Ep25november2013

NATO supplies thru Torkham border halted PTI activists block all routes leading to Pak-Afghan border TARIQ SAEED PESHAWAR—In line with the decision of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and the allied party to stop NATO supplies to Afghanistan en-route

Japan warns of China new air zone TOKYO—Japan warned Sunday of the danger of “unpredictable events” and South Korea voiced regret following China’s unilateral declaration of an air defence zone over areas claimed by Tokyo and Seoul.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said his country was considering making stronger protests “at a higher level” after China announced Saturday it was setting up the zone over an area that includes Tokyocontrolled islands claimed by Beijing.

PESHAWAR: Activists of PTI blocking road to stop NATO supply during sit-in protest against US drone strikes on Sunday.

Afghan elders okay US troops presence; Karzai refuses to sign deal KABUL—Afghanistan’s president on Sunday refused to sign a security deal with the United States until next April’s elections, ignoring a recommendation by an assembly of Afghan elders and leaders that he do so by the end of 2013.

Hamid Karzai spoke after the 2,500-member national consultative council known as the Loya Jirga approved the deal and asked that the Bilateral Security Agreement be signed by year’s end.

not. Karzai argued Afghanistan needed more time to ensure that the United States was committed to peace in the country and stressed that the April 5 elections were a key date. He also hinted that if the agreement is signed now, he will lose the influence he needs to ensure that the elections are not the subject of manipulation.

He has in the past accused the United States of interfering in the 2009 elections,

Begum Nasim Wali announces return to politics

Rs3b embezzled in BISP under PPP govt, claims AG

Rawalpindi incident has shaken country: Shahbaz

tional Party (ANP) leadership, former provincial president of ANP and spouse of party Rahber and veteran leader late Khan Abdul Wali Khan, who happens to be the mother of ANP incumbent chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, has also revolted against the existing set up and announced to jump to the active politics saying the present “incompetent leadership” has rendered irreparable loss to the party.

It may be recalled that, Begum Nasim Wali khan who also survived an attempt on her life many years back, had been

of Pakistan Akhtar Buland Rana claimed on Sunday that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), initiated by the last government, had seen irregularities worth Rs3 billion under the Pakistan People’s Party government, Radio Pakistan on Sunday.

Rana said in an interview that recoveries worth Rs57 billion had been made during the last two years.

He mentioned that irregularities amounting to Rs14 bil-

lion were discovered in the uniOBSERVER REPORT TARIQ SAEED versal fund of the Pakistan TelePESHAWAR—Causing another ISLAMABAD—Auditor General communication Authority. serious blow to the Awami Na-

According to Rana, the identification of mega financial scams like the Rental Power Plants‚ Pakistan Steel Mills‚ Haj corruption‚ NICL and EOBI scams should be credited to the office of Auditor General.

In response to a question, Rana said mal-administration and corruption in institutions had rendered the State spineless. He said corruption could be overcome if the administrative structure of these institutions was improved.

Continued on Page 7

SALIM AHMED LAHORE—Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that overall law and order situation remained satisfactory in the province during Muharram-ul-Haram, but the whole nation is grieved over the tragic incident in Rawalpindi and those who showed negligence and dereliction of duty would not be able to escape punishment. He said that fact finding committee and judicial commission are working for ascertaining the facts and the action taken against the guilty persons would be deterrent.

Two soldiers martyred, 5 Continued on Page 7 in NWA blast Nato supply Pakistan clinch wounded S R Continued on Page 7

Ist ODI against South Africa

TAFF

EPORTER

PESHAWAR—The remote con-

trolled bomb explosion in North Waziristan agency Sunday morning resulted in martyrdom CAPE TOWN—The allround performance by of at least two security men and serious injuries to five men in debutants —– Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali – uniform.

The explosive device, re— guided Pakistan to defeat South Africa by ports from North Waziristan 23 runs in the first One- agency headquarters Miran Shah said, were planted at the day International here at the main road passing through Mir Newlands on Sunday.

Ali Tehsil of NWA and target Bilawal made 39, the were the security forces who second highest score in the keep playing on that road. innings and later captured “Two soldiers embraced three wickets for 37 while Continued on Page 7 Shahadat around 10.20 in the

morning when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by the alleged terrorists exploded in Mir Ali also leaving five Jawaans seriously injured”.

Military sources said.

The security forces immediately rushed to the site of the blast and shifted the dead bodies and the injured security personals to the hospital for treatment. The security forces are also reported to have kicked off search operation in the region to net the culprits. Sources added.

According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) The funeral prayers of the

Continued on Page 7

via Chaman continues

CHAMAN—The Nato supply continued through Balochistan as seven containers of logistic support goods entered Afghanistan on Sunday from Chaman Pak-Afghan boarder.

The supplies through the Torkham border are at present at a standstill following the sit in staged by the PTI and allied parties in Peshawar on Saturday in order to avoid any untoward Continued on Page 7

Power losses continue to pose danger to economy Inefficiency in recovery of electricity bills surges to 21pc ALI SYED I SLAMABAD —The Nawaz government has failed to plug bleeding power sector as the distribution losses continue to pose a danger to ailing economy of Pakistan.

The distribution losses have swelled to over 23 percent in juts first quarter of the ongoing financial years 2013-14 and on top of that inefficiency in recovery of electricity of bills has

Pakistan- Afghan border, a step that may put the US and Allied forces doing adventurism in the neighboring country into great trouble.

It may be recalled that the

Continued on Page 7

Iran, 6 world powers reach nuclear deal Delegates had spent three days debating the deal seen as necessary to enable thousands of American soldiers to stay beyond a 2014 deadline, primarily to train and mentor government security forces who are still struggling to face a resilient Taliban insurgency on their own.

The Loya Jirga has no legal weight and can only recommend to Karzai what he should do. He convened the council to solicit their advice on whether he should sign the agreement or

Continued on Page 7

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , hundreds of PTI activists have come to action and started sit-ins on various routes in the province to ensure that no truck carrying supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan reaches Torkham, the

increased to 21 percent.

According to the document showing the comparative system losses in June-July period, 2013, the recovery of electricity bills has tumbled by almost 2 percent to 79% in the first quarter of the ongoing financial year from 81 percent in first quarter of last fiscal year and system losses have risen to 22 percent It means if sends Rs 100 is billed, the system recovers just Rs 79 showing the los of Rs 21.

And it is more shocking to know that 10 discos received the 26,846 billion units of electricity in June-July 2013 period, but billed only 20.930 billion units showing huge loss of 22 percent (5.916 billion units). This means that system losses in to to have factually swelled to 43 percent.

However, it is quite interesting that the privatized entity of KESC did not lose any unit of electricity in the first quarter of the financial year 2013-14 as it

during the period received 1.371 billion units and it billed the same showing no loss in distribution loss.

The document reveals that Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) got 5.608 unit of electricity in June-July, 2013 period, but it billed only 4.812 units showing the loss of 14.2 percent. Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) received 2.420 billion units of

Continued on Page 7

Sartaj leaves for Iran today

Pak welcomes agreement Obama

terms accord first important step

GENEVA—Iran and six major powers agreed early Sunday on a historic deal that freezes key of Iran’s nuclear program ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister’s parts in exchange for temporary relief Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will leave for Tehran Picture on Back Page today (Monday) for a two-day visit.

According to Foreign Office on some economic sanctions.

The agreement, sealed at a Spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed signing ceremony in Geneva’s Continued on Page 7 Palace of Nations, requires Iran

Isolated Israel, angry with US JERUSALEM—Isolated and angry with its ally the United States, Israel Sunday bitterly denounced a “bad” nuclear deal between world powers Continued on Page 7

to halt or scale back parts of its nuclear infrastructure, the first such pause in more than a decade. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hailed the deal, which was reached after four days of hard bargaining, including an eleventh-hour intervention by US Secretary of State John Kerry and foreign ministers from Europe, Russia

Continued on Page 7

Saudi Arabi govt assures sympathetic dealing with unregistered Pak labours I S L A M A B A D — P a k i s t a n ’s parliamentary delegation led by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has returned from Saudi Arabia after making a major headway in improving bilateral relations between the two brotherly Islamic countries.

The delegation comprising 10 members of the National Assembly representing all the political parties in the House, and belonging to all four provinces and FATA, visited Saudi Arabia on the invitation of Chairman of the Saudi Majlis al-Shura Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed

Ad hoc lecturers to be confirmed soon: Minister ABDUL KHALIQ QURESHI

bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh.

This was the first bilateral parliamentary visit by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, said a press release here Sunday.

The most prominent outcome of the visit is the Saudi assurance to deal sympathetically with the issue of non-registered labour from Pakistan, which risks deportation on charges of illegal entry into the kingdom.

With a sizeable number of over 1.6 million Pakistani expatriates generating over 30% of the total remittances, amounting US$ 4.1 billion, such a step would have af-

fected the country’s economy.

However, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq took up the issue in his numerous meetings with the top Saudi leadership, which included an audience with Crown Prince and Defence Minister Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Second Deputy Premier, Advisor and Special Envoy of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Governor of Madina Munawara Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The Saudi side warmly received the Speaker and his

Completion of strategic M-8 delayed due to law, order situation

delegation and assured him of their complete support in amicably resolving the matter.

It was informed to the Pakistani delegation that a large number of illegal workers had been allowed to get their status legalized under the “Amnesty Scheme”, while the remaining workers would also be given sympathetic consideration. The Saudi leadership also reiterated its unflinching support to Pakistan on its principled stand on the Kashmir dispute and on its early settlement as per the asper- CHAMAN: Trucks carrying the NATO and US military vehicles waiting for security clearance, going to Karachi port sions of the Kashmiri at NLC terminal on Pak-Afghan border. people.—APP

Illegal use of green number plates on rise in Talagang

Committee formed to register Hujjaj’s complaints

Protest against AS Asia’s gas installations

SHAFFAAT MALIK

ISLAMABAD —The Ministry ing their stay in Saudi Arabia. inked with the Saudi Arabia

STAFF REPORTER

T ALAGANG —Illegal use of green number plates, tinted I S L A M A B A D — G w a d a r - release from performance.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Contract on Nalient-Dasht, glasses, plying unregistered A BBOTTABAD —Advisor to

Minister on Higher Educat i o n , Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani has said that KP government of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf is interested to put online cultural heritage and civilization throughout the province.

He was addressing a gathering held in Jalalbaba Auditorium under the auspices of Hazara Arts Council as a chief guest after presenting a Hindko drama Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion he went on to say that 240 adhoc lecturers would be confirmed throughout the KP province soon. PTI government wanted to bring change throughout the province in the best interest of its people and has got success upto 40 percent . He said that the PTI government was seriously interested to hold peace talk with Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan, but it seems that US is not interested in peace here.

Country facing shortage of anti-cancer drugs STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Shortage of basic anti-cancer drugs in Pakistan for an extended period of time has taken toll on the poor patients which must be tackled urgently by the authorities, the Health Watch demanded on Sunday. Government has permitted seven different companies for importing Cyclophosmamide and Doxorubaicin but these companies have stopped imports for various reasons which has created an acute shortage of the medicine in country, it said.

The hoarders and smugglers have found situation favourable resulting in availability of medicine of questionable quality at some places in different trade names on unreasonably high rates which is out of the reach of majority of patients, said Mian Aftab.

Ratodero Motorway (M-8) was a strategic link of national importance and its completion will give a tremendous increase to trade activities at the Gwadar port but due to adverse law and order situation, work on most of its sections was being delayed.

Gwadar-Ratodero Motorway, has been divided in three sections namely 240 km Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab Section,210 km Hoshab-AwaranKhuzdar Section,and 242 km Khuzdar-Wangu HillsRatodero Section, an official of national Highway Authority (NHA) informed.

Work on Hoshab-Khuzdar has not been initiated yet, because NHA is improving a parallel route ie Hoshab-Surab Road, N-85, he added.

He said that GwadarTurbat-Hoshab Section and Khuzdar-Wangu HillsRatodero Section are further divided into three sub-sections each.

He said that due to adverse law and order situation, contractors of three projects expressed their inability to carry on execution and requested for

Section had already been closed for the same reason and re-entering was in process but the successful bidder, M/s MADB also expressed its inability to take on this work under present security situation.

Resultantly, the contracts were terminated and fresh bids were called. He said that only one bidder i.e.M/s FWO submitted proposal which is under evaluation.

Work has been delayed on Three sub-sections including Khori-Wangu Hills section, Wangu Hills section and Wangu Hill-Quba Saeed section and the main reason was law and order situation and resultant shortage of skilled labour.

Paucity of funds and enhancement in scope of work may be considered as contributory factors, he added. To a question he said that the completion of this road is not only important for linking Gwadar with the rest of the country but shall stimulate development in the area from Gwadar upto Ratodero.—APP

Govt taking solid steps for power generation: Asif SIALKOT —Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Sunday that foreign donor agencies had increased their assistance 4-5 times to carry out projects in the country. He said USAID, the World Bank and other organisations have increased the assistance for water, electricity, petroleum and gas sectors to end energy crisis.

Talking to APP, the Federal Minister said, “We are already working on a strategy to overcome loadshedding and long, medium and shortterm power generating plants would be set up.”

He said special attention will be paid to long term projects for producing sufficient electricity for catering fu-ture needs of the country.

The projects would be initiated with the assistance of donor agencies, he added.

He said several countries have shown keen interest in investing in the energy sector. Khawaja Asif said Pakistan was rich in natural resources which were feasible for initiating short and longterm hydel power projects for power generation and work on the projects would be initiated soon. Chinese delegation visits SCCI: A delegation of the Chinese energy engineers visited the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Saturday.

The delegation discussed in details matters of mutual interest with the business community during a meeting held at SCCI, while SCCI vice president Khawar Sapal chaired the meeting. They also showed keen interest in establishing 150 megawatts power generating plant in Sialkot with an aim to ensure uninterupted power supply to industries.—APP

vehicles and other types of non-prescribed registration plates on vehicles can be seen in Talagang and increasing day by day. Personalized plates like ‘Applied For Registration’, or ‘AFR’ for short is the common thing now a days.

The unauthorized and inexperience drivers of the public transport vehicles are posing great threat to the lives of people due to the negligence of Talagang Police. The public circles of Talagang demanding strict action against them. The most of drivers of these vehicles are not only unauthorized but also inexperience and underage that might cause major accident, they added.

Several people have suffered injuries due to these inexperience and unlicensed drivers who usually make illegal turns and drive ruthlessly. They demanded from the authorities concerned to place restriction on the age of rickshaw drivers. They also demanded that heavy fines would be imposed on anyone illegally using green li-cense plates on his vehicle.

2 constables shot dead FAISALABAD—Two police officials were shot dead by outlaws in the area of City Jaranwala police station. A spokesman of the police department told here on Sunday that constable Zaheer and constable Yaseen were present on their security duty near Shehroana Canal where they signaled a suspect motorcycle carrying three persons.

The motorcyclists instead of stopping accelerated their bike over which both the police constables started chasing them. The spokesman said that when police constables asked them for surrender near Shehroana Canal Bridge, the outlaws opened fire at them.

As a result, both police constables sustained multiple bullet injuries and fell down on the road whereas the bandits managed to escape from the scene.—APP

of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has constituted a three-member committee to register the complaints of Hujjaj, said an official of the ministry.

Talking to APP, he said Joint Secretary (Hajj) would head the committee. The complaints of the Hujjaj would be decided after hearing the point of view of both the relevant private Hajj Group Organiser (HGO) and the complainant. He said the Ministry would pay Rs 500,000 each to the heirs of 83 deceased Hujjaj, who died dur-

He said the Ministry has started preparing Hajj policy 2014. In the new policy - the intending pilgrims would be provided uniform transport and residential services by abolishing the existing three categories including White, Blue and Green. The intending pilgrims of government scheme would perform the sacred religious ceremony under one category, he said.

He said the draft hajj policy would be finalized after incorporating the input of the stake-holders. The Hajj 2014 agreement would be

in January 2014. The number of Pakistani hujjaj likely to remain 143368 as the maintenance still continues in Haram Sharif.

This year HGOs would be awarded 1500 additional quota apart from their 50 percent share of the quota as per agreement inked with them this year, he said.

He said this year the quota of HGOs was cut by 15 percent due to finalization of schedule of the government scheme pilgrims. They would be adjusted next year, he added.—APP

ISLAMABAD: Students attempting question papers during the math contest arranged

by Pak-Turk School.

Young mathematicians pull together to try luck in Olympiad STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —A

national math competition was held at seventeen centres in the nine major cities of Pakistan in which over eleven thousand students from seven hundred private and government schools participated. This was the 9th edition of InterSchool Mathematics Olympiad (ISMO) organised by Pak-Turk International Schools and Colleges in which students from class 5th to 8th were eligible to take part.

The first ISMO was held in 2005 after which it became a success as interest of stu-

dents and their parents grew due to transparency and authenticity of the event. The top three position holders will get cash prizes of Rs 30 thousand to Rs 50 thou-sand while the top position holder student of class 8th would be awarded with the title of ‘Al-Khwarzmi of Pakistan’ which will remain with him until the 10th ISMO scheduled next year.

The results of this contest would be announced in December the 6th after which national prize distribution ceremony would be held in Islamabad. Speaking on the occasion, Director Education Pak-Turk Kamil Ture said that widest participation of stu-

dents in ISMO is highly exhilarating. Math contests encourage intellectuality and competition which helps them in practical life.

Contests help students improve self-confidence, boosts ability to think about and solve complex problems, accept success and failure, and teaches them that effective performance requires practice as much of life is competition, said Ture. He said that we are helping bright Pakistani students rediscover an interest in mathematics and avail social and intellectual opportunity which is evident from the enthusiasm seen here.

G HOTKI —Large number of residents protested against a private company A.S Asia who has forcibly started to install gas pipe line in front of their houses for the project of Engro Fertilizers in Jung colony Daharki. Protestors Mumtaz Ali Buriro, Sanwa, Rafiq Ahmed, Gul Mohammad and others staged a sit in protest near railway track Daharki for the removal of gas pipe line.

Talking to the media, protestors said that A.S Asia Company had started the work of installation outside their houses without any compensation or contract with the residents, they will suit the petition against the company if they will not be compensated.

They further claimed that with the help of some inflencial persons company threatend them in many ways to stop the protest. On contacting, Murtaza Kiyani, public relationship officer told that they are installing the gas pipe line within the boundary of Pakistan railway, the residents are trying to blackmail the company for compensation.

Govt plans youth internship programme M ULTAN —Punjab Government has planned to start Youth Internship Programme for those who have completed sixteen years education by January next year to train them for professional and practical life. Provincial Additional Secretary Youth Affairs, Archeology, Sports and Tourism, Javid Akhtar expressed these views while briefing the executive committee of Multan Chambers of Com-merce at meeting room.

He said that this time they had revamped the programme and were offering 20,000 internships out of which 16,000 (80 pc) would be allocated to private sector while 4,000 (20 pc) would be for public sector and the stipend had been increased from Rs 6,000 to 12,000.—APP

Efforts on to maintain Punjab law, order situation: IGP BASHIR AHMAD RAHMANI lauded the sacrifice of the de- said that the injured COPs rest in his native village Thatha by taking along Zafar Gondal ceased in performing their du- would be provided all sorts Parothian (Safdarabad district SHO Jalalpur Bhattian as pro-

HAFIZABAD—Inspector Gen- ties without caring their lives. of medical treat-ment free of Nankana Sahib), constables tective shield on a bike of a eral of Police Punjab Khan Baig has declared that it has been proved be-yond any doubt that the Punjab police was deter-mined to make supreme sacrifice to eliminate crimes and criminals adding that Punjab Police would take all out efforts to maintain law and order situation under control. While talking to the local newsmens after offering joint Namaz-e-Janaza of the martyred SHO Inspec-tor Syed Arif Hussain Shah and two COPs of Elite Force Muhammad Aslam and Riasat Ali at Police Lines here SaturSIALKOT: Federal Minister for Water and Power, Khwaja Muhammad Asif listening to day night, he said that policethe people’s problems. men were our assets and

He said that he was fully satisfied with the functioning of the police in containing the des-perado, though he fled from scene of occurrence.

Replying to a question, he said that the Punjab po-lice had been put on high alert after the Rawalpindi incident and expressed his hope that better results would be achieved.

On behalf of the Punjab Government he announced Rs. three million each for the dependants of the martyred COPs and one member of the each de-pendant would be provided employment in the po-lice department. He further

cost till their rehabilitation.

Prominent among those who attended the joint Na-maz-eJanaza including Commissioner Gujranwala Division Shamail Ahmad Khawaja, Regional Police Officer Gujranwala Range Sa’ad Akhtar Bharwana, DCO Mansoor Qadir, DPO Muhammad Zubair Dreshak, MNA Shahid Hussain Bhatti, MPAs Ch. Asad Ullah Arian and Syed Shoaib Shah Nawaz, Ex-Federal Minister Liaqat Abbas Bhatti and large number of policemen, traders and respectables.

On Sunday morning Syed Arif Hussain Shah was laid to

Muhammad Aslam in Sukheke and Riasat Ali in Pindi Bawary (Hafizabad) after offering separate Namaz-e-Janaza in their villages. The funeral was attended by large number of their family members, villagers and elected representatives of the area. Meanwhile, the IG Police has suspended SDPO Pindi Bhattian Muhammad Akram for his ill-planning during the encounter with the outlaw Haji Sajjad alias Samma who all alone fought with the police contingent and killed three daring and experi-enced COPs and injured seven others and also suc-ceeded in fleeing the place of occurrence

villager.

However, abducted Zafar Gondal was set on liberty by the desperado Saturday night. The police have registered a case U/S 302/324 PPC against the PO Haji Sajjad alias Samma, his brother Ejaz Ahmad, Ali Raza, Intisar alias Saroo and Faisal alias Faisli but the police have so far failed to arrest any of the nominated accused.

It was surprising that police intentionally or unintentionally has ignored to include section 365 or 366 PPC (abduction of Zafar Gondal SHO Jalalpur Bhattian) while registering the FIR.

PPP playing role of responsible opposition

Hameed Gul to address DBA MB Din Sher Gondal

M ANDI B AHAUDDIN —General (Rtd) Hameed Gul President Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society would address members of DBA Mandi Bahauddin during first week of December, Secre-tary DBA Shaukat Ali Gondal Advocate when taking to media persons here said. He said the bar in a general body meeting had decided through a unanimously passed resolution to invite Gen Hameed Gul to address the bar on “prevailing situation in the country”. He said General Hameed Gul is a patriotic soldier and dynamic personality. He is renowned analyst on military affairs and had deep study on na-tional and international affairs. His address to the bar members would increase their knowl-edge and put them wiser on national and in-ternational affairs, he added. Referring to his role during movement for restoration of judici-ary, he said the General with his ex-servicemen outfit took part in the movement and contrib-uted a lot to succeed it. He said on this account he was sent to jail but despite that he continued to support the cause of lawyers. During long march in June 2008, he said that Gen Hameed Gul and his daughter served as host of lawyers and other participants of the long march at Islamabad.

Camps to be set up to halt Nato containers P ESHAWAR — KP Minister for IT and Agriculture Shahram Khan Tarakai has stated that camps will be set up in various areas of the province by workers of the coalition partners to halt the movement of Nato containers. Jamat-eIslami’s Provincial Information Secretary Israrullah Advocate told that party workers has also launch demonstrations in Karachi and to extend the series of protests to other parts of the country as well. “A protest will also be held in Lahore on December 9, to bring people together on the issue of protecting national sovereignty,” he said adding that if the attacks failed to stop, public agitation will grow. Earlier, Provincial Secretary Information PTI Ishtiaq Umar has announced that NATO supply containers for Afghanistan coming in and going via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be stopped from Monday at the border points. The joint monitoring teams of the ruling coalition parties would ensure stoppage of the supplies at the border points of the province. —APP

Govt to make departments profitable Raza Naqvi

ATTOCK—State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad has said that govt is making all out efforts to make PIA , Pak Railways and Pak Steel profitable and for the purpose concrete steps are being taken.He said this while addressing a gathering at People Colny(Gujjar Street) Attock. On the occassion Sheikh Salman Sarwar ,Muhammad Bashir Chaudhry , Sheikh Mehmood Elahi , Ghulam Samdani , Saif ur Rehman were also present.Sheikh Aftab said that the leadership of PML(N) do not want to indulge in any blame game and just want the prosperity and progress of the country at any cost . He said our first priority is to over come electricity load shedding and to materialise this different power generating projects are being launched. He said , Prime MInister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is going to lay foundation stone of a 6000 MW coal power project in Karachi while upraising of Tarbela dam is being started He said that this project will be completed by 2017 and will enhance the power generating capacity of the dam by 1280 MW.He said when we will become self sufficient in electricity then our factories will run and in return people will get jobs and will become prosperous.

MULTAN—Former Prime Min- said efforts are being made on ister and PPP leader Syed all levels to ensure his recovYusuf Raza Gilani has said the ery. Earlier, talking to the jourparty was performing the role nalists here at Multan Airport, of a responsible opposition in he added that his government the country. Talking to journal- kept Nato supply blocked for ists at the residence of ex-MPA seven months.

He said that it was for the Malik Ahmed Hassain Dehrr on Sunday, Gilani stated the first time that a drone hit a disPPP was raising main national trict of the KPK province. He issues in the parliament. Gilani said that the real problem besaid the country was facing ing faced by the country was immense internal and external economic crisis. “Until we problems and the PPP could overcome economic issues, it not play role of an irrespon- is diffi-cult to block drone sible opposition at this junc- strikes,” he said. He said that his party condemned sectarture.

He recalled the PPP regime ian terrorism and religious leadhad suspended Nato supplies ers from all schools of thought for seven months following would have to play their role Salala incident. Gilani called for to control this wave. “The govSARGODHA: Activists of religious parties demonstrating against Rawalpindi incident. taking notice of drone attacks ernment will have to fulfil its in populated area of Hangu and responsibilities for maintainalso raise the issue at interna- ing peace too,” he added. Antional forums. On local govern- swering a question on local ment elections, he called for government elections, he deproper steps on delimitation of clared that the PPP would not union councils. To a question leave the ground vacant for its S IALKOT —Hundreds of on recovery of his abducted opponents and fully particiSikh Yatrees visited their na- son Syed Ali Haider Gilani, he pate in it.—APP tive houses in surrounding areas of Sialkot on Sunday.

Hyderabad. sub- inspectors along with The visiting Sikhs also met H YDERABAD —Sindh Chief Department, Qaim Ali Shah said that he has sophisticated weapons and Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah their old friends and their Besides, the children and distributed has warned the DIGP and been receiving persistent vehicles.

SSP Hyderabad to curb the complaints from the public strength of rangers can also sweets and ex-changed gifts. criminal activities in and the media about increase be provided to Hyderabad Talking to the media, Hyderabad City and Division in street crimes, robberies and Police in case it is required to Sikhs Yatrees thanked the within two weeks failing kidnapping for ransom in maintain the law and order Pakistan government for pro- I SLAMABAD —Meteorologi- fair or partly cloudy weather which strict action would be Hyderabad since some time here in Hyderabad, the CM tecting their sacred places, cal Department here Sunday with hazy or misty morning in taken against them. This, he but no considerable action said. especially Gurdawaaras in has forecast mainly dry the metropolis during the next He said that we cannot al- the country. directed while holding a meet- seems to have been taken so weather in most parts of coun- 24 hours. low any bureaucrat to render ing on law and order here at far against the criminals.

The Met Office forecast Earlier, thousands of try with chances of light rain He said that the deterio- these sincere efforts of the Sikhs participated in the fi- and snowfall in Malakand Di- that minimum temperature is Circuit House.

The meeting was at- rated condition of law and or- government supported by a nal rites of the birth anniver- vision and rain or thunder- expected to remain in the range tended by DIG Akram Broka, der is giving a bad name to huge budget as fruitless and sary of Baba Guru Nanak at storm is likely to occur at one SSP Hyderabad Fida Hussain the present Sindh Govern- put the people in trouble. He Kartarpur, Shakargarh. They or two places in Makran diviMastoi, Commissioner ment and it would not be tol- said that the government con- bathed and distributed char- sion of Balochistan while dry siders itself a custodian of the ity food and sweets.—APP weather is likely to prevail elseHyderabad Jamal Mustafa erated at any cost.

He said that an annual al- lives and property of the Syed, DC Hyderabad where in the Sindh and Mohammad Nawaz Sohu, PPP location of Rs 42 billions has people and sternly asked the Balochistan region, the leaders Zahid Ali Bhurgari, been made only for the Sindh police officers to transform weather report said. The Police to maintain law and orHyderabad city into a peaceFayyaz Shah, Aftab weather situation is related to Khanzada, said a statement der and shortly Sindh police ful city and division on a perthe shallow trough of westissued on Saturday by the will get more than 3000 po- manent basis rather than takerly wave prevailing over between 16 to 18 degrees Cengovern-ment’s Information lice personnel including 600 ing temporary steps.—APP northern parts of the country. tigrade. Rain or thunderstorm A minimum temperature - is likely to occur at one or two in Makran division of S ARGODHA —PAF Public 03 C was recorded in Parachinar places Balochistan while dry weather while Skardu, Astore and proSchool Sargodha celebrated is likely to prevail elsewhere in its 60th anniversary with zeal vincial metropolis of Peshawar the Sindh and Balochistan reremained on-02C, -01C, 09C reand fervor on Sunday. gion, the weather report Air Chief Marshal Tahir spectively. The Sindh Met said.—APP Office on Sunday forecast a Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, who is a Sargodhian himself, was chief guest, said a press release issued by PAF here.

Spanning over 02 days, the event was attended by a ISLAMABAD—National High- and 2011. large number of old boys of way Authority (NHA) was He said that 60 km Quettathe School, coming from ev- attaching priority to early Jungle Piralizai section was ery corner of the country and completion its road projects completed in 2010 while 57 km abroad. in Balochistan province with Piralizai-Jungle section has These old boys gathered special emphasis on Gwadar been completed about 65 per at their alma mater to relive linkages. An official of the cent. He said that the contract their unforgettable past life NHA informed that NHA was of M/s MAB-Rex(JV) has at this institution. The con- maintaining 2,731 km road in been terminated from July 12 gregation was a happy gath- Punjab, 2,204 km in Sindh, due to persistent deteriorated ering of prominent people 1,878 km in Khyber law and order situation in the who have contributed sig- Pakhtunkhwa and 4,565 km in project area,project managenificantly for the progress of Balochistan. ment issues of the contractor. the country.

Prominent The road from Jungle Pir To a question he said that SARGODHA: Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan alumni of the school include a total length of new road Alizai to Chaman has not high ranking defence ser- projects was 3713 km, which been constructed due to reaAir Force cutting the cake to mark the 60th anniversary of PAF Public School. vices’ officers, bureaucrats will be completed at cost of sons as stated to same reaand businessmen. $3,911 million. NHA is paying sons. He said that the secThe school had orga- particular attention towards tions of the road constructed nized a number of interesting road building and Gwadar link- so far were built as per NHAevents including sports ages in Balochistan and Specifications and competitions between the old Ratodero-Khuzdar-Panjgur standards,as the project reand young students, a vari- Road stands among priorities mained under supervision of ety show where students of NHA. International Consultants. presented skits and a meetThe N-25 National HighHe said that the province.

Healthy commercial scenity and gun culture being PESHAWAR—The Culture Jouring of Sargodhian Old Boys upgrdation and rehabilitation way or RCD Highway is 813 nalists Forum (CJF) on Sunday shows should be allowed at the screened in Pashto CDs, films Association (SOBA) Chapter km long, passing through urged the Khyber Nishtar Hall at subsidized rents and dramas that were bent Heads from all over the work of Karachi-Kalat-Quetta- Karachi, Bela, Khuzdar, Kalat, Chaman highway (N-25) will so that art and local culture upon projecting not only a Pakhtunkhwa Government to world.—APP be completed on priority. He Quetta and Chaman and contake strict action against ob- could be promoted and cheap negative image of the Pashtun said that construction work of tinuing into Afghanistan, It scenity and vulgarity in Pashto entertainment be provided to society but also damaged Quetta-Chaman Highway has then joins N-40 (National Highmovies. The Forum, in a meet- the public and youth at large, it peace-building efforts at varinot been completed mainly way 40 Quetta-Taftan Internaous levels thus casting an ading here with its President added. due to termination of Asian tional Border Circuit) which The Forum maintained verse impact on the minds of Ihtisham ul Haq Toru in the Development Bank (ADB) leads it via Naukundi to Road chair, also called upon the gov- that measures should be taken youth who were already hit by grant,adverse law and order 84 in Iran and through various ernment to get stopped use of to ameliorate the plight of frustration, unemployment situation and cut on PSDP Iranian Highways to Turkey artistes, directors, singers, and depression. arms in films and CDs breeding funds due to floods in 2010 and onwards Europe.—APP The CJF appealed to violence among youngsters painters, producers, film makSHER GONDAL and also presenting a negative ers and writers/poets affiliated general public , civic bodies image of the Pashtun society. with the Pashto entertainment and literary and cultural It also demanded setting up industry as they had been the circles to put their hands to- M ANDI B AHAUDDIN —The of censor board on urgent ba- worst hit by the ongoing ter- gether to raise voice against Sasta Bazaars would be arrorism and militancy. Members those so called producers, ranged in main cities and sis, said a press release.

The CJF also demanded of the Culture Journalists also distributors , films/ Cds mak- towns of Mandi Bahauddin the government to build the- appealed to the Peshawar High ers , artistes investors who district three times a week. atres, art galleries and auditori- Court (PHC) Chief Justice Dost had been presenting a dis- DCO Imtiaz Niazi said that the ums on the pattern of Nishtar Mohammad Khan to take im- torted image of Pashtun so- bazaars are being set up on Hall in all the districts of the mediate action against the ob- ciety to the world . —APP the instructions of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

He was addressing a meeting of District Price mechanism Committee at his office here the other day. The DCO said objective of arranging these Bazaars was to provide good quality vegetables and other commodiP ESHAWAR—The newly ap- tralized and all the stakehold- sive and difficult for students ties of daily use to the public pointed principal of Khyber ers would be taken into con- so he would prepare a plan on cheaper rates as comMedical College, Dr. Ejaz fidence”, he said. Referring to make it free or at least af- pared to that of open market.

Khattak while spelling out his to upgrading academic stan- fordable. Dr. Ejaz was of the He directed ACs of three priorities expressed the re- dard, Dr. Ejaz who has the view that medical profession- tehsils including Mandi solve of further enhancing teaching experience of more als of the country serving in Bahaud-din, Phalia and academic standard of KMC than 20 years, said focus foreign countries would be Malikwal to liaise with office besides taking faculty and would be given on introduc- contacted for provision of holders of trade unions of students in confidence in ing Ph.D programmes beside necessary assistance and a their respective tehsils for decision making process. In launching M.Phil courses in guide map to existing stu- establishing sasta bazaars. dents in finding new open- He showed his deep concern an interview with APP, Ejaz basic sciences.

He said a strategy would ings throughout the globe. over increasing prices in the Khattak said he will take the The graduates passed market and instructed ACs to faculty and students on be devised to ensure free acboard in taking any important cess of medical students to out from KMC are serving improve their checking system decision regarding improve- international medical publi- across the world and it is a for keeping the prices at reament of the college in admin- cations and contemporary great honour for this college, sonable level. He said he would istration and academic lev- journals of modern research Dr. Ejaz said in Medical Corps supervise activities of the conducted on Health Sci- of Pak Army five Maj Gen price checking magistrates and els.

“The decision making ences. Presently access to Doctors are the old students those found negligent would HYDERABAD: A view of street lights on during day light at Latifabad and needs the attention of concerned authorities. authority would be de-cen- latest journals is very expen- of KMC.—APP be dealt with severely.

Qaim asks police to curb crimes in two weeks

Sikhs visit native houses

Dry weather likely across country

PAF Public School celebrates 60th anniversary

Balochistan road projects being completed on priority basis

KP Govt urged to take strict action against obscenity

Sasta Bazars in Mandi Bahauddin

KMC’s academic standard to be improved: Dr Ejaz

Lyari and other states within the State

MEDIA WATCH

Misguided sorties

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YARI area of Karachi once again witnessed pitched battles between two groups in the ongoing gang war in which a gang leader Baba Golden was killed. During the clashes between Baba Ladla and Faisal Pathan groups both sides made excessive use of rockets, grenades and other weapons giving a clear indication that it was not part of Pakistan but some lawless region of FATA. Lyari and some other parts in Karachi and in fact several other areas in Pakistan have become dens of criminals who have established their hold and members of the law enforcement agencies are helpless to dislodge and arrest them giving clear indication that they have become state within the State. It is quite open that whatever is happening in Lyari is not sudden emergence of a situation but for several years, outlaws established their strongholds to carry out their criminal activities with the connivance of police. The situation has now reached to a point that these monsters have become a headache for the law enforcement agencies and in addition to fighting for gaining control of additional areas, they are targeting police as well. To nab some of the culprits Rangers carried out targeted operation in Khadda Market area of Lyari arresting eight accused of gang war in the wee hours of Sunday but this was a minor operation as the situation is more dangerous and cannot be overcome with the arrest of a few operatives. The Karachi operation launched by the Provincial Government with the full backing of the Federal Government has helped to an extent to bring down target killings yet the Lyari incident is an indicator that the job to cleanse the mega city from all sorts of gangs, criminals, outlaws and terrorists is not easy and the objectives cannot be achieved in a short period of time.

These gang wars and target killings are unimaginable in the modern era and they show where Pakistan stands today. We wish if this neglect in the past could have been avoided but even now the Federal and Provincial Governments need to use strong hand of the State and under a comprehensive security plan go all out to crush these gangs for the sake of peace and stability in Karachi and other parts of the country.

Crippling culture of demonstrations and strikes L

IKE in the past, PTI Chief Imran Khan pulled crowd and managed an impressive show at Ring road in Peshawar on Saturday to protest against US drone strikes that are taking innocent lives and vowed to block NATO supplies till the US assures a complete halt to drone attacks in the tribal and settled areas. PTI has been opposed to the drone attacks right from the beginning and its leader has targeted the Federal Government for not taking a firm stand on the issue.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid in his reaction took Imran Khan to task stating that on the one hand he was staging demonstration to stop NATO supplies while on the other hand receiving dollars asking the PTI chief to take clear cut stance on the serious issue as double standards of his party will not work. Leaving aside the statements of the two leaders, we may emphasize that come what may, the culture of demonstrations and strikes should come to an end in Pakistan. Every day in Pakistan, one political party or a group of people give call for sit in and protest on different issues for their political gains stalling normal business and other activities. It causes losses of billions of rupees in addition to adding to the hardships of daily wagers who loose their jobs and their children go to bed without food. Unfortunately the politicians, who have millions in their bank accounts, do not realize sufferings of the poor masses who are passing miserable life due to price hike and unemployment. They need to understand that strikes and demonstrations are crippling the economy and adding to woes of the ordinary people. In present difficult situation, strikes would do no service to Pakistan and if these are essential from the view point of political leaders, they should follow the western countries where protests of millions of people are arranged at a particular place peacefully and other businesses go on unhindered. We hope and pray that on some day this realization would dawn on our leaders and they would follow the path that brings peace and tolerance which is needed for development of the country and betterment of its people.

Great Wall runs against demand of time I

NDIA has drawn up plans to build ten meter high embankment along the 198 km stretch of disputed border that separates Jammu from Pakistan. It appears that India has drawn inspiration from the wall coming up on the West Bank and the Berlin Wall that symbolized Cold War. The Indian decision of great wall runs against the demand of time when we are moving towards peace and there is urge to dismantle the existing walls of hatred and animosity. Also when the world has become a global village, the people on both sides of Kashmir would not welcome the policies of building walls as they yearn for greater contacts. However the proposal of the wall reflects the Indian mindset, a bad signal and dampen peace process. The other day Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressing the International Literary and Cultural Conference in Lahore stated that he desires to resolve all outstanding issues with India besides lifting the visa restrictions. In fact during the election campaign and after taking over as Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif has been sending strong signals for improved relations with India and resolution of issues including Kashmir but response from New Delhi has been negative and the reality is that Indian leaders regularly indulge in Pakistan bashing.

These negative signals emanating from India including the construction of the great wall would be counter productive to peace efforts. Therefore we would impress upon Indian leadership to set aside its hegemonistic attitude, give up the idea of building walls as that era is over and being a big neighbour, work for building bridges of trust and peace that are demand of time in the evolving world scenario.

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Dharnna politics or hypocrisy the perpetrators of this crime. Can’t politicians Muhammad Ali Ehsan these differentiate beEmail: muhammadaliehsan1@hotmail.com tween the unintended collateral damage that the AKE no mistake. The drones may cause from the well American military tools of planned and executed bomb blasts by long reach- the drones will Taliban’s targeting the innocent citikeep coming and they will keep en- zens of their country? Do they expect gaging the targets in Pakistan. These the federal government and the tools of military assassination are Armed forces of this country to redesigned to do a good job- eliminate flect with any seriousness on the isterrorists. May that be the leadership sue these parties highlight? Especially of Al-Qaida, Taliban’s or any banned when the voices raised from their Jihadi organization presence of these middle are the same voices that quesbuzzing American machines in our tion the shahadat of the soldiers of skies is a constant reminder to all of the State while declaring the dead terthem that they live on borrowed time. rorists as shaheeds.

‘We are safe because of our efImran Khan and his dharna poliforts’. The American President said tics that targets the blockade of NATO this in his speech at the American supplies is ill placed and ill timed. The National Defence University at Fort people of this country gave his party Mc Nair early this year. That effort votes for his representatives to sit in is reflected in how drones continue Parliament and raise their voice of to wipe out the senior leadership of concern there. They also voted him these ‘declared American haters’ and his party to strengthen the federawho would do anything to scheme tion and the Armed Forces of Pakiand execute at the regional or glo- stan. The menu of his dharna politics bal level another gory 9/11 like lacks an important ingredient- the supevent. It is in this context that these port of the liberal parties like the PPP, ‘bus conductors’, ‘tea boys’ and ANP and the MQM. Together with the ‘personal body guards’ who have government and the Armed Forces become leaders in terrorist outfits these parties represents a different will must be eliminated. The shallow of the people. That stands up to conand one-dimensional minds of this front these terrorists. That understands leadership practices an ideology of that Pakistan is a partner and not a only hate, wait, fight and eliminate. rival of America in the war on terror.

Every subsequent leadership after That prefers the utility of diplomacy the previous one is droned contin- and finding a way through negotiaues to acknowledge the American tions with the Americans as a more presence in Afghanistan and the un- appropriate method than blocking the Islamic system in Pakistan as the NATO supply that goes against the reason for their jihad. state commitment and puts to risk the Rancho Lines bomb blasts in lives of soldiers of many EU counKarachi coincided with dharna poli- tries in the grand coalition led by tics in Peshawer of Tehreek-e-Insaff Americans in Afghanistan. and the allied right wing parties. The We can judge the consequences spokesperson of Taliban’s admitted of the dharna politics considering if it murdering the innocent civilians in succeeds to block the NATO supplies Karachi yet these politicians of the and the state is forced to forgo its comfar right made speeches to support mitment and is no more able to com-

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ply. A large amount of diplomatic capital already spent by Pakistan will go waste. Already accused of duplicity and duality in how we fulfill our international commitments and engagements we will once again be found struggling to match our actions with our words. We will once again fail to become part of the US led international system willingly followed by all countries perusing the American set ideals of democracy, rule of law, liberty, progress and modernity.

As far as debate on sovereignty is concerned it is irrelevant. It became irrelevant when the whole world could do nothing to stop the American invasion of Iraq on trumped up accusation of possession of weapons of mass destruction. It became further irrelevant when the terrorists sitting in places like Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen and Pakistan started planning to execute terrorist actions in other states and started threatening their security thinking that the veil of sovereignty will protect them against military retaliation by these states. In the American defined new order of the world terrorists are transnational threat and if the weak states will not get them the strong states led by Americans will. Not through its hard power and force alone America imposes its hegemony.

For the countries like us it does that through its soft power enforced through UN, World Bank, IMF and WTO institutions that it helped establishing. When America does not want these institutions have strong interests to protect and turn a blind eye to the states that are no more part of the American led world order. It’s the American economic retaliation that the states fear more today.

The hypocritical behavior being demonstrated by the right wing parties led by Imran Khan pose a direct challenge to the national security of our country. Their actions may contribute in exposing our military as well as economic vulnerabilities. This

the nation cannot afford. The government and the Armed Forces of Pakistan are committed to put an end to the terror to which its people are exposed. Any roadblocks that stop them from achieving this goal will have to be removed. The more flat footed the government is made to look the more inclined it will be to pivot back in the direction of American aid and assistance to overcome these challenges.The war on terror that the Pakistan military fights must come to a logical conclusion. The military knows that it has no winning formula minus US support and assistance.

The question that should actually perturb the minds of leaders like Imran Khan is not why drones breach our sovereignty but how best can we root out terrorism from our country. No doubt drones strikes give terrorists motive to retaliate but such strikes also eliminates leadership of organizations that terrorize our society. There are tips that the executors of dharna politics can take from the success of Srilankan Army in rooting out terrorism from their country. It’s not through executing strikes and dharna’s but in areas of non-interference by the politicians in the military operations, clarity of mission, unity of effort, political and military resolve and above all through a national character and will that abhorred and despised terrorists that they were able to achieve victory .

Sirilankan resolve to root out terrorism from their society can be summed up in the famous Srilankan President Rajpake’s statement, ‘I know two kinds of people terrorists and those who fight them.’ Imran Khan and the political parties allied with him in conducting the dharna politics represent a third kind of people, ‘those who block the road that leads to fighting the terrorists’.

— The writer, a retd Lt Col, is doing PhD in civil military relations from Karachi University.

Poor handling of sectarian violence Dr Muhammad Khan Email: drmk_edu@yahoo.com

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HE terrorists’ activities of TTP and sectarian divide, gaining steady impetus are most bullying threats, facing the state of Pakistan. With a hope to bring an end to these un-Islamic and inhuman activities, the people of Pakistan have spent decades of their days and nights in a State of restlessness. Unfortunately, every new day brings a new and unique security challenge to the State as well as the people of Pakistan. It appears that, the possibilities of a better life and fearless future environment is rapidly eroding for the people of this God gifted State.

In the so far pattern of our lives, as all other Muslims believe that, God will help us in overcoming our problems. Perhaps we (Pakistani) believe the same, forgetting the universal truth and order of Almighty that, “God helps those, who help themselves.” In my opinion, we are already late in the time and space management. Rather waiting for any un-promised angelic help, it is about time to take bold steps for getting rid of these venomous threats to the state and society of Pakistan.

According to a survey of sectarian violence in Pakistan, from 1989 to 2013, in total 2847 incidents, 4652 people have been killed and 9030 people were wounded. In 2013 alone, there took place 106 incidents of sectarian violence in various parts of Pakistan, which resulted into killing of 467 people and

injuring 753 people. In 2012 and during the early months of 2013, Hazara community of Quetta remained on the hit list of opponent extremist groups, certainly based on sectarianism. Besides, there have been sporadic incidents of sectarian violence in Gilgit-Baltistan and other parts of Pakistan. In the past, there have been bomb blasts and suicide attacks on places of mosques, Imam barghas and processions / religious gatherings.

The recent incident of sectarian violence took place in Raja Bazar Rawalpindi, was unique in a manner that, provoked and charged participants of the procession attacked the mosque and killed over a dozen people and wounded more than fifty in the mosque and adjacent Madrassa. Besides, they also put on fire the adjoining market, setting ablaze goods worth billion of rupees and damaged costly public and private property. Besides, dozen of the copies of Holy Quran also burnt.

Since judicial investigation of the incident is underway, therefore, it is premature to say, whether, it was a planned violent activity or happened instinctively. However, such an incident was a new addition in the sequence of sectarian violence since last so many years.

It is a new pattern and certainly a very dangerous activity in the twin cities. So far all evidences are leading to one applicable conclusion that, the local administration is directly responsible for not ensuring the security of the procession and the route, especially, the critical areas like this mosque, which always needed additional security attention. Why police

showed laxity at this sensitive place of processions’ route is really a point of concern and a fact to be ascertained by the judicial inquiry and thereafter the Governments of two brothers.

Nevertheless, the track record would indicate that, like many other such like inquiries, this judicial inquiry too will be dumped under the files as financeable archive. Only a short statement would be issued, showing, negligence of may be some low ranking police officials, who too will be reinstated later.

For the Pakistani nation, the issue is not Rawalpindi incident of sectarian violence, but the menace itself and its rapid growth rate, fast swallowing the traditional peace and harmony existed among the Pakistani society, where there always have been Shia and Sunny schools of thought, living with great concord and respect for each other, in many cases with even intermarriages.

Why that social connection was allowed to erode and subsequently degraded to the current level of turning into antagonism. Whereas, a class of so-called Muslim clerics (having made various school of thoughts on the wishes of few to serve their personal motives) is busy in propagating and projecting their form of Islam, why the successive governments have allowed these elements to grow to this unbeatable level of their prime youth, becoming a threat for the state of Pakistan.

We cannot blame Saudi Arabia or Iran for funding and supporting these elements, even if they are doing it for their vested interests of promoting their own form of Islam. But this is a reality that, no Saudi or Ira-

nian national is carrying out bombblasts, suicide attacks or any terrorists activities inside Pakistan. It is all the locals; Pakistani nationals are undertaking all these activities for the mutual destruction of each other, no matter, who is behind. Just look at the track-record of these brothers Muslim countries; they never ever allowed any such type of activities on their soil? Even people committing a minor antistate crime are given death penalties in both these countries. Once they do not tolerate such extremist activities in their countries, why should Pakistani governments tolerate such undesired acts?

The fact of the matter is that, we must bring an end to this blamegame and carryout re-evaluation of ourselves. This is a reality that, many political parties have linkages with these religious organizations, which in turn act as the vote bank for them.

These parties also fund them and have sympathetic approach for them. Indeed, the time is running out for the Pakistani nation. We have to make correct decisions for; a secure, peaceful, socially knitted, economically prosperous and politically stable Pakistan where there is no internal rivalry and no external conspiracy allowed intruding. This can be done by a; sincere, selfless, devoted and dedicated leadership, who can stand-up at its own feet; without the help of mislead extremist religious forces and without foreign sponsorship. Anything short of this will allow the current state of affairs to continue unabated.

—The writer is Islamabad-based analyst of International Relations.

AKISTAN’S drone log reg istered a new inventory as Pentagon attacked its settled area on Friday. The strike in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is the first of its kind outside the tribal areas of Pakistan, which have frequently been the theatre of action. The attack left at least six people dead and scores injured.

The muscle flexing on the part of the US authorities has unfortunately come close on the heels of a promise made by Washington that it would hold the sorties until peace talks with the Taliban come to a logical end. But that was not the case. It was an unmindful attack, to say the least.

The Hangu strike has given rise to fears that more towns and cities could be targeted for eliminating dreaded criminals, resulting in massive collateral damage of civilians.

The attack has inevitably stirred protests across the country, and the provincial government of Imran Khan seems determined to make it a foreign policy issue of the country. Reports say that the routes that are used to ferry Nato supplies to Afghanistan are being shut, apparently leading to a new tug of war between Washington and Islamabad. The federal government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is in a fix, as there is little that it could do to scale down the popular fervour against drones in the country, and at the same time unable to persuade the Americans to desist from jingoism. If the Nato supplies are blocked, then Islamabad not only stands to lose a transit fee of more than $5 billion as the withdrawal from Afghanistan begins, but also see itself bogged down in a difficult crisis at home and abroad. If the Hangu strike, with or without Islamabad nod, is any criterion, then it seems the targetprecision exercise is set to result in a new phase of extremist activity.

— Khaleej Times

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US-Afghan alliance

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N Wednesday, the Obama administration inked a deal that would obligate the United States to be a defence partner of Afghanistan for another decade, possibly even protecting the “major ally” from invasion. For Americans wary of one more military commitment, this new alliance may seem more entangling than enlightened. For Afghans, too, assuming their elected lawmakers and an assembly of elders (loya jirga) approve the proposed bilateral pact, the agreement will be a historic first: After centuries of repelling foreign invaders, the Afghan people will be asking foreign troops to stay and possibly assist in defending them.

Like the cold-war coalitions, the US-Afghan agreement defines a number of shared interests, such as combating terrorists and preserving Afghanistan’s territorial integrity. Those interests first began to align after 9/11 with the 2001 US invasion to oust the Taliban and eliminate Al Qaeda training grounds. Since then, the two have worked together to curb the heroin trade, build up Afghan women’s rights, create a democracy and prosperity in Afghanistan, and constrain the meddling influence of regional powers. After 12 years of effort – more than 2,200 American combat deaths and more than $90 billion in aid – the US and Afghanistan have gone beyond mere shared interests. By planning to keep thousands of US soldiers in Afghanistan on nine military bases, the US will be treating the country almost as it did postwar Japan and Germany: as partners in promoting shared values. The security pact is only one part of a US and NATO plan to help Afghanistan become a “normal” nation.Many countries need help, but Afghanistan’s peculiar history – tribal warlordism, a Soviet invasion, a Taliban takeover, Al Qaeda terrorism, a US-NATO invasion – have resulted in the paths of the US and Afghanistan becoming entwined. For the US, walking away has not been an option, as was the case with Iraq in 2011. And for the Afghans, resorting to old xenophobia and internal rivalries is also not an option. The pact promises a bonding that can bring out the best in both of them.

— The Christian Science Monitor The good is the beautiful.

— Plato Greek philosopher.

US will play TTP & drones cards Voice of the People tive, he swore to take revenge from HN, which he suspected attacked his base at the beAsif Haroon Raja had hest of ISI to avenge the death Email: asifharoon7751@yahoo.com of Maj Gen Sanaullah Niazi, martyred in Upper Dir on September 15th. His patrons too enT seems that the US has renewed couraged him to avenge the deadly its efforts to disrupt and dismantle attack. Since it was not possible for Haqqani network (HN). After the him to harm HN in Khost or in NW, suicide attack on Camp Chapman of he planned to go for a soft target to CIA in Khost on December 30, 2009, convey a strong message to Jalaluddin CIA carried out aggressive drone cam- to keep his hands off him. Fazlullah paign against HN under Jalaluddin tasked his men in Swat region to keep Haqqani in Khost and his son Dr Naseeruddin under surveillance Sirajuddin in North Waziristan (NW). and kill him whenever opportunity HN was banned by USA since it was came their way. Naseeruddin was not considered a big threat in Eastern Af- involved in militancy and was leadghanistan and Kabul. Almost every ing a quiet life with his family in day drone strike was launched to tar- Islamabad since long. get HN leaders. From January 2010 No sooner Sartaj Aziz gave good onwards, the US began mounting news to the nation on November 20 pressure on Pakistan to launch a ma- that the US has assured Pakistan that jor operation in NW to eliminate safe there will be no drone strikes while havens of HN. talks are in progress, a seminary in In order to force Pakistan to Thal Tehsil of Hangu District where launch an operation in NW, western young children were imparted reliborder was heated up in April 2011 gious training was struck by a drone with the help of fugitive Fazlullah who on November 21. It was yet another had fled from Swat in July 2009. The blow delivered to HN, since one of its US military is still obsessed with HN key leaders Maulana Hameedullah and has lately stepped up its efforts to was among the six Afghan clerics incapacitate this outfit. Jalaluddin’s killed. This admission was a clear inyoungest son Omar Haqqani was dication that the US is after HN and killed in Khost in 2008 in a combat, may have been involved in while other two sons Badruddin and Naseerudin’s murder as well. Latest Mohammad were killed by drones in strike was more dangerous than the NW in 2009 and August 2013 respec- previous ones since it took place in tively. Recently, the fourth son Dr. settled area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Naseeruddin Haqqani was murdered (KP). Interior Minister Nisar dubbed in Islamabad on November 11, 2013. USA as untrustworthy since assurance Possible suspects are CIA, Afghan had also been given to Nawaz Sharif NDS and Fazlullah. when he met Obama in Washington The reason why Fazlullah is one on October 23, but was not honored. of the suspects is that in last October CIA must have stepped up its efit was reported in the media that forts to locate and gun down the surFazlullah’s base of operation in Kunar viving son Sirajuddin based in NW to had been uprooted by the Taliban af- debilitate HN. The reason why the US ter inflicting heavy casualties. The rea- has got after HN is its linkage with son behind the attack in all probabil- Pakistan. There is no denying the fact ity was that Fazlullah controlled by that of all Afghan factions, HN is closforeign agencies was deliberately im- est to Pakistan and farthest from Northpeding peace process in Pakistan. It ern Alliance, Karzai, USA and India. was reported that Fazlullah died in the Influence over HN enables Pakistan attack. However it transpired later on to have a say in Afghan conundrum that he survived. Being highly vindic- and figure out prominently in the US

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calculations. Deaths of Hakimullah, Naseeruddin and Hameedullah and arrest of Latif Mehsud by US Special Forces in Afghanistan and appointment of Fazlullah as new chief of TTP are significant events which have impacted Pakistan’s position. Latif who was a close confidante and deputy of Hakeemullah is a valuable asset in the hands of USA. He was arrested at a time when TTP was sharply divided between pro-peace and anti-peace groups and Latif was among the latter group. Not only he must have divulged the program of visit of Hakeemullah to Dandey Darpakhel to hold peace talks which enabled CIA to kill him on November 1, he must have by now disclosed all details concerning TTP’s command structure, logistic, communication and intelligence systems, hideouts, pro-and anti-US members of TTP Shura, their alliances with local and foreign groups, sources of funding and procurement of weapons, recruitment and training. In addition, requisite information about HN must also have been extracted from him. That is reason CIA is achieving rapid successes in targeting HN leading lights.

Information accessed from Latif about Shura members deciding the selection of next chief must have helped CIA to influence them. Each one must have been warned that their fate would be no different than Hakeemullah if they had their own way. Changed circumstances have made it possible for CIA, NDS and RAW to further tighten their grip over TTP and its new leader residing in Kunar as well as on Faqir Muhammad and Khalid Khurasani, the two TTP leaders of Bajaur and Mehmand Agencies respectively who too are absconders and staying in Afghanistan.

The three agencies are now in a better position to manipulate the working of TTP to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Pakistan. Another possible change that seems to be in the offing is the centre of gravity of TTP shifting from FATA to settled areas of KP with depth resting in Kunar and Nuristan. Other than Bajaur and

Mehmand tribal agencies, within Provincial Administered Tribal Area (PATA), areas that may become hotter could be Dir, Buner, Malakand, Swat, Shangla, Chitral and Swabi.

Area up to Mardan and Nowshera may get affected. This shift in emphasis will be owing to the new Ameer hailing from Swat and his deputy Khalid belonging to Swabi.

Increased militancy in settled areas would facilitate USA to employ drones in turbulent areas. Our nuclear facilities would therefore become more vulnerable.

After successfully scuttling the peace process with the help of drones and terrorist attacks, the US can now bargain with Pakistan from a position of strength and can say that if Pakistan wants peace with TTP, it will have to play its role in ensuring peace in Afghanistan by bringing HN leaders on the negotiating table and convincing them to agree to US terms and conditions. The US will keep the cards of TTP and drones and continue playing them to keep Pakistan in line.

The situation has taken a slightly different turn after blockade of NATO supply routes in Peshawar by KP government on November 23 in protest against drone strike in Hangu.

Imran Khan has singled out drone as the major reason of terrorism in Pakistan and the main impediment in the way of peace. Last time supply routes were blocked in late November after Salala tragedy. The blockade remained enforced for about seven months but Pakistan couldn’t extract anything better from USA when new MoU was inked in July 2012. No apology was rendered, or an assurance given that repeat of 26 November like vandalism would not take place in future. Our demands of raising transit fee to $5000 per container and stopping drone attacks were not met. It is to be seen how Pakistan government plays its cards now when US posing as friend refuses to sheath drone and is bent upon thwarting reconciliation process.

—The writer, a retired Brig, is a defence analyst and columnist.

Views From Abroad

Pakistan, our frenemy with benefits Richard Lieby

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EAD his book and you might think Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington from 2008 to 2011, is no friend of his homeland. Its leaders are liars, double-dealers and shakedown artists, he says. They have been this way for decades, and, as Haqqani ably documents, the United States often has served as Pakistan’s willing dupe. But for all its criticism of Pakistan, “Magnificent Delusions” is a necessary prescriptive: If there’s any hope of salvaging what seems like a doomed relationship, it helps to know how everything went so wrong.

Haqqani is here to tell us.

These days Haqqani lives in virtual exile in Boston. A liberal academic and player in Pakistani politics since 1989, he has long been a critic of the country’s all-powerful military and intelligence apparatus.

In 2011, in a curious episode dubbed “Memogate,” he was accused of seeking US help to subdue the Pakistani military. He denied the allegations but lost his post. Later, a commission established by Pakistan’s Supreme Court tarred him as a traitor, making it dangerous for him to return to the country once he left.

“My detractors in Pakistan’s security services and among pro-Jihadi groups have long accused me of being pro-American,” he writes; “they failed to see that advocating a different vision for my troubled nation was actually pro-Pakistan.”

Owing to an earlier book, which bored into the links between the military and Islamic extremism, Haqqani is no stranger to political retribution.

This may colour his views, and some-

times he goes into tedious historical detail, but even so, “Magnificent Delusions,” which traces 67 years of the ill-matched partnership between the United States and Pakistan, stands as a solid synthesis of history, political analysis and social critique.

But why read it? Most Americans have made up their minds about Pakistan, and vice versa. We don’t trust them; they don’t like us. You might, however, want some answers: Where’s the payoff for that $40 billion in aid (Haqqani’s figure) we’ve showered on the country since it was formed in 1947? Why does it remain an economic basket case and a snakes’ nest of Islamic terrorism?

Having reported there, I see the problem with Pakistan — with its leaders, anyway — in simple terms.

It’s like a shiftless, sort-of friend who comes around periodically for a handout, swearing that self-reliance is just around the corner. But he just might mug you if it serves his interest. So do you hand over more cash? Sure, if you don’t mind being fleeced again.

Haqqani holds essentially the same view. Yet Uncle Sam has almost always caved to Pakistani demands, the book makes clear, to pursue America’s expedient, realpolitik ends.

“Since 1947,” Haqqani writes, “dependence, deception and defiance have characterized US-Pakistan relations. We sought US aid in return for promises we did not keep. Although even strong allies do not have 100 percent congruent interests, in the case of Pakistan and the United States, the divergence far exceeded the similarities.”

Pakistani leaders have had to balance their appetite for greenbacks against the nation’s standing as an independent actor. Sometimes Pakistani officials must create a fiction

of not cooperating with the Americans when in fact they are. For example, as recently reported by The Washington Post, as ambassador, Haqqani was briefed by US intelligence officials about drone strikes while his bosses in Islamabad were denouncing them as intolerable violations of Pakistani sovereignty.

During the Cold War, though, Pakistan’s playing of the Soviet card proved quite lucrative. It became a favoured US ally, assisting in spy operations against the Russians. Gary Powers’s U-2 plane flew from a base in Pakistan’s northwest, and Pakistan permitted the installation of a National Security Agency listening post. Richard Nixon was a true believer when it came to Pakistan’s strategic value against the communists. “Pakistan is a country I would like to do everything for,” he said after visiting the subcontinent as Dwight Eisenhower’s vice president. “The people have fewer complexes than the Indians.”

As president, Nixon used Pakistan to launch secret US overtures to China. The reward was unquestioned financial support. Pakistan similarly prospered during the Reagan years, enlisted in the battle against the Soviet occupiers in Afghanistan, as well as under George W. Bush, who launched what turned out to be a troubled counter-terrorism partnership after Sept. 11, 2001.

Pakistan’s paranoid obsession with India courses through “Magnificent Delusions.” The goal of seizing Indian-held territory in Kashmir has allowed Pakistan’s generals to keep the country on permanent war footing, the better to hog revenue, even while the majority of the populace suffers in penury. A narrative of persecution also runs through the pysche of Pakistan as a whole. The public, whipped up

by the military and mullahs, is led to believe that the nation’s problems are the work of “hidden hands.” I noticed how often leaders blamed conspiracies by India, Israel and America — that is to say, Hindus, Jews and Christians — for undermining the country, rather than owning up to social and economic ills of Pakistan’s own creation.

James M. Langley, a former US ambassador to Pakistan, is one of the prescient figures we meet in Haqqani’s book. Langley called it “wishful thinking” to consider the Pakistanis pro-American and warned of the danger of building up Pakistan’s military to fight the communist bloc: “In Pakistan we have an unruly horse by the tail and are confronted by the dilemma of trying to tame it before we can let go safely,” he said. And, he noted, this horse that “we assumed to be so friendly has actually grown wilder of late.” He wrote that in 1957. It is still true.

For many Americans, the fact that Osama bin Laden lived for nine years in Pakistan before he was killed by US commandos was proof enough that Pakistan belongs in the “enemy” column, not “ally.” The shame is that Pakistanis are a pious, warm and hospitable people — at least the many I met during my year and a half there. Haqqani’s book would have greatly benefited from showing us some of them: Giving common people voice helps us know who they are, how they live and what they think. They are not the enemy.

Just like average Americans, they simply pay the price of their leaders’ magnificent mistakes. The writer, Washington Post staff writer, was the paper’s Pakistan bureau chief from 2012 to 2013.

— Courtesy: The Washington Post

Hypocrisy and Mr Modi..!

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R Modi says he is trying to unite the Hindus of In dia under the banner of religion: Religion means spirituality, but in this man you see nothing spiritual. Just going to church, mosque or temple makes nobody spiritual. Spirituality is when your outlook towards life and towards fellow human beings become divine in its gentleness and goodness.

But the speeches made by this man are full of venom and hate, and

it is time India woke up to realize that this venom and hate is not part of any religion by far. That makes this bearded man a hypocrite. Hypocrites are to be shunned. They say one thing, they do another.

They will speak about a united country and bring in division. They will pretend worshiping some god and come out ready to kill those who do not worship the same god. No religion on earth tells you to kill your fellow human being. They will talk about progress but will drag this country into the pit of destruction.

Real religion changes a man for the better. A real Hindutva like he claims to be will win the rest of the country using love. We hardly see any love in this man. He is arrogant, self-

ish and brutally ruthless. And yet we have some of the youth of India and others thinking he can save India!

The world loves a bully. Hitler came to power democratically. He came to power because Germany thought they saw a strong man in him.

They were fooled to think that anybody who spewed venom on a weaker community was strong. The Jews were an easy target, and Hitler chose them. In India the minorities are an easy target and Modi chooses to attack them.

His attack: They worship another god. No leader would attack another for finding a different path towards his journey of Nirvana. A strong man respects another’s spiritual journey, a weak man feels insecure. Modi the

bully is actually a weak fellow in the garb of a strong man. All bullies are like that. No bully can be called spiritual. They feed on their own ego till a day comes when someone stronger pricks their inflated balloon and hot air rushes out.

But before such is done, much is destroyed. In the USA not giving a visa to Modi, they have seen through his act. The youth and other progressive voters in India who are disillusioned with the present government need to think a hundred times before voting for this man. He will use religion, he will use divisive measures, he will destroy to get his way. Beware the likes of those who practice hypocrisy..!

—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

Give women their due rights M FAZAL ELAHI

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n the male dominated society like ours women in general, continue to be treated as underdogs. Paki stan, as known to all and sundry, is a developing country with an abysmally low growth rate. This makes things difficult even for men who, according to the country’s culture, are considered to be the principal bread earners for their respective families. Under the circumstances, creation of economic opportunities for women mostly remains a distant dream. This naturally makes millions of women across the length and breadth of the country live in a continuous state of abject renunciation. The other very important and much debated core issue vis-à-vis women in Pakistan are their rights and privileges.

In the Pakistani society it is generally believed that women have no rights and privileges. This belief stems from a conservative mindset of our men folk. Ignorance, to some extent, and prejudice, to a greater extent, are responsible for the development of this mindset. Men should know that Islam fully acknowledges the rights and privileges of women. Undeniably, women are equally important members of the society. They can play a significant and meaningful role in the society both in social and economic terms, if opportunities are provided to them. By excluding the majority of the country’s (women) population from the main stream of social and economic development we have deprived the country of the progress that it could have achieved had it given women their due place in the society. The truth of the matter is that all women urban or rural, young or old, rich or poor, lettered or unlettered are vulnerable to such highly condemnable treatment and they genuinely deserve justice. If we truly want justice to be done to women in Pakistan and bring progress and prosperity to this nation we will have to give them their due place in the society, fully recognize their rights and privileges and bring them into the mainstream of socio-economic and political development. If we fail to do so, economic and social degradation will continue to be the hallmark of our turmoil-ridden and rudderless society.

—Islamabad

Child malnutrition alarming HASHIM ABRO Recent reliable reports and surveys conducted by a host of credible NGOs reveal that malnutrition level among young children in the rural and remote backward areas of Sindh province alarmingly high.

The number of deaths among the children under five has increased dramatically in the repeated disaster-hit areas. Several children under age five are reported to be in a critical state. This pitiable condition reflects poor access to quality health care and nutrition services, as well as water and sanitation facilities.

It is proposed that Health and nutrition programs, practical one, may be set up to treat severely malnourished children, especially the youngest.

—Islamabad

Tomatoes v/s dollar MAHRUKH IBRAHIM Prices hike of edible items is a quite remarkable issue and our Government also find amazingly great solution for that rising torment. The most amusing fact is that now a days the price of our Tomatoes exceeds from the dollar price as Rs. 200 / Kg. Few days back price of tomatoes reaches Rs. 150/Kg, our Punjab Minister Mr. Bilal Yasin visited “SABZI MANDI” and the interesting part of his whole survey is that after listening all the poor stories of public, he gave a quite great and hilarious advice that if tomatoes are expensive then we have substitute of tomatoes in the form of Lemons and yogurt. Will somebody tell him that lemon prices are also shot up over last two months. There is no problem for Ministers for any rise or fluctuation in food items as they do not need to leave the ground for petty things but main problem arises for the one who hardly earn bread and butter for the family. Despite of resolving distress of impoverished public, our Ministers are rather ridiculing them in the most non-serious way. This attitude of Government illustrates that soon they will surely lose the so-called benevolence of the state and lose credence of unwise decision of public.

—Abbottabad

Legends never retires AIZA EHSAN The Indian master blaster batsmen “Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar” was born on 24th April 1973 in Mumbai.

In cricket he was familiar with the name of “Sachin Tendulkar”. He started his cricket career at the age of 11. He made his first debut test match at the age of 16 against Pakistan in Karachi on 15th November 1989 and One day international debut against Pakistan in Gujranwala on 18th December 1989. He made his first debut century in his 9th test match against England in 1990. He made his first debut century in his 79th ODIS match against Australia in 1994 at Colombo. He was the only player who scored one hundred international centuries, the first player to score a double century in a One Day International, the first player ever in the history who play 200 test matches and the only player to complete more than 30,000 runs in international cricket. He was among those players who inspire others to adopt cricket as their profession.

He received the Arjuna Award in 1994 for outstanding sporting achievement, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1997, India’s highest sporting honor, and the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan awards in 1999 and 2008, respectively, India’s fourth and second highest civilian awards. Within a

few hours of ending of his final match in November 2013, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Tendulkar would receive the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, making him the youngest recipient to date and the first sportsperson to receive the award.

He was also the first sportsperson to be awarded the honorary rank of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force and Lots of lots awards.

Sachin Tendulkar played his 200th and last Test match at his home ground. On 14th November 2013, Tendulkar ends test match career against West Indians. In his 200th and final Test match, the “Little Master” of cricket was caught in the slips on the second morning of play at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium. The 40-year-old, the world’s leading scorer in both Test and one-day cricket and the only batsman to score 100 international centuries. He took to the crease to a noisy call from the crowd in his hometown, television footage showed, with Indians across the country praying that he could finish his glittering career on a high which he somehow did. He made 74 runs in his last test match. India won this test match also. Hole Indian team gave him guard of owner till he left the ground. So November 16, 2013 will go down as one of the emotional days in a cricket fan’s diary. Sachin Tendulkar was finally saying goodbye to cricket, with never-before-seen tears on his face. Thus the reality now slips into memory.

—Islamabad

Pak can learn from China AMNA MUMTAZ Our political and military leadership visits China frequently, perhaps the only country which welcomes them.

They also claim China is Pakistan’s time tested friend, but our leaders are not prepared to learn anything from China. China has become an economic power and has improved the living standard of its citizens. China, since its independence, has made all right decisions. There are a number of lessons, which Pakistan can learn from Chinese experience in executing reforms and assimilate them if it too wants to progress. “Pak China Friendship” is proverbial in Pakistan, but Pakistani politicians, economists and traders have never made an attempt to actually learn lessons from world’s second largest economy.

It focused on long-term commitment to its policies, and that allows its policymakers to implement them in gradual, evolutionary and practical manner, rather than mid-term second-guessing. The emphasis is on institutions and rarely on individuals.

The mindset of the Pakistani leadership is exactly the opposite, and that is probably one of the reasons why Pakistan’s economy does not exhibit sustainable long term growth.

China doesn’t have religious leaders who use religion for political gains and authority. China hanged all the corrupt politicians, generals, bureaucrats and tax evaders so that no one would continue corruption. In China, the military generals work hand in hand with the civilian leadership for prosperity of the country.

They have strict laws which punish the corrupt. Their police is neither politicized nor is it corrupt in any manner; no one evades taxes in China and the list of such positives can go on and on.

One potential lesson that Pakistan can learn from China is ownership of policies at all levels of society. It is imperative that there should be an Islamabad Consensus on economic vision that is notoriously deficient in Pakistan’s policymakers. An APC should have been convened a long time ago in association with representatives of trade and industry to discuss, agree on a three-tier economic vision, containing short, medium, long-term strategies, targets.

Another key lesson is reliance on homegrown indigenous solutions

rather than depending on imported or abstract answers. Grassroots initiatives should be encouraged, even if they are unorthodox. Pakistan has everything to learn from China. It has to dismantle its feudal mentality and set up. It will need to make the country free from any terrorism and violence. There has to be law & order.

China developed to a large extent by providing very cheap land, labour and proper infrastructure to prospective entrepreneur. It opened its doors wide for its sworn enemy the USA in 1972.

Thereafter, other countries - Japan, Germany, and Korea etc followed and shifted their factories to China. It should be quite obvious that for a country like Pakistan to follow China’s example is very tall order if not impossible altogether.

By learning these fundamental lessons, Pakistan can turn its economy around in years. We must follow, in more ways than one, the saying of the Holy Prophet (PBUH): “Seek knowledge, even if you have to travel as far as China.”

—Via email

We are a laughing stock SYED MUZAMMIL HUSSAIN The entire world is laughing on us after Pindi incident, while we are weeping at what happened in Rawalpindi on Ashura day. We are living in a world which is governed by the technology and economics.

The contemporary nations are using their resources for their interests and we are destroying our resources and potential for killing each other. Pakistan was established to be a sample of implementation of Islamic values in the modern era. That were dreams of its forefathers i.e Allama Iqbal and the Quaid e Azam. One part of the country was handed over to India in 1971 whereas we are marching on towards destroying the remaining part. What happened in Rawalpindi on Ashura day is just an action replay. We have shown the world of our weaknesses.

World is laughing at our behaviour. Should we continue to behave on same old lines? US, Israel and India are blamed for the tragedy but what of our own failures? Let us start a new journey of love for all creatures of Allah. Who lost their lives in Pindi incident should be respected as precious human beings.

They were innocent people who were slaughtered by tyrants whose are unknown to Pakistanis. They challenged the writ of the State and created a division in the society which was already broken and shattered. Let us start a new journey of love for all and promote respect for all.

—Bagh, Azad Kashmir

Military operation in NWA DR GHAYUR AYUB This is a message for those who are in favour of military operation in North Waziristan. Waite till major American forces leave Afghanistan in July 2014 and let the Afghan Taliban fill the vacuum created by their departure. India is dying to fill the vacuum and itching to create friction between Pak army and Afghan Taliban. Military operation in NW at this stage will serve their purpose. Let us not play into their hands.

—London

DISCLAIMER THE articles, columns and letters are published on these pages in good faith. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.

—Editor Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

Mali holds legislative vote amid security fears G AO —Malians have begun voting in legislative elections amid heavy security highlighting fears the poll could be sabotaged by rebel attacks.

United Nations peacekeepers and Malian soldiers outnumbered voters in the northern city of Gao after polling stations opened .

Like the rest of northern Mali, Gao fell to rebel groups including Islamic extremists following a coup in March 2012.

A French-led military intervention launched in January drove the rebels from major cities, and Malians elected Ibrahim Boubacar Keita as president in a peaceful election in August.

However, recent weeks have been marred by violence including the Nov. 2 slaying of two French radio journalists reporting in the northern city of Kidal.—AP

Rouhani: Failure of enemies’ attempts to promote Iranophobia TEHRAN—Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined that the nuclear agreement between Tehran and the world powers indicated the failure of enemies’ efforts to spread Iranophobia across the region and the world.

“The enemy wanted to promote Iranophobia among the world public opinion,” Rouhani told reporters in a press briefing in Tehran “The negotiations (between Iran and the world powers) created an atmosphere that the confidence between Iran and the other countries was directed towards the right path,” he added.

“Of course, confidence is a two-way road and others should also build our confidence but the preliminary steps

have been taken tow a r d s confidencebuilding,” Rouhani underlined.

He, meantime, stressed that “we have a long way to go before reaching full confidence”.

Rouhani referred to the negotiations held with the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain plus Germany) in New York and Geneva after his election as the new Iranian president in June, and said, “The result of the negotiations is that the G5+1 or, in other

words, the world powers have now recognized Iran’s nuclear rights.”

“During the talks, the world came to understand that respecting the Iranian nation would bear results, and sanctions would not work,” he added. Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) reached a final agreement on Sunday, which includes recognition of Tehran’s right of uranium enrichment and removal and easing of the sanctions.

Iran and the Group signed a four-page agreement after five days of difficult and intensive negotiations and more than a decade-long nuclear standoff.

One of the pages of the

agreement signed in Geneva deals with the easing and removal of the US-led western sanctions imposed against Iran.

According to the deal, no further sanctions will be imposed against Iran.

Iran’s right to enrichment has been recognized in two places of the document. In return, Iran will reciprocate with a series of confidence-building measures.

Iran as a confidence-building measure will not further expand its activities in Arak, Natanz and Fordo in the next six months, but (uranium) enrichment below five percent and production of the relevant enriched material in Fordo and Natanz will continue as before.—FNA

Tens of thousands rally Scores killed as rebels battle to in Kiev for closer EU ties break siege of Damascus suburbs K IEV —Tens of thousands could not afford to break of demonstrators marched through central Kiev to demand that the Ukrainian government reverse course and sign a landmark agreement with the European Union in defiance of Russia.

The protest was the biggest Ukraine has seen since the peaceful 2004 Orange Revolution, which overturned a fraudulent presidential election result and brought a Western-leaning government to power.

Led by Ukraine’s leading opposition figures and carrying giant Ukrainian and EU flags, the demonstrators chanted “Ukraine is Europe” and sang the national anthem as they marched toward European Square. An estimated 50,000 people turned out for the rally.

“We want to be together with Europe,” Volodymyr Mnikh, a 62-year-old retired chemist, said with tears in his eyes. “We want our children to have a future and not to be pressured by Russia.”

Ukraine’s leaders announced suddenly last week that they were pulling out of a free trade and political association deal with the EU to be signed in the coming week, saying the country

trade ties with Russia. The Russian government has worked aggressively to derail the EU deal and bring Ukraine into the Moscowdominated Customs Union.

“The EU means Ukraine’s development,” said demonstrator Andriy Mazeta, a 19year-old management student. “The Customs Union means Ukraine’s destruction.

We need to push Russia as far away as possible.”

Sunday’s protest was seen as a test of the strength of the opposition and its ability to nudge President Viktor Yanukovych back in the EU’s direction.

One key EU demand for signing the deal is the release of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, whose imprisonment the West sees as politically driven.

Yanukovych only narrowly defeated Tymoshenko in the 2010 presidential election and sees her as a political threat.

He comes up for reelection in 2015.

The European Union insists that Yanukovych is still welcome to attend the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Thursday and Friday, during which the two sides had intended to sign the agreement.—AP

BEIRUT—A ferocious battle gion. in the eastern suburbs of Damascus has killed more than 160 people in the past two days as rebels struggle to break a months-long blockade by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, activists said.

The fighting began on Friday when rebel units attacked a string of military checkpoints encircling the opposition-held suburbs in an area known as the Eastern Ghouta, which has been under siege for more than six months.

Local and international aid workers say Assad’s forces appeared to be trying to starve out residents - indiscriminately affecting civilians as much as rebel fighters.

The blockade has cut off rebels’ weapons supplies and helped turn the tide of fighting around the capital in Assad’s favor.

The battle has also drawn in hundreds of foreign fighters on both sides, underlining how Syria’s civil war has stirred Sunni-Shi’ite sectarian tensions across the re-

“It is a ferocious fight between the two sides because it’s a struggle over our ultimate fate here,” said Bara Abdelrahman, an activist who works with the Islam Army brigades in the area.

The conflict in Syria has killed more than 100,000 people, according to the United Nations, and is also destabilizing Syria’s neighbors.

The mainly Sunni Muslim rebels have drawn support from radical Sunni groups such as al Qaeda and other foreign militants. Shi’ite countries and militias have thrown their weight behind Assad, who is from Syria’s minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam.

Rebels say Lebanon’s Shi’ite guerrilla movement Hezbollah has joined the Eastern Ghouta battle on Assad’s side, as has the Abu Fadl al-Abbas Brigade, a militia that includes Shi’ite fighters from around the Middle East.

Foreign Sunni militants have flocked to the rebel side,

mostly joining units affiliated with al Qaeda.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition monitoring group, said it had documented about 100 deaths on the rebel side on Friday and Saturday in Eastern Ghouta, and more than 60 among forces fighting for Assad. But it said there were likely to be more deaths which had not been documented.

“This battle has been one of incredible human losses,” said Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Observatory.

“The fighting is spreading all over the eastern suburbs.”

There was no comment on the siege tactics or casualty figures from government spokesmen.

Among those killed on Saturday were five civilian activists caught in an ambush, local activist groups said. They said two were prominent figures Mohammed Said and Mohammed Tayyeb, who had made regular appearances on regional Arab TV channels.—Reuters

Egypt’s interim president signs law restricting protests C AIRO — Egypt’s interim president signed into law, a bill that rights groups have said sharply curbs the rights of citizens to assemble and protest peacefully.

State television reported that Adli Mansour had signed the bill, which requires protesters to receive advance permission from the police before gathering. In the nearly three years since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising, Egyptians have taken to the street regularly to air their grievances.

Rights groups had urged Mansour to reject the draft presented to him by the cabinet installed after the army overthrew President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in July.—Reuters

Sumatra volcano

Indonesia orders mass evacuation as authority raises alert J AKARTA — Indonesia

ordered the evacuation of 15,000 residents near an active volcano in the west of the vast archipelago as authorities raised the alert for the emergency to the highest level.

Mount Sinabung on the island of Sumatra has become increasingly active in recent months, spewing columns of ash several km into the air.

Authorities expanded the evacuation radius to 5 km (three miles) from 3 km and the military geared up to move residents out.

About 6,000 have already been evacuated from the area, 88 km from Medan, capital of North Sumatra province. No casualties were reported as the status of the volcano was raised from “standby” to “caution”.

“We have raised the status to ‘caution’, which is the highest of levels for volcanic activity because we anticipate there will be more eruptions and because the intensity of eruptions has been increasing,” the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said in a statement.—Reuters

China president visits injured in deadly oil blast B EIJING—China’s president visited hospitalized victims of deadly explosions that ripped through residential and commercial roads from a ruptured pipeline owned by the country’s largest oil refiner.

The official death toll from the blasts rose to 52 earlier in the day after rescuers found more bodies in the aftermath of Friday’s industrial accident in eastern China. Eleven people were still missing, according to the information office of the government of the port city of Qingdao.

Rescue efforts were continuing, the information office said. It said earlier that 136 people had been injured, 10 of whom were in critical condition. The accident was the deadliest involving stateowned company Sinopec.

State broadcaster CCTV showed President Xi Jinping visiting a hospital in Qingdao.

He spoke with and held the hand of an elderly patient, and talked and patted the arm of another. He also told a group of doctors and nurses to put all their efforts into helping the injured.

The pipeline ruptured and leaked for about 15 minutes onto a street and into the sea before it was shut off. Hours later, as workers cleaned up the spill, the oil caught fire and exploded in two locations, the city government said.

Sinopec’s expansion of petrochemical projects has met with resistance from members of the public, and Friday’s blasts will likely add to growing concern about safety and environmental risks.

Sinopec apologized Saturday for the explosions, which ripped slabs of pavement and overturned vehicles. It said it would investigate and “give Villagers carry their belongings as they walk to an evacuation centre, as Mount Sinabung spews ash to the skies in timely reports.”—AP Sumatra province.

Men must take a stand to stop violence against women SAMAR FATANY

O

N the Nov. 25 of the world celebrates White Ribbon Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Vio lence against Women.

A year has passed since our group of Saudi men and women from media and academia began an initiative to adopt the international White Ribbon Campaign to make men take a stance to stop the violence against women in our society.

Unfortunately, the group was viciously attacked and accused of spreading Western values that are un-Islamic which is far from the truth. Islam forbids any form of injustice or abuse against anyone and especially against women and children. The true Muslim man is compassionate to the women in his family and the Arab man is known for his chivalry and sense of responsibility to women in his society. In fact a Saudi White Ribbon Campaign can address the negative attitude to women in our society that is alien to our true Islamic and Arab culture.

The White Ribbon Ambassador program is a means for men to speak out and stop violence against women and to effectively challenge the attitudes and behavior of a minority of men who use or condone violence against women.

The program recruits high profile men, such as religious scholars, community leaders and government officials to sign up as Ambassadors and spread the message that any violence against women is totally unacceptable.

The president of the Association for Family Protection in Jeddah outlined several reasons behind family violence, including mental illness, drug abuse, alcoholism, poverty, unemployment, lack of religious values and ignorance.

Unfortunately, these problems are not properly addressed and are not given the attention they deserve. As a result they continue to threaten many Saudi families, leading to the creation of miserable wives and unhappy children. What is needed is a more effective campaign to raise awareness among the public and among the abusers themselves. Indeed many forms of violent behavior against women and children remain in the absence of an effective campaign to change the negative mindset.

Changing and shaping the attitudes and behavior of young people is critical to preventing violence against women in the future In Saudi Arabia, one in every six women is abused verbally, physically or emotionally every day, 90 percent of abusers are men, usually husbands or fathers. According to research conducted by the National Family Safety Program, women are not aware of their rights and men violate religious teachings and follow aberrant customs and traditions.

Male-dominated families show no respect for the rights of women. Social norms and attitudes continue to deprive women of the privileges afforded to the menfolk in society.

A large segment of our society still insists on holding on to the guardianship rule that treats women as minors. Many men steal and control the inheritance or business of the women in their families. They dictate their own rules thus depriving women of financial independence and the freedom to work and prosper.

Changing and shaping the attitudes and behavior of young people is critical to preventing violence against women in the future. Many men continue to exploit social norms for their own selfish egos. Their negative attitudes are the main reasons behind the rise in divorce cases and the number of broken homes. In order to enhance the quality of life in the Saudi family, there needs to be a change in the mindsets of men who have negative attitudes toward women. The ban on women driving and the absence of proper public transportation allows men to keep women captive in their own homes. Women are at the mercy of male family members who decide when they can be taken out for a breath of fresh air or a visit to family and friends.

The majority of Saudi men are nonviolent; however, they need to be encouraged to play a bigger role to protect women from the violence perpetrated by many men in Saudi society today. The voices of Saudi men can be an effective means for stopping violence and promoting nonviolence.

It is time we involve Saudi men in a national plan to raise awareness among men and boys about the different roles they can play to prevent discrimination and violence against women in society.

Education is an important means that can help people develop and maintain nonviolent and respectful relationships. Boys should be educated at a young age to respect women. Schools can adopt educational programs to help children identify inappropriate sexual or violent behavior in order to protect women in society.

Discrimination and violence against women and their children is a universal topic of great concern. Saudi Arabia like many other countries can benefit from a more effective nationwide campaign to counter negative social norms and to stop the violence against women. The champions of the Saudi White Ribbon Campaign are hopeful that the government will provide the necessary support to implement a Saudi national plan to mobilize men and government departments to guarantee a safe environment for women and their children. The White Ribbon Ambassador program can use the strong voices of men in the community to raise awareness by targeting schools, communities, sports groups and the media. Its main focus would be prevention and holding the perpetrators of violence accountable. Hopefully, the national plan would stop violence against women and children and would promote a healthier family environment that could influence a more prosperous Muslim modern-day society.

—Courtesy Alarabiya

Revival of Soviet legacies ABDEL AZIZ

I

N a discussion with a Russian official recently, I was surprised by his nostalgic references to the Soviet Union. When we discussed Soviet era excesses, he dismissed them as exaggerations by the West.

He stunned me by denying well-documented atrocities committed during Soviet rule, including wholesale massacres, labor camps and mass deportations during Josef Stalin’s reign of terror. The official also said that most Russians now resent the fall of the Soviet Union. He said that Mikhail Gorbachev is now being held in low esteem in Russia because he is accused of causing the demise

of the USSR. It turned out that revising Russia’s history is part of a new policy ordered by President Putin earlier this year. It is expected that the revised history will be included in school textbooks starting 2014.

The Russian government asked the “Historical Society” in February 2013 to revise history books. The society’s head is Sergei Naryshkin, speaker of the lower house of the Parliament, a senior member of the ruling United Russia Party, and a close ally of Putin. History revisionism was practically invented by Soviet Russia. It was thought important during different periods of Soviet rule to re-write history to eliminate the influence of former lead-

ers. Stalin viewed history as a weapon against his opponents and a means to educate and manipulate the masses.

He was famous for airbrushing his enemies out of photographs after getting rid of them in real life and deleting references to them in history books. George Orwell painted a comic illustration of those practices, but they continued nevertheless until the end of the Soviet rule.

After the end of Soviet era in1991, many thought that re-writing history would become a thing of the past.

However, it appears as if Soviet ways are slowly making their way back, together with a new, positive look at that history. For example, Putin has revived the Soviet anthem, Soviet-style military

parades and a Soviet-era medal for labor. The president is scoring points with some elderly Russians by speaking positively about the Soviet past. He once referred to the collapse of the Soviet Union as the “greatest geopolitical disaster of the last century,” a comment that was amplified by my Russian interlocutor recently.

More seriously, Putin’s opponents also accuse him of reviving Soviet-style cult of personality and violent repression of dissent. In addition, nationalists in the southern Russian republics, such as Chechnya, liken Putin’s noholds-barred military tactics in suppressing their national aspirations to Stalin’s tactics that resulted in large-scale

deaths, mass-deportations and destruction in Chechnya.

Re-writing history appears to be another of those traditions that are being revived. The new policy, adopted in February 2013, called for preparing new textbooks that “reconcile differences over Russia’s past.” It asked historians to come up with “guidelines” for new history books that would provide “a unified version of the many difficult events in Russian and Soviet history.”

Those guidelines have now been prepared by the Historical Society and were recently submitted to the president for approval. If approved, they will serve as the basis for re-writing school history textbooks to be used throughout Russia.

However, independent historians, inside and outside Russia have criticized the new guidelines as the work of loyal historians that airbrushes events and details that are not favorable to the president.

For example, they contain no reference to the protests against him and no mention of some of his key opponents.

They believe that the whole project evokes unmistakable Soviet parallels.

Vladimir Ryzhkov, a historian and former politician, was quoted as saying: “It was a simple political order to justify the ruling authorities, to explain they are doing everything right.”

Some fear that another objective of the project is to revive the idea that “Russia needs strong autocratic rul-

ers,” perhaps to justify extending Putin’s rule for life.

They refer to the fact that Putin rose to power in 2000 and has been president or prime minister ever since. He began a six-year third term as president in May last year. By the time his term ends in 2018, he will be the longest serving leader in Russian history since Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union for over thirty years.

The Kremlin has denied those accusations or any attempt to rewrite history to fit current political agenda. Its official spokesman has said that Russia “consistently stand against attempts to falsify the history.”

The last phrase has an ominous double meaning as to what those “attempts” may

be and whether he is referring to the work of serious, independent historians who are disclosing for the first time in Russia the mistakes of the past, including those committed during, before and after the Soviet era.

The Historical Society has identified 20 “difficult issues” in the guidelines it submitted to Putin. Andrei Petrov, the Historical Society’s executive secretary said, “We have named difficult issues that should be explained from various points of view. Otherwise we would just be lying to our children.”

The “difficult issues” include the interpretation of Stalin’s rule and the circumstances around the collapse of the Soviet Union.

—Courtesy Arabnews

Japan warns

Afghan elders okay

From Page 1 US Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said Saturday they were “deeply concerned” at China’s move and were committed to defending Japan.

China said it was setting up the “air defence identification zone” over an area including the islands in the East China Sea to guard against “potential air threats”.

It released a set of aircraft identification rules that must be followed by planes entering the area.

Kishida told reporters Japan cannot accept the Chinese measure, calling it “a one-sided action which leads us to assume the danger of unpredictable events on the spot”.

In Seoul, South Korea’s defence ministry said the Chinese zone partly overlapped its own.

“We find it regretful that China’s air defence zone partly overlaps with our military’s KADIZ (Korean Air Defense Identification Zone) in the area west of Jeju Island,” said a ministry statement, according to Yonhap news agency.

“We will discuss with China the issue so as to prevent its establishment from affecting our national interests.”

A military source quoted by Yonhap said the overlapping area is 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) wide and 115 kilometres long.

The Chinese zone also includes the South Korean-controlled submerged rock that lies within the two countries’ overlapping economic zones, according to a defence ministry official quoted by the news agency.

The dispute over the islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China, heated up last year when Japan’s government bought some of them from a private owner.

China has since sent coastguard vessels and other state-owned ships as well as aircraft close to the islands, sometimes breaching airspace and territorial waters around them.

This has prompted Japanese coastguard boats and air force fighter jets to try to warn them off.

The Japanese defence ministry said Saturday two Chinese planes entered Japan’s own air defence identification zone over the East China Sea, prompting its air defence force to scramble fighter aircraft.—AFP

Power losses From Page 1 electricity, but billed only for units of 2.067 billion manifesting the deficit of 14.2 percent.

Likewise Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) sustained the loss of 13.6 percent in electricity units, Islamabad Electric Supply Company 11.99 percent, Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) 22.8 percent, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) 40.8 percent, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) 29.3 percent.

The document says that Sukkar Electric Supply Company (Sepco) is the top loss making entity as it sustained distribution loss of whopping 44.3 percent in first quarter of the ongoing fiscal. The Sepco received 1.52 billion units, but it billed only for 848 million units. Qeutta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) faced loss of 27.8 percent and Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) 18.9 percent.

Nato supply From Page 1 incident. Sources said that for the time being arrangements are being made to channel most of the supplies through Chaman border crossing.

Meanwhile, a bomb planted neat Frontier Corp (FC) check post on Chaman Pak-Afghan boarder was defused by the security personnel.

According to details, the bomb was found near Gori Kahol area by the FC officials on Sunday morning. —INP

From Page 1

OPERATIONAL AIR BASE: ‘Pride of Pakistan’ JF-17 Thunder landing back after remarkable performance in Dubai Air Show 2013.

PAF contingent returns after elegantly participating in Dubai Air Show I SLAMABAD —For Pakistani participants it was satisfying moment when curtains were lowered for the 13th Dubai Air Show-2013 which also included an impressive display of PAF JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft for the second time in the show.

PAF Contingent comprising three JF-17 Thunder, Super Mushshak, pilots and technicians have returned and landed back at PAF Operational Base after participating in the static as well as aerobatic segment in one of the biggest air shows of the world.

According to a press release issued from PAF Operational Airbase on Sunday, the five-day event was largely participated by customers and experts from avia-

No more NATO supply From Back Page Minister’s (PM) adviser on Foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz had claimed that the US would not strike drones during dialogue with Taliban but all went in vain.

While commenting on the statement of PM Nawaz Sharif about elimination of visa for Indians in Pakistan, he said that it would be another measure towards slavery. He added that Most Favorite Nation status for India was not aimed at providing locals with vegetables on reasonable prices, but to provide Indians with a free corridor to Kabul, so as to enhance its role in Afghanistan.

JI chief appealed to the drivers and cleaners of trucks carrying NATO supplies not to serve terrorists and look for some other source for the livelihood.

PTI central General Secretary Arif Alvi, while addressing the protest rally said that the United Nations declared drone strikes as illegal. PMLN also used the term of “illegal” but unfortunately had taken a U-turn after joining power.

Altaf urges leaders From Back Page as education, unemployment, water, power, gas and health problems and also discussed with the elected representatives organizational problems too and their performance.

He deplored that Pakistan was facing serious internal and external threats and asked them to work for the solution of the problems faced by people and pay attention to legislation so people could get justice easily.

Meanwhile, MQM’s elected representatives Muhammad Iqabl Khan, Asif Hasnain and Sajid Ahmed condemned the manhandling of NATO containers drivers by Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf activists.

In a joint statement issued Sunday, they said that PTI should have staged a peaceful protest and should not have resorted to violence and torture.

tion industry from all over the world. Pakistan Air Force availed the opportunity by participating in the show to introduce to the outside world the capable JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft which offers cutting edge technology at an affordable cost.

In addition, PAF had also setup a stall at the exhibition, where the intending customers were given detailed briefing about the significant characteristics of the fighter plane and the weapons it can carry. Thousands of visitors, customers, experts and media persons were enthralled by the performance of JF-17 thunder. Pakistan Air Force contingent was led by Air Vice Marshal Javaid Ahmed,

who is also Chief Project Director for the JF-17 Programme.

JF-17 Thunder is a multi-role, light combat aircraft that is equipped with a digital fly-bywire flight control system that gives it the agility and lethality.

It has a complete glass cockpit, excellent man-machine interface and modern self-protection suite, which enhance combat potential and survivability of the aircraft. It is equipped with fourth generation avionics systems, wide range of conventional & smart weapons, long range glide bombs, Beyond Visual Range & short range Airto-Air missiles, Anti-Ship missile and Air-to-Surface missiles.—INP

Begum Nasim Wali announces return to politics From Page 1 the moving spirit behind the ANP affairs in the provincial politics and a major decision maker after the death of her husband Khan Abdul Wali Khan.

She was however, sidelined by the present party leadership a few years back and was asked to remain away from the party affairs.

Addressing a news conference in Charsadda on Sunday Begum Wali Khan announced to re-enter active politics and reactivate the ideological leaders and workers of Awami National Party (ANP). She called for removal of the present top leadership of the party from their positions.

Begum Nasim Wali Khan said that she could no longer tolerate the deteriorating situation in the party adding the ANP’s performance in the May 11 general elections proved that the current leadership of the party was incompetent.

She said that she came out

of home to save the party of Bacha Khan and Wali Khan. She f alleged that the ANP government during its tenure failed to deliver as its leaders were only interested in loot and plunder.

She said soon a big Jirga of the ideological leaders and workers would of the party be held to elect new leadership of the party adding there would be no place for Asfandyar, Azam Hoti and Haider Hoti like people in the party. She said the affairs of the party have gained alarming proportion and she is determined to save the party from disaster.

Earlier, her brother and former Minister for Communication in Nawaz Sharif past cabinet Azam Hoti, father of former Chief Minister Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Amir Haider Hoti had revolted against the Asfandyar Wali and company leveling serious allegations of corruption, looting and plundering the public money against them.

Rawalpindi Pakistan clinch Ist ODI incident From Page 1

From Page 1

The Chief Minister commended the efforts of Pak army, police, administration and security institutions in maintaining law and order and an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood during Muharram-ul-Haram especially in the wake of Rawalpindi tragedy.

He also lauded the cooperation of elected representatives, ulema and the masses in this regard.

He was talking to senior officers of administration, police and security institutions who performed the duty of maintaining law and order during Muharram-ul-Haram, on Sunday. Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Home Secretary, Commissioner Lahore Division, Additional IG Special Branch, CCPO Lahore and other concerned officers were present.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that nothing could be more important than maintenance of law and order in the province and maximum resources would be provided for this purpose.

Anwar Ali, who batted at number ten, top scored with an unbeaten 43 and then claimed two wickets for 24 runs to a win the man-of-the-match award.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal also took two wickets for 28 runs in his quota of ten overs.

Chasing a rather easy target of 219, the Proteas were bowled out for 195 in 48.1 overs.

Their main scorers were veteran batsman Jacques Kallis (50) and Jean-Paul Duminy (49) as no other batsman could make 20 or more runs.

Earlier, Pakistan were restricted to 218-9 in the allotted 50 overs after their captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistan openers Ahmed Shehzad (35) and Nasir Jamshed (24) provided a good start making 49 runs But later, they lost five quick wickets before reaching 100 in 30 overs.

Bilawal made 39 with two sixes and three fours while Anwar top scored with an unbeaten 43, hitting six boundaries.—Agencies

which he almost lost despite of allegations of massive fraud. He was elected after the runner-up dropped out of a second round.

Karzai is not contesting the elections, but his brother is.

“We want security, peace and we want a proper election.

You have asked me that I should sign it within a month. Do you think that peace will come within a month? If I sign it and peace does not come who will be blamed for it by history? If I sign it today and tomorrow we don’t have peace, who would be blamed by history. So that is why I am asking for guarantees,” Karzai told the assembly.

He said he told the Americans ahead of the assembly that “you waited 12 years and you can’t wait another five months.”

President Barak Obama’s administration has said it wants a deal signed by the end of the year and warned that planning for a post-2014 military presence may be jeopardized if it is not approved by Karzai.

The Obama administration has said it will pull all its forces out of Afghanistan without a security deal, as it did when Iraq failed to sign a similar agreement. Most of America’s allies have also said they will not keep troops in Afghanistan without the deal.

“We are studying President Karzai’s speech. We continue to believe that concluding the BSA as quickly as possible is to the benefit of both nations.” US Embassy spokesman Robert Hilton said. Karzai, often looking angry, argued repeatedly that Afghanistan needed more time to ensure that the United States was committed to peace in the country.

“We need a period of implementation. We want a period of implementation for peace. Peace is our condition. If they bring peace we will sign it,” he said.

He did not say how peace could be quickly brought to a country that has been at war for more than 12 years.

His refusal to commit to signing by the end of the year angered the chairman of the Loya Jirga and Karzai’s onetime mentor, former President Sibghatullah Mojaddedi.

“You should sign it, you should sign it for this issue to be over,” Mojaddedi yelled at Karzai. “This is our request.

That this agreement should be signed very soon and if the president does not sign it, I will promise you that as I am a servant of this nation, who has served these people for 40 to 50 years, I will resign and I will leave this country,” the 89-yearold Mojaddedi said.

Karzai stunned the US when he urged delegates on Thursday’s opening day to approve the security pact but said he will leave it to his successor to sign it.

Karzai also seems to be concerned about his long-term legacy, that he doesn’t want to be seen as the Afghan leader who agreed to keep foreign troops in his country beyond 2014, when a Nato mandate ends and international military forces depart Afghanistan.

His move also could be an attempt to avoid taking personal responsibility for an agreement that some Afghans might see as selling out to foreign interests.— AFP

Two soldiers martyred, 5 wounded in NWA blast From Page 1

martyred Army men were offered in the corps HQ where Corps Commander and other senior officials also attended the last rituals of the Shaheed jawaans. The dead bodies of the Shuhadaa’s have been dispatched to their native towns for burial.

Meanwhile, at least three people, including two students, were killed and one other injured on Sunday in two separate explosions that took place in Upper Kurram Agency.

According to the political administration of the area, a roadside bomb was detonated near a car in the Shablan area of Upper Kurram Agency. Subsequently, two people were killed whereas one person sustained injuries.

The second explosion occurred in the Dal area of Upper Kurram Agency, killing one person.

Following the explosions, the political administration cordoned off the area and a probe into the incident went underway.

Separately, a police official was killed when unknown moICMAP Toastmasters Club and IBC hold Annul Speech Contest among member of ICMAP Toastmasters Club at ICMAP, torcyclists opened fire on him Islamabad. Chief guest was Mr. MohsinLodhi. Contest Participant were M. Yasin Butt, Mr. Nawaz, Mr. Yousaf Khan, Mr. within the remit of the Bannu Qamar, Mr. Muhammad Imran and Mr. Asif Hafiz. A large number of people and ICMAP members attended the event. Township police station.

NATO supplies thru Torkham border From Page 1 PTI chief Imran Khan, flanked by the Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Liaqat Baloch and Sheikh Rashid the chief of Awami Muslim League (Aml), had declared in a big public meeting in Peshawar Saturday that all NATO vehicles would be blocked to reach Pak-Afghan border till the time the drones strikes were not halted. Imran had also asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to review his government’s policy and use the PAF birds for downing the predator planes.

In fact the NATO supplies were blocked the same day as thousands of PTI workers had staged sit in as the Public meeting of Imran and company was in progress and blocked the Ring Road Peshawar for the vehicles carrying goods to NATO forces via Torkham.

On Sunday Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf ‘s hundreds of workers started sit-ins in vari-

ous parts of the province to halt NATO supplies. They started sit-ins on various NATO supply routes in Peshawar, Nwshehra, Charsadda and DI Khan. The PTI workers stopped the NATO containers and oil tankers at Ring Road and Hayatabad in Peshawar while the charged PTI activists also thrashed a driver of a container when he refused to show documents.

On the other hand a statement by the PTI’s spokesman said earlier the party workers would stage sit-in from Sunday morning on Peshawar’s Ring Road, Khairabad, Nawabshah, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat and Charsadda interchange.

“Our workers would stage sit-ins in five district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and ensure that no vehicle carrying NATO supplies reaches the PakAfghan border. They will block roads at Khairabad Bridge, Swabi, Charsadda interchange,

DI khan Toll plaza and Hayatabad toll plaza in Peshawar”. The PTI provincial spokesman Ishtiaq Umar said the party workers have been divided in three shifts of eight hours each.

The PTI Central Secretary General Dr. Shireen Mazari also said the sit-ins to stop NATO supplies to Afghanistan have started and this campaign would continue for indefinite period.

It may be recalled that scores of trucks mostly twenty wheelers have been ensuring supplies to the American led NATO forces in Afghanistan on daily basis through Pak-Afghan border at Torkham for the last many years. While during the last 12 years hundreds of NATO containers have been blasted and torched by the militants in Peshawar and adjoining Khyber agency.The shipments contain food supplies, drugs and other commodities.

Iran, 6 world powers reach nuclear deal From Page 1 and China. “It is important that we all of us see the opportunity to end an unnecessary crisis and open new horizons based on respect, based on the rights of the Iranian people and removing any doubts about the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program,” Zarif told reporters.

“This is a process of attempting to restore confidence.”

The deal, intended as a first step toward a more comprehensive nuclear pact to be completed in six months, freezes or reverses progress at all of Iran’s major nuclear facilities, according to Western officials familiar with the details. It halts the installation of new centrifuges used to enrich uranium and caps the amount and type of enriched uranium that Iran is allowed to produce. Iran also agreed to halt work on key components of a heavy-water reactor that could someday provide Iran with a source of plutonium.

In addition, Iran accepted a dramatic increase in oversight, including daily monitoring by international nuclear inspectors, the officials said. The concessions not only halt Iran’s nuclear advances but also make it virtually impossible for Tehran to build a nuclear weapon without being detected, the officials said.

In return, Iran will receive modest relief of trade sanctions and access to some of its frozen currency accounts overseas, concessions said to be valued at less than $7 billion over the sixmonth term of the deal. The sanctions would be reinstated if Iran violates the agreement’s terms. In an address from the White House after the deal was announced, President Obama praised the negotiators’ work.

“Today, that diplomacy opened up a new path toward a world that is more secure, a future in which we can verify that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and that it cannot build a nuclear weapon,” he said.

“While today’s announcement is just a first step, it achieves a great deal. For the first time in

nearly a decade, we have halted the progress of the Iranian nuclear program, and key parts of the program will be rolled back.” The agreement is a longsought victory for the Obama administration, which from its earliest days made the Iranian nuclear program one of its top foreign policy priorities. The administration, helped by its overseas allies as well as Congress, achieved unprecedented success in imposing harsh economic sanctions that cut Iran’s oil exports in half and decimated the country’s currency.

It was hoping to quickly finalize an agreement in the face of threats by Congress to impose additional economic sanctions on Iran. President Barack Obama declared an interim nuclear deal with Iran an “important first step” that cuts off the Islamic republic’s most likely path toward a nuclear bomb. “These are substantial limitations which will help prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon,” Mr. Obama said during remarks from the White House late Saturday night. Mr. Obama pledged to hold off on imposing new sanctions during the term of the six-month agreement, a position likely to anger some in Congress who have been pushing for even tougher penalties against Iran.

“If Iran does not fully meet its commitments during this sixmonth phase, we will turn off the relief and ratchet up the pressure,” he said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warmly welcomed the interim agreement that has been reached in Geneva regarding the nuclear program of Iran.

Ban congratulated the negotiators “for the progress made in what could turn out to be the beginnings of a historic agreement for the peoples and nations of the Middle East region and beyond,” said a statement issued here by his spokesperson on Saturday night.

The latest round of the Iran nuclear talks started on Wednesday. After intensive negotia-

tions, the P5+1 group and Iran have reached a first-step agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

This was the third round of negotiations between Iran and the six countries — the five UN Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany, in more than a month.

In the statement, Ban urged the governments concerned to “do everything possible to build on this encouraging start, creating mutual confidence and allowing continued negotiations to extend the scope of this initial agreement.”

Reaffirming his unswerving commitment to strengthening nuclear disarmament and the non-proliferation regime, the UN chief called on all members of the international community to support this process which, “if allowed to succeed, is likely to be to the long-term benefit of all parties.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Sunday welcomed the understanding reached between Iran and P-5 Plus One in Geneva on the Iran nuclear issue.

Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry in a statement said Pakistan has always underscored the importance of finding a peaceful solution to this issue.

He said “we have also been stressing the need to avert confrontation over Iran’s nuclear program which had the potential to destabilize our region.”

The spokesperson said understanding is an important development‚ which should augur well for peace and security in our region and the world at large.

Earlier, Iran and six world powers have reached a breakthrough agreement on curbing Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for limited sanctions relief. The deal between Iran and the United States‚ France‚ Germany‚ Britain‚ China and Russia was nailed down after more than four days of negotiations in Geneva.—NNI/ INP

Isolated Israel, angry with US Former Indian From Page 1 and Tehran while repeating its threat of military action against Iran.

The leaders said they were not bound by it and reiterating the principle that Israel would be ready to defend itself without assistance against any threat.

After weeks of intense lobbying against any deal between the world powers and Iran that does not ensure the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel called the agreement “a historic mistake,” saying in remarks that were broadcast from the start of his weekly cabinet meeting, “Today the world has become a much more dangerous place because the most dangerous regime in the world has taken a significant step toward attaining the most dangerous weapon in the world.”

Mr. Netanyahu excoriated the world’s leading powers for agreeing to Iranian uranium enrichment for the first time and for relenting on sanctions “in exchange for cosmetic Iranian concessions that can be canceled in weeks.”

“Israel is not bound by this agreement,” he said. “As prime minister of Israel, I would like to make it clear: Israel will not allow Iran to develop a military nuclear capability.”

The foreign minister of Israel, Avidgor Lieberman, told Israel Radio that “Israel will have to make a reassessment” and that “all the options are on the table.”

“We are talking about the greatest diplomatic achievement for the Iranians,” he said. “We

have to take our decision in a cleareyed, independent manner, and we have to be serious enough to be responsible for our fate. Responsibility for the fate of the Jewish people and for the state of Israel lies with the Israeli government alone.”

The Israeli minister of strategic affairs, intelligence and international relations, Yuval Steinitz, said that “like the failed agreement with North Korea, this agreement is likely to bring Iran closer to obtaining the bomb.”

“Israel cannot take part in the international celebration, which is based on Iranian duplicity and self-deception,” he said.

One Israeli minister even warned that the pact could result in a nuclear attack against the West. “If five years from now a nuclear suitcase explodes in New York or Madrid, it will be because of the deal that was signed this morning,” the economic minister, Naftali Bennett, said in a statement.

Israeli outrage may have been fueled by the government’s sense of not having been kept fully in the loop by the Obama administration. Another minister, Silvan Shalom, was asked on Israel Radio if Israeli officials had been informed about the secret American-Iranian talks held over the past few months in Oman, as reported by The Associated Press early Sunday.

“It is not important whether or not we were informed,” Mr. Shalom said. “What is important is if we knew of it, and we did know.”—Agencies

Army chief From Back Page involved during his long service in the Indian Army. He said that the Army was not kept in the loop when the decision to send the troops to Sri Lanka was taken. Malik also raised questions over the “suspicion of the political leadership” while involving the military leadership in decision-making process.

Malik said this “lack of trust and mutual understanding between the civil-military official is affecting the strategic policy”.

He stressed on the need for the inclusive decision making for the interest of the nation. It was always the bureaucracy in the ministry of defence (MoD) which decides everything which is resulting in the little involvement of the Armed forces leadership in higher defence management and policy planning, Malik said.—INP

Sartaj leaves for Iran today From Page 1 Chaudhry, the Advisor will participate in the 21st meeting of Council of Ministers (COM) of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). He will also address the meeting.

The COM meeting will focus on main activity area of ECO including transport, trade, energy, environment and agriculture. Sartaj Aziz would also meet Iranian President and other top leadership to discuss PakIran pipeline project.—Online

Former Indian army chief wants military say in decision making Military not told of nuclear tests: Gen VP Malik

NATO container gutted Q UETTA —A NATO container was gutted after unknown gunmen opened fire at it here on Sunday and sped away after the attack. According to police, unknown miscreants riding motorcycle, sprayed bullets at a NATO container at Quetta-Sibi Road near Dasht area and sped away. As a result of firing the container caught fire and was gutted completely due to non availability of fire brigades.

The law enforcement agencies personnel cordoned off the area after the attack and started search operation for the attackers. Meanwhile, security on National Highways across the province was beefed up due to threats of stopping and attacks on NATO supply supplies in response to the US drone strikes. —INP

The Iran nuclear agreement negotiators after signing pact in Geneva on Sunday.

No more NATO supply from Karachi: Munawwar IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI —Thousands of people assembled under the banner of Jamaat-e Islami (JI) here Sunday to voice their concern, hate and anger against United States of America for violating the sanctity of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan through drone attack .The Jamaat-e Islami, which is in Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa provincial government with the Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf, joined hands FTF to meet on with the PTI in its plans for Thursday forcing the US to stop the I SLAMABAD —Federal Task drone operations within the force (FTF) constituted to look territory of Pakistan. The PTI into the issue of missing per- and the JI have announced sons is to meet here on 28th November, (Thursday) to approve recommendations relating to prevention of forced disappearances. According to sources, the recommendations include legislation to prevent forced disappearances. After consideration by the task force, QUETTA—At least two perthe recommendations would be sons were killed and several sent to the Prime Minister for others injured in different areas of Balochistan on his approval. —INP Sunday.

According to police, Int’l White Ribbon unknown motorcyclists gunned down a shopkeeper Day today identified as Abdul Malik Staff Reporter near Sariyab Road Mill LAHORE—Like other parts of Colony in Quetta and sped. the globe, International In Pasni a local resident White Ribbon Day for Eradi- was killed in firing by unication of Violence against dentified miscreants who Women will be marked across fled the scene after committhe country on Monday (to- ting the crime. day). This day is marked all Meanwhile, in an armed across the globe including clash between two rival Pakistan to show support groups hailing from and solidarity to women suf- Gandakha area, five perfering violence in their lives. sons were injured. The inIn Pakistan, White Ribbon jured persons were rushed Campaign marked this day to hospital where according every year especially to high- to hospital sources condilight role of men in eradica- tion of two wounded people tion of violence against was serious.—INP women.

not to allow the passage of NATO supplies from the Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa where the PTI and the JI would stage sit-ins to block the NATO supply routes.

The JI leadership has now announced that it would not allow the NATO supplies to pass through Karachi.

The anti-drone protest rally was addresed by the JI chief Syed Munawar Hassan.

He said that Pakistanis from Karachi to Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa had joined their voice against the US. The inflamed issue of drone strikes had become an integral part of the US foreign policy, which she used as a

weapon against Muslim countries including Somalia and Pakistan.

He said that voters of the PMLN, who had voted for the Lion (electoral symbol of PMLN) should ask the leadership of PMLN that why a jackal came out from the skin of a lion.Hassan charged federal interior Minister Choudhary Nisar Ali Khan for presenting false statistics on the floor of National Assembly. Nisar had shamelessly claimed that so far only 66 innocent people were victims drone strikes against about 2000 terrorists. Prime

Continued on Page 7

Two killed in Balochistan Altaf urges leaders to distinguish violence between friends, enemies STAFF REPORTER KARACHI —The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain said that Pakistan’s rulers, patriotic political and religious parties, and notables of all schools of thoughts will have to distinguish between friends and enemies of humanity. We had to unite against the beasts who were killing innocent people belonging to all schools of thoughts.

He expressed these views while taking to members of MQM’s elected represented from Pakistan and members of different departments.

He said that ruthless terrorists, who had slaughtered personnel of the army and security forces and had attacked defense installations, mosques, imambargahs and

shrines and killed the innocent citizens were enemies of humanity. The religious and political parties, who supported those enemies of humanity and did not condemn their brutal acts were also enemies of humanity too.

He urged people belonging to all schools of thoughts to put aside their differences and unite against those enemies of humanity and boycott them. It was the height of hypocrisy that they stages protest demonstrations against American drone attacks and begged for US aid, too.

He discussed about what could be done for panIslamism, and sectarian harmony and religious tolerance in the country, pressing issues faced by people such

Continued on Page 7

Talks with Taliban have hit rock bottom: PR LAHORE—Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on Sunday that the issue of talks with the Taliban has hit the rock bottom and the government is hoping to restart the talks process.

Talking to media persons after attending a function here, the minister said the government wants to resolve the issues of terrorism and drone attacks through the talks .

He said there was contradiction in the statements of the PTI chief Imran Khan and he is befooling the masses. He said Nawaz

Sharif had become a national leader from the time when Imran Khan was running after the ‘ball and other things’.

Pervaiz Rashid said Pakistan was facing countless problems including terrorism and in such circumstances the country needs friends, not foes. He said the politics of Imran Khan was not in the favour of the country as he is bent upon deteriorating Pakistan’s relations with the world community.

He said those spoiling Pakistan’s relations with other countries can’t be Pakistan’s friends. The minister said the FIR filed by the PTI chief

against the drone strike didn’t name any accused. He said this FIR is against unknown people, which is a joke with the nation.

He said when Imran K h a n doesn’t know that who is behind the drone strike then why he was raising slogans against the US and blocking Nato supplies.

Pervaiz Rashid said there was no doubt that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was most affected by terrorism and Imran

Khan also claims of representing the sentiments of Pakhtuns but the sit-in of the PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not addressed by any Pakhtun leader.

He said people from Rawalpindi and South Punjab addressed the rally of Pakhtuns. He said Imran Khan raised the slogan of blocking Nato supplies, but later he sat in his Prado and went back to Bani Gala. He said there has been off day on Saturday and Sunday for Nato supplies transportation then the blockage of supplies by the PTI on these days was beyond comprehension. —INP

C HANDIGARH —Former Indian Army chief Gen (Retd) V P Malik has slammed political leadership for not involving army in decision making on nation’s security, saying “lack of trust” between the civil-military officials was affecting strategic policies.

He said that the decision making process in India is “fractured”, which leaves out many stake holders associated with the issue. “Services chiefs were not informed about the nuclear tests until just two days prior to the big day even though the armed forces are meant to be the user in the event of a nuclear war,” Malik said. Similarly, the Armed forces were also unaware that India had manufactured chemical weapons until it had destroyed its stock following the signing of the Chemical Weapons Convention, he said.

“The fact which bothers an Indian soldier is the ab-

sence of his voice in critical decision making,” he said.

Malik was speaking at the launch of his new book “India’s Military Conflicts and Diplomacy: An Inside View of Decision Making”. He stressed that armed forces must be involved in all decision making processes with

which they are associated.

“Political leadership never involved the military leadership, which resulted in flawed decisions in many times,” the former Army chief said. General Malik’s book talks about some strategic events in which he was personally

Continued on Page 7

More walking tied to lower stroke risk among men

O

LDER men who spend several hours walking each day are less likely to have a stroke than their peers who rarely walk, a new study suggests. And walking pace didn’t seem to matter.

Researchers said few studies have looked specifically at how both walking speed and walking time or distance are linked to stroke risk.

“Stroke is a major cause of death and disability and it is important to find ways to prevent it, especially in older people who are at high stroke risk,” Barbara J. Jefferis told Reuters Health in an email. She led the research at University College London in the UK. “Our study suggests that maintaining an active lifestyle, specifically by spending more time on all forms of walking, could be an important part of stroke prevention strategies in older people,” Jefferis said.

She and her coauthors analyzed data from men enrolled in a long-term British heart study.

The men entered the study in 1978 to 1980. In 1998 to 2000, when they were in their 60s and 70s, they filled out surveys about how often they were physically active.

The new analysis includes 2,995 men who had not had a stroke or heart disease at the time of that survey. Researchers followed them for another 11 years.

More than half of the men walked an hour or less each day. About one in six reported walking more than two hours per day.

During the follow-up period, 195 of the men had a stroke. The researchers found that the more time men spent walking, the lower their risk of stroke.

Men who walked four to seven hours each week were 11 percent less likely to have a stroke than men who walked for three hours per week or less. But that difference could have been due to chance, Jefferis and her colleagues reported in the journal Stroke.

A stronger finding was that men who walked the most - for more than three hours each day - had a two-thirds lower risk of stroke than those who spent the least time walking.

Walking pace was also tied to stroke risk, such that average-pace or brisk walkers had a 38 percent lower risk of stroke than slow walkers. But distance walked explained that finding: men who walked at an average or brisk pace also walked further than their slower peers, according to the study.

The findings don’t prove walking prevents strokes. But they could not be explained by factors known to increase a person’s risk of stroke, like age, blood pressure and cholesterol. More recently identified markers of stroke, such as proteins associated with inflammation, blood clotting or heart muscle damage also weren’t behind the link.

“What we found was that all of these factors explained only a small amount of the relationship between time spent walking and onset of stroke,” Jefferis said.

People enjoying aerial view of the capital during their visit at the Daman-e-Koh.

CDA earns Rs8b from auction of commercial plots STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Capital Devel-

opment Authority (CDA) has earned Rs eight billion from auction of 24 commercial plots in different sectors of federal capital.

According to CDA official, the authority has offered 56 plots for auction while only 24 were auctioned adding that other plots were deferred due to shortage of time.

The three day transparent and open auction process held in highly secured environment and attended by a large number of investors further consolidated the confidence of the investors.

All the plots in auction fetched much higher prices as compared to the previous years, which testifies investor ’s confidence in CDA’s transparent and investment friendly policies.

Investors from Lahore and Karachi were also particiISLAMABAD: Rector NUML Maj Gen (Retd) Masood Hasan, Director General Brig Azam pated in the auction process Jamal at the reception marking mock session of UN General Assembly arranged to en- through video link for the first lighten students about working of the UN. time.

Mock UN General Assembly session concludes at NUML ASHRAF ANSARI ISLAMABAD—A two-day mock session of UN General Assembly concluded at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) here Sunday.

Mock session also included proceedings of the General Assembly Committees.

The delegates in the committee raised arguments on issues ranging from the world peace and conflict to human right abuses, globalization, humanitarian aid and violence against women.

The student delegates simulating ambassadors in UNHRC came up with recommendations on implementation of laws regarding violence against

women.

Rector NUML Maj Gen (R) Masood Hasan, addressing the closing ceremony, said events like this are important for the grooming of the youths. He said let us reiterate that dialogue is necessary for mutual understanding, and mutual understanding is basis for mutual trust. There can be no cooperation without mutual trust and international cooperation is prerequisite for international peace.

The students participating in the event said that it was quite enlightening and informative.

Rector NUML Maj Gen (R) Masood Hasan and Director General Brig Azam Jamal distributed certificates among the students.

NH&MP well trained to confront criminals: IG STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Honesty is our belief and courtesy and rendering help to road users is our recognition. Our force (NH&MP) is well prepared, equipped and trained enough to confront criminal elements on highways and motorways. The training, which plays crucial role in the success of any organization and helps in polishing skills and broadens the ambit of knowledge, is the foremost priority of the patrolling force.

This was said by Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema, Inspector General, National Highways &Motorway Police, while addressing trainee police officers at the passing out parade of NH&MP, KPK Police, AJK and FIA at Motorway Police Training College Shaikhpura. DIG Mirza Shakil Ahmad, DIG Zubair Hashmai, DIG Muhammad Wasal Sultan, SSP Inksar Khan, SSP Faran Baig, SSP Nasir Satti, Commandant Training College Ather Wahid and other police officers were also present on the occasion.

NAB investigator Kamran Faisal’s murder

Will police register FIR against Raja Pervaiz, ex-NAB chief Bukhari?

ZUBAIR QURESHI ISLAMABAD—After Friday’s hearing of the case of the NAB investigator’s death in the Supreme Court, it is now crystal clear that the young officer investigating into the Rs22 billion rental power project scam did not commit suicide. He was assassinated. Pakistan Observer has got the copy of the report that was also presented by Advocate Aftab Bajwa the counsel for Ch Abdul Hameed, Kamran Faisal’s father before a three member Supreme Court bench on Nov 22.

The report says there is no evidence of suicide and apparently it seems a case of murder. According to the report, “The results of the Forensic Pathology are inconsistent with suicide and favour that the manner of the death of the deceased Kamran Faisal is homicide (act of killing).” Ironically the Punjab Forensic Sciences Agency’s report is dated as May 20, 2013 and signed

by SS-I Path Supervisor (Pathology). The counsel for Kamran Faisal said not only the original re-

port was concealed but police, NAB and other investigating agencies were actively involved in spoiling/tampering the evidence.

A three-member bench led by Chief Justice (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while hearing the case on Friday has directed the Inspector General Police (IGP) Islamabad Sikandar Hayat to constitute a joint team to probe into Kamran Faisal’s murder case in the light of forensic report and submit report in a week time.

Advocate Bajwa said he was quite sure that this time, the police would follow law and register FIR against the two main accused former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and ex-chairman National Accountability Bureau Admiral (Retd) Fasih Bukhari. We have also sought registration of FIR under Article 201 of the CrPC against those police and NAB officials who are involved in spoiling or tampering the evidence. He said that he had submitted a picture before the august bench in which Kamran Faisal is seen hanging from the ceiling with his jog-

gers on but his trousers are missing while the picture submitted by police before the bench is the one in which his shoes are missing but he is wearing trousers. “This clearly shows the crime scene is compromised and Kamran Faisal was tortured before he was hanged.” Even Supreme Court has taken notice of the report and while hearing the case, SC judge Justice Jawwad S Khwaja, one of the three judges had also remarked that according to forensic report National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation officer Kamran Faisal did not commit suicide but he was murdered and the court will review this murder incident in the light of Rental Power Plants (RPPs) case, Bajwa further told. Faisal, who was investigating the Rs22 billion rental power projects scam, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his official residence in Federal Lodges, Islamabad, on Jan 18 this year. His death came three days after the Supreme Court ordered arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and 15 others in connection with the scam.

ITP asks motorists to repair faulty lights ISLAMABAD—Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Asmat Ullah Junejo asked motorists as well as motorcyclists to get lights of their vehicles and bikes ‘repaired’ till December, 1 so as to avoid issuance of fine tickets to them.

The SSP (Traffic) said that faulty lights cause accidents and it is very much important to control such mishaps in future.—APP

Low gas pressure irks residents

Demand for chicken soup soars

ISLAMABAD—Low gas pres-

Zohr

06:00 01:30 03:45 07:00

Brothers in Islam establish regular prayers and charity

November 25 ALLAMA Iqbal Open University will hold a special function to mark “Iqbal Day” at 10:00 am in its main Auditorium. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal will be chief guest.

November 27 BOARD of Intermediate and Secondary Education (RBISE) has announced that the result of supplementary exam of matric will be announced on November 27.

November 28 ALL Punjab Inter Universities Drama Festival organized by Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) will start from tomorrow (Saturday, November 23) along with Book Festival which will continue till November 28.

AIOU to hold ‘Iqbal Day’ today

I SLAMABAD —The demand sure has aggravated the probfor chicken corn soup has lems of the residents of variincreased manifold in the ous areas of twin cities of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Rawalpindi and Islamabad, parIslamabad due to falling merticularly Airport Housing Socicury but food lovers have ety, Iqbal Town who are getquestioned quality of the hot ting extremely low gas pressure drink. during day time for the last two A large number of people weeks. Sania, a resident of Aircan be seen enjoying port Housing Society,sector III, chicken soup either by said the gas pressure had been standing near soup stalls or low in her area, forcing them to sitting in shops and kiosks. use alternative fuels like LPG But the several stalls and for preparing food. shop keepers are least inter“Gas is not available ested in serving the chicken sepecially at morning and soup in hygienic ways. evening and we are unable Many of those who have had even to cook the food”, said a taste of the soup from variher neighbour,Mrs.Saman, ous make-shift stalls have while talking to this agency. urged the authorities to regu“We have to arrange larly check its quality for enready made breakfasts for our suring the hygienic stanchildern”. The situation is agdards. gravating day by day,” said Ali “I have seen a single Murtaza, a resident of Sector soup stall-holder serving the IV,Airport Society. He said that broth in the same bowl sevdue to low gas pressure, eral time without bothering to people could not use gas heatwash it,” said a guy. ers in their houses,especially Dr Shahzad, who runs a when CNG stations are open, clinic in Rawalpindi said women are not able to cook that one could not deny food”. The residents dethat there were a host of manded the Sui Northern Gas benefits of taking chicken Piplines to supply gas to all soup, but care should be the areas of the twin cities on Ambassador of People’s Republic of China, Sun Weidong is being briefed about displays at the Heritage Museum by Executive Director Lok Virsa taken to ensure its hygienic on Sunday. equal basis.—APP serving.—APP

Eight patrol pumps sealed R AWALPINDI —On the instruction of Secretary Labour Capt. (R) Yousuf, District Labour Officer Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali, Deputy Director Labour Khizer Hayat and a team of the Labour Department raided petrol pumps along G.T. Road in Rawat area and sealed eight patrol pumps for violating weights and measurement laws. During the raids, it was found that petrol measurement equipment of several patrol pumps were not according to standards set by the government.

The Labour department teams warned the owners of the petrol pumps that strict action will be taken against the violators.—APP

Samina Gul’s poetry book launched STAFF REPORTER R AWALPINDI —Rawalpindi Arts Council in collaboration with literary society Bazm-eAhl-e-Qalam organized a book launching ceremony of Samina Gul’s book ‘Mohabat Aankh Rakhti hai’ and held a mehfil-e-mushaira here on Sunday.

Prof Jaleel Aali presided over the ceremony while Hasan Abbas Raza was chief guest and Dr Anwar Zahidi was guest of honor on the occasion.

Secretary Bazm-e-Ahl-eQalam was the compare.

Chairman Bazm-e-Ahl-eQalam Dr Farhat Abbas wel-

comed the guests and said that Samina Gul’s poetry book is good addition to Urdu literature and a feast for the people having literary taste.

Senior poets, Aftab Zia, Naseem Saher, Rana Saeed Doshi, Syed Mazhar, Ahmed Zahoor, Saeed Ali, Shabana Zaidi, Jia Qureshi, Saghir Anwar, Rashida Maheen Malik, Saima Batool, Farah Deeba, Yawar Azeem, Babar Zuhrab, Sohail Ahmed, and Munir Fayaz recited their poetry. Resident Director RAC Waqar Ahmed thanked all the honorable guests for arrival in the Council.

I SLAMABAD —Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is holding a special function with reference of “Iqbal Day” here today (Monday) at its main Auditorium.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal will grace the occasion as a Chief Guest while Vice-Chancellor, AIOU Prof. Dr. Nazir Ahmed Sangi will preside over the function.

This was announced by Prof. Dr. Shahid Iqbal Kamran, Chairman, Department of Iqbaliyat, and AIOU He said that Farzand-eIqbal, Justice (R) Dr. Javed Iqbal will deliver his keynote address on “The soul of Islamic culture” and Iqbal Feroz, Patron-in-Chief, Rebaat-e-Iqbal will address on the topic “Iqbal ka Pegham Nojawano Kay Ley”.

Department of Iqbaliyat, AIOU with the support and collaboration of Directorate of Students Advisory, AIOU and ‘Rebaat-e-Iqbal Paki- Prof Jalil Ali, Hassan Abbas and others sitting on the stage on the eve of launching of stan’ has arranged the func- Samina Gul’s book ‘Mohabat Ankh Rakhti Hey’ on Sunday at Rawalpindi Arts Council. tion.

400 copies of ‘Kulyat-eIqbal Urdu’ would also be distributed amongst the participants on the occasion.— INP

Capital police arrest 110 suspects

Students guided how to avoid Plagiarism, use ‘turnitin’

ISLAMABAD—A workshop at International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) discussed journals recognized

by Higher Education Commission (HEC), Plagiarism, its reasons and use of the software “turnitin” which detects the plagiarized material.

The workshop was titled as “Awareness of Modern Research Procedure, HEC Recognized Journals and Plagiarism Policy”, which was conducted

by Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) of the university in collaboration of HEC.

Research students were informed and guided by Acting Director QEC, Dr. Irshad Ahmed Arshad in his valuable lecture regarding the categories of the journals and requirements and measures to make research a valued work. Three sessions of the workshop discussed the HEC recognized journals, steps to avoid plagiarism and demonstration of the software “turnitin”.

The participants explored the ways to make their research published in a pro-

fessional way while they were apprised to make the acknowledgement of data necessary to avoid bitter consequences.

“Over quoted material may fall in plagiarism and to avoid the data detection as plagiarized one should rephrase, quote and summarize the data in ones own words” Dr. Irshad maintained. He added ineffective note taking like mentioning not the source and copy paste may put the researcher in “Plagiarism trap”.—NNI

ISLAMABAD—Islamabad Police had devised a comprehensive plan for search and combing operation in Afghan and slum areas of the city to arrest suspects and those illegally staying in the city.

Press statement issued on Sunday said that this plan had been chalked out following the directions from Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Sikandar Hayat.

The main purpose of this operation is to arrest suspects and criminal elements staying in these areas.

Police teams headed by SDPO Shehzad Town ASP Rana Tahir and SDPO Rural DSP Malik Tahir Mehmood alongwith SHOs of different police stations, police Commandoes and 250 policemen on Sunday conducted search operation in Shakrial, Zia Masjid and Changar Colony Rawat in the jurisdiction of Sihala and Shehzad Town police stations.

These police teams arrested 110 suspects and recovered 40 motorbikes, 04 cars, 02 computers, 150 bottles of wine, two 30-bor pistols with ammunition, Charas and heroine from Dr Irshad Ahmad Arshad delivering a lecture in a workshop on ‘Awareness of Modern Research Procedures, HEC Recognized Journals and Plagiarism’ organized by QEC, IIUI. them.—Online

Chinese ambassador visits Lok Virsa I SLAMABAD —Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong has visited Lok Virsa, the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage here at Shakaparian on Sunday.

ExecutiveDirector, Lok Virsa Ms. Shahera Shahid, welcomed the ambassador on his arrival on arrival and briefed him about the salient features of the Pakistan’s rich cultural and heritage.

She also shed light on the significance of the Pakistan’s centuries old cultural relations and linkages with our great and time tested friend China.

Chinese Ambassador was taken around various three-dimensional creative displays at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology, popularly known as Heritage Museum spreading over 60,000 square feet covered area.

The Ambassador took keen interest in the museum hall showing contributions of the Muslims towards promotion of musical heritage, diorama on wedding rituals of Cholistan desert and link passage presenting cultural affinities & influences with the People’s Republic of China.

He was also extremely happy to see the truck art diorama, hall of silk thread and Chinese contribution towards Karakorum highway in Pakistan beautifully reflected on the walls of the Heritage Museum.

Later, Ambassador held a meeting with Executive Director, Lok Virsa at the Heritage Library and along with discussing important matters he his support for expansion of the existing link passage with China created at Lok Virsa Heritage Museum.

In his remarks in the visitors’ book, the Chinese Ambassador wrote “Pakistan & China has deep rooted relations which are growing day-byday. Long live Pak-China friendship.”—Online

Commissioner orders cleanliness drive on fast track R AWA L P I N D I — C o m m i s - streets, roads, markets and prominently at shops and sioner Rawalpindi Division, Khalid Masood Chaudhary has said that the special cleanliness operation launched here on emergency basis to remove solid waste, should be completed on fast track basis.

He said representatives of Islamabad, Rawalpindi district administrations and Executive District Officer (EDO) Agriculture remained present at “Sabzi Mandi” during the auction of vegetable and fruit items to ensure smooth supply of food items and keep stability in the prices.

The cleanliness work at

other places will be completed within shortest possible period with cooperation of Health department, Rawal and Potohar Towns of Rawalpindi, Cantonment Board and Railways authorities.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting. He ordered the Additional Commissioner (General), AC Cantt and City and other officers of the administration to take effective steps to stabilize the prices of food items in the town.

He ordered the administration to ensure that price lists are displayed

stern action should be taken against the profiteers.

He said anti-dengue spray should be carried out at the areas where dengue larvae have been reported.

The Commissioner ordered the authorities to strictly implement the orders issued to ban the sale of animals at prohibited points and to stop the sale of unhygienic food items.

The District Food Controller on the occasion briefed the Commissioner on the availability of flour at ‘Sahulat Bazaars’.—APP

Lunda Bazar now becoming a distant dream for poor STAFF R EPORTER R AWA L P I N D I —Lunda Ba-

also increased by 25 to 50 percent as compared to the last year.

The reports from various cities particularly upper parts of the country revealed that the woollies demand has increased manifold and the sale of secondhand clothes is noticing upward trend with every passing day.

Faizabad, Commercial Market, Raja Bazaar, Saddar Bazaar, Tench Bhatta and other weekly bazaars of Rawalpindi have already stocked up on their winter varieties and are geared up to welcome the chilly season with open arms.

It has become difficult for us to buy new clothes because of higher prices; therefore, I came here for buying sweaters,â•• said Aamir a buyer. Many shopkeepers have changed their stalls of other products into the winter clothes.It is the best time to earn more profit by selling used clothes,â•• said Mumtaz, a stall holder.

Weather has turned cold in the city for last few days, with the mercury level dipping down especially at night.Another female buyer said that she comes to the second hand clothes market every year to find out good quality used items on af-

fordable rates.

However, she said that every year she notices the second hand clothes shops to be increasingly replaced by the Chinese manufactured goods. They are now in greater abundance than the actual Lunda (second hand) items,she added.

Sohail a shopkeeper informed that his sales have increased considerably with the start of winter season.

With purely second hand used items, the price depends on the amount that had been paid by the dealer for the lot and therefore prices may fluctuate year to year, he added.

Second hand clothes, sweaters, mufflers, shoes, jackets and blankets are mostly sold in Jamia Masjid Road, Committee Chowk market, Tench Bhatta second hand market, weekly Saddar Lunda bazaar and Raja Bazaar.

These are the main markets of imported items of the town brought in from the US, UK, Korea, Japan, China, Holland, France, Belgium and Germany.

Altaf a shopkeeper informed that the flow of customers not ceased following inflation rather it has increased.

zaars once considered a haven for poor for its cheap prices is now becoming a distant dream for them as rates of used clothes and shoes are reaching sky high.

With the advent of chilly weather conditions, a great rush is being witnessed in the weekly Lunda (second hand) bazaars of the town to buy sweaters, jackets and other products for the winter season. There are several Lunda bazaars in different areas of the city including Tench Bhatta, Jamia Masjid road, Hospital road, Railway road, Saddar Bazaar, Raja Bazaar and Faizaabad.

During a visit of the weekly lunda bazaar, it was observed that a large number of low-income and middle class people swarmed at the stalls of second-hand clothes.The used clothes are so popular as ╘Lunda╙ bazaars can be found all over the country but now these also deals in imported Chinese items with second hand items and in fact are doing a roaring trade.

Now a days, rates of R AWALPINDI —A three-day second hand clothes have polio drive would commence in the city and cantonment areas from Monday.

Earlier district health authorities postponed its antipolio drive in city and cantonment areas, keeping in view the situation after the Raja Bazar incident.

Talking to APP, District Health Officer Dr Javaid Hayat said the drive has been completed in six tehsils of the district including Kallar Syedan, Murree, Taxila, Kahuta, Gujjar Khan and Kotli Sattian.

During the campaign ,he said health officials have been directed to remain vigilant, particularly in those areas where polio-virus was found during the last year’s campaign.

He said possible steps had been taken by the Health Department to make the camPML-N PP-10 Cantt President Ch Muhammad Tayyab, Mrs. Ambreen and other teachpaign a success.—APP ers participating in dengue awareness walk in People’s Colony, Rawalpindi.

City anti-polio drive starts today

Unresolved Kashmir dispute threat to world peace: Yasin SRINAGAR—The Chairman of killing of innocent Kashmiri rector of the Kashmiri Ameri- when the troops had opened Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muhammad Yasin Malik, has said that the unsolved Kashmir dispute poses a serious threat to the global peace and any further delay in its settlement will prove disastrous for the entire world.

Muhammad Yasin Malik addressing a mammoth public gathering in Aarihal area of Pulwama, said that the Kashmiris had started a peaceful mass agitation in 2008 and transformed their struggle into a non-violent movement with the hope that the international community would appreciate the transformation. However, he deplored that the world had maintained silence over the

Pro-freedom Kashmiri leaders hail Fai’s release

people that gave a sense of impunity to India to crush the Kashmiris’ liberation struggle through force. He expressed the confidence that the world powers would play an effective role to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations.

Earlier, Muhammad Yasin Malik and other JKLF leaders were given a rousing welcome amid high-pitched proliberation slogans on their arrival in the area.

On the other hand, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, talked over phone with the Executive Di-

can Council, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, and congratulated him on his release from imprisonment. They said that Dr Fai was the Ambassador of Kashmir in the foreign world and hoped that he would continue his efforts to highlight the Kashmir cause at the global level.

Indian police arrested the Chairperson of Dukhtaran-eMillat, Aasiya Andrabi, along with several party activists near Banihal, when they were on their way to Gool in Ramban to express solidarity with the families of civilians killed by Indian troops in the area. Four civilians were killed and more than forty others injured in Gool on July 18, this year,

indiscriminate fire on the demonstrators who were protesting against the desecration of the Holy Quran by the troops in the area.

The Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Political Movement, Firdous Ahmad Shah, talking to a public delegation that met him at the party headquarters in Srinagar said that an amicable settlement of the Kashmir dispute was imperative for permanent peace and prosperity in the region.

Complete shutdown was observed in Baramulla town against the arrest of several youth by Indian police.

People also staged demonstrations against the ar- Indian army personnel violating basic human rights by arresting innocent youths in Srinagar. rests.—KMS

DPN urges leaders to get united for prosperity of state

Disgracing of woman visitor in Srinagar jail condemned

Mirwaiz adjures people to follow Islamic teachings

S RINAGAR —Hurriyat (M) the society can be only con- mir as a dispute, adding, the S RINAGAR —The High Chairman Mirwaiz Umar fronted by implementing Is- hurriyat has always raised SRINAGAR—Chairman Demo- poverty and unemployment till the roadmap for utilization of issue of Kashmir at OIC, S RINAGAR —The pro-free- cratic Party Nationalist (DPN) then and push Kashmiris into abundant natural resources in Court Bar Association Farooq has stressed upon lamic teachings in our lives. the NAM, UNO and other world

dom leadership in Held Kashmir hailed the decision of a US Court to release Executive Director of Kashmiri American Council, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai. Calling Fai a true advocate of Kashmir’s right to selfdetermination, chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani said, “We welcome his release wholeheartedly.”

The Hurriyat leader said Fai was a sincere spokesman of Kashmir and “his contribution to Kashmir is immense” “During his stay in America, he has talked about Kashmir’s disputed nature and India’s promise of right to self-determination. The entire nation is proud of him.”

Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik said the US court’s decision to free Dr Fai was a positive sign. “We are happy that he’ll be freed,” Malik said.—NNI

HCBA condemns CRPF action

and Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir has asked the mainstream and pro-freedom Kashmiri leaders to get united for the prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a party convention here, Mir said there was no doubt that Kashmir is a political issue and every party, be it from the mainstream camp or the pro-freedom camp, has its own viewpoint on the issue.

“The DPN respects every ideology. Political differences apart, we can come together to ensure prosperity and economic welfare of the State,” said Mir. He said nobody could guarantee when Kashmir issue would be resolved.

“Can we afford to be a mute spectator to the problems of

disturbance?” Mir asked. He said the stand of the DPN was that all shades of opinion should come on the same platform to bring Kashmiris out of sufferings and miseries.

“We should jointly work to groom the rich talent of our youth so that they can prove their mettle not only at the country level but global level,” Mir said. “This is what DPN stands for.” Mir talked about the special status enjoyed by J&K. “For me the special status will only be achieved when Kashmir witnesses overall development in education, health and other sectors which have an impact on day to day life of people,” Mir said.

Mir asked the intelligentsia to come forward and provide

J&K which could pave way for the overall development of the State. He said if intelligentsia could discuss the political problem of Kashmir, which was their right, they also have a responsibility to ensure betterment of the society.

He said it was unfortunate that J&K, which has abundant water resources, is facing shortage of the resource in the agriculture sector and people are struggling for drinking water.

He said these problems can be solved if mainstream and pro-freedom leadership put up a united front. “We can’t keep everything hostage to a particular problem. Kashmir issue was there when I was a child and it is there today also,” Mir said.—NNI

Kashmir solution key to regional peace: Firdous S RINAGAR —The Chairman cordance with the UN reso- Kashmir dispute would have

dangerous consequences on the peace and stability of the region.

Firdous Ahmad Shah appealed to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon SRINAGAR—The Jammu and and other justice-loving Kashmir High Court Bar Ascountries of the world to sociation (Kashmir) has conput pressure on India to demned alleged “stripping of take serious and sincere efa woman”, by the CRPF forts for peaceful and immewoman personnel inside the diate resolution of the Central Jail Srinagar preKashmir dispute according I S L A M A B A D — C o m p l e t e mises. to the aspirations of the shutdown was observed in “The Bar Association feels Kashmiri people.—KMS Baramulla town in occupied that in terms of section 41 of Kashmir against the arrest of the Prisons Act, it is the Jailor several youth by the Indian alone who can cause the visipolice from various localities. tor to be searched and not ones All shops, business estabundressing”, a spokesman of lishments, financial instituHCBA said in a statement. tions, and petrol pumps reThe spokesman said the mained closed while the moveduty of the CRPF personnel ment of traffic on the otherwise posted at Central jail Srinagar busy roads of the town was is to keep a vigil and not to affected due to the shutdown. search visitors. He said the The arrested youth include search is a violation of the proAbdul Qayoom Najar, Fayaz visions of the Prisons Act and Ahmad Sheikh, Nazim Mir, Adil the Jail Manual.

Mir, Sameer Butt, Irshad Mir, “The Bar Association feels Shahid Mir and Mohammad that such an illegal, unlawful Rafiq Dar. Amid shutdown, and unwarranted action by the groups of youth appeared at CRPF and the jail authorities is Bus Stand, Taxi Stand, Tehsil only aimed at harassing relaChowk, Main Chowk and tives, friends and family memKhanpora areas of the town and bers of the prisoners and is staged demonstrations against highly deplorable”, he added. the arrest of the youth.

He said the Bar Association Indian police and troops has decided to raise the issue used batons and fired tearin the already pending PIL filed by the Bar Association in rela- Mukhtar Ahmad Waza addressing a meeting held at the central office of Jammu and gas shells to disperse the protesters.—APP tion to Prison Problems.—NNI Kashmir People’s League in Srinagar. of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Political Movement (DPM), Firdous Ahmad Shah, has said that amicable settlement of the Kashmir dispute can bring permanent peace in the region besides progress and prosperity in India and Pakistan.Firdous Ahmad Shah talking to a public delegation that met him at the party headquarters in Srinagar said that the dispute should resolved in ac-

lutions because the people of Kashmir had been rendering sacrifices for securing their birthright to self-determination.

He told the delegation that India was not showing seriousness in settlement of the lingering dispute but was using delaying tactics to kill the time and hoodwink the international community.

He said that any further delay in settlement of the

(HCBA) has decided to raise before the High Court the issue of disgracing a woman visitor by the personnel of Indian Central Reserve Police Force in Srinagar central jail.

The HCBA General Secretary, Mohammad Ashraf Butt, in a statement issued in Srinagar condemned the stripping of a woman by the CRPF women personnel inside the jail premises.

He said that such an illegal, unlawful and unwarranted action by the CRPF and the jail authorities was only aimed at harassing the relatives, friends and family members of the prisoners.

He said that search of the visitors by the CRPF personnel at the Srinagar central jail was rampant for decades and was manifestly a violation of the Jail Manual.

The HCBA has accordingly decided to raise the issue in the already pending PIL filed in relation to prison problems before the High Court and seek appropriate directives to all the concerned, he added.—KMS

Shutdown, demos against arrest of youth

Indian tactics to malign Kashmir movement I NDIA has been leaving no stone unturned and resorting to nefarious tactics to suppress and defame the Kashmiris’ just struggle that is aimed at undoing the illegal Indian occupation of their soil.

Pathribal fake encounter is one of such attempts that were meant to malign the Kashmir movement.

Killing innocent Kashmiri youth in fake encounters has been favorite pastime of Indian troops and police personnel.

The troops enjoy unbridled powers under the draconian law, Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which virtually gives

them a license to kill innocent people with impunity.

The puppet administration in occupied Kashmir cannot take any punitive action against the troops for their criminal acts without prior approval of New Delhi. So far, not a single Indian trooper or policeman has been booked for his involvement in serious human rights violations, rather war crimes, in the occupied territory.

The Pathribal fake encounter dates back to March 2000 when five innocent youth were shot dead, burnt beyond recognition and labeled as foreign militants.

The authorities had

claimed that the killed were involved in the massacre of 35 Sikhs in Chattisinghpora village of the occupied territory. The Sikhs were killed on an early date in the same month on the occasion of the then US President, Bill Clinton’s visit to India. This incident was also proved to have been masterminded by Indian secret agencies to bring a communal colour to the Kashmir freedom struggle.

Massive demonstrations against the Pathribal killings forced the puppet administration to exhume the bodies and the process proved that the killed persons were innocent Kashmiri civilians. Even a

judicial inquiry into the matter indicated that the victims were locals.

Similarly, the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from occupied Kashmir in 1990s – when the Kashmiris intensified their struggle to secure their inalienable right to self-determination – was another attempt of the Indian intelligence agencies to paint the Kashmir movement as a communal one.

The abduction of foreign tourists in mid nineties in Islamabad district of the territory was also aimed at defaming the Kashmiri Mujahideen. However, a recently published book ‘The Meadow’ by British journalists, Adrian Levy and Cathy

Scott-Clark has made shocking revelations about the kidnapping.

The book makes it clear that Indian intelligence agencies were behind their abduction and killing.

The deplorable aspect of matter is that the Indian judiciary has failed in providing justice to the people of Kashmir. The latest ruling of the court in the Pathribal fake encounter has further strengthened the blanket impunity enjoyed by army and paramilitary personnel under the AFSPA. This indeed poses a serious challenge to the civilized nations of the world.

—KMS

people to practically implement the basic teachings of Islam in their lives to establish a welfare society in Jammu and Kashmir.

Inaugurating the Masjid-eMehboob Alam at Dag Pora Anchar Lake, Mirwaiz addressed a gathering during which he said the area has always respected and have maintained a long standing relationship with Mirwaizain-e-Kashmir. He said the association of people with the political party and freedom struggle was of historic importance.

Hurriyat (M) Chairman said the innumerable social evils, extravaganza, and futile rituals currently plaguing

He said the stability and unity among the ranks of people was the need of hour in these delicate movements of Kashmir struggle. He further stressed that Kashmiris can’t retreat from their stand and the current struggle would continue till it reaches its logical conclusion.

Underlining the unforgettable contributions made by the Mahajar-e-Millat and Shaheed-e-Millat towards the freedom struggle, Mirwaiz said that the first suggestion of tripartite dialogue to solve Kashmir was given by Shaheed-e-Millat.

He said leaving India, entire world now considers Kash-

bodies and would continue to do so in future.

Hurriyat (M) Chairman said that apart from fighting for right to self determination, hurriyat would continue to raise the day-today problems faced by the people. He said the forum would always work towards awaring people about their political and economical exploitation by the vested interest people.

Mirwaiz announced that the Awami Action Committee would establish a halqa in the area. He said a Darsagah would be establish to provide religious education to new generation.—NNI

Omar Govt increasing its criminal liability everyday SRINAGAR—Peoples’ Demo- previous PDP-led govern- ficers and that is why he has cratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti has said the National Conference led coalition government is increasing its criminal liability with every day scams and adding trouble to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and there was immediate need for a sincere, transparent system in the state.

Addressing public meetings at Tragam and Banyari in Sonawari constituency in the north Kashmir’s Bandipore district, she said the Omar Abdullah government has turn out to be great source of trouble for the state and it is now high time for the people to think what is good for them.

In this regard, she said, 2014 throws an opportunity for the people to make sure that a new system of accountability, transparency and justice is introduced and the present insensitive and cruel dispensation is shown the door. The government is party to every single crime being unearthed here, whether it is BoPEE scam, cricket scam, CA&PD scam, and it seems the rulers are on a mission to loot this state.

Mehbooba said Omar Abdullah came into the power with tall promises but five years down the line he has failed everyone here, even reversed the gains made in the

ment, and with the passage of time its continuation has in turn become costly for J&K. While the PDP in 2002, made modest promises before the people and during its brief tenure in the government made sure that an accountable, honest structure can be established without promising high.

“Mufti Mohammad Sayeed established a government which was sincere in its approach and delivered much than it promised,” said Mehbooba.

Besides other major initiatives, PDP during its brief tenure streamlined the power sector; accelerated the development process; created sense of security among the masses and opened the Line of Control for travel; started work on the historic Mughal road, she said and added with the creation of Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding and economic packages by the two prime ministers-Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singhpaved the way for Mufti government to go for major development programme across the state.

The PDP chief said Omar Abdullah has become a bad work man and apparently he does not have trust in his of-

been reemploying the dead wood in the administration.

“We have best of the officers available in the state and Mufti Shahib involved them, gave them respect, space. That is why our government could make a change happen on the ground,” she said adding it was the same police which didn’t have to imprison anybody; had not to house arrest any senior political figure and didn’t have to cover up the crimes of rulers. A change could be felt, but things have changed and are totally different now.

Mehbooba said, in 1996 National Conference got unprecedented majority in the assembly and people had expected a change, but they (NC) further worsened the situation. Shatoosh was banned, which resulted into thousands of people jobless, mostly in the Shahar-e- Khas area of Srinagar; POTA was introduced when it had not become law yet; to further the peoples miseries STF was started; blanket ban on government jobs was implemented; seven most feasible power projects were sold to the NHPC- just for the sake of power in the state and junior ministry job for Omar Abdullah in the NDA government.—NNI

Another Kashmiri boy goes missing in Delhi S RINAGAR —A 16-year-old Kashmiri boy has gone missing in old Delhi area of Azadpur since November 20.

Roman Amin son of Muhammad Amin Ganai of Jandwal area in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district was accompanying his father for a visit to Delhi on November 17.

“We are dealing with apple business and came here in connection to unload our trucks here at Azadpur Mandi from where Roman is missing since last four days,” said Muhammad Amin, father of Roman.

“He is a conscious guy and appeared in recently conducted matriculation examinations.”

While narrating the tale Amin broke and said, “Nobody cares for us. Police says they don’t have a magic wand to locate my son. He has our all contact numbers and could have contacted us in case he was lost on his way.

There can be other reason for his disappearance.”

Meanwhile, concerned police authorities said they have already registered First Information Report (FIR) in police station Mahindra Park, New Delhi.

“We have registered a case in this regard and are thoroughly investigating the matter,” said ASI Police Station, Ombeer Singh. He said they have also gone through CCTV footage of Roman.

“We have traced out his movement in Azadpur area and Chandni Chowk as well,” the ASI said.

“According to CCTV footage he saw his father buying some eatables in Azadpur Mandi. Earlier, he and his father were planning to buy tickets from a travel agency in Chandni Chowk,” the officer said while referring to CCTV footage.

He said they have also forwarded the message to police authorities in other eight states and send them missing report and photographs as well. “A copy has been also sent to Director CBI and Doordarshan (DD). Other police stations of Delhi have also been informed.”—NNI

Currency

Selling Buying

FPCCI: US-Iran deal good for Pakistan, whole world

USA

107.20

107.00

UK

172.87

172.55

EURO

144.63

144.36

Canada

103.75

102.56

Switzerland

117.21

116.99

Australia

100.70

100.51

Sweden

16.13

16.10

Japan

1.0706

1.0686

ISLAMABAD—The Federation of

Norway

18.11

18.08

Singapore

84.70

84.54

Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Sunday welcomed the historic US-Iran deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme terming it an important factor in stability and prosperity of the region and entire world.

Tehran’s game-changing deal with world powers has allayed the fears of a wider war and may pave the way for diplomatic relation between Iran and the US that broke off in 1979 after the revo-

Denmark

19.12

19.09

Omani Riyal

256.00

253.00

Saudi Arabia

28.10

28.05

Hong Kong

13.59

13.57

Kuwait

371.93

371.22

Malaysia

33.33

33.26

Newzeland

88.47

88.30

Qatar

28.95

28.90

UAE

28.70

28.64

KR WON

0.0985

0.0983

Thailand

3.398

3.391

Bullion Rates KARACHI—Following were the bullion rates in major cities yesterday.

RS PER 10 GRAMS KARACHI: Gold Tezab Silver Tezabi

47142.00 788.75

MULTAN: Gold Tezabi (24-Ct) Gold 22 Ct SilverTezabi Silver Thobi

46030.00 42090.00 789.00 760.00

US job openings, hiring reach five-year highs W ASHINGTO N —US job openings and overall hiring both reached five-year highs in September, signaling steady improvement in the job market.

Job postings rose 69,000 to a seasonally adjusted 3.9 million, the Labor Department said Friday. That’s the most since March 2008, just a few months after the Great Recession began. It’s also close to the roughly 4 million job openings each month that are consistent with healthier job markets.

Total hiring increased 26,000 to 4.6 million, the highest level since August 2008. The gain suggests employers are not only posting more jobs but are also taking greater steps to fill them.

September’s total hiring is still below the roughly 5 million people who are typically hired in sturdier job markets.

The number of people who quit their jobs in September dipped from August but was still about 15 percent higher than a year earlier.

People usually quit their jobs when they have another one lined up, or when they are certain they can find one.

More quits is a sign of confidence in the job market.

The growth in hiring, job openings and quits points to a more movement in the job market, which can create opportunities for those out of work or who are looking for another job.

It also shows that competition for jobs is easing.

There were 2.88 unemployed people, on average, for each available job in September.

That’s the lowest since August 2008 and down from 7 to 1 ratio in July 2009, just after the recession ended. In a healthy economy, the ratio is usually about 2 to 1.

Unemployment is still high at 7.3 percent. But other reports suggest the job market is healing. Earlier this month, the government’s October employment report said the economy added an average of 202,000 jobs a month from August through October. That’s up sharply from an average of 146,000 in May through July.

Those figures reflect net payrolls gains, which are the total number of people hired minus those who were laid off, quit or retired. The net gain can increase just because fewer workers are laid off, even if hiring is flat.

Friday’s report on job openings and turnover provides more details than the monthly employment report. It was encouraging because it shows those job gains are increasing because of more hiring.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen, who has been nominated to replace him next year, have both cited greater overall hiring and quits as key signs of job market improvement.—Agencies

Govt asked to accelerate progress on gas pipeline after sanctions eased STAFF REPORTER

lution and the subsequent storming of the US embassy, said Zubair Ahmed Malik, President FPCCI. In a statement issued here today, he said that it is a great confidence-building step towards reducing decades of tension and finding a comprehensive solution to the dispute which is a diplomatic victory for all the stakeholders.

Zubair Ahmed Malik said that the deal will have a very positive impact on Pakistan’s economy as US can stop opposing Iran gas pipeline which will help Islamabad

trim down the looming energy crisis which has compromised growth. Our bordering country, a major oil and gas producer, has remained hard-pressed by sanctions where masses will enjoy a better life, stable currency and improved economy due to vision of their leaders, he said. Pakistan is already under “contractual obligations” to complete the Iran gas pipeline project while the development will pave the way for massive western investment in the project which can help rapid completion, he noted.

The FPCCI chief asked the government to waste no time in

Textile exports up 7.55pc in July-October

completing the pipeline which is lifeline for the Pakistan’s economy. Additionally, India must be invited again to become part of the project as it will bring Pakistan and New Delhi closer and Islamabad would also earn handsome transit fee. He hoped that the PML-N government which seems serious to resolve energy crisis will improve relations with the US that has been supporting increased energy generation, improved power distribu- KARACHI: Agha Siraj Durani, Speaker Sindh Assembly, visiting Build Asia 2013 at Expo tion, management, revenue collec- Centre.—PO photo by Sultan Chaki tion, and policy reforms in Pakistan.

Low-cost airlines booming in Middle East RIYADH—A new analytical re-

port released by Amadeus air traffic system revealed that lowcost airlines, also known as ISLAMABAD—The textile ex“economic airlines” in the ports from the country increased Middle East, show great confiby 7.55 percent during the first dence in their ability to grow, four months of current fiscal year having seen an overall absorpagainst the exports of same period tive capacity increase from 11.5 of last year. million seats in the first half of On year-on-year basis, tex2012 to 13.5 million seats durtile exports during October 2013 ing the same period in 2013. increased by 0.40 percent when Alexander Gore, an ecocompared to the exports of Octonomic airlines specialist at ber 2012.

Amadeus, said: “We are seeing The overall textile exports a boom in the capacity of lowduring July-October (2013-14) cost airlines throughout Asia as were recorded at $4.69 billion the air travel sector is suffering against the exports of $4.361 bilfrom a big gap. However, the lion during July-October (2012capacity across developed mar13), according to Pakistan Bureau kets in Europe and North of Statistics (PBS).

America is restricted.” Such facThe textile products that wittors, he explained, explain the nessed surge in trade included raw desire of low-cost airlines to find cotton, exports of which increased new approaches to secure future by 43.27 percent by going up from growth. $56.924 million during the first He added: “With the 25 perfour months of last year to cent growth on an annual basis $81.556 million during the current during the first half of 2013, airyear. line reservations for low-cost airlines at Amadeus are increasing dramatically, which is an encouraging sign of our ability to adapt to the needs of these airlines.”

According to Gore, low-cost airlines are seizing the opportunity that we offer to penetrate the business travel market for high yields, and expand into new areas characterized by the presence of limited brands prominent.

Amadeus continues to innovate constantly, he noted, in order to maximize these benefits, as evidenced by the new range of improvements to the ticket prices that have been applied recently with Easy Jet, which makes dealing with airlines easier.

Pascal Clement, head of travel at Amadeus, said: “We have a detailed understanding KARACHI: US Consul General Michael Dodman speaking at a seminar on Building of how to change the direction Pakistan’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem organised by National Entreprenur working of the absorptive capacity in Group.—PO photo the planning process for each of the airlines and airports, and can apply the powerful tools for efficiently analyzing large amounts of data to achieve the preferences of companies.”—Agencies

STAFF REPORTER

Exports of cotton yarn also increased by 6.39 percent from $712.845 million last year to $758.363 million this year while the exports of cotton cloth increased by 5.2 percent from $899.835 million to $946.601 million.

Exports of yarn other than cotton yarn increased by 5.64 percent to reach at $16.984 from $16.077 last year while the exports of bed wear increased by 21.08 percent from $600.696 million to $727.306 million.

According to PBS data, articles (excluding towels and bedwear) during the period under review increased by 9.34 percent to $214.134 million from $195.843 million during last year.

The exports of art, skill and synthetic textile also increased by 18.09 percent from $122.571 million during July-October 2012-13 to $144.738 million during JulyOctober 2013-14, whereas the

exports of knitwear increased by 1.07 percent from $752.494 million to $763.865 million.

The products that witnessed negative growth in exports included cotton (carded or combed), exports of which declined by 70.77 percent, from $568,000 to $166,000.

The exports of tents, canvas and tarpaulin decreased from $32.708 million to $27.131 million, showing a decrease of 17.05 million while exports of readymade garments increased from $575.01 million to $620.763 million, showing increase of 7.96 percent.

Exports of towels also decreased from $260.673 million last year to $243.862 million this year, showing negative growth of 6.39 percent.

The exports of all other textile commodities increased by 7.28 percent, from $135.768 million last year to $145.657 million this year.

Gulf Air year-on-year losses cut by 50pc

DUBAI—Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, has cut its yearon-year losses by more than 50 per cent, the airline stated in a statement on Sunday.

The cut in year-on-year losses comes as the airline benefited from a strong summer and improved cost efficiency driven by its restructuring plan.

Gulf Air started its restructuring plan in December last year after falling into financial difficulty. It has since cut its

workforce by 27 per cent. Yearon-year expenses have reduced by nearly 30 per cent, largely driven through operational and maintenances costs and the workforce reduction.

During the summer period, Gulf Air achieved its best-ever third quarter performance with an on-time punctuality rate of above 90 per cent.

Over the third quarter, Gulf Air announced an increase in flights to Dubai and Kuwait, and

to four cities in Pakistan, which is part of the airline’s focus on strengthening core routes under the restructuring plan.

Kamal Bin Ahmad Mohammad, Bahrain’s Minister of Transport and Chairman of Gulf Air’s Executive Restructuring Committee, stated the national carrier’s financial trajectory has improved dramatically and the positive impact of the airline’s operational results can be seen by its customers.—Agencies

Foreign brands still minnows in Japanese car market TOKYO—Spotting a foreign car Japan last year. on Japanese streets is a rare sight—save for the odd luxury brand like Ferrari or Jaguar—a point underscored at the Tokyo Motor Show this week.

It was the third time major US automakers including General Motors and Ford have skipped the show, which is held every two years and which kicked off Wednesday.

Critics say their puny presence gives them little incentive to spend time and money trying to crack the world’s third-largest car market.

While Japanese brands such as Toyota and Nissan enjoy huge success in China and the US, the world’s top two car markets, overseas names that also include Renault, Peugeot-Citroen and their South Korean rivals accounted for just 4.5 percent of the 5.37 million vehicles sold in

Some critics pin the imbalance on non-tariff barriers they say effectively shut foreign automakers out of the market— a key issue in ongoing free-trade talks.

Others counter that most overseas brands offer few models and have failed to come up with cars that Japanese drivers want to buy. Among the exceptions are Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and Volvo but even their sales are a small fraction of the market.

Light vehicles known as “kei” cars which have small engines of 660 cc or less account for about one-third of sales in Japan, a category almost nonexistent among US and European manufacturers.

Frederic Bourene, head of Japanese marketing for France’s Renault, chalked up the chal-

lenge to the dominance of Japan’s domestic manufacturers with their well-established supply chains and thousands of dealerships.

“The Japanese market is highly competitive,” Bourene told AFP on the sidelines of the motor show.

“There are eight domestic manufacturers that already have plants here and don’t need to import with the logistical issues and time that goes with that.”

Renault, which owns more than 40 percent of Nissan, has doubled its sales in Japan over the past four years, but it still expects to sell just 3,600 vehicles in 2013.

“Between the logistics costs and the exchange rate, foreign brands are about 20 percent more expensive than Japanese cars in the same range,” Bourene added.—APP

Boeing warns of engine icing risk on 747-8s, Dreamliners

Pak-India trade can be enhanced up to $10b STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The trade volume between India and Pakistan can be enhanced up to $10 billion. The trade should be on equal and fair basis, said Acting President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mian Tariq Misbah, while talking to media on Sunday.

He said that non tariff barriers, difficulty in visa issuance and other problems faced by traders should be controlled to enhance trade.

He said that improvement in trade between the two countries would benefit the people across the border.

Mian Tariq said the LCCI

had demanded the government He said the LCCI had contake more effective steps to con- stituted a committee to prepare recommendations for controlling under-invoicing which would be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for action.

To a question on rupee-dollar disparity, he said that there should be a ban on the business of ‘Hundi’ in the country.

The inter-bank transfer of dollar should also be monitored trol under-invoicing, as smug- strictly, he said. The acting gling and under-invoicing were LCCI president also praised the hitting the national exchequer government’s action against hard. electricity and gas thieves.

“There is billions of dollars He also urged the governunder-invoicing which is caus- ment to focus on construction of ing hug losses to the national new water reservoirs with a exchequer in the shape of duties view to reduce the price of elecand taxes”, he said. tricity.

Traders demand withdrawal of market parking fee STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Trader organizations of various markets of the federal capital have demanded immediate withdrawal of imposition of unjustified parking fee from the visitors.

A meeting of the Traders Welfare Association was held under the chairmanship of Senior Vice President Akhtar Abbasi at Aabpara Market.

Traders unanimously demanded urgent transfer of Chairman and Director Municipal Administration of Capital Development Authority (CDA).

They threatened complete shutter down if the parking fee

is not withdrawn from Nov 26 (Tuesday).

While addressing the meeting, Senior Vice President Akhtar Abbasi, and General Secretary Shafique Abbasi, Traders Welfare Association Aabpara Market said capital is a city of educated persons who are regular taxpayers.

He said imposition of separate parking fee would be an extra burden on the pockets of consumers which would further reduce the purchasing power of common man.

“A visible shrink in the number of customers has been observed after the imposition of this fee as people now started to visit these markets

and prefer to visit nearby small shops to buy daily household stuff”.

CDA should construct parking plazas to facilitate increasing demand of parking near busy shopping centres of the city.

They also called for withdrawal of unilateral increase in trade license fee. The meeting expressed condolence over the sad demise of the mother of market union President Muhammad Younas Qureshi.

They prayed that Allah Almighty may keep the departed soul in eternal peace and give courage and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

Plenty of opportunities in healthcare await investors ABU DHABI—The successful listing, which sold at least 38.5 million shares after its debut in summer, is proof that the healthcare sector remains very attractive and there are plenty of opportunities waiting to be tapped by businesses based in the UAE and the rest of the region.

“The beneficiaries of this journey are not just Ithmar Capital or Al Noor, but it’s really the region, because today, international investors are looking forward to other successful investment firms to come up with opportunities and give them additional exposure, because the trust today in the healthcare sector has gone up significantly.

This is something we all have to capitalise on,” said Faisal Bin Juma Belhoul, founder and managing partner of Ithmar Capital and vice chairman of Belhoul Group UAE.

Belhoul was one of the panelists at yesterday’s Healthcare Investment Middle East and North Africa (Mena) which tackled investment opportunities in the region’s medical sector.

Experts at the forum said the growing demand for healthcare services in the UAE offers a lot of opportunities for private investors to profit from, not just in the hospital space but also in a number of support and related businesses. Aside from floating an IPO, successful ventures include opening or consolidating diagnostics imaging services, specialist and healthcare support facilities.

According to a Colliers International report, the healthcare sector in the region is forecast to grow significantly on the back of high population growth rates, introduction of compulsory health insurance by a number of regional governments, contin-

ued growth of regional medical tourism and heavy reliance on imported medicine and medical equipment, among others.

Colliers estimated that high quality, efficient private hospitals alone could achieve 15 per cent to 20 per cent net profit margins.

The value of the UAE’s healthcare market is forecast to reach Dh3.5 billion to Dh4 billion by 2018. However, the report noted that the country currently faces a shortage of doctors, nurses and hospital beds, highlighting the need for investors to invest more.

For those who don’t know the sector well, experts said they can start a generalist, low-risk business instead of opening a specialist clinic or a hospital.

Nabil Kassem, managing director of Gulf Capital UAE, said they entered the healthcare market by first investing in diagnostics imaging.—Agencies

TOKYO—Boeing has advised airlines about a risk of engine icing problems on its new 747-8 and 787 Dreamliner planes with engines made by General Electric, urging 15 carriers to avoid flying them near high-level thunderstorms.

The warning led Japan Airlines to pull 787 Dreamliners from two international routes.

Other affected airlines include Lufthansa, United Airlines, an arm of United Continental Holdings and Cathay Pacific Airlines.

“Boeing and JAL share a commitment to the safety of passengers and crews on board our airplanes. We respect JAL’s decision to suspend some 787 service on specific routes,” a Boeing spokesman said.

The move followed six incidents from April to November involving five 747-8s and one 787 when aircraft powered by GE’s GEnx engines suffered temporary loss of thrust while flying at high altitude.

The problem was caused by a build-up of ice crystals, intially just behind the front fan, which ran through the engine, said a GE spokesman, adding that all of the aircraft landed at their planned destinations safely.

Boeing on Friday issued a notice prohibiting the affected aircraft from flying at high attitude within 50 nautical miles of thunderstorms that may contain ISLAMABAD: Shaban Khalid, President ICCI and Hammad Siddiqui, Deputy Country ice crystals.—Agencies Director CIPE addressing Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013 conference.

President Body Guards lift IGFC Polo Cup PESHAWAR—President Body Guards lifted the coveted trophy after defeating Frontier Corps by 4-3 and half-goal margin in the IGFC Polo Cup played here at PPC Ground on Sunday.

Governor Khyber Pakhunkhwa Engr.

Shaukatullah was the chief guest on the occasion. IG Frontier Corps Maj Gen Ghayur Mehmood Ahmad, Organizing Secretary Col. Yaqood Khan, other high military and civil officials and large number of polo enthusiasts were also present.

The two teams entered with a four handicap, having half-goal advantage of Frontier Corps, provided great thrilling of pumped shorts, speed, accuracy and lofting strokes. The Frontier Corps team led by four-handicap team Lt. Col. Usman Azad, Lt. Col. Masood, Hav Israr and Captain Saad Rabbani presented excellent show of team combination by scoring first goal in the second chakkar after the goal-less first chakkar.

This was Lt. Col. Masood, a three handicap player, who ran with the ball by showing

excellent horse control and nice crafting scoring a superb goal from the 70-yard distance to make the tally 1-0.

Having advantage of halfgoal, Frontier Corps scored the second goal when promising rider Lt. Col. Usman Azad converted a lofting short from the distance before receiving a thundering applause from the sitting spectators over his run down the flank with the ball.

President Body Guards team led by Major Gen Asfandiyar, a four handicap player, three handicapper Captain (Retd) Shoukat, two handicapper Lance Dafadar Saqib and one handicapper Ihsan Manzoor played well but they failed to score in the first two chakkar despite having good chances. At the end of the second chakkar the Frontier Corps was leading by 2 goals and half to nil.

It was the start of the third chakkar when Ihsan Manzoor scored a beautiful goal before his excellent run of the whole ground. On the other hands Usman Azad scored the third goal for Frontier Corps through a stunning run with superb horse con-

trol and flashing speed. It was goal of the Cup obviously. At the end of the third chakkar FC was leading by 3-2 and half goal.

It was in the fourth and last chakkar in which PBG staged a strong comeback by scoring two beautiful goals through Ihsan Manzoor and Major Gen Asfandiyar to make the tally 4-3 and halfgoal.

The President Body Guard were seemed more combine, leaving the Frontier Corps guessing all the time.

Ihsan was the pick-of-thepack who delighting the spectators witnessing the galloping horses in a thrilling and closely contestant by scoring third goal while Asfandiyar converted a last second 30-yard penalty to steer PBG to stunning victory.

A total of five teams – PPC, PAF, HQ 11 Corps, Frontier Corps and PBG took part in the Cup, which is an annual feature of the Pakistan Polo Federation calendar. At the end, PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Engr Shaukatullah Khan and IG Maj Gen Gafoor with the winner and runnerup teams during the the chief guest Governor KP IGFC Polo Cup tournament 2013 played at PPC ground.

Engr. Shaukatullah gave away trophies to the winners and runners-up.—APP

Elections of PHF

LAHORE—Fresh office bearers of the Pakistan Hockey Federation will be elected tomorrow at Islamabad at a congress meeting of the body.

With no candidate has submitted papers for the slots of president and Secretary of the PHF, former Olympians Akhtar Rasool Chaudhary and Rana Mujahid are all to be elected unopposed , said a spokesman of PHF here on Sunday.

The office bearers will be elected for a next term of 2014-2018.—APP

Judo referees course concludes

UoL, UoP, FCCU, KUST advance in HEC Inter University Women Squash

P ESHAWAR —University of Lahore, University of Punjab, FC College University and Kohat University of Science and Technology advanced to next round after securing victories against their respective rivals on the opening day of the HEC Inter-University Women Squash Championship being played here at PSB Coaching Center on Sunday.

Vice Chancellor Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology Dr. Salim-ur-Rehman was the chief guest on this occasion.

Dr. Waheed Mughal, Ex-Deputy Director PSB, former World No. 2 Mohibullah Khan, Registrar Nasir Khan and large number of officials and players of all the participat-

ing Universities were also present.

In the first match FC College University of Lahore defeated Islamia University Bahawalpur by 3-2. In the first singles Arifa Sehar of FC College University Lahore defeated Hina Khalid by 113, 11-9 and 11-9, Rabia was beaten by Sidra by 3-0, the score was 11-9, 11-4 and 117, Uniza beat Masooma by 30, the score was 11-9, 11-5 and 11-6 and in the reverse singles Hina Khalid beat Unazia by 3-1, the score was 11-8, 2-11, 11-8 and 11-7 while Arifa beat Hina Khalid by 30, the score was 11-5, 11-6 and 11-8.

In the second match Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan defeated Sarhad University by 3-0, Gul Pari

beat Amina Khan by 3-0, the score was 11-8, 11-4 and 118, Romia beat Sabiha by 3-0, the score was 11-9, 11-5 and 11-8 and Somi beat Neelam by 3-0, the score was 11-8, 11-4 and 11-2.

University of Lahore beat Kohat University of Science and Technology by 3-0, the players of UoL Ghazala, Nighat and Mehvish defeated KUST players Sabeeha, Faryal and Saba Noreen in straight sets.

University of Punjab beat Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Peshawar by 3-0, the player of UoP Samer, Aroj and Amina defeated Noorjat, Arif and Adeela in straight sets while in the last league round match KUST beat Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan by 3-0.—APP

HYDERABAD :Players in action in a table tennis match during Hyderabad Sports Festival 2013 organized by Regional Olympic Committee played at Board Stadium.

L AHORE —A Judo Referees and Judges Course organized by the Punjab Judo Association concluded here on Sunday and forty participants received the certificates.

The Course was conducted by Shahid Javed Malik, International Referee of Judo and the participants I SLAMABAD —Former Test Nawaz said Sethi had been included former referees and L AHORE —Omar Associates cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz while paying special attention for senior players of the game. scored 10 run win over Ravi hailing the caretaker Pakistan the revival of Indo-Pak bilatThe participants were inClub in CLC All Pakistan Gold Cricket Board (PCB) Chair- eral series and he could make troduced to the new rules cup T20 women cricket cham- man, Najam Sethi for his con- it happen with some help re- and to the recent changes pionship here on Sunday at cerns regarding the revival of quired from the government. that have been incorporated “People of Asia want to in the Tournament Bylaws by Kinniard college ground.

Indo-Pak bilateral series next Elected to bat after win- year said both the countries see Indo-Pak series and I feel the International Judo Fedning the toss Omar Associ- governments should also it is need of the hour,” he said. eration. Besides giving pracFormer captain Zaheer tical demonstrations of the ates put up 102 runs in allot- play their part in playing of Abbas said sports can prove techniques, several videos ted 20 overs. Their main run this series. getters were Kainat Imtiaz Najam Sethi had said that as a tool to make both the were also shown to the mem(31), Omaima Sohail (19). Pakistan might play a cricket countries relations better and bers to ensure that they have From Ravi club Hina series with archrival India in prosperous. a firm grip of the new amend“Sports are also a source ments.

Shafique grabbed three late 2014 after his discuswickets as Shumaila and sions with his Indian coun- of income and if both the Later on, the participants Zainab Khan took one terpart during an Asian countries can have any type were awarded Certificates wicket each.

Cricket Council meeting in of sports activities it would which were presented by result in the betterment of the Maher Ishtiaq, MNA, who In reply Ravi club were Hong Kong. bowled out at 94 in 20 Sethi said after returning economy of both the coun- assured the PJA all possible overs Ayesha Naaz (29), from Hong Kong that he was tries and would further pro- support in its efforts for the Mariam Hassan (26) Mehak told by N. Sirinivasan, presi- vide business opportunities promotion of the sport of Asif (19) emerged as their dent of Board of Control for also,” he added.

Judo in the Province.

Zaheer Abbas also sugtop corers.

On this occasion, the Cricket in India, that he would CLC Club bowling, consider a series for next year gested that the Indo-Pak se- Secretary, PJA announced BAHAWALPUR: Students playing cricket match during Inter-Collegiate Girls Sports Kainat Imtiaz and Rida following general elections in ries should be given a name that the Punjab Judo Cham- Tournament. like the Australia-England pionships will be staged from Hussain captured one wicket India. apiece.—APP December 20.—APP Talking to APP, Sarfraz Ashes series.—APP

Omar Associates bt Ravi Club in All Pak Women Gold Cup cricket

Govts should play role in revival of Indo-Pak series: Sarfraz Nawaz

Ranking Snooker Cup

Rookie Bilal faces Asif in title clash K A R A C H I — U n s e e d e d distribution ceremony will be tory when he also won the

SARGODHA: Youngsters playing volleyball in a dilapidated model village.

Mohammad Bilal booked a date with world champion Mohammad Asif in the final as they prevailed over Babar Masih and Imran Shahzad respectively in the semi-finals of the Ranking Snooker Cup 2013 here at the Karachi Sheraton Hotel on Saturday.

Bilal, a youngster from the town of Mandi Bahauddin, qualified for the final of a national ranking tournament for the first time, by overpowering Babar, who was harbouring similar ambitions, 6-3 with the frame scores of 99-14, 64-34, 15-61, 77-37, 927, 70-13, 31-68, 31-70, 123-0.

In the other semi-final, defending champion and sixth seed Asif faced no problems whatsoever in whipping second seed Imran 6-1 with the frame scores of 91-31, 80-4, 7110, 67-51, 73-28, 57-69, 64-34.

The best of 15-frame final, to be telecast live on Geo Super, is due to start at 10 am on Sunday (today) while the prize

held at 5 pm in which cash awards of Rs 150,000 will be disbursed.

As expected the semi-final tie with the two unseeded youngsters, Bilal and Babar, turned out to be an absorbing contest with both of them trying to raise their game in anticipation of first-ever entry in a national ranking final.

Having gone down fighting to Abdul Sattar in the semi-finals of the previous ranking tournament, Bilal made amends for the earlier loss and he didn’t miss the opportunity this time round by blowing the whistle on Babar, the Punjab Cup champion hailing from Rawalpindi.

He started on a confident note, grabbing the first couple of frames. He lost the third frame but regained his twoframe lead by pocketing the next one. A break of 77 saw him easily winning the fifth frame to make it 4-1. He looked in sight of a comfortable vic-

next frame to go 5-1 up.

Babar, just one frame away from facing elimination, fought back gallantly and took the next couple of frames to make it 3-5. His break of 64 in the eighth frame reflected his strong nerves under pressure. He, however, couldn’t stop his rival from chalking up breaks of 68 and 54 in the ninth frame which sealed the fate of the match.

The last four clash between the two fancied cueists, world champion Asif and second seed Imran didn’t produce the kind of thrilling stuff that was being anticipated by the snooker fans across the country.

Asif, in awesome form after the odd setback on the opening day of the tournament, proved simply too good for the enigmatic Imran, who was very lucky to have made it to the semi-finals after suffering defeats in as many as three league matches.—APP

Work on cricket stadium in Capital restarts

I SLAMABAD —The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has restarted construction work on the stadium in the Federal Capital after sorting out matters with the the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The CDA allotted 35 acres of land in Shakarparian area to the PCB last year for the stadium.

Both the bodies had signed a memorandum of understanding, according to which the CDA will receive a revenue share of 30 per cent from every national and international match, while the remaining 70 per cent will go to the PCB. At present, the PCB owns no cricket stadium or academy in the Capital. The Diamond Club Ground is used by the regional teams (federal areas) during domestic tournaments.

According to PCB Director Media Nadeem Sarwar, the CDA stopped work on the construction of stadium due to some technical reasons, which had now been sorted out.

The PCB has already spent over Rs 70 million on the construction of the stadium.

It may be mentioned, in 2008 the CDA had allotted 40 acre land to the PCB on 33year lease for the construction of stadium. As per the agreement, the PCB was to bear the total cost of project while 25 per cent of the sale proceeds of tickets for matches were to be given to the CDA. The project was to be completed in five years but the PCB could not execute it within the timeframe which led to the cancellation of plot.—APP

Kaleem strike gives KRL narrow win K ARACHI —Star striker Kaleemullah’s second-half goal guided holders Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) to a 1-0 victory over resolute Navy while Muslim FC climbed to the top spot after edging Habib Bank Limited (HBL) 1-0 in the Pakistan Premier Football League here.

At the KPT Stadium, the match between three-time champions KRL and former National Challenge Cup winners Navy turned out to be a tough affair.

Navy, who are passing through a rebuilding phase, opted to play with a packed defence, placing only one man upfront. Navy did a fine job in the first session as they gave no room to their strong rivals.

In the 41st minute, Navy were unlucky when their striker’s pile-driver from just outside the area crashed the bar. Around 20 minutes into the second half, goalie Mohammad Ishaq saved Navy when he splendidly punched away a close-range drive from Kaleem.—APP

Ashes: Australia beat England by 381 runs in first Test B RISBANE —Some lightning straight series for the first fast bowling from Mitchell Johnson on a hail-hit Gabba ground helped Australia to a 381-run win over England with a day to spare in the Ashes series opener.

After two rain interruptions, including a hail storm that scattered the crowd on day four, Johnson took five wickets as Australia dismissed England for 179 in the second innings late Sunday to claim its first victory in 10 test matches.

There were some heated verbal exchanges and finger pointing between opposing players, setting up what should be a hotly contested five-test series. England came to Australia aiming to win the ‘’old urn’’ for a fourth

Australia 1st innings:2 9 5 England 1st innings: 1 3 6 Australia 2nd innings:4 0 1 England 2nd innings: Cook c Haddin b Lyon . 65 Carberry b Harris ............. 0 Trott c Lyon b Johnson . 9 Pietersen b Johnson ..... 26 Bell c Haddin b Siddle .. 32 Root not out .................. 26 Prior c Warner b Lyon .... 4 Broad c Haddin b Johnson ........................ 4 Swann c Smith b Johnson0

A hail storm stopped play for 90 minutes late in the middle session and Australia returned to the field wanting to finish it off quickly.

They got four wickets as England slipped from 142-4 to 151-8 before another brief shower delayed play again.

After the second delay, every fielder stood within 15 meters of the bat for a Ryan Harris over against Chris Tremlett in clear sign of intent.

Tremlett (7) didn’t last much longer before he was caught off Harris’ bowling to make it 172-9 and Joe Root had a reprieve on a run out on the same total. Running to the bowlers’ end, he was well out of his ground but Lyon knocked off a bail with his elbow in the act of catching the ball and the TV umpire ruled not out. Root finTremlett c Bailey b Harris7 ished unbeaten on 26 when Anderson c & b Johnson2 he ran out of batting partners.

Captain Alastair Cook’s Extras: (lb 2, w 1, nb 1) .... 4 Total: (all out) .............. 179 defiant innings ended on 65.

Fall of wickets 1-1, 2-10, 3- He didn’t add to his score 72, 4-130, 5-142, 6-146, 7-151, after the first rain delay and was deceived by some extra 8-151, 9-172, 10-179 Bowling: ........... O-M-R-W bounce from spinner Lyon Harris .................. 19-4-49-2 and top-edged an attempted Johnson ........... 21.1-7-42-5 cut to Haddin to make it 142Siddle .................. 15-3-25-1 5. That triggered a slide of Lyon .................... 20-6-46-2 wickets, with England losing Smith ..................... 4-1-15-0 four wickets for nine runs in Wa t s o n ................... 2-2-0-0 another meek, middle-order collapse. In the first innings,

time since the 1800s only three months after clinching the Ashes 3-0 at home in August. But Australia hadn’t lost a test at the Gabba since 1988 and was desperate to start the series with a big win.

Johnson, recalled to the Australian lineup after missing selection for the last tour to England, took five wickets in the second innings and four in the first, as well as contributing a half century and an unbeaten 39 with the bat. Fittingly, he finished it off with a caught-andbowled dismissal to remove No. 11 batsman Jimmy Anderson. The Australians bowled England out twice for under 180.

the English lost 6-9 to slump to 136 in reply to 295 and handed the Australians a massive advantage. Matt Prior (4) was out edging Lyon for the second time in the test, making it 146-6, and Johnson took two wickets in the next over.

In a provocative comment after the third day, Australian opener David Warner claimed the England batsmen had ‘’scared eyes’’ facing the pace and short-pitch bowling from Johnson.

And it seemed that Johnson did unnerve the English middle order again on Sunday.

After removing Jonathan Trott (9) before stumps on Saturday evening and Kevin Pietersen (26) in the morning session Sunday, Johnson struck twice in three balls to have Stuart Broad (4) caught down legside and Graeme Swann (0) edging to third slip as England slid to 154-8. His five-over spell after the first rain delay netted two wickets for four runs.

He only need one go with the new ball to finish it off.

The 32-year-old leftarmer, a 51-test veteran, responded to his recall with venom on a wicket with the kind of bounce that the English batsmen are not accustomed to.—AP

Golf: Day wins World Cup; Australia take team title M E L B O U R N E —Jason Day helped end a 24-year winless drought for Australia at the World Cup on Sunday and took the event’s individual honour in an emotional double-triumph after losing eight relatives to Typhoon Haiyan.

He combined with reigning US Masters champion Adam Scott in storming to “team” victory by a massive 10 shots over the United States, claiming an Australian success for the first time since Wayne Grady and Peter Fowler captured the title in 1989 in Spain.

The Filipino-Australian also won the individual honour along with a $US1.2 million first prize cheque in posting a final round 70 to defeat Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn by two shots with a 10-under par tally.

The 27-year-old started the final round one shot ahead of Bjorn and despite a bogey at the first, he was never behind after holing a 95-yard wedge shot for eagle at the par four, sixth hole.—AFP

PESHAWAR: Players in action during tent pegging competition. at PPC ground.

Barca beats Granada 4-0 at Camp Nou BARCELONA—Injuryplagued Barcelona continued to set the pace at the top of La Liga after first-half penalties to Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas set on them course for a comfortable 4-0 home win over 10-man Granada on Saturday.

Barcelona, without talisman Lionel Messi until January due to a hamstring strain, head the table with 40 points from 14 matches, six ahead of Atletico Madrid and nine clear of Real Madrid, both of whom play later on Saturday.

Iniesta opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 20 minutes, while Fabregas doubled the advantage five minutes before the break.

Granada had Manuel Iturra dismissed after 65 minutes, while Alexis Sanchez and Pedro also scored for the champions, who were also missing Xavi and goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Valdes’s replacement Jose Manuel Pinto was largely untroubled as Barcelona kept up the ominous form which has seen

them drop only two points this season.

Atletico Madrid take on Getafe later on Saturday and third-placed Madrid visit Almeria.

Meanwhile, Surprise package Southampton was brought back down to earth

by Arsenal as the Gunners extended their Premier League lead to four points with a 2-0 win over the Saints and Liverpool was held to a 3-3 draw at Everton in a pulsating Merseyside derby on Saturday.—AFP

BRISBANE: Australian players celebrate after the wicket of England’s Matt Prior, on the fourth day of the seriesopening Ashes cricket test between England and Australia at the Gabba.

Injured Hamsik ruled out of Dortmund trip

Lee victorious at Hong Kong Open H ONG K ONG —Malaysia’s tournament in which he did ers took turns to lead until world number one Lee Chong Wei stormed to victory in the Hong Kong Open on Sunday, whipping Indonesia’s Sony Dwi Kuncoro in straight games to bag his sixth tournament of the season.

Amid raucous support at the Hong Kong Coliseum, top-seeded Lee needed only 33 minutes to inflict a 21-13, 21-9 bruising on his three-time Asian champion opponent.

The victory means the 31year-old goes into next month’s Badminton World Federation (BWF) finals on home soil having won six of the Superseries’ 12 rounds.

Lee’s dominant display against the Indonesian, which included 24 winning smashes, capped a superb

not drop a single game.

“I never thought I would do so well. It’s a final. Sony has been doing well,” Lee, who is feted in his homeland as a celebrity, told reporters after his match.

“Six is my lucky number. I like number six,” he joked, referring to his tournament wins this season.

In the women’s draw, China’s Wang Yihan was made to toil hard for her 2113, 16-21, 21-15 victory against compatriot Wang Shixian, in the day’s longest match.

The third-seed easily won the first game before Wang mounted a comeback in the second.

In the final, the two play-

they were tied at 11-11, when the determined former world champion pulled ahead, increasing her lead before taking the match with a smash.

She admitted, however, victory had not come easy.

“I am not in my best shape. I had been satisfied for getting into the final,” she told reporters after the match, adding though that her knee injury has been recovering well.

In the mixed doubles, British newly-weds Chris Adcock and Gabrielle White beat China’s Bao Yixin and Liu Cheng 21-14, 24-22, overcoming nerves in their prolonged second game.

It was the couple’s first BWF victory since tying the knot in September.—AFP

MILAN—Attacking midfielder Marek Hamsik has been ruled out of Napoli’s Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday after suffering a foot injury against Parma, the Serie A side said Sunday.

Slovakian Hamsik came on as a late substitute against Parma on Saturday but was forced off just nine minutes later after suffering the knock.

Napoli said in a post on Twitter Hamsik had suffered a “serious knock on his left foot” and “is not included on the squad list for the Borussia-Napoli (game).”

A late goal by former Inter Milan striker Antonio Cassano stunned Napoli 1-0 to hand Parma a precious away win and leave the southerners in danger of dropping to fourth place later Sunday.

Rafael Benitez’s men will be looking to regroup ahead of a trip to Dortmund where a draw will be enough to send them into the knock-out stages ahead of their final Group F game at home to Arsenal on December 11.

Napoli currently sit second on the same points as Arsenal, who have a superior goals difference, but have a three-point cushion on Dortmund, who face Marseille away in their final group game.

Meanwhile, Marseille forward Dimitri Payet will miss Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Arsenal due to a swollen knee, the French team said Sunday. The 26year-old, who scored in Friday night’s 3-1 win at Ajaccio, did not take part in HONG KONG: Malaysia’s world No.1 Lee Chong Wei reacting after beating Sony Dwi training on Sunday.—AFP Kuncoro in the Hong Kong Open.

Tail-enders put Pak batsmen to shame Comments Salahuddin Haider

T

PARIS: Montpellier’s French midfielder Morgan Sanson fights for the ball with Guingamp’s French forward Fatih Atik during a French L1 football match at the Mosson stadium in Montpellier.

AIL-enders Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali tutored batting lessons for the accomplished seniors in the Pakistan team with a breezy and polished 76-run partnership for the 8th wicket in the first of the three ODIs against South Africa in Newlands Sunday.

The tourists continued with their horrendous batting display which has almost become as their hallmark by now, as none of the seven recognized batsmen could impress with their performance.

From 131 for 7, the two took the score to 205 in 70 balls, drawing huge ap-

plause and laudable remarks from commentators. The played in style, hitting sixes and four even against Dayle Styne and Morni Morkel to prove that their was nothing in the wicket, and those coming ahead of them had just thrown their wickets away through sheer carelessness.

Bilawal Bhatti, playing his first ODI had 39 off 25 balls with three fours and two towering sixes, while his partner remained unbeaten, top scoring with 43 in55 balls, having hit six fours.

Their partnership was the highest of the innings and helped give some sort of respectability and the tourists were able to reach 218 in their allotted 50 overs. At one time it looked as if the entire team would be out for less than

150 with more than 10 or 12 overs to spare.

Pakistan batting remained a dilemma for over a decade now and with Misbah and Hafeez too being off colour, there is none in the side to stay longer at the wicket.

Ahmad Shehzad and Nasir Jamshed gave a reasonably good start of 49 but the debacle started after that and although both Styne and Morkel were able to extract some swing off the strip, there was no menace in their bowling. Pakistanis must learn to sue their feet properly. Chasing an outside or moving deliveries demanded application and could be easily countered by bringing the right foot across, which neither Hafeez, nor Misbah, nor Umar Akmal were able to do. They

played with their bat away from their bodies, and staying motionless in crease.

Pakistanis should have learnt lessons from South Africans like A B Develiers, De Kok, Du Plessis and even Miller as to how to bat and when and where to hit.

Afridi either is slow in his search to retrieve the situation for his side, or lofts straight to the fielders. He does not know how to play in the gaps.

Hafeez did well with his 63 in the second T-20, which his side won by a narrow margin of 6 runs, but has been totally off colour for a long time.

MIsbah too seems to have run out of form. That has made the situation worse for Pakistan.

More walking tied to lower stroke risk among men

O

LDER men who spend several hours walking each day are less likely to have a stroke than their peers who rarely walk, a new study suggests. And walking pace didn’t seem to matter. Researchers said few studies have looked specifically at how both walking speed and walking time or distance are linked to stroke risk.

“Stroke is a major cause of death and disability and it is important to find ways to prevent it, especially in older people who are at high stroke risk,” Barbara J. Jefferis told Reuters Health in an email. She led the research at University College London in the UK. “Our study suggests that maintaining an active lifestyle, specifically by spending more time on all forms of walking, could be an important part of stroke prevention strategies in older people,” Jefferis said.

She and her coauthors analyzed data from men enrolled in a long-term British heart study. The men entered the study in 1978 to 1980. In 1998 to 2000, when they were in their 60s and 70s, they filled out surveys about how often they were physically active.

The new analysis includes 2,995 men who had not had a stroke or heart disease at the time of that survey. Researchers followed them for another 11 years. More than half of the men walked an hour or less each day.

About one in six reported walking more than two hours per day.

During the follow-up period, 195 of the

men had a stroke. The researchers found that the more time men spent walking, the lower their risk of stroke. Men who walked four to seven hours each week were 11 percent less likely to have a stroke than men who walked for three hours per week or less. But that difference could have been due to chance, Jefferis and her colleagues reported in the journal Stroke.

A stronger finding was that men who walked the most - for more than three hours each day - had a two-thirds lower risk of stroke than those who spent the least time walking. Walking pace was also tied to stroke risk, such that average-pace or brisk walkers had a 38 percent lower risk of stroke than slow walkers. But distance walked explained that finding: men who walked at an average or brisk pace also walked further than their slower peers, according to the study.

The findings don’t prove walking prevents strokes. But they could not be explained by factors known to increase a person’s risk of stroke, like age, blood pressure and cholesterol. More recently identified markers of stroke, such as proteins associated with inflammation, blood clotting or heart muscle damage also weren’t behind the link. “What we found was that all of these factors explained only a small amount of the relationship between time spent walking and onset of stroke,” Jefferis said. “This suggests that there may be other factors operating which explain why walking protects against stroke.”

KARACHI: Activists of Jamat-e-Islami and PTI march during a protest rally organized by JI against US drone strikes.

Violence against women worst form of RHs violations: Bilawal KARACHI—Patron-In-Chief,

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Sunday said that violence against women is the worst form of human rights violations and its complete elimination remains the core dream of any progressive human society.

In his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women being observed on November 25, under the aegis of United Nations, Bilawal reiterated the commitment of his Party towards the steps and actions to protect women from violence and crimes.

He said PPP had always stood for empowerment of women and election of his mother as the first woman ever elected to head an Islamic nation had proved that an overwhelming majority of our nation treats their mothers, daughKARACHI: A large number of candidates appearing in their entry test for the admission to ters and sisters as equal partmedical and engineering studies in Sir Syed University, at ners in progress, peace and prosperity.—APP Expo Centre on Sunday.

Huge number of candidates appear in SSUET entry test AMANULLAH KHAN KARACHI—As many as 4500 candidates appeared in the preadmission entry test for the bachelors degree programmes announced by Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology for the academic year 2014 held on Sunday Nov 24, at Karachi Expo Centre at 10 am under the strict security measures.

A total of 400 invigilators have performed their duties to look at thousands of candidates appeared in the test.

The ratio of female candidates in the attendance of the candidates was higher than the previous year.

The test was held on the time as the examining authority has

made huge arrangement for the success of the event.

A large number of candidates came from Gilgit, Biltistan and Azad Kashmir to appear in the test besides other parts of the four provinces.

Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, Engr. Muhammad Adil Usman, visited the examination centre and appraised arrangements of the authorities concerned.

Chancellor Engr.

Muhammad Adil Usman told the journalists that Sir Syed University prepares future leaders to succeed in the competitive world of professionals with their extra ordinary skill and outstanding ability.

The university has established itself as a globally recognized destination for academic excellence. With career focused education, SSUET prides itself for having the best and brightest faculty to commit to the highest global standards.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Syed Jawaid Hassan Rizvi pointed out that keeping the new emerging trends, the university is introducing 3 new programmes – Software engineering, Architecture and Bioinformatics this year, to meet the growing market demands.

Results will be announced in the mid December that may be checked on SSUET Notice Board and also at the university’s website www.ssuet.edu.pk

PML-N leadership to rid country of crises: Saad IRFAN ALIGI KARACHI—The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) had not deviated its directions towards the resolution of key national issues but after taking up the government amid terrible crises, the PML-N had acquired the responsibility to run the state sanely and not only as just a political party so it was a mater of safeguarding the interests of the state. The PML-N leadership was fully determined to rid the country of the crises and challenges and put the country on the path of progress and enlightenment and hence a little time was sought to put the things in order.

The Minister said that it was the constitutional privilege of the federal government to appoint its own Governor in Sindh but the government had sacrificed that constitutional privilege for the sake of the state and the people of the metropolis. As a political party, the PMLN could have changed the Sindh Governor but as the party in federal government, some de-

cisions are deferred for people’s betterment and above all for the interest of the country in the long run of state’s affairs.

The metropolis had been ruled by the TT (pistols) while the PMLN office-bearers and workers had stood to the challenges like man and kept the PMLN’s colours hoisted for which they deserved due applause. Te PMLN was fully aware of the problems of the people of the city and the PMLN workers and office-bearers and that the PMLN would utilize all the available resources to put thing in order, said Khawaja Saad Rafique.

Khawaja Saad Rafique, the Minister for Railways expressed these views while addressing a press conference he had addressed at the PMLN provincial headquarters at Karsaz, Karachi Sunday. PMLN Sindh chapter General secretary Saleem Zia Awan advocate, Information Secretary Ali Akbar Gujjar, Nehal Hashmi, Arif Kiyani, Azhar Sayani, Saeedullah Afridi, Michael Jawaid, Karamat

Chohan, Malik Riyaz, Zahid Shah Mir, Nisar Shah, Aman Afridi, Malik Taj, Sultan Bahadur and Asif Khan were present with the Minister.

The Minister said that the PMLN hated the drone attacks and Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf chairman Imran Khan and those that had taken to streets were in fact assisting the government on that serious national issue.

He said that the credit went to the PMLN-led federal government for bringing the military dictator under court trial for his constitutional violence and offences and it was then the responsibility of the judiciary to say its words and deeds.

As far as the issue of Karachi Circular railways was concerned, the Minister said that he wanted that the KCR project should be commenced, completed and run with indigenous resources; however, it would depend upon circumstances ahead and then the government would take appropriate decisions while keeping the national interests abreast.

NFEH chief seeks environment policy for Sindh KARACHI—President, National Forum for Environment and Health, Mohammad Naeem Qureshi has urged the Sindh government to ensure early introduction of environment policy so as to help people against wide range of pollution oriented hazards.

In a statement on Sunday, he said environmental degradation had risen to dangerous level in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, and an environment policy was urgently required to address the situation. The hazards, he said are not only health related but also a serious threat to sources of livelihood for a significant number of people.

Qureishi said consequent to passage of 18th constitutional amendment each of the provinces, including Sindh, had to come forward with their respective environment policies to brave through serious challenges. He said Sindh is particularly exposed to wide range and categories of pollution including atmospheric and water pollution, land degradation, deforestation besides repercussion of climate change.—APP

More walking tied to lower stroke risk among men

O

LDER men who spend several hours walking each day are less likely to have a stroke than their peers who rarely walk, a new study suggests. And walking pace didn’t seem to matter. Researchers said few studies have looked specifically at how both walking speed and walking time or distance are linked to stroke risk.

“Stroke is a major cause of death and disability and it is important to find ways to prevent it, especially in older people who are at high stroke risk,” Barbara J. Jefferis told Reuters Health in an email.

She led the research at University College London in the UK. “Our study suggests that maintaining an active lifestyle, specifically by spending more time on all forms of walking, could be an important part of stroke prevention strategies in older people,” Jefferis said.

She and her coauthors analyzed data from men enrolled in a long-term British heart study.

The men entered the study in 1978 to 1980. In 1998 to 2000, when they were in their 60s and 70s, they filled out surveys about how often they were physically active.

The new analysis includes 2,995 men who had not had a stroke or heart disease at the time of that survey. Researchers followed them for another 11 years. More than half of the men walked an hour or less each day. About one in six reported walking more than two hours per day.

During the follow-up period, 195 of the

men had a stroke. The researchers found that the more time men spent walking, the lower their risk of stroke. Men who walked four to seven hours each week were 11 percent less likely to have a stroke than men who walked for three hours per week or less. But that difference could have been due to chance, Jefferis and her colleagues reported in the journal Stroke.

A stronger finding was that men who walked the most - for more than three hours each day - had a two-thirds lower risk of stroke than those who spent the least time walking.

Walking pace was also tied to stroke risk, such that averagepace or brisk walkers had a 38 percent lower risk of stroke than slow walkers. But distance walked explained that finding: men who walked at an average or brisk pace also walked further than their slower peers, according to the study.

The findings don’t prove walking prevents strokes. But they could not be explained by factors known to increase a person’s risk of stroke, like age, blood pressure and cholesterol. More recently identified markers of stroke, such as proteins associated with inflammation, blood clotting or heart muscle damage also weren’t behind the link. “What we found was that all of these factors explained only a small amount of the relationship between time spent walking and onset of stroke,” Jefferis said. “This suggests that there may be other factors operating which explain why walking protects against stroke.”

Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National heritage, Pervaiz Rashid addressing the 4th Al Hamra International Literary and Cultural conference in Lahore.

Dr Kamran honoured STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Mavrah Cultural Fo-

rum Lahore organized a ceremony in honour of Prof Dr Muhammad Kamran and welcomed his appointment as head of PU Urdu Department.

The head of cultural forum and renowned poet Khalid Sharif expressed his views and said that Dr Kamran was renowned critics, researcher, poet, educationist, travel correspondent and broadcaster and his appointment was good for Urdu lovers. Renowned poets including Saeed-ul-Zafar Siddiqui, Ahmed Subhani Aakash, Faisal Chishti, Samundar Mansoori, Muhammad Waseem, Irfan Sadiq and others congratulated and appreciated the efforts of Dr Muhammad Kamran in education field.

Dr Kamran’s appointment also appreciated by the head of Urdu Department of Istanbul University, Turkey, Prof Dr Khalil Tooqar, head of Urdu Department of Al-Azhar University, Egypt Prof Dr Ibrahi, head of Urdu DeLAHORE: A boy seen selling coasts to support his family. partment Tehran University , Iran, Dr Ali Biyat. Dr Muhammad Kamran after taking the charge as head of Urdu Department expressed his resolve to promote norms and rights concerning about discriminatory behaviors research culture besides promoSALIM AHMED women. The country was ranked and practices against women. tion of Urdu language.

LAHORE—Like other parts of 94th out of 102 in the Gender the globe, International White Inequality Index, 2009 however Ribbon Day for Eradication of this year its ranking has dropped Violence against Women will be to an alarming rate. Pakistan marked across the country on ranks lowest in the South Asian Monday (today). This day is region in terms of GDP per marked all across the globe in- capita for women. Right to educluding Pakistan to show sup- cation, discriminatory family port and solidarity to women codes, restricted physical integsuffering violence in their lives. rity, son bias, restricted reIn Pakistan, White sources and civil liberties are Ribbon Campaign marked some common forms of biases this day every year especially to against women that need serious highlight role of men in eradi- consideration. cation of violence against The White Ribbon Day women. against Gender inequalities is an Talking to reporters, CEO of international campaign initiated WRCP Mr. Omer Aftab said that by White Ribbon Campaign to stop violence against women, here in Pakistan. It starts from it is not sufficient to create November 25- International Day awareness about women rights against Violence against among women only, but it is also Women- and ends on December necessary that men should join 10- International Human Rights with women to encourage norms Day- to symbolically link vioof consent, respect and gender lence against women and human equality in order to promote rights and to emphasize on the empowered roles based on non- fact that biases of all sorts are violence and equality. the violation of human rights.

Omer further added that as With such activities, the camper the Social Institutions and paign aims to express its support Gender Index 2012, Pakistan is towards free will of individuals, ranked 55th out of 86 in the list be it men or women, in order to of countries violating social raise voice and create awareness

International White Ribbon Day today

PU to organize Int’l Conference MUZAFFAR ALI LAHORE—Punjab University Department of History & Pakistan Studies will organize International Conference on “Socio Economic Cooperation between India and Pakistan” on Monday (today). Acting Governor/Chancellor, Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal will be chief guest. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran will preside over inaugural session on Monday (today) November 25 at 9am at Al-Raazi Hall, Centre for Undergraduate Studies.

1034 cars, bikes taken away in City Division in ten months MUZAFFAR ALI L AHORE —Despite the tall claims made by the police department and other law enforcement agencies to curb the criminal gangs, crimes have shot up in the metropolis during the current year.

A crime data from January to October in City police Division shows that incidents of robberies and thefts of cars, motorbikes, cell phones and other valuables are on the rise although police continue making claims of busting gangs of criminals.

No less than 1034 cases pertaining to cars lifting and motorcycles stealing have been registered only in City Police Division out of total six divisions of the city.Robbers, thieves and gangsters have bypassed all security measures to make the lives of citizens miserable while street crime has become a major problem in the city. Several teenage boys, proclaimed offenders and

even former and serving police officials are involved in such crimes. They rob people of mobile phones, wallets, handbags and watches and even their money in ATMs. According to the official data available with Pakistan Observer, citizens were deprived of approximately billions of rupees during the last ten months.

Data available with Pakistan Observe revealed that during the last ten months of year 2013, the trend of street crime was violent and robbers and thieves had openly challenged the writ of Lahore police. Out of total reported incidents in City Division regarding car and motorcycle thefts, only 208 cases of vehicles theft have been traced so far that is a big question mark on the performance of the law enforcement agencies in Lahore.

The cars and bike owners, who purchase such vehicles through savings, go through trauma and shock besides their

happy lives turn sad due to the inefficiency and indifference of the law enforcement agencies.

The sincere police officers and car-theft victims are of the unanimous view that car lifters mostly work under the patronage of police. That’s why police become successful in recovering any stolen or snatched car on a special task given to them by their bosses.

A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said police could have easily controlled car theft and snatching through extensive patrolling and by ensuring proper parking. Police should also keep a close liaison with the office-bearers of commercial markets and shopping malls to ensure proper parking, the officer maintained. However, the Operations Wing of Lahore Police has taken very seriously the statement of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah about the killing of robbers on the spot in encounters. A number of accused have been

killed during the last two weeks but Lahorites are still waiting for end to street crimes, house robberies and vehicles snatching and theft.

Chief Traffic Officer Sohail Chaudhry talking to Pakistan Observer said the owner or driver of a car should not leave the vehicle unattended without locking the ignition and removing the key.”

A significant number of automobiles are stolen because drivers fail to remove ignition keys,” adding he said identification of vehicles after they are recovered is a big problem for police and law enforcement agencies.

So it is a duty of car owner to etch the vehicle registration number in several hard-to-find spots, using an engraving tool,” he added. Chief Capital Police Officer (CCPO) Chaudhary Shafiq Ahmed issued directions to take stern disciplinary action against those police officials found in negligence and involved in corruption.