E paper 01 02 2014 (lhr)[smallpdf com]

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STORY ON PAGE 02

Saturday, 01 February, 2014 Rabi-ul-Awwal 30, 1435 Rs 17.00 Vol IV No 215 16 Pages Lahore Edition

Missing persons’ relatives new destination: Geneva Voice of Baloch Missing Persons Chairman Naseer Ullah Baloch has warned that if the lingering issue of missing persons is not resolved till the long march arrives in Islamabad, the next destination of the long march will be Geneva.

Addressing a press conference at Balochistan House on Friday, he informed that around 100 bodies have been recovered from a mass grave in Khuzdar... PAGE 04

STORIES ON PAGE 03

3 FC men killed in Awaran bombing Three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were killed and four others sustained injuries when a roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in the volatile Awaran district of Balochistan on Friday. FC spokesperson Mohammed Wasay confirmed the death toll and said two of the injured are in critical condition.

“The FC vehicle was on a routine patrol from Awaran to Lesbela on the National Highway when it was hit by an IED planted by miscreants,” he said. More troops rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area after the explosion. The bodies and injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment... PAGE 02

Ashraf Wathra appointed acting SBP governor The State Bank of Pakistan has appointed Ashraf Wathra, a banker with a wealth of international experience, as acting governor, the Finance Ministry said on Friday after its previous chief resigned in a row with the government over policy. The change in leadership comes at a time of chronic gas and electricity shortages, violent crime and a Taliban insurgency that have all hampered growth... PAGE 10

STORY ON PAGE 02

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02 NEWS

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

Nawaz and Zardari join hands for more power PRIME MINISTER, FORMER PRESIDENT JOINTLY LAUNCH THAR COAL POWER PROJECT KARACHI STAFF REPORT

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TRESSING the need to shun political differences and moving forward together in national interest, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Zardari on Friday jointly performed the groundbreaking ceremony of $1.6 billion Thar Coal power project.

The project will initially provide 660MW for Pakistan’s energy-starved industrial units. It will be completed in 2017 and help spur economic development and bring energy security to the country.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Nawaz pledged to overcome gas and power shortage shortly. He said three power projects on River Indus namely Bunji‚ Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha dams would produce around 15,000 megawatts of electricity. The nuclear power plant in Karachi will produce 2,200MW of elec-

NAWAZ SAYS HE AND ZARDARI SHOULD BE ROLE MODEL FOR PEOPLE

SAYS IT IS HIGH TIME TO SHUN POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND MOVE FORWARD

tricity, he added. The PM also said Tarbela upraising project and Jhimpir wind power project would add further electricity to the national grid.

He said the project would not only bring investment to the country but would also provide employment opportunities to local population and improve their living standards.

Nawaz said prosperity and peace in one province were the development of the entire country. He said all parties should unite to work for peace‚ prosperity and development. “We have respected the mandate of all political parties after general elections,” Nawaz said. He expressed pleasure over Thar Coal power project and said it was not only the Sindh government’s project‚ but a national project.

ROLE MODELS: Nawaz said his and Zardari’s character should be a role model for the people. He said good advices should be considered for national interest. The premier said stale politics

was no more visible and politicians believing in the national development were now ruling the roost. He said the government would support establishment of industries in the area after completion of the project. He said the government could not commit injustice as it was answerable to God and the people.

The project will be carried out by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) a joint venture between Engro Powergen and Government of Sindh.

The project in Block - II of Tharparkar district is spread over an area of 79.6 square kilometers. According to a feasibility study, the project is commercially viable and has no significant environmental threats and social implications. In the Phase I, the project will develop coal mining and power project with a capacity of 3.8 million tons per annum and 660MW. Subsequently the mine will be expanded to a coal capacity of 6.5 million tonnes per annum

US says it supports Pakistan’s attempt to establish writ of state ISLAMABAD APP

United States Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson has conveyed US’s support for Pakistan on its efforts for establishing a writ of state within the country but, he added it was up to the state to decide how to achieve this goal. “How Pakistan views matters of its internal security or I would say is up to Islamabad” but his country was “supportive of Pakistani efforts to establish writ of State through all of its territory. But the question of how that is done is up to Pakistanis.”

During a media briefing at the US embassy on Friday, Olson said that it was up to Islamabad to view matters concerning internal security. His country was “supportive of Pakistani efforts to establish writ of state through all of its territory but the question of how that is done is up to Pakistanis,” said Olson. The briefing followed the strategic dialogue in Washington on Monday between the two countries. Olson had also attended the meeting.Pakistan was led at the dialogue by the prime minister’s Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz while US was represented by Secretary of State John Kerry. Olson said the basic purpose of the strategic dialogue was to review the relations of the two states and to discuss progress of the five working groups on energy, economic issues, defence, strategic and non-proliferation and law enforcement and counter-terrorism. The point of strategic dialogue has not been to come up with “specific deliverables,” so seen in that context, it does not have an outcome. However, “these talks have helped both sides to have a clear understanding of the other side,” he said. He describe the strategic dialogue as “a successful attempt to elevate our discussion on bilateral relationship and our partnership” to secure a prosperous and stable Pakistan. Both sides took in to account the regional issues, Pakistan’s economical development and the regional environment in context of American drawdown from Afghanistan in 2014 during the talks. On the US drones attacks on Pakistan’s border areas with Afghanistan, Olson declined to add to what had already been stated by American president Barack Obama in his State of the Union address that these unmanned aircraft had been limited to ‘prudent use’.

to support a 1300MW power plant.

In Phase II, it is planned to expand mining project to 13.5 million tonnes and 9.5 million tonnes, with a power generation capacity of 2400MW and 3600MW. Addressing the ceremony, Zardari thanked Nawaz for taking care of the poor people of Sindh. He said Pakistan’s lead-

Musharraf doesn’t get his heart’s desire SPECIAL COURT REJECTS FORMER ARMY STRONGMAN’S PLEA FOR PERMISSION TO GO ABROAD FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT

ISSUES BAILABLE ARREST WARRANTS IF FORMER GENERAL DOESN’T APPEAR IN COURT ON 9TH

ISLAMABAD

his application was inadmissible. Moreover, it ordered the Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IG) to ensure that Musharraf complied with the warrants against him.

The court, saying that Musharraf had failed to give appropriate justification over his non-appearance in the court, set bail bonds at Rs 2.5 million. The verdict, read

by Registrar Abdul Ghani also stated that Musharraf had been allowed to move freely within the country.

The rejected medical report stated that Musharraf needed to undergo an angiography on immediate bases, but the former president had not provided his consent to undergo the life saving surgery in Pakistan and wanted to go abroad for treatment.

Earlier, prosecutor Akram Shekih had requested the court to reject Musharraf’s medical report as it was unprofessional and did not include relevant test records.

Akram Sheikh had submitted 13 objections on the report which was prepared by doctors of the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC).

STAFF REPORT

The special court constituted to try former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf for high treason charges on Friday rejected his application seeking permission for medical treatment outside Pakistan and issuing his bailable arrest warrant, summoned him on February 9.

Earlier on Friday, the three-member special court headed by Justice Faisal Arab had reserved its decision on the medical report of the former president. While announcing its decision later in the day, the court issued bailable arrest warrants against the former strongman.

Reading out its decision, the court said Musharraf’s medical report submitted by the doctors did not state that he could not appear before the judges, adding that there was no choice but to issue an arrest warrant against him.

The court rejected Musharraf’s application seeking consent for medical treatment overseas and ruled that

3 FC men killed in Awaran bombing QUETTA STAFF REPORT

Three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were killed and four others sustained injuries when a roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in the volatile Awaran district of Balochistan on Friday.

FC spokesperson Mohammed Wasay confirmed the death toll and said two of the injured are in critical condition.

“The FC vehicle was on a routine patrol from Awaran to Lesbela on the National Highway when it

was hit by an IED planted by miscreants,” he said. More troops rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area after the explosion. The bodies and injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Awaran is among the worst militancy hit areas where last year a massive earthquake flattened 95 percent of the area. Banned Baloch separatist organisation Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) usually carries out attacks on security forces in Awaran and nearby areas.

However, there have been no claims of responsibility for this latest attack. Security forces have started a search operation in the area.

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ership has now matured and will benefit from democracy.

Sindh and Balochistan chief ministers Qaim Ali Shah and Abdul Malik‚ federal ministers‚ chief executive of Engro Company and other officials were present.

Zardari and Shah received Nawaz at Sindhri Airport on his arrival.

Pakistan today BILL MONTH OF JANUARY 2014

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

NEWS

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Taliban want media gag on govt negotiators MILITANTS THINK STATEMENTS BY NEGOTIATORS ARE HINDERING DIALOGUE INITIATIVE ISLAMABAD

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MIAN ABRAR

HOUGH the dialogue process between the negotiators of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government is yet to kick-off formally, the militant organisation has conveyed its displeasure to the government against an “unnecessary” media hype created by three members of the government’s negotiating team as according to the TTP, the statements by the negotiators were proving to be “impediments” in the dialogue process, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had formed a four-member negotiating panel for peace talks with the TTP on Wednesday which included known columnist and special assistant to prime minister Irfan Siddiqui, veteran journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai, former diplomat

TWO CLOSE AIDES OF PRIME MINISTER TRYING TO ‘HIJACK THE SHOW’ FOR SELF-PROJECTION Rustam Shah Mohmand and former ISI official Major (r) Amir.

TTP DISPLEASED WITH MEDIA HYPE: A well-placed source privy to the ongoing dialogue process told Pakistan Today that the TTP leadership has conveyed its displeasure and discomfort to the government over an “unnecessary media hype” by three members of the government’s negotiating team who they claimed were violating a proposal presented by the chief negotiator of the government to keep the talks process issue under wraps.

The source said that it had been agreed in principle between the government’s chief negotiator, Major (r) Amir and the TTP leadership that the dialogue process will be target-oriented, media contacts will be avoided and that the negotiating teams will sit faceto-face to deliberate upon the issues rather than talking through indirect channels.

“Giving dialogue another chance was an initiative chosen by the prime minister

himself after five meetings with the relevant quarters and his chief negotiator who broke the ice between the government and the TTP leadership. It was also the government’s chief negotiator who had proposed to the TTP leadership to keep the dialogue process a ‘very low profile matter’ but the other three members of the panel named by the prime minister were creating an “unnecessary media hype” over the issue by conducting a series of interviews at all media outlets which itself is a violation of the pledge made by the government.”

The source said the TTP leadership thinks that the negotiators were aiming at personal projection out of the dialogue process which may become a major impediment for peace dialogue, adding that this tendency had alarmed the TTP cadres who thought that the government’s negotiators were not serious in making the talks successful. The source added that the unnecessary statements by three committee members were ‘out of place’ as none of them had direct access to the TTP leadership.

“The TTP leadership said that when the chief negotiator between the government and the TTP was keeping a low profile and was avoiding media contacts, why those having secondary role in talks

were using media for personal projection,” the source added. The source said the TTP leadership was especially unhappy over comments by a member of the government’s negotiating panel, Rustam Shah Mohmand, who spoke about the possible demands of the militants.

Resultantly, the source added, the TTP leadership felt that they had been betrayed by the government and the media space was being captured by the government’s negotiators while the TTP was being neglected which reflected its weakness in talks.

“In a bid to regain focus of the media, the TTP spokesman contacted media persons on Thursday and put forth strong demands to the government to counter media speculations and notion that the TTP was left behind in media coverage and that the TTP was being submissive towards the government’s initiative”.

“Even the prime minister was displeased over the press conference conducted by his close aide, who is also a member of the negotiating team, who had asked the TTP to name its own panel for negotiations the very same day when the prime minister had announced the negotiating panel,” the source said. The source added that the same should have been conveyed via backchannel contacts which had

Govt team urges Taliban to form their talks committee SIDDIQUI SAYS NEGOTIATION COMMITTEE GRANTED OPEN MANDATE TO CONDUCT TALKS ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The newly assembled four-member committee appointed to conduct talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan ( TTP) reserves the right to contact anyone it believes would be beneficial to the peace process, said committee member and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Irfan Siddiqui on Friday.

“If the Taliban want other individuals involved, then we as a committee will decide the involvement of others if we deem it necessary,” Siddiqui told a press conference here.

Earlier, the committee was given absolute power to seek assistance from any religious or political party, media person or army official in its attempt to make the dialogue process successful.

“The committee will be in touch with the media and the prime minister regarding any developments,” he added. However, Siddiqui also said that the committee reserves the right to conceal

information if it finds that releasing it to the media might prove harmful.

Siddiqui emphasised that the committee has both the parliament and Sharif’s confidence, stating that the prime minister has made himself available to the committee on a daily basis, if required. After the formation of the committee, Siddiqui said that the ball is now in the Taliban’s court.

“We have told the Taliban to tell us as soon as possible after their Shura who comprises their dialogue committee. We do not want to waste any time,” he said.

Siddiqui also expressed urgency.

“These talks will not take place over months or years, but days and weeks.”

He urged the TTP to relay their decisions to government as soon as they possibly can. At the same time, he emphasised that the talks will take place on cordial terms.

“We’ll speak to the Taliban wherever they say they’re comfortable talking with us,” he said, adding that the committee’s actions would then “depend on what the Shura says and the Taliban decides.”

In the meantime, he said that the committee has requested the government and the Taliban both to refrain from statements or actions that may endanger the peace process.

Siddiqui said that he was “optimistic” and hopes that the talks will be “resultoriented, meaningful and purposeful.”

PM directs body to start dialogue with Taliban immediately NAWAZ ASKS COMMITTEE TO COMMUNICATE WITH FACTIONS READY TO TAKE PART IN DIALOGUE PROCESS ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday instructed the four-member committee formed to hold talks with Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) militants to start the peace talks immediately.

The team called on Nawaz to mull over the dialogue strategy. The meeting also touched upon topics in the committee’s mandate and rules of negotiations with the terrorists but the PM gave a free hand to the members to take initiatives as and when they feel necessary to move ahead with the negotiations.

The session was attended by Irfan Siddiqui‚ Rahimullah Yousufzai‚ Rustam Shah Mohmand and Major (r) Amir. Siddiqui.

Nawaz instructed the committee to initiate peace talks with the TTP immediately. He said that he wanted to make the efforts to restore peace and directed the interior minister to keep him informed about the progress.

The PM asked the team to ensure establishing communication with the factions that were ready to take part in the dialogue process.

Nawaz said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would ensure providing required resources and secret information to the committee to facilitate the process while the government would also be responsible to provide foolproof security and travel facilities to the members.

Sources said that it was also decided in the meeting that the committee would be able to exercise autonomy during the dialogue. The committee members would now decide the leading rules to engage the TTP. Nawaz had only one precondition for talks, which he had explained in the National Assembly on Wednesday that there should be no terrorist attacks during negotiations.

Faith in peace talks diminishing COMMENT NADEEM SYED Despite the prime minister’s objectives and lip service by stakeholders, the faith in talks with the Taliban to bring an end to terrorism as a credible option is diminishing.

Probably, the government too has little faith in the value of the proposed talks. This is evident from the formation of the committee announced by the prime minister. Some of the members even invoked unpleasant memories from the past for being the part of ‘dark state’.

It seemed most of the relevant people stayed away from the initiative sensing probably the futility of the exercise.

The members include two journalists, Irfan Siddiqui and Rahimullah Yousafzai. Sididiqui was inducted in the government as special assistant only a day before making him part of the committee. Rustam Shah Mohmand, former ambassador and expert on Afghanistan, and Maj (r) Amir are the other two members. We all know Maj Amir as a part of Brig Imtiaz’s team during Gen Ziaul Haq’s era lending hands to the West then in raising militants against the Soviet

Union. He was also involved in other operations with political overtones. Recently he was serving in Bahria Town.

Both Siddiqui and Amir have one thing common.

Both of them are products of the Zia era. Even until very recently, Siddiqui was associated with Ejazul Haq when he was the federal minister in capacity of his spokesman.

Amir too still enjoys good relations with Ejazul Haq. It is now an open secret that the new initiative of the prime minister is in fact brainchild of Siddiqui who first persuaded the government to take on General Musharraf.

Already the membership of the committee has created more ripples than the peace initiative itself. The absence of any political figure or more precisely any other high-profile personality has been also noticed all around.

Where is Fazlur Rehman or Samiul Haq now? Likewise, why federal ministers, especially interior and information minister kept them aloof? Why is the KP governor or figure of his stature missing from the scene?

The political and security observers were surprised to see the committee, lacking any towering personality to inspire confidence. There are already question marks as to the credibility of the committee to deliver. One important reason for the lapse is probably the question mark over the utility of pursuing peace now. Hence, the gov-

ernment went for not very high-profile figures as if fulfilling a formality. Under the same impression, the important stakeholders and figures too stayed away.

Interestingly, as the prime minister announced another peace talk, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar held a secret meeting with the army chief of the kind they used to hold with Musharraf in the past.

Probably, it was meant to explain to the army leadership the logic of the new move. Or there could be some sort of parallel understanding in the works between the civil-military leadership not meant for public consumption right now. We know that the army is not much given to the notion of pursuing peace with the Taliban anymore, especially after recent terrorist attacks. Recently, it started operation in North Waziristan with jet fighters and helicopter pounding the hideouts of the militants. There are reports that the army initiated the operation on its own hoping that political leadership would come along later on. There are further reports that the army is on the move, doing final touches to operation in the tribal areas. Similarly, local people anticipating war ahead are leaving their homes.

The government did not make any appeal to them to stop leaving their places. Some military and political officials claim that the military could be engaged in the area in March or April when weather would be congenial for any attack.

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been instrumental in convincing the prime minister to give peace another chance.

RACE BETWEEN TWO MINISTERS: A source in the government told Pakistan Today that in a desperate bid to “hijack the show”, a race had triggered between two close aides of the prime minister as a federal minister who had also assumed a lead role in the recent but failed dialogue process, had again tried to repeat the same trick but his effort was disrupted by a newly appointed colleague.

“The newly formed team was approached by the interior minister’s staff on Thursday and they were told that the minister had invited them for a lunch meeting on Friday. However, the close aide of the prime minister who is also the convener of the government’s panel for talks preempted this move by the interior minister. As a result, the negotiators were approached by the prime minister’s staff and were informed that they would now be hosted by the prime minister himself on a breakfast meeting on Friday, rather than the luncheon meeting arranged by the interior minister.

The minister concerned was also asked to attend the meeting. Thus, the preemptive move by the prime minister’s aide has badly irked the interior minister,” the source concluded.

TalibaN begiN coNSUlTaTioNS To reSPoNd To govT TalkS offer ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Taliban on Friday started consultations to respond to the latest dialogue offer by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said a Taliban leader privy to the talks.

The political shura or council started its meeting at an unknown location to discuss the government’s offer and float recommendations, said the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“The political council will forward its decisions to the central council for a final decision,” he said, adding that the central council is scheduled to meet on Saturday.

Qari Shakil Ahmed Haqqani, a Taliban commander from Mohmand Agency, is presiding over the eight-member political council’s meeting, which coincided with the meeting in Islamabad of the fourmember committee formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif this week.“I think our response could be positive. But the Taliban are likely to make some demands,” the TTP leader said. He also indicated that the TTP could raise some reservations over two members of the government’s committee.

TTP chief Maulvi Fazalullah is likely to chair the meeting of the 16-member central council at an unknown place on Saturday, the TTP leader said.

Pakistani officials say Fazalullah operates from eastern Afghanistan after he has regrouped his fighters in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province.

The Taliban leader said the political council has the power to take a decision whether or not to hold talks with the government. However, the central council will take a final decision on recommendations by the political council.

On January 29, Nawaz had offered peace talks to the Taliban and had constituted a four-member committee for talks with them.

The committee comprises Adviser on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui, former ISI official Major (r) Muhammad Amir, senior journalist Rahimullah Yousufzai as well as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former Pakistan ambassador to Afghanistan Rustam Shah Mohmand Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar would assist the committee and the premier would oversee it.

04 NEWS

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

MISSING PERSONS’RELATIVES NEW DESTINATION: GENEVA among them, three persons have been identified as the missing persons.

Citing the Khuzdar DC, who he said had claimed that 25 disfigured bodies had been recovered, Baloch said the actual figure is more than 100. He blamed that gunfire was opened when the heirs tried to reach the mass grave. He blamed the access of media and human rights bodies have been denied to these graves.

He also claimed that mass graves had also been recovered in Pishin and Panjgor, and further claimed the existence of torture cells of a local death squad near these

CHAIRMAN WARNS OF APPROACHING INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IF NO JUSTICE IS FOUND IN APEX COURT ISLAMABAD INP

V

OICE of Baloch Missing Persons Chairman Naseer Ullah Baloch has warned that if the lingering issue of missing persons is not re-

US to Seek death penalty for accUSed BoSton BomBer WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The United States is to seek the death penalty for accused Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev if he is convicted of involvement in the deadly attack, Attorney General Eric Holder said Thursday. “The nature of the conduct at issue and the resultant harm compel this decision,” Holder said in a statement on the prosecution of the 20-year-old, a US citizen from a Chechen Muslim family. Three people were killed and around 260 wounded on April 15 last year when two bombs made of explosives-packed pressure cookers exploded near the finish line of the Boston marathon. Tsarnaev, then 19, and his 26-year-old brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev were cornered by police after a four-day manhunt. Tamerlan died after an exchange of fire with police and Dzhokhar was wounded. The shaggy-haired onetime student has pleaded not guilty to 30 federal charges related to the bombings, including 17 serious charges that can carry sentences of death or of life in prison. These charges include using a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, as well as conspiracy and bombing of a place of public use resulting in death, and carjacking.

Tsarnaev is also charged in connection with the shooting death of a campus police officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the brothers’ wild overnight getaway attempt.

The brothers are said to have built the bombs with help from an online al Qaeda magazine, but they are not accused of having received help from any organised foreign terror group.

solved till the long march arrives in Islamabad, the next destination of the long march will be Geneva.

Addressing a press conference at Balochistan House on Friday, he informed that around 100 bodies have been recovered from a mass grave in Khuzdar and from

graves. He said, “We moved to Supreme Court but the Balochistan government and the lawyers of the secret agencies are causing unnecessary delays to these cases and presenting wrong facts and figures in the apex court”.

He slammed the United States and human rights organisations for their silence over the state of affair. He blamed that the agencies, in actuality, are running the affairs in Balochistan. He called for stepping down of the Balochistan government as well.

The chairperson showed no confidence

Govt clips wings of PEMRA head, executive member INFO SECRETARY SAYS IT IS VITALTOTAKE BACK POWERS FROM AHMED TO IMPROVE PEMRA’S PERFORMANCE ISLAMABAD INP

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairman Chaudhry Rasheed Ahmed and Executive Member Rao Tehseen Ali Khan have been stripped of from the administrative powers and a three-member committee has been formed to run the authority.

Decision to this effect was emanated during an important meeting of the PEMRA held here at PEMRA headquarters on Friday.

The meeting was attended by Information Secretary Dr Nazir Saeed, FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa and PTA Chairman Dr Ismail Shah.

Sources said Saeed presented a report against the PEMRA chairman that was prepared by the fact-finding committee and said the authority has adversely affected due to his policies.

During the last two years, the authority has failed to deliver. He said that the government had serious apprehensions over the state of affairs and to improve the performance of the authority it deems necessary to take back administrative powers from the chairman.

Sources said the other members of the authority, supporting the assertion of the secretary information, held Rasheed Ahmed responsible for the dwindling state of the authority and called for revoking all his administra-

tive powers. Sources also said Ahmed, who was present in the meeting, raised hue and cry over the remarks of the participants of the meeting, terming it a conspiracy and despotism against him and said Tehseen was responsible for the present state of affairs.

Sources said all the participants of the meeting after reviewing the situation unanimously decided to revoke all powers of the PEMRA head and executive member and handed over these power to a three-member committee, comprising Ismail Shah, Pervez Rathore and Israr Abbasi.

This committee will use all the administrative powers and run affairs of the body until a decision about the fate of the PEMRA chairman.

Sources added that there was a chance that the executive member would be sent on forced leave.

Four killed, 27 injured in fog-related accidents in Punjab LAHORE STAFF REPORT

At least four persons were killed and 27 others injured in different fogrelated accidents in parts of the Punjab on Friday. According to Motorway officials, four people were killed in road accidents in Gujranwala region

due to poor visibility caused by dense fog. Reports of 27 injuries in such accidents were also received from other parts of the province. Motorway from Lahore to Pindi Bhattian was shutdown on Friday morning due to zero visibility.

Meanwhile in Lahore, the flights schedule was suspended at the Allama

Iqbal International Airport due to thick fog as departing flights were delayed while incoming flights were diverted to other cities. Authorities have urged the public to use GT Road for travelling while driving slowly and keeping the fog lights turned on.

Avoiding unnecessary travel has also been recommended.

Spanish cyclist says no bodyguards killed protecting him in Pakistan MADRID ONLINE

It took eight days before Francisco Javier Colorado, the Spanish cyclist who was attacked in Pakistan during a round-theworld journey, was able to give his own version of events.

Contrary to what the Spanish Foreign Ministry stated on January 22 — that seven policemen had died as they tried to protect the cyclist from a kidnapping attempt — Francisco Javier Colorado is now claiming that the dead guards “bear no relation” to the attack in which he was targeted.

“At the time of the attack on the vehicle I was in, we were alone on the road,” said the 27-year-old Madrileño. “Both the driver and the [single] bodyguard with me made it out alive. The only person who

was slightly injured was me,” writes Colorado via his Facebook account. “It wasn’t a kidnap attempt - it was an assassination attempt.”

Asked about the contradictory versions, sources at the foreign ministry referred El País back to the press release they issued on January 22. This note, picked up on statement by Rehman Gilani, the interior secretary of Balochistan, who said that the attackers “wanted to kidnap the Spanish tourist”.

“Protection was an imperative of the Pakistani authorities and I will be eternally grateful for it,” writes Colorado, adding that the bodyguards are assigned to travelers across the territory as a matter of course - “and not exclusively to me, not at all”. According to his own version of events, the seven men who reportedly died were not protecting him at the time of the

grenade attack.

The Spaniard - who decided to continue with his journey after the incident, and reached New Delhi on Thursday explained that he had crossed the border between Iran and Pakistan with the idea of getting on a bus. Once in the city of Mastung, “I followed the advice of the Pakistani Army and traveled in a convoy”. One day after witnessing the aftermath of an explosion that blew up a bus, killing all 24 passengers, Colorado says he decided to cover the next leg of the journey in a truck with a driver and one bodyguard.

“I sat in the back, and after a few minutes someone hurled a grenade against our vehicle; it went off a few meters away, and some shrapnel got lodged in my head,” he goes on to say.

On the day of the attack and the

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foreign ministry’s release, Colorado had simply stated that “it wasn’t a kidnap attempt. They tried to kill me.”

But he made no comment about the seven dead guards.

Colorado, a graduate in chemical engineering, embarked on a two-year tour of the world on October 1. He is calling his adventure Colorado on the Road, and is posting updates on Facebook.

The attack took place in an area that the Spanish Foreign Ministry describes as “very dangerous.” It furthermore recommends that people avoid traveling to Pakistan “save for reasons of extreme urgency and necessity,” and notes that “there is a serious kidnap risk for foreign citizens in the entire country.”

Baluchistan has been the site of numerous terrorist attacks, accounting for more than 600 deaths last year alone.

in the commissions constituted for the recovery of the missing persons, blaming that the statement recorded for the missing persons was often found missing from the record.

Coming hard at Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who he said made a false promise with them for the recovery of missing persons, he blamed him for supporting the secret agencies in the SC. Saying that the long march had reach Multan, he alleged that the participants, women and children among them, are being given tough time by the secret agencies.

ex-canadian top general detained in afghanistan for gun smuggling KABUL AGENCIES

Afghan authorities have detained a former Canadian brigadier-general and head of Canadian forces in Afghanistan, Daniel Menard, for alleged gun smuggling. Menard resigned from the military after pleading guilty in 2011 to having an affair with a female corporal under his command on active duty. He now works for security firm, Garda World, whose spokesman Joe Gavaghan told the Toronto Star newspaper Menard was picked up by Afghan authorities on or about January 12 after a meeting with Afghan officials. “He was leaving a meeting at the ministry office and a couple of officials approached him. They said, ‘We’ve got a problem with something and we’d like you to come with us to clear it up.’ Off he went and the next thing he knew he was going to be detained until they cleared it up,” said Gavaghan. Gavaghan said his detention relates to an “administrative misunderstanding” over the private security firm’s licensing to operate in the country.

fehmida mirza not willing to vacate official residence ISLAMABAD INP

Former National Assembly speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza has not yet vacated the official residence in the Ministers Enclave despite a passage of over six months.

Sources said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been informed about the state of affairs

by Minister of State for Information Technology Anousha Rehman, who has been allotted the said house by the Housing Ministry. Sources also said the PM had sought an explanation from the ministry which had conveyed that sending police to evict the residence would not be appropriate measure. The ministry also said that they have contacted Fehmida Mirza many times but she always sought few more days to vacate the house. Anousha Rehman, eagerly seeking possession of the house, had repeatedly requested Minister of State for Housing and Works Barrister Usman Ibrahim in this regard. The Housing Ministry officials had repeatedly contacted Mirza seeking possession of the official residence but to no avail.

no cut in petrol price ISLAMABAD ONLINE

The government Friday rejected the recommendations of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to reduce POL prices. The Finance Ministry issued a notification of maintaining all the petroleum products at the existing prices.

However, the government has decreased the light diesel oil price by Rs 1.24 per unit and kerosene oil by Rs 1.2 per unit.

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

NEWS

05

DOST MUHAMMAD SWORN IN AS SC JUDGE ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani administers the oath of office to Justice Dost Muhammad Khan as judge of the Supreme Court. INP

Govt assures Na it will probe balochistaN mass Graves MINISTER SAYS BHC CJ WILL BE REQUESTED TO TAKE NOTICE OF MATTER PTI ACCEPTS GOVERNMENT’S CHALLENGE ON PRINTING OF CURRENCY NOTES ISLAMABAD

F

StAff REPoRt

EDERAL minister Abdul Qadir Baloch on Friday assured the National Assembly (NA) that the Balochistan High Court (BHC) chief justice would investigate the discovery of mass graves.

Lawmaker Aalia Kamran said on a point of order that the bodies discovered from a mass grave in Balochistan had sparked concern. The government has so far not explained the matter. A committee should be formed to probe the matter, she

demanded. Baloch said the deputy commissioner rushed to the scene and the bodies were exhumed.

According to officials, there were 13 bodies. Allegations have been levelled against insurgents and institutions but the matter is shrouded in mystery.

He assured the House that an inquiry would be conducted in this regard. The BHC CJ will be requested to take notice of the matter, he said.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Shafqat Mehmood said resignation of the State Bank of Pakistan’s governor was a highly exceptional matter. Earlier, the NADRA chairman was sent home through intimidation. The SBP is an autonomous institution and attempts were being made to influence it. The reports for removing the PCB chairman were also circulating. “We record our protest over it. Tell the House Ishaq Dar was harassing the governor State Bank or pressure was being mounted on him to print new currency notes,” he said.

PTI’s Asad Umar said, “We accept government challenge on the matter of printing of currency notes. We will present evidence in this regard in the House on Monday.” If the government does not review its policies the way it is running them then economy will receive a fatal blow, he cautioned.

In a written reply‚ Industries Minister Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi told the House that a PC-I has been

prepared for opening of another 1,000 utility stores throughout the country. He said 6,000 utility outlets were operating in the country presently.

Parliamentary Secretary for National Food Security Rajab Ali Baloch said that efforts were being made to build better storage facilities to avoid wastage of grains‚ vegetables‚ and fruits.

On a call attention notice of Khalida Mansoor‚ Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarrar said a committee having representation from the four provinces has been formed to give guidelines to the federating units to check hepatitis. To another call attention notice moved by Munaza Hassan and others‚ Interprovincial Coordination Minister Riaz Pirzada, on behalf of the textile minister, told the House that there were plans to set up industrial waste water treatment plants in the country and land in this regard has also been identified.

Meanwhile‚ Standing Committee on Interior Rana Shamim Ahmad presented before the House reports of the committee on the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013 (Ordinance No VII of 2013), the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013 (Ordinance No VIII of 2013) and Protection of Pakistan Bill 2013. The House will meet again on Monday at 4pm.

ISLAMABAD: Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court on Friday. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tassadduq Hussain Jillani administered the oath in a ceremony held at the apex court building. The ceremony was attended by judges of superior judiciary and a large number of lawyers. The post fell vacant after the retirement of former CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. StAff REPoRt

BRITON APPEALS AGAINST BLASPHEMY DEATH SENTENCE RAWALPINDI: Lawyers for an elderly Briton sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy filed an appeal on Friday, saying the court had failed to consider “overwhelming” evidence of his mental illness. Mohammad Asghar, a British-Pakistani with dual nationality, was sentenced by a court in Rawalpindi last week for writing letters claiming to be a prophet of Islam. British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he is “deeply concerned” about Asghar, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in Britain in 2010, and officials have raised the matter with the Pakistani authorities. A lawyer for the 69-year-old said an appeal had been lodged with the Lahore High Court on Friday against both the conviction and the death sentence. “In the appeal the defence has questioned that the court did not follow safeguards available in the law to the defendant who is suffering from mental illness,” the lawyer said. “In addition the overwhelming evidence of his mental illness from UK was not considered by the court despite repeated requests.” The lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity because defending blasphemy cases in Pakistan can bring the risk of reprisal attacks. Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive issue in a country where 97 per cent of the population is Muslim and insulting the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) can carry the death penalty.

Pakistan's tough blasphemy laws have attracted criticism from rights groups, who say they are frequently abused to settle personal scores. Asghar's family say the allegations against him stem from a property dispute with one of his tenants. AGENCIES

SIDDIQUI’S BROTHER-IN-LAW PASSES AWAY Asif Jameel, brother-in-law of Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Irfan Siddiqui, passed away after protracted illness on Friday. His Namaz-e-Janaza will be offered today (Saturday) at his residence located on Murree Road, Dhok Khillo Khan near Sufi Bakers/Gulshan Plaza, 6th Road Rawalpindi. He will be laid to rest in New Katarian graveyard. PRESS RELEASE

INSIDE PAKISTAN ARMY'S BOMB SCHOOL RISALPUR AGENCIES

Militants in Pakistan have found clever ways to hide homemade bombs. They've been strapped to children's bicycles, hidden inside water jugs and even hung in tree branches.

But the most shocking place that Brig Basim Saeed has heard of such a device being planted was inside a hollowed-out book made to look like a copy of the holy Quran. A soldier who went to pick up the book from the floor was killed when it exploded. ''Normally if that book is lying somewhere on the floor, you tend to pick it up immediately just for respect,'' said Saeed, the chief instructor at a school training security forces how to detect the so-called improvised explosive devices, which have become increasingly popular in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the insurgency in Pakistan's northwest, near the Afghan border. Saeed and other instructors at the military's Counter IED, Explosives and Munitions School say it is important to constantly come up with new ways to prevent such homemade bombs because that's exactly what the militants are doing. ''Terrorists are also very brainy,'' Saeed said. ''They are using different techniques to defeat our efforts also. So we need to be very proactive.''

The military has sharply ramped up efforts to deal with such devices in recent years as they have emerged as the militants' preferred weapon. So far, 4,042 soldiers from the army and Frontier Corps have been killed and more than 13,000 wounded in the war on militants in the country's northwest since 2002, according to the Pakistani military. The homemade bombs account for most of the casualties.

The US military, which in the past has said Pakistan hasn't done enough to restrict

the use of certain fertilizers used in bombs in Pakistan and targeting foreign and government troops in Afghanistan, welcomed the bomb squad school, which formally opened in 2012 on a military base in Risalpur. ''We're very encouraged by the efforts that we understand the Pakistanis are taking there,'' said the head of the Pentagon's Joint IED Defeat Organisation, Lt Gen. John D Johnson.

The Pakistani military also has moved to restrict the availability of calcium ammonium nitrate-based fertilisers frequently used in Afghanistan, and to develop a fertiliser dubbed CAN+ that would work on Pakistan's soil but not detonate.

And it signed an agreement with the US last year designed to help the two countries work together to fight the roadside bombs by sharing information in areas such as militant tactics and funding.

US experts are to travel to Pakistan to supply it with hard-won knowledge earned in Iraq and Afghanistan. Separately, the

THE SCHOOL'S GOAL IS TO TEACH SECURITY FORCES WHERE BOMBS CAN BE HIDDEN, HOW TO LOOK FOR THEM AND THEIR COMPONENTS AND HOW TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE FROM THEM SUCH AS FINGERPRINTS SO THAT AUTHORITIES CAN TRACK DOWN MILITANTS British military has provided instruction.

The school's goal is to teach security forces where bombs can be hidden, how to look for them and their components and how to gather intelligence from them such as fingerprints so that authorities can track down militants. ''The success lies in identifying the network and busting them,'' said Lt Col Mohammed Anees Khan, an instructor. ''We need to go after those people who are making and planting those IEDs.'' The Associated Press was the first foreign media outlet to be allowed access to the facility, according to the Pakistani mil-

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itary. During a recent visit, students were practicing using equipment to search for devices planted in the ground or using remote-controlled vehicles to approach possible explosive devices.

Others cleared a path to a suspected militant house and marked the path with yellow flags so that troops coming behind them would know where to walk. The school is designed to mimic scenarios the security forces might find in real life in classes that last from three to eight weeks.

It includes a mock urban environment with a market, a gas station and other buildings, and explosive devices are even hidden

in a pond and a graveyard.

Troops practicing a search of a residential compound may accidentally open a cupboard, setting off a loud buzzing that signals an explosion.

An escape tunnel leading from one of the houses is rigged with trip wires. ''We face it whenever we travel or if there is a compound, a path or some other place, it is always in our mind that there could be some IED,'' said one soldier at the school, Noor ul Ameen, who has served in the northwest and the insurgency-plagued Balochistan province.

Most of the students have been from the military, but officials are trying to include police and other security agencies because they are often the first on the scene when a bomb goes off or an unexploded device has been found. Pakistan's police often lack the training and the equipment to deal with such explosives. Even the more equipped army doesn't usually have armored vehicles to move troops.

06 LAHORE

WEATHER UPDATES

SATURDAY

210C 090C

SUNDAY

210C 110C

MONDAY

200C 100C

TUESDAY

200C 100C

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

PRAyER TImINgS FAJR

SUNRISE ZUHR

ASR

MAGHRIB ISHA

5:33

6:56

3:15

5:36

12:16

7:00

LAHORE: Children playing marbles outside their house in Shalamar area. ONLINE

GOVT TO SPEND RS 102 BILLION ON PRIMARY HEALTHCARE

US, India will sabotage government-Taliban talks: JI LAHORE

LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman on Friday said the government will spend Rs 102 billion on primary and protective healthcare in the province. Talking to delegations, he said protective healthcare programmes would continue to save children from epidemic, communicable and noncommunicable diseases. He said the Punjab government was appointing gynaecologists in public sector hospitals of the province and had focused on the health of infants and mothers and for the purpose, free delivery services were being provided at rural health centres.

The minister said Mother & Child Healthcare Programme was being launched at a cost of Rs 2 billion. "The government will issue Rs 4 billion health cards to poor people so that they could avail better treatment facilities,” he added. The minister said three new hospitals of international standard were being built in Bahawalpur, Multan and Rahim Yar Khan at a cost of Rs 1.40 billion. APP

TEACHER THRASHES STUDENT FOR ‘NOT LEARNING LESSON’ LAHORE: A five-year-old girl was badly thrashed by her teacher in Madina Colony.

A labourer’s daughter Faiza, resident of Chungi Amar Sadhu, was beaten by her teacher for ‘not learning her lesson’.

According to reports, the girl is left with a broken leg, nose and other serious injuries. Sources report that the school management is threatening the victim’s parents for reconciliation. STAFF REPORT

SOYEM The Soyem of Hamza Moinuddin will be held today (Saturday) between 11am and 1pm at 12-C, White House Lane 1, Sunderdas Road, Lahore. For details contact Mr and Mrs Badar Moinuddin at 042-36306496.

J

INP

amaat-e-IslamI (JI) ameer syed munawar Hasan has said that the United states of america and India will try their best to sabotage government’s dialogue with the taliban. addressing the Friday congregation at mansoora, he stressed upon the religious parties in the country to forge unity in their ranks and immediately set up a committee to monitor the talks.

Hasan said it was essential to disown the elements who believed that ‘shariah’ could be enforced through gun. He said ‘shariah’ could be enforced only through the implementation of the teachings of the Quran and the sunnah. He said there was no difference of opinion in regard to the enforcement of the ‘shariah’ although there could be differences about the mode of its enforcement, and a way out could be found through consultation and mutual understanding. the JI chief urged the religious parties to hold seminars, conferences and

public meetings under the supervision of the Wifaqul madaris so that the government did not get a chance to give an impression that the taliban only

FCC recognises donors’ support for over 8,000 students LAHORE STAFF REPORT

the advancement Office at Forman Christian College (FCC) held a banquet to appreciate and thank the donors for their support and generosity towards the cause of education. since 2008, FCC has been able to support 8,163 students with Rs 432 million raised with the help of these donors. Formanite Jehangir Khan tareen, who has set up the Jehangir Khan tareen scholarship to support 29 students, was the chief guest on the occasion.

In his speech, Jehangir Khan tareen expressed his gratitude to FCC. He said that even though he spent only two years at FCC before going abroad, it was the best time of his life. He also appreciated the opportunity to give back to the

institution in the form of scholarships. He acknowledged FCC’s role in providing an education to students who would otherwise not have had access to it. millat tractors CeO Irfan aqueel also spoke on the occasion and said that education led to the path of enlightenment.

He commended FCC’s role in bringing about a change in the community. towards the end, FCC Rector Dr James tebbe thanked the donors for their generosity in helping FCC and spoke of the infrastructural developments at the university and projects planned for the future. more than 600 people including corporate representatives, donors and beneficiaries were present at the occasion. a wall bearing the names of donors was unveiled and crests were given to donors funding student scholarships and endowments.

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understood the language of guns. He said that political terrorism in the region had cropped up only due to the Us interference and it had given birth to

armed terrorism.

He said that the religious parties’ committee should guide the taliban and to present the correct viewpoint about the ‘shariah’. He said that Wifaqul madaris should not only monitor the talks but also play its role in removing the confusion and to avoid deadlock, with the ultimate goal of ending terrorism and restoration of peace.

Hasan said that the unity of the religious parties was also essential to effectively counter the propaganda from the pro-India secular lobby in the media and for support to the dialogue process.

He said that the use of gun only resulted in deaths and did not help in saving the lives and operation had never helped solve any issue but had instead given rise to several new problems. later, while talking to the media men, the JI chief said that the mQm leader altaf Husain was facing threats from his own party and not from international powers, and remarked that those who introduced the culture of target killings and dead bodies stuffed in gunny bags, were now facing the same end.

LAHORE 07

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

SHABAB-E-MILLI ASKS ELAHI TO JOIN HANDS AGAINST GOVT LAHORE

A

LAHORE: SHARP Field Manager Zainab Raza Jaffery awarding a sewing machine to a woman upon completion of sewing course in connection with Afghan Youth Vocational Training. PRESS RELEASE

LHC TAKES NOTICE OF IMMOLATED BEGGAR

INP

delegation of shabab-e-milli Pakistan headed by its secretary Hafiz mahmud called on Pakistan muslim league (Pml) senior central leader and former deputy prime minister Chaudhry Parvez elahi at his residence on Friday. the delegation demanded of elahi to join hands with shabab-i-milli Pakistan for putting pressure on the government for holding of local bodies elections in the

LAHORE: lahore High Court (lHC) Friday took notice of a press report on a beggar who was set ablaze in Kassowal. lHC Complaint Cell has directed the sahiwal District & sessions judge to look into the matter and submit a detailed report regarding steps taken by police along with his own comments within a week. according to details, muhammad Fayyaz, 18, resident of Railway Colony, Kassowal, a beggar by profession, was set ablaze near village 118/12-l. He was shifted to District Headquarters Hospital where doctors treated him said that he had got 60 percent burn injuries. Victim's family alleged that local shopkeepers azhar Hussain and Jani had torched their son whereas police said that the mental condition of the victims was abnormal. ONLINE

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province at the earliest possible and that they would be protesting in this regard also during Punjab assembly session in February. supporting the demand for holding of local bodies elections in Punjab at the earliest, elahi said that through the local bodies institutions, powers can be transferred to the lower level and these institutions were the source of timely solution of the problems of the people however, Punjab government was not sincere in holding of the local bodies elections in the province.

08 COMMENT

Mission Impossible The committee and its task

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espite Mian Nawaz sharif’s meeting with his handpicked peace committee, confusion prevails about the powers of the committee, the time frame for the peace exercise and the red lines that must be respected by the terrorists. it is still not clear if the committee would only act as a ramrod to open the closed door of dialogue and then withdraw handing over the substantive part of the talks to another team. Will the team succeed even as it takes the initial steps? some of the problems pointed out by the critics of talks earlier have already started to surface confirming doubts about the viability of the exercise. While speaking in the National Assembly, the prime minister had put up one precondition for the success, i.e., end of terrorist attacks during the talks. One of the committee members, however, has talked about the possibility of rival terrorist groups initiating attacks to foil the parleys. so far the defenders of talks had maintained that the ttp being the umbrella organization, all other groups are bound to follow its directives. if this fails to happen, will the government hold separate talks to negotiate peace with each one of two score terrorist entities? While the members of the committee might be considered proficient in their peculiar field, holding negotiations with a band of criminals, as a federal minister has aptly described the militant group, is hardly their cup of tea. Had the government instead formed a team comprising politicians, they would have put up a somewhat better show even if they failed in the mission.

Questions have also been raised about the credential of the nominees, particularly about an ex isi sleuth involved in the scandalous Operation Midnight Jackal. the prime minister has directed the committee to initiate the peace talks immediately. the response from the ttp side can at best be characterised as tentative. the final decision we are told will be taken by the ttp shura.

We are further told that it might take a few days to decide. Meanwhile, the network’s spokesman has again insisted on the enforcement of sharia which, the network insists, has to replace the constitution. the ttp has already declared the country’s democratic system as being opposed to sharia. it has also demanded that the government display sincerity and prove that it has authority. the ttp must be made to take the responsibility of ensuring that the various terrorist groups in North Waziristan and other agencies observe peace during the talks. the negotiation committee is divided over keeping the media informed about the progress of the talks. the parleys cannot be kept secret. Any attempt at enforcing secrecy is bound to lead to all kinds of rumours.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963-5 Fax: 042-32535230 Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208 Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287273 Fax: 051-2818125 Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 01 February, 2014

The Innocence of American Imperialism Joystick criminality

AhmAd BArqAwi

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NOtHer day, another American atrocity in iraq revealed.

By now, it’s become a very familiar (albeit unfortunate) tale; gory pictures of American marines’ criminal shenanigans in third-world countries surface, with little to zero indignation from the mainstream media or the public, the pentagon announces a full investigation and/or a “thorough” inquiry into the matter (which, for the uninitiated, are nothing more than shoddy euphemisms for letting the perpetrators slide through unpunished and their crimes unprobed), the story dies down quickly and the U.s. carries on preaching democracy and human rights the world over at the point of a gun… or a drone missile for that matter. rinse, repeat.

After that horrendous milestone of a moral depravity that was Abu Ghraib, we thought we’d seen all that there was to see from America’s inglorious, democracy-spreading escapades in the region, but as it turned out; the Abu Ghraib torture fiasco was just the tip of the atrocities iceberg; a torrent of graphic images and videos has been leaking ever since, practically giving us ringside seats to America’s drive for total hegemony and laying bare the U.s. military for the morally barren apparatus of occupation, death and torture that it really is; from U.s. marines taking trophy pictures of their “kills” of indigenous people to sexual humiliation and physical abuses of captives and prisoners of war, we’ve even seen American soldiers, proudly wearing their psychopathologies on their military sleeves, urinating on the dead corpses of their slain victims. Now we have the burning of iraqi corpses in the backyards of their own homes till they were no more than crumbled piles of ashes and charred skeletons, because apparently slaughtering them was not enough. shock and awe indeed.

Courtesy of leaked pictures obtained and published by celebrity gossip and entertainment news website tMZ (evidently the burning of iraqis is just that- entertainment, and is relegated to the-latest-Kardashian-spectacle type of tabloid news, only in the Land of the stars and stripes); again we are “treated” to a sneak peek into the horrible psyche of the American military during its literal obliteration of the city of Fallujah in 2004. the pictures show U.s. marines emptying gallons of gasoline or benzene onto iraqi corpses and setting them ablaze, giving a new meaning to the “liberation of iraq”, another picture shows an American soldier kneeling down on the ground and pointing his machine gun to the skull of an iraqi insurgent with a “triumphant” smirk on his face in what can only be seen as an apt metaphor for Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” banner. the stomach-turning photographs were reportedly taken in 2004 in Fallujah, where, it seems that, the fate of those iraqis who managed to escape the incineration of their city with scores of depleted uranium and cluster bombs was good ol’ fashioned gasoline bonfires. those pictures are merely the latest in a litany of atrocious leaks, from Abu Ghraib to Guantanamo and

Afghanistan, which only goes to invalidate that whole “few-rotten-apples” theory that the pentagon usually invokes in these cases, making it virtually impossible for us to keep track of just how many individual “rogue soldiers” and “lone crackpots” there are in the U.s. Army. predictably; the pictures have barely been a blip on the radar of the mainstream media, the blundering of iraq is an old story now, everyone moved on and its lessons went unheeded; all swept under the pristine rug of “America’s exceptionalism”, where the value of a human life remains terribly skewed and outweighed by the barrel of oil, imagine the (capitalist) outrage if those were iraqi oil fields burning and not actual human beings with flesh and bone… and (presumably) human rights. even the Arab World seems marooned in its own moral bankruptcy nowadays. When the burning of Qurans generates more outrage and anger than images of burning iraqis, you know we’re in trouble. perhaps we’ve come to grow thicker skin; the avalanche of images of beheadings, feasting on human organs and pallid children starving to death that we’re being bombarded with from syria (America’s new “democratization” sandbox) tends to do that, but i can’t help but wonder; will we awake from our deep moral slumber if some American lunatic preacher began another round of Quran burning or if (god forbid!), some hack director made another lousy anti-islam internet movie? speaking of “the innocence of islam”, i think it’s high time a movie was made about the innocence of America’s imperialism; chronicling one brutal occupation after another, a desolate collage of an imperial power hard at work, reigning terror and destruction all over Afghanistan, iraq, Yemen, Libya and beyond, all of which offer huge (and bleak) reservoirs of source material. i imagine it would go something like this: Fade into the opening scene; we are shown graphic images of scattered limbs on street corners, women in black veils shrieking their voices hoarse and barefoot children in ragged pajamas; faces and hair covered in dirt and clouds of uranium dust as they scour the rubble of what once was their home for anything that might bring a bit of warmth to their trembling bodies or respite to their man-made ordeal, the title card reads: iraq 2003.

We cut to another scene; a couple of jubilant U.s. military officers posing next to a sweaty pile of naked prisoners, smiling contently as they marvel at their own “human-architectural” handiwork; a pyramid of dark skinned naked iraqis -some of whom are old enough to be the soldiers’ parents-, keeping up with the all-American tradition of constructing beer-can pyramids and shrines of empty rum bottles; only this time it’s a shrine of shame and eroding human dignity, other prisoners are lined up against the wall, again butt-naked, faces covered in black hoods and forced to masturbate in unison for the sick, twisted viewing pleasure of their “civilized” western captors when they’re not busy urinating on other wounded detainees and electrocuting their private parts, of course iraqi women prisoners are “fair game” for American army officers for whom rape and sodomization is the “standard operating procedure”, and underage iraqi detainees receive “hands-on” crash courses in America’s sexually-driven “harsh interrogation techniques”. the title card reads: America’s Abu Ghraib torture prison and detention facility. the rotten film rolls on to yet another scene; an iraqi woman is giving birth in a hospital room, the baby is de-

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formed; malformed facial features, especially his mouth and nose; yet another “depleted uranium child”, iraqi mothers are destined to reap the bitter fruits of America’s brand of democracy and freedom for generations to come; in stillbirths, abnormal tumors, birth defects, newborn babies with extra limbs, enlarged heads or babies with one eye at the center of the face, like lifelong hideous reminders that the American military was here, that the American empire stampeded its way through here. the title card reads: Fallujah, iraq.

Cut to the next scene; the setting this time is a wedding ceremony somewhere in Afghanistan which wouldn’t be complete without the “blessings” of the American military in the form of fighter jets, dropping their loads of bombs on the wedding party. in another scene; an American helicopter pilot is singing “Bye Bye Ms. American pie” before blasting an Afghan farmer with a hellfire missile to which his comrade says “Nice!!!”. Joystick criminality at its most grotesque. the title card reads: America’s campaign of democracy and human rights in Afghanistan.

Moving on to the next ghastly scene; we’re still in Afghanistan, we are shown four U.s. marines –fully outfitted in their military uniforms with their big guns, oversized boots and an equally oversized zeal for humiliating localsstanding over bloodstained corpses of dead Afghans, and assuming the position one would normally take at public urinals, in an astonishing display of utter contempt for human life; we see our “heroes” engage in an oldschool pissing contest against the motionless corpses lying on the ground beneath their feet, we hear one of the soldiers smugly exclaim “Oh Yeah!”, followed by a chuckle, laughter then ensues throughout the group as their own collective urine starts pooling underneath the dead Afghans, someone off-camera jokes: “Have a good day buddy!”, someone else mumbles something about “golden showers”, now the dead bodies are left covered in blood, dust and soaked in their killers’ piss. A good day indeed for democracy and common human decency. the next scene takes us to a small village in Kandahar; a local family is awoken in the dead of the night to the charging footsteps of an American soldier, with his combat gear on, juggernauting his way through the Afghan family’s house and into the bedroom where the children are sleeping; and

with more ease than a hot knife cutting through melting butter; the soldier machine-guns the sleeping kids like any red-blooded American on the hunt for third world “terrorists” is expected to do, right before butchering the rest of the family in the same ungodly manner, we see him loiter around the living room for a little bit; he then wraps up the bloody corpses of his own victims in blankets and sets them ablaze, a bonfire of yet another victory for America’s “War on terror”; the world rests easy that the brave U.s. military has once again managed to rid us of yet another dangerous group of sleeping women and children in Afghanistan. the title card reads: the Kandahar Massacre.

Next we see a young man lying on the floor in a fetal position, shackled wrists and ankles with a connecting chain between them, trembling from the freezing cold of a darkened cell, his brain feels like mush and the blood in his veins run like burning acid from the last electroshocks session, there is almost not a single muscle in his entire body that hasn’t taken a beating, he is covered from head to toe in dark blue and red bruises and whipping marks; the pains of being repeatedly kicked and sodomized with broomsticks transcend physical injury into the realms of permanent psychological damage, for a brief moment we get a glimpse of how the systematic breaking of a human soul is done; living on a fixed daily diet of gentile torture, religious humiliation, sleep deprivation, sensory torment and temperature manipulation in exchange for forced “convenient” confessions, there is little to reflect on in this scene; only ear-splitting screams of bearded inmates in orange jumpsuits being tortured and the occasional water-boarding session, the title card reads: Guantanamo. the movie would end with Obama’s “i-believe-that-America-isexceptional” address to the United Nations Assembly last year.

Yes, America has grown to be quite exceptional in its brutality, ruthless invasions and savagery, America has an exceptional knack for torture and plundering third world countries into endless wars, and America has an “exceptional” track record that stretches as far as the eye can see in its contempt for humanity and anything even resembling human rights.

Even the Arab World seems marooned in its own moral bankruptcy nowadays. When the burning of Qurans generates more outrage and anger than images of burning Iraqis, you know we’re in trouble.

Perhaps we’ve come to grow thicker skin; the avalanche of images of beheadings, feasting on human organs and pallid children starving to death that we’re being bombarded with from Syria (America’s new “democratization” sandbox) tends to do that, but I can’t help but wonder; will we awake from our deep moral slumber if some American lunatic preacher began another round of Quran burning or if (god forbid!), some hack director made another lousy anti-Islam internet movie?

Ahmad Barqawi is a freelance columnist and writer.

WORLD VIEW 09

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

The sulTans of PakisTan IndIan express

l

THE TRANSFORMATION OF BILAWAL BHUTTO Independent PeteR PoPHAM

The Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani Taliban are two very different things. The Afghan Taliban, who have stubbornly resisted the worst that the US and Britain could throw at them for the past 12 years, brought a measure of peace and stability to their war-racked country during the late 1990s. Sons of the Pashtun soil, they gained widespread support with their claims to being pious and honest, even though their version of Islam was brutally reductive. That helps to explain why they are still such a force to reckon with today.

The situation is completely different in Pakistan, west of the Indus River, where the shaggy-bearded, bloodthirsty Islamists of the Pakistani Taliban are seen in the same light as ancient Romans regarded the Visigoths – as terrifying barbarian invaders. For all its failings and contradictions, Pakistan enjoys a measure of civilisation unknown in Afghanistan beyond the watering-holes of Kabul. The Pakistani Taliban are a direct threat to all that.

That’s one reason why the decision by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the 25-year-old son of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan’s recently retired President, to call for decisive military action against the Pakistani Taliban is going down very well far beyond the Bhutto family’s strongholds in Karachi and rural Sindh.

In an interview with the BBC’s Lyse Doucet this week, Bhutto said: “Dialogue is always an option but we have to have a position of strength. How do you talk from a position of strength? You have to beat them on the battlefield. They are fighting us. It’s not only confined to North Waziristan. They are attacking us in Karachi. We would like to eradicate the Taliban from Pakistan.”

This fiery declaration comes after a long series of unprovoked, murderous attacks

by Pakistani Taliban against Christians, Shias, Sufis, Hazaras – the typically diverse enemies of the totalitarian Islam they want to impose. They have also killed schoolchildren and paramedics struggling to inoculate the poorest people in the country against polio, as well as many soldiers.

For all its corruption, the Pakistani state enjoys a degree of democratic legitimacy that is the envy of countries like Libya and Iraq, let alone Syria or Somalia. The Pakistani Taliban would love to put a bomb under all that; yet the chief beneficiaries of the ballot box, Imran Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, balk at confronting the fundamentalist menace. On Wednesday Sharif backtracked from a planned army offensive, explaining: “Since the other side has shown intent to negotiate, we also wish to give peace another chance.”

Bilawal Bhutto promptly tweeted, “I want [Sharif] to be our Churchill. Unfortunately he is becoming our Neville Chamberlain… ” Bull’s eye! Sharif, a notorious trimmer, must have blushed to the roots of his thinning hair.

Bilawal’s Hal-to-Henry V transformation is all the more surprising given his earlier reputation as an effete, Westernised young man who struggled with his Urdu and, during the last elections, campaigned from Dubai to improve his survival chances. For younger, urbanised Pakistanis, as for their Indian counterparts, political dynasties are so last century: a Gujarati taxi driver told an Indian friend of mine that Rahul Gandhi is “a puppy still suckling his mother’s milk, who hasn’t yet learned even to bark!”

But the flipside of dynastic privilege, on both sides of the border, is assassination, generation after generation. In Bilawal Bhutto at least it seems to have produced some steel.

cHRistoPHe JAffReLot

AST month, the Election Commission of Pakistan, manifesting its independence, declared Nawaz Sharif one of the country’s richest parliamentarians and revealed his assets: six agricultural properties, a house in Upper Mall, Lahore, Rs 126 million in seven bank accounts, and other properties under the name of his wife, making him a billionaire. This may be explained by the fact that he belongs to an affluent family of businessmen. His father, Muhammad Sharif, a Kashmiri from Amritsar who moved to Lahore in 1947, had slowly built up a smelting works. He was stripped of his property in 1972 by the wave of nationalisation ordered by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, but the privatisation decided by Zia-ul-Haq (who blessed the elevation of Nawaz to the post of Punjab chief minister in 1985) helped the family recover its assets. The Sharifs also benefited from the investments they made abroad, including in Saudi Arabia, where they returned (the family was already a regular visitor before) after Pervez Musharraf seized power in 1999. But when the Sharif family returned from exile, it wasn’t this rich. At that time, Asif Ali Zardari was estimated to be the richest politician and second-richest man in Pakistan. The Sharif brothers came fourth, according to one ranking.

Such personal enrichment of politicians is related to the scale of corruption that affects Pakistan. Zardari, who in 2008 reportedly owned several estates in the UK and the US can, in this regard, be held up as a symbol. In an investigative report for The New York Times, John Burns showed that Zardari had not only spent $4 million to purchase Surrey Palace and spent $660,000 in barely a month, but also that this money indeed

came from ill-gotten gains. In 2003, the Swiss judiciary determined that Benazir Bhutto and Zardari were guilty of money laundering and had to return $11.5 million to the Pakistani state. A gold bullion dealer also reportedly paid $10 million into the Bhutto-Zardari account after the Benazir government had granted him a monopoly on gold imports in Pakistan. It is not for nothing that Zardari was known as “Mr 10 per cent” when he was minister. Whether Nawaz has also enlarged his fortune by resorting to dubious means has not been established, but the fact that the head of the executive has also become extremely rich is reminiscent of the kind of regime German sociologist Max Weber called “sultanism”, a blend of the personalisation of power and patrimonialism he first detected in the Ottoman Empire.

While top leaders amass fortunes through large scale corruption, there are other forms of corruption on a smaller scale involving National Assembly members. A report by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency based on the declarations of assets by elected members of the assembly showed that, in 2010, the average value of an assembly member’s assets was three times higher than the average value of assets of members of the previous National Assembly, many being the same people.

The fact that politics pays explains, to a large extent, why it has become a family business: elected representatives not only try to transmit their ideological legacy to their scions, but also their political business. Most parties today are associated with a lineage. This is, of course, the case of the PPP, whose official head, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was so designated (along with its “regent” Asif Ali Zardari) by his mother Benazir’s handwritten testament in a practice that harks back to that of material inheritances. The Bhutto-Zardari line (to which Zardari’s

sister, Faryal Talpur, elected in Larkana in 2008, also belongs) is opposed by the one founded by Benazir’s brother, Murtaza Bhutto, whose widow Ghinwa established a separate PPP. The other major party, the PML-N, is only in its first generation but has managed to maintain party unity because although Nawaz is the party “Quaid”, his brother Shahbaz is the official chairman and has been chief minister of Punjab since 2008.

The Awami National Party (ANP) has in some regard entered its third generation, because even if Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan did not form a party, he started a movement — the red shirts — which spawned the NAP created by his son, Wali Khan, whose son, Asfandyar Wali Khan, leads the ANP today. The PML-Q also belongs to the club of the “three generation-plus” parties, since the son of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi (former chief minister of Punjab and son of Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, a lieutenant of Ayub Khan after 1962), Chaudhry Moonis Elahi, was elected to the Punjab assembly in 2008.

These lineage practices are also becoming customary among the Islamic parties. Maulana Fazlur Rehman succeeded his father, Mufti Mahmud, as head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam — or at least the faction that bears his name, the JUI(F). Anas Noorani also replaced his father, Shah Ahmad Noorani, as head of Jamiat-e-Ulema Pakistan and the Jamaat-e-Islami, despite its being known for the key role played by ideology, is also affected, to a lesser extent, as the daughter of former leader Qazi Hussain Ahmad was elected to the parliament.

The percentage of members of the National Assembly and members of provincial assemblies who belong to a political family increased from 37 per cent in 1970 to 50 per cent in 1993, before falling to 44 per cent in 2008, ac-

cording to The Herald. Since 1970, 597 families have controlled 3,300 seats out of the 7,600 across generations. The Legharis have had 14 elected representatives in the family since 1970.

During the last general election in May 2013, the popularity of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf partly reflected the rejection of this political class by the urban middle class. Like its Indian homologue, this social group was looking for new, clean politicians out of dynastic politics. But the PTI could only come second in terms of valid votes and third in terms of seats. Well-entrenched parties are not easy to dislodge from power, precisely because they have money and muscle. And the urban middle class is in a minority anyway.

Sultanism, therefore, may continue to prevail in Pakistan, all the more so as the army has also become a kind of commercial enterprise. This process, whose outcome Ayesha Siddiqa called “military inc” or “milbus” (for military business), uses foundations, the oldest and largest of which is the Fauji Foundation (FF). The FF has developed its own business enterprises, from sugar mills to cement factories. The air force followed its example and established the Shaheen Foundation (which manufactures a wide variety of products, from pharmaceuticals to shoes), and the navy has the Bahria Foundation (which, aside from manufacturing paint, is also involved in industrial bread-making). If armymen become businessmen, they may also indulge in corruption and create dynasties.

The writer is senior research fellow at CERI-Sciences Po/ CNRS, Paris, professor of Indian Politics and Sociology at King’s India Institute, London, Princeton Global Scholar and non-resident scholar at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

THE POLITICAL BIRTH OF ANOTHER BHUTTO

BBC Lyse Doucet

I remember his heavily pregnant mother Benazir Bhutto campaigning in 1988, as Pakistan returned to electoral politics after the sudden end of martial law.

"There was a story that the elections had been timed to coincide when I was meant to be born," Bilawal Bhutto recalled as we looked at framed photographs of the baby Bhutto with his mother, who swept to power a few months after his birth.

"I was born early so we thwarted their plans," he explains with a wide grin, referring to reports at the time that political rivals were scheming to ensure maternal duties would put his mother out of political action.

Twenty five years on, her eldest son is still the target of sinister plots.

There are death threats from the Taliban and other armed groups, and he lives under constant scrutiny and surveillance.

His critics call him "a Twitter politician" - a reference to enthusiastic engagement with the safer world of social media - and ask whether he is tough enough, even Pakistani enough, to survive the rough and tumble of modern Pakistani politics.

"I am the son of Benazir Bhutto and I have been watched my entire life," he says in a rare interview at the heavily guarded family compound in Karachi that bears his name. "Everyone is looking and watching."

But if any of it bothers him now, he

doesn't show it.

IdentIty polItIcs: The day we meet he is bouncing with energy and confidence in the run-up to the Sindh Festival he is organising. A cultural festival, it is designed to reinforce a sense of his commitment to his country.

He speaks passionately about the urgency to save Pakistan's cultural heritage including ancient Indus Valley sites like Mohenjo-daro, now crumbling and crying out for help.

But he bristles slightly when I point out that many of these treasured sites lie in the stronghold of his Pakistan People's Party which should have exercised its duty of care.

"Not quite true," he shoots back."

Obviously we did preside for the last five years in the last government, but the devolution process from the federal government has only just started."

There has also been criticism that by holding part of the festival at the Mohenjo-daro ruins, the event itself will damage the Bronze Age site.

The two-week festival is an extravaganza of culture, from kite-flying to cricket, the latest fashion, films, music and of course Mohenjo-daro itself.

It focuses on his home province of Sindh, but Pakistanis and politicians from around the country have been invited to celebrate "what binds us together".

FIghtIng words: For Bilawal Bhutto, this cultural campaign is about something much bigger, much bolder.

"For me, the fight we are not fighting is the cultural and societal space we cede to extremists on the left and right."

In the interview, he moves seamlessly from discussing what he calls the "soft power" of a cultural ambassador, to vocally confronting the most dangerous kind of hard power.

As parliamentarians argue in Islamabad over how best to tackle a troubling rise in violence, Bilawal Bhutto is firm: "I think we've exhausted the option of talks," he says. "Dialogue is always an option but we have to have a position of strength. You have to beat them on the battlefield."

These are fighting words, and dangerous ones too.

Some commend him for speaking out when so many are silent - or silenced, by the fear of reprisal. He repeatedly praises the courage of teenage schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who was targeted by the Taliban, and Police Chief Chaudhry Aslam, who led operations against militants, until he was killed in Karachi recently.

Others point out it is a lot easier to denounce other politicians as "cowards" from behind high walls and an elaborate security detail.

But Bilawal Bhutto's narrative is rooted in his own family's tragic story.

"How long do we have to wait?" he asks rhetorically. "I thought the assassination of my mother would wake people up."

His main focus now is on what he has to offer. There is a growing sense that he is embracing the life he says he "did not choose - it chose me".

Six years after he was thrust onto the political stage by his mother's assassination, and following a few years at Oxford University and a "ringside seat" at his father Asif Ali Zardari's presidency, he says: "I think it is time to start taking on more responsibility within the party."

He denies persistent reports of fiery arguments with his father over the programmes and performance of their Pakistan People's Party, which was trounced in last year's elections, and when Mr Zardari appears at Bilawal House, there is an affectionate father-son moment.

"There are closed door discussions as to what went wrong and how we can do better," he concedes after repeated questioning. "But that doesn't take away from the things I am proud of, the historical achievements that we achieved."

At 25, he's now old enough to run for parliament and says the possibility of running in a by-election is "under constant discussion" by the party.

But his "main aim" is the next general election in 2018.

Would he like to be prime minister, like his mother and grandfather?

"Obviously you are not going to believe me, but it's not the main aim, the focus," he insists.

Bilawal Bhutto will always carry a lot of the past with him, but, to hear him tell it, he is now trying to work out what he, and Pakistan, have in mind for his future.

10 BUSINESS

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

ASHRAF WATHRA APPOINTED ACTING STATE BANK GOVERNOR ISLAMABAD

T

STAFF RePORT

HE State Bank of Pakistan has appointed Ashraf Wathra, a banker with a wealth of international experience, as acting governor, the Finance Ministry said on Friday after its previous chief resigned in a row with the government over policy.

The change in leadership comes at a time of chronic gas and electricity shortages, violent crime and a Taliban insurgency that have all hampered growth and contributed to falling foreign investment in the country of 180 million people. Yaseen Anwar stepped down as central bank chief on Thursday citing personal reasons, with some officials pointing to policy differences between the governor and the finance minister.

“Anwar's resignation has been accepted and Ashraf Wathra, the deputy governor, will be the acting governor,” said Shafqat Jalil, a Finance Ministry spokesman. A formal statement on Wathra's promotion was expected later.

Anwar and Wathra were not immediately available for comment.

The $255 billion economy grew 3.6 per cent in the last fiscal year, below a target of 4.3 per cent and well below growth rates of around 9 per cent seen 10 years ago. Unemployment is officially at 6.3 per cent but is probably much higher. After Anwar's resignation on Thursday,

senior officials in the Finance Ministry said the “personal reasons” cited by the ministry were a cover for differences with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. “They have completely different views on how to tackle rising inflation and falling foreign exchange reserves,” said one official, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak publicly on the issue.

Another official said Anwar was unhappy with last week's appointment of Saeed Ahmed as central bank deputy governor. Anwar was appointed central bank chief in July 2011 after Shahid Kardar stepped down amid rumours that he had developed differences with the Finance Ministry. Kardar's predecessor, Salim Raza, resigned after 16 months in office. Wathra brings 35 years of commercial and investment banking experience to his new assignment and has worked at Emirates Bank International, American Express and ANZ Grindlays Bank.

JETRO GROWTH SURVEY RANKS PAK 2ND IN THE WORLD ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan has been ranked second in the world in terms of business growth in a survey conducted by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).

The current survey - which examined records of 9,371 Japanese firms operating across the world - put Pakistan just behind Taiwan in terms of business generated leaving behind both India and Japan, media reports said. The JETRO has been conducting such surveys since 2013.

Pakistan's data was generated from 27 Japanese firms doing business here. The results found that 74.1pc of the Japanese companies estimated operating profit in 2013, allotting second rank to Pakistan only after Taiwan (81.8pc).

Compared to this, 60.7pc Japanese firms in China and 45.8pc in India made operating profit in 2013. If the survey is any guide, not only

have a majority of the already present Japanese investors in Pakistan posed confidence in terms of guaranteeing business opportunities, they have also declared their intentions to expand their business.

Kohat Tunnel and Indus Highway are two noteworthy projects being carried out with Japanese loan. Likewise, second biggest loan of $ 34 million has been given in four years by Japan for coping with the power crisis. A mega $ 2 billion project of Karachi Circular Railway is also on the horizon soon and will be a big boost in Japanese interests in Pakistan.

"Media's voice is louder than the findings of our survey," said Naoyuki Maekawa, senior coordinator for South Asia in JETRO. JETRO has been urging Japanese investors to benefit from the conducive business environment in Pakistan.

There are more than 20,000 Japanese companies in China and over 1000 in India.

CORPORATE CORNER Hertz appoints Optimus as GSA for international car rentals in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Hertz Corporation, the world's leading general use car rental brand, has appointed Optimus Limited as its General Sales Agent (GSA) to grow outbound car rentals from Pakistan to more than 8,800 Hertz locations in 150 countries. It is the first major car rental company to appoint an outbound representative in Pakistan. Optimus, Pakistan's market leader for domestic car rental operations, is the Hertz Corporation's licensee in Pakistan, offering domestic car rental from nine locations in five main cities. Optimus has established a new business unit to focus more on Hertz outbound car rentals, comprising a 24-by-7 international reservations team dedicated to servicing the travel trade, corporate market and direct customers. PReSS ReleASe

(EXPLOITING GSP+ STATUS)

Private sector must achieve $30b export target: ICCI ISLAMABAD: The grant of GSP plus status to Pakistan by the European Union has opened up new opportunities for improving exports and private sector should accelerate its efforts for achieving US$ 30 billion export target to reap full benefits of this facility, said Shahzad Hussain Rana, Director General, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan while exchanging views with business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He said they had to strengthen the supply side to facilitate the exporters. Dilating upon Pak-India trade potential, he said currently trade was in India’s favour, however Pakistan had good potential to increase trade with India if India removed all technical barriers which were acting as main hindrance in promoting trade up to the real potential. Shahzad Rana said with the increase in per capita income in China, labour cost of the country had gone up while Pakistan offered cheap and quality labour which could be an important factor to attract Chinese investment. He said Pakistani entrepreneurs should further strengthen their contacts with Chinese counterparts to woo them to invest in Pakistan. He said peaceful environment in Pakistan would greatly help in attracting more Chinese investment to the country. He assured that TDAP would provide cooperation to the ICCI in its initiatives aimed at improving country’s trade and exports. Both sides discussed areas of collaboration to promote Pakistan’s economic interests with joint efforts. inP

Forex reserves fall to $7.994 billion KARACHI STAFF RePORT

Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves dropped to $7.994 billion in the week ending January 24 compared to $8.168 billion in the previous week, the central bank said. Remittances from Pakistanis abroad rose 9.46 per cent to $7.8 billion in the July-December first half the 2013/14 fiscal year, from $7.11 billion in the same period last year. The fiscal year runs from July to June.

PTCL launches 2 Mbps Economy Package ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL), the largest Information Communications Services provider in Pakistan, has introduced a new 2 Mbps 'Broadband Economy' package on a promotional price of Rs. 499 per month. The package enables customers to enjoy double speed at the same price for a promotional period of 3 months. The new offer by PTCL will also apply to existing 1Mbps broadband economy customers, who will be upgraded to the new package without any extra charges. Validity of the promotional period is 30 April 2014, after that charges will be Rs. 750 per month. "Broadband Economy package is designed to provide affordable broadband access to our customers and will also pave way to enhance the broadband internet experience for all segments across the country", said Aasif Inam, Executive Vice President (EVP) Wire Line Business. "We understand our customers' needs of higher data speeds and the offer serves this appetite by upgrading customers to higher data speeds free of cost". PReSS ReleASe

Major Gainers COMPANY OPEN Unilever Foods 9100.00 Siemens PakistanXD 1299.00 Bata (Pak) 3100.00 Colgate Palmoliv 1699.98 Shezan Inter 950.00

HIGH 9553.95 1352.40 3249.00 1749.99 950.00

LOW 9100.00 1288.00 3100.00 1699.98 950.00

CLOSE CHANGE 9552.63 453.63 1352.40 64.40 3249.00 49.00 1745.00 46.02 950.00 40.00

TURNOVER 1,580 11,880 820 80 50

12635.00 850.00 731.87 466.99 490.00

12160.00 800.85 731.87 452.10 468.00

12480.00 801.23 731.87 454.00 473.46

-320.00 -41.77 -38.51 -21.86 -15.12

760 22,600 450 1,000 2,900

3.40 16.98 12.74 29.75 48.25

3.00 16.07 12.10 28.20 46.00

3.07 16.84 12.17 29.57 48.25

0.37 0.63 -0.50 1.23 2.29

53,305,000 38,683,000 24,774,500 17,608,500 17,304,500

Major Losers Nestle Pak. Murree Brewery MithchellsFruitXDXB Sapphire Textile Service Ind.Ltd

12635.00 810.00 731.87 452.10 490.00

Volume Leaders Bank Of Punjab(R) Fauji Cement B.O.Punjab Maple Leaf Cement Engro Fertilize Ltd.

3.10 16.25 12.50 28.34 48.25

Interbank Rates SD GBP JPY EURO

PKR 105.4668 PKR 173.4613 PKR 1.0282 PKR 142.8442

Forex Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar China Yuan Euro Japanese Yen Saudi Riyal U.A.E Dirham UK Pound Sterling US Dollar

BUY

SELL

93.25 95.25 17.2 144.5 1.035 28.45 29.5 176 106.85

93.5 95.5 17.45 144.75 1.040 28.7 29.75 176.25 107.1

Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan ready to export 5b kWh of electricity to Pak annually BISHKEK: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are ready to export up to 5 billion kWh annually to Pakistan under CASA-1000 project. Director General of the National Electric Network of Kyrgyzstan Company Medetbek Aitkulov informed on Friday at the meeting with journalists. He said Pakistan had a deficit of energy resources that was why it was ready to buy electricity. “The World Bank, the Asian and Islamic Development Banks manage negotiations on CASA-1000 project. The Asian Development Bank refused financing after the crisis. The project is difficult because each country has its individual social, economic and political situation,” Medetbek Aitkulov said. He explained that Kyrgyzstan could export up to 2 billion kWh without losses. “The cost of sold energy isn’t defined. The negotiations continue. Besides, the National Electric Network of Kyrgyzstan constructs power transmission lines and Electric Stations OJSC is engaged in energy sale,” Medetbek Aitkulov added. Online

Huawei new brand ambassadors: Mahira Khan & Emad Irfani LAHORE: Huawei, A leading ICT company, has taken another leap forward in bringing innovative Smartphone to Pakistani Market. This time Huawei launch another Android device G700 Mobile set with amazing features and affordable price. After starting its mobile phones business in Pakistan nearly two years ago, Huawei has now decided to go local with its TV commercials. To promote its amazing G700 Mobile handset, Huawei hired the services of Well Renown TV actress Mahira Khan, She is best known for her roles in TV serial Humsafar and 2011′s highest grossing Pakistani movie “Bol”. The TVC Shot in Thailand, Where Mahira Khan and Actor Emad Irfani – as a male star – will appear in Ascend G700 Dual SIM smartphone commercial. PReSS ReleASe

LAHORE: Participants at the annual Quran Khawani for the late Mian Muhammad Fazl, founder of the Orient Group of Companies. PR

LEISURE 11

Saturday, 1 Febuary, 2014

HaGaR tHE HoRRIblE

aries

taurus

gemini

You need to deal with something big and spooky and real -- so get on with it! Your energy is a bit diffuse, but that actually makes it easier to handle this phase of your life.

A friend comes to you with a deal or a suggestion -- and you should listen carefully! It's better than it appears at first glance, but that takes some effort to discern. Your openmindedness is rewarded.

Your career is taking off today -so make sure that you're ready for the pressure! You may not feel that things are where they should be, but it should all resolve within a few days at the most.

cancer

leo

virgo

You're filled with positive energy, and you should be able to do great things with it. See if you can get your people to follow your lead, as you are better off working with others than doing it all yourself.

A friend or colleague comes to you with a financial proposition -- but you should be wary, at least this time. It may be that the stars align later in the year, but for now, you should let someone else take the bait.

Try not to be too critical of your friends or coworkers today -- though the temptation is sure to come at least once per hour! They are more fragile, and you need to accept imperfection.

libra

scorpio

sagittarius

Your routine is anything but normal today -- between all these interruptions and dead ends, you're lucky if you end up where you started out! The good news is that this phase ends soon.

Your sweet side is out on display today -- so catch the eye of someone new or let your partner know how much you care about them. You should feel even better by the end of the day!

It's one of those days when you seem to be immune to caffeine. The morning may slog on for too long, but you should eventually get yourself roused enough to tackle the day's major business.

dIlbERt

GaRFIEld

baldo

capricorn

aQuarius

pisces

Your creative writing skills are tested today. That could mean you need to express yourself in haiku or that you need to stretch the truth a bit in order to spare someone's feelings. Make it work!

You need to keep a tight watch over your credit card today -- otherwise, you may find that you end up way deeper in debt than you can afford! It's too easy to make impulse buys you regret later.

Try to find someone who needs your help today -- it shouldn't be hard! Your energy is terrific, but it needs to focus outward if you want to make the most of it. The karma is nice too.

cRosswoRd

sUdokU

ACROSS

bRIdGE

How to play fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the squares contains all the digits. the object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once.

imagine level lore lover memory provoke reason receive resource retreat rower series serious trouble vivid write years

Today’s soluTions

tEst yoUR dEFENsE

cHEss white tO PLAY AND MAte iN twO MOVeS 8

DOWN

7 6 5 4 3 2

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

chess solution

A

1.Nh5 Qd7 [1...Qxh4 2.g7# is mate] 2.Qg3 *

1

sudoku solution

1 risqué (4) 2 western us state (7) 3 idiot (slang) (5) 4 us municipal government building (4,4) 5 where fuel is mixed with air in a petrol engine (11) 6 bird of equatorial central africa — tearing wave (anag) (5,6) 10 german chancellor, 1871-90 (8) 12 supervise (7) 15 tally up (5) 17 world's longest river (4)

action alternate array author avenue blood cape cares chase combine creator cure enjoy enter excellence face grouse heaps

crossword solution

5 irregular pieces of stone fitted together (5,6) 7 legendary ancient city of northwest anatolia (4) 8 our galaxy (5,3) 9 odds and ends — litter (7) 11 city on the black sea, where roosevelt, stalin and churchill met in 1945 (5) 13 coming from swansea? (5) 14 underwent development (7) 16 alien (8) 17 shade of blue (4) 18 us oil magnate and philanthropist, d. 1937 (11)

woRd sEaRcH

12

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

ARTS

FACEBOOK PAPER HAS FEATURES SIMILAR TO ITS PARENT the new app asks if the social netwoRk is cannibalising itself

Rumours about a Facebook news reader app have been circulating for years, and now they've not only come true, they could spell the end of the Facebook app as we know it. Paper is a news curation and reader app that pulls in stories, photos, videos and links from the user's Facebook feed - alongside Facebook's own notification bar and action buttons. All stories are displayed on a customisable picture-led grid, and the app has been designed to make it easier to share content with other people. Users can also browse content and read stories from partner publications, as well as customise which categories they see. Paper is set to launch in the U.S. on 3 February. The app looks similar to news reader rivals Flipboard and Google Currents. Each section has a main screen with a cover photo at the top, and a row of content along the bottom. Users can scroll left and right from the main screen through these content cards to see new stories, photos, videos, and so on.

Alternatively, with Paper, users can select a story to see it in full screen mode. The traditional Facebook notification bar is shown in the top right-hand corner of the screen - including friend requests, messages and other notifications. When viewing individual stories, Facebook actions buttons are shown in the bottom lefthand corner, including like, comment and share.

Similarly, users can post straight to Facebook from the Paper app - making the original Facebook app, in theory, redundant. All sections are customisable and users can change the cover photo, as well as the name of sections and the layout. When viewing content from select publications, users can filter by category and choose their favourite news outlets. Yet unlike other news reader and RSS apps, Facebook Paper will not let people add their own links. Paper is the first app to be developed in Facebook's Creative Labs that was set up last year. Facebook has a history of developing separate apps for new features, such as the Facebook Messenger and Camera apps. Like Paper, these apps linked with the original Facebook app but had their own set of features. COURTESY DAILY MAIL

ATTENTION SHOPPERS: RETAIL THERAPY WORKS! ReseaRcheRs find shopping makes a peRson feel moRe in contRol of life

New research has found that retail therapy - far from being empty and superficial - can be an ‘effective way to minimise sadness.’ Researchers from the University of Michigan claim ‘retail therapy’ should no longer be dismissed as it could help people overcome melancholy. The study carried out three experiments to investigate whether shopping restored a sense of control in people to combat feelings of sadness. The research found that buying something was up to 40 times more effective at giving people a sense of control and they were three times happier than those who only browsed.

Previous studies have shown that shoppers enjoy positive feelings when reflecting on their most recent purchase, when that shopping had been motivated by a desire to repair mood. Others said they were less likely to experience sadness while shopping than immediately before setting out on a buying spree. However, researchers said until now it had remained unclear whether shopping conveys benefits beyond those produced merely by distraction, or the passage of time.

They said, “Our work suggests that making shopping choices can help to restore a sense of personal control over one’s environment and reduce sadness.” “Retail therapy - shopping that is motivated by distress - is often said to be ineffective, wasteful and a dark side of consumer behaviour, but we propose that retail therapy has been viewed too negatively, and that shopping may be an effective way to minimise sadness,” said the researchers. COURTESY DAILY MAIL

how to hoax a hackeR? R

THE 'HONEYPOT PASSWORDS' THAT COULD KEEP YOUR ONLINE ACCOUNT SAFE ESEArCHErS say it is the first of a new breed of encyrption tools designed to trick hackers. 'Decoys and deception are really underexploited tools in fundamental computer security,' Ari Juels, an independent researcher who was previously chief scientist at computer security company rSA, told MIT Technology review.

Together with Thomas ristenpart of the University of Wisconsin, he has developed a new encryption system with a trick up its sleeve.

It gives encrypted data an additional layer of protection by serving up fake data in response to every incorrect guess of the password or encryption key.

If the attacker does eventually guess correctly, the real data should be lost amongst the crowd of spoof data, the researchers say.

“Honeywords are a defense against stolen password files,' they wrote. 'Specifically, they are bogus passwords placed in the password file of an authentication server to deceive attackers.

'Honeywords resemble ordinary, user-selected passwords. It’s hard therefore for an attacker that steals a honeyword-laced password file to distinguish between honeywords and true user passwords.

The new approach could be valuable given how frequently large encrypted password files appear to fall into the hands of criminals.

Almost 150 million usernames and passwords were taken from Adobe servers in October 2013, for

example, and Target was among those worst hit by a more recent breach.

Currently hackers use software to guess thousands of passwords.

Current systems just produce junk code when an attempt is in correct. The new system however, sim-

ply generates a piece of fake data resembling the true data. If an attacker used software to make 10,000 attempts to decrypt a credit card number, for example, they would get back 10,000 different fake credit card numbers, the team says. nEwS DESk

NEW YORK DECLARES WAR ON SWANS In Britain, wild swans may be prized for their beauty and protected by the Queen, but the US state of New York has declared war on them, branding them a violent menace.

Draft proposals to kill or resettle the state's 2,200 wild mute swans by 2025 may be supported by some conservationists but have sparked uproar among animal rights activists.

The New York state department of environmental conservation says swans attack people, destroy vegetation, pose a threat to jetliners and damage water because their feces contain e coli.

Ever since US Airways flight 1549 collided with a flock of geese in 2009 and landed on the Hudson river, the US Department of Agriculture has set about annually culling Canada geese.

Now the New York state conservation department wants to expand the offensive and eliminate free-ranging mute swans by 2025, killing them or allowing "responsible ownership" of the birds in captivity.

Nests would also be destroyed, and eggs oiled, punctured or sterilized to prevent hatching, it added.

Pressure group Goose Watch NYC, which was set up to protest against the geese culls, demanded the plan be scrapped.

"It's just outrageous to try to exterminate an entire species that has been living in the state for more than 150 years, almost 200 years," Watch founder David Karopkin told a foreign news agency.

He rubbished the idea that 2,200 swans posed a threat to a state of 18 million people. nEwS DESk

YAHOO MAIL ACCOUNTS BREACHED WITH STOLEN PASSWORDS Yahoo alerted users of its free email service Thursday that hackers slipped into accounts to loot information using stolen passwords.

The California company did not disclose the extent of the breach, but said that it is asking those affected to change their passwords. "Security attacks are unfortunately becoming a more regular occurrence," Yahoo senior vice president for platforms and personalization products Jay rossiter said in a blog post. "We regret this has happened and want to assure our users that we take the security of their data very seriously." A malicious computer program armed with Yahoo Mail passwords and usernames apparently slipped into accounts aiming to glean names and addresses from messages that had been sent, according to rossiter. Yahoo recently discovered the invasion and suspected that the passwords were snatched from a thirdparty database that the company did not disclose. "We have no evidence that they were obtained directly from Yahoo's systems," rossiter said. nEwS DESk

WORLD'S OLDEST FLAMINGO DIES IN AUSTRALIAN ZOO, AGED 83 Staff at Adelaide Zoo were in mourning Friday after the world's oldest flamingo, and their oldest resident, died aged 83. The flamingo, known as "Greater" after his species, was put to sleep on Thursday due to complications associated with old age, having arrived at the zoo in 1933.

Greater is survived by long-term friend Chilly -- a Chilean flamingo -- who is in his 60s and will be monitored to see how he reacts to the death.

"Although this is an extremely sad loss for us all, it was the right thing to do,” Zoos South Australia chief executive Elaine Bensted said.

"There was no additional medical treatment that would have improved Greater's quality of life."

Zoo staff said records showed another flamingo was still alive aged 67, believed to be in a South American zoo. No bird in the wild would live so long, due to predators and lack of medical attention. nEwS DESk

CMYK

Saturday, 01 February, 2014

ARTS kAReenA tRyinG too HARd to deny PReGnAnCy RuMouRS? Kareena Kapoor Khan’s absence at award functions as well as her recent pictures have sparked pregnancy rumours. Not only is she glowing but she seems a bit on the fuller side. However, the pretty actress, who is married to Saif Ali Khan, rubbishes these rumours and stresses that she is not pregnant. In an interview, calling it a “sensitive topic”, Kareena maintains that she has no interest in being a mother in the near future. She says that Saif and she already have two children (Saif’s children from his previous marriage) and hence are not in any hurry to have children. Kareena said the reason she is not attending any awards functions is because she is not performing there. She says that everyone knows actors attend events only when they get paid to perform and she is not taking money to perform anywhere.

Calling Saif and herself a modern couple, she says they will have children later and says all the speculation about her figure will end when she starts shooting for Singham 2 in March. NEWS DESK

AbHAy deol to Put entiRe FilM on FACebook If Dhoom:3 went on an all-quiet promo trick that worked for them, the young Deol boy is up for just the opposite to make a mark. In a first in Bollywood, actor Abhay Deol, 37, and the co-producers of his next film have decided to release their entire film on the social media site, Facebook (on the same day as its India release). However, there’s a catch — only international audiences will get to view the film — One By Two — online, while Indian audiences will still have to queue up at theatres since access to the online version will be blocked in the country. Makers say this has been done to protect the interests of theatres running the film here. “One By Two will officially be the first film worldwide to premiere internationally on Facebook,” says Abhay. The makers claim to have struck a deal with Facebook (USA) for this never-before-attempted move (not even Hollywood films have tried something like this before). Rudrarup Dutta of co-producers Viacom 18, says, “Facebook will block all the IP addresses from India (geo-blocking) trying access the file. It will be available in countries where there is no theatrical release of the film.”

Sources also tell us that the film is unlikely to get a significant international release, which is the reason for this move. NEWS DESK

i wAnted to be MoRe voluPtuouS: CAMeRon diAz Hollywood star Cameron Diaz, who is envied for her slender body, says there was a time when she longed for an hourglass figure. The 41-year-old actress, however is happy with her looks, reported Contactmusic. “I spent a lot of time wishing I was more voluptuous, but eventually I realised it’s not who I am. Why punish myself for something I’m not?,” Diaz said. The actress feels that her relationships to her friends and family is very strong. “I’m still friends with my ex-boyfriends, too. I feel like all my relationships are strong – friends, family. I’ve invested in my people and they’re invested in me,” she added. NEWS DESK

dAniel CRAiG to StAR in ‘tHe wHole tRutH’ Hollywood star Daniel Craig has signed on to star in thriller ‘The Whole Truth’.

Plot details for the project are being kept under wraps, but it is being said that the movie will involve a courtroom, reported Variety. The film is being produced by Atlas Entertainment but is yet to have a director attached. No shooting date has been set yet. The ‘Skyfall’ actor, 45, is expected to begin filming ‘Bond 24′, his fourth outing as iconic British spy James Bond in the coming months. NEWS DESK

JAMeS FRAnCo SPARkS dAtinG RuMouRS witH ARt GAlleRy woRkeR Hollywood actor James Franco is reportedly dating Adriane Cloepfil, who is an art gallery employee. The 35year-old actor apparently began romancing Cloepfil after the duo met on the set of a video project in Los Angeles. Franco, who is believed to be an art enthusiast, has previously romanced actresses like Ahna O’Reilly, Marla Sokoloff and Ashley Benson. NEWS DESK

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Humaima Malick to host Sindh Festival KARACHI: The only internationally successful Pakistani film star, Humaima Malick, who has always turned down offers in the past to host events couldn’t say no to the opening of the mega Sindh Cultural Festival when approached by the organisers. The festival is commencing today (February 1st) at the Moenjo Daro, will be hosted by Humaima Malick who sounded very excited on having given this opportunity and said ‘I am very excited to be a part of this festival.

I think it’s a great initiative by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and I wish him all best for addressing such an important subject. As a society, this was a much needed event to broaden our outlook and own our

identities.’ Humaima Malick, who is currently shooting Shaatir alongside Emraan Hashmi for Kunal Deshmukh and bagged five International Best Actress awards for debut movie Bol says ‘I consider myself a cultural ambassador of Pakistan when I set my foot abroad for work. Unfortunately, I feel there is not much we have done to bring out our identities as a nation and specifically as a culture. Branding Pakistan on the international front has been ignored for a long time and this event is a tool to achieve that. I hope we get to see more such festivals in future.

Bilawal earns my respect for his vision.’ STAFF REPORT

Aishwarya Rai voted 4th most beautiful woman of the world

PRiyAnkA CHoPRA FeelS HAPPy And PRoud to be A PARt oF ‘GundAy’

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has made it to the fourth position in a recent poll of the world’s most beautiful women. Conducted

by Hollywood Buzz, the survey saw participation from more than four million people, who selected the most intelligent, desirable and successful women of 2013-14. Aishwarya was only beaten by Monica Belluci, Kate Upton and Angelina Jolie. Commenting on this Aishwarya Rai Bachchan said, “The results of this poll by Hollywood Buzz were brought to my notice by my well-wishers whatsapping me.

Believe it or not...and I must admit it’s overwhelming to hear that over 4 million people across the globe have voted and listed me amongst their top choices.”

NEWS DESK

Actress-singer Priyanka Chopra is happy to be a part of crime thriller ‘Gunday’ where she is sharing the screen space with Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor.

Set in 1970s Bengal, the film, which is currently in its final post-production stage, is story about two boys who turn into coal bandits and fall for the same girl. “Just got done watching the first copy of Gunday! I’m so proud of everyone who made this film possible.. Yay! Pat on the back @aliabbaszafar,” Priyanka tweeted. The 32-yearold actress has slipped into the role of a glamorous cabaret dancer in the Ali Abbas Zafar’s film. The film will also be released simultaneously in Bengali with full Bengali songs composed by Bappi Lahiri.

Produced by Yash Raj Films, ‘Gunday’ is slated to hit theatres on February 14. NEWS DESK

Learning on the job seems to be becoming Katrina Kaif’s forte. First, the actor took bike-riding lessons for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011); then we were told that tried her hand at playing the guitar for Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011); then, she apparently learnt circus moves to play an acrobat in Dhoom:3 (2013). Katrina’s latest classes, it seems, are in a new language — Arabic.

This is for her role of a photojournalist in Kabir Khan’s next, Phantom. A source close to the actor reveals, “Katrina wants to know the language well so that her inflections are correct while dubbing her lines in the language.” Last year, Katrina and co-star Saif Ali Khan had shot parts of the movie in Beirut, Lebanon.

The actor is practising her diction even while working on other projects, such as Siddharth Anand’s Bang Bang opposite Hrithik Roshan, and Jagga Jasoos opposite Ranbir Kapoor. “She will continue practising it to get the pronunciation right. She’s rehearses even when she takes breaks during shoots,” says the source. Katrina remained unavailable for comment, but her spokesperson confirms this development.

NEWS DESK

CMYK

Katrina Kaif learns Arabic for Phantom

14 SportS

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

Exciting timE TO WORK WITH SL: FARBRACE O SportS deSk

NLy four players remain from the Test XI Paul Farbrace oversaw in his last series as assistant coach with Sri Lanka. In August 2009, Muttiah Muralitharan still led the attack, Rangana Herath was still making his comeback into international cricket, and Thilan Thushara was the brightest pace-bowling hope.

Four-and-a-half years and four captains later, the makings of a competitive pace battery is emerging, the top order is hinting at regeneration and the team has moved beyond Murali's shadow. It is an exciting time to come aboard, Farbrace said, as he settles into the task of completing Sri Lanka's transition successfully.

"It's really encouraging to see new players coming through," he said. "Suranga Lakmal was starting to get involved when I was here last time. I'm really pleased to see how he has developed. Shaminda Eranga is fantastic - he really does look a quality bowler. Nuwan Pradeep was someone who was around when I was here and he was working hard on his game then. To see those three guys, with Vishwa Fernando as well, you've got some very talented youngish fast bowlers. Not a lot of experience in terms of international cricket, but it's quite exciting to see there's some pace bowling coming through.

"From a batting point of view, Kithuruwan Vithanage played very well for his hundred in Dhaka - I really like the look of him. Kaushal Silva was someone who was scoring lots and lots of first-class runs. He was playing for the A team last time he was here. I worked with him on his keeping, so I know him pretty well. It's really nice to see the likes of him getting the opportunity to play the longer form, just on the back of his performance and hard work. Everyone was delighted when he got his hundred. Dimuth Karunaratne looks a good player. He's played nicely and is due a good score pretty soon, because he does the hard work and gets in.

Right the way through, there's a lot of talent."

Farbrace joins the team with several major challenges looming. Beyond the ongoing series, two major limited-overs tournaments are on the horizon, in Bangladesh, before a full tour of England. Sri Lanka's Twenty20 form has been satisfying, but their ODI returns have been less convincing. Their last series was a 3-2 loss against Pakistan. "Our first big thing is obviously the Asia Cup - we want to compete and do well in that. Next is the World Twenty20, which is a format in which Sri Lanka are the No. 1 team in the world, and that's because they've earned the right to be the top team in 20-overs cricket. We are going into that competition full of confidence. We've got four games at Chittagong, and Chittagong conditions will hopefully be advan-

SERBIA DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN DEFENDS ABSENT DJOKOVIC

tageous for us. After this series our focus will be on those tournaments with a continual eye towards the World Cup in 2015.

"The one-day games in England will also give us an idea of how and where we need to keep working for World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, because conditions will be quite similar. The key thing is we've got to find our best 15 players.

We've got to know what combinations are going to work for us."

Farbrace's contract began on January 1, and as former coach Graham Ford did not relinquish the senior team to him until the

tour of Pakistan ended on January 20, Farbrace had been working with coaches in Sri Lanka to reacclimatise himself with the system. He was complimentary about the coaching structure in place, as well as of assistant coach Marvan Atapattu, bowling coach Chaminda Vaas and fielding coach Ruwan Kalpage.

"Marvan, Vaasy and Ruwan are all experienced people who have a lot of cricket knowledge and they've been great players for Sri Lanka. That's a big advantage for me, to tap into their knowledge and their skills. We've spent a lot of the last week

FLOWER'S ENGLAND TENURE OVER

DHONI BACKS FALTERING BATSMEN SportS deSk

SportS deSk

BELGRADE: Novak Djokovic has earned his right to miss Serbia's Davis Cup first round tie against a full-strength Switzerland, team coach Bogdan Obradovic said on Thursday. With world number two Djokovic resting in Serbia's skiing resort of Mount Kopaonik, the Swiss will be strong favourites to advance after former world number one Roger Federer joined Australian Open winner Stanislas Wawrinka as a surprise late inclusion. "Novak is exhausted and made it clear he needs to recuperate for what will be a gruelling season on the ATP Tour," Obradovic told a news conference after the draw pitted Federer against world number 268 Ilija Bozoljac in Friday's opening singles rubber.

"He has played so many great matches for us, his priority this season is to recapture the number one spot on the ATP tour (from Rafa Nadal) and our fans need to understand that he is still a part of this team." With Janko Tipsarevic sidelined with a long-term heel injury and Viktor Troicki suspended after missing a blood test last April, 2010 winners Serbia require what would amount to one of the biggest shocks in Davis Cup history to eliminate the Swiss. Federer said he would have liked Djokovic to join the party but also made it clear Switzerland were looking forward to the prospect of taking full advantage of his absence. "We were all hoping Djokovic would be here but we understand that he has good reasons not to be and we all know how much he has done for his country," said Federer, who often skips Davis Cup ties himself due to the competition's scheduling.

"It would have been more exciting and more difficult for us but what we have to do now is take this opportunity to try to win the tie." Asked whether he plotted a late arrival in Serbia to outwit Djokovic, many of whose fans had hoped the world number two would have a last-minute change of heart and turn up to boost Serbia's chances, Federer said: "The press hypes a lot of things up because they want top players to hate each other, but my relationship with Novak is good.

"We've had a tough and fierce rivalry at times but away from the court we are friendly and do a lot of things together, like charity." Wawrinka, who showed few signs of jet-lag and fatigue in Thursday's practice with Federer after a long-haul flight from Melbourne, was excited ahead of his clash with Dusan Lajovic on Friday. "I feel great after winning a grand slam during two fantastic weeks in Australia," he said. "It's going to be tough to play straight after those exertions but I am enjoying the moment." AGENCIES

talking about players and the way we're moving forward." "The great thing about Vaasy is that Vaasy played a lot of Test matches. The fast bowlers get to travel with Vaasy, spend time Vaasy, pick his brains and talk about the game. Vaasy is not going to be making technical changes during a Test match, but he's able to talk them through the passage of play in games. How a game develops, how you bowl at different phases in the game, and how you bowl at different batsmen. It's fantastic that they can get that out of Vaasy, and he's very giving of his knowledge."

Andy Flower is to leave his position as England team director after five years in the job. England suffered a 5-0 whitewashing in Australia earlier this month, losing the Ashes in humiliating fashion, and Flower has now become the chief casualty.

In a formal announcement released several hours after the story first broke, the ECB said that Flower had informed the ECB of his desire to stand down.

He will not depart entirely, with the ECB keen to retain his services, most likely in a role at the National Performance Centre in Loughborough.

Flower himself said in the aftermath of the Test series that he wanted to continue to oversee England's rebuilding - although it was evident from the outset that it would have to be on his own terms. In confirming his departure, Flower said that the team director should have responsibility across all formats, a challenge he felt was beyond him.

Paul Downton, England's new managing director, said he was "very disappointed" by Flower's decision.

As the defeats in Australia piled up, Flower had received emphatic expressions of support from both the ECB chairman, Giles Clarke, who pronounced that he would be in charge beyond the 2015 World Cup, and chief executive, David Collier, who insisted that England needed stability.

Suggestions that Flower had been forced to stand down were denied by the ECB. Downton, who officially begins in the job on February 1, has been conducting a review of England's disastrous tour, which got worse on Friday with defeat in the T20 series.

Downton said: "We respect his decision and the reasons for it but we are keen to keep Andy's experience and outstanding knowledge within the ECB. We are at advanced stages of negotiating a role for Andy within the ECB structure which will best utilise his undoubted skills."

Flower, who took over in 2009, deserves to be recognised as one of England's most successful coaches, even if events in Australia suggested that his natural shelf life was coming to an end.

He oversaw England's rise to the No. 1 ranking in all three formats, winning three consecutive Ashes series and the World Twenty20 during his time in charge. He returned to England after the Ashes and discussions about the way forward with Downton and Alastair Cook, the Test and one-day captain, had been expected to stretch well into February. Instead, an ECB announcement is expected imminently.

CMYK

The limited-overs coach, Ashley Giles, is currently in charge of the team and England do not play a Test series until June. Indications are that Giles will take on the added responsibility, at least in the short term, with a press conference scheduled for Saturday morning, Australia time. Flower had been due to travel to Sri Lanka and join the Lions tour, running an eye over the next generation of Test players, but that trip has now been cancelled.

Reports of a rift with Kevin Pietersen - Flower denied having made an ultimatum about Pietersen's involvement in the team but pointedly did not give the player his backing - had clouded the end of a stormy tour of Australia, during which England's senior players collectively failed to live up to their billing. After the defeat in Melbourne, ESPNcricinfo's George Dobell, said it was time for Flower to go. However, Collier insisted in January, ahead of the fifth Test, that Flower retained the backing of the governing body until 2015. If Flower moved to the national academy, he would still remain in a senior position and would exert considerable influence over England's future success. He relinquished control of England's limitedovers teams at the start of 2013, due to the considerable demands of touring, and a full-time role in the UK would enable Flower to spend more time with his young family. As in 2006-07, a 5-0 Test defeat in Australia has precipitated a change in head coach. Flower, like Duncan Fletcher before him, ends on the lowest of notes but his reign will be remembered as one of the most successful in England's history.

MS Dhoni has indicated that India will keep the faith in their current group of limited-overs batsmen in whom they have "invested heavily." Dhoni said his batsmen were merely going through a poor phase and hoped they will be up to the challenge of coming out of it, after their failures on successive tours to South Africa and New Zealand. Only Virat Kohli and Dhoni were able to resist New Zealand, with Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu all yielding poor returns. "In international cricket you go through this phase," Dhoni said. "Once you make your debut at the international level, the first season you have a very good season. People start to plan about you. That's the time when the tug of war starts, where you try to solve the problems that are created by the opposition and the opposition will look to improve whatever their formula or plan is. So it is a constant tug of war. It has just started I believe." The last season was fantastic for us but now the opposition will have their plans for all the batsmen and they will keep working on their plans. It will be all about how quickly we adapt and what we need to do to get out of the questions that will be asked by the opposition. I think it is a phase that we are going through. But what will be crucial is what kind of solutions we have got. How we plan to get out of it. How individually we prepare for the challenges." After the series was lost in Hamilton, Dhoni had said he had little clarity on the fast bowlers he could take with him to the 2015 World Cup. He however stood by his batsmen on whom he said the team had already expended plenty of effort. "We have invested a lot.

As I said after the first season, once you become a settled side the opposition start planning about each and every batsman and that has been the case all over the world. And this is a phase I feel they will all get out of, answering the fresh questions that are asked of them.

Saturday, 1 February, 2014

teams fight for seeding, lighter World cup schedule Bert SutcLIffe oVaL

t

AGENCIES

HE hardest part of the World Cup Qualifier may be over for Scotland and UAE but both sides still have something to play for heading into Saturday's tournament final at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval. Both teams managed to navigate their way through the Super Sixes to finish in the top two spots and in the process, secured qualification to the 2015 World Cup. Saturday's final will determine the teams' seeding for the main event next year in Australia and New Zealand.

The winner will join Afghanistan in Group A along with Australia, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, while the runner-up will drop into Group B with South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland, who won the World Cricket League Championship, Intercontinental Cup as well as the World Twenty20 Qualifier in 2013 to stamp their authority as the kings of Associate cricket. At first glance, it may not appear to be too significant which group Scotland or UAE gets placed into, as each draw poses hefty challenges.

Group A contains both host nations, a formidable obstacle for the Full Member participants to overcome let alone the Associates, while Group B contains the defending World Cup champions India.

However, a subtle yet important reward for the team that wins the final is a far less demanding travel schedule within the tournament next year. Qualifier Three, the winner of the Scotland vs. UAE match, will play their first four Group A matches in New Zealand's south island in Dunedin, Christchurch and Nelson before traveling to Tasmania for their last two Group A matches in Hobart. It means a relatively light travel schedule of just 2,084 miles.

The loser of Saturday's final will have to endure a far more taxing flight schedule, shuttling between New Zealand and Australia. Their adventure will begin in Nelson before heading off to Brisbane and then all the way to Perth before flying back to New Zealand again to round out their Group B matches in Napier and Wellington. By the end of their six group matches, that team will have traveled 7,456 miles. Professionals might have no issue with it but for a semi-pro or amateur squad like the UAE, a little thing like this can make a big difference.

Stand-in skipper Preston Mommsen stepped up in a big way following an injury to Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer. After scoring 118 earlier in the qualifier against Hong Kong, Mommsen scored 94 in a 52run win over Papua New Guinea before following it up with arguably a more valuable

78, steering his side out of trouble in a tense three-wicket win over Kenya to earn Scotland a trip to the World Cup. Heading into the tournament, UAE captain Khurram Khan was the oldest player at 42 years and 206 days, beating out Kenya's Steve Tikolo by four days. He hasn't showed any signs of wearing down though, and is the leading scorer at the event with 547 runs, 146 more than Scotland's Calum MacLeod at number two, at an average of 78.14 including one century and four fifties.

Scotland entered the tournament on the back of a disappointing seventh-place finish at the World T20 Qualifiers. A shakeup occurred in the aftermath of that failure with longtime coach Pete Steindl stepping down to make way for Paul Collingwood.

The move has had the desired effect in New Zealand. Scotland won their two pretournament warm-up matches against

Papua New Guinea and Namibia before suffering a hiccup in the first official match, a 17-run loss to Hong Kong.

From then on though, they mowed through the competition by posting three emphatic wins over Nepal (90 runs), UAE (53 runs) and Canada (170 runs). Calum MacLeod was the catalyst for their success in Group A, posting 113 against the UAE and a Scotland record 175 against Canada to propel the team to the top of Group A. They extended their winning streak to six games with victories over Namibia, PNG and Kenya to reach the final.

Khurram needs 11 runs to break the record for the most runs scored at a single World Cup Qualifier. The mark is currently held by Bermuda's David Hemp, who scored 557 in the 2009 edition to break the mark that had been set by Canada's Paul Prashad with 533 in 1986.

Khurram will be 43 by the time the World Cup rolls around next year, but he won't be close to breaking the mark for the oldest player ever to play in the event. That distinction is held by Nolan Clarke, who played for Netherlands at 47 years and 257 days against South Africa in the 1996 World Cup. The Bert Sutcliffe Oval has also hosted two other notable ICC tournament finals, including one with a special place in New Zealand cricket lore. Australia defeated Pakistan by 25 runs in the final of the 2010 ICC U-19 World Cup. In the 2000 Women's World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand, the hosts prevailed by four runs after bowling out Australia for 180 on the first ball of the final over.

SCotlANd: (poSSIblE) 1 Matty Cross (wk), 2 Calum Macleod, 3 Matt Machan, 4 preston Mommsen (capt), 5 Freddie Coleman, 6 Richie berrington, 7 Michael leask, 8 Rob taylor, 9 Safyaan Sharif, 10 Majid Haq, 11 Iain Wardlaw UAE: (poSSIblE) 1 Amjad Ali, 2 Salman Faris, 3 Khurram Khan (capt), 4 Shaiman Anwar, 5 Rohan Mustafa, 6 Swapnil patil (wk), 7 Vikrant Shetty, 8 Amjad Javed, 9 Mohammad Naveed, 10 Kamran Shazad, 11 Manjula Guruge

Gerrard confident of adjusting to new Liverpool role LIVerpooL AGENCIES

The captain believes he can play in a number of different positions but admits the deep-lying midfield approach is a change from his usual box-to-box style of play Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is confident of making a success of the new defensive midfield role assigned to him by manager Brendan Rodgers. The England skipper took up the new position in the league games against Stoke and Aston Villa and although the Reds collected four points, they also conceded five goals.

Gerrard then impressed in the 4-0 thrashing of Everton, however, and despite having played in a more attacking role for much of his career, insists he is capable of contributing from a deeper position.

Previously, I've been trying to get from box to box," he told the club's official website. "But the new role is more about control and organising the people in front of me. "It's a different position to the one that I've played for the last 12 or 15 years.

I know that with time and work on the training pitch, I can get it right because I believe I can play in a number of positions." The 33-year-old expressed his delight at the nature of the Reds' Merseyside derby victory over Everton and believes Roberto Martinez's team were lucky to escape having conceded only four goals.

"I've got to be honest; I thought it was going to be a really cagey affair," he admitted. "I thought maybe one goal either way would have decided it. But the way we played, I thought it could have been even more."

SportS 15 HOLTBY JOINS FULHAM ON LOAN

LONDON: Lewis Holtby has joined Fulham on loan from Tottenham for the rest of the season, the west London club have announced. Holtby moved to Tottenham from Schalke 12 months ago but has so far been unable to hold down a regular place in the starting XI. The 23-year-old played in a variety of positions under Andre Villas-Boas but has only started one game since Tim Sherwood was installed as head coach. The German international, who signed a four-andhalf-year deal when he signed for Spurs, is said to have made the switch across London in search of first-team football to improve his chances of making Germany's World Cup squad. AGENCIES

WENGER '80PC SURE' OF DEADLINE-DAY SIGNING

LONDON: The Gunners boss is confident of securing a deal before the window closes, with the emphasis on a midfield addition following confirmation of Aarron Ramsey's injury lay-off. Arsene Wenger insists he is "80 per cent" sure that Arsenal will announce a new signing on deadline day. Goal exclusively reported on Thursday that the Gunners were considering a move for Miroslav Klose or Alvaro Morata as a deal for Julian Draxler looks less likely to materialise, while Wenger is also keen on a midfielder and has made an enquiry for Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin. And the Frenchman has now confirmed that Aaron Ramsey will be out of action for six weeks, as exclusively revealed by Goal on Tuesday, accelerating the need to sign cover before the window closes on Friday evening. "Ramsey will be out for four to six weeks. I count six weeks," he told reporters. "We are still trying to bring one body in because of Ramsey's setback and Flamini's suspension. I'm confident we will bring someone in today. It's 80/20 per cent chance. AGENCIES

Gareth BaLe Booed By reaL Madrid FanS MadrId AGENCIES

And so after almost five months it happened – a misplaced pass last Saturday against Granada and some muted whistles aimed at Gareth Bale.

Never mind the eight goals and seven assists in the league so far. Never mind the 10 goals in all competitions despite having played only nine full matches. Never mind three goals from free-kicks in only seven attempts. Bale will have known from the day of his presentation, when there were 30,000 Real Madrid fans waiting for him inside the stadium, that this is a club where everything is exaggerated. One week you are the new Ferenc Puskas, the next week you are the new Forrest Gump.

Cristiano Ronaldo was whistled at times last season before supporters finally woke up to the stats that currently read 234 goals in 228 games. Luka Modric was dubbed “worst signing of the year” and then went on to score from 30 yards at Old Trafford to help send Real through against Manchester United in the Champions

League, and is currently a player of the season candidate.

Some of the critics after Bale’s firsthalf performance on Saturday suggested he was “having trouble understanding how Madrid play”, as if Carlo Ancelotti’s team have perfected a sort of “total football” reinvention, when the reality is they are still hugely reliant on individual, rather than team, goals. It is true that Ancelotti has Real trying to play more through midfield and that Bale would have had the ball played to him earlier under Jose Mourinho last season. It is also true that the 20-yearold Jese has performed well in his position, scoring against Espanyol in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday with Bale watching from the stands. And it is true that a player who needs excellent physical preparation did not have that in pre-season, and sometimes appears in training as if he is being held together by blue Kinesiology tape.

But Bale has always played in bursts – a devastating 15 minutes during a game that destroys a team or a run of 15 games that defines a season. Real are determined to harness that. There appears to be a deliber-

ate policy of helping him avoid playing three games a week and the stop-start nature of his first season at the club has provoked the public impatience quietly audible on Saturday. yet if the pressure starts affecting Bale, he only needs to look to one of his greatest supporters at the club.

Zinedine Zidane was whistled in his first season, 2001-02, after also arriving as the world’s most expensive player. He confided in team-mates that he was even considering walking away in those early months. He finished the season scoring one of the Champions League’s greatest ever goals to win Real Madrid their ninth European Cup. Park the bus for beckham’s seeds: After 14 years of driving galacticos around Spain, Real Madrid’s official coach driver Fernando Manso has parked his last bus. Sadly, there are no explosive memoirs but he has revealed that David Beckham used to send him out to buy sunflower seeds.

Manso told Marca: “We would buy them for him but he never paid us. Of course, we never said anything. One day I

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found a €5 note on Beckham’s seat. When I saw him I gave it to him and he just said: ‘Thanks very much’ and off he went.”

Beckham would surely have paid more attention had he realised the extent of Manso’s service to the players. Talking about some of his more dangerous journeys, he said: “The bus was stoned driving into La Coruña. They broke four windows

and I remember some players threw themselves down on the floor. Another time rival fans threw a billiard ball at Beckham and it rebounded off part of the bus and hit me instead.” Manso also tells of being told to slow down by Vicente del Bosque and having to give in to “modern music” over the years, with players’ CDs replacing his favourite radio station Kiss FM.

SPORTS Saturday, 1 February, 2014

Pakistan yet to take side in international cricket politics KARACHI

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HE manipulation by ‘Big Three’ for getting control of international cricket is in full swing, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still waiting for instructions from its patron-inchief, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to chalk out its strategy.

PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf has been trying to meet the prime minster – but in vain. Now, the Board is uncertain as to what course of action it should take. The issue is complicated; if the PCB supports the matter it will be blamed for being ‘anti-Pakistan’ and ‘pro-India’. But if the Board parts ways with the ‘Big Three’, then it is very likely that their teams won’t be visiting Pakistan anymore. But even if they played with Pakistan, they would deprive the PCB of the already limited earning ventures.

Although the ‘Big Three’ have promised to help restore international cricket in Pakistan which has died over the past few years. But the PCB should realise that this is not possible in the years to come, given the current law and order situation.

India has also tried to lure the PCB by offering a Pak-India series and by assuring to open the IPL doors for Pakistani players.

In its response, the ‘not very convinced’ PCB officials have demanded guarantees that the neighbour will honour its words.

They say India’s record does not inspire confidence in its promises and the Indians are most likely to renege as soon as their problem is solved. In this regard, the English Cricket Board has stepped forward to offer assurances about India’s promises.

The ICC has set its ‘court’ in Dubai like an Emperor would do and is asking its subjects (small boards) to beg for small favours.

The chief of the Indian Cricket Board, Srinawasan, could not reach Dubai till Mon-

day evening because of his mother’s death.

But he is in contact with others through videoconferencing. The BCCI secretary, Sunjay Patel, is expected to fill in for Srinawasan.

Sources reveal that officials of Indian, English and Australian boards have been offering various incentives to smaller countries in exchange for their votes. In the beginning, Bangladeshi officials hastily decided to support the ‘Big Three’ but when protests erupted in their country, that the implementation of the proposals will deprive them of their Test cricket, they stepped back and decided to offer conditional support only. Sri Lanka, West Indies and South Africa have opposed the proposal but India is striving hard to win their support. New Zealand seems to support the move, while the poor Zimbabwean board is not strong enough to maintain a fighting stance. In a surprising move, BCCI officials also met their staunch opponent Haroon Lorgat in Dubai to iron out the old bitterness.

India flushed Australia crush down the drain! England to take series WELLINGTON

MELBOURNE

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It is said ‘even a Mongrel is a Tiger in his own street’, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor’s performance, refusing to take their collective foot off India bowlers' throats, took their partnership tally for the series to 463 - which is the highest for a total of four partnerships, and fourth-highest overall - setting India yet another 300-total, which India were always going to find difficult to chase with only two top specialist batsmen in any sort of form. In the process, Williamson set the New Zealand record for most runs in a bilateral series, his 361 being 18 more than Taylor's, who became only the second New Zealander to have scored 10 ODI centuries. If it was the old firm with the bat, with the ball Matt Henry came out of nowhere to register the thirdbest debut figures for a New Zealander and consign India to a 4-0 defeat, who are yet to win a match since they began touring in December.

It was almost like a contest for the Man-of-theSeries award between Taylor and Williamson, who came together at 41 for 2 in the 13th over. They had added 311 in the three chances they had got to bat together in the series, but this time New Zealand were

As Twenty20 wins go, this was comprehensive. So comprehensive that Brad Hodge did not even get to bat in his first international for nearly six years. The Melbourne fans were disappointed at that, but pleased their other Victorian favourite, Cameron White, played a key part in Australia's pulverisation of England. White and George Bailey feasted on England's lacklustre bowling, cruising to the target of 131 in the 15th over with eight wickets in hand.

It meant a third series defeat for England on this tour. It also meant that that for the first time in a long while, Australia were ahead of England on the ICC rankings in all three formats; the teams swapped places after this result, with Australia moving up from eighth to sixth, and England falling from sixth to eighth. They will swap back again if England finish with a win in Sydney on Sunday, but the way they played in Melbourne that seems a distant dream.

Everything Australia did went right in this match, from sharp catches, run-outs and saves in the field to clean striking with the bat. By the time Bailey swept the winning boundary off James Tredwell to finish unbeaten on 60 from a remarkable 28 balls, with White at the other end on 57 from 45, the England players probably just wanted to go home. It was another especially miserable game for Jade Dernbach, whose three overs leaked 42 runs to take his series economy rate to 13.

Tim Bresnan was the only England bowler who looked like restricting Australia, his 1 for 11 from three overs including the lbw of Aaron Finch for 10.

The only other wicket for the innings came when Glenn Maxwell, on 2, slogged a catch to deep square leg off Tredwell. But then White, who was

Scoreboard New Zealand innings MJ Guptill c Mohammed Shami b aaron 16 Jd ryder c rahane b Kumar 17 KS Williamson c rahane b aaron 88 LrPL Taylor c dhawan b Mohammed Shami 102 bb Mccullum* c Sharma b Kohli 23 JdS Neesham not out 34 L ronchi† not out 11 extras (b 1, lb 6, w 5) 12 Total (5 wickets; 50 overs; 213 mins) 303 (6.06 runs per over) did not bat NL Mccullum, MJ Henry, Kd Mills, MJ Mcclenaghan Fall of wickets 1-22 (ryder, 7.4 ov), 2-41 (Guptill, 12.2 ov), 3-193 (Williamson, 37.3 ov), 4-243 (bb Mccullum, 43.5 ov),5-274 (Taylor, 47.6 ov) bowling Mohammed Shami 10-3-61-1 b Kumar 8-0-48-1 Vr aaron 10-0-60-2 r ashwin 6-0-37-0 ra Jadeja 9-0-54-0 V Kohli 7-0-36-1 India innings (target: 304 runs from 50 overs) rG Sharma c Taylor b Mills 4 S dhawan c NL Mccullum b Henry 9 V Kohli c sub (P Young-Husband) b NL Mccullum 82 aM rahane lbw b Henry 2 aT rayudu c Williamson b Henry 20 MS dhoni*† c Neesham b Williamson 47 r ashwin b Williamson 7 ra Jadeja c Guptill b Mills 5 b Kumar c †ronchi b Henry 20 Mohammed Shami not out 14 Vr aaron b Neesham 0 extras (lb 1, w 4, nb 1) 6 Total (all out; 49.4 overs; 206 mins) 216 (4.34 runs per over) Fall of wickets 1-8 (Sharma, 4.3 ov), 2-20 (dhawan, 9.5 ov), 3-30 (rahane, 13.2 ov), 4-78 (rayudu, 23.6 ov),5-145 (Kohli, 36.1 ov), 6-167 (ashwin, 40.2 ov), 7174 (Jadeja, 41.5 ov), 8-181 (dhoni, 44.1 ov), 9-215 (Kumar, 48.6 ov),10-216 (aaron, 49.4 ov) bowling Kd Mills 10-1-35-2 MJ Mcclenaghan 10-0-45-0 MJ Henry 10-1-38-4 JdS Neesham 5.4-0-45-1 NL Mccullum 10-1-33-1 KS Williamson 4-0-19-2

most desperate for runs from them. And they delivered, forging a 152-run partnership to not only shore them up, but give them the momentum as well.

On the other hand, this pitch had something for the bowlers. The outfield was the slowest of the series, and the lush square made piercing gaps difficult.

India conceded no boundary in the first over, and the four boundaries that were scored in the first 14 overs involved a certain degree of risk that required the batsmen to go over the infield. Taylor began the delightful turnaround with two scorching drives, all along the ground, with one to the left of cover, and the second to the right, in the 15th over. The second of those brought up 250 runs for Taylor in the series.

At that point, he was the only one in the New Zealand top seven to have not hit a six in the series.

The whole flow of the match turned in that over.

Scoring suddenly began to look easy. R Ashwin had to be brought on, and there was nothing for him in the pitch. Williamson frustrated him by using his feet and reaching the pitch of the ball almost every time. On the odd occasion that he was beaten in the flight - like in the 16th over - he recovered well. Runs now came easily with Varun Aaron missing the accuracy of the opening bowlers. When Aaron conceded the second boundary of the 21st over, the first time that Taylor had gone aerial, the two had brought up another fifty-run stand.

Soon Williamson displayed what should be the image of this New Zealand summer: down the wicket, making room, and chipping one over extra cover. This happened for the first time in the 24th over, which took Williamson to within 16 of becoming only the second man to have scored fifties in all the matches of a fiveODI series. The fifty came duly, by which time he had overtaken Taylor, who followed suit and also brought up the hundred of the stand, their third of the series.

The 31st over had begun by then, and Williamson now began to break away from Taylor. He swept Ravindra Jadeja either side of fine leg for successive fours before painting another picture with an inside-out chip.

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.

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Scoreboard england innings ad Hales c Starc b Hazlewood 16 MJ Lumb c coulter-Nile b Hazlewood 18 LJ Wright c Hodge b Starc 0 Je root run out (Maxwell/White) 18 eJG Morgan run out (Hodge) 6 22 Jc buttler† lbw b coulter-Nile rS bopara c Maxwell b Muirhead 6 TT bresnan b Hazlewood 18 ScJ broad* not out 18 Jc Tredwell b Hazlewood 0 extras (lb 4, w 4) 8 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) (6.50 runs per over) 130 did not bat JW dernbach Fall of wickets 1-24 (Lumb, 3.2 ov), 2-30 (Wright, 4.2 ov), 3-42 (Hales, 5.4 ov), 4-55 (Morgan, 6.6 ov), 5-63 (root, 8.3 ov),6-87 (bopara, 12.2 ov), 7-96 (buttler, 15.1 ov), 8-130 (bresnan, 19.5 ov), 9-130 (Tredwell, 19.6 ov) bowling bJ Hodge 1-0-10-0 NM coulter-Nile 4-0-29-1 Ma Starc 4-0-19-1 Jr Hazlewood 4-0-30-4 GJ Maxwell 1-0-7-0 JM Muirhead 4-0-17-1 cL White 2-0-14-0 australia innings (target: 131 runs from 20 overs) L White not out 58 aJ Finch lbw b bresnan 10 GJ Maxwell c bresnan b Tredwell 2 GJ bailey* not out 60 extras (w 1) 1 Total (2 wickets; 14.5 overs) 131 (8.83 runs per over) did not bat bJ Hodge, ca Lynn, MS Wade†, Ma Starc, NM coulter-Nile, Jr Hazlewood, JM Muirhead Fall of wickets 1-48 (Finch, 5.1 ov), 2-53 (Maxwell, 6.5 ov) bowling ScJ broad 3-0-29-0 JW dernbach 3-0-42-0 TT bresnan 3-0-11-1 Jc Tredwell 3.5-0-37-1 rS bopara 2-0-12-0 australia won by 8 wickets (with 31 balls remaining)

fearsomely striking fours right from the start of the innings, was joined by Bailey for a 78-run stand that completed the job and kept Hodge in the rooms.

At least Hodge had featured strongly during the England innings, opening the bowling and being responsible for two dismissals through his excellent work in the field. To a man the Australians were inspired in the field and that sharpness, combined with four wickets to Man of the Match Josh Hazlewood, a highly encouraging return from injury for Mitchell Starc, and the maturity of legspinner James Muirhead restricted England to 9 for 130.

For a while it seemed England would not even reach that high a score; a 134-run partnership between Stuart Broad (18 not out) and Bresnan rescued them from 7 for 96 in the 16th over.

Hazlewood finished with 4 for 30 after he finished with two wickets from the last two balls of the innings, Bresnan bowled for 18 walking across his stumps and Tredwell bowled for a golden duck next delivery.

Six batsmen reached double figures but the highest score was Jos Buttler's 22 as none of the batsmen managed to capitalise on their starts, and not a six was hit during the innings. In many case it was Australia's sharp fielding that caused England their problems and perhaps most surprisingly it was the 39-year-old Hodge who sparked things.