E-paper Pakistantoday 11th April, 2013 by Pakistan Today

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Rs 17.00 Vol III No 284 19 Pages Islamabad — Peshawar Edition

Thursday, 11 April, 2013 Jamadi ul Awwal 29, 1434

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PML-N, BNP agree on seat adjustment

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PM Khoso orders foolproof security for Baloch leaders, voters PagE 03

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Musharraf paid no taxes on over Rs 4.4m income, FBR tells ECP PagE 04

indira oﬀered to taliban peace envoys share n-tech with Up to 8 hours living in luxury, making Pakistan in 1974 of load shedding

‘Dead’ Qaeda leader shehri delivers audio message

babies in Qatar

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has posted online an audio message from its second-in-command, Saeed alShehri, whose death was announced by Yemen in January, a monitoring group reported Wednesday. The 14minute audio produced by AQAP’s media arm Al-Malahem Foundation is accompanied by what the USbased SITE Monitoring Service said was a new photograph of the Saudi militant. PagE 07

When a handful of Taliban emissaries flew into Qatar on an American plane in 2010, the Obama administration hoped they would help negotiate a peace deal that could stabilise Afghanistan and allow the United States a graceful exit. Three years after that secret arrival, the Taliban officials remain idle and their political office here remains unused. “They are just living here enjoying the air-conditioning, driving luxury cars, eating and making babies,” one Afghan diplomat in Qatar said. PagE 08

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in summer

Pakistan team in a transition, says chief selector

Pakistan chief selector, Iqbal Qasim, said that the team was still undergoing a rebuilding process and what was perceived as an inconsistent selection policy was actually a "tactical move" to test young talent. While admitting that cricket in Pakistan was facing a crisis, Qasim said that the selectors were looking at grooming cricketers to help the side overcome a transition phase. PagE 15

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Judiciary equally responsible for Musharraf’s self exile — Aitzaz Ahsan

N NEWS Thursday, 11 April, 2013

PML-N, JI seat adJustMeNt taLks break dowN LAHORE: Talks between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) over seat adjustment in Lahore collapsed on Wednesday. According to details, delegations from both parties met to finalise seat adjustment details. The PML -N delegation was headed by Khawaja Saad Rafique and Hamza Shahbaz while the JI delegation was led by Ameerul Azeem and Mian Maqsood. Sources said that JI was asking PML-N support for three National Assembly and six provincial seats in Lahore alone. But the PML-N leaders termed the demand “too much” and the two parties ended their talks with disagreements. Both parties have already ended their seat adjustment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over similar differences. The PML-N and JI had announced their alliance for the elections last month when the leaders of the two parties Nawaz Sharif and Munawwar Hasan met in Lahore. staff report

ForMer MNa sheIkh waQas’s Father to get PML-N tIcket For Na-89 LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday decided to give party ticket to the father of former member of national assembly (MNA) Sheikh Waqas to contest election from the constituency NA-89. PML-N sources said that the former MNA was not given the party ticket for his being disqualified after his degree was declared fake and instead this ticket would be given to his father Sheikh Akram, who would be contesting election from NA-89. staff report

Zardari breathes life into PPP-Q alliance for now ISLAMABAD

tayyab hussain

last-minute intervention by President Asif Ali Zardari has saved the seat-adjustment arrangement between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and leaders of both parties were to have a final sitting late on Wednesday with hopes of moving forward, but the “transparent arrangement” may not last as aspirants of party tickets are pushing the leadership of both parties to go solo, Pakistan Today has learnt. Though the leaders of both parties made tall claims ahead of the final sitting between, insiders on both sides said that whether or not the talks break down, seatadjustment would not last long and violations of the pact would be made due to weak grip of the party leaderships and lesser chances of win in the upcoming polls. PPP Punjab President Mian Manzoor Wattoo was upbeat about the prospects of the dialogue ahead of his late night meeting with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, saying that both parties had agreed on 95 percent seats while the rest would also be agreed. “We have agreed on 95 percent seats. Rest would also be finalised tonight. We will also run a joint election campaign,” he asserted. PML-Q OPTIMISTIC: PML-Q Secretary Information Kamil Ali Agha also seemed optimistic. “Though a doomsday scenario is being painted by some media outlets, our talks are going on successfully. A lot of progress has been made in last night’s meeting held between President Zardari and Pervez Elahi. Tonight the talks on seat adjustment will conclude,” he added. Asked that if the talks were so successful, why insiders in both parties were painting a bad picture, Agha said history

was in the making through such a massive seat-adjustment plan. “For the first time in history, seat-adjustment has been made on 86 National Assembly seats and 180 provincial assembly constituencies. The rest is being discussed,” he added. Asked about the constituencies which were bone of contention between the two parties, Agha admitted that differences were yet to be resolved. “We will leave some constituencies, including Gujrat, but this would be made with understanding and consensus. For the time being, constituencies like Gujrat and others are pending,” he added. However, even though the top leadership of both parties has agreed in principle over the seat-adjustment formula for the upcoming elections, most leaders are still bent on going solo. According to sources, a marathon meeting was held between President Zardari, Shujaat Hussain and Pervez Elahi on Tuesday night. The sources said consensus had been reached only on 30 percent constituencies, while talks were being held to give a final nod to the remaining 70 percent constituencies which included some high-profile seats, particularly in Punjab. Similarly, both parties were yet to finalise the candidates on seats won by the PML-N, which would be a real test for the coalition partners, they added. The sources said the NA-105 constituency of Gujrat remained a bone of contention between the leaderships of both parties. “According to the seat adjustment formula made between PPP and PML-Q, Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar has the right to claim NA-105 as he defeated PML-Q chief Shujaat there in the 2008 elections,” the sources said. But Elahi has also filed his nomination papers from the constituency and has already launched a massive campaign in the

NA-105 constituency of Gujrat remains a bone of contention between the leaderships of both parties

Ayaz Amir, Dasti, Hayat and Imam bounce back! LAHORE staff report

Last week’s debacle was overturned on Wednesday as the Lahore High Court (LHC) Multan bench reversed the conviction of former National Assembly member Jamshed Dasti. At the same time, an election tribunal gave columnist Ayaz Amir a go-ahead to contest in elections after a returning officer had rejected his nomination papers on an objection that he had written against the ideology of Pakistan.

Furthermore, an election tribunal in Multan accepted the nomination papers of Faisal Saleh Hayat and Abid Imam. Faisal Saleh Hayat and Abid Imam are contesting elections against each other on NA-87 Jhang. Last week, Dasti was convicted by a district and sessions judge last week for having a fake degree. He was sentenced to three years in prison along with a fine of Rs 5,000. Moreover, Dasti was disqualified to contest the upcoming polls.

It is unclear whether he will contest the upcoming elections as the election tribunal is yet to decide on his appeal. Moreover, in Faisal Saleh Hayat and Abid Imam’s case, a returning officer in Jhang had rejected the candidature of both over an FIR registered against them for stealing water. Faisal Saleh was also accused of Rs 2.1 million bank defaults, however, his counsel presented clearance certificate before the two-member bench.

though a doomsday scenario is being painted by some media outlets, our talks are going on successfully. a lot of progress has been made in last night’s meeting held between President Zardari, Chaudhry shujaat and Pervez Elahi area. The sources maintained that it could be the breaking point of the alliance, as the PML-Q had no right to vie for the constituency under the agreed formula between the two parties. Interestingly, the PML-Q leadership is not going to press Zardari to withdraw former water and power minister Ahmed Mukhtar in favour of Elahi. The sources said under the earlier seatadjustment meetings, the PPP had agreed not to field candidates against potential Q players. However, the agreement was being challenged now. “In such a scenario how will the PPP and PML-Q go into May 11 elections together,” a Q-leaguer argued. Ties between the leadership of both parties turned sour last month and subsequently the parleys for possible seat adjustment between them were suspended when the PPP leadership succeeded in wooing PML-Q’s former minister Sardar Bahadur Khan Sehar from Layyah and offered its half a dozen stalwarts to contest the elections on PPP tickets. However, both parties are back on the table to do away with their differences, with Zardari intervening in the matter. However, anti-alliance groups in both sides are still pressing their leaderships to part ways. According to the seat adjustment formula, each party would name candidates for the seats won by it in the last elections and would not pitch candidate against the other.

In a constituency where neither of the parties emerged victorious, the party that had secured the second highest number of votes would field a candidate. The sources said some members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies also joined the PML-N and the PPP

Kamil ali agha

and PML-Q leadership wanted to adjust their candidates on such seats. However, under the formula, the PPP seems to be the major loser as many of its candidates lost to PML-Q in 2008 in various districts of Punjab, including Gujrat, Jhang, Khanewal, Layyah and Dera Ghazi Khan. Similarly, a similar problem faces the PML-Q in several areas, where it possesses ‘electables’, but the PPP is not ready to keep the field vacated. They said one of the major reasons behind the deadlock was that the leadership of both coalition partners were waiting for the PML-N to award tickets. “It seems after failing to get the party tickets, many of the PML-N leaders could join the PPP or PML-Q and that’s why both parties are hoping that more electable leaders may join them,” said the source. Political experts were of the view that the seat-adjustment between the PPP and PML-Q would benefit the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as the PPP workers seemed in no mood to vote for PML-Q candidates and vice versa, hence they could vote for PTI’s candidates to defeat the PML-N.

Bilawal will lead PPP in upcoming polls: Faryal ISLAMABAD staff report

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Faryal Talpur on Wednesday said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would lead the party in the upcoming polls and soon address a rally. Addressing a news conference at Zardari House, Faryal said that party tickets would be distributed in Punjab on Thursday (today). Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Raja Riaz, Jamal Ahmed Masood were also present. President Asif Zardari’s sister dispelled the impression that the PPP leadership was avoiding election campaigns fearing security concerns, saying that former premiers Raja Pervez

Ashraf, Yousaf Raza Gilani and other party leaders had started campaigns in their constituencies. She said that the party would accommodate ‘jiyalas’ in the coming elections. To a question, the PPP leader noted that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would lead the party in the upcoming polls and would soon address a major rally, adding that the PPP would launch major rallies in the coming days. To another question, she said that the Sindhi nationalists had their own thoughts and the PPP enjoyed its own ideology. PPP leader Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo criticised interim Interior Minister Malik Habib Khan for his recent statement in which he mentioned that he would vote for Nawaz Sharif.

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Asif Zardari is an expert in forming and running alliances but Nawaz Sharif lacks this art. — Pervez Elahi

NEWS

Nawaz all set for a flashy election campaign hires choPPer for traveLLiNg, WiLL get a ‘gift’ of 20 BuLLet-Proof vehicLes froM saudi BeNefactors LAHORE

staff report

AKISTAN Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif’s current election campaign is fast shaping into young boy’s

dream of flashy equipment and sophisticated gadgets. In a latest acquisition, the PML-N chief has also hired a helicopter for his electoral campaign. The chopper would move towards Lahore after passing through the testing process of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) while two Pakistani pilots and an Egyptian technician are among the entourage of the industrial magnate. The chopper will fly between multiple cities, including Karachi, Sukkur, Multan and Lahore. The years of exile in Saudi Arabia also seem to have proved fruitful for the PML-N chief as there are reports that Nawaz would soon be “gifted” 20 bulletproof vehicles by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to run his election campaign. According to media reports, sources

eLected rePreseNtatIves shouLd LegIsLate, Not gather FuNds: cJP

in the Interior Ministry said that the ministry had granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the PML-N for the ‘import’ of 20 bullet-proof vehicles gifted by the Saudi Kingdom to the party leadership. Five vehicles would be used by the Sharif family and 15 others would be in the use of the party leadership. The sources said that initially the Interior Ministry took the case of 20 vehicles as a contribution/donation by a foreign government to the political party. Election laws strictly forbid such ‘donations’. However, the party insisted to treat the matter as a ‘gift’ by the Saudi authorities and pressurised the ministry into granting the NOC. However, the ultimate decision was left to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to decide whether it could be considered as a ‘gift’.

The Pakistan Election Laws and The Political Parties Order, 2002 state, “The contribution made by members or supporters of any party shall be duly recorded by the political parties. Any contribution made, directly or indirectly, by any foreign government, multi-national or domestically incorporated public or private company, firm, trade or professional association shall be prohibited and the parties may accept contributions and donations only from individuals. Any contribution or donation which is prohibited under this Order shall be confiscated in favour of the State in the manner as may be prescribed.” Laws further state that a “contribution or donation” includes a contribution or donation made in cash, kind, stocks, hospitality, accommodation, transport, fuel and provision of other such facilities.

PM orders foolproof security for Baloch leaders, voters

ISLAMABAD online

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Wednesday said legislating, not gathering funds, was the job of elected representatives. The CJP gave these remarks while heading a three-member bench hearing the Balochistan unrest case. Aman Ullah Kanrani appeared on behalf of the Balochistan government, while Iftikhar Gilani and others represented the petitioner. A report regarding development funds for Balochistan was presented in the court, however, the court expressed dissatisfaction over the findings. Iftikhar Gilani appeared on behalf of the government of Balochistan when the hearing of case with reference to uplift schemes of Balochistan began. Gilani took the plea that all schemes were of an individual nature. Justice Gulzar remarked that law was not kept in view while awarding contracts, while Justice Azmat Saeed observed “criminal negligence has been committed in the province per report of Balochistan officer”. Gilani said, “We have filed the report. Whosoever is involved should be proceeded against.” The CJP inquired how development schemes were allocated to elected representatives. Justice Gulzar said about Rs 250 million were provided from development funds and it was known to everyone. “Legislating is job of elected representatives, not obtaining funds. We can assign NAB to investigate into these projects,” the CJP said. Gilani said that in most cases, parliamentarians used funds for their own interests. The CJP said the people of Balochistan were suffering from sense of deprivation, therefore, and the situation in the province was not good. “Public deprivations are the root causes of ills in Balochistan.” Gilani said billions of rupees were being embezzled. “This is an opportune time for the government to control the situation before the installation of next government and the court should assist it. Besides discretionary funds, licenses, quota and several other quotas are given to parliamentarians.” Justice Azmat said, “The practice was started in Ziaul Haq’s rule after 1985. List of the persons be provided to us against whom the action has been initiated for misuse of funds.” The CJP remarked, “There are only a few persons who are enjoying. Where has the amount provided under NFC Award gone? No drinking water or medicine is available to the people of Balochistan. Bribery is rampant in matters of transfer and jobs. Only money matters in Balochistan. The province should have been more developed than others on basis of the amount of money provided to it for development.” The CJP said, “Even a single penny of public wealth cannot be embezzled. Cases have been referred to NAB and police. Ask them what has been done about these cases and inform the court thereof. Withholding the amount is wrong. MPAs should only inform about the projects related to their respective constituencies and funds be not given to them.”

Khoso says govt to give toP Priority to deveLoPMeNt iN BaLochistaN QUETTA staff report

Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso on Wednesday directed the Balochistan government to ensure foolproof security for the leaders of political parties and voters, besides taking steps for holding free, fair and transparent elections. He passed the directives while talking to Balochistan Governor Zulfiqar Magsi and Caretaker Chief Minister Ghous Bakhsh Barozai at the Governor’s House on Wednesday. Khoso arrived in the province for his maiden visit as the country’s prime minister to review law and order, with a special focus on arrangements for the general elections 2013, besides taking up other matters of importance. He expressed satisfaction over the participation of nationalist parties in the coming elections, calling it an impressive sign that would bring about a positive change in the overall situation in Balochistan. He said the caretaker government was impartial and committed to creating an environment conducive for elections across the country. Leaders of political parties including Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami

Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Balochistan National Party-Mengal Central Senior Vice President Dr Jhanzaib Jamaldini and a delegation of notables from Sibi, Jaffarbad and Naseerabad also met the caretaker prime minister. DEvELOPMEnT: Separately, the caretaker prime minister directed authorities concerned to accelerate the pace of all ongoing development projects in Balochistan. He also directed the Planning Division and Ministry of Finance to remove procedural obstacles in consultation with the provincial authorities for the timely completion of the projects. Khoso said this during a briefing he was given on various development projects in the province including Gwadar Port, Gwadar Development Authority, Kachhi Canal Project, Rato-Daro-Khuzdar Road Project, Naulang and Mirani Dam. “The government accords top priority to the speedy completion of ongoing development projects in the province and will utilize all available resources in this regard,” Khoso said, adding that the physical progress on these projects would not be delayed either because of shortage of funds or because of any procedural impediment. Earlier, the WAPDA chairman told the prime minister that the Kachhi Canal Project would be completed by June 30 and water for irrigation would be available on either side of the canal. He said the Kachhi Canal Project

Thursday, 11 April, 2013

management had already sought the services of the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) for efficient implementation of the project. About Naulang Dam, the

The caretaker government is impartial and committed to creating conducive environment for elections across the country MiR HaZaR KHoso PriMe MiNister WAPDA chairman said the progress on the dam was delayed due to unavailability of funds. “However, the project will soon be completed as sufficient funds have been released for it.” Referring to Gwadar Port, the prime minister highlighted the importance of ongoing Rato Daro-Khudzar Highway project for connecting the port to rest of the country and directed the Ministry of Communications for its earlier completion.

PML-N, bNP agree on seat adjustment

QUETTA staff report

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and the Balochistan National Party (BNP) have agreed on seat adjustment ahead of the general elections. This was announced during a joint press conference held by PML-N senior leader Shahbaz Sharif and BNP chief Aktar Mengal on Wednesday. Addressing reporters, Mengal said it seemed difficult to hold free and fair elections under the conditions prevailing in Balochistan, adding that conspiracies were being hatched to stop the party for participating in the elections. “Death squads are still operating in Balochistan and people are still disappearing,” Mengal said. He said the PML-N had presented certain proposals regarding the upcoming elections and a BNP committee had been formed to take decisions about seat adjustment. Meanwhile, talking to reporters, Shahbaz said Balochistan was the heart and important part of Pakistan. “The PML-N wants to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan,” he added. Shahbaz urged Mengal to take part in the elections, saying if the BNP had any grievances, the two parties could jointly address those. “It is not a question of certain seats but a question of the future of country,” he said. The former Punjab chief minister said the PML-N would talk to the caretaker prime minister about the reservations of the Baloch leaders, adding that he had come to Quetta to show solidarity with the Baloch leadership.

deception, not degrees, main issue in upcoming election: sc ISLAMABAD staff report

Supreme Court (SC) Justice Jawwad S Khawaja on Wednesday said deception by candidates, not educational degrees, was the main issue in upcoming elections, as the degree condition no more existed per the law. The judge passed the remarks while presiding over a bench hearing fake degree case. Legal adviser to HEC, Abdul Rehman, appeared in the court, telling the court that Maiza Khan had passed Matriculation and FA without appearing in English language paper. However, Wasim Sajjad said she had passed both exams and her BA degree had also been verified. Justice Jawwad remarked, “Degrees are no more an issue in these elections. Deceit is only the issue.” Sajjad said original degree of his client had to arrive from London. “We want time allowed to us. The objection raised against us is that we have not attached original documents.” Justice Jawwad remarked, “You have filed nomination papers. Tell us if the returning officer (RO) passed any order on this account.” Sajjad said only copies of certificates and degree had been filed and “we could not file original documents. We would have filed original certificate had more time been allowed to us.” Justice Jawwad said an order “will be issued by chief justice bench, as April 5 order was issued by that bench.” The court then referred the application by Maiza Khan seeking extension in time in connection with verification of degree to the CJP. The court also disposed of the petition filed by Maulana Ilyas against HEC. The HEC told the court that SC had issued orders for verification of degrees until April 5.

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All caretaker ministers are irresponsible. — Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain

NEWS Thursday, 11 April, 2013

Pakistan successfully test-fires hatf-Iv ballistic missile RAWALPINDI: Pakistan on Wednesday conducted a successful launch of intermediate range ballistic missile Hatf-IV (Shaheen-1). The missile incorporates a series of improvements in range and technical parameters of the existing warhead and is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 900 kilometres, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement. staff report

Ninth class student commits suicide in tarbela HARIPUR: A ninth class student on Wednesday shot herself to death inside an examination hall. The police said 16-yearold Natasha Habib, hailing from Ghazi, Tarbela area of Haripur District, shot herself to death during her practical exam in her school. The body was shifted to hospital for autopsy. In the preliminary reports it was revealed that Natasha, a boarder, was unhappy with her performance in theory exams which depressed her to such an extent that she committed suicide. inp

Lhc seeks response from trial court in bb murder case RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Wednesday sought a reply from the trial court regarding separate proceedings of former president general (R) Pervez Musharraf in the Benazir Bhutto murder case. A singlejudge bench comprising Justice Ali Baqir heard the case. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar said the former president had not appeared even once before the court, despite repeated summons. He also observed that only 25 witnesses had recorded their statements in the court in the past five years. Seeking reply from the trial court, the bench adjourned hearing until further notice. staff report

us seeks $ 1.2b assistance for Pakistan in 2014 WASHINGTON: The Obama Administration is seeking Congressional approval for $1.2 billion in economic development and military assistance for Pakistan in the fiscal year 2014 budget. According to officials, the budget request made to Congress on Wednesday for the new fiscal year beginning October 1,2013, seeks $860 million in civilian support and $300 million in military aid programmes for Pakistan. speCial CorresponDent

Policeman killed in fresh polio team attack MARDAN: Gunmen on Wednesday opened fire on a polio team in Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing one policeman and injuring another. The police had resumed guarding the teams after an incident in February in which a policeman was shot dead while protecting a polio vaccination team on the outskirts of Mardan. As a result of Wednesday’s attack, the anti-polio drive in the region has been suspended. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are the only countries where polio is endemic. Polio cases in Pakistan hit 198 in 2011, the highest figure for more than a decade and the most of any country in the world, according to the UN. staff report

No votes for overseas Pakistanis, ecP advises ISLAMABAD staff report

OLLOWING detailed discussions with the departments concerned with overseas Pakistani’s voting rights, the Election Commission said on Wednesday that due to technicalities and legalities, the ECP was not in a position to give voting rights to overseas Pakistanis for the upcoming elections. ECP officials, representatives of law ministry, Nadra and foreign office personnel and officials of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis held detailed discussions at the ECP Secretariat to review the e-vot-

ing facility for overseas Pakistanis. After the meeting, Election Commission Secretary Ishtaik Ahmed Khan said that the ECP would present its point of view before the Supreme Court today. He said that the commission and the government were in favour of giving voting rights to overseas Pakistanis, but due to a shortage of time, the electoral body faced several problems in this regard. “The Supreme Court is the final authority to decide on the matter. If the court will order us to give voting rights to overseas Pakistanis, we will accept the court order in true letter and spirit,” the secretary added. Earlier, ECP submitted

a report in the SC, contending that facilitating overseas Pakistani in haste could be disastrous for the entire electoral process. In a report submitted to the Supreme Court, the election watchdog pointed out that it would not be advisable to give voting rights to overseas Pakistanis in the upcoming elections through untested computerised systems. The commission also stated that necessary legal backing was also required for the process. Currently, around 4.5 million registered voters are living abroad. The data shows that the ECP had registered 1.7 million Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia, 1.3m in UAE, 367,988 in the UK, 277,131

in Oman, 131,589 in the US, 93,345 in Kuwait, 90,148 in Canada, 80,166 in Bahrain, 71,874 in Qatar, 56,495 in Greece, 55,851 in Italy, 55,478 in Malaysia, 39,618 in Spain, 23,585 in France and 15,728 in Australia. Out of a total of 4,339,728 overseas Pakistanis, 3,513,248 are registered in the Middle East. The report said that since the election schedule has been announced it would be difficult to complete arrangements to facilitate Pakistanis residing across the world. The ECP also pointed out that haste in this regard will create problems which may affect the credibility of entire electoral process.

Musharraf paid no taxes on over Up to 8 hours of load Rs 4.4m income, FBR tells ECP shedding in summer ISLAMABAD

KARACHI ismail DilaWar

If tax payment in the recent years is any criterion, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief and former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf does not seem to be fulfilling it. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have submitted their respective “responses” to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in line with the its constitutional requirement for the financial scrutiny of the candidates for May 11 general elections. According to tax details available with the FBR’s Intelligence and Investigation Inland Revenue Department Directorate General, the former president had given any tax during 2010, 2011 and 2012. In his nomination forms for NA250, the APML chief had declared to have earned over Rs 4.4 million during the period under review. Mushar-

online

MUsHaRRaF CHallEngEs REjECtion oF noMination PaPERs FoR tHREE na sEats ISLAMABAD: Former president and chief of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday challenged the rejection of his nomination papers filed from NA-139, Kasur, NA-20 and NA-48 constituencies. Per reports, the former military ruler, who is facing a high treason trial in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, has also challenged rejection of his nomination papers he filed for Islamabad’s NA-48. After objections of rival candidates, Musharraf’s nomination papers were also rejected from Karachi’s NA-250,but accepted from Chitral’s NA-32. agenCies

raf, who remained in selfexile for years, declared his income for 2010 to be Rs 1.386 million, for 2011 to be Rs 1.467 million and for the year 2012, the former president said he had earned Rs 1.560 million. The head on the FBR’s summary of the former dictator’s filing of tax returns appears blank. One may argue that filing tax returns from the years-long self exile was impossible

for the retired general, especially while the millions earned had come from his foreign lectures. But, the question remains: Does this self-exile conform to Musharraf’s most-referred rhetoric of “Pakistan First”. The APML chief, however, was able to secure a national tax number (NTN), 0018720-8, on October 17 of 1995 to the satisfaction of the ECP which made it mandatory for the poll contestants to mention their NTN in the nomination forms.

indira oﬀered to share n-tech with Pakistan in 1974 NEW DELHI

termed as insufficient Gandhi’s assurance that tests were not meant to harm online Pakistan. In his response to Gandhi, They are hostile neighbours widely Bhutto said, many past assurances seen by many as competing to have a from India “regrettably remain unbigger nuclear arsenal. However, after honored”. Testing of nuclear device is its first nuclear test in 1974, India of- no different from detonation of a nufered to share nuclear technology with clear weapon, he wrote. Pakistan. In her statement to Indian Pakistan tested a nuclear weapon parliament after the tests on July 22, for the first time in May, 1998 — a then prime minister Indira Gandhi fortnight after India conducted its said she had told her Paksecond nuclear test. But istani counterpart, ZulGandhi’s offer to share the offer was fiqar Ali Bhutto, that nuclear technology extraordinary in its New Delhi would with Pakistan was be ready to share not the move of a audacity, but equally in its the relevant techpotential nuclear nology with Isproliferator. Inforesight. the indian offer lamabad. stead, it showed came as Bhutto termed as Quoting her the confidence statement the US of a leader who insufficient gandhi’s embassy reprobably beassurance that tests were lieved that India, ported, as revealed by Wikileaks, “I after the test, could not meant to harm seamlessly have explained in my become Pakistan. letter to Prime Minister part of the international Bhutto the peaceful nature nuclear system, where New and the economic purposes of this exDelhi could become a legitimate nuperiment and have also stated that India clear supplier. Gandhi’s confidence, as is willing to share her nuclear technol- it turned out, was misplaced. India ogy with Pakistan in the same way she was immediately placed under a tough is willing to share it with other coun- technology denial regime. In fact, the tries, provided proper conditions for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was understanding and trust are created. I created as a result of the 1974 test preonce again repeat this assurance.” cisely to keep countries like India beThe offer was extraordinary in its yond the pale. It took a hard-fought audacity, but equally in its foresight. nuclear deal with the US to open that The Indian offer came as Bhutto door for India in 2008.

President approves 6 more Lhc judges ISLAMABAD online

President Asif Zardari on Wednesday approved the appointment of six additional judges of the Lahore High Court for one year. On the advice of the prime minister the president approved the appointment of Shoaib Saeed, Atir Mahmood, Shahid Bilal Hassan, Aalia Neelum, Shezada Mazhar and Abid Aziz Sheikh. President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the nominations were forwarded by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan to the Parliamentary Committee on Judges Appointment in the Superior Courts which were subsequently forwarded to the PM under Clause 13 of Article 175A of the constitution. The PM advised the president to accord his approval to these appointments. Acting upon the advice of the PM, the president has agreed to the appointment of the six judges.

People will have no respite in load shedding as the Water and Power Ministry has announced that load shedding duration in the upcoming summer season will be maintained until eight hours. It was stated during the meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Water and Power that held on Wednesday with Senator Zahid Khan in the chair. During the meeting, the additional secretary admitted that power distribution companies were not able to manage the power distribution system therefore the ministry was handling it. He said that after the mega power breakdown of February 24, the ministry had decided to keep the distribution of power under its control. He said, “We are going against the world’s best practices in power production and producing power through expensive resources.” However, with the assistance of ADB, work has been initiated on two coal base

plants in Jamshoro, he informed the body. The additional secretary assured the committee that 500 megawatt would be provided to Balochistan where power crises had worsened and outages have been reached to 22 hours per day. He apprised the committee that Rs 20 billion has been provided to the ministry to buy furnace oil from PSO, adding that situation would be improved in next few days. He said that for the current year the government would provide Rs 291 billion subsidy to power sector. The committee took notice of rude attitude of officials and directed the secretary to take stern action against those who showed negligence in performing their duties. Sentor Zahid Khan said that the government had not taken steps to increase hydropower generation and population had increased to a significant level, but the power production was still at the same point. The body directed the ministry’s officials to deal strictly with defaulters.

sC questions reasons for keeping info Ministry’s funds secret ISLAMABAD online

.The Supreme Court has asked the Ministry of Information for a legal explanation to keep some of its funds clandestine from public eye. A two-member bench under the supervision of Justice Jawwad S Khwaja heard the case regarding use of secret funds by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The court also allowed Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and All Pakistan News Paper Society (APNS) to file applications in the court for abolishing the stay order, issued to prevent payments of billion rupees to media houses, on account of official advertisements. Justice Jawwad said it was an important matter and should be decided without further delay. “It is an issue of usage of public money and it remains to be understood why this amount is kept secret from the people. What is the real story behind the use of this fund as Information Ministry

does not want to publicise it?” During the proceedings, senior journalist Hamid Mir told the court about the utilisation of secret funds and asked the court that the report submitted by the ministry might be made public. Justice Jawwad said there might be several reasons to maintain the secret accounts and the court would give verdict after reviewing the entire record. “The ministry has told the court that Rs 84.75 million were allocated for the purpose of special publicity fund, but the court wants documentary proof.” The lawyer for the ministry said it was the policy of the government. “Different think tanks are working, similarly the ministry hires various column writers. An audit of the funds is being carried out.” Senior journalist Absar Alam told the court that the ministry should correct its record, as secret funds were not only Rs 84.75 million, but it was a matter of usage of Rs 850 million and Rs 870 million separately.

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It would have been even impossible for Quaid-e-Azam to meet the criteria of Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution. –Aitzaz Ahsan

ISLAMABAD Thursday, 11 April, 2013

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district goverNMeNt to charge fee for eLectioN advertiseMeNts RAWALPINDI

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prayer timings Fajr 4:15

Follow the ecP code, pay for your ads!

Sunrise Zuhr Asr Maghrib Isha 5:42 12:09 3:46 6:36 8:03

staff report

OLLOWING the announcement of the code of conduct of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the district government announced on Wednesday that it would charge fee on putting up hoardings, banners and posters for election campaigning. The district government warned candidates of all political parties and their

ADVERTISEMENT FEE TO BE CHARGED Ad size Fee (per month) 3x2 ft poster Rs 120 3x5 ft hoarding Rs 450 3x9 ft banner Rs 225 9x6 in pamphlets Rs 10 SOURCE: City Assistant Commissioner and Taxation Officer Fahad Waqar Azeem.

supporters that if they did not pay the advertising fee, the ECP would be informed about the violation. Assistant Commissioner City and Taxation Officer Fahad Waqar Azeem

said that Rs 120 per month would be charged on a 3x2 feet poster, Rs 450 per month on 3x5 feet hoarding, Rs 225 per month on 3x9 feet banner and Rs 10.56 per month on a 9x6 inches pamphlets. He further said that the candidates would have to take prior permission for other advertising material, including pictures and flags. “Strict action would be taken against the candidates who failed to comply with the code of conduct,” he added. Meanwhile, Rawal Town Tehsil Municipal Administration removed 300 banners and hoardings from different parts of the town including Benazir Bhutto Road, Liaquat Road, Saidpur Road and others for violating the code of conduct devised by the ECP.

reshuFFLe coNtINues: 68 shos traNsFerred IN rawaLPINdI RAWALPINDI staff report

The newly-posted Regional Police Officer (RPO) Nasimuz-Zaman has reshuffled 68 Station House Officers (SHOs) across Rawalpindi after assuming charge of his office. Among those who were reshuffled, 25 police inspectors had been placed in Rawalpindi, 16 in Attock, 14 in Chakwal and 13 in Jhelum. However, Morgah Police Station SHO Inspector Sattar Khan was not transferred as he is currently investigating an important murder case. Sources said that the clerical staff posted in the police department is also expected to be reshuffled within the next few days.

‘MEDIA IS FREE. 5 adaila Jail prisoners IT SHOULD ACT suffering from aIds RESPONSIBLY!’ RAWALPINDI

staff report

Around five inmates, including a foreigner woman, in Adiala Jail are suffering from Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). According to reports, the foreigner hails from an African country. Punjab AIDS Control Program has decided to train paramedic staff to deal with the AIDS

patients and have been appointed in six jails of Rawalpindi. Experts of Punjab AIDS Control Program would arrange a training session in Adiala Central Prison today for dispensers and nursing assistants working in Attock, Chakwal, Gujarat, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, and Adiala jail. Two paramedics have been selected for training from each jail of the region. The staff would also be provided HIV/AIDS kits.

CDA sets up election campaign compliance cell ISLAMABAD inp

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) established on Wednesday an election campaign compliance cell to ensure application of code of conduct of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), pertaining to display of posters, hoardings, banners and stickers during the

ISLAMABAD app

Information and Broadcasting Minister Arif Nizami said on Wednesday that the government believed in freedom of expression and the media was free to perform its professional duties responsibly. While chairing a high-level meeting during his visit to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), he assured that the ministry would provide all types of assistance to the APP to overcome its financial crunch and finance division will be approached for release of funds for the APP. The minister appreciated APP management for its efforts to expand and upgrade the news agency. Nizami asked the management of the Newswire to submit a proposal for bringing APP under the control of the parliament.

Information Secretary Agha Nadeem said that APP should further enhance its professional credibility as there were no restrictions regarding coverage of events. Earlier, APP Managing Director Muhammad Khalid Sarwar briefed the minister regarding the affairs of the national news agency. During the presentation, the minister was informed that the APP was established in 1947 and was taken over by the government in 1961. He said that APP was converted into a corporation in 2002 through an ordinance. The news agency has been playing a leading role by supplying authentic and credible news to the print and electronic media. “The number of news reports released to the national dailies and regional language newspapers in English, Urdu, Sindhi and Pushto, Balochi, Brahvi, Seraiki and Arabic

languages have recorded a significant improvement in all other news agencies in the country,” he added. He said that APP Video News Service was formally launched in 2007 to cater to the needs of news channels. “This was a major leap forward, expanding and enhancing the agency’s role in the national media by providing clean feed on major developments and important events to the electronic media organisations within the country and abroad,” he added. “APP has news exchange agreements with 42 foreign news agencies under which a bouquet of important news was transmitted to them on a daily basis with an aim of showcasing Pakistan’s point of view on regional and international affairs,” he said. Senior officials and journalists of the organisation were also present in the meeting.

election campaign. The compliance cell would ensure implementation of ECP code of conduct, besides taking strict action against candidates violating conduct. Moreover, CDA directorate of municipal administration prepared a compact strategy in this connection. The statements said, “No person or political party should

affix posters, hoardings or banners larger than the sizes prescribed by the ECP.” According to ECP code of conduct, the maximum size of posters could be 2X3 feet, hoardings 3X5 feet, banners’ size 3X9 feet and leaflets/handbills’ size should not exceed 9X6 inches. The rules also restrict political parties from wall chalking as part of an election campaign.

LRBT Hospital brilliant example of Pak-US cooperation: Olson RAWALPINDI online

US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson said the success of LRBT was a brilliant example of the cooperation on complex health issues between the United States and Pakistan. During a visit to Layton Rehmatulla Benevolent Trust Hospital in Mandra near Rawalpindi on Wednesday‚ the ambassador said that the US Agency for International Development had been providing financial aid to this facility which had enabled it to operate upon 11‚417 Pakistani women with various diseases of the eyes, including cataract‚ glaucoma and vitreo retinal. The ambassador went around various areas of the eye hospital and witnessed the use of modern

technology during operations. He also interacted with some of the female patients who informed him how their lives had transformed after getting their vision back.

Since its inception 26 years ago‚ LRBT Hospital has treated over 22 million patients in OPD and performed over 2.2 million major and minor surgeries.

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It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything. –Joseph Stalin

ISLAMABAD Thursday, 11 April, 2013

cda gives 100 kachnar, amaltas saplings to child club ISLAMABAD app

Capital Development Authority on Wednesday provided 100 saplings of Kachnar and Amaltas plants to Child Club for inculcating a habit of tree plantation among young children and apprise them with the benefits of plantation. The club, established under the aegis of the Society for the Protection of the Rights of Child (SPARC), organised a tree plantation drive by school-going children at Margalla hills to give them an opportunity to plant trees themselves. Children from ASAS International School and Khaldunia High School took part in the campaign. A briefing was also organised for the students at Trail 3, in which they were briefed regarding benefits of tree plantation and plant species’ preservation. Later, they proceeded up the hill, planting saplings along the way.

aNtI-Quackery task Force to be LauNched ISLAMABAD inp

National Regulations and Services Minister Shahzada Jamal Nazir decided on Wednesday to formulate a task force to check illegal health practitioners as it was causing spread of various infectious diseases. He also directed the concerned authorities to prepare a pricing policy of drugs at the earliest to provide medicines at lower prices to people. He chaired separate meetings of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). The meetings were attended by Ministry of National Regulations and Services Secretary Imtiaz Inayat Elah, Senior Joint Secretary Arshad Farooq Fahim and other high officials of the ministry.

gangs busted; arms, valuables seized ISLAMABAD staff report

Islamabad police busted two gangs of criminals, arrested two proclaimed offenders and recovered 15 stolen mobile phones, 8 pistols along with 200 cartridges of ammunition, 271 bottles of liquor and 48 cans of beer from their possession, a police spokesman said on Wednesday. A special team under CIA DSP Zubair Ahmed Shaikh also arrested an Afghan national Abdul Rauf who was wanted by the police on robbery, theft and street crime charges. Six other outlaws involved in robberies and thefts were also arrested by this team. The robbers were identified as Shehbaz Masih, Babar Iqbal, Kamran, Khalil Munir, Ilyas and Asif Masih. Inspector General of police Islamabad and SSP Islamabad Yaseen Farooq appreciated the overall performance and directed all police officials for high vigilance and patrolling in their respective areas to curb activities of anti-social elements.

WATCHING OUT FOR THIEVES: A juggler taking a nap under the shade of a tree at Liaqat Bagh while his monkey stands guard.

‘I was raped. why is police treating me like a criminal?’ girL traNquiLised, raPed for tWo days, duMPed ISLAMABAD

Kashif abbasi

gang-rape victim and her family have alleged that Bharakau Police, instead of arresting the rapists, were pressurising the victim and witnesses to withdraw the case, Pakistan Today learnt on Wednesday. In a written statement recorded before the area magistrate, the 21-yearold girl said that she was gang-raped in a hotel in sector G-9 on March 19 and 20. “The investigation officer of the case is torturing me mentally. Rather than arresting the accused, he is making me feel like a criminal,” the victim told the magistrate. According to details, Naila (pseudo name), a teacher at a private school of

victiM’s faMiLy cLaiMs PoLice BacKiNg accused Bharakau was on her way home from school on March 19 when two of her female colleagues, riding a taxi, offered her to have lunch with them. Naila accepted the offer and boarded the taxi. A man, who was later identified as Qazi Safeer, was sitting on the front seat of the taxi. “When I asked my colleagues who was the man sitting at the front, I was told that he was just like a brother to them,” Naila said. “After reaching a room in a hotel in sector G-9 my friends skipped away and all of a sudden an unknown man entered my room and pointed his gun at me. He forcefully rubbed a chloroform laden handkerchief on my nose due to which I fell unconscious,” Naila said in her statement. Naila said, after making her unconscious, Qazi Safeer, Amir (a receptionist), and another unidentified man gangraped her for two days. In her statement, she said she regained her consciousness the next day on March 20 and found two unidentified people in her room.

sho assures he WiLL address grievaNces “They took me home and threw me in front of my house at Bharakau. They also threatened me with dire consequences if I shared the hotel episode with anyone,” she said. On March 21, Bharakau police registered a case against four people, including Qazi Safeer, Amir and the two female colleagues under section 365 B (Rape) and 337J/B, for administering tranquiliser. According to the victim’s family, police did not arrest Qazi Safeer and deliberately gave him with enough time to get a pre-arrest bail. “Despite the passage of 20 days, Bharakau Police is not arresting the main culprit Qazi Safeer. We know he has close relations with police officials and has managed to get pre-arrest bail,” victim’s family members said. Moreover, two witnesses who saw two-unidentified men dropping the halfconscious girl in front of her house were being threatened by the police to withdraw their statements. “Police officials are asking me to withdraw my statement,” said one of the two witnesses, Riaz. The grieved family approached high-ups of the police department and registered their voice against the biased investigation being carried out by the sub-inspector, due to which the investigation has transferred to SI Mansoor Ahmed. “I will personally look into the matter and address all grievances,” said Bharakau SHO Mahboob Hussain.

online

Lok virsa plans to hold annual Lok Mela from april 12 ISLAMABAD online

Lok Virsa announced on Wednesday that it would hold its annual folk festival, popularly known as “Lok Mela” from April 12 to 21 at its complex situated at Garden Avenue in Shakarparian. Talking to this news agency, Lok Virsa Executive Director Khalid Javaid said that the festival would open formally on April 12 at 1600 hours with a prestigious inaugural ceremony which will be attended by National Heritage and Integration Minister Shahzada Jamal Nazir. The festival would feature artisans-atwork exhibition, provincial cultural pavilions, folkloric songs and dance ensembles, rural musicians, public organisations and NGOs, general assembly of craftspeople, traditional cuisine, exotic craft bazaar, inaugural and award ceremonies. “With central focus on rural Pakistan, the direct beneficiaries of the festival are master artisans, musicians and other performers from the rural areas and remote regions of Pakistan,” Javaid said.

weather turns pleasant as rain lashes Islamabad ISLAMABAD online

Light rain in most parts of the country, including Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad turned the weather pleasant on Wednesday. According to media reports, rain coupled with strong winds lashed Faisalabad and Lahore, while Islamabad also received light rain on early Wednesday morning. Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasted more rains in most areas of the country during the next 12 hours.

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A friend to all is a friend to none. — Aristotle

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‘dead’ Qaeda leader shehri delivers audio message DUBAI agenCies

L-QAEDA in the Arabian Peninsula has posted online an audio message from its second-in-command, Saeed al-Shehri, whose death was announced by Yemen in January, a monitoring group reported Wednesday. The 14-minute audio produced by AQAP’s media arm Al-Malahem Foundation is accompanied by what the US-based SITE Monitoring Service said was a new photograph of the Saudi militant. Shehri’s death has been announced several times by the Yemeni authorities, most recently on January 24. It was unclear when the latest audio message, posted on jihadist forms on Tuesday, had been recorded. Most of the message is directed against

Saudi Arabia, which Shehri accuses of allowing Americans to attack “the faithful of Yemen” from their soil. “We must get rid of the Al-Saud regime by all means,” he says. He was clearly referring to US drone strikes against Al-Qaeda targets in Yemen which jihadists claim are launched from bases in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Shehri has long been been hounded by Yemen’s security forces and has survived a number of attempts on his life. Yemen’s Supreme National Security Committee had in January reported that Shehri succumbed to wounds received in a counter-terrorism operation in the northern Saada province on November 28. Last October, he denied a September announcement by Yemen’s defence ministry that he had been killed in an army raid, in an audio message posted on extremist Internet forums. SITE had also quoted a radical Is-

lamist as reporting on Twitter that Shehri had died “after a long journey in fighting the Zionist-Crusader campaign.” In the latest message, Shehri made no reference to reports of his death. The militant leader was released from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba in 2007 and was flown to Saudi Arabia, where he was put through a rehabilitation programme. After completing the programme, he disappeared and later resurfaced as AQAP’s number two. AQAP is led by Nasser al-Wuhayshi, who in July 2011 reaffirmed the group’s allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri, head of the worldwide Al-Qaeda network since the killing in May of its founder, Osama bin Laden. The United States has stepped up its support for Yemen’s battle against AQAP, which it regards as the most active and deadliest franchise of the global Al-Qaeda

Us jUDgE sEts Bin laDEn Kin’s tRial FoR janUaRy NEW YORK: A New York federal judge on Wednesday set the terrorism trial of Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law for January after defence lawyers said US budget cuts would make it hard to prepare by an earlier date. Judge Lewis Kaplan issued an order fixing January 7 start date for the trial of Sulaiman Abu Ghaith. Alleged to have been the late al-Qaeda founder’s propaganda chief, Abu Ghaith is accused of conspiring to kill Americans. He has pleaded not guilty. His court-appointed lawyers said this week that the judge’s original plan for a September trial would be “very difficult” to meet because automatic federal spending cuts required them to be furloughed for five and a half weeks. Defence attorneys also question whether Abu Ghaith can get a fair jury trial in a courthouse just a few blocks from the site of Manhattan’s World Trade Center, where nearly 3,000 people died in the September 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda attacks. agenCies

network. US drones strikes in Yemen nearly tripled in 2012 compared to 2011, according to the New America Foundation, a Washington-based think tank.

In October 2000, Al-Qaeda militants attacked US Navy destroyer the USS Cole in Yemen’s port of Aden, killing 17 sailors and wounding 40 more.

south Korea raises military alert status PYONGYANG agneCies

AFRIN: A Syrian Kurdish refugee prepares tea in a yard next a school used as a refugee camp on Wednesday. AgenCIeS

chINa detaINs 10 over bIrd FLu ruMours BEJEING: Chinese police have detained at least 10 people for spreading rumours about the H7N9 bird flu, according to state media, as the death toll from the new strain of the virus rose to nine. Authorities made the arrests in six provinces – Shaanxi, Guizhou, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Fujian – after some posted “fake information” online about new cases of the virus in their areas, the official Xinhua news agency said. The death toll and number of infections in China from the strain of bird flu first found in humans last month has risen daily. Nine people have died out of the 31 confirmed cases of the virus, all in eastern China, according to data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. State media quoted authorities as saying a vaccine should be ready within months. One man detained in Anhui was given seven days of administrative detention for fabricating posts about infections on Chinese microblogs, Xinhua said. The Xi’an public security bureau in Shaanxi province is investigating another man’s posts, “to prevent untrue information from causing public panic”, Xinhua said. Scientists around the world have praised China for its handling of the deadly outbreak, but many Chinese are sceptical of the government’s pronouncements about the H7N9 virus given a history of public health scandals and cover-ups. The government initially tried to conceal an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), which emerged in China in 2002 and killed about one in 10 of the 8,000 people it infected worldwide. Chinese internet users have questioned why the government waited weeks to announce cases of the bird flu strain, but health officials said it took time to identify the virus, which was previously unknown in humans. agenCies

Indian court reopens probe into sikh riots nEW DELHI: An Indian court on Wednesday ordered federal investigators to reopen a case against a ruling Congress party leader over deadly 1984 riots that killed at least 3,000 members of the Sikh community. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had earlier cleared Jagdish Tytler and closed the case but a local judge in New Delhi ruled that his alleged role in the November 1984 riots must be investigated again. “The court today gave directions to the CBI to record the statements of the witnesses who had (allegedly) seen Tytler lead the mob,” HS Phoolka, lawyer for one of the riot victims, told reporters outside the court. The court also asked the CBI to investigate whether Tytler had incited a mob that killed three Sikh men at a shrine in Delhi during the riots, Phoolka added. A CBI report filed in 2009 was challenged by Lakhwinder Kaur, whose husband was among those killed in the riots triggered by the October 1984 assassination of then Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. agenCies

South Korea has raised its military alert status, a senior military official has said, as tensions remain high on the Korean peninsula. The Combined Forces Command in Seoul has raised its “Watchcon 3” status, a normal defence condition, by one level in order to step up monitoring, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday. The senior Defence Ministry official also said that North Korea has completed preparations for a missile test that could come “any day”. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the North’s military is capable of conducting multiple missile launches involving Scud and medium-range Rodong missiles, as well as a missile transported to the east coast recently. The warning came as Pyongyang prepared to mark the April 15 birthday of its founder Kim Il-sung. The date is historically a time when it seeks to draw the world’s attention with dramatic displays of military power. Un ‘COnCERnED’: Admiral Samuel Locklear, the commander of US forces in the Pacific region, said the US military also believed the North had moved an unspecified number of Musudan missiles to its east coast. An Obama administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Reuters news agency “our working assumption is that there are two missiles that they may be prepared to launch”. Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary

general, who once served as South Korean foreign minister, said he is “deeply concerned and troubled” at the level of tension in the peninsula. “If any small incident caused by miscalculation or misjudgement, it may create an uncontrollable situation,” Ban said. Yun Byung-se, the South Korean foreign minister, told a parliamentary hearing in Seoul that he was working through diplomatic channels in an attempt to rein in Pyongyang. China is North Korea’s only major ally, although it backed recent United Nations resolutions against Pyongyang, and Moscow was a supporter of North Korea as the Soviet Union. UnknOWn QUAnTITy: Pyongyang has frequently tested short-range Scud missiles, but the longer-range Musudan and Nodong missiles are an unknown quantity. The Musudan missiles are reckoned to have a range of roughly 3,000-3,500km. The North has earlier said it would target American bases in the Pacific, although it is not known whether the untested missiles have the range to do so. “If the missile was in defence of the homeland, I would certainly recommend that action [of intercepting it]. And if it was defence of our allies, I would recommend that action,” Admiral Locklear told a US Senate hearing in Washington. Pyongyang has turned up its rhetoric in recent weeks after the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions for the impoverished state’s third nuclear weapons test in February. It has threatened a nuclear strike on the United States - something it does not have the capacity to carry out - and “war” with the South Korea.

john Kerry promises to help Palestinian economy WASHINGTON agenCies

US secretary of state John Kerry has wrapped up three days of high-level Middle East diplomacy on a positive note, saying he held “very constructive talks” with Israeli and Palestinian leaders but offering few specifics. Talking to reporters after holding private talks with Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Kerry said the parties all committed to a process that could “create the conditions for peace” so that they can return to the negotiating table. Kerry said he would soon announce new measures to help the Palestinian economy, but offered no details on how he plans to tackle the deeper issues at the heart of the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kerry stressed that he was mindful of the “good intentions and failed efforts” that have dogged regional diplomacy in the past and said he’d focus on “laying the groundwork so we can bring people to the table with a clear understanding of what we’re beginning on, what we’re trying to do, and where we’re trying to end up.” Kerry, who has committed the United

States to a multi-month diplomatic effort, stressed that he was being intentionally coy on the specifics of his new peace push. “It’s not going to be done and shouldn’t be done in piecemeal public releases,” he said. “It’s best done quietly.” Peace talks broke down in late 2008 and have remained frozen since then. ‘THIS IS A REAL EFFORT’: The Palestinian Authority has refused to resume talks while Israel continues to build illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas where they hope to establish an independent state. Netanyahu says talks should resume without any preconditions. Kerry sought to lower expectations ahead of this week’s trip, his third to the region since becoming secretary of state, saying he was coming primarily to listen and learn. In a preliminary step, Kerry said he would try to break down red tape and other barriers to economic progress in the West Bank to improve the lives of Palestinians. He said such an effort would also improve Israel’s security. The Palestinians, along with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, have long complained that Israeli travel restrictions

are stifling the West Bank’s economy. Netanyahu told reporters earlier Tuesday that he wanted peace. He welcomed proposals for economic assistance to the Palestinians, but said issues of recognition and security remain “foremost in our minds.” “I’m determined not only to resume the peace process with the Palestinians but to make a serious effort to end this conflict once and for all,” he told reporters before meeting Kerry. Addressing Kerry, he said, “This is a real effort and we look forward to advance in this effort with you.” Netanyahu has not signaled how far he is prepared to go in meeting Palestinian demands, but it appears unlikely it will be close to what the Palestinians seek. His new government is full of conservatives affiliated with the Jewish settler movement who will put up a tough fight against any broad concessions to the

Palestinians. Palestinian officials welcomed Kerry’s efforts, and said they had proposed that Israel make additional gestures, such as halting settlement construction and releasing some of the 4,500 Palestinian prisoners it is holding.

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North Korea is ‘not very stupid’ to explode a nuclear device in the current face-off with the United States and South Korea — Dr AQ Khan

LI, ttP appoint Mangal bagh as supreme leader in khyber LANDI KOTAL agenCies

ANGAL Bagh on Tuesday became the supreme leader of both the Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for the tribal region of Khyber. “The decision to elevate Mangal Bagh to the status of supreme commander for Khyber was taken at a joint shura of Taliban and LI ‘commanders’,” a well-placed government official said. According to a local newspaper, officials said the high-ranking ‘commanders’ of both the Taliban and LI had agreed to cooperate with each other and consult on all matters of mutual importance, particularly those pertaining to Tirah valley and the Khyber Agency. The decision to strike a deal with the LI chief came at a time when the TTP tightened

its grip in the areas it had snatched from Ansaarul Islam, a pro-government armed group. Lashkar-i-Islam is also well entrenched in Sipah, Akkakhel and Malikdin Khel areas of Tirah. The elevation of Mangal Bagh to the position of supreme commander coincided with a two-pronged army offensive against the TTP and LI, with the military suffering high losses in just four days of intense fighting. The army launched a ground offensive against the banned LI from the BazaarZakhakhel side while descending into the Bara valley and attacking the LI positions and from the Sheen Qamar side and thus reaching out to the LI hideouts in the area. The air force fighters also conducted several sorties over the area under the control of the TTP and targeted a number of their hideouts. “The main thrust of the current military offensive is the Mangal Bagh-led Lashkar-iIslam while the Taliban area is dealt with through the air strikes,” the officials said, adding that the army had made inroads into

the LI-controlled areas. The areas under the control of both the Taliban and LI are infamous for poppy cultivation and illicit drug trade with Afghanistan. “The money accrued from the narcotics trade is one of the main sources of income for both the groups in the otherwise picturesque valley of Tirah, bordering Afghanistan, Kurram and Orakzai agencies,” the officials said, adding that the Taliban laid their hands on poppy crop cultivated over a vast land when they had

taken control of the areas dominated by Kukikhel and Ansaarul Islam in May last year and March this year. CASUALTIES: A spokesman for the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said 23 soldiers and 110 militants had been killed during the fierce fighting in Tirah. The army, backed by fighter planes and helicopter gunships, had launched an operation against the Taliban and its allies in the remote valley four days ago and the fighting continued on Tuesday. “In four days of fighting, 110 militants and 23 army soldiers have been killed and dozens of militants injured,” a senior military official told a foreign news agency.

ISLAMABAD: PTI workers protest against the party leadership on Wednesday for not awarding election tickets to their favourite candidates. inp

us analysts warn against repercussions of drone policy WASHINGTON app

Voicing serious concerns over ongoing US drone warfare, top analysts at a discussion warned against immediate and long-term repercussions of the covert attacks that Washington conducts to target suspected militants on foreign soils. The debate took place at the launch of Pakistani scholar Akbar Ahmed’s book, The Thistle and the Drone, at the American University. The book adds to the growing domestic and international criticism of the drone programme and the Obama administration’s excessive reliance on the clandestine operations. President Obama’s advisers claim that over the years drones have been an effective counterterrorism tool against al Qaeda-linked militants but international human rights and peace activists as well as recent US studies have criticised the drone programme for absence of transparency and public accountability and loss of civilian lives. Dr Ahmed’s book takes an anthropological look at implications of the US drone strikes for the tribal societies, which exist on the periphery and are often at the receiving end of the central governments. The study also examines Pakistan’s tribal areas in the political, social, and human perspectives and throws up some provocative questions on the thorny issue of drones and its impact on local people from a humanitarian standpoint. Speaking at the book launch, former Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich said drones have exacerbated sufferings of the tribal societies. Since 9/11, he said, the US had “exceeded” its constitution and that the controversial drone actions have “put us in a mode of permanent warfare”. The US, he said, has a right to defence, but it should have never involved itself in occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. The US, he said, should not have been trapped in dichotomised thinking of “us versus them”. “Where do we stand – it is disappointing that we cannot see what drones are doing we are making the world more dangerous,” said the former lawmaker from Ohio, who has been a long-time critic of the drone policy.

Taliban peace envoys living in luxury, making babies in Qatar NEWS DESK When a handful of Taliban emissaries flew into Qatar on an American plane in 2010, the Obama administration hoped they would help negotiate a peace deal that could stabilise Afghanistan and allow the United States a graceful exit. Three years after that secret arrival, the Taliban officials remain idle and their political office here remains unused. “They are just living here enjoying the air-conditioning, driving luxury cars, eating and making babies,” one Afghan diplomat in Qatar said. “It’s all they can do, they have no work to do,” said a report published in the New York Times. They are unlikely to see a negotiating table anytime soon either, with the new fighting season in Afghanistan off to a particularly violent start and with the latest push to restart talks all but abandoned. Once again, the Taliban’s attention is on the battlefield, and on what may be gained or lost there as the American military begins its withdrawal from the war. The Taliban presence here — eight or more relatively high-ranking officials with their families, Afghan officials say — is occasionally reconfirmed in a sighting on the streets or, in the case of the Afghan diplomat, when the Taliban men come to the sleepy Afghan embassy here to register the birth of another child. Early insurgent negotiations with American officials had a faltering start, initially over a proposed prisoner exchange, in which five Taliban figures being held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, would be released in exchange for the freedom of the lone American soldier being held prisoner by the

Taliban, Sgt Bowe Bergdahl. But American working here, who spoke on the condition hammed Hanafi, their former minister of officials say that their talks have ended and of anonymity for fear of being expelled. planning. The delegation includes veteran that there have been no further discussions “How do you handle hosting suicide diplomats like Mualavi Shahabadin bombers? They can’t acknowledge them Delawar, the former Taliban ambassador to with the Taliban since early 2012. until that sort Saudi Arabia; Sohail Shaheen, a former Recently, Western diplomats in Kabul of ac- ambassador to Pakistan; and Hafiz Aziz expressed hope that the discussions might Just Rahman, the representative to the United resume amid intense diplomatic activity Nations for the Taliban government when by many countries to push peace talks, why the effort to it ruled Afghanistan. this time led by Afghanistan. That Just why the effort to open a Taliban hope now appears to have fizzled open a Taliban office has office has faltered is a matter of dispute. once again, and diplomats’ exThe Americans say the Taliban have pectations of some movement faltered is a matter of dispute. simply decided to continue fighting, by the end of March from the worried by pressure from their own Taliban side have come to The Americans say the Taliban hard-liners and concerned that ennaught. President Hamid tering peace talks would sap their Karzai met here with the have simply decided to continue will on the battlefield. “No one Qatari emir, Sheik Hamad wants to be the last one to die bebin Khalifa al-Thani, on fighting, worried by pressure from fore peace talks start,” as one March 31 in what Afghan diplomat put it. officials billed as discustheir own hard-liners and concerned The Taliban say the Amerisions about opening the cans reneged on their confidenceoffice, but no developthat entering peace talks would sap building pledge to free the ments were announced their will on the battlefield. ‘No one Guantánamo five, which would after the meeting. have been politically difficult for “There is a limit to how wants to be the last one to die President Obama, given bipartisan long we can wait,” said anopposition in Congress to such reother Western diplomat familbefore peace talks start,’ as leases. Instead, the Americans insisted iar with the peace efforts. “If at that talks would have to include the some point they don’t issue stateone diplomat put it. Afghan government first. The Taliban has ments, it’s not open-ended. There are rejected that condition, deriding the govways we can pressure the Taliban in t i v - ernment of President Hamid Karzai as a Qatar.” Officially, the Qataris have never i t y puppet regime and saying it would talk to explicitly admitted that the Taliban are even stops.” the Afghan government only after reaching present here, and the government-conThe Taliban representatives here are a settlement with the Americans. trolled press never mentions it, although Still, neither Western diplomats nor the they have acknowledged that they are will- not lightweights. The most prominent ing to host an official office for peace talks. among them is Tayeb Agha, the chief of Taliban have given up on the idea of talks Qatari officials did not respond to requests staff to the Taliban’s leader, Mullah in Qatar. “There are Taliban all over the Muhammad Omar. Others include Sher place talking about peace, but the U.S. for comment about the Taliban presence. “With the Taliban, the Qataris have a Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the former government’s view is that the most promhot potato,” said an Afghan journalist Taliban health minister, and Qari din Mo- ising is the Doha track,” one diplomat said.

Wahid Muzhda, a former official in the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry who now lives in Kabul but maintains contacts with the insurgents, said that “some of the Taliban still believe it’s worth having the office there, but its prospects do look dim”. Both Taliban and American officials publicly agree on one thing: that they are no longer talking to each another, officially or unofficially. That, however, is a development that the Afghan government has refused to believe. President Karzai has openly accused the Americans of doing so. “We think they are secretly talking,” the Afghan diplomat in Qatar said. “America is the best friend of Afghanistan, and between friends we should tell each other what we’re doing.” The Afghans have not tried to block the Qatari initiative. “It suits everybody,” said the Afghan journalist working in Doha. “The Americans want their soldier back, the Taliban want a vacation, the Pakistanis want the Taliban to look independent of them, and the Afghans want distance between the Pakistanis and the Taliban.” While in Qatar, the Taliban have scrupulously avoided all public appearances, refusing interviews and issuing no statements — which the Qataris have made a condition of their presence. An Afghan diplomat was at a shopping mall in Doha recently and heard a child call out in Pashto, the language used by most Taliban. The diplomat turned and saw Hanif din Mohammad, a Taliban representative from northern Badakhshan Province. Introducing himself as an embassy official, the diplomat then said, “So, are you from the other side?” Blushing, the Talib turned and walked away, children in tow.

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It’s wrong to blame politicians for opposing Kalabagh Dam — Asfandyar Wali

NEWS

09 N

Thursday 11 April, 2013

Ihc seeks record of contract recruitment by Ptv Md ISLAMABAD app

The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Pakistan Television (PTV) managing director (MD) to submit the record of appointments he had made on contract during his tenure. The singlemember bench of IHC, comprising of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, resumed the hearing of a plea filed by Ahsraf Azeem, a former PTV MD, against the appointment of Yousaf Beg Mirza as the PTV MD. The bench also directed the incumbent MD to submit record of his salary along with three percent of incremental commercial revenue as mentioned in his appointment contract as head of PTV. During the course of hearing, Naeem Bokhari, counsel for MD PTV apprised the bench that his client had been working on high salary in two private television channels on same post. To this, Justice Siddiqui questioned that whether the competitive procedure for selection of MD PTV was adopted in the appointment of Mirza. “If he is such a talented person, why he is shy to go through competitive procedures for getting the top slot in PTV,” he asked. Deputy Attorney General Tariq Mahmood Jahangir submitted the summary and appointment letter of Mirza on behalf of the Establishment Division. Further hearing of the case was adjourned until April 12.

grenade attack kills two children in Pasni QUETTA staff report

Two children were killed on Wednesday and a man sustained injuries when unknown attackers threw a hand grenade at a house in Balochistan province’s coastal town of Pasni. Police confirmed the deaths in the grenade attack which took place at the centre of Pasni. The father of the deceased children was critically injured in the attack and was shifted to District Hospital Pasni.

two soldiers injured, 8 militants killed in orakzai clash PESHAWAR staff report

At least two security forces personnel were injured and eight militants killed on Wednesday in a clash between militants and security forces in Dabori area of Orakzai tribal region. Reports said that the militants were killed in retaliatory action by security forces.

BAHAWALPUR: Lioness ‘Lado’ shows off her three new born cubs at Bahawalpur Zoo. The lioness was brought to Bahawalpur from Lahore’s Safari Zoo a year ago. inp

close contest between Imran, bilour likely in Peshawar Na-1 PESHAWAR

saJJaD ali

NOTHER close contest is expected between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman (PTI) Imran Khan and the four-time winner, Awami National Party’s (ANP) Ghulam Ahmad Bilour in NA-1 Peshawar in the upcoming general election to be held in May. Historically, NA Peshawar-1 has been the battlefield of the ANP and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). However, after the rejection of the nomination papers of the PPP candidate Zulfiqar Afghani, it is crystal clear that there will be a neck-to-neck contest between Khan and Bliour here for which they have already started their election campaign in the constituency. The constituency has a history of producing unexpected results. This also is the constituency which has been selected by the country’s political heavyweights from outside Peshawar belonging to various political parties. Bilour won this seat in 1988, 1997, 2008 and 1990 in which he defeated Benazir Bhutto. Then PPP’s candidate, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Zafar Ali Shah had won the seat in 1988 and 1993 respectively. Later Sherpao vacated the seat to be elected as chief minister.

The PML also won the seat twice in 1977 and in 1985’s non-party based elections. Yousaf Khattak and Younis Elahi Sethi came out victorious during those elections. The other notables who are participating in the election on NA Peshawar-1 this time are JUI-F’s Haji Shahnawaz, PMLN’s Afzal Khan Panyala, and JI’s Shabbir Ahmad Khan. The second strongest party in the constituency, the PPP, looks weak as its main candidate Zulfiqar Afghani has been disqualified. Afghani’s nomination papers were rejected last Sunday as he is still serv-

ing in the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL). The covering candidate for NA-1, Iqbal Mohmand, is unwilling to contest on the seat he is the final candidate for PK Peshawar-3. However, the PPP leadership is trying to convince him to contest the election on a National Assembly seat instead of the provincial seat. Syed Ayub Shah, who had bagged over 35,000 votes, is not considered for the ticket this time. The votes of the religious forces, who had won this seat in 2002 on the MMA

platform, are divided this time as the JUIF, the JI, the Muttahida Deeni Mahaz and the JUI-N are contesting separately in upcoming election. The political experts and analysts say as the Bilour family had offered numerous political services to the people of the constituency, it would e difficult for Khan to defeat him. However, they say if the PTI succeeds in motivating the people, who did not vote in the last election to come out this time, the results could change in Khan’s favour. In 2008, only 23 percent of the registered voters had cast their votes. The PTI is gaining popularity as the party promises to end corruption, US dominancy and restore peace in the country. However, locals say corruption is not an issue in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but militancy is which “Khan can’t eliminate as he has a soft corner for them”. On the other hand, PTI supporters argue that Khan has always condemned militants, and remains anti-drones. “Only Imran Khan can restore peace in the region as only he can eliminate militancy,” Ahmad Nabi, a shop owner in Mena Bazaar, said. He said he wanted change and would cast his vote for just that. The youth of the constituency is also supporting the PTI.

PPP appointees see good times in interim government MONITORING DESK The unprecedented bureaucratic reshuffle undertaken in Punjab put pressure on the federal interim government and other provinces to shuffle key position holders. However, no administrative changes have been made in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory and key ministries of the federal government. The Establishment Division is still manned by bureaucrats generally considered to be blue eyed boys of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q). Similarly, federal secretaries for information, interior and cabinet and heads of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) and Radio Pakistan who

have a pivotal role in the elections remain unchanged. Not a single change was made in the Prime Minister Secretariat giving the impression that the present set up was an extension of the previous PPP regime. Many of these PPP appointees blatantly keep on posting messages and statements on the social media in support of their PPP employers. In the three provinces, earlier, ruled by the PPP and its coalition partners, chief secretaries, IGPs, home secretaries, finance secretaries, principal secretaries to the chief ministers and additional chief secretaries remain unchanged. Senior civil servants working in Islamabad have offered their insight. According to them, there is a clear method in recent transfers and postings of highest level. Rao Iftikhar, who had been posted as additional chief secretary in Punjab, has assumed

a role more important than even the well-reputed Chief Secretary Javed Iqbal. Although Iftikhar was formally posted a day ago, he had practically taken over the Punjab civil secretariat for the last four days, without any formal order by federal or provincial government, an insider told a local newspaper. Iftikhar gained prominence when he was posted by PPPPML-Q government as Punjab home secretary during the Governor Rule, to lead the effort to block the long march. Before that, he was removed by then Punjab chief minister as food secretary. Iftikhar was the district coordination officer (DCO) of Gujrat for many years when Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi was the chief minister. The caretakers opted for Amjad Bhatti as public relations director general, which is an extremely important position. He was public relations officer of Chief Minister Parvaiz Elahi from 2002 to 2007. Now, he sits

in a room adjacent to caretaker chief minister’s office at 7 Club Road Lahore, the official secretariat of the chief minister. Noorul Amin Mengal, who was the first Baloch officer in Pakistan’s history to be head of district administration in Lahore, was removed. The reason cited was that he had worked as staff officer to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. However, he was replaced by Syed Rizwan Mahboob, who until recently was working as personal staff officer to former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Asharaf. His father-in-law, Sessions Judge (R) Rafique Shah works in the Presidency and is known for his connections with a prominent political family of the PML-Q. The new Lahore Commissioner Naseem Nawaz was made the DCO Lahore during the five-week long governor rule. CCPO Lahore Khaliqdad Luk is the brother-in-law of former

PML-Q MNA and its present National Assembly candidate from Bhalwal Ghais Mela. However, the massive changes in Punjab failed to touch Health Secretary Arif Nadeem although his sister, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, who is a Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader, is contesting elections from NA-120 Lahore against PML-N President Nawaz Sharif. Similarly Finance Secretary Tariq Bajwa, who worked with Shahbaz Sharif for three years, has not been shifted although his wife has been a PML-Q MNA, and his brother-in-law is contesting elections from Wazirabad on the PTI ticket. The slot of the Local Government secretary has been given to Ali Raza Bhutta, a DMG officer, who was removed from Punjab for failing to successfully deliver the land computerization project. He has close links with Rao Iftikhar.

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Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. –Winston Churchill

obama’s lesson

COMMENT

Looking at the world through their eyes

Thursday, 11 April, 2013

ensuring violence-free polls all depends on real time intelligence and will to act firmly

HE recourse to muscle power during the elections has been a common though manageable problem in the past. In case of support from unseen quarters, however, this can assume uncontrollable proportions. Polls related violence has so far been a part of the culture of intolerance that has only been marginally eradicated during the last five years of democratic rule. Despite the PML-N leadership trying to create hysteria over the so-called Memo Gate and Mian Shahbaz declaring that he was going to drag President Zardari in the streets of Lahore, the traditional rivals ruling at the centre and Punjab have by and large displayed patience with critics and political opponents. One is not sure though that the sentiment has trickled down to the middle ranking leadership and the workers below. The CEC thinks that there can be an attempt to sabotage the polls through violence. He believes that the leaders of the political parties can play a crucial role in pre-empting this. There is a therefore a need for cooperation by the political leadership to keep the polls peaceful. The election campaign this time is taking place under the shadow of terror. The parties are entering the electoral fray with caution. By announcing that they would target the ANP, the PPP, and the MQM, the TTP has already queered the pitch against the three. This explains why only the PML-N, PTI and JUI-F have so far been able to hold large rallies. On Tuesday, the ANP which claims to have lost about 750 workers during the last five years launched its election campaign in Peshawar. The move was meant to test the waters. Even the parties given indirect blessings by the TTP have hesitated from holding a big gathering in Karachi. Here the ANP claims that 35 of its offices have been forcibly shut down after attacks. The party’s electoral activity has thus been reduced to door-to-door campaign. Aiming a notch higher, the PPP hopes to hold small gatherings in selected constituencies. The MQM which too is in the line of fire is mulling holding public gatherings. It is really courageous on the part of the Baloch nationalists who face a double whammy to contest the elections, albeit tentatively. Holding a violence-free election this time is tied up with the more complicated issue of keeping the terrorists under control. While political parties have to do their best to persuade their candidates and workers to follow the election code, only the law enforcement agencies supported by security agencies can stop the terrorist attacks. Any attack on a major leader anywhere in the country could evoke strong reaction from the concerned party’s workers leading to unpredictable consequences. All depends on real time intelligence shared with the law enforcers combined with a will on the latter’s part to act firmly against those operating from the shadows.

who is minding the economy? the adB report raises concern on economy but there is no one to decide

“D

IRECTIONLESS” is what the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) latest report has declared the Pakistan economy. The Manila-based lending agency’s Asian Development Outlook has claimed that the “immediate recovery chances are almost nil amid a worsening balance of payments position.” The caretaker set up has taken a positive step by injecting Rs20 billion to ease the power crisis, but without a caretaker finance minister there is no one to tend to the economic problems coming up. In the first three weeks of the caretaker set up, three briefings on the economy have been given to the Caretaker Prime Minister Khoso, but the Planning Commission deputy chairman has been missing in all meetings, giving rise to what the ADB has said is its fear of “policy inaction by the caretakers.” The basic economic report card of the previous government shows no serious attempt to address the basic direction of the economy. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government continued the Musharraf-era model of consumption-based growth, instead of investment-driven growth. There has been a fall in fixed investments for the fourth year in a row to 10.9 per cent of the GDP. This is now the lowest since 1974, and ranks as the lowest among major Asian countries. The only thing growing is private consumption expenditure, which has expanded by 11.6 per cent in the last fiscal year, providing the basis of all the GDP growth that the PPP-led government has claimed. The ADB has projected 3.6 per cent growth for the current year and said that without energy sector reforms, Pakistan will not be able to achieve the 7 per cent growth required to accommodate the growing youth bulge looking for jobs. It has said that inflation is expected to edge up to 9.5 per cent and this year’s budget deficit will be at 7.5 per cent, excluding electricity arrears. On the ground, there has been no substantive improvement in either the country’s fiscal or energy imbalances. The PPP-led government has proven to not have been sincere about addressing the sluggish growth prospects. Last year was the fifth consecutive year of low growth, falling investment, excessive fiscal deficits, high inflation and a deteriorating external position that weighed heavily on the economy. The low foreign reserves, which covered less than two months of imports in February this year, have sparked concern over sustainability of the exports sector. With the ADB predicting that “pressure on reserves shall continue, with an additional $1.7 billion due to the IMF before the end of fiscal year 2013 and $3.2 billion payments during the next fiscal year,” the Pakistan economy can be rightly said to be “sinking like a rock.” It is a somber diagnosis and with no functional government expected to be in place for at least a month, it is up to the caretakers to take short term remedial measures to restore the economy.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963-5 Fax: 042-32535230 Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208 Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287273 Fax: 051-2850505 Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Washington Watch Dr James J Zogby

RESIDENT Obama got it just about perfect in his Jerusalem speech when he urged Israelis to see the world through the eyes of Palestinians. That portion of his remarks was so compelling it deserves to be quoted in full: “But the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, their right to justice must also be recognised. And put yourself in their shoes. Look at the world through their eyes. It is not fair that a Palestinian child cannot grow up in a state of their own – living their entire lives with the presence of a foreign army that controls the movements, not just of those young people but their parents, their grandparents, every single day. It’s not just when settler violence against Palestinians goes unpunished. It’s not right to prevent Palestinians from farming their lands or restricting a student’s ability to move around the West Bank or displace Palestinian families from their homes. Neither occupation nor expulsion is the answer. “Just as Israelis built a state in their homeland, Palestinians have a right to be a free people in their own land. “I’m going off script here for a second. Before I came here, I met with a group of young Palestinians from the age of 15 to 22. And talking to them, they weren’t that different from my daughters. They weren’t that different from your daughters or sons. “I honestly believe that if any Israeli

Editor’s mail

parent sat down with those kids, they’d say, I want these kids to succeed. I want them to prosper. I want them to have opportunities just like my kids do. I believe that’s what Israeli parents would want for these kids if they had a chance to listen to them and talk to them. I believe that." A powerful challenge for Israelis, to be sure, but one that should be listened to by US policymakers and policy analysts, as well. The problem of failing to see Palestinians as equal human beings – of refusing to see the world through their eyes – has long characterised as Western and US approaches to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If I were to reduce the West's understanding of the conflict to an equation, it would be: Israeli humanity vs the Arab/Palestinian problem. Israelis are seen as real people, with whom we can identify. They have hopes and fears and aspirations to live secure and at peace. Arabs, on the other hand, are reduced to one-dimensional objects – as pawns on a chess board to be moved about to satisfy the needs of the Israelis or, merely, as a problem to be solved. Dismissing the full humanity of Palestinians goes back to the very beginning of the conflict. After World War I, US President Woodrow Wilson countered British and French imperial designs to carve up the Middle East, with a call to recognise the right of Arabs to self-determination. To better understand what Arabs really wanted, Wilson commissioned the firstever survey of Arab opinion. The results were quite clear—Arabs overwhelmingly rejected British and French control, their plans to carve up the Arab East and to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. What Arabs wanted was independence and a unified Arab State. On hearing of these results, Lord Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, dismissed them out of hand, saying: "We do not propose even to go through the form of consulting the wishes of the inhabitants of the country... Zionism... [is] of far profounder import than the desires and prejudices of the 700,000 Arabs who now inhabit that land." For the past 90 years it has been Balfour's understanding, not Wilson's vision, that has characterised the West's handling of the conflict. The West has consistently

deferred to Israel's needs, expecting the Arabs to understand. US diplomats have argued with Palestinians that they must deal with "political realities" in Israel or in the US. Palestinians have been told that they must recognise the constraints imposed on US presidents and Israeli prime ministers by a difficult Congress or Knesset. And, in recognition of these circumstances, Palestinians have been told to be realistic and not make unreasonable demands. US policymakers say they want negotiations without preconditions leading to a two-state solution. At the same time, they accept, and want Palestinian leaders to accept, Israeli "settlement blocs" (as “established facts”), reject the rights of Palestinian refugees (“it’s unrealistic”), and acknowledge Israel as a "Jewish State” (ignoring the fact that 20 percent of Israeli citizens are Arabs). All of this is done in the name of "realism" and the need to understand the fears and concerns of the Israeli public and the constraints they impose on Israeli leaders. But what of the fears and concerns of the Palestinian public and the constraints they impose on Palestinian leaders? By ignoring this reality, US demands have often placed Palestinian leaders in compromising positions, weakening their political standing with their constituents. If President Obama's observations in his Jerusalem speech are correct, then not only the Israeli public needs to heed his injunction "to see the world through their [Palestinian] eyes". US policymakers need to do the same. This is especially important as Secretary of State John Kerry visits the region in a renewed effort at peacemaking. If Kerry is to succeed where others have failed, Palestinian humanity must be recognised. As the victims of occupation, they, the weakest party in the conflict, should not be asked to do the heaviest lifting to make peace possible. And before the US asks President Abbas to take risks, which he can ill afford to do given his already weak position at home, we should challenge our own domestic political constraints and press Prime Minister Netanyahu to do the same in Israel. The writer is President of the Arab-American Institute.

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively Fax: +92-42-32535230 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk

Methicillin resistant superbug of human Staphylococcus aureus is an important member of bacteria which are normally present on human skin. Normally this organism does not harm humans but when it gets a chance may causes skin problems such as boils, abscesses and blisters. It is also responsible for other infections such as bacteremia, central nervous system infections, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, chronic lung infections, food poisoning, scalded skin syndrome, and toxic shock syndrome. The organism is also responsible for causing hospital and community acquired infections. The organism is present in nasal passage of 30 percent adults while 20 percent humans carry it as persistent bacteria. It is responsible for causing 32-47 percent disease of skin and soft tissues. The current practice of controlling this organism is by the use of antibiotics. Being gram positive bacteria, this organism responds well to penicillin and other beta lactam antibiotics. Because of irrational use of antibiotics in human practice in developing countries, especially in Pakistan, the organism has now become resistant not only to penicillin and similar class of antibiotics but also to other classes resulting in development of “Superbug”. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of S aureus which has established resistance to penicillin (oxacillin, methicillin and dicloxacillin, etc) and similar class of antibiotics (cephalosporins). Development of resistance to methicillin is acquired resistance and is due to evolutionary process. Treatment of these resistant bacteria by commonly used antibiotics has become a challenge to healthcare workers. Studies indicate that incidence of MRSA is increasing globally which is hindrance factor in controlling the problem. Its incidence in Pakistan is 2-61 percent. As MRSA is hospital acquired (nosocomial) infection, so the

patients having skin problems may get infected with MRSA more easily than healthy person. People with burn skin are major victim of this bacterium and burn units may be a reservoir of this organism. In order to control MRSA, vancomycin a glycopeptide antibiotic has been extensively practised because it is the solitary predictable active antibiotic against all isolates of S aureus, and MRSA. Recently, situation has gotten worse with the discovery of vancomycin intermediate S aureus (VISA) and vancomycin resistant S aureus (VRSA) in different parts of the world. This drastically increasing resistance to antimicrobial drugs makes S aureus a highly hazardous pathogen and it is becoming truly thought provoking for the world of science. An immediate innovation is required in the field of medicine to give a drug of choice for this resistant customer so that it’s continuously increasing incidence among our population could be prohibited. FAKHRA LIAQAT, DR ALI AHMAD SHEIKH UVAS, Lahore

what you do and who you are It’s been aptly said, “Leadership is not what you do, but who you are.” This, however, is only partially true. Leadership is very much who you are, but it cannot be divorced from what you do. Who you are represents the inner person, and what you do represents the outer person. Each is dependent on the other for maximum effectiveness. So now watch any television talk show or attend press conference or visit the website of the Election Commission of Pakistan to understand what type of leaders have become the destiny of this ill-fated nation. For better understanding of the physics and chemistry of our socalled leaders, one has to visit my home province Sindh where there is nothing but corruption and crime, doom and destruction, feud and fraud, instead of management, motivation, democrtisation and development. HASHIM ABRO Islamabad

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The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams. –Oprah Winfrey

COMMENT

Thursday, 11 April, 2013

the Pashtun vote in karachi how much can it aﬀect the elections in the city?

the world under threat a bountiful supply raises risk of WMds falling into wrong hands Carol e b ChoKsy, JamsheeD K ChoKsy

EAPONS of mass destruction are back in the news, raising fresh fears of proliferation and use. On April 2 North Korea announced its nuclear reactor would restart. Two weeks earlier the Syrian government and rebel forces accused each other of discharging a deadly chemical near the city of Aleppo, although what exactly happened remains murky. The threat from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons hangs over the planet. Six conventions, two treaties, one protocol, one regime, one arrangement, one code, one initiative and ten regional or zone treaties have been instituted since 1925 to control these instruments of mass murder. Most of the accords require only passive agreement and are trumped by influencepeddling, profit-seeking and ideology-spreading considerations. As a result the danger of nuclear, chemical and biological agents passing to nonstate actors is on the rise, too. Countries have spurred proliferation of every WMD category since the 1950s. Figure 1 shows major patterns of WMD proliferation. Disseminating the weapons, relevant technologies and dual-use materials remains a surefire way for not only rogue states and terrorist organizations but even superpowers to sway other nations, make quick profits or destabilize foes. Not surprisingly, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research concluded: “The non-proliferation treaties lack effective mechanisms to enforce compliance. The less formal export control regimes suffer from the same lack and have limited membership.” Mustard gas was used extensively during World War I. Negative public reaction led to the Geneva Protocol of 1925. Yet Italy in 1936, Japan from 1937 to 1945, Egypt from 1963 to 1967 and Iraq in the 1980s all deployed chemicals against military and civilian targets. Owing to the transfer of materials and technologies, 23 countries stockpile or have chemical WMD capability: China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, United States and Vietnam. Shadow of mass murder: Syrian doctors attend to alleged victims of a chemical attack (top); North Koreans threaten to restart the Yongbyong nuclear reactor, which had earlier been mothballed Syria, for example, began receiving material and technological assistance from Egypt in the early 1970s and from Iraq in the 1980s to establish its facilities and arm SCUD missiles with chemical warheads. Pakistan served as another source of dual-use technologies and raw materials for the Assad regime. Iran too added to Damascus’ stockpiles. Nuclear WMD began as an offensive tool

dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The horrific results meant that no rational, civilized state could use them again. Those weapons shifted toward defensive deterrent and emblems of power. So, other nations followed the path laid out by the US. The Soviet Union proliferated technology and hardware widely. China supplied Pakistan with highly enriched uranium [9] for a bomb in 1982. Presently nine countries possess nuclear warheads: Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the US. The number of nations tempted by nuclear WMD is growing. Iran’s nuclear program, having drawn upon Chinese, North Korean and Pakistani expertise, has fissile material for at least five warheads. China has benefited by receiving several billion dollars in revenue, securing access to crude oil, and strengthening its foreign footprint. Iran could even buy a nuclear weapon off the shelf from China or North Korea – the next stage in proliferation. So a broader nuclear acquisitions cascade is building as Sunni Arab nations like Saudi Arabia seek to neutralize both their Shiite neighbour’s might and Israel’s WMD programme. Biological WMD are popularly considered the most taboo of offensive capabilities. Nonetheless the Imperial Japanese Army from 1939 to 1940 and the Rhodesian Army in the 1970s deployed typhoid, bubonic plague, anthrax, botulism and cholera against Chinese and Africans, respectively. Several nations did relinquish biological WMD capability after acceding to international accords: the US in 1972, Britain, France, Germany and Canada by the late 1980s, the former Soviet Union/Russia in 1992. China signed the BTWC in 1984; however, the US suspects Beijing maintains capability plus provides assistance to Pyongyang and Tehran. In the Middle East, Egypt weaponised anthrax, botulism and plague in the 1970s with Soviet aid. Israel followed suit with poorly-documented offensive and defensive capabilities. Iran commenced its biological WMD program at Damghan, after experiencing Iraqi chemical WMD, with technical assistance from Russian scientists. Iraq appears to have possessed biological weapons capability under Saddam Hussein, but there is no evidence of the program’s continuation. Likewise Syria is suspected of exploring biological weapons development. Again Russia, China and North Korea appear to be abettors. WMD proliferation usually focuses on technology and materials like precursor chemicals, biological agents, toxins and uranium. Yet delivery devices, projectile weapons, launch platforms and guidance systems are essential components. The Israelis sell those technically non-WMD items to the Chinese who resell to the North Koreans who then resell to Iran, Egypt, Syria, Libya, Yemen, the UAE and Pakistan. As countries like North Korea and Iran collaborate on missile development, the WMD one develops could fit the other’s delivery system. Many deals are conducted covertly with

countries like Malaysia and Dubai serving as third-party transfer venues. Equally unsettling for global security, WMD trades for profit and ideology have taken place though private outlets such as Pakistan’s former atomic chief A. Q. Khan. Materials siphoned from Russia and the Ukraine also continue fuelling the nuclear black market. Indeed the danger of nuclear, chemical and biological agents passing to non-state actors is on the rise. Since 2001 Al-Qaeda and its affiliates have sought WMD capability. During Syria’s civil war some sarin, mustard gas and cyanide from government depots reportedly have fallen into illicit hands. The possibility of Islamists wresting materials from Pakistan’s WMD facilities increases as that nation’s political instability grows. Iran for its part appears to have transferred some technologies to regional militant organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Sensing the growing dangers from both state and non-state agents, nations are adding themselves to the lists of signatories to nuclear, chemical and biological accords. However, many countries have signed only some accords, as shown in the map. Egypt, for instance, which once explored nuclear power and may recommence its quest as Iran did after its revolution, has not ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material or the Nuclear Terrorism Convention. Only when proliferators see it in their own best interests of preservation and growth to stanch the flow of those weapons and technologies between countries, to exclude non-state entities as recipients and to dismantle weapon programs and stockpiles will the world become safer. Until then, generating consensus for strict implementation of existing accords and taking firm action such as economic and diplomatic sanctions against violators remains necessary. Such action can sway states away from WMD – as it did with Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya. Increasingly the US has been at the forefront of non-proliferation efforts through multilateral negotiations with Iran and North Korea and with the Proliferation Security Initiative. Yet those attempts are seen by others as attempts to impose agendas rather than safeguard the world. Therefore the United Nations, in addition to individual nations, must function much more vigorously as the centre of initiatives to curb WMD proliferation. Global consensus through the UN would demonstrate shared resolve. Then accords, implementations and dissuasive actions can have maximum impact. Carol E B Choksy is adjunct lecturer in Strategic Intelligence and Information Management at Indiana University. She is also the CEO of IRAD Strategic Consulting, Inc. Jamsheed K Choksy is professor of Central Eurasian, Iranian, Indian and International studies at Indiana University. He is also a member of the National Council on the Humanities at the US National Endowment for the Humanities.

ASHTUN votes in Karachi have been influenced by political trends and tendencies at the national level. They have never acted as a homogenous ethnic group at the electoral front, nor has their number in the city been materialised into support for the Pashtun nationalist party ANP. Pashtun localities are known for their diverse political support base, as one can see flags, graffiti and offices of almost all the political and religious parties there, ali arqam busy in their activities. Even on the constituencies with higher number of Pashtun votes, they normally go with other ethnic groups like Punjabis, Hindko speakers and the Balochs, to vote for Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) or various factions of Muslim League, who have managed to win in some cases or lost it to the MQM due to a split in votes among contestants. In any case, PPP and PMLN still have higher number of votes than the ANP or religio-political parties, like Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) or Jamat Islami (JI). During ethnic riots in the late eighties, the ANP refrained from degenerating to the politics of ethnic rifts and attempted to ease the tensions by joining hands with the MQM while the situation was exploited by a new pressure group, Punjabi Pashtun Ittehad (PPI), riding the anti-MQM sentiments among Punjabis, Pashtuns and Hindko speakers. Factions of PPI later merged with the PPP and PML-N. During the nineties, when Nawaz Sharif emerged as a formidable rival to the PPP leadership after his ’93 stint with President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, his candidate Mian Ejaz Shafi surprised everyone with a win from a constituency previously won by PPP. It happened once again in 1997, when the infamous Nasirullah Babar contested on PPP ticket from the same consitutency and was defeated by Mian Ejaz Shafi on PML-N ticket. In 2000, when former Army Chief and President Pervez Musharraf introduced local government system, and MQM had boycotted the first elections, Jamat-e-Islami won most of the Town Nazim slots and city Mayorship, still Baldia and SITE Towns were won on by the ANP. In 2002 general elections, protests and demonstrations against the US led war on terror and internal requirements of the military government led to the alliance of religio-political parties Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). The tremendous hype around the first ever broad based and exclusively religious alliance charged the political environment. The absence of leaderships of mainstream political parties and a lot of maneuvering on the part of the military government led to MMA’s rule in two provinces as well as victories in a few constituencies from Karachi. The situation was alarming for the ANP, which had failed to sustain the electoral gains of the first local bodies elections in the second term due to MQM’s presence and a split in vote with the JUI-F and JI. Perturbed at ceding the electoral space to religious parties, the ANP supported Abid Ali Umang, a candidate of MQM running for NA-240, in the by-elections against MMA’s candidate Qari Usman. When the ANP Sindh’s leadership was taken over by Shahi Syed, he employed a proactive strategy of addressing the political and economic woes of the Pashtun populace, the issues faced by the people in the transport business, mediating in disputes of land and properties illegally acquired and building the party around his own personality cult, trying to replicate what the MQM had done in the last three decades. All of a sudden, billboards and hoardings of ANP slogans appeared at major crosses and corners of Pashtun localities with the portraits of Shahi Syed and local party officials at the forefront while pictures of Ghaffar Khan, Wali Khan and Asfandyar Khan in the background. Shahi Syed consolidated his grip with the wave of sympathy in the aftermath of the tragic events of May 12 and chose to ride the anti-MQM sentiments among the Pashtuns. He started using harsh words against the MQM and empowered lower cadres of the party to cope with the issues rising from the thana-kachehri culture. He also successfully negotiated with JUI and PPP for seat adjustments and got two comparatively secure provincial constituencies of PS-93 and PS-128 for those with tough competition with the MQM. The strategy has worked out, and Shahi Syed’s party has managed to win two provincial constituencies, with Syed becoming a Senator himself. But the success came with its share of drawbacks. The ethnic tensions have consumed thousands of innocent lives and hundreds of political workers. Lower cadres of ANP have employed almost all the tactics familiar in Karachi politics. Performance of their parliamentarians is below the expectations; it can be gauged with the ANP’s decision of not giving ticket to the ex-Nazim SITE Town and ex-Minister for Labour Ameer Nawab from PS93 for the second time. The threats of Taliban attacks is a major hurdle for the ANP and PPP in campaigning for the elections, while keeping the impact of Pashtun votes in mind, all the major parties PPP, PML-N, JUI-F, JI and even the MQM have decided to field Pashtun candidates from many constituencies. In the last decade, the demography of the city has been changed with migrations from the areas affected by October 2005 earthquake, influx of IDPs from Pashtun regions and migrations from the same areas for economic opportunitie. Pashtuns have become the second largest ethnic group in Karachi. As per Arif Hasan, their number has increased from 16 percent to nearly 25 percent. These changing numbers will have their impact on the electoral process as well. With the tribal basis of Pashtun populace on one hands and diverse political affiliations on the other, it seems their influence at the ballot boxes will be diluted due to a split of votes among various political parties running for the same constituencies. This could benefit MQM for their unified support base, provided they make smart choices in fielding suitable candidates for these localities. Ali Arqam is a journalist and researcher based in Karachi. He can be contacted at aliarqam@hotmail.com, and interacted on Twitter at @aliarqam

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A aRts Thursday, 11 April, 2013

Moss aNd stoNe ‘kIss’ to raIse MoNey For aIds research Kate Moss and Sharon Stone set the pulses running as the two puckered up and kissed each other in order to raise money for charity at an event. Moss demonstrated to a lucky bidder, who was present at the third annual amfAR Inspiration Gala in Sao Paulo on Friday, her smooching prowess with the Basic Instinct actress - with no saliva in sight, the Mirror reported. The two stars were co-hosting the event, raising money for AIDS research, and Moss, 39, was one of the prize attractions at the charity bash, as a kiss with the model, along with a magnum of Moet ‘n’ Chandon champagne signed by both of them, sold for 35,000-pounds. The duo turned heads at the event as they both wore revealing dresses and it seemed like they competed against each other for who showed off the most rib. neWs DesK

daNIeL craIg dINed aNd sLePt at wINdsor castLe

Daniel Craig attended an exclusive “dine and sleep” evening at Windsor Castle. The Court Circular states that Craig, 45, and actress wife Rachel Weisz were guests, along with actress Helena Bonham Carter, director husband Tim Burton, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Daily Express reported. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh host the events during their Easter stays at Windsor. Guests arrive for dinner and view items from the royal collection, staying overnight and departing after breakfast. neWs DesK

The most damning revelation you can make about yourself is that you do not know what is interesting and what is not — Kurt Vonnegut

gulab gang: Madhuri dixit turns singer

us officials probe beyonce, Jay-Z’s cuba trip NEWS DESK The US Treasury Department is investigating the trip music icons Jay-Z and Beyonce made to Cuba last week. Republican lawmakers have requested an explanation about the type of travel authorization they were issued and whether their trip violated the conditions of Washington’s economic embargo against the island, The New York Times said. The rap star and pop diva travelled to Cuba to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. After learning of the trip, Florida Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen sent a request to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), which is responsible for monitoring compliance with commercial and financial sanctions with other countries. The Cuban-American lawmakers asked for information regarding the type of authorization Beyonce and Jay-Z received from OFAC to make the trip. “Cuba’s tourism industry is wholly state-controlled, therefore, US dollars spent on Cuban tourism directly fund the machinery of oppression that brutally represses the Cuban people,” the legislators said in a letter to the Treasury Department. Treasury sources consulted by EFE confirmed the receipt of the legislators’ letter and said that they were preparing a response. In 2011, the US instituted more flexible rules about travel to Cuba for groups of students, academicians, journalists or members of religious organizations with the aim of increasing “people-to-people” contacts. Some members of the Cuban exile community have said that the couple’s visit was used for propaganda purposes by the regime in Havana. However, the Times said that the trip was a private one and that Cuban authorities did not know about the pair’s arrival until the last minute.

NEWS DESK

ANCING diva turns singer Madhuri Dixit has shown off her singing chops in Gulab Gang Her dancing skills are legendary. However, not many people know Madhuri Dixit is a talented singer as well. In a first, the actress has lent her voice to an entire song from Soumik Sen’s Gulab Gang starring Juhi Chawla and her in the lead. Giving her company is her mother, who, we hear, has done an equally good job. Producer of Gulab Gang Anubhav Sinha confirmed the news and said: “It is a little known fact that Madhuri sings beautifully. In fact, her mother always wanted her to be a classical singer. We are extremely happy she has sung first for our film. You will get to hear her soon.” Explaining how it panned out, Sinha said: “There was a scene where Madhuri breaks into a song. We discussed the idea of changing that particular moment into a full fledged song. We asked Madhuri and she was game for it. The song in question will appear in the first half of the film.” About her mother being part of the track, Sinha said it was a last minute decision. “Soumik made some quick modifications in the song when Madhuri sprung a surprise at the recording studio by walking in with her mother. The entire unit knows her mother is a good singer and Soumik too felt he should request her to sing,” he said. The recording was completed recently at Empire Studios in Andheri. “Madhuri and her mother completed the song in all respects in two hours. Both have done a fabulous job, and we are very impressed,” said Sinha. With this, Madhuri joins the elite club of Bollywood celebrities who have also tried a hand at singing - Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, among others.

We actors are not your mothers:

SAIF ALI KHAN ON SMOKING Saif Ali Khan shoots from the hip about allegations that Go Goa Gone violates the Cigarette Smoking Act While Saif Ali Khan knew it was a gamble venturing into the world of zombies, the producer of Go Goa Gone, directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, is enthused by the favourable response the film’s trailer has garnered. Says the actorfilmmaker: “I am feeling great. Sometimes, our job is to do something unexpected. It’s very tempting to follow the beaten path. It’s so boring making the same thing. When

Kunal Khemu got the script and the directors narrated it to me, I thought it was very funny and unusual.” But hasn’t the Goa Government lashed out against his production house Illuminati Films, alleging defamation of the state and violation of the Cigarette Smoking Act? Saif seems rather amused. “I will sort it out,” he says. But doesn’t he think showing actors smoking on the big screen has an adverse impact on society? “This is a very last generation idea. We actors are not your mothers to tell you that smoking is bad. Why can’t I just be an actor? I don’t smoke in my personal life...” he shoots back. Far from being anxious about the controversy that has erupted over his film, Saif is hoping the

CBFC (Censor Board of Certification) will support him. “Why are these NGOs not objecting to the guns and the killing in the film? How about banning video games that have more violence than films? As for the allegations of misusing Goa’s name, isn’t Goa the party capital of India? I want to make movies in peace, and Go Goa Gone is not meant to be offensive. It’s not trying to glorify violence or drugs. These guys should see the film and then decide,” he says. Asked about the buzz that he is doing a film with Kabir Khan, Saif replies in the affirmative. He sounds upbeat about the fate of Go Goa Gone that is slated to hit theatres next month. “I have a feeling people will like it,” he rounds off. neWs DesK

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A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner — English Proverb

ARTS Thursday, 11 April, 2013

I no longer fit in Indian cinema: Lata Mangeshkar beautifully,” said the 83-year-old singer here Monday at an event organised to announce the recipients of Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards. However, she believes that “change is inevitable in this world,” and said that she is not “blaming anyone for this”. From classical to romantic numbers to ghazals to bhajans, Lata has made her mark in a variety of genres. Lata started her singing career in 1943 at the age of 13 with the song “Mata ek sapoot ki duniya badal de tu” for Marathi film “Gajaabhaau”, and she even did bit roles in films for her family’s living. The singer admits she hated acting in films, but had no choice at that time. “I have worked in some seven to eight films and I didn’t enjoy it. I used to be very sad when I worked in those films. But at that time I was helpless. I had no choice,” she said. Her last song in a Bollywood film was “Tere hasne se” for 2011 film “Satrangee Parachute”. She also launched her music label LM Music with a bhajan album last year.

NEWS DESK After recording songs for more than 1,000 films in 36 languages in a career span of seven decades, legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar says she now feels out of place in the Indian movie industry. “Cinema has changed a lot from the times when we used to work. I will not say that it’s not good, but I don’t fit into it. If I would sing in any film today, then I don’t think I will be able to sing it

avrIL LavIgNe’s new single features her fans A video of singer Avril Lavigne’s latest single “Here’s to never growing up” is a collage of her various fans miming the song. The fans were invited to send in their entries via social networking websites. Their videos were collected over a span of one week, said a statement. The final video features fans lip syncing, dancing and posing for the camera, while Lavigne’s song plays in the background. “Here’s to never growing up” marks Lavigne’s debut on Epic Records, and her reunion with original mentor LA Reid. It is a peppy number which talks about never growing old or making any changes in life. Coproduced by Martin Johnson and Serban Ghenea, the song is written by combined efforts of Lavigne, Chad Kroeger, Dave Hodges, Martin Johnson, and J.Kash. neWs DesK

kIM kardashIaN

13 A

tom cruise ‘did not expect’ spilt from holmes

Tom cruise has finally spilled the beans about his break-up with Katie Holmes for the first time, after nearly a year since they announced their split, suggesting that he was not expecting it. The 50-year-old star told German TV network ProSieben that life is a challenge, the Mirror reported. “Life is tragicomic. You need a certain sense of humour,” he added. The ‘Mission Impossible’ actor, whose 34-year-old wife filed for the divorce just five days before Tom’s 50th birthday, said that the timing in the run up to such a milestone birthday gave him “an incredible amount of time to reflect”. Cruise and Holmes, who had daughter Suri in April 2006, have both remained mum over the issue since their separation. The former couple also reached a settlement and agreed that the ‘Abondon’ actress will be given primary custody of Suri, while Cruise will be getting extensive visitation/carrying rights, in March. neWs DesK

gomez ran away after first meeting with aniston

wishes good luck to Duchess Kate Kim Kardashian has written a warm note to Kate Middleton, enclosing a gift for the future heir to the throne and explaining that they were both due in July. The 31-year-old reality T.V star is convinced that she and the Duchess of Cambridge are kindred maternal sisters, after discovering that the pair is expecting two weeks apart, the Mirror reported. It was revealed to the paper that Kardashian got incredibly excited after she found out that the pair had similar due dates. The source said that Kardashian has now employed a top astrologer in Paris to draw up all the qualities of a 2013 Cancerian baby and is busy sourcing all the icons associated with Cancer the crab for the baby’s room. The source said that the room will also be decorated with rubies and moonstones - which are Cancerian gems. The insider added that this was a piece of advice Kardashian was particularly keen to relay to Kate and was a little saddened not to have received an immediate response. neWs DesK

De Niro, Ramirez to star in ‘Hands of Stone’ NEWS DESK Hollywood actors Robert De Niro and Edgar Ramirez will reportedly star in “Hands of Stone”, a biopic on boxing legend Roberto Duran. Ramirez will play the legendary sportsman and De Niro will play his trainer Ray Arcel, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Duran was among the world’s elite boxers during his heyday, winning 103 of his 119 fights, and had many well-remembered bouts with fellow boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, including one infamous match in which the boxer gave up midway through the fight, crying, ‘No Mas.’ The film, which is expected to focus on the relationship between Duran and his trainer, is written and directed by Jonathan

Jakubowicz. Jakubowicz will co-produce the film with Jay Weisleder of La Piedra Films. Duran will also contribute to the film as an associate producer. Weisleder said: “The story of Roberto Duran and Ray Arcel is not only a homage to the golden days of boxing; it is most importantly the story of a fatherless man who teaches every single one of us the true meaning of never giving up.” Jakubowicz added: “The infamous ‘No mas’ fight is the biggest enigma in the history of boxing. This movie will answer the enigma, with the best talent any director can possibly dream.”

Singer Selena Gomez says she ran away out of nervousness when she first met actress Jennifer Aniston. Gomez, 20, is a big fan of Aniston, who is known for playing role of Rachel Green for a decade in popular sitcom “ Friends”. However, Gomez was completely starstruck by the actress, who has starred in movies like “ Bruce Almighty”, “Horrible Bosses” and “Wanderlust”. “I ran away from Jennifer Aniston. When she said, ‘Hi’, I was terrified of her. I was scared, so I ran away and I’m really embarrassed about that,” Gomez said on a radio show. “I didn’t know what to do it’s Rachel,” she added. neWs DesK

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inFotainMEnt Thursday, 11 April, 2013

underwater stone 'monument' puzzles archaeologists

A giant "monumental" stone structure discovered beneath the waters of the Sea of Galilee in Israel has archaeologists puzzled as to its purpose and even how long ago it was built. The mysterious structure is cone shaped, made of "unhewn basalt cobbles and boulders," and weighs an estimated 60,000 tons the researchers said. That makes it heavier than most modern-day warships. Rising nearly 32 feet (10 meters) high, it has a diameter of about 230 feet (70 meters). To put that in perspective, the outer stone circle of Stonehenge has a diameter just half that with its tallest stones not reaching that height. It appears to be a giant cairn, rocks piled on top of each other. Structures like this are known from elsewhere in the world and are sometimes used to mark burials. neWs DesK

Lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper to stay trim

Lunching like a prince and dining like a pauper may actually be the key to keeping trim. Living against the clock working late-night shifts or eating at inappropriate times, for example can come with real health risks and metabolic syndrome. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology have new evidence to explain why it matters not just what mice (or by extension, people) eat, but also when they eat it, Live Science reported. According to Current Biology, insulin action rises and falls according to a 24hour, circadian rhythm, the researchers found. What's more, mice unable to keep the time for one reason or another get stuck in an insulin-resistant and obesityprone mode. "We used to think some things were so important that they must be kept constant," says Carl Johnson of Vanderbilt University. neWs DesK

The history of saints is mainly the history of insane people. — Benito Mussolini

teacher’s resignation letter says his profession 'no longer exists' w

HEN Gerald "Jerry" Conti decided to retire from his teaching career after 27 years at Westhill High School in New York, he went out with a bang. On March 29, Conti, 62, posted the text of his resignation letter on Facebook, along with a photo of Porky Pig saying "That's All Folks!" The letter lays out why, after several decades, Conti believed he had to call it quits. Conti points the blame at legislators who "failed us by selling children out to private industries such as Pearson Education," a testing company. He argued the New York State United Teachers union failed its members by not mounting an effective campaign against standardized testing, and said there's now a "pervasive atmosphere of distrust" preventing teachers from developing their own tests and

quizzes. "After writing all of this I realize that I am not leaving my profession, in truth, it has left me. It no longer exists," Conti wrote in the letter. So far, the post has received 86 "Likes," 745 "Shares" and more than 30 comments of praise for Conti's teaching ability, as well as expressions of sadness

about his departure from the classroom, though Conti said he may substitute teach. Soon after the letter made the rounds on Facebook, the Syracuse Post-Standard picked it up. Conti told the Post-Standard his frustration isn't directed at his local school district, but rather at the "larger forces" of education reform.

sEEing HaPPinEss MaKEs yoU HaPPy How you perceive emotions in others can have a real impact on how you feel yourself, according to a new study. The new research, published in the journal Psychological Science, shows that training people to be biased to recognize happiness instead of anger in a facial expression can help to lower their own feelings of aggression and anger. "Our results provide strong evidence that emotion processing plays a causal role in anger and the maintenance of aggressive behavior," study researcher Marcus Munafo, a professor at the university, said in a statement. "This could potentially lead to novel behavioral treatments in the future." Researchers from the University of Bristol conducted their study on both healthy volunteers, and teens who are known to either have a high risk of committing a crime or having aggressive behavior. In the first part of the study, the researchers had 40 healthy volunteers rate a series of facial expressions as happy or angry, so that they could see a "baseline" of how the volunteers would read the expressions. Then, the researchers told the volunteers that some of the faces they considered "angry" were in fact happy. By "training" these volunteers in this way, they started to find happiness in the "angry" faces, and they reported feeling less aggressive or angry themselves. The researchers found a similar result when they conducted the same experiment with the teens (ages 11 to 16). Plus, the teens had fewer aggressive incidents in the weeks following the experiment. "These studies provide strong evidence that emotion processing plays a causal role in anger and the maintenance of aggressive behavior," the researchers wrote in the study. neWs DesK

"This whole thing is being driven by people who know nothing about education,” Conti told the Post-Standard. "It's sad." Conti has some company when it comes to his dislike of standardized testing. Earlier this year, teachers in Seattle refused to administer the Measures of Academic Progress, or MAP, test "on ethical and professional grounds." In February, roughly 10,000 parents, teachers and students rallied in Texas for more funding and fewer exams, the Texas Observer reported. In his interview with the Post-Standard, Conti also elaborated on his impression that testing is eating his profession, and that educating is being taken out of teachers' hands. "Education to me is completely qualitative, it's not quantitative," Conti said. "It's about personal relationships, and it's about getting kids to be curious. And that's what I've been trying to do all my career." neWs DesK

Monroe, eisenhower, hitler letters to be auctioned

NEW YORK: Marilyn Monroe's letters of despair to mentor Lee Strasberg and Dwight D. Eisenhower's heartfelt missives to his wife during World War II are among hundreds of historical documents being offered in an online auction. Monroe's hand written, undated letter to the famed acting teacher is expected to fetch $30,000 to $50,000 in the May 30 sale. "My will is weak but I can't stand anything. I sound crazy but I think I'm going crazy," Monroe wrote on Hotel Bel-Air letterhead stationery. "It's just that I get before a camera and my concentration and everything I'm trying to learn leaves me. Then I feel like I'm not existing in the human race at all." The 58 Eisenhower letters, handwritten between 1942 and 1945, range from news of the war to the Allied commander's devotion to his wife, Mamie. They are believed to be among the largest group of Eisenhower letters to survive intact and could bring up to $120,000, said Joseph Maddalena, whose Profiles in History is auctioning the items. They are among 250 letters and documents being sold by an anonymous American collector. Selected items will be exhibited April 8-16 at Douglas Elliman's Madison Avenue art gallery. online

google launches global human traﬃcking helpline and data network Google has committed $3 million to three human trafficking groups in a bid to build an international helpline network fuelled by data. Google announced the launch of the Google Global Human Trafficking Hotline Network at an event held by its Google Ideas think tank in Washington. The idea had already been floated last summer by the think tank, and it contributed $11.5 million to the cause in 2011. But this week it has cemented its commitment and brought together NGOs Polaris Project, Liberty Asia and La Strada International. Between the three of them the groups have the US, Europe and Asia covered, but the task is a massive one. According to the post by Google human trafficking enslaves 21 million people, while stats gathered by the UN's Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking estimate that 2.5 million people are in forced labor at any given time—56 percent of whom are based in Asia. Most of those trafficked are aged between 18 and 24 and 43 percent are forced into the sex trade. Of course, there can be no accurate stats on the industry, so the true figures are perhaps even more devastating. That's why

Google wants to bring together groups across the globe, sharing essential data among them all to more effectively target the problem. For instance, every time a call is logged, its location and all the factual data provided by the caller can be logged and analysed as part of a wider web of information, which in turn would reveal emerging patterns of where people are being trafficked or where they're working. "Looking at the existing data, we found that the number of reports in the US of sex workers calling a hotline because they're being controlled by a pimp is double on Wednesday than on any other day of the week," Jared Cohen, director of Google Ideas, told the Atlantic when discussing what data applications can reveal. Groups that are already monitoring the industry and have existing relationships

with law enforcement can then hopefully react faster to local or regular bursts in activity. Palantir Technologies, which was born out of intelligence agencies' expertise and has helped tackle fraud in the US, is donating its analytics platform and data integration software to the project, while Salesforce.com is helping scale Polaris' call tracking capabilities. US-based Polaris, which has already been making use of the tech, has collated data from 72,000 calls to date. Considering 56 percent of victims are located in Asia and the Pacific region, the amount of untapped data there is huge. Getting people to trust anti-trafficking groups and overcome their fear to make contact is another matter altogether. But if the NGOs can group together to make some kind of actionable difference, per-

haps that trust will follow. According to a report by Foreign Policy, which attended the event, head of philanthropy at Palantir Technologies Jason Payne flagged up one issue that could potentially limit the breadth of data analysis the project should be carrying out. "Just because someone's human rights have been eviscerated, doesn't mean that their civil liberties and electronic rights can be eviscerated," he said, talking about treating victims' data with the same respect as anyone else's. "When we talk about building an international collaboration of data, it's very important to think about the responsibility we have to make sure that only people who need to know have access to that information. Especially when we start to talk about personal identifiable information, phone numbers, names, and even more so, health information—HIV status, etc." With the proper controls in place, however, the initiative could help shine a spotlight on a global industry that is worth the same as the UK fashion industry (reportedly around £21 billion annually) but operates in the shadows, remaining invisible to border controls and law enforcement. neWs DesK

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SPORTS Thursday, 11 April, 2013

bangladesh, Zimbabwe begin bottom-of-thetable scrap a scraPPy series BetWeeN Bd aNd ZiMBaBWe WiLL Be aN iMPortaNt iNdicator of the heaLth of test cricKet HARARE agenCies

In a year of storied rivalries, one contest that is unlikely to turn too many heads will begin shortly. Bangladesh versus Zimbabwe is a bottom-of-the-table scrap, an unglamorous matchup that is unlikely to be remembered for too long. The nine previous Tests have thrown up some uneven battles but the eagerness to gain bragging rights in Zimbabwean conditions and Bangladesh's recent form will make it an even contest. Since their 130-run loss to Zimbabwe in Harare more than two years ago, Bangladesh have drawn two out of eight Tests. It is a marked improvement, and a better record than Zimbabwe, who lost all five Tests during the same period, including two against WI last month. Around the same time as Zimbabwe's West Indies tour, Bangladesh were making Sri Lanka sweat in their backyard. Shakib’s return is a major boost for the visitors, too. The allrounder will probably play as a batsman in the first Test, but it is unlikely that he can be kept out of action as a bowler for long.

Batsmen are scoring easy runs in IPL in the absence of Pakistani bowlers. – Wasim Akram

PakIstaN teaM IN a traNsItIoN: chIeF seLector MohaMMad irfaN's re-eMergeNce as a striKe BoWLer Was the oNLy Bright sPot iN PaKistaN's Poor tour of south africa LAHORE staff report

AKISTAN chief selector, Iqbal Qasim, said that the team was still undergoing a rebuilding process and what was perceived as an inconsistent selection policy was actually a "tactical move" to test young talent. While admitting that cricket in Pakistan was facing a crisis, Qasim said that the selectors were looking at grooming cricketers to help the side overcome a transition phase. "Realistically, we do not have a quality pool of reserve players," Qasim was quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "Most of the spots within the playing XI are not fixed and players are not doing enough to retain their place. We are giving them opportunities, but they have to raise the standard of their game and grab their chances. A good player doesn't wait for the second chance and we need players who can fill in for the best players at every slot." Qasim said that handling a transition phase was difficult for all teams in cricket, irrespective of their past performances. "It happens everywhere, even Australia" he said. "We are trying to look for young cricketers, but the situation in domestic cricket is not encouraging. Critics talk about the inconsistent selection but the other side of the argument is that we have to try different combinations until we find the

best prospects for Pakistan. Our job as selectors is to pick the best player and it is the player's job to hold on to his place by performing well." Qasim's remarks about a transition phase come soon after Pakistan's disappointing tour to South Africa. They lost all matches of the three-Test series and while their performance improved in the one-dayers, it still wasn't good enough for them to win the series. The reemergence of Mohammad Irfan, who still needs to work on his fitness, was the only positive from the tour. The team has been known for worldclass fast bowlers, such as Sarfaraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar. Pakistan have been struggling in recent times. Since Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, the Pakistan selectors have brought in 10 bowlers and only Junaid Khan and Irfan have established themselves as long-term prospects. Similarly, in the batting line-up, the selectors have failed to find a prolific batsman in the mould of Mohammad Yousuf, although dozens of batsmen have been given chances. Two youngsters, Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq, have shown potential but they are yet to win a permanent place in the side. Kamran Akmal has handled wicketkeeping responsibilities over the last five years, even as the selectors have tried Zulqarnain Haider, Sarfaraz Ahmed,

Mohammad Salman and Adnan Akmal. Kamran is considered the best wicketkeeper batsman for Pakistan in limited-overs cricket but the Test slot is still unsettled. The selectors recently identified Mohammad Rizwan from Peshawar as a prospect but the youngster is still waiting for a chance to prove his case. "We want stability in a player's performance so that we can look at the long term," he said. "Unfortunately, they lack consistency and are neither helping us nor themselves. We have marked future prospects like Haris Sohail, Junaid Khan and Ehsan Adil and we are looking for quality players to fill each slot." Qasim said his role was limited to selecting players, not developing them. He also said that the lack of international cricket in Pakistan was a setback. "Players aren't thriving. Playing domestic cricket is okay but they need exposure to international cricket at the Under-19 and A-team levels. This is how a player is developed for international cricket. We are picking a raw player who may have performed at the domestic level but has never been tested against quality teams around the world before being selected for the national team." Pakistan are currently ranked No. 5 in ICC Test rankings, No. 6 in ODIs and No. 4 in T20Is. Their highest position in Tests came in 2007, when they made it to No. 3. Qasim was reluctant to predict whether the team would reach the No. 1 ranking . "I can't say whether we can achieve the No. 1 position with the players we have in the team, but I can be optimistic about it." Pakistan recently dropped senior batsman Younis Khan and had also

Bickering stakeholders delay India’s IOC return MUMBAI agenCies

Shakib Al Hasan's presence will boost the Bangladesh batting order.

India appears no closer to a return to the Olympic fold as officials from the country's Olympic association and sports ministry bicker over a controversial government sports code. The IOC banned the country after refusing to recognise the results of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections held on Dec. 5 due to government interference, which led to a tainted official being named its new secretary general. The IOC offered a life-

line in January, inviting stakeholders to a meeting at its Lausanne headquarters to discuss ways of getting India back on track, but that meeting has already been postponed twice. The IOA and sports ministry blame each other for failing to arrive at a consensus over the controversial code, which would restrict age and term limits for sports administrators. In a letter to the IOC last

week, V.K. Malhotra, acting chief of India's Olympic association and head of the country's archery association, accused the sports ministry of railroading national federations into accepting the sports bill.

dropped Shahid Afridi from the ODIs in India last year. While Qasim said dropping a senior member was painful, there was no culture of a rotation policy in Pakistan. "It doesn't fit here as players are insecure, they never would want to be rested," Qasim said. "The present crop of players are in rebuilding process and we are trying to form a good combination. We are in fact in no position to rotate players as the phenomena isn't feasible in our culture. Players start obsessing about their place rather than giving their best." The selectors are currently facing the challenge of trimming down the 30member list of probables for the Champions Trophy to 15. The same squad is expected to play the ODI series against Scotland and Ireland in May. Form and fitness are the major concerns for the selectors.

bradley scott bids farewell to Northern districts SPORTS DESK: Northern Districts bowling allrounder Bradley Scott has ended his association with the team, citing personal reasons and will be leaving for Dunedin, along with his family. Scott, who is a left-arm medium pacer and a lowerorder batsman, moved to Northern Districts in 2008-09. He was a key player for Northern Districts in all forms of the game but, in the last two seasons, his participation was largely restricted to limited-over formats. Before joining Northern Districts, Scott represented Otago in the national competition.

Wisden warns of Ashes overkill the 150th editioN of WisdeN cricKeters' aLMaNacK PuBLished oN WedNesday WarNed that the ashes WiLL Be stretched to their LiMit as a resuLt of NuMerous uPcoMiNg series BetWeeN eNgLaNd aNd austraLia. LONDON agenCies

The 150th edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack published on Wednesday warned that the Ashes will be “stretched to their limit” as a result of numerous upcoming series between England and Australia. Cricket's oldest rivals – who played the first cricket Test in 1877 – meet 10 times in the now five-day format from July 2013, with a series in England, to January 2014, by which time they will be on Australian soil. Traditionally, Ashes series have been staged twice every four years in England, with series in Australia taking place every 18 months or so within that period.

Most recently, England won the 2009 Ashes on home soil before retaining them in Australia in 2010/11. The change in the schedule has come about as a result of England's desire not to have face the rigours of an Ashes tour immediately before a World Cup, as is currently the case. England have never won the World Cup, the global game's major 50 overs per side one-day tournament, which is usually staged every four years. But in his notes to this year's edition, Wisden editor Lawrence Booth warned: “Over the next three years, one of the most durable encounters in all sport will be stretched to its limit. “Administrators will point to full houses as proof that all is well. But a little

of the magic will be lost. “By the end of the 2015 Ashes, the Australians will have visited this country (England) for bilateral series five summers out of seven. “Part of the charm of the big series resides in the sense of occasion. But ten straight Tests will be less of an occasion, more of a routine. “And if the cycle of two series every four years against Australia was disturbed to spare England winters containing both an Ashes and a World Cup, then no such excuse can be made for Australia's return here (England) in 2015.” Meanwhile South Africa's successful tour of England in 2012 saw three of their star players – batsman Hashim Amla, allrounder Jacques Kallis and fast bowler Dale Steyn – named among Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year. An award that by tradition can only be won once by a player in their career, the honour – which is the editor's choice alone – primarily but not exclusively reflects performances in the previous

English season. South Africa won a three-match series 2-0 with Amla becoming the first South African to score a Test triple hundred in their triumph at The Oval and going on to top score in eight international innings out of 11 on tour. Kallis, the pre-eminent all-rounder of his generation, made 182 at The Oval while still bowling at genuinely sharp pace. If Kallis is regarded as the best all-rounder now in the game, Steyn has the same status as a fast bowler with the Proteas' spearhead's career statistics standing comparison with some of the greatest quicks the game has known. He overpowered England at The

Oval and then starred again when South Africa took the series at Lord's to replace their hosts as the world's top Test side. The other two winners of this year's award were England batsman Nick Compton, who was honoured for his county exploits with Somerset, and West Indies' Marlon Samuels. Compton joins his celebrated grandfather and England batting great Denis, who earned the accolade in 1939. Meanwhile Australia captain Michael Clarke was named leading cricketer in the world after a 2012 aggregate of 1,595 runs, including a score of 329 not out against India in Sydney. That innings – just shy of the Australian Test record of 334 held jointly by Don Bradman and Mark Taylor – ended as a result of Clarke's own declaration.

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Interviewer at IPL match to me yesterday "Have you ever heard sound like this at a sporting event ?" Clearly never been to a car race ! – Karun Chandok, one of only two Indians to have raced in Formula One

Former chairman’s statement stumps basit LAHORE

staff report

ORMER test cricketer Basit Ali expressed his surprise over the tarnishing statement of former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt when the game was damaged the most during his tenure in the board. Basit further said that the PCB was making extraordinary efforts for the overall development of women cricket in the country. "The present regime of PCB led by Mohammad Zaka Asrhaf has done a lot to set new bench marks as far promotion of women cricket is concerned", he told reporters here on Wednesday. He said women cricket has gained rapid success in recent years and significant improvement

MtFa kicks off Futsal 2013 LAHORE: Model Town Football Academy (MTFA) would organize Futsal Tournament from April 11 to 14. The kids of Group 'A', 'B', 'C1', C2’ and Group Female will be eligible to participate in the tournament. Model Town Football Academy's President Mian Rizwan Ali said that the teams would be divided into five groups. The group 'A' would comprise of 31/2-06 years old and will be divided into four teams while group 'B' would comprise of 06-10 years old and will also be divided into 16 teams. The group 'C1 & C2 would comprise of 11-15 years old and will also be divided into 20 teams. Each group will be divided into two pools and top team from each pool would qualify for the final match. The matches for each group would be played on the basis of single league and final match for every group would be held separately. All finals match would be held at 4:00 pm (Sunday, April 14) while the prize distribution ceremony will be held at 5:00 hours on April 14 at MTFA Football Ground, C&D-Block. staff report

has been seen in the performance of Pakistan women cricket team at international level, he said. "The steps being taken by Zaka Ashraf for the further uplift

of women cricket will produce long term results as players are being groomed with the help of experienced coaches and a comprehensive activity plan is there to polish the skills of the players", he asserted. "I dont say that in a year time or so we will be able to make a strong women side like champions Australia but I am very confident that in years to come Pak team will emerge as a force to reckon with at international level", he added. To a question he termed the recent outburst of a former chairman of PCB, Ijaz Butt " anti cricket and damaging " for the cause of cricket in Pakistan. "During Ijaz Butt's regime Pakistan suffered a lot across the globe due to spot fixing scandal and still its sour memories are following our cricket and it was the most unfortunate incident of our cricket", said the

former test cricketer. Answering a question, he said there is no truth in the recent statement of Ijaz Butt that national captains, Misbahul Haq and Muhammad Hafeez have developed differences between them. "I think there are some quarters who are trying to promote their vested interest with such baseless statements and to cause confusion ",he said adding " It is happening at a time when we have yet to start our preparations for Champions Trophy". Basit said he still believes that there should be separate captains for each format of the game. "Three years ago I suggested that there should be separate teams and captains for test, one day and T20 because these formats require such specialised players who can duly justify in their respective roles", he said.

Ervine refuses winter contract, opts for club cricket in UK craig erviNe's decisioN to PLay cLuB cricKet, after refusiNg a WiNter coNtract, Puts hiM out of coNteNtioN for the BaNgLadesh series

MUMBAI Dinesh Karthik, the Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper-batsman, is enjoying his time at No 3. Batting up the order, Karthik said after setting up Mumbai's victory over Delhi Daredevils with an explosive 86, allowed him to take advantage of the Powerplay. Karthik's half-century came after Mumbai were reduced to 1 for 2, with Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting dismissed within the first two overs of the match. It

came after knocks of 37 (a steadying innings against Chennai Super Kings after another poor start for Mumbai) and 60 (against Royal Challengers Bangalore, in a game where Mumbai fell two runs short). The tournament's leading run-scorer so far, Karthik's runs have come at a strike-rate of 166, easily the best among the top 10 batsmen on the runs-aggregate chart. "When I bat at No 3, it gives me the opportunity to play in the Powerplay. It's a slot that I really like batting at," Karthik said after the Daredevils game. "It is important

Thursday, 11 April, 2013

Pakistan likely to increase cricketers’ pay for test matches LAHORE staff report

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is contemplating increasing the Test match fees to discourage a growing trend of players preferring ODIs and T20 cricket over the longer version of the sport. Reports attributing PCB source said that after the South African tour the Board had got feedback from the team management that some players were not interested in playing Test matches. "The reason for players preferring T20 cricket over Test matches is understandable since the difference between the fees paid out for a Test and a T20 match is not much," a source privy to discussion said. Pakistan were whitewashed in the three-Test series with none of the Tests going into the fifth and final day. "The reason for this is clear that they think that why put in so much hardwork for five days of cricket when just by playing a three hour T20 game they can earn as much," the insider said. He said that presently the board pays Rs 350,000 in the top bracket to players for a Test and around 30 to 35 percent less for a T20 match. "There is a discussion going in the board that the test match fees should be increased in the new central contracts so that there is a visible difference between the fees for a test and ODI and T20 matches." The PCB was expected to give out new central contracts at the start of the year but the process of selecting players has been delayed after noticing players' focus on shorter formats of the game.

His brother, Sean, walked away from Zimbabwe Cricket, seeking stability in the UK, and there are fears more players could do the same in the future. Though Zimbabwe's preparations for the Bangladesh series, which begins in nine days, are back on track, the financial situation in ZC is still unresolved. An insider revealed that although the centrally contracted players "don't have many complaints" over what they earn, the situation among franchise players is dire.

Karthik happy to be given chance at No 3

agenCies

SPORTS

ufone-Pcb announce ‘king of speed’ trials

HARARE agenCies

Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe's leading run-scorer across all three formats on their recent tour of West Indies, has refused a winter contract and will not be part of the series against Bangladesh. Ervine has instead opted to play club cricket in the UK. Meanwhile, the threatened player boycott has been averted after eight players signed winter contracts. He is one of three players who decided not to take up Zimbabwe Cricket's offer. The other two, Sean Williams and uncapped Pakistan-born Sikandar Raza, are still in discussions with the board. All-rounder Keegan Meth and bowlers Shingi Masakadza and Tendai Chatara, who were a part of the squad that toured Caribbean, are among the players who have signed the winter contracts. The team has resumed training, after only the centrally contracted players took to the field while negotiations were ongoing. Ervine, who has played four Tests since Zimbabwe made their Test comeback in 2011, has not made the reason for his decision public, but a source close to the players told ESPNcricinfo that the money offered by ZC amounted to only US$100 a week. He is likely to earn at least double that overseas.

that when a team like Mumbai Indians gives you the opportunity up at the top, you have got to [repay] their faith, and show some effort and get some runs." Karthik strung together a 131-run stand with Rohit Sharma at over 10 runs an over. Rohit provided him with ideal support, Karthik said: "Rohit and I put up a big partnership and the way he batted was just beautiful. He was giving me the strike when I required it and, towards the end, he hit the big shots after I got out." Ponting and Tendulkar began this year's

IPL with a half-century stand against Royal Challengers, albeit at a little over a run a ball, but have not been able to contribute much with the bat since. Ponting followed up his opening-game 28 with scores of 6 and 0. Despite his failures with the bat, Karthik said, Ponting was still having a big influence on the team. "The intensity he brings on the field has been out of the world," he said. "Probably in terms of runs he has not had a great IPL thus far, but just the intensity he brings towards captaincy and trying to bring the unit together [is admirable]. He is a great captain." DELHI WILL FIgHT bACk: Manpreet Juneja, the Delhi batsman, believes it is too early to write his team off and they will fight back to register their first win. At the post match conference, Juneja told the reporters, "It happens. It's cricket but we have faith in ourselves and we believe we will bounce back." Delhi were thrashed by Mumbai by 44 runs and are yet to register their first win in the tournament. Juneja also informed that Virender Sehwag is still recovering from back spasms. Having lost all three games they have played so far, Delhi will be missing the explosive Sehwag and hoping for him to return back. "Viru pa (Sehwag) is still recovering. He seemed fit but he is not 100 per cent fine yet. He didn't want to get into the game without being 100 per cent (fit)," Juneja said.

ISLAMABAD staff report

Ufone-PCB announced the schedule for trials of “King of Speed”, a talent hunt which will reveal the best fast bowling talent. King of Speed camps will be set up in 10 cities across Pakistan from April 13 to 21. The trials will be held in two phases, potential bowlers will be registered at their respective stations and the top two bowlers with most potential from each camp will represent their respective cities and move onto the second phase which will be held in Lahore and Karachi. To facilitate this grand activity the PCB will extend full support during the selection process in each of the selected cities and will provide speed detecting guns for the selection of candidates. After the completion of round two, the three players selected via wild card will join Wasim Akram along with bowlers from the Pakistan National team in the National bowling camp to be hosted in Karachi. Trials for round 1 will be carried out in Garhi Khuda Baksh & Multan on the 13th, in Faisalabad on the 14th, in Karachi & Islamabad on the 15th, in Peshawar on the 16th, in Quetta & Abbottabad on the 17th, in AJK (Mirpur) on the 18th & Lahore on the 20th of April 2013 Top 20 fast bowlers from across Pakistan will join round 2 of trials, which is scheduled to be held on Sunday 21 April, 2013 at National Stadium, Karachi and Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. As already announced Ufone will give away a grand prize of Rs. One Million in lieu of the Ufone Challenge to the bowler who achieves the fastest bowling speed above 145 kmph. In case of multiple participants achieving this speed the amount will be equally shared.

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To compete on home soil is very special for me because I'm on the road all year. I do not want to miss this chance. – Roger Federer

17 S

SPORTS Thursday, 11 April, 2013

crown club outplay young Muslim LAHORE staff report

Crown Club has marched into the 3rd round of 28th M Yaseen Akhter Memoroial Cricket event when they beat Young Muslim Gym by 50 runs played at Iqbal PArk ground the other day.

goerges, cornet beaten in Poland

SCORES: Crown Club 183/6 in 20 overs. M Shoaib 14, M Umer 42, Imran Malik 28, Wasim 30, Noor ul amin 22, Rohh Allah 34. M Mateen 4/29, M Usman 1/31, Hanif 1/21. Young Muslim Gym 133 all out in 20 overs. Kazim Shah 17, Salman Ghafoor 29, Mateen 23, Shehbaz 16, M Salman 18. Yasir Ali 4/11, Norr ul Amin 2/16, M Shoaib 1/24, Rooh Allah 1/20, Waseem Khan 1/22.

servis colts down Mughalputa XI LAHORE staff report

Servis Colts has enterd into the next round of 28th M Yaseen Akhter Memorial cricket event when they beat Mughalpura XI by 9 wickets played at Allama Iqbal Institute ground. Mughalpura Xi 110 all out in 17.2 overs. Imtashal ALi 22, Mehboob Ali 17, M Junaid 16. Sajid Husnain 4/26, Waqas Waseem 3/16, Mudasar Ali 2/9. Servis Colts 112/1. Mudasar Ali 72, Sheraz Malik 30(no). Bilal 1/30.

7 clubs moved into the 2nd round LAHORE staff report

The 7 clubs i.e Servis Club, NAtional Gym, Akhter Abdul Rehman Club, Aligarh Club, Mughalpura Institute, Model Town Greens and Ghulam Qadir Memorial club have marched into the 10th M Siddiq Memorial cricket event.24 clubs are participating in this event.In the event matches no Central Contract players will take part without permission of PCB. During Matches registartion cards of palyers will be must.

Pakistan in pool a of asia cup LAHORE staff report

Pakistan has been placed in pool A of the 9th Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament. Pakistan will compete against Malaysia, Japan and Chinese Taipei in its pool while their rival team India is in pool B. The tournament will be played in IPOH/ Malaysia from August 24 August to September 1, in which Pakistan Hockey Team will participate. With the approval of FIH, the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has released following Pools of the Tournament:POOL ‘A’: Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan & Chinese-Taipei. POOL ‘B’: Korea, India, Oman & Bangladesh. Schedule of the matches will be released after approval of the FIH.

golden star beaten LAHORE staff report

Akhter Abdul Rehman club has entered into the 3rd round of 28th M Yaseen Akhter Memoroial Cricket event when they beat Golden star club by 2 wickets played at Model Town Aligarh ground the other day. SCORES: Golden Star 150/4 in 20 overs. M Jawad 52, M Asif 50. M Ishfaq 1/37, Hafiz Aamir 1/23, Waleed 1/20. Akhter Abdul Rehman Club 153/8 in 19.2 overs. M Asfand 47, Noman Shokat 27, m Ishfaq 21(no), Asif Raza 19, Hafiz Amir 21. M Farhan 3/15, M Asif 3/37, M Saeed 2/30.

POLAND

agenCies

OURTH and fifth seeds Julia Goerges and Alize Cornet crashed out of the Katowice Open. Cornet suffered a twoset hammering at the hands of qualifier Anna Schmiedlova, 6-3 6-0, while Germany's Goerges was forced to retire from her match against American qualifier Jill Craybas while trailing 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 4-1. There were no such problems for sixth seed Kaia Kanepi, with the Estonian winning 6-1 6-1 against Sandra Zaniewska. Lucky loser Shahar Peer won 5-7 76 (7/4) 7-6 (7/4) against Tsvetana Pironkova in over three hours, Kiki Bertens was a 6-1 6-1 victor over Lara Arruabarrena, while Irina-Camelia Begu beat Mathilde Johansson 5-7 7-6 (7/5) 61. Vesna Dolonc lost to Mandy Minella, while qualifier Maria Elena Camerin beat Jana Cepelova.

RoBson CRasHEs oUt oF KatowiCE oPEn POLAND: Laura Robson was sent crashing out in the first round of the BNP Paribas Katowice Open after being beaten 5-7 76 (9-7) 6-1 by Lourdes Dominguez Lino. The majority of the contest was closely-fought but Spain's Dominguez Lino came good in the deciding set as Robson's second serve crumbled. Eighth seed Robson, who reached a career-high ranking of 39 on Monday, was facing an opponent ranked 20 places below her, although Dominguez Lino was playing on her preferred clay surface. Elsewhere at the Polish tournament, third seed Klara Zakopalova progressed to the second round of the BNP Paribas Katowice Open after a 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 victory over fellow Czech Kristyna Pliskova. Kristyna Pliskova's twin sister Karolina enjoyed a better say as she recorded a 6-1 3-6 6-0 win against Maria Teresa Torro of Spain. agenCies

Djokovic hopeful for Monte Carlo MONTE CARLO agenCies

World number one Novak Djokovic can only look on the bright side and hope that he can somehow recover enough from an injured right ankle to play in the

first major event of the European clay season, the Monte Carlo Masters starting on Sunday. Djokovic rolled the ankle badly in the third game of his Davis Cup match on Sunday against Sam Querrey, but gutted out a four-set success thanks to painkillers and sheer determination

to win the quarter-final for Serbia. Now back at Monte Carlo after a private jet flight from the isolated Davis Cup venue of Boise, Idaho, in the western US, he is awaiting advice from doctors. He was to have undergone an MRI scan upon his return to Europe.

Pirlo urges Juve to believe in comeback MUNICH: Juventus midfielder Andreas Pirlo has urged his team mates to believe they can overcome the 2-0 disadvantage against Bayern Munich in Turin on Wednesday. Juventus face the tough task of having to overcome a 2-0 defeat against Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final tie but Pirlo believes that the Bainconeri can complete the comeback. After being part at the receiving end of several epic comebacks in the Champions League, Pirlo believes that he speaks from experience. "We have to believe in ourselves and be convinced that we can turn things around," he told Tuttosport. agenCies

US Masters Golf from today S.PERvEz QAISER

HE first major of the year, US Masters will be played at Augusta National Golf Course from April 11 to 14. The US Masters, introduced in 1934 is held annually at the Augusta National Golf Course. Entry to the Masters is by invitation only and the eventual winner is presented with the coveted Green Jacket. This is the youngest of the world's four major championships. Unlike the three (the British Open, The US Open and USPGA), it is always played

on the same course, the Augusta National in Georgia. Both the Augusta course and the Masters tournament were the brainchild of Bobby Jones whose influence always dominated the event even after his death. Although he retired as a player in 1930, he took part in the first tournament in 1934 because the Club was short of money and it needed someone to draw the local public. In a field of 93 players, 17 will participate in this major for the first time. This year’s field consists of 87 professionals and six amateurs, representing a total of 20 countries. Some of the past champions: Bubba Watson (United States-2012), Charl Schwartzel (South Africa- 2011), Phil Mickelson (United States2004, 2006, 2010), Ángel Cabrera (Argentina2009), Trevor Immelman (South Africa-

2008), Zach Johnson (United States-2007), Tiger Woods (United States - 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005), Mike Weir (Canada- 2003) Vijay Singh (Fiji- 2000) José María Olazábal (Spain- 1994, 1999), Mark O’Meara (United States- 1998) Ben Crenshaw (United States- 1984, 1995) Bernhard Langer (Germany- 1985, 1993) Fred Couples (United States- 1992) Ian Woosnam (Wales1991), Sandy Lyle (Scotland- 1988) Larry Mize (United States- 1987) Craig Stadler (United States- 1982) and Tom Watson (United States1977, 1981) are participating this time. Some of the past champions, Tommy Aaron (1973), Severiano Ballesteros (1980 and 1983), Jack Burke Jr. (1956), Billy Casper (1970), Charles Coody (1971), Nick Faldo (three times between 1989 and 1996), Doug Ford (1957), Bob Goalby (1968), Jack Nicklaus (six times between 1963 and 1986), Arnold Palmer (four times between 1958 and 1954) are not playing this time. MOST TITLES: The most titles were won by Jack Nicklaus. The American won first title in 1963. Between then and 1986, he won six times. YOUNGEST CHAMPION: The youngest champion was Tiger Woods of United Stats. He was 21 years and 104 days when won the first title in 1997. OLDEST CHAMPION: The oldest champion was American Jack Nicklaus. He won the sixth time in 1986, at 46 years and two

months and 84 days old. The oldest first time champion was American Mark O'Meara. He was 41 years and 120 days old when won the only title in 1998. BIGGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: American Tiger Woods' 12 strokes win in 1997 is the wildest margin of victory. He took the title with 270 strokes. MOST VICTORIES: TITLE PLAYER YEAR 6 Jack Nicklaus (US) 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986 4 Arnold Palmer (United States) 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964 4 Tiger Woods (United States) 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 TOP FINISHERS: PLAYERS TOP 5 TOP 10 TOP 25 Jack Nicklaus (United States) 15 22 29 Phil Mickelson (United States) 10 15 16 Tiger Woods (United States) 10 12 15 Ben Hogan (United States) 9 17 21 Tom Kite (United States) 9 - MOST STARTS: PLAYER SPAN STARTS Gary Player (Unites States) 1957-2009 52 Arnold Palmer (United States) 1955-2004 50 Doug Ford (United States 1952-2001 49 Raymond Floyd (United States) 1965-2009 46 Billy Casper (United States) 1957-2005 45

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I've certainly had some great rounds of golf here, so I feel like it is a course that I can win on. – Justin Rose

SPORTS

Thursday, 11 April, 2013

wAtCh It LIve STAR SPORTS Masters Tournament 2013

12:30 AM

TEN SPORTS UEFA League: Barcelona v PSG

10.30 PM

Melzer crashes out in Casablanca CASABLANCA: Two seeds crashed out of the Grand Prix Hassan II first round in Casablanca on Tuesday. Fifth seed Jurgen Melzer lost 6-3 6-3 to Tobias Kamke, while sixth seed Daniel Gimeno-Traver was beaten 7-6 (7/5) 3-6 6-3 to fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in two hours and 29 minutes. Eighth seed Grega Zemlja beat Matthias Bachinger 6-7 (3/7) 7-5 7-6 (7/2), despite Bachinger's 10 aces. Italian qualifier Filippo Volandri got the better of the 2007 champion Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3 7-5 in 86 minutes. Edouard Roger-Vasellin triumphed over 2007 runner-up Albert Montanes 3-6 6-4 6-4. Qualifier Younes Rachidi beat wildcard Henri Laaksonen, while Pablo Carreno-Busta overcame Pablo Andujar. agenCies

Montgomerie piles pressure on westwood

AUGUSTA agenCies

agenCies

Colin Montgomerie insists Lee Westwood is drinking in the last-chance saloon as he bids to finally secure an elusive first major title. The Englishman turns 40 later this month and Montgomerie feels his chances of landing one of the game's big prizes are diminishing rapidly. Westwood took the decision to move himself and his family to Florida and compete full-time on the PGA Tour this season as he bids to enhance his preparation for the major championships. He will find out this week whether that decision has paid dividends as he tees it up in the year's first major, the Masters.

Tiger Woods, favoured to win this week's 77th Masters and take his first major title since 2008, says he would have won a couple more Masters crowns the past few years had he putted better. World No. 1 Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record of 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, has not won the Masters since taking his fourth in 2005 and has not won any major since the 2008 US Open. But Woods has won three times this year, his 77 career titles only five

FCC and COMSATS reached the final of Dr Charles W. Forman Inter-Varsity Football Championship 2013. On behalf of sports association of Forman Christian College, Lahore (A Chartered University) the 5th Dr. Charles w. Forman Inter-Varsity Football Championship is underway. On Wednesday, two matches were played: the 1st are between FCC and USA, won by FCC by 3-4 goals. The second matches were played between COMSATS and BNU, won by COMSATS by 2-0 goals. On Thursday, the semi-final winners FCC and COMSATS will confront each other at 4:00 pm in final match. After the final match, the Rector, Dr. James A. Tebbe will be the Chief Guest, who will distribute the prizes among the winners.

rashid of NtdcL becomes Mr Pakistan

shy of Sam Snead's all-time record, and has displayed clutch putting skill in triumphs at Torrey Pines and last month at Doral and Bay Hill. “I feel comfortable with every aspect of my game,” Woods said. “I feel that I've improved and I've got more consistent and I think the wins show that.” Except for last year when he shared 40th, Woods has been a contender at Augusta National since he last won a green jacket, finishing sharing third in 2006, second in 2007 and 2008, sharing sixth in 2009 and sharing fourth in 2010 and 2011 when his infamous sex scandal and injuries

hampered his bid. Asked if he would have had a a couple more Masters victories had he simply putted better over the undulating greens of Augusta National, Woods replied, “Absolutely.” “I was there ball-striking-wise a few years through that stretch where I hit it pretty well, but just didn't make enough putts. I was there on Sundays with a chance, and unfortunately just didn't get it done. “You have to make your putts. You have to make the majority of the putts inside 10 feet and you've got to be just a great lag putter.” Woods said his 2005 triumph, which came when he beat Chris DiMarco with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff, felt like a long time ago. “I put myself in the mix every year but last year,” Woods said. “It's not like I've been out of there with no chance of winning this championship.

LAHORE staff report

Muhammad Rashid of National Transmission & Despatch Company Limited won the title of Mr Pakistan. The bodybuilding competition was organized by Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation held at Okara. A large number of prominent bodybuilders all over the country participated in the competition where Muhammad Rashid was declared the winner. A ceremony was held in WAPDA House, to reward Muhammad Rashid. President NTDCL Sports Board Tahir Mahmood, GM CPPA gave cash prize of Rs 20,000 and recommended him for departmental promotion in BPS-11. Muhammad Akhtar Chaudhry, DG Admin & Services, Company Secretary Muhammad Dilbar Ghauri, Muhammad Akhtar Butt Additional DG Admin, Deputy Director Tahir Mahmood and sports officer Imran Zafar were also present on the occasion.

Aisam to ask ITF to resume Davis Cup tie again LAHORE staff report

LAHORE: Students take part in the 113th annual sports of the Government College University Lahore which were presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman.

LAHORE staff report

Tiger out to end Majors drought tiger Woods, a 14-tiMe Major chaMPioN chasiNg the aLL-tiMe record of 18 Major titLes WoN By jacK NicKLaus, has Not WoN the Masters siNce taKiNg his fourth iN 2005

AUGUSTA

Fcc, coMsats varsity Football final

Pakistan tennis ace and the star Davis Cupper Aisamul Haq will be lodging an official complaint with the ITF for the unjust and biased decision of referee officiating the Pakistan and New Zealand Davis Cup tie at a neutral venue of Myanmar. Addressing a press conference at Model Town K Block Club, Aisam and other members of the Pakistan’s Davis Cup team lamented the attitude of one of the referees. “We were the host of the tie against New Zealand but for the last decade or so we have not been able to host the Davis Cup tie at home because of security concerns despite assurances of top level security. And this year for the first time Pakistan was allowed to select a neutral venue where New Zealand team was provided international standard facilities. “But still then we faced the same racial

and discriminating behaviour every Pakistan traveler abroad is facing post 9/11 scenario. “We are sick and tired of our beloved country being negatively portrayed from everywhere from Hollywood to Bollywood, from London to New York, Paris and Frankfurt, Dubai, and South America as terrorist, killers haters of women and incompetent civilians,” he maintained. “The governing body of tennis, the ITF, tried to help us by allowing us hosting rights at a neutral venue. We respect them for what they do worldwide. However, one of their referees made a shocking decision that reeks of incompetence, prejudice, bias and discrimination. Aisam is traveling to London on Thursday to the headquarters of the ITF to make a personal appeal to the ITF to request that this tie be resumed from where it was interrupted,” said Pakistan’s non playing captain in Mohammad Khalid. “New Zealand team has been making undue

complaints on many accounts since their arrival in Myanmar. They had issues with Myanmar as a country, they were unhappy with official hotel Park Royal and the venue Pun Hlaing Gold and Country Club and the grass courts,” he maintained. “Even the referee who forfeited the tie in favour of New Zealand requested me to ask the New Zealand team to play on hard court. But I

stressed that he should ask them as an official of the ITF,” he added. “But now we would like all Pakistan to know that if someone wants to insult us or discriminate against us, then we will not retaliate with derogatory comments or actions.” “We hope that the ITF will see that this decision on behalf of the referee was unjust and unfair and rectify this colossal blunder,” he added.

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Thursday, 11 April, 2013

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad.

Editor: Arif Nizami