E paper 12th february

CMYK

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014 Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1435 Rs 17.00 Vol IV No 226 16 Pages Islamabad Edition

STORIES ON PAGE 03

STORY ON PAGE 03

STORY ON PAGE 02

STORY ON PAGE 03 STORY ON PAGE 02

STORY ON PAGE 04

STORY ON PAGE 15

02 NEWS POLICEMAN KILLED, ANOTHER INJURED IN ATTACK ON ANTI-POLIO TEAM DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A policeman was killed while another was injured on Tuesday when a polio vaccination team was attacked by unidentified gunman in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to police officials, the two policemen were on duty to provide security to the vaccination team in Purwa area of the city when assailants opened fire on them, killing one and injuring the other. The injured policeman was rushed to a hospital where he was reported to be in a critical condition while the dead body was shifted to a morgue for autopsy. Heath workers remained safe in the attack, officials added. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack but Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan has been repeatedly involved in attacks on polio campaign workers. The resistance by TTP has grown since May 2011 when al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed in a US military operation on information provided by Dr Shakeel Afridi, who ran a fake vaccination campaign to gain access into Bin Laden’s hideout. The resulting violent resistance has hampered the polio immunisation campaign in Pakistan, which remains one of the three countries where polio is endemic. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 3.5 million Pakistani children missed out on polio vaccination when over a dozen immunization workers were shot dead in various parts of the country. Recently, WHO has declared Peshawar as the world’s largest reservoir of polio virus. ONLINE

10TH POLIO CASE REPORTED FROM NORTH WAZIRISTAN ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health in Islamabad has confirmed another poliovirus (type-1) case from North Waziristan Agency which brings the total number of cases in 2014 to 10. The latest victim of the crippling disease is Hilal, 12month-old daughter of Sadaullah who is a resident of Datta Khel in Miranshah. It is said all children who have been diagnosed with polio in the current year did not receive a single dose of the oral polio vaccine. A ban was placed by the Taliban in North and South Waziristan agencies in 2012. An official at the Chief Minister’s Polio Monitoring Cell also confirmed the latest case. The official said due to the ban on immunisation in the two agencies, an estimated 260,000 children remain deprived of polio vaccination. So far a total of 10 cases have been reported from Pakistan in 2014, all of which have surfaced in North Waziristan Agency. STAFF REPORT

First polio case in Kabul since 2001 KABUL: An Afghan girl has been diagnosed with polio in Kabul - the capital’s first case since the Taliban’s fall in 2001. The Health Ministry has ordered a vaccination campaign across the capital after the three-year-old was diagnosed. The girl, Sakina, belongs to a very poor community of Kuchis, formerly nomadic herdsmen, now settled on a hillside in the east of the capital. Her father is a taxi driver who often goes to the frontier region with Pakistan, and has now taken her there for treatment. Polio remains endemic in Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern Nigeria, but has been almost wiped out around the world. In all three countries right-wing extremists have forcefully prevented polio eradication campaigns from taking place.

Since the Afghan Taliban changed their policy, allowing vaccination in recent years, there has been a decline in cases in Afghanistan. There were 80 cases in 2011, 37 in 2012, and 14 in 2013. ONLINE

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

SETHI REWARDED FOR FIXING ’35 PUNCTURES’, SAYS SKIPPER PTI CHIEF SAYS ECP ROLE IN MAY 11 ELECTIONS‘SHAMEFUL’ ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

P

AKISTAN Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday lashed out at the newly reappointed cricket chief, alleging he was being rewarded for helping the ruling party commit fraud in last year’s general elections.

Najam Sethi, a journalist who was also appointed as interim chief minister of the Punjab province during last year’s election campaign, was reinstated as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman on Monday by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. His predecessor Zaka Ashraf was removed on charges of not running the board properly.

But Khan said that Sethi was being rewarded for helping to rig the result of the May elections, in which his PTI party

Musharraf counsel’s arguments already declared void: Sheikh

won 35 of the 272 seats in the national parliament.

The PTI has launched legal challenges concerning the result in hundreds of constituencies at the national and provincial levels. “When the election tribunal rules on them we will know...who fixed the puncture and who was rewarded with the gift of the PCB chairmanship,” Khan told reporters in an obvious dig at the new PCB chief.

“Fixing the punctures” refers to election rigging allegations. Sethi later took to Twitter to deny the allegation and ask “Is PTI a fascist party?” Khan also questioned whether Sethi had enough cricketing knowledge for the post.

ECP ROLE SHAMEFUL: Criticising the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Khan said the Commission’s role was “shameful” as it had failed to fulfil its responsibility in the general elections of May 2013 and following by-elections.

He said free and fair elections work as a backbone to democracy. “How democracy can be strengthened without free and fair elections in Pakistan. No one would have rigged the by-elections had the election riggers and fake voters of general elections been punished,” he added. The PTI chief said that the apex court now remains his only hope as it is expected to order a recounting of votes in at least two of the four constituencies. Khan also lamented the role of the election tribunals. “The election tribunals did not play their role effectively and despite reports of rigging cases in various constituencies of Punjab and Karachi, the pleas were not heard,” he added. “Even the former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry disappointed me,” said Khan.

CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEES RECRUITED BY PPP GOVT FACE TERMINATIONS g

notification says ban on recruitments also applies on contractual employees, civil armed forces, transfers and inductions ISLAMABAD

chief pRosecutoR says lhc had annulled aRmy act in 1977 Ranjha Repeats demand foR shifting case to militaRy couRt ISLAMABAD APP

Akram Sheikh, head of prosecution in the treason case against former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, informed the Special Court on Tuesday that the accused’s counsel was banking on arguments which had already been declared null and void by the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The three-member bench, headed

by Justice Faisal Arab and comprising Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali resumed hearing of the case against Musharaf for breaching the constitution by imposing emergency on November 3, 2007.

At the outset of hearing, Musharraf’s counsel Dr Khalid Ranjha continued his arguments over the jurisdiction of the SC constituted to hear the treason case. He concluded his arguments by saying that the court had no authority to hear the case against Musharraf in the presence of Army Act 1952 which has a provision for trial of high treason offence for army personnel.

Responding to the arguments, Chief Prosecutor Akram Sheikh apprised the bench that Musharraf’s lawyer Dr Khalid Ranjha was focusing on Army Act which was annulled by the Lahore High Court in 1977. On this, Khalid Ranjha argued that the Supreme Court had endorsed the Act in Sheikh Aftab Hussain case in 1999.

Akram Sheikh asked how Musharraf’s counsel could depend on the amended Act which had already been declared unconstitutional in 1977. He said “there was not a single word against high treason in the Army Act 1952”, hence it was never mentioned in any schedule of law and the said Act was for a specific area and time. For that reason, he said, the courts did not endorse the law.

CMYK

“The reference of law which the courts have termed unconstitutional, falls in the category of contempt of court,” he declared. Akram Sheikh said that high treason Act never remained part of the Army Act and it was introduced on April 30, 1977 which the high court termed unconstitutional on June 5, 1977 as the Act was introduced for proclamation of martial law in Lahore and other major cities.

During his arguments, Dr Khalid Ranjha said the incumbent government had initiated the trial against Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution, read with High Treason (Punishment) Act 1973, out of personal vendetta.

The SC was established under Criminal Law Amendment (Special Court) Act 1976, he said, adding that Army Act was applicable on an army man breaching the Constitution.

Ranjah also sought the transfer of Musharraf’s case to a military court, citing provisions of Army Act. He said that sections relating to high treason were included in the Army Act 1952 and added that under Article 245, Army Act would even apply to civilians living in areas where the army had been summoned. He contended that the special court cannot conduct a trial of either a person who is in uniform or retired, adding that it is mandatory in law that a military personal could only be court martialled under Army Act if they commit any offence.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till today, (Wednesday).

INP

The government has decided in principle to expel all the contract employees recruited during the tenure of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government. According to a notification of the federal government on Tuesday, after federal ministries and divisions, a ban has also been imposed on recruitments in autonomous bodies, civil armed forces (Frontier Corps, Rangers and Coast Guards etc). Thousands of contract appointees will not enjoy extension and will be relieved after completion of their contracts.

According to notification, no ministry, division, corporation, autonomous body or civil armed forces will have the powers to appoint even the contract or temporary employees. The ban will also apply on appointments through transfer or induction.

All the heads of federal ministries, divisions, autonomous bodies, corporations and civil armed forces have been informed about the government policy through the notification.

Under this new decision, thousands of contract and daily wages employees in various ministries and autonomous bodies will be ousted once their contract expires. The PPP had appointed thousands of people on contract during its five-year reign and had regularised them before the end of its government tenure. According to sources, different boards have been set up in various government departments to look into the appointments during the PPP tenure in sheer violation of merit and transparency. Sources also said the Ministry of Law is also preparing an ordinance to tackle the issue of employees reinstated by the PPP government and given Constitutional protection.

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

NEWS

03

TRIPLE BOMBINGS IN PESHAWAR CINEMA KILL 13 unidentified men use thRee hand gRenades in attack, injuRe 20 taliban deny they caRRied out gRenade attack PESHAWAR

T

STAFF REPORT

HREE back-to-back explosions inside the city’s Shama Cinema on Tuesday killed 13 people and left at least 20 others seriously injured. The multiple explosions occurred when a show of a Pashto film was ongoing in the cinema.

Subsequently, 13 people were killed whereas 20 others were injured, an official at Lady Reading Hospital, Syed Jameel Shah, said where the wounded persons were shifted by rescue personnel for medical treatment. Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ejaz Ahmed said three grenades were used and up to 80 people

‘REAL STAKEHOLDERS NOT PART OF PEACE TALKS’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Aitzaz Ahsan on Tuesday slammed the peace talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), saying the real stakeholders were not made part of the peace process. Speaking in the Senate, Ahsan said that there should have been a female, and members of the minority Shia sect included in the dialogue process. “The decision is for our destiny and Taliban are holding talks with the Taliban,” said the PPP leader. He further declared that TTP has no interest in implementing Sharia in the country and their only concern revolves around the release of their accomplices imprisoned in Pakistani jails. He said that the talks illustrate the submission of the government in front of the insurgents. Ahsan added that only 30 percent of the Taliban were in the tribal areas and the remaining along with their supporters were present all over the country. PML-N leader Mushaidullah retorted to Ahsan’s criticism saying the PPP did not take the dialogue process seriously during their term. STAFF REPORT

were in the cinema at the time of the explosions.

Meanwhile, security forces cordoned off the site of attack whereas army personnel sealed the area from Shami Road. Shama Cinema is situated in the busy Bacha Khan Chowk area of Peshawar. The blast at the cinema came 11 days after a similar attack at Picture House Cinema situated in Kabuli Bazaar area of the city. The attack also came as negotiators for the federal government and for Taliban militants met for a second time today as part of efforts to end the bloody seven-year insurgency. Scraps of human flesh, blood-soaked shoes and caps littered the floor of the hall after the blasts.

Akbar Khan, 62, whose left arm and left thigh were injured, said from his hospital bed that he was watching a movie when a deafening blast rocked the auditorium. “It seemed like a hot iron rod pierced through my left arm and leg as I was hit by ball bearings,” he said.

“I ran towards the gate, from where I was taken to hospital.” Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid denied involvement. “We condemn the blast, it’s not our activity,” he told a foreign news agency. Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, whose party is ruling the province, said the blasts were an attempt to sabotage peace efforts.

PESHAWAR: Rescue workers inspect the scene of triple bombings in the hall of Shama Cinema on Tuesday. INP

Taliban want release of ‘some comrades’ as CBM govt negotiatoRs seek pm’s guidance foR meeting scheduled today ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

The negotiators representing the militants have informed the government’s dialogue team that the Shura of the banned Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have urged the government to move from positive gestures to confidence building measures (CBMs) and an unconditional release of some TTP prisoners could serve the purpose, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably. The message was conveyed to the government committee at an informal meeting which took place at the residence of Major (r) Amir, sources privy to the dialogue process said. The meeting was held after Professor

Ibrahim and Maulana Yousaf returned from North Waziristan after informing the Taliban political shura and receiving their response regarding the demands of the government.

“Both the teams also finalised an agenda for the formal meeting to be held between both sides today (Wednesday). Later, the government’s team called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and apprised him on the development of the talks-process and sought his guidance for the meeting,” the sources added.

“During their meeting with the TTP Shura, the negotiators said that the TTP leadership expressed satisfaction on the talks process and urged for restraint from both sides for success of the dialogue process.

The TTP negotiators told their counterparts that the TTP leadership wanted the dialogue with an open minded approach and all issues would be discussed at length to achieve durable peace. The TTP also wanted the

government to move from positive gestures to confidence building measures and the unconditional release of some of the Taliban prisoners may serve as a part of the same,” the sources added. Speaking to reporters after the meeting between the government and TTP committees, Irfan Siddiqui, the coordinator of the government’s committee, said the response from the Taliban’s political shura over the demands of the government was satisfactory. Maulana Samiul Haq, the TTP committee leader said the militants’ demands were conveyed to the government’s committee and in the first stage, attempts are being made to achieve a ceasefire between both the sides. During a news conference on Monday, Professor Ibrahim had said the dialogue process had entered a critical phase and he had received a positive response from the TTP leadership to the government’s demands.

If Mullah Fazlullah can lead Taliban, he can lead nation too! says taliban Ready foR ceasefiRe but govt should take the initiative says taliban do not feaR militaRy opeRation in case talks fail ISLAMABAD AGENCIES

In a move that could affect the ongoing peace talks with the government, the Pakistani Taliban have said that they want their commander Mullah Fazlullah to lead the country.

“In Pakistan, Mullah Fazlullah is leading us and he has all the qualities to

lead the Pakistani nation,” said Shahidullah Shahid, spokesman of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Shahid further said in an interview with Newsweek Pakistan that the militants, who are fighting for Sharia in Pakistan, consider Afghan Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar as their “Amir-ul-Momineen” (leader of the faithful). The TTP is engaged in peace talks with the government and negotiators from both sides met for the first time last week to draw up a roadmap for dialogue. But Shahid said the TTP is at war with the government for two reasons its “friendship” with the US and the continuation of the “un-Islamic democratic system”. “We want the establishment of Sharia in Pakistan; this was the reason that Pakistan was created,” he claimed.

Shahid said his group is ready for a ceasefire but the government should announce it first. He also described the government’s assertion that peace talks be conducted within the framework of

the Constitution as a “precondition”.

Asked about 15 demands the TTP has reportedly made for talks with the government, he said, “We do not disagree with the demands being attributed to us in the media. However, we have is-

CMYK

sued no such information to the media.” The Taliban’s position has been communicated to the government through a committee led by radical cleric Samiul Haq, he said. The TTP wants the peace process to succeed even though previous talks failed because of the government’s “non-seriousness and foreign pressure”, he claimed. “If these talks fail, the government will obviously try to launch a military operation. But we have been tested before and passed such phases with success dozens of times,” he said.

Asked about the TTP’s defeat at the hands of the Pakistani Army in Swat Valley, Shahid claimed the militants were not defeated as they had not lost their capability to fight for Sharia.

Mullah Fazlullah, the current head of the TTP, hails from Swat.

He fled from the region to Afghanistan when the military operation was launched in 2009 to flush out militants.

TALKS WITH TALIBAN WITHIN CONSTITUTION, MINISTER TELLS SENATE g

Rehman says govt sincerely pursuing talks with militants ISLAMABAD APP

The Senate was informed Tuesday that there is no confusion on addressing the issue of terrorism and the government is seriously pursuing dialogue with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “The government is not confused. It has clarity in its stance that dialogue will be held within the ambit of the constitution. Dialogue is our first priority as mandated by all political parties,” State Minister for Interior Baleeghur Rehman told the House in his winding up speech on law and order situation in the country. The members from across the divide thoroughly discussed the issue on a motion moved by Senator Raza Rabbani and recorded their opinions on the ongoing law and order situation in the country. “The government is sincere in its efforts. There is no weakness. Dialogue is the first option and the government will only go for other option once this option is fully exhausted,” the minister said. About the situation in Sindh and Balochistan, he said the situation is improving in both the provinces in wake of the wise policies of the government and the Sindh chief minister has himself acknowledged a 40 percent decline in criminal activities in the province especially in Karachi. He said law and order is exclusively a provincial matter but the federal government is facilitating the provinces in this regard. He said the National Security Policy has been approved and it will soon be implemented as a whole. The partial implementation of the policy, he said, had also started generating desired results.

US WEIGHS DRONE STRIKE AGAINST AMERICAN IN PAKISTAN: REPORT WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The US government is debating whether to kill an American citizen abroad who is allegedly part of the al Qaeda network and plotting attacks against the United States, media reported Monday. President Barack Obama’s administration is weighing the possible drone strike against the American who is Pakistan, CNN television reported, citing an unnamed US official. The identity of the American al Qaeda militant and his location remain secret, as officials fear revealing that information would lead him to go deeper into hiding and derail a potential drone missile strike. US intelligence agencies and the Pentagon declined to comment on the reports. Under new guidelines handed down by Obama last May, a decision to use lethal force against an American overseas has to be based on “a continuing, imminent threat to US persons” and only if capturing the terror suspect is “not feasible.” According to the media reports, two officials said the American was an al Qaeda operative who has been directly responsible for attacks against US citizens abroad and who continues to plan attacks using homemade bombs. The Justice Department reportedly was still working to build a case against the American al Qaeda member, which would be required for any decision to go ahead. The new rules for drone strikes came in for criticism last week from the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike Rogers of Michigan, who accused the administration last week of undermining counter-terrorism efforts.

04 NEWS

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

US CONSIDERS WAITING ON AFGHAN SECURITY DEAL UNTIL KARZAI LEAVES Revised plan would allow us militaRy to accommodate having eitheR 10,000 tRoops in afghanistan afteR 2014 oR an oRdeR to Remove all the tRoops by the end of the yeaR WASHINGTON

F

AGENCIES

RUSTRATED about prospects of getting Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a long-term security deal, the United States is considering waiting until he leaves office before completing the pact and deciding on a troop presence beyond 2014, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

“If he’s not going to be part of the solution, we have to have a way to get past

PAKISTANI-BORN IMAM CHARGED IN AUSTRALIA OVER CHILD MARRIAGE SYDNEY: A Pakistani-born Islamist cleric was Tuesday charged in Australia with conducting an illegal marriage between a 26year-old man and a 12-year-old girl. It follows the arrest of a Lebanese national, the “husband”, last week on child sex offences. Police said the imam was arrested in Sydney on Monday afternoon by the Child Abuse Squad and charged with solemnisation of a marriage by an unauthorised person. He was granted strict conditional bail to appear in court on April 2. Last week police revealed that the Lebanese man, in Australia on a student visa, met a 12-yearold girl in the Hunter region north of Sydney in 2013 and allegedly became involved in a sexual relationship with her. The pair then allegedly moved to Sydney where they continued the relationship, with police claiming the man and child were married in an Islamic ceremony earlier this year. While child marriages remain prevalent in parts of the world, in Australia 18 is the minimum age to tie the knot. The “husband” has been charged with 25 counts of sexual intercourse with a child between 10 and 14 years and remains in custody. Police have not laid charges against the parents of the girl, but investigations are continuing, police said. AGENCIES

PAK CITIZEN NABBED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING IN SRI LANKA COLOMBO INP

A Pakistani national was arrested at Srilanka’s main international airport for attempting to smuggle heroin concealed inside 12 oranges, an official said on Tuesday. Srilankan Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini told reporters that the authorities had arrested the 64-year-old suspect at the arrival terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport on Tuesday morning. The suspect had arrived from Karachi and had concealed about one kilogram of heroin inside 12 out of 70 oranges that were carried as part of his luggage. The drug was first packed in polythene bags before being stuffed inside the oranges. The heroin is estimated to be worth Rs1,000,000.

MILITARY PLANE CRASHES IN ALGERIA, 103 DEAD ALGIERS AGENCIES

A military transport plane crashed in eastern Algeria on Tuesday, killing 103 people, local television channel Ennahar TV said, citing “informed sources”. The plane crashed in a mountainous area in the Oum El Bouaghi province, the report added. The C-130 Hercules aircraft, which was flying to the eastern city of Constantine crashed “in poor weather conditions” around 500 kilometres east of the capital, Algerian radio said. The plane was carrying 99 passengers – soldiers and their families – as well as four crew members, the source said. “There were no survivors,” the source added.

him,” the Journal quoted a senior US official as saying. “It’s a pragmatic recognition that clearly Karzai may not sign the (deal) and that he doesn’t represent the voice of the Afghan people.”

The White House, asked about the report, said it was standing by its previous comments on the issue. The United States would like to leave more than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan for counter terrorism and training of Afghan forces after US forces formally withdraw at the end of this year following a 13-year mission in Afghanistan begun after the Sept. 11, 2001,

attacks. But Karzai has refused so far to sign a bilateral security agreement that Washington insists must be approved before it will agree to leave the troop contingent behind.

The White House says that in the absence of a bilateral agreement, all US forces will withdraw at the end of the year,and that a decision by Karzai is needed within weeks Karzai has called that an empty threat and suggested any security deal could wait until after the April elections.

NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said earlier this month that Karzai was unlikely to sign a pact and would probably leave the choice for his successor. The Journal said the revised schedule for drawing down troops was based on a plan presented by the Pentagon in January that involves keeping 10,000 US troops in Afghanistan

after this year at a limited number of bases.

The plan would draw down those troops in two years and enable the removal of all US troops by the end of President Barack Obama’s second term in early 2017, other than military personnel at the US Embassy, the Journal said, citing officials. According to the Journal, the revised plan would allow the US military to accommodate having either 10,000 troops in Afghanistan after 2014 or an order to remove all the troops by the end of the year.

The top US military officer, General Martin Dempsey, told reporters last December that the US military could wait months for a political decision on whether troops remain in Afghanistan or leave, but that delaying a security pact would damage the confidence of Afghan forces and undermine NATO’s plans.

CJP DIRECTS NABTO HOLD INQUIRY AGAINST ZAKA ASHRAF ISLAMABAD: The chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) has directed the National Accountability Burau (NAB) chairman to hold an enquiry against former chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf on the complaint of Islam Khan, senior vice president (SVP) of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL).

Islam Khan had filed complaints against Ashraf in the Human Rights Cell of the SC and in NAB. Earlier, the Supreme Court and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were requested to probe alleged corruption charges against Ashraf when he wasthe

UAE TO USE DRONES F OR GOVERNMENT SERVICES DUBAI AGENCIES

The United Arab Emirates says it plans to use unmanned aerial drones to deliver official documents and packages to its citizens as part of efforts to upgrade government services.

The wealthy Gulf state is known for its showmanship, it boasts the tallest skyscraper in the world, and its love of high-technology gadgets. The drone project appears to satisfyboth interests. “The UAE will try to deliver its government services through drones. This is the first project of its kind in the world,” Mohammed alGergawi, a minister of cabinet affairs, said on Monday as he displayed a prototype developed for the government. The battery-operated vehicle, about half a metre across, resembles a butterfly with a top compartment that can carry small parcels. Coloured white and enblazoned with the UAE flag, it is propelled by four rotors.

Local engineer Abdulrahman Alserkal, who designed the project, said fingerprint and eye-recognition security systems would be used to

protect the drones and their cargo.

Gergawi said the drones would be tested for durability and efficiency in Dubai for six months, before being introduced across the UAE within a year. Services would initially include delivery of identity cards, driving licences and other permits.

Proposals for the civilian use of drones have run into practical difficulties elsewhere in the world. In December Amazon.com Inc chief executive Jeff Bezos said his company planned to deliver goods to millions of customers with a fleet of drones, but safety and technical issues mean the plan is unlikely to become a reality in the United States this decade, engineers say. The UAE drone programme faces similar obstacles, plus temperatures which often exceed 40 degrees Centigrade in summer and heavy sandstorms which occasionally sweep across the desert country. “Within a year from now we will understand the capabilities of the system and what sort of services, and how far we can deliver. Eventually a new product will be launched across all the country,” Gergawi said.

president of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) and chairman of the PCB. Khan had lodged the complaint requesting investigations into the former president’s foreign bank accounts, besides others. According to the complainant, Ashraf was only a matriculate but had secured Islamabad Club’s membership showing himself as a graduate.

He said that Ashraf’s degree was proven fake in the Islamabad High Court. The complainant alleged that Ashraf was also involved in corruption of billions of rupees and the matter should be investigated through the Federal Investigation

OVER 100 GET PROMOTED TO GRADES 20 AND 21

Agency (FIA) and the NAB. As the ZTBL president, he also appointed more than 1,000 persons illegally and purely on political basis ignoring the merit, the complainant alleged. He claimed that as PCB chairman, Ashraf also appointed 68 persons on lucrative salaries, majority of whom did not relate to the posts. Islam Khan requested the NAB to initiate enquiry against Ashraf and other responsible officials, including ZTBL’s Executive Vice President (EVP) (Legal) Chaudhry Imtiaz and EVP (Recovery) Khalid Mehmood Gill for causing losses to the bank. APP

us releases second tranche oF $352m csF

ISLAMABAD INP

The Central Selection Board (CSB) on the first day of its meeting gave approval for the promotion of over 100 officers from grade 19 to grade 20 and to grade 21.

From the Information Group, Principal Information Officer Rao Tehseen Ali Khan and Sheraz Latif, columnist of DMG group Orya Jan Maqbool and Press Secretary to Prime Minister Mohiuddin Wani have been promoted from grade 20 to grade 21. Forty five officers of the DMG group were promoted from grade 20 to 21 whereas 25 others were promoted from grade 19 to 20. The board also promoted 11 officers of the Police Service from grade 20 to 21. Beside five officers of the Secretariat group were given promotion from grade 20 to 21.

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The United States has released second tranche of $352 million out of a total of $1.4 billion Coalition Support Funds (CSF) that Pakistan is budgeted to receive during the current fiscal year.

This was revealed by US Ambassador Richard Olson in a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday.

According to Finance Ministry, the ambassador assured Dar that the remaining amount will be disbursed as soon as possible.

Pakistan had hoped to receive the second tranche in December last year. US released the second tranche after Pakistan repaid 27th installment of $147 million to International Monetary Fund (IMF) as per the arranged programme. The releases were on account of expenses that Pakistan incurred during the period of January-March 2013. For the current fiscal year, Pakistan has budgeted $1.4 billion on account of CSF disbursements. The money that the country spends on defense and logistics while rendering services in global war against terrorism is later on disbursed by the US under the CSF.

SC seeks record of govt employees appointed during general elections ISLAMABAD ONLINE

Justice Azmat Saeed, while taking up the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petition for verification of thumb impressions in four constituencies for hearing on Tuesday, remarked how PTI could declare the entire general elections non-transparent by proving rigging in four constituencies.

A three-member bench of Supreme Court (SC) headed by CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani was hearing the case. PTI Chairman Imran Khan was also present in the court. Justice Azmat further remarked, “The PTI efforts in respect of four constituencies don’t cover the entire general polls.” Justice Khilji remarked, “The power to hear the matter rests with election tribunals. If rigging is proved in the said constituencies, the court will have to give more orders.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tas-

saduq Hussain Jillani, while declaring the ECP-reply on non-availability of federal government employees for performing duty in the elections unsatisfactory, remarked “If the allegations of rigging leveled by the PTI are accepted as correct, even then they will have to resort to Election Tribunal as per law”. Hamid Khan, Counsel for the PTI, presented his arguments in the court, with details of the four constituencies. The CJP remarked, “The ECP held separate hearings with reference to the constituencies of Lahore and Multan”. Are you aware of it, the CJP inquired.

When Hamid Khan replied in the affirmative, the CJP remarked that the tribunal comments had not reached the court.

Justice Azmat remarked that the tribunal had said it could not hear the petition without evidence. The tribunal should have heard you, he further remarked.

Hamid Khan said “We have come here to talk of about the four constituencies’. Jus-

CMYK

tice Azmat remarked “When evidence is available, why are you confining yourself to four constituencies. Investigation into the four constituencies was a futile exercise after the larger picture had come into light. All should have been challenged”.

Hamid Khan said, “his case falls under the decision of Pakistan workers party case.

Therefore, his case be decided according to this case”.

The court remarked “You wanted decision from the tribunal of your choice, therefore, the matter was referred to the ECP. The matter was referred by ECP to another tribunal”. Hamid Khan said the ECP should have held elections in a transparent manner. These polls were a joke.

No monitoring was conducted. The PMLN candidates committed flagrant breach of the limit of expenses set by ECP. Justice Khilji Arif remarked, “This was to be done by the ECP during the elections.

Now the elections have ended”. The CJP

remarked that all the allegations leveled by the counsel for the PTI may be correct.

“You could get relief by filing petition under 225. You have filed petitions,” he said. Hamid Khan said “The ECP did not hold elections keeping in view the court’s decision”.

Justice Khilji remarked, “We may say that it should not be repeated so in future, but not nothing can be done now.” How can we declare wrong what they have already done, he questioned. Hamid Khan said “We don’t want to nullify the entire election. We only want review and comparison of the four constituencies. This will clear if rigging had taken place or otherwise’. Justice Azmat remarked, “How can you review the entire election by talking of four constituencies”. Justice Khilji remarked “If the result of the said constituencies says that rigging had taken place, what will happen next. We will have to issue some order then”.

NEWS 05

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

MISSING PERSONS CASE

NO COMPROMISE OVER BASIC RIGHTS, OBSERVES SC ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Justice Jawwad S Khawaja on Tuesday remarked that the fundamental rights of the people will not be compromised upon.

He made the comment while heading a threemember bench of Supreme Court (SC) hearing the review petition filed by the Defence Ministry against the apex court’s decision of December 2013 in Mohabbat Shah Case with reference to 35 missing persons from Malakand. Additional Attorney General (AAG) Shah Khawar appeared before the court on behalf of federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and told the bench that the federal government had filed review petition against December, 10, 2013 verdict of SC. He further said that a Civil Misc. Application (CMA) has also been filed but number has not been marked over it. The bench ruled the office to mark the number over the CMA. Mohabbat Shah also appeared in the court during the course of hearing. The court separated the review case from original case while issuing notice to Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt. The court hearing was adjourned until Thursday. ONLINE

31 BRIGADIERS PROMOTED AS MAJOR GENERALS RAWALPINDI: The Corps Commanders’ Conference chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif gave approval of promotion of 31 brigadiers to the rank of major general on Tuesday. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the two-day-long conference, which started on Monday, was part of routine monthly meetings and the forum dwelt at length on various professional matters. The second day of the conference was devoted to the promotion board from the rank of brigadier to the rank of major general. The 31 brigadiers who got promotion include Brig Hasnat, Brig Azhar Saleh, Brig Abdullah Dogar, Brig Abid Mumtaz, Brig Qaiser, Brig Shahid Kiyani, Brig Asif Artillary, Brig Aziz, Brig Mehmood, Brig Jamil, Brig Moazzam, Brig Farhan, Brig Shahzad Naeem, Brig Majid, Brig Amir Abbasi, Brig Zafarul Haq, Brig Azhar Naveed, Brig Zafarullah, Brig Asim Muneer, Brig Fida, Brig Ahsan, Brig Khalil Dar, Brig Tariq Qudus, Brig Shahzad, Brig Shahzad, Brig Khalid Najam, Brig Iftikhar Pervez, Brig Saleem Jehangir, Brig Najam-us-Saqib and Brig Tariq Pervez. INP

QUETTA: A vendor displays solar energy panels at his shop. INP

Key militant commander arrested in swat PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

Security forces arrested key local militant commander Umarzada alias Dildar from the Galiga area of Swat’s Matta tehsil.

In a statement, the office of Khyber Paktunkhawa Inspector General of Police said security forces also recovered 13 detonators and 15 cartridges from Dildar’s possession. The militant commander’s father Bacha Gul was already in police custody. In a separate incident in Peshawar’s Sarband area, security forces arrested 27 suspects and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession along with a vehicle with bogus paperwork. Both areas are situated in northwest Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which has seen countless terrorist attacks over the past several years — many of them targeting security officials. The Pakistani Taliban, who have been waging a bloody insurgency against the state, routinely target police and security forces and it is not clear whether with the ongoing developments in negotiations with the government, the militants would stop their attacks.

THREE ‘TERRORISTS’ KILLED BY OWN BOMB DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Three suspected terrorists were killed in an explosion in the Kolachi area of Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday. The three suspects were reportedly planting explosive material on a roadside in Bacha Khan, Kolachi when the bomb blew up, killing them on the spot. INP

FIA REVEALS RS470M ASSETS OF CDA EX-CHAIRMAN ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has dug out assets worth Rs 470 million of Capital Development Authority (CDA) former chairman Farkhad Iqbal during investigation. Farkhand was arrested on charges of corruption in the civic authority’s irregularities in plots during his tenure as the CDA chairman. The assets recently unearthed by the FIA included property worth Rs 55 million in the name of Farkhand’s wife and other valuable properties owned by his son. INP

FAMILY FEARS FOR ‘DISAPPEARED’ ANTI-DRONE ACTIVIST g

Karim Khan’s lawyer says he’s pinning his hopes on public pressure to force govt to release his client RAWALPINDI

T

AGENCIES

HE family of an allegedly kidnapped anti-drone campaigner spoke on Tuesday of their fears for his safety, as his lawyer accused the government of wanting to make an example of him.

Kareem Khan was picked up by the security forces from his home in Rawalpindi on February 5, according to his legal team, just days before he was due to testify before three European parliaments. The freelance journalist was also fighting a legal case in which he had named both the CIA’s former station chief and the

government of Pakistan for their roles in the US drone programme in the country’s tribal areas.

Khan’s brother-in-law Dil Bar Jan, who lodged a police report over the disappearance, said the family was very worried about what would happen to him. “We haven’t done anything that is anti-state, nor do any of us have bad intentions towards

anyone,” he said. “We’re from an educated family, we’re all government employees, I myself am a teacher. We can’t think of doing something wrong.”

A court has asked police to produce Khan, who is in his fifties, on Wednesday. His lawyer Shahzad Akbar said he was pinning his hopes on public pressure to force the government to release him. “This is a completely illegal disappearance, which means some kind of pressure is being applied through his disappearance to the other drone victims,” Akbar said.

The lawyer said he was becoming increasingly concerned for Khan, whose son and brother were killed in a US drone strike in 2009. “Normally if someone is picked up they are held a few days and they come back, so every passing moment makes it less likely,” he said. Khan’s 18-year-old-son and brother were killed when a drone missile struck a gathering in North Waziristan on December 31 2009.

BANK ALFALAH AND UNITED MOBILE JOIN HANDS TO BENEFIT CUSTOMERS KARACHI: Bank Alfalah, Pakistan’s largest issuer and acquirer of credit cards has recently joined hands with United Mobile on a strategic alliance to benefit its credit card customers across Pakistan. The signing ceremony was held in Karachi and was attended by Mr. Ashraf Machiyara, Director & CEO (United Mobile), Mr Ejaz Hassan, Director Marketing United Mobile, Mr Aly Mustansir, Bank Alfalah’s Chief Marketing Officer and Mr Shahzad Ishaque, Bank Alfalah’s Head of Consumer Finance amongst others. As part of this collaboration, United Mobile will offer its complete range of Voice smart mobile devices and feature phones to Bank Alfalah’s credit card members on six to twelve month installment plans, with zero percent mark up. This is yet another effort by the Bank to provide its customers with unique privileges, enhanced access and bespoke benefits which add value and convenience to their lives. As part of this alliance, Bank Alfalah credit card customers will also be enrolled in a raffle draw every month, making them eligible to win a free mobile phone by United Mobile. PRESS RELEASE

PAKISTANIELITESPENDINGMILLIONSONARMOUREDVEHICLES With an increase in incidents of violence and kidnapping, Pakistan’s elite class is spending millions buying armoured vehicles that can withstand shots fired from assault rifles and bomb attacks.

Analysts say armoured vehicles is the natural progression after turning private residences into fortresses with armed security personnel on guard round the clock. “The business has gone up in the last 2-3 years.

Armoured cars are used by various politicians,

businessmen and top officials,” a senior executive of the international armoured vehicle maker Streit Group told Indian new agency, Press Trust of India. Streit Group, which is said to be the world’s largest armoured vehicle manufacturer, has set up a facility in Karachi and gets orders of about five vehicles every month. According to industry sources, the cost of upgrading a normal sedan or an SUV can cost between Rs 40 lakhs to Rs 60 lakhs depending on the level of

safety features. This is over and above the initial cost of the car and the favourite here remains the Toyota SUVs. However, seeing the demand, it is feared that many factories have sprung up without any licenses. The Interior Ministry has said that such conversions are “totally illegal”. The ministry spokesperson, in a statement, “warned the general public against the activities of such companies which are not authentic and are operating illegally”. He said that level of safety in such converted

CMYK

vehicles is not guaranteed and rather can put precious lives in danger. He said that Ministry of Interior will take action against the companies involved “in this illegal business extorting huge money from their customers”. Ministry sources told PTI that every person who wants to get an armoured vehicle will first have to get a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from them which is given after a full review of threat perception. Sources say issuance of such NOCs is negligible, especially in the

tenure of current Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The elite in Pakistan earlier mostly used imported bullet-proof cars. As per official figures, 155 individuals imported bulletproof cars after paying duties and taxes during the last five years. Almost all embassies and high commissions in Pakistan use a fleet of armoured vehicles. At least 41 bullet-proof vehicles were imported duty free by various embassies in the last five years. NEWS DESK

06 ISLAMABAD

WEATHER UPDATES WEDNESDAY

150C 020C

THURSDAY

150C 050C

FRIDAY

130C 040C

SATURDAY

140C 030C

Wednesday, 12 February 2014

PrAyEr TImINgs FAJR

SUNRISE ZUHR

ASR

MAGHRIB ISHA

5:31

6:54

3:26

5:49

12:22

7:13

VISION POLLUTION? Decision taken to remove jumbo sign boards from Murree road RAWALPINDI: Decision has been taken to remove all jumbo sigh boards from Murree road before inauguration of Metro bus project on February, 21. A major operation under senor tax inspector of city district government will be conducted in this regard. Police and employees of TMA, Rawal town and RDA will participate in this operation.

DCO Rawalpindi Sajid Zafar has given green signal to carry out this operation. Action plan evolved by senior tax inspector Sajid Nasir was approved in a high level meeting.

The experts had declared sign boards a major impediment on the way to metro bus project; therefore district government has become active to remove these sign boards.

The sources said that the bus terminals which were built one and an half year earlier on Murree road will also be removed. ONLINE

LET’S MAKE PEACE International Peace Festival 2014 today ISLAMABAD: Institute of Peace and Diplomacy and The Diplomatic Insight will jointly organize an event to mark the International day of Peace here on February 12. The event titled "International Peace Festival 2014" will be arranged at National Library building with the theme "Education and Connection for Peace" to commemorate international day of Peace in September. According to the organizer, the event is meant to provide platform to individuals, groups, National NGOs, International NGOs, UN agencies, Diplomatic Missions and Institutes, working for the promotion of peace and tolerance in Pakistan to share their experiences, best practices, ideas amongst themselves and to the public for the better exposure and publicity. This opportunity will also provide the participating organizations to come together and find ways to supplement their knowledge. People from different walks of life are invited in the event. APP

NATHIAGALI: Children play in the snow on Tuesday. ONLINE

Say yeS to woman power NATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY BEING OBSERVED TODAY ISLAMABAD

n

APP

ATIONAl Women Day will be observed on February 12 to mark the struggle against a series of `anti-women' laws.

This day in 1983, a group of women had forwarded a petition to the lahore High Court Chief Justice as a protest against the discriminatory Zina and Hudood ordinances. The

peaceful protestors faced violent attacks from the police and were put behind the bars. The march catapulted women's rights issues onto the national scene. In memory of that incident February 12 is observed every year as a day to highlight sufferings of women.

This year a number of events are being organized on the day, including workshops, seminars, discussion forums, painting and photo exhibitions, walks etc. to highlight plight of women and the challenges being faced by them.

Talking to APP here on Tuesday, Executive Director Sisters Organization, Rehana Hashmi, said Pakistan had passed a number of legislation to protect women

SPEAKER SUPPORTS WOMEN’S ACTIVE PARTICIPATION FOR NATIONAL UPLIFT

WATER SUPPLY FROM KHANPUR DAM CUT SHORT RAWAIPINDI: Water supply has been reduced to half to Rawalpindi city and cantt and Islamabad due to desalination of Khan Pur dam canal. Cantt Board sources said desalination campaign will continue for three days. The consumers have been directed to use water in minimum quantity during this campaign.

CDA has started desalination work in the canal flowing from Khanpur dam to Sangjani filtration plant and repair work at certain points of canal is also continuing.

Rawalpindi cantt is being supplied water 5 million gallon against prescribed quota of 9 million gallons daily. The desalination campaign will continue till February, 13. Therefore, water supply will stand curtailed to 50 percent for 6 days as the canal will take 3 more days in its filling process. O N L I N E

rights, but still a proper mechanism was to be devised for their implementation.

She said with the pivotal role and endeavour of women politicians, rights activists and civil society, women had been able to get many slots in national and provincial assemblies, which was encouraging.

Their contribution in the parliamentary business was remarkable. "For the last 12 to 13 years, Pakistan is going through extraordinary circumstances due to war on terror and other challenges.

However, despite all odds, major steps have been taken to secure women rights", she added. She said due to lack of awareness and illiteracy, women of rural

ISLAMABAD INP

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker National Assembly, Tuesday said women’s participation is pivotal for sustainable development.

He said no society can grow unless it encourages its women to play their role in its development as active partners. In his message on the National Women Day being observed throughout

Pakistan on Wednesday, Ayaz Sadiq said we are committed to emancipate women and protect them from all kinds of exploitation and discrimination. In this struggle, we are inspired by the teachings of our religion, the dictates of our Constitution and the vision of our founding father Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

He said that Pakistani women are among the most resilient among the womenfolk in the world as they have

CMYK

faced the rigours of wars, unprecedented floods and other natural calamities. “Our rural women are a major contributor to the national economy and playing their appreciable role in elevating the status of their households through hard work. They continue to be powerful metaphor of courage and hope in the face of heavy odds and challenges” he added.

He said that provision of basic health facilities and education to women is the top priority of the government. The Speaker admired that the female MNAs showed keen interest in the legislative business with their male colleagues during sessions of the National Assembly. He said Women Parliamentary Caucus in the National Assembly proposed several amendments based on gender equality and contributed with their active participation in different Bills and Acts like “The National Commission on the Status of Women Bill, 2012” and “The Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010”.

The Speaker said that it is our national duty to protect the interests of women and provide them equal opportunities. Acknowledging the active participation of women in Pakistan, he said that, today women in Pakistan are active in the fields of education, economy, health, social welfare, business and law including police, army, air force and other traditional and non-traditional fields.

areas did not know these laws. The women working in fields were still facing a number of hardships. So it was time to focus on establishing a concrete strategy for implementation of these laws and get their trickle-down effects at the grassroots level.

Executive Director, Potohar Organization for Developing Advocacy, Samina Nazir said economic empowerment of women was not possible without a conducive working environment and security was the main issue in that regard. She said until and unless the women felt protected and had free mobility, they could not contribute to national development according to their potential.

BECAUSE PM WON’T LET CANCER HURT MORE PEOPLE PM for promoting scientific cooperation for treatment of cancer patients

ISLAMABAD ONLINE

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan will widen cooperation with the European Organization for Nuclear Research for treatment of cancer patients and clean energy. He said this while talking to a delegation of European Organization for Nuclear Research here on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said Pakistan is committed to cooperation with the international scientific community. He lauded the exchange of scientists‚ engineers and students with the organization. He said it would add to the knowledge and capabilities of our people. He said scientific research and modern technology are catalyst for economic development.

Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan is looking forward to becoming an associate member of the organization.

ISLAMABAD 07

Wednesday, 12 February 2014

ISLAMABAD: Motorists stand in a long queue to get their vehicles refilled at a CNG station at Sector G-9 on Tuesday. INP

Zaka won’t go that eaSy Ashraf’s removal challenged in IHC ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf’s removal was challenged in Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday by Multan Regional Cricket Association. PM Nawaz, the chief patron of PCB, dismissed the country's cricket board on Monday and appointed an ad-hoc committee to run the sport, replacing the Zaka Ashraf-led Governing Board. On Tuesday, a petition challenging the PCB head’s removal was filed by secretary of the Multan Regional Cricket Association, Ahmed Nawaz Khan who impleaded Secretary Sports and Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination in his petition. Ahmed Nawaz Khan stated that imposition of emergency in the board is tantamount to imposing the marital law. He prayed to the court to nullify the notification issued on PM’s orders. The petitioner has challenged the appointment of Najam Sethi as PCB chief. Sethi is now chairman of the 11-member adhoc committee. ONLINE

SuSpecteD thief DieS in police cuStoDy ict aDmin active to enSure Safety at petrol pumpS Petrol, CNG outlets lack fire fighting equipments, security ISLAMABAD APP

A number of petrol pumps and CNG filling stations in the Federal Capital have inadequate fighting equipments, security arrangements as required under the shops and security act.

To ensure implementation of shops and security act, the Administration of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) conducted surprise inspection of such petrol pumps and CNG filling stations in the city area.

It found a number of Petrol and CNG Stations were violating shops and security act, weight and measurement act, labour laws and inadequate fire fighting equipments.

According to detail, Assistant Commissioner (City) Islamabad Waqas Rashid carried out raids on various filling stations and imposed fines amounting to Rs.125,000.00 on their owners.

The petrol pumps which were challaned and imposed fines included Shell Aabpara, Rs. 20,000, PSO Melody, Rs.30,000, PSO Press Club, Rs.20,000, Caltex, Super Market, Rs.40,000 and Shell, Super Market, Rs. 15,000.

The Assistant Commissioner (City) directed the petrol pumps and filling station owners to ensure all the arrangements failing which stern action would be taken against the violators.

gaS iS back Gas pressure resumes for domestic customers in twin cities RAwALpInDI ONLINE

g

AS supply to Rawalpindi and Islamabad resumed on Tuesday after the 36 inch diameter pipeline was repaired in Rahim Yar Khan. According to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines limited (SNGPl) officials, domestic consumers in twin cities witnessed improved gas pressure after the gas pipeline of 36

inch diameter was repaired by the authority.

However, it is pertinent to mention that gas supply to commercial and industrial zone is still suspended. The SNGPl officials told that it will take 24 to 36 hours for the remaining repair work to complete and resume supply to the commercial and industrial zones in the capital and its adjoin city.

On Sunday night, a huge blaze broke out after a banned militant outfit bombed three main gas pipelines in Rahim Yar Khan that killed one woman.

Let us live till new law is made TRADERS APPEAL FOR HALT TO EVICTIONS TILL NEW RENT LAW IN ISLAMABAD ISLAMABAD INP

Senior vice president of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and Secretary Information of Traders Action Committee, Islamabad Khalid Chaudhry has appealed to Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif to issue orders for halting eviction of traders from shops till the promulgation of a balanced rent restriction act in Islamabad.

Khalid said this while addressing a meeting of local traders. He said before the elections, all parties had promised for the promulgation of a balanced rent control act in the federal capital on coming to power, however, eight months have passed and it is high time that the PMl-N government honour its promise.

an open baShing of merit ISLAMABAD: A case of nepotism at higher level has come to the fore as Chairman Senate Nayyer Hussain Bokhari has given a special allowance equal to one moth salary to 40 blue-eyed officers under his discretionary powers. This allowance was to be given the officials of Senate Secretariat who performed duties during Asian Parliamentary Conference held here from December 08-10 last year. According to reports, the officers who participated actively in Asian Parliamentary Conference were completely ignored and asked to keep quiet on the matter. Reports also revealed that many officials who did not perform significant duty in the conference were also awarded the allowance. INP

mamnoon SayS ni hao President to visit to China on Feb 18 ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain will begin a three-day official visit to China from the 18th of this month. During the visit‚ the president will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

He will also hold meetings with Premier li Keqiang and Chairman of Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhang Dejiang besides interacting with the senior officials and government functionaries. The second meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor will be held on 18th February during the president's visit. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal will lead Pakistan's delegation at the meeting. INP

Khalid Chaudhry said due to absence of rent control act, the local traders are facing great problems in running business as they always feel insecure due to fear of forced eviction. He said the new rent law is the need of the hour as it will establish peace and prove beneficial for both the parties.

He said in the previous government, law Ministry in consultation with all stakeholders had developed a consensus document of rent control act which was sent to the National Assembly after the approval of Federal Cabinet. However, it was unfortunate that the previous government could not arrange its enactment into a law from the parliament.

He said that document had also provided for the constitution of a Reconciliation Committee which was to settle all rent disputes and no landlord was to declare defaulter any tenant while right of appeal to the Supreme Court was also made available. He appealed to the prime minister to order halting all evictions of traders till the promulgation of a balanced rent control to ensure smooth growth of business activities.

DySfunctional Street lightS irkS reSiDentS ISLAMABAD APP

With the advent of evening, several parts of residential sectors and busy roads of capital sink into darkness owing to out of order streets lights, embarrassing the people traveling at night. Various areas of residential sectors including G-7, G-8, I-8, I-10, G-8 and main roads particularly Kashmir Highway plunging to darkness in evening, which annoying the people to reach homes safely. Many security-related incidents have been reported with people complaining about being robbed by unidentified persons, especially at nights. The situation further worsens with the non functional street lights on various roads of the capital, interrupt the flow of traffic that can lead to accidents. A resident of sector I-10, Imtiaz Ali told APP that street lights are permanently turned off since long. Another resident of G-7, Shahid said that street lights are not functioning on Kashmir Highway near Zero point for many weeks, which could increase the number of street crimes in the area. "We used to go out for a light walk along with kids after dinner, but now a days we stay home as there is dark in the street, which is not safe," said another resident of Sector G10. The residents have called for serious consideration for pressing this issue. When contacted, a Capital Development Authority (CDA) official said, that the authority is working efficiently to rectify the situation on the complaints of residents.

CMYK

ISLAMABAD: A suspected thief in custody of Kohsar Police was allegedly found dead in the washroom of the police station. Police officials said that Sabir Masih, a resident of a slum area in Sector F-6/2, was arrested by Kohsar police on February 5 in a theft case. Police officials claimed that on Tuesday morning Sabir went to the washroom and did not return after a long time. On checking, police found him dead. His dead body was shifted to Federal Government Services Hospital (Poly Clinic). Police said that he committed suicide by using his azarband however further investigation has been ordered by police high-ups into the matter. APP

08 COMMENT

Cocking a snook at the courts

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

The monkey business Talks with Taliban: At what cost?

A confident Sharif looks set for the battle royale

M

ian nawaz Sharif is at it again.

The inexorable itch to confront institutions has overtaken him once more. it is almost a matter of compulsion. This time the PM is beginning with the SC. He has already defied the courts thrice. The occasions provided him an opportunity to test the waters. a confident Sharif is now ready for the battle royale. The next move is likely to hit the apex court where it hurts most. after having several brushes with the SC, beginning with the scrapping of the GST increase and the apex court calling aviation advisor to the PM Shujaat azeem, which led the latter to resign, Sharif is now unhappy with an independent judiciary. Many think he ranted in favour of judiciary during 2008-12 only to keep the PPP under pressure. now that he is in power, he wants docile courts.

To proceed chronically, chairman naDRa and chairman PEMRa were dismissed in violation of law to appoint officers of government’s own choice. The courts restored them but the government forced naDRa chief to resign and withdrew powers of the PEMRa chief.

Similarly Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, Ch Zaka ashraf, appointed in 2011 and removed by iHC single-member bench in 2013, was restored by the iHC division bench. He was then again removed by Sharif acting as patron of the PCB while the federal government is in appeal against the verdict in SC. The three incidents amount to cocking a snook at the courts.

The naDRa chief Tariq Malik came under shadow when an Election Tribunal directed naDRa to verify the thumbprints in some of the Lahore constituencies where elections of important PML-n leaders were challenged by rivals. The naDRa chief’s family received threatening letters and phone calls to dissuade him from pursuing the enquiry. as Malik refused to oblige, Ch nisar promptly ordered his removal without any show-cause notice. Malik was, however, reinstated by iHC the next day. after a few days immense pressure through Fia and other agencies forced him to resign.

The PEMRa Chairman Rashid ahmad was similarly dismissed in violation of law.

The next day the iHC reinstated him.

Finally all powers were withdrawn from Rashid ahmad. Zaka ashraf who had been elected by the electoral board was removed by the prime minister through sheer tour de force despite the court having declared him a lawfully elected chairman.

The media is now abuzz with reports regarding the government preparing to introduce a constitutional amendment to reign in judiciary. it is maintained that PM is unhappy with independent judiciary for challenging the contentious decisions of the regime. The 18th and 19th amendments have given more powers to judicial committee than the parliamentary committee in the appointment of judges.

Sharif wants new amendments to tilt the balance in favour the parliamentary committee. Through this he hopes to be in position to pack the courts with judges of his choice. The judiciary which has struggled hard to gain independence is not likely to surrender it again.

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

Saleem a Sethi

D

ESPiTE reservations from different quarters, the first meeting of the negotiation committees was held on February 7 in what irfan Siddiqi described ‘a more than cordial’ atmosphere during which, according to him, both t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d Ta l i b a n committees (true to its critics’ description) seemed like one and the same. a ‘promising’ joint communique was also issued following the first round; promising because it consisted mostly of good recommendations – violent acts ‘should’ be stopped, talks ‘should’ be held within the framework of the constitution, a conducive atmosphere ‘should’ be created, etc – and not any commitments.

Many serious leaders and onlookers mistook the said statement as a serious official commitment from some serious stakeholders who were holding serious dialogue about some serious situation their country was faced with. imran Khan was one among those serious leaders who, while jumping before thinking on February 8, tried to open the eyes of those who held the ‘ u n f o u n d e d ’ v i e w t h a t Ta l i b a n wouldn’t agree to hold talks within the parameters of the constitution.

But it wasn’t a long wait for such wishful thinkers, who were fancying burying the dead body of terrorism in the tribal areas, to see the g h o s t o f Ta l i b a n i s a t i o n a n d terrorism rear its ugly head in the capital islamabad once again. Maulana abdul aziz, surrounded by gun-toting innocent students of whoknows-which-seminary, didn’t take even a couple of hours to clear any misconcept i o n a b o u t Ta l i b a n ’ s r e a l m o tives.

He very rudely awakened the simpletons a m o n g s t Ta l i b a n s y m p a t h i s e r s who were daydreaming that the misunderstood brothers will submit to the parameters of the constitution this time around. Late in the evening the same day (Feb 8), the official video statement of the TTP dashed the remaining hallucination/s of Mr Khan and his likes and “exposed those who had repeatedly s a i d i n t h e p a s t t h a t t h e Ta l iban terrorism was related to the…” american forces’ withdrawal from afghanistan and cessation to US drones’ attacks. Bad luck!

But to begin with, the composition of committees from both the sides had already given a fair glimpse of what the expected course of developments could be. What most of the observers feared was that this monkeys business, called peace negotiations, will multiply problems for the government and the armed

forces to establish the writ of the state. What will be the final outcome of these outlandish talks is not so difficult to guess but what this process has already done is something like this: 1) it has practically opened all the media to the terrorists and their supporters and sympathisers to propagate their inane ideology against t h e s t a t e w i t h i m p u n i t y.

2) it is compounding the prevailing confused narrative – look at imran Khan, for example.

3) The talks process is helping in mainstreaming terrorists and their causes.

4) The composition of both the committees has narrowed down the debate about the future of the state among different shades of the Right o n l y.

5) it is helping re-incarnate the Lal Masjid ghost – Maulana aziz sitting under the shadows of the guns, pledging disobedience to the state and its constitution in the full glare of the media in the heart of the capital.

These are but only some of the initial and more obvious negative ramifications of the talks process which the government has started in all earnest but which the other side still considers as a joke. a n d w h e t h e r Ta l i b a n t a k e i t a s joke or not, the government committee seems bent upon turning it into some gallows h u m o r.

First, it was none other than a government nominee, Rustam Shah Mehmand, who soon after his becoming the g o v e r n m e n t ’s c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r, d e m a n d e d o f t h e g o v e r n ment to ‘clarify’ its position r e g a r d i n g Ta l i b a n p r i s o n e r s , US forces’ withdrawal from afghanistan [sic], and Paki s t a n a r m y ’s p u l l o u t f r o m tribal areas. But as the euphoria about talks was running so high, nobody gave full attention to these shenanigans and both the committees went into this exploratory meeting. But the nation was in for some bigger surprises; the governm e n t ’s c o m m i t t e e a g r e e d t o restrict the scope and outcome of talks only to the troubled or ‘insurgency-affected areas’.

This was like a bombshell.

The first questions that came to mind were: What can be the definition of troubled areas?

Who is going to decide which the ‘insurgency-affected’ areas are? Why can’t any future peace agreement be about the whole of the country? Why can’t Sharia be good for the gander if it is good for the goose? and what will be the reaction of the people of the areas which the government – or whoever else – will ultimately declare as insurgencyhit to be handed over to more pious Muslims? as critics and independent political observers were yet contemplating to question this preposterous proposition and preparing to interpret it in a less damaging manner that it might be meaning north Wa z i r i s t a n , a b o l t c a m e , n o t from the blue but, but from the most respected and seemingly informed member of the g o v e r n m e n t ’s negotiations committee, Mr Rahimullah Yo u s a f z a i . H e s a i d t h a t t h e phrase meant ‘tribal area and Malakand Division’ because these areas were largely considered to be associated with

CMYK

the militancy problem. Kudos, Rahimullah sahib, kudos! if what the respected journalist said reflects even an iota of the g o v e r n m e n t ’s thinking then it is clear that it has reached the conclusion that the state is unable to establish its writ beyond River indus and has decided to surr e n d e r t h o s e t e r r i t o r i e s t o Ta l iban in the garb of peace talks; and to give away what the army had won from the terrorists after great sacrifices. But why and how does it mean so? it is because in many of the tribal agencies the military has made substantial dents in the militants’ dominance and stranglehold. Translating ‘insurgency-affected’ areas into the whole of tribal areas is akin to throwing the won areas back into the lap of terrorists, thus giving them greater leverage and advantage than what can be physically claimed by them.

Then there is the curious case of Swat which is an altog e t h e r d i f f e r e n t s t o r y. i n c l u d ing Malakand Division into the list of troubled areas factually means surrendering to the terrorists on the table what the army literally won on the battlefield through force and after rendering of great sacrifices by both the military personnel and civilian population.

Keeping aside the negative propaganda of the religious parties and PTi, Swat today is the most peaceful and secure place in the whole of Pakistan. if it cannot be handed over to civilians comp l e t e l y, i t i s not that military operation was not successful or that military action is not a solution to the religious terrorism phenomenon; it is because Swat has become a symbol of victory and defeat for the armed f o r c e s a n d Ta l iban respectively and, given a chance, Fazlullah-led TTP will make it a point to show to Pakistanis and the world as a whole that Pakistan army has failed and that military operations are no panacea f o r m i l i t a n c y. F u r t h e r m o r e , Swat still exists in a muddier pool which the government has not yet cleansed and it needs to be protected till the surroundings are cleared. n o w, i n c l u d i n g M a l a k a n d Division in the scope of current peace talks on the pretext that it was the area which was once associated with the insurgency problem (or that is w h a t R a h i m u l l a h Yo u s a f z a i thinks) is not only presenting t h e s a m e t o Ta l i b a n o n a p l a t ter when they themselves have not asked for it, it will also bring in more areas into the troubled areas’ list, like Pe-

s h a w a r, f o r e x a m p l e . D o e s i t need any elaboration why Peshawar can’t be excluded from that fanciful categorisation of insurgency-affected a r e a s ? B u t f r a n k l y, h o w m u c h body-count, how much sava g e r y a n d h o w m u c h V i P ’s heads are required for any tribal or settled place to be included in that list of areas w h i c h t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s n e g o tiations committee desires to hand over to the terrorists for good? it seems the present government has reached the conclusion that the state cannot establish its writ in KP and tribal areas. nor can it retake its territories or protect its people. and any effort in that direction can jeopardise peace and tranquility in the Punjab.

S o , l e t ’s h a v e a f a r c e t h r o u g h which sovereignty can be shared with religious thugs in a seemingly face-saving circumstance.

But the farce has already g o n e t o o f a r. i t h a s d a m a g e d the government position already as in public perception the other side is fighting for the glory of islam. Continuation of the talks further will help the terrorists’ narrative make deeper inroads into society in the disguise of imposition of Sharia. it will help the Lal Masjid hooligans to let all hell break loose on the capital on much greater scale than what we saw last time – a glimpse of it can be seen in the video clips of the media talk of abdul aziz on February 8. and it will encourage the people in future to openly pledge disobedience to the state and stand in revolt against it.

Tw o c l e r i c s have succeeded in reaching out in 12 days to the ‘unknown’ terrorists which the state and its entire security apparatus failed to find a clue to in 12 long years.

Ta l i b a n comm i t t e e m e m b e r s , J i ’s M o h a m m a d i b r a h i m a n d J U i - S ’s M a u l a n a Yo u s a f S h a h , r e a c h e d an ‘undisclosed location’ in n o r t h Wa z i r i s t a n a g e n c y o n Saturday for an overnight stay and held talks with the syndic a t e o f e v i l , a k a t h e Ta l i b a n Shoora. it is hoped that secret agencies have resisted the temptation of trailing them this time too because that can derail the negotiation process and the nation can lose an unprecedented opportunity to capitulate without violence and acquire peace in return.

If what the respected journalist said reflects even an iota of the government’s thinking then it is clear that it has reached the conclusion that the state is unable to establish its writ beyond River Indus and has decided to surrender those territories to Taliban in the garb of peace talks; and to give away what the army had won from the terrorists after great sacrifices. But why and how does it mean so?

S a leem A S eth i is a freelance columnist and political analyst associated with a Pashto TV news channel. He can be rea ch ed at: sethisaleem1@gmail.com.

WORLD VIEW 09

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

THE SWISS VOTE FOR ISOLATIONISM Wall sTreeT Journal Swiss voters narrowly approved an antiimmigration ballot measure Sunday. The margin was thin, 50.3%, but the effects could be wide-ranging and damaging. Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but agreements with Brussels allow for the free movement of labor between the republic and the union, along with passport- and visa-free travel.

Now Bern has three years to translate the will of the Swiss majority into law, while at the same time working out with the EU what Sunday's vote means for EU-Swiss relations. The referendum didn't spell out specific limits on immigration, so it will be up to the government, which opposed the referendum, to set the caps in accordance with the vote. EU officials are not pleased with the Swiss, and at least some in the European Parliament are threatening retaliation through possible trade sanctions. Half of Swiss exports go to the EU, by which Switzerland is almost entirely surrounded.

Switzerland may appear to be a land of international bankers and tony ski resorts.

But it's also a mountainous, fiercely independent and sometimes-insular country that, not very many generations ago, lived largely cut off from its neighbors. Sunday's votes reflected that duality; there are still millions in Switzerland who would prefer to be left alone.

But the isolated Switzerland of the relatively recent past was also a much poorer country, and the nation's current prosperity is a product of its openness to trade with Europe and the rest of world. The multinationals that call Switzerland home could decamp if they can't employ the people they need to stay competitive, and Switzerland's businessfriendly reputation will be undermined if would-be employees can't get visas.

Meanwhile, antiimmigration politicians in the rest of Europe will be watching closely what happens next in Switzerland.

Britain is not part of the Schengen agreement that permits visa-free travel in the union, but it is in the EU and as such is required to allow free movement of EU citizens who want to work in Britain. The U.K. Independence Party would like to see that change, and if Switzerland can close its borders the calls for Britain to follow suit will get louder. The EU will have at least one eye on all this as it weighs how to respond to what the Swiss do next.

It's a credit to Swiss democracy that the country's leadership will feel bound by the results of the vote, however close it was and whatever side they were on before the vote. But a moreopen Switzerland is also likely to be successful and prosperous. We expect the Swiss in their wisdom will eventually come around to seeing the point.

Big money Backs

THE WRONG MAN IN INDIA

BloomBerg

T

Pankaj Mishra

HERE is a great, virtual storm blowing through India today, and the most frantic people in the country seem to be those trimming their sails to it. I refer to the shrewdly concerted campaign to make Narendra Modi seem like India’s natural and inevitable leader -- a veritable miracle worker who, emerging triumphant in elections due by May, will raise despondently low growth rates and restore the country’s pride and international reputation.

The chief minister of Gujarat is trailed by accusations of his complicity -- and that of his closest aides -- in the massacre of hundreds of Muslims in 2002, and barred, consequently, from travel to the U.S. It is far from clear if Modi can jettison India’s unique model of collaborative capitalism and unleash entrepreneurial energies in the stagnant manufacturing sector, let alone push through much-needed investments in infrastructure and agriculture.

Furthermore, three months is a long time in politics. The rise of Modi seems much less inevitable after the stunning performance of the Aam Aadmi (“Common Man”) Party in New Delhi state elections. Even a favorable recent poll puts Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party at least 80 seats short of a majority in the Indian Parliament; a BJP-led coalition may prove to be even more inefficient than the tottering regime under current Congress Party Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Nevertheless, Modi already seems to have been anointed in many moist eyes as India’s redeemer. The perception is a triumph of network power, involving chieftains of sec-

tarian religious groups, politically ambitious columnists and corporate-owned TV anchors as well as the public-relations firm APCO. Armies of cyberthugs rampaging through Twitter and the comment sections of online articles have synergistically contributed to it as much as the man himself with his superb oratory and admirable hair transplant.

No one seems to have more influence and prestige among Modi’s boosters, though, than India’s richest businessmen. As the Economist put it, “Private-equity types, blue-chip executives and the chiefs of India’s big conglomerates all think he can make the trains run on time.”

“If he says it will be done, it will be done,” Ratan Tata has asserted. At the Vibrant Gujarat business summit last year, Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, proclaimed, “In Narendra bhai [brother], we have a leader with a grand vision.” Ambani’s younger brother Anil added to the moment of fraternal bonding by hailing Modi as a “leader among leaders, a king among kings.”

It shouldn’t be hard to understand this cheerleading -- or, as the Economist put it, “creepy sycophancy.” For a long time foreign investors preferred China’s business-friendly environment -- easily acquired land, low wages, nonunionized labor -- over India’s inept and venal bureaucracies. Modi, whom I have described elsewhere as “the primary Indian exponent of capitalism with Chinese characteristics,” is adept at cutting through regulatory systems, seizing land, building infrastructure and offering other concessions to big industrialists.

It is not surprising that Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. have flocked to Gujarat, and that Tata has only praise for Modi.

The Hindu nationalist famously rescued Tata’s cherished small car (Nano) project from the intransigent fury of dispossessed farmers in West Bengal by texting him an invitation to build his factory in Gujarat.

But can we plausibly credit tycoons with political sagacity? Neither the trust-busting Republican Theodore Roosevelt nor the New Dealer Franklin Delano Roosevelt thought much of their collective wisdom. Confronted in the 1930s with the hostility of the American League, which Alfred Sloan Jr. of General Motors and members of the Du Pont family supported, FDR denounced what he called “selfish big business.” He warned the American public that large corporations were prone “to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs.”

Recent history shows that the tendency to seek profits wherever they are found, regardless of political circumstances, has consistently led to awful misjudgments. The modern technocrat is not trained to see that the ability to make trains run on time may be part of a much less commendable zeal for authoritarian control. As James W. Prothro noted in “The Dollar Decade: Business Ideas in the 1920s,” many American business leaders thought fascist Italy “the most creditable development in human history” and Mussolini, the original maestro of punctual trains, “a fine type of business executive.”

Scholarship has altered the Marxist cari-

cature of bloodthirsty capitalists bankrolling Hitler’s rise to power. But, as the American historian Fritz Stern has argued, businessmen in Germany “shared with other members of the German elite a nondemocratic bias, a remarkable degree of political illiteracy” and “a self-assured civic amorality.”

General Motors remained deeply invested in Germany’s heavily militaristic economy long after the Nazis had revealed their fangs.

In April 1939, Sloan, chairman of the GM board, summarized his political indifference in a letter to a stockholder: “To put the proposition rather bluntly, such matters should not be considered the business of the management of General Motors. … An international business operating throughout the world, should conduct its operations in strictly business terms, without regard to the political beliefs of its management, or the political beliefs of the country in which it is operating.”

As it turned out, what was good for General Motors was not good for America, or indeed the values of free societies everywhere.

“It is easy to see,” as the Economist has written, “why firms are drawn to pragmatism.”

But the purely pecuniary motive is not the same as sound political instinct. And shareholder value, even if boosted across several quarters, will not outweigh posterity’s damning judgment on all those guilty of a lethal abdication of moral responsibility.

Pankaj Mishra is the author of “From the Ruins of Empire: The Revolt Against the West and the Remaking of Asia” and a Bloomberg View columnist.

OBAMA’S SYRIA POLICY IS A DEADLY MISTAKE Financial Times Max Boot

A minor kerfuffle has broken out over whether, in a closed-door meeting with an American congressional delegation attending the Munich Security Conference during the first weekend of February, US secretary of state John Kerry acknowledged that the administration’s Syria policy was failing. Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham claim that he did; Mr Kerry’s spokeswoman, who was also present, denies it. Whatever the case, the underlying reality is undeniable – President Barack Obama’s Syria policy has failed.

At least 130,000 Syrian civilians have been killed and 9m more have been forced from their homes, making this arguably the worst human rights disaster since Rwanda.

The regime of Bashar al-Assad is dropping barrel bombs on civilians in Aleppo and committing other war crimes to remain in power.

International investigators recently released photos indicating that at least 11,000 people have been tortured and killed by the regime – more than died at Srebrenica in 1995.

Both Shia and Sunni extremists are exploiting the chaos to make significant inroads while more moderate opposition groups are sidelined. Two leading jihadist groups – the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and the Nusra Front – are operating freely in northern and eastern Syria. ISIS is so extreme that it has been disowned by al-Qaeda leader Ayman alZawahiri, but it is unlikely to be slowed by this censure from faraway Pakistan.

Jim Clapper, the US director of national intelligence, believes there are an estimated 26,000 jihadist fighters in Syria. Some of them are eager to attack America. On the other side, Hizbollah and the Iranian Quds Force, two of the world’s most effective terrorist organisations, have committed hundreds and possibly thousands of fighters to keep Mr Assad in power. Neighbouring

the Syrian government and the opposition to attend, but the conference broke up with no progress. The regime will not even end its blockade of rebel-held areas, where an estimated 250,000 people are trapped without regular access to food or medicine.

The other centrepiece of the administration’s Syria policy – an agreement, brokered

by Russia, to get Assad’s chemical weapons

ALLIES FROM FRANCE TO SAUDI ARABIA HAVE BEEN URGING ACTION AND WOULD BE EAGER TO CO-OPERATE. BUT THEY WILL DO LITTLE AS LONG AS MR OBAMA REFUSES TO ACT states, in particular Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, have been flooded with refugees.

ISIS fighters now control significant parts of Iraq’s Anbar Province. In Lebanon, Sunni militants are attacking Hizbollah, which is hitting back in a battle of car bombs that threatens to unravel that country’s tenuous peace.

The UN recently convened a conference in Geneva to try to stop the fighting. Mr Kerry just barely succeeded in getting both

out of the country – is also falling apart. The administration reports that Syria has removed only 4 per cent of its most dangerous chemicals even though all of them were supposed to be gone by December 31.

The Assad regime justifies its delays by citing “security concerns” and claiming it needs more equipment, including armoured cars that could be used to fight the rebellion.

But Robert Mikulak, US ambassador to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical

Weapons in The Hague, says: “These demands are without merit, and display a ‘bargaining mentality’.”

Mr Obama has only himself to blame. By claiming he needed congressional approval for air strikes on Syria, he lifted serious pressure on Damascus to comply with its international obligations. The US failure to do more to arm and train the Free Syrian Army, moreover, has allowed the regime to go on the offensive while the opposition has been riven by infighting.

It is time for Mr Obama to admit that his Syria policy is not working.

No one is suggesting sending ground troops. But options range from doing more to arm the moderate opposition, to declaring a no-fly zone. Drones could strike al-Qaeda operatives in Syria; air power could create humanitarian zones near the Turkish and Jordanian borders. The US could also take the lead in referring Mr Assad and his aides for war crimes prosecution.

The UN Security Council is unlikely to support such steps, but the US would not have to act alone. Allies from France to Saudi Arabia have been urging action and would be eager to co-operate. But they will do little as long as Mr Obama refuses to act. And for the president to act he will first have to acknowledge, if only to himself, how hideously wrong he has been on Syria over the past three years.

The writer is a senior fellow in national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

10 BUSINESS Modern technology catalyst for economic development: PM ISLAMABAD oNlINe

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that scientific research and use of advanced and modern technology is the catalyst for the economic development. The prime minister said this while talking to a fourmember delegation of CERN who called on him at the PM house. The CERN delegation included Dr Sergio Bertolucci Director for Research and Scientific Computing, Dr Rudiger Voss Head of International Relations, Claude Crottaz and Margret Susan Foffano. Ansar Parvez Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and other high government official were also present at the occasion.

The PM said the government of Pakistan was fully committed to enhancing Pakistan's international scientific exchange through cooperation with the international scientific community. The prime minister said that Pakistan had useful and beneficial cooperation with CERN and expressed the confidence that the cooperation will continue in future as well. Collaboration with European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) provides an impetus to those working in the area of science and technology, which eventually generates benefits for the whole nation, PM added.

Indian businessmen want more trade with Pakistan LAHORE oNlINe

A 15-member delegation of the Indian businessmen belonging to Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FIMSE) on Tuesday had a great interactive session with their counterparts here and pledged to work hand-in-hand to pave way for enhanced trade activities. The meeting took place at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Tariq Misbah, Vice President Kashif Anwar and the leader of FIMSE delegation Mukesh Kalra exchanged views in an open and candid atmosphere. Former LCCI President Mohammad Ali Mian, former Vice President Shafqat Saeed Piracha, Executive Committee members Mian Zahid Javaid, Muhammad Afzal, Iftikhar Bashir Chaudhry, Talha Tayyab Butt, Zafar Mehmmod and Akber Sheikh also spoke on the occasion. Mukesh Kalra, while stressing the need for joint ventures between the two sides, said that the FIMSE was preparing a well researched and well consulted study to identify sector-specific impediments to bilateral trade aimed at facilitating the business community in the two countries. He said that the study would be ready by March 31, 2014 and it would be furnished to the concerned quarters in the Indian government for appropriate measures in that direction.

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

GOVT COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING ENERGY ISSUES: PM

Major Gainers COMPANY OPEN 6683.25 Rafhan Maize Siemens PakistanXD 1289.00 Bata (Pak) 3150.00 Pak Tobacco 586.00 Atlas Battery 394.75

HIGH 6683.25 1323.00 3150.00 596.19 406.35

LOW 6683.25 1260.00 3011.00 586.00 394.75

CLOSE CHANGE 6683.25 318.25 1323.00 63.00 3100.00 42.50 596.19 28.39 404.72 17.72

TURNOVER 480 9,200 200 18,900 9,900

10185.00 1423.25 900.00 735.50 858.51

9800.00 1423.25 835.10 735.30 815.59

10182.50 1423.25 838.42 735.30 822.62

-114.00 -74.90 -40.58 -38.70 -35.89

320 300 2,250 300 4,100

13.80 11.00 51.74 9.07 29.90

12.63 10.21 49.50 8.60 28.57

12.80 10.97 51.46 9.00 29.09

-0.83 0.73 2.18 0.39 0.61

40,843,500 19,604,000 11,465,000 10,739,000 10,212,500

Major Losers Nestle Pak. Island Textile Shezan Inter Sanofi-Aventis Murree Brewery

9800.00 1423.25 837.00 735.50 825.00

Volume Leaders Jah.Sidd. Co. Lafarge Pak. Engro Fertilize Ltd. Azgard Nine P.T.C.L.A

13.60 10.34 49.55 8.68 28.70

Interbank Rates USD GBP JPY EURO

PKR 105.3907 PKR 172.9251 PKR 1.0302 PKR 144.1007

Forex ISLAMABAD

P

app

RIME Minister Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said the government was committed to address the challenges in energy sector and had undertaken several projects to address the issue.

He was talking to a delegation of Asian Development Bank headed by Vice President Asian Development Bank Ltd Wencai Zhang at the PM House.

The prime minister said economic indicators this year had improved from the previous year, while progress was being made in the energy sector and the government was establishing energy parks in Gadani that would produce 6600 MW. He also informed the delegation that plans were underway to build Diamer-Bhasha and Bunji dams and said support of ADB was essential in implementing true reform agenda. During the meeting, the prime minister underscored the high value Pakistan places on its partnership and continued support from the development partners.

The prime minister thanked the ADB for committing to policy lending to the tune of US $ 1 billion for energy sector and state-owned enterprises reforms.

He appreciated the ADB support for Jamshoro Power Generation Project and stated that this project was important in view of the current energy crisis and dire need for higher effi-

ciency and alternative sources in power generation.

The prime minister also lauded the social protection development project (BISP) to the tune of US $ 430 million and emphasized the continued support.

The vice president congratulated the PM on his third time election as the prime minister of Pakistan and said the government was witnessing successful economic reforms initiatives under his leadership.

He also appreciated the handling of the fiscal deficit issue and reform of the state-owned enterprise. "We are sure that Pakistan under your leadership will enjoy high growth rate in coming years if there is continuity in implementation of reform Agenda," he said, adding ADB was willing to help Pakistan. The ADB delegation informed that tomorrow was a very important day as the ADB and government of Pakistan were signing a US$ 900 million agreement of Jamshoro power generation project.

The vice president assured that ADB would support the government's efforts in energy sector reforms and appreciated the policy of federal government which was focused on regional and international integration and cooperation.

The delegation comprised of Wencai Zhang Vice President, Klaus Gerhaeusser, Hao Zhang, Advisor to the Vice President ADB, Werner E. Liepach, country Director, and Saad Paracha Senior Programs Officer. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was also present at the occasion.

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

BUY

SELL

95 95.5 17.1 144.5 1.035 28.15 28.8 173.75 106.05

95.25 95.75 17.35 144.75 1.040 28.4 29.05 174 106.3

IMF repaid $147m as 27th instalment Karachi: The dollar-hungry government of Pakistan Tuesday "successfully" repaid to the International Monetary Fund SDR 96 million equivalent to $147 million. According to a spokesman of State Bank of Pakistan, the repayment went to the IMF as the 27th instalment under the Fund's stand-by arrangement. With the repayment of current instalment, Pakistan to-date has repaid to the IMF SDRs 4.289 billion equivalent USD 6.544 billion since Jul-2011, said the SBP spokesman.

Of the above, he said, SDRs 3.715 billion or US$5.660 billion was under SBA facility. The spokesman said after the current repayment, remaining amount due under IMF-SBA facility until Sep-2015 is SDRs 1,221 million. In a statement last Sunday, the IMF mission expressed satisfaction over Pakistan authorities reforms-oriented measures to put the ailing economy back on track. The mission would be forwarding its favourable recommendation to the Fund's Executive Board for the approval of $550 million third tranch under the $ 6.6 billion Extended Fund Facility. Islamabd would be getting the said amount by end of March. Staff RepoRt

TURKISH RPP SEEKS $2.1B IN DAMAGES ISLAMABAD aGeNCIeS

Karkey Karadeniz Electricity Production Corporation (Karkey) has filed a 'memorial on the merits' with the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), claiming $2.1 billion in damages from the government of Pakistan. The damages have been calculated by independent international experts, it claims.

This is one of the largest claims filed with ICSID, the

Washington DC-based arbitration body, says a press release. The memorial on the merits puts in writing Karkey's official position and the amount of damages to be claimed.

Karkey is seeking compensation from Pakistan for what it says breach of obligations under the bilateral investment treaty, breaches of international law and defiance of ICSID's provisional measures, in connection with Karkey's investment in a rental power project (RPP) in Karachi.

The initial contract value of Karkey's Powership operations in Pakistan was $560 million for the duration of five

years. The amount claimed includes damages as a result of the loss of earnings and costs associated with the detention of its vessels. In the memorial filed on January 31, Karkey claimed that Pakistan had continued to detain its vessels since April 2012 even after issuance of a no-objection certificate by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), clearing the company of any wrongdoing. The power producer also said Pakistan failed to comply with the provisional measures taken by the ICSID in October 2013 for the release of Turkish-flagged Powership Kaya Bey to Dubai for undergoing maintenance.

CORPORATE CORNER Meezan Bank launches Meezan Kafalah, a Shariah-compliant alternative to Bancassurance KARACHI: Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s first and largest Islamic bank has launched Meezan Kafalah, a Shariah-compliant alternative to Bancassurance, in collaboration with Pak Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL), the county's largest Takaful provider. Meezan Kafalah is a savings product through which customers can save money for their future plans such as the education, wedding of their child, going for Hajj, planning for old age or any other future needs. Meezan Bank offers competitive profits on this product, in addition to which the customers will also get Free Takaful coverage through Takaful Partner that in the case of the customer’s death during the savings period, the Takaful Partner will provide the funds needed for completing the savings for achieving the customer’s desired objectives. This new product, thus, offers a unique combination of saving, investment and protection. A differentiating feature of Meezan Kafalah is the accumulation of 100% cash value from day one of the investment with flexibility and ease of exit from the plan without any penalty or charges. It provides an extra comfort to the customer that even in the case of an unfortunate event to their life; their financial objectives would always be covered. pReSS ReleaSe

United Mobile marks a new page in history of smartphone devices

Pakistani consumers the very best of technology with the Xtreme X5 Smartphone. The latest offering from Voice is not only a powerful device but is packed with amazing features for all types of users.

Besides having almost every upgraded feature a Smartphone user would look for, Xtreme Octa Core X5 goes the distance with blazing fast performance and a sleek design that sets it apart from the rest. pReSS ReleaSe

LG wins 35 awards at 2014 International CES

LAHORE: United Mobile, the Leading Mobile Phone Distribution Company announces Pakistan’s first octa-core Smartphone the “XtremeOcta Core X5” under the VOICE Brand in Lahore at the Avari Hotel. Some of the notable attendees included: Mr. Ejaz Hassan, Mr. Ashraf Nara, Mr. Jawed Shakoor, and Mr. Azad Lalani, among many others. Staying true to their promise, United Mobile provides the

LAHOREL LG Electronics (LG) won 35 top-tier awards at 2014 International CES®, including six awards for the LG 77-inch class CURVED ULTRA HD OLED TV, making it the most recognized TV at the show. Reviewed.com, show’s the Official Editors’ Choice partner, and Digital Trends, the show’s Official Digital Home partner, recognized a number of LG’s newest products among the tens of thousands on display at CES. Further solidifying its position as one of the world’s most innovative leaders in consumer electronics, LG earned top awards and accolades from Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, Mashable, TechRadar, Ubergizmo, HD Guru, TechnoBuffalo and Stuff — on the heels of 15 CES Innovations Awards including Best of Innovations 2014 for LG’s 77-inch class CURVED ULTRA HD OLED TV. pReSS ReleaSe

LEISURE 11

Wednesday, 12 Febuary, 2014

HaGaR tHE HoRRIblE

aries

taurus

gemini

Your parents are affecting your activities today, even if they're not really part of your life anymore. You know they're still in your head, at least, so get comfy with them and see how it goes.

Your good energy spills over into your mood and lifts you up, at least a bit. No matter what's going on today, part of you feels cozy and happy, so cling to that if events start to get weird.

You're in the mood for a bargain -though that could just mean not shopping at all! It's okay to make your own clothes or to get the cheap stuff if you feel so inclined. Save up to splurge tomorrow!

cancer

leo

virgo

Your mood is terrific and your energy levels are topped off - so get busy on something exciting! You have no excuse for just shuffling around wasting time, as the day was made for you.

Your inner warmth is making life sweeter for friends and family, so make sure that you're communicating with them clearly. It's a good time for you to check in with folks who may be in trouble.

A friend comes to you looking for a favor -- but it may turn out that they can do more for you than you can for them. Log it all in the karma bank and see what comes around next week.

libra

scorpio

sagittarius

You've got to stick to your own business today -- try not to let anyone distract you or drag you away for their own purposes. Things are sure to get better in the future, but for now, keep your head down.

It's a good time for socializing, especially with those of a like mind. Your ability to plumb the depths of good ideas and to solve all the world's problems is at its height.

You need to adjust to the situation -you can't just barrel through on your own this time. It's easier than you may realize to get past these obstacles if you give it a little thought.

dIlbERt

GaRFIEld

baldo

capricorn

aQuarius

pisces

Be open to new ideas -- you need to make sure that you're not just going through the same old motions. It's a great day to push through the challenges and make a serious change in your life!

Stick to your routines today -- this isn't a good time for improvisation. Your energy is not up to the challenge of making quick changes, but it should be back where you want it to be tomorrow.

Your mind is flooded with creative ideas almost as soon as you wake up today -- so write them down if you want to keep them handy. Your energy is terrific, and you can get to work on them later.

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.

augment badgers barge cargo chart clash dote draft enormous experience glad hare hatch horse huntress knowledge lunch nudge orbit pale

plate pocket poet reason regular resign scare smash spade talent teach teat technology toll tower unknown voyage

Today’s soluTions

MyopIc play

cHEss white tO PLAY AND MAte iN six MOVes 8

crossword solution

1 clumsy — oppressive (5-6) 9 make an inventory (4,5) 10 salad plant (3) 11 recess in a wall (5) 13 mountainous principality of southwest europe (7) 14 fighting (6) 15 cash in (anag) (6) 18 chanticleer (7) 20 projection used in a mortise joint (5) 21 fate — great number (3) 22 become disillusioned (4,5) 24 homework (11)

woRd sEaRcH

DOWN 7 6 5 4 3 2

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

chess solution

A

1.Rxg7 bxc2 2.Rg6+ Kh7 3.bxc2 Nc4 4.Rg7+ Kh8 5.Rh7+ Kg8 6.Rh8# *

1

sudoku solution

2 moose (3) 3 abdominal organs (7) 4 hubble-bubble (6) 5 starkers (5) 6 outing (9) 7 megalithic monument (5,6) 8 murder a prominent person (11) 12 baby's dummy (9) 16 small axe (7) 17 item used for rubbing out (6) 19 plant at the centre of the dutch financial bubble of 1637 (5) 23 commotion (3)

12

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

ARTS

THE CURRY IMPLANT THAT CAN SHRINK BREAST TUMOURS Device contains a spice that slows growth of cancer cells

playing the villain in viDeo games makes yoU crUel: stUDy n n

University of illinois at Urbana-champaign researchers foUnD that people who playeD games as a heroic character were more likely to rewarD others they warneD that how gamers represent themselves in the virtUal worlD of viDeo games may affect how they behave towarD others in the real worlD

t

A revolutionary new implant made from curry powder could beat breast cancer. The device is packed with a spice used to make turmeric - which gives curry its bright yellow colour. Now scientists have found the spice, curcumin, shrinks tumours in mice by about a third and slows the rate at which rogue cells reproduce. Numerous studies have found curcumin has anti-cancer properties.

Scientists at the University Of Louisville, Kentucky, got round the problem by packing the savoury powder inside miniature dissolving capsules. Each one is just two millimetres long and contains 200 milligrams of powder.

They implanted tumour-ridden mice with two capsules each and fed another group a daily diet of the curry spice. For the next four months, they monitored tumour growth. The results, published in Cancer Prevention Research, showed the curry diet had no effect. But the spicy implants reduced the size of tumours and stopped them multiplying so quickly. Until now, the problem has been getting enough curcumin into the bloodstream to have any major effect. In a report on their findings, researchers said, 'Curcumin is widely known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. 'The implants resulted in significant reduction in both the tumour multiplicity and tumour volume. But the dietary curcumin was ineffective.' The curry flavouring is thought to work by blocking the effects of hormones that feed the growth of breast cancer cells. Other teams of researchers are looking at whether injecting curcumin into tumours could help women beat breast cancer. Meanwhile, Cancer Research UK is currently funding a trial to see if giving curcumin to bowel cancer patients will boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy. The results are due to be published next year. The curry spice has also been found to have potential benefits in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. ONLINE

HE debate about whether video games can encourage violence is nothing new. And now a study suggests that people, who play video games from a villain’s perspective, become a little bit meaner in the real world.

How gamers represent themselves in the virtual world of video games may affect how they behave toward others in the real world, U.S. researchers have warned.

Gunwoo Yoon, a researcher from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, said: ‘Our results indicate that just five minutes of role-play in virtual environments as either a hero or villain can easily cause people to reward or punish anonymous strangers.’

The conducted a novel blind taste test experiment to come to their conclusion.

He and Patrick Vargas, another co-author of the study, which was published in Psychological Science, a

journal of the Association for Psychological Science, explained that virtual environments afford people the opportunity to take on identities and experience circumstances that they otherwise can't in real life, providing ‘a vehicle for observation, imitation, and modelling.’

They recruited 194 undergraduates to explore whether the experiences of taking on heroic or villainous

avatars might carry over into everyday behaviour.

Students were randomly assigned to play as Superman (a heroic avatar), Voldemort (a villainous avatar), or a circle (a neutral avatar).

They played a videogame for five minutes in which they, as their avatars, were tasked with fighting enemies.

The students then participated in

a blind taste test and were asked to give either chocolate or chilli sauce to another student.

They were told to pour the chosen food item into a plastic dish and that the future participant would consume all of the food provided.

Those who played as Superman poured on average nearly twice as much chocolate as chilli sauce for an unknown student to consume.

The researchers also discovered that the gamers who played as a hero poured significantly more chocolate than those who played as either of the other avatars.

However, participants who played as Voldemort the villain poured out nearly twice as much of the spicy chilli sauce than they did chocolate, suggesting their desire to inflict discomfort on other participants of the experiment.

They also poured significantly more chilli sauce for students to consume compared to the other participants, the scientists said. NEwS DESk

NEW SIGN LANGUAGE WORDS TO DESCRIBE SOLAR SYSTEM IPHONE 6 TO BOAST SUPER STRONG 5-INCH SAPPHIRE DISPLAY

ZUCKERBERG TOPS US DONATIONS WITH $1 BILLION: REPORT Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was America's most generous donor in 2013, giving nearly $1 billion of his fortune to charity, according to a magazine report on Monday. The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which tracks charitable giving in the United States, said Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan gave 18 million shares of Facebook stock, valued at some $992 million, to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The Mountain View, California-based foundation specializes in investment and management of charitable funds, with some $4.7 billion in assets under management. Over the past two years, Zuckerberg and his wife, a physician, have given 36 million Facebook shares to the fund, valued at about $1.5 billion. The couple dedicated their 2012 funds managed by the group for health and education, the Chronicle of Education wrote. Zuckerberg, who turns 30 later this year, is the youngest benefactor ever to top the magazine's annual charitable donations list. His net worth was estimated by Forbes magazine at $19 billion as of September, making him the 20th richest in the United States. That figure is believed to have shot up, however, thanks to a healthy rise in the value of Facebook shares, and now is approaching $30 billion, the market intelligence firm Wealth-X estimated recently. Last year, the Facebook mogul and his wife occupied the number two spot in charitable giving, making donations of nearly a half billion dollars in 2012.

First place went to billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who gave about $3 billion to charity in 2012. AGENCIES

A series of new signs have been created to help explain our solar system in sign language.

In a project funded by the Scottish government, more than 90 signs have been especially created.

Until now there have been no specific signs in British Sign Language (BSL) for astronomical terms, planets and stars.

The new signs were revealed at an event at Linlithgow Burgh Halls and received a positive response from the public.

Tania Johnston, senior public engagement officer at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, explained: "Until we created these, people had to finger spell

the planets. People know what the planets are but they don't really get an idea what they're like."

"It was definitely about making it accessible to the deaf community and BSL users but also to make sure that the signs had visual aspects to them, which really got across the different concepts."

The ambitious project was given an enthusiastic endorsement from Gerry Hughes - the first deaf man to sail solo round the world.

He said: "It's brilliant to see especially created signs in BSL. They have created signs for each and every planet. It's fantastic to see it portrayed in a visual means." COURTESY BBC

The next iPhone's display will not only be larger, it could be so strong that you may not need a case. According to a new report, Apple is opening a manufacturing plant in Mesa, Arizona to build sapphire crystal screens for the iPhone 6. The facility could pump out as many as 116 million 5-inch displays per year. So why sapphire crystal? The material is supposedly tougher and more scratch resistant than Corning's Gorilla Glass. That means an accidental drop or brushing up against your keys may not ruin your next iPhone. The iPhone 6 is also rumoured to feature a higherresolution display, a more advanced camera with optical image stabilization and wireless charging capabilities. Other reports suggest the device could sport a Liquid metal body, which would make Apple's sequel one tough customer all the way around. COURTESY LAPTOP

SHY SNOW LEOPARD IS CAUGHT ON CAMERA IN THE MOUNTAINS OF PAKISTAN One of the world’s most beautiful and elusive big cats has been captured on camera. There are less than 2,500 adult snow leopards left in the wild but one endangered creature has been spotted prowling high up in the Karakoram Mountains of northern Pakistan.

The shy cat pads nonchalantly up to a camera before snarling at it and moves away again. The amazing pictures were captured as part of a threeyear project on carnivore ecology, which included monitoring the snow leopard.

The animals are also known as the ‘grey ghost’ or ‘ghost cat’ because of their shyness. The project uses non-invasive methods such as camera traps and genetic sampling to study the animals, instead of capturing them. Scientists are trying to study the status and ecology of carnivores in remote areas such as the mountains of northern Pakistan.

Richard Bischof, a researcher at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and leader of the study published in the journal Methods in Ecology and

CMYK

Evolution, explained that camera traps are a noninvasive solution to a common problem in wildlife monitoring - finding out who is where and when.

‘We are working in very remote areas, at high elevation and in rough terrain,' he said.

‘This brings along a lot of challenges but also makes our work a fantastic adventure.

‘The snow leopard saw the pole with the camera and walked right up to it, looked into the camera and then walked past it.’ The scientists focused on photographing three predators – the snow leopard, the red fox and the stone marten.

Camera traps are often set for weeks or months but it takes approximately five times longer to photograph the elusive snow leopard than a red fox, even though both species live in the same area.

Sometimes scent lures were used to attract curious carnivores to the cameras. Muhammad Ali Nawaz, director of the Pakistani non-profit Snow Leopard Foundation and the main collaborator in

the study said: ’Studies such as this are important not only in terms of the knowledge they yield about wild carnivores and the methods used to study them. COURTESY DAILY MAIL

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

ARTS Ali Zafar plans to invite Shahid Afridi on big premier of ‘Total Syapa’

NEWS DESK Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar says people in Pakistan are waiting for his next Bollywood film Total Siyappa and if things go as planned then the film will be premiered in Pakistan. “People in Pakistan are loving the promo of Total Siyappa and they are waiting for its release. If everything goes well, then we will have a big premiere of the film in Pakistan,” the 33-year-old said during an award ceremony in Mumbai. He also plans to invite for the premiere cricketer Shahid Afridi, whom he mockingly mentions in one of the dialogue in the film. “We will also invite Shahid Afridi for the premiere and if he comes, he will enjoy the context of that particular dialogue about him,” said Ali. The dialogue mentions Afridi in a funny way and it also created quite a stir when the promos of the movie came out. Directed

by E Niwas, Total Siyappa also stars Yami Gautam, Kirron Kher and Anupam Kher. It hits theatres March 7.

Malika Sherawat to speak at Oxford Union NEWS DESK Mallika Sherawat’s interview with British journalist Piers Morgan and the one before that at Cannes, went viral on the web as the actress was fearlessly vocal about her concern for women’s rights in India. Her remarks on the Indian society being ‘regressive for women’ stirred up a hornet’s nest. Along with the statements, she also made headlines for her accent but none of the criticism seems to have perturbed Mallika. A source revealed, “She has now been invited to speak at the Oxford Union, Oxford University, UK, in a debate which is slated to focus on women’s rights and gender oppression.

Mallika has accepted the invitation and will participate in the debate on February 27.” Interestingly, the debating society has hosted some of the world’s most influential leaders like former US Presidents - Carter, Nixon and Reagan, Mother Teresa and Dalai Lama before.

About the criticism that came her way in India for voicing her opinion, she clarified, “I don’t read about myself. I am not narcissistic. I am oblivious to the criticism. I know what I am doing.” About western media’s fascination for Mallika, she joked, “I guess, the west loves me.”

13

Selena Gomez’S Stalker jailed

Aliya Chinoy launches debut album ‘Almost Dawn’

S

inger Selena gomez’s stalker, Juan garcia, has been jailed for 120 days for trespassing on her property. garcia, who was arrested outside the “Come & get it” hitmaker’s house Jan 25, was convicted after pleading no contest to the charge in court Thursday and sentenced to 120 days in Los Angeles County Jail. The 19year-old fan, who previously told police that he had travelled from his home in Arizona to see the singer in person, was also placed on three years’ probation and ordered to stay at least 150 yards away from the 21-year-old star and her home for three years upon his release from prison. Police officers rushed to gomez’s home in Tarzana, California, last month after a family member spotted Juan creeping around and called 911.

NEWS DESK

KARACHI: Aliya Chinoy recently launched her maiden album ‘Almost Dawn’ at a concert held at royal rodale Club on Saturday. The event kick-started with Aliya singing six of her original numbers from the album – Out of My Life, goodbye, Tonight, Can’t let go, Almost Dawn and Slipping & Falling. This was followed by of some cover acts including Use Somebody, Bette Davis eyes, Titanium and in The Arms of an Angel. Musicians who were accompanying Aliya included Kashan Admani on guitar, Alfred D’Mello on drums, irfan Khan on bass and Ali raza on keyboard. The album has also been produced by Kashan Admani at Dream Station Studios along with additional arrangements and drums by Alfred D’mello. All the songs on the album are composed and written by Aliya. About the album says Aliya, “The album ‘Almost Dawn’ is about new beginnings. The songs/lyrics are a reflection of life as a creative expression. The album will be available at all leading music stores in Karachi after the 14th February 2014 and soon after in other major cities across Pakistan. it has already been released virally on iTunes, Amazon, rhapsody and other major international sites so that the album can be accessed worldwide. As for my performance, it has been an amazing experience performing in front of such a wonderful audience. The event was well attended by celebrities, socialites, friends and family of Aliya besides media personnel. Pr and media management was by iDeAS events Pr. STAFF REPORT

rihanna reunites with drake?

So what if people think I can’t act, asks Katrina Kaif NEWS DESK

Ask her how she has been dealing, of late, with constant speculations around her personal life and relationships, and she sighs before breaking into a giggle, saying, “Oh, yes! These speculations… I’ve kind of started to expect them now. As an actor, you eventually learn to accept such things as a part of your life.”

Most of her contemporaries might regard her as competition but Katrina Kaif (above) says that she isn’t in Bollywood to compete with any one actor.

“Anyone who does good work is competition. And I think it’s important to be challenged because that’s what pushes you to do better,” says the 30-year-old, who debuted in Bollywood over a decade ago, and is often regarded as one of the top stars of the industry.

She might be a Bollywood megastar, but ironically, not many in the film fraternity rate Katrina Kaif even moderately, when it comes to her acting skills. From being called ‘eye candy’ in herocentric films to being considered ‘non-existent’ in her latest, Dhoom: 3 – she’s heard it all.

Ask Kaif about it, and she says unperturbed, “It’s okay... I mean, if that’s what they feel, that’s what they feel!”

“People are entitled to their opinion, and I can’t have an opinion on someone else’s opinion.” When asked if she feels that people pull her down because she’s competition for them, Katrina responds with a cheeky giggle, saying nothing.

R

ihAnnA and former boyfriend Drake have fuelled speculation that they have rekindled their relationship after the duo were spotted leaving a nightclub together. The duo, who collaborated on the track `What`s My name` in 2010, got into the same taxi outside hooray henry`s in West hollywood on February 7. “rihanna began seeing Drake again late last year but they aren`t ready to have a committed relationship. They`re doing what they do on the low, and they like to keep it that way. They fill each other`s needs when they can, and that`s how they`re choosing to roll,” a source said. The `hold On, We`re going home` hitmaker previously admitted in 2011 that rihanna had unintentionally broken his heart. “At the time it hurt, but she didn`t mean to. i`ll never put that on her. i was hurt because i slowly started to realise what it was. i guess i thought it was more,” he had said. NEWS DESK

The doctorate holders in Bollywood A KShAy Kumar was conferred a PhD degree at the 46th convocation of Assumption University in Ontario, Canada in 2008.

When he heard the words, “Dr Akshay Kumar”, the actor emotionally said, “i can’t believe this. i didn’t even pass my college.’’

Amitabh Bachchan has honorary doctorates conferred on him at De Montfort University, Leicester in UK, Universities of Delhi and Jhansi and also at

Queensland in Australia. in all humility, the hindi cinema icon maintains that it is his late father Dr harivansh rai Bachchan who is the real PhD in the family having got his prestigious title from Cambridge.

Shah rukh Khan, easily one of Bollywood’s brightest actors, got a PhD from the University of Bedfordshire in 2009. in his case, he also got the sword of honour from his alma mater.

Shabana Azmi has five PhDs. her latest is from the Teri

CMYK

University in Delhi. her husband Javed Akhtar has one from Pondicherry.

Shilpa Shetty got a PhD from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2007 post her stint on the Celebrity Big Brother show. in that phase, Shilpa had become a household name in London and was even being invited to meet Tony Blair at the UK Parliament.

Music maestros Lata Mangeshkar and Ar rahman have been conferred multiple honorary titles. While

Mangeshkar has six, including one by the new york University, Oscar winner rahman has five. he got his latest one a few days ago from the royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Sharmila Tagore and Preity Zinta too have honorary doctorates from the UK. While Tagore was awarded an honorary doctorate of arts by edinburgh napier University for her contribution to cinema, Zinta received one from the University of east London. COURTESY TOI

14 SPORTS

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

A bAttle

WANT TO HAVE OUR BEST TEAM ON THE FIELD: CHANDIMAL

BEYOND THE BOARDROOM I

SPORTS DESK

N recent weeks, the importance of a cricket nation's international performance has run secondary to the capacity of its board to deal shrewdly, even secretly, to secure a greater share of the money flowing into the game. The coup completed at the ICC board table in Singapore on Saturday placed Australia in exclusive company alongside India and England, the "big three" now effectively grasping the sort of influence and financial strength that will leave the rest beholden to their whims.

So what irony that in the same instant Cricket Australia were placing themselves at the very top of the game's decision-making, the national team was battling rain and a cramped time-frame to prepare as adequately as possible for a bout with South Africa, the finest team of the age but a minor player in the new shape of world cricket's governance. Unlike the boardroom tussle, this conflict will be played out in full public view, with the hosts holding many of the aces.

Chief among these is the inherent advantage of playing on familiar soil, a factor that grows evermore influential with each passing year of cramped schedules, jumbled formats and commercial thinking. Not so long ago, India were chastised for wounded talk of "wait until we play you at

home", but the emerging trend of the past 12 months has been that near enough to every team has taken up something of this attitude, for reasons financial as much as practical. In the words of one former administrator, "ultimately what matters most for all your stakeholders is to win at home".

Australia certainly followed this dictum during back-to-back Ashes bouts, planning, scheming and preparing during a series lost in England to mete out fearful revenge in the southern hemisphere. Theirs was a triumph in every sense, not only sweeping Alastair Cook's tourists on the field but causing all manner of chaos for them off it, with a casualty list now including three members of the touring team plus the coach, Andy Flower.

Yet that series is now considered by Australia's captain Michael Clarke and coach Darren Lehmann to be little more than a pleasant starting point for what they hope will be a far longer run of victories, against all comers and in all conditions. Lehmann likes to say such success is vital "if we're going to get to where we want to go", namely to the top spot on the global rankings that South Africa currently possess.

That supremacy has been built upon a subversion of the home-ground notion, for Graeme Smith's side have become much admired for being capable of performing to a high standard anytime, anywhere.

Nothing speaks to this quite so strongly as

WE NEED TO FINISH MATCHES BETTER: MORTAZA

Chittagong: Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh' makeshift captain, has said that winning the crunch moments will be one of team's main targets for the two-match Twenty20 series in Chittagong. Bangladesh got close on all their last four occasions they had to chase a target. But their main problem has been leaking runs in the last five overs, a theme that continued against New Zealand back in November, their last T20I. The two matches against Sri Lanka will be the hosts' last in the shortest format of the game until the World T20, which begins in a month, and will thus be crucial, particularly to settle the squad. "We work on our weak spots harder as a team," Mashrafe said.

"In one-day cricket there was a time when we couldn't finish matches, but now we play very well and can finish.

In T20s we are going through such a phase. The only way we can get out of this process is by playing more competitive matches. Before the World T20s, this series will be a good practice for us. Hopefully, we can make full use of it to come out of this phase." Bangladesh's last T20 win came in Zimbabwe when they leveled the two-match series. Since then, they have played only one game in this format, succumbing to defeat against New Zealand in Mirpur. Mashrafe, despite struggling in the death overs of late, is expected to lead the bowling attack. He will have to make sure that he bowls in the right time that not only helps himself, but also the team. "Bowlers have an important duty because three to four overs can make a difference in this game," he said. "They are working on their bowling and we will try to provide breakthroughs so that it becomes easier for the batsmen." Bangladesh have picked the uncapped Arafat Sunny, Mithun Ali and Sabbir Rahman, while Farhad Reza has returned to the team after two years. It will be an interesting mix, particularly since there is a chance of all four being included in the playing eleven on Wednesday. "Everyone has performed at every domestic level, and that includes first-class cricket," Mashrafe said. "It's difficult to compare one person to another but hopefully whoever gets the chance, will take the opportunity and play well." AGENCIES

their unbeaten record overseas since 2006, a run outlasting even their string of victories at home. Ricky Ponting's underrated 2009 tourists were the last team to beat South Africa anywhere.

Clarke is old enough to recall the attributes of the great Australian team that had begun to decline by then, namely their mental strength in replicating the command performances of Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney in such destinations as Nagpur, Colombo, Bridgetown, Dhaka, and Johannesburg. It is a standard to which he and Lehmann again aspire, following the accumulation of a horrid away record last year - seven defeats from nine Tests.

"The fact that not many teams have won away in the last couple of years is what makes it a greater prize, a greater challenge," Clarke said. "My view is you want to win every game you play, whether I'm playing in Australia or playing in South Africa or the West Indies or India, you want to have success. But it's obviously ex-

tremely hard to win away from home and I think the last couple of years you've seen that across the board. "If we want to get back to being No. 1 in the world, we have to have success away from home, we have to beat the best teams, and as tough a challenge as it is we're excited about it."

Clarke and his team have plenty of reason to think they can measure up to the task, not least because in South Africa they find an environment not too far removed from their own. If India's turning pitches can seem like playing on the moon, South Africa's fast and seaming decks are more like venturing from Sydney to Brisbane at the outset of the summer, albeit with a nine-hour time difference thrown in.

"It's probably going to be easier for us to adapt to these conditions, but there's always a home-ground advantage," Clarke said. "You've got crowd, you've got family, you've got friends, you've got the comforts of if you're playing in your own state you stay in your own house.

RAINA OUT OF ASIA CUP SQUAD SPORTS DESK Suresh Raina has been left out of India's squad for the Asia Cup, which starts on February 25. The batsman, however, is a part of the team for the World Twenty20, scheduled for March.

Cheteshwar Pujara has been included in the Asia Cup squad, while Ishant Sharma has been left out of both teams. Ishant and Raina's exclusions are the only two changes to the India ODI squad from the one that played in New Zealand. Since the series against England in January 2013, when he scored 277 runs with four half-centuries, Raina has had just one fifty-plus score - against Zimbabwe - in 24 innings. He was dropped from the last two ODIs against New Zealand, after scores of 18, 35 and 31 in the first three games. For Pujara, this is his first ODI call-up since the tour to Zimbabwe when the batsman made his one-day debut. Pujara scored 13 and 0 in the two matches, but since been in good form, scoring Test hundreds against West Indies and South Africa.

In Ishant's case, his exclusion due to recent poor form has continued from the New Zealand series, where the bowler was dropped after the first two ODIs in favour of Varun Aaron. Ishant had a poor series against Australia at home, conceding 189 runs in

Ali AKbAR China’s Li Na is also set to break new ground in her unprecedented tennis career. A former French Open champion, Li Na consolidated her place in the top echelon of women’s tennis by winning the Australian Open in January. At this week’s Qatar Open, she will overtake Victoria Azarenka to become the world’s number 2 ranked player. With both Serena Williams and Aazarenka sidelined by injuries, Li Na is all set to take over the number 2 ranking because of the fact that Azarenka was defending 700 ranking points from her last year’s win over Serena in Doha. While Williams is the undisputed champion and widely considered the best woman player ever, Li Na will become the first Asian to occupy such an exalted place in the annals of tennis.

Tennis was a late starter in Asia, even though the sport was brought to India only a decade or so after its invention. Regular national championships were held at Lawrence Gardens Lahore from the 1880s onwards. But the only country to seriously challenge the western dominance were the Japanese, whose player such as world number 3 Sato, Yamagishi, Harada and Shimizu competed successfully against the top French and American players. India’s Ramanathan Krishnan twice

CMYK

three matches at an average of 94.50 with two wickets. Against South Africa, Ishant picked up four wickets in two ODIs at an average of 19.50, while he picked up two wickets against New Zealand, giving away 118 runs at 59 and an economy rate of 7.86.

The pace attack in both squads is led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami. Ishwar Pandey, who was a part of the tour to New Zealand, has been picked for the Asia Cup, while Mohit Sharma has been named in the Twenty20 squad.

(QATAR OPEN WOMEN'S TENNIS)

LI NA TO THE FORE

reached Wimbledon’s semi finals and reached the top ten. There were some other good Japanese male players after the war, but the only woman to make a serious run to the top was Kimiko Date, who reached the top 10 in the 1990s. Interestingly, Date is still competing and is competitive, well into her forties. Date reached the top ten but never challenged for the top two spots.

Chittagong: Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka's Twenty20 captain, said he wants to take advantage of a near full-strength side ahead of the two-match T20 series against Bangladesh. If they can win 2-0 in Chittagong, Sri Lanka will head into the World Tweny20 in March as the No. 1 ranked side in the world.

Chandimal feels that from this series onwards, it will be his and the team's duty to keep the ranking intact. "We don't want to do some experiment," Chandimal said.

"There is not enough time to do that. We want to have our best team on the field. This is a really good opportunity for us before the World T20s. We have two more games before the tournament. We are playing at the World Cup venue so we look forward to taking advantage." As captain, Chandimal has led Sri Lanka to four victories in seven matches since taking over the position against Bangladesh last year. His own form, however, has taken a dip with 55 runs in seven games at 11. There has been some concern with his style of batting being used to at the end of the innings, and his lack of success in that area, but recent form will encourage him. He scored a Test century against Bangladesh last week, which would give him some confidence. The presence of three former Sri Lanka captains in the line-up will also help Chandimal.

"The hundred helped me get some confidence," Chandimal said. "I am looking forward to doing good things in the Twenty20 series, ODIs, Asia Cup and World Cup. I am looking to keep my form. "There's a lot of experience in this team. We have three former captains so there are a lot of good ideas. I really enjoy that as a captain. They always give me good ideas. That helps me as a young captain. They work very hard in the training. I am learning every day from them. As a youngster, it is a great opportunity as a captain." AGENCIES

A consummate technician, Li Na has a smooth seamless technique that does not break down in the pressure cooker atmosphere of a professional event. She was asked in an interview weather being in her thirties was a drawback. She demurred, saying that at her age, she was feeling fitter and more emotionally composed than the younger players. She felt that the year had only just started and that only after the end of the season could she analyze how her season was.

Li Na is and immensely popular star in her home country, where a vibrant economy and huge endorsements mean that she is one of the highest paid tennis players in the world. Another good Chinese player, Peng Shuai was visible in the first round, where she beat Italian Flavia Penetta to reach the second round.

Other winners were Venus Williams, on the comeback trail following a series of injuries, Pironkova and Hsieh of Chinese Taipei. It remains to be seen whether Na’s heroics are going to trigger a tennis boom in China. Certainly the women are doing well, but the men are still lagging behind the world standards. It is possible that in men’s tennis, the Chinese players’ lack of height might be a cause.

The Qatar Women’s Open continues the high standards set by the Qatar Mobil Open and has become a permanent fixture on the WTA Circuit.

SPORTS 15

Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

WAtchIng PYF’s mAtches A treAt For students lAHORE

t

STAFF REPORT

HE Punjab Youth Festival (PYF) Divisional Level athletics competitions drew the attention of a large number of students of various educational institutions on Tuesday. The enthusiasm shown by the young male and female students in different disciples of athletics was treat to watch.

Sehrish of Punjab University won the title of fastest athlete in 100m race held in Govt University Lahore followed by Mehwish of LCWU and Haria of FC College. M Aoun of UCP grabbed the top honour in male race. GCU’s Subhan finished second while Saqib of PU remained third in the race. Danish took the top spot in shot putt while Huzeem of PU and Ibrarul Haq of GCU captured second and third position respectively.

In 200m race, Maria of UOL got first position while Saima of PU and Asmat of LCWU finished second and third respectively. The 400m title was taken by Maria of UOL followed by PU’s Aneela and Saima of LCWU grabbed third spot.

In 800m race, Bisma of LCWU sprinted to victory while PU’s Amna remained runners up followed by Shabnam of FC College.

On boys’ side, M Aoun of UCP also excelled in 200m race and got the title followed by Zafar of PU and Qasim Khan of Superior University. The 400m race title went to Zafar of PU. UCP’s Farhan finished second while M Awais had to content with third position. UCP’s M Ismaeel exhibited

excellent sprinting qualities in 800m race while second and third positions were taken

by Ali Raza of PU and Bahadur of GCU respectively.

In javelin throw contest, Altaf of GCU demonstrated wonderful talent and took the top spot followed by PU’s Islam and UET’s Kasif respectively.

PREPARATIONS TO MAKE BIGGEST FLAG IN FULL SWING: The enthusiastic youth of Lahore have started the preparations of making the biggest flag of the world on Tuesday.

Around 5000 boys took part in the flag making rehearsal.

As many as 29040 children will gather at National Hockey Stadium in a bid to break the flag making world record on February 15. These children will be trained in phases. Salman Butt, the in charge of flag making programme, said that previously Pakistan set a world record of 24200 but that feat was overtaken by Bangladesh with a figure of 27000.

LAHORE SHOWS MUSCLES: Lahore weightlifters dominated the PYF weightlifting event held here at the Pakistan Railway Stadium. In 64kg weight category, Arshad Shafeeq of Lahore won the first position followed by M Junaid. In 75kg weight category, Umair of Lahore defeated Naeem Ullah of Sheikhupura. The 94kg weight category title went to Asad Talal of Lahore while Kasur’s Samiullah earned the second position. The karate events of PYF held in Punjab University New Campus Gymnasium which were also dominated by Lahore athletes. The less than 55kg weight category title was won by Rana Shoaib while

Asad Khalil of Sheikhupura was second. In less than 65kg weight category, Taavil Fayyaz secured the first position and M Naeem of Nankana Sahib second. In less than 75kg weight category, Awais Taj grabbed the title while M Ajmal of Sheikhpura won the second.

Lahore’s M Zahid outclassed Khalid Mehmood of Kasur to clinch the billiard title, Lahore beat Sheikhupura to bag the tug-of-war title while Sheikhupura thrashed Nankana Sahib to clinch the volleyball title.

PYF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO SHOW SKILL: The Punjab Youth Festival (PYF) 2014 has not only provided all the basic and modern facilities to the youth of the country but it also providing opportunities to students of mass communication to show their potentials to the whole world.

All the preparations are on peak regarding organising the film festival in which students of mass communication have been making short films which will be displayed in the film festival. Till now, hundreds of students have submitted their applications

for inclusion of their short movies in the festival. The film festival will be including short movies of five minustes, 10 mints, 15 mints, 30 mints and one hour and the movie having the best script, acting and story and the best production will be rewarded with the best prizes. Pakistan’s top film makers and Hollywood’s prominent directors will act as judges during the festival the schedule of which will be announced in coming days.

ABDUL JABBAR WIN HEALTHY BABY CONTEST: Rana Abdul Jabbar of Sheikhupura won the healthy baby competition of the Punjab Youth Festival (PYF) 2014 divisional level here at the Hamdard Centre Lyton Road on Tuesday.

Meerab Tanzeem of Lahore secured the second position of the event while third position went to Amna Midhat of Kasur. MPA Lubna Faisal was the chief guest at the occasion and distributed prizes and certificates among the winners.

MINISTER HOSTS DINNER FOR SCOTTISH CYCLISTS: Punjab Sports Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan hosted a dinner in honour of the visiting cyclists from Scottish capital Glasgow. 15member Scottish cycling team took part in Lahore-Glasgow cycling last day which was organized by Rescue-1122 to create awareness among the masses for prevention of water born diseases in children and for promoting the cause of peace in the region.

Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Chairperson Punjab Assembly Special Committee on Tourism Ms. Tahia Noon, Member Scottish Parliament Mr. Hanzla Malik, Addl. Secretary Higher Education Punjab Tahir Zaman, Director

MUDGAL REPORT NOT LIKELY TO HURT SRINIVASAN YET SPORTS DESK Despite the IPL probe committee finding Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan, to have indulged in corrupt practices in his proven capacity as a team official of Chennai Super Kings, the feeling within the board is that Srinivasan is unlikely to be affected, unless the Supreme Court steps in.

Usually, a faction within the BCCI uses such an opportunity to pounce on the people in power. However, with Srinivasan being the undisputed leader, many members believe he will see off this turbulent period as well. "Had there been some sort of a pressure group within the Board, it could have been a different tale," an official who did not want to take sides told ESPNcricinfo. "But with most units happily supporting him, the issue won't have any bearing on the Board's affairs, at least till the next hearing."

While most BCCI members termed the probe committee report, which was submitted to the Supreme Court on February 10, "based on assumptions," some admitted that it could affect the future of the Chennai Super Kings franchise and the IPL. "We cannot undermine the fact that it's a court-appointed committee headed by a reputed former judge that has submitted its findings," a seasoned

BCCI member said. "If the court admits the report, then it could lead to an upheaval within the BCCI." The Supreme Court will hear the corruption case next on March 7 and its ruling on the Mudgal report will be important for the Chennai Super Kings because of a clause in the IPL franchise agreements. Clause 11.3 (c) says the agreement can be terminated if, "the Franchise, any Franchise Group Company and/or any owner acts in any way which has a material adverseeffect upon the reputation or standing of the League, BCCI-IPL, BCCI, the Franchise, the team (or any other team in the League)

and/or the game of cricket." The term "material adverse effect," however, isn't defined in the agreement.

Some BCCI members are of the opinion that until Gurunath's involvement in betting is established, Chennai Super Kings cannot be terminated. "The clause will be applicable only if Meiyappan is found guilty of betting. And as the report itself says, Meiyappan's so-called involvement is based on the assumption that the voice samples sent to the forensic lab arehis. In this case, it would be difficult to apply the clause and oust the franchise," an administrator said, referring to the additional comments made in the report by committee member Nilay Dutta.

When asked whether Gurunath's arrest by Mumbai police and the probe committee's finding that he was involved in illegal better had not brought the IPL into disrepute, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said it was a matter for the court. "We should wait for the Supreme Court verdict. The panel has given its report to the apex court," he said. "Let the court decide." Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman and a vocal critic of Srinivasan, however, called for the termination of Chennai Super Kings. "Given these developments, I would like to see the CSK team annulled from all future IPL activity including the forthcoming auctions and the 2014 season as per rules," Modi, said in a statement.

MCDERMOTT RATES JOHNSON NO. 1 CEnTuRiOn AGENCIES

SLC HAPPY WITH ICC RESOLUTIONS: RANATUNGA SPORTS DESK Sri Lanka Cricket's concerns about the ICC revamp were largely allayed by the second set of revisions to the position paper proposals in Singapore, SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga has said. The board has not yet endorsed Saturday's ICC decision to forge ahead with the revamp, but it is now expected to fall in line with the majority at the ICC, though the board was among the position paper's fiercest opponents before the vote. Ranatunga told ESPNcricinfo the revised proposals did not amount to a major threat to SLC's power at the ICC table, one day after he had told Ceylon Today the board would need to launch "a damage-control exercise".

Over a pair of startlingly fruitful stints as Australia's pace-bowling coach, Craig McDermott has learned to trust in a handful of simple tenets. Chief among these are the passing on of rich encouragement to his pupils, leavened by simple, digestible and repeatable pieces of advice.

These fundamentals were clearly in evidence as McDermott weighed up Australia's bowling resources on the eve of the first Test against South Africa at Centurion. He balanced high praise for Mitchell Johnson - currently the world's No. 1 fast bowler by his estimation - with a pointed directive about how the tourists must bowl to Graeme Smith's side in the series beginning on Wednesday.

As hard as it may be to believe, given his harvest of 37 Ashes wickets over five Tests during the home summer, McDermott believes Johnson is capable of even better in South Africa, and offered up his bowling in Australia's warm-ups so far as evidence. Not only has Johnson been swift as ever, but he has also found the swing that also aided him in 2009.

"At Wanderers the other day he bowled a little bit better than he did in Australia, particularly with the late swing he's getting here," McDermott said. "The ball he bowled to Chris Rogers [on the Saturday] was something I've very rarely seen in my 35 years of cricket. It was going towards leg stump and knocked out his off stump. It swung unbelievably late.

"He bowled a number of balls like that the other day and. That's good for us. It becomes difficult for right handers who want to leave the ball and left handers who think they're going to just clip it off their pads.

"I think he probably is the best fast bowler in the world at the moment. He knows his game very well, and his accuracy is brilliant at the minute, it has been all summer. And he really understands where his wrist position is, with his alignment though the crease, he really believes himself so he's the full package. On top of that, he's a great bloke."

Johnson has re-grown his moustache in time for the series, again taking on the mantle of shock bowler and all the posturing that entails. He will again be able to charge in at his very fastest, for McDermott and the captain Michael Clarke are committed to using him in shattering bursts rather than taking advantage of a formidably strong frame that can allow him to bowl far longer spells at the cost of a few kilometres of speed.

"If you've got someone bowling 150 that's his best use," McDermott said.

"He's got a real wow factor to his bowling from a pace point of view now and he bowled beautifully during the Australian summer.

That's always been the plan with Mitchell. We wanted to use him as our shock bowler. When you've got someone like that you don't want him to bowl seven or eight over spells.

CMYK

General Rescue-1122 Dr. Rizwan Naseer, Director General Sports Punjab Usman Anwar and teams of male and female Kabaddi teams participated in the reception.

Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan bucked up the Scottish cycling team led by international cyclist Javed Ullah and other fourteen members of the team for volunteering themselves to visit Pakistan and express solidarity with the people of Pakistan. Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan also spoke on the occasion and said that LahoreGlasgow cycle rally send a message to the world that Pakistan is a safe place for the foreigners and the people of Pakistan are also peace-lovers having sportsman spirit in every sense. He said that the provincial phase of Punjab Youth Festival-2014 will commence from February 15 in Lahore and the youth of Punjab is going to attempt for regaining the Guinness World Record regarding forming the largest human national flag of Pakistan which was broken by the youth of Uttar Pardesh, India in 2013. MPA Tahia Noon said that the cyclists visiting Pakistan for a noble cause are the Ambassadors of Peace in the world. A Sikh cyclist from Glasgow expressed his views in Punjabi language saying that his own son advised me to refrain from visiting Pakistan due to negative propaganda disseminated by the Western Media about Pakistan and quoted, “bad news always come from Pakistan”. Charan Jeet Singh refuted this impression by saying that while visiting Lahore, he feels a height of delight on receiving the hospitality by Lahorites which was like a dream for him.

moIn to don coAchIng gloves

lAHORE STAFF REPORT Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper Moin Khan has been named as the national side's new head coach, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced at a press briefing. Khan was appointed Pakistan's chief selector in July last year before being asked to tour Zimbabwe with the team as manager. Moin was relieved of his duties earlier this month and replaced

by Zakir Khan, a move seen by many as a sign the former gloveman was being considered as the top contender for the coach's job. Aamir Sohail has been removed as chief selector by the new management committee of the PCB. Sohail was appointed only last week by Zaka Ashraf, who was sacked on Monday as PCB chairman by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who appointed a management committee to run the affairs of the board. PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed said the committee endorsed Najam Sethi as their chairman during a meeting lasting well over five hours at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. Ex-test opener Shoaib Mohammad, son of the great Hanif Mohammad, was appointed as fielding coach while bowling coach Mohammad Akram's contract was extended for two years. Azhar Khan will be acting chief selector.

SPORTS Wednesday, 12 February, 2014

‘DHONI, RAINA INVOLVED IN SPOT FIXING’ BOOKIE UTTAM JAIN AKA KITTI CONFESSES THAT CHENNAI SUPER KINGS (CSK) SKIPPER MS DHONI AND TEAM-MEMBER SURESH RAINA WERE INVOLVED IN IPL SPOT-FIXING AND BETTING SCANDAL NEW DELHI

I

AGENCIES

ndIan skipper Mahendra Singh dhoni and Suresh Raina are among the six capped Indian players named in the Mudgal Panel report, media reports claimed on Tuesday.

Bookie Uttam Jain alias Kitti has named dhoni and Raina in connection with IPL spot-fixing and betting when confronted by Trichi Railway SP Sampat Kumar, informed Mudgal. during the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League, some key Indian players and Bollywood stars were accused of spot-fixing. The names of Mahendra Singh dhoni and Suresh Raina were raised in the scandal by the Mudgal Panel report on Tuesday. during the interrogations by Trichi Railway SP Sampat Kumar, bookie Uttam Jain aka Kitti confessed that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS dhoni and teammember Suresh Raina were involved in IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal, said the

Mudgal report. The Mudgal committee also revealed that a journalist, who was apparently connected with the recordings of tapes for a sports magazine, was able to identify the voice of the Indian player and he also revealed that the player was part of Indian team which lifted the World Cup trophy and is also a member of the team now. “However, the journalist refused to unveil the names of the Indian players indulged in the spot-fixing.

He didn’t even agree to do so, even after repeated requests to put the names of the players in an envelope which will be opened before the Supreme Court panel. He seemed to be terrified and reluctant. He pleaded us that it will be dangerous for his if he reveals the name of the players,” said the panel report. “now, it seems that the tapes have the names of six prominent Indian capped players, who were involved in the IPL 6 spot-fixing scandal. among those six, two have been named by a former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president,” revealed the report.

seVentY Four Centuries in under-19 World CuPs: S PErvEz QaISEr a total number of 74 centuries were scored in 842 innings of 422 Under-19 World Cup matches since 1988.

Sixty five batsmen have the distinction to score centuries in Year Venue Matches Innings World Cup. India’s Centuries Batsman Match/100 Shikhar dhawan holds 1988 Australia 31 62 3 2 10.33 the record of making 1998 South Africa 50 100 12 12 4.16 the highest number of 2000 Sri Lanka 50 100 3 3 16.66 centuries in Under-19 2002 New Zealand 54 107 13 13 4.15 World Cup with three 2004 Bangladesh 54 108 15 12 3.60 centuries in seven 2006 Sri Lanka 44 88 5 5 8.80 innings of as many 2008 Malaysia 44 88 3 3 14.66 maches. The highest 2010 New Zealand 47 93 5 5 9.40 number of centuries 2012 Australia 48 96 15 14 3.20 were scored in the Total - 422 842 74 65 5.70 2004 World Cup in Bangaldesh and 2012 World Cup in australia while three World Cups saw the lowest number of hundreds. 15 hundreds each were scored in the 2004 World Cup in Bangladesh and 2012 World Cup in australian. Three centuries each were scoerd in the inaugural Under-19 World Cup in 1988, third World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2000 and seventh World Cup in Malaysia in 2008.

Brett Williams has the distinction to score the first century in Under-19 World Cup. The australian batsman made 112 against West Indies at Mildura on February 28,1988. The 50th century in the Under-19 World Cup was scored by andrew de Boorder.

The new Zealand batsman made an unbeaten 100 off 115 balls with eight fours in the Plate Semi Final match against United States at Colombo on February 15,2006.

CENTURIES IN EACH UNDER-19 WORLD CUP:

AjmAl strikes leAd FAisAlAbAd to quArter-FinAls Karachi dolphins eased to a sixwicket win over Sialkot Stallions, securing a spot in the quarter-finals of the Faysal Bank T20 Cup. The loss did not affect group leaders, Sialkot, who will play Islamabad Leopards in the quarter-finals.

In spite of the stronger batting line-up, Sialkot were restricted to 91 by left-arm pacer abdul ameer and leftarm spinner Fawad alam.

Regular strikes prevented partnerships from thriving and the best individual score of the Sialkot innings came from captain Shoaib Malik, who scored 21 off 31. ameer finished with 4 for 14 in 3.4 overs, while alam had figures of 3 for 12. Sialkot had a small chance of challenging Karachi when they reduced the batting side to 30 for 4 in the eighth over. However, alam and Sheharyar Ghani

added an unbeaten 62 for the fifth wicket to take the team to victory in the 18th over.

Group C: Faisalabad Wolves romped to an eight-wicket win over Lahore Eagles, topping Group C in the process.

Faisalabad and Islamabad Leopards will now play the quarter-final round.

Opting to bat, Lahore were looking solid at 65 for 1 in the 10th over, but Saeed ajmal struck in successive overs to dismiss well-set batsmen, Kamran akmal (30) and Imran Farhat (23). akmal’s wicket began a slide which saw Lahore lose their next seven wickets for 25 runs, to end at 93 for 8. ajmal ended with figures of 3 for 16, while asad ali and Khurram Shehzad took two wickets each. Faisalabad faced little trouble in their chase as their openers, Farrukh Shehzad (23) and ali Waqas, added 47. SPORTS DESK Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad.

CMYK