E paper pdf (21 1 2016) khi

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thursday, 21 January, 2016 i 10 rabi-us-Sani, 1437 i rs 17.00 i Vol Vi no 202 i 16 Pages i karachi edition

More martyrs for us while we NAP at least 30, including 18 students and an assistant professor, killed in terrorist attack on Bacha khan university in charsadda claimed by ttP Geedar Group

varsity attack was being directed from afghanistan, claim security quarters chief of army staff (coas) General raheel sharif on wednesday decided to once again share the forensic evidence with the afghan government about the mastermind of the terrorist attack on Bacha khan university and to urge the afghan authorities to conduct a targeted operation against the culprits and hand them over to Pakistan.

ttP-fazlullah spokesperson khorasani condemns attack, says plotters will be judged by sharia court PESHAWAR

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AZIZ BUNERI

t least 30 people, including university students and a professor, were killed and more than 60 others injured when unidentified gunmen entered Bacha khan university in khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s charsadda

district on wednesday morning and opened fire on students and faculty members as they gathered at the school for a poetry recital to commemorate the death anniversary of the activist and leader after whom the school is named. the mastermind of the aPs Peshawar attack, umar Mansoor of the banned tehreek-e-taliban Pakistan (ttP) Geedar Group

claimed the attack through a post on his facebook page, adding that four attackers were sent to the university.

However, a spokesperson from the ttP-fazlullah Group, Mohammad khorasani issued a conflicting statement shortly after Mansoor’s claim, in which he condemned the attack, terming it “against sharia”.

Senate queStionS naP imPlementation after charSadda attack

“we consider these youth studying in non-military educational institutes as our future, they are Muslims and their protection is our responsibility,” he stated. “those people who used the name of the taliban in the attack will be tried in sharia courts,” the email added.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

STORY ON PAGE 03

uJc chief Syed Salahuddin warns Pakistan against crackdown

Political leaders question naP in wake of varsity attack

the chief of a jihadist alliance fighting for an end to indian rule in divided kashmir openly condemned on wednesday a crackdown by the government against another group india blames for attack on an air base.

STORIES ON PAGES 02 & 03

STORY ON PAGE 02

02 NEWS

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

Political leaders question naP in wake of charsadda attack JI’S SIRAJUL HAQ SAYS ATTACK REFLECTS FAILURE OF GOVT TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL ACTION PLAN IN LETTER AND SPIRIT ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

ARIoUS leaders from across the country were quick to respond to the Charsadda attack and condemned the events that unfolded at the Bacha Khan University on Wednesday. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has termed the terrorist attack as barbaric act and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families of martyrs of the attack. He said that attacking innocent students and civilians is extremely inhuman and could not be tolerated at any cost. “Terrorists are seeking to attack soft targets like that of academic institutions as they had to face tough resistance from our armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies after the emergence of nation’s common resolve of uprooting terrorism from Pakistan,” he said.

KP has been vulnerable to terrorist attacks due to its geographical location. It is an immediate neighbour to FATA where a combat operation is being carried out by the Pak Army even during this time, he said, adding that the timely response by police and army personnel

today prevented the nation from a tragedy like APS where more than a hundred innocent students had been brutally assassinated. He pointed out that for the first time the local population carried arms and came forward to counter an armed assault by terrorist on their children. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan chief Senator Sirajul Haq has said that attack of terrorists on Bacha Khan University Charsadda reflected the failure of the rulers to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) in its true spirit. Addressing hundreds of students at the “See Lahore” exhibition organised by the Islami Jamiat e Talaba (IJT) at Expo Centre on Wednesday, Sirajul Haq termed the attack at the Bacha Khan University as an attack on Pakistan and stressed that NAP be implemented in all dimensions prescribed under the plan.

He said that the government foremost responsibility was to protect the life, property and honour of the citizens but the government had totally failed in this respect. He said if the rulers had honestly tried to uproot the prevailing exploitative and class based system in the country and provided basic facilities of education, health and shelter and jobs to the people, terrorism and other such problems could be considerably curtailed.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) President Senator Sherry Rehman asked whether Pakistan had altered our rights landscape and built consensus in APCs against terrorism for the cabinet to ignore sharing details on NAP with the parliament. “our children, civilians, police and soldiers are being martyred in Pakistan’s struggle against terrorism, but we continue with operations only in one province, at least given what we can see,” she said. Calling the

Charsadda University attack a black day for Pakistan, Rehman, speaking in the Senate, expressed deep grief and support for the families affected by this tragedy. ‘’All of Pakistan is praying for the souls of the martyred children and for their anguished parents,’’ she said. “In this hour of trial, we stand firmly with those who lost their loved ones. The grief is unimaginable; our children were martyred, and we cannot let this human rampage continue,” Rehman added. ‘’Why was the academic institution not given even the most basic skeletal security protection on a day when they were holding a big event?” she questioned. “When there were clear threats to colleges in KP for the last one week and children were returning home from schools, this indifference to a large institution’s security amounts to criminal negligence on the part of governments in charge,” Rehman said, admonishing the government.

Rehman said that she was aware of the need for unity and constructive politics at a difficult time, but questioned the real point to parliament if the federal government refuses to condescend to an in camera joint briefing even now. Rehman demanded parliamentary oversight on the national action plan by a joint national security committee of parliament in the same manner that the PPP had responded to the Taliban in Swat in 2009. She reminded the House of shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s sacrifice and fearless leadership against terrorism when many people still dithered on the sidelines. She asked about the viability of the NAP when the top terrorist names in the country ran free in the Punjab, with nothing to show for. Rehman also said

Who is Taliban commander Umar Mansoor?

PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Geedar group commander who claimed the deadly attack on Bacha Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda Wednesday is Umar Mansoor, the de facto operational head of TTP in KP. Mansoor is the faction’s commander specifically in Charsadda, Darra Adam Khel, Nowshera and surrounding areas. “He had been very close to Hakimullah Mehsud’s inner circle and was also close to Umar Khalid Khorasani at one time,” said a source. While he is said to have shifted to Afghanistan after Pakistan’s

military operation in 2014, Mansoor is reported to have crossed into Pakistan at several points.

A Reuters profile titled ‘Pakistan’s most hated man: volleyball player, child killer’ described Mansoor as a 37-year-old father of three and volleyball enthusiast who is nicknamed “Slim”.

His real name is Umar Mansoor and is also claimed by TTP to be the mastermind of 2014’s massacre of 132 children and nine staff at a military-run school in Peshawar – the deadliest militant attack in Pakistan’s history.

A video posted on a Taliban wesbite after the Army Public School attack

showed a man with a chest-length beard, who sought to justify the Dec. 16 attack. The caption identified him as Umar Mansoor.

The Taliban said the APS attack, in which gunmen wearing suicide-bomb vests executed children, was retaliation for a military offensive carried out by the Pakistani army.

Six Pakistani Taliban interviewed by Reuters confirmed the mastermind was Mansoor. Four of them said he is close to Mullah Fazlullah, the embattled leader of the TTP who ordered assassins to kill schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai.

Mansoor got a high school education in the capital, Islamabad, two Taliban

that the Senate was waiting for the PM to cut short his visit and return forthwith from Davos to pick up the pieces from a dark and bloody episode that will haunt the country for years. “How much bloodshed are we waiting for in order to take elected representatives into confidence, as we are tired of written or proforma assurances without senior ministers or PM even appearing in the Senate to talk about national security?” she questioned. “Are we just here to condemn tragedies?

We made a national action plan in good faith, surrendered fundamental rights so we could fight the terrorists slaughtering our innocent children, our policemen, our military, for what?’’ she said.

members said, and later studied in a madrassah.

Mansoor has two brothers and spent some time working in the city of Karachi as a labourer before joining the Taliban soon after it was formed, in late 2007, said one commander.

His nickname is “naray,” a word in the Pashto language meaning “slim”, and he is the father of two daughters and a son, said another commander.

The Taliban video describes him as the “amir”, or leader, of Peshawar and nearby Darra Adam Khel.

Mansoor deeply opposes talks with the government, the commanders said.

“He was very strict from the start when he joined,” a commander said.

“He left many commanders behind if they had a soft corner (of their heart) for the government.”

UJC chief Syed Salahuddin warns Pakistan against crackdown MUZAFFARABAD AGENCIES

The chief of alliance fighting for an end to Indian rule in divided Kashmir openly condemned on Wednesday a crackdown by the government against another group India blames for an attack on an air base. Syed Salahuddin, the chairman of the United Jihad Council (UJC), an alliance of groups based in the Pakistani-administered Kashmir, had claimed responsibility for the assault in Pathankot on January 2.

The claim of responsibility was met with a sceptical response among India’s security establishment, which blames another group called Jaish-e-Muhammad.

Last week, security forces arrested the head of Jaish-eMuhammad as well as several other leaders of the group and shut down offices and seminaries linked to the outfit. “We are at a loss to understand whether they (the government) are concerned about the interests of the country that feeds them or that of its enemy?” Salahuddin told a news

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conference, referring to the government’s crackdown. “Pakistan is not only an advocate but also a party to the longstanding Kashmir dispute and therefore the Pakistani people, government and media should play the role of a patron rather than of an adversary,” he said, while speaking at the Press Club in Muzzafarabad.

Following the January 2 attack on the Indian air base, the United Jihad Council had warned that their attacks “can engulf all of India” if the issue of Kashmir’s divided rule is not resolved. Since the attack in Pathankot, the government has said it is clamping down on Jaish-e-Muhammad, which India has long accused Pakistan of tolerating, while it investigates Indian assertions that the attack was the work of the militants based in Pakistan. India has demanded that Pakistan take action against the group and last week announced that the two countries would reschedule talks between their foreign ministers while the investigation into the air base attack was carried out.

Terrorists can’t scare Pakistanis, says Rashid ISLAMABAD APP Minister for Information Pervez Rashid on Wednesday condemned the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda.

Speaking in the National Assembly (NA), he expressed deep grief over the deaths of students and staffers and stated that all the political, security and military entities have to be united to combat the menace of terrorism. He said that militants cannot frighten the Pakistani nation.

He informed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, soldiers, and special forces launched ground and air operations at the university in a bid to shut down the assault. He said a detailed report with all the relevant information was being prepared, which will be forwarded to higher authorities for further investigation.

Qadri’s family files mercy plea with President Mamnoon ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT Family of Mumtaz Qadri, the selfconfessed killer of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, has filed a mercy plea with President Mamnoon Hussain. According to official sources, the appeal, submitted to the Interior Ministry’s petition cell, will be approved by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar before it lands at the Presidency. In December last year, the Supreme Court had rejected a petition

by Qadri for a review of its October-7 decision to uphold the death sentence awarded to him by an anti-terrorism court. A three-judge bench had, while rejecting the review petition, also dismissed the convict’s request for the constitution of a larger bench with an observation that Qadri had confessed to have carried out the assassination at all stages of the case and had been arrested from the crime scene. Qadri, an Elite Force commando, had assassinated on January 4, 2011, the then Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer near Kohsar Market in Islamabad.

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

charsadda attack was being directed from afghanistan, claim security quarters ISLAMABAD

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MIAN ABRAR

HIEF of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday decided to once again share the forensic evidence with the Afghan government about the mastermind of the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University and to urge the Afghan authorities to conduct a targeted operation against the culprits and hand them over to Pakistan. A well placed source told Pakistan Today that even though four terrorists had scaled the walls of the university building from the rear after cutting the wires with commando kits, there is reasonable evidence that they had facilitators who helped them climb the wall and breach the building.

The source said that an operation had been launched to track down the facilitators of the terrorists. While the facilitators are being tracked, Pakistan also plans to track down the mastermind of the attack who, the source said, was operating from inside Afghanistan. “We believe that the Afghan soil is being used against Pakistan again. We will confront the Afghan gov-

ernment with the evidence and the leads that we have. We hope that President Ashraf Ghani would help us track the hardcore terrorists who are operating from the Afghan soil,” the source added.

The source said that the decision to approach Ghani had been taken at a review meeting chaired by the CoAS. “We know that the terrorists were being directed by the mastermind from Afghanistan even as our commandos were conducting an operation against them. We have traced the details of the mastermind.

We even have the locations of the terrorists,” the source said. The source said that the major breakthrough came after foren-

sic data was recovered from the two mobile phones found in the terrorists’ possession. The source said that the last calls had been made to Afghanistan numbers. Security sources also suspect Indian involvement in the attack, saying they has substantive leads to suggest that the attack was carried out through Indian funding and Afghan intelligence support.

Meanwhile, NADRA has also received forensic fingerprint evidence of the terrorists. According to details, all four terrorists were Pakistani nationals, while two of them were below 18. “We have shared all the information with the intelligence agencies,” an official of the Interior Min-

istry said. He said that four kalashnikovs had been recovered from the terrorists.

“Moreover, 20 live grenades and two cellular phones were also recovered from terrorists,” he said. The source said that terrorists planned to take the management of the varsity hostage and for the purpose they moved towards the administration block but were engaged before they could reach there. Later, they moved towards the boys’ hostel where massive damage was done.

“At the hostel, one terrorist went to the first floor while the other went to the second one as a third gave them cover from the rooftop.

They were engaged there and were later killed one by one,” the source added. Assistant Professor Syed Hamid Hussain carried a gun under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s policy of ‘a teacher with a gun’. The martyred professor could easily have escaped but he engaged the terrorists to provide cover to the evacuating students.

“Prof. Hamid Hussain evacuated two students who wanted to flee towards the main gate. He told them about terrorists’ presence there and asked them to go from the back wall. The terrorists, however, targeted the professor as the students managed to flee from the rear side,” the source said.

Senate questions NAP implementation after varsity attack ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Lawmakers in Senate criticised the government and security establishment over their failure in maintaining peace in the country while calling for a complete review of the National Action Plan after a brazen daylight attack on Bacha Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda town on Wednesday. The senators were of the view that if the government had followed the anti-terror plan in letter and spirit, the terror attack on the varsity could have been averted.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Tahir Mashhadi said intelligence agencies had failed to protect the lives of citizens as the attack occurred despite a high alert. “A sympathiser of Daesh (Islamic

State), Maulana Abdul Aziz, is sitting in the heart of Islamabad but the government has taken no action against him,” said Mashhadi. Senator Usman Kakar also blamed the government for protecting Maulana Abdul Aziz of the Lal Masjid.

Taking part in the debate, Senator Muhammad Hamza from the treasury also termed the incident a failure of intelligence agencies. “It is highly regrettable that the government did not call an emergency session of parliament to hold a debate over the attack,” said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman. Senator Javed Abbasi called for a more lethal operation against militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and stressed the need for talks with extremists.

Senator Sameena Abid criticised the country’s top leadership over its bid to mediate between Saudi Ara-

bia and Iran ‘without putting its own house in order’.

PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan decried what he said was a collective attitude towards extremism and reminded his fellow lawmakers that a sitting minister even sobbed at the death of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud.

At least 21 people were killed when unidentified gunmen entered Bacha Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkha’s Charsadda town Wednesday and opened fire on students and faculty members.

Security forces fought back and cleared the varsity after an hours long operation, killing all the four attackers who entered the premises.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced a national day of mourning tomorrow (Jan 21), and the national flag would be lowered to half-mast.

NEWS

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PM telephones army chief, reiterates resolve to pursue war on terror vigorously ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made telephonic contact with Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday and discussed the security situation in the aftermath of terrorist attack at Bacha Khan University, which left about 30 people dead and scores injured. The PM and CoAS during their telephonic conversation agreed to continue offensive against the terrorists vigorously and reiterated the resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country. Sharif who is currently in Davos to attend World Economic Forum, appreciated Pakistan Army’s prompt action following the attack, which prevented a huge loss of lives.

The premier said that the entire nation supported a decisive war against terrorism and that it would be taken to its logical end.

PM CONDEMNS ATTACK: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed grief over the terrorists’ attack on Bacha Khan University on Wednesday. A statement released by the Prime Minister’s office said the premier is personally monitoring the situation and is continuously informed on the measures taken to combat terrorists. While condemning the cowardly attack he said that those killing innocent students and citizens have no faith and religion. “We are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland. The countless sacrifices made by our countrymen will not go in vain, Inshallah,” said the prime minister. The prime minister directed Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid and Minister for SAFRoN Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Balighur Rehman to go to Charsadda, Peshawar and extend maximum support to the provincial government and other law enforcement agencies. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor and conveyed his condolences on the tragic incident. The prime minister directed him to supervise the rescue and recovery process. Later, the prime minister telephoned ANP leader Asfand Yar Wali Khan and condemned the attack saying that it was not an attack on Bacha khan University’s students but on Pakistan. “The terrorists will see a ruthless response by the state. Cowards and their financiers will see our national resolve to eliminate terror from the country.

The entire nation is united and one against terrorism,” he said. STAFF REPORT

MORE MARTYRS FOR US CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 As the military announced the end of the clearance operation, mass casualties were feared in the attack reminiscent of the deadly December 2014 terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, which left over 140 dead — most of them students. Security sources added that the four attackers were wearing suicide vests but were killed by security forces’ before they could detonate their explosives. Addressing a press conference later in the evening, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt General Asim Bajwa said major breakthroughs had been made in identifying the terrorists who were involved in the attack on the Bacha Khan University.

The ISPR chief said the terrorists’ phone calls had been traced and analysed, and that two cell phones had also been recovered from them. “When army reached the premises, all four attackers were alive. They were contained in the hostel and were eventually eliminated on the roof and the stairs,” informed the ISPR chief. They had a lot of ammo, including grenades, he added.

“Their call logs were analysed and an intelligence picture was established, with most data having been collected,” said Lt Gen Bajwa. Bajwa also said forensics and fingerprints of the attackers had been shared with the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA), adding that “an intelligence picture is also being created with input from NADRA.” “We have gathered almost all relevant data on who they (attackers) were, from where they came and who supported them.” But the ISPR chief said the information is “sensitive” and is being “processed and updated,” which will be shared with the public later.

“We cleared the sanctuaries of terrorists after which certain people crossed the border towards Afghanistan and are operating from there. That aspect is also under investigation,” he maintained. Bajwa said terrorists were getting instructions from outside and were receiving calls. “They (terrorists) are targeting symbols of progress. We are fighting a war against faceless bastards (terrorists).” The ISPR chief said, “As long as the facilitators and financiers of terrorists are present, they can carry out an attack at any place and time. What matters is how we respond to this as a nation.” Intelligence-based operations (IBos) are being carried out to hunt down the facilitators of the terrorists involved in Charsadda attack, he said.

HORROR ATTACK: The terrorists gave stiff resistance to security forces as they engaged in an operation to clear the school over several hours, as families of students lined up outside the university.

Most of the boys belonged to Dir, Hangu and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Journalists and all other non-essential personnel were asked to stay back in order to not interfere with the ongoing security operation. Up to 20 ambulances entered the university to rescue the injured.

Provincial Minister Shah Farman told journalists 54 security guards were stationed at the university. He said around 200 people were present in the examination hall, all of whom were rescued and “timely action by police and army prevented large scale damage”. Most of the student victims were shot dead at a hostel for boys on the campus.

DHQ Charsadda’s officials also stated that casualties had cuts on the bodies, probably inflicted from a sharp-edged weapon.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial spokesperson Shaukaut Yousafzai said be-

tween 50 to 60 people were wounded. He added there was no prior threat about an attack. KP CM’s Special Assistant Mushtaq Ghani said that the critically injured victims were shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar and that security in the province has been on high alert for 10 days.

EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS: A police officer said that assistant professor Dr Syed Hamid Hussain, who taught organic chemistry at the school, had been killed in the attack. Syed Hamid Hussain recently completed his PhD from Bristol University in UK in Chemistry and was now serving at Bacha Khan University.

He was from Swabi city of KP. He has left behind a wife and a three-year-old son, Hashir Hussain. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif reached Charsadda to boost the morale of the security personnel who took part in the operation. He was accompanied by Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Hidayatur Rehman. Television footage showed soldiers entering the campus as ambulances lined up outside the main gate and anxious parents consoled each other.

A student said the attackers, who had penetrated the building, appeared to be young. “The attackers were like us ─ they were very young. They carried AK-47 guns. They wore jackets like the forces do... We were in the hostel sleeping, as we did not have classes. “There are no classes at the university currently, there may be around 200-300 students in the hostel.”

“There was firing between attackers and security forces. After everything was over, the army men knocked on our room and told us we were safe.” Geology student Zahoor Ahmed said he had tried to leave his hostel after hearing shots fired. “(We) were stopped by our chemistry lecturer

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who advised us to go inside. He was holding a pistol in his hand,” he said. “Then I saw a bullet hit him. I saw two militants were firing. I ran inside and then managed to flee by jumping over the back wall, “ According to one eyewitness who escaped the university, the attackers had taken position at the entry points of the school. “I saw three attackers engaged in an exchange of fire with security guards of the university. one was positioned at the roof, another near the corner and the third near the wall.” “We rescued the university’s guards and then I saw the attackers engage the arriving police party.”

Shabir Khan, a lecturer in the English department, said he was about to leave the hostel for the department when firing began.

“Most of the students and staff were in classes when the firing began,” Khan said.

“I had no idea about what’s going on but I heard one security official talking on the phone to someone saying many people had been killed and injured.” A student said two security personnel were killed. “A hostel friend of mine was killed; two security personnel were killed as well.” A computer science student who was rescued from the university said the poetry recital event to commemorate Bacha Khan’s death anniversary was to begin at 10:30am. “The university [security] on common days is enough to perplex students. They have five security checks. But the security is only for students and not VIPs,” he said. “In the beginning, there was just firing. There were attackers in the stairwell. We had no arms to counter them.” “In the Pushto Department and Computer Science blocks I saw at least three attackers.” Rescue officials say some 50 students were rescued from the premises. out of these 50, five students were injured and have been shifted to District Head-

quarters Hospital (DHQ), Charsadda for treatment. An emergency has been imposed in all hospitals of the area. An eyewitness rescued from the university said the university was not adequately secured, especially at the backside of the building, which had low boundary walls. Another eyewitness said that attackers threw a grenade, injuring a guard and then entered the school.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Member of Provincial Assembly Arshad Ali said that the attackers entered the university after scaling its walls from the rear end.

MOURNING: Expressing deep grief and anguish over this inhuman and dastardly act of terrorism, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announced mourning for three days all over the province, adding that the national flag would be hoisted on half-mast on all government buildings. In a handout, the spokesperson said Quran Khwani will be held for eternal peace of the martyrs and early recovery of the injured. Prayers would also be held for restoration of peace all over the country. While commending the role of university guards and local police that helped in containing the damage to the possible minimum level, the spokesperson added that the local population demonstrated bravery and come out with their personal weapons and brought the terrorists out.

He said the police and Pakistan Army contingents reached the spot within 55 minutes of the attack despite dense fog and minimum visibility. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also reached the spot and expressed solidarity with the students and faculty members of the university administration and the local people. The spokesman revealed that KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, who is on visit to UK, has postponed his engagement abroad and was returning home immediately.

04 NEWS

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

CHemIsTry TeaCHer defIes TalIban In baCHa KHan UnIversITy aTTaCK PESHAWAR

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AGENCIES

chemistry teacher who tried to protect his students by opening fire on Taliban militants during a deadly attack at the Bacha Khan University has been hailed as a “martyr” and a “gentleman”.

Lecturer Syed Hamid Hussain, an assistant professor of chemistry at the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, ordered his students to stay inside as Taliban gunmen stormed the school near the city of Peshawar on Wednesday, leaving at least 21 people dead.

Students told of how he opened fire on gunmen as they rampaged across campus, giving the young people time to flee before he was cut down in a hail of bullets.

“We saw three terrorists shouting,

‘Allah is great!’ and rushing towards the stairs of our department,” one man told reporters.

“One student jumped out of the classroom through the window. We never saw him get up.” He described seeing Hussain holding a pistol and firing at the attackers.

“Then we saw him fall down and as the terrorists entered the (registrar) office we ran away.”

Geology student Zahoor Ahmed said Hussain had warned him not to leave the building after the first shots were fired.

“He was holding a pistol in his hand,” he said. “Then I saw a bullet hit him. I saw two militants were firing. I ran inside and then managed to flee by jumping over the back wall.”

“They fired directly at the professor,” sociology student Muhammad Daud told AFP, describing Hussain

as “a real gentleman and a respectable teacher”.

Tributes were paid to the slain academic on Twitter.

“Martyr of #education: Prof Hamid who was killed by terrorists in #BachaKhanUniversity#Pakistan,” tweeted journalist and academic Raza Ahmad Rumi.

Another message on the site read: “Very #sad news Prof. Dr Syed Hamid from Chemistry dept embraced shahadat (martyrdom) in an attack in #BachaKhanUniversity#Charsadda.”

President Mamnoon Hussain confirmed the lecturer had died, and expressed his grief and condolences to the man’s family.

Security officials said an operation to halt the bloodshed at the school ended several hours after it began, with police saying at least 21 people had been killed.

The military said it had killed four extremists. It was not clear if they were included in the death toll.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Haqqani dismisses govt claims of anti-Pakistan lobbying as ‘ignorant’ ASKS WHY AND HOW HE WOULD STOP F-16 SALES TO PAKISTAN ISLAMABAD PRESS RELEASE

Former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani has expressed surprise at Defense Minister Khwaja Asif’s claim that he (Haqqani) was lobbying against the latest tranche of F-16s for the Pakistan Air Force.

“I understand that the power equation in Islamabad does not allow civilians to assert themselves in all policy spheres but that does not justify ignorant statements,” he said.

Haqqani said that it is absurd to suggest that a former ambassador can hold up military sales from the US to Pakistan. “Implicit in the allegation is the admission that those currently responsi-

Two dead in clashes with police in IHK SRINAGAR AGENCIES

A civilian protester and a suspected militant were killed in clashes with security forces Wednesday in India-held Kashmir, police said. After receiving a tip-off about suspected rebels in Naina, some 35 kilometres (22 miles) south of the main city of Srinagar, soldiers cordoned off the village Tuesday night, triggering a gun battle.

“One militant was killed during the overnight encounter,” Nitish Kumar, deputy inspector general of police, said.

Hundreds of villagers angry at the killing of the suspected rebel threw rocks at police who fired back using tear gas and bullets, killing one protester and injuring two others, Kumar said.

ble for conduct of foreign policy on behalf of Pakistan are somehow ineffective against a former ambassador who is regularly targeted for adverse propaganda by the powers that be in Pakistan.

Haqqani said the Defense Minister should know that he is an academic and not a lobbyist and it is not very difficult to look up the respective definitions of the different roles.

“I have not lobbied for anybody or anything since I left the position of ambassador. History would prove that while I served as ambassador, Pakistan received 12 F-16 aircraft from the United States as per contracts, without congressional opposition. As ambassador I did my duty of removing political difficulties in the execution of the deal and received appreciation from the PAF for my services in this re-

gard. Congress also approved the largest civilian aid package for Pakistan of $7.5 billion over five years under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act during my tenure,” he recalled.

The former ambassador said that in some of his recent analytical articles he has pointed out the actual role of F-16s in the Pakistan military’s arsenal against India, which does not constitute lobbying for or against the aircraft’s sale to Pakistan. “For years, Pakistan’s sales pitch to the US has been based on underplaying its real strategic outlook to secure Foreign Military Funding and Foreign Military Sales. My factually correct articles offend those who do not want to change the basis of USPakistan relations to honest discourse, which is why these are being wrongly described in Pakistan as anti-Pak-

istan,” he added.

Haqqani said he advocates a new foreign policy paradigm for Pakistan, which includes pursuing independence from acquisition of military hardware from the US on false assurances and the shift of focus from military relations to economic and trade ties.

“I do not believe that having the eighth largest army while being only the 42nd largest economy in the world is a sustainable course of action. Pakistan’s priority should be to put the 42 per cent school-going age children currently out of school in school,” Mr. Haqqani argues.

The former ambassador said that while he had no role in lobbying in Washington DC for anything, including the F-16 sale, he finds it disturbing that his scholarly work should even be an issue. “Support for or opposition to specific weapons systems for the military is not considered a measure of patriotism in any country except in Pakistan,” Haqqani lamented.

No payday for absent ministers, NA Speaker Ayaz warns ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday expressed resentment over ministers not attending sessions of the assembly, and ordered that their salaries be deducted and instead be used for assembly expenses. According to details, an assembly session was scheduled today during which the speaker halted the proceedings for a few minutes due to the absence of many representatives and summoned them to the main hall.

The speaker was angry over the issue and said that the salaries of the absent MNAs should be deducted. He also said that in case of continuous violation, the prime minister will be informed in this regard. He said that if ministers continued to remain absent they could also be suspended. Earlier, Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rasheed, while protesting the absence of many ministers, walked out of the National Assembly during the session. According to details, Sheikh Rasheed came out of the assembly and said that he has not seen such an irresponsible assembly.

Speakers for equal participation of all federating units in CPEC ISLAMABAD APP

Speakers at a seminar on Wednesday stressed the need to ensure participation of all federating units in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and evolve a consensus among all the stakeholders in this regard for economic prosperity in the country. “CPEC will bring industrial revolution in small provinces as well in remote regions besides providing employment opportunities to people belonging to these areas,” former Balochistan chief minister Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch said. While addressing a “Dialogue on Future impact of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the region,” organised by National Press Club, he said that mega projects under CPEC would provide huge opportunities to the people of Balochistan and would support equitable distribution of resources in the country. He said that his National Party of Balochistan fully supported the CPEC and the mega projects which were game changers not only for Pakistan but could benefit the entire region.

Senate’s Whole Committee discusses revival of student unions ISLAMABAD APP

The Senate Committee of the Whole met on Wednesday and discussed the revival of student unions in educational institutions, especially in colleges and universities across the country.

The body took up the agenda items including proposals and input by the panellists, including the minister of state for federal education and professional training, secretary ministry of interior and provincial chief secretaries regarding revival of student unions.

The interior secretary briefed the committee about the background of student unions, their positive and negative perspectives, and Pakistani laws regarding them.

He told the committee that vice chancellors of the universities should also review the unions as they are in favour of the students.

He further said that students were allowed to adopt their political, or any other activity, outside their campuses.

He said that union elections should be conducted and students with good characters should be allowed to contest them. The committee urged the secretary interior to examine the hurdles in the way of unions, including violence, political activities etc.

The secretary replayed that the Ministry of Interior will check the laws and suggested the regularisation of unions to avoid any violence.

The committee expressed their interest in the constitution of unions in ed-

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ucational institutions and suggested that they be regularised.

The members told the committee that students had approached them to revive unions. The members referred to the unions before the creation of Pakistan and said that Quaid-e-Azam mobilised students for the movement of a new country. The committee said that unions were the need of the hour and should be allowed to work in schools, colleges. The committee also observed that VCs and professors have their own role, and they should be inducted.

Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani asked the secretary interior to hand over a copy of the recommendations to the senate secretariat regarding student unions so that the committee could discuss the suggestions.

Sindh Chief Secretary also briefed the committee about the initiatives taken by the provincial government regarding unions, and their importance in educational institutions.

At the end, Mian Raza Rabbani and other members of the committee strongly condemned the terrorist attack at the Bacha Khan University.

The chairman said that the Pakistan Army was engaged in curbing terrorism from all over the country with the full support of the nation.

The committee showed its sympathies with the families of the deceased persons and prayed for the early recovery of those injured in the incident.

He said that the operation against terrorism would be continued until the elimination of every terrorist.

FOREIGN NEWS 05

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

ChInA offerS SupporT for Yemen goVernmenT AS XI VISITS SAudI ArAbIA BEIJING

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AGENCIES

HINA has signaled its support for Yemen’s government, which is fighting an Iran-allied militia, on the first day of a visit to Saudi Arabia by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will also be heading to Tehran later in the week.

A Saudi-led coalition began a military campaign last year against the Iranian-allied Shi’ite Houthi movement in Yemen, which has seized the capital, Sanaa. The government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi is now based in the southern city of Aden.

Riyadh sees the Houthis as a proxy

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh on Tuesday.

All social, religious and political groups in Yemen should maintain their national solidarity and avoid any decisions that may cause social disruption and chaos, it said. “Both sides stressed support for the legitimate regime of Yemen,” the statement said.

Xi is expected in Iran later in the week, with a further stop in Egypt after he leaves Saudi Arabia.

Asked whether China was siding with Saudi Arabia over Yemen and whether that could risk upsetting Iran, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China had always acted in the interests of the Yemeni people and maintain-

for bitter regional rival Iran to expand its influence in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula nation. The Houthis deny this and say they are waging a revolution against a corrupt government and Gulf Arab powers beholden to the West.

A growing diplomatic dispute between Riyadh and Tehran, triggered by mainly Sunni Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shi’ite cleric, has damaged the outlook for any resolution to the conflict in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia and China said in a statement on Wednesday that the two countries affirmed their support for the unity, independence and sovereignty of Yemen. The statement was released by China’s Foreign Ministry after Xi met

ing peace in the Middle East, and had promoted peace talks. “(We) hope clashes in Yemen can come to an end as soon as possible and there can be reconciliation so the country can return to stability,” Hong told a daily news briefing.

China relies on the region for oil but has tended to leave Middle Eastern diplomacy to the other four permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - the United States, Britain, France and Russia.

Red doors mark out asylum seekers’ houses in English town: report LONDON AGENCIES

IS releases 270 of 400 civilians abducted in east Syria BEiRUT: The Islamic State group released 270 of more than 400 civilians it had abducted during its assault on the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor, a monitor said.

Those released included women, children under 14 years old, and the elderly, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. He said they had been freed after undergoing questioning

by IS jihadists to determine whether they had ties to Syria’s regime. “They will not go back into Deir Ezzor city, but will be spread out among local tribes in the province,” Abdel Rahman told reporters. IS still holds 130 civilians, mostly teenage and adult men, whom Abdel Rahman said were being questioned. “If IS sees that they have no ties to the Syrian government, they will take a religious course and will be released,” he said. IS launched a multi-pronged assault on Deir Ezzor city on Saturday, with dozens of its fighters carrying out suicide bomb attacks as they stormed government positions. The group is now in control of 60 per cent of the city and has tightened its siege around it by capturing surrounding towns. As IS overran Al-Baghaliyeh, an agricultural area northwest of the city, it abducted another 50 people, mostly men, Abdel Rahman said, but it was not immediately clear whether they were civilians or pro-regime fighters. AGENCIES

Asylum seekers in the northern English town of Middlesbrough are suffering abuse because they have been housed in properties that almost all have red front doors, making them easy targets for racists, the Times newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The houses are owned by a subcontractor of G4S, the outsourcing giant which has been embroiled in a series of scandals over alleged incompetence and abuses. A spokesperson for G4S said the subcontractor, Jomast, would repaint the doors.

Asylum seekers living in the Middlesbrough houses described having eggs and stones thrown at their windows, dog excrement smeared on their doors and racist jibes shouted at them, the Times said in its report.

Britain has not received migrants in the same huge numbers that arrived

in other European countries last year, but public concerns over immigration are running high and tensions have risen in many communities with high concentrations of migrants. Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said he had ordered an urgent audit of housing for asylum seekers in northeast England, which is provided by G4S under a government contract. “If we find any evidence of discrimination against asylum seekers it will be dealt with immediately as any such behavior will not be tolerated,” Brokenshire said in a statement.

The Times quoted Ahmad Zubair, from Afghanistan, as saying he had repainted his front door white to stop the abuse, but a Jomast worker had repainted it red citing company policy.

“Asylum houses have red doors.

Everyone knows that,” Zubair was quoted as saying. “People were shouting outside the house, calling us hate words, throwing things at our windows.” Andy

McDonald, the member of parliament representing Middlesbrough, told the newspaper the red doors were “a way of marking people out that is reprehensible”, while his predecessor Ian Swales said they reminded him of “Germany in the 1930s”. Stuart Monk, owner and managing director of Jomast, said paint was bought in bulk for use at all its properties as was common practice among landlords.

STRiNg of ScANdALS: “It is ludicrous to suggest that this constitutes any form of discrimination, and offensive to make comparisons to a policy of apartheid in Nazi Germany,” he said in a statement. Local police declined to comment because they are not required to keep statistics that break out hate crime as a separate category.

The Times said it had identified 168 houses owned by Jomast of which 155 had red doors. Reporters spoke to people living at 66 of the properties with red doors and found that 62 of them housed asylum seekers of 22 nationalities. The G4S spokesman said Jomast accepted that the majority of houses where asylum seekers lived had red doors, and had agreed to repaint them so that there would be no dominant color. The Times said Middlesbrough had one asylum seeker for every 173 residents, the highest concentration anywhere in Britain. The Home Office, or interior ministry, said its guidelines were that no area should have more than one asylum seeker for every 200 residents and it was “working closely with G4S to implement a reduction program” in Middlesbrough.

OLDEST CHRISTIAN MONASTERY IN IRAQ RAZED IRBIL AGENCIES

Satellite photos confirm what church leaders and Middle East preservationists had feared: The oldest Christian monastery in Iraq has been reduced to a field of rubble, yet another victim of the Islamic State group’s relentless destruction of heritage sites it considers heretical.

St. Elijah’s Monastery stood as a place of worship for 1,400 years, including most recently for US troops. In earlier millennia, generations of monks tucked candles in the niches, prayed in the chapel, worshipped at the altar. The Greek letters chi and rho, representing the first two letters of Christ’s name, were carved near the entrance. This month, at the request of the AP, satellite imagery firm DigitalGlobe tasked a high resolution camera to grab photos of the site, and then pulled earlier images of

the same spot.

Before it was razed, a partially restored, 27,000-square-foot stone and mortar building stood fortress-like on a hill above Mosul. Although the roof was largely missing, it had 26 distinctive rooms including a sanctuary and chapel.

One month later photos show “that the stone walls have been literally pulverized,” said imagery analyst Stephen Wood, CEO of Allsource Analysis, who pinpointed the destruction between August and September 2014.

“Bulldozers, heavy equipment, sledgehammers, possibly explosives turned those stone walls into this field of gray-white dust. They destroyed it completely,” he said from his Colorado offices.

On the other side of the world, in his office in exile, in Irbil, Iraq, Catholic priest Rev. Paul Thabit Habib, 39, stared in disbelief at the before- and after- images. “Our Christian history in Mosul is being barbarically leveled,” he said in

Arabic. “We see it as an attempt to expel us from Iraq, eliminating and finishing our existence in this land.”

The Islamic State group, which now controls large parts of Iraq and Syria, has killed thousands of civilians in the past two years. Along the way, its fighters have destroyed whatever they consider contrary to their interpretation of Islam.

St. Elijah’s joins a growing list of more than 100 religious and historic sites looted and destroyed, including mosques, tombs, shrines and churches.

Ancient monuments in the cities of Nineveh, Palmyra and Hatra are in ruins.

Museums and libraries have been pillaged, books burned, artwork crushed — or trafficked. US troops and advisers had worked to protect and honor the monastery, a hopeful endeavor in a violent place and time.

Built in 590, tragedy struck at St. Elijah’s in 1743, when as many as 150 monks who refused to convert to Islam were mas-

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sacred by a Persian general. In 2003 St. Elijah’s shuddered again — this time a wall was smashed by a tank turret blown off in battle. Iraqi troops had already moved in, dumping garbage in the cistern.

The U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division took control, painting over ancient murals and scrawling their division’s “Screaming Eagle,” on the walls. Then a U.S. military chaplain, recognizing its significance, began a preservation initiative.

At the Vatican, spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi, noted that since the monastery dates back to the time Christians were united, before the break with Orthodox and Catholics, the place would be a special one for many. He said it was the first news he had had of the destruction.

“Unfortunately, there is this systemic destruction of precious sites, not only cultural, but also religious and spiritual. It’s very sad and dramatic,” Lombardi told the AP.

However, China has been trying to get more involved, especially in Syria, and recently hosted its foreign minister and opposition officials.

China and Saudi Arabia expressed deep concern about Syria and renewed a call for a peaceful political settlement as soon as possible.

A Chinese president has not visited Saudi Arabia since 2009, when Hu Jintao went. Jiang Zemin was the last Chinese president to visit Iran, in 2002.

Khamenei condemns attack on Saudi embassy in Tehran TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday condemned the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran this month, saying it was “really bad”. In remarks published on his website, he also thanked Revolutionary Guards for detaining a group of US sailors in the Gulf last week, adding they had done the right thing. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran early on January 3 as the country reacted with fury to Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shia cleric, Nimr al-Nimr. Saudi Arabia, its fellow-Sunni Bahrain and other allies severed ties with Iran following the attack on the embassy in Tehran. The development came two weeks before Iran emerged from years of economic isolation when world powers lifted crippling sanctions against the Islamic Republic in return for Tehran complying with a deal to curb its nuclear ambitions. AGENCIES

Seven dead as suicide bomber hits Afghan TV channel bus KABUL: Seven people were killed on Wednesday when a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying employees of popular Afghan TV channel TOLO, just months after the Taliban declared the network a legitimate “military target”. The bombing near the Russian embassy in downtown Kabul also left 24 people wounded, in the latest in a wave of attacks despite an international push to jumpstart Taliban peace talks. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the bombing, which marks the first major attack on a media organisation in Afghanistan. “Our office bus taking TOLO staff home came under attack,” an employee at the channel told AFP, requesting anonymity. The bombing left some staff members burning inside the vehicle, another employee said, adding that the bus was mostly filled with behind-the-scenes workers from the channel’s graphics and dubbing departments. The loud explosion sent a plume of smoke rising in the sky, with ambulances and firefighters rushing to the scene which was littered with charred debris. The interior ministry said the attack left seven people dead and 24 others wounded. The Taliban in October declared TOLO and 1TV, both privately run news stations as legitimate “military targets”.

The group said the move was in response to their reports claiming that Taliban fighters raped women at a female hostel in Kunduz, after the group briefly captured the northern city in late September last year.

The Taliban rejected the reports as fabrications, saying they were examples of propaganda by the “satanic networks”. The attack, which highlights the growing dangers faced by journalists in Afghanistan, comes just two days after a second round of a four-country meeting in Kabul aimed at reviving talks with the Taliban. AGENCIES

06 KARACHI

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

WEATHER UPDATES

THURSDAY

270C 140C

FRIDAY

270C 150C

SATURDAY

270C 130C

SUNDAY

270C 140C

PRAyER TimingS FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

5:59

12:43

3:48

7:17

6:09

7:28

Free-will marriage: SHC orders couple’s protection KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday directed police officials to provide protection to Mst Iqra and Feroz who are facing life threats for contracting a love marriage without parents’ permission. The 23-years-old, Iqra, who was Hindu and her name was Radha, citizen of Kotri, Jamshoro, submitted that she contracted the marriage with 26-years-old Feroz but her family did not accept it. The SHC bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto heard the petition filed by newlywed couple who moved the court for seeking protection and quashing of kidnapping case registered against them at local police station in Kotri. The court directed police officials to provide protection to the couple and not to arrest Feroz in relation with the kidnapping case registered against him. In Wednesday’s hearing, SHO of Kotri police station submitted that he would record the statement of the petitioner. Mst Iqra submitted in the petition that she was Hindu but after engaging with Feroz she embraced Islam by realising its truth. Iqra submitted that she left her house on 28th December 2015 and came to Karachi with Feroz where they got married on 29th December. The couple apprehended that they would be killed in the name of honour and demanded protection from police.

Four more children die in Thar due to malnutrition THARpARKAR OnlinE

As many as four more children died due to malnutrition on Wednesday and the death toll has climbed to 72 in the month of January in Tharparkar. A three-year old girl died at Civil Hospital Mithi, while two toddlers died in Shadi Rand village. Moreover, a one month toddler died as he was being shifted from Mithi hospital to Karachi. Around 52 children are provided with medical assistance at the Civil Hospital Mithi due to Malnutrition and other diseases.

Man killed in road mishap KARACHI STAFF REPORT

A man was killed in a road mishap in the metropolis on Wednesday. According to rescue sources, a man, identified as Zulfiqar, 34, son of Ali Khan, resident of Gulistan-eJohor, was killed when a speeding vehicle hit him near Askari Park in Old Sabzi Mandi area. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for an autopsy.

KARACHI: Rangers cordon off Karachi University as the security was tightened after terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University of Charsadda on Wednesday. PPi

three terrorists among 5 suspects killed in city KARACHI

a

STAFF REPORT

S many as three terrorists of a banned outfit among five suspected criminals were arrested by Rangers during their on-going operation in the mega city. According to a Ranger spokesman, they raided an area near Super Highway Northern By-pass on the information about terrorists’ presence and they opened fire. The Rangers retaliated and killed the three terrorists.

An officer of the security agency was also injured during the exchange of fire.

The spokesperson said that the

suspects were involved in cases of target killing, extortion, robbery, kidnapping for ransom and bomb attacks on Rangers.

Meanwhile, two members of Baba Ladla gang war group, including Adil alias Rund, and Moeed, were also shot dead by Rangers in Lyari’s Gul Mohammad Lane. They were reportedly involved in cases of target killing and kidnapping for ransom. Meanwhile, the counter terrorism department (CTD) arrested 10 suspects during a search operation in Manghopir’s Muhammad Khan Colony. A rickshaw laden with explosives was recovered from the sus-

Little happiness, a lot of danger interfaith couple brave threats KARACHI AAmiR mAJEED

Three years ago, a Muslim businessman fell in love with a Christian woman. Anywhere else in the world, this would not prompt a news piece, but in Pakistan interfaith relationship are not just taboo, they can pose great risk to the people involved. Shahid Khursheed Rana and his wife Rukhsana Chaand Masih have been shunned by not just the community but also his family. The two have endured death threats and abductions. Rana, 40, son of Muhammad Khursheed in an email told the scribe about the threats he has had to put up with after marrying Masih. Rana said that he fell in love with Rukhsana Chand Masih some three years ago. “I run a transport business in the city and met with Rukhsana. We developed friendly relations and after three years of deliberation we reached the decision that we should get married,” he said.

“On October 15, 2015, I tied knot with Rukhsana, but I forget that I would have to face problems because of not just the society but also my own family,” he added. “I got engaged to my cousin in my early childhood, but I didn’t want to marry her. Now my relatives and the brothers of my fiancée

are forcing me to give Rukhsana a divorce and marry the girl that I was engaged to in my childhood,” he lamented. Threats are aplenty. The couple has been given death threats and warned that if a child were born then that too would be killed. “I shifted to a rented house with Rukhsana as we have been forced by my family to leave them after I married a Christian woman,” he said.

“We have no threats from Rukhsana’s family, but her family members were also frightened following the threats from my relatives. Islam allows one to marry a Christian woman and I did not commit a sin. I want protection and for this I will knock the doors of the law enforcement agencies,” he said.. Marriage out of choice remains a taboo in our country, particularly when it involves a partner outside one’s own clan or faith. National Peace Committee for Interfaith Harmony (NPCIH) Vice Chairman (VC) Michael Javed claimed that he witnessed 10 cases himself where the in-laws murdered boys for marrying Christian girls.

“Islam allows one to marry a Christian woman and to respect each other’s faith,” Javed said. “I have travelled the world and seen many places where Muslims marry Christians and they are happy. However, in Pakistan the society assumes that interfaith

marriage is sin,” he asserted. “We [the Christians] never stop or threaten our community members for marrying Muslim men or women,” Javed added. “The severity of the issue could be evaluated from the fact that Muslims here in Pakistan look at those who wishes Christians on Christmas with hatred in their eyes,” NPCIH VC noted.

“Illiterate religious scholars in madrassas are imparting hate-based education amongst the children that gives birth to religious extremism in them,” NPCIH VC observed. “The government and the institutions would have to play their role to root out narrow-mindedness in our society by taking action against the elements involved in fanning religious extremism to make Pakistan like one the Quaid-e-Azam envisioned,” Javed stressed.

Sindh Inspector General (IG) Ghulam Hyder Jamali vowed to provide protection to the interfaith couple. Talking to this scribe, Sindh IG directed Rana Khursheed to leave a copy of an application along with the Nikahnama in his office and share a copy of the same with SHO, SSP, and DIG of the zone concerned. “Our constitution allows interfaith marriages and it is our responsibility to provide protection to interfaith couples,” Sindh IG maintained.

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Moon Garden case: SC seeks reply from Railway Cooperative Society KARACHI STAFF REPORT

pects. According to CTD in-charge Ali Raza, the criminals were engaged in making a bomb in a house.

Three of the arrested terrorists were commanders of an outlawed organisation.

The police also arrested an extortionist during a raid in Pirabad area.

He had reportedly extorted Rs 5 million from a local transporter. A motorcycle and bomb making equipment were also recovered from him. The police said the suspect belonged to Abid Machar group of a banned outfit. Police also arrested 18 felons during raids in areas of Defence and Clifton.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Wednesday sought reply from the Railway Cooperative Society (RCS) within seven days on the application filed by owner of Moon Garden for seeking permission for the sale of residential flat. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan heard the petition in Islamabad filed by Abdul Razzaq Khamoosh, owner of the Moon Garden in Karachi, through his counsel Salman Akram Raja. During the course of the hearing, the counsel of petitioner informed the apex court that his client could not arrange the heavy amount of Rs 150 million and his goodwill in the market had also badly affected. He prayed the court to grant permission for the sale of undisputed apartment, so that amount of surety bond could be submitted. After the hearing arguments of the counsel of petitioner, the court adjourned the hearing for one week and ordered the Railway Cooperative Society to submit the reply..

No security guards in NED varsity, gatekeepers do the job KARACHI PPi

The security task of the NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, is being taken care of by its gatekeepers as the premier varsity has not a single trained and armed private security guard.

NED University of Engineering and Technology’s (NEDUET) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Afzal Haque said on Wednesday that in the prevailing security scenario, the NED University direly needed proper cooperation from the government. “There is urgent need to increase security of the university in terms of increasing the strength of Rangers’ personnel and private security guards, besides giving safety training to the staff, faculty members

and students.” He said besides increasing the strength of Rangers, the presence of police was also necessary for the security of campus.

Talking to PPI, the VC said they had no private security guards in the university for countering terror attacks as they had only gatekeepers to do this task. He said that it was prime duty of the government to protect the universities and provide safety training to their staff, students and the faculty members enabling them to tackle such terror incidents as witnessed by the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda. He condemned the attack and requested the government to take serious notice of poor security arrangements of his university.

The VC said he had already met with Sindh

Rangers top brass and requested them to increase the strength of Rangers personnel at the varsity.

He said the safety training of faculty members, staff and students would enable them to handle the panic situations before and after the terror attack that could also be helpful to minimise losses. He said they had presence of the Rangers but it was not sufficient and as a result one gate of the varsity was manned by the Rangers while the other gate by unarmed gatekeepers. He said the varsity had no armed private guards or police presence to take care of the security of its campus. The VC said after the attack on Bacha Khan University, he called a high-level meeting with university officials to beef up security measures.

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

Waseem’s bail extended; rizvi exempted from personal appearance a KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

local court on Wednesday extended bail of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader and nominated mayor Waseem Akhtar in two cases and allowed the plea of Haidar Abbas Rizvi for

exemption from appearing in court.

The MQM leaders were presented before the magistrate who granted extension in bail to Waseem Akhtar in the case pertaining to violation of Loud Speaker Act and exempted Haidar Abbas Rizvi from appearance.

The court had earlier issued nonbailable arrest warrants for Farooq Sat-

tar, Haidar Abbas Rizvi, Waseem Akhtar and others. It may be mentioned that Waseem Akhtar has been named in 27 cases for assisting MQM chief Altaf Hussain and Dr Asim Hussain, while three cases have been filed against Haidar Abbas Rizvi.

The MQM leaders and 200 unknown party workers were named in 23

KARACHI 07

FIRs in which the complainants alleged that the accused had attended a public gathering and facilitated the MQM chief in his speech against the security agencies on July 12 this year. Altaf Hussain had accused the Rangers of torturing and killing his party workers in the ongoing targeted operation against criminals in the city.

3,000 confiscated Qingqi rickshaws to hit city streets soon KARACHI PPi At least 3,000 Qingqi rickshaws will be released by the Karachi traffic police department soon after the decision of Supreme Court to regulate these Qingqi rickshaws on condition of fitness, safety and registration from the provincial transport department. According to official sources, a large number of Qingqi rickshaws were impounded by the Karachi traffic police few months back when the Sindh High Court banned these dangerous rickshaws. Quite few rickshaws were released but as many as 3,000 were still detained. After the decision of the apex court, the Sindh transport department has accelerated its efforts and outsourced its project pertaining to fitness of these rickshaws to an engineering transport company and sought recommendations on their safety within three months. The private transportation company’s executive director seeking anonymity informed the PPI that they had recommended the transport department to provide rickshaw drivers a compulsory basic training for one month under well trained instructors. He also recommended that there should be a junction near link roads that connects main roads and these rickshaws should only be allowed to commute people from their homes to main roads in the city so that they can catch another transport for long routes, while short routes up to five kilometers should be allowed to these rickshaws to commute public.

Nepra increases power tariff for K-Electric KARACHI STAFF REPORT

LARKANA: People warm their hands on bone-fire to save themselves from cold weather. PPi

high alert issued by all prominent universities of city KARACHI

‘SiNdH HaS RiCH RESERvoiRS oF MiNES’ KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

A high alert has been issued by all prominent universities of Karachi on Wednesday after terrorists stormed into Bacha Khan University in Charsadda.

According to details, administrations in Nadirshaw Eduljee Dinshaw (NED) University, University of Karachi and Federal Urdu University have issued high alert. All unrelated vehicles and people have been barred to enter university premises and only cars with university passes are allowed in the university after checking. Higher officials of Rangers have visited NED University to review security situation. Rangers officials have also discussed security situation with vice-chancellor of the university.

APP

Sindh Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Aijaz Ali Khan has said that Sindh has rich reservoirs of different mines of which coal is highly valued element and being used for power generation. He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting of Pakistan Navy’s under-training officers under taking study tour of Sindh, said a statement issued on Wednesday.

He noted that massive development programme was in progress throughout the Sindh province including road sector development pro-

gramme in addition to various schemes of education, health, local government women development culture, and all other line departments.

Secretaries of energy, planning, special secretary home, D/G Sindh police and other officer briefed the delegates about relevant development projects.

Leader of the delegates Rear Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi (Commandant Pak. Navy work College) in his address appreciated the Sindh development programme. He also thanked Chief Secretary Muhammad Siddique Memon for allocating time for meeting in respect of the PN officers study tour. ACS Aijaz Ali Khan also paid thanks to the delegates for visiting the Sindh Secretariat.

Unlike the consumers of state-owned power distribution companies (Discos) who enjoy a tariff cut, the people of Karachi will face a 57 paisas per unit hike in power tariff on account of fuel adjustment for the month of November 2015. However, the lifeline consumers in Karachi, using 50 units per month, have been exempted from this increase.

In view of the sharp decline in furnace oil prices in the international market, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) had approved Rs 2.06 per unit cut in tariff for ex-water and power development authority (Wapda) discos for November 2015 under monthly fuel adjustment mechanism.

However, Nepra allowed the K-Electric – the power distribution company for Karachi – to increase the tariff by 57 paisas per unit during a public hearing chaired by Nepra Chairman Tariq Sadozai on Tuesday. Management of the K-Electric had submitted a petition with Nepra seeking the tariff increase in view of a higher-than-estimated cost of fuel.

In the petition, the K-Electric had pointed out that it faced a fuel cost variation of Rs 700.593 million in its electricity generation from external resources. During the hearing, the Nepra chief expressed serious concerns over not injecting 50MW power in the system. The K-Electric authorities admitted that their power plants were not operating at full capacity due to their load shedding policy.

Karachi operation going on as per NAP parameters: governor KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan has said that Karachi operation is being conducted in its letter and spirit and according to the parameters of National Action Plan.

He said this while replying to questions of participants of the inland-study tour of 46th PN and 13th correspondent staff courses being conducted by the Pakistan Navy War College at Governor House.

He said that the resolve, commitment and pledge was there since day one of op-

eration and it was being executed with an aim to eliminate the last terrorist from the society.

He further said that 80 per cent progress had been made in eliminating culprits involved in terrorism, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and target killing.

It would continue to ensure proper law and order situation and conducive environment for business activities to flourish, he added.

Dr Ebad said that they all recognises that Karachi was financial hub of their country and the peace and tranquility there was bound to ensure rapid economic growth of Pakistan which was the

prime objective of this operation.

The governor said that prosperity and growth was linked with peace and the same was being ensured through strenuous efforts of their law enforcement agencies.

While lauding the services of law enforcement agencies, the governor said that their sacrifices were unprecedented and unparalleled. “They have shed their blood to provide security and safety to masses not only in Karachi but also in other parts of Pakistan also,” he added.

While responding to another question about security of development projects funded and managed by foreign donor

CMYK

agencies, especially in interior Sindh, the governor said. “A special unit has been established in Sindh police to ensure the same. It works in close coordination with foreign consortiums engaged in development projects throughout the province,” he informed.

Replying to a question about challenges and hurdle he faced during the 13 years as governor, Dr Ebad said there were many challenges and added that he always prioritised national interest.

He said that power and energy sector was of special focus during past years. A viable strategy was made to increase load shedding exempted area of Karachi from

17 per cent to 70 per cent and this had in turn accelerated industrialisation in Karachi.

Responding to another question, the governor said there was no master plan of Karachi till 2005. “The same is now in place and all the matters are being implemented according to this master plan,” Dr Ebad said. Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi informed the governor that the course was being attended by 69 officers of armed forces of Pakistan and allied forces. Some 51 officers were from Pakistan and 18 were from allied forces and these were in their 7th semester of 8 semester course, he added.

08 COMMENT

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

Shortcomings that allow terrorists to attack Aplenty

The State of Dis-Union It takes two to tango

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HEn TTP terrorists entered Bacha Khan University, they found the institution as inadequately defended as the APS was over one year back. It took the police and army hours to eliminate the killers. The attack came only a day after terrorists killed 10 levies personnel near Peshawar. The TTP is on the watch out for loopholes. The moment it finds one, it strikes. The two attacks coming within 24 hours of each other show there are grave lapses on the part of all the three tiers of administration: the federal, the provincial and the local.

The federal government has shown laxity in the implementation of the national Action Plan. What is more, nACTA, the centerpiece of the government’s security policy, still remains inoperative. The organisation was to bring together several security agencies, collate the intelligence provided by them and ensure timely action. Ch nisar, who was made the pointman for the implementation of the Plan, has failed to put life into the organisation.

The provincial government was expected to revitalise the provincial intelligence setup. While a move in the direction has been taken by Punjab and Sindh, the progress in KP remains unsatisfactory. The party leadership is double-minded about how to deal with the terrorists. In July, months after the APS attack, Imran Khan still showed keenness to hold talks with the Taliban. With thinking of the sort prevailing in the top leadership, lapses of the sort that the terrorists wait for are likely to occur. Due to the lack of vigilance on the part of the university administration, the low boundary wall provided an opportunity to the terrorists to enter.

The terrorist group which has claimed responsibility for the attack had been pushed out of the Khyber Agency during the military operation and took shelter on the other side of the Durand line. Unless Pakistan and Afghanistan join hands against the terrorist groups, they would continue to remain in business. A joint action by Islamabad and Kabul is needed to ensure their national security.

Fruits of mediation Measuring success

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HE prime minister and army chief seemed happy enough with their ‘mediation’ tour. yet in tangible, quantifiable terms all that has been achieved is Pakistan and Iran agreeing on the need of ‘focal persons’ between Tehran and Riyadh, for which nawaz still has to “ask Saudi Arabia to also name someone”. And, sadly, expectations that the head of the only Muslim nuclear power, along with his army chief, will broker peace between Iran and Saudi Arabia and help end the cataclysmic sectarian war that has consumed the Middle East will have to wait a while longer. no doubt both Riyadh and Tehran welcomed the Pakistani initiative. Even before the Sharifs had taken the trouble to fly to both capitals for their “sacred duty”, both Iran and KSA were well aware of the direction the Arabian bloodbath was taking, not to mention the need for Muslim unity, etc, as they were reminded by their Pakistani guests. So the trip was spot-on as far as appearances go, but did not yield anything concrete.

Pakistan should have pushed both parties to resume diplomatic relations. And while there was some mention in the press of the Iranians being lectured on this, there were few details about how hard the Saudis were pushed, even though Riyadh broke the diplomatic channel.

It is unlikely, therefore, that the Pakistani government’s “sincere efforts” will bring about any major change in the Middle East. Our position on the Saudi-led coalition also remains strangely vague, despite several attempts by some ministers to explain it.

We are part of it, so far, but its agenda is not yet defined, and the principal on-ground players against ISIS – Iran, Syria, etc – have not been invited. And, also, we will no longer be game if our troops are required. But what exactly is our position? There seems some weight in PPP allegations, under such circumstances, that Pakistan is basically just toeing the Saudi line, and appearing good in the process, rather than sincerely pushing for a realistic toning down of tensions in the wider Muslim world.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

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Washington Watch Dr James J Zogby

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n Tuesday of this past week, President Obama delivered the annual State of the Union (SOTU) address to a Joint Session of Congress. And then on Thursday, the Republican candidates for their party’s nomination held their sixth televised debate. The contrasts in tone couldn’t have been sharper, defining the deep partisan divide that has tragically paralyzed our ability to address critical issues facing our country.

For his part, the President sought to frame his SOTU remarks as confident, optimistic, and forward looking. He challenged those who promoted despair and cynicism, noting the progress that has been made in cutting unemployment in half, rescuing America’s auto industry, and passing health care reform that has enabled 17 million more Americans to receive coverage. While acknowledging that real problems of income inequality remain, he noted that with investments in education, job training, and continued Wall Street reform, progress could be made.

The President also used the address to challenge the notion being propagated by some that America is in decline all over the world. It is undeniable that we face new challenges from a deeply unsettled Middle East, from an emboldened Russia, an aggressive China, and the persistent threat of terrorism. But he noted that in the face of these challenges, working with allies, we have made progress in addressing climate change and stopping the spread of Ebola, in securing agreements to stop Iran’s nuclear program, promote trade with Asian partners, and in opening relations with Cuba. He con-

cluded, that despite diplomatic setbacks, persistent and de-stabilizing conflicts, and the continuing threat of terrorism, America’s standing has, in fact, improved in almost every country in the world.

As is the case in every SOTU address, the President proposed that Congress take action in a number of areas that he maintained would build on the progress we have made and create a more prosperous and secure America in the future. But his most compelling remarks came near the end of his speech when he returned to a theme that has shaped his entire public life—the need to bring an end to “the rancor and suspicion” that has divided us and inhibited bipartisan cooperation.

He began by urging office holders to “reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion”. He went on to note that “This isn’t a matter of political correctness.

This is a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal, it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith...When politicians insult Muslims...that doesn’t make us safer...It diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals. It betrays who we are as a country.”

He closed with this appeal: “The future we want—opportunity and security for our families, a rising standard of living, a sustainable, peaceful planet for our kid—all that is within our reach.

But it will only happen if we work together...if we can have rational, constructive debates...if we fix our politics. [This] doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything...[But] it doesn’t work if we think our political opponents are unpatriotic or trying to weaken America...Democracy grinds to a halt without a willingness to compromise...Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get all the attention...We have to change the system to reflect our better selves”.

These concluding thoughts struck me as prescient as I listened to the tone and content of the GOP debate that followed the SOTU just two days later. If the President sought to elevate our political discourse and seek compromise, many of those competing for the Republican nomination were clearly moving in the opposite direction. Ohio Governor John Kasich and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush stood out as exceptions, but their voices were often drown out by the harsh and unyielding rhetoric of their competitors.

Five of the seven candidates (all but Kasich and Bush) either rejected new Muslim immigrants or questioned the wisdom of admitting them. Trump calling Muslim immigrants a “great Trojan Horse” that would allow terrorists entry into America.

Gimmickistan Where high ideals meet ground realities served is still an unresolved mystery. True, it has been made clear that we are very ‘sensitive’ when it comes to our religion. But was there ever any doubt about that?

We’ve been here before. It was the senior Bhutto who first changed the weekly holiday from Christian Sunday to Muslim Friday. It was a cynical move on the part of Bhutto, who himself was by no means devout, designed to appease fanatics.

This pretty much sums up our history: it is either a government proactively employing a gimmick, or it is timid leadership only too willing to yield to pressure. The infamous Hudood Ordinance is a case in point; it started life as a deliberate gimmick, but owes its longevity to a dearth of courage required to repeal it.

In a country replete with disturbing things, what is perhaps most alarming is the fact that much of this gimmickry has been ‘Islamic’. This tendency of associating everything with Islam is bordering on some sort of a mental disorder.

Once something is perceived to be ‘Islamic’ – whether from the start or becoming so along the way – it needs super-human courage to get rid of it even when it is obvious that it was a bad idea to start with. We were never renowned for producing people of such valour.

The resort to this sort of gimmickry started very early. Pakistan

Hasan aftab saeeD

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EREly hours after the ban on youTube was officially lifted, a resolution has been tabled in the national Assembly seeking restoration of Friday as the weekly holiday. ‘Pakistan is still following footprints of Britain by not observing public holiday on Friday. We are deprived of blessings of this day and facing disasters,’ says the resolution. The resolution was likely referring to disasters other than some of our lawmakers. By the look of things, reason is going to continue taking a battering at the hands of religious zeal for years to come.

Three years ago, in what was another triumph of zeal over reason, youTube was banned. We are back to square one after the unbanning, but exactly what purpose the ban

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The two-hour slug-fest featured an abundance of intramural squabbling. Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz were at war with one another, as were new Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

While blood was drawn, the combatants saved their harshest and most demeaning jabs for President Obama.

Rubio, for example, had this to say: “Barack Obama does not believe that America is a great global power. Barack Obama believes that America is an arrogant global power that needs to be cut down to size. And that’s how you get a foreign policy where we cut deals with our enemies like Iran and we betray our allies like Israel and we gut our military and we go around the world like he has done on 10 separate occasions and apologized for America.”

Trump added, “Our country is being run by incompetent people...We are a stupid country laughed at by people all over the world.”

And the most boorish insult of the night was delivered by Christie when, speaking of the President, whom he once embraced, thanking him for the support he offered to his hurricane ravaged state, said “We are going to kick your rear end out of the White House come this fall.”

The entire affair was a sad display of our politics at its worst, made all the more troubling by the fact that the two candidates (Kasich and Bush) who continually attempted to elevate the discourse, are, at this point, polling near the bottom of the GOP pack.

There are, to be sure, legitimate challenges that Republicans and Democrats can offer to the President’s performance, to date. The Affordable Care Act needs fixing. not enough has been done to correct income inequality, the racial divide, and widespread corrosive government surveillance. There have been failures in foreign policy, too. We mishandled the Syrian civil war and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and while the P5+1 agreement with Iran was an achievement, we should have been more attentive to the concerns of anxious Arab allies who felt sidelined and betrayed by their exclusion from the process.

But all these efforts could have been advanced had there been constructive bipartisan cooperation. And, even now, they can and should be discussed without the rancorous and divisive rhetoric that makes forward progress impossible.

As the president noted in his State of the Union, the fact that the tone of politics hasn’t changed is one of his lasting regrets. But “it takes two to tango” and from the performance of Trump and company, the other side doesn’t appear ready to end the state of our dis-union.

Dr James J Zogby is President, Arab American Institute.

was created in order to champion the cause of Islam, we are told.

‘Pakistan ka matlab kya; laa ilaaha illallah’ may have been after-thefact, but no nuanced account of the creation of Pakistan stands any chance against this pithy slogan.

For naming it the ‘Islamic Republic of Pakistan’ we again get full marks for religiosity. Of our Objectives Resolution it can safely be said that the history of legislation never has and never will see anything like it.

In fact, such is the tenacity of this mentality that when we actually managed to script a rare national success story, it had to be called the Islamic bomb (no less)! I am surprised we are not teaching Islamic fission to our physics majors.

In Pakistan we like to dignify all our important occasions by opening the proceedings with recitation of the Quran. So it is that all sorts of lies and sundry immoralities are sanctified by God’s name.

This has been the standard practice for our parliament as well. An ordinary mortal would have been forgiven for thinking that it will be well-nigh impossible to improve upon this quite satisfactory state of affairs. not so our Captain Safdar, thanks to whom, all our national Assembly sessions will henceforth feature a naat in addition to the aforementioned recitation.

Saving children from blasphemous videos, changing weekly holidays, starting official events invoking God’s name, dignifying parliamentary proceedings with devotional compositions, and swearing uncompromising loyalty to the Almighty in crowded rallies are all

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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very well. But will God’s children start getting justice in our earthly courts any time soon? How about clean drinking water, access to a doctor, and a little dignity? These are the real questions to be addressed. I earnestly hope the answer is not a pious ‘Inshallah’.

Talking of religious zeal, two things are conspicuous by their absence. While beads and beards are everywhere, simplicity and a noble indifference to money and the luxuries it can buy – standout features of the life of the Prophet (PBUH) – are sadly never on display, even among the most pious. In their place, firmly entrenched is the corporate version of Islam – J. Islam, if you will – according to which, making of much money is supremely desirable, if not absolutely mandatory.

Zeal is never a good indicator of sincerity. In fact, one is usually inversely proportional to the other.

Making loud noises, banning sites, and burning flags come cheap. leading decent lives and caring for people takes some doing. Are we, as a nation, capable of doing anything, not because religious zeal appears to demand so, but because it is the decent thing to do? Short of this, are we capable of showing a little more restraint when it comes to verbally declaring our undying love for a hero or commitment to a cause?

I am not optimistic on either count.

Hasan Aftab Saeed is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at hasanas@live.jp.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 09

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today,

Editor’s 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan Fax: +92-42-32535230 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk mail Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively Justice delayed is justice denied

Call for ending violence Peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan tary actions and the only way to achieve it was through dialogue, making sure that the process was Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. Pakistan, Afghanistan and China as facilitators have very high stakes in peace in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan needs a break from the decades old conflict. Pakistan needs peace in Afghanistan to quell termalik muHammaD asHraf rorism within its boundaries, for ensuring HE Quadrilateral Coordination success of operation Group (QCG) comprising Pak- Zarb-e-Azb and realisistan, Afghanistan, US and ing its objective of reChina which met in Kabul on gional linkages for shard economic prosperity, Monday, 18 January to draw up while China needs peace in Afghanistan and a roadmap for bringing the Taliban and the region to pursue its strategic and economic Afghan government on the negotiating table, goals. The geo-strategic location of the three again emphasised the need for an end to countries also dictates the imperative of the senseless violence against the people of three countries to make joint efforts in transAfghanistan. The group in its earlier meeting forming the region into a hub of peace and in Islamabad on 11th January focused on un- economic activity to facilitate the unleashing dertaking a clear and realistic assessment of of the potential that awaits to be harnessed for the opportunities for peace and reconciliation, shared economic prosperity. anticipated obstacles and measures that could The revival of the initiative to relaunch the help in creating a congenial atmosphere for quest for peace in Afghanistan owes to a great peace talks. Pakistan rightly maintained that extent to the renewed interaction between for bringing Taliban to the negotiating table Prime Minister nawaz Sharif and the Afghan and restarting the process of reconciliation, it President Ashraf Ghani and the recent visit of was imperative to offer some incentives to the COAS to Afghanistan and his meetings them, not to impose pre-conditions and with Afghan leadership for strengthening seavoiding threats of military action. curity and counter-terrorism cooperation The representative of the Afghan govern- through intelligence sharing and facilitating ment urged the Taliban groups to accept the the Afghan peace and reconciliation process. government offer for talks and come to the ne- There are no two opinions about the fact that gotiating table to resolve the differences po- the ambience of trust and cooperation between litically. It is really hard to take an issue with Pakistan and Afghanistan was a vital ingredithe aims and objectives outlined in the quadri- ent for nudging the process of reconciliation lateral meeting in regards to bringing peace to in Afghanistan. Peace in Afghanistan and Afghanistan. But with the Taliban now con- Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of rectrolling nearly two-thirds of Afghanistan and onciliation in Afghanistan has always reso far no statement coming from them to sup- mained a top priority of the present civilian port the talks or the desire to return to the ne- and military leadership in Pakistan who are gotiation table and the differences within the very much conscious of the fact that peace in Taliban movement in regards to talks with the Afghanistan was an indispensable variable in Afghan government, it is going to be an ex- the fight against terrorism. Peace in cruciating undertaking to re-start the dialogue. Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan.

The intensification of attacks on government Though the task of re-engaging the Taland foreign targets by Taliban during the cur- iban in the process of parleys is difficult due rent winter and the successes achieved by to the prevailing circumstances but Pakistan them, according to diplomatic circles, indicate is hopeful that it would ultimately be suca deliberate push by the cessful in influencing militants to seize more the Taliban to hold talks territory and be in a with the Afghan govstronger negotiating poernment. The encouragsition. ing factor in this entire It is really hard to take an exercise is that the fourThe drawing of a realistic and flexible country group recogissue with the aims and nises roadmap for bringing and acknowledges the Taliban to the negoPakistan’s support to objectives outlined in the tiating table that broadly the process of dialogue defines steps and phases quadrilateral meeting in as a vital ingredient for for pursuing the defined bringing peace to regards to bringing peace Afghanistan, more so objectives is of paramount importance. Pakthe Afghan governto Afghanistan. istan rightly maintained ment. The resolve of that the reconciliation in the Pakistan governAfghanistan was not ment to facilitate and possible through milipromote the Afghan-led

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and Afghan owned reconciliation in Afghanistan is beyond any reproach. The unflinching support from the other members of the QCG would certainly help in strengthening the quest for peace in Afghanistan.

It is hoped that the re-established bonhomie between the two countries would not only help in ending the bitterness of the past but would also pave the way for renewed collective efforts to fight the common challenges. Both sides need to work together and within the framework of QCG with sincerity of purpose for promoting peace and making a new beginning. An immediate re-evaluation of the current relationship is essential in order to move forward. It must be understood that as the US troops gear up to withdraw, Afghanistan would need Pakistan more than ever. President Ghani is struggling to maintain his unity government intact and the withdrawal of US and nATO troops might precipitate his woes as the Afghan army was still not in a position to maintain security.

The battles in Kunduz and Badakhshan and the latest clashes in Helmand, are indeed very dangerous portents, which have exposed the vulnerabilities of the new political dispensation in Afghanistan.

Increased attacks by Taliban on government installations, their offensive to capture Afghan cities as well as the presence of IS in Afghanistan in the shape of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan are real threats to the Afghan government. There is a strong likelihood that Afghanistan might drift towards an unending conflict and struggle for ascendency among different power players after the departure of US-nATO troops. To prevent this horrible scenario from re-emerging, Ghani’s government has no alternative but to join hands with Pakistan in forestalling the impending disaster.

Similarly, Pakistan also is in desperate need of Afghan cooperation in taking the war on terror to its logical conclusion, implementing its economic initiatives including CPEC and achieving its strategic objectives in the region. China and US are equally concerned about the continued conflict in Afghanistan and the scourge of terrorism. The end of conflict in Afghanistan would also safeguard their strategic interests in the region and beyond.

Pakistan and Afghanistan cannot change the geographical and historical realities. Their destinies are interwoven with each other. The inevitability of them working together for peace is an undeniable proposition. Taliban also need to realise that Afghanistan and its people desperately need peace in the country and it was incumbent upon them to participate in the process of reconciliation in their own as well as the interest of the country.

The drawing of a realistic and flexible roadmap for bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table that broadly defines steps and phases for pursuing the defined objectives is of paramount importance.

Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com

THIS is in reference to reports about conference organised by Supreme Court Bar Association at lahore. The judiciary has a very different role to perform and its objective to deliver justice to victims of abuse by state or individuals is at variance with role of lawyers who are engaged even by criminals to protect them from punishments, relying often on technicalities for seeking delays. There are very few lawyers who have followed noble examples laid down by prominent icons like Quaid-eAzam Mohd Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal or even Mohandas Gandhi.

Where were all the prominent members of Bar when murderers of Shahzeb, Hamza etc were being facilitated and thousands of containers loaded with weapons went missing?

The whole country has seen the manner in which accused Ayyan Ali, caught red handed in smuggling of currency, has had her indictment delayed by her lawyers and the manner in which murder of Custom Officer has been sidelined. Hundreds of police officers have been killed in Karachi and minor children subjected to rape but not a single prominent lawyer with the support of Bar has been seen protecting weak or making an attempt to restore the rule of law in Pakistan. not a single high profile criminal involved in illegal occupation of state and private owned land has been convicted because of role of prominent lawyers charging exorbitant fee, paid from black money by these mafias.

When a former Chief Justice of Pakistan wanted to expedite trial of leading land mafia don in a case where thousands of acres of land belonged to Punjab government, he was rebuked, humiliated and even denied traditional farewell dinner; it amounted to taking law in your hand. This former Chief Justice was only trying to expedite delivery of justice because he believed that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’.

What action has Bar taken against few of their members who have assumed role of consiglieres for numerous criminal mafia dons and high profile white criminals who have done more harm to this country than our worst enemy?

ALI MALIK Lahore

Misplaced priorities PUnJAB Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that the nandipur power plant machinery had been lying at Karachi Port due to which the material got rusted while precious equipment were also stolen. nandipur power plant machinery is imported from China while lahore Metro bus, a fleet of 45 buses, is also imported from China. If those buses could land at Karachi Port and went to lahore, why didn’t Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also do the same for nandipur power plant machinery?

Either the CM’s priority is Metro bus or he wanted to complete this project when his brother Prime Minister Mian Muhammad nawaz Sharif was in power. If his focus had been to end load shedding, this project would have already been completed.

If the Punjab government had also made same efforts in the previous tenure, when they are main opposition party in the national Assembly, to build a solar park just like the one in Bahawalpur, many small solar parks could have been completed by now and today load shedding would have been reduced, if not totally ended.

GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN Karachi

PTI-Q vs PTI Ideological All of us that call ourselves ideological members of the party and true bearer of its ideology have to now prove that we can compete in a free and fair IPE and regain control of the party. That is only possible when we act on the ground and make as many new members as possible. Any hesitation or lack of activity will be costly. Our success in making new members will lay the foundation to compete against PTI-Q and ensure that our candidates win at all tiers of the organisation. The next intra-party election (IPE) will be between money of PTI-Q and junoon of PTI. PTI-Q has always mocked the junoon and said that money always trumps it.

They have also made remarks in private that junoon can be bought. now we have to prove that they are wrong and it is only junoon that can lead PTI to transform Pakistan into a progressive and prosperous country.

While all of you are busy in membership, we have been asking PTI EC to be more transparent in its operations. Here is an email I sent to them few days ago and their lack of response to answer these important questions will raise concerns. So I humbly request them to provide all this information.

Salam, Mr Tasneem noorani and members of PTI EC I congratulate all of you on starting the election process by dissolving the former unconstitutional interim organisers and launching the membership drive. One of the experience from last IPE was that the membership data was manipulated by certain individuals that had vested interest in the final outcome. The success of next IPE as a free and fair exercise will not just depend on outward but also inward transparency and accountability.

The key factor in any digitised election process is the authenticity of voters’ database and ensuring that no vested interest has access to it. It is with this perspective I request PTI EC to provide following information: 1. Who is the person responsible for database management? We would like to know their profile and it should be published on PTI web site. If you recall one of our party objections against Pakistan Election Commission was that nADRA collaborated with provincial election commissioner to manipulate voters list and based on that we have filed a petition for nA-122. Similar situation could arise in PTI IPE if the person responsible for database management is compromised.

2. list of people that have access to database especially those that have rights to edit and change entries. This list should be published at all times and if there is a change in it then everyone should be informed about it.

3. It is a usual practice in any digital system but I want to still confirm that every change in database should be time stamped both original and subsequent entries. Any lists provided for verification to districts must provide the time stamp information.

I hope PTI EC will provide this information at their earliest. We want to help in organising a free and fair IPE but it is only possible when PTI EC remains more open and collaborative.

ABDUL QUAYYUM KHAN KUNDI Islamabad

10 BUSINESS CORPORATE CORNER huawei mate 8 & huawei honor 5X launch schedule for Pakistan Disclosed LAHORE: Finally, the global technology master, Huawei has revealed the launch schedule of it two high technology marvelous smart phones for Pakistan, today.

High end, superior quality and remarkable flagship smart phone Mate 8 is going to be launched on 31st of this January. Alongside Huawei Mate 8, delicately stylish, metallic bodied and super cool Honor 5X will be on the stage. Huawei has justly combined the options for the customers so they may either get Huawei Mate 8 or Huawei Honor 5X. And it is to be admitted there would be customers who will go for the both handsets. Huawei Mate has large screen, offering clear and vibrant experience of colors and best quality of display. Mate 8 is a phablet that will satisfy the customers’ multipurpose requirements. It is smart phone with stylish looks and elegant in design on a hand. While on the other side Mate 8 has best chipset and combinations of high primary, secondary memory combinations, making applications running faster than ever experienced before in any smart device. Huawei has already offered pre-booking against the initial deposit of Rs. 5000/- to its customers amid a lot of surprise gifts and prizes. Huawei Mate 8 high version is available for pre-booking on Huawei brand shops for which Huawei has already gave the detail information yesterday in a press release. PRESS RELEASE

sNGPl suspends gas supply of consumer over tampered metre LAHORE: Shahzad Ahmad, In-charge Shahdara office SNGPL conducted a raid on a dying unit owned by Abdul Khalil in the locality of Rehmanabad, Thata Khudayar. It was found out that consumer was operating dying unit and boiler through a fake meter. Incharge Shahdara suspended the gas supply and removed the meter. F.I.R. has also been registered against the culprit.

SNGPL Sub Regional Office, Multan Road has been shifted to 76-J Block, Johar Town, Lahore, near Mughal Eye Hospital. Previously, it was situated at 20-West Wood Colony, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore. PRESS RELEASE

KARACHI: Meezan Bank and Karandaaz Pakistan have recently signed an MoU for conducting first of its kind study aimed at improving financial inclusion for unbanked population of the country. Picture shows Irfan Siddiqui, President & CEO Meezank Bank, Arshad Majeed, Group Head Payment Services, Khurram Shaikh, Head Branchless Banking and Danish Ahmed, Head Branchless Banking Operations; and from Karandaaz Pakistan - Imdad Aslam, Interim CEO, Director Digital Financial Services, Mr. Bilal Ali Qureshi, Associate Digital Financial Services and Ms. Samar Hasan, Senior Manager Knowledge Management and Communications. PR

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

WorlD stocKs resume slumP As oIl hIts NeW loW LONDON

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AGENCIES

lOBAl stocks suffered another rout Wednesday as oil prices slid to fresh 12-year lows under $28, heaping further pressure on financial markets from london and Paris to Russia and Shanghai.

Foreign exchange markets were shaken also, with the ruble falling to a historic low against the dollar. European equities were sliding by 3.0 per cent approaching midday, following similar falls across Asia – wiping out the previous day’s rally on hopes of Chinese stimulus. “It’s not a pretty sight (on stock markets) with every single sector in the red; only serving to prove that yesterday’s bounce was a short-lived relief rally,” said london Capital Group head analyst Brenda Kelly.

The International Monetary Fund’s announcement Tuesday that it had downgraded its global growth forecast for this year added to the sense of doom across trading floors.

On Wednesday, New York oil prices hit fresh 12-year lows below $28 a barrel owing largely to a glut of crude that is set to worsen as Iran pumps out extra barrels after the lifting of Western sanctions on Tehran.

The latest slump weighed on share prices of energy companies, while miners suffered also on generally weaker commodity markets. In london, Royal Dutch Shell shares were down 5.7 per cent, while among miners BHP Billiton shed 7.3 per cent.

Shell was hit also by the announcement

AIIB may co-finance projects with similar institutions: Dar ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) may co-finance some of its first projects with similar institutions, such as the Asian Development Bank. Talking to media in Beijing after attending the AIIB’s inaugural Board of Governors meeting, the minister said that some observers have described the AIIB and ADB as rivals, yet leaders of both banks have dismissed this idea. “In fact, we see it as having a complementary role,” a statement issue by the Ministry of Finance quoted Dar as saying. “It (AIIB) may fund projects alone, or it could co-finance them with other agencies, particularly the ADB, the minister added. He said that other donor agencies such as ADB had indicated that they would like to join the AIIB in co-financing infrastructure projects in the region. They have an active relationship he said, adding that this is also true for the World Bank. Dar said that the management of the longawaited AIIB was now working seriously on devising financing plans for the first projects and that he hoped that the projects in Pakistan would be among them. APP

SECP-ICAP joInt CommIttEE AgrEEd on AudIt ovErSIght frAmEwork KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The SECP-ICAP joint committee finalised the audit oversight framework to establish an audit oversight board (AOB) which will be operationally and financially independent of ICAP and SECP. Dr Tariq Hassan Advocate Supreme Court chaired sixth meeting of the SECPICAP joint committee at the ICAP Head Office, Karachi. The meeting was attended by Syed Shabbar Zaidi, Naeem Akhtar Sheikh, Asad Ali Shah and Shahid Hussain from ICAP and by Zafar Abdullah Commissioner, Ali Azeem Ikram Executive Director, Muzzaffar Ahmad Mirza Chief Prosecutor and Khalida Habib, Director from the SECP. As per the agreed framework, the Quality Assurance Board (QAB) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) shall continue to perform quality reviews of statutory auditors of public interest companies. The audit oversight board (AOB), to be established by the federal government, will oversee the functions of QAB. It was further agreed that the AOB will

also review the framework of QAB and may direct ICAP and/or QAB to make whatever changes that it considers necessary or expedient to carry out reviews and inspections of public interest companies in accordance with international standards and best practices.

An audit firm shall be entitled to be registered by AOB on the recommendation of QAB in accordance with the quality control review framework and AOB may require such further information as deemed necessary. All the firms having satisfactory rating at the time of promulgation of AOB law shall be deemed to be registered with AOB. It has further been agreed that the proposed board, which shall be operationally and financially independent of ICAP and SECP, shall also be empowered to deregister audit firms.

The committee carried out a detailed

study of the Japanese system of audit oversight framework, wherein the CPA Audit Oversight Board (CPAAOB), working under Japan’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) receives and examines reports of quality control review carried out by the Japanese Institute of CPA (JICPA) and, on the basis thereof, conducts onsite fieldwork at the JICPA, audit firms and related locations.

It may be pointed out that the Japanese system of audit oversight is compliant with the principles of International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR) and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). These principles have been referred to by the committee as its guiding principles for achieving its TORs. The committee is expected to submit report of its recommendations to the ICAP Council in two weeks’ time.

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plunge of the Russian currency in December 2014. The worsening economic outlook amid falling oil prices presents a serious challenge for President Vladimir Putin, whose pact with voters has been based on years of economic stability and relative prosperity.

Meanwhile in Asian trading on Wednesday, Shanghai’s main stocks index swung in and out of positive territory before ending the day one per cent lower.

The losses were characteristic of the start to a year that has seen world markets slump, wiping trillions off valuations. With Chinese New Year celebrations approaching, China’s central bank pledged $91 billion in funding support for lenders to provide sufficient liquidity as demand for cash surges.

that it expects a sharp decline in full-year net profits, as plunging oil prices slash the earnings of leading energy companies.

The Anglo Dutch group forecast profit after tax of between $1.6 billion and $2.0 billion during 2015. This compares with net profit of almost $15 billion in 2014.

Crude futures have lost three quarters of their value since mid-2014, hit by a perfect storm of a supply glut, weak demand, a slowing global economy and a strong dollar.

The slump in prices has slashed income also for oil producing countries within and outside OPEC. On Wednesday, the dollar climbed past the psychological threshold of 80.10 rubles for the first time, past levels seen at the shock

New reservoir of oil, gas discovered in KP KARACHI: A new reservoir of oil and gas has been discovered in Hangu district of KhyberPakhtunkhwa on Wednesday.

This reserve has been discovered by Mol Pakistan.

Earlier, this company had successfully discovered oil and gas reserves in Manzalai, Makori, Mamikhel, Maramzai, Makori East and Tolanj areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In order to reach oil and gas reserves in this well, 4,912 meters of digging in the earth was done by the company. Primary results are that the well is producing 3,440 barrels of crude oil and 56 million cubic feet of gas. According to the experts, new discoveries of oil and gas reserves will lead to lesser imports of petroleum products and will save Pakistan s precious foreign reserves. STAFF REPORT

Major Gainers ComPAny Ghandhara Ind. Abbott Lab. Biafo Ind. Atlas Honda Ltd Sanofi-Aventis

oPEn 417.50 580.00 271.99 382.50 650.00

hIgh 439.84 610.00 272.58 383.90 650.00

Low 413.00 580.00 268.05 360.10 649.50

CLoSE 439.67 600.09 272.58 383.90 650.00

ChAngE 20.77 13.69 12.98 10.80 10.00

turnovEr 269,600 16,600 20,100 4,100 550

1145.00 879.99 698.00 541.50 610.00

1093.63 836.00 632.70 541.50 573.00

1100.76 837.89 632.70 541.50 577.00

-47.24 -34.11 -33.30 -28.50 -23.00

69,850 2,600 200 50 200

22.08 27.30 83.69 16.60 112.99

21.15 26.55 80.40 15.90 109.01

21.42 26.83 82.23 16.18 109.84

0.20 -0.66 0.63 -0.63 -2.90

11,054,500 8,864,000 8,192,000 5,247,000 4,963,900

Major Losers Ferozsons (Lab) Exide (PAK) Sapphire Fiber Bhanero Tex. Shezan Inter.

1140.00 879.99 698.00 541.50 610.00

Volume Leaders Sui North Gas TRG Pak Ltd MapleLeafCement Byco Petroleum Fauji Fert.

21.16 27.00 80.90 16.60 112.99

Interbank Rates USD GBP JPY EURO

PKR 104.9261 PKR 148.5228 PKR 0.8996 PKR 114.6632

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

Buy

SELL

152 116.5 106.4 73.5 73 0.88 28.25 29.05 15.85

152.7 117 106.65 74.05 73.45 0.91 28.4 29.2 16

BUSINESS 11

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

Pc appoints advisers for divestment of slIc, privatisation of sme bank ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission (PC) has appointed financial advisers for the divestment of State life Insurance Corporation (SlIC) and for the privatisation of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Bank limited. According to a press release issued by the Privatisation Commission, the decision was taken during the Board meeting of the commission which was chaired by Mohammad Zubair, Chairman Privatization Commission. The Board appointed the consortium of Habib Bank limited (HBl), Bank Alfalah limited (BAFl), Arif Habib limted (AHl) and Elixir Securities Pakistan Private limited as lead manager and book runner for divestment of up to 15 per cent stakes in the State life Insurance Corporation (SlIC). The Board also approved to appoint a consortium of Elixir Securities and Bridgefactor as financial adviser for the privatisation of SME Bank.

The Board also agreed to proceed with submitting a proposal to the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP) to include Industrial Development Bank limited (IDBl) in the privatisation programme.

Referring to the request from the ministry of petroleum to delist Pak Arab Refinery Company (PARCO) from the privatisation programme, the members unanimously agreed to refer the matter to the cabinet committee on privatisation (CCoP) who had approved the listing of PARCO and therefore should also be the authority to take the decision of delisting it. The Board also agreed to do an external legal review of the agreement with the consortium that had been hired for the privatisation of Multan Electricity Supply Company (MEPCO) and Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (PEPCO), as one of the companies in the consortium had informed that their operations in Pakistan closed down, hence they could not complete their advisory services as part of the signed agreement. ONLINE

BAlANce of PAymeNts DefIcIt shrINKs By 94 Per ceNt KARACHI

t

ARShAd huSSAIN

HE country’s balance of payments (BoP) deficit further shrank by 94 per cent to negative $1.267 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year (2015-16) compared to negative $2.363 billion during the same period last year.

However, the country’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at $147.580 billion in July-December 2015-16 compared to $135.228 billion during the same period last year, data released by State Bank of Pakistan revealed on Wednesday.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

has forecast Pakistan’s GDP growth at around 4.0-4.5 per cent in the current fiscal year owing to low prices of oil in the international market.

During last six months the country’s exports have been reduced by 14.40 per cent to $10.822 billion in the last six months (July-Dec) from $12.164 billion in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the country’s imports after falling by 7.86 per cent stood at $22.246 billion in July-Dec this year compare to $24.145 billion in the same period last year.

Services sector’s export also declined by 5.3 per cent to $2.767 billion against its imports of $3.784 billion.

Overseas Pakistani workers remitted $9.736 billion in the first six months

with a growth of 6.26 per cent compared with $9.162 billion received during the same period in the preceding year. During December 2015, the inflow of workers’ remittances amounted to $1.637 billion, which is 2.84 per cent higher compared with November 2015.

“IMF’s loans, country’s remittances and some cash crops have supported Pakistan’s economy in the last six months,” said an analyst of a brokerage house. “Otherwise, there is neither new industry set up nor any new investment received from abroad during the last few months,” he added. The foreign investors of Pakistani bourses are withdrawing their investment because of uncertainty in the local markets, he said.

A surplus in current account means

deal with Qatar for import of Lng not finalised yet, nA told

Netflix membership climbs with global growth SAN FRANSISCO AGENCIES

Naved Qamar denies role in Kse crash ISLAMABAD: Former finance minister Syed Naveed Qamar has rejected allegations of his alleged role in the Karachi Stock Exchange crash. In a press statement, Qamar said that in the last couple of days a news story was appearing in a section of media alleging his role in the crash of Karachi Stock exchange during his tenure as federal finance minister in 2008.

He claimed that the allegation was baseless and a figment of someone’s imagination.

Neither did he has the authority nor did he give illegal approval of a right issue to anyone, he said. PRESS RELEASE

savings exceeding investment while a low current account deficit means savings are marginally less than investment, the analyst said. A surplus or low deficit may not always be a sign of economic strength, he added.

He said that that Pakistan’s savings rate is not only low and stagnant but it is lower than its South Asian neighbours. Thus, a surplus or low current account deficit, by definition, suggests that Pakistan’s investment rate is also low and hence economic growth is not only low but it is stagnant as well.

Total investment declined by 50.2 per cent to $864 million during the period while direct investment increased by 2.2 per cent to $624 million in the last six months.

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that the ultimate deal had not been finalised with Qatar for import of lNG. The lower House of the parliament was also informed that 67 new oil and gas discoveries were made and 46 new leases for exploration had been granted during the tenure of the present government.

Parliamentary Secretary for Pe-

troleum and Natural Resources Shahzadi Umarzadi Tiwana told the House during question hour that 560 mmcfd of gas had been added to the system besides an increase of 27,000 barrels in the country’s oil production during this period.

She said that TAPI gas pipeline, which would be cheaper, is expected to be completed in 2019. She said that work would be expedited on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project after lifting of sanctions against Tehran. She said that lNG is also

being imported from Qatar and its price would be very viable.

Replying to a question, the parliamentary secretary said that regasified lNG is being supplied to textile sector in Punjab since the last week of December to help meet shortage of gas. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad told the House that the road section from Chakdara to MingoraFatehpur was being rehabilitated through financing of the Saudi Development Fund.

Netflix on Tuesday reported that it remained profitable and added a record number of new subscribers in the final quarter of last year as it pushed to expand globally. Netflix shares jumped more than 6 per cent to $115.20 after revealing that its ranks of members has topped 75 million and that it made a profit of $43m in the final quarter of last year. Northern California-based Netflix added a record 5.59m members in the final three months of last year, topping market forecasts. Netflix said its total membership eclipsed 75m just hours after the end of the official close of the quarter, and that it expected to add a total of 6.1m members in the first three months of this year. Netflix reported net income of $43m in the quarter despite “foreign exchange headwinds” brought on by a strong US dollar and money poured into expanding to nearly every country but China. The streaming television pioneer announced early this month that it had significantly expanded its global footprint to 190 countries, making its Internet TV service available in 130 new markets including Pakistan ─ but not China.

Netflix, which began as a mail-order DVD service but is now producing awardwinning original content alongside its offering of older shows and movies, launched in 2007.

PrIvAtE ComPAnIES’ EmPLoyEES StoCk oPtIon PLAnS

FAISAL ZAmAN AdvOCATE PARt 2 In part 1, we discussed how Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOP) evolved as a corporate incentive for employees. In this part, we will get into the nitty-gritty of ESOPs. ESOP is designed on the principles of partnership. The employees, by nature of their contractual status, are not members of the company and cannot usually participate in the profits or affairs of the company.

ESOPs provide an opportunity, an exception so to speak, for the employees to be part of the company as any other shareholder while simultaneously retaining their status and legal character as an employee.

ESOPs allow the employee to wear two hats at the same time. An employee member continues to draw salary and perks and will also have the additional right to receive share of profits of the company.

The principal objectives of an ESOP are to (a) attract, retain and motivate talented and critical employees (b) compensate for low salaries and relieve pressure

on cash flows (c) encourage employees to align individual performance with company objectives (d) improve communication within the different tiers of the organization (e) increase employee job satisfaction (f) reward employee performance with ownership in proportion to their contribution (g) align employee interest with those of the organisation and (h) encourage employees to create share market value. It is important to point out that public sector enterprises in Pakistan are following Employee Stock Option Schemes to encourage employee participation.

The allotment of shares under a contract of service is permissible under section 73 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 provided the provisions of section 86 thereof, when applicable, are fulfilled.

The contract of service should be made into writing and properly stamped. The registrar of companies is authorised to examine the said contract to ensure that the shares were lawfully allotted.

The shareholders of a company must approve an ESOP for its employees. This has to be done in view of the mandatory requirements prescribed under section 86 (issue of further shares) of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 read with the Companies (Issue of Capital) Rules 1996 and Companies Share Capital (Variation in Rights and Privileges) Rules 2000. For compliance purposes a resolution approving the ESOP must be passed by the shareholders wherein, as per present regulatory regime, they have to waive their

respective rights to accept any further shares so issued under the ESOP. This information must be filed before the SECP as well. This is a routine matter. The employment contract may be drafted or amended accordingly.

ESOP must provide whether the option is available to all the employees or a select group of employees according to an eligibility criterion (tenure based, performance based or experience based). The price at which the option shall be exercised must be predetermined. The period(s) in which this option shall vest (“Vesting Schedule”) in the employee must be clearly defined.

Timeframe within which the employee must exercise the option should also be mentioned. The lock in period where the employees would be restrained from disposing off/selling the option before the expiry of a certain period of time and the claw back clauses should also be included.

An Administrative Committee formed by the company oversees the application and enforcement of the ESOP. It would be appropriate to add a word of caution here. We must point out that the ESOP will place the employee at par in some matters with the original shareholders. Under the ESOP the employee member may have a right to vote, inspect accounts and there is even a possibility that they may as a minority shareholder seek regulatory action against the company/management. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that an ESOP must be drafted carefully not allowing any trans-

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gression on the rights of the investors of the company. These investors have invested in the capital of the company and are legally entitled to receive due returns on their investments, elect directors and ensure the affairs of the company are managed properly. Moreover, it must be ensured that ESOP covers those exceptional cases where the employee members may create unnecessary impediments in the operations and affairs of the company. Furthermore, restrictions on employee members on transfer of shares must be put in place. lower thresholds may be preferred so that influence of original shareholders is not diluted or compromised. ESOP must also cater for cases where an employee member is removed or dismissed from service on disciplinary grounds.

It is encouraging to note that the SECP in its draft of the new proposed company law has added a specific clause about ESOPs. It is desirable that exemption provided to public companies from application of section 86, may also be added in the new law for the convenience of private companies and their employees. We can follow the examples set in many developed corporate jurisdictions.

A peek into our neighbouring India’s company law reveals that the law on private companies’ employee stock options is very clear and the regulator there has vigorously promoted this idea.

In Pakistan, there is a visible growth in adopting the corporate structure for

business and other commercial purposes.

However, we have seen that majority of individuals who form companies are, more often than we’d like, ignorant about the recognised corporate practices, ethics and principles. These companies are registered as corporate enterprises on paper only as they lack a vibrant corporate structure. The result is that such companies underperform as they are unable to tap the potential a corporate business structure offers to its shareholders, investors and stakeholders.

It is believed that an ESOP, if properly managed, can be a lucrative investment opportunity. ESOPs have played an instrumental role in attracting and retaining top executives as well as non-executive employees. There is a massive opportunity at hand for our corporate players especially those who are competing globally. Companies engaged in IT, telecommunications, financial, retail and service sectors can benefit immensely by introducing ESOPs for their employees.

It is indeed the right time to study and understand the benefits ESOPs offer in terms of employee satisfaction and participation, which ultimately translates into company profits. Our corporate sector must transform itself, remove age old barriers and motivate employees to work hand in hand for a common cause.

The writer is a Lahore based corporate lawyer and can be contacted at faisalzamanadv@gmail.com

12 WORLD VIEW

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

Is AmerIcA reAdy for A multIpolAr world?

NaTioNal iNTeresT mathew buRRows aNd RogeR geoRge

By 2025, the international system will be a global multipolar one.” That is the forecast of the 2008 volume of the U.S. National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends series— a forecast that still seems correct today.

Provocatively, that volume warned that “we cannot rule out a 19th century-like scenario of arms races, territorial expansion, and military rivalries.” At the time, many senior U.S. policymakers dismissed it and other, even earlier, warnings as just another worst-case “guesstimate,” the kind intelligence analysts love to produce. Where the intelligence community can be faulted is in thinking that multipolarity wouldn’t happen as quickly as it did.

Hearing many presidential candidates today, it is as if we never left the unipolar moment. The challenge now is to alter our mind-set, which seems trapped in the amber of America’s “exceptionalist” tradition and “indispensable” role. U.S. leadership will have to be honest with the public about the country’s more limited influence and need for strategic restraint. It will take a remarkable and brave president to rightsize America’s goals, in order to reflect our more limited resources and rising competition from China, Russia and other powers.

Other great powers—China and Russia, particularly—don’t necessarily share American values, nor do they credit the United States with running a liberal international order. On the contrary, they hold radically different notions about how international relations should be conducted. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s comment regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s worldview—he’s “living in another world”—points to the growing gaps with non-Western powers.

In the post–Cold War era, the United States got used to being, as the French noted, “the hyperpower” that made the rules. And for a while in the 1990s, globalization really did appear to mean Westernization, as the number of democracies exploded, China joined the WTO and Russia was invaded by Western consultants telling Moscow how to reform its econ-

omy and democratize.

Americans can perhaps be forgiven for being irrepressible optimists about the virtues of free-market democracies. But such a universalism of values never existed, and has has fallen by the wayside in the early twenty-first century, in which conflict and extremism—particularly in the Middle East— are on the upswing.

Mind-sets, however, rarely evolve as quickly as events. The key is to adapt to new economic and political realities without appearing weak.

Conceptually, it is hard to draw lessons for America’s new path from previous historical periods. Nineteenth-century Europe was the classical multipolar system in international relations theory, but that system was never global. Today’s world is far more chaotic, because it’s no longer just a world of states.

Instead of the diplomats meeting in Vienna or Versailles to redraw nineteenth- and early twentieth-century borders, there are new actors like ISIS—a ragtag crew of former Al Qaeda adherents and anti-regime nihilists—who have singlehanded overturned the Arab state system founded by the post–World War I Sykes-Picot agreements. Even those authoritarians who are by definition state-centric—such as Russia and China—are forced to muzzle domestic movements and boot out international NGOs for fear that these ideas can mobilize the public against them.

The new, more complicated global landscape requires a new American game plan. The United States’ big advantage is that it remains a “full-service” global power, with an economic, diplomatic, cultural and, of course, military toolkit second to none. China can boast of its growing economic clout and an increasing regional military presence, but despite its growing soft power in Africa and Latin America, it has increasingly

TAKING BACK DELHI'S STREETS BloomBerg ChaNdRahas ChoudhuRy

For the last several weeks, no topic in India’s capital dominated drawing-room couches, newspaper columns and social media as much as the Delhi government’s stricture limiting the use of private cars to an “oddeven” schedule between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., six days a week.

Now that the ambitious 15-day pilot project has drawn to a close, Delhiites are realizing that they've accomplished something substantial through collective action, and that the rebalancing of the most vital urban space -- the street -- away from the dominance of the car has made for a better city for all.

To be sure, the jury remains out on whether the quality of Delhi’s notoriously noxious air has improved because of the temporary rules. But the experiment has generated numerous other positive effects, not least of which is the reintegration of drivers with the much bigger community of citizens who step out every morning into the war zone that is rush-hour Delhi.

Naysayers who thought mass dissension would bring the scheme down from day one have been proved wrong. Compliance was widespread -- perhaps because of the $30 fine levied on violators, but also because of an intensive public-relations campaign by the Delhi government. A widely played television-andradio spot featured Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal telling citizens, “We can all get together to make a better Delhi" and suggesting that offenders should be “rebuked gently and lovingly.” Part of the problem one day, car users became part of the solution the next.

To both pedestrian and motorist, the streets of Delhi in the last fortnight have at times felt like a set on a period film, although the age being evoked was only the end of the 20th century. (Car ownership in the capital has tripled in the last 15 years, to about 2.8 million vehicles today.) And the time-travel works both ways. By returning temporarily to a more benign age, Delhiites have also been able to imagine how dystopian the future will be if present trends are allowed to continue.

India is now home to 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world, so it’s clear that the country’s urbanization is set on a completely unsustainable course. The Delhi government’s new policy is the first major effort by an Indian government to counter more than three decades of negative externalities generated by a combination of rising car ownership and a car-centric transport policy.

Consider the facts. Roads already make up more than 20 per cent of Delhi’s area -- a larger proportion than most world capitals.

Yet every day, more than 1,000 new cars arrive to make their claims on those roads, thereby making travel times ever slower not just for existing car owners but for those who use public transport (a few years ago, Delhi discontinued its experiment with a Bus Rapid Transport corridor). Use of the city’s road space is now deeply iniquitous, with cars accounting, by one estimate, for 80 per cent of the road space but only 20 per cent of road users.

In fact, cars have more natural rights and privileges in India than most human beings.

Municipal parking charges continue to be a pittance -- 10 rupees (about 15 cents) for two to four hours in most public parking lots. The lanes of most residential neighborhoods have been claimed as free parking spots, and increasingly, they are clogged by “visiting” cars, using them to bypass congestion on thoroughfares. More than half of Delhi’s residents live within 500 meters of a road and so even those who have nothing to do with cars find them perpetually assailing their lungs -- and ears. The most pervasive sound in the Indian city today is not the street-vendor’s cry but the deeply unpleasant blare of the car horn. A fog of incivility obscures and degrades much that is vibrant about the city.

If India’s transport policymakers and car owners deserve to be cut some slack, it’s because few countries have moved as swiftly from automobile scarcity to saturation than India, or have invested so much emotional capital in car ownership. It was only about 30 years ago that cars first came within reach of India’s middle-class, and ever since car ownership has come to be the universally agreed marker -parked outside the house so that all may see it -- of middle-class solidity and virtue.

Today the oddly moving love of Indians for their cars is second perhaps only to that of Americans. It's clear that wherever incomes rise rapidly -- as they have in Delhi, now the Indian state with the highest per capita income -- car ownership will rise too and cannot be curtailed, for it's almost an economic rite of passage.

Car use, on the other hand, must be much more strictly regulated, or else made to bear the costs it imposes on other commuters and on the environment. Delhi’s odd-even policy is only one of many nudges from a higher authority that will be needed in the near future to get urban Indians to appreciate this necessary distinction.

alienated its neighbors with its growing assertiveness. Russia retains its nuclear status, and is increasingly cooperating with China on developing the Eurasian heartland while its economy languishes from low energy prices, corruption and lack of investment in human capital. Europe’s increasing soft power may have seemed a key strength, but the double blow of the Euro crisis and now the migrant problem has kept it preoccupied at home.

All of this suggests that the United States can carve out a role as the global trendsetter. While there is no hegemonic force to shape the global system, nor an obvious consensus on what kind of new world order should be established, there is an increasing competition for influence and commanding ideas that should play to American strengths. Poll after poll demonstrates that Americans remain largely well-liked throughout the world despite, such mistakes as the invasion of Iraq. American universities are a mecca for the best students from China and elsewhere.

The United States has to be careful, though, in treating others as pariahs. Most other states—including even Russia and Iran—want to be on good terms even if they don’t share our values or interests.

Americans must forego the tendency to reject international initiatives that are “not invented here.” One lesson from China recently establishing the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank is that it is better for the United States to participate in others’ initiatives, in order to have some influence over the evolving global order. Americans cannot expect that every good idea will emanate from Washington, or that U.S. rejection of a non-American proposal will doom

it. Carrots might work better than sticks; instead of trying to divide and conquer or keeping down the rising powers, America should pursue inclusive solutions to global challenges.

To be the global trendsetter requires patience— something American decision makers generally lack.

Overcoming our natural impatience and playing the long game may be the best offense. After all, it’s still the most democratic age, and the Russian and Chinese governments are likely to face increasing pressures from below for more accountable and representative government. One might recall the logic from the containment policy’s early years: preserving the West’s cohesion and character would lead the Soviet system to be toppled by its own internal contradictions. That same logic may now apply to America’s long game against autocratic state capitalism. However, this will require more consensus at home and presenting a better face to the rest of the world. The increasing partisanship and dysfunction that now typify Washington have even our friends scratching their heads. We need to go back to being the model of good government and practical common sense.

In many ways, the best historical lessons are the ones we taught ourselves in creating a new global order after World War II. We won the Cold War because our allies’ interests became our own, and because we set out to solve our own problems by helping others solve theirs—namely, the Communist threat. We found common ground even when there were disagreements. The global commons is now much more diverse, requiring American diplomatic dexterity in dealing with those who do not necessarily share our values, but who share our concerns about terrorism, proliferation, climate change and failing states. Setting the global agenda in ways that are inclusive—an international order not solely “made in America”—will mark Washington’s successful transition from a status quo power to one that will lead the world to a new equilibrium.

Mathew Burrows is the former Counselor at the National Intelligence Council and Roger George is a former National Intelligence Officer.

David Cameron must not follow France by alienating Muslims Telegraph, UK Nabila RamdaNi

The bombing of Libya in 2011 has proved to be a disaster. David Cameron rushed into war alongside French president Nicolas Sarkozy, so paving the way for a Muslim country that was increasingly doing business with the UK to collapse into bloody chaos.

“It’s great to be in free Libya,” Mr Cameron announced as he took part in a victory parade in Benghazi with Mr Sarkozy following the death of the erstwhile dictator, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Five years on, so-called Islamic State controls large swathes of Libya, just 300 miles across the Mediterranean from the European Union.

Now Mr Cameron is once again taking Mr Sarkozy’s lead as he steps up his war against Muslims – domestic ones this time, rather than those living abroad. The Prime Minister is displaying all the vindictiveness of the diminutive Frenchman as, with sly rhetoric, he focuses on the alleged inadequacies of vulnerable communities.

Among his most alarming measures is a warning to Muslim women that they will be deported from the UK if their English is not up to scratch. The language teaching budget has been cut from £45m, but there will be £20m left to instruct these women in a tongue that will help them resist the lure of extremism, is Mr Cameron’s tortured logic.

Mr Cameron concedes there is no “causal connection” between poor English and jihadism, but he chooses to highlight one anyway, arguing that language lessons will make Muslim communities “more resilient” to radicalisation.

These are just the kind of weasel words that informed Mr Sarkozy’s French “national identity” debate during his single

term as president between 2007 and 2012. The notoriously reactionary politician joined with the far-Right Front National in portraying some five million Muslims as an enemy within. Never mind that only a tiny minority was drawn to extremist groups – the idea was that all had to be viewed as inarticulate aliens involved in anti-social activities, up to and including terrorism.

The centrepiece of the French anti-Muslim manifesto was the socalled burka ban: a highly publicised prohibition aimed at criminalising women who cover their faces in public. The objective was to use a few hundred full-veil wearers – mainly converts living on housing estates – to stigmatise all Muslims, no matter what their background.

Mr Cameron is also backing the banning of some veils to conveniently coincide with his counter-terrorism offensive. There is zero evidence that women’s fashion choices are linked to violence, but by again suggesting that they might be, the desired effect is achieved. (Mr Sarkozy once despairingly claimed that burkas could hide explosives – as if suicide bombers were unable to disguise devices with ordinary jackets or coats, which have never faced a ban).

The burka ban, combating poor English skills and a crackdown on gender segregation are all neatly mixed up with a wider security threat. This appeals to base instincts, and especially to those harbouring religious and racist bigotry. Thus, it is Sarkozy-style propaganda – rather than anything else more substantive – that attracts Mr Cameron.

The truth is that all kinds of behaviour can be considered menacing by those with an agenda, and that loaded government policy is seldom needed to sort out minor problems. A judge can easily ask a woman to remove her veil as a

matter of respect, for example, without making a legal issue of it.

Similarly, eastern European Catholics from countries like Poland; Russian Orthodox oligarch families; and other Christians from places like Iraq and Lebanon are among a wide range of groups firmly settled in Britain who might struggle with the English language.

British Muslims with poor linguistic skills need as much help as any of them, without being turned into hate figures.

Both Mr Cameron and Mr Sarkozy are ultimately PR operators – men who offer soundbites to express prejudices, creating tensions that might be turned into electoral advantage. So it was that Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, has accused Mr Cameron of a “clumsy and simplistic approach to challenging extremism” that “is unfairly stigmatising a whole community”.

The French establishment has a long and disturbing history of targeting Muslim citizens from its former colonies. Despite the secular nature of a society that is not meant to distinguish between races, creeds and colours, differences among the French are constantly highlighted for political purposes. In contrast, Britain’s tradition is of tolerance and respect. It does not tend to cynically blow up debates about how people lead their lives into something far more sinister.

As Mr Sarkozy found out when he was rejected from office, the result of his domestic policies was more radicalism, just as military offensives in the affairs of sovereign states led to more horrors.

In this sense Mr Cameron should be made aware that alienating and humiliating religious groups can be as dangerously irresponsible as trying to bomb your way to “freedom”.

13

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

ARTS

Ghulam ali to make actinG debut with bollywood film

SHEHRYAR TASEER After the SC dismissed him, the coward Qadri is now looking for a presidential pardon. Looks very scared 4 some1 who thinks he is heaven bound

FAISAL QURESHI TV Plays of today, are responsible for destroying Pakistan's future social fabric. perpetual reinforcement of shit values & misery. *&^$*#@

MUMTAZ HAYAT MANEKA Supporters of terrorists are far dangerous than terrorists themselves... The country should first get rid of ideloligcal terrorism.

P

AKISTAN’S legendary ghazal singer Ghulam Ali, whose performances in India were marred, last year by Shiv Sena threats, is now geared to make his acting debut with Hindi feature film Ghar Wapsi.

Directed by Suhaib Ilyasi, the film will also feature Ghulam Ali singing the Indian patriotic song of the same name. The ghazal singer is in New Delhi to dub his portion of the film.

“If I keep on doing this for three to four more days, I can be a (professional) actor. I guess singing is very easy,” Ghulam Ali, who seemed to be extremely excited during the dubbing, quipped during an interaction with IANS. He also showcased his singing prowess in between dubbing, and shared that he took up the acting assignment for Suhaib, whom he considers as a

“younger brother”.

The ghazal maestro has enthralled fans across the globe with his baritone voice, and just last week, he was in Kolkata where he performed three months

after the cancellation of his concert in Mumbai.

In Ghar Wapsi, he has also contributed to song Apni Mitti Ki Khushboo Hain Rago Mein Yeh Basi Hai…Choomenge Isko Shaan

Se. Humko Toh Pyaara Hain Yeh Watan, Apni Jaan Se. The film stars Alok Nath, Farida Jalal, Reema Lagoo, Deepak Tijori and Zarina Wahab, and apart from Ghulam Ali it also includes the work of singers Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam and Shaan.

Ghulam Ali will head to Mumbai on January 29 for the music launch of the film, which is both produced and directed by Suhaib of India’s Most Wanted fame.

He hopes the event goes smoothly. “I hope the Ghar Wapsi music launch will be smooth and successful without any hiccups,” said Suhaib adding that “India and Pakistan’s relations are improving”.

“Both the country’s governments and prime ministers are politically inclined to bring people of the two nations closer. Music, art and culture play a pivotal role in mending ties,” he further said. Agencies

MANGOBAAZ Pakistani media fumbled as usual. Not even this many terrorist attacks taught them a thing or two about sensitivity/triggers. #Charsadda

HADIQA KIANI Once again all most of us can do is hashtag and pray and feel helpless, when will this insanity end

Sonu Nigam sings 30,000 feet in the air Passengers of a flight on which singer Sonu Nigam was travelling witnessed a heart warming moment when the singer chose to sing for them upon request. Sonu didn’t need a stage or mic to perform. He took the in-flight intercom and did a live gig for his eager audience, singing his famous song Do pal ruka khwaabon ka kaarvan from the 2004 film VeerZaara. Passengers were ecstatic; some even joined the singer during his performance. We must say we are impressed by how amazing his voice sounds at an altitude of several thousand feet! The singer definitely won everyone’s hearts with this sweet gesture. Agencies

Will be happy to work with Sunny Leone: Aamir Khan Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan stepped up to Sunny Leone’s defence, saying he would love to work with her, while commending her conduct of “grace and dignity” during a recent cringe-worthy interview with CNN-IBN. Khan was among countless other celebrities extended their support to Sunny, who happens to be a former porn star – as fact CNN-IBN anchor Bhupendra Chaubey was intent on discussing.

In the interview, the journalist asked whether a megastar like Aamir would want to work with her, considering her background in pornography, and if she would want to work with him knowing that he “probably” wouldn’t.

The Jism 2 actor took the questions like a good sport and remained calm.

Her graceful demeanour and spirit impressed Khan so much

that the PK star took to social media to laud her and give his full support. “I think Sunny conducted herself with a lot of grace and dignity

Will Parineeti Chopra return from her hiatus with a ‘Dhoom’?

Parineeti Chopra got into shape, and fast. Was she motivated by the chance to bag the (questionably) coveted role that is a Dhoom girl?

According to Filmfare, rumour has it that the 27year-old actress has been roped in for the fourth instalment of the Yash Raj Films’ franchise. Parineeti was last seen in Ali Zafar-starrer, Kill Dil (2014), where she played quite feisty lass – but is she cut out for a spot of action if the role demands it? It definitely seems like it.

Parineeti made headlines last month when she showed off her svelte figure in a fitness-themed photo shoot: It’s clear that she’s now at par with previous Dhoom girls like Esha Deol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Bipasha Basu and Katrina Kaif.

If the news is true, 2015 has been a good break for Parineeti, for she’ll now have the chance to star opposite Bollywood’s Greek god, Hrithik Rsohan, who is also rumoured to return to the series as the bad guy! Agencies

ZEB’S SOUL IN HO MANN JAHAAN EntErtAInMEnt DEsk Zebunnisa Bangash a.k.a Zeb has mesmerized music lovers with her songs in ‘Ho Mann Jahaan‘ starring Shehriyar Munawwar, Adeel Hussain and Mahira Khan. Zeb not only sang and produced three songs but also worked on the background score of the film.

The song “Man ke Jahaan”’ is groovy and dreamy, a modern song of hope, that perfectly captures, the mood of the film. “Dil Pagla”’ is an upbeat and playful number that beautifully uses western and folk textures in a Pakistani pop sensibility.

In this song Zeb’s maturity as a singer and her unique and melodious voice is showcased. Lastly “Dosti” is a contemporary rendition of Zohaib and Nazia Khan’s 90s cult classic interpreted in a funky groove. Zeb’s versatility and the ease with which she moves through genres and vocal styles in this soundtrack are remarkable and something that sets her apart not only from female singers but also male vocalists in the country today. Talking

in this interview. I wish I could have said the same about the interviewer.

“And yes Sunny, I will be happy to work with you. I have absolutely no problems with your ‘past’, as the interviewer puts it. Stay blessed.

Cheers. Aamir,” the actor posted on his Facebook page.

He shared the same post on Twitter.

Sunny acknowledged Aamir’s support with a re-tweet, which read: “I think my heart just dropped seeing this!

Thank you so much for the support. It means the world and beyond to me.”

Upon reading Aamir’s tweet on showing interest in working with her, the actor was overjoyed. Agencies

about her experience, Zeb said: “It feels great to be part of the revival of Pakistani cinema ‘.The fact that Asim had faith in me to translate his vision into a range of sounds and moods really helped me explore different musical ideas. I am really grateful to all the fans that are loving the songs and sending out rave reviews! Love you all.”

Zeb burst into the music scene as the lead singer and co-composer of Zeb and Haniya, a duo she created with her cousin. Their original songs gained them much popularity and critical acclaim including a feature in TIME magazine. Since then she has been growing continuously as an artist. As a singer, songwriter and music producer with a truly global sensibility, Zeb has the talent to learn and draw from music across the globe. In particular, she feels an affinity with music from the Central Asian and Persian regions. Zeb’s proficiency and comfort with singing in various languages such as Dari, Pashto, Turkish, Balochi, Siraiki, Urdu, and Punjabi has also helped her connect very intimately with the widespread de-

mographic of her fans. From being invited as one of the celebrity guests on the most famous television show in Afghanistan, ‘Afghan Star’ to her musical collaborations on Pakistan’s premier music show ‘Coke Studio’, Zeb has won both critical acclaim and the popular virility on the digital sphere.

Zeb and Haniya’s extremely successful collaboration with Bollywood musical heavyweights Shantanu Moitra and Swanand Kirkire, for the Cannes Film Award winning TV series ‘Dewarists’, led to Zeb’s playback singing Bollywood debut with the film ‘Madras Café’ song titled “Jaise Milein Ajnabee” This was soon followed by her playback for A R Rahman’s “Sooha Saaha” in the film ‘Highway.’

Some of Zeb’s other recent work has been for movie Bin Roye’s OST titled “Maula Maula” with legendary Abida Parveen, cinematic biopic Manto’s most catchy song titled “Kya hoga” where she collaborated with singer Ali Sethi, and OST of popular TV drama serial Diyar-e-Dil with Momin Durrani.

CMYK

Where there’s Tere Bin Laden, there’s Ali Zafar MUMBAI Agencies

Ali Zafar, who played the lead character in the 2010 comedy hit, Tere Bin Laden, will once again be seen in a special guest appearance in its sequel, Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive. The first instalment saw Ali as an ambitious journalist who duped the media through a fabricated video of Osama Bin Laden. The sequel, however, depicts the story of a Delhi-based film-maker eager to execute a big film project with his father. “The journey of Ali’s character from the first film has been completed and this film is about the character of Sharma, played by Manish Paul,” said director Abhishek Sharma at the trailer launch. “In this film, Ali has a very special role. When you watch the film, you will understand why he couldn’t do the main role,” he added. “I think the trailer has given enough hints, if you can identify them. Only Ali could’ve played this special role and I don’t think he could’ve played what Manish is playing.

The answer lies in the film once you see it,” said Abhishek, adding that viewers cannot miss Ali in the sequel for he is brilliant in it as well. The film’s leading man, Manish recalled the first time he met Abhishek for a small role in another film. The latter advised him to play the lead inTere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive instead.

“I’m very excited because everyone wanted to do this film and I got the opportunity to be a part of it,” said Manish. “We’re ready with it and I’m sure people will like it too.” The film is slated to be released on February 19 and also stars actors Pradhuman Singh, Piyush Mishra and Sikandar.

14 LEISURE

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

HaGar tHE HorrIblE

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

You're more likely to be spellbound by the vision of an ideal romance today than tumble head-overheels for any individual.

Because this kind of conceptual love is hard to manifest, you may have a real.

You are less interested in getting dragged into an emotional discussion now than you are in losing yourself in a most sublime fantasy. Although beautiful Venus hooks up with illusory Neptune to fascinate.

Your charm can work wonders but cautionary alarms need to remind you that you are so convincing today that you could actually con yourself, too. Thankfully, you may be able to avoid selfdeception by considering.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Shift your thinking into the higher realms of spirituality, rather than only focusing on your quest for romantic love.

Find something that touches your soul and connects you to the beauty of the cosmos.

It's a lovely surprise when a significant other opens up to you, so listen carefully with your undivided attention to every word said. It isn't useful today to criticize or even disagree with anything.

You might attempt to cling to the irrefutable facts as if they are a lifeline today because fantasies can totally disrupt your efficiency. The songs of the mythical sirens are luring you away from logic.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Although you are naturally attuned to beauty, now your tastes are more refined and your opinions are more defined. Your key planet Venus conspires with fanciful Neptune to raise the bar of excellence when.

You may tumble down the rabbit hole today, a victim of sweet infatuation, but you might not tell anyone about it. Although you could be quite entranced with your magical journey, it feels safer to stay.

Your willingness to believe your own hype sets you up to promise more than you can deliver today. You might think others are expecting a superhuman performance from you, no matter how much you do to prove.

dIlbErt

GarFIEld

baldo

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Trusting your senses is tricky business today, especially if you think you should be doing something else than what's on your calendar. It seems unfair that you can't just enjoy the beauty of the moment,

Your charisma is more alluring than you realize today, as the magical Venus-Neptune alignment heaps an extra helping of radiance onto your plate.

Sharing your dreams enables you to transmit vibes that.

Some things are better left unsaid, so just soak in the pleasure of sweet stillness today and enjoy the unspoken stories of love. Your key planet Neptune sends you to the outer limits of your imagination.

crossword

sUdokU

word sEarcH

ACROSS

computer chaos on 1/1/2000 (10,3) 8 Sea (abbr) (3) 9 Occurred later in time — adopts Ted (anag) (9) 10 Spring plant with bell-shaped flowers (8)

brIdGE

How to play

1 Hypothetical virus that didn't cause global

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.

ABSTRACT ACCUSE AGAINST ALARM ARTIfICIAL BATTER BLANd COMBINATION CUPS dISCOVER EMPIRE ExPERIENCE fABRIC fIddLE HILARIOUS INjECTION LEARN LUNCH

MARkET MEAL MOBILE NOTHING PAPA PROVE REAd RESUME RILE SEEd SNIT SUMMARy TACT TAIL TRAIT TREAd wINTER

Today’s soluTions

Fork In tHE road

11 Sicilian volcano (4) 13 Me taut? (anag) — change fundamentally (6)

cHEss

14 Soup dish (6)

white tO PLAY AND MAte iN twO MOVes

17 Make small adjustments (to) (4-4) 20 Convert to sloping type (9)

8

21 Sign of the zodiac (3)

7

crossword solution

16 Egyptian port (4)

22 Container with a teat for the very young (7,6) DOwn

6

1 Infectious childhood disease (5)

5

2 Legendary keeper of Arthur's sword, Excalibur (4,2,3,4)

4

3 Push through faster (8)

3

4 One failing to appear as booked (2-4) 5 Cancel — reverse (4)

2

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

chess solution

12 Part of the unconscious mind — pose urge (anag) (8)

1.d6 Qxd6 2.bxf5 *

1

7 Blasted — odd G-man (anag) (7)

sudoku solution

6 Grasp the nettle (4,3,6)

SPORTS 15

Thursday, 21 January, 2016

Zimbabwe spinners keep series alive by defending 187 Z

SportS DeSk

IMBABWE’S batting line-up put up a power-packed performance, something they hadn’t done earlier in the series, to keep it alive with a 31-run win in the third T20 against Bangladesh. Zimbabwe’s spinners continued to pick wickets, like they had done earlier in the series, and derailed the hosts’ chase around the halfway mark despite their strong start.

Marshalled by Vusi Sibanda at the start and Malcolm Waller later, Zimbabwe’s sustained aggression took them to a challenging 187 after stand-in captain Hamilton Masakadza had said the “160mark” would be decent on this pitch in Khulna. Tendai Chisoro, Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza took all six wickets and conceded only 40 runs in their 10 overs.

There were useful contributions from all of Zimbabwe’s top five batsmen, and each of them had a strike rate of over 120.

Sibanda showed his intent from the first ball he faced by charging at left-arm pacer Abu Hider, one of the four

Bangladesh debutants, to drill him through the covers for four. He carved out a pretty wide ‘V’ on both sides of the pitch by dispatching meaty drives and flicks. Masakadza also got going after a slow start, and hammered Mohammad Shahid, another debutant, for four consec-

utive fours, but fell for 20 when in search of a fifth.

Hider and Shahid were punished for 45 runs in the first four overs and Sibanda welcomed the third debutant Muktar Ali with a four as well. Zimbabwe were 59 for 1 when rain interrupted and Shakib Al

Hasan had Richmond Mutumbami and Sibanda caught at deep midwicket after the break, in consecutive overs, to drag the run-rate from over ten to under eight.

Meanwhile, Waller and Williams were getting themselves set. And having faced about ten balls each, they unfurled a barrage of boundaries to help Zimbabwe swindle 85 runs from the last seven overs; six of those went for at least ten an over.

Mosaddek Hossain dropped Williams on 12 at backward point, but it was Waller who caused more damage. Shahid, Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib all were punished for sixes before Waller eventually holed out to deep midwicket, for a 23-ball 49. Williams continued till the last over and some late strikes from Peter Moor too meant the Bangladesh bowlers got no respite.

Chisoro dented Bangladesh’s chase in the first over to dismiss Imrul Kayes, playing his first match of the series, for 1 but Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman kept the hosts in the hunt. Sarkar used his wrists to find gaps and Sabbir targeted the

leg side, just like he had done in the second T20, with pulls and slogs. Sabbir mirrored Masakadza by dispatching three straight fours in the sixth over that hauled their run-rate over nine. Zimbabwe also paid the price for Mutumbami’s mistake when he missed Sarkar’s stumping off Williams’ first ball. That over cost 12 runs and the visitors seemed unsettled.

Zimbabwe caught a break when Sarkar top-edged a slog sweep for an easy catch at midwicket in Cremer’s first over that broke their most productive and threatening stand, of 67 runs. Masakadza rotated his spinners for the next nine overs, the asking rate shot up and the wickets came down. Sabbir brought up a 31-ball fifty with a four in the 11th over but fell two balls later by holing out in the leg side.

Their hopes fell on Shakib, but he found Waller at long-on with 86 required from 36. Mahmudullah top-edged Cremer in the same over to give Mutumbami an easy catch. As well as Nurul Hasan scooped during his 17-ball 30 and Muktar supported him with 19 from 15, it just wasn’t enough.

Warwickshire profit from Ashes uplift

India and Sri Lanka to play T20 series in February SportS DeSk India and Sri Lanka are set to play a three-match T20 series, prior to the Asia Cup, as both teams look ahead to the World T20. The tour begins in Pune on Feburary 9, then the teams head to Delhi to play the second match on February 12 and the final T20 will take place in Visakhapatnam on February 14. These matches will be the first time the two sides face each other in the shortest format since the final of the 2014 World Twenty20, which Sri Lanka won in April 2014.

The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, which acquired Test status in November 2015, will host only its third international match, and only its second T20I.

SportS DeSk Warwickshire are celebrating a financial turnaround on the back of an Ashes year. Australia’s appearance at Edgbaston for an Ashes Test helped to lift turnover by a remarkable 47% and enabled the club to announce pre-tax profits of £699,427 compared to a loss of £1.2m the previous year.

The county had to ask Birmingham City Council for a holiday from loan repayments as their finances worsened following a £32m development in 2011, but they are now on a more stable footing with revenue rising over the past three years.

Craig Flindall, Warwickshire’s finance director, said that there

were positive signs for the county that went beyond the usual boost caused by an Ashes series.

Warwickshire also enjoyed a rise of 43 per cent in revenue and 86 per cent in attendances in the NatWest Blast where they now play under the guise of Birmingham Bears.

Flindall said “This was the first occasion that Edgbaston has hosted an Ashes Test Match since the £32 million redevelopment and the new facilities and increased capacity has led to a £2.6 million increase in turnover in comparison to 2009, when we last hosted the Ashes.

“Revenues from major match days are the main driver of the club’s turnover and, whilst we can-

not replicate the impact of an Ashes Test Match every year, we have an excellent allocation of fixtures confirmed until 2019, which underpins our strategic plan and financial results for the coming years.”

Edgbaston accommodated an average of 24,556 fans on each day of the third Ashes Test Match, which one financial study estimated benefited Birmingham by £26 million.

Edgbaston will host England twice next summer with a Royal London ODI against Sri Lanka on June 24 and an Investec Test against Pakistan in August. The stadium will also host the biggest day in domestic cricket again, with finals day in the Blast scheduled for August 20.

COOK SET FOR DEBUT AS ROSSOUW RELEASED SportS DeSk Stephen Cook has moved a step closer to making his Test debut against England in Centurion after Rilee Rossouw was released from South Africa’s squad to play for his franchise, Knights, in the fifth round of the Sunfoil series which starts on Thursday.

Stiaan van Zyl, the incumbent opener alongside Dean Elgar, was let go from the squad yesterday after his struggles during the first three Tests where he had a top score of 33 in five innings. The one remaining

stumbling block for Cook, a specialist opener who topped the first-class runs charts last season and has scored two centuries and a fifty from three games this summer, would be if South Africa deploy wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock in the opening berth in order to make room for JP Duminy in the middle order.

De Kock missed the Wanderers Test with a knee injury picked up walking his dogs but passed a fitness Test on Wednesday afternoon to be available for selection*. South Africa were pondering moving de

Kock into the top two in Johannesburg before the injury he suffered on the eve of the game.

The desire to include Duminy in the middle-order is two-fold. Not only does he offer a part-time offspin but he is coming off the back of a career-best unbeaten 260 for Cape Cobras, scored the match after he was dropped from the Test XI in Cape Town.

Room for Duminy can still be found without moving de Kock up the order if South Africa sacrifice Faf du Plessis, who has been among their misfiring men.

Whichever route South Africa take, Elgar will have a new opening partner and is well aware of the qualities Cook would bring.

“Cookie has been knocking on the door for a long time. With a lot of domestic performances he’s put in, you cant not notice what he has done in the last two or three seasons. He’s done very well for the Lions. He has put up his hand and put a lot of pressure on the openers,” Elgar said. “We’ve opened for the A side. It’s an exciting time for Stephen and I know he is looking forward to it.

CMYK

Plunkett is injury doubt for South Africa ODIs SportS DeSk Liam Plunkett’s involvement in England’s one-day series in South Africa has been thrown into doubt by a thigh injury picked up while playing for England Lions in the UAE. Plunkett picked up a “tight thigh” in a Lions warm-up match against a UAE XI ahead of their fivematch ODI series against Pakistan A enough to rule him out of the first tie on Wednesday. It is only two days since Plunkett, was named as a replacement for Steven Finn in South Africa. He will now undergo a fitness test to ascertain whether he can play in the second match against Pakistan A on Friday. The ECB has announced that his plans to fly to South Africa at the weekend have been “revised”.

Plunkett, who was a surprise omission from the squads originally named for the tour, last featured for England in their 3-0 T20 series win over Pakistan before Christmas. He took three for 29 during the recent 50-over warm-up defeat to the United Arab Emirates at the ICC Academy.

England’s priority is that Finn recovers from a strained side in time for the World T20 in India in March.

He will miss the fourth Test at Centurion, which begins on Friday, as well as the five ODIs that follow, but he will remain in South Africa for warm-weather rehabilitation with the England medical staff. Plunkett has had a frustrating winter which has brought him long periods away from home with England and the Lions with very little cricket to show for it.

SPORTS Thursday, 21 January, 2016

RIchaRdson’s fIve scRIpts dRamatIc austRalIan comeback I

SpORtS DESk

N turn imperious then inept, India tripped over in sight of the finish line at Manuka Oval to gift Australia a fourth victory from as many matches. John Hastings and Kane Richardson were the architects of a staggering passage of implosion by the visitors - losing 9 for 46 after centuries from Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan had taken India to a mere 72 runs shy of victory with 75 balls remaining.

Hastings and Richardson claimed a combined 5 for 17 from 27 balls to ensure the afternoon work of Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell was not wasted, on a Manuka surface the Australian captain had hoped would become more difficult to bat on under lights.

For a time Smith was facing Australia’s first defeat of the summer and an end to their record streak of ODI wins, but he marshalled his men grandly as India self-destructed. Their loss maintained another proud record for the hosts - never have Australia failed to defend a tally of greater than 300 on home soil.

There was one unsettling factor in India’s chase: Ajinkya Rahane suffered split webbing in his right hand when fielding and a spokesman said he would bat “if required”. He did not come in at his usual No. 4 position; the resultant shuffling up of MS Dhoni, Gurkeerat Singh Mann and

Ravindra Jadeja played some part in the hectic collapse that was to follow.

Dhawan had shrugged off an indifferent start to the series by pushing on to a determined century, but it was Kohli who once again exhibited his genius in a run chase. This was his 15th ODI hundred when batting second, and he appeared destined to take India home. When he spooned the first ball of Richardson’s ultimately pivotal spell to mid off, Kohli stood motionless at the crease in disbelief.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 10,922 as Canberra pitches for an inaugural Test match next summer, Warner and Finch added 187 to set the perfect platform before Smith and Maxwell added plenty of late-innings pyrotechnics to pile up 111 from the last 10 overs of the innings.

Batting under lights for the first time in the series, Rohit and Dhawan had been faced with the unexpected sight of Nathan Lyon taking the new ball in his first ODI since late 2014. Whatever Smith had hoped to achieve by having Lyon on early, two overs that cost 23 were not in his plan. Those early runs allowed India’s chase to gain momentum against the new ball, something hardly scotched when Rohit gloved Richardson down the leg side to be nicely held by Matthew Wade.

Kohli dispatched two boundaries in the space of his first four balls, and five more allowed him to shimmy to his 50 in a mere 34 deliveries. He took a particular liking to

James Faulkner, who was hammered for 29 from the 16 balls he delivered to India’s Test captain. Dhawan took a similarly heavy toll on Lyon, and when George Bailey’s claim for a low catch off Dhawan was found to be unfounded there seemed no other conclusion than an Indian victory.

By the middle of the 38th over India needed just 72 runs from 75 balls with

nine wickets standing. But in his last over of another exemplary spell, Hastings was rewarded for keeping things tight: Dhawan sliced a slower ball to backward point, then two balls later MS Dhoni touched a leg cutter behind. The next Lyon over cost only one and Richardson, replacing Hastings, had Kohli caught at mid-off by Steven Smith off the first ball.

A pitch and equation that had seemed all too straightforward for set batsmen now began more difficult proportions for new ones, and Smith closed in admirably with tight fields that also sought wickets.

Twice Smith was rewarded with catches at slip, the first an excellent low snaffle to get Rahane, while Lyon’s improvement across the night was shown by the fact his final three overs reaped 1 for 15 after his first seven cost 61. India’s required run rate blew out, runs became scarce, and by the end the Australians were toasting a victory that had seemed unfathomable merely an hour before.

There was something a little more hesitant in the batting of Mitchell Marsh, promoted to No. 3 for seemingly no other reason than to grant him some time in the middle now that the series is decided. The responsibility appeared to weigh heavily on Marsh, who battled for timing and also to rotate the strike, even as Finch accelerated to his second century in successive ODI innings on this ground. Finch’s increasing sense of urgency resulted in a skied pull shot well held by Ishant, to bring Smith to the middle with 12.3 overs remaining. The gulf in batting touch between Marsh and Smith was swiftly illustrated as Smith took no time at all to get into stride, one pratfall when trying to sweep Jadeja the lone exception. Marsh eventually mistimed a high ball to long-on, prompting another batting order tweak as Maxwell joined Smith.

Messi passport video lands Dubai policeman in court DUBAI AGENCIES

Wahab recovers to fire against the kiwis

A Dubai policeman could be jailed for at least six months for posting a video showing Barcelona star Lionel Messi’s passport on social media, reports said Wednesday.

The incident took place at Dubai airport where Messi

SpORtS DESk Team Pakistan physiotherapist Brad Robbinson, on Wednesday, said that Wahab completed a full-training session of bowling and fielding and will be available for selection in the last 20-over encounter. “Wahab suffered a bruised left forearm after being struck in the nets by a short pitched delivery,” said Robbinson. “The bruise was appropriately managed using ice and compression he successfully completed a full practice session involving fielding and bowling. I am confident he will be fit for selection in the final T20I against New Zealand on Friday,” he added.

landed last month to attend the seventh edition of the Globe Soccer Awards, in which he received the prize of best team and best player, local dailies said.

The Emirati policeman wanted a photo of himself with the Argentinian footballer but was told the star was tired from the flight, the National daily reported.

“I then went to the passport control desk and noticed that Messi’s passport had been left there, so I picked it up and shot a video of myself while holding it,” it quoted the policeman as saying.

He posted the video on the Snapchat application and wrote: “This is Messi’s (passport), he is here in Dubai, what do I do? Shall I burn the passport or just put it back! Ok Ok you can go!”

The policeman appeared in court where he “pleaded guilty and admitted that he was wrong when he posted Messi’s passport details on social media,” It said the policeman could face a minimum of six months in jail and a fine of up to 500,000 dirhams ($136,000).

Prosecutors accused the policeman of “abusing the telecommunication system”.

He was also charged with “breaching Messi’s privacy,” the National said.

A verdict is expected next week.

PSL to revoLutioniSe cricket in PakiStan LAHORE AGENICES

Pakistan Super League (PSL) Governing Council chairman and PCB Executive Committee head Najam Sethi has said that the PSL is vital for Pakistan cricket and it will open doors for new stars and also revolutionize cricket in Pakistan.

Talking to private news channel Sethi said: “People of status quo are worried from the PSL which has the potential to become the second biggest league of the world. We are trying to minimize its budget. Some people from the

PCB are also against the PSL on financial grounds because they are of the view that the board is not in a position to bear such huge expenses but we are successfully going to start this mega event which will also benefit our domestic cricket.

“The PSL has also created new jobs, introduce new trends in Pakistan cricket and increase our professional capabilities. We have borrowed money from the PCB for the PSL and in the coming years, we will make the PSL more profitable.

We will also bring PSL on Pakistan pitches in near future that will facilitate revival of international cricket

in Pakistan,” he added.

Sethi said that for this mega event, they had worked day and night which would certainly bear fruit. “Every PCB chairman has right to choose his team. We have sacked some people and inducted professional and highly educated people. Downsizing is not an appropriate word rather we reduced staff at every level to save budget.

Sheharyar Khan is PCB chairman and I am his follower. Prime Minister has bestowed a heavy responsibility on my shoulder and I will serve Pakistan cricket with dignity and exit with grace.”

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 79, Sector 24, Korangi Industrial Area Karachi.

CMYK

Mccullum could make auckland comeback SpORtS DESk New Zealand hope to have their captain Brendon McCullum back from the third ODI against Pakistan on January 31, and their fast bowler Tim Southee for the home Tests against Australia in February.

McCullum has been out of action since aggravating his back injury during the second ODI against Sri Lanka on December 28, while Southee suffered a foot injury during the third ODI against Sri Lanka on New Year’s Eve. New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said Southee would not make it back for the remainder of the home series against Pakistan and the limited-overs games against Australia. “Tim is progressing nicely and he’ll be with us this week [in Wellington] to help work with his rehab,” Hesson said. “He’s unlikely [to play the Australia ODIs]. We’ll focus on the Test series at this stage and make sure that he’s firing. We certainly won’t force him playing any games earlier than that unless we need him. He could well play a Plunket Shield game to get him ready for the Tests.” McCullum is set to return for the final game of Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand before he begins his last assignment in international cricket. New Zealand’s first Test against Australia will be McCullum’s 100th, and he is set to retire after the second Test in Christchurch. “He’s progressing really well and doing plenty of work away from the game, from a fitness point of view and we’re really pleased with the way he’s tracking,” Hesson said. “Hopefully he’ll play a part in the Pakistan series and if he does that will be good prep for the Chappell-Hadlee and beyond.”