E-paper Pakistantoday 22nd December, 2011

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Phone hacking ‘standard tool’ at UK tabloid

Govt to extend railway track to China, says Bilour

PAGE 17

PROFIT | PAGE 01

Opp supports minister for closing down CNG sector PAGE 09

pakistantoday.com.pk

rs15.00 Vol ii no 175 22 pages Karachi edition

thursday, 22 december, 2011 muharram-ul-Haram 26, 1433

Lines clearly drawn over memo issue ISLAMABAD

PESHAWAR: Rescue personnel shift an injured man after an explosion at a hotel in the Shaikhabad area on Wednesday night. TarIq azIz

Zardari back in capital PPP decides on no response from president in memo case

ISLAMABAD: As the memo controversy continues to deepen, President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday arrived in Islamabad from Karachi where he had landed from Dubai on December 19, after his medical tests and treatment. “President Zardari arrived in Islamabad from Karachi late on Wednesday night,” Farhatullah Babar confirmed.

Controversy over his role as the head of state had gripped the entire nation soon after his departure for Dubai on December 6, with conflicting official statements further confusing the situation. He had returned to the country the day the Supreme Court was scheduled to take up the memo case and he returned to Islamabad one day before the apex court was to hear the case again. Zardari is expected to meet his legal advisers who already had a consultative session with the prime minister on Wednesday to devise the government’s strategy in the memo case. Some PPP firebrands like Babar Awan and Punjab Governor Latif Khosa have already gone public with their criticism of the Supreme Court, besides questioning PMLN President Nawaz Sharif’s agenda for taking this case to the court. STaff rePorT

ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

The top brass of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Wednesday night resolved not to submit a response from President Asif Ali Zardari in the memogate case but said the final decision would be taken after the nod from the president himself.

A source privy to the details of the meeting told Pakistan Today that the meeting discussed at length the response to the court by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in the memogate case and finalised its strategy to deal with it in the court, media and in public. Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq briefed the meeting on the contents of the affidavit submitted by the

army chief and discussed ways and means to deal with the situation with prudence and political acumen.

“During the meeting, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani briefed the participants about his successive interactions with the chief of army staff to convince him not to respond to the apex court. He said that since the parliamentary committee was already probing the memo controversy, there was no logic in taking up the matter in court,” said the source.

The source said the attorney general briefed the meeting on possibilities for a response from President Zardari. “Former law minister Babar Awan also gave his input to deal with the issue but the prime minister Continued on page 04

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MASOOD REHMAN

He lines are clearly drawn. As the government on Wednesday admitted that the Defence Ministry had no control over the operations of the army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), not budging from its position, seemingly put its weight behind the security institutions in the memo case as - rejecting Husain Haqqani’s reply submitted to the Supreme Court and preferring the judicial process over the parliamentary probe into the alleged conspiracy against the state - it demanded the truth be uncovered.

The Defence Ministry’s admission in its written reply filed in the Supreme Court that it had no control over the army and the ISI’s operations indicated that both security institutions, contrary to what the prime minister claimed, were not on the same page with the government, particularly in the memo issue.

The Defence Ministry, in its brief affidavit, maintained that it was not in a position to make a statement in the court on behalf of the army and the ISI saying that their operations were not in its knowledge. The Defence Ministry’s reply regarding the army and the ISI unambiguously make it clear that the civil and military establishments do not work in unison as there is no synergy between them on mat-

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Defence Ministry tells SC it has no control over army, ISI Nawaz, Kayani and Pasha stick to their guns in affidavits Govt continues to oppose judicial probe

ters related to national security, obviously because of lack of trust. Though PML-N President Nawaz Sharif’s stated position against the army and the ISI’s role in politics remains unflinching, his support for the position taken by the army and the ISI on the memo issue puts him on the same page with them, at least on this matter of national security, against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and its leadership. Complying with the order of the Supreme Court, all the respondents filed their affidavits, which the apex court had seemingly sought to further confirm Continued on page 04

pml-n refuses to be part of memo body | page 04

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02 News

Thursday, 22 December, 2011

lAhOrE

Today’s

‘Privatisation be damned!’

NEWS

WOrlD viEW

Haqqani refutes story about London meetings

Obama’s 3am Korean phone call

quick Look

OStory on Page 10

Story on Page 05

Story on Page 15

Same jihadi group holding Taseer, Warren, Malik The Punjab inspector general of police on Wednesday revealed that three key personalities abducted from Lahore were in the custody of one jihadi group, a private TV channel reported. The abductions of Shahbaz Taseer, son of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer from Gulberg, US contractor Warren Weinstein from Model Town and exCJCSC Gen Tariq Majeed’s son-in-law Amir Malik from Garden Town are all being attributed to a single group. Punjab IGP Javed Iqbal said limited resources were a key hurdle in the recovery of abducted people. He said besides heavy ransom, there were certain demands by kidnappers that were difficult to accept. MONITORING DESK

Eight injured in hospital blast PESHAWAR: eight people were injured in a blast on second floor of Nasir Mohmand Surgical Hospital at Sheikhabad area on Wednesday, police said. Doctors and paramedical staff were busy in attending patients on the second floor when the blast occurred due to a gas cylinder explosion. The injured were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital. The hospital’s electric transformer and nearby shops also caught fire. The fire-brigade staff rushed to the spot and controlled the fire. The flames could be seen from a long distance.

Police cordoned off the area and started a search operation. APP

5 people burnt alive in accident GUJRANWALA: Five commuters were burnt alive during their journey to Lahore from Gujranwala when their wagon caught fire after hitting a road divider while attempting to save a child who suddenly came in front of the speeding vehicle. Only one of the victims, Suraya Ikram of Gujranwala, was identified until filing of this report and the remaining four bodies were not identified yet. According to details, a Toyota van bearing registration number LHR-6847 caught fire due to cylinder leakage near Aminabad. Some passengers managed to get out of the burning vehicle. Rescue 1122 reached the spot and shifted injured passengers, including Jamil, his wife Shabana, daughter Iqra, Irfan, Shafique, Nawaz, Robina Bibi, Mahjabeen, Razia Bibi, Babli, Haji Sadiq, Abid, Usman, Irfan and Syed Nazim Hussain to DHQ Hospital while most of them were discharged after first aid. STAFF REPORT

Quetta residents protest low gas pressure QUETTA: Around 100 people on Wednesday protested in small groups against low gas pressure in the city, and blocked several roads in the provincial capital. The Balochistan province, particularly its central and northern parts including Quetta are in the grip of severe cold for the last few days. The sudden increase in gas consumption particularly in Quetta caused low gas pressure and even no pressure in several parts of the city, forcing the citizens to protest against the gas company. Dozens of residents blocked the Sariab and Killi Qambarani roads by setting tyres on fire. Traffic remained suspended, causing great inconvenience for the commuters. STAFF REPORT

KARACHI: Passengers are travelling on the top of a bus as the city was facing an acute shortage of public transport due to closure of CNG stations in the province on Wednesday. Online

AF-Pak MPs for more coordination ISLAMABAD

U

ARIF TAJ

RGING that coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan for countering terrorism needed to be improved and visa policy be liberalised, parliamentarians from both countries on Wednesday said the parliamentarians’ dialogue between the two countries should be institutionalised. This was stated in a joint declaration following dialogue between parliamentarians from Pakistan and Afghan that took place in Islamabad. The joint declaration was read out by Senator Salim Saifullah in a press conference.

The dialogue focussed on the progress on recommendations of the earlier two parliamentary dialogues, which had taken place in March and May this year in Islamabad and Kabul, respectively.

Afghan transit trade, trade and travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan, investment opportunities and prospects of PakistanAfghanistan relations after NATO/US forces

withdrawal from Afghanistan were discussed.

The dialogue has been sponsored by Pakistan Institute for Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT).

Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi and Senator Salim Saifullah cochaired the dialogue for Pakistani, while Ishaq Gilani and Abdul Latif Pidran represented Afghanistan.

The parliamentarians gave their recommendations in the joint declaration for improving relations between the two countries.

It was said that coordination on counterterrorism operations needed to be improved, apprehensions regarding terrorists’ safe havens should be addressed, parliamentary oversight on defence should be enhanced and parliamentarians should adopt their own peopleoriented political approach to improve relations between the two countries. It said effective control on growth and supply of drugs was needed, border management system asked for improvement and intelligence-sharing and cooperation needed to be enhanced.

The dialogue also called for visa liberalisation.

The Parliamentarians from both sides also agreed to speed up the process of getting their recommendations fully recognised by their respective governments and to ensure their recommendation emanating from interacting with each other be discussed in the both Houses of their respective parliaments.

The parliamentarians agreed that trade between the two countries should be promoted further for strengthening bilateral cooperation and technical issues in the implementation of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), such as insurance guarantees, should be resolved by mutually. They said APTTA should be extended beyond Afghanistan to Central Asian States and trade between the two countries should be promoted by providing attractive opportunities to investors from both sides.

They agreed that a mechanism for streamlining economic relations between the two countries needed to be adopted, through which Pakistan’s participation in Afghan reconstruction should be encouraged. They also called for improved rail and road links.

Christian blasphemy convict ‘fit as a fiddle’ g

Officials reject NGO’s claim that Aasia Bibi is ‘losing her mind’ g Deny claims that any unauthorised person other than her family has met her recently

LAHORE UMAIR AZIZ

Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy and currently imprisoned in Sheikhupura Jail, is in perfect mental and physical condition as opposed to recent reports in a section of the

press stating that her condition is “frail”, Pakistan Today learnt on Wednesday.

Non-government organisation (NGO) ‘Masihi Foundation’, which purportedly “takes care of the legal and material assistance” of Aasia Bibi, recently claimed that their team had met her in prison on December 19 (Monday) and stated that because of her solitary confinement, “Aasia, 46, appears considerably older, has a pale complexion, she looks very frail, even unable to stand on her own”.

The report made several other claims aimed at highlighting the ‘fact’ that Aasia’s mental health was declining, implying at times that she had lost, or was losing, her mind.

It also spoke of the unhygienic conditions she was being kept in.

However, after a thorough investigation, several senior officials told Pakistan Today that Aasia was in perfect mental and physical condition and the claims in this regard were fabricated.

“During the whole conversation - over 2 hours and 20 minutes – her trail of thoughts were drifting,” the Masihi Foundation had told Agenzia Fides, the Catholic news service. “She re-

acted in mixed emotions, laughing, crying and going silent for long period of time.” The report was later carried by AFP and appeared in the local press on Wednesday.

An independent investigation revealed that Nankana Sahib Additional District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Saleem visited Aasia on Monday along with jail physician Dr Irfan Riaz. The judge spent more than 10 minutes with her and a perfectly lucid Aasia told him she was “perfectly fine”.

“Aasia is in a perfect condition and the Punjab Home Department has assigned a female doctor especially for her, and she pays her regular visits,” Dr Riaz said.

Jail Superintendent Sheikh Khalid said that it was impossible that the NGO could have met Aasia since she was allowed an extremely limited number of visitors for her own safety. “The news is totally baseless and ridiculous… Only her husband Aashiq Masih and daughters are allowed to meet her. Any claims of having met her are being made with wrong intentions,” he said.

Punjab Home Department officials dealing with the matter revealed further that no one in

the recent past had been granted permission to see Aasia.

“No one, whether a local or a foreigner, has been granted permission to meet Aasia in the recent past… the Home Department did receive a couple of requests in this regard, but both of them were stamped ‘No Further Action’ and have been pending,” an official, who wished to remain unnamed, told Pakistan Today.

Home Secretary Shahid Khan also said Aasia was in perfect mental and physical condition as all prisoners were kept under the prison rules and it was “impossible” for officials to not take care of a case which could immediately attract international attention. efforts to obtain a version from Haroon Barkat Masih, the international director of Masihi Foundation, or his team were unsuccessful as they did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Aasia’s case attracted international media attention following the brutal assassinations of two high-profile government officials, Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer and federal minister for minorities’ affairs Shahbaz Bhatti.

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

News 03

fOrEiGN NEWS

ArTS & ENTErTAiNMENT

SPOrTS

Activists say 111 killed in Syria’s ‘bloodiest day’

Vivid stills

Rehman’s best fires Pakistan to series sweep Two crises:

COMMENT Dealing with it.

Reality check: What change does Imran Khan talk about.

Nazir Naji says: A political slumbering: Our political process has been interrupted again and again.

Dr James Zogby says: The Arab Spring effect: It has had a political effect.

Imran Husain says: Flurry of punches: Pakistan manages to come back somehow.

Story on Page 19

Story on Page 16

NA passes bill to form National Human Rights Commission Bill was passed unanimously with adoption of certain amendments put forth by Opposition g

ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

He National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill for the establishment of National Human Rights Commission for protection and promotion of fundamental human rights in the country.

Adviser to the prime minister on human rights, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, presented the National Commission for Human Rights Bill, 2011 which was passed unanimously with adoption of certain amendments put forth by the opposition.

Under the bill, the federal government would constitute the commission, headed by a chairperson qualified to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court or high court with known interest and experience in the field of human rights, while the chairperson would only be removed if the government would send a reference, like that in the case of a judge.

The chairperson would be appointed for four years, while one member from each province, Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA), Gilgit-Baltistan and the federal capital, two members from minority communities would constitute the body.

The commission’s secretary, to be appointed by the federal government, shall be a person qualified to be appointed as federal secretary. The commission will also include three female members.

A member shall not be less than 30 years of age and shall be known for knowledge and experience in human rights.

Headquarter of the commission will be in the Islamabad and it may establish its offices at all provincial headquarters and at such others place it may consider appropriate.

The chairperson and other member shall be appointed by the president on advice of the prime minister.

For each vacancy of chairperson or member, the federal government shall, after consultation with relevant stakeholders in fair and transparent manner, recommend and submit to the prime minister three names.

The function and power of the commission include inquire into or take suo motu action on a petition submitted by a victim or any person on his behalf into complaint of violation of human rights.

The members of the commission could visit any jail or any other institution under the control of the government where convicts or under-trial prisoners are serving their sentences.

The commission will also review the safeguard provided by or under the constitution or any law for the time being in force for the protection of human rights and recommend adaptation of new legislation and the amendment of administrative measures for their effective implementation.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Industries and Production Khwaja Sheraz said the government was making all out efforts to control the increase in the current account deficit of $2.1 billion.

To a calling attention notice moved by Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, Nuzhat Sadiq and others regarding an increase in the current account deficit to $2.1 billion, the minister hoped that the current account deficit would be brought down significantly in remaining seven month of the current fiscal year.

Also, a 27-member Afghan parliamentary delegation, including three women, witnessed National Assembly proceedings.

Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi welcomed the delegation.

SC seeks reply on plea for right of vote to overseas Pakistanis ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench on Wednesday directed Attorney General Justice (r) Maulvi Anwarul Haq to seek instructions from the federation and submit a concise statement over a petition seeking right of vote to overseas Pakistanis.

The bench consisting of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry was hearing identical petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and others, making the Federal Law Ministry, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the election Commission of Pakistan

(eCP) as respondents.

The attorney general sought time to take instructions from all ministries and eCP upon which the court adjourned the hearing for two weeks.

The petitioners requested the court to direct the respondents to take appropriate measures for making it possible for overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes in Pakistani consulates and embassies like many other developed/developing countries.

The petition was filed through Abdul Rauf submitting that according to the constitution, respondents were required to prepare and update electoral rolls by devising provisions for making it possible for overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes in the upcoming elections.

Story on Page 20

Articles on Page 12-13

NAB to probe corruption allegations against KP govt ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman has taken notice of massive corruption reported by media in different state institutions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), it has been reliably learnt.

During the past four years, the KP government has been declared the most corrupt regime across the country and various non-governmental organisations have questioned the integrity

of the chief minister and his team.

Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) had said in its report that the KP government was the most corrupt of all four provincial governments.

It said overall corruption had increased by around Rs 28 billion in a year and more than 70 percent of citizens said the ANP-led government was more corrupt than the previous one.

A source in NAB informed Pakistan Today that in order to ascertain the authenticity of media reports, NAB chief

Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari would be visiting Peshawar today (Thursday).

“Upon his arrival at Peshawar, the NAB chief would be given detailed briefings on the initial investigation and data gathered by various organs of the provincial officials of NAB,” the source said.

The source added that other than new investigations, Bokhari would also be briefed on review of corruption cases pending with the NAB KP, while progress on different pending and ongoing cases would also be reviewed.

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04 News

Thursday, 22 December, 2011

PML-N refuses to be part of body on ‘memogate’

Party’s committee members say PMl-N respondent in memo case already being heard by SC g Committee chairman rejects PMl-N members’ plea g

ISLAMABAD

eral, details of the statements of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani, Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Husain Haqqani, Mansoor Ijaz and others.

He said the secretary defence and secretary foreign affairs had recorded their statements and also submitted some documents relating to the memo issue.

To a question, Rabbani said there was no deadline set for completing the probe into the issue and it had been decided that the committee would come up with a consensus report and no difference of opinion would be reflected in it.

He said the committee had already evolved a framework therefore there were minimal chances of any difference of opinion in findings the committee’s report.

However, it remains to be seen whether the PML-N members join the committee’s further proceedings.

S the secretaries of defence and foreign affairs recorded their preliminary statements before the parliamentary committee on national security over the memo issue on Wednesday, members belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz expressed their inability to be part of the proceedings because their party was a respondent in the same case being heard by the Supreme Court.

A source told Pakistan Today that during the meeting of the parliamentary committee, PML-N members Senator Ishaq Dar and MNA Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbasi expressed their inability to go ahead with the proceedings because their party had moved the Supreme Court over the issue. However, committee

chairman Senator Raza Rabbani rejected their plea and urged them to continue to be part of the proceedings due to significance of the matter.

The source said the treasury benches did not want the PML-N to stay away from the decision of the committee, which is dominated by members belonging to the PPP and its allies.

The source said the PML-N members also called for opening the committee meeting for the media, as was the case with apex court proceedings. However, the committee with majority did not agree and decided in principle to keep the proceedings in-camera. The two-hour meeting also deliberated upon the diplomatic and economic impacts on Pakistan.

Talking to reporters later, Rabbani said the committee had rejected the plea of PML-N members to skip the proceedings. He said the committee had sought, through the attorney gen-

Abbottabad body hears ex-foreign minister, secretaries

US troops may stay in afghanistan after 2014

STAFF REPORT

A

ISLAMABAD: The Abbottabad commission on Wednesday held a long session of consultations with former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former foreign secretaries Inamul Haq, Riaz Khokhar, Riaz Mohammed Khan, former diplomat Dr Maleeha Lodhi, and retired bureaucrats Roedad Khan and Lt General (r) Talat Masood. The commission’s president Justice (r) Javed Iqbal chaired the session, while Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Lt General (r) Nadeem Ahmed and Abbas Khan attended the proceedings. The participants gave their views on the US raid on the alleged hideout of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2. STAFF REPORT

WASHINGTON AFP

The US commander in Afghanistan said in an interview published on Wednesday that American troops could stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014, the latest signal of a possible open-ended US military role in the country.

General John Allen told the New York Times that negotiations with Afghan officials on a strategic partnership would “almost certainly” feature “a discussion with Afghanistan of what a post2014 force will look like”.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai had “in fact, just the other day talked about his desire to have conversations with the US about a post-2014

force,” Allen was quoted as saying. “We would probably see some number of advisers, trainers, intelligence specialists here for some period of time beyond 2014,” the commander said. Allen, who oversees the NATO-led force in the 10-yearold war, is the highest-ranking military officer to openly suggest the possibility of American forces remaining beyond 2014.

President Barack Obama’s administration has suggested combat troops would depart by the end of 2014 but left the door open to a residual force remaining on the ground. US ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker said earlier this month that Washington would be ready to keep forces in Afghanistan if the Kabul government requested it.

hamid Mir fears for security ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Geo TV anchor and journalist Hamid Mir on Wednesday claimed that he had received threatening messages on his BlackBerry following talk shows in which he discussed the political role of the Pakistan Army.

“These recent threats are related to two recent shows on Geo TV. I discussed a story in The Independent in the UK reported by Omar Warraich on December 14 and raised questions about the political role of ISI Director General Ahmad Shuja Pasha. A constitutional petition was filed by [Community Party chairman] engineer Jamil Malik on December 19 in the Supreme Court of Pakistan [asking the court to remove Lt Gen Pasha] and I was included in the petition as one of the respondents. I came to know about this petition in the evening of December 19. The same evening, I discussed the press conference of Baloch leader Attaullah Mengal on my show. Mengal criticised the Pakistan Army’s atrocities against Baloch.

This show was aired in the evening of December 19 and repeated in the morning of December 20 between 11am and 12pm,” Mir said. He said he was “sure that security establishment of Pakistan is once again angry with all those who will raise questions about the political role of the army ... if anything bad happens to me or my dear ones, the security establishment will be responsible,” Mir said in a message to fellow journalists.

QUETTA: All Pakistan Clerks Association President Yousaf Kakar addressing protesters. oNLINe

Indian court stays deportation of 151 Pakistani Hindus NEW DELHI INP

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the government’s response on a petition seeking grant of asylum to 151 Hindus from Pakistan who are facing deportation following expiry of their pilgrimage visas.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice AK Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai endlaw issued notices to the external Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry and sought their re-

sponses by February 29, 2012.

The court also directed the government to stay the deportation of the 151 Pakistani nationals until it arrives at a decision on the issue. The order came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha seeking the court’s direction to the government to provide political asylum or extension of stay in India to the 151 Pakistani Hindus. The petition said that a total of 151 Pakistan Hindus

NAB to hire retired revenue officials to deal with illegal land allotments ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday decided to hire the services of retired revenue officials to deal with the cases of illegal allotment of land. In a meeting held under NAB Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bukhari, members of the executive Board decided to convene a meeting of the bureau’s directors general in the second week of January to formulate policies to eradicate corruption from the society. The meeting took several important decisions, including the activation of retired revenue officials (regulators) to recover the amounts lost by corruption and misuse of authority. STAFF REPORT

PPP decides on no response Continued from page 1 and Syed Khurshid Shah advised avoiding any headon collision with the military and judicial establishment. Some participants were of the view that the party should use media and other public forums to take the people into confidence on threats faced by the democratic setup,” the source said.

The source also said a follow-up meeting was likely in the wee hours of Thursday with President Zardari in the chair.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s House spokesman denied that a PPP Core Committee meeting was held there. The spokesman said speculations about such a meeting had no basis.

Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Akram Shaheedi told Pakistan Today that no meeting of the Core Committee had taken place.

When asked whether a group of ministers had met the premier, the spokesman said ministers did meet Gilani from time to time but no such meeting was held as reported by a section of the press.

entered India in several batches last year on onemonth pilgrimage visas issued by the Indian consulate at Islamabad. The petition stated that the validity of the visas had expired and the 151 Pakistani nationals faced the threat of deportation. According to the petitioner, a plea has also been made to the prime minister and the National Human Rights Commission that the lives of the Pakistani Hindus would be in danger if they were sent back.

Drone victims issue legal notice to UK PESHAWAR: The heirs of a leading tribal elder, who along with around 50 other people was killed in a US drone attack on March 17, issued a legal notice to the UK government through Foreign Minister William Hague.

Malik Noor Khan, son of Malik Daud Khan, issued the legal notice through the Foundation for Fundamental Rights, which is linked to the UK’s Reprieve. During a press conference, Noor flanked by FFR’s Mirza Shehzad Akbar and other tribesmen, recalled that the UK government had earlier confessed its involvement in US drone attacks, therefore, he made the UK government as party.

In response to a question, Shehzad said, “There is no or little chance of justice from American courts, therefore, they preferred the UK government for the legal notice. STAFF REPORT

Lines clearly drawn over memo issue Continued from page 1 the stance of all the respondents, who had already submitted their replies on December 19, before finally proceeding in this case. The apex court will take up the memo case on Thursday (today).

Parallel to the judicial process, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security on Wednesday also formally started its proceedings but the PML-N made an attempt to throw a spanner in the works, asking the committee to disengage its members as they were unable to be part of the pro-

ceedings, apparently because the Supreme Court was also involved in the matter, but tacitly expressing no-confidence in the parliamentary committee dominated by the PPP and its allies. Justifying his move to approach the Supreme Court, Nawaz Sharif has already said that parliament is not independent and sovereign.

Submitting his rejoinder, largely a ditto of what he had already submitted to the Supreme Court, on the concise statements of other respondents including the federal government over the memo issue, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq

Parvez Kayani reiterated his stance that the memo was a reality and it should be probed into.

General Kayani submitted his rejoinder along with an affidavit through Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq. He repeated his previous stance over the issue, stating that he had not concealed anything known to him. He said the memo had tried to decrease the morale of Pakistan Army but was unsuccessful in doing so.

In their separate rejoinders, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and MNA Khawaja Asif endorsed the stance of the COAS and the

ISI chief besides supporting the reply of Mansoor Ijaz and rejecting that of Husain Haqqani. They also opposed the federation’s stance and contended that the court had jurisdiction to hear the memo case.

The government’s position is that the case does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the parliamentary committee is the proper forum to investigate the matter.

In its rejoinder, the federal government also repeated its earlier stance saying that the president and the prime minister had no link to the memo, also ruling

out that President Asif Ali Zardari was the originator of the controversial document.

The federation again objected to the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to hear the memo case under Article 184(3) of the constitution. It stated further that all the political parties in parliament were members of the committee on national security and it was an independent body to investigate the memo issue.

The federation contended that the parliamentary committee had the right to record evidence in the matter. It had also opposed the court’s observation that

criminal aspects of the matter could only be taken up by the court.

According to well-placed sources, President Asif Ali Zardari will not file his concise statement in the memo case and the government will take its previous stance that it had submitted the reply on behalf of the president. This suggests that the government will make it a political issue as most of its men are publicly outraged and are criticising the court.

Talking to reporters at the Supreme Court building, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq said parliament and the executive could not

stop the proceedings of the Supreme Court in the memo case. Besides the army chief, the ISI chief had also submitted his affidavit, he said.

Asma Jahangir will today appear on behalf of Husain Haqqani, the main respondent, and argue his miscellaneous application seeking a recall of the court’s December 1 order in the case. On December 19, the court had also observed that despite passing of orders on December 15 in chambers, replies/rejoinders had not been filed by the respondents, which were deemed necessary for just decision of the case.

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

‘Afghan refugees to be sent home by end of 2012 ’ UNhCr’s assurance 06

‘People travel on bombs throughout the day!’

■ Sindh Assembly members express concern over rising incidents of gas cylinder blasts in public transport vehicles, demand complete ban on use of gas cylinders KARACHI

e

RAZZAK ABRO

xPReSSING concern over the rising incidents of gas cylinders exploding in public transport vehicles, the lawmakers of Sindh Assembly on Wednesday stressed the need of strict check on the quality of CNG cylinders and demanded a complete ban on the use of gas cylinders, especially in public transport vehicles.

At least 12 people were burnt alive and several more suffered injuries on Tuesday when the CNG cylinder installed in a public transport van exploded near Hingorja, Khairpur district.

The issue came under discussion in the legislative house through a resolution brought forward by Pakistan Muslim LeagueFunctional member Nusrat Saher Abbasi.

Despite many lawmakers terming it very important, the resolution was deferred for a day due to some ‘technical’ reasons.

The Sindh Assembly speaker, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, was of the view that laws regarding the use of safe CNG kits are present and the use of substandard and expired cylinders can be banned through effective implementation of the law. “It appears that the people are travelling [while sitting] on bombs throughout the day,” he said.

Admitting that substandard CNG cylinders are being sold in the Shershah scrap market, Sindh Transport Minister Akhtar Jadoon told the house that expired and substandard kits are banned under the prevalent law but the government will have to strictly implement the law.

“Around 0.3 million driving licences have been issued without fulfilling medical fitness and other formalities required,” he disclosed.

“The Sindh Transport Department has initiated an inquiry into the matter.”

Meanwhile, the lawmakers passed the Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service (Amendment) Bill 2011 aimed at transferring some powers of the prosecutor general to the provincial chief minister or the law minister.

The bill was tabled out of order by Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro.

“The former military ruler [Pervez Musharraf] had separated criminal prosecution from law ministry aimed at selected perusal of criminal cases in courts of law,” the law minister said. “The amendment in the Sindh Prosecution Service Bill 2009 will empower the provincial government to curb the menace of terrorism and pursue criminal cases effectively.”

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s provincial minister Sardar Ahmed said the amended bill will bring the government officers under the administrative control of elected members, like the chief minister or the minister concerned, instead of the bureaucracy. “The law officers will work on the lines drawn by the provincial government,” he added.

Supporting the amendment, Pakistan

People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers, Haji Munawar Abbasi and Humera Alwani, and Awami National Party member Amanullah Masood said the prosecution should be strengthened so that criminals involved in heinous crimes cannot be freed from courts due to weaknesses in the prosecution’s side.

Defending the government’s law officers, however, the Sindh law minister said that though it is the prerogative of the provincial government, law officers and anti-terrorism courts’ judges are appointed on recommendations made by the higher judiciary. “Therefore, it is expected from the judiciary that it ensures that terrorists are not freed from courts,” he added.

The provincial legislative house adopted two more resolutions during the proceedings.

One was moved by Sindh electric Power and Information Minister Shazia Marri for recognising efforts of Malala Yousafzai for promoting education for girls and peace in Swat. The other was brought forward by PPP’s Salim Khurshed Khokhar that condemned a shoe factory’s alleged act of disrespecting the religious symbol of Christians – the crucifix – in Punjab.

Stage rally anywhere but Mazar-e-quaid, SHC advises PTI KARACHI BAKHAT ALI

The Sindh High Court (SHC) advised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday that the Imran Khanled political party could convene its rally in the area surrounding the Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum but not on the mausoleum’s grounds. PTI’s counsel, Moula Bux Khatian, would approach the Supreme Court against the court’s decision.

The SHC disposed of a petition filed against the PTI for organising the party’s December 25 rally at the Quaid’s mausoleum.

The federal and Sindh governments as well as the Quaid-e-Azam Mazar Management Board (QAMMB) had submitted their statements on oath in the SHC and prohibited the PTI from holding the party’s public gathering at the mausoleum.

The SHC’s division bench comprising Justices Maqbool Baqar and Imam Bux Baloch, after hearing the petition filed by 12 citizens, declared that the permission to hold the rally at the mausoleum could be granted only by the mausoleum’s administration.

According to the petition, PTI’s rally at the mausoleum could disrupt the law and order situation in the area as well as the vehicular traffic, causing unwarranted nuisance to the citizens visiting the mausoleum.

Representing the federal government, the provincial government and the QAMMB, Sindh advocate general (AG), Sindh deputy prosecutor general and Advocate Riaz Ahmed appeared before the bench.

The AG submitted a statement on oath, written by Sindh additional chief secretary, which stated that the Bagh-e-Quaid is the property managed by the QAMMB and the National Heritage and Integration Ministry, so the Sindh government could not make a decision on the PTI’s request to hold the rally at the mausoleum.

As per the Quaid-e-Azam Mazar (Protection and Maintenance) Ordinance of 1971, no one is allowed to organise, convene or take part in any political activity in the form of procession, demonstration and public gathering over the property managed by the QAMMB, the statement said.

The statement said December 25 is the date of birth of the founder of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and the national day is officially celebrated with the change-of-guard ceremony at the mausoleum.

Moreover, national and foreign dignitaries as well as a large number of people, including schoolchildren, women and senior citizens, visit the mausoleum throughout the day, the statement added.

Besides, the statement further said, many personnel of the law enforcement agencies would be deployed across the metropolitan as a part of security arrangements for the Christian community celebrating Christmas the same day.

Advocate Ahmed said according to Article 6 of the mazar ordinance, the PTI cannot convene a political rally, and the QAMMB had unanimously decided in 2008 that no political processions would be allowed at the Bagh-e-Quaid.

In the midst of wilderness, DHa promises to build your dream home ■ DhA City Karachi to have lakes, an international university and a modern hospital KARACHI JAVED MAHMOOD

Two lakes, an international university, an ultra-modern hospital, own sources of power and drinking water and with an infrastructure costing around Rs 100 billion, the upcoming mega residentialcum-commercial project of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) – DHA City Karachi (DCK) – promises to be dream location for building a new house.

At the curtain raising ceremony of DCK organised by the DHA to provide updates about the project and to unfold the related development projects, DHA Karachi Administrator Brig Aamer Raza Qureshi, DCK Project Director Brig (retd) Muhammad Rafique, and lead consultants of the project, Osmani and Company’s Chairman Inam Ahmed Osmani, Prof eC Kondylis, Asim I Osmani and Arif Inam Osmani highlighted the salient features of

the project.

Commander 5 Corps Karachi and DHA executive Board President General Muhammad Zahirul Islam was the chief guest on occasion.

Talking about the details of the mega project, the DHA administrator said the DCK is located on the Karachi-Hyderabad Super Highway at the eastern border of Karachi, and borders Thatta district in the south and Jamshoro district in the east. “The scheme is situated at a distance of 56-km from the core area of Karachi; 35 km from the airport and is spread over 11,640 acres of land,” he said.

“In the coming years, the DCK can emerge as the largest, most organised, secure and a modern city, having all basic amenities and recreational facilities,” Qureshi said. “The DHA is in the process to acquire more land adjacent to the project with the aim of expanding the project by 2.5 times than its existing size.”

The DHA administrator said that out of the total of 48,521 plots, around 25,143 plots have already been sold and the remaining 23,378 plots will be offered for sale in the next phase. “Karachi does not have the required space now for infrastructure, and that is why the DHA selected the current location to establish DCK,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the Osmani and Company chairman said that the DCK project will be truly a trendsetter in providing modern communal facilities to its residents and visitors. “We are proud to be the lead consultants of the project and working with two renowned international consulting firms as our associates for completing the project successfully.”

A lead consultant of the project, Prof Kondylis, said the infrastructure of the city will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 100 billion ($1.1 billion).

“Two lakes, a golf club, an international university, 64 schools,

a modern hospital with 1,000-bed capacity, recreational parks and several shopping centres would be established along with the thousands of residences,” he pointed out. “Trams, popularly known as street cars, will also be introduced in the DCK to provide transportation facilities to the city’s residents and visitors.”

He was of the view that students from different countries will come to Karachi to study in the university proposed at the DCK, while patients from many countries would also give preference to get treatment at the hospital.

“The project has been designed after studying the structure

of Islamabad and some other important cities of the world,” Prof Kondylis said.

DCK Project Director Brig (retd) Muhammad Rafique informed the audience that a fourtier strategy had been evolved to initiate and accomplish the project.

“In 2011-12, the work to develop infrastructure will be started and from the year 2012-15, a shortterm plan and from 2015-2020, a medium term will be implemented to continue development programmes,” he said. “From 202030, a long-term plan will be put in place to accomplish the task of development of the city.”

“It is our target to make the

DCK liveable by 2015,” the DCK project director said. “By the year 2030, the new city will emerge as a complete and a modern city of Pakistan.”

Head of consultants, Arif Inam Osmani, said the DCK will have its own 500 megawatt power plant, solar and wind energy projects, transport, schools, shopping centres and all social facilities.

“Around 35-40 tube wells will be installed to produce quality water for drinking purposes at DCK,” he said. “During test drilling of tube wells, experts have found good availability of quality ground water in the area that can be supplied to the DCK residents.”

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

No there’s no strike… it’s a no-CNG day in Karachi

■ Closure of gas stations affects routine life in city KARACHI AFTAB CHANNA

W

ith the closure of CNG stations on Wednesday due to gas shortage in the country, routine life in Karachi came almost to a standstill and ever-bustling main roads of the city wore a deserted look.

Millions of vehicles in the city have converted to gas following the skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel.

The majority of the public transport vehicles remained off the roads in the wake of the shut down of CNG stations for 24 hours.

On Wednesday morning, long queues of cars, buses and coaches were witnessed waiting at CNG stations for hours. The commuters using public transport were the worst-affected due to the unavailability of buses and minibuses, which had to be taken off the roads. The closure of CNG stations also affected commercial activities.

A CNG station is closed on Wednesday following the SSGC’s gas shutdown. oNLINe The majority of public transport vehicles, which originally come with diesel engines off the assembly line, having been converted to CNG to save cost and the reliability on gas as a relatively cheaper fuel resource has increased manifold over the past few years.

Therefore, in the event of the CNG stations’ closure, the owners of rickshaws, taxis and other rented means of transport began charging exorbitantly from the citizens, hence, causing more problems for the inflation-hit public.

Hundreds of commuters were left stranded waiting for transport at major bus stands including the Baloch Colony Bridge, the Hassan Square, Saddar, the Cannt Station, the FTC flyover, Bahadurabad, Malir Halt and Quaidabad.

The major commercial centres of the city including Saddar, the MA Jinnah Road, the Jama Cloth Market and the Boulton Market wore a deserted look.

Attendance at workplaces including government and private offices also remained thin due to the unavailability of

transport.

Talking to Pakistan Today, transporters said that they are facing financial problems following the weekly closure of CNG stations.

The Karachi Transport Ittehad president said transporters should be consulted by the authorities before the decision to shut CNG stations is made.

“The CNG stations should be closed on holidays and at night so as to facilitate the majority of people, who rely on public transport,” he added.

BiEK announces hSC ‘afghan refugees to be Part i humanities sent home by end of 2012 Group results

’

■ UNhCr country representative Neil Wright assures Afghans in Sindh will return to their homeland by next year’s end KARACHI QAZI ASIF

KARACHI APP

The Board of Intermediate education Karachi (BIeK) announced the results of the HSC Part I Annual examinations 2011 Humanities (Regular) Group on Wednesday. According to statistics, 9,326 candidates appeared in the examinations, 3,130 were successful in all the six papers and 2,791 in five papers. A total of 1,503 candidates passed four papers, 905 three papers, 542 two papers and 317 one paper only. According to a BIeK statement, mark statements will be issued after two weeks. The board also notified the results of HSC Part I Annual examinations 2011 Humanities (Regular) Group Special Candidates.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s country representative Neil Wright has assured the provincial government that Afghan refugees living in the province will return to their homeland by the end of 2012.

He said this during at meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah held on Wednesday at the Chief Minister’s House.

Afghan Refugees Rehabilitation Center (ARRC) Commissioner Agha Jan Akhtar, Sindh Agriculture Secretary and Secretary to Chief Minister Alamdin Bullo were also present at the meeting.

According to an official handout, the chief minister discussed the matter of refugees residing in Pakistan, and said that there are over 3 million refugees in Pakistan out of which 200,000 Afghans are living in the Sindh province and the provincial government is looking after them.

He said that the Afghan refugees are mainly residing in and around Karachi in camps, and the federal government should provide

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah meets with UNhCr Country representative Neil Wright on Wednesday. oNLINe more assistance in this regard.

Well-placed sources told Pakistan Today that the Sindh chief minister had expressed strong reservations about the presence of Afghan refugees in the province.

“Sindh is facing the [financial] burden of Afghan refugees for

years, but the federal government is not issuing sufficient funding to the province,” Shah said. “We are taking care of them but not getting our due share from the centre.”

Assuring that the problem of refugees will be resolved soon, the official of UN’s refugee agency

stated that the Afghan refugees will return home by the end of December next year.

The sources said that at least 0.5 million Afghan refugees are living in the city of Karachi out of which only 0.2 million are registered.

KAS management issued contempt notices KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued contempt-of-court notices to Karachi American School (KAS) President Ali Dosa, Superintendent Dr Peter Pelosi and Manager erna Farooqi on Wednesday for repeatedly refusing to produce the documents

sought by the court.

The court has announced the next hearing of the case on January 12, 2012.

The contempt proceedings were initiated on the application of the plaintiff Shahida Hussain, a former teacher of the KAS, after the defendants failed to submit required documents despite the court’s repeated orders.

Their failure to submit the documents violates the court’s orders issued on April 21 and August 19, 2011.

The former teacher had filed a case for injunction and recovery of damages with profits and costs.

Senior advocates Iqbal Haider, Malik ejaz and Ameer Haider appeared before the court, representing the plaintiff, and

submitted their arguments, in the matter.

In the contempt application, the plaintiff under Article 204 of the constitution and Sections 3 and 5 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 maintained that the management of the Karachi American School deliberately ignored to produce all of the crucial documents ordered by the SHC.

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Beep beep… it’s a text message from Imran

SC orders Sindh govt to issue teachers’ joining orders

■ Through recorded phone calls and text

messages, PTi making full use of the telecommunication technology to ensure that its convention on December 25 is successful KARACHI AAMIR MAJEED

M

ANY citizens of Karachi received this text message on their cell phones on Tuesday and Wednesday: “I invite you to the National Unity Convention in Karachi on 25th December at Mazar-e-Quaid. I hope to see you there with all family and friends! Imran Khan.”

It appears that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is making full use of the telecommunication technology to ensure that its Karachi rally is a success.

The party also ran a successful campaign through the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) through phone calls to subscribers, in which the PTI chief,

in a recorded message, asks citizens to attend the rally.

The PTI has also hired the services of cellular phone companies to make its convention successful.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) claimed that it cannot stop the PTCL or any cellular company from doing its business until it receives a complaint against such phone calls or text messages.

“It is a commercial activity and the PTA has nothing to do with this,” said Col (retd) Muhammad Younus, the authority’s information director.

The cellular companies have sent the PTI’s message to all those who bought a subscriber identity module (SIM) in Karachi, even those who are no longer living in the city.

“I received a text message on Tuesday from PTI Chairman Imran Khan and he invited me to his

PakistaN today

KARACHI BAKHAT ALI

party’s National Unity Convention on December 25,” Amjad Ali, a resident of Gilgit who studied at the University of Karachi (KU), told Pakistan Today on the phone.

“I have forwarded Khan’s invitation to my friends in Karachi and asked them to participate in the PTI convention on my behalf.

However, they replied that they were invited twice, once on their landline numbers and then they also received the invitation through text messages on their cell phones,” he added.

Many youngsters have also

started approaching their friends to convince them to attend the PTI convention.

Sarmad Ali, a former KU student, told Pakistan Today that he has asked many friends and acquaintances to participate in the convention.

“We have hired a minibus and all my friends have decided to go see Imran at the Mazar-e-Quaid on December 25,” he said. “We will leave from Shahrah-e-Faisal in the form of a caravan,” he added. “No one is sponsoring this and we are doing all this on our own.”

The Supreme Court ordered the Sindh government on Monday to issue joining orders of 2,050 appointed primary school teacher and high school teachers within two weeks.

A division bench of the Supreme Court Karachi Registry, including Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani and Justice Amir Hani Muslim, was hearing over 20 constitutional petitions filed by various teachers of Badin, Dadu, and Naushehro Feroze districts against the Sindh education Department. education Secretary Siddique Memon, the deputy secretary, education district officers and other officials concerned appeared before the court.

According to the counsel for the teachers, the education Department announced that it would appoint 2,050 teachers for the vacant posts of different scales, including junior school teachers, drawing teachers and primary school teachers.

All candidates were selected for the posts only after having fulfilled the necessary requirements, including written, verbal and medical tests. “They were selected out of about 375,000 candidates and despite the department’s issuance of appointment letters to them, the government has not issued joining orders,” he added.

To this effect, the court gave two months’ time to the education Department for scrutinising doubtful candidates’ documents, saying that if government failed to conduct the analysis of the candidates and their documents within two months, then the teachers would be authorised to get salaries with effect from May 2011.

The editorial and layout staff.

The staff of Pakistan Today celebrated the first anniversary of the newspaper’s Karachi edition on Wednesday.

STaff PHoTo

The promotion and circulation staff.

Discussing migration, identity, home and longing KARACHI TExT AND PHOTO BY FIZZA HASSAN

Yaminay Nasir Chaudhri’s talk on alternative art practices and activism was held at The 2nd Floor on Tuesday.

Chaudhri, a recent Master of Fine Arts graduate from the University at Albany, State University of New York, discussed the relationship between contemporary art and social activism.

Using her projects as well as those of different artists, Chaudhri addressed several issues, including migration, identity, home and longing.

In the session, titled ‘Art and Activism: A Talk on Migration and Longing’, complexities of migrant persons, behaviours of expatriates, stereotypes, breaking boundaries and art as social commentary came under

discussion.

The combined media artist-cumCollar Works art gallery curator showed excerpts from her projects ‘Loss’, ‘encounter’, ‘Home Post Card Project’, ‘Meeting with Strangers’, ‘Changing the Demographics’ and ‘Beyond the Wall’.

In ‘Loss’, the audience could observe the artist’s memories recorded in audio, with embedded sounds of leaves making it impossible to listen to different sounds, like a father singing, the BBC playing or children laughing.

The idea was derived from the American fall that takes over everything and to revisit one’s childhood.

‘Meeting with Strangers’, as Chaudhri put it, was about the interactions she has with the stereotypes.

The videos were recorded

with the theme of learning something new from her subjects; for instance, tying a knot from a US Navy official, making a braid from a girl from Abu Dhabi, UAe. Apart from her successful projects in the US, Chaudhri also talked elaborately about her new projects in Karachi.

Charkhana, a project aimed at

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providing a “chaikhana” to women of diverse communities in Sikandarabad, an underprivileged area of Karachi, was postponed due to lack of funds.

During the session that continued for more than two hours, clippings from projects of Iraqi and Norwegian artists working on migrant communities were also shown.

In the discussion that followed the presentation, people attending the session expressed their perspective about the issues presented by Chaudhri as well as issues with regard to the Pakistani society.

Nevertheless, the Pakistani-raised/US resident was able to get the people to debate in the manner she believes in: “getting them out of their own perception of reality.”

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NaTIoNaL Day for WorKING WoMeN ToDay

WEAThEr UPDATES

27°C high

Thursday, 22 December, 2011

Clear skies

14°C low

20% humidity

friDAy

SATUrDAy

SUNDAy

26°C i 13°C

26°C i 13°C

27°C i 14°C

PrAyEr TiMiNGS fajr 5:51

Sunrise 7:12

Zuhr 12:31

Asr 3:29

Maghrib 5:48

isha 7:10

Starting time in Karachi

CiTy DirECTOry EMErGENCy hElP POliCE 15 BOMB DiSPOSAl 15, 99212667 firE BriGADE 16, 99215007, 99215008 EDhi 115, 32310066-2310077 KhiDMAT-E-KhAlQ fOUNDATiON 36333811 rED CrESCENT 35833973 GOvErNOr’S hOUSE 136 ChiEf MiNiSTEr’S hOUSE 99202051 MOTOrWAy POliCE 130

hOSPiTAlS ABBASi ShAhEED Civil JiNNAh NiCvD AGA KhAN TABBA

99260400-09 99215749, 99215960 99201300-39 99201271-6 34930051 36811841-50

‘It requires more than a law to protect working women’ ■ Women rights activists say concerted efforts are needed to implement pro-women bills in accordance with the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women requirements KARACHI

BlOOD BANK hUSSAiNi fATiMiD PWA

32238405-8 32225284, 32258656 99215740, 32735214

COMPlAiNT KESC PTCl KWSB CDGK SUi GAS

118 1218 1339 134 1199, 99231603

rAilWAyS iNQUiry CiTy STATiON CANTT STATiON

117, 99213565-6 99213538 99201118

AirPOrT fliGhT iNQUiry PiA rESErvATiON

114 111786786

COllEGES / UNivErSiTiES KArAChi UNivErSiTy NED UNivErSiTy fUUAST DUhS SMiC fAST-NU SZABiST iOBM iBA ivS

99261300-06 99261261-8 99244141-9 99215754-7 99217501-3 111128128, 34100541-7 111922478 35090961-7 111422422 35861039-40

A

APP

LL conscientious citizens of the country need to create an enabling environment and an effective legal system to protect working women against discrimination, women rights activists said on Wednesday.

Appreciative of the fact that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had designated December 22 as the National Day for Working Women, they said parliamentarians, government ministries and department as well as private sector are equally needed to contribute towards the cause.

Malka Khan, programme manager of Aurat Foundation, said the passage of law to protect women against harassment at workplace was a meaningful development that has favoured the working women of the country.

“We now expect that the office of an ombudsperson is set up in every province of the country to facilitate women exposed to discrimination or harassment at their workplaces,” she added.

This, she said, has to be complimented by an internal code of con-

‘Passage of pro-women bills great achievement’ KARACHi: The Aurat Foundation has hailed the unanimous adoption of two landmark bills providing for deterrent punishment for antiwomen practices and acid crimes in the country.

“The parliament’s unanimous passage of the bills to protect women’s rights is indeed a great achievement,” Aurat Foundation Karachi Resident Director Mehnaz Rehman said on Wednesday.

“It is an acknowledgement by the state that, indeed, there should be legislative measures to protect women,” she added.

The activist said both bills amend the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.

The prevention of anti-women practices bill prohibits several practices and customs that are not only against human dignity but also violate human rights and are contrary to Islamic injunctions.

“Under the amendments introduced in the law, those who force a woman into marriage through “wanni” or “swara”, deprives her of property rights or forces her to get married with the holy Quran will have to face imprisonment and

fine,” Rehman said.

“Aurat Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation working for women’s empowerment, is equally keen for the adoption of laws against domestic violence and regularisation of home-based workers.”

She said her NGO is actively involved in the passage as well as implementation of laws that violate human rights.

“One of our primary objectives at the policy level is to enhance the knowledge of female parliamentarians and politicians on specific women right issues.” aPP

duct to combat harassment at each and every public and private organisation including factories.

“Many government organisations and private ones are urgently needed to develop a complaints and appeals mechanism that would help establish a safe working environment for women.”

Advocate Rubina Brohi said that there is an urgency to allocate resources, financial as well as trained human resources, to imple-

ment laws which have been recently promulgated.

“Government-appointed ombudspersons have to be available in all provinces, to document cases and arbitrate as needed,” she added.

Nasreen Hannan, a consultant and researcher said there is a need to create an environment where procedures are seen to be effective and binding.

“Unfortunately, many people still consider that the rightful place

of women is home, not the workplace,” she said.

The activists said that it took many years of struggle by women rights organisations to bring this issue to the notice of lawmakers.

They were of unanimous opinion that concerted efforts are needed to implement pro-women bills in accordance with the Convention on the elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women requirements.

ART MASQUERADE 2011

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‘Art Masquerade 2011’ from December 22 to 25 at the emerald Mall.

Contact aplusplusbiz@gmail.com for more information.

20 senior artists’ group show at 06:00 PM on December 22 at the Clifton Art Gallery. Call 35875827 for more information.

‘Third Worlds: Third Ward/Karachi’ on December 23 at The 2nd Floor. Call 35389033 for more information.

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

News 09

linking action against iEDs to Pakistan aid unjustified: security circles ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan’s security circles believe that the recent US act of freezing $700 worth assistance to Islamabad and linking it to action against improvised explosive devices (IeDs) is unjustified as the IeDs have killed 2,073 security forces personnel and civilians in 2,053 such attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, thus proving to be the deadliest insurgent weapon in the country. Insurgents operating in the country use those IeDs and suicide jackets mostly made from smuggled, unexploded Soviet ordnance, intelligence sources said. Calcium Ammonium Nitrate, a product used in making IeD, is being produced all over the world since last 60 years and its total yield goes beyond 3.7 million tonnes, while Pakistan only produces 1 percent of this total production, that too purely for agriculture needs in arid regions of the country which face acute shortage of water. And production of ammonium nitrate started in Pakistan about 40 years ago. “Pakistan is amongst those countries having acutest shortage of water and per capita water availability ranks dead last in the list of 26 Asian countries,” said a source.

The US authorities have totally ignored this fact that huge quantities of ammonium nitrate are produced in half a dozen neighbouring countries of Afghanistan - Iran, Uzbekistan, Central Asia and China with 68 percent nitric acid composition. And porous nature of the Afghan border with its neighboring countries also makes it vulnerable for smuggling of ammonium nitrate which is used in the making of IeDs.

Govt deploys snipers for Christmas LAHORE AFP

The government will deploy snipers and hundreds of extra police at churches this Christmas to prevent possible attacks on Christian minority, police said on Wednesday. The bulk of the country’s tiny Christian community lives in and around Lahore, where police said there were 433 churches. “We will deploy 2,500 policemen, including sharp shooters, to provide security to them at Christmas,” Nayab Haider, a police spokesman, told AFP. “We have placed 38 churches in category A, which are most sensitive, and among them, 20 are even more sensitive as we expect foreigners to visit these churches on Christmas eve,” Haider said. Traffic would be banned outside these churches, and each one assigned seven policemen and a sniper, he added. “Police will also install walk-through gates at the entrance of all churches to be manned by security staff,” Haider said. He denied there was any specific threat to Christians on Christmas but said precautions were being taken on a “general threat perception”.

DERA ALLAH YAR: Cars lined up for refueling at a CNG station here, as gas stations remained closed in Sindh on Wednesday. oNLINe

Opp supports minister for closing down CNG sector g

Petroleum minister asks people to prepare to face worst gas shortage in January ISLAMABAD

I

STAFF REPORT

N a rare show of solidarity, the opposition members, mostly from the PML-N, extended support to the government for closing down the CNG sector, despite the fact that some PPP legislators opposed the move saying that CNG was the “fuel of the poor”. earlier, Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain said the country would have to face the worst spell of gas shortage during next month and the gas shortage would continue until all CNG stations were shut down. Responding to an adjournment motion moved by opposition members on energy shortage and gas load shedding in the country, the minister said despite some new discoveries of gas fields in the country, gas shortage would persist.

He said the people would have to switch over to alternative energy sources like liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and solar appliances. He urged the opposition to avoid playing politics on gas crisis and invited them to help the government formulate an energy conservation policy.

He said Punjab produced five per-

cent gas and consumes 45 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces nine percent gas and consumes four percent, Sindh produces 66.6 percent and consumes 44 percent gas, while Balochistan produces 19.4 percent and consumes seven percent of natural gas.

He said the government was taking steps to exterminate 12 percent gas theft.

During the last five years 1.1 million gas connections were given in the country.

However, PPP legislator Nadeem Afzal Chann opposed the idea of closing down CNG sector, adding that CNG was used by people from lower middle classes and no one should be allowed to affect the poor in economic terms.

In response to his call of support, PML-N members, led by Khwaja Asif, demanded the government close down the CNG sector and divert the gas being used by CNG sector to industrial sector for promotion of local trade.

They also asked the government to form a parliamentary committee to look into the gas crisis or refer the matter to the concerned standing committee of the House.

Ch Barjees Tahir opened the debate and said it was the responsibility of the government to provide basic amenities to the masses and took pragmatic steps to end gas and power load

shedding in the country.

He said only one day gas load shedding was being carried out in Sindh while in Punjab, gas remained suspended for four days a week. He alleged Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were being discriminated against.

Shaikh Aftab said the government had to formulate a concrete strategy to sort out a permanent solution to both gas and electricity load shedding. He said despite an increase in gas and power tariffs, the people were facing load shedding.

Rana Afzal said a parliamentary committee should be formed to sort out the issue. He alleged that officials of gas companies were involved in gas theft and suggested stern punishment for those involved.

Asif said there should be targeted subsidies on gas and electricity and price rationalisation formula should be introduced for low income families.

Criticising discount being offered

by CNG stations, he said majority of CNGs were involved in gas theft.

He also demanded diverting gas from CNG to domestic consumers, adding that there should be no discrimination on gas outage to the fertilizer sector.

Swat residents take to streets to protest power, gas outages MINGORA IBRAHIM KHANKHEL

With cold weather gaining strength by the day, prolonged and unscheduled electricity and gas load shedding forced the people of Saidu Sharif in Swat to take to the roads on Wednesday.

Gas and electricity consumers from across Saidu Sharif and adjacent localities assembled on the main road, holding placards and chanting slogans against the government.

The protesters were addressed by former union council nazim Khalid Mehmood and others.

While expressing their resentment over the prolonged electricity and gas load shedding, the speakers said it had not only disrupted their routine activities, but was even causing hardships for innocent children. They said for the last several days, the cold spell had intensified and snowfall was in progress in the surrounding mountains. But as a result of gas and electricity load shedding, a number of children had passed away across Swat. Through a resolution, the protesters demanded the government direct the concerned quarters to ensure smooth supply of gas and electricity, or else they would stage similar protests in Peshawar and Islamabad.

Troubled Pakistanis turn to exorcism for help KARACHI REUTERS

A girl in a long black shirt screams incoherently, banging her head against a wall at a Sufi shrine in city of Karachi. Sania Haneef’s family says she is possessed by a demon.

Doctors could not help, so they brought the college student, kicking and screaming, to be exorcised by the spirit of a saint.

The West mostly associates Pakistan with Taliban militants who force women to cover from head to toe, blow up girls’ schools and carry out suicide bombings.

But Islam in the South Asian nation of 180 million is far more diverse.

Many flock to shrines like the one where Haneef’s relatives seek solace in the Sufi strand of Islam abhorred by mil-

itants and considered more liberal in its philosophy than other branches followed

by Shias and Sunnis.“Sania has been possessed since she was six years old,” her brother, Mohammed, said, describing how an evil spirit, known as a jinn, would speak through her in a man’s voice. “The shrine has captured the spirit. Sania will be cured soon. None of us is leaving until that happens.” Pakistanis are beset by problems – violence, crippling power cuts, poverty and dilapidated hospitals are but a few.

The government, seen as inept and corrupt, offers little relief.

Many people think their suffering is inflicted by evil spirits intent on destroying marriage prospects, businesses and health, and that only Sufi saints can help.

But that’s a risky belief in Pakistan.

Militants, including the al Qaeda-linked Taliban, have over the years bombed Sufi shrines which they consider heretical.

During an annual celebration this year at one in the central Pakistani town of Dera Ghazi Khan, the Taliban dispatched suicide bombers who killed 41 people. A double suicide bombing in 2010 at Pakistan’s most important Sufi shrine, in the city of Lahore, killed about 42 people.

But fears of possession, and life’s many challenges, keep driving people back to the shrines. Sufism is a mystical form of Islam which adheres closely to the traditions of Islam but also reflects secularism and universalism in spiritual matters. It is especially strong in Sindh province, where Pakistan’s biggest city

and commercial hub of Karachi is located.

‘JINNS HAvE SEx WITH US’: “The whole concept of jinns, which previously would have been a belief in some other kind of spirit, has been converted into Islamic parlance,” said Ali Khan, an anthropologist at the Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Self-proclaimed exorcists thrive on these beliefs. They claim special powers from God which enable them to help people cope with everything, from domestic disturbances to infertility and impotence. Some even say they can help people find love.

In a dimly lit shack just outside a shrine, Syed Aliuddin, wearing a white robe and silk cap set with a green stone resembling an emerald, listens to people lament.

One man, an electrician, complains

his wife is disobedient. In a carefully rehearsed ritual, the exorcist with a white beard writes prayers on strips of paper and douses them in water. Customers then drink it, believing his promise that it only takes 10 minutes to take effect.

Aliuddin says he can fight 18,000 types of evil spirits made from fire. Like others in his trade, he is keeping pace with the information age, running his own website and offering consultations by email and mobile phone. “Some possess bodies out of jealousy, others out of love, some have other motives,” said Aliuddin, who charges between 50 rupees (55 cents) and 250 rupees a session, which last up to 30 minutes.

“Jinns swim inside us when they possess us, feed on us, have sex with each other and with us.”

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10 News Afghanistan runs its first train, aims regional hub KABUL REUTERS

Afghanistan ran its first train on Wednesday on a short stretch of track linking the northern city of Mazar-iSharif with the Uzbek border, part of an ambitious plan to build a rail network and spur regional trade despite a raging insurgency. The government has been trying to lure foreign firms to mine the country’s untapped mineral reserves estimated at over $3 billion, but one of several stumbling blocks is the lack of railways to transport the goods out of the landlocked nation. It has also led to Afghanistan’s heavy reliance on its largest neighbour, Pakistan, to its east to bring vital supplies such as foodstuffs and oil into the country, and ties between the two have often been strained.

The rail link can also potentially strengthen the northern supply route for foreign forces fighting in Afghanistan as an alternative to Pakistan, which has closed off the routes following the deaths of two dozen soldiers in a NATO airstrike last month. A cargo-less train covered a distance of 75 km from Mazar to Hairatan on the border of Uzbekistan, Deputy Public Works Minister Noor Gul Mangal said, nearly a year after the track was laid. Wednesday’s run was aimed at testing the track and the signals and officials had pronounced it ready for formal inauguration by President Hamid Karzai, he said. “This is a matter of pride for us and a very important issue for Afghanistan,” Mangal said. Unlike its neighbours, where colonial powers Britain and Russia built grand railway projects, Afghanistan’s leaders more than a century ago resisted the railway age. It was only late in 2010 that the country’s first real railway track was completed to connect to the Uzbek network.

PiA passengers dropped to accommodate dead bodies LAHORE: Ten unlucky passengers had to suffer delay when Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) flight returning from Jeddah took off without them on Wednesday. According to sources, Jeddah-Lahore PIA flight PK-760 left behind 10 confirm passengers, creating problems for them as they had to wait for more than 12 hours to catch the next flight. However, PIA officials said the 10 passengers were offloaded as the authority had to carry bodies of some Pakistani citizens who died in Saudi Arabia.

They said the passengers who were offloaded were provided with all sorts of facilities and were later brought via Karachi through an alternate flight. But the offloaded passengers blamed that besides the delay, they had to face hardships due to a lack of facilities. They criticised PIA for offloading confirm passengers and demanded an investigation. INP

Thursday, 22 December, 2011

Indian govt set for showdown over anti-graft bill

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Proposed law to create powerful new ombudsman tasked with probing, prosecuting politicians and civil servants suspected of graft NEW DELHI

T

AFP

He Indian government geared up on Wednesday for a showdown with opposition parties and civil activists over a landmark anti-corruption bill to be presented in parliament.

The new legislation was the focus of mass protests in August, spearheaded by veteran activist Anna Hazare, that saw millions take to the streets of cities across India to denounce the corruption that permeates all levels of Indian society.

The proposed law would create a powerful new ombudsman, or “Lokpal”, tasked with probing and prosecuting

senior politicians and civil servants suspected of graft. The Indian cabinet approved a final version of the bill late on Tuesday and Sonia Gandhi, the president of the ruling Congress party, vowed to steer its passage through parliament over the objections of opposition MPs and the Hazare campaign. “I will fight for the Lokpal Bill,” she told a meeting of Congress party members. “I cannot see any reason for us to be defeatist.”

Opposition parties have said they will insist on amendments to the cabinet-approved bill, while Hazare has scheduled a repeat of his August hunger strike that galvanised public opinion behind his campaign. The main points of contention focus on the ambit of the ombudsman’s

office and its powers of investigation.

The government bill offers only limited jurisdiction over the prime minister and requires the ombudsman to put any criminal probes in the hands of the government-controlled Criminal Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Hazare and a number of opposition parties want the ombudsman to control any CBI investigations.

“I reject the new version of the bill,” Hazare told reporters in his village in western India.

“If the CBI is outside (the ombudsman’s control), then how will the Lokpal be strong? This system will save corrupt politicians,” he said, accusing the government of “cheating” the Indian people by proposing a weak bill.

ShC denies PTi permission to hold rally at Quaid’s mausoleum KARACHI ONLINE

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday denied the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) permission to hold a public meeting at Quaid-eAzam’s mausoleum on December 25.

The permission was denied by a division bench of the SHC. The court directed the party to contact authorities concerned in order to find an alternative venue for its public meeting.

Lawyer for the PTI Maula Bukhsh said the SHC order would be challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Khushab heavyweights Haqqani refutes story about London meetings join PTi

NEELUM VALLEY: A man walks through heavy snowfall in an Azad Kashmir village. INP

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani has described as “totally false” and “deliberately misleading” a story published in a section of the press that he withheld information from the Abbottabad Commission about his activities in London on May 9-10, 2011.

“The meeting of the Abbottabad Commission was not open to the public so the reporter has no way of knowing what questions were asked and answered during my appearance before it,” he said.

Haqqani said that without betraying the confidence of the commission

he would only say that the question that was the basis of the lengthy speculative story by one Usman Manzoor, who has miraculously started discovering material against me of late, was asked by the commission and duly answered.

The former envoy also pointed out that the reporter says,” Mansoor Ijaz claims Haqqani handed over the alleged memo to him to be handed over to Admiral Mike Mullen”, although no such claim has ever been made.

In fact Ijaz’s statement before the Supreme Court clearly mentions that he did not meet Husain Haqqani whereas former US National Security Adviser General James Jones has questioned the veracity of Ijaz’s assertions

based on alleged telephonic and electronic communications.

James Jones’ stance is that Mansoor Ijaz never mentioned Husain Haqqani in his communication and that he, and not Haqqani, was the author of the memo at the heart of dispute within Pakistan.

“It would be more professional for authentic reporters to carefully and intelligently study all the relevant material now on record as well as question the source of information of an unelected politician than to become part of an orchestrated campaign and repeatedly run stories aimed at poisoning public opinion against me,” Haqqani concluded.

Government drives Railways towards ruin RAWALPINDI AFP

For 44 years, Jaffer Hussain has worked as a porter, hauling luggage around bustling platforms in exchange for handsome tips.

But these days, he just sits and waits. “I’ve been working here since 1967. I’ve seen the boom of Railways. Now it’s a dead department,” he told AFP, despondent without a single customer for a train heading on the 30-hour journey south to Karachi.

Corruption, mismanagement and neglect have driven Pakistan Railways to the brink. Haulage and passenger services have been slashed and an urgent rescue is called for to save a much-loved legacy of the British rule from the scrap heap. When Britain closed the curtain on its empire and Pakistan was born in 1947, the country inherited thousands of miles of track and trains provided the most popular and affordable transport for millions. But as the

Gandhi hit out at what she called the “obstructionist” tactics of the opposition and accused the Hazare team of “malicious” criticism.

The outpouring of public support for Hazare’s anti-graft fast in August had stunned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s coalition government, which has been tainted by a series of high-profile corruption scandals. Hazare confirmed that he would hold a new, three-day hunger strike from December 27 in a public venue in Mumbai.

Government sources said the anticorruption bill would be formally submitted to parliament on Thursday (today) – the final day of the current winter session.

government has spluttered from crisis to crisis, tarnished by corruption, straining under the near doubling of fuel prices in five years and the expansion of domestic flights, the decline has quickened.

Since the current government took power in 2008, the Railway has retired 104 of 204 trains in a country larger than Britain and Germany combined.

State-owned, it relies on handouts of Rs 2.5 billion a month just to pay salaries and pensions and faces expected losses of Rs 35 billion in fiscal year July 2011 to June 2012.

In October there was uproar when a retired train driver died outside a bank after waiting three days for his pension.

Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour has no illusions about the situation.

“The state of railways is very bad,” he told AFP. “It can never become a profitable organisation, if we reduce its deficit, it would be an achievement.”

He blames previous governments for decades of failure to invest, but recognises that the current administration is just as guilty. The cabinet approved emergency funding of $125 million for the railways in January but it has yet to be released by the finance ministry, Bilour said.

He says the ministry requested 300 new engines to return to normal operations “but they did not give us a single penny”. “We got 69 locomotives in 2004 from China but we did not sign an agreement to get spare parts and the engines started breaking down,” said the minister.

Flying from Islamabad to Karachi takes two hours and a network of luxury coaches is considered more comfortable, which means that today only the poorest of Pakistan’s 174 million travel by train.

“There is corruption and mismanagement at every level,” said former railways minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

“The workers don’t work, mechanics

don’t change the oil and the officials wait for destruction of the machinery to buy new and get commissions.” But the government is now trying to stave off total ruin. It has released a 600-million-rupee subsidy to repair engines and the board is hoping the private sector can become its knight in shining armour.

“We have devised a strategy to rehabilitate 360 locomotives with the help of the private sector and bring all of them back to working condition in the next three years,” Shafiq Ullah, the secretary of the Pakistan Railways board, told AFP. “By August, we will get all these 69 Chinese locomotives on the track,” said, adding that only six freight trains are operational — a fraction of the 100 goods trains that once used to run.

Independent analysts estimate it will take at least five years and millions of dollars to haul the infrastructure into the 21st century.

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Former District Council Khushab Chairman Malik Amir Mukhtar Sangha and former federal minister Malik Naeem on Tuesday joined Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) in a ceremony at DHA. PTI chairman attended the function before leaving for Kasur. Malik Amir had resisted offers to join PML-Q a few years ago and had contested local body elections as an independent candidate five years ago.

USAiD launches energy efficiency media campaign LAHORE PRESS RELEASE

In the midst of Pakistan’s energy crisis, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a weeklong media campaign titled “Bijli Pani Week” to raise awareness about energy efficiency and conservation, said a press release issued by USAID on Wednesday.

According to the handout, the campaign would include testimonials of actual beneficiaries of USAID’s Tube Well efficiency Improvement Programme, TV commercials advertising the 50 percent subsidy available on energy efficient pumps and, for the first time in Pakistan, a docu-drama that seeks to educate its audience about the benefit of adopting energyefficient practices. The 60-minute drama can be seen on PTV Home on December 18, 2011 and December 25, 2011, it added.

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

Editor’s mail 11 lives at stake

Debacles of democracy December the 16th is an ominous day in the history of Pakistan. Rather than going into the details and aftermath of the pre and post-war events, here I would like to raise the question about the commission that was constituted to probe the causes and cardinal mistakes that lead to Pakistan’s secession. Hamoodur Rahman Commission was formed on the demand of masses that wanted to know and bring to the justice, those who were responsible for a terrible national disaster. Conclusive report of the Commission was declassified after 29 years in 2000. It was not the Commission that delayed the report, but the leadership of the time.

US Special Forces penetrated deep into Pakistan’s territory, close to national capital and strategic locations, carried out the operation which was codenamed as “Neptune Spear”, killed Osama Bin Laden and flew away. Abbottabad Commission was in progress when Pakistan’s territory was again violated and 26 soldiers were martyred in a deliberate attack. The airbase that the US Forces have vacated was granted after Musharraf, in a democratic regime. The US officials, including the president, bluntly stated that there would be no apology but only commiserations for the 26 soldiers that were killed in this incident.

If military alone is to blame for this, just like 1971, then sorry to say, we Pakistanis are good at finding and making scapegoats. Political and inept leaders step into the dirty business to quench the thirst of their Swiss banks and when Bengalis or Balochis raise their voice, they use security forces as an instrument to silence their agonised voice.

It was not the day of 16 December, 1971 when surrender took place. It had taken place when politicians of West Pakistan deprived the people of east Pakistan and raised the slogan “udhar tum, idhar hum”, just for the sake of premiership. The Hamoodur Rahman Commis-

sion documented the causes and listed those who paved the way for the dismemberment of east Pakistan. But then what?

Not even a single culprit was hanged.

Moreover, report was kept classified to protect the main protagonists of the secession from national wrath.

If the report of Abbottabad Commission too is to be kept classified for 29 years by the government and no action against the culprits is taken, then there is no use of wasting the time of honourable judges and the people of Pakistan who are “terribly” tolerant.

TABISH RAZA Lahore

Bullet over ballot Pakistan military’ public relations department – ISPR has issued a statement that last Sunday the telephonic conversation between President Zardari and Army Chief General Kayani lasted for one minute during which the general asked about the president’ health. This statement itself speaks volumes of the relationship between a civilian government and one of its organs – army. Regardless of the ballot power with which the civilian government is installed in Islamabad, the bullet power remains the supreme.

What was the harm if we were caught with the misunderstanding that these two gentlemen talked to each other for a longer duration? That could have helped to stabilise the political uncertainty in the country – the country whose central bank has just announced the annual growth rate for 2011 as low as 2.4%.

As both the army chief and DG intelligence are maintaining their version on memo scandal in the Supreme Court, they are getting a sympathetic hearing in the court. excerpts from generals’ statements are often quoted by the honourable judges. The writing on the wall is not that obscure – bullet over ballot.

MASOOD KHAN Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Meagre salaries The basic salary of police throughout the country is not at par with many other departments. even the amount of benefits and stipends allocated to the police personnel is very meagre. This is one of the main causes and reasons of corruption within the department.

The department of police is a major part of the democratic system, but unfortunately like many other democratic institutions, it also suffers at the hands of mismanagement, corrupt practices and neglect. It is important that at least for a start the police personnel should be paid reasonable salaries at par with the intensity of their jobs. This may encourage them to perform their duties vigilantly and with passion.

HASSAN BASHIR Islamabad

The boat carrying around 250 illegal migrants including children, women and 55 Pakistanis capsized while heading towards Australia’s remote Christmas Island from far eastern shores of Java.

Nearly 200 are still missing and rescue operations are hindered by low visibility and bad weather. The unfortunate Pakistani migrants who lost life belonged to Quetta’s Hazara community and mostly of Alamdar Road. The youth were between 19 to 22 in age and were moving illegally to earn bread and butter for their families. As usual the boat was overloaded and could not resist bad weather and turned turtle.

The Machiavellian role of captain and crew who snatched life jackets and swam away for their life is totally abominable. The gory picture portrays the economic condition viz a viz poor approach to reach foreign soils for better earnings. earlier, similar casualties had taken place on Greece border. As per statements of rescued people, it costs them nearly US$9500 to reach Australian costal areas. Had this amount been spent prudently in Pakistan, they would have established a good business for themselves, instead of putting their life at stake and mostly losing it. The parents should also look at this factor and motivate their children to stay away from elements that induce and lure of a bright future abroad but that ends up in a miserable death.

IFTIKHAR MIRZA Islamabad

violent protests

People-friendly government?

One should take on our government for its policies that are not people-friendly at all. For a comparison, India with a population six times more than Pakistan, and whose population living under the poverty line is more than 60 percent, has offered highly subsidised rates for most of the commodities used by the poor. In Pakistan, the rates of these

Justice delayed Punishment is justice for the unjust and delaying punishment intends to delaying justice or further to denying justice. It has been many years to some atrocious incidents in India which took a number of precious lives whilst having the majority of Muslims in them but India still seems to be missing audacity to punish the Hindu extremists and their links with the Indian Army personnel.

Samjhauta express blasts took the lives of 68 people and most of them were Pakistanis. At least 38 people were killed and over 100 injured in blasts that shud-

very products have increased instead. Government’s lack of interest in providing relief to the poor while focus on politicising each and every issue has made the situation even worse.

AHMED IQBAL Lahore

dered the Muslim-majority town of Malegaon in September 2006.

Makka Masjid blast in Hyderabad in May 2007 claimed 14 lives whereas three died and 15 were injured in blast at a Sufi shrine in Ajmer in October 2007. However, Pakistani demands of punishing the blitzkrieg perpetuators of all these incidents seem to go futile as lately the Indian Supreme Court stayed for three more weeks the Bombay High Court order allowing the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to interrogate the 2008 Malegaon blast accused Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit and Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi in its custody.

Likewise, many Indian Army personnel were detained in association with the Samjhota express blaze; but the Indian government in a chaotic investigation cleared all the main accused of the Samjhota express terror epic belonging to the Indian Army. In addition, they are giving utmost protection to culprits through the shoulder of Supreme Court.

Isn’t India playing a double grimy game, singing the mantra of peace and economic relations before world while granting safe havens to the terrorists who targeted Pakistanis.

MOMINA ASHIER Rawalpindi

the country. The deal itself speaks volumes about her political acumen, sagacity, pragmatism and vision. It further strengthened her democratic credentials; a cause for which she has made unrivaled sacrifices. She did it for the people of Pakistan and retuned to the country to re-kindle a ray of hope among the teeming millions, though she was well aware of the dangers to her life. She renounced the deal with Musharraf when he suspended the constitution and promulgated emergency in the country, because a democrat like her could not endorse such draconian and anti-democracy measures. She had to pay with her life to protect the sapling of democracy.

The quashing of the NRO for being in violation of Article 25 of the Constitution by the Supreme Court is beyond any reproach legally. It was very much expected of an independent judiciary. But the fact remains that despite all the legal infirmities, NRO did provide a new lease of life to democracy in the country. The present democratic set-up actually emerged from the womb of NRO. It was because of the NRO that the exiled political leadership, including Nawaz Sharif was able to return and participate in the elections which eventually led to the deposition of the dictator. The NRO proved a blessing

in disguise. Without it the military dictator would still have been around. It did provide us a way forward. If Musharraf had promulgated Martial law as revealed

by Rice or had not withdrawn emergency and held elections in the country, there would have been no independent judiciary also. The restoration of the judiciary is also a consequence of the NRO. We need a futuristic approach by unshackling us from our past legacies. From this perspective , it would have been better had the Supreme Court shown the same pragmatism that it demonstrated in its decision of 31st July by protecting the democratic system and the judgments made by the courts established under PCO. The court in its order regarding the judgments given by PCO judges had said, “Any judgments delivered or orders made or any decrees passed by any bench of the Supreme Court or any bench of the High Courts which comprised or which included the afore-described judges whose appointments had been declared void ab initio, are protected on the principle laid down in Malik Asad’s Case.”

Similarly, the Supreme Court while declaring the NRO ultra vires could have given protection to the benefits derived by all concerned under the same principle, as was done in its earlier decision.

Violent street protests over the gas crisis have created havoc in the twin cities. Residents of the twin cities blocked off the capital’s airport highway for over 10 hours on Monday, demonstrating against debilitating gas shortages and pelting police with stones, besides setting few vehicles on fire.

The commuters between Rawalpindi and Islamabad faced the worst traffic jam and difficulties in reaching their offices, schools, colleges and other destinations. The police diverted traffic from Faizabad and Kural, due to which traffic was blocked on I J Principal Road, Airport Road and services roads of Islamabad Highway. I believe the police force did their best but this protest shows that the police force needs a counter strategy for such incidents. I feel sorry for the police force that was injured during the protest as they were also suffering from gas loadshedding.

KHURRAM SALEEM Islamabad Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan Fax: +92-42-36298302 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

It would be appreciated if letters were addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively.

a tribute to Benazir

By M A Malik

A

lthough it was generally believed that the patch-up between Benazir Bhutto and former dictator General Pervez Musharraf was brokered by the US, yet the US had never officially acknowledged it. It was also not known how it came about and who within the US administration actually played the role of a mediator and what actually had been agreed in the deal. The haze has finally be cleared by the former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in her book titled "No Higher Honor" in which she has confirmed that she was the one who maneuvered and helped Benazir and Musharraf reach an agreement for sharing power, after a very exasperating persuasive effort.

While the book confirms some of the already known notions, it gives lie to some others and also unravels the hitherto unknown aspects of the undertaking. She categorically makes it clear that the rapprochement was a sequel to Musharraf seeking US help at the beginning of 2007 for bridging his differences with Benazir Bhutto was initially reluctant to give her nod before consulting her

party. The US also viewed the power sharing between the two moderates as a counterweight to the Islamists and Nawaz Sharif who was suspected of having close ties with the militants. Her account of events gives lie to the often repeated claim by Musharraf that Bhutto was not supposed to return before elections. The agreed arrangement was that Bhutto would be allowed to return before the elections and participate in them and if her party gained majority she would become the Prime Minister and Musharraf would remain as President; all corruption cases against Bhutto and other leaders would be withdrawn and Musharraf would doff his uniform before the Presidential elections about which Bhutto expressed her skepticism but was assured by Rice that as US Secretary of State she could guarantee that. Musharraf promulgated the NRO to facilitate the return of Benazir and other politicians in conformity with the agreement.

It is quite obvious from her discourse that Bhutto was not craving for a deal with Musharraf to enter the corridors of power. She was even reluctant to go ahead with the deal but in the end agreed to do so on the persuasion of Secretary of State to pave the way for elections in Pakistan and restoration of democracy in

The decision on NRO, despite being legally right, has undoubtedly scuppered our efforts to move forward with a renewed zeal to tackle the challenges confronting the nation.

There are numerous examples available to suggest that to promote national reconciliation and to winch the nation out of the debilitating hangovers of the past, pragmatic decisions have been made even though they would not have been permissible under normal circumstances. The latest example is South Africa where a grand reconciliation was affected through Truth and Reconciliation Commission that pardoned the practitioners of Apartheid and their unconstitutional actions and oppression on the black population in the interest of the nation in recognition of the ground realities.

The independent judiciary and the free media that we have today, owes its existence to Benazir's steadfastness against un-surmountable odds, commitment and unparalleled sacrifices for democracy. We as a nation owe an unqualified tribute to that martyr of democracy. The best tribute to her would be to continue marching on the course chartered by her in line with the vision of her father and the founder of the nation.

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

a political slumbering

Two crises Gas and power

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hen it rains, it pours. The readers should brace themselves for two varieties of load shedding.

First, gas and now, electric power. The former was but expected; winters are, after all, a heavy strain on our natural gas resources. electric power load shedding, however, is usually an exclusively summer time affair. Things are different this winter because an estimated 3000 MW of our hydroelectric generation is to be lost on account of canal desilting. As per policy (and a correct policy at that) in matters of conflict between irrigation and power issues, the former is given a higher priority.

First, the gas shortage. This government should have gotten its act together and tried to solve the problem on a war footing.

It didn’t. First, the ministry was a victim of coalition politics, with the PML(N)’s Khwaja Asif getting the portfolio. Then the portfolio changed a couple of hands, once Dr Asim Hussein’s as well, who now has it again. The minister seems to speak sense when he explains how remedial steps on the gas front are going to be spread out over a period of time; there is no magic wand.

True, but the PPP government should have started the process long ago.

To cut the incumbents some slack, however, it has to be noted that this was a crisis waiting to happen, one that had started since much before this government. Promoting a reliance on CNG in the transport sector was a much lauded idea. Now it seems not much thought had been put into planning it out.

Given the finite gas supply that we have, the media unreasonably decries both the staggered closure of CNG pumps as well as domestic gas load shedding, a problematic and illinformed position. The LPG and LNG sectors also exacerbate the problem.

The gas shortage also limits our gas-run power plants, with which we segue into the power crisis: the interlocking mesh of circular debt between the IPPs, the government GenCos, the DisCos, the oil marketing companies and all the rest is a huge problem. Rising international prices of oil should spur a rationalisation of power tariffs, something we haven’t seen enough of.

Both the crises can be solved by similar steps. The initiation of new projects - like the TAPI or even IPI gas pipelines and new relatively small hydel power plants; throwing money at the power sector’s debt chasm; a rationalization of all tariffs in all sectors and last but certainly not the least, restructuring along the lines of conservation and sustainability.

reality check Change?

I

t goes to Imran Khan’s credit that he has presented an option other than dynastic politics and has activated the educated youth, most of whom were increasingly becoming cynical about politics and would not care to get registered as voters. The presence of the third choice has, however, led to all sorts of wannabes to make a beeline for the PTI. Running after the figure of 1000, the PTI has opened its doors to everybody. By the time elections are announced, the party would have accumulated sufficient weight. How much of it comprises of unhealthy fat remains to be seen.

The new entrants could cause two developments. With wider media exposure some of them might take over important party positions replacing tested and fairly efficient old timers causing bickering in the PTI. Second, with quite a few well known turncoats entering the party, they are likely to bring their peculiar traits and traditional mindset with them. This is already leading to the charge that the PTI now is in fact old wine in a new bottle. Imran Khan would do well to learn from what happened to the PPP under ZAB after numerous reactionary feudals dazzled by the leader’s success thronged to his party despite having opposed it earlier. A reading of Dr Mubashar Hasan’s The Mirage of Power would explain to him how the party degenerated under the influence of these retrogressive elements and bureaucrats despite being led by an outstanding politician.

Imran’s charisma brought thousands to the meeting at Kasur. The PTI chief would however do well to draw the right conclusion from the pandemonium that occurred towards the conclusion of the rally. The looting indicated that the charisma might be of little help if any PTI candidate is perceived to be disconnected with the masses or seen to be constantly changing political loyalties. A former parliamentarian having won elections several times or having held important cabinet posts may make an impressive CV entry. These qualifications might however be considered negative points by the voters. In an era when tribalism is on the decline, clans and baraderis are fissured, reliance on Nawabzadas, tribal chiefs and clan elders is no guarantee for success. This, in fact, raises questions regarding PTI’s promise of change.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36298305-10 Fax: 042-36298302 Karachi – Ph: 021-34330811-3 Fax: 021-34330900 Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287414-6 Fax: 051-2287417 Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

No saviour in sight?

By Nazir Naji

T

he Kasur incident where people looted chairs is not something that should be laughed away. This is a very serious message from the neglected, bereft and hapless public to the ruling classes. It was disappointing to hear the comment from Imran Khan – who is emerging as a leader of the present times – that what else would people sick and tired of the tide of inflation do.

He is an aspiring candidate for PM. If this heavy burden falls on his shoulders, will he say such things as the chief executive? Should every thief, dacoit, scallywag, bribe-taker and wayfarer be pardoned on this ground?

Shouldn’t a politician and an erudite ponder about what happened and why it did so? Is there nothing here that incites one to think? Doesn’t it say something about the state society is in?

That something is rotten and nobody’s trying to find out what it is. No one knows what the outline and delineation of the ‘change’ that Imran Khan purports to bring will be? But the extent to which the people can go to bring a ‘change’ was illustrated by them when they nicked chairs with abandon. This isn’t just a message to Imran Khan – but to all of Pakistan’s politicians, generals and officialdom. The message: enough!

The comments of the PTI workers present at the rally were run-of-themill. The common man when witnessing fights, disorder and such a muss would condemn it and that’s what they did. But I want to analyse this incident in a framework in which it should be situated and analysed.

I was watching the reviews on TV talk-shows last night. Some people were reminiscing about Bhutto’s time and said that it was he who showed people the way of looting. If we look at history, this is a lie. Bhutto did indeed coax people to rise up against injustice and oppression. But he detested disorder and anarchy.

When the national movement of journalists started in the 70’s, some over-enthusiastic started snatching bundles of newspapers and some lead-

ers of the PPP barged into the PPL’s central office as Mukhtar Rana shouted slogans about occupying it, Bhutto sahib sent a stern message and said that he would not tolerate such disorderly conduct. He said that the movement should be carried out peacefully even though he was in the opposition at the time and no newspaper was inclined to publish his statements and/or present him in a good light.

Similarly, when there was inordinate delay on the part of Yahya Khan in the transfer of power, Awami League’s workers in east Pakistan started occupying government offices and institutes. Following suit, some passionate PPP workers also started doing the same in Lyallpur and created the atmosphere of a revolution in the city. At this juncture, Bhutto sahib again sent a stern warning to the workers and told them to immediately desist from their activities and anybody who does not obey should consider them no longer part of the party. Within a matter of hours, the atmosphere of the city had changed again and the danger to the peace of the city passed.

After Bhutto sahib came into power, some labourers in Karachi occupied a mill. When they did not vacate, the police dealt with them firmly and the matter was resolved. This was a message that the movement for the rights of the poor which had been started by ZAB was supposed to be peaceful and would not be allowed to degenerate into anarchy. It’s a separate issue that later Bhutto sahib fell prey to bureaucrats, feudals and opportunist and lost track of his mission. But it cannot be denied that at any point in his political struggle, neither did he encourage troublemaking tactics nor did he justify them saying that the impoverished public had no option but a recourse to violence.

Leadership would’ve been that Imran Khan jump into the fray and stopped the looters himself even if he was injured in the process. There are many such examples in history where leaders have done that.

The independence movement’s leader Gandhiji had organised his movement on the basis of non-violence.

Congress’ workers, which included Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, were stopped by British forces when they tried to stage protests. But they would keep on going. As they marched forward, the British police would warn them not to go forward but they soldiered on. even in the case of baton charge, these people bore the blows peacefully, such was their training.

Those injured would be picked up to be taken away but nobody would raise arms or resist violently.

When incident s of police violence against peaceful protesters grew,

Gandhi, Nehru and other leaders would join the protesters to stop the police.

This often caused them to be injured by the charge of their own workers but it meant that they were able to control their enraged workers. Lala Lajpat Rai gave his life in Lahore attempting to stop protesters. He succumbed to the injuries he sustained while attempting to curb protesters as the police beat them. This is leadership. It should be remembered here that Lahore’s Gulab Devi Hospital was established by Lala Lajpat Rai in honour of his mother who dies of tuberculosis.

The trouble is that the constant interruption of the political process has hampered the nurturing and grooming of political leaders in Pakistan. Politics is confined to offices and darbars. The ruling generals had their pick of people and included whomsoever they wanted.

If they wanted to work behind-thescenes, they handed the government over for show. We started thinking of these props as politicians. even though these so-called politicians did not have the ability to function in an independent and fair political environment. For them, politics merely comprised of bootlicking generals and the patronage of bureaucrats.

These ‘politicians’ didn’t ask for votes on some ideology but on the basis of baraderi, caste and other associations. This is what has continued till date. Which is why people who understand the forces of history and politics have said that real democracy cannot come to Pakistan for decades yet. There is little chance of the conditions taking root that are conducive to democracy.

Our politicians do not have the requisite experience of independently dealing with people’s problems, unrest and social fissures. They have to get each decision approved by the establishment. It has become such a force of habit that these people have lost the ability to take decisions independently sans approval from the powers that be.

These hapless people who think they are in power after only having power in name cannot reach the root of public discontent. They can’t even see the gathering storm; how will they even begin to face it? The slumber we were forced into after 1958, only this could have been our wretched end. As Mir puts it:

What slumber keeps you, O sorrowing eyes Open and behold, the deluge on your city The writer is one of Pakistan’s most widely read columnists.

Regional Press

Stop the blame game Daily Khabroona

T

he Pakistan army held Afghan forces commanders stationed at the border area as responsible for carrying out attacks on the Pakistani forces’ checkposts at Salala, Mohmand Agency – the episode that resulted in a tough standoff between Pakistan and the US. Certain proofs regarding the Salala attack have been handed over to ISAF high-ups by the Pak army, in the light of which enquiry into the ‘accident’ would be carried out. earlier Pakistan held NATO responsible for the attacks.

However, recently the Pakistan army claims to have come across proofs regarding the attack and has duly handed them over to the international force set up in Afghanistan.

The Afghan government earlier said that Pakistan was behind the gory attacks on the Ashura procession in Kabul; before that, it was also Pakistan that was blamed for attacks on Americans in the capital city of Afghanistan.

But Pakistan’s involvement in either of these attacks has not been established. even US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that there was no involvement from Pakistan in these attacks. Despite all this, the allegations have come and violation of Pakistani borders has occurred time

and again and that has created bad blood between Pakistan, America and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has always come to the help of Afghanistan whole-heartedly whenever the latter has faced critical times. even currently, there are hundred of thousands of Afghans living in Pakistan and they have been helped open-heartedly by their host country. The increasing allegations coming from the Afghan government would not only create and increase problems for these Afghan refugees in Pakistan but would also harm the war on terror.

Instead of the blame game being played on both sides, there is a need for cooperation for lasting peace in the region that both the neighbouring countries must seek to strengthen and establish. In the Bonn conference, the Afghan President blamed Pakistan for incidents of terrorism on one hand and on the other hand praised it for its role in the war on terror. This double-dealing will have to stop if the countries are to move forward and jointly solve the regional issue of terrorism and work together for peace.

– Translated from the original Pashto by Shamim Shahid

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

The “arab Spring” effect The rise of political consciousness

Washington Watch

By Dr James J Zogby

N

ine months into the “Arab Spring,” we surveyed public opinion in seven Arab countries and Iran, asking over 6,000 respondents about their primary political concerns and their degree of satisfaction with the pace of change taking place in their countries. What we found was that an "Arab Spring" effect had occurred, with reform and rights issues now being perceived as political priorities in most countries. The polls were conducted by Zogby Research Services and jzanalytics in Tunisia, egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAe, and Iran.

They had a margin of error of between ±3.1percent (in egypt) to ±4.5 per cent (in Lebanon).

The results varied from country to country, providing an important look into the unique set of concerns confronting each. We have conducted similar surveys every other year since 2001, and the differences that could be discerned between the 2011 poll and those that preceded it were noteworthy.

In 2009, for example, in most countries the "bread and butter" issues of: “expanding employment opportunities,” “improving the health care system,” and “improving the educational system,” ranked among the top four concerns of most respondents. Their rank order would vary from country to country, but these were the basic priorities of a majority of Arabs. Also in the mix of top concerns would be issues of particular concern to the country in question. “ending corruption and nepotism,” for example, was a major issue in egypt; while in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAe “resolving the Israeli/Palestinian

conflict” scored high. More political concerns, involving personal rights, reform, and democracy, almost never made it into the top tier of priority concerns.

What is striking, however, in this most recent poll was the “Arab Spring” effect that is at work across the Middle east and North Africa. “expanding employment” is still the number one concern in every Arab country, with the exception of the UAe. But there are now other issues that are looming large across the political landscape. “ending corruption and nepotism” is now a major concern in four of the seven Arab countries. And in most countries, issues like “political reform,” “advancing democracy,”

that country, the rest of the top tier priority concerns are all democracy-related concerns.

It is also worth noting that the only countries where advancing women’s rights are a prominent concern are in Tunisia and the UAe. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a top concern in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and UAe. And while combating terrorism and extremism is a significant concern in five of the seven Arab countries, it is dead last in Iran.

How do Arabs and Iranians judge the performance of their governments? Not surprisingly, the highest satisfaction rates come in Saudi Arabia and the UAe. This has historically been the case, and despite the new sets

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a top concern in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. And while combating terrorism and extremism is a significant concern in five of the seven Arab countries, it is dead last in Iran. and “protecting personal and civil rights” have broken into the top tier of concerns in almost every country.

It may be interesting to note that the one country where virtually no change occurred was in egypt, where the top four issues of 2009 (employment, education, health care and corruption) remain the top four concerns of 2011, albeit in a slightly different order. It appears that the egyptian revolt had less to do with politics and more to do with people’s basic needs. Most egyptians want a non-corrupt government that could provide for the basic needs of life (a job, health care and education). It is in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and UAe, that the political issues of “reform” and “rights” broke through.

Meanwhile, it is important to note that the results in Iran show us a political "basket case". With the exception of employment, which is the number one issue in

of issues being raised it appears that nothing has diminished the sense in both of these Gulf countries that things are on the “right track." More worrisome are the low satisfaction levels in Lebanon and Iraq, and Iran, where significant majorities are dissatisfied with the pace of change and see their countries on the "wrong track".

While the fundamentals remain the same – people will want jobs, the ability to raise and provide for their families, be educated and have the chance to advance, and receive health care when they need it – there can be no doubt that the “Arab Spring” has introduced a new vocabulary and new concerns into the Arab political discourse. How governments respond to these new concerns in the years to come will be important to watch.

The writer is President of the Arab-American Institute.

comment 13

flurry of punches Ready to roll with them

P

akistan’s resilience to roll with the incessant flurry of punches, long after it has been written off multiple times, is nothing short of an eighth wonder. even when seemingly punch drunk and teetering on the precipice, our country has surprised its detractors and bounced back. Perhaps not to full health but enough to keep hobbling.

This, in itself, enforces the claim that “God watches over us”. The current flurry comprises everything possible in the repertoire of life. The now erstwhile friends of the West, spearheaded by the one superpower are digging deep into their resources to vilify us while keeping the plastic smiles and forked tongues simultaneously going. Whether it’s terming us “pathological liars”, withholding aid or even funds long overdue from the terror fund, everything is being used to bring us to our knees.

Not to be left far behind our own internal enemies, consisting of those Pakistan gave refuge to when the Russian armada ran through their country, their foreign masters and the misguided, brainless zealots who fell prey to their money and indoctrination. The declaration of war on us by Al-Qaeda, the bombs, unrest and insecurity has deprived us of the economic benefits that all of Asia has benefited from in the last decade.

At this time when stability and consolidation of resources, human, financial and mental, is of essence, our politicians have let loose their own flurry. The combinations of punches, including “low blows”, Random Thoughts from all directions are intended to replace the government by hook or

By Imran Husain by crook. That nasty quest for power is preying, anticipating landing the powerful right hook.

The western media can be excused, to an extent, for playing to the tunes of their masters but the sensationalism created by our very own makes one wonder where priorities lie. A current survey revealed that a vast majority, +75%, believes that the media is over sensationalising. Twenty minutes of watching television in Pakistan makes even Fox News seem sane. It does no good censoring BBC and CNN. We do our own damage far better. In fact, they provide a semblance of order.

So much energy goes into these activities that it is scary. Imagine harnessing it all into an accumulator and unleashing it for productive use, for the development of the natural endowments that this country brims over with.

All around us political gatherings, one larger than the other, are overwhelming. Other than the enormous costs being met from largely

unknown financial resources, are they not drawing crowds that would otherwise be occupied in fruitful labour or trade? And who or what are we expressing solidarity with? We are told, “Pakistan is being protected”. How by depleting its limited infrastructure, cutting its production?

Consider this energy being spent on monitoring development activities, using prime time television to educate viewers of conduct becoming of our rich traditional heritage.

Joining hands across the board to aid and assist, both intellectually and financially, to achieve strategic goals that would put the country on the beginnings of prosperity. Nurture and prepare it for the challenges ahead.

Rather than just punch it into oblivion.

Without holding any brief for government, this one suffers from the same anomalies and mismanagement as every one preceding it, in varying scales, it is imperative that we settle down into a routine and direct energy towards nation building. It’s no good Nawaz Sharif complaining that every ten years the military takes over. Because during those ten years politicians run the country into total shambles. Not that the military can provide creative government. We are where we are despite their ruling for more than half the life of the country. People just believe it can provide discipline. That is why they celebrate each time there is a takeover much to the chagrin of the politicians whose departure is taken with a pinch of salt.

There is another missing piece in the puzzle. The people want good governance but they want to be exempted from any structural reform. They do not want to follow rules, pay taxes or fulfil social obligations. Attempts at bringing structure are resisted by force and civil disobedience. Tragically politicians, who are meant to be custodians of the nation instead of educating people, use the unrest to bring pressure on government.

Admirably, Pakistan has withstood all that is thrown at it. But there must be a limit to the blows it can take. A perfect example was Mohamed Ali. He took it all. eventually it got to him. Parkinson’s disease deprived him of dignity.

Holding back, taking a deep breath and then delving into specifics that can provide a virtually permanent cure may perhaps be the answer. A coalition of all stakeholders, not in government, but in nation building is the answer. This can happen only when a government can ‘govern’ and is not buried only in deflecting blows. Does anyone out there, even the ‘would-be’ rulers believe that they will not be subjected to the same flurry if and when in office? Think Pakistan; pull the punches, conserve energy and help drive the country to Jinnah’s envisioned goal.

The writer may be contacted via e-mail at imranmhusain@gmail.com

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14 Foreign News

Thursday, 22 December, 2011

Bahrain protesters re-emerge after crackdown MANAMA AFP

Shiite protesters in Bahrain are increasingly heading back to the streets, nine months after a brutal security crackdown was thought to have silenced their democracy movement. While protests inside purely Shiite villages have barely stopped, youths who say they have nothing to lose are now trickling out, some carrying the scars of the mid-March crackdown. This has been happening despite King Hamad’s promise of reforms in response to a critical international probe, including forming a panel to implement its recommendations.

During the past few days, Shiites gathered along the Budaiya highway linking their villages with the capital’s Pearl Square, where protesters had camped out for a month before being beaten back by security forces boosted by Gulf troops. The protesters, who considered the square their version of Cairo’s Tahrir, hoped to bring down the Al-Khalifa dynasty just as egyptians forced out veteran president Hosni Mubarak in February. But the square is no longer there, as the Sunni-led government razed it shortly after chasing protesters out and cornering them in their villages. Instead it was turned into a junction named Al-Farooq, the title of one of the most revered Sunni historical figures, Omar bin al-Khatab. “Occupying Budaiya highway is a preparation to head to Pearl Square... which became a symbol for democracy,” human rights blogger Yousif alMuhafda said during one protest. “This is a revival of the uprising that actually never stopped in the villages,” he said shortly before riot police arrived, fired tear gas and chased demonstrators out. Many of the protesters feel they have nothing to lose after a large number of them were dismissed for their jobs, kicked out of universities, or spent months in jail.

US soldiers charged over death in Afghanistan KABUL AFP

eight US troops were charged on Wednesday in connection with the death of a fellow soldier allegedly abused in southern Afghanistan, the military said.

The soldiers face a raft of charges over the death of 19-year-old Private Danny Chen on October 3 in Kandahar, a Taliban flashpoint. Five of the eight have been charged with negligent homicide, when death results from an act or failure to act of the accused. Other charges include involuntary manslaughter, assault, maltreatment, reckless endangerment and dereliction of duty. “eight US soldiers deployed to southern Afghanistan were charged in connection with the death of a fellow soldier that occurred in October,” said the US-led International Security Assistance Forces Regional Command South. “The soldier was found in a guard tower with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.” Those charged include a First Lieutenant, who faces eight counts of dereliction of duty, two Staff Sergeants, three Sergeants and two Specialists. They hail from C Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Somali pirates holding 200 crew hostage: EU Navfor BRUSSELS AFP

Somali pirates are currently holding 200 people hostage as part of their ransom business, keeping them from their families during the festive season, the eU’s anti-piracy mission said. “This humanitarian tragedy is especially pertinent over Christmas, a time when families normally gather to celebrate,” eU NAVFOR said in a statement. It said 199 men and one woman were being held against their will by pirate gangs in Somalia following the seizure of their ships in the Indian Ocean.

SILIGURI: Indian villagers chase a wild elephant through Dhimalbasty village area, some 40 kms from Siliguri on Wednesday. The elephant created panic as it destroyed homes after it wandered into the village. afP

Activists say 111 killed in Syria’s ‘bloodiest day’ g

france deplores ‘unprecedented massacre’ g Opp demands protection for civilians BEIRUT

S

REUTERS

YRIAN forces killed 111 people ahead of the start of a mission to monitor President Bashar alAssad’s implementation of an Arab League peace plan, activists said on Wednesday, and France branded the killings an “unprecedented massacre”.

Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 111 civilians and activists were killed in addition to over 100 casualties among army deserters in Idlib province, turning Tuesday into the “bloodiest day of the Syrian revolution”. “There was a massacre of an unprecedented scale in Syria on Tuesday,” said French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero.

“It is urgent that the U.N. Security Council issues a firm resolution that calls for an end to the repression.”

The main opposition Syrian National Council demanded international action to protect civilians. The escalating death toll in nine months of popular unrest has raised the spectre of civil war in Syria with Assad, 46, still trying to stamp out protests with troops and tanks despite international sanctions imposed to push him onto a reform path. Idlib, a northwestern province bordering Turkey, has been a hotbed of protest during the revolt, inspired by uprisings across the Arab world this year, and has also seen escalating attacks by armed insurgents against his forces. The Observatory said rebels had damaged or destroyed 17 military vehicles in Idlib since Sunday and killed 14 members of the security forces on Tuesday in an ambush in the southern province of Deraa, where anti-Assad protests began in March. events in Syria are hard to verify because authorities have banned most independent reporting. But Tuesday’s bloodshed brought the death toll reported by activists in the last 48 hours to over 200.

ARAB PEACE MONITORS: The main opposition Syrian National Council said 250 people had been killed on Monday and Tuesday in “bloody massacres”, and that the Arab League and United Nations must protect civilians. It demanded

“an emergency U.N. Security Council session to discuss the (Assad) regime’s massacres in Jabal al-Zawiyah, Idlib and Homs, in particular” and called for “safe zones” to be set up under international protection. It also said those regions should be declared disaster areas and urged the International Red Crescent and other relief organisations to provide humanitarian aid. Arab League Secretary-General Nabil elaraby said on Tuesday that an advance observer team would go to Syria on Thursday to prepare the way for 150 monitors due to arrive by endDecember.

five Polish soldiers killed in Afghanistan GHAZNI AFP

Taliban bombers killed five Polish soldiers in an attack on their convoy in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the deadliest single loss for Warsaw’s NATO contingent in the 10-year war. “This is the most deadly attack in the history of Polish military missions abroad,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in comments broadcast in Poland Wednesday. The five soldiers were killed by what Tusk described as a “very powerful explosive device” while on patrol. The attack took place on a “road considered to be safe until now,” he added. Poland has 2,600 soldiers in Afghanistan and is one of the largest contributors to NATO’s US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which expects to withdraw all combat troops by the end of 2014. In Kabul, ISAF confirmed that five NATO soldiers were killed in an attack in the southeastern province of Ghazni, where Polish troops are responsible for security, but declined to release their nationalities in keeping with policy. Ghazni provincial police chief Dilawar Zahid said the attack took place in the Rawza area of Ghazni city at 11:30 am (0700 GMT). He confirmed casualties, but could not give an exact number. A witness told AFP that an ISAF vehicle had been “totally destroyed” and saw helicopters evacuating casualties. The Taliban claimed responsibility in a text message spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid sent to AFP. He claimed the Taliban had targeted a Polish convoy and killed several NATO soldiers, without providing any evidence.

Afghan police kill would-be bank bomber KABUL AFP

DAMASCUS: Syrian regime supporters wave their national flag, the Iranian flag (background) and hold pictures of President Bashar al-Assad as they celebrate the unveiling of the ‘Syrian Soldier’ statue during a rally on Wednesday. afP

Police shot dead a would-be suicide bomber before he could detonate his explosives at a bank in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border on Wednesday, officials said. Officers are hunting a second attacker who also tried to target a branch of the Kabul Bank in Khost city. “A suicide bomber was killed by police before entering Kabul Bank in Khost. He did not detonate. One guard was wounded in the incident,” the interior ministry said in a statement. “A suicide bomber was shot dead by police before reaching his target in front of the Kabul Bank branch in Khost city,” Khost provincial police spokesman Zirat Gul Mangal said. “A second bomber is at large in the city and a massive operation is under way to hunt him down.”

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

father calls Norway killer ‘worst terrorist’ since WWii BERLIN AFP

The father of Norwegian right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in twin attacks in July, says his son is the “worst terrorist” since World War II, in an interview released Wednesday. Jens Breivik, 76, a retired diplomat who lives in the south of France, told German news weekly Stern that he last had contact with his son about six years ago by phone but that he now wanted to visit him in prison. “I want to look him in the eyes. Perhaps I am in a position to arouse feelings in him,” he told Stern in comments published in German. “He is the worst terrorist since the Second World War. He killed 77 innocent people and isn’t even showing remorse,” he added in an interview. Breivik, who divorced Anders’s mother when he was one year old, said they did not have much of a father-son relationship and had no common interests.

But he indicated he felt a sense of guilt.

Foreign News 15

Egyptians vote after deadly clashes CAIRO

E

AFP

GYPTIANS trickled into polling stations on Wednesday in the run-off of a staggered election marred by clashes between protesters and security forces that have left 14 people dead in five days.

Polling began at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) in a third of the country’s 27 provinces with a visibly lower turn out than in previous rounds, AFP reporters said. The run-off in the second phase of legislative polls, taking place over two days, will see the two largest Islamist parties go head to head for 59 seats in the lower house. The ruling military has decided on a complex election system in which voters cast ballots for party lists, which will comprise two thirds of parlia-

ment, and also for individual candidates for the remaining third of the lower house. On Wednesday, voters are choosing individual candidates in nine provinces as well as party lists in three provinces where voting was postponed because of administrative problems in the opening phase.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has repeatedly pointed to the elections, the first parliamentary polls since a popular uprising ousted Hosni Mubarak in February, as proof of its intention to hand power to civilian rule. The procedure to elect a full assembly ends in March, and presidential elections are expected by the end of June. The elections have exposed a deepening rift among egyptians: some see them as the first step to democratic rule, while others say the new parliament — whose function remains un-

clear — leaves control in the hands of the military. The SCAF has also faced growing outrage over its heavy-handed tactics against demonstrators.

Deadly clashes that erupted on Friday pitting troops and police against protesters demanding an end to military rule have piled pressure on the SCAF, with liberals and Islamists uniting to condemn its handling of the transition.

On Tuesday, the military apologised for attacks on female demonstrators that had prompted local and international outrage. The generals, facing a backlash after videos circulated of soldiers beating female protesters and partly stripping a veiled woman as they dragged her, pledged action against those responsible in an unusually contrite statement. The apology came hours after the country’s forensics chief cast further doubt on the generals’ credibility when

he said most protesters killed died of gunshot wounds, despite military denials they had fired on demonstrators.

A dozen pro-democracy movements have called for a mass rally on Friday in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to denounce the military’s violent tactics against protesters, dubbed “the Friday to redeem honour and save the revolution.” Despite clashes before and during the elections, the voting process itself has been orderly and mostly calm, with Islamists emerging as the front-runners. The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party said it won 39 percent of votes in the party lists, with 49 individual candidates vying for seats in Wednesday’s runoff. The Al-Nur party, which represents the more hardline brand of Salafi Islam, has claimed more than 30 percent of the votes in the lists and has 36 candidates competing in the run-off.

Son sobs as ‘millions’ mourn North Korean strongman SEOUL AFP

North Korea said Wednesday that millions of grief-stricken people turned out to mourn “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-Il, whose death has left the world scrambling for details about his young successor. The North’s propaganda machine has cranked into action to secure the late dictator’s legacy and build up the same personality cult for his youngest son Kim Jong-Un, who inherits the world’s last communist dynasty. Television footage broadcast Wednesday showed tears streaming down Jong-Un’s reddened face as he stood before his father’s body. It lies in state in a glass coffin at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Memorial Palace, surrounded by red Kimjongilia flowers named after the leader, whose death aged 69 was announced on Monday by a tearful television presenter.

The new ruler, clad in a black Mao suit, shook hands with distraught visitors in dark attire or military uniforms, occasionally bowing to them. elsewhere mourners were shown braving freezing conditions to pay their respects to Kim senior, seemingly overwhelmed by grief. People in winter coats were shown weeping in a park blanketed with snow, laying flowers for the late leader, who presided over a 1990s famine that killed hundreds of thousands. The North’s official news agency reported at least five million people had visited statues and portraits around the capital Pyongyang to pay respects to the late leader — more than a fifth of the entire population.

Disease fears as Philippines flood toll tops 1,000 CAGAYAN DE ORO AFP

Survivors of devastating Philippines flash floods face a growing threat of disease including cholera and typhoid, officials warned Wednesday as the death toll rose above a thousand. Some 44,000 people who fled as huge torrents swept away shanty towns in the nation’s south are packed in evacuation camps without proper sanitation, and officials fear the sites are potential breeding grounds for epidemics.

Tropical storm Washi struck the southern island of Mindanao over the weekend, bringing heavy rains, flash floods and overflowing rivers that swept whole coastal villages away. Civil defence chief Benito Ramos put the death toll at 1,a010 and warned it could climb further as victims swept out to sea began washing ashore, with some corpses turning up nearly a hundred kilometres (62 miles) away. “They are washing up on the beaches,” he told AFP. “I expect that (the toll) will go up because there are still many missing,” he said.

CAGAYAN DE ORO: A man collects salvageable material among debris at Cagayan de Oro, southern Philippines on Wednesday. afP

Phone hacking ‘standard tool’ at UK tabloid: ex-reporter

Palestinians mull reviving parliament at Cairo talks CAIRO AFP

LONDON AFP

Phone hacking appeared to be a “standard tool” for information gathering, a former journalist for the Daily Mirror tabloid told a public inquiry into media ethics on Wednesday. James Hipwell, who was jailed in 2006 for writing stories about companies in which he owned shares, told the Leveson Inquiry that phone hacking had taken place on a daily basis during his time at the paper. He also threw doubt on former Mirror editor Piers Morgan’s claim in evidence on Tuesday that he had no knowledge that hacking went on there.

Hipwell said: “I would go as far as to say that it happened every day and that it became apparent that a great number of the Mirror’s showbusiness stories would come from that source. That is my clear memory.” He said he heard one reporter claim to have deleted someone else’s voicemail message so that a journalist from rival tabloid The Sun could not listen to it. “One of the reporters showed me the technique, giving me a demonstration of how to hack into voicemails,” he told the inquiry in London. “The openness and frequency of their hacking activities gave me the impression that hacking was considered a bog-standard journalistic tool for getting information.” He said: “The practice seemed to be common on other newspapers as well.” Hipwell told the inquiry the reporters generally believed hacking was acceptable as celebrities were “fair game”. “I think it was seen as a slightly underhand thing to do but not illegal,” he said. “It just seemed to be fair game, fair play, any means to get a story.” He added: “It became a daily part of their news-gathering operation.”

Morgan, now a CNN chat show host, had said in a combative evidence session that he had no reason to believe phone hacking went on at the Mirror during his editorship. But Hipwell told the inquiry: “Looking at his style of editorship, I would say it was very unlikely that he didn’t know what was going on because, as I have said, there wasn’t very much he didn’t know about. “As I think he said in his testimony, he took a very keen interest in the work of his journalists. Showbusiness is very close to his heart.

Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo were mulling on Wednesday ways to reactivate their national parliament, which has been paralysed since 2007 following the split between the West Bank and Gaza. All the main factions, led by the former rivals Hamas and Fatah, are meeting in the egyptian capital to thrash out ways of implementing a reconciliation deal that was signed in May but has never been implemented. On Wednesday, they were discussing how to reactivate the work of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), which has not passed a single law since 2007, when Hamas forced Fatah forces out of Gaza, splitting the Palestinian territories into two rival administrations.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who heads the Fatah movement, was to arrive in Cairo later on Wednesday, as was Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, with the two expected to hold talks during the evening, officials said.

On Tuesday, delegates had agreed to set up a new electoral commission and also set a deadline for the formation of a caretaker cabinet of independents as envisaged in the May agreement. During the talks, the factions agreed to form a nine-member Central election Commission under the committee’s current head, Hanna Nasser. Abbas, who has said elections will be held in May, will have to approve the composition of the CeC, Fatah delegation head Azzam al-Ahmed told AFP.

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

Ali Xeeshan

Ali Xeeshan

Asifa & Nabeel

Rouge

Rouge

Ali Xeeshan

LAHORE: Models present creations by Pakistani designers on day three of the PFDC L’Oreal Paris Bridal Week.

Rouge

Sara Rohale Asghar

Sara Rohale Asghar

Sara Rohale Asghar

Bipasha Basu to bring in birthday with eleven parties MUMBAI: While ex beau John is all set to tie the knot next year, Bipasha has decided to bring in her birthday in January in a grand way. Bipasha Basu will be turning a year older on January 7 and the hottie has decided to celebrate it for 11 days. The Bengali bombshell said, “i start travelling for the promotions of ‘Players’ from December 26 until January 7. in fact, from January 5-7, i will be in london for the premiere of ‘Players’. i’ve told producer vikram Malhotra that they have to celebrate my birthday every day for the 11 days i’m on the promotional tour!”

The girl who is looking million bucks these days said that she likes getting pampered on her birthday. “i also want lots of gifts. Abhishek Bachchan, Sikander Kher and i are a gang. We are planning to have a party on most days.” The actress will be back in Mumbai on 7 January where she will be celebrating her birthday with friends and family. ZEENEWS

Sara Rohale Asghar

Sara Rohale Asghar

Daniel Radcliffe feels like a actor

‘fraud’

LONDON: ‘harry Potter’ star Daniel radcliffe says he has days on set when he thinks he is a “fraud” and will never “feel good” as an actor. The 22-year-old actor is starring in his first movie – a horror film ‘The Woman in Black’ - since the ‘harry Potter’ franchise. And although he has been learning a lot on set he says he still panics about his own ability from time to time, a website reported. “Sometimes i really feel like i’m getting the hang of it, because i never really had a process. My process was mainly that i hit my marks and i said my lines. So i’m kind of trying to find a process that allows me to find a sure fire way into a character, if it doesn’t come easily,” he says. “i’m working on that. And there are some days when i feel like, ‘yeah, God, i’m actually learning something, this is great!’

And there are some days when i go, ‘Oh God, i’m never going to feel good at this. i’m never going to feel like i’m not a fraud’,” he said. however, the British star admits he gets “fired” up by those who think he will not be able to be a success outside the ‘harry Potter’ franchise. AGENCIES

Asifa & Nabeel

Paul McCartney

to cover songs that inspired Beatles LONDON: Paul McCartney will kick off 2012 with an album of cover tunes and two original songs, he said on Monday, offering fans a glimpse of the music that inspired one of the biggest rock bands ever, the Beatles. The yet-to-be-titled album, due for release on february 7, will showcase the former Beatle on a “deeply personal journey” covering classic American songs that inspired him and band-mate John lennon when they wrote their own tunes. “When i kind of got into song writing, i realised how well structured these songs were, and i think i took a lot of my lessons from them,” McCartney said in a statement. Teaming up with Grammy-winning jazz musician Diana Krall and producer Tommy liPuma, the ex-Beatles frontman recorded his vocals in a booth without instruments for the first time in his musical career. While the full track list is yet to be revealed, the album will feature collaborations on two new, original songs, with legendary musicians Stevie Wonder on ‘Only Our hearts’ and Eric Clapton on ‘My valentine’. REUTERS

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17 Brother eats cocaine from older sibling’s butt, dies of overdose

Three photographers recently made an attempt to portray images that offer insight into their perspective of viewing their surroundings

g

LAHORE

F

Ali Xeeshan

ANITA SALEEM

ARUKH Adnan, Irfan Ahmad Khan and Rabbania Shirjeel’s work is similar because is revolves around people and places that we are familiar with, but the method they employ to carry out the same is what makes their work different from each other. While one makes maximum use of technology, the other avoids getting into technicalities as much as possible. Regardless of their methodologies and themes, all three of them have come up with photographs that are definitely worth watching.

Farukh Adnan who completed his degree in Communication design from NCA captures natural materials in urban and open spaces and shows how these materials interact or communicate with us. People, shops and materials fascinate him and within his work he attempts to show their relationship to us. Farukh has been photographing for nearly 4 years. His work stands out because he attempts to merge photography and videography using a special technique called Motion Capture, which allows five clicks per second and makes it possible for him to get hold of moving pictures from daily life.

While Farukh relies on technology to come up with motion pictures, 41-year-old Irfan Ahmad Khan doesn’t like using a dig-

By rabbania Shirjeel ital camera and prefers a manual one, “frankly I don’t even know how to use a digital camera so I use SLR cameras and manual ones.” He feels that since a digital camera gets everything done itself, one doesn’t get a chance to showcase their skills. Irfan has not been formally educated in photography and he goes candid about it, “I don’t know any technicalities and if you ask me about them I’ll simply go blank.” He claims to takes pictures just as a layman would. Irfan’s job demands a lot of traveling and he enjoys it to the core because it gives him an opportunity to capture a variety of people and places. As he travelled across continents, he clicked images from Pakistan, europe and North America which were put up in this exhibition. Irfan’s love story with the manual camera started when he was 6 years old and although manual camera has its limitations, Irfan finds pleasure in it and tries to convert the limitations into opportunities to explore fur-

ther.

Another brave explorer whose work revolved around traditional abaya, kunda and tikkay is Rabbania Shirjeel. She talks about her photography, “My work reflects my personality in the sense that I love change. I try to come up with something new each time. Abayas and scarfs attract me because I’ve mostly donned western apparel so for me it was a nice change. I wanted to explore what it was all about.”

Rabbania likes to call herself an experimenter and during her photography she observed how pictures that were taken in light had a different colour and presented different details altogether. It fascinated her to see how light could change the entire image and she was eager to share her findings with all.

NOTH CAROLINA: A case of brotherly love in North Carolina turned deadly after a young man agreed to eat cocaine hidden in his older sibling’s buttocks, then died of an overdose. Deangelo Mitchell is seen in a police car video guilting his brother into injesting the illegal substance because, he is heard saying, “I can’t get no more strikes.”

The 23-year-old and his younger brother, Wayne, were pulled over by police for a busted tail light on November 30 in North Charleston, according to ABC News 4. The pair was handcuffed and put into the back of a squad car, police said. The video then shows Deangelo panic over his arrest, and beg his brother to help. “Eat that sh*t, so I can get out,” he says in the video. “One of us gotta do it, you the only one that don’t have any strikes... You my little brother...

I’m gonna get life.” The 20-year-old eventually gives in. Deangelo can be seen removing something from his backside, then Wayne leans down and eats the drugs, police said. “I love you, bro,” Wayne says in the video after consuming the narcotic. A short time later, he was dead. Deangelo said his brother ate about an ounce of cocaine, authorities said. “An older brother is supposed to love his younger brother and take care of him, but... that’s not what happened,” police chief Jon Zumalt told ABC News 4. Deangelo was later charged with drug trafficking and posted bond, police said. He has since vanished and authorities are looking for him. A toxicology report confirmed Wayne died of acute cocaine toxicity. Police now want to charge the older brother with manslaughter.

NYD

The work of these three photographers can be seen till December 23, 2011 at 39 K Model Town.

exercise labels ‘more effective than calorie counts’ LONDON MAIL

Warning labels that explain how much exercise is needed to run off the calories in junk food are far more effective than traditional counts, say researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA. It was found that teenagers who were shown the warnings on fizzy drink cans - which stated an hour’s run would be needed to get rid of the calories - were half as likely

Asifa & Nabeel

dance

‘SRK’s immoral and punishable’ KERALA: King Khan has courted controversy after his recent visit to Kochi. A petition was filed in the magistrate court on Tuesday alleging that Shahrukh Khan’s dance with cheer girls during the inaugural event of the immanuval Silks showroom was indecent and was in violation of a central law. The petition filed by Saju Pulluvazhi, a resident of Perumbavoor, alleged that SrK’s dance with cheer girls was in violation of several sections of the indecent representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 as the dance held at Kaloor international Stadium had seminude women involved. in addition to SrK, the complainant named immanuval Silks owners TO Baiju and TO Shaiju as those responsible for the violations. The complainant said that he felt ashamed after watching the event and that the dance was against the morality of women and the moral values existing in society. Exposing women was punishable with two to five years of imprisonment and action should be taken against the actor and the organisers of the event, the complainant said. AGENCIES

to drink them. Printing a ‘physical activity equivalent’ on unhealthy drinks and food could dramatically reduce their popularity, according to researchers in the American Journal of Public Health. Health expert Dr Sarah Bleich claimed that people “generally underestimate” just how many calories junk food and fizzy drinks contain. Research results showed that providing calorie-related information did cause sales to drop by over a third (40 percent), but that the physical activity

run high at Salman Khan’s party MUMBAI: Salman Khan’s private party hosted along with brother Sohail Khan for the members of the Celebrity Cricket league (CCl) team Mumbai heroes on Monday saw some heated moments when the players from the rival team tried to gatecrash. The curtain raiser of the second edition of CCl saw a host of celebrities from the film industry, including Salman Khan, Sohail Khan, Sunil Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani, ritesh Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Genelia D’Souza, Sameera reddy, Neha Dhupia, Sonu Nigam, Sridevi, Boney Kapoor and others. Things heated up when the members of other teams turned up and were reportedly roughed up by the bouncers when they tried to enter the party. Angry over this treatment being meted out to them, the players decided to hold a party of their own on the opposite side of the pool.

Tempers ran high, and reportedly Salman himself had to intervene and talk to the members of the other team. Salman even invited them to join the party, but the invitation was turned down by some. AGENCiES

equivalent was most effective, reducing soft drink sales among teens by half.

Study author Dr Sara Bleich said: “People generally underestimate the number of calories in the foods and beverages they consume. Providing easily understandable caloric information-particularly in the form of a physical activity equivalent, such as running-may reduce calorie intake from sugar-sweetened beverages and increase water consumption among low-income adolescents.”

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

McGrath says india lack firepower Page 20

Rehman’s best fires Pakistan to series sweep SCOREBOARD

DhAKA: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-haq (2nd l) hugs his teammate younus Khan (l) after their victory in the second Test against Bangladesh. (right) Abdur rehman delivers a ball on his way to getting four wickets in the second innings. afP DHAKA

A

AFP

BDUR Rehman claimed 4-51 as Pakistan posted a sevenwicket victory over Bangladesh in the second and final cricket Test in Dhaka on Wednesday to make a clean sweep of the series. Pakistan, who won the first Test in Chittagong by an innings and 184 runs, achieved their 103-run victory target off just 20.5 overs in the last session of the fifth day's play at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Opener Mohammad Hafeez smashed a 52-ball 47 and Azhar Ali contributed 34, before skipper Misbah-ul-Haq finished the match with a six over long-off against elias Sunny. "We were pushing to get home

quickly as the light could have faded any moment," said Misbah. "This Pakistan team has been playing for nearly one-and-a-half years and at the moment we are an experienced side. everybody is learning how to play Tests and that's the key to success.

"They (Bangladesh) gave us a tough time, especially in the first innings when they built a good partnership. They also made it difficult for us to score runs, but they will have to be consistent in batting and bowling." Bangladesh, trailing by 132 runs after the first innings, had been comfortably placed at 212-5 in their second innings but collapsed to 234, with left-arm spinner Rehman taking three wickets and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal two. Rehman's four-wicket haul was his best in 12 Tests. Nasir Hossain (79) and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (53) de-

fied the Pakistani attack for more than a session, adding 117 for the sixth wicket before falling in the space of nine runs. Rehman removed both the well-set batsmen in four overs before accounting for Shahadat Hossain (one) in the afternoon session.

Nasir, a 20-year-old playing only his fourth Test, cracked 11 fours in his maiden half-century before being bowled by Rehman. Rahim hit seven boundaries in his ninth Test half-century. Rahim reached his half-century when he swept Rehman for a four, but soon lost his patience, stepping out to attempt a lofted shot off the spinner to be caught by Ajmal at mid-off. "I regret the way I got out and I feel guilty for that. Had I not got out we might have batted another half an hour and put some more runs on the board," said Rahim. "There were some good

BANGLADESH, 1st innings: 338 (Shakib Al Hasan 144, Shahriar Nafees 97; Aizaz Cheema 3-73, Umar Gul 3-102) PAKISTAN, 1st innings: 470 (Taufeeq Umar 130, Misbah-ul-Haq 70, Azhar Ali 57, Adnan Akmal 53; Shakib Al Hasan 6-82) Bangladesh 2nd innings (overnight 114-5): 21 Tamim Iqbal c Misbah b Gul Mohammed Nazimuddin b Rehman 12 Shahriar Nafees lbw b Gul 0 32 Mohammad Mahmudullah c Rehman b Cheema 79 Nasir Hossain b Rehman Shakib Al Hasan c Azhar b Cheema 6 Mushfiqur Rahim c Ajmal b Rehman 53 4 Elias Sunny b Ajmal Shahadat Hossain c Younus b Rehman 1 8 Nazmul Hossain not out Robiul Islam st Akmal b Ajmal 0 18 ExTRAS: (b10, lb7, w1) 234 TOTAL: (for all out; 82.1 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Tamim), 2-24 (Nafees), 3-54 (Nazimuddin), 4-76 (Mahmudullah), 5-95 (Shakib), 6-212 (Nasir), 7-221 (Rahim), 8-226 (Shahadat), 9-228 (Sunny), 10234 (Robiul).

BOWLING: Gul 13-4-34-2 (w1), Cheema 15-2-61-2, Rehman 2712-51-4, Ajmal 23.1-6-55-2, Hafeez 3-0-8-0, Azhar 1-0-8-0.

PAKISTAN, 2nd innings: Mohammad Hafeez c Shahadat b Shakib 47 3 Taufeeq Umar c Nazimuddin b Nazmul Azhar Ali b Sunny 34 16 Younus Khan not out Misbah-ul-Haq not out 6 ExTRAS: (nb1) 1 107 TOTAL: (for three wickets; 20.5 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Umar), 2-70 (Hafeez), 3-101 (Azhar).

BOWLING: Nazmul 5-1-19-1, Shakib 10-1-47-1, Shahadat 4-026-0 (nb1), Robiul 1-0-8-0, Sunny 0.5-0-7-1.

Result: Pakistan win by seven wickets Series result: Pakistan clinch the two-Test series 2-0 Toss: Pakistan Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS) and Shavir Tarapore (IND) TV umpire: Enamul Haque (BAN) Match referee: David Boon (AUS).

individual performances from Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir, Mohammed Nazimuddin and Shahriar Nafees. These are the positives we achieved from the match. "Our bowlers did well, but our fielding has become a concern as we dropped vital catches that really cost us the match."

Rehman got another wicket in his next over when he dismissed Shahadat, superbly caught by Younus Khan at first slip, while Ajmal bowled Sunny and had Robiul Islam stumped to complete 50 Test wickets in the year. Nasir and Rahim had applied themselves well in the morning session to keep the Pakistani attack at bay as the hosts added 86 runs to their overnight total of 1145 after a delayed start due to fog. Shakib was named man of the match for scoring 144 and taking six wickets in the first innings.

Pakistan jump to fifth place on iCC Test table LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Pakistan climbed to fifth place on the ICC Test Championship table following their 2-0 victory over Bangladesh in the twoTest series which finished in Mirpur on Wednesday. The series victory earned Pakistan one ratings point has put it at par with Sri Lanka on 99 ratings points.

However, Pakistan has been placed above Sri Lanka after the ratings were calculated beyond the decimal point. This is Pakistan’s best rankings since March 2009 when they had claimed fifth position for a couple of months. Pakistan now trail fourth-ranked Australia by four ratings points. Australia go head to head with India in a four-Test series in Melbourne on Monday next. The only way Australia can drop behind Pakistan is if they lose all the four Tests of the series.

Pakistan’s next Test assignment is against number-one ranked england. The threeTest series will start at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on 17 January. england lead Pakistan by 26 ratings points and as the rankings system is weighted to reflect this difference, england’s failure to win the series comfortably will mean it will drop points.

RANk TEAM POINTS 1 england 125 2 India 118 3 South Africa 116 4 Australia 103 5 Pakistan 99 6 Sri Lanka 99 7 West Indies 88 8 New Zealand 83 9 Bangladesh 9

Aisam to take part in Australia iTf event LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Pakistan’s tennis star Aisamul Haq will be leaving for Australia to take part in the ITF circuit tournament. He will be accompanied by his wife Faha Makhdoom Akmal. On Thursday (December 22), the couple will visit cancer patients in Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Research Hospital at 2 PM.

Friendship the winner in Pakistan-China hockey match KARACHI APP

Asian Games champions Pakistan got off to a confident start in the four-match hockey series with an easy 3-0 win over China at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Wednesday.

It was a historic occasion for Pakistan as international hockey has returned to Pakistan after seven years.

Pakistan, who enjoyed upper hand during the match, utilised half their half a dozen penalty corners to notch-up comfortable win. Muhammad Irfan and captain Muhammad Imran scored the goals in the first session and Muhammad Tauseeq converted one goal in the second session.

Players were introduced to Interior Minister Rehman Malik who was chief guest at the ceremony.

President Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Qasim Zia, Secretary Asif Bajwa, chief selector Hanif Khan, Olympians Hasan Sardar, Danish Kaleem, Salim Sherwani, Ahmed Alam and Secretary of Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) Farooq Khan and other officials were present on the occasion.

Spearhead Shakeel Abbasi made two lively crosses in the first five minutes but fellow forwards failed to divert the ball into the goal. Pakistan were rewarded in

the 15th minute when they secured a penalty corner. Muhammad Irfan smartly converted it giving no chance to Chinese goalie Su Rifeng.

Pakistani forwards maintained constant pressure on the Chinese goalpost.

Three minutes after missing the second penalty corner in the 20th minute, Muhammad Imran doubled the lead with well executed drag-flick in 23rd minute. Chinese forward showed spark in patches but smart checking by defenders thwarted their attempts. Dong Yang, Liu Yixian and Sun Long created a few lovely moves. Pakistan enjoyed 2-0 lead at the breather.

The Chinese looked slightly better in the second half and picked up the tempo with a couple of moves.

China custodians blocked the fourth penalty corner from Irfan. Pakistan forwards were unable to take the advantage of the rebound.

In 51st minutes it was young Muhammad Tauseeq who converted the team’s fifth PC with powerful drag push landing at the top of the cage.

Chinese forwards, determined to score their opener, forced back to back penalty corners in 62nd and 63rd minutes. On the last PC Song Yi, brilliant attempts struck the cross bar to the dismay of his team-mate. Putting Pakistan defence under pressure, Cui

KArAChi: haseem Khan (l) of Pakistan vies for the ball with Chinese players during the first hockey match. afP Yongxin and Lu Fenghui combined nearly paid dividends. However, goalkeeper Imran Shah, who was preferred

over seasoned Salman Akbar took the try on the pads. The second match of the series will be on Thursday at the same

venue and next test matches will be played at Faisalabad (Dec.24) and Lahore (Dec.25).

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

haris, Zulqarnain put ZTBl on top KARACHI APP

Haris Sohail smashed a superb century to give ZTBL an upper hand on day two of their five-day Quaid-e-Azam Cricket Trophy Division-I day/night final against PIA at National Stadium here on Wednesday.

Replying to ZTBL first innings total of 337, PIA recovered to reach 119 for the loss of four wickets. Fahad Iqbal was battling on 49 and his 90-ball knock in 135 minutes was studded with eight powerful boundaries. Shoaib Khan was batting on 12 and he with Fahad Khan lifted airlines from a precarious position of 76-4 with a valuable 43 runs unbroken fifth wicket stand. PIA are still 225 runs behind ZTBL total and technical 19 runs away to avert the follow-on with six wickets in hand.

PIA started poorly losing opener Agha Sabir for a 7-ball duck, skipper Kamran Sajid (13) and inform Faisal Iqbal (13) also went cheaply and Sheharyar Ghani for 29 mainly because of double strike by test discarded paceman Rao Iftikhar Anjum, who finished the day with two wickets for 24 runs in ten overs. Sheharyar Ghani compiled a steady 29 in 148 minutes with four boundaries before leg before Rao Iftikhar. earlier, 22-year-old Haris made 112 his fourth century of the event and his sixth overall as ZTBL were dismissed for 337 in their first innings after resuming at 287-6. Former wicketkeeper batsman Zulfiqar Haider, who fell for 37 added 103 runs in 263 minutes for the 7th wicket which pushed ZTBL to healthy total on a lively track. Haris batted for marathon just over six hours and his 282-ball innings was spiced with 15 superb boundaries and one six. Like young Haris, young paceman Anwar Ali was successful bowler for PIA snappingup four wickets for 55 runs in 29.3 overs

Terry vows to fight criminal racism charges LONDON AFP

Chelsea and england football captain John Terry vowed Wednesday to prove his innocence after prosecutors said he would face criminal charges over allegations he racially abused QPR's Anton Ferdinand. Terry was ordered to appear in a magistrates court on February 1 over the incident during a Premier League match in October. Alison Saunders, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London, said: "I have today advised the Metropolitan Police Service that John Terry should be prosecuted for a racially aggravated public order offence following comments allegedly made during a Premier League football match between Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea on 23 October 2011."

PHF mends fences with former Olympians KARACHI

T

KArAChi: young hockey fans carry Pakistani and Chinese flags as they watch the first hockey match between Pakistan and China. afP Olympians Hanif Khan, Hasan Sardar, Ayaz Mahmood, Qamar Ibrahim, Kamran Ashraf, Salim Sherwani, Danish Kaleem, Arshad Chaudhry, PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa internationals Jan Muhammad, Muhammad Ali and others were also present on the occasion.

PAkISTAN DESERvED vICTORy, CHINESE CAPTAIN: Captain Muhammad Imran expressed his satisfaction over Pakistan's 3-0 win over China in the opening match of four-match hockey test series at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Wednesday.

"It's good start for us and we are hoping to do better in coming matches," Imran told reporters in post match press conference

in the ground. "Though our forwards did not score any goal but it was through their efforts that we earned penalty corners. It’s a team sport and everyone deserved the credit for the win," he added. "We will be trying to further improve performance in the coming games," China Captain Lu Fenghui commented. Pakistan played better and deserved to win," he said. "Our players improved as the match progressed.

But we would fight in the coming matches," he maintained.

THIRD PAk-CHINA HOCkEy MATCH ON SATURDAy: Third hockey match of the series of four-test matches be-

aqeel, abid in UBL Tennis semis KARACHI APP

Brothers duo of Aqeel Khan and Yasir Khan, Abid Mushtaq and visiting Sri Lankan star Thangarjah Dineshkant advanced to the singles semifinals of the inaugural UBL International Hard Court Tennis Championship at Karachi Gymkhana Courts on Wednesday. Top seed Aqeel proved too good for youngster Heera Ashiq to register an easy victory dropping just one game in the quarterfinal. Like elder brother Aqeel, second seed and Davis Cupper and younger brother Yasir Khan hammered veteran Hamid-ul-Haq without any challenge. Third seed Muhammad Abid Mushtaq lost two games before thrashing Khurram Nazir of Lahore 6-1, 6-1. Abid will face Yasir Khan in the semi-final. Aqeel take on Thangarjah in other semi-finals. Seventh seed Thangarjah Dineshknat of Sri Lanka also maintained his winning run when he surprised 4th seed Imran Shaukat 6-2, 6-4. In the Junior Under-18 event, top seed Muhammad Muddasir of Pakistan displayed quality game to eliminate Madusa

LAHORE: The University of Central Punjab won the All Pakistan Varsity Bodybuilding Championship held at UCP Auditorium. UCP successful defended the title it won last year and Hafiz Umair Iqbal won the title of Mr. Pakistan University who was the winner of 100 Kgs category. UCP Players, Ayub Khan, Mohammad Hassan, Hamayun Khurram, Zeeshan Ali, Salman Ahmad, Hafiz Nasir Sohail, Hafiz Umair Iqbal, and Sultan Mahmood bagged 1st positions in 60 Kgs, 65 Kgs, 75 Kgs, 80 Kgs, 85 Kgs, 90 Kgs, 100 Kgs and 100+ Kgs categories. Prof. Sohail Afzal, executive Director, Punjab Group of Colleges, was the Chief Guest of the event and Dr. Mohammad Zafarullah, Pro-Rector UCP distributed the prizes among the winners.

Meanwhile, Lahore Board won the All Pakistan Inter-board Bodybuilding Championship with 60 points. lAhOrE: The University of Central Punjab

players with the trophy. Pr

APP

OP officials of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Wednesday showed courtesy to estranged Olympians and asked them to sit alongside them in the VIP stands. After strained relations with a group of Olympians and internationals from Karachi for the past one year, PHF Chief Qasim Zia and Asif Bajwa personally came to media stands and persuaded former captain Islahuddin Siddiqui, Olympians Ayaz Mahmood, Qamar Ibrahim, Kamran Ashraf and other with them amid cheers of a the crowd.

Speaking on the occasion, Islahuddin alleged that on the directives of PHF management, he alongwith Ayaz Mahmood and Sardar Khan were not allowed to do commentary on Pakistan Television (PTV) despite invitations from the PTV. He claimed that the PHF wanted their pro-group to do the commentary. Version of PTV was not immediately known. Qasim Zia listened to the grievances of Islahuddin and denied such charges. "We are ready to investigate the issue," he assured.

Later a meeting of PHF officials and estranged Olympians was held in the office of Qasim Zia in which both the groups decided to serve the cause of hockey to bring Pakistan among the top teams of the world.

Islahuddin on the occasion said he had never uttered a word against any one on personal basis and talked in the interest of sports. Joint Secretary of PHF Olympian Rana Mujahid Ali told a large gathering of the players that PHF had all the respects for the Olympians. It was decided during the meeting to resolve all outstanding issues and work for the cause and betterment of sport.

UCP win bodybuilding title

STAFF REPORT

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Wijesuriya of Sri Lanka in exciting and thrilling three set encounter. It was a great show by Muddassar, who recovered after dropping the first set to overpower his opponents 2-1. Second seed Adil Kohari of Karachi also won his match against Nadaraja after a thrilling three sets. Top seed Saba Aziz from Lahore proved too good for Urooj and won 6-1,6-0. In boys under-14 event, Syed Nofil Kaleem and Dawar Rehan advance into the final by winning their respective matches.

FOLLOWING ARE QUARTERFINAL RESULTS: Muhammad Abid Mushtaq bt Khurram Nazir 6-1,6-1, yasir Khan bt hamidul haq 60,6-1, Thangarjah Dineshkant (Sri lanka) bt imran Shaukat 62,6-4, Aqeel Khan bt heera Ashiq 6-1,6-0.

MEN'S DOUBLES: Muhammad Abid Mshtaq/Usman rafiq bt Ali hassan Bhagat/Kaleem 6-1, 6-4, Aqeel Khan / yasir Khan bt imran Shukat / Kamran Khalil 6-2,6-2.

JUNIOR U-18 SINGLES: Syed Zohair raza bt Kashan Ul-haq 61,6-3, Muhammad Muddasir bt Madusa Wijesuriya (Sri lanka) 4-6,6-4.6-4, Adil Kohari bt Nadaraja Nishangan 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2, Ahmed Chaudry bt Ahmed Babar 6-1,6-2 BOYS U14 SINGLES: Syed Nofil Kaleem bt Azhar Abdul Qadar 6-2, 6-3, Dawar rehan bt hassan farooq 6-3, 7-5.

LADIES SINGLES: Maheen Dada bt hajra Nadeem 6-0,6-0, hasindi lokugi (Sri lanka) bt Sarah Ahmed 6-1,6-2, Saba Aziz bt Urooj iltifat 61,6-0, hania Naveed bt Wania Khan 6-0,6-0.

Pakistan bring a different flavour LAHORE

tween Pakistan and China would be played here on Saturday (Dec 24). The match will start at 2pm in Faisalabad Hockey Stadium Susan Road for which foolproof security arrangements are being made.

According to a spokesman of City District Government, both hockey teams will reach Faisalabad on Friday (Dec 23). He said that all arrangements had been completed for the accommodation of the hockey teams. He said that hockey lovers would be allowed to enjoy hockey match free of cost. After this match, both teams will proceed to Lahore for playing another match on December 25, he said.

Tyson refused security clearance for Pakistan visit ISLAMABAD ONLINE

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was unable to get security clearance from intelligence agencies to travel to Pakistan in order to participate in the 2nd Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Tournament. According to well-placed sources, Mike Tyson wanted to attend the inaugural ceremony of the tournament upon the invitation of Pakistan Boxing Federation, but the inability to get security clearance left him with no other option but to postpone his visit. Pakistan Boxing Federation official, however, are hopeful that Tyson would be able to make it for the closing ceremony of the mega event.

Pakistani cricketers to return in two batches KARACHI APP

STAFF REPORT

New Zealand fast bowler, Kyle Mills, said on Wednesday that he really likes playing against Pakistan and as they bring a different flavour to the game of cricket.

Pakistan cricket has brought a lot of new dimensions to the game in the shape of reverse swing and the ‘doosra’.

Other than that, Pakistani cricketers have held a number of world records in international cricket over the years. While speaking to Pakpassion.net, Mills said that he loves to play against Pakistan as they are very natural in their behaviour and skills. He particularly admired Pakistan’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and said that apart from a great spin bowler, Ajmal is a wonderful man to have a chat with. Mills added that Ajmal’s doosra can bamboozle even the best in the business.

Mills said, “I really enjoy playing the Pakistani boys. They are a very nice bunch to play against and definitely one or two of them are real characters. I don’t have stories particularly but Saeed Ajmal is a great character. I am always trying to predict when he would bowl the Doosra to me.” Mills himself is rated amongst the top limited overs bowlers and for quite a long time,

KYLE MILLS he remained the number one ranked ODI bowler of the world. The Kiwi fast bowler further added that Pakistan has always produced excellent cricketers but the only flaw in the Green Shirts is that they are very inconsistent. Pakistan is one of the most unpredictable teams in international cricket. The Green Shirts can beat any international team on a given day and on another day they can be completely off-colour.

The members of Pakistan cricket team will be returning home in two batches in Karachi and Lahore on Thursday and Friday after winning their series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. As per the schedule announced by the PCB, players belonging to Karachi will land here at Quaid-e-Azam International Airport at 9.10 pm by emirates Flight eK 602.

Former captain Younus Khan and Asad Shafiq interim coach Mohsin Khan will be returning to Karachi. The remaining squad including Misbah-ul-Haq and other members and officials will land in Lahore on Friday at 1.15 am on flight eK 622. During their home series against Sri Lankan in the UAe, they won five match One-Day International series 4-1, test series 1-0 and T20 International.

During the tour to Bangladesh, Pakistan made the clean-sweep winning the T20I, ODI 3-0 and test series 2-0.

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

Australia drop Khawaja, Hughes from Test squad SYDNEY

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ATSMeN Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja were dumped from Australia's squad named Wednesday for next week's opening Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Selectors named a 13-man squad with Shaun Marsh, ed Cowan and Ben Hilfenhaus included, but there was no place for injured allrounder Shane Watson and fast bowler Ryan Harris.

Chief selector John Inverarity said the size of the squad was due to the continuing uncertainty about the fitness of Marsh, who has been troubled by a back complaint.

"Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja have been omitted from the Australian team that played against New Zealand in Hobart and Marsh, ed Cowan and Ben Hilfenhaus have been added to the squad," Inverarity said.

"Shane Watson was not considered for selection as he has not recovered sufficiently from his (hamstring/calf) injury, while Ryan Harris has not yet achieved the volume of bowling required to be available for consideration for Test selection." Cowan was included on the strength of his 109

McGrath says india lack firepower SYDNEY AFP

India may lack the bowling firepower to pull off a first-ever Test series win in Australia, former Test great Glenn McGrath said Wednesday. McGrath, fourth in the all-time list of leading wicket-takers, said secondranked India would struggle if pace spearheads Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma were struck down by injury. Left-arm seamer Khan, 33, is on the comeback trail from ankle surgery that cut short his tour of england this year, while Sharma, 23, has developed an ankle injury during India's opening tour match in Canberra. "Zaheer Khan was a big loss for them in england and he's obviously their main bowler," former fast bowler McGrath told The Sydney Morning Herald. "And Sharma bowled well... last time they were out here so he'll be looking to find a bit of form. "But with both those guys under injury clouds it's not looking good.

To go into a Test match without both those guys (at full fitness) it's going to weaken their bowling line-up a lot."

against India playing for a Chairman's xI in Canberra on Tuesday along with two centuries in this season's domestic Sheffield Shield and one for Australia A against the touring New Zealanders. "ed Cowan has been in excellent form in recent weeks," Inverarity said. "His inclusion is in recognition of his con-

sistently good performances and we anticipate that he can provide steadiness at the top of the order.

"Ben Hilfenhaus has regained form this season and he provides a strong and reliable bowling option."

Inverarity said Hughes and Khawaja both needed to produce "compelling performances" to be considered for future Test selection. "We see both Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja as developing players with bright futures and remaining as players of significance," he said. "They are determined young men and I know that they will work hard to produce compelling performances and push strongly for further consideration."

The Australian squad assembles in Melbourne from Thursday ahead of the Boxing Day Test start. Australia Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (vice-capt), Dan Christian, ed Cowan, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

India’s anti-DrS stance ‘may raise tensions’ SYDNEY AFP

India's rejection of the Decision Review System for their Test series against Australia could raise tensions and boost the number of contentious decisions, reports said on Wednesday.

Cricket Australia had hoped the Indian cricket board would allow a compromise version of the DRS, which uses technology to improve the accuracy of decisions.

But Indian cricket chiefs said they would not budge because of concerns over the accuracy of electronic aids. "Our view is well documented, we are a supporter of DRS. It was discussed," a CA spokesman told The Sydney Morning Herald. "(But) the ICC's policy is very clear: for any individual tour, you need both nations to agree." India's aversion to the DRS stems back to their 2008 Test series with Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka made 11 successful referrals to India's one.

Host Australian broadcaster Channel Nine said it could not understand why India had concerns over the review system used by

the network, which provides the technology that the match umpires can call upon. "We are not really sure what they are basing that on," Brad McNamara, the executive producer of Nine's cricket coverage, told the Herald. "There are different types of the technology around the world. Some of it is not as accurate as others. "I just hope they are not basing their judgements on the inferior technology instead of the good one.

"We put a lot of time, effort and money into making it as accurate as possible. We are fairly certain we are using the best technology

available. "If India get a couple of rough ones (decisions) through the summer, they might all of a sudden become a fan of the DRS. It is a bit confusing."

McNamara said the network would continue to use the DRS and Hot Spot (infra-red imaging technology), allowing viewers to have a closer look at controversial decisions. Australian coach Mickey Arthur said he had hoped the DRS would be used during the Test series against India, which starts on December 26. "I have been in favour of it, I always have been," Arthur said.

Bangladesh’s Kamal nominated for top iCC post DHAKA REUTERS

Bangladesh have named the country's cricket board president Mustafa Kamal as candidate for the post of International Cricket Council (ICC) vice-president. Under the ICC's rotation policy, Bangladesh and Pakistan were asked to nominate candidates for the post but this week Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Zaka Ashraf said they had withdrawn their claim in favour of Bangladesh's candidate. Kamal, who heads the Asian Cricket Council, needs the approval of at least seven test-playing countries to succeed New Zealand's Allan Isaac as vice-president in June 2012, a move that would pave the way for him to take over from Isaac as ICC president two years later.

Asia felt the heat in the year gone by NEW DELHI AFP

Three Pakistani stars being jailed for spot-fixing in england underlined a mixed year for cricket in Asia despite India's memorable World Cup triumph at home in April.

Pakistan's resurgence on the field under Misbah-ul-Haq held out hope that all was not lost for the troubled nation, but the region endured more lows than highs over the past 12 months.

India's status as cricket's nerve-centre took a beating as attendences dwindled for even home one-day internationals, TV ratings dropped and sponsors contemplated other options. even the Indian Premier League, facing a high-powered government investigation for alleged financial irregularities and money laundering, lacked the buzz that was seen in the previous three seasons.

Viewer-fatigue had clearly taken its toll and the time to act had come, said veteran Indian batsman Rahul Dravid

while delivering the Sir Donald Bradman Oration in Canberra on December 14.

"Since about, I think 1985, people have been saying there is too much meaningless one-day cricket," said Dravid. "Maybe it's finally time to do something about it.

India's euphoria over winning the limited-overs World Cup at home in April was short-lived as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men were dethroned as the number one Test side after a 4-0 walloping in england. Sri Lanka, who lost to India in the World Cup final in Mumbai, have tumbled downhill and not won a Test match since the retirement of world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan in July 2010.

Bangladesh showed no signs of improvement, even suffering an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in August on the African nation's return to Test cricket after six years.

The cricketing world was shamed when a British judge jailed three Pakistani stars, including former captain Salman Butt, and their agent in Novem-

ber for their part in a spot-fixing scandal.

Butt, 27, was handed a 30-month sentence, Mohammad Asif, 28, was jailed for a year and 19-year-old Mohammad Amir was sentenced to six months in a young offenders' institution after being found guilty of fixing parts of a Test match against england in 2010.

The players' British agent Mazhar Majeed, 36, who was caught in a sting by the now defunct News of the World newspaper sting, pleaded guilty and was sent to prison for two years and eight months. Pakistan did well to put aside the scandal and revive their fortunes on the field, highlighed by their success over Sri Lanka in all three formats of the game in the neutral venue of the United Arab emirates.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is the leading wicket-taker in Tests this year, while three Pakistani bowlers -- Shahid Afridi, Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez -- are among the top six in one-day internationals. Pakistan's biggest challenge will come at the start of the new year when they host the world's number one side england in three Test matches in the UAe. India made amends

for the humiliation in england by an expected resurgence at home where they blanked england 5-0 in a one-day series and followed that with a 2-0 Test and 4-1 one-day success over struggling West Indies. Dravid, whose three centuries in england was the lone bright spot in India's dismal series in england, became the first batsman to score more than 1,000 runs this year with five hundreds.

Millions in India and abroad continued to wait for Sachin Tendulkar's 100th international century continued as the master fell for 91 in the Oval Test against england and then for 94 against the West Indies at home in Mumbai. But Tendulkar, now into his 23rd year in international

cricket, appeared unfazed by the hype, saying 100 hundreds was "just a number" and wondered what the fuss was about. "When I got my 90th international century, nobody said anything," he said. "even before my 99th century, nobody said anything. So why now? I don't understand."

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

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Australian bowlers will struggle against india: razzaq LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Pakistan allrounder Abdul Razzaq feels that Australia doesn't have any world-class bowlers and will struggle to beat India in next week's first test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Razzaq, who is in Australia playing for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash Twenty20 competition, was quoted by Associated Press that India deserves to be favoured because star bowlers like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath have retired and Brett Lee is no longer playing Test cricket. He said an attack led

by James Pattinson and Peter Siddle would have difficulty against the No. 2ranked Test country, saying "India are aiming to be the world champions, and they will give a tough time to Australia."

Khan’s appeal set for January LONDON AGENCIES

DHAKA: Pakistan’s cricket team pose for a photograph with the tournament trophy. afP

PCB officials ponder over domestic cricket

Pakistan make it eight in a row stats corner

LAHORE

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S. PERVEZ QAISER

STAFF REPORT

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s Task Team on Domestic Cricket Wednesday discussed ways to strengthen the base of cricket in the country. The first meeting of Task Team was held at Karachi under the Chairmanship of Intikhab Alam. The other members who attended included Imtiaz Ahmed, Sarfraz Nawaz, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Iqbal Qasim and Zakir Khan while Moin Khan could not attend the meeting as he was not present in Pakistan but he gave his input in written form. Intikhab Alam noted the members’ suggestions on the current domestic structure. The members deliberated on every aspect of the domestic structure. All members agreed that as the domestic cricket is the breeding ground for the international cricket its systems and structures should be strengthened. They stressed the need to make every possible effort to harness the talent from every part of the country. The task team will submit its recommendations to the PCB within two months of its formulation.

PCB chief felicitates team LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Chaudhary Zaka Ashraf has congratulated the Pakistan team and its management over their 2-0 victory in the test series against Bangladesh. The PCB chief telephones captain Misbahul Haq, coach Mohsin Hasan Khan and manager Naveed Akram Cheema and felicitated them for their commendable performance in both Test and ODI series. In a message Zaka said: “Cricket is a passion in Pakistan and everyone prays for the team.

The boys have made the nation proud.”

Pakistan recorded their eighth victory in as many matches against Bangladesh by winning the second Test by seven wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka on Wednesday (December 21). It was Pakistan's 112th victory in 364 Test matches.

Abdur rehman achieved his best bowling performance by taking four for 51. his previous best was four for 65 against West indies at Basseterre in 2010-11 while four for 88 at Chittagong in the previous Test match was the n

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best against Bangladesh.

Shakib Al hasan became only the third Bangladeshi bowler to concede 3000 or more runs in Tests. The slow left-arm bowler conceded 3011 runs off 6381 balls in 26 matches till the end of this Test match. Mohammad rafique (4076 runs in 33 Tests), Mashrafe Mortaza (3239 runs in 36 Tests) and Shahadat hossain (3386 runs in 33 Tests) were the other Bangladeshi bowler to concede over 3000 runs in Tests before Shakib Al hasan.

The seven-wicket victory was Pakistan's sixth in 12 Tests under Misbah-ul-haq. Pakistan have lost just one and drew five matches under his leadership.

Shakib Al hasan received his fourth man of

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the match award in 26 Test matches. it was his maiden such award in two Test matches against Pakistan. younus Khan received his second man of the series award. his first such award came against india in 2005-06.

PAKISTAN'S TEST VICTORIES AGAINST BD MARGIN An innings & 264 runs An innings & 178 runs An innings & 169 runs 7 wickets 9 wickets One wicket An innings & 184 runs 7 wickets

VENUE Multan Dhaka Chittagong Karachi Peshawar Multan Chittagong Dhaka

SEASON 2001-02 2001-02 2001-02 2003-04 2003-04 2003-04 2011-12 2011-12

Amir Khan’s camp have been informed by the WBA and IBF that an appeal into his controversial points defeat by Lamont Peterson will be held in the middle of next month. The sanctioning bodies will investigate events in Washington when Khan was relieved of his WBA and IBF world titles by Peterson. The performance of referee Joe Cooper, who deducted two points from Khan for pushing, and alleged irregularities with the scorecards on the night has prompted Golden Boy to seek redress.

indians may miss Benazir Boxing LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Indian boxing team is likely to miss the 2nd Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Boxing Tournament after they were not issued visas. The Indian team was to arrive here on Wednesday via Wagha Border but they failed to get visas in time to enter Pakistan and the tournament is to start from today and is being participated by around 40 countries.

Blackburn bottom after derby defeat LONDON AFP

Blackburn Rovers were left bottom of the english Premier League after a 2-1 Lancashire derby defeat at home to fellow relegation candidates Bolton Wanderers at ewood Park on Tuesday. Bolton, who kicked off as the league's basement club and remained in the bottom three even after this win, enjoyed a sensational start.

Mark Davies put them ahead inside five minutes and Nigel Reo-Coker made it 2-0 on the half-hour. Davies's goal reignited the terrace taunts from Rovers fans towards manager Steve Kean, who has been under fire since he was appointed by Venky's, the Indian-based poultry firm that owns the club, a year ago.

However, the jeers were stilled when Blackburn striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu pulled a goal back with 23 minutes left But that was as good as it got for Rovers, Premier League champions in 1995.

It had been suggested before kick-off that whichever of the two Scottish managers on show ended up on the losing side could be sacked before Christmas and Bolton boss Owen Coyle sympathised with Kean. "I feel for Steve - the

BlACKBUrN: Blackburn rovers' Montenegrin Simon vukcevic (r) shoots during an English Premier league football match against the Bolton Wanderers. afP shoe could have been on other foot, but I'm delighted to come out on the right end of the result," Coyle told the BBC. "We're in a position that's self-inflicted.

But the fans got behind the team and

they can go into Christmas with a smile on their faces." Coyle added: "Steve Kean is a very gifted coach and manager. You could get the 20 best coaches in football and someone's got to occupy the bottom

two. It's an easy story to write but sometimes changing manager is not the solution. "Blackburn Rovers are a fantastic club. The supporters pay their money but have they ever given Steve a chance from the outset? I don't think so."

Cries of "Kean Out" could be heard all round ewood Park after Bolton took a fifth minute lead when, after Rovers failed to clear a corner, David Ngog cut the ball back to Mark Davies whose firsttime shot beat Paul Robinson. And a well-worked move saw Bolton double their lead in the 30th minute. Reo-Coker, making the most of yet more poor defending, burst through the middle and found Martin Petrov on the left.

Morten Gamst Pedersen failed to deal with Petrov's mishit cross but Reo-Coker, despite having his back to goal, was still able to turn and score. But in the 67th minute Blackburn pulled a goal back when Yakubu, played in by Junior Hoilett, lofted the ball over Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. And in the fourth minute of stoppage time Rovers nearly equalised only for defender Christopher Samba to power a header wide of the post. Bolton are now second-bottom, two points above Rovers but still two shy of safety.

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Thursday, 22 December, 2011

Army rejects report about Pasha’s meeting with Arab leaders ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The army on Wednesday rejected as “false assertions” in a report that appeared in a UK newspaper that ISI chief Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha visited Arab countries and sought their support for removal of President Asif Ali Zardari after the covert US raid in Abbottabad on May 2. The UKbased paper ‘The Independent’ reported earlier this month that General Pasha had travelled to Arab countries to discuss a move to oust President Asif Ali Zardari with the leaders of the gulf states. The army has also served a legal notice to the newspaper demanding to withdraw the news and apologise. The newspaper’s website had quoted Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz as saying, “Their (US intelligence) information was that Pasha had travelled to a few Arab countries to talk about what the necessary line of action would be in the event that they had to remove Zardari from power, and so forth.” Nonetheless, the ISPR rejected the report and said that the paper had made false assertions regarding the ISI chief’s visits to Arab countries. “It has been said that the ISI director general met senior Arab leaders and asked permission for a military coup in Pakistan. The story has been published without verification at any level,” an ISPR statement said. The statement clarified that the ISI DG had not met any Arab leader between May 1 and May 9, as had been mentioned in the report. It said, “The ISI DG’s visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and UAe only, prior to or after this period, were part of routine intelligence-sharing activity, during which he interacted with his counterparts only.” “Contents of the article are strongly and categorically denied. A legal notice is being served to the newspaper to retract the story and apologise,” the statement said.

indian colonel caught in iSi’s BD ‘honey-trap’ NEW DELHI

SC tells ECP to complete correct electoral rolls by February 23 g

Issues notices to 28 MPs elected in by-elections when eCP was incomplete ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

xPReSSING dissatisfaction over the performance of the election Commission of Pakistan (eCP), a three-member Supreme Court bench directed it on Wednesday to positively complete the preparation of transparent electoral rolls by February 23, 2012.

The court also issued notices to 28 members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies elected in by-elections when the eCP was incomplete under the provisions of the 18th Amendment, di-

recting them to file their replies by January 10. The court made it clear to the eCP that the deadline set for preparation of new electoral rolls would not be extended at any cost. The court told the commission to submit to the Registrar Office fortnightly reports over the progress on preparation of new electoral rolls. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, was hearing a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan seeking preparation of electoral rolls after the elimination of 37 million bogus votes.

The court also clubbed a pending pe-

tition of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto filed in 2007 over the same matter with the petition of Imran Khan, despite the fact that no one had turned up to pursue the late premier’s plea. The chief justice said now notices would also be issued to the secretary general of the Pakistan People’s Party. The chief justice pointed out that in response to Benazir’s petition, the eCP was directed to complete preparation of transparent electoral rolls within a month, however four years had lapsed since that elections but the electoral rolls were still incomplete. He said if the forthcoming elections were held with the old electoral rolls carrying 44 percent (37

million) bogus votes, there would be bloodshed, for which the eCP would solely be responsible. The court rejected a report of the eCP and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) mentioning reasons for delay in preparation of electoral rolls, as unsatisfactory. The report stated that the provincial assemblies of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had passed resolutions about delays in preparation of voter lists because of flash floods and fragile law and order. The court noted that no such resolution was passed by the Sindh Assembly. The chief justice said the floods had hit only six district of Sindh, and Swat was now peaceful.

imran to challenge ECP decision on dual nationals ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Abbottabad Commission records the statements of former foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former ambassador to US Maliha Lodhi, Lt Gen (r) Talat Masood and former bureaucrat Roedad Khan on Wednesday. oNLINe

INP

An Indian army officer of the rank of lieutenant colonel has been “honey-trapped” by the Inter-Services Intelligence in Bangladesh, and has confessed to being blackmailed, a report in The Asian Age has said. The Indian Army has recalled the officer and ordered a court of enquiry. Defence sources confirmed the incident, saying it had come to light “two to three months ago”, the report said. “An Indian Army infantry officer undergoing a staff college course in Bangladesh was honey-trapped by the ISI. When they started blackmailing him, he approached the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh and confessed. He has been recalled to India,” a defence source said. The Indian army suspects the ISI is using women to entrap Indian Army officers on staff courses in Bangladesh. The court of enquiry may examine several aspects, including whether the officer had parted with any sensitive information to the ISI and whether other officers could have been compromised.

The sources said the officer in question was involved in “conduct unbecoming of an officer”, which is considered an “act of loose moral conduct” in the armed forces. Indian and Bangladeshi army officers regularly visit each other’s country for staff college courses.

The ISI is believed to have a formidable network in countries like Bangladesh and Nepal, the newspaper said.

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Gilani stresses new rules of engagement between Pakistan, US ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday that Pakistan wanted to take up three issues with the United States that encompassed the rules of future engagement between the two countries.

Addressing a meeting of Afghan and Pakistani parliamentary delegations held under the auspices of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency at Prime Minister’s House, Gilani said the US must guarantee the sovereignty of Pakistan, no Abbottabadlike unilateral action in future and if any credible and actionable information was available, it should be shared with Pakistan for action. He said further that drone attacks, which caused collateral damage, must be stopped as they were grossly detrimental to the government’s efforts to isolate the terrorists from the local population. He said Pakistan cut off

NATO supplies, got Shamsi air base vacated and boycotted the Bonn Conference in the aftermath of the NATO attack on a Pakistan Army checkpost on November 26. The prime minister said Pakistan wanted a sovereign, independent, prosperous and stable Afghanistan, which was in Pakistan’s interest. Pakistan was part of the solution and not part of the problem, he added. He lamented that assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, head of the Afghan High Peace Council, and said it was a severe setback to peace and reconciliation efforts as Rabbani was a great supporter of friendship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The premier accepted the suggestion of one of the co-chairmen of the delegation to inaugurate the engineering University being built in Balkh with the assistance of Pakistan. The prime minister asked the Afghan parliamentarians to express his best wishes to his “brother” Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

earlier, co-chairman of the Afghan parliamentary delegation and member of the Wolesi Jirga Abdul Latif Pedram thanked the prime minister for inviting the delegation to Prime Minister’s House, which provided them with an opportunity to meet him. He said Pakistan was very important for Afghanistan. He also thanked the government of Pakistan for financial and technical assistance in infrastructure, education and health. Senator Besmellah Afghanmal, member of the Meshrano Jirga and co-chairman of the delegation, extended best wishes to the prime minister on behalf of President Karzai. He recalled the statement of President Karzai that if Pakistan was attacked either by the US or India, his country would stand by Pakistan. Senator Besmellah underlined the need to facilitate transit trade between Karachi and Kabul.

He expressed the hope that relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan would be strengthened with the passage of time.

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

Challenging the election Commission of Pakistan (eCP)’s decision of barring dual nationality-holders from contesting elections for parliament, Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced on Wednesday that his party would file a review petition with the eCP seeking a reversal of the decision. “A number of Pakistanis having dual nationalities have vast businesses abroad... They serve the country in the shape of foreign remittances amounting to billions of rupees and they should have the right to contest polls,” he told reporters at a press conference in which former federal law minister from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Syed Iftikhar Gilani and former provincial minister Iftikhar-ud-Din Khattak joined the PTI. Responding to a query regarding reports of a secret deal between the government and the military over the memogate scandal, Khan said he was not aware of any secret deal between the government and military over the memo issue but the judiciary should take the issue to its logical end.

30 militants killed in Orakzai clashes PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

At least 30 militants were killed and five of their hideouts were destroyed in retaliatory action by security forces in the Kago Qamar area of Upper Orakzai Agency on Wednesday. Around 18 security forces personnel, including a major, had been injured in an earlier skirmish when militants ambushed their convoy in the early hours of Wednesday. The injured personnel were airlifted to hospitals in Peshawar and Kohat. Officials said a contingent of security forces was advancing through Kago Qamar when it was by militants. The attack was severe and the militants used sophisticated weapons. Soon after the attack, security forces assisted by helicopter gunships and artillery embarked on a retaliatory mission against the militants.