E paper pdf (26 1 2016) khi

CMYK

tuesday, 26 January, 2016 i 15 rabi-us-Sani, 1437 i rs 17.00 i vol vi no 207 i 16 pages i karachi edition

army chief says doesn’t want extension in tenure, will retire on due date COaS’ statement welcomed across the board, political leaders laud Gen raheel for being a ‘man of principle’

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ringing an end to speculation that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) general raheel Sharif would be given an extension in service after he retires from office in november later this year, interServices Public relations (iSPr) Directorgeneral Lt general Asim Bajwa on Monday said that all rumours to this effect were baseless and the army chief would retire on his due date.

The unequivocal rejection to the of-

fers of extension for gen raheel would give an end to the debate over the extension rumours.

Speculation had been rife regarding an extension in the COAS’ term after former military ruler gen (r) Pervez Musharraf called for an extension in gen raheel’s tenure, warning against a change in the military leadership.

“What he is doing right now, it needs continuity and if there is any change in the leadership amidst this all, all good work which has been done so far would go to waste,” Musharraf had said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

General raheel Sharif - the Gift that kept GivinG STORY ON PAGE 03

EDITORIAL

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TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah killed?

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah has reportedly been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan, gulf news reported on Monday.

According to unconfirmed reports, a drone strike was conducted on Mullah Fazlullah’s house in Afghanistan, killing at least five people, including a woman said to be Fazlullah’ wife and his son.

pia unions to shut offices across country from today

The unions of Pakistan international Airlines (PiA) announced on Monday to close all offices across the country from Tuesday to protest against the government’s decision to privatise the national carrier.

They also threatened to halt flight operations from February 2 if the government will not take back its decision.

STORY ON PAGE 11

Saudis deny Pakistani india mulls israeltype fencing along mediation in row pakistan border with iran: report Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir has denied that Pakistan mediated between Saudi Arabia and iran amid recent tensions between the two rival countries, Bahrain’s state media reported Monday.

STORY ON PAGE 02

in a bid to check the alleged cross-border infiltration into its territory, the indian government is considering to employ an israel-type highly secured fencing across the border with Pakistan at the Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab sectors.

STORY ON PAGE 02

Killer Qadri’s supporters ‘occupy’ Lahore’s Mall road The Mall road of Lahore remained blocked for several hours on Monday as hundreds of supporters of convicted murderer Mumtaz Qadri staged a sit-in at Faisal Chowk demanding the removal of the death penalty served on the self-confessed killer of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.

STORY ON PAGE 04

02 NEWS

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

INdIA MuLLS ISrAeL-tyPe feNCING ALoNG PAkIStAN border

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NEWS DESK

N a bid to check the alleged crossborder infiltration into its territory, the Indian government is considering to employ an Israel-type highly secured fencing across the border with Pakistan at the Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab sectors.

The issue of zero infiltration along the border was discussed in several meetings attended by the top [Indian] government functionaries, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. “In one of these meetings, they discussed if India could adopt an Israel-type border guarding mechanism along the western frontier,” the newspaper quoted an Indian home ministry official as saying.

India has close defence ties with Israel, which reportedly showed its willingness to share the high-tech equipment for border protection.

Israel is hailed to have the best border protection system in the world, and depends more on technology than humans to protect its border. Singh is said to have greatly impressed by the highly

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sophisticated Israeli border security system during his 2014 visit to the border outposts in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reportedly conveyed

Govt shuts down Punjab schools from Jan 26-31 citing ‘severe cold’ LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The executive district officer (education) announced late Monday night that all government and private schools in Punjab will remain closed from January 26 (today) till Jan 31 due to “severe cold”. The decision was announced close to midnight on Monday giving rise to speculation that the government was using the cold as a pretext to shut down the schools in the wake of protests launched by Sunni Tehreek in Lahore against the death penalty awarded to Mumtaz Qadri.

Education department sources said that the government was attempting to borrow time in an effort to thwart a standoff with the protesters which would surely have happened if the protesters remained on Mall road and kept it closed to the general traffic, especially at peak traffic hours. On Monday, Qadri’s supporters gathered on Mall road in front of the Punjab Assembly building and shut down traffic causing a massive gridlock in the area. Police kept their distance while keeping a watchful eye, but with Qadri’s supporters vowing to continue their sit-in till his release, the likelihood of them clashing with the police at some point was high.

SC diqualifies PML-N MNA for concealing assets ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Supreme Court on Monday disqualified Member of the National Assembly Justice (r) Iftikhar Ahmad Cheema for concealing his assets. Cheema was elected as a member of the lower house of parliament in the May 2013 General Elections on a Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) ticket from Punjab’s Gujranwala-VII NA-101 constituency. The apex court also directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the schedule for repolling in the constituency. Earlier, his opponent Ahmed Chattha – who was contesting elections against Cheema on PML-Junejo ticket, accused the PML-N lawmaker of hiding the details of his assets in the nomination forms which were submitted to contest the General Elections May 2013. Ahmed Chattha is the younger son of Hamid Nasir Chattha.

willingness to share with India its technology for border protection.

The technology includes high-quality long-range day cameras along with night observation systems employing

third generation thermal imagers longrange detection radars, electronic touch and motion sensors on the fence as well as underground sensors to detect any tunnelling attempts. The Israeli border fencing along West Bank, Gaza and Egypt also consists of latticed steel, topped and edged with razor wire, extending at least two metres below ground and in some sections reaching seven metres above the ground.

Ditches and observation posts with cameras and antennae line the route while an electronic pulse runs through the fence, setting off an alarm on contact that allows security guards to locate the exact spot of attempted infiltration. A sandy tracking path shows the footprints of infiltrators and a military patrol road gives unhindered access to army units.

Following the inspection of the border security equipment, the Indian home minister was also given a detailed briefing by the Israeli Army about the border-guarding mechanism put in place. He was told that in certain “dark areas” where fencing was not possible Israel had used small unmanned armed vehicles (UAVs) for security coverage.

Saudis deny Pakistani mediation in row with Iran: report BAHRAINI MEDIA REPORT SAYS SAUDI FM HAS DENIED ANY SORT OF MEDIATION ‘UNLESS IRAN RESPONDS POSITIVELY’ ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir has denied that Pakistan mediated between Saudi Arabia and Iran amid recent tensions between the two rival countries, Bahrain’s state media reported Monday.

Some countries had offered to mediate and communicate ideas between Riyadh and Tehran, however there will be no mediation “unless Iran responds positively”, the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) report quoted Jubeir as saying.

In what was described as a significant diplomatic mission, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif last week met the Saudi and Iranian leaderships in their respective capitals for what the government described as a move for defusing tensions between the two Muslim countries that were sparked by execution of Saudi dissident Sheikh Nimr and the subsequent attack on Saudi mission in Iran by protesters.

Jubeir’s statement is in contrast to the prime minister’s, who upon the conclusion of his “mediation trip” had struck an upbeat tone, saying Pakistan’s initiative was welcomed in both capitals and he expected it to progress.

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“Saudi leadership told me that they did not see Iran as an enemy and I heard similar sentiments from Iranian leaders, who too are not in favour of tensions,” the premier said at the time.

“Iran knows what is required from it,” the Saudi foreign minister said, speaking on the sidelines of the first ministerial session of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-India Cooperation Forum. Iran has adopted a hostile approach towards Arab countries by meddling in their internal affairs, sowing sectarian strife and backing terrorism as confirmed by numerous strong evidences, Jubeir alleged.

He was quoted as saying that Iran should change its policy and method of dealing with its neighbours on the principle of good neighbourliness and refrain from interference in the

internal affairs of other countries so that the path will be open to building better relations with its neighbours, he said. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies broke off ties with Iran over the embassy attack earlier this month.

The United Arab Emirates downgraded relations while some others recalled their envoys in protest. The Iranian government had quickly distanced itself from the attack, saying the protesters had entered the Saudi embassy despite widespread efforts by the police to stop them.

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.

Consistent efforts needed to face internal security challenges: Nisar ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that consistent efforts, strict monitoring and fine-tuning are needed to deal with challenge of internal security. A multi-faceted, multi-pronged and multidimensional responsibility exists and needs to be dealt with, he said. Nisar stressed that we must think beyond ourselves and think of internal security as a national issue and obligation. The interior minister expressed these views during his meeting with 30 newly promoted major generals who were participating in Command and Leadership course at National Defence University (NDU) Islamabad on Monday. Chaudhry Nisar said that the internal security of the country is affected by internal, regional and geo-political factors where besides our known enemies, there are others in the garb of friends who want to benefit by creating instability in the country. He said that it is quite unfortunate that despite the huge sufferings and tragedies incurred during past years, no internal security policy or framework could be devised by the previous governments. Hundreds and thousands of lives were lost; 5-6 explosions were a daily occurrence across the length and breadth of the country; life and property became the most unsafe commodity - and yet previous governments continued to turn a blind eye over the issue. The present government for the first time ever formulated the internal security policy of the country, besides conceiving and implementing the National Action Plan last year. While recounting various challenges in the way to formulating an internal security policy, the Minister RECALLED that the real challenge in June 2013 lay not only in dealing with the militants, but also in taking to task sympathisers who supported extremists and militants. The interior minister said that after the APS incident, the nation’s first national action plan to deal with the menace of terrorism was chalked out in the shortest possible time. It had the complete consensus of all political forces. Since then, the minister continued, there was a marked improvement in the overall security situation.

He said that it would be quite unfair to feign ignorance to successes that have been made under NAP, which were made possible only through the continued efforts of our armed forces including the security and intelligence agencies. He said that under NAP a robust three layered security mechanism comprising of police, civil armed forces and the army has been put in place in all the major cities of the country. The improvement in the security paradigm has occurred due to the unity and consensus evolved over the last year. Civil military understanding corroborated by political consensus has been the single largest contributing factor in improving the security situation in the country.

Senate body PaSSeS PakIStan Halal autHorIty bIll ISLAMABAD APP

The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Monday unanimously passed The Pakistan Halal Authority Bill, 2015 after detailed discussion.

The committee met with Senator Osman Saifullah Khan in the chair. Senators Lt. Gen (r) Abdul Qayyum and Mian Muhammad Ateeq Sheikh and Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain attended the meeting.

The committee praised the efforts of the ministry for preparing the draft of Halal Authority Bill.

The committee observed that there was a need to establish the monopoly of local industry in the Halal sector and that farming of sheeps and goats should be encouraged.

An official of the Ministry of S&T told the committee that the Pakistan Council of Science and Industrial Research (PCSIR) had established Halal Authentication laboratory at PCSIR Labs Complex, Lahore and Peshawar to support local industries and regulatory authorities for export and import of Halal items, especially food and cosmetics. The body was informed that Pakistan, like other Muslim countries was opposing the establishment of Halal Technical Committee in World Health Organization (WHO).

The official briefed the members about the salient features of The Pakistan Halal Authority Bill, 2015.The purpose of the authority was to promote imports, exports, trade and commerce with the foreign countries and interprovincial trade and commerce in Halal articles and processes.

CMYK

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Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

NEWS

GeNerAL rAheeL ShArIf - the GIft thAt kePt GIvING ISLAMABAD

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MIAN ABRAR

ENERAL RAHEEL Sharif has a long list of success and achievements marking his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.

The biggest credit to Gen Sharif is that he did not overthrow an elected government during the sit-ins staged by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

The fact of the matter is that even many federal ministers believed that the military was all set to take over the reins of the country, as the ruling party had become very unpopular. However, it was Gen Raheel Sharif’s sagacity and professional approach, which led to him strictly following the constitutional ambit, and rejecting all sorts of temptations from various quarters.

Operation Zarb-eAzb is the COAS’s second biggest achievement. This is when

the military for the first time not only entered the most rugged North Waziristan Agency but also eliminated terrorist networks and infrastructure.

The military was also instrumental in cleansing the remnants of al Qaeda, Haqqani Network, East Turkistan Independence Movement (ETIM), Daesh (Islamic State) and many others. All those terrorists were either killed or forced to slip into Afghanistan, crossing the PakAfghan bordering areas.

Only one and a half year after the start of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, phenomenal successes were achieved. The last pockets of terrorists close to Pak – Afghan Border are being cleared; terrorists’ backbone was broken; their main infrastructure was dismantled; the nexus with sleeper cells largely disrupted; and Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) continue to burst remaining sleeper cells.

According to the ISPR, 3,400 terrorists were killed, 837 hideouts - from

where they were carrying out their terrorists activities - were destroyed. During the last 18 month, over 13,200 IBOs were carried out across the country, in which 183 hardcore terrorists were killed and 21,193 arrested. IBOs continued even after this.

However, the success came at a heavy price – 488 valiant officers and men from the Pakistan Army, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan Frontier Corps, and Sindh Rangers, sacrificed their lives, while 1,914 were injured during the course of the operation.

The support of entire nation for its valiant armed forces, and the resolve expressed against terrorism after the December 2014 attack on Army Public School Peshawar, fuelled the operation further.

Gen Sharif also has the credit of bringing on one platform all political parties, who have backed the army’s operations.

Moreover, the National Action Plan (NAP) is another success as all the political outfits got together and supported the move.

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The political and military leadership also agreed to install 11 military courts under a civilian rule for the first time in the country’s history. 142 cases were referred to military courts and 55 cases decided, 87 cases are in process, while 31 hardcore terrorists have been convicted.

Another feather is his cap is the Karachi Operation, where proscribed organisations once had the last word on the life and properties of the common public, while security forces remained under constant threat.

However, within a year or so, Karachi has returned to normalcy and the military operations have witnessed phenomenal success. Peace has boosted business ac-

bku demands weapons after deadly attack, closes for indefinite period CHARSADDA STAFF REPORT

The Bacha Khan University (BKU), attacked by the Taliban last week, has demanded the government arm its staff besides announcing the closure of campus for indefinite period as it seeks to boost security after the deadly assault in which 21 people were killed, officials said on Monday.

“We have demanded weapons from the government and weapons licenses for all teachers and management officials,” Bacha Khan university registrar Hamidullah Khan told reporters.

Authorities at the university in Charsadda in the northwest have also called for police checkpoints both inside and outside the campus and watch towers to protect students, he said.

Wednesday’s attack in Charsadda saw heavily-armed militants storm the campus, gunning down students and teachers in a bloody rampage before they were killed by the military.

“We have closed it for an indefinite time because the attack has had traumatic effect on the students,” a university spokesperson confirmed on

Monday. He said the students required some time off due to the traumatic effects of the incident, adding parents were also not ready to send their students to the varsity. “There has also been damage to the building, which needs repair,” added the spokesperson.

Teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province were given permission to carry firearms after the Pakistani Taliban massacred more than 150 people, the

majority of them children, at a school in the provincial capital Peshawar in 2014.

The Bacha Khan attack, which bore chilling similarities to the murderous rampage at the Army Public School in Peshawar, has spurred the debate on arming teachers once more.

University registrar Khan said the campus had been reopened Monday but only to administrative staff, with classes suspended indefinitely as authorities

#tHankyou raHeel SHarIf CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 In a series of tweets on Monday, Lt Gen Bajwa quoted Gen Raheel as saying, “Pakistan Army is a great institution. I don’t believe in extension and will retire on the due date.”

“Speculations are baseless,” the COAS said, adding, “Efforts to root out terrorism will continue with full vigour and resolve.”

MILITARY RULES AND EXTENSIONS: The post of army chief is inarguably the most powerful in Pakistan.

On November 27, 2013, the government approved Gen Raheel’s appointment for the post, a position that he took over from Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who stepped down on November 29, 2013.

Gen Kayani served as military chief for six years after rules were relaxed to grant him an extension in July 2010 by the Pakistan People’s Partyled coalition government in what then prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had

said “was in the interest of continuity at a time when the war on terror was ongoing against elements who wanted to impose a system of their choice on the country”.

Gen Pervez Musharraf also got an extension to add three-years to his tenure. But it was none other than Gen Ayub Khan who introduced the practice into the army. Ayub Khan got three extensions, while his successor Gen Musa Khan also got the favour once. Gen Kayani and Gen Yahya Khan were given one extension each.

Gen Ziaul Haq got three extensions while Gen Pervez Musharraf took extensions twice.

Born in Quetta on June 16, 1956 to Major and Mrs Muhammad Sharif, Gen Raheel Sharif grew up steeped in military tradition. He attained his formal education at Government College Lahore and later went on to attend the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul.

As a young officer, he performed his duties in Gilgit in an infantry

brigade and served as adjutant of Pakistan Military Academy. Over the years, Sharif climbed up the military ladder mentored by Musharraf who handed him command of the 11th Infantry Division in Lahore. He was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, the second highest civilian award and honour that is given to both civilians and military officers of the Pakistan armed forces.

Despite the common surname, Raheel Sharif is not related to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but is known to be close to tribal affairs minister Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch, a key confidante of the Sharif family.

POLITICIANS, CIVIL SOCIETY WELCOME DECISION: Reacting to the ISPR’s statement, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari was quick to welcome the announcement, saying that the culture of extensions in major state institutions should be brought to an end.

“The decision not to accept extension (in service) by General Raheel Sharif is a welcome step. This would

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seek to improve security. “Students wanted to resume the classes,” he said.

“We appreciate their courage, but we now cannot take any risk on security.”

Students and teachers were being screened by police and security guards at the entrance to the campus on Monday. “They (militants) cannot stop us, we will try to face them and continue our studies,” a student who gave his name as Abdullah said.

University employee Jehangir Khan echoed the call for the government to provide tighter security, noting the university was surrounded by open fields. “Students are afraid,” he said. A memorial service was held at the university earlier on Monday to “pay tribute to the martyrs”, vice chancellor Fazal Rahim said, while Khan said the victims’ belongings were later handed over to their families.

On Friday, the Taliban faction behind both the APS massacre and the BKU attack posted a video message vowing to target schools throughout the country, calling them “nurseries” for people who challenge Allah’s law.

Earlier, at least 200 students at the varsity protested over a lack of security after the authorities reopened the campus.

give an end to speculations about extension,” he added.

Critics, however, feel that there is a hint of personal bias in the statement.

They think that Zardari believes that the ouster of Gen Sharif would bring no change in the army’s thinking and the operation against corrupt politicians would continue unabated.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi also welcomed the announcement. “The army chief has proved that he is a highly principled person. This decision has enhanced his respect and will prosper the army’s image,” Qureshi said, adding that during his term as the COAS, Gen Sharif took effective measures against terrorism and united the nation to fight against the menace.

Prominent human rights activist and lawyer Asma Jahangir also welcomed the announcement.

“It is a very positive announcement. It is good that in future no one would have to make an announcement either and whether it’s a judge, general or anyone else, would come and go home per tenure,” she added.

tivity in the port city of Karachi where terrorist and political crimes are being tackled with an iron fist.

The Balochistan operation is another success story where for the first time the civilian leadership was allowed to lead the operation and the army, FC and other law enforces supported it. Peace has also returned to Balochistan and all private militias, religious and sectarian terrorist groups have been targeted equally.

Another success of General Raheel Sharif was revival of festivities and national events in FATA and Balochistan. After decades, Independence Day and March 23 were celebrated and THE Pakistani flag was hoisted with zeal and fervour.

Plea seeking three-year extension in CoAS’s tenure filed in SC ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A plea seeking a three-year extension in Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif’s service was filed in the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday.

A local named Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi said that Zarb-e-Azb, the operation that has been hailed as the bone-breaker of terror outfits, is continuing successfully under the current army chief’s leadership.

The petitioner maintained that Gen Raheel Sharif’s service tenure should be extended to eliminate extremism from the country.

Naqvi stated that situation in Karachi is also moving towards betterment.

During Sharif’s tenure, terror attacks have reduced across the country, the plea states.

The petitioner requested the court to hear the case on January 29. The plea mentions the Federation, President Mamnoon Hussain, and Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif as parties.

The prime minister and the COAS vowed to root-out terrorism from the country after the deadly attack on Army Public School in December 2014.

Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched in June 2014 against militant outfits and hideouts in Waziristan and different tribal areas. As far as relations between the civil and military leaderships of the country go, Nawaz Sharif and the COAS are on the same page on different fronts. The army chief and PM Nawaz earlier visited Saudi Arabia in bid to play their role in reconciliations with Iran.

The two leaders, after meeting the Saudi king, headed to Tehran and met the president.

It should be mentioned here that former army chief General (r) Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani had accepted a three-year extension in his service. On July 24 2010, then Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had extended Kiyani s tenure making him the first fourstar officer to receive an extension from any government.

However, several sections are of the opinion that inevitably there are tensions between the army and the government behind the lauded handshakes.

Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rasheed has said that General Raheel Sharif would not take an extension and from what he knows of the prime minister, one would not be granted.

04 NEWS

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

KILLER QADRI’S SUPPORTERS ‘OCCUPY’ LAHORE’S MALL ROAD LAHORE

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HASSAAN AHMED

HE Mall Road of Lahore remained blocked for several hours on Monday as hundreds of supporters of convicted murderer Mumtaz Qadri staged a sit-in at Faisal Chowk demanding the removal of the death penalty served on the self-confessed killer of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.

Around 1,000 protesters stayed on the Mall Road late into the cold Lahore night reciting Na’ats and chanting slogans which mostly ranged from mild defiance to open threats and abuses. The protesters had erected barbed wires and did not let any traffic move causing a massive gridlock on adjacent roads.

Mumtaz Qadri was awarded death sentence after he killed former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, while he was performing duties as his guard. Qadri exhausted his appeals options after the Supreme Court upheld his death penalty saying in its ruling that objections to blasphemy law did not constitute blasphemy and at any rate, Qadri had no authority to kill the governor. Qadri

recently filed a mercy petition to the president to avoid the death penalty. Qadri’s followers and sympathisers have since held a number of protest demonstrations against his conviction.

On Monday, protesters caused a huge traffic deadlock on the Mall Road as they occupied the square in front of the Punjab

Pakistan ranks 121st of 155 on Gender Inequality Index: UNDP LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The 2015 Human Development Report, released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lahore, urges governments to act now to ensure no one is left behind in the fast-changing world of work.

“With a Human Development Index (HDI) value of 0.538, Pakistan ranks 147th out of 188 countries and territories. Pakistan ranks 121st out of 155 countries in terms of its Gender Inequality Index: only 19.3 per cent of women reach secondary education compared to 46.1 per cent of men, while female participation in the labour market is 24.6 per cent compared to 82.9 per cent for men,” said the UNDP report.

It said fast technological progress, deepening globalisation, aging societies and environmental challenges are rapidly transforming what work means today.

This new world of work presents great opportunities for some, but profound challenges for others.

The report, titled ‘Work for Human Development’, calls for equitable and decent work for all and encourages governments to consider the many kinds of work, such as unpaid care, voluntary, or creative work, that are important for human development.

“The 2015 HDR report is an urgent call to tackle one of the world’s great development challenges – providing decent work and

livelihoods for all. With 64 per cent of its population below the age of 30, it is vital for Pakistan to invest in gainful employment for young people and ensure that the workforce adapts to the rapidly changing demands of today’s world,” said Pakistan UNDP Country Director Marc-André Franche.

South Asia’s HDI value of 0.607 is below the average value of 0.666 for the developing world. While there has been remarkable progress in life expectancy in South Asia, which has increased at almost twice the global rate since 1997, widespread deprivations persist. About 800 million people remain in multidimensional poverty in the region.

Youth unemployment in South Asia ranges from 3.5 per cent in Nepal to 28.7 per cent in Iran. Fostering education, skills and entrepreneurship can help to transform the labour market and access to information communications technology can help develop marketable skills and secure quality work opportunities. Yet, as of 2014, 1.4 billion people in South Asia still lacked access to the internet.

The 2015 HDR report urges countries and societies to promote decent work opportunities and sustainability by improving education, and social protection, particularly for vulnerable groups, and by engaging in collective action and protective legislation to eradicate exploitative or demeaning work.

Assembly causing nuisance to a number of commuters. A number of ambulances were seen stuck in the massive traffic jams. Several patients, lawyers, students, teachers and government employees were also held up in the traffic, some of them for hours. Many of them demanded stern action against the protesters.

Arslan Maqsood, a student who is preparing for his CSS exam and was stuck in traffic, told Pakistan Today that it was unfair to block such an important road as it increased the misery of the commuters significantly. He said that the protesters had torn into pieces the National Action Plan (NAP) by showing open defiance and delivering provocative speeches against the government even as police and other law enforcement agencies kept their distance and let them do whatever they wanted. He said that it would be a defeat of the State if Mumtaz Qadri is released due to the pressure of these protesters.

“The use of loudspeakers at a public place and inciting the participants to violence must be a crime keeping in view the critical security situation of the country,” he maintained.

The protesters were carrying placards to show support for Mumtaz Qadri and demand his release. The religious leaders hailing from the Sunni sect were taking promises from the participants that they would not allow the government to function if Qadri is not released. Some media persons were also asked to shout slogans

in favour of Qadri if they wanted to cover the protest.

Syed Tajammal Hussain, a government employee who works in Punjab Civil Secretariat told Pakistan Today that it took three hours to reach Ganga Ram Hospital from his office because of the traffic jam. He was of the view that government must not allow the protesters to block the Mall Road and should allot a permanent place of protest to them like Nasir Bagh or Race Course Park.

“The traffic problems have significantly increased since the start of construction work on Orange Line Train and whenever a protest happens, commuters suffer badly”, he concluded.

Rana Abdul Rehman, a practicing lawyer, said that some of his clients could not reach his office due to the traffic gridlock on the Mall. He was critical of the protesters as he said that Qadri had been offered due process of law, which was a lot more than he offered to a representative of the State before he brutally gunned him down. He said that the State must not allow the protesters to make a joke of the constitution and judicial process of the country.

Services of Pakistan’s blind diplomat at permanent mission to UN laudable: PM ISLAMABAD APP

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday praised the services of Saima Saleem, the country’s first blind civil servant who is working at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations at Geneva.

The prime minister in an interaction with Saima Saleem, the Second Secretary on Human Rights, during his visit to Switzerland to

participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos, paid tribute to the woman diplomat for her courage and dedication.

He lauded the commitment of Saima Saleem, who he said was not deterred by her disability in discharge of her official duties while serving at an important position

Pakistani migrant killed on Greek-Macedonian border as EU vows tighter security THESSALONIKI AGENCIES

A Pakistani man was stabbed to death on the Greek-Macedonian border on Monday as the European Commission pledged to increase security at a key point for migrants on their route from Greece to northern Europe.

The incident occurred near noman’s-land on the border between Greece and Macedonia, where thousands of migrants of different nationalities gather daily, hoping to secure passage to other destinations in Europe. Two other Pakistanis were hurt in the early morning attack allegedly carried out by Afghans, local police said. Both survivors were hospitalised but one is in critical condition, they said.

Pakistan refuses to allow migrants deported from Greece to disembark from plane in Islamabad No arrests have been made.

Greek media reported that the assailants stole 400 euros ($435) and a cellphone.

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in Geneva since 2013.

The premier said that the government of Pakistan was committed to empowerment of people with disabilities and encouraged their hard work to help them achieve their ambitions.

He wished Saima Saleem the best for her professional life and ex-

pressed confidence that with her steadfastness, she would continue to promote Pakistan’s positive image abroad.

Saima Saleem, 32, joined Foreign Service of Pakistan in 2009 and holds an M. Phil degree in English Literature. She is the country’s first blind civil servant who obtained sixth position all over the country and stood first amongst female candidates in the CSS examinations.

INFORMATION MINISTER REITERATES COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ISLAMABAD APP

The government is committed to freedom of expression as it firmly believes that democracy and independence of media go hand in hand, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on Monday.

Talking to Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan Jean-Francois Cautain, he said that Pakistan highly values its ties with the European Union and intends to enhance cooperation in various areas, mutually beneficial for both countries.

The minister also thanked the EU for granting GSP-plus status to Pakistan and hoped that the European Union would continue its support in this connection, said a press release.

Senator Pervaiz Rashid said that media in Pakistan is not only independent but also highly vibrant in shaping public opinion and raising awareness among the masses about

various issues.

He said that the government of PML-N is fully cognizant of the security needs of media houses and journalists. It is making all possible efforts to create a congenial atmosphere where media persons can perform their professional duties without any fear, he added.

The information minister also briefed the ambassador about the measures taken by the government to ensure safety of journalists without obstructing their access.

Jean-Francois Cautain assured the minister that the EU would continue to cooperate with Pakistan in areas of countering terrorism, strengthening democracy and issues of human rights.

The ambassador also said that the EU was preparing a report on two years of GSP-plus status for Pakistan which would be shared with the government of Pakistan and presented to EU members as well.

The EU ambassador also praised the level of independence provided to media in Pakistan.

FOREIGN NEWS 05

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

AfghAn PreSIdenT vowS To ‘bury’ ISlAMIC STATe frAnChISe KABUL

Malaysia warns of Islamic State threat as alleged IS video surfaces KUALA LAMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the militant Islamic State (IS) group is a “very real” threat to the country, hours after a video claiming to be from the regional wing of IS warned of attacks in the Muslim-majority nation for arresting its supporters.

Police said the video, believed to feature operatives from the militant group Katibah Nusantara speaking under the IS logo, was significant because, if confirmed, it was the first from IS in Malay.

“This threat is very real and my government takes it very seriously,” Najib told a conference on extremism.

“This is a challenge that faces us all around the world.

We are far from immune to this danger in Malaysia.”

Police said on Sunday they had arrested seven members of an IS cell who were planning attacks across the country.

The suspected militants were carrying bullets, jihadi literature, IS flags and propaganda videos.

Ten days ago, Malaysia arrested a suspected militant believed to have been planning a suicide attack in Kuala Lumpur.

The video that surfaced online warned Malaysia against the crackdown on IS supporters.

Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, director of the police counter-terrorism unit, said the video suggested militants in the country were becoming more organised. The contents of the video have not been independently verified.

Security experts in the region believe the IS footprint is still light in Southeast Asia because militants are jostling to be its regional leader. AGENCIES

Twenty-five dead in suicide bomb attack on north Cameroon market DOUALA: Four suicide bombers killed about 25 people in a village in Cameroon’s Far North region on Monday, a local official said, the most deadly in a string of recent attacks in an area beset by violence connected to militant group Boko Haram. Two bombers struck the Bodo central market while others hit the town’s main entrance and exit points, the official said. “There was a quadruple suicide bombing in the village of Bodo this morning. There are around 25 deaths and several wounded,” he said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Cameroonian troops form part of an 8,700-strong regional force created to defeat Boko Haram, which has waged a six-year campaign to carve out a separate state in northeastern Nigeria. Boko Haram has stepped up attacks outside Nigeria over the past year, including in Cameroon, Chad and Niger, threatening regional security. AGENCIES

P

AGENCIES

RESIDENT Ashraf Ghani has vowed to “bury” the Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan, a report said, after Washington granted the Unites States military legal authority to strike militants in the country.

The group, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq, has made alarming inroads in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province, as the country grapples with a resurgent Taliban insurgency. Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for a

deadly gun and bomb siege targeting the Pakistani consulate in eastern Jalalabad city on January 13, the group’s first major attack in an Afghan city. In recent months Afghan forces backed by US drones launched a scorched earth offensive to beat back Islamic State in Nangarhar, where the group’s reign of terror has displaced thousands of people.

“This could be a point of no return for Daeshm we will bury Daesh,” Ghani told BBC in an interview released Monday, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

“Afghans are now motivated by revenge. They (Islamic State) have confronted the wrong people,”

Ghani said on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos. The US State Department earlier this month formally designated the group’s affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan — which calls itself “Khorasan Province”, as a terrorist organisation.

The name Khorasan refers to a historic region which includes parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and neighbouring countries.

The White House this month also gave the US military legal authority to target the group’s fighters in Afghanistan, the first such authorisation for military action against the group outside Iraq and Syria, the Wall

Gandhi statue defaced with ‘ISIS zindabad’ chalking in India NEWS DESK Indian nationalist leader Gandhi’s statue in Dudu tehsil of Rajasthan, India was defaced by vandals on Monday with the name of Islamic State militant group written across it. Messages in support of the extremist group were painted across the statue, threatening of terror attacks to be carried out on January 26, the Indian Republic Day. The incident comes amidst National Investigation Agency’s nationwide raids, which has witnessed arrest of 14 suspected terrorists. Police say an FIR has been launched and an investigation initiated. “Efforts are being taken to ascertain the identity of the accused,” said the police. Following the Pathankot attack, India has been on high

alert. Security measures in the capital Delhi has been increased, with French President Francois Hollande being the chief guest at the Republic Day parade on Tuesday.

On 2 January 2016, a heavily

armed group attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force. Four attackers and two security forces personnel were killed in the initial battle.

Bangladesh ex-PM Zia ordered in court on sedition charge DHAKA AGENCIES

Bangladesh opposition chief Khaleda Zia was ordered Monday to appear in court to answer a sedition charge, in another blow to the beleaguered former premier which will likely anger her supporters.

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court accepted a case filed against the 70-year-old for questioning the official number of deaths during Bangladesh’s war of independence against Pakistan in 1971. Zia was ordered to appear in the Dhaka court on March 3 over a speech delivered in December in which she said there were “controversies” over the numbers killed. Her lawyer, Khandker Mahbub Hossain, said the case brought by a pro-

government lawyer should be dismissed as there was “no element of sedition” in Zia’s comments.

“Under the relevant law, sedition takes place if anybody attempts to depose the government or makes a statement provoking the people against the government, but Zia has not done so by her statement,” he told reporters. The govt says three million people were killed in the war when then East Pakistan broke away to become Bangladesh. Independent researchers however say the overall death toll was much lower. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s govt set up a war crimes tribunal in 2010, paving the way for prosecution of opposition leaders for atrocities committed during the struggle. Four politicians have since been convicted and executed and about a dozen leaders of an opposition alliance have been found guilty.

Street Journal reported. The militants have managed to attract disaffected Taliban fighters increasingly lured by the group’s signature brutality. In a sign of their growing reach in Afghanistan, the group has taken to the airwaves with a 90-minute Pashto-language radio show called “Voice of the Caliphate”. The government has said it is trying to block the broadcast, which is beamed from an undisclosed location and aimed at winning new recruits. “The militant network is on the run in Nangarhar,” Ghani told CNN in another interview in Davos. “They have committed unspeakable atrocities there… We are starting to drive them out.”

Indonesian province bans Ahmadis from ‘spreading faith’ JAKARTA: A tiny Indonesian province has banned the minority Ahmadiyah community from conducting religious activities, a move activists say raises concerns over intolerance in the Muslim-majority nation. The move

by Bangka-Belitung, made up of two main islands off South Sumatra, is the latest in a series in which religious minorities including Christians and Shia Muslims have faced harassment and complained of a lack of protection. “The Ahmadiyah have a right to live in Bangka,” Fery Insani, a senior official in the local government, told Reuters. “In a meeting with community leaders and religious figures, all of us have agreed that it is forbidden for them to conduct activities like spreading their faith.”

Indonesia has the world’s largest population of Muslims, the majority of whom adhere to moderate Sunni beliefs. But hardline Indonesian Muslims accuse Ahmadiyah and other minorities of apostasy. Around 1,000 members of a group called Gafatar were evacuated from their homes following violence in West Kalimantan last week, media said. Authorities have outlawed the organisation which they describe as radical and dangerous. Members of the tiny Ahmadiyah community on the tin-rich Bangka island said they had faced intimidation and official pressure to leave their homes, according to rights groups.

“We hope the police can guarantee security for the Ahmadiyah people in Bangka and that the local government guarantee our rights as citizens,” said Yendra Budiana, a Jakarta-based spokesperson for the Indonesia Ahmadiyah Community. A spokesperson for the religious affairs ministry declined to comment on the issue. AGENCIES

India, France sign Rafale fighter plane accord, but talks on price to go on NEW DELHI AGENCIES

India signed an inter-governmental agreement on Monday to buy 36 French-built Rafale fighter planes, but the leaders of both countries said there was still work to do to finalise financial terms after months of talks.

The deal, worth an estimated $9 billion, was to have been the centrepiece of a visit to India by French President Francois Hollande, invited as guest of honour for Tuesday’s Republic Day parade. But Hollande and his host, Narendra Modi, both said further talks were needed to finalise terms of the government-to-government deal, which the Indian prime minister had announced when he visited France last spring. Hollande described the deal on Rafale as “a decisive step”, adding: “There remain financial issues which will be sorted out in a couple of days.”

Both leaders played up their interest in cooperation in the fight against international militant

groups, with Hollande saying France and its allies would strike “again and again” against the mil-

itant Islamic State group. “ISIS is provoking us in the worst possible way,” Hollande said, citing the

widely used acronym for Islamic State, which controls parts of Syria and Iraq, and was behind several attacks on Paris in November that killed 130 people. Hollande also noted that French air force Rafales had proven their effectiveness in the ongoing campaign of air strikes against Islamic State. Hollande and Modi stepped into the deal last year, ordering government-to-government talks after commercial negotiations with planemaker Dassault Aviation had collapsed.

The leaders agreed to scale back the original plan for 126 Rafale planes to just 36 in flyaway condition, to meet the Indian Air Force’s urgent needs, as it faces an assertive China and long-time foe Pakistan. The fighter deal is part of a $150 billion military overhaul that India has launched, drawing global arms makers into one of the world’s biggest markets. “France is a special friend. Eighteen years ago, France was the first country

we signed a strategic partnership with. We are now here to take it higher,” Modi said at a joint press conference following his talks with Hollande. In other business, France’s Alstom signed an agreement with Indian Railways to produce 800 locomotives. Hollande said an agreement for France’s Areva to build six nuclear reactors in India should be concluded within a year.“From nuclear cooperation to railway locomotives, we are sowing the seeds of an evertightening web of cooperation between our two countries, ” Modi said. French companies will invest $10 billion in India over the next five years, chiefly in the industrial sector, Finance Minister Michel Sapin said earlier on Monday in New Delhi. As part of the Rafale deal, there would be significant “offsets”, or related French investments that Modi hopes will support his “Make in India” initiative to boost the manufacturing sector.

06 KARACHI

WEATHER UPDATES TUESDAY

270C 160C

WEDNESDAY

270C 160C

THURSDAY

280C 180C

FRIDAY

270C 160C

Tuesday, 26 January 2016

HeAltH mInISter AccuSeS medIA OF ‘mISrePOrtIng’ AS tHAr deAtHS tOP 100 KARACHI

A

STAFF REPORT

S the death toll from malnutrition in draught-hit Tharparkar topped 100, Sindh Health Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar said on Monday the media was ‘misreporting’ the number of children’s deaths in the high arid district.

Official estimates put the death toll around 112, with over 100 deaths reported in January alone, but Dahar maintained that the casualties were far less.

“Only 32 children died in the past month,” he said, adding, “Doctors in Thar are complaining that the media is reporting incorrect figures.” Dahar said, “There are gynaecologists and child specialists posted at every hospital.” He said doctors in Thar had been complaining about media’s reporting misleading numbers, adding that “one doctor in Thar has to do the work of ten doctors somewhere else. We should be appreciating their performance.”

Tharparkar Deputy Commissioner Khuda Dino Shoro who visited Mithi’s Civil Hospital recently said the situation was under control as the government had taken prompt steps for provision of facilities in all health units of the district. But, people carrying their ailing children to hospitals are complaining about a lack of proper medication, staff and related facilities. Villagers

have also lodged complaints about unavailability of clean drinking water.

Civil society has also expressed concerns over the increasing death toll and the government’s failure to provide basic health facilities in remote villages of Thar. The Opposition in the Sindh Assembly meanwhile raised hue and cry over the deaths in Thar. Slogans of “shame, shame” reverberated the House as the Opposition accused the provincial government of mishandling the matter.

HeAltH UnIts In sHAmbles: Reports said health centres in drought-hit Thar have been functioning with minimal facilities and under deplorable conditions for the past many years. Over 1,700 deaths of children have been reported from Thar in the past three years alone.

Some 99 children have lost their lives due to the outbreak of waterborne diseases and a lack of treatment facilities.

Officials lament the shortage of doctors, paramedics and health professionals. At least 300 more doctors and hundreds more paramedics are required urgently in the health units in Thar.

Currently, there are only 141 doctors and only 14 ambulances serving 265 functional health units in Thar. Out of these, the Health Department manages only 92 health units, including six rural health centres, four taluka hospitals, a few dispensaries and the Civil Hospital of

Mithi. However, many others are in shambles. The government’s tall claims of providing healthcare facilities to nearly 1.5 million people are questionable, since many of these facilities are left closed and unattended. Dispensaries and basic health units (BHUs) are often bolted shut, and patients cannot go inside.

In some cases, patients are forced to sit on the floor since there is no proper sitting arrangement or furniture. The shortage of lady doctors is another problem for many villagers, especially women with young children.

A CRIsIs foR HeAltH woRKeRs: Villagers across far flung villages of Hothiar, Malanhor Weera, Lakhmiar, Khakhanhar Bajeer, Bangal Rind, Sobhe Jo Tar and Sahooram Paro have made similar complaints.

Sindhu Gares, a nurse posted at a dispensary in Hothiar, said that due to poverty and malnutrition, most children, pregnant women and elderly have contracted various chronic diseases. Gares was posted two months ago at a health unit that had been closed until it was taken over by the Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS). Sat Ram Roopani of HANDS said that after the outbreak of diseases, 40 trained nurses and 20 additional staff were deployed at 20 dispensaries in the area to immediately treat children and elders.

RUMPUS IN PA OVER THAR DEATHS KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly’s Monday session witnessed a rumpus on the issue of deaths of malnourished children in Tharparkar district. During the question-hour, Sindh Health Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar told the House that the situation in Thar was contrary to the facts, adding that the Opposition was just making a noise for nothing. Dahar said that reports about deaths of more than hundred children in Thar were incorrect. Meanwhile, lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a walk out of the Sindh Assembly after they were disallowed to talk on the issue. STAFF REPORT

Plea filed to know whereabouts of Pak prisoners missing from Indian jails

KARACHI: A groom receives a dot on his forehead with Sindoor during a mass marriage ceremony on Monday. reuters

Five SHOs transferred, two suspended for involvement in unlawful activities KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Five station house officers (SHOs) of Karachi East were transferred while two others were suspended on Monday over alleged involvement in unlawful activities.

According to details, the SSP, while taking notice of the involvement of the SHOs of East Zone in incidents involving illegal detention and extortion suspended SHOs of Gulshan-eIqbal and Mobina Town police stations and transferred five policemen to other police stations. The SSP also advised these police officials to concentrate on assigned tasks and avoid indulgence in irrelevant and illegal activities. He also warned that the officials found involved in negligence towards duties would not be spared and strict action would be taken against them.

60 Hindu couples tie the knot at mass wedding ceremony KARACHI AGENCIES

Hailing from underprivileged families, sixty Hindu couples tied the knot at a mass wedding ceremony at the YMCA Ground here on Sunday.

It was a carnival-like atmosphere and the parents of those getting married were overjoyed.

Besides the hundreds of relatives of the couples, many more – including members of the majority Muslim community - came to witness the weddings that have become an important highlight of the Hindu community’s social calendar in the port city.

“We couldn’t afford the wedding expenses and were planning on a small ceremony at home,” said Radha, mother of bride Laxmi.

“Seeing so many people here, especially when they stop by and ask if we need anything, means a lot. I couldn’t have given my daughter that. It’s more than we expected,” she added, beaming.

A similar story was heard by most of the families standing beside their daughters or sons, a story of being unable to afford the wedding.

As a result, they approached the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) to include their children as part of the

CMYK

mass wedding ceremony held annually. PHC Patron-in-chief Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said the majority of couples at the ceremony hailed from various districts and towns of Sindh, including Tharparkar, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Jam Mohammad, as well as Karachi.

“We help with arranged or love marriages only when the families are involved in every step of the decision making. Similarly, it is the same case with inter-caste marriages. We don’t get involved in their personal squabbles and ensure that the process is clear to all the parties involved,” he said.

KARACHI: A constitutional petition has been lodged with the Sindh High Court regarding the 189 Pakistani prisoners missing from Indian jails as per a report received by the Pakistani authorities. In its petition, the Ansar Burney Trust requested the court to issue orders to the government and prime minister to expedite their efforts and raise this humanitarian issue with Indian authorities concerned without any further delay to find out the whereabouts of all the missing Pakistani prisoners. In the petition, the Trust’s counsel submitted that they were shocked at the government and Prime Minister Sharif’s silence and ignorance over this painful report. The counsel submitted that it was a matter of record that on May 31, 2008, a bilateral Agreement on Consular Access was executed between Pakistan and India under which both the countries, exchanges a detailed list of prisoners of each country lodged in other country’s prisons twice each year ie on January 01 and July 01. The petitioner argued that in continuation and pursuance of this agreement, on January 01, 2016, both the countries exchanged their respective lists of such prisoners, through diplomatic channels, but a major difference/discrepancy in the Indian list was found, as Pakistani list claimed 460 prisoners lodged in Indian Jails while Indian list confirmed only 271 of Pakistani prisoners.

Reportedly the Pakistani list claims 460 Pakistani prisoners lodged in Indian jails (including 113 fishermen), while the Indian authorities have only acknowledged and confirmed 271 prisoners, (including only 17 fishermen), lodged in their jails, whereas the whereabouts of 189 prisoners is glaringly denied by India. STAFF REPORT

PA passes Sindh minimum wages bill KARACHI: The provincial assembly of Sindh on Monday passed the Sindh Minimum Wages Bill 2015, unanimously.

According to details, the bill – the Sindh Minimum Wages Bill, 2015 – had been presented to the House by Senior Minister for Education and Parliamentary Affairs Nisar Ahmed Khuhro. The House meanwhile sent three other bills, the Sindh Allied Health Professional Council Bill, 2014; the Sindh Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Bill, 2015 and the Sindh Companies Profits (Workers’ Participation) Bill, 2015, to the standing committees concerned for perusal. STAFF REPORT

KARACHI 07

Tuesday, 26 January 2016

dg lauds rangers, police for preserving peace KARACHI: Sindh Rangers Director General MajorGeneral Bilal Akbar said on Monday that peace in Karachi has been restored with the efforts of the paramilitary force and police. Addressing a ceremony here, Akbar said that foreign investors were now investing in Karachi without any fear. He said that crimes would soon be eliminated from the city, adding that the incidents of extortion and targeted killings had dropped drastically. The DG further said that a comprehensive plan had been formulated for elimination of street crimes from Karachi. STAFF REPORT

ttP operative apprehended with weapons HYDeRAbAD: Local police on Monday arrested a terrorist having links with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a crackdown on Nooriabad area. Weapons were also seized during the raid. Police officials said the raid was carried out on a tip-off about the presence of a terrorist in the area. Kalashnikovs, three hand grenades, 10 kilogrammes of explosive material and hundreds of bullets were recovered from the TTP operative. STAFF REPORT

two killed as truck overturns onto car near nowshero Feroz nowsHeRo feRoZ: At least two persons were killed when a speeding truck got out of control and overturned on a car in Halani area near Nowshero Feroz on Monday. The bodies of the dead were shifted to a local hospital and later handed over to the heirs after medicolegal formalities. The truck driver had managed to flee from the site of the accident however. Police have impounded both the vehicles and are making raids for the arrest of the truck driver. STAFF REPORT

YdA cAllS OFF StrIke AFter HeAltH SecretArY’S ASSurAnce KARACHI

t

STAFF REPORT

HE Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s Young Doctors’ Association on Monday called off their strike after assurance from the Sindh health secretary about payment of their monthly stipends.

Earlier, house-job officers and postgraduate doctors under the YDA’s banner continued their protest demonstration for a fourth day outside the Najmuddin Auditorium against non-payment of their monthly stipends. The elective surgeries and OPD services also remained suspended due to the protest.

Hundreds of patients who came to the JPMC from Karachi and other parts of the province had to return since the out-patient departments (OPDs) were closed due to the protest.

The protesting doctors had blocked Rafiqui Shaheed Road for a while and staged a sit-in, but law enforcement agencies compelled them to keep their protest to the hospital

KARACHI: Attendants along with their patients run from pillar to post at Jinnah Hospital during a strike called by Young Doctors’ Association. ONLINe

premises.

Meanwhile, JPMC Executive Director Prof Anis Bhatti and other administrative officials while briefing the media persons said the YDA’s protest demonstration was against the rule and regulations of the Pakistan Medical and Dental

Council (PMDC). They said the administration had the right to cancel the registration of protesting doctors.

Later, talks took place between the YDA representatives, JPMC administration and senior officials of the Health Department at Sindh Secretariat where young doctors called

off their protest demonstration after the health secretary held out assurances about addressing their problems. YDA General Secretary Dr Yousuf confirmed that doctors had called off their protest demonstration after successful negotiations with the health secretary.

two crushed to death by train near ghotki GHotKI: At least two people were killed and another wounded after they were hit by a train here on Monday.

Police officials said that three people were hit by a train while crossing a railroad near Daharki railway station.

They said two of them were crushed to death while the third was critically wounded. The bodies and the injured were moved to a hospital where the condition of the injured was stated to be serious. INP

two wounded in separate firing incidents KARACHI: A youngster was shot and wounded when he put up resistance during a robbery in Orangi Town on Monday. Rescue sources said that Asif, 25, a resident of Orangi Town, was shot and wounded by unidentified bandits when he offered resistance near Brohi Hotel. He was ferried to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for treatment.

In another incident, 35-year-old Mumtaz was wounded by unidentified armed men near Pakistan Bazaar. He was ferried to ASH for treatment. STAFF REPORT

FIA arrests two over selling fake watches KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday arrested two persons selling bogus watches named after a known brand from Karachi’s Saddar area. According to details, the FIA’s Corporate Crime Cell raided a shop on Abdullah Haroon Road on a complaint filed by a Japanese watch brand. Two suspects, who were identified as Tahir Alam and Imran, were arrested during the raid. Thousands of watches were confiscated in the raid. STAFF REPORT

Pangolin succumbs to gunshot wounds KARACHI STAFF REPORT

A pangolin rescued Saturday after it was seriously wounded by a security guard near Zamzama Park in DHA area succumbed to its gunshot wounds at a vet-

erinary clinic in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area on Monday.

A statement issued from the Wildlife Department said the pangolin’s dead body had been taken over by the department. The pangolin weighed 22kg and was almost four feet in length.

Sindh wildlife conservator Saeed Akhtar Balouch said legal action would be taken against the offenders.

The pangolin was reportedly fired upon five times by a security guard who saw it as a threat to his life. “The animal was already shot and injured near my home when I reached there with my family.

I couldn’t identify the species as it had curled into a ball,” said Nuvera Nasir Sheikh, an Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture student, who had made an effort to find help to rescue the animal.

According to her, it took her four hours when help finally arrived during which the animal continued to bleed.

The animal was shifted to a clinic in Gulshan in the early hours of Saturday by Dr Ali Ayaz and his assistant, both veterinarians.

“It’s an adult male pangolin. I have little hope that he would survive as he has suffered extreme blood loss and damage to internal organs,” Ayaz had said.

KARACHI: A woman holds a placard as she sits on debris of residential quarters razed to pave way for construction of a parking lot for lawmakers of Provincial Assembly, during a protest on Monday. ONLINe

Demolition of SA servant quarters: Pleas of homeless fall on deaf ears KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Pleas of the people affected by demolition of Sindh Assembly’s servant quarters have fallen on deaf ears. Reportedly, the servant quarters were razed to make way for construction of a parking lot for lawmakers of the provincial assembly.

Per reports, residents of servant quarters, including women and children, are forced to spend their nights in the open.

They have vowed to continue their protest until the PPP-led Sindh government provides with alternate houses.

According to details, no other accommodation or compensation has been provided to these affected people by the Sindh government whereas no prior eviction notice was issued to them. The protesters said that contrary to their promise of food, clothing and shelter, the Sindh government had snatched everything from them.

On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Haleem Adil Sheikh arranged a relief bus for the affected residents in which basic facilities including washroom and kitchen are present.

Other PTI members of Sindh Assembly Khurram Sher Zaman and Seema Zia also reached the spot and expressed their sympathies.

08 COMMENT

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

Will to fight terrorism?

Extension for COAS And institution building

G

EN Raheel Sharif added to his stature by declaring months ahead of his retirement that he did not believe in extension and would relinquish his post in November this year. With the army playing a dominant role in the country’s polity, conjectures of all sorts begin months before the end of the tenure of an army chief. In the case of Gen Sharif, they started over a year before the date of retirement. The announcement will dismay people like Musharraf who had strongly supported an extension for him. The announcement would put to rest the ongoing speculation. This will also give the political leadership enough time to take a decision about the next army chief.

The argument that was being advanced to support an extension revolved round the idea of continuity.

Since Gen Sharif was leading the army in the war against the terrorists, it was argued that with his departure the task might suffer. The PPP government had used the same bogus argument to grant a threeyear extension to former COAS Kayani, who like his predecessor Musharraf, did pretty little to contain the terrorists despite the extension. Gen Sharif, who is setting historic precedents by focusing on issues that had been ignored before, would have acted inappropriately by following an example which has not been conducive to institution building. An extension is bound to give birth to heart burning among senior officers who have legitimate expectations of getting the post if the incumbent retires on time.

There is a need to pay attention to institution building rather than depending on individuals. There should be no dearth of good commanders in a professional army to replace Gen Sharif. The decisions taken on important issues were discussed in the corps commanders meetings. There is no reason to believe that his successor would not deal with the existential threat faced by the country with the vigour and resolve of the present COAS. Similarly, the measures taken to punish the black sheep in the forces would also continue.

Obama’s message More ‘do more’

T

HE New Year has brought considerable security concerns, to say the least. Zarb-e-Azb had, without a doubt, decimated the enemy’s habitat in the tribal area and the Taliban were on the run for more than a year now. However, since they have been able to recalibrate enough to strike repeatedly once again, obviously more will be needed than the hardware of the Waziristan Operation. And, expectedly, the latest downside has not been lost on our friends outside Pakistan, especially the United States, not to mention the international media.

Once more the White House has chosen to fall back on the ‘do more’ demand. It went away when Zarb-e-Azb took off, and was almost forgotten when Islamabad first facilitated the Kabul-Taliban dialogue.

But it resurfaced for a while when Mullah Omar’s death, and Pakistan’s complicity in hiding it, was leaked. Things were fine again as another attempt at negotiations was playing out. Now, though, it has come back not because of any differences between Washington’s expectations and our actions, but rather the disturbing new trend in our backyard and the region.

Naturally, the Pakistani leadership has not taken Obama’s suggestions too well. They did not like the mention of the long war in his State of the Union Address, and they were not too pleased with the ‘do more’ one more time. Yet they cannot deny that despite the successes of military operation so far, the inability to move forward on NAP, etc, has led to considerable loss of initiative. Nothing pressed this in more than the Charsadda attack. Promises of ‘never again’ after the APS attack, and countless other slogans, did not ring so loud. People are, naturally, more apprehensive now, and many are questioning the government’s ability to protect their children in their schools. The government is advised to take this disturbing trend of increased attacks seriously.

Nobody will be able to say much if we take the lead in cleansing the land, truly, of terrorists “of all hues and colours”.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

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

I

The curse for our social fabric

Yasmeen aftab ali

B

ACHA Khan University attack was a Black Day for Pakistan. The purpose of such attacks is undoubtedly to cripple a society with fear, destroy the social fabric by creating divisions, creating chaos and mayhem, establish lawlessness as the law of the land and bring the state apparatus to its knees.

Regarding the Charsadda tragedy, many friends from KP tell me there had been a general alert for a security threat for the past few days before terror struck again. Two questions basic in nature raise their head. One: did the institutions like courts, schools, universities that are enclosed buildings and thereby better manageable and can be monitored, beef up their security?

Two: who were the local collaborators for the attack? Reportedly, three suicide bombers had entered District Charsadda, at least two of which were of Afghan descent.

Let us get the basics clear here.

No one must be allowed to challenge the sovereignty of a state. These people who are at the forefront of terrorism are mere pawns of vested interests being used to serve political interests.

Yes, there can be and there are those directing the orchestra from abroad. To quote Sartaj Aziz who was addressing the Foreign Ministers’ Forum at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, ‘the country had ample evidence of Indian interference and promotion of terrorism in

the country.’ The reality is, even if this is true, there are people or groups within who believe that what they are doing is for God and that theirs is the right belief to subscribe to.

Military action alone cannot curb this mindset. To curb the mindset, funding of terrorist outfits must be choked, the collaborators, protagonists picked up and dealt with. The need of good governance assumes great importance, with better distribution of funds to education, health care, employment opportunity among masses. It must trickle down to grass-roots levels.

It is important to ensure divisions within the social fabric of the society by vested interests are not allowed. Only inclusive steps emanating from good governance can deliver. Not military steps alone. The divisions of ethnicity, caste, religion must be overcome. This is an uphill task. Bringing in the underprivileged in the mainstream must be a concentrated effort of the government. Madrassas reforms are a part of this concentrated effort.

This is one of the salient features of NAP as well.

A registration of these seminaries has become a must. Equally important is the syllabus being taught there. This must be centralised and developed on positive lines to make the students positive and contributing members of the society. The quality of education offered in these seminaries offers no employment opportunities to its graduates, its students. It is equally important to know exactly where each seminary is being funded from. Regarding Punjab, ‘After nearly a year-long denial, authorities in the Punjab government have finally admitted that some 17 Muslim and non-Muslim countries were contributing hundreds of millions of rupees to around 1,000 religious seminaries in the province. The disclosure was made by the special branch of Punjab police in a secret document submitted to Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges Senator Col (retd) Tahir Mashhadi.’ (February 17, 2015) Yet another report published in Pakistan Today says, “Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Sukhera on Wednesday said that 147 madrassas in the province are receiving foreign funds. Sukhera informed the Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges (SSCRPP) that there were in fact nearly 150 madrassas that were receiving funds from foreign countries.” (March 4, 2015) According to another newspaper report, “Dur-

ing Friday’s session of the Senate, Minister of State for Interior Baligur Rehman informed the House that Middle Eastern countries namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran and the United Arab Emirates were giving aid to religious seminaries in three provinces. According to the report presented before the Senate, 23 religious seminaries in the country are receiving foreign assistance. Out of the 23 seminaries, five belong to the Shia sect and are located in Balochistan. Other seminaries are based in KP, Sindh and Balochistan and are part of the Sunni sect. No information was given with regards to the province of Punjab. However, reports have said that the seminaries in Punjab are not receiving any assistance.” (January 30, 2015) Michael Busch writing for Foreign Policy in Focus, discusses WikiLeaks cable stating that Saudi financed madrassas are more widespread in Pakistan and reports findings of Bryan Hunt, thenprincipal officer at the US consulate in Lahore, who reported a string of troubling findings on his forays into southern Punjab, where he “was repeatedly told that a sophisticated jihadi recruitment network had been developed in the Multan, Bahawalpur, and Dera Ghazi Khan Divisions”.

(May 26, 2011) ‘Locals claim that the Deobandi or Ahl-e-Hadith maulana will generally be introduced to the family through these organisations.

He will work to convince the parents that their poverty is a direct result of their family’s deviation from “the true path of Islam” through “idolatrous” worship at local Sufi shrines and/or with local Sufi Pirs. The maulana suggests that the quickest way to return to “favour” would be to devote the lives of one or two of their sons to Islam. The maulana will offer to educate these children at his madrassa and to find them employment in the service of Islam. The concept of “martyrdom” is often discussed and the family is promised that if their sons are “martyred”, both the sons and the family will attain “salvation” and the family will obtain God’s favour in this life, as well. An immediate cash payment is finally made to the parents to compensate the family for its “sacrifice” to Islam.”

Then there are those who pull the strings from across the borders as pointed out by Aziz.

We need to understand that we must meet and overcome the challenge facing us. We do not have a choice.

Do we have the will to fight terrorism?

Yasmeen Aftab Ali is a lawyer, academic and political analyst. She has authored a book titled ‘A Comparative Analysis of Media & Media Laws in Pakistan.’ She can be contacted at: yasmeenali62@gmail.com and tweets at @yasmeen_9.

The way Londeners carry umbrellas Gun culture in Pakistan Peshawar just a year ago a hundred and forty seven persons were shot dead in the Army Public School, most of them innocent children.

Generally, in Pakistan, there is no shortage of firearms. The results are for everyone to see in Karachi, for example, in the armed conflicts in Landhi, and elsewhere in the city.

If the evidence against guns is strong enough then why are there so many guns, and why are they so easily available?

Good question (which is what you say when you don’t know).

According to the Chairman of the Pakistan Ordnance factory more than a year ago, Pakistan is selling guns to over forty countries, bringing in over $20 million in annual revenue. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Pakistan is the third largest importer of arms, behind the USA which ranks sixth as an importer… but first as an exporter.

In addition, Pakistan possesses a huge cottage industry in weapons which makes it possible for individuals to obtain guns even more easily.

Any attempt to take away from this industry is unlikely to be viewed favourably, and understandably so, it is a livelihood for many families. But this, combined with almost no monitoring of gun ownership means that people in Pakistan are extremely well armed. When buying firearms there is no need to provide a reason for possessing them, no references are sought, no history of violence belonging to the individual buying the arms is searched for. With so many firearms readily available, the public almost looks for novel ways of using them. The tradition of firing in the air in celebration at important occasions,

Rabia ahmed

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ow much evidence does one need to prove that guns are best kept out of civilian life?

In the last few months alone: an attack in Paris in which a hundred and twenty persons died, a shooting in a school in the US in which ten persons died, another shooting in California in which fourteen persons and the killers themselves were killed.

In Canada, a national registry of firearms had only recently been started when following a protest the preceding government, the one before Trudeau’s, closed the registry down. Now, only a few months after the closure four persons have been shot dead in the sort of small rural community where people own guns and hunt, the sort of community that dominated the protest against the firearm registry.

Although firearms are banned in public in Pakistan many persons carry them openly in the tribal areas prompting Michael Palin of Monty Python fame to observe that ‘Pathans carry guns the way Londoners carry umbrellas’. In the tribal areas of the KP which bear a startling resemblance to the American wild west, the law permits private ownership of even heavy weapons such as rocket propelled grenades and rockets, and guns such as AK-47s virtually constitute part of a man’s attire. No surprise then that in KP twenty one persons were recently tragically shot dead in a school in Charsadda, and in nearby

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once restricted to tribal areas, has caught on to become a common practice at weddings in cities where it has caused many accidents and deaths.

If you apply his quote to physical security, it is as Joseph Krutch said, ‘Security is not a question of how much you have but how much you can do without.’ Perhaps because like money there is so little security available that it is now a status symbol in Pakistan. There is no indication that armed guards help. Remember the case of Salmaan Taseer shot dead by his own armed guard Mumtaz Qadri. Qadri became a national hero for shooting his employer following his (Taseer’s) courageous condemnation of the infamous blasphemy law. Meantime, the public does without any security at all. Our school children lose their lives when they try to get an education and as a result of VIP’s quest for safety. You wonder how things fit together. what can be done to remove guns?

Regulation does help. Compared to the US where firearm regulation is much more lax, Canada, with its greater regulation, has substantially fewer shooting incidents.

Australia has a homicide rate around one-eighth of Pakistan’s.

There gun ownership laws were considerably tightened by John Howard’s government in the 1990s following the massacre at Port Arthur.

Pakistan has among the most liberal firearm laws in the world. Anyone with a license can buy a gun.

Only a fraction of the firearms present in Pakistan are registered. There is no assessment of suitability for gun ownership, no training regarding its use and no restriction on the number of guns owned by an individual. The incidence of gun violence in Pakistan is even greater than in the US. Weapons have their place in

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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every country and that place is with the military, not with individuals.

Pakistan’s weapons cottage industry must be diverted into proper channels, which isn’t easy. Arms industries everywhere pose a threat for the entire international community. A study conducted by SIPRI finds that more than half of all world weapons exported are from the US and Russia, followed… by quite a large gap,

by China, Germany and France.

“The flow of arms to Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, and the Middle East increased significantly between 2005-09 and 2010-14, while there was a notable decrease in the flow to Europe,” the study says. This closely corresponds to the prevalence of conflict vs peace around the world. Which came first, the chicken or the egg, is a relevant question here, an interesting one.

If it is difficult for Pakistan to divert the arms it produces into other channels, combating those other huge interests is almost an insurmountable task.

Some countries have managed to keep violence down. Hong Kong is among those with an extremely low incidence of gun violence. It is the job of civilian governments to keep peace within the country and one of the ways of doing this is to study models around the world in an effort to learn from them. Farming this job out to the army within the civilian arena is a short sighted, short term measure.

Debate on this issue as in others should be initiated and tighter regulations on who buys guns and why put in place. And as in most other spheres, the problem should also be handled at the school level where children must be taught the value of peace, in an attempt to remove the glamour surrounding guns and violence, placing it around peace instead, where it belongs.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 09

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

Editor’s mail

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

Fax: +92-42-32535230 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Priority Davos or Charsadda

The real enemy Time to take the war on terror to where it belongs

sohail PaRwaz

T

HE attack on Bacha Khan University was exactly like the way APS Peshawar was attacked in December 2014. Nevertheless, the similarities are too many, like the time as both the institutions were attacked in the early morning; both the sacred institutions are situated in the KPK province of Pakistan; a large number of innocent students were killed in both the gory carnages; the terrorists selected the foggy months of winter in both the attacks; for both the events the Indian intelligence agency RAW was sturdily doubted right away; however, the attackers in both the cases had last minute contact with their handlers in Afghanistan. With such amazing resemblance in both the events and with innumerable parallels, the objective of our enemy has surfaced as quite obvious and alarming: ruin the future and take the nation back into Stone Age. On Wednesday, January 20, 2016, a group of unidentified gunmen entered Bacha Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda town and opened fire on students and faculty members as they gathered at the University for a poetry recital (mushahira) to commemorate the death anniversary of a progressive activist Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan aka Bacha Khan whom the university is named after. Currently about 3,000 students are enrolled in this institution. The armed assailants scaled university walls and in first go targeted the boys’ hostel where they opened fire on the students who were resting in their rooms. The bullets showers took 21 lives while more than 60 people were severely injured.

The reports from different quarters and agencies confirmed that the terrorists were eight to 10 in number who penetrated the university, aging between 18 and 25 years old, wearing civilian clothes and had their faces covered. The four attackers were wearing suicide vests but were neutralised by security forces’ snipers before they could detonate their explosives. There were reports about three of them that they were holing up in a single storey house in the neighbourhood from where they were commanding this bloody showdown. Out of the lot, four were confirmed as killed while the fate of the others remained unconfirmed.

Before it is analysed who was behind this attack and what was the purpose, it’s interesting and worth mentioning here that on one hand, the mastermind of the APS Peshawar attack, Umar Mansoor, of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘Geedard (Jackal) Group’

has claimed the attack through a post on his Facebook page; however, a spokesperson from the TTP, Mohammad Khorasani, issued a disagreeing statement shortly after Mansoor’s claim, in which Khorasani condemned the attack, terming it against “Shariah”.

Khorasani also warned that those using the name of TTP will be brought to justice.

Unfortunately, if a question “Will Pakistan see more such attacks on the educational institutions?” is asked, the answer to it will be yes since the terrorists have two advantages: firstly, they go for the soft targets; and secondly, they do more damage as the future of the nation is shattered and ruined. The terrorist attacks on didactic institutions around the world have otherwise risen to frightening levels, higher than any point in more than 40 years. It’s a global trend that is increasing at a rapid rate. Looking exclusively at Pakistan, the rate at which attacks increased in the run-up to the Army Public School bloodbath was disturbing. Hence, with a heavy heart one has to admit the happening of any such attack in future. Most of the attacks prior to APS were not that deadly, both the frequency and the damage they caused were on an unparalleled level. Pakistan, as a country, has the highest number of attacks i.e., 850 on places of learning and also the highest number of people killed i.e., 450 in school attacks. Russia follows behind with 361 killed.

What has happened so far in the country and is likely to (God forbid) happen in the coming days or month has to be seen in the light of the Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parriker’s recent naked threat given to Pakistan in a public function, soon after the attack on Pathankot where he said while mincing his words that, “Our enemy will only realise the pain when he will be hit where it hurts him. We will revert to any mean to harm our enemy, even if it is terrorism even.” It’s a well known fact that our enemy never hesitates in going to any extent to harm Pakistan and history vouches for it. Few months ago Indian premier Modi visited Bangladesh where he openly confessed about India’s role in separating East Pakistan and he was presented the picture about the signing of instrument of surrender.

Although our Foreign Office said that ‘It is premature to draw any conclusion as to who may be behind the Charsadda University attack before investigations are complete’, Pakistan army’s chief spokesperson said that ‘The attackers were in touch with a number from Afghanistan and the SIMs used in the phones were of Afghan origin’. Interestingly, a mobile phone recovered from one of the attackers was receiving calls even after he had been killed.

There are two vital issues: first, why is the government reluctant to implement the National Action Plan (NAP)? After all, the Plan was designed and drafted soon after the APS massacre as a result of marathon sessions of epic committee. It looks as if the government, judiciary and the army is not on the same page.

The LEAs apprehend the culprits after a great effort while the courts let them off them after a couple of hearings. On the other hand, the fate of the proposed military courts is not very clear. The army is more than willing to set up the courts and has extended a sincere cooperating hand; however, on the government side, some unknown fear is preventing the ruling

elite from implementing the decision. This attitude has not only encouraged our enemies but the wave of violence and terrorism has also reverted which is certainly not a good sign.

The other and most worrying issue is related to the Prime Minister’s behaviour vis-àvis his Indian counterpart. The attitude of a government head towards a specific leader or head of the state, usually, is commensurate to the relations between the two states. The very cool and cordial relation between the heads of the governments of two daggers drawn states is unprecedented. Now here in case of Pakistan and India, it has happened many a time that despite Modi’s hostile and aggressive statements, Mian Nawaz Sharif always displayed warmth and friendly behaviour which is certainly mind gobbling.

Few months ago Mian Nawaz Sharif visited India. The entourage was inclined towards the family more than the officials.

Even in India the meetings were more of personal nature and corporate oriented. The sensitive issues like Kashmir and Baglihar Dam were relegated and meetings with the Indian ‘Iron Man’ Jandal were given preference.

The exchange of gifts and hosting of luncheons and dinners projected it as a meeting of two brothers who were lost in “Kumbh Mela”. It was later confirmed when out of nowhere Modi landed at Lahore airport and was escorted straight to Jati Umrah as a personal guest of Mian Sahib where he attended a marriage and flew back to Delhi after a few hours stay in Pakistan. All the analysts, diplomats, politicians and media were absolutely surprised. It was beyond anyone’s comprehension that when the Indian ruling elite was blaming and bashing Pakistan, when Pakistan and its armed forces and ISI was bashed for even an insignificant happening in India, then what makes Mian Nawaz Sharif to behave like Mother Teresa?

Honestly speaking, the series of terrorist activities inside and anywhere in Pakistan compels a common Pakistani to ask the prime minister as to whether he is on our side or on enemy’s. Will he give preference to the country’s or his own family’s business interests? It’s not solely the army’s obligation to fight against terrorism and at the end of the day earn bad name and criticism. The officers and soldiers of the army have laid more lives in this war on terror than the total number of the martyrs of three wars against India. Certainly, the sacrifices don’t deserve this sort of reward.

The fact is that time is rapidly running out and so are the affairs getting out of control.

The desperate enemy has nothing to lose.

What else one can expect from a person who puts his life at stake? The only answer is, throw our personal interests on the backseat and the State’s business be given the first choice. It’s time to implement the NAP in letter and spirit. Every Pakistani has a valid right to ask the prime minister what is more important to him: Pakistan or something else? The nation can’t afford losing more innocent lives and the future of beloved motherland. They expect the rulers to take the war to the terrorists, out of Pakistan. It’s high time for the decision makers to decide before it is too late.

Sohail Parwaz is a freelance columnist.

FOR PM of Pakistan to be seen delivering a speech from written text in Davos to an audience compromising mostly members of his delegation and Pakistani community instead of being in Pakistan visiting the next of kin of victims of Charsadda massacre, it does not send a good message. How can the PM expect foreign investors to invest in Pakistan when bulk of his own investments are outside this country? It seems that PM’s samadhi has assumed the same role as that of Asif Zardari’s sisters especially Faryal Talpur and inflicting same damage to his reputation and governance. The rise from Lambretta or Vespa to Lamborghini involves many white collar crimes and is manifest by huge properties and assets in Dubai.

Nothing is more important than the people of Pakistan who are sole beneficiaries and reason for the state of Pakistan to exist. All institutions of state including parliament, PM and his cabinet, armed forces and civil bureaucracy are there to serve the people and not for the state to serve them.

An elected PM gets powers from constitution to serve and protect people and act as a guardian of national exchequer. It is his job to ensure that all citizens enjoy equal rights and privileges and are levied uniform taxes. There is no law which gives PM authority to give yet another tax amenity to known tax evaders, instead of punishing them. Is the state trying to prove that only “fools pay taxes” in this country?

The moment PM deviates from his mandatory constitutional obligation, he violates constitution in the same manner a military usurper does when he declares martial law.

Abuse of power acquired through ballot is as much a sin as abuse of power gotten through the barrel of a gun.

ANEELA CHANDIO Sukkur

Contradictions everywhere WHETHER it’s the brutal murder of more than 140 students and their teachers at APS Peshawar or the last week’s attack on Bacha Khan University, our rhetoric remains the same: there is no difference between good and bad terrorists, and their facilitators are equally culprits. But who can trust such empty oratory when facts keep hitting us every now and then?

We see state on the retreat when Sayeed Salahudeen of United Jihad Council openly threatens the Pakistani government of dire consequences of taking action against JeM. No one knows where is Azhar Masood of JeM who is blamed for Pathankot airbase attack. Lal Masjid is another open wound right in the heart of Islamabad. Ch Nisar, Federal Interior Minister, spends most of his energies to convince National Assembly members of Maulana Abdul Aziz’s innocence. The Lal Masjid cleric shows no remorse on siding with Taliban and Daesh, instead he challenges the state to arrest him. Banned sectarian outfits keep operating freely all across the country just by changing their names, though in some cases even that formality is also not fulfilled. It’s the state who has strengthened the hands of religious extremists by not touching the controversial amendments military dictator Zia-ul-Haq made in the constitution. We see a leading mouth organ of a religious party, Urdu daily Ummat, publishing articles condemning Supreme Court’s verdict on Mumtaz Qadri’s appeal for acquittal. But the charge of blasphemy moves with full force to target new victims — a young boy chops his own hand to avoid charge of blasphemy.

Anyone thinks we will ever recover from the clutches of faith-sellers who always enjoy bloodbath to portray it’s for the sake of Divine. We need to get out of these contradictions and make up our mind if this country was founded to terrorise its own citizens. On paper, the answer may be no, but out in the field it’s a big YES! MASOOD KHAN Jubail, Saudi Arabia

State of the Union address PRESIDENT Obama’s State of the Union address delivered at the conclusion of his eighth year in the Presidency was a marvel. His poise and confidence befitted the leader of the free world with a mastery of global view and balanced statements.

Comparing this with our present political leaders who cannot deliver a public address except from written speeches or bits of paper stuffed in pockets like students pulling notes for copying from pockets which displays a demeaning process. The grasp of national and international affairs of President Obama was superb and bewitching as it was delivered extempore as if a message from his heart felt feelings.

Our leaders make bombastic speeches which have hollow promises never to be fulfilled and empty dreams with no reality in the mundane world. I wish we would have one leader of the vintage of Quaid-e-Azam to lift the hearts of people. As a student in Lahore I had the fortune of listening the speech of Quaid-e-Azam in the university ground in October 1947 which was heard with pin drop silence wherein people were moved by his words like “No power on Earth could destroy Pakistan”.

Spoken in polished English language, people still understood it what he meant. President Obama reminded me of Quaid-eAzam’s speech delivered on the creation of Pakistan.

DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI Lahore

10 BUSINESS CORPORATE CORNER

KARACHI: Etihad Airways’ cabin crew with happy children playing in the Likuyani Schools’ playground in Kenya, Africa. PR

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

FPCCI noT To ComPromIse on InTeresTs oF busIness CommunITy: AlAm LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN POWER BUREAUCRACY COMPOUNDING ELECTRICITY PROBLEMS KARACHI

F

KARACHI: Jubilee Life hosted corporate annual dinner at the Mohatta Palace Museum for its corporate customers and stakeholders. The evening was hosted by Javed Ahmed, MD and CEO Jubilee Life and Jubilee Life Chairman Kamal Chinoy. PR

STAFF REPORT

EDERATION of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Abdul Rauf Alam on Monday said the Apex chamber will cooperate with the government at every level without compromising the interests of the business community.

He said that the government had achieved economic stability and now, time had come to push for privatisation and to reform public sector enterprises while preferring growth over stability to improve exports, revenue and jobs.

Speaking at a dinner hosted by UBG Secretary General Zubair Tufail in honour of UBG Chairman Iftikhar Ali Malik, UBG Patron-in-Chief SM Muneer and others, the FPCCI president said that the Chamber had cooperated a lot with the government during the last year.

“Now the authorities should take the business community in confidence before taking economic decisions, without which the success of such moves remains uncertain,” he demanded.

He said that growth rate, forex reserves and current account deficit situation had improved while large scale manufacturing had picked up but issue of refunds, expanded tax base and reforms in the bleeding corporations were yet to be addressed. Pakistan’s tax capacity is over 22 per cent of the GDP but the revenue gas is almost 11 per cent which is unsustainable, Alam said, adding that bridging the tax gap could help the country resolve all its problems including dependence on domestic and foreign loans.

Lauding the energy policy of the government, he said that the incumbent administration was trying hard to ensure dependable supply of electricity but it also needed to initiate reforms and up-gradation as the national grid tripped twice within the last few days plunging two provinces into darkness.

The government should also consider overhauling the power bureaucracy which is sluggish in response to electricity crises. He said that the government should fix responsibility for the whole issue as incidents like this did not only punish the masses but also the business community.

He demanded of the government to im-

3G, 4G subscribers increasing consistently ISLAMABAD: Delegation of companies from China led by Sha Zukang, Pakistan China Friendship Association, BMA Capital Management Limited, Gomtazy Capital Partners Limited and International Green Economy Association signed a memorandum of university for the establishment of a China Pakistan Investment Initiative. PR

Pakistan mega leather show will attract local, foreign manufacturers LAHORE: Pakistani and foreign manufacturers from India, China, Italy, Germany, France, Brazil and other European and Asian countries will participate in the second edition of the Pakistan Mega Leather Show, a three-day exhibition being held from Wednesday (January 27-29) at the Expo Centre in Lahore.

Punjab Governor Muhammad Rafique Rajwana and Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan will inaugurate the exhibition. Addressing a press conference at a local hotel on Monday, the show’s convener Muhammad Musaddiq said that Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers and Exporter Association (PLGMEA) and the Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PGMEA) also joined the Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association and the Pakistan Tanners Association for the exhibition. STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD APP

The mobile broadband (3G, 4G) subscribers in the country have been increasing consistently and it appears from ongoing subscription trends that the number may cross 25 million soon.

During the last five months, 3G and 4G subscribers in the country have been surging by a monthly average of 1.6 million. Figures released by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) till November last year confirmed that there were around 21.65 million 3G and 4G subscribers in the country, with Mobilink leading the sector with 6.8 million total 3G subscribers followed by Telenor, Zong and Ufone who have so far secured 6 million, 4.3 million and 4 million 3G subscribers respectively.

Zong tops the 4G subscriptions with 254,122 users followed by Warid with 192,917 subscribers in total.

A graph depicts a very consistent performance by all four 3G mobile operators. This could be a result of aggressive expansion plans and the trend is

likely to continue in the coming months as well. Launch of 3G handsets by operators may also help increase the subscription in the upcoming months. The 4G subscribers trend showed that Warid has remained behind Zong during the last 5 months from July - November 2015, though their roles were reversed during the early months of 2015.

Not counting 3G and 4G connections, other broadband connection numbers have remained at a standstill during the last few months. The largest Internet service provider (ISP), PTCL's latest offers for luring new and old customers could only add 50,000 EVO customers and a similar number of DSL broadband users during November 2015.

Total broadband subscribers in the country reached 24.7 million in November 2015 showing a mere 14% contribution from other non-mobile broadband technologies including DSL, HFC, WiMax, FTTH, EvDO and others. Meanwhile, statistics revealed that average data consumed by a 3G user per month is 910MBs while 4G consumers use an average data of around 2GB per month.

mediately reduce petroleum prices as the international price was at the lowest in the last three decades.

Speaking on the occasion, SM Muneer said that UBG would continue to serve the interests of business community and that he was proud of the efforts of Alam and his team. TDAP has been cleansed of corruption and now it is gearing up to help exporters in a great way, he added.

Zubair Tufail asked the newly-elected president of FPCCI to try his best to live up to the expectations of the business community, try to get refunds cleared and push for duty free import of plants and machinery.

Thailand to seek opportunities for investment ventures in Pakistan BANGKOK: Thailand's Board of Investment plans (BoI) to send Special Task Force teams to a number of Asian and African countries including Pakistan where they will seek opportunities for Thai investment ventures. BoI Deputy Secretary General Chokdee Kaewsang said on Monday the Special Task Force teams would take separate overseas tours and perform under the guidance of the BoI in a bid to look for business opportunities which may open new avenues for Thai investors. The foreign countries in which the Thai investors' ventures might open include the so-called CLMV states, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, plus the other ASEAN member states, namely Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, Chokdee said. He added that a BoI representative office would be set up in Yangon next year to streamline the prospective Thai ventures in the neighboring country. In particular, costs of raw materials and labour in the CLMV states would be relatively low compared to Thailand, according to the BoI deputy chief. Besides, other destinations for Thai overseas ventures include Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Asia and Mozambique, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya in Africa, he said. Thai commercial banks and Exim Bank are yet to provide financial support for Thai investment projects in these countries in addition to BoI's promotional privileges, he said. STAFF REPORT

Turkish delegation underscores need for signing Pakistan-Turkey FTA KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Members of a delegation from Turkey underscored the need for signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a view to boosting the existing trade ties between Pakistan and Turkey.

Exchanging views during their visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the delegation members representing Turkish electrical appliances sector, expressed keenness to share technology and undertake joint ventures with their counterparts in Pakistan.

The Turkish delegation, which was led by Electrical Electronics and Services Exporters Association (EESEA) Turkey Vice President Dr Guven Uckan and included EESEA Vice President Mehmet Kavakhoglu, EESEA Management Board Member Atilla Eren and EESEA Management Board Member Hakan Ozturk, while Commercial Attaché of Consulate

General of Turkey Murat Mustu also accompanied the delegation.

KCCI President Younus Muhammad Bashir, KCCI Senior Vice President Zia Ahmed Khan, KCCI Vice President Muhammad Naeem Sharif, former KCCI SVP Muhammad Ibrahim Kasumbi, KCCI Special Committee for My Karachi Exhibition Chairman Muhammad Idrees and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present at the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Commercial Attaché of Turkish Consulate in Karachi Murat Mustu said that it was the second delegation to Pakistan as a similar delegation from Jewelers Association of Turkey also visited Karachi last year which succeeded in building goods business relations with their counterparts in Pakistan.

Commenting on production of electrical appliances and machineries being produced in Turkey, he said that high

CMYK

quality textile machines were being produced in Turkey and that the same were being exported to the European Union.

These products were much better as compared to similar machineries being produced by China, he claimed, adding that these machines and electrical equipment could also be exported to Pakistan but the custom duty rates were a bit high, which can only be reduced by signing the FTA which was currently being negotiated.

Leader of the delegation, Dr Guven Uckan said that Turkish companies wanted to enhance business with Pakistan by holding business-to-business meetings and seek ways on how to do business together. “We want to do business by undertaking joint ventures either in your country or in ours, and we are looking forward to sharing technology with Pakistan,” he added.

He hoped that FTA between the two countries would soon be inked, which would surely create a win-win situation for the business communities of the two brotherly countries.

Earlier, while welcoming the delegation, KCCI President Younus Muhammad Bashir said that it was heartening to note that numerous delegations representing various sectors of the Turkish economy had been visiting KCCI from time to time with a view to look for opportunities for enhancing trade and investment between the two brotherly countries.

BUSINESS 11

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

Projects in West-Central Asia Zone to boost Pak's economy ISLAMABAD APP

Implementation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), increasing manufacturing, and infrastructure projects in the West-Central Asia Zone are strong factors that will boost Pakistan's economy in 2016.

According to Khaleej Times, large scale manufacturing output rose to 3.9 per cent in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2016 from 2.6 per cent in the corresponding period of FY-2015.

According to the report, State Bank of Pakistan indicated some improvements that were already visible from the changes in the key macroeconomic indicators.

"Economic activity seems to be gearing up as LSM has recorded a noticeable increase over the last year," it added.

The SBP also indicated the sectors, which were performing well. It said that a large number of projects would also benefit "due to the progress in implementation of the CPEC projects”.

The first phase of CPEC with an investment of $46 billion is slated to be completed by end-December 2017 or early 2018, according to Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal.

"Some of the projects are already underway. They include construction of the Gwadar Port-related projects in South-West Pakistan, on Arabian Sea and Straits of Hormuz," the report said.

Some two dozen huge industrial areas have been identified to establish industries, banking, energy and service projects to be located from Gwadar to China as part of the CPEC. The SBP also reported that the economy is likely to benefit from improvement in the security conditions and successful and continued fight against terrorism, better availability of electricity and gas, lower cost of imported indusial raw materials and the historic low interest rates.

The SBP report noted a marked improvement in the security conditions, better energy management, and the persistently low global commodity prices. The business, particularly foreign investors and companies operating in Pakistan, are happy with their prospects and profits.

According to the report, Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce Industry (OICCI) President Atif Bajwa said that their latest Perceptions and Investment Survey 2015 indicated that 82 per cent of the members foresaw continuing growth in their business and were generally committed to making further investments in Pakistan.

The survey also indicated that the OICCI members planned to invest $3 billion in their business in the near future.

PIA unIons To shuT oFFICes ACross CounTry From TodAy SAYS IT WILL START CLOSING DOWN ALL PIA OFFICES FROM TODAY

WARNS IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT THEIR DEMANDS, ALL FLIGHT OPERATION WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM FEB 2

KARACHI

J

ARShAd huSSAin

OINT Action Committee PIA Employees’ Union (JACPIAE) Chairman Captain Sohail Baloch on Monday said that all offices of the national carrier throughout the country would be closed from today (Tuesday) till the acceptance of the demands.

He further demanded from the government that if the Presidential Ordinance and the PIA bills passed by the National Assembly were not taken back, the airline’s employees will take harsh measure for suspending flights from February 2. In a crowded press conference in the airline’s head office on Monday, Sohail Baloch said, “We have no other option except to protest against the privatisation of the national carrier as the government is not ready to hear grievances of our employees’ unions.”

He said that the government had decided to sell 26 per cent shares of the airline through strategic partners and in this connection a bill had been passed from the National Assembly despite a lot of resistance from the opposition benches.

“The National Assembly’s approval of the bill to privatise the national carrier is

fILe pHoto

illegal and unlawful,” Baloch said.

He said that all offices of the airline throughout the country will be closed from Tuesday till the acceptance of all their demands and if the government did not take notice of this closure or their protest, then they would suspend all flight operations from February 2. He said that the JACPIAE would not accept the selling-off of the national carrier at any cost and the committee would continue its protest till the government withdrew the NA bill and restored PIA to its original shape.

On January 21, the National Assembly passed the bill to convert PIA Corporation into a public limited company despite the protest of the opposition

benches. Earlier in December 2015, the government through a Presidential Ordinance converted the national carrier into a public limited company.

The Joint Action Committee Chief Captain Sohail Baloch along with other union leaders had protested in front of the head office of the airline in Karachi a few weeks ago but the federal government refused to accept their demands and passed the bill to convert the airline into a public limited company. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and other government officials have clearly said it before that the government is committed to selling 26 per cent shares of the PIACL to any strategic partner before June 30, 2016. There is pressure of

ICCI concerned over 14.40 per cent decline in exports ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Monday expressed concerns over falling exports of the country which have dwindled by 14.40 per cent during the first half of the current financial year and called upon the government to take urgent remedial measures to arrest this dangerous trend which has the potential to create balance of payments crisis and increase current account deficit.

ICCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh, Senior Vice President Sheikh Pervez Ahmed and Vice President Sheikh Abdul Waheed told media personnel that during July to December of this financial year, Pakistan’s exports had declined to $10.322 billion from $12.058 billion during the corresponding period of 2014-15 showing a decline of 14.40 per cent which should be a cause of concern for the policymakers.

They said that exports of Bangladesh exceeded $16 billion during first half of the current fiscal year showing an increase of about 8 per cent while Pakistan’s exports were on the decline despite the fact that the country had had GSP Plus status from the European Union since January 1, 2014.

They said that after the grant of GSP Plus

status, businessmen were expecting a significant boost in exports as it had enabled the country to export textile goods to 27 European countries without duties till 2017, but unfortunately Pakistan had almost failed to fully exploit this concession due to various reasons including bottlenecks in policy, implementation, priorities and lack of desired support to export-oriented sector.

They said that tax refund claims of billions of rupees were still lying pending due to which the export sector was facing liquidity problems. They said that according to FBR rules, payment of sales tax refund claims would be paid within seven days of the date of Refund Payment Order (RPO) and stressed that the government should ensure full implementation of this rule to clear tax refunds within the stipulated time.

They said that the government should reconsider imposition of duty on import of raw materials, take measures to bring down cost of inputs by reviving zero rating for exports and release refunds to exporters because without taking these steps, there are dim chances of turning around the falling exports and paving way for export-led growth of the country. STAFF REPORT

FEDERAL OMBUDSMAN DECLARES COMPLAINT AGAINST PTCL OFFICERS BASELESS SAYS LUBNA KHALID SYED FILED FALSE ALLEGATIONS IN RETALIATION TO HER TERMINATION FROM THE COMPANY ISLAMABAD PRESS RELEASE

Federal Ombudsman Justice Yasmin Abbasi on Monday dismissed the complaint filed by Lubna Khalid Syed, a former employee of PTCL. According to details, the complainant could not produce any oral or written evidence in support of her charges despite the fact that a large amount of record was produced by her which turned out to be irrelevant.

It was concluded in the findings that although by using the word ‘harassment’, Lubna Khalid had tried to bring her case within the ambit of the Ombudsman’s office but the perusal of all the record and emails did not support her allegations and the case

was dismissed on jurisdiction.

In fact, the complainant was not happy with the administrative orders issued from HR from time to time and when she was terminated from PTCL, she filed “baseless charges against HR in retaliation of her termination and requested her reinstatement”. It was concluded in the inquiry report conducted by PTCL that the accusations made by Lubna Khalid were not established. Instead, her unnecessary and frequent emails were causing an unhealthy environment in the office.

The ombudsman’s findings further state that the administrative issues and directions during Lubna Khalid Syed’s stay in PTCL were not being properly handled by her.

Lubna Khalid Syed’s service was termi-

nated on July 23, 2015 in accordance with the clauses of her employment contract as the company felt that her services were no longer required due to several reasons including but not limited to her poor performance. After her termination, she resorted to leveling false, bogus and spurious allegations against senior officers in a bit to force the management to reinstate her.

It was also established that Lubna Khalid was earlier terminated from two previous organisations. At her last organisation before PTCL, she used similar tactics for her reinstatement by leveling charges against the CEO of that company.

Lubna Khalid Syed has also been found guilty of preparing and submitting forged documents, with fake signatures of head of legal, to the federal ombudsman. The FIA was reportedly contacted for verification in this connection and the forgery committed by her was confirmed. Legal action in this regard is underway against her.

CMYK

the IMF on federal government to privatise PIACL and other loss-making government entities before the end of this fiscal year and it is one of the conditions of the IMF for granting loans under the Extended Fund Facility.

Mission Chief Harold Finger in a recent interview with foreign media said, “We believe the government of Pakistan continues to be strongly interested in privatising these loss-making entities, so a potential liability that needs to be covered by scarce public resources that in our in view and the government's view can frankly be better used for higher priorities, including infrastructure investment and social spending.”

“That said, there are indeed some roadblocks and delays now on the schedule for privatisations, particularly with regard to PIA and PSM. We'll continue the dialogue with the authorities to find a way forward now.” Indeed, he further said, there are delays in the privatisation of PIA following the events in the parliament related to the Presidential Ordinance, which means that solicitation of expressions of interest for private sector participation will not be possible in the very near term.

“We will discuss a way forward with the authorities when we meet them in Dubai later this month,” he said.

nA body discusses export, trade issues LAHORE: National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce on Monday discussed in detail matters pertaining to export and trade development in the country. Committee Chairman MNA Siraj Muhammad Khan chaired the meeting which was attended by a majority of the committee members at the regional office of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). TDAP Director General Sher Afgan Khan briefed the meeting on the working, targets and achievements of the TDAP. The NA Standing Committee meeting agreed that load shedding duration for agriculture and industrial sector should be reduced to the lowest possible level, while subsidised electricity should be provided with parity to industrial and trade sectors across Pakistan. The meeting decided that Export Development Fund would be utilised to accommodate the businessmen. It was also decided that participation of members of the NA Standing Committee on Commerce should be ensured in the conferences and exhibitions held abroad for promotion of Pakistani products. The meeting also agreed that the review of Trade Policy 2012-15 must be conducted in a proper manner. APP

Major Gainers COMPANY Bata (Pak) Island Textile Shield Corp.

Mari Petroleum Millat Tractors

OPEN 3350.00 725.00 532.35 604.00 489.99

HIGH 3350.00 795.00 532.35 625.90 500.00

LOW 3350.00 725.00 532.35 604.00 483.30

CLOSE CHANGE TURNOVER 3350.00 50.00 20 795.00 35.85 100 532.35 25.35 100 621.48 24.15 405,900 496.54 15.98 19,300

6200.00 1164.46 820.00 410.00 349.61

5890.00 1053.56 820.00 388.63 349.61

6000.00 1053.56 820.00 388.63 349.61

-200.00 -55.45 -33.12 -20.45 -18.39

120 145,200 40 339,900 200

27.90 6.56 3.79 18.10 8.57

26.65 6.00 3.00 17.35 8.30

27.10 6.38 3.72 17.61 8.43

0.42 0.40 0.72 0.34 0.14

12,302,500 10,160,500 8,445,000 6,830,000 5,177,000

Major Losers Unilever Foods Ferozsons (Lab) Murree Brewery Ghandhara Ind. Khyber Tobacco

5890.01 1128.00 820.00 403.01 349.61

Volume Leaders TRG Pak Ltd Pace (Pak) Ltd. Japan Power Byco Petroleum B.O.Punjab

27.10 6.02 3.09 17.75 8.35

Interbank Rates USD GBP JPY EURO

PKR 104.9312 PKR 149.7578 PKR 0.8875 PKR 113.8503

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

BUY

SELL

15.85 152.5 115.5 106.5 74.75 75.25 0.86 28.3 29.1

16 153.2 116 106.75 75.2 75.8 0.89 28.45 29.25

12 WORLD VIEW

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

BerNie saNders could wiN CReaToRs.Com

t

Ted Rall

HE independent senator from Vermont says the economic system is rigged against workingclass Americans. He's right. The electoral political system is a subsidiary of those who rule the economy. Which is why Bernie Sanders never stood a chance. The political system was rigged against him.

And yet, despite the formidable institutional obstacles stacked against him, Sanders is doing great: largely considered a shoo-in to win New Hampshire, leading in Iowa, closing the gap nationally. Surprised pundits are marveling at his popular momentum, ground organization and fundraising prowess. There is now a credible path to the Democratic nomination and, if he runs against GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, to the White House.

Center-right Clinton wants to know: how did this happen?

Leftists wonder: is this cause for hope? It is an amazing story. Everyone in a position to block Sanders' campaign did everything they could to sabotage him.

Knowing that coverage is the essential oxygen of politics, the media mostly ignored him. By one measure, corporate media gave Trump 23 times more coverage than Sanders! On the few occasions when they spilled a little ink on Bernie, it

was to insult him and his socialist politics.

(My personal Exhibit A was a New York Times piece that carried a photo that emphasized his bald spot.)

Marginalization always used to work.

Remember John Edwards? His 2008 primary campaign was doomed because TV networks refused to cover him. But the media's cold shoulder isn't hurting Bernie Sanders. In the bag for Hillary Clinton and remembering the lesson of 2008 -the more voters hear from her, the less they like her -- the Democratic National Committee fed her aura of inevitability by refusing to give Sanders the exposure and legitimacy offered by a robust round of debates. Debates, the few of them the manipulative DNC chair and Clinton toady Debbie Wasserman Schultz allowed to take place, were scheduled for the nights known for low television viewership.

That tactic backfired. Clinton did better than Sanders in the first three debates. But no one saw her flex her foreign-affairs muscles. Bernie got nothing but chicanery from the DNC, to the point that the Sanders camp had to sue to access its own voter data. Which only reinforced his image as a rebel -- not easy for a U.S. senator -- and further endeared him to his supporters.

Despite everything, Sanders could win. Moreover, it's not just Sanders the candidate who is doing well. His "unusual" politics are becoming usual.

Sanders' self-labeling as a democratic

New four-party group could steer afghaNistaN toward recoNciliatioN

socialist -- universally considered political suicide in the United States -- is catching on. In one of the most surprising poll results of the 2016 race, a recent survey of likely Iowa caucus-goers finds that more of them call themselves socialist (43 percent) than capitalist (38 percent).

Where did Iowa's socialists come from? They certainly weren't indoctrinated by the mainstream system. No ideology, - not even radical Islam -- has come under heavier systemic assault than socialism.

From the Palmer Raids of a century ago to McCarthyism to the Tea Party's (sadly mistaken) insinuations that President Obama is a secret red, socialism has been the bete rouge of mainstream American politics: reviled in ridiculous movies, misrepresented and excluded from acceptable public debate, even on the watered-down liberalism that passes for a "left." Even in schools, socialism and communism are lied about -- if they're mentioned at all.

My friend, the film critic Cole Smithey, calls what we're seeing "the failure of propaganda." It's certainly a notable moment. The ruling elite's old tricks are indeed failing them. But it's too early to declare propaganda dead and gone.

Propaganda works. That's why those in power keep using it.

Here's what I think is really going on: old institutions have been discredited.

Sanders' growing support and Iowa's surprisingly socialist hordes reflect public con-

tempt for everyone in charge. Pundits have mostly focused on populist anger on the right, embodied by the wild neofascist-lite pronouncements of Donald Trump. But there is just as much rage on the left excluded from the Democratic Party since George McGovern's 1972 defeat to Richard Nixon. Divided or not, one thing Americans can agree upon is that they don't trust government -- on the right to leave them alone, and on the left to help them out. Propaganda is still effective. But when it's broadcast by elites who are widely despised, its effect is opposite of what's intended.

Hillary Clinton racks up endorsements from unions and left-leaning organizations like Planned Parenthood. In the past, these would have given her a boost. This year, it reinforces a negative framing of her as bought and paid for by special interests. In days of yore, the endorsement of a young actress starring in a hip TV show would have been a feather in Clinton's cap. In 2016, it's hard to imagine how poor Lena Dunham will wash away the stink of Hillary Clinton's hard-edged corporatism.

Clinton has an incredible resume: first lady, senator, secretary of state. This year, she'd be better off as an outsider. Credentials subtract from her credibility. What's wrong now, voters feel, is partly her fault.

Bernie Sanders' campaign gets accused of improperly accessing Clinton's data on DNC servers. In the old days, the smell of an ethical breach might have doomed his candidacy. Now, because Democratic voters are disgusted by the DNC's brazen attempt to fix the primaries for Clinton, the controversy looks like another sleazy at-

tack on Bernie the outsider.

Because the public distrusts journalists, the media blackout works in Sanders' favor. Through the lens of this new politics of contempt, if the powers that be want to censor the "wild and crazy" socialist senator, hemusn't be that bad after all. What Bernie Sanders really needs is for Hillary Clinton to receive Obama's endorsement -- which she obviously, foolishly, wants. That would be the end of her.

The same reverse-propaganda paradigm holds true for socialism. As America's continuously lauded state religion, capitalism takes the blame for all its associated evils: layoffs, stagnant wages, home foreclosures, health insurance companies that don't pay claims. If socialism is anti-capitalism, an alienated populace has evidently concluded, it doesn't matter that they don't know very much about it.

Socialism can't be that bad. If elected, President Sanders will be ineffective. Either that, or he'll sell us out. Such is the nature of this system: it chews up and spits out those who don't go along to get along.

A Sanders victory would nonetheless mark an important prerevolutionary moment. As Che Guevara observed, people will not resort to armed struggle before they exhaust every last opportunity to nonviolently reform the existing system by casting their votes in elections. A Sanders Administration would be our best, last, 100 percent doomed shot at fixing a rigged regime.

Ted Rall, syndicated writer and the cartoonist for ANewDomain.net and SkewedNews.net, is the author of "Snowden."

Iran nuclear deal fuels tension with Saudi Arabia inflaming new conflicts YaleGlobal

Global Times

MohaMMed ayoob

The first meeting of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US was held in Islamabad, Pakistan on January 11. The four parties agreed to dedicate themselves to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process and pushed to restart direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. On January 18, the QCG held their second meeting in Kabul, during which they discussed the roadmap for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

The emergence of the QCG is attributed to the situation in Afghanistan. Since the Afghan government of unity was established, President Ashraf Ghani has been advancing the peace process in the country and made some progress. But due to global economic shrinkage and domestic political instability, the unity government met enormous challenges in 2015.

In December, the UN's Human Development Office ranked Afghanistan 171, out of 188 countries, in the human development index. It is the least developed country in Asia with high unemployment of 40 percent.

Meanwhile, domestic security is still tough. According to a recent Pentagon report, about 16,000 Afghan soldiers were killed or wounded in 2015, a 28 percent increase compared with 2014. Official Afghan figures show that about 110 people were kidnapped by armed groups in 2015 and 21 of them have been killed. The peace process encountered a deadlock in 2015 and needs a new coordination system. Therefore without a helping hand from the international community, the unity government led by Ghani is not capable of tackling these challenges.

Then why can the QCG push forward the peace process in Afghanistan? First, reconciliation in Afghanistan serves the fundamental interests of all parties involved. In the joint statement released after the first meeting, all countries underscored the importance of bringing an end to the conflict and emphasized their determination to push forward efforts.

Second, any international institutions can form a certain form of common power and the key is whether the power has binding power. Such binding power can be imposed by big powers. The participation of China and the US can exert some influence on the common power of the QCG. Third, the QCG provides a platform for the Afghan government and the Taliban to talk. Currently, the Afghan Taliban controls the wide rural area of southeastern and southern Afghanistan. The country's peace process cannot live without the participation of the Taliban.

There are a number of highlights in the first meeting of the QCG, one of which is China's active involvement. It has been 60 years since China and Afghanistan established diplomatic ties and the two have become strategic partners. China plays a constructive role in Afghanistan's peace-building process. In late 2014, China pledged to give Afghanistan $327 million in aid through 2017. As a friendly neighbor of Afghanistan and a responsible power, China is obliged to advance Afghanistan's reconciliation process. China's participation in the QCG can help both China and the US utilize their own diplomatic resources and mobilize countries such as Pakistan and India to play more roles. It can also help improve relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and enhance mutual trust between the two, paving a favorable environment for the peace process. Besides, the development of Afghanistan and Pakistan, which can be achieved through China's Silk Road economic belt proposal, will accelerate reconciliation. However, uncertainties remain. Can the QCG maintain a solid and sustainable basis for cooperation? Can the four parties solve the problems in time? Can the consensus be implemented? The proper function of the QCG requires joint efforts.

Just as it seemed that tensions in the Persian Gulf might be easing with the signing of the nuclear deal, aimed at effectively curbing Iran’s capacity to weaponize, the political temperature in the energy-rich region has risen to unprecedented heights. Paradoxically, the very success of the deal contributes to escalating tensions. Iran’s Arab adversaries in the Persian Gulf, above all Saudi Arabia, prefer an ostracized nuclear Iran over a competitive oil producer and responsible regional power, and now try a series of policies forcing the United States to take sides.

Ironically, anti-American hardliners in Iran have proved to be their unintended allies.

By all accounts Iran has implemented its part of the deal, including decommissioning the Arak plutonium facility by removing the reactor core, shipping most of its low-enriched uranium to Russia and reducing the number of centrifuges installed at the Fordow and Natanz sites. These actions foreclose any possibility of Iran taking either the uranium or the plutonium route towards the acquisition of nuclear weapons in the near future.

Furthermore, Iran has taken these steps in far less time than expected in the hope that sanctions would be removed speedily.

The International Atomic Energy Agency announced on Saturday its verification that Iran has met all obligations under the nuclear agreement. Following this announcement, the European Union and the United States declared that nuclear-related economic sanctions imposed on Iran will be removed. This allows Iran to access approximately $100 billion dollars of frozen assets, sell oil freely on the international market, and use the international banking system for financial transactions – in short, to act as a normal member of the international economic system.

These proximate consequences apart, the most important outcome of the nuclear agreement and its quick implementation is likely to be rapprochement between the United States and Iran on mutually beneficial terms. This possible scenario has alarmed Iran’s Arab adversaries.

Having failed to derail the nuclear deal, Riyadh has taken recourse in policies that increase tensions with Iran, anticipating that in a showdown between the two regional powers Washington will choose a longstanding ally over a newfound partner.

If this turns out to be the case, it would scuttle any possibility of a wide-ranging understanding between the US and Iran on broader regional issues such as the Islamic State, Syria and Yemen where both sides have overlapping interests.

Saudi Arabia’s brazen intervention in

Yemen against the Houthis in the form of air attacks in particular was undertaken with this goal in mind. Washington had grave reservations about such a move both because it forced the Houthis to move closer to Iran and pushed Riyadh into a de facto alliance with Al Qaeda in Yemen, which also opposes the Zaidi Houthis.

The execution in early January of outspoken Saudi Shia cleric and political activist Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr prompted a predictable Shia reaction, providing Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies an excuse to cut off diplomatic relations with Iran and escalate the war of words. Once again, this put the United States, which had earlier warned Riyadh on the negative repercussions of Nimr’s execution, in a tough spot.

The drama surrounding the execution helped consolidate Sunni support for Riyadh in the Gulf and wider Middle East by portraying its rivalry with Iran in sectarian terms. However, this Saudi action was taken in utter disregard of American interests in the Middle East. The negative fallout has been particularly acute in Iraq, where the United States is engaged in a delicate balancing act between the two sects. Sectarian strife strengthens the appeal of extremism among Sunni Arabs with damaging consequences for the US-led war against the Islamic State while making a negotiated settlement in Syria more difficult to achieve.

Saudi policymakers are so fixated on Iran that negative effects of their policies do not seem to worry them much. Negative external consequences notwithstanding a major reason for such policy choices is the attempt to consolidate domestic support for the Saudi regime during a difficult power transition and severe economic downturn. The former is the result of power passed on to a generation of younger princes handpicked by the new King Salman and his coterie. A key member of the inner circle is his 30-year-old son Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is simultaneously defense minister and economic czar of the kingdom.

The domestic economic dimension weighs more heavily than politics. The precipitous decline in oil prices from $110 a barrel in 2014 to less than $30 today has forced the Saudi regime to cut longstanding subsidies for citizens thus eroding the legitimacy of absolutist rule. Simultaneously, defense and security spending has grown from 7 percent of GDP in 2012 to 10 percent in 2015 and is expected to rise further this year primarily because of the Saudi intervention in Yemen. Moreover, the budget deficit is around 15 percent of GDP; foreign reserves have fallen by $100 billion to $650 billion.

These economic travails have led some in the regime, especially the deputy crown prince, to openly contemplate the unthink-

able: namely, gradual privatization of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest producer of oil.

As the economy falters, the Saudi regime seems to take aggressive stances in the foreign-policy arena in order to impress its domestic constituency, relying on sectarian rhetoric to justify policies and expenditures. Iran is a convenient whipping boy for this strategy. In the long run such a policy is likely to be counterproductive, but more alarming for the short run is a conflagration in the Gulf that may spiral out of control.

Iran’s government has tried to avoid stoking the fires in the Persian Gulf, though some elements within the Iranian polity have taken to aggravating tensions. The burning of the Saudi embassy’s annex in Tehran in retaliation for Nimr’s execution, presumably by hardliners interested in discrediting President Rouhani, is a case in point. Anti-Saudi rhetoric periodically emanating out of Tehran, as that following the Haj stampede in September 2015 and deaths of more than 400 Iranian pilgrims, demonstrates the visceral anti-Saudi feelings harbored by a segment of the Iranian populace. Above all, conservative hard-liners who could not derail the nuclear deal because of the Supreme Leader’s backing of President Rouhani and Foreign Minister JavadZarif find the current tensions with Saudi Arabia a convenient way to vent their anger as well as delay if not prevent the impending rapprochement between Washington and Tehran.

However, the difference between the two countries is that the mainstream elements in power in Tehran are not interested in escalating tensions however much they may condemn the recent turn in Saudi policy. In Saudi Arabia, those who hold the reins of power find it profitable to demonize Iran and escalate tensions to serve their own short-term ends.

The difference can be best explained by the fact that Iran is a rising power that perceives historical trends going in its favor. The country can, therefore, adopt a prudent waitand-see policy. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, sees time running out as Iran consolidates its position in the region and vis-à-vis the United States and is tempted to adopt reckless policies with damaging effects on the energy-rich region as well as on American interests in the wider Middle East. Policymakers in Washington must keep this difference in mind when formulating strategies – and must find a way to tamp down tensions by counseling Riyadh against rash actions. Failure to do so could lead to a regional catastrophe.

Mohammed Ayoob is University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of International Relations, Michigan State University, and author most recently of Will the Middle East Implode? (Polity, 2014).

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

ARTS

13

Fawad Khan will play popstar alamgir in biopic ‘albela rahi’

F

EntErtainmEnt DEsk

AWAD Khan is set to play the role of Alamgir, the tunester in the film based on the life of living musical giant.

This emerged as something of a double whammy this weekend at an event held to promote the film. Production house Fog Catcher Films, a sister concern of Stimulus Productions which boasts of over 200 productions since its inception, announced that work on the project was due to begin soon.

“The film is based on the epic tale of once an ordinary man, Alamgir, who rose to be the iconic pop

star of Pakistan and is known as the pioneer of the pop music in the country,” the movie’s Facebook page explains.

Fawad Khan himself described the opportunity to portray the life of ‘Dekha Na Tha’ singer as ‘exciting’ while he also entertained the crowd at the event with a rendition of Alamgir’s famous song ‘Albela Rahi.’

Alamgir, the real life Albela Rahi, also spoke at the event through a video link and appreciated the efforts of Fawad and the film’s producers.

Fawad, who was first famous in Pakistan as the frontman of rockband EP, impressed with his acting in Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Key Liye.

He earned hearthrob status when his effortless chemistry with Mahira Khan in Humsafar made the TV drama a sensational hit.

Fawad went on to make his Bollywood debut in Khoobsurat in which he starred alongside Bollywood beauty Sonam Kapoor. He has been riding a wave of popularity ever since, picking up the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut last year.

Fawad will soon be occupied in promotions for his next Bollywood film, Karan Johar’s Kapoor & Sons, in which he stars alongside Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra. The film will be released in March this year.

Deepika, Vin Diesel train for ‘XXX’

‘Censorship in India needs to be holistic’

FAKhR-e-ALAM America has Gun Control problems and we here in Pakistan have Gund Control problems... Garbage removal is not a herculean task

kOLkata

hiLLARy CLinton

Agencies

It’s 2016. The days of dismissing the pay gap as a "women's issue" are over.

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali suggested that censorship in India must become more holistic and take the restrictions on other mediums of communication, via which viewers can access the censored content, under consideration. “I feel censorship of movies should also look at the censorship of various other mediums of communication that the audience is used to,” said Ali at the Kolkata Literary Meet on Friday. Responding to a question regarding whether or not India’s censorship policy takes away the audience’s liberty to choose the movies they want to watch, the Tamasha director batted for an overall point of view rather than just adhering to strict points.

“So if there is free flowing information, let’s say on Torrents or the internet and I can get to see anything, then it will discourage me from going and watching that movie,” explained Ali. “So, it has to be more holistic. You can’t be very clerical about it as you need to have a motive rather than have certain very strict points,” he said.

ASiM BAjwA Pakistan's national interest is supreme and will be safe guarded at all costs."-3/3

ShiReen MAzARi Continuity of polices is thru institutions not individuals. We need to strengthen institutions & formulate definitive policies.

ALi SALMAn ALVi Well done General Raheel Sharif.

You have set a precedence for your successors to follow. A brave and sane decision. #ThankYouRaheelSharif

Since director DJ Caruso took to Twitter to announce that Deepika Padukone will commence shooting of upcoming action-thriller XXX: The Return of Xander Cage in February, Deepika and Vin Diesel have both been training vigorously for their respective roles in the film.

We’re not quite sure what her role in the action-packed movie is yet, but she is training hard with Mumbai-based celebrity trainer Yasmin Karachiwala, who uploaded a video on Instagram of the Bollywood diva doing intense training. The caption read:@deepikapadukone is getting ready for her #hollywooddebut in #XXX #thereturnofxandercage with @vindiesel. Training sessions are in full swing.”

Here’s one of Vin Diesel training hard for his upcoming role: Earlier, the 30-year-old Bollywood beauty

Veena Malik visits Bacha Khan University EntErtainmEnt DEsk Hours after the Bacha Khan University (BKU) in Charsadda district of KhyberPakhtunkhwa (K-P) reopened on Monday, Lollywood actor Veena Malik visited the campus.

According to reports, Malik reached BKU to take part in a Quran Khawani and peace walk being held for the 22 martyrs of Wednesday’s brazen attack at the educational institution.

Upon returning to Pakistan this month, Veena told the media about her plans to participate in human rights campaigns and other goodwill social activities. The actor said she had planned a visit to Peshawar’s Army Public School (APS), and also produce a song for APS victims.

Bacha Khan University reopens amid tight security After a closure of almost one week due to a deadly terrorist rampage, the Bacha Khan University (BKU) in Charsadda district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) reopened amid stringent security.

People belonging from different walks of life started to gather at the university early on Monday to take part in the Quran Khawani, Radio Pakistan reported.

A peace walk is also expected to be held from the BKU to the main Bazaar of the district later in the day which will be joined by a number of people belonging to the civil society to pay homage to the victims of the terror incident and to show solidarity with their relatives.

shared that her “ethnic background” helped her land a pivotal role alongside the Hollywood actor and she hopes to do justice to it. “The reason they are roping me is because of my background. I really hope that I do well in the movie and people go and watch it,” said Deepika.

“Most importantly, I feel proud to be a part of a film where I get to show my ethnicity,” she added. Reports were also making rounds that Deepika will be sharing screen space with Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev and Orange Is the New Black actor Ruby Rose, reported India Today.

The ace actor, who has taken 2015 by storm with her box-office hits Piku, Tamasha and Bajirao Mastani, further said that her success has been the result of constant efforts to improve her acting prowess with time. Agencies

DiCaprio offered role of Lenin by Russian studio

‘Kolaveri Di’ singer to act opposite Uma Thurman in Marjane Satrapi film Hold it, everybody. The prize for most enviable Hollywood debut is going to Dhanush. The prolific Tamil actor came on everyone’s radar with that earworm of a song, ‘Kolaveri Di’.

He has since bagged his first National Award for his performance in the Tamil drama film Aadukalam. Dhanush is now all set to make his Hollywood debut opposite Uma Thurman in a film that is directed by Iranian-French director Marjane Satrapi (of Persepolis fame), reports Times of India.

Titled The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir Who Got Trapped In An Ikea Cupboard, the comedy adventure is based on Romain Puértolas’ bestselling 2014 novel of the same name. According to Variety, Dhanush will star as Aja, a con man/conjurist who travels from India to an IKEA in Paris on a secret mission by his mother. Aja falls in love with a woman and accidentally gets deported along with a band of African refugees to the far corners of Europe against his will. Director Satrapi thought Dhanush was the “obvious choice” for the role: “As I was watching various Indian movies, Dhanush became the most obvious choice — his intelligence, his killer smile, his ability to enter fully into the skin of any character he played (and I can go on and on forever) made me confident that he was the one.” Agencies

CMYK

Earlier this month, Oscar hopeful Leonardo DiCaprio listed off all the famous Russians he would one day like to play on screen, including Putin and Rasputin. After saying “I think there should be more films about Russian history because it has many stories worthy of Shakespeare. That is fascinating for an actor”, he listed off another famous name, Lenin. Well, luckily for the 41-year-old, LeninFilm heard about the comments and have since offered The Revenant star the chance to star as Vladimir Lenin in a new film. Lenfilm spokesman Valeriy Karlov told Baltika FM: ”It is always interesting to make movies. Leonardo DiCaprio is often compared to Lenin in his youth. We have enough scenery and props to recreate the era of the revolution.” Agencies

14 LEISURE

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

HaGaR tHE HoRRIblE

aries

taurus

gemini

Your level of artistic inspiration is very high today, Aries. Dreams or meditation may have brought up some spiritual insights and revelations for you, and you may have promptly forgotten them upon coming out of your dream or meditative state.

A delivery of some kind that you were expecting to come from far away might be delayed, causing you to wonder if it might have been lost. It hasn't, Taurus; it's just delayed. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do but wait.

Today you're likely to be feeling especially passionate, sexy, and desirous of a romantic encounter, Gemini. You might even have a hot date scheduled. However, don't be surprised if it has to be postponed for reasons beyond the control of either you or your partner.

cancer

leo

Virgo

A female visitor who might have a few problems might come to your door wanting advice and sympathy, Cancer. She could have some other news that could come as a shock to you. This could be frustrating, particularly if you have to cancel your plans.

Tasks of any kind are all likely to seem like the labors of Hercules today, Leo. Overwork and nerve strain could have you feeling a little bit under the weather today, and it might be a good idea for you to take some time alone to rest.

A creative project of some kind may require a larger expenditure of money, time, or other resources than you originally thought, and this could have you wondering if you'll be able to continue with it.

dIlbERt

GaRFIEld

libra

scorpio

sagittarius

You might have visitors, Libra, or even a hot date scheduled for tonight, but by mid-afternoon you might be feeling too tired to go through with it and wondering if you should cancel. It's best to keep your activities low key.

Deliveries you may be expecting could be delayed or held up. Today you might learn something shocking about a neighbor or relative, and gossip might spread very rapidly through your community.

This could have you reeling even though it might be exaggerated.

Some good but surprising news about a group with which you may be affiliated could come your way today, Sagittarius.

Perhaps fundraising activities have been more successful than you thought, or perhaps recognition is coming your way.

baldo

capricorn

aquarius

pisces

Some upsetting news regarding money could throw you into a bit of a dither today, Capricorn. Perhaps a check you've been expecting hasn't arrived on time, or maybe the bank has made a computer error regarding your account.

A temporary setback with regard to your career might have you feeling a bit disoriented right now, Aquarius.

Modern equipment of some kind might be involved. Basically, you're probably feeling quite optimistic for the future and not likely to change that energy any time soon.

Today may start out being a very frustrating day, Pisces. Some equipment with which you work might suddenly go out of order and it could take a while to get it fixed. This could not only provide an energy outlet but clear your head as well.

cRosswoRd

sUdokU

woRd sEaRcH

ACROSS

bRIdGE

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

match meet outfit quiet repent round saturnine sear sets shabby shin short stick summit thought timber tubs urchin yonder

Today’s soluTions

a play oF NotE

cHEss white tO PLAY AND MAte iN twO MOVes

DOwn

8

1 hot dance — hot sauce (5) 2 european principality (13) 3 major thoroughfares for important traffic (8) 4 pressure (6) 5 online marketplace (4) 6 foretell (13) 7 revoke (7) 12 it’s targeted at newlyweds (8) 13 wool-spinning spindle (7) 15 cake (6) 18 estimate on the basis of little information (5) 19 6 June 1944 (1-3)

7

crossword solution

6 5 4 3 2

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

chess solution

A

1.Qb8+ Nxb8 2.Rd8# *

1

sudoku solution

1 condiments (4,3,6) 8 tell porkies (3) 9 bullfighters (9) 10 short instructive saying (8) 11 opposed (4) 13 more profound (6) 14 flung (6) 16 cummerbund (4) 17 perplexing (8) 20 correction (9) 21 winning serve in tennis (3) 22 hanky-panky (5,8)

bright brunt budget busk center chalk chance chart court cows cult defense diplomat gaudy glisten grief handy imply interact ironic

Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

injured amLa stands firm as south africa buiLd Lead

PRETORIA

e

AGENCIES

NGLAND´S nemesis Hashim Amla overcame a battered thumb and a lively wicket to post 50 not out and guide South Africa to 121 for four at lunch

on day four of the final Test on Monday.

The Proteas led by 254 runs on a rapidly deteriorating wicket with Amla and Temba Bavuma (nine not out) seeking to set England a record-breaking target if they are to win the series 3-0.

The touring side bowled well in the morning session, with James Anderson

grabbing two early wickets and Ben Stokes another.

They have yet to dismiss Amla, though, as he showed great patience and steel while in obvious discomfort after being wrapped on the glove by Stokes on day three.

He took his series runs tally to 424

at an average of 70.66 and remains the key in the Proteas posting a fourth-innings target they will feel is beyond England.

Anderson had earlier taken his number of Test wickets to 433, one short of Indian great Kapil Dev in sixth place on the all-time list.

He first induced a rash drive from opener Stephen Cook (25) that provided a catch for wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and two balls later grabbed the big scalp of home captain AB de Villiers, lbw for a duck.

It would have been a satisfying moment for Anderson after De Villiers had suggested before the game that England´s bowlers had lost pace, with many suggesting he was alluding specifically to Anderson.

It was also the third duck in a row for De Villiers, comfortably his worst run of form in test cricket since he made his debut in 2004.South Africa still have first-innings centurion Quinton de Kock to bat before England are in to the tail, but chasing anything over 300 on a wicket with variable bounce and movement will be extremely difficult.

It would also be a record, the previous highest chase in test matches on this ground was 251 by England in 2000, though the pitch was only used for two days in that match after rain spoiled the test and the teams decided to forfeit an innings each to force a result.

SPORTS 15

Pakistan A spark late collapse to keep series alive COURTESY ESPN Pakistan A kept the series against England Lions alive, securing a 17-run victory in Dubai with a late surge in the field after England had appeared on track. Khurram Manzoor’s 113 anchored Pakistan A’s total of 288 for 5, but with James Vince responding with a century of his own England were well placed on 194 for 2 in the 36th over only to subside and lose their last five wickets for 13. Vince and Sam Billings (51) had added for the third wicket when Billings was bowled by Fakhar Zaman. England were still on course as Vince reached his century off 117 deliveries, but when he was run out trying for a second to long leg the innings went into free-fall.

Mohammad Nawaz, who had claimed Daniel Bell-Drummond, a replacement for the ill Dawid Malan, at the start of the chase, then removed Joe Clarke and Ross Whiteley - a player capable of quickly hunting down a target - and the requirement became too much for the lower order.

In-form Khawaja misses Australia ODI tour of New Zealand SYDNEY AGENCIES

Australian Open: Milos Raonic stuns former champion Wawrinka MELBOURNE AGENCIES

Milos Raonic fended off a spirited comeback from fourth seed Stan Wawrinka to send the 2014 champion tumbling out of the fourth round of the Australian Open 6-4 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-3 on Monday. The 25-year-old Canadian, who had never beaten the French Open champion in four previous meetings, fired 24 aces and hit 82 winners in the three hour, 44 minute contest to reach the quarter-finals for the second year in a row. Swiss Wawrinka fought back from losing the first two sets to force a decider but was unable to avoid exiting a grand slam before the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2014 French.

Australia on Monday named virtually the same squad for a one-day series in New Zealand next month as the lineup that just white-washed India, controversially leaving out in-form batsman Usman Khawaja.

“This squad remains largely unchanged after a fantastic series win against India,” national selector Rod Marsh said.

“We have selected Adam Zampa as the spinning option for this tour in place of Nathan Lyon.”

Australia want their leading spinner to return to domestic action to prepare for the upcoming two-Test series in New Zealand.

“This will give us a chance to have a good look at Adam ahead of the ICC World T20,” Marsh added. That tournament takes place in India during March and April.

“Adam has certainly put forward a strong case for selection through good performances in the KFC Big Bash (League) … and we think he has thor-

oughly earned this opportunity.”

But there was no place for Khawaja despite his man-of-thematch winning performance in the BBL final on Sunday night when he hit 70 off 40 deliveries.

Selector Mark Waugh led a charge for Khawaja’s inclusion, arguing that he was the top opener in the world today.

“He is batting as well as anyone can possibly bat,” said Waugh.

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph said Monday that if Khawaja was not in the squad, “it will be the biggest embarrassment of the summer and create uproar in cricketing circles.”

Marsh chose to focus on the challenges to be faced in New Zealand.

“We know one of the biggest challenges we will face in New Zealand is adapting to the change in conditions,” he said.

“The New Zealand side will be very tough to beat in their home conditions.

“We know we will need to be at the top of our game if we want to be competitive.”

The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series starts in Auckland on February 3 and

moves on to Wellington on February 6 and Hamilton February 8 with the Test matches to follow.

Squad: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, George Bailey, Scott Boland,

James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazelwood, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.

MATCH-FIXING CONCERNS RETURN AS FORMER PLAYER PLEADS GUILTY SYDNEY AGENCIES

Allegations of corruption in world tennis were reignited on Monday when a former Australian professional tennis player pleaded guilty to match-fixing just hours after a top global bookmaker suspended betting on a suspicious match at the Australian Open.

The case against former 187-ranked player Nick Lindahl reached court after reports surfaced last week that tennis authorities had failed to deal with widespread match-fixing, marring the opening of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.

Lindahl pleaded guilty in a Sydney court to one charge related to match-fixing in a minor 2013 tournament but will contest a separate evidence-tampering charge on technical grounds. Two other charges were dropped by prosecutors after the guilty plea.

Prosecutor Kate Young told the court that in September 2013, when playing at the Toowoomba Futures Tournament,

Lindahl offered to intentionally lose a match to a lower-ranked player and informed an associate so that he could wager against him.

A transcript of telephone calls intercepted by police after the match and read in court appeared to show Lindahl coaching an associate on how to hide evidence from investigators and admitting to doing the same himself.

“Just get rid of it ... just get rid of everything,” Lindahl said in the transcript, which was read by Young.

Lindahl, who was arrested a year ago, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment on the charge to which he pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on April 15. His lawyer, Troy Edwards, said the timing of the case coming to court amid a blaze of publicity about suspected match fixing and the Australian Open tournament was unfortunate.

“The matter was set to be heard before Christmas but there was a sick barrister and Nick asked me to agree to a delay,” Edwards said. “And now it’s all

kind of blown up in his face.”

Betting suspended: Betting agency Sportsbet noticed heavy gambling on the relatively minor match and suspended betting before alerting police.

Similar suspicious betting promoted

CMYK

Pinnacle Sports, a Curaao-based sports gambling company, to suspend bets on a mixed doubles match at the Australian Open on Sunday.

Unusually large amounts of money were placed on Andrea Hlavackova and

Lukasz Kubot to beat Lara Arruabarrena and David Marrero, Pinnacle told the New York Times.

Heavy betting moved the odds on the match sharply over a 30 minute period more than 12 hours before the match began, data from sports odds comparison service Odds Portal shows.

Tennis regulators accept betting fluctuations can be an indicator of suspicious activity, but stress it is not sufficient to prove match fixing.

Nobody was immediately available to comment at Pinnacle or the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), the London-based body set up to counter corruption in the sport.

Tennis Australia said in a statement it would continue to work with police and the TIU in regard to “integrity matters”.

In an interview with the New York Times, Arruabarrena and Marrero denied any match fixing, with Marrero saying a knee injury affected their performance.

Kubot and Hlavackova told reporters they had spoken with TIU officials and were “surprised” by the allegations.

SPORTS Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

NZ beat PakistaN by 70 ruNs iN first ODi SCorEboArd NEw ZEAlANd INNINGS (50 ovErS mAxImum) mJ GuptIll C wAhAb rIAZ b mohAmmAd IrfAN 11 11 twm lAthAm C SArfrAZ AhmEd b m AmIr 10 KS wIllIAmSoN* b ANwAr AlI 82 hm NIChollS b ANwAr AlI 0 Gd EllIott b ANwAr AlI CJ ANdErSoN C SArfrAZ AhmEd b mohAmmAd AmIr10 5 l roNChI C SArfrAZ AhmEd b mohAmmAd AmIr mJ SANtNEr C SArfrAZ AhmEd b mohAmmAd IrfAN 48 48 mJ hENry Not out 31 mJ mCClENAGhAN rEtIrEd hurt 4 tA boult Not out ExtrAS (b 4, lb 3, w 13) 20, totAl (8 wICKEtS; 50 ovErS; 234 mINS) 280

WELLINGTON

N

AGENCIES

EW Zealand pacemen Trent Boult and Grant Elliott shared seven wickets as the hosts bundled out Pakistan for 210 to win the first one-day international at the pacy Basin Reserve by 70 runs on Monday.

Elliott did the early damage while Boult, the world’s top-ranked ODI bowler, ran through Pakistan’s lower order as the touring side were shot out in 46 overs, chasing a target of 281 in the first of the three-match series.

Pakistan captain Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad fell early to Elliott but Mohammad Hafeez (42) and Babar Azam (62) added 81 for the third wicket to put

them back on course.

A mid-innings collapse, however, saw Pakistan lose their last seven wickets for 68 runs despite New Zealand being a bowler short in the absence of Mitchell McClenaghan, who suffered a blow to his eye while batting and was forced to retire hurt.

New Zealand, put in to bat, were reduced to 99-6 in the 23rd over before man-of-the-match Henry Nicolls rescued

taunted by spectators: hafeez comes to Amir’s rescue SPORTS dESk Fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who made his comeback to international cricket after a five-year ban, was taunted by a section of crowd during Pakistan’s first ODI with New Zealand in Wellington on Monday. As Amir returned to his fielding position on the boundary, an individual from the same section of the stands began waving currency notes. “The incident has left the 23-yearold disturbed,” sources in the team said. As all this was going on, former captain Mohammad Hafeez stepped in to the young fast bowler’s rescue. Hafeez and the other players reported it to the Pakistan team’s security in-charge and the ground staff was requested to intervene. The Basin Reserve’s security proceeded to the stand and issued a sound warning to that individual. After the match ended, sources said that the person in question was told to ‘behave’ or face ejection from the stadium. Hafeez and one-day international skipper Azhar Ali were strictly against Amir’s return to Pakistan colours. They went as far as boycotting a national training camp because of the left-arm pacer’s presence. But Hafeez in particularly had taken an extremely harsh stance on the issue. He had reportedly turned down an offer from a Bangladesh Premier League franchise having Amir in their lineup, and refused to face the young fast bowler during one of the nets session at the Gaddafi Stadium. Hafeez had always maintained that “it is about the image of Pakistan cricket”. Today in Wellington, donning Pakistan colours, seeing his teammate being sledged at, Hafeez lived up to his words. In a separate development, a bunch of reporters in Lahore posed a tricky question to PCB supremo Shaharyar Khan after Amir bowled a wide off his first delivery back in ODIs. Khan, who took over the board’s chairmanship in August 2014, was quick in rubbishing their suspicions. “A wide and a no-ball in cricket is as natural as winning and losing. I am satisfied with Amir’s performance,” he said.

In a frank post-mortem after the 70-run loss, Pakistan’s batting coach Grant Flower has said the visitors “didn’t use [their] brains” towards the end of New Zealand’s innings, in which 71 runs were plundered off the final five overs. Those runs had largely come from New Zealand’s No. 9 and 10 batsmen, Mithcell McClenaghan and Matt Henry, who put on 73 together, before No. 11 Trent Boult edged the final ball of the innings through the vacant slip region.

Pakistan had used the short ball well, to have New Zealand 99 for 6 by the 23rd over, but Flower said the death overs required a different approach.

“We didn’t use our brains at all towards the end,” he said. “Bowling yorkers is skill execution, and we didn’t do that.

They played well at the end. The short ball worked to a certain extent, but we overdid it, and we didn’t learn and we just didn’t bowl enough yorkers.

“If we’re going to be honest we should have got them out for 200-odd, seeing the

13 42

bAbAr AZAm C NIChollS b ANdErSoN

62

SohAIb mAqSood C Sub (Af mIlNE) b EllIott

10

SArfrAZ AhmEd C ANdErSoN b boult

30

ImAd wASIm C roNChI b SANtNEr ANwAr AlI C lAthAm b boult

1 16

wAhAb rIAZ Not out

5

mohAmmAd AmIr b boult

0

mohAmmAd IrfAN b boult

0

ExtrAS (lb 2, w 10) 12, totAl (All out; 46 ovErS; 192

bowlING: mohAmmAd IrfAN 10-0-43-2, mohAmmAd AmIr 8.1-0-28-3, ANwAr AlI-9.5-0-66-3, wAhAb rIAZ-100-67-0, ImAd wASIm-8-0-47-0, AZhAr AlI-4-0-22-0

mINS) 210

pAKIStAN INNINGS (tArGEt: 281 ruNS from 50 ovErS) AZhAr AlI C hENry b EllIott 19

EllIott 10-1-43-3, CJ ANdErSoN 9-1-35-1, mJ SANtNEr 80-36-1, KS wIllIAmSoN 2-0-11-1

them with a knock of 82.

The left-hander, playing only his sixth ODI, added 79 for the seventh wicket with Mitchell Santner (48) before Matt Henry and McClenaghan launched a late assault to power New Zealand to 280-6 in their 50 overs.

Henry hit four sixes and the same number of fours in his 30-ball 48 while McClenaghan, who was hit by an Anwar Ali bouncer that went through the gap in his helmet, smashed 31 in 18 balls as New Zealand scored 71 off their last five overs.

The left-arm fast bowler suffered a small fracture above his left eye and will undergo a minor surgery on Friday, local

media quoted a Black Caps spokesperson as saying.

The injury is likely to keep the 29year-old out of the remaining matches against Pakistan.

“Thanks for all the concerns. Everything is as good as it can be just a few broken bones. Great win for the boys!”

McClenaghan tweeted with a picture showing heavy bruising around his left eye.

Mohammad Amir was the most successful Pakistan bowler with 3-28 but had to leave the field injured after bowling the first delivery of his ninth over. Anwar took 3-66. The second match of the series will be played in Napier on Thursday.

We didn’t use our brains in death overs: Grant Flower COURTESY ESPN

AhmEd ShEhZAd C wIllIAmSoN b EllIott mohAmmAd hAfEEZ C hENry b wIllIAmSoN

start we had.”

Pakistan’s seamers were guilty of bowling lengths that allowed New Zealand’s tailenders get under the ball.

Matt Henry and Mitchell McClenaghan struck six sixes and seven fours in what was a record 73-run ninth-wicket stand for New Zealand against Pakistan.

“You can get as many messages as you want out to the players, but it’s got to come from within,” Flower said. “It’s also executing your skills. If there’s a yorker to be bowled, you have to bowl it as a yorker, not a half volley.”

Flower didn’t confine his stern words to the bowling attack’s performance. Pakistan’s batsmen had made a slow start to the chase of 281, making just 33 runs from the first 10 overs, at the end of which the required rate had climbed to 6.2. Flower felt they could have been more aggressive.

“Even though we should have got them out for a lot less, I still backed the guys to get the target. We lacked a bit of intent at the start and then we had quite a few soft wickets. We didn’t take advantage of a good batting track in the afternoon.

bowlING: mJ hENry 8-0-43-0, tA boult 9-1-40-4, Gd

Former South Africa batsman Bodi banned 20 years for fixing CENTURION AGENCIES

Former South Africa batsman Gulam Bodi has been banned for 20 years by his country’s cricket board for attempted matchfixing. Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat announced the sanction on Monday. He says investigators believe Bodi was caught in the “planning stage” with regard to trying to fix domestic games in South Africa late last year. However, Lorgat says the investigation is ongoing, and could take “weeks, months or even years.” Bodi played two one-day internationals and a Twenty20 game for South Africa in 2007. The investigation re-opens wounds in South Africa following the Hansie Cronje scandal, when the former test captain was banned for life for fixing in 2000.

McclenAghAn SuFFerS FAciAl FrActure ABove leFt eye WELLINGTON AGENCIES

New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan is to undergo surgery for a fractured eye socket after suffering a nasty blow to the face in Monday’s one-day international victory against Pakistan. An express delivery from Anwar Ali smashed through the

grille of McClenaghan’s helmet and hit him on the left eye on the penultimate ball of the New Zealand innings in Wellington.

The tailender was left prone on the ground for a few seconds before getting up to cheers from the crowd and making his way off the field with blood and bruising around the eye.

He was taken to hospital for the wound to be stitched and later tweeted he had suffered “a few broken bones”.

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

CMYK

A team spokesman said doctors had confirmed a slight fracture to the eye socket and McClenaghan would undergo “minor surgery” in Auckland on Friday.

McClenaghan retired hurt on 31 after featuring in a 73-run stand in 33 balls with Matt Henry for the ninth wicket to help New Zealand get up to 280-8.

Pakistan in reply were all out for 210.

The second game in the series is in Napier on Thursday.