e-paper pakistantoday 03rd october, 2012

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Will withdraw FC if Nawaz guarantees Balochistan peace: Kaira

PHC CJ orders religious lessons for ‘brothel owner’

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India will be patient in dealing with 26/11 case with Pakistan: Krishna

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Wednesday, 3 october, 2012 dhual-Qi’da 15, 1433

Rs 15.00 Vol iii no 97 19 pages Karachi edition

A display announces Pakistan’s qualification in the T20 Cricket World Cup semi final as Indian player Virat Kohli takes the field dejected. Pakistani cricket team defeated Australia by 32 runs earlier in the day and threw South Africa out of the contention, but South Africa needed at least 122 runs to throw India out of the tourney and send Pakistan forward. STORY ON PAGE 20

Battle lines drawn over dual nationality issue NA Secretariat refuses to comply with ECP orders to take new undertakings from parliamentarians g

ISLAMABAD

I

KASHIF ABBASI

T seems the federal government is in no mood to comply with the order of the Supreme Court in the dual nationality holders case, as the National Assembly Secretariat on Tuesday refused to follow the Election Commission of Pakistan’s order to get new declaration forms filled from legislators regarding their nationalities.

In pursuance of the Supreme Court order dated September 20 in the dual nationality case, the ECP wrote letters to the secretaries of NA, Senate and the provincial assemblies on September 24, directing them to take fresh undertakings from lawmakers about their nationalities.

However, the NA Secretariat on Tuesday refused to comply with the ECP order and informed the commission that it was not the responsibility of the NA Secretariat to take oath from parliamentarians.

A source in the ECP confirmed that the commission had received a reply from the NA Secretariat, in which it refused to cooperate with the ECP vis-à-vis taking oath from parliamentarians. According to the constitution of Pakistan, dual nationality holders cannot become lawmakers, but some have sneaked into the assemblies as 11 of them were recently disqualified by the order of apex court.

The court verdict also directed the ECP to take fresh oath from lawmakers to ascertain their nationalities.

Article 63(I) C of the constitution of Pakistan reads: “A person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) if, he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan, or acquire the citizenship of foreign state.”

A senior official of the ECP told Pakistan Today that under Article 220, all federating units including the National Assembly, provincial assemblies and Senate of Pakistan are bound to comply with the ECP order and if parliamentarians do not submit oath as directed by the ECP, it can summon the person concerned.

Another senior official of the ECP, wishing not to be named, said in this particular case, the ECP was following directives of the Supreme Court and if any government department did not follow the ECP’s directives, the Supreme Court could initiate contempt of court proceedings against the person responsible.

Meanwhile, the ECP on Tuesday again directed all members of the National Assembly, provincial assemblies and Senate to submit undertaking about their nationalities

by October 9, 2012.

“All parliamentarians and members of the provincial assemblies are once again reminded to submit fresh declaration on oath that they are not disqualified under Article 63(1)(c) of the constitution,” said a hand out issued by the ECP. The hand out said the ECP was taking the step in the pursuance of Supreme Court order dated September 20,2012 in dual nationality case.

US scaling down hopes for Taliban peace deal: report WASHINGTON SPeCIAl CorreSPondenT

With the surge of American troops over and the Taliban still a potent threat, U.S. civilian and military officials acknowledge that they have all but written off battering the Taliban into a peace deal, a report in The New York Times said.

The goal to force the Taliban into a peace deal was once one of the cornerstones of the US strategy to end the

decade-old Afghan war, the paper noted Tuesday. “The once ambitious American plans for ending the war are now being replaced by the far more modest goal of setting the stage for the Afghans to work out a deal among themselves in the years after most Western forces depart, and to ensure Pakistan is on board with any eventual settlement,” the Kabul-datelined report said.

According to the report, military and diplomatic officials in Kabul and in Washington, despite attempts to engage di-

rectly with Taliban leaders this year, now expect that any significant progress will come only after 2014, once the bulk of NATO troops have left the country. “I don’t see it happening in the next couple years,” the paper quoted an unnamed senior coalition officer as saying. “It’s a very resilient enemy, and I’m not going to tell you it’s not,” the officer said. “It will be a constant battle, and it will be for years.”

Continued on page 04

Pakistani and Indian UN envoys trade barbs over Kashmir UNITED NATIONS APP

Representatives of Pakistan and India had a verbal duel in the UN General Assembly on Monday night over the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Reacting to Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna’s assertion earlier in the day that last week’s remarks by President Asif Ali Zardari on Kashmir were “unwarranted”, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative Raza Bashir Tarar defended the Pakistani leader’s statement, saying the dispute remained unresolved.

“Let me begin by emphasizing that the reference to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in the President of Pakistan’s statement was not ‘unwarranted’,” Ambassador Tarar said, while exercising his right of reply to the Indian minister’s statement in which

Krishna also claimed that the Himalayan state was an “integral part” of India. “Let me also make absolutely clear that Jammu and Kashmir is neither an integral part of India nor has it ever been,” the Pakistani envoy told the 193-member Assembly.

President Zardari reaffirmed in his speech that Pakistan “will continue to support the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to peacefully choose their destiny in accordance with the UN Security Council’s long-standing resolutions on this matter”. Kashmir, he said, remained “a symbol of the failures of the United Nations system rather than its strengths.” The president went on to say that a solution could only be reached in an “environment of cooperation”.

Indian delegate Vinay Kumar, responding to references by Ambassador

Tarar, insisted that Jammu and Kashmir State was an integral part of India, adding that Pakistan’s “illegal occupation” of parts of the region was in violation of India’s territorial integrity and international law. India, he added, rejected Pakistan’s claim in its entirety.

Exercising his right to reply for a second time, Ambassador Tarar said the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir had been set out in Security Council resolutions and agreed upon by both Pakistan and India. As such, characterizing the region as “an integral part of India” was untenable, he said, adding that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had not exercised their right to self-determination.

The Indian delegate, rejecting the comments by Ambassador Tarar, asserted once again that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India.

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02 News cartOOn

neWS

Today’s

Protests over TV reporter’s killing

infOtainment new extreme sport of Flyboarding takes off in Australia

Quick Look

Page 11

Story on Page 05

Zardari to announce end of load shedding soon: Altaf LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chairman Altaf Hussain said President Asif Ali Zardari would soon announce an end to load shedding in the country. “MQM and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have been each other’s allies for 4.5 years now and will sustain this bond in future as well,” he stated. “Besides offsetting the deprivations of the people of Balochistan, it is highly vital to make an attempt to recover the missing persons of the province,” said Hussain. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who was also present on the occasion, remarked that PPP and MQM would maintain their alliance for the stability of democracy and resolution of people’s issues in the country. InP

Peshawar Police defuses explosive device weighing 5 kgs PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Police on Tuesday defused an explosive device weighing five kilogrammes in Shekhan area.

Talking to reporters, Bomb Disposal Squad Inspector General Shafqat Malik said the device was apparently placed to target bomb disposal squad personnel. He said a body had also been recovered from the scene, adding that it could not be confirmed whether it was brought there from somewhere else or he was killed while planting the device. Malik said the identity of the body would be ascertained after autopsy. More than five explosive devices have been defused in Shekhan area in the past week. STAFF rePorT

Pak, India forces exchange fire LAHORE: Pakistani and Indian forces resorted to cross-border firing at Shakargarh sector on Monday, but no human loss was reported. Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing at the Labrial check post at Shakargarh sector and also fired mortar shells which landed in Pakistani territory. Panic spread in the area after the exchange of firing. InP

Malik backtracks on claims regarding dual national MPs ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday ate his words when he told the Supreme Court in a written reply in the dual nationality petition that he did not have any information about parliamentarians having dual nationalities. Malik had earlier claimed that he knew of several parliamentarians who possessed dual nationalities, and offered to present the evidence in court on which the SC put him on notice. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has filed a petition in Karachi District Courts asking for a criminal case against Malik and parliamentarians Farah Naz Isphahani and Nadia Gabol. The court has summoned all three on Oct 9 and issued bail bonds of Rs 50,000 each. onlIne

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

Story on Page 14

Sitting KP minister summoned by court over fake degree PESHAWAR SAjjAd AlI

A District and Sessions Court on Tuesday summoned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister for sport and tourism in connection with a fake degree case on October 11.

The regional election commissioner (REC) on Monday filed a complaint in the court of the district and sessions judge, saying sitting Provincial Minister Syed Aqil Shah had submitted fake graduation degree during the 2008 general election. Syed Aqeel Shah contested election for the seat of provincial assembly from PF-4 Peshawar constituency.

Following the complaint, the district and sessions judge summoned the minister on October 11. The petition said the accused filed his nomination papers before the returning officer declaring on oath that he was a graduate, was qualified under Article 62 and was not subject to any disqualification provided under Article 63 to become a candidate for the seat of provincial assembly.

The REC said the bachelor’s degree of the accused issued by Punjab University on October 15, 2002 was inspected by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and was found fake on August 5, 2010.

He added that in support, the HEC sup-

PNRA authorises HMC-3 to manufacture safety equipment for nuclear plants

plied a copy of a letter of the university stating that no record of the accused existed there. The petitioner said the accused appeared before a nominated officer of the Election Commission on November 29, 2010 and submitted another copy of BA degree from Punjab University, attested on its back by the HEC. It was also sent to the HEC for verification but the HEC reported that it was the same degree, which had already declared bogus.

Thereafter, the petition said, the accused produced before the nominated officer a copy of transcript of BA marks sheet issued on March 3, 2007 by Newports Institute of Communication and Economics, Karachi.

He also submitted an affidavit wherein he disowned the BA degree from Punjab University and claimed that he had attached copy of the said marks sheet with his nomination paper.

The complainant added that the said copy was also sent to the HEC for verification through Newports, but the institution said the marks sheet had not been issued by it. In September 2011, the accused produced a BBA degree issued by American International College Lahore, which was sent to the HEC for verification.

TIP reminds Hafeez about HBFC MD’s ‘illegal hiring’ ISLAMABAD

TAXILA

TAyyAB HuSSAIn

KASHIF ABBASI

Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has sent its first reminder to Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh about what it calls a “serious complaint” against the alleged “illegal appointment” of Azhar Abbas Jaffery, a foreign national, as the managing director of House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC) and accused him of financial irregularities.

The letter referred to the TIP’s previous letter written on April 23, 2012 to the minister about the serious complaint against the alleged illegal appointment of Azhar Abbas Jaffery, who the TIP claims did not possess Pakistani nationality and conducted financial irregularities, but no reply or clarification was given by the minister.

The letter, signed by TIP adviser Adil Gilani, also has annexed copies of two letters recently issued to the HBFC secretary and managing director by Ministry of Finance on August 15 and September 14.

The TIP questioned the continuation of Jaffery as the HBFCL MD after completion of his three-year term that ended on January 5, 2012, and said the continuation was against the law.

“The matter is also in a court of law (Islamabad High Court),” the letter added.

“The terms and conditions of his (Jaffery’s) appointment as the managing director for three

The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has authorised Heavy Mechanical Complex-3 (HMC-3) to manufacture class-1 safety equipment for nuclear plants. “Class-1 equipment is used in nuclear plants to save them from any sort of destruction,” said Pervez Butt, former Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) chairman. Talking to Pakistan Today on Tuesday, he said Pakistan used to depend on Chinese-made class-1 equipment for its nuclear plants. To a query, the nuclear expert said Class-1 equipment meant “all equipment the failure of which could result in nuclear incident”.

“In case of any untoward incident, these equipments will automatically stop operation so there is no danger of nuclear destruction.” At a ceremony held on Tuesday, the PNRA chairman granted the licence to PAEC chairman. Minister for Water and Power Ahmed Mukhtar was the chief guest. Earlier, speaking on the occasion, PNRA Chairman Anwar Habib said the PNRA awarded the licence to PAEC after complete inspection. He said the PNRA was requested in 2008 for the licence but it took 3 years to PAEC to meet international standards to get this licence.

years will not automatically apply for the period beyond completion of his three-year term i.e January 5, 2012,” the letter said, adding that the HBFCL board of directors and its sub-committee were non existent.

Moreover, the three-years tenure of HBFCL MD already expired in January 2012 and had not been extended, and due to his Singaporean nationality, the appointment of Jaffery had become controversial at various forums, the TIP said.

“It seems the Ministry of Finance has, after four months realised that the appointment of Mr Azhar Abbas Jaffery was in fact illegal, and his continuation as managing director of HBFC is also illegal”.

In the changed scenario, the TIP requested the minister to find out why the State Bank of Pakistan and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan remained silent, as no inquiry was needed due to the fact that Banks Nationalisation Act clearly stated that a nonPakistani was not entitled to be appointed.

“Transparency International Pakistan has also checked up with the NADRA chairman and NADRA has confirmed that Pakistan Origin Cards are only issued to those Pakistanis who are not Pakistan citizens but are of Pakistani Origin.”

The 2009 claims of Azhar Abbas Jaffery of being a Pakistani citizen with valid NIC No 42301-647193-1, if true, are a fraud, the TIP added.

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News 03 artS & entertainment

buSineSS

SPOrtS

Something beyond ‘Tiger’ to pair with Salman again

Asian markets boosted by uS manufacturing data

england not good enough, says Broad

editOrial The die is cast: PPP’s wrong step in Sindh.

cOmment dr Hasan Askari rizvi says; The realities of Pakistan: Strengthening positive ones should be priority.

Ajai Shukla says; Five more years for Zardari?: It’s almost written in stone.

Story on Page 18

Story on Page 13

Story on Page 15

articles on Page 14

Sharif brothers want to dismember Pakistan: Khosa Will withdraw FC if Nawaz guarantees Balochistan peace: Kaira

QUETTA: Afghan women and children sit in the waiting room as they prepare to return to Afghanistan on Tuesday under the UNHCR’s repatriation programme. INP

SC rejects plea against Suddle Commission ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has rejected a plea seeking bar on the Shoaib Suddle Commission to probe into Arsalan Iftikhar case. During the proceedings, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain remarked that judges also had rights and asked for arguments to be completed early as Pakistan’s T20 match with Australia had started. Zahid Bukhari, counsel for Malik Riaz argued that Suddle had personal as well as family terms with Arsalan Iftikhar and asked the SC to stop the workings of commission until further orders, because it was a matter of transactions between two persons, so a commission should not have been formed. He said investigations had not been changed in Ali Musa Gilani and other cases. The SC turned down Bukhari’s plea and adjourned the proceedings until October 30. nnI

MULTAN

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onlIne

U N J A B Governor Latif Khosa has accused the Sharif brothers of wanting to dismember the country by supporting the six points of Balochis and nationalist Sindhis.

Addressing a press conference at Multan airport, he said that the government has invited the nationalist Balochis for negotiations. “All the Balochis are patriotic and want to live as Pakistanis, whereas the Sharif brothers are deceiving them,” he maintained.

Khosa also demanded the Supreme Court to dispel the Mehran Bank scandal case before the demise of Asghar Khan, so that the country may get rid of the anti-Pakistan politics of the

LAHORE: The government can call the Frontier Corps back from Balochistan if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif is ready to take the responsibility of the law and order there, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters along with Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Shah, Kaira urged the PML-N chief to avoid issuing irresponsible statements that could hurt the government’s efforts of mending the already deteriorating law and order in the province. He said political leadership should avoid indulging in judicial issues and let the courts decide.

To a question regarding cases against journalists, Kaira said he would talk to the Balochistan home minister about the issue.

Shah said Nawaz changed his statements with every changing situation which was against democratic and political norms and which revealed that Nawaz had no agenda to resolve the issues. STAFF rePorT Sharif brothers.

He said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is involved in the economic murder of the people of Southern Punjab and is exploiting them, adding that the two brothers are against the establishment of a Seraiki province.

Answering a question, he said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would establish a Seraiki province as per wishes of the people.

“Dictatorship had paved the way for the two Sharif brothers in politics and they do not want to see democracy flourishing,” Khosa said.

He said that ‘Tsunami Khan’ should not harm the state with undue criticism on PPP. He asserted that the federal government wanted to better the condition of Pakistan Steel Mills, PIA and Pakistan Railways.

UNBRIDLED DRONES POSE NEW SECURITY RAMIFICATIONS AMID ARMS RACE WASHINGTON SPeCIAl CorreSPondenT

With drone technology proliferating rapidly and the US setting a dangerous precedent of their use, the world is likely to see a new arms race between states as well as more security ramifications if insurgent groups or non-state actors also get hold of the weapon.

According to the New America Foundation more than 70 countries now own some type of drone, though just a small number of those nations possess armed drone aircraft.

“The explosion in drone technology promises to change the way nations conduct war and threatens to begin a new arms race as governments scramble to counterbalance their adversaries,” Peter Bergen, Director of National Security Studies at the New America Foundation and Jennifer Rowland, a program associate, remark in a well-researched piece posted by CNN on its website.

The experts cite Chinese announcement that it would use surveillance drones to monitor a group of uninhabited islands in the South China Sea that are controlled by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan.

While in August 2010, Iran unveiled what it claimed was its first armed drone.

And on Tuesday, the country’s military chief, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, disclosed details of a new long-range drone that he said can fly 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles), which puts Tel Aviv easily in range.

“But without an international framework governing the use of drone attacks, the United States is setting a dangerous precedent for other nations with its aggressive and

secretive drone programs in Pakistan and Yemen, which are aimed at suspected members of al Qaeda and their allies.”

“Just as the U.S. government justifies its drone strikes with the argument that it is at war with al Qaeda and its affiliates, one could imagine that India in the not too distant future might launch such attacks against suspected terrorists in Kashmir, or China might strike Uighur separatists in western China, or Iran might attack Baluchi nationalists along its border with Pakistan.”

The two experts feel that moment may almost be here. China took the United States by surprise in November 2010 at the Zhuhai Air Show, where it unveiled 25 drone models, some of which were outfitted with the capability to fire missiles.

But so far, according the experts, only the United States, United Kingdom and Israel are known to have launched drone strikes against their adversaries, although other members of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, such as Australia, have “borrowed” drones from Israel for use in the war there. A 2011 study estimated that there were around 680 active drone development programs run by governments, companies and research institutes around the world, compared with just 195 in 2005.

In 2010, U.S.-based General Atomics received export licenses to sell unarmed versions of the Predator drone to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. And in March, the U.S. government agreed to arm Italy’s six Reaper drones but rejected a request from Turkey to purchase armed Predator drones.

Israel is the world’s largest exporter of drones and drone technology, and the stateowned Israeli Aerospace Industries has sold to countries as varied as Nigeria, Russia and Mexico. Building drones, particularly armed drones, takes sophisticated technology and specific weaponry, but governments are increasingly willing to invest the necessary time and money to either buy or develop them, as armed drones are increasingly seen as an integral part of modern warfare.

Sweden, Greece, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and France are working on a joint project through state-owned aeronautical companies and are in the final stages of developing an advanced armed drone prototype called the Dassault nEURon, from which the France plans to derive armed drones for its air force.

Pakistani authorities have long tried to persuade the United States to give them armed Predator drones, while India owns an armed Israeli drone designed to detect and destroy enemy radar, though it does not yet have drones capable of striking other targets.

The Teal Group, a defense consulting firm in Virginia, estimated in June that the global market for the research, development and procurement of armed drones will just about double in the next decade, from $6.6 billion to $11.4 billion. In addition to states, insurgent groups, too, are moving to acquire this technology. Last year, Libyan opposition forces trying to overthrow the dictator Moammar Gadhafi bought a sophisticated surveillance drone from a Canadian company for which they paid in the low six figures. A tiny drone can be bought on Amazon with

mere $250 cost. “As drone technology becomes more widely accessible, it is only a matter of time before well-financed drug cartels acquire them. And you can imagine a day in the not too distant future where armed drones are used to settle personal vendettas,” the analysts fear.

They point out that given the relatively low costs of drones — already far cheaper than the costs of a fighter jet and of training a fighter jet pilot — armed drones will play a key role in future conflicts.

The experts note that the United States is setting a powerful international norm about the use of armed drones, which it uses for pre-emptive attacks against presumed terrorists in Pakistan and Yemen. “It is these kinds of drone strikes that are controversial; the use of drones in a conventional war is not much different than a manned aircraft that drops bombs or fires missiles.”

According to figures compiled by the New America Foundation, drone attacks aimed at suspected militants are estimated to have killed between 1,900 and 3,200 people in Pakistan over the past eight years.

While there has been considerable discussion of the legality of such strikes in a number of U.S. law schools, they write, there has been almost no substantive public discussion about drone attacks among policymakers at the international level.

“The time has come for some kind of international convention on the legal framework surrounding the uses of such weapons, which promise to shape the warfare of the future as much as tanks and bombers did during the 20th century.”

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

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04 News Malik allows India to investigate evidence related to Mumbai attacks NEW DELHI

Ministry of External Affairs to take it up formally with Pakistan and set a date soon for NIA’s visit, according to Indian media.

Despite getting verbal assurances from Pakistani interior minister, Home Ministry officials are doubtful if Pakistan would stand by its commitment or just allow it to merely complete a formality and take a moral high ground, the paper said.

“Ideally, besides sharing evidence with our investigation agency, Pakistan should also give it access to question the seven handlers who gave training and instructions to 10 terrorists, including the lone surviving terrorist Ajmal Kasab, accused of killing 166 people in Mumbai and also allow it to speak to key witnesses who have divulged details of their training in camps,” a senior official said.

FIA’s former head Tariq

Khosa, who supervised Mumbai terror attacks probe, revealed recently that investigators had found Lashkar-e-Taiba camps at Thatta and Karachi, the capital of Sindh province and had located the Pakistani boat that was used by the team of 10 terrorists to travel from Karachi to Indian waters.

“These are very important developments and we hope Pakistan would see reason in these to let the probe reach a logical end,” an official said.

Sources said that India would also want Pakistan to allow NIA’s visit before re-sending its judicial commission to cross examine the four prosecution witnesses.

Pakistan’s request for resending its judicial commission for cross examination is pending with the Indian Law Ministry, which is expected to take a final view on it by mid October.

Nigeria student massacre claims 26 lives

electricity tariff likely to go down

I

QueTTA: Members of Balochistan union of journalists protest on Tuesday against the killing of TV journalist Abdul Haq Baloch. ONLINE

Afghan senators want ‘friendship’ axed from France pact KABUL AFP

Afghanistan’s senate voted to cut the word “friendship” from a pact with France because Islamic texts say it cannot be used to describe relations between Muslims and infidels, senators said Tuesday.

France, which has seen 88 of its troops killed as part of the NATO coalition backing the Afghan government against Taliban insurgents, signed the 20-year “friendship and cooperation treaty” earlier this year.

“Some senators said that based on Sharia rulings we cannot use the word friendship with infidels, so after voting the word friendship was replaced

with relationship,” Senator Zahra Sharifi told AFP. The move, which amounts simply to a recommendation as the senate has the power only to approve or reject the document, not to amend it, apparently embarrassed some senators.

“We argued, we said that France has been a close friend of Afghanistan for a very long time,” said Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, who chaired the senate session.

“Some senators disagreed, but the important thing is that the pact was approved, and will be sent to the foreign ministry.”

A foreign ministry spokesman, Faramerz Tamana, said that after it received the document

from the senate, “we will send the treaty to the government of France, and they will decide whether or not they accept any possible change in the document”.

The treaty was signed in January by then French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Afghan President Hamid Karzai and was ratified by the French parliament on July 25.

It was also ratified by the lower house of the Afghan parliament before going to the senate.

Afghanistan has signed partnership agreements with several countries, including the United States, but none of the others had included the word “friendship”, said Senator Nesar Ahmad Haress.

uS weighing drone strikes in north africa WASHINGTON

onlIne

NTERIOR Minister Rehman Malik has given verbal assurance to his Indian counterpart Sushil Kumar Shinde that India will be allowed to examine evidence and question the masterminds (currently in jail) behind the Mumbai attacks.

The request was raised by Shinde on the sidelines of SAARC Home Ministers’ Conference at Maldives.

India may send a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to Pakistan to have a look at the evidence gathered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the 26/11 probe and also possibly to question its key handlers who are currently in jail.

Seeing it as a significant move forward, the Indian Home Ministry has asked the

AFP

The White House may extend its campaign of drone strikes against Al-Qaeda to target the desert bases of the group’s north African arm, the Washington Post reported Tuesday. A spokesman for President Barack Obama’s National Security Council would not confirm details of the debate, which The Post said involved officials from the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department and the Pentagon. But NSC spokesman Tommy Vietor told AFP: “The president has been clear about his goal to destroy Al-Qaeda’s network and we work toward that goal every day. “It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the White House holds meetings on a variety of subjects, including a number of counterterrorism issues,” he added. A Pentagon official confirmed to AFP that discussion of Al-Qaeda’s north African wing had gained greater urgency since a deadly assault last month on a US consulate in Libya killed four Americans including the US ambassador.

KANO AFP

Gunmen massacred at least 26 people in a student housing area of northeast Nigeria on Tuesday, calling victims out by name before shooting them or slitting their throats, officials said.

The attack occurred in the early hours in the town of Mubi, where the military last week carried out a high-profile raid against Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, which has been waging a deadly insurgency. Some officials however suggested the massacre may have been linked to a recent student election. According to a police spokesman, the attackers knew their victims and called them out by name in an offcampus area near a polytechnic school where students live. The police spokesman,

Mohammed Ibrahim, put the death toll at 25, including 19 students from the polytechnic, three students from a health technology school, two security guards and a retired soldier. A relief official speaking on condition of anonymity said 26 people had been confirmed dead and 15 were wounded and taken to hospital. The military had taken over the area.

“The attackers knew their targets,” Ibrahim told AFP. “They were calling out names of their targets in each house they entered, and once the target identified himself, he would be shot dead. We strongly suspect an inside operation.” He added that some victims’ throats were slit. The suggestion that the killings were linked to the student election however raised questions over how and why the dispute would have turned so violent.

US scaling down hopes for Taliban peace deal Continued fRom page 01

The Times said the failure to broker meaningful talks with the Taliban underscores the fragility of the gains claimed during the surge of American troops ordered by President Obama in 2009. The 30,000 extra troops won back territory held by the Taliban, but by nearly all estimates failed to deal a crippling blow.

Critics of the Obama administration say the United States also weakened its own hand by agreeing to the 2014 deadline for its own involvement in combat operations, voluntarily ceding the prize the Taliban has been seeking for over a decade. The Obama administration defends the deadline as crucial to persuading the Afghan government and military to assume full responsibility for the country, and politically necessary for Americans weary of what has already become the country’s longest war. “Among America’s commanding generals

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

here, from Stanley A. McChrystal and David H. Petraeus to today’s John R. Allen, it has been an oftrepeated mantra that the United States is not going to kill its way out of Afghanistan. They said that the Afghanistan war, like most insurgencies, could only end with a negotiation. “Now American officials say they have reduced their goals further — to patiently laying the groundwork for eventual peace talks after they leave.

American officials say they hope that the Taliban will find the Afghan Army a more formidable adversary than they expect and be compelled, in the years after NATO withdraws, to come to terms with what they now dismiss as a “puppet” government.”

However, the report says, the United States has not given up on talks before that time. It agreed last month to set up a committee with Pakistan that would vet potential new Taliban interlocutors, and the Obama administration is considering whether to revive a

proposed prisoner swap with the insurgents that would, officials hope, reopen preliminary discussions that collapsed in March, current and former American officials said. Those are both seen as long-term efforts, however.”

With the end of this year’s fighting season, the Taliban have weathered the biggest push the American-led coalition is going to make against them, said the report. A third of all American forces left by this month, and more of the 68,000 remaining may leave next year, with the goal that only a residual force of trainers and special operations troops will remain by the end of 2014. Bringing Pakistan into the search for Taliban contacts is also an uncertain strategy, American officials said, according to the report. The details of the new vetting committee have yet to be worked out, and “if we are depending on Pakistan, it comes with an asterisk,” one of the officials said. “We never know

whether they will see it through.”

“The American shift toward a more peripheral role in peace efforts represents another retreat from Washington’s once broad designs for Afghanistan, where the surge, along with a sharp escalation of nighttime raids by Special Operations Forces against Taliban field commanders, were partly aimed at forcing the Taliban into negotiations, making a Western withdrawal more feasible.” For a brief moment, the strategy appeared to be working: preliminary talks, painstakingly set up throughout 2011, opened early this year in Qatar, in the Persian Gulf.

The effort fell apart when the Obama administration, faced with bipartisan opposition in Washington, could not make good on a proposed prisoner swap, in which five Taliban leaders held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, would have been exchanged for the sole American soldier held by the insurgents, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

In Washington, “the tone of the whole

discussion has shifted to a less U.S.led approach and toward a more Afghan-led approach, but one that will be over a longer term,” said Shamila N. Chaudhary, a South Asia analyst at the Eurasia Group. The Americans still hope to play a behindthe-scenes role, she said, but what shape that would take is “not clear.”

The Times report also noted the prospects for direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban are even murkier.

Mualavi Qalanmudin, a former Taliban minister who now sits on the High Peace Council, the Karzai administration’s separate peace effort, dismissed the notion that the Taliban will never talk to the Afghan government. “They will continue saying that until the day they sit at the negotiating table,” said Mr. Qalanmudin, who once ran the Taliban’s notorious Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Mr. Agha, however, said he had been asked by the High Peace Council to carry proposals for direct talks to the Taliban and was rebuffed.

ISLAMABAD STAFF rePorT

Electricity tariff is likely to be decreased by 4 paisas per unit, as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) hears a case regarding the cut in electricity tariff today (Wednesday).

NEPRA said the reduction in tariff would be made in terms of fuel price adjustment, adding that the expected decrease in tariff was due to an increase in hydel power production. NEPRA said the cost of electricity produced by diesel remained at Rs 19 per unit, while that from hydel power at 8 paisas per unit in August. The country purchased electricity from Iran at Rs 9.50 per unit.

nearly 300 held in bangladesh for attacks on buddhists DHAKA AFP

Bangladesh police said Tuesday they had arrested nearly 300 people after Muslim mobs attacked temples and houses in what Buddhist leaders described as the worst violence against the community since independence. A total of 162 people were arrested in Cox’s Bazaar, which bore the brunt of the attacks on Saturday and Sunday nights, according to Khorshed Alam, a senior police officer in the southeastern district. A further 76 were arrested in neighbouring Chittagong and 36 in Bandarban district, local police officials said. Alam told AFP that a final tally of the damage caused by the mobs in Cox’s Bazaar had found 11 temples were torched and seven were damaged or ransacked in the district. At least 20 Buddhist houses were also set on fire, dozens of their shops looted and some 100 houses were damaged during the attack that began after Saturday midnight at Ramu town, with about 25,000 Muslims taking part.

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News 05

Afghan lawmakers call for suspending strategic agreement with Pakistan Say agreement meaningless unless islamabad stops cross-border shelling into afghanistan’s eastern regions g

KABUL nnI

Afghan lawmakers are of the view that the planned strategic agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan is meaningless and any work on it should be suspended until Islamabad stops cross-border shelling into Afghanistan’s eastern regions.

Several Afghan lawmakers, including the speaker of the House Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi, on Tuesday slammed discussions of a long-term deal between the two countries.

“Afghan people are the victims of violence and terrorism and Pakistan is the real cause of that,” Ibrahim said.

“The Afghan government should closely monitor the contents of the strategic agreement and consider the issue of Pakistan being a supporter and facilitator of insurgents in Afghanistan.” Ghazni MP Ali Akbar Qasimi said he believed signing a deal with Pakistan was premature and should be delayed, according to Tolonews.

“Signing the strategic agreement with Pakistan is untimely because Pakistan is now shelling the eastern provinces,” Qasimi said. “It should be delayed until it

Protests over TV reporter’s killing

changes its strategy and position against Afghanistan.”

Kunar MP Saleh Mohammad Saleh called the agreement meaningless given just days ago Pakistani military were warning residents in up to 15 districts of the eastern provinces to leave their homes or be caught up in their incursion. The MPs also claimed that Pakistan had clearly violated the United Nations Security Council 1373 (2001) Resolution which says all nations must prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, as well as criminalise the willful provision or collection of funds for such acts, and to not allow their territory to be used as the terrorism fundraising efforts.

“Pakistan is violating the 1373 (2001) United Nations Security Council Resolution which prohibits the funding of terrorist networks and obliges nations to take strong action against such networks. The United Nations should prevent Pakistan’s continued shelling on Afghanistan’s eastern provinces and impose sanctions against them,” Kabul MP Baktash Siawash said. The signing of an Afghanistan-Pakistan strategic pact by the end of 2013 was decided upon by the presidents of both countries in their meeting in the US last week.

QUETTA

J

derA GHAZI KHAn: Peter engines are being used to drain floodwater from an area on Tuesday. ONLINE

AFP

OURNALISTS across Pakistan staged protest rallies Tuesday to condemn the killing of a television reporter in insurgency-torn Balochistan on the Afghan and Iranian border.

Police said Abdul Haq Baloch, 37, who worked for private TV channel ARY, was shot late Saturday while driving home in Khuzdar, 230 kilometres (145 miles) south of the provincial capital Quetta.

Journalists said masked men opened fire on his car around 100 yards from the local press club. Police officer Abdul Qadir Kamrani told AFP that Baloch died of his injuries en route to hospital.

Police have registered a case against “unidentified gunmen”. Balochistan is one of Pakistan’s most deprived areas. Separatist rebels have been fighting since 2004 for autonomy and a greater share of oil, gas and mineral deposits in the southwestern province.

Human rights groups say hundreds have been detained, killed or gone missing as government forces try to crush the uprising by ethnic Baloch groups.

Farooq Faisal, president of the national press

club, said journalists were protesting against extremely difficult working conditions in Baluchistan and northwest Pakistan, where a Taliban insurgency is concentrated.

“Armed groups are threatening journalists but the government is taking no step for their protection,” Faisal told AFP. Nadeem Gorgnari, president of the Khuzdar press club, told AFP that Baloch and the club had received threatening telephone calls.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik met journalists in Islamabad and said a judicial commission would investigate the killing, promising a reward of Rs 2.5 million rupees for anyone who helps to identify the killers.

Earlier this year, a government commission failed to find the killers of a journalist who reported that Islamist militants had infiltrated the military shortly before he disappeared in May 2011.

According to press watchdog Reporters Without Borders, Pakistan was the deadliest country for the media in 2011 with at least eight journalists killed in connection with their work.

A driver also working for ARY was shot dead last month when a mob protesting against a USmade film deemed insulting to Islam set alight and ransacked a cinema in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Karzai concedes Central Asian, Arab militants’ role in violence g

Kunar is now base of al Qaeda in afghanistan WASHINGTON SPeCIAl CorreSPondenT

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has conceded the role of militants from Central Asian and the Arab regions in continuing violence in his country as a US channel also reported increased presence of alQaeda in multiple camps and cells in Afghanistan.

Citing American reports, the CBS 60 Minutes investigative program, which also included interview with top US commander in Afghanistan Gen John Allen, disclosed that Kunar province has become the base of al-Qaeda operations in Afghanistan.

The program revealed that the al-Qaeda presence on the Afghan soil is significant and contradicts earlier claims about the militant organization’s having been nearly eliminated from Afghanistan. Gen Allen also told the program of his forces’ efforts to combat al-Qaeda in the country.

In a rare moment of publicly aired and blunt reflection, Karzai, who has been singling out Pakistan for Afghanistan’s troubles for years, also wondered why terrorism has escalated in his landlocked country since foreign forces’ arrival with the stated aim of containing the violence.

But, in the same breath, Karzai made the sweeping claim that were it not for militant sanctuaries in Pakistan, his country would have been “completely different” in terms of peace and security.

The program “The Longest War,” shown Sunday also focused on the rising number of “insider” attacks in which Afghan forces turn their guns on their American trainers.

Allen says he is “mad as hell” about these attacks.

Afghan forces, the program presenter Lara Logan observed, face a formidable enemy as they move toward assuming security full responsibility, before the 2014 end to foreign combat mission in their country.

Can you tell Americans what’s still at stake in Afghanistan after all these years of war? she asked Karzai, according to a CBS script.

Karzai: The reason for the NATO and American intervention in Afghanistan was terrorism. Terrorism has not gone away. It has increased.

Lara Logan: When you say that terrorism has increased what do you mean exactly?

Karzai: If terrorism means violence against civilians, if terrorism means violence against our allies. It has increased.

It has not abated. It has not gone away.

Karzai then tells the program that the “Afghan intelligence reports to him on the presence of foreign fighters - Arabs, Chechens and others, who are captured and killed on Afghan soil.

“Name them al Qaeda, name them Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, name them Haqqani, name them Taliban, whatever.

They’re still there. And they have the ability to continue 10 years on to come and hurt us and kill your troops and kill our troops, kill our civilians. We must then question how come they’ve returned?”

Probed further how the al-Qaeda-linked militants returned to the country, Karzai replied : “Something must have gone wrong for that to happen.”

One place, the program presenter noted, where things have gone wrong is in the “mountains of Kunar in the east of the country, which has become al Qaeda’s base

of operations in Afghanistan today.”

The program also contained excerpts of an interview with a man, identified as an Afghan Taliban leader. In the interview conducted in Kabul – the Taliban leader claims that it is the Taliban who are behind the “insider” attacks. He also talks about some of the deadly skills of al-Qaeda militants operating in Afghanistan.

The program notes that “while the U.S. has been saying for a long time that al Qaeda in Afghanistan is almost defeated, the U.S. military’s own reports from the battlefield reveal a very different picture.”

These reports are “rich with detail about al Qaeda’s leaders and operations today, confirming the existence of al Qaeda training camps and multiple attack cells.”

Among those they say they’ve killed are al

Qaeda weapons and explosives experts. In one month, the U.S. says it killed more than 25 al Qaeda leaders and fighters.

Commenting on the issue, Gen Allen told the channel: “al Qaeda has come back. Al Qaeda is a resilient organization. But they’re not here in large numbers. But al Qaeda doesn’t have to be anywhere in large numbers.”

Allen added, “They’re not significant in a traditional military sense. Al Qaeda has significance beyond its numbers, frankly.

And so for us, our 24-hour-a-day objective is to seek out those al Qaeda cells. And, as we seek them out, to target them and eliminate them. And we’re doing that 24 hours a day. We do not want al Qaeda to feel as though it can put down roots here.

That’s the key.”

According to the program, Karzai and the US differ in their assertions on the level of security in the country, with the Afghan president openly airing his grievances about the loss of lives.

However, both Karzai and Allen claim that the militants having safe havens on the Pakistani side of the Afghan problem have been a big problem.

Speaking on the Pakistan factor, Allen says: “Well, we’re doing a great deal right now.

The relationship that we have between ISAF forces and the Pakistani military has improved dramatically— Lara Logan: But it doesn’t stop Pakistanis helping our enemies kill U.S. soldiers.

Allen: Well, that’s not going to stop immediately. We’ve got to work at that. It’s not a solution that can be had ultimately by a military solution. These are policy issues, these are government to government

issues. I’m not going to be able to wage war in Pakistan. But this is hard. There’s a very complex relationship with Pakistan. And we’ll work very hard and very closely with the Pakistani military to achieve common objectives. But to some extent the Pakistani military has been successful in cooperating with us in the last several months with regard to complimentary operations on both sides of the border but much more needs to be done.”

Allen added in his comments on the situation “within the context of my authorities, we’re going to do everything we can to hunt down and kill every one of those Haqqani operatives that we can inside this country. And those other elements that come out of those safe havens that ultimately threaten my troops, threaten the Afghan troops and the Afghan society, the Afghan civilians, and ultimately the Afghan government.”

Karzai blames the U.S. for not addressing the issue of sanctuaries in Pakistan years ago, says the channel.

Lara Logan: Why has the U.S. failed to address the issue with Pakistan do you think?

Karzai: Perhaps politics.

Lara Logan: What has been the cost of that?

Karzai: Heavy for us. Disastrous for us.

Lara Logan: Would Afghanistan look completely different today if the issue of sanctuary and safe haven in Pakistan had been dealt with years ago?

Karzai: Absolutely. Completely different. Much more peaceful. Much more progressed. Much more stable.

And a society that would have been thriving on its own.”

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

KHI 03-10-2012_Layout 1 10/3/2012 2:28 AM Page 6

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

KArACHI: Heavy machinery being used to demolish encroachments on lyari expressway near Teen Hatti. ONLINE

SnP announces hunger strike against lG system KARAcHI STAFF rePorT

As protests continue against Sindh Peoples’ Local Government Ordinance (SPLGO) 2012, Sindh National Party (SNP) announced on Tuesday to observe hunger strike outside Karachi Press Club until the said controversial bill was withdrawn.

Addressing a press conference at the press club, SNP Chairman Ameer Bhambhro said that while one side of the province was protesting against the dual administrative system, the provincial lawmakers had the courage to cast away 50 million voice of Sindh and passed the controversial ordinance most Sindhis had rejected already.

Bhanbhro said people had given mandate to the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) so that it could finish terrorism and especially to restore peace in the province.

He said that Parvez Musharraf’s ordinance of 2001 was modified and enforced on the people of Sindh in the name of democracy. He said that following a dictator’s policy by the PPP was synonymous with causing a disgrace to Benzair Bhutto’s grave.

Bhanbhro said further that his party had filed a petition in Supreme Court, on 18 September 2012, against the duel system of government in the province but to no avail.

“Even after protesting in Sindh, Supreme Court is yet to take notice of this grave issue,” he concluded.

JST TaKeS umbrage at local government bill Sarki requests Pir Pagara to lead march against controversial LG system KARAcHI

v

AFTAB CHAnnA

EHEMENTLY condemning the Sindh Peoples’ Local Government Bill, 2012 which the provincial legislature had passed the other day, Jeay Sindh Tehreek (JST) Tuesday announced to launch a protest movement in the province against the said bill in a move to press the authorities to withdraw it.

Announcing this at a crowded press conference at Karachi Press Club, JST President Dr Safdar Sarki said that protest rallies and demonstration would be held in all district headquarters on October 3. He also said that a Karachi March would also be held on October 14 to lodge a historic protest against the dual governance system.

And the protests would not just end

here, he said. “After the Karachi March, thousands of Sindhis under the banner of JST would take out a long march from Jacobabad district to Karachi on November 3, 2012,” Sarki added.

Safdar Sarki also congratulated leader of Pakistan Muslim LeagueFunctional (PML-F) Pir Pagara, Jatoi and Mahar brothers and the PPP MPAs who did not attend the assembly session in protest. “The JST and the Sindhis believe that passage of the controversial bill in a haphazard manner is tantamount to betrayal with the people of Sindh. People whose lives are to be affected would not take a sigh of relief until the said bill of governance is withdrawn,” he added.

Sarki alleged that the establishment, in a move to restrict the philosophy of GM Syed, had once again used the PPP and MQM in dividing Sindh

and creating hatred among the people.

“I want to remind the current PPP leadership that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had time and again condemned the Local Government Ordinance of Musharraf and Daniyal Aziz and she promised that the old status of Karachi and Hyderabad districts would be restored.

“But the present PPP leadership has included most dangerous clauses in the LG Bill that shift all the powers of chief executive and the Sindh government to the mayor of Karachi.” he maintained.

Sarki, in the end, requested Pir Pagara, Shafi Jamote, Hakeem Baloch, Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, Khuda Dino Shah and all the nationalist parties to join hands to make Karachi March a success. He also requested Pir Pagara to lead millions of people marching in protest.

infants’ death toll reaches 15 LARKANA: With the death of another infant on Tuesday at a government hospital in Larkana, the number of shocking deaths of newly-born babies climbed to 15 over the past four days.

The babies died because of power failure and subsequent interruption in oxygen supply.

The Sindh government has ordered a probe into the deaths. Officials said the governor and chief minister have separately summoned details of the incident.

Sources said five children in intensive care unit on Friday night died after the power failure in the hospital. The administration attempted to kick-start the standby power generators but it also failed because there was no diesel in its fuel tanks. In the absence of backup for oxygen supplies, the babies could not be saved, they said.

On Saturday, eight more babies died as they could not get medical treatment because of power outages and administrative issues at the hospital. One infant died on Sunday and another died on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 15 over the past four days. InP

Excise dept recovers Rs 4.4b tax in August KARACHI: The Excise and Taxation Department has recovered a sum of Rs 4.41 billion in the month of August 2012.

This was stated by Director General of Excise and Taxation Department Sindh, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, here on Tuesday.

He said the amount was Rs 250 million more as compared to the corresponding month last year. Shoaib Siddiqui further

pointed out that the overall target for the fiscal year 2012-13 was Rs 29.81 billion. He was optimistic that his Department would easily be able to achieve this target.

Shoaib pointed out that in the last fiscal year the target was Rs 23.7 billion but the collection was 28.2 billion. He said that it is the special directive of the provincial Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla that the tax collec-

tion drive be speeded. Shoaib Siddiqui said that motor vehicle tax recovery drive would commence in the province from October 15.

SINDH WON’t BE DIvIDED: KHORO: Sindh Speaker Assembly Nisar Khoro on Tuesday said that Sindh will neither be divided nor be broken with the new local bodies’ bill. Talking to media persons here, the speaker said

that opposition members were also absent when the new local bodies’ ordinance was being presented in the Sindh Assembly. While expressing unhappiness over the attitude of the opposition members, Khoro said why did not they announce boycott of the elections under the ordinance? He also expressed sorrow over Nawabshah incident. APP

KHI 03-10-2012_Layout 1 10/3/2012 2:28 AM Page 7

Karachi 07 installation of surveillance cameras in final stage KARAcHI APP

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sindh, Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari said on Tuesday that installation of surveillance cameras in the metropolis was in the final stages.

He was talking to the participants of the 97th National Management Course who visited the Central Police Office (CPO).

The IGP said that in the initial phase, 50 wireless cameras, 60 automated number plate readers, 164 PTZ cameras and 656 fixed cameras were being installed.

He stated that in the next phase, video surveillance system would be expanded.

Leghari also informed that steps were being taken for the introduction of the vehicle tracking system technology and the establishment of the FM Radio Station.

“The nation-wide police-to-police trunk call system would also be introduced soon,” the IGP added.

HyderABAd: Members of High Court Bar hold a demonstration against Sindh local Government ordinance outside the press club. ONLINE

admission test for mbbS, bdS on 7th HYDERABAD APP

The Registrar Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro Tuesday presided over a meeting to review the arrangements to conduct entry test for admissions in MBBS and BDS Academic Session 2012-2013 to be held on October 7, 2012.

It was decided in the meeting to prohibit candidates from bringing cellular phones, pens, calculators, files and purses at the centers of pre-entry test.

Varsity syndicate member nominated HYDERABAD APP

Sindh Speaker Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has nominated MPA Firdous Hameed alias Farheen Mughul as member of the Syndicate of University of Sindh Jamshoro.

The Registrar University of Sindh further said on Tuesday that the appointment has been made for a residual period up to January 11, 2015.

mental Health day to observed on 10th HYDERABAD APP

The World Mental Health Day will be observed across the country on October 10 with the purpose to raise public awareness about psychological problems and diseases.

This year the theme of the day is ‘The Great Push Investing in Mental Health’.

Eminent psychiatric of Sir Cowasji Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry (SCJ) Hyderabad Dr Darya Khan Laghari informed here on Tuesday that according to an estimate, over 450 million people in the world suffer from mental disorder and out of these 20 million are in Pakistan.

Over one million depressed people commit suicide every year across the world.

He said initiatives should be taken to help the people in grief as they were going through a testing time and needed help. Different health institutions and organizations of Hyderabad have chalked out elaborate programs to mark the occasion.

Two killed in violence KARAcHI InP

At least two people including a policeman were killed in firing incidents in different areas of the city here on Tuesday. The police arrested 25 criminals during separate actions and recovered arms and drugs from their possession. According to police, some unidentified miscreants opened indiscriminate gunfire near Shershah Pankha Hotel (restaurant), killing a man, Abdullah, on the spot and fled the scene.

The body was shifted to a civil hospital for postmortem.

A policeman, Babar, who was injured

in a firing incident in Kharadar, succumbed to injuries at Civil Hospital.

Meanwhile, firing incidents continued in different areas of Karachi, including Sohrab Goth, Lyari, North Karachi during which six persons were reported injured. The injured were shifted to different hospitals of concerned areas.

Unknown miscreants hurled four hand grenades at cement depot and a crush plant in Shah Latif Town and Mangopir areas of the city. However, no causality or injury was reported in both the attacks. On special directives of DIG East, Shahid Hayat, the police conducted search operation in different areas of the

city during which 25 criminals involved in murder, attempted murder, street crimes and robberies were nabbed. The police claimed to have recovered eight pistols, two revolvers and huge quantity of drugs from their possession.

CID POLICE ARRESt 2 ttP MEN: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Police on Tuesday arrested two men belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after conducting raids in different areas of the city. According to SP CID Fayaz Khan, the police arrested the TTP men from Mauripur and Federal B Area. The arrested men were involved in several incidents of target killings also.

expo Pakistan from 4th KARAcHI APP

Expo Pakistan would be held in the metropolis from October 4 to 7.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sindh, Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari directed on Tuesday that effective security arrangements be made for the mega event at the Expo centre Karachi.

He stressed that adequate security steps be ensured for the foreign delegates, guests, diplomats, businessmen, visitors and other people.

He instructed that such measures should also be taken at the district as well as the Thana (police station) levels. The IGP also directed that regular patrolling, snap checking, picketing should also be strengthened and that these security steps should be comprehensive.

World Space Week to be marked from 4th in 10 cities KARAcHI APP

The World Space Week (WSW), an international celebration of the contribution that space science and technology makes for the betterment of the human condition, will be marked in 10 cities of Pakistan including Karachi, an official statement of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) said on Tuesday.

It was also mentioned in the statement that the day was celebrated in some 65 nations of the world including Pakistan.

During WSW, events and educational programs related to space are held globally.

SUPARCO, as a national space agency, has been regularly conducting WSW activities each year since 2005 to increase awareness of space technology and to promote its peaceful usage amongst students and the masses in Pakistan.

This year, SUPARCO has extended WSW activities throughout Pakistan with the partnership of key educational institutions of the country.

The theme of the WSW 2012 is `Space for Human Safety and Security’.

The National Space Agency will hold an inauguration ceremony of WSW on October 4 at the National Center for Remote Sensing and Geo Informatics (NCRG) Karachi to formally commence World Space Week 2012 celebration in Pakistan.

The chief guest for the ceremony will be Peer Mazhar-Ul-Haq, Provincial Minister of Education and Literacy.

A specially designed mobile education bus equipped with multimedia shall leave to create awareness of space through lectures, multimedia presentations and video shows in towns and villages of Sindh.

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

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GUNS ROAR TO MARK VICTORY Heavily-armed city celebrates cricket with aerial firing g Shooters terrorize violence-hit Karachiites after every favorable sixer or wicket fall g Some concede they fire in the air just to test their guns and bullets g Government officials say celebrations must not be at the cost of lives g

KARAcHI

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HE moment that marks Pakistani cricketers scoring a victory on the playgrounds of Sri Lankan also witnesses this densely populated metropolis echoing with life-threatening gunshots fired, apparently by jubilant cricket lovers.

Tuesday was no exception when the green shirts defeated the apparently confident Australians by 32 runs in a make-or-break tie in Colombo.

As soon as the Pakistani side appeared victorious, various city neighborhoods started echoing with ear-splitting aerial firing that sometimes have been lethal for the bystanders or passersby or in some cases the shooter himself. Every ball shot for a six by Pakistani batsmen or every wicket fallen on the Australian side was celebrated by the armed cricket lovers with nerves-wrecking gunshots in the air. The localities most affected were Keamari, Lyari, Landhi, Saddar, North Nazimabad, Gulistan-eJauhar and Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

Ironically, the shooters fired at their convenience without fearing the police. And aptly so, as this reporter observed half a dozen people in the port vicinity of Keamari firing shots in the air throughout the cricket match with the nearby situated Jackson police turning up to the shooting site not even once.

As if this was not enough, a shooter told Pakistan Today that he was getting bullets from one of his

friends working in the police department.

A realist critique put it more simply saying this serves a heavily-weaponised city like Karachi very right where the so-called “gun politics” has necessitated the possession and carriage of arms even for the common man. Needless to mention are the incidents of targeted killings that has now become order of the day in this volatile metropolis.

On the face of it, these gunshots are the handiwork of some cricket crazy Karachiites expressing their joy through firing multiple shots in the air, but there are some among the masses who don’t buy this impression and think otherwise.

“They by firing shots in the air on the match days test their weapons which otherwise lay unused for months,” viewed Muhammad Saeed, a Rent-ACar proprietor from Bhutta Village area of Keamari.

Saeed’s claim was endorsed by a shooter, requesting not to be named, saying he shot because he had to check his now what he called it out-fashioned 30-bore pistol. “It’s a 25-year old pistol. I have cleaned it up and now testing its shots as it is not firing properly after lying unused for a long time,” said the shooter, who was watching the Pak-Australia duo in his shop along with friends.

Another such shooter, who introduced himself as Sabir Shah, came up with more revealing facts.

“Some people go for firing to even their bullets that are either Chinese or Pakistan made,” said Shah who himself was “checking” the bullets he possessed. Shah showed this reporter a handful of bul-

"ExErCIES IN ImAgINNg ...

date: SePt 25 - Oct 04, 2012

lets that were of China-made “311” brand and that of the Pakistan made. According to Shah, the retail price of Chinese bullets was Rs 35 per piece, while the ones produced in Pakistan were being priced in local market at Rs 12 only. “There is a great difference in the quality and result of two brands and we here are checking the same,” Shah explained.

Giving an official input, Member of National Assembly (MNA) and former Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri termed the aerial firing even as a show of celebration as “dangerous”. “It is dangerous! Celebrations not at the cost of lives obviously!,” commented Marri who said was herself very happy for Pakistan’s victory against Kangaroos.

Asked about the role of her government to stop the life-threatening practice, she proposed “some penalty” and “awareness” through the media to educate the people how to handle the national celebrations. Then the MNA turned her guns to the media saying, “It’s about time the TV channels stop wasting money in parodies and songs, there’s so much to do!” When drew towards some of the shooters’ claim that they acquire bullets from the policemen, the former information minister said such security personnel as well as the shooters should be reformed. “So they need to reform too,” she said adding, “Remember everyone is from this society.

So values at large need to change or improve for better attitudes and practices!,” Marri said. Asked if she was putting the ball in the media’s court, the MNA replied that: “It’s a full circle!”

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date: SePt 26 - Oct 26, 2012

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Venue: tHe SecOnd flOOr (t2f)

anWar Saeed ´S neW SHOW ”eXerciSeS in imaGininG tHe OtHer”, StartS at canVaS Gallery On SePtember 25tH 2012 frOm 5 Pm - 8 Pm. anWar Saeed iS an eStabliSHed artiSt WHO iS a faculty member at ...

little, if anything, deters the artist meerza ali from creating the way he does. even though he had suffered a serious illness only too recently, that he didn´t think that he´d survive. Whose solo exhibition opens Kunj on September 26, 2012 at 5:30 pm. and the artist , who was born in calcutta, migrated to Pakistan in 1948. Whose father himself, was an artist. Who had never taught meerza ali, thought. So the artist acquired the skills that he needed on his own. Who has done especially well with calligraphy and his beautiful figurative work.

Join us at t2f every Wednesday for interactive sessions on mirza Ghalib’s poetry, conducted by author and translator, musharraf ali farooqi. Ghalib made easy by @micromafthe poetry of mirza Ghalib (27 december 1797 – 15 february 1869) has been considered complex, abstract and difficult to comprehend. even for Ghalib’s contemporaries, his language and imagery presented a challenge.

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Foreign News 09

Shells rock rebel bastions as Syria violence escalates DAMAScUS

R

AFP

EGIME forces rained shells on rebel bastions in and around Damascus on Tuesday and extra troops headed north to join the battle for the commercial capital Aleppo, as the conflict roiling Syria intensified.

The fresh offensive came hours after UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Damascus to show compassion to its people and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said a political solution was still possible if the West and Gulf states halted support for the rebels. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least five civilians died when Douma, in the capital’s northeast, was rocked by shelling following a deadly raid by rebels overnight on an army post there in which six soldiers were killed.

An amateur video posted by activists reported an exodus of residents of Douma and showed several vehicles with women inside driving off in the dark of night. Troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad also blasted a string of rebel strongholds in towns and suburbs outside the capital, including Babila, Hosh alArab, Saqba, Zabadani and Jubar, the Britain-based Observatory said.

South of the capital, security forces raided the Tadamun district and fierce clashes broke in the nearby Yarmuk Palestinian camp, the watchdog said.

The Local Coordination Committees, an activist network, reported that more than 100 shells fell on Zabadani, once a resort destination known for its mild weather and scenic views just northwest of the capital but now devastated by the civil war ravaging Syria.

West waging economic ‘war’ on Iran: Nejad TEHRAN AFP

The official daily Al-Baath on Tuesday said the “end of security operations throughout Damascus province” was approaching.

Government forces “have destroyed many weapons caches and seized large quantities of ammunition and equipment... which indicates that the end of security operations throughout Damascus province is approaching,” the newspaper said. On July 18, rebels carried out a massive bombing on a security complex in Damascus, killing Assad’s brother-in-law, the defence minister and a general.

Since then, regime forces have pushed the rebels to the outskirts of the capital but have lost control of several border crossings and are battling to fully retake Syria’s second city of Aleppo, which has been the focal point of the conflict since mid-July. Several districts of Aleppo were bombed on Tuesday, the Observatory said, a day after 22 civilians died in the violence ravaging the city.

Fighting flared in the Aleppo districts of Sakhur, Sheikh Khodr, Sheikh Faris and Arkoub, where one rebel was killed, and along Suleiman al-Halabi street in the city centre, the Observatory said.

Violence also raged on Tuesday in the southern province of Daraa, the Observatory said, adding that nine rebels were killed in an explosion at dawn near the Jordanian border while another nine people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in shelling attacks and clashes between troops and rebels in a camp for displaced people.

And Turkish troops fired across the Syrian border, killing a member of a Kurdish militia and wounding two others in the first such fatal shooting at the Turkish frontier, said the Observatory.

ALEPPO: A fighter injured in the Arqub neighborhood of northern city of Aleppo is brought to a hospital on Tuesday, as fighting in Syria’s second largest city between rebel forces and government troops continues. AFP

On the political front, Ban said after a meeting with Syria’s Muallem at UN headquarters in New York that it was time for Damascus to lower the scale of its offensive against the insurgency.

“He stressed that it was the Syrian people who were being killed every day and appealed to the government of Syria

Saakashvili concedes defeat in Georgia elections TBILISI AFP

The West is waging economic war on Iran in a vain effort to make it yield on its nuclear activities, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday, amid a steep plunge in the value of his country’s currency. Western sanctions hitting oil exports generating foreign currency revenues and restricting Iran’s ability to repatriate those revenues “is a hidden and heavy war on a planetary scale,” he told a news conference in Tehran. “It’s a battle. They have managed to diminish a little our oil sales, but we are going to compensate for that,” he said. Reacting to the accelerated slide of the rial’s value on the open market, where it has lost around 80 percent of its value from a year ago, Ahmadinejad said Iran has sufficient foreign currency reserves for the country’s needs, and that it was “a psychological war on the exchange market.” He said that the sanctions were “targeting the people” and added: “The enemy believes it can break the resistance of the Iranian people, but it is wrong.”

to show compassion to its own people,” a spokesman said.

Muallem, meanwhile, told the UN General Assembly that France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States “clearly induce and support terrorism in Syria with money, weapons and foreign fighters.”

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili conceded defeat Tuesday in parliamentary polls that handed a shock victory to an opposition coalition led by billionaire tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Although Saakashvili remains president, the defeat of his United National Movement to Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream coalition in Monday’s elections spells the end of his nine years of largely unchallenged dominance over Georgia. “It is clear that the (opposition) Georgian Dream has won a majority,” Saakashvili said in a dramatic televised speech after elections hailed as an “important step” for democracy by international observers.

Without specifying the allocation of seats in the future parliament, he indicated that Georgian Dream would have the majority in the new assembly and would form the new government.

“We, as an opposition force, will fight for the future of our country,” he said, promising to facilitate the transi-

tion process as president.

Georgian Dream was leading Saakashvili’s United National Movement by 53.11 to 41.57 percent after 29 percent of electoral precincts declared results in the proportional ballot that will decide just over half of the parliamentary seats. First-past-the-post votes in 73 constituencies will make up the remainder of the 150-seat parliament and the opposition was ahead in partial counts from seven out of 10 such

constituencies in its stronghold Tbilisi.

Saakashvili said that although there were “deep differences” between his party and the opposition, “democracy works and the Georgian people take the decision and this is what we deeply respect”. His campaign was undermined by a prison torture scandal that prompted nationwide protests ahead of the vote in the Western-backed ex-Soviet state and raised fears of more serious post-poll unrest.

OSCE election observers described the polls as an “important step in consolidating the conduct of democratic elections.” “Despite a very polarising campaign that included harsh rhetoric and shortcomings, the Georgian people have freely expressed their will at the ballot box,” said Tonino Picula, the head of the OSCE international observer mission.

Ivanishvili had declared victory immediately after several exit polls suggested late Monday that his coalition was ahead and his supporters celebrated long into the night in Tbilisi’s central Freedom Square.

Anti-corruption pArty lAunches in indiA NEW DELHI AFP

One of India’s most prominent anti-corruption campaigners launched a new political party on Tuesday, aiming to tap into a rich seam of public anger against the graft-tainted government.

Arvind Kejriwal said the formation of his party would mark a new chapter in the struggle against a “bribe-taking culture” and pledged to field candidates at a general election due in 2014. “Our political party is the first step in the right direction, the common man will soon become the lawmaker,” Kejriwal told AFP, after the launch in New Delhi. The unveiling of the yet-unnamed party was held on the anniversary of the birth of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

“We derive lessons from Mahatma

Gandhi’s teachings. We are determined to clean up the entire political spectrum.

Our candidates will be committed to honesty and transparency and they will fight elections,” Kejriwal added.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government has been rocked by a string

of graft accusations, including revelations that officials pocketed millions of dollars when awarding tenders for telecoms and coal-mining ventures.

Kejriwal, a former civil servant, cofounded a group called India Against Corruption, which caused huge embarrassment for the Congress-led coalition government when another leader Anna Hazare went on hunger strike. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in protests organised by India Against Corruption. Although the movement has since largely fizzled out, disquiet about levels of corruption was fuelled over the summer by a scandal over the allocation of lucrative mining rights.

An official auditor’s report found in August that private operators who won coal blocks without competition enjoyed “financial gains to the tune of 1.86 trillion

rupees ($33.4 billion)” since 2004 — some of which should have gone to the government. The scandal was particularly embarrassing for Singh because he served as coal minister as well as prime minister from 2004-2009. Hazare has parted ways with Kejriwal over his plans to enter politics, which he has described as “full of dirt”.

Kejriwal told AFP that his group would continue to “seek Hazare’s blessings” despite the rift. The new party’s manifesto details its aspirations for “a complete political revolution” as well as pledges to expose corruption at all levels of government and to inspire young people to participate in the political process.

“We are not greedy for power or hungry for money. We want to bring a social, political and economic change to wipe out corruption,” said Kejriwal in a speech in New Delhi.

Assad was open to reforms if the violence stopped, the foreign minister said.

“We still believe in a political solution as an essential way out of the crisis.”

For this to happen, he said UN members should press for an end to the “arming, financing, harbouring and training of terrorist groups.”

Abu Hamza’s health has worsened, British court hears

LONDON AFP

Radical Islamist preacher Abu Hamza’s health has deteriorated, the High Court in London heard on Tuesday, as he made a last-ditch legal bid to halt his extradition from Britain to the United States. The Egyptian-born cleric with a hook for a hand, and four other men were set to be sent to the United States after Europe’s top rights court gave its green light last week, but are seeking to block their removal. To avoid extradition to a US high-security prison, Hamza and fellow terror suspects Khaled Al-Fawwaz, Syed Tahla Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Babar Ahmad must prove there are “new and compelling” reasons not to send them. Two senior judges hearing the case were told in papers lodged with the court that Hamza is seeking a temporary injunction pending a request for an MRI scan to be carried out due to his “deteriorating health”. Alun Jones, a lawyer for 54-year-old Hamza, argues that there is “uncontradicted medical opinion that a scan is medically necessary”. “If the applicant (Hamza) is unfit to plead, or arguably so, it will be argued that it would be oppressive to extradite him.” The lawyer said a judge referred to Hamza’s “very poor health” at an extradition hearing in 2008. Hamza, the former imam of the Finsbury Park mosque in north London, is wanted in the United States on charges including setting up an AlQaeda-style training camp for militants in the northwestern US state of Oregon. He has also been charged with criminal conduct related to the taking of 16 hostages in Yemen in 1998 and with advocating violent jihad in Afghanistan in 2001.

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

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10 Comment The realities of Pakistan Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36298305-10 Fax: 042-36298302 Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208 Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287414-6 Fax: 051-2287417 Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

the die is cast PPP’s wrong step in Sindh

O

n Monday a hurriedly called session of the Sindh Assembly passed the controversial Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance (SPLGO) with a voice vote within minutes. The bill was neither referred to the select committee nor permission granted for a debate in the house. Request by former allies belonging to the ANP, PML-F, NPP and PML-Likeminded to be allotted seats on the opposition benches was disregarded, leading them to sit on the floor. Some of them tore the copies of the bill into pieces. All shouted slogans against the new law and walked out of the Assembly Hall in protest. The PPP made no attempt to reach a consensus through the customary give and take with minority groups which characterizes present day democracy. It was an exercise in the tyranny of majority.

The PPP has made its bed and will have to lie in it now. A line has been drawn between the urban and the rural population of Sindh which is highly unpopular in the interior of the province and is even opposed by minority communities in the cities, particularly the Pushtuns. The PPP has steamrolled the opposition in spite of strong protests, shutter downs and wheel jam strikes and a campaign by the Sindhi newspapers and electronic media. As the law was being passed, virtually all cities and small towns in Sindh were closed. The protests were peaceful till an activist of a nationalist party was killed in police firing leading the mobs to torch a police station and several vehicles.

President Zardari met MQM chief Altaf Hussain during a stopover in London hours after the SPLGO was voted into law. Electoral alliance between the two parties was high on the agenda of the two leaders. The PPP leadership believes that the Bhutto cult prevailing in Sindh would help it tide over any opposition in the interior of the province and what it will need after the elections is support from other parties to form a coalition government at the center. For this it considers the alliance with the MQM invaluable. The new Local Government system would strengthen the MQM’s position in Karachi and a number of other urban centers. With the gerrymandering of the early 2000s under Gen Musharraf’s watch firmly in place, the MQM can hope to win each of its seats won in 2008 hands down. The MQM is thus in a much better bargaining position than the PPP. It is therefore likely to play its cards closely to its chest, extracting more concessions from the PPP during the remainder of its tenure.

The line which has been drawn between two communities in Sindh by the SPLGO would cause further bitterness and give birth to more conflicts instead of promoting amity in the province. Once the line has been drawn, it would not be easy to undo it. Any government would find it difficult to resist the pressure from a big urban center like Karachi.

Strengthening positive ones should be priority

P

akistan represents a complex reality of positive and negative trends. Like a large number of Asian and African states, Pakistan manifests discontinuities based on ethnicity, language, culture, region and religious orientations. There is no single method to cope with these diversities and bring them in a state-wide national framework. However, the capacity of the political system to moderate these diversities and build these into an overarching framework goes a long way to determine the extent to which the state and society can function as a coherent socio-political entity.

Pakistan is experiencing different kinds of societal conflicts and violence in different parts of the country. In Karachi, violence has become so endemic that during the last six months three to five people were killed on average every day. In Balochistan, especially in and around Quetta, sectarian killings have become a routine affair. At times, the people from other provinces are also killed in a pre-panned manner.

Other problems that threaten the fabric of Pakistani state and society are religious extremism, hardline socioBy Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi religious attitudes and the use of violence to pursue religious-cum-political agendas.

An unfortunate expression of religious extremism was witnessed on September 20 and 21 when the activists of different but recognizable hardline Islamic groups damaged public and private property while protesting against the YouTube-based film on the Holy Prophet.

A church in Mardan and a Hindu temple in Karachi were damaged and the adjoining properties of Christians and

Hindus respectively were also vandalized.

In Islamabad, the army was called out to help the police to stop the protesters from entering the Diplomatic Enclave where most embassies were located. Had security been weak on September 21, the possibility of an attack on American embassy could not be ruled out like the attack on the American embassy in Islamabad in November 1979.

It may be pointed out that under international law if any embassy or consulate is damaged by mob attack the host government has to pay the cost of repairs. In November 1979, when the US embassy in Islamabad was damaged, Pakistan paid the cost of its repair which amounted to dollars 13,652,000.

There is another reality very different from the ugly scenes in the streets of major cities on September 21. On the next day, the young male and female students from mainstream educational institutions in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad decided to clean up the streets by removing the debris and repair and paint some road signs. They undertook this task voluntarily and brought the required equipment and material needed for this task.

It was very encouraging to see the young people working voluntarily in the streets, showing the soft and humane face of Pakistan.

The subsequent protests were peaceful and orderly for two major reasons. First, violence on September 21 was condemned across broad and the media named the Islamic parties whose activists engaged in violence. The police used the footage of close circuit TV to arrest some of the violent protesters. Second, the leadership of Islamic parties decided to be personally present in the protest marches to deflect the criticism for being absent on the day Pakistan witnessed one of the worst violence in the recent past. They wanted to show that their activists were peaceful and orderly and violence was resorted to by criminals and anti-social elements.

An orderly and peaceful protest march was organized in Karachi on September 30 by various Islamic parties and groups and their affiliated madrassas, identifying mainly with the Barelvi Islamic traditions.

The top leaders were present in the march.

By the first week of October, the protest movement was confined mainly to Islamic parties and groups. The mainstream political parties returned to their routine political activities. The film-issue has provided the much needed opportunity to Islamic groups and parties to activate their workers and show their strength in streets. The Difa-iPakistan Council (DPC), established after the Salala border post incident (November 26, 2011) to launch a movement for not resuming the transit of supplies to US/NATO

troops in Afghanistan, became somewhat inactive after the resumption of supplies in early July. Now, the film-issue enabled the DPC to return to the political scene.

Despite their best efforts, the Islamic political parties have not been able to outsmart the mainstream political parties. The best ever vote obtained by Islamic parties was 11 percent in the 2002 general elections for a host of reasons that are beyond the scope of this article. They formed the provincial government in Khbyer Pukhtunkhwa in 2002-2007. They were pushed aside in the 2008 general elections.

Now, they want to stage a comeback for the next general elections. Therefore they will keep the present protest alive as long as possible. Another significant development is that some sectarian and militant groups are endeavoring to enter national politics by working with other religious parties. These are expected to enter the electoral contest.

It is a positive development that the protest marches by religious parties have become peaceful. However, the manifestation of religious hardline is noticeable in their demands, including the display of the photograph of the killer of Governor Salmaan Taseer in the Karachi rally on September 30. Some of the Islamic groups project him as a hero.

The political and societal developments over the last two weeks show that Pakistan’s reality manifests positive as well negative socio-political and cultural trends. The violence on the religious issue was condemned all over Pakistan, forcing the religious parties and militant groups to adopt a peaceful course of action and they attempted to shift the blame of violence to anti-social elements. The students created another positive example.

There is a need to build on the positive reality and discourage the negative reality.

Pakistan’s political parties and societal groups, including Islamic formations, should join together to build Pakistan’s internal strength with reference to internal political cohesion, a moderate and tolerant societal disposition and stable economy. This will moderate various socio-cultural diversities, reduce societal violence and strengthen allembracing Pakistan-wide social and political processes. These strengths will increase their capacity to engage in a dialogue with the West for convincing them to respect the top personalities of all religions and that none should be able to use the cover of freedom of expression to hurt the religious and cultural sentiments of any community.

The writer is an independent political and defence analyst.

Five more years for Zardari?

It’s almost written in stone

By Ajai Shukla

T

here is a buzz on the streets of Lahore where I spent four days last week, engaged in a Track-2 dialogue between retired military officers and civil servants from India and Pakistan. Laughing in the face of the “failing state” narrative, which is the global impression of Pakistan, Lahore looks better than I have ever seen it before. Clean, green and bustling with the Punjabi energy of old, the Lahori street sends out three unambiguous, messages: firstly, the “basket-case” story of the Pakistani economy is one-sided; since 70 percent of the economy is in the informal sector, micro-boom co-exists with macro-bust.

The second message, from millionaire and minion alike, is that India is more opportunity than enemy. Thirdly, and this is unusual given the government’s

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

spectacular non-performance, the Pakistani people firmly believe that their army should remain in its barracks.

Global headlines tend to depict President Asif Ali Zardari as a precariously poised schemer, occupied in lining his pockets and manipulating Pakistani justice to keep his Swiss accounts undisturbed. There may be some truth in that, but the average Pakistani also acknowledges Mr Zardari as a skilled politician and a democrat who has skilfully dribbled around the Opposition, the Islamists, the military and the judiciary, even when all of them have opposed him in concert.

Many Lahoris, by definition supporters of Nawaz Sharif (11 of Lahore’s 13 elected legislators are from his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz), allow Mr Zardari credit for steering his political alliance doggedly towards what would be an unprecedented landmark in March 2013: an elected government completing its full five-year term.

This achievement, if it happens, will do much to nurture a democratic ethos in Pakistan. Given that Mr Zardari himself and his Pakistan Peoples Party-led government have pursued a determined course of improved relations with New Delhi, even through objections from the security establishment, India must politically scrutinise this unlikely democrat’s unexpected success.

If a single critical element has en-

sured Mr Zardari’s survival, it is his success in creating a stable political coalition and keeping it together through a succession of crises. Respected Pakistani political scientist Hasan Askari Rizvi suggests that political power in that country today ebbs and flows along four major axes: the ruling alliance, the Opposition, the military and (since 2008) the judiciary. Exercising influence to a lesser degree are the religious parties and the jihadi groups.

The ruling alliance, led by Mr Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party-Parliamentarians (PPP-P), includes Altaf Hussain’s predominantly mohajir (migrants from India) Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM); Asfandyar Wali Khan’s predominantly Pakhtun Awami National Party (ANP); and a handful of smaller parties.

With a narrow majority in the 342-seat National Assembly, this coalition has miraculously held together.

The Pakistan army has challenged the government on several occasions, most recently during the “memogate” crisis last year, when Mr Zardari was accused of seeking Washington’s support against a military coup after the Abbottabad raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Each time, however, Mr Zardari has stared down the generals. In the good old days a military coup might have followed, but today the military does not want to disturb the status quo. Firstly, the generals have little appetite for tackling Pakistan’s complex

social, political and economic issues. The public, too, has lost its taste for khaki solutions; there is none of the naive public confidence of the 1950s and 1960s that the Pakistan army would ride in on horseback and sweep away the problems.

Secondly, the military needs political backing for its ongoing anti-terrorist operations against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the tribal agencies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Through years of failed peace deals, the Pakistan army has realised that this campaign is unavoidable for Pakistan’s survival.

Only three major political parties support military operations in the tribal areas: the three big parties of the ruling coalition. Nawaz Sharif and his PML-N have maintained a craven ambiguity on terrorism. The naive and simplistic Imran Khan argues that the tribal agencies will return to normal once American forces depart the region. Pakistan’s military, fortunately, now knows better. The word from within is that operations will continue long after America pulls out from Afghanistan.

The Opposition is a divided house, with the jihad-ambiguous Nawaz Sharif, the jihad-friendly Imran Khan, and the jihad-supporting Islamist parties all competing for the same vote in the coming elections. In the 2008 elections, which were boycotted by Mr Khan’s and the religious parties, Mr Sharif reaped the fruits

of growing Punjabi support for militant groups like the Jamaat-ud-Dawa. This time, however, that vote would be split three ways. Mr Zardari would obviously benefit, given the PPPP’s support base all across Pakistan. Having gained control of the electoral colleges in the general elections, he would be well poised for the presidential elections next September.

His only challenger at present appears to be Mr Sharif. But the Punjabcentric PML-N must first sweep its home province (which has 183 of the National Assembly’s 342 seats) and then garner independents to cobble together a majority. Mr Sharif will take cheer from the declining fortunes of Imran Khan, who seemed to genuinely believe that he was riding a tsunami before reality dawned.

Insiders say that Mr Khan’s early success was thanks to the last chief of the InterServices Intelligence (ISI), Lt Gen Shuja Pasha, who boosted him to build pressure on Mr Zardari. The current ISI chief, Lt Gen Zaheer-ul-Islam, a dry spymaster who focuses on intelligence rather than politics, has reportedly left Mr Khan high and dry.

Is President Zardari all but poised for another term as president? Yes, if the elections were today. But in Pakistan, as in India, six months is a political lifetime.

The writer blogs ajaishukla.blogspot.com

at

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Comment 11

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

Fax: +92-42-36298302.

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk.

Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively.

Shabash Pakistan campaign This is with reference to news concerning a campaign titled “Shabash Pakistan” to promote sense of patriotism among country’s youth and help them play the role as ambassadors of Pakistan. Though the news was not on front or back pages but it is really heartening to see that in these depressing and gloomy times, there is still some hope. It is undoubtedly a proud moment for every patriotic Pakistani to see our youth stepping forth to play their part at such a time when we seem to be losing everything.

It is our moral obligation now to play our part of supporting this nation branding movement “Shabash Pakistan” and help it achieve its objective of reviving much needed patriotism and “Pakistaniyat” among all Pakistanis to create a positive image of Pakistan in the international arena.

SHAMSA ASHFAQ Rawalpindi

better be on safe side Thanks to the next general election which are fast approaching, the federal government was kind enough to provide some relief to the people in general and motorists in particular by not increasing but instead reducing the petrol and CNG prices price by as much as over five percent for the first week of October 2012. But there is no guarantee whatsoever that this relief would persist and there is every possibility of yet another petrol bomb hitting the people in less than a week from now.

So better be on the safe side and not take too much on this temporary relief, despite which the POL products are still considerably high, and continue making efforts to search some fuel saving technique and tricks in order to minimize the petrol expenses to the maximum extent possible without compromising on the long and short distances travelling one has to do every day.

BILAL AHMAD KHAN Lahore

russia and Pakistan The Chief of Army Staff’s visit to Russia on 3 October corresponds with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich visit to Pakistan for bilateral consultations on the same day. Both these visits are important not only in removing the apprehensions and fallout of the cancellation of Mr Putin’s visit to Pakistan but also creating the much needed impression that Russia and Pakistan are determined to take forward their mutual relationship despite years of neglect in past for the collective benefit of both the countries as well as the region. Economic cooperation and peace and stability in the region seem to be the two vital areas in which both the States have agreed to cooperate.

Russia and Pakistan both are concerned with the likely future US strategy to manage the post 2014 stability in Afghanistan which has definite implications for both Russia and Pakistan. The manning of

military bases with an appropriate force level by US may help improve security and shape the Afghan future but it may as well draw military actions from militant groups that may continue to refuse to accept the presence of foreign troops on Afghan soil. Anyhow, any scenario in which the military presence of US in Afghanistan is weak will mean return to the Afghanistan of 1990’s. The consequences of which will have to be borne both by Russia and Pakistan. Russia does not want proliferation of conflict on its southern periphery. These conflicts may not be the external threats to Russia’s existence but Russia cannot afford to stay aloof from any developing conflicts especially when it has the military power and muscle to manage and control these conflicts in the region.

The role of Taliban and IMU (Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan) in the post draw down Afghanistan

the nlc scam AS a part of the on-going cleansing drive initiated by the media to unearth unholy doing in the civil society, even some scams such as, Pakistan Steel Mill’s Rs 22 billion scam, NICL case, corruption in Pakistan International Airlines and Pakistan Railways, Hajj corruption case, NATO containers’ case, rental power projects and the ephedrine quota case, have been made public. More recently, a stage is set against Maj Gen Khalid Zaheer, Lt Gen Khalid Munir and Lt Gen Afzal Muzzafar for their involvement in the National Logistic Cell (NLC) scandal in 2008. Better late, then never. It goes to the army’s credit that instead of hushing the scandal up, it ordered investigations and recording of the Summary of Evidence (SoE).

All the three general officers are facing court martial after being recalled into service. However, the obstructionists are creating misperceptions about the good offices of armed forces. They opined that Pakistan Army will hush up to save the sacred cow. Nonetheless, by court martialing the accused officers, the army has dispelled all the bickering and speculations engulfing the country. The case is sub judice, while GHQ is evaluating evidences of the case.

As the new standard of corruption has gnawed at the innards of Pakistani civility, it has also penetrated inside the iron-clad defenses of the Pakistan armed forces. Resultantly, a few, at the very top, have faltered and fallen prey to greed. To what extent has much-admired image of Pakistan’s armed forces – as a highly disciplined, honest, responsible and professional body, turned into abyss? The defenders of Pakistan’s frontiers take pride in boasting that the service in Pakistan armed forces is not merely a job, but it is a profession that demands sacrifice of their lives for the sake of their motherland. Any harm to them will invariably

should be a matter of great concern to all the joint stake holders. The IMU has declared a jihad against the government of Uzbekistan with its ultimate goal being to overthrow the government and establishing an Islamic state. This makes them the ideological brothers of TTP (Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan). Attacks planned and executed by IMU from Afghanistan’s territory on Uzbekistan in the North together with military operations being carried out by Taliban’s in the South is a ‘security dilemma’ that may be warranting the attention of all who are looking at taking measures to create a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. The defensive/offensive actions as well as the likely restrictions/limitations that can be imposed to control the movements of the militants on the north and south borders of Afghanistan will remain as the most important common challenge.

Moscow regards NATO’s superior

inflict a heavy blow to the sovereignty of the country. If we as civilians do not respect the institution of military, we ought not to complain if we are not adequately defended from our adversaries in the war. And, if we really want to condemn corruption, then the civil society will have to relegate the recognition of corruption, only to be followed by the military culture – inviting a cultural change in the society.

MOHSIN MIRZA Islamabad

contempt case against Pulse In any democratic country, media plays the role of a watchdog to ensure that the executive, legislative and judicial organs of the state perform their due roles in public interest. An assertive private media is a hallmark of the process of democratization currently under way in Pakistan.

One of the country’s leading English magazine’s, weekly Pulse, quest for the purpose has come at a cost.

On September 25, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court framed charges against the paper’s Editor-in-Chief Mohsin Jameel and Editor Production Samar Rao for publishing a news story titled “SC Registrar oversteps jurisdiction” in its June 22-28, 2012 issue. The short story appeared as part of the magazine’s cover story on Dr Arsalan case questioning the veracity of the SC verdict in the case, which was hurriedly disposed of on grounds of being a “matter between two private parties”. It was based on an email allegedly sent by SC Registrar Dr Faqir Hussain to Copperstones, a UK-based public relations firm which reportedly facilitated the pleasure trips of Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, the son of SC Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, in London.

However, much of the story contributed by

strength in conventional forces as the external threat to Russia. Any US plans to occupy military bases in Afghanistan will not be welcomed by Russians. The strategic cooperation agreement that President Obama signed on May 1, 2012, with Afghanistan committed United States willingness to retain a military presence in country until 2024. With what force and by occupying how many military bases in Afghanistan no one is clear but what seems to be clear is that the growing Russian-Pakistani military and diplomatic cooperation may just be the outcome of the realization by Russia and Pakistan to build pressure on US to leave the region and leave the policing of the security in the region to the regional stakeholders alone. A very interesting twist in the new great game with hopefully positive outcomes for Pakistan.

MUHAMMAD ALI EHSAN Karachi

Online – Pakistan’s news agency – was about the double extension of the SC Registrar. It raised the issue of two-yearly extensions in the Registrar’s service after retirement – in 2010 and 2012, respectively – since the grounds on which the extensions were granted seemed to violate the court’s own strict rulings concerning the rehiring of retired public servants.

The court’s response to the Pulse story has been exceptionally hasty, as it took a suo motu action against the magazine, issuing a contempt notice to its chief editor and editor production and asking them to appear with replies in person on 1 August.

The apparent haste in court proceedings, as well as the fact of turning the case of a media person versus a public servant, necessitate that some crucial facts pertaining to the case concerned should be put on record before the trial begins.

Firstly, the magazine story had not mentioned the contents of the email in question, and it was essentially about the issue of double extension of the SC Registrar. Yet it is this email that has become the basis of the contempt of court proceedings. Secondly, the Registrar is not a judge but a rehired retired bureaucrat. And, thirdly, the source of the said email could be easily traced by any public or private investigative body, which is certainly not the SC (even if the honourable judges on the bench have decided otherwise).

All in all, the constitution of Pakistan guarantees the fundamental right of free expression; and, as fourth pillar of the state fabric, the magazine should continue to articulate public interest and hold state institutions, including the judiciary, to account if and when they waver from their respective public responsibilities.

IMRAN ALI SANDANO China

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

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OVE in changing times is not linear. Candy floss romances might still be a favourite of small town’s dreamy teenagers, but layered romances with their share of odds and eccentricities have become the flavour of changing urban India. Indians are unapologetic about their feelings and think imperfections can be alluring. There’s a realisation that mistakes in relationships do happen. And interestingly changing love and longing is finding a new voice in the form of interesting narratives on celluloid.

Commitment is no longer seen in the prism of rigidity. For many too, love is also now to think out of the box.

Teflon romances set in urban India are the flavour of Bollywood.

In the last few months, Shakun Batra’s Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Ashwini Chaudhury’s Jodi Breakers, Shoojit Sircar’s Vicky Donor, Sanjay Gadhvi’s Ajjab Gajab Love, Preity Zinta’s Ishkq in Paris, Karan Johar’s Student of the Year, Kunal Kohli’s Teri Meri Kahaani, Homi Adjania’s Cocktail and Bela Sehgal’s Shirin Farhad ki Toh Nikal Padi are exploring the highs and lows of love in today’s world. Filmmaker Karan Johar recently commented, “Today if you show the hero waiting on a bicycle for his girl to come out from school and just exchange glances, the masses will laugh at us. Romance is no longer about boy meets girl stories.”

From DDLJ and KKHH to a Cocktail, urban romance has been redefined in Hindi films many times over. Romance is now departing from the usual set formulas and trying new parameters on 35 mm. The days of stereotyped romances are over. If EMAET looked at friendship and love and the mistake of getting married quickly, Shrin Farhad ki Toh Nikal Padi showed love can happen even when your are past your prime. The canvas has become broader keeping in sync with changing relationships in urban India. And filmmakers have realised that every romance doesn’t need to be perfect.pFilmmaker Shakun Batra says, “I deliberately kept the two individuals as friends in EMAET because these days when a boy meets a girl, they may not be perfect for each other and everything does not have to work out perfectly. It is high time we stopped stereotyping romances in films.” As young Indians become more vocal about their sexual preferences and don’t mind relationships without strings, intimate scenes, adult content and smooches become integral in a Bollywood film.”Ayushmann Khurrana says, “Romance has found a new definition in Bollywood since QSQT hit the screens. People must relate to the characters they see on screen.” Bipasha Basu also feels that just like there are no set rules in a relationship, a Bollywood romance is not “about the hero/heroine dancing around trees anymore.” They say art mirrors society. So, in that light changing contours of relationships have found their way to the silver screen. As a slice of real life and reel life coming together. COuRTESY TOI

Lady gaga turns down madonna’s tour offer

Katy to throw a divorce party?

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Inger Katy Perry is reportedly organizing a divorce party on the same date when she married comedian russell Brand. Perry, 27, tied the knot with Brand oct 23 in India. However, the two parted ways after 14 months of their marriage. “Katy has been dreading october 23 for weeks now and has been trying to think of ways to turn it into something positive,” thesun.co.uk quoted a source as saying. “She has decided to call it her divorce party and it will be a day of doing what she loves with her favourite people,” the source added. on oct 25, Perry will turn 28. “It’s her birthday two days later and the last thing she wanted to do was spend that week depressed and miserable, which would then mean not doing anything to celebrate her birthday,” the source said. neWS deSK

Emma wants musical theatre role

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arry Potter star emma Watson says she wants to star in a musical stage show soon.pthe 22year-old actress, who had to perform routines from famed musical `the rocky Horror Show` for her new film “the Perks of Being a Wallflower”, said the work gave her a taste for singing and dancing, reported Daily Star. “I love musical theatre, so, I would love to do a musical soon, that would be wonderful... “I was terrified of the rocky Horror scenes, but, as it turned out, it was fun, and once I got over how weird it was to go from wearing knitted jumpers to corsets and fishnets, I got it together... (It has given me) a taste for cabaret and singing and dancing,” she said. neWS deSK

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

Pop star Lady Gaga has snubbed the chance to bury the hatchet with pop queen Madonna after she refused to join her onstage at a gig. Madonna invited Gaga to perform with her at the Yankee Stadium gig in their native New York last month.

However, Gaga declined the offer as she was too busy on her Born This Way Ball tour to spare the time, reported Sun Online. “Madonna called to ask Gaga to perform with her at Yankee Stadium. Her manager reached out to us and said Madonna would like Gaga to perform with her,” Gaga`s manager

Vincent Herbert said. “She really wished she could do it. She said, `If we do it, let’s donate the money to charity`. But Gaga’s committed to her own tour.”pRelations between the two has strained since Gaga released her single `Born This Way` last year, with Madonna repeatedly comparing it to her 1989 hit `Express Yourself`. Onstage in July, Madonna declared herself a huge fan of `Born This Way` because “she helped to write” the song. “I love her - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” Madonna had said. NEwS DESK

Aishwarya to return with Yash Chopra’s mani ratnam’s rebecca? retirement will be a loss for actors After opting out of Madhur Bhadarkar’s Heroine due to her pregnancy, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will reportedly be starring in Mani Ratnam’s next. The film will be an adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s 1938 novel Rebecca. “Ash and Ratnam go back a long way.

Her cinematic debut, Iruvar in 1997 was directed by him. They worked again ten years later in Guru. They again worked in 2010 in Raavan. Whenever Ratnam has offered Ash a role or a script, she has always respected it.

This time too, it was the same,” a source told Mumbai Mirror. “Rebecca, the novel is about a newly married woman who is constantly compared to the first wife of her husband by the housekeeper. While she feels belittled by the shadow of the deceased lady of the house, she later realises that her husband was never in love earlier.

COuRTESY HT

Actress Rani Mukherjee says actors will lose out on working with a great director like Yash Chopra, who recently announced his retirement plans. “He gets everybody to participate, gives everyone lot of love and every actor on his sets is pampered. So obviously actors will lose out on working with a great director like him. I am lucky to have got the opportunity to work with him,” Rani told reporters. Rani`s first film with Chopra was `Mujhse Dosti Karoge` which he had produced, and later she did half-a-dozen films produced by him including `Saathiya`, `Hum Tum`, `Bunty Aur Babli` and `Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic`.

Yash Chopra also directed Rani in `Veer Zaara`.pOn her experience of working with the veteran director-producer, Rani said, “My association with him has been wonderful. I think Yash Chopra is a legend; he is one person who we all look up to not only for the kind of movies he has made but also because he is a great human being. He is a very passionate person.”

“There are times when you feel that you could have done better and he is like I have seen, I have got the shot I wanted. NEwS DESK

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13 Something beyond ‘Tiger’ to pair with Salman again A

lot was expected of the Salman KhanKatrina Kaif pairing in Ek Tha Tiger, and the rumoured ex-couple did deliver. The film raked in big money and a super-hit status, but now, it’s also made the lead pair cautious of signing films together. “If we’re a successful pair, why won’t people want to cast us?” asks Katrina, admitting she’s always getting plenty of offers to star opposite Salman. “But we won’t work together unless something is a step above Ek Tha Tiger.” In this interview, Katrina discusses her upcoming projects, fabled house hunt and a fashion magazine cover. Jab Tak Hai Jaan is nearing release. What can you tell us about the film?pWe’re almost done with the film. There’s only one song left to shoot. I can’t talk much about my role, but the film is an intensely romantic love story. It’s been hard work, but a lot of fun too. I don’t get it when people ask me if it’s a ‘typical’ Yash Chopra film. I’ve always thought he makes a range of films — love stories, social dramas, and lots more, so it’s not just one genre. Every day, we hear you looked for a new house or bought one

somewhere. Have you? Not at all. I don’t deny that I want to soon, but I haven’t even started looking.

I’ve been living at my current residence for a very long time now. The rumours are complete rubbish.

The worst was one about me buying a place in Lokhandwala. You barely got to celebrate the success of Ek Tha Tiger (ETT) because you were busy shooting for your other films.pShooting schedules are always like that. Around the time of its release, we promoted the film the best we could. After that, we just had a small get-together at Kabir’s (director Kabir Khan) house to celebrate its success. I’ve never been a very vocal person anyway, so I prefer focusing my energy on what’s next. After two back-to-back hits — New York (2009) and ETT — does Kabir consider you his lucky mascot now?pI don’t know about that (laughs).

He’s finalizing his next idea right now, but I’m not sure what it is.

COuRTESY HT

Bagging the Best

British Boutique brand ‘Moda in Pelle’ offered its customers the first invites only sale for the season at its outlet in Vogue Towers M.M Alam Road. The event attracted socialites and fashionistas of all ages and backgrounds.

Ayesha Babar

Former French model and designer Ines de la Fressange poses during a photocall prior to the Chanel Spring/Summer 2013 ready-to-wear collection show on Tuesday at the Grand Palais in Paris.

AFP

Saliha

Alishay, Reema & Saira

Sehr, Mona, Riffat & Sarah

Zermen

Sara & Aftab Sheikh

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

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Villagers look at dying pilot whale stranded on the shore of Savu island in east nusa Tenggara province on Tuesday. Fourty-four pilot whales lay beached on the remote Savu island in a mass stranding that left at least 41 dead and several hacked to bits by locals, an official said. AFP

Costa Rica fires judge for being serial over-sleeper People form a human chain in the shape of a pink ribbon during a rally to mark international breast cancer awareness month, in the libyan city of Benghazi. THE TELEGRAPH

Why does hair turn gray?

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HERE is one thing most presidents have in common at the end of their first terms: more gray hairs. The graying of the Commanderin-Chief is symbolic of the stress associated with being top dog in the world’s most powerful nation. However, research shows that psychological stress does not, in fact, impact the color of one’s locks.

For us, gray hair is simply a part of the normal aging process, and the rate you go silver is genetically predetermined. Going gray is not associated with earlier mortality, and premature graying is not, generally speaking, a sign of a illness or ill health in younger adults. There are, however, some specific health conditions, such as vitiligo (an autoimmune disorder that causes uneven pigmentation) associated with gray or white hair, but for most of us, going gray is just a fact of life.

Hair color comes from the pigment melanin, which has two hues, blackish brown and reddish yellow— the amount and mix of each determines your individual shade. Hair without any melanin is pure white.

The pigment is produced in cells called melanocytes, located at the base of the hair follicle. The melanocytes inject pigment into the hair. At some point in everyone’s lifetime, these cells slow down and eventually stop producing color all together in what’s called apoptosis, or genetically predetermined demise.

Y

OUR honor, you’re late. Again. And you’re fired. A judge in Costa Rica has been sacked for serial tardiness, the newspaper La Nacion reported Monday. The unnamed 35-year-old judge got the ax from a judicial oversight board. He has repeatedly offered as an excuse that he overslept. “I have constantly received complaints from prosecutor, judges, administrators, technicians and drivers about his poor performance, such as arriving at the office late, starting hearings almost an hour late, and absenteeism, with excuses such as oversleeping,” the judge’s boss, Eladio Sanchez, wrote to the board. The newspaper said the judge, fired in late August, is appealing. AFP

70-year-old farmer eaten by his hogs

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Scientists have yet to identify the exact mechanism by which melanocyte cell death occurs. A study of more than 4,000 women and men from 20 countries determined that about 75% of people between the ages of 45 and 65 have some gray hair. In general, people of European descent gray earliest followed by Asians and Africans. It’s interesting to note that

Genetically engineered cow makes anti-allergy milk

a lucky 1 in 10 has no gray hair by retirement age. Beginning at age 30, your chances of having gray hair go up 10-20% per decade.

It may feel like you sprout more grays in the wake of a stressful event, but that’s probably because middle age is basically a series of anxietyridden events. Between working, raising kids, and caring for older

parents, the “sandwich” years of 4565 can be stressful, especially for women. They are also when we naturally start to look older.

In 2011, L’Oreal announced it was in the early stages of developing a pill that would prevent melanin reduction, but at this point, there is still no silver bullet to keep away the grays. neWS deSK

N Wednesday morning, Terry V. Garner, a 70-year-old Oregon farmer, went to feed his animals. Several hours later, when he hadn’t returned, a family member went to look for him and found, on the ground of the hog enclosure, his dentures. Further investigation of the enclosure revealed that the hogs, which each weighed about 700 pounds, had nearly completely eaten the farmer, although some body parts were strewn about the enclosure. According to the Sheriff’s statement: There are several scenarios being investigated, including that Mr. Garner had a health event, such as a heart attack, which then put him in a position where the hogs could consume him. Another scenario being investigated is that given the age and health of Mr. Garner, that one or more of the hogs knocked Mr. Garner to the ground, whereupon that hogs killed and consumed him. This isn’t the first time hogs have eaten their farmers. CourTeSy HuFFPoST

New extreme sport of Flyboarding takes off in Australia Daring extreme sports enthusiast shows off the Flyboard, a combination of a jet ski and a jet pack, in the waters off Australia’s Gold Coast.

The Flyboard is attached to a jet ski by a Kevlar hose that pumps water to keep it as high as ten metres in the air, enabling riders to dive, dolphinlike, under water from a great height.

They then use their feet to control the direction in which the board travels and their hands to keep it stable.

The Flyboard was invented by jet skier Franky Zapata in 2011. Those who want to try out this new extreme sport should be aware that it is not cheap, the Flyboard costs over £7,000. CourTeSy THe TeleGrAPH

Dog in car’s grill survives ride

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Researchers in New Zealand have genetically engineered a cow to produce milk with very little of a protein that causes an allergic reaction in some children. They hope the technique, which uses a process called RNA interference that reduces the activity of certain genes without eliminating it completely, can be used to control other traits in livestock. With mothers breastfeeding less, cows’ milk is an increasing source of protein for babies, but the different composition of cows’ milk can cause an allergic re-

action. He said that although RNA interference has been shown to work in manipulating plants and worms, “it has not worked in livestock before”.

Whitelaw said that aside from accentuating or reducing genetically determined characteristics in farm animals, such as growth rate, the technique could be used to improve defense against infection. “Time will tell how widely applicable RNA interference will be in GM livestock.

But this is certainly a milestone study in this field,” he said. AGenCIeS

NIMAL welfare authorities say a dog survived an 11-mile ride from Massachusetts to Rhode Island — at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour — after it was hit by a car and became wedged under the front grill. East Providence Animal Control supervisor William Muggle says the female poodle mix ran in front of the car in Taunton on Sept. 20. The driver slammed on the brakes, but didn’t see the dog, so continued driving. Muggle tells the Taunton Daily Gazette that it wasn’t until the driver reached East Providence, R.I., that another motorist pointed out the dog. The driver went to the police station, where animal control officials freed the fluffy white pooch. The dog suffered a concussion and possibly a minor bladder rupture. Authorities are now trying to find its owner. AGenCIeS

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

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Wednesday, 3 october, 2012

aussie Open money boost pleases djokovic Page 18

australia into semis despite Pakistan win

cOlOmbO: Pakistan cricketer nasir Jamshed plays a shot during the icc twenty20 cricket World cup's Super eight match against australia. AFP cOLOMBO AFP

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AKISTAN gave themselves a big chance of reaching the World Twenty20 semi-finals Tuesday with a shock 32-run win over Australia, who reached the last four regardless courtesy of their net run rate. Pakistan made 149-6 after being sent in to bat in the group two Super Eights match at the Premadasa stadium, before a five-man spin attack restricted Australia to 117-7.

Prolific spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed 3-17, but it was 20-year-old Raza Hasan who was declared man of the match for conceding just 14 runs and taking two

Patel stays tied up in notts NOttINGHAM: England all-rounder Samit Patel has signed a new three year deal with Nottinghamshire, the county announced Tuesday. Patel, a regular in England's limited-overs teams, top-scored with 67 on Monday as England were knocked out of the World Twenty20 with a defeat to hosts Sri Lanka. The 27-year-old made his Test debut earlier this year in Sri Lanka but is not a firm fixture in the Test side, meaning he remains a valuable asset in Notts' domestic bids for silverware. AFP

cOlOmbO: raza Hasan celebrates after he dismissed of Glenn maxwell (unseen) during the icc twenty20 cricket World cup's Super eight match. AFP and David Warner, were dismissed by the fifth over with only 19 runs on the board.

Australia, who needed to make 112 or more to qualify, achieved the target when Hussey cut seamer Umar Gul to the fence off the first ball of the final over. Gul's two overs at the end were the only ones by a seamer as the spinners shared 18 overs between themselves. Pakistan's innings revolved around left-hander Nasir Jamshed's 55 off 46 balls, which contained four boundaries and two sixes. After the openers were removed by the sixth over, Jamshed put on 79 off 55 balls for the third wicket with Kamran Akmal, who made 32 before both batsmen were dismissed in the space of three deliveries.

wickets in four overs of steady left-arm spin. Both teams ended the Super Eights on four points each, which knocked winless South Africa out of the tournament.

Australia advanced to the semi-finals despite the defeat due to having the best net run-rate in the group. The result left India needing an emphatic win over South Africa later on Tuesday to stop Pakistan's progress. Sri Lanka and the West Indies have already qualified from group one.

Veteran Mike Hussey was Australia's saviour with an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls as none of the other batsmen managed to cross 15 against the rampaging spinners.

Australia never looked comfortable after their in-form openers, Shane Watson

cOlOmbO: Saeed ajmal (r) celebrates dismissing Pat cummins (unseen). AFP

SCoreBoArd PAKISTAn: 4 Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Starc Imran nazir c Bailey b Watson 14 55 nasir jamshed c Warner b doherty Kamran Akmal c White b Starc 32 9 umar Akmal not out Abdul razzaq c Watson b Cummins 22 Shahid Afridi b Starc 4 4 Shoaib Malik not out eXTrAS: (lb2, w3) 5 149 ToTAl (for six wickets, 20 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Hafeez), 2-29 (nazir), 3-108 (jamshed), 4108 (K. Akmal), 5-136 (razzaq), 6-144 (Afridi).

Bowling: doherty 4-0-27-1 (w1), Starc 4-0-20-3, Watson 4-023-1 (w1), Cummins 4-0-42-1 (w1), Maxwell 1-0-6-0, Hogg 3-0-29-0.

AuSTrAlIA: 8 S. Watson lbw b Hasan

SL switch captains to avoid ban briton admits t20 PALLEKELE AFP

Hosts Sri Lanka have used a bagful of tricks to outwit rivals on their way to the World Twenty20 semi-finals -- even changing captains for a match to further their cause. Eyebrows were raised when Kumar Sangakkara, and not regular captain Mahela Jayawardene, walked out to toss in Monday's last Super Eights match against England in Pallekele.

Both Jayawardene and designated vice-captain Angelo Mathews were

part of the playing eleven, but the team sheet had senior pro Sangakkara as skipper in an extraordinary turn of events. Jayawardene explained later the change was made to prevent him and Mathews from missing out on the semi-finals since both of them were already serving a one-match notice for slow over-rates.

"The intention was not wrong," Jayawardene said after the 19-run win over England that knocked the defending champions out of the tournament and lifted the hosts and the West Indies into

the semi-finals from group one. "I had a warning for an over-rate issue, and if it happened again I could have missed the next match. It's a tough system and it's tough to bowl 20 overs in one hour and 20 minutes in a tournament like this.

"We try our best but the penalties are harsh. We don't want to miss the big games, so we did it with the right intentions. "Angelo Mathews was on the same offence, so if he got nailed he would have missed the game as well. We had to find someone who didn't have a rap sheet and Kumar fitted the bill."

England not good enough, says Broad PALLEKELE AFP

England captain Stuart Broad has admitted his inexperienced team was "not good enough" after the defending champions crashed out of the World Twenty20.

England's 19-run defeat against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Monday was their second loss in three Super Eights games and paved the way for the hosts and the West Indies to advance to the semifinals from group one.

"You can look at the missed opportunities. But I think throughout the whole tournament, we've not quite been good enough," Broad said on Monday night as his team prepared for the long journey home.

England, who won the 2010 title in the Caribbean under Paul Collingwood, beat only New Zealand in the Super Eights but could have made the semi-finals had they defeated Sri Lanka.

Sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga dashed the champions' hopes with three wickets in his

d. Warner lbw b Hafeez 8 54 M. Hussey not out G. Bailey lbw b Ajmal 15 12 C. White c nazir b Hafeez G. Maxwell c Hafeez b Hasan 4 13 M. Wade b Ajmal P. Cummins lbw b Ajmal 0 M. Starc not out 1 2 eXTrAS: (b1, w1) ToTAl (for seven wickets, 20 overs) 117 Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Watson), 2-19 (Warner), 3-44 (Bailey), 4-58 (White), 5-65 (Maxwell), 6-110 (Wade), 7-110 (Cummins).

Bowling: Hafeez 4-0-22-2, Hasan 4-0-14-2, Ajmal 4-0-17-3 (w1), Afridi 4-0-33-0, Malik 2-0-19-0, Gul 2-0-11-0 Pakistan win by 32 runs, Man of the match: raza Hasan (PAK), Toss: Australia, umpires: Ian Gould (enG) and richard Kettleborough (enG), TV umpire: Kumar dharmasena (SrI), Match referee: jeff Crowe (nZl)

first over that reduced England to 18-3 chasing Sri Lanka's 169-6.

Broad's men ended on 150-9 following a half-century from Samit Patel and his 51run stand for the eighth wicket with Graeme Swann, who swung his bat to hit 34 off 20 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Patel finished with a glorious 67 off 48 balls, but the effort came too late to save England from an early exit.

"It was very disappointing to have gone out, because I believe we do have the firepower in that changing room to go far," said Broad. "It was frustratingly close."

The man who could have changed England's fortunes was star batsman Kevin Pietersen, the man of the tournament in 2010 who was confined to the TV studio in Colombo after being axed for disciplinary reasons.

Pietersen was cast into international exile after sending text messages to South African players that con-

tained criticism of then England skipper Andrew Strauss during the recent Test series.

Broad refused to dwell on Pietersen's absence, but admitted his side lacked experience to match the firepower of the other teams.

"What you get with young guys is some days of absolute brilliance, and other days a bit of averageness," he said. "I think, as a team, we've probably shown that. "It has been a learning ex-

perience for us. Obviously, we did not have enough players firing at the same time. "The talent is certainly there. You see on the domestic scene that these are the guys who are performing week in and week out.

"But it's a learning experience when you come into the international scene.

"We've got guys here who have not played a lot of international cricket. But as long as we learn from it, we will develop."

England fans held after brawl at NZ team hotel COLOMBO: Sri Lankan police arrested two England fans who were involved in a brawl after heckling New Zealand's defeated cricketers in their hotel at the World Twenty20 tournament, officials said Tuesday. The two fans were taken into custody on Monday night after the bust-up at the luxury Earl's Regency Hotel in the central hill resort of Kandy where the New Zealand players were also staying, a local police official said. "The team was in the hotel lobby when some British fans heckled them and it was turning into a nasty scene," the official who declined to be named told AFP. "That is when their bodyguards called the local police in." He said charges were not pressed and the two men were freed early Tuesday. An official who witnessed the brawl but asked not to be named said he saw one member of the security team assigned to protect the Black Caps come to blows with several England fans. The incident came hours after New Zealand's defeat to the West Indies in the Super Eights match in nearby Pallekele. The holders England were then beaten by Sri Lanka at the same venue later that evening. AFP

ticket theft in Sl cOLOMBO AFP

A Briton on Tuesday pleaded guilty to stealing tickets for a crunch World Twenty20 cricket match between hosts Sri Lanka and defending champions England.

Police said Caesar Buller, 54, had gone to a sales booth in the capital Colombo on Sunday and pocketed four books of tickets for Monday's game, which Sri Lanka won, eliminating England from the tournament.

He was arrested after sales staff raised the alarm. Colombo Chief Magistrate Rashmi Singappuli ordered Buller, from Manchester, to appear for sentencing on October 16 and remanded him on bail of one million rupees ($7,700). Under Sri Lankan law theft carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine. Police told the court Tuesday that the stolen tickets had a face value of 10,920 rupees (around $85), but most of them could not have been used as they had not yet been validated.

flower hopeful of swift Pietersen solution LONDON AFP

England coach Andy Flower said he expects an announcement on Kevin Pietersen's future with the side before Thursday as he hoped for a positive resolution to the saga.

The star batsman was cast into international exile in August after sending text messages to touring South Africa players that contained criticism of then England captain Andrew Strauss during the Test series. He missed out on England's failed World Twenty20 title defence in Sri Lanka and the upcoming England tour of India, as well as a central contract for the new season.

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Sports 16

Pakistan into semis, India win but crash out cOLOMBO AFP

I

NDIA'S one-run win over South Africa was not enough to keep them in the World Twenty20 Tuesday as the former champions were beaten to the semi-finals by arch-rivals Pakistan, who had a better net run rate. India made 152-6 in their 50 overs but they failed to stop South Africa reaching 121 runs, which would have put them into the last four at Pakistan's expense. South Africa were eventually bowled out for 151 in 19.5 overs.

Australia also qualified for the semi-finals despite losing their Super Eights group two match to Pakistan by 32 runs earlier on Tuesday. Sri Lanka and the West Indies reached the last four from group one. India managed 152-6 in 20 overs against South Africa as their hopes of a World Twenty20 semi-final place hung in the balance.

Suresh Raina top-scored with 45 before he was run out off the final delivery, after South African captain AB de Villiers won the toss and opted to field first in the final Super Eights group two match at Premadasa stadium. India, who need to win by 31 runs to oust Pakistan from the semi-finals, found the varied South African attack tough to handle with Morne Morkel taking

SCoreBoArd IndIA 8 G Gambhir b M Morkel V Sehwag b Peterson 17 V Kohli c de Villiers b Kallis 2 25 rG Sharma lbw b Peterson 21 yuvraj Singh b M Morkel 45 SK raina run out (Botha/de Villiers) 23 MS dhoni not out 11 eXTrAS (lb 10, nb 1) 152 ToTAl (6 wickets; 20 overs) did not bat IK Pathan, r Ashwin, l Balaji, Z Khan Fall of wickets 1-23 (Gambhir, 3.3 ov), 2-30 (Kohli, 4.5 ov), 3-36 (Sehwag, 5.3 ov), 4-68 (yuvraj Singh, 9.6 ov), 5-112 (Sharma, 15.6 ov), 6-152 (raina, 19.6 ov) Bowling: dW Steyn 4-1-26-0, M Morkel 4-0-28-2, jH Kallis 3-024-1, rj Peterson 4-0-25-2, j Botha 3-0-30-0, F du Plessis 1-0-3-0, jP duminy 1-0-6-0 SouTH AFrICA 0 HM Amla c Sehwag b Khan jH Kallis c Sharma b Pathan 6 AB de Villiers b yuvraj Singh 13 65 F du Plessis c raina b yuvraj 16 jP duminy c Gambhir b Balaji

13 F Behardien c raina b Khan 10 rj Peterson b Khan jA Morkel b Balaji 10 j Botha c raina b Ashwin 8 0 dW Steyn not out 6 M Morkel b Balaji 4 eXTrAS (lb 3, nb 1) 151 ToTAl (all out; 19.5 overs) Fall of wickets 1-0 (Amla, 0.2 ov), 2-16 (Kallis, 3.3 ov), 3-46 (de Villiers, 6.1 ov), 4-95 (du Plessis, 12.4 ov), 5-107 (duminy, 14.6 ov), 6-127 (Behardien, 17.2 ov), 7-127 (Peterson, 17.3 ov), 8-138 (Botha, 18.5 ov), 9-145 (jA Morkel, 19.2 ov), 10-151 (M Morkel, 19.5 ov) Bowling: Z Khan 4-0-22-3, IK Pathan 3-0-26-1, yuvraj Singh 40-23-2, rG Sharma 1-0-13-0, r Ashwin 4-0-27-1, l Balaji 3.5-0-37-3 Toss South Africa, who chose to field result: Indian win by one run Points India 2, South Africa 0 Player of the match tba umpires HdPK dharmasena and rj Tucker (Australia) TV umpire Ij Gould (england) Match referee jj Crowe (new Zealand) reserve umpire rA Kettleborough (england)

2-28 and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson finishing with 2-25. Australia qualified for the last four despite losing their last Super Eights match by 32 runs against Pakistan at the same venue earlier in the day. Hosts Sri Lanka and the West Indies have already qualified for the semi-finals. Raina hit five boundaries during his 34-ball knock and added 44 for the fifth wicket with Rohit Sharma who made 25. India were off to a

disastrous start as opener Gautum Gambhir was bowled by Morkel in the fourth over for eight, before the in-form Virat Kohli was caught behind off a rising delivery from Jacques Kallis for two in the next. It became 36-3 when Peterson bowled Virender Sehwag for 17, after the Indian opener hit him for a towering six a ball earlier. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni chipped in with a quick 13-ball 23 with three boundaries.

PUNjAB YoUTH FESTIvAL 2012

Tough competitions held LAHORE STAFF rePorT

As many as 30 sports events were contested throughout the province on day three of the District Level of the Punjab Youth Festival 2012 on Tuesday in which the selected lot of players from different districts took part. On the day competitions were held in eight districts where 890 players took part in both the team and individual competitions and 206 won their events. Similarly in the non-sporting events competitions were held in naat khani, qirat and milli naghme and 2054 took part in these categories in all the 36 districts of the province.

In the Badminton competitions held at Iqbal Park Sports Complex, Ravi Town beat Iqbal Town to win the title with Aizaz Saif being declared the best player of the event. Earlier, Iqbal Town beat Wahga Town 2-0, Ravi Town beat Data Ganj Bax Town 2-0, Shalimar Town defeated Aziz Bhatti Town 2-0, Iqbal Town outplayed Samanabad Town 2-0, Nishtar Town beat Gulberg Town 2-0. And in the semifinals, Ravi Town beat Nishtar Town 2-1 and Iqbal Town defeated Shalimar Town 2-0.

In bodybuilding event Agha Mehsin of PCC Lahore was adjudged winner in the 65 kgs weight class, while Arif Raza of Govt College for Boys Gulberg won silver and bronze went to Arif Raza of Islamia College Railway Road. In the 75 kgs weight class, Salman Chohan of PCC Lahore was declared the winner, Aslam Butt (Islamia College Railway Road) was runner up and Mohammad Faizan (Govt College Shadman) was the second runner up. In the 75-plus weight class, Yasir Sohail of PCC Lahore was adjudged Mr Festival while UMair Ashgar of Islamia College Railway Road was firs runner up and Mohammad Amir of Govt Science College Wahdat Road was second runner-up.

In athletics, Gulberg Town’s Dr Ali Zaman won 100 metres race wigth 11.38 time, Husnain Ali of Wahga Town was second with 11.40. In 200 metres, Dr Ali ZXaman was the winner with 22.66 time wile MUzaffar of Samanabad

Towb was second. In 400 metres, MOhamamd Shafique of Gulberg Town with 52.63 won the race while Irfan of Wagha Town was place second and in javelin throw, Mohammad Yasir of Wagha Town took the event with a throw of 46.80 metres while Nadeem Akhtar of Aziz Bhatti Town was second. In Arm wrestling, Zameer Sultan of Data Ganj Bax was winner in 70 kgs class, in 85 kgs Usman Butt of Ravi Town was winner and in 85-plus class Nabeel Bajwa of Iqbal tonw was winner In Volleyball, Wagha Town beat Iqbal Town 2-0, Gata Ganj Bax defeated Gulberg Town 2-0, Nashtar Town moved past Gulberg Town 2-0, Shalimar Town outplayed Aziz Bhatti Town 2-1, Wagha Town prevailed over Samanabad Town 2-0.

In hockey of girls, Kinnaird College will take on Baghbanpura College in the final. Baghbanpura beat Kulliyat-ul-Banat 5-0. In the second semi-final Kinnaird College beat Wahdat Road 4-0 and in third position match, Wahdat Road College beat Kulliyat-ul-Banat 1-0. And in chess Amir Karim of Iqbal Town was winner, Murtaza Faisal of Data Ganj Bax Town was second and Shahzad Agha of Samanabad was third. At Jhelum competitions in athletics, badminton, table tennis, billiard and arm wrestling were held and around 75 players figured in these events and 18 took the top honour. Similarly, at Gujranwala 90 took part in team events and 45 were the winners while Faisalabad had 387 participants with win coming 74 people way. In the Faisalabad city alone 264 took part in the team events and 33 tasted victory while at Jhang 41 were lucky from among 123.

Likewise at Mulktan and Lodharan 84 and 53 took part in cricket, taekwondo, weightlifting, bodybuilding, billiard and hockey respectively and winners turned out to be 14 and 26 in sequence. And at Dera Ghazi Khan’s two districts, Layyah and Muzaffargarh 202 with a sequence of 70 and 132 took part in different events and 26 and 29 win their events respectively. In the non-sporting events like qirat, naat khani and millinaghme quite active participation was witnessed at all the 36 districts.

laHOre: Owner Shaheen butt holds Home child, which staged an upset in the lahore race club races. rider Salman is sitting on the horse who rode it to win in 1.12 minutes. favourite Shan-i-tajpura was placed third and morning Glory got second position in the 5.5 furlong race.

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

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17 Sports Pakistan’s test spinner fails dope test, faces 2-year ban

cOlOmbO: Pakistan cricketers leave the ground after victory during the icc twenty20 cricket World cup's Super eight match against australia. AFP

LAHORE STAFF rePorT

Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman is facing a two-year ban from cricket for failing a dope test in England. The 32-year-old left-arm spinner was representing Somerset in County cricket last month and is not part of the ongoing World Twenty20 squad in Sri Lanka. According to a report, the England and Wales Cricket Board has informed the PCB about Rehman flunking the test.

Rehman is the 17th player worldwide and third from Pakistan to have failed a dope test. Fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar had also tested positive.

Though not part of the World T20 squad, Rehman is a regular member of the Test and one-day squads. In 17 Test matches, he has taken 81 wickets and 21 in 25 ODIs.

Khan names Hunter new trainer, to face molina next

LOS ANGELES AFP

Britain's Amir Khan seeking to end a two bout losing streak has named Virgil Hunter to replace Freddie Roach as his new trainer and plans to meet unbeaten American fighter Carlos Molina in his next bout. The 25-year-old English boxer announced on his website that he had made the switch in trainers and that his next fight would be against Molina at a US venue with the date yet to be determined.

"I'm really pleased that Virgil Hunter is to become my new trainer," Khan said.

"Everyone in boxing knows about his skills and the success he has enjoyed over the last few years. "I'm looking forward to the start of my training camp and working on some new things with him. With Virgil in my corner, I know that I can get back to the very top of the light-welterweight division."

Man City can be Champions League winners: Toure Steven Fletcher returns from Scotland exile

PHf official email address hacked LAHORE STAFF rePorT

The official email address of Pakistan Hockey Federation has been hacked and the PHF is facing greater difficulty due to the fraudulent emails being sent from the address to various individuals and national hockey federations across the world.

“Some hackers hacked our email address on Tuesday afternoon and sent spurious emails to different people and national federations whose email addresses were saved in the folder for official correspondence,” said PHF, Secretary, Mohammad Asif Bajwa.

PHF was using pakhockeyfederation@yahoo.com which is no more the valid email address of PHF which has created the new address of pakhockeyfederation@gmail.com.

“We immediately informed the International Hockey Federation, Asian Hockey Federation and all the affiliated national hockey federations across the world about the hacking and asked them not to give any importance to what so ever emails or messages they are receiving from the old address,” he said.

He added: “By the time PHF introduced its new email address the hackers sent a number of emails to create confusion.” Bajwa said they have acquired the services of IT experts to determine who is behind the hacking of their email address.

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

mancHeSter: manchester city's argentinean forward Sergio agüero (c) warms up along with teammates during a training session at the clubs carrington training complex. AFP MANcHESTER AFP

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure believes the Premier League champions can win the Champions League this season, as they prepare for their first home game on Wednesday against Borussia Dortmund.

The former Barcelona midfielder, who won the competition with the Catalan giants in 2009, said that with other former winners in their squad such as Maicon, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, they have the experience to go all the way.

The 29-year-old said: "I have that experience and it is good to have big players like Maicon and Balotelli. It is not easy to win the Champions League.

"Here the club just wants to be in the second round and we know we have to improve because we have a very good team and with a team like this we can go very far in the competition." After their opening group game 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu, Toure has called on his side to improve defensively if they are to qualify from the group. Roberto Mancini's

side conceded two goals in the final five minutes from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo in Spain to hand Madrid the victory. "We are playing our first game at home and we want to show the fans we made a mistake in Madrid. We have a tough game against Dortmund," he added.

"Of course we need to improve when you play against a tough team like Madrid, we need to improve in defensive situations.

We have to go beyond that and do better.

Most important we have to do our job and get a result." Mancini, who was furious with his side's collapse in Spain in the wake of the defeat, insists his side needs to improve quickly if they want to progress.

While it took Champions League regulars Manchester United and Arsenal some years to find their feet in Europe's elite competition, Mancini knows his side will be judged much sooner.

"I know that it is difficult to win the Champions League, every game is difficult," the Italian said. "This is second year that we're playing in the Champions League and the second time we have the worst group.

"We know we are a good team like (Man-

lOndOn: arsenal's russian midfielder andrey arshavin (l) attends training for the uefa champions league. AFP chester) United and Arsenal. We improved in the Premier League and need time to improve in the Champions League.

"But we don't have time with only five games to go. If we want to go through we need to improve very quickly."

Mancini accepted that the competition was difficult and was frustrated at the tough draw but was confident that if his side can get out of the "champions" group of Dortmund, Real Madrid and Ajax, anything can happen in the knockout stages.

The Italian manager has yet to win the competition, despite having claimed league titles in both Italy and England, but hopes this season could change that.

"The Champions League is a difficult competition, the football is the same, the players are the same," he said. "The problem when you play is that it is always against the best teams from other countries.

"Every game is difficult. I hope can improve my record in the Champions League.

I think the time will come when we can win the Champions League. But we are currently in a difficult group.

GLASGOW: Steven Fletcher made a surprise return to the Scotland squad announced Tuesday for this month's 2014 World Cup qualifiers, following months of international exile. The Sunderland striker has not featured for the national side since he texted the Scottish Football Association to say he did not want to be selected for a match against Northern Ireland in February 2011. But the 25-year-old made a dramatic comeback to the squad after a third party told Scotland manager Craig Levein he was desperate to play for the national side again. He was swiftly included in Levein's 25-man squad for the matches against Wales in Cardiff on October 12 and Belgium in Brussels on October 16.

"It's a big plus for me and the rest of the team for him to be involved," Levein said. "I got a phone call through a third party during the week and that was an indication from that person that Steven was desperate to come back and play.

SCoTlAnd SQuAd Goalkeepers: matt Gilks (blackpool/enG), allan mcGregor (besiktas/tur), david marshall (cardiff/Wal) defenders: christophe berra (Wolverhampton/enG), Gary caldwell (Wigan/enG), daniel fox (Southampton/enG), Grant Hanley (blackburn/enG), alan Hutton (aston Villa/enG), russell martin (norwich/enG), charlie mulgrew (celtic), andy Webster (Hearts) midfielders: charlie adam (Stoke/enG), Scott brown (celtic), darren fletcher (manchester utd/enG), James forrest (celtic), James mcarthur (Wigan/enG), Shaun maloney (Wigan/enG), James morrison (West bromwich/enG), robert Snodgrass (norwich/enG) forwards: Steven fletcher (Sunderland/enG), Jamie mackie (QPr/enG), Kenny miller (Vancouver/can), Steven naismith (everton/enG), matt Phillips (blackpool/enG), Jordan rhodes (blackburn/enG). AFP

KHI 03-10-2012_Layout 1 10/3/2012 2:29 AM Page 19

Sports 18

aussie Open money boost pleases Djokovic BEIJING

watch it Live ESPN Sports Center 07:00PM

davis cup finals to be held in Prague PRAGUE

AFP

N

OVAK Djokovic Tuesday welcomed news that Australian Open prize money would rise

by Aus$4 million (US$4.1 million) but warned that players' fight for a greater share of revenue was "not over yet". The world number two from Serbia described an announcement by the organisers of January's Grand Slam that the purse would increase to a record Aus$30 mln as "positive". He urged the other three of tennis's major titles to follow suit.

"It's a step forward, definitely," the 25-year-old said following his win in the first round of the China Open in Beijing.

"They have clearly shown understanding for players' demands and what the players had to say, so that's really nice to see." Djokovic, a three-time winner of the Australian Open, said it was "great news for every player that plays this sport" but added: "It's not over yet.

"Obviously there are other Grand Slams that need to react, and we are still in negotiations and we are still doing it behind closed doors."

Australian Open organisers boosted prize money on Tuesday following reports in August that players on the ATP Tour, which runs the men's game, were mulling a boycott of the tournament to try to gain a higher percentage of Grand Slam event

AFP

beiJinG: novak djokovic of Serbia hits a return to michael berrer of Germany during their men's singles tennis match of the china Open. AFP revenues for themselves. At issue is the pay of lower-ranked players, who often exit in the first round after making the long journey Down Under.

While this year they pocketed Aus$20,800 ($21,600 US) for a firstround defeat at the Australian Open, some players struggle to make ends meet during the year as they pay for much of their own expenses and travel.

Without a high profile, they are also unable to score lucrative sponsorship deals that could help sustain their careers.

Tennis Australia chief executive Steve Wood said officials were seeking further input from the players about a fairer distribution of the prize money.

Australian Open director Craig Tiley added that the prize money break-up would be determined after he meets ATP players' council representatives including Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray in Shanghai this weekend.

But he said the increases would be weighted towards those who lose in the early rounds.

The 2012 Davis Cup finals between the Czech Republic and holders Spain on November 16-18 will be held in Prague, organisers from the Ceska sportovni agency said Tuesday after some haggling over the venue.

The finals will take place at Prague's O2 Arena, sitting about 14,000 people, after Ceska sportovni struck a deal with the organisers of a dance show originally scheduled for November 17.

On November 3-4, the largest indoor venue in the country will also host the women's tennis Fed Cup finals between holders the Czech Republic and Serbia.

"Prague will be the first city to host both finals in at least 60 years," Ceska sportovni chairman Miroslav Cernosek told reporters.

Li credits new coach with calming influence beiJinG: Jo-Wilfred tsonga of france celebrates following his win against denis istomin of uzbekistan during their men's singles tennis match of the china Open. AFP

BEIJING AFP

tauseef club win 2nd match of the series LAHORE STAFF rePorT

Tauseef Club has won the 2nd match of the best of 3 series when they beat Dehli Gym by 12 runs at local ground of the city the other day. Fine batting performances were given by M Ahmed, Ibrar Baig. Earlier Tauseef Club had won 1st match by 3 wickets.

SCoreS: tauseef club 224/7. m ahmed 47, ibrar baig 43, Waqas Khan 38, Sher baz Khan 33, mohsin agha 23, israr baig 20(no). naveed zia 2/23, muhayuddin 2/33, Waqar ahmed 2/39, Haoon rasheed 1/9. dehli Gym 212. irfan ali Qadar 48, imtiaz ahmed 45, ali raza 39, ayaz 19. israr baig 3/38, Sheraz baig 2/23, awais mazoor 2/33, Sher baz Khan 1/11, Waqas Khan 1/17.

China's Li Na on Tuesday credited her new coach with helping her keep her emotions in check on court as Asia's top women's player maintained her recent revival at Beijing's China Open.

The 2011 French Open champion hired Carlos Rodriguez, the ex-coach of former Belgian star Justine Henin, after she dropped out of the top 10 in the world following a first-round defeat at the London Olympics this summer.

Thirty-year-old Li has struggled since becoming Asia's first Grand Slam winner at Roland Garros last year but has enjoyed a slight uptick in form since appointing Rodriguez.

"I really have to say he's a very good coach," Li said, following her straight sets second-round win over Russia's Nadia Petrova.

"I mean, he not only teaches me how to play tennis. He teaches me a lot about how to do (act) on the court.

"Before it was always easy for me to explode on the court. Now I think I have changed a lot."

Li won her first tournament since last year's Paris triumph in August in Cincinnati -- a victory that came after

TOKYO AFP

beiJinG: Samantha Stosur of australia returns a ball during her women's singles match against Julia Georges of Germany at the china Open. AFP the appointment of Rodriguez, who coached former world number one Henin for 15 years.

Li, whose previous coach was husband Jiang Shan, faces compatriot Peng Shuai in the last 16 of the China Open.

London Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray stood firm in his service game to beat Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in the first round at the Japan Open tennis tournament on Tuesday. The 25-year-old defending champion came back to court after winning the US Open last month and didn't face a single break point in his 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 victory. "A good thing was I found last night that I was going to play Karlovic, so I had the evening to think about the match a little bit and I was able to practise this morning," said Murray.

Olazabal rules out 2014 Europe captaincy LONDON AFP

Wahdat eaglets march into 3rd round LAHORE STAFF rePorT

Wahdat Eaglets moved into the 3rd round of 1st Malik Asghar Dogar Memorial cricket event when they outplayed Mughalpura XI by 76 runs played at Bara Dari Dharampura ground the other day. Fine bowling performances were given by Ali shah and Qaiser Ashraf.

SCoreS: Wahdat eaglets 227. rohail Hassan bhati 44, Sher baz Khan 31, israr baig 37, Qaiser ashraf 25, ali Shah 15, Haris nazar 15, Salman ali 15. m rameez 2/36, m afzal 3/35, Haris 2/42, adil 2/32, nasir 1/25. mughalpura X1 151. ali raza 47, m afzal 44, ansar 11, ali Shah 4/24, Qaiser ashraf 3/13, israr baig 1/7, Sher baz Khan 1/28, ali tipu Sultan 1/42.

murray faces tough first match

lOndOn: european ryder cup captain Jose maria Olazabal poses with the ryder cup trophy following a press conference at Heathrow airport. AFP

Ryder Cup-winning captain Jose Maria Olazabal said Tuesday he would not lead Europe into the next edition in 2014, after steering the team to a famous against-the-odds victory last weekend.

The Spaniard said the tension made it "torture" skippering the side that came back from 10-4 down to pull off an astonishing win by 14 1/2 points to 13 1/2 at Medinah in Illinois. "I won't do it again," he told a press conference at London Heathrow Airport. "I can assure you that's going to be a no, period. "(Being captain) is difficult; in a way it's torture. "It's really tough on your nerves but that's the beauty of the Ryder Cup. It's a huge adrenalin flow and that's what we live for -- the pressure, the tension the adrenalin flow makes us feel alive." The 46year-old said there were several other good candidates to lead the team at Gleneagles in Scotland in two years'

time. He named Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn -- three of his vice-captains -- as well as Paul Lawrie, Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington as viable contenders.

"There are a lot of players who should have the opportunity to be in my spot," he said. "It would be unfair of me to just name one for the next Ryder Cup. All of them deserve that position."

Olazabal hailed his team's fightback, which has been widely dubbed the "Miracle of Medinah". "I don't know if it's a miracle but it's something extraordinary.

We haven't seen that before," he said.

"What the players achieved that day was just amazing. It's up to you to decide if it's the greatest moment or the greatest comeback in history but they (the players) deserve all the credit," he told reporters. "We have this wonderful trophy here with us because of the huge achievement of those 12 men. They didn't stop believing and the performance they showed on Sunday was just incredible."

Olazabal has been deluged with mes-

sages of congratulation from the likes of tennis star Rafael Nadal and Spain's King Juan Carlos. "He (King Juan Carlos) was, like me, pretty much over the moon," said Olazabal. "That was a nice one." The Spaniard was even able to take world number one Rory McIlroy's muddled time-keeping in his stride.

Thinking that his match with Keegan Bradley started at 12:25 pm instead of 11:25 am, McIlroy was still at the team hotel when he got a panicked phone call telling him he had 25 minutes to get to the first tee. The Northern Irishman had read the tee times on his phone in Eastern Standard Time, while Medinah operates on Central Time, and he was given a police escort to the course by state trooper Pat Rollins.

Olazabal added: "Luckily enough a police car was there and he made it on time. It was no surprise at all he managed to win his point." Rollins told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper he had received some ribbing from friends for his part in the United States' defeat.

Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

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Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

19

Nawaz ready to make grand alliance on Balochistan

AHMedABAd: Indian students dressed in the attire of Mohanchand Gandhi assemble for the Ahinsa dandi yatra to mark Gandhi’s birth anniversary on Tuesday. AFP

LAHORE STAFF rePorT

India will be patient in dealing with 26/11 case with Pakistan: Krishna NEW YORK

I

onlIne

NDIA will show patience and perseverance in dealing with the 26/11 case with Pakistan with which it has a “difficult relationship”, Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said on Tuesday.

“In a difficult relationship like the one we have had with Pakistan, one should have lots of patience. India is known for its patience and perseverance.

Patiently we will move in the direction in which we want,” Krishna said.

He was asked whether there was

growing frustration with the slow pace at which the Mumbai attacks trial was moving in Pakistan.

Krishna had earlier last month held crucial talks with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar in Islamabad, where he had said Pakistan had promised action against the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

India has stressed that it has given “more than adequate” evidence to Pakistan to enable it to bring the perpetrators of 26/11 attack to justice and has sought a speedy end to the trial.

On the likelihood of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visiting Pak-

SC orders immediate arrest of former ogrA chief Sadiq ISLAMABAD STAFF rePorT

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to immediately arrest former Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) chairman Tauqir Sadiq and initiate proceedings against him in accordance with the law. A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing a case pertaining to OGRA’s malpractices. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials told the court that the bureau had checked up on all possible addresses to locate the former chairman OGRA and that Sadiq was currently in Lahore, not in the US. The officials further alleged that the Punjab Police was providing protection to Sadiq, who was said to be a close relative of Pakistan People’s Party Secretary General Senator Jahangir Badar. Chief Justice Chaudhry ruled that regardless of address of Sadiq, the former OGRA chief must be arrested. The chief justice also ordered the initiation of proceedings against Sadiq in accordance with the law. On the occasion, the NAB’s prosecutor told the court that a reference had been prepared against Sadiq that would be filed in two days’ time. Moreover, Chief Justice Chaudhry said NAB’s mandate was to eliminate corruption, adding that the court wanted the implementation of its orders at all costs. On November 25 last year, the court had declared the appointment of Sadiq as chairman OGRA illegal and had ordered NAB to investigate corruption cases against him and submit its findings within 45 days.

violent protests against Lg system continue across Sindh

istan this year, Krishna said the timing of the visit was yet to be worked out.

“The question of Prime Minister Singh’s visit was never seriously explored.

It was mentioned in a press conference” when he was in Islamabad early last month, he said.

While both President Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani have extended an invitation to Singh to visit Pakistan, Krishna said a visit of such importance needed lots of preparations.

“As and when those preparations are complete I think we will advise the prime minister to visit Pakistan,” he added.

NAWABSHAH STAFF rePorT

PHC Cj orders religious lessons for ‘brothel owner’ Accused woman told to visit a mosque every day for a month ‘to improve herself’ PESHAWAR STAFF rePorT

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday directed a woman accused of running a brothel to “improve herself” by attending classes at a mosque every day for a month.

According to a first information report [FIR] registered on September 6, police received information about a house situated in Hayatabad Phase 4, being run as a brothel. Police raided the house and arrested Rabia, Sumaira, Khan Sultana, Rubi and the owner of the brothel, Neelam.

All the accused filed an application seeking bail from a lower court on September 14, however, Additional District and Sessions Judge Asad Hameed

Bangash, rejected the bail request. On Monday, during a hearing of their bail request, PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan accepted the plea of four women and fined them Rs50,000 with two sureties.

Neelam’s bail was approved conditionally.

The court ordered that Neelam must visit the Imam of Zarghuni Mosque in Hayatabad everyday for one month to “repent for her sins”.

Chief Justice Khan said the mosque imam must submit a report on Neelam’s progress once the month has been completed.

The court also asked the police to ensure the cleric at the mosque provided him with a report once the allotted time had elapsed. Neelam’s lawyers argued that police had concocted a

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

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said he was making efforts to bring peace to Balochistan, adding that he was ready to make a grand alliance to resolve the Balochistan issue if the need arose. Talking to reporters at the residence of former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jehangir, Nawaz said free and fair election in the country was also a demand of Baloch politicians, adding that the election in 2008 was not transparent. The PML-N chief urged the government not to ignore the Balochistan issue, questioning under which law were the people disappearing across the troubled province.

Nawaz reiterated that killers of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti should be brought to book, adding that wounds of Baloch must be healed. He said he was talking about national interest and had no personal interest. Asma praised Nawaz’s views on Balochistan and said it was a good gesture that Punjab’s leader was talking about Balochistan. She also criticised the Pakistan People’s Party for its bad governance.

case against her. They argued that her residence was raided without a proper search warrant and that the police were not able to present any witnesses in court to support their charges.

Chief Justice Khan said that he regretted that there were so few vocational training facilities for jobless women, forcing them to adopt “illegal means” to earn a living.

At the same time, Chief Justice Khan was apparently unwilling to allow Neelam to walk away scot free and took the decision for her in effect to receive religious counseling.

However the cleric assigned the task of overseeing court sentences said that while he had heard about the order, he had not yet been formally asked to implement it.

Editor: Arif Nizami

Several cities of Sindh continued to witness protests, sometimes violence, on the second day running on Tuesday against the approval of Local Government Ordinance.

Per details, enraged protesters blocked roads, burnt tyres and demonstrated against the local bodies’ system.

Major cities, including Karachi, and other towns across the province remained closed on a call given by nationalist parties in protest against the law. Public and private transport also remained off roads as the transporters supported the strike call.

Members of nationalist parties continued protesting against the Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance and observed a strike and staged protests across the province. Police and demonstrators clashed with each other in Ghareebabad, Sakrand, Hospital Road and Press Club Road in Nawabshah. A policeman was wounded in cross firing in Sakarand, and the force responded with tear gas shelling and aerial firing. Some miscreants set a car on fire on Sakarand Road and five motorcycles close to the airport police station. The Sindh Bachao Committee also called a strike against the imposition of local bodies’ system five districts of the province. Other cities where protests were staged included Khairpur and Noshero Feroz, where lawyers also boycotted court proceedings.

The Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance (SPLG) bill was passed in the Sindh Assembly on Monday amid an uproar by the opposition members. The bill was presented by Law Minister Ayaz Soomro. It got the support of 149 members and was opposed by 18.