austen Soofi lives in a library. He has one website and four blogs. The website address: thedelhiwalla.com. The blogs: Pakistan Paindabad, Ruined By Reading, Reading Arundhati Roy and Mayank Austen Soofi Photos.
drones and dystopia Unmanned predators are the future of military technology
By Arif Ansar
D
uring the last few weeks, Pakistan’s media has been focused on the events related to Memogate, the aftermath of the NATO Mohmand attack, and the Bonn Conference. However, significant developments have also been occurring in another neighbouring country of Pakistan: iran. The nation claims to have brought down a state-ofthe-art US surveillance drone near its border with Afghanistan. RQ170 Sentinel, also known as the Beast of Kandahar, is one of the most sophisticated high altitude stealth jet drone in US possession. The news gives credibility to the widely held belief in the region and beyond; foreign presence in Afghanistan is for much more than just fighting extremist groups in the Pak-Afghan border areas. These stealth drones represent the future of warfare and are ideally
suited for achieving multiple objectives. RQ-170 was used over Pakistan as well for monitoring Osama bin Laden, and also during Operation geronimo, to provide live feeds for the White House. For some reason, the Black Hawk stealth helicopters (UH 60), also used in the operation, got more attention than the Beast. PoliTact first alerted to the appearance of RQ-170 in the skies of South and Central Asia in December 2009. Around that time, an israeli website had also reported on this, and subsequently a US Air Force spokesman had confirmed the presence of the stealth drone in Afghanistan. The RQ-170 was reportedly deployed for increased intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support for combatant commanders in Afghanistan. However, other than the secret mission to find Osama, one of its other objectives was suspected to fly over the borders of iran, China, india, and Pakistan for collecting "useful data about missile tests, telemetry, signals and multi-spectral intelligence." in simple words, the Beast of Kandahar was probably being used for spying missions in Pakistan and iran, related to the missile and nuclear programs of these two countries. The armed Predator versions of the drones are not only being utilised in Pakistan and Afghanistan but also in iraq,
Yemen, Libya, Somalia, and recently in Ethiopia. The Washington Post recently reported that United States is building secret drone bases in the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Ethiopia and Seychelles. The increased use of drones is part of a move related with America’s new counterterrorism strategy, shifting the campaign against extremism from costly battlegrounds toward expanded covert operations. Drones and other military stealth technologies represent the future of warfare. According to widely quoted figures, China is presently spending 12 percent of its global research and development funding on unmanned aerial technology. On the other hand, Russia spends 8% while the US commits a whopping 56%. The demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is growing globally. in South and Central Asia alone, the UAV market for border protection is expected to grow around 25 per cent or more in the years 2010-2015. According to aerospace consultancy the Teal group, the global spending on unmanned aircrafts will near $55 billion in the next decade. This growth constitutes demand for air, maritime and space unmanned vehicle systems. Unlike the US, China is not only trying to develop state-of-theart drones but is also eyeing the global market. it has especially stepped up its research and is de-
veloping jet-propelled and armed unmanned aircraft, which it plans to sell to countries such as Pakistan and those in the Middle East and Africa. Although much of the project remains concealed, Beijing is making serious efforts and steady progress towards developing equivalents to top US surveillance and combat models - the global Hawk and the Predator. The captured Kandaharian Beast may end up leapfrogging Chinese and Russian drone programs. On the other hand, in July india announced it would deploy spy drones along its border with China in an effort to keep an eye on the accelerated manoeuvres of People’s Liberation Army. The israelis remain the leading suppliers of UAVs to india. An israeli company iAi is presently supplying Searcher and Heron UAVs. Another israeli company, Elbit Systems, is trying to sell Hermes 450, Hermes 900, Skylark i and ii UAVs to the indian military. Additionally, the indian Air Force is seeking the armed israeli UAV named Harop. Meanwhile, several Pakistani companies are involved in UAV production. The more well known versions go by the name of Desert Hawk and Uqaab. The country is also acquiring the german EMT LUNA short-range battlefield reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition UAV, and the italian galileo Avionica's Falco tactical unmanned aerial vehicle
(TUAV). At the same time, Turkey and Pakistan are also working together on development of UAVs. The drone race has also entered the realm of space. China is aggressively pursuing the space dual use program, which supposedly has the capacity to counter the space infrastructure used by the global positioning and targeting systems. in January 2007, the country had tested its ground based laser Anti-Satellite (ASAT) capabilities by shooting down one of its aging weather satellites in space; in September 2008, it launched the BX-1 satellite, deployed through the Shenzou-7 spacecraft. Later the BX-1 satellite and the Shenzou-7 performed a fly-by of the international Space Station (iSS). The test was interpreted to mean that the Chinese military could threaten the imaging reconnaissance satellites operated by the US, Japan, Russia, israel and Europe. This had prompted the United States to launch its first national space policy after a hiatus of ten years, and launching the first ever space drone, X-37b. The space drone X-37b is first unmanned spacecraft capable of conducting combat missions in space. Some space experts are calling this new drone as representing the arrival of the "weaponisation" or militarization" of space, the final frontier. Thus, it is clear that US bases in iraq and Afghanistan, and other
places would be used to send dualpurpose beasts for fighting extremists and for containing adversaries. it is not clear if the people of these countries are ready to own them. However, as the capture of the Kandaharian Beast in iran shows, the chances of them causing miscommunication and conflicts have increased. There are also serious legal, humanitarian and ethical concerns connected to the drones. For example, Pakistan is already grappling with the erosion of sovereign rights, as a consequence of drone attacks. Although, up until a few days ago, it was hosting drones at the Shamsi air base without the knowledge of its public. Recently a scientist from the georgia Tech Research institute, Charles E Pippin, successfully demonstrated two unmanned automated aircrafts coordinating and identifying tarp targets through sensors. The technology is still a few decades away before it can be used; however, it is already causing alarm about what experts are calling “lethal autonomy.” The world envisioned by science fiction futurists in which robots actually conspire to take over the warring earthlings, now appears all the more conceivable. The writer is the chief analyst for PoliTact (www.PoliTact.com and http:twitter.com/politact) and can be reached at aansar@politact.com.
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15 Foreign News
Sunday, 11 december, 2011
Second Thai protest against royal insult laws BANGKOK AfP
A small band of Thai protesters marched through Bangkok on Saturday for the second rally in two days against the country’s widelycriticised laws protecting the monarchy. Public protests against the legislation are rare in Thailand, where discussions related to the royal family are hugely sensitive, but the action was sparked by a recent court case that saw a grandfather jailed for 20 years. in a case that alarmed rights activists and the European Union, Ampon Tangnoppakul, 61, was last month found guilty of four counts of offending the royals in text messages sent last year, under Thailand’s strict lese majeste laws.
Seven killed in Iraq attacks BAGHDAD AfP
A spate of gun and bomb attacks across northern and central iraq on Saturday killed seven people and left four others wounded, security officials said. in the disputed northern city of Kirkuk, a Shiite Turkman chemicals specialist for the state-owned North Oil Company was killed by a magnetic “sticky bomb” attached to his car. Hussein Mohsen Maqsud, a member of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s Dawa Party, had just left his home when the explosion occurred, a police officer and a party official said. Also in Kirkuk, a civilian was killed in a gun attack in the north of the city, 240 kilometres (150 miles) north of Baghdad, the police officer said. in the iraqi capital, an anti-Qaeda militiaman was killed and a policeman was wounded by a gun attack on a checkpoint in Saidiyah, south Baghdad, an interior ministry official said. The militiaman was a member of the Sahwa, or Awakening Council, which is comprised of Sunni Arab tribesmen who sided with the US military against Al-Qaeda from late 2006, helping turn the tide of iraq’s bloody insurgency. in Babil province, south of Baghdad, a civilian was killed by gunmen in a village northeast of provincial capital Hilla, a police major said. in a separate incident in Babil, three people were wounded by two katyusha rockets that had been intended for a nearby US military base, according to the major. Two men were also killed in Diyala province, north of the capital, in separate attacks, an official in the provincial security command centre said. Taha Yasin was killed by gunmen in Abu garma village, east of Diyala capital Baquba, while internet cafe owner Hussein Tamimi was killed by shooters using silenced weapons in Baladruz, southeast of Baquba, according to the official. And in Mosul, police said a taxi driver was killed by gunmen in the west of the main northern city.
PARIS: Masked occupy protesters participate in a rally as part of the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights on Saturday. AFP
Syria faces pressure over monitors as toll climbs DAMAScUS
W
AfP
ORLD powers piled pressure on Syria to allow observers to monitor spiralling deadly violence as activists condemned rights violations on Saturday’s anniversary of international Human Rights Day. Activists said nine civilians were killed on Saturday by the security forces in the flashpoint regions of Homs, Daraa and idlib, a day after 41 people died across the country, and as the opposition warned the regime was planning a “massacre” in Homs which has been ringed by troops for more than two months. “The world celebrates human rights as human rights are being violated in Syria,” the opposition Syrian Revolution 2011 said in a message posted on its Facebook
page. UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay has said that at least 4,000 people have been killed in a government crackdown on dissent in Syria since the anti-regime protest movement started in March. Pillay is to brief the UN Security Council about Syria and the wider Middle East at a meeting on Monday — her second address to the world body since August when the number of dead was estimated at more than 2,000. “Now it is more than 4,000. Lives could have been changed if action had been taken sooner. it is not for me to determine what kind of action, it is for the Security Council,” she told a UN news conference on Friday. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has refused to let investigators from two UN human rights inquiries enter Syria, and his regime is resisting Arab League calls to accept monitors despite being hit by crippling sanctions. As the death
toll mounted, Britain and the United States expressed fresh concerns, and Washington urged Syria to allow independent monitors into the country. Damascus, which blames “armed terrorist gangs” for the violence, meanwhile appealed to the international community to help it find an “honourable exit” to the crisis and stem the flow of weapons into Syria. “We are appealing to the outside world and our brothers in the Arab world to help Syria (prevent the) channelling (of) weapons” into the country, foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi said on Friday, speaking in English. “if we all work together we can find an honourable exit to the crisis.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 41 civilians, including seven children, were shot dead by Syrian security forces in the capital Damascus and the restive central city of Homs on Friday.
Catalysts for peace: three women receive Nobel Prize OSLO AfP
oSlo: the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, liberian President ellen Johnson Sirleaf (l), liberian peace activist leymah gbowee (R) and yemeni activist tawakkol Karman (C) pictured during the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony at the City Hall in oslo. AFP
Liberia’s president, a fellow Liberian and a Yemeni activist received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo Saturday for showing how women facing war and oppression can shed the mantle of victimhood and lead the way to peace and democracy. “You represent one of the most important motive forces for change in today’s world: the struggle for human rights in general and the struggle of women for equality and peace in particular,” Norwegian Nobel Committee president Thorbjoern Jagland said before handing out the prestigious award. At the lavish ceremony in a colourfully flower-decked Oslo city hall, and with Norway’s royal family and other dignitaries in attendance, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, her compatriot and “peace warrior” Leymah gbowee and Yemeni “Arab Spring” activist Tawakkol Karman received their gold medal and diploma. “You give concrete meaning to the Chinese proverb which says that ‘women hold up half of the
sky’,” Jagland told the laureates. As Syrian security forces killed more civilians Saturday, the Nobel Committee chief said the laureates’ work should serve as a warning to autocratic leaders such as those in Syria and Yemen. “The leaders in Yemen and Syria who murder their people to retain their own power should take note of the following: mankind’s quest for freedom and human rights can never stop,” Jagland said. gbowee, a 39year-old social worker who led Liberia’s women to defy feared warlords and bring an end to her country’s bloody 1989-2003 civil war, hailed the Nobel Committee for shining the spotlight on women’s struggle for peace and human rights, insisting “this prize could not have come at a better time than this.” “it has come at a time when in many societies where women used to be the silent victims and objects of men’s powers, women are throwing down the walls of repressive traditions with the invincible power of non-violence,” gbowee, wearing a colourful headdress, said in her acceptance speech.
British lawmakers welcome Cameron after EU veto LONDON AfP
British Prime Minister David Cameron received a hero’s welcome from his party’s lawmakers but faced searching questions Saturday over his veto of a new EU treaty to solve the eurozone crisis. Cameron hosted a dinner for a number of Conservative MPs on Friday night at his country residence after he returned from a summit in Brussels where he took the historic step, his Downing Street office told AFP. Cameron’s veto torpedoed a planned treaty aimed at saving the eurozone, but the other 26 European Union states looked set to join a “new fiscal compact”, proposed by France and germany, to resolve the crisis, leaving Britain on its own. Finance minister george Osborne dismissed suggestions that London would now lose influence within the EU, saying Cameron had to protect Britain’s interests and especially its financial services industry. “We have protected Britain’s financial services and manufacturing companies, that need to be able to trade their products into Europe, from the development of eurozone integration spilling over and affecting noneuro members of the EU,” Osborne told BBC Radio on Saturday. “This is not about letting the City off regulation, this is about the right regulation for a very large financial centre, which is much, much larger than any financial centre in France or germany or any other country of the EU.” Downing Street said there was a “pre-planned meeting” for Conservative lawmakers late Friday at Chequers, the prime minister’s official country house west of London, but gave no further details. Around 30 MPs at the dinner toasted Cameron, media reports said. Leading eurosceptic MP Andrew Rosindell, who had urged Cameron in parliament last week to show “bulldog spirit” at the Brussels summit, was quoted by the BBC as saying the mood was “extremely positive”. But former Conservative cabinet minister Michael Heseltine, a key figure under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, warned eurosceptics that Britain should not walk away from the EU. He said Cameron had to use the veto because of the political situation at home, where he would have been unable to get any treaty through parliament and could yet face demands for a referendum on Europe. But he added: “in saying he wanted to protect the interests of the City, there is no way you can protect those interests by floating off into the Atlantic, frankly.” There were also tensions with some Liberal Democrats, the junior partners in the coalition government, warning that the veto could lead to a “two-speed” Europe with Britain on the outside.
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Foreign News 16 Yemen clashes leave 13 dead as unity government sworn in Sunday, 11 december, 2011
Libyan rulers say ready to forgive Gaddafi fighters TRIPOLI AfP
Libya’s new rulers said on Saturday they are ready to forgive the forces of slain dictator Moamer gaddafi who battled rebels trying to topple his autocratic regime during the brutal revolution. “in Libya we are able to absorb all. Libya is for all,” the National Transitional Council chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil said in Tripoli as he launched a national reconciliation conference organised by the NTC. “Despite what the army of the oppressor did to our cities and our villages, our brothers who fought against the rebels as the army of gaddafi , we are ready to forgive them,” he said in Arabic remarks that were translated into English by an official. “We are able to forgive and tolerate,” he added. The conference, the first of its kind since the NTC on October 23 declared the total liberation of Libya, was attended by delegates from the major Libyan tribes, as well as from Qatar and Tunisia. Libya’s new interim Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib echoed Abdel Jalil. “National reconciliation is an essential condition to build the constitutional institutions of a state,” he told the conference. “The future cannot be built with revenge as a base.” But he said that those who “committed torture, rape, murders and stole public wealth (during the revolution) have to be held accountable.” “Transitional justice is needed in order to reach reconciliation,” Kib said. The Hague-based international Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said in June that the court’s investigators had evidence that gaddafi ordered mass rapes and bought containers of sex drugs for troops to attack women during the revolt against him. Kib announced his government on November 22, just a month after the capture and lynching of gaddafi who ruled the country with an iron fist for 42 years.
ADEN
W
AfP
EEKEND clashes in southern Yemen left two government soldiers and 11 suspected members of Al-Qaeda dead, military and local sources told AFP Saturday. government troops have for months been battling al Qaeda linked fighters in the troubled Abyan province, notably in the areas surrounding the provincial capital Zinjibar, where the latest clashes took place. “Two soldiers were killed and forty others injured in battles that broke out when Al-Qaeda fighters attacked the positions of Battalion 201”, based in the northeast of Zinjibar, a military source told AFP. A local source told AFP that “11 Al-Qaeda fighters, including one iraqi, perished in the battles.” The clashes, which first broke out Friday, continued on Saturday afternoon, both sources said. in a separate incident, a suspected member of Al-Qaeda, who was abducted by tribal fighters battling islamists in the area, was killed by his guards on Saturday morning, as he tried to escape detention in the Abyan village of Loder, a tribal source told AFP. Yemeni government forces backed by tribal fighters and sometimes supported by US drone
strikes have been battling the Partisans of Sharia, an Al-Qaeda linked group, that has controlled Zinjibar since May. Al-Qaeda has profited from the instability caused by 11 months of protests against Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh, strengthening its positions across the south of the country. Meanwhile, Yemen’s national unity government, led by the opposition, was sworn in Saturday to lead a threemonth transition period until early elections are held and President Ali Abdullah Saleh formally steps down, an official statement said. The statement, carried by the official Saba news agency, said the swearing-in ceremony took place at the Republican Palace in the capital Sanaa in the presence of Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi. The new 34-member cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa, will carry out its duties until February elections, after which Hadi will take over the presidency for an interim two-year period as stipulated by a gulf-sponsored deal drafted to resolve Yemen’s political crisis. Half of the new cabinet posts were entrusted to members of the opposition Common Forum, while Saleh loyalists were appointed to the other half, a condition stipulated in the gulf plan signed by Saleh on November 23. Saleh’s ministers for foreign affairs and defence have retained their
posts, while the interior ministry, the human rights portfolio, finance and information ministries have been entrusted to the opposition. The gulf initiative gave Hadi temporary authority to rule Yemen and form a unity government until elections in which he will be the only candidate. Once Hadi is elected, Saleh will then lose his current title of honorary president and officially be removed from power. The power-transition deal also gave Saleh and his close relatives immunity from prosecution for crimes he allegedly committed in the uprising against his rule that has left hundreds of people dead and thousands more wounded since it began in January. However, the protesters who have thronged the streets of the capital and other Yemeni cities have rejected the immunity clause and continue to demand that the long-time dictator go on trial. On Saturday, thousands of protesters marched in Yemen’s flashpoint city of Taez, demanding Saleh be tried. “No immunity, no assurances,” chanted the protesters. Taez has witnessed some of the worst violence in the months of unrest, as armed tribesmen who have thrown their support behind the protesters continue to battle Saleh’s troops. in the last week alone, more than 30 people have been killed in the fighting. Resolving Yemen’s deteriorating security situation will likely be the most difficult challenge facing the new government.
Saleh’s sons and nephews still control much of the country’s elite military units, and unresolved conflicts with rebels, separatists and Al-Qaeda militants continue to threaten stability. On December 4, Vice President Hadi formed a military commission in line with the transition plan to oversee the restructuring of the security forces. The 14-member commission will also tackle the withdrawal of gunmen from the streets in a bid to restore order in the country. The capital Sanaa remains divided, with pro-Saleh troops controlling some neighbourhoods, and dissident soldiers under the control of Saleh’s arch rival, defected general Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, controlling other areas. gunmen loyal to Yemen’s most influential tribal leader, Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, primarily stationed in Sanaa’s Hasaba district, are also fighting Saleh loyalists. Another major challenge for the incoming government will be fixing Yemen’s shattered economy and reinstating basic services. Taha al-Fusail, an advisor to Yemen’s ministry of industry told AFP Saturday that the country is suffering from major electricity and fuel shortages, adding that poverty levels have risen dramatically in the months of unrest. “Poverty levels stood at about 46 percent in Yemen in 2009...now it’s about 65 or 75 percent,” said Fusail, noting that Yemen’s economy has lost “$10 to $12 billion this year because of the political troubles.
Plane crashes onto Philippine slum, killing 13
Bicycle bomb kills 2, wounds 16 in Afghanistan
MANILA AfP
A bicycle bomb killed at least two people, including a member of Afghanistan’s peace council, and left 16 wounded when it exploded in the north of the country Saturday, an official said. The remotely controlled bomb was detonated in Kunduz city and targeted a former mujahedeen commander who was also a member of the high peace council, Sayed Sarwar Husseini, Kunduz provincial police spokesman told AFP. “This morning a remotely controlled bomb placed on a bicycle detonated in Sar Chawk area of Kunduz city, killing two including Shir Mohammad Arab a former jihadi commander and wounding 16 others,” he said. The wounded civilians were taken to a local hospital and were in a stable condition, he said. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack.
A four-seater cargo plane crashed onto a crowded Philippine slum on Saturday, sparking a fire that killed 13 people and left five missing and at least another 20 injured, officials said. The crash and the resulting blaze killed both the pilot, copilot, and their lone passenger while the other fatalities are thought to be residents of the shanty town, said chief inspector Wilson Tana, a fire investigator. “The fire department got here quickly, but we had trouble because the passageways are so narrow,” he told AFP. “There might be more bodies,” he added as firefighters cleared away blackened sheets of corrugated iron in search of bodies that might have been pinned underneath. At least five other residents of the burnt shanties are missing, Tana said. However, investigators had not brought search lights and the search effectively stopped as night fell among the twisted wreckage of burnt slum homes, an AFP reporter saw.
Nationwide vote protest hits Putin’s rule
Karzai will not seek third term: spokesman
MOScOW
KABUL
KUNDUZ AfP
AfP
AfP
Up to 50,000 people turned out in Moscow on Saturday for a protest against disputed polls that have sparked a rare national show of defiance against Vladimir Putin’s 12-year rule. Hundreds of security trucks blocked off central squares while helicopters patrolled the skies as Moscow authorities deployed more than 50,000 riot police and troops on the biggest day of protest to hit Russia since the turbulent 1990s. Protesters braved a whipping snow storm to snake their way through tight police cordons and across the Moscow River to a secluded square not far from the Kremlin, assigned by the authorities for the “For Fair Elections” protest. “The current regime does not know how to behave with dignity,” former cabinet member turned Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov said as the crowd gathered for the biggest Moscow opposition rally of the Putin era.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is not secretly planning to change the country’s constitution to seek a third term in power, his spokesman insisted on Saturday. Recent media reports, citing a document set out by germany’s foreign intelligence service, said Karzai was seeking special dispensation to guide the country through uncertainty after NATO ends its combat mission in 2014. But Aimal Faizi said Karzai, the only leader in Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led invasion brought down the Taliban, was not planning to change the constitution, which allows two terms as president. “Karzai has no intention to remain in power after his second term,” Faizi told AFP. “The president has made it very clear, including in his loya jirga speech, that he will not run again,” he said, referring to a speech at a traditional gathering of elders last month.
MoSCoW: People crowd at the Bolotnaya embankment on Saturday during an authorized opposition protest against the alleging mass fraud in the December 4 parliamentary polls. AFP
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Foreign News 16 Yemen clashes leave 13 dead as unity government sworn in Sunday, 11 december, 2011
Libyan rulers say ready to forgive Gaddafi fighters TRIPOLI AfP
Libya’s new rulers said on Saturday they are ready to forgive the forces of slain dictator Moamer gaddafi who battled rebels trying to topple his autocratic regime during the brutal revolution. “in Libya we are able to absorb all. Libya is for all,” the National Transitional Council chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil said in Tripoli as he launched a national reconciliation conference organised by the NTC. “Despite what the army of the oppressor did to our cities and our villages, our brothers who fought against the rebels as the army of gaddafi , we are ready to forgive them,” he said in Arabic remarks that were translated into English by an official. “We are able to forgive and tolerate,” he added. The conference, the first of its kind since the NTC on October 23 declared the total liberation of Libya, was attended by delegates from the major Libyan tribes, as well as from Qatar and Tunisia. Libya’s new interim Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib echoed Abdel Jalil. “National reconciliation is an essential condition to build the constitutional institutions of a state,” he told the conference. “The future cannot be built with revenge as a base.” But he said that those who “committed torture, rape, murders and stole public wealth (during the revolution) have to be held accountable.” “Transitional justice is needed in order to reach reconciliation,” Kib said. The Hague-based international Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said in June that the court’s investigators had evidence that gaddafi ordered mass rapes and bought containers of sex drugs for troops to attack women during the revolt against him. Kib announced his government on November 22, just a month after the capture and lynching of gaddafi who ruled the country with an iron fist for 42 years.
ADEN
W
AfP
EEKEND clashes in southern Yemen left two government soldiers and 11 suspected members of Al-Qaeda dead, military and local sources told AFP Saturday. government troops have for months been battling al Qaeda linked fighters in the troubled Abyan province, notably in the areas surrounding the provincial capital Zinjibar, where the latest clashes took place. “Two soldiers were killed and forty others injured in battles that broke out when Al-Qaeda fighters attacked the positions of Battalion 201”, based in the northeast of Zinjibar, a military source told AFP. A local source told AFP that “11 Al-Qaeda fighters, including one iraqi, perished in the battles.” The clashes, which first broke out Friday, continued on Saturday afternoon, both sources said. in a separate incident, a suspected member of Al-Qaeda, who was abducted by tribal fighters battling islamists in the area, was killed by his guards on Saturday morning, as he tried to escape detention in the Abyan village of Loder, a tribal source told AFP. Yemeni government forces backed by tribal fighters and sometimes supported by US drone
strikes have been battling the Partisans of Sharia, an Al-Qaeda linked group, that has controlled Zinjibar since May. Al-Qaeda has profited from the instability caused by 11 months of protests against Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh, strengthening its positions across the south of the country. Meanwhile, Yemen’s national unity government, led by the opposition, was sworn in Saturday to lead a threemonth transition period until early elections are held and President Ali Abdullah Saleh formally steps down, an official statement said. The statement, carried by the official Saba news agency, said the swearing-in ceremony took place at the Republican Palace in the capital Sanaa in the presence of Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi. The new 34-member cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa, will carry out its duties until February elections, after which Hadi will take over the presidency for an interim two-year period as stipulated by a gulf-sponsored deal drafted to resolve Yemen’s political crisis. Half of the new cabinet posts were entrusted to members of the opposition Common Forum, while Saleh loyalists were appointed to the other half, a condition stipulated in the gulf plan signed by Saleh on November 23. Saleh’s ministers for foreign affairs and defence have retained their
posts, while the interior ministry, the human rights portfolio, finance and information ministries have been entrusted to the opposition. The gulf initiative gave Hadi temporary authority to rule Yemen and form a unity government until elections in which he will be the only candidate. Once Hadi is elected, Saleh will then lose his current title of honorary president and officially be removed from power. The power-transition deal also gave Saleh and his close relatives immunity from prosecution for crimes he allegedly committed in the uprising against his rule that has left hundreds of people dead and thousands more wounded since it began in January. However, the protesters who have thronged the streets of the capital and other Yemeni cities have rejected the immunity clause and continue to demand that the long-time dictator go on trial. On Saturday, thousands of protesters marched in Yemen’s flashpoint city of Taez, demanding Saleh be tried. “No immunity, no assurances,” chanted the protesters. Taez has witnessed some of the worst violence in the months of unrest, as armed tribesmen who have thrown their support behind the protesters continue to battle Saleh’s troops. in the last week alone, more than 30 people have been killed in the fighting. Resolving Yemen’s deteriorating security situation will likely be the most difficult challenge facing the new government.
Saleh’s sons and nephews still control much of the country’s elite military units, and unresolved conflicts with rebels, separatists and Al-Qaeda militants continue to threaten stability. On December 4, Vice President Hadi formed a military commission in line with the transition plan to oversee the restructuring of the security forces. The 14-member commission will also tackle the withdrawal of gunmen from the streets in a bid to restore order in the country. The capital Sanaa remains divided, with pro-Saleh troops controlling some neighbourhoods, and dissident soldiers under the control of Saleh’s arch rival, defected general Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, controlling other areas. gunmen loyal to Yemen’s most influential tribal leader, Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, primarily stationed in Sanaa’s Hasaba district, are also fighting Saleh loyalists. Another major challenge for the incoming government will be fixing Yemen’s shattered economy and reinstating basic services. Taha al-Fusail, an advisor to Yemen’s ministry of industry told AFP Saturday that the country is suffering from major electricity and fuel shortages, adding that poverty levels have risen dramatically in the months of unrest. “Poverty levels stood at about 46 percent in Yemen in 2009...now it’s about 65 or 75 percent,” said Fusail, noting that Yemen’s economy has lost “$10 to $12 billion this year because of the political troubles.
Plane crashes onto Philippine slum, killing 13
Bicycle bomb kills 2, wounds 16 in Afghanistan
MANILA AfP
A bicycle bomb killed at least two people, including a member of Afghanistan’s peace council, and left 16 wounded when it exploded in the north of the country Saturday, an official said. The remotely controlled bomb was detonated in Kunduz city and targeted a former mujahedeen commander who was also a member of the high peace council, Sayed Sarwar Husseini, Kunduz provincial police spokesman told AFP. “This morning a remotely controlled bomb placed on a bicycle detonated in Sar Chawk area of Kunduz city, killing two including Shir Mohammad Arab a former jihadi commander and wounding 16 others,” he said. The wounded civilians were taken to a local hospital and were in a stable condition, he said. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack.
A four-seater cargo plane crashed onto a crowded Philippine slum on Saturday, sparking a fire that killed 13 people and left five missing and at least another 20 injured, officials said. The crash and the resulting blaze killed both the pilot, copilot, and their lone passenger while the other fatalities are thought to be residents of the shanty town, said chief inspector Wilson Tana, a fire investigator. “The fire department got here quickly, but we had trouble because the passageways are so narrow,” he told AFP. “There might be more bodies,” he added as firefighters cleared away blackened sheets of corrugated iron in search of bodies that might have been pinned underneath. At least five other residents of the burnt shanties are missing, Tana said. However, investigators had not brought search lights and the search effectively stopped as night fell among the twisted wreckage of burnt slum homes, an AFP reporter saw.
Nationwide vote protest hits Putin’s rule
Karzai will not seek third term: spokesman
MOScOW
KABUL
KUNDUZ AfP
AfP
AfP
Up to 50,000 people turned out in Moscow on Saturday for a protest against disputed polls that have sparked a rare national show of defiance against Vladimir Putin’s 12-year rule. Hundreds of security trucks blocked off central squares while helicopters patrolled the skies as Moscow authorities deployed more than 50,000 riot police and troops on the biggest day of protest to hit Russia since the turbulent 1990s. Protesters braved a whipping snow storm to snake their way through tight police cordons and across the Moscow River to a secluded square not far from the Kremlin, assigned by the authorities for the “For Fair Elections” protest. “The current regime does not know how to behave with dignity,” former cabinet member turned Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov said as the crowd gathered for the biggest Moscow opposition rally of the Putin era.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is not secretly planning to change the country’s constitution to seek a third term in power, his spokesman insisted on Saturday. Recent media reports, citing a document set out by germany’s foreign intelligence service, said Karzai was seeking special dispensation to guide the country through uncertainty after NATO ends its combat mission in 2014. But Aimal Faizi said Karzai, the only leader in Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led invasion brought down the Taliban, was not planning to change the constitution, which allows two terms as president. “Karzai has no intention to remain in power after his second term,” Faizi told AFP. “The president has made it very clear, including in his loya jirga speech, that he will not run again,” he said, referring to a speech at a traditional gathering of elders last month.
MoSCoW: People crowd at the Bolotnaya embankment on Saturday during an authorized opposition protest against the alleging mass fraud in the December 4 parliamentary polls. AFP
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17 I am not gay, Sunday, 11 december, 2011
IN LIMELIGHT MUMBAi: Bipasha Basu, Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor pose during the music launch event for ‘Players’.
retorts Jackie Shroff MUMBAI
J
ZeeNeWS
ACKiE Shroff has finally cleared the air about his sexual preference. Since Thursday evening, the actor had been trending on social networking sites like Twitter, when news of his being homosexual was leaked by a website. The website claimed that Jackie had given an interview to the members of the press in a suburban Mumbai hotel and stated that he was gay. When contacted by DNA, the actor denied the news completely. Jackie who is currently shooting in Mysore was not aware of the news initially. The fuming actor said, “i want to personally find that person and beat him up. From where did they get this piece of information? Anybody who knows me wouldn’t think like this in their wildest dreams. People say whatever comes to their minds. i haven’t spoken like this to anybody. i don’t know from where they got this information. i must have spoken about my adulation for a few male actors, but i don’t think i ever meant something like that in a sexual way. in fact, i don’t even recollect which conversation these guys are referring to.” So was it a publicity stunt to promote Jackie’s film? “Could you tell me which film is releasing? (On being told the name of the film) is it? But i am told that it is a regional Telugu film. So are they dubbing that in Hindi now? i am in Mysore shooting for my film and i don’t have the faintest idea of all this. Can you please ask the producers if they have any idea about it?” the actor said.
MUNiCH: Tom Cruise and Paula Patton pose on the red carpet ahead of the european premiere of ‘Mission: impossible - Ghost Protocol’.
LOS ANGeLeS: Miley Cyrus arrives at the American Giving Awards presented by Chase.
MJ’s daughter to make acting
debut in fantasy movie LOS ANGELES AgeNCIeS
Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris is all set to make her acting debut in a fantasy movie titled ‘Lunden’s Bridge And The Three Keys’. The ‘Billy Jean’ hit maker’s family wanted the 13-year-old to wait until 18 before launching a career, but she was able to persuade her grandmother, Kath that the film had a message close to her late father’s heart. “Her character’s strong love for her father is central to the plot,” the Sun quoted a source as saying. Profits from the movie, which has a mix of real and animated characters, will go to US schools.
MUMBAi: esha deol poses during a Nicole Miller designer event.
Vidya Balan hikes
her fee to 70 million MUMBAI: After tasting success with Milan Luthria’s ‘The dirty Picture’, vidya Balan is acting pricey. Buzz has it that the thinking man’s muse, vidya, has hiked her price and filmmakers have to shell a whopping sum of 70 million indian rupees to sign the actress. Apparently, ‘The dirty Picture’ has catapulted vidya in the league of Bollywood A-list actresses, which includes Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra. even vidya has made it loud and clear that she will not sign any project until she is paid her due. Ooh la la vidya! ZeeNeWS
LOS ANGeLeS: Miss USA Alyssa Campanella arrives at the American Giving Awards presented by Chase.
Shilpa Shetty announces
BeVeRly HIllS: evan Rachel Wood poses during red New yOrK: Charlize carpet arrivals at an event and Theron attends performance to the New york launch the Andrea Times TimesTalk. Bocelli foundation.
Angelina Jolie has very few
pregnancy girlfriends
MUMBAI: News has it that Shilpa Shetty is all set to join the mummy-to-be bandwagon of B-town beauties. The actress is reportedly in her second trimester. The actress who has been glowing off late, kept the news a secret initially but with her entering her second trimester, the couple have shared the news with some people. A friend of the couple said, “Shilpa suffered a miscarriage earlier this year, so this time raj and she did not want to break the news till the first trimester was complete. Now, she
has started telling her close friends.” Shilpa who is known to have the fittest body in the industry, is taking good care of herself. Hubby raj is also spending quality time with wifey and ensuring that she has a safe pregnancy this time around. Following queries about the news, Shilpa took to Twitter to confirm the news on her pregnancy and tweeted, “Tweetos, “yeS” an addition 2 r family is r confirmation 2 all queries:)we seek blessings from all in this very beautiful phase of our lives.(sic)” ZeeNeWS
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18 Jennifer Aniston named hottest woman of all time
B
LAHORE
NEW yORK AgeNCIeS
An exhibition by Jabeen Peerzada is being held at the Mall Of Lahore, till Sunday December 11, 2011. Jabeen, wife of Salmaan Peerzada (Rafi Peer Theatre group), has displayed along with her friend Nazo, a variety of clothes with different work on them. The work is mostly embroidery, done on suits for causal wear as well as formal wear. There is a variety of Sindhi and Baluchi neck embroidery, while there are others that do not have embroidery but have prints, on chiffon, linen and Soosee. The exhibition has already attracted several buyers, especially since the rates are immensely affordable, along with the quality of the cloth.
Aamir, Kiran name son after Maulana Azad
Is independent cinema rising in Pakistan? LAHORE XARI JAlIl
NeW yoRK: Angelina Jolie has admitted that she has hardly any female friends. in an interview with Marie Claire, the 36-year-old actress spoke about her lack of female confidantes. “it was nice for me to play with other girls; i don’t really have girlfriends in movies, if you’ve noticed,” the daily Mail quoted the ‘Salt’ star as telling the publication. “well, i have a few girlfriends, i just... i stay at home a lot. i’m just not very social. i don’t do a lot with them, and i’m very homebound,” she revealed. The mother-of six, had previously bemoaned the fact that she really only chats with her partner, Brad Pitt. “i’ll talk to my family. i talk to Brad. But i don’t know, i don’t have a lot of friends i talk to. He is really the only person i talk to,” she had said. One of the few close female friends who is not deterred by the actress’ reputation is singer Gwen Stefani.he two have been friends since 1998. “Somehow Gwen and i keep ending up pregnant at the exact same time,” Jolie added. AgeNCIeS
by Jabeen Peerzada StAff RePoRt
EATING big names like screen legend marilyn monroe, pop icon madonna and actress Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston has been named the hottest woman of all time in a new poll by online portal menshealth.com. The 42year-old was followed by American actress Raquel Welch at the second stop, monroe at third and pop icons Britney Spears and madonna at the fourth and fifth place respectively, reports contactmusic.com. ‘Baywatch’ beauty Pamela Anderson was at the eighth spot whereas Jane Fonda and Jolie took ninth and 10th place respectively. According to the site, Aniston was a hands-down winner because she is funny. “Funny is sexy, and Jennifer Aniston is funny. Her down-to-earth persona makes her seem attainable. And her all-too-human love life off screen inspires sympathy that not even a string of bland romantic comedies can diminish,” the site reported.
MUMBAi: Sameera reddy poses during the women's empowerment Awards ceremony.
Winter wear
While members of Lollywood are still trying their level best to have indian films banned, independent cinema it seems has begun to make headway in Pakistan. Shoaib Mansoor’s ‘Bol’ hit the charts for the longest time, followed by some lukewarm attempts by Lollywood through ‘Love Mein ghum’ and ‘Bhai Log’, both of which failed miserably at the box office. Now underway are two more films in independent projects. These include ‘Seedlings’, a film by Karachi-based Summer Nicks, and ‘Kaptaan’. Seedlings is utilising the talent of Mohib Mirza and Amina Sheikh both TV actors in the lead roles of the movie. Nicks, who is one of the producers of the film said that while Seedlings is the focus at present another film ‘Kolachi’
is also underdevelopment. He said that ‘Kolachi’ is expected to enter the pre-production phase in early 2012. ‘Kolachi’ is also a collaboration of Pakistan and Australia, produced by Bodhicitta Works (Summer Nicks, Meher Jaffri
No crush on Shah Rukh: Priyanka
and Craig Peter Jones) and directed by Mansoor Mujahid. Revolves around three intertwined stories and the choices each character makes in seeking redemption and forgiveness before their doomed fate. Meanwhile, ‘Kaptaan’, an-
MUMBAI: Actress Priyanka Chopra’s extra-special camaraderie with Shah rukh Khan is being much talked about, so much so that an alleged affair between the two is being speculated. However, Priyanka Chopra fails to encourage such talk and simply says that she has no crush on Shah rukh Khan. “it’s no crush. it’s just pure admiration. Shah rukh is a fantastic actor. He is a brilliant co-star, and i really look forward to working with him. you just have to see him in ‘don 2’. He’ll leave you spellbound,” she said. The girl has got busy promoting her ‘don 2’, besides shooting for ‘Barfee’ with ranbir Kapoor. “it’s a demanding film, and takes a lot out of all us. But the experience is just fabulous,” she said. AgeNCIeS
other film, is also undergoing its production process at present. The story follows the life of imran Khan and the major events in his life including the victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, building a cancer hospital after his mother’s death, becoming Chancellor of University of Bradford, etc. imran Khan in the biopic is played by Abdul Mannan and Saeeda imtiaz will be playing Jemima Khan. This film will be released in February 2012. Previously ‘Slackistan’, which could not be displayed in the cinema houses in Pakistan due to a variety of reasons, was also made. But the number of films which are underway at the moment seems to point out that perhaps independent cinema is on the rise in Pakistan and that maybe this is the only way that the cinema industry can be revived.
MUMBAI AgeNCIeS
Bollywood couple Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao have named their newborn son Azad Rao Khan after scholar and freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Aamir’s “great grand uncle”. “Hey guys, most excited to share with y’all that we have finally chosen a name for our baby boy...Azad. Azad Rao Khan. i left the final choice to Kiran, and she has named him after my great grand uncle Maulana Azad, the great freedom fighter, whom the family is most proud of,” Aamir revealed on social networking site Facebook. “Azad means free or liberated. We want to thank everyone for their warm wishes and blessings, and needless to say we are absolutely overjoyed and feel most blessed. Much love,” added the actor-producer. AamirKiran’s son was born Dec 1 through iVF to a surrogate mother at a private clinic in Mumbai. The couple resorted to iVF due to medical complications. This is Kiran’s first baby, but Aamir has a son, Junaid, and a daughter, ira, from his first wife Reena. They tied the knot in 2005. in 2009, Kiran got pregnant, but she had a miscarriage. However, the duo now feels “blessed” with the newborn.
Cruise
denies paying fans to greet him at Mumbai airport
MUMBAI: Tom Cruise’s representatives have denied suggestions that a hoard of fans who welcome him at the Mumbai airport last week were in fact paid to turn up. An indian website had claimed that the crowd of 200 people were paid 150 indian rupees and were also given free lunch to greet the Hollywood star. However, Paramount Pictures, who are behind Cruise’s latest ‘Mission impossible’ film have released a statement saying that the idea the crowd were paid is “absurd”. “The only people we paid were the performers who danced outside the venue,” the daily Mail quoted a spokesperson as saying. “The idea that the fans were paid to cheer is completely ludicrous and false,” the spokesperson added. AgeNCIeS
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Pages: 8
OLYMPIC TITLE IS MY DREAM ANOTHER SERIES, ANOTHER FACILE WIN
|Page 6
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WEIGHTING GAME OVER
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HAFEEZ PILES UP
MISERY ON HAPLESS BANGLADESH Page 5
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pakistan Cricket & Hockey
one moving upwards, other hits the skids ries in Pakistan which have told this scribe that they have the ability to make this type of product. The raw material is available on the international market, so it could not be rocket science to knit the nylon into a synthetic turf. Countries like nearby iran are making such turf so that would be another option. Clearly some out of the box thinking is required.
SportS thiS Week
e
ALI AKBAR
VERY few years, there happens in cricket, what can best be described as a "perfect storm". it is a combination of ideal conditions coupled with a batsman or a bowler in "the zone" allied with a not so hostile opposition. in the past one had heard of Don Bradman's triple hundred in one day, although most of Bradman's career could be termed a perfect storm. We hear of Stan McCabe's big hundred against England in 1938. Then there was Jim Laker's stupendous 19 wickets in a match against Australia, a record which could not possibly be broken. Hanif's sixteen hour knock in 1958 against the West indies, although glacial by present standards, should qualify. in ODis, the game between South Africa and Australia, where the South Africans chased down 438 was a perfect example. And then, last Thursday, it was Virendar Sehwag who broke Sachin Tendulkar's ODi batting record. He took full advantage of a placid track, friendly bowling and short boundaries to hit 219 in 47 overs. Had he batted the full complement of 50 overs, there is no telling how much he would have scored. Sehwag scored over 150 of his runs in boundaries. There came a time in his innings when bowlers started shying away and bowling wides just to escape the onslaught. it would not be an exaggeration to say that Sehwag is a more destructive batsman than Tendulkar. Their batting averages are quite similar, with Tendulkar having scored many more runs because of his longer career. But the sheer demoralizing effect of a Sehwag onslaught is something Tendulkar cannot approach and it is a moot point as to which batsman has influenced more
PeRfeCt StoRM IN PAK footBAll? The one big issue with hockey is that it has not caught the imagination of the general public as cricket or football have. Football has a huge following in Pakistan with the youth following the British and italian leagues passionately. At our sports club in islamabad, the synthetic ground, made for hockey, is booked solid days in advance for football. Hockey has never been played there. There is a groundswell of enthusiasm for football in Pakistan, with a telecom company sponsoring Manchester United matches and activity. All it requires is a world class player to emerge and perhaps we will have a "perfect storm" in football in Pakistan. But let's not get our hopes up too high. Sport promotion these days is a highly technical management activity and we are not known for good management in any field including the running of the nation. Big business has to step in and bring its managerial skills and deep pockets to organise football leagues. But they will only step in when they see commercial benefit. So its a bit of a chicken and egg situation.
Ever since the hockey surface moved from natural grass to artificial turf, our players have been at a disadvantage against the fast and strong European sides matches with his presence at the crease. Sehwag's two triple hundreds in Test cricket, compiled at a blazing pace testify to his ability to stay at the crease for
it would not be an exaggeration to say that Sehwag is a more destructive batsman than Tendulkar
extended periods. He must surely be one of the all time great batsmen. What strikes one the most about Sehwag's batting is the freedom with which he goes about it. There are no fidgety pre-delivery routines, no sign of nerves. Not much hint of footwork or keeping bat and pad together. He realizes that there is no time to think at the crease and every shot is a pre-programmed response, so he keeps the mind clear of any thought process whatsoever. When everything is in place, the results can be devastating as the West indies discovered on Thursday.
lIfe toUgH foR BANglADeSH The hapless Bangladesh cricketers are continuing to find life tough at the crease against the Pakistan bowling attack. in the first Test, with the spinners and the pacers firing on all cylinders, the home batsmen were soon hopping around searching for the ball and the results were predictable. Umar gul is a true professional, with a perfect bowling action which gives him consummate command over line and length. Aizaz Cheema has been a great find. He is not too tall but makes up for it with an aggressive attitude and the ability to keep the seam steady. As a result, his deliveries seam consistently, making him a handful regardless of prevailing conditions. Moreover, his fastest deliveries are over the 140 mark which is the benchmark of a fast bowler as opposed to medium fast. Backing them up are some of the finest spinners in the game with Saeed Ajmal leading the way. Ata ur Rehman and Mohammad Hafeez are no slouches either. As the batting starts to mature and the fielders begin to be more confident in their catching, this team will gel into an outstanding side. The only factor that could hinder this is if the management resorts to too much hopping and changing.
CHAMPIoNS tRoPHy CRASH Asian Champions Pakistan have crashed out of the hockey Champions' Trophy in New Zealand, losing all their group matches to England, Spain and Australia. They salvaged a bit of pride with a win over South
RAfA, tHe DIffeReNCe
Korea in the matches for the lower positions. Our hockey has done quite well lately, having won the Asian games title, but this was a bit of a letdown. Our boys were simply outclassed by the excellent Aussies led by their striker Jamie Dwyer. The other losses were, however, contrary to expectations. Ever since the hockey surface moved from natural grass to artificial turf, our players have been at a disadvantage against the fast and strong European sides. Dribbling has been replaced by fast passing and sheer athleticism, something at which the Australians excel. The lack of artificial turfs in Pakistan is a big drawback. it is said that Amsterdam has many times more synthetic turfs than all of Pakistan combined. There are facto-
Spain won the Davis Cup for the fourth time, defeating Argentina reasonably comfortably. Rafael Nadal was the difference as he won both singles matches. The Argentinians won the doubles and had hopes of winning had Del Potro upset Nadal. Del Potro has a good record against Nadal and proceeded to run through the first set. But Nadal's relentless retrieving eventually hooked the giant Argentinian and reeled him in for the victory. Had Del Potro won, Argentina would probably have used David Nalbandian against David Ferrer in the final rubber. Nalbandian, a consummate stroke maker, would have fancied his chances had the tie gone the distance.
Rafael Nadal was the difference between Spain and Argentina in the Davis Cup
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Jan-Marco Mopntag (C) of germany vies with Shafqat Rasool (L) and Fareed Ahmed (R) of Pakistan during Champions Trophy.
Pakistan Hockey is a sporting enigma
Anybody’s guess where Pakistan hockey is headed Comment J.K WALI
P
AKiSTAN cricket side has been the quintessentially unpredictable, with the exception of the 1980s and early 1990s under imran Khan. Some measure of stability again is visible now under Misbah-ul-Haq, it’s the national hockey side that seems to have caught the unpredictability disease off-late. it’s hard to put money on Pakistan in just about any tournament, against any particular side, facing any task whatsoever. The greenshirts could would go on and beat the top ranked team in their own backyard, or criminally lose out to a mundane opposition just as easily. They would build up expectations only to shatter them inexplicably and when you would give up all hope they would weave together a miracle when you least expect it. Pakistan hockey team is an enigma – truly a bizarre phenomenon, a sporting enigma. The riddle surrounding the Pakistani side starting gaining prominence after 1994 – the year it accumulated their last meaningful pieces of global silverware with gold medals at the Champions Trophy in Lahore and then the World Cup in Sydney at the fag end. in the four World Cups following that triumph in Sydney, we had a hat-trick of sixth place finishes – a position that was doubled in New Delhi last year, in what was probably the darkest hour of Pakistan hockey, when all the squad announced their retirement in unison. During the 17 years after 1994, Pakistan hockey has been on a slide. Even though New Delhi 2010 was probably the lowest point, and hence a turn upwards was due – nothing tangible has really materialised. The 12th place finish in New Delhi was preceded by an 8th place finish in the Beijing Olympics. in both the cases the podium was an optimistic target, but the final standing was totally unacceptable. These were the tournaments when veterans like Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed and to some extent Rehan Butt were in the proximity of their twilights on a varying scale and hence one final collective effort was what the nation craved for. However, as time cruelly told, that wasn’t the case to be. Now just when the coffins were being prepared and the hockey side was being scathed at from all corners, guangzhou happened! Not only was the Asian gold medal, completely out of the blue – especially after the ‘exploits’ in the World Cup – it also threatened to wipe away all the gloom that had begun to mask the
team. The gold medal in the Asian games was its first since Pakistan had won at a major tournament in 1994. So, it was construed that the team has finally turned the corner and would go on towards bigger and better things. That didn’t transpire, not exactly. The year 2011 has seen Pakistan hockey keep everyone guessing throughout. With London Olympics next year, most tournaments were labelled as practice playgrounds for the major tests. At the Azlan Shah Cup we scared the Aussies big time! And at the time that was considered good enough. Then came the European tour; no one had any clue what the tour was all about, and four months after the expedition it’s still any one’s guess. Then came the Asian Champions Trophy, where being Asian Champions Pakistan were expected to make their mark. it wasn’t to be, as we let india continue to get the better of us in recent years. Now over the past month or so, Pakistan has presented its crux by showcasing the best and the not so best simultaneously. The Super 9s was exciting, the results weren’t. However, after generating all sorts of news in the tri-nation tournament that followed Down Under the epic performance in the final ensured that the world of hockey took notice. The 3-2 victory in the final over Australia in its own backyard – a team we hadn’t got the better off since 2005 – ensured that the talk of Pakistan finally rediscovering the form of their halcyon days again took off. As fate would have it, that epic victory came in the lead up to the FiH Champions Trophy and hence the expectations rose. Nonetheless, as is often the case, expectations and results are inversely proportional as far as Pakistan hockey is concerned. Losing out against each of great Britain, Spain and Australia has been a huge disappointment in the group stages, when reaching the next round would have certified progress at a global stage. What it has also done is that it has put Pakistan back in the middle of nowhere with the Olympics in the coming summer. The triumph in Australia created hope, losing three out of three before whipping South Korea 62 in the classification game in Auckland has wiped it all off. And now with the series against China coming up the puzzle that Pakistan hockey is, would only become more mystifying. Even if they were to go on and give the Chinese a solid hammering, what exactly would that tell us about the direction of the team? Zilch. Pakistan hockey team is a brainteaser; once you believe you’ve figured them out, they throw in a bombshell.
Pakistan fight to avoid
woodenspoon AUcKLAND
P
AfP
AKiSTAN slumped to their fourth Champions Trophy loss in five matches with a 50 mauling from germany Saturday, leaving the green Shirts in a fight with South Korea to avoid the wooden spoon. in the other Pool D match, the Koreans squandered a 2-0 lead to go down 4-3 to great Britain. The world number two germans steamrollered Pakistan, who failed to build on a promising 6-2 win over South Korea in their previous match at the last major tournament for men's hockey before the London Olympics. "The germans played the game of the tournament, they did not make mistakes," Pakistan team manager Khawaja Junaid said of the reigning Olympic champions. "We tried to hold them but they played at top pace with long bounces and (pressure) coming from both sides. it's clear there's still a difference between Pakistan and germany." Pakistan, making their first appearance at the Champions Trophy since 2007, will face South Korea on Sunday in a Pool D match to determine the bottom two places at the eight-nation tournament. Despite Saturday's loss, and Pakistan's failure to secure a top five spot that would ensure qualification for the next tournament in Argentina, Junaid said he was not disappointed with his team's campaign in Auckland. He said his players had gained valuable exposure to top international teams ahead of the Olympics and he expected Pakistan's world ranking to rise from nine to seven on the back of their Champions Trophy showing. Junaid said Pakistan were capable of matching the top teams in patches but lacked consistency, with players trying to turn a match through individual flair, rather than sticking to the game plan. "You could say they make emotional errors," he said. "When we were down 2-0 (to germany) they're thinking 'now i have to intercept the ball and score'. So instead of keeping to his zone, he's trying to overdo it."
dwyer receives FiH Player of the year award
AUCKLAND: Australian hockey superstar Jamie Dwyer was honoured with the men’s FiH Player of the Year for 2011 while compatriot Matthew Swann won the Young Player award. it is Dwyer’s fifth FiH Player of the Year Award, following wins in 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2010. The brilliant attacker has now won the annual award two occasions more than any other male player in history - a staggering achievement. The winners of the awards were presented with their prizes at the Owen g glenn FiH Champions Trophy in Auckland by FiH President Leandro Negre, with the ceremony taking place during half time of the match between The Netherlands and Spain. Jamie Dwyer fought off competition from fellow Australian Eddie Ockenden, german duo Moritz Fürste and Max Müller as well as three time winner Teun de Nooijer of The Netherlands to claim the prize. it is Dwyer’s fifth FiH Player of the Year Award, following wins in 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2010. The brilliant attacker has now won the annual award two occasions more than any other male player in history – a staggering achievement. Dwyer’s win is even more remarkable when you consider that he spent almost six months on the sidelines recovering from a serious knee injury before returning to action in September. His form at the Owen g glenn FiH Champions Trophy has been nothing short of sensational, netting seven goals in four games as Australia booked a place in the tournament final with a game to spare. The 32-year-old will be looking to continue his fine form both this weekend and in build up to the London 2012 Olympics, where he will be looking to win a second gold medal to accompany the one he claimed at Athens 2004. Fellow Australian Matthew Swann ensures that the Kookaburras claim a double win in the men’s FiH Player awards, with international stars recognising his talents in the voting ballot. The 22 year old Queenslander has been hugely impressive over the past 12 months, becoming a key defender in Ric Charlesworth’s all-conquering Australia team. Swann is one of the youngest members of the Kookaburras squad but has been integral to their success in recent years, helping them to win the World Cup, Champions Trophy and Commonwealth games in 2010. This year he has been better than ever, and is currently proving to be a defensive rock as Australia aim to win a fourth successive FiH Champions Trophy in Auckland, New Zealand. AgeNCIeS
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Sunday, 11 December, 2011
All BASeS Covered KUNWAR KHULDUNE SHAHID
Amir Khan takes on Lamont Peterson, McIlroy and Nadal eye a well deserved rest, NBA schedule is finally on the table and there is retrospection without hindsight on the El-Classico
a
s sports fans, waiting for your favourite sporting occasion can be quite taxing. Sometimes the wait for an event, or occasionally the wait to get the prolonged proverbial hot shower at the end of a strenuous season becomes difficult to cope with for the sportsmen themselves. Amir Khan’s clash with Lamont Peterson, the EL-Classico and the NBA season have been three such events that have long kept the sporting aficionados in the wait, while Rory Mcilroy and Rafael Nadal are two athletes who have had long seasons and are eyeing a well deserved rest.
AMIR KHAN oDDS-oN fAVoURIte The boy from Bolton has reached the US capital with his WBA and iBF light-welterweight titles on the line against Peterson. Khan would be vying to round off a momentous 2011 in style, that has already seen him overpower Paul McCloskey and Zab Juddah, and a win today could see him be on target for the ‘Fighter of the Year’ award this year. Amir Khan is always engulfed by hype and publicity, and that has been conspicuously palpable in the lead up to the fight. The press has unanimously backed Khan for a landslide victory, and while there is nothing concrete to suggest that this would not be the case, the boxing sensation would do well to steer clear of complacency. Khan has had a lucrative time across the Atlantic with triumphs over Paulie Malignaggi, Marcos Maidana and that momentous win over Zab Judah – from whom he claimed the iBF strap – all being etched in memory. A showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr might be at the summit of the priority list for Khan, but first up he needs a big show in Washington. Peterson 29-1-1 (15 KOs), on the other hand, might be the underdog; but his dexterity should not be underestimated. He took WBO champion Timothy Bradley to the distance and drew with former WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz – the American has only lost once in his career and has home support on his back. Khan 261 (18 KOs), however, is on a perpetual mission to enhance his repertoire and should have too many tricks for Peterson. His ability to throw in punches from a myriad of angles, capability of being relentless in attack and to do this with an eye of a needle accuracy is what make Amir Khan a daunting prospect. Couple this with the fact that Khan arguably has the fastest hands in the sport and that his footwork and speed are veritable menaces – something Zab Judah learned the hard way – you get a truly wellrounded package. Peterson himself is nimble-footed, quick and has the ingenuity to outthink his opponents – but one feels that Khan should have too much for his American counterpart. Two world titles might be motivation enough for Peterson, but Khan should have enough fireworks to blow his opponent off the ring. And of course,
repertoire and retracing the apex of world tennis.
WEIGHTING
GAME OVER a Khan-Mayweather showdown would edge closer towards reality if Amir Khan overpowers Peterson today.
MCIlRoy NeeDS tIMe to ReCoVeR Rory Mcilroy might be vying to usurp the Number One ranking, but when the season is finally over he’d be glad to rest his body after a year of overexertion. Last Sunday’s triumph in Hong Kong has kept Mcilroy’s aim of supplanting Luke Donald from the summit of the rankings alive, but he still needs a victory at the Dubai World Championship at the Earth Course to have any chance to getting to the top of the standings. Nonetheless, after a promising start, the young golfing p r o d i g y dropped
seen him soar up to prominence in the world of golf and has also witnessed him bag his major maiden title at the US Open and become the World Number Two. Despite all the success, Mcilroy’s fatigue is there for all to see and a prolonged rest could see him make his mark on the next season, like we all expect him to do.
NADAl tAKeS tIMe off INt’l DUty After orchestrating Spain’s fifth Davis Cup triumph in 11 years, Rafa has decided to take a break from the prestigious tournament next year. Considering the success the Spanish side have had since Nadal reached his apogee in 2008, not only is the break well-deserved from the World Number Two’s point of view it would also give the Spanish
five shots behind leader Alvaro Quiros at the halfway point. Rory owes most of this drop to his bogeying exploits at the tail-end on Friday; with bogeys at the final two holes to finish at oneunder 71. However, he still finds himself at the third spot, and a strong showing in the remaining half could see him through, especially if Quiros and Peter Hason were to be cooperative. Mcilroy has had an earth-shattering year that has
federation an ideal opportunity to blood new youngsters with an eye on the future. 2012 is going to be a colossal year for Nadal, with the additional question of defending his Olympics title and the intriguing prospect of synthesising answers to all the intimidating queries that Djokovic has thrown at the Spaniard throughout 2011. Nadal has had a long year, and has a minuscule corridor of rest before the big time kicks off again Down Under. 2011 has not been the most fruitful year by Rafa’s exalted standards, but you wouldn’t bet against him further ameliorating his
NBA DeAl SIgNeD ‘Long wait’ is a misnomer for the sheer frustration that basketball fans have endured over the past few months due to the tussle between the NBA owners and players that has seen the start of the season being procrastinated tirelessly. The original date for the commencement of the NBA season was 1st November, but after dragging their collective feet in unison, the players and the owners have finally decided upon a Christmas Day start to the coming season which has been compressed for obvious reasons. The new schedule sees a 66-game season, 16 less than the normal season, with the regular season concluding on 26th April and the playoffs would start a couple of days later. The owners voted for the new deal 25-5 and 86 per cent of the players approved the deal through electronic voting. Under the new 10-year deal, the owners would be able to save up to quarter billion dollars per season, and the players have also hung on to the soft salary cap that they vociferously clamoured for. However, the most important thing is that basketball is back! And there is the scrumptious prospect of Dallas taking on Miami in a rematch of the finals this year on the very first day. Follow this space for regular commentary on one of the most superlative sporting leagues in the world.
el-ClASSICo’S CHANgINg DyNAMICS The timing of the live coverage of the El-Classico has left this writer in a mini quandary. By the time these pages are produced online, the second half of the game would be underway, and when most of our readers get hold of the pages in the morning the game would already have had been played. Hence, neither a bona fide preview, nor indeed a review could have been written in this space. This indeed connotes an atypical opportunity to flex retrospective muscles without having the luxury of hindsight. Covering all the bases, like the column name suggests, if you will. in the lead up to the game, football pundits unanimously agreed upon the fact that Real are the favourites this time round. They have looked the hungrier of the two Spanish giants throughout the season – understandable, since the Catalonian craving has long been satisfied on a multitude of fronts. Madrid held a three-point lead before the game, with another game in hand, and were the only side with a 100% home record in La Liga – with 14 wins on the bounce. To cap off the intimidating record, they have also scored 28 goals in six games. Madrid had the best offensive record and Barca the best defensive record – two things that one wouldn’t normally expect considering Mourinho’s emblematic tactical approach to the game, and Barca’s lack of worldbeating defending. With the form book, yard sticks, different gauges, media noises, stats, desires all thrown into the boiling El-Classico cauldron, there was no doubt about the fact that Madrid were the favourites and the onus was on them to extinguish their Catalonian voodoo. A Madrid win in the early hours today would have resounding thrown the cat among the pigeons and announced the change of power in Spain. A Barca triumph would have been a major set-back for Mourinho and his men and has the potential to throw Real Madrid off the confidence wave that they are riding. A draw, au contraire, would keep us all guessing intriguingly. Watch this space next week for a detailed post-mortem of the biggest league game in the football world.
Amir should bag bigger match-ups Khan will find it hard big fights. More than anything world champion myself, i can tell eXPeRt CoMMeNt big, eXPeRt CoMMeNt else, he's looking for Floyd May- you it's hard to defend. Challenging
GLeNN MCCrOry
T
HE Bolton boxer puts his WBA and iBF light-welterweight belts on the line in Peterson's hometown of Washington, D.C. in a way, they're competing for a match with Timothy Bradley. Peterson has already lost a decision to Bradley, so it's more about Khan. i think Khan will want to do a better job on Peterson than Bradley did. Peterson is a good fighter. He's good technically, pretty tough and has lots going for him, but i think Khan is out there to prove a point. People may say that the victory over Zab Judah told us more about Judah than Khan, but the fact remains that Judah is still the sort of fighter who can give anybody a hard time on his day. He was a good stoppage to get on Khan's card. Khan has done tremendously well and he's now looking for the
weather Jnr. i think that fight should happen and probably will happen. Khan just has to keep doing what he's been doing. His performances have been excellent since he's been in the States. i, for one, want to see Khan fighting back in England i'd love to see him fight Mayweather at Wembley in the spring, but most of all i'm just glad to have him back on Sky because i think he's one of the best fighters we have had for many years. Peterson - without being a terrific name - is a very decent fighter. He's a tough kid who's had a hard upbringing (he was found on the streets by boxing coach Barry Hunter, aged 10) and it's a dangerous fight for Khan without being a big-name fight. Khan will be looking to win well and try and better Bradley by stopping Peterson. The one thing that Khan has that other fighters haven't got is phenomenal speed. He'll need it, because these are the sort of fights that are really testing. it's natural to get motivated for a Mayweather or a Manny Pacquiao fight, but these are the kind of fights that prove the mark of a fighter. Peterson's got everything to gain and nothing to lose. Having been a
is easy! i'm a big fan of Khan. i think he's a terrific young fighter who has just grown in stature. Britain has a real superstar in its midst and i can't bang his drum loud enough. He's going to be in great fights; i think the Mayweather idea will come off and i can't rave enough about Khan. Before we get ahead of ourselves, though, he has to take charge against Peterson. if you're the main man, the man the TV companies are paying for, the one whose reputation is on the line, you have to go out and be the boss. He's going to Peterson's backyard - he feels strong enough to do that. He left the comforts of England long ago to forge a career among the best fighters in the world, and he's doing just that. i, for one, want to see Khan fighting back in England. i'd love to see him fight Mayweather at Wembley in the spring, but, most of all, i'm just glad to have him back on Sky because i think he's one of the best fighters we have had for many years. With regards to the other possible fights in the future, i don't necessarily think Khan has to go back to Breidis Prescott. i think it was a blip and i think that if it did happen again, it would go the other way round and Khan would take Prescott apart.
BerNArd HOPKiNS
L
iKE football, like basketball, like hockey, i think when you go into another man's home town i believe that man gets an extra point before the fight even starts. Not officially, of course, it just to me seems more of a custom thing where when you go to a man's home town, you have to recognise it is exactly that - his home town. You're in this guy's dining room taking his milk. Taking his fanbase. At the end of the day as the fighter going into that, if i'm Amir Khan then i'm giving Peterson two points before the weigh-in even. Peterson is going to step up another level. That's supposed to happen. So based on that, Amir Khan has to do twice or three times as much as Peterson has to do at
home, where he already has a twopoint lead before the bell rings." Khan will be up to the task with experienced trainer Freddie Roach in his corner. Freddie Roach is no fool and he will do what a teacher and an experienced guy would do, which is tell him 'You're in this guy's hometown, there's nothing to sweat, but you have to be aggressive, be the person who throws the most punches. 'Whatever you've
done up to now - which is nothing to sniff at - we've got to step it up a little bit more'. We're talking about Floyd (Mayweather) in the future, and (Manny) Pacquiao, and this is that other incentive on top of the fact we're in Washington and Peterson is no walkover. it's Khan's fight to lose as well as his to win. it's a chance for Amir to earn a lot of prestige, too. There is more respect on the table because he is fighting away.
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mohammed Hafeez scored his highest score in Tests by making 143 off 237 balls with 14 fours
Younus, Asad Shafiq cap another day of domination
Hafeez piles up misery on hapless Bangladesh cHITTAGONG
Y
foot. Asked if he was disappointed, Hafeez said: “Not really, i mean it’s a part of the game. Sometimes you really get the bad decision, so no complaint about that. As a cricketer you have to go through with this. “At the moment i think we are in the very good position from where we can dominate the test match,” he added. Resuming on 74, the right-hander completed his fourth test century and second against Bangladesh with a boundary off Mahmudullah, who gave Bangladesh their first breakthrough in the morning. The off-spinner trapped overnight batsman Taufiq Umar lbw on 61, ending his
istan in the field. The former Pakistan captain became only the fourth Pakistani cricketer to complete 6,000 runs in tests. Bangladesh hoped to build up some momentum after leftarm spinner Elias Sunny had Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq dismissed for 20 runs in the final session. However, the unbroken 104-run stand between Younus and Shafiq kept Pakistan firmly in control as they built on the wellcomposed century of opener Hafeez. Hafeez, who faced 237 balls and clubbed 14 boundaries, was unlucky to be dismissed lbw, though replays suggested the ball took a thin inside edge and hit him on the back-
ReUteRS
OUNUS Khan closed in on a century after Mohammad Hafeez hit a career-best 143 as Pakistan strengthened their grip on the first test against Bangladesh Saturday. The visitors, resuming on 132-0, reached 415-4 at the close on the second day to build up a lead of 280 runs after bowling out Bangladesh for 135. Younus (96) was batting with Asad Shafiq (40) at the close, capping another day of domination for Pak-
Younus joins 6000-run club StAtS Corner
n
S. PERvEZ QAISER Younus Khan became the fourth Pakistan and 54th batsman overall to score 6000 or more runs in Tests. The right-hand top order batsman from Mardan achieved his feat during his unbeaten 96-run knock on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh at Zahur Ahmed Chowdury Stadium. Chittagong on Saturday (December 10). The former captain who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi in February 2000, took 11 years and 288 days to reach this landmark. Javed Miandad (8832 runs in 124 Tests), inzamam-ul-Haq (8830 runs in 120 Tests) and Mohammed Yousuf (7530 in 90 Tests) were the other Pakistanis to score 6000 runs in Tests before Younis Khan.
n
n
The 164-run stand between Mohammed Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar was the best opening stand for Pakistan against Bangladesh in Bangladesh and second best overall. The 100-run partnership between Shabad Kabir and Taufeeq Umar at dhaka in 2001-02 was the previous best opening stand in Bangladesh for Pakistan. Taufeeq Umar and Saeed Anwar's 168-run stand at Multan in 2001-02 is the best opening stand for Pakistan against Bangladesh. Mohammed Hafeez scored his highest score in Tests by making 143 off 237 balls with 14 fours. His previous best was 119 off 177 balls with 19 fours and one six against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in 2011-12. it was Mohammed Hafeez's fourth century in 42 innings of 22 Test matches. The undefeated 104-run fifth wicket stand between younus Khan and Asad Shafiq is the best stand for this wicket for Pakistan against Bangladesh. Mohammed yousuf and rashid Latif's 64-run stand at Peshawar in 2003-04 was the previous best while 59-run stand between Abdur razzaq and Mohammed yousuf at dhaka in 200102 was the previous best in Bangladesh.
HIgHeSt RUN-getteR foR PAKIStAN IN teStS BAtSMAN Javed Miandad inzamam-ul-Haq Mohammad yousuf younus Khan Saleem Malik
M 124 120 90 72 103
I 189 200 156 126 154
No 21 22 12 10 22
RUNS 8832 8830 7530 6036 5768
AVg 52.57 49.60 52.29 52.03 43.69
HS 280* 329 223 313 237
100 23 25 24 18 15
50 43 46 33 26 29
0 6 15 11 13 12
SCoReBoARD BANglADeSH, 1st innings: 135 (Abdur Rehman 3-9, Saeed Ajmal 3-40) PAKIStAN 1st innings (overnight 132-0): Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Sunny taufeeq Umar lbw b Mahmudullah Azhar Ali c Rahim b Shahadat younis Khan not out Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Sunny
143 61 26 96 20
164-run opening stand with Hafeez. “We’ve nothing to do but to hope for the best,” Mahmudullah told a news conference. “As we could not bat well in the first innings we have
Asad Shafiq not out 40 eXtRAS (lb19, nb9, w1) 29 totAl (for four wickets; 128 overs) 415 fall of wickets: 1-164 (Umar), 2-220 (Azhar), 3-265 (Hafeez), 4-311 (Misbah). BoWlINg: Shahadat 18-3-71-1 (nb5, w1), Rubel 18-1-65-0 (nb4), Mahmudullah 27-7-83-1, Shakib 29-6-85-0, Sunny 335-81-2, Nasir 1-0-1-0, Ashraful 2-0-10-0. toSS: Pakistan, UMPIReS: Billy Doctrove (WIS) and Shavir tarapore (IND), tV UMPIRe: enamul Haque (BAN), MAtCH RefeRee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
to hope for the best in the second innings.” Azhar Ali was the other batsman dismissed, edging paceman Shahadat Hossain to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim for 26.
Kiwis build lead after Australia collapse HOBART
SCoReBoARD
AfP
New Zealand led Australia by 153 runs after day two of the fast-moving second Test on Saturday, aiming to build a decisive second innings lead after blasting the hosts out for just 136. A total of 23 wickets have fallen in two days on a drying greentop wicket at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval, with a result looking likely before Tuesday’s scheduled last day. The Black Caps, looking to redeem themselves after a nine-wicket surrender in last week’s first Test in Brisbane, were 139 for three at the close after taking a 14-run first innings lead. Towards stumps, runs were coming more easily for the Kiwis on an improving pitch with, skipper Ross Taylor on 42 and Kane Williamson not out 34 in an unbroken 66-run stand. "i suppose 150 on that pitch on the first day has turned out to be a reasonable score for us and it’s quite difficult to say how the rest of the Test match will go," Kiwi paceman Chris Martin said. "But 150 runs in front we’re feeling pretty good." The highest successful fourth innings run chase at Bellerive is Australia’s 369 for six against Pakistan in 1999, and Aussie paceman Peter Siddle said the hosts still felt they could push for victory. "i think it’s pretty even. The sun came out this afternoon and did up the wicket. The odd ball does keep low but
HOBArT: New Zealand’s doug Bracewell (C) celebrates bowling out Australia’s captain Michael Clarke (L). REUTERS other than that the wicket is playing pretty well now," Siddle said. "it’s a big session tomorrow morning. We have to come out strong and work hard to get a couple of early wickets and get them on the back foot and push on from there." Three Kiwi wickets fell after tea, with openers Brendon McCullum snapped up by Phil Hughes off James Pattinson for 12 and Martin guptill caught behind off Siddle for 16. Jesse Ryder carelessly fell to a leg-side stumping by Brad
NeW ZeAlAND, 1st innings: 150 (D. Brownlie 56; J. Pattinson 5-51, P. Siddle 3-42) AUStRAlIA 1st innings (overnight 12 for 1) D. Warner c taylor b Martin 15 P. Hughes c guptill b Martin 4 U. Khawaja c young b Martin 7 R. Ponting lbw b Southee 5 M. Clarke b Bracewell 22 M. Hussey c young b Boult 8 B. Haddin c McCullum b Bracewell 5 P. Siddle c guptill b Bracewell 36 J. Pattinson c Williamson b Boult 17 M. Starc lbw b Boult 4 N. lyon not out 1 eXtRAS (b1, lb8, nb3) 12 totAl (all out; 51 overs) 136 fall of wickets: 1-7 (Hughes), 2-24 (Warner), 3-31 (Ponting), 4-35 (Khawaja), 5-58 (Hussey), 6-69 (Haddin), 7-75 (Clarke), 8-131 (Siddle), 9-131 (Pattinson), 10-136 (Starc) BoWlINg: Martin 16-1-46-3 (1nb), Boult 13-4-29-3, Southee 12-2-32-1, Bracewell 10-3-20-3 (2nb) NeW ZeAlAND 2nd innings M. guptill c Haddin b Siddle 16 B. McCullum c Hughes b Pattinson 12 J. Ryder stpd Haddin b Hussey 16 R. taylor not out 42 K. Williamson not out 34 eXtRAS (b4, lb9, w5, nb1) 19 totAl (for 3 wkts; 44 overs) 139 fall of wickets: 1-36 (McCullum), 2-36 (guptill), 3-73 (Ryder). BoWlINg: Pattinson 12-2-37-1 (3w), Siddle 12-4-29-1 (1nb), Starc 11-3-30-0 (2w), Hussey 5-0-15-1, lyon 3-0-11-0, Ponting 1-0-4-0 toSS: Australia, UMPIReS: Nigel llong (eNg) Asad Rauf (PAK), tV UMPIRe: Aleem Dar (PAK), MAtCH RefeRee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Haddin off part-timer Mike Hussey for 16. Siddle and Pattinson helped the Australians avoid their lowest Test score against the Kiwis with a 56-run eighth-wicket stand after the home side lurched to lunch at 81 for seven.
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Comment FAIZAN ZAKARIA POLANI
S
PORTS are often seen as a vehicle for bridging the gap between nations, and promoting peace amongst them. While there may be a difference of opinion on the prospect of Pakistan and india joining hands for regional peace or the neighbours maintaining healthy trading links, there is a consensus, however, that when the two nations come together on the playing field, they provide the spectators with an emotionally-charged, action-packed contest. Over the years indo-Pak encounters have produced numerous memorable moments. From Miandad’s last ball six at Sharjah in 1986 to the green Shirts’ 7-1 drubbing of the indians in Delhi in 1982 Asian games, there is a long list of sporting moments that remain etched in the memories of Pakistanis and indians alike. And its not just the boundaries, wickets or the goals scored that makes these contests exciting, the celebrations, the flaring tempers and the heated altercations also add spice to these contests. The Afridi-gamhir spat at Kanpur became a youtube hit, while the recent brawl between Pakistani and indian hockey players in the tri-nation tournament in Australia was splashed across all news channels. Although some of these incidents cannot be termed as ‘friendly’,
Afridi-gamhir spat at Kanpur became a youtube hit
nevertheless they contribute towards making the contests all the more exciting, and bringing together people of the neighbouring countries. However, the strained relations between the leadership of the two countries over the past few years make these fascinating contests a rare sight. in recent months, though, the relations have relatively improved, and while the leaders are still in discussing matters, the sports boards have sprung into action. Last month, the indian blind cricket team and the kabaddi team toured Pakistan for bilateral contests, while Pakistan’s karate team crossed the border for the first South Asian
Pakistan’s kabaddi and wrestling teams have not quite lived upto the billing
Karate Championship. While the Pakistani blind cricket swept the three-match series, and the karate team brought home the gold after defeating india in the final, the Pakistani wrestlers were outdone by their indian counterparts. However, it wasn’t the score line that got everyone’s attention; rather it was the spirit in which these events took place that hit the headlines. in a region where cricket and hockey are the two most celebrated sports, the media attention, as well as the crowd turnout for these contests was well-above anyone’s expectations. And the players justified the media attention and didn’t disappoint all those who had turned out to witness these contests, by providing a great display of sportsmanship and fierce competition. While there were no Sachins or Afridis involved, these contests certainly provided a glimpse of the good things to come. With PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf visiting india to revive cricket ties, and PHF secretary Asif Bajwa proposing a four match bilateral series with india, the future looks bright. And let us not forget the possibility of Aisam and Rohan looking in each other’s eye from the opposite sides of the court. Although a favorable score line in these contests would certainly trigger off celebrations on either side of the border, but irrespective of the result, one thing is for sure, when Pakistan clashes with its most favoured opponent, the sport and its fans would be the real winners.
PeTrA KvITovA
The recent brawl between Pakistani and indian hockey players in Australia was splashed across all news channels
Playing on grass is my first love
It was really tough for me first the week after the Fed Cup Final as I had a lot of social duties, photo shoots and official dates with some VIPs, sponsors and even with the Czech prime minister. The following week I was with my boyfriend, Adam (Pavlasek), for his last tournament of the season as "his coach" - he was with me as a coach in Linz where I won. He managed to reach the semi-finals and jumped more than 400 places in the rankings - now already under 1000 in ATP Rankings - so we have had good success "coaching" each other! And last week we went for a short relaxing holiday in an Austrian Spa because I did not want even to hear about flying anywhere. After a TV music award event on November 27, I left for the new season preparation in the mountains High Tatras in Slovakia - where we started on Sunday morning with high altitude training - climbing, running, gym, massage, stretching etc. It means starting every morning and finishing late afternoon and after dinner I just fall into bed to relax and sleep to be ready to start again the next morning with the same routine. The whole body suffers, but I like it... In the next season, I want to prove that I am able to play at a high level during the whole season with concentration on Wimbledon and Olympics - it is something special for me as you can have it only once in your lifetime - plus I get to play on grass within one month at the place which I love so much! I will not touch my rackets at least till next week when we start slowly with my coach to combine high altitude preparation and the first touch and feeling of new racket and balls. We are also playing a lot of different games with balls like basketball, volleyball, football tennis - a special game where a small ball is played over low net by legs/feet and head etc.
Olympic title is my dream AnA IvAnovIc
INDIA: Most Favoured Opponent?
ExpErt CommEnt
This season I was with my boyfriend Adam Scott at two of his golf tournaments. The President's Cup in Melbourne was a lot of fun, because players' partners were really made to feel like we were part of the team. It was both relaxing and exciting at the same time - relaxing because I could forget about tennis, and exciting because it was a serious competition. As always, I started with fitness only: usually two sessions a day, one cardio and one weights session. In the beginning we were working on muscle growth, but then we moved onto increasing my strength. We've been taking full advantage of the beautiful surroundings in Australia! We are outdoors every day. So far I have been running along the coast of Queensland, "stair climbing" to the top of amazing views, stand-up paddling in the rivers, surfing at the beach, circuit-training in the parks...I also did some surf life-saving activities at the beach. Now when I list everything, it doesn't sound so hard. I always look forward to the Grand Slams more than any event, so they are a big part of my thoughts, and I will build my schedule with them in mind. But 2012 is also an Olympic year, and that will be very special for me, because it will be my first Olympics. I'm really looking forward to it.
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Another series, Another fAcile win
Comment MUHAMMAD BUTT
P
AKiSTAN lined up with four (five if you count Malik) frontline spinners for the final one day international and that pretty much sums up how the shorter formats of the itinerary progressed and how the longer formats are likely to proceed. Pakistan, as expected, recorded victory not only in the solitary T20 international but also whitewashed Bangladesh 3-0 in the ODis with relative ease and in the process extended their winning streak over the Bangladeshis which now stands at 12 years. Bangladesh were in a classic Catch22 situation. By making dust bowls that would assist their plethora of spinners,
they failed to take into account the much-vaunted Pakistani spin department and more importantly failed to register the inadequacies of their own batsmen against spin. This meant that while the Pakistani batsmen crawled and trudged to post scores of some respectability, the opposition batters wilted in the face of testing spin bowling. in the absence of Mohammad Ashraful, much of the batting responsibility fell on the shoulders of Tamim iqbal but it proved to be a disappointing series for the left hander as he could only manage four runs through the course of the series and even those came in one match. Shakib and Rubel Hossain toiled hard but found little support from both the bowling and batting unit. The only bright spot came in the shape of the 20 year old all-
rounder Nasir Hossain, who finished with most runs in the series (124), just ahead of Pakistan’s Umar Akmal (123). Tamim iqbal, before the series, had highlighted Ajmal as the major threat but it was Hafeez who caused them the most grief and ended the series as the highest wicket taker with 6 wickets at an average of 8.16. Hafeez throughout the series bamboozled the batsmen with his straight and straighter one. Umar Akmal, deservedly won the player of series award for his two fifties and it was pleasing to note that he batted with some semblance of responsibility and displayed a certain degree of method to his usual madness. More of this in the future and then we could stop talking about him as a potential talent but as an established performer. The batting continues to be a worry
though. Barring Akmal and the stoic Misbah, the rest of the batting unit continues to be inconsistent and patchy. Hafeez may well have climbed up to No 2 in the iCC ODi bowler rankings but his primary job is, or should be, batting and he is still failing to convert those stylish 20s and 30s into anything substantial. imran Farhat is never likely to be a consistent opener and Asad Shafiq isn’t an opener. Shafiq is a talented individual who needs to be playing regularly and in the middle order, he is unlikely to progress warming the bench and coming in and opening in dead rubbers. Malik’s terrible run with the bat continued and spending time in national colours seem to be doing more harm than good to him. Victory here means Pakistan have now recorded six consecutive ODi series
wins. Things however need to be kept in perspective and while the record appears exemplary, most of the wins have come against lowly opposition. The team along with its supporters therefore need to keep their feet grounded and not get carried away for there is much work still to be done. Winning like we have been in the recent past can inculcate a false sense of security and the players need to guard against this and continue to work on their weaknesses which will most likely be exposed against better opposition. in the meantime though, let’s enjoy a good victory and hope for more of the same from the Test matches. On the evidence of day one of the first Test, with Bangladesh shot out for just 135 and Pakistan openers making hay, this should be over before stumps on day three.
england’s hopes rest with pacers against Pakistan eXPeRt CoMMeNt
BOB wiLLiS
T
HERE is always some spice around when England play Pakistan and next year's three Tests in the Emirates will be no different. The series will be heavily scrutinised, coming as it does so soon after the jailing of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir in November - the first time that such penalties have been handed out to cricketers involved with spot-fixing. i'm sure the custodial sentences that were handed down will have sent a very clear and strong message to those individuals and others, of any nationality, who are tempted to fix cricket matches in any way whatsoever. Hopefully, cricket will take centre stage as England take a step into the unknown and play Test cricket in the Emirates for the first time. Andy Flower will have the players well-prepared but i'm pretty worried about the strength of opposition that they could face in the warm-up
matches. The other possible downside of playing in the UAE concerns the crowd or lack of one - because i don't think there will be many people watching these games. i guess there will be a few Pakistani supporters and England tourist groups around but the players should prepare for sparse crowds. That said, England will be relieved they aren't playing in Pakistan where security measures and the unresponsive nature of the pitches for their bowlers are added complications. Seam and spin bowlers enjoyed success in the recent series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the UAE, so there's a little bit of everything in the melting pot. England, with their tried and trusted formula of selection and continuity - injuries permitting - have most bases covered in their squad of 16 and i expect them to win the series, although Pakistan are certainly on the up. i’m surprised Monty Panesar is selected for a Test; the pitches will have to have a predictive element of prodigious spin before England will break from their three seamer, one spinner formula. Since Panesar is selected, i think it will be in a four-man rather than a five-man bowling attack. Rather England will trust the skill with swing - orthodox and reverse - and if there is anything in the pitches at all, their taller bowlers will certainly make life uncomfortable for the Pakistan top order. Over the next 12-18 months Ravi Bopara
must prove to the selectors that he has got what it takes to cut it at the highest level. He must grasp every chance that comes his way because i suspect they will be few and far between. The selectors believe Eoin Morgan has got something special about him and are prepared to give him a long run in the side and they are unlikely to drop any of the other top five batsmen. So Bopara - along with Panesar and Steven Davies can expect to carry a lot of drinks. Davies certainly isn't the secondbest glovesman in the country - he's nowhere near it and i think he would be the first to admit that. But England, in recent years, have put much greater store by the wicketkeeper's ability to play as a frontline batsman, rather than his keeping. They've come unstuck to a certain degree in the 50-over game with Craig Kieswetter's lack of success with the gloves but the selectors seem prepared to put up with that. Davies is an improving cricketer; i think the fact that he moved to Surrey to be assured of better pitches to bat on has benefitted him. Yes, he is an aggressive batsman but so is Matt Prior. if Prior was ever ill or injured, he's a close enough replacement. i don't think there are any glaring omissions from the squad. it may have been worthwhile having Samit Patel around because his bowling should not be underestimated and he would not weaken the side's batting department, which Panesar would. (Sky Sports)
Panesar’s predictability will test Pakistan Comment SIMON HUGHES T is another sign of England's consistency of selection that Monty Panesar has again been selected for the series against Pakistan in the UAE. Panesar had a solid season for Sussex last year, and is certainly the most reliable England spinner after graeme Swann. it is too early for Scott Borthwick to be considered, especially as Pakistan batsmen are very familiar with leg spin, and Panesar Patel should not be regarded as a front line spinner. He does not turn the ball enough. Panesar, who has been playing in Sydney grade cricket, has been attempting to shed the reputation that he is a one-dimensional spinner with no variation. it was Shane Warne who said: "Monty Panesar hasn't played 33 tests, he's played 1 test 33 times" – a reference to his limited approach as a bowler. He rarely goes around the wicket to a left harder for instance, an adjustment that immediately enhanced no less a spinner than Muttiah Muralitharan some time back. But ironically it is Monty's very predictability that England really need. There is very little likelihood of England ever playing more than one spinner in their attack. Such is the fast bowling unit's ability to find and utilise reverse swing in dry conditions, there is really no need of a second spinner, especially with Kevin Pietersen's competence in that role. So really Panesar is travelling as cover for Swann – as he did in Australia last winter. And as such, he is best suited to being a 'holding' type bowler, to give the pacemen respite and allowing them to be rotated from the same end. This is Swann's role, especially in the first innings of Test matches, and that is what will be expected of Panesar should he be required. And that is what he does best: try to bowl maidens and build up pressure on the batsmen. So in that regard he was the only logical choice, and rather than worry about his lack of variation we should be content that England have such a reliable and experienced performer to fall back on if injuries or illness occur. Australia would have paid a king's ransom for such a bowler last year, and so would india last summer. So don't plead for the new Full Monty. The old version is fine thank you very much. (Telegraph)
I
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Matloob placed a stroke ahead of Shafiq in Quaid Golf LAHORE KHAWAJA PeRVAIZ SAeeD
Matloob Ahmed of Lahore garrison golf Club is a seasoned campaigner and for over a decade has been in the forefront of professional golf, in Pakistan, and now at the Shezan sponsored 1st Quaid-e-Azam Open golf Championship in progress at the Lahore gymkhana golf Course he is looking amazing as a contender going into the final phase of this championship named after the Father of the Nation. On the second day of the competition Matloob returned a card of 70 and thereby aggregated a fantastic score of 136, eight
under par for the two rounds and managed to keep his hold on the top of the leader board, a position he was sharing with Shafiq Masih a day earlier. Not that Shafiq Masih of gymkhana has in any way slipped too far behind, in fact he is just one stroke away at a two days aggregate of 137,seven under par. The battle is on and while Matloob has experience on his side, the younger one, Shafiq looks battle-hardened and determined to launch himself with no holds barred and nerves virtually as calm as can be. And rightly it was Shafiq who said, "i 'd love to win on my home course and that would be great. i'd also like to get further up in the national rankings and so far it has been a good year here in Pakistan
and MENA golf Tour in UAE". As for Matloob, he said: "i've spent a lot of time playing at the Lahore gymkhana golf Course and i want to make my mark every time i play here. This course is my favourite and i consider it hard and fair, a true test of golf without being capricious and seldom does a tee shot well worked out and executed, lead to a bad lie or an awkward stance. With flat fairways and greens, good shots are rewarded and poor shots punished". Other contenders who personified consistency in hitting and putting are Amjad Yousf (Karachi) placed at an aggregate of 139,five under par and Shahid Javed Khan (Royal Palm) placed at 141 through rounds of
69 and 72. Shahid Javed eagled the par 5,16th and birdied the 17th and was unlucky to see four birdie putts lipping the hole, depriving him of a score of excellence. Contenders like Sunny John(gymkhana) and M. Siddique are also placed at 141,followed by Waheed Baloch at 142, M Munir 142,M.Zubair at 143 and Arshad Akbar also at 143.All these contenders may be lagging a little away from the leaderboard but if things go awry amongst the top ones, these accomplished ones can crawl their way up. And as M. Sharif Janjua of Shezan and gymkhana and the spirit behind this championship stated, "it’sgood to see Pakistani golf professionals getting better and better, as there was a time when under par
PcB cHieF oFF to siNgaPore
India series confirmation not far LAHORE
P
udrs to be applied in Pakistan-england series
StAff RePoRt
AKiSTAN Cricket Board's (PCB) senior officials will travel to Singapore to take part in an Asian Cricket Council meeting, hoping to get some confirmation from the BCCi on resumption of bilateral series between the two countries. Chairman of the PCB, Zaka Ashraf, left for Singapore on Saturday morning and COO Subhan Ahmad will join him for the ACC meeting on Monday. "it is an important meeting for us because we are going there with a will to tackle several issues, among them talks with Bangladesh and indian cricket officials," Subhan said. Pakistan will get a clear picture of whether it will be invited to tour india early next year for a series or whether the resumption of bilateral ties between the two countries will have to be delayed. "The ACC meeting is due to finalise the itinerary for the Asia Cup which is scheduled in Bangladesh sometime in March. But if there is an indication that Pakistan and india will be playing the FTP series that is also scheduled sometime in March-April, then the regional tournament will be put on hold,"
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has once again shown its strong support for the Umpires Decision Review System by announcing that it would be used in the Test and ODi series against England next month. "We have obtained sponsorship due to which the UDRS will be applied during the Test and ODi series against England," PCB’s chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said. Subhan said Pepsi had agreed to sponsor the use of the system which would cost roughly around $5000 per match. "We believe that the system is a value addition to the sport and has helped in reducing errors in the game and assisting the umpires in making the right decisions," Subhan said. Pakistan also used the UDRS in their recent ODi series against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan plays three Tests starting from January 17 and then an ODi series against England in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Subhan said the England and Wales Cricket Board had also supported the use of the system in the coming series. "it has been possible for us to have this system only because of the sponsors. Hopefully the system will be a helpful tool for the umpires in Tests and ODis," he said. "We will be using the Hawkeye and snickometer technologies in the series," he added. StAff RePoRt he explained. Subhan said in this sense the ACC meeting was important. "We are hoping to get some firm indication from the indian board officials on their perspective about the indo-Pak series next year," he said. Ashraf will also meet the Bangladesh Cricket Board officials on the sidelines of the ACC moot.
Subhan confirmed that Ashraf will meet his Bangladeshi counterpart, Mostafa Kamal, and will give him a comprehensive security plan in an effort to convince him to send the team to Pakistan. No Test-playing nation has toured Pakistan since March 2009 when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team in La-
hore, leaving six Pakistani policemen and a van driver dead in the attack. "We have prepared a foolproof security plan for visiting teams in Pakistan and we will explain this to the Bangladesh board officials as we are keen that they undertake the FTP tour to Pakistan next year," the PCB official explained.
scores were scarce and a distant cry but now visible are the improvements and golfing ability and good scores are a regular feature". in the event for Senior Amateurs, AVM Zakaullah produced enough good shots to secure the first position for himself and gained ascendancy over his nearest rival Javed A Khan, a golfer with a mature swing. Winners of net positions were Wajid Sethi, first and Omer Farooq, second. The ladies also enter the contest on Sunday and out to show their skills will be Tahira Nazir (Rawalpindi), ghazala (garrison), Nushmiya Sukhera (gymkhana), Kara Alam (gymkhana) and Ami Quin (islamabad), besides others.
Baloch Club, KrL advance in PPL LAHORE: Baloch Club, KRL and WAPDA won their matches of the 8th Pakistan Premier Football League on Saturday. Baloch FC beat Muslim FC 3-1 at the Noushki Football Stadium, Noushki. KRL beat KPT 3-0 at the Jinnah Football Stadium, islamabad and WAPDA beat PiA 3-1 at the Railway Football Stadium with goals coming from WAPDA’s captain Arif Mahmood in the 45th and 53rd minutes and Muhammad Afzal in the 48th minute while PiA scored through Zeeshan Ali in the 70th minute. StAff RePoRt
Bowlers dominate HBL, wAPdA match LAHORE: WAPDA and HBL Division-i Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match entered an interesting phase here at the gaddafi Stadium on Saturday. WAPDA resuming their innings at 203 for six were bowled out for 233. HBL after taking first innings lead could manage 178 runs and by the close of play WAPDA were at 10 for one. Thus bowlers dominated the day with 15 wickets falling. Meanwhile, at the LCCA ground similar situation prevailed with wicket falling at regular intervals on both ZTBL and National Bank. StAff RePoRt
NatioNal woMeN’s Hockey
ArmY, SIndh, PunjAb enjoY PLAIn SAILIng
LAHOre: Sindh whites and Army players vie for the ball. (r) Hockey fans support their team in the National women’s Hockey Tournament. PhOTOS NAdEEM IJAz two goals each and iram, Saba, Amna Mir (W) 6-1. By half-time the teams were on level orary Secretary Mrs. Tanzeela Aamir LAHORE StAff RePoRt
WAPDA, Sindh, Railways, Punjab (C) and Army had an easy sailing in their matches on day two of the 27th National Women’s Hockey Championship being played here at the National Hockey Stadium On Saturday, as many as five matches were played and apart from Sindh’s match against Punjab, all the teams got through with big margins. in the first match, WAPDA beat Balochistan by 16 goals with half the goals coming in the first session. Aisha Bashir and Kanwal Aslam with four goals each were the tough baits to handle while Azra Nasir and Rabia Qadir shared
and Nilma hit one goal each for WAPDA. in the second match, Sindh (C) beat Punjab (W) by a solitary goal and the only goal of the match was scored by Sindh’s Sumaira. in the third match of the day, Railway got past HEC with four goals having conceded just one. And surprisingly all the four goals of winners came from Hina Kanwal while HEC reduced the margin through Ambreen. in the fourth match, Punjab (C) hammered KPK with 11 goals with seven coming in the first half. iram banged half-adozen goals for Punjab with two coming from Sidra Younis while Afsha, Madiha and Shafaq shared one goal each. in the fifth and final match of the day, Army defeated Sindh
terms 1-1 and the winning team produced the remaining goals in the second session. Army’s Shargeel got two goals while Aisha Rafiq, Taiba, Shahida and Taskeen shared one goal each. From the losing side, it was Madiha who reduced the score. Earlier on day one, WAPDA, Punjab C, Railways, Balochistan and HEC won their matches. The opening ceremony of the 27th National Women’s Hockey Championship was performed by Punjab governor Sardar Muhammad Latif Khosa at National Hockey Stadium. Speaking on the occasion he praised the efforts of the PHF and also pointed out that there will not be any unconstitutional move in the country. On the occasion, Hon-
Cheema, Organising Secretary Mrs. Abida Tanveer and Tournament Director Miss Parveen Sikandar gill were also present. in the opening match of the day, WAPDA beat Army 1-0. The winning goal of the match came in the second half when WAPDA’S Nadia Kazim found an opening just before the close of the match. in the second match, Punjab (C) beat Sindh (C) 9-0. They brought three goals in the second half after they hammered Sindh with six goals in the first 35 minutes. Sidra Younis, captain of the team, produced three goals for Punjab (C) with iram getting four, Afshan Noreen and Mobeen ilyas sharing one goal each. in the third match, Railway thrashed Sindh (W) by
10 goals. Leading the match by four goals at half-time, Railway’s Hina Kanwal sent the ball through the polls five times, Maria Sabir repeated the activity twice, similarly Asma Ashraf did the same while Aqsa Mumtaz got one goal. in the fourth match, HEC beat Punjab (W) by seven goals after leading the match by three at half time. HEC got their goals through Mamoona (four goals), Uzma (two goals) and Sehrish ghuman (one goal). in the last match of the day, Balochistan beat KPK 4-1. Balochaistan got one goal in the first half while the remaining three came in the second session but in the process they conceded one goal to KPK. Balochistan goal scorers were Faryal Durkhaj and Masooma Mirza, who hit three while Sundas scored from KPK.
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Sunday, 11 december, 2011
Published by Arif Nizami for Nawa Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.
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