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Monday, 4 November, 2013 Zil Hajj 29, 1434 Rs 17.00 Vol IV No 127 16 Pages Islamabad Edition

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PTI, PAT mull anti-govt movement

JI to support PTI for suspension of NATO supplies

Contacts between the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) and Allama Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) have gained momentum over the issue of a joint movement against the government. Qadri has tasked his PAT Secretary General Khurrum Nawaz Gandapur to contact the antigovernment, dissident PML-N members, and the people for their support to their post-Muharram movement. PAGE 04

JI chief Munawar Hasan on Sunday announced support to PTI Chairman Imran Khan for stopping NATO supplies. He said the issue required consultation with the like-minded parties and a long-term planning so that the supplies were stopped permanently. He said the interior minister’s statement for a review of ties with the US had been thrown to the winds by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif saying that the NATO supplies would not be stopped. PAGE 04

Legendary singer Reshma passes away PAGE 14

Rashid urges Taliban to continue peace process

US dismisses claims drone strike hurt Pakistan talks

Federal Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said that government never vowed to halt peace talks with Taliban despite many terror attacks by the banned outfit. Saying that drones were a conspiracy against peace process, he added, “all should ponder as to who wants to derail peace process.” Pervez Rashid mentioned that peace process was sabotaged through the drone attack on Mehsud by the enemies of peace in Pakistan. PAGE 02

The United States insists it has a shared interest in ending extremist violence after Islamabad accused Washington of scuttling efforts towards peace talks by killing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike. Mehsud, who was under a $5 million US government bounty, was killed when a drone targeted his car in a compound in North Waziristan tribal district on Friday. PAGE 03

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Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe — Albert Einstein

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PPP’S CEC TAKES STOCK OF POLITICAL SITUATION Kaira says peace process must not be jettisoned per mandate of the APC despite the killing of Mahsud

LAHORE: Former president Asif Zardari presided over a meeting of Central Executive Committee, the PPP’s highest decision-making body, at Bilawal House Karachi on Sunday wherein the party’s top leadership took stock of the prevailing political situation in the country and issues that needed party’s immediate attention.

Pakistan People’s Party Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira said after the meeting that matters pertaining to the current political situation especially the issue of local governments was discussed in the meeting. He added that the CEC also deliberated upon organisational matters of the party and it was decided that the party’s reorganisation would be completed within 15 days. The law and order situation after the death of TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud also came under discussion during the meeting, the PPP secretary added. Kaira said that peace process must not be jettisoned as per mandate of the All Parties Conference despite the killing of Hakimullha Mahsud in a US drone attack the other day. He said the PPP would continue to support the government in its endeavors for seeking peace in the context of mandate of the political leadership accorded in the All Parties Conference in Islamabad. If the TTP was sure that the USA was a sworn enemy of Pakistan and she would not let peace and security prevail in the country, they should prove their commitment by entering into negotiations with the government solely in the larger interest of Pakistan, he commented. Kaira said their (TTP’s) talks of taking revenge from the country and its security forces was highly misplaced as it reflected the mockery of their sincerity with the country. However, the entire political leadership of Pakistan was keen to bring them in the mainstream of national life despite their terrorist attacks in Peshawar, Upper Dir, Mardan and Kissan Khani Bazar killing scores of civilians and two senior army officers. He reiterated that the people of Pakistan would not be scared of their deadly tactics and their resolve to defeat the forces of extremism and terrorism would be further strengthened in the face of their barbarity. STAff RepORT

NISAR WANTS ALL PARTIES ON BOARD ON POST-MEHSUD SITUATION Interior minister to meet all parliamentary leaders before the 6th session of National Assembly to be held today

Pervez Rashid urges Taliban to continue peace process

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NTERIOR Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan wants to take parliamentary leaders on board about peace talks with the Taliban in the wake of death of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone attack.

Sources told Online that Ch Nisar would meet parliamentary leaders in the Parliament before the 6th session of National Assembly to be held today (Monday) to discuss the fate of All Parties Conference-mandated dialogue with the Taliban after the death of Mehsud.

The sources said another APC could be held in post-Hakimullah scenario.

Moreover, the sources said that the federal interior minister would meet with Opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi, JUI-F’s Maulana Fazalur Rehman, QWP’s Aftab Khan Sherpao, PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shujat Hussain, National Party’s Mir Hasil Bazenjo, Tariqullah Khan, Ijazul Haq, Sheikh Rasheed and MQM’s leader Dr Farooq Sattar. Meanwhile, an urgent meeting of the federal cabinet has been called to discuss situation in the wake of TTP chief’s death and an-

nouncement of revenge by the terror group.

The sources said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would chair urgent security cabinet meeting on November 6 to consider a response to the Mehsud’s killing in the drone strike. Pakistan has accused the US of violating its sovereignty and sabotaging peace talks with the Taliban. The government, meanwhile, is expected to continue talks with Mehsud’s successor.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said that government never vowed to halt peace talks with Taliban despite many terror attacks by the banned outfit. Saying that drones were a conspiracy against peace process, he added, “all should ponder as to who wants to derail peace process.” Pervez Rashid mentioned that peace process was sabotaged through the drone attack on Mehsud by the enemies of peace in Pakistan.

Talking about Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) resolution, the senator stated whether to support or oppose the resolution, would be decided after reviewing the resolution. The information minister reminded that the Taliban accepted responsibility of assassination of the Pak Army officers, Peshawar church blast and other incidents but government was still committed to hold peace talks with Taliban. Online

PPP MAKES HISTORY

Speaker turns Sindh Assembly into family wedding hall!

KARACHI iSMAil DilAWAR

The premises of Sindh Assembly, the country’s oldest legislative body which had passed the historic Pakistan Resolution that led to the creation of Pakistan, has been turned into a family wedding hall. Sunday saw parts of the Sindh Assembly Building extravagantly illuminated like a wedding hall with hundreds of guests, which included provincial legislators and bureaucrats, thronging the premises in luxurious cars of almost all types. The crowd, however, was there for attending a “walima” ceremony, not legislation, the Assembly Secretariat is constitutionally meant for. And historical building of the provincial legislature was turned into a wedding hall by none other than its custodian: Speaker Agha Siraj Khan Durrani.

The all-powerful speaker could not find a better place than Sindh Assembly for organising the “walima” ceremony of his nephew. Many of the assembly staffers, who rarely are punctual in attending their offices, were called in, of course on special directives of the speaker, to ensure their presence on Sunday, a weekly holiday. The staff, the sources said, was to make the event a success. The staff on duty is said to have been strictly directed to keep the media

away from the event. “They might not want to open any pandora’s box,” said the sources. While this report was being filed the well-attended marriage gala in the Sindh Assembly building was underway in full swing. “This happened for the first time in the history of Sindh Assembly that a wedding ceremony is being held here,” viewed another source, requesting anonymity. The source said tents were erected around the entire Assembly premises to make it impossible for the outsiders to see what was going on

inside.“Over Rs 9.5 million have been spent on the wedding. The food cost is estimated at Rs 8 million alone. At least Rs 1.5 million have been spent on decoration,” the source said. The lawmakers from opposition benches seemed to have not been invited to the event. “We know nothing about any such event,” said Nusrat Seher Abbasi of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional. She, however, ducked the question whether or not the assembly premises could be used, legally, for personal events.

3 INJURED IN QUETTA SEMINARY BOMBING Security forces foil sabotage bid and seize explosives in Dera Bugti MONITORING DESK/AGENCIES QUeTTA

A madrassa (seminary) caught fire allegedly after explosives went off in the Eastern Bypass of Quetta on Sunday, a local newspaper reported. Four rooms of the seminary and a nearby house were completely destroyed in the bombing.

According to witnesses, three injured were rescued by the students before police reached there. A search operation was launched to find the injured, but to no avail. Operations Wing Deputy Inspector General Police (DIG) Muhammed Jafar said religious literature and explosives were seized from the wreckage. He said those in the seminary were preparing explosives that went off prematurely. Separately, security forces foiled a sabotage bid and recovered explosives in Dera Bugti town area of Balochistan on Sunday. According to police, acting on a tip off, Security forces along with the Bomb Disposal Squad team reached the site and defused 5 kg of explosives. It was planted beside the road by unknown men for sabotage.

Security forces cordoned off the entire area and started efforts to arrest outlaws.

Meanwhile, a man was injured by unidentified men in Nasirabad District.

According to police, the victim identified as Sabghatullah was on his way home when the assailants opened fire on him and fled from the scene.

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Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself ― C.S. Lewis

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US DISMISSES CLAIMS DRONE STRIKE HURT PAKISTAN TALKS MIRANSHAH: The United States insists it has a shared interest in ending extremist violence after Islamabad accused Washington of scuttling efforts towards peace talks by killing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike. Mehsud, who was under a $5 million US government bounty, was killed when a drone targeted his car in a compound in North Waziristan tribal district on Friday. The death of its young, energetic leader represents a major setback for the TTP, a coalition of factions behind some of the most high-profile attacks to hit Pakistan in recent years. But it also threatens the government’s efforts to begin talks to end the TTP’s bloody sixyear insurgency that has left thousands of soldiers, police and civilians dead. Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan condemned the US strike as a “drone attack on the peace process”, saying a team of religious clerics was about to meet the TTP with a view to starting peace talks when Mehsud was killed. “Brick by brick in the last seven weeks we tried to evolve a process by which we could bring peace to Pakistan and what have you [the US] done?” he said. “You [the US] have scuttled it on the eve, 18 hours before a formal delegation of respected ulema (religious scholars) was to fly to Miranshah and hand over this formal invitation.” A State Department official declined to confirm that Mehsud had been killed and did not specifically address Nisar’s comments, saying the issue of whether to negotiate with the TTP was an internal matter for Pakistan. “The United States and Pakistan continue to have a vital, shared strategic interest in ending extremist violence so as to build a more prosperous, stable and peaceful region,” the official said. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it had summoned US ambassador Richard Olson to protest over the drone strike that killed Mehsud and another that hit a day earlier.

The ministry statement also stressed that despite the drone strike the government was “determined to continue with efforts to engage the TTP”. Islamabad routinely condemns drone strikes as a violation of sovereignty, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urged President Barack Obama to end them during White House talks in October, but summoning the ambassador is an unusual step. Mehsud’s death is the third major blow struck against the TTP by the US this year, following the killing of number two Waliur Rehman in a drone strike in May and the capture of another senior lieutenant in Afghanistan revealed last month.AGenCieS

RAWALPINDI: A man waits with his sick mother outside Holy Family Hospital after being denied entry to the facility on account of ‘security’ for the visit of Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif. inp

TTP APPOINTS ASMATULLAH AS INTERIM LEADER TTP SPOKESMAN SAYS NOBODY IN HISTORY HAS EVER NEGOTIATED WITH SLAVES MIRANSHAH

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HE banned terrorist outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Sunday appointed Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani as an interim leader to head the group temporarily after the death of TTP supremo Hakeemullah Mehsud in a US drone strike, media reported. According to the reports, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said that a permanent replace-

ment had not been chosen yet. “Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani, the head of the supreme shura, has been appointed as temporary head of the TTP,” Shahid told foreign media, adding that prayers for Mehsud were still going on.

Mehsud, who had a $5 million bounty on his head, was killed along with four cadres in North Waziristan on Friday. The killing of Mehsud sparked a furious reaction from the Pakistani government, which accused Washington of sabotaging fledgling efforts towards peace negotiations with the TTP.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said a group of clerics had been ready to go and meet the TTP to initiate talks, which have been supported by all major political parties. Shahid refused to say there was no chance of the talks going ahead, but accused the government of kowtowing to Washington and cutting a deal to “sell” the terrorists. “Nobody in history has ever negotiated with slaves,” he said. “Time will tell whether we take revenge of his martyrdom or not,” he said. While in the past, the TTP has responded to its leaders being killed with deadly violence.

NATO supplies to be suspended after consultation: KP CM KHATTAK SAYS PEACE IN REGION, ESPECIALLY PAKISTAN, IS AGAINST US INTERESTS Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Sunday said the NATO supply routes would be blocked after consulting political parties, a private TV channel reported. “The NATO supply line will not be restored until the drone strikes are put to an end,” Khattak reiterated his party’s firm stance on the issue of the unilateral US drone strikes in Pakistani territory while addressing a public meeting in Mansehra. Commenting on the local

bodies’ polls, the KP CM labelled the LB system planned to be introduced in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab as a sham. “The local bodies set up for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will allow its people and public representatives such empowerment which has no precedence in the history,” he pledged, adding, in such a system the bureaucracy will function under LB representatives instead of ministers.

Khattak said the US drone attack which

killed TTP chief Hakeemullah was not an ordinary coincidence but part of wellorchestrated conspiracies against Pakistan.

He said that peace in the region, especially Pakistan, was against the US interests therefore it intentionally targeted the TTP leader to sabotage peace efforts. A powerful and independent accountability commission would start

functioning in the province soon which would be able to arrest anyone, including the chief minister, he added.

The PTI has planned to provide free education and healthcare facilities to all without any discrimination while computerisation of all land record would bring an end to complaints of corruption. The CM said, “Affluent people have been offering to donate billions to support our cause of education which will turn the backward province around.” The CM added that the issue of insurgency could be resolved if clerics move in the right direction with a political will. “If the federal government failed to properly engage in peace talks with the TTP, the PTI would initiate the process on its own. We will stop NATO supplies in case of continued drone strikes,” he warned. MOniTORinG DeSK

DRONE STRIKES VIOLATE PAKISTAN’S SOVEREIGNTY: FO ISLAMABAD: Pakistan says the latest US drone strike will have a negative impact on the Government’s initiative to undertake dialogue with the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan, state media reported on Sunday. In a statement, the Foreign Office said drone strikes violated the country’s sovereignty‚ international humanitarian laws and are counterproductive to efforts to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region. The statement said that in accordance with this publicly stated consistent policy‚ Pakistan has condemned drone strikes whenever they have taken place. It said‚ Pakistan has been airing its concern over the drone strikes with the US Administration and at the United Nations. The prime minister during his recent visit to the US had raised the issue with President Obama and other senior US leaders. The statement said the government was determined to continue its efforts to engage with the TTP to bring an end to the ongoing violence and make them a part of mainstream politics within the parameters of the constitution. Online

PTI TO TABLE ANTI-DRONE RESOLUTION IN PA TODAY LAHORE: Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rashid on Sunday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would table an anti-drone resolution in the Punjab Assembly on Monday. Talking to reporters, he said the entire world had termed the drone attacks illegal and immoral. He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would halt the NATO supply line if drone attacks were not stopped. App

5 KILLED IN JIRGA ATTACK PESHAWAR : As many as five people were killed while two others injured in a grenade attack in Mamra area of Lower Orakzai on Sunday. According to reports, the grenade was hurled when a tribal jirga was in progress. The attack resulted in death of five tribesmen besides leaving two others injured. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital and a search operation was started. AGenCieS

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Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend ― Albert Camus

NEWS Monday, 4 November, 2013

Kerry arrives for first Egypt visit since Morsi ouster CAIRO

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S Secretary of State John Kerry arrived on Sunday in Cairo to push Egypt’s militaryinstalled rulers for democratic progress, on his first visit since the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi.

On the eve of the opening of Morsi’s trial, Kerry landed in Cairo seeking to shore up ties with a key regional ally and ensure Egypt moves ahead on plans to restore democracy just weeks after Washington suspended part of its $1.5 billion in annual aid.

US officials said Kerry – the most senior figure of the US administration to visit since Morsi’s July ouster – would meet with Egyptian leaders including interim president Adly Mansour, foreign minister Nabil Fahmy and powerful military chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

His talks would focus on how Washington wants to see a political transition which is “sustainable, inclusive and democratic”, a senior State Department official told reporters.

Kerry would also carve out time during his brief six-hour visit to meet behind closed doors with members of Egyptian civil society, who are increasingly alarmed by a crackdown on protestors and the slowness of a return to democracy.

Morsi, an Islamist leader of the Muslim Brotherhood who became Egypt’s first democratically elected president, was toppled by the

MEGA CITY TO BE CONSTRUCTED NEAR KARNAL SHER KHAN INTERCHANGE PESHAWAR App

Media adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sheraz Paracha on Sunday said the government would soon begin building a mega city near Karnal Sher Khan Motorway interchange on 86,000 kanals of land. Paracha said a land of 54,000 kanals had already been acquired for the purpose. He said the process of acquiring land for a city at Dhamtor in Abbottabad was underway. He further said that to boost economic activities in the province, under Swabi Mega Project a road would also be constructed to reduce travel time between motorway to Chakdarra Industrial areas.

He informed that government wants to make Blahisar Fort a tourist attraction and concerned authorities would be contacted by the government in this regard.

LAHORE : Workers are busy readying fish for sale. Fish demand has risen due to dropping of mercury across the country. inp

military on July 3 after a turbulent year in power that deeply polarised Egyptians.

According to the interim government’s timetable, parliamentary elections are to be held by mid-2014 followed by presidential polls. More than 1,000 people have died in a crackdown on protests by Morsi supporters since July.

Govt confused over drones, Pakistan-US ties, says Gilani KARACHI Online

Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that government is circled by confusion over drone attacks and relations with America.

Talking to reporters at Karachi Airport on Sunday, Gilani reminded that his government not only blocked NATO supply but also did not participate in Bonn conference in reaction to Salala check-post attack in 2011.

“The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) demanded apology from US, while asking the Parliament to review arrangements regarding agreements with US and also made the US vacate Shamsi Airbase,” he added.

PPP Secretary-General Latif Khosa lambasted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over local bodies (LB) elections in Punjab.

He said the Sharifs were

PTI, PAT MULL ANTI-GOVT MOVEMENT ISlAMAbAD Online

Contacts between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Allama Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) have gained momentum over the issue of a joint movement against the government.

Qadri has tasked his PAT

PM’s House rejects reports of PM’s meeting in Lahore

an offspring of a dictatorship that is why PML-N wanted escape from LB polls.

“Federal government is failing to restore peace despite the fact that all parties have given free hand to it in this regard,” Khosa added.

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s (PM) House has denied the rumours that a highlevel meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the present law and order in the country, was held in Lahore. A statement issued by a spokesman of the PM’s House on Sunday revealed that no meeting took place under the chair of the prime minister in Lahore. Earlier, rumours regarding the meeting reviewing the situation that emerged following the death of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone attack had floated in the media. Online

JI announces support to PTI for suspension of NATO supplies ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawar Hasan on Sunday announced support to PTI Chairman Imran Khan for stopping NATO supplies.

Addressing a press conference, he said the issue required consultation with the likeminded parties and a long-term planning so that the supplies were stopped permanently.

He said the interior minister’s statement for a review of ties with the US had been thrown

to the winds by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif saying that the NATO supplies would not be stopped. Terming Hakimullah Mehsud as a martyr, the JI chief said the drone attack on the slain TTP chief was an attack on the negotiation table.

He stressed upon both the Pakistan government and the Taliban to go ahead with the talks and make them a success as that would be a befitting reply to the US which is an enemy of Pakistan and a friend

of India. Hasan said that the US wanted to sabotage the talks so that the Pakistani nation and its armed forces remained pitted against each other. He said the issues were never resolved through the use of force.

Referring to the federal information minister’s statement that drone attacks would not end with the suspension of NAO supplies, he asked whether the minister was representing Pakistan or

the US. Meanwhile, the JI chief expressed his reservations over the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, issued recently and called for a review. In reply to the prime minister’s letter, he said the ordinance had been issued in an unnecessary haste especially because when the parliament was in existence, the issue could have been discussed there and the opinion of the political parties could have been obtained. Online

Secretary General Khurrum Nawaz Gandapur to contact the anti-government, dissident PML-N members, and the people for their support to their post-Muharram movement.

Gandapur has also met Awami Muslim League Chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, which has reported to be quite successful, as Ahmed

has assured that the movement’s Potohar chapter would be fully supported.

PAT’s contacts with PTI and Tehreek-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen are also underway, while the PTI has asked for grace period to deliberate over the invitation, necessitated by the KPK government’s pressure over the

federal government to hold parlays with the Taliban; especially in the aftermath of recent killing of TTP terrorist Hakeemullah Mehsud.

The KP government is seriously contemplating to suspend NATO supplies in the province, over which PAT has ‘granted’ the full month of Muharram to deliberate over the offer.

BISHOP FEARS SHARIA BONDS PAVE WAY FOR MORE ISLAMIC LAW MONITORIND DESK David Cameron’s plans to issue Sharia-compliant bonds open the way to Islamic law being enforced at the heart of government, a senior clergyman has warned, according to a report by The Telegraph.

Dr Michael Nazir Ali, the former bishop of Rochester, said proposals to make Britain the first non-Muslim country to sell a bond that complies with Sharia could trigger a series of “unforeseen consequences”. He also voiced broader fears that Christianity was being increasingly excluded from the administration of law, after one of Britain’s most senior judges said members of the judiciary were “secular” figures serving a “multicultural community”.

Last week the Prime Minister set out plans for Britain to issue a sukuk, a form of debt that is in line with Islamic law, because it avoids the prohibited use of “riba”, or interest.

The bonds, which will be worth around £200 million, would pay a fixed return based on the profit generated

by an underlying asset, such as government buildings.

Speaking at the World Islamic Economic Forum in London on Tuesday, Cameron said Britain should rival Dubai as one of the “great capitals of Islamic finance”.

The Prime Minister told senior officials and business leaders from Muslim countries it would be a “mistake” for Britain to turn away their money when “Islamic finance is growing 50 per cent faster than traditional banking”.

However, Dr Ali, who holds dual British and Pakistani citizenship, said of the plans, “This means that the Government itself will be subject to Sharia in its dealings on these bonds. “At the moment the issue is pretty modest, but how much will it grow?

There’s a lot of liquidity out there and it could grow pretty rapidly, and then you may face a situation where a major part of your financial system is governed by Sharia-compliant considerations.”

He added, “Before we take these steps that could have unforeseen conse-

quences we do need greater public discussion, greater explanation of what actually is being done and what it is we are letting ourselves in for.”

The bishop said that a public debate on the introduction of the bonds should include whether Sharia judges should be allowed to adjudicate in disputes over governmentbacked investments. “They must be taking advice already from Sharia scholars to put together these products. Has there been any discussion that such advice can be taken and that such adjudication can be acceptable in terms of official policy?” Even among Muslim scholars the principle of whether commercial interest was prohibited had been called into question, Dr Ali said. In 2008 Lord Williams of Oystermouth, the then archbishop of Canterbury, drew criticism for calling for “a constructive accommodation” with some aspects of Muslim law. At the time Dr Ali said it would be “simply impossible” to have Sharia and British laws operating side by side.

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Georgia couple charged with murder after girl’s body found in trash The father and stepmother of a 10-year-old girl were charged with murder after the burned body of the girl was found in a trash can outside an apartment complex near Atlanta, police said. Eman Moss and Tiffany Moss were charged with felony murder, cruelty to a child and concealing a body, according to a statement issued by the Gwinnett County Police Department. Police identified the victim as 10-year-old Emani Moss. Eman Moss called 911 early on Saturday morning to say he was suicidal and that there was a dead body with him, police said. Moss said his daughter drank some kind of chemical and died, according to police. When officers arrived, Moss was standing in the breezeway of one of the apartments, located in Lawrenceville on the outskirts of Atlanta. Moss pointed to a trash can in a recreation area of the building, where the body was found, police said.

Officers checked the apartment but found no one inside. Detectives are investigating circumstances that led to the body being placed in the trash can, said Pam McDaniel, a police communications supervisor. “It’s a major deal, a major deal - the nature of this crime,” McDaniel said. MOniTORinG DeSK

Boat carrying 70 Muslim Rohingya sinks off Myanmar YANGON inp

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boat carrying 70 ethnic minority Muslim Rohingya capsized on Sunday off the western coast of Myanmar, an aid worker said. Only eight survivors have been found.

The boat was in the Bay of Bengal and headed for

Bangladesh when it went down early Sunday, said Abdul Melik, who works for the humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger.

The incident comes after the United Nations warned that an annual and often deadly exodus of desperate people from Myanmar’s Rakhine state appears to have begun. The exodus usually kicks off in November, when

seas begin to calm.

As many as 1,500 people have fled in the last week, Dan McNorton, a spokesman for the UN High commission for Refugees, said at a press briefing Saturday in Geneva.

He said the agency had received several reports of drownings and was seeking details from authorities.

In Sunday’s incident, Melik

said the wooden boat carrying at least 70 Rohingya from Ohn Taw Gyi village left at around 3 am and broke apart about four hours later. Women, children and babies were among those on board.

Family members and friends were scouring the Bay of Bengal and coastlines for survivors, but so far only eight survivors have been found, he said.

Myanmar, a predominantly

Buddhist nation of 60 million, has been gripped by sectarian violence in the last 18 months, leaving more than 240 people dead and causing 250,000 to flee from their homes. Most of the victims have been Rohingya, a long persecuted Muslim minority in the country, with Buddhist mobs chasing them down with machetes, iron chains and bamboo clubs.

NSA spied on Israel, shared intelligence Israel has been the target of spying by the United States’ National Security Agency, The New York Times reported, citing documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. According to the report published on Saturday, the US and Israel collaborate on intelligence gathering, with the Israel Signals Intelligence, or Sigint, National Unit, a high-level intelligence unit, receiving raw NSA eavesdropping material from the US and providing raw material from its own surveillances in return. According to the documents, the NSA tracked “high priority Israeli military targets,” including drones and the Black Sparrow missile system. The report also shows that the US has spied on world leaders, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The NSA, according to the documents, has for decades shared intelligence information from eavesdropping with rest of its “Five Eyes” partners, the Sigint agencies of Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. More limited cooperation occurs with many more countries, including formal arrangements called Nine Eyes and 14 Eyes and Nacsi, an alliance of the agencies of 26 NATO countries, according to the newspaper. MOniTORinG DeSK

24 killed in Nigerian church stampede LAGOS: Twenty-four people were killed and dozens of others injured on Saturday in a stampede following the end of an overnight church vigil in eastern Nigeria, a government spokesman said. Nineteen women were amongst the dead at the stampede in the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Uke, Anambra, where around 100,000 worshippers had gathered for All Souls Day. “We have visited the hospital in Nkpor and found 24 corpses that were brought in from the scene of the disaster,” spokesman Mike Udah said. Local media reports claimed the death toll could be higher, claiming that up to 28 people had been killed in the stampede at St Dominic’s Catholic Church. There was no immediate known cause for the stampede which happened in the grounds of the church as followers celebrated an overnight vigil to mark All Saints’ Day. The tragedy happened at 6am. Hours earlier the event had been attended by the local Anambra state governor, Peter Obi. He later returned to the scene of the tragedy and visited the injured in hospital, promising to set up an inquiry to establish the cause of the tragedy. App

QUETTA: Former Balochistan Constabulary employees rendered disabled, protest for their rights outside the press club. inp

Pediatricians call for limits on kids’ screen time NEW YORK AGenCieS

Families should make a “media use plan” and set clear rules about TV, cell phones and other devices, pediatricians said on Monday.

That includes limiting kids’ screen time to one or two hours per day.

Parents should also keep children’s rooms free of TV and Internet access, according to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Communications and Media.

“We’re not media-bashers,” Dr. Marjorie Hogan, one of the statement’s lead authors, said. “We love media.” The question, she said, is how to use it for good.

Hogan, from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, said media can influence kids’ lives in many positive ways. Some

TV shows like Sesame Street have been shown to help preschoolers learn or to promote empathy, for example.

“For teens, connectivity, being connected to your peers, having a chance to create your persona, can be a really positive thing,” she told Reuters Health.

And children who have to take long medical absences from school can use online education programs to keep up, the Council writes in Pediatrics.

But too much TV and other media use have been tied to obesity, sleep and school problems and aggression.

Currently, the average child spends about eight hours in front of screens each day, according to the policy statement. That makes screen time the leading activity for young people after sleep.

“Over the past ten years … the

amount of media that kids hang out with and spend time with on a given day has increased,” said Amanda Lenhart.

She directs research on teens, children and families for the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and wasn’t involved in the new recommendations.

“We certainly see that more kids have access to mobile phones,” Lenhart told Reuters Health.

“Certainly your average child now has more computing power in their pocket than they did a decade ago.”

But TV is still the “predominant form of media” used by kids and teenagers, Hogan said. “More kids watch more hours of TV than other forms of media,” she said.

The new statement was presented Monday at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, Florida.

6 KILLED IN IRAQ ATTACKS MOSUl AGenCieS

Attacks in Baghdad and north Iraq killed five security personnel and a civilian on Sunday, officials said, part of a nationwide surge in violence that authorities have failed to stem. The shootings and bombings were the latest in months of unrelenting bloodshed, Iraq’s worst since 2008, and come despite wide-ranging operations targeting militants and tightened security. In northern Nineveh province, a suicide bomber drove through a police checkpoint and detonated a car rigged with explosives, killing two policemen and wounding three others and a civilian who was nearby, security and medical officials said. The bombing struck the Shia Turkmen city of Tal Afar. Also in Nineveh, gunmen opened fire on an army checkpoint in the provincial capital Mosul, killing two soldiers.

And an election commission worker was gunned down elsewhere in Mosul. In south Baghdad, a roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed a police major and wounded three policemen, officials said. Violence so far this year has left more than 5,450 dead, the country’s worst violence since 2008, and Prime Minister Nuri alMaliki has appealed to the US for greater cooperation in the fight against militancy. In addition to major security problems, the Iraqi government has failed to provide adequate basic services such as electricity and clean water, and corruption is widespread.

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NEWS Monday, 4 November, 2013

Bangladesh convicts UK-based Muslim leader for war crimes DHAKA AGenCieS

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Bangladesh war crimes court found a British-based Muslim leader and a US citizen guilty on Sunday in absentia for atrocities committed during the 1971 war of independence.

The International Crimes Tribunal convicted Britain’s Chowdhury Mueenuddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan, from the United States, of charges relating to the murder of

18 intellectuals during the conflict.

“They encouraged, they gave moral support to and participated in the killing of 18 intellectuals,” judge Mujibur Rahman Mia told the packed court in Dhaka.

The pair, who fled Bangladesh after it gained independence from Pakistan, face the death penalty by the two-judge court, which is shortly expected to deliver its sentence.

During their trials, prosecutors sought the death penalty for the pair, saying they

were members of the “high command” of the notorious Al Badr militia that supported Pakistani forces during the conflict.

“The two killed 18 intellectuals including top professors, writers, journalists and doctors,” prosecutor Sahidur Rahman said, ahead of the verdict.

“We’ve proved the charges and hope they’ll be sentenced to death.”

The tribunal in Dhaka has already convicted eight people, mostly leaders of the country’s largest Islamic party, Ja-

maat-e-Islami, for war crimes, with five of them sentenced to death. At least another eight more are on trial.

The trials have sparked deadly protests throughout the Muslim-majority country, leaving at least 150 people dead since January when the court started handing down its verdicts.

Jamaat claim the trials are politically motivated, accusing the country’s secular government of trying to execute its entire leadership.

But the government maintains the trials are needed to heal the wounds of the conflict.

During the final days of the war, when it became clear Pakistan was losing, intellectuals were rounded up and murdered in what was the most brutal chapter of the nine-month struggle.

Mueenuddin, who is based in London, has denied any wrongdoing.

Khan has yet to make any public statement on the allegations.

India to induct Russian aircraft carrier on 16th

PESHAWAR: Artisan gives final touches to traditional caps at his shop in Chitral Bazaar. ppi

NEW DElHI Online

Hundreds evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts

Khamenei not optimistic but backs Iran nuclear talks

India will get a $2.33 billion Russian-made aircraft carrier on November 16, an acquisition that is likely to prompt China to accelerate its carrier programme to expand its military might.

Indian Defence Minister AK Antony will commission the second-hand INS Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov) into the Indian Navy during his upcoming visit to Russia, barely two months after Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier completed crucial sea tests. The Chinese carrier - a discarded vessel bought from Ukraine - may be limited to a training role.

However, the take-off and landing of J-15 fighter planes from the refurbished carrier signal that Beijing is taking steady strides towards delivering airpower from sea. Two more carriers are likely to join the Chinese fleet over the next 12 to 15 years. However, China is nowhere close to India when it comes to operating these complex floating airfields. “The arrival of INS Vikramaditya is bound to fuel China’s carrier ambitions. But the Chinese Navy has to catch up a lot as operating fighter planes from carriers involves completely different techniques,” a senior Indian navy officer said. Indian Navy has been in the business of operating carriers for decades. INS Vikrant, bought from the UK, was commissioned as the navy’s first carrier in 1961.

It was retired in 1997. India currently operates only one aircraft carrier - INS Viraat - a secondhand British warship inducted in 1987. The navy plans to keep her in service until 2018 when it inducts indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant being built at the Cochin Shipyard. The Indian navy plans to deploy two carrier strike groups (CSGs) with INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant at the centre. Meanwhile, China may take at least 20 more years to deploy fullfledged CSGs, experts say.

Countdown for India’s maiden mission to Mars begins NEW DElHI

TEHRAN

Online

AGenCieS

JAKARTA AGenCieS

A volcano in western Indonesia erupted twice on Sunday, hurling red-hot ash and rocks up to seven kilometers into the air and forcing more than 1,000 people to flee their homes.

Mount Sinabung on Sumatra island erupted in September for the first time in three years, forcing thousands to flee their homes, and has been erupting intermittently ever since.

Early Sunday it hurled a column of ash seven kilometers (four miles) into the air, then erupted again in the afternoon.

Police and troops began evacuating residents from villages in a three-kilometer area around the volcano after the first eruption, said national disaster agency

spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

“1,293 residents living around Mount Sinabung were evacuated to safer areas,” he said.

“The number of evacuees will rise.”

More than 15,000 people were evacuated after Sinabung, in North Sumatra province, first rumbled back to life in September.

Indonesia has dozens of active volcanoes and straddles major tectonic fault lines known as the “Ring of Fire” between the Pacific and Indian oceans.

In August five people were killed and hundreds evacuated when a volcano on a tiny island in East Nusa Tenggara province erupted.

The country’s most active volcano, Mount Merapi in central Java, killed more than 350 people in a series of violent eruptions in 2010.

Iran’s supreme leader on Sunday said he was not optimistic but supported revived talks with world powers over his country’s nuclear drive as they are incapable of hurting the Islamic republic.

The remarks by the all-powerful Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came ahead of a new round of negotiations with the so-called P5+1 group of world powers in Geneva on November 7 and 8.

“I am not optimistic about the negotiations but, with the grace of God, we will not suffer losses either,” Khamenei said, quoted by his official website Khamenei.ir.

“All the better if the negotiations bear fruit but if there are no results, the country should rely on itself,” he told a group of students at his residence, a day before the anniversary of the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979.

Next week’s talks are aimed

at curbing Iran’s sensitive nuclear work in exchange for an easing of international sanctions strangling its ailing economy.

It will be the second such meeting since Hassan Rouhani took office as Iran’s president in August with a stated mandate of lifting the sanctions through constructive engagement.

Khamenei also criticised the US policy of approaching Iran’s nuclear work on two fronts of

sanctions and diplomacy.

“The Americans smile and express desire for negotiation; on the other hand, they immediately say that all options are on the table,” he said, referring to US and Israeli threats of military action should the talks fail.

“We should not trust a smiling enemy,” Khamenei warned, as the crowd of students chanted “Death to America”.

The formal countdown for India’s maiden mission to Mars began at Sriharikota in the central Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday morning. With the launch of Mangalyaan set at 2:38 pm on November 5 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the countdown will last for nearly 56 hours. During the countdown, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) - a giant 45-metre long rocket - will be fuelled and its health checked. The PSLV carrying Mangalyaan will blast off from Sriharikota, which is about 80 kilometres from Chennai. The Rs 4,500-million mission, which was scheduled for October 28 initially, was postponed due to bad weather in the Pacific Ocean, will study the Martian atomsphere. Two Indian ships, SCI Yamuna and Nalanda, which will be monitoring the health of the rocket and satellite as it sails over the ocean after the launch, had been delayed due to bad weather. In case the weather does not permit launch on November 5, the launch window is open till November 19. The Mangalyaan begins its over 200 million kilometre journey on its trans-Martian orbit latest by November 30 - any further delay could prove disastrous for the mission. This will be the first ever launch that the ISRO will conduct at India’s space port, which is usually dogged by recurring cyclones at this time of the year.

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The best blood will at some time get into a fool or a mosquito —Benito Mussolini

Efforts for a menace-free Muharram

ISLAMABAD Monday, 4 November, 2013

RAWAlPINDI App

WeAtHer UpdAteS

Police have finalised elaborate security arrangements for peaceful observance of Muharramul Haram, with foolproof security measures of 4,000 majalis and 800 processions in the Rawalpindi division.

Some 402 majalis and 106 processions in the division have been placed in A category, 245 Majalis and 101 processions in B category, and 3,344 Majalis and 639 processions in C category for providing security cover. As many as 5,000 policemen will be deployed in Rawalpindi district to ensure security during Muharram. The police have finalised a security strategy under which concerted efforts with the help of other departments concerned will be made aimed at maintaining law and order and to avert any untoward incident. Under the security plan, leaves of all police personnel have been cancelled. It was decided in a meeting that all departments concerned would made concerted efforts for the safety of the mourners. The majalis and Muharram processions of the division, including Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum districts have been divided into three categories. Entry of 157 Ulema into Rawalpindi district has been banned while 92 firebrand clerics have also been banned from speaking. According to a spokesman of Rawalpindi Police, ulema, mushaiksh and religious scholars of different sects have also been taken on board to promote religious harmony. Additional force of Special Branch Police, Elite Force, Punjab Constabulary, Lady Police and Rangers along with district police will be deployed to ensure security during Muharram. Strict checking of vehicles will also be made at entry and exist points of the Rawalpindi city. There will be strict monitoring of all the processions while Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras will also be installed to ensure the security.

Parking of vehicles will not be allowed 200 yards from imambargahs. No one will be allowed to stand on rooftops of commercial and residential buildings situated along the routes of the main mourning procession with deployment of police personnel there. Police patrolling will also be enhanced during Muharram. Members of peace committees along with female volunteers of civil defence and lady police will also be deployed with the mourning processions and majalis. Special checking of the route of the mourning procession will be completed before start of the processions and bomb disposal squad will clear the route. The mourners will be checked with metal detectors and walkthrough gates will be installed at the entry points.

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LG polls: ECP directs Punjab to increase electoral symbols to 100 ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed Punjab Government to increase electoral symbols from 60 to 100 for the upcoming local government elections. According to ECP spokesperson, the commission asked Punjab to keep at least 100 electoral symbols for the holding of LG polls on non-party basis. The commission also told Punjab Government to make the required changes and revert back to the commission. Earlier on Thursday, the ECP said that local government elections in Punjab and Sindh had been deferred and the commission announced the poll schedule for Balochistan. inp

ICT dealing adulterers with iron hands ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration, as part of its on-going campaign against food adulteration, has submitted 42 challan in courts against different outlets during last week. Besides, the administration also issued notices for unhygienic conditions at kitchens and noncompliance of hygiene and sanitation rules.

Around 106 food outlets located in the city and rural areas were issued notices during the period. As part of its on-going campaign against food adulteration and spurious drugs, special checking teams of district health and food departments along with Health Directorate of Capital Development Authority (CDA) also imposed fines amounting Rs 122,000 on food outlets including hotels, restaurants and bakeries. According to district administration, the teams also disposed off 358 unhygienic and broken utensils and confiscated 337 broken utensils on the spot and took samples of food items and sent them to laboratory for analysis. The food outlets owners were also directed to get their workers vaccinated against the communicable diseases regularly. Meanwhile, Islamabad drug inspector conducted 12 inspections of medical stores in markets and seized one drug stock and sent five drugs to laboratory for analysis.

He also challaned one medical store for violation of Drug Act, 1976. The citizens by and large have appreciated the ongoing campaign against food adulteration and spurious drugs. App

RAWALPINDI: The sun setting at the Grand Trunk Road. inp

Punjab CM visits dengue Patients in Holy FaMily HosPital RAWAlPINDI inp

On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, AntiDengue Day was observed across the province on Sunday by holding walks by schools and college students, employees of health and other provincial departments joined by non governmental organizations (NGO).

Seminars and walks were organised in various big and small cities of the province to mark the day. The attendants of the walks were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans to fight against dengue and creating awareness among the public. Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif spearheading the campaign visited Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi and enquired the health of dengue patients.

The chief minister was briefed on medical facilities being provided by the hospital to the patients. He directed the hospital authorities to pay full attention to all the patients including those

suffering from dengue fever. Shahbaz said he would not like to listen any complaint from the people about irresponsible behaviour of the doctors and para medical staff. He also directed the management to ensure cleanliness at the hospital. The chief minister ordered immediate purchase of modern dengue diagnostic machine for Holy Family Hospital and ensure its handover by the evening.

Talking to media persons on the occasion, the CM said that the government was ready to deal with the challenge of dengue and all sections of the society were being involved in the anti-dengue campaign. Shahbaz met the dengue patients and inquired about treatment being given to them. On the occasion, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab Secretary health Ahsan Iqbal, Rawalpindi Medical College principal, Holy Family Hospital medical superintendent and other doctors as well as MPAs from the city were present.

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If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito — Anita Roddick

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ISLAMABAD Monday, 4 November, 2013

ALL POWER TO

WOAH! A man posing with a snake and his kid at Marghazar Zoo. Online

WOMEN!

Rural women for translation of pro-women laws into regional languages ISlAMAbAD App

The ‘6th Annual Conference on Rural Women’ concluded with the resolve to translate text of pro-women laws into regional languages and ensuring at least 33 percent representation at all levels.

The conference was organised by Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (PODA) in collaboration with Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) at Lok Virsa on the theme ‘Development, peace and pluralism’.

The conference participants also demanded implementation of women rights laws including Harassment Act, Women’s Protection Act, Acid Crime Prevention, Anti-Women Practices Prohibition Act especially in rural areas.

Speaking on the occasion as chief guest Member National Assembly and former Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahmida Mirza urged to create awareness on breast cancer among women.

She also asked for protection of women rights at rural areas who are most vulnerable and remained deprived and ignored due to lack of education, awareness and lack of accessibility to get information about the steps taken for their betterment.

In a declaration issued at the end of the conference with the recommendation of more than 1200 women participants hailing from almost 80 districts across the country they sought that at least 33 percent representation should be given to women at all levels, as obligated under CEDAW, especially in upcoming local bodies elections.

They asked for enforcement of measures to guarantee inheritance rights to women, allotment of land to landless women farmers and establishing concrete procedures and allocate funds to ensure implementation of women rights laws.

Rural women raised need of provision of financial assistance to acid crime victims and implement regulations on the sale of acid. Ensure access of rural women to micro-credit facilities, recognition of rural women as farmers in government policy, laws and institutional records were also their major demand. They asked that rural women farmers’ unions should be recognised and registered, district budgets should include a separate allocation for women’s welfare and implementation of Right to Education (Article 25 A of the Constitution), particularly for girls belonging to rural workers.

They rural women also demanded security to Polio workers and lady health workers, implementation of promises made in party manifestos for women during election campaigns, and they should be included in peace discourse and all efforts to promote pluralism. The participants urged for ensuring women’s participation in community decision making, Union-Council government and formation of women police stations in addition to sensitisation of male and female cops about women rights.

ANF SUCCESSFULLY SNIFFING DRUGS THREE DRUG PADDLERS ARRESTED, DRUGS WORTH RS 7MILLION SIEZED ISlAMAbAD inp

The Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) arrested three persons involved in drugs business and recovered huge quantity of drugs from their possession on Sunday.

According to ANF sources, on a tip off crackdown was launched in Sector F11 of the federal capital. During action three culprits engaged in drugs business were nabbed. The ANF also recovered huge quantity of drugs including Cocaine and Ecstasy worth Rs 7 million from the possession of detainees. In 5 other operations, the ANF seized 27.5 tons of Poppy seeds, 80 gm Cocaine, 1751 Estacy tablets, 746 gm Estacy powder, 2.7 kg Heroin, 10 kg Charas and detained 579 persons. In the preliminary interrogation the arrested culprits revealed supply drugs

to clubs in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Lahore and other cities.

CAPITAL POLICE IMPOUND 30 BIKES, 26 VEHICLES; RECOVER 101 WINE BOTTLES: Islamabad Capital Territory Police on Sunday impounded 30 bikes and 26 vehicles during special checking, while black sheets from six vehicles were also removed besides fine to them, a police spokesman said.

Police teams also arrested five accused and recovered 101 bottles wine and four pistols from their possession. As per details, Islamabad SSP Muhammad Rizwan has directed all police officials to ensure effective security and patrolling measures in their respective areas. Police officials have been directed to take strict action against vehicles being driven without documents and criminal elements.

In compliance of these directions,

PAK-tuRK SCIENCE fAIR CoNCludES

ISLAMABAD: The third `Eye Exhibition’ by Pak-Turk International schools and colleges came to a successful conclusion after winning attention and appreciation of general public, educationists, top officials and diplomats. Students participating in the expo demonstrated the skills to bring science, philosophy and art together to offer valuable lessons. The 3D models showcased at the exhibition offered the visitors a unique chance to see, hear and relate art with human values. Stalls offering Turkish cuisine were also an attraction for the visitors. CDA Chairman Nadeem Hassan Asif, Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Sadik Babur Girgin and other dignitaries visited the expo and lauded the PakTurk International schools and colleges for arranging the fair. They listened to the explanations, insights and intellectual ideas of the students. Admiring their endeavour, they said that such events contribute to the society through forging a positive development of today’s youths. The event was open for general public as well as students, teachers, scientists, policy-makers and the media. The visitors appreciated the effort and said that such expos provide a unique opportunity for them to interact with students and ask them questions about their work. App

Islamabad Police impounded 30 bikes and 26 vehicles during special checking. Black sheets were removed from six tinted glasses vehicles while police also apprehended 20 suspects during search operation in various areas of the city.

Meanwhile Shehzad Town Police Station arrested four accused namely Muhammad Mekaeel, Wali Muhammad, Ibrar and Amir Waqar and recovered 101 wine bottles and three pistols from them. SI Muhammad Zameer from Koral Police Station arrested an accused Wajid Mehmood and recovered one 30 bore pistol from him. Separate cases have been registered against the accused and further investigation is underway.

RAWALPINDI POLICE ARREST 3 FOR JOY FIRING, FIREWORKS IN WEDDINGS: The police have arrested three persons over indiscriminate joy

firing and fireworks at two different wedding ceremonies in Rawalpindi on Saturday night. Some troubled people informed Civil Lines Police Station that few persons are creating harassment in the locality by indiscriminate joy firing and fireworks amid a marriage ceremony.

The police took quick action, conducted immediate raid on the told location and arrested one person, Bilal Ahmad, red handed with items of fireworks from there. The police confined the arrested person in the lock-up, after filing a case against him. Airport Police Station also conducted a separate raid on another wedding ceremony and arrested two persons, Jamal and Shoaib, over dangerous fireworks and indiscriminate joy firing. The police have filed two separate cases of illegal firings and fireworks against the arrested wrongdoers.

ANNuAl CoNfERENCE At RAC hoNouRS IMAM huSSAIN (AS)

RAWALPINDI: The Annual HazASt Imam Hussain (AS) conference, organized in connection with Muharram-ul-Haram by the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) on Sunday, garnered an audience made up of clerics of various schools of thought, intellectuals as well as a large number of notable citizens from the twin cities. Presided over by Anjuman Almi Tehreeq Panjtan Pak Chairman Dr Azmat Ullah Sultan, the panel comprised of the likes of Dr Ghazanfer Mehdi, Allama Amin Ansari, Agha Nayyer Abbas, Naeem Qureshi, Allama Dr Hussain Ahmed, Br Rubbab Mehdi, Syed Chagh Din Shah, Azhar Hussain Shah and Qari Ali Akbar Naeem. In an address to the participants, Dr Sultan paid a resplendent tribute to Imam Hussain (AS), while calling upon the participants to fight the evil elements as per Imam Hussain (AS)’s legacy and to seek guidance from incident of Karbala. STAff RepORT

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Don’t wish it could be better. Wish you were better. –Jim Rohn

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COMMENT Monday, 4 November, 2013

A government in panic

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and incapable of calibrated response

T is quite befuddling. The US has done Pakistan a double favour, by eliminating state enemy No 1, Hakimullah Mehsud, the ignominious head of the dastardly TTP that has wreaked havoc in Pakistan. Previously the US forces had also detained his No 2 Latifullah in Afghanistan where he had been called over by the Afghan intelligence to collaborate on how best to hammer Pakistan’s armed forces, assets and installations and unleash reign of terror and devastation across the country. And instead of being grateful, the rage of the entire government and the PTI supremo Imran Khan against the US knows no bounds. The interior minister Ch Nisar annexed the foreign minister’s mantle and threatened to “review bilateral relations with the United States”. Imran too has issued dire warning of blocking the NATO supplies from passing through KP. Are we completely devoid of rational discourse and calibrated response?

Hysteria was created after the Salala incident, and the US may have suffered by the blockade, but Pakistan too was not a beneficiary of that brinkmanship. Now when the relationship has barely been set right, why rock the boat? And for Hakimullah and the Taliban, who have not allowed a moment of peace to this hapless nation despite the PML-N, PTI combine devoting itself just to the ‘talks only’ mantra? If one were to believe Nisar and Imran, had the precision strike not taken place, it would have been all hunky-dory, milk and honey would have been flowing. And the United States has spoiled our party. Nothing of the sort was happening. The talks – and this is where Ch Nisar’s failure lies – had not even been initiated even after two months of the much-craved-for consensus through APC. And here it is being portrayed as if these were on the verge of success and the peace was about to be sealed, signed and delivered!

The PML-N and its ranks need to reflect on the fact that they are no longer in the opposition. The nation expects them to govern and not rise in protest. The TTP is an implacable foe. It will strike back. Yet there is scant need to panic.

The PML-N government has at its disposal the state’s coercive machinery– one of the largest armies in the world and an intelligence apparatus that arrogates itself at being as topnotch as it could get – especially in our neck of the woods.

Why then the helplessness of a rabbit caught in a hunter’s headlights?

the Nightingale of desert Reshma is no more

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ORN in Bikaner in India’s Rajasthan state to a nomad family around 1947, her tribe migrated to Karachi shortly after partition. Reshma was a prodigious but accidental discovery. Spotted by a TV and radio producer literally from the roadside, all of 12 then, she sang for Radio Pakistan. With a voice that had enormous range and power, and simultaneously haunting and bewitching, her very first rendition, the age-old “Lal meri pat rakhio bala…” associated with Sufi mystic Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, made the singer and the song an instant hit. Many a more accomplished and well-known singer has attempted it before and since, including Madam Nur Jahan, but Reshma’s impact has stayed indelible and unmatched. Afterwards she kept audiences rapt with some of the greatest folk songs of all time. As talented as she was, Reshma wasn’t just limited to singing for Pakistani music industry, but also gave her voice to the Indian recordings and playback singing, garnering heaps of appreciation and a loyal fan base on both sides of the border.

Throughout her career that spanned about six decades, adulation Reshma received reflected in several awards, including state recognition through the prestigious civil award ‘Sitara-e-Imtiaz’ and a spot amongst the ‘Legends of Pakistan’. She inspired many young and promising singers. Most recently, Atif Aslam, Qurat-ul-Ain Baloch and Meesha Shafi put her on a pedestal by singing her numbers in their own pop style – in a way the ultimate homage. Given the sobriquet of ‘The Nightingale of Desert’, she was the queen of not just the folk music but the Pakistani music, as reflected in public acclaim from across the country – from urban centres to the rural hinterland. ‘Haai O Rabba Nahion Lagda Dil Mera’, ‘Lambi Judaai’ and ‘Ankhyan Nu Rehan De Ankhyan De Kol Kol’ are a handful from her vast oeuvre that would keep her alive for ever.

Having captivated tens of millions with her unique renderings for around six decades, she passed away the other day after remaining in coma for nearly a month. Battling against the throat cancer she was diagnosed with in the 1980s, she still soldiered on – creating music, doing concerts and having an active professional life. At her death, tributes poured from across the world. Her music, the sheer, delectable mix of pathos and passion in her voice that made her stand out amongst her peers and successors will be remembered for ages to come. May her soul rest in peace!

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963-5 Fax: 042-32535230 Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208 Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287273 Fax: 051-2818125 Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

the demise of rational discourse the narrative built around the compulsions of religiosity pushing the country back by leaps

Candid Corner RAOOf HASAn “Whenever you committed the evil of refusing to think and to see, of exempting from the absolute of reality some small wish of yours, whenever you chose to say, let me withdraw from the judgment of reason the cookies I stole, let me have my one irrational whim and I will be (someone) of reason above all else – that was the act of subverting your consciousness, the act of corrupting your mind. Your mind then became a fixed jury who takes orders from a secret underworld, whose verdict distorts the evidence to fit an absolute it dares not touch – and a censored reality is the result, a splintered reality where bits you chose to see are floating among the chasms of those you didn’t, held together by that embalming fluid of the mind which is an emotion exempted from thought.”

–Ayn Rand ESET with much turbulence, the one thing that is fast disappearing in the country is the rational discourse and the ability to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Instead, every such initiation degenerates into a chaotic shouting bout with people flinging just about everything, sans logic, at the others to force their point home.

Only the other day, I was witness to one of the most brutal and grossly senseless verbal orgies perpetrated by a couple of wiser-than-the-world individuals who, in the course of discussing Malala’s book, came within touching distance of exchanging blows with Dr. Hoodbhoy who was exercising his right to an alternate opinion.

Such an eventuality was avoided only because the participants did not happen to be sitting at the same place: one was in the studio in Islamabad, the other in Lahore while Dr Hoodbhoy was participating in the programme from his residence.

The horrible fact is that both the principal protagonists of conspiracy theories authored by the USA regarding everything that happens with Pakistan were quoting fictitious extracts from Malala’s book to form the basis of their tirade of abuse. For example, one of them quoted from the book thus: “He (Salman Rushdie) has all the right under freedom of expression, but my father said that we should write a book against him”. This is incorrect. What is actually stated in the book is: “My father saw the book as offensive to Islam, but believes strongly in freedom of speech. ‘First, let’s read the book and then why not respond with our own book?’ He ended by asking in a thundering voice my grandfather would have been proud of: ‘Is Islam such a weak religion that it cannot tolerate a book written against it?’ Not my Islam!” Quite obviously, it is a case of perverse distortion which is routinely practised by the proponents of obscurantism.

Similar accusations were hurled at Malala about supporting the Ahmadis.

The book has this to say about them: “Now we are a country of 180 million people and more than 96% are Muslim.

We also have around two million Christians and more than two million Ahmadis who say they are Muslims though our

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government says they are not. Sadly those minority communities are often attacked.” How does this statement support the Ahmadis? It is nothing but an expression of truth which, inter alia, is not acceptable to the rampaging degenerate moral brigades that want to introduce their own myopic version of Islam and then force everyone to accept it also.

Dr. Hoodbhoy represents a predominantly reticent class that is still unwilling to surrender before this vicious onslaught.

While he was demanding that truth should be stated and extracts from the book should not be manipulated to suit a certain narrative, the other two were overzealously insistent on saying what they imagined was correct, its appropriation to what was actually contained in the book notwithstanding! The discussion degenerated to a point where one of the zealots called Dr. Hoodbhoy ‘a jaahil’ (ignoramus) and, after heaping much abuse on him, went on to puke venom thus: “Aik aisay jaahil ko, jis ko parhaanay kay ooper lagaya huva hai hamaray aik prime institution main. Mujhay nahi samajh aati yeh jaahil waha’nn kiya parhaata hoga?” (Dr. Hoodbhoy is an ignoramus who has been chosen to teach at one of our prime institutions. I don’t understand what he (‘yeh jaahil’) would be teaching there?)

This is as bad as any discussion can get. Even more disturbing was the conduct of the anchor who sat there smiling broadly, doing nothing to bring this verbal brawl to an end which he could easily do, given the technological gadgetry at his disposal. Instead, he handed over fullscreen exposure to one of the zealots to continue his abusive tirade. Where is PEMRA? What happened to the muchtalked-about code-of-conduct that was to regulate the media?

Where is the Pakistan Broadcasters Association? Where are the other professional bodies that should be formulating rules of business to regulate television programming? Where is the channel’s management that telecast the programme? Do they have a responsibility to make the anchors subscribe to a minimum, credible codeof-conduct and refrain from providing unlimited time and space to the proponents of an abusive culture that aims at eliminating all prospects of disagreement with a highly personalised and polluted narrative?

In view of the note that Dr. Hoodbhoy has circulated, serious questions have also arisen with regard to the abnegation of professional responsibility and the abjectly partisan conduct of the anchor and the channel management. Dr. Hoodbhoy has highlighted the following points: 1. The anchor telephoned me repeatedly to invite me to his programme. I was reluctant because my academic schedule is very demanding. But he said it was very important to counter the wrong trends that we see in Pakistan and people like me have to raise their voices. I agreed to come, not knowing that he had invited Orya Maqbool Jan and Ansar Abbasi. He had deliberately withheld those names from me, although I had asked who else would be on the show.

2. Dunya TV sent a DSNG unit to my house in Islamabad. I could hear but not see the anchor or the other guests. In the

midst of the shouting match that developed during the programme – a consequence of Orya Maqbool and Ansar Abbasi savagely attacking Malala Yusufzai and lying about the contents of her book – I was under the impression that my voice would be getting through to the audience.

3. The next morning, when the programme had been uploaded on to the internet, I was astonished to note that the audio level from my end had been turned down so low that my response was inaudible. However, Ansar Abbasi was hurling abuses against me and these were coming through loud and clear. I also noted that Ansar Abbasi and Orya Maqbool Jan would occasionally appear fullscreen whereas I was shown as a tiny image even when speaking. This was clear manipulation and bias.

4. After some time had passed, the audio was abruptly turned off from my headset. I naturally thought that the programme had ended. So I took off my headset and walked away. The anchor said that I had left the programme. This was a lie.

These are serious issues which need to be looked into. No one has the right to slight another person, that too on the basis of a concocted and distorted narrative. It is quite obvious that Dr. Hoodbhoy was trapped by the anchor, possibly with the support and connivance of the channel management. What is this all about? Rating points? A salary increase for the anchor and his promoters and collaborators?

More funds in the channel coffers?

The narrative built around the compulsions of religiosity is forcing the country back by leaps. This narrative has no popular support, but is being propagated by a brigade of bigoted few who do not have the capacity to tolerate an alternate opinion based on advancing the cause of rational discourse.

Instead, this band of fanatics is bent on sabotaging all remaining avenues that may still facilitate such interaction.

Their state of mind is summed up effectively by William T. Powers: “...In fact, being told that they are playing a game with arbitrary rules is insulting or frightening. They want to believe that the rules they know are the ones that everyone ought to play by; they even set up systems of punishment and reward to make sure that nobody tries to play a different game.”

The society is being manipulated by criminal mafias, the religiosity mafia being one of them. It is not just their obscurantist approach that is scary. It is their conviction that no one else should be given the right to express his or her point-of-view. Everything other than their abusive tirade is to be curbed brutally and without exception. What we saw in the programme provides an exposition of the same venomous culture of intolerance and hatred which is being incessantly propagated to instil an environment of fear. There is a palpable neofascist streak that dominates this narrative and its proponents. A self-annihilating implosion remains only a matter of time!

The society is being manipulated by criminal mafias, the religiosity mafia being one of them. It is not just their obscurantist approach that is scary.

It is their conviction that no one else should be given the right to express his or her point-of-view.

Raoof Hasan is a political analyst and the Executive Director of the Regional Peace Institute. He can be reached at: raoofhasan@hotmail.com

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Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us. –Samuel Smiles

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COMMENT

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Monday, 4 November, 2013

the futility of cross-border firing Ceasefire on loC must be sacrosanct

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do not know why Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif goes over the same exercise on Kashmir every two-three months. He raised the question at the UN General Assembly and again mentioned it during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at New York.

Now he has brought up the matter before having talks with President Barrack Obama at Washington. Probably, he sought his services.

America has reiterated its KUlDip nAyAR stand that it considered Kashmir a bilateral issue which the two countries should solve. This is what India has been saying. By insisting that Kashmir is a core issue for any conciliation with India, Pakistan is not bringing the opportunity for any solution nearer.

What does not go with the style of Nawaz Sharif is his remark that both countries are nuclear powers. Is that a threat? How can any country even say that it has a nuclear weapon or, for that matter, its opponent has? It means extinction of Pakistan and northern India.

One other ominous change I have noticed on the part of Islamabad is that it has stopped the mention of Simla agreement. The earlier statements stated that Kashmir should be sorted out according to the UN resolution and the Simla agreement.

At that time, then Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had orally told then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that he would see that the ceasefire line on the border became an international border. He went back on the undertaking because he could not sell the proposal to a country which had lost its eastern wing. Still Pakistan must realize that there is no solution to Kashmir except through talks. Therefore, the Simla agreement has the greatest chance of making it to the page.

True, there is the pressure of rightists on Sharif. But this is not what an average Pakistani feels. Not long ago when I went to Pakistan and asked a cab man what he thought of Kashmir, he replied: I have to think of how to earn the next meal, not bother about Kashmir. An expert in Pakistan once remarked that what they could not win in the battlefield, they could not expect to win at the negotiating table.

Sharif’s proposal, when he was in the wilderness, is worth implementing. He said that the two countries should set up a committee to talk about Kashmir without interruption. After having done that, both counties should open up for trade and business. And the visa should be made easy for people-to-people contact. In fact, the Pakistan prime minister should be pursuing his own proposals seriously.

Meanwhile, the allegations by the former chief of army staff General V.N. Singh that the Indian army had been financing ministers in Kashmir to maintain “stability” in the state have taken a serious turn. The speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly has ruled that he would summon the general to explain to the house on the charge of ministers being financed. The speaker has already issued a notice to General V.N. Singh.

However, some of us who have followed the situations in Kashmir since its integration with India are not surprised. New Delhi always had a finger in the pie. Even a popular leader like Sheikh Abdullah had to be subservient to New Delhi. Once he did open his mouth to say that they would rather starve than accept India’s diktat and he had to spend 12 years in detention.

In fact, there were no elections in the years soon after the state joined the Indian Union. Sheikh Abdullah, then called the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, accepted the fait accompli which was decided at Delhi. The practice was vigorously pursued when Ghulam Bhakshi Mohammad replaced the Sheikh when the latter was detained.

The decision about who should head Kashmir was taken at New Delhi.

There was a separate department on Kashmir affairs in the external affairs ministry. Probably, it was meant to convey that since the matter was before the UN, it had to be dealt with by the external affairs ministry, headed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The department was transferred to the home ministry when the more sagacious Govind Bhallab Pant took charge after quitting as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. The department is still part of the home ministry.

It must be said to the credit of Nehru that he did not accept Maharaja Hari Singh’s request to join the Indian Union until it had the approval of the then popular leader Shiekh Abdullah, in jail at that time.

It is unfortunate that the Sheikh turned out to be a disappointment. He took New Delhi’s dictated arrangement like a duck to water.

Since then, chief ministers at Srinagar—Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of People’s Democratic Party or Farooq Abdullah—have understood that Srinagar has to tilt its sails according to the winds blowing from New Delhi.

Young state chief minister Omar Abdullah makes proper noises but it is no more than a storm in a tea cup. He is rightly strengthening the state police so that the use of Indian army, stationed in the state, is as little as possible.

But he is defeated by the Pakistan army which keeps the pot boiling. It was a relief when the two countries agreed not to violate the LoC. But the line has been violated all the time in recent times. Pakistan is more to blame because it is giving covert support to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan to infiltrate into India before the winter sets in and clogs the passes because of snow.

If insurgency in Kashmir is part of Islamabad’s policy, what was the purpose of Prime Minister Sharif’s meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh? They agreed to honour the agreement reached in 2004 to make the LoC sacrosanct. The director generals of military operations of the two countries were to meet. True, no time frame was fixed. But they should have met by this time, although their meeting may have turned into a formality. Political masters have to realize the futility of cross-border firing. Three wars should have made it clear to Pakistan that it cannot wrest Kashmir forcibly from the hands of India.

Border Crossing

Assessing Nawaz’s uS mission What the debrief should have been

ARif AnSAR

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HILE Nawaz Sharif was still in the US and had not even met President Obama, some prominent analysts declared the visit a success. It was really intriguing how they arrived at this conclusion so early, and when little was known about what was transpiring in some of these discussions’.

The media pundits jumped on the bandwagon as well to decide the puzzle in two to three days after the trip. The simple fact is that actions speak louder than words, and it takes a little bit of time to fully assess the outcome.

To some, the visit was indeed a success. Despite efforts by some quarters to isolate Pakistan in the world, the leadership of both nations was engaging. To others, the trip was an embarrassment, judging from the prime minister’s body language. But the points of agreement and disagreement were never made public. The success of the visit is obviously dependent on the objective of the summit. It’s not clear why the prime minister made certain claims which could not be substantiated and thus set himself up, especially as it relates to the drone strikes.

Nawaz Sharif wanted to demonstrate his government is close to the US and has its backing. It delayed the talks with TTP and unveiling the new national security and counter-terror strategy. Moreover, Nawaz deferred announcing the names for the top military spots. Some media reports suggested that the slots would be filled after consultation with the US. The question is why he wanted to convey this perception?

In the past, political governments have behaved in this manner when they were domestically unpopular or when they feared being outflanked by the omnipotent military. In the present circumstances, Gen Kiyani has already announced he does not intend to continue, and seemingly the civil and military leadership is also on the same page, when it

comes to negotiating with the Taliban and Pakistan’s role in the campaign against extremists. But the government does appear to be fumbling with its popular mandate.

Nonetheless, stung by the military in the past, it would be naïve to think that anxiety is not at all at play. One of the outcomes of this paranoia is the centralization of power and the bizarre absence of the foreign and defense ministers. In the present circumstances, PML-N perhaps feels more threatened by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in power in the KPK province.

The dilemma PML-N faces is it won the elections by criticizing the closeness of PPP to the US, and questioning Pakistan’s role in the war against terror that crippled its economy.

Now that PML-N is at the helm, its predicament is turning out to be the same as that of its predecessor, and this will sooner or later put it at odds with the people. Mainly because without law and order, economy will continue to be fragile and the energy shortages will persist.

The PML-N wants to show it is sticking to its pre-election stances.

However, the elimination of Hakimullah Mehsud has put his government to the test. And it cannot pretend to be an innocent bystander.

On the other hand, the PTI chairman Imran Khan recognizes the present situation creates an opportunity for his party. As the trajectory of events unfold, all Imran has to do is to take a stronger stance on the drones, which is its customary position. He has already warned of blocking the NATO supplies in retaliation for the drone strike on Nov 1 that killed the TTP leader. As the nationalist fervor develops, and the reaction to potential retaliation from TTP manifests, it’s a matter of time Nawaz government gets fully engulfed in a crisis. To avert this eventuality, the PML-N will likely be forced in to adopting a tougher line.

In addition to the domestic political angle, the present situation also has to be looked at from the prism of the evolving Afghan political settlement. PoliTact had noted in December 2012, if the Afghan reconciliation goes well, the TTP has the most to lose, and it will struggle to remain relevant. For this purpose, it

would gravitate even more towards Al Qaeda and other Jihadists. To minimize the chances of becoming obsolete, the TTP is likely to do whatever it can to disrupt the Afghan reconciliation and to destabilize Pakistan.

On the other hand, if Afghan reconciliation and the US withdrawal are not managed well, the TTP might attempt to exploit the circumstances. The capture of Latif Mehsud in Afghanistan, disturbances in Gilgit Baltistan, and the ambush in Swat that martyred senior military officials, suggest that it was attempting to do just that. Moreover, any semblance of unity between the Afghan Taliban and the TTP represents a bad omen for both Afghanistan and Pakistan. In this context, the nature and future of the TTP and Afghan Taliban ties will have a key impact on not only the Afghan settlement but also on the future security situation of Pakistan.

With this background, it would have been far better for the prime minister to take public in to confidence on what really transpired in his US meetings as it relates to the drone strikes, talks with the TTP, and Afghan reconciliation.

While it’s still not too late to do that, the message would have to balance domestic politics with the regional and global perceptions about Pakistan.

When addressing the domestic audience, rather than saying all is good, he could have said, and still can, that the US is not fully convinced on Pakistan’s point of view, and this remains a work in progress.

The prime minister could have added, which he cannot now, that he himself was not fully swayed about the sincerity of TTP, but was willing to give them one last chance.

In the conduct of international relations, not putting across one’s position clearly comes at a price. While ambiguity often has its advantages, it can also prove to be dangerous, as Pakistan and the US both may be realizing. Assuming or conveying something that did or did not occur, is even worse.

Nawaz Sharif wanted to demonstrate his government is close to the US and has its backing. It delayed the talks with TTP and unveiling the new national security and counter-terror strategy.

Moreover, Nawaz deferred announcing the names for the top military spots.

Arif Ansar is chief analyst at PoliTact, a Washington-based futurist advisory firm (www.PoliTact.com). He can be reached at: aansar@politact.com, and on Twitter at: @ArifAnsar.

Kuldip Nayar is a veteran Indian journalist, human rights activist and a noted author.

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ARTS Monday, 4 November, 2013

MIlEy’S ANtICS A CAll foR hElP, SAy fRIENdS

An educated people can be easily governed — Frederick The Great

thE PASSING of A lEGENd! Folk queen Reshma dies at 66

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EGENDARY folk singer Reshma, 66, passed away in Lahore, Pakistan, on Sunday morning, Dawn News reported. According to hospital sources, Reshma was admitted on April 6 and had been in a coma since October. She had suffered from throat cancer since the 1980s. Reshma was one of the most popular folk singers in her country, appearing on television in the 1960s, as well as recording songs for both the Pakistani and Indian film industries. Some of her f a mous

Pop star Miley Cyrus's friends are worried about her and think that she is heading towards a breakdown. The 20year-old is struggling to cope with the constant criticism and post-breakup with fiance and actor Liam Hemsworth.

She has indulged in destructive behaviour like nonstop partying and random hookups, reports showbizspy.com. "She doesn't have many real friends and is constantly messed up. She never wants to go home, never wants to be alone and doesn't want the party to end. The way Miley has been acting is a cry for help," a source said. "She's been acting erratically and has a screw-it attitude.

Everyone is worried now that Liam is gone. She's a mess without him. "She was so in love with him and really took it hard. She's been going out a lot, trying not to think about Liam. She was happy focusing on Liam in the beginning, but she's narcissistic," the source added. Cyrus and Hemsworth got engaged in May 2012 and separated recently. "She's always looking for male attention. It's uncomfortable to be around. She's partying to mask her true feelings. And she's really unhealthy she barely eats... If she continues acting out at this rate, she could be headed straight for rehab. It's sad," the source said. neWS DeSK

recordings include "Dama dam mast Qalandar," "Hai O Rabba nahion lagda dil mera," "Ankhiyan no rehen de ankhyan de kol kol" and “Lambi judai.”

Reshma was awarded several Pakistani national awards including the prestigious Sitara-i-Imtiaz, given by the president. She was able to perform live in India during the 1980s, when India and Pakistan allowed exchange of artists. During her career she was invited to meet Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Reshma was born in Bikaner, Rajasthan to a Banjara gypsy family around 1947. Her father, Haji Mamad Mushtaq, was a camel and horse trader. Her tribe had converted to Islam, and migrated to Karachi shortly after partition. Having received no formal education, she spent much of her childhood singing at the shrines of Sufi saints, which she continued to enjoy visiting throughout her life.

She was only 12 when she was spotted singing by a television and radio producer at t h e shrine of Sufi poet Shahbaz Qalander. He arranged

for her to record “Laial Meri” for the radio, and it was an instant hit. Reshma was an advocate of peace between India and Pakistan. In January 2006, she was one of the passengers on the inaugural

Kerry Washington and Taran Killam share a laugh while taping an SNL promo.

Lahore-Amritsar bus, the first such service linking both parts of the Punjab since 1947. She is survived by a son Umair and daughter Khadija, who are also singers. neWS DeSK

Megan hilty and Brian Gallagher get hitched!

COULD THE TASMANIAN TIGER STILL BE ALIVE? It has been ‘officially extinct’ for decades, but two British scientists have set off across the world to hunt for the curious animal known as the Tasmanian tiger. The last known tiger died in captivity in a Tasmanian zoo in 1936, but a team of enthusiasts believe there is still a chance that several of the animals might still be roaming the forested regions of the island state.

British scientists Dr Chris Clark and Richard Freeman, who have searched for giant anacondas in Africa and the Indonesian equivalent of Bigfoot, are due to arrive in Tasmania today to join an expedition searching for the tiger, which has a dog-like appearance and a striped body.

‘This is very serious and we’re putting aside all the other crazy things like Bigfoot hunts and concentrating very much on getting the first convincing evidence that the Tasmanian tiger still exists,’ expedition leader Mike Williams told the MailOnline from the search base in the island capital, Hobart. While there have been reported sightings of the tiger, known scientifically as a thylacine, Mr Williams said the evidence has never been strong enough to be convincing.

‘The problem with a lot of the sightings from members of the public is that they’re generally caught by surprise and their photos are taken on things like mobile phones and aren’t very good.

‘It will take really good quality video to really convince anyone so we’ve brought as much gear as we can to improve our chances of being ready if we do see one.’

Dr Clark and Mr Freeman, from Britain’s Centre for Fortean Zoology, have

explored many of the world’ outstanding mysteries and remain dedicated to cryptozoology - the study of unknown animals. The centre is based in an old country house in Devon, parts of which are over 200 years old, and which is said to be home to several ghosts. The Tasmanian tiger features strongly as a ‘most wanted’ animal among the centre’s members - a picture of one is used as the group’s emblem. The British researchers, along with Mr Williams and his expedition members, will be searching densely forested areas in the is-

land’s north and south west.‘If we didn’t think there was even a slim chance of stumbling upon evidence in the form of droppings, hair or footage then we wouldn’t have committed to this expedition,’ said Mr Williams. ‘Thylacine sightings are still being reported right across the state of Tasmania, 27 years after it was declared extinct by the Tasmanian government.’ The team will be using two powerful four-wheel-drive vehicles which will be loaded with cameras, dashboard video cameras and powerful binoculars. The thylacine is believed to have roamed the Australian mainland in ancient times before it became extinct there about 2,000 years ago - but it continued to thrive in Tasmania.

But the arrival of Europeans sealed its fate. The animal was hunted for its fur and because it was responsible for attacks on settlers’ sheep, resulting in alarming photographs showing gunmen standing proudly beside the corpses of piles of animals they had shot down.

With the death of the last known tiger referred to as Benjamin - in the Hobart zoo in 1936, all that has remained of the elusive animal in recent times has been reported sightings in isolated parts of Tasmania. neWS DeSK

Megan Hilty is officially off the market. The 32-year-old former Smash star, who currently stars on Sean Saves the World, married her actor beau Brian Gallagher Saturday at the Venetian chapel in Las Vegas, according to People. Hilty reportedly strolled down the aisle in a Badgley Mischka dress, while the 33-year-old groom wore a J Lindeberg suit. According to the mag, the couple met in a fitness class while they were both working on Broadway. And it looks like they didn't waste any time tying the knot. "We were so excited to be married that we skipped the engagement altogether!" Hilty told the mag.

Congrats to the couple! neWS DeSK

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Somebody once said I had a face for radio and a voice for newspapers — Jerry Springer

KAty SPEAKS out ON RIVALRY WITH GAGA

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ADY GAGA and Katy Perry have been pitted against each other as pop rivals for the better part of the year. As dueling singles, albums, music videos and press opportunities have found critics and fans questioning which singer is the reigning princess of pop, Perry

tutankhamen’s body combusted inside sarcophagus

The mummified body of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun burst into flames inside his sarcophagus after a botched attempt to embalm him, according to scientists in a new documentary. After his death in 1323BC, Tutankhamun was rapidly embalmed and buried, but fire investigators believe a chemical reaction caused by embalming oils used on his mummy sparked the blaze. A fragment of flesh from the boy pharaoh, whose tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter and the Earl of Carnarvon, was tested by researchers who confirmed his body was burnt while sealed in his coffin. Tut has long fired the public imagination. He became pharaoh at the age of 10 in 1333 BC and ruled for just nine years until his death. He was the last of the royal line from the eighteenth dynasty of the New Kingdom, one of the most powerful royal houses of ancient Egypt. neWS DeSK

is speaking out to quash the rivalry image that exists between the two.

“Gaga and I like to publicly dismiss it because it’s not healthy," Perry told Entertainment Weekly.

"You want to feel music. You want it to resonate and relate to you. You can’t look at it like a com-

ARTS Monday, 4 November, 2013

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petition because you ruin the reason why you love music. But I think that sometimes our fan groups are so big and strong, they use it as ammunition.”

That "ammunition" first kicked into high gear when Gaga's "Applause" and Perry's "Roar" -- the lead singles from their respective albums, which arrive just a few weeks apart from each other -leaked at the same time. Since then, it's been a titfor-tat between the singers' fans. It's a bit easier for Perry to denounce any form of a "competition," as forecasts for the sales of the two singles indicated that Perry would come out on top by a wide margin. Indeed, "Roar" sold 557,000 digital copies, while "Applause" saw 218,000 downloads. In a year that's seen Joan Rivers, Sinead O'Connor, Cher and others speak out against Miley Cyrus' pop-culture reign, the conversation about fostering female rivalries in the media has escalated.

"I just think it's very unfair of anyone to pit another woman against another woman, especially in the space of music, when we're all just trying to be taken seriously at all as females," Gaga told Andy Cohen in September during an appearance on "Watch What Happens Live." Now, as Gaga's "ARTPOP" makes its long-awaited debut on Nov. 11, the album will inevitably face comparisons with Perry's "Prism," which came out Oct. 18.

"Prism" debuted at No. 1 with 286,000 copies sold.

The next needless contest between the two women will center on which of them can produce the more impressive first-week sales. Perry topped Cyrus as the highest-selling debut of the year by a female artist. Can Gaga now top Perry? It's all in the "competition." neWS DeSK

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling heading for Splitsville?

The actors declared their relationship to the world as they stepped out to Disneyland by the fairytale has just about crumbled according to sources. The beautiful duo are allegedly unhappy and broke up briefly six months ago but since reigniting the romantic flame things have still been very rocky.

"He can be moody, and she's insecure," the insider explained. "She sees a text from a mystery number and assumes he's talking to other girls."

Eva, 39, apparently gushed to pals about visiting 32-year-old Ryan her man in Iceland while he worked on How to Catch a Monster. But she can’t even stand to hear his name these days apparently. "She shuts down anyone who brings up Ryan," said a friend. "It's clear something is wrong. I wouldn't be surprised if they split for good soon." Eva is reportedly relying on exboyfriend George Augusto as a shoulder to cry on while she endures a rough patch in her relationship. Eva dated George from 2002 until 2010 but they could rekindle things as he has apparently been a great source of support recently. "Augusto seems to think Eva's done with Ryan - he claims it's just a matter of time before she dumps him officially,” a previously source told Heat magazine.

“She's been crying on his shoulder about her problems with Ryan wanting to settle down - and as a result Eva and George have become close again." neWS DeSK

is this how life began?

Texan paleontologist believes he’s found the link Scientists know life on Earth began more than 3.8 billion years ago, but exactly how it began has long been an unanswered question. Now a scientist in Texas believes he has the answer. “This is bigger than finding any dinosaur,” Dr. Sankar Chatterjee, a professor of geoscience at Texas Tech University and curator of paleontology at the Museum Of Texas Tech University, said in a written statement. “This is what we’ve all searched for--the Holy Grail of science.”

It's long been known that the ancient earth was pummeled by asteroids, meteors and comets--and that these space rocks may have brought water and organic molecules to our planet. But Chatterjee has taken these ideas a step further. He argues that in addition to bringing water and the chemical constituents of life, the space rocks left impact craters that became "crucibles" in which the chemical reactions that ultimately gave rise to living cells took place. Specifically, Chatterjee believes, meteorites punched giant craters into the Earth and deposited organic materials in them. Then icy comets that crashed into Earth melted, and filled these basins with water. Additional meteorite strikes created volcanically driven geothermal vents in the Earth's crust that heated and stirred the water.

The resulting "primordial soup" mixed the chemicals together, leading to the formation of molecules of ever increasing complexity--and eventually life.

“Segregation and concentration of organic molecules by convective currents took place here, something like the kinds we find on the ocean floor, but still very dif-

ferent," Chatterjee said in the statement. "It was a bizarre and isolated world that would seem like a vision of hell with the foul smells of hydrogen sulfide, methane, nitric oxide and steam that provided life-sustaining energy.”

To arrive at this conclusion, Chatterjee studied sites containing the world's oldest fossils in Greenland, Australia, and South Africa. He said these sites would be good candidates for where life began on Earth. Has Chatterjee really found the biological Holy grail? Not every scientist is ready to give that claim his of her blessing. "Whether or not these impactors were the critical ingredient for life remains to be seen, but further investigation of impact sites will nevertheless be informative for understanding Earth's early history," Dr. Jacob Haqq-Misra, an astrobiologist with the Blue Marble Institute of Science, who was not involved in the research, told The Huffington Post in an email. neWS DeSK

Britney Spears gets comfortable on a bench as she watches her sons Jayden and Sean's soccer game.

BEIBER At thE BRothEl! Justin Bieber tried to sneak out of a notorious brothel in Brazil while covered in a sheet on Friday night, but alas, he was caught in the act by photographers. The 19-year-old and a friend spent more than three hours inside the popular whore house Centauros in Rio de Janeiro before leaving with two women. Justin Bieber jumped into the back seat of a car while the women, whose faces were also covered, were put in SUVs and escorted back to his hotel. Bieber’s security team covered him with a bed sheet bearing the sex-slinging locale’s logo as he departed the establishment, the N.Y. Post reports. One of his handlers even sprayed down celebrity news photographers with water, demanding they stop snapping. Of course, that obviously failed. Chalk up yet another story to his increasingly long list of semi-shady antics. No one knows for sure what happened in the club or afterward, but he was definitely there, and won't help any efforts to woo Selena Gomez back. Nor will it help his reputation, which has taken some serious hits of late. The photographers, who were tipped off about Bieber’s visit to the brothel earlier in the night, confirmed it was the star through his security team. neWS DeSK

ender’s game gonna shoot down star wars, says Ford Not so long ago, in a galaxy not too far away lived the actor Harrison Ford. And he loved space. He would make a name for himself as intergalactic cowboy Han Solo in the film "Star Wars." And now, more than 35 years later, Ford returns to the outer reaches with "Ender's Game," an adaptation of Orson Scott Card's 1985 sci-fi novel. Of course, much has changed in the movie-making business since the actor first boarded the Millennium Falcon. He recalled what passed for "special effects" so many years ago. "Back in the '80s when I was making 'Star Wars,' they would make a spaceship out of model car kits, any little plastic bit with some intricacy to it," he explained. "They'd carve up a bit that looked interesting and stick it on a balsa wood model, paint the whole thing gray, put it on a stick and move it past the camera. Very crude technology but still effective when you had the music and the story context." Fast-forward to 2013, in which much of "Ender's Game" was filmed using wires to simulate an anti-gravity environment and green screens were de rigueur for backdrops.

"Right now you can create a whole very effective reality on the computer, but the job there really falls to the director and the production designer to organize this vision so that it represents something useful to the telling of the story, not just some creation for the sake of itself but to aid in the telling of the story," Ford said. And if you were at all wondering how the

71-year-old star acclimated to these changes, according to co-star Viola Davis, he acquitted himself quite well. "Harrison Ford didn't have any problems with it either," Davis said of Ford's green-screen skills. "I mean, none. He completely understood it to a T. If he didn't he really faked it great." neWS DeSK

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Ajmal, Kohli top odI rankings SPORTS DESK Virat Kohli’s outstanding form in one-dayers has lifted him to the top of the ICC batting rankings in ODIs, the first time he has reached No. 1.

Saeed Ajmal reclaimed his crown in the bowling charts, jumping up two places to displace Ravindra Jadeja and Sunil Narine.

The other major change in the batting top ten was the rise of Australia captain George Bailey to No. 3, up six places after a series in which he made 478 runs at an average of 95.60 in six innings. The other big gainer in the bowling top ten is South Africa’s Morne Morkel, who also climbed six spots to reach No. 7.

India’s openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, both of whom were in form against Australia, have also risen sharply in the rankings. Rohit, who broke the record aggregate for a bilateral series with 491 runs, has leaped 25 spots to a career-best 15th place, while Dhawan, who is enjoying a golden 2013, has moved up to 12 places to be No. 11. With MS Dhoni at No. 6 and Suresh Raina 19th, India have five batsmen in the top 20.

Kohli takes over as No. 1 from Hashim Amla, who has held the top spot since November 2010. He smashed the quickest and the third quickest centuries by an Indian in ODIs to power two 350plus chases against Australia, and is among four batsmen to have scored more than 1000 runs this year.

While the series in India has been dominated by batsmen, the Pakistan v South Africa ODIs have seen bowlers make more of an impact. Ajmal took six wickets in the first two ODIs to move past Jadeja and Narine.

toP 5 BAtSMEN 1 Virat Kohli (+3) 2 Hashim Amla (-1) 3 George Bailey (+6) 4 Kumar Sangakkara (-1) 5 AB de Villiers (-3)

BANGlAdESh ChASE 308, SwEEP SERIES 3-0 FATUllAH AGenCieS

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ANGLADESH banked on a string of partnerships and two fine knocks by Shamsur Rahman and Naeem Islam, as they swept the ODI series 3-0 after chasing 309 in the final over in Fatullah. The four-wicket win matched the 2010 clean sweep at home, which New Zealand lost 4-0. This was also Bangladesh’s second successful chase of a target of 300 or above in ODIs. The home side took full advantage of the new ODI rules that allow only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle during the non Powerplay overs, continually chipping the ball over the infield, and making sure they used the shorter, straight boundaries. New Zealand’s 307 for 5 was the highest score at this ground at the innings break, but it wasn’t enough in the end. Ross Taylor shored up an inexperienced batting line-up with his eighth hundred, but his efforts went in vain.

Mahmudullah and Nasir added 35 for the sixth wicket before Mahmudullah was given out caught behind in the 48th over, although he wasn’t fully convinced and neither were the replays conclusive. A few dot balls afterwards added to the tension among the near-capacity crowd but Nasir released the pressure with a thump over midwicket at the end of the 48th over, bringing down the chase to a run-a-ball.

Nasir kept his nerve, just as he did last year in the deciding fifth ODI against West Indies in which he also guided Bangladesh to a close win. Sohag Gazi completed the win with an upper-cut boundary off the second ball of the last over. Shamsur Rahman missed out on his maiden century, but his contribution, particularly in the absence of the ill Tamim Iqbal, was valuable. He started off briskly with Ziaur Rahman, as the new opening pair added 50 in the seventh over.

Ziaur acted as a pinch-hitter, hammering two sixes and two fours in his 22 before getting out in the eighth over.

But that didn’t stop Shamsur from going after the bowlers, hammering Mitchell McClenaghan for two sixes in one over. He and Mominul Haque added another quick 65 runs in 11 overs to maintain the pace of the chase. Mominul, however, fell to a soft dismissal to Anton Devcich, for 32 off 33. The captain Mushfiqur Rahim however failed to contribute, pulling to Taylor at square-leg for 2. But Naeem made sure there was no collapse as he and Shamsur added 75, at more than five runs an over. Naeem

THIS WIN BETTER THAN 4-0: MUSHFIQUR FATULLAH: Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim rated the 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand slightly ahead of their 4-0 win over the same opponents in 2010. He believed the win this time was evidence of Bangladesh’s progress and at the same time argued it is harder to follow up on a previously high achievement.

The home side won three close matches last time New Zealand visited, but in the current three-match series they won comfortably in the first two and chased 309 in the third and final game in Fatullah. “Both the achievements have different experiences but personally the 3-0 win feels better for me,” Mushfiqur said.

“Firstly, I am the captain, and secondly because you can achieve a result with a lot of hard work but to hold that result is even more difficult.” “During the 4-0 win in 2010, the team was different. Here our best performers were not in the team.

Despite everything we won this series, so I feel this series win is doubly important. This is proof that the Bangladesh team is improving.” The sense of confidence within Mushfiqur’s team was evident in his decision to bat first in Mirpur in the second ODI, which they won by 40 runs, and also by the decision to field first in Fatullah. The recent scores on this newly-laid wicket suggested that batting first would be a better option due to lower bounce in the second innings.

However, it turned out to be a truer wicket with better bounce and Bangladesh made 309 when the average second-innings score on these wickets had been 157. “It wasn’t a win-the-toss-bat-first kind of wicket,” Mushfiqur said. “Since it was a day game, we wanted to use early swing in the first five to ten overs, take wickets and put them on pressure. “But they started well and it seemed like they would score 320-330 at one point. A score like 307, with the new ODI rules, is not a big target. We just tried to play at our best.” AGenCieS

matched Shamsur with his timing, particularly through the off side as reached his fifty off 53 balls. When Shamsur fell in the 35th over, Naeem managed to put together another crucial half-century stand

with Nasir Hossain. New Zealand had an opening when Naeem was run out in the 43rd over for 63 off 74 balls, but Nasir and Mahmudullah brought the equation back in Bangladesh’s favour.

SCOReBOARD neW ZeAlAnD 46 Ap Devcich c Abdur Razzak b Mahmudullah 43 TWM latham c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Rubel Hossain GD elliott c Sohag Gazi b Abdur Razzak 3 lRpl Taylor not out 107 85 C Munro c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mahmudullah 1 Corey J Anderson c Ziaur Rahman b Sohag Gazi l Ronchi not out 13 9 eXTRAS (lb 3, w 6) 307 TOTAl (5 wickets; 50 overs; 209 mins) DiD nOT BAT nl McCullum, KD Mills*, Af Milne, MJ McClenaghan fAll Of WiCKeTS 1-66 (Devcich, 13.2 ov), 2-82 (elliott, 16.3 ov), 3-101 (latham, 21.1 ov), 4-231 (Munro, 43.4 ov), 5-232 (Anderson, 44.2 ov) BOWlinG: Mashrafe Mortaza 8-0-73-0, Rubel Hossain 6-0-381, Sohag Gazi 10-0-67-1, Abdur Razzak 9-0-57-1, nasir Hossain 10-1-33-0, Mahmudullah 7-0-36-2 BAnGlADeSH 96 Shamsur Rahman c Ronchi b Anderson 22 Ziaur Rahman c Milne b McClenaghan Mominul Haque c & b Devcich 32 2 Mushfiqur Rahim c Taylor b McCullum 63 naeem islam run out (McClenaghan/†Ronchi) nasir Hossain not out 44 Mahmudullah c †Ronchi b McClenaghan 16 11 Sohag Gazi not out 23 eXTRAS (b 4, lb 3, w 9, nb 7) TOTAl (6 wickets; 49.2 overs; 228 mins) 309 DiD nOT BAT Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain fAll Of WiCKeTS 1-61 (Ziaur Rahman, 7.4 ov), 2-126 (Mominul Haque, 18.4 ov), 3-129 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 19.3 ov), 4-204 (Shamsur Rahman, 34.1 ov), 5-254 (naeem islam, 42.3 ov), 6289 (Mahmudullah, 47.1 ov) BOWlinG: KD Mills 8-1-55-0, Af Milne 7-0-46-0, MJ McClenaghan 9.2-0-65-2, Corey J Anderson 10-0-56-1, nl McCullum 8-0-44-1, Ap Devcich 7-0-36-1 Match details Toss Bangladesh, who chose to field Series Bangladesh won the 3-match series 3-0 player of the match Shamsur Rahman (Bangladesh) player of the series Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh) Umpires enamul Haque and ReJ Martinesz (Sri lanka) TV umpire Sharfuddoula Match referee BC Broad (england) Reserve umpire Masudur Rahman

Earlier it was Taylor’s hundred that gave New Zealand much-needed impetus, mainly in the last ten overs. After he had added 130 runs for the fourth wicket with Colin Munro, he made sure he took full advantage of Bangladesh’s pace bowling in the slog overs, one of their biggest weaknesses. In the last five overs, Bangladesh conceded 73 runs, after they added just 25 between the 40th and 45th over. Taylor blasted three sixes and nine fours in his 93-ball unbeaten 107, his second hundred against Bangladesh and his second this year. It was an innings that befitted the only experienced batsman in the line-up, helping the team recover from 101 for 3. Secondly, he let Munro dominate much of their partnership and only cut loose in the end overs. He was severe on anything that was bowled on the stumps, playing his favoured slog-sweep.

Munro forced Mushfiqur to think hard while setting fields. He mixed conventional shots with reverse hits, one of which was a pulled six off Abdur Razzak. Playing his first match on tour, but he showed little signs of difficulty to adjust, as the others in his line-up have shown. He cracked two sixes and seven fours in his 77-ball 85, the sort of innings that one could have been expected from Brendon McCullum, who had left the country to treat his sore back.

toP 5 BowlERS

( QUAID-E-AZAM TROPHY 2013-14

1 Saeed Ajmal (+2) 2 Sunil Narine (-1) 3 Ravindra Jadeja (-2) 4 Steven Finn (-) 5 Rangana Herath (-)

Yamin double-ton powers Multan to innings win Aamer Yamin’s double-hundred in the first innings helped Multan comprehensively defeat Quetta by an innings and six runs.

Yamin blasted 22 fours and three sixes during his knock of 225, and was wellsupported by important contributions of 50 and 68 from Maqbool Ahmed and Haziq Habibullah respectively, that propelled the team to a mammoth 423, 179 runs more than Quetta’s meager first-innings total of 244.

Ata-ur-Rehman and Naushad Irshad had both scored fifties for Quetta in their first innings, but Habibullah and Mohammad Rameez picked up nine wickets between them to bundle them out in 93 overs. Quetta did not fare much better in the second innings either, as apart from a third-wicket partnership of 73 between Badar Ali and Taimur Ali, none of the other batsmen lasted long.

Rameez and Habibullah once again ran through their line-up to bowl them out for 173 inside 75 overs and seal the win.

Rameez ended the match with figures of 8 for 154. An incisive bowling

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performance from Mohammad Irfan, who finished with match-figures of 7 for 68, helped set up an easy run-chase for Lahore Shalimar, who beat Faisalabad by seven wickets.

Irfan picked up five wickets in the second innings to rattle Faisalabad’s middle order and skittle them out for 130.

Needing just 125 for victory, Lahore completed the win in 33 overs, thanks to a 74 from Imran Butt, that included 10 fours.

Lahore had earlier posted 226 in their first innings to establish a six-run lead, thanks to Arsalan Arshad’s 64, and his secondwicket partnership of 51 with Waqas Saleem. Naseer Akram had clawed Faisalabad back into the game by picking up six wickets in the innings, but Irfan contributed with the bat as well, scoring 48 by coming in at No.8 to add a late flourish.

GROUP I: A combined bowling performance helped Rawalpindi beat Abbottabad comfortably by eight wickets at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Abbottabad were bundled out for 192 and were faced with a first-innings deficit of 213. A century by Rehan Afridi led an

improved batting performance in the second but they could only muster a lead of 61, which was easily chased down by Rawalpindi on the final day.

Put in to bat, Abbottabad got off to a poor start, losing half their side for 84.

The lower order resisted to push the score to 192, but the innings lasted just 48.1 overs. Seamers Haseeb Azam and Akhtar Ayub took three wickets apiece. The Rawalpindi top order were stronger in comparison, with half-centuries by Awais Zia, Naved Malik and Muzammil Nizam.

Malik made a quick 57 off 51 balls to get the side off to a good start before Zia and Nizam built on the foundation with a stand of 121 for the fourth wicket. Zia made 78 while Nizam scored 57. A couple of 40s by the lower order pushed the score to 405. Aziz-ur-Rehman, the right-arm seamer, finished with 6 for 85. Abbottabad lost early wickets to Azam and Nasir Malik and were facing an innings defeat at 166 for 8 at one stage. Afridi counterattacked with an unbeaten 104 off 137 balls with 16 fours and was involved in a ninth-wicket stand of 83 to hold up

Rawalpindi. Azam and Nasir shared seven wickets between them to bowl out Abbottabad for 274. Rawalpindi then chased down 62 with ease and secured their position in the top of the table.

Sialkot took a first-innings lead in a drawn match against Peshawar at Jinnah Stadium. Sialkot, put in to bat, were led by half-centuries by Adnan Zaheer and Faisal Khan and a century from the captain Manzoor Amjad. Zaheer scored 51 off 140 balls while Faisal scored 50 off 84 balls. Amjad made an unbeaten 113 to guide Sialkot to 316. Peshawar in response scored 270, led by Sajjad Ahmed’s 59. Adil Amin and Jamaluddin narrowly missed their half-centuries, as Peshawar fell 46 short of matching Sialkot’s score. Hasan Ali finished with 4 for 85. Sialkot ended the third day on a strong 77 for 0. Majid Jahangir and Naved Sarwar made half-centuries on the final day. Jahangir scored 86 while Sarwar fell six short of a century. The left-arm spinner Sajjad Ahmed (not to be confused with his exact namesake), took 6 for 84 to bowl out Sialkot for 276.

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Those were the great days when plenty of amateurs could spare time for cricket. –Frank Woolley

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Mcdermott ‘devastated’ by defeat

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HARLTON boss Chris Powell was ecstatic with the crucial 10 win at Birmingham but Blues boss Lee Clark was so disappointed he immediately watched a replay of the whole match.

As result, Clark did not attend the post-match press conference, instead leaving his deputy Terry McDermott to express his “devastation” at the result.

Birmingham dropped into the bottom three for the first time as a result of this defeat and the future is beginning to look desperate on and off the field for the Midlands club. “No one is happy with the position we are in at the moment in the bottom three. I would like to think that it will not last long because we have too many good players in the side,” McDermott said. “But those players who did so well against Stoke City in a thrilling League Cup tie didn’t turn up for the Charlton game. “We are all devastated with the result especially after some good performances in our recent games.

“We thought we had turned the corner but we simply didn’t perform on the day against Charlton. Our decision making was very poor.” Charlton, now unbeaten in their last five games, clinched the three points with a 56th minute winner from Dale Stephens who was on the mark for

only the second time in the league this season. Birmingham’s young side could make little impression against the rugged Charlton defence, which has now kept a clean sheet for the last four games.

Defence was the key to Charlton’s win although the game had appeared to be

Mohsen Zafar wins telenor Golf Championship LAHORE: The 2nd Telenor Golf Championship concluded at the Lahore Gymkhana Golf Course on Saturday after a hotly contested 18 holes stroke play event. Most of the over 97 participants who were seeking honours some how could not reap any rewards. They ended this championship on a rather disappointing note, because of missed putts, a few poor chips here and there and the odd drive landing out of bounds. But there were others who were consistent in their shot making and displayed good application of golfing skills like chipping and putting and ended their competitive effort on a winning note. Mohsen Zafar emerged as the best one in the gross section with an impressive score of gross 74, two over par.

Another one who displayed great playing ability was Sameer Iftikhar, who finished with a score of gross 75 and had to be content with the runners up prize. At the conclusion of the tournament the prizes were awarded by Telenor Regional Sales Chief Hasnain Nasir and Mian Misbah ur Rehman of Lahore Gymkhana in a prize distribution ceremony attended by Hashim Butt, Agha Ali Imam, Amir Mehmood, Shafqat Rana, Justice Sajjad Sipra and participating golfers. STAff RepORT

heading to a dull goalless draw as neither side had shown any real potential to beak the stalemate. Charlton’s only real chance in the first half fell to Stephens late in the first half but his effort lacked power and Darren Randolph made an easy save which summed up a low key and disap-

pointing first half. Stephens, however, more than made amends early in the second period when he notched a rare Charlton goal in the 56th minute.

Randolph parried an effort from Cameron Stewart but Charlton had their tails up and following a cross from the left Bradley Pritchard nudged the ball into the path of Stephens who, with an open goal at his mercy, made no mistake from close range. It is only Charlton’s 10th strike of the season and could be the goal to kickstart their climb up the table.

Powell was impressed with Charlton’s win and thought it should have been more conclusive. He said: “I’m really pleased with the performance of the players. It was a crucial game but we warranted the three points. “The start of the season was very mixed and we needed a foundation upon which to build. “If you keep out the opposition you will get your chances. My only gripe was that it was only 1-0 and I felt 20 or 3-0 would have been right.

“All the players are doing their job and they fully deserved their win.

“Last season I thought we exceeded expectations and we raised the bar. We have lost a few players and we’ve had a lot of injuries this season to key players.

“I’ve given the players confidence to go out and play. They have given each other confidence and a platform and some are playing really well.”

omeruo, gabriel in nigeria’s play-off squad SPORTS DESK Chelsea reserve Kenneth Omeruo and Kilmarnock midfielder Reuben Gabriel were drafted into Nigeria’s squad on Sunday for the second leg of their World Cup play-off against Ethiopia in Calabar on November 16.

The national federation announced coach Stephen Keshi had kept the 23 players called up for the 2-1 first-leg win in Addis Ababa last month and added the British-based pair.

Nigeria are strong favourites to qualify for the World Cup for a fifth time.

Omeruo, who returns after a shoulder injury sustained at the Confederations Cup in Brazil in June, was loaned by Chelsea to Dutch club ADO Den Haag last season but is now back with the London team. The 20-year-old defender played all six matches when Nigeria won the African Nations Cup in South Africa at the start of the year.

SquAd GOAlKeepeRS: Chigozie Agbim (enugu Rangers), Austin ejide (Hapoel Beer Sheva), Vincent enyeama (lille) DefenDeRS: efe Ambrose (Celtic), francis Benjamin (Heartland), elderson echiejile (Braga), Azubuike egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor), James Okwuosa (Chippa United), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea) MiDfielDeRS: Reuben Gabriel (Kilmarnock), nosa igiebor (Real Betis), Victor Moses (liverpool), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), nnamdi Oduamadi (Brescia), John Ogu (Academica), Ogenyi Onazi (lazio), Sunday Mba (enugu Rangers) fORWARDS: Shola Ameobi (newcastle United), emmanuel emenike (fenerbahce), Brown ideye (Dynamo Kiev), Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Obinna nsofor (lokomotiv Moscow), Uche nwofor (Heerenveen).

PGA tour to launch new circuit in China SPORTS DESK The US PGA Tour continued its growth into Asia on Sunday with the announcement of a new developmental circuit to be launched in China next year.

PGA Tour China will feature 12 events with fields, not restricted to Chinese players, expected to be between 120 and 156 players and purses around $200,000 (£126,000). Qualifying events will be played early next year, with details still being finalised. The new venture was launched by PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, China Golf Association chief Zhang Xiaoning and China Olympic Sports Industry president Sun Liping at the WGC HSBC Champions event. “We are very pleased to announce the establishment of PGA Tour China, which builds upon our longstanding relationship with the China Golf Association,” Finchem said.

“PGA Tour China will provide open competition on a quality tour for elite players from China and other countries and the opportunity to advance to the world stage. “We plan to provide access to the Web.com Tour for the season’s top players.” The PGA Tour already owns and operates two tours outside the United States - PGA Tour LatinoAmerica and PGA Tour Canada - but a move into the world’s second largest economy could upset its rivals. Finchem, though, dismissed concerns that the new tour would pose a threat to the European and OneAsia Tours, which have had a presence in China for several years. “We don’t see any effect on either OneAsia or the European Tour’s interests in co-sanctioning events in certain places,” he said.

“Matter of fact, if we’re just talking about China, the extent to which they accelerate those things would be a positive. It is an avenue for elite player participation.”

The European Tour has been playing official money tournaments in China since 2004, holding two events there this year, while the OneAsia Tour is scheduled to hold four of its 11 in the country this year. PGA Tour China won’t be an immediate threat to the European or OneAsia Tours because of the small purses but that might change should it prove successful and grow.

CAREY HOPING TO PUNISH TIRED CELTIC SPORTS DESK Ross County wide man Graham Carey hopes the Highlanders can make the most of their two recent abandoned clashes by running rings round a weary Celtic side.

The Staggies will host Scotland’s Champions League entrants on Saturday fresh from seeing fixtures at home to Inverness and away to St Mirren called off.

A floodlight failure at Victoria Park halted last week’s Highland derby at half-time, while the Buddies’ water-logged pitch lasted just 51 minutes before County suffered their second abandonment in nine days. The Hoops take on Ajax in Amsterdam on Wednesday before they travel to Dingwall at the weekend, but Carey is hoping his side will be fully rested by the time Neil Lennon’s tired troops arrive.

He said: “We can’t seem to get a full game in at the moment - at least we will be fresh for Celtic.

They have a lot of midweek games coming up so hopefully we can catch them cold.”

Saturday’s match in Paisley was called off just as Saints thought they were about to collect their third Scottish Premiership win of the season.

Paul McGowan and Steven Thompson had netted for the Buddies amid heavy downpours to put them 2-0 up.

But with puddles of water stopping the ball from rolling, referee Willie Collum called time just six minutes into the second period.

The match must now be replayed from the beginning and Carey admits his side will get an undeserved second chance.

He said: “We got lucky. As a team, we were not good enough but it was the right decision to call the game off. Even as we were leaving the stadium it was still raining heavily. “WIllie Collum took his time but it was the right decision at the end of the day. He has to be sure.

With St Mirren being 2-0 it was a big call and you need to be sure.

“The pitch wasn’t too dangerous but it was obviously water-logged on both flanks and it was difficult to

play. When you can’t pass the ball five yards it becomes a joke.

“It’s unlucky for St Mirren because we were poor and they are the ones losing out on a win. I can understand their frustrations because if we were 2-0 up we would-

n’t be too keen to call it off, but there was nothing the ref could do.”

Saints playmaker McGowan reacted furiously when Collum took the teams off but later admitted the match official had a point.

He said: “We’re bitterly disap-

pointed and it’s hard to take, considering how much we put into the first half. With a two-goal cushion we were really confident with the way things were going.

“The rain died down but he’d already taken the decision to call it

off. We made a couple of chances and while you could see the ball sticking, and I can see where he was coming from, I felt the decision could have gone either way.

“The Ross County players kept having a go at the referee and telling him the ball was sticking but we’d have done the same if we were 2-0 down. I just hoped he’d ignore them because it would have been a massive three points for us.

“To score and be 2-0 up would have been a great three points because we could have climbed a couple of places.

“We now just have to make sure when the game is replayed that we win. We felt we’d turned a corner until last week and we had a lot to prove after the Dundee United defeat.

“In the first half I thought we were excellent and created a number of chances and now this has happened, but that’s football. We can take positives from this but it won’t count for anything unless we go and play the way we did in the replay and take three points.”

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You can't put a limit on anything.

The more you dream, the farther you get. –Michael Phelps

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Monday, 4 November, 2013

Johnson lifts wGC title in China ahead of Poulter

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MERICAN Dustin Johnson won the $8.5 million (£5.3m) WGC-HSBC Champions tournament on Sunday by three shots over defending champion Ian Poulter of England.

Johnson carded a closing 66 to finish at 24-under-par 264 at Sheshan Interna-

tional with Poulter also shooting 66 for second place on 21-under. Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell was another shot back in third after also carding 66.

“It’s the biggest win I’ve had so far in my career,” Johnson told reporters. The 29-year-old American started the final round with a three-shot lead over Poulter but surrendered it after an opening bogey as the Englishman started birdie-birdie.

AuStRAlIAN PGA ChAMPIoN PoPovIC to SKIP tItlE dEfENCE Daniel Popovic will not defend his title at next week’s Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast in order to contest the European Tour’s qualifying tournament in Spain. The final round of the Australian PGA next Sunday coincides with the first day of the qualifying tournament. “For my future and career, and looking to the big picture, I have to go to the European Tour school,” the 27-year-old Popovic said at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament on Sunday. “That’s my best opportunity of getting to where I want to be with my career, playing against the better players in the world and challenging myself every week.” If he does not win a European Tour card, Popovic will head to either the Japan Tour or secondary U.S. PGA Tour qualifying school, which means he also might miss the Australian Masters and the Australian Open later this month. SpORTS DeSK

Undeterred, Johnson picked up five birdies and an eagle from the eighth to collect the $1.53 million cheque for his eighth victory on the PGA Tour. “I knew if I stuck to my game plan it would come,” Johnson said. “I was swinging well and putting well. “I wasn’t having too much fun at the start, especially when Graeme and Ian were birdieing every hole it seemed like.

“They put a lot of pressure on me but I’m really proud of the way I handled myself. I thought I controlled my nerves pretty well today.” Johnson is renowned for his long hitting but he credited his win to some neat short game played under pressure on the back nine. “The biggest putt I made was on 14 (from 20 feet) when Ian was already in for birdie - and the pitch on 16 was huge,” he said. “I was talking

to my brother (caddie) right before I hit it.

I said ‘I think I’m going to make this one.

I hit it perfect’. After (that) I was feeling pretty good where I was at.”

Johnson, who blew a chance to win the 2010 US PGA Championship when he incurred a two-stroke penalty for a rules violation at the final hole, said he hoped the significant victory in China would lead to him winning a major. With his long hitting and deft touch around the greens, the U.S. Masters appears a good bet.

“Majors are always the step,” he said.

“If I play like I did this week I’m going to win one for sure. I really like Augusta.

“That would be my favourite one. I grew up right down the street from Augusta and I really love playing that golf course.”

SPORTS DESK

Wincobank trainer Dominic Ingle says unbeaten trio Jordan Gill, Sam O’Maison and Leigh Wood are known as ‘The Three Amigos’ in the gym. Six days after Gill and O’Maison extended their unbeaten records, the third amigo, Gedling’s Leigh ‘Leigh-thal’ Wood (11-0) was in action at the Clifton Leisure Centre on Friday, forcing Brazilian Genilson De Jesus Santos to retire in the third round.

After Ashley Lane pulled out of a scheduled Midlands title fight, matchmaker Jason McClory put together the fight for the vacant International Masters super-bantamweight title. Santos came with an impressive-looking 23-5 (22) slate, compiled mainly in South America, but Wood was too powerful and forced him to retire after three one-sided rounds. Santos has an awkward, hands high style and Wood, who walked to the ring wearing a sombrero, had a look for a minute or so before opening him up with body shots. In the final minute of the round, Leigh switched his attack upstairs and planted a slashing right hand to the jaw. The Brazilian’s did well to survive until the bell.

Santos started to lose ambition in the second and with little coming back at him, Wood did as he pleased, switching stances and bringing ‘ooohs’ from the crowd with corkscrew shots and uppercuts. Santos was sent to his knees late in the third by a chopping right hand. He was up at eight, but pulled out by his corner.

Another unbeaten Ingle fighter. Rotherham’s Atif Shafiq

hAlEP ouStS IvANovIC to SEt uP StoSuR fINAl The unbeaten Simona Halep ousted Ana Ivanovic 2-6 6-1 6-3 to move into the final of the Tournament of Champions in Sofia, where she will face Sam Stosur.

The Romanian top seed dropped her first set of the tournament as Ivanovic won five games in a row, but she responded with a crushing, 34-minute second set to level the match. Two-time winner Ivanovic raced 3-0 ahead in the decider but Halep fought back again, winning 25 of the last 32 points against the secondseeded Serb. “I played really well when she had break points to make it 4-1, and I’m really happy with the way I came back in the end,” Halep said. “I’m a little bit injured in my leg but I’m very happy I was able to win today. “Now I’m going to rest and recover and I hope to just come back and enjoy the final tomorrow.”

She will face Sam Stosur after the Australian beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1 1-6 6-3 in a topsy-turvy semi. “It was a tough match,” Stosur said. “I got off to a good start, and she was missing a little bit in the first set, but then things totally changed around in the second set. “The third set was the time where we both played our best.

But I’m happy I was able to close it out in the end.”

SeMi-finAl ReSUlT: 4-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat 6-Anastasia pavlyuchenkova (Russia) 6-1 1-6 6-3.

1-Simona Halep (Romania) beat 2-Ana ivanovic (Serbia) 2-6 6-1 6-3. SpORTS DeSK

ESPN TENNIS: BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS

7:30 PM

wins for Afolabi and Perez at MSG theatre SPORTS DESK

Golovkin stops Leigh Wood remains Leigh-thal in Nottingham Stevens in dramatic bout Gennady Golovkin continued his surge to the top of the middleweight division after he stopped Curtis Stevens at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Golovkin found a crushing blow in the second round and eventually ended Stevens’s challenge with a stunning series of shots at the end of the eighth. In what was a highly entertaining and dramatic fight, Golovkin stretched his unbeaten record to 28 bouts with 25 by way of a knock out. In earning the victory, Golovkin retained the WBA middleweight championship and recorded his 15th consecutive knockout. SpORTS DeSK

wAtCh It LIve

(6-0) made it six straight wins with a six-twos shut out over Dewsbury journeyman Youssef Al-Hamidi (12-61-3). 19 year old Shafiq had Al-Hamidi in some discomfort with body shots and was a 59-55 points winner.

Newark light-welterweight Fergus Taylor (4-0) was too big and too fresh for hard-as-nails Glaswegian Ryan McNicol (4-30-3) in a four threes. McNicol felt body punches, but, as usual, the Scot toughed it out to hear the final bell.

In the show opener, referee Grant Wallis couldn’t separate Nottinghamshire light-middleweights Terry Maughan (74-1) and Nathan Capeness (0-2-1), scoring the fight 39-39.

Capeness, cheered on by ex-British cruiserweight champion Shane McPhilbin, is now without a win in three fights.

On the undercard of Gennady Golovkin’s eighth round stoppage of Curtis Stevens at Madison Square Garden Theatre, British cruiserweight Ola ‘Kryptonite’ Afolabi (20-3-4) captured the minor IBO cruiserweight belt with a laboured points win over Poland’s Lukasz Janik (26-2).

In his first fight back since losing a concluding trilogy to Cap’n Marco Huck back in June, Afolabi was, by his own admission, under par, but managed to get a majority decision from the judges 117-111, 115-113 and 114-114.

Afolabi’s jab was powerful, but he was a little reluctant to let his hands go at times, and seemed too concerned with looking for a fight finishing punch which didn’t come. He managed to open up a cut above Janik’s left eye in the fifth, but the Pole stuck with it and had a better second half of the scrappy fight.

Cork based Cuban heavyweight Mike Perez (20-0) was a points winner over ten rounds against previously unbeaten Russian Magomed Abdusalamov (now 18-1).

The fight was contested at a brisk pace.

Perez was fast and aggressive as usual, wobbling Abdusalamov with quick right hands and an accurate jab, but the tough Russian stuck with it and got through with some accurate shots of his own.

Perez’s defence is mainly reactive; he moves his head well for a heavyweight, but on several occasions pressure from Abdusalamov forced him to raise his hands and cover up on the ropes. Despite a game attempt, the Cuban was too skilled and accurate for Abdusalamov, who finished the fight with a badly marked up face. Judges scored of 97-92, 97-92, and 95-94 for Perez, who was inactive for the whole of last year, but his stock is building and he could now feature on the shortlist for some kind of title shot.

A fight with David Haye is highly unlikely, but would make for an interesting watch.

Ruthless errani secures another title for italy SPORTS DESK Sara Errani romped to a 6-1 6-1 win over Alisa Kleybanova in Cagliari to hand Italy an unassailable 3-0 lead over Russia and their third Fed Cup title in five years on Sunday. A second-string Russian side, who had to contest the final without top players Maria Kirilenko, Elena Vesnina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, were always likely to struggle against a team featuring grand slam doubles champions Errani and Roberta Vinci. Errani, who was also a singles runner-up at the 2012 French Open, showed her class and experience as she won both her singles rubbers with the minimum of fuss and wrapped up the title for Italy with two matches to spare.

With Italy already crowned champions, the teams decided to skip the fourth singles rubber before Karin Knapp and Flavia Pennetta completed the whitewash with a 4-6 6-2 10-4 (champions tiebreak) win over Margarita Gasparyan and Irina Khromacheva. “We are very happy,” said the 26-year-old Errani. “It was a very good week for us. I am happy with how I played. I was focused on every point, there was tension, there is a lot of people here and it means a lot for us.”

While the jubilant Italians were leaping for joy at the Cagliari Tennis Club, the Russians were left to digest their second runnerup finish in three years in the team competition. “The final was very strange because we did not play against the best players from Russia but it was very tough to play under these conditions. We had to concentrate and we were scared a little bit,” Italy captain Corrado Barazzutti said. “Maybe it was one of the more easy Fed Cups that we won but I want to remember that we beat the

best team in the world (Czech Republic) in the semi-final. The important thing is to win when you have a chance to win.” fUll ReSUlTS: Saturday Sara errani (italy) beat irina Khromacheva (Russia) 6-1 6-4 Roberta Vinci (italy) beat Alexandra panova (Russia) 5-7 7-5 8-6 Sunday Karin Knapp/flavia pennetta (italy) beat irina Khromacheva/Margarita Gasparyan (Russia) 4-6 6-2 10-4 Sara errani (italy) beat Alisa Kleybanova (Russia) 6-1 6-1

ISB 04-11-2013_Layout 1 11/4/2013 7:40 AM Page 16

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Monday, 4 November, 2013

Pakistanis fear retaliation after hakimullah’s death MONITORING DESK

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AYS after the death Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike, citizens say they are living in fear as they wait for revenge attacks, according to a report published in the USA Today on Friday.

“Things are getting tough with every passing day, and it has become impossible to move freely in the city,” said Abdur Rehman Afridi, 22, a student of business administration at the Institute of Management Sciences in Peshawar.

“It seems everyone is facing the fear of the unknown – anything can happen. Police are guarding every corner of the road, more than usual and security is on high alert,” he

added. “We don’t know what is coming our way after the constant fear of backlash of the drone strike.” Mehsud, who was on the US’s most wanted list with a $5 million bounty, was killed on Friday in a major blow to the TTP. Mehsud, 34, is believed to have been behind a failed car bombing in New York’s Times Square and a deadly suicide attack at a CIA base in Afghanistan.

Although CIA officials called the death a “serious blow to the Pakistani Taliban”, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan slammed the US over the attack, accusing it of destroying the country’s fragile peace process.

“The Americans have a lot to learn,” he said in a press statement. “This is not just the killing of one person, it’s the death of all peace efforts.” Some analysts agree,

saying the death of the leader has left a vacuum for peace negotiations.

“At a point where the government was ready to start the negotiations, the focal person has been killed,” said Rahimullah Yusufzai, a senior journalist and analyst based in Peshawar. “Now there are not going to be any talks, in fact the chances are that the TTP will come all out against the US, (but because) they can’t go to the US and attack them ... the revenge, as has happened in the past, will be taken in the alleys of Pakistan.”

Others said the attack could have serious consequences for the relationship between the US and Pakistan. “The mainstream reaction within Pakistan has been one of anger,” said Nasim Zehra, a

senior anchor at a private TV channel.

“This reaction interestingly has been led by the minister of the interior (but we will also see) Imran Khan led his party’s and the KPK government’s attack on the U.S for sabotaging what he and Nisar claim was about to be the beginning of a serious peace process.”

Meanwhile, the attack on Mehsud, who was hit in a compound in the village of Dande Derpa Khel in the North Waziristan, means that a new leader needs to be chosen by the organisation. “Although Mehsud will be succeeded by someone else, he too will have to live in hiding, which cuts down on the TTP’s military effectiveness,” said Pervez Hoodbhoy, a defence analyst at the Forman Christian College-University, in Lahore.

“On the other hand, the Taliban’s real

strength lies in the penetration of Pakistani society by religious extremists through schools, madrassas and the media, and no drone can take that out.” Still, some analysts said the death of Mehsud could, in the long run, lead to better US-Pakistan relations. “(Mehsud) was a central organiser of attacks on Pakistan’s core interests and him getting knocked out — while unpopular in public opinion due to the widely-condemned use of drone (strikes) — may actually lessen US-Pakistan friction,” said senior journalist Talat Hussain, based in Islamabad. “His supporters might attempt revenge attacks, but if his faction loses out in the power struggle, there will be very few willing to blow themselves up for a man who is dead and gone.”

Govt to take Shia parties on board for talks with taliban

LAHORE: People travel on roof of buses on their way home after the end of Tableegi Ijtima. inp

Fazl wants an APC on Hindu community celebrates Diwali drone attacks issue ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman on Sunday said an all parties conference (APC) should be convened to review the situation in the wake of the drone attack that killed TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud so that a national strategy in adopted on the issue.

Talking to reporters, Fazl said the last APC had adopted a national stance on reconciliation and had decided to hold talks with the Taliban. “It was attended by all parliamentary parties and had given mandate to the government. Efforts were underway to get the country out of crisis. However, the drone attacks have changed the situation and the dialogue with Taliban has been affected that is why we need another APC to review it.” Fazl said his party would offer unconditional support to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) decision on blocking NATO supplies. A resolution regarding the blockade of NATO supplies would be presented in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly today (Monday). He said the PTI should issue a notification in this regard, adding that his party would support the move unconditionally. He added that the PTI should not take decisions regarding drone attacks on its own. “The PTI should have supported the JUI-F’s resolution on drone attacks too,” he said. AGenCieS

NA, SENATE SESSIONS TODAY ISLAMABAD: The government has convened sessions of both National Assembly and Senate on Monday in which Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan is likely to issue a policy statement over missile strikes and relations with the United States. It will be the sixth session of the National Assembly and is expected to continue for two weeks. The Foreign Office on Sunday summoned US ambassador Richard Olson and protested over the drone strike that killed banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud in North Waziristan on Thursday.

Pakistan has denounced those killed, saying that the attack has derailed planned peace talks as Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan vowed to block US supply lines into Afghanistan in retaliation. Online

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to take Shia parties into confidence for holding talks with the Taliban as death of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsood has created fuss across the country. Reliable sources told Online on Sunday that the government had become more concerned regarding restoration of peace after the death of TTP chief as many districts had already been declared sensitive due to Muharram. The sources added that Shia parties had much concerns regarding talks with the Taliban, adding one faction announced unconditional support to talks but others were still anti-negotiations. According to sources, the government has started contacts to redress reservations of Shia school of thought. It is significant to mention that the Shia Ulema Council has announced conditional support to talks and suggested to talk with those who accept constitution of Pakistan. “There is no reason to hold talks with those who do not accept the constitution,” the ulema council declared in the past. The Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen (MWM) had rejected talks and demanded operation rather than holding talks with the Taliban as they declared them (Taliban) antistate actors. However, the Tehreek-e-Nafaz Fiqa-e-Jaffaria supported dialogue and stated if peace could be achieved through talks then the government should take initiative and assure every possible support in this regard.

Tehreek-e-Nafaz-Fiqa-e-Jaffaria leader Allama Basharat Imami, when contacted by Online, admitted that the government started making contacts. The party supported dialogue for peace, he added. Online

Nisar concerned about security during Muharram

KARACHI App

The Hindu community across the country celebrated the religious festival of lights, Diwali with zeal and enthusiasm. According to Hindu faith, Diwali is a five-day festival of lights, celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to his capital “Ayodhaya” after completing 14-year exile in a jungle.

Special gatherings were organised by the Hindu community at temples in Karachi, Attock, Multan, Lahore, Islamabad and Sialkot cities. The main congregations were held at Swami Narayan Temple, Balmeek Temple, Double Phatic Temple and Kabir Temple.

The people of Hindu community exchanged gifts and greetings and distributed sweets to share the joy of Diwali.

Speaking on this occasion, Hindu pandits said that the Hindus in Pakistan are enjoying religious freedom and having all rights as being enjoyed by other citizens.

Tight security arrangements were made in and around temples by police to avert any untoward incident.

A special cultural evening was organised at the auditorium within the Indian high commission in Islamabad. Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan said that we are like a small family here and everyone in the mission is closely-knit.

In separate statements, Sindh

Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and MQM chief Altaf Hussain have extended congratulation to Hindu community on the eve of Diwali festival.

DIWALI AT WAGAH BORDER: Pakistani and Indian forces at the border in Attari exchanged sweets on the occasion of Diwali Sunday.

Indian Border Security Force’s officiating DIG Deby Joseph along with other officers and jawans presented different types of traditional Indian sweets to their Pakistani counterparts. Pakistani Rangers Wing Commander Mohammed Asheer Khan returned the gesture with an assortment of Pakistani sweets. A relaxed atmosphere prevailed at the joint check-post at the International Attari/Wagah border on Sunday.

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

ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry has directed the federal and all provincial governments to review security arrangements during Muharram-ulHaram. The ministry issued these directives following the death of Taliban Chief Hakimullah Mehsud by drone attack on the eve of Islamic holy month of Muharram that doubled government’s problems regarding law and order situation inside the country. According to sources, security had been put on high alert after Mehsud’s death against possible terror retaliation by the Taliban but the ministry reviewed the situation in a meeting held here in the PM House headed by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The high-level meeting reviewed the new dynamics of internal security after the death of Taliban chief.

The ministry issued directives to ensure security of Imam Bargahs and mosques during Muharram. Reliable sources told Online that the National Crisis Management Cell had informed the interior ministry about deteriorating law and order situation and expected terror attacks in Muharram. Online