E paper pdf (02 4 2016) isb

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saturday, 2 april, 2016 i 23 Jamadi-us-sani, 1437 i rs 17.00 i vol vi no 274 i 16 pages i islamabad edition

Pakistan manager lays into Afridi in tour report

Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam has termed Shahid Afridi a ‘clueless’ captain in the wake of the team’s early exit from the ICC World Twent20. In his tour report published by Cricinfo, Alam laid heavy criticism on the T20 skipper Afridi for his poor on-field tactics and off-field behavior that brought undue controversies on the team.

pcB chief shaharyar Bins resignation ruMours STORIES ON PAGE 16

kamal calls altaf a ‘clown’, MQM protests leader’s disrespect PSP leader says MQM chief is ‘a coward who hurls abuses one day and asks for forgiveness the next day’

STORY ON PAGE 02

Nisar says Iran a brother but it must end anti-Pak RAW activities Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Friday said Pakistan and Iran were tied in decades-long religious social cultural and political bonds and that nothing could come in the way of brotherly PakIran relations.

Modi’s saudi visit part of push to ‘de-hyphenate’ india froM STORIES ON PAGES 03 & 04 pakistan

World must prevent terror ‘madmen’ from getting nukes: Obama US president says no group has succeeded in obtaining bomb material but that al Qaeda has long sought them

Obama says required 102 countries had now ratified amendment to nuclear security treaty that would tighten protections against nuclear theft and smuggling WASHINGTON AGENCIES

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S President B a r a c k O b a m a urged world leaders on Friday to do more to safeguard nuclear facilities to prevent “madmen” from groups like Islamic State (IS) from getting their hands on a nuclear weapon or a radioactive “dirty bomb.”

Speaking at a nuclear security summit in Washington, Obama said there was a persistent and evolving threat of nuclear terrorism despite progress in reducing such risks. But he

insisted: “We cannot be complacent.”

Obama said no group had succeeded in obtaining bomb material but that al Qaeda had long sought them and cited actions by Islamic State militants behind recent attacks in Paris and Brussels that raised similar concerns.

“There is no doubt that if these madmen ever got their hands on a nuclear bomb or nuclear material, they would certainly use it to kill as many innocent people as possible,” he said. “It would change our world.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

pakistan has effective MechanisM for nuclear security, fateMi tells world leaders STORY ON PAGE 03

02 NEWS

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

KAmAl cAlls AltAf A ‘clown’, mQm protests leAder’s disrespect PSP LEADER SAYS MQM CHIEF IS ‘A COWARD WHO HURLS ABUSES ONE DAY AND ASKS FOR FORGIVENESS THE NEXT DAY’ KARACHI

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STAFF REPORT

day after Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP)’s caravan received a hostile reception in Mirpurkhas, party leader Mustafa Kamal lashed out at Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chairman Altaf Hussain over his alleged involvement in the attack which injured at least 10.

“If we had not challenged this ‘Pharaoh,’ we would not have been blessed by the Almighty [to speak the truth],” the former Karachi mayor said in a veiled reference to the MQM chief while addressing a presser in Hyderabad on Friday.

“He [Altaf Hussain] is not more than a clown,” Kamal said as he urged media not to give the MQM chief much importance. “He is a coward who hurls abuses one day and asks for forgiveness the next day.”

Kamal reiterated his claim that his party had remained successful in attracting the masses and garnering their support “which is why we are being attacked”.

“We are not afraid of death, we will welcome death the day it is destined for us. We have recognised Allah as the one and only God and did not give any human that status,” Kamal added.

Meanwhile, the former senator lauded the courage and determination of the people of Mirpurkhas, saying they valiantly countered the attack. On Thursday, Kamal’s motorcade was attacked in over half a dozen locations in Mirpurkhas district. At least 10 persons, including two reporters, were injured after locals pelted the PSP with stones and eggs. Eight to ten vehicles, including the one carrying Kamal and Anis Qaimkhani, were damaged.

Although the rally was escorted by a considerable police contingent led by SSP Usman Ghani Siddiqui, the security still

Pakistani jailed in England for keeping wife ‘in servitude’ LONDON AGENCIES

A Pakistani man was handed a two year jail sentence Friday after becoming the first in England to be convicted of keeping his wife “in domestic servitude”.

In what the Crown Prosecution Service said was the first case of its kind in England, London’s Woolwich Crown Court heard that Safraz Ahmed, 34, imprisoned and beat his wife after an arranged marriage in Pakistan. The mechanic from Charlton in southeast London forced his wife, Sumara Iram, to cook, clean and look after his mother from 5am to midnight every day after she moved to Britain in 2012.

He also slapped her in the face when she asked him to consummate their marriage, throwing tins of cat food at her head and covering her face with a cushion in other attacks.

Iram, 28, who had a master’s degree in Islamic Studies, was forbidden from leaving the house alone and took an overdose before eventually calling the emergency services in 2014, the court heard. Sentencing Ahmed to two years in prison for holding a person in domestic servitude, Judge Christopher Hehir told him: “She was bullied and controlled by you, given little money and expected to cook, clean and look after your family as if she was a skivvy.” “She described your behaviour as physical and mental torture and in my judgement, she was right.” Damaris Lakin, a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer who worked on the trial, said it was a “ground-breaking case which demonstrates how far we have come in tackling modernday slavery”. The couple are now divorced.

Balochistan Assembly adopts two resolutions QUETTA STAFF REPORT

The Balochistan Assembly adopted two resolutions during third sitting of its 27th session on Friday. Tabled by PML lawmaker, the House rejected a resolution for giving one month salary to government employees as bonus on religious festivals. Five members spoke on it for 11 minutes.

Tabled by an ANP member, the House unanimously adopted a resolution to contact with federal government for winding up unannounced electricity load-shedding in the province and minimize its duration for agriculturists. Five members spoke on it for 32 minutes. A resolution tabled by PkMAP lawmaker regarding fund allocation for establishment of new Cadet and Residential Colleges for girls in upcoming annual budget was opposed by the Provincial Minister for Health. Five members debated it for 11 minutes. A joint resolution to improve working and provide state of art facilities in provincial Art Gallery Center was unanimously adopted by the House. Two members spoke on it for seven minutes. The government orally responded to six out of seven starred questions appearing on the agenda. The lawmakers also asked six supplementary questions.

MQM’S FAROOQ SATTAR SAYS KAMAL’S REMARKS AGAINST MQM CHAIRMAN ‘INAPPROPRIATE, PROVOCATIVE AND UNETHICAL’

KARACHI: MQM leader Farooq Sattar addresses reporters on Friday. PPI

proved insufficient to fully protect the PSP motorcade from attacks. Ratanabad saline drain, Heerabad, Ghareebabad, New Town, Mohajir Colony and other areas remained in the grips of pro and anti-Kamal rallies and protests, the latter reportedly staged by MQM supporters.

Protesters hurled abuses as well as shoes, stones, eggs and bricks. According to some reports, the stones and bricks

were even thrown from rooftops along the roads where the PSP rally passed. mQm reacts: Reacting to Kalam’s presser in a press conference at Nine Zero, MQM Senior Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar said [Mustafa Kamal] group was being led by some elements of establishment to restrain everyone from doing politics. “The [group] arrived on March 3 to induce so much provocation in the so-

ciety so that one may not be able to do [genuine] politics,” he said while addressing reporters. Sattar termed Kamal’s remarks against MQM chairman “Inappropriate, provocative and unethical”.

“We demand the institutions of this country working under the Constitution take notice of this [situation],” he said, adding “There cannot be two sets of rules and regulations and PEMRA should differentiate between politics and provocation.”

“Altaf Hussain or other MQM leaders never used derogatory words or resorted to personality-bashing [in retaliation of the tirade].” “We do not want to engage in a tit-for-tat politics and continue to respond to allegations while in fact we possess all documentary proof [against those doing so].” He added, “This group have a history of misappropriation, china-cutting, loot and plunder, saying they nevertheless accepted an individual’s choice to make political choices and launch an organisation.

PTI to hold direct intra-party elections: Imran ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that after learning from past experiences, the PTI has decided to hold direct intra-party elections. Addressing a press conference on Friday, he said that making decisions about power centers in the party is not the election commissioner’s job.

“We believe election commissioner’s job is to hold the elections in a free and fair manner,” he said. Talking about the internal democracy of his party, Khan said that only through intra-party elections Tehreek-e-Insaf can become an institution. He said that the party has learnt from its mistakes and in order to avoid divisions, it was not going to opt for a penal system. He said that

Justice (r) Wajihuddin dissolved the elections after hearing five to six petitions. He said Justice (r) Wajihuddin’s decision was accepted by the party. While referring to his party’s former chief

election commissioner Tasneem Noorani, Khan said that Noorani favoured the idea of votes being cast through cell phone as opposed to the conventional method of using a voting paper. He added that it is not possible to conduct such massive elections on mobile phones as there will be technical glitches in the process.

He said that the party formed a new Election Commission under the leadership of Noorani and was of the view that Noorani’s only task was to conduct the elections.

The PTI chief said that his party adopted the model of the United Kingdom and the United States in order to conduct elections within the party. He added that the party comprises 2 million members as of now and that the final date to get membership is April 15. He said the party’s elections will be held on a single day.

Anti-state violence in Pakistan fell below 2008 levels in 2015: HRCP report ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in its ‘State of Human Rights in 2015 report’ found that anti-state violence in Pakistan over the past year fell below 2008 levels, while there was a 40 per cent decrease in violencerelated deaths in 2015. The report, released on Friday, examines Pakistan’s performance in various areas, including violence, human rights, rights of women and children, education, health and housing, among others.

Law and order: There were 706 militant attacks in 2015, a number that is below 2008 levels of anti-state violence. At least 1,325 people were killed in these attacks, including 619 civilians, 348 security forces personnel, 33 pro-government razakars (volunteers) and 325 militants. There were 18 suicide attacks during the year, a decrease of 31pc compared to 2014.

The report says 4,612 people in 2015 died as a result of violence, compared to 7,622 people in 2014. The HRCP report found Punjab reported 6,622 fewer cases of crime in 2015 as compared to 2014, while Sindh saw a 42pc reduction in the number of murders in comparison with 2014. However, crime in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rose 1pc and 10pc, respectively, compared to 2014 levels. administration of justice: The report says 324 people with no links to terrorism were hanged in 2015, with another 8,000 prisoners on death row. “Dispensation of justice remained protracted with 2,700 cases pending before the Supreme Court and 60,000 each in the Lahore and Sindh High Court and 9,000 cases in the Balochistan High Court and 28,487 in the Peshawar High Court.” But the report noted a “significant positive change in application and opinion of the judiciary in cases of blasphemy law”.

freedom of thought, conscience and reLigion: The report states 22 people were booked on blasphemy charges, including 15 Muslims, four Christians and three Ahmadis. In 2015, 58 sectarian terror attacks were reported, and hundreds of people lost their lives while many more were injured in sectarian and religiouslymotivated attacks. Several thousand citizens belonging to religious minority communities are reported to have left the country over the past few years due “on account of faith-based violence, discrimination and persecution”. women: HRCP found that in 2015, 939 women were victims of sexual violence, 279 were victims of domestic violence and 143 women were victims of acid attacks. At least 833 women were kidnapped and 777 committed or attempted to commit suicide. A total of 1,096 women, 88 men and 170 minors were victims of honour crimes over the past year. chiLdren: A 7pc increase in the number of child abuse cases was registered in 2015, with 3,768 cases occurring last year, or an average of 10 cases of child abuse per day. Pakistan has seen an 80pc reduction in the number of polio cases, which

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dropped to 54 from 306 cases in 2014. Around 25 million children remained out of school in 2015, and the literacy rate remained around 58pc. As of 2015 end, there are approximately 10 million child labourers in Pakistan. freedom of movement: The Pakistani passport, the report says, ranked the third worst in the world to travel with, sharing a spot with Somalia. Some 65,000 names were removed from the Exit Control List in 2015, the report says.

Report Editor Waqar Mustafa said Pakistan “took some definitive steps to recover its lost writ” in the tribal areas and Karachi. “The military crackdown on some of the militant groups sheltering in the country’s northwestern tribal areas brought terrorist attacks down by almost half, well over 2 million people were internally displaced yet again. And while statistics suggested that things had improved in Karachi after the paramilitary operation... little attention was paid to complaints of rights violations at the hands of the security forces.” Mustafa adds: “While the state received full support for its efforts to reclaim its writ... deviation from human rights norms and discrimination against the disadvantaged could hardly be ignored.”

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

NEWS

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pAKistAn hAs effective mechAnism for nucleAr security, fAtemi tells world leAders BRITISH PRIME MINISTER CAMERON SAYS ENEMIES OF PAKISTAN ARE ENEMIES OF BRITAIN, EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH PAKISTAN IN WAKE OF LAHORE PARK ATTACK ISLAMABAD

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everywhere in the private sector, hospitals, industry and research. Fatemi said emergency preparedness and response constitutes effective deterrence against malicious acts and this requires significant training efforts, including those by nuclear security centres developed by various countries. enemies of PaKistan are enemies of Britain: British Prime Minister David Cameron said during an unscheduled meeting on Friday with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi that the enemies of Pakistan will be viewed as enemies of Britain.

British National Security Adviser Sir Mark Lyall Grant was also present on the occasion. The British prime minister expressed his profound grief and heartfelt condolences at the loss of precious lives in the recent terrorist attack in Lahore.

STAFF REPORT

AKISTAN has said that it has an effective emergency response mechanism, including a nuclear emergency management system, to ensure security of nuclear materials.

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi said while addressing a dinner hosted by President Obama in Washington that a Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Support Center and a Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Coordination Center work round the clock to ensure safety.

He said nuclear materials must never fall into the wrong hands and this is a global concern, which Pakistan fully shares. He said radioactive sources are being employed

Jirga in Mirpurkhas ‘settles’ gang rape case for 30 maunds of wheat Karachi: A jirga of notables in Ghulam Nabi Shah area of Umerkot district allegedly settled a gang rape case for a compensation of 30 maunds of wheat, the victim’s father has claimed. A police case was registered with the local police a few days ago on complaint of the 14-year-old victim’s brother, Sajan Shaikh.

The victim’s father said following the registration of the case and the subsequent arrest of the main suspect, he was forced to settle the dispute through the jirga and was promised a compensation of 30 maunds of wheat. The jirga was held under the supervision of a local influential landlord Mohammad Hassan Mangrio, he added. The victim’s father deplored that after he refused to accept the compensation he was forced to leave the area with his family. He alleged that since local media highlighted the issue, local elites have been threatening him to keep mum and withdraw the case. DIG Mirpurkhas division Javed Alam Odho took notice of the incident and directed SSP Umerkot to investigate the case and provide protection to the victim’s family. SHO of Ghulam Nabi Shah Police, Arif Bhatti said local police had registered the case on March 21 under Sections 376 (2) and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and has already arrested the prime suspect. The official, however, said he was not aware of any jirga being held in the jurisdiction of his police station. Hassan Mangrio — who had allegedly forced the victim’s parents to settle the issue — also denied of holding any such jirga, and said “the rape matter might have been settled between the accused and victim’s family”.

Zahida Detho, the chief of Sindh Rural Partner Organisation (SRPO), termed the incident “the worst in the area.” She demanded the Sindh government to form a judicial commission to probe the incident. “In many such instances in the past, the parents were forced to withdraw the cases due to political pressure,” she observed. STAFF REPORT

Cameron expressed full support and solidarity with the people and government of Pakistan in this hour of grief, and acknowledged the sacrifices being made by people and the security forces of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.

Recalling the remarks he had made at a press conference in Islamabad during his visit to Pakistan in 2013, Prime Minister Cameron reiterated that the enemies of Pakistan will be viewed as enemies of Britain. He pledged Britain’s continued support in strengthening Pakistan’s econ-

omy, and enhancing bilateral cooperation in security related matters, including intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism.

He, in particular, stressed the need for further enhancing cooperation in the energy and education sectors.

Fatmi thanked the British prime minister for his expression of sympathy for the victims of the terrorist incident, and reiterated that terrorism posed a common threat to both Pakistan and Britain. He underlined Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s strong and unequivocal resolve

Nisar says Iran a brother but it must end anti-Pak RAW activities ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Friday said Pakistan and Iran were tied in decades-long religious social cultural and political bonds and that nothing could come in the way of brotherly Pak-Iran relations.

He was talking to Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost who called on him at the Punjab House. The ambassador deplored certain attempts in some sections of media to negatively impact relations between the two countries in spite of greatly successful visit of President Rouhani. The interior minister said that media in Pakistan was independent but that did not mean that “we can allow anybody to affect our relations”.

He said all sections of Pakistani society were unanimous in their support for stronger Pak-Iran relations. Matters

relating to Pak Iran bilateral relations Iranian President s recent visit to Pakistan and the assistance sought from Tehran regarding arrest of a RAW agent from Balochistan were discussed during the meeting, said a statement.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over the recent visit of President Hassan Rouhani to Pakistan.

“Momentum created by the re-

cent high level visit should be fully utilized for further deepening of Pak -Iran relations in all possible areas.

“We need to build on the gains of the past and work hand in hand to overcome our shared challenges and achieve common objectives for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries,” the Interior minister to the Iranian ambassador.

Mohsin Baig new editor-inchief of Daily Times

SC iSSuES DETAilED vErDiCT in MuShArrAf ECl CASE APP

The Supreme Court on Friday issued its detailed verdict in the case pertaining to removal of former president Pervez Musharraf’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

Authored by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, the 13-page detailed verdict stated, “We have heard the arguments of the attorney general for Pakistan on behalf of the appellant and Dr Farough Naseem, for respondent General (r) Pervez Musharraf. For the reasons to be recorded separately, this appeal is dismissed. However, this order will not pre-

clude the federation of Pakistan or the special court, seized of the proceedings

Geo Tv temporarily goes off air after moving to Paksat One of the biggest television channels of Pakistan, Geo television temporarily went off air across Pakistan after moving to Paksat’s newly commissioned satellite service. According to the Geo website, the media group with the help of the Paksat Technical Network Center shifted all its channels to Paksat on March 31 and despite informing the cable operators, the channel was informed by Pakistani officials that it can be taken off-air. The media group claimed that its satellite contract with its existing satellite provider ended this month, and they moved to Paksat. The channel’s employees, especially the news and talkshow hosts tweeted about the channel’s closure. The channel’s website protested what it called the ‘discriminatory’ attitude of authorities regarding Geo TV, adding that the channel has already incurred a loss of billions of rupees as its distribution system on the cable network had not been made fully operational by the government.

However, independent reports and tweets later confirmed that the channel is back on television sets. PAKSAT-1R, Pakistan’s first Communications Satellite is a part of Pakistan’s Space Programme 2040.

PAKSAT-1R has a design life of 15 years and provides TV broadcasting, Internet and data communication services across South and Central Asia, Eastern Europe, East Africa and the Far East. This satellite enables extending of communication services to all areas of Pakistan. NEWS DESK

‘Pakistanis believe in peaceful co-existence’

Lahore : Senior journalist and Online News International Managing Director Mohsin J Baig has taken over as the Editor-in-Chief of English newspaper Daily Times.

Baig takes over the reins of the paper from Rashed Rahman, who had resigned some months back over unknown reasons. STAFF REPORT

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to root out the menace of terrorism.

The British prime minister and Fatemi exchanged views on a wide-range of bilateral issues pertaining to PakistanUK relations. There was an understanding between the two sides that the high-level interactions between the leaderships of the two countries had contributed significantly in strengthening bilateral cooperation in a number of areas including trade and economy; regional peace and security; as well as countering violent extremism and terrorism.

The special assistant to PM highlighted prime minister of Pakistan’s policy of peaceful neighborhood and non-interference in the region, and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to build a constructive and trust-based relationship with all its neighbours. He stressed that peace in Afghanistan was vital for the peace and stability of the entire region, and enumerated Pakistan’s contribution towards facilitating an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process. He also outlined the various initiatives underway for greater regional integration and connectivity.

under Article 6 of the constitution against respondent Musharraf, from passing any legal order for regulating his custody or restricting his movement.”

The order termed that the removal of Musharraf’s name from the ECL case was legal in the Sindh High Court, and stated that the perusal of the impugned judgment reveals that the learned division bench of the high court of Sindh, Karachi, has correctly appreciated the relevant facts of the case, aptly taken into consideration the case-law cited at the bar, and recorded valid and cogent reasons for granting requisite relief to Musharraf, thereby striking down the memorandum No 12/74/2013-ECL

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dated April 5, 2013, issued by the Ministry of Interior.

“Not only this, but mindful of the sensitive nature and political hype of the issue, as an abundant precaution, it had also suspended the operation of impugned judgement for a period of 15 days to enable the appellant and pro forma respondents to avail any other appropriate remedy, including their right to challenge the impugned judgement before the apex court. Still the appellant took no independent stance/decision in the matter, except following the remedy of challenging the said judgment in this appeal, which, as discussed above, is devoid of merits.”

isLamaBad: Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Friday said the people of Pakistan were a civilized nation, who believed in peaceful co-existence. Addressing the opening ceremony of 10-day ‘Lok Mela’ at the Lok Virsa Complex, he said some elements were trying for the last 16 years to project Pakistan as a disturbed state. “But, we have proven that Pakistan is a country whose people are civilized, want peaceful coexistence and share happy moments with each other,” he said. The minister said people from across the country belonging to different religions, faiths and castes had gathered here under the national flag to celebrate Jashan-e-Noroz - the advent of spring season. The people of Pakistan actively participated in cultural festivals of all the religions being practiced here, he added.

Like Basant festival in Punjab, Pervaiz Rashid said, Jashan- e-Noroz was celebrated in the northern areas and Quetta, but holding of this festival here had shown love and affection of the people of the Federal Capital with different civilizations. . APP

04 NEWS Tara Singh appointed PSGPC’s acting president LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) on Friday appointed Tara Singh as acting president of committee following demise of PSGPC chief Sham Singh.

“Tara Singh was elected by the executive committee members of PSGPC in a meeting held on Friday,” said Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Farooq ul Saddiq.

Resident of Sindh, Tara Singh is also the senior vice president of PSGPC. Farooq said that the acting president would continue to serve till Baisakhi festival following which another meeting would be held to appoint a permanent president of Sikh body to run its day to day functioning.

He said ETPB felt the need of a PSGPC head for making arrangements for Baisakhi festival when thousands of Sikhs from all over the world converge at various Gurdwara’s of Pakistan.

Beside Tara Singh, former PSGPC president Bishan Singh and its general secretary Gopal Singh Chawla were in the race for the post.

On March 27, Sham Singh had died in Combined Medical Hospital following a brief illness.

The ETPB chairman said that in memory of Sham Singh, ETPB had named a 90-room sarai known as Bannu block in Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasanabdal on the name of Sham Singh.

Banks to receive Haj applications from April 4, PIA reduces travel fare ISLAMABAD APP

The Senate’s Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony was informed on Friday that the designated branches of scheduled banks were expected to start receiving Haj applications under the government scheme from Monday (April 4). Joint Secretary (Haj) Muhammad Farooq told the committee that the date for receiving applications might be delayed slightly as the new Haj Policy would be announced after getting approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said the application receiving process would be completed in 10 days. According to the tentative schedule, the applications would be received till April 14 while the ballot would be held on April 16 or 17 to select the successful applicants, the upper house was told.

Farooq said this year 143,348 Pakistanis would perform Haj, including 86,021 through the government and 57,347 through private schemes. The Haj quota allotted to Pakistan by Saudi Arabia was divided at the ratio of 60:40 between government and private schemes respectively.

According to draft Haj policy, he said, 5 per cent (4,301) of Government Scheme quota had been reserved to accommodate hardship cases. The Haj dues of the applicants would be deposited in interest free accounts, he added. The committee was told that the government Haj package had not been enhanced as compared to the last year. The intending pilgrims from southern part would pay Rs 261,941 and while those from northern part would pay Rs271,941. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had agreed to decrease the fare from Rs 113,000 to Rs 95,000. Committee chairman Hafiz Hamdullah directed the ministry to submit a detailed report about the expenditures incurred by its various wings from 2012 to 2015.

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

Modi’s saudi visit part of push to ‘de-hyphenate’ india froM pakistan ISLAMABAD

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AGENCIES

NdIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday is part of a broader diplomatic offensive to put pressure on arch rival Pakistan by forging ties with some of Islamabad’s closest allies, Indian ruling party and government officials said.

Modi is expected to sign trade agreements, including contracts to secure investment for infrastructure projects, and offer security and military cooperation, such as training and joint exercises, they said.

The visit comes just months after he travelled to another Pakistan ally, the United Arab Emirates, and signed a security cooperation agreement that includes regular meetings between top security advisers.

“It’s simple. We have to do everything to deal with Pakistan – use economics, strategy and emotional ties to win the hearts of Islamabad’s friends,” said Ram Madhav, national general secretary of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947, two of them over Kashmir. New delhi has long accused Islamabad of sponsoring a separatist movement and militancy in the Himalayan region. Pakistan denies the charge and accuses India of occupying Kashmir and fomenting trouble in its restive provinces, like Balochistan.

Stronger relationships with Pakistan’s allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE can help India get a more sympathetic hearing on global and regional forums and put pressure on Islamabad to rein in militants.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia and the United States imposed joint sanctions targeting the Pakistan-based Lashkar-eTaiba militant group blamed for the 2008 attacks in Mumbai.

New delhi has been frustrated that often its ties with countries have been coloured by concerns about its relationship with Pakistan. One foreign ministry official said the Saudis tended to

bring up Pakistan during discussions with India.

Government officials described Modi’s diplomatic push as an effort to “de-hyphenate” India from Pakistan, especially as New delhi tries to play a bigger geopolitical role in Asia to counter China’s influence.

Right timing: Until now, India’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has been driven primarily by trade and the Indian diaspora in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is India’s top energy supplier and home to more than 3.5 million Indian expatriates.

Over the past few years, there has

been some cooperation on security between the two countries, with Riyadh deporting four most wanted fugitives to India.

Modi will look to broaden those ties, with one foreign ministry official saying healthcare, education, religious tourism and labour reforms would also be key talking points.

Still, there are limits to what New delhi can hope to achieve. The relationship between Pakistan and the Saudis goes back decades, based in their shared Sunni Muslim heritage.

Saudi Arabia has long been a source of financial aid for Islamabad. In 2014, the Saudis gave Pakistan $1.5 billion as a “gift” to shore up its foreign reserves.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spent time in political exile in Saudi Arabia in the 2000s, after he was ousted in a military coup.

But Indian officials said the timing was right for Modi’s visit, as relations between Riyadh and Islamabad enter a rough patch.

Pakistan declined to provide ships, aircraft and troops to the Saudi-led fight to halt Iranian-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen last year. It has also sought to avoid taking sides in the escalating dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

“Pakistan knows that relations with Saudi have come to a low. That doesn’t mean that India can fill that gap,” said Zahid Hussain, a former newspaper editor in Pakistan. “But certainly this is part of Modi’s diplomatic offensive in the region.”

92 militants killed during four months, says Balochistan home minister QUETTA STAFF REPORT

Security forces in Balochistan have killed 92 militants, including a key commander, and have conducted 417 targeted operations in the province during the last four months, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said on Friday.

“Security forces in the province have also seized more than 10,000 kilogrammes of explosives and other arms and ammunition,” said Bugti while addressing a press conference.

The home minister said that terrorism will not be tolerated in the province, and stated that during the last four months of operations, 22 Frontier Corps (FC) personnel have been killed and 65 injured.

Referring to the recent arrest of Kulbushan Jadhav from the province, an Indian intelligence officer working with RAW, the home minister reiterated that RAW was active in subversive and terror activities in the province.

The government later aired a confessional video of the Indian spy.

“The RAW agent is being interrogated in connection with terrorist activities in Balochistan,” added Bugti.

Anwar ul Haq Kakar, spokesman

for the provincial government, said the Indian intelligence agency was “hatching conspiracies against China-Pakistan

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Economic Corridor (CPEC).”

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, has

remained under the grip of violence for over a decade which has claimed thousands of lives.

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

NoiSy US welcoMe AS erdogAN deFeNdS HArdliNe STANce WASHINGTON

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the best bet for tackling IS in Iraq and Syria. Turkey says the groups are linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has fought a long battle for Kurdish independence.

Turkish forays into northern Iraq have also strained ties. The White House has been increasingly outspoken in recent months about threats to free speech and democracy in Turkey.

And on Thursday it restated its belief in the need for press freedom in Turkey, amid ugly scenes at an Erdogan speech in the US capital. As the Turkish leader flew in to the US capital ahead of the nuclear safety summit, news broke of another deadly bomb attack targeting police in his country’s southeast, where his forces are battling Kurdish militants.

Against this backdrop his security detail was not amused to find a small group of protesters outside the Washington think tank where he was to speak, brandishing the banners of the YPG, a Kurdish militant group based in Syria.

Ankara regards the YPG as an affiliate of the PKK, Turkey’s main Kurdish

AGENCIES

S President Barack Obama met his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington Thursday, the White House said, amid tensions over press freedom and the war in Syria.

Having previously stated the pair were unlikely to hold sit-down talks — a decision widely perceived as a snub by Washington — the White House said the two men had in fact met on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit. They discussed US-Turkey cooperation on regional security, counterterrorism and migration, it said.

The absence of a presidential meeting on Erdogan’s trip to the US capital had been glaring. The two countries are meant to be close Nato allies in the thick of a fight against the militant Islamic State group in Syria.

But tensions have been stirred by Ankara’s attacks on Kurdish militants, some of whom are seen by Washington as

separatist movement, and has declared it a terrorist threat. Washington sees the YPG guerrillas as key allies in its campaign against IS. Just ahead of Erdogan’s arrival at the Brookings Institute in Washington, Turkish security officials clashed with the crowd — both sides exchanging insults and scuffling — before local police were able to separate them.

The Turkish guards also set about the press. One aimed a chest-high kick at an American reporter attempting to film the harassment of a Turkish opposition reporter, another called a female foreign policy scholar a “PKK whore”. Turkish security tried to prevent two Turkish journalists, one of them working for the opposition daily Zaman that has been seized by the government, from entering.

OUTRAGEd BY TURKISH TACTICS: Brookings staff prevented Turkish officials from driving out the men, who had been invited to cover the event, amid tense scenes.

Meanwhile outside pro-Kurdish demonstrators chanted: “Erdogan, fas-

FOREIGN NEWS 05

cist” and “Erdogan, baby-killer”.

Global watchdog Reporters Without Borders slammed the guards’ “unacceptable behavior”. But Erdogan appeared unruffled as he arrived to give a speech and answer questions, delivering a forceful address in which he ceded no ground to critics at home or abroad.

On the renewed battle with the Kurds, Erdogan was clear — for Turkey, the PKK and the YPG are one and the same, vicious terrorists, and no better than IS. “Terrorists unfortunately keep attacking our country,” he said. “We cannot tolerate this anymore. European countries and other countries, I hope they can see the true face of terrorists in these attacks”.

The nine lives of Donald Trump WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Myanmar army MPs slam bill to create Suu Kyi ‘advisor’ role YANGON: Myanmar military MPs on Friday said a plan to bolster Aung San Suu Kyi’s power with a special advisory role was unconstitutional, as the new civilian government tussled with the army just days after taking office. The Southeast Asian nation was dominated by the military for more than half a century until Wednesday when Suu Kyi and her pro-democracy party took power. The Nobel laureate, whose party secured a landslide election win in November, has vowed to rule the country despite a constitutional block on her becoming president. In a surprise early act of parliamentary business by the new government, Suu Kyi’s party proposed a bill to grant her a special “state counsellor” position. If passed it would give the 70year-old a steering role over parliament, buttressed by the four ministerial posts she already holds in the new cabinet. AGENCIES

Is this week’s Donald Trump controversy the one that will finally derail the bombastic real estate developer’s foray into presidential politics?

Opponents are hoping that unlike previous flaps, the frontrunner in the race for the Republican nomination won’t be able to recover from his statement that women who have illegal abortions should be punished.

Next Tuesday’s primary in the American heartland state of Wisconsin will be an indicator of whether The Donald has finally crossed the line with his supporters, who until now have stood by their man despite controversies that would have torpedoed the political aspirations of most traditional candidates. A poll conducted by Marquette University Law School showed Texas Senator Ted Cruz in the lead in Wisconsin, with 40 per cent support among likely voters, 10 points ahead of Trump.

Ohio Governor John Kasich, the third candidate in the Republican race, had 21 per cent in the poll, which had a margin of error of 5.8 percentage points. The survey was conducted after a week dominated by highly personal attacks between Trump and Cruz, whose wives were dragged into the mudslinging.

In a race where Trump makes headlines seemingly every day, on Tuesday this week his campaign

manager was charged with battery for allegedly grabbing a reporter at a news conference.

Rather than heed calls to fire Corey Lewandowski, Trump has unequivocally backed his top staffer and instead questioned reporter Michelle Fields’s version of events, even suggesting she threatened him by approaching him after the event.

Then on Wednesday, Trump said during an interview with MSNBC that he thought abortion should be banned and women who get the procedure under such a ban should be punished.

After an outcry from all corners of the political spectrum, the reality TV star quickly backpedaled and issued a statement saying the woman should be considered as a victim. In the United States, abortion is a hot-button topic that defines political candidacies and not an issue where a presidential hopeful can afford a gaffe. Not only were Democrats predictably outraged, Trump even managed to antagonize anti-abortion conservatives who say only doctors who perform the procedure should be punished.

“Once again Donald Trump has demonstrated that he hasn’t seriously thought through the issues, and he’ll say anything just to get attention,” the ultraconservative Cruz said. He’s even testing the patience of his most ardent public supporters.

“Do you realize our candidate is mental? It’s like constantly having to bail out your 16-year-old son from

prison,” conservative commentator and until now steadfast supporter Ann Coulter said after Trump tweeted an unflattering photo of Cruz’s wife next to a photo of his own wife, a former model.

The long road to the Republican national convention in July is already littered with controversies over women, Islam and immigrants. It’s not known how much of a factor they played in Trump’s 12 defeats so far.

Although his popularity seems ironclad among the relatively small segment of Republican primary voters, a new survey shows Trump with a 67 per cent unfavorability rating among Americans overall — the most disliked major-party candidate in the 32-year history of the Washington Post-ABC News poll.

But in the last two months, Trump has repeatedly defied political correctness and remained atop the Republican race thanks to supporters who say they admire his business acumen and “refreshing” lack of restraint. In one week in early February, Trump took positions unimaginable for a major Republican candidate: accusing George W. Bush of negligence before the September 11, 2001 attacks, promising to be “neutral” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, publicly clashing with Pope Francis and professing that he liked the principle underpinning President Barack Obama’s health care reform legislation.

WORLD MUST PREVENT TERROR ‘MADMEN’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 Obama was hosting more than 50 world leaders for his fourth and final summit focused on efforts to lock down vulnerable atomic materials to prevent nuclear terrorism. North Korea’s nuclear defiance was also high on the agenda.

He has less than 10 months left in office to follow through on one of his signature foreign policy initiatives.

While gains have been made, many arms-control advocates say the diplomatic process – which Obama conceived and championed - has lost momentum and could slow even further once he leaves the White House in January.

A boycott by Russian President Vladimir Putin, unwilling to join in a US-dominated gathering at a time of increased tensions between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine and Syria, adds to doubts that the meeting will yield any major decisions.

Deadly bomb attacks in Brussels

last month have fueled concern that Islamic State could eventually target nuclear plants, steal material and develop radioactive “dirty bombs”. Militants were found to have secretly videotaped the daily routine of a senior manager of a Belgian nuclear plant, Obama said.

Obama said the required 102 countries had now ratified an amendment to a nuclear security treaty that would tighten protections against nuclear theft and smuggling.

“Our nations have made it harder for terrorists to get their hands on nuclear materials. We have measurably reduced the risks,” Obama said.

But he acknowledged that with roughly 2,000 tons of nuclear material stored around the world, “not all of this is properly secured.”

FOCUS ON IRAN, NORTH KOREA: The United States and Japan also announced they had completed the longpromised task of removing all highly enriched uranium and separated plutonium fuels from a Japanese research project.

Japan is an avowedly anti-nuclearweapons state as the only country ever to have suffered a nuclear attack.

Despite significant strides by Obama in persuading dozens of countries to rid themselves of bomb-making materials or reduce and safeguard stockpiles, much of the world’s plutonium and enriched uranium remains vulnerable to theft.

Earlier on Friday, Obama convened a separate meeting of the world powers that negotiated a landmark nuclear pact with Iran last July, a critical component of his nuclear disarmament agenda and a major piece of his foreign policy legacy. He said efforts to implement the deal, which required Tehran to curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief, had shown “real progress” but it would take time for Iran to reintegrate into the global economy.

Obama inaugurated the first Nuclear Security Summit nearly six years ago, after a landmark speech in Prague in 2009 laying out the lofty goal of a

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world free of nuclear weapons.

After Obama leaves office there is no guarantee his successor, who will be elected in November, will keep the issue a high priority.

For now, however, US experts are less concerned about militants obtaining nuclear weapon components than about thefts of ingredients for a lowtech dirty bomb that would use conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material and sow panic.

US officials said they had no doubt that Islamic State, which controls swaths of Syria and Iraq, was interested in obtaining such materials, but authorities had no explicit evidence that the group had tried to do so.

Also looming over the summit was continuing concern about nuclear-defiant North Korea. Obama joined South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday in vowing to ramp up pressure on Pyongyang in response to its recent nuclear and missile tests.

Erdogan complained that, just because the YPG are fighting against the IS group with Western support, some see them as what he derisively termed “good terrorists” and complained that they have backers in Europe. “I know people are organising, funding meetings, and are assisting in getting arms to those organisations,” he said.

‘INCARCERATEd jOURNALISTS’: The US-led coalition has made no secret of its ties with Kurdish militias in northern Syria, and US officials say they do not regard the YPG as auxiliaries of the PKK, which Washington does deem a terrorist group. Erdogan was also firm in his defence of Turkey’s recent crackdown on the press.

Hijab-shaming French minister spawns Twitter hashtag calling for her resignation PARIS: France’s women’s rights minister Laurence Rossignol has sparked outrage with her recent statement that compared hijab-wearing Muslim women to “negroes who accepted slavery”, reports the BBC. In a TV interview on Wednesday, Rossignol was criticising fashion brands like H&M, Marks & Spencer and Dolce & Gabbana for marketing hijabs, saying that they were “promoting the confinement of women’s bodies,” France 24 reported. When her interviewer noted that some Muslim women choose to wear the hijab, she responded, “Of course there are women who choose it.

There were American negroes who were in favor of slavery.” Since then, there have been calls for her resignation, with a Change.org petition that has amassed over 26,000 signatures and the #RossignolDemission hashtag trending on Twitter. AGENCIES

Amnesty says Turkey ‘forcing refugees en masse’ back to Syria ISTANBUL: Amnesty International accused Turkey on Friday of illegally forcing groups of Syrians to return to their conflict-torn country, saying the alleged expulsions showed the “fatal flaws” in a migrant deal agreed with the European Union (EU). The claim by Amnesty comes just days before Turkey is due to start taking back migrants expelled from the EU under an accord reached last month. The rights group said its research in the south of Turkey suggested the country was forcing around a hundred Syrians to return home on a daily basis. Turkey - which has taken in 2.7 million Syrian refugees since the conflict began in 2011 - has always vehemently denied that any Syrian is forced to go home and insists its “open door” policy remains in place. The government has yet to comment on the latest accusations from Amnesty. “Turkish authorities have been rounding up and expelling groups of around 100 Syrian men, women and children to Syria on a near-daily basis since mid-January,” Amnesty said.

Greece is due on Monday to start sending back to Turkey all migrants, including Syrians, who crossed the Aegean Sea illegally. EU leaders hope the deal will curb the influx of migrants that has plunged Europe into its biggest refugee crisis since the end of World War II. But Amnesty said its revelations showed Turkey was not a “safe country” for refugees. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Thursday confirmed that under the scheme one Syrian refugee would be settled in Europe legally in return for every Syrian migrant sent back to Turkey from the Greek islands. AGENCIES

06 ISLAMABAD

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

WEATHER UPDATES SATURDAY

240C 150C

SUNDAY

250C 170C

MONDAY

230C 160C

govt’s Pet bus Project oPerating with ad hoc monitoring system ISLAMABAD

r

HAmId KHAN WAzIR

AWA L P I N D I - I S L A M ABAD Metro Bus project is operating without a Command and Control Center, despite a lapse of over twoyear – a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre was supposed to be part of the project in order to efficiently run the Metro Bus system.

Despite carrying a price tag of Rs 50 billion, sources said an effective Command and Control system had not been established for the project. Instead, a temporary monitoring system has been put in place at the Metro Bus station at Kashmir Highway.

Construction work on the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus was started on February 28, 2014 with a cost of approximately Rs 44.31 billion including the Rs 5 billion cost of Peshawar

Morr interchange, which was supposed to be completed within one year.

However, the project was delayed mainly due to a lack of planning, which not only escalated the cost of the project, it also invoked strong public criticism, because the routine business was brought virtually to a standstill due to construction work on the project.

So, in order to avoid the criticism and to woo the voters ahead of the local government polls, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had to inaugurate the incomplete project on June 4, 2015.

Sources said the government is taking credit for the completion of project in record time; however, the situation on the ground speaks otherwise, as a lot of the work is yet to be done.

Sources said that the temporary monitoring system for the Metro Bus system did not have an effective mechanism to save the data due to which several complaints remained unaddressed.

Additionally, while the metro bus service has been launched, issues pertaining to drainage of rainwater still remain, resulting in the inundation of the underground bus stations during monsoon rains, besides the seeping water from the ceiling.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Zahoor Shah, an official of Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMBA) confirmed that a temporary monitoring system has been set up at Metro Bus Station on Kashmir Highway, where, he said, everything is being closely monitored.

However, he said the setup did not have a data storage solution, therefore, a separate system had been created for it at an undisclosed location.

The official said that the Metro Bus will have the state-of-the-art Command and Control Center set up in Sadar Rawalpindi within 10 days.

He said that a team of engineers from foreign countries will arrive in

Pakistan within the next four to five days, who will make operational the system, because the local engineers could not install the equipment, which he said had already been imported.

Metro Bus project in-charge Hanif Abbasi could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.

Official spokesman for Metro Bus Service project and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Hafiz Irfan also did not respond to the queries.

The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus is a 22.5 km bus rapid transit system that serves the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The route has 24 stations and it has the capacity to carry 150,000 people daily.

The system uses e-ticketing and Intelligent Transportation System wand. The system is managed by the Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMBA) with the IT part being handled in coordination with Punjab IT Board.

TUESDAY

260C 160C

Lack of quorum marks Last sitting of kP assembLy PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly continued to witness low attendance during the last sitting of the 16th session on Friday and the chair announced to prorogue the session after lack of quorum.

Thirty (24%) legislators were present at the start and 25 (20%) at the adjournment of sitting while none of the agenda item except question hour was taken up by the House.

The House did not consider the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants Retirement Benefits and Death Compensation (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities (Amendment) Bill 2016. The report of Standing Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education was not moved.

The House took up six out of 16 starred questions appearing on the agenda. In addition, lawmakers asked four supplementary questions as well.

Two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) on the agenda were not taken up by the House.

Two Points of Order consumed seven minutes of the proceeding time.

A PTI lawmaker pointed out quorum at 16:22 hours following which the chair ordered the bells to be rung for two minutes. The quorum was found incomplete upon counting and the chair announced to prorogue the session sine die.

Target killer among 25 suspects nabbed in Peshawar PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

At least 25 suspects including three Afghan nationals have been arrested during a search operation in Peshawar.

On a tip-off, the police conducted a door-todoor checking of houses in Faqeerabad area of Peshawar and rounded-up suspects.

Police claimed to have recovered huge cache of weapons, ammunitions and drugs from the suspects’ possession.

The detainees have been shifted to undisclosed location for further investigations.

The identity of detainees could not be ascertained immediately.

Meanwhile, CTD conducted a raid in a hideout located in Bacha Khan Chowk and arrested an alleged target killer.

CTD officials said that the target killer belonged to a banned terrorist outfit and was involved in firing incident on police party in 2014. The target killer’s associate was killed in operation later, while he managed to escape from the scene.

ISLAMABAD: Workers rest at Metro bus station near Parade Avenue which has been closed after it was damaged by religious activists during their demonstration at D-Chowk. ONLINE

Student booked for allegedly taking answer sheet from exam hall RAWALPINDI ONLINE

Punjab CM approves double shift in Pindi primary schools RAWALPINDI STAFF REPORT

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has accorded approval to start double shifts in over 1,000 primary schools at district Rawalpindi.

There will be separate teaching and non teaching staff for these double shifts. Shahbaz Sharif wants maximum enrolment in educational institutions and the step for additional shift in primary schools has been taken in this perspective.

During a review meeting to launched double shifts in primary schools, EDO Education Qazi Zahoor ul Haq said that Malik Ibrar Ahmad MNA had sent a proposal to CM Punjab that double shifts need to be started in all higher secondary, middle and primary schools at District Rawalpindi due to the growing population besides ensuring maxim enrolment of students in the schools in pursuance of CM agenda.

KP to be corruption free soon: Khattak PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that the PTI government is committed to bringing reforms in society as without changing the corrupt system the nation cannot progress and prosper.

He said this while addressing a public gathering at Noshera Kalan on Friday. Provincial Minister Mian Jamshed-ud-Din, MNA Dr.Imram, District Nazim Liaqat Khattak, Naib Nazim Ishfaq Khattak, Tehsil Nazim Sangeen Khan and Naib Nazim Zar Alam Khan were also present on the occasion. While addressing the gathering, the chief minister said that the provincial government was taking strides to transform the system and safeguard rights of the people. He explained that the government, under its reform agenda was committed for rehabilitation of the institutions and improvement of the depreciated system.

The CM said that PTI government had abolished political interference in the affairs of the institutions

and have made them service oriented in the real sense.

He said that interests of the exploiters were attached to the corrupt system while present government had waged a war abolishing system based exploitation.

Khattak while referring to the reforms agenda said, “Attention was being given to improve health and educational institutions for the people with improved and quality services”. He went on to say that record steps had been taken for changing Thana culture and reform of Patwar system in the province. He said that people would soon witness effects reform initiatives.

The CM appealed to the people for unified efforts to get rid of the prevailing unjust system. High standard of the developmental works in the province was maintained. Khattak said that incentives were being given to the industrialists for the promotion of industrialization in the province to provide job opportunities to the people. He hoped that very soon rapid industrialization would take place in the province which he said would help in overcoming unemployment.

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A student has been booked for allegedly taking an answer sheet with him within the Banni police jurisdiction.

Sohaib, Senior superintendent Muslim High School no. 2, lodged a complaint with the local police that Mohammad Tanveer a student had taken the answer copy with him after examination hours.

The police have registered a case and started investigation.

Man booked for threatening traffic warden RAWALPINDI ONLINE

A man has been booked for allegedly hurling life threats and abusing a traffic warden within the Naseerabad police jurisdiction.

Traffic Warden Meherabad Abid Khattack, lodged a complaint with the local police that he was on duty when he signaled Ahmed* driving the car LJ-220 to stop for violating a rule.

Ahmad blocked the main road and started hurling life threats and abusing him..

The police have registered a case and started investigation.

ISLAMABAD 07

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

Citizens protest garbage dumping at Ladies Park RAWALPINDI ONLINE

Citizens are protesting the establishment of Dumping and Transfer Station (DTS) by Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) in the Ladies Park owned by PHA. RWMC has occupied Ladies Park and adjacent area, which was earlier under use of weekly bazaar and set up DTS there. RWMC dumps tons of garbage and filth which is collected from all the localities of Rawalpindi and then shifted through trucks outside the city.

When contacted Raja Hanif advocate said that alternative site will be provided for Ladies Park and walls are being erected around the park.

Malik Ibrar Ahmad MNA said RWMC should not have set up DTS in Ladies Park as garbage could be shifted by parking jumbo vehicles outside the city and directly shifting the garbage to them through small vehicles.

MD RWMC Irfan Qureshi said that he was shifting his office at the site and district management will provide alternative site for Ladies Park in the rear of Moti Mahal cinema.

PHA, RDA, WASA employees, press club members and citizens have demanded that DTS be removed from the Ladies Park.

Three women dead, three hurt as rickshaw falls into Mirpur gorge MIRPUR STAFF REPORT

Three women died and three persons were seriously wounded as a rickshaw fells in a gorge on Friday.

Police said that a Qingqi rickshaw with six people on board skidded off road and fell in a deep ravine in Pothi area of district Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The local people on self-help basis pulled out the bodies and injured from the gorge and shifted them to local hospital.

Three plazas sealed at Chowk Yaadgar over tax evasion PESHAWAR APP

The Excise and Taxation Department Friday sealed three plazas for evasion of tax in the famous Chowk Yaadgar.

According to the taxation department, the plazas were sealed for the second time as owners had reopened these buildings after dislodging the seal.

An application for registration of case against the plazas owners has been registered at Khan Raziq police station.

The department said a total of 108 owners of the commercial buildings have not paid their taxes and so far 60 plazas have been sealed by the tax authorities while action against the remaining was underway.

RAWALPINDI: Policemen check documents of people during a search operation in Workshop area. INP

nisar orders PoLice to ensure arrest of aLL Pos, bLock cnics ISLAMABAD

i

STAFF REPORT

NTERIOR Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday ordered Islamabad police to launch an immediate crackdown against proclaimed offenders and block their CNICs and passports.

The ICT police was also directed to prepare a digital database of all proclaimed offenders in coordination with NADRA. The minister gave these orders while chairing a high level meeting of ICT Police, FIA and other senior officials of Interior Ministry at the Interior Ministry. Secretary Interior, Special Secretary, Secretary CADD, Chairman CDA, Chairman NADRA, Chief Commissioner ICT, and others were also present during the meeting.

INTERIOR MINISTER TELLS OFFICIALS TO PREPARE DIGITAL DATABASE OF ALL PROCLAIMED OFFENDERS Addressing the meeting, Nisar said that besides mutual sharing of database among FIA and Police about the proclaimed offenders, a comprehensive and integrated strategy should be followed to apprehend these criminals and producing them before the courts of law.

The interior minister said that it has been decided that in future no public gathering of any kind will be allowed in D-Chowk. He directed CDA to start dismantling the present structure at D-Chowk immediately so that the whole area is properly redesigned and is made more purposeful. He said that it was quite

unfortunate that the Parade Lane was used for political or other purposes which not only jeopardized the security of entire red zone including that of the important buildings in the vicinity but also created huge inconvenience for the residents and working classes of the federal capital. He directed CADD and Interior Ministry to formulate comprehensive proposal for approval of the cabinet.

The minister underscored critical role of administration and police in maintenance of law & order and ensuring safety and security of public and private properties. He said that any dereliction on part of administration in

performance of their core functions was unacceptable.

The minister also reviewed the progress into the arrests of NADRA employees who were involved into corruption and issuance of CNICs to the foreigners. The minister directed Chairman NADRA and FIA authorities to gear up efforts to purge the organization from all corrupt elements.

It was also decided by the minister to initiate Home delivery Service of passports internationally and provide this facility to Pakistani expats across the globe.

DG-IMPASS informed the minister that Online Renewal Facility of passport was ready to be launched.

He said that initially the facility would be available to Pakistani expats across the globe and later on it would be extended to all major cities of the country.

Education is a child’s basic right: Dr Tariq ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary has said that education is the basic right of each and every child and the government is doing its best to fulfill its constitutional obligation to ensure basic education. He stated this during his address at a ceremony to inaugurate the ‘Drive for the Enrollment of out of School Children’. He said every child in Islamabad will be enrolled in the school. “A special incentive package will be announced for children enrolled in the schools under this drive so that they may continue their education,” he continued. He emphasized, “We will have to ensure the implementation of law to eradicate child labour and bring out of school children back to schools”. He said such enrollment drives should be initiated in every nook and corner of the country so that every child is enrolled in schools. Around 12,000, out of schools children in Islamabad will be enrolled in schools during this drive. A field survey under Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) was conducted to locate out of school children in ICT in 2015. The findings of the survey revealed that there were 11,835 out of school children and the current month long drive is being conducted on its basis. STAFF REPORT

Minor boy electrocuted ISLAMABAD: A security guard checks visitors with the help of a metal detector at the entrance of Margazar Zoo as security of parks and recreational spots has been beefed up after Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park bombing. ONLINE

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RAwALpInDI: A four year old boy died of electrocution after he unintentionally touched electric wires in Kallar Syedan. Babar Hussain, a four year old boy was busy playing in his house when he accidently touched bare wires that caused his death. The boy was laid to rest in a local graveyard. O NL IN E

08 COMMENT

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

What About Lahore?

Missing the nuclear summit And the lack of a foreign minister

Recognition of humanity

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lot of hue and cry has been raised in the West regarding the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, the number of Pakistan’s nuclear assets and alleged dangers posed by miniature nuclear weapons. some of these concerns were voiced in the American media on the eve of the summit also. In a news conference at Pakistan embassy in Washington, Foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhary ably addressed these concerns. But at a time when more than 50 world leaders are attending the summit, few would listen to a Pakistani diplomat. There was need, therefore, for Nawaz sharif to present Pakistan’s case authoritatively before the world. sharif’s presence would have made a difference. his absence was noted by a number of news channels including the FOX. equally important would have been the meeting with world leaders on the sidelines of the summit. President Obama is deeply committed to trying to bring about understanding between countries embroiled in long standing disputes like Japan and North Korea, whose rivalry includes border disputes and extends even to sports. Obama was expected to bring President Park Geun-hye of south Korea and Prime Minister shinzo Abe of Japan together on the sidelines of the summit.

One had expected the summit would provide the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India also an opportunity to interact. This was missed because of Nawaz sharif staying away from the summit. Pakistan having no foreign minister, there was no credible substitute either at the summit.

Absence of a foreign minister has allowed cabinet members having no experience in diplomacy to issue foot-in-the-mouth statements on foreign policy issues causing embarrassment to the government. The irrepressible Ch Nisar is particularly fond of acting as the bull in the China shop, offering free of charge his ‘honest’ but often ill-considered opinion on any foreign policy issue, from Us aid to Bangladesh hangings.

Despite the government having consumed half its tenure, there is still a need to minimise foreign policy losses by appointing a full time foreign minister.

Pressure on Iran?

Faraz TalaT

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here’s long been an unsaid agreement that a death toll in the east is simply a number that tickertapes across the bottom of the news screen. It is a dull, emotionless, and strictly mathematical affair.

Meanwhile, a tragedy in a ‘real’ place like Paris, London, or New York would be accompanied by prayers and dirges from across the world.

A child refugee in Greece attained recognition on the internet after a picture of him went viral, holding a sign that said, “sorry for Brussels”.

The child may well have been sorry for terrorist attacks in Lahore, Baga, or Ankara, but he was under no urgency to demonstrate sympathy for them. I am not accusing the child of double standards. I’m judging a society where Muslimlooking children have to confirm and reconfirm their opposition to terrorism and sympathy for its victims in the West, or risk being counted as “one of them”. The child innocently plays by the rules set by adults in power.

The discrepancy hasn’t gone unnoticed. In the wake of every terrorist attack on Western soil, following a brief period of nearly universal and unconditional condemnation, you may find local social media users asking, “What about Pakistan?”

The Western establishments, and many of their liberal admirers in Pakistan, despise these comparisons. That’s understandable. It sounds like concern-trolling. It feels like the vulgar equivalent of barging into one’s funeral and yelling, “What about MY aunty?”

It is disrespectful, but eastern ‘Whataboutism’ is a natural response to Western ‘Allaboutism’. It’s all about the West – their

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hAT Pakistan would have concerns about any country its enemies use to destabilise it is understandable. And since the Indian spy coughed up Iran a number of times as rAW’s sanctuary and point of entry into Balochistan, Islamabad approaching Tehran concerning the matter is natural. But it is not just what is said that matters in international relations, rather how it is said. And since the interior ministry was charged, for some reason, to approach Iran, the contents of the letter are proof enough, if any was needed, of Ch Nisar’s limited understanding of diplomatic norms.

It is, after all, natural for spy networks to be planted across regions. And unless Ch Nisar is privy to some very sensitive information that has eluded everybody else, it is unlikely that rAW had registered with relevant authorities in Chahbahar before setting up shop. The language of Pakistan’s letter, as rightly noted in Iran, was ‘undignified’ and betrayed a stark disregard for established norms. Then, to make matters worse, the contents of the correspondence were leaked to the local media. And, of course, nobody saw any reason to consult with the foreign office – which is the formal route – before letting the Iranians know how some people in the interior ministry were feeling.

Perhaps the government needs reminding of the historical ties between Islamabad and Tehran. Iran was, after all, the first country to recognise our Islamic republic after partition. And, at least till the shah reigned, they took care of our energy as well as artillery needs. Things have been a little more complicated since we’ve always had to maintain a painful diplomatic balance between saudi Arabia and Iran since the latter’s revolution. But Iran is still best positioned, along with China, to engage in mutually beneficial trade, etc, with Pakistan. hopefully we will not let a few people’s ignorance get in the way of pragmatic thinking.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor I

Faraz Talat is a medical doctor from Rawalpindi and an ardent traveller who writes frequently about science, social politics and international relations.

On ‘chappals’ and extremism Keeping religion out of state affairs

Ch Nisar’s delicate touch

Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963, 042-36375965

economy, their landmarks, and their lives. And an affront to them is perhaps the only real tragedy worth bringing up by name in the international prayer circle. Baga – wherever the hell that is – gets clumped among the ‘Others’.

There are always exceptions. Adele paid a warm tribute to the victims of Lahore attack. A hotel in Dallas displayed the Pakistani flag on its front, and the 3D ‘Toronto’ sign lit up in green and white.

An indicator of how exceptional these recognitions of our humanity are is how giddy they make us. “OMG, did you hear Adele’s tribute to Lahore victims?” There is a sense of excitement that I doubt Belgians or the French understand.

Meanwhile, sarcastic remarks are tossed around the social media, mocking the desi ‘Whatabouters’ for demanding the same acknowledgement and respect that West receives.

A satirical newspaper headline announces that Facebook is urgently creating DP filters for flags of all Muslim countries, in the wake of wide scale accusations of hypocrisy. It’s funny, because lowly beings like us are clearly not worth that hassle. Let the world pile its prayers onto the more meaningful places in the world, like Brussels and Paris. We’ll make do with the occasional wonder of a ‘Toronto’ sign glowing green and white, without getting greedy for more.

It’s fascinating how we have internalised that racism. We’ve made peace with our diminished self-worth as simply the existing order of things that can neither be challenged, nor should it.

The most important thing to note here is not the insufficiency of globally recognised landmarks lit up in Pakistani colours, it is what that insufficiency represents. It indicates a world where all human lives are not equally important, and neither are their losses.

This racist malady has consequences far worse than the lack of celebrity tributes and landmark lighting. If an American predator drone were to strike a wedding at the French riviera in

an attempt to eliminate hidden militants, how many pages of an internationally distributed newspaper would I have to flip through before stumbling on a piece about it?

One could argue that the analogy is unfair, as there are fewer terrorist cells in France than there are in, say, Yemen. And if there were, the French authorities themselves would be a lot more cooperative. But then one could also argue that the poorer nations often find themselves responding to politico-economic conditions beyond their control, set by countries more powerful than them, and that their diminished capacity to handle a crisis isn’t necessarily a green light for violation of international laws by the powerful states.

International laws, after all, are not just light suggestions depending on which country’s sovereignty one intends to violate. They are made to appear irrelevant in places where human life is devalued, and the region is made open to military forays – like in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan – and gruesome political experimentations by foreign powers. syria, for instance, is now in an awkward position where the CIA-armed militia, Fursan-ulhaq, is battling the Pentagon backed syrian Democratic Forces – as reported by Los Angeles Times.

Considering human lives in Brussels as being more significant than human lives in Lahore doesn’t simply mean that Pakistan will get prayed for less often by people around the world.

It also means that the Western powers won’t be as jittery about enacting policies that intensify the suffering of the third world, as they normally would be about causing pain to the French.

Bad foreign policies incite little remorse among the makers in a world neatly divided into the literal upper class of the Northern hemisphere and the cannon-fodder class of the southern. That’s the world where the poorer nations have to constantly beg for the acknowledgement of their humanity.

Umer ali

W

ITh Qadri’s death, the precedent he set by killing salmaan Taseer, many thought might be over. The more optimistic ones hoped this could be the moment from where Pakistan’s journey towards progressiveness would start. even after thousands gathered to offer his funeral, hailing him as a hero, many believed this would be just it. exactly after 27 days of his execution, a large crowd gathered again in the heart of rawalpindi for his chehlum. The mood at procession was different this time. The crowd was almost totally Barelvi and it was evidently angry. It’s interesting to note here that other sects who were owning Qadri post his death did not take part in chehlum – probably because they consider the practice a bid’at.

Demo of their mood was given on the night of chehlum when Junaid Jamshed was thrashed at Islamabad Airport by some angry people who had come for Qadri’s chehlum. Abusing and beating him, they chanted Labaik Ya Rasoolullah in the same breath.

When the ceremony for chehlum was at peak, Barelvi clerics presented a charter of demand before government. The demands were hilariously bad and not even worth negotiating for.

The charged crowd was asked to move towards Islamabad for a sit-in at Capital’s red zone.

Whatever happened afterwards will be written off as yet another failure of a nuclear state to protect the intrusion of few hundred people in the area supposed to be securest in the country. however, the sit-in is over now after four days of melodrama, abuses, throwing chappals at helicopters and of course inciting violence against government officials.

While a bunch of people mourning over the

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208

I

death of a murderer held Islamabad in siege, another man blew himself up with a bomb in a park full of children – the children thinking about delicious food they were going to have were served with ball bearings instead.

The events from last week bring back the extremism question. It is far from over. however, this time, the attention towards a much-ignored phenomenon of Barelvi extremism was paid.

The storm had been brewing for a while. If Amir Cheema’s death was not enough, campaign against Taseer was surely a sign. No heed was paid. The result: violence in capital which jolted the daily life for four days.

Barelvis, who constitute a majority of Pakistan’s population have always taken cover behind the garb of sufism to hide their sectarian mindset.

The protest also had some ironies which should be discussed here. One of the agreed point between government and protesters was to force action against TV channels spreading obscenity and vulgarity. Ironically, the very same clerics didn’t shy away from abusing reporters for asking questions. The videos are easily available on the internet.

Although it was under a coalition, there are reports that the protest was spearheaded by sunni Tehreek.

The News reported last year that sunni Tehreek was placed on the watch-list by the Interior Ministry. “The sT is a sectarian group that has an organised network of armed criminals,” reported Zia-ur-rehman. even more ironic is the fact that sunni Tehreek has been openly blaming PML-N government of playing in the hands of foreign powers, the same PML-N which was about to form an alliance with sunni Tehreek in 2013 elections. “PML-N party chief Nawaz sharif said, during his meeting with sT head sarwat ejaz Qadri, that his party was ready to cooperate with them for the eradication of anarchy in Karachi,” reported Express Tribune.

Back in 2009, sunni Ittehad Council was given $36,607 by the Us aid to organize anti-Taliban rallies. A spokesperson for Us state Department, while taking to Express Tribune confirmed this. “This particular grant supported a successful rally in 2009 at which Pakistanis spoke out against the Taliban, violent extremism, and suicide bombings,” she said.

This recent episode is yet another reminder about how religion must not be dragged in public

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

sphere. secularists in Pakistan have often reiterated the demand which was always met with deaf ears. The current form of Islam, as is interpreted by the clerics, is not applicable in today’s society. ever since and even before Pakistan’s creation, many scholars like Ghulam Ahmed Pervez have been endorsed and even sponsored by the governments to ‘reinterpret’ Islam. Often known as modernists, they worked on presenting a relatively progressive interpretation of Islam.

Ghulam Ahmed Pervez, for instance was considered a close advisor to Jinnah and is said to have contributed in ‘the scheme of Pakistan’, as Khaled Ahmed writes in ‘Behind Ideological Masks’. (Page 129) Interestingly, though, he was against Ahmadis and took pride that his writings about them prompted a case against Ahmadis in 1935. (Behind Ideological Mask) he was awarded Tehreek-i-Pakistan Gold Medal by the Punjab government for his contributions to the Pakistan Movement. Commonly referred to as ‘munkir-i-hadith’ for his doubts in the authenticity of hadiths, he started publishing a journal, ‘Talu-e-Islam’, on the behest of Jinnah and Iqbal. (Behind Ideological Mask, Page 130) In the same way, Fazlur rahman was invited

by Ayub Khan to chair Central Institute of Islamic research, an institute formed by the government itself to work on implementing Islam. It failed to derive any results. Bhutto also experimented with Islam by amalgamating it with socialism, which resulted in highly oppressive legislation like the 2nd amendment.

We are still bearing the effects of Zia’s Islamisation policies and have lost more than 50,000 people to the fight against the menace he created. Musharraf also encouraged a modernist approach towards religion but that too failed.

With the myth of ‘peaceful Barelvis’ standing busted, it has once again vindicated the secularists’ demand of keeping religion out of the state affairs. It has been well-established now that most of the sects, when in power, have the potential of committing violence against state.

Given the polarised and diverse society of Pakistan, public debate on religion will always lead to conflict and chaos. It is about time the government realises the writing on wall.

Umer Ali is a journalist based in Islamabad. He focuses on human rights issues, social problems, and more. He can be reached at: umeraliasghar5@gmail.com, and on Twitter at: @iamumer1 I

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 09

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

Editor’s mail

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No convenience without inconvenience

The politics of religion And its misuse

KhUrshid aKhTar Khan

P

rIMe Minister’s declarations to evolve a liberal society in our country have visibly irked our religious organisations that consider it an intrusion into their domain.

The government tested the waters by executing the court verdict of hanging Governor salmaan Taseer’s assassin Mumtaz Qadri. his funeral was attended by more than a hundred thousand charged zealots where he was hailed as a true martyr (shaheed). Luckily, the ritual event passed peacefully.

The launch of the Women Protection Bill, hurriedly pushed through the Punjab Assembly, proved to be the last straw. some 22 of these diverse groups got together at the Jamat-e-Islami headquarter in Lahore to exhibit a show of strength (and a rare unity).

A unanimous challenge was thrown to the government to withdraw the bill, or else. It was soon followed by the JUI-F chief’s unambiguous warning at a press conference that they may not have a numerical majority in the parliament, but they have enough strength to derail the government at will.

Perhaps the PML-N did not take the warning from its political and parliamentary ally too seriously. The Punjab administration timidly succumbed to all demands and allowed the chehlum of Mumtaz Qadri to be held at such a large scale in the heart of rawalpindi. The Islamabad administration and the interior ministry also naively placed excessive confidence in the verbal and written assurances of the organisers that the assembly will disperse peacefully at the conclusion of the ceremony. If any precautionary, monitoring and contingency measures were planned for action, they proved totally ineffective. The intelligence gathering was inadequate and perhaps even misleading. The level of flaming passions and the intents were underestimated.

A repetition similar to the 126-day PTI siege of D-Chowk and red zone was allowed to reoccur. Obviously, we never learn from history and never make amends to our mistakes.

The outcome has been devastating.

Normal activities in Islamabad were crippled for four days. The mob leaders fearlessly made inflammatory speeches against

the government and drew an unlikely parallel to the siege to Jang-e-Badar and Karbala. We provided the whole world (and our public) another spectacle to classify us as an ungovernable state where small groups of agitators can create a chaos that can potentially topple the government and the state does not possess the capacity to preempt or prevent them.

Almost seven decades later since our inception in 1947, our people are still divided over the philosophy of the existence of our nation in the Islamic republic. Time and again minority religious groups have sought to assert themselves over the majority by using religion as a political tool. historically, the Islamic religious groups of various schools of thought in undivided India had conscientiously objected to the carving out of a new state for Muslims from the hindu majority India. This was based on the doctrine of Islamic state to be universal with no boundaries. It is the same concept that is now propagated by the Taliban and the IsIs. The same groups that had opposed the ideology of Pakistan have prospered in the new state. some of them have persisted in confusing us in an ideological (but politically motivated) coercion.

Ironically, it was a flamboyant, strong, liberal and secular leader such as Mr Z A Bhutto who were instrumental in setting this trend. he surrendered to the pressure from the religious parties and got the status of Qadianis constitutionally redefined as non-Muslims through an act of Parliament in 1974 (although this community had overwhelmingly voted for the PPP). Later in 1977, he prohibited the sale of alcohol and made Friday a weekly holiday in order to appease the right wing PNA movement. For the first time, the position of the religious parties as a political force was reinstated and their confidence was restored. They have never looked back.

General Ziaul haq reinforced it further and pushed the nation further into religious fundamentalism. scared by communism knocking on our door and the influx of refugees, he chose to interfere in Afghanistan by assisting the resistance to the russian occupation. This region was not on the Us radar of primary interests till 1980. As luck would have it, a Texan Congressman by the name of Charlie Wilson was heading a delegation visiting Islamabad. Almost at the last minute, General Zia managed to persuade him to visit the refugee camps in the vicinity of Peshawar and witness human sufferings there.

The politician sensed an opportunity of personal glory and returned to lobby the American Congress for funds to supply military equipment and anti-aircraft weapons to the Afghan fighters to combat the communists. CIA was happy to get funding to launch its biggest ever covert ‘Operation Cyclone’ that continued both during the Carter and reagan administrations. Our religious leaders termed it a jihad against the infidels and encouraged students from their seminaries to join the Afghans in their armed struggle. This jihad has never left its footprints from our lives since.

The soviets decided to withdraw, accepting the invasion of Afghanistan a mistake. But the Americans never really left as they had to capitalise on their investment by turning this region into a playing field for their covert and overt networks. Our country was saddled with millions of Afghan refugees playing havoc with our social imbalance, crime and terror. The returning mujahideen were now jobless with a highly developed taste and skills in guerilla warfare and the deeply ingrained concept of jihad that has since grown to become the most misinterpreted element of our religion.

Their comradeships developed during the Afghan fighting gave birth to the Pakistani version of Taliban that has claimed sympathies and patronage of most religious and a few of our political parties.

They had access to arms suppliers and sanctuaries in our tribal areas extending deep into the country. These misguided souls have sought to legitimise, under the head of their version of jihad, all evils like torture, kidnapping, rape, murder and sacrificing young children in suicide bombings. A few seminaries such as Lal Masjid collected large cache of arms and ammunitions and assumed the role of a state within a state. They have become so powerful and inaccessible that even an army dictator, such as General Pervez Musharaf, and the two successive governments (and our judicial system) have failed to dislodge this and other banned organisations. somehow, democracy has come to be interpreted as a free for all in our country.

Our state has failed to define, control and impose limitations on the speech or actions that go beyond or infringe on national security or national interests. Provocative speeches from the pulpits were tolerated. seminaries were allowed to function unchecked and receive substantial foreign funding utilised to promote sectarian differences. Anti-state elements, attacking security installations and mercilessly killing innocent men, women and even young children, were embraced as faithful Muslims. Periodic attacks on schools, parks and markets killing scores and injuring hundreds are accepted with symbolic customary grief but an outrage and the public determination to eliminate these people from our ranks has sadly failed to emerge.

Our religious organisations have grown so powerful and resourceful that they can challenge the writ of the government and seek influence in major policy decisions.

Governments are run by actions and not opinions. The West could not develop economically until it separated church from the state. We also have to understand that religion is a matter between man and Allah.

Ulema’s job is to spread knowledge (ilm). statecraft is better left with the politicians.

It is time to start a serious public debate on how we can introduce reformation to separate the role of religion from state.

Khurshid Akhtar Khan is an engineer and an entrepreneur. He can be contacted at: k.a.k786@hotmail.com

INFrAsTrUCTUre development has a cost that its people have to pay in order to get the fruitful results in the future. People belonging to different segments of life are complaining these days about the on-going construction of Orange Line Metro Train. They complain that they have to face inconvenience and traffic problem. But if we must and we should think sensibly as a responsible nation then we would understand that mega projects like OLMT cannot be completed overnight. It would take some time for the completion. We have to be patient to see the results first before criticizing any project. The number of commuters will be 250,000 in the beginning and will increase to 500,000 in the future which is a huge sum. Keeping in mind this figure, it won’t be difficult to bear the difficulties now as it will benefit the common man especially the unprivileged members of the society.

Many people commute at the very same moment in developed countries like england, America, India etc. Government of Punjab is taking steps to set an example for other provinces by introducing projects like Orange Line Metro Train which would provide the transportation system free from environmental pollution. People will get rid of wagons.

The route will begin from Ali Town to Thokar Niaz Baig, Multan road, Canal view, hunjarwaal, Wahadat road, Aiwan Town, sabzazar, shahnoor studio, Bandh road, samanabad, Gulshan e ravi, Chauberji, Lake road, GPO, Lakshmi Chowk, Maclode road, railway station, sultan pura, UeT, Baghbanpura, shalamar Bagh, Pakistan Mint, Mehmood booti, salamat pura, Islam Park to Dera Gujran. The interesting thing about Orange Line Metro Train is this that it passes through the remotest areas which clearly shows the motivation and dedication of the government for the not-so-privileged segment of the society. Beneficiaries of this project will be middle class and lower middle class. This gives us hope for the better and prosperous future.

WAJEEHA AHMAD Lahore

Educational problems PAKIsTAN’s literacy rate is decreasing continuously as the schools have not kept up with the population explosion. A major proportion of this population resides in the rural areas of the country, where there is a lack of adequate educational facilities. students have to travel to cities on a daily basis and those who cannot afford it give up on education altogether.

Another reason for growing illiteracy is the lack of awareness among the masses. People do not understand the importance of education in the world of 21st century. Child marriages are still a norm in our society, the idea of which sounds outdated in the advanced countries. We have to motivate people to send their children to schools.

MUHAMMAD ZOHAIB SHAHID GIKI, Topi

Banana capital WhAT a coincidence, when Nawaz sharif was scheduled to arrive in Washington to attend the fourth and final Nuclear security summit, he was chairing meetings in Islamabad on proposals to break the Islamabad’s siege.

Whether you call it compromise or complicity in crime — a violent mob was permitted to enter the capital and lay siege around the most sensitive part of the red Zone. Mob gave full opportunity to the outside world to finger point the gaps in our nation’ security protocol. And what we ended in showing the world — we negotiate with goons whose profanity-laced speeches and slogans can’t be watched even on social media, let alone on electronic media, we enter into dialogue with so-called religious leaders who openly incite the crowd for violence against prime minster, army chief, chief justice, interior minister, we tried to pacify those characters who proudly lead destruction of public and private property worth of tens of millions. It reinforces the suspicion that the infamous doctrine of good and bad Taliban is not yet dead; it’s very much here but portrayed differently.

May I dare ask few questions? Why Mumtaz Qadri (MQ) was allowed to be buried in the proximity of Islamabad; his burial place has become a permanent security threat for the capital; why the warning issued by intelligence agencies on possible entry of mob in Islamabad on MQ chehlum were ignored; why police and rangers gave safe passage to a violent crowd to enter Islamabad while destroying whatever it found in that 10 KM long patch; why LeAs didn’t come into action other than guarding few vital buildings; what precedents the crowd left for the next sit-in: use obscene and profanatory language, incite and charge the crowd for violence and then enjoy the hospitality in Punjab house and shine in the electronic media? religious leaders say it was just a trailer, full picture yet to come.

That’s why the Nuclear security summit may not be final one; more to come, thanks to our compromises on security issues.

MASOOD KHAN Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Rats and cats playing in democracy The D-Chowk drana in Islamabad has once again shown the bankruptcy and helplessness of our government. No lessons were learnt from the months-long sit-in of Imran Khan’s and Tahirul Qadari crowd that had devastated public places in the capital, destroyed state and private property and brought normal everyday life to a standstill. Instead of preventing the same thing not to happen again the government and police were seen looking the other way when another horde invaded the same place occupying it for four full days and spitting and shitting and littering around. Again properties were damaged; again normal life was put on halt.

Where was Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali when all this happened? For three days he went undercover and was not seen or heard of. Why did he allow the same thing to happen again? It is also a scandal that this government is negotiating with miscreants like those who occupied DChowk. What is there to negotiate? Now Ch Nisar is saying that it would not be allowed to happen again in future. Well, that sounds not very credible. If he was able to do that why hasn’t he done it in this case? And while knowing that the police force is corrupt, untrained and rather sympathetic with the trouble makers how will he prevent it from happening again?

This government has lost all creditability people doubt their intentions. Their governance record in dismal with no improvement in sight. It is high time for them to leave the stage.

ALI ASHRAF KHAN Pakistan

10 BUSINESS CORPORATE CORNER as climate change heats up, diamond Jumbolon offers energy efficiency solutions

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

KSE-100 indEx up by 1 pEr cEnt during January-March 2016 KARACHI

p

LAHORE: Let’s face it. Insulation is not fun nor do homeowners think about it often. Especially in Pakistan, people prefer to choose comfy furniture, pick out paint colors or select appliances. But an international workshop on Climate Change and Building Design recently exploded interesting benefits of home insulation. “We use only the highest quality insulation products to maximize your home’s comfort, savings and energy efficiency,” Nisar Mohyudin, spokesman for Diamond Jumbolon, said during his lecture at the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore. PRESS RELEASE

bahria town celebrates Spring tree plantation 2016

RAWALPINDI: Environment/Horticulture Department welcomed the Residents to the “Spring Tree Plantation Drive 2016” at Bahria Town, Rawalpindi. A large number of Jatropha integerrima and Schinus molle saplings were planted on this occasion. Vice Chief Executive Bahria Town, Cdre Muhammad Ilyas graced the occasion as Chief Guest. He shared his thoughts about the long-lasting impact of trees on our environment and also aimed at planting up to 900,000 trees in all Bahria Town Projects during the current year. Men, women and children from all the phases of Bahria Town actively participated in this campaign. We hope that this tree plantation drive will enable a better future; a cleaner, greener and healthier Pakistan. PRESS RELEASE

ARSHAD HUSSAIN

AkISTAn Stock Exchange(PSX) benchmark kSE-100 index increased by 1 per cent (1% in US$) in the first quarter (January-March) of 2016 as lower than expected oil prices in the local market and continued foreign selling kept the market in check.

Price of companies (Share value) of kSE-100 index, however, declined 1 per cent (-0.9% in US$) during the period under review. Further, MSCI Pakistan Index was down 2.6 per cent while MSCI Frontier Market (FM) Index was down 2.5 per cent during January-March 2016. Pakistan has outperformed its Asian peers in terms of market performance. It outperformed Sri Lanka, which fell by 13 per cent (in US $ terms) and also Vietnam and Bangladesh, which fell 2 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively.

Continuous foreign selling has kept market under pressure. Foreigners’ net selling in January-March 2016 was $100.6 million according to national Clearing Company Pakistan Limited (nCCPL)’s data. Foreigners have been net sellers (on monthly basis) since July 2015, however quantum in outgoing month was lowest since then. This led the kSE-100 index to rise by 5.6 per cent in March 2016, which is the highest monthly increase during the last 5 months.

Asian stocks have shown a mixed picture as some Asian markets including Thailand and Indonesia increased by double digits, 12 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. Further, even though MSCI FM index was down by 2.6 per cent MSCI Emerging Markets (EM)

index was up 5.4 per cent.

Volumes continued to remain dry during first quarter of 2016. Average daily volume in cash market was Rs 7.4 billion ($71 million) during the last quarter. This compares unfavorably with 2015 average daily volume of Rs 11.4 billion ($111 million).

“Continued low volume is considered negative development in Pakistan especially for local traders. Range bound market and regulatory restrictions have affected market activity,” said Saad Hashmi, analyst at Topline brokerage house.

Though there has been some political noise at the local front, he said, it as a major cause of concern. Army operation especially in karachi has resulted in snapping of militant wings of different political parties. After recent catastrophic event in Lahore, which led to multiple fatalities in a public park, army operation in Punjab has also been initiated to root out terrorist elements in the province.

WB lends $100m for more and better jobs in Pakistan

gree launches smart new gree Viola inverter ac with 60 percent less power consumption LAHORE: Gree – Most popular and leading brand of air-conditioners in Pakistan, has introduced high energy-efficient smart-inverter Airconditioning technology that saves 60 percent of the energy, compared with the regular ACs It promises an Energy Efficiency Ratio of 4.0 (E.E.R). Gree products are distributed in Pakistan by DWP Group. Gree has recently announced the availability of its new ‘Viola’ smart-Inverter AC across Pakistan. Gree Viola Inverter AC has both options of cooling and heating. It is a European Compliant AC available in 1 Ton (12000 BTUS), 1.5 Ton (18000 BTUS) & 2 ton (24000 BTUS) capacities, using the latest, very powerful G10 inverter. PRESS RELEASE

habib university hosts 1st international Experiential Education pakistan conference

KARACHI: With the optimistic note that Pakistan has a better outlook for human resource development, Pakistan’s first ever International Experiential Education Conference held to reshape the learning scenario of the country. International Gurus of Experiential Learning attended the event, held at Habib University, from United Kingdom, Australia and United States, personally and virtually along with 100+ executives of multinational, university teachers and students. The thrilling Experiential Education event was held with the purpose of Uplifting the Educational Experience of Pakistan, with focus on switching learning as a priority from ‘just reading or listening’ to “doing reflectively”. Speaking on occasion, Advisor in World Bank Zaigham Rizvi was of the view that Pakistan had the capacity to export up to 3 million youth as manpower to the world and it can happen only if we are learned. PRESS RELEASE

Pakistan macroeconomic indicators continue to show improvement. As per recent quarterly report by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), stable exchange rate, adequate foreign exchange reserves, low current account deficit and low inflation rate are leading indicators for a better economic environment, he added.

Further, he said concerns on external debt servicing have been rejected by both the SBP and Ministry of Finance as these are not more than $6 billion of debts maturing per annum till 2020. The analysts believed that Pakistani market’s potential inclusion in MSCI emerging market will be a key trigger that can potentially take the local market’s PE in the 9.0-9.5x range.

For the time being, global markets’ crude oil price trend and foreign activity will remain a key driver for the Pakistani market.

Other factors to look at are the pace of economic recovery, currency devaluation and political stability in the country.

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The World Bank approved a loan of $100 million on Thursday to improve the investment climate in Punjab and create more and better jobs, thus contributing to reducing unemployment and poverty in Pakistan. This will be the first IBRD loan after Pakistan became eligible again.

The Punjab government’s Jobs and Competitiveness Programme will undertake reforms to reduce the cost and risks of doing business,

improve laws affecting labor, in particular to encourage women’s employment. Women’s labour force participation will be increased by reforming discriminatory policies, for example the Factory Act, which restricts women’s employment in manufacturing. Additional support services in industrial estates, such as daycare and transport facilities for working women, are also planned.

The programme will promote private sector-led development by making it easier to register a new business, getting construction permits, property registration and contract en-

forcement. “There are one million new entrants to the labour force every year in Punjab.

It is extremely important to increase domestic and foreign investment to ensure there are more and better jobs especially for youth and women,” says World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Illango Patchamuthu.

The programme aims to build the capacity and systems for supporting infrastructure such as industrial estates and central effluent treatment plants through public-private partnerships. It will also support industrial clusters with high growth potential. “This programme will help the government coordinate and leverage scarce public funds for maximum impact in supporting industrial infrastructure and growth,” says Fatima Shah, World Bank Co-Task Team Leader of the programme. One measure for gauging the programme’s effectiveness will be the increase in foreign investments that Punjab Board of Investment will attract.

“Entrepreneurs and workers will both benefit from increased social and environmental compliance as well as technological upgrading which will increase productivity as well as market access to global buyers,” says Vincent Palmade, World Bank Co-Task Team Leader of the programme. This loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is a variable spread loan with a maturity of 18.5 years, including a grace period of 4.5 years.

LAHORE: British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew, Chairman Nishat Group Mian Mohammad Mansha, CEO Nishat Mills Ltd Mian Umer Mansha and guests at Pakistan’s groundbreaking retail platform The Emporium Mall. PR

CMYK

BUSINESS 11

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

adb approves $197m loan for pakistan’s highways rehabilitation

MiniStry of pEtrolEuM dirEctS oMcS to EnSurE Supply of pEtrol and diESEl

KARACHI

KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a project loan of nearly $197 million to continue rebuilding highways and bridges damaged in Pakistan’s worstever floods in 2010, according to ADB report issued from Manila.

The funds will also be used to train staff in disaster management units at the national Highway Authority (nHA), giving them the ability to respond more quickly and effectively to natural disasters which have been growing in frequency and severity in recent years.

“Along with the terrible loss of lives and property, the 2010 floods destroyed or damaged the road network in 80 of 110 districts across the country, leaving communities isolated from markets and vital services, with severe consequences for peoples’ livelihoods and well-being,” said Zaigham naqvi, ADB’s project officer for transport in the Central and West Asia Department.

“ADB has been helping Pakistan rebuild its infrastructure since the floods, and this assistance will complete work on highways earmarked for rehabilitation, supporting the economic and social recovery of communities in affected areas.” Roads are the key mode of transport in Pakistan, accounting for more than 90% of passenger travel and freight movements, and the sector as a whole makes up about 10% of the economy and provides about 2.3 million jobs. The funds will be used to repair and rehabilitate a number of sections of road, over 200 km of the national highway network, as well as 33 bridges.

This will improve transport links both for local communities and other travellers along the route, who currently have to endure temporary bridges and other makeshift measures to travel.

ADB has supported road improvements in Pakistan for several decades, with a strong focus since 2005 on economic corridor routes, which aim to boost trade, investment and tourism flows both internally, and with neighboring countries.

It has also supported wide-ranging reforms, allowing the nHA to establish a road maintenance fund and a road asset management system, as well as take steps to improve road safety. The project, which includes counterpart assistance of $21.9 million from the government of Pakistan, will run for about 4 years with an estimated completion date of September 2020.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members - 48 from the region.

M

ARSHAD HUSSAIN

InISTRY of Petroleum and natural Resources Friday directed all the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to ensure supply of all petroleum products in Faisalabad and other parts of Punjab.

Taking notice of the complaint of District Coordination Officer Faisalabad, the Ministry of Petroleum has asked the OMCs and Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) to maintain adequate stock of gasoline and high speed diesel at Faisalabad/Gatti depot and addition supplies of petroleum products may be made at retail outlets in Faisalabad district and other parts of Punjab to avoid any untoward situation.

The petroleum secretary has shown serious concern and directed all OMC’s that whenever district management invites them for a meeting, all OMCs

shall ensure to attend and resolve all issues amicably.

The Faisalabad district coordination officer has sent a letter to the Punjab secretary and Industries and Commerce and Investment Department Civil Secretariat Lahore, in lodging a complaint

about the severe shortage of POL products over the last three days.

In the letter it was stated that in view of expected increase in the prices of petrol and diesel by OGRA towards the end of the previous month, severe shortage of the petroleum products was

seen in the whole district of Faisalabad.

In this connection, when he called a meeting of OMCs to ensure smooth supply of petroleum products to the general Public throughout the district on March 26, no one except Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Attock Petroleum Ltd participated. In the meeting the supply position of all the companies during the current and preceding months was reviewed which clearly showed that major share of POL/diesel supply to Faisalabad was not up to mark except for PSO, Chevron and TPPL. The letter further added that the companies like Attock, Byco, Shell, Total, Askar, Hascol and Bakri are not supplying their due share in the market since last week, the letter said.

The letter further claimed that if the situation remains the same in the upcoming days, the PSO will have to bear the burden of supply of Petrol/Diesel in the district. If the supplies drop, the situation is likely to create unrest in the public at large.

Pakistan Inflation Review: March 2016 CPI in-line with expectation at 3.9%

KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for the month of March 2016 clocked in at 3.9 per cent year on year (YoY), which was in-line with analyst estimates and slightly below February inflation of

4 per cent. On MoM basis, inflation increased by 0.15 per cent in March 2016 compared to a decline of 0.25 per cent during the previous month.

Despite low monthly inflation, inflation sustained at around 4 per cent for two months in a row because of low base effect of last year. This is now ex-

pected to wear off for the remaining months. It should be noted that inflation had collapsed during the fourth quarter 2014 on the back of lower oil and other commodity prices.

Food, whose weight is 35 per cent of CPI Index, was up on monthly basis by 0.53 per cent. On MoM basis, increase

was seen in chicken (up 13.9 per cent), fresh fruit (up 8.31 per cent) and potatoes (up 1.6 per cent). Food items which showed decrease on MoM basis were tomatoes (down 18.7 per cent), eggs (down 16.6 per cent) and tea (down 7.6 per cent). During the nine months of 2015-16, headline CPI inflation averaged 2.64 per cent as against 5.14 per cent during the same period last year, driven by lower oil and food prices.

Analysts expect inflation to come down as low base effect of last year wears off. They expect June 2016 inflation at around 3 per cent. The average inflation for 2015-16 was 2.75 per cent, below State Bank of Pakistan’s inflation range of 3-4 per cent.

Looking forward into 2016-17 and assuming MoM inflation of 0.4 per cent, inflation for fiscal year 2016-17 is expected in the range of 3-5 per cent with average for the period of around 4 per cent. Given the above mentioned inflation outlook, analysts continues to expect SBP to further reduce policy rate by 50 basis points to 5.5 per cent during 2016. Energy price hike and/or reversal in commodity price trend remain key risks that can adversely affect inflation outlook, the analyst said.

BANK OF PUNJAB AND ZTBL SIGN HOME REMITTANCE DISBURSEMENT AGREEMENT LAHORE PRESS RELEASE

With a view to facilitate beneficiaries of the Home Remittances and help improve financial inclusion in the country, The Bank of Punjab (BOP) and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd. (ZTBL) entered into a milestone agreement which will enable both the institutions to share their vast branch network, technologies and expertise. A formal ceremony to mark the said auspicious occasion was held at the Head Office of BOP which was attended by Mr. naeemuddin khan, President/ CEO BOP, and Syed Talat Mahmood, President ZTBL, along with key executives of both the institutions.

In light of the said agreement, The Bank of Punjab along with its own network of 400+ branches will now also utilize network of 400+ branches of ZTBL for disbursement of Home Remittances, thereby instantly doubling the disbursement points for beneficiaries. Besides providing convenience to the beneficiar-

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ies, the said venture would also provide a unique learning opportunity for the human resource of both the esteemed organizations.

While speaking on the occasion, Mr. naeemuddin khan said that The Bank of Punjab always strives to be a preferred financial partner for all, offering unmatchable and best remittance services in the country. While holding its customers in highest esteem, the Bank always endeavors for personalized services for Home Remittance beneficiaries at their door steps through its strategic presence across the country. He said that ZTBL has a unique and diverse branch network and Home Remittance disbursement agreement with an organization having established footprint in agriculture sector would prove to be a breakthrough event in offering better services to the beneficiaries of Home Remittances. He also mentioned that The Bank of Punjab has an online network of 405 branches offering range of products and services specially tailored and designed to cater needs of

customers. While Islamic Banking Operations were initiated in 2013 under the brand name of “Taqwa Islamic Banking”, the Bank has also launched several Alternative Delivery Channels initiatives such as Branchless Banking, SMS Banking and Phone Banking etc.

While speaking on the occasion, Syed Talat Mahmood said that since its inception ZTBL has been dedicatedly working for the technical and financial facilitation of its customers. In last two years, ZTBL has opened 59 new branches in the rural area of the country to provide financial assistance to the farmers at their door steps and the Bank is now handling banking needs of over 1 million customers. The Bank now has a network of over 438 branches and 38 Zonal offices spanned across the country, particularly in rural areas. He also said that collaboration with BOP is one of the initiatives taken by the present Management.

Further, ZTBL has already started Mobile Phone Banking with collaboration of U Microfinance Bank and ATMs installation has been started with the help of nBP.

12 WORLD VIEW

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

Erdogan dEfiEs amErica Politico eU

T

nahal Toosi

URKEY’S president has heard the growing chorus of American criticism directed his way. But he’s still confident he’s doing everything right.

In a highly defensive speech at Brookings Institution in Washington on Thursday, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan chided the West for separating “good terrorists” from “bad terrorists,” described his crackdown on journalists as a crackdown on terrorism, and said he had no problem with criticism, but would keep prosecuting anyone who “insulted” him.

The speech began late after scores of anti-Erdoğan protesters gathered outside the think tank, some of whom clashed with the Turkish leader’s security guards, according to reporters at the scene. At least one journalist also was caught in the chaos, media reports indicated. The gathering also took place amid reports that a car bomb, possibly planted by Kurdish militants, had killed several police officers in Turkey.

Erdoğan spent much of his speech slamming the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, which the U.S. and Turkey have designated as a terrorist group. The Turkish military is engaged in

a major fight with the separatist group, which it blames for a string of attacks.

Some observers fear the violence could spiral into a civil war.

The Turkish leader also blasted the U.S. and other countries for refusing to accept that the PKK had strong links to Kurds fighting the Islamic State terror network in Syria and Iraq. He alleged that there were people in Europe funneling money and weapons to the Syrian Kurdish groups, such as the PYD and the YPG. “For us, the YPG and PYD are equal to the PKK,” Erdoğan insisted in his speech, which was in Turkish and conveyed through a translator.

The U.S. views the Kurds fighting in Syria as perhaps the most potent force against the Islamic State, and it has hesitated to drop its support for them despite Erdoğan’s appeals. Erdogan, who also condemns the Islamic State, has been more concerned about pushing Syrian dictator Bashar Assad out of power.

Numerous people in Turkey have been charged with insulting the president over the past year, a development that has chilled the media in particular.

This was one of the points brought up in an open letter to Erdoğan released Wednesday by nearly 50 U.S. foreign policy specialists, including former ambassadors to Turkey, who said they worry about

where Erdoğan is taking the country.

The State Department has expressed “concern” about Erdoğan’s actions. President Barack Obama, too, is reported to be disappointed in Erdoğan and his autocratic tendencies. But the U.S. as a whole treats Turkey, a critical ally and fellow NATO member, very cautiously because it needs its support in the fight against the Islamic State.

Erdoğan, who has been either prime minister or president of Turkey since 2003, said during a short question and answer session after his speech that some of his detractors go too far, accusing him of crimes and other actions he cannot simply ignore.

“Criticism I have no problems with, but when it comes to insult and defamation, of course I have problems,” Erdoğan said. “I would thank each and every one of those who criticize me, but if they were to insult me, my lawyers will go and file for a lawsuit. Insult is something different than what criticism would stand for and would lead to. Insult is not humane. Criticism is very humane.”

As far as his government’s clampdown on journalists, Erdoğan insisted that it’s all part of Turkey’s effort to stop terrorism. The “supposed journalists,” Erdoğan said, had ties to alleged terrorist groups, including the PKK. “Inside the Turkish prisons there are no Turkish journalists who have been in-

Europe must adapt to a dangerous world YaleGlobal Daniel Twining

The terrorist attacks in Brussels on March 22, following those in Paris last November, mark a turning point in the modern history of Europe. The European Union had already been weakened by a perfect storm of crises – the hemorrhaging of the eurozone, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Biblical tide of Middle Eastern refugees and the growing threat of “Brexit.” A terrorist sanctuary in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels, the very heart of Europe, only underlines the grim reality that the European Union must adapt to new forces transforming global politics or risk the fate of previous imperial experiments to unite the continent, all of which ended in failure.

Critics go too far when they call Belgium the Afghanistan of Europe, though both Belgian and European authorities underestimated the dangers posed by what the BBC calls “gangster jihadists” – criminal young men radicalized by the war in Syria who used Brussels, where one quarter of the population is Muslim, as a base of operations for a string of attacks in Europe.

More broadly, it appears that leaders intent on building Europe into a “post-modern” superpower have their priorities wrong – a fundamental shift to make Europe secure and geopolitically competitive is essential to sustain the viability of the European Union.

Europeans need to wake up to geopolitics – positioning their union to master these rather than be victim. After the terrorist assault of September 11, 2001, the United States dramatically increased intelligence and military spending; it created the Department of Homeland Security, broke down barriers between the internal (FBI) and external (CIA) security services, and enacted the Patriot Act to enable effective surveillance of potential terrorists. The nation leveraged military force and local allies to end what at the time was the world’s largest terrorist sanctuary, in Afghanistan, assembling a globe-spanning coalition to defeat Al Qaeda, and threatened war with Pakistan if its leader did not join the campaign.

Critics accused the United States of overreach with its “war on terror,” including the invasion of Iraq, but that outcome was certainly preferable from the US perspective to further attacks on American cities.

By contrast, Europe barely has a grip on its terrorist problem. Rampant homegrown jihadism was not created without context. Rather, it germinated in the fertile soil of the conflict in Syria, which

spawned the Islamic State terror group, ISIS and inspired the Paris and Brussels attacks. Thousands of young European men traveled to Syria to fight and have returned home, radicalized, to segregated ethnic enclaves in European capitals.

Many more European Muslims have not fought on the ISIS front, but are mobilized, falling prey to the terrorist group’s effective use of propaganda, including claims that it is defending its “caliphate” against morally debased Westerners and those of apostate Arab regimes. More recently, ISIS has enjoyed sanctuary in Libya, following a European-led intervention followed by retreat rather than prudential investments in nation-building.

Yet no European country is pushing for decisive action to address the conditions in the wider Middle East that export terrorism into the continent. France came the closest when it prepared to join the United States in attacking Bashar alAssad’s regime in Syria in 2013. But when US President Barack Obama walked back from his own “red line” over the regime’s use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians and deferred military action, Europeans decided that they could not act alone.

European leaders cannot simply tend a garden at home while the wilderness around them burns; they must pursue a shaping strategy to the south that addresses the conflicts producing both domestic terrorism and a refugee crisis that threatens to overwhelm their own citizens’ tolerance. This is also true of the crisis to Europe’s east, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine was precipitated by a decision by Ukrainian leaders to pivot west toward Europe and away from Moscow’s embrace. Russian forces regularly challenge NATO defenses. The wolf is at the door, yet most European nations still do not meet the NATO standard of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense.

By default, this leaves European security mainly in the hands of the Americans, whose military spending accounts for three-quarters of the NATO total. The US security guarantee has created a cocoon in which Europeans constructed an economic and political union while neglecting dangers from without and within.

To get a grip on the multiple security crises, European leaders must return to the world of great power competition.

This does not mean a rerun of military mobilization, in the style of “Guns of August” and the early onslaught of World War I. It does mean expanding national and joint capabilities and demonstrating strategic initiative to deal with dangers that risk ripping the current European order apart at the seams, as another crisis threatened the European order of 1914.

The impressive mandarins who run the European Commission and other EU institutions have done much to make Eu-

rope economically competitive and improve public welfare. They have built the world’s largest common market and trading economy, making the EU an economic superpower. Together with national leaders, they have ensured that most European citizens enjoy cradle-tograve welfare and health benefits, the world’s most generous. They have dramatically improved the lives of citizens through measures like the Schengen zone of visa-free travel and deregulation of airline markets to render affordable Mediterranean vacations for the masses.

It is now time for EU and elected national politicians to take the same zealous, systematic and enlightened approach to European security. The immense gains in public welfare produced

by European integration are unsustainable if people feel threatened by the continuing risk of violent death in their home cities. Not only will terrorists corrode the spirit of liberalism and openness on which the European Union relies; predatory great powers will take advantage of European weakness to nibble away the continent’s security perimeter, as Russia already has done effectively in Georgia and Ukraine and may yet do in the Baltic states. Meanwhile, to the east, China and other Asian giants are on the march, already eclipsing European states in national power and geopolitical ambition.

As Donald Trump, the leading Republican presidential candidate, has shown by disparaging the NATO alliance – and as Obama has done by condemning America’s closest European allies as free-riders – the United States may not always come to Europe’s rescue. Despite a circus-like presidential campaign, the United States is wellplaced to compete in the 21st century, thanks to a dynamic economy and culture of entrepreneurship, its demographic self-renewal through highly skilled immigration, dominance in military and technological power, a global network of alliances, the domestic energy revolution, and splendid geographic isolation that positions potential great power competitors far from its shores.

In the wake of the attacks in Brussels and Paris and daily revelations about thriving jihadi networks on the continent, European leaders must find a formula in which they can say the same about the European Union– enabling them to project influence abroad to shape the international system, infusing it with liberal values rather than hunkering down at home, trying to defend their people and ideals from extremists committed to destroying them from within.

Daniel Twining is director and senior fellow for Asia at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, which has a large office in Brussels.

carcerated due to their professions or due to their freedom of expression,” he said.

Erdoğan noted that he’d won the presidency in a recent election with more than half the vote, “and it’s not because of my sweet face.” Instead, he said, people supported his government’s economic and social policies, which had improved their living standards.

The Turkish leader also scolded the

U.S. and Europe for not doing more to help Syrian refugees, whereas Turkey has accepted millions of the desperate people fleeing the war-torn Arab state.

Erdoğan also said he hoped that Israel and Turkey could eventually normalize relations that broke down several years ago, but he also called for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and blasted Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.

SAUDI ARABIA TURNS UP THE HEAT ON HEZBOLLAH brookinGs Bruce rieDel

The Saudis have initiated a major campaign to undermine Iran's ally Hezbollah, which they believe is vulnerable today. Riyadh is likely to have considerable but not complete success. It's a characteristically risky strategy.

The Saudis branded Hezbollah a terrorist organization earlier this year and then persuaded their Gulf Cooperation Council allies to do the same on March 2. Then Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef pressed a summit of Arab interior ministers to join in lambasting Hezbollah in Tunis in early March. The Arab League formally agreed to label Hezbollah a terrorist group at a Foreign Ministerial in Cairo later in the month. Only Iraq and Lebanon abstained.

Fall From grace: It's a long way from when Hezbollah was hailed as the symbol of Arab resistance to Israel a decade ago. The Saudi leadership may have been privately critical of Hezbollah during the 2006 war with Israel, but the group was far too popular for fighting Israel with punishing missile strikes to tackle publicly. Hezbollah squandered its popularity with the Arab street over the course of the next decade.

The current Saudi campaign dates to last summer when the Crown Prince's spies captured the mastermind of the Khobar Tower attack. Ahmed Ibrahim al-Mughassil is a Saudi Shiite who masterminded the June 25, 1996, attack on an American military barracks in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Mughassil was detained by the Saudis last August as he was exiting a flight from Tehran to Beirut and was transferred from Lebanon immediately to the kingdom. Nineteen U.S. Air Force personnel were killed at Khobar and 372 were wounded in the attack. The FBI put a $5 million bounty for information leading to his arrest years ago.

The FBI identified the bomb maker in the Khobar attack as a member of Lebanese Hezbollah, which Iran had connected with Mughassil. It is likely that Mughassil gave the Saudis considerably more details on Hezbollah's role in the operation after his detention. Mughassil also could detail the links between Iran, Hezbollah, and Saudi Shiite radicals.

Hezbollah's strong support for President Bashar Assad's regime also added impetus to Riyadh's determination to go after the group. Hezbollah has sent hundreds of fighters to prop up Assad and fight Syrian Sunnis backed by the Saudis. Instead of defending Arabs from Israel, Hezbollah became Assad’s proxy in his brutal war against the Syrian people. Russia's intervention backing Assad this winter only added to Saudi determination to go after the weakest link in the Syrian-Iranian-Russian axis.

The Saudi war in Yemen is another factor. The Saudis have accused Hezbollah of assisting the Houthis in their bid to seize control of Yemen. When it began the war a year ago, Riyadh's worst nightmare was that the Houthis would become a Yemeni version of Hezbollah, an Iranian ally controlling a state on Saudi Arabia's southern frontier. Saudi spokesmen today argue that the war has at least prevented that from happening.

Hezbollah's angry denunciation of the Saudi execution of Nimr al Nimr in January was the final link. Hezbollah called the Saudi Shiite leader a martyr, whose martyrdom presaged the coming collapse of the House of Saud. The Saudi Ministry of the Interior blamed Nimr for encouraging terrorism and the secession of the Shiite-majority Eastern Province from the Kingdom. come join the bandwagon: Since the Arab League statement listing Hezbollah as terrorists, the Saudis have encouraged their Gulf allies to expel Lebanese emigres accused of having connections to the group. This promises to further polarize the Lebanese community in the Gulf between Shiites and other sects, Sunni and Christian.

Riyadh is likely to start pressing the Europeans to brand Hezbollah as a terror group.

The Europeans have long argued that only the military wing of Hezbollah is terrorist and exempted the political party from sanctions. Israel has argued this is a dubious splitting of hairs since the party controls the fighters.

Riyadh has much more clout in Europe than Jerusalem. London and Paris are desperate to keep their lucrative arms sales relationships with Riyadh. They also need Saudi help to fight jihadist terrorism. If Riyadh presses hard, the Europeans will find it difficult to resist.

It's still unclear how far the Kingdom will push its case against Hezbollah. The risk is too much pressure will destabilize Lebanon. The current Saudi leadership is much more risk prone and unpredictable than its predecessors. King Salman and his top aides want to deliver hard blows to Tehran—and for them, striking Hezbollah is a good way to do it.

Bruce Riedel joined Brookings in 2006 after 30 years service at the Central Intelligence Agency including postings overseas in the Middle East and Europe. Riedel was a senior advisor on South Asia and the Middle East to the last four presidents of the United States in the staff of the National Security Council at the White House.

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

ARTS

13

Something extraordinary will bring Fawad Khan bacK on tV

F

ENTERTAINMENT DESK

AWAD Khan fans would love to see him on TV again. Even if it’s only to watch their favourite star turn on the charm more often! But it looks like that won’t happen any time soon.

The Kapoor & Sons actor says he’ll return to TV once Pakistan starts to experiment with some new genres.

According to DNA India., Fawad said, “I would love to do TV again, but probably in a different way.”

“Something on the lines of the American series Fargo would be great. Or even a True Detective kind of show. Maybe, a House of Cards,” he continued, listing his favourite American series.

“Something out of the ordinary and elements where the content is relevant. If it’s getting made, then why not? I will jump on to it,” he concluded.

There you have it, ladies. No more soap operas for Fawad Khan!

‘Hotal’ to release on April 8

Cirque du Soleil sues Justin Timberlake over hit song Cirque du Soleil is not doing flips over Justin Timberlake s hit song “Don t Hold the Wall.” The Canadian theatrical performance company on Thursday sued the superstar singer with allegations that the song copied part of one of Cirque du Soleil s original compositions without permission. Timberlake s song appeared on his 2013 double album “20/20,” which has sold more than two million copies. The lawsuit filed in federal court in New York claimed Timberlake borrowed from the song “Steel Dream,” which was originally on Cirque du Soleil s 1997 album, “QUIDAM.” The suit seeks a minimum of $800,000 in damages for copyright infringement. In addition to Timberlake, the lawsuit also named among the defendants the producer Timbaland - real name Timothy Mosley - who helped write the song, and Sony Music Entertainment, which released the album.

Representatives for the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

Copyright infringement lawsuits are relatively common in the music world. In one high-profile case last year, the estate of soul singer Marvin Gaye won a $7.4 million jury verdict against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams over their hit single “Blurred Lines.” AgencieS

Bowie tribute marred as The Roots pull out NEW YORK

MUTAZALZALUZZAMAN

AgencieS

No idea where Shahbaz taseer gets the strength from. Most ppl would be broken.

SUKAINA Kind reminder: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is the Patron-in-Chief of the PCB

BAROOQ Imran khan hates Taliban #AprilFools

SYED ALI RAZA ABIDI NAP stops working in Pakistan when it comes to LEJ, ASWJ, PSP, ST n other pseudo religious orgs exhibiting incitement to hatred n violence.

MAN OF JUSTICE Our movie audiences are rich enough to buy big price ticket, but dont have the class. Will behave cheap all times.

What the critics said about Ki and Ka! ENTERTAINMENT DESK Though Ki & Ka isn’t exactly Kareena Kapoor’s comeback it’s definitely a departure from the safe roles she’s accepted in the recent past, like her brief appearance in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. So critics and fans have one question on their minds after the film opened: will Ki & Ka make Kareena cool again? The fans and celebrities seemed to love her performance. However, critics are more cautious in their praise: Some say that the lack of chemistry between Kareena and Arjun is quite the downer: According to Indian Express’ Shubhra Gupta, “...Kareena’s character is spot on. She plays it familiar but is svelte and lively enough.” but points out that “Arjun and Kareena give off precious little steam, despite all the canoodling on display.” NDTV’s Saibal Chatterjee also notes the lack of chemistry: “The two leads smooch a great deal and are pretty active between the sheets. But somehow, owing to the lack of chemistry between Arjun and Kareena, they do not set the screen on fire.” Filmfare’s Rachit Gupta chimed in with the same: “Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan look like they’re giving it their best shot. He’s striking a fine balance between being intense and charming.

ENTERTAINMENT DESK LAHORe

Following the tragic Lahore blasts, director Khalid Hassan Khan has pushed back the release date of his upcoming film. Hotal, which was slated for release on April 1, will now grace cinema screens on April 8, after a request sent to the Distribution Club to delay the release. However, according to sources, the film could experience further delay, due to its clashing release with Ashir Azeem’s directorial film, Maalik. Deeming it a financial loss if both films premiere on the same day, the team behind Hotal is still dicey regarding its official release date, even though all respective censor boards in the country have certified it.

“Our administration was also unwilling to release the film after the blasts in Lahore. However, after Khalid Hassan re-

quested us to delay the release, our decision was finalised,” said an official of the Distribution Club. “Nothing is more important right now than the safety of our nation. I was happy the film was finally releasing on April 1 but at a time where families are mourning over the loss of their children and loved ones, I opposed releasing it,” said Pakistani actor Meera, who will be playing the lead in the film. “By delaying the film, I wanted to convey to the nation that we artists are by their side.”

While Hotal made great strides across the border, Meera is hopeful the film will also fare well in Pakistan. “I am hopeful that Hotal will do well and there will be a large audience out there. I have played the most wonderful role of my acting career,” she added. Hotal released in India back in 2013 and also won Best Film at the 2014 Delhi Festival.

A pair of star-studded New York tribute concerts to legend David Bowie was marred Thursday as one act, The Roots, abruptly pulled out. The jazzy hip-hop band’s main member, Questlove, accused unnamed other performers of jealously guarding their equipment.

“I’ve never been so insecure or petty as to deny a fellow musician use of ANY of my equipment,” he wrote on Instagram, adding: “It angers me when the same courtesy is not reciprocated.” “We have patience.

But we do NOT have patience for #Bitchassness. Enjoy your precious equipment,” he wrote. But Questlove, a drummer also known for the in-house band on the nightly “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon, acknowledged that he often has trouble “keeping a level head.” Leading US artists including Cyndi Lauper, former R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe,Blondie and Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell are taking part in the shows Thursday and Friday. The first show, at Carnegie Hall, was announced just as the shocking news came out of Bowie’s death on January 10 from an undisclosed battle with cancer. Designed to raise money for charities that support music education in schools, the concerts were transformed into tributes to Bowie, one of the most influential artists in pop history.

A second show was added for Friday at Radio City Music Hall, another leading venue in Bowie’s adopted home of New York. Other performers include alternative rock greats the Pixies and The Flaming Lips as well as grunge godfather J. Mascis or Dinosaur Jr. Concerts with multiple performers often encourage artists to share equipment to minimize pauses, in contrast to festivals where crews routinely take 20 minutes or more to set up for each act.

BOLLYWOOD STARS TO DINE WITH WILLIAM AND KATE DURING INDIA TOUR A Bollywood gala awaits Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, during their upcoming visit to India next month.

William and Kate will arrive in India on April 10 before travelling to Bhutan on April 14 and returning to India on April 16, when they will visit the Taj Mahal.

The couple will be present at a special evening with stars of India’s flourishing Hindi film industry. The event will be held on April 10 at a hotel in Mumbai, and will raise money for charities helping street children, reports Mirror.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will meet B-town’s A-listers, including Shah Rukh Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor and others on their first evening in India. According to Pinkvilla, the British royals will stay at the Taj Palace Hotel, where a gala reception and dinner is being hosted in their honour.

“Most of the invites have been sent out to the Hindi film industry’s A-listers, including Shah Rukh Khan, Sonam Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Several businessmen, politicians, cricketers and socialites are also expected to attend. Ranveer

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Singh whose shooting schedule on a foreign location coincides with the event, is also trying to work out his dates,” a source said.

Hosted by the British High Commission, in partnership with The British Asian Trust, the gala will

raise funds for three charitable organisations- Magic Bus, Doorstep, and Childline. Prince William and Kate will meet the representatives of the organisations earlier that day.

Preparations have begun with Amit Chowdhury, the executive chef of Taj, reports Pinkvilla. He will personally design the lavish dinner spread which will include an array of Indian delicacies. Before the starstudded evening kicks off, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will lay a wreath at the 26/11 memorial inside the hotel and meet the brave hearts among the staff who helped protect guests during the 2008 attacks. They will then proceed to the Oval Maidan to watch a cricket match.

Prince William and Kate Middleton will fly to Delhi the next day to attend a birthday party for Her Majesty The Queen at the residence of the British High Commissioner for her 90th birthday. Agencie

14 LEISURE

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

HaGaR tHE HoRRIblE

aries

taurus

gemini

Fixating on your future goals makes focusing on the present moment impossible.

Nevertheless, you're like a bee to honey today and you can't take your mind off the road ahead. Perhaps the temptation of so many lovely flowers is just plain irresistible.

There could be so many opportunities to seek pleasure today that it's confusing to know which route to take. You might even believe that your options have so much potential that you can't go wrong, no matter what alternative you choose.

People naturally assume that you're having a good time but you're secretly worried about taking on too many commitments today.

Your apparent indifference keeps others in the dark, but only for a short period of time.

cancer

leo

virgo

You might have an ingenious idea about how to make money today, only to discover that you are missing an important piece of information. Perhaps, in your eagerness to succeed, you just forgot something you already knew.

Your presence is a gift to others today because you are able to maintain your positive attitude in spite of any problems you encounter. Fortunately, leading by example works well for you now as long as your enthusiasm doesn't get the best of you.

You are not meant to be a retiring wall flower now. Engage fully at every chance you get until a new course of action become apparent. Dance like no one is watching while you have the chance.

dIlbERt

GaRFIEld

libra

scorpio

sagittarius

Yesterday's uplifting ideas may be today's headaches.

It's as if each innovative thought is like a hot air balloon that expands so much that it pops. Just as you were growing accustomed to the panoramic view.

Lofty career goals are not enough to inspire you today; what you need is some good old-fashioned magic.

In fact, just setting the bar higher can have a chilling effect on your creativity now. If you're worried about missing your mark.

Sometimes making a new mess is more fun than cleaning up an old one.

Unfortunately, you might have already turned your life upside down in a recent search for excitement. You have an eye for the extraordinary.

baldo

capricorn

aQuarius

pisces

Your high level of competence can trick you into underestimating the time and resources needed to complete a job. Unfortunately, people may be counting on you now because they know you perform well under pressure.

You're eager to cut loose today but you don't want to do it alone. Although others might be out to have fun, you're concerned that they won't be able to keep up with you. Unfortunately, you may be so zealous in your quest for pleasure now that you're prone to overindulge in food, drink or sensory stimulation.

Your confidence is soaring today, leading you to think you have all the answers at work, but you're not the only one ready to take charge. Instability could be brewing as conflict between the various strategies on the table seems inevitable.

cRosswoRd

sUdoKU

woRd sEaRcH

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.

labor latch latter lens lipid peace pipes police redeem remember repair rescue rile roar same sleep sorry spoil those years

Today’s soluTions

poIsonEd caRd

cHEss Black TO PlaY aND MaTE IN fIvE MOvEs 8

crossword solution

7 6 5 4 3 2

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

chess solution

A

1...Rg3+ 2.Kf1 bb5+ 3.Ke1 Rg1+ 4.Kd2 Rd8+ 5.Kc3 Rdxd1 *

1

sudoku solution

1 eruption of the skin (4) 3 stroke of luck (8) 9 repeated rattling noise (7) 10 flavoursome (5) 11 promiscuous (5) 12 educational institution (6) 14 understanding of one's own abilities (4-9) 17 except if (6) 19 strength (5) 22 more suitable — prate (anag) (5) 23 first-aid item (7) 24 confusion (8) 25 impose and collect (money) (4) DOwn 1 provoked adverse reaction (8) 2 rocky mountains state (5) 4 showing a lack of care for consequences (13) 5 dump (informal) (5) 6 do a bunk (7) 7 places (bets?) (4) 8 distinctive characteristic (6) 13 tough (8) 15 cough medicine (7) 16 expression of sorrow (6) 18 faux pas (5) 20 comeliness (5) 21 unit of length (4)

abbreviate about above across behind blouse bride brief budget burst chief chill clear clinic close coed dunce froze grip health

SPORTS 15

Saturday, 2 April, 2016

Great Great Great! StunninG Win helpS WindieS Smile aGain

MUMBAI

W

AGENCIES

EST Indies captain Darren Sammy said he hopes to help Caribbean fans smile again by completing a unique hat-trick at the World Twenty20 after stunning India to reach the final.

An emotional Sammy said the West Indies had their backs to the wall before shocking India by seven wickets to emulate their women’s team, who also won their semi-final hours earlier.

After the West Indies won the Under-19 World

Cup in February, a double victory in Kolkata on Sunday would seal an unprecedented treble and hint at a cricketing revival for the islands after years of decline.

Sammy’s team, champions in 2012, will face England in Sunday’s men’s title match while the West Indies women will play their first World Twenty20 final against Australia.

“We came here on a mission. We were inspired by the U-19 boys earlier this year, the ladies won earlier today, now we have two West Indies team in the final,” said an emotional Sammy at the post-match presentation. “We feel this is this West Indies team against everyone else.”

Chasing 193, the West Indies were struggling at 19 for two after losing star batsman Chris Gayle for five, when Lendl Simmons rose to the occasion to become their unlikely hero.

Fighting jetlag after flying in as a late replacement for the injured Andre Fletcher, Simmons, who survived two no-ball catches, hit an unbeaten 82 to silence a raucous crowd.

“Great great great!!! Well done Windies!!! #silence #wankhede #WestindiesvsEngland #ICCWT20 #finals proud to be West Indian,” tweeted Caribbean legend Brian Lara.

Before the match, Sammy had said the semi-final was a “David and Goliath” encounter, with more than a billion Indians willing their team to win.

The West Indies dominated cricket in the 1970s and 1980s, winning the 50-over World Cup in 1975 and 1979, but they have since fallen on hard times.

A bitter pay dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board on the eve of the tournament did not raise optimism about their chances of making an impression in the tournament. But the former Test powerhouse defied their doubters to beat England, Sri Lanka and South Africa in the group stage and then make India eat humble pie in Thursday’s semi-final.

The women’s victory earlier also came as a surprise and captain Stafanie Taylor hoped the win would act as a catalyst for women’s cricket in the Caribbean.

“I don’t think it’s that popular,” said the destructive opening batswoman.

“If you look at Australia, they have that foundation which we’re trying to build in the West Indies. After being in the final, and I hope that we win, it might change everything in the West Indies.

“People will know more about females playing the game, which we want. We want girls coming out to play the game.”

Northants bring in Sri Lanka’s Prasanna SportS DeSk

SportS DeSk Once derided as the tinkerman while in charge of Chelsea, Claudio Ranieri’s secret for Leicester City’s Premier League title charge this season is astonishingly straightforward a settled team that virtually picks itself. The statistics tell the tale after 31 games Leicester have used only 18 players in their starting lineups. To put that into perspective, title rivals Tottenham Hotspur, five points adrift of Ranieri’s men, have used 20 players, Arsenal 23, Manchester City 22 and United 26, according to website. While other managers rotate their squads, sometimes, but not always, to cope with demands in Europe, stability has been at the core of Leicester’s relentless consistency. The spine of the team, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, defensive rocks Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, midfield workhorses Marc Albrighton and Danny Drinkwater and 35-goal striking duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, have started 29 or more league games while French midfielder N’Golo Kante has started 26.

SportS DeSk India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni laughed off talk of retirement as he put a brave face on the devastating World Twenty20 semi-final loss to the West Indies. The hosts came into the tournament with sky-high confidence but also widespread speculation that it could be the last international outing for Dhoni, 34. But after India’s stunning defeat by seven wickets, it was left to an Australian journalist to put the burning question to Dhoni at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

Dhoni then asked the somewhat stunned Sam Ferris of the website onto the dais, put his arm around him, and turned the tables by becoming the interviewer. “Do you want me to retire?” he said. “Do you think I am unfit, looking at my running? Do you think I can survive until the 2019 World Cup?” When Ferris replied that Dhoni indeed looked more than capable of staying in shape until the next 50-over World Cup, a laughing Dhoni then responded: “Then you have answered the question.” “I wished it was an Indian media guy because I would have asked him if he had a son old enough, and a wicketkeeper, to play!” he said. The light-hearted exchange came at the end of a painful loss for the wicketkeeper-batsman’s team who had been red-hot favourites to win the trophy on home soil.

Chelsea’s Costa handed extra one-match ban

Seekkuge Prasanna, the Sri Lanka allrounder, has signed to play for Northamptonshire in 2016. He will primarily be involved in Northamptonshire’s NatWest T20 Blast campaign but could feature in other competitions, depending on the availability of the club’s main overseas player, Rory Kleinveldt.

Prasanna, 30, has taken 25 wickets and scored 242 runs in 32 appearances for Sri Lanka, across all three formats. His most recent international appearances came in Sri Lanka’s three-match T20s series in India in February but he missed out on World T20 selection.

“We’re delighted to have completed the signing of Seekkuge for the coming season, “ Northamptonshire head coach David Ripley said.

“He’s an exciting cricketer with plenty of experience and good stats, and having him for the whole NatWest T20 Blast campaign is obviously a big plus for us. There’s a chance we may also see him in other formats during the summer.”

Northants have been working in straitened financial circumstances for some time but Prasanna’s arrival will bolster one of the circuit’s thinnest squads. Last week, the club announced an investment scheme aimed at raising £1m to safeguard their future.

Leicester’s title surge built on simple foundations

Dhoni laughs off retirement talk after T20 exit

SportS DeSk Chelsea striker Diego Costa must serve an extra one-match ban after being sent off in last month’s FA Cup tie at Everton, the Football Association said on Friday.

“Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Thursday, Chelsea’s Diego Costa has been given a one-match suspension, fined 20,000 pounds ($28,600) and warned as to his future conduct,” the ruling body said in a statement. Costa admitted a charge of improper conduct in relation to his behaviour after he was shown a second yellow card in the FA Cup quarter-final at Goodison Park. “This suspension will follow immediately on the conclusion of the player’s current ban,” the FA added.

BOLAND AND BANCROFT WIN STATE AWARDS SportS DeSk Victoria fast bowler Scott Boland and Western Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft have both taken home trophies at their state award ceremonies to cap off a summer in which they both made their international debut for Australia.

In Melbourne, Boland received the Bill Lawry Medal as Victoria’s best Sheffield Shield player in a season in which they won the title. Boland collected 33 wickets at 20.93 in the Shield campaign and was rewarded with a debut in Australia’s ODI and T20 teams in January, having been also been part of the Test squad earlier in the summer.

Spinner Jon Holland was handed the Dean Jones Medal as Victoria’s best Matador Cup player in a campaign that brought him 14 wickets at 17.85. The Melbourne Renegades BBL player of the Season was Dwayne Bravo, while Kevin Pietersen was named the BBL Player of the Season for the Melbourne Stars. Meg Lanning won the Sharon Tredrea Award and also took home the Melbourne Stars WBBL Player of the Season title, while Molly Strano was the

Player of the Season for the Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL. In Perth, opening batsman Bancroft claimed the Laurie Sawle Medal as Western Australia’s Player of the Year in a season that brought him 732 runs at 45.75 in the Sheffield Shield. Bancroft was named in Australia’s Test squad to tour Bangladesh at the start of the summer but the cancellation of that trip meant he had to wait until a T20 against India in January to make his Australia debut.

Bancroft also piled up 335 runs at 55.83 in the Matador Cup, but it was Shaun Marsh who was named WA’s one-day player of the year for his 390 runs at 65.00. Fast bowler Michael Hogan, with 37 wickets at 24.64 for the Warriors in his last season before his retirement from Australian first-class cricket, was named WA’s Sheffield Shield Player of the Year.

David Willey was the recipient of the Simon Katich Medal as the Perth Scorchers’ BBL Player of the Year.

Nicole Bolton picked up the Zoe Goss Medal as the best women’s player for Western Australia, while the WBBL

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Perth Scorchers award went to Katherine Brunt.

In Hobart, Ben Dunk was honoured for a season in which he led all Sheffield Shield run scorers by being handed the Ricky Ponting Medal as Tasmania’s player of the season. Dunk also collected the Jack Simmons Medal as limited overs players of the hear, while

Jackson Bird claimed the David Boon Medal as winner of the Shield award.

Dan Christian was garlanded with the Hobart Hurricanes MVP for his allround displays in the BBL, and Heather Knight was recognised as the best Hurricane in the inaugural WBBL. Veronica Pyke was named the best WNCL cricketer for the Tasmania Roar.

SPORTS Saturday, 2 April, 2016

Afridi An ‘Absolutely clueless’ cAPtAin, sAys teAm mAnAger

P

AKISTAN team manager Intikhab Alam has termed Shahid Afridi a ‘clueless’ captain in the wake of the team’s early exit from the ICC World Twent20. Alam laid heavy criticism on the T20 skipper Afridi for his poor on-field tactics and off-field behavior that brought undue controversies on the team.

Pakistan were knocked out of the World T20 after losing three of its four group matches, including a loss to rival India.

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis offered to step down while apologising to the nation on his return home.

Alam, who was the manager of the team when Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup, questioned the mental alertness of the Pakistan players at the World

T20 and said players also lacked physical fitness.

Pakistan’s middle-order batsman Umar Akmal also came under fire for seeking the legendary Imran Khan’s intervention to elevate his batting position.

“Much to our chagrin was a captain in his farewell event after a career spanning nearly 20 years, yet absolutely clueless in terms of on-field tactics and off-field leadership,” Alam said in his evaluation report, which was once against made public before the fact-finding committee could give its verdict.

“We were also set back by two absolutely needless controversies, the first emanating from Afridi’s ‘more-loved-in-India-than-in-Pakistan’ statement in his mandatory on-arrival press conference and Umar Akmal again stealing the limelight in an unseemly manner by seeking Imran Khan’s intervention to fix his batting position at three, when he had done little to inspire confidence at number 4.”

Alam’s report laid a great emphasis on the events that unfolded in Kolkata prior to the marquee contest against India and questioned Afridi’s move up the order. “Hafeez was not sent in at number three while Sarfraz too did not get a meaningful strike. These two were our best bets, as they were our prime exponents against spin. The Indian spin attack was not challenged at all by our batting, save Shoaib Malik near the closing stages, resulting in a total that was 20 runs short of the average on the Eden Garden turf.”

Moreover, the team manager criticised the field placements that Pakistan skipper put in to defend

Khan laments PCB probe blaming him for Pak’s defeat against India

ISLaMaBaD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has lamented that he is being blamed for advising the national team ahead of the clash with India during the World T20 match in Kolkata.

“My advice to the team is being blamed for the defeat [against India],” Imran said while addressing a press conference on Friday.

In a ‘leaked’ report submitted to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s fact-finding com-

mittee on Friday, team manager Intikhab Alam said Imran’s advice to the team “never allowed the possibility of defeat enter their consciousness”.

On March 19, India beat Pakistan by six wickets in a high-voltage World T20 match held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Imran, a former captain of the Men in Green, had given a morale-boosting talk prior to the game on an invitation from skipper Shahid Afridi, advising the players to stay positive till the last ball was bowled.

Alam also said that Imran was “not too familiar with the demands and tactics employed in this condensed, post-modern format of the game.

Imran further said Najam Sethi will not retire from his position even if everyone else [responsible for the defeat] tendered their resignations.

“On one end, we have Najam Sethi while at the other end we have Shaharyar Khan,” Imran said holding those at the helm of the affairs for the team’s crashing defeats in Asia Cup and World T20.

PCB chief Shaharyar bins resignation rumours Lahore Staff RepoRt

the paltry 118 in the 18-over-a-side match against the hosts. “I also felt if proper field placing was placed for Shoaib Malik in his initial over may have given us a breakthrough; it was very surprising to see in a low-scoring game there was no attacking fieldplacing. There was no slip; had he employed a slip cordon for Malik, we may have had Yuvraj as two chances from his blade went through.”

Alam’s assessment spices up the already tense atmosphere after the Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis’ report was leaked two days ago.

Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board had set up a ‘fact-finding’ committee that includes Pakistan’s modern greats, Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, to analyse the team’s poor run of late. agencieS

Wasim lashes out at PCB for leaking Waqar’s report ‘within hours’ Lahore

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan on Friday said he was not considering stepping down from his position in wake of the national team’s dismal performance in the World Twenty20 tournament. In a hurriedly convened press conference, Shaharyar, 82, rubbished media reports that he was resigning from the office. “There is no truth in rumours that I am considering stepping down,” Shaharyar told reporters outside the PCB office at Gaddafi Stadium. Shaharyar, who is heading the PCB for the second time, said that he had received the enquiry report of the team’s poor show in Asia Cup T20 and World T20 and will only be able to comment after examining it. Pakistan were knocked out of the World T20 tournament after losing three of its four group matches, including a loss to rival India. Team manager Intikhab Alam, in his assessment, termed Shahid Afridi a ‘clueless’ captain in the wake of the team’s early exit from the tournament. In the Asia Cup T20, too, Pakistan only managed to secure victories against the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka, while losing comprehensively to arch-rivals India and Bangladesh. Alam, who was the manager of the team when Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup, also questioned the mental alertness of the Pakistan players and said they lacked physical fitness.

Staff RepoRt

Former captain Wasim Akram threw his weight behind one-time pace partner Waqar Younis over controversy surrounding a leaked report presented to the national board by the Pakistan head coach. Waqar fired a stinging volley at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after details of his ‘confidential’ report from Tuesday’s meeting in Lahore were leaked to the media.

In a press conference outside the Gaddafi Stadium, a fired-up Waqar went as far saying that there “was more politics in Pakistan cricket than the parliament.”

Wasim, who once shared the new-ball with Waqar for Pakistan, was of the opinion that people at the helm of the country’s cricket lacked the passion and desire to do well.

“First of all I would put people who have passion, who want to do well for the country and who can keep a secret a secret,” said Akram on Thursday when asked what he would have done as a top cricket administrator in Pakistan.

“That’s the start,” the 49-year-old added.

The former left-arm quick slammed the authorities for being irresponsible and letting a private report go public in no time.

Rossi marks 20 years as world championship rider SportS DeSk Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi hopes to celebrate 20 years as a world championship rider with a second successive Grand Prix of Argentina victory on Sunday. The 37-year-old Italian made his debut in the lower 125cc class in Malaysia in 1996 before winning his first world title the following year. A 250cc world crown followed two seasons later with seven in the elite class of the sport placing him comfortably amongst the greats. Into his third decade, Rossi has claimed 112 victories, 211 podiums, 61 pole positions as well as 92 fastest laps. Victory at Argentina’s Rio Hondo track 12 months ago set Rossi on his way to what looked increasingly like it would be a 10th title until his season imploded in the closing stages and Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo snatched a third world title instead. “Last year, we had an excellent race,” said Rossi, who fought wheel to wheel with bitter Honda rival Marc Marquez.

SUAREZ TELLS OF BATTLE TO ADAPT TO BARCA GAME BarCeLoNa agencieS

Uruguayan star Luis Suarez believes his success in turning around Barcelona’s fortunes in the past two seasons has been thanks to adapting his game to strike partners Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Heading into Saturday’s Classico game against Real Madrid, Suarez is Barca’s top scorer with 43 goals in as many games this season. The Catalan giants remain on course to repeat the La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey triumph they won in Suarez’s debut campaign last season.

“La Liga is very different to the Premier League,” said the former Liverpool star who moved to Spain in 2014 in an 82 million euro ($93 million, £65 million) deal on the back of Barca’s first trophyless season for six years.

“Everyone knows that it’s completely different and what you need to do is always be yourself, don’t change, just adapt your movements and a few things FC Barcelona dictate, but the thing I cared about was being a good

teammate,” he added.

“I think this is something I achieved from the beginning and one can see all the things we’ve achieved so far,” he declared at the launch of playful animations of Barcelona players, including himself, as part of an official partnership with the appliances company Beko.

Barca lead Real Madrid by 10 points with just eight games remaining ahead of Saturday’s clash, with a Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid and Cup final versus Sevilla to come.

Barca head into El Clasico on a 39game unbeaten run stretching back to October.

Turkish international Arda Turan has yet to taste defeat in a Barca jersey as he was only cleared to play in January after Barca had served a 12-month ban on registering new players.

And Turan has no doubt that Barca will wrap up a sixth La Liga title in eight seasons in the coming weeks.

“We feel great. We believe we’ll be the champions so we work harder every day; we fight more! I believe we’ll be the champions. We are the best team.”

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

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