LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:50 AM Page 1
Obama, Biden take oath for second term
BJP promoting terrorism, says Indian home minister
PAGE |19
Chaudhry Shujaat says Qadri’s long march was a success
PAGE |04
PAGE |03
Rs 17.00 Vol III No 205 19 Pages Lahore — Peshawar Edition
INDIAN PM SINGH SAYS PAKISTAN NEEDS TO MAKE EFFORTS FOR FRIENDSHIP JAIPUR: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said India was outraged by the killing of two of its soldiers on the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan must show, through actions, that it wanted good relations with its neighbour. “Pakistan committed an inhuman act on the LoC on January 8. The incident has cast a negative impact on our ties. We will take steps with care and due consideration,” Dr Singh said in his address at the All India Congress Committee meeting in Jaipur. “We want friendship with Pakistan. But they should also make efforts in this regard. It is not possible only with our efforts,” he said. The tension deescalated only last week after a telephonic conversation of the directors general of military operations of both countries. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani
Monday, 21 January, 2013 Rabiul Awal 8, 1434
INDIAN FM SAYS PEACE PROCESS WITH PAKISTAN PRETTY MUCH ‘BACK ON TRACK’ Khar too offered foreign ministerlevel talks to resolve the situation. Meanwhile, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid asserting that the government would not be influenced by “jingoistic conversations” in sections of the media, said on Sunday peace process with Pakistan was back on track “considerably” but made it clear that “atmospherics” have to be right to move forward. Khurshid, while underlying that it is sensible not to hasten and rush into things, also denied that the government has been boxed into a corner over the ceasefire violations on the LoC and the beheading of an Indian soldier by Pakistani troops. “It is unfortunate that out of context debates take place in media. But the media is free. You have to take the good and bad of the media if you believe in a free
GOVERNMENT NOT TO BE INFLUENCED BY ‘JINGOISTIC’ MEDIA TALK
TALKS BETWEEN DGMOS OF BOTH COUNTRIES WAS ‘POSITIVE SIGNAL’
society. But we are not going to be influenced necessarily by jingoistic conversations that take place on some sections of the media,” Khurshid told Karan Thapar on CNN IBN’s Devil’s Advocate programme. He said that the recent talks between directors-general of military operations (DGMOs) of both countries were a “positive signal”. When asked if the peace process has been put on hold, the minister said, “I don’t think so. I think the peace process is going well. What are indications is we have got back on track quite a bit. I don’t even know to what extent we had gone off track but certainly there was a sense that we were slipping. “We have got back on track considerably. That is a good sign and we would want that to continue. But obviously time would tell if we are back on
track or not.” On India’s reluctance to Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s offer for talks, Khurshid said “atmospherics” need to improve. “What we need to do is to ensure that multi-dimensionally the atmospherics improve. We did hit a low point obviously a few days ago and I think it is important that we get back to a level of atmospherics that can be described as near normal (in which) the LoC remains peaceful and there is no incident that is counter-productive and then we can think of moving forward in a meaningful way,” he said. INP
Pakistan gets the driver’s Judicial commission formed seat in Afghan peace process to probe NAB official’s death US gives Pakistan role of leading facilitator to urge Taliban to join peace negotiations
Justice (r) Javed Iqbal to head the commission, would furnish report within 2 weeks
ISLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD
SHAIQ HUSSAIN
AGENCIES
After years of reluctance, the US has finally agreed to give Pakistan a role of the leading facilitator in the Afghan reconciliation process, a significant development that would help persuade the Taliban to hold peace negotiations with the Afghan government and the US authorities. In previous years, the US had kept Pakistan out of the loop and even the covert talks between Taliban leaders and US officials in Qatar, which broke down early last year, were also held without taking Islamabad into confidence. However, it is no more the case and now the Obama administration has reconciled to the fact that without a key role by Pakistan, the Afghan reconciliation process would yield very little or no results, said a diplomatic sources privy to the latest developments on the front of peace plan for Afghanistan. The US authorities are now urging Islamabad to impress upon the Afghan Taliban to join the reconciliation process, as that would facilitate the success of its exit strategy of 2014 for its troops stationed in the neighbouring country. According to the sources, Pakistan also believed that continuity of war and violence in Afghanistan would harm its own peace and stability and it was in close contact with other friendly states and facilitators in the Afghan peace dialogue, like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE,
With no FIR lodged into the murder of NAB investigating officer Kamran Faisal’s mysterious death even after two days, the federal government on Sunday announced the constitution of a judicial commission to probe into the case. Justice (r) Javed Iqbal would be the head of the commission that would complete the probe within two weeks. Meanwhile, police has summoned all four NAB personnel part of Faisal’s team fro interrogation. They include Deputy Director Asghar Khan, the team leader. Faisal was tasked with investigating the Guddu Barrage rental power project and his associates included data entry operator Momin Khan, Sohaib and naib qasid Najeeb. Statements of all of them would be recorded today (Monday) and Faisal’s colleagues would also be questioned about the purported pressure the deceased had been facing while investigating the matter. Assistant Commissioner (Secretariat) Nauman Yousaf has been appointed the enquiry officer to probe into Faisal’s death, and he would be recording the statements of deceased’s close associates, hostel staff and other NAB officials. Efforts were also underway for obtaining the data of the cell phone in use by Faisal. Police said breaking into Faisal’s room by NAB officials’ was a fatal error as
over the matter. “The release of around 26 Taliban leaders, including key figures like Mullah Nooruddin Turabi and Anwarul Haq Mujahid, by Islamabad in the last couple of months shall be seen as Pakistan playing a major supportive role for the success of peace efforts in Afghanistan,” a source said on condition of anonymity. He said that in the coming days, Islamabad would release some more Taliban prisoners as was announced recently, but the process would be carried out at a controlled pace. “Pakistan would like to see the impact of release of Taliban prisoners on the top Taliban leadership and it would make further decisions in accordance with that,” he said. He said the release of Taliban prisoners by Islamabad was an important step, but he believed that the Taliban would also like to see the acceptance of their other
important demands, such as removal of their names from the United Nations’ terrorists’ list and release of their senior leaders from the US prison in Guantanamo Bay. “Much depends on what the US does in the coming days to accept these two key demands and if that is done, it would help a lot in persuading the Taliban to come to the table of negotiations,” he said. Another diplomatic source, seeking anonymity, said Pakistan would play its due role for the peace in Afghanistan, but it was also necessary that the US and other stakeholders in the Afghan imbroglio came up with a clear policy for efforts aimed at peace and stability in the war-torn country. “Pakistan will not like to see a destabilised Afghanistan once again after the planned US exit, as that would not only be disastrous for Kabul but also harm peace and stability on this side of the border,” he added.
it could have distorted available evidence. They said the reason for not registering a case was simply that no one had contacted law enforcement authorities as yet regarding the issue, adding that only a report had been lodged regarding his death with the Secretariat police station. The police team investigating the case has sent samples for forensic tests to Lahore and the results would be received within seven days. Sources Islamabad Inspector General of Police Bani Amin was himself supervising the investigation team that include SP City Zone Muhammad Ilyas, DSP Secretariat Circle, ASP City Circle and the Secretariat Police SHO. Initial reports had said the cause of Faisal’s death was suicide, however, his relatives claim that he was murdered and were seeking a judicial inquiry. Kamran’s relatives alleged that the
body bore torture marks and that could be clearly seen in video footages aired by various channels. However, the report from Poly Clinic said the body had no torture marks. Faisal’s father, Abdul Hameed, said on Sunday there were marks on the wrists of his son, indicating that his hands had been tied. The NAB officer’s death came days after the Supreme Court ordered the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and 15 others in connection with a corruption case the officer was investigating. Hameed, a retired officer of the agriculture department, further said that his son was a devout Muslim, and had performed Haj in 2005 and Umrah in 2006 with his wife. “Let me make it clear, Kamran Faisal was a true Muslim. He used to offer prayers five times a day; He could not even think about committing suicide – an act forbidden in Islam,” he said, while talking on phone from Mian Channu, his native town. He requested the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the incident and ascertain the real cause of his son’s death. Faisal’s uncle Mohammad Iqbal had said on Saturday that he had witnessed torture marks on the deceased arms, back and wrist while giving him a full body bathing ritual before the burial. He said that after witnessing those marks, the claim had been reinforced that Kamran Faisal did not commit suicide but was murdered.
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:51 AM Page 2
02 News
Monday, 21 January, 2013
newS
Today’s
Cameron says fight against terrorism in North Africa may last decades
CaRtoon
infotainment Cat picks better stocks than money managers
Quick Look
on Page 11
Story on Page 08
Story on Page 14
Bill for creation of Bahawalpur province to be presented in NA ISLAMABAD: A Bill to create a new province comprising 3 divisions of South Punjab has been finalised for presentation in the National Assembly (NA). The new province, which is named as Bahawalpur province, will constitute 3 divisions including Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Bahawalpur. The bill will be presented in the next session of NA and government has geared up the pace of contacts with other political parties to solicit their support on the creation of the new province. The PPP-led government is of the opinion that the new province will not be created on an ethnic basis but will be carved out keeping in view the local and regional administrative requirements. When contacted by the government on the matter, PML-N raised objection on the bill saying it supported creation of the province but had an objection on the name of the province. Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, said PML-N was in favour of restoration of Bahawalpur province but it had differences on the name of the new province. ONLINE
Mumtaz Bhutto says he will contest polls against Faryal TANDO ADAM: Former Sindh chief minister Mumtaz Bhutto on Sunday announced that if Faryal Talpur, sister of President Asif Zardari, contested elections from Larkana, he would contest against her. At a press conference at the residence of Ghulam Mustafa Marri, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader said he had been away from parliamentary politics for 16 years but oppose the election of Faryal. Bhutto said despite strong opposition by the people of Sindh against the dual local government system, the rulers did not pay heed to their voice. He said the people have been left with no alternative but to stage a long march like that of Dr Tahirul Qadri to get their voice heard. He said he had tried to awaken nationalists of Sindh for 26 years but could not succeed and only then he decided to join the PML-N. He said he made it clear to the PML-N leadership that controversial projects like Kalabagh Dam should not be constructed unless all the provinces give their consent in this regard. INP
Seven people killed in Karachi violence Seven people have been killed in target killing incidents in Karachi on Sunday, a private TV channel reported. Unidentified gunmen killed three people near Banaras Pull. Police said the deceased were fater and son along with a neighbour. Fear spread throughout the area after the incident took place. In Orangi Town, one person was shot dead while another was killed in Mehran Town after being fired on. Two people were injured after being shot in Memon Goth. The injured were rushed to hospital where one of the wounded succumbed to his injuries. Separately, one man was killed in Buffer Zone after being shot. MONItORING DESk
NA, Senate to meet today ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly and the Senate will be called in session at the Parliament House at 4pm today (Monday). Sources said the sessions are expected to be fiery in view of the political temperature following the long march by Tehreek Minhajul Quran chief Dr Tahirul Qadri. They said it was expected that the government will announce the election date during the session to pacify the political temperature and to give opposition parties a sense of satisfaction following the Lahore Declaration on Wednesday that demanded the government announce the election plan without delay. The sources further said the incidents of killings in Quetta and Khyber Agency and the resultant protests at Alamdar Road and Governor House in Peshawar would also be taken up by the opposition parties. INP
LAHORE: Members of the civil society and students protesting against Bara and Balochistan killing incidents outside the Lahore Press Club on Sunday. INP
Pakistan angered at videogame depicting country as terror haven
P
MonItorIng DeSk
AKISTANI shopkeepers are boycotting two new video games which they say portray the country as a failed state, riddled with terrorism and where security forces are in league with al-Qaeda. Both Medal of Honor: Warfighter and Call of Duty: Black Ops II are first-person shooter games, where players take on the persona of an American special forces agent and feature ultra realistic graphics. Terrorism and the role of local security forces are hugely sensitive subjects in Pakistan, which has barely recovered from the shock of discovering that Osama bin Laden was hiding in plain sight, barely 30 miles from Islamabad. All Pakistan CD, DVD, Audio Cassette Traders and Manufacturers Association President Saleem Memon said he had written to members ordering them not to stock the controversial games after receiving dozens of complaints. “The problem is that there are things that are against Pakistan and they have included criticism of our army,” he said. “They show the country in a very poor light,” he added. The latest instalment of the Medal of Honor series opens with American Navy Seals coming ashore in Karachi docks on a mission to destroy a black market arms shipment. But when
their detonation sets off a second, bigger explosion they realise they have stumbled on a much bigger terrorist plot, sparking a global manhunt. A chaotic car chase through the city follows amid warnings that the ISI-Pakistan’s intelligence agency-is on the way. Memon added there was a danger children would be brainwashed into thinking foreign agents were at war inside Karachi, possibly leading them into the arms of militants. “These games show a misleading idea of what is happening in the city. You don’t get the CIA all the way through Grand Theft Auto,” he said. The game was developed with help from Seal Team Six, including one member who was on the covert raid to kill Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in 2011. That mission-along with the arrest of a CIA agent, Raymond Davis, for shooting dead two men in Lahore-prompted a fresh wave of conspiracy theories in Pakistan about foreign agents roaming the country at will. At the same time, the country is frequently accused of double dealing, allowing insurgent groups to maintain havens in its border lands despite being a US ally in the war against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The second game, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, features a mission in Pakistan to gather intelligence on a Nicaraguan narco-terrorist. Although shops in all of Pakistan’s major cities have been told of the ban, the game was still available on Friday in shops crammed with pirated CDs in Islamabad.
Olson assures Malik of assistance to law enforcement officials
ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson on Sunday met Interior Minister Rehman Malik and exchanged views on bilateral ties and security situation in the country, particularly in FATA. The US ambassador lauded excellent security arrangements by the interior minister on the occasion of long march. He also praised the minister for security arrangements for embassies and diplomats. He said the US praised the sacrifices and contributions made by Pakistan in the war on terror. He said the US would extend all necessary assistance and equipment to help Pakistani law enforcers to check incidents of suicide attacks and bombings. Malik said Pakistan was doing its best to improve law and order but it had its limitations. He said due to a shortage of resources the law-enforcement agencies were handicapped. He welcomed the envoy’s assurance for the equipment and hoped that this would help in nabbing the miscreants. INP
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:51 AM Page 3
News 03
Monday, 21 January, 2013
aRtS & enteRtainment
LahioRe
SPoRtS
Family time for Naomi Watts
Building blaze clims six lives
jamshed wants to make his presence felt outside Asia too
editoRiaL
justice where it is due:
Kamran Faisal deserves a fair inquiry.
Comment kamran Rehmat says; Television drama: There may yet be something to take from all that jazz.
Arif Ansar says; Transformation of Al-Qaeda: What are AQ & Associates up to?
Zoe Richards says; When the circus came to town: TuQ’s long march: one of the best things to happen to reality TV.
Story on Page 06
Story on Page 13
All stakeholders want free, fair elections: Kaira ISLAMABAD APP
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said all stakeholders, including political parties and civil society, want free and fair elections in the country. Talking to a private TV channel on Sunday, Kaira said there would be no delay in the elections and the government would consult all stakeholders for the interim set-up to ensure free, fair and transparent polls. He said the chief election commissioner had been appointed with the consensus of all political parties. The minister said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) did not believe in political victimisation. He said the government believed in dialogue, and a four-member legal team had been formed to look into Tahirul Qadri’s demands. He said the PPP had completed its mandated tenure with the support of its coalition partners and politics of reconciliation. “We have promoted the culture of negotiation in politics which is evident from the peaceful end to Minhajul Quran’s long march,” he said. Kaira said the PPP had always respected political agreement as it was part of the democratic culture. He said tax recovery during the PPP government was a record in the country’s history. “We have provided jobs to people and raised the salaries of government employees.” Kaira said President Asif Ali Zardari was fully committed to conducting free, fair and transparent elections. He had no involvement in the interim set-up, which according to the Constitution would be installed in consultation with the opposition, Kaira added.
Story on Page 15
articles on Page 10-11
Chaudhry Shujaat calls long march a success g
PmL-Q president says he advised President Zardari not to use force against marchers MonItorIng DeSk
P
AKISTAN Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday called Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march successful, adding that the Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran chief won the show. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami on Samaa News, the PML-Q president said, “When I went to Dr Tahirul Qadri to congratulate him on his rally on December 23, 2012, at Minar-e-Pakistan, Dr Qadri invited me on dinner at his house. We didn’t talk about long march.” Shujaat also said, “When we
were there at his house he told us about how he made his party schools and institutions in different places of the world. It was not a formal conversation.” “Situation would have worsened if the government had decided to use force to end the march,” he said. To a question, the PML-Q president said Dr Qadri became an “instant hit” within no time due to which his opponents were making allegations. Chaudhry Shujaat added, “I refused to go alone for talks and demanded a team of government’s ministers. We took MQM members too with us. We were 10 leaders who went to hold talks with Dr
Qadri. The PML-Q leader said, “Because I was sensing the same condition I felt during Lal Masjid situation he told. He also said that I told the PM that the team should be given right to take decision. To a question, he said, “We have disputes with Zardari only “When I came to know about the government’s plan to use force, I advised President Zardari against taking such step,” he added.
CHAMAN: Supporters of the JUI-F protest against the governor’s rule in Balochistan at the PakAfghan border in Chaman on Sunday. INP
Fazl terms governor’s rule in Balochistan undemocratic PeSHAWAr ONLINE
Fazlur Rehman, chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), on Sunday termed governor’s rule in Balochistan undemocratic. Talking to reporters in Peshawar, he declared the move an unfortunate one, since the entire country faced extreme lawlessness while the governor’s rule was only imposed in Balochistan and not in other volatile parts of the country. He was also chagrined over killing of innocent citizens under pretext of war on terror, and said that while Balochistan faced governor’s rule following a ‘mere sit-in’ while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) faced killings of ministers. He also announced that all political parties had agreed over a consensus regarding caretaker setup, adding that in case President Asif Zardari tenders resignation then the National Assembly would have to elect a new president for next five years. The cleric accused ANP of fostering terrorism in KP, and warned that the party – in a bid to absolve itself of all blames – was trying to join the All Parties Conference, adding that the move would be unacceptable to his party. Expressing his desire for restoration of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, he avoided to comment on Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march.
PIA in UK: Great contacts to fly with! LonDon MAjID kHAttAk
As the corruption case involving the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is pending in the Supreme Court, reports of favouritism in transfers and appointments at the national flag carrier’s UK bureau reveal more about the causes behind the airline’s dilapidated state. Sources told Pakistan Today that postings and hiring at all levels – from the airline’s UK country manager to local staff – were made on political recommendations in violation of rules and regulations. In this regard, sources said that PIA Country Manager for UK Mansoor Mela was appointed at the request of his brother, federal minister Ghias Mela. Mansoor Mela is currently suspended over allegedly causing delay in the departure flight of President Asif Ali Zardari at London Heathrow Airport, but sources say that he is still working as the PIA’s country manager in the UK. Moreover, PIA manager at Birmingham, Sultan Mir, has been appointed with the blessings of
his brother Sabir Mir, a controversial former inspector of Punjab Police and now a stalwart of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Sabir Mir was also involved in the alleged recovery of a fake Kalashnikov rifle from Sheikh Rahseed’s residence at Lal Havali during the second government of Benazir Bhutto. PIA sources say that Sultan Mir has already completed his tenure, but is using his political influence to get another three-year term at Birmingham Airport. Reportedly, Mir is being backed by PIA Customer Services Director Mazhar Kiyani in this regard. Similarly, Zulfiqar Ali Bijarani has been posted as PIA’s manager at Manchester following pressure by his uncle, Mir Hajar Khan Bijarani – a PPP MNA from Sindh. Zulfiqar Bijarani was lucky enough to be given an out-of-turn promo-
tion as well as a foreign posting. Under PIA rules, promotion and foreign posting at the same time are not possible, but in the case of a blue-eyed officer, everything is possible. Thanks to the efforts by uncle Bijarani. Last but not the least, PPP’s information secretary for its London chapter, Tanvir Agha, has been employed in the airline’s office at Heathrow Airport. Agha, with no prior experience of the airline industry, was accommodated on the recommendation of a senior PPP leader. A PPP source said that Agha was still working as the PPP’s information secretary. Despite repeated attempts, PIA General Manager (Media) Sultan Hassan could not be contacted to comment on the issue.
PTI to fully participate in next general elections: Hashmi ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Javed Hashmi has said the party would fully participate in the next general elections. Addressing a public meeting, the PTI president said his party would provide a bright future for the youth of Pakistan. He said if the PTI was voted to power, it would close all doors of corruption in the country. He urged the youth to rise above all differences and reject corrupt rulers to save the country from disaster. Referring to Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march and sit-in of victims’ families in Quetta, Hashmi called upon the masses to stand up for a change, as there was no one to listen their hue and cry. Expressing optimism despite failures of the federal and Punjab governments on all fronts, Hashmi said the people were tired of the two parties playing a game of musical chairs, ruling the country turn-by-turn for the past three decades and bringing disaster to the nation. Hashmi made it clear that the people would not let either the PML-N or PPP come to power again as the recent sit-in and long march had shown that the masses would vote for the PTI in the next general elections. AGENCIES
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:51 AM Page 4
04 News
Monday, 21 January, 2013
iran hangs two people for attack video posted on Youtube teHrAn AGENCIES
Iran state radio said two men were hanged publicly after posting a video on YouTube showing them robbing and assaulting a man with a machete on a Tehran street. The execution was carried out on Sunday after officials called for a speedy investigation and trial because of public outrage. The video emerged in early December and was later shown on state TV. The two men, both 24, were convicted of “waging war against God,” a broad charge that can cover actions ranging from anti-state organising to violent assaults. The semi-official ISNA news agency said nearly 300 people witnessed the hangings. ISNA said two accomplices received sentences that included 10 years in prison and 74 lashes each.
PmL-n starts consultation for caretaker setup ISLAMABAD ONLINE
ISLAMABAD: the sun makes it way beyond the horizon on Sunday. oNLINe
Prince Harry to serve in Afghanistan for third time LonDon INP
Prince Harry is set to return to action in Afghanistan for a third time, according to reports. The royal Apache gunship ace is due home in the next few weeks after his latest four-month tour in Helmand province. Now the British Ministry of Defence’s top brass are mulling over whether to send him out again for another go at the enemy, the Daily Star reported. During his latest tour of duty the 28-yearold prince has fired Hellfire missiles at the Taliban and flown daily missions protecting British ground troops. Defence planners are working on detailed strategies to cover the withdrawal of troops who will need Apache protection. Apache crews may have to serve longer than many ground units to protect British and Afghan troops during the handover to local control.
EuRoPE fREEzEs LonDon AGENCIES
Extreme winter weather swept across western Europe on Sunday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at London’s main international airport and claiming several lives in Spain, Portugal, Scotland and France, including those of three Mali-bound soldiers. The frigid temperatures also caused delays and cancellations on major railway lines including the Eurostar train service, and transport authorities warned of further traffic disruptions with more blizzards forecast for Monday. In London, thousands of passengers were forced to camp out on the floor at Heathrow Airport overnight as hundreds of flights to and from the British capital were cancelled. London’s other main airports, Gatwick and Stansted, managed to operate fairly normally Saturday. At Heathrow, poor visibility meant tens of thousands of passengers were missing out on their flights today – they were informed yesterday that 200 departures would be cancelled. Airport operators were expecting 11 hours of snow to fall. Runways were being kept clear but Heathrow was running a lower volume of flights to cope with the reduced visibility, a spokesman said. Cancellations at other airports including Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva and Vienna were also likely to have an effect, she added.
BJP promoting terrorism, says Indian home minister g
Shinde says investigation reveals Hindus behind 2007 train bombing that killed 68 people neW DeLHI
I
AGENCIES
NDIAN Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde accused key Hindu nationalist groups, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of promoting terrorism at their training camps. Shinde said an investigation by government agencies revealed involvement of Hindus in the bombing of a Pakistan-bound train that killed 68 passengers in 2007 and an explosion in a crowded market in western India’s Malegaon town that killed seven people in 2008. At a meeting of the ruling Congress party in the western Indian city of Jaipur on Sunday, Shinde accused main opposition BJP and its parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of blaming minority Muslims for these bombings. BJP spokesman Mukhtar Naqvi demanded an apology from Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for Shinde’s “baseless and provocative charges”.
“Their (Congress’) destructive mindset is reflected in the statement of the home minister. The statement is highly objectionable. It is not only unacceptable but also dangerous,” Naqvi said while talking to media personnel. Such statements, said Naqvi, amount to giving the real terrorists a clean chit. Shinde’s statement has given “oxygen” to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, he said. “They have also strengthened anti-India terrorist groups,” he added. “Sometimes I feel Congress has become a group of cowards because terror strikes are repeatedly happening in the country and terrorists are mushrooming here,” he said. “Pakistani troops are beheading our jawans and our prime minister takes too long to respond to that. Our government thinks repeatedly before giving any reaction to such incidents. A warning to Pakistan is given only when the nation is agitated, which is equivalent to an empty warning, leading to ridicule,” Naqvi said.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Nisar Ali Khan has started consultation with political parties over a caretaker setup. The PML-N leader called on Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman on Sunday. During a detailed meeting, the current political scenario, imposition of governor’s rule in Balochistan and the caretaker government came under discussion. Sources in the PML-N said Nisar had called on Achakzai under the strategy made by the opposition parties in Raiwind, during Tahirul Qadri’s long march. PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has given the task to Nisar to start consultations with other political parties. Nisar also met Jamaat-e-Islami Munawwar Hassan on Wednesday in this regard.
naB probing 5 more Balochistan ministers for corruption QUettA INP
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Balochistan is probing corruption in various ministries of the provincial government, and has extended its investigation to five more ministers. NAB sources on Sunday said earlier enquiries into the corruption and irregularities of 11 ministries had been completed and the report was sent to the NAB chairman for further action. The records of five more ministries had also been seized, they added. The sources said the ministries of Education, Health, Social Welfare and others were being probed and various ministers could be arrested following clearance from higher authorities. They said after getting approval from the NAB chairman, they would arrest the ministers, adding that there had been massive corruption in all sorts of funds in Balochistan, where the ministers plundered national resources and did nothing for the poor masses.
Rahul promises to change old ways of elitist politics A day after being elevated as the vice president of India’s ruling Congress party, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday promised to fix the prevailing elitism in the nation’s politics, address the impatient anger of its youth and bring change, but told his supporters not to expect change too quickly. Amid loud cheers from a hall full of party workers in Jaipur, the 42-yearold scion of India’s oldest and most privileged political dynasty outlined the coming challenges in a country that is rapidly modernising, has an assertive middle-class that wants to change the old ways of doing politics, and where more than two-thirds of its billion-plus people are under age 35, says a report published in The Washington Post. “The voices of a billion Indians are today telling us that they want a greater say in government, in politics and administration, they are telling us that the course of their lives cannot be decided by a
handful of people behind closed doors who are not fully accountable to them,” Gandhi said, speaking about the increasing push among Indians for a more participatory style of decision-making. “They are telling us that India’s govern-
mental system is stuck in the past, it has become a system that robs people of their voice.” Gandhi said “the answer isn’t in running the old system better, but in completely transforming” it. He did not, however, say how he planned to do so, but mentioned the ambitious new program to assign each Indian a unique biometric-based identity number. The government hopes to use these number to identify the poor and send them welfare money directly, cutting out the middlemen. Gandhi’s colleagues hope that his promotion will galvanise the demoralised party at a time when the Congress party-led coalition government in New Delhi has been besieged with public anger over corruption scandals and inflation. Thousands of young protesters poured into the streets last month and demanded measures to ensure the safety of women, better policing and tougher laws against rape, after the horrific gang-rape and murder of a young
woman in New Delhi. But the police beat them back with canes, water canons and tear gas shells, and politicians continued to make misogynistic remarks. “Why is our youth angry? Why are they out on the street? They are angry because they are alienated, they are excluded from political class, they watch from the sidelines as the powerful drive around in their (cars with red beacon lights),” Gandhi said referring to the ivory-tower lifestyles of India’s politicians. “There is a young and impatient India and it is demanding a greater voice in the nation’s future.” Earlier in the day, the party discussed ways to engage young voters via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, which have triggered some of the protests. In a party that has been criticised for being completely controlled by the NehruGandhi family, Gandhi said his goal is to prepare 40 to 50 leaders who were capable of running the country. MoNITorINg Desk
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:51 AM Page 5
Monday, 21 January, 2013
When life is not worth living anymore 125 people committed suicide in the past month-and-a-half n Poverty, domestic feuds cited as primary causes for the rise in suicides
n
LAHore RANA HAIDER
F
ROM December till the second week of January, 2013, 125 people committed suicide in the country. Most of those who ended their lives did so owing to poverty or domestic feuds. In the same time period, around 55 reported people attempted to end their lives but were eventually saved according to a report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). The story of one Nawaz Ahmad-a resident of Lahorewho attempted suicide is not only heart shaking but also a reflection of the sorry state of affairs in a country plagued by inflation, unemployment and a lack of basic necessities of life. Depressed by not being able to meet the needs of his family, Nawaz attempted to commit suicide. “I have four sons, the eldest is 10 years old and the youngest is 4 years old. Having only passed Matriculation, I usually earn my living as a labourer. But no matter how hard I work, I am unable to make enough to feed my entire family,” he said talking to Pakistan Today. “Although we are devoid of electricity, gas and water, the bills keep piling up perpetually. I hardly make enough to afford a meal per day for my family, let alone other necessities of life. On days I don’t find a shift, I cannot bear to go home and see my children sleep in hunger,” he said, explaining the circumstances that made him lose heart. “Our political leaders do not spare a thought for people like me. All they have ever done is indulge in loot and plunder, caring the least about doing something for the poor,” he said. Despite working all day long, labourers like Nawaz are unable to eat more than once a day, a phenomenon prevalent throughout the country. “I see people all around me living extravagant lives in the metropolis, while my children go without meals on most days. What do I do faced with such a situation? At times like these, death is the only option that can end my misery,” he said. “I’ve tried that route a couple of times, I guess I can’t even die on my own terms,” he whispered, perhaps talking to himself. There is absolutely no future security for families like Nawaz’s in Pakistan. Their children remain uneducated and indulge in child labour to make ends meet, tying them in a perpetual circle whereby generations are forced to live a menial life, well below the poverty line. 65 years following independence, Pakistan has yet to come up with a solid social security plan that covers this stratum of society. “I am ready to battle these circumstances because my 10-year-old has made me promise not to lose heart. He made me realise how miserable my family would be if I left. He told me not to worry and started working at a tea shop where he makes a hundred bucks per day. He studies at night, and wants to become a person of substance some day so that he can end this wretchedness,” said Nawaz. The story of 10-year-old Yasir is not something new for most people. Instead of going to school, he works for a few rupees in the day and studies at night without a teacher. Nawaz’s wife Kausar has also started working as a tailor from her house. She said it was very difficult to find work at first but recently a neighbour had been bringing her ladies’ dresses which she stitched day and night to make around 6,000 rupees per month. “I want to support my husband as much as I can and don’t want to see him in distress,” she said. She was in fear that Nawaz might try to end his life again, and prayed for his long life. “Without him, our life is unimaginable,” she said. “My son has made him promise that he would not do it again,” said Kausar, proudly narrating how Yasir started working to boost his father’s morale. “With the Almighty’s help things are better now. We are able to make rent and pay our bills,” said Kausar. Nawaz’s family now has a glimpse of hope and see some light at the end of a very long tunnel. With three members of the family working and the determination of their 10-yearold, they are hopeful of a better tomorrow, whenever it might come. For now, they are battling circumstances for their survival. According to HRCP, out of the 125 people who committed suicide in the last two months, 25 were women and 67 ended their lives because of domestic feuds. 43 out of these 125 hung themselves to death, while out of all cases of attempted suicide only 13 were registered in an FIR.
Qadri’s march dealt a mortal blow to the government: Mubashar LAHore UMAIR AZIZ
Dr Tahirul Qadri’s movement should not be considered to be a purely Western initiative as he has been promoting Pakistan’s interests and preaching his interpretation of Islam for a very long time, Pakistan People’s Party-Shaheed Bhutto Chairperson Dr Mubashar Hassan told Pakistan Today. While people are still busy trying to make sense of the objectives of the long march and the way it ended, the veteran politician, in an exclusive talk, shared his observations. Hassan believes that Qadri’s sudden and overwhelming intervention in the political arena has served to strike a ‘mortal’ blow to President Zardari’s tottering government and brought politics out on the street in the form of a ‘dharna’ as an effective tool. It has also served to change the country’s political climate, led people to
champion a non-extremist and a pacifist leader and allowed other leaders like Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to support his cause and overshadow Zardari. Moreover, the long march set the Election Commission of Pakistan, the gargantuan task of sorting out ‘sadiq’ and ‘ameen’ candidates from the pool. However, Hassan said the thorough research evident in Qadri’s December 23 speech, and the precision, planning and implementation of the long march was reminiscent of the American raid on Osama Bin Laden. No political party in Pakistan has organised such a smooth and successful protest before, he added. Hassan admitted that the West would have reason to be pleased with Qadri’s operation, as Pakistan has only ever been famous for exporting terrorism and extremists. However American support in the matter will be evident once Qadri discusses his views on Pakistan’s economic
and foreign policy matters. Answering a question regarding the recent developments on the line of control, Hassan said, that might just be a coincidence even though we may not be able to completely erase speculations. He said, “I’ve read enough American history to conclude that the US would never shirk from grasping an opportunity that would help better its image in a country it has lost sympathy and support in, that said, nothing conclusive can be said about American involvement in this case.” In response to a question regarding America’s policy shift towards supporting Salafi Islam, he said that he had not seen evidence in this regard. “Why would the US have an issue with an interpretation of Islam that did not oppose it?” he added. “I do not support Qadri, but I share his observations and I would like to meet with him to discuss his stance on social, economic and cultural issues,” Hassan concluded.
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:52 AM Page 6
06 Lahore Building blaze claims six lives Monday, 21 January, 2013
LAHore StAFF REPORt
A
ROUND six people including a child were killed in a fire that erupted in a plaza on Abbot Road, near Lakshmi Chowk, on Sunday while 43 victims were also rescued from the building, officials reported. The fire that had erupted in a plaza on Lakshmi Chowk spread quickly to four adjacent buildings. Rescue and fire teams had rushed to the site and managed to control the fire after several hours and rescued 43 people who had been trapped in these buildings. Fire fighters and rescue teams were also called in from other parts of the city. Around six persons including a child were killed in the fire. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment where the condition of four victims was reported to be critical. Rescue officials claimed the fire had been caused by short-circuiting.
Blinding fog freezes airport, motorway traffic
‘Lahore had only one police inspector in 1874’ LAHore APP
MonItorIng DeSk The Allama Iqbal International Airport has halted all flights due to the severe foggy conditions in the province, and resume operations once visibility improves, a private TV channel reported on Sunday. “The airport will not see any take-offs or landings until conditions for flying improve”, authorities said. Many national and international flights to and from Lahore have been diverted to other cities, while many others have been cancelled. The Motorway Police has also suspended traffic on (M2) Lahore-Islamabad section, as the fog has brought visibility down to zero. The Sheikhupura-Lahore-Pindi-Bhattian-Faisalabad part of motorway has also been closed for traffic until further notice. The police have advised motorists to switch on fog-lights while driving, travel in convoys or avoid travelling if possible.
It is difficult to believe that only one police inspector was posted in Lahore some 137 years ago for crime prevention and maintaining law and order in the city. Tracing the history of Police, former Inspector General of Police Zia Ul Hassan quoted the historical reprints of "Lahore as it was" said on Sunday that in 1874, the police force was headed by the District Superintendent and had its headquarters near the Wazir Khan Mosque.
Lahore police, at that time, consisted of one Inspector, two Deputy Inspectors, 29 sergeants and 342 constables; all natives. The budget of the force was Rs 34, 927 which was borne by the municipality. He said one police station was situated in Anakali near the Agra Bank, one outside the Lahori Gate, one near the Bhatti Gate and one near the junction of four roads on the Mall, known as Chairing Cross. Zia ul Hassan said the city comprised of 19, 830 houses in 1875 with a population of 92,
Teams constituted to nab poachers LAHore APP
Cine StaR Ph: 35157462
PaRentaL guidanCe taBLe no 21 JaCk ReaCheR the hoBBit: an unexPeCted JouRneY daBangg 2 daBangg 2
01:30Pm 03:15Pm 05:15Pm 07:30Pm 10:30Pm 01:00am
SoZo woRLd Ph: 36674271
daBangg 2 08:00, 10:30 Pm daBangg 2 05:30 Pm matRu ki BiJLee ka mandoLa 12:00, 02:45 08:00 Pm
SoZo goLd Ph: 36674271
JaB tak hai Jaan 05:00 Pm daBangg 2 02:30 Pm matRu ki BiJLee ka mandoLa 08:00, 10:45 Pm Saadi Love StoRY 08:00 Pm
SuPeR Cinema at RoYaL PaLm Ph: 111-602-602 36118679
taLaaSh daBangg 2 matRu ki BiJLi ka mandoLa RiSe of guaRdianS (3d) Life of Pi(3d) matRu ki BiJLi ka mandoLa fun SiZe
01:15 Pm 04:00 Pm 06:15, 09:00 Pm 12:30 Pm 02:15 Pm 04:30 Pm 07:15 Pm
035, out of whom 40, 777 were females. There were 6617 houses in the suburbs which housed around 36, 406 inhabitants. The total number of English living in the city were 1723, Punjabis 109, 323, Hindustanis 11, 334, Bengalis 729, Afghans 474 and un-classified nationalities around 4,858. Out of all these, 1, 979 were agriculturalists, 17, 852 were manufacturers and traders, 973 were described as professionals, 2343 clerks, 278 pensioners and 240 labourers.
The Punjab Wildlife Department, on special directives of Wildlife and Fisheries Forest Secretary Shah Nawaz Badar, has constituted mobile teams to launch a campaign against poachers to discourage illegal hunting and preserve wildlife in the province. Official sources said on Sunday that poachers, irrespective of political or social standing, will be heavily penalised and FIRs will be registered against them. Badar said all deputies, assistant directors and other staff members had been directed to remain vigilant in this regard. "Over 50 check-posts have been set up in various
Special remission for convicts who teach and work hard LAHore APP
Educated convicts who teach other convicts and prisoners who are under trial in jails, during their confinement, get 8 days of special remission a month. Camp Jail Superintendent Ejaz Asghar said on Sunday that according to the jail manual, only highly qualified convicts who showed good behaviour and excellent discipline were engaged to impart basic teaching to illiterate convicts and under-trial prisoners. He said those working in various sections of the jail factory were entitled to a five-day remission a month, and those working on Sundays got six days. Convicts who performed duties at the roti plant secured a 7-day remission. He said 2,993 prisoners were currently housed in the jail against its sanctioned strength of 1,050 persons.
hunting areas of the province and staff members have been deployed to keep watch," he said. All guns, ammunition, vehicles and other hunting paraphernalia will be seized from poachers, he added. Sources said that special areas had been assigned for hunting during the hunting season only. Hunting at night and the netting of animals and birds had already been banned, Badar said. Badar said the industrial revolution had caused large scale destruction of natural habitat and the eco-system. "Wildlife parks cum breeding centres play a central role in the preservation and captive breeding of indigenous and exotic wildlife species, besides providing enjoyable recreational facilities to the public," he said.
Political parties afraid of Pti’s new alliances: ahsan
LAHore ONLINE
Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Ahsan Rasheed said on Sunday the political parties were afraid of PTI’s popularity its new alliances in Raiwind and Islamabad. While addressing a meeting of PTI members, he said that once again PTI had maintained its unique identity against status quo and no one would be able to compete with it. Ahsan Rasheed said Imran Khan had given new dimensions to PTI and the intra party elections would be of great significance and would leave positive effects on the political history of the country. “General elections are likely to be announced any time and we should use intra party elections as a mass contact campaign and bring maximum people into the circle of PTI,” he said. The meeting was attended by former MPA Aleem Khan, Shoaib Siddiquee, Amin Zaki, Hamid Meraj, Sardar Kamil Umer, Nazir Chohan, Mian Javed Ali, Tahar Ashraf Bara, Dr Shahid Siddique, Sohail Asif, Mian Tariq, Farrakh Javed Moon and Sheikh Aamer among others.
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:52 AM Page 7
Lahore 07
Monday, 21 January, 2013
weatheR uPdateS
13high°C 0C 06 Low
tueSdaY
PaRtLY CLoudY
wedneSdaY thuRSdaY 15°C i 05°C
14°C i 06°C
15°C i 05 °C
PRaYeR timingS fajr 5:36
Sunrise 7:01
Zuhr 12:14
asr 3:07
maghrib 5:27
isha 6:51
CitY diReCtoRY emeRgenCY heLP ReSCue edhi ContRoL motoRwaY PoLiCe PoLiCe goveRnoR’S houSe Chief miniSteR’S houSe fiRe BRigade BomB diSPoSaL mCL ComPLaintS LahoRe waSte diSPoSaL
1122 115 130 15 99200081-7 99203226 16 99212111 99211022-29 1139
hoSPitaLS mid CitY 37573382-3 SeRviCeS 99203402-11 maYo 99211100-9 geneRaL 35810892-8 Sheikh Zaid 35865731 SiR ganga Ram 99200572 uCh 35763573-5 ittefaQ 35881981-85 Cmh 366996168-72 Shoukat khanum 35945100 Jinnah 111-809-809 adiL (defenCe) 36667275 ChiLdRen’S 99230901-3 defenCe nationaL hoSPitaL 111-17-18-19
BLood Bank fatmid iSLamiC aLLianCe
35210834-8 37588649/37535435
ComPLaint waPda Sui gaS
111-000-118 1199
RaiLwaYS CitY Station (enQuiRY) ReSeRvation RaiLwaY PoLiCe
117 99201772 1333
Saving circles are beating banks Saving circles, or committees, are helping many save up for hard times neWS DeSk LI has been selling wall clocks and wristwatches in a crowded Karachi market for 15 years. He’s been participating in savings circles with fellow shopkeepers for just as long, and has used the proceeds to buy a car and acquire a new store, according to a report by Bloomberg. Now he’s a few months away from getting Rs 400,000 rupees from a savings group of 16 shopkeepers into which he’s been paying Rs 1,000 a day for almost a year. He plans to put a down payment on an apartment. “This system is flawless,” says Ali, 35, who goes by one name. “You can never save this way without this binding commitment of making payments every day or every month. At banks there are hassles and procedures that waste time. This is simple. The organizer comes to collect the money himself, and because of the trust element, it’s a given that we’ll get the money.” Millions of Pakistanis save billions of rupees in informal, interest-free savings circles called ballot committees— popularly known as BCs—run by housewives, students, office workers, shopkeepers, even high-society ladies. Each member of a group of trusted friends or relatives contributes the same sum daily or monthly to a pool for a predetermined length of time, usually one year. Through a ballot, each participant is allotted a number indicating his or her turn. Every month, one participant gets the pool total. Everyone on the committee keeps contributing until each member gets a pot of cash. The organizer, who doesn’t charge a fee and collects contributions from each participant, often takes the first installment. Nafisa Arif, a Karachi housewife, has run BCs for 12 years. She’s handling four BCs involving 110 people, all of them relatives. “I only run committees in the family,” she says. “Otherwise there’s the danger someone can run away with the money.
A
That’s no fun.” No one knows the origins of savings circles, but they’re found in Africa and Latin America as well as Asia. “This system has existed in South Asia as long as I’ve known, and it was started by low-income women who were financially insecure,” says Ashfaque Hasan Khan, dean at the business school of the National University of Sciences & Technology in Islamabad. “The purpose was to hedge against a problem or to pay for a son or daughter’s wedding.” In India a similar savings plan, called a chit fund, flourishes. The big difference is that India’s savings circles, after
years of operating on their own, are now regulated by the government. No estimates exist of the total amount of the funds collected by the committees. In Karachi alone, the All Karachi Traders Alliance Association estimates Rs 10 million pour into ballot committees on a daily basis. “The size and volume of the circles is on the rise because inflationary pressures mean people need more cash now to do the same things,” says Dean Khan of National University. Inflation in Pakistan is close to 8 percent. While the official savings rate is 10.7
percent of gross domestic product, it is probably higher thanks to the committees. Another reason the ballot committees are flourishing is the low level of financial literacy in Pakistan and the reluctance of ordinary Pakistanis to take part in cumbersome banking procedures. “Coverage by bank branches is fairly limited, especially in rural areas,” says Sakib Sherani, chief executive officer at Macro Economic Insights, a research firm in Islamabad. “The ballot committees offer greater flexibility and avoid the hassle of traveling to a bank, keeping documentation, and paying service charges.” Only 14 percent of Pakistanis use a financial product from a formal financial institution, according to a 2009 World Bank report. That compares with 48 percent for India. But when informal financial networks such as the BCs are taken into account, 50.5 percent of Pakistanis have access to finance, according to the report. “Committees function in a very efficient way. We’ve yet to hear of a default, and they’re simply based on trust,” says Khan. “There’s also a psychological impact because it’s a forced saving: You pay and forget about that payment and then wait your turn. Then you get money in bulk with which you can do many things.” Nadeem, a laundry man in Karachi, started paying Rs 3,000 a month into a committee where each member eventually gets Rs 160,000. Nadeem is looking forward to his payout so he can put a new roof on his house. “These days expenses are endless, so there’s no other way to save,” he says. “Money just gets finished. This is the only means we have.” The bottom line: The savings rate in Pakistan is probably higher than the official 10.7 percent, thanks to the near-universal use of savings circles.
aiRPoRt fLight enQuiRY Pia ReSeRvation
114 111-786-786
thE tRiwizARD touRNAmENt
iNtERNAtioNAl JouRNAlism CoNfERENCE 2013
10th shAhJiwANA iNtERNAtioNAl DEBAtiNg ChAmPioNshiP
CoLLegeS / univeRSitieS PunJaB univeRSitY kinnaiRd CoLLege Queen maRY CoLLege govt. CoLLege univeRSitY umt LumS uet LCwu SuPeRioR CoLLege
99231257 99203781-4 36362942 111-000-010 35212801-10 35608000 36288666 99203072 111-000-078
Sat Jan 19 at 10:00 am venue : foRman ChRiStian CoLLege the triwizard tournament is a harry Potter Quiz open for all school, college and university students.
fRi Jan 25 at 02:00 am venue : PeaRL ContinentaL hoteL the conference focuses on the impact of social, economic, political, technological and educational changes on the practice of journalism.
fRi Jan 25 at 02:00 am venue : univeRSitY CoLLege LahoRe (uCL) Shahjiwana international debating Championship is the annual debating championship of the university College Lahore.
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:52 AM Page 8
08 News
Monday, 21 January, 2013
Algeria says siege death toll likely to rise after 23 hostages confirmed killed
g
three British also confirmed killed, three more missing, presumed dead g 107 foreign hostages freed MonItorIng DeSk
A
LGERIA’S government has said the death toll in a siege at a desert gas plant was likely to rise from the current confirmed figure of 23 hostages as well as 32 Islamist militants. Three British nationals were confirmed killed and three more were missing, presumed dead, David Cameron said in a statement from Chequers on Sunday morning, a figure that includes the Briton known to have died at the beginning of the four-day siege. Another British resident is presumed to have been killed, while 22 other Britons involved in the crisis at the In Amenas gas facility survived and have returned to the UK. Cameron said the “appalling terrorist incident” was now over. It began on Wednesday when an estimated 30 fighters identifying themselves as the Signers in Blood, a splinter group of al-Qaida in the Islamic Mahgreb, seized the gas plant near the Libyan border. “Tragically, we now know that three British nationals have been killed, and a further three are believed to be dead. And a further British resident is also believed to be dead,” he said. “I know the whole country will want to join me in send-
ing our sympathies and condolences to the families who have undergone an absolutely dreadful ordeal, and now face life without these very precious loved ones.” Cameron said the attack illustrated that terrorism was a growing problem in north Africa. “This is a global threat and it will require a global response. It will require a response that is about years, even decades, rather than months,” he said. Algeria’s interior ministry gave a tally of 23 hostage fatalities in the siege, with 107 foreign hostages freed along with 685 Algerian nationals. However, Mohamed Said, the government’s communications minister, said this might not be the final number. “I am afraid unfortunately to say that the death toll will go up,” he was quoted as saying by Algeria’s official news agency, APS. Among those reported killed was Abdul Rahman al-Nigeri, the Nigerien terrorist believed to have led the al-Qaida splinter group. The attackers came from six countries, according to Said. Details of the hostages killed remain limited, though reports said at least eight Algerian hostages had died along with two Japanese nationals and one from France. One American was confirmed dead. Statoil, the Norwegian company that runs the plant alongside Britain’s BP
and Algeria’s state oil company, Sonatrach, said five Norwegian staff were missing. A number of militants and hostages died on Thursday when Algerian special forces launched an initial assault, a plan not communicated in advance to Britain or the other foreign governments involved. A renewed attack on Saturday reportedly began following threats from the 11 surviving militants to blow up the plant and kill the hostages. There has been concern in London and elsewhere about the lack of notification from the Algerian government, but Cameron stressed the difficulty of the situation. He said: “No one should underestimate the difficulties of responding to an attack on this scale with 30 terrorists absolutely determined to take lives, and we should recognise all the Algerians have done to work with us and to help and co-ordinate with us, and I’d like to thank them for that.” France’s foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, echoed the sentiment, telling Europe 1 radio: “It’s easy to say that this or that should have been done. The Algerian authorities took a decision and the toll is very high but I am a bit bothered when the impression is given that the Algerians are open to question. They had to deal with terrorists.”
Barack Obama said the US would ask Algeria for a full explanation of what happened, but said: “The blame for this tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out.” The hostage-takers had demanded an end to the French military operation against Islamists in northern Mali, as well as the release of two men jailed in the US. However, the scale and ambition of the attack indicates it was almost certainly planned before the start of the Mali operation this month. Algeria’s government has an extremely tough position towards Islamists following a hugely bloody insurgency in the 1990s, but there has been concern at the way a relatively small number of fighters seized a facility that produces around 10% of the country’s economically vital natural gas. Algerian officials say the attackers may have had inside help from some staff at the site. William Hague, the foreign secretary, said on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that it was “quite likely” some of the Britons were subjected to execution-style killing by the hostage-takers. Hague said London had not been consulted about the Algerian decision to launch the attack that terminated the crisis. “Of course, we would have liked to have been consulted,” he said.
Forest, mines, farmland: Liberia is for sale MONROVIA: Liberia is selling itself slice by slice nine years after a terrible civil conflict finally came to an end, offering valuable resources to the highest bidder even though that could kindle tension among a population that often feels it is being sold out. The chairman of the Liberia Land Commission, Othello Brandy, says that 57.5 percent of the nation’s territory has been alloted via concessions, for a total of 5.6 million hectares (13.8 million acres), of which a little more than one million hectares represented agricultural land. Alfred Brownell, a lawyer who founded the non-governmental organisation Green Advocates estimates that at least 120 foreign companies have signed concessions contracts in Liberia, a country the size of Portugal that was colonised by freed black slaves from the United States. “Over the last six years it has been an avalanche,” Brownell said, before explaining that Liberia, a western Africa country that suffered 15 years of war from 1989 to 2003, lacked the expertise to develop by itself. APP
US climate fears mount WASHINGTON: Climate change was thrust to the forefront of the US political agenda recently in the wake of the devastation caused by superstorm Sandy and record high temperatures across the country. But despite President Barack Obama renewing his early promises to act, experts said political opposition would make it at least as difficult as during Obama’s first, failed push to get new legislation through Congress, and said decisive measures will remain unlikely. “All the public opinion polls show a better understanding of the link between climate change and extreme weather events,” said Alden Meyer, strategy director of the Union of Concerned Scientists. But, he added, “there is still a lot to do in the Republican Party and in the business community,” to get them on board with Obama’s plans for solutions, should the president launch a second offensive. APP
Cameron says fight against terrorism in North Africa may last decades MonItorIng DeSk
kONGENA: A Malian soldier holds a machine gun in a jeep on the road to this Malian town. French forces stepped up bombing in Mali on Sunday, pushing back Islamists in key areas. oNLINe
Us drone strikes kill 8 in Yemen SAnAA AGENCIES
Three US drone strikes killed eight people, including at least four suspected members of Al Qaeda, in the Yemen province of Marib, a tribal chief and witnesses said on Sunday. One raid late on Saturday targeted a vehicle transporting four suspected members of the extremist network in Wadi Abida, east of the city of Marib, 170 kilometres east of Sanaa, the tribal source said. “The bodies of the four dead were charred,” he said, requesting anonymity, adding that only the body of Ismail bin Jamil, a local Al Qaeda chief, was identified. A witness said that car was engulfed in flames. Another raid struck a vehicle in the same area killing four passengers from Al-Haytak clan, part of the Abida tribe, the source said without specifying their relation to Al Qaeda. A raid earlier in the evening targeted another vehi-
cle transporting four people, but a rocket missed the car allowing the passengers enough time to flee, a witness said. The raids bring to at least 22 the number of people killed in US drone strikes since attacks were intensified on December 24. Washington has been stepping up its support for Yemen’s battle against militants of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which it regards as the most active and deadliest franchise of the global network. US drone strikes in Yemen nearly tripled in 2012 compared to 2011, with 53 recorded against 18, according to the Washington-based think tank New America Foundation. AQAP took advantage of the weakness of Yemen’s central government during an uprising in 2011 against now ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, seizing large swathes of territory across the south. But after a month-long offensive launched in May last year by Yemeni troops, most militants fled to the more lawless desert regions of the east.
David Cameron said the fight against terrorism in north Africa would go on for years or “even decades” as he announced that a total of six Britons were thought to have died in the Algerian hostage crisis. Three British nationals are known to have been killed, and three more were missing presumed dead, Cameron said in a statement from Chequers on Sunday morning. A British resident is also presumed to have been killed. A further 22 Britons involved in the crisis at the In Amenas gas facility survived and have returned to the UK. Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, William Hague, the foreign secretary, said it was “quite likely” that some of the Britons were executed by the hostagetakers, who identified themselves as the Signers in Blood – a splinter group of al-Qaida in the Islamic Mahgreb. In his statement, Cameron said he had spoken to his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmalek Sellal, and confirmed that it was clear that the “appalling terrorist incident” at the gas plant was over. “Tragically, we now know that three British nationals have been killed, and a further three are believed to be dead. And also a further British resident is also believed to be dead,” he said. “I know the whole country will want to join me in sending our sympathies and condolences to the families who have undergone an absolutely dreadful ordeal, and now face life without these very precious loved ones.” Cameron said the attack had involved up to 30 terrorists and it illustrated that terrorism was a growing problem in north Africa. “This is a global threat and it will require a global response. It will require a response that is about years, even decades, rather than months,” he said. “It requires a response that is patient and painstaking, that is tough but also intelligent, but above all has an absolutely iron resolve and that is what we will deliver over these coming years.” There are parallels between north Africa and Pakistan/Afghanistan, he said. “It is different in scale but there are similarities. What we face is an extremist Islamist violent al-Qaidalinked terrorist group – just as we have to deal with that in Pakistan and in Afghanistan, so the world needs to come together to deal with this threat in north Africa. It is similar because it is linked to al-Qaida, it wants to destroy our way of life, it believes in killing as many people as it can.”
Cameron said he would use Britain’s chairmanship of the G8 this year to put the issue “at the top of the agenda” for the international community. In his statement, Cameron said responsibility for the deaths “lies squarely with the terrorists who launched a vicious and cowardly attack”. He did not criticise the Algerian government’s handling of the crisis. “No one should underestimate the difficulties of responding to an attack on this scale with 30 terrorists absolutely determined to take lives, and we should recognise all the Algerians have done to work with us and to help and co-ordinate with us, and I’d like to thank them for that,” Cameron said. In his BBC interview, Hague said London had not been consulted about the Algerian decision to launch the attack that terminated the crisis. “Of course, we would have liked to have been consulted,” he said. But he said the Algerians had acted swiftly because, according to the Algerian foreign ministry, the military thought the hostage-takers were planning to blow up the installation. He also insisted the Algerian military knew how to deal with crises of this kind. “Whatever people think of them, whatever has been said about the Algerian military, they are experienced.”
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:52 AM Page 9
News 09
Monday, 21 January, 2013
Four-year-old molested on school bus in Mumbai MuMBAI: A four-year-old nursery student was raped in a school bus on her way home in Mumbai, in another reported incident of sexual assault in India. The suspect is the 35-year-old bus conductor; who was arrested on Saturday, Indian media reported. The girl, who is from one of Mumbai’s top schools, was sexually assaulted on Tuesday afternoon. Being the last to be dropped home, she was the only student in the bus when the conductor allegedly raped her. The school authorities and the police have conflicting versions about whether a teacher was on board. Per Supreme Court regulations, all school buses need to have a teacher or adult representative of the school escorting the children home on buses. The girl informed her parents about the incident who took up the matter with the school and filed a police complaint. The conductor was arrested on Thursday and charged with rape and molestation. Sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act have been invoked. The driver’s role in the incident too is suspicious. He claimed to not have noticed the girl being attacked nor hearing her cries for help. Meanwhile, the Indian capital New Delhi witnessed a 23.43 percent increase in rape cases in the last one year, according to figures released by the Delhi Police on Friday. While 572 rapes were reported in the national capital in 2011, the number rose to 706 in 2012. According to the National Crime Records Bureau data, the number of rape cases reported in 2012 is the highest in the last 10 years- more than double of what were reported in 2002. Cases of molestation have also increased by 10.65 per cent-from 657 in 2011 to 727 last year. ONLINE
ISLAMABAD: Drivers busy in washing their vehicles at River korang on Sunday. INP
Controversial full body scanners to be removed from US airports WASHIngton ONLINE
Controversial full body scanners will be removed from the US airports amid widespread privacy concerns. The scanners, which to the discomfort of many travellers had become a part of security screening at airports in the past few years, would be done away with by June, a federal agency announced yesterday. This move comes primarily because the company which had installed such scanners on airports has not been able to deploy non-imaging Automated Target Recognition (ATR) software as Congressionallymandated, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said. “Due to its inability to deploy non-imaging Automated Target Recognition (ATR) software by the Congressionally-mandated June 2013 deadline, TSA has terminated its contract with Rapiscan,” a TSA statement said. “By June 1, 2013 travellers will only see machines which have ATR that allow for faster throughput. This means faster lanes for the traveller and enhanced security. As always, use of this technology is optional,” it said. According to a TSA blog posting, Congress had mandated that all TSA body scanners should be equipped with ATR by June 1, 2012. This was extended till June 1, 2013. “At this point, all millimeter wave units have been equipped with ATR, but even with the extension to 2013, Rapiscan was unable to fulfill their end of the contract and create the ATR software that would work with backscatter units.”
Muslim vigilantes tell London women to cover up
B
neWS DeSk
RITISH police are investigating reports a gang claiming to be Islamic vigilantes have been confronting members of the public and demanding they give up alcohol and women cover their flesh in their ‘Muslim area’, according to a report in the Daily Mail. The hooded men, who call themselves Muslim Patrol, have been filmed walking London’s streets and calling white women ‘naked animals with no self respect.’ The group is also shown taking ‘evil’ booze from revellers and film a cyclist being treated after a road accident, claiming they were injured because they were unclean. In one exchange a member of the group says: ‘We don’t care if you are appalled at all’, before calling themselves ‘vigilantes implementing Islam upon your own necks’. They have uploaded videos to their YouTube channel with the most recent three-minute clip causing a stir online. ‘The Truth About Saturday Night’, which was uploaded on Sunday, has already
been viewed more than 42,000 times. Scotland Yard says it is investigating. It was shot on a mobile phone at night in what the Met say is Waltham Forest, London, with a number of men seen shouting ‘this is a Muslim area’ towards white Britons they’ve confronted. The video, which first appeared on The Commentator, states: ‘From women walking the street dressed like complete naked animals with no self respect, to drunk people carrying alcohol, to drunks being killed in the middle of the road, we try our best to capture and forbid it all.’ On another occasion, a woman takes offence to their requests and tells them they are in Great Britain at which point they respond by saying ‘they don’t respect those who disobey God’. Mohammed Shafiq, the chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim organisation which campaigns for a peaceful co-existence among communities, has condemned the group’s behaviour. He said: ‘We live in the UK and we are governed by UK law, there should be no mob rule. If people are involved in this behaviour then it is worrying but it is an isolated incident.’
More than 700,000 migratory birds arrive in Pakistan official says indus flyway is important as large number of birds take this route g there are 45 sanctuaries and reserves spread over an area of about 900,000 hectares in Sindh alone g
ISLAMABAD APP
Around 700,000-1,200,000 migratory birds have arrived in Pakistan through Indus Flyway from Europe, Central Asian states and India. According to data collected by the Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) the birds from North, spend winters in different wetlands and deserts of Pakistan, which are distributed almost throughout the country, from the high Himalayas to coastal mangroves and mud flats in the Indus delta. And, after winters they go back to their native habitats. The famous route from Siberia to various destinations in Pakistan over Karakorum, Hindu Kush, and Suleiman Ranges along the Indus River down to the delta is known as International Migratory Bird Route Number 4. It is also called as the Green Route or more commonly Indus Flyway. The birds start on this route in November. February is the peak time and by March they start flying back home. These periods may vary depending upon weather conditions
in Siberia and or Pakistan. Zoological Sciences Division Director Dr Muhammad Rafiq said there are a total of seven identified flyways in the world: from Northern Europe to Scandinavian countries, Central Europe to Mediterranean Sea, Western Siberia to Red Sea, Green Route from Siberia to Pakistan, Ganga Flyway from Eastern Siberia to India, Manchuria to Korea and Chakotaka to California. There are also many regional and smaller routes all over the world, he added. He said the Indus Flyway is important as a large number of birds of diverse species, including water fowls, cranes, teals, pintail, mallard and gadwall, take this itinerary. Some extinguishing species like white-headed duck, houbara bustard and Siberian crane also travel on this route, he said. There are 45 sanctuaries and reserves spread over an area of about 900,000 hectares in Sindh alone. Some of the birds that come to Pakistan from northern latitudes arrive at coastal creeks. The remaining birds land up in lakes, which are fondly and proudly maintained by landowners. Dr.Rafiq said only a few places in the world have
such plentiful variety of winged life as the wetlands of Pakistan. The experts have already concluded that the migratory birds have ecological benefits as they prey on insects and weeds thus contributing towards the betterment of agriculture. Dr Rafiq said, “As a host, it is our responsibility to provide them a comfortable and peaceful environment, which can be done by efficiently managing the wetlands. All wetlands are active agents for recharging water tables and aquifers besides being home to birds, he said. Human activities around the birds’ dwellings, wars, deforestation, water pollution, hunting, introduction of exotic fish species and developing the wetlands for fisheries’ production on commercial scale are some of the common disturbance that cause irritation to birds anywhere. Bird migration superbly demonstrates the complexity and the wonder of the web of life. One such human influence, global warming (caused mainly by the burning of coal and oil since the Industrial Revolution), is poised to cause catastrophic alteration to this delicate balance.
Rape cases in New Delhi jump 23% in 2012 NEW DELHI: Rape cases in New Delhi jumped 23 percent in 2012 from a year earlier, according to official figures, highlighting rising crime against women in the sprawling metropolis. The numbers were released as the trial of five men was set to begin on Monday on accusations of murder, rape and kidnapping over the death last month of a 23-year-old gangrape victim, whose assault sparked nationwide protests. The case against a sixth defendant, who says he is 17, is being heard separately by a juvenile court. “The rate of conviction in rapes in Delhi is much higher than the national rate,” said Delhi police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar on Friday. “(But) we are not taking solace in this. We need to do much more,” said Kumar, who has faced fierce public criticism for the perceived failure of his police force to check mounting crime against women. For 2012, some 706 rape cases were registered-a 23.43 percent leap from the previous year, police said. Some 45 cases of rape and 75 cases of sexual molestation were reported to police in the two weeks after the brutal gang rape attack on the medical student on December 16, police said. The victim died in a Singapore hospital from massive internal injuries nearly two weeks after the assault. New Delhi, a city of 16 million people, has long been called the “rape capital of India”. It is known as the least safe major Indian city for women with more than twice as many rape cases registered in 2011 than the country’s commercial hub Mumbai. Since last month’s gang-rape, protesters across India have demanded stronger punishment for crimes against women and better safety. AGENCIES
Indonesia judge claims‘women enjoy being raped’during SC job interview There have been calls an Indonesian judge interviewing for a job at the Supreme Court to be dismissed after he joked that some rape victims enjoy the experience, the Daily Mail has reported. Muhammad Daming Sunusi made the remark to a parliamentary panel grilling him ahead of his possible appointment as one of 23 justices at the court. Sunusi later apologised, saying the remark was intended to be a joke to ‘ease the tension’ of the interview. But the Democratic Party, which holds a parliamentary majority, said it would reject Mr Daming’s application to the Supreme Court, and that he should give up his post as head of the Banjarmasin High Court in South Kalimantan. The comment occurred when Sanusi was questioned whether the death penalty was a suitable punishment for rape. He said that since both the attacker and the victim ‘might have enjoyed it we have to think twice about imposing the death penalty.’ Members of the commission reportedly laughed at the remark. Afterwards Sunusi said ‘I have three adolescent daughters and one of them told me that she is very embarrassed and that she felt as if she did not know me at all.’ At least two political parties said they would now reject Sunusi’s nomination. Women’s rights groups are protesting the remarks as alongside calls for him to stand down or be fired. Activists are concerned his comments will not help the attitude to rape in Indonesia and say rape cases are often not taken serious by the authorities or fail to reach a conviction. ‘The comments were inelegant, inappropriate and unbecoming of a judge and a Supreme Court hopeful,’ one politician, Sarifuddin Suding, told the AFP news agency. ‘We believe that he should not have said that, as a judge who makes decisions on behalf of God, he should not joke about law especially not when he was undergoing a fit-and-proper test to be a supreme justice,’ legislator Marzuki Alie told BBC Indonesian. NEWS DESk
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:52 AM Page 10
10 Comment Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami
Monday, 21 January, 2013
Television drama there may yet be something to take from all that jazz
Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963-5 Fax: 042-32535230 Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208 Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287273 Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
Justice where it is due kamran Faisal deserves a fair inquiry
W
hile the news of NAB officer Kamran Faisal’s death is a saddening one, the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death make it worth the time and attention it is receiving from media, judiciary and police. Considering the fact that he was the one who wrote a report on the high profile Rental Power Projects case that led the Supreme Court to issue arrest orders for all involved including Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the incident deserves a fair investigation. It is way too early to name names or even start blaming, but the deceased’s family has called for a suo motu notice by the SC, claiming that there were injury marks on Kamran’s body, contrary to the preliminary autopsy report by a team of doctors which paints it a suicide citing the lack of injuries, though they are still withholding the final report pending some forensic tests to ascertain the real cause of his death. Though a judicial inquiry and a police investigation are underway, the family of the deceased has demanded that the SC took a suo motu of the incident not just because of its high profile status but because in case there really was something out of the way in the circumstances leading up to Kamran’s death. As a Deputy Director, NAB, Kamran was sure to face pressure from different quarters. His job description meant that he had to deal with country’s some of the most corrupt, and of course powerful, people ranging from businessmen to politicians. The way he requested the SC to drop him off the RPP case suggests he was under pressure, though one should not read into it much before the inquiry is finalised. That he was an honest officer who probably lost his life in the line of duty calls for an even vigorous effort from the judiciary and police to find out the truth. As a first good step, four of his colleagues have been asked to record their statements to the police. While this is a step in the right direction, the police and NAB should stop bickering over who reached the alleged crime scene and focus on the investigation. However, it is the state that stands to lose from this tragic incident. Apart from losing an honest officer, the state has also hurt the morale of an institution which already doesn’t enjoy much credibility, the NAB, and sent a message to other officers working in the same capacity to fear for their life more than anything else. If Kamran is not provided a fair inquiry, many more would lose trust in the state, the LEAs, justice system and bureaucracy. With elections just around the corner, the country can in no way afford such lapses.
Monday Musings By kamran rehmat
I
n hindsight, the government, opposition and the media seem to have underestimated the ability of Dr Tahirul Qadri, the quintessential rabble rouser, to create a scene and force the hand of the powers-that-be to come to the negotiating table. Blackmailing yes, but whoever said self-styled Mao Zedongs this side of the Indus go on long marches to attain nirvana! To begin with, so dismissive was the ruling clique about the possibility of a long march taking any real form that it seemed not to have envisaged the worst, and by the time it contemplated using the long handle to stop the road show, it was a tad late and risked combustive reaction. Once the marchers settled, the government was on the back foot, giving the impression it was fervently hoping the spirit of the marchers would break at some stage under the open sky in the dead of winter. However, the marchers refused to back down even in the face of ill-advised threat by Interior Minister Rehman Malik of a targeted operation to evict them. Malik’s ill-advised warning of a targeted operation fueled speculation about a military-style operation at the Lal Masjid back in 2007 whose disturbing memories haunt the residents of Islamabad to this day. The minister was almost immediately snubbed by the president, who reportedly called a veteran journalist
during the commercial break of live show to categorically assure that no such action would be taken. For four full days, Pakistan ground to a virtual halt with blanket television coverage of the long march. Qadri, whose oratory skills could not have found a bigger platform, exploited the pitch to the hilt. However, there was an element of comic relief about Qadri issuing one deadline after another for the government to address his charter of demands. But he was completely ignored for the better part of three-and-a-half days until the last deadline on the fourth day when he appeared to hint at something dramatic if the demands were not met. It is unclear what actually broke the last straw on the camel’s back but perhaps, given how devoted his followers proved themselves to be, the fear that they would resort to something sensational that could rebound disastrously seemed to have convinced the government to talk their way out of the crisis — especially, after some of its allies decided to win brownie points by pushing for dialogue with an eye for “tele” vision. What we know is that after extensive negotiations, the two parties happily reached a deal for Qadri to “exult” in. But the so-called agreement didn’t have an earthshaking ring to it; the overriding view is that the cleric was looking for a face-saver and the government pragmatically gave him one to avert the possibility of a potentially explosive trigger in the presence of women and children. So what’s the scorecard? Did Qadri have his day and the government lose by conceding to some of his demands? As with the cleric’s as yet undetermined motive(s) and sudden but intriguing arrival on the scene, the jury is still out on who won or lost or if it was just a farce. And so, among the 10-member official team that negotiated a settlement included Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, who had only the previous evening pooh-poohed the cleric and his demands with not just disdain but also ridiculed him by mimicking his thunder storm! Some cold calculations — keeping in view how political chess is played in Pakistan — are perhaps, in order. If the past is any guide, the likelihood is that
President Asif Zardari has once again pulled a rabbit out of the hat by apparently giving Qadri a stake in the power game, but with no real substance. To begin with, the “paper” deal is just that — on paper. The document has no legal value. President Zardari reneging on a critical promise or two is the stuff of legend. His immediate concern was to have Qadri and the marchers leave the arena safely. It’s a cinch the PPP government would never allow such a gathering again, and probably neither would Qadri be in a position to seek an encore after realizing he had miscalculated his potential to bring down the government and force a change. The two pillars of power that he was banking on — the military and the judiciary — did not get into the act when the heat rose despite their perceived hostility towards the PPP government. The former was perhaps, chastened by the maturing of the political set-up in which all mainstream parties and groups converged to “protect democracy” by collectively turning against the “foreign/military-sponsored agent”. The clincher came when, against the run of play, Imran Khan — a self-proclaimed agent of change himself — resisted the urge to merge, declining Qadri’s public invitation to join the march despite their similarity of views. As for the judiciary, it poured scorn over any extra-constitutional designs with the chief justice pointedly asking the Election Commission of Pakistan to set in motion the electoral process — against Qadri’s demand to dissolve the Commission itself! Having said that, there may still be something positive to take from the march. Thanks to Qadri’s stubbornness and the remarkable perseverance shown by the marchers before a television audience of millions for days, there is now increasing pressure on all the political stakeholders to deliver. The net result? It may not have been a revolution but it was televised — with a strong current for change and that in itself may have been worth the while. The writer is Editor, Pique Magazine. He may be reached at kaamyabi@gmail.com
Transformation of Al-Qaeda What are AQ & Associates up to?
By Arif Ansar
S
ince the elimination of Osama bin Laden, the hype about core AlQaeda (AQ) has decreased and the narrative adopted presents the organisation as a much-diminished threat. There are political and psychological reasons for this change. Under increased economic stress, the death of Osama bin Laden provided a key symbolic victory in the war against terror and opportunity to move on. However, on the ground, a different picture is emerging that defies this version. It’s increasingly the affiliates of AQ that have taken on its mission in AfghanistanPakistan region, Middle East, Horn of Africa and now the Islamic Maghreb.
To prevent the region from further instability, France intervened directly into its former colony Mali on 11 January by sending troops. It has also conducted air raids against extremists using the airspace of neighboring Algeria. As a reaction, four days ago, AQ-linked Islamic militants took over an Algerian Amenas gas field located near its border with Libya. The jumbled operation conducted by Algerian forces to take back the gas field caused the death of 24 hostages, including foreigners. The situation has now raised the prospect of another NATO-led intervention in the region. Through the use of Special Forces and drones, NATO and US have been intensely involved against the core AQ in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. The contention was that if the core leadership is dealt with, other offshoots such as AQI (Al Qaeda in Iraq), AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula), and AQIM (Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb) will also lose their vitality. The constant pressure, however, has produced two outcomes: one is that many of AQ leaders have been killed, while the second is that new flashpoints are also emerging. As the US withdraws its troops from Afghanistan, it does not in anyway indicate AQ is a mute concern. Increasingly, the extremists and militant groups that are linked to AQ are spearheading its mission. This is evident in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region where are a conglomeration of militant and extremist groups led to the formation of Shura-e-
Murakebah. In the Middle East and North Africa, AQ and its affiliates are suspected of exploiting the Arab Spring afflicted hot spots, such as Syria and Libya. The assassination of the American ambassador to Libya is a case in point. While the emphasis of the US and NATO strategy is to prevent AQ from finding a safe haven, from where it can plan attacks against the West, in actuality AQ and its affiliates are relying less on safe havens and more on simply exploiting the chaos and vacuum created by weak or collapsing regimes. These governments are operating under the dual pressures of viral war against terror and Arab Spring. One of the key challenges in this regard is that while these sates are being expected to control the situation within, they have minimal influence over the instability in the surrounding neighbourhood. As noted previously by PoliTact, this has put the nation-state structure under considerable pressure. When NATO and US went into Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, the conflict did not remain within the confines of these countries. One of the reasons for this being that AQ, with the help of its affiliates, has operated across borders. Overtime, to confront this, the response did the same with the area of operation for the drones and Special Forces spanning the whole region. It has also become essential to understand the nature of these AQ affiliates. In a majority of the cases, the
associates are mostly local extremist and militant organisations, with regional ambitions. They usually have their own religious, nationalistic and political agendas that further complicate the ground reality. In return for their cooperation, AQ turns a blind eye to their activities. Similarly, these associate organisations use the cover of AQ for their benefit. However, the cross-pollination amongst extremist groups has produced disastrous results. Consider, for example, the interplay of AQ and TTP, Haqqani network and LeT. Working through a network of local extremist and jihadi organisations has several strategic benefits for AQ. Firstly, it gives them a reach and penetration that is impossible otherwise. AQ members simply embed themselves and can go undetected for quite a while. Secondly, it gives AQ sustainability. When AQ members feel the heat of direct operations, they migrate to other less hostile environments. Meanwhile, the local affiliates provide the continuity in the absence of direct supervision. As NATO moves its attention based on shifting threats, it too depends on regional allies to keep a check on local affiliates of AQ. The net result is that while NATO and US may move on declaring victory, the conflicts still simmer while producing economic drain at a time when no one can afford it. This is the situation of present day Iraq and the likely predicament of Afghanistan and Pakistan once
US withdraws. Even before the war against extremists got initiated and the Arab revolts spread, many states impacted by these two phenomena’s were also inflicted by separatist movements of one form or the other. Most of these were the byproduct of how new states were crafted at the end of World War II. In a majority of the cases, AQ has stayed away from such nationalist oriented insurgencies. On the other hand, in the unfolding Arab revolts, the West usually sides with the liberal anti-regime and moderate Islamic forces that accept democratic norms, and not necessarily the separatists. This is obviously is a difficult balance to maintain and may change in the future depending on the nature of global politics. Nonetheless, the availability of multiple options is a tremendous asset to have. As the state structures crumble under the dual pressures of war on terror and Arab revolt, AQ and associates are striving to fill the vacuum and create new flash points; events of Mali and Algeria signify this. This is creating even more opportunities for Western intervention when they can hardly afford it economically. Perhaps it would be wise to start thinking beyond the nation-state. The writer is chief analyst at PoliTact, a Washington based futurist advisory firm (www.PoliTact.com and http:twitter.com/politact) and can be reached at aansar@politact.com
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:52 AM Page 11
Comment 11
Monday, 21 January, 2013
When the circus came to town tuQ’s long march: one of the best things to happen to reality tV By Zoe richards
P
akistan on the precipice. Again. Think about it. An academic waltzes in and rallies up a crowd for the biggest block party Islamabad has probably seen in the recent past. An opportunist CJP, not willing to be left behind, directs NAB to arrest the PM in relation to the Rental Power Projects case. Border skirmishes between our armed forces and those of our delightful neighbour India reached escalation point. However the “save democracy” protest continued undaunted even as the Bara killings came to light. Forget raising questions about the systematic breakdown of our policing institutions, considering the very recent monumental tragedy in Quetta. We were delightfully engaged in trying to find the source of TuQ’s funding and get to who’s ‘behind’ him. While perusing the many status updates and verbal mini-wars on Facebook regarding TuQ’s long march by the usual Facebook revolutionaries and the slightly more skeptical lot adopting a wait and see approach to the stage set in Islamabad these past few days, one particular page caught my eye. So unexpected was the image of King Julien, from the animated film Madagascar, with the following quote: Apparently, wearing a funny hat gets you lots of followers and enables you to lead a “million march”. Here goes nothing. I have the utmost respect for Dr TuQ’S person and his demands of the government for electoral reform. I am wary of his political expertise and recovering from the shock of his absolute arrogance. I expected this from the animated, self proclaimed king of the lemurs. One has to be a special brand of ‘revolutionary’ (cuckoo?) to congregate in Islamabad, claim to speak for millions at a gathering of thousands and expose the very people you’re out to save from radical militant elements. He claims he wants electoral reform but the only real demand he makes is that elected parliament, (yes, who we the people put them there) ought to dissolve itself by 11am or he will let the ‘people make their deci-
sions’. He wants the ‘rulers’ to be accountable to the law by telling the marchers to take the law into their own hands should their demands not be met. And he does this all in the name of democracy. If TuQ’s intentions were to save the country from anarchy then he’s being “a complete dodo about it”. Let’s also mention TuQ’s brilliant eureka moment when he said the army and judiciary should be stakeholders in the interim government (and then you wonder why people don’t take you seriously). What are we running here? A fly-by-night operation that everyone who’s interested can get in on? Forget what the constitution says on the matter. He says he speaks for the entire nation. I’m sorry but didn’t this very nation oust dictatorship? Remember how in Madagascar the lemurs were scared of the Fossa and the mere mention of the word Fossa put them in distress and made them run in circles? Well, our replacement for Fossa is ‘Inquilaab’. It has the same effect every time. Another scene in this tableau, and a personal favourite was the way TuQ shouted out “Rehman Malikkkk...” Super awesome to hear because of the Mogambo-esque tone. And here’s my personal grievance: Really? Rehman sahib, the Pontiff’s mitre and TuQ’s headgear being similar? What exactly is that supposed to convey? Do you not realise the extremely precarious situation the religious minorities in your country are in? But who am I to say anything when TuQ went ahead and likened himself to General Mao and the situation to be the same as the battle between Hussain and Yezid. Jokes and low blows about appearance (seriously who’s your stylist?), demeanour (too many animated flailing hand gestures), dubious agenda (or rather lack of a concrete one that doesn’t call for anarchy overnight), the big giant bulletproof container (read VIP Lounge for the party at D Block) and dual nationality (one in hand might be good enough for you but two in the bush is where it’s at) apart, what did the self proclaimed ‘messiah’ of the people actually achieve? There are voices (hear
roars) that he went away with nothing. A piece of paper gets signed, reaffirming constitutional provisions already present. Let’s not get into how this very piece of paper’s enforcement lies with the very regime TuQ set out to topple. There are other voices lauding the Long March Declaration as ‘the first example in history’ where a man got the very people making fun of him to come out to his crib and negotiate. Then the media went mental congratulating him (What for? There was no dissolution of the existing Parliament or assemblies (save Balochistan for separate reasons), no ‘ex-ing’ of the PM and President and no stepping in for the military). And now that the dust has settled we are left with one glaring question: What was all of this about? There’s a process, there’s a process to reform the first process. Granted, corruption is rampant, our representatives are out on their own power trips and the PPP got a lot of things wrong. A schedule for elections should have been circulated by now; a couple of weeks more in power have been at the trade off of a circus in Islamabad. I don’t negate the fact that corruption has run rampant or the fact that the socio-economic setup of the country has been deteriorating. A stronger stance against the militants was required. However, that also needs to be seen in the context of the religious right playing their usual game of evoking religious sentiments to their personal political mileage. Enter the TuQ enthusiasts who will say TuQ attempted to change the rules of a game that has seen the same players. Entitled goons who know nothing about politics and just enjoy cruising in their 4x4’s halting traffic. And beating up bakery boys. Let’s focus simply on the power of the people. They got a written promise of a free, fair, just, honest and guaranteed-againstcorruption type election coming up. Their sacrifice in being out on the streets was not missed by anyone much less the ruling coalition. To everyone at the long march and those watching from the comforts of their home making fun of TuQ’s container, we are the stakeholders,
Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan
through our vote, through our respect of the processes our elected representatives have put in place. Consider this, the life of an average Pakistani is so difficult that giving everything up, locking house and coming to Islamabad, with kids in tow, seems like a good idea because TuQ’s gibberish makes sense to them. Assuming all of them were paid, shame on all of us for creating a situation where people can be bought to sit out on the streets in the cold. Let the process mature. Real change would come by empowering grassroots through local governance and devolving power. Positive guidelines ought to be enforced and to those people who want to jeopardise the democratic process in the name of saving the very same thing i.e., democracy: “Riasaat bachane ke chakeroun mein siaasat bhoolni nahi chahiye,” as someone put it. Interesting bit of statecraft on part of the PPP-led government as well. They took this opportunity to set the stage for democracy in action. Assessing a situation and coming forth with the best solution. To tell the people gathered that their voices matter, they changed their earlier derision of TuQ and showed up at his container for negotiations. In the end they agreed to a future date for further talks (Jan 29) and reaffirmed pre-existing constitutional principles. The Declaration’s pitfall is again is implementation. How do you keep check on overspending? How do you ensure good character? How do you ensure corrupt practices not marring the election? And the 30-day scrutiny prior to the election campaign is a brilliant idea but what are the implemental mechanisms? How does one attempt to control variables? Power is fascinating and those who have it seldom give it up without a fight. Our country’s history should teach us that. In the aftermath of one of the best things to happen to reality TV, one can just imagine the penguins of Madagascar and President Zardari going like: “Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave.” It’s really election time when our country’s politics can most easily be explained by reference to a cartoon movie involving zoo animals.
Fax: +92-42-32535230 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively
kashmir and the uS The article titled “India says Pakistan troops killed 2 of its soldiers in Kashmir” in the Washington Post, dated 9 January, 2013, states the obvious when it says, “The peace process, however, has produced almost no dramatic advances towards resolving the main disputes between the two countries.” However, the article needs to be supplemented by Kashmiri American perspective. It is a fact that India and Pakistan by themselves have not been able to resolve their disputes, including the issue of Kashmir. They have tried over the decades but failed. It needs a deeper engagement of the United States with both these neighbouring countries. Secondly, it is symptomatic of the United States’ approach that greater emphasis is placed on the ‘reduction of tensions’ than on the settlement of the core issue: Kashmir. This gives importance to superficial moves and temporary solutions even though it is known that such moves and solutions do not soften the animosities of the parties as proven by the latest incident, not allay life and death concerns and anxieties of the people most directly affected. I believe that the United States can, and should, lead the effort to achieve a fair and lasting settlement of the dispute, fair to the people most immediately involved and fair to its own commitments to democracy and human rights. By doing so, the United States can strengthen the principles of a just world order. It will also earn the gratitude of generations in Kashmir, in Pakistan and in India. The United States should, however, realise that no settlement of Kashmir will hold unless it is explicitly based on the principle of self-determination and erases the so-called ‘Line of Control’ which is in fact a ‘Line of Conflict’. It is important to note that the most driving passion of the people of Kashmir today is the passion of Azaadi (Freedom), a passion which has become the very bread and butter of their lives. The word Azaadi is more common on the lips of Kashmiri youth than the word droid is on American college campuses today. DR SYED GHULAMNABI FAI Federal Prison Camp Cumberland, Maryland, USA
Smelling a conspiracy It’s getting difficult to keep pace with the events happening in Pakistan. Apparently, these recent events are referring to one thing – the smell of a conspiracy. Massacre of more than 100 people in Quetta in twin blasts, protestors’ sit-in for four days with 86 dead bodies in sub-zero ambient with occasional showers of freezing rain, clamping of Governor’s rule in Balochistan while dismissing the elected government, statement by Chief Justice that people are looking to army for protection, Tahirul Qadri’s long march which reached Islamabad Monday evening asking for immediate dismissal of federal and provincial governments, and now Supreme Court’s orders to arrest the prime minister on corruption charges. A job well done by some hidden forces. Stage is being set for a long-term interim government with army and judiciary taking the lead role. Perhaps, we will miss this once in a lifetime opportunity for an elected government to complete its entire tenure. Good luck Pakistan! MASOOD KHAN Jubail, Saudi Arabia
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:53 AM Page 12
12
Monday, 21 January, 2013
Promotional overdrive can’t make film a hit: Paresh
Family time for Naomi Watts
A
ctress naomi Watts, who is filming for her movie "Queen of the Desert" with robert Pattinson, has postponed the shooting as she wants to spend sometime with her sons -- Alexander, five, and samuel, four. the Oscar nominated actress has been married to actor Liev schreiber, 45, since 2005. "It is still a way's off. I don't know yet. Hopefully, it will happen. I just can't travel again right now because I did a lot of travelling last year. It's been a big year and it's time for me to be home with the kids," eonline.com quoted Watts as saying. the 44-year-old British-Australian actress is currently trying to decide what to wear to the Oscars Feb 24. she is nominated in best actress category for her role in " the Impossible". NEWS DESk
No words can describe the acting chops of this veteran actor. When it comes to brand recall, people mostly associate actor Paresh Rawal with comedy than all the other genres he has taken up so far. With his last big screen outing 'Oh My God OMG!' raking in moolah at the Box Office, Paresh's recent performance in 'Table No 21' saw him in his elements. TOI caught up with the actor when he was in Ahmedabad for a promotional tour. Looked quite composed after the day's promotions, the actor sat down for a relaxed chat. Ask him about thriller as a genre considering his latest movie is one and he says,"This movie is an emotional thriller where the main target audiences are the youngsters as it tackles youth-related problems. This is different from other thrillers as in the other movies, they sacrifice the logic first. But
in this movie, the story revolves around three characters and there is something eerie about the whole set up. But the climax of the film comes in the last twothree minutes of the film." While the talking point of the film industry in 2012 was the 100 crore club, Paresh agrees that this means the films are doing great business. "It is good that 2012 has given audiences a variety of movies in different genres, like Kahaani, Rowdy Rathore, Oh My God OMG!, Talaash...but content is the king. If a film has a good story, the audience will lap it up immediately," he says. Ask him about his favourite directors and he replies, "Dibakar Banerjee is one; for the uniqueness of his story and a sense of proportion." While the role of Kanjilal that he played in his last movie was a big hit,
is it also true that Gujarati characters are typecast with certain characteristics. He says, "That is going to be there because such characters are cast to show them in a certain way. Gujaratis will be portrayed in a way like Malayalis are portrayed in their own way. Some idiosyncrasies of the communities shown will be there." With changing times, Bollywood has also seen a huge rise in the promotional activities of movies. Paresh Rawal, who feels that there is an overdrive of promotional activities at times, says, "Promotional overdrive can't make a film a hit. Going to all cities will not help a movie. I feel this 'into-theface' marketing makes a film lose its magic, the mystic quality that is there about a film. If a magician tells people about all his tricks, it will be no fun in watching the magic show." NeWs Desk
Stone denies being drunk during Oscars
IRAN TO MAKE OWN MOVIE TO COUNTER 'DISTORTED' ARGO Daniel Radcliffe flirts with co-star Erin Darke
D
AnIeL radcliffe, who attended the 'Kill Your Darlings' premiere during the 2013 sundance Film Festival with erin Drake, seems to have cast a spell on his co-star as the two were seen packing on the PDA at Grey Goose Blue Door in Park city, Utah on Friday. "they were affectionate most of the night," Us magazine quoted a source, as saying. According to the source, the actress "was touching his knee" at their VIP table. "they were a little more obvious outside the venue after they were leaving," the source said. the stars have yet to comment on the nature of their relationship, though a second insider says "they've been seeing each other" quietly in new York, where they both live. NEWS DESk
IRAN is to make its own movie about the American hostage drama during the 1979 Islamic revolution to counter the distorted film Argo by Ben Affleck, which swept the Golden Globes awards, media said Tuesday. Iranian actor and filmmaker Ataollah Salmanian was quoted in the reports as saying the screenplay for the Iranian movie was ready. The draft of the movie, Setad Moshtarak (The General staff), has been approved by (Iran's) art centre and it awaits budget to start shooting, Salmanian said. The movie is about 20 American hostages who were handed over to the US embassy by Iranian revolutionaries at the beginning of the (Islamic) revolution. This movie... can be an appropriate response to distorted movies such as 'Argo'. On November 4, 1979, Iranian Islamist students stormed the US embassy in Tehran and took American diplomats hostage, holding them for 444 days in an action that caused the rupture of
diplomatic ties between Washington and Tehran. Argo chronicles the hostage drama, with Hollywood actor-director Affleck playing a CIA agent who rescues six US diplomats from the Canadian ambassador's residence in Tehran. The movie has been accused of taking liberties with history, notably by exaggerating the role of the CIA in getting the US diplomats out, at the expense of the Canadian envoy in Tehran at the time. Affleck won both best dramatic film and director awards at the Golden Globes on Sunday for the movie. Argo has been banned in Iran but pirated copies are being circulated in the country. Iranian media dismissed the movie's success and criticised the Golden Globes as a political ceremony. Argo is a sign of Ben Affleck's attempt to recreate Tehran in 1980. While his attempt might be ridiculous for Iranians, it has delighted American experts and critics, said the daily 7Sobh. NeWs Desk
JEETENDRA-HEMA MALINI PAIR UP AFTER 2 DECADES
Chastain shocked over Bigelow's Oscar snub
A
ctress Jessica chastain says she was shocked to learn that her "Zero Dark thirty" director Kathryn Bigelow missed out on the best director nominations of the prestigious Academy Awards. the actress won critical acclaim for her role as a tough cIA agent who uncovers the whereabouts of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden that leads to his assassination in Pakistan. she is vying for the best actress Oscar. "When I found out she (Bigelow) didn't get nominated, it really felt like an arrow into my heart because so much of my performance is because of her and her trust in me and her guidance in my role," chastain said on Us breakfast show "today", reports dailystar.co.uk. NEWS DESk
Hema Malini and Jeetendra will be seen in a mythological film, 'Mahabharat Aur Barabareek', after nearly 23 years. Director Dharmesh Tiwari said, "Hema Malini is playing Hidamba and Jeetendra plays a disciple." However, they don't have any scene together in the movie. Nonetheless, Tiwari said, "Both Jeetuji and Hemaji are very spiritual people. And he also has a song which is very similar to one of his popular numbers — Tune Mujhe Bulaya Sherawaliye from his movie Aasha (1980).'' When asked, Jeetendra said, "Yes, I and Hema will be seen in the same film after 23 years. But the real reason was I wanted to go to Khatu Shyam temple and this film gave me that opportunity.'' Apart from them, actors from BR Chopra's Mahabharat will be seen together playing the same role in this film. As Tiwari said, "Arjun ( Feroz Khan), Gufi Paintal (Shakuni), Rupa Ganguly (Draupadi) are also there in the film. The only new addition to the cast is Gracy Singh.'' NeWs Desk
Actress Emma Stone has denied she was drunk while on stage to present an Academy Award in 2012. The "Help" star took to the stage with Ben Stiller at the 2012 ceremony to present the Best Visual Effects honour to the team behind "Hugo". But Stone's giddy demeanour led to rumours that she was high on alcohol before her appearance. However, she says she didn't get drunk until after she stepped off stage, reports dailystar.co.uk. "We pretended that Ben had been to the Oscars many times and I was this really overly enthusiastic Oscar presenter. I was very excited, and he was not... A lot of people thought it was something else: When I came offstage, they were saying, 'You were so drunk!' And I wasn't. Not until after," Stone told W magazine. She recently teamed up with this year's Oscar ceremony host Seth MacFarlane to announce the 2013 nominees on live TV. NeWs Desk
Heard dumps Depp
Hollywood star Johnny Depp has reportedly been dumped by actress Amber Heard. The couple were dating for the past seven months. It is believed Heard ended the relationship because she was fed up of Depp's mood swings. "He hasn't been this smitten for a long time. He's been head-over-heels in love with Amber. But just as she started to love him back, she got cold feet," thesun.co.uk quoted a source as saying. "They seemed happy and were even talking of marriage and babies. But Amber grew fed up of him and his moods," the source added. NeWs Desk
Pacino to play Paterno in Penn State movie The story of Joe Paterno and his fall from grace amid the Penn State sex abuse scandal is being turned into a movie, with some big names attached. Al Pacino will play the legendary coach in Happy Valley, which will be directed by Brian De Palma, Deadline reports. The two previously worked together on Scarface and Carlito's Way. The film will be based on Joe Posnanski's book, Paterno, with the script penned by Dave McKenna, whose resume includes Blow and American History X. NeWs Desk
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:53 AM Page 13
13
Monday, 21 January, 2013
Arnold's back—and mediocre as ever Yes, it's really happening. At 65 years old, ex-Governator and tabloid scandal figure Arnold Schwarzenegger is making an action movie comeback with The Last Stand, a shoot-em-up in which he plays a grizzled small-town sheriff forced to combat a Mexican drug lord. How does he do? About as well as you'd expect. Here's what critics are saying: 8 At this point Arnold is "a strange and pathetic figure." But Americans love a comeback, writes Andrew O'Hehir at Salon. "If anything, his acting has gotten worse. … But you know exactly what you’re going to get with Arnold." The guy's "always had a genial arrogance that audiences eat up: He’s gettin’ paid, he hopes we’re having fun, and he feels no need to pretend that it’s art." 8 If you were expecting an Unforgiven-esque turn from Arnold, or a bold English-language debut from acclaimed director Kim Jee-woon, you'll be disappointed, writes William Goss at Film.com. "But it’s
a sloppy bit of fun once it gets going, situated well between both the best and worst that all involved have had to offer audiences … At least it does what it says on the tin." 8 Mick LaSalle detected "a touch of gentleness" in Arnold's performance, and a sense of real world-weariness. "What ever did they do to this poor man in Sacramento?" he quips in the San Francisco Chronicle. As for the movie itself, it's a "ridiculous" affair culminating in "a crazy bloodbath that is so excessive that it begins to seem funny—except when it's trying to be funny." 8 But Roger Moore was not amused. "It’s a junky, crowd-pleasing movie of sidekicks (Luis Guzman and Johnny Knoxville), bad acting, over the top shootouts, and catch phrases," with an almost fetishistic love of guns that's "VERY pre-Sandy Hook," he writes. "There are filmgoers nostalgic for this sort of fascist/gun fetishist drivel. Not me." NeWs Desk
Paperboy sex scenes leave Kim Kardashian downs Kidman black and blue shots and champagne Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman was reportedly left battered and bruised after filming violent sex scenes in her latest movie - "The Paperboy". Director Lee Daniels got worried and even offered to stop filming after fearing she had been hurt during the graphic action. But the 45year-old insisted they carry on - although she needed make-up the next day to cover her bruises. Co-star John Cusack - who plays a prisoner on death row - revealed that some shots were too explicit for harrowing drama "The Paperboy". "There's a lot more s*** in there that was cut out, believe me. I was afraid I was hurting her, but she was more fearless than me," thesun.co.uk quoted Cusack as saying. NeWs Desk
Kim Kardashian, who's got at least another eight dry months ahead of her followed by sleepless nights and early mornings, managed to squeeze in a final bit of partying before she became Kanye West's " baby mama". In a clip from the new series of 'Kourtney and Kim Take Miami', the reality TV star is pictured with sister Khloe downing jelly shots, knocking back champagne and generally being an annoying drunk, the Mirror reported. In the preview clip for the premiere of the reality show's new season, the siblings are seen getting their drink on with some of their DASH employees. NeWs Desk
LoS angeLeS: Rosie huntington-whiteley rewards herself for a good workout with a smoothie on Sunday.
Last time we spoke, we discussed the mcconaissance. I've seen it. It showed up other places. IT SHOULD. IT'S A GREAT WORD. It's the "sance" part of it that sounds so cool. It's got a good meter, doesn't it? WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT, MY FIRST REACTION WAS THAT IT WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN "THE YEAR OF MCCONAUGHEY." Yeah [laughs], it's got a little more of a zoom to it. I'VE DECIDED, THOUGH, THAT THIS YEAR IS THE YEAR OF MCCONAUGHEY, NOT LAST YEAR. BECAUSE LAST YEAR JUST SET THE SCENE THAT YOU'RE DOING THESE GOOD MOVIES. Right, right, right ... AND NOW WE'RE USED TO THAT. I MEAN, "MUD" PREMIERED AT CANNES LAST YEAR, BUT IT DIDN'T GET A LOT OF BUZZ UNTIL NOW. DO YOU THINK THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOW THINKING OF YOU DIFFERENTLY? Ah ... well, it doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt. Because "Mud" doesn't feel like a "knock, knock, knock, can I come in?" It feels like we're all in the room.
Mud Star Will Never Give Up His 'All Right' Catchphrase The "McConaissance" -- a word coined to describe the recent renaissance, if you will, of Matthew McConaughey's career -- has officially now steamrolled into Park City, Utah. The actor, who starred in four wildly different films last year ("Magic Mike," "The Paperboy," "Bernie" and "Killer Joe") is at the Sundance Film Festival with new film, "Mud," which has already garnered some serious buzz. COURTESY DAILY MAIL
BUT WHY IS THE BUZZ HITTING NOW? Well, we're coming out in April, so obviously there's a machine that kind of gears up. And the fact that I had a successful last year sure as heck doesn't hurt it. It helps the film, for sure. It doesn't make it like a, "What?" or a, "Oh, that's novel." It's coming on the back of some work that I've done that people have liked and they go, "That's different and we liked it." Do you know what I mean? [McConaughey makes a trumpet-sounding noise]. HOW DO I TRANSCRIBE THAT NOISE? [Makes the trumpet sound again] That's the opening music to the McConaissance. That's the "sance" in the "McCon." FROM NOW ON WHEN YOU'RE INTRODUCED, THAT SHOULD PLAY. So I've got to go, "All right, all right, all right" ... YOU DON'T DO THAT ONE ANYMORE -- WE'RE MOVING ON TO YOUR NEW THEME. I can't give that one up though, man. Those were the first words that I ever said on film. [Trumpet sound] That's the "sance" in the "McCon." There were some
sort of satellite views on "Mud" from Cannes, but Cannes still felt like it was "over there." And now people are seeing it -- and I'm interested to see what happens. So far, it seems like there's been a lot of positive reaction to it for very specific reasons, which is cool. And I sure hope it gets ink because I'm endeared to this movie. It's got an innocence and, oh, it takes me back in a wonderful way. FOR SOME REASON FROM THE DESCRIPTION I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A COMEDY. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE MUD IS REFERRED TO AS AN "OUTLAW," SO I GOT "COWBOY" IN MY HEAD. Oh, you wrote that he's more of a fugitive. I THINK THAT'S THE BETTER DESCRIPTION. Outlaw sounds like there are more guns blaring and he's much more of an aristocrat of the heart. And, yeah, he did kill a man -- for one reason. Really, the only reason he kind of would: over the love of a woman that has kicked him off the porch a thousand times. And he ain't countin' and he don't care. And there's also more mystery. I love the mysterious aspect; the superstitions. It's not an aggressive movie. I FEEL LIKE YOU AND JEFF NICHOLS ARE A GOOD TEAM. It is a good team. I hear you. I love working with Nichols because, look, he wrote this thing. And we didn't change hardly a word. Didn't need to. I mean, I had things I'd go off on, but it was just to really help me understand and explain the actual text that he wrote -- which was always better. It's simple working with Jeff. This movie is very representative of who he is -- he's a really decent man. And confident enough to not insert himself when something is going well, you know? But, specific enough to go, "it needs to be this and this." Also, confident enough to go, "That's it, we got it." Let's move on, basically. A lot of directors who are younger will go, "OK, we've got that, how else can we do it?" I FEEL BAD BECAUSE LAST TIME WE SPOKE I MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE HARD ON "FOOL'S GOLD." I MEAN, I DO GET YOUR POINT ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT "MAILBOX MONEY" AND "90 DAYS OF SATURDAYS." Yeah, that's the Saturday characters, those are ... BUT I DIDN'T MEAN TO PICK ON "FOOL'S GOLD." I don't give a shit if you pick on it. I don't care. I don't care of you don't like me in a
film. I don't give a shit -- we can still sit here and talk about it. I mean, thank God people have different tastes. But it is Saturday. Something like "Fool's Gold," something about romantic comedies -they're built not to grab a hold. You can't have a character obsessed 100 percent. Mud is obsessed. You can grab a hold of that. it's not about coming back to the center because we've got to hit a plot point. All of the characters I've been doing lately, they're obsessed about something. And I've been able to get feverishly drunk on their obsessions. Now, you can't get feverishly obsessed in a romantic comedy. They're built not to do that. THE MOVIE THAT I THINK WAS THE TRANSITION FROM A MOVIE LIKE "FOOL'S GOLD" AND WHERE YOU'RE AT NOW IS "LINCOLN LAWYER." I THINK THAT MOVIE STARTED THE MCCONAISSANCE. I think you're right. IT CAUGHT PEOPLE OFF GUARD. Well, what people did is -- and this is the objective awareness I'm throwing at you now -- what happened there, people went, "I like that thriller ... yeah, 'A Time To Kill,' man!" They flash-backed a little. SO A CALLBACK TO YOUR '90S WORK? A callback ... so it switched that view on me a little bit. They didn't go, "Oh, it's brand new." It called them back a little, is what I felt. It called them back and they say, "That's right, he's good in that type of movie." WAS THAT THE PLAN WITH "LINCOLN LAWYER" FROM THE START? Well, I knew it had some of those aspects - the drama and the thriller aspects. But I didn't know. I figured if it worked and people saw it and liked it, that they would go, "Oh yeah, we haven't seen him in something like that before." Because it had it in the script -- it could pop enough to be something that goes around and makes $50 million, or whatever it made. You know? And we didn't make it for that much. But I also thought it had enough solid drama in it, so it could balance that. It's not a serious film, but it's about some pretty serious shit. And it was a fun thriller. I love getting manipulated in that film, as viewer. And a good thriller, that's what it does: it manipulates.
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:53 AM Page 14
Infotainment 14
Monday, 21 January, 2013
Warp speed would not look like this
Indicted ‘Megaupload’ founder launches new site
S
Han and Chewie take the Millennium Falcon into warp speed. (YOUTUBE)
ORRY, Star Wars fans: Space travelers moving at warp speed wouldn’t see the stars morph into sharp beams of light. British physics students say it would look more like a general
“If the Millennium Falcon existed and really could travel that fast, sunglasses would certainly be advisable,” says a member of the University of Leicester team. “On top of this, the ship would need something to protect the crew
bright glow caused by the background radiation of the universe, LiveScience reports. That’s thanks to the Doppler Effect, which would move starlight from the visible spectrum into the X-ray range, while shifting microwave radiation from the Big Bang into the visible spectrum. And it would be bright:
from harmful X-ray radiation.” In fact, the extra X-ray radiation would hinder the ship’s progress and require extra energy to overcome. Another team member said, “Perhaps Disney should take the physical implications of such high speed travel into account in their forthcoming films”. NEWS DESK This is how warp speed would really look like.
Cruise ship rescues sailor on around-the-world try
The trick to winning Nobel Prizes: Milk?
G
ot milk? Then you may have a better chance of winning a Nobel Prize, according to a letter published in Practical Neurology. In the letter, two neurologists speculate about a study last year that linked a nation’s chocolate consumption to its Nobel-Prize stockpile. But what if it’s really milk and milk products that make people brainier, not chocolate per se? After all, Swedes drink more milk per person than any other country (750 lbs) and have the most Nobel laureates per 10 million citizens (33), reports Science Daily. And the Swiss boast quite a few Nobels (32) while downing a lot of cow juice every year (660 lbs). Not to mention that China has the fewest Nobel winners and drinks the least amount of milk (55 lbs). But the letter’s authors aren’t sure whether milk makes people smarter or just reflects a better education system in general. Milk does have vitamin D, however, which could make people brainier. “So to improve your chances of winning Nobel prizes you should not only eat more chocolate but perhaps drink milk too: or strive for synergy with hot chocolate,” the authors conclude. NEWS DESk
A cruise ship picked up Alain Delord on Sunday, said a spokesman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The yachtsman was attempting a solo round-the-world voyage when he ran into trouble on Friday, 500 nautical miles off Australia’s island state. The mast on his yacht broke in rough weather forcing him to abandon it. According to reports, Australian authorities were able to drop food, water and a survival suit to the 63-year-old, but his location was too remote for a helicopter rescue. Delord was uninjured and said to be in reasonable spirits. The cruise ship Orion was on its way back from the Antarctic when it
answered the distress call, making a 50-hour diversion to pick him up. The experienced French sailor’s personal website shows that he was following the route taken by the Vendee Globe race, but was not a registered competitor. The race, founded by French sailor Philippe Jeantot in 1989, is held every four years in which competitors race from France, and then around the world in the seas around the Antarctic. It is seen as a test of human endurance. In 1997 Frenchman Thierry Dubois and Briton Tony Bullimore were both rescued by the Australian navy after running into trouble in the Southern Ocean during the race. NEWS DESk
Man needing health care threatens to kill Obama A homeless Florida man says he only threatened to kill President Obama and his family in order to get better health care, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Stephen Espalin, 57, told a judge in West Palm Beach yesterday that he made the threat because he had chest pains and had been kicked out of a Boca Raton hospital for lying about having health insurance. “I would have no intent to hurt the president,” said Espalin. “I realize it wasn’t the
right thing to do.” He had done it before, too, serving 18 months for saying he would murder former President George W Bush in 2001. Es-
palin made his latest threat during a cold spell in December of 2010. His public defender said he clearly “had no ability to carry out a threat against the president,” but the prosecutor noted Espalin’s criminal history as a convicted sex offender. The judge gave Espalin a sentence of four years, three months in federal prison, the greatest punishment possible—and said he required a prison with special medical care. NEWS DESk
I
NDICTED Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom launched a new file-sharing website on Sunday, promising users amped-up privacy levels in a defiant move against the U.S. prosecutors who accuse him of facilitating massive online piracy. The colorful entrepreneur unveiled the “Mega” site ahead of a lavish gala and press conference at his New Zealand mansion on Sunday night, the anniversary of his arrest on racketeering charges related to his now-shuttered Megaupload filesharing site. Megaupload, which Dotcom started in 2005, was one of the most popular sites on the Web until U.S. prosecutors shut it down, accusing Dotcom and several company officials of facilitating millions of illegal downloads. In Dotcom’s typical grandiose style, the launch party featured a tongue-in-cheek re-enactment of the dramatic raid on his home a year earlier, when New Zealand police swooped down in helicopters onto the mansion grounds and nabbed him in a safe room where he was hiding. “Mega is going to be huge, and nothing will stop Mega — whoo!” a gleeful Dotcom bellowed from a giant stage set up in his yard, seconds before a helicopter roared overhead and faux police agents rappelled down the side of his mansion. Dotcom eventually ordered everyone to “stop this madness!” before breaking out into a dance alongside miniskirt-clad “guards” as music boomed. Bravado aside, interest in the site was certainly high. Dotcom said half a million users registered for Mega in its first 14 hours. U.S. authorities are trying to extradite the German-born Internet tycoon from New Zealand, where he is free on bail. Prosecutors say Dotcom made tens of millions of dollars while filmmakers and songwriters lost around $500 million in copyright revenue. Dotcom argues that he can’t be held responsible for copyright infringement committed by others, and insists Megaupload complied with copyrights by removing links to pirated material when asked. NEWS DESk
Cat picks better stocks than money managers
I
NVESTORS, it’s kitty-cat time: A contest that pitted stock-picking professionals against finance students and a cat named Orlando wrapped up last month—and Orlando won, the Guardian reports. Starting last January, each team invested an imaginary sum worth about $7,900 and was allowed to swap any stocks every three months. The professionals were ahead of Orlando by the end of September, but the ginger feline pulled ahead in the final quarter. While the pros analyzed the market, Orlando picked his stocks by tossing a toy mouse over a grid of different companies. In the end, his portfolio rose by an average of 4.2%, finishing with $8,800, ahead of the professionals’ $8,200; the students came in third. “It’s time to crack open the Whiskas,” said one of the wealth managers. “The cat’s got talent.” The outcome seems to support the “random walk hypothesis” argued by Burton Malkiel in A Random Walk Down Wall Street—that share prices move too randomly to be predicted. NEWS DESk
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:54 AM Page 16
Monday, 21 January, 2013
PAkistAN CRiCkEt tEAm lEAvEs foR south AfRiCA
TesTIng TImes ahead LAHore
T
StAFF REPORt
HE Pakistan test team are due to reach Johannesburg on late Sunday night to take on world champions South Africa in a three-test series. It is Pakistan’s first visit to South Africa in six years and their biggest challenge could be to adapt to the pace and bounce of the pitches they will play on against a fast bowling attack generally acknowledged to be the world’s best. They will have a four-day warm-up match against a South African Invitation XI in East London, starting on Friday, but conditions in the coastal city are less pace-friendly than is likely when they play the test matches in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Centurion. A 16-member Pakistan squad left for South Africa to play a three-test series‚ five ODIs and two T20. Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq while talking to reporters at Lahore airport, said that moral of the team was high after the series won against India. He said that team will have to perform in all departments of game as the South Africans have strong batting and bowling. “Role of spinners will be crucial during the tour,” he added. He said that Saeed Ajmal would be
trump card for the green shirts during the tour. The tour will begin with test series on both the team will take each other on February 2, in first test match at Johannesburg. The second test will be played at Cape Town from 14th of next month while the 3rd and final test at Centurion from 22nd of next month. In the past 15 months, Pakistan’s test series have been played in the Asian subcontinent or the United Arab Emirates, which has been their home base since visiting teams stopped touring Pakistan following an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009. In the year before that they had two high-scoring draws against South Africa in the UAE and toured New Zealand, West Indies and Zimbabwe. Pakistan nevertheless have a test squad which is likely to provide stronger opposition for South Africa than current tourists New Zealand, who were beaten by an innings in two test matches. “Pakistan will be a potentially tough series,” said South African captain Graeme Smith after the New Zealand series. “They have an exciting bowling unit and some experienced batsmen.” The fast bowling attack will be spearheaded by the left-armer Junaid Khan, the tall Mohammad Irfan and the experienced Umar Gul, one of four members of
the touring squad who were on the 2006/07 tour of South Africa. Newcomer Ehsan Adil was a member of the Pakistan Under-19 team which played in a triangular tournament in South Africa in January 2012. Pakistan have two top-class spinners in Saaed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman. Younis Khan, who topped the Pakistan averages in 2006/07, is the outstanding player in a reasonable batting line-up, while Mohammad Hafeez and Faisal Iqbal also played in the 2006/07 series, which South Africa won by two matches to one. In 18 previous test matches between the two countries, South Africa have won eight, Pakistan three and seven have been drawn. Pakistan’s only series win was in Pakistan in 2003/04. After spending Sunday night in Johannesburg, the Pakistanis will travel to East London on Monday to prepare for their match against the Invitation XI, captained by former international batsman Justin Ontong. Pakistan test squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Umar Gul, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Ehsan Adil, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Haris Sohail, Faisal Iqbal, Taufeeq Umar, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk).
Philander returns for Pakistan tests Jamshed wants to make his presence felt outside Asia too JOHANNESBERG: Vernon Philander, the South Africa seamer, has recovered from the hamstring injury that had ruled him out of the second Test against New Zealand, and is part of the squad for the first Test against Pakistan in Johannesburg starting on February 1. The only player from the squad for the Tests against New Zealand who doesn’t find a mention for the first Test against Pakistan is seamer Ryan McLaren. “We have given a full vote of confidence to the squad of 13 that did duty in the recent Sunfoil Series against New Zealand,” Andrew Hudson, Cricket South Africa’s selection convenor, said. “Rory Kleinveldt and Jacques Rudolph will again provide the bowling and batting cover if necessary. At the moment there are no injury concerns. “We are very happy with the job that Rory did against New Zealand when Vernon dropped out, while Jacques provides us with a lot of experience as the cover batsman. We have quite a few inexperienced batsmen in our top order and we feel that a bit of extra experience will be useful should the need arise.” South Africa beat New Zealand comprehensively, winning both Tests, and play Pakistan in three Test matches, in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Centurion. South Africa squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn. AGENCIES
LAHore StAFF REPORt
Nasir Jamshed has said he wants to boost his reputation on the tour of South Africa, the first time he’ll be playing outside Asia. Jamshed made his international debut in early 2008, in the home ODI series against Zimbabwe. He had a relatively tidy stint between 2008 and 2009, playing mostly against Asian teams in Asia, before missing out due to fitness issues. After two-and-a-half years he returned to international cricket last year, scored 602 runs at 66.88 with three hundreds and three fifties. He played 22 ODIs and 11 T20Is, all in Asia; his gradecricket career too was confined to the subcontinent. His limited-overs credentials, though, ultimately won him a Test call-up for the tour of South Africa. Jamshed, who struck back-to-back centuries in the ODI series against India, is currently Pakistan’s best batsman in terms of form and consistency. He is keen on becoming a complete batsman
who can adjust to any conditions around the world. “I don’t want to be tagged as an Asian-oriented batsman,” Jamshed was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying. “It’s the line between an average and a world-class player,” he added, claiming success around the world was key. “I admit I haven’t played outside Asia and the tour to South Africa without doubt will be my first real test and I am prepared for it.”
Jamshed, 23, who, so far, has played against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Australia, said he is yet to face a “tough” bowler in international cricket. In South Africa, though, he is expecting tougher competition. “I haven’ played out of Asia; similarly I am yet to face tough bowlers, so it would be a unique experience for me to bat against South Africa’s world-class bowlers in their own backyard.” Pakistan have toured South Africa on four occasions since 1995. The pitches in South Africa have always tested Pakistan’s batsmen. Among the openers, Taufeeq Umar and Saeed Anwar managed to score centuries, with the current vice-captain Mohammad Hafeez averging 16.5 in six innings played in 2007. “I never been to South Africa at any stage of my career but the pitches there are always challenging,” Jamshed said. “I don’t know what happened in past but every day is a new day and things do improve with time. It obviously will be tough but we are well prepared for it and I have my plans as an opener.
Pakistan can surprise south Africa ExPERt COMMENt
ZaheeR aBBaS Pakistan will be arriving in South Africa as the underdogs, despite possessing what appears to be a settled and well-balanced starting eleven. I feel that whilst South Africa go into the Test series as firm favourites, Pakistan could surprise their hosts if they apply themselves during the Test series and cope with the pressure that Dale Steyn and his colleagues will be looking to put on them. The Test series will undoubtedly be a
very difficult one for the Pakistani batsmen due to the conditions being unfamiliar and they are going to have to adjust very quickly to the extra bounce available to the bowlers in South Africa. It’s all about the Pakistani top order applying themselves and ensuring they give the talented Pakistani bowling line-up enough runs to defend. The South Africans will look to apply pressure on the Pakistanis and Misbah [ul-Haq] and his team need to be able to cope with that pressure. One four-day match before the opening Test match is definitely not enough, particularly given the conditions are totally different to Pakistan, and also given that Pakistan has not played any Test cricket for several months. They should have played at least two or three warm-up matches ahead of the opening Test match…[it] will be a tough ask for the Pakistani batsmen. The key for the Pakistan batsmen will be to know which ball to leave out there in South Africa and whether you are going to play the hook shot or not. The Pakistanis
will be tested thoroughly by an experienced South African pace bowling attack who will bowl a lot of bouncers at them. The challenge for each of the Pakistanis is to decide on their approach against the short ball and stick to that approach. If the Pakistanis are hesitant and caught in two minds regarding short pitched bowling, they will struggle. My advice would be for each of the Pakistani batsmen to formulate a plan ahead of the Test series and stick with that plan, do not chop and change your approach. The bowling trio of Steyn, Morkel and Philander are phenomenal. The South Africans have a very well-balanced and aggressive bowling attack which offers the batsmen very few easy runs. One of the most important aspects is for the Pakistanis not to go into their shells when at the crease. Yes, occupy the crease, make sure you bat for long periods and try to grind down the opposition bowlers, but also don’t be overcautious; be positive and play your shots when the opportunity arises. The Pakistanis need to ensure that every
scoring opportunity is taken, if they go into their shells that will spell trouble. The Pakistani top six has a nice familiarity about it and a certain degree of stability. There’s the experience of Misbah, Younis and Hafeez; in addition, Taufeeq Umar, Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali have been a regular part of the batting order in Test cricket and that is a good sign. It’s heartening to see a Pakistani team going into a tough series with a stable top six batsmen and whilst all of them have a very important role in the team, I would like to see Hafeez, Misbah and Younis Khan to be [sic] the batsmen who take charge out there and look to play long innings. This series will not be about the batsmen who score a nice 30 or 40; big hundreds are required and the team whose batsmen make those big hundreds will be the eventual winners. Whilst the format was different to Test cricket, a number of the Pakistani squad [sic] touring South Africa for the Test series were also part of the one-day series victory in India and that will definitely lift
their spirits and fill them with confidence going into the three-match series in South Africa. Winning matches lifts morale [sic]…I hope the Pakistanis play with the same intensity that they did for most of the one-day series in India. Whatmore is an experienced coach and that will be very important to the Pakistani side throughout this tour of South Africa. Each of the boys has to take responsibility once they are out on the park [sic], but preparation is very important and that’s where the coach can play a major role. Whatmore will know what to expect and he can definitely play a big part in the possible success in South Africa. He needs to prepare the team mentally and ensure that all of them are ready and focussed for a very difficult challenge. If Pakistan plays to the levels they are capable of then they can surprise South Africa, but, the batsmen have to put the big scores on the board. The Pakistan team is one of the best Test sides in the world and I’m hopeful that Pakistan can perform well in South Africa.
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:54 AM Page 17
Sports 16
Monday, 21 January, 2013
Barrister Mew to hear Butt, Asif appeals next month MUMBAI
G
BIPIN DANI
RAEME Mew, a dispute resolution professional, will hear the two appeals filed by two Pakistani s u s p e n d e d cricketers, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif at Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland next month. Former Pakistani captain, Salman Butt and the pace bowler, Mohammad Asif filed appeals against their bans imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their alleged role in the spot-fixing scandal. Three players were accused of spotfixing in the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s in August 2010, but except Mohammad Aamir, who accepted his guilt, the other two have always denied any wrongdoing. Mew, along with these two players’ lawyers and the ICC legal representative had met on a 45-minute tele-conference
on Friday, it is learnt. They are likely to have discussed the legal aspects of the case. The hearing for Asif, who has been banned for seven years will take place on February 7 and Salman Butt, who has been serving 10-year ban hearing is to take place the next day. It is not compulsory for both players to remain present at the hearings. They may be represented by UK’s Yasin Patel (Salman Butt) and Ravi Sukul (Mohammad Asif) at the hearings. The 53-year-old Graeme Mew is a lawyer practising in England and Canada. When approached in Toronto, he said, “all enquiries regarding this matter should be directed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport”. When pressed further, he said, “I am familiar with the game of cricket”. He has a particular interest in sports law and the resolution of sports disputes. His CV reads : “He is actively involved in the rugby community in Canada and internationally”.
Sydney ODI abandoned due to rain and wet outfield
SYDneY AGENCIES
Rain and a wet outfield brought a premature end to the fourth one-day international between Australia and Sri Lanka on Sunday but not before the
hosts’ batting frailties had been exposed again. Bowled out for 74 runs inside 27 overs in Friday’s match at Brisbane, Australia wobbled again before reaching 222-9 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Mitchell Starc hit a career-best 52
not out off 37 balls from number nine as Australia had to rally from 130-6 and Sri Lanka were 14 for no wicket from 3.2 overs before rain forced the umpires to take the players off. The match was abandoned two hours later because of a wet outfield, leaving the home side unable to win the five-match series. Sri Lanka head to Hobart for Wednesday’s final match with a 2-1 lead. “We have to take the umpires’ judgment,” Australia captain Michael Clarke said. “Everybody’s disappointed it wasn’t a full game but it means Hobart’s going to be a challenge and we’ll be trying to level the series.” Sri Lanka might even have clinched the series on Sunday had it not been for opener David Warner, who top-scored with 60 to take Australia through some early wobbles. Nuwan Kulasekara was the pick of the bowlers with 3-30 off his 10 overs. Clarke said his team needed to figure out how to combat the seamer, who was also man-of-the-match in Brisbane. “He’s bringing the ball back in to the right-handers and away from the lefthanders,” Clarke said. “That’s always tough but we’ll all look at our games individually and work out a plan to him.”
SCOREBOARD Australia innings DA Warner lbw b Perera 60 1 Pj Hughes c Chandimal b kulasekara 20 Mj Clarke lbw b kulasekara Dj Hussey c thirimanne b Malinga 1 Gj Bailey c Perera b Herath 22 MS Wade c kulasekara b Perera 31 3 MC Henriques lbw b Herath lbw MG johnson b Malinga 10 MA Starc not out 52 Cj Mckay b kulasekara 2 10 xj Doherty not out 10 Extras (b 1, lb 7, w 2) total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 222 Fall of wickets 1-4 (Hughes, 1.5 ov), 2-50 (Clarke, 9.6 ov), 353 (Hussey, 12.1 ov), 4-93 (Bailey, 21.3 ov), 5-125 (Warner, 28.6 ov), 6-130 (Henriques, 31.4 ov), 7-145 (johnson, 38.1 ov), 8-166 (Wade, 42.3 ov), 9-182 (Mckay, 45.5 ov) Bowling: AD Mathews 10 -1 -50 -0, kMDN kulasekara 10 -2 30 -3, SL Malinga 10-2 -33 -2, NLtC Perera 10 -0 -64 -2, HMRkB Herath 10 -0 -37 -2 Sri Lanka innings DPMD jayawardene not out 4 tM Dilshan not out 9 Extras (w 1) 1 14 total (0 wickets; 3.2 overs; 16 mins) Did not bat HDRL thirimanne, LD Chandimal†, MDkj Perera, AD Mathews, BMAj Mendis, NLtC Perera, kMDN kulasekara, SL Malinga, HMRkB Herath Bowling: Cj Mckay 2 -0 -13 -0, MA Starc 1.2 -0 -1 toss Australia, who chose to bat No result Series Sri Lanka led the 5-match series 2-1 Umpires M Erasmus (South Africa) and PR Reiffel tV umpire RA kettleborough (England) Match referee j Srinath (India) Reserve umpire jD Ward
ashley giles calls for ‘strong minds’ LonDon AGENCIES
Limited-overs coach Ashley Giles says England must be “strong-minded” to recover in the one-day series in India. The tourists won the opening match by nine runs , but have since suffered two heavy defeats to trail 2-1 with two matches to play. “Winning a one-day series in India is very, very hard,” Giles told BBC Sport. “It’s a mix of high skill levels and being clear mentally, strong minded. With the noise and pressure it’s about how you control your emotions.” The 155 in Ranchi was England’s lowest score batting first in a completed oneday international since they made 146 against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy in Johannesburg in 2009, some 68 matches ago. England amassed 325-4 to win the series opener in Rajkot but have since been bowled out for 158 and 155 to lose by 127 runs and seven wickets respectively. In the third match in Ranchi, England were 68-1 before losing their last nine wickets for 87 runs, including three wickets for one run in eight deliveries. “We need to learn the lessons of the last two games,” continued Giles, who is in his first series in charge of the limitedovers side after being appointed in November. “We’ve got some very good players in this side but, as individuals, they need to stand up and make a difference. “You need to be able to consolidate in situations. It’s not possible for anyone, even the Indians, just to go in from ball one and bash it around. “If there is pressure, we have to soak it up. If ever you lose three wickets, in any game of cricket, it’s going to cost you.”
miller replaces de villiers in odi squad CAPe toWn AGENCIES
Left-handed batsman David Miller has been named in the South African one-day squad for the second and third games of their series against New Zealand following the suspension of captain AB de Villiers. De Villiers was suspended for two games by ICC match referee David Boon for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first match which New Zealand won by one wicket. Miller, 23, has won 16 oneday caps since making his debut in 2010. Twenty20 captain Faf du Plessis will captain the team after vice-captain Hashim Amla asked not to be considered for the captaincy in order to concentrate on his batting.
sArWAN THroWN INTo THe fIre tonY CoZIer Clyde Butts and his selection panel had a couple of contrasting dilemmas to resolve last week as they sorted out the West Indies squad for the five ODIs and one Twenty20 in Australia next month. They had to find a replacement batsman for Marlon Samuels, a lynchpin at No. 3 or 4 - since the transformation inspired by his two-year suspension for alleged dealings with an Indian bookie as well as decide which of the encouraging group of tall, early-20s fast bowlers now coming to the fore to include or, put another way, to leave at home. One was as tricky as the other. In the end, they went back to the experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan after his 18 troubled months on the outside, and retained the 21-year-old, six-feet, seven-inches Jason Holder who they first picked late last year for the ODIs in Bangladesh. Since the heady days when Clive Lloyd could constitute his attack with any four of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft, Wayne Daniel and Sylvester Clarke, intimidating giants all, later to be followed by four other towering six-footers, Courtney Walsh, Patrick Patterson, Curtly Ambrose and Ian Bishop there has been a yearning for bowlers of similar pace and
height. Several were tried - Mervyn Dillon, Marlon Black, Cameron Cuffy, Tony Gray, Nixon McLean, Reon King, Franklyn Rose, Jermaine Lawson - but none fit the bill. Lawson was the most fearsome but only through a suspect action that eventually ended his career. As is proved by Malcolm Marshall, the great exponent of each way swing at pace, and the most recent standard bearer, Kemar Roach, both of medium build, along with many others over the years, size is not all that matters in fast bowling. But it can be an advantage, especially on the trampoline pitches of Australia. Five candidates standing over six feet have come forward over the past couple of seasons. Another from the Under-19 World Cup team is an exciting prospect. Holder, the youngest and tallest, has the grounding of the West Indies Under-19s (he was among the leading bowlers in the youth World Cup in New Zealand in 2010) and the ‘A’ team before his promotion to the senior team in Bangladesh. Although not express, he clearly added a few kilometres per hour to his pace in the current regional T20. The quickest of the lot, and not many centimetres shorter than Holder, is Shannon Gabriel, 24. The powerful Trinidadian made his Test debut against England at Lord’s last May when he had four wickets, before a back
injury put him out of cricket for more than a year. He is fit again and, with an evident tweaking of his action, was sending them down at a serious lick in the T20s, even on the slow surface at the Queen’s Park Oval. As left-armers, Delorn Johnson, 24, a 64 Vincentian, and Sheldon Cotterell, a strong Jamaican Defence Force soldier aged 23, benefit from the different angle they present, if their point of delivery needs some attention. Johnson had an outstanding series against India ‘A’ in the Caribbean last June, with 17 wickets at an average of 13.29 in the three four-day matches; Cottrell was a consistent performer with the High Performance Centre in Bangladesh last September. He can expect a hot reception from the Australians, as much with the ball on their lively pitches as with their barbed commentary on his recent history. It will be a test of his resilience. Carlos Brathwaite, 24, is another fastish, rather than outright fast, lanky bowler who has already attracted the selectors favour for the Bangladesh tour of 2011 when he had one match. And as shrewd a judge as Ian Bishop likes the looks of the youth World Cup graduate Ronsford Beaton, the 20-yearold Montserrat-born Guyanese, as one for the not too distant future. The coming couple of months are significant tests for them
all — Holder in Australia and, on his return, in the regional first-class tournament that will also be the showcase for the others. It is a vital time for Sarwan as well. As the selectors stuck to their stated policy that Shivnarine Chanderpaul, at 38, does not fit into their plans for building for the 2015 World Cup, in spite of his record, unwavering form and fitness, Sarwan appeared the obvious choice. His ODI stats are similar to Chanderpaul’s (173 ODIs, 5644 runs, average 43.41) and there was a lack of other realistic contenders, tried and untried, at a time when the batting cupboard is barer than Old Mother Hubbard’s. Yet other factors would have been taken into account. Australia has never been good to him. In eight Tests and three ODIs on three previous tours, he has managed just two scores over 50, the highest 62. More to the point is the form and the state of mind he carries there now. They made a definite case for giving him time to re-find his groove in the regional first-class tournament rather than throw him into the deep end against strong Australian bowling in home conditions. In the current regional T20, he has been unrecognisable as the classy, confident player he is at his best. He scraped together
37 runs in the six matches in the preliminary round, with a high of 14 against the Leewards. It is not far-fetched to assume that he is yet to get over his exclusion from the team since July 2011, the board’s withholding of his central contract on the grounds of fitness and his awkward relationship with the West Indies’ coaching staff and administrators in Guyana. He spoke last May of the “very negative stuff” that the coach had said about him; he was so badly hurt “mentally and emotionally” he did not leave his house for up to three days. He joined the English county, Leicestershire, where he said he was relaxed and content and for whom he has signed an extension of his contract. When he made it plain that he wouldn’t join the West Indies touring team in England if called on, the signals were that his days as an international cricketer were over. Now he is “happy to be back” and “really looking forward to this tour”. He can expect a hot reception from the Australians, as much with the ball on their lively pitches as with their barbed commentary on his recent history. It will be a test of his resilience. Samuels has set the example of what can be achieved in the second coming. Now that he is absent, Sarwan has his turn.
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:54 AM Page 18
17 Sports
Monday, 21 January, 2013
Stags beat aftab Qarshi in veterans League LAHore StAFF REPORt
SPM Stags beat Aftab Qarshi by 70 runs in the 4th SPM Lahore Veteran Cricket League on Sunday. At Stags cricket ground, SPM batting first 177/6 after 30 overs. Masroor Hussain 53, Kamran Khan 44, Zahoor Ilahi 20, Shakeel Malik 17, Khawaja Naseer ud din 16 runs not out & Farooq Shahzad 16 runs not out. Aftab Qarshi bowling Nazeer Hussain 2/23, Jameel Bhatti 1/32, Mohsin Aftab 1/39 & Tahir Saeed 1/30 wickets. In reply Aftab Qarshi 107 all out after 26.3 overs. Javeed Akhtar 31, Sohail Fazal 14, Muhammad Amir 11 & Hassan Idrees 15 runs. SPM Stags bowling Masroor Hsussain bowling well 3/23, Faheem Malik 1/0, Rehan Rauf 1/19, Zia ud din 1/7 & Farooq Shahzad 1/12 wickets. Javeed Ashraf, Muhammad Asif Umpire & Abdul Hameed was the scorer. End of the match Chief Guest SPM Chief Aizad Hussain Sayid give away man of the match award to Masroor Hussain. Saeed Khan is also present.
frankie gavin defends British welterweight title LonDon AGENCIES
Frankie Gavin defended his British welterweight title for the first time with a ninth-round stoppage of Jason Welborn at Walsall Town Hall. Former amateur star Gavin, 27, won the Lonsdale Belt by beating former world champion Junior Witter in November. And the Birmingham southpaw had far too much class for Welborn, improving his record to 15-0 (11KOs). Walsall’s Martin Gethin claimed the vacant British lightweight title with a stoppage of Hove’s Ben Murphy.
america will forgive armstrong: Johnson toronto
meLBouRne: agnieszka Radwanska hits the ball to ana ivanovic during her australian open match.
Radwanska storms past Ivanovic to extend streak
AGENCIES
Former sprinter Ben Johnson believes fellow drug cheat Lance Armstrong can be loved again by the American public. Disgraced cyclist Armstrong admitted for the first time to taking drugs during his career in an interview with Oprah Winfrey shown during the week. And Johnson, who was banned for taking steroids at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, has some sympathy for Armstrong. “American people will forgive him,” he told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek programme. Ben Johnson: A troubled career Born: 30 December 1961 Won the 100m at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in a world record 9.79 seconds Stripped of the title three days later after it was revealed he had failed a doping test Admitted the offence a year later at a Canadian government investigation Returned to the sport in 1991 but was found guilty of doping in 1993 Ban was overturned in 1999 and Johnson was given leave to appeal Failed a further test in late 1999 “I don’t think it will be tough for him to make a living. I hope he can move on and do good things. If he can find some way to make a living he will be fine. “I think people will judge him differently, based on what he did for humanity and for cancer.” Last year Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after being labelled a “serial cheat” by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada). Usada said that Armstrong’s USPS/Discovery Channel professional cycling team operated the “most sophisticated, professional and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”. In the first part of the interview with Winfrey, Armstrong finally ended years of denials by admitting he used performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his Tour de France wins.
MeLBoUrne
A
AGENCIES
GNIESZKA Radwanska continued her perfect start to the year with a clinical demolition of Ana Ivanovic to set up a rematch with Li Na in the quarter-finals after beating the Chinese in Sydney 10 days ago. Four of the top 10 women have already packed their bags at Melbourne Park while fourth seed Radwanska has not dropped a set in her 13 straight victories this year. “Well, what can I say? I’m just very happy that I can play at a very high level,” she told reporters after her 70minute rout of the former world number one. “I hope I can keep going three more.” The 23-year-old Pole joked before the match that she was not superstitious about the number 13 and needed precious little luck in her 6-2 6-4 rout of the former world number one. Radwanska made just four unforced errors to the wayward Serbian’s 34 and saved five break points in the second set before sealing victory with her seventh ace after 70 minutes. Radwanska, who stormed to victory in Auckland and Sydney in the leadup to the tournament, has set her heart on becoming Poland’s first grand slam winner and came within a set of her fulfilling her dream at Wimbledon against Serena Williams. Her frenetic all-court game on a cool summer evening at Rod Laver Arena left Ivanovic in little doubt the Pole could go all the way at Melbourne Park. “I think she definitely can,” the for-
djokovic survives scare from wawrinka at australian open
MELBOuRNE: Defending champion Novak Djokovic survived an early onslaught and a late fightback from Stanislas Wawrinka in a pulsating fourth-round clash to advance to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open early on Monday. The 15thseeded Swiss had taken a 6-1 5-2 lead over the world number one with a
powerful serve and booming groundstrokes before Djokovic took greater control of the rallies and waited for Wawrinka to make mistakes. Wawrinka, however, managed to send the fourth-round match into a decider when he totally dominated the fourth set tiebreak before Djokovic clinched a tense 1-6 7-5 6-4
6-7 12-10 victory on his third match point in five hours two minutes. Djokovic, seeking to become the first man in the professional era to win three successive Australian Open titles, will now meet fifth seed Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals after the Czech overcame South Africa’s Kevin Anderson. AGENCIES
mer French Open champion told reporters. “She’s a player, it’s no secret, who doesn’t make too many winners, but she has good hands. She can really get the opponents to feel a little awkward make
you go for too much. “That’s her strength.” Radwanska edged sixth seed Li in two tight sets at the Sydney semi-final but the 2011 finalist is brimful of confidence after easing past her fourth-round
opponent Julia Goerges in straight sets. “It’s never easy playing against her. She’s a very consistent player and moving very well, serving well,” said Radwanska. “For sure I really have to play my 100 percent to beat her.”
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:54 AM Page 19
Sports 18
Monday, 21 January, 2013
Donaldson beats Rose to win Abu Dhabi title
watch it Live PTV SPORTS Australian Open Tennis 2013 05:00AM
STAR SPORTS Hockey League: Jalandhar v Lucknow 08:00PM
ABU DHABI AGENCIES
W
ELSHMAN Jamie Donaldson overhauled Justin Rose’s two-stroke lead to win the Abu Dhabi Championship by one shot. On an enthralling final day at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Donaldson had five birdies and did not drop a shot until the final hole, to finish on 14 under. That allowed Rose a chance to force a play-off but his birdie putt lipped out of the cup and a 71 was one too many. Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen had also missed a putt to take the event into a play-off and he shared second. Donaldson, 37, waited 11 years and 255 events to record his first European Tour victory last season at the Irish Open. Having already qualified for the Masters at Augusta in April by breaking into the top 50 by the turn of the year, he required only 14 more events to add his second title with an impressive display in the Middle East, defying a series of contenders, most noticeably world number five Rose. “It was nerve wracking,” he admitted having watched the final pair miss opportunities to take the tournament to extra holes. “I thought one of them would hole if not both. I’m just very happy to be holding the trophy.” Rose had been at the top of the leaderboard from the first day and birdied the second hole on Sunday, but when he missed a par putt from six feet at the fifth and playing partner Olesen collected his second birdie of the round they were tied for the lead at 12 under.
Brisbane heat beat Perth Scorchers in final SYDneY AGENCIES
Brisbane Heat beat Perth Scorchers by 34 runs to win the Australian Big Bash Twenty20 competition at the Waca. Needing 168 to win, the Scorchers never go to grips with the chase, falling short on 133-9, with West Indies paceman Kemar Roach taking 3-18. Earlier, the Heat had posted 167-5, with Joe Burns smashing 43 from 26 balls and Dan Christian a 21-ball 37. The final defeat is the second in as many years for the Scorchers, who were beaten by Sydney Sixers in 2012. Perth had reached the final in dramatic style, as Mike Hussey hit the winning runs from the final ball of their semi-final against Melbourne Stars. But Hussey, batting at number six, did not arrive at the crease in the final until the 14th over, at which point the hosts needed 71 from 37 deliveries. It was too big an ask and, when Hussey fell in the 17th over, it began a collapse that saw the Scorchers lose five wickets for five runs.
hamilton will win races in 2013: fernando alonso LonDon AGENCIES
Olesen, 23, who has also qualified for the Masters for the first time, recorded his maiden European victory last season at the Sicilian Open but his hopes of a second title receded when his shot from thick rough at the sixth flew low and left, careered off a rock and finished in a bush, resulting in a double bogey. The next challenge for Rose came from David Howell, the 37-year-old who moved into the world top 10 after winning the 2006 PGA Championship at Wentworth, but was sidelined by a back injury and has since dropped to 258th. Howell picked up five birdies in his opening 10 holes and led at 13-under before bogeying the 12th and then suffering a triple bogey seven at the 13th when he took four putts from five feet. He was to finish five shots adrift in a share of sixth but Donaldson holed consecutive birdie putts of 18 and 15 feet to
open a two-shot advantage. Rose reduced the deficit to one after sinking a five-foot putt for birdie at the 14th but then pushed his approach into the trees at the 16th and was fortunate not to find water, although he dropped a shot when his chip raced past the flag and he could not hole the putt back. The 32-year-old Englishman missed a 10 foot birdie chance at the 17th but was handed a lifeline when Donaldson took six at the last, an errant drive into rough down the left forcing a lay-up and an indifferent pitch resulting in three putts from the edge of the large, undulating green. Olesen did not threaten the hole with his 15 foot putt on the final green but Rose’s effort from slightly nearer was on line, only to spin out on the right hand edge to crown Donaldson the champion.
McIlroy and Woods miss cut in Abu Dhabi ABU DHABI AGENCIES
World numbers one and two Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods missed the cut at the Abu Dhabi Championship, Woods after being penalised two shots. England’s Justin Rose leads after two rounds on eight under par. McIlroy carded a second-round 75 for six over while Woods, who finished one over, missed out by one shot after being given a two-shot penalty. Woods wrongly thought he had a free drop at the fifth hole after his ball became entangled in weeds. He was told on the 11th hole that the matter was being investigated and his bogey five was changed to a triplebogey seven after discussions with European Tour senior referee Andy McFee. “Andy feels the way he feels about it and I broke the rules,” said Woods. The American asked Germany’s
Martin Kaymer, the other member of the star group, to examine the lie among some foliage. “I called Martin over to verify the ball was embedded. We both agreed, but evidently it was not sand,” said Woods. “It’s tough. I didn’t get off to a very
good start and I fought. I got it back.” Despite changing to his old putter in the week he started playing with Nike clubs, McIlroy departed early from an event in which he was runnerup last year. “I’m not here to talk about my [Nike] contract, I’m here to talk about my golf,” said the 23-year-old. “I knew it was going to be a tough week. I hit the ball really well in Dubai last week, but it just got worse for some reason. “I’m very disappointed. You never want to get off to a poor start, but I’ve got to realise it’s only the start of the season.” The 32-year-old Rose added a 69 to his opening 67 to leave him one ahead of Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen. “I felt like my game definitely sharpened up,” Rose said. “When you have perfect distance control you know you are swinging it well.”
Fernando Alonso believes Lewis Hamilton will win races in 2013, despite his move to Mercedes. Mercedes won once last year but ended the season struggling to score points. But Alonso said: “I am sure he will be able to win. Mercedes already won last year with Nico [Rosberg] and Lewis has been winning races with all cars. “Even in 2009 with a car that was two seconds off the pace, they ended the year winning. Lewis will be able to win with Mercedes as well.” Alonso said he believed Hamilton, who was his team-mate at McLaren in 2007, was the best driver in Formula 1, despite Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel winning the last three titles in a row. “Who is [the] strongest driver? My answer is Hamilton,” he said. “It was true last year, it was true this year. “The strongest driver? It is a personal opinion, not political, not to make people think something. Who is the strongest opponent, the strongest driver on grid? Who is the one you have to keep an eye on? It is Hamilton - and it will still be Hamilton next year.” Asked why he had not mentioned Vettel, he said: “I am not saying he is not the strongest driver. “In 2011, there was a fantastic performance from him. It is true the car was much in front of everybody, they [Red Bull] were first and second consistently, and when the car is good you tend to relax in some races. “But I remember difficult races in 2011 with wet/dry conditions, and he did not do any single mistake. So for sure in these three years there were moments when he was better than anybody else and he deserved these three championships.” Lewis Hamilton profile Age: 28 Current team: Mercedes Previous team: McLaren Titles: 2008 Wins: 21 Podiums: 49 Fastest laps: 12 Alonso said he would have no problem having Vettel as a team-mate if the German was to join Ferrari alongside him in the future. “I would enjoy as I am enjoying with Felipe,” Alonso said. “I enjoy with all the team-mates I had. “I had a fantastic time with all if them, good fights and constantly learning, because every driver does different philosophies and you improve yourself as well. “If a new driver comes in it will be fantastic battle, fantastic for the team and good performance. If Felipe keeps racing it will also be very good and we keep helping Ferrari which is the main goal.”
Mubariz wins Nick faldo Pakistan golf series LAHore StAFF REPORt
The three days trials to select a three member boys team for participation in the Nick Faldo Series Golf Championship due to be held in March in China, concluded at the grand Defence Raya Golf Course. Interestingly the concluding moments were full of twists and turns which culminated in three participating contenders finishing level at the same score and to decide the overall winner and the best one in the under 16 years age category, Mubariz Ahmed of Margalla Golf
Club, Faisal Mir of Gujranwala Golf Club and Minhaj Maqsood of Rawalpindi Golf Club had to go into a play off. This was done to comply with the basis authorised by Tom Phillips, CEO, Nick Faldo Series in Hong Kong to Taimur Hassan of Pakistan Golf Federation. Playoffs in golf are real thrillers and in this case the playoff between Mubariz and Faisal and Minhaj was no exception. All three contenders were seen in their competitive elements during the playoff holes and all three gave off their best. Their driving was superb and so was their shotmaking off the fairways and it was sad to see Minhaj losing out to
Faisal Mir in the under 16 years category and as for Mubariz Ahmed, it was a moment of glory for him as he emerged as the overall winner. In the final standings, Faisal Mir got selected in the under 16 years category, Mubraiz Ahmed in the under 18 years categoty and Wamiq Shakeel in the under 21 years category. As for the girls Nushmiya Sukhera of Royal Palm managed to stay on course and in tension packed final two holes, she beat her nearest rival Maryama Khan by a stroke. These four will now proceed to China and Brig Shahid Wahab Rao of Defence
Raya Golf Club has offered them free practice time and all necessary facilities at the golf course. And because of the superb conditions at the course it will strengthen the players ability under the guidance of national coach Omer Ghias and sports psychologist Max Babri. The optimistic outcome of these trials was that one notices a lot of talent, amongst the juniors. And Brig Akram Honorary Secretyary of Punjab Golf rightly highlighted that quite a few boys did not make it but with proper support they are the champions of tomorrow. The names include Minhaj Maqsood, Mustafa Gilani, Rao M. Hassan, Mahad
Zafar, Zeeshan Khan, Adnan KhanOsamah warriach, Abdur Rehman and Muhammed. Mahmood Aziz of PGF said that at the moment we have eight players with single handicaps in the under 16 years category. At the conclusion of the Championship prizes were awarded to the winners by Taimur Hassan, Secretary, Pakistan Golf Federation, in a ceremony attended by Max Babri and Brig Akram of Punjab Golf, Mahmood Aziz of PGF, Omer Ghias national golf coach, Waqar Saigol, Fakhar Imam and participating golfers.
LHR 21-01-2013_Layout 1 1/21/2013 5:54 AM Page 20
19
Monday, 21 January, 2013
obama, Biden take oath for second term
WASHIngton SPECIAL CORRESPONDENt
HYDERABAD: Supporters of MQM light lamps during a ceremony in memory of slain party MPA Manzar Imam. oNLINe
syrian airstrike kills seven near Damascus DAMASCUS
PPP ropes in Punjab governor’s sons rAHIM YAr kHAn
AGENCIES
Syrian activists on Sunday said government warplanes bombed a rebelheld area on the southern outskirts of Damascus, killing seven people, including five members of a family. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrike targeted the village of al-Barika on Sunday. It said a couple and three of their children were among the dead. Government troops also battled rebels in several areas east of Damascus. Rebels trying to end the 12-year rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have seized large parts of northern Syria and established footholds in suburbs near Damascus since an uprising began in 2011. But, the insurgents have been unable to advance on the Assad’s seat of authority in the capital because of superior government firepower. ProAssad forces regularly hit the more lightly-armed rebels with air and artillery strikes.
T
INP
HREE sons of Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood announced to join the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Sunday. Two of his sons – Mustafa and Murtaza – were elected as members of national and provincial assemblies respectively in 2008 elections from the platform of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PMLF). They announced their decisions in a public gathering addressed by former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Gilani said the problems of the people of South Punjab could not be resolved without the formation of a new province. He said the report of the Parliamentary Commission on New Provinces would be tabled in the National Assembly during the upcoming session.
He said that he chose to quit the office of the prime minister, but did not carry out the “unconstitutional act” of writing letter to Swiss officials for reopening corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. Gilani said the PPP was well aware of the problems of the area and would make all out efforts to resolve them. He said the PPP had always provided important portfolios to politicians from southern Punjab. He
said that as prime minister he had executed development projects worth trillions of rupees in South Punjab. Speaking on the occasion‚ Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood said that the doors of the Governor’s House would always remain open for the general public, including minorities. He promised to serve the people of the province with sincerity and vowed not to take any benefits as governor.
Fulfilling the US constitutional requirement, Barack Hussein Obama took oath as president for the second term at a succinct White House ceremony on Sunday. Obama’s midday oath-taking on Sunday is part of a series of second-term inauguration celebration events that culminate at a grand public ceremony on Monday, when the first African-American president will take oath publicly and address an enthusiastic crowd of his backers at the capitol. Sunday’s official ceremony took place in the White House’s ornate Blue Room, where he was joined by his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath to Obama. Embracing his children after the oath, his younger daughter Sasha was heard saying “Good job Daddy!” “I did it!” the president responded. The colourful ceremony and parade on Monday are likely to be attended by thousands of Obama supporters on the National Mall of the capital, which four years ago saw around 1.6 million converge on the first inauguration of Obama as president of the US. The ceremony on Monday will coincide with AfricanAmerican civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, which is a US federal holiday, marked on the third Monday of January each year. But under the US constitution, the president must be sworn in on January 20 to begin his White House four-year term. The ceremony marks a moment of joy for Obama and his liberal followers in an otherwise deeply divided Washington, where Republicans and Democrats adhere to partisan politics on national issues. Meanwhile, Vice President Joseph Biden took his oath at an early morning ceremony at his residence at the Naval Observatory. The US president and vice president made a trip to Arlington, where they jointly placed a wreath in front of Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknowns.
‘Playbook’ to give CIA free hand for drone strikes in Pakistan: WP WASHIngton SPECIAL CORRESPONDENt
The Obama administration is nearing completion of a detailed counterterrorism manual that is designed to establish clear rules for targeted-killing operations but leaves open a major exemption for the CIA’s drone campaign in Pakistan, according to a report by Washington Post citing US officials. The carve-out would allow the CIA to continue pounding alQaeda and Taliban targets for a year or more before the agency is forced to comply with more stringent rules spelled out in a classified document that officials have described as a counterterrorism “playbook”. The document, which is expected to be submitted to President Obama for final approval within weeks, marks the culmination of a year-long effort by the White House to codify its counterterrorism policies and create a guide for lethal
operations through Obama’s second term. A senior US official involved in drafting the document said that a few issues remain unresolved but described them as minor. The senior US official said the playbook “will be done shortly.” The adoption of a formal guide to targeted killing marks a significant and to some uncomfortable milestone: the institutionalisation of a practice that would have seemed anathema to many before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. US officials said the effort to draft the playbook was nearly derailed late last year by disagreements among the State Department, the CIA and the Pentagon on the criteria for lethal strikes and other issues. Granting the CIA a temporary exemption for its Pakistan operations was described as a compromise that allowed officials to move forward with other parts
of the playbook. The decision to allow the CIA strikes to continue was driven in part by concern that the window for weakening al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan is beginning to close,
with plans to pull most US troops out of neighbouring Afghanistan over the next two years. CIA drones are flown out of bases in Afghanistan. The CIA exception is expected to be in effect for “less than two years but
Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad.
more than one,” the former official said, although he noted that any decision to close the carve-out “will undoubtedly be predicated on facts on the ground.” Obama’s national security team agreed to the CIA compromise late last month during a meeting of the “principals committee,” comprising top national security officials, that was led by White House counterterrorism adviser John O Brennan, who has since been nominated to serve as CIA director. Senior administration officials have expressed unease with the scale and autonomy of the CIA’s lethal mission in Pakistan. But they have been reluctant to alter the rules because of the drone campaign’s results. The playbook is “a step in exactly the wrong direction, a further bureaucratisation of the CIA’s paramilitary killing programme” over the legal and moral objections of civil liberties groups, said Hina Shamsi, diEditor: Arif Nizami
rector of the American Civil Liberty Union’s National Security Project. Signature strikes contributed to a surge in the drone campaign in 2010, when the agency carried out a record 117 strikes in Pakistan. The pace tapered off over the past two years before quickening again in recent weeks. None of the rules applies to the CIA drone campaign in Pakistan, which began under President George W Bush. The agency is expected to give the US ambassador to Pakistan advance notice on strikes. But in practice, officials said, the agency exercises near complete control over the names on its target list and decisions on strikes. Imposing the playbook standards on the CIA campaign in Pakistan would probably lead to a sharp reduction in the number of strikes at a time when Obama is preparing to announce a drawdown of US forces from Afghanistan that could leave as few as 2,500 troops in place after 2014.