E paper pdf (13 08 2015) (lhr)

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Afghan intelligence alleges Pak involvement in Kabul attacks NDS spokesman alleges ‘special circles of Pakistani military behind all attacks’ Taliban say spike in attacks in Kabul designed to prove that Mullah Mansour is firmly in charge of movement

TALIBAN KILL 14 POLICE OFFICERS IN HELMAND PROVINCE Thursday, 13 August, 2015 | Shawwal 27, 1436 Rs 17.00 | Vol VI No 45 | 16 Pages | Lahore Edition

Pakistan postpones scholarship programme for afghan students STORIES ON PAGES 02 & 04

MQM Quits parliaMent over ‘crackdown’ Political parties make effort to hold MQM back as its lawmakers resign from the National Assembly, Senate and Sindh Assembly As Sattar cries out discrimination against party, MQM chief Altaf says will take back resignations if concerns are addressed Legal requirements of MQM’s resignations incomplete as NA speaker has only written ‘please process’ on applications

US MAY DISCONTINUE CSF PAYMENT TO PAKISTAN BEYOND 2015: REPORT ECP PrEsEnts PhasE wisE sChEdulE for lG Polls in sindh, Punjab

MQM RESIGNATIONS – A CASE OF ANYTHING-FOR-BHAI Sources term MQM lawmakers’ resignation a ‘knee-jerk decision’ after information of Mustafa Kamal forming rebel group in party

GEN SHARIF TELLS TROOPS TO ENSURE TERRORISTS REMAIN CUT OFF FROM FRIENDS

ISLAMABAD: Flanked by party lawmakers, Muttahida Qaumi Movement senior leader Dr Farooq Sattar coming out of the Parliament House after submitting resignations from the National Assembly and Senate. INP

STORIES ON PAGE 03

According to proposed schedule, first phase of LG polls will be held on Nov 11; second and third phases will be held on Nov 29 and Dec 19, respectively STORIES ON PAGES 02 & 04

02 NEWS

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

AfghAn intelligence Alleges PAk involvement in kAbul AttAcks NDS SPOKESMAN ALLEGES ‘SPECIAL CIRCLES OF PAKISTANI MILITARY BEHIND ALL ATTACKS’ KABUL

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AGENCIES

FghANISTAN’S intelligence agency on Wednesday claimed that Pakistan was involved in last week’s attacks on Kabul that killed more than 50 people and wounded hundreds. hassib Sediqi, the spokesman for the National Directorate of Security (NDS), said that Afghan authorities have confirmed “Pakistani military interference” in the attacks last Friday.

Sediqi said “special circles of the Pakistani military were behind all those attacks”. he claimed that the Pakistanis were working through the haqqani net-

PAKISTAN POSTPONES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME FOR AFGHAN STUDENTS ISLAMABAD

TALIBAN SAY SPIKE IN ATTACKS IN KABUL DESIGNED TO PROVE THAT MULLAH MANSOUR IS FIRMLY IN CHARGE OF MOVEMENT

work, one of the most brutal militant groups in Afghanistan.

“Suicide bombers are receiving their training in Pakistan, there are factories in Pakistan that are making bombs and explosives, which are used to kill and wound civilians in Afghanistan,” Sediqi alleged. There was no immediate reaction from Islamabad, which has in the past denied such accusations from Afghanistan. The development comes soon after Afghanistan President Ashraf ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in statements a day apart accused Pakistan of implicit support to Taliban, who have recently been engaged in brutal offensives in Afghanistan, which has been

struggling to combat terrorism ever since the withdrawal of NATO forces.

Meanwhile, the Taliban on Wednesday said the spike in attacks in Kabul was designed to prove the Taliban’s new leader was firmly in charge, the group said, but Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour’s position remains precarious as clerics and top militants meet secretly to decide whether to back him.

Divisions are deep over Mansour’s appointment as head of the hardline Islamist movement fighting since its ouster in 2001 to overthrow Afghanistan’s Western-backed government and re-establish strict Islamic rule.

A Taliban spokesman confirmed two of three big suicide bombs last

week within 24 hours were in response to rumours the insurgents had been weakened by disputes following confirmation of the death of founder Mullah Mohammad Omar.

Pakistan recently brokered a first round of peace talks between the Aghan government and the insurgent group, which took place in Murree. But negotiations fell into jeopardy after the announced death of Taliban chief Mullah Omar. According to Islamabad, a second round of peace talks has been postponed on the Taliban’s insistence after confirmation of Mullah Omar’s death sent the militant group into a leadership crisis, with reports of internal conflicts on the issue of Omar’s successor.

GEN SHARIF TELLS TROOPS TO ENSURE TERRORISTS REMAIN CUT OFF FROM FRIENDS RAWALPINDI STAFF REPORT

STAFF REPORT

In the wake of recent comments by Afghan leaders, Pakistan has postponed its scholarship programme for Afghanistan. “Pakistan has temporarily delayed scholarships for Afghan students due to security reasons,” spokesperson for the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul said on Wednesday. Up to 6,000 students had applied for the Pakistani scholarships this year and all were scheduled to appear for the test, Akhtar Munir said.

“Since thousands had applied and it was difficult to arrange the English test in the current security situation, we have delayed it for some time,” the spokesperson added. “We will inform the applicants and will also post on the embassy’s website once the process resumes,” he said.

The move comes after Afghan President Ashraf ghani accused Pakistan on Monday of sending ‘messages of war’ and harbouring bomb-making camps, after a wave of devastating blasts in Kabul killed at least 56 people. ghani’s outburst came after he spoke to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by the telephone to discuss the possibility of resumption of peace process between Kabul and the Afghan Taliban.

Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah had also claimed Pakistan does not cooperate in antiterrorism campaign with Kabul.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) general Raheel Sharif on Wednesday visited the front lines in Waziristan, where he directed commanders of Operation Zarb-e-Azb to ensure that terrorists remain cut off from their “friends and their outside support,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

“These enemies of state and their financiers will not find a place in the country and will ultimately meet their justified ends,” said the army chief.

Reviewing the progress of ongoing operations, gen Sharif expressed satisfaction over gains made by forces thus far and appreciated the troops’ high morale, which he said was at display while they fought terrorists in the most rugged terrain,

US MAY DISCONTINUE CSF PAYMENT TO PAKISTAN BEYOND 2015: REPORT NEWS DESK The United States may stop paying millions of dollars annually to Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) after 2015, a media report said today. CSF future was part of discussion at the 23rd Defence Consultative group Meeting (DCg)-Interim Progress Review (IPR) yesterday between Pakistan and a US delegation led by principal Deputy Secretary of Defence Kelly Magsamen. Pakistan wanted extension in CSF due to continuing challenges but the US was not ready to continue it due to changing priorities in the context of new challenges in Middle Eastern and threats by ISIS. Under the CSF arrangement, the US reimbursed Pakistan for operations and maintenance costs incurred in direct support of its operations in Afghanistan. Since 2001, the US has reimbursed $13 billion to Pakistan, which is the largest recipient of the fund. The arrangement was supposed to end with the completion of the drawdown in December 2014, but the US government through legislation extended the programme for another year. The extended programme, which came with extra conditions, allowed reimbursement of up to $1 billion. Pakistan had in 2014 lobbied for conversion of the CSF into a ‘Stability Support Fund’ after changing some of its parameters. The US administration initially looked convinced about the proposal, but it couldn’t materialise due to Pakistan’s failure to pursue the matter at the political level.

Additionally, the US needed to realise that ISIS was also posing a serious threat to this region. Pakistan needs sustained assistance for continuation of operations as well as rehabilitation of the displaced people. About two million people have been displaced because of counter-militancy operations and they are now being rehabilitated at a cost of Rs 100 billion.

HYDERABAD ATC ISSUES NON-BAILABLE ARREST WARRANTS FOR ALTAF soon. he said the successes of operation Zarb-i-Azb and the sacrifices of our officers and men have been acknowledged by the entire nation. gen Sharif also oversaw strategy on future operations, including the one planned in Shawal.

said the statement.

Speaking to troops, the army chief said operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan was in its final stages, adding that remaining terrorists had been squeezed into “penny pockets” that will also be cleared

IRANIAN FM ARRIVING TODAY ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif will arrive in Islamabad on Thursday (today). The Iranian FM will hold meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PM’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. Zarif is expected to brief Pakistan on the Joint Comprehensive Programme of Action on nuclear issue of Iran, which was agreed in Vienna on July 14. The two sides will also exchange views on further enhancing of bilateral relations and regional and international issue of mutual interest.

HYDERABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) here on Wednesday issued nonbailable arrest warrants for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chairman Altaf hussain in a sedition case, after police submitted a final challan of the case. Altaf was booked under Sections 124-A (sedition), 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, section 25 of the Telegraph Act, and sections 6/7 of the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997. The case was lodged on the complaint of Mohammad Usman Jokhio, who said in the FIR on July 11, 2015, that he heard a televised speech of Altaf hussain on different television channels, adding that the speech was provocative and fanned hatred against the government, the army and other state institutions. The complainant also handed over the recorded speech on a compact disk (CD) to police. It was also alleged that Altaf hussain had incited people for rioting and terrorism in the country. STAFF REPORT

FIVE TALIBAN NABBED, FOUR COPS KILLED IN KARACHI ATTACK TERROR BID FOILED TO SABOTAGE AUG 14 CELEBRATIONS, FIVE ‘FOREIGN SPONSORED’ TALIBAN BUSTED IN CITY KARACHI STAFF REPORT

While the security forces on Wednesday arrested five suspected terrorists including Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat chapter deputy chief and foiled a terror bid to sabotage August 14 celebrations in Karachi, four policemen were killed and two others injured in a separate firing incident in Zaman Town, Korangi.

Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Aqeel along with three police constables, Jameel, Anwar and Akhter, was gunned down while two others were injured when three armed men atop a motorcycle sprayed bullets on a police van near hanif Nihari house in Zaman Town, Korangi.

According to the police, the cops were going for lunch when their van was attacked. The bodies and injured were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center. Sindh Police Inspector general (Ig) ghulam hyder Jamali, Additional Ig Mushtaq Mahar, Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Farooq Awan and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) SSP Usman Bajwa visited the crime scene.

TERROR BID FOILED, TERRORISTS NABBED: Separately, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) claimed the arrest of at least five high-value targets, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat Naib Ameer in Karachi Bakhat Zaman, whose “foreign sponsored” gang was appre-

IED ATTACK IN KHYBER KILLS THREE TROOPS

KARACHI: Policemen standing by the bodies of their colleagues at Jinnah Hospital, who were martyred by miscreants in Zaman Town, Korangi. ONLINE

hended in the intelligence-based operation. The gang had prepared an explosiveladen vehicle and a motorcycle which they were to use on Independence Day for subversion. During interrogation, the apprehended terrorists confessed that vehicles were arranged from Karachi and

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they were waiting for suicide bombers which had to arrive from Afghanistan.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat ameer in Karachi had gone to Afghanistan for the same purpose. On a tip off, the security agencies continued surveillance of group for weeks before the operation was simultaneously

PESHAWAR: At least three security personnel were killed when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off on Wednesday in Sandana area of Khyber Agency’s Tirah Valley.

The bomb, which had been planted on a roadside, exploded when security personnel were on a routine patrol of the area. Three security personnel, including a Pakistan Army captain were killed in the attack. STAFF REPORT

launched last Sunday in hyderabad and Karachi to arrest culprits. Explosiveladen hi-roof and motorcycle have also been impounded. The ISPR says some more startling revelations are expected during the interrogation.

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

NEWS

03

mQm Quits PArliAment over ‘crAckdown’ POLITICAL PARTIES MAKE EFFORT TO HOLD MQM BACK AS SATTAR CRIES OUT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF MQM’S RESIGNATIONS AS ITS LAWMAKERS RESIGN FROM THE NATIONAL PARTY, MQM CHIEF SAYS WILL TAKE BACK INCOMPLETE AS NA SPEAKER HAS ONLY ASSEMBLY, SENATE AND SINDH ASSEMBLY RESIGNATIONS IF CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED WRITTEN ‘PLEASE PROCESS’ ON APPLICATIONS ISLAMABAD/KARACHI MIAN ABRAR/AAMER MAJEED

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ITINg reservations over the Rangers-led operation in Karachi, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers simultaneously submitted their resignations in the National Assembly (NA), Senate and the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday.

After MQM lawmaker Farooq Sattar briefed the house on his party’s reservations and their decision to resign, the MQM lawmakers went to NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s chamber to submit their resignations. The NA speaker sat at his desk, surrounded by MQM lawmakers who submitted their resignations one by one.

Sadiq verified the resignations, but the decision to accept the resignations will take place after the arrival of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, sources said. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership is also in contact with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership, they added. Later on, the MQM senators submitted their resignations to Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani, who initially refused to accept them, asking the MQM lawmakers to submit the resignations in Senate Secretariat — which they later did.

Meanwhile, the party’s MPAs also submitted their resignations to Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.

NOT QUITE LEGAL YET: Soon after the development, the status of resignations was called into question, as according to sources, the legal requirements are not complete; which means they have not been approved yet.

Sources said that the NA speaker, after accepting individual resignations of all 23 MQM MNAs in his chamber, wrote the words “please process” on them.

Reports said that the legal team of the federal government has had a meeting with the NA speaker to review the constitutional and legal aspects as well as the regulations of the assembly with regards to the resignations.

IMRAN KHAN NOT TO ATTEND NA SESSION UNTIL NA-122 VERDICT ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has decided not to attend the National Assembly session until the election tribunal announces its verdict on NA-122, a party spokesman said Wednesday. “Imran Khan will attend the National Assembly session after the election tribunal announces its ruling on Lahore’s NA-122,” said PTI leader Naeemul haq. Last week, PTI senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi had announced that PTI MNAs would attend the assembly session from Monday under the leadership of Imran Khan. The PTI chairman had challenged the victory of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in the election tribunal over alleged massive rigging on part of the returned candidate on Lahore’s NA-122 seat during the 2013 general elections.

MQM resigned to save target killers: Meanwhile, drawing a comparison between the resignations submitted by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan said on Wednesday that MQM’s resignations are aimed at saving target killers. “A tale of 2 resignations: One to investigate an election where all parties claimed election was rigged; & the other to save target killers,” Khan stated on his twitter handle. MQM lawmakers relinquished their seats in the National Assembly and Sindh Assembly on Wednesday in protest against what they described was a crackdown on the political party in guise of an anti-crime operation in Karachi.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Assembly speaker has also said that the resignations of MQM’s 51 MPAs cannot be approved immediately. he added that a legal team will review the resignations today (Thursday).

Furthermore, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari telephoned Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and asked him to ensure that MQM lawmakers’ resignations are not accepted till the PPP leadership decides on the issue.

A meeting in this regard is expected soon.

Reinforcing the reports on resignations’ legality, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the NA speaker will delay the matter of approval to the extent which is in his power. he further said that MQM chief Altaf hussain has said that if the federal government addresses the concerns of MQM then the party would be ready to take back the resignations. he added that the government therefore is trying to address the concerns of MQM. MQM HAS RESERVATIONS: While addressing a press conference outside Parliament house, MQM’s Farooq Sattar said, “It has been proved that the implementation of law is different for MQM than that for other parties. Even if the statements and speeches of Altaf hussain are allegedly against the constitution, it does not give any state institution the leverage to carry out illegal and unlawful acts against MQM and its leaderships.”

While addressing the NA earlier Wednesday, Sattar said that many party

workers over the past six months had been arrested by Rangers and other law enforcement agencies but had not been sent on judicial remand. The practice, he said, was against Article 10 of the Constitution.

The MQM leader said that there were hundreds of fake cases registered against the party chief and workers. “Take a 90day remand as per the law if required. We have never protested against or objected to it,” he said. he demanded an “unbiased operation” in Karachi, saying that the government had failed to set up a monitoring committee to check Rangers. “We have failed to get justice,” he said.

Sattar said the government was involved in a media trial of the MQM and is trying to “create space for someone” in the upcoming Local government elections.

“A media trial against MQM is being facilitated by releasing stories and confessional statements to media. Who is giving all this stories to media? Under what law and on whose orders?” questioned the MQM lawmaker.

“If someone uses state aggression and tries to build a new political empire by suppressing the actual mandate of the public, it will create a violent backlash,” Sattar said. he alleged that the government provides a safe exit to terrorists while the Rangers treat MQM workers like “prisoners of war”. he asked the speaker as to how the PPP, PML-N or Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) would react if the same hap-

pened to their party members.

“We are the fourth largest party and we are being prevented from playing our role. We have been pushed against the wall,” he said.

Sattar added that a judicial commission should be formed to investigate cases of missing citizens. “When we ask for justice, why is there a hindrance in providing us justice if this is a democracy with a representative government?”

“Karachi only receives 66 per cent revenue. We demand justice, and for the establishment of a judicial commission.

We have raised our concerns before the Sindh chief minister, home minister, prime minister and Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, but were never given a clear response,” the MQM leader told the NA. “We were told that all of this is a result of Altaf hussain’s speeches from London,” he added, saying that the government’s ban on Altaf’s speeches was in violation of Article 19 of the Constitution. he said that Khawaja Asif, Munawar hassan, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Maulana Abdul Aziz had also spoken about the armed forces in public.

ALTAF HAS A PROPOSITION: Earlier, in a telephonic conversation with a private television channel from London on Wednesday, MQM chief Altaf hussain said that his party’s lawmakers will take back resignations if their reservations and concerns are addressed. hussain said that no power other than that of god can finish MQM. he said that he had been leading MQM for 37 years and it is normal for people to come and leave parties. he said that many of MQM workers were missing and he rejected allegations of having connection with criminal syndicates. The MQM chief said that he had raised “injustices” done to him and party on every level, yet his voice had fallen over deaf ears. he said that MQM workers are being targeted in Karachi operation, adding that two raids had been conducted at Nine Zero, yet “no criminals had been caught”.

Moreover, he said that his party

would have cooperated if Rangers had told that a certain member of the party is involved in illicit activities. hussain lamented that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had promised that there would be no “extra judicial killings and missing persons” while a monitoring committee will be formed for checks, yet no step had been taken in this regard.

Reiterating his stance as a “patriot”, hussain said that his party will celebrate independence on August 14 with full zeal and zest.

BRINGING MQM BACK: In the meanwhile, NA Opposition Leader Syed Khurshid Shah and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam –Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman have accelerated efforts to avoid the acceptance of MQM’s resignation.

Shah curtailed his tour of flood-hit Chitral and returned to Islamabad after the emergence of the resignations case. he also cancelled his proposed visit to Kasur where was to meet families of the children who became victim of sexual abuse.

According to sources, Shah has asked the NA speaker to “not make haste” in accepting the resignations. he would also contact Senate chairman besides holding an emergency meeting with the prime minister today to discuss the situation, sources added. he will also try to play role in removing reservations of MQM regarding Rangers operation in Karachi and arrests of MQM workers.

Moreover, the JUI-F chief discussed the situation with MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar who told him to contact party chief in London. Fazl is likely to contact hussain besides holding meeting with PM Nawaz Sharif today to discuss the situation and find a possible solution of the crisis. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who arrived from Belarus late on Wednesday, held an important meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar who briefed him on the situation arising from the MQM resignations. It is expected that the PM will hold marathon meetings with political leaders today (Thursday) to defuse the situation.

MQM resignations – a case of anything-for-Bhai ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

The decision to submit en-bloc resignations from both houses of the parliament and Sindh Assembly by the lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was made in haste by the party chief Altaf hussain without any consultation at any level amid fears of formation of a rebel group within the party ranks, Pakistan Today has learnt on authority.

Well-placed sources in the MQM have confirmed that the “knee-jerk decision” was taken by hussain after the London Secretariat of the MQM received information from Karachi and hyderabad that party’s former leader Mustafa Kamal was back in the city and was in touch with some party’s inactive leaders to form a rebel group. “Altaf Bhai wanted to send a clear message to the establishment that there is no one in the MQM who could challenge him. Moreover, he also wanted to test loyalties of MQM lawmakers and to reassert his authority,” an MQM leader said. he added that the information got credence after reports from Karachi that the Establishment was already supporting MQMhaqiqi leader Afaq Ahmed, another rebel of the MQM, to reactivate his party in Karachi. “haqiqi leaders and workers are coming with the security of vehicles of Rangers and police and reopening the offices of haqiqi which were sealed ten years ago. This all reflects that efforts are afoot to replace MQM with some fake parties who don’t have public support,” the MQM leader said.

The MQM leader said that the information coming from Karachi and hyderabad had perturbed hussain who summoned an emergent meeting of the party and told the lawmakers to tender resignations en-bloc.

“Yes, there was no consultation and it was an order from Bhai. All the party lawmakers supported it since the decision had already been taken without any consultation,” a senior leader of the MQM said on anonymity. “The party lawmakers supported the decision as we wanted to show solidarity with the party leadership. Altaf hussain Bhai is the last word on the fate of the MQM and he would remain the supremo.

This is a message to the Establishment that all its efforts would go down the drain to create fissures in the MQM ranks,” added the MQM’s lawmaker.

MEETING WITH NISAR CANCELLED: In the meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government made all its efforts to help scuttle the resignation bid but the MQM lawmakers did not pay heed to it. A federal minister told Pakistan Today that earlier in the day, soon after the information that the MQM lawmakers had been told to tender resignations from the assemblies, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq contacted Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for advice due to the absence of the prime minister. “Nisar immediately held a meeting with Sadiq and told him that he would handle the situation as the MQM lawmakers would attend a meeting with him at 2:30pm at Punjab house. he assured to remove apprehensions of the MQM delegation,” the source said. however, the MQM lawmakers decided to cancel the scheduled meeting with Nisar, feeling that since hussain had already taken a decision, there was no option left for talks, sources said.

SADIQ, RABBANI RELUCTANT: Moreover, the MQM lawmakers were advised by Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani and NA speaker to not tender resignations but both failed to convince the MQM lawmakers.

“During their separate meetings with Rabbani and Sadiq, the MQM lawmakers were asked not to go for extreme steps. Even Rabbani told the lawmakers it was a political blunder. But the MQM lawmakers were trying to prove their loyalties to the MQM chief,” a government source said. The source said that it was Rabbani who refused to receive the resignations, asking the MQM senators to go and submit their resignations with the Senate Secretariat.

“Apparently, in a bid to delay the resignations’ acceptance, Rabbani told the lawmakers that the resignations would be processed by the Secretariat and not by him,” the source added. On the contrary, the source added, Sadiq looked determined to move ahead with resignations. “Sadiq not only received the resignations, he also told the visitors that the resignations would be accepted. he also said goodbye to the MQM lawmakers,” the source said, adding that later Sadiq changed his tenor and delayed the process. “A message was conveyed to Sadiq to withhold the process,” the source added.

MQM LAWMAKERS UPSET WITH ERRATIC, AUTOCRATIC DECISIONS: Meanwhile, the

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LAW MINISTRY CALLS FOR PROBE INTO MQM RESIGNATIONS ISLAMABAD: The federal government has been advised by the Ministry of Law to conduct an inquiry into Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) resignations from the National Assembly, Sindh Assembly and Senate. According to the Law Ministry, it was observed that the MQM lawmakers appeared to have been under some kind of pressure as they tendered their resignations. The federal government had sought advice from the Ministry of Law before taking any final decision in connection with MQM’s latest move.

“There may be no doubts in the resignations being genuine but nothing can be said about whether or not the members submitted them voluntarily,” said a statement from the ministry.

It is in this context that the ministry has advised the government to order an inquiry into the matter. STAFF REPORT

MQM leaders feel that the party was being run in an undemocratic manner and most of the decisions taken by the party leadership were without any through consultation at any level.

While the Establishment is reportedly using “subversive tactics” to divide the party, there is a dire need for the MQM leadership to adopt a consultative process to foil the designs, sources said. however, it seems that hussain and other leaders of his core team are feeling the heat, which triggered erratic and emotional decisionmaking which often bring public humiliation for the MQM, they added. The MQM, during past five years, took around 12 summersaults by joining and leaving Sindh government. Moreover, hussain also announced to quit the party leadership as many times but reversed his decisions within hours each time. Moreover, party’s senior minds like Mohammad Anwar, haider Abbas Rizvi, Wasim Akhtar, Babar ghauri, Dr Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal, Faisal Sabzwari, Anis Qaimkhwani, hammad Siddiqui and many others were removed from their offices unceremoniously on hussain’s orders.

04 NEWS

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

ECP presents phase-wise schedule for LG polls in Sindh, Punjab ACCORDING TO PROPOSED SCHEDULE, FIRST PHASE OF LG POLLS WILL BE HELD ON NOV 11; SECOND AND THIRD PHASES WILL BE HELD ON NOV 29 AND DEC 19, RESPECTIVELY ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

he election Commission of Pakistan (eCP) on Wednesday submitted a proposed schedule for conducting local government (LG) elections in Punjab and Sindh from November 11 in three phases.

According the proposed schedule, the first phase of LG polls will be held on November 11. The second and third phases will be held on November 29 and December 19, respectively. In the first phase, LG

polls will be held in 12 districts of Punjab, which include Lodhran, Vehari, Okara, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Toba Tek Singh Sargodha, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujrat, Rawalpindi and Attock.

In Sindh, the first phase will see polls being held in eight districts including Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Larkana, Qamber Shahadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Kashmore. In the second phase, the eCP has proposed LG elections will be held in 12 districts of Punjab, including: Khanewal, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Khushab, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gu-

24 more victims step forward in Kasur child abuse case KASUR: Amidst mounting calls for justice from protesting families, media and civil society, as many as 24 more families have stepped forward to register their cases against victimisation in a massive child abuse and extortion scandal in hussain Khawala village of Kasur.

Members of the affected families have written down the names of 24 victims and drafted their complaints, which they were likely to file with the police.

Investigations into the scandal, termed the biggest in the country’s history, reveal that around 400 videos were made of 280 victims by an organised gang of over 25 criminals in the village. STAFF REPORT

Banned outfits operating under different names undermine State’s credibility: Babar ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar on Wednesday said that permitting proscribed outfits operating in the country under different names undermines the State’s credibility in the fight against terrorism and militancy.

“Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) was a reincarnation of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and they were allowed to function due to a court order,” said Babar while answering a query in the Senate.

“The government has not yet provided me a copy of the court order that allowed JuD to operate, despite the passage of one month and an order by the Senate chairman,” added Babar.

“This issue has again come to the forefront due to the recent comments made by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, in which he alleged that Pakistan has allowed some select groups to operate freely in the country,” said Babar.

“This has raised serious questions and misgivings about our intent and designs,” stated the senator. The senator added further that questions were bound to arise when proscribed organisations are run under the guise of charity organisations.

“Are these so called charities allowed to function and serve as pressure groups which try to influence the elected government and the parliament, or are they meant to advance certain security and foreign policy goals as non-state actors,” questioned Babar.

Babar also said that given the impunity that is enjoyed by some of these groups, gives rise to the suspicion that they are protected by certain powerful forces. STAFF REPORT

jranwala, hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Chakwal and Jhelum. For the second phase in Sindh, the election authority has proposed polls in 14 districts, including Shaheed Benazirabad, Nowshehro Feroze, Dadu, Matiari, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar and Mirpurkhas.

In the last phase, the commission has suggested polls in 12 districts of Punjab, including Pakpattan, Layyah, Rajanpur, DG Khan, Muzzaffargarh, Jhang, Bhakkar, Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Rahim

Yar Khan and Multan. Likewise, it has also recommended seven districts of Sindh for polls in the last stage including six districts of Karachi and hyderabad. The eCP in its report said it reserved the flexibility of excluding or including any district in the first, second and third phase of the LG polls on the request of the respective provincial government. having assured the apex court that it will complete the election process for holding the LG polls in both provinces by September 26, the eCP gave five reasons for the delay and for holding polls in three phases.

The reasons include floods in Sindh and Punjab; shortage of resources and manpower; the law and order situation; hajj and Muharram considerations in September and October; and lastly lessons from LG elections in K-P – where

TALIBAN KILL 14 POLICE OFFICERS IN HELMAND PROVINCE KABUL AGENCIES

Taliban insurgents dressed in police uniforms and driving in a police car attacked a checkpoint in southern Afghanistan’s restive helmand province on Wednesday, killing 14 police officers, an Afghan official said. The attack, the latest in a stepped-up campaign by the Taliban targeting Afghan forces and government institutions, underscores the tenaciousness of their insurgency even as the group is plagued by infighting and rivalries following last month’s announcement of the death of its longtime leader, Mullah Omar.

In Wednesday’s attack, Taliban fighters drove through the checkpoint in the district of Musa Qala and attacked the police officers from behind, according to Bashir Ahmad

Shaker, a provincial council member in helmand. helmand Governor Mirza Khan Rahimi said two other policemen were wounded in the attack, which he called a “conspiracy against the police”. Rahimi said the police were caught unprepared because an earlier telephone call had informed them to expect a visit from police colleagues. “But the visitors were attackers in police uniforms who opened fire and killed them,” Rahimi said, adding that an investigation is underway.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yusouf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack and said the insurgents had captured eight policemen. earlier on Wednesday, Afghan authorities recovered the bodies of four men kidnapped in the country’s east last week, officials said, while at least eight others have been newly

abducted. The four bodies, found in Nawur district near the Pakistani border, all had been shot dead, said Asadullah ensafi, the deputy chief police of Ghazni province. he said three of the men were hazara, while the fourth was a Sunni Pashtun. The hazara are a largely Shia ethnic minority in predominantly Sunni Afghanistan. The group has been targeted by the Taliban and other Sunni extremists in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.

Meanwhile, fighting in Baghlan between Afghan forces and the Taliban has killed two police officers, said Jaweed Basharat, the provincial police spokesman. he said the fighting in the Dahana-I-Ghori district began on Tuesday. The Taliban, who regularly exaggerate their claims, issued a statement, claiming a much higher police casualties figure.

PPP MNA Alizeh iqbAl hAider resigNs froM NA ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT Pakistan People’s Party MNA Alizeh Iqbal Haider on Wednesday submitted her resignation from the National Assembly, citing “personal reasons”. Haider, who is the daughter of the late PPP leader and human rights activist Iqbal Haider, became a Member of National Assembly on a reserved seat for women. She also served as the spokesperson for PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Her membership in the National Assembly was twice suspended because of her failure to declare her assets in a timely manner, in 2013 and 2014. However, Haider, who describes herself as a human rights activist, has also spoken out strongly in the past about controversial issues, stating that the Hudood and blasphemy laws should be amended.

holding elections in several districts in one day had proven to be extremely difficult. The three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja will now examine the proposed schedule and are expected to pass an order in this regards on Thursday (today).

In December 2013, the high courts of both provinces had struck down the delimitations carried out by the respective governments and on March 19, 2014, the Supreme Court put off the polls for eight months, empowering the eCP to carry out fresh delimitations.

One year later, the court ordered the eCP to ensure that elections were held on September 26 in both provinces. But the eCP has again requested the SC to delay the LG polls for few months and allow holding the elections in three phases.

N KOREA’S VICE PREMIER EXECUTED: REPORT SEOUL: North Korea’s vice premier Choe Yong-Gon has been executed for voicing frustration at the policies of leader Kim Jong-Un, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said on Wednesday, citing an anonymous source. Choe, who took the job in June 2014, was executed by firing squad in May after voicing opposition to forestry policies promoted by Kim, Yonhap said, citing the source “with knowledge of the North”. Choe was last seen in the North’s state media last December at the death anniversary of the late leader Kim Jong-Il, South Korea’s unification ministry said Wednesday. Seoul was “closely monitoring the possibility of any changes in Choe’s circumstances”, said the ministry, which is in charge of cross-border affairs. Choe’s death, if confirmed, would be the second reported this year. Defence minister hyon Yong-Chol was said to have been executed in April by anti-aircraft fire for insubordination and dozing off during formal military rallies. Such a violent method of execution has been cited in various unconfirmed reports as being reserved for senior officials who the leadership wished to make examples of. The North has not officially confirmed hyon’s execution — reported in May by Seoul’s intelligence agency — but announced his replacement, Pak Yong Sik, in July. The South’s spy agency also claimed in May that Kim had executed dozens of officials — including his own uncle — since taking power after the death of his father in December 2011. Pyongyang in December 2013 made an unusually public announcement of the shock execution of the uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, for charges including treason and corruption. AGENCIES

DEATHS OVER BORDER FIRE NOT JUST PAK’S ISSUE: RAGHAVAN iNdiAN TrooPs coNTiNue uNProvoked firiNg AT loc LAHORE

HASSAAN AHMED

“The loss of lives due to border skirmishes is not just a problem for Pakistan; India is also suffering loss of precious lives by the firing of Pakistani forces,” Indian high Commissioner to Pakistan Dr TCA Raghavan on Wednesday told an event organised by human Rights Commission of Pakistan (hRCP) in Lahore when he was asked about the ongoing deaths by unprovoked firing by Indian forces.

Addressing the talk titled “The Peace Dividend: What People of India and Pakistan Will Gain from Peace and Goodwill between the Two Countries, Dr Raghavan advised both Pakistan and

India to not to indulge in past bitterness and move forward. India has achieved average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio of six percent in last three decades and is planning to take this figure to eight percent within 20 years, the Indian hC substantiated, maintaining that it will be in India’s own interest to have peaceful neighbours, including Pakistan, for achieving the projected GDP ratio. Describing poverty as a common evil of the region, he stressed finding ways of its alleviation rather than “talking of fighting all the time”.

During his speech, he lauded the Ufa meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries and also urged that border security forces (BSFs) and director general military operations

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RAWALPINDI: Indian troops continued unprovoked firing at Line of Control (LoC) overnight, according to Inter-Services Public Relations. A statement issued here by the ISPR on Wednesday says, India resorted to unprovoked firing in Bagh, Kelar and Kotli near Nakyal sector at LoC, adding that Indian guns were silenced by befitting response from Pakistani security forces. On Tuesday, a 28-year-old Pakistani woman injured by firing from Indian forces across the Line of Control died at a hospital in Rawalpindi. STAFF REPORT

(DGMO) should meet frequently to ease out the tensions.

Seasoned journalists and human rights activists IA Rehman, hussain

Naqi, Rashid Rehman, Madeeha Gohar, hRCP Vice Chairman Dr Naazish Attaullah, Saleema hashmi and hina Jillani attended the event.

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

NEWS

WITH WINTERS AROUND THE CORNER AND WORK UNDERWAY ALL OVER CHITRAL, TOUGH-TO-REACH KALASHA SUFFERS HARDSHIPS IN GETTING NECESSARY SUPPLIES n REPORT SAYS 30 LINK BRIDGES, 10 SUSPENSION BRIDGES DAMAGED WHILE 70PC OF STANDING CROPS, LARGE CHUNK OF TREES SWEPT AWAY n KPDN CEO SAYS MUMURET AND RUKU DRINKING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM ENTIRELY DAMAGED, 30 WATER MILLS, 50 IRRIGATION CHANNELS DESTROYED n

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LUAVUT ZAHID

LASH floods that began mid-July and have left much of Chitral battered and damaged have created a crisis for the Kalasha people, Pakistan Today has learnt. The Kalasha Valleys consist of three main valleys. Bumburet, also known as Mumuret, is the largest and has become the centre for relief for the Kalasha people, while Rumbur and Biriu, the smaller two, are also vastly affected.

The mountainous area has presented a vast range of problems for not just the people living there, but also for those trying to undertake any relief activities. A flood assessment summary developed by the Kalash People’s Development Network (KPDN) outlines that the damage began on July 17 after heavy rains turned into flash floods. Around 100 families have lost their homes and many others are not sure what will become of their standing crops. Meanwhile, the roads, water supplies, mills, shops, etc. are also in terrible conditions, according to the report. “The Kalasha Valley Mumuret and Ruku drinking water supply system is entirely damaged and people have been forced to travel and bring water from far-flung areas. As many as 30 water mills have been damaged here. Over 50 irrigation channels have also been destroyed,” said KPDN CEO Luke Rehmat. “The area was reliant on hydropower but around seven hydro power houses washed away in the carnage,” he added.

Around 100 houses were entirely destroyed while 70 others have suffered partial damage. The KPDN report outlined that over 70 per cent of the standing crops have been lost while a large chunk of trees has also been swept away in the flood. Some believe that the flash floods are a result of climate

Desperation rises as Kalasha suffer post flooDs change, and the lost of these trees will only make things worse. The roads are the biggest obstacle for people that are trying to get to or from the area.

Around 30 link bridges have been washed away while another 10 suspension bridges, fit for jeeps and other vehicles, are also damaged, according to the assessment report. Relief and rehabilitation work is underway throughout the Chitral area with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) kicking off efforts to remove blockages in the Chitral River. “Work has started, yes. Boulders and stones from the mountains that were washed away had to go somewhere and they found spots to get stuck into,” Rehman explained. “The problem is not that relief is not reaching the Kalasha Valley fast enough; the problem is that there is work underway all over the Chitral area, the problem is not from a lack of effort,” he added.

Dr Talha Rehman has been trying to setup relief camps in Chitral. His party is yet to find their way to the Kalasha valleys. “It’s a five hour drive then a seven hour trek so it takes a while just to get there,” he told this scribe. “We were trying to get a helicopter arranged but that hasn’t worked out so far. We will be trying after eight to 10 days again with an NOC so that we can setup a medical relief camp there,” he added.

“The extent of the damage in Chitral has not been given the coverage it deserves; people at large have no idea how bad things are here,” he said. The Kalasha people have been proactive in trying to get aid as well.

“The affected people come to the nearest village and then take relief goods back with them,” he said. While Bumburet has its own camp, the other two valleys have had to deal with their own problems. When supplies don’t seem like they will be enough, the people reach out to other areas like Orguch. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has also been active in trying to ensure that the damage is dealt with. However, the extent of the problem is too vast for them to tackle. “To some extent, work has been done to restore pathways.

As for the food requirements, the army is already airlifting food to the valley. Part of the road link has been restored but complete accessibility is yet to be established,” PDMA Director General Amer Afak told Pakistan Today.

Without an actual pathway the only option left is to airlift goods to some parts of Kalasha valleys.

“There is an accessibility issue, and that is the biggest challenge for us. We all look to the army in such situations because they have the resources and capacity and the army has done some airlifting of relief goods to the area. They have also tried the traditional donkey/horse carts to get relief goods there.

We are trying to make sure that a shortage of any kind does not occur here,” KP PDMA DG said. “It’s a big challenge given the terrain of the area; heavy machinery cannot be moved there and significant repair work is needed before recovery in some cases,” he added. The community awareness in these areas is also very strong. They have tried to reach out to the outside world which has helped them quite a bit.

It has also helped the PDMA mobilise people.

“When we get these reports we also make sure that we act. For instance, if there are shortages and airlifting has not been undertaken as much as necessary, we will do it again,” DG Afak said.

While efforts are being sped up, more trouble

Turkey, Iran help broker rare truce in Syria BEIRUT AGENCIES

Syria’s warring parties declared a 48hour ceasefire in two frontline areas on Wednesday after unprecedented mediation from Turkey and Iran, signaling a new approach by some of the main regional backers of the opposing sides.

The ceasefire halted fighting between insurgents on the one hand, and the army and its Lebanese militant Hezbollah allies on the other, in the

INDIANS DUPED IN MILLION-DOLLAR, ‘HIGHCASTE’ HOUSING SCAM NEW DELHI: Indian police have busted a million-dollar scam promising plots in a housing complex to be built exclusively for the highest caste in India’s social hierarchy system. Police in the southern city of Mahabubnagar arrested an estate agent on Saturday who swindled some 1,000 investors on the promise that only Brahmins would live in the complex. Yellapragada Prabhakar pocketed more than Rs250 million ($3.8 million) in the scam by selling plots over the last two years that only existed on paper, city police chief P Viswa Prasad said. “He spent crores (millions of dollars) on TV and newspaper advertisements to target the Brahmins with the promise of developing a Brahmin housing project,” Prasad told AFP. AGENCIES

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rebel-held town of Zabadani and in a pair of Shi’ite Muslim villages in Idlib province. The two areas are strongholds of each side under ferocious attack by the other. Sources familiar with the talks, which have been under way for weeks, said the truce could be extended to give time for ongoing negotiations aimed at evacuating civilians and combatants. Three officials close to Damascus described the truce as a result of mediation by Turkey, which backs rebels fighting against President Bashar

al-Assad, and Iran, whose support has been vital to his survival.

It adds to recent signs of new efforts in the region to end diplomatic deadlock over a conflict that has killed a quarter of a million people, made 10 million homeless, left swathes of Syria in the hands of Islamic State militants and divided the countries of the Middle East on sectarian grounds. After four years in which diplomats made no headway toward peace, countries that support Assad and his opponents have been qui-

may well be on its way. “What we are doing on our end, because Chitral is a snow bound area, is that we have been in touch with the food authority because there should be no food shortage. We know winter is coming and we are trying to prepare with that in mind,” the PDMA DG said. Despite the relief efforts, the troubles are far from over. “Water borne diseases are popping up now. There is no drinking water that is sanitary and we worry for the people living here,” Rehmat said wistfully. “Some are getting aid while the others aren’t so; the desperation levels are also rising. What happens when the little supplies we have run out? We need to take action on an emergency basis,” he said. The crises that is plaguing the Kalasha Valley makes it very obvious that Pakistan needs to plan for extreme weather events - whether they are caused by climate change or not is irrelevant. A situation like this one should not oft repeat itself, because it can do nothing but spell disaster for the people of the area.

etly discussing ways to end the war and tackle the common threat from Islamic State. But Assad’s fate remains a major obstacle to the new diplomatic effort.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Damascus on Wednesday and met with Assad. He was expected to discuss a new peace plan for Syria. Before he arrived, rebels bombarded the capital with rockets and the government launched air strikes on nearby rebel positions. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war, said 13 people were killed and 20 wounded by the rebel rockets, and 31 killed in the government air strikes. Sources on both sides of the civil war told Reuters earlier on Wednesday the truce was to begin at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT), and negotiations would continue. The rebel group Ahrar al-Sham had led the talks on the insurgents’ side.

LATEST INDIAN, FRENCH WARPLANE DEAL RUNS INTO PROBLEMS NEW DELHI AGENCIES

India’s order of 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets has run into trouble with government officials struggling to agree sales terms, sources said, four months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened to break a logjam in previous commercial negotiations.

Two senior Indian defence officials told Reuters that both sides were wrangling over the unit price of the aircraft and a condition that planemaker Dassault Aviation invest a big percentage of the value of the multibillion dollar contract in India.

The problems threaten to further delay the modernisation of India’s ageing air force. Military officials have warned of a major capability gap

opening up with rivals China and Pakistan without new Western warplanes or if local defence contractors cannot build what the military needs in a timely manner. Modi and French President Francois Hollande announced the government-to-government deal for the sale of the off-the shelf Rafale fighters on April 10. That followed three years of commercial negotiations with Dassault for 126 aircraft that stalled due to disagreements over assembling most of the aircraft in India. Citing India’s urgent defence needs, Modi chose to deal directly with Paris for a smaller order, saying officials would work out the details. On May 16, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told local media that negotiations over pricing would be finished in a “month or

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two”. But those talks were bogged down over India’s insistence on a lower price for the frontline warplanes than the roughly $200 million each that was discussed with Dassault during the commercial talks, said the two defence officials, who have been briefed on the new negotiations.

Under the previous proposal, Dassault was to assemble 108 of the aircraft in India, a move New Delhi hoped would help boost a high tech local aerospace industry. There is no production in India in the new arrangement. “Since there is no technology transfer, the price that was on the table during the commercial talks cannot stand,” said one of the officials, who declined to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media..

ERDOGAN VOWS NO LETUP IN FIGHT AGAINST KURDISH REBELS ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday vowed to fight on against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants, in the face of mounting attacks on security forces blamed on the Kurdish rebels. “Let me put it clearly, the operations will continue,” he said in a televised speech in Ankara, as Turkey presses on with air strikes on PKK targets in the country’s southeast and in northern Iraq. “We will never stop in the face of all these attacks. We will continue to fight with determination,” he added. Erdogan vowed “no concessions” in the fight against “terror”, saying: “A state subjected to an armed attack has the right to defend itself with arms.” Turkey is currently pressing a two-pronged “anti-terror” offensive against Islamic State (IS) extremists in Syria and PKK militants following a wave of attacks.

But, so far, the air strikes have overwhelmingly concentrated on the separatist Kurdish rebels, to the frustration of Western commentators who want to see Turkey ramp up its involvement in the fight against IS. The state-run Anatolia news agency reported over the weekend that so far 390 “terrorists” had been killed in the campaign against the PKK. But the Kurdish rebels have hit back, leaving a 2013 truce declared by the PKK in tatters. According to an AFP toll, 29 members of the security forces have been killed in violence linked to the PKK since the current crisis began.

Erdogan called on the PKK, which is blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Ankara and much of the international community, to lay down arms and bury them “under concrete”. Until it did so, the Turkish state would continue its offensive, he said. “The most important task of a state is to protect lives.” “We extended our hand but they responded with arms,” Erdogan said, referring to the Kurdish militants, reaffirming his verdict that the peace process was now “on ice”.AGENCIES

06 LAHORE

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

WEATHER UPDATES THURSDAY

330C 260C

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330C

26C

SATURDAY

320C 260C

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330C 260C

Three Die of consUming Toxic milK CHICHAWATNI INP A mother and her two daughters died after consuming toxic milk on Wednesday. Police said that the family, hailing from Hayatabad Colony of Chichawatni, drank milk which turned poisonous due to unknown reasons.

The family fell unconscious after consuming the milk.

The affectees were rushed to a nearby hospital but all of three died during treatment and their bodies were later handed over to heirs after postmortem. The police collected sample of the toxic milk and sent it to a laboratory for testing to determine the reason which caused the milk to turn poisonous.

robber KilleD in allegeD police encoUnTer SHEIKHUPURA STAFF REPORT A robber was killed while his accomplices managed to escape after exchange of fire with police on Wednesday.

The police conducted an operation against the outlaws in Sheikhupura’s Mandiala village, located at Farooqabad Road, during which encounter took place.

In cross fire, one robber was killed while his cohorts fled the scene leaving behind body of their accomplice and weapons. Police said that the robber killed in encounter was wanted by various police stations in number of robberies cases and other crimes.

seven scorcheD as van caTches fire OKARA STAFF REPORT At least seven persons including children were scorched when a van caught fire after collision with a mini-truck on Wednesday.

Rescue sources said that the incident took place at Dipalpur Road in Okara where a speeding passenger van collided head-on with a mini-truck and caught fire.

Seven passengers including two children were scorched due to fire and were rushed to District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital where according to medics, condition of two people was serious.

Dr KhaliDa Usmani passes away LAHORE STAFF REPORT Former principal Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore Professor Dr. Khalida Usmani passed away in New York after a brief illness. She was buried in Saginaw MI where her family members reside. She left behind a sister, two brothers, two daughters and four granddaughters.

Prof Dr Khalida Usmani, MBBS (KE) FRCS (UK) MD (USA) was a leading breast cancer surgeon in the country. She trained hundreds of young graduate and post-graduate students during her long association with FJMC; initially as a professor of surgery and subsequently as principal of the prestigious medical college. She retired as principal in August 2000.

LAHORE: Preparations for Independence Day celebrations are in full swing in the provincial capital. ONLINE

‘gcU neeDs a vc asap’ OLD RAVIANS UNION ASKS PUNJAB CHIEF MINISTER TO APPOINT GCU’S VC TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, DISPOSAL OF IMPORTANT TASKS LAHORE hASSAAN AhmEd

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HE Old Ravians Union (ORU) executive committee has raised serious concerns over the unnecessary delay in appointment of the Government College University (GCU) vice chancellor (VC), and made an appeal to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, an Old Ravian himself, to immediately appoint head of their alma mater keeping in view that the admissions process has begun in the university and presence of a vice chancellor is highly crucial for ensuring transparency, merit and above all financial assistance to the deserving students.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, ORU President Kamran

Lashari said that GCU’s alumni are concerned that their alma mater has been working without a head for the last three weeks, which is certainly hampering the routine administrative and academic work besides hurting the repute and prestige of the university.

He said that the future of many high achievers of the country was at stake as sanction by the VC was mandatory, under the university’s act, for various administrative and financial measures which were needed to be taken at the current stage.

ORU Honorary Secretary Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt said the chief minister’s love for his alma mater, GCU, was undoubted.

Just three years back, Shehbaz, on the request of the Old Ravians Union, ordered

changing of Metro’s route just to avoid demolition of the historical GCU Logia Garden.

“Now, once again, former Ravians expect same kind of attention from the chief minister for his alma mater,” Dr Butt said.

He also submitted that the GCU Endowment Fund Trust, which funds the fee of hundreds of students, from donations of GCU’s alumni was also being depleted, as they were unable to make several donations due to the absence of the VC. The Old Ravians Union executive committee members requested the the chief minister for his personal attention to expedite the appointment of the head of GCU. Talking to Pakistan Today, Dr Hamid Mukhtar, General Secretary of GCU Aca-

demic Staff Association, said that a number of important tasks were pending as they require approval from the VC. In another related development, a meeting of the search committee, which was constituted to nominate three suitable candidates against each vacancy in ten universities of the province, was held.

The meeting was attended by Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Nizaamud Deen, LUMS VC Sohail Naqvi and newly appointed Secretary Higher Education Department Irfan Elahi.

According to sources, the participants discussed in length the issue of appointments of VCs. No one among participants of meeting was available to comment or share the details of the meeting.

DSP TROLLS WOMAN IN THE NAME OF MARRIAGE GUJRANWALA STAFF REPORT

A woman thrashed a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Anti-Corruption Establishment Office for deceiving her in the name of marriage on Wednesday.

As per details, DSP Azam Mehr had promised to contract marriage with Rahat Naz, a junior clerk at Gujranwala Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, but he did not keep his promise.

Disappointed over being deceived, Rahat Naz submitted an application to the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) against the DSP. Later, the DSP agreed to contract the marriage.

The story took a twist when around 10 days before the marriage, the DSP sent Naz Rs 50,000 for shopping and later got her arrested by the ACE officials on the charges of bribing a police officer.

In order to hear both sides of the story, the ACE authorities summoned both of the parties.

After the completion of the enquiry, Naz attacked DSP and showered slaps and shoes. The DSP tried to save himself by running into different rooms of the building but in vain. Later, the ACE officials calmed her down and ensured justice would be served.

AWP demands resettlement of families evicted from Islamabad katchi abadi LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Awami Workers Party (AWP) Lahore held a protest demonstration at Charing Cross as part of its country-wide day of action to demand resettlement of families evicted from I-11 katchi abadi and release of people arrested by the Islamabad police on fabricated charges of terrorism.

Speaking at the occasion, AWP General Secretary Farooq Tariq said the government had violated its own policy by evicting families without providing them with any resettlement plan. He said under the National Housing Policy of 2001, no abadi with more than 40 houses could be demolished in this manner.

Tariq condemned the use of force against unarmed civilians by the capital police during the demolition of

the houses and said the CDA had lied and misinformed the public by referring to the basti as Afghan basti and as a den of criminals. He said majority of the residents of the abadi were migrants from other cities of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkwa who had come to Islamabad to earn a living for their families. He said the CDA had been unable to find a single weapon from the abadi.

The AWP has submitted a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan seeking resettlement of the evicted families and is committed to raising the issue on all available forums. AWP Lahore general secretary Shazia Khan criticised the CDA for its double standards in dealing with influential people and the poor families employed in menial jobs. She said the CDA had leased out large swathes of public land to the Islam-

abad Club which catered singularly to the needs of the elite of the city on below market rate.

She said the party would continue its campaign till resettlement of evicted families and release of abadi residents and AWP members arrested

on fabricated charges of terrorism.

She said the problem of katchi abadis should be solved by evolving a national plan for provision of low cost housing to poor families and urged rights activists and civil society organisations to support the campaign.

LAHORE 07

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

modern drug testing lab coming your way ‘Nation thankful to China for CPEC’ LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

HE Punjab government will set up a state-of-the-art drug testing laboratory of international standard in the province and it will be constructed on the pattern of Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory.

This was stated by Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif while presiding over a meeting on Wednesday to review the progress of crackdown on spurious and substandard medicines and the project of setting up of a drug testing laboratory. The chief minister said that satellite drug testing labs would be established in all divisional

headquarters of the province. He said the project of modern drug testing lab was of great importance for eliminating substandard and fake medicines in the province, therefore, all matters regarding the project should be disposed of at the earliest.

Shehbaz said that analysis of samples of medicines should be arranged from the foreign renowned labs till completion of the project of drug testing lab and a foolproof mechanism should be evolved in this regard. He directed the authorities concerned to take indiscriminate action against manufacturers and sellers of spurious and substandard medicines, adding that the elements involved in this evil trade deserve no leniency.

He warned that the elements manufacturing medicines without license would be dealt with an iron hand and the mafia which was playing with human lives for the sake of a few rupees would be eliminated.

“Factories manufacturing fake or spurious medicines or those not having licenses of manufacturing medicines would be sealed,” he added. He said the police, law enforcement institutions concerned and administration should jointly take vigorous action against elements involved in manufacturing of medicines without license. He said directed the departments concerned to improve their performance and institutional framework.

PFA continues operation against unhygienic food LAHORE STAFF REPORT

In another of its series of operation against unhygienic conditions at food outlets and eateries, Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Director Operations Ayesha Mumtaz visited Zenith meat shop, located on Main Boulevard Gulberg, and sealed it. She found flies inside meat display cabins, extremely poor storage condition and open drain in meat processing room.

Meanwhile, Data Ganj Bakhash town team conducted a raid on Geo Wehra in Islampura Bazaar and sealed it due to storage of leftover food in dirty freezers and flies wandering in the cooking area. The same team also sealed the production unit of Malik Sweet House, located in Sanat Nagar Chowk, because of flies in the premises.

PML CALLS FOR KARACHI-LIKE OPERATION ACROSS PUNJAB STAff REPORT LAhORE

Pakistan Muslim League (PML) leaders have called for a operation against the criminals across Punjab, similar to the ongoing Karachi operation. This was said by PML

leaders Haleem Adil Sheikh, Dr Azeemuddin Lakhvi and Mian Munir while talking to journalists after expressing sympathies with the affected families of Hussain Khan Wala village, District Kasur, on Wednesday. PML Sindh President Haleem Adil

Sheikh presented traditional Ajraks to the parents of the affected children. If Shehbaz Sharif stands on the roof of his Raiwind Palace, the leaders said, he would surely listen to the cries of affected people of Kasur.

Incidents like the Model

Town carnage and Kasur pornography happed due to inefficiency and failure of the government, they added.

Haleem Adil Sheikh said that according to reports of welfare organizations, child abuse cases are much higher in Punjab than other provinces.

“These statistics expose the so-called good governance of the self-proclaimed Khadame-A’ala,” he said, adding that during Shehbaz’s tenure, as many as 284 children had been abused and out of these videos of 400 were made.

“Had Shehbaz government taken stern action after the first incident happened, the succeeding incident could have been prevented,” he said. Dr Azeemuddin Lakhvi said that former Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi has issued direction from abroad that the affected families be assured that they are not alone. “The PML is with the oppressed people and the senior party leadership will soon visit the village,” he added.

Taking immediate notice of the incidents, he said, Shujat Hussain had demanded that culprits be hanged publicly and made an example for others. Dr Lakhvi said that the Army chief should take notice of these tragic occurrences and the cases be tried in the military courts because these fall in the category of worst terrorism.

LAHORE: A high level delegation from China’s Jining City led by Jining Municipal Party Committee Secretary Ma Pingchang called on Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday to discuss matter regarding promotion of cooperation in energy particularly mining sector. Talking to the delegation, Shehbaz said that Pak-China friendship has stood every hour of trial. He said that a new era of economic relations between Pakistan and China has started during the tenure of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said that bilateral relations between both the countries are touching new heights. Lauding China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the chief minister said that besides investment, the historic economic package given by China is a great gift for Pakistan and its people. He said that the historic economic package of $ 46 billion, announced during the visit of Chinese President XI Jingping to Pakistan, is a glorious example of everlasting friendship between the countries. “The Pakistani people can never forget this favour of China,” he added. He said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will not only bring prosperity in Pakistan but the whole region. Shehbaz said that a huge amount of $ 33 billion has been allocated for energy projects under the CPEC. He said that the work on the project under the CPEC in Punjab has been kicked off speedily. “The construction of 1,320-megawatt coal power project plant has been started in Sahiwal and this project will start producing electricity by 2017,” he said. Similarly, 900-megawatt solar project is being set up in Bahawalpur which will be completed in 2016, he added. STAFF REPORT

08 COMMENT More MQM problems

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

Breaking the silence Child abuse in Kasur

And political repercussions

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hE MQM situation was a volcano waiting to explode. And now that push has come to shove, it has stood not just the Karachi operation, but also the wider political order, on knife edge. Altaf hussain’s stipulation is interesting. The resignations can be withdrawn if the operation is made more expansive; even though many people, including Farooq sattar, initially believed they would be accepted immediately.

That makes for a more accommodative stance after having shown some aggression. And it scores a point against PPP, especially after the bitter parting of ways from the sindh government.

Other options are more chaotic, not the least since the resignations have ignited yet another firestorm in and outside parliament. Just like the recent PTi controversy, some want MQM out immediately while others argue why they should stay. But far more significantly, there is the matter of the massive byelection that will follow. Pundits still back PTi to score significant points, which suits neither PML-N nor PPP. That would explain the reluctance to accept the resignations. it would also significantly muddy the waters in Karachi, making the operation that much more controversial. Rumours of serious rifts within MQM will not make things any easier, of course. in the presence of so many variables, it is important to focus on the constants. True, the Karachi Operation has gone a long way in restoring normalcy to the city. indeed, it has reduced crime statistics to levels not seen in many years. Yet it is also true that it has not been as across-the-board as initially believed; at least not yet.

And while Rangers should not be made to reduce their pressure, the political leadership must ensure any genuine grievances are addressed. That is why PPP’s position, that everybody must talk to MQM, was perhaps the sanest of the initial feedback. The coming few days will be very important, not just for Karachi, but also for islamabad. hopefully the political leadership is up to the test that has come its way.

Minorities, finally House waking up?

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OiNG through the customary motions of Minorities Day our lawmakers must have realised that the house’s contribution to upholding minorities’ rights in this islamic Republic has been rhetorical at best for a long, long time. Also, while showering praise upon “patriotic minority members who sacrificed their lives in the war against terror – also for their services in… education and health”, the Lower house stopped short of suggesting tangible, quantifiable measures that would, for once, back words with action. still, the Assembly – however visibly depleted — did spring a surprise, adopting the Quaid’s vision about minorities.

There can be no doubt that the state needs to overhaul its existing system of protecting minorities for the simple reason that it has been an abject failure. And it is strange, to say the least, that a large number of lawmakers hold similar views, apparently, yet are unable to initiate any movement on the issue. There is obvious pressure from their colleagues of the far right of the spectrum. some say, with credible evidence, that more than political resistance it is threats from the more militant minded islamists send shivers down many spines in both houses.

Whatever the reason for the paralysis, nobody can deny that all this while the blasphemy law has been misused, shi’a, Christians, Ahmedis, etc, have been mercilessly killed, hindus have been forcefully converted or exiled, and the wronged have found little justice, if any, so far. since protecting minorities naturally comes within the wider ambit of the war against terrorism, hopefully this time the government will be more serious about walking the talk. That is why this Minorities Day held more symbolic value than usual. And it is telling that Jinnah’s speech of August 11, 1947, itself a subject of controversy for the religious-conservative lobby, has been projected as the vision for the future.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963, 042-36375965

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Mehlab JaMeel

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his saturday a report brought the nation’s attention to a heinous crime brewing in hussain Khanwalla village in Kasur district since 2006. Being called the ‘the largestever child abuse scandal in Pakistan’s history’, the harrowing episode involved the discovery of 400 videos recording more than 280 children being raped. As the magnitude itself suggests, the perpetrators were a gang of sexual predators who were involved in kidnapping, molesting and blackmailing hundreds of children from the village and profiting by selling the videos, allegedly under the patronage of local MPA, Malik Ahmed saeed.

Local police officials denounced the incident through statements like “only 7 cases have been registered”, as if 7 cases is somehow less outrageous, conveniently diverting attention away from the shaming culture concerning sexual abuse in Pakistan and notoriously unsupportive attitude of the police that are responsible for low rates of reporting. Provincial Law Minister Rana sanaullah Khan, trivialising the trauma of the victims, went so far as to say that the incident should not have been reported because it brought ‘shame’ to Pakistan. While the religious right maintained its usual silence, many liberal leaning activists were also quick to uphold the “hang them all” rhetoric – the time tested strategy to distance oneself from the “monster”, not recognising one’s own complicity and inhibiting any possibility for systematic change.

But let me ask you, are you really surprised at the Kasur incident?

The sheer scale of the operation and its persistence over such a long time are enough to suggest that this is not an isolated instance. sexual abuse of children is a systemic issue and people who refuse to accept that and deal with it accordingly are part of the problem.

According to the data compiled by sahil, “in Pakistan, children less than 18 years of age are falling prey to sexual abuse at the ratio of 6 children per day.” From 2007 to 2011, 10,726 children were sexually victimised. Needless to say, female children are at a higher risk as compared to male children and the latter are less likely to report abuse because of imposed expectations of masculinity. Approximately 48 percent of the cases involve children who have been abducted and gang-raped. Afghan refugees, street children and children forced into labour are at a much higher risk of being sexually abused. These are only the reported figures, and do not even include the staggering number of child marriages. Globally, 1 in 10 girls below the age of 20 experience sexual abuse at some point in their lives, according to the latest data collected by UNiCEF. A majority of children who are sexually exploited happen to be victims of trafficking as well.

Despite the highly secretive nature of global and domestic trafficking networks, it has been possible to pin down some data. According to UNiCEF, nearly 2 million children are trafficked every year and 79 percent of women and child trafficking victims are sold into sexual slavery. Data collected

by Us National institute for health suggests that an estimated 1 million children are forced into prostitution worldwide every year and the total number of prostituted children could be as high as 10 million. Other estimates show that over the last 30 years, trafficking for sexual exploitation alone has victimised some 30 million Asian women and children. india and Pakistan are the main destinations for children under 16 who are trafficked in south Asia. A study records that 19,000 Pakistani children have been trafficked to the United Arab Emirates alone. human traffickers make an estimated $32 billion annually. Child prostitution itself is a multibillion dollar industry. According to the data presented by FBi, there are nearly 750,000 predators looking for webcam child sex

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

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tourism online at any given time. Trafficked allow gender-based violence and sexual abuse children are bought, sold and rented online for to go unchallenged. According to the findings pleasure. sex tourism especially targeting chil- of a research by UNiCEF (2009), child sexual dren has been a pervasive global industry for abuse among other abuses is the least reported several decades now. one. The core reason that the paedophile ring in On hearing such statistics, people are quick Kasur was successful and thrived for such a to disassociate themselves from these issues, long time has to do with a culture of victim casting these businesses to the realm of some blaming. Being raped is considered such a “underground, criminal dens”, away from the re- shameful act that the victims were unable to sponsible, civilised, law abiding citizens. such a come forward for years. The gang crucially rerhetoric advocates introducing stricter laws as a lied on this factor to conduct its operations. solution to these crimes, conveniently forgetting The cultural responses to the idea of rape rethat these enterprises exist all around us despite flect a broader patriarchal hegemony. Rape is the presence of laws because we contribute to still considered to be something causally linked their growth as consumers. to sexuality, when in fact it is an expression of Pornography is perhaps the biggest industry power through the medium of sex. Rape allows in the global sex commerce with an ever increas- men to exert control over vulnerable bodies and ing consumer mass. According to an internet Fil- the culture of shame surrounding any discussion ter Review, every second $3,075.64 are spent on about sexual abuse further silences the pornography and 28,258 internet users are view- victims.The alleged patronage by Malik saeed ing pornography. Content related to pornography and the local political elite is also an exercise in and the sex industry account for 69 percent of consolidating power over the disenfranchised total internet sales. 68 million pornographic villagers and families of the victims. Rape thus search engine requests are made daily, along is a systemic tool not just because it is a product with 116,000 child pornography requests daily. of broader cultural practices but also because it One out of five pornographic images online is is employed to express and reinforce existing sothat of a child. An estimated 40-80 percent of cial hierarchies. The involvement of a land disconsumers of child porn are likely to abuse and pute in the issue further illustrates this. molest a child. it is estimated that 76 percent of What’s more? Pakistani law does not recogtransactions for sex with underage girls start on nise marital rape and we have allowed ulema the internet. Nearly 70 percent of victims of traf- who consider child marriage a legitimate and reficking are forced into sex industry and pornog- ligious duty to be part of a high council in the raphy. Women and children forced into federal government. We have put on the pedestal prostitution have always been the most conven- such columnists who talk about the dress and ient casting choice for pornographic films. Ma- character of the victim in a discussion on rape jority of child victims of human trafficking are rather than the perpetrator’s actions. We have videoed and these are not only used for black- elected officials who care more about the intermailing purposes but are also shared widely on national image of Pakistan than providing relief pornographic websites. to hundreds of abused children. We have police Although erotica has existed in one form or officials who maintain that absence of visible reanother for a long time, the mainstreaming of sistance towards abusive sexual advances indipornography industry started in the latter half of cates consent. We raise men who believe that the 20th century, especially in the West. The glob- their honour lies in their mother’s chador or their alisation of the industry entailed a chance to out- sister’s burqa. We believe that being abused is a source the risk and profit from the videos made at matter of shame and as a culture we refuse to break the silence. a lower cost in less develi remember i was oped countries. The case of protesting with my friends “Rape Camp” website in the in front of Ganga Ram hosUs which emerged after the Vietnam War and sold We have police officials pital in 2013, at the exact spot where a five-year-old videos of Vietnamese women being raped gained who maintain that absence girl was dumped the previous night after being gang much attention. The current of visible resistance raped multiple times, and a pornographic websites feature specific sections for towards abusive sexual man on bike hooted while passing by us and shouted Asian and Latino actors, repadvances indicates “i love rape!”. i remember resenting the fetishisation of when we were collecting people of colour and overall consent. We raise men funds for orphaned children racism in the industry. Today who believe that their at a traffic light and a man global pornography is a stopped his car and told my $100 billion industry, profithonour lies in their friend to sit in his lap if she ing directly from human trafficking and sex industry. mother’s chador or their wanted money. he was the of her father. i rememThe predators from the hussister’s burqa. We believe age ber when someone i knew sain Khanwalla village were asked me to come to an a small part of this broader that being abused is a abandoned house or send system. The videos of the matter of shame and as a him a compromising picture victims sold to gay porn of myself. i refused and websites at a low rate probculture we refuse to break later found out that he was ably ended up on some of member of a gang that these websites. the silence trapped young people and The overwhelming reextorted money from them. sponse from the top tiers of i was 14. i still remember the industry has been to glowhen a distressed friend of rify this as some form of sexual liberation. Clearly the liberation is only for mine went to a renowned religious scholar of Lamen who are predominantly the owners and con- hore and told him about the boys who molested sumers of these enterprises because studies indi- him when he was in 6th grade. he was asked cate that 88 percent of pornographic videos depict whether he “consented to it” or “enjoyed it” and violent scenes against women and an overwhelm- being in a vulnerable position he responded in ing majority of these are Black or Asian women. negative. The Mufti instantly declared that he has A content analysis of the 50 best-selling adult been “forgiven” and he won’t go to hell. videos revealed that across all scenes 3,376 verbal so, let me ask you once more, are you really and/or physically aggressive acts were observed, surprised at the Kasur incident?

72 percent of aggressive acts were perpetrated by What happened in Kasur is not an excepmen, 94 percent of aggressive acts were commit- tional or isolated instance. it happens every day. ted against women and children. There is a high it happens everywhere. Each time without failure demand for live cam child pornography and spe- we fail to build a secure space for our children cific genres of abusive porn exist which also fea- and for the marginalised sections of our society. ture victims having breakdowns on the set. We fail to protect the most vulnerable amongst Thousands of testimonies of ex-pornography ac- us. The abuse that happened in Kasur is on us betresses are available to read and they reveal that a cause we refuse to challenge the roots of the majority of women are drugged, beaten, gang- problem. Efficient laws and police accountability raped and physically or emotionally tortured at are just the beginning. Given the pervasive nature one point or another. of the issue, there is an essential and overwhelmin other words, we live in a visual culture ing need for a cultural and systemic reform for where abuse sells. We consume media that de- such abuse to stop. We need to cease our comsensitises us towards violence against women plicity, demand accountability from the state, and and children. We celebrate a culture that objecti- challenge the oppressive system that has made fies women and sexualises children, ultimately this and many other injustices possible. profiting corporate giants. We normalise the sysLet’s not allow denial to prevail over our temic abuse of women and children to the extent senses. Let’s break the silence. of calling it ‘empowerment’. so, let me ask you again, are you really surThe writer is a student of Cultural Anthroprised at the Kasur incident? pology and can mostly be found exploring the The abuse of children in hussain Khan- streets of Lahore. He takes a keen interest in walla village is just one manifestation of a postcolonial theory, and gender and sexuality broader set of toxic cultural conceptions that studies. He can be reached at: @mehlabjameel.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

CMYK

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

WORLD VIEW 09

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

Where in the World is al-Qaida's leader?

BrookiNgs

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Bruce riedel

HE emir of al-Qaida, Ayman alZawahri, has not made any public statements since September 2014. His now 11-month long absence is unprecedented. Next month will be a key test for Zawahri: the anniversary of 9/11—a milestone he has spoken out on for years.

Al-Zawahri was chosen by Osama bin Laden to be his successor. A veteran of 35 years of terrorist plotting, the Egyptian has legitimacy and experience.

But he has a lot of other baggage too. He is a poor speaker, prone to ideological fights, and lacks bin Laden's charisma.

Zawahri designated Yemeni Nasir alWuhayshi—leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula—to be his successor in 2013. Then this June, al-Wuhayshi died in a drone attack in Yemen. Zawahri did not give a eulogy for his deputy.

Then, the Afghan Taliban belatedly announced its leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, the self-appointed 'Commander of the Faithful,' had died. The Taliban's office in Qatar put the date of his death at April 23, 2013, but provided no reason for why it had not been announced publicly for over two years. The Afghan government said he died in a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. The Taliban said Omar had not left Afghanistan in the past 14 years—"not even for a day to go to Pakistan or any other country."

The Taliban are determined to cover up the fact that Mullah Omar was a “guest” of

the Pakistani intelligence service since 2002, hidden at their safe houses in Quetta and Karachi. Admitting the truth would undermine the Taliban's claim to be nationalist holy warriors fighting NATO's 'Crusader' army. It would also deeply embarrass Islamabad. Jihadi circles sometimes said Omar lived after 2002 in “the land of the dirty”—a play of words on Pakistan, which means “the land of the pure” in Urdu.

Yet Mullah Omar was a key ally of al-Qaida. Both bin Laden and Zawahri repeatedly pledged their allegiance to Mullah Omar, beginning well before 9/11 and repeated often since. Mullah Omar mourned bin Laden's death by SEALs in May 2011. Zawahri repeated his pledge of loyalty to Omar as late as last year. Did he know Omar was dead?

Other major jihadi leaders like Hafez Sayed, the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), have publicly eulogized Omar as a hero of the global jihad. LeT even held a vicarious funeral to mark his passing. The LeT is very close to Pakistan's spies. It attacked Mumbai in 2008 in an operation.

Three of al-Qaida's franchises in Syria, Yemen, and the Maghreb issued a

HOW THE UIGHURS KEEP THEIR CULTURE ALIVE IN PAKISTAN BBC Shumaila Jaffrey

Insa Khan was only a few years old when she left Xinjiang, and has profound memories of the journey she made with her parents in 1949.It took them about 50 days to walk through snow-capped mountains with donkeys carrying their luggage."My parents decided to leave Kashgar after Xinjiang officially became part of communist China," she said."I was too young to understand politics at that time," she added, as she served tea in the traditional Uighur way, with everybody sat on mats in the kitchen.

Insa is now 71 years old and has spent most of her life living in Gilgit in the north of Pakistan.

As a Muslim, she has religious freedom.And due to strong ties between China and Pakistan, she can also visit relatives in the autonomous Chinese province of Xinjiang.But she has never thought of returning home.

"This place is my home now and my identity," said Insa Khan. "What would I go back to?"Despite that certainty, she still feels an outsider in her adopted country.Over a cup of tea, she tells me that some people have illegally occupied her land."They are Pakistani and I'm an immigrant so I didn't contact the police or file a complaint in the courts," she said, keeping her face veiled despite being at home."I'm alone so I can't risk a dispute with anyone here," she added.

Ancient ties: Insa is one of a few thousand Uighur Muslims who live in Gilgit.The community is a mix of generations.Some left Xinjiang and the thriving trading town of Kashgar in 1949, while others are later arrivals.All say they were forced to leave as they were the victims of cultural and religious oppression in China.

China says its development projects have brought prosperity to Xinjiang's big cities.However, development in Xinjiang is under government control and ownership, and Uighur Muslims point to numerous restrictions that prevent them from celebrating their Muslim culture and rituals.Abdul Aziz was among those in the first wave to leave Xinjiang.Though in his late 70s, he still works selling traditional Kashgari quilts and mattresses from his two shops on the busy airport road in Gilgit.

His grandfather was a trader who used to travel between Gilgit and Kashgar in the 1940s.Sitting on a small bench, Abdul Aziz reflects for a few moments before narrating his migration story.

"It was a very harsh journey," he said."We travelled for weeks in the mountains before we arrived here.""When Mao Zedong took power and Xinjiang became part of his empire, they closed all the borders, and the Uighurs who were here couldn't return home.""So my grandfather asked the rest of the family to leave Kashgar and migrate to Gilgit," he added.He's now raising the fourth generation of his family in Pakistan, though he's slightly concerned about their diminishing knowledge of the Uighur language and Kashgari culture.

But he feels accepted in the local Gilgit community."People here have never made us feel like strangers," said Abdul."My business is good and my family is happy so what else can one wish for?" he added.

Unrest And UncertAinty: But for Abdul Rahman Bukhari, secretary general of the Chinese Overseas Association, a representative body for Pakistani Uighurs, the unrest in Xinjiang is never far away."We are sitting at a very sensitive location as it's the gateway between China and Pakistan," he said."Whenever there is trouble in Xinjiang, we feel the impact here."China blames the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) for attacks in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China. It says Uighur militants are part of it.It is also believed that ETIM militants have fought alongside the Pakistani Taliban in North and South Waziristan.Mr Bukhari says China fears that Gilgit could become a gateway for ETIM sympathisers to send militants through to Xinjiang."They keep us under scrutiny, even by extending friendship and giving incentives for the community," he said.

"They want to make sure that Pakistani Uighurs can't be used by any militant group against Chinese interests."

Pakistani Uighurs can avail of generous support from China - Beijing offers to pay for their children's education in Pakistan, and gives selected people free trips to Xinjiang every year.

China also encourages Pakistani Uighurs to return to Kashgar with the offer of incentives to set up businesses and buy homes.But almost nobody wants to go back.

"Xinjiang is much more developed than Gilgit so when we go there, for a moment we feel that we should return to our roots," said Mr Bukhari."But when we reflect, we realise that our ancestors have made the right choice as at least we have religious freedom in Pakistan."But the religious freedom in Pakistan comes at a price, according to Mr Bukhari, who says the authorities ensure that it does not conflict with the strong strategic ties between Islamabad and Beijing.

"We hear the news about the crackdown on Uighurs in China but we can't do anything for them. We're helpless," said Mr Bukhari."In Pakistan, anyone can raise (their) voice for the Muslims of Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan but Uighurs can't protest against Chinese atrocities against their brothers as the Pakistani authorities would never let us do that," he added.

joint eulogy. They praised Mullah Omar for refusing to surrender bin Laden to America after 9/11. It was a dramatic illustration that the al-Qaida network is still a united global jihad.

But not a word from Zawahri. A blank slate. No statement for his deputy’s death or his titular leader. His organization is still active in Pakistan. Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, the group Zawahri lauded last September in the last message he made, is actively plotting attacks. Pakistani security officials recently killed one of its commanders in Baluchistan. Other senior al-Qaida operatives have also been killed in Pakistan recently.

So what accounts for the silence?

Why is Zawahri missing in action? Of course, only he and his closest circle know for sure.

Perhaps Zawahri is ill and his health precludes any public role. Like Mullah Omar, he may be incapable of activity or even dead. But there is no hint of that in the jihadi Web sites or chatter.

More likely his silence is deliberate.

He is biding his time and focusing on his own security. Al-Qaida has often chosen to

out wait its enemies and go underground, biding its time. When confronted with a furious Saudi attack on its infrastructure in the kingdom in 2006, it retreated into Yemen—only to reemerge as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula in 2009. It adopted a similar tactic in Iraq, reemerging from the surge after the Americans had gone home. Zawahri knows the Americans are leaving Afghanistan next year; perhaps he is just waiting for them to go home.

September 11, 2015 will be an interesting test. Normally since 9/11, al-Qaida delivers a major message to mark what it calls 'the Manhattan Raid.' Often Zawahri comments on the state of the global jihad.

If he remains silent this anniversary, it will be very unusual.

Bruce Riedel joined Brookings in 2006 after 30-year 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.

Who threatens america most?

New York Times In what order does the Obama administration rank the biggest external threats to America’s national security? The short answer: It depends on whom and which agency you ask.

Official opinion is all over the lot, a sign of a rapidly changing world, different bureaucratic priorities and confused thinking. Which raises this question: If officials cannot agree on what the most pressing threats are, how can they develop the right strategies and properly allocate resources?

Start with America’s military establishment. Last month, the Pentagon put Russia at the top of its threat list. Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., the incoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, branded Russia the No. 1 “existential threat” in his confirmation hearings, followed by North Korea, China and the Islamic State, or ISIS. Other top military officials have said much the same thing in testimony before Congress.

There is no doubt that relations with Russia have taken a dangerous turn, given Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and reckless exercises over NATO airspace. The Pentagon is also chafing under budget cuts, and rattling Cold War sabers may be a good way to pry more money out of Congress. But the idea that Russia is America’s top threat is not shared by other important players in Washington, including the White House. General Dunford’s comments reflected “his own view and doesn’t necessarily reflect the view of — or the consensus — analysis of the president’s national security team,” Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, said last month.

Last September, Mr. Obama declared that “at this moment, the greatest threats come from the Middle East and North Africa, where radical groups exploit grievances for their own gain.” But which groups — Al Qaeda or ISIS? For some time, the administration has considered Al Qaeda the more serious threat because it carried out and is still planning attacks on American territory while ISIS was mainly focused on seizing territory in Iraq and Syria to establish a caliphate. Many terrorism and counterintelligence officials still hold that view and have warned that Qaeda operatives in Yemen and Syria are exploiting the chaos in those countries to lay the ground for much more damaging “mass casualty” attacks.

But on July 22, the F.B.I. direc-

tor, James Comey, declared ISIS to be the bigger threat. He told the Aspen Security Forum he was particularly worried about ISIS’ social media campaign, which it uses to prey on “troubled souls” in the United States to either join the fight in Syria or Iraq or launch attacks in America. In February, James Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, cited threats in cyberspace, including from Russia, as the chief danger, followed by counterintelligence, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

To some extent, the different emphases result from different responsibilities. The F.B.I. has the lead role in preventing attacks in this country.

The Pentagon has forces deployed against Al Qaeda and ISIS and is responsible for defending America’s

NATO allies if Russia becomes aggressive with the Baltics or other allied countries.

While military commanders seem persuaded that the chance of war with Russia (the only country whose nuclear arsenal is on par with the United States) has increased, the risk is only slightly higher than before. The administration remains committed to working with Moscow when possible to achieve peaceful outcomes, as it must.

Gen. Martin Dempsey, the departing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in the 2015 national military strategy, “Today’s global security environment is the most unpredictable I have seen in 40 years of service.” A formidable challenge for the administration is deciding what its priorities should be.

10 BUSINESS CORPORATE CORNER Ruba SEZ Group launches Opple Lighting in Pakistan

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

PAkIStAN AND CHINA INk 20 MoUS WORtH $2B KARAMAY DECLARATION FOCUSES ON INCREASED COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IN DIVERSIFIED FIELDS

LAHORE: RUBA SEZ group, the fastest growing Chinese group in Pakistan, on Tuesday introduced the world renowned lighting brand OPPLE in Pakistani market. These new lights will meet the LED requirements of Pakistani consumer. Opple Lighting is a leading lighting manufacturer based in Shanghai, China. The company is having sales and services in more than 50 countries across four continents with annual turnover of 550 million USD and a workforce of above 6000 workers. The success of Opple is associated with their strong commitment to quality and innovation. The lighting brand offers flicker free, energy saving, practical products for residential, outdoor, industrial and commercial lighting project. Speaking at the event, Director, JW ENVIRO WaseemAfridi said,”RUBA SEZ group has been introducing innovative technology in Pakistan for over four decades. We plan to open 10 OPPLE Lighting showrooms across Pakistan and a lighting equipment factory in Lahore by the end of 2015. This will help in strengthening the economy of Pakistan”. PRESS RELEASE

Pepsi Pakistan unveils ‘Chand Sitara’ at launch of ‘Chamke Hum se Pakistan’ campaign LAHORE: Pepsi launched its new campaign -Chamke Hum Se Pakistan’ with a melodious new anthem. ‘Chand Sitara’. After decades, Pepsi brings together the legends of Pakistani music Salman Ahmed. Shahi Hasan and Junaid Jamshaid along with maestro Shoaib klansoor, who also brought forth the historic ‘DA Dil Pakistan to this nation. With the ‘Chamke Hum Se Pakistan’ campaign. Pepsi will recognize the achievements of unsung Pakistani heroes who make Pakistan shine in various fields such as sports, education and social service! Jahanzeb Khan - VP & GM PepsiCo Pakistan & Afghanistan says. 4t Pepsi we endeavor to inspire the youth of this country, by bringing forward those who have achieved a lot in their respective fields. We want these Chand Slams to step into the limelight and inspire others.’ Highlight of the campaign is the song ‘Chand Sitara’ by Shoaib Mansoor, which celebrates the beauty of Pakistan tIvough the eyes of these unsung “Chard Skaras”. It is a festive and optimistic song that is sure to win the hearts of every Pakistani and become the next patriotic-anthem. PRESS RELEASE

Sindh Bank BoD approves unaudited accounts for half year KARACHI: A meeting of the Board of Directors of Sindh Bank Ltd was held at the Bank’s Head Office on August 12, 2015 in which the unaudited accounts for the half year ended June 30, 2015 were approved. The Board noted that during the period, the Bank recorded significant growth in all the key performance areas. Total deposits increased by 33.7% to Rs 82.763 Billion over the year end 2014 position, whereas number of customer accounts stood at 251 thousand plus, as against 166 thousand as on December 31, 2014, depicting an addition of over 85 thousand accounts i.e.

51% increase. Gross Advances amounted to Rs 43.074 Billion as on June 30, 2015 against Rs 41.185 Billion as on December 31, 2014 registering an increase of 4.6% while Investment at Rs 7.034 Billion, comprising mainly of Government Securities, increased by 11.8% Pre-tax profit for the period stood at Rs 1,017 Million as compared to Rs 624 Million earned in the corresponding period of 2014, thus registering an increase of 62.9% JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company has maintained the Bank’s medium to long term entity rating of ‘AA’ (Double A) and short term rating of ‘A-1+’, with a stable outlook. The bank now has 225 branches in 111 cities across Pakistan, including 5 Islamic Banking branches. Additionally 25 branches, including 8 dedicated branches for Islamic Banking, are to be opened by the year end, to make a total of 250 branches. 55 ATMs were added to the network during the period. While launch of the China UnionPay Debit Card was successfully achieved, the Bank also plans to offer the most popular and widely used VISA Debit Card for its customers in the second half of the year. Exposure to Agri sector as on June 30, 2015 amounted to Rs 2,625 Million against 6,655 farmers as compared to Rs 2,106 Million on 5,539 farmers as on December 31, 2014. PRESS RELEASE

Anwar Maqsood, Chef Mehboob and Chef Zakir, come together to celebrate Ariel’s Best Stain Removal in 1-Wash* KARACHI: Pakistan’s leading FMCG Company, P&G Pakistan, hosted a press event at Port Grand in Karachi to announce the launch of Ariel detergent’s new and improved formula. The event celebrated Pakistan’s tradition for hospitality, and as a result the diverse practices, cultures, cuisines and food across the provinces of the country. While everyone may have different tastes and preferences, diverse traditions and customs, and different stains to fight, everyone can agree that Ariel offers an outstanding solution with its new and improved formula driving – Best Stain Removal in 1-Wash* PRESS RELEASE

URUMQI

P

INP

AKISTAN and China on Wednesday signed 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $2 billion as the two-day historic moot of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Karamay-Xinjiang Forum ended with the Karamay declaration, focusing on increased cooperation between the two friendly countries in diversified fields.

The MoUs were signed in sectors of energy, communication, social services, agriculture, health, education, road infrastructures etc at the auspicious Karamay Government Municipal Auditorium. A consortium of 35 Chinese companies was also formed which would invest in Pakistan pushing forward CPEC. Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator Hasil Bizenjo, Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Senator Nuzhat Saddiq, Senator Nawabzada Saifullah Magsi, Minister for Plan-

ning and Development Baluchistan Hamid Khan Achakzai, Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood Khalid and high ranking officials of the delegations witnessed the signing ceremony.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong also attended the concluding session and termed the meeting highly successful in furthering the Sino-Pak ties to new height through CPEC. Present on the occasion were DG FWO Major General Muhammad Afzal, Khalid Asghar Engineer in Chief FWO, Major General Javed Mehmood Bukhari, Quartermaster General, Major General Muhstaq Ahmed Faisal, DG NLC, and other high ranking officials of the Pakistan government.

Just before the passage of the Karamay declaration, from Pakistan side Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed Chairman Senate Committee on Defence and Defence Production, and from China side Madam Baige Zaho, member NPC Standing Committee, Vice Chairman NPC Foreign Affairs Committee, gave a de-

OIL PRICES REBOUND FROM LOWS LONDON AGENCIES

Oil prices rose Wednesday, with New York’s price rebounding from six-year lows as the International Energy Agency predicted stronger crude demand amid a supply glut. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September delivery climbed 48 cents to $43.56 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for September gained 28 cents to stand at $49.46 a barrel in London afternoon deals. WTI on Tuesday sank to its lowest close since March 2009, while Brent also fell after China’s central bank moved to devalue its currency by nearly two percent against the US dollar. The People’s Bank of China again lowered the daily fix that sets the value of the Chinese currency against the greenback on Wednesday by 1.62 percent, sending a new shockwave through financial markets. “The Chinese yuan continues to weaken for the second day, which could suggest further weakening of oil prices,” said Daniel Ang, an investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore. Investors fear Beijing’s move signalled concerns over growth in the world’s second-largest economy and top energy consumer, which came after data published over the weekend showed a slump in Chinese trade. It also pushed up the greenback, hurting dollar-denominated commodity prices by making them more expensive for international buyers. Ang said prices were under pressure also after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Tuesday said that its output in July rose by 100,700 barrels per day from the previous month to 31.5 million barrels per day.

tailed presentation on the achievements made from the two days Pak-China forum.

The participants of the forums laid great emphasis on giving sustainability to the forum in the days to come and decided to make it an annual feature. The next meeting of the forum would be held in October this year in Beijing.

In his brief address on the occasion, Ahsan Iqbal proposed to make cooperation in space technology between Pakistan and China as part of the historic declaration, saying it would take the Pak-China relations to new heights.

Pakistan and China, he proposed, should launch joint space mission programme comprising astronauts of both countries as “this is the strength of the CPEC to increases more connectivity between the two friendly countries.” It will shape up the future destiny of both the nations, he commented.

He lauded the organisers of the Pak-China forum for holding such a successful event and said it would ensure stability to the world peace. “I assure you on behalf of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and government of Pakistan that we are committed in implementation of the CPEC in letter and spirit. I give open invitation to Chinese firms to directly contact us in case of any

problem they are facing in Pakistan. We will remove all the obstacles in the way of CPEC”.

The CPEC, he said, would create dozens of Karamay like cities in Pakistan. “The people of Pakistan will benefit from this joint venture. The sun is rising from the east and the history will not forget what was accomplished today from the two days moot of this historic forum. It will bring everlasting changes in the region”.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed in his address termed the event as a great development in the region wherein Pakistan and China were taking the lead role.

He also made a mention of the positive development taking place in the region which he said would cast good impact on the CPEC and referred to peace process in Kabul with support of Pakistan and China and Iran nuclear deal to substantiate his view point.

He said the government of Pakistan had allocated Rs 3 billion for building the western corridor of the CPEC passing through the less developed areas KPK and Baluchistan. Senator Mushahid said this region, which was in the eyes of storms since Russian invasion, was heading towards betterment nowadays, adding the time has come to settle the things so that Pak-China could play key role to this effect.

ECC EXTENDS WHEAT EXPORTS TILL SEPT 30 APPROVES TERM FINANCE FACILITY AMOUNTING TO RS 7.487 BILLION FOR POWER SECTOR ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting has approved the proposal moved by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research for extension in the period for export of surplus wheat from Punjab and Sindh provinces till September 30, 2015.

In a meeting held with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the chair in Islamabad on Wednesday, the meeting allowed exemption from sales tax at the rate of 5 percent on wheat bran to remove tax anomaly. The FBR chairman informed the Chair that flour, the main product of the flour industry, was exempted from sales tax and imposing a tax on its by product, bran, was creating an anomaly which had to be removed. Accordingly, the ECC allowed the exemption of sales tax on bran.

In an earlier decision on January 20, 2015, the ECC had allowed the export of 8,00,000 M/tons of wheat by the government of Punjab at the transport rebate of US$ 55 per M/ton and 400000 M/T of wheat by the government of Sindh at the transport rebate of US$ 45 per M/ton. Later on 9th February, the ECC also allowed export of wheat flour with specific time lines. However, in view of further requests from Pakistan Flour Mills

Association, the date for export of wheat and wheat flour has been extended till 30th September, 2015.

The ECC of the Cabinet also granted approval for the issuance of sovereign guarantee by the ministry of finance in respect of syndicated term finance facility amounting to Rs 7.487 billion for the power sector.

The committee discussed Automotive Development Policy 2015-20 and Telecommunications Policy 2015, giving directions to concerned ministries to resubmit the policies for approval after incorporating the improvements as suggested by the forum.

The ECC considered the proposal by the ministry of communication for grant of EPC (Engineering design, procurement and construction) contracts to the firms recommended by the government of China through competitive bidding for the KKH Phase-II and Karachi-Lahore Motorway projects being undertaken by NHA. The ECC expressed its concurrence noting that the mechanism for such projects was already covered under article-II of the Framework Agreement signed by Pakistan and China in April with the approval of the competent authority.

The ECC had a detailed discussion on the proposal submitted by the ministry of food security and research regarding pending payments to PASSCO by the Afghanistan government for supply of wheat. The meeting approved the claim as prepared by PASSCO and also accorded approval for the payment to M/s Abdullah Khan and Imranullah Khan, hired by PASSCO for transportation of wheat. It may be recalled that Pakistan and Afghanistan had signed an agreement in 2008 for supply of 50,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan.

NBP President Syed Iqbal Ashraf greets nation on Independence Day KARACHI: Pakistan will celebrate its 69thindependence day across the country and overseas by paying tribute to its national heroes who sacrificed their lives to establish a separate Muslim country through undeterred determination and struggle. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan emerged on the map of the world because of untiring efforts our great Quaid, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who would be remembered forever in the hearts of all Pakistanis. It marks the fulfillment of a dream of having and reinstates the fact that Pakistanis all around the world are bound in one relation of nationalism.

This day we celebrate independence across the world with millions

of Pakistani expatriates joining by unfurling the green and white flag and singing the national anthem in a show of unity and strength. Celebratory events this day include flag hoisting, parades, gun-salutes in federal and provincial capitals, award ceremonies, singing patriotic songs and the national anthem and speeches by the President as well as Prime Minister. PRESS RELEASE

LEISURE 11

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

HaGaR tHE HoRRIblE

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

Relationship issues are making you more impatient by the day, and you might not know which way to turn now. You really don't like feeling so vulnerable; in fact, you often prefer to be independent of the.

Your desire for emotional connection with others could conflict with your need for solitude today.

This dichotomy can be frustrating and might provoke you to strike out at someone who is actually supportive.

You could get a much-needed reprieve from the hectic pace of your life today. You might as well settle into the silence gracefully without stirring up new action because you won't likely make much progress.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Although you might realize that you're at the edge of a new emotional cycle, you're not yet ready to forge ahead.

Thankfully, you will have a good shot at reaching your goals as long as you take whatever.

Your friends may tempt you to take a risk at work now, even if you know better. Other people's eloquence inspires you to act more spontaneously, but the power of the present moment isn't all that matters..

Standing back from your current obligations enables you to reevaluate your long-term goals, especially if you feel pressured to take a specific action today. Rather than being coerced into a bad decision.

dIlbERt

GaRFIEld

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

You might face a stressful emotional dilemma as the cautious Cancer Moon creates anxious aspects with several planets today. Your unexpressed negativity intensifies if you try to make light of the current.

It may appear as if relief is on the way now, but there are no angels coming to your rescue just yet.

Therefore, you are wise to take care of yourself as best as you can without waiting for reinforcements.

You might have to acknowledge your disappointment today if you want a logical reason for everything that happens to you. Unfortunately, quick explanations aren't forthcoming now, turning up the intensity.

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CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

The flames of romance or of friendship may be rekindled today while the emotional Cancer Moon is hanging out in your 7th House of Relationships.

The excitement could be especially intense if the feelings.

You have a lot on your plate now and wish you could avoid emotional distractions.

However, you may not be able to make it through the entire day without encountering stressful relationship dynamics. Spontaneously.

No matter how many demands are being made on your time now, you are secretly planning your weekend to include plenty of relaxation. Unfortunately, your wishes may conflict with the current circumstances.

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sUdokU

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ACROSS

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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.

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Today’s soluTions

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crossword solution

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B

C

D

E

F

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H

chess solution

A

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sudoku solution

1 Suet pudding with currants (7,4) 9,10 Theatre area for musicians (9,3) 10 See 9 11 Two-footed animal (5) 13 Unspoiled and perfect (7) 14 Breadwinner (6) 15 Overland journey to look for wild animals (6) 18 Not legal (7) 20 Verse (5) 21,22 Expert in the treatment of coital problems (3,9) 22 See 21 24 Public promotion (11) DOwn 2 Image (abbr) (3) 3 foot lever (7) 4 Involve (6) 5 Journal (5) 6 Small internal diameter tube — a lyric pal (anag) (9) 7 Top honours degree in two subjects (6,5) 8 Stretch fabric for making bandages etc (11) 12 discombobulated (9) 16 State of being behind with payments (7) 17 Roadway (6) 19 Attractive young woman (slang) (5) 23 hostelry (3)

AVERAGE BEhINd BLEAk BLOCk ChALk CLING COMBINATION CONfUSE dAMSEL dIRECT ELSE EMPLOy ERROR fOCUS fOUNd GLANCE hISTORy hORSE INEPT

12

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

ARTS

Depression raises heart disease risk among teens m

NEWs DEsK

AJOR depression and bipolar disorder put teenagers at greater risk for heart disease and should be considered as independent risk factors for the condition. This is according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published in the journal Circulation.

Teenagers with bipolar disorder or major depression were found to have a number of risk factors for heart disease - including hypertension, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Previous research has associated mood disorders in adults with greater risk for heart problems. In February 2014, for example, Medical News Today reported on a study claiming depression is a causal risk for coronary heart disease among adults.

What is more, studies have indicated that adults with major depression and bipolar disorder are more likely to suffer heart disease at an earlier age.

Lead author of the scientific statement Dr. Benjamin I. Goldstein - a child-adolescent psychiatrist at Sunny-

brook Health Sciences Centre and the University of Toronto in Canada - and colleagues systematically assessed published research investigating the risk of heart disease among adolescents with mood disorders.

The team found that teenagers with major depression or bipolar disorder were more likely to have a number of risk factors for heart disease - including hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis -

compared with teenagers without these mood disorders.

The increased cardiovascular risk factors identified among adolescents with bipolar or major depression were not fully explained by other factors, such as lack of exercise, smoking or drug abuse, according to the statement authors.

While medication for mood disorders is associated with weight gain, hypertension, high cholesterol and increased blood sugar levels, the team notes that the majority of the teenagers included in the studies were not receiving such medication.

Dr. Goldstein and colleagues are unable to explain the biological causes behind their findings, but they point to previous studies that have associated adolescent mood disorders with increased inflammation and other forms of cell damage. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2012, around 2.2 million American teenagers aged 12-17 had a major depressive episode in the past year, while a 2012 study estimated that around 2.5% of adolescents aged 13-18 in the US have met the criteria for bipolar disorder in their lifetime.

Skipping breakfast makes you fat, yes? Not exactly!

AGENCiEs For some nutritionists, this idea is an article of faith. Indeed, it is enshrined in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, the federal government’s advice book, which recommends having breakfast every day because “not eating breakfast has been associated with excess body weight.”

As with many nutrition tips, though, including some offered by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, the tidbit about skipping breakfast is based on scientific speculation, not certainty, and indeed, it may be completely unfounded, as the experiment in New York indicated.

At 8:30 in the morning for four weeks, one group of subjects got oatmeal, another got frosted corn flakes and a third got nothing. And the only group to lose weight was ... the group that skipped breakfast. Other trials, too, have similarly contradicted the federal advice, showing that skipping breakfast led to lower weight or no change at all.

“In overweight individuals, skipping breakfast daily for 4 weeks leads to a reduction in body weight,” the researchers from Columbia University concluded in a paper published last year. A closer look at the way that government nutritionists adopted the breakfast warning for the Dietary Guidelines

shows how loose scientific guesses — possibly right, possibly wrong — can be elevated into hard-and-fast federal nutrition rules that are broadcast throughout the United States.

This year, as the U.S. Dietary Guidelines are being updated, the credibility of its nutritional commandments has been called into question by a series of scientific disputes. Its advisory committee called for dropping the longstanding warning about dietary cholesterol, which had long plagued the egg industry; prominent studies contradicted the government warnings about the dangers of salt; and the government’s longstanding condemnation of foods rich in saturated fats seems simplistic, according to critics, given the ever more intricate understanding of the nutrition in fatty foods.

The Dietary Guidelines are important because they shape the contents of school lunches and other federally subsidized programs, and because amid widespread obesity, so many people look to them for sound eating advice.

The notion that skipping breakfast might cause weight gain entered the Dietary Guidelines in 2010, during one of the reviews conducted every five years by experts to update its findings. Observational studies in nutrition are generally cheaper and easier to conduct. But

they can suffer from weaknesses that can lead scientists astray. (PA) Observational studies in nutrition are generally cheaper and easier to conduct. But they can suffer from weaknesses that can lead scientists astray. (PA) In preparation, a government-convened panel known as the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee collected research on skipping breakfast. Some of it did, indeed, suggest that breakfast skippers may be more likely to gain weight.

One of the key pieces of evidence, for example, examined the records for 20,000 male health professionals. Researchers followed the group for 10 years and published results in 2007 in the journal Obesity. They showed that after adjusting for age and other factors, the men who ate breakfast were 13 percent less likely to have had a significant weight gain. “Our study suggests that the consumption of breakfast may modestly lower the risk of weight gain in middle-aged and older men,” the researchers said.

The advisory committee cited this and similar research, known as “observational studies,” in support of the notion that skipping breakfast might cause weight gain. In “observational studies,” subjects are merely observed, not assigned randomly to “treatment” and “control” groups as in a traditional experiment.

Danish nurse chargeD with fourth patient murDer COPENHAGEN AGENCIES A 30-year-old nurse in Denmark was charged with a fourth count of murder on Tuesday following a series of suspicious patient deaths on her ward, a court heard on Tuesday. The woman has been in custody for almost six months, and the Nykobing Falster district court in southern Denmark extended her detention for four weeks as police continue to investigate the case. The woman was detained on March 1 following three deaths during her night shift on February 28 at the Nykobing Falster provincial hospital. Prosecutors on Tuesday charged her with a fourth murder that allegedly took place in 2012. The woman, whose name has not been disclosed, has denied all charges and immediately appealed her continued detention. According to media reports, unusually large amounts of stesolid and morphine were alleged to have been found in the bodies of some of the deceased. The Danish Broadcasting Corporation quoted defence attorney Jorgen Lange as telling the court that there had not been an unusually high level of use of the two drugs on the ward in question. “Being accused of something you haven’t done is horrible.

There are a lot of rumours about all sorts of things and my life has been destroyed. My family is suffering a lot, not least my 7-year-old daughter,” the accused woman told the court, tabloid B.T. reported. According to other media reports, police are investigating a further 10 deaths and want the nurse held in custody to prevent her from contacting witnesses. Prosecutor Jeanette Andersen meanwhile argued to the court that “an unusual number of deaths happened during the accused’s duty,” the Danish Broadcasting Corporation reported. She said the nurse was employed at the hospital in 2009 when there were 87 deaths at the ward. In 2011 there were 95 deaths and in 2012, when the nurse stopped working in October of that year, there were 75 deaths. In the following two years when the nurse was not at the ward, 51 people died.

DRINKERS TOAST BREWING BOOM AT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL LONDON AGENCIES

Drinkers raised a glass to the UK’s booming brewing scene on Tuesday as the Great British Beer Festival got under way. The number of British breweries is at its highest for 50 years, with 1,285 now in operation — 325 of which were serving up their finest ales at the festival, which transforms London’s Olympia exhibition hall into the biggest pub in the world.

Real ale has enjoyed a renaissance in Britain over the past five years as more smallscale brewers opened up and urban hipsters latched on to craft brewing.

Some 55,000 drinkers are expected to attend the fiveday festival, staged by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. The event raises a glass to beer brewed using traditional ingredients and left to mature in the cask from which it is served, as opposed to industrial-scale, pasteurised lager fizzed up with carbon dioxide gas.

Some 900 different brews were on offer, with beer experts guiding seasoned ale lovers and curious first timers alike through the myriad varieties of styles and flavours.

Some beer names are simply descriptive, such as Chocolate Cherry Mild, Oys-

ter Stout, or Lemongrass and Ginger.

Others stretch the imagination, such as Edith and Mabel, Schrodinger’s Cat, Amnesia, Hop a Doodle Doo, Holy Cow, What the Fox’s Hat, Skull Splitter, Trembling Rabbit, Dark Side of the Moose, or Pressed Rat and Warthog.

Besides British beers, there were guest tipples from European brewing heavyweights such as Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic, but also countries including Jamaica, Japan, Iceland and Italy.

Meanwhile ciders and perries — made from pears — were also on offer.

CMYK

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

ARTS

13

Saif denounceS hafiz Saeed’S caLL for Ban on phantom

BRITNEY SPEARS TO STAR ON HER FAVOURITE SHOW JANE THE VIRGIN Pop star Britney Spears will guest star as herself on the second season of romantic comedy-drama TV series Jane the Virgin. The 33-year-old ‘Oops!... I did it again’ hitmaker took to Twitter and said she will be making an appearance on her most ‘favourite’ show, reported Us Weekly. “See u at the Marbella Hotel soon, @hereisgina @jaimecamil! Guest starring on one of my favourite shows EVER @CWJaneTheVirgin #DreamComeTrue,” Spears said. Spears will appear in the fifth episode of the second season, which premieres on October 12. “We are so thrilled that Rogelio’s ‘nemesis’ — Britney Spears — has agreed to appear on ‘Jane The Virgin’,” creator Jennie Snyder Urman said. “Personally, after hearing about their longstanding feud (from Rogelio’s point of view), we are eager to hear Ms Spears’ side of the story, which we assume is quite different. #TeamBritney,” Urman added. Spears’ acting credits include hit TV sitcom How I Met Your Mother, popular show Will & Grace and 2002 film Crossroads. Agencies

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CTOR Saif Ali Khan has reacted on the ban demanded on his upcoming film Phantom by JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Saif said the film is based on facts and everybody knows who is responsible for 26/11 terror attacks. Alleging that the film, set on post-26/11 attacks and global terrorism, contains “filthy propaganda” against Pakistan, Saeed had last week filed a plea in a Lahore court, through his advocate A K Dogar, pleading that the Saif-starrer film, which is scheduled to release on August 28, has “venom against Pakistan and Jamaat-ud-Dawa.”

Reacting to it, Saif told reporters here that, “The film is based on facts and everybody knows what happened during 26/11 and everybody knows who is responsible for the

same. We all know that terrorists are hiding in Pakistan, so why shouldn’t we accept it? Why should we just make films on fictitious events? “We know what the reality is. Is this a secret? Why can’t we say this in open?

Aren’t there people who are dead for Indians but residing in Pakistan. You all know that right?” Saif said.

“If a wanted terrorist can go to the court of law in any country, I feel it’s ridiculous. This is a sign of a really

great nation that they entertain complaint by a terrorist,” the 44-year-old actor quipped. Directed by Kabir Khan, Phantom is about post-26/11 attacks in Mumbai and global terrorism. The screenplay of the film has been written in co-ordination with author Hussain Zaidi, and is an adaptation of his book ‘Mumbai Avengers’.

Saif said people should see the film before passing any judgement.

“Nobody is against Pakistan or their religion, but this is a different subject and Kabir has treated it in a nice way. I feel that the people should see the film before passing judgement,” he said. “The film Phantom is half-fiction and halffact. I am very proud of the film.

This is a very honest film and take on the subject. We are not sensationalising terrorism in the film,” he said. Agencies

ANGELINA JOLIE ‘deLighted’ TO BE PART OF NEW TALIBAN FILM

DILJIT DOSANJH TO SING WITH GURDAS MAAN

READY FOR ANOTHER SOBFEST? THE NOTEBOOK TV SERIES IS UP NEXT Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, who will make his Bollywood debut with director Abhishek Chaubey’s next film, has been over the moon for the past few days.

Recently, Diljit recorded a song with the legendary Punjabi singer, Gurdas Maan, for a music TV show. A source close to Diljit says, “He just couldn’t believe that he was being called to be part of a song that also featured Gurdas. In fact, even after he reached the sets, he wasn’t sure as to how he will react when he meets the veteran singer.” Diljit confirmed the story, saying, “It was one of the biggest moments of my life. I am speechless. Babaji (God) has been really kind to me. I am not even close to the eminence of the legendary Gurdas Maanji.” Agencies

PASS THE TISSUES: UGGIE THE DOG FROM THE ARTIST HAS DIED

Uggie the scene-stealing and heartbreaking dog from the Oscar-winning film The Artist, has died. He was 13. The Jack Russell terrier also appeared in the Reese Witherspoon film Water for Elephants. He was put down Friday in Los Angeles after battling a prostate tumor, TMZ reports. His owner Omar Von Mueller said it was a difficult decision, but Uggie had been suffering with the tumor, and the last few weeks were especially difficult.

Uggie won the Palm Dog Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival for his work in The Artist. He did all his stunts in the movie and was the first canine to have his paw prints on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. neWs DesK

A TV series based on Ryan Gosling-Rachel McAdams’s classic romance, The Notebook, is being developed at The CW network. The network is teaming up with author Nicholas Sparks, whose book inspired the 2004 film, to reboot the movie, said The Hollywood Reporter. The potential series will follow the romantic journey of the two beloved central characters, Noah (Gosling in the feature film) and Allie (McAdams), at the outset of their blossoming relationship as they build their lives and their future together against the backdrop of the racial politics, economic inequities and social mores of post-World War II in the late 1940s in North Carolina.

Todd Graff will pen the script and executive produce alongside Sparks and Theresa Park.

The drama hails from Warner Bros Television, a corporate sibling of featurefilm producers New Line Cinema, and Nicholas Sparks Productions. James Garner and Gena Rowlands who played older versions of Noah and Ellie in the movie.

“The Notebook is a very well-received book and motion picture. It is going to be set after World War II. At this point, the pilot is not done. Agencies

Actor-director Angelina Jolie is set to produce The Breadwinner, an animated film centering on a young girl living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

The film is an adaptation of Deborah Ellis’ young adult novel of the same name, said The Hollywood Reporter. It will be directed by Nora Twomey from a screen story by Ellis and screenplay by Anita Doron.

The story revolves around Parvana, who disguises herself as a boy to become the breadwinner of the family when her father is unfairly imprisoned.

The Breadwinner also showcases culture, history and beauty of Afghanistan. A version of the film will be produced in Dari (one of the official languages of Afghanistan) in addition to the English-language version.

Shia LaBeouf StepS out for Lunch with myStery woman foLLowing mia goth incident Table for two, please. Shia LaBeouf made a rare public appearance Tuesday afternoon when he stepped out for lunch with a mystery woman. Sporting a blue Tshirt with a scruffy beard and baseball cap, the Transformers star enjoyed a meal at Sweet Butter Kitchen in Studio City, Calif. Both the actor and his companion were spotted tasting fresh juice and some of the restaurant’s signature soups, salads and sandwiches made from seasonal ingredients. The casual outing comes about two weeks after LaBeouf and girlfriend Mia Goth got into a fight in Germany. In video footage obtained by Entertainment Tonight, the couple was seen yelling at each other outside of a taxicab near their hotel. “I don’t wanna touch you. I don’t wanna be aggressive,” LaBeouf was overheard telling Goth. “This is the kind of s—t that makes a person abusive.” Agencies

AKSHAY IS AMAZING AS MESMERI-SINGH IN SINGH IS BLIING! NEWS DESK The makers of Singh Is Bliing have released a new song Tung tung baje from the film that showcases Akshay Kumar performing daredevil stunt scenes.

However, Kumar thinks that it’s unfair when people compare fight sequences in Hollywood films with those in Bollywood. He says budget constraints are the differentiating factor.

Akshay is geared up for his new film Brothers, in which he promises to show off some novelty in action — considering he and actor Sidharth Malhotra dedicated 52 days to shooting the climax alone.

Talking about Brothers, Akshay shared that

they invested a lot of practice for the fight sequences for the movie.

“Martial arts is not something that you can do just because you know it... you have to practice it, and rehearse and make it better. One has to also keep in mind what different can you give to them,” he said at a press conference.

Asked about comparison between the nature of action in Hollywood versus Bollywood, the Baby actor shared: “These days Hollywood films come in, and somewhere you are competing with them and surely the audience does feel that we have seen the action there too, but they also forget the fact that our Hindi cinema is made in a very tight budget unlike Hollywood.

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“Millions of young girls like Parvana are growing up today under oppression or conflict, and helping their families to survive in those conditions. This story is a reminder of the immense value of their contribution,” Jolie Pitt said in a statement.

“I am delighted to be working with a talented team of artists who I know will do justice to the richness, creativity and strength of Afghan culture and to little girls like Parvana.”

The project is slated to begin production in August, and due for completion in early 2017.

Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions are producing with producers Tomm Moore and Paul Young of the Cartoon Saloon, Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen of Aircraft Pictures and Stephan Roelants of Melusine Productions. Agencies

AR RAHMAN RELEASES FIRST VIDEO OF HIS NEW BAND, NAFS Multiple awardswinning legendary music director AR Rahman has launched the first video of his new band, NAFS. Rahman curated and instituted this band with the intention to promote Indian talent internationally.

“The ultimate goal of NAFS is to spread joy. The band will strive not only to entertain musically but will also be a visual treat for its audiences in India and abroad,” he said. This band has been groomed by award-winning music director, arranger and conductor Arjun Chandy of Dallas Choir, and will be powered by an online multi-channel network Qyuki founded by Rahman, Shekhar Kapur and Samir Bangara. This new online network is a platform which enables creators to produce and distribute videos across Youtube and other social networks and also helps to build a fan following.

Bangara said: “NAFS is a step in the best possible direction for Indian music. We are thrilled to be launching the first video and we hope that we can build a credible platform for more Indian musicians to innovate and be organised on a global level.” Agencies

14 SPORTS

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

Pacquiao and Khan set for abu dhabi showdown?

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BEWILDERED ROD MARSH CALLS FOR ‘SELFISH’ BATSMEN SPORTS DESK Rod Marsh wore the bewildered look of a man who caught the wrong plane and wound up in a war zone rather than a beach resort. Australia’s Ashes campaign fell to pieces before hordes of delirious Englishmen in Birmingham and Nottingham, leaving the survivors to sort through the wreckage in the relative solitude of Northampton. As chairman of selectors, Marsh is bearing the brunt of much of the criticism. The coach Darren Lehmann has already conceded a selection error in the omission of an allrounder from the Trent Bridge XI, while also pointing towards Pat Howard for preferring a single squad be picked for dual tours of the West Indies and England. For his part, Marsh has also admitted that the decision to leave out Peter Siddle in conditions ideal for his seam and swing looks wrongheaded in hindsight, though stating that after Lord’s it looked impossible to drop any one of Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc. Much discussion has swirled around the side chosen for Trent Bridge and the circumstances in which it happened. Players were left in the dark until the hour before play, when Mitchell Marsh was told he had been left out for his brother Shaun, while Siddle had to cope with the letdown of being unwanted on a pitch that he could not have tailored better to his art. Marsh said he had never been involved in a more challenging team selection.

“That’s probably the hardest selection I’ve been involved in, that last Test match,” he said, “because I thought there were three or four options, every one of which could have been fantastic and every one of which could have been poor. That was just the way it was. Had we won the toss we might not be even talking about it right now. “There was no way known I was going to make up my mind until I saw the pitch on the final morning. I’d consulted all the right people - friends that had played here, guys that I knew very, very well - and they wouldn’t give me a bum steer. The message that I got was that if you can get through the first three hours it becomes a belter of a pitch to bat on - if the sun comes out. Well, the sun was supposed to come out... “I’m assuming Michael would have bowled but, gee, I would have been inclined to bat first on that. In a lot of ways that’s how it should be in Test cricket, where you don’t know if you’re going to bat first or bowl first . . . those are the pitches you want in Test match cricket. That one behaved a little differently because, I think, we had atmospheric conditions more than anything, particularly that first 20 minutes of the game. My god, it was like a sea fret . . . it was moist out there.” That moisture was added to by a brief shower that delayed the start by five minutes. The prevailing conditions were then ideal for Stuart Broad to dominate, but his eye-popping haul of 8 for 15 was only the most extreme exploitation of an Australian batting order that had been exceptionally brittle all series.

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ILIPINO former eight division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao could fight British-Pakistani welterweight Amir Khan in Abu Dhabi next year, according to reports. Khan, 28, was twice snubbed by five division world champion Floyd Mayweather this year after the unbeaten American chose to instead fight Pacquiao on May 2 and Andre Berto on September 12.

But now the Bolton-born pugilist might still get his chance of a big money bout after Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum said a fight between the pair was possible, with Abu Dhabi early next year slated as a likely option.

“This kid Amir Khan keeps shooting his mouth off about Manny Pacquiao,” Arum told the UK’s Daily Mail. “I can arrange for Khan to fight Pacquiao. “Amir Khan has been begging Mayweather for a fight and now he can get a major fight. I’m not a hard guy to deal with. I’m not going to mess them around. Manny’s not going to fight this year.

“He’ll fight early next year and

probably in the Middle East. Vegas is a possibility, but more likely in the Middle East. It won’t be Dubai, but it will be in the Middle East. If not, we’ll do it in Vegas.”

Pacquiao is still recovering from a shoulder injury following his defeat on points to Mayweather in Las Vegas, but this should be healed in time for next year. “One thing’s for sure, Pacquiao is not ducking Khan,” added Arum. “Pacquiao will fight him. I don’t know if Khan will fight Pacquiao, but it’s available.”

While holidaying in Dubai last month, Khan told Gulf News that a UAE fight with Pacquiao was the preferred option after receiving a second snub from Mayweather. “Here in Dubai, I think, is the best option because obviously if Dubai wants it there’s a huge Filipino and Pakistani community, and there are loads of UK expatriates too,” said Khan.

“It would definitely be a big fight over here, but it’s all about the [relevant UAE authorities] getting involved. They have Formula One, horse racing, soccer and cricket, so why not have boxing? Why not have big fights over here and see how big

boxing can be in Dubai?”

While Arum appears to have ruled out Dubai as a destination, Abu Dhabi is the logical next location in the Middle East, which still has a large Filipino and Pakistani expatriate population, and is just an hour’s drive from Dubai by car.

Khan and Pacquiao were former sparring partners under shared coach Freddie Roach, who last year said there was no point in the pair fighting

one another. “Manny frequently put Amir on the floor, knocking him cold four or five times,” Roach was quoted as saying last November. “There’s no point Manny fighting Amir. The reality is that it’s no big fight.”

Since Roach said that however, both fighters have run out of options.

Pacquiao’s stock has lessened after his points defeat to Mayweather and Khan is likewise without an opponent having been overlooked by Mayweather.

WADE 130 MAINTAINS AUSTRALIA A’S CLEAN SLATE

AUSTRALIA A 272 (WADE 130, TSOTSOBE 350) BEAT SOUTH AFRICA A 164 (ELGAR 64, AGAR 3-41, COULTER-NILE 2-8) BY 108 RUNS SPORTS DESK Matthew Wade had the weight of four centuries in a year when he was first called up to the Australian team in 2011. The year 2015 has been similarly kind: he scored his third ton in seven months and has made it back to international cricket. His strokefilled 130 off 106 balls set up a 108run victory over South Africa A and ensured Australia A maintained a

perfect record going into the final of the A-team tri-series in Chennai. The defeat meant that South Africa A were still not on the board after three matches, and they now need to secure a bonus-point win against India A tomorrow to stand any chance of qualifying for the final.

Wade had been named captain in place of the rested UsmanKhawaja. He called correctly at the toss, chose to bat, hiked himself up

to No. 3 and was brought to the crease in the very first over itself.

His first scoring shot was a six, helped of course by the fact that it was a free hit. His second and third hits were fours, and he was on his way.

Wade’s bottom-handed strength was on show, the sweep shot being utilised frequently and effectively.

Wade hit seven sixes and nine fours - 78 of his 130 runs - and that meant South Africa A muting the rest of the top five amounted to very little. He had 50 off 45 balls; his team had 78 on the board. His hundred came off 90 balls; his team had 158 on the board. The numbers give a clear indication of how the rest of the top-five fared: Chris Lynn’s 29 was the next best contribution.

So long as Wade was at the crease, South Africa A were never allowed the upper hand. He was gracious enough to pop a catch to square leg on 26, but Beuran Hendricks had overstepped and the cost of that mistake kept growing.

Wade is the only specialist wicketkeeper in the senior squad as well, and getting runs behind him would have only boosted his chances of making the XI.

HADDIN LEAVES TOUR EARLY TO BE WITH FAMILY SPORTS DESK Brad Haddin flew home to Australia on Tuesday evening for family reasons, ending an unhappy Ashes tour early to be with his wife, Karina, and children.

After a poor display in the first Test of the Ashes series in Cardiff, Haddin withdrew from the team for the Lord’s match to spend time in hospital with his ill daughter Mia, and was then not re-selected for the third Test at Edgbaston, a decision that not all members of the touring party agreed with.

Haddin took the deci-

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sion with good grace, and provided plentiful support to Peter Nevill, the gloveman who replaced him, while playing a more peripheral role around the squad.

There have been signs that Haddin’s mind has been on other things the longer the tour has gone on, as his net sessions in particular became more perfunctory.

He was unlikely to be chosen for the final Test of the series at The Oval, and a Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed he had now flown home while also asking that the family’s privacy be respected.

NASH SEEKS NEW COUNTY WITH KENT BLESSING SPORTS DESK Former West Indies batsman Brendan Nash is looking for a new county after being told by Kent he has no future at the club.

The 37-year-old, who played 21 Tests and nine one-day internationals, is out of contract at the end of the season.

Nash has featured in just four first-class matches for Kent this campaign, failing to pass 50 in any of his eight innings. He was dropped by coach Jimmy Adams from the Kent side in May and was relegated to the club’s second team.

Nash initially struggled but found his form with 114 against Glamorgan in June, but despite Kent struggling at the wrong end of Division Two, the Australian-born batsman has not played a game at any level for the county since.

Nash has decided to concentrate on sourcing a deal elsewhere rather than playing second-team cricket. As such, it’s now almost a certainty that he will never play for the club again.

Nash, who represented the West Indies through his Jamaican father, qualifies as a Kolpak. He enjoyed three big seasons with Kent after signing on in 2012, gaining a reputation as one of the most reliable run-makers on the county circuit, his best season coming in 2013 when he accumulated five centuries, including 199 not out in a successful run chase against Gloucestershire.

But his loss of form, combined with the rise of Kent’s local talent, has restricted his opportunities this time around. Kent have already laid down plans to replace Nash. They last month announced the signing of triallist Sean Dickson, who has played nine first-class games in South Africa. Like Nash, he is also Kolpak-registered.

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

ashton agar to face england again

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SHTON Agar will return to international cricket for the first time since his memorable cameo in the 2013 Ashes series, after being chosen as the lone spin bowler in Australia’s first ODI squad since winning the World Cup final at home in Melbourne in March. Agar has been chosen with an eye towards the future as the selectors continue to deny Nathan Lyon a place in the limited-overs side. Joe Burns and Marcus Stoinis have also been chosen in the limited-overs squad for the first

time, the former expected to replace the injured Aaron Finch as David Warner’s opening partner.

As expected, Steven Smith will now captain the national side in all formats, the first time this has been the case since Ricky Ponting retired from T20 internationals in September 2009. Michael Clarke then led the T20 side until he also retired from the format in January 2011 in order to concentrate on Test and 50over matches. Stoinis’ inclusion comes largely as a result of James Faulkner’s four-match suspension from international duty due to a drink driving offence when playing for Lancashire in England’s domestic NatWest Twenty20 Blast competition. James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile also make international returns, while Matthew Wade will don the ODI gloves vacated by the retired Brad Haddin.

“The squad we have selected has a few fresh faces in it as well as some experienced players that will provide us with the right balance,’’ the selection chairman Rod Marsh said. “Ashton has performed very well with the ball since his return from shoulder surgery including taking five wickets in the recent Australia A game in India. He has played in these conditions over here before and the National Selection Panel believes he has a very bright future.

“Joe has impressed us immensely over in India with Australia A. He is a very capable young batsman who has experience opening, and we think he will grab his opportunity with the white ball during this series. Marcus has performed very well in India during the fourday series and we have always liked that option of the extra allrounder in our side, so with James Faulkner’s

unavailability, this is a great opportunity for Marcus.”

Agar’s inclusion may also be a pointer towards the way the national selectors are thinking in terms of spin-bowling spots for the Test tour of Bangladesh in October. The wrist spinner Fawad Ahmed was taken on the dual West Indies and Ashes tours ahead of Agar but has not performed to the standards the selectors hoped for.

Other limited-overs merchants to return to Australian duty will include George Bailey, who gave up his place in the middle order during the World Cup to allow for Clarke’s return from injury and will now reclaim it, while Cameron Boyce will again be granted a chance to bowl in the lone T20 match ahead of next year’s World T20, to be held in India. Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood were not considered for the squad due to their heavy workloads during the Ashes, and Marsh said the selection panel’s preference was for the pair to enjoy full pre-seasons back home rather than lingering in England. “After Test matches both here and in the West Indies,” Marsh said, “we have opted to give both of those fast bowlers the opportunity to have a pre-season build-up in the lead-up to what will be another busy Australian season.”

AustrAliA’s ODi squAD fOr EnglAnD sEriEs: Steven Smith (capt), Ashton Agar, George Bailey, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Shane Watson, David Warner

in: Ashton Agar, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Pattinson, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade Out: Michael Clarke, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson.

Bombay High Court turns down Hiken Shah’s appeal COuRTESY CRiCiNFO

PCB WARNS SHOAIB MALIK AND OTHERS PLAYERS SPORTS DESK The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strictly warned all players to avoid any kind of recreations activities which distract them during the tour. Last month Pakistan’s all-rounder Shoaib Malik made his Dubsmash debut with his tennis ace wife, SaniaMirza, to celebrate Pakistan’s victory over Sri Lanka in the third ODI in Colombo.

According to local media reports, a source was quoted as saying, “Players involved in the video were censured by the PCB and they were told that they would be sent back if anything like this happened again”. PCB is not happy with some players especially with Shoaib Malik because of Dubsmash videos. In the Dubsmash video also featured EhsanAdil, Babar Azam, Mukhtar Ahmed and Muhammad Irfan.

The Bombay High Court has dismissed Mumbai batsman Hiken Shah’s petition challenging his suspension by the BCCI for having made a corrupt approach. The two-judge bench dismissed the petition on the grounds that it did not want to interfere in the BCCI’s processes, but said Shah can reapply to the court if the board doesn’t complete its investigation within six months. The board had suspended Shah with immediate effect in mid-July after he was found guilty of having approached a Mumbai team-mate.

Shah’s petition was based on the fact that he was suspended without the BCCI providing any details in writing about his alleged breaches. After hearing both the parties, Justice VM Kanade and Justice BP Colabawalla noted they wouldn’t like to interfere with the BCCI’s rules and regulations.

As Shah was found guilty of breaching the board’s anti-corruption code, the BCCI’s disciplinary committee will now consider the anti-corruption unit’s report and the player’s version of events, and then decide on a course of action. “Since my client hasn’t even been given a copy of the complaint, we decided to seek court’s intervention. The good thing is the court has asked for a time-bound inquiry,” SomSinha, Shah’s counsel, told ESPNcricinfo. “Since the court said it wouldn’t like to intervene in the BCCI’s procedure, we were told that we can come back to the court if the BCCI doesn’t take a decision in six months. We will decide future course of action depending on the BCCI’s decision.”

PCB AIMS FINANCIAL GAINS FOR PLAYERS IN PSL T20 LEAGUE KaRaCHi AGENCIES

The PCB is planning to make the proposed Pakistan Super League T20 league a financially rewarding experience for its players, who will be signed on by the five franchises.

According to a reliable source in

the PCB three categories are being planned for the Pakistani players with pay scales of 100,000, 60,000 and 40,000 US Dollars.

“The A category will include the very top players like ShahidAfridi and those who command icon status but payments will be made on basis of number of matches played by a player

in the league,” the source told PTI. The PCB has said that it will launch its T20 league at all costs in February regardless of whether they can hold it at venues in the UAE or have to relocate to Doha and Qatar.

After twice postponing the launch of the league, PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan made it clear on Monday that

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the league will be held on schedule as it was important for Pakistan cricket.

The source said that the plan was to have each franchise include a certain number of Under-19 players and top domestic performers in their sides besides four to five foreign recruits in each team.

“The main thrust will be on improving the financial conditions of our domestic players through the PSL,” he added.

He disclosed that verbal contact had been made with agents for some leading overseas players but one problem facing the PCB was to see which teams and their players would be available in the February window.

Shaharyar at his press conference on Monday made it clear that to players had refused to play the league in Pakistan for security reasons.

SPORTS 15

DRUK UNITED DRAW FIRST AFC QUALIFIER WITH K-ELECTRIC FC SPORTS DESK The first AFC Cup Qualifiers match between Druk United and K-Electric FC at the Changlimithang stadium yesterday ended 3-3 tie. K-Electric FC’s Muhammad Rasool scored the first goal of the match 10 into the game.

However, K-Electric lost the control of the game and united scored their first. An equalizer came from United’s mid-fielder TsheringDorji at the 17th minute but Rasool gave his team lead by one just before the break. United dominated the game after break and K-Electric resorted to defensive play.

TsheringWangdi’s powerful shot took the score to 2-2. United scored again to take the lead.

The glory, however, was short-lived. Defender Habib’s last minute goal crushed United’s hope of wining the game. United’s head coach Pema side K-Electric were the better team. “We played our part and gave our best. We hope to do better in the next game.” The weather played a big role, K-Electric coach MajidShafiq. “We’re not used to playing in such conditions but this is no excuse. We learnt a lot and hopefully we’ll be able make it to four in the next match,” said MajidShafiq. K-Electric FC will play Mongolia’s Khoromkhon FC tomorrow.

PAKISTAN NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN ASIAN BOXING C’SHIP LaHORE AGENCIES

Pakistan will not take part in the Asian boxing championship being held from August 25 in Thailand due to paucity of funds and lack of interest by concerned quarters to finance team’s tour.

“Our participation in the event which is the first qualifying round of the Rio Olympics is not possible as we are short of funds and Pakistan Sports Board has not extended any financial support despite our repeated requests”, said Secretary, Pakistan Boxing Federation, IqbalHussainsaid on Monday.

He said PBF wrote a number of letters to PSB for providing financial support for the trip of 12-member boxing party comprising nine boxers and three officials. So far they have not received any reply from them, he added.

“August 15 is the last date to confirm teams participation and its travel plan but we are not sure of our team’s participation in the event as we have not received any positive reply from PSB”, said PBF official.

“After Pakistan hockey, boxing is the only hope for participation in Olympic. If we don’t take part in the Asian championship our hopes are lost for our possible qualification for the second qualifying round for Olympics which is the World Championship to be held in Qatar in October”, he asserted. “Our boxers have the necessary experience and talent to qualify for the Olympics given the fact that they have performed at a higher level in the international events including Asian championships in the past”, he said. “It will be very unfortunate if the team does not take part in the Asian competition”, said PBF official . IqbalHussain claimed that PBF did not receive any grant or fund from PSB during the past two and a half year and it ensured the participation of the team in major international events from its own resources. “We appeal to PSB to look into this matter on priority basis and provide necessary funds for the participation of the team in the Asian championship. We also hope that the concerned quarters will give due consideration to our request in the larger interest of national sports”, he maintained.

PBF secretary said if PSB would shoulder the team’s trip to Bangkok they will provide daily allowance to the boxers and will also meet their other expenses from their own resources.

However, he added that buying the air tickets for the team was not possible for them due to shortage of funds.

SPORTS Thursday, 13 August, 2015

Ashwin six-for puts indiA in chArge

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RI Lanka is not a place where you want to lose the toss as an opposition captain. Over the last 14 years, only two visiting captains have managed to win despite losing the toss. ViratKohli raised the possibility of becoming the third after R Ashwin registered the best figures for an India bowler in the first innings of an away Test to bundle the hosts out for 183. India stumbled in response initially, but ShikharDhawan and Kohli steadied them with an unbroken 100run partnership.

On a pitch that offered turn and bounce as early as the first session, this toss was all the more important to win, which is what will rankle the home captain Angelo Mathews the most. Not only did he win the toss, he also showed the others with his 64 that it was possible to bat on this pitch. There was little resistance from the other end - Dinesh Chandimal’s half-century was a charmed innings and included a drop on 5 - as Ashwin ran away to his fastest fivefor in Tests, also his second in two Tests and the best figures by an Indian in Sri Lanka. Had India taken all their catches - to go with two excellent ones by KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma - Sri Lanka would have been bundled out for much less.

It took Ashwin only 63 balls to reach his fifth wicket, and left-hand batsmen in particular were easy pickings for him. He took out four of them, including Kumar Sangakkara for 5 in his penultimate Test, in 30 balls. As well as Ashwin bowled, a six-wicket haul in 82 balls for a visiting spinner on day one should worry the batting side. Ashwin, who has been through tough times in away series in the last two years, will gladly take it. He will also be glad that by the time he came on to bowl in the 12th over, India’s quick bowlers had already softened Sri Lanka up. It did not start all that well for India, though, as ordinary slip catching reared its head again, with Dhawan dropping Kaushal Silva at first slip in the fourth over. Kohli will be glad his quick bowlers responded with pace, bounce and hostility to send back the openers.

DimuthKarunaratne edged while fending a bouncer from Ishant Sharma, and Silva was given out caught off the arm guard as he went to hook Varun Aaron. Dhawan re-

deemed himself with a diving catch, but DRS would have made for an interesting decision.

That brought in Sangakkara in the eight over. At the end of the first hour, Kohli went to Ashwin, and the procession continued. In his first over, Ashwin beat Sangakkara in the flight before a freak dismissal sent the celebrated veteran back. The third ball that Ashwin bowled was short of a length, and drew a defensive shot from Sangakkara, which went fast towards Rahul at silly point. Rahul stayed low, pushed his hands in the general direction of the path of the ball, and it stuck in his fingertips. This was no edge, and nor did it come off the pad to soften the impact. LahiruThirimanne looked to block, and captain Mathews - playing his 50th Test - looked to hit a few shots to get the close-in fielders out of his face. Having come together at 27 for 3, they doubled the score before Thirimanne fell to an Ashwin beauty. Until then Thirimanne had faced only four balls from the offspinner, and had looked really comfortable facing only one of them. The fifth one, though, was perfect: nicely flighted, dipping short of Thirimanne’s reach, and then turning away to take the edge on a tame push. Poor Mubarak got to face only Ashwin, and the seventh such delivery did not turn, bounced and resulted in a bat-pad catch. Mubarak’s duck made it 60 for 5, and the only consolation for the hosts going into lunch was that their last recognised pair were both right-hand batsmen: Mathews and Chandimal.

Soon after lunch, the consolation ended. Ishant bowled beautifully and drew Chandimal’s edge with one that held its line, but WriddhimanSaha dropped an absolute sitter. What is more disturbing for India is that Saha is showing a bit of a tendency to drop the easier ones. That was not the only time India took the eye off the game. Ashwin, 6-1-15-3 now, was taken out of the attack for the other offspinnerHarbhajan Singh. It would have been okay to give the fifth bowler a chance had Kohli not persisted with Harbhajan for too long. While Harbhajan showed no patience, often bowling round the wicket, often too straight, Kohli showed remarkable patience as Mathews and Chandimal added 79.

While Chandimal’s effort was charmed, Mathews played a calculated and clever innings. He attacked only to get the fielders out, and then

Scoreboard Sri Lanka 1St inningS FDM karunaratnec rahane b i SharMa 9 Jk SiLvac Dhawan b aaron 5 hDrL thiriMannec rahane b aShwin 13 kc Sangakkarac rahuL b aShwin 5 aD MathewS*c rg SharMa b aShwin 64 J Mubarakc rahuL b aShwin 0 LD chanDiMaL†c rahane b MiShra 59 ktgD PraSaDLbw b aShwin 0 hMrkb herathb aShwin 23 Pht kauShaLc rg SharMa b MiShra 0 n PraDeePnot out 0 extraS (b 1, Lb 1, nb 3) 5 totaL (aLL out; 49.4 overS) 183 FaLL oF wicketS 1-15 (karunaratne, 6.5 ov), 2-15 (SiLva, 7.1 ov), 3-27 (Sangakkara, 11.3 ov), 4-54 (thiriManne, 19.4 ov), 5-60 (Mubarak, 21.3 ov), 6-139 (MathewS, 41.3 ov), 7-155 (PraSaD, 43.3 ov), 8-179 (chanDiMaL, 48.1 ov), 9-179 (kauShaL, 48.2 ov), 10-183 (herath, 49.4 ov) bowLing i SharMa 11-3-30-1, vr aaron 11-0-68-1, r aShwin 13.42-46-6, a MiShra 6-1-20-2, harbhaJan Singh 8-1-17-0 inDia 1St inningS

picked the ones and twos easily. Finally Kohli gave in, and gave Ashwin the end he had taken the three earlier wickets from. The pay-off was immediate, but it needed an exceptional catch from Rohit. In his second over back, Ashwin got one to dip on Mathews, but the bat-pad looked destined to loop over forward short leg’s head. Rohit, though, sprung up, got a hand to it, and ended up deflecting it back towards the wicket. He then dived back against his momentum, and took it one-handed.

The floodgates now opened.

Only a breezy 24-run stand between Chandimal and the adventurous RanganaHerath - who scored 23 off

kL rahuL Lbw b PraSaD 7 S Dhawannot out 53 rg SharMaLbw b MathewS 9 v kohLi*not out 45 extraS (Lb 6, w 2, nb 6) 14 totaL (2 wicketS; 34 overS) 128 (3.76 runS Per over) to bataMrahane, wP Saha†, r aShwin, harbhaJan Singh, a MiShra, vr aaron, i SharMa FaLL oF wicketS 1-14 (rahuL, 2.6 ov), 2-28 (rg SharMa, 9.3 ov) bowLing ktgD PraSaD 7-0-22-1, n PraDeeP 8-1-32-0, aD MathewS 4-1-12-1, Pht kauShaL 8-0-41-0, hMrkb herath 7-1-15-0 Match DetaiLS toSS - Sri Lanka, who choSe to bat PLayer oF the Match - tba uMPireS - nJ LLong (engLanD) anD bnJ oxenForD (auStraLia) tv uMPire - reJ MartineSz Match reFeree - aJ PycroFt (ziMbabwe)

24 - resisted India’s march. The innings ended when Herath had had one slog too many, but his real job was only about to begin.

Before Herath and TharinduKaushal were asked to do their job, though, Dhammika Prasad and Mathews got rid of Rahul and Rohit. The rest of the bowling, though, failed to test Dhawan and Kohli for long enough. Dhawan and Kohli were prepared to defend and wait for loose balls, which Kaushal in particular provided readily.

Dhawan, who scored a hundred in his last Test, went past 50 by stumps, and Kohli looked set to do so. More importantly, India could entertain thoughts of batting only once.

Junaid optimistic of performing well against England ISLAMABAD aGeNcIeS

Fast bowler Junaid Khan is wishful to perform well against England saying if given a chance, he will prove his selection right. Talking to a TV channel, he said he was fit and preparing well for series against England, adding, “Right now I am playing county cricket in England while representing Middlesex to regain my form.” Junaid Khan had signed for English county side Middlesex to represent them in the 2015 Royal London One-Day Cup. The Pakistan bowler last played in England with Lancashire in 2014 where he took 19 wickets in 10 Natwest T20 Blast matches with best figures of 4/12 and was instrumental in his side’s advance to the final of that competition. Apart from his pivotal role in Lancashire’s success during his stint in 2014, Junaid Khan also proved to be very popular with the Lancashire fans. The pace said he

was dejected after being dropped against Sri Lanka in One Day International series but vowed to make a comeback in the team after satisfying the selectors through his fitness and performance. “I was certainly depressed but legendary bowler WasimAkram encouraged me a lot besides giving me some tips to further improve my bowling,” he added. Junaid said he was following the tips of WasimBhai which would definitely polish his bowling skills.

Khan has played 52 one-day internationals since his debut in April 2011 taking an impressive 78 wickets at an average of 25.72 at an economy rate of just above five.

Surprisingly he has only featured in nine T20 internationals, where he has eight wickets at an average of 29.50.

It was pertinent to mention that WasimAkram had earlier criticized selectors and team management for dropping Junaid Khan from the team every now and then saying the board was not using Junaid properly.

TWO PAKISTANIS TO FEATURE IN WORLD JUDO CHAMPIONSHIP ISLAMABAD aGeNcIeS

Pakistan will send two athletes to the World Judo Championship, scheduled to be held from August 24 until 29 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Secretary Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) Masood Ahmed confirmed on Wednesday that Shah Hussain Shah and WajahatSarwar would represent the country in the event. “Initially, we had planned to send four males and as many female athletes to participate in the championship but due to scarcity of funds we have decided to send only two athletes now,” he told APP. He said that both the athletes were Pakistan’s best judokas at present and were undergoing strenuous training at Judo Academy in Tokyo, Japan. “Everyone is training really hard for the championship. We have also arranged for the best possible training for the athletes.” Ahmed said both Sarwar and Shah would directly leave from Japan for Kazakhstan on August 23 to feature in the event. “The World Championship represents one of the highest levels of competition which an athlete of judo can perform in. “It will also be a big opportunity for our athletes to earn a spot in Rio Olympics next year,” he added. Ahmed was more optimistic about Shah’s chances to qualify for Rio saying that the athlete currently ranked 62 out of the total 295 in the world and if he managed to win his first two contests he would qualify for Rio. Just two months before Shah was at 44th number but he lost his ranking points as he was unable to participate in three recent international events due to his university commitments in Tokyo where he recently won All-Universities Championship. In order to feature in Rio Olympics, he needs to move up to at least to number 34 in the rankings. Secretary PJF said he was sure that the athlete would be able to qualify for the Olympics saying, “Shah is in good shape. His performance has been up to the mark.

I’m sure he will make his way to the Rio,” he maintained.

POA CHIEF SAYS PLAYERS NOT READY FOR SAF GAMES YET LAHORE aGeNcIeS

Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) president Lt Gen (R) ArifHasan has said that the players are not ready for SAF Games as the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) doesn’t seem interested in setting up training camps for the buildup of Pakistan contingent. “Less than five months time period has left in start of the SAF Games but there is no sign of starting training camps in various disciplines. It is essential to start the camps without any delay as already a lot of time has been wasted and further delay in this regard can jeopardize the country’s prospects for winning medals and to give tough time to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” said the POA chief. Arif Hasan said it was the PSB’s duty to chalk out a comprehensive plan for the training of the Pakistani sportsmen for their participation in the Games but the concerned quarters had not taken any decision so far to engage national athletes for training. “If the same situation persists, we will not be able to put up a decent show in the Games and we may finish behind Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” he regretted. He said the POA as well as various national sports federations had approached the PSB in this regard and also wrote a number of letters reminding it the importance of the game and Pakistan’s prospects in the event but ironically nothing had been done to address this important issue. “India as hosts started its preparations long ago to maintain its supremacy as defending champions in the Games, whereas Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are also training hard to throw a tough challenge in their quest to secure second and third place in the Games. “Unfortunately, we are without any plan to organise training camps which is an alarming factor and we are falling behind with each passing day,” he added. The POA chief said if training camps were not setup, Pakistan would be finishing fourth.

SERENA WILLIAMS SURVIVES SCARE TO REACH ROGERS CUP SECOND ROUND SPORTS DESK World number one Serena Williams bounced back from a set down to beat her Italian opponent FlavinPennetta in three sets in the opening round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto on Wednesday. The American top seed displayed tremendous level of resilience to overcome Pennetta 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a thrilling contest that lasted one hour and 38 minutes. Serena, the 21-time Grand Slam winner, will next take on either Heather Watson or No 16 seed Andrea Petkovic in the second round.

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

CMYK