E paper pdf (31 3 2016) khi by Pakistan Today

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thursday, 31 March, 2016 i 21 jamadi-us-Sani, 1437 i rs 17.00 i Vol Vi No 272 i 16 pages i Karachi edition

Govt closes Qadri chapter for good

Protesters, govt reach an ‘understanding’ on seven points to end sit-in protest at D-Chowk Chaudhry Nisar says govt will not allow any religious or political protests in Red Zone of federal capital

iSlAMABAD: Protest leaders announce the end of their sit-in protest, as one of them waves the unsigned ‘agreement’ they reached with the government on Wednesday evening. INP

ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR AND SHAH NAWAZ MOHAL

he four-day sit-in of religious parties at Islamabad’s DChowk came to an amicable end on Wednesday evening, following successful

Yadav’s phone calls to family in Marathi gave him away: report

talks between the government and protest leaders which left the government holding all the cards. In a deal reminiscent of the one that was struck between Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Tahirul Qadri and the then-PPP government of Raja Pervez Ashraf in January 2013, the gov-

ernment gave away practically nothing to the protestors and the conflict was resolved without resorting to violence and bloodshed. To wrap an already good day at the office, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced that from now on D-Chowk is strictly off-limits for

Fiery Waqar slams PCB for ‘leaking’ confidential report

Says govt has not signed any ‘agreement’ with protest leaders, will release only those protesters who were not involved in violence

any political or religious party which wants to hold a protest there. “No political or religious gatherings and demonstrations will be allowed at D-Chowk. This is a highly sensitive area; we can’t allow groups of people to hold the government hostage,” he said while talking to reporters.

The administration confirmed the dialogue was successful about an hour before the protesters started leaving the venue dancing in groups and looking overjoyed at the outcome of the four-day protest.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Obama calls Nawaz, offers cooperation in wake of Lahore attack US president expressed hope that Pakistan will succeed in its war against terrorism.

According to the Ahmedabad Mirror, Indian intelligence officials suspect that many of Yadav’s habits and mannerisms gave him away and his phone calls in Marathi to his family did not add up with his assumed identity.

“There is more politics in Pakistan cricket than the parliament. We are all fed up of these inquiry committees,” said the Pakistan head coach in a press talk.

STORY ON PAGE 02

STORY ON PAGE 16

Nuclear terrorism threat to be focus of Washington summit Leaders from more than 50 countries, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meet Thursday and Friday in the U.S. capital for the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit, a conference dedicated to ensuring the most devastating weapons remain out of the reach of wouldbe attackers.

STORY ON PAGE 05

file photo

SaNa SaYS arMY aNd raNgerS aLreadY OperatiNg iN puNjab STORIES ON PAGE 03

02 nEws

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

Yadav’s phone calls To familY in maraThi gave him awaY: reporT T

NEWS DESK

OP Indian intelligence officials suspect Kulbushan Yadav’s phone had been under surveillance by Pakistani intelligence and believe Yadav’s complacency led to his capture, revealed the Ahmedabad Mirror. According to the Ahmedabad Mirror, Indian intelligence officials suspect that many of Yadav’s habits and mannerisms gave him away and his phone calls in Marathi to his family did not add up with his assumed identity. “His passport identifies him as Hussein Mubarak Patel; but his mannerisms

Petrol price likely to be increased by Rs 3.09 from April 1 ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT The government is likely to increase petrol price by Rs 3.09 from April 1 after the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) forwarded a summary to the Federal Petroleum Ministry on Wednesday, official sources said. According to these sources, OGRA has recommended to increase the prices of other petroleum products also. Diesel price is recommended to be increased by Rs1.40, high-octane by Rs4.67, lightdiesel Rs4.91 and kerosene oil by Rs5.64. If the OGRA recommendations are approved, the revised price of petrol will be Rs65.86 from April 1. High-octane would be sold for Rs77.35 per litre, diesel Rs72.52, light-diesel Rs42.88 and kerosene oil would available for Rs48.89 per litre in the month of April.

were nothing like that of a Muslim Patel,” an Indian official told the Ahmedabad Mirror. In a video confession aired on Tuesday by the Pakistani government, Yadav admitted he directed various activities in Karachi and Balochistan at the behest of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and was picked up by Pakistani law enforcement agencies in Balochistan’s Chaman near the shared border with Afghanistan earlier this month. Mumbai police told the Ahmedabad Mirror that Pakistani agencies also monitored Yadav’s movements in Iran over the years. Police added that Yadav’s family had lost touch with him in February, leading them to conclude that he has been

in Pakistani custody longer than thought. His family has also been unable to contact his two local emergency contacts, who have been reported missing for over a month. It is unclear whether they have also been captured or ended operations and fled into hiding to maintain plausible deniability. Deven Bharti, joint commissioner of police (law and order), denied that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has officially informed Mumbai police of Yadav’s arrest in Pakistan. Thane Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh corroborates the Pakistani government version that they recovered travel documents and multiple fake identities from Yadav. His passport identify-

ing him as Hussein Mubarak Patel, born in Sangli, Maharashtra, is apparently issued from Thane Regional Passport Of-

Pathankot attack probe: Pakistan JIT meets NIA oﬃcials in Delhi NEWS DESK Pakistan Joint Investigation Team met officials at the National Investigation Agency as they probed the Pathankot Airbase Attack on Wednesday. During their visit to the NIA they discussed the findings of the Pathankot Attack. A JIT from Pakistan is visiting India to investigate an attack on the Indian airbase which took place on January 2. The Pakistan JIT which includes Punjab Counter Terrorism Chief Additional IG Muhammad Tahir, Azeem Rashid, Lieutenant

Colonel Tanveer, Lieutenant Colonel Irfan Miza and Inspector Shahid Mirza visited parts of the Pathankot Airbase on Tuesday. A protest was staged by the Congress party outside the airbase prior to the JIT visit. The team was allowed limited access inside the airbase. The Pakistani investigators, who departed for New Delhi via a special flight on Sunday, will remain in India for seven days to investigate the Pathankot Airbase attack The team would not be allowed to question SP Gurdaspur Salwindar Singh, who was abducted by militants on De-

cember 31 last year before the attack on the Pathankot Airbase near the Pakistan border. The announcement of the key decision to send the JIT was made in Pokhara earlier this month, where foreign ministers and foreign secretaries were gathered for the 37th Saarc Council of Ministers Meeting. The meeting between Pakistan’s advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was the first high-level meeting between the two sides after the December 25 meeting between the two prime ministers in Lahore.

Pakistan’s Christians call for protection, unity after Easter bombing LAHORE AGENCIES

A year ago, Wasif Masih, 16, had a narrow escape when a suicide bomber from a faction of the Pakistani Taliban blew himself up during Sunday worship outside his church in a Christian neighbourhood in Lahore. This past Easter Sunday, Wasif died when the same Taliban faction, Jamaatul Ahrar, sent another suicide bomber to a Lahore park full of families, killing 72 people including at least 29 children. Wasif was so close to the blast that the bomber’s head fell at his feet, his mother, Zubaida Masih, said as the family mourned at their house in Nishtar Colony, a neighbourhood with both Christian and Muslim families. “It was as if they were following him. He escaped them then but they came after him again, in the park,” Masih said. “If there was better security, this wouldn’t have happened.” Two days after the attack, a sense of vulnerability is growing among members of the Christian community, who are calling on the government to do more to protect them. Christians, who number around 2 million in a nation of 190 million people, have been the target of a series of attacks in recent years. Last March, suicide bombers struck Masih’s Christ Church and another close by, killing at least 14 people. In 2013, a pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a 130-year-old church in Peshawar after Sunday Mass, killing at least 78 people. Now

the Easter attack by Jamaatul Ahrar, which once swore support for Islamic State, has fuelled worries that militants in Pakistan are increasingly subscribing to the IS brand of ultrasectarian violence against those perceived as infidels. “Terrorists didn’t used to be so focussed on our community. Now all their attention is on us,” said Irshad Ashnaz, the Christ Church vicar. “Perhaps it’s time for the government to turn their attention toward us also.” “These people are roaming around freely and no one is stopping them,” Ashnaz said at the church, its windows cemented over after the attack. Pope Francis condemned the attack as “hideous” and demanded that Pakistani authorities protect religious minorities. “People who live to die”: Since the attack, Pakistan’s deadliest since the 2014 massacre of 134 schoolchildren at a military-run

academy in Peshawar, authorities have launched a crackdown on militants in the Punjab province, the country’s richest and most populous and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s political heartland. On Tuesday, a provincial minister said authorities had detained more than 5,000 militant suspects but later released most of them. Punjab government spokesperson Zaeem Qadri said the government had stepped up security at churches after the previous attacks, which was why militants had picked a park this time. He said over the past year, the government had uncovered more than 200 plots and arrested around 15,000 suspects. “Parks are public places. On a public holiday there should have been more vigilance. But there was a gap,” Qadri said. Christians “are as safe as anyone else. They are as safe as any other

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Pakistani is.” Irfan Jamil, the bishop of Lahore, said the government was trying its best. “There are people who live to live and there are people who live to die,” Jamil said. “How much protection is enough protection against such people?” But he added, “There is always room for improvement. Many of us don’t feel that we are secure.” Unknown victim: On Tuesday, survivors lined the wards of Jinnah hospital in Lahore. The explosion wounded more than 300 people. Above each bed is a sign that says, ‘blast victim’, followed by the victim’s name. One bed is only marked with the word “unknown.” A three-year-old boy whose lungs were punctured and eyes gouged out is struggling to breathe through a tube. Visitors have placed flowers and juice packs next to his pillow. “We don’t know who he is,” a nurse said as she held his hand. “Two days after the blast, no one has come looking for him.” Amid the fear, many Christians called for unity and brotherhood. At a vigil on Monday in Gulshan e Iqbal park, where the bomber struck, Father Jamal Albert said the message is “whether you are Christian, Hindu, Jewish or Muslim, you are unsafe and they are trying to break down our nation, destroy our sense of oneness, our sense of being Pakistanis”. He added: “Rest assured we will not be deterred by such episodes. This is our country just as much as anyone else’s. In fact we are more resolved than ever to go on.

fice (RPO), but no record of it exists. “We have tried to establish the veracity of Patel’s passport and found that it was not issued from our RPO,” says Singh. “No police verification report was ever submitted by Thane police. In all probability it could be a bogus passport.” Former Indian police officer Shirish Thorat says, “In the event of an asset getting arrested, the handlers immediately secure other related assets like Agents in Places (AIP) or regroup their operations and fold up all the ongoing or future tasks.” “This discontinuation of operations is far monumental a disaster than the arrest of an operative.”

India sends security oﬃcials to Iran to rescue RAW second-in-command ISLAMABAD ONLINE

Indian premier spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has sent two of its officers to Iran to rescue their second-incommand in Chabahar. India took this step after Pakistan decided to write a legal letter to Iran on antiPakistan activities by the RAW in its port city. Rakesh alias Rizwan who is the accomplice of arrested RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadev is the second-incommand of RAW in Chabahar. India tasked its officers to rescue Rakesh and to send him to a third country. Rakesh alias Rizwan is believed to have taken shelter at Indian diplomatic mission in Iran. Pakistan, on the other hand, will ask Iran to provide details and information of the activities and network of RAW. The detained RAW agent Kulbhushan had entered Pakistan from Chabahar. Sources said that Rakesh alias Rizwan is still in Chabahar. Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had raised the issue of RAW with his Iranian counterpart during a meeting with him on Friday.

Pakistan determined to wipeout terrorism from its soil, says PM

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

President of Maldives Abdullah Yameen on Wednesday telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and conveyed his deepest condolences on the loss of precious lives in the Lahore suicide blast. Yameen, during his telephonic conversation with the Pakistani PM, expressed his heart felt grief and sorrow over loss of massive precious lives. He expressed sympathies with the victim families and early recovery of those injured in the attack. Prime Minister Nawaz told the Maldives president that terrorists are on the run; and therefore hitting soft targets, including children and women. He said Pakistan is determined to wipe out terrorism from its soil.

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

sana saYs armY and rangers alreadY operaTing in punjab p

MONITORING DESK

ROVINCIAL Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the bombing of Gulshan-eIqbal Park Lahore is not an intelligence failure but said the law-enforcement agencies need to improve coordination and work on their capacity building to avoid such terrorist attacks in future. He was talking to the Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami during his Channel 24 talkshow DNA Wednesday night. He said the prime minister had chaired a high level meeting after the attack in Lahore and taken several important decisions. However, he said the decisions could not be shared with

media at this stage. He said that the prime minister has ordered a stern action to arrest the facilitator of the Lahore massacre which left 70 people, a lot of them Christians, on the occasion of Easter. Sana said more than 5,000 people have been arrested by the law enforcement agencies since the attack in Lahore. He said that 56 operations were carried out by the Punjab Police while 88 by the Rangers to arrest the terrorists in the aftermath of the Lahore attack. “Army is already in Punjab and so are the Rangers. They are deployed during by-elections and on the eve of Muharram to maintain law and order,” he said while commenting on whether the Army has finally entered the province.

He reiterated that the civil and military leaderships are on the same page in fighting terrorism in the country and that it’s only some conspiracy theorists who are trying to give the impression that there’s a rift between the army and the civilian government. He categorically ruled out the notion that the Punjab government was reluctant to launch the crackdown against terrorists in its territory. “My critics were saying that I was backing the notorious Malik Ishaq of Lashkar-e-Jhanhvi but time has proved them wrong as Ishaq was killed in a police encounter in Punjab,” he said. Sanaullah said he had presented himself before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which was formed to probe Model Town killings but not a single allegation

was proven against him. “The case is now in the courts and I will be exonerated as I was not involved in any of it.

Obama calls nawaz, oﬀers cooperation in wake of Lahore attack ISLAMABAD: US President Barack Obama telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday and expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives in Lahore blast earlier this week. The US president assured every possible cooperation to Pakistan in eliminating the menace of terrorism. “Pakistan has made significant progress in war against terrorism under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif,” Obama was quoted as saying. Obama expressed hope that Pakistan will succeed in its war against terrorism. He was of the view that the goal of terrorists is to “weaken our faith” and lead people to strike out against those who look or pray differently. Nawaz told Obama that the people’s resolve to fight terrorism is getting stronger with each passing day. He said the enemy is targeting innocent people after the military destroyed their infrastructure and sanctuaries across the country. At least 72 people were killed in a suicide blast that took place in Lahore’s crowded Gulshan-i-Iqbal park on Sunday evening. Around 300 others were injured. Following the attack, the army and Rangers announced to conduct a widespread operation across Punjab to target militants, their facilitators and their hideouts. The decision was taken during a high-level military huddle, chaired by Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters. APP

nEws

Pervaiz urges media to play role in making Zarb-e-Azb successful ISLAMABAD APP

Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Wednesday urged media and journalists to launch a pensive Zarb-e-Azb in order to get rid of the menace of terrorism. A successful military operation is underway against terrorists, in which their infrastructure, factories and training centres are being destroyed and their handlers and financers are being arrested. But there is a need to launch a pensive Zarb-e-Azb against the extremist elements on the front of conflict reporting, he said. He expressed these views while addressing the closing ceremony of a four-day media training workshop covering conflict terrorism and defence issues here at Information Service Academy (ISA). He said that without a responsible role of media, it would be difficult to completely wipe out the disgruntled elements from the country. Pervaiz Rashid said that Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) always taught his followers to promote love, brotherhood and peaceful co-existence, adding that the followers of other religions across the world were taking guidance from the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) and progressing but Muslims have forgotten them. The minister said the journalists should file news stories based on facts without any biased comments and approach, so that they would be regarded as good reporters in future, contrary to those who filed distorted stories during the war between Soviet Union and Vietnam and faced criticism by the later generations. He appreciated the National Press Club (NPC) for arranging the workshop for journalists and said this would help train the journalists in discharging their professional duties in conflict zones in a secured way. NPC President Shakeel Anjum and former president Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Afzal Butt thanked the ministry for extending cooperation in arranging the workshop.

Govt closes Qadri chapter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 Only two of the 11 demands put forward by the protestors were agreed to without modification by the government during negotiations which were held at the house of Khawaja Saad Rafique. Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with Nisar and directed him to clear the Red Zone of the federal capital. THE AGREEMENT: The seven points agreed to between the government and protesters included two of protesters’ demands – no amendment in Section 295-C of the PPC (blasphemy law) and no concession to anyone convicted of blasphemy law – though there was never an indication that the government planned to amend the blasphemy law or was going to pardon anyone convicted of blasphemy. The rest of the demands were either rejected by the government or accepted after modifications to make them toothless and keep the advantage strictly with the government. The government agreed that ‘peaceful’ protesters will be released, fourth schedule list will be reviewed, charges against Ulema will be re-assessed, recommendations regarding Nizam-e-Mustafa can be sent to Religious Affairs Ministry and that the Ulema can contact Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), along with proofs of obscene programmes on TV channels. The name of executed murderer Mumtaz Qadri, who had inspired this protest as well as hundreds of others held throughout the country during the last few months, did not feature in the final agreement. The original demands of the protesters included the following: (1) The imposition of “Nizam-e-Mustafa” (2) Execution of Christian blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi (3) No amendment to Section 295-C of the blasphemy laws (4) Immediate release of Namoos-e-Risalat activists (5) Immediate execution of those accused of blaspheming against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) (6) Declare Mumtaz Qadri officially a “Shaheed” (7) Announce the declaration regarding ‘martyrdom for Qadri’ on media (8) Accused of Namoos-e-Risalat

should be excluded from Diyat and Qisas (9) Members of the Ahmedia community should be expelled from the country and (10) All Ahmedis working in government departments should be terminated from service. The protestors had also demanded that Mumtaz Qadri’s jail cell in Adiala be declared a national heritage site. While the negotiations took place behind the scenes, Rangers, police and FC personnel kept encircling the over 1,000 strong crowd. However, no instance of conflict or violence was reported on Wednesday. THE TENSE STANDOFF: Rumours of an imminent operation kept flying throughout the day. The 1,000 strong baton-wielding protesters roamed around the venue, which had been encircled by more than 7,000 personnel from Islamabad Police, Rangers and FC, many of them in riot gear, armed with batons, tear-gas guns and shells. They were backed by trucks mounted with water cannons. The police, however, were not given any firearms on the direction of the interior minister. Senate Secretariat, National Assembly Secretariat, FBR, Supreme Court, PM’s Office and all the surrounding buildings were vacated in the afternoon. The government officers left offices before time in anticipation of the operation. PIMS and Polyclinic announced emergency to deal with any eventuality in case the government started the operation. The non-critical patients were discharged and more beds were made available. Inside the circle, firebrand speakers kept giving rousing speeches to boost the morale of the participants. But the law enforcement agencies kept their distance and violence was avoided. PROTESTERS TERMINATE SIT-IN: As evening approached, and probably with hopes of a breakthrough in talks, the mobile service was resumed in the area. Negotiations were held at Railways Minister Saad Rafique's residence. Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Peer Ameen ul Hasnaat and Khwaja Saad Rafque represented the government. JUP leader Shah Owais Noorani, Tehreek-e--Labaik-Ya-Rasool Allah Chairman Dr Asif Ashraf Jalali,

Sunni Tehreek Chairman Sarwat Ejaz Qadri, Allama Haji Rafeeq Pardesi, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Hamid Raza and Afzal Qadri represented the protestors in the negotiations. After the negotiations ended, district administration announced that talks had been successful. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar also announced that protestors had agreed to vacate D-Chowk after negotiations with the government. At around 7 in the evening, Shah Owais Noorani and Haji Rafeeq Pardesi addressed the protesters and called off the sit-in. They thanked the government for accepting their demands. After offering a collective prayer, the leadership ordered the participants of the sit-in to go back to their homes. The protesters celebrated by raising slogans and hugging each other. AN UNDERSTANDING, NOT AN AGREEMENT: nterior Minister Nisar, while talking to media said that no written agreement with the Barelvi leaders been signed. Ishaq Dar also confirmed that the document was never actually signed. But, the PML-N stalwart said an ‘understanding’ was reached between the protesters and the government. Out of 1,070 arrested protesters, Nisar said those who did not commit any act of vandalism will be freed. Those who committed crimes will be punished as per law. He said the hooligans who damaged metro bus stations, fire brigade vehicles and Safe City Project cameras and equipment will be punished severely. He also acknowledged the role of Ulema for a consensus on the issue. Nisar, who was not part of the negotiation team, conducted the press briefing alone. He said that changes will be brought by passing legislation in the parliament. He said the changes will also benefit the police force in establishing their writ in a more effective manner. The interior minister elaborated that the operation to remove the pro-Qadri demonstrators was not conducted earlier, as reinforcements were needed to shore up the federal capital’s police force. He also said, “We wanted to conduct the law enforcement action during daylight hours.” “We had decided to evacuate Red Zone

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last night, but some respected figures from Karachi intervened and held talks,” the interior minister said. “With the Parliament’s approval, we will make changes in Islamabad police to prevent such invasions in future and establish the state’s writ,” he added. GOVT IS HAPPY WITH OUTCOME, PROTESTERS SAY THEY’RE HAPPY TOO: But while the government quarters said they had not given anything in writing, Sunni Tehreek chief Sarwat Ijaz Qadri said the government had conceded to major demands of the protestors including the imposition of Nizam-e-Mustafa. "The government has agreed to contact the Ministry of Religious Affairs for exclusion of all clauses against Shariah from the law," he said. He said that both sides would increase engagement to ‎ensure implementation of the agreement in letter and spirit. Shah Owais Noorani, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) and one of the negotiators for the protesters, said they had reached an unwritten pact with the government and while all the seven assurances given by the government were verbal “the people part of the dialogue would act as guarantor”. Lauding the role of Ishaq Dar and Saad Rafique, Noorani said efforts for a peaceful resolution of the matter had yielded results as both sides had shown flexibility. "There was disconnect between the government and protesters which resulted in misunderstandings. “We tried to plug the gaps and this sincere effort yielded results," he added. "When the government gave us assurances, things were sorted out peacefully," he added. Asked why there was no written pact, Noorani said that during the past two sit-ins, there was no written agreement between the government and the protesters. Asked what the point of the protest

was if Mumtaz Qadri’s name was not even mentioned in the final agreement, Noorani said that the indecent haste adopted in hanging Mumtaz Qadri had prompted concerns among the faithful that efforts were underway to repeal blasphemy law. "No black warrants were issued for Mumtaz Qadri, and no due process of law was adopted. This discrimination prompted massive protests. Had the government followed due process, things would have been peaceful," he added. Khwaja Saad Rafique also confirmed a deal between the government and protesters, saying it was an understanding and not a written agreement. "There is no written agreement as Chaudhry Nisar said." Rafique said that Owais Noorani had contacted him two days ago to help avoid a confrontation. "Haji Rafique Pardesi also contacted me. The leaders of the sit-in came to my residence. We had to reciprocate the gesture. The religious leaders of the sit-in showed flexibility and we responded with the same currency," he added. Rafique, however, said the government had made sure that protesters who were involved in ransacking and vandalising state and private property would not be spared. "We assured them that those who did not take part in violence will be released," he added. He said the protestors were told the government had no power to make concessions in the case of Mumtaz Qadri, or pardon those convicted by courts. "We have resolved the misunderstanding and given them assurances. But this is not a pact. It’s an understanding," he said. The four-day protest left three people dead, almost 50 injured, two metro bus stations in shambles, numerous shops destroyed and a number of government and private vehicles set on fire.

04 NEWS

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

LAHORE POLICE KILL FIVE AL QAEDA TERRORISTS LAHORE

SAMIULLAH RANDHAWA

T least five suspected terrorists affiliated with al Qaeda’s Afzal Group were killed in an encounter with security forces in Nawab Town area late on Tuesday night. Police said they recovered heavy ammunition and maps of various places including Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park from the possession of the dead terrorists. An FIR has been lodged in Choohng Police Station against terrorists under sections including pro-

visions of Anti Terrorist Act. The operation comes in the wake of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park bombing which left over 70 dead and more than 300 injured. As per contents of the FIR, the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) acting on intelligence based information raided a house located in Bilal Town near LDA Avenue. The miscreants, howeve, opened fire on the police party. The FIR said the police told terrorists on loud speaker to surrender themselves as they had been surrounded. However, the terrorists opened fire. “Police had already taken safe posi-

tion before the terrorists opened fire,” the FIR read. FIR further said that an intense exchange of fire with terrorist lasted for over 75 minutes and ended with the death of four terrorists on the spot while one died on the way to Jinnah hospital. Two or three terrorists managed to flee during the course of the firing. Police have been searching for them in nearby areas. The suspected terrorists were identified as Khan Wahid of Peshawar, Nasir Iqbal of Sharqpur, Nadeem Iqbal of Sabzazar, Qari Saqib and Junaid Zahoor

‘Pakistan a problem for US because they have nuclear weapons,’ says Trump WISCONSIN AGENCIES

WISCONSIN: Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Tuesday said that amongst all the presidential hopefuls only he can solve the problem of “radical Islamic terrorism”. During an interview with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, Trump termed Pakistan “a vital problem” for the United States (US) “because they have a thing called nuclear weapons”, adding, “They have to get a better hold of the situation.” Trump had tweeted ‘I alone can solve’ after a suicide blast in Lahore on Sunday which killed at least 74 people. Explaining his earlier statement, he said: “When I see they [the attackers] put it [the bomb] in a park and there were mostly Christians although many others were killed...I think it is absolutely a horrible story,” said Trump. “But I am talking about radical Islamic terrorism. I will solve it better than anyone else running,” he claimed. The Lahore attack was condemned by other politicians and celebrities around the world, many of whom took to social media to express sorrow and anger over the tragedy. ‘Japan, S. Korea Should have nuclear weaponS’: When ques-

ISPR REJECTS REUTERS REPORT

tioned about nuclear security and American defence policy, the billionaire said that although the US has traditionally provided military support to Saudi Arabia, Japan, Germany and South Korea, it may be time to change the existing policy. Trump was of the opinion that support of these countries had resulted in a budget deficit for the US, so they should start protecting themselves. “Saudi Arabia makes $1 billion a day. We support them militarily and they pay us a fraction of what they should be paying us, of the cost,” he said, adding that the US is “better off” if they stop spending money on the defence of other countries. “They [supported countries] should protect themselves or they should pay us,” he said. “Our military expenditure isn’t just on ourselves. We’re protecting all these nations all over the world. We can’t afford to do it anymore.” “We are better off if Japan protects itself against this maniac in North Korea,” he said, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “Wouldn’t you rather let Japan have nuclear weapons when North Korea is having them? We don’t want to pull the trigger... Nobody is afraid of our president,” he said.

Disappointed fans Sethi, oﬃcials in protest outside PCB LAHORE STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD PRESS RELEASE

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has rejected a report by Reuters alleging relations between Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif and Bahria Town Chairman Malik Raiz. Reacting to a news report appearing on March 29, the ISPR said in a short statement that Gen Raheel had no connection whatsoever with Malik Riaz and the contents of the report were baseless.

About 100 people protested outside PCB head office at Gaddafi Stadium against PCB Executive Committee head Najam Sethi and Chairman Shaharyar Khan for the dismal performance of the Pakistan Cricket team. The protest comes after Cricket Team Coach Waqar Younis said he had been snubbed by Najam Sethi and PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan. He said he had returned to the country to complain about the leaking of his inquiry report which he had compiled after the team’s graceless exit from the World T20. Rehman Ahmed, an ACCA student said Najam Sethi and Shaharyar Khan were running Pakistani cricket into the ground. “They are going to make Waqar Younis and Afridi resign so they can keep their own jobs. The two must not be allowed to mess with our cricket any longer,” Ahmed said. Shabbir Ahmed, a resident of Gulberg III, said Pakistani cricket is in shambles because the people at the top have ruined the board with their power politics. “All they are interested in is their own influence and authority. Najam Sethi has no experience of cricket. Why is he running the cricket board?” Shabbir said.

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of Abbottabad. A spokesman for CIA police said the terrorists were involved in attacking an army camp in Gujrat, killing 9 people in separate incidents, attacking Kakul Military Academy and were also involved in targeting army officers in Peshawar. “They were also involved in attacking Ahmadi places of worship, were involved in the kidnapping of Dr Warren Weinstein and two other foreigners working for NGOs,” said the police spokesman. The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) had declared

Qari Saqib and Junaid Zahoor as proclaimed offenders in several terrorism related cases and had announced head money of Rs 1.5 million for information leading to his arrest. The police spokesman also gave details of arms and ammunition seized from the suspected terrorists, which included two AK-47 assault rifles, two pistols, 10 hand grenades, timing devices and explosives material for use in terror activities. Law enforcement agencies in Punjab are launching a province-wide crackdown on terror suspects in the wake of the horrific Iqbal Park bombing earlier.

FOREIGN NEWS 05

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

NUClEAR tERRoRISm thREAt to bE foCUS of WAShINgtoN SUmmIt WASHINGTON

AGENCIES

HE world has yet to experience an act of nuclear terrorism. High-level discussions this week in Washington will resolve to keep things that way as fresh attacks in Brussels loom over the talks. Leaders from more than 50 countries, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meet Thursday and Friday in the U.S. capital for the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit, a conference dedicated to ensuring the most devastating weapons remain out of the reach of would-be attackers. The summit, an initiative led by U.S. President Barack Obama, confronts the growing menace of ISIS and how best to address nuclear smuggling and transnational intelligence-sharing. It will take place against an alarming backdrop. Security analysts fear that ISIS has been seeking radioactive material to build a “dirty bomb,” noting that iridium capsules were stolen from a storage facility in Basra, Iraq, in February. At least four groups, including AlQaeda and the Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinyriko, have for years harboured nuclear ambitions, according to

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reports. And just days after the massacre that killed 130 people in Paris last November, Belgian authorities made an eye-opening find: Evidence of spying on a top nuclear official in Belgium by a suspected Islamic State conspirator. “What we know is that an ISIS associate had this footage seized from a videotape showing the comings and goings of a nuclear scientist and his family,” said Carl Robichaud, an expert in strengthening nuclear security with the Carnegie Corporation of New York. “That suggests that there was an interest in nuclear and radiological material.” The surveillance video was found

Cyprus court orders Egyptian hijack suspect held for 8 days LARNACA: A Cyprus court on Wednesday ordered the detention for eight days of an Egyptian man who admitted to hijacking a domestic EgyptAir flight and diverting it to the east Mediterranean island nation by threatening to blow it up with a fake explosives belt. Police prosecutor Andreas Lambrianou said the suspect, whom Cypriot and Egyptian authorities had earlier identified as 59-year-old Seif Eddin Mustafa, faces charges including hijacking, illegal possession of explosives, kidnapping and threats to commit violence. Judge Maria Loizou said she found the police’s request for the maximum eight-day detention necessary because of fears that the suspect might flee and the fact that he admitted to the hijacking in a voluntary statement to police. Tuesday’s dramatic hijacking ended peacefully when police arrested the suspect after all 72 passengers and crew aboard the Airbus A320 aircraft were released. Police said apart from the eight-member crew and 56 passengers of various nationalities, a further eight EgyptAir crew were aboard the aircraft as passengers. AGENCIES

Russia police say blast kills officer, Islamic State claims responsibility MOSCOW: One police officer was killed and two injured late on Tuesday when two vehicles were blown up by an explosive device in Russia’s Dagestan region, police said, while the Islamic State group said it was behind the attack. “Two cars were blown up, the type of explosive device has not been established yet,” Fatina Ubaidatova, a spokeswoman for the Dagestani police, told Reuters by phone. The Amaq news agency, which supports the Islamic State group, posted online a statement saying its local affiliate was behind the attack. The Amaq statement said the blast killed 10 security officers. Reuters was unable to independently verify the casualty numbers. Islamic State has in the past said it was behind violent attacks on security forces in the North Caucasus, the volatile mainly Muslim part of Russia where Dagestan is located. Dagestan, where Kremlin critics say widespread poverty and corruption help feed religious extremism, last saw similar attacks on police in February. AGENCIES

in the home of Mohamed Bakkali, who was arrested following the attacks in Paris and linked to the killers. “Some have speculated this was about planning a kidnapping,” Robichaud said. Fears about attackers building nuclear weapons weigh heavily on the international community. Acquiring the weapons-grade fissile material — highly enriched uranium — would make that possible, government experts said at a nuclear summit briefing this week in Washington. Although it’s unclear how real the threat of nuclear terrorism is, they believe the horrific scale of a prospective

nuclear terrorism plot is enough to warrant the summit. “A terrorist attack with an improvised nuclear device would create political, economic, social, psychological and environmental havoc around the world, no matter where the attack occurs,” Laura Holgate, a White House director who oversees programs for reducing nuclear and biological weapons, told reporters on Tuesday. The 2014 nuclear summit, held in The Hague, included a simulation asking world leaders to respond to a fictitious scenario involving the release of radiological materials. A similar exercise is expected this year. Rose Gottemoeller, an adviser on arms control with the U.S. State Department, noted that nuclear-reduction talks have resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in the number of countries holding highly enriched uranium or separated plutonium. Since 2009, countries participating in the summit have eliminated enough nuclear material for 1,500 nuclear weapons. But some world nuclear powers will be conspicuously absent from the table this week. The Russian government will be boycotting the talks, and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cancelled his visit following the Easter Sunday suicide bombing that targeted Christians in Lahore.

Bangladesh court orders arrest of opposition leader Khaleda Zia DHAKA AGENCIES

A Bangladesh court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Khaleda Zia over a firebomb attack on a bus that killed two people and injured dozens last year, a prosecutor said. The Dhaka court accused Zia and 27 other leaders and officials of her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of instigating the petrol bomb attack as part of a deadly anti-government campaign of arson. “She is the main accused in the case,” prosecutor Shah Alam Talukdar told AFP. “The court issued the warrant of arrest against her and 27 other senior officials and activists.” It is not the first time that Zia ─ the bitter political rival of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ─ has faced arrest, and BNP spokesman Ruhul Kabir Rizvi dismissed the charge as “laughable”. “This is politically motivated and is part of deep conspiracy against her,” he said. The attack took place during a nationwide blockade last year of roads, rail and waterways which the 70-year-old Zia called to try to force

Hasina to resign and pave the way for new elections. The blockade unleashed a wave of deadly violence, leaving more than 120 people dead as opposition activists fire-bombed hundreds of buses and trucks and police responded by firing live rounds. Around 15,000 opposition supporters and dozens of BNP senior officials have been arrested as part of a crackdown by Hasina in the wake of the unrest. A judge in the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court issued the warrant against Zia after accepting a police charge-sheet over the attack in Dhaka on January 10, 2015. However, it was not immediately clear whether police would act on the order. Another arrest warrant issued against Zia last year was never executed. Either way, the order is another blow to the two-times former premier, who has described previous cases against her as politically motivated and aimed at keeping her out of politics. Police said up to 200 BNP activists and supporters staged a protest in front of the party headquarters in Dhaka as news of the court’s move emerged. “They

shouted slogans and staged an impromptu demonstration. But they moved back to the party office before police reached the spot,” assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Saifur Rahman told AFP. The BNP’s second-in-command, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, was arrested Wednesday on separate charges related to the 2015 unrest. He was held in jail before being granted bail on health grounds. The BNP boycotted the 2014 general election, leaving the field clear for its rivals. The party was further weakened by the crackdown last year, when police pressed charges against thousands of their leaders and grassroots activists over the fire-bombing campaign.

CANADIAN PRIEST GAMBLES AWAY FUNDS MEANT FOR MIDEAST REFUGEES VANCOUVER AGENCIES

A Canadian priest is currently going under investigation for allegedly gambling away funds worth around a halfa-million-dollar meant for refugees who wanted to settle in Canada. Father Amer Saka, a priest at the St Jospeh Chaldean Catholic Church Ontario, has reportedly wasted the money in gambling that was given to him by local families who were eager to support, and sponsor migrants from the Middle East. The priest called the church bishop,

perhaps out of regrets, to confess his wrongdoings last month and admitted that the funds generated have been lost. “He called me on the phone and… said he lost all the money. I said, ‘How?’ He said, ‘Gambling,’” the bishop said, after which he checked the priest in an addiction centre and investigations are under way. “We believe that Father Saka has a serious gambling problem and that these funds may have been used for that purpose. Since there is an investigation going on, we cannot confirm what he’s saying,” Shaleta added. Shaleta, the bishop, also regretted

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Assad says civil war has cost Syria $200 billion DAMASCUS: The brutal five-year conflict in Syria has cost the country over $200 billion (176 billion euros), President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview released Wednesday, insisting Damascus would look to Russia, China and Iran to rebuild the nation. “The economic damage and the damage to infrastructure exceeds $200 billion,” Assad told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. “Economic issues can be settled immediately, when the situation stabilises in Syria, but rehabilitating the infrastructure will take a long time,” Assad said in comments translated into Russian. The Syrian strongman said any future contracts to help rebuild the country would be handed out to companies from nations that had backed Damascus during the bloody conflict. “Of course we expect that this process will be based on three main countries that supported Syria during this crisis — Russia, China and Iran,” Assad said. Russia has deployed its military to Syria to back up troops loyal to longstanding ally Assad with a bombing campaign, and the Syrian leader said Moscow’s forces would be needed in the country for some time to come. “We need their presence as they are effective in the fight against terrorism even if the situation in terms of security in Syria is stabilising,” Assad said, adding that Russia’s bases were also required to maintain “balance in the world”. Moscow announced it was withdrawing part of its forces from Syria on March 14 after a ceasefire between Damascus and moderate opposition saw fighting drop. Russia has, however, continued air strikes against Islamic State jihadists and played a key role in helping Assad’s forces reclaim the ancient city of Palmyra at the weekend. AGENCIES

US and allies urge UN action against Iran for missile tests UNITED NATIONS: The United States and three allies called for a Security Council meeting to respond to Iran’s recent ballistic missile tests which they say were carried out in defiance of a UN resolution. A report from the US, France, Britain and Germany obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press calls the launches “destabilizing and provocative.” It said the Shahab-3 mediumrange ballistic missile and Qiam-1 short-range ballistic missile fired by Iran are “inherently capable of delivering nuclear weapons.” A Security Council resolution adopted after the Iran nuclear deal was signed last year calls for Iran not to launch any ballistic missiles capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. But when the Iranian testfirings were raised in the council on March 14, Russia said the launches did not violate the resolution because “a call” is not a demand. Russia’s stance makes any council action unlikely because as a permanent council member it has veto power. Iran’s UN Mission said at the time that the country “has never sought to acquire nuclear weapons and never will in the future.” It said the missile tests “were part of ongoing efforts of its armed forces to strengthen its legitimate defense capabilities ... against security threats.” AGENCIES

SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS DEMANDS UNITED GLOBAL ACTION: BAN GeNeVA: The refugee crisis caused by Syria’s war requires an “exponential” rise in global solidarity, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday, as he opened a conference on securing resettlement places for those displaced. “We are here to address the biggest refugee and displacement crisis of our time,” Ban told the conference in Geneva. “This demands an exponential increase in global solidarity.” Earlier, the UN chief appealed for an end to war and violence in Syria and the region, as he wrapped up a two-day visit to Lebanon. “The United Nations will spare no effort in seeking to put an end to the conflict in Syria and to reach a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” Ban told reporters at a news conference in Beirut. “This is a critical time for the region. It is time to stop the violence and end injustice, to give people the opportunities they deserve to build a better life,” he added. AGENCIES

how the priest wronged eight families who had trusted him and given the amount for refugees. “They trusted him. They did not give it as a gift. They were trusting the priest. They didn’t ask for receipts,” he said. Amer Saka was in-charge of the

funds by the Hamilton Diocese to sponsor 20 Iraqi refugees. It was part of the Canada’s government-led programme to provide safe haven to thousands of Syrian and Iraqi refugees that involved the combined efforts of Canadian state and private donors.

06 KARACHI

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

WEATHER UPDATES

THURSDAY

330C 240C

FRIDAY

330C 240C

SATURDAY

340C 250C

SUNDAY

330C 240C

PRAyER TimingS FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

5:09

12:37

4:05

6:25

6:48

8:05

POLICE BATON-CHARGE PROTESTING TEACHERS IN KARACHI KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Police on Wednesday resorted to baton charge and water cannons to disperse teachers protesting against non-payment of salaries. A group of teachers staging protest were approaching the Chief Minister House when the police intervened. While police claimed to have arrested at least five teachers, several of them were also injured. In December last year, more than 100 teachers protested and blocked the road near Sindh Secretariat, demanding the release of their salaries, due for a year. “I was appointed along with 750 teachers after we cleared our tests in 2012,” said a protesting teacher, who, along with other demonstrators, claimed they received their appointment letters in October 2014 and joined as Junior School Teachers in various schools across the city but were due to receive their pay cheques.

ONE KILLED, ANOTHER INJURED IN VIOLENCE KARACHI STAFF REPORT

A man was killed and a youth injured in different acts of violence in the metropolis on Wednesday. According to rescue sources, a 26-year-old man, Wasim Khan, son of Atif Zaman, resident of Baldia Town, was killed by a stray bullet near Imambargah in Ittehad Town, Baldia. The victim was shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for medico-legal formalities. Separately, a man, Arshad Muhammad, 60, son of Khushi Muhammad, was shot at and injured by unknown armed bandits over a robbery resist in Nazimabad No 2. The victim was brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for treatment.

HRCP ALARMED AT DR ASIM’S DETERIORATING MENTAL HEALTH KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Wednesday expressed grave concern over a report about deterioration of mental health of Dr Asim Hussain, a former federal minister, and his treatment in the custody of paramilitary forces in Karachi. In a statement released to the media, the commission said: “HRCP is greatly alarmed by a recent report submitted in court about Dr Hussain’s psychiatric condition. According to media coverage based on the report, he is reported to be under extreme mental stress and suffers panic attacks whenever he sees or recalls a person in Rangers uniform. The panic attacks are reportedly accompanied by extreme anxiety and fear of death. According to a report of Dr Hussain’s psychiatric treatment at a hospital in Karachi, he tries to block the memory of stressful events and does not have any recollection of the days he had spent blindfolded in isolation.” “The inescapable conclusion is that Dr Hussain’s mental state is the result of manner he was treated in custody. This is alarming at many levels first and foremost because of Pakistan’s promise to abide by the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT). Furthermore, if a person of Dr Hussain’s standing, who is a doctor, owns a hospital, and can afford effective legal representation, can break down in this way in custody, there is cause for serious concern for those less strong in the Rangers’ custody.” “HRCP believes that the circumstances warrant an immediate and transparent inquiry into how Dr Hussain reached his current deplorable mental state and to make sure that effective safeguards are introduced to ensure compliance with Pakistan’s obligations under the UNCAT.”

KARACHI: Policemen use water canon to disperse protesting teachers from DJ College during a demonstration organised by Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association. OnLinE

Qaim tells spies to pull up their socks and counter raW moves SINDH RANGERS DG SAYS HE HAS DATA OF CRIMINALS WORKING FOR RAW, SUGGESTS SEALING OF BORDER AFTER OPERATION AGAINST TERRORISTS IN RAJANPUR KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

INDH Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that maintaining law and order in the province was top priority of his government. “The country is passing through a sensitive phase of its history, particularly after the arrest of a RAW agent from Balochistan and disclosures that his agents are operating in Karachi. Therefore, necessary measures are required to be taken against them.” He said this while presiding over a high-level meeting on law and order situation in the province at the CM House on Wednesday. The chief minister said that arrest of RAW agent from Balochistan, over all law and order situation and sit-in of religious parties at Nimaish were three different issues and there should be a clear policy and strategy to handle them individually. The meeting was told that the different agencies had arrested a number of criminals who had received training from India. The chief minister directed the concerned agencies to work on these lines so that RAW network, if any, in the province, particularly in Karachi, could be crushed. The meeting also pointed out that after-effects of arrest of RAW agent could not be ruled out. Therefore, necessary measures have been taken to fur-

ther strengthen the intelligence network, it was informed. Proper vigilance of the markets, parks, schools and other important places like railway stations, bus stands and hospitals have been made more effective. The chief minister said that Lahore-like soft attacks must be avoided through intelligence sharing and expanded CCTV coverage. It was pointed out that the sit-in at Nimaish Chowrangi had disturbed the traffic flow almost in the entire city. The security of the people gathered at Nimaish is also a major issue that too when agents of foreign enemies were operating in the city. On this, the chief minister said: “I am heading a political government. So, I am of the view that they (protesters) should be handled with dialogue. I am not in favour of using force,” he said and urged the commissioner to talk to them and convince them to disperse peacefully in the larger interest of the city. The chief minister pointed out that the incidents of kidnapping for ransom and short-term kidnappings had started emerging again. “Though street crime has come down, it is to be addressed properly.” IGP AD Khwaja said that police were intolerant on kidnapping and such other heinous crime. “The SIU in an encounter recovered Mr Rehan and his daughter (the owner of a cement factory) who were kidnapped on March 22, 2016, from DHA Phase-VIII,” he said, and added that all the three kidnappers Qasim, Bilal and Usman were killed in

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encounter who were demanded Rs 25 million as ransom. DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar also briefed the meeting on operation against terrorists in the city. He said that there was close coordination among all the agencies and they all were operating in the national interest. He said he had solid data of the criminals working for RAW and other terrorists in Karachi and other parts of the province. The agencies pointed that operation against terrorists had been launched in Ranjapur, therefore, the criminals might move to the katcha area of Sindh province. They suggested to seal borders through necessary measures. On this, the chief minister directed that chief secretary and the IGP to coordinate with Punjab and share necessary information with each other. It was also pointed out that 2.8 million aligns were living in Karachi and some other areas of the province. The

Afghanis were being repatriated as per policy of the federal government. As the illegal immigrants were concerned, the meeting decided to launch crackdown against them. The chief minister directed the chief secretary to facilitate IDPs of operation Zarb-e-Azb for repatriation. Pakistan Army has already started their resettlement in their respective areas in North and South Waziristan and Bajur. Those who attended the meeting include provincial ministers Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sohail Siyal, Murtaza Wahab, Maula Bux Chandio, Dr Qayoom Soomro, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, IG Sindh AD Khwaja, Additional IG CTD Sanaullah Abbasi, Secretary to CM (U&B) Iqbal durani, Home Secretary Syed Jamal Shah, Commissioner Karachi Asif Hyder Shah, officers of intelligence agencies and others.

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

all expenses for Bhutto’s anniversary to Be Borne By ppp, claims BilaWal KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

AKISTAN People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday took notice of reports regarding the Sindh government’s decision to release Rs 25 million for an event on party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death anniversary. According to a statement, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari ordered Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to conduct an enquiry into the matter, saying all costs for the

event on April 4 will be borne by party’s own resources. “The government will not pay a penny from its funds,” the PPP chairman said, as he ordered CM Sindh to investigate the matter. Official documents earlier said the funds were released by the finance department after a summary was approved by the chief minister. In the document released on Monday, finance department section officer (B and E-VII) referring to the chief minister’s summary said, “The amount has been sanctioned in anticipation of budgetary provision 2015-2016 and will be

released from law and order budget.” However, PPP Sindh Information Secretary Waqar Mehdi had rejected the claim. “Not a single penny has been released by the provincial government and all expenses will be borne by the PPP,” he said. Meanwhile, leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, also lambasted the Sindh government for misusing taxpayers’ money. “Using the taxpayers’ money for hosting a party event is shameful for any political party,” said the MQM lawmaker.

KARACHI 07 SC UPHOLDS SHC STAY ORDER IN KARACHI MAYOR POLLS ISSUE KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the stay order issued by the Sindh High Court (SHC) in case of election of mayor and deputy mayor in Karachi under secret balloting. A three-member bench of the SC presided over by Chief Justice (CJ) Anwar Zaheer Jamali took up the case for hearing on Wednesday. Farooq H Naik appeared in the court on behalf of Sindh government. He argued that there was contradiction in detailed decision and short order of the SC. In the short order, the procedure for holding election of mayor and deputy was declared null and void but in the detailed decision the entire constitutional amendment had been undone due to which law enacted with regard to reserved seats of women, seats for youths and general seats stood no more, he argued. It had given rise to some legal complications, he added. Therefore, the SC should release a clear decision in this regard, he prayed. Farooq H Naik said that the SHC was not entitled to nullify legislative decision and the court had overstepped its powers. The court required the counsel to explain this point how court was not entitled to nullify legislative decision and granted him time till April 4

SM SCIENCE COLLEGE NO MORE PART OF SMIU, SHC TOLD KARACHI STAFF REPORT

KARACHI: Containers have been placed on MA Jinnah Road to block traffic due to a sit-in demonstration against killing of Mumtaz Qadri at Numaish Chowrangi. OnLinE

cpne forms public network for right to information KARACHI OnLinE

The Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) has formed a public network for right to information which will work simultaneously in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta. Under its banner, seminars, public programmes and training workshops will be organised to educate masses for implementation of existing laws about right to information. CPNE President Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami said this while addressing right to information conference on Wednesday. Shami was of the opinion that it must e the duty of every citizen to protect the constitution of Pakistan being the RTI a small part of it. Chief Minister’s Information Adviser Maula Bux Chandio, Education and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nisar Khuhro, PMLFunctional’s Mehtab Rashidi, Khalid Ahmed of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and Syed Hafeezuddin from PTI attended the seminar. Shami said that corruption would be reduced if the RTI was implemented in the country in its letter and spirit. It is vital to mention here that over 50, 000 editors formed editors right to information, over 100 senior journalists constituted journalists right to information, around 200 young reporters created reporters right to information and over 20,000 students from 20 universities have formed youth network right to information. In the next phase, this programme will be extended to other cities and public network for right to information will be created at larger level.

IGP seeks report on illegal appointment in Sindh police KARACHI APP

Sindh Inspector General of Police AD Khawaja has instructed to compile a report on illegal appointments made in the police department across the province. An official said on Wednesday that the directive to this effect had been issued to the DIGs of the police ranges and the district SSPs. The IGP also instructed that those below the level of sub-inspectors serving as station house officers (SHOs) be removed from their posts and charge be taken from them. He stressed that every possible measures be taken for reforms in police as well as fostering good governance and accountability. Presiding over a meeting at the central police office, the IGP also reviewed projects pertaining to

The Sindh High Court (SHC) was informed on Wednesday by the additional secretary law and education that Sindh Muslim Government Science College had been demerged from Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU). The SHC bench headed by Justice Syed Hasan Rizvi was hearing the petition filed by Sarfaraz Khan and Shaikh Ziaulhuq who requested the court to restore SM Science College to its original position. On Tuesday’s hearing, Additional Secretary Law and Education Syed Zakir Ali appeared before the court and informed it that the notification that merged SM Science College with SMIU had now been withdrawn. After the secretary’s report, the court disposed of the petition. A notification issued by the Sindh government made SM College, a constituent part of the SMIU. After the merger the university was bound to convert the college into a model college which would function under the administrative control of SMIU, Karachi.

ALLEGED CRIMINAL INJURED IN ENCOUNTER KARACHI STAFF REPORT

An alleged criminal was injured in a police encounter in Nazimabad area of the city on Wednesday. As per rescue sources, the encounter took place between police and criminals near Mujahid Colony in Nazimabad area in which one accused was injured and apprehended by police. The alleged criminal was identified as Umair, aged around 24, son of Yasin, resident of Liaquatabad area. He was moved to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.

WARDEN KILLED IN ACCIDENTAL FIRE KARACHI OnLinE

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betterment and welfare of the police personnel. It was pointed out that a ceremony will be held soon in which compensation cheques would be presented to the heirs of martyrs of police department. The

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IGP was also informed that the process of computerisation and automation of the criminals’ record management system was under way. However, the IGP sought a report in this regard within 15 days.

A traffic police warden killed himself accidentally while cleaning his pistol at his house in Baldia Town in Karachi on Wednesday. The police said that Waseem, a traffic police warden, was cleaning his pistol on the rooftop of his house when he accidentally touched the trigger and a bullet hit him in the head, leaving him dead on the spot. The body was shifted to the Abassi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities. The locals, however, claimed that the police official was hit by a stray bullet while he was standing on his rooftop.

08 COMMENT

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

Plugging the fountainhead of terrorism And government’s cold feet

HE war against the terrorists is bound to suffer if traces of extremist thinking continue to persist in political leadership. Many had hesitated, some like JI still do, to designate the ttP killers as terrorists. Former JI chief declared Hakimullah Mehsud a martyr and doubted if Pakistani soldiers killed in the fight against terrorists could be called martyrs. Sirajul Haq claims politicians in the corridors of power pose greater threat to the country than Daesh. Imran Khan expressed willingness to allow the ttP to open its office in KP. that Mehsud's killing should have shocked the interior minister indicates that soft corner for terrorists exists among some of the ruling party leaders also. the hesitation to take timely action against protesters in Islamabad shows that sympathy for the extremists has the potential to paralyse the government machinery. the protesters violated the agreement reached with the Punjab government, resorted to violence and destroyed government property. No force was used however to remove them from the red zone for three days. On the fourth day, they left making victory signs after extracting a verbal agreement from government negotiators on their seven demands. the government set a bad example by yielding to street power. For years terrorists have enjoyed immunity in a number of areas in Punjab. No action has been taken against some of the banned groups working under assumed names. Ahmadis have been abducted and killed and their houses attacked in several cities while the Punjab government looked the other way. Police and intelligence reports about some of the seminaries in Islamabad district providing shelter to terrorists and collecting ransom money on the ttP’s behalf, were ignored. And still the ruling party thinks that an operation by Rangers or army is unjustified in the province! Both the politicians and the army have to realise that unless an all-out and effective campaign is launched to remove the residues of extremist thinking from society, the nation will continue to bury its children falling victim to terrorist attacks for decades to come.

Winding up the cricket mess It’s a product, after all

F the traditional post-World Cup chop could set the cricket team right, we would have undergone a number of rejuvenations by now. For example, we would have returned to our winning ways after the overhaul following the ’96 Cup, or the ’99 Cup, or the ’03 one, or any other following it. Yet, the trajectory of the last decade or so is not impressive at all. If anything, there is a very visible decline, and just as visible nonchalance on the part of the PCB. Of course, we do not have a very good idea of how the game fares in case of a shuffle at the Board. there have not been many. And now, once again, we prepare to ‘cleanse’ the team of non-performers. Yet as Shahryar Khan and Najam Sethi show some non-starters and a number of old-timers the door, there is little chance of anyone giving much thought to the rot at the centre of the Board. Coach Waqar Younis has tried – albeit only after he was unpleasantly surprised by the duo that runs the Board. It turns out that not only did the two not meet Waqar, but someone mysteriously also leaked his secret report to the media. And since it had been submitted only to the two, there’s only so many ways it could have ended up in the papers. While those who control the game continue to play politics, unfortunately, nobody seems to realise that the sport, like all sports, has now become a product. And since a big machinery – and a lot of money -- goes into its production, it had better be handled carefully and responsibly. Perhaps our long time cricketing heroes are right after all. Perhaps the solution does lie in appointing responsible cricketing and management minds to run the Board, then invest at the grassroot – like every other country – and overhaul the game at the school/club and first class level. that, course, will not happen so long as opportunists with little credibility try to desperately hang onto the bounty that has come their way for no apparent reason at all.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

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

Reclaiming Pakistan’s identity from extremism To bring about a fundamental shift

MasHaal GauHar

HE suicide bombing in Lahore targeting Pakistan’s Christian minority, leaving over 72 dead and 300 injured, is yet another devastating outcome of the ascendency of deadly obscurantist forces. With mostly women and children killed in the massacre, a faction of the Pakistan taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Recurring invocations of blasphemy charges against Pakistan’s beleaguered Christian community, increasing oppression of minorities, the storming of the capital in protest of the execution of convicted killer Mumtaz Qadri, all too grimly exemplify the sinister shift of extremist groups from the margins to the mainstream. With violence becoming an indelible part of Pakistan’s narrative, the routinely employed blasphemy charge represents nothing more than a thinly veiled excuse to inflict yet more brutality, representing a manifestation of the increasing influence of hard-line ideologies. the codification of this absurd notion into law remains indefensible and a convenient weapon easily deployed against the most vulnerable. the military’s assertive response in the face of extremism is summed up by Army Chief Gen-

eral Raheel Sharif’s unequivocal stance, “[the] War against terrorism and extremism is being fought for future generations… Only a safer Pakistan guarantees a prosperous Pakistan.” this resolute approach is an example of Pakistan’s determination to root out extremism as highlighted by the success of the army’s Zarb-e-Azb operation. However, General Raheel emphasises that the war against extremist groups cannot be won by the military alone but requires mass support, “the war we are fighting and security threats we are dealing with are multi-dimensional, orchestrated and complex.” Economic and social reform remain central to thwarting the increasing momentum of radicalisation. Grinding poverty, a lack of access to education, healthcare and other basic amenities means that extremist groups find ready adherents, preying on the sense of hopelessness felt by a large swathe of Pakistan’s young population. Soul searching and reflection can help to counter entrenched mindsets, paving the way in reversing destructive patterns of behaviour which have gained increasing traction over recent years. to bring about a fundamental shift away from the hatred engendered by extremism, perhaps a recalibration of Pakistan’s national identity is required with a greater emphasis placed on the country’s spiritual and cultural heritage. the searing experience of partition represents a defining moment in the emergence of modern day Pakistan, the reverberations of which are still felt today. Borne out of the chaotic withdrawal of imperial Britain, this hasty retreat unleashed unprecedented violence impacting all of the subcontinent’s diverse communities, searing sharp divisions across ethnic and religious lines. No community remained unscathed from the all-encompassing bloodletting; a trauma which has left a deep impression across South Asia with boundaries continuously being redrawn and consequently a baleful legacy of violence. However, the emergence of modern day Pak-

istan from the depredations of colonialism is only part of the country’s story. A myopic focus on partition dominating the national narrative has meant that much of the land’s previous heritage remains disregarded. the increasingly shrill invective of self appointed religious clerics and the rising tide of fanatical zealotry runs counter to the country’s rich sufi heritage. these ancient values must be reinvigorated and the sufi ideals of compassion, tolerance and unity in diversity reclaimed. this was once a land which flourished with a multiplicity of religions and communities where the universal insights of mystics like Bulleh Shah, Shah Abdul Latif and Ali bin Usman Al Hajveri resonated powerfully across all communities. Renowned theologian Shaikh Abdal Hakim Murad highlights the futility of mindless orthodoxy, intolerance and exclusivism as an anathema to the very essence of Islam, “the Blessed Prophet (PBUH) never tired of reminding us, there is little value in outward conformity to the rules unless this conformity is mirrored and engendered by an authentically righteous disposition of the heart.” this prophetic teaching was propagated by Sufi mystics like Sachal Sarmast who cautioned against the blind following of tradition, calling instead for a journey of discovery of the Sublime in order to achieve ultimate liberation: “You by yourself know what is in your form! Why chant ‘Allah Allah’? Find Allah within you. You listen, you see, Allah’s word is witness, there is no doubt, O Sachal! that the Lord is One!” An elision of Pakistan’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage can lead to social dysfunction, loss of identity, a distortion of the truth and an appropriation of religion to suit self-serving interests. While the language of intransigence, bigotry and hate has space to propagate, extremist forces will continue to gain ground and Pakistan’s dark days of polarisation will persist. Mashaal Gauhar is editor of Blue Chip Magazine and a columnist.

Occupational hazards of being a man A job not for the faint of heart curately document an important facet of the story. In the following I will try and demonstrate that being a man is not exactly analogous to having a front-row seat at the magnificent show of life. For starters, being a man is literally injurious to health. Men of all ages frequently suffer heart attacks, many of them fatal. In contrast, women almost never have heart attacks before their late 50s, when age is catching up with both men and women. How is this grossly unfair state of affairs to be explained – is it oestrogen? Is it a case of smaller heart, longer life? Is it because women don’t have wives? I won’t speculate; this is for specialists to answer. Be that as it may, it is tough being a man. Women can – and usually do – blame men for any and all setbacks. Men don’t have that luxury. Here I acknowledge that there are many notable exceptions on both sides. Generally, though, the buck stops with the man. It follows that every time something doesn’t go according to plan, it’s his responsibility. It’s true even if the plan originated from the wife. Even if thwarted by unforeseeable disasters – lightning strikes and similar acts of God – a man will invariably be on the receiving end of a sermon on how it was entirely his fault. On the practical side, the expenses are still the man’s headache, even if the wife works. that’s because he is the ‘man of the house’, remember? Here, Islam also comes to her rescue, putting all responsibility of finances on the man. On the subject of paying bills, while the queues

Hasan aftab saeed

t is widely believed about Pakistani men that owing to their overwhelming dominance, they have prospered at the cost of their women. Especially in the context of the Women Protection Bill, a lot of press is being given to the sorry state of women, and how men are directly responsible for it. I don’t dispute this narrative, especially as it applies to the lower strata of the society. But considering the whole of society, I believe it’s a rather one-sided narrative. there’s another side to this story which is usually not told. It has just not been fashionable enough, I guess, and many liberal commentators are simply too terrified of their wives’ reaction (so much for the complete subjugation of women!). Others usually shy away from the task of bringing it up at the detriment of their considerable liberal reputations. the conservatives are too busy in their many crusades (most of them violent) to become part of a nuanced discussion. In the circumstances I feel I am called upon to ac-

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for women at collection centers don’t even exist, those for men are prohibitively long. Still, not many women will offer to pay the bill, even with the man’s hard earned money. For the woman, but not the man, surely a case of the best of both the worlds. It also goes without saying that despite all the enlightenment at display, men still have to change tires, replace bulbs, maintain the car, troubleshoot geysers, and essentially do all the heavy lifting themselves. It’s not that men particularly despise these tasks. the point is that despite all talk of equality, women still expect men to be chivalrous. It’s still ‘Ladies first’. You are still supposed to give your seat to the lady. And women will resent it if you don’t act gentlemanly. thus in many matters large and small, men are at a distinct disadvantage. Even getting a lift can be an impossible task. With women it’s a piece of cake. And then there is the reverse discrimination. In the better companies, women manage to find employment much more easily. But when it comes to sitting late for work, it’s usually men who have to raise their hands. If one woman and ten men apply from ‘male-dominated’ Pakistan for a foreign scholarship, we know who the first choice is. Women get visas much more easily too. these things are usually defended by saying that it’s about time men suffered for all the injustices doled out to women in the past. So sons should pay for the sins of their fathers? As if the burden of the original sin wasn’t enough! On the home front, the children will always be the mother’s – more loyal to her, and more appreciative of her sacrifices. this is especially

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

true of sons. A veteran, who had been at the receiving end of his son’s wrath, was once compelled to say this about mothers: ‘they don’t raise sons; they raise goons.’ this may be an extreme case, but in most families kids are raised by employing the carrot and stick approach where the mother, more often than not, plays the good cop and the husband the bad one, or the bugaboo. By the time the kids grow up she has become the more ‘understanding’ parent, a very satisfactory state of affairs (for her). Finally, in the context of our society a man is much more concerned about preserving a balance between his parents and his wife. It resembles a delicate juggling act while walking on a tight rope, nay, on a knife edge. It has been observed that the modern woman doesn’t usually bother with such niceties. the above is by no means meant to be a complaint; it’s merely putting the record right. It’s not a rant against women either; they are charming the way they are. Like men, they are a product of their psyches and the environment. By way of advice for young men however, I have three words: patience, patience, patience. It will take all that and more. And even that won’t suffice nine times out of ten. the test is how heroically you fail. Being unappreciated and misunderstood is the lot of us men. Be content with forever being the unsung hero. Without regard for reward or censure alike, keep happily toiling away, for that is what being a man is about. Hasan Aftab Saeed is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at hasanas@live.jp.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 09

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

Preservation of heritage sites The other side of the picture WajeeHa aHMad

“I

Indian designs against Pakistan Naked aggression and hostility

Malik MuHaMMad asHraf

INCE the revelation about the arrest of a RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadav, who is a serving officer of the Indian Navy and had links with Baloch insurgents, myriad of speculative news stories about his activities and antecedents were circulating in the media. While the investigating agencies were engaged in interrogating him, the Pakistan government had lodged a formal protest with the Indian government through diplomatic channels. to put the record straight and remove some of the ambiguities, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting and DG ISPR in a joint press briefing on tuesday evening unravelled the confessions made by the agent during interrogation and also played a video recording of his voluntarily made confessional statement. Contradicting Indian claims that the person was a retired officer of the Indian Navy, he categorically stated that he was a serving officer and was to retire in 2022. He mentioned his contacts with the Baloch insurgents, providing finances to them and also arranging their training for subversive activities and acts of terrorism. He also confessed his links with terrorist entities in Karachi and involvement in the acts of terrorism, including killing of some police officers. the most startling revelation made by him was that he had direct access to the National Security Advisor and Deputy Chief of RAW. According to DG ISPR, one of his assignments was also to sabotage CPEC and in this respect the Baloch insurgents were planning an attack on the Gwadar Port in the near future. Ever since the re-emergence of insurgency in Balochistan, Pakistan has been complaining about Indian involvement and in the recent past some dossiers were also shared with the UN and US. the arrest of a serving officer of the Indian Navy who has confessed the Indian involvement has corroborated and authenticated the Pakistani claims about Indian designs against Pakistan. India played an active role in the dismemberment of Pakistan and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Gulf States did boast about it. Some of the Bangladeshi parliamentarians, who were

arrested along with Mujib in the famous Agartala Conspiracy case, have also confessed about collusion between Awami League and India in this regard on the floor of the Bangladesh parliament. India actually has a track record of fomenting and supporting insurgencies in the neighbouring countries to establish its hegemony in the region. through RAW it trained and supported tamil insurgents in Sri Lanka and at the dying stages of the war, Indian Air Force also undertook operation to help the besieged tamil tigers in the town of Jaffna. Out of its six neighbours it has had border disputes with five countries including China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. that is indicative of the Indian designs not only against Pakistan but almost all its neighbours. Indian aversion to CPEC is also a wellknown reality. Modi during his visit to China also raised this subject with the Chinese leadership taking the plea that CPEC would pass through the disputed territory therefore China must not go ahead with the project. As is evident, India has been doing everything that it could do to harm Pakistan. Pakistan needs to raise this issue at all the international forums, particularly with US and its allies who under the Indian influence have invariably been toeing the Indian line in regards to terrorist acts within India. Since the agent has also confessed Indian attempts to sabotage CPEC, Pakistan must also sensitise China about the Indian machinations. Pakistan has rightly sought Iranian help in this regard since Kulbhushan was based in Chahbahar, Iran from where he was controlling the network and orchestrating the acts of sabotage. this development does not augur well for the ongoing process of bonhomie between the two countries that started with a meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries on the sidelines of the International Climate Conference in Paris and subsequent developments that raised hopes for ending tensions between the two countries and resolution of the outstanding disputes. Pakistan has shown sincerity of purpose in mending fences with India in the backdrop of the Pathankot episode. Immediately after the incident, PM Pakistan called the Indian Prime Minister and assured him of Pakistan’s full cooperation in apprehending the culprits. He convened a high level meting which was also attended by the COAS, DG ISI and National Security Advisor to deliberate on the situation

in the backdrop of the Pathankot attack. the meeting condemned the attack in the strongest possible words, re-affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to cooperate with India for elimination of terrorism, vowed not to allow anyone to use Pakistani soil for terrorist activity in any part of the world, reviewed progress on the leads provided by India and expressed the hope that the two countries would remain committed to a sustained, meaningful and comprehensive dialogue, building on the goodwill generated by the recent high level contacts between the two countries. the outcome of the meeting confirmed the fact that unlike in the past, the political and military leadership in Pakistan were on the same wavelength in regards to mending fences with India; a very propitious omen indeed. An FIR was registered and a joint investigations team was also constituted to work on the leads provided by India. the team is in India now to complete the investigations. Pakistan has an avowed policy of not allowing non-state actors to use its soil for attacks in other countries. Pakistan knows the pain and agony that terrorist acts inflict. Pakistan itself has been a victim of terrorism and has suffered enormously as a front line state in the war against global terrorism. the military campaign against terrorists on its soil and action against militant outfits and religious extremists is a ranting testimony to its unswerving commitment to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. It is actively and sincerely engaged in promoting the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan, tackling terrorism and is cooperating with other regional powers and US in this regard — a role duly acknowledged by them as well as the UN — which reinforces its credentials as an honest crusader against the menace of terrorism. India needs to appreciate and acknowledge these facts without any reservations. Both India and Pakistan have very high stakes in promoting peace and security in the region as well as in the resolution of disputes between them. these objectives can only be achieved through mutual sincerity of purpose and giving up proxy wars and acts of sabotage against each other. the continuation of confrontation will not only harm both of them but would also have destabilising impact on the security situation in the region. It is said that a war like state, no matter how big, cannot survive for long. So it is in India’s own interest to revisit its hostile policies towards its neighbours, especially Pakistan.

India actually has a track record of fomenting and supporting insurgencies in the neighbouring countries to establish its hegemony in the region.

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

t is not the honour that you take with you but the heritage you leave behind.” Not everyone feels a connection with his cultural heritage, but many people do. What is it about cultural heritage that draws people to it? Some may think traditions are archaic and no longer relevant, and they are unnecessary during these modern times. Perhaps for some they aren’t, but for others exploring cultural heritage offers a robust variety of benefits. Culture can give people a connection to certain social values, beliefs, religions and customs. Cultural heritage can provide an automatic sense of unity and belonging within the group and allows us to better understand previous generations and the history of where we come from. Another benefit that comes from preserving cultural heritage as a whole is the communal support. Heritage is made up of many things large and small. One can see it in the buildings, townscapes and even in the archeological remains. Culture can be preserved through natural sources as well: the agriculture and landscape associated with it. It is preserved through books, artifacts, objects, pictures, photographs, art and oral tradition. Cultural heritage does not just include the buildings but also includes the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the religion we follow, and the skills we learn. Sometimes one can touch and see what makes up a culture; other times it is intangible. I just want to ask the members of the so-called civil society if they have ever tried to preserve that part of culture and heritage. Where is our civil society when the whole society is undergoing decline of social and moral values? Are they really rescuing Lahore under the banner of “Lahore Bachao tehreek” or they are acting as change resistant elements of the society? LRMtS (Lahore Rapid Mass transit System) Orange Line feasibility study was conducted by MVA-Asia and SYStRA in 2007. Addendum of this study was issued by NESPAK in 2014. Hence the comprehensive research was undertaken. In these studies, the significance of all heritage sites along the route of orange line was taken into consideration during the finalisation of alignment and design keeping in view the limitations of urban settlements in the vicinity. there has been much hue and cry from the members of the civil society over the matter of preservation of heritage monuments lately. they are insisting to change the route without checking with the facts. Let’s take Shalamar Gardens, for example. Shalamar Gardens, located at G t Road, is one of the monuments of Pakistan which is included in the

world heritage list. In front of Shalamar Gardens, the track of Orange Line is elevated with maximum permissible turning radius and curves. the purpose of this special curve is to protect the integrity of this historical place and to ensure maximum possible distance from it. the minimum distance of centre line of track is 29m on one end and 22.8m on the other end. the elevated structure of the Orange Line is very slim and sleek and will not create any significant visual barriers. Furthermore, the track is on the other side of the road and the soffit level of the deck is 12m that will allows for an attractive view of the monument while travelling on the ground. It will also provide a visual tour of Shalamar Gardens for the commuters of this train, adding more beauty to it. trains to be operated for Orange Line project do not fall in the category of high speed trains. the notables of civil society were all mum when the heavy traffic at Gt road affected the beauty of Shalamar Gardens. Moreover, the average operating velocity will be 38 km/hr to 42 km/hr whereas the maximum vibration velocity will be less than 80 km/hr. According to a German standard, maximum vibration velocity at the foundation level of the heritage structure shall be less than 3mm/sec. Based on theoretical 2D FEA model of pierground system of light rail train viaduct system similar to Orange Line Project, it is concluded that beyond a distance of 10-12m from main pier of rail the Ground Borne Vibration (GBV) are negligible (<0.30mm/sec). Piers supported on deep piles transmit the loads to greater depths. thus, the ground borne vibrations due to passage of trains on structure supported on piles are limited. Keeping in view the above mentioned details and facts, it should now be clear to all those criticising Orange Line Metro that while designing this project, utmost importance has been accorded to protect all heritage sites. the whole information has been confirmed by the Chief Engineer Asrar Saeed of LDA. It has been categorically ensured that Orange Line Project will not cause any reversible/irreversible damage to Shalamar Gardens or any other historical monuments. Its integrity and terrific universal value will not be compromised at any stage. If the civil society existed at the time when Shalamar Gardens were built, they wouldn’t have let these gardens be built as it would have acquired a huge land displacing many people without any compensation. As Jim Rohn has beautifully put it in words, “Part of your heritage in the society is the opportunity to become financially independent.” the Mass transit System is the ladder to it. Wajeeha Ahmad is a freelance columnist.

10 BusiNess

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

CORPORATE CORNER mobicash to offer mobile accounts to subscribers of all mobile networks ISLAMABAD: Mobicash, with the tradition of exploring new possibilities, has announcedthe launch of its Mobile Accounts to subscribers of other mobile networks. Through this first of its kind initiative in telecom sector, Mobicash looks to cater to the growing demand for financial services by the masses. It positions Mobicash at the forefront of cutting edge innovation in the financial space. “The launch of Mobicash Mobile Account service for other mobile network subscribers utilizes our technical expertise and nationwide retail network to provide a ground-breaking solution to the ever increasing financial needs of our fellow countrymen. Staying true to our promise, we shall continue to work on developing similar services to address customer needs while strengthening our market position.” said Aniqa Afzal Sandhu, Head of Mobile Financial Services – Mobilink. PRESS RELEASE

CDWP aPProves ConstruCtion of motorWay linking m-1 With Di khan ENDORSES RS 218.2B DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, REFER SEVEN PROJECTS OF RS 203.4B TO ECNEC FOR APPROVAL ISLAMABAD

LAHORE: Dr Bilal U Haq (Smithsonian Institute, Washington and Sorbonne University, Paris), Syed Babar Ali (LUMS) and Dr Irfan ul Haque (Special Advisor, Finance and Development, South Centre, Geneva) at The Twelfth International Conference on Management of the Pakistan Economy held at the Lahore School of Economics on March 30. PR

Major Gainers COMPANY Philip Morris Pak. Pak Tobacco Mari PetroleumXD Bhanero Tex. AL-Ghazi Trac.

OPEN 1764.90 1200.00 651.70 576.95 427.05

HIGH 1785.00 1256.85 682.63 577.60 446.96

LOW 1749.00 1200.00 651.70 576.95 427.05

CLOSE CHANGE TURNOVER 1777.75 77.75 1,400 1256.85 59.85 3,100 682.47 32.34 572,200 577.00 26.85 250 446.81 21.13 18,300

7325.00 850.01 594.90 975.00 384.99

7155.00 850.00 548.15 970.00 380.00

7325.00 850.00 569.50 973.31 384.99

-170.00 -12.01 -7.49 -6.80 -5.01

40 1,400 600 1,050 200

26.25 28.26 27.84 13.50 10.20

25.40 27.61 27.35 12.80 9.53

25.97 27.82 27.52 12.95 9.62

0.49 0.00 0.19 -0.19 -0.39

14,867,500 7,978,000 7,374,500 6,893,000 3,974,000

Major Losers Rafhan Maize XD Service Ind.Ltd Sapphire Fiber Hinopak Motor J.D.W.Sugar

7155.00 850.01 594.90 971.00 380.00

Volume Leaders Sui North Gas TRG Pak Ltd Sui South Gas TPL Trakker Ltd Dewan Motors

25.40 27.95 27.45 13.25 10.10

interbank Rates USD GBP JPY EURO

PKR 104.7415 PKR 150.6287 PKR 0.9324 PKR 118.4835

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

BUY

SELL

149.6 117.5 105.6 79.5 79 0.91 28 28.7 16.05

150.3 118 105.85 80.05 79.45 0.94 28.15 28.85 16.2

STAFF REPORT

HE Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Wednesday approved Rs 218.2 billion worth of development projects while seven projects of Rs 203.4 billion value were referred to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval. The recommended projects include Rs 129.7 billion worth of construction of motorway from Halka-Burhan on M-1 to DI Khan as part of western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Chairing the CDWP meeting, Ahsan Iqbal said that this portion of western route was being built as per the decisions of all parties conference held in May last year and also approved and recommended land acquisition affected properties compensation and relocation of utilities for construction of motorway from Halka on M-1 to DI Khan at the cost of Rs 13.6 billion. The CDWP also approved and recommended installation of ship lift and transfer system and associated machinery and equipment to provide docking and facilities to surface shops, submarines and commercial vessels up to dead weight 7.781 tons net lifting capacity at the cost of Rs 9.8 billion. The meeting also approved and recommended bridge across the River Indus connecting Larkana and Khairpur districts, approach road and river training works at the cost of Rs 13.7 billion. It approved Musa Khail Tounsa Road (35 KM) stretch to be constructed and linked with Zhob at the cost of Rs 2.9 billion. It also gave approval to feasibility study for construction of breakwater at the eastern end of Jabel-e-Nuh at the cost of Rs 300 million. It also approved development schemes in district Tor Ghar at the cost of Rs 319.4 million and development of

schemes in district Mansehra at the cost of Rs 925.7 million. In higher education, the CDWP approved strengthening of research and academic facilities at Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) Islamabad at the cost of Rs 1.5 billion with foreign exchange component (FEC) of Rs 633 million. It also approved strengthening of academic and research programmes at Bahria University, Islamabad, and Karachi at the cost of Rs 1.5 billion with Rs 237 million foreign exchange component. It also approved up-gradation and strengthening of essential facilities at Sukhur IBA at the cost of Rs 913.1 million with Rs 64 million foreign exchange component. In education sector, the CDWP approved establishment of smart school, which is part of Vision 2025, at the cost of Rs 238 million and upgradation of ICT high schools at the cost of Rs 465.2 million. Ahsan Iqbal directed the authorities concerned to make smart school project a flagship project and also develop the education system in Islamabad on the lines that it would be model for whole the country. In energy sector, the CDWP approved and recommended to ECNEC Golan Gol hydro power project with a total cost of Rs 28.4 billion. The project has Rs 10 billion FEC. It also approved and recommended to ECNEC 500 Kv Islamabad West project at the cost of Rs 3.6 billion. The CDWP also approved and recommended to ECNEC 30.4 MW Jagran-I hydro power project at the cost of Rs 4.6

billion with a FEC of Rs 2.3 billion. In water resource sector, the CDWP approved Raghagan Small Dam Bajur Agency (Phase-II) at the cost of Rs 423.9 million. It also approved construction of Bada Dam project in Swabi in KPK at the cost of Rs 1.1 billion and construction of small dams in Khaliqabad District Balochistan at the cost of Rs 300 million. In physical planning and housing sector, the CDWP approved construction of judicial and administration complex in Mauve Area G10/1 Islamabad at the cost of Rs 708.5 million. In governance sector, the CDWP approved support project for sustainable development goals implementation at the cost of Rs 600 million with Rs 300 FEC. It also approved upgradation of Jawad Azfar Computer Center at the ministry of planning, development and reform at the cost of Rs 386.3 million. In planning, development and reform sector, the CDWP approved cluster development based industrial transformation plan – Vision 2025 - at the cost of Rs one billion and also approved cluster development based mineral sector transformation plan – Vision 2025 - at the cost of Rs 500 million. It approved establishment of center for social entrepreneurship at ministry of planning at the cost of Rs 128.4 million. It approved PPMI Center of Excellence at the cost of Rs 100 million and also approved establishment of urban planning and policy center at the cost of Rs 1.5 billion. It also approved concept clearance paper of Solar Power Park at F-9 Park Islamabad.

NBP records 51% growth in proﬁt KARACHI PRESS RELEASE

The 67th Annual General Meeting of National Bank of Pakistan was held at Marriot Hotel Karachi on Wednesday March 30th, 2016. The meeting was well attended by the shareholders. The Chairman Mr. Muneer Kamal and President Syed Iqbal Ashraf also attended the meeting. The shareholders were informed that the Bank achieved an exponential 51% growth in pre-tax profit for the year as it increased by Rs. 11.2 billion from Rs. 22.0 billion for the year 2014 to Rs. 33.2 billion for the year 2015. This is a complete turnaround from year 2013; and is higher by 368% from 2013.

The increase in profit before tax is mainly derived through 17% growth in core net interest/ mark-up income, and 15% growth in non interest / mark-up income. To mitigate the impact of the policy rate cut, the Bank managed its earning assets portfolio-mix in an optimum manner. It was presented to the shareholders that the improved results were achieved through effective execution of strategies which encompass improving deposits mix for higher net interest income, portfolio optimisation and re-profiling, cost controls, business automation and expansion in branch network. The bank also focused on recoveries against non-performing loans. The Board of Directors in its meeting held on February 19, 2016, had proposed a

final cash dividend of Rs. 7.50 per share (75%) for the year ended December 31, 2015. This translates into 92% dividend payout of the bank’s distributable profit for the year 2015 (after statutory reserve allocation) and is among the highest in the banking industry. Higher dividend payout reflects bank’s strong capital position with continuous focus on increasing stakeholder value by capitalising on opportunities to drive strong performance for the organisation and even higher payouts to the shareholders in the years ahead. The shareholders approved dividend payout of 75% cash dividend (Rs. 7.50/- per share) as recommended by the Board of Directors of the bank.

ECC APPROVAL BEING SOUGHT FOR NORTH-SOUTH GAS PIPELINE PROJECT ISLAMABAD APP

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources is seeking approval from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Federal Cabinet to execute the $2 billion North-South gas pipeline project, a senior official of the Ministry said Wednesday. “The contract parties are presently evaluating the contract model, structure including financing issues, issuance of sovereign guarantee for gas volume offtake (1.2 bcfd) and other implementation related issues for which necessary approvals are being sought from ECC of the

Cabinet,” he said. Earlier, he said, the ECC had okayed the project on January 10, 2015, but now the ministry needed further approval of some technical and financial aspects of the pipeline. Under the project, a 1,100 km pipeline from Karachi to Lahore with Russian investment of $2 billion will be built. He said Russia had nominated RTGlobal Resources (RT-GR) company, while Pakistan had designated Inter State Gas System ISGS (Private) Limited to execute the project in liaison with Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited, under the government-to-government

agreement between the two countries. He said the pipeline was being con-

CMYK

structed on built operate and transfer (BOT) basis, which would connect liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals located in Karachi with those of Lahore. He said the companies had been mandated to define the technical and economic parameters of the project, signed on October 16, 2015, within 12 months from the signing of the agreement. Following the agreement, the official said the techno-commercial negotiations between the nominated entities RT-GR and ISGS had been initiated. He said the preliminary study of the proposed route corridor had been completed and a couple of negotiation rounds

had been held between the companies for the project implementation, adding “the commercial negotiations are expected to take three to four months”. He said the project would not only help transport Regassified Liquified Natural Gas but also give transport capabilities for the Iran-Pakistan (IP) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-PakistanIndia (TAPI) gas pipeline projects “which are expected to come online in the next three to five years”. “Pakistan is passing through a severe energy crisis and the project will prove to be a milestone in overcoming it,” he remarked.

BusiNess 11

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

fPCCi demands tariff subsidy, concession in loan facility in kP industrial policy PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Vice President Riaz Khattak has said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government should grant the same facilities to the existing industries which was approved in new industrialisation policy by the provincial government. Chairing a meeting at FPCCI regional office on Wednesday, Riaz Khattak said the KP chief minister should revisit on its new industrial policy and grant the same incentives in terms of concession of new industrial loans and tariff on electricity for the level-playing field. However, he hailed the decision of the KP government for formulation of new industrial policy which was need of the hour and it also helped for the revival of industrialisation in KP. Riaz Khattak said that waiver of NOC for setting up new industries, grant of sizeable concession on industrial loans and 25 per cent subsides on purchase of land and electricity tariff was a good step which may help to achieve the economic targets. FPCCI Chairman Regional Standing Committee on Horticulture Exports Ahmad Jawad said that a commitment of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf and KP government towards industrialisation would help to generate the required economic activity in the province. He told that it was high time for KP government to provide due attention of its horticulture and agriculture sector which was a life line of its economy. The KP govt had immense potential in the exports of fresh fruits and vegetables but unfortunately the lack of infrastructure was hampering the potential of exports. He suggested that the provincial planning commission might provide required PSDP projects for the revival of horticulture sector in its upcoming budget. Jawad also told that close liaison between the KP planning commission and the FPCCI was much needed for the transformation of agriculture industry.

PoWer seCtor still rs 337.7b in reD KARACHI

ARSHAD HUSSAIN

HE total circular debt on power generation companies swelled to Rs 337.7 billion in the current fiscal year, out of which Rs 180 billion is owed to state run Pakistan State Oil (PSO), a source at the company said on Thursday. “Despite regulatory measures, the circular debt of the country has exceeded the benchmark of Rs 126 billion set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” the source said. “The government is not taking any measures to retire this debt while the obstacles for oil marketing companies have been increasing in the absence of cash liquidity,” the official of the PSO said. The circular debt has increased 3.6 per cent or Rs 11.7 billion during the last five months since last September 2015. This debt is rising by Rs 2.4 billion per month compared to Rs 15 billion per month during the whole fiscal year 2015

and Rs 18 billion per month in 2014. The declining trend in debt in the last few months is due to falling cost of power generation. During the first eight months of 2015-16 cost of generation on HSD/FO fell 40 per cent and 51 per cent respectively compared to the corresponding period of 2014. Meanwhile the growth in generation over the period is 5.6 per cent year on year to 65.6 GwH generated over eight months of the current fiscal year. While the growing share of gas in power generation was 28.2 per cent at the highest point in July-Feb 2015-16 compared to 20.6 per cent for July-Feb 201415. On furnace oil share of power generation was 30.3 per cent in the current fiscal year compared to 33.8 per cent in the same period last year. Similarly, on high speed diesel (HSD), this share stood at 1.8 per cent during the last eight months compared to 3.2 per cent in the same period last year. The source said the previous government receivables on the

provincial governments stood at Rs 210 billion, meanwhile the total current receivables are Rs 657.3 billion. At present receivables from the provincial governments stand at Rs 104 billion while Rs 60 billion and Rs 32.5 billion have been outstanding against Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Karachi Electric (KE) respectively. The government has claimed that circular debt piles up mainly due to non-availability of required funds to pay off the liabilities of power generators. The main defaulting companies of PSO are WAPDA, CAPCO, and Hub Power Company, the official claimed. At the start of 2015-16, the government took steps to reverse the tide of monthly increases in debt. They included 1) imposition of additional surcharges (Rs 1.54/KwH in rationalisation, Rs 0.43/KwH as Debt Servicing Surcharge and Rs 0.1/KwH for Neelum Jhelum), 2) structural adjustments in power sector, altering the functioning of NTDC, CPPA (G) and setting Multi Year Tariffs for DISCOs with oper-

ational benchmarks attached and 3) privatisation accompanied by improved governance and accountability. Despite all this, circular debt is likely to remain higher than the IMF imposed benchmark of Rs 126 billion, if the prevailing scenario of non-recoveries (provinces owe Rs 104 billion in overdue payments) remains, the analyst said. The consumers using below 50 units per month are being charged at Rs 2.00 per unit. Those using between 1-100 units are charged at Rs 5.79 per unit while those consuming between 101 to 200 units are charged at Rs 8.11 per unit. The tariff for use of 201-300 units per month is Rs 10.20 whereas for monthly electricity consumption of between 301 to 700 units, the rate is Rs 16.00 per unit. The consumers who use above 700 units per month are charged Rs 18.00 for each unit. This price is excluding all taxes and surcharges Ministry of Water and Power imposes on the consumers. The disparity among rates is to discourage electricity wastage.

mobile phone import witnesses rise of 6.77pc ISLAMABAD APP

The imports of mobile phone into the country rose by 6.77 per cent in first eight months (July-February) of current fiscal year (2015-16) as compared to same period of last year. The mobile phone imports increased to $497.192 million during the period July-February (2015-16) from $465.649 million during the period July-January (2014-15). According to latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the imports however fell on year-on-year basis by 12.63 per cent from $73.156 million in February 2015 to $63.915 million in February 2016. Likewise, on month-on-month basis, the mobile import posted a growth of 9.8 per cent as it was recorded at $58.213 million in January 2016. The overall telecom import during first eight months of current year fell by 3.84 per cent from $97.193 million last year to $96.362 million during the period of current fiscal year. On year-on-year and month-on-month basis, the telecom import increased from $115.443 million in February 2015 and $104.761 million in January 2016 to $125.995 million in February 2016, thus showing an increase of 9.14 per cent and 20.27 percent respectively.

RAWALPINDI: People quench their thirst at a roadside stall as temperature increase. ONLINE

GOVT FOCUSING ON ACHIEVING GDP GROWTH RATE OF OVER 5 PC IN 2015-16: DAR ISLAMABAD APP

Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said that having achieved stabilisation of economy the government is now fully focused on inclusive economic growth and aims to achieve GDP growth rate of over 5 per cent in FY 2015-16. He was chairing the 7th meeting of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) held the other evening. At the outset of the meeting, the finance minister welcomed all participants and gave a brief overview of recent positive developments on the economic front. He said that most macroeconomic indicators had shown remarkable improvement during the last two and a half years. He referred to the latest figures on GDP growth, revenue collection, fiscal deficit, PSDP, social protection, inflation, remittance, foreign exchange reserves and credit to private and agriculture sector – all of which, he said, has markedly improved compared to the pre-2013 period. The finance minister asked the members of the EAC to provide guidance to the government for further improving economic management. The finance secretary gave a detailed

presentation to the committee on the economic progress. He also briefed the meeting on the debt situation and said the cost and risk profile had considerably improved during the last two and a half years. The FBR chairman informed the meeting that the FBR was on track to achieve the revenue target of Rs 3,104

billion set for 2015-16. He said the government would continue the policy of eliminating concessionary SROs in the next budget. Leading the proceedings, Convener Dr Ishrat Husain spoke at length on the economic turnaround witnessed by the country over the last two and a half years as a result of successful implementation of the

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economic revival agenda of the government. He praised the efforts of the Finance Minister and the entire economic team for this remarkable achievement in a difficult environment. He emphasized the need for strengthening the tax administration and removing the contact between taxpayer and tax collector. He also highlighted the importance of federal and provincial fiscal coordination. He suggested that the government should look into setting up a long term infrastructure financing fund. Other EAC members, including, Abid Hasan, Razzaq Dawood, Zuberi, Dr Sania Nishtar, Abid Qayyum Sulehri, Syed Akbar Zaidi, Farrukh Qayyum and Qazi Asmat Isa acknowledged the commendable progress made by the government in revitalizing the economy. There was a consensus on capitalising on the economic gains made so far by Pakistan to embark on a sustainably higher growth path. The efforts made for the re-profiling of the domestic debt away from short term maturity were greatly appreciated by the members. The members acknowledged the vital role of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as an impetus of growth through employment creation and devel-

opment, especially in the less developed regions of the country. The meeting highlighted that exports can be increased through proper implementation of the recently announced Strategic Trade Policy Framework. Members of the EAC made suggestions related to the potential role of federal equalization grants for removing regional disparities. The participants also underscored the need for the dissemination of information of the improved economic situation and stated that many achievements of the government are not fully acknowledged by the public due to lack of information. The meeting stresses need for augmenting government’s efforts to expand the tax base and simplification of taxation procedures. Endorsing its economic revival agenda, the members of EAC expressed their full support in helping in dissemination of the gains made so far. While concluding the finance minister stated that the government will improve information disseminatation through press and electronic means. The meeting was attended, apart from the members of EAC, by federal secretaries of economic ministries as well as senior officials of State Bank of Pakistan.

12 WORLD VIEW

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

EuropE’s MusliMs hatE thE WEst YOUNG MEN LIKE THE PERPETRATORS OF THE BRUSSELS ATTACKS REFUSE TO EMBRACE THE SOCIAL CODES OF BELGIAN LIFE. PolITIco

LEON DE WINTER 3/29/16, 2:36 PM CET

APerS reading "Molenbeek" are seen during a candle light vigil to the victims of the Paris attacks in Brussels' Molenbeek district on November 18, 2015 | emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images

1k+ SHAreS 1k+ Shares Twitter LinkedIn email Comment Print POLITICO NEWSLETTERS Brussels Influence logo Brussels Influence A weekly intelligence and analysis newsletter on money and lobbying. Brussels Playbook logo Brussels Playbook ryan Heath's must-read briefing on what's driving the day in Brussels. Morning exchange logo Morning exchange Francesco Guerrera’s daily briefing on the intersection of political and financial power. Morgen europa logo Morgen europa Florian eders werktägliches Briefing zur europäischen Politik. Brussels Influence logo Brussels Influence A weekly intelligence and analysis newsletter on money and lobbying. Brussels Playbook logo Brussels Playbook ryan Heath's must-read briefing on what's driving the day in Brussels. PreviousNext View all newsletters RELATED CONTENT The neoconservative case for negotiating with Iran A former senior official under George W. Bush argues that Tehran is crucial to stabilizing an out-ofcontrol Middle east. La terreur n’est pas seulement ‘folle,’ ‘irrationnelle’ et ‘barbare’ Si rien ne peut justifier les attentats de Bruxelles et Paris, il faut entendre ceux qui nous critiquent.

Terror isn’t just ‘mad,’ ‘irrational’ and ‘inhuman’ We can’t justify Brussels and Paris, but we have an obligation to listen to what those attacks say. Brussels attacks change Brexit climate Heightened fears about security and migration could sway voters to back Brexit. For europe, Trump rise comes at worst time Will the republican frontrunner trick voters into ending America’s most important alliance? JOBS Internships at POLITICO (Brussels) All job postings » The first reaction to the Brussels massacres among postmodern european intellectuals was predictable: What did we, europeans, do to them, our Muslims? How could followers of a religion that is proudly called “the religion of peace” commit these kinds of atrocities? People like Peter Vandermeersch, the Belgian editor-in-chief of Dutch newspaper NrC-Handelsblad, and Belgian writer David Van reybrouck, both accomplished intellectuals, argued that Belgium must have done something terrible to deserve this. Their line of reasoning: The terrorists’ fury must be a reaction to their inhumane treatment at the hands of the West. So, we blame ourselves in order to remain blameless. Safer to blame our own societies and socioeconomic conditions than to blame the religious and cultural concepts with which terrorists poison their own minds. According to reports, the unemployment figure in Brussels’ infamous Molenbeek neighborhood — now referred to as the jihadi hothouse of europe — is 30 percent. This is a relatively high figure in Western europe, but not unusual in southern european countries or the Arab world. There is poverty in Molenbeek, but that poverty is relative. There is no starvation, no homelessness, no lack of medical infrastructure, no lack of schools. Compared to average living standards in Morocco or egypt, the average living standard in Molenbeek is comfortably middle-class. Like in any other Western european country, many Belgian institutions and organizations offer support when families need housing, food, education, and health care. Opportunities for success, and to study and become a respected member in society, are countless compared to those that exist in many immigrants’ countries of origin. Still, there is deep resentment among the younger generations of immigrant Moroccan families. Immigration into the Netherlands from Morocco and Turkey is an expensive phenomenon for the taxpayer: In the modern welfare state immigrants are more dependent on the welfare state than the average citizen. Because of a lack of higher education and the lack of non-skilled jobs, immigrants absorb a higher part of unemployment and social security payments than the average citizen. As a group, they receive more money than they pay in taxes. They also show up much higher in crime statistics than their numbers would justify. There are many success stories, but there are also disappointing trends. Like radicaliza-

tion. And the situation in Belgium is even worse.

*** There is no question that unemployment is much higher among Muslim immigrant communities than among the general public. There are two possible explanations. The first goes something like this: The Belgian people are terribly xenophobic and anti-Moroccan, and deny their Moroccan neighbors opportunities to succeed in life. But if this were the case, the theory can be applied to every Western european country, as unemployment figures for Moroccan and other Muslim migrants across europe are remarkably higher than average. This would indicate that european xenophobia has reached unbearable levels. Why would Muslims choose to stay in societies that showed such deep disrespect for their migrant population? Because they realize that an unemployed citizen in a european welfare state run by infidels has a better material life than an employed citizen in pious Morocco? Life in Belgium is exceptionally good and safe for migrants — if they are willing to integrate into their new cultural environment. The notion that Moroccan-Belgians suffer from widespread exclusion, discrimination, and suppression is ridiculous — and yet completely acceptable among the politically-correct crowd. Life in Belgium is exceptionally good and safe for migrants — if they are willing to integrate into their new cultural environment, if they are willing to act as individuals, study with passion and openness, and accept the secular system of the West. Women comfort each other during a tribute to the victims of the Brussels terror attacks ALSO ON POLITICO Terror isn’t just ‘mad,’ ‘irrational’ and ‘inhuman’ TARIQ RAMADAN A shop keeper sets up his wares accross the bar Les Beguines, owned by Brahim Abdeslam, one of the suicide bombers in the Paris attacks ALSO ON POLITICO My journey through Molenbeek MATTHEW LEVITT There is no difference at all in socioeconomic status between youngsters from a low-education, blue-collar Belgian background and youngsters from a Muslim migrant background. Both have to struggle, both have to overcome weak socioeconomic family situations. In Spain, youth unemployment has reached 50 percent and the welfare state is less developed than in Belgium, yet Spanish citizens aren’t blowing themselves up in metro stations. The other explanation for the high unemployment figures among Muslims in europe has nothing to do with exclusion and discrimination. A large segment of the migrant population is doing just fine, but a significant number — some say as many as 50 percent — have not rid themselves of the mental and cultural conditions that have kept their home country in its “de-

veloping country” status. The denial of equal rights to women, the lack of separation of state and church, bad education, excessive religiosity, patriarchal machismo — these are all on display in areas with a high percentage of migrants, including Molenbeek. Almost 60 percent of europe’s Muslims reject homosexuals as friends and 45 percent think that Jews cannot be trusted. More than half believe that the West is out to destroy Islam. In December 2013, Professor ruud Koopmans of the Berlin Social Science Center published a study on “Fundamentalism and out-group hostility,” in which he compared hostility among Muslim immigrants with hostility among Christian natives in Western europe. He writes: “Almost 60 percent agree that Muslims should return to the roots of Islam, 75 percent think there is only one interpretation of the Quran possible to which every Muslim should stick and 65 percent say that religious rules are more important to them than the laws of the country in which they live.” In regards to Christian citizens he concludes: “Less than 4 percent can be characterized as consistent fundamentalists.” On hatred of Jews and homosexuals among europe’s Muslim population, Koopmans finds: “Almost 60 percent reject homosexuals as friends and 45 percent think that Jews cannot be trusted. While about one in five natives can be considered as Islamophobic, the level of phobia against the West among Muslims — for which oddly enough there is no word; one might call it ‘Occidentophobia’ — is much higher still, with 54 percent believing that the West is out to destroy Islam.” recorded rates of Christian hate toward Muslims hover around 10 percent. What did “we” do to “them”? We opened up our cities, our houses, our wallets. “Occidentophobia” is an interesting term. It expresses a refusal to accept the essential concepts of life in the West. Young men like the perpetrators of the Brussels attacks have refused to embrace the social codes of Belgian life. They were raised on the idea that their religious ethics trump the ethics of the infidels (close to non-existent, in their eyes, in any case). Their second-rate socioeconomic status was therefore a humiliating affront, an indignity to be destroyed. Muslim integration into europe societies is successful when Muslims are willing to give up the mental confinement of their home countries — countries, let’s not forget, which they left in search of a better life. For as long as they refuse to adapt to a european state of mind, they will perpetuate resentment and a culture of violence. What did “we” do to “them”? We opened up our cities, our houses, our wallets. And in our secular temples of progress — our metro stations and airports and theaters — their sons are killing themselves, and taking our sons and daughters with them. There is nothing for which we need to apologize. “Occidentophobia” originated in the Muslim community. We need to demand they abandon it. Leon de Winter is a Dutch novelist and political commentator.

NARCOTICS FLOODING INTO JAPAN SENTAKU MAGAZINE In early February, the anti-narcotic unit of the Tokyo police was in the limelight after arresting Kazuhiro Kiyohara, a former star professional baseball player, on suspicion of unlawfully possessing stimulant drugs. But the case is just a tip of the iceberg as illegal drugs keep permeating through Japanese society with no end in sight. A former anti-drug police officer has pointed to a lack of ability on the part of the authorities charged with controlling narcotics such as the police and the health ministry, saying, “Why did it take so long to arrest a guy like Kiyohara who had been heavily dependent on drugs?” Indeed, it was in March 2014 that the weekly ShukanBunshun magazine reported that Kiyohara, who had long been rumored to be using stimulant drugs since the 1990s, was rushed to a hospital after suffering drug poisoning. There are two big hurdles that the police must clear before they can arrest a suspect in a stimulant drug case. They must be able to prove “possession” of a drug by arresting a suspect on the spot and they must be able to prove “use” of the drug by confirming that the suspect inhaled or injected the drug. Urinalysis, the results of which are indispensable for indictment, can detect usage only if the drug was taken within the previous two weeks. But diuretics can be taken to flush drug ingredients out of the body sooner. Moreover, there is a manpower shortage. The team that kept Kiyohara under surveillance and eventually arrested him consisted of only five officers — far short of the 20 officers that most insiders agree would be needed in such a case. According to the National Police Agency, the number of people investigated in connection with the possession or use of narcotics peaked at 14,500

in 2010 and has since declined to an annual average of about 13,000. In addition, some 1,000 cases are annually unearthed by the health ministry and the Japan Coast Guard. But the volume of drugs entering the country has been rising, indicating that the use of narcotics is growing faster than the annual number of criminal cases may suggest. The amount of drugs confiscated by the police increased from 305 kg in 2010 to 338 kg in 2011 and 348 kg in 2012. The number shot up to over 800 kg in 2013 when there was a raid on a large smuggling ring and the figure for 2014 remained high at 487 kg. The aforementioned anti-drug police officer says a general consensus within the police organization is that what has been confiscated represents only 5 percent of the total amount. This would mean that more than 9 tons of narcotics were smuggled into Japan in 2014. This number appears to be substantiated by an estimate based on a study conducted by the National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry that up to 10 tons of narcotics or more are consumed in Japan annually. If the end-user price is ¥40,000 per 0.2 grams as has been reported in the media, the total sum of money spent on narcotics in Japan comes to about ¥180 billion. There is a limit to what the police, the customs, the coast guard and the health ministry’s anti-narcotic officers can do to halt the smuggling of drugs into the country. In the past, China and North Korea used to be the main suppliers of illicit drugs to Japan. But nowadays, smuggling from Mexico is rapidly increasing. Smugglers strive to outwit Japan’s law enforcement agencies and only a small portion of illegal drugs is confiscated. Under the Narcotics and Psychoactive Drug Control Law, anti-drug officers belonging to the health ministry’s regional bureaus of health and welfare are allowed to purchase illegal drugs as part of

their sting operations. But police officers cannot resort to such tactics under the Stimulants Control Law. In addition, police officers might overstep their legal authority. In one case, a Tokyo police officer deliberately placed narcotics in the bag of a passer-by and then questioned him over the bag’s content. The officer was given a suspended sentence as punishment. The health ministry has been gradually increasing the number of anti-narcotic officers who have the same authority as police officers on matters related to controlling drugs. In January 2015, the number of officers specializing in the control of kikendraggu (dangerous drugs) grew by 26, with the total number of anti-drug officers increasing to 296. But as they have other duties to perform such as inspecting hospitals handling narcotics, that number is said to be hardly enough to fight the spread of narcotics. One problem facing all three anti-drug agencies — the police, the health ministry and the Japan Coast Guard — is that the skills and information accumulated by veteran officers are not being adequately handed down to younger colleagues. Much greater power and authority must be given to the police and anti-narcotics officers of the health ministry, says the aforementioned police officer. Another weapon that anti-drug officers have is the so-called eavesdropping law that went into effect in 2000. It permits them to intercept communications while investigating crimes related to narcotics, firearms and organized murders. The Justice Ministry announced in February that the police last year intercepted 14,528 calls, leading to the arrest of 101 suspects — both the second highest numbers on record. A police insider complains, however, that the hurdles are so high for getting court permission to wiretap that it was allowed in only nine narcotics-related cases — a mere 0.1 percent of the total number of such cases.

The eavesdropping law provides that investigators abusing their power will be given a prison term of up to three years or a fine not exceeding ¥1 million. By making such punishments more strict, it may be possible to lower the hurdles for allowing wiretapping. The crux of the issue is to attain a balance between the risk of violation of privacy and the social merit of going after drug traders. A prerequisite to attaining such a balance is to train and expand the personnel engaged in fighting narcotics. Undoubtedly, gangster syndicates are playing major roles in selling illegal drugs in Japan. It follows, therefore, that the best way to crush the narcotics supply is to cut off the income sources of these syndicates. The police appear to be blowing their own horn by claiming that the arrest of Kiyohara sends an effective warning to society. It should be kept in mind that the price of narcotics, which was reported to be ¥40,000 per 0.2 grams at the time of his arrest, has gone down considerably since then, indicating that the flow of drugs into the country is growing. This means that Japan is becoming a paradise for drug dealers. Nabbing suspects in conspicuous cases every now and then cannot stem the growth of narcotics-related crimes. The crucial question is whether the law enforcement authorities will be able to attack the problem at its roots by going after the drug-dealing gangster syndicates.

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

ARTS

Zeb and Haniya honour Lahore blast victims in an emotional video

Adele pAys tribute to lAhore blAst victims ENTERTAINMENT DESK

ENTERTAINMENT DESK Zebunissa Bangash and Haniya Aslam, the famous Pakistani musical duo released a song yesterday titled Dadra in light of the Lahore blast that took the lives of many women and children on 27th March. The duo released the music video on Facebook, explaining, “It’s a song conceived as a lullaby to the nation and a video as an exploration of Lahore’s past, present and future. This is for both Lahore and Pakistan, for resilience amidst the darkest of times.” Directed by Umar Riaz, and written by Zehra Nigah, Dadra starts off with the hopeful words “The sun will rise. And tomorrow there will be light. And this world quiet and sleeping will surely come alight.” The video captures scenes from the streets of Lahore in all their glory.

DELE, currently the most popular name in the music industry, belted out beautiful songs to endearing fans at Birmingham’s Genting Arena while on tour. She also took a moment to pay tribute to the victims of the terrible bombings in Lahore on Sunday which killed at least 74 people and injured many more, reports Birmingham Mail. The audience joined her with a show of torches held aloft as per the singer’s request. She had earlier paid

tribute to the victims of the Brussels attacks as well. Apart from the show of solidarity, Adele performed some of her greatest hits, including Hello, Chasing Pavements, Hometown Glory, and Rumour has it. The British singer engaged with fans in her usual casual manner. She even welcomed one fan on stage who bore a striking resemblance to the Rolling in the deep hit maker, and took a selfie with her. The jovial singer also sang happy birthday along with the audience for two young fans who were there with their mother.

The royal couple all set to visit B-Town

FASIH AHmeD Two events in Lahore this weekend at both Alhamras; It’s good the government hasn’t shut them down because of heightened security threats.

AyeSHA IjAZ KHAn Dear Geo News: please tell your reporter not to call these clowns in D-Chowk ulema. Ulema is the plural of alim. They look like ulema to u??

ASAD You know that old story about the boy who cried wolf? He grew up to be Chaudhury Nisar. Still gives wrong info all the time.

ENTERTAINMENT DESK

Mumbai will feature dance and musical performances. The fundraiser is being hosted by The British High Commission in partnership with The British Asian Trust, reports Daily Mail. After a night with India’s entertainment industry, the royal couple will visit slums around the Malabar Hill area, where some street cricket with the kids may also be on the agenda. Another celebration is planned for the night of their second day in India: a garden party to mark Queen Elizabeth’s upcoming 90th birthday. William is

Prince William and Princess Kate are all set to mingle with India’s biggest stars at a grand gala on April 10, the first night of their week-long trip to the country. This is William and Kate’s first international trip since their New York sojourn in 2014. They will be travelling without their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The royal couple will get a real-time introduction to Bollywood, as the dinner reception being held in their honour in

to “use the occasion to personally pay tribute to his grandmother with a speech to the invited guests,” his spokesman said at the Buckingham Palace briefing. Also on their itinerary is a tour of the home of Mahatma Gandhi, that will include the spot where he was assassinated on January 30, 1948, a safari at the remote Kaziranga National Park and a meeting with the folks running Elephant Family, the elephant sanctuary supported by the family of Prince William’s stepmother Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. They will round off their week-long trip with a tour of the Taj Mahal, where William’s mother Princess Diana made a famous solo visit in 1992, a month before the announcement of her separation from Prince Charles. The couple is reported to be staying at the Taj Palace Hotel, which was one of the scenes of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008. Will and Kate will also spend two days in Bhutan, where they will visit that country’s king and queen and likely see the royal couple’s newborn son.

ImRAn KHAn I hope these police shields are chapal proof.

Anushka Sharma ready to bewitch audience in upcoming movie ENTERTAINMENT DESK

ASAD What do I need to do to make the government negotiate with me? Looking to open a nice beach bar in Clifton

Anushka Sharma has been on everyone’s radar since Virat Kohli stood up for her against trolls on social media. However, Anushka herself has just been immersed in work and has her hands full with Salman Khan’s Sultan and Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. If that wasn’t enough, she’s also working on a new production, Phillauri which she’s written herself and plans to produce.

While it is still a project in the making, it has been reported that Anushka will be playing the role of a witch. Her first production NH10 was lauded by critics for a power-packed script and acting prowess so we’re excited to see what the actress has up her sleeve this time around. With reports of Phillauri being a romantic comedy, one expects the character probably won’t be of the stereotypical horror-loaded churail sort but perhaps she’ll channel her inner Sabrina? We’ll just have to wait and see!

FAWAD JOKES ABOUT ‘BARI STAR’ MAHIRA KHAN ENTERTAINMENT DESK With Kapoor & Sons promotions and celebrations in full swing, and a busy filming schedule for his cameo role in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil hai Mushkil, Humsafar heartthrob Fawad Khan has had no time to rest. In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, during which he was reportedly under the weather due to his tiresome schedule, the actor discussed his next project, his close bond with his wife and his Humsafar co-star Mahira Khan. Fawad has undoubtedly left a mark in Bollywood since his debut in Khoobsurat, and will soon be followed by Mahira, who will be seen in the much-anticipated Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees. When asked if he ever got the chance to catch up with Mahira in India, Fawad

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said, “We did meet once last year in Mumbai. But our schedules are tight now. She’s a busy person shooting a big film,” before jokingly adding, “Bari star ke paas hum jaise chhote logon ke liye time nahin hoga (Big stars don’t have time for people like us).” After a week-long schedule in Jaipur for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, the Khabsoorat star is flying back home to Pakistan. From there, he will commence his charity musical tour across the US, which is an annual ritual, before he starts filming for Albela Rahi in Pakistan. Fawad reveals that although parts of the movie are based in Bangladesh, shooting will only take place in Pakistan. “I’ve visited Dhaka and love the vibe. But the film will be shot in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan, where Bangladesh will be re-created. We are cheating the lo-

Deadpool breaks box oﬃce record: highest grossing R-rated movie Actor Ryan Reynolds’s superhero film Deadpool, which released in Pakistan last month, has officially raked in more than $745 million worldwide, passing 2003 film The Matrix Reloaded ($742.1 million) to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie in box office history. Directed by Tim Miller, the film tells the story of Wade Wilson played by Ryan Reynolds, who hunts the man who gave him accelerated healing powers and also a scarred physical appearance. In North America, Deadpool has a total of $349.4 million, and it is expected to surpass American Sniper ($350.1 million) to take second place on the domestic list of highest-grossing Rrated movies, reports Entertainment Weekly. The Passion of the Christ still stands at number one position with a collection of $370.8 million from domestic ticket sales. Back in February, Deadpool shattered expectations, opening to $132.4 million over three days and $152.2 million over the four-day Presidents’ Day weekend. Not only did that earn the film the biggest R-rated opening of all time, becoming the first R-rated movie to pass $100 million in its opening weekend, but Deadpool had the biggest February opening in box office history. AGENCIES

cations,” he informed Mumbai Mirror. The actor reflected on his time in India, and his introduction to the Dharma family. “I’m notorious for working less and partying more and the shoot was a roller-coaster ride with firecracker Alia Bhatt, naughty boy Sidharth Malhotra, the legendary entertainer Rishi Kapoor, cool guy Rajat Kapoor sir and my easygoing maa, Ratnaji Ratna Pathak Shah. Acting can sometimes feel like 9 to 5 job but in this case, it’s been a blast.” He also joked that although he works less and parties more, he doesn’t receive many invites. “I wouldn’t know if they are the wildest Bollywood parties but you could definitely describe Karan Johar’s house as Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion in Mumbai! But I wouldn’t know what to compare it with because I haven’t been invited to any other parties. Nobody calls me,” he said, looking forward to his third Bollywood outing with Karan as the director.

14 LEISURE

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

HaGaR tHE HoRRIblE

aries

taurus

gemini

Although you Rams are sometimes criticized for behaving selfishly, the emphasis is on everyone else today. You might even feel a sense of relief now that you can take a break from focusing on your own personal agenda.

Serving others now can take you down a very sweet path to happiness today as the lovely Libra Moon brings you an abundance of pleasurable experiences. However, you might not feel so great if you choose to only satisfy your own needs.

You deserve the respite you may be offered from a rather tumultuous few weeks and the heavier issues clouding the horizon won't get in your way if you let them slide for a while. A change of pace does you a world of good.

cancer

leo

virgo

You might not be able to spend the entire day hanging out with your family and friends, but being around those you love revitalizes your spirit while the Moon is camping out in your 4th House of Domestic Conditions.

You don't have to say yes to every single invitation with your name on it, because you could end up so scattered that your current spark of excitement is extinguished. You may have many tasks to complete, especially if you are in charge of a family or group activity.

You're able to keep your feet on the ground today while also flitting around like a social butterfly. You have a particular point of view, but don't want to waste energy defending it. Work smarter, not harder.

dIlbERt

GaRFIEld

libra

scorpio

sagittarius

Maintaining an objective approach to life isn't straightforward today as the emotional Moon in your sign activates susceptible Venus. Your insecurities, opinions and biases may leak out, even if you think you are cleverly keeping them out of sight.

Don't tie your disclosure to anyone else's actions; just put your feelings out there with no expectations. Ultimately, whatever you say can be less disruptive if you say it with kindness.

Kicking back with a few of your best friends might be just what you need today. In fact, the timing could be right for a celebration, since it's wise to surround yourself with like-minded people while the Moon is currently visiting your 11th House of Networking.

baldo

capricorn

aquarius

pisces

You demand respect from all those you encounter while the Moon is energizing your 10th House of Status. Fortunately, doing the right thing elevates your standing in your community. limit your interactions to those who can move you closer to your dreams.

You may feel as if you're up for nearly anything that sounds like fun, especially if your friends are participating in the activity. In fact, what you do is currently less important than who you do it with. Although you can get away with following your heart now, you still must honor your previous promises.

You prefer to approach all interactions in a rational manner today. Unfortunately, if someone makes an unreasonable demand, you still might try to fulfill their wishes. Balancing your needs with those of others can be challenging.

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.

latex lien machine mixed negative pane peer purge quartz render robot short spend thick vector victim vulnerable

Today’s soluTions

bEInG tRUE to paRtnER

cHEss black TO PlaY aND MaTE IN ThrEE MOVEs 8

crossword solution

7 6 5 4 3 2

chess solution

1...d3 2.Rxd3 Rxd3 3.Qxd3 e4 *

sudoku solution

1,12 shakespeare play (1,9,6,5) 7 small fatty fish, usually tinned (8) 8 public disturbance (4) 9 back end (4) 10 branch of mathematics (7) 12 see 1 14 shakespeare play (7) 16 dogfish used as food (4) 19 buzz off! (4) 20 lively (8) 21 shakespeare play (3,7) DOwn 1 prejudiced against older persons (5) 2 it causes a desire to scratch (7) 3 bird — dance (4) 4 dim duels (anag) — natural hazard after heavy rains (8) 5 spine-tingling (5) 6 organised massacre (6) 11 resolute and firm (8) 12 nicked (6) 13 give instruction to (7) 15 eldest son of cain — the late mr powell (5) 17 perspire (5) 18 secure — business partnership (4)

apartment break bright brink cart closets crease dent district drank energy export extent farther friend gird importation

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

Roy’s 78 sets up england chaRge to final

New Delhi

ageNcieS

PENER Jason Roy smashed a quick-fire 78 as England beat New Zealand by seven wickets on Wednesday to reach the final of the World Twenty20. Roy clobbered 11 fours and two sixes off

44 balls during his maiden T20 half-century, as England scored 159-3 in 17.1 overs after Ben Stokes (3-26) helped restrict New Zealand to 153-8. He added 82 for the first wicket with Alex Hales (20) to all but take the tournament’s first semifinal away from New Zealand. Earlier, New Zealand were put into

bat and lost opener Martin Guptill early but skipper Kane Williamson and Colin Munro counter-attacked with a 74-run partnership to lay a solid foundation before the Kiwis faltered late on. Munro (46) and Williamson (32) proved too hot to handle for England’s pacers as the duo took a special liking to Liam Plunkett and Stokes in the opening stages, both of whom came back well in their second spells. Left-hander Munro smacked Plunkett for three straight boundaries in the sixth over of the innings to set the pace and his reverse-hit for a six against Adil Rashid brought the house down at a packed Feroz Shah Kotla stadium. But England skipper Eoin Morgan then juggled his bowlers around and off-spinner Moeen Ali’s introduction in the 11th over soon saw the back of Williamson. Plunkett did well in his second spell to deny the dangerous Munro, whose 32-ball knock included seven boundaries and a six. He was denied his fifty when a wild slice went straight into the safe hands of Ali at third man. England’s fielders continued to pouch their catches and Morgan dived beautifully at extra cover to get rid of

Ross Taylor off Chris Jordan. The wickets quickly tumbled and New Zealand’s run-rate, which had started impressively, plummeted. Stokes was going for a hat-trick near the end after sending back Luke Ronchi for three and the hard-hitting Corey Anderson for 28. The impressive all-rounder ended with figures of 3-26 as New Zealand lost five wickets for 35 runs in the final 30 deliveries of their innings.

Scoreboard r New ZealaNd iNNiNgS 15 MJ guptill c buttler b willey KS williaMSoN c & b ali 32 46 c MuNro c ali b pluNKett cJ aNderSoN c JordaN b StoKeS 28 6 lrpl taylor c MorgaN b JordaN 3 l roNchi c willey b StoKeS 4 gd elliott Not out 7 MJ SaNtNer c JordaN b StoKeS MJ MccleNaghaN ruN out (buttler/StoKeS)1 11 extraS: total: 153 bowliNg: dJ willey 2-0-17-1, cJ JordaN 4-0-24-1, le pluNKett 4-0-38-1, au raShid 4-0-33-0, ba StoKeS 4-0-26-3, MM ali 2-0-10-1 eNglaNd iNNiNgS r 78 JJ roy b Sodhi 20 ad haleS c MuNro b SaNtNer Je root Not out 27 0 eJg MorgaN lbw b Sodhi Jc buttler Not out 32 2 extraS: 159 total: bowliNg: cJ aNderSoN 1-0-16-0, aF MilNe 3-0-27-0, MJ MccleNaghaN 3-0-24-0, MJ SaNtNer 3.1-0-28-1, iS Sodhi 4-0-42-2, gd elliott 3-0-21-0

Messi scores 50th goal as Argentina celebrates victory against Bolivia CorDoba, argeNtiNa ageNcieS

Lionel Messi scored his 50th international goal as Argentina defeated Bolivia 2-0 to advance their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign on Tuesday. Barcelona superstar Messi emphatically netted a 30th-minute penalty at the Estadio Mario Kempes in Cordoba as Argentina wrapped up their third consecutive qualifying victory. Messi’s spot-kick followed defender Gabriel Mercado putting Argentina ahead after 20 minutes with his second goal in as many games. The victory cements Argentina’s place in the automatic qualification berths of South America’s round-robin competition with 11 points from six games. Messi’s penalty makes him only the second player in Argentinean history to reach a half century of goals for the two-time World Cup winners. The 28-year-old striker is now closing in on legendary scorer Gabriel Batistuta’s record of 56 goals set between 1991 and 2002. Messi now also needs only one more goal to reach 500 goals for club and country raising the prospect that he could achieve that milestone with Barcelona this weekend when the Spanish giants take on Real Madrid in the Clasico. Messi, meanwhile, was satisfied

with yet another Argentina win, which suggests their troubled start to qualifying which began with a shock 2-0 home defeat to Ecuador is firmly in the rear view mirror. “Beating Bolivia and Chile is what we wanted,” said Messi, referring to last week’s hard-fought win over the Chileans in Santiago. “We’ve come from a low position in the standings to a high one but there is still a long way to go,” Messi added. Messi, meanwhile, said Argentina’s game had been hampered by the poor condition of the surface at the Mario Kempes stadium, which has hosted rock concerts recently. “We tried to play our game but the surface didn’t help, although that’s not an excuse,” he said. Argentina coach Gerardo Martino who had faced calls to quit after last year’s Copa America defeat said his team would embark on their remaining qualifiers with confidence.

SPORTS 15

england women ‘aren’t fit enough’, says coach SportS DeSk Mark Robinson, the head coach of the England women’s team, has blamed their five-run defeat against Australia in the World T20 semi-final on the squad’s poor standards of fitness, and has challenged his players to improve their running between the wickets in particular, after falling short in yet another major global tournament. Speaking alongside England’s beaten captain, Charlotte Edwards, at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, Robinson said that the defeat was still too raw to contemplate its full implications. However, he exonerated Edwards herself from any criticism, saying that he needed “a few more warriors like the captain” to take the team to the next level. “We lost by five runs,” said Robinson. “There’s nothing between these two teams. But we’ve got to get fitter. We’re not fit enough. They outran us. “Athleticism is something you are given by God, but aerobic fitness is something we’ve got to get better,” he added. “We missed out on twos, and we’ve lost by one boundary. We’ve got to change our mindset a bit, and toughen up a bit.” Not for the first time this tournament, England appeared to be cruising to victory while Edwards and Tammy Beaumont were adding 67 for the first wicket in the space of ten overs. But a familiar middle-order wobble left them with too much ground to make up in the closing overs, as they drifted out to 117 for 7. “Both teams got to similar stages,” said Robinson. “Both teams struggled to get boundaries in the end. It was all about the first 10 overs. The batting will get all the attention but, with big boundaries, slowish bowlers and no one in front of the wicket, it’s hard to find the boundaries.” Since his appointment last summer, Robinson has focused on adding new levels of aggression to England’s batting, which manifested itself in the only three sixes of the day, from Beaumont, Sarah Taylor and Katherine Brunt. However, his call for “360 degree” batting proved less successful, with Taylor in particular guilty of a limp dismissal off an attempted reverse-sweep. Robinson, however, reiterated his original point in defence of such attempts at innovation. “It was a bit of a problem because we couldn’t run our twos,” he said. “It was a catch-22 because, if you can’t get past the boundary and you can’t run twos, you’re starting to struggle a bit. But we hit six sixes in the tournament, so I know they’re going in the right direction. “There’s a lot of potential in the group,” he added. “A lot of girls with a lot to offer, we’ve got to give them belief and stick with the right players as well and accept there will be some bumps. But we’ve got to push them and extend them as well, because there’s a lot more in the tank.”

Yuvraj’s injurY leaves india with PandeY v negi dilemma SportS DeSk Fifty-two runs at an average of 13.00. Three overs, 19 runs, one wicket. One twisted ankle. At 34, these might well be the last set of numbers generated by Yuvraj Singh at an ICC event. A modest set of numbers for a limited-overs great, but they do not reveal the importance of some of his contributions, his batting in partnership with Virat Kohli easing India through pressure situations against Pakistan and Australia, and his three overs against Australia helping India drag their way back into a must-win game. Ravi Shastri, India’s team

director, highlighted those three overs when asked what impact Yuvraj’s injury would have on India’s plans for Thursday’s semi-final against West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium. “It will have an impact because he’s had his moments,” Shastri said. “I thought his three overs were brilliant in the last game. That really put the brakes on the scoring and allowed us to come back into the game. After the first four overs it was a no-contest, because at one stage it looked like [Australia would score] 200-plus, which would have been very difficult to chase on that surface. So he will be

CMYK

missed. [It’s] unfortunate. It’s an injury that happened during the game. Looking to take off [for a run], he did his ankle in, and I believe it’s a minor tear in the ankle.” India have played the same eleven right through the World T20, and Yuvraj’s in-

jury will force them into changing their combination for the first time. They have three possible replacements, none of them exactly like-forlike. Ajinkya Rahane is viewed as a back-up for India’s top three, and not as a middle-order batsman.

SPORTS Thursday, 31 March, 2016

Fiery Waqar slams PCB For ‘leaking’ ConFidential rePort Lahore

Tennis is in ruins: Nick Kyrgios MiaMi Agencies

Australian Nick Kyrgios unleashed a tirade on tennis as a “biased” and “ruined” sport Tuesday during his fourth-round triumph at the ATP and WTA Miami Open. The 20-year-old from Canberra defeated 51st-ranked Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 to become the first Aussie in the Miami quarter-finals since Lleyton Hewitt’s 2002 semi-final run. But a dispute flared in the first set after chair umpire Cedric Mourier called a code violation against Kyrgios for swatting a ball tossed his way by a ballperson into the stands. On the next changeover, Kyrgios told the umpire his action wasn’t intentional and said a star player such as 14time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal would not have been called out for the same action. “Anyone else, like Rafa did that, you would keep it cool,” Kyrgios said. “This game is biased as anything. You all know it as well. It’s biased as shit, this game. What else has it got to hide? It’s ruined. Absolutely ruined.” After the match, Kyrgios said only that he stood by the comments. Kyrgios, the youngest player ranked in the ATP top 30 at 26th, will face Canadian 12th seed Milos Raonic on Thursday for a semi-final berth. Off to a career-best 13-3 start that includes his first ATP title last month at Marseille, Kyrgios has a track record of making off-color remarks. Last year he drew almost blanket condemnation throughout the tennis world for lurid remarks about Stan Wawrinka’s teenage girlfriend during a match against the Swiss star in Montreal.

Agencies

EAD coach Waqar Younis fired a stinging volley at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after details of a confidential report from Tuesday’s meeting in Lahore was leaked to the media. In a press conference outside the Gaddafi Stadium, a fired-up Waqar went as far saying that there “was more politics in Pakistan cricket than the parliament.” The 44-year-old took to the press after the second meeting of a fact-finding committee which was formed to assess Pakistan’s disastrous World Twenty20 campaign. The coach gave a detailed report to the PCB on the first day of the meeting on Tuesday, the details of which were leaked in the media, prompting Waqar’s ire. “Let’s forget about my position as coach for a minute. The real question is who is leaking information from these confidential reports? I’ve given a fair assessment but bits and pieces from my reports have been picked, moulded and leaked in the media to present me as

some kind of villain,” Waqar said on Wednesday. According to the former captain, who was hired as head coach for a second time in 2014 and whose contract is due to expire in May, said Pakistan cricket was rife with politics. “There is more politics in Pakistan cricket than the parliament. We are all fed up of these inquiry committees.

What are they achieving? We need to open our eyes and not look at opportunities to shift the blame.” According to some reports in the media Waqar alleged that star batsman Mohammad Hafeez kept his injury a secret before World Twenty20, while the captain Shahid Afridi hardly participated in team meetings and practices he alleged former wicketkeeper and

team manager Moin Khan of disrupting team culture. Waqar said his details from his report had been ‘twisted’ to create further divisions. “I presented an honest assessment in my report but I feel some individuals did not appreciate that. Hence my report has been twisted and leaked in the media. And that is why I came to meet the PCB chief today. Unfortunately, despite being present in his office and only three doors down from me, I was only give time over the phone.” “Have I suddenly become their enemy? Aren’t we all part of the same team? I have been left deeply hurt by their actions,” Waqar said pointing to PCB chief Shaharyar Khan and ex-co chairman Najam Sethi. The coach once again offered to resign from his post saying if “my exit means things will be better, I would do it without delay.” There was further drama as selection committee member Kabir Khan resigned from his post as Waqar addressed the press. It was followed by a very brief statement from Shaharyar Khan who clarified his position.

Shahid Afridi seeks forgiveness from fans on Facebook SportS DeSk

Russian hockey club cancels visit to Pakistan The Russia-based Dinamo Field Hockey Club has pulled out of their tour to Pakistan which was scheduled to kick off on April 2 in Lahore. According to a press release by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Dinamo were scheduled to take on the Pakistan Junior Hockey Team in Lahore on April 2, 3, 5 and 6 but Sunday’s terrorist attack in the city forced the club from Ekaterinburg to call the tour off. At least 72 people were killed in a suicide blast that took place in the crowded Gulshan-i-Iqbal park on Sunday evening. It is unclear whether the tour will be rescheduled but the development comes as another blow to Pakistan hockey. The club, one of the most prestigious in Russia, is home to six national team players and would have

helped the Pakistan junior team get some valuable practice and exposure. International sports teams have largely avoided touring Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in March 2009. Apart from a handful of squash and snooker events and the Zimbabwe cricket team’s visit, No significant tournaments have taken place in the country since 2009. Hockey, Pakistan’s national sport, has fallen to the depths in recent times and the security situation adds to its misery. Politics, corruption and mismanagement have meant the one-time ‘kings’ of hockey failed to qualify for the World Cup and the Olympics for the first time in the game’s history. Pakistan are currently placed at 10 in the FIH World Rankings. Agencies

Pakistan’s cricket team received criticism from fans and mentors for their poor performance in the World T20. Shahid Afridi posted an apology on Facebook for his failure to perform as the captain for national cricket team. “I am here to answer to you,” Afridi tells the nation in a video posted to Facebook, “And today I seek forgiveness from you because the hopes you had from me and my team, I could not live up to them.” “When I wear this uniform, when I walk onto the pitch, I carry with me the sentiments of my countrymen. This is not a team of just 11 players, it is made up of every Pakistani,” he says. Afridi’s apology comes just a day after the Pakistani team’s head coach, Waqar Younis, also offered an apology to the nation during a ‘fact-finding’ enquiry conducted to probe the team’s performance during the series. “I’ve been very hurt by the situation [that has surrounded Pakistan cricket] and my comments in recent press conferences show it. I apologise to the nation and if my leaving makes things better, then I will do it without delay,” he said. “We don’t need stars, we need heroes,” Younis said, elaborating that there was a need to ‘dig deep’ and find such heroes for the Pakistani team. Sharjeel Khan was Pakistan’s highest run-scorer in the WT20 series with 112 runs in 4 matches while Shehzad, who was recalled to the team at the last

minute, scored up 108 runs in as many WT20 outings. Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik scored less than 100 runs in 4 matches and failed to take responsibility when the side needed it. ‘Boom Boom’ was off colour with the ball as well, as his side failed to make their presence felt at the world event and crashed out in the group stage. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s factfinding committee convened in Lahore on Tuesday for a three-day period but it was learnt that Waqar Younis submitted a ‘damning’ report on the team’s World T20 performance on Monday. The committee, which includes Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq and senior batsman Younis Khan, has been given the mandate by the board to meet and talk to the captain, coach, manager and senior players of the national team.

KOHLI, GAYLE HEADLINE WANKHEDE BIG BASH

MuMbai Agencies

Chris Gayle. Virat Kohli. Dwayne Bravo. MS Dhoni. The Wankhede stadium will be

screening an ensemble-driven action movie as much it hosts a cricket match on Thursday night. Those individuals and their styles of play contribute to a lot of the interest surrounding this game, and also

typify there are various ways to establish T20 batting dominance. India’s has been to simply extend their Test and one-day game into the Twenty20s arena, and when all goes well, they get the bulk of their runs through orthodox cricket. West Indies, ideally, wouldn’t want their long-format form anywhere near them right now. Helpfully, this format has a tight cap on the number of overs so the big-hitters can keep hitting big without worrying about consequences. Case in point are the methods that their marquee players use. Gayle likes to “beat” the ball. No wonder it rockets as far away from him as it can, hoping to be lost somewhere in the rings of Saturn. Kohli is kinder in assisting with the ball’s travels, and even throws in a few surprises - patrons waiting in the off stump line could end up at midwicket almost as often as they do in the covers. Both teams clearly have lots of

cream at the top, but the middle looks a bit squishy. It’s been over two years since Denesh Ramdin or Suresh Raina have hit a T20 fifty. Dwayne Bravo, at No. 5, has looked unsure whether he needs to be the aggressor or the anchor. Yuvraj Singh has been similarly jittery, but an ankle injury ruled him out of the World T20. That leads West Indies to the prospect of bowling at a player - one of Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey or Pawan Negi who hasn’t faced a ball in this tournament. But Mumbai is just about the perfect venue for the out-of-form and brand new batsmen to get into the swing of things - the lowest total in the tournament here has been Afghanistan’s 172 against South Africa. Quite apart from tactics and strategy, there are players from both sides who may be playing their last World Cup, so the incentive to make it to Eden Gardens - for the final - for one more match will

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

CMYK

be very strong. India haven’t made any changes to their XI since the start of the tournament. But now, with Yuvraj ruled out, they will be forced to do so ahead of the semi-final of the tournament. India 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 Manish Pandey/Ajinkya Rahane/Pawan Negi, 6 MS Dhoni (capt and wk), 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Ashish Nehra West Indies will be without Andre Fletcher, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury. His replacement Lendl Simmons has a chance at getting a game straight away. West Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Lendl Simmons, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Carlos Brathwaite, 10 Suliemann Benn, 11 Samuel Badree