e-paper pakistantoday 17th february, 2012

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We want preferential trade, not aid, Pakistani envoy tells US PAGE 05

Iran ‘exaggerating’ nuclear advances, says Barak PAGE 16

‘Stubborn’ doctors to go provincial PAGE 7

Rs15.00 Vol II No 231 22 Pages Lahore Edition

Iran willing to enhance Pakistan trade by up to $10 billion ISLAMABAD

Friday, 17 February, 2012 Rabi-ul-Awal 24, 1433

Afghan peace push seeks greater Pakistan role

STAff RePoRT

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday said his country was ready to enhance trade with Pakistan by up to $10 billion within a couple of months, also showing keen interest in importing one million tonnes of wheat and 200,000 tonnes of quality rice from Pakistan within weeks. Ahmadinejad, who is visiting Pakistan for a trilateral summit also involving Afghanistan, had separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

In their meeting, Zardari and Ahmadinejad resolved to complete the mega Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project by 2014.

According to an official statement, President Zardari called for enhancing bilateral cooperation between Islamabad and Tehran for promoting peace, stability and economic progress of the people of the region in general and of the two countries in particular. “The two leaders reiterated firm resolve to boost mutual coordination to face common challenges including countering terrorism, drugs and narcotics control and human trafficking,” it said.

An official privy to the meeting said the two leaders focused on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline with both sides reiterating their resolve to complete the project by 2014, the deadline set for the mega project.

According to the statement, President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Zardari welcomed the Iranian president and expressed hope that Ahmadinjad’s visit to Pakistan would provide immense opportunity to the two countries to further bolster cooperation in areas particularly trade, Continued on page 04

Karzai believes Islamabad can play critical role in facilitating talks with Taliban, as he mulls options with Zardari, Ahmadinejad today

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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Zardari holds an informal meeting with his Iranian and Afghan counterparts, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hamid Karzai, at the Presidency on Thursday. Online ISLAMABAD

C

SHAIq HuSSAIn

OMMOn goals with common stakes bring Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan closer but the United States remains the stumbling bloc when it comes to the involvement of Tehran which has developed acrimony with Washington on its nuclear programme. The trilateral meeting, however, takes place today (Friday)

with its result not being certain.

The Presidents of Iran and Afghanistan arrived in Islamabad on Thursday for a trilateral summit with President Asif Ali Zardari today (Friday) to discuss ways for commencing peace talks with the Taliban, and seek Islamabad’s role as a key facilitator.

Taliban representatives are already engaged with US officials in preliminary peace talks in Qatar, where they have recently opened an office to hold direct negotiations with the United

Military fights back HRW’s accusations against ISI ISLAMABAD AgencIeS

Pakistan’s military on Thursday unleashed an astonishing tirade against the US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) which accused its spies of acting like a state within a state.

On January 30, HRW condemned the impunity of Pakistan’s intelligence services over the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad, who was killed after writing about links between al Qaeda and rogue elements in the military.

The military called the HRW statement “extremely derogatory, biased and contradictory”, and accused its Asia Director Brad Adams of discrediting the judicial investigation, demonising the ISI and castigating the government.

“Brad Adams may have his head buried deep in sand and HRW may be choking under heaps of bias but it is quite apparent that such diatribe is exceptionally disparaging,” it said. The journalist told HRW before his death that he had been threatened by intelligence.

Continued on page 04

States for ending the decade-long war and strife in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai had initially expressed his anger over the US’ bid to hold direct talks with the Taliban by keeping the Afghan government out of loop, but dropped his opposition after assurances that Kabul would not be ignored and would be taken along.

Continued on page 04

pakistan Central to afghan peaCe | page 28

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02 News Today’s

Friday, 17 February 2012

LAHoRe

NeWS

‘Stubborn’ doctors to go provincial

Agreement signed for design of Munda Dam

Story on Page 07

Story on Page 06

cARTooN

Quick look

Page 13

No more visa extensions for foreigners in Pakistan ISLAMABAD: In view of the country’s security situation, the federal government has imposed a complete ban on granting visa extensions to all foreigners in the country for an indefinite period.

Official sources said the security agencies had also been directed to strictly implement the procedures of security clearance for issuing visas to new applicants. Sources said that in view of security threats, the federal government has decided in principle not to extend the visas of all foreigners in the country. The ban will apply on all the foreigners in the country, including official and non-official visitors. Sources said the authorities would issue letters to the foreigners with expiring visas, and ask them to return to their respective countries. Sources added that the Pakistani embassies and high commissions in all the countries of the world have been ordered to strictly follow the security clearance procedures upon receiving new visa applications. Sources said the embassies had been directed not to issue visa to any foreigner without due clearance by the intelligence agencies, adding that strict action would be taken against officials found involved in issuing Pakistani visas to foreigners without due security clearance. InP

Foreign journalist, guide held for visiting Laden’s compound ISLAMABAD: A foreign journalist and his guide, an Islamabadbased journalist, were detained by police for visiting slain Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad without getting formal permission from authorities concerned. According to sources, British journalist Andrew had a visa for Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi only but he visited the prohibited area near the compound with Muhammad Faizan for a news story on Bin Laden’s stay in Pakistan. Andrew also made footage of the compound. “His activities were noticed by the security personnel deployed at the compound. They informed their high-ups and apprehended both the visiting journalists,” sources said. After questioning and deleting the footage from the camera, security officials shifted them to a police station. STAff RePoRT

JI chief castigates ‘US slaves’, Balochistan negligence LAHORE: Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawar Hasan has appealed to the Chief Justice Pakistan to bring the law enforcing agencies to justice in order to protect the innocent citizens from atrocities. While addressing the central workshop here at Mansoora, he also requested the Chief Justice to award exemplary punishment to those involved in kidnapping and other activities that are against fundamental human rights. He said that law enforcing agencies were planning contrary to national interests to meet US interests in the region. “Thousands of people have been missing and are facing harsh treatment so much so that some of them have even lost their lives,” he added. He regretted that even though Balochistan was under a multitude of problems the rulers paid no heed to it. Federal Cabinet’s meetings and the so-called Balochistan Package had given nothing to the Baloch people and had in fact added to their miseries, he believed. The province which was supplying gas and other rich minerals to the other parts of the country was itself lacking these facilities, he added. JI chief said that the only solution to terrorism lay in purging out the US intervention in the region. Due to US intervention in country’s domestic affairs the country’s sovereignty and autonomy was under risk, he added and reiterated that the rulers had turned into US slaves, and were following the American agenda. STAff RePoRT

WAgAH: Tayyab Tahir, a prisoner released from India, meets his mother after crossing the border checkpost on Thursday. Indian authorities released three prisoners while Pakistan released 15 prisoners. AFP

Known Khuzdar trader gunned down QuettA

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SHAHZADA ZuLfIqAR

well known local trader Abdul Qadir Ghulamani was killed in Khuzdar district, some 300 km southeast of the Quetta on Thursday. Police said Ghulamani was buying vegetables near Jilani Chowk in Khuzdar when unknown armed men opened fire on him. He sustained serious wounds and was taken to the District Headquarters’ Hospital where he expired.

After the incident, a number of relatives rushed to the hospital and protested. Ghulmani’s body was handed over for burial after legal formalities. The motive behind the killing is yet to be ascertained. A case was registered against unknown persons and investigations are underway.

Separately, a bomb explosion took place while local police foiled an attempt of sabotage by defusing a large quantity of explosives in border town of Chaman.

Police said unidentified people had planted

explosives with a car parked at Sariab Road near the Excise and Taxation office. The explosives went off with a huge blast which damaged the car and scattered the glass windows of nearby buildings. However, no loss of life occurred in the blast. Police and other rescue workers rushed to the site and cordoned off the area. Bomb Disposal Squad said around 10 kg of explosives were used in the blast. However, the bomb’s prime target could not be ascertained immediately. Police registered a case and began investigations.

In another incident, law enforcement agencies seized explosives in Chaman, a bordering town near Afghanistan. Reports said that on a tip-off, the security personnel signaled a truck to stop for routine checking which revealed explosives concealed in the secret cavities in the truck. The three occupants of the truck were arrested for carrying explosives and the truck impounded.

Separately, law enforcement personnel recovered a landmine planted along with road in Kohlu and defused it with the help of the bomb disposal squad.

Malaysian clerics forbid forex trading KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s highest Islamic body has issued an edict forbidding foreign exchange trading by Muslim individuals, saying such speculation violates Islamic law.

The national Fatwa Council ruled forex trading by money changers or between banks was allowable but trading by individuals “creates confusion” among the faithful, according to a report issued Wednesday by state news agency Bernama. Council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin warned “there are many doubts about it (forex trading) and it involves individuals using the Internet, with uncertain outcomes”, Bernama reported. “A study by the committee found that such trading involved currency speculation, which contradicts Islamic law,” he was quoted saying. A council official confirmed the ruling to AFP but gave no further details. While Malaysia’s brand of Islam is more moderate than in much of the Muslim world, some 60 percent of its 28 million people are Muslim and remain subject to Islamic law in civil affairs. In 2008, the national Fatwa Council banned yoga for Muslims, saying it could erode their faith. AfP

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Friday, 17 February 2012

FoReIgN NeWS

ARTS & eNTeRTAINMeNT

SPoRTS

Malaysia says blast suspect was fleeing to Iran

Veena Malik: ’I am not spying for ISI’

cook’s recipe scripts fall of Misbah’s charges

News 03 coMMeNT gilani’s innocence: We expected better, respected PM.

Bowing out:

On the DG ISI’s term coming to an end.

fahd Husain says: Colonising the Pakistani mind: Held hostage by extremism.

qudssia Akhlaque says: Diplomatic reshuffle: Change of guard at the Foreign Office.

Mayank Austen Soofi says: Life in a metro: On Delhi’s trains…

Story on Page 15

Story on Page 17

Story on Page 18

Articles on Page 12-13

Millions of flood victims still at risk ISLAMABAD

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AfP

feeble international response to Pakistan’s second major flooding crisis in two years has left millions of people at serious risk of malnutrition and disease, aid groups warned on Thursday.

The Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF), a network of the 41 largest international charities in the country, called on the international community and Pakistan to take urgent steps with the next monsoon season months away.

“With funds drying up, millions will find it extremely hard to make it through the next few months.

Donors and the government of Pakistan must step up their response immediately,” said Oxfam Country

Director neva Khan.

At least 2.5 million people are still without food, water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare, putting them at serious risk of malnutrition, disease and deepening poverty, said the coalition of international charities.

“The floods have exposed and deepened a food crisis in Sindh that has resulted in malnutrition rates far worse than those in Sub-Saharan Africa,” said David Wright, country director for Save the Children.

Around 43 percent of affected people are severely short of food, and malnutrition levels were already well above the emergency threshold in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan before the floods struck.

Last September, the United nations launched an appeal for $357 million, but it has been less than 50 percent funded, the groups said.

“Six months on, the crisis seems to have been forgotten by the international community,” said naseer Memon, chief executive of the Strengthening Participatory Organisation.

“The needs of the communities affected by the floods are still enormous with women, children, the elderly and disabled particularly vulnerable,” said Aine Fay, chairperson of the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum.

Tens of thousands of people are still displaced in flood-affected areas, while others have returned home to little or nothing. The floods have devastated agriculture and hundreds of thousands of farmers are struggling to recover. A quarter of farmers missed the planting season late last year, because their land was flooded or they did not receive help in time.

Sc directs govt to shift factories from Lahore residential areas ISLAMABAD STAff RePoRT

Proceeding on a suo motu notice on deaths of dozens of people after a sealed drug manufacturing factory in Lahore collapsed due to cylinder blasts, the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the Punjab government to shift factories from residential areas of Lahore to the city’s outskirts.

A three-member bench consisting of Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Jawad Khawaja and Justice Amir Muslim was hearing the matter. Punjab Chief Secretary nasir Khosa said that 2,161 factories were operating in residential areas in Lahore on which the court directed shifting the units out of the city. nasir told the court that action against the responsible people had been started and the Punjab CM had constituted three teams to investigate into the incident and the committee would present its report within three weeks. The chief secretary said that the Punjab government had announced Rs 0.5 million compensation for heirs of each of the deceased and Rs 75,000 for the injured. He requested the court to grant four weeks for presenting the report in light of the committees’ investigation, which the court accepted and adjourned the hearing until March 22.

Justice Khawaja lamented that despite passage of two years since the 18th Amendment was passed, the Punjab government did not make any policy for establishment of drug factories. The government comes into action and starts preparing plans when 20 to 25 people die in an incident, he said.

Khurram Latif Khosa wanted to become a party in the case but the bench observed that it was hearing a suo motu notice and if anyone wanted to become a party he should file a separate case.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza gilani leads the Pakistani delegation during talks with the Afghan delegation led by President Hamid Karzai on Thursday.

Assets of Senate candidates challenged ISLAMABAD STAff RePoRT

The assets details of four Senate candidates were challenged in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday while the EC Scrutiny Committee rejected nomination papers of two PML-n candidates with minor objections.

Those candidates whose assets declarations were challenged include PPP candidates Aitzaz Ahsan and Dr Babar Awan and PML-n leaders Zulfiqar Khosa and Zafarullah Khan. According to sources, assets decelerations of the said candidates were challenged in the Provincial Election Commission Office, Lahore. Source said that provincial returning officers will examine the objections of the four candidates today (Friday). They said that appeals against rejection and acceptance of nomination papers could be filed on Monday and Tuesday. nomination papers could be withdrawn on February 24 and the ECP would issue the final list of contesting candidates on the same day. A senior ECP official said that nominations papers of two PML-n candidates Dr Mazhar and Omar Mughal from Islamabad were rejected with minor objections and they could re-submit nomination papers today (Friday) with complete required credentials. The ECP accepted nomination papers of other two candidates contesting from Islamabad, including PML-Q’s Mushahid Hussain Syed and PPP’s Osman Saifullah.

According to Mushaid’s assets details, he owns assets worth Rs 50 million and during the last three years he paid Rs 17,536 tax. Zulfiqar Khosa owns 99 acres of land, pays agricultural tax worth Rs 7,000 a year and has Rs 0.7 million in his bank account.

PPP’s Osman Saifullah has assets worth Rs 280 million. Aitzaz owns 800 acres land and bank accounts worth over Rs 100 million while his wife has Rs 15 million in seven bank accounts.

Awan owns assets worth Rs 700 million in Pakistan, agriculture land worth Rs 20 million, bank accounts worth Rs 70.78 million, investment in a bank and private company worth Rs 30.40 million. He also owns property in Spain worth Rs 20 million and a house in Islamabad worth Rs 30 million. PML-n’s Zafarullah Dhandhla has Rs 0.5 million, two vehicles and 594 kanals of land and pays agricultural tax of Rs 3,000.

No ‘smoking gun’ in Mansoor Ijaz testimony ISLAMABAD STAff RePoRT

The testimony of Mansoor Ijaz, US national and lead witness in the memogate affair, submitted by Ijaz’s counsel Akram Sheikh to the Memo Commission, is almost identical to the affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court (SC).

Sources said the witness statement comprises Ijaz’s claims and does not contain ‘incontrovertible’ evidence of Husain Haqqani’s link to the memo Mansoor Ijaz sent to US Admiral Mike Mullen through former national Security Adviser James Jones. Sources said Mansoor Ijaz, in the testimony, made clear that the only alleged link between Haqqani and the memo are handwritten notes made by Ijaz of a telephone conversation with the ambassador. Sources

said none of the text messages and BBMs included in the affidavit directly referred to the memo. They said most BBMs are timed and dated after the email delivery time of the memo to James Jones, with an overwhelming majority of BBMs sent from Ijaz to Haqqani suggesting Ijaz might have been creating a trail of BBMs to be use at a later date as circumstantial evidence. However, sources said there is no BBM or email from Haqqani to Ijaz written before the writing and sending the memo on 9th May 2011 that asks Ijaz to write and send the memo and prove that the memo was Haqqani’s idea.

According to the Communications log provided in the witness statement, Haqqani only made two short phone calls of less than 2 minutes each to Mansoor Ijaz, which support Haqqani’s ver-

sion that he kept in touch with Mansoor Ijaz as a courtesy. The flow of communications suggests Mansoor Ijaz is the one who was eager to communicate with Haqqani. The alleged transcripts of text messages and BBM conversations establish communication between Haqqani and Ijaz but do not shed any light on the memo. Ijaz accepts in his statement that he drafted the memo albeit with ‘content originating from phone conversation with Haqqani.’ But Haqqani has denied having anything to do with the memo.

Mansoor Ijaz included the text of his email to Gen. James Jones. In it he says, “I am attaching herewith a document that has been prepared by senior active and former Pakistani government officials, some of whom served at the highest levels of the military-intelligence directorates in recent years and as sen-

ior political officers of the civilian government.” Unlike in his October 10 Financial Times oped, Ijaz does not say the document comes from “a senior diplomat.” Legal experts believe that this gives weight to Gen Jones’ version of events given in his affidavit, where he says Mansoor Ijaz never mentioned Haqqani as the source of the memo.

Although Mansoor Ijaz’s statement speaks of Ijaz’s relations with Haqqani, it supports Haqqani’s version of the relationship. There are sporadic email contacts and references to no more than 4 in-person meetings, including a charity event in new York in 2009. There is, however, acknowledgment of closer ties with the military-intelligence establishment. All of Ijaz’s trips to Pakistan in the last few years were to meet Pakistani establishment officials.

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Friday, 17 February, 2012

Time to apologise to Baloch, Pakhtuns: Punjab CM MonItorIng DeSk Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday it was time to apologise to the Baloch and Pakhtuns for violence in Balochistan, adding that they should be brought to the table for peace talks.

Addressing a conference, Shahbaz said issues of the people of the province should be resolved and they should be given legitimate rights, adding that Punjab had given Rs 12 billion of its share in the nFC award to

Balochistan and “will continue to sacrifice for the province”. Earlier, in an interaction with Islamabad-based editors and columnists on the issue on Wednesday, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani announced that he had decided to soon convene an All-Parties Conference (APC) on Balochistan. The prime minister said a lot had been done for Balochistan but nothing helped improve the situation significantly with law and order being the major problem that posed a challenge to every effort.

Suicide bomber targets All Senate pro-govt militia leader candidates Continued from page 22

PESHAWAR: At least three persons were killed and four others were seriously injured in a suicide attack targeting the head of a pro-government militia in Upper Dir on Thursday morning. Reportedly, Malik Motabar Khan and his associates were having a jirga meeting when the bomber struck. Although the militia leader survived the attack, one of his sons was killed and another was injured in addition to five other jirga members. Separately, five policemen were injured when militants targeted an armoured personnel carrier with an improvised explosive device (IED) at Sarband on Bara Road, Peshawar. Security officials said the injured policemen were out of danger and their condition was stable. STAff RePoRT

Military fights back Continued from page 1 agents. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency denies any responsibility for his death.

HRW said in January that the ISI should “stop acting as a state within a state” after the government failed to identify and punish Shahzad’s killers.

Adams said the ISI remains “beyond the reach of Pakistan’s criminal justice system” and that abuses “will only stop if it is subject to the rule of law, civilian oversight, and public accountability”.

“It is unclear where Mr Adams forms opinions like these from but one thing is evident that his thought process and ability to logically analyse a situation suffers from serious bias,” the military hit back.

It then launched a vigorous defence of the Supreme Court and the judicial investigation that was set up to investigate the murder, pointing out that the courts have recently initiated in-

vestigations into the intelligence services.

“It is not without reason that the Supreme Court of Pakistan is the guarantor of the rule of law and the architect of constitutional future of our country. To expect the Judicial Commission probing Saleem Shehzad’s alleged murder headed by Justice Saqib nisar, to spare or shy away form the so called ‘culpable ISI’ is not only disrespectful but also out of character of the Honourable Court,” the military said. The spokesman said the HRW should visit the Supreme Court website to see what kind of historic and hitherto unheard of court actions have been initiated by the apex court regarding ISI / intelligence agencies and the unprecedented obedience / compliance they have readily commanded.

“We would seriously urge HRW to read the report of the commission of enquiry into the incident and see facts as they are,” he added.

PML-n’s Zafarullah Dhandhla, another wouldbe senator paid only Rs 3,000 agriculture tax annually. Dhandhla has Rs 0.5 million, two vehicles and 594 kanals of land.

Aitzaz Ahsan owns 800 kanals of land while his wife has 400 kanals. Aitzaz has 13 bank accounts with Rs 100.85 million while his wife has Rs 15 million in seven bank accounts.

Babar Awan has assets worth Rs 20.5 million in Spain. Apart from that property, he has two vehicles, agricultural land worth Rs 20 million and bank accounts containing Rs 70.78 million.

He had also made an investment in a private bank and company worth Rs 30.40 million. Awan also owns a house in Islamabad worth Rs 30 million and an office in Lahore worth Rs 2 million.

The assets of Senate nominees have been challenged in the ECP.

Prosecutor submits evidence against PM in contempt case ISLAMABAD MASooD ReHMAn

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TTORnEY General of Pakistan (AGP) Maulvi Anwarul Haq, who is acting as a prosecutor in the contempt of court case of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, submitted a 469-page documentary evidence in the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday to prove that Gilani flouted the court’s December 16, 2009 judgment and its consequent orders in the national Reconciliation Ordinance (nRO) case.

The documentary evidence contains 43 documents/points to establish that Gilani had repeatedly flouted the court’s orders and committed contempt of court. All the courts’ orders passed in the nRO judgment and later in the nRO

implementation case have also been included in the documentary evidence. no exclusive document has been submitted.

The first document is an application on behalf of the AGP seeking permission for submitting documents in the contempt of court case against the prime minister, while the last document is an affidavit by him (AGP) that gives the assurance that he has submitted all the documents pertaining to the case that he could collect so far. A seven-member SC bench, headed by Justice nasirul Mulk, will examine the documents submitted by the AGP on February 22 in the open court.

On the other hand, prime minister’s counsel Aitzaz Ahsen will submit a list of witnesses along with their statements in the case on February 27, and the court will hear the case on February 28.

The AGP said there was no need to mention or produce witnesses in the apex court, as the evidence itself had the status of a witness.

He also opined that a witness was not usually required when the case was of a civil nature. He said the proceedings of the nRO case were civil in nature, but the court had directed him to act as a prosecutor under Order 27, Rule 7, of the Supreme Court Rules, 1980, which was applicable in criminal contempt of court.

He explained that under Order 27, Rules 7, the law comes into action when the court or judges are ridiculed or proceedings are blocked intentionally. He said he would contend on the next date of hearing that such an order (appointing him to work as prosecutor) was not applicable. He said he would express his viewpoint before the court, but he was bound

to obey the court’s order.

Meanwhile, former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan and former acting attorney general Shah Khawar told Pakistan Today that if they were summoned in the case, they would appear as witnesses.

On February 13, Gilani became the first prime minister of Pakistan to have been formally indicted for contempt of court and “wilfully flouting, disregarding and disobeying” the court orders. Determined to contest the charge, the prime minister chose in the last hearing to plead not guilty after Justice nasirul Mulk, who was heading the bench, read out the charge. In case of his conviction, the prime minister can be sentenced to six months in jail and face a five-year disqualification from holding any public office for choosing to plead not guilty.

iran says wants nuclear talks Woman burnt by in-laws at ‘earliest’ opportunity BruSSeLS AfP

Iran told world powers it is ready to resume stalled nuclear talks at the “earliest” opportunity as long as they respect its right to peaceful atomic energy, according to a letter seen by AFP on Thursday.

Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, made the offer in a letter to European Union chief diplomat Catherine Ashton, who represents

the United States, France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia in the talks.

“We voice our readiness for dialogue on a spectrum of various issues which can provide ground for constructive and forward looking cooperation,” Jalili wrote in the letter dated February 14.

He said Iran welcomed a statement in a letter sent by Ashton on “respecting Islamic Republic of Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy consistent with the

nPT (nuclear non-proliferation treaty).” “no doubt that by committing to this approach, our talks for cooperation based on step by step principles and reciprocity on Iran’s nuclear issue could be commenced,” Jalili wrote.

“Constructive and positive attitude towards Islamic Republic of Iran’s new initiatives in this round of talks could open positive perspective for our negotiation,” he said, without spelling out the initiatives.

LAHORE: A newly-wed woman suffered serious burns after she was allegedly torched by her in-laws for dowry in the Badami Bagh Police precincts on Thursday.

The woman was identified as 20-year-old Sonia Urooj, a resident of Khokhar Road.

Hospital sources said that the victim married Fayyaz Ahmed, a resident of the same area around a year ago.

Sources said that Sonia, in her statement to doctors at Mayo Hospital, said that her in-laws used to taunt her for bringing less dowry. STAff RePoRT

rate official statement said.

“Both leaders agreed to pursue the energy projects including electricity and gas on fast-track basis. They also discussed the status of IranPakistan gas pipeline as well,” it said.

Both leaders also decided to improve the border management to facilitate transportation of goods.

Both sides showed their willingness to open a new border point at Gabd and Reemdan along the coastal

highway of Pakistan.

The Pakistani side was apprised of the progress made in connection with opening of the office of Pakistan Consulate General at Bandar Abbas to facilitate trade and travel.

Gilani also thanked the Iranian leader on his country’s provision of electricity to Gwadar area. He said the import of electricity from Iran would partially alleviate the electricity deficiency in the country.

iran willing to enhance Continued from page 1 energy, security, communication and infrastructure.

Babar said rail and road links between the two countries, energy projects, and other projects of regional connectivity were also discussed in the meeting.

Zardari reiterated commitment to expedite implementation of Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project, 1,000MW of electricity transmission line and Gwadar power supply to

meet the country’s growing demand for energy and power.

He said increasing bilateral cooperation particularly in energy and infrastructure would help both countries overcome the challenges in the way of realisation of full existing potential of their relations and realise the goal of raising the bilateral trade to $5 billion target which he said was feasible. The two sides also agreed to put in place effective arrangements

and better coordination between the border-control authorities to prevent violent incidents on the borders.

GILAnI: During the meeting at the PM’s House, the Iranian president and Prime Minister Gilani exchanged views on matters of mutual interest in a frank and cordial atmosphere.

“They also discussed bilateral cooperation in various fields such as energy, banking, agriculture, infrastructure and trade,” a sepa-

Afghan peace push seeks greater Pakistan role Continued from page 1 However, he has also accelerated efforts to directly reach out to the Taliban, and believes that Pakistan could act as a bridge in this regard.

Before his trip to Islamabad, Karzai told Wall Street Journal in an interview that the US and Afghan governments had begun secret talks with the Taliban.

However, the diplomatic circles here contest Karzai’s claim and say that the Taliban are not enthusiastic about peace talks with the Afghan leader, whose writ is questionable even beyond the capital city of Kabul, rather they are more interested in direct negotiations with the United States,

which, they believe, is the real party in Afghanistan.

Iran, on one hand faces mounting tensions with the US, and on the other it has remained at odds with the Taliban for years. Owing to these two factors, the Iranian leadership fears that its exclusion from the ongoing Afghan reconciliation efforts would severely damage its interests in the region.

And this is exactly the shared interest that, the diplomatic circles here believe, has forced the Iranian and Afghan leaders to rush to Islamabad for a trilateral summit on peace and security in Afghanistan. The focus will be on peace talks with the Taliban, who are

emerging as the main player in the war-torn country. nonetheless, the summit is unlikely to yield any major breakthrough because of Pakistan’s presence in the US camp, besides the US will never welcome increased Iranian role in the Afghan reconciliation process.

“The summit is unlikely to produce any positive results when it comes to Afghanistan and also the joint efforts of Tehran and Kabul to directly reach out to Taliban through Islamabad. But that doesn’t undermine its significance in increasing trilateral cooperation against terrorism and drug trafficking,” said a diplomatic source here seek-

ing anonymity.

The official said that apart from seeking engagement in talks with the Taliban for its stakes as a neighbour of Afghanistan, Iran would also use the occasion for easing out tensions with the US, and Islamabad would be asked to play the role of a mediator.

One important aspect of President Karzai’s visit to Islamabad is his meeting with senior Pakistani political and religious figure Maulana Samiul Haq, who is also known as the spiritual father of the Taliban.

Samiul Haq reportedly wants Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan to work together and oust the US forces from

the region. But more importantly it is the will of the Taliban that matters and it is yet to be seen whether they would pursue any parallel track of talks with Kabul and Tehran through Islamabad, if the latter shows its willingness to act as a facilitator, along with their ongoing talks with the US. Taking advantage of his stay in Islamabad, Iranian President Mehmood Ahmadinejad, in his meeting with Pakistani leaders, would try to pay way for expediting the mega gas pipeline project that would deliver natural gas from his country to Pakistan.

However, the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project also

faces serious hindrances due to strong opposition from the US, which is pushing Islamabad towards an alternative pipeline that would transport gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan.

With Taliban now very much on the surface after opening their office in Qatar, the Iranian and Afghan leaders believe that they are approachable but they also realise that without Islamabad’s support it would be a daunting task to persuade them for meaningful and result-oriented dialogue and that has been the cause of Iran and Afghanistan’s deep interest in trilateral summit.

Pakistan, on its part, wel-

comes, this process as it feel that regional players like Iran could play an important role in the success of the peace efforts in Afghanistan, and the Karzai government is also one of the major parties to the Afghan issue.

“We are hosting the trilateral talks involving Iran and Afghanistan with a sense and understanding that regional cooperation is vital for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan. If the US is holding direct talks with the Taliban, that is a significant development, but at the same time if there are also regional processes in supporting role – that too could be very helpful,” said a Pakistani official requesting anonymity.

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Friday, 17 February, 2012

News 05

We want preferential trade, not aid, Sherry Rehman tells US g

US says divorce not an option with Pakistan WASHIngton

P

SWAT: Pakistan Army personnel clear the Lowari Tunnel road after heavy snowfall on Thursday. Online

name the striking YDA doctors, SC directs Punjab CS ISLAMABAD STAff RePoRT

Taking notice of media reports about the young doctors’ strike in Lahore against the suspension and detention of their seniors on account of spurious drugs, the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the health secretary and advocate general Punjab to appear before it today (Friday).

On the court orders, court registrar Dr Faqir Hussain wrote a letter to the Punjab chief secretary and drawn his attention to the court orders passed on January 30, 2012 directing doctors not to strike and leave patients unattended. The registrar sent him a copy of the SC’s January 30, 2012 order to solicit the information and to submit

the report today (Friday) and provide the names and designation of the doctors who striked and which doctor had been suspension and why?

It is pertinent to mention that the court in its January 30, 2012 order in a suo motu case into the death of heart patients under treatment in Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) on account of spurious drugs had directed the competent authority concerned to proceed with a transparent enquiry under the law, fix responsibility and thereafter propose action.

All the doctors, officers and drug manufacturers were directed to fully cooperate with the enquiry which had to be concluded expeditiously. The court, however had directed that no such doctor or a person required in

such investigation or enquiry will be arrested, if he voluntarily cooperated with the enquiry. It was also directed hat any doctor arrested in this regard will be released forthwith subject to his personal bonds to the satisfaction of the Deputy Registrar (Judicial) of Lahore High Court, Lahore.

The court had noted that doctors represented a noble profession and ailing patients needed care and attention. “It is not in consonance with the spirit of their noble calling to strike and leave patients unattended, the court had noted, adding that as in the event of their strike or boycott, the patients under treatment in PIC or any other hospital were likely to suffer and their fundamental rights including the right to life might seriously be compromised. The court had strictly directed that no doctor go on strike.

meet CIA chief General David Petraeus during his visit to Qatar this month, what to talk of seeking his help.

The spokesman added that the prime minister did not need any foreign help to develop understanding with the state institutions as the democratic government has

very good relations with all institutions including the army.

“The democratic government of Pakistan does not need any foreign help, unlike the dictators who heavily depended on foreign support to perpetuate their rule against the aspirations of the people,” he said.

Contradiction A spokesman of the Prime Minister’s House has categorically denied a news items saying that the “PM sought Petraeus’s help in defusing standoff with army”.

He said the prime minister did not

InP

AKISTAn’S Ambassador to the United States (US) Sherry Rehman said on Wednesday that Islamabad wants preferential trade, not aid for being

a US ally.

During a conference in Washington at the US Institute of Peace, Rehman said Pakistan will support Afghan-led peace initiatives but not align itself with any side in the conflict. She said that Pakistan is “not seeking to support, bolster or play strategic games with any group in Afghanistan.”

She said that during Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s last visit to Afghanistan, equal time was given to all ethnic and insurgent groups, including the northern Alliance.

Meanwhile, on the topic of US aid to Pakistan, Rehman said civilian and military aid to Islamabad has faced delays and blockades. The envoy said a “long conversation” is needed on how aid is delivered as well as “the metrics of its success.”

“I would like to point out that the EU, with its far more complex architecture of bylaws, fine print, and coordination challenges, has come through with preferential trade agreements for Pakistan as we speak,” Rehman added, “So our question is: what is our biggest ally doing for us while we stand on the front line?.”

Meanwhile, State Department spokeswoman Victoria nuland said divorce in relations with Pakistan is not an option for the United States, adding that the American administration wants a stable, peaceful and democratic Pakistan.

Briefing journalists, nuland said that American administration wants a stable, peaceful and democratic Pakistan and wants to revive the relationship to the level where it was before the troubles in the recent past.

Responding to the remarks of Pak-

istani Ambassador to US Sherry Rehman, who had spoken at an event earlier on Wednesday about the analogy of love, hate, life, death, and sometimes divorce in the relationship with Pakistan, nuland said: “Divorce is not an option with Pakistan from our perspective.”

“We have strategic interests in common, and a lot of work to do together. We have a national interest in a Pakistan that is increasingly stable, peaceful, free of terror, democratic, etc etc. So we are continuing to do a lot of work together, and we’re looking forward to the completion of Pakistan’s internal review of our military-to-military relationship so we can get back to all the important work we have together,” she said.

On another question about the Pakistani envoy’s assertion of “trade-not-aid based relations” with the US, nuland said that even Secretary Clinton had been one of the most vocal advocates of switching as much of the American economic relationship with Pakistan from aid to trade.

Pakistan returns 19 Indian fishermen LAHORE: Pakistan on Thursday handed over 19 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture. Pakistani Rangers handed over nineteen fishermen including six prisoners involved in ordinary crimes to the Indian Authorities.

In reply, Indian set free three Pakistani prisoners namely Dr Tayyab Tahir, Akbar Ali and Atta Arif. onLIne

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06 News

Friday, 17 February, 2012

Agreement signed for design of Munda Dam PeSHAWAr

Senate meets today to consider 20th Amend bill ISLAMABAD

STAff RePoRT

WAPDA on Thursday signed an agreement worth Rs 611.50 million as a joint venture to prepare the detailed engineering design and tender documents of the Munda Dam Multipurpose Project at Governor’s House.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Karamatullah Khan, FATA parliamentarians, tribal elders and others also attended the event. The joint venture includes Pakistani, Australian and Japanese firms to complete the task in two years. Briefing the participants on salient feature of the Munda Dam Project, it was told that the dam was proposed to be constructed on the Swat River around five kilometres upstream of Munda Head Works in Mohmand Agency.

The project on completion would mitigate floods, develop irrigated agriculture and generate hydro power with installed capacity of 740MW to

T add around 2,407 million units of energy annually to total energy production. It was told that Munda Dam was a priority project in wake of floods, which played havoc in the country, particularly Charsadda and nowshera. After completion of the detailed engineering design in two years, the Munda Dam Project will enter into the construction phase, estimated to cost $1.4 billion and

completed in seven years. The project will store 1.29 million acre feet water and 300 million cubic metre floods of the River Swat, restricting accumulation of its peak flows with that of River Kabul. Annual benefits of the project were calculated at Rs 20.2 billion. AFD of France had shown interest to provide financial assistance for the design and construction phase of the project.

TAHIR nIAZ

H E 100-member Senate is meeting today (Friday) to consider and pass by at least twothirds majority the 20th Amendment Bill, which was unanimously passed by the Lower House on Tuesday.

The 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill – the third to be carried out by the current parliament – will guarantee an independent Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and a neutral interim government to hold upcoming general elections, besides giving legal cover to the election of 28 lawmakers in recent by-polls conducted under an incomplete ECP. The Supreme Court has already suspended the mem-

bership of these 28 legislators.

The national Assembly unanimously passed the bill after the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz (PML-n) reached a consensus on various clauses proposed by the latter. The bill would go to the president for final assent after its passage from the Senate. The support of at least 67 senators is required to pass the bill.

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has no representation in the national Assembly because it had boycotted the 2008 general elections. However, it has three senators in the Upper House. When asked, JI Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmad said that neither the government nor the opposition had consulted them on the 20th

Amendment Bill. When asked about JI’s stance on the bill, he avoided giving a clear answer, saying the party was still making consultations on the subject.

He said the party would take an independent position, as there were “some good things” in the bill. Similarly, the national Party and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party had also boycotted the 2008 general elections. These parties, however, have representation in the Senate.

These smaller parties have objected to the bill to the extent that they were not consulted on the subject.

However, keeping in view the spirit of the political parties regarding the two earlier constitutional amendment bills, it is likely that they raised objections but ultimately would support the bill.

indian traders look to build durable ties with Pakistan ISLAMABAD STAff RePoRT

An Indian business delegation, led by RB Mittal, called on Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday at the Prime Minister’s House and expressed the resolve to build durable bilateral trade relations.

The prime minister said there was an enabling environment prevailing between the two countries to promote trade, people-topeople contact and also exchange of highlevel visits of parliamentarians to espouse the cause of meaningful and productive contact.

Recalling his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Mohali, Gilani said the Indian prime minister was a sincere leader who was committed to normalising relations between India and Pakistan. He said he was looking forward to Singh’s visit to Pak-

8 militants killed in Wana skirmish WAnA: At least eight alleged militants were killed and four arrested by security forces when militants attacked security forces during search operation in Wana, South Waziristan. Sources said security forces were conducting a search operation in Wana bazaar, when upon raiding a hotel militants opened fire and killed one security force member and injured three others. In retaliatory fire, eight militants were killed and four others arrested. Forces then demolished the hotel and six nearby shops. This was the first incident in Wana since March 2007, when militants and government signed a peace agreement. STAff RePoRT

PHc rejects govt’s plea seeking Sufi’s sons’ detention SWAt: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Mingora Bench Bar (Darul Qaza) on Thursday rejected the government’s plea seeking a legal notice to detain outlawed Tehreek nifaz-eShariat Mohamadi chief Sufi Muhammad’s three sons on basis of inadequate testimony against them.

Last year, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) had acquitted Sufi’s sons Rizwanullah, Hayatullah and Ziaullah due to lack of evidence. The government filed a petition in which Sufi’s sons were indicted in various cases ranging from murder to attempted murder and terrorism. HARoon SIRAj

istan.

Recalling his meeting with Indian parliamentarian delegation in the recent past, he said the meetings were a step in the right direction so far as people-to-people contact was concerned.

The prime minister asked the leader of the delegation to convey his best wishes to the India prime minister.

The members of Indian delegation expressed gratitude over the hospitality of business community in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. They said there was an environment and momentum to enhance trade between the two countries and leave a worthwhile legacy for coming generations.

The Indian delegation urged upon setting up of a business forum of Pakistan and India to facilitate business activities on efficient and meaningful grounds.

Sc seeks report over reimbursement of Rs 38.74m to oPF ISLAMABAD STAff RePoRT

Proceeding on a suo motu notice involving payment of compensation to affectees of the Iraq-Kuwait War, the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday issued notices to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman to reply by March 1 whether Rs 38.74 million, deducted as income tax, were reimbursed to the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF). A twomember bench consisting of CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry and Justice Khilji Hussain heard the case. Earlier, the court had directed Habib Bank Limited (HBL) to submit the complete record indicating that how much amount of affectees’ compensation was deducted as service charges and what was the share and profit on the amount. The court had ordered HBL after national Accountability Bureau (nAB) officials had informed it that HBL withheld $892,206.9 of the affectees’ compensation amount as service charges.

On Thursday, Lieutenant Colonel (r) Muhammad niaz, case officer of nAB, told the court that on May 23, 2011 a request was made to HBL for giving documents pertaining to investment instructions of OPF for placing of funds in HBL etc. The court directed HBL’s counsel Anwar Mansoor to give the required documents to the nAB’s case officer. The court directed the OPF to give statements of accounts indicating the expenditure incurred while disbursing the amounts received from the Un for Kuwait affectees until today and the interest amount earned on the same with the markup rate, as per schedule.

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Friday, 17 February, 2012

Tyres being run over Lahore’s heritage PAge 07

‘Stubborn’ doctors to go provincial g

g

Patients continue to suffer as govt says Sc never said the doctors needed to be restored, sends a list of 80 doctors to Sc Doctors refuse to take patients into consideration, say they will expand strike LAHore

t

uMAIR AZIZ

HE Punjab government keeps a mum, as patients continue to suffer as a result of the OPD shut down in all city hospitals, with the severity of condition in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology where both the OPD and inpatient department have been closed down on the second day of doctor’s strike on Thursday, Pakistan Today has learnt.

The Punjab Young Doctors Association (YDA) continued its strike in the city hospitals for the second day and has refused to change their stance as the government tried to achieve a thaw on late Wednesday night. Thousands of patients coming from the farflung districts of the province continued to suffer and returned disappointed because the OPD services remained suspended. Increased burden was placed on the PIC, which had recently faced a lot of criticism and bad name because of the drug deaths.

Stakeholders said the recent episode had already brought a bad name to the premier heart facility resulting in a decline in the number of paying category patients and the shutting down of indoor and outdoor services would only make the situation worse.

However, patients and stakeholders continued to look up to the government which has failed to take any action regarding the ongoing strike.

“The entire thing gives a feeling of de javu because it was the same YDA and the same government in the last strike when government waited for 37 days before taking some meaningful action…even this time the pressure is building up as patients continue to suffer and the media highlighting the issue, but the government just being a silent spectator and not taking any sort of action to mitigate the situation,” an official seeking anonymity said.

Health Secretary Captain (r) Arif nadeem however said the government was going “by the book” and following

the Supreme Court’s directions. Moreover he said the SC directions “does not mention the restoration of doctors”, adding that the doctors had put forth a one point agenda and that was the restoration of Professor Azhar, the MS and the DMS. “When a judicial enquiry is going on such an action is always going to be seen in a different light…the doctors should wait for the completion of the enquiry. We have tried to negotiate with them but they are not listening,” he said. According to a late private channel report, the government has sent a list of 80 names to the SC. Senator Pervaiz Rasheed said doc-

tors were the educated sector of society and should not make the patients suffer, adding that the government was waiting for the probe to finish and would also send the names of the striking doctors to the SC. “The doctors do not have to be so stubborn, why can’t they wait for the probe to end?” Rehmat, a patient, said. YDA Spokesperson Dr nasir further said the provincial council of the young doctors would meet today (Friday) to decide on the expansion of strike to the entire province, adding that the doctors were still to receive court orders and the “strike would continue in the same fashion”.

Let the nitpicking begin! g

Punjab govt writes letter to federal govt to point out ‘differences’ over the establishment of the Drug Regulatory Authority

CM announces establishment of Youth Skills Punjab g

Rs 250 million project aims at imparting technical skills to youth LAHore STAff RePoRT

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Shahbaz Sharif has said the provincial government has decided to set up an autonomous institution, Youth Skills Punjab, for the technical training of the youth.

The institution would impart modern training to the youth between the age of 16 to 30 years according to the market needs and Rs 250 million had been released for the project. This decision was taken in a high level meeting presided over by the CM which

was also attended MPA Mian nauman, Punjab Vocational Training Council chairman, Punjab Employees Opportunity Programme chief executive, Industries, Law, Finance and Planning and Development departments provincial secretaries and TEVTA chairman.

The CM said the Youth Skills Punjab would be set up on the pattern of Department for International Development (DFID), UK and will impart training on modern lines in different skills to the youth and deserving persons for their economic prosperity. He said provision of modern educational and training facilities was being ensured with the

technical consultation and collaboration of brotherly country Turkey so that the youth could explore new avenues of progress through their knowledge and skill. He said the board of directors of Youth Skills Punjab will comprise 15 members who would be selected from different sectors so that young generation could benefit from their experience. The CM would be the chairman of the institution.

Earlier, Punjab Vocational Training Council Chairman Faisal Ijaz Khan gave a briefing regarding Youth Skills Punjab and highlighted its features.

LAHore uMAIR AZIZ

The Punjab government has written to the federal government about the “differences” over the functioning of the federal drug regulation agency being set up after the passage of the resolution in provincial assemblies, Paksitan Today has learnt.

Per details, after the passage of the 18th Amendment various functions were devolved to provinces, while drug regulation was delegated to a proposed drug regulatory agency at the federal level. However, the provinces authorised the federal government to keep its hold over drug regulation, through the Cabinet Division, as before the 18th Amendment until the establishment of the federal authority. Per constitution, all four provincial assemblies had to pass a resolution for the federal government to exercise authority on drug regulation and recently after the Punjab government passed its resolution, the condition was fulfilled. According to the arrangements, the federal government deals with drug registration, manufacturing licenses, price fixing, and import and export of drugs and the provinces monitor drug sale outlets including medical stores and pharmacies to ensure quality.

However, the provincial government has expressed its reservations regarding some differences on the operation of the soon-to-be federal drug regulatory agency. The provincial government has demanded that it should be given the right to give recommendations on the drug manufacturing license. Moreover, each province should have equal opportunity to chair the FDA. Also the nominations of the members should be done by the provincial governments instead of the federal government. Talking to Pakistan Today, Health Additional Secretary Dr Anwer Janjua said the provincial government has written to the federal government about “minor” differences, which were meant to increase the role of provinces in drug regulation and not to undermine the federal authority. “The authorities concerned have assured us of a positive response after the authority is set up,” he added.

‘Bring the Bagram detainees back!’

LAHore STAff RePoRT

Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan of Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin negotiations with the US and Afghanistan to bring the Bagram detainees back home.

“There are no serious allegations against the prisoners detained at Bagram and the report submitted by the government shows that nothing has been done to bring them back,” the judge said, adding “the citizens’ rights to a lawyer and a fair trial are being compromised.” Justice Khalid noted, “In these circumstances, respondents are directed to commence negotiations with the governments of Afghanistan and the US for bringing these detainees back to Pakistan for their trial, if any, according to law. The respondents are directed to submit a report within two months from today.” Barrister Sarah Belal, welcoming the development, said it was about time that the institution of the country stood up for the rights of the people. The next scheduled date of hearing is March 21.

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08 Lahore

Friday, 17 February, 2012

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ALI TAHIR

HE local writers and intellectuals are anxiously awaiting the reincarnation of the Pak Tea House as the renovation process of the historic restaurant inches forward, after the courts had dismissed the petition against the restoration of the cafe.

The Pak Tea House which faced litigations is traversing gradual renovation as the Punjab Government has decided upon restoring the literary heritage of the town. At present the Pak tea House is under the name of the Young Men Christian Association which vows to run the tea house with new ideas and themes but with the same legacy of the past.

On Wednesday the Lahore High Court dismissed the petition filed by Zahid Hassan, a tenant of PTH, who wanted a restraining order against the restoration. Zahid Hassan maintained that he wanted to run a profitable tyre business at the place. The Judge Umer Ata

Bandial observed that the PTH was an integral part of the city’s heritage and that it should not have been transformed into a tyre shop.

While talking to Pakistan Today, General Secretary Y M C A Sameul Pervaiz said that the Punjab Government was taking a special interest in reviving PTH. He said that Hamza Shahbaz had visited the premises and had announced to give the renovation re-

sponsibility to the Punjab Government. “A group of designers had visited the building and took all the necessary measurements of the restaurant”, said he added.

He said that the YMCA was vying to inject new life to the historic restaurant, while keeping the same literary legacy and introducing a contemporary theme. “The building is of great heritage importance and many poets, writers and intellectuals were associated with the tea house, the YMCA intends to keep this place alive even if we would have to serve subsidised food and tea”, said Samuel.

The Pak Tea House was established in 1940 by the name of India Tea House. The famous tea hub was made by the Sikhs before the partition of the subcontinent after which the name of the restaurant was changed to Pak Tea House. The YMCA had rented out the Pak Tea house to Sarajuddin and after Sarajuddin’s death, his son Zahid Hasan had its possession but owing to financial constraints and health problems, he wanted to open a garment or tyre shop.

The YMCA asked its tenant Sarajuddin and his son to vacate the place who then took the matter to court. After unanimous protest and the court reiterated that poets and writers were the souls of a society and hence, the place could not be used for any other purpose. The tea house was a place where noteworthy writers openly expressed their political views even during the repressive military regimes of Ayub Khan and Ziaul Haq. The court of law was again approached where the matter remained pending.

Meanwhile, the Tea House was closed down and the place was occupied by a cloth trader and a tyre merchant. A squad of the city district government of Lahore retrieved it on Thursday night after the court decided the matter in favour of YMCA. The CDGL handed over its possession to the YMCA which plans to return the heritage to Lahorites.

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LHR 17-02-2012_Layout 1 2/17/2012 3:58 AM Page 9

Friday, 17 February, 2012

Lahore 09

intervieW With senAtor KAmiL ALi AghA

‘PML-Q, PPP are best friends’ LAHore

t

nAuMAn TASLeeM

HE Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has kept its identity in hard times and came out with flying colours due to the wise decisions of its leadership, which hopes that the people would support it in the next general elections, PML-Q Information Secretary Senator Kamil Ali Agha said in an exclusive interview with Pakistan Today.

Agha, a politician from old Lahore who was awarded a senate ticket by his party for March elections, said his party would contest the next general elections jointly with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). “There is nothing final in politics and situations change at the eleventh hour, but so far it is expected that the

PML-Q and the PPP would contest elections jointly, as the PML-nawaz leadership remains stubborn and there is a remote chance of the unification of PML factions,” he said.

Agha praised the Army, media and the judiciary for supporting democracy, saying that each institution should play its role to strengthen democracy and make Pakistan stronger. Agha, who remained a senator, a member of the national assembly, and a four-time councillor from Lahore, said that the Senate elections would be held in time.

He said the PML-Q had seen tough times immediately after the 2008 elections but it did not lose hope. “It was a hard time for us, as our members were hijacked by our opponents; but our leadership remained cool and our hard work paid us. now we are in a strong position and have reorganised our party for the

coming elections. We have stronger candidates than other parties and hope to win the next elections,” Agha said. He said his party had made major contributions during its previous rule, which ended in 2008.

“We introduced reforms in health, education, police, social and all other areas, and people liked all these steps. We would go to the people and present our achievements, and we are hopeful to get a positive response from them,” he said.

He said the party leadership had nothing against its former members who deserted the party, saying they would be welcomed back into the party if they wanted to come back. “In fact, we are in contact with a number of members and they are interested to support us in the Senate elections,” he said.

To a question about the Imran Khanled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said the PML-Q “feels no threat from the

PTI”. “We have done all the things that Imran Khan is now talking about. We are also in contact with the PTI and feel no threat from them.” To another question on the Balochistan issue, Agha said that foreign forces were working to destabilise Balochistan and were blaming the government and security forces for the unrest.

He said that media and the judiciary needed to play their active role in restoring peace in Balochistan. “The Balochis are patriotic people but some parties and feudal lords are destabilising the province to achieve their malicious goals.”

To a question on the prime minister’s possible disqualification, he said the PM was defending the case with a positive attitude, as “he is not in any mood of confrontation and it is a good omen for the country”. He said if the current prime minister is disqualified, a new interim prime minister would be elected to keep

Kamil Ali Agha

the system intact, as “there is no chance of any martial law”. He said that Senate elections would be held in time and there was no possibility of a delay. He said the 20th Amendment would give legal cover to the recently held by-elections, and “there is nothing to worry about”. “The 20th Amendment is in the final phase and soon it will become part of the constitution,” Agha added.

PU organises sports workshop

Rain after a sunny Sunday

LAHore STAff RePoRT

LAHore STAff RePoRT

More scattered rain is expected in Lahore after a sunny Sunday, weather experts have said.

The met office said the city would undergo a fresh spell of scattered rain as westerly waves had entered in the country, adding that the spell would remain for two more days and the city would be in the grip of cold winds.

Meanwhile the weather on Thursday remained cold and dry. The highest recorded temperature was 6C and the lowest was 4C. Shallow westerly trough is affecting northwest Balochistan and is likely to produce isolated rain/snow over there.

A fresh westerly wave is likely to approach on Sunday that will generate scattered rain in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, north Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. This weather system is likely to persist for three days. Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country. However rain with snowfall over the hills likely to occur at isolated places of Quetta, Zhob , Kalat and Malakand divisions on Friday.

Rain with snowfall over the hills is expected at isolated place of Quetta, Zhob, Malakand, Hazara divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

Weather remained cold and dry in most part the country.

THe PLAYgRounD THAT WAS once A TRAIn: Boys play ‘chor sipahi’ around a train in garhi Shahu. MuRTAzA Ali

Police bust 10 gangs in 15 days LAHORE: Investigation wing of the Lahore Police has arrested 968 Proclaimed Offenders (POs) and busted 10 notorious gangs in last 15 days. According to a handout issued on Thursday, 31 members of the aforesaid gangs have also been rounded up and stolen property worth over Rs 1.4 million has been recovered from their possession. The spokesman said around 15 cases of robbery, two cases of robberycum-murder, 77 cases of robbery, 17 cases of vehicle snatching, 76 of cars theft, and 54 cases of stolen motorbikes had also been traced. DIG Investigation Ali Aamir Malik and SSP Investigation Abdul Razzaq Cheema have praised the efforts of the investigation wing and announced cash prizes and commendatory certificates for the police teams concerned. STAff RePoRT

Doubling the misery, after vowing to end it LAHore STAff RePoRT

About 10 days back Power Minister naveed Qamar pleasantly surprised the nation by vowing to do away with load shedding, but his claim remains a dream for the consumers, who faced protracted spells of power closure on Thursday. While PEPCO has recommenced load shedding for the consumers, intriguingly, no announcement had been made by the authority beforehand and hence, it was a massive jolt for the people. Unlike the past when power was curtailed for one hour spells, this time people had to make do without electricity for two hours consecutively. The power was closed early in the morning for two hours causing inconvenience for the school going children and people also ended up being late for the offices. This wasn’t all, as electric supply for closed for two hours again in the noon, and another two hour spell followed in the evening. In many areas, the situation was even worse as power closure lasted for more than two hours. Every part of the city including Gulshan Ravi, Samanabad, Township, Wapda Town, Wahdat Road, Iqbal Town, Model Town, Garden Town, Muslim Town, Awan Town, Baghbanpura, Shalimar and Mustafabad had to bear the brunt of load shedding. According to Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) officials these outages were made to bridge the gap between demand and supply, as at present the disparity is of 500MW.

Punjab University Sports Department on Thursday organised the first-ever workshop on ‘Physical Activities and Risk Management’ at Al-Raazi Hall, Undergraduate Study Centre. Physics Department Chairman Prof Dr Shaukat Ali, was the chief guest while Punjab Emergency Services 1122 DG Dr Rizwan, Director Sports Zafar Rashid, Sports Additional Director Attia Mumtaz, faculty members and a large number of students participated in the event.

Addressing the ceremony, Prof Dr Shaukat Ali highlighted the importance of sports and said that Punjab University was proud of its sportsmen who had brought their Alma Matter into limelight internationally. He urged the students to utilise their bundles of energy to propel the university to new heights. Director Sports Zafar Rashid said that the sportsmen should be encouraged to enhance their performances.

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10 Lahore

Friday, 17 February, 2012

Inter board allows manual form submission LAHore STAff RePoRT

In order to facilitate the candidates, the Intermediate Board’s administration has decided that the heads of both government and private institutions could submit the admission forms of the candidates to the board office manually, because the students, institutes as well as parents were facing difficulties in submission of forms for the Intermediate (Annual) Examination, 2012 via the internet.

This step has been taken after unrelenting requests of the institutions. The admission forms can be downloaded from the Lahore Board website, with the condition that the paper should be of the allowed size weighing 80 grams. A photocopy of the admission form can also be used with the same weight of paper. Intermediate (Annual) Examination, 2012 would commence from 5th May, 2012.

city hotels fined over lack of hygiene LAHore

THe Sun AT HIS cIgAReTTe’S TIP: A drug addict lights his cigarette with the sun. nADeeM iJAz

STAff RePoRT

The CDGL food department has fined Rs 162,500 to various city hotels, restaurants and marriage halls owing to unhygienic food items and lack of cleanliness. This joint action was taken by the food department during the month of January, during which, 1,349 food samples were collected and sent to the laboratory for further checking. In the report submitted to DCO Lahore it has been told that food checking in the city was carried out on a regular basis. DCO Lahore Ahed Cheema has issued further instructions and ordered a strict check on food items as it is the foremost duty of the CDGL to provide hygienic food. He further said that the violators should be subjected according to law and heavy fines and punishments should be given to them accordingly.

‘Special children as beautiful as tulips’ LAHore STAff RePoRT

The Governor Punjab Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa has said that the Tulip Flower Show 2012, which was held in the honour of special children, was a refreshing and joyous event. He said that the special children were as beautiful and radiant as the tulips displayed before them. He also lauded the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club and its co-partner, Green Works for their efforts in empowering 200 farmers with the technical knowledge and growing these beautiful flowers in the guidance of two Dutch experts. In the Flower Show various people from different walks of life, foreign dignitaries and numerous special children were present.

Screaming against terrorism LAHORE: SCREAM Chairman Waqar Khalid said those using Islam to promote terrorism don’t deserve any mercy and that we must unite to overcome them. He said that university and college students and teachers could play an important role against terrorism and it is for that reason that they had arranged seminars in educational institutions to educate people about terrorism. He said that SCREAM was set up to take care of the terrorism victims who had suffered losses and to provide a platform to speak out against terrorism. Waqar Khalid, who had survived a bomb blast said, “Our purpose is to spread awareness about the ramifications of terrorism and stimulate a change in the minds of the individuals to stand against all sorts of extremism.” STAff RePoRT

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LHC’s commission to visit Efroz Chemical Industries in Karachi LAHore

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STAff RePoRT

HE inquiry tribunal, set up to probe deaths caused by Punjab Institute of Cardiology’s (PIC) spurious medicines, on Thursday appointed a commission to visit the factory premises of Efroz Chemical Industries at Karachi. The commission will inspect the premises, production and storage facilities and examine the relevant records regarding procurement, manufacture, sales and dispatch of medicines produced in the factory.

The commission will also visit the Drug Testing Laboratory, meet Federal Drug Inspector, collect information from the investigating officer at Karachi and submit its report to the tribunal.

The tribunal also summoned former Punjab Health Secretary Jahanzeb Khan Barki, Chairman PIC Procurement Committee and CEO PIC on February 20. The tribunal comprises Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, who was conducting hearings on day-to-day basis. On Thursday, the tribunal recorded the statements of World health Organisation (WHO) representatives, including EMM Coordinator Team Leader Syed Khalid Saeed

Bukhari, Anti-Counterfeiting Programme Quality Assurance & Safety Michael Deats, Regional Advisor, Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies Muhammad Ahmad bin Shahna, and Chief Pharmacist Ms Trudi Hilton. They also produced evidence in support of their statements.

Further, Prof Dr Muhammad Azhar, former Chief Executive, PIC also appeared and his supplementary statement was recorded. It is pertinent to mention that the tribunal will complete its inquiry within 30 days and submit a report to the government. It will determine elements responsible for the negligence and suggest measures to stop such incidents in the future. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sh Azmat Saeed had constituted the tribunal after being approached by the Punjab government.

BLInD CAnDIDAtE CASE Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan of the Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) to take the interview of a blind candidate for the post of English lecturer under the two percent quota for the handicapped. The court passed the order on a petition filed by Jabber Hussain, a MA English blind candidate, through his counsel Azhar Siddique contending that PPSC was paying

no heed to the quota reserved for handicapped candidates and had failed him in an interview.

The judge also sought reply within two weeks from PPSC, Punjab government and Higher Education Commission (HEC) on the matter.

The petitioner said he had passed MA English, had done the English Teaching Course and applied for the post of lecturer after PPSC advertised the 1,456 posts in Punjab. He said he applied according to the conditions laid down in the advertisement and qualified the test with a serial number of 1,038 in the merit list out of total 1,456 seats. However, he had been declared as ‘failed’ in the interview conducted by the commission on January 16 despite the two percent quota he said, adding that later he visited the PPSC officer and pleaded his case but all his endeavours remained in vain. After hearing the arguments the court observed that it is the fundamental constitutional right of the handicapped people to get jobs in all departments and accordingly a quota was reserved for them under the law of the land. The judge was of the view that not the physically challenged people were an integral part of the society and deserved our sympathies but it was also their right to get jobs.

Man ends daughter’s illicit affair with bullet blitz LAHore STAff RePoRT

A man shot dead his daughter’s paramour Waseem, 32, Ferozwala resident and injured his daughter, Shumaila Ammanat, in the name of honour in the Baghbanpura Police Area on Thursday. Police found out that Shumaila and Waseem had had an illicit relationship over the past few years and this had forced Shumaila’s father Ammanat to leave his native place in Ferozewala and move to Ahmed Town, Lahore some three years back. Ammanat also wedded Shumaila with one Imran but she had kept on contacting Waseem and had gone as far as eloping with him for a week or two.

About 22 days ago Shumaila again left her home along with Waseem. On Thursday both of them visited her house in order to collect some clothes where they had to bear the brunt of the father’s antagonism, who opened a blitz of fire on them. As a result Shumaila and Waseem sustained serious wounds and were rushed to a nearby hospital where the latter succumbed to injuries while Shumaila was said to be in a critical condition.

Police after reaching the scene removed the body of the victim to the morgue for autopsy and registered a case against Ammanat, who appeared before the police along with the weapon in question and surrendered himself.

CUt tHROAt EnMItY: Unknown killers slaughtered Muhammad Afzal, 33, resident of Peco Road inside his house in the Badamai Bagh Police Area. The police said that the victim was a Hakeem and was living at the said place along with his family. On Thursday, he was found lying dead on his

bed with his throat cut when his wife entered his room to bring in breakfast. Afzal’s wife informed locals and police, who after reaching the scene removed the corpse to the morgue for autopsy and started investigating the matter. Police investigators believed that the victim was killed over old enmity. Sources in police, however, claimed that police were also investigating the prospect of a failed robbery bid.

POISOnED tO DEAtH: Ghulam nabi, 45, Bhaati Chowk resident, died under mysterious circumstances in the Bhaati Gate Police Area on Thursday. The police said that he was found lying in a state of unconsciousness and that locals informed rescue officials, who after reaching the scene rushed him to the Mayo Hospital where he died. Police suspected that he died owing to poisonous food and said that they were trying to contact his relatives and would take action according to their complaint.

HEARt AttACK: A 75-years-old unidentified woman, who was found unconscious from a park near Bhatti Chowk died in a local hospital owing to a heart attack on Thursday. The police removed her body to the morgue and started the search for her heirs.

MOtORCYLE RAMS IntO WARDEn: A traffic warden and a motorcyclist sustained injuries when the former rammed into the latter in the Ghalib Market Police Area on Thursday. As per details traffic warden Rana Muhammad Akbar was on duty near FC college underpass when suddenly a motorcyclist Khan lost control over his bike and collided with him. As a result both sustained injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for medical aid where doctors declared them as stable.

SiMUN begins LAHORE: The 2nd SICAS Model United nations (SiMUn) officially commenced its sessions on February 16. Delegations from educational institutes in and out of Lahore attended the opening ceremony which saw young diplomats discoursing ongoing cultural, political and social issues. The large turnout of over twenty five schools and colleges showed how SiMUn had managed to excelled over other local MUns. The main objective behind the event is “to ride the waves of change in terms of social and economic strata.”

SICAS has already been riding on this wave; its delegation has been winning accolades on national and international forums, as their efforts to change the global perspective are recognised. The ceremony started off with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome address from the school principal, Shehryar Salamat.

“Our goal is to develop leaders of tomorrow by nurturing students of today,” he said. He explained the quintessence of MUns by referring to the African Union and the Arab Spring as prime examples of youth collectives. Ashab Shahzad and Usman Rana Majid, president and vice president of the SICAS MUn society, also welcomed the delegates. The event will go on till Sunday and the delegates will deliberate upon issues of social justice, welfare and war and peace to vie for the best delegation award. To offer the delegates relief from the proceedings of the day the Host Team has arranged for several events including a performance by Quratulain Baloch and Entity Paradigm on the 17th. AMeeR HAMZA SHAKeeL/jAffeR AHMeD

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Friday, 17 February, 2012

Editor’s mail 11

Reversing security problems Since the primary problem around which the entire turmoil in Balochistan revolves is that of law and order, it must be viewed and addressed accordingly.

The security situation in the current scenario is being handled in a most disturbing fashion where approximately five percent of the province is under Frontier Constabulary (FC) while the rest of the 95 percent is predominantly being monitored by the Levies. The Frontier Constabulary operates under the provincial government and is primarily installed to deal with border security issues and curbing the free flow of ammunition into the province. The Frontier Constabulary, despite being a cohesive and organised

force, has been facing great threat from militants and criminal groups that have killed hundreds of FC soldiers so far.

The Levies, however, is a loosely knitted force that has not been appropriately trained for security responsibilities. They are being controlled by the local elite and according to authentic sources, many cases have been reported where affiliations with hardcore criminals and terrorists have been noted.

In this background, the security apparatus needs to be more organised and vibrant and ought to display professionalism so that they gain the trust and support of the people. Law enforcement in the backdrop of a complex and pro-

Trial of graves tracted insurgency is not a job for any Tom, Dick or Harry. This is something that the democratic government needs to realise and address without further delay.

A well trained civilian force ought to be installed in the entire province.

The federal government needs to strengthen, support and empower the provincial government to make it more responsible towards its fundamental duties. Reforms need to be introduced and a democratic structure needs to be installed in the province to make it more dynamic and representative of all segments of society from all the districts.

The elected government should give top priority to the ignored province and

its people by ensuring that required reforms are introduced to reverse the worsening law and order situation. This can only be possible by taking all the stakeholders on board to devise and implement a politically plausible strategy.

Trouble only settles in when the centre becomes unable to hold on to its constituent parts. It is never just the economic, political or social factors that take people to the brink of separation; it is a lack of trust, a lack of communication and a lack of ownership, love and compassion for each other that splits people and nations into worthless fragments.

LUBNA UMAR Islamabad

Trade with India India and Pakistan are slowly making progress in building a trustworthy relationship by liberalising trade policies.

About fifty Indian entrepreneur displayed their products and services in Lahore Exhibition Centre from February 11-13, which was visited by a large number of people. It was a first time for the trade show when it hosted Indian companies. It was also the first time that the Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma visited Pakistan along with 120 Indian businessmen.

Pakistani businessmen are supporting the government in normalising bilateral trade between the two countries, although India has not still allowed some Pakistani products to be exported to India due to non tariff barriers by India.

For example, India is not allowing the free export of cement although India needs it to meet the rising demand of cement.

Majority of the people in both countries want peace. Free trade between the two countries will not only reduce the tension on their borders but it will also enable Pakistan Army to concentrate in tackling the internal security issues. It is time that both countries forgot and forgave their past and moved their attention towards poverty and illiteracy which are prevailing in both countries. Millions of people are living below poverty line in Pakistan and India deprived of quality health care and education.

Pakistan is in dire need of direct investment to overcome energy crisis, unemployment and increase its per capita income. We should allow direct investment from Indian investors, who have already made huge investment in other countries. It will be in the interest of Pakistan to allow Indian investors to invest in infrastructure, energy sector and in real estate.

In today’s global world, the security of any country does not depend on its defence capability and on the number of nukes it possess but it depends on its per capita income of its citizens. Huge pile of nukes was not able to protect Soviet Union from disintegration. It is the living standard of country’s citizens which ensures its security and future. Pakistan is blessed with hardworking people and tremendous natural resources. What we need to do is to harness them by having friendly relationship with neighbouring countries on mutually beneficial basis.

It is time to change our foreign policy and security policy doctrine. Past policies have failed miserably to protect our national interests. It is time to close the chapter of past history move on. It is time to think and plan for the future. If we want to become a role model Islamic welfare state, we have to follow some good and log term policies.

S T HUSSAIN Lahore

Advice for Imran I appreciate Imran Khan for giving an advice to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to resign as he has no moral justification to continue after his indictment in contempt of the court case.

I want to point out that charity begins at home. First, Imran Khan should give up politics for good as a few years back, he himself admitted in public he was engaged in an illicit relation with Ms Sita White who had also one illegitimate child from him. Even in an advance country, if such scandal surfaces, the politicians do resign.

MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL Karachi

The biggest threat to democracy is the tendency of those elected to serve people trying to acquire dictatorial powers . I fail to understand why those who are involved in corruption and still alive want to malign Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by using the label ‘trial of graves’.

This is a constitutional democracy where no elected public office holder or paid servant of the state is above the law and can claim immunity from judicial accountability for any personal crimes committed.

However, if the stance of PPP leadership, or heirs of Benazir Bhutto, that this is a trial of graves, thereby insinuating that the former chairperson of their party was perhaps involved, then they themselves are doing injustice to her memory.

If they cherish her memory and would like her name to be cleared, then the least they can do is what the religion or honour demands, which is to pay back. If that is the situation they should be seen facilitating a speedy trial instead of politicising this issue. nobody, not even Shaheeds, will be exempted from Haqooq-ul-Ebad on the Day of Judgment. nobility, piety or honour cannot be claimed as inheritance.

Those involved in fleecing Hajis and patronising corruption during past four years have proven this by their deeds.

MIR TASSADAQ Lahore

Religious text in papers

creased tolerance for political pluralism.

However, the democracy in Pakistan is still not very mature and so the media while making bold sweeping statements needs to take that into consideration.

The Baloch issue has highlighted this paradox. Whereas the media is free, it is still faced with considerable external pressures while reporting on certain sensitive issues.

So even with so much apparent media freedom, the media is faced with many external threats encroaching upon its right of speech and expression.

These limitations have been witnessed in the media’s silence over the extrajudicial killings of the Baloch.

Pakistan earned itself one of the top positions in the list of ‘the most dangerous countries’ for journalists in 2010.

Many incidents of media harassment have been reported. Whose fault is it really for the marginalisation of the Baloch? Is the media really to be blamed?

MAHAM RAHMAN KHAN Lahore

Every day when I pick up the newspaper, I come across a lot of religious text and pictures printed in it. Either there are obituaries and advertisements with Quranic verses written in them, pictures of the Holy Ka’abah and the Prophet’s Mosque and even sometimes these Quranic verses and Hadith are printed by the newspapers themselves.

The printing of such articles, pictures and advertisements containing religious matter increases even more on special Islamic occasions like Eid-ulFitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Haj and Eid Miladun-nabi, etc.

However, I would like to draw the attention of all newspaper editors towards a bitter reality. It is not hidden from anyone as to what happens with newspapers once they are printed and distributed. First of all, the hawkers who supply newspapers to our homes and offices, throw them on the floor as they move from one house to another delivering the papers. Then, once a newspaper has been read, it serves many other purposes. It is used for cleaning, wrapping, making packets out of it, or is simply thrown away.

This is a completely irreverent attitude towards religion and it also means openly dishonouring all the religious text or pictures which have been published in the newspaper. But, if I may add, that it is not as much the people’s mistake as it is of the newspaper authorities. The people, most of the time, aren’t even aware of the fact that the newspaper which they are using for so many different purposes, contains a Quranic verse or a Hadith.

However, the editor is well informed of whatever is being published in his newspaper. Therefore, it is my humble request to all newspaper editors to please refrain from publishing any kind of religious matter in their newspapers to protect the sanctity of sacred words.

MADIHA VIQUAR Karachi

The second purpose of these outfits was to keep Pakistan under pressure by demanding independence and also to raise the issue at international level.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher – a Baloch nationalist supporter who organised and chaired the congressional hearing on Balochistan, assured the Americans that the Baloch are natural US allies, and would like to share the Gwadar port with the United States, would not allow the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline through their lands and would fight the Taliban as well. All these unsavoury developments are due to widening trust deficit between the two allies fighting a joint war on terror.

It is very disheartening to note that these foreign based organisations patro-

nised by exiled Baloch chieftains are discussing their inter-province disputes and feuds to a foreign country. These antiPakistan alliances working in foreign countries are distorting the positive and favourable national image at the international level.

The democratically-driven Pakistan is more than capable of protecting fundamental rights and freedoms in all parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan.

With the placement of independent judiciary, an enlightened civil society coupled with a vigorous media, redress of grievances – be it political or economic, can be befittingly addressed to satisfaction.

RAHEELA NAUREEN Islamabad

Beggars at large Street beggars have become a great nuisance. They are found in every place; markets, roads, public places and even in front of mosques. The government should have taken this issue seriously before it went out of control.

I do not mean to denounce the feeling of charity which every human being must have. What I am trying to say is that

our ethical norms Our media has seen marked advancement in the first decade of the current century. But it is still in the stage of infancy and that is why there is hardly any ethical code being followed by our media.

The revolution has contributed a lot in bringing the information from all over the world in seconds but unfortunately has failed miserably in safeguarding our moral and ethical values, especially among the young generation.

In order to merely enhance the ratings and business, we are projecting negative norms, traditions and customs; we have left the originators ie, the West, far behind. A short advertisement normally does not exceed more than a couple of minutes but does carry a lot of impact on young minds.

Ads of mobile companies suggest as the use of mobile is limited to conversations among the young couples only and that too for the whole night.

Love affairs among the youth and

the government or the public itself must come forward and make suitable arrangements for feeding and housing the genuinely poor people. If we seriously try to solve this matter, it can be handled.

SANIA REHAN Karachi

cheating the parents in the process are now a compulsory ingredient of our every second drama serial.

Unfortunately, improvements in the field of communication have very negative effects on them. Over the years, the way we have started celebrating Valentines Day so enthusiastically is again a testimony of the fact.

MUHAMMAD SALEEM SHEHZAD Rawalpindi

on Baloch killings This is in response to the silence of the media over the activities of the military and the agencies in Balochistan. Ignoring such a grave issue and such blatant breach of human rights raises a very pertinent question regarding the state of media in Pakistan today.

Apparently, Pakistan has one of the most open and free media in the entire world. It has succeeded in creating awareness and stirring public opinion.

As is evident by the voter’s poll in the past few years, political participation has increased and there is in-

US congressional hearing on Balochistan This is in apropos of a news item “US hearing termed ill-advised” (Febuary 11) that has been termed as most bizarre and interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. It is quite surprising that on the one side, US President Obama is trying vigorously to reduce tensions that have bedevilled US-Pakistan relations for more than a year, whereas on the other side, the US legislators have staged an unusual US congressional hearing on human rights abuses in Balochistan. Is this not a paradoxical US policy?

By doing so, US is trying to pressurise Pakistan to soften its stance over nATO air attacks on Salala check post along with its decision on nATO’s supply lines to Afghanistan and secondly highlighting Balochistan as a stronghold of

Taliban (allegedly Quetta Shura) close to a US war theatre.

Since long, Baloch diaspora in United States has been playing a negative role against Pakistan. However, with the sneaking of some renegade Baloch tribal chieftains into European countries, the foreign-based Baloch organisations of Pakistani origin intensified their anti-Pakistan rhetoric by advocating the so-called Balochi cause.

The mainline associations are American Friends of Balochistan (AFB), London-based Greater Balochistan national Conference (GBnC), Scandinavianbased Baloch outfits, etc. They highlight the so-called miseries of Baloch to the Senators, Congressmen as well as Indian cartels associated with media in the US.

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 gilani’s innocence Not it, he says

W

hile Prime Minister Gilani might really be innocent as he claims, the arguments he advances would have few takers outside the PPP. His answers to the questions raised about cases of apparent misuse of authority are particularly unconvincing. Referring to the appointments of Adnan Khwaja, Khurram Rasul and Rao Shakeel, he maintains that this was done on the basis of recommendations made by the officials. Being in the thick of parliamentary politics for nearly a quarter of a century, Gilani was expected to choose advisors carefully and use his judgment when accepting their recommendations. If the excuse was to be accepted, the grievous sins committed by Ayub, Yahya and Zia and many civilian rulers will have to be forgiven for most of them claimed they were given bad advice.

Gilani maintains that his government has done a lot for Balochistan. But have the forced disappearances or custodial killings stopped? Have Bugti’s murderers been brought to book? Does Balochistan enjoy provincial autonomy? The province’s governor and the prime minister have repeatedly claimed that they are powerless and the agencies continue to act on their own. Gilani claims that he gave an extension to the DG ISI on his own. He must therefore also take responsibility for the abysmal failure to rein in the agency.

What is the use of calling an APC on Balochistan when the government is not willing to do its own duties? Gilani now holds that the government did not write to the Swiss authorities because the president is a part of parliament and it would have amounted to contempt of parliament if he had written the letter to a foreign government seeking his trial.

This may be a good afterthought or better advice, but whether it would convince the court remains to be seen. That banned outfits continue to remain active after assuming new names is a reflection on the quality of the PPP administration’s governance. But Gilani has little to say in his defence besides laying the blame for inaction on the provincial governments despite Sindh being ruled by the same coalition that controls the centre.

Gilani has shown unusual tolerance and forbearance as a PM. One also expected him to be forthright. This is, however, what one fails to find in his answers.

Bowing out And knowing when to leave

T

o be fair to the ISI chief, he has not himself asked for another extension. So the blame for propagating this dullard idea should not be placed on him. Certain sections of the press, more loyal than the king are doing their thing, in not too subtle a manner. One went to the extent of putting words to the effect in the mouth of the American ambassador, whom this paper has on good authority said no such thing.

Opposition to the extension should not necessarily be construed as a verdict on the incumbent. The fact of the matter is that the military prides itself for the systematic execution of directives; that for every superannuation, there is a whole smorgasbord of capable officers for the higher ups – or, in this case, the prime minister – to choose from. Times like these are ones that put those vehemently made assertions to the test. Systems matter, individuals do not.

Should not.

Were one to make an assessment of General Pasha’s performance as the military’s spymaster, there could be much to question. The Abbottabad operation took place on his watch. So did the Mehran base attack. As did the scores upon scores of missing persons cases in Balochistan and other parts of the country. General Pasha’s tenure also saw the terror of 2009 (not to imply that the other years were dramatically better).

But, again, the above instances shouldn’t be taken as an indictment of the incumbent; maybe it is a comment on the efficiency of the agency as a whole. Its role as an intelligence agency has been compromised over the years because of other duties that are not legally in its ambit. The establishment of a political cell and one for the management of the media (not a PR department, the reader should note, but one for the management and monitoring of journalists) are some examples of that. When departments go about doing all sorts of things, their principal job is bound to suffer; hence the slew of intelligence failures.

In professional armies the world over, war heroes have known to have been kicked upstairs or eased out. War heroes.

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

Friday, 17 February, 2012

Colonising the Pakistani mind The menace within

By Fahd Husain

T

he word 'calm' is a relative one.

More so in Pakistan. A lull in acts of terrorism reinforces the feeling of calm. But even this is relative. If Karachi, Lahore and the twin cities of Islamabad / Rawalpindi are calm, Pakistan is considered calm. That is how the policymakers and opinion-makers perceive it.

They are wrong.

Just because the likes of TTP haven't targeted a major location (and I use the term 'major' loosely), doesn’t necessarily mean they are out of business. neither does it mean the State of Pakistan is prevailing in the fight against them. In fact, when we equate the most violent type of violence with terrorism, we tend to box in an unboxable problem. Terrorism is one aspect of extremism, which in turn is one off-shoot of intolerance.

Confused? A new report helps us understand. Titled "Extremism Watch: Mapping Conflict Trends in Pakistan 2010-11", it has been produced by Jinnah Institute.

The report has put together a wealth of data about the scale of organised violence that wracked Pakistan in this one-year period.

It is divided into six segments detailing different themes ably penned by Salman Zaidi, Raza Rumi, Sabina Ansari, Sehar Tariq, Fatima Mujtaba, Madeeha Ansari and Mishal Khan, and supervised by Executive Director

of the institute Ejaz Haider. The report was launched yesterday in Islamabad.

This report comes at a time when public discourse on terrorism and extremism in Pakistan is at a critically sensitive juncture.

The American deadline for evacuating Afghanistan is nearing, and senior US officials have hinted at an even earlier timeframe than 2014 given by President Obama.

Linked to this is the attempt at negotiating with the Afghan Taliban to try and draw them into some form of a post-American governance structure. The opening of the Taliban offices in Qatar seems to have institutionalised, if you may, this nascent effort to engage the adversary.

As these developments gather momentum, Pakistan finds itself at an "I-told-youso" moment. "See we told you its best to engage the Taliban because they cannot be wished away," Pakistani officials seem to be saying to their frustrated American counterparts. It may be fine to bask in the moment for a while, but sadly the blowback of such a mindset-driven policy is yet to reach its peak intensity. One such effect is the gradual change in perceptions within Pakistan itself. The obvious question is: If the Americans – of all the people – can negotiate with the Afghan Taliban, why should not we negotiate with the Pakistani Taliban, aka TTP? The linear logic may be sound, but sadly it's not that simple. The Afghan Taliban are connected to the Pakistani Taliban, who in turn are connected to Al-Qaeda, both of whom are connected to the likes of Sipah Sahaba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi etc. And these organisations – supposedly banned – are continuing to unleash sectarian and inter-faith violence across Pakistan.

Sometimes even logic has its limits.

These are some of the grim lessons that emerge from the Jinnah Institute report.

The primary lesson is that while terrorism may be battled with heavy firepower and military operations, extremism is a deeper and more malignant problem which pervades the Pakistani population in greater strength than we would like to admit.

In the report's own words, it: "looks at

recent incidents of violence rooted in religious extremism to determine trends in an increasingly militarised public space. The report seeks to isolate incidents of extremism from terrorism – notwithstanding the academic debates on definition for both terms – to identify the broad overlap in the cause, nature and agents of both phenomena and to show that in addition to acts of terrorism this mindset has also become a social norm."

So we see increasing frequency of bloody incidents like the gunning down of Hazaras in Balochistan, we see the depressing trend of schools being dynamited, we see the shocking acts of shrines and mosques being bombed and the deep scars of such violence being burnished on innocent men, women and children.

The bitter reality then is that if Pakistan's policy is ambivalent on tackling extremism, so is Pakistani public opinion.

This ambivalence and confusion also pollutes public discourse thereby further reinforcing a confused public mindset. When the media shows images of Salman Taseer's assassin being garlanded, what message does it send out to the viewers and readers?

When major political leaders refuse to condemn the assassin, or the violent and intolerant ideology he espouses, what message does this send out to the voters?

The State of Pakistan has done precious little to even begin to battle this creeping menace. Short term political calculations have always trumped long term concerns.

If intolerance raised its head in the 1950s (as Raza Rumi details in his excellent essay in the report) then more than half a century later it continues to dig its claws deeper into Pakistani society.

They say a mind is a terrible thing to waste. We seem to be doing just that.

The writer hosts a primetime talk show on ARY news. He has worked as Director News of Express news and Dunya news and Editor The news, Islamabad. He can be reached at fahd.husain1@gmail.com or on Twitter @fahdhusain

Regional Press

PM in the dock Daily khabroona

P

rime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is not the first prime minister in the country’s history to face contempt of court charges. Chief Justice Supreme Court, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry during the hearing of the case candidly said that court orders could not be violated and the letter should be written to the Swiss banks.

Aitzaz Ahsan, the lawyer of the prime minister has said that the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and nusrat Bhutto also presented themselves before the court of justice because the party had always held the judiciary in high esteem. Likewise, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has also respected the court’s directives by presenting himself before the apex court.

It is, however, maintained by many quarters that the cur-

rent situation is more of a tussle between state organs than anything else. But as this ‘tussle’ is ongoing, it is brushing the more important issue of corruption under the carpet. If somebody has indeed stolen from the national exchequer (which is the public’s money), that wrong must be corrected.

The prime minister of the country should have acted on court orders and written the letter to the Swiss banks. Instead of harping on about how this government has worked to eradicate corruption, they should try to prove their intentions with practical actions.

The masses of the country should be the priority of any government institution in any functioning democracy. This can only be ensured if public officials and servants of the state prove their words with deeds and walk the talk.

– Translated from the original Pashto by Abdur Rauf Khattak

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Friday, 17 February, 2012

Comment 13

Diplomatic reshuffle

life in a metro

change of guard at the foreign office

Like the city’s lifelines…

cross currents

By Qudssia Akhlaque

T

here will be a change of guard at the Foreign Office early next month when Jalil Abbas Jilani, currently serving as ambassador to the European Union, will take over as Pakistan’s 27th foreign secretary.

Meanwhile, the outgoing foreign secretary Salman Bashir has been given the passage to India. As the high commissioner to India, he will occupy Islamabad's top diplomatic slot in Delhi. Mr Bashir succeeds Shahid Malik, who competently held the Delhi front for almost seven years and set a record of extensions in the process.

Perhaps Salman Bashir's appointment was prompted by the concern that some continuity was needed on the Pakistan-India track. Simultaneous departure of Pakistan's two key interlocutors, the foreign secretary and the high commissioner in Delhi, would have meant the process of normalisation, that has finally started rolling after a tense postMumbai phase, would have been passed to a new set of hands.

All this plus the outgoing foreign secretary's proven diplomatic skills notwithstanding, Salman Bashir’s tenure in Delhi will be another case of post-retirement assignment. Many in the Foreign Office will ask why anyone is considered indispensable. Were there no other suitable serving career diplomats available for this key slot? The professional validity of extensions will always be questioned,

especially by the younger professionals. It is demoralising for them since it blocks promotions and timely ambassadorial assignments.

The new Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani is a relative of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and comes from Multan. Viewed widely as level-headed and hard working, he is a diplomat with exceptional interpersonal skills. He joined the Pakistan Foreign Service in 1979 and has served in key diplomatic missions abroad including Washington, new Delhi, Brussels, London and Jeddah. Mr Jilani was briefly given additional charge of the Foreign Office Spokesperson in 2005. He also served as deputy secretary at the prime minister’s secretariat during Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's tenure.

Missing from Jilani’s assignment dossier however is China, Pakistan's only real strategic ally. Interestingly, several notable former foreign secretaries, including Agha Shahi, Inamul Haq, Riaz Khokhar, Riaz Mohammad Khan and Salman Bashir, had all served as ambassadors to China prior to their taking over as foreign secretaries.

Mr Jilani has to his credit a strong India focus and has been the Foreign Office's longest-serving director-general of South Asia Division.

He therefore was the ministry's point-man on India for almost half a decade. Jilani also served as the deputy high commissioner at Pakistan’s mission in new Delhi in 1999 and later as Acting High Commissioner from 2002 to 2003. He was declared persona non grata and asked to leave by the Indian government on fabricated charges when tension peaked between the two countries in February 2003.

He was director-general South Asia Division during the successful 12th Saarc Summit in Islamabad that paved the way for resumption of the stalled composite

dialogue and normalisation process with India. Mr Jilani remained involved in the composite dialogue and this declared persona non grata in India remained closely involved in Pak-India dialogue which also resulted in the initiation of the MuzaffarabadSrinagar bus service. He was also in the Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan's team which strongly advocated that Pakistan move the World Bank on the controversial Baglihar Dam dispute with India.

As the new foreign secretary, Mr Jilani will face the challenge of facilitating implementation of the parliament-approved US policy, the management of a challenge-loaded Afghanistan policy and staying the course on a meaningful engagement with Delhi. He will have to deal with the broader policy canvas on which Pakistan needs to be positioned with a role to play in this Asian century.

Within the Foreign Office, the appointment of a new spokesperson is also due but more importantly Mr Jilani will also have to take the initiative of improving the calibre and morale of Pakistan’s current crop of diplomats. Attention has also to be given to career path of promising officers who can effectively execute their respective mandates. On professionalism and merit there must be no compromise. A level-playing field must be ensured to avoid unnecessary resentment and friction that is counterproductive.

Come March, the ball will be in the new foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jillani’s court.

The writer is a senior journalist and has been a diplomatic correspondent for leading dailies. She was an Alfred Friendly Press Fellow at The Chicago Tribune in the US and a Press Fellow at Wolfson College, Cambridge, UK. She can be reached via email at qudssia@hotmail.com

I

wonder how Lahore will change if it gets as cool a metro train service as Delhi.

The construction of the Delhi Metro began in 1998. In 2012, the subway system has 200 trains running on 190km of tracks daily from 6am-11pm, carrying around 1.8 million commuters every day.

The Metro has changed the way we Delhiwallas tackle our city. The Capital has arrayed itself into a rainbow of lines – red, yellow, green, blue, violet and orange. The pillars under the elevated Metro tracks serve as landmarks and, on occasion, as a guiding system for lost sheep, e.g. “Haven’t reached yet? Just follow the Metro, and turn left at pillar no. 125. The wedding venue is right opposite.”

The Metro track also marks the boundary between stifling tradition and relative liberty. At least one Bollywood film (Dilli 6) has documented that the modestly dressed girls of Old Delhi fling off their veils as the train leaves the Chawri Bazar station.

That the Metro is convenient for more than just commuting became evident in 2011 when a management student launched MetroMates. The website helps travellers find love on the tracks. “The idea of MetroMates came when I noticed people staring at each other, wanting to strike up conversations but not knowing how to do it,” said Sameer Suri, 25, who started the dating service. It has more than 8,000 regisBy Mayank Austen Soofi tered users.

In the old days of getting from A to B, Delhi’s Blueline buses were romantic only in films. In real life, they were dreaded for rash driving, overcrowding, jostling and groping. Usually, if a girl locked eyes with a man on the bus, it meant she was glaring at him.

Anayana (name changed on request), who commuted in buses during her college years, told me: “I looked ugly on buses, but look like a babe on the Metro. You also smell better. You reach on time and have fewer fights with your boyfriend.” Praising the anonymity of the Metro, she said, “If I’m spotted with a boy in an autorickshaw or on a bus, I might be in trouble.

But if I’m seen talking to my lover on the Metro, I can always say I met a friend on the train.”

The malls and multiplexes in the vicinity of Metro stations have become popular

Delhi calling

meeting points for people in love. Some action can also be spotted right inside the coaches. It is far from unusual to see youngsters holding hands, whispering into each other’s ears and sometimes even embracing. A TV ad for a toothpaste has a couple pretending to kiss in what looks like a Delhi Metro compartment. A discreetly shot YouTube clip that shows a pair kissing each other on the Metro has received more than 1,00,000 hits. Smooching is still an extremely rare sight on the trains though.

“The daily proximity and exposure to each other helps build a relationship, which could bloom in an office café, a college canteen or on the Metro train that you catch daily at 10 am from Rohini,” said Samir Parikh, chief psychiatrist at Max Healthcare, a premium hospital in Delhi. “The Metro is air-conditioned, more comfortable, and has commuters from all walks of life, which makes it easier for you to find someone like you.”

Ex-radio jockey Rochie Rana, 31, made a friend in March last year when she took a train from the posh Saket. “This American was sitting next to me. I was reading a Murakami, which gave me a good excuse to banter with him (‘Have you read Kafka on the Shore?’). Soon, we started traipsing the city together.” In this too the Metro helped them. “We regularly met at the nehru Place station, where we would stand in front of the Metro route map. He would put his finger randomly on some spot and we explored it that day.”

Priya Bhattacharji, a 24-year-old brand consultant is practised in what she calls “passive interaction with good-looking boys”. She told me, “In the underground stretches, it’s dark outside the windows, so you stare at all the eye candy. They know I’m looking, but – and this is the best part – these boys don’t make me feel self-conscious.”

Every night, Anayana gets down at the noida Sector 15 station. If she is late, she calls her father as the train reaches Yamuna Bank, four stops from home. “I don’t want to think of the day when I would have to tell mummy-papa about my boyfriend,” she says, waiting for the home-bound train at Rajiv Chowk.

As the train arrived, the recorded voice announced, “Please mind the gap.” The doors opened. Anayana got in. The train pulled out.

Friends, next time I’m in Pakistan, let’s meet at MM Alam Road metro station.

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

LHR 17-02-2012_Layout 1 2/17/2012 3:59 AM Page 14

14

Friday, 17 February, 2012

Osama bin Laden

IN LIMELIGHT BeRLIN: Salma Hayek poses at the premiere screening of her film ‘As Luck Would Have It’ at the Berlinale’. AFP

wanted to marry Whitney Houston

LonDon InP

SAMA bin Laden lusted after Whitney Houston, dreamt of marrying her and at one point even plotted to murder her husband Bobby Brown, a new book has claimed. The incredible account of the terrorist's infatuation with the late singer comes from Sudanese author Kola Boof, who it is widely accepted, lived with him as his mistress. In 1996, and when holed-up in his Moroccan compound, the author claimed Osama had different things on his mind, namely sex, smoking cannabis and dancing to western pop groups like the B52s and Van Halen.

Boof, who claims she was kept as a “sex slave” by the world's most dangerous terrorist, said he thought the singer was “the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen” and that he was desperate to marry her. In an autobiography released in 2006, Boof claims bin Laden plotted to have Brown murdered before wooing Houston by giving her a mansion he owned in the suburbs of Khartoum. According to the her account, the strongly racist bin Laden puffed on cannabis before announcing he

O

would be willing to “break his colour rule” and make Houston one of his wives. Inside his warped mind he believed Houston was truly Islamic but had been brainwashed by American culture. Boof, who is black, claimed bin Laden scolded her for braiding her hair and ordered her to model herself on Houston instead. “Osama kept coming back to Whitney Houston. He said that he had a paramount desire for Whitney Houston, and although he claimed music was evil, he spoke of someday spending vast amounts of money to go to America and try to arrange a meeting with the superstar. In his briefcase I would come across photographs of the star, as well as copies of Playboy, but nobody in the West believes me when I tell them this,” she wrote. Her story first surfaced in 2002 when the Guardian newspaper published an article claiming she had had a forced sexual relationship with bin Laden and she was billed as the ‘Former Mistress of Osama Bin Laden’. While some claimed she had made up the story and that it was impossible because of her afro-American heritage, Boof has stood by her account and points out that yet two of bin Laden's twenty-five children are black and his Syrian grandmother also could be considered a Black woman.

BeRLIN: gina carano at the press conference to present their film ‘Haywire’ at the Berlinale. AFP

NeW YoRK: A model presents an outfit during the Michael Kors show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week’. AFP

BeRLIN: Antonio Banderas and Michael Fassbender at the press conference to present their film ‘Haywire’ at the Berlinale. AFP

umera Ahmad’s first novel

to be turned into a drama series neWS DeSk Umera Ahmad has many novels to her credit and a latge number of these have also been turned into drama series. Her latest novel that is set to be adapted for the small screen is her first novel ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai’. Interestingly, this novel is Umera Ahmad’s very first novel after which she professionally started writing.

Through the drama serial ‘Zindagi Gulzar

Hai’, Sultana Siddiqui will also make her comeback as a director. The novel-based drama serial will see the return of some ‘Humsafar’ star cast members and other actors, including Fawad Afzal Khan, VJ and drama actress Sanam Saeed, Waseem Abbas, Behrooz Sabzwari, and Mehreen Raheel. Fawad Afzal Khan will play a student from the elite in ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai’ whereas Sanam Saeed will be seen as a lower middle class student.

Whoever copies Dilip Kumar are idiots like me: SRK MuMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan, who was appreciated for the role of a doomed lover in 2002 remake of ‘Devdas’, earlier played by Dilip Kumar in the 1955 film of the same name, feels nobody can imitate the thespian. “You can’t imitate Mr Dilip Kumar.

Whoever copies Dilip Kumar, they are idiots like me,” said Shah Rukh at the launch of Nasreen Munni Kabir’s book ‘The Dialogue of Devdas’, which has complete dialogues

by Rajinder Singh Bedi, based on a screenplay by Nabendu ghosh and lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi from Bimal Roy’s immortal classic ‘Devdas’.

Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Devdas’ was treated differently by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who gave it a larger than life feel and the magnum opus had Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai as chandramukhi and Paro

respectively. The film won lots of awards. Dilip Kumar could not make it to the event.

However, he sent a letter and Shah Rukh read it out at the event at the Mehboob Studios. a decade of the film’s release, Shah Rukh feels that it was stupid of him to go ahead and do ‘Devdas’, which is a big screen adaptation of Sharat chandra chattopadhyay`s novel. “I am not someone who

would like to do something which has been so beautifully crafted. I have a very deep regard for the fact that my parents loved ‘Devdas’. I was very young and stupid that I said yes and did it, but as I am getting mature, hopefully more intelligent, and perhaps would not be able to do it this time,” the 46-year-old said.

The superstar also feels he would have never mustered the courage to be part of ‘Devdas’ had he seen Dilip Kumar’s version. “Had we seen the film before making it, we would never had the guts to make it. Sanjay, Aishwarya and Madhuri we all felt that first we should finish the film then we should watch it,” he said. It is said that so far the novel has been made into films 15 times, including in languages like Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Urdu and Assamese. AgencIeS

‘Vivek is

a joke’

MuMBAI: Director Sanjay gupta has been in news ever since he announced his return to direction with ‘Shootout At Wadala’. After Vidya said no to the film due to date problems, rumour has it that Asin refused, too. However, gupta denied ever approaching Asin, resulting in a volley of allegations. Moreover, after gupta had show the door to Vivek, Vivek said that he had rejected gupta's film. clearing the air on all controversies, gupta told said, “Vivek oberoi is a joke which is not even funny anymore but his ridiculous statements make me laugh. I think he is the Prince of ghaziabad. And Asin is being silly about the whole thing.

She should know where to stop.” The spokesperson for the production house, gary Van Shipley said, “Asin is not even in the league of Deepika, Priyanka or Sonam that one would get publicity out of her. I have never spoken or met her. Where is the question of me offering the film? The lesser said the better about Vivek as we all know what he can do to get cheap publicity.” AgencIeS

Trains and Bollywood go hand-in-hand. But Pakistani pop star and actor Ali Zafar had a different kind of experience on what is often called Mumbai’s lifeline. The story goes like this: Ali, along with his ‘London Paris New York’ costar Aditi Rao Hydari, was performing at the Kala ghoda Arts Festival on Friday. And immediately after his live act, he was supposed to reach an award function. But Ali was running a bit late. So after his performance, instead of getting into his car, he surprised everyone by suggesting that he would travel by local train.

“He knew that reaching Andheri would be very difficult by car. So, he boarded a train from churchgate station,” says a team member. And to make sure his train journey went off smoothly, Ali also arranged for a monkey cap and shawl to hide his face. “He knew that if someone recognised him, it would lead to problems, since he was travelling sans security.

And thanks to the train trip, he reached in time,” says the insider. Interestingly, Aditi too travelled in the same train. “While Ali was in the first class compartment, Aditi got into the ladies’ compartment with a team member. She also requested for a shawl to cover up,” says the insider. When contacted, Ali says: “I don’t know why, but I just instinctively decided to travel in the local train and experience this side of Mumbai. Since my friends had warned of huge crowds during rush hour, I was forced to hide my face. But it was fun travelling by train.

It felt real and helped me connect with the city’s energy. I would love to do it again.” Ali and Aditi are paired opposite each other in the film, which is directorial debut. neWS DeSK

LHR 17-02-2012_Layout 1 2/17/2012 3:59 AM Page 15

15 NeW YoRK: Adam Lambert attends The Blonds fall 2012 fashion show during MercedesBenz Fashion Week. AFP

ToKYo: Martin Scorsese speaks to reporters for his latest movie ‘Hugo’’. AFp

cindy crawford stops 10-year-old daughter’s modelling career LoS AngeLeS AgencIeS

Cindy Crawford has put her 10-yearold daughter’s budding fashion career on hold despite the girl’s recent success in modelling. Kaia Gerber, the daughter of Crawford and Rande Gerber, posed last month in the first children’s modelling campaign for the the first Young Versace Campaign which just opened a store in Milan.

But Crawford announced that her daughter won’t be appearing in any more campaigns for the next seven years: “At this point, she’s too young to pursue a career. There aren’t even a handful of jobs for a 10-year-old girl.”

She does give Kaia the green light to follow in her footsteps later on in life: “But if she’s 17 and wants to try it, of course, what can I say?” not much, considering Crawford was discovered at 16 years old. Kaia’s father, Rande Gerber, was also a model. Many people recognised Kaia’s striking resemblance to her mother and she received praise from Donatella Versace. “Like her mother,” Versace said, “Kaia has a very special gift. The camera really, really loves her.”

Man who hears colour LonDon BBc

HoLLYWooD: Jessica Szohr attends Sony PlayStationAe Unveils PS VITA Portable entertainment System’. AFP

Artist neil Harbisson is completely colour-blind but he says a camera attached to his head allows him to hear colour. “Until I was 11, I didn't know I could only see in shades of grey. I was diagnosed with achromatopsia (a rare vision disorder). When I was 16, I decided to study art. I was allowed to do the entire art course in greyscale only using black and white. At university I went to Adam Montandon’s cybernetics lecture and asked if we could create something so I could see colour. His device is made up of a webcam, a computer and a pair of headphones and created software that would translate any colour in front of me into a sound. Musical scale matching colours to the notes made by the eyeborg. It has changed the way I perceive art. now I have created a completely new world where colour and sound are exactly the same thing. I like doing sound portraits - I get close to someone's face, I take down its sound and then I create a specific chord that relates to the face.

I'm starting a sound portrait gallery of famous faces which began with Prince Charles, who came to Dartington College of Art, where I was studying in 2005.

Veena Malik: ’I am not spying for ISI’

neWS DeSk

neWS DeSk

C

Affair with Meera? no!: Shoaib InP

Former Test pacer Shoaib Akhtar has once again found himself in a new controversy after actress Meera claimed that she had a year long affair with the speedster, who never appreciated her commitment. Meera said that the affair

took place two years back while Shoaib was still playing for the national team. “It was an intense affair and I wasted one precious year of my life waiting for him. I was committed and sincere to him. But he didn't appreciate me,”she told a news channel.

“It happened two years back.

I ended the affair when on the same day he proposed to me and my cousin. It was a joke for me,” said Meera, who is known for her publicity stunts. Meera, who has even worked in Indian movies and had a spat with Indian filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, also claimed that Shoaib had once slapped her in front of some staffers at a television station but she did not say a word for his sake. However, Shoaib denied the allegations. “I don't know what she is talking about,” he said. “I never had any affair with

Ali Zafar takes

local train to reach award function

The second season of Ufone Uth Records (2.0) will be hitting airwaves and social media networks from Saturday 25th February onwards. Ufone Uth Records has gained popularity for acting as a platform for introducing new talent in the music industry, who are mentored by professional industry producers to compose and record their original compositions. Each artist’s journey is recorded and showcased on the Uth Records television show. Ufone has collaborated with distinguished musicians, Louis J Pinto mostly referred to as Gumby and Omran ‘Momo’ Shafique who together are working as Uth Records’ producers. The show’s first season featured young talented artists and bands, including Jumbo Jutt, Yasir and Jawad with Wali, Usman Riaz, natasha Ejaz, Ather Sani and RamLal. This year, the show will introduce 6 new artists.

OnTROVERSY queen, Veena Malik has denied allegations of spying for the ISI in a Delhi court which looked into a complaint against her after her alleged nude photographs appeared in an Indian magazine. The photos saw her sporting an ‘ISI’ tattoo on her arm. The complaint had said that the tattoo indicated that she was spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency which should be probed. Malik had denied that she posed naked for the magazine, claiming the cover photo was doctored. The complainant had alleged that Malik's semi nude photograph published in the magazine had hurt public sentiments and that she was staying in India to spy for ISI. Apart from Malik, the magazine and its owner have also been named as party in the complaint. Mahidul Hassan, a local imam, had filed the complaint against Malik on sedition charges.

ISLAMABAD

Whose have come up: Big B MuMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan, who is recuperating from two recent abdominal surgeries, says some new medical issues have emerged, and it is likely that his stay at the Seven Hills Hospital may be further extended. “I seek forgiveness...I will not be detailing any more...some fresh medical issues have come up, and I need to concentrate on the treatment now,” the 69-year-old ailing actor posted on his blog. The megastar was successfully operated upon Saturday and was due to be discharged from the hospital Monday. But following complaints of acute pain, doctors decided to keep him under observation till friday or Saturday at least. However, his blog update, which was unusually short and to-the-point, indicates his condition could be grave. The hospital authorities, when contacted by reporters, remained tightlipped. So far, his health hasn’t deterred him from blogging and tweeting to be in touch with his “extended family”. “once you open Twitter, you just remain there...an obsession to read and know

ufone uth Records 2.0 to hit airwaves

what others feel and say. Attention to laptop and mobile has increasingly become the ultimate yardstick for communication. To all those that communicate with me here, and wanting personal response...it is inconsiderate to ask me in this condition,” he added. Amitabh is admitted to the fifth floor of the sevenstar hospital, and is being well taken care of by doctors, his wife jaya and daughter Shweta nanda. His abdominal problems are a result of a near fatal injury he suffered while shooting ‘coolie’ in 1982. AgencIeS

Meera. The problem is that if a well known cricketer even smiles at a girl she thinks he is in love with her. I had no relationship with her at all,” he claimed. This is a second Pakistani cricketer in recent years to be romantically linked with an actor. Banned pacer Mohammad Asif was also linked to Veena Malik and the two ended their affair after Veena filed a complaint against Asif for not paying her back a loan amounting to millions.

Diamond collar buried with Paris poodle stolen PArIS AfP

French police were investigating the theft of a diamond-studded dog collar from a grave at the world's oldest pet cemetery, whose most famous tenant is Hollywood canine star Rin Tin Tin. Police told AFP someone stole a collar worth 9,000 euros ($11,700) from a black poodle’s grave in the animal cemetery in the Paris suburb of Asnieres-sur-Seine. A wealthy American industrialist's wife had buried the dog in 2003 in a marble tomb whose headstone includes a large red heart and an image of a black poodle. The name ‘Tipsy’ was covered with orange tape. For years the legend of a dog buried with a diamond necklace had circulated but it was only after the theft that the truth of what had been thought an urban myth was confirmed. Today the French cemetery houses the tombs of 3,000 animals, most of them dogs and cats but also others like Kiki the monkey, Bunga the rabbit, Faust the sheep, several horses and even a lion.

The tombs are adorned with animal photos, colourful marbles, gnome figurines, angel statuettes, fake mini Christmas trees. Inscriptions include "to my baby," "love of our life," and "loyal companion and only friend of my vagabond and sorry life."

dress are you wearing, Bipasha?

MuMBAI: Socialite and designer Ramona NarangRodella was in for a shock when she got a taste of Bollywood’s unprofessional ways recently. The socialite’s brand of dresses was worn by Bipasha Basu for promotional activities of ‘Jodi Breakers’ but went unaccounted for. The story goes something like this: Ramona’s line called Ibella frocks is right now the current favourite among the Bollywood fraternity. While many of the stars buy her dresses, Ramona has never really given the dresses for promotional activities. Ramona said Bipasha’s stylist approached her for some outfits which the actor would wear for the promotional activities. “We don’t usually lend our pieces for publicity use, but I know Bipasha personally, so I lent eight dresses,” said Narang.

Apparently the stylist took the outfits and took a long time to return them and when she did finally, Ramona was told that Bips did not wear any of them. Ramona only got to know the truth once she spotted Bips wearing a pink dress from her line on the poster of ‘Jodi Breakers’. Bips also was seen wearing a green saree gown on the sets of Zee’s ‘Dance India Dance’ which Ramona claims was from her line. “The sari-gown is from our latest line. I immediately called the stylist and asked her about it. If she used the dress, she should have paid for it,” said the shocked designer. When Ramona confronted the stylist and asked her to pay, the stylist claimed that the

dresses were Biapsha’s own. When Ramona insisted that she had sold the only piece to a client in Dubai, the stylist produced two tailored Ibella copies and stated that these were the ones that the actress had worn. even though Bipasha ignored all of Ramona’s calls and messages, the designer was able to get payment for just one of the eight dresses that the stylist had borrowed from her. What about the payment for the other seven dresses, Bips? AgencIeS

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16 Foreign News

Friday, 17 February, 2012

22 killed as Syrian troops move on protest hubs DAMASCuS AfP

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YRIAn armour moved on the main hubs of an 11-month uprising on Thursday killing at least 22 people, monitors said, a day after President Bashar al-Assad set a vote for a new constitution.

Opposition groups rejected the newly proposed constitution and urged voters to boycott a referendum set for this month, and to step up efforts to oust Assad.

As troops pummelled the central city of Homs for a 13th straight day, 18 people were killed in central Hama province and

four others died in the southern city of Daraa, monitors reported.

Assad, whose government has vowed to crush dissent, on Wednesday decreed a vote for February 26 on a new charter that could end nearly 50 years of singleparty rule.

The United States dismissed the move as “laughable,” saying “it makes a mockery of the Syrian revolution.” Russia, a major weapons supplier to Damascus, welcomed it.

And the Local Coordination Committees, a main opposition activist group, rejected the new charter and called for a vote boycott, as well as stepped up efforts to topple Assad.

“The draft constitution is no more

than a political tool or a policy paper written by the barbaric regime,” it said in an emailed statement.

“We see no alternative but to topple the regime along with its symbols, representatives and foundational ideology.

“The Local Coordination Committees calls upon our people to reject and boycott the alleged referendum to confirm the lack of public support for this criminal regime.”

The Syrian national Council, the most representative opposition group, is also likely to reject the constitution, given one of its guiding principles is “to overthrow the regime using all legal means.”

Regardless, the proposed charter rules out most of the opposition as it bans

religious parties and dual nationals, preventing the SnC, which includes the Muslim Brotherhood, and most of its leadership from running for office.

The proposed charter drops Article 8, which declares the ruling Baath Party as the “leader of the state and society,” allowing for a multi-party system, state television said.

In April, Assad scrapped emergency rule in force since 1963 when the Baathists took power in a coup d’etat. But he has repeatedly promised reforms that have failed to materialise since the uprising erupted in March.

The 46-year-old president, who succeeded his late father Hafez in 2000, said the constitution would usher in a “new

era” for Syria, SAnA state news agency reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said security forces killed at least 14 people, most of them army defectors, in shelling of a town in the central province of Hama. Another four soldiers died in other clashes in the region.

“At least 10 mutinous soldiers were killed, among them officers, in shelling of the town of Kfar nabuda, in Hama province. Four civilians were also killed in the shelling of the town,” the Britainbased monitor said in a statement Elsewhere, a civilian and three soldiers were killed in the southern city of Daraa, after troops deployed heavily and clashed with army defectors.

Threatened with jail, Berlusconi lashes out at judges roMe AfP

neW DeLHI: Indian police officers detain a Tibetan student during a protest outside the chinese embassy in the Indian capital on Thursday. AFP

Italian oil tanker guards kill Indian fishermen tHIruVAnAntHAPurAM AfP

navy guards on board an Italian oil tanker have shot dead two Indian fishermen after mistaking them for pirates, an Indian official said Thursday. India’s coast guard brought back the bodies of two men who are thought to have been killed on Wednesday by Italian navy officers on board the vessel Enrica Lexie 64 kilometres (40 miles) off India’s southern state of Kerala. The Italian ambassador to India was summoned to the foreign ministry where India registered an official protest over the deaths, the Press Trust of India news agency said. The captain of Enrica Lexie, who has been ordered to anchor near the local port Cochin, told officials the motorised fishing boat was believed to be a pirate ship after it sailed close to the tanker, Indian navy spokesman Roy Francis said.

“The security wing fired at the fishermen and the captain has alerted the coast guard about the firing.

Suspected Islamists spring 200 in Nigeria prison break kAno AfP

Suspected Islamist gunmen bombed their way into a prison in central nigeria before opening fire on the wardens and emptying the jail of its 200 inmates, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

The attack in the central Kogi state left one warden dead and while there was no official confirmation of the raiders’ identity, local residents suspected the Boko Haram Islamist sect which has been wreaking havoc in nigeria.

“There was a jail break last night. From reports available to us, a large number of gunmen attacked the Koton Karfe prison around 7:00 pm and threw explosives at the gate and opened fire on our wardens,” said prison spokesmwoman Hadiza Aminu.

She said a shootout then erupted.

“One of our men was killed and the gunmen overpowered the wardens and broke into the cells, freeing inmates — 199 inmates all awaiting trial escaped, leaving only one inmate,” she told AFP. “From all indications, the attackers were members of Boko Haram,” said Isiaka Yakub, adding that there were around 20 of them.

A local reporter said “some gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram sect stormed the prison around 7:00 pm and blasted the prison gate with explosives.”

Boko Haram is blamed for series of gun and bomb attacks in several parts of Africa’s most populous country in recent months.

In September 2010, Boko Haram attacked a prison in northern Bauchi and freed more than 700 inmates.

Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi launched a public attack Thursday on the country’s judges, accusing them of being out to “destroy” him after prosecutors called for the tycoon to be jailed for bribery.

“It’s judicial persecution, an endless attempt to smear me, which has turned the court into a special court which aims to take Berlusconi out of politics and destroy him as a person,” the media magnate told Channel 5 television.

Berlusconi’s legal woes returned to haunt him Wednesday when prosecutors asked he be sentenced to five years in prison for paying his former tax lawyer David Mills $600,000 (450,000 euros) to provide false testimony in the 1990s.

He has denied the charges and accuses prosecutors of a plot against him.

“Only the prosecutors’ witnesses were admitted, those of the defence were chucked out... Can there be worse justice than this?” Berlusconi said.

“I am treated like a criminal,” the partyloving 75-year-old said, slamming a national justice system which he has repeatedly accused of being left-wing and has said “even blind people” can see is in urgent need of reform.

Berlusconi, who remained a member of parliament after stepping down in november, is a defendant in four ongoing trials for bribery, tax fraud, sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power, and violating official secrets.

In his most high-profile case, the ageing playboy risks 12 years in prison for having paid for sex with a young Moroccan dancer known as Ruby and abused his position to protect her after she was taken into custody for alleged theft.

“That trial should not even begin, because Ruby herself has always denied the things I am accused of,” Berlusconi said.

“Milan’s prosecutors have demonstrated their persistence against me in every possible way, but I will defend myself,” he added.

iran ‘exaggerating’ nuclear advances: Barak JeruSALeM AfP

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday accused Iran of “exaggerating” progress on its disputed nuclear programme a day after Tehran unveiled what it said was its first domestically-produced 20-percent enriched uranium.

“The Iranians are continuing to progress but what they presented yesterday was a show. There are many things which have been presented in an exaggerated manner, partly to dissuade the world from going after them,” he told public radio by telephone from Tokyo.

His remarks were made a day after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad un-

veiled what was billed as Tehran’s first domestically-produced, 20-percent enriched nuclear fuel for its research reactor.

He also said Tehran had installed another 3,000 centrifuges to increase its uranium enrichment abilities and was stepping up exploration and processing of uranium yellowcake.

“The Iranians are boasting of successes they have not achieved and they still have much to do to reach the second or third generation of centrifuges,” said Barak.

“The Iranians want to give the impression they were more advanced to create the impression that they have passed the ‘point of no return’ — which is not true.”

Uranium enrichment is at the heart

of an escalating dispute between Iran and the international community which fears that Iran’s nuclear programme has military objectives, despite denials from Tehran.

The fact that Iran had moved some of its enrichment facilities into an underground site was aimed at making it more difficult to carry out “surgical strikes” to halt it, Barak said.

In recent weeks, there has been feverish speculation that Israel was getting closer to mounting a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear programme, but last month, Barak said such a decision was “very far away.”

On Wednesday, Japan urged Israel not to take military action against Iran,

with Prime Minister Yoshihiko noda warning Barak that a military strike could be “extremely dangerous,” Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported.

But Barak refused to confirm details of his talks with the Japanese premier, saying only: “The Japanese now understand much better the situation.”

Barak again accused Iran of being “the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism” and urged the international community to “respond strongly to Iran’s adventurism.”

Thailand on Wednesday charged two Iranian nationals a day after three explosions shook Bangkok in what Thai intelligence officials said was a botched attempt to attack Israeli diplomats.

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Friday, 17 February, 2012

Foreign News 17 Sun journalists mull legal action as Murdoch flies in LonDon AfP

Journalists from Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun have contacted a trade union to discuss suing the British tabloid’s owners, the union said, after five staff members were arrested in a police bribery probe.

The news comes as Murdoch is due to visit London on Thursday or Friday to meet with journalists at The Sun, after promising to continue publishing Britain’s top-selling daily despite the corruption row. The Australian-born tycoon shut down The Sun’s weekly stablemate, the news of the World, in July after it became embroiled in a phone-hacking scandal. Police arrested five Sun journalists last weekend on suspicion of bribing public officials, after receiving information from a committee set up at Murdoch’s news Corp. to investigate allegations of wrongdoing. The arrests caused outrage in the newsroom and the national Union of Journalists (nUJ) said it was now looking at how to defend staff “against a management that seems prepared to throw them to the wolves”.

MogADISHu: Displaced Somalis flee the Afgoye corridor after African union peace keeping forces advance on suspected Al-Shebab bases on Thursday. AFP

Iran eyes talks after nuclear boasts teHrAn

I

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RAn on Thursday expressed hopes of reviving moribund talks with world powers, a day after the Islamic republic unveiled what it described as major progress in its controversial nuclear programme.

“We have always welcomed the principle of negotiations and we believe that, with a positive approach and spirit of cooperation, there can be a step forward in these negotiations,” foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.

Iran on Wednesday sent a letter confirming its readiness to discuss resuming negotiations in response to an October 2011 offer in that sense made

Qaeda leader killing sparks deadly clashes SAnAA AfP

The killing of a local Al-Qaeda leader by his half brother sparked vicious tribal infighting in his stronghold southeast of Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Thursday which left 17 people dead, tribal chiefs said. The clashes erupted after Tarek alDahab was shot dead by his half-brother Hizam in the town of Al-Masaneh, a family fiefdom in Bayda province, several tribal chiefs said, adding that the killer and his brother were among the 17 killed in the gunfights. “Al-Qaeda gunmen fired rockets at the house of Hizam killing him and his brother Majid, as well as their nephew Ahmed,” one chief said. Eleven armed tribesmen were killed when the vehicle transporting them was also targeted, the sources said.

A tribal chief said that Hizam was “pushed by authorities” to kill Dahab who had in January taken over control of the town of Radah, about 130 kilometres (85 miles) southeast of Sanaa, and 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Al-Masaneh.

china urges iAeA to step up cooperation with iran BEIJInG: China Thursday urged the Un atomic watchdog to step up cooperation with Iran in a bid to restore trust over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, after the Islamic state unveiled progress in its atomic programme. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday announced new strides in Tehran’s atomic programme, in a defiant blow to the United States and European Union, which believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons — a claim it denies. “As a signatory of the non-Proliferation Treaty (nPT), Iran has the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and it should also fulfil corresponding international obligations,” foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said. “The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should strengthen contact and cooperation with Iran in order to restore the international community’s trust in the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.” AfP

by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. The last round of talks between Iran and the so-called P5+1 group — Un Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the

United States, plus Germany — collapsed in Turkey in January 2011.

Iran’s tardy reply to Ashton appeared to be linked to the timing of its nuclear announcements also made on

Wednesday, which collectively suggested the country had made strides in its atomic activities despite severe Western and Un sanctions.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, wearing a white coat, oversaw what was described on state television as the insertion of Iran’s first domestically produced, 20-percent enriched fuel plate into Tehran’s research reactor.

He and other officials also said Iran had added 3,000 more centrifuges to its uranium enrichment efforts and was stepping up exploration and processing of uranium yellowcake.

The declarations were meant to underline Iran’s progress in mastering all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle and underline its commitment to what it said was a purely peaceful atomic programme for energy generation and medical use.

china coal mine accident kills 15, injures 3 BeIJIng AfP

Fifteen miners died and another three were injured when a tramcar derailed in a coal mine in central China, authorities said Thursday, in the latest accident to hit the dangerous industry.

The incident happened at a pit near Leiyang city in Hunan province in the early hours of Thursday morning, China’s work safety administration said in a statement. Local officials told AFP that rescue efforts were still under way.

Accidents are common in China’s vast coal mining sector where work safety is often neglected by bosses seeking a quick profit. Latest figures show that 2,433 people died in coal mining accidents in the country in 2010, according to official statistics — a rate of more than six workers per day. Labour rights groups, however, say the actual death toll is likely to be much higher, partly due to under-reporting of accidents as mine bosses seek to limit their economic losses and avoid punishment. China’s rapid economic growth has caused demand for energy, including coal, to surge.

Malaysia says blast suspect was fleeing to Iran kuALA LuMPur AfP

An Iranian national who was arrested in Malaysia for suspected involvement in a botched bomb plot in Thailand had been attempting to fly to Iran when he was detained, the government said Thursday.

The arrest Wednesday of Masoud Sedaghat Zadeh at Kuala Lumpur’s international airport showed Malaysia was “very serious and committed” to addressing the threat of terrorism, said Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

“The authorities of this country will never allow Malaysia to become a location, base, or transit point for terrorists or individuals who are wanted by any other country,” he said in a statement.

It gave no further details other than to confirm the 31-yearold suspect had fled to Malaysia on Tuesday and was suspected in the Thai incident.

Malaysia’s government and police have been tight-lipped

about the case so far, citing an ongoing investigation, and have declined detailed comment on whether the Iranian suspect would be deported or charged in Malaysia. He was arrested over unspecified violations of Malaysian immigration rules, the government has said.

Two other Iranians have already been charged in Thailand in connection with Tuesday’s bomb incident, the third to shake world capitals in less than 24 hours.

Thai police say Israeli diplomats were the intended targets of the botched plot, prompting Israeli accusations that Iran was behind a terror campaign, which Tehran has denied.

One of the suspects had his legs blown off as he tried to hurl an explosive device at Thai police while fleeing after an apparently unintended explosion at a Bangkok house, officials said.

He was said to be in stable condition in a Bangkok hospital.

The other Iranian suspect was detained trying to board a flight out of Thailand.

BAngKoK: Thai immigration officers escort detained Iranian Mohammad Kharzei at the immigration headquarters on Thursday. AFP

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Friday, 17 February, 2012

Federer wins on Dutch return Page 21

Cook’s recipe scripts fall of Misbah’s charges ABu DHABI

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APTAIn Alastair Cook's simple recipe of playing hard has exposed cracks in the Pakistan team, leaving England with an invincible 2-0 lead after their 20-run win in the second day-night match. Pakistan, who blanked England 3-0 in the preceding Test series, looked disjointed in the first two matches and now need to win the remaining two on Saturday and Tuesday, both in Dubai.

Pakistan failed to chase a target of 261 in the first match and 251 in the second -- defeats which saw captain Misbah-ul Haq and coach Mohsin Khan avoid the mandatory post-match news conferences.

Asked why the captain and coach did not attend, opener Mohammad Hafeez said: "When you do well and even when you don't do well, you have to face the media. It is not that nobody wants to

PcB finally offers contracts to umpires

face the media." England rode on a second successive hundred by Cook -- the first England captain to hit back-to-back centuries in one-day cricket -- to post a challenging 250-4 on Wednesday before Steven Finn (4-34) restricted Pakistan to

230 in 49 overs. Cook had scored his best one-day score of 137 while Finn had identical figures in England's big 130run win in the first match in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Hafeez gave credit to England. "The ball was seaming more and was spinning a bit more later. England bowled really well. It became a bit difficult batting second under lights," said Hafeez, accepting Pakistan could not carry the Test win momentum. "Definitely, we were thinking at coming harder in the one-dayers as well.

Credit goes to the England team. They really played good cricket. And Cook played a solid knock in the last two ODIs. "We can still come back very hard because we believe in our team. We have too many match winners in our side and anybody can come in and win the game for Pakistan," said Hafeez who scored only five and 26 in two defeats.

Cook said England were not going get complacent despite their wins. "You train like it's still 0-0. Complacency has never been an issue with this England side,

Bopara asks england to avoid complacency

LAHore

DuBAI

STAff RePoRT

AfP

In a first, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday awarded contracts to three umpires in the country. According to the reports, the scheme is limited and only three of the International Cricket Council (ICC) panel umpires from Pakistan - Zameer Haider, Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza - were offered the contracts.

Zakir Khan, PCB director for domestic cricket operation, was quoted as saying in the local media on Thursday: "The arrangement for umpires was long due.

The initiative was taken to encourage those who are representing Pakistan in the International Cricket Council umpires panel, so only three umpires were offered the six-month contracts." Five names were suggested, including the familiar ones of Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf, but the PCB decided to reward only three with contracts and a monthly stipend of $550.

Return-to-form batsman Ravi Bopara on Wednesday warned England to avoid any complacency against a dangerous Pakistan team despite racing into a 2-0 lead in their one day international series. England won the first match by 130 runs on Monday and then doubled the lead with a hard earned 20-run win in the second on Wednesday -- both in Abu Dhabi.

Bopara hit half centuries in both games and assisted his captain Alastair Cook -- who hit successive centuries -- to help England post challenging totals in both the games. But Bopara warned Pakistan can still bounce back in the last two games here on Saturday and Tuesday.

"Any series where you go 2-0 up is pretty good," said the 26-year-old. "But we're keeping our feet on the ground. We know from the Test series what Pakistan are capable of. They are a very unpredictable side," said Bopara. Pakistan won the preceding three-Test series 3-0.

Bopara, part of the England team which lost 5-0 in India last year, said a win of this stature in sub-continent conditions

Zaka to meet Rehman today LAHore STAff RePoRT

PCB Chairman Ch Zaka Ashraf and Interior Minister Rehman Malik will hold a meeting on Friday to discuss security matters for the planed Bangladesh tour scheduled for coming April. The meeting was to be held on Thursday but was moved forward due to the busy schedule of the federal minister. The meeting will now take place at 11.30 am on Friday (February 17) at Interior Ministry Islamabad. According to an official of the PCB, the agenda of the meeting is the security arrangement for Bangladesh team visit to Pakistan in April and the Bangladesh security delegation visit to Pakistan next month. He said: “The PCB is confident that in collaboration with the interior ministry and other security institutions, Bangladesh security delegation will be ensured foolproof security for the visiting Bangladesh team. “The materialization of this tour will pave the way for full-scale return of international cricket to Pakistan,” he added.

whether we win or lose games of cricket.

"It will never be easy, but it's a great situation to be in -- 2-0 up with two to go," said Cook, adding he had transformed after being written off as oneday player. "When I'd played those first 20-odd games, I knew if I wanted to play one-day cricket for England I'd have to improve. I've changed the way I play one-day cricket," said Cook, who was made one-day captain in May last year.

Wednesday's hundred was his third as captain following a 119 against Sri Lanka at Lord's last year. Cook was full of praised for Finn. "He was our outstanding performer in India, and never really got the wickets he deserved," said Cook of England's 5-0 one-day defeat in India last year.

"He's got two 'four-fors' -- and that opening spell of five overs for six was quality, running in and bowling 90mph and landing it on a sixpence." Both teams play three Twenty20 internationals in Dubai (February 23 and 25) and in Abu Dhabi (February 27).

would be great. "It's going to be a massive thing for us to win out here. We haven't had a good one-day record in the subcontinent so it's a big thing for us to win.

It will give us confidence to know we can do it in sub-continent conditions."

Bopara warned against thinking of a 4-0 win. "I wouldn't want to think like that.

We've done that in the past. Individually we've got a bit giddy and things just go wrong. So we're not going to look too far ahead. "We'll just keep doing what we've been doing in the last couple of matches and worry about our skills and dealing with that Pakistan bowling line-up," said Bopara. Bopara, who has so far scored 1668 in 71 one-day internationals, said his good form was pleasing.

"I feel good. I felt a lot better yesterday than I did in the first game," said Bopara of his 58 on Monday when he added 131 with Cook for the third wicket.

"I was just getting used to the bowlers and it was my second game since October. "It makes a massive difference once you've had that time at the crease. The good thing is Cook is in great form. Hopefully he can go into the third match and get some more runs," said Bopara. Bopara said he has tried to soak up the pressure.

"That's been a massive thing for me. We have to soak up the pressure as it's going to be tough in the first 15 or 20 minutes," he said. "It has got easier as the innings has gone on. Once you're in for about fiveovers, you get used to the pace of the wicket, the bowlers. It gets a lot easier."

Symonds calls it a day MonItorIng DeSk Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds has ruled out a final Indian Premier League season and has retired from all forms of cricket, effective immediately. The 36-year-old was due to play for Mumbai Indians in the IPL this year, but has decided to retire.

"Effective immediately, I am retiring from all forms of professional cricket," Symonds said.

"It is with regret that I will not be able to fulfil my final year of the IPL with the Mumbai Indians. Mumbai Indians and the IPL have both been very supportive of me, but the impending arrival of my first child is a priority."

Symonds, who hasn't played for Australia since 2009, played 26 Tests, 198 ODIs and 14 T20s for his country.

The highlight of his Test career was a magnificent 156 against England at the MCG in 2006 as Australia surged to a 50 Ashes clean-sweep. The powerful allrounder was also a part of Australia's World Cup winning sides in 2003 and 2007, his innings of 143 not out against Pakistan in 2003 regarded as one of the best by an Australian at a World Cup.

Waqar wants Misbah to be pre-emptive LAHore STAff RePoRT

Former captain Waqar Younis has advised the Pakistan captain Misbah-ulHaq to remind the senior members of the team their role in the line-up and he himself should play an active role.

He urged Misbah to be more proactive.

"He has to realise that he can't play the waiting game in one-day cricket. It worked and works in Test cricket but you can't sit around waiting for things to happen in one-day cricket. I think he needs to attack more," Waqar said.

Pakistan now trail the series 0-2 after defeats in the first two matches and Waqar said, "I also feel too many changes in the team after every match does not send out the right message."

Waqar also believed that the experiment of playing Umar Akmal as a wicketkeeper was a big mistake on part of the team management.

"I don't know what they are thinking.

But I would always play a specialist keeper. Adnan Akmal is the best choice and he is no mug with the bat. You can try Umar in T20 cricket but in 50-over format you need a proper keeper," Waqar said. The former great also criticised the attitude of the batsmen in the ODI series, pointing out that most of the players had been around for years and needed to shoulder responsibility.

Pakistan makes fool out of itself exPeRT coMMenT

SHoAIB AKHTAR

T

HE team is making a fool out of itself in the ongoing one-day series against England in UAE. They have made a fool and joke out of themselves in the first two matches. And if they do not improve quickly I fear they could lose the series 4-0.

Misbah-ul-Haq needs to be more strict with the players. The way Imran Farhat, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi

got out in the second match, I think Misbah needs to remind them what is expected of them as senior players.

When Umar was batting and trying needless strokes, what was Misbah doing? He should have spoken to him. If Misbah doesn't get strict and press the red button I don't think we can win this series.

We have the best spinners in the world but they were not turning the ball even in day time. I think instead of containing roles Misbah needs to be use them to get wickets. He should be attacking more with his field placements and bowlers.

Pakistan needed to play a specialist keeper and at the same time search for a stumper, who can bat as well.

In the past we have had Moin Khan and Rashid Latif who were good keepers who could bat well. I think it is a mistake going in without a regular keeper.

"I don't know what was the hurry

today... we were going at run a ball and the batsmen got self destructive. They need to understand someone has to carry the responsibility of playing

through the innings. It was pathetic batting from our players. Their inconsistency in performance stemmed from a lethargic attitude and laziness.

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Friday, 17 February, 2012

Azarenka, Radwanska sweep into Qatar quarters

Sports 19 Miyazato sizzles in Thai heat

DoHA AfP

V

ICTORIA Azarenka swept into the quarter-finals of the WTA Qatar Open with a swift demolition of Romanian Simona Halep here on Thursday. The world's topranked player won 10 games in a row to prevail 6-3, 6-1 against 63rd-ranked Halep, who produced only brief moments of brilliance to secure a break in either set. But that was not enough to quell Belarus's Azarenka, who stepped up her game a few notches after trailing 3-1 in the first set and raced to victory thereafter.

"I started slow but I am glad I turned it around," said Azarenka, the first Belarusian to win a Grand Slam tournament and take the world number one ranking.

She could have won the second set to love, but suffered a glitch in the sixth game when she was broken by the Romanian. But Azarenka broke back in the next game to settle the issue. "I kept my composure," said Azarenka, who will now meet Belgian Yanina Wickmayer in the quarter-finals. Wickmayer defeated Kazakhstan's Ksenia Pervak 6-4, 6-0.

Earlier, Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska fought back from a break down to advance to the last eight with a 7-5, 6-1 win over the USA's Varvara Lepchenko. Radwanska, the world number six and fourth seed in Qatar, was too strong for the the Uzbek-born Lepchenko, who is still to win a WTA title after turning pro as a 15-year-old in 2001.

"I lost my serve in the first set and at that point the only thing I wanted was to fight back," said Radwanska, the winner of seven career titles and a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open this year. "She was hitting the ball well, but I got my game together," added Radwanska, who won three games in a row after

India ready for olympic quest neW DeLHI AfP

Australian Michael nobbs faces his first big test as India's field hockey coach as he aims to win the Olympic qualifying tournament starting in new Delhi on Saturday. India, past masters in the sport with a record eight Olympic men's titles, suffered a setback when they failed to make it to the 2008 Beijing Games for the first time since their maiden appearance in 1928. The hosts have shown encouraging results since nobbs took over as coach last June, starting with a victory in the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy tournament in China. India then finished runners-up at the Champions Challenge tournament before beating South Africa 3-1 in a five-match home series in January. A favourable draw and familiar conditions make 10th-ranked India strong favourites in the six-team group comprising Canada (14th), France (18th), Poland (19th), Italy (28th) and Singapore (41st). Only the winner after a round-robin league and final will make the trip to London. "I'm confident of qualifying provided something does not go awfully wrong and there are no bad umpiring decisions against us," nobbs said ahead of the qualifiers. "Almost all international teams still fear us. It is the talent of Indian players that makes them potent. We are a naturally attacking side." Three Olympic berths are up for grabs in the men's section, with the remaining two to be decided after the qualifying tournaments in Dublin and the Japanese city of Kakamigahara.

PATTAYA: choi Na Yeon of South Korea watches the ball as she tees off during the first round of golf Honda LPgA Thailand. AFP PAttAYA AfP

DoHA: Victoria Azarenka celebrates after winning a point against Simona Halep during their WTA qatar open. AFP

DoHA: Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland returns the ball to Varvara Lepchenko of the US during their WTA qatar open. AFP

trailing 4-5 in the first set. Meanwhile, Israeli Shahar Peer's quest for a first title in the Middle East ended prematurely yet again when she fell in three sets to the USA's Christina McHale, who won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Eleven of the 16 seeds in the 64-player tournament

have crashed out over the first three rounds of the $2.16mn event. Earlier Belgian Yanina Wickmayer defeated Kazakhstan's Ksenia Pervak 6-4, 6-0 to make the last eight of the tournament which has seen 11 of the 16 seeds crash out over the first three days.

Afridi equals Akhtar’s record stats corner S.PerVez QAISer Shahid Afridi equaled Shoaib Akhtar's record of most wickets against England in One-day Internationals by dismissing Alastair Cook off his own bowling in the second match of the four-match series at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (February 15). It was Afridi's 34th wicket in 24 ODIs against England.

Akhtar also took the same number of wickets in 18 matches against England.

James Anderson equaled Ian Botham's England record of most wickets against Pakistan by bowling out Afridi. It was his 27th wicket in 16 ODIs against Pakistan.

Botham also took the same number of wickets in 23 ODIs against Pakistan.

Alastair Cook became the first England skipper to score back to back hundreds in ODIs. After making 137 off 142 balls with 14 fours in the first match on Monday (February 13), Cook went to score 102 off 121 balls with 10 fours in the second match on Wednesday (February 15). Cook, by making two hundreds in two matches, also became only the third England batsman to score two hundreds against Pakistan in ODIs. The other two England batsmen to achieve this feat before Cook was nick Knight (two hunderds in 10 innings of 10 matches) and Marcus Trescothick (two hundreds in 18 innings of 18 matches). Cook received his fifth man of the match award in 43 ODIs. It was second such award in as many matches against Pakistan.

Three games decided in LccA League

Most wickets in

LAHore

England-Pakistan one-dayers BoWLeR Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) Wasim Akram (Pakistan) Waqar Younis (Pakistan) James Anderson (england) Ian Botham (england) Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) Abdul qadir (Pakistan) Imran Khan (Pakistan) Phil DeFreitas (england) Darren gough (england)

M 18 24 32 14 16 23 13 11 20 19 17

I 18 24 32 14 15 23 13 11 17 19 17

BALLS 977 1092 1650 740 806 1377 724 597 878 1067 918

RunS 822 830 1134 603 583 856 477 416 535 686 725

WKTS 34 34 32 30 27 27 24 23 23 21 21

AVg 24.17 24.41 35.43 20.10 21.59 31.70 19.87 18.08 23.26 32.66 34.52

R/o 5.04 4.56 4.12 4.88 4.33 3.72 3.95 4.18 3.65 3.85 4.73

Japan's Ai Miyazato put on a performance to match the sizzling heat as she fired a five-under 67 to take the first round lead in the $1.5 million Honda LPGA Thailand tournament Thursday. Miyazato, who won the same tournament two years ago, took a one-shot lead over Australian veteran Karrie Webb, as well as Sweden's Anna nordqvist and Koreans Amy Yang, Se Ri Pak and na Yeon Choi who all shot 68. The Japanese player set the Siam Country Club course alight with five birdies and no bogeys. "I'm really excited, but I feel very tired. It's been a long day. I think it must be the heat," said Miyazato, who hardly made a mistake in her round. "I've been working on my short game and it seems to be paying off. I like this course, but the greens are tricky." Pre-tournament favourite and world number one Yani Tseng of Taiwan could not find her rhythm and had to be content with a one-over 73. Making the early pace were Webb and nordqvist.

"Four birdies and no bogeys. I'm pretty happy with that," said Webb, currently ranked 20th in the world. "The conditions, apart from the heat, were good," she said, speaking for many players who battled sweltering conditions. "I was a little scratchy on the front nine, but on the back nine I started to hit my irons better and gave myself quite a few birdie chances." nordqvist was equally pleased with her round. "I hit the ball really smooth and gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities. I never really had to fight for par."

4WI 4 1 – 2 3 – 2 1 1 – –

BeST 5-54 5-40 3-25 7-36 4-27 3-29 5-20 4-31 4-37 3-33 3-39

STAff RePoRT

Another three matches of LCCA Super Cricket League of East Zone Clubs were decided on Thursday. In the first match, Punjab Club beat Ghalib Gym by seven wickets at Imtiyaz Academy ground (Ghalib Gym 116, Punjab Club 117/3). In the second match, Dawn Club outplayed Young Mughalpura Greeners by three wickets played at Township ground (Young Mughalpura Greeners 127, Dawn Club 128/7). In the third match, Mughalpura Sports defeated Ghaziabad Gym by six wickets played at Albilal ground (Ghaziabad Gym 103, Mughalpura Sports 104/4).

Sami’s hat-trick guides Rajshahi to win DHAkA AgencIeS

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami achieved a hat-trick in the final over to help Duronto Rajshahi record a 14-run victory over Dhaka Gladiators in the 14th Twenty20 match of the Bangladesh Premier League here at the Shere Bangla national Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a rather easy target of 145 runs, Dhaka Gladiators could make only 130 for seven in the allotted 20 overs despite a fine unbeaten 54 by opener Imran nazir. no other batsman could make any significant score except Anamul Haque (20).

Sami became the first bowler to get a hattrick in the Bangladesh Premier League. He finished at three for 23 and Monir Hossain got two for 22 for Rajshahi.

Earlier, Dhaka Gladiators restricted Duronto Rajshahi to 144 runs for nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

Put into bat by Dhaka Gladiators, Duronto Rajshahi openers Shahzaib Hasan (23) and Junaid Siddique (25) made 45 runs but latter batsmen could not take any advantage of this good start.

However, Marlon Samuels played a responsible innings to top scored with 36.

For the Gladiators, Elias Sunny and nazmul Hossain took two wickets each.

LAHoRe: owner Shaheen Butt holds Mr Accurate with rider Ali Raza after its second upset win at the Lahore Race club in a week.

LHR 17-02-2012_Layout 1 2/17/2012 4:00 AM Page 20

20 Sports Kinnaird, garrison in Senior Women cricket final LAHore STAff RePoRT

Kinnaird Club had moved to the final of the Senior Inter-district Women Cricket Championship to take on Garrison Club today (Friday). In the last league match of the championship, Kinnaid Club thrashed Universal Club by 264 runs here on Thursday. Bating first, Kinnaird cracked 299 for seven in 40 overs.

Maham was 56 runs were the highest scorer while Hina and Fara contributed 38 and 33 runs respectively and Fariya added useful 27 runs to the total. Saba snared three wickets for 47 runs while Mavriya claimed two wickets for 61 runs.

In reply, Universal Club crumbled at 35 runs in 14.3 overs with none of their batswomen reaching the double figures. nimra sent back three players for 12 runs, Elizebath had two for no run while Hina and Madiha shared one wicket each for seven and 10 runs respectively.

The final of the championship will be played today and MPA Khawaja Imran nazir will be the chief guest of the day and give away the prizes to the winners.

Friday, 17 February, 2012

Kittel wins stage three in Oman MuScAT: Marcel Kittel of germany won the third stage of the Tour of oman race on Thursday, winning a sprint finish ahead of fellow countryman Andre greipel and Nacer Bouhanni of France. Britain's world champion Mark cavendish took eighth place. greipel, who won the race's first stage on Tuesday, took the red jersey that goes to the race's overall leader, taking over from Peter Sagan of Slovakia. Friday's fourth stage covers 142.5 kilometres from Bidbid Naf'a to Al Wadi al Kabir. AfP

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Marcel Kittel (geR/Project 1t4i), 140.5 kms in 3: 23:00 Andre greipel (geR) same time Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) same time Tyler Farrar (USA) same time Peter Sagan (SVq) same time Tom Boonen (BeL) same time Andrea guardini (ITA) same time Mark cavendish (gBR) same time graeme Brown (AUS) same time Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU) same time

Andre greipel (geR/Lotto) en 9 h 59:41 Peter Sagan (SVq) at 2.

Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) at 8.

Baden cooke (AUS) at 9.

Tom Jelte Slagter (NeD) at 11.

Tony gallopin (FRA) at 12. christopher Sutton (AUS) same time Jakob Fuglsang (DeN) at 15.

Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU) same time Fabian cancellara (SUI) at 19.

governor cup semis today LAHore STAff RePoRT

The semi-finals line-up of the 8th SBP Governor Cup Super Series Cricket Tournament-2012 were decided on Thursday. In the first semi-final, PPCBL Lahore will take on Bank of Khyber, Peshawar and SBP Karachi will meet UBL Karachi in the second semifinal at the Model Town (D-Block) Grounds. In the last league group matches, SBP Lahore defeated HBL, Karachi by five wickets. HBL Karachi made 151 runs. In reply SBP Lahore recorded the fastest chase in just 10.1 overs with fastest fifty coming from Hussain Tallat (61 not out). He also grabbed a wicket. Mohsin nadeem also took four wickets for 28 runs in four overs from SBP Lahore. In the second match at LCCA, SBP Karachi won by nine runs against HBL Multan. SBP KHI scored 184 runs in 20 overs and restricted HBL Multan at 175 runs. In the third match, Bank of Khyber PSW got fifth consecutive victory and remained undefeated. They won against SBP Hyderabad which made 100 runs and BoK achieved 105 runs in 12.3 overs. In the fourth match, nBP Hyderabad moved past SBP Rawalpindi by four wickets at Aligarh Cricket Ground, Model Town. SBP Rawalpindi scored 181 for five in 20 overs. nBP scored 183 for six wickets in 19.2 overs. In the fifth match, UBL Karachi won over PPCBL Lahore by 31 runs. UBL scored 173 for nine in 20 overs and in reply PPCBL could score 142 for nine in 20 overs.

Olympic Stadium legacy plan under fire LonDon AfP

The Olympic Stadium in London has been labelled as "not fit for football" by one of the clubs bidding to become tenants there after the 2012 Games. Barry Hearn, chairman of thirdtier Leyton Orient, has long wanted his club, whose current Brisbane Road ground is the closest to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London, to play at the ÂŁ468 million ($734 million) venue after the Games. He even launched a legal challenge when nearby West Ham were chosen as tenants ahead of north London Premier League highflyers Tottenham Hotspur. The decision in favour of West Ham was overturned last year and the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) have reopened bidding. There are fears the stadium -which is due to host the 2017 World Athletics Championships - will become an expensive "white elephant" without a footballing tenant, as it won't be able to stage enough athletics

events to cover its costs. Hearn, while still interested in a move, said if the running track remained in place the Olympic Stadium would be unsuitable for football. "We're looking at it but, I have to say, after my tour of the stadium, I become more and more convinced that this stadium is not fit for football purposes," Hearn told Sky Sports news. Hearn added that a lack of foresight had left the OPLC without a post-Games tenant just months before the start of the Olympics. "no one is actually taking responsibility for admitting they've built a wrong stadium," he said. "They didn't listen to advice five years ago when everyone was saying what type of stadium can work. "Legacy is absolutely vital. This is taxpayers' money we're talking about -- ÂŁ600 million of taxpayers' money. We can't just sweep this under the counter. "We have to face these problems and be honest. Let's use some common sense but most of all let's be honest with where we're going to go. "Otherwise it's going to be an horrendous 'white elephant'. We've seen it around the world. Let's not let it happen to London.

Ic Trophy National Tennis begins kArACHI STAff RePoRT

The IC Trophy national Ranking Tennis Championship began hee at Karachi Gymkhana Tennis Courts on Thursday.

Kalim Imam, president Pakistan Tennis federation formally inaugurated the Championship and Kh. Saeed Hai, Saeed Ahmed, Jamal Mirza and M.Khalid Rehmani were also present on the occasion.

ReSuLTS Mens singles qualifying round 1: Asif Bachani (Hyderabad) beat Sikander Hayat Khan 6-2, 6-4, Malik Hamza beat Saman Butt 6-0, 3-0 rtd, Saad Mubarik ( lhr) beat Hassaan Siddiqui 6-3, 6-1, Abdullah Khan beat Ayaz Khan 6-2, 6-4, Saif Noor Sumar w/o Maaez Veqar.

Punjab Sports Festival third phase begins LAHore STAff RePoRT

LAHoRe: Baber and Sarwar try to down each other in general Public Wrestling competitions of the Punjab Sports Festival 2012. STAFF PhOTO

The third phase of Inter-tehsil Level Sports event of the Punjab Sports Festival 2012 started here on Thursday at all the 26 districts of the province.

The Inter-tehsil winning teams participated in all 13 games including cricket tapeball, karate, taekwondo, basketball, volleyball, hockey, weightlifting, wrestling, kabaddi, athletics, badminton and football.

In Lahore, Marina Masood from Kinnaird School won the 100 metre race and Asma Khalid from Society School was second. In 200 metre, Rabia Sadiq from Yasmeen School Lalpul got the first position while Marina Masood from Kinnaird School was second. In 400 metre, naima from Kinnaird School was the winner and Mahnoor from Singhpura School was second. In 800 metre, Mehak from Kinnaird School was winner whereas Irum from Government High School

Dryport Mughalpura was second. In 1500 metre, Mafia from Government HS Dryport Mughalpura got first place, Khizra from Kinnaird School was second.

Atiqa Akram from Kinnaird School secured first position in long jump and javelin throw while Sabahat from Kinnaird School was the winner of the shotput. In football matches boys schools, Government HS Shahdra beat Government HS Jallomore 5-2. In general public football, Cantt/Shalamar beat Model Town 1-0. In general public basketball, Model Town beat Shalamar Town 43-27 and Lahore City defeated Model Town 47-38.

In volleyball tournaments, Lahore Cantt beat Lahore City 3-1 while in the volleyball girls schools, Government HS Samanabad defeated The Lahore School Model Town 2-0 with a of 25-2, 25-7 and 25-9. For third position, Samanabad School thrashed Kinnaird School 3-0 (25-10, 25-15 and 25-2). In karate general public competitions, Lahore City was

the winner with 40 points, Lahore Cantt secured second position with 30 and Model Town with 20 points was third.

In boys school karate, Lahore City was winner 40 points, Cantt was second 30 points and Model Town third 20 points.

In boys college karate, Superior College secured first position with 30 points, Punjab College was second with 20 points while Cantt College with 15 points was third.

The opening ceremonies of Intertehsil competitions of the festival were held at Iqbal Park Sports Complex and Railway Stadium. MPA Waseem Qadir and MPA Rana Iqbal performed the opening ceremonies of wrestling and kabaddi competitions.

In kabaddi, Model Town beat Cantt by 20 points and in wrestling 62 kgs category, Sarwar got first position while Faisal from Cantt was second. In 77 kgs, naeem from Lahore City was first and Riaz from Model Town second.

LHR 17-02-2012_Layout 1 2/17/2012 4:00 AM Page 21

Friday, 17 February, 2012

MuScAT: german cyclist Marcel Kittel (c) of Project 1T4I team competes with other cyclists at the finish line of the third stage of Tour of oman to win the race. AFP

Sports 21

federer wins on dutch return rotterDAM

F

PArIS AfP

Kim Clijsters will miss the WTA Indian Wells tournament after failing to recover from an ankle injury, the Belgian announced on Wednesday, although she will return for the March 19-April 1 Miami event. Former world number one Clijsters, the 2003 and 2005 champion at Indian Wells, hurt her left ankle during the Australian Open where she reached the semi-finals. "I'm very disappointed that due to my ankle injury I'm not able to take part in this year's BnP Paribas Open," Clijsters said in a statement on her official website. "Indian Wells has always been quite a special tourmanent for me. In 2003 and 2005 I won the event after a period of recovery from an injury. "I really have the most fond memories of Indian Wells and always enjoyed the support I got there from the audience.

I wish the tournament the very best."

This year's Indian Wells event gets underway on March 5.

Australia V Sri Lanka 08:50AM

ESPN Sportscentre

Aqeel, Nomi in open Ranking Tennis final

kArACHI STAff RePoRT

RoTTeRDAM: French player Nicolas Mahut returns a ball to Swiss player Roger Federer during their first round match of the ATP Rotterdam open. AFP the same way after defeating Mahut for the third time without a loss. "There were a lot of expectations for me in the first round. not having been here for so long," he said. "I'm happy I

came through. nicolas can play good tennis. I was clearly lacking rhythm coming from a completely different surface. "I found a way to win and from now on hopefully I'll play even better."

Aqeel Khan and nomi Qamer have reached the final of the 10th Westbury Open Ranking Tennis being plaed her at the Karachi Club. Aqeel Khan beat Abid Mushtaq in the men’s ingles while nomi Qamer moved to the final past Vinod Das. Meanwhile in the ladies singles semifinals, Hania naveed beat Seher Khawaja and neha Khan beat Hajra nadeem to clash in the final.

ReSuLTS MenS SIngLeS SeMIfInAL: Aqeel Khan beat Abid Mushtaq 6-2,6-7,6-4, Nomi qamer beat Vinod Das 6-2, 6-4 unDeR 17 fInAL: Talha Zubair beat Hassaan Siddiqui 6-0, 6-0 unDeR 15: Marib Malik beat Hania Naveed 7-6, 6-2, Ibrahim Iltifat beat M. raza sawani 7-5, 7-5 SeMI-fInALS: Nomfil kalim beat Marib Malik 6-3, 6-0, Ibrahim Iltifat beat Nazif Ahmed 6-3, 6-3 LADIeS SIngLeS SeMIfInALS: Hania Naveed beat Seher Khawaja 6-2, 7-5, Neha Khan beat Hajra Nadeem 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Roddick, Raonic win, Monfils pulls out Clijsters out of indian Wells

ESPN

07:30PM

AfP

ORMER world number one Roger Federer admitted he felt the mighty weight of expectation as he returned to the ATP Rotterdam Open here on Wednesday seven years after last playing the indoor event. The Swiss walked away in 2005 with the title and marked his return with a 6-4, 6-4 win over French world number 83 nicolas Mahut on Wednesday.

But the 67-minute victory was far from routine, with the top seed admitting that he had little choice but to win convincingly in front of a sold-outrecord crowd of more than 9,900 - a figure which surpassed the 2011 final won by Robin Soderling. "I was trying hard to win, that's the rule out there," said the 16-time grand slam champion who played the Rotterdam qualifiers as a teenager in 1999 and reached the quarter-finals. "It doesn't matter how ugly or pretty, it's about coming through and see what can improve in the next round. "It's trying to manage nerves and expectations."

Federer, who lost both of his weekend Davis Cup matches in a defeat by the US, got a hero's welcome as he entered the court to a standing ovation, leaving it

waTch iT Live

SAn JoSe AfP

Second seed Andy Roddick saved 12 of 13 break points en route to a 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory over fellow American Denis Kudla at the ATP Tour San Jose Open on Wednesday. Roddick hammered 14 aces and won 74 percent of his first serve points against Kudla in the two hour, 42 minute second round match. He advances to the quarter-finals where he will face the winner of Michael Russell against Denis Istomin. Istomin beat Sam Querrey 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 in a first round match on Wednesday. In the night match, defending champ and third seeded Milos Raonic of Canada beat Germany's Tobias Kamke 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) to reach the quarters. In other first-round matches on Wednesday, up and coming Australian star Matthew Ebden outlasted Israel's Duda Sela 6-7 (7/9), 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) and American Ryan Harrison beat eighth seeded Olivier Rochus 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Fifth seeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau defeated Ryan Sweeting of the US in straight sets 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5). Top seed Gael Monfils of France withdrew Wednesday with a right knee injury. Monfils, who is ranked 13th in the world, pulled out after playing in a doubles match on Tuesday. He was schedule to play in his first singles match on Thursday. He will be replaced in the San Jose singles draw by lucky loser Blake Strode of the USA.

Sahara back as Team India sponsor neW DeLHI AfP

India's cricket chiefs thrashed out a compromise with the Sahara group on Thursday, paving the way for their long-time sponsor to remain on board. Sahara had severed ties with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on February 4 for what it said was a "one-sided emotional relationship" with the governing body. After negotiations over the past fortnight, both sides agreed that Sahara will continue as the national team's sponsor and also field their Pune Warriors franchise in the IPL.

Pakistan team finishes sixth, returns home LAHore STAff RePoRT

Pakistan national 7s team returned from Bangkok Thailand last night after taking part in the prestigious HSBC Rugby 7s Series Tournament.

Pakistan team with included eight new caps and two under 20 boys surprised all expectations by beating UAE team in the semifinal of the bowl 31-7 and then finished runners-up in the bowl. The UAE team went on to win the shield competition beating Philippines in the shield final.

Pakistan final standing was sixth in the eight-team event which included the the best teams of Asia. The PRU main goal was to give upcoming players the muchneeded international exposure and experience against the top rugby playing nations. The goal was more than achieved as Pakistan not only got to play against all the

top countries but also was able to give them tough time. One of the highlights was the points scored against Japan by scoring 2 tries.

The team looking great throughout the tournament showing good basic rugby and great athletic talent IRB official Ismail Kadir who has visited Pakistan a year ago said: “It is great to see the development of rugby in Pakistan.

The make up of the team shows the great progress being made in the development of rugby in the country.”

He also pointed out the great skill shown by the Pakistan man of the match Khalid Bhatti who was one of the best players of the whole tournament as he not only got some good tries but also was excellent in tackling and defense.

His defence played try-saving tackles against the top two leaders Japan and Hong Kong.

Pakistan was runners-up in the bowl compaction of the tour-

nament beating UAE in the semifinal who went on to with the lower shield competition. In the semi-final, Pakistan lost their captain Umer Butt and Shakeel Ahmed due to injury who had been

the main play makers throughout the event. In the final of the bowl, Pakistan team lost against LAOS who were the other stars of the event beating high-ranked Philippines in the semi-final.

LAHoRe: The Pakistan 7s rugby team with PRU secretary Arif Saeed on their return from Bangkok. STAFF PhOTO

LHR 17-02-2012_Layout 1 2/17/2012 4:00 AM Page 22

Friday, 17 February, 2012

uS missiles kill 21 in nWA MIrAnSHAH/PeSHAWAr AfP/STAff RePoRT

Two US drone strikes struck militants in north Waziristan on Thursday, killing at least 21, officials said.

The aircraft fired missiles hours apart on separate targets.

Six militants were killed and six were injured in the first attack that destroyed a compound in Spalga town

near Miranshah and at least 15 died in the second attack on a vehicle near the town of Mir Ali, AFP reported.

AFP put the number of deaths in Spalga at five. “The death toll may rise,” a security official warned AFP after the second strike targeted militants travelling in a double cabin pick-up.

“At least 15 militant have been killed in the second strike,” he said, describing them all as “foreigners”.

Another security official in Miranshah said they were all Uzbek Islamist fighters. “The vehicle caught fire and the dead bodies are badly mutilated,” he added.

One of the officials said those killed in the first attack were loyalists of Badar Mansoor and the Haqqani network, loyal to the Afghan Taliban whose leaders are understood to be based in north Waziristan.

Pakistan central to Afghan peace process: Karzai zardari says regional cooperation essential to addressing challenges, exploiting opportunities in the region g

ISLAMABAD STAff RePoRT

A

uPPeR DIR: Paramedics give treatment to an injured blast victim at a hospital after a suicide bomber targeted volunteers in a pro-government militia, killing one person and wounding at least five on Thursday. AFP | STORY On PAge 04

All Senate candidates from Punjab elected unopposed LAHore nAuMAn TASLeeM

All candidates for the Senate seats from Punjab were elected unopposed on Thursday, as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) approved nomination papers of 12 candidates for 12 seats. However, these were unofficial results.

The candidates also declared their assets and surprisingly Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, a landlord turned out to be one of the poorest candidates. The nomination papers of Mohsin Leghari were rejected for not having attached party nomination with his papers.

There are 12 Senate seats for each province with seven general, two technocrats, two women and one minority seat.

From the PPP, Babar Awan and Aslam Gill were elected for general seats, Aitzaz Ahsan for technocrat seat and Khalida Bosan of Muzaffargarh was elected on a women’s seat.

The PPP has also opted for seat adjustment with the PML-Q, which has given a ticket to Kamil Ali Agha.

The PML-n also announced seven nominees for the Senate tickets in the Upper House.

Ishaq Dar was elected on a technocrats’ seat, Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa, Zafar Dhandla, M Hamza from and Rafique Rijwana on general seats, while Begum nuzhat Amir Sadiq was elected on the women’s seat and provincial Minister for Finance and Human Rights Kamran Michael on the minorities’ seat.

The candidates also declared their assets and astonishingly some members turned out to be very poor and paid very little in taxes.

For instance, Senior Adviser to Punjab Khosa paid Rs 7,000 in tax whereas he owned 99 acres of land. He also had only Rs 0.7 million in the bank account.

Continued on page 04

PM won’t seek clemency if held guilty: Aitzaz

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FGHAn President Hamid Karzai on Thursday termed Pakistan’s support critical to the success of the Afghan-led peace process, as he and Iranian President Mahmud Ahmedinejad arrived here to attend the trilateral summit meant for accelerating joint efforts to peace and stability in the war-torn Afghanistan.

During a one-on-one meeting with Karzai at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Asif Ali Zardari said regional cooperation was essential to addressing the challenges and exploiting opportunities in the region. Zardari expressed hope that the trilateral summit would be a significant step in promoting the agenda of regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Reiterating commitment to working together with President Karzai for enhancing bilateral interaction and evolving an institutional approach to deal with the common challenges facing the two countries, Zardari underlined the need for the two countries to stay together at

this critical juncture and avoid being distracted by momentary events.

Discussing trade ties with Afghanistan, the president said connectivity through all available modes would help bolster mutual trade activities and promote people-to-people contacts.

Issues related to the PakAfghan Transit Trade Agreement (PATTA) also came under discussion. Both leaders agreed upon the need to resolve all the issues and remove bottlenecks if any, in the way of the PATTA. President Zardari underlined the need for working together to extend the agreement to the Central Asian countries, which, he said was a doable project and would not only benefit the people of the region but also generate huge economic activity in Afghanistan. He said the two sides should accord priority to all the energy related projects to meet the growing energy needs and expedite process of development. The president also emphasised upon the early implementation of CASA1000 project, TAPI and other infrastructure projects.

Briefing reporters, president’s spokesman Farhatul-

MonItorIng DeSk Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s lawyer Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan on Thursday said his client will not seek clemency from President Asif Zardari if the Supreme Court did convict him in the contempt of court case. Speaking in an Express news talk show, Aitzaz said even if the Supreme Court declared the prime minister guilty of contempt, it might not cause Gilani’s ouster from office, as he could only be disqualified by the national Assembly speaker.

Aitzaz made it clear that whether a letter was written to the Swiss authorities or not, bringing back the money from Swiss banks was not possible.

Al qaeda is US’ enemy No 1, not Taliban: Panetta WASHIngton onLIne

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said that al Qaeda is the primary enemy of the United States in the AfghanistanPakistan region and Taliban factions supportive of al Qaeda are also a target, US media reported on Thursday. “The Taliban is a very broad group. Our primary enemy in that part of the world is al Qaeda. The Taliban elements, the terrorist elements that support al Qaeda, are also our enemy,” Panetta said at a congressional hearing.

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

Editor: Arif Nizami, Executive Editor: Sarmad Bashir

lah Babar said during a oneon-one meeting followed by a delegation-level interaction, the two presidents discussed a range of issues including bilateral relations and the regional situation, Afghanistan issue, development projects in the region, PATTA, drug trafficking and border issues.

PM tALKS: Earlier, talks were held in cordial atmosphere between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the PM’s House, where Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and the Afghan president led their delegations. Both the leaders had a one-on-one meeting prior to the bilateral talks.

Both sides agreed on the need to strengthen mutual cooperation to overcome the challenges of terrorism and extremism and expressed their resolve to work for the stability and peace of both the countries.

The prime minister said Pakistan supported any peace process in Afghanistan which was Afghan-led and Afghanowned because peace, prosperity and independence of Afghanistan were in Pakistan’s best interest.

Both sides reviewed the current developments in and around the region relating to peace and stability.