E-Paper October 21, 2012

US not pushing for NWA operation: Grossman Holds talks with Hina, Kayani STAFF REPORTER

on the murder attack at extremism, adding that the US Malala Yousafzai. He said expresses solidarity with the US know, how much the people of Pakistan in this reI SLAMABAD —The United that people in Pakistan are af- gard. He said that now the States Special Representafected by the terrorism and Continued on Page 7 tive for Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman has said that the US is not putting pressure on Pakistan fro conducting military operation in North Waziristan Agency, adding that decision in this regard will be taken by Pakistan itself.

He said that US and Pakistan are trying for restoring peace, stability and security in Afghanistan.

While talking to staterun TV here on Saturday, he said that there is need for progress of the education for purifying the society from ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Afghanistan LAHORE: Patriotic emotions ran through the sky when around 70,000 participants of Punjab Youth Festival joined the terrorism. He said that and Pakistan Marc Grossman in a meeting with Foreign voices with an aim to break the world record for the most people singing a National Anthem simultaneously at people in US were shocked Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.

National Hockey Stadium.

70,000 Pakistanis Not individuals but institutions need strengthening set record of singing National Anthem

Malala attack just a drama, alleges Al-Qaeda site ISLAMABAD—A website linked with Al-Qaeda says attack on Malala Yousufzai is ‘just a drama’.

“It’s a plot to strengthen the global crusade against Muslims,” it adds commenting that ‘it (Al-Qaeeda) is not against girls’ education but against secular education system.

The statement has severely criticized Pakistani and international media over their coverage of Malala.

“Until any authentic media outlet of Tehrik-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) doesn’t give any statement about attack on the girl and it’s after affects the whole act is suspicious,” it said.

The site naming Ansarullah attacks BBC, saying most of the stateContinued on Page 7

SC judgment should be implemented: MQM STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The Coordination Committee of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has welcomed the historic judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in Asghar Khan case.

It said that the judgment of the court should be implemented according to its spirit. It said that action should be taken under the constitution and the law against the army and government officers who distributed money from the national exchequer among politicians and all those political leaders and journalists who received

Continued on Page 7

CJ links Pak, India peace to law rule MUZAFFAR ALI L AHORE —Chief

Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday said that problems generate only when individuals become stronger than institutions and conflicts between states is the main source of terrorism, adding that lasting peace between India and Pakistan would not be possible without establishing the rule of law.

He was addressing on the second day of International

Conference on “Peace the Supreme Court Bar Asthrough Law” organized by sociation (SCBA) here at a local hotel. An Indian lawyers’ delegation is also in the city to participate in the conference.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said that denying the supremacy of law and breaching the constitution LAHORE —Chief Justice of have misled the people and Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad the rule of law is only remChaudhry summoned PIA edy for all social evils. officers and rebuked them for He said that Islam is a delay of light, through which religion of peace and there is he was to fly to Karachi from no space for violence in it.

Flight delay: CJ summons PIA officials

Continued on Page 7

Continued on Page 7

US supports Pakistan to address terror challenges: State Department WASHINGTON —The United person Victoria Nuland said jectory that they have now States support a strong, democratic Pakistan that works well with the international community and Washington in addressing the terror challenges it faces.

Replying to a question, state department’s spokes-

the US is reengaging with Pakistan after some period in trying to get the working groups and other things back up and running to support their joint efforts to meet the terror challenge.

She said that is the tra-

on.

About Malala Yousufzai, Victoria Nuland commended the UAE for transporting here and the UK for treatment her treatment. She said that they hope for her full and speedy recovery.—INP

L AHORE —Thousands of people gathered in Lahore and created a record of singing National Anthem together.a Nearly 70,000 of students, athletes and civil society members were gathered at the National Hockey stadium Lahore to create a record of singing National Anthem of Pakistan. Earlier 15,000 Indians had made the record by singing national anthem together.

Officials of the Guinness World Records were also present and watched the breaking number of athletes, volunteers, students and guests.The athletes march past and a torch lightened after Continued on Page 7

SC takes notice of killings of lawyers STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI —The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued notice to the inspector general of the Sindh police over the murders of lawyers and Continued on Page 7

Riaz demands Sharifs’ disqualification Kaira hints at joint probe STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Information Qamar Zaman Kaira Saturday said the government would initiate an impartial investigation into distribution of money among politicians in the light of the Supreme Court verdict in Asghar Khan case.

A joint investigation team can be formed in this connection, he told reporters here on Saturday. However, Kaira expressed his reservations about remarks in the SC verdict about the role of president. He said,

Law and order situation calls for governor rule in provinces: A Q Khan AMANULLAH KHAN KARACHI—Renowned nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, perturbed by what he called the worst ever law and order situation, has called for imposition of governor rule wherever the law & order situation has slipped out of hand.

Speaking as the chief guest at a Seminar here Khan said that there is a provision under the constitution in case any provincial government fails to deliver and protect the life,

honor and property of the citizens, the Chief Minister and the Home Minister should be sent to homes.

Topic of the seminar was “Controlling Spread of Waywardness” which was organized by Bazm-e-Kiran.

Khan bitterly criticized what he called ineffective efforts to control heinous crimes like target killing, kidnappings for ransom and rampant extortions by the gangsters. Industrialists and business people are being threatened for their live if they failed to comply with the

demands of the extortionists through slip of a paper called “parchi”. Their factories are put on fire if they resist or fail to meet their demands. It is happening every day and there is no one to heed or

Picture on Back Page takes action against these law breakers. On the other hand half hearted efforts are being made to combat the persistent energy crisis.

People are being hoodwinked with false promises or claims to convert Thar coal into an

endless stream of energy. All these claims are like sugar quoted pills which is a sheer dishonesty with the nation.

Dr. Qadeer strongly recommended that if any provincial government failed to deliver its first responsibility of protecting life, honor and property of the people, the Chief Minister and the Home Minister should be sent to their homes. The situation in Balochistan and Pakhtunkhawa is also beyond control, enforce governor rule in that province and you will see that the situa-

tion would return to normalcy within couple of days.

He urged the people to exercise their right of vote to bring good people at the helm of affairs. He regretted that despite having enormous potential the people are deprived of their basic rights of health and education, peace and prosperity due to poor leadership. If the good people were not elected to power everything would be destroyed he warned. It is the

Continued on Page 7

“President is elected through a political process and cannot be kept away from politics.”

Kaira said the office of President is not apolitical office.

Terming the comments as strange he said if the president is not to do politics what else he would do.

Kaira said, if PML-N wants to hold a political meeting in the Presidents House it was most welcome.

Moreover, PPP Punjab has sought disqualification of Sharif Brothers and inclusion of their names in ECL. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz said on

Saturday the Election Commission should immediately declare the Sharif brothers ineligible to contest polls in light of the Supreme Courts recent orders.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference here in Lahore, the PPP’s Party leader said that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was already constitutionally ineligible for elections following an SC ruling declaring the 1990 election, which was won

by Sharif’s party, was rigged.

In its landmark ruling on Friday, the apex court or-

Continued on Page 7

PPP trying to take political advantage: Ali Asghar I SLAMABAD —Ali Asghar Khan, son of Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan said money distributed by the establishment during 1990 election was directed against People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) and not PPP. Talking to Online he said PPP was a part of PDA. PPP had not cooperated with the court during the hearing of Asghar Khan case on any occasion, he alleged.

He went on to say PPP had gone active to exploit Supreme Court (SC) verdict in Asghar Khan Case for political gains in the perspective of upcoming general elections.

He charged PPP was misguiding the people in respect

of this case. Establishment in fact had disbursed money against PDA during 1990 elections and PPP was coalition partner with Tehreek-eIstiqlal, Tehreek-e- Nifaz-eFiqa Jaffria and PML (Qasim Group).

Son of Air Marshall (Retd) Asghar Khan said PPP was giving such impression as if the court’s verdict was its victory.

It was ridiculous to say that justice had been provided to PPP, he said adding that on the other hand fact remains that PPP had not cooperated with the court at any stage during the hearing of the case nor it filed relevant documents with court de-

Continued on Page 7

Ex-President Farooq 180,000 pilgrims flown to Saudia Arabia Leghari remembered Pre-Hajj flights end

STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The month long pre Hajj flights operation concluded on Saturday as over 180,000 Pakistanis including the government and private scheme pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia for performing the sacred religious ritual of Hajj. According to an official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the pre hajj flights operation was started on September 19. The post Hajj flights operation would be started from October 31. The last two flights

Changezi hails Asghar Khan case verdict CORRESPONDENT

are set to leave for Saudi Arabia from Islamabad and Karachi on Saturday.

Over 180,000 Pakistani hujjaj were airlifted with the help of a total of 283 flights including 149 of PIA, 80 flights of Shaheen Airline and 54 flights of Saudi Airline, he said. PIA has airlifted 45,481 pilgrims including 6,639 from Islamabad, 5,633 from Lahore, 6,639 from Karachi, 7,057 from Quetta, 9,049 from Peshawar, 6,958 from Multan, 3,506 from Sialkot.

Saudi Airline has lifted 45,481 pilgrims including

2,660 from Islamabad, 2,660 pilgrims have been airlifted from Lahore, 2,000 from Karachi, 6,000 from Peshawar, 320 from Rahim Yar Khan and 3,010 from Faisalabad, he said.

Shaheen Air had airlifted 20,700 pilgrims including 5,300 each from Islamabad and Lahore, 6,100 from Karachi and 4,000 from Peshawar. The airfare of North Zone was Rs 85,000 and Rs 73,000 was charged from the passengers wanted to go to Saudi Arabia from South Zone, he said. To

serve and facilitate Pakistani hujjaj, a contingent of 625 doctors, paramedics and ancillary staff have already reached Saudi Arabia.

The medical mission has been increased from 540 to 625 to better serve to hujjaj. The contingent has been drawn from Armed forces, federal/provincial governments, health departments, he said. One doctor has been deployed to serve every 1000 pilgrims. A total of 180 Pakistani doctors have been sent to Saudi Arabia includ-

ing 126 male and 54 female doctors. While two para medics have been sent against one doctor.

As many as 330 Pakistan based Mauveneen-i-Hujjaj (Khuddam) have also reached Saudi Arabia for the welfare of pilgrims. Likewise 900 local Mauveen-eHujjaj has been recruited for 40 to 60 days for the welfare and services of the Hujjaj, he said. And a contingent of 170 seasonal staff from Ministry of Religious Affairs has also been selected for serving in facili-

Armed forces ready to blunt all threats: Gen Waynne

Peoplel’s Party Balochistan chapter leader Zamin Ali Changezi on Saturday welcomed the Supreme Court ruling on the Asghar Khan case and called for action against those who betrayed nation and received money from the establishment.

In a statement issued here, he while hailing the SC verdict said that it was historic decision made by the full bench of the apex court, adding the ruling has once again made it clear that conspiracies had been hatched against the PPP in every regime. “The court observation has revealed the covert faces of the politicians who did not want democracy to flourish in the country”, he maintained. Mr Zamin called on the politicians who received secret money to apologize the nation for their wrong act.

STAFF REPORTER P ESHAWA R —Annual Naat

ABBOTTABAD: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shameem Wynne, awarding coneted Sward

F AISALABAD—The first na- of Honour to best cadet of 126th PMA Long Course, Academy Senior Under Officer, Anees at Pakistan Military Academy. tional general Dental Practichallenges. The CJCSC said treated as lesser than that of witnessed the passing-out tioners Conference was held A B B O T TA B A D —Chairman

DBA observes strike M ULTAN —The District Bar Association (DBA) Multan observed strike against the murder of a senior lawyer in Lahore here on Saturday.

The strike was observed on the call of Punjab Bar Council against the murder of lawyer Shakir Ali Rizvi in Lahore and the lawyers boycotted the court proceedings. District Bar Association president Hafiz Allah Dita, general secretary Ch Afzal Jutt.—APP

Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Khalid Shamim Waynne has said that armed forces of Pakistan are committed and have the capability to confront all kinds of internal and external

this while speaking at a passing-out parade ceremony here on Saturday.

General Waynne said that Pakistan’s armed forces are capable in all aspects and the Pakistan Army should not be

any other country. He said that the entire nation is united on the issue of national security. The CJCSC said Pakistan has no aggressive designs against any country.

Later, General Waynne

parade and distributed prizes among the top performers.

The honorary sword was given to Officer Anis. A Palestinian and a Sudanese cadet were also included in the course.—INP

Southern KP, adjoining tribal belt to emerge as economic hub: Kausar STAFF REPORTER

as the chief guest at the 17th Parents Day function of GarP ESHAWAR —The Khyber rison Cadet College at Kohat Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Bar- on Saturday. Cadet Ahmad rister Masood Kausar has said that the southern parts of the province especially the Kohat Division and its adjoining tribal belt is going to become hub of economic activities in near future. He said due to the presence of oil and gas and precious minerals production in the region, completion of under construction road network both via South and North Waziristan agencies, apart from the new bridge at Khushalgarh over Indus River as well would bring revolutionary chances in the life of the Abdullah was adjudged the people of southern part. All best cadet of the year and was these projects are meant to get awarded coveted honor of access to Central Asian States the institution which the for promotion of trade through Ayubi House achieved the Champions trophy. Smart land routes.

The Governor expressed contingents of cadet prethese views while addressing sented well disciplined

march past, demonstrated gymnastic skills, PT shows, cultural activities and received appreciation from the audience who besides parents of cadets, senior military and civil officials were also included elites of the area.

The Governor asked the students to develop the habit of personal and collective discipline in their lives, which, he remarked, is the hall mark all the progressive nations. “You are the future leaders of Pakistan with tremendous responsibilities on your shoulders and you must strive for excellence in education, inculcate national values and steer the beloved motherland to the path of progress and prosperity”, he added. Barrister Masood Kausar said that realization to the importance of goal oriented education very much exists and the government is making efforts for at-

tainment of the desired standards in this respect. He reminded the cadets that their parents are rendering a great deal of sacrifices for their education and they must come up to their expectations.

“You should also remain cognizant of your responsibilities towards the community, society and above all the country as the whole and to achieve the desired goals, fully devote your energies for acquiring knowledge which is essential for prosperity of the country and yourself too”, he said. Appreciating the performance of the college, the Governor said that though this is relatively new amongst its sister institutions yet it has attained a permanent place in the ranks of elite educational institutions of the country in a very short span of 19 years and emerged an ideal institution.

D

ESPITE a slightly in crease of 5 percent in overall number of tourists as compared to previous year, the hospitality business has witnessed overall 8 percent decrease since 2008 across the country.

According to the experts, the main reasons behind this decline in hospitality business are technological changes, lack of tourism, government’s economic instability and terrorism. The available research data reveals that the main reason of declining in hospitality business is not terrorism rather it is technological changes. Globally chang-

competition held among Girls middle schools of the public sector was won by Government Middle School New Karimpura, Peshawar. The Annual Naat competition arranged by of Elementary and Secondary Education (Female) District Peshawar was held at Government Girls Middle school Cantt.

Peshawar. District Education Officer (Female) Sofia Tabassom was chief guest at the event while Farzana Yusuf, District Sport Secretary was also present.

Students from 25 middle schools of the district participated in the competition. According to jury decision, Sundus of Government Girls School New Karimpura clinched first position while Khadija of GGMS Gul Bacha Jee and Maryam of GGMS Lahori gate grabbed 2nd each.

Similarly Asma of GGMS Shaheen Muslim Town, Gulbahar No 4 and Rimsha of GGMS Jehangirpura, Peshawar was declared as 3rd in the competition.

Speaking on the occasion, Farzana Yusuf, District Sport Secretary lauded efforts of heads of middle schools for making the event a success.

She appreciated courage and presentation skill of the students. She said co-curricular activities can play vital role in building up of the students besides developing a sense of healthy competition in them.

The chief guest District Education Officer (Female) Sofia Tabassum gave trophies to the winners of the competition.

Seven students receive burn injuries CORRESPONDENT

Hospitality business on decline Comments MUZAFFAR ALI

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Annual Naat competion held

Dental conference at UMDC

at University Medical and Dental College (UMDC) here on Saturday. The conference targeted the practicing dental surgeons from the Central Punjab and other parts of the country.

The conference comprised of two parts. The first part included eight lectures by the veteran consultants in the field of dentistry including Prof Dr Ayyaz Ali Khan, Prof Dr Samir Qazi, Prof Dr Moghees Baig, Prof Dr Ulfat Bashir, Dr Arshad Malik, Dr Agha Suhail, Dr Arham Chohan and Dr Hina Zafar Raja. The second part of the conference comprised of four workshops on Orthodontics Treatment Planning, Management of Pediatric Patients, Rotary Endodontics.

Governor to visit Faisalabad on 23rd FAISALABAD—Punjab Governor Sardar Lateef Khosa will visit the city on Tuesday instead of Monday. In a statement issued by the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here on Saturday, the governor was schedule to visit here on Monday but his visit has been adjourned from Monday to Tuesday (October 23). President FCCI Mian Zahid Aslam said the governor had also been invited in the chamber where he will address traders, businessmen, exporters and importers at 11:30am.

QUETTA—Pakistan

OUR CORRESPONDENT

tation desk for the facilitation and guidance of pilgrims.

Yet another 1475 welfare staff has been sent to Saudi Arabia including 330 Muaveeneen , 625 hajj medical mission, 350 volunteer Mauvaneen and 170 Seasonal Duty Staff. The staff has started its activities in Saudi Arabia, he said. In Hajj area, he said 25 Saudi hospitals are providing quality services to the hujjaj, Four hospitals are working in Arafat, Four in Mina and seven in Mekkah tul Makarama, he said.

ing technology has affected hospitality business in Pakistan and its role is about 73 percent to worsen the hospitality because of our failure in adoption of modern and advanced technology.

Next to it is terrorism that gripped the country and its negative role is recorded 48 percent. Lack of tourism policy on the government’s side is also badly affecting this industry and its role is tagged 36 percent while role of the poor law and order situation is about 19 percent. There is an observable decline of customers from 40 to 60 percent in five-star hotels chains owing of opening easily affordable new small chains of different hotels. The five star ho-

tels indicated that their revenue from food and beverage was over 632000 covers last year. International fast food restaurants named as KFC, McDonalds and Pizza Hut are hotel’s main competitors in the past. These are also creating problems for hotel industry. The hotel industry is also killed by tour operators who offer inflated prices.

Talking to Pakistan Observer, Iftikhar Ahmed, an official of a five-star hotel in Lahore, said technological advances will be among the most important forces driving the hotel industry but unfortunately, there is no fashion of adopting the devices of new technology in hostility industry in Pakistan. He said the people

from all over the world usually come to meet their relatives; they do not contribute much to the hotel industry, because of increasing fear of suicide bombing.

He said the service industry is the world’s largest growing industry faster than the manufacturing and agriculture but the only five star hotels in Pakistan had planned for an investment for over three million dollars only.

Ishtiaq Gill, the trainer of hospitality business, said that after 2008 the Pakistan Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure (TPL) sector was starting to see measurable fallout from the economic crisis in the form of negative indicators in the hotel indus-

try, a slowdown in the gaming sector and increased “trading down” from casual dining restaurants to quickserve restaurants. He said there are 134 tourist places and 178 hotels in Pakistan and our ranking in tourism industry is 88 from 196 across the globe. He said that the government’s policies are not encouraging.

“This indicates that the industry is far from healthy state and needs improvement,” he added.

LCCI former Senior Vice President and CEO Sozo Theme Parks Engineer Sohail Lashari said that the government has failed to showcase the tourism potential of the country therefore effective measures are needed to be taken.

F ATEH J ANG —Seven students received burn wounds while disposing off the garbage by burning it here on Saturday. According to details, students of a school located in village Babrra of Fateh Jang were trying to dispose off the rubbish present around and in the school through burning it when the burning heap of garbage engulfed the seven students resulting in burn wounds to them.

The local people and parents of the students gathered at the scene and shifted the injured children to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Attock where according to hospital sources condition of three injured students was serious. The parents of students and local people urged the authorities concerned for maintaining cleanliness in school surroundings and also demanded the teachers to ask students for maintenance.

OUR CORRESPONDENT DERA GHAZI KHAN—Death anniversary of former President Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari was observed here on Saturday. Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari was born on May 29, 1940, in Choti Zareen, a village of Dera Ghazi Khan District.

Leghari served as eighth president of the country

from November 1993 to December 1997. In 1996, he dismissed the government of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto over corruption charges.

Leghari resigned after developing differences with Bhutto’s successor, Nawaz Sharif. Leghari also briefly served as foreign minister in 1993 during Benazir Bhutto’s second stint in government.

Rain forecast I SLAMABAD —The weather respectively. Humidity was turned cold as different parts of Pakistan received rain, a private news channel reported. According to Met Office, weather remain dry in most parts of Pakistan. however, rain was recorded in Multan, Sargodha, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Dadu, Peshawar, Mianwali, Swat, Kohat and some parts of Gilgit Baltistan. The new spell of rain turned weather cold.

Lowest temperature during past 24 hours was recorded in Astour where mercury fell up to 2 degree centigrade while cold wave persists in Hunza, Kalat, Quetta, Malam Jabba, Parachinar and Skardu. Met office has predicted rain for Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad and some upper parts of the country during the next 12 hours. The local Met office has forecast partly cloudy weather for the city and its suburbs during the next 24 hours.

On Saturday, the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded as 27.5 and 17.1 degrees centigrade,

recorded 85 per cent at 8am and 53 per cent at 5pm. Meteorological Office here on Saturday forecasts scattered rain/ thunderstorm in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during next 24 hours.

Partly cloudy weather is expected in most parts of the province with a chance of rain and thunderstorm in Peshawar, Malakand and Kohat Divisions. The chief amount of rain during last 24 hours was: Peshawar, 10mm, Parachinar, 6mm, Dir and Kalaam, 19mm and Chitral 4mm rain. The Meteorological department on Friday forecast cloudy weather with chances of thunder/rain in the provincial capital during the next 24 hours. The weather pundits say that thunderstorm/rain.—APP

Drive for dues recovery Our Correspondent

HYDERABAD—Hyderabad Electric Supply Company in its massive campaign of recovery of outstanding dues against public and private consumers, had disconnected 3387 power connections in all 12 districts of its three operation circles on Friday and recovered Rs. 7.571 millions from the defaulters. An amount of Rs. 42.9 billions is outstanding against 0.213 million public and private consumers and on the directives of Federal Minister for Water and Power Choudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, the Chief Executive HESCO Muzaffar Ali Abbasi has asked the heads of 15 special recovery teams to ensure cent percent recovery of outstanding dues from the defaulters, the spokesman informed here on Friday. In Tando Muhammad Khan-I Operation Sub-Division, the spokesman informed that the recovery team disconnected the power connections of Irrigation Colony having outstanding dues of Rs. 910 million while the power connections of the installation of Taluka Municipal Administration Tando Muhammad Khan having outstanding dues of Rs. 370 million and 53 villages having outstanding dues of Rs. 40 million have been disconnected by the recovery team. In Badin Operation Sub-Division, the recovery team disconnected the power connections of the office of Taluka Municipal Administration, Public Park, Excise Colony, Revenue Colony, LBOD Workshop and Circuit House. In Talhar Operation Sub-Division, the power connections of the offices of Taluka Municipal Administration Talhar.

3,000 Sikhs to visit Pakistan gurudwaras OUR CORRESPONDENT HYDERABAD —For the first time, the state government has decided to send a ‘Jatha’ (group) of 3,000 Sikh Sehajdhari pilgrims to Gurudwaras in Pakistan on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Devji.

The Andhra Pradesh State Minority Finance Corporation (APSFMC), Hyderabad district, executive director told Indian Express that they have received

a message from the Union Ministry for Minorities Welfare that the pilgrims would be sent to Pakistan from November 23 to December 2.

Interested Sikh pilgrims can submit their applications to the district collector before October 22, he said, adding that the same would be sent to the central government.

Welcoming the decision, the Prabhandak Committees of various Sikh Gurudwaras in Hyderabad and Secunderabad wanted the government to extend the last

date for submission of applications by at least one week.

They wanted the government to bear the expenditure on the same lines it has been doing to other minority communities like Muslims (Haj pilgrimage) and Christians (for Jerusalem). They also wanted the APSFMC to issue proper guidelines on the issue for the benefit of Sikh pilgrims.

Indian Sikh pilgrims are allowed to visit Gurudwara Sacha Sauda, Gurudwara Dera Sahib, Gurdwara Janmasthan Guru Ram Das,

Gurudwara Singh Singhania, Gurudwara Hargobind Sahib and Gurudwara Mula Khatri, Gurudwara Nankana Sahib, Gurudwara Punja Sahib, Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib and Gurudwara Rori Sahib.

Recently, Pakistan decided to allow Indian pilgrims to four more Gurdwaras including Gurdwara Janamsthan Bebe Nanaki at Dera Chahal in Lahore, Gurudwara Babe Di Ber in Sialkot, Gurdwara Bhai Joga Singh and Gurdwara Bhai Biba Singh, both in Peshawar.

Govt run hospital doctors continue strike OUR CORRESPONDENT Q UETTA —Doctors continued to observe a strike in Quetta for the third straight day on Saturday against the kidnapping of a senior doctor. Outpatient clinics and other departments are lying closed due the strike, causing problems for poor patients.

According to reports,

there is no OPD and other services at Civil Hospital and all other government-run medical facilities because of kidnapping of Dr. Saeed Khan.

Patients are suffering but nobody is there to take notice.

Protesters say the murder of doctors and their kidnappings have become a routine thing as the government has failed to prevent the crimes.

Honour killing

Son strangulates mother in Daska OUR CORRESPONDENT D ASKA —An anguished son

Later, the accused went to the Daska City Police and surrendered. He told the police investigators that he killed his mother for honour, as she allegedly had developed illicit relations with a local. The police registered a murder case against the accused. one person was killed while another got serious injuried when a man attacked on them with stick at village Mohammad Khan Lashari in the limits of Taluka police station on Saturday.

According to police , Subhan Rajput is stated to be mentally up-set. He attacked on them and as a result two persons Madad Ali Lashari and Mohammad Ramzan Meher sustained serious head injuries. The injured were rushed to civil hospital where Madad Ali Lashari, was died while other’s condition was stated out of danger. Police was investigating into the incident.

strangulated his mother while 70 year old husband chopped off the hands, arms, feet and legs of his wife along with one sister here on Saturday. A 55-year-old Razia Bibi and her sister Sureya Bibi History proves Benazir was right 50 was sitting in her house Our Correspondent when the accused husband SARGODHA—Minister of State for WaAbdul Wahid attacked her ter and Power Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi with the sharp-edged said on Saturday that after 22 years, weapon. He first chopped her history had proved Benazir Bhutto hands, arms, feet and legs off right that the 1990 elections were and then killed both of them. rigged. Talking to journalists at Peoples The accused fled away from Secretariat, the state minister the scene successfully. welocmed the historic decision of the On getting information, Supreme Court of Pakistan and said the police reached the spot and PPP was thankful to the judiciary for broke down the door of the unveiling the conspiracy and rigging house. Later on, Police regplan woven at the Presidency against former Prime Ministered the case and started ister Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in 1990. Qureshi said that search for criminals. In anthe decision would be fully implemented and after imparother case, an anguished son tial investigation through FIA, accused politicians would Abdul Sattar strangulated be dealt with according to the law. Federal Minister for his mother Kausar Bibi for Water and Power Ch Ahmed Mukhtar said the PPP would honour when she was asleep win the general elections as per vision and manifesto of in her room here in conShaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. gested Sohawa locality.

DI KHAN: Police personnel demonstrating their skills after completing anti-terrorism course arranged by Pakistan Army.

He said this while addressing a public gathering after inaugurating gas project at UC-110 and UC-111 in NA66, Sargodha. Minister of State for Water and Power Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi was also present. The federal minister said the government had succeeded in reducing constructive purposes and STAFF REPORTER loadshedding duration in the country and energy crisis don’t waste time in unneceswould be resolved soon. Ahmed Mukhtar said the government was fully depending on its own resources to PESHAWAR—In order to cre- sary matters on social media. resolve energy issue, adding that the Thar Coal project ate and polish leadership He further said that we should OUR CORRESPONDENT the faculty members. agreement.

STAFF REPORTER would be completed and the government had released qualities among the youth, a use social media for strengthening democracy in Pakistan two-day workshop was held In addition, strengthenJaved Azam mentioned F AISALABAD —As many as funds in this regard. On this occasion, Minister of State for Water and Power Tasneem Qureshi said the Punjab under the auspices of Paki- and take concrete steps to 1500 successful corneal PESHAWAR—Benazir Bhutto the significance of this ing the research capabilities government was creating hurdles in completing devel- stan, US Alumni Network make Pakistan an economi- transplantation have been Women University Peshawar project for the capacity en- of faculty and graduate stuopment works but with the cooperation of the public, the (PUAN) at Edwards College, cally, socially and education- conducted free of cost at (BBWU) and Southern Meth- hancement of BBWU and its dents through advanced rePPP would provide all possibile facilities to the masses at Peshawar on Saturday. The ally stronger country.

Madinah Teaching Hospital odist University, Dallas, USA Psychology faculty and as search training and creation Director General Provin- under the aegis of Madinah have reached an agreement model in the academic indus- of a Psychology Research main aim of the seminar was to their door steps. bring together a diverse group cial Disaster Management Au- Foundation. for partnership between the try in Pakistan, as inspired by Center is proposed. The cenof students under one roof in thority, Dr. Shahzad Bangash two universities. Javed Dr Farhana Jehangir, Vice ter will serve a variety of This was expressed by Journalists playing vital role order to create awareness on highlighted different aspects Dr Aamir Ali Chaudhary Azam, Managing Director of Chancellor of the University. functions to promote world Raza Naqvi how to promote democratic of democracy. He said that we Principal University Development Group Interna- The objectives detailed as class research, hosting a liATTOCK—In today’s era the role of press leadership and its sub catego- should take steps to promote Vice Medical & Dental College tional, a consulting and man- priorities for the SBBWU in- brary, awarding small reand strengthen democracy by while addressing a seminar agement firm in Fallas, said clude development and search and travel grants and can not be denied. Press is the fourth pil- ries well in Pakistan. lar of any state. Press and politics cannot Addressing the conclud- increasing literacy rate, eco- on “Management of Cor- their efforts, initiatives and implementation of faculty sponsoring two annual rebe separated from one another. MNA and ing session, Iftikhar Firdous, nomic uplift, try to eliminate neal Pathologies” here on expertise in cooperation with and student exchange pro- search conferences in PakiChairman Standing Committee for Defence Bureau Chief of Daily Express the factors of racism, extrem- Friday. the Southern Methodist Uni- grams; academic collabora- stan. The agreement will also Production Sheikh Aftab Ahmad said this Tribune, Peshawar said that ism and militancy from our soProf Dr Asad Aslam versity, a Dallas based top tion including curriculum de- assist in building the capacwhile addressing journalists here at APC in the present era social me- ciety.

Khan, Vice Chancellor King ranked university has led to velopment, teaching and pro- ity of the existing psych clinic While Saeed, Master Edward Medical University the approval of a cooperative fessional development for in Peshawar.

(Attock Press Club) as chief guest. On dia along with mass media the occasion Chairman APC Shahzad was playing a pivotal role in Trainer gave a comprehensive was the chief guest while Dr Anjum Butt, office bearers and members mind setting and as proved lecture on creative writing. At Zahid Yasin Hashmi Principal of APC were also present. Sheikh Aftab by the recent revolutions in the end, Salman Ahmad, Co- Punjab Medical College Ahmad said that the journalists of Attock are playing their the Middle-East countries. ordinator Curricular activities (PMC) attended the cercertificates emony as guest of honor. vital role in highlighting the problems of the people and also He stressed on the partici- distributed making aware them of their rights and duties. He said, journal- pants to use social media for amongst the participants. ists are performing a sacred duty as they bring to the fore the facts and for this they even put their lives at stake. .He said rd OUR CORRESPONDENT that the problems of the journalists of APC will be solved on priority. He said that he will apprise the Chief Minister Punjab H Y D E R A B A D —The manregarding the problems being faced by the members of APC agement of Liaquat Univerand will try his best to resolve them. He said he will discuss sity of Medical and Health with Chief Minister Punjab the issue of the establishment of Sciences Jamshoro has journalist colony in Attock. Sheikh Aftab said that for the taken serious notice of the renovation of APC special funds will be allocated and providisconnection of electricsion of basic facilities will be ensured. He said that journalists ity of residential and comto remain united for the prosperity of the country. Former mercial ares by Hyderabad Candidate for MPA from PP 15 Sheikh Salman Sarwar in his vincial leaders of the party will manded arrest of Mumtaz Electric Supply Company NAZIR SIYAL address appreciated the journalists community of APC for place the floral wreath on her Bhutto accusing him of tribal on charge of arrears of highlighting the problems of the people of Attock district. He L ARKANA—The burst death mazar, attend the program and clash and bloodshed of inno- electricity bills of bulk supannounced Rs 25000/ grant for APC. Earlier Chairman APC Shahzad Anjum Butt in his welcome address apprised the anniversary of Begum pay rich tributes to Begum cent people in the area. Chief- ply.

The university spokeschief guest of the problems being faced by the journalists of Nusrat Bhutto wife of former Nusrat. On the occasion, dif- tain Sardar Asad Khuhro along with hundreds of ferent programs among Quran Prime Minister and Founder man clarified that in resiAttock. He specially demanded that special quota be allocated for the childern of journalists in universities and col- PPP Shaheed Zulffikar Ali Khuwani will be held at Garhi Khuhro community people dential colony of LUMHS leges and special funds be allocated for them (journalists Bhutto and mother of Benazir Khuda Bux Bhutto and free staged protest demonstration about 45 percent residences Bhutto will be observed on lunger will also be distributed and took out a rally from Bank have been occupied by the childern) to complete their studies.

October 20-2012 at President among the workesrs and Square to Jinnah Bagh. On employees of Liaquat Unithe occasion, Khuhro com- versity Hospital belonging Camp House Naudero and people on the occasion.

Meanwhile Khuhro com- munity people carrying ban- to Sindh Government deGarhi Khuda Bux Bhutto.

The President of Pakistan munity chieftain along with a ners and placards inscribed spite so many reminders Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman large number of Khuhro with slogans of arrest of sent to the administration of PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tribesmen held anti-Mumtaz Mumtaz Bhutto andAmeer Liaquat University Hospital and other Central and Pro- Bhutto protest rally and de- Bux Bhutto, regarding the payment of electricity bills, no amount has been deposited till HYDERABAD: A Hindu woman decorating Mata Shera Wali statue to celebrate the Navratri Festival. date.

PUAN holds workshop

1,500 corneal transplantation conducted at MTH

BBWU, S-Methodist varsity enter partnership agreement

LUMHS takes notice of electricity disconnection

Nusrat Bhutto’s death anniversary on 23

Khuhro chief demands Mumtaz Bhutto’s arrest

466,026 houses damaged by floods STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABD —A

total of 466,026 houses have been damaged as a result of recent floods including 275,023 completely and 191,003 partially destroyed houses in the flood hit areas. According to data released by National Management Authority (NDMA) as many as 14,370 villages have been inundated in the recent floods.

1,21,992 acre standing crops have been damaged. Over five million people have been affected by the floods and 455 people killed and 2,800 people were injured.

NDMA has helped the QUETTA: Wife of kidnapped doctor, Dr Saeed Khan, wiping her tears during meeting of flood hit people by mobilizing its own resources.

Paramedical Stall Association.

NDMA has established 441 relief camps and basic amenities of life are being provided to 266,037 the marooned people. Due to recent rains over 5,056,489 persons were affected. As many as 455 people have been died and 2,884 sustained injuries.

NDMA has distributed 42,630 tents and 220,995 food packs including 42,250 in Balochistan, 161,245 in Sindh, and 17,500 in Punjab.

And 9,651 cattle heads have gone missing due to the floods.

Meanwhile Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Azeem Anjum visited the camp established for the flood- affectees here at Eastern Bypass area of the city.

Mohammad Wasim, Incharge of the camp told the ADC that about 6000 individuals of 272 families have been staying in a camp set up for the floodstricken families.

He further said that after every ten days PDMA supplies ration to the camp while a medical team is also available 24 hours along with an ambulance to take care of the IDPs. ADC revenue, met with the IDPs families and inquired issues they were confronting in the camp. “Efforts were afoot for the rehabilitation of the affected region and the IDPS staying in camps and along the banks of roads would be rehabilitee in their hometowns,” the ADC told while talking to the media.

SC verdict of far-reaching impact

MEDIA WATCH

Shrink the banks

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FTER long sixteen years, the Supreme Court finally gave its verdict in the much-awaited and talked-about Mehran Bank scam or Asghar Khan case with far-reaching impact on future happenings and politics of the country. Some of the issues have been dealt with in a clear-cut and unambiguous manner in the short order while there are expectations that others would be clarified in the detailed judgement.

Credit goes to Air Marshall Asghar Khan, a man of integrity who had an uncompromising position on major issues, for pursuing the case that led to epoch-making verdict on stealing of mandate of the people and its significance for the future. The judgement assumes more relevance in view of the forthcoming elections and hopefully the directions given by the apex court would add to the fairness and transparency of the exercise. This is because it will have a deterrent effect on the electoral politics and introduce higher degree of transparency if directions of the court are followed in letter and spirit.

The Supreme Court too has gained much by delivering the verdict on merit, dispelling the impression that the ruling PPP was trying to create that the judiciary was delivering only one-sided judgements against PPP and its leadership. Those who had been leading the campaign to criticize the judiciary are now showering praises on it for exposing those whose hands were polluted with electoral wrongdoings. Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who convened an emergent press conference announced initiation of investigations against politicians concerned by FIA which means that the longstanding issue would continue to drag on for sometime in the future. It is also expected that as a consequence of the observations, findings and directions of the Supreme Court, all institutions would remain within their domain and avoid jumping into electoral fray in a bid to influence the outcome. We also hope that in the spirit of the judgement, civil society and other stakeholders would initiate a thorough debate on how to ensure sanctity of the polls and necessary rules would be framed to achieve that objective.

Demand for deployment of Army in Karachi A

representative gathering of the business community, held in Karachi on Friday, expressed serious concern over non-stop deterioration of situation in the mega city and demanded of the Government to deploy Army there to protect lives of people and restore normalcy so that normal business and other activities could go on.

Addressing a crowded press conference, S M Muneer, a highly respected and front-ranking leader of the business community, dwelt at length on the worsening law and order situation and its negative impact on the economy of the country. A strike call for November 8 has also been given to highlight the problem and the need for its urgent resolution.

We fully endorse the viewpoint of the FPCCI leaders about the state of affairs in Karachi and its implications for ordinary Karachiites and the overall economy of the country. We have been pointing out in these columns since long that Karachi is slipping out of hands as different mafias are strengthening their hold, kidnappings for ransom have become a norm, target killings take several lives daily and extortion mafia is getting stronger. All this is happening despite the fact that those with great stakes in the affairs of the city are rulers of Sindh. The nose-dive in security situation is leading to closure of business activities which obviously means more unemployment, dwindling local and foreign investment rather flight of the capital and above all widespread scare in the city caused by uncertainty and insecurity. Law-enforcing agencies have repeatedly made it known that they have the ability to deliver but political interference is the major hurdle. With this in view, we endorse demand of the FPCCI to hand over control of the city to Army for a short period of time to carry out across-the-board surgical operation to wipe out criminals of all sorts. We, however, strongly differ from strike call as economy has already suffered a lot and there is absolutely no justification for inflicting self-injuries.

Need for polls under Judiciary O

PPOSITION leader in the National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali Khan has supported the proposal for holding general elections under the supervision of judiciary. PTI Chairman, Imran Khan has also come up with a similar demand emphasising that the judiciary was the only institution in the country which enjoyed people’s confidence and similar voices are being heard from across the country.

The sixty-five year electoral history of Pakistan has remained tainted in the perspective of transparent elections and there is dire need to hold upcoming elections under the judiciary so that no one could raise an accusing finger. Though the present Chief Election Commissioner Justice Rtd Fakhruddin G Ibrahim has expressed his resolve and in our opinion he has all the capacity to ensure free and fair elections yet the whole process under the aegis of Judiciary with the help of Pakistan army in certain sensitive and insecure areas would ensure larger turnout and give credibility to the elections. We say so because the society has reached to an extent where there is lack of tolerance and people with resources exercise their political and financial powers to influence the elections. They indulge in creating scare at the polling stations by firing and other tactics to prevent supporters of their opponents from casting their votes. The Acting Chief Commissioner Justice Tassadiq Hussain Jilani gave a hint for involvement of the judiciary by stating that he has written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to review the National Judiciary Policy and allow the appointment of Judges as District Returning Officers. We have been repeatedly saying that the coming elections would be mother of all elections that would set the direction of the country and therefore all arrangements must be put in place to ensure their transparency. Thus the demand for polls under Judiciary is justified because if the faith of the people is shaken in transparent elections, the democratic process could be derailed.

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At the drop of a pin had some how determined. There are, when things are going so well, all of a a jerk that Dr Zafar Altaf sudden sends the system Email: dr_altaf@hotmail.com into turmoil and the crash-Wall Street or whatever seem to have no explanation. Neither does hysics had always had a fas the recession in the western develcination for me. I had stud oped countries. Modernity has its ied till my first graduation problems explicitly identified by but then I was pulled away from Bak’s physics experiment. The science by none other than Dr. world trading system at the moment Mohammad Ajmal who was head- is in a storm and this keeps on coming the Psychology department. ing from time to time reducing all He was recruiting students who he the gains that have taken place in thought could make a change in an economy.

No one can explain the Tsunathe world. I had come under scrutiny while leading the Govern- mis that occur. There are conjecment College in a cricket local fi- tures but that is all. It’s like the nal match with arch rivals Islamia motor way and the traffic in Raja College. Physics is still home to Bazar. The crash on the motorway me. As I was reading the latest ex- is likely to be heavy in terms of caperiment by Bak and the sand Pile sualties but in the Raja bazaar the I found that Pakistan was a good chances are of scratches and a posexample. The Sand Pile experi- sible dent to the car. The car on the ment was fascinating because it motor way will get you there faster was so fundamentally unpredict- but at a risk. It will crash sooner or able. Sand was heaped on till the later. The Asian crisis came from pile was big enough. Then when nowhere and went as it came. When Bak added one single grain and a bank crashes every one tries to that started an avalanche and the get out. The reason everyone is dodestabilization of the entire pile. ing it so I will. The ripple of this The entire episode meant that unknowable economic physics hits there seemed to be no proportion- innocent bystanders. The faster clever ones get out when the sand ality between cause and effect.

Bak had theorized that the pile starts to crumble.

Given that the USA has far sand pile would break down by a hammer blow as well as by a more savvy economists why cansingle extra grain that was added not they stop the downward trends to the sand pile. This had impli- in the economy that are visible. It cations far and wide and could be is to take an analogy from Bak betested in trade and even in finan- cause they cannot fathom when that cial markets. A single pin could extra grain has landed on the pile hammer out the entire system. The and how that avalanche started. Did logic could be ad infinitum. Inter- the economy lose its balance? The national finance seems to relay the granularity and the interdependence facts that Bak’s sand pile system that links one with other show a

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kind of effect that mesmerizes the scientist. It may be surmised that there is a critical state which may be way out of balance where minor disturbances may cause these social and economic avalanches.

Are we then organized into instability? Does that mean that the basic instability of the World Order be accepted? This you would say is chaotic thinking. It would mean that countries would have to brace themselves to clear themselves from traditional thinking.

The view that the economy is mechanistic has to be given up.

That is the reason why Pakistan lags behind most of the developing world what to speak of the developed world. Does it mean constant surprise and new ideas? What does that do to political power?

Power cannot be hoarded so easily. There isn’t that theory of calculus whereby the power can be raised to an exponential number.

Political power must change hands if the intellect of the power holder has to be kept in tact. The subject and object of economics as laid down in the fiscal and monetary polices of the government of Pakistan cannot be intelligible any more. Agents that used to deliver will not do so any more.

The world’s complexity has increased manifold. The economy is therefore organic and tends to gravitate towards not stable situations but as a not so well ordered gigantic machine. In the case of Pakistan this well ordered gigantic machine is further complicated by the instability of the human systems. The insecurity and the instability are now well documented and my assertion is that this will not settle down as it will defy any solution. The avalanche must stop on its own. It is also indicative of maladaptive systems in Pakistan. Any

and all innovations are rejected outright by a rigid system. When hit these rigid systems simply collapse. My contention is that any one that thinks that science [agriculture] can be done with finances does not understand that billons of rupees are not needed for a grain of sand. I constantly had this argument in the research system for much that is required is though understanding and knowledge not through science in its traditional fold. Money is merely a conduit. How much discoveries have been done where people have had unlimited resources at their disposal.

There is a complete disconnect between the Pakistan Agriculture non-scientists and the ground realities. Money is not essential knowledge is. Where ever one has seen an excess of money it acts like a grain of sand and disturbs the sand pile. These jonnies have clung to wrong ideas and have not and will not deliver. These are people who just can’t see beyond their old ideas and their illusions. The traditional vary of survival with old ideas will all the time detract people from the innovations that must come if uncertainty has to be resolved.

The country is in the midst of a crisis and the only way out is to rethink our sums. But with all these committees and stagnant individuals in the fold there is no way that the complexity can be handled. Cynicism is ripe. The intellect has to be buried in Pakistan just as Bak was chided by the Cambridge scientists. No one in Pakistan will make history. Senile, sinecure and snitchers do not get anywhere. Lament a while.

Run of the mill passing shows.

What do you expect!

HR violations in IHK Nazia Nazar Email: nazianazar@hotmail.com

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ll Parties Hurriyet Confer ence publishes fortnightly report giving details of human rights violations in Indian Held Kashmir. According to its latest report, 93801 people have been killed from 1989 to 15th October 2012. Since then 120392 Kashmiris were arrested and 10042 women were gang-raped or molested. International community is all praise for, what they say, the largest democracy in the world, and turns a blind eye to its repression on minorities. Yet there are sane voices that expose Indian atrocities on minorities, especially people of Jammu and Kashmir. In June 2012, British MP of Labor Party, Dr Denis MacShane, during his speech in the House of Commons, blasted his government for its silence on dreadful human rights violations in Kashmir and atrocities perpetrated by the Indian forces on Kashmiris.

He said: “Pakistan is criticized, but the dreadful human rights abuses in Kashmir by Indian security forces are downplayed, and no pressure is put on India by this government to stop repression in Kashmir.”

In India, the entire media – analysts, panelists, commentariat and intellectuals support the Indian government’s stance on Kashmir. Renowned Indian novelist and political activist Arundhati Roy is perhaps the only person that has time and again asked the Indian government to stop perpetrating atrocities on the

people of Kashmir. On 12th November 2011, she had made a strong case for Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination before American audience. “I think that the people of Kashmir have the right to selfdetermination - they have the right to choose who they want to, and how they want to,” she said in the course of a discussion on ‘Kashmir’. In her remarks, she lamented the fact that so little is known about the atrocities committed by more than 700,000 Indian troops, and indignities let loose on Kashmiri men, women and children by them”. Roy attributed the apathy in the western world towards Kashmir to their pursuit of commercial interests in India where they were more eager to sell their goods than raising their voice for human rights violations.

Innocent Kashmiri masses, especially the youth are undergoing tremendous psychological trauma due to continued repressive and suppressive policies of regime in IHK. As recently as in June 2012, eleven youth committed suicide as they could not further bear environmental distress prevailing in IHK, as the events like unwarranted arrests, killings, arson, torture and molestation

by Indian security forces is a matter of routine there. Government functionaries of the state backed by Indian government are involved in human right violations in IHK and encourage the security forces to use coercive measures to suppress the people. Last year, Indian Supreme Court instead of convicting the soldiers involved in killing of a 12 year old boy asked the Army to carry out appropriate action against the culprits. It meant that the court shirked its responsibility, and as a result justice was delayed. People of Kash-

mir are indeed getting a raw deal from the Indian government.

In fact, there is a law of jungle in IHK as Indian troops and police personnel are free to arrest anyone they want and commit the gross human right violations. European Parliament had once emphasized the need for resolving the Kashmir dispute, and highlighted brutalities perpetrated by Indian military in Indian Held Kashmir. On 10th July 2008, European Parliament had passed a resolution, calling upon the Government of India to hold an impartial inquiry into the unidentified mass graves discovered in the disputed state of Jammu & Kashmir. To stop highhandedness of the Indian military and police once for all, there is need to implement the resolutions passed by the United Nations that bestowed on the people of Kashmir the right to join India or Pakistan through a plebiscite to be held under the UN aegis. However, it does not look like they will do it because only when public protest fits into the geopolitical designs of the US and the West that they declare it a popular movement and honour it with the award of a colour label.

The orange revolution of Ukraine, the rose revolution of Georgia, the cidar revolution of Lebanon and earlier velvet revolution of Czechoslovakia would pale before the Kashmiris’ movement for their freedom, yet they were given colours by the colour-blind big powers. It has to be mentioned that in none of the above cases there was a UN mandate whereas Kashmiris have been given their inalienable right of self-determination by the UN in 1948 and 5th January 1949. International com-

munity should help resolve the Kashmir issue because tension between the two nuclear states would not only make the environment of the region perilous but also of the world at large. International community should therefore urge India to stop killings, fake encounters, forced disappearances and arrests of innocent Kashmiris. It should also persuade India to resolve all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, so that both countries start allocating more funds for welfare of their masses instead of spending on defence.

It is unfortunate that more 64 years have elapsed but international community continues to show apathy and indifference towards sufferings of Kashmiris.

Even those countries that had in the past supported Pakistan’s genuine stance now suggest that India and Pakistan should resolve the Kashmir dispute through bilateral negotiations, knowing full well that many rounds of dialogue have taken place including the stalled composite dialogue, but to no avail. India takes the plea that according to Tashkant Declaration and Simla Accord both countries are obliged to resolve the issue through bilateral negotiations. India should bear in mind that the Kashmir dispute is pending in the UN, and if the dispute is not resolved within a ‘reasonable’ period of time, Pakistan has the right to approach the UN with the demand to play its role and make arrangements to hold plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir as per United Nations Security resolutions.

—The writer is a freelance columnist doing and a PhD scholar.

IKRAM Pandit’s reign as chief executive of Citigroup ended Tuesday after what may have been the roughest five years for any Citi boss. Mr. Pandit took over in 2007 on the eve of an epochal financial crisis, which was triggered in part by over-investment in mortgages by Citi and others. Citi survived only with the help of federal aid, including $45 billion in capital and a US backstop for $301 billion worth of toxic assets. Taxpayers eventually recouped the aid, plus a profit. But perhaps more than any other institution, Citi — the original financial “supermarket” — epitomized the dilemma of “too big to fail.” The crowning irony was the recent suggestion by Sanford Weill — who first expanded Citi’s business to encompass investment banking and other risky activities — that banks “be broken up so that the taxpayer will never be at risk, the depositors won’t be at risk, the leverage of the banks will be something reasonable.”

Mr. Weill was jumping aboard a bandwagon already occupied by former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker and members of Congress from both parties. But the idea has not fully taken hold in US policy, despite the Dodd-Frank regulatory reform bill’s provisions bolstering bank capital and pushing federally insured institutions out of proprietary securities trading. The latest call to shrink the banks came from a particularly influential source. On Oct. 10, Federal Reserve Board Governor Daniel K. Tarullo floated the idea of capping banks’ non-deposit liabilities — borrowings they use to finance themselves — at a certain percentage of GDP. Mr. Tarullo’s suggestion was quickly seconded by James Bullard, the president of the Fed’s St. Louis branch. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, a Democrat, has proposed a bill that would do something similar, and he has teamed up with Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) to seek higher capital requirements for banks.

In short, there is broad support for some form of restriction on the size and complexity of federally insured commercial banks. The problem, of course, is how to translate that seemingly straightforward idea into a workable law. Depending on where you set the cap, Mr. Tarullo’s idea could break up all six of the biggest banks, some of them or none.

Critics of the proposal argue that the US economy benefits from having at least a few big players in global finance, which can take advantage of economies of scale and thus provide services efficiently across borders. There is merit to arguments on both sides, but it should be possible to manage the trade-off between whatever benefits large-scale banking produces in the short-run and the risk of future losses to taxpayers if a large, complex institution fails. Recent experience counsels resolving that trade-off in favour of safety. — The Washington Post

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A bold move

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RRESPECTIVE of whether his allegations bear merit or not, Arvind Kejriwal has ensured that seasoned politicians from the ruling party, their close family members and the opposition are giving a very poor account of defending themselves. Kejriwal has, in a manner of speaking, thrown the kitchen sink while levelling allegations of corruption against top ministers and leaders in the already scandal-hit Congress party and its nemesis, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in public rallies. Charges are backed up by evidence, forcing members of both parties to react like a helpless deer caught in the headlights. Their resultant actions have been nothing short of a public relations disaster.

Explanations have been lacking in conviction and substance. There have also been numerous gaffes and administrative bunglings leading the public to ascertain if the accusations have value. This seems to be Kejriwal’s stock-in-trade, given that his party has been formed solely to fight corruption. Who better to be the judge, jury and executioner than the common man with the general elections looming large? As politicians provide contrasting, but bemusing, accounts in the defence of self and party, it is Kejriwal who is gaining in credibility. — Gulf News Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.

G B Shaw —Irish dramatist

Civilian control of the military Muhammad Ali Ehsan Email: muhammadaliehsan1@hotmail.com

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or how long will the military hold the civilian governments responsible for the political mismanagement’s and policy failures? Have the politicians ever been free and independent to do what they want to do with the core policy issues? The military has always expected the politicians to bandwagon the national interests that military has determined and defined; It is in this context that the ultimate decision to launch the military operation in North Waziristan remains entirely of that of the military; passing on its ownership to the civilian authorities is just a hoax. The compliant civilian authorities are also playing it to the galleries by suggesting that the recommendations of the military commanders and the situation on ground will actually determine whether there is a requirement of launching such an operation or not? That leaves no one in doubt actually to know where lays the ownership of launching the military operations.

On the face of it, it seems nothing much has changed. The military continues to call the shots. The politicians continue to act as subordinate to the military authority. To say the least both the military and the civil government have failed as institutions to convince the general public about the sincerity of their purpose to take the much required measures to pro-

vide for the safety and security of the people. If military strategy is all about time, space and effort; is the time not ripe to conduct an operation now ?

Could the military have asked for more public support than it had in the aftermath of Malla tragedy? Was it not time to control the momentum of the war on terror riding on the shoulders of this public support? What good reasons will the military and the government offer to the people?I hope they are anything but the strategic depth and our national interests which now many people are not ready to buy. To most people in Pakistan the only immediate national interest is for its military to show some muscle and wipe out the terrorists from their roots and the only depth from which they want to be pulled out is the depth of pain and misery they continue to suffer at the hands of these extremists.

Shouldn’t the civilian government be responsible to formulate our defence policy and only ask military to execute its military component?

Was there ever a time when military could be brought under civilian control? Did our politicians ever try to do this? After the 71 war Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto the charismatic leader had a golden opportunity to bring military under the civilian control. He ended up appointing General Zia as COAS and the General instead, controlled him the military and the behavior and the direction that the State would take in future. There came a second opportunity after the Kargil war and this time Mr Nawaz Sharif blew it away

by choosing an unsuitable and inappropriate method/tactics of exercising control over the military. Had Bhutto not conveyed his intentions to General Zia, “you pursue me now, wait for the time that I will pursue you” he may have lived to gift us a Pakistan sufficiently if not entirely under the control of civilian authority. Similarly had Mr Nawaz Sharif perused the subordination of military forces to political authority as a political policy /goal of his heavily mandated government we could still have a military submitting to the civilian control. Surely the opportunities were presented but they were floored by political leaders who chose to appoint not the professionally deserving Generals as COAS’s but officers who could be personally loyal to them.

Blessed with three martial laws and little democracy all the military rules did was to institutionalize the military role of corrupting the politicians and the politics. For every coup we were blessed to witness, its most striking feature was the military dictator’s moves to seek civilian cooperation and support in running the affairs of the state.The last one being managed by General Musharraf who managed to break away 5 PPP jiaallas to help PM Jamali lead a government with a one vote majority in 2002. Had the politicians not submitted and rendered their support to the military it would never had managed to control them and through them the politics and affairs of the state. How can a military rule a country for over thirty

years and get away with that? How can a military ruler in exile still plan a comeback?Can an independent judiciary allow a military ruler to return and stay at any other place but behind the bars? The military rulers (ambitious Generals) should have shown interest in a Quaid’s Pakistan that envisaged to have a parliamentary form of government with a parliament and legislature. Every time the coup makers struck they struck at undermining the dream of the Quaid.

The military rulers even did not look at the constitution defining the purpose of the Pakistan Army as “armed forces shall, under the direction of Federal government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.”

Both - those who wrote the constitution(politicians) and those who swore to protect it(military) failed this country. It is hoped that those who head and lead the vital institutions of this country now realize this and will not commit the mistakes their predecessors have.

We deserve leaders who remaining within the fold of the constitution can take some tough decisions and stand by them as well; Initiation of military operation in North Waziristan to root out terrorists and terrorism from Pakistan is one such decision.

—The writer a defence analyst, retired as a lieutenant colonel from Pak Army.

Fata’s administrative anomalies Waseem

F

ederally administered tribal ar eas are integral part of Paki stan. Fata consists of seven agencies and six frontier regions.

However, it is administratively and constitutionally an anomalous region.

The inhabitants of Fata are deprived of the fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution. They are left at the mercy of unbridled bureaucracy and exacerbated militancy. The constitution gives Fata a special status under article 246 and 247. The people of Fata are governed by draconian Frontier Crimes Regulation.

Due to the administrative and constitutional flaws, the tribal region slipped into the annals of extremism and terrorism.

The first administrative anomaly is the application of Frontier Crimes Regulation within the territorial limits of tribal areas. This regulation con-

tains inhuman punishments such as collective responsibility and razing the houses to the grounds. This law Ahmad does not give accused the right to engage counsel, plead his innocence and also no right to appeal is granted. It is conflicting with the fundamental human rights, principle of natural justice and fundamental principles of criminal law.Actually FCR was introduced by colonial masters to keep the local people suppressed in order to install a buffer zone to contain the expansion of USSR. But after demarcation of borders our successive governments have kept it intact. Instead of embracing tribal people to the main stream, efforts were made to keep tribal people underdeveloped and subjugated. After the dismemberment of USSR, the raison d’eter of FCR no more exists.

In addition to this, the Supreme Court is barred from exercising jurisdiction in Fata. The Supreme Court cannot take suo motu action on the sufferings of tribal people. Similarly the residents cannot knock at the door of court to undo the injustice of po-

litical administration.With the development of law the concept of judicial review of administrative action was introduced. The main philosophy behind this concept was to keep check on arbitrary use of executive power.

Unluckily this concept of check and balance is nonexistent in Fata. The current government is claiming that they have introduced reforms in Fata by setting up a commission to keep an eye on political administration. But this commission,in my point view, is not at all judicial, as it consists of serving and retired bureaucrats. These members can be removed by executive order so they are prone to political influence. On contrary the judges are removed by filing a reference in Supreme Judicial Council. This procedure provides judges more liberty and security to perform their tasks and this factor is seriously missing in case of Fata commission. So instead of forming a commission, it was pertinent for the government to extend the jurisdiction of superior and higher judiciary to Fata.

The President is the chief executive of Fata and he has delegated his powers to the governor Khyber Paktunkawa to command the area.

The chief minister Khyber Paktunkawa has no jurisdiction on

Fata. But it is an administrative anomaly that the subordinate of Chief minister, the Chief Secretary KP is the administrative head of tribal areas. Similarly,the people of Fata,though not part of Khyber Paktunkawa,yet enjoy quotas in provincial civil services of Khyber Paktunkawa. So instead of living with this perpetual anomaly, the merger of Fata with Khayber Paktunkawa can be a wise option.

The deplorable state of education, the miserable situation of health infrastructure and pathetic condition of roads makes the failure of Mailks and political administration evident. Such is the miserable situation of administrative affairs in Fata. This administrative and constitutional disorder resulted in widespread ignorance, illiteracy, and backwardness in Fata. Due to this ignorance the militancy and extremism found easy footholds in Fata. If this administrative structure is rectified and FCR is replaced with people friendly law, the black hole of militancy in Fata can be eradicated. A new social contract is needed with the people of Fata to reintegrate them in mainstream.

—The writer is serving as Provincial Management Service Officer.

Views From Abroad

Afghans ready for NATO withdrawal: Karzai Ned Parker

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resident Hamid Karzai said Thursday that Afghan security forces were ready to protect the country if the US-led NATO force speeds up its withdrawal before a scheduled 2014 departure date.

Karzai also warned that no foreign advisors should be appointed to Afghanistan’s Election Complaints Commission, a stance likely to antagonize the international community, which is concerned about potential vote tampering in the presidential election scheduled for 2014.

Karzai’s comments came at a news conference with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. “Afghans are ready to

expedite the process of transition if necessary, and willing as well,” Karzai said, according to the Associated Press. “So this is in all aspects good news for us and good news for NATO.” For his part, Rasumussen reiterated NATO’s commitment to Afghanistan beyond 2014, emphasizing that NATO desires a continuing foreign presence for advising the Afghans after the withdrawal of combat troops. “We are committed to continuing that cooperation with the Afghan national security forces,” he said.

Afghan and US-led forces continue to face strong resistance in the southern and eastern sections of the country, where the Taliban and their affiliates have carried out a string of attacks on coalition and Afghan

bases in recent months. The Afghan police and army have now fielded 337,000 personnel, on the way toward the goal of 352,000 set by the Americans. But there is doubt about their ability to provide adequate security without NATO backing.

Karzai has vowed to not participate in the 2014 presidential election but declared Thursday that electoral oversight bodies would be offlimits to the international community. “The presence of two foreigners at the Election Complaints Commission hearing is a national matter, as Afghanistan is moving toward independence and approval of constitution,” Karzai told reporters, according to the local Tolo News Agency. “The presence of foreigners in our election process is against the national sovereignty of Afghani-

stan.” The international community has indicated that free and fair elections are a prerequisite for future aid from the West. A report from the International Crisis Group this month warned that a perception of unfairness in the 2014 election could fan greater instability and the possible fragmentation of the security forces.

The organization urged that clear steps be taken to ensure that the country’s judicial and electoral watchdogs are free of political meddling and their responsibilities are strongly defined. Afgahnistan’s 2009 presidential and 2010 parliamentary elections were marred by widespread voter fraud. It is unclear at this point whether gross improprieties would result in a serious slashing of aid.

— Courtesy: Los Angeles Times

A cheap car..!

W

ith car prices touching the roof, many car companies are keen on producing a cheap car like the Nano was when it first came into the market. I was therefore not surprised to get a call from one of them saying that theirs was ready and about to be launched.

I rushed over to get a pre launch briefing: “The cheapest car in the world!” said the MD of the car company with a flourish as he pulled the tarpaulin off the model. “Is it a rear engine car?” I asked, opening the bonnet and peering in. “You are

the engine!” said the MD giving me a hefty pat on the shoulder. “See those holes on the floor, one set of holes for your legs to go through, and four sets of holes for the whole family to stick their legs out….”

“And push..” I said. “Excellent!” said the MD giving my shoulders a squeeze, “you have an engineer’s brain alright. With this model you will not only have a fit family but a family that will go places together! We have even worked on the Mark II model where we will give the option of fitting pedals. But that could take the price a little higher!”

“It’s important to keep the price low,” I reminded him “That’s our promise to the nation,” beamed the MD. “Strange headlights!” I exclaimed. “Brings nostalgic memories doesn’t it?” “Yes,” I said. “This is

something we wanted to do,” said the MD, “not only give the public a cheap car but also take them for a drive down memory lane. Do you remember these lovely lamps?” “Kerosene bicycle lamps,” I said. “Ah you recollect don’t you? Wonderful rides you had in the good old days with maybe your sweetheart sitting on the crossbar, and now when you can afford a car, we give you a car plus pleasant memories! Value for money huh?

Cost us a pretty penny in bus fares sending our teams to scout all the Chor bazaars in the country and buy up all the old lamps. Some lamps on some of the cars are bigger though.”

“How’s that?” I asked surprised.

“Couldn’t get too many bicycle lamps so we bought up the horse and buggy ones, he ones on the old tongas and Victorias.” “Where are the brake ped-

als?” I asked, peering into the contraption. “You expect to have brakes for a cheap car?” “How do I stop the car?” I asked. “I asked my engineering department the same question when we started building the car,” said the MD, “they shook their heads and said; for brakes the price would go up, I said “No way! The public can’t be made to suffer just for a set of brakes, so we decided to hell with the brakes. What d’you say? You promise the people a cheap car you got to deliver, right?”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “When are you launching it?” “Today!” said the MD, beaming at me, “We are gifting you the first model!” “How kind of you!” I said, “But I prefer my bicycle to this cheap car..!”

—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

Voice of the People Aims behind Malala drama RANA TANVEER AHMAD KHAN

I

earnestly wish the “Sucker” Pakistanis would reflect on the planted issue of Malala that is being politicised for personal gains and not for any humanitarian considerations. All of our ruling elite are mining a rich seam of Malala drama to make them appear faithful to the voice of their masters, the bestial US/CIA and NATO “Desperadoes”. Our media appear feeding frenzy blowing, this dastardly act of murderous attack on Malala, out of all proportions. Malala is merely a “Stooge” being dexterously exploited by the US led NATO forces and all abhorrent American CIA in cahoots with our socalled NGOs to further their nefarious designs to beef up pressure on our forces to launch a full fledged attack in Waziristan to unearth the alleged hide-outs of the armed bandits of Taliban and resultantly depriving Pakistan of its Nuclear Assets, by creating a planted hoax of fear about our “Nukes” going into possession of terrorist outfits to the detriment of the security of Pakistan. That’s what this “Malala drama” is all about. While praying for the speedy recovery of Malala, I, also pray that Allah (SWT) may guide our gullible nation to the right path enabling us to distinguish between a friend and foe and see through the conspiracy being hatched against our beloved motherland by the foreign imperial powers. Shame on our US toady ruling elite!

—Sheikhupura

NAB & FBR to blame

only do more harm.” Clearly the time is changing; more bloodshed, coercive tactics, diplomatic or military push on Pakistan to go for operation SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER in North Waziristan, or else would not help as the accurate calculations of Well done FBR, you have only not Great Games also fail before the bigincreased the number of tax payers ger Schemes of Nature. in Pakistan from 0.5% in the past —Peshawar four years, but you have also single handedly managed to reduce the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) into Pakistan by 80%. Most of which is reduced due to the flight of investment from Telecom compaKHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ nies, who were incorrectly targeted

by FBR for collection of incorrect In his recent speech Turkish Prime taxes. It is worth mentioning that the Minster Recep Ardogan rightly said Telecom sector is one of the biggest that due to silence of world commupayer of taxes to the Government nity Balkan like tragedy is developof Pakistan and one of FBR’s big- ing in Syria and whole region might gest customer. But after the way be affected from worse situation of FBR and NAB started printing ob- Syria. In Balkan conflict between noxious and inconsistent articles in Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia thousands the media about the non-payment of of people lost their lives due to slow this new “imaginary tax” a few response of UNO and world commumonths back, this resulted in the re- nity. Now due to slow response of moval of 179$ Million foreign in- UNO and world community things vestment from the telecom sector. are going bad to worse in Syria and This is not the first time FBR is neighboring countries are also payacting like this. All the people who ing a high price. pay taxes know that FBR is a spineTension is rising between Turkey less organization that only pressur- and Syria after killing of six Turkish izes its customers for collecting ex- nationals when mortar hits their house tra taxes. But it is the job of FBR to allegedly fired from Syria. Turkey alincrease the number of tax payers ready sent fighter Jets and heavy weapin Pakistan, which stands at only ons to its border with Syria and ex0.5% since 2002, ironically in a change of small fire is occurred sevcountry that is the 6th most popu- eral times. Turkish Parliament has allous nation of the world. When FBR ready passed resolution allowing its diverts from its main role and starts forces to retaliate aggression from pressurizing the real tax payers, other side. Turkey is already hosting then it only results in the removal eighty thousand Syrian refugees on huof investment or non-payment of manitarian basis most of them reached taxes in the future by the tax pay- there after several days of mountainers, to avoid undue pressures from ous journey without food and water.

FBR. Well done FBR. I would like Lebanon is also paying high price for to recommend the government to Syrian unrest. Several people lost their please present the “Sitara-Imtiaz” lives when supporter and opponents medal on FBR for being the orga- of Bashar Al Asad clashed in different nization to reduce the Pakistan FDI areas. Jordan is also hosting thousands by 80% in three months, and with of Syrian refugees on humanitarian the printing of a single news item basis but things are going bad to worse accusing their biggest customer of due to lack of facilities. True reality is stealing “imaginary” taxes. that due to division in UNO Security —Peshawar Council worse human crises is happening in Syria.Brutal killing in Houla by regime forces long siege and humanitarian crises in Homs and Hama and other cities has become big question for conscience of modern world.

ESCHMALL SARDAR —Jeddah

Syrian crisis grows

US policies slammed

Criticism against America is coming from within and outside. Former President Jimmy Carter’s latest tirade against the Obama administration is worth mentioning. “The United States is abandoning its role as the global champion of human rights.” Carter added: “Revelations that top officials are targeting people to be assassinated abroad, including American citizens, are only the most recent, disturbing proof of how far our nation’s violation of human rights has extended.” Drone use, detention policies and investigative tactics were also attacked by Carter, who leveled similar charges at the Bush administration. He also criticized the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which Obama has unsuccessfully sought to close.

A similar statement came from Khalid Sheikh Mohammad (KSM), the alleged mastermind of 9/11 attacks during a court hearing at Guantanamo on Oct 17 that America has wantonly used national security as a pretext to murder and torture.

“Obama can take someone and throw him in the sea under the name of national security,” he said in a reference to the OBL killing. “Don’t get affected by crocodile tears, because your blood is not made of gold and ours is made of water. We are all human beings,” he warned. KSM is a terrorist but Carter is not. However, the truth is that Obama, close to elections, has not fulfilled his promise of closing camp X-Ray, or early winding up of deadly mission in Afghanistan.

There are hundred and one examples and quotes of the renowned critics of American policies abroad.

The latest is none else but the New York Times. In its October 13 editorial it advised Obama that Afghanistan is not a war of necessity and “it is time for United States forces to leave Afghanistan [because]… the US will not achieve even President Obama’s narrowing goals, and prolonging the war will

Justice for Pak war prisoners MAZHAR IQBAL Indian Supreme Court is dealing with a myth nowadays. One party says he is a war prisoner, the other says he is nowhere. But, his family and those who are defending his case categorically say that he is present somewhere in India. He was arrested in September 1965, declared dead after two months of his arrest and was later found languishing in jails in 2011. He spent 46 years in prisons without being identified and another year after his identification as Prisoner of War (POW). Until 2011, justice was not denied but delayed in his case. Yet, in 2012 it has been detracted by a deliberate effort to put his case together with the cases of lesser importance.

In coming months the highest court in India will be hearing cases of 250 foreign prisoners in a single petition , while, at least four among them have been identified by human rights lawyers as POWs of 1965 India-Pakistan.

On 16 October, 2012, a Division Bench of Indian Supreme Court , who was hearing the petition launched by lawyers of these POWs, issued orders to list their case before another Division Bench, which is hearing another petition challenging the validity of detentions of nearly 250 foreign prisoners. The Division Bench of the Supreme Court dealing with this case had asked Indian government to produce original record in the next hearing. Now, as the case is at the most crucial stage, reconstituting the formation of the court could have more serious implications than the actual crime that the court is going to deal with. This could be the most important decision by the highest court of a country dealing with such a prolonged case of POWs and it should not have been delayed. Unfortunately, Indian government did not exercise its powers to speed up the court process and clear her from

the charges. Contrarily, it is putting hurdles in providing justice to these prisoners of conscience.

—Via email

Hajj in Pakistan COL RIAZ JAFRI (RETD) Once again the Ruet e Hilal Committee has announced that our Eid ul Azha will fall on Saturday 27 October 2012, that is one day after it would be observed at Makkah. This means that our Hajj will occur on Friday 26th October 2012, whereas the ACTUAL Hajj at Mecca will be performed on Thursday the 25th of October 2012! Could anyone please tell me as to why don’t we observe Hajj in Pakistan on the day it is actually being performed at Arafat, Muzdalfa and Makkah?

We see it happening live on the TV yet we say, “No, our Hajj will be tomorrow or day after”. Can Hajj be performed anywhere else in the world except at Makkah and on the dates of our choosing? Now please do not lecture me on the lunar longitudinal discrepancies between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and Hajj falling on the 10th of ZilHajj etc. My question is simple and clear. Can Hajj be performed anywhere in the world except Makkah and o n any other day than it is actually being performed there?

Unlike Eid-ul-Fitr, beginning of Ramzan or start of Muharram etc., which are all date specific and therefore subject to the appearance of the moon, Hajj should not be made specific to the 10th of ZilHajj only all over the world except in Saudi Arabia? Kindly allow me to say further, that our Qurbani which can otherwise be offered upto 72 hours after the Hajj would fall out of this time limit if we apply it to our dates of Hajj which are already 24 to 48 hours after the actual Hajj at Makkah.

—Rawalpindi

Hand over Fazlullah!

S K AURAKZAI Now it has been established that Fazal Ullah was behind the plan to kill Malala and even interior minister Rehman Malik has confirmed that the terrorists sitting in Kunner and Nooristan are behind Malala incident.

Is it not the duty of Afghan government and the Nato forces which are there in Afghanistan to hit Fazalullah or at least to hand over him to the Pakistani govt. One is amazed that why the America which always seem angry with Pakistan for not doing enough has itself failed to take any action against the terrorists hiding in Nooristan and Kunar. They attack Pakistani posts by crossing Pak-Afghan border. If Afghanistan intelligence and the Afghani government are not supporting them then maybe it is NATO itself feeding and protecting them there to use them against Pakistan.

Obviously there are people who are feeding and giving financial support to them. Can America and NATO forces give any justification of presence of terrorists like Fazallulah, Faqir Muhammad and Abdul Ali there in Kunar? Why American are not using drone technology against them which it happily use against the innocent citizens inside Pakistan tribal areas. In fact American and allied forces are working on set agenda to destabilize Pakistan. According to the newspapers, the terrorists sitting in Afghanistan have made more than 14 attacks on Pakistani posts and 206 Pakistani citizens have given their lives during these attacks. The Afghan concerned authorities have to wake up to play their role to eliminate the Kuner and Nooristan based terrorists or at least make efforts to arrest Fazalullah and hand him over to the Pakistani government.

—Peshawar

READERS are requested to type their letters legibly with double spacing and only on one side of the paper.

—Editor Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

Predator Military Contractors: Privatizing the Drones DAVID ISENBERG

A

BOUT three and a half years ago I wrote that “One might note that with regard to future battlefields the use of contractors is like the use of robots. They promise both greater cost-effectiveness and less loss of life of government soldiers.” With the advantage of hindsight it turns out that the use of robots is heavily dependent on the use of contractors. It seems that today’s Terminators, such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) drones are heavily dependent on mere mortals.

Perhaps that should not come as such a surprise. After all, anyone who ever saw Arnold Schwarzenegger act in the Terminator movies understands how much he depended on the abilities of others in order to produce a successful movie. Still, the extent to which today’s contractors are involved in maintaining and operating the U.S. premier robot system, aerial drones, will likely come as a surprise to you. It certain did to me after reading the article, “Drone-Sourcing? United States Air Force Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Inherently Governmental Functions, and the Role of Contractors,” published last month in George Washington University’s Federal Circuit Bar Journal. The author, Captain Keric D. Clanahan, who serves in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate Generals Corps, makes some points which are, pardon the pun, deadly serious, and deserve some thoughtful consideration. To wit: “In the decade-long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States has used military troops, federal civilian employees, and private military contractors to sustain and perform UAS missions. Now, after the end of the war in Iraq and entering the twelfth year of war in Afghanistan, we must ask: Exactly what jobs are individuals performing in UAS operations?

Who provides logistics and maintenance for unmanned aircraft? Who performs video and imagery analysis? Which individuals operate drones on strategic intelligence, tactical intelligence, and targeted strike missions? And, most importantly, if private contractors are supporting UAS missions, are they performing tasks that should be reserved exclusively for government personnel?” Ah yes, “inherently governmental”, two words that continue to bedevil government contracting with little resolution in sight. Suffice it to say that the U.S. government has yet to produce a comprehensive catalog of activities that must be performed by the government.

It is very much worth pointing out that contrary to popular perception drones are hardly unmanned systems. According to Clanahan, “It’s important to recognize that a medium or large unmanned aircraft is only a single component of a complex system that involves U.S. based grounded flight operators, sensor operators, communications technicians, and imagery analysts; fielded forces and personnel directing take-

off, landing, and recovery procedures; and forward deployed maintenance and logistics crews keeping the aircraft and payload (sensors, camera, radar, and armament on the aircraft) mission ready.” How many people are involved? “A single Combat Air Patrol (“CAP”) mission for a Predator or Reaper demands approximately 160 to 180 personnel to complete the 24 hour mission; the more complex Global Hawk system requires between 300 and 500 personnel—human

question. “According to a paper released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (“DNI”) on July 19, 2010: The Intelligence Community does not condone or permit contract personnel to perform inherently governmental intelligence work, as defined by OMB Circular A-76 . . . . Core contract personnel may perform activities such as collection and analysis; however, it is what you do with that analysis, who makes that decision,

capital requirements are adjusted depending on the intelligence capabilities required for the mission. From the 6 CAPs that were being performed in 2004 to the 69 CAPs that are planned for 2013, the Air Force is experiencing a 1,200% growth in UAS missions in less than ten years.”

One wonders if those are the sort of “highskill” jobs Mitt Romney is planning to create, if he is elected, or the ones Obama includes when he talks about the ongoing economic recovery.

You are probably asking why any of this is a problem. After all, as Clanahan writes, “Fewer pilots flying the skies means fewer reports of downed airmen. The American public does not shed tears when a drone goes down in a fiery crash.” After all, nobody regards maintenance and repair functions as inherently governmental activities.

He answers that question this way: “Weapons systems maintenance, nevertheless, could be regarded as a critical function, that is, “a function that is necessary to the agency being able to effectively perform and maintain control of its mission and operations.” While such positions may be filled by government or contractor personnel, agencies must retain sufficient internal capability to maintain control over the mission and operations through (1) an adequate number of “[f]ederal employees with appropriate training, experience, and expertise” and (2) internal ability to oversee and manage the contractor workforce.” Drones however do more than just fire missiles at targets.

They are also heavily used for gathering intelligence. And that is at least a potential problem. Exactly who can perform intelligence activities for the U.S. government is a long debated

and who oversees the work that constitute the “inherently governmental” functions. Conversely, many scholars opine that participation in intelligence collection, particularly tactical intelligence, constitutes direct participation in hostilities, a status reserved for combatants under international humanitarian law and laws of armed conflict. Because of this possible link to a combat role, many scholars view tactical intelligence as inherently governmental.”

Clanahan judges that The Air Force appears to have adopted a position similar to that of the Office of the DNI, but is not nearly as dependent on contractors for intelligence activities and thinks one can conclude “that the Air Force is making a conscious effort to retain control over intelligence-analysis activities, and is keeping contractors from engaging in inherently governmental activities. But it is not hard to see how things could turn bad. As a cautionary danger, Clanahan notes this incident: “A recent Air Force investigation of an erroneous drone strike in the Uruzgan Province, central Afghanistan, raised questions concerning the possibility of inappropriate use of contractors for tactical intelligence and target identification. In February 2010, Hellfire missiles, launched after a “positive identification” based on drone intelligence monitoring, killed fifteen Afghan civilians, and injured at least a dozen more, travelling in a three-vehicle convoy near U.S. special operations forces who were conducting a capture mission.

Investigations into the miscalculated decision to strike revealed that although the drone was operated by military personnel, and the decision to fire was made by the

lations, claims that Abe’s hardline stance on China is partly aimed at winning support in the election campaign.

To earn the support of conservatives, leaders of both parties resorted to heightening nationalism during the elections. Before taking office in 2006, Abe took a tough stance on China, but he became much more pragmatic when he took power, Huo said. China should attach less importance to what Abe said but more on what he will be able to do in the future, he added. After the elections of party leaders, a series of per-

Liu Jiangyong, a professor of international studies with Tsinghua University, echoed Shi’s views. Liu said despite the HE incumbent Japanese Prime recent personnel arrangements and Minister Yoshihiko Noda re diplomatic moves of the two parties, tained leadership of the rul there will be no policy changes over ing Democratic Party of Japan the Diaoyu Islands issue from the Japa(DPJ) in the latest DPJ presidential elecnese side. However, both parties have tion in late September. Days later, after noticed the severe impact of the issue defeating four opponents, former Japaon bilateral relations. It cannot be ruled nese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was out that Tokyo would reconstruct the elected as the head of the main opposiSino-Japanese relationship following tion Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). the upcoming general election, he said.

Since the farcical “purchase” of China’s Aside from attempts to ease tenDiaoyu Islands by the current with China, the two JapaJapanese administration, the risk The Diaoyu Islands dispute continues to sions nese parties seem to be attachof political instability in Japan ing more importance to warmhas heightened. Soon after the bring political and economic repercussions ing relations with South Koelection, Noda reshuffled his cabinet in an attempt to defend the DPJ sonnel arrangements were made within rea. Ex-Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, administration. Meanwhile, Abe, a both parties. Makiko Tanaka, former an iconic figure among anti-China Japahawkish politician, is actively schem- Japanese Foreign Minister, was tapped nese politicians, was named as national as education minister by Noda. The policy minister of the Noda cabinet. ing to take advantage of the Critics say Maehara will unDPJ’s current trouble for a secdoubtedly be a key figure in ond stint as prime minister in the the new cabinet and play an next general election due within important role in foreign afthe year. fairs. Maehara has long advoObservers said the instabilcated an alliance of Tokyo and ity of Japan’s political situation Seoul to pin down Beijing. in the near future could bring Economic fallout: A red hot more uncertainty to the deadeconomy with frigid political locked Diaoyu Islands dispute. relations has long been a As Japanese politicians of both cliché to describe the Sinoparties remain tough on the disJapanese relationship. Since pute, prospects for a smooth the “island-buying” farce, the resolution are not optimistic. phenomenon seemingly came “Whether the DPJ or the LDP to a stop. Since Chinese takes power, Japan’s policy over people’s spontaneous boythe islands won’t change cotts of Japanese products, much,” said Shi Yongming, a reonce popular Japanese searcher with the China Instibrands have suffered in tute of International Studies decision to bring Tanaka into the cabi- China. Japanese automobile manufac(CIIS).

Political uncertainty: Noda’s “is- net was reportedly aimed at repairing turers are bearing the brunt of the island-buying” move has made clear the soured ties with China following the ter- land dispute.

Reports showed that Japanese DPJ’s position on the Diaoyu Islands. ritorial row over the Diaoyu Islands.

Tanaka has personal connections automakers saw sharp declines in ChiAbe took a tougher stance over the dispute, threatening to establish a gov- with Chinese leaders through her late nese sales in September. The Septemernment agency over the islands after father, former Prime Minister Kakuei ber sales of Mitsubishi in China plumthe so-called “purchase” and Tanaka, who spearheaded the normal- meted to 2,340 vehicles, down 62.9 perstrengthen the power of the Japanese ization of diplomatic relations with China cent from September 2011, and 33 permilitary if he becomes Japan’s next head in 1972. When Makiko Tanaka was in cent lower than 3,495 vehicles in Auof government. Opinion polls sug- Beijing as part of a cross-party Japa- gust. Mazda sold 13,258 vehicles, off gested that the LDP will come first in a nese parliamentary delegation on Sep- 35 percent from a year earlier and 20 lower house election expected within tember 28, she pointed out that shelv- percent below the 16,539 sold in Aumonths. That would put its leader in ing the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands gust. Toyota’s sales in September were place to become the next prime minis- is the consensus among old generation half of August levels. During an already ter. A poll carried out by Japan’s lead- leaders of both countries. This was also gloomy market, it also temporarily ing news agency Kyodo News put sup- the public stance of the Japanese Gov- ceased export of its high-end car Lexus port for the LDP at 30.4 percent after ernment that was in power when the to the Chinese market. The number of Abe was chosen as its new leader, up two countries normalized official ties. Chinese tourists visiting Japan also 11.1 percentage points from September. Meanwhile, Masahiko Komura, Chair- declined sharply. Japan Airlines recently “Seen from the past, Abe focuses man of the Japanese parliament’s Japan- said it had passenger cancellations for more on the alliance with Washington China Friendship League, was ap- 19,500 seats on Japan-China routes and Seoul. Easing relations with China pointed as vice head of the LDP by Abe. in the September-November period.

Shi of the CIIS said the deteriorated is unlikely to be his priority if he takes Komura is a former Japanese foreign office. The two countries could face minister as well as a sinophile. Abe said bilateral relationship would inevitably new challenges,” Shi said. “It seems the appointment was intended to send affect bilateral trade and economic relations. If the situation continues to that the LDP is more radical over the a positive signal to China.

Shi, however, is skeptical about the worsen, bilateral political relations issue, but it depends on its judgment over the situation and prediction of new moves in Japan’s personnel ar- would go from cold to confrontaChina’s response. As I see it, if the situ- rangements. “The two appointments tional; and red hot economic relations ation worsens, the dispute would prob- are merely gestures, which do not equal would freeze up. Since 2002, Japan ably lead to conflict,” Shi told Beijing substantial policy changes. As the in- has been China’s largest trading partReview. Huo Jiangang, a researcher on fluence of Tanaka and Komura is lim- ner for nine straight years. China has Japanese studies with the China Insti- ited to their own parties, it is of little also exceeded the United States to tutes of Contemporary International Re- help for easing the tensions,” Shi said. become Japan’s largest trading part

T

Policy: “When an operator remotely pilots a drone to an area for the purpose of engaging an adversary using UAV-delivered munitions— collecting intelligence that will be delivered to

activity should not be viewed as inherently governmental since it did not involve “direction and control of intelligence” or final decision making, but should at least be considered very “closely associated with inherently governmental [activities],” namely, the decision to strike—i.e., to engage in offensive combat.... Nevertheless, the Air Force must always remain cautious of contracted intelligence activities where civilians may exert a significant amount of influence or control over targeting and weapons release decisions. It is imperative that the Air Force prevent contractors from getting too close to the tip of the spear.”

There is one aspect of contractor involvement in drone activities that may violate current Federal policy. Currently, small tactical drone operations seem to be the only Air Force UAS mission where military members are not always in operational control of a military aircraft. The Air Force currently employs three types of small tactical UAS: the Scan Eagle, RQ-11B Raven, and Wasp III. Although the Air Force owns these aircraft, which are utilized by troops in theater, contractor personnel have also operated such drones.

The drones’ principal use is to feed data to troops to plan force protection and special operations missions, or possibly to provide direct strike capability. Therefore, the technology should be regarded as capable of combat operations or very closely associated with the inherently governmental function of combat. According to the Office of Federal Procurement

combat forces currently engaged in hostilities, or gathering and delivering intelligence data to troops facing circumstances with “significant potential . . . to evolve into combat”—the drone operator’s activities mirror the security activities described above. UAS operations involve situations with a foreseeable likelihood that an intelligence mission could quickly erupt into combat operations. As such, because of the principle uses of small tactical UAVs in the theaters of military operations, the Air Force should regard such operation of UAVs as inherently governmental and prohibit mission performance by contractor personnel.

So long as the Air Force adheres to a practice of only allowing military personnel to serve as aircraft pilots of medium and large category UAS, then flight of these aircraft adheres to current policy provided in OFPP Letter 11-1 and DODI 1100.22. If the Air Force has continued its former practice of using contractor-operated tactical UAS in theater, then such a practice very likely violates current OFPP policy and DoD Instructions.” To keep things kosher when it comes to drone use Clanahan recommends the following: “To ensure that the military does not outsource such roles to a contractor workforce, Congress should: (1) statutorily restrict select UAS activities from being contracted; (2) order the development of regulations governing procurement of unmanned systems and technical support; and (3) establish appropriate transparency and accreditation regimes.— Courtesy - Huffington Post

The use of unmanned aerial systems has dramatically increased over the last decade, and especially under the Obama administration. While the use of lethal unmanned drones itself raises great concerns about the future of warfare, a recent report has shown that drone operations are becoming heavily dependent on the use of private contractors. PMSCs are hired for tasks related to logistics and maintenance, vehicle and sensor operation, weapons systems maintenance, and video and imagery analysis. This is especially important as, in addition to direct strikes, drones are used to feed data to troops for special operations missions and gather information for intelligence. Ultimately, this raises questions about the worrying future of the private sector’s involvement in government’s military strategies.

An Uncertain Future YU LINTAO

ground force commander, the decision was largely based upon intelligence analysis being conducted and reported by a civilian contractor. Arguably, this reported contractor

Afghanistan: Why America’s Longest War is NOT a Campaign Issue ROBERT DREYFUSS

I

13, the New York Times reversed its long-held, stay-the-course view on Afghanistan. “Americans are desperate to see the war end and the 68,000 remaining troops come home,” said the editors. The editorial began with a ringing declaration of failure: “After more

been caught between not just one but multiple front lines, and it has become increasingly difficult for ordinary Afghans to obtain health care. People are not just suffering the effects of the armed conflict. Hardship arising from the economic situation, or from severe

T’S not surprising that an iso lated incident in Benghazi, Libya, took up a significant chunk of the 2nd Presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, while the war in Afghanistan, now in its twelfth year, was ignored. It shouldn’t have been, but although the war is w=80 mostly lost, it is even more important to dissect the reasons h=54 for that failure, in detail, and it’s a tragedy that American voters aren’t demanding that the political class be held accountable for it. Since 2009 polls show that Americans have turned sharply against the war, with two-thirds to three-fourths of respondents opining that war isn’t worth fighting. Although the war has long been considered unwinnable by many foreign policy experts, American voters now seem to have reached the same conclusion. President weather or natural disaster, has become Obama’s decision to wind down the war than a decade of having American more widespread, and hope for the fuby next year, and to withdraw all U.S. blood spilled in Afghanistan, with ture has been steadily declining.” Even forces in 2014, isn’t controversial. But nearly six years lost to President George bleaker was the most recent report from 2,000 Americans, and tens of thou- W. Bush’s disastrous indifference, it is the International Crisis Group, sands of Afghans, are dead – yet U.S. forces are drawing down in Afa nonpartisan body that has that war-battered country is arguably no closer to peace and ghanistan and concluding the longest war in been involved in Afghanistan from the start. It concluded that stability than it was at the end of Afghanistan is utterly unable 2001, weeks after the U.S. inva- its history. Why is such an important issue to provide for its own security sion. being forgotten? when the international forces In the past, Romney has exleave. “Plagued by factionalism and pressed some important differences time for United States forces to leave corruption, Afghanistan is far from with the president on Afghanistan. He’s Afghanistan on a schedule dictated ready to assume responsibility for sesaid that he’d never talk to or negotiate only by the security of the troops. It curity when U.S. and NATO forces with the Taliban, and he’s criticized should not take more than a year. The withdraw in 2014,” the ICG said in its Obama for drawing down too quickly United States will not achieve even report. And it emphasized that the corthe 30,000-plus troops that were de- President Obama’s narrowing goals, rupt and mismanaged tangle of politics, ployed in the 2009 “surge” that Obama and prolonging the war will only do elections and courts is so bad that the ordered. During the Republican primary more harm.” And the Times concluded: scheduled 2014 presidential election is season, Romney said repeatedly that “We are not arguing that everything almost guaranteed to be plagued with he’d reconsider withdrawing U.S. forces will work out well after the United States widespread fraud, vote-rigging, and depending on conditions on the leaves Afghanistan. It will not. The violence that it will either be postponed ground, and on the advice of the gen- Taliban will take over parts of the or held under a “state of emergency.” erals. But, lately, Romney has pretty Pashtun south, where they will brutalThe next Obama-Romney debate much thrown in the towel, declaring his ize women and trample their rights. will be held on Monday, and it is supsupport for the president’s timetable. Warlords will go on stealing. Afghaniposed to focus on foreign policy and And when, in the vice presidential de- stan will still be the world’s secondnational security. Questions framed bate last week, Paul Ryan, Rom poorest country.”

That’s in line with several recent around the arguments in the Times ediney’s running mate, halfheartedly tried torial, the ICRC’s comments, and the to revive the conditions-on-the-ground analyses by people with vast experiICG report might elicit useful responses argument, Vice President Joe Biden ence in Afghanistan. Most surprising from both candidates. But don’t expect slammed the door. “[W]e are leaving,” was a bleak forecast from Reto Stocker, serious discussion and debate. As in said Biden. “We are leaving in 2014. the outgoing chief of the International Iraq, where President Obama closed the Period. And in the process, we’re go- Committee of the Red Cross, who’d door on a horrific mess created by his ing to be saving over the next 10 years spent seven long years there. The predecessor without seeking to hold another $800 billion. We’ve been in this ICRC, which focuses on humanitarian the administration of George W. The war for over a decade. The primary ob- relief and civilian protection, rarely comstrategic ones, however, are more troujective is almost completed. Now, all ments in public about its thinking. Still, bling: What have we learned about we’re doing is putting the Kabul gov- Stocker said that, despite the efforts of America’s ability to engage in ernment in a position to be able to main- the U.S./NATO coalition, the end of the counterinsurgency and nation-building tain their own security. It’s their respon- war “is not in sight,” adding: “I am filled with concern as I leave this country. in countries like Afghanistan? What sibility, not America’s.” does America’s failure in Afghanistan In stunning, lengthy editorial en- Since I arrived here in 2005, local armed say about its ability to take action in titled “Time to Pack Up” on October groups have proliferated, civilians have countries.—Courtesy - The Diplomat

US not pushing for NWA operation: Grossman

PPP trying to take political advantage: Ali Asghar

From Page 1

From Page 1 spite these were summoned by the apex court.

He alleged government used dilatory tactics through its legal team so that decision in this case is delayed.

People should keep in view the facts of this case and should understand it well that PPP wanted to take political mileage out of this decision ahead of general election, he added.

It was PPP which conferred Tamgha-e-Jamhooriat on the central character of this episode, Gen (Retd) Aslam Beg and inducted Gen (Retd) Asad Durrani as ambassador in Germany who was the second central character in this game, he stated.—Online

SC judgment should be implemented: MQM From Page 1 the money.

The Co-ordination Committee said that the Asghar Khan case, lingering in the Supreme Court for many years, bears out the fact that the government agencies meddled in the political process and influenced the general elections held in the country.

The Co-ordination Committee said it was a matter of record that the agencies had offered money to the MQM leader Altaf Hussain like other leaders, but Altaf Hussain refused to accept money and did not sell his conscience. This has been accepted by Younus Habib and officials of the government agencies who had distributed money among the politicians.

The Co-ordination Committee said that after the historic decision of the Supreme Court, all political leaders who had accepted money from agencies should show moral courage and surrender themselves to law.

The Co-ordination Committee called for ensuring that all state institutions work within their framework in future and do not transgress their constitutional limits.

KARACHI: Information Minister Sharjeel Enam Memon addressing a press conference at CM House.

CJ links Pak, India peace to law rule He added that all religions, including Islam, preached peace and tolerance. He further said that the last Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) is the greatest symbol of peace and historic examples are present where Islamic institutions and leaders solved the national issues. He said the very first verse of the Holy Quran states that Almighty Allah is the most merciful and benevolent.

The Chief Justice said that the rule of law snubbed terrorism and conflict. He said today, the society is facing terrorism, extremism and

From Page 1 intolerance. He further said that it is the responsibility of the state to eliminate extremism and this should be done by remaining within the radius of the law.

He said that it is important to affiliate law with peace and in order to implement both, understanding and cooperation among the states is mandatory.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry further said that law demands sacrifices and if the Constitution along with the law is implemented, then it leaves no room for terror-

ism. He said that deviating from the law and Constitution misled us and only those nations flourish where the Constitution is respected and followed. He also said that independent media, judiciary and civil society are pertinent for a good leadership.

“Media is a keen observer and it gave the awareness to the people regarding the rule of law,” he added.

He said India and Pakistan are facing the same kind of challenges and both the countries should work out a viable plan to establish peace in the region.

Malala attack just a drama, alleges Al-Qaeda site From Page 1 ments regarding TTP’s claims of accepting responsibility of the attack were aired on by this British media giant.

“In these circumstances, TTP couldn’t be held responsible for the attack as it would be unfair, dishonesty and an attempt to conceal the truth.”

Confirming Ehsanullah Ehsan as TTP spokesman, the statement says no AlQaeda or TTP media outlet or website has issued yet any

statement regarding the attack.

The statement specifically targets national and international media saying they have already lost authenticity and trust for “editing statements of Mujahideen to air on only certain parts and leveling false blames against them to gain benefits.”

The website says it is necessary to dig out personality of Malala before answering any question that has emerged after the issue.

“A Jewish filmmaker Edam B. Ellick stayed at Malala’s house during Swat operation in 2009,” the statement alleged, and added that the teenage girl and her father met with US ambassador, state secretary and military officers urging them to clean the area from Taliban.

“Public response on Malala’s attack was natural but the way this incident was promoted reveals evil designs of unseen hands behind this incident.”—INP

Riaz demands Sharifs’ disqualification From Page 1 dered legal proceedings against a former intelligence chief and former army chief over allegations of bankrolling politicians to stop the current ruling Pakistan People’s Party from winning 1990 election. The SC also ordered a probe of the politicians allegedly involved in the corruption and

malpractice.

Sharif is one of the politicians accused of receiving funds during the 1990 election which were eventually won by the PML-N. Riaz said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should ensure that it recovers all the public funds doled out to corrupt politi-

cians in the rigged elections, as per the courts orders.

The PPP leader urged the Election Commission to disqualify the Punjab CM so he may not be able to influence the investigation. Riaz added that the Sharif brothers should apologise to the nation for committing the crime.

Flight delay: From Page 1

BD concludes 2009 mutiny trial, nearly 6,000 soldiers land in jail D HAKA —With

the announcement of the last verdict against 733 accused Saturday, trial of Bangladesh’s border guards who in February 2009 staged a two-day horrendous mutiny in the paramilitary force’s headquarters in Dhaka and other stations concluded.The special courts of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), previously known as Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), awarded jail terms ranging from four months to seven years to nearly 6,000 border guards of the force’s 57 units in the last two and a half year.

The trial for the mutiny began in April, 2010.

Paramilitary BDR in November 2009 constituted six special courts to try thousands of guards accused in dozens of cases in connection with the bloody mutiny on Feb. 25- 26, 2009. On the first day of the two-day mutiny, the head of BDR Maj. Gen Shakil Ahmed was shot dead by mutineers.Of the 6,042 guards who were tried since April, 2010, a BGB official who preferred to be unnamed told Xinhua Saturday that “5, 926 guards of total 57 units were jailed and 115 acquitted.”

In Saturday’s last verdict, A BGB special court in capital Dhaka awarded jail terms ranging from four months to seven years to 723 border guards of the 57th unit.

Major allegations against the convicted soldiers of the unit which comes under Sadar (headquarters) Rifles Battalion of the erstwhile BDR included staging rebellion with firearms, instigation and distributing leaflets.

The special court also fined 100 taka (1.43 U.S. dollars) for each of the convicted soldiers of the Battalion which led the bloody mutiny inside the paramilitary force’s headquarters.

Some 64 of the accused soldiers of Battalion were awarded with the highest seven years imprisonment term while others received jail terms ranging from four months to six years at the last verdict, the BGB official said.—NNI

ties between the US and Pakistan has been back on track and there are multilateral relations between the US and Pakistan, adding that Pak-US relations are getting better day by day. To a question, he said that if there would be peace and security in Afghanistan, there would be peace and security in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan can play an important role for bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan should have consultations for resolving their issues. He said that US and Pakistan are trying to bring peace in the region. He said that land of any country should not be used against any other country as this has been stated in the guideline of the Pakistani parliament.

He said that there are bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and they can resolve the borders issues. He said that after the withdrawal of NATO force from the Afghanistan in 2014, Pakistan and Afghanistan would make their decisions at their own level. He said that present government in Afghanistan is better as com-

pared to the government of the Taliban in Afghanistan ten years ago, adding that now Afghanistan is making economic progress and rights are being given to women and the people , standard of living is better , children are going to schools.

Marc Grossman said that not only Afghanistan but the whole region is important, adding that the voices are being raised in the whole world against the Afghan war and this is according to the democratic freedom.

He said that there has been progress in Pak-US relations and these are bases on the mutual respect between Pakistan and US. He said that 20 percent Pakistani finished products are being exported to US. He said that US is seeking for more US companies to make investment in Pakistan. He said that US and Pakistan should promote relations in different fields including civil society and economy. Marc Grossman said Pakistan and the United States have multifaceted relations and there are improving day by day.

Replying to another

question he said he doesn’t believe that the bilateral relationship between the two countries was transactional as Pakistan is beneficiary of the largest Fulbright Programme and the United States is also providing assistance for the energy sector. Replying a question regarding the US drone strikes inside Pakistan, Grossman said he could not answer regarding drone strikes.

Meanwhile US Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman met Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Saturday.

Both the leaders discussed regional security situation.

Security situation in Afghanistan were also came under discussion.

They vowed that Pakistan and the US would continue efforts against insurgency till elimination of terrorism from the region. Attacks in Pakistan from Afghanistan were also discussed during the meeting.

Grossman also met army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and discussed “matters of mutual interest and peace and stability in Afghanistan”, a military official said.

Law and order situation calls for governor rule in provinces: AQ Khan From Page 1 first responsibility of the people to participate in the forthcoming general election and exercise their power of vote to bring good people at the helm of affairs. He said people not Pakistan of 20 years back when everything was in order and people used to stroll on streets in days and night without any fear of loot, arson, kidnapping or killing which is in vogue these days. Mr. Zafar Iqbal President Bazm e Kiran decorated Dr. Qadeer with gold medal in acknowledgment of his services for the cause of Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion Zahid Malik, Editor in Chief of Pakistan Observer and the founder president of Nazariya Pakistan Council paid glowing tributes to the matchless contribution of Dr.Abdul Qadeer Khan for the security of Pakistan.

Zahid Malik who is an optimist by nature and never gives up hope in the future of Pakistan said in a firm tone that this nation has come to stay forever and having a divine support will have a new birth, and enjoy peace and prosperity sooner or later. “ Despite all odds and difficulties even today Pakistan is a much better coun-

try as compared to various countries around the world.

Keeping in view the enormous economic potential and strength and above all the asset of true Pakistanis having unshakable belief in Pakistan, the country would emerge as a respectable nation once again on the global landscape,” he expressed his confidence.

Citing the tragic incident of Malala he expressed his apprehension that forces of vested interests were out to dub Malala incident as the second 9/11 to find an excuse to launch attack in Waziristan.

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and Zahid Malik were honored by Brig. Ghazali who presented them his two master pieces of calligraphy on the occasion.

The seminar was addressed by leading business leaders, industrialists, scholars including SM Muneer, former President FPCCI, Mian Zahid, former chairman KATI, Mehtabuiddin Chawala a leading industrialist and Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Extremely fed up with the deteriorating law and order situation particularly in Karachi, SM Muneer said the business community has

arrived at a consensus that Karachi should be put under Army control to deal with the worst ever law and order situation. Muneer said, 15 to 20 people are killed every in this city besides horrible incidents of kidnapping for ransom.

“How long would people experience such uncertain situation where there is no security for life and other values?”

Muneer said that Rangers too have failed to deliver as according to Rangers chief whenever they arrest any criminal or culprit involved in heinous crimes and hand over him to the police, the influential political forces intervene and get the arrested man released which indicates that these lawbreakers and killers have a strong backing. People are not willing to accept such a costly democracy on the heap of human bodies, and the no go areas where no socio-human values are respected nor writ of the government prevails.

The seminar was also addressed by Zafar Iqbal, President Defence Residents Society and the Bazme-Kiran, Col (Retd) Athar Ali Khan Secretary of Bazme Kiran.

70,000 Pakistanis From Page 1 a rally. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Senior Advisor to CM Punjab Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan and others were also present.

Meanwhile chief minister opened the event.

Shahbaz Sharif also sang

songs before the participants.

Meanwhile addressing the participants Shahbaz said that the masses will force to flee Ali Baba and 40 thieves. Shahbaz asked the participants weather they will make Pakistan of Quiad and Iqbal dreams and would force to flee Ali Baba and 40

thieves. He said that today it has been proved that the nation is wakening and there is great vigour in masses, adding that it was the festival of whole Pakistan and not only of Punjab. On the occasion the slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad” were chanted by the participants of the ceremony.—SANA

Lahore.

Sources said on Saturday that the CJ was to leave for Karachi via PIA flight PK-303 which was delayed due to technical fault.

The chief justice was informed about the delay when he came at the airport departure lounge. Chaudhry summoned the PIA officers and delivered a lecture as the PIA officers queued up looking into their steps in front of the country’s top judge.The CJ said that his precious time was being wasted at the airport.”— Online

SC takes notice From Page 1 violence at the district bar associations in Sindh.

The police chief has been directed to appear with his comments before the apex court on October 24.

A delegation of the Karachi Bar Association members, led by its president, Mehmoodul Hasan, had met Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday. They complained about the failure of the law enforcement agencies to pro- LAHORE: Pakistan Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled holding awareness walk on ‘World Osteoporosis tect practicing lawyers.

Day’ outside Lahore Press Club.

PML-N accepts SC verdict with open heart: Shahbaz SALIM AHMED K ALLAR K AHAR —Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has welcomed the Supreme Court verdict in Asghar Khan case and said those who were blaming PMLN leadership of receiving money should bring evidence against it.

Talking to media during a ceremony in a college of Kalar Kahar, Chakwal, Shahbaz alleged that President Asif Ali Zardari distributed Rs50 million in Intelligence Bureau three years back. He asked for Live water accountability into this.

Shahbaz said they accept storage capacity every decision of the court with drops 29% open heart saying, everyone knew those who celebrated disISLAMABAD—The country’s missal of PML-N on 12th Oclive water storage capacity has dropped 29pc to water reservoir KARACHI: Dr A Q Khan in a group photo at a seminar on ‘Controlling Spread of Waywardness’, organised by Bazm-e- tober 2012, adding that, they Kiran at the DHA Library on Saturday. Editor-in-Chief Pakistan Observer Zahid Malik is also present. should also be held accountwhich is badly affecting able. agricultural and power sectors.

Addressing prize distribution A senior official of the Ministry of Water and Power told Online here on Saturday that storage capacity of dams and water reservoirs have been dropped to significant level which has badly affected the agricultural sector ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Musof Pakistan which heavily Sialkot-IX and PP-133 posing appeals in these two lim League-Quaid (PML-Q) STAFF R EPORTER depends on agro based Narowal-II are scheduled to constituencies. The proposed KABUL—Taliban attacked a President Chaudhry Shujaat economy. If the situation lingers Hussain said he and Deputy I SLAMABAD –President Asif be held on 27th November names were then routed warehouse full of food and on for sometime more, the Prime Minister Pervaiz Elahi Ali Zardari Saturday on the 2012. Spokesperson Senator through the Law Ministry in supplies for troops with energy crisis would deepen as were offered a heavy amount advice of the Prime Minister Farhatullah Babar said that a summary for the Prime Min- rocket-propelled grenades at soon as the water level goes of money in the 1990 elec- approved nominations for the the Election Commission, un- ister who subsequently ad- the main U.S. base in Afghanifurther down.—Online tions; however, they spurned Election Tribunal to dispose der the provisions of the Rep- vised the President to approve stan late Friday, sparking a of appeals against the deci- resentation of the People Act the nominations. the offer. fire that destroyed the wareAppeals, if any, against house and everything inside.

Talking to media after a sions of the Returning Officer 1976, proposed three judges Set on fire by rejecting/accepting the nomiof Peshawar High Court for acceptance/rejection of nomimeeting with a delegation of Taliban spokesman in-laws nation papers will be filed by Zabiullah Mujahid said that European Union at his resi- nation papers for by-elections the Tribunal namely.

BAHAWALPUR—A man was dence, he noted the impression in constituencies PP-129 Justice Nasir Saeed 2nd November 2012 and the the fire at the Supreme Group allegedly set on fire by his in- is not correct that the delaying Sialkot-IX and PP-133 Sheikh Justice Muhammad appeals are due to be disposed compound destroyed a “large laws in the city’s suburban Anwaarul Haq and Justice of by the Tribunal by 6th No- stock of food meant for U.S. tactics are being employed in Narowal-II. Bye-Elections in PP-129 Abdus Sattar Asghar for dis- vember 2012. area of Samasatta. According the elections, adding the electroops.—INP to police, Muhammed Haneef tions will be convened at their is the resident of Samasatta’s appointed time. locality of Otirah. His wife “The Supreme Court’s was living with her father ruling regarding the Asghar after leaving him in resentKhan case should be implement. Haneef reached the mented without fail,” he ashouse of his in-laws to bring serted. round his offended wife. But, Speaking on the occasion, P ESHAWA R —Chief, JUI-F, were silent over the brutalities his father-in-law and Q-League Secretary General Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on being perpetrated by US on brothers-in-law, dousing him Mushahid Hussain Sayed said one hand hue and cry was being them, he underlined.

Taliban attack on Malala in petrol, set him on fire. He the scam regarding who took raised on Malala incident and on was shifted to Victoria how much money in the run up the other establishment and was not correct but we will not Hospital in critical state. to 1990 elections, should be media were keeping mum over allow any one to play politics on According to the doctors, at brought to the fore—INP atrocities being perpetrated by Malala issue, he held.

Those who are criticizing us least 80 percent of Haneef’s US on Aafia Siddiqui. body was affected. Police He said this while address- with reference to friendly opporegistered a case against four ing condolence reference held sition should understand it well people and started lookout on Saturday on the death of Ziad that his party was participating for them. —NNI Akram Durrani, member of in the politics only for the sake Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) As- of state, he remarked.

He lamented legislation was sembly.The JUI-F chief held the Dacoits held, 10 children who had been killed in being made in the assembly with S TAFF R EPORTER bikes recovered drone attacks in seminaries at regard to NGOs while the recLAHORE—Gulberg police FATA and Aafia Siddiqui were ommendations evolved by I SLAMABAD —Oil and Gas also beacon of knowledge. It Council for Islamic Ideology smashed a dacoit gang and Regulatory Authority (OGRA) was matter of regret that Paki- had not been tabled in the assemarrested its two members, and on Saturday recommended the stani establishment and media bly. —Online recovered 10 motorcycles besides illegal weapons. During reduction of prices of petroleum products by Rs.2.32 per liter, the preliminary interrogation, gangsters confessed 22 incidents regulatory authority sources of vehicle snatching in different said.

The OGRA has dispatched areas of the city. A special the summary to slash the prices police, led by SPO Gulberg, smashed Abbasi dacoit gang and of petroleum products to the LAHORE —Governor Punjab ernor Sardar Latif Khosa said Sardar Latif Khosa has said that Pakistan and India are nuclear arrested Massarat Abbas and his petroleum ministry.

According to OGRA sum- deployment of Pakistani and In- powers besides being the accomplice Noorul Hassan. mary, petrol has been recom- dian troops at the Siachen gla- neighbours.The two countries Meanwhile, Gulshan Ravi mended to be slashed by Rs. cier, the world’s highest battle- had wasted ample time in wars, police smashed a robers gang 2.32 per liter, high-speed diesel field, is stupidity. He stated this and now it his high time for both and arrested its five members, and recovered four motorcycles by Rs.0.33 and a cut worth while speaking at the Pak-India Pakistan and India to think Rs.0.55 has been proposed in the Judicial Conference here on Sat- above their ego levels. ,ten mobile phones besides He was of the view that shyurday. It should be mentioned illegal weapon. A special police price of light diesel.

The authority also recom- that the Siachen glacier lies at ing away from the Kashmir isteam led by SPO Gulshan Ravi mended reduction of Kerosene more than 5,500m above sea sue was harmful for both the arrested five dacoits of Zaini oil by Rs. 0.61 per litre. level in Kashmir. Punjab Gov- countries. —INP dacoit gang.—APP

Shujaat admits money offer in 90’s

Election tribunal for Punjab by-elections announced

No politicking on Malala issue: Fazl

OGRA proposes Rs2.32/l petrol price cut

Siachen glacier troops’ deployment is stupidity: Khosa

King Abdullah launches SR12b health projects JEDDAH—Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah inaugurated 420 health projects and laid foundation stones for 127 other health facilities worth SR 12 billion in a function at his palace in Jeddah. The king pressed the buttons announcing the inauguration and laying of foundation stones of the projects.

During the function the king stressed the importance of hard work and honesty. “May Allah bless you and create many like you as you are hardworking men. People speak too much but what is important is honesty. The most correct is the good work. I pray to Allah Almighty to help you serve your religion and nation. This is what I wish and this is what every citizen wishes.

Thank you,” the king said.

“These projects, which are

considered a cultural qualitative shift, are in fact the largest event in the history of the Ministry of Health,” Minister of Health Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said.

The newly opened projects comprised 29 hospitals and health facilities and 391 primary health care centers, the minister said. The king also laid the foundation stones for two medical cities in the northern and southern regions, projects in three medical cities, a specialist hospital, seven public hospitals, two medical towers, 73 digitized operation theaters and 111 primary health care centers, the minister said. With these new additions, the number of hospitals commissioned by the ministry over the last three years reached 54 and primary health care units 645, the minister said.

The ministry is currently constructing 122 hospitals and medi-

cal towers, 305 primary health care units and is planning to double beds in its hospitals in the next seven years. Highlighting his ministry’s qualitative performance, Al-Rabeeah said 10 Saudi hospitals won the Accreditation Certificate by the US Accreditation Authority for Public Health Program and 30 other hospitals of the Accreditation certificate of the Saudi National Committee on Quality Assurance. The king began the launching ceremony of the new projects by pressing a button signifying the opening of several Haj health projects including the East Arafat hospital with 236 beds and 10 health centers at the cost of SR 153. 45 million.After that the king pressed buttons to open 28 hospitals and specialist departments at the cost of SR 3.89 billion. They include the King Faisal Hospital in Taif, the Maternity and

Children’s hospital in Makkah, the Maternity and Children’s hospital in Dammam, each of them with 500 beds, and the South Riyadh hospital and AlQuwaeiyah hospital in Riyadh province with 200 beds each.

Badaei hospital in Qassim and Jazan Medical Tower have 100 beds each. The ceremony also involved the renovation of the Al-Noor hospital, Badr AlJanoub and Yadmah hospitals in Najran and Al-Khobah and AlRaith hospitals in Jazan and some other hospitals in Asir and Qassim provinces. These hospitals will provide 2,600 additional beds, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The newly inaugurated 381 primary health centers worth SR 1.38 billion cover all provinces in the Kingdom. The king also viewed a video presentation of these projects.—AN

US Afghan warehouse burnt in Taliban attack

ceremony and sports day of Cadet College Kallar Kahar, Shahbaz said Pakistan is facing serious challenges like terrorism, loadshedding and corruption which can be overcome through promotion of education and national approach. He urged that the rulers should spend the national exchequer on education, health and public welfare instead of bullet proof vehicles, luxuries and construction of palaces and only in this way, the progress of country can be ensured. He said that the persons holding high offices at federal government are engaged in minting money whereas Punjab government is striving hard for making Pakistan a country of Quaid and Allama Iqbal.

The Chief Minister said that the political and non-political governments are accountable to the masses with regard to their performance during the

last 65 years and people can decide better that which government has taken solid steps for the development of the country.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Higher Education Syed Zaeem Qadri, Members Assembly Sardar Mumtaz Taman, Ayaz Amir, Malik Tanvir Aslam, Zahoor Anwar, Begum Iffat Liaqat Ali, PML (N) leaders Lt. Gen. (Retd.)

Abdul Majeed Malik, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Abdul Qayum, Malik Saleem Iqbal, Principal Cadet College Kallar Kahar, Lt.Gen. (Retd.) Muhammad Nazar, teachers of the college, parents, and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Daanish Schools are being set up at backward tehsils of the province where facilities of state-of-the-art class rooms, libraries, laboratories, sports grounds, hostels and mess have been provided.

Laundry detergent pods ‘emerging public health hazard’

T

HERE’S a new warning for parents who use laundry pods about how kids are mistaking them for bright, colorful candy and eating them. There were 1,008 cases of detergent poisoning among kids during a 30-day period this summer, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Thursday. Of those reported cases, 486 were linked to pods. Poison centers across the country were seeing an average of 10 cases a day, the CDC reported in May. Ninety-four percent of poisonings from laundry detergent are among kids younger than 6, according to the CDC report, and in these children, those who consumed pods were usually sicker than those who ingested other forms of laundry detergent. The CDC says that exposure to the detergent pods is “an emerging public health hazard in the United States.”

Parents are learning just how dangerous the bite-sized, single-dose of laundry detergent pods really can be. The concentrated packet of detergent sent 1-year-old Isabella Sutton to the hospital after she ate one. “I just figured they got into candy, and they were eating candy,” Jessica Sutton, Isabella’s mom, told ABC News earlier this year.

Minutes later, Isabella had severe vomiting and diarrhea before being rushed to the emergency room. Similar reactions have been reported across the country with many children also experiencing drowsi-

ness, nausea and potentially life-threatening symptoms such as difficulty breathing. “You don’t think about safetyproofing laundry detergent,” Sutton said.

The makers of Tide detergent - Proctor & Gamble - told ABC News in May they planned to unveil new childproof packaging by the summer.

The new packaging features a double-latch lid and a larger warning label on the container that some critics say looks like a candy jar.

Proctor & Gamble has distributed the new containers but never recalled the old ones. ABC News visited four stores this week and found the old easy-to-open plastic containers on shelves.

Proctor & Gamble told ABC News that it is adding an over-the-lid resealable sticker that will “gradually be available as of December in stores.”

Henkel — the maker of Purex Ultra Packs — told ABC News that, since May, is has “updated the packaging with clearer labels to warn parents about the risks and to provide more specific instructions in the event of ingestion.”

Other detergent manufacturers who previously told ABC News in May that they were reviewing the safety packaging did not respond to requests for an update. Until changes are made, poison control experts say, the onus falls on the parents to keep the detergent packets locked up and out of the reach of children.

ISLAMABAD: Models walk down the ramp during Fashion Gala 2012 at a local hotel.—PO photo Sultan Bashir

SHO suspended on aerial firing R AWALPINDI —City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi suspended the Station House Officer (SHO) of New Town police station for showing negligence in implementing the marriage laws and preventing frequent use of aerial firing on weddings ceremonies.

CPO directed all the head of police stations to take strict action against the violators of marriage laws and put them behind the bars.—APP

AIOU to collaborate with SAARC Scouts to promote peace STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has reiterated its support to SAARC countries’ scouts association to promote peace and tranquillity in the region.

While welcoming nearly 400 scouts from the regional countries at a function held here on Friday evening at the University’s main campus, acting vice chancellor Dr. Prof. Ali Asghar Chishti assured that AIOU will work together with scouts associations from home and abroad for ensuring their active participation in promotion of peace and friendship in the region.

He said AIOU has already been on forefront for augmenting the scouts’ ac-

tivities. The function was jointly organization by Pakistan Scouts Association and the AIOU. The university’s senior official including the Dean faculty of social sciences Dr. Abdu Hafiz, Registrar Muhammad Bashir Chaudhry and Mir Mukhtar Hussain Talpur, Director Bureau of University’s Extension and special programme also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the role of AIOU in promoting academic and extra-curricular activities.

They said the AIOU will collaborate with the member countries for undertaking community-based socioeconomic development programmes for common benefit and prosperity. The scouts who are messengers

of peace will be encouraged through all possible means, they added.

The leaders of scouts Associations from the SAARC countries, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bangladesh thanked the AIOU for extending them warm hospitality in holding the 2nd SAARC Scouts friendship camp in Pakistan.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi who is currently abroad has already assured that the AIOU will actively work with Scouts Associations to achieve their noble cause, promoting peace and tranquillity in the region. Chief Commissioner Pakistan Boys Association Justice Agha Rafiq Ahmed also attended the function and thanked the AIOU for its support.

FIR registered against RCB staffers R AWALPINDI —An FIR against eight Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) staffers for thrashing an APP journalist has been registered here at R.A. Bazaar Police Station.

According to details, the RCB staffers on Tuesday (Oct 16) thrashed Tahir Chaudhary for detecting some of them taking bribe from the encroachers during an anti-encroachment drive at Chungi Number 22. The victim approached Police Station

RA Bazaar for legal action against the RCB staffers, while the journalist bodies also condemned the incident and demanded of the authorities concerned to take strict action against the culprits.

RCB Anti-Encroachment Department Head Fayyaz Khan along with dozens of other staffers carried out an operation against the vendors, hand-pushcart owners and other encroachers at Chungi Number 22 and on Tench

Road. Tahir Chaudhary who reached there for coverage, noticed that some RCB staffers were taking bribe from some vendors to let them run their businesses.

On this, Tahir approached the team incharge and asked as to why the operation was being conducted on discriminatory basis.

According to Tahir, Fayyaz Khan instead of replying called his staffers and started beating him.—APP

I S L A M A B A D — J u d g e emy (FJA), on Saturday. cial appreciations to the teach-

Islamabad High Court, Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi has opined that laws in a society were promulgated to for better discipline in life, saying, “The laws are rules for determining legal rights and legal obligations which are recognized by the courts.”

He was expressing these views in a certificate awarding ceremony of one-week training course entitled “ Case and Court Management and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRS) Laws in Pakistan” for Civil Judges hailing from all over the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Tour- here at Federal Judicial Acadism Development Corporation (PTDC) is going to construct more hiking trails in federal capital in cooperation with Capital Development Authority (CDA).

This was stated by Managing Director PTDC Mir Shahjahan Khetran while talking to APP. He said PTDC in collaboration with non governmental organizations initiated a number of tourism projects in different areas including Khunjerab, Chitral, Chouperson Valley, Dir Kohistan, Hussaini, Gilgit and Shimshal Valley.

Students are trained about cleaning of mountain, safety of flora and fauna in these areas, he said. —APP ISLAMABAD: Birds sitting

PTDC to construct more hiking trails in capital

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Bahrain Mohamed Ebrahim Mohamed Abdulqader, Advisor to PM on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain, Ambassador of UAE Eisa Abdullah Al Basha Al-Nuaimi, President PML-L Saleem Saifullah, Turkish Ambassador Babur Hizlan, Ambassador of Algeria Dr Ahmad Benflis, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry Zafar Bakhtawari and others at a reception hosted by the Ambassador of Bahrain.—PO photo

Laws are promulgated for better discipline: Justice Kasi About the importance of Intellectual Property Rights, he said: Different statutes or laws have been enforced in all societies for the welfare of citizens and for safeguard of their rights.

In the same manner, the Intellectual Property Rights give legal protection against the misuse of trade-mark and harm to the lawful business in the field of intellectual property.

Appreciating the contents of the course, he said: I have gone through the contents of the course and felt satisfaction that it was designed to meet the needs of time; hence, I convey my spe-

ing staff.

Regarding the importance of training he said: training provide knowledge and confidence to deal with complicated questions and intricate laws. I am confident that participant judges from all parts of Pakistan, AJ&K as well as Gilgit-Baltistan have gained sufficient Knowledge, which would go a long way in their career.

In the end, the honorable chief guest gave away certificates to twenty-one Civil Judges -four female judgestwo from Sindh district JudiSTAFF REPORTER ciary and two from Punjab district judiciary-in the cerISLAMABAD—Islamabad Bar emony.—APP Association (IBA) on Saturday observed complete strike in protest against the brutal killing of Syed Shakir Ali Rizvi near Lahore High Court.

While talking to APP, IBA General Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Ayyub Arbab Gujjar told that IBA felt deep sorrow on murder of its colleague and demanded a stern action against the culprits on immediate basis from the concerned authority.

He also condemned the withdrawal of medical facility provided to legal fraternity by Punjab government though Lahore and Islamabad High Courts had given verdicts in lawyers’ at the leafless branches of a tree at dusk. favour.—APP

IBA observes strike in protest of its colleague’s killing

Japanese traditional music performance enthralls audience of the event was to show- kistani people. It was a dy- sound of the drums resonatcase traditional Japanese namic, thunderous and pow- ing in the soul of both perISLAMABAD—The Embassy music and dances to the Pa- erful performance, with the formers and listeners. of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), JICA Alumni Association of Pakistan and the Islamabad Japanese School in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts organized a musical performance on Japanese traditional drums (Wadaiko) and dancing at the National Art Gallery on Saturday to mark the celebrations of 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan.

About twelve school children between 9 to 15 years old performed a lively set of traditional dance and a drum beat ensemble. The energetic and rhythmic dance with Wadaiko drumming by the students of ISLAMABAD: Japanese children performing during a musical performance organized Japanese school enthralled by Embassy of Japan and Japan International Cooperation Agency at PNCA.—PO photo the audience. The purpose

SANA JAMAL

Wadaiko is the Japanese name for both the act of drumming in a traditional Japanese style (of which there are many) and the drums themselves.

The name comes from the Japanese words ‘Wa’, meaning ‘Japanese’, and ‘Taiko’, meaning ‘drum’. In modern Japan, wadaiko has become more of a performance art, seen at festivals or in concerts.

The amateur performers showcased a folk tradition of Japan by exemplifying their dedication and discipline in mastering a complex choreography. This musical performance provided an opportunity for the Pakistani people to discover Japanese culture and tradition through their little Japanese friends and was highly appreciated.

Islamabad to be made modern city for energy consumption SHARAFAT KAZMI

Zohr

05:40 01:30 04:45 07:30

October 22 ANNUAL entrepreneurship conference 2012 titled ‘Learn Create Lead,’ organised by the Higher Education Commission, National ICT R&D Fund, FAST National University and Pakistan Science Foundation, at the National Library of Pakistan auditorium, Constitution Avenue at 9 to 5 pm. ***** EXHIBITION of works by five artists from the National College of Arts (Lahore), at the Rohtas Gallery, House No 57-B, Street 26, Sector F-6/2, at 5 pm.

October 23 EXHIBITION titled ‘Paper cuts works by Rabeya Jalil, Nadia Batool Hussain and Sophiya Khawaja, at the Rohtas Gallery, House No 57-B, Street 26, sector F-6/2 at 5:30 pm.

November 8 ALUMNI Association National Institute of Psychology (AA-NIP) will hold Annual Alumni Dinner, 2012 on 8th November, 4:30 P.M to 10:00 P.M at Geo Physics Auditorium, QAU. For Registration please contact Irum Naqvi. 0519 0 6 4 4 0 4 7 , Irumnaqvi2006@gmail.com.

Capital gets another police station CITY REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The Interior Ministry has approved creation of new police station in Sector I-16 in Islamabad despite non-availability of building, office equipment, furniture, arms, vehicles and manpower. Sub-Inspector Sheikh Naeem was appointed incharge of the new police station in Sector I-16.

Sources said that only manpower of 40 to 70, including 10 to 15 sub-inspectors would be required to make the police station at Sector I-16 operational, but there is no building available for the police station.

It merits mentioning here that the police station and its SHO are only on paper as there is no proper building for the same besides other requirement which ultimately means that creation of police station on paper would not reduce criminal activities in its limits.

I S L A M A B A D —After the successful implementation of energy friendly dress code in Cabinet Division and Ministry of Water and Power, Secretary Cabinet, Nargis Sethi has taken another initiative of conservation, at large-scale, by declaring Islamabad as model city for energy conservation.

In this regard Capital

Development Authority (CDA), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICT) and Sui Northern Islamabad have been tasked to jointly work for the conservation of water, electricity and Natural Gas in the Capital under the supervision of Cabinet Secretary/Secretary Water and Power.

Under the Slogan of the initiative “Pani, Bijli or Gas

Risk of fire incidents in Blue Area

bachao—apnee zindagee asan banao” (conserve water, electricity and gas — make your life easy) all these institutions would intensify their efforts to check its supply lines, effectively enforce by-laws against violators and sensitize the public of the utility of conservation.

Ban on use of illuminations or decorative lights, regulation of billboards, rationalization of lights in markets in consultation with mar-

dia and public servants would be involved to aware the residents of Islamabad about the initiative and secure their support.

The Cabinet Division would coordinate the efforts of all the institutions to prevent any duplication and ensure quick response for improvements in the conservative plan, suggestions and feedback by the pubic, civil society and media would be channeled via regular moni-

toring and consultations by the Cabinet Division.

The electricity, water and gas so conserved by implementing the initiative would be diverted to education institutions, hospitals and need-based services of larger public interest so that student’s activities do not suffer because of power shortage, patient’s lives do not endanger due to want of electricity and winter does not bring sufferings for

housewives due to unavailability of gas. The initiative is designed on the basis of government’s decisions to present Islamabad as model city to be followed by other cities of the country.

It may be added that according to expert opinion and international best practices energy conservation has proved a great tool of narrowing the demand and supply gap and lead to efficient load management.

RCB given three days to clear garbage-dumping

ISLAMABAD—The inferno in- torate of the civic body had R AWALPINDI —Lahore High cident in Karachi took by storm all district administrations to ensure adequate fire safety measures across the country but Capital Development Authority (CDA) Emergency and Disaster Management Directorate could not complete survey in this connection despite passage of one year.

Sources said that no visible efforts made to cope up with fire incidents/emergency situation as most of the buildings located in Blue Area lack fire fighting equipment besides bare electric lines make these buildings more prone to fire incidents.

A large number of the people visit Blue Area, an important business centre of Islamabad containing hotels, restaurants, bakeries, garments, computer, medical stores and offices of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and OGRA office. Moreover, thousands of people work in the multi-storey buildings located in the shopping area and cluster of electric wires could outbreak fire in these buildings. Emergency and Disaster Management Direc-

started a survey in 2010 to check fire safety measures including emergency exits, fire extinguishers and later it was supposed to issue NOC and notices to buildings sans proper fire safety measures.

But, survey could not be completed despite passage of over one year.

Emergency and Disaster Management Directorate officials few days back briefed CDA Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz that fire safety arrangement finalised in 25 percent buildings situated in commercial area.

Sources said that concerned directorate of the civic body despite passage of several months has managed to accomplish only 15 percent work, adding that owners of buildings allegedly escape fire safety arrangements by greasing the palms of CDA officials.

When contacted, spokesman for CDA, Ramzan Sajid claimed that 60 percent work has been completed on survey of fire safety arrangements in commercial building and process would be completed soon.—INP

Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench, Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh has directed the chief executive officer (CEO) Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) to clean Dhoke Syedan ground from debris and garbage within three days. The LHC bench was hearing a petition of Anwar Dar, president of a local NGO who had challenged the sale and construction of the land in Dhoke Syedan ground in violation of the stay orders of a LHC bench in April 2009.

The petitioner had brought to the courts notice that the ground had become a dumping point for garbage, creating unhygienic conditions for residents.

The LHC bench also directed the respondent, the Punjab government, to submit its reply regarding status of the land. The advocate for the petitioner argued that despite stay orders the ground ISLAMABAD: A student presenting painting to Chief Commissioner Tariq Pirzada during his visit to stalls showcashad been filled with debris ing different projects at an expo. and garbage right in the middle of a thickly populated area. The CEO RCB and the military estate officer were responsible for the situation, he argued.—INP

Defiance of Loudspeaker Act on rise STAFF REPORTER

R AWALPINDI —The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab Police has expressed concern over the breach of ban on the use of loud speakers in mosques and other places as a measure to maintain inter-religious harmony.

According to sources, the department wrote to the Punjab government that the loud speaker act had been violated at 177 mosques and other places since July this year but the local administration, district government and police had not taken an effective action.

According to a report sent to the additional IG Rawalpindi and Home DepartHis Majesty King Mohammed VI Kindgom of Morocco conferred Morocco National ment Punjab, only one case Award upon Mirza Ishtiaq Bait, Hon Consul General of Morocco. Ambassador of His was registered in Rawalpindi district while three cases were Majesty Mohammed Rida El Fassi decorating the award. registered in Attock district in the Rawalpindi division so far on defying the ban on unnecessary use of the loud speaker.—INP

CTP head office to have Pakistan Post counter CITY REPORTER

R AWALPINDI —City Traffic

tors are provided the related forms on the spot while the Punjab government has also appointed doctors in an office in the boundary of the CTP head office for the medical examination of the applicant.

The doctors give a certificate to the applicant on the spot after his/her medical examination. Though the tickets for the payment of the fee fixed by the provincial government are not available in the CTP head office, the sources said, adding the applicants either have to go to General Post Office (GPO) in

Saddar or to a post office in Qasim Market, a nearby post office, to get the tickets.

Pakistan Post and CTP are now planning to provide the facility to the applicants inside the CTP head office, the source informed, adding that a Pakistan Post counter would be established in the office.

Expressing their views on the step, members of the social circles of the city said that the provision of the facility in the CTP head office would save the applicants’ time and the process of getting a driving licence would get easier.

Police (CTP) and Pakistan Post are mulling over establishing a Pakistan Post counter in the CTP head office to facilitate the citizens in getting tickets.

According to sources, correspondence was underway between the two institutions in this connection.

Giving details, the source said dozens of people come to the CTP head office situR AWALPINDI —Traffic mess ated in Race Course on different points on Benazir Rawalpindi to get driving liBhutto Road (BBR), including cences and learners. The visiMareer Chowk, Waris Khan, Liaquat Bagh and others is annoying the residents and commuters of the city.

According to sources, with the construction of Chandni Chowk flyover, traffic problems on in the chowk were resolved to a great extent but the gridlocks have now shifted to other chowks on the road starting from Naz Cinema till Mareer Chowk.

Talking to INP, Rizwan Khan, a commuter, said that he had to travel on the BBR to reach his office and his one to one and a half hour daily was wasted due to the traffic jams on almost every major chowk on the road.

Zahoor Asgher, a wagon driver, said that the traffic pressure and encroachments on the road cause a huge loss of time as well as money, as relatively greater fuel was consumed on each round of their route due ISLAMABAD: Children of an open-air school cleaning their sitting place before start of class. to slow plying. —INP

Citizens decry traffic mess on BBR

ket committee, review of building codes for energy conservation, discouraging the use of electric heaters at offices and homes and minimum use of gas heaters and geysers are some of the steps planned under the initiative.

Similarly effective monitoring of leakages of the water supply lines would ensured to ensure there is no wastage. School children, members of civil society, me-

Turkey playing vital role in development of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD—Chief Commissioner Islamabad Tariq Pirzada on Saturday said that Turkey is playing vital role in the development of Pakistan though multiple initiatives.

We are tied in deep bond of brotherhood; our extensive cultural, commercial and strategic cooperation will go to new heights with the passage of time, he said.

Talking to media after inaugurating Third Eye Exhibition Organized by Pak-Turk International Schools and Colleges here at a local park, Tariq Pirzada said that a preferential trade agreement (PTA) between the brotherly countries will further boost our centuries-old ties.

He said that Turkey ensured its development through quality education

and now it has focused on Pakistan for provision of quality and affordable education which we see as invaluable cooperation.

Millions of Pakistanis are benefitting from selfless services offered by Turk brethren which will go a long way in our nation building moves, he said.

The Chief Commissioner said that other educational institutions should also pay special attention to social and moral education and organise such events keeping in view the importance of activity based learning.

Earlier, Mr. Pirzada along with Chairman Pak-Turk I.C.E. F Unal Tosur, MD Fesih Celik, Director Education Kamil Ture, Principals Ebubekir Haspolat and Ahmet Efiturk

and other administrators visited all the stalls showcasing 150 projects prepared by the students.

The projects included scientific inventions, different social and moral issues, national and international disputes and their resolution, responsibilities towards our nation and many other subjects. Students explained about their projects in detail which was appreciated.

Moreover, Turkish food pavilion and stalls exhibiting dresses attracted many visitors and parents of the students.

It is worth mentioning here that all the income generated by selling of food and dress items will be contributed towards scholarships of the needy students.—INP

PIMS’ young doctors scuffle with seniors CITY REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Young doctors of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Saturday ransacked the hospital building after clash with senior doctors.

The protesting doctors scuffled with senior doctors over their refusal to participate in the strike, a private ISLAMABAD: A view of damaged windows of the office of Executive Director PIMS channel reported.

Hospital after the clash between young and senior doctors.

Roots School System wins awards in Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition STAFF REPORTER R AWALPINDI —The Royal Common Society has a rich history of nurturing the creative talents of young people around the Commonwealth through a range of competitions.

They encourage creative responses to global challenges and offer a unique international platform for new young talent.

Open to all Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or under, the Essay Competition offers young people the opportunity to make their voice heard on a global platform, encouraging students to engage with

issues which are important to them. Every year, the Commonwealth Essay Competition inspires thousands of young writers from all over the world.

Organized by the RCS, this international youth writing contest has been running for over 100 years - the World’s oldest and is highly regarded and popular international education project.

Roots School Students win maximum awards – 19 in the Royal Common Wealth Essay Competition 2012. According to the Royal Common Wealth Society, U.K press release, nearly 8000 entries were received from all

over the WORLD this year.

It is indeed a great honour and achievement to win 19 awards from a single school system in Pakistan. Roots is no 1 in bagging 19 awards as compared to all other winners from Pakistan. Many prestigious Schools participated in the annual essay contest and have won Silver and Bronze Awards.

Roots brilliant Gold Award winners are: Shafin Waqar of DHA I Campus, M. Taimur Adnan of DHA I Campus, Ahmed Adeen Mirza of DHA I Campus, Zunera Maryam 93 Harley Street Campus and Daniya Ali of Peshawar Campus.

Silver Award winners are

Easham Ijaz of Roots Lahore Campus, Yusuf Shakeel of DHA I Campus and Fatima Taj of DHA I Campus. Bronze Medal Winners are Zahra Uzair Qureshi of DHA I Campus, Murvah Assad of DHA I Campus, Jumana Babar of DHA I Campus, Hamza Tasneem Roots 93 Harley Branch, Meerab Asad Roots DHA I Campus, Maaneha Faisal Roots 93 Harley Campus, Neha Omair DHA I Campus, Mahnoor Shabbir Roots 15 Tulsa, Ibrahim Fawad Roots Wah Cantt, Mahnum Hafeez Roots DHA I Campus and Hassan Khalid Roots Peshawar Campus.

Int’l community silent over HRs violations in Held Kashmir: Geelani

AJK President administers oath to Acting HC CJ

STAFF REPORTER silence over the human rights SRINAGAR—Members of the chairman Muslim Conference Kashmir.

Abdul Gani Bhat at his resiHurriyat (M) chairman ap- abuses. “Jammu and Kashmir International Amnesty (AI) met I S L A M A B A D — S a r d a r senior leaders Syed Ali Shah dence in Rajbagh. Confirming prised the three member team has the world’s highest concen-

Muhammad Yaqub Khan, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday afternoon administered oath of office as Acting Chief Justice of AJK High Court to Mr Justice M Aftab Alvi in an impressive ceremony held in Kashmir House here.

Chief Justice AJK High Court Mr Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal has flown to Saudi Arabia for performance of Hajj. During his Hajj leave the next senior judge of the High Court Mr Justice M Aftab Alvi has been appointed as Acting CJ. The oath administering ceremony was participated by judges of the higher judiciary, senior lawyers, higher officials and the media members. Justice Alvi has started functioning following taking oath.

One killed, two injured in IHK S RINAGAR — One man was killed and two others injured when unknown attackers fired at the employees of a hotel on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway in Nowgam area. The manager of the hotel told media men that three gunmen entered the lobby of the hotel making enquiries about the guests staying at the hotel after which they took three hotel employees in the backyard and opened fire at them. An army convoy, which was passing on the highway, was halted for some time during the firing incident. “One employee identified as Farooq Ahmad belonging to Tral town in south Kashmir was killed in the firing while two others were injured,” a police officer said.

The injured have been shifted to hospital for treatment.—NNI

‘Diabetes on rise in Kashmir youngsters’ JAMMU—“With the prevalence of Diabetes rising to over 15 percent in Jammu & Kashmir, the major health challenge in the next few years will be increasing incidence of Diabetes in youngsters including adolescents and teenagers”. This was stated by renowned Diabetologist, National Professor of Diabetes and noted author Dr. Jitendra Singh while addressing a Diabetes Awareness cum Detection programme held at “Kusht Ashram” (Leprosy Home), Bhagwati Nagar. This was probably the first of its kind Diabetes programme to be held at Leprosy Home here and was organized by Diabetes Care Foundation (DCF) in collaboration with Shaheed Kuldeep Verma Memorial Committee.

He said that often the health services do not adequately reach leprosy affected sections of society and even the medical professionals attending on them focus primarily on leprosy without realizing that these people could also be victims of modern day non-communicable diseases like Diabetes and hypertension. During the camp over 150 leprosy individuals received counselling for Diabetes and there were about 10 new detections of diabetes patients. Holding lifestyle changes as mainly responsible for rapid spread of Diabetes, Dr. Jitendra Singh made a startling disclosure that a survey conducted during morning hours across various school bus stops in and around Jammu city has revealed that a majority of school going urban children are either obese or overweight.

The rising trend of weight gain coupled with lack of physical exercise and high level of mental stress in school going children acts as a precursor of future diabetes in them at a younger age particularly in those children who also have a family history of diabetes, he added.—NNI

Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and others here. The team headed by director for Indian programmes of AI, Shishi Kumar Villath, is on an eight day visit to Kashmir.

Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani told the team that for last 22 years the infamous laws AFSPA, and Disturbed Areas Act are in force in Kashmir and the history of PSA is old. He alleged that there is no end to human rights violations.

Hurriyat (G) spokeperson Ayaz Akbar said that the group was informed about the detention of the Masrat Aalam, Pir Saifullah, Ghulam Nabi Sumji and Mushtaq ul Islam who are detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Later, the group met

about the increasing rights violation in Kashmir, about the pathetic condition of prisoners languishing in jails, about ten thousand enforced disappearances, and about thousands of unmarked graves being discovered in the conflict region. He said the black laws like AFSPA and disturbed areas acts have vested unbridled powers with the Indian troops. JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik, during his meeting with AI said Jammu Kashmir is the only place in the whole world which has highest number of troops posted in every nook and corner. Despite no violence the number of these troops is not decreasing but increasing day by day.

He alleged that international community is observing

Kashmiris being deprived of fundamental rights: JKPL

tration of troops and for about every three Kashmiris, there is a soldier. If anybody shows the courage against this tyranny he is being subjugated, arrested, tortured and put behind the bars under draconian laws like public safety act etc.

This is the place where a solider kills, tortures, loots or shoots anybody without being questioned or brought to the justice. APSPA and other draconian laws like these are actually providing shield to these killers and human rights abusers,” Yasin said.

He alleged that even the people who are in jails are being subjected to worst kind of treatment. Yasin said that in 2008 and 2010 hundreds of our young ones were killed by police and forces.—NNI

Deadly attack on military convoy

SRINAGAR—Senior leader of fundamental right from last 64 due role to expedite the early SRINAGAR—Police in IndianAPHC (M) and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, has said that the people of Kashmir have been deprived of their birthright to self-determination for the last several decades. Mukhtar Waza said that the right to self-determination was a fundamental principle of human rights law and its universal acceptance had made it a cornerstone right of the United Nations system.

He said that the United Nations Security Council had passed various resolutions on Kashmir that called for a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices to allow Kashmiris to determine their future by themselves but they were being deprived of this

years, during which lakhs of Innocent Kashmiri people laid these precious lives, thousands were torchered in intragration centers, Kashmiri young girls were reaped resulting greave human rights violations in the valley and very recently thousands of unmarked graves were found in the valley that itself are evidences of the human rights violations done by the Indian troops and other agencies of Indian Government.

He said that the people of Kashmir still wait for the implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir. He said it is high time for the international community particularly the Human Rights Council to play

and peaceful resolutions of the dispute. He said apart from the basic right, right to self determination , Government of India is looting natural recourses of valley and people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing acute shortage of electricity and other things.

He said that NHPC is behaving like East India Company in the valley as they valley’s Natural recourses, water can generate more than 25000 MWA of electricity that we can sell and also can feed the state free of cost but due to SindhTahas water treaty Kashmiris are also not to allow use this basic right and hence Kashmir remains as it was before 65 years in every aspect. —NNI

controlled Kashmir say gunmen have opened fire on a military convey and at a hotel. At least one person was killed and two were wounded. An officer said the group attacked the convoy on the outskirts of Srinigar on Friday, then entered the grounds of the Silver Star hotel and continued firing. The three victims were hotel employees.

The officer said a search operation was under way. Several rebel groups are fighting Indian rule. None has issued statements on the incident.

Since 1989 a separatist insurgency and the subsequent crackdown by Indian forces have killed an estimated 68,000 people.—INP

Ill-treatment of prisoners in IHK jails denounced

KOTLI: AJK Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry Sardar Akhtar Hussain Rabbani being received by a public delegation.

Mirwaiz for demilitarisation on both sides of LoC SRINAGAR—Expressing con- troops stationed in Kashmir even as the Eid-ul-Zuha is near cern over the recent incident of shelling in Uri which three civilians were killed, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq , Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (M) demanded demilitarisation on both sides of LoC. He was addressing people at Charar-eSharif. “On both sides Kashmiris are getting killed. To stop this, a process for complete demilitarization should be started on both the sides of the line of control,” Mirwaiz said.

The Hurriyat (M) chairman said India is trying to give an impression that Kashmir is peaceful. “If Kashmir is peaceful why lakhs of Indian troops are in Kashmir,” he asked.

Mirwaiz stated that lakhs of

NILOOFAR QURESHI

T

the meeting, Bhat said AI team stated that the pending Kashmir issue is the reason for the mental and physical torture of the people of Valley.

The three member team also had a meeting with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman Hurriyat (M) at his Nageen residence. Mirwaiz told them that AI was doing a commendable job in highlighting the rights violation on international level.

He said that in that context, the recent amnesty report regarding the black laws imposed in Kashmir was a right step in right direction. Mirwaiz further informed the Amnesty team that during his recent foreign trip, he met the top brass of the organization and had detailed talks with them over the human rights violation being committed in

hey are consummate traders who deal in a host of merchandise with the tenacity and commitment that perhaps has no other parallel in the world. But they are also traders of a different type- they deal in all forms of merchandise, the actual as well as the ab-stract. And while they are the best of friends while trading one set of commodities, they becoming bit-ter enemies while trading another. Yet the beauty of this commercial arrangement is that despite this ‘love and hate’ relationship, both continue trading and it is this which make them truly unique part-ners!

These strange trading partners go by the name of India and Pakistan and both follow a common philosophy that, ‘come what may, trade we mustso trade we will’! On the commercial front, goods are being traded on a war footing with each side bestowing the status of ‘Most Favoured Nation’ (MFN) on the other. On the Line of Control (LoC), the

were the main obstacle in way of resolution of Kashmir issue.

He said instead of decreasing their numbers, the government has brought 15000 more CRPF men to Kashmir which aptly exposes its intentions.

The Hurriyat (M) chairman demanded release of all political prisoners languishing in different jails across the country.

He said that human rights violations, imprisonment and torture of Kashmiris is continuing unabated. “Yesterday, I met the Amnesty International (AI) team in Srinagar and appealed them to play their role in addressing these issues. Hundreds of Kashmiri prisoners and youth are in jails and torture centers

at hand. We demand release of all the political prisoners before Eid,” he said. Mirwaiz stated that Hurriyat (M) is not against improving of relations between India and Pakistan. However, he added that Kashmir is not an economic problem. “Both the countries should take steps for resolving the Kashmir issue according to the wishes and aspirations of people living in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

He paid rich tributes to the people of Charar-e-Sharif in the ongoing movement.

Hurriyat (M) chairman said that it is due to the sacrifices of Kashmiris that the issue is being recognised at international level.—SANA

S RINAGAR — APHC leader and the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir National Front, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, has condemned the beating of prisoners in jails in the territory.

Nayeem Ahmad Khan addressing his party activists in Srinagar said that beating of prisoners was an act of cowardice and the laws used against the inmates had been declared the laws of oppression by the Amnesty International. He expressed serious concern over the conditions of jails. The APHC leader said that that even hardcore criminals were released on the eve of their religious festivals but Kashmiris didn’t get the benefit of this formality. “India is so scared of the resistance of Kashmiri people that it does not release them on the auspicious occasion of Eid,” he said.

Nayeem Khan maintained that New Delhi and its puppets in the territory were trying everything to deter the Kashmiris from continuing the ongoing liberation struggle but they would never succeed in their nefarious designs. He asked his party members to keep in touch with the kith and kin of the detainees on the forthcoming Eid. On the other hand, the spokesman of Jamaat-e-Islami in occupied Kashmir in a statement in Srinagar expressed serious concern over the ill-treatment meted out to illegally detained Kashmiri Hurriyet leaders and activists in jails.

He said that ill-treatment meted out to liberation leader, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, and other political prisoners by Superintendent Udhampur Jail, Dr Vinod Kumar was condemnable act. He demanded stringent legal action against this erring officer who was infamous for such activities.—KMS

ISLAMABAD: AJK Prime Minister Ch Abdul Majeed with a public delegation led by Haji Munsaf Dad and Ch Liaqat.

Kashmiris never accepted India’s rule : Shabbir Shah SRINAGAR—Senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Shabbir Ahmad Shah has said that the Kashmiris never accepted India’s illegal hold on Jammu and Kashmir. Shabbir Ahmed Shah addressing a big public gathering in Tral town said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been fighting for securing their inalienable right to self-determination and offering huge sacrifices to achieve their goal. “Despite this fact if anybody still calls Kashmir as an integral

part of India, he is living in a fool’s paradise and talking nonsense,” he said.The senior APHC leader maintained that history could not be changed by conducting elections in the occupied territory and forming puppet governments.

He deplored that pro-liberation leaders were being harassed and intimidated to deter them from pursuing the liberation struggle. Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Dr Muhammad Qasim Fakhtoo and Masarrat Aalam Butt are languishing in jails without any jus-

Death, destruction continuing unabated: Mirwaiz SRINAGAR—The Chairman of against all odds.Hurriyet lead- resolving the Kashmir dispute the All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has warned the international community that death and destruction by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir is continuing unabated.

The APHC Chairman addressing a big gathering at Charar-e-Sharif, , demanded the withdrawal of troops from Jammu and Kashmir to pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He said that the ongoing liberation struggle of the Kashmiris was an indigenous popular movement that would continue

ers, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Yousuf Naqash and Javed Ahmad Mir addressing a public rally at Tral Chowk reiterated that the sacrifices of the Kashmiris would not be allowed to go waste. People in the rally shouted slogans ‘Jeway Jeway Pakistan’ and ‘We Want Freedom.

APHC leaders including Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, and Zafar Akbar Butt addressing different gatherings said that the permanent peace in South Asia was not possible without

bomb the US. Wouldn’t this be a ‘win win’ proposal for both sides. Returning to the Indo Pak trading matrix one finds that even in their hostile diplomatic exchange of trading charges, there is an inbuilt safety mecha-nism to ensure that parity exists. While India stakes claim to the entire territory of the erstwhile kingdom of J&K, it takes due care not to express any solidar-ity with the people of this region, which by virtue of New Delhi’s claim are Indian citizens. And Islama-bad’s stance too is curious - while it considers In-dian presence in J&K ‘illegal’, pledges whole hearted ‘political, diplomatic and moral support’ to its people and calls for the implementation of the UN resolutions, by failing to move any resolution on the same, it falls woefully short of its stated posi-tion on Kashmir!

We have been given to understand that India and

in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations. On the other hand, the veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani was placed under house arrest in Srinagar, today, to prevent him from offering Juma prayers.

The office of Syed Ali Gilani told media men, today, that the Pakistan High Commissioner to India phoned Mr. Gilani and extended invitation to him on behalf of the Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar to visit Pakistan from 17th to 22nd December 2012.—NNI

Kashmiris commit suicide under Indian duress SRINAGAR—After mortgaging at competitive rates. “I suffered his home and ancestral land, Najeeb Rashid availed a bank loan of Rs five lakhs and established a poultry farm in remote Shalgam village of South Kashmir. The venture began well and started yielding satisfactory results. But his happiness was shortlived. A bridge connecting Shalgam with rest of the world got damaged and the village lost its only road connectivity.

Rashid continued with his poultry farming but lack of connectivity affected his business and he was unable to sell his produce

losses and was unable to reimburse the loan. The bank interest started piling up and I was declared a defaulter,” he said. One day the inevitable happened and Najeeb received a bank notice warning him to clear his debt or face auction of his mortgaged property. “I rushed to my relatives but nobody came forward to help.” Pushed to the proverbial wall, Rashid consumed some poisonous substance and attempted to end his life. However, fortunately he was rushed to hospital and his life was saved.

Tahir Malik, a graduate struggled for many years for a government job, but failed to get one. He then started a small business of his own and raised capital by availing loans from banks and friends. “In the beginning business was running smoothly and I was able to repay a portion of the loan,” said he, adding “but life took an ugly turn. I suffered loses”.

Malik also became a defaulter and received a notice from the bank. “I decided to dispose off my house but my wife didn’t allow me to do so.—NNI

MIRPUR: Vice Chancellor of MUST talking to Engineer Naib Hussain, MBE Haji Sabir Mughal.

Consummate traders of Kashmir armies of both countries remain equally busy in the trade of exchanging fire while on the diplomatic front too the two nations work overtime and keep busy trading something entirely different - accusa-tions and charges at the UN. Such an elaborate and comprehensive trade arrangement between the two countries holds im-mense promise of revolutionising commercial en-terprises all over the world as it places trade above morality and ethics. And it is this unholy philosophy that opens the floodgates of possibilities for the unscrupulous.

For example, America could follow the Indo Pak model by granting MNF status to Iran, importing oil from it and then using the same to fuel its fighter aircrafts and drones, bomb Tehran. Iran too could use the millions of dollars it receives for the oil sold to America to hire terrorist groups or mercenaries to

tifications, he added.

Shabbir Shah welcomed the decision of the UK for giving the people of Scotland the right to decide their future through a referendum. “East Timor, South Sudan and Ireland have been given the choice to decide their future but only Kashmir has been left and ignored. New Delhi should learn a lesson from the decision and give the Kashmiri people a chance to decide their fate by themselves,” he maintained.—NNI

Pakistan are moving forward on the issue of resolving the Kashmir issue. In March this year, while addressing the joint Parliament session on the first day of the budget session, President Pratibha Patil had declared that “We are committed to resolv-ing all outstanding issues with Pakistan through dialogue.”

As per Pak media reports, President Zardari too has told Mirwaiz Umar Farooq that “Pakistan believes that result-oriented, uninterrupted dialogue process with India will greatly help create a conducive environment to find permanent solution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspi-rations of the people of Kashmir.” But all this was before the two countries decided to trade vitriolic exchanges on Kashmir at the UN. However, those who are apprehensive that this spat may derail the ongoing bonhomie between the two countries, need not despair. The In-

dian Home Min-ister, currently on a visit to J&K has made two im-portant observations- the first, that militants con-tinue to cross the fencing put up

by India and sec-ondly, that the Government of India is determined to promote cross LoC trade. These statements have once again reinforced the invincibility of the ‘blow hot –blow cold’ Indo Pak relations.

So, the stark reality is that commerce is now become the ‘core issue’ between India and Pakistan and thus, despite their conflicting views on the Kashmir issue, it is and will remain, ‘business as usual’ between the two. It is quite evident as to why New Delhi is behaving the way it is. But what does defy explanation is Pakistan’s ‘flip-flop’ on the Kashmir issue. Pakistan wants us to know that it has not forsaken the Kashmir issue but it has also con-veyed that its resolution can wait till a ‘conducive environment’ emerges. Does Islamabad lack the will, or is it merely taking the people of J&K for granted? Courtesy—Kashmir Observer.

All NBP branches go online Observer Report ISLAMABAD —National Bank of Pakistan has converted its entire network of 1,283 branches online and become highest number of online branches in Pakistan, exceeding any other bank operating in the country. NBP offers its customers the facility of payment of government taxes through online debit to their accounts, the Bank’s Account Opening has been made system based with complete elimination of paper based Account Opening Form (AOF). All account holders of NBP can now avail facility of NBP Cash (ATM) Card from all the branches.

Payment of EOBI pension is made through online webbased access and efforts are underway to make payment of EOBI pension through direct credit to EOBI beneficiary account.

US CG visits KESC Staff Reporter KARACHI—The US Consul General in Karachi, Michael Dodman, paid a visit to the KESC head office and met the top management. The Consul General was accompanied by other members of the US mission in Pakistan. The KESC CEO, Tabish Gauhar, thanked the Consul General for the keen interest shown by the Consulate in KESC’s affairs.

He also briefed the US delegation on the progress that KESC has made under the present management team over the past three and a half years. The delegation was informed that the present management has invested an unprecedented amount of one billion US dollars in various development projects, including installation of 1000 MWs of new generation capacity, significant enhancement in the transmission and distribution infrastructure and many other projects of strategic importance.

PSM to turn around in 12 months: CEO AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Steel Mills , Major General (Retd) Muhammad Javed HIM(Retd) has pledged that the Mills will be revived and made profitable within next 12 to 18 months as per approved business plan and its expansion will also be made soon.

He was addressing a function held at the office of Pakistan Steel People’s Worker s Union (CBA) office for the announcement of Charter of Demand of the workers for the year 2010-12 .He said that the production capacity of the Mills will be increased after the arrival of raw material till mid of November and will reach up to 45 %

in January 2013.He informed that from the first installment of bailout package , Pakistan Steel opened 3 Lcs of raw material 2 coal ships and one ironore ship which will be utilized to boost the production up to 45 %, and next shipments will be purchased soon after the second installment of bailout package.

He said that Pakistan Steel management would request the Federal Government to release another Rs five billion so that the consistency in production could be maintained.

He expressed satisfaction that the Mills plants are in good condition. The CEO Pakistan Steel announced that the Mills would be able to repay to the Government

after two years when its production capacity will be enhanced to 1.5 million tones per year. He warned that the misuse of PSM resources should be stopped as the Mills cannot afford any further embezzlement or waste of resources when it is already in crisis.

He urged the employees to work with commitment and turn this organization into a very profitable one for their good future and in the interest of the country. Major Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Jawed assured that he would not fire any single worker from the Mills.He said that there must be accountability at every level .“ We should start accountability from our own,” he remarked.

Pakistan made industrial exhibition opens in Kabul KABUL—The first-ever Pa- ing opportunity the Pakistani sion, Pakistan’s ambassakistani industrial exhibition opened at International Hotel here with the participation of more than 85 Pakistani companies.

In his opening remarks, the deputy for the ministry of commerce and industries Dr. Sadrudin Sahar said that the government is doing its best to pave the way for foreign investment in the country, saying avail-

businessmen and companies can also invest in Afghanistan.

The deputy in chamber of commerce and industries of Afghanistan, Khan Jan Alkozai in his speech noted that holding such exhibitions can play effective role in enhancing trade relations between the two nations.

Speaking on the occa-

dor to Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq said that Afghan traders can solve their problems in Pakistan through the Pakistani embassy.

The President of chamber of commerce and industries Rawalpindi, in his speech stressed for holding such exhibition to promote trade between the two countries.—INP

APTMA resent increase in gas load shedding OUR CORRESPONDENT FAISALABAD—Textilers have

strongly opposed one day increase in Gas load shedding for industry and termed it a deliberate attempt to shatter the export oriented textile industry. This would inflict a loss of one billion rupees daily in export earnings and Major contributor value addition.

FAISALABAD—The livestock Briefing the newsmen afis becoming a major conter chairing a joint meeting of tributor in national economy Pakistan Textile Exporters as its share is more than all Association (PTEA), All Paother sectors in the agricul- kistan Textile Mills Associature field. This was stated by tion (APTMA), All Pakistan Secretary Livestock Irfan Textile Processing Mills AsElahi while inaugurating the sociation (APTPMA), Pakinational Goat Show at stan Hosiery Manufacturers University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) here on Saturday. The secretary said the government was providing numerous facilities to private sector invest in livestock and help the public sector in promoting animal production. He said the STAFF REPORTER Livestock & Dairy Development Department strived to ensure growth and develop- ISLAMABAD—Export of textile and clothing rebounded ment of livestock sector in in September 2012 after witthe province. Earlier, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar nessing a slump for at least one year, mainly owing to a Ahmad Khan said the goat show was second of its kind slight surge in demand from recession-hit key markets of during the last two year.— Europe and United States.

APP Textile and clothing exports witnessed double digit growth of 12.91 per cent in September from a year ago, suggested data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

People do not lack The unprecedented strength; they growth was mainly driven by lack will. substantial increase in export

Association (PHMA), All Pakistan Bedsheet and Upholstery Manufacturers Association (APBUMA) and Khurrianwala Industrial Estate Association (KIEA) here Satirday, Asghar Ali, Chairman Pakistan Textile Exporters Association criticized the plea of gas managers that supply was compressed due to cold weather and said that this was not feasible because the weather had not yet touched the critical temperature point where gas is fossilized.

He said the fact of the matter is mismanagement galore. Resultant upon this failure to manage, more than 300

industrial units and over 1.5 million textile workers would be affected due to shortage of basic fuel creating industrial unrest, he said. The Gas administrators had worked out an agreed schedule to revolve the Gas load shedding two days a week, he said and added that the industrialists and exporters had accordingly scheduled their production and made commitments with foreign buyers to ship consignments on time. But all of a sudden, the duration of Gas load shedding has been increased arbitrarily for three days a week without consultation, he said.

Continued on Page 14

Textile exports gain momentum proceeds of readymade garments, towels, and other low value products, like cotton yarn and cotton cloth, etc.

Former Chairman of Readymade Garments Association of Pakistan Masood Naqi said that growth in export of value-added products was the outcome of three main factors witnessed in the past few months.

He said that growth in exports was the outcome of spillover effects from China and Taiwan’s labour issue.

About two or three per cent spillover from China alone was more than enough for

Pakistan’s exporters to meet it.

Secondly, Mr Naqi said that the announcement of waiver on 75 products from Europe Union also encouraged European buyers to redevelop contacts in Pakistan.

He said major European buyers are eying to yield benefits in case EU granted Pakistan GSP plus status in 2014.

American buyers also reestablishing contacts with Pakistan’s textile and clothing exporters after disruption

Continued on Page 14

PM for to ensuring uninterrupted gas supply to domestic consumers STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf Friday directed his advisor on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr. Asim Hussain to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas to the domestic consumers in the coming winter season.

The Prime Minister while talking to Dr. Asim Hussain here at Prime Minister House asked him to prepare Winter Plan and sensitize the general public about it through an effective media campaign.

Dr. Asim apprised the Prime Minister that he and his team were already working on a winter plan.

Dr. Asim also apprised the Prime Minister about the progress on negotiations carried out by his Ministry to import LNG and LPG to meet the energy requirements of the industry.

Summit Bank’s after tax loss reduces STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The after tax loss of Summit Bank Limited has reduced to Rs 1.308 billion in the nine month period ended September 2012 as compared to after tax loss of Rs 1.671 posted in the corresponding period in 2011. The board of directors of the bank in its meeting held on Friday declared that the bank’s per share loss stood at Rs 1.21 in the period under review against Rs 2.05 in the same period last year.

According to the financial results sent to Karachi Stock Exchange, the bank’s loss before taxation stood at Rs 1.046 billion in the nine month period this year against Rs 2.113 billion in the same period last year.

On quarterly basis, the bank posted Rs 362.505 million as after tax loss translating per share loss of Re 0.34 in the quarter ended September 30, as compared to after tax profit of Rs 63.21 million with earning per share of Re 0.06 in the same quarter last year.

BoK profit after tax increases OBSERVER REPORT K ARACHI —The profit after taxation of Khyber Bank Limited has increased to Rs 794.398 million in the nine month period ended September 30, 2012 as compared to Rs 743.189 million in the corresponding period in 2011.

The board of directors of the bank in its meeting held on Thursday declared that the bank’s earning per share has reduced to Re 0.97 in the period under review against Rs 1.35 in the same period last year.

According to the financial results sent to Karachi Stock Exchange, the bank’s mark-up/return/interest earning increased to Rs 5.320 billion in the nine month period this year against Rs 5.046 billion in the same period last year while mark-up/return/ interest expenses increased to Rs 3.392 billion against Rs 3.291 billion.

Naeem Yahya Mir, CEO and MD, PSO receiving the Best CEO Award for the Oil and Gas sector at second CEO/CFO/CIO Award Ceremony organized by Mass Human Resource Services with the collaboration of Karachi Stock Exchange and Pakistan Standard and Quality Authority.

One million tourists visit Pakistan this year STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Mir Shahjahan Khetran said that one million foreigner tourists visited Pakistan in current year.

He said that law and order situation in Pakistan is much better which is attracting international tourists. He stated this while addressing the Tourism Walk participants at Margalla Trail-5.

PTDC organized the walk to create awareness among youth about importance of natural environment and tourism.

Shahjahan Khetran said that PTDC is going to construct more trails in capital in cooperation with Capital Development Authority (CDA).

He said PTDC in collaboration with non governmental organisations initiated a number of tourism projects in different areas including Khunjerab, Chitral, Chouperson Valley, Dir Kohistan, Hussaini, Gilgit and Shimshal Valley.

He said that PTDC in collaboration with Alpine Club, Adventure Foundation and Sustainable Tourism Foundation organizes different programmes for students in Kashmir, Kaghan Valley and

Gilgit Baltistan to create awareness about preservation of environment. Students are trained about cleaning of mountain, safety of flora and fauna in these areas, he said.

He appealed the Prime Minister to retain PTDC under federation in order to develop and promote tourism in the country and abroad.

Around 150 students from various schools, colleges and families from twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi participated in the event. Certificates and shields were also distributed among participants of walk.

Fall in weekly inflation recorded STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —After an increase in diesel and kerosene prices during the week ending on October 18, 2012 the Sensitive Price Index inched up for the lowest income group.

However, due to the decrease in the prices of bananas, chicken and petrol the sensitive price index dropped slightly for the highend income group during the week under review.

The data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said that the SPI for the lowest income group earning up to Rs8,000 remained in the red for the second consecutive

week ticking up by 0.08 per cent compared to the previous week.

The weekly inflationary impact for income group earning between Rs8,001 and Rs12,000 a month was nominal at 0.04 per cent against the previous week, while the SPI for middle income group earning between Rs12,000 and Rs18,000 per month remained almost flat with an increase of 0.02 per cent.

However, for the upper middle class earning Rs18,001 to Rs35,000 per month the SPI eased by 0.03 per cent over the previous week.

Whereas, the weekly inflation declined by 0.09 per

cent for the high-end income group earning more than Rs35,000 per month, and the overall SPI for the combined income group went into negative by 0.03 per cent.

Analysts said that petrol was the preferred fuel for the high-end consumers, besides decline in the prices of cooking oil and bananas have aided the drop in SPI for upper income categories.

During the week under review the prices of 13 items registered a decline including bananas, live farm chicken, petrol, red chillies powdered.

While prices of 15 items registered an increase led by tomatoes as its prices increased by more than 19pc.

Consumers hit by drug shortage STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI —A number of medicines including those used for treating cough and sinus related ailments are in short supply while a drug used for treating thyroid disorder is selling at Rs200-400 as against its original price of Rs50.

Chemists in different areas said the supply of tranquillizers and some life-saving drugs have improved after the release of ephedrine quota by the government.

However, some tranquilizers like Zolnox and Relaxin are either short or not easily available.

They said that shortage also looms in some sinus related tablets and cough syrups. In some cases, the sup-

ply of these items resumed with more than 50 per cent price hike.

They added that Arinac syrup is available but availability of its tablet is very limited. Erythrosin tablet is also missing. Corex D, Daycor, Nicor, Benatus, Actifed D, Combinol D, Actifed DM, Phensedyl P, and Sancos cough syrups are hard to find.

Chemist owners said that prices of cough syrups have almost doubled in the last six months. They said distributors of a leading multinational company is providing two to three packs of Thyroxine as against the demand of 10 packs thus failing to meet the supply against the demand.

It is pertinent to mention that the manufacturer of Thy-

roxine has initiated a media campaign in the last 20 days ensuring full availability of the medicine but so far the required medicine is either not available or can be purchased at unaffordable prices.

The government has yet to check whether the shortage of drugs had been triggered by the retailers by keeping the stocks in hand in anticipation of increase in prices or was there any problem from the manufacturing side. In both the cases consumers are running pillar to post to get the medicines.

A senior executive in Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) said that the company has decided to increase the production of Thyroxine to

Continued on Page 14

Traders ready to join hands with FBR to unearth new taxpayers STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—The All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran has announced that it is ready to join hands with the FBR to enhance tax net, playing its role to unearth new taxpayers, but tax department should also consult the real stakeholders before formulating national tax policy.

“The FBR, apart from developing co-ordination with provincial tax authorities, also needs to improve liaison with trade bodies by

setting up joint action committees at regional level to remove existing irritants and work out mechanism to increase the revenue pie,” APAT secretary general Naeem Mir said. The traders will support the tax department awareness drive to pay tax in national interest, he said, adding:”We suggest the FBR to launch a campaign with the help of trade bodies allover the country to convince retailers as well as wholesalers to come into tax net and consider paying tax

as a national obligation.”

The real problem is that high officials of the FBR are not ready to consult the real stakeholders to enhance tax net. During last decade, dozens of new plazas have emerged in provincial capital where thousands of people are running their businesses without paying any tax but the tax authorities are totally blind to them, he added.

He reiterated that only provincial cooperation will not improve tax net, as different parties’ governments

at provincial level, in an effort for political point scoring, will cause loss to national exchequer.

He said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) should take measures to bring the untaxed sectors and black economy into the tax net instead of squeezing those who were already in the tax net and paying all their dues diligently. He said the FBR, which was established with an objective to facilitate the trade and industry, had been unfortunately turned into a

money making machine and the people sitting at the helm were not only unaware of the ground realities but were least concerned about the problems and the day-to-day challenges being faced by the businessmen.

He said that at a time when both the trade and industry were looking for a relief package to run their businesses, they were being pushed to the wall by issuing controversial and impractical SROs. He said that APAT understood well that a quantum jump in Tax-to-

GDP ratio was in dire need but also believed that this objective could only be achieved through facilitation of existing businesses instead of playing arm-twisting with them.

He said FBR and the traders wanted and supported documentation of the economy by bringing hospitals, clinics, restaurants, bakeries, wedding lawns, travel agents etc into the tax net.

He asked those traders who have not NTN holders to get their NTN number and pay tax on their earnings.

He said FBR should avoid issuing new tax policies without the consultation of the business community for being the main stakeholders, as it would have devastating effect on the businesses in Pakistan.

APAT feels that the FBR has already shifted its burden of monitoring and tracking of the tax system on manufacturers by imposing 0.5 per cent tax on their sale which is unjust and unethical. “If the FBR was interested in broadening of tax

net, it must bring the agriculture sector into the tax net instead of creating troubles for the registered persons who were already doing businesses in the presence of multiple internal and external challenges.”

The APAT general secretary said it was very difficult to understand that why people sitting at the helm of affairs at the FBR did not consult the business community in the country before formulating business related policies.

Askari Bank’s post-tax up OBSERVER REPORT K ARACHI —The profit after taxation of Askari Bank Limited has increased to Rs1.473 billion in the nine month period ended September 30 this year against Rs1.004 billion earned in the corresponding period in 2011.

The board of directors of the bank in its meeting held on Friday declared that the bank’s earning per share has increased to Rs1.81 in the period under review against Rs1.24 in the same period last year.

According to the financial results sent to Karachi Stock Exchange, the bank’s mark-up/return/interest earning increased to Rs25.324 billion in the nine month period this year against Rs24.620 billion in the same period last year while mark-up/return/ interest expenses increased to Rs18.130 billion against Rs17.173 billion. The bank’s total non-mark-up/interest income increased to Rs2.989 billion against Rs2.203 billion while total non-markup/interest expenses increased to Rs7.013 billion against Rs6.439 billion.

JSCL stake sale

PASSCO wants to end govt role in wheat sales

KARACHI—Jahangir Siddiqui and Company Limited (JSCL) announced that it has received Rs2.36 billion against the sale of its stake in Pakistan International Container Terminal Limited (PICTL), according to a notification.

“We are pleased to inform you that JSCL has received Rs2,364,922,950 for the sale of 15,766,153 ordinary shares of PICTL at Rs150 per share,” said the notification of JSCL dispatched to the Karachi Stock Exchange.

Earlier, JSCL has signed a share purchase agreement with ICTSI Mauritius (the acquirer of PICTL) for the sale of minimum 13.000.000 shares of PICTL, according to the notice.

EU insurers strip cover from ships storing Iran oil SINGAPORE—Two European insurers have withdrawn cover for tankers involved in the Iranian oil trade, the first such move since tough new sanctions were imposed in July.

The tankers, operated by Hong Kong’s Titan Petrochemicals Group Ltd, were used to store Iranian oil for top oil trader Vitol and little known shipping firm Glammarine.

While the European Union sanctions bar Western-based insurers from covering tankers that carry, rather than store, Iranian oil, the documents show the insurers were not prepared to risk falling foul of the curbs.

“Titan’s conduct breaches the spirit if not the wording of U.S. and EU sanctions against Iran,” a September 14 document quoted Mike Salthouse, director of North Insurance Management, as saying on behalf of the North of England P&I Association, Titan’s main insurer. “Were the Association to continue to provide insurance to the Titan fleet we have concluded that there would be a high probability of further breaches of sanctions,” it said.—Newswire

STAFF REPORTER L AHORE —Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Agri- godowns has the capacity of Pakistan and also to minimize Bilour will visit the Lahore culture Storage and Supply Corporation (PASSCO) has proposed that its Board of Directors should be allowed for speedy disposal of surplus stock either through export or local sale.

According to the documents available with online PASSCO is a self- sustaining concern, therefore, its staff and infrastructure should be utilized to its optimum and it should be allowed to engage itself in full spectrum of agro business. It must carry out procurement and marketing of other agricultural commodities and services (on commercial basis) to achieve the goal.

“PASSCO requires minimum storage capacity of 1.5 million tons because its

only 0.431 million (28 per cent) tons and the remaining 72 per cent wheat stocks were stored in open under tarpaulins,” officials date reveals.” the situation is precarious at 2.039 million tons wheat stocks are lying in the open in far-flung areas (as on 24.09.2012) which has more susceptible to climatic hazards and pest attack,”. It said there was a dire need to create additional storage facilities for PASSC and in this regard proposal and offer of Islamic Development Bank for construction of silos with capacity of .65 million tons need to be persuade at war footing on government level.

It proposed by PASSCO that to minimize the subsidy burden on the Government of

the carrying cost wheat procurement targets allocated to PASSCO should be need driven and wheat procurement target to be given keeping in view the average requirement of dependent provinces .Armed forces plus strategic and any unforeseen factors.

“A payment mechanism be developed wherein the cost of wheat dispatched to GilgitBaltistan and Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are directly paid at source in advance to PASSCO by the Federal government which, will save the national exchequer heavy mark-up which keeps accumulating due to present payment mechanism,” it further added.— Online

Water scarcity hampering leather exports AMANULLAH KHAN K ARACHI —Exports

STAFF REPORTER

Bilour to visit LCCI

of leather industry have been threatened seriously due to suspension of water supply in Tannery Zone of Korangi Industrial Area.

The Chairman of Pakistan Tanners Association (S.Z), Amanullah Aftab has expressed deep concern that the largest national cluster of exporting leather and leather made-up units located on Sector 7/A, KIA, is being starved of water due to suspension of water supply through tankers.

The local tanneries are totally dependent on supply

of water through tankers in absence of water supply from KW&SB for years.

“Now since hydrants have beenclosed by KW&SB, the tanneries are feeling being stifled for want of water”, Aftab said. He warned that the peak season of tanneries has already begun and during Eidul Azha, the largest chunk of hides and skins would be brought to this zone by the charity organizations and the tanneries would require water in abundance for their processing.

He further warned that if the water is not supplied by the KWSB, the hides and skins worth crores of rupees may

be destroyed.

Aftab said that he water intensive tanneries are being threatened to default in shipment of leather to customers abroad on stipulated delivery dates since it will not be ready in time for want of water, he said adding that the workers may also gradually lose job due to closure of units and lower production in absence of water which is the main input in this industry, he added. He appealed to the Governor Sindh, Dr Ishrat ul Ebad to order KW&SB to make some arrangements of supply of water for tanneries whether it is through pipeline or tankers.

Petro imports up STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD —Pakistan’s petroleum products import increased by 8.15 percent to $2.71 billion, whereas textile exports raised by 2.95 percent to $3.272 billion during the first quarter of the current fiscal year against $3.178 billion in the corresponding period last year.

In quantity the petroleum products import went up by 8.84 percent to 3.671 million metric tons. Meanwhile, crude petroleum imports declined by 2.46 percent to $1.288 million and dipped by 1.57 percent to 1.66 million metric tons in quantity. Rice export has declined by 26.8 percent to $308.8 million and petroleum and coal have

dropped by 98 percent to 6.35 million.

Cement export between July and September FY13 increased by 30.6 percent to $146.3 million over the same period last year when it stood at $112 million. Textile exports rose due to increased exports of cotton yarn, which rose by 39.3 percent to $530.9 million.

Moreover, cotton cloth exports rose by 5.3 percent to $669.67 million; tent canvas and tarpaulin by 48 percent to $26.45 million; readymade garments by10.2 percent to $448.1 million; and towel sales abroad increased by 4.78 percent.

On the other hand, knitwear exports fell by 10.27 percent to $555.08 million; bed-wear by 14.6 percent to $446.98 million; art, silk and

synthetic textiles by 15.8 percent to $110.53 million; and made-up items fell by 1.3 percent to $146.6 million over the same period last year. Raw cotton export also declined by 54 percent to $25 million.

Jewellery sales in the international market increased by 342.7 percent to $740.5 million during the period under review, indicating potential for growth. However, lack of expertise is still a major constraint. Moreover, the mining, cutting and polishing techniques for gems and precious stones are not up to international standards. However, during this period gems exports rose by 56 percent to one million dollars while furniture exports declined by 6.66 percent to $6.346 million.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry soon to brief the business community on measures being taken by the government for the revival of Pakistan Railways.

The federal minister was talking to LCCI Vice President Mian Abuzar Shad at the inauguration of Business Inn & Business Cafe at the railway station. LCCI Executive Committee members Aftab Ahmad Vohra and Mian Zahid Javed were also present, according to an LCCI spokesman here Saturday.

Mian Abuzar informed the federal minister about initiatives being taken by the Lahore chamber to rejuvenate economic activities and said the government would have to redraft all economic policies in consultation with stakeholders to ensure their implementation in letter and spirit.

Call to include kinno in export list S ARGODHA —The

Kinno Growers Association said on Saturday the government should include kinno (orange) in the export list with India.

In a press release, Kinno Growers Association Secretary Syed Munir Hussain appreciated the federal government for boosting trade with India. He appealed to parliamentarians of district Sargodha to work for inclusion of kinno in the export list with India.

He said if kinno was included in the list, it would help earn huge foreign exchange for the country.—APP

Chicken prices drop STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The prices of

KARACHI: Haroon Rasheed, acting President FPCCI addressing a press conference.

Cotton spot rate firm STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The local cotton market recorded slow trading activity while spot rate remained firm, said a dealer.

The spot rate remained firm at Rs5,700 per maund (37.324kg) and Rs6,109 per 40kg, while ex-Karachi rate stood unchanged at Rs5,855 per maund and Rs6,264 per 40kg after addition of Rs155 as upcountry expenses, he said.

An analyst said that there are speculations about decline in the crop during rains but cotton arrivals report showed an increase; however, ginners are reluctant to trade at lower rates.

“Some factories are still running under capacity, as they claim that growers had restricted selling of cottonseed,” he said.

Karachi cotton market recorded slow trading of around 16,000 bales from the new crop, while prices remained in the range of Rs5,550 to Rs5,900 per maund.

Shahdadpur’s 1,600 bales, 1,000 bales of Tando Adam, 1,000 bales of Mirpurkhas and 1,000 bales of Sanghar were each sold at Rs5,650 to Rs5,700 per maund, 1,000 bales of Khairpur and 400 bales of upper Sindh at Rs5,800, 1,400 bales of Hasilpur at Rs5,550 to Rs5,700, 600 bales of Fort

Abbas at Rs5,600 to Rs5,750, 200 bales of Vehari and 200 bales of Gojra at Rs5,600, while 200 bales of Bhakkar and 200 bales of Uch Sharif were each sold at Rs5,850 per maund.

Burewala’s 1,000 bales were sold at Rs5,650 to Rs5,700, 200 bales of Sahiwal, 1,000 bales of Rajanpur, 200 bales of Daranwala and 200 bales of Faqirwali were each sold at Rs5,700 per maund, 400 bales of Kotla Moosa Khan at Rs5,750, 300 bales of Haroonabad at Rs5,750 to Rs5,800, 3,000 bales of Mianwali at Rs5,800 to Rs5,900, while 400 bales of Depalpur, 200 bales of Layyah and 400 bales of Lodhran were each sold at Rs5,800 per maund.

Water supply to SITE curtailed: Vohra STAFF R EPORTER K A R A C H I —Dr Arshad A. Vohra, Chairman, Site Association of Industry has expressed concern on precarious water supply position in area because of less supply of water from KW&SB to Site Ltd., which has two direct connection and was supposed to receive 8 MGD water on daily basis, is not getting this much water.

Supply has been curtailed and that is also with low pressure as a result of which the industries are getting meagre supply of water through tankers. Now the position has become worst for the last 3 days because of closure of water hydrants and strike of water tankers the factories are on the verge of closure. Due to shortage of water, all industries including export

oriented industries are not getting water and are suffering huge losses and facing non-fulfilment of export orders due to which their reputation is on stake.

In this age of international competition, the cost of production, which is already higher than our regional competitors, increases many fold if the industries buy water from the tanker mafia which is also not available for the last 3 days. Dr Vohra has already informed Managing Director of Sindh Industrial Trading Estates Ltd. and Managing Director, KW&SB on this topic. The water trickles in the lines at factories at very low pressure, due to which the industrialists of SITE Karachi are agitating and demanding the requisite quantity of water so that industrial production may not suffer.

chicken has dropped to Rs 100 per kg in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi due to decrease in demand ahead of upcoming Eid-ulAzha.

Poultry traders said that further decrease expected in coming days. They said demand for chicken decreases during Eid-ul-Azha which forces the farmers and sellers to cut its price to attract customers.

From Page-13 While the prices of eggs cent, yarn other than cotton were increased to Rs 110 per in supply from Egypt.

“Buyers are approaching yarn 90.44 per cent, madedozen due to high demand.

Pakistan in bulk which is be- ups 7.30 per cent and other yond our imaginations,” Mr textile material 138.92 per Naqi. cent in September this year As a result of perfor- over same month last year.

From Page-13 mance of textile and clothing Former chairman of All-PaThis half week closure will sector, overall exports also kistan Textile Mills Associacut down drastically the manu- witnessed 2.95 per cent tion Gohar Ijaz said that perfacturing of export goods and growth in the first quarter sistent supply of gas for five exporters would not be able to (July-Sept) this year as it consecutive days in Julyfulfill their commitments to for- stood at $3.271 billion this September period to textile eign buyers, he added. He in- year as against $3.178 billion sector produced the desired formed that a joint committee over the corresponding pe- results. consists of all stake holders riod last year.

He said that growth in led by Khurram Mukhtar has A sector-wise analysis yarn and fabric exports was been constituted to draw next showed that export of mainly because of improved line of action against emerg- readymade garments went energy supply. Mr Ijaz said ing gas crisis. up by 26.5 per cent, knitwear that 80 per cent textile prodAsghar Ali lamented the 0.95 per cent, and towels ucts were manufactured in unfortunate Gas shortage at 14.47 per cent in September Punjab. this crucial juncture of cur- this year over last year.

The full capacity rent fiscal when the Export of low value- utilisation of production country’s exports are already added products like cotton caused growth in export of under huge pressure due to QUETTA: All Pakistan Flour Mills Association Chairman Syed Zahoor Agha speaking gas shortage as well as high yarn was up by 40.79 per home textile — towels and cent, cotton cloth 14.38 per bedwear as well. at a press conference. prices of raw material.

Textile

APTMA

Seminar on HRs held OBSERVER REPORT KARACHI—Assessment and Strengthening Program (ASP-AiD) has conducted a six-day Human Resource Management workshop on Small Grants & Ambassadors Fund Program (SGAFP) compliance for Civil Society Organizations (CSO), which was attended by 21 CSOs from Sindh, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, AJK, Chitral and Gilgit.

Training courses were based on newly launched HR Management for CSOs manual containing HR related topics for effective and efficient performance. The aim was to enhance the capacity of these CSOs working under SGAFP. Manuals on Procurement Management, Financial Management, IT Management, Monitoring and Evaluation are scheduled to be launched next month. These manuals will be supported by Enterprise Resource Planning (ERPs) and will be followed by training on these areas for CSOs across Pakistan. Presently ASP-AiD is working with 42 CSOs this number will increase to around sixty by the end of current year.

Consumers From Page-13 250,000 packs per month from October as compared to 150,000 per month which will certainly improve the supplies in the markets. Thyroxine production actually resumed in August after a gap of seven to eight months due to various reasons, he added.

He said the problem of shortage is coming as 11 companies, who had got the licence to produce the most sought after life saving drug, are not producing it.

Reviving traditional ideas for sustainable agriculture DR GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN & DR BABAR SHAHBAZ

V

ERY much peculiar and pinching fact has come on the scenario that we are mostly entrapped within a sphere that innovators (the people who first of all adopt the innovation) are the best categories of farmers in the perspective of adoption of agricultural innovations and the laggards (who are resistant to change) are criticized. There remains a paradoxical and perplex situation to decide whether there is any place for the people having traditional ideas. These people do not want to adopt the change at once and try to thrash out the new things with the strength of their experience.

However, they have to face

the music in this context.

Young people, some times, are having a mania of superiority complex and look down upon the old people by giving such comments; “You know nothing; we have the real solutions of your predicaments.” Can we move on the road of sustainable agriculture with this obsession?

It is a very crucial question with somewhat still obscure answer.

Change just for sake of change may not be desirable; only sustainable change is desirable. We are becoming habitual of seeking new things by overlooking the real pros and cons thereof.

Especially in agriculture, an innovation is considered as beneficial for the target client (farmers). It is a common saying; all that glitters is not gold. Situation in real perspective should be analyzed

while looking at the innovation with all its facets. It is the irony of fate that we have given all the privilege to the scientific knowledge and we do not bother about the worth of indigenous or traditional knowledge. Some scholars like Stan Burkey and Robert Chamber have highlighted the value of indigenous knowledge and traditional ideas for sustainability.

Stan Burkey stressed upon that we should learn from the rural people in the realm of conducive environment of mutual respect, love and affection. It will substantially pave the way for the destination of sustainability.

We appreciate the innovators and early adopter who immediately adopt the new things while we criticize the laggards. It may be interesting to observe that the laggards might have also pos-

sessing some sound grounds for adopting the things at last when they become fully convinced about the utility. We have spoiled our precious natural resources by injecting poisons in various forms like over use of artificial fertilizers, blind use of pesticides and industrial wastes, and now genetically modified seeds etc. Although we are attaining more production yet we are going on increase the pollution and health hazards as well and the sustainability remains as question mark. It seems indispensable to revisit our strategies to improve not only production but also develop nature friendly agriculture. It may be possible that we revert ourselves towards consulting the experience of elders who are so called conventional, orthodox and dogmatic. Now it is the time to

realize this fact that we have to get benefits from the traditional assets i.e. experienced old farmers. One reason for this paradigm shift may be explained with an example; our forefathers had constructed such type of buildings and houses with proper ventilation and light for best utilization of natural resources (sunlight, air). On the other hand we are now making such types of buildings in which more energy is required for getting illumination, ventilation, cooling and warmth.

Global demand of organic farming ascertains the importance of those practices which are closer to nature. Various natural patterns like Farm Yard Manure (FYM), green manuring, non polluted irrigation water, biological pest control contribute towards health and better environment. We have

to make a transition about stereotype if we want to develop our agriculture in a better and sustainable fashion. Thus consideration of laggards’ worth looks logical because they are rationale people and thinker.

Taking a step towards a progressive change with a foundation of previous (traditional) knowledge can be more reliable. The situation becomes more crucial when we thrash out all the traditional methods and blindly believe in the new one. The matter over here is not the denial of either of the two.

The point of discussion is that both old and the new one should be given a due weightage in the right perspective. Total avoidance of traditional knowledge is not the judicious way of progress. Giving the devil his due, we are not advocating

that we should remain static in sense of transition; however it must be under consideration that ignoring the knowledge only account of its oldness is not logical.

Organic farming is a crystal clear example on the scene that the natural and purified way of growing crops is better than the poisoned and polluted way.

Keeping pace with the new technology seems necessary but sometimes we have to work on in such a way that a balance and equity between the new and old one should be there. Superficially, here a skepticism arises, if acceptance of new is there then rejection of the older one is obvious. It seems rather difficult to keep both the formats simultaneously. But the real solution is that we can accept the new ideas but we

have to decide its aspects/ proportion of acceptance and we can keep the old idea to extent which is beneficial.

The new generation has entered into a fantasy world that we have gained more by indulging ourselves in modernization and getting rid of the traditional modalities of our ancestors. If we look at the scenario of gain and loss, the picture is gloomy in the context of gain while loss seems more prominent.

Blindly hankering after the so called development, we have deteriorated our ecosystem, polluted our environment, poisoned our food commodities etc.

—(The authors are faculty members at the Institute of Agri. Extension & Rural Development, University of Agriculture Faisalabad)

Six dead in Taliban Helmand attack

Syria envoy presses for ceasefire D AMASCUS —International mediator Lakhdar Brahimi met Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem in Damascus on Saturday, pressing for a brief ceasefire between President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and rebels seeking his overthrow.

Brahimi has called for a ceasefire during next week’s Islamic Eid al-Adha to stem the bloodshed in a 19-month-old conflict which activists say has killed at least 30,000 people and claimed the lives of 220 more on Saturday. There were no immediate details on the talks but Syria has so far given a guarded response to Brahimi’s proposal, suggesting it wants guarantees that rebels would reciprocate any move by Assad’s forces. Brahimi, the joint U.N.-Arab League special envoy for the Syria crisis, has been criss-crossing the region with the aim of convincing Assad’s main backers and his foes to support the idea of a truce during the holiday, which starts at dusk on Thursday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has called for all sides to observe the three- or four-day ceasefire. Iran, one of Assad’s major backers, has also supported the call but added that the main problem in Syria was foreign interference. The United States, which has been a vocal critic of Assad but has little apparent influence on the ground, threw its weight behind the ceasefire call on Friday. “We urge the Syrian government to stop all military operations and call on opposition forces to follow suit,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. A previous ceasefire in April collapsed after just a few days, with each side blaming the other. Mediator Kofi Annan resigned his post in frustration a few months later.—Reuters

Rivals trade bruising barbs NEW YORK —President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney on Thursday made a series of lighthearted jabs at themselves and each other at a charity fundraiser. At the event organised by the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, Obama said his first debate performance - which he was judged to have lost - had been a “long nap” to prepare for the second. Romney mocked his own wealth.

Referring to his Mormon faith, he said he had prepared for the debates by “not drinking alcohol for 65 years”. The Alfred F Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner - a traditional fixture on the presidential campaign calendar - was Romney’s only public event on Thursday after several campaign stops in Virginia the day before. Resplendent in formal white tie on stage, Romney - known for his business fortune - said that after a long campaign it was “nice finally to relax and wear what Ann and I wear around the house”. He also reminded the audience of the vice-president’s mirth-filled approach to his debate with Paul Ryan a week ago: “I was hoping the president would bring Joe Biden along because he’ll laugh at anything. Referring to the first presidential debate, Obama said: “I had more energy in second debate. I was well-rested after the nice long nap I had in first debate.”

Obama also noted he had been criticised for being too popular abroad at the beginning of his term. “I’m impressed with how well Governor Romney has avoided that problem,” he said, in a nod to a summer overseas trip that drew criticism.— BBC

‘Cyberspace battlefront of the future’ W ASHINGTON —Cyberspace is the battlefield of the future, with attackers already going after banks and other financial institutions and developing the ability to strike US power grids and government systems, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Saturday “We confront a whole new threat of warfare in (cyberspace). ... This is an area we’ve got to pay close attention to. This is the battlefront of the future,” he told a business group in Norfolk, Virginia, a city at the center of one of the largest concentrations of military power in the United States. Panetta’s remarks came a week after he delivered a major policy speech on cyber security to a New York business group, saying the US military could act pre-emptively if it detects an imminent threat of cyber attack. US banks and financial institutions have been under sustained attack in recent weeks by suspected Iranian hackers thought to be responding to economic sanctions aimed at forcing Tehran to negotiate over its nuclear program. A group calling itself the Cyber Fighters of Izz ad-din Al Qassam has claimed credit for the disruptions, calling them a protest against an antiIslam video posted on YouTube that has provoked violent protests across the Muslim world. “As I speak, there are attacks going on in this country, cyber attacks, on financial institutions, on banks,” Panetta told the business group on Friday, adding that Washington faces hundreds of thousands of attacks per day.—Reuters

‘Libya not fully liberated’ T RIPOLI —Libyan leader Mohammed Magarief has said not all areas of the North African country have been fully “liberated”, one year after the capture and death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya was declared “liberated” a few days after his death on October 20, 2011, and while its new rulers have led the nation to elections, they have struggled to impose their authority on a country awash with weapons. Speaking on Libyan television late on Friday, the national congress leader singled out the town of Bani Walid, some 160 kms (100 miles) south of Tripoli, a former Gaddafi stronghold which has seen deadly clashes in the last few days as the army struggles to impose order. “The campaign to liberate the country has not been fully completed,” Magarief said. He cited “delays” in the formation of the army and police and the failure to disarm and integrate former rebels. Libya’s congress ordered the Defence and Interior Ministries to find those responsible for abducting Shaban and suspected of torturing him to death.

It gave Bani Walid a deadline to hand them over. The army chief of staff said on Thursday the army was heading to the town to try and restore order. “This is not targeting a region, a tribe, or unarmed civilians but outlawed men,” Magarief said. Tensions between Misrata and Bani Walid underscore the challenge Libya’s new rulers face in reconciling groups with long-running grievances.—AP

South Sudan dismisses coup talk NEW YORK—South Sudan’s vice president, Riek Machar, dismissed on Friday rumours of a planned military coup, saying it would be “unwise” for army officers to attempt a takeover of the year-old state. The speculation was serious enough to prompt South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to visit the headquarters of Sudan’s army (SPLA) this week to warn that any successful coup leaders would be isolated internationally, according to the Sudan Tribune. The move came six months after a referendum agreed to under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war that left more than 2 million people dead. Distrust between the neighbours runs deep and tensions erupted into fighting along the border in April, when South Sudan’s army briefly occupied the Heglig oilfield, which is vital to Sudan’s economy.—Reuters

KANDAHAR—An Afghan police officer and cook poisoned their colleagues at a checkpoint in an assault coordinated with insurgent fighters that left six dead in the country’s south, officials said Saturday. It was the latest in a string of attacks from inside the Afghan army and police that are threatening to undermine both the partnership with international troops — which have been the target of many attacks — and the morale of Afghan forces, who have suffered equally heavy casualties from such strikes.

The police officer and the cook worked with outside insurgents in the assault, which hit police manning a checkpoint in the Gereskh district of Helmand province, the governor’s office said in a A family walks past flaming tyres used as a roadblock to protest the death of Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, head of statement. the intelligence division of Lebanon’s domestic security forces in a car bomb attack targeting his convoy, in the They poisoned two of the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon. officers and then the militants attacked from outside, killing the remaining four officers, provincial spokesman Ahmad Zirak said. He did not say how the officers were poisoned.

The police officer was captured as he fled, but the cook

Lebanese troops alerted over security chief’s blast death

B EIRUT —Protesters and gunmen blocked roads with burning tires in Beirut and other cities on Saturday as grief and anger over the assassination of a senior intelligence official opposed to the Syrian leadership kept Lebanon on edge. Lebanese soldiers opened fire on a group who took over a road in the Bekaa valley, wounding two people, witnesses said.

Troops reinforced road junctions and official buildings in the capital but many roads, including the highway to the international airport, were cut by demonstrators.

The protests broke out in reaction to the killing of Brigadier-General Wissam alHassan in a car bomb explosion in central Beirut on Friday afternoon. Politicians accused Syrian President Bashar-al Assad of being behind the attack, deepening fears that the sectarian-tinged civil war in neighboring Syria is spilling over into Lebanon.

Hassan had led an investigation that implicated Syria and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in 2005. Hassan had also helped uncover a bomb plot that led to the arrest and indictment in August of a proAssad former Lebanese minister - a setback for Syrian influence in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s religious communities are divided between those that support Assad in Syria’s civil war and those that back the Sunni-led rebels. In Beirut’s Sunni Muslim areas, where people are opposed to the Alawite Assad, cars mounted with loudspeakers cruised the streets issuing calls for the Lebanese government to resign. Dozens of gunmen were in the streets and the mood was tense, witnesses said.

Squads of gunmen were also in the streets in the northern, mostly-Sunni city of Tripoli, where pro- and anti-

Assad factions clashed earlier this year. Rallies were also held and roads closed in the eastern Bekaa Valley and in the southern town of Sidon.

Soldiers and police guarded street corners in Beirut’s Ashrafiyeh area, the mainly Christian district where the bomb exploded during rush hour, and at Martyrs’ Square in the centre.

Lebanon’s mufti, the senior Sunni religious figure, announced three days of mourning for Hassan. He will be buried with full honors on Sunday.

The Beirut Star newspaper said the perpetrators of the bombing - which killed at least eight people and wounded more than 80 - clearly aimed to push Lebanon into a new round of chaotic violence. “If the goal was to divert attention from the events in Syria, then people should remember this well and head off any attempt to take Lebanon further into tension and civil strife,” it

Palestinian bid for UN status to succeed: UN GA UNITED NATIONS—The push tion, Palestinian President ing to pass,” Jeremic added. by the Palestinians for upgraded status at the United Nations is likely to succeed, the president of the U.N. General Assembly said on Friday, while warning the United States against cutting U.N. funding over the issue. The president of the United Nations General Assembly, Vuk Jeremic of Serbia, speaks during an interview at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

In his first major interview since winning a divisive campaign for the largely ceremonial U.N. post in June, former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic also said he was seeking to improve coordination between the world body and the Group of 20 bloc of key developed and developing nations. Having failed last year to secure full U.N. membership due to U.S. opposi-

Mahmoud Abbas said last month he would ask the 193nation General Assembly to approve a less-ambitious promotion of the Palestinian Authority’s observer status to “non-member state,” like the Vatican. It is currently considered an “entity.

Jeremic said Abbas is consulting with U.N. member states and is expected to call for a meeting on the Palestinian issue as early as next month, after the November 6 U.S. presidential election.

“Most people expect that it is going to be the second half of November,” the 37-year-old former Serbian foreign minister told Reuters.

“If they decide to go for it after these consultations, which is what President Abbas announced in his speech in September, most people expect that this is go-

The United States and Israel have warned the Palestinians against seeking a status upgrade, saying it would be a setback for the peace process and suggesting that it could have financial implications for the Palestinian Authority.

Some U.N diplomats say that the Palestinians have not made a final decision to go for the upgrade and are under intense pressure from Washington and European nations to call it off. U.N. diplomats and officials say they are also worried about a possible reduction of U.N. funding from the United States, which supplies 22 percent of the regular U.N. budget. Jeremic said he does not want to lecture the United States, but voiced concern about a possible American suspension of U.N. funding due to the Palestinian issue.—Reuters

Televise 9/11 trial globally from Guantanamo: Defence GUANTANAMA BAY— The skeptical about televising the who gave aid and searched death penalty trial of five Guantanamo prisoners accused of plotting the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States is so important that it should be televised globally, defence lawyers argued. The issue of televising the proceedings was discussed on the final day of a week-long pretrial hearing for the alleged mastermind of the hijacked plane attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four co-defendants accused of providing money, training and travel assistance to the hijackers.

“If these proceedings are fair, why is the government afraid to let the world watch?” asked Marine Major William Hennessy, a US military lawyer defending Walid Bin Attash, a Yemeni accused of training two of the hijackers at an al Qaeda camp in Afghanistan. “The government admits that these are historic proceedings,” Hennessy added even as the military judge in the case sounded

trial and the prosecution said the trial should not become “reality TV.” Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has sole authority to authorice the broadcast of the trials. A Pentagon spokesman said that no one has formally asked him to do so. The five defendants, who could face execution if convicted of charges that include murder and terrorism, skipped Friday’s session after the judge declined their request for a recess on the Muslim holy day.

Currently, the public can watch closed-circuit broadcasts of the Guantanamo war crimes court proceedings only at a 200-seat theater at Fort Meade, a US Army base in Maryland.

Closed-circuit viewing sites at a handful of other military bases in the eastern United States are restricted to relatives of the 2,976 people killed in the September 11 attacks and to the firefighters, police officers and other emergency responders

for victims at the crash sites in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

In hearings at the remote US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, lawyers for some of the defendants asked the judge to open those viewing sites to the general public, which the judge declined to do.

Lawyers for other defendants said the trial should be televised globally to anyone who wants to watch.

Hennessy, the defence lawyer, acknowledged that the rules give the defence secretary sole authority to decide whether to televise the trials, but suggested the judge could make the decision in the interests of ensuring the accused get a fair trial.

Officials at Fort Meade have said during previous hearings that only a few dozen people turned up to watch, and that most of them were journalists or lawyers assigned to other Guantanamo cases. —Reuters

said.

The late Hariri’s son, Saad al-Hariri, accused Syria’s Assad of being behind the bombing. Lebanon’s opposition March 14 bloc called on Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government, which includes ministers from Hezbollah, to resign.

The head of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, Major-General Ashraf Rifi, described Hassan’s death as a “huge blow” and warned that further attacks were likely.

“We’ve lost a central security pillar,” he told Future Television. “Without a doubt, we have more sacrifices coming in the future. We know that, but we will not be broken.”

More than 30,000 people have been killed in Syria since a Sunni-led popular uprising against Assad, a member of the Shi’ite-linked Alawite sect, broke out 19 months ago. International powers fear the conflict could inflame rivalries across the region as it intensifies.—Reuters

Suu Kyi to visit India N EW DELHI — Myanmar’s pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will make her first trip in 25 years to India next month, a country where she studied and her mother served as an ambassador, an organiser said yesterday.

Suu Kyi will deliver the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru memorial lecture, which honours independent India’s first prime minister, on November 14 in New Delhi, organisers told .—Reuters

Nepali politicians asked to end constitutional deadlock KATHMANDU—Almost three weeks after his last meeting with top leaders, President Ram Baran Yadav has once again told them to show willingness to forge consensus to break the current political and constitutional deadlock at the earliest. President Yadav, during a meeting with top leaders of two dozen political forces, including Unified CPNMaoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic and CPN-Maoist, read out a seven-point statement, reiterating that he was ready to play a completely supportive role, provided that the parties came up with a concrete solution to break the stalemate by remaining within the constitutional limitations.

Stating that the country was facing serious constitutional, legal, political and financial crises, the President reminded the political parties of their earlier commitment to resolve all the crises by midOctober and said he was forced to prod them once again into acting seriously so that the problems don’t’ get further complicated. “To break the political and constitutional stalemate that has appeared following the demise of the Constituent Assembly, the political parties must forge consensus as per the spirit of the Interim Constitution. Therefore I have been repeatedly calling all the parties together and urging them to work together for consensus.”—Reuters

escaped and remains at large, Zirak added.

The insurgent gunmen escaped by motorcycle with weapons and ammunition, the governor’s statement said. A recent upsurge in the number of insider attacks on coalition troops by Afghan soldiers or police — or insurgents disguised in their uniforms — has further undermined public support for the war in the West. So far this year, at least 52 foreign troops — about half of them Americans — have been killed in insider attacks.

The Afghan government has not provided statistics on the number of its forces killed in insider attacks. However, U.S. military statistics obtained

by The Associated Press show at least 53 members of the Afghan security forces had been killed by the end of August. Meanwhile, a Taliban attack elsewhere in Helmand killed two district community council members, while Taliban-fired rocket-propelled grenades destroyed a warehouse full of food destined for the main U.S. base in Afghanistan.—AP

Israeli navy seizes Gaza blockade breaker ship O CCUPIED J ERUSALEM — The Israeli navy seized an international pro-Palestinian ship in the Mediterranean sea on Saturday to prevent it breaching its blockade of the Gaza Strip, a military spokeswoman said. She said no one was hurt when marines boarded the SV Estelle, a three-mast schooner, and that it was rerouted to Israel’s southern port of Ashdod after it ignored orders to turn away from the Hamas-governed Palestinian enclave.

The Estelle was carrying 30 activists from Europe, Canada and Israel, humanitarian cargo such as cement, and goodwill items such as children’s books, a mission spokesman said earlier on Saturday. Shipboard activists could not immediately be reached for comment.

Citing a need to stem arms smuggling to Hamas and other Palestinian militants, Israel maintains a tight naval blockade of Gaza. Israel and neighboring Egypt also limit overland traffic to and from the territory. Palestinians describe the curbs as collective punishment for Gaza’s 1.6 million residents and their supporters abroad have mounted several attempts to break the blockade by sea.

Most were stopped by Israel, and in one May 2010 incident its marines killed nine Turkish activists in clashes aboard their ship.

An inquiry into that incident commissioned by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon found that Israel’s Gaza blockade was legal but faulted the navy for excessive force.—Reuters

Bahrain identifies suspects in police bomb attack D UBAI —Bahrain’s interior minister said on Saturday that the country had identified several suspects in a bomb attack on Thursday that killed one policeman and injured another following clashes between protesters and the security services in the U.S. ally. The tiny Gulf Arab kingdom has been convulsed by unrest since February last year after mass demonstrations led by majority Shi’ites demanding democratic change in the Sunni-led monarchy.

Thursday’s explosion, which the government called a “terrorist attack” and which followed clashes in a village south of the capital, was the latest such bombing this year. Four policemen were injured in a similar incident in May. “We have identified a number of suspects in the case,” said Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa in a statement dis-

tributed by the government’s Information Affairs Authority.

Bahraini authorities have accused Shi’ite power Iran, which once ruled the Gulf island, of instigating the protests, a charge Tehran has denied, and have promised a tough response to violent demonstrations after talks with the opposition stalled.

“We won’t stop at just determining who committed the crime, but we will also determine who orchestrated the explosion and who trained the individuals in their bomb-making skills,” Al Khalifa said.

Shi’ites complain of discrimination in the electoral system, jobs, housing and education and say they are mistreated by government departments, the police and the army. Government promises of action to address their concerns have come to nothing, they say.—Reuters

Several killed in fresh Darfur flare-up K HARTOUM —Rebels

in Sudan’s western Darfur region have launched an attack on government forces, killing several people, state news agency SUNA said. Darfur has been plagued by violence since mainly non-Arab tribes took up arms in 2003, complaining the central government in Khartoum had neglected the remote western territory.

While violence is down from its peak in 2003 and 2004, law and order have collapsed in parts of the vast territory and banditry, tribal fighting and clashes between rebels and government forces have continued. Rebels attacked the government-controlled area of Abu Dalig in North Darfur on Wednesday, SUNA said late on Friday, citing a local official.

It said several “mujahideen”, a synonym for fighters from government-allied militias or tribes, were killed or wounded during the attack, adding that rebels had tried stealing property of citizens. It gave no details of what

had happened. The Sudanese Revolutionary Front, an alliance of rebels in Darfur and two border states, said it had attacked a government convoy in Abu Dalig near alFasher, capital of North Darfur.

“The government forces suffered huge losses,” it said in a statement, adding that the rebels had seized five military vehicles, heavy weapons and ammunition. The rebels’ alliance, which also includes the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North fighting in the border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, plans to topple Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

The International Criminal Court has indicted Bashir and issued an arrest warrant for Defence Minister Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein to face charges of masterminding war crimes in Darfur, charges they deny. The United Nations has estimated that around 300,000 people may have died in Darfur, where Sudanese troops and Arab militias have sought to crush the rebellion.—AP

Lions vs Yorkshire, CLT20

Symes puts Lions in semis after tense chase JOHANNESBURG—You need 43 off 43 with seven wickets remaining to make the semi-finals and knock three competing teams out. What do you do? If you are a South African side, you nearly choke. The ingredients were all there.

Commanding position in a crunch game, the threat of rain, Duckworth-Lewis calculations, the works. And Jean Symes took the Lions fans through the full range of emotions at their home ground. He allowed the asking-rate, which had started at around six-anda-half, to touch ten after the 18th over. Even as the familiar word started doing the rounds, Symes, on 6 off 16, slammed four of his next six deliveries for boundaries to carry Lions to the knockouts of the Champions League Twenty20, and with one final blow down the ground, sent Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Yorkshire out of the tournament.

It had been Lions’ game to lose after their bowlers had never allowed the Yorkshire run-rate to approach seven at any stage in keeping them to 131. Yorkshire had begun their defence well in sending back the Lions openers with 31 on the board but Quinton de Kock had steadied the chase as he hit boundaries just when Yorkshire managed to build some semblance of pressure.

Yorkshire innings: AW Gale b Pretorius ..... 21 PA Jaques b Petersen ... 31 Root c Tanvir b Phangiso5 Lyth c Nannes b Morris 21 Balance b Phangiso ...... 17 Rashid lbw b Tanvir ........ 8 DM Hodgson not out .. 10 Azeem b Tanvir ............... 4 Extras:(lb 4, w 9, nb 1) ... 14 Total:(7 wickets) .......... 131 Fall of wickets 1-54, 2-60, 367, 4-100, 5-111, 6-118, 7-131 Bowling ............ O-M-R-W Sohail Tanvir ........ 4-1-25-2 DP Nannes ........... 4-0-30-0 CH Morris ............ 4-0-25-1 AM Phangiso ...... 4-0-23-2 AN Petersen ........ 2-0-11-1 D Pretorius ........... 2-0-13-1

De Kock’s wicket, a topedge ending in the wicketkeeper’s gloves off the last ball of the 13th over, was to precipitate the drama.

Symes, having taken Lions home against Chennai Super Kings in the last over as well with a counter-attacking blitz, struggled to get the ball off the square. The 14th and 15th overs produced a run each and suddenly, the asking-rate was above eight.

Azeem Rafiq, with a spell of 4-0-14-1, was largely responsible for the urgency in Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale’s manner now. But his decision to give the next over to Adil Rashid was to even matters again. Rashid, having gone for 22 in two overs, was taken for 14 more in the 16th by Dwaine Pretorius, playing ahead of the veteran Zander de Bruyn.

Yorkshire refused to give up, though. Steven Patterson had Pretorius caught in the deep for 25 off 14. Iain Wardlaw, playing only because Yorkshire’s two first-choice quicks - Ryan Sidebottom and Moin Ashraf - were injured, conceded just three in the 18th over. Oliver Hannon-Dalby, the second replacement playing his first T20 game, kept Thami Tsolekile to a single off the first two balls of the 19th but Symes now decided it was time.

With 19 neeed off 10, Symes made room and lofted

over sweeper cover for six, and smashed the next delivery down the ground for four. He lifted the second ball of the 20th over mid-on to finish the job that Lions’ bowlers had started so well.

Yorkshire’s batsmen, heaving and flailing, had found the combination of a fast Wanderers pitch and a balanced Lions attack too much to handle.

Left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso impressed again, Lions captain Alviro Petersen got Yorkshire’s top-scorer Phil Jaques, but it was the home side’s four quick bowlers who used the pace and bounce in the pitch to tie down Yorkshire all through.

Andrew Gale and Jaques did add 54 upfront, but that partnership never looked in control, with numerous swings-and-misses, especially from Gale. Nevertheless, Jaques managed to pull and cut for a few fours, and with Gale also hacking away some runs, Lions did have a base. It was the introduction of the fourth fast bowler, Pretorius, that ended Gale’s scratchy effort, as the Yorkshire captain topedged a slog to the wicketkeeper.

Joe Root came out looking to hit every ball, and Phangiso soon had him sweeping straight to deep square leg.

The expected rain arrived to force a 15-minute interruption after which the part-timer Petersen, giving himself a second over of offspin, bowled Jaques after the batsman Lions innings: Petersen b Dalby ........... 19 missed a slog-sweep.

Gary Balance looked the Bodi lbw b Patterson ...... 8 Q de Kock b Wardlaw .. 32 man most likely to lift YorkMcKenzie lbw b Rafiq .. 13 shire out of their stupor, but he thick-edged a slog off D Pretorius b Patterson 25 Phangiso to short third man to J Symes not out ............. 27 depart for 17. Yorkshire’s lack TL Tsolekile not out ....... 4 of depth meant Rashid, with a Extras: (lb 1, w 5) ............. 6 highest T20 score of 36, was Total: (5 wickets) ......... 134 in at No. 6 and when Adam Fall of wickets 1-27, 2-31, 3- Lyth swung Chris Morris to deep square leg in the 17th 69, 4-89, 5-107 Bowling ............ O-M-R-W over, Yorkshire’s final realistic I Wardlaw ............. 4-1-23-1 chance of a late charge was SA Patterson ..... 3.2-0-21-2 over.

Their inexperienced attack OJ Hannon-Dalby 4-0-35-1 JE Root ................... 1-0-4-0 gave Lions a real scare, but this Azeem Rafiq ......... 4-0-14-1 time, there was to be no chokAU Rashid ........... 3-0-36-0 ing for the South African franchise.—Agencies

KARACHI: Shahid Afridi and Sanath Jayasuriya with the trophy before start of the T20 match on Saturday.

Pak Stars XI win toss, elect to bat KARACHI—Pakistan All Star XI won the toss and elected to bat first against the International World XI in the first T-20 here at the National Stadium Karachi.

The International World XI is touring Pakistan for a two-match T-20 series in an effort to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.

FIFA MA Special Referees Course2012 kicks off

L AHORE —The 5-days MA Special Referees Course-2012, organized by Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), Saturday, kicked off here and will conclude on Wednesday. It is being conducted by Mohamed Muhiseen Ariff as Referee Development Officer (RDO) from Sri Lanka and Ganesh Manium, FIFA Physical Instructor from Singapore will conclude on Wednesday, October 24, 2012.

Qazi Mohammad Asif and Ahmed Ali will act as Course Coordinator, M. Arif Siddiqui, Salah-ud- Din Awan and Mohammad Rauf as MA Technical Instructors.

According to Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Lt. Col. (R) Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi TI (M), General Secretary PFF inaugurated the course as Chief Guest and said that “PFF is committed to providing football referees, from beginner to most advance, with JOHANNESBURG: Sohail Tanvir took 2 for 25 during Lions vs Yorkshire semifinal up-to-date theoretical, physical and practical knowledge match of CLT-20. for referees from provinces and regions can ensure that referees develop their skill to full potential”.—Online

PCB waits for India tour itinerary L AHORE —The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still awaiting the tour itinerary from its Indian counterpart for the much-anticipated bilateral series between the two countries later this year.

PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf told reporters that the BCCI was expected to send the final schedule for the series which is to be played in two months’ time in India.

The BCCI has said that Pakistan will play three oneday internationals and two Twenty20 matches on the short tour that begins in the last week of December and ends in the first week of the new year.

It is the first bilateral series between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.

The arch-rivals have not played a series since Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007. The Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have only met in international tournaments since 2007.

“I had enquired from the BCCI officials during the recent ICC meeting in Colombo about the final schedule and they said they would send it soon. So we are also awaiting it. But obviously they will announce it as it is their home series,” Ashraf said. He said rela-

tions with the BCCI had been good in recent times and both boards have realised the importance of having regular bilateral cricket matches.

“The positive thing is after such a long time a bilateral series has been okayed and obviously the schedule will be announced after proper clearances,” he added.

The PCB had requested the BCCI to include Mohali as one of the venues for the matches to allow more Pakistanis to visit India for the matches but their request was politely turned down by the Indians.—INP

Motorcycling: Lorenzo edges out Pedrosa to take pole S EPANG ,

Malaysia— MotoGP leader Jorge Lorenzo seized pole position for Sunday’s Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, with the Yamaha rider putting in a record lap in qualifying.

The Spaniard clocked a lap of 2 minutes 00.334 seconds at the end of the onehour qualifying session on Saturday, breaking the circuit record of 2:00.518 set by Italian rider Valentino Rossi in qualifying in 2009.—AFP

Pettersen leads by 5 strokes at LPGA Korea

Greig diagnosed with lung cancer L ONDON —Tony Greig, the former England captain, has

I NCHEON , South Korea — holes to kind of adjust to the tough situation because I am been diagnosed with a form Suzann Pettersen shot a 4under 68 on Saturday to extend her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA KEB HanaBank Championship. The Norwegian did not reach the level of her opening round when she carded a course-record 63 but still had a strong lead going into the final day of the three-round event at the Sky72 Ocean Course at Incheon.

Two birdies on the final two holes capped a strong performance over the first two days for the No. 9ranked player. ‘’It just felt like I got out there this morning and I didn’t really expect it to be as breezy as it was,’’ said Pettersen. ‘’Not that it was extremely windy, but it was a little different yesterday ... and it almost took me nine

conditions. ‘’On the back nine, very happy the way I finished. I was standing on 15 and said to myself, it would be nice to finish with two or three birdies, and I think that’s what I did.

Good way to finish the day.’’

South Korea’s Ryu Soyeon had a 70 and is alone in second place, a stroke ahead of compatriot Se Ri Pak, who had the day’s best round with a 67, Germany’s Sandra Gal and top-ranked Yani Tseng.

Ryu, the 2011 US Open champion, is leading the race to be the tour’s Rookie of the Year and is having to adjust to her star status in her homeland. ‘’If the Hana Bank winner is Korean, they will love it, because this is in Korea,’’ Ryu said. ‘’But sometimes it really makes it tough and crazy, but I want to enjoy this

a professional. I’m so happy to be playing in front of the Korean fans, and I want to really say thanks to the Korean fans. ‘’The final round is always tough. I think though I am ready to play tomorrow.’’

Tseng, the defending champion, closed strongly on the opening day, a sign that her recent slump may be coming to an end. Two birdies over the first four holes Saturday put the Taiwanese star just two shots off the lead before bogies at the sixth, eighth and ninth holes dropped her back into the pack.

Three birdies on the back nine left her six shots off the pace and with an outside chance of back-to-back titles. ‘’I’m very looking forward to tomorrow and just want to relax and have the same strategy as today,’’ said Tseng.—AP

of lung cancer and will undergo a biopsy later this week to determine at what stage the disease is at and what the required course of action

would be.

“I have had a few scrapes in my life and this is another one,” Greig told the Sunday Telegraph. “[His wife] Vivian and I are going to put the boxing gloves on and fight this like we’ve never fought anything before.”

Greig, who is currently a well-known television commentator, was initially diagnosed with bronchitis in May. His condition did not improve and tests following the World Twenty20 revealed that he has a lesion on his right lung. On his return to Australia from the tournament, he had “a lot of fluid” drained from the lung, and further testing revealed he had cancer.—Agencies

DFA Mardan clinch Soccer C’ship P ESHAWAR —District Football Association Mardan lifted the trophy after defeating DFA Kohat in the final of the 3rd Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Play Peace Inter-District Football Championship played at Younis Stadium Mardan on Saturday.

The match was scheduled on Friday but due to heavy downpour, it was decided to hold the final on Saturday despite wet surface.

Commissioner Mardan Adil Khan was the chief guest who gave away the prizes.

Chairman DFA Mardan and Organizing Secretary Ali Gohar, international footballer Muhammad Zahir SOUTH KOREA: Suzann Pettersen of Norway watches her shot on the third hole dur- Khan and large number of ing the second round of the LPGA Championship golf tournament at Sky72 Golf Club in spectators were also present Incheon, west of Seoul. on this occasion.—APP

Laundry detergent pods ‘emerging public health hazard’

T

HERE’S a new warning for parents who use laundry pods about how kids are mistaking them for bright, color ful candy and eating them. There were 1,008 cases of detergent poisoning among kids during a 30-day period this summer, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Thursday. Of those reported cases, 486 were linked to pods.

Poison centers across the country were seeing an average of 10 cases a day, the CDC reported in May. Ninety-four percent of poisonings from laundry detergent are among kids younger than 6, according to the CDC report, and in these children, those who consumed pods were usually sicker than those who ingested other forms of laundry detergent. The CDC says that exposure to the detergent pods is “an emerging public health hazard in the United States.”

Parents are learning just how dangerous the bite-sized, single-dose of laundry detergent pods really can be. The concentrated packet of detergent sent 1-year-old Isabella Sutton to the hospital after she ate one. “I just figured they got into candy, and they were eating candy,” Jessica Sutton, Isabella’s mom, told ABC News earlier this year.

Minutes later, Isabella had severe vomiting and diarrhea before being rushed to the emergency room.

Similar reactions have been reported across the country with many children also experienc-

ing drowsiness, nausea and potentially lifethreatening symptoms such as difficulty breathing.

“You don’t think about safety-proofing laundry detergent,” Sutton said.

The makers of Tide detergent - Proctor & Gamble told ABC News in May they planned to unveil new childproof packaging by the summer. The new packaging features a double-latch lid and a larger warning label on the container that some critics say looks like a candy jar.

Proctor & Gamble has distributed the new containers but never recalled the old ones.

ABC News visited four stores this week and found the old easy-to-open plastic containers on shelves.

Proctor & Gamble told ABC News that it is adding an over-the-lid resealable sticker that will “gradually be available as of December in stores.”

Henkel — the maker of Purex Ultra Packs — told ABC News that, since May, is has “updated the packaging with clearer labels to warn parents about the risks and to provide more specific instructions in the event of ingestion.”

Other detergent manufacturers who previously told ABC News in May that they were reviewing the safety packaging did not respond to requests for an update.

Until changes are made, poison control experts say, the onus falls on the parents to keep the detergent packets locked up and out of the reach of children.

KARACHI: Activists of Tahreek-e-Islami demonstrating against the attack on Malala and drone attacks.

IGP orders action against foreigners staying illegally

KARACHI—Inspector General of Police Sindh Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari has directed the Additional Inspector General of Police Special Branch to take legal action against those staying in the province illegally, with the cooperation of NADRA and Sindh Rangers. Chairing a meeting here Saturday he reviewed the security measures taken by the police and also called for case to case detail of all killings in the provincial capital.

He directed the officials to take action against criminals without any discrimination. He directed all divisional superintendents of police to make and implement policing plan in their respective areas under the supervision of the concerned zonal DIGPs and also send the same to him for perusal. Later he would also visit every police division and take briefing. The Provincial Police chief also directed the Forensic division to visit the crime scene in all murder cases and KARACHI: General Manager Pearl Continental Hotel Muhammad A. Azeem Qureshi along gather forensic evidences from with the Vice Consul General of China Pan Qing Jiang, Consul General of Sri Lanka DW the spot and also send their reJinadasa, Honorary Consul General of Yemen Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig Tahir A Khan and quirements about man power and vehicles.—APP others at the inauguration of Heer Ranjha Food Festival.

HEC, IBA host Harvard University in E-Seminar KARACHI —The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, and Higher Education organized e-seminar in collaboration with the Harvard University.

An official of the IBA said on Saturday that the event, held at the IBA here was part of Social Enterprise Seminar Series organized

by South Asia Initiative at Harvard University in collaboration with Aman Foundation.

The title was Spurring Entrepreneurship” A Case for Inclusive Innovation in Emerging Markets Lessons For Pakistan from China

and India”.The seminar featured Dr. Tarun Khanna live from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts USA. Dr. Khanna is a professor at the Harvard Business School, Director of South Asia Initiative and Faculty Chair for Harvard Business School activities in India. He is also the author of the book, Billions of Entrepreneurs How China and India are Reshaping Their Futures and Yours, it was further stated. The event was attended by faculty and students of 20 universities including IBA, KSBL, Sukkar IBA,

COMSATS and others across Pakistan through video conferencing. The seminar was moderated by Dr. Shahid Qureshi, Associate Director for the Center for Entrepreneurial Development at IBA, with technical facilities provided by Higher Education Commission in Pakistan.

The CEO of Aman Foundation, Ahsan Jamil, introduced Dr. Khanna through his work on entrepreneurship in China and India and how it would help Pakistan in economic growth and job creation.—APP

Water tanker owners’ on strike KARACHI—Several parts of the city faced acute water shortage as the Water Tanker Owners observed strike on Saturday.

People of the city are compelled to buy water from tanker owners normally but it is a very tough situation now as the people even cannot get the basic need, the water, by paying money. The problem is acute in Defence, Clifton and other areas of the city. People are suffering from the conflict occurred between the Water Tanker Owners Welfare Association and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) as both have their own interests.—Online

Qaim allocates Rs 1b for rain affectees STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI — Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, on Saturday presided a meeting regarding relief and disaster management at CM House.

The meeting was attended among others by Provincial Minister for Rehabilitation, Haji Muzaffar Shujra, Advisor to C.M. for Relief, Haleem Adil Shaikh, Chief Secretary Sindh, Raja Muhammad Abbas, ACS (Finance), Muhammad Arif Khan, Secretary Rehabilitation/ Relief, Hashim Raza Zaidi, Secretary Education, Mukhtiar Soomro, Secretary Health, Aftab Ahmed Khatri, Principal Secretary to CM, Agha Jan Akhtar.

Chief Minister Sindh said

that the recent heavy rains have affected six districts of Upper Sindh and still water is there in some of districts particularly in Jacobabad and KashmorKandhkot.

He said that the situation was bad in the rain affected areas as such it is very essential that before onset of winter season, the people residing in relief camps or open places in tents be provided food without failure and necessary health care be provided to them. He said that the ration, tents, mosquito nets, medicines etc be frequently provided to affected people.

Advisor to C.M. Sindh for Relief, Haleem Adil Shaikh, informed that in all 121 Union

Councils of six districts and about 31 lac people have been affected. He said that 264,691 people are at relief camps while 12,005 villagers have been affected.

The total crop of 245,459 acres has been damaged while 2,421 people were injured and 258 persons had died and 438 relief camps have been established.

Chief Minister Sindh directed foro early supply of ration, tents, mosquito nets, medicines and blankets to affected families for which he approved an immediate allocation of Rs. one billion. He also directed Secretary Livestock to provide veterinary treatment facility to animals.

Four robbers among eight killed, 10 arrested STAFF REPORTER K A R A C H I — At least eight people including four robbers were killed in separate firing incidents in different areas of the city on Saturday.

The police and Rangers during separate search operations and raids took into custody several suspects and recovered arms from their possession.

According to details, unidentified armed motorcyclists shot at and killed a man in Korangi Town area, Zaman Town police station jurisdiction and fled away. The body was shifted to hospital where identity of the deceased was ascertained as Aqeel.Irfan, 40, who was injured in Gulshan-eIqbal area of Orangi Town during firing incident, succumbed

to his wounds in the hospital.

The police recovered a bullet riddled and tortured dead body of a man packed in gunny bag from Nursery area near society office.

The body was shifted to hospital for medico-legal formalities where identity of the deceased was yet to be confirmed. Police found dead body of an unidentified person from Kala Pul area of the city.

Four robbers were killed while their two cohorts managed to escape during a shootout with the police near Disco Bakery in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

The police on a tip off approached a house located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal where six robbers break into and were busy in looting the residents at gun point. The robbers when alarmed about arrival of

police at the scene resisted and started firing in an attempt to escape from the scene. In retaliatory firing of police robbers were killed while two managed to flee.

Meanwhile, firing incidents continued in different areas of the city including Lyari, Shah Faisal Colony, Nazimabad, Sohrab Goth and North Karachi during which eight people were reported injured. The injured were shifted to different hospitals of concerned areas.

The police and Rangers during separate targeted search operations and raids in Baldia Yousaf Goth, Macchar Colony of Kimari and other areas arrested 10 criminals and recovered arms, mobile phones, cash and other looted valuables from their possession.

Medical report rejects Kulsoom claim of gun attack STAFF REPORTER K A R A C H I — Member of Sindh Assembly Kulsoom Chandio’s claimed that she was injured with a gunshot; but, according to a police report, the doctors said the wound on Chandio’s body seems to be of a knife.

According to the first statement by Kulsoom Chandio, she was hit with a bullet during a robbery at Punjab Chowrangi.

But, police sources, setting aside her previous claims said she did not receive any gunfire injury; instead, it seems to be a result of a sharp-edge weapon assault.

According to police sources, there was neither blood stain nor mark of any bullet on her car.

Meantime, there are varying reports regarding the incident site.

Consequent upon the discrepancies, the Chandio’s medical report has been sealed.

Kulsoom hails from Dadu, where angry workers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) mounted protest demonstration against the incident and demanded the attackers should summarily be arrested.

Karachi, Hyderabad Bar KCCI to stage sit-in against failing state of law, order delegations call on CJ M M ALAM

KARACHI—Siraj Kassam Teli Chairman BMG Group, while summing up what was termed as a Brain Storming Session held here at Aiwane-Tijarat on Saturday evening, declared with the consent of Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) members & office bearers that businessmen as well as citizens would stage sit-in before CM House as well as Governor House at 4 PM on Saturday November 3 if Government failed to ameliorate the state of worsening law and order situation.

Announcing the threepronged strategy he said that in order to make their concern public a continuous process of hoisting black banners all over the Metropolis would commence from Mon-

day Oct. 22; top legal advisors would be hired to move the Supreme Court; and if no improvement was seen in the law and order situation sit-in would be staged at CM & Governor House. He requested FPCCI through Arif Habib & Senator Haseeb Khan present on the occasion to extend their call of strike on Nov. 8 by two days.

Terming the state of affairs here as the result of turf war being fought between various political parties, he said that all concerned including law enforcing agencies knew about it but there was no political will to content the aggravating condition. Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan stated that Government was unserious with business community taking advantage of their split and thus FPCCI & KCCI needed to unite and strive from one platform; community- KARACHI: Chairman BMG Group Siraj Kassam Teli snapped giving concluding remarks based security system should be at the end of a Brain-Storming Session held at Aiwan-e-Tijarat on Saturday evening. P.O. Photo. Javed Iqba

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introduced; meeting be held with Chief Minister in which KCCI & FPCCI members, representatives from political parties, Interior Minister, Police Chief & DG Rangers should confer and find way out of the crisis. CPLC Chief Ahmed Chinoy questioned when alternate arrangements could be made in the case of power outage and water shortage why such arrangement could not be made for security? Pointing out that karachiites were already footing security bill by hiring at least 55,000 private security guards, he too advocated community policing in which Police should operate under the citizens. He cited the examples of nine such modules in place in Karachi where crime rate was zero. Zubair Motiwala held since culprits went scot free as victims did not feel safe

STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—A delegation of Karachi and Hyderabad Bar Associations headed by Mahmoodul-Hassan (President Karachi Bar Association), Qazi Abdul Sattar (Advocate High Court) and consisting of other office bearers, members of Karachi and Hyderabad Bars called on Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary on sunday in Supreme Court Branch Registry, Karachi.

Talking to the delegation, his lordship also admired the role of legal fraternity in Lawyers’ Movement in which they stood firm and struggled hard to bring rule of law in the society through peaceful efforts. His lordship added that the movement was supported by the civil society because it was the struggle for the principles.

The members of Bar also

appreciated his Lordship’s struggles and efforts in the days of lawyers’ movement which is unique in the global history and informed about their struggle and sacrifice during the days of the movement. They also discussed with the Chief Justice, issues and matters of interest to the legal/ judicial fraternity. They assured the Hon’ble Chief Justice of their full support and cooperation.

They expressed the hope that the administration of justice needs his bold leadership and motivation to deliver justice to the public at large. They said that the public have reposed great confidence in the judiciary. The delegation informed his lordship that the movement for rule of law, supremacy of Constitution and independence of judiciary instilled a new spirit and provided a common platform to lawyers to cooperate with one another for larger good of the society.

Exercise boosts brain function among seniors

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HYSICAL exercise is critical to keep ing our brains healthy, preventing or slowing the progression of cognitive decline that can lead to dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately the CDC estimates that only 14% of adults aged 65 to 74, and 4% of adults over 75, exercise regularly.

These were the facts Dr. Cay Anderson-Hanley had when she began a study on exergaming and older adults. The assistant professor at Union College in New York hoped to determine if exergames - virtual reality games that combine exercise with interactive features - would motivate senior citizens to work out more.

What her study found was that exergames have the potential to improve cognitive function more than traditional exercise alone. The results were published in the current issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The study analyzed the executive cognitive function of 102 older adults from eight retirement communities. Executive cognitive function is higher thinking, like multi-tasking or planning, that helps keep us independent, Anderson-Hanley says. “When it starts to slip, that’s when we start to see folks entering nursing homes and such.”

Study participants were split into two groups, a control group that rode a traditional stationary bicycle and an experimen-

tal group that went “cybercycling” with a virtual reality program. Both groups biked for 45 minutes, five days a week for three months.

Cybercyclers engaged in interactive elements like navigating virtual pathways or competing with other riders. These elements provided extra stimulation that watching TV or reading while exercising can’t, Anderson-Hanley said. The benefit was significant; the cybercycling group experienced a 23% reduction in mild cognitive impairment, compared to the mental benefits experienced by the traditional exercise group.

More research must be done to determine exactly what it is about exergames that creates a bigger reduction in cognitive impairment, Anderson-Hanley said. Her hunch is that there’s something special about the combination of physical exercise and mental interactiona synergy of sorts is created.

“The neat thing about exergames is that what happens on the screen is driven by what’s going on on the bike.” For instance, if you want to catch the rider in front of you, you have to pedal faster.

“The challenges are uniquely tied.” More research must also be done to see if the study’s results could be replicated in a larger population and if the cognitive benefits would apply to younger participants. But for now, Anderson-Hanley is optimistic about the possibilities.

Postgraduate Pediatrics Doctors workshop STAFF REPORTER L AHORE —Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Professor Anjum Habib Vohra and Professor Agha Shabbir Ali incharge of Pediatric ward have announced that a 2 day workshop in collaboration with College of physician and Surgeons Pakistan Lahore Center on TOACS (Task Oriented Assessments of Clinical Skills) for Pediatrics Post Graduate Residents will be held in Lahore General Hospital, Lahore on 24th to 25th October.

Post Graduate residents from all over the country will participate in this workshop.

The renowned Pediatricians are facilitators of this workshop. They will discuss different aspects of Pediatric Postgraduate examination LAHORE: Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif listening to the problems of an old lady during his visit to with the participants. The Ashiana Housing Scheme. participants will perform examination exercises in the presence of experienced teachers and trainers. This two day workshop will increase the knowledge of residents and it will also help them to pass through their exams successfully. Dr. imran Yasin will be co-ordinator of this workshop.

Ashiana Housing Scheme incompletion

Shahbaz to show way to inefficient officers

Dacoits held, 10 bikes recovered L AHORE —Gulberg police

LAHORE: Pakistan Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled holding awareness walk on ‘World Osteoporosis Day’.

Govt to ensure better media atmosphere: Kaira STAFF REPORTER L AHORE —Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira Saturday said the government believed in free media and all out efforts are being made to ensure better working atmosphere for newsmen.

He said “We believe in freedom of media and are taking all possible measures to ensure the welfare and better working conditions for media workers.”

The Information Minister held out the assurance in a meeting with the delegation of newly-formed Desk Editors Forum Lahore at the Governor ’s House. Prime

Minister’s Adviser Chaudhry Aslam Gill, DEFL President Aslam Chaudhry and other PPP leaders were also present on the occasion.

The Information Minister said “I have always advocated the cause of journalists’ community and people working in various sections of newspapers or television.”

Earlier, DEFL President Chaudhry Aslam briefed the Federal Minister about the problems and dismal working conditions of sub-editors. He said sub-editors/desk editors do the real job and make a news item publishable by editing/refining its text and facts but despite being over 65 percent of total

mediapersons, they were still being ignored and unheard.

He said for the first time in Pakistan’s media history, the DEFL initiative was taken from Lahore with a prime objective of striving and securing the rights of people working in the newsroom. The forum has now more than 600 members, he added. On request of the DEFL, the Federal Information Minister assured them of his participation the oath-taking ceremony of Forum’s officebearers after Eidul Azha.

The Minister also assured them of all possible support to resolve problems and improving their working conditions.

Rs.500m fresh grant given for free health facilities STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Special Secretary Health Punjab Babar Hayat Tarar has said that checking up of accounts of District Health Offices is being started soon to ensure proper use of funds of billions of rupees allocated for providing healthcare facilities to the people. In this connection, the checking of accounts Health Department Nankana has already been ordered for which report within a month would be submitted.

He stated this while presiding over a meeting of EDOs Health of all districts of the

Punjab and Divisional Directors of Health at Institute of Public Health, here Saturday.

He directed the officers to chalk out their monthly work plan and implement it strictly so that their performance could be improved and health delivery system also be made more efficient. He said that our main focus is to improve health delivery system in Punjab for which Health Department has to work day and night. He further directed that EDOs and District Officers Health should also launch a social mobilization campaign to attract female segment of the society for op-

timum utilization of regular health facilities at government hospitals by pregnant women.

He further said that delivery under the supervision of lady doctor, lady health visitor or through skilled birth attendant is necessary to control maternal mortality rate.

Addressing the meeting, Director General Health Dr. Nisar Cheema disclosed that on the directions of Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, health facilities in labour room and Peads indoor in all DHQs as well as THQs hospitals will be provided free of cost.

smashed a dacoit gang and arrested its two members, and recovered 10 motorcycles besides illegal weapons. During preliminary interrogation, gangsters confessed 22 incidents of vehicle snatching in different areas of the city.

A special police, led by SPO Gulberg, smashed Abbasi dacoit gang and arrested Massarat Abbas and his accomplice Noorul Hassan.

Meanwhile, Gulshan Ravi police smashed a robers gang and arrested its five members, and recovered four motorcycles ,ten mobile phones besides illegal weapon. A special police team led by SPO Gulshan Ravi arrested five dacoits of Zaini dacoit gang.

The arrested were identified as Zain, Sadaam, Khurram, Waqas and Mehmood. During preliminary interrogation, the gangsters confessed 32 incidents of dacoity and other heinous crimes in various places of the city. Meanwhile, Factory Area police arrested two drug pushers and recovered one kg heroin and 60 litre of liquor.

On a tip off, police arrested the accused with contraband worth thousands of rupees.

The arrested were identified as Tariq Dogar and Babar Butt.

Police have registered cases against them.—APP

SALIM AHMED L AHORE —Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has expressed his dissatisfaction over the slow pace of development work at Ashiana Housing Scheme and severely reprimanded the concerned authorities. The Chief Minister paid a surprise visit to Ashiana Scheme at Saroba Atari Saturday, and inspected under-construction work going on there. Taking strict notice of public complaints over delay in construction of park, initiation of classes in school and irregularity in the bus service, Shahbaz ordered that the poor must be provided all necessary facilities, under one roof.

He directed that matters regarding Ashiana Project Scheme be immediately streamlined, and warned that any officer or official who will not work, would be sent

home. The Chief Minister said that Ashiana Housing Scheme is a project for the poor persons, therefore no delay or negligence would be tolerated in this regard. Addressing the authorities of Punjab Land Development Company, Shahbaz said that the basic objective of launching Ashiana Scheme is to provide all necessary facilities of life to persons, with low income, and if the affairs are not set right, he would relieve everyone.

The Chief Minister said he has felt very sorry after visiting Ashiana Scheme, as the affairs here are not moving in the right direction, while the residents are facing difficulties, which is intolerable. He warned that those officers, who will not work, would be removed from their posts and strict action would be taken against them.

Severely reprimanding the authorities, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif warned that

had their own or his children been living there, would they have committed such negligence and carelessness. The Chief Minister directed that the pace of work in under construction park at Ashiana Scheme be further expedited, and should be completed before Eid-ul-Azha. He said that initiation of classes in the school of the scheme should be ensured within seven days. On the complaints of the residents, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif ordered that bus service on the rout of Ashiana Scheme be launched immediately so that residents do not have to face any difficulty while going to their educational institutions and offices.

He further directed that the problems of residents should be solved on priority basis, while the Ashiana project should be run on corporate basis, with a modern marketing office, in addition to evolving a mechanism for

PML-Q lauds SC verdict

Elahi demands disqualification of politicians named in verdict STAFF REPORTER

ruler towards young doctors is not right and doctors are leaving the country.

Ch Parvez Elahi said this while responding to questions from media after meeting the delegations of the Indian journalists and the young doctors at the State Guest House here today. He said that we respect the verdict of the Supreme Court in Asghar Khan case. He said General Mirza Aslam Beg had called Ch Shujat Hussain and him for meeting and offered to provide funds for the elections.

He categorically said that

we had declined the offer and told him that we contest the elections on our own, we have never taken funds from anyone nor would do so in future either because we do not need funds.

In reply to a question, he said that the verdict of the Supreme Court should be implemented in letter and spirit like NRO case judgment and action must be taken against those politicians who have been named in this case, they should be exposed and disqualified as they are not suitable for politicking.

L AHORE —Pakistan Muslim League senior central leader and Deputy Prime Minister Ch Parvez Elahi has lauded Supreme Court of Pakistan verdict in Asghar Khan case and said those politicians who had taken money should be disqualified because such people are not suitable for politicking.

He said all issues between India and Pakistan should be reSTAFF REPORTER solved peacefully. He charged Sharif govt for deLAHORE —Institute of Tour- Shahbaz stroying the Health Departism and Hotel Management, ment, intention of the present associated with Tourism Development Corporation Punjab , on Saturday marked International Chef Day by holding cooking competitions among the women colleges at ITHM office. Students of government college for women Samnabad, government college for women Wahdat Road and Model Town women college participated in the competitions. Chief guests were Begum Shaista Pervaiz Malik and Ishrat Ashraf, MNA. The main aim of this special day is for chefs from 72 countries to create massive awareness of the profession by hosting culinary competitions, demonstrations and charity events to raise funds for the international culinary community. Government officials, charity organisations and tourism boards of each country will come together to drive the vision of WACS, as well as raise LAHORE: Female Chefs busy in making cake during a ceremony to mark International the profile of the associations. Chefs Day at Alhamra Hall.

International Chef Day observed

immediate redressal of problems relating to street lights, security, construction of boundary wall and other complaints.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif issued onthe-spot instructions on various complaints of the residents of Ashiana Scheme.

He ordered that affairs of the scheme be streamlined as he would not tolerate traditional delaying tactics with regard to provision of facilities to the people. The Chief Minister directed the authorities to depute guards for security and solve the water issue of the Ashiana, in addition to submitting report to him in this regard. Member Punjab Assembly and Chairman Punjab Land Development Company Sheikh Alaud-Din, MPA Mian Naseer, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Commissioner Lahore Division, DCO Lahore and other relevant authorities were also present on the occasion.

JI raps selfish politics L AHORE—Ameer JI Punjab Dr. Syed Waseem Akhtar pointing out that powerful authorities have always used Pakistan for their selfish interests demanded abolishment of establishment’s role in politics. Verdict of Asghar Khan Case, after 16 years is tantamount to ‘better late than never’, he said.

He said those involved, in this heinous crime must instantly be dealt accordingly.

Dr. Waseem said that PPP and its allies by adopting path of confrontation with Judiciary have created critical situation. He said in 4 ½ years of present regime foreign debt has doubled. He said government is being run by printing 3 billioh currency note every-day. Because of this rulers have been accumulating wealth, whereas masses are leading miserable life.—INP