E-paper Pakistantoday 12th April, 2013 by Pakistan Today

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:55 AM Page 1

Rs 17.00 Vol III No 285 19 Pages Islamabad — Peshawar Edition

Friday, 12 April, 2013 Jamadul Sani 1, 1434

STORY ON PAGE 03

STORY ON PAGE 02

STORY ON PAGE 04

MY MOM WILL NOW BE HAROONABAD’S MOM

‘No civilian drone deaths’ in Pakistan claim was false: US documents STORY ON PAGE 04

STORY ON PAGE 02

JI WILL MAKE PEACE WITH TALIBAN IF IT COMES INTO POWER: HASAN

SHAHBAZ CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF PRO-PPP OFFICIALS IN CENTRE

PAGE 02

Overseas Pakistanis to be part of election process, SC told

Dasti and Nisar back in the game!

The Supreme Court was informed on Thursday that homework on the exercise to include overseas Pakistanis in the forthcoming elections had been completed. The SC was further apprised that a recent meeting of the ECP and other functionaries of the government had discussed the issue of providing right to franchise to overseas Pakistanis. PAGE 03

LAHORE: Former member of National Assembly Jamshed Dasti announced on Thursday he will contest elections from Muzaffargarh NA-177 and 178 after the election tribunal cleared him of all charges on Wednesday, while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was also cleared to contest elections from NA-53 Rawalpindi. PAGE 02

PAGE 03

You can’t fool us, CJP tells agencies Soldier, 15 militants STORY ON PAGE 08

killed in Tirah clash

ECP moves against interior minister

At least 15 militants were killed on Thursday in an operation carried out by security forces in Khyber tribal region’s Tirah valley. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted an operation in which 15 militants and one security officer were killed. PAGE 02

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday asked caretaker prime minister to take appropriate action against the caretaker interior minister for exhibiting political affiliation with a particular political party. In a letter, the ECP said: “Such statement on behalf of a federal minister may prove to be damaging to the perception of holding free, fair and credible election.” PAGE 03

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:56 AM Page 2

N News Friday, 12 april, 2013

My mom will now be Haroonabad’s mom, says Meera LAHORE: Following her daughter’s suit, actor Meera’s mother has also decided to contest the upcoming elections in Haroonabad district on a Justice Party ticket. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Meera said that she has come to Pakistan from India only to support her mother. “I am going to Haroonabad so I can support my mom,” she said. “My mom doesn’t need my support because she is very strong herself. She has proved to be an excellent mom, excellent sister and an excellent family member,” Meera said, adding that her mother will also prove to be the best option for Haroonabad. “Whatever hasn’t happened in Haroonabad for 65 years will now be done by my mom,” she said. “My mom will now be Haroonabad’s mom.” Last month, Meera had announced that she will be contesting the upcoming general elections on the NA-126 seat in Lahore from the platform of Justice Party. stAFF rEPOrt

Rs 11.2b released for thermal plants fuel ISLAMABAD: The Finance Ministry has released Rs 11.2 billion for provision of fuel to thermal power plants whereas further funds would be released in the next 30 days, said a spokesman of the Prime Minister’s House on Thursday. The spokesman strongly contradicted the news reports carried by a section of media about the ministry’s refusal to release Rs 20 billion for provision of fuel. The ministry had issued clear instructions to release a provisional amount of Rs 20 billion for the purpose, he added. He said that the government was committed to ensuring provision of fuel to thermal power plants so that optimal generation of power could be achieved. APP

SHO among five killed in Bannu wedding shooting At least five people, including a station house officer (SHO) were killed during an exchange of gunfire between two armed groups in a wedding ceremony in Bannu late on Thursday night. According to a private TV channel, unidentified armed men barged into the wedding ceremony of SHO Zeenatullah’s brother in Mohalla Aabkari in the City Police precincts. After an exchange of hot words, the two groups resorted to firing that left five people including the SHO dead, the channel said. MONItOrINg DEsk

PTI wants devolution of power to grassroots level. – Asad Umar

Assassins mock Karachi’s security apparatus, 15 killed in fresh attacks KARACHI

stAFF rEPOrt

NCIDENTS of targeted killings continued unabated in Pakistan’s financial hub on Thursday as at least 15 more people lost their lives to assassins roaming the streets of the metropolis unchallenged. Three city wardens were killed and another was injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on them in the Soldier Bazaar area of the city. The killed wardens were identified as Farooq, Nasrullah and Sadiq. According to po-

lice, a CID official was killed in the Gulberg area while two policemen were shot dead within the limits of SITE-B police station. The policemen were identified as Zahid and Khalid. A man identified as Shoaib was shot dead in Yousuf Goth area of the city while two people were gunned down in Korangi. Five people were also killed in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Baldia Town, Shahra-e-Noor-Jahan, New Karachi and Steel Town. One person was killed in a firing incident in Orangi Town Sector 11 while a man was seriously injured in a gun attack in the Federal B area of the city. Police said

two tortured bodies were recovered from Powerhouse Chowrangi in North Karachi area and one from Nusrat Bhutto Colony. In another incident, a man was gunned down by unidentified assailants in the Shah Faisal Colony. Two persons were injured when a cracker bomb was lobbed in the Zahra Garden of Malir area of the city. One person was injured in indiscriminate firing in the Faqir Colony. On the other hand, Rangers continued their ‘targeted’ operation in the city. Over 500 paramilitary personnel took part in Thursday’s operation conducted in Lyari’s Kashti Chowk and Rabia City area of Karachi.

KARACHI: Relatives weep in the mortuary of Civil Hospital after three city wardens were killed by unidentified gunmen in Soldier Bazaar Area. ONLINE

Pakistan welcomes foreign observers for elections

Mengal wants EU observers in Balochistan for polls QUETTA

ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan has welcomed foreign observers from various countries to show them impartiality in the forthcoming general elections scheduled for May 11. Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said in his weekly briefing, “Pakistan welcomes foreign election observers because our leadership is committed to hold free, fair and transparent election in the country.” He said this exercise would help improve the credibility amongst the international community. Regarding the decision of Euro-

pean Union Election Observers to not to travel to FATA and Balochistan, the spokesman said, after getting accreditation from the Election Commission of Pakistan, all the observers were issued a travel advisory by the Interior Ministry. He said so far they had received requests from National Democratic Institute, Commonwealth, United Kingdom, Turkey, Malaysia, Australia, Mauritius and Maldives for sending their election observers and their case was under process. About threatening statements by North Korea, the spokesman said Pakistan shared the concern of international community on the recent tension and

deteriorating situation in Korean peninsula. He said issues relating to disarmament, non-proliferation, strategic stability in South Asia and cooperation in science and technology would be discussed during the meeting. To a question, the spokesman described Pakistan-China friendship as a source of stability in the region and said no one should worry about growing relationship between the two countries. About India’s concern about handing over of Gwadar Port to Chinese, the spokesman said Pak-China relations were sources of strength and stability in the region.

Dasti, Nisar back iN the game! LAHORE: Former member of National Assembly Jamshed Dasti announced on Thursday he will contest elections from Muzaffargarh NA177 and 178 after the election tribunal cleared him of all charges on Wednesday, while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was also cleared to contest elections from NA-53 Rawalpindi. Dasti’s announcement came as he spoke to journalists after being released from the Multan central jail. On April 4, Dasti was disquali-

fied from elections, handed a threeyear sentence in jail and a Rs 5,000 penalty by the Muzaffargarh District and Sessions court on account of having a fake degree. Later, the Lahore High Court Multan Bench ordered his release and declared the three-year jail term handed to him as null and void on grounds that he had not misrepresented or deceived authorities over his madrassa degree. “It is a win for the poor. Me and my family will fight against the feudal system,” Dasti said addressing a

press conference. “I had said time and again that my degree was not fake, and now I am proven right,” said a smiling Dasti. Former leader of opposition in National Assembly (NA) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s nomination papers for the constituency of NA-53 Rawalpindi were accepted by the election tribunal also, that dismissed the returning officer’s decision on Thursday. A returning officer had rejected Nisar’s papers during the scrutiny process for not declaring accurate details about his assets. stAFF rEPOrt

stAFF rEPOrt

Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNPM) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal said the European Union (EU) should not cancel sending its observers to Balochistan to monitor the upcoming general elections, giving in to establishment’s pressure. Addressing a press conference at his residence on Thursday, Mengal demanded the EU and the international community to send observers to Balochistan to monitor the upcoming polls. “Their presence would help ensure fair polls,” Mengal added. He demanded that EU probe into injustices committed against the Baloch masses by the establishment. Mengal further said the establishment does not want EU observers to monitor elections which he said was part of a conspiracy to keep his party away from polls. He said Balochistan’s situation was not worse than other war zones of the world where the EU had sent observers. The BNP chief said former ministers were still using official vehicles and resources for their campaign and urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to take notice of it. He also demanded transfer of bureaucrats from different districts of Balochistan.

Ji will make peace with taliban if it comes into power: hasan LAHORE INP

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan on Thursday said nobody knew the Taliban better than Pakistan and that if his party succeeded in the upcoming election, it would make peace with the militants. In an interview with Voice of Germany (Deutsche Welle), Hasan said it was too early to predict how his party would fare in elections. “It depends on our election cam-

paigning and electoral alliances with other parties.” About the goals for foreign policy, particularly Afghanistan and the Taliban, Hasan said with the support of parliament, “we will formulate a new and independent foreign policy”. “Our foreign policy will not be dictated by the US. We will raise our voices for the Muslims

Myanmar, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Palestine and Chechnya and try to resolve disputes in these countries with the help of the international community.” He said as far as the Taliban were concerned, “we will negotiate with them without US involvement”. He said nobody knew the Taliban better than Pakistan, and only

Soldier, 15 militants killed in Tirah clash PESHAWAR: At least 15 militants were killed on Thursday in an operation carried out by security forces in Khyber tribal region’s Tirah valley. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted an operation in which 15 militants and one security officer were killed. Moreover, the exchange of fire between militants and security officers are still continuing in southern sector of Tirah valley. stAFF rEPOrt

Pakistan could force them to give up their armed struggle. “Taliban rejected all those who

tried to negotiate with them in Qatar and France at the behest of the US,” the JI chief said.

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:56 AM Page 3

Pakistan has become the only country of the world where there is no concurrent list for legislation. – Asfandyar Wali Shahbaz calls for removal of pro-PPP officials in Centre LAHORE stAFF rEPOrt

Former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif has called on the caretaker government to transfer administrative officials in the Centre to ensure free and fair election. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz leader said by not transferring officials, the caretaker government was creating doubts over the credibility of the election. Shahbaz said the PPP’s favorite officers were posted in key departments such as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). He said if the ECP could write to the prime minister to express displeasure over a statement of a federal minister, why couldn’t it follow the practice in removing the government functionaries loyal to the PPP.

Imran seeks CEC, CJ’s help for expats’ voting rights ISLAMABAD stAFF rEPOrt

Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday expressed concern over the ECP’s excuses for granting the overseas Pakistanis their right of voting and urged Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim to intervene and implement the direction made by the Supreme Court in this regard. The PTI chief made this statement during a meeting with a 30-member delegation comprising eminent overseas Pakistanis who called on him to discuss the matter. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had reiterated its stance that it might be impossible to include overseas Pakistanis in the polling process with days left in the general elections due to legal and other factors. “Overseas Pakistanis are an asset for the country and denying them the right to vote is a grave injustice. It was PTI that had filed a petition in the Supreme Court for giving right of vote to overseas Pakistanis and after the decision of the apex court every effort should have been made to ensure that this became possible,” a statement issued quoted Imran Khan as telling the delegates. Khan said that he could not comprehend as to why the options of NADRA’s e-voting software and postal ballot were being opposed to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis.

Bilour asks ECP to take notice of PTI’s TV publicity campaign PESHAWAR APP

Former federal minister and Awami National Party (ANP) central leader Ghulam Ahmad Bilour asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take notice of publicity campaign launched by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on private TV channels. Addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, Bilour said the PTI chief was running a publicity campaign on private TV channels in violation of the ECP code of conduct that puts a limit on election expenditure of candidates. Spending on TV advertisements is not a big deal but we are adhering to the rules and regulations set by the ECP for the upcoming polls, Bilour added.

Expats to be part of polls process, SC told ISLAMABAD

patriates which would be utilised during the elections. Upon which, Justice Gulzar asked when an overseas would HE Supreme caste his vote in another country, his Court (SC) was vote could also be used in his own informed on constituency which would be tantaThursday that mount to using one vote twice. homework on the However, the ECP DG brushed exercise to inaway this notion, saying there clude overseas Pakistanis in the would be meager chances of misforthcoming general elections had takes in the current E-voting sysbeen completed. tem. The SC was further apprised Attorney General for Pakistan that a recent meeting of the Election Irfan Qadir told the court that the Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and PAKISTANIS RESIDING first step towards materialising other functionaries of the governwould be legislation. ment had discussed the issue of IN 10 COUNTRIES WOULD BE this goal The AG said including cerproviding right to franchise to INCLUDED IN THIS EXERCISE… tain clauses in the legislation overseas Pakistanis and came would make the process of to a conclusion that their parABOUT 4.5 MILLION REGISTERED giving right to the expatriates ticipation would be ensured. VOTERS ARE RESIDING IN OTHER in the forthcoming elections This was told to a threeeasier. member bench comprising COUNTRIES, OF WHICH 3.5 Qadir apprised the court Chief Justice Iftikhar MILLION ARE IN THE MIDDLE EAST that once the process of legMuhammad Chaudhry, Jusislation was completed, they tice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice AND 2.9 MILLION ARE CURRENTLY would need help of the MinSheikh Azmat Saeed when it LIVING ONLY IN SAUDI istry for Overseas Pakistanis resumed hearing into the identiand the Foreign Office. cal constitutional petitions of ARABIA AND THE UNITED Afgan said the process of issuImran Khan and others. ARAB EMIRATES. ing visas to the staff appointed in During the course of the proforeign missions would take two to ceeding, ECP Director General three weeks. The chief justice Sher Afgan apprised the bench repraised the ECP, NADRA and other garding the meetings held at the ECP between all the stakeholders that in Saudi Arabia about one mil- government functionaries for their lion Pakistanis had manual pass- hard work and devotion in making on April 9 and 10. He said the meetings came to a ports, thus they would not be able to the task possible. Later, the proceedings were adconclusion that the inclusion of take part in the elections because overseas Pakistanis in the upcoming the machine readable passport journed for 10 days. The SC also directed the ECP to submit a further election was quite possible and tak- (MRP) was a pre-requisite. The ECP DG said NADRA had report on the legislation and other ing the first step it was decided that initially Pakistanis residing in 10 made E-voting software for the ex- matters.

APP

countries would be included in this exercise. “About 4.5 million registered voters are residing in other countries, of which 3.5 million are in the Middle East and 2.9 million out of this figure are currently living only in two countries of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,” he informed the court. Afgan further apprised the court

attacks on election hopefuls raise fears for peaceful polls eration to arrest the killers of the late MQM electoral candidate. Addressing a press conference, Sattar condemned the murder of the MQM electoral candidate and reiterated his party’s “zero tolerance” policy for terrorism. He demanded that an operation be carried out to arrest the perpetrators behind Islam’s murder. KARACHI/PESHAWAR He further stated that innocent stAFF rEPOrt citizens in peaceful areas of Karachi were being harassed by Attacks on two election hopefuls police and Rangers officials under in Hyderabad and Peshawar on the pretext of operations. He added Thursday show that anti-state that MQM’s election process was forces are gearing up their activi- also being hindered. Meanwhile, ties to disrupt the upcoming elec- Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khoso tions in the country. has taken notice of the murder and While an election canordered an investigation. didate belonging to the ANP LEADER TARMuttahida Qaumi GETED: SepaMovement (MQM) rately, a blast near was gunned down the former agriin Hyderabad on culture minister Thursday mornArbab Ayub ing, an Awami Jan’s car injured National Party one of his poll hopeful was guards in Petargeted by a shawar. Accordbomb in Peshawar ing to initial but he was lucky to reports, it was a roadFAkhAruL IsLAM escape the attack. In Hyside bomb which tarderabad, two unidentified geted Jan’s car in the motorcyclists shot dead Fakharul jurisdiction of Chamkani Police Islam, the MQM’s candidate for Station. Jan escaped unhurt in the Sindh Assembly, in the Halanaka incident. Jan is a senior member area. He was shot in the chest thrice. of the Awami National Party The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (ANP) and will be participating in claimed responsibility for the the upcoming elections on NA-4 brazen attack in the evening. seat for Peshawar-IV. The In London, MQM chief Altaf Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan had Hussain called for the immediate earlier threatened to attack elecarrest of Islam’s killers. In tion rallies and candidates of the Karachi, MQM Deputy Convener Pakistan People’s Party, Awami Dr Farooq Sattar called for an op- National Party and MQM..

MQM CALLS FOR OPERATION AFTER CANDIDATE IS GUNNED DOWN IN HYDERABAD

News

Friday, 12 april, 2013

ECP moves against interior minister ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday asked caretaker prime minister to take appropriate action against the caretaker interior minister for exhibiting political affiliation with a particular political party. In a letter to the principal secretary to the prime minister, the ECP said: “Such statement on behalf of a federal minister may prove to be damaging to the perception of holding free, fair and credible election in the country with the assistance of a politically biased interim government.” The Election Commission secretary on behalf of CEC asked the principle secretary to bring this state of affairs to the notice of prime minister for consideration and appropriate action. Malik Habib Khan had issued a statement in favour of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and various political parties, including Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Awami National Party (ANP) and others had asked the commission to take notice of the same. APP

Military ponders over election security plans RAWALPINDI: The top army commanders gathered here on Thursday and deliberated, among other matters, plans to provide security during the upcoming general elections. According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the commanders had gathered for the army’s bi-annual Formation Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters. Chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the conference was briefed about the prevailing internal and external security environment and other professional matters. “Plans to provide security during May elections as asked for by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) were also discussed and deliberated,” the release stated. In addition to the Corps Commanders, Principal Staff Officers and all Formation Commanders also attended the conference. stAFF rEPOrt

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:56 AM Page 4

04 N

If attacks on Salala can be stopped then why not drone strikes. — PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan

News Friday, 12 april, 2013

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday admitted a plea pertaining to postponement of general elections and summoned the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Director Intelligence to appear before the court on Friday (today). As the LHC’s full bench resumed hearing, the petitioner argued that scrutiny of candidates was not held correctly, adding that the FBR and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had not provided returning officers (ROs) with a list of defaulters which meant they accepted the nomination papers without considering it. He requested the court to postpone elections for two months so that a strict scrutiny of candidates could be held. The deputy attorney general argued that the petitioner wanted to derail the democratic system. Following this the bench summoned FBR’s intelligence director on Friday. stAFF rEPOrt

India to offer group tourist visa to Pakistanis NEW DELHI: After launching visa on arrival (VoA) facility for Pakistani senior citizens, India has initiated the process to provide the group tourist visa on a reciprocal basis. The group tourist visa was to be launched from March 15, but missed the deadline due to tension between the two countries after violation of ceasefire on the LoC. A senior Indian Home Ministry official said, “The moment New Delhi gets the list of authorised tour operators from Islamabad, the ‘group tourist’ visa would be launched. India has already identified 18 such tour\travel operators on its side and shared it with Pakistan.” According to the new liberalised visa pact between the two countries, the group tourist visa would be offered for 30 days to tourists traveling in groups with not less than 10 members and not more than 50 members, organised by approved tour operators or travel agents. INP

No pension for judges with less than five-year service: SC ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has declared null and void a law allowing pension to judges of the high courts‚ having less than 5 years’ service. A five-member bench, headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, heard the judges’ pension case on Thursday. The court in its short ruling declared null and void the verdict of a bench, headed by Justice Nawaz Abbasi, which in 2008 ruled that whosoever elevated to the high court had the entitlement of the perks and pension. The court said that now judges having less than a five-year service would not be entitled to pension and other perks. ONLINE

Youtube unblocking being considered! Caretaker Minister for Information Arif Nizami has said that his ministry would ask the department concerned to consider the unblocking of Youtube in the country, a private TV channel reported on Thursday. It is now almost eight months after the government blocked the video sharing website due to an antiIslam film. The website was restored three months ago but was blocked within hours after it was learnt that the blasphemous content was still present on the website. MONItOrINg DEsk

Obama budget cuts funds for US spy agencies WASHINGTON AgENCIEs

S President Barack Obama’s proposed budget unveiled on Wednesday calls for cuts of at least $4.4 billion to America’s intelligence agencies, in a sign of growing fiscal pressures. Obama is requesting $48.2 billion for the CIA and other spy agencies starting October 1, down from a proposed $52.6 billion for fiscal year 2013, according to the national intelli-

( UTILISATION OF PSDP FUNDS

gence director’s office. Separately, the Pentagon said it had requested $14 billion for military intelligence programmes, down from $21.5 billion spent in fiscal year 2012. The figure reflected a trend in recent years, with the Pentagon – which funds a number of spy services – scaling back intelligence spending since 2010. But the numbers released did not include funding related to the war in Afghanistan or other “overseas contingency operations”, officials said. The intelligence budgets pay for an

OBAMA IS REQUESTING $48.2 BILLION FOR THE CIA no breakarray of spy satellites AND OTHER SPY AGENCIES fered down of the spendand high-tech equipSTARTING OCTOBER 1, ing on what is ment as well as tens of widely considered thousands of employDOWN FROM A PROPOSED to be the world’s ees, including analysts, $52.6 BILLION FOR largest intelligence linguistic experts, crypbudget. Apart from the tologists, cyber specialFISCAL YEAR 2013 funding reductions enists, paramilitary

operations such as drone strikes and traditional spies in the field. The US government only recently began disclosing figures on intelligence funding, but the latest announcement of-

visaged in the president’s request, the intelligence agencies are already facing steep automatic budget cuts due to a long-running political impasse in Congress.

(

LHC admits plea on postponing polls, summons FBR official over scrutiny issue

A month’s visa SC terms Balochistan govt’s extension for Pakistani Hindus in India report unsatisfactory NEW DELHI

ISLAMABAD APP

The Supreme Court on Thursday termed the report of Chief Secretary Balochistan unsatisfactory regarding utilisation of the Public Sector Development Programme funds in the province. The three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Chaudhry, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Gulzar Ahmed resumed the hearing of Abdul Rahim’s petition regarding misuse of PSDP in Balochistan. During the hearing, counsel for petitioner Iftikhar Gillani informed the court that 502 development schemes were not completed during

the year 2011-12, while, next year the figure was increased to 720 development schemes. In his remarks, Justice Gulzar Ahmed said that the report was not finalised in a serious manner. The CJP directed the Balochistan government to utilise 75 percent remaining developmental funds. He said that the people of the province was deprived of their due rights and added that those at the helm of affairs were responsible for it. He observed that the officials involved in corruption should be apprehended. The court also lifted ban on use of developmental funds in Balochistan. The counsel for the Balochistan government informed the court that the matter was referred to the National Accountability Bu-

‘No civilian drone deaths’ in Pakistan claim was false, say US documents WASHINGTON ONLINE

US intelligence officials were aware that at least one civilian had died in drone strikes in Pakistan during 2011, despite claims to the contrary made by the man now running the Central Intelligence Agency. In June 2011, John Brennan, at the time President Barack Obama’s chief counterterrorism adviser, stated publicly that for “almost a year” no civilian had died in US drone strikes in Pakistan. But leaked US intelligence documents obtained by news agency McClatchy show this was not true. According to national security reporter Jonathan Landry, the intelligence documents, which chronicle the drone war in Pakistan, admit to a civilian death on April 22 2011 – two months prior to Brennan’s public claim. At the time of the strike, an anonymous US official had

insisted to CNN that “there is no evidence to support that claim [of civilian casualties] whatsoever”. The April 22 drone strike hit a house before dawn, killing at least 25 people in North Waziristan. Seven media organisations reported that at least five civilians died, including three children. Both Associated Press and the bureau sent investigators into the field. Each confirmed that civilians, including women and children, were killed in the attack. The McClatchy investigation involves the most significant leak so far of US intelligence documents covering the CIA’s Pakistan drone war. The documents, which have not yet been published, are said to cover two periods: 2006 to 2008, and January 2010 to September 2011. Reporting on the leaked papers indicate that what US officials say publicly about drone strikes does not always match their private records.

reau (NAB) for further investigation. The court also expressed its reservation over the utilisation of development funds during the last five years. The counsel for the Balochistan government also submitted a report regarding completion of development projects after transfer of funds. The CJP said that every member of the provincial assembly received Rs 250 million for development schemes but they failed to remove sense of deprivation among the masses. The court also directed the Balochistan chief secretary to submit report of amended schemes with his signature. The court also issued notice to Attorney General in this regard. Later, the court adjourned the hearing for two weeks.

ECP wants reshuffling of 65 top Sindh bureaucrats KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday ordered transfers of top 65 Sindh bureaucrats including chief secretary and home secretary. According to the ECP, the orders to reshuffle Sindh’s top bureaucrats were issued following receipt of several complaints. The ECP ordered to transfer chief secretary, additional chief secretary and home secretary of Sindh, while principle secretary of interim Sindh chief minister, city commissioner, secretary education, secretary local government and secretary services and general administrative department had been replaced already. According to the ECP orders, high ranking officials of Sindh police department including Jamshoro district commissioner, Larkana district inspector general and Naushero Feroz district commission were also transferred. stAFF rEPOrt

Hearing of Sharif family’s graft cases adjourned until 26th RAWALPINDI: An accountability court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of three references against the Sharif family – the Ittefaq Foundry, the Huddaibiya Paper Mills and the Raiwind corruption references – until April 26. Special Accountability Court (No-4) Judge Chaudhry Abdul Haq adjourned the hearing without any proceeding as a petition was being heard in the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore Hight Court (LHC) filed by the Sharif family seeking dismissal of the references. APP

INP

India has granted a one-month visa extension to all those Pakistani Hindus who failed to return after expiry of their visas on April 8. The extension applies to about 480 Pakistani citizens who entered India through the Rajasthan border to attend the Mahakumbh. Most of them have sought asylum citing varied reasons. Officials in the home ministry said the gov-

ernment would take a “sympathetic” view of those who do not want to return. “All these Pakistanis will be treated like any other asylum seeker on humanitarian grounds, irrespective of what their religions are,” a senior home ministry official said, adding that no one would be forced to leave the country at this juncture. Officials hinted that providing them Indian citizenship was an option but India would prefer to grant them long-term visas on humanitarian grounds.

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:56 AM Page 5

In philosophy seminars, the choice is usually between good and evil. In the real world, however, the choice is often between a bad guy and a worse guy. –Dinesh D’Souza

islamabaD Friday, 12 april, 2013

WeAther UpdAteS

270C high p 0 15 low C

HASHMI IN RACE FOR NA-48 ONLY TO DEFEAT MUSHARRAF, WILL WITHDRAW PAPERS IF LATTER IS DISQUALIFIED, PTI INSIDERS CLAIM ISLAMABAD

Artly CloUdy

SAtUrdAy

SUndAy

MondAy

28CI16°C

29°CI16°C

28°CI16°C

PrAyEr tIMINgs Fajr 4:15

Race for NA-48 gets tougher

Sunrise Zuhr Asr Maghrib Isha 5:42 12:09 3:46 6:36 8:03

38,681 challan slips issued in March, 905 vehicles impounded RAWALPINDI

kAshIF ABBAsI

EHREEK-E-INSAF’S senior leader Javed Hashmi is likely to withdraw his candidature from NA-48 if the decision to reject former president Pervez Musharraf’s nomination papers is upheld by the Election Tribunal. Hashmi claims to have submitted his nomination papers in order to award an exemplary defeat to his rival Pervez Musharraf. Sources claim that the decision regarding Javed Hashmi’s candidature from NA-48 will be made in the next two days. On Thursday, the Election Tribunal reserved its decision on an appeal filed by former president against rejection of his nomination papers. However, political pundits claim that

APP

Rawalpindi City Traffic Police (CTP) have issued 38,681 challan tickets with fines amounting to over Rs 14 million imposed on violators of traffic rules during March. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Superintendent Police (SP) Syed Ishtiaq Shah informed that city traffic police in its efforts for the smooth flow of traffic on city roads impounded 905 vehicles and motorcycles in various police stations over severe traffic rules violations while a number of drivers were also arrested during the period. The CTO said that action in accordance with the law was taken against 454 vehicles for having tinted glasses and the black papers were removed instantly. 6500 vehicles and motorcycles which did not have proper number plates were challaned. 557 drivers were fined over improper parking. 272 motorists and motorcyclists were also challaned for reckless or negligent driving during this period. Similarly, 555 public service vehicles were fined for non-completion of their designated routes. Challans were also issues to 280 under-age drivers, 270 drivers for creating hurdles in smooth flow of traffic and to another 773 for violations of zebra crossing. The CTO informed that special campaigns in this regard were also run last month and under one such campaign, the citizens are being educated about traffic rules and road safety.

PML-N’S ANjuM AquEEL

jI’S MIAN ASLAM even if the Election Tribunal allowed Musharraf to contest from NA-48, he would still focus on the NA-32 Chitral seat, where he enjoys considerable support. In case Hashmi withdraws his candidature, PTI would have to choose a suitable candidate from a long list including Dr Israr Shah, Waseem Shahzad, Faisal Javid Khan, Adnan Randhawa and Amir Mughal. In the absence of both Javed Hashmi and Mushrraf, tough competition is expected between JI candidate Mian Aslam and a PML candidate. Former PML-N MNA Anjum Aqeel and Islamabad High Court Bar former president Chaudhry Ashraf Gujjar are in the run for PML-N ticket. NA-48 is one of the two constituencies of the federal capital. For May 11 elections, almost every party have fielded its candidates while a number of independent candidates are also in the race. However, there is no clear popularity of any particular party. In 2002 general elections, JI’s

PPP’S fAISAL Butt

Mian Aslam won this seat by defeating PPP’s heavy weight candidate Babar Awan. In 2008, Mian Aslam didn’t take part in the polls due to JI’s election boycott, which allowed PML-N’s Anjum Aqeel to win with a heavy margin. This consistency consists of both urban and rural areas. According to observers, in urban areas, Mian Aslam enjoys larger support than other candidates. PML-N’s Anjum Aqeel, who defeated Dr Syed Israr Shah of PPPP in 2008 polls, has lost his popularity to some extent in urban areas due to his alleged involvement in Rs 6 billion land fraud. However, belonging to the influential Khan Family of Golra, he still enjoys a large following in rural areas of the constituency. Sources claim that PML-N leadership is considering not awarding their ticket for NA-48 to Anjum Aqeel. However, family sources of Anjum claimed that he has been given the green signal for ticket.

RS 800 MILLION TO DEAL WITH FEDERAL CAPITAL’S WATER CRISIS ISLAMABAD AgENCIEs

Water Supply Directorate has demanded Rs800 million from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to resolve the water crisis in the federal capital. The directorates demanded funds to repair and replace decaying water pipelines to stop water wastage through leakage, as well as to replace tyres of water tankers. The funds will also be used to buy new trucks and a generator for Simly Dam. Moreover, water filtration plants installed at different points in the federal capital would be repaired, while the filter of Simly Dam filtration plant will be replaced.

CDA PREPARES TO MITIGATE SUMMER WATER SHORTAGE It is pertinent to mention here that water shortage persists in the federal capital throughout the year but the problem worsens during the summer. This year, the Water Supply Directorate is planning in advance to minimize the water shortage. PREPPING FOR SUMMER: With the onset of summer, the Capital Development Authority is bracing itself to cope with the water needs of the federal capital by strengthening its enforcement and water conservation mechanism. In this regard, CDA Chairman Syed

Tahir Shahbaz chaired a meeting and directed the concerned officials to ensure continuous water supply to the residents of the federal capital. He directed the Water Management Wing to ensure uninterrupted supply of water from Khanpur and Simly Dam besides carrying out necessary repair of water tankers, tube-wells and water filtration plants. He also ordered the purchase of new water tankers after auctioning the out of order tankers. In order to entertain the residents’ complaints regarding water supply, Chairman CDA said that he would pay surprise visits to different sectors. He also requested the residents to avoid water wastage to overcome the shortage.

PPP has awarded its ticket to newcomer Faisal Sakhi Butt. Although, Faisal Butt is actively running his election campaign and enjoys support of youth, yet PPP’s history in this area does not bode well for Butt.

WASA cuts 30 water connections over non-payment of dues RAWALPINDI: Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has launched an operation to recover dues from defaulters and disconnected 30 water supply connections over non-payment of water bills. WASA’s recovery branch served notices to defaulters for not paying water bills for the months of January and February, besides issuing challans to them. A WASA official said operation would be conducted on a daily basis. Sources said that WASA has prepared a strategy to disconnect 3300 defaulters whose billing record is not up to par. They said that millions of rupees are outstanding against the consumers and the authority was finding it difficult to make electricity bills payments. INP

BALOCH STUdENTS VISIT PAF ISLAMABAD INP

Under the auspices of Pakistan Air Force (PAF), a group of teachers and students from Baluchistan province arrived on Thursday at PAF Base Nur Khan (Rawalpindi) on a three day visit to different PAF educational institutions. The group comprising 10 teachers and 50 students selected from all districts of Baluchistan province were airlifted in a C-130 aircraft from PAF Base Samungli (Quetta) to PAF Base Nur Khan (Rawalpindi). The group will visit PAF Academy Risalpur, PAF Public School Lower Topa, Fazaia Inter Colleges of Rawalpindi /Islamabad and PAF Selection

Centre Rawalpindi. In the first phase, a five-member team from PAF visited Sibi Division and conducted a 10-day workshop for the teachers of government schools. In the next phase of the campaign, selected teachers from Baluchistan will be trained in preparing young students from Baluchistan for eventual selection for PAF Public Schools at Sargodha and Lower Topa. In consonance with the “Aghaz-e-Huqooqe-Balochistan” package launched by the Federal government in November, 2009, Pakistan Air Force is trying to induct Baluch youth in its ranks. As of now, PAF has a number of Baluch trainees (including females), undergoing training.

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:56 AM Page 6

islamabaD

No man will ever bring out of that office the reputation which carries him into it. The honeymoon would be as short in that case as in any other, and its moments of ecstasy would be ransomed by years of torment and hatred. –Thomas Jefferson

Friday, 12 april, 2013

SCHOOLS OR WILdERNESS? NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR STUDENTS BUT LARGE AREAS IN SCHOOLS LAY VACANT ISLAMABAD ZAIN-uL-IsLAM

ANY schools and colleges functioning in Islamabad Capital Territory under the regulation of Federal Directorate of Education resemble wilderness more than institutions of learning. Built decades ago, the schools boast of excess vacant lands which overflow with tall grass, bushes and weeds, making walking or playing troublesome for students, Pakistan Today has learnt. F.G Model School for Girls G-7/1 is the prime example of authorities’ non-serious attitude towards education. “We have requested directorate officials many times to resolve the issue, but they never responded properly,” an employee of the school

Miniature painting’s exhibition attracts art lovers ISLAMABAD: Art lovers from twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi took keen interest in an exhibition of miniature paintings started on Wednesday at Jharoka Art Gallery. Heinrich Boll Shiftung, Pakistan Country Director Britta Petresen inaugurated the event, showcasing 27 masterpieces of art by S.M.Mansoor. Mansoor’s paintings which focus on “modern uniformity” attracted attention due to their unique color scheme and thematic vividness. Mansoor has used the imagery of the everyday to construct his art in a new light. Mansoor manages to excite curiosity through every piece by eliminating all conventions of traditional miniature paintings. Dr. Shahida, an art enthusiast at the exhibition, said that Mansoor’s combination of the abstract and the everyday gives a unique touch to these paintings. The exhibition will continue till April 20. APP

told Pakistan Today. “We have only one gardener, which is not enough. Moreover, we also lack machinery and other resources,” he added. Similarly, junior model school in G-

8/1 is in a debilitated condition. Building is unkempt and one portion is out-of-use. A senior teacher present in the school said, “I do not know what is the procedure for the maintenance…

administration knows better, but schools should be in better condition as they play a vital role in children’s grooming.” Federal Directorate of Education has declared many schools and colleges as

minister directs igP to crackdown on sheesha corners ANTI-SMOKING DRIVE LAUNCHED TO CHECK SMOKING AT PUBLIC PLACES ISLAMABAD AgENCIEs

Caretaker Federal Minister for Interior Malik Habib Khan on Thursday directed the Islamabad Inspector General of Police to challan sheesha owners and confiscate sheeshas in the federal capital, according to a press release. The minister ordered the strict regulation of all public places and restaurants where Sheesha smoking is carried out and stressed that the activity will no longer be tolerated in the capital. ANTI-SMOKING DRIvE: An antismoking drive has been launched in the

Federal Capital to ensure implementation of anti-smoking ordinance 2002 which prohibits smoking in offices, parks, bus terminals and educational institutions. The ICT Administration in cooperation with the Tobacco Control Cell has also launched a public awareness drive regarding the side the effects of smoking and health hazards posed by sheesha smoking. All the concerned authorities are conducting surprise checking in their respective areas to eradicate sheesha smoking. SHEESHA CORNERS SEALED: Three sheesha corners were sealed and 16 hookahs confiscated in a drive launched by The District Administration. The drive around 1-8, F-10 and surrounding areas was carried out by Islamabad Secretariat Assistant Commissioner Nauman Yousaf, Industrial Area Assistant Commissioner Imran Ali Sultan and assistant

commissioner Shalimar. Meanwhile, the District Administration gave special direction to all restaurant owners that strict action would be taken against those who would try to violate the law. Smoking is banned at public spots, hotels, bus terminals, Railway Stations, cars, parks, hospital and other recreational places.

model educational institutions. But, these model schools and colleges are also rotting away. According to an official, FDE is managing more than 450 schools, with a total strength of more than 2million. These schools are divided into two parts: rural and urban. The schools described are located in urban areas. “There are a huge number of children who cannot get admission in schools, because of lack of space. Yet every school has large vacant areas where further class rooms can be built since they are just growing bushes and causing pollen allergy,” another teacher present at this school said. Government appears to discriminate even in the matter of education as schools and colleges in posh sectors of the city are in a much better condition than those present in located in middle or lower middle class areas. When contacted, director development of the FDE said, “We have a high level meeting regarding these issues tomorrow. Visit us later to get full-fledge and updated information.” It should be noted that with students off on vacations, this perhaps the best time to take the necessary actions.

19 outlaws arrested, 3.7 kgs of heroin and stolen car seized ISLAMABAD: Islamabad police have arrested 19 outlaws from various areas of the city and recovered 3.735 kg heroin, pistols, a stolen car and wine bottles from them, a police spokesman said on Thursday. According to details, Sabzi Mandi Police Station Station House Officer Inspector Qasim Khan Niazi arrested a drug dealer Naik Muhammad while patrolling and recovered 3.735 kilogram heroin from him. Sub-Inspector Athar Khan recovered four snatched mobile phones and one pistol from an accused. SHO Golra police station Inspector Abid Akram and Sub-Inspector Muhammad Tehseen arrested Kausar Perveen and Akhtar Gul for their alleged involvement in theft and recovered one pistol as well as stolen valuables from them. ASI Muhammad Sadique from Kohsar police station arrested Shabir Alam and recovered stolen a car (MLH-17) from him. ASI Safdar Hussain and Muhammad Siddique arrested two for possessing a pistol and four wine bottles. SubInspector Rabnawaz and Muhammad Asghar ASI from Tarnol police station apprehended two accused for possessing a pistol and 305 gram hashish. Sub Inspectors Muhammad Anaar, Muhammad Shafique and ASI Arif arrested three men for possessing 105 gram heroin, three wine bottles and one pistol. APP

Partially constructed overhead bridge on IJP road troubling commuters

SECuRItY CONCERNS: Policemen removing tinted stickers from vehicles’ windows on the directives of Interior Ministry.

stAFF PhOtO

RAWALPINDI: Stalled construction work on partially constructed overhead bridge at Pindora Chowk on IJ Principal Road has added to the miseries of the public. Residents of the area talking to INP said that there was a dire need for an overhead bridge at the Chowk. The project had been initiated and poles on both sides of the road were erected during PML-N’s term, but the remaining material of the bridge was placed along side road which not only contributes to traffic jams but could also cause accidents. Rehmat Ali, a shopkeeper on Saidpur Road said district government should either complete the bridge or demolish the partially erected structure. Other residents said about 70 percent work was completed on the project but remaining portion lingers on due to

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:57 AM Page 7

I’m undaunted in my quest to amuse myself by constantly changing my hair. — Hillary Clinton

News Friday, 12 april, 2013

ALEPPO: A Syrian man lowers a basket filled with belongings as civilians collect items from their damaged apartments on thursday. AgENCIEs

Yemeni president orders military shake-up SANA’A: Yemeni President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi has ordered the removal of top security officials from government, in a major shake-up directed at allies of ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Hadi removed Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh as head of the elite Republican Guard, appointing him ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, the country’s state-run television reported on Wednesday. The military commander is a son of the former president. General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, commander of the First Armoured Division and a rival of Ahmed Saleh, was named presidential adviser for military affairs. In a separate statement sent to Al Jazeera, Yemen’s embassy in Washington, DC, said Hadi’s order also covered two nephews of the former president, who had served in the Presidential Guard and the intelligence service. Brigadier Tariq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh was named defence attaché to Germany, while Colonel Ammar Mohammed Abdullah Saleh was appointed to a similar post in Ethiopia. Dozens of military officials were named in the statement provided to Al Jazeera. AgENCIEs

Israel detains women over prayer practices tEL AVIV: Israeli police have arrested five women at the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites, for wearing prayer shawls and amulets observances which Orthodox tradition sees as solely for men. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said about 120 woman arrived for their monthly prayer service on Thursday and five were detained for wearing the tallits (prayer shawls) and tefillin (phylacteries). Those arrested were part of the “Women of the Wall” group which campaigns for gender equality in religious practice. They routinely convene for prayer sessions around the start of each month at the Western Wall, revered by Jews as a perimeter wall of the Biblical Temple in Jerusalem, and several are routinely arrested and often released without charge. The site, under strict Orthodox ritual law, bars women from wearing the religious clothing or publicly reading from the holy scriptures and is divided into men’s and women’s sections. AgENCIEs

57 killed in army assault in southern Syria

Islamist shot dead in Bangladesh violence DHAKA

AgENCIEs

protester from Bangladesh’s largest Islamic party was shot dead on Thursday as police opened fire at hundreds of opposition activists on the fourth day of a nationwide strike. Police said the shooting occurred in the southern town of Dumuria where they fired live rounds at 500 supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, during protests to demand the release of the head of its student wing. The violence is the latest to hit Bangladesh stemming from a continuing war crimes tribunal, at which almost the entire Jamaat leadership is in the dock for crimes committed during the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. The latest killing brought the overall death toll from clashes triggered by the trials to 98 since January 21 when the court handed down its first verdicts. “Police opened fire after they came under attack from 500 Jamaat supporters,” Khulna district police chief Ghulam

DAMASCUS AgENCIEs

NEWSPAPER EDITOR ARRESTED IN RAID DHAKA: Police in Bangladesh have arrested the acting editor of a proopposition newspaper on various charges. Mahmudur Rahman was arrested in a raid on the office of the Bengali-language Amar Desh newspaper in Dhaka on Thursday. Security officials would not immediately say what charges would be brought against him. The Ekattor TV station said the editor would face eight charges, including sedition and cybercrime. Police told local media that Rahman would appear before a Dhaka court later on Thursday. Leaders of the government’s ruling party have accused the daily of inciting violence during recent political unrest. Amar Desh is the leading opposition paper in the country. Its circulation and online audience have increased significantly due to recent investigative reports and its anti-government stand. Human rights groups have accused the ruling Awami League party of harassment of Rahman and his paper. Government officials filed charges including defamation and sedition against him in 2009, 2010 and 2012. AgENCIEs

Rouf Khan said, adding that the protesters fired guns and hurled home-made bombs at police. “A Jamaat man, hit with a bullet in the chest, died on the way to a hospital,” another police officer, Kazi Abu Salek, said. Some 20 Jamaat supporters were hit with bullets and five police officers were

SYRIA ANd NORTH KOREA dOMINATE G8 MEETING LONDON: US Secretary of State John Kerry and other G8 foreign ministers are holding a second day of talks in London focused on Syria and North Korea. Britain was expected to call for more help for the Syrian opposition but there were no signs of a major shift in policy, a day after rebels again appealed for weapons.. Western and Middle Eastern nations supporting the opposition will meet in Turkey on April 20, a US official said as foreign ministers of the Group of Eight nations met. US Secretary of State John Kerry will attend the meeting of the so-called Friends of Syria “core group” in Istanbul, said the official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity. North Korean threats of war will also be high on the agenda of the G8 talks, which began in London over dinner on Wednesday and were due to end on Thursday. AgENCIEs

07 N

injured in the clashes, online newspaper bdnews24.com said. The trials have plunged the impoverished country into one of its most turbulent chapters since independence. Analysts fear lasting damage to the fabric of the world’s eighth-most populous country.

Six children were among at least 57 people killed in southern Syria as the army launched an all-out assault on two towns in Daraa province, a watchdog said on Thursday. “At least six children, seven women, 16 rebel fighters, 16 other unidentified men and 12 army troops were killed on Wednesday, in fighting, shelling and summary executions waged after the army launched an assault on Al-Sanamein and Ghabagheb,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP the army’s assault came a day after a dozen troops defected from a nearby military post to join the rebels. “The defectors took refuge in the area of Al-Sanamein and Ghabagheb, which up until then had remained somewhat more calm than other areas of Daraa,” said Abdel Rahman. “The army launched its assault, and shelled several houses,” he added. Nationwide, at least 179 people were killed in violence on Wednesday — 50 civilians, 86 rebels and 43 soldiers, the Observatory said. On Thursday, at least four military personnel were killed when rebels shot down a helicopter delivering supplies to besieged troops in Idlib province in the northwest, the Observatory said. Rebels have laid siege to the sprawling Wadi Deif camp for several months and its garrison can only be resupplied by air. Amateur video footage distributed by the Observatory showed onlookers gathered around at least three bloodied corpses in an open field.

France’s top rabbi Gilles Bernheim quits in plagiarism row PARIS AgENCIEs

France’s top rabbi, Gilles Bernheim, has resigned amid a scandal over plagiarism Rabbi Bernheim had admitted to plagiarising several authors and lying about an academic status on his CV, reports said. He has resigned with immediate effect, the body governing France’s Jewish congregations announced. Members of the Central Israeli Consistory of France had been meeting in emergency session in Paris. “He recognised his faults, apologised and gave explanations,” Sammy Ghoslan, the consistory’s vice-president, told AFP news agency. His resignation as grand rabbi was “a solution that

brings more serenity. We all agreed,” he said. CHANGING STANCE: Rabbi Bernheim had been accused of plagiarising other authors for sections of his 2011 book, Forty Jewish Meditations. And AFP said it had established that a claim on his CV that he had been awarded a prestigious but rarely granted philosophy academic status from Sorbonne University was also not true. It has also emerged that parts of an essay he wrote arguing against gay marriage - cited by the then Pope Benedict XVI in an address in December - may also have been similar to preexisting works. Rabbi Bernheim had initially denied all wrongdoing, and had then asserted that the plagiarism in his book had been carried out by an assistant.

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:57 AM Page 8

08 N

Caretaker regime will take all possible steps to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country. – Arif Nizami

News Friday 12 april, 2013

IHC suspends NAB order for recovery of electricity bills ISLAMABAD APP

The Islamabad High Court on Thursday suspended the order of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for recovery of electricity charges by the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) from private company owners against fuel adjustment charges. NAB issued order on March 3 directing the owners of private companies to deposit the electricity bills along with the fuel adjustment charges. The court also issued pre-admission notices to the Water and Power Ministry’s secretary, WAPDA, FESCO chief executive and others. A division bench of the IHC, comprising of Chief Justice Anwar Khan Kasi and Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi, resumed the hearing of a plea filed by owners of around 52 companies seeking nullification of the NAB orders. Muhammad Nawaz, counsel for the petitioners, apprised the bench that NAB order for recovery of fuel adjustment charges was irrational. He requested to declare NAB order illegal that followed the adjournment of the hearing.

PHC orders arrest of interior secretary over FC deployment PESHAWAR stAFF rEPOrt

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday issued arrest warrants for secretary, additional secretary and deputy secretary of the federal interior ministry for failing to abide by court orders. PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan while hearing a suo moto case pertaining to deployment of Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers in other parts of the county, expressed anger over non-compliance of court orders, seeking a pullout of paramilitary troops. Officials were directed to appear before the court many times but they did not turn up. The chief justice ordered their arrest as well as suspension of their salaries.

You cannot fool us, CJP tells agencies AGP SAYS PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT CAN LEGISLATE PER CONSTITUTION

CJP SAYS INJUSTICE CANNOT BE DONE WITH PEOPLE EVEN IN STATE OF WAR

PESHAWAR: Relatives of allegedly missing persons from Swat stop commuters as they blocked a road on thursday during a demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club. ONLINE

ISLAMABAD stAFF rEPOrt

HIEF Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that intelligence agencies should stop playing hide and seek games with the Supreme Court (SC). The CJP gave these remarks while presiding over a three-member bench hearing the Adiala missing prisoners’ case on Thursday. During the hearing, Attorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir said an extraordinary situation prevailed, therefore, civil powers had been delegated to the army. “National security is in jeopardy and an emergencylike situation has gripped the country. Therefore, it had become essential to deploy army there to restore peace.” The AGP said the president and

parliament could legislate per constitution. “President wields powers to enact legislation like parliament.” CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry said it “was not allowed even during martial law to suspend fundamental rights”. The AGP said the president was part of parliament and he was not accountable to any court of for his deeds. He is entitled to legislate under Article 56 of the constitution. The CJP said, “We have never accepted clipping of powers of the courts. In Karachi, other areas and Balochistan the situation is worsening. Has discriminatory treatment has not been meted to FATA by promulgating law therein?” he questioned. The AGP said, “We cannot inflict any damage on the country by showing leniency towards militants. Loyalty to the country is above law and constitution too. By virtue of it, law and constitution go on changing. No limit is set in

the US for keeping anyone under detention. It continues unless the detained person is cleared.” The CJP said people were being detained beyond the law and in certain cases, even legal parameters were not met. Giving details about the accused who were arrested from various areas, Qadir said two convoys of the army were attacked and the accused proceeded to Lawara Mela. “Suicide jackets were also recovered from them and they were working against national security.” The CJP said no evidence of external attacks had come to light. “Government officers, rather than army officers, have been giving such statements. It is not difficult to handle the situation. It can be improved. Leave aside all things, the army should at least ask about what is happening over there. The situation will be further complicated this way. Everyone evinces interest in it that internal and external interference should come to end,” he remarked. Qadir said it stood beyond comprehension what the army should do in the war-like situation there. “Should it keep on watching people die?” The CJP said, “You cannot do injustice with the people even in a state of war.” Citing laws prevalent in Israel, the AGP said there was no limit to keep anyone under detention. “TADA law is in place in India. PTA stands enforced in Sri Lanka since 1979. This order was issued by the president that anyone can be kept under detention for 72 hours without registering the case. Yard protection bill and migration laws are in force in Australia which were approved by parliament. Report has to be submitted within four hours and the parliament goes through it. If any situation like eruption of war prevails in any territory, the army can be allowed to launch operation per the constitution,” Qadir submitted.

Passport crisis to be resolved within a month: official KARACHI AgENCIEs

In a bid to resolve the ongoing crisis of passport issuance, a summary was sent to the caretaker prime minister for his special approval to issue 1.5 million laminates on Thursday. In a statement by Director General of Passports and Immigration Zulfiqar Cheema, a special request was sent to the caretaker prime minster to resolve the 0.9 million passport applications which were pending. Moreover, the Federal Interior Secretary Khwaja Siddique wrote to the caretaker premiere for the issuance of 1.5 million laminates. The recently appointed DG indicated that the matter would be resolved within a month. The tender for the supply of laminate was awarded the previous company based in the United States as the Islamabad High Court had already issued a verdict in this regards, according to sources. The printing of a large number of passports was held up due to the non-availability of laminates, causing agony to applicants.

World abolishing death penalty, but executions on rise in India, Pakistan NEW DELHI ONLINE

Fewer countries are carrying out executions than a decade ago, but India along with nations like Gambia, Pakistan and Japan bucked the trend to resume handing out death penalties, Indian media reported on Thursday. An Amnesty International report had said that 21 countries executed convicts last year as compared to 28 in 2003. But there is greater concern that Indian courts had meted out at least 78 death sentences with more than 400 estimated to be on death row at the end of this year. The new death sentences given by India (78) are second only to Pakistan (242) in the Asia-Pacific region. At least 679 new death sentences are known to have been imposed in 19 countries in the region last year.

Pakistan army tries to win over local population in war-torn tribal region SARAROGHA AgENCIEs

Driving through high mountain passes with mud brick houses perched on cliffs overhead and caves down below where Taliban fighters used to hide, Brig. Hassan Hayat talks excitedly about the Pakistan army’s latest operations in these long-hostile tribal areas. “Now we are getting into the olives,” he said as the road passed through groves of trees, explaining how the military has been bringing in Italian olive trees to graft onto local growers’ trees to improve production. “Some 400 trees we’ve already done.” He had wanted to plant daffodils, he mentioned at another point in the trip. But it turned out the flowers would be too hard to export. Bee farms have proven more productive. After battling Taliban militants in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan for over a decade, the Pakistani military is engaged in a new fight, aiming to win over a population who are returning to their homes in the region after years living as refugees in their own country and who harbor a longstanding mistrust of the central government. The military is rebuilding infrastructure and setting up economic and job projects for the population in South Waziristan, one of the seven tribal regions along the border with Afghanistan. It’s a classic

counterinsurgency tactic similar to that used by the U.S. military — with mixed results — in Iraq and Afghanistan. The aim is to decrease support for militants and bring peace to a troubled region — in this case, tribal areas that have long been sanctuaries for the Taliban and other militant groups fueling instability in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. “Once the people are more aware, more educated, they will not take up arms but go for the development and be a positive contributor in society,” said Hayat. With a month to go before nationwide elections that will see a transfer of power from one elected government to another for the first time in Pakistan’s history, security will be a major campaign issue. Since many of Pakistan’s security problems are linked to what happens in the tribal regions, the success or failure of the counterinsurgency campaign could have major repercussions for the rest of the country. “The population was hostage to these people,” said Hayat. “They had their own rule of law. Whatever they wanted they could do in this area.” But many residents have a softer recollection of Taliban rule. Many said they didn’t have a problem with the Taliban and only fled because of the fighting. “During the Taliban time the situation was good generally. The Taliban have not done anything wrong to anyone. Pakistan and Tal-

iban have the problem,” said Sami Ullah, who owns a hotel and restaurant that opened in late March in Sararogha, thanks to the army’s rehabilitation efforts. The army, which essentially runs South Waziristan now, launched the rehabilitation and rebuilding program in 2010. It has grown since, mostly in the eastern part of the territory. But major challenges remain. Only about 15 percent of residents who fled have been allowed to return, as the military lets them back only at the rate that their towns are rebuilt. Many of those who have returned complain about lack of compensation and services. They chafe against military restrictions. The army, for example, has stopped mobile phone services, likely to prevent the Taliban from using them to

communicate or detonate bombs. No one is allowed to carry weapons, angering tribesmen who consider their rifles a symbol of independence and pride. Anyone entering or leaving South Waziristan is checked against a database of who is allowed in and who is not. It’s also unclear when, if ever, the military will be able to hand over power to a civilian government in South Waziristan, a territory about the size of Delaware. “The progress is slow,” said Abdur Rahim Khan, who is running in the May 11 election for a parliament seat in a South Waziristan district. His own village has not yet been resettled and most of his potential constituents are scattered around the country. One of the military’s most high-profile projects is the roads being built in areas previously only

accessible by four-wheel drive, camel or on foot. The U.S. government’s development arm is paying for most of the roads. Part of the plan is to open a new corridor to give traders easy access from Afghanistan to Pakistan’s central Punjab province, the heart of the country’s agriculture and manufacturing. In Sararogha, local businessman Danet Khan said the new roads save time and money. On the gravel roads, the average vehicle only survived four or five years. Now the smooth two-lane highway through his village cuts travel time dramatically. The military has built shopping areas where villagers now sell goods out of small shop fronts with roll-down metal doors painted with a green and white Pakistani flag. A barber — something forbidden under the Taliban — cuts hair in one of the stalls, though he says most residents don’t need a shave because they still prefer long beards. Hayat would like to bring in a CD shop, something also banned by the Taliban. Soccer fields, schools, poultry farms and homes for widows have been built, and the military is trying to rehabilitate a leather factory sacked by the Taliban. With few jobs at home, families here have historically survived on wages from family members sent to work in the Pakistani port city of Karachi or the Persian Gulf. So the army built a vocational school to

teach local men skills like computers and electricity repair. Since many people also joined the militants simply because they paid well, the school potentially deprives the Taliban of new recruits. “They don’t have any opportunities. They need something to live on. That’s why they joined the Taliban,” said one student studying to be an electrician, Sajjad Ahmed. A cadet college run by Pakistani military officers was provided after requests from local residents who have been starved of quality schools and plagued by an absence of decent teachers. In the long term, the future of this region will be influenced in large part by what happens in Afghanistan. American troops are scheduled to leave at the end of 2014. Pakistani military officials worry about a repeat of the civil war that followed the 1989 pullout of Soviet forces. And the final goal of handing South Waziristan to a civilian government is a long way off. “Right now we are ok and feel safe as long as the army is around, but I am not sure about the future,” said one local resident, Malik Fareed Khan. But for real stability, the tribal areas need to be better connected with the rest of Pakistan. “The military is playing its role but at the end of the day, you need to answer those questions to be successful in bringing total peace,” said Hayat.

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:57 AM Page 9

ANP to resolve all crucial problems of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. – Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour

News

09 N

Friday 12 april, 2013

Malik asks SC for state security

ISLAMABAD ONLINE

ISLAMABAD: uS Ambassador in Pakistan Richard Olson calls on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency on thursday. INP

Punjab government sweats over extravagant official demands LAHORE uMAIr AZIZ

HE Punjab government faces a perplexing situation when the caretaker cabinet meets today (Friday) to ensure the holding of “free and fair” elections in line with the steeply pricey demands put forward by district authorities, as officials have been terming these “impractical” due to the heavy cost it will incur on the already depleted provincial kitty, Pakistan Today has learnt. An overwhelming majority of District Coordination Officers (DCOs) and commissioners, heading the district and divisional coordination committees, have found each other on the same page while demanding provision of transportation facilities not just for election officials but for the voters as well, besides calling for installation of CCTV cameras at all polling stations of the province for the purpose of maintaining

cameras at election venues, be- tion staff. It is impossible to protransparency during polls. Earlier, the Punjab govern- sides demanding provision of ve- vide transportation for the genment had issued directives to the hicles for the returning officers as eral public on such a large scale as has been demanded. “Even indivisional and district coordina- well as stallation of CCTV cameras is a tion committees to hold meetings An costly affair for which the govwith the respective police and inoverwhelming ernment will not be able to eartelligence agency officials as a mark billions of rupees,” the pre-poll exercise meant for majority of District official added. making a list of proposals in Coordination Officers (DCOs) and It is important to menconnection with making commissioners, heading the district tion here that according to arrangements for holding and divisional coordination committees, the provincial Election free and fair elections. have found each other on the same page Commission PRO Huda During the meetings, the while demanding provision of Gohar, there were more DCOs and commissionthan 4,000 polling staers concerned headed the transportation facilities not just for tions in the province district and divisional coelection officials but for the voters as which have been identiordination committees, well, besides calling for installation of fied as sensitive and while the additional chief CCtV cameras at all polling stations needed to be equipped with secretary headed the of the province for the purpose of the latest security gadgets. provincial coordination comKeeping that number in mind, mittee. The DCOs and commaintaining transparency the official maintained that even missioners, after holding during polls. if CCTV cameras were rented meetings with the officers conout only for such polling stations cerned, submitted their reports to that have been identified as senthe Services and General Admin- the genistration Department (S&GAD) eral population. “All these terms sitive, this exercise was still of the Punjab government. are impractical as there are going to be a costly affair, and An official privy to the de- around 40,000 polling stations in hence all these demands were velopment said that an over- Punjab, while the government virtually impossible to fulfill. However, while talking to whelming number of DCOs have has hardly been able to provide demanded installation of CCTV vehicles even for the use of elec- Pakistan Today, Additional Chief

Secretary Khizer Hayat Gondal said that transportation facility had already been provided to election officials, while the issue of installation of CCTV cameras had also been given approval by the authorities concerned in a meeting that concluded on Monday. When contacted, a senior home department official confirmed that the government had taken the decision of installing CCTV cameras only in sensitive polling stations and necessary measures were being taken in this regard, while the local government department would provide transportation facilities only for the election staff as their job had already been made tough by the consistent threats received by militant outfits. “The proposal was expected to be accepted by the officials concerned in the wake of rising security threats for members of political parties and election staff, and the final decision in this regard came in a high level meeting to ensure the holding of free, fair and peaceful elections,” he added.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Interior Ministry to provide security to former interior minister Rehman Malik. The orders were issued by a five-member larger bench, headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali while hearing Malik’s intra-court appeal. Malik requested the court that he has been receiving threats from militants and his life was in danger. He said that the Taliban had placed a bounty on him and the court should provide him security. On this, the court ordered the Interior Ministry to provide him security and adjourned the hearing until Friday (today). Later, talking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Malik said he told the court that the Taliban had announced a Rs 500 million head money on him and he should be provided security equivalent to that of former president Pervez Musharraf.

Bilawal House, Tappi on militants’ hit list

ISLAMABAD ONLINE

The intelligence agencies have revealed that terrorists are planning to target PPP leader Awais Muzaffar Tappi and Bilawal House, according to reports. According to a report conveyed to the authorities concerned, the agencies said militant groups including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jundullah and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) were conspiring to attack 31 key personalities in Karachi. “President Zardari’s relative Muzaffar Tappi might be attacked with a bomb while the attack on Bilawal House is also possible,” the report said. The target list of the militants includes the name of a judge, six policemen, 10 politicians, 12 religious leaders and two journalist and businessmen each. “Attack on foreign dignitaries is also possible as militant groups are seeking ransom and release of prisoners from the abduction of high-value targets,” it added.

PPP-Q alliance aims at defeating Pml-N in Punjab LAHORE NADEEM syED

Though the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q) have made seat adjustments for over 300 provincial and National Assembly seats, the focus of their cooperation will be none other than Punjab, the largest province of the country with parliamentary strength that can make a difference at the time of formation of government in the Centre. According to sources, both parties have agreed on seat adjustment for over 200 provincial seats in Punjab. The two parties will also cooperate on over 100 National Assemblies’ constituencies from all over the country. The basic aim and underlying

strategy behind this massive cooperation between the PPP and PML-Q is nothing but to defeat the PML-N and if not, at least deprive it of majority to form the government in the province after elections this May, party sources said. According to PML-Q leader Kamil Ali Agha, cooperation between the two parties on such a scale was a record in Pakistan, where two parties never cooperated for more than a dozen of seats ever. Interestingly, another key player in the Punjab, PTI is also hoping to dent the vote bank of Sharifs. The PPP’s main purpose behind roping in the PML-Q was to bolster its political fortunes in Punjab, where individually it would be difficult for the former ruling party to

repeat its past performance. Meanwhile, on the remaining seats, especially for National Assembly, candidates from both parties would be on their own and will be free to take decision per local dynamics. Per the seat adjustment between the two parties, winner of last election would get nomination and support from both parties, barring a few exceptions. In constituencies where there is no winner from the PPP or PML-Q, the runner up would be the candidate of choice. It has been also learnt that to enhance cooperation between the two parties, committees have been formed at the local level. Both parties have not yet decided whether they would address public meeting or rallies together. However, it has been observed

that both parties have begun their cooperation at the local level. If a PPP candidate is contesting from NA seat and his partner from PML-Q from provincial seat, both were moving in the constituency

hand-in-hand. These committees have been formed after the recentlyheld by-elections in the province when both the PPP and PML-Q candidates suffered losses due to lack of cooperation.

The basic aim and underlying strategy behind this massive cooperation between the PPP and PML-Q is nothing but to defeat the PML-N and if not, at least deprive it of majority to form government in the province

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:57 AM Page 10

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent. –Martin Luther King, Jr

commeNt Friday, 12 april, 2013

Khoso’s visit A ray of hope for the Baloch people

OWEVER troubled a certain part of the country is, it is still a part of the federation and has equal rights as any other federating unit of the state. This makes Balochistan not only equal to other provinces, but also a focus of what one can call corrective measures in order to bring the province equal to the status that the others enjoy. While most of the governments at the centre have been negligent in addressing the grievances of the Baloch people, almost every one of them have raised a slogan of empowering the Baloch, including the government that concluded its term recently. One can easily see what tangible effects these hollow promises have had on the condition of the people and the province: there are no-go areas in the province, nationalists have an anti-state agenda, forced disappearances, lack of infrastructure, poverty, low literacy rate and many more problems. Having said that, the visit by the Caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso can pave the way for a change, for better. The visit was badly needed as the 2008 general elections were boycotted by most of the political elements, ceding the space to corrupt sardars and carpet baggers of all sorts. Resultantly, the province was misgoverned. The fruits of autonomy couldn’t reach the common man. But that time has passed and it is time to make changes. Mr Khoso’s visit can, and probably will, open new avenues for negotiations between the government and the nationalists, which have already shown interest in participating in the elections being held a month from now, and help them settle on a framework that assures the participation of local political leaders while keeping the corrupt sardars out of the loop. Peaceful elections in the largest province of the country would be a tough task though if completed successfully, the effects could cause a system wide change to bring in the leadership that truly represents the Baloch people. Mr Khoso assured the Baloch leaders that the federal and the provincial governments would take measures to remove their reservations about security, abolish no go areas and resolve other issues. His encouragement to the nationalists to participate in the election process to be a part of the system and bring a change that they desire was right spot on. But that alone cannot end the miseries of the Baloch people, nor can it help in curbing violence, lawlessness or widespread deprivation of basic necessities. It needs much more than that; it needs the government to walk the talk. Meanwhile, the establishment has to realise that military means to govern the province have caused suffering and strengthened separatists. It is time to provide equal opportunity to nationalists to contest elections as well. The caretakers, on their part, need to ensure that the campaign is peaceful, party workers are not harassed or made to forcibly disappear. This will make the elections in the province truly reprints what the Blaoch people’s interests instead of the interests of a few sardars.

Scrutiny One may question as to its intent and purpose

ITH elections being only four weeks away, parties are gunning for victories in their stronghold, and in certain cases they expect to encroach upon others’ strongholds, but none of this would have been possible if some of their prominent candidates were barred from entering the fray under one reason or the other. A situation of the same nature happened in the past few days when some of the ECP officials scrutinising the candidates decided to implement articles 62 and 63 of the constitution in a more literal sense. Quite a few leaders of the mainstream parties were disqualified from running for a seat in the legislatures on various issues, Ch Nisar of the PML-N and Jamshed Dasti of the PPP included. Though one cannot blame the Returning Officers (ROs) for they were doing their duty, one expected that a better sense should have prevailed and issues that had no standing in the long run, or the ones that had no basis of concern at all, were avoided in the first place, thus giving the process of scrutiny a better credibility. There were instances showing a disregard to the basic understanding of what the politicians deliver and what the politics stands for: a public service, may be the greatest of them all, and representation of the will of the public, respectively. Now that Jamshed Dasti and Ch Nisar have been given a green signal to contest elections, both the main parties are gunning for a mandate that would take them to treasury benches. However, questions must be asked as to what was the purpose of putting some of the politicians through all this while some with convictions and pending cases were approved at all. The critics of the noble gesture of putting a scrutiny check at the source would surely point out the irony of the situation. What the ECP should have really done was that it should have asked the candidates to provide it with the details of their and that of their family members’ financial assets. Then these assets should have been put through a process of investigation that is known as financial forensics to verify their claims. This alone would have helped in keeping the loan defaulters, corrupt and otherwise financial embezzlers away from entering the political scene. Sadly, their financial claims were taken on their face value, thus giving them an opportunity to manipulate the process of scrutiny. As far as the articles 62 and 63 are concerned, they are ambiguous and should always be applied not in their literal sense but more as guiding principles. Of course, the debate on what justifies these articles’ insertion into the constitution is a much bigger question, and begs attention to be addressed.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Acting Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963-5 Fax: 042-32535230 Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208 Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287273 Fax: 051-2850505 Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

The main contenders A look at the prospects of PPP, PML-N and PTI in the coming elections

AZIZ-uD-DIN AhMAD

HE PPP, PML-N and PTI are the three main contenders on the national level. Not long ago each one of them was claiming that it would sweep the votes. Within a few weeks, ground realities have started to assert themselves. Pep talk has gone out of use. The present elections are different from what they used to be in the past. The presence of a neutral Election Commission, a consensus caretaker setup and a vigilant and intrusive Supreme Court has deprived the parties from some of the conventional advantages they possessed against rivals. The parties in the PPP-led alliance at the centre, and the PML-N which ruled Punjab, can no more depend on their blue boys in bureaucracy. The wholesale transfers in Punjab have led to a similar though not as comprehensive measure in Sindh. In the case of PPP, ANP and MQM, the access to the voters has been hampered on account of the threats extended by the TTP. The public has been told by Ehsanullah Ehsan to stay away from gatherings of the three parties. Thus the pitch is already queered for them. The PPP’s strength lies in its oragisation in all the provinces of the country. The party also has its jiyalas who despite their dwindling numbers remain committed to it. How many of them will come out to vote after the party’s abysmal performance remains to be seen. The biggest problem for the PPP is that it is a leaderless party now. Bilawal Zardari Bhutto is seen nowhere in the election fray. What is more he is yet to learn how to address political rallies. He cannot speak Urdu fluently and knows no Sindhi. The party has decided not to risk his life at any coast, elections or no elections. After Zardari’s resignation from the office

Editor’s mail

of the party Co-Chairman, Faryal Talpur has practically taken over as the chairperson of the party. In a party built around Bhutto family cult she commands neither the respect of the party leaders nor the trust of its workers. For those outside Sindh she remains a nonentity. Sindh still remains the PPP’s stronghold from where it is expected to bag the largest number of seats. It is doubtful however if it will win as many constituencies as it did in 2008 when it rode to power over the sympathy wave generated by Benazir’s tragic assassination. The province was perhaps the most badly governed one after Balochistan with widespread corruption, criminal neglect of the victims of floods and rains and target killings and lawlessness in Karachi almost condoned by the ruling alliance. A united front of 10 parties led by PML-F chief Pir Pagara has fielded 23 candidates for the National Assembly and 51 for Sindh Assembly. In view of the bad performance of the PPP, a safe guess is that the opposition will gain many more seats this time than in 2008. None of the PPP’s erstwhile allies has shown inclination to reach an electoral understanding with it, with the exception of PML-Q. The PPPPML-Q alliance is based on the hope that it would bring the coalition all the votes that were cast for the two parties in 2008 when they contested against each other. The alliance might help in a handful of constituencies in Punjab but keeping in view the deep seated antipathy among the workers of the two parties, it cannot work miracles. In the last bye-elections in Punjab, the joint panel of the two in fact ended up in unmitigated disaster followed by mutual recriminations. The PPP refused to give Hazara a provincial status. It would thus find it difficult to make headway in the division. In the rest of KP, the PPP’s capacity to hold meetings and reach out to the voters would depend on how effectively the caretakers are able to tackle the terrorist threat. In Balochistan, it will be required to work under the same limitation. The PML-N leadership has been active, holding rallies in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. A number of PML-Q leaders in KP have also joined it. In this way it is better off than the PPP. It has, however, problems that it might find difficult to surmount. In Punjab, which is its base, the PML-N suffers from the incumbency

factor. Despite the media blitz about the distribution of laptop computers, construction of the Lahore Bus Transit System etc, there are complaints that the government neglected the rest of the province, wasted funds in politically motivated but unsustainable ventures like Sasti Roti scheme. It took the Punjab government years to settle the issue with the young doctors. Scores of people died of dengue fever and many more on account of defective heart medicines. There were also complaints of people having been killed in staged police encounters. The over-centralised style of governance with the chief minister directly controlling a number of ministries has been widely criticised for inefficiency. Another factor which could be highly negative for the PML-N is the rise of Imran Khan in Punjab. The PTI chief is focused on exposing the performance of the PML-N. He has already held two big rallies in Lahore and smaller gathering in a number of cities in Punjab. Imran is likely to make inroads in the PML-N vote bank across the province. In straight tripartite fights, this could help the PPP. The PML-N is, however, confident of winning Punjab with a crushing majority. It has brokered agreements in Sindh and Balochistan and some of the bigwigs from other parties have joined it in KP. Unless the PTI manages to spring a surprise, of which there is little chance now, the PML-N has the potential to emerge as the single largest party in a hung parliament. The PTI had entered the political arena as a dark horse in 2011. Imran Khan spent most of the time subsequently in organising the party and holding intra-party elections. The way the exercise was conducted was widely acclaimed but a year and a half was consumed by the activity. The elections led to rifts in the party from which it is recovering. It has meanwhile lost the momentum it had gained in 2011 and early 2012. With elections due in less than a month, the party has to race against time to build up its campaign. The PTI enjoys a fairly good position in KP and Punjab but is weak in Sindh, the second largest province. It seems the party has reconciled to sit in the opposition. What remains to be seen is if it takes the second position or concedes it to the PPP, thus assuming the third. The writer is a political analyst and a former academic.

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. Fax: +92-42-32535230 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Ignorance about dams Shehla Raza, Deputy Speaker Sindh assembly, said on TV today, ‘We stopped Musharraf from building Kalabagh dam’. I wish the anchor person had asked the learned deputy speaker the reason for the opposition. Apart from politicisation of the issue there is an abysmal level of ignorance about dams, particularly about Kalabagh dam. Politicians seem to be totally ignorant of the fact that a dam could store 7 million acre feet of additional water for the use of the provinces. There is also ignorance of the fact that with the loss of the eastern rivers, now the whole country has to survive on the remaining three rivers, of which Indus is the only river with surplus flows. It is through sheer ignorance that the people of Sindh are causing incalculable harm not only to themselves but also to the whole country. ENGR KHURSHID ANWER Lahore

Representation without taxation The danger that years of endless exploitation, injustices, frustration and anger that has been building up in our masses, may finally burst into anarchy in Pakistan, causing irreparable damage to this country. This is more pronounced today than ever before. For most of those involved in this organised plunder seem to have planned a safe exit catching first flight out, having already made alternate investments in foreign countries, where their assets and families are located. It is a sad reality that the ECP, in which we had high hopes, has failed to subject candidates for elections to financial scrutiny, necessary for putting in place a legislature that can ensure the rule of law in Pakistan and prevent massive plunder of state exchequer and flight of capital. MALIK TARIQ ALI Lahore

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:58 AM Page 11

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. –Margaret Mead

commeNt

Friday, 12 april, 2013

deconstructing our obsession with fairness Fairness creams devalue natural South Asian beauty

Thank you, dear Muslimaat A letter of gratitude to #MuslimahPride social media jihadis

kuNwAr khuLDuNE shAhID Dear Muslimaat,

DON’T have words to express my gratitude and appreciation for your noble battle against evil. Your #MuslimahPride movement against #Femen was a slap on the collective face of Western imperialists who believe that Muslim women can’t fight for a cause. It was also a resounding reminder for the rest of the world that you have what it takes to spark a revolution. What the ignorant world does not realise is that once you have the permission of your husbands, fathers, brothers, uncles, the approval of your neighbours, in-laws, their relatives and the consent of your spiritual guardians, their God and their scriptures, you can be quite the rebels. It takes a lot of courage to ridicule something that is already taboo where you live. It takes volumes of bravery and valour to bow down to the status quo, and toe the lines that have been forced upon you. It takes unbelievable amounts of gallantry to act out a script that someone else has written for you. And it must take guts and the proverbial cojones to take a stand against cruelty and the personification of tyranny that a horde of topless women is. Who on earth are those damn Europeans to try to steal your voice? Do they not realise that your lives were defined a million-and-a-half ago by the Arabs, who protected your rights and guarded your modesty by ensuring that you don’t have much of a say in most things? Who are those unabashed infidels to protest on your behalf? Do they not realise that you are not allowed to express, let alone clamour in favour of, anything that contradicts the ostensibly divine scriptures? Who are those shameless activists to try and liberate you? Do they not realise that you can’t be liberated without the permission of your mehrams? I can’t thank you enough for choosing

to be more offended by naked bodies than dead bodies. And since there are so many different kinds of you to thank, I’ll try to address you one by one. Dear ‘guardians of modesty’ Muslimaat, thank you for letting patriarchal societies define ‘modesty’ for you. Thank you for accepting contrasting definitions of modesty for men and women, and for not being a source of strength for your sisters and daughters, vindicating the men’s claim of you being the weaker sex. Thank you for teaching your daughters about the sin that having sex is, throughout their lives, and then compelling them to do it immediately with a man they first met a couple of hours ago, after signing a few papers and getting the clergy’s approval. Also, thank you for blaming your fellow women when they are raped, since men have the divine license to refuse to keep their emotions in the right place. And thank you very very much for being more misogynistic than any male chauvinist can ever possibly be. Dear ‘feminist’ Muslimaat, thank you for being a ray of hope for bacon-eating vegetarians, god-fearing atheists and peace-loving terrorists. Thank you for reiterating the fact that your mehrams choose to overlook the divine orders and allow you to think freely and take your own decisions. Thank you for citing your personal example to highlight how you wear the hijab by your own choice, ignoring the fact that an overwhelming majority of Muslim women are coerced into doing so. Thank you very much for making the whole debate about you, when it was always about the torment and suffering that most of the Muslim women are going through. Dear ‘liberal’ Muslimaat, thank you for defying the orders of your deity by choosing to not cover your heads. Thank you for disregarding other restrictions that your religion commands, and then having the audacity to condemn someone who is critical of these very commands. Thank you for cherry picking the commandments and making your ideology sound compatible with the 21st century, only to castigate those that take the same ideological orders literally and implement them. Thanks a lot for elucidating that you don’t need liberation and for paying no heed to the fact that the most of the women in your country do. And thank you very much for clinging on to those very shackles that have enchained the prospect of women empowerment in your country. Dear ‘revolutionary’ Muslimaat, thank you for ignoring the life threats that Amina Tyler and many others like her are facing,

after choosing to protest against the harassment that they have to bear on a daily basis. Thank you for overlooking other lesser issues like terrorists attacking a 15-year-old schoolgirl; female genital mutilation; women being raped with judicial approval just so they don’t die virgins; two-year-old girls being forced to wear veils because the disgusting men in your country have no self-control; and fathers legally getting away with raping their daughters by paying a few riyals. Thank you very much for screaming bloody murder over half-naked women’s claim of representing you, but accepting rapists, pedophiles and sorry excuses for human beings as your state leaders and role models. #MuslimahPride is not just a hashtag, it’s a symbol of integrity and pride. It’s about taking pride in inequality, in half testimonies, in blaming rape victims and in gender discrimination. It’s about taking pride in chauvinism, where men have divine permission to beat and rape their wives, marry multiple times and possess slave girls. It’s about taking pride in patriarchal societies where husbands are categorically told in detail how they should punish their “disobedient” wives, while not a single text exclusively tells women what they should do with unfaithful husbands. It’s about taking pride in not being allowed to vote, let alone lead your nations, and about finally being allowed to ride a goddamn bicycle – under a mehram’s supervision – in the year 2013 AD. The #MuslimahPride jihad will be written down in history as the moment where Muslimaat made it clear to the world that no one should protest on their behalf, halfnaked or otherwise. Thank you, dear Muslimaat, for saving the rest of the world’s time by clarifying that you’re fine living in the 7th century AD, and no one should push you towards the enlightened times, regardless of whether they have clothes on or not. Thank you for being a source of inspiration and an illuminating example for everyone. We all know that you have what it takes to transform the plight of the women and change the dynamics of the world, as long as you are back home before sunset. More power to you. PS: I hope being addressed as ‘dear’ does not land you in trouble with your oversensitive male guardians. Yours thankfully, Kunwar Khuldune Shahid The writer is a financial journalist and a cultural critic. Email: khulduneshahid@gmail.com, Twitter: @khuldune

E have all witnessed the fairness complex at some point in our lives, be it taunts about our complexion from our aging grandmothers, comparisons of skin color in front of the mirror, or, the media’s glorification of fair skin (Snow White, anyone?). While a lot Caucasian women spend their summer holidays on a beach chair getting their tans on, most Pakistani women are desperately trying to evade the sun, from putting up protective screens in their cars to bleaching their bodies to get rid of their ‘awful’ tans. Television enthusiasts have given up local shows in NADIA khAwAjA favour of Turkish soaps dubbed in Urdu, for their foreign, fair-skinned casts. New treatments promising fairer skin surface everyday—there are surgeries and injections, creams and bleaches, ‘desi’ remedies and avant-garde products, suggesting that we might not share all of our ancestor’s Victorian sensibilities but our cultural obsession with light skin has remained intact over time. What is it about ‘whiteness’ that we find intrinsically beautiful? Paradoxically, our preoccupation with fairness is not skin deep, rather it stems from the institutions of colonialism, enslavement, and global White supremacy. Skin whitening is a popular practice, dating back to the Elizabethan Era, when women used powder and paint to ‘improve’ their complexions. Yet, in its current manifestation, skin bleaching is practiced disproportionately in communities of colour, primarily the Indo-Pak region. According to an article in the 2006 edition of Harper’s Bazaar titled “Events about Race”, the number of new skin whitening products that have been introduced to Asian and Pacific markets exceeds one-hundred and eightynine since 2002. In the local context, colourism constructs a spectrum upon which individuals attempt to circumnavigate the white/non-white binary, by assigning and assuming colour-based privilege on their proximity to ‘whiteness’ instead. As an immigrant to the United Kingdom put it, “In Pakistan, it is about the degree of fairness; in England, you’re either white or you’re brown, Caucasian or other.” Yaba Ambrogale Bay suggests that “the White Ideal - pale skin, long straight hair, aquiline features— exacts prevailing and enduring influences on societal assessments of human value” in communities of colour. Skin lightening practices and the quest for fairness, represent an attempt to approximate the White ideal and consequently gain access to the social status historically reserved for Whites. The concept of white supremacy is understood globally as the channelling and control of wealth, power and privilege by predominantly Caucasian, Western nations. Although, the answer to “who is white?” has evolved over a period of time to include previously ambiguous identities into the elite White club, the connotations of whiteness have remained as certain as the Brown Sahib’s preoccupation with white skin. Given the evolution of racial categories, it can be concluded that White supremacy has more to with ideological whiteness and the privileges, rights and assumptions that come with it—than racial whiteness. To understand the fairness complex in the Indo-Pak context, we need to revisit the historical trajectory of ‘white’ foreign rule in India. To say that our aversion to dark skin stems from the British Raj is a misappropriation. What is more likely is that the British reinforced and redefined the Indian predisposition towards fair skin that draws back to the Aryan infiltration into Northern India. Like the Mughals and British after them, the Aryans’ dominance and influence was equated with the colour of their skin. Physicality became an important marker in determining who could access positions of power which can explain why people of colour struggle to erase their racial identifiers whereas white people seek to affirm their whiteness. Psychiatrist Frantz Fanon explains, “In the man of colour, there is a constant effort to run away from his own individuality, to annihilate his own presence,” and it is this very sentiment that underpins the skin bleaching/fairness cream industry which devalues the natural beauty of South Asians. While the “gora craze” plagues our people in general, it is evident that women are affected by it more than men. The overarching emphasis on a woman’s physical appearance and the cosmetic industry’s tendency to breed insecurity certainly has a lot to with it; however the victimization and objectification of women under colonial rule might provide a historical lens for understanding why women are the prime victims of the fairness complex. Institutions of colonization relied on mobilization, political power and subjugation of indigenous women, which are all historically male-dominated structures. Shailushi Baxi-Richie, a non-profit writing consultant and activist, notes that “women have been seen as a commodity that has been traded by men. Wives and daughters have been a currency traded between men. If you are a light-skinned woman, you are more likely to attract more power or money in a man.” To be a woman and to be dark is to be doubly disadvantaged—ever heard the phrase ‘kali nokrani’ (black maid) — through a sex-race power structure that holds the White Male Patriarch as the ultimate power icon. The politics of color and gender overlap in determining the identity of the South Asian women, which explains why so many of us seek to be fair and subsequently overcome one of our points of disadvantage. Kimberle Crenshaw’s Theory of Intersectionality comes into play here as South Asian women’s “intersectional identity as both women and of color within discourses that are shaped to respond to one or the other” leads them to be “marginalized within both.” Advertisements for fairness creams effectively communicate the element of intersectionality and the associations of whiteness with class/privilege. Television ads for the popular cream “Fair and Lovely” frequently show women bagging a desirable partner or more recently portray women acquiring employment in professions held by men— all by virtue of their lighter skin. Ironically, Unilever promotes messages about women’s empowerment in the Global North through their “real beauty” campaign featuring women of all colors, shapes and sizes, while selling the idea that women with lighter skin are more desirable in the Global South. The proclivity of large corporations to exercise power discreetly over individuals and take advantage of cultural biases is not a new phenomenon; what is strange is that educated, so-called liberal minded people keep falling for such tactics. It is one thing to indulge in a harmless beauty regimen, it is quite another to promote a corporation that sells the supremacy of one culture over another, of one skin over another. As opposed to other beauty practices, the struggle for fairer skin emphasizes a deeper dilemma in one’s perception of beauty – it exemplifies an intrinsic belief that we are better only when we are similar to our white counterparts. “The true focus of revolutionary change is never merely the oppressive situations which we seek to escape, but that piece of the oppressor which is planted deep within each of us.” -Audre Lorde The writer is a staff member of Pakistan Today and holds a degree from Mount Holyoke College.

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:58 AM Page 12

I never had a speech from my father 'this is what you must do or shouldn't do' but I just learned to be led by example. My father wasn't perfect. –Adam Sandler

Adnan Sami performs in dallas

ARTS

uN Asia Entertainment presented a special evening with famed singer and music composer Adnan Sami at Myerson Symposium Center in Dallas. Adnan came to Dallas after eight years and entertained the audience thoroughly with his music and performance. His fans in Dallas had been waiting for this event for a long time and they embraced his performance with joy. the concert was sold-out a month before the event date. A large number of music audiences came to greet Adnan Sami and there were reports of a traffic jam in Dallas

Friday, 12 april, 2013

Jim Carrey in ‘Ricky Stanicky’?

Jim Carrey isn’t a washed up actor, but he may play one on the big screen. THR reports that Carrey has decided to take the title role in the Summit Entertainment comedy “Ricky Stanicky.” According to Deadline.com, Carrey was circling the project for over a year; his final decision to sign on came when Steve Oedekerk (“Bruce Almighty,” “Ace Venture: When Nature Calls”) was attached to direct. Carrey hasn’t had luck at the box office of late — he co-starred in the recent flop “Burt Wonderstone” — but “Ricky Stanicky” sounds like a hit waiting to happen. The film focuses on a trio of teenage friends who burn down their neighbor’s house by mistake and then blame the accident on the fictional Ricky Stanicky. Years later, as adults, the friends must conjure up Stanicky and hire a washed-up actor (Carrey) to play the part. THR compared the concept of “Ricky Stanicky” to “The Hangover.” If “Ricky Stanicky” sounds familiar, it’s because Carrey isn’t the first big star attached to the title. Back in 2010, THR reported that James Franco was set to play Stanicky, but the project never materialized in that form. As the trade notes in the current report, Joaquin Phoenix was also discussed as a possibility before Carrey. Carrey has had a busy few weeks. He made a splash in March after producing an anti-gun video for Funny or Die. NEws DEsk

downtown due to the music concert causing police to interfere to control traffic on a late Saturday evening. Adnan Sami performed for about four hours and was interactive with his audience. He sung a number of popular songs on audience demand and receiving accolades from audience. the singer had shed more than 350 pounds and was looking a distinguished and charming person which kept people staring in disbelief. the show organisers john Hammond and Shariq Hamid thanked the audience for their presence and for the success of the show. On the other hand the concert

sushmita sen marrying

wasim akram? Serially-single Sushmita Sen is not going to walk down the aisle just yet. Rumours of Sushmita and Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram planning a wedding have been rubbished by the actress’ spokesperson. Sushmita’s too busy to plan a wedding according to her spokesperson who was quoted The Times of India as saying: “It’s not true at all. In fact Sushmita is having a show in Mumbai on the 24th of this month. I don’t think she can have an event in Mumbai as well as plan her wedding simultaneously.” Sushmita is rumoured to have dated the Kolkata Knight Riders coach for two years after meeting on the sets of dance reality show Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, which Sush and Wasim judged, in 2008. Sushmita, who last appeared in 2010 film No Problem, has two adopted daughters and has never married. She previously dated actor Randeep Hooda. NEws DEsk

Half of Twitter icon Justin Bieber’s followers are fake NEWS DESK Around half of Justin Bieber’s 37 million Twitter followers are fake, a study has suggested. The 19-year old pop star is the most followed person in the world, beating rivals like Lady Gaga, President Barack Obama and the various members of One Direction. But according to Socialbakers, a tool which analyses the quality of an account’s followers, not all of those are true Beliebers. After looking at a sample of 2,000 of Bieber’s followers and rating them based on how often they have tweeted, how many people they follow and who they interact with, it found that 35% of his followers were “fake or empty”. Another 13% were described as “inactive” - leading to an overall figure of 48% who are not active, normal

users. The site admits that “If you have a large number of followers, it is expected that some will be inactive or

fake”, but several other big stars appear to have done better than Justin. While the Bieb passed Lady Gaga

to become the most popular account last year, she has a higher number of active users - about 19 million. But worse than either are Jedward, whose account has a 61% margin of fake followers to real ones. However, for any distressed Biebernauts out there, bear in mind that the site has a margin of error of about 10-15% - a pretty hefty margin. It’s also worth looking in more detail at the checklist by which an account can be counted as inactive. For instance, if an account has less than one follower and follows less than 50 people, it falls foul of the rules. Likewise if 90% of its Tweets are retweets, or still has the default Twitter egg avatar. Unfortunately that probably quite accurately describes many accounts set up just to stalk people like Justin Bieber.

organized in Houston was also a huge success and was a sold-out event. the Houston show was organised by Rehan Siddiqui, who also thanked the audience for the passionate support of the event. Rehan Siddiqui hosted a repeat of Adnan Sami concert on insistence of his fans. He also presented flowers to people in attendance. Adnan Sami said people ask him for the secret behind his drastic weight loss, adding that there are a number of hypothesis flowing around. “the truth is that my weight loss is a result of diet control and because of usage of protein diet,” he said. NEws DEsk

Cosmetics tycoon donates dozens of Picassos to museum

Leonard Lauder, the cosmetics tycoon and philanthropist, donated Cubist works worth more than $1billion - including dozens by Pablo Picasso - to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The 78 paintings, drawings and sculptures comprise 33 by Picasso, 17 by Braque, 14 by Gris and 14 by Leger and were amassed over four decades. They are considered one of the foremost collections of Cubism in the world. Lauder, 80, the son of Estee Lauder and one of New York’s most influential art collectors, said the donation would help reinforce the city’s standing as the world’s “art capital”. He added, “This is a gift to the people who live and work in New York, and those from around the world who come to visit our great arts institutions. “It’s essential that Cubism, and the art that follows it for that matter, be seen and studied within the collections of one of the greatest encyclopedic museums in the world.” The donated works include Picasso’s The Scallop Shell from 1912 and Woman in an Armchair, an image of his mistress Eva Gouel from 1913. Picasso’s Head of a Woman, from 1909, thought to be the first Cubist sculpture, is also in the collection that includes Braque’s Trees at L’Estaque from 1908, which is thought to be one of the first Cubist pictures. The museum said the collection was unsurpassed in the number of masterpieces critical to the development of Cubism, which is considered the most influential art movement of the 20th century. Thomas Campbell, the museum’s director, said, “This is an extraordinary gift to our museum and our city. Leonard’s gift is truly transformational for the Metropolitan Museum. In one fell swoop this puts the Met at the forefront of early 20th century art. It is an unreproducible collection, something museum directors only dream about.” He told the New York Times that the Lauder collection, which is expected to be presented in an exhibition opening in the autumn of 2014, would fill in a critical area in the museum’s collection. A $22 million research centre for modern art, funded by museum supporters including Lauder, will also be created. NEws DEsk

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:59 AM Page 13

There's something liberating about not pretending. Dare to embarrass yourself. Risk. –Drew Barrymore

arts Friday, 12 april, 2013

SANJAY dUTT plays good boss

NEWS DESK

N March 21, the Supreme Court found Sanjay Dutt guilty in the 1993 Mumbai serial blast case. The actor now has a week before he surrenders to serve a three-year jail term. In the little time that he has left - besides wrapping up film shoots - the actor has been making arrangements for his eight-member personal staff. Apart from providing financial support, he is also believed to be asking friends within the industry to give them jobs during the time that he will be in jail. “Sanjay has always taken care of his staff. Even in the years that he will spend in jail, he will continue to provide them monetary support. He will take care of their insurance policies and their children’s

education, among other things,” a source close to the actor revealed. However, since his entire staff works on daily wages, they will be unemployed with Sanjay in jail. As a result, Sanjay, on their behalf, has been talking to his friends to employ his team. His staff includes his man, Mohammad, who has been with him for the last 32 years, two spot boys, a cook who travels with him; his vanity van driver, an attendant and two make-up artistes. All his staff has been with him for many years now. The source added that his team has always had work at any given point in time, since Sanjay, on an average, has been shooting three films a year. “Now, Sanjay is talking to producer TP Aggarwal, directors Soham Shah and Apoorva Lakhia, and his close actor friends, asking them to get his staff on board for projects in the next three years,” the source said. Sanjay’s publicist confirmed the news to media outlets.

13 A

10-day folk festival begins today Lok Virsa (the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage) has announced to hold its annual folk festival, popularly known as ‘Lok Mela’ from April 12 to 21 at its complex at the Garden Avenue, Shakarparian. Lok Virsa Executive Director Khalid Javaid said the festival would formally open on Friday at 4pm with a prestigious inaugural ceremony to be graced by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Shahzada Jamal Nazir. “Having started in the year 1982, this unique event has become a symbol of the federation’s recognition of and patronage to our rich cultural diversity and active participation of the people of Pakistan,” he added. The festival will feature artisans-at-work exhibition, provincial cultural pavilions, folkloric song and dance ensembles, traditional cuisine, exotic craft bazaar, inaugural and award ceremonies and many other attractions. He further said the main thrust of the festival was the focus on provincial harmony and national integration and “highlighting the contribution of our people in building future Pakistan”. NEws DEsk

Fashion Pakistan Week features creations of 27 designers STAff REPORT The just concluded fifth edition of Fashion Pakistan Week featured a range of avant-garde collections from more than 26 designers and retailers of the country. Held in the nation’s largest city and financial centre Karachi, the twoday-long event showcased an array of fresh spring summer prêt-a-porter and lawn ranges from popular names like Shamaeel Ansari, Hajra Hayat, Zari Faisal, Amna Aqeel and Gul Ahmad Lawn. Famous Pakistani designer Maheen Khan opened the event with a chic timeless collection titled Flight. Inspired by the endangered species of birds, the line included silver tops, black and white sarees, blue and yellow printed pants, capes and innovative wing like headgears. Designer Sania Maskatiya presented her collection Naqsh on the second day of the event. Drawing inspiration from the map making craft of cartographers, the line captured the joyful experience of a traveller exploring new territories through different colours and prints. Adorned with embroidery, digital prints and other embellishments, the raw silk, crepe and chamois made range included draped tunics, straight shirts, loose pants and pleated cropped trousers in radiant hues of black, white, yellow, orange, sand brown, beige, turquoise and sea green. Organised by the Fashion Pakistan Council, Fashion Pakistan Week serves as a networking and business promotion platform for the country’s well-known as well as emerging fashion designers, entrepreneurs and fashion journalists.

A model presenting a creation by Maheen.

KARACHI: A model presenting a creation by AK.

A model presenting a creation by Sania.

A model presenting a creation by Maheen.

A model presenting a creation by Rizwanullah.

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:59 AM Page 14

INFOTAINMENT Friday, 12 April, 2013

The Exchange Bar & Grill where prices fluctuate like stocks

You don’t have to be an experienced stock trader to make a killing at the Exchange Bar & Grill in New York City, where prices of food and drink fluctuate according to the law of supply and demand. The way it works is quite simple. According to the Exchange website, “The prices for your favorite drinks fluctuate depending on supply and demand. Watch a while when no one is ordering your favorite drink and snag it when the cost falls to unbelievable lows – or use your leverage to jack up the price of any cocktail, drink or shot for the whole bar.” Unlike the real stock market, insider trading isn’t illegal. You are welcome to make use of the tactic to catch the ‘market crash’, when every drink in the bar hits rock bottom. At times like this, beers are sold for as low as $2 to $4. Exchange can seat up to 60 people and atmosphere is like a nice lounge with dim lighting, HD screens and leather couches. The ‘ticker tape’ flashes the fluctuating menu prices in red lettering according to an algorithm, the secret to which even Steven Yee, an operating partner at Exchange, claims he doesn’t know. “The algorithm was created by the person who wrote the software, and the guy won’t even share it with me.” Yee also says that the ticker is just a fun feature, and that they are more about good food, fantastic staff, a bar and a great atmosphere. Owners Levent Cakar and Damon Bae agree the fluctuating price thing is a bit of a gimmick, but claim it’s done a great job of attracting customers. 35-yearold Bae, who has an MBA from Georgetown University, says “It’s definitely something a little bit different. There is a little bit of a twist.” At Exchange, customers have the power to move the prices of all beverages and bar snacks. For example, the price of a plate of hot wings is generally $7, but it could fluctuate either way in 25 cent increments to as low as $5 or as high as $9. A glass of Guinness could start trading at $6 and be pushed quickly to $8. Or sometimes, fall to $4 depending on popularity. According to Bae, good prices and a good location should be enough to make the unique project work. But when they first went to liquor distributors with their idea, they were pretty much laughed at. Cakar was confident though. “One day you are all going to come to me to put your drinks on my ticker tape,” he told them. And he was right, as the Exchange Bar & Grill is now 3 years old and still going strong. NEws DEsk

My thesis is that what we call ‘science’ is differentiated from the older myths not by being something distinct from a myth, but by being accompanied by a second-order tradition—that of critically discussing the myth. … In a certain sense, science is myth-making just as religion is. –Karl Raimund Popper

The hand craftsmanship behind McLaren C COURTESy HUMANS INvENT LEO kENt

AR enthusiasts tend to talk about the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in hushed tones such is the reverence for the place. Since it opened in 2003 it has taken on an almost mythical quality and it is true, as you approach the glistening, curving edifice walled with glass from the other side of the artificial lake, it does all start to feel a little otherworldly. Humans invent had a chance to take tour of the center, and here is what we found. BEHIND THE SCENES We are led into the press room where Ron Dennis, in a neat pair of tassel loafers, proceeds to give a talk about the importance of paint, which sounds boring but turns out to be quite interesting. In 2007, Dennis began the hunt for a chrome coating on the McLaren F1 car that wouldn’t weigh the vehicle down – his initial inspiration came from the unlikeliest of sources. Dennis says, “I was finishing my shower and reached for my aftershave and noticed that on this bottle was chrome and yet the material was plastic. Normally chrome is achieved through an electroplating process, you wouldn’t think that you would be able to achieve chrome with the application of a coating.” Paint company AkzoNobel were up to the challenge and managed to create a paint that makes the McLaren F1 cars look as if they have been electroplated. We were ushered down a spotless corridor past spartan, brightly-lit workshops within which employees were noiselessly working away, and into a lab where the nose of the F1 car was being painted, to see the chrome effect for ourselves. THE PRODUCTION CENTRE Before we enter the McLaren Production Center, Alan Foster, the operations director responsible for the guided tour,

declares, “I’m going to take you through this door and show you 21st century manufacturing.” It’s nothing like what I imagined. The immensity of the 20,000 sq. meter openplan factory floor is made more apparent by how uncluttered it is, devoid of the robots and machines you might expect in a normal car plant. And, even though most of the engineers are on their lunch break, it’s strange how quiet the place is. Foster says, “People are quite surprised to learn that when the plant is working it is not much louder than this. There are no air tools, jackhammers, conveyors or robots. The emphasis is on the manual and on the precision, hand craftsmanship.” The hall is lined with small stations, each one with a computer terminal (all the cables are hidden) beside which the car, in its various states of development, sits. As we walk down the line you can see the car, almost like in a flip book, slowly come into existence. Currently the factory can produce one

car every 45 minutes – nine a day and roughly 2,500 year. Foster says, “It is an assembly line, but it is a manual one. The cars are passed from station to station by the team members, so they qualify their work before they move it on. Really, the MPC is where science meets Disney world. The science all sits in the background and what you perceive as you walk through the facility is the manual craftsmanship.” What perhaps typifies this relationship between man and technology, is the way every operator needs to swipe into the terminal of the station they are working on. Foster says, “We have quality gateways, so nothing is allowed to flow forward but… you personally have to pass your work onto your colleague in front of you, so it adds to that extra dimension to accountability and responsibility.” THE HUMANS BEHIND SUPERCARS Foster then shows us into the paint room, which, like in the main hall, is visually open with large, glass rooms within

thai family uses crocodiles as watchdogs to fend oﬀ burglars NEWS DESK Who needs watchdogs and alarm systems when you have two full grown crocodiles protecting your house? Awirut Nathip says no burglars have dared come anywhere near his home in the 15 years since his two crocodile pets have been keeping guard. Burglaries are reported regularly in the city of Phitsanulok, where Awirut Nathip and his family live, but thanks to a perfect security system, they haven’t had any problems for a good fifteen years. Just like everybody else, they used to worry

about their safety, until they bought their t pet crocodiles, Thong and Ngen. After that, no one dared set foot on the property uninvited. And for good reason, as Awirut’s unusual guard dogs are very aggressive, especially during the hot summer days. In order to keep them under control and make sure they don’t become frustrated by the unbearable heat, he sprays them with cold water at least 10 times a day, and even lets them cool off in his air-conditioned office from time to time. Even so, Ngen is kept in a ditch next to the house, because he is so aggressive, while Thong does his rounds in the yard. ”If

we’re upstairs he’ll come and lie in front of the door. We’re not worried at all. No one would dare to get in,” Mr Nathip says. Although some would argue the crocodiles are a danger not only to Awirut and his family, but also to his neighbors, they actually approve of his unusual protection method, and feel safe with the predators close by. One of them, Prajit Charoensakkhajon, says: ”I’m not frightened of him. I’d rather feel secure because he’ll watch our homes. Thieves wouldn’t dare to come round because they think the crocodile is fierce, right?”

which the cars are spray painted by humans rather than robots. Everything has been thought through in the design of this facility. For example, the ventilation panels in the painting chambers circulate the air in such a way that an air curtain is created on the inside of the glass; this stops dust and dirt settling on the windows. The car is separated into two parts when it is being painted, the main body on one skid and the secondary panels such as the doors on a second skid. AkzoNobel and McLaren have been working together to create new varieties of paint. Foster says, “Some of the finishes we’re using are quite unique so you get a very deep reflection of the colour. The Volcano Red is an interesting one, you can see the base colour looks like a satin pink but when you apply the effect clear coat onto it you get this really deep, lusty red colour that comes from it.” Back in the main hall of the MPC, we are shown where the final testing goes on. Previously, the car has been tested by a 3D coordinate-measuring machine (CMM) where 320 points are checked to make sure the car has been put together properly. Now it is time for some more vigorous testing. There is a dynamic rolling road that puts each car through it’s paces as well as a monsoon test, where the car is put in a glass chamber and introduced to 16,000 litres of water in 7 minutes. After this, the car is then taken on a 50km road test, to check the car handles well and doesn’t make any annoying rattling noises. If there are any issues they are dealt with straight away by one of the engineers. Foster says, “Our ability to respond is very much like the F1 team. If they’ve been racing on Sunday, there will be one or two things they don’t like about the car, and these will be fixed before the next race. It’s all about rapid recirculation of information and rapid fixes. Having worked in a lot of factories, this is uniquely simple and it is a fantastic place to work.”

In Sea of Galilee, a mystery bigger than stonehenge

Stonehenge has some company in the department of mysterious stone structures: In a new paper, researchers are now revealing that an unusual rock formation was discovered via sonar in the Sea of Galilee a decade ago. Divers who have since gone down to inspect it say it’s a 32-foot-tall coneshaped formation made of “unhewn basalt cobbles and boulders,” reportsLiveScience, which describes it as a cairn—a stack of rocks piled on top of each other. Its diameter measures about 230 feet (double that of Stonehenge’s outer circle), and it’s estimated to weigh 60,000 tons. Though the researchers admit they don’t know what the structure’s purpose was (LiveScience notes similar cairns have been used to mark graves), they have determined it was definitely made by humans, likely on land; a rising sea would have later submerged it. “The boulders have natural faces with no signs of cutting or chiseling,” researchers wrote in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. “Similarly, we did not find any sign of arrangement or walls that delineate this structure.” Up next: The team hopes to conduct an underwater archaeological expedition in order to mine for artifacts and pinpoint the age of the structure—which one researcher believes could date back more than 4,000 years. NEws DEsk

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 5:59 AM Page 16

sPorts Friday, 12 april, 2013

PROTEAS TRIO AMONG TOP CRICKETERS AMLA, KALLIS AND STEYN HAVE BEEN NAMED AMONG THE WISDEN ALMANACK'S FIVE CRICKETERS OF THE YEAR JOHANNESBURG AgENCIEs

Three members of the Proteas Test squad have been named among the Wisden Almanack's Five Cricketers of the Year in the 150th edition of the publication which will be released on Thursday. Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn were all congratulated by Cricket South Africa (CSA) for their prestigious achievement. “What a wonderful way for a South African celebration of the 150th edition of this famous publication – known affectionately as the 'cricketer's bible',” CSA acting CEO Naasei Appiah said on Wednesday. “It has truly been a phenomenal year for our Proteas and they have been and will continue to be an inspiration to the nation.” West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels and South African-born England opening batsman Nicholas Compton were the other cricketers named in Wisden's Five. This is the third time that SA has produced three of the five Cricketers of the Year – an honour which can only be given to an individual once in their career. Graeme and Peter Pollock and Colin Bland were included in 1966, while Dale Benkenstein, Mark Boucher and Neil McKenzie were named in 2009. “Hashim Amla was the batting sensation of the summer, gracefully compiling South Africa's first Test triple-century, and top-scoring in eight international innings out of 11,” said Wisden editor Lawrence Booth. “Dale Steyn cemented his status as the world's most frightening fast bowler, blowing England away on the final afternoon at The Oval, then undermining them in the third Test at Lord's.” Booth said the only surprise about the selection of veteran all-rounder Kallis was that he had not been chosen earlier. “At The Oval, he made 182 and balanced South Africa's attack superbly. “His all-round excellence was a crucial difference between the sides.”

He is one of the best managers in the world, he's been coaching for 30 years and knows what he is doing, he knows what he wants and it's just a question of identifying the right talent. – David Dein who is a close friend of Wenger

AFRIdI EYES 2015 WORLd CUP LAHORE

stAFF rEPOrt

ETERAN allrounder Shahid Afridi said he is targeting the 2015 World Cup after returning to the Pakistan side, but vowed to quit if he became a burden on the team. The 33-year-old was left out of the squad for the oneday series against India in December before staging a comeback for the tour of South Africa, but his woeful run of form has continued, reported a foreign news agency. Afridi's 88 in the third one-dayer in Johannesburg was his first half-century in the past 12 months and he has also struggled with his leg-breaks, failing to take a single wicket in his last six matches. Despite the slide in performance, Afridi, who has scored 7,201 runs

and taken 348 wickets in 354 ODIs, said he was still hopeful he could make the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. "My fitness level is good and I want to continue playing at the top level," Afridi told reporters. "The 2015 World Cup is in my mind but it depends on fitness and performance." Afridi was included in Pakistan's initial 30-man squad for the Champions Trophy to be held in England in June, but must perform in the ongoing national one-day cup to make the final 15 to be announced next month. He said he would quit for younger players to come through if he does not perform. "When I

felt I was not up to the mark in Tests, I left the five-day format," said Afridi, who retired from Test cricket in 2010. "I will not play by force neither would I like the selectors to select me without good performance." Afridi said he was doing his best to improve his bowling and demanded more respect for players.

"Cricket is because of the players and the cricket board must respect the players. If there is a mistake on the part of the players they must be told about that and if selectors want to drop them, they should tell the players," said Afridi. Afridi was removed as one-day captain in May 2011 despite leading Pakistan to the World Cup semi-final two months before. Afridi said he expected Pakistan to do well in the Champions Trophy. "Misbah-ul Haq is leading the team well and our combination is very good, so I expect better results if we stick to our plans and play to our potential," said Afridi. Pakistan is in group B of the eight-nation Trophy along with arch-rivals India, South Africa and the West Indies. Defending champions Australia, Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand make up group A.

‘Pakistan cricket raise keen interest’

LAHORE stAFF rEPOrt

The phenomenon of Pakistan cricket and its achievements raise keen interest in the countries where cricket as a game is not really that big was the view of visiting foreign delegates of International Intensive Training Programme in Performance Auditing. A 13-member delegation belonging to Iraq, Turkey, Mozambique and host nation Pakistan visited PCB on Thursday (April 11, 2013) to intimately acquaint themselves with Pakistan cricket. At the conclusion of the visit at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) the delegates were presented with shields by the PCB Chairman Ch. Zaka Ashraf while a group photo was also taken as a commemorative of the

visit. The visit, undertaken on the request of the Performance Audit Wing of Auditor General of Pakistan, was part of a five-week International Intensive Training Program in Performance Auditing that commenced on March 19 and runs up to April 19, 2013 under the aegis of Audit & Accounts Training Institute, Lahore. The 13 delegates comprised of managers of supreme audit institutions of Iraq, Turkey, Mozambique and the host nation Pakistan. The PCB organized the presentation in two stages: First the delegates were taken to a round of the National Cricket Academy, its indoor school, gymnasium, the IT Laboratory, the Library and the Museum and also shown the activation of its post-modern Pro Batter Technology that is being introduced for the first time in the country. This was followed by another session that started

with a documentary highlighting Pakistan cricket and its salient achievements, followed by a question/answer session with the senior management of PCB, which included the COO Mr Subhan Ahmed, Director Coordination Brig Sajid Hameed, Director NCA Intikhab Alam and Faiza Ashraf. “One important segment of the program was to take the participants to various historical, recreational and prestigious organizations in Pakistan to give them a feel of our rich culture, historical background and working environment in leading organizations”, said Robina Faisal, Director General of Performance Audit Wing. The participants, said Robina Faisal, had shown a keen interest in acquainting themselves about the history, ongoing activities and achievements of PCB and Pakistan cricket.

Christchurch races against clock to play World Cup host IT HAS BEEN A CRICKET GROUND FOR OVER 100 YEARS, IT'S LOCATED CENTRALLY, IT'S A NATURAL AMPHITHEATRE FOR A GROUND SO IT TICKED ALL THE BOXES FOR A BOUTIQUE CRICKET GROUND WELLINGTON AgENCIEs

Local opposition and the ever ticking clock are conspiring against him but former New Zealand captain Lee Germon remains determined to bring international cricket back to earthquakeravaged Christchurch in time for the 2015 World Cup. New Zealand's second city has played host to test cricket since 1930 and one-dayers since 1973 but that proud record was brought to a shuddering halt on Feb. 22, 2011 when the earthquake devastated the city and killed just under 200 people. The Lancaster Park ground was wrecked but Canterbury Cricket had

already identified a portion of Hagley Park as a potential future venue in line with New Zealand Cricket's policy to play tests in 'boutique' grounds. "We were asked in 2008 where the ideal ground for test cricket was and we said Hagley Park," Germon, chief executive of Canterbury Cricket, told Reuters in a telephone interview of the large park bordering the central city. "It has been a cricket ground for over 100 years, it's located centrally, it's a natural amphitheatre for a ground so it ticked all the boxes for a boutique cricket ground." The plans call for a NZ$20 million ($17.13 million) redevelopment into a 20,000-capacity permanent venue to host test, limited overs and first class

games. It has not all been plain sailing, however, with a referral to New Zealand's Environment Court for a hearing in June eating into an already tight schedule. If the plans are approved, Germon will need to give the 'go' on the development almost immediately to get the venue completed in time for Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand in late 2014. That would allow tests of its operations, at least once, ahead of the global tournament, co-hosted with Australia, that runs from February to March 2015. World Cup organisers are expected to confirm the cities that will host matches by the end of April. Germon declined to outline how many games Christchurch had bid for, but said they had asked for the opening game of the tournament, or at least of the group based in New Zealand, and as many Black Caps matches as possible. "We have basically communicated that we need a decision by the end of August so we can hit key milestones to

have a ground ready for cricket World Cup," Germon said. "We don't know how long that decision will take from the Environment Court. They could turn it around in a week or it could be a couple of months, we just don't know. "We are on pretty tight timelines and milestones to have a ground ready for the World Cup." The redevelopment of the ground, which includes a pavilion with permanent seating, media facilities, lighting towers, an embankment and space for temporary seating, is projected to take about 12 months, he said. The plans have not been universally welcomed and local opponents have formed the umbrella group "Save Hagley Park" to represent them at the Environment Court hearing. The group's concerns are outlined in an open letter on Facebook addressed to local and central government and the authority in charge of rebuilding the city. Traffic management, the erection

of lighting towers, the construction of permanent structures in the park and the precedent it would set for future development were chief among their concerns. The group also suggest a return to Lancaster Park be investigated, though Germon said the City Council had "categorically" ruled that out. Germon said their application had taken into account objections from opponents and scaled back on their initial plans, but what they had now put forward was the minimum expected of a ground by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The redevelopment would take up two percent of the land area in Hagley Park and not change the overall use of the vicinity, which was for cricket anyway, he said. "It is, I believe, something that is vital to the future of cricket in Canterbury that we do get a venue," Germon added. "This is the right venue."

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 6:00 AM Page 17

I don't think he'll play again, I think it's because India have gone the right way. It took a little while to come around to it. They've given youth a chance. – Geoffrey Boycott

sPorts

Friday, 12 april, 2013

GAYLE COMPLETES ANOTHER dEMOLITION JOB BANGALORE AgENCIEs

HRIS Gayle took centre stage once again for Royal Challengers Bangalore, after a rare-slip up in their previous game. He consigned a quiet start to a chase of 155 to a distant memory with another calm demolition job of an opposition team, backed up by his captain Virat Kohli, as Kolkata Knight Riders suffered their second defeat in a row following a promising start to their new season as defending champions. Gautam Gambhir guided the Knight Riders batting, happy at being asked to bat during the toss, but the total his side managed proved below-par on an excellent track for batting. The Royal Challengers seamers bowled impressively to restrict partnerships after they had begun encouragingly, and struck in the late overs to stifle an attempted surge. It kept Knight Riders down to a chaseable score, and

National Gymnastic from May 25 LAHORE: The 47thedition of the National Gymnastic Championship will be held here from May 25 and country’s men and women gymnasts showing their talent in various events. The two-day activity is being organised under the aegis of Punjab Gymnastic Association in collaboration with Pakistan Gymnastic Federation. ‘All the affiliated units including four provinces,Pakistan Army, Police, Higher Education Commission and Islamabad will be fielding their teams’, said a spokesman of PGA said in a press release on Thursday. He said female gymnasts will also be competing in the event and they will be featuring in floor and vault events. ‘ The events will be conducted in accordance with the international gymnastic federation’s code of points. Each team will be comprising six players and two officials besides four female participants’, he added. The spokesman said PGF and PGA are taking best possible measures to promote the game in the country. ‘ PGF is holding regular annual events both for seniors and juniors besides women championship to enlarge the span of activities and to spot new talent. AgENCIEs

Gayle made it look worse than it was. Gambhir was at ease piercing the gaps through the in-field, dispatching Moises Henriques, who opened the bowling, through the leg side and RP Singh past point and extra cover. Muttiah Muralitharan was driven through off, smacked over midon, and slog-swept, all this during a half-century stand with Jacques Kallis that promised to take Knight Riders beyond what they eventually got. Kallis sliced Vinay Kumar to deep point, but the promotion of Yusuf Pathan to No.4 triggered an acceleration. Yusuf struck his first three balls, all from Vinay, for boundaries to different parts of the ground, before whipping Jaidev Unadkat for six over midwicket. But Royal Challengers pulled things back, breaking the stand when Yusuf holed out to long-on off a slower delivery from Henriques. SCORES: Royal Challengers Bangalore 158 for 2 (Gayle 85*, Kohli 35) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 154 for 8 (Gambhir 59, RP 3-27) by eight wickets.

SUPER KINGS DEMOLISH LISTLESS KINGS XI MOHALI: The abbreviated nature of Twenty20 is supposed to bridge the gulf in quality between sides, but there was no hiding the vast difference between the weakest batting line-up in the tournament, and perhaps the strongest one. After being sent in, Kings XI Punjab lost all ten wickets; Chennai Super Kings chased down 139 without losing any in an embarrassingly one-sided contest in Mohali. Australia's Shaun Marsh, still nursing an injury and not expected in India at least for a few more days, can't come soon enough to shore up a batting unit seriously lacking quality. With no renowned Indian batsman in the line-up, the star turn is provided by the ageing Adam Gilchrist and the 35-year-old David Hussey. AgENCIEs SCORES: Chennai Super Kings 139 for 0 (M Hussey 86*, Vijay 50*) beat Kings XI Punjab 138 (D Hussey 41, Bravo 3-27) by ten wickets.

swann is the most intelligent spin bowler: mushtaq NEW DELHI AgENCIEs

A master craftsman during his playing days, former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed feels England's "Graeme Swann is one of the most intelligent bowlers" in international cricket right now. "Graeme Swann is one of the most intelligent bowlers that I have worked with. You tell him something and he has an amazing grasping power. Even with Monty (Panesar), I have had lengthy and fruitful discussions on various aspects of spin bowling," Mushtaq, who is in town as Delhi Daredevils spin bowling consultant, said. The 43-year-old spin bowling coach of the England cricket team played a major role in plotting India's downfall in Test series but he credits it to the players. "First, you need to win over the confidence of players. The next part is talking straight which the English players respect. I told Graeme and Monty to work on their strengths than waste time thinking about the weaknesses of Indian players. Remember, one good ball doesn't necessarily get you a wicket but a good over does," explained Mushtaq. The man who has 185 Test and 161 ODI wickets will reminds that not only did he work with spinners but also had sessions with Kevin Pietersen on how to play spin bowling. "KP is a team player. I discussed a lot about how to tackle Indian spinners before the Mumbai Test match and it yielded results. His commitment is fantastic. He came for two days and even with an injured leg gave throwdowns to that little kid (Unmukt)," Mushtaq said. Asked about the difference between Pragyan Ojha-

R Ashwin duo from Swann and Panesar, he explained,"I guess they (Ojha-Ashwin) erred a bit on varying the pace of their deliveries through the air.

Their rotation on deliveries was slow and our bowlers kept it a bit fast. "We read the pitches and would tell them whether to bowl at 55 mph, 56 or 57 mph. For our batsmen,even if they made a mistake, they could recover due to slow nature." Ask him about his role in the Daredevils set-up, he said, "Coaching is all about man-management. I believe my job is to be a bridge between head coach (Eric Simons) and the players. There are a lot of players who have a language barrier. Even I faced it during my early playing days. I would ideally like to communicate to the younger boys what Eric thinks provided they don't fully understand." Mushtaq believes that in a player-coach relationship, it is important to be a role-model. "I understood how important it is to be a fit coach. If I can't do what I tell my student to do, he would never respect me. If I tell Monty to bowl 20 overs at a stretch, I have to have an equally good work ethic so that my player listens to me." For him, Daredevils' "environment has been fantastic." "Even after we lost three matches, the owners told the players to relax and enjoy the game. That is something phenomenal." Mushtaq feels that injuries to key players like Pietersen, Jesse Ryder and also bowlers like Umesh Yadav, Ashish Nehra coming back from injuries has been one of the prominent reasons for the team's hattrick of losses. "Irrespective of how big a player you are, it is always difficult when you come back from injuries and deliver straightaway. But we have a fantastic bunch of boys who are willing to give more than 100 per cent for the Daredevils."

Ashes-focused Australia in a spin over Pakistani prospect MELBOURNE AgENCIEs

Mired in gloom following a test drubbing in India, Australian cricket has turned to Canberra’s halls of power for assistance, asking the country’s top immigration official to act as a de facto selector ahead of back-to-back Ashes series this year. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Australia’s bid to secure a passport to England for Fawad Ahmed, a 31-year-old Pakistani refugee with just 13 firstclass matches under his belt, has underscored the anxiety felt Down Under as the national team prepares to do battle with the ‘Old Enemy’. While Australia’s humiliation in India, their first 4-0 series loss in more than 40 years, was stinging enough, defeat by England in one or both of the Ashes series would be simply unforgivable. Embittered cricket lovers in the once-mighty test nation have waited over two years for vengeance after England’s 3-1 thrashing of the hosts in the 201011 series on home soil, which followed a 2-1 loss away in 2009. Hence, the determination to leave no stone unturned, and in

Ahmed, the resource-rich nation hopes to have unearthed the rarest of commodities Down Under – a world class spin bowler. Born in Swabi, a rural district fringed by the Hindu Kush mountains and the Indus river, the legspinner has taken 39 first class wickets at an average of 32.20 since making his debut for Abbottabad in 2005. The modest resume has not discouraged Australia’s cricket board, however, who are petitioning immigration minister Brendan O’Connor to fast-track Ahmed’s citizenship and allow him to be available for selection before the first Ashes series gets underway in July. Without the minister’s sign-off, Ahmed could still play a part in England, but would not become eligible until August 18, according to cricket’s global governing body, the ICC. That would be three days before the fifth and final test at the Oval – too long to wait for Cricket Australia. “Biomechanically, he is like an Anil Kumble who really spins the ball,” former Australia test spinner Stuart MacGill told local media this week, referring to the tall Indian spinner who captured 619 test wickets in a brilliant career. “I had (former test batsman) Damien

Martyn face him and he thinks he’s the best Australian spinner he’s seen since Warney. “I think he is definitely worth a place in the Ashes squad.” Shane Warne retired with 708 test wickets after helping Australia whitewash England 5-0 in the 2006/07 Ashes series. Australia have lost both Ashes series since and have searched in vain for a successor to the peerless blond legspinner, churning through 12 slow bowlers and discarding almost all of them quickly. The 11th, Nathan Lyon, has more or less cemented his place as Australia’s leading spinner and is expected to be named in the Ashes squad for England after taking 15 wickets from his three tests in India. Selectors will take a second spinner, however, leaving the door open for Ahmed to complete a fairytale entry into test cricket only eight months after being granted asylum in Australia. “I’m not sure whether the process is going to be solved but (Cricket Australia) are definitely helping me and we are pretty hopeful we will get through,” Ahmed said in a interview. Ahmed’s journey to the cusp of international selection has been an unusual one, arriving in Australia in 2010 on a short-term visa to play

cricket in Yoogali, a remote rural town in New South Wales surrounded by vineyards and orchards. Ahmed ended up in Melbourne and applied for asylum as a refugee, claiming he was subject to death threats from Islamic extremists for being involved with a Pakistan-based NGO promoting women’s rights. “The main aim was to educate (women) and to help people get clean and clear water for drinking and (give them) vaccinations,” Ahmed said of the NGO. “There were some (threats) and I applied for that reason. “I have family over there. I miss them badly, they mean everything to me. But Australia’s now my country and I’m happy here and my family and friends are all happy for me as well.” Ahmed made a big impression playing club cricket in Melbourne but his initial application for asylum was rejected last year, leaving the player facing deportation. An appeal backed by Cricket Australia to thenimmigration minister Chris Bowen secured Ahmed’s permanent residency in November, paving the way for him to play in the topflight leagues, including first-class cricket for Victoria.

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 6:00 AM Page 18

I think that over the course of my career, I've had a few (rivals). – Tiger Woods

17 S

sPorts Friday, 12 april, 2013

COMSATS win 5th dr. Charles Forman Football trophy LAHORE stAFF rEPOrt

Forman Christian College, Lahore successfully concluded its 5th Dr. Charles W. Forman Inter-Varsity Football Championship 2013 on Thursday. The final Match of the Championship played between FCC and COMSATS and was won by COMSATS by 5-4 goals and FCC got 2nd Position. The match was decided on penalty kicks. The Rector, Dr. James A. Tebbe was the Chief Guest who distributed prizes among the winners. He appreciated the discipline and behavior of the players and advised them to continue this spirit in their future practical lives.

Smith optimistic for GB after davis Cup draw

LONDON: jo-Wilfried tsonga prepares for the AEGON Championships.

Mughalpura Whites down Muslim Gym LAHORE stAFF rEPOrt

Mughalpura Whites has moved into the 2nd round of 16th Tauseef Trophy cricket championship when they crushed strong Muslim Gym by 6 wickets played at Iqbal Park ground he other day. SCORES: Muslim Gym 150/5 in 20 overs. Junaid Jaan 31, Zeeshan Malik 20, Farhan Nazar 49, Kamil Ali 19. M Ishtiaq 2/20, Fahim Akbari 1/16, HAssan NAsir 1/36, Sarfraz 1/26. Mughalpura Whites achieves the score losing four wickets. Junaid Jaan 1/21, Waqas Aslam 1/22, Farhan Asghar 1/27, M Ali 1/24.

Servis Colts beat Mughalpura XI LAHORE stAFF rEPOrt

Servis Colts has enterd into the next round of 28th M Yaseen Akhter Memorial cricket event when they beat Mughalpura XI by 9 wickets played at Allama Iqbal Institute ground. SCORES: Mughalpura Xi 110 all out in 17.2 overs. Imtashal ALi 22, Mehboob Ali 17, M Junaid 16. Sajid Husnain 4/26, Waqas Waseem 3/16, Mudasar Ali 2/9. Servis Colts 112/1. Mudasar Ali 72, Sheraz Malik 30(no). Bilal 1/30.

LONDON

AgENCIEs

REAT Britain's hopes of returning to the elite World Group in Davis Cup next year are very much alive after they were pitted against Croatia in September's play-offs. Leon Smith's side set up the opportunity to return to the top level of the competition for the first time since 2008 with a brilliant 3-2 victory over Russia in Coventry last weekend. Thursday's draw ends a run of seven consecutive ties at home - this will be captain Smith's first away tie - but, with Andy Murray having pledged to make himself available, it is one they will be confident of winning. Britain avoided the likes of Spain and Switzerland, and Smith said on www.lta.org.uk: "Obviously Croatia is a tough draw and especially as it is an away tie. "In Marin Cilic they have an extremely strong number one player who is currently ranked 11 in the world.

Ivan Dodig is their current number two singles player and ranked at 54. But, as we saw last weekend, anything is possible in Davis Cup." Murray has not played in the competition since a victory over Hungary in September 2011 that saw Britain clinch promotion back to Europe/Africa Zone Group I. In his absence, Dan Evans in particular has stepped up, winning both his singles rubbers to guide Britain to victory over Slovakia last year then beating top-80 player Evgeny Donskoy in the deciding rubber against Russia on Sunday. James Ward had previously beaten Dmitry Tursunov to keep the tie alive after Britain had been 2-0 down, and who will get the nod alongside Murray will be a difficult decision for Smith. Murray has won eight of his nine previous matches against Cilic as well as his only meeting with Dodig, while Britain's doubles pair of Colin Fleming and Jonny Marray would also be fancied to win their rubber. The difficulty for Murray could be that

the tie begins on September 13 - only four days after the US Open final, where he will hope to successfully defend his title. Coincidentally, Britain's only previous tie against Croatia, in September 2007, was also their most recent triumph in the World Group play-offs. On that occasion, a British team featuring Tim Henman in his final professional outing won 4-1 at Wimbledon, with Murray defeating Cilic in five sets. Britain could not build on the win, though, losing their first-round match in the World Group against Argentina and then falling to Austria in the play-offs. The losing streak eventually stretched to five and, by the time they won again in Smith's first match in charge against Turkey in July 2010 - Britain had lost to Lithuania and were on the brink of relegation to the bottom tier of the competition. Thorough preparation and a good team spirit have been the hallmarks of Smith's reign as he has engineered a route back, largely without Murray.

No par-three joy for Harrington AUGUSTA

Mughalpura Institute win

AgENCIEs

Padraig Harrington missed out on a fourth victory in the traditional par-three contest on the eve of the Masters, but was unlikely to be too disappointed. Since the event

LAHORE

started in 1960, nobody has ever become par-three champion and Masters champion in the same week, with Harrington continuing the 'jinx' after wins in 2003, 2004 and 2012 - although he twice had to share the title after bad weather prevented a play-off.

Prince Club crush Mughalpura LAHORE stAFF rEPOrt

Prince Club has defeated strong Mughalpura Institute clubby 22 runs in the match of 10th M Siddiq Memorial Cricket Event played at Mughalpura Institute ground the other day. Fine bowling by Sadam ul haq was the main feature of the match. SCORES: Prince Club 131 all out. Siddiq Khan 26, Kifayat Hussain 22, Mian Umer 30. Javaid Hafezz 3/20, Tariq Hussain 3/22, Irfan Ali 1/21, Hassan NAsir 1/19, Ansar Bharwana 2/29. Mughalpura Institute 109 all out. Azhar Bhatti 17, Shahid Khan 32, Zaheer Butt 33. Sadam ul haq 4/12, Ali Shah 3/33, Kifayat Hussain 2/8, Sammer Akram 1/28.

stAFF rEPOrt

Mughalpura Institute has moved into the next round of 28th M Yaseen Akhter Memorial cricket event when they beat strong Punjab Club by 6 wickets played at Mughalpura Institute ground the other day. SCORES: Punjab Club 144/7 in 20 overs. Umer Farooq 11, Yousuf ALi 46, Shoaib Akram 32, Afzal Shehzad 32, Tariq Hussain 3/28, Ansar Bharwana 1/31, Imtiaz Shah 1/29, Shahid Khan 1/20, Javaid Hafeez 1/6. Mughalpura Institute 145/4 in 18.5 overs. Rizwan 20, Azhar Hussain 40, Zaheer shah 26, Shahid Khan 18, Javaid Hafeez 32. M Zahid 2/16, Haris Arshad 1/30, Adeel 1/17.

Lucky Stars beat Tauseef Club LAHORE stAFF rEPOrt

Lucky Star club defeated Tauseef Club by 7 wickets in a friendly match played a Jallo stadium. fine batting by Aziz and equally good bowling by sher Baz Khan was the main feature of the match. SCORES: Tauseef Club 148 in 29.2 overs. Waqas Khan 21, Ibrar Baig 25, Sheraz Baig 19, Qadeer Ahmed 28, Mohsin Agha 21. Zubair 3/19, Junaid 2/18, Shehbaz 2/23, Aziz 1/5. Lucky Star Club 151/3 in 28.5 overs. Tariq 16, Zeeshan 14, Aziz (41 no) Asif 13(no). Sher Baz Khan 3/30.

Sexist Augusta should be ashamed AUGUSTA AgENCIEs

The men in green jackets could barely contain themselves, sitting there smugly as if they had done something to transform the game of golf. Augusta National now has women members and, if it was a long time coming, they seem to think it's the best addition to the Masters since flowering azaleas were planted on the back nine. “It's just awesome,” Masters chairman Billy Payne said. Condoleezza Rice surely agrees, though for now she's not saying. The former secretary of state avoided reporters on Wednesday as she made her way around the Par 3 contest, smartly attired in a tailored green jacket over a tan skirt. Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore are trailblazers in a way, though few outside of golf would confuse their admittance last August to one of the most exclusive clubs in the world to be on a par with some of the great equality battles of the last century. Indeed, the guardians of Augusta National hardly qualify as visionaries. For years the only places for black people at the club were waiting on tables or carrying the bags of members, and

Former US Secretary of State and one of Augusta National Golf Club first female members, Condoleezza Rice.

the concept that women could actually be members didn't take hold until more than a decade after Martha Burk tried futilely to rally support for the cause. Now that they're here, though, things couldn't be peachier. Seems the fears of

women running amok on the perfectly green fairways of Augusta National were, shall we say, a bit overblown. “These two ladies have been very special and it's just been delightful,” Payne said. They might have been a decade ago, too, but the green jackets

are a stubborn bunch when it comes to changing the traditions that have served them so well. Former chairman Hootie Johnson famously dug his heels in when challenged by Burk, writing her at the time that Augusta National might someday admit women “but that timetable will be ours and not at the point of a bayonet.” The timetable apparently called for women in 2012, and luckily a few of them were available. They managed to snare a prominent name in Rice, and as an added bonus put to rest any lingering controversy over the membership of America's most famous golf club. They could have gone further, but didn't. On a day when Payne talked about girls and boys putting and chipping on the 18th green the Sunday before next year's tournament and a day before a 14-year-old from China tees off in the Masters, he also spoke about Augusta National becoming “a beacon in the world of golf” and doing its best to influence others in the game. Except, of course, the green jackets have no plans of doing any of that. In his annual pre-Masters press conference, Payne refused to give a position on belly putters, declined to take a stand on smoking on the golf course, and wouldn't even discuss details of Augusta National's new corporate party complex.

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 6:00 AM Page 19

We just haven't performed very well. Simple. – Ian Poulter said when asked about the victory drought

sPorts

Friday, 12 april, 2013

wAtChItLIve STAR SPORTS Masters Tournament 2013

12:30 AM

GEO SUPER IPL: Delhi Daredevils v Sunrisers Hyderabad

07:30 PM

Tsonga to compete in AEGON Championships LONDON AgENCIEs

Serena, Venus to lead US in Fed Cup

United leave retirement in Fergie’s hands LONDON AgENCIEs

NEW yORK AgENCIEs

World No 1 Serena Williams and her sister Venus will join Sloane Stephens and Varvara Lepchenko on the US Fed Cup team facing Sweden later this month, the US Tennis Association said on Wednesday. The move ensures the Williams sisters, two-time defending Olympic women's doubles champions as well as the 2000 Sydney Olympic winners, will be eligible to play in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Serena Williams, a 15-time Grand Slam singles champion, is also the reigning Olympic singles champion. The Americans, all ranked in the WTA top 30, will play host to Sweden at Delray Beach, Florida, on April 20-21, with the winner qualifying for the 2014 World Group and the loser relegated with no chance to win the trophy next year. "I'm really excited about the team that we have," US Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez said. "We have great talent and depth, which is a perfect combination." Venus Williams is ranked 22nd, six spots behind Australian Open semifinalist Stephens and five ahead of Lepchenko. Sweden's team features 54thranked Sofia Arvidsson, 65th-ranked Johanna Larsson, 425th-ranked Hilda Melander and 489th-ranked Sandra Roma. SPAIN TO PLAy UKRAINE IN PLAyOFFS: Spain, who won three of the last five Davis Cup titles, will have to beat Ukraine in the playoffs to avoid relegation from the World Group, according to the draw made on Tuesday. The Spaniards lost 3-2 to surprise team Canada in the first round without Rafael Nadal and other top players to go into the playoff pot for the first time since 2006.

Manchester United director Sir Bobby Charlton revealed the club have not started thinking about replacements for Sir Alex Ferguson - and have no plans to. In what is probably the most closely guarded secret in football at the moment, the 71year-old United manager declared he would not reveal the date of his retirement plans. Ferguson had previously stated that the 2001/02 season would be his last but after an indifferent campaign that year, the Scot opted to stick around and oversee an important transition period for the Manchester giants. He later admitted that public knowledge of his retirement date had an adverse reaction on the team and vowed not to make the same mistake twice. But, with Ferguson set to seal another Barclays Premier League title this season - United's

20th title - and rumours of an unsettled Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho eyeing Old Trafford, speculation is growing that United's long serving manager may call it a day in the near future. However, United legend Charlton insists Ferguson has given no indication he is ready to let go of the reins. "No, we've not [started thinking about replacements], because it's just a waste of time," he told talkSPORT at Soccerex. "It could be next week [when he retires], it could be 10 years, it doesn't matter. We will wait for him. We can't tell him what to do, he is fantastic. "He loves the game and every time he thinks about retiring he has to look carefully at what decision he is making because it is a tough thing for him to do. "He is so positive and knowledgeable about the game that he won't make any mistakes. If he retires, it will be his [decision].

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will return to Queen's Club this summer expecting to win tournaments on grass. The popular Frenchman has confirmed he will compete in the AEGON Championships in June for the fourth time ahead of another attempt to win Wimbledon. Tsonga reached the semi-finals at SW19 last year and was very close to forcing a fifth set against Andy Murray, while he also lost to the world number two in the final at Queen's in 2011. Tsonga said: "The AEGON Championships is what tennis is all about. It is full of history. For me you cannot have a better tennis tournament. It's a special place. "I entered the top 100 for the first time at Queen's Club (in 2007) when I beat Lleyton Hewitt, who was the defending champion. It was also the first time that I did my dance celebration and the British people loved it. "I've always played well on grass, I expect to win tournaments on it, so we will see what happens at Queen's and at Wimbledon."

Hamilton takes a sick note in Shanghai

SHANGHAI AgENCIEs

Lewis Hamilton cancelled his media engagements and returned to his hotel after feeling unwell at the Chinese Grand Prix on Thursday. A Mercedes team spokeswoman said the 2008 Formula One world champion, who moved from McLaren at the end of last season, would be back at the circuit for scheduled practice on Friday. Mercedes won in China last year with Germany's Nico Rosberg, their first grand prix victory since they returned as a works team in 2010 after pulling out in 1955.

Webber did not deserve to win, says Vettel SHANGHAI AgENCIEs

Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel met a barrage of questions about his failure to obey team orders on Thursday with an unrepentant smile and cold contempt for Red Bull team mate Mark Webber. Facing a scrum of reporters crammed into his team's hospitality centre at the Chinese Grand Prix, Vettel showed little apparent remorse for his failure to obey instructions by snatching victory from Webber in Malaysia last month. Vettel said he had not understood the order to hold station, issued in coded form as 'multi-21', but would probably have ignored it even if he had fully comprehended. "Had I understood the message, then I think I would have thought about it, reflected on what it means, what the team wants me to do, to leave Mark in

first place and me finishing second. And I think I would have thought about it and probably done the same thing because Mark doesn't deserve that." Pressed by Reuters on why he felt Webber, who had obeyed instructions to turn down the engine and look after the tyres, had not deserved to win, Vettel replied bluntly: "I don't like to talk ill of other people. It's not my style. I think I said enough. The bottom line is that I was racing, I was faster, I passed him, I won." The tone of the encounter was set from the first question enquiring of Vettel how he felt to be the 'bad guy' after previously being the 'good guy'. "I don't consider myself the bad guy," replied the 25-year-old, who said on Wednesday that he had apologised to the team after the race for his act of disobedience but not for winning. "I don't think I did something that was particularly bad."

ISB 12-04-2013_Layout 1 4/12/2013 6:00 AM Page 20

Friday, 12 april, 2013

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad.

Editor: Arif Nizami