E-paper PakistanToday 10th April, 2013 by Pakistan Today

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Rs 17.00 Vol III No 283 19 Pages Karachi — Peshawar Edition

Wednesday, 10 April, 2013 Jamadi ul Awwal 28, 1434

13 soldiers, hundreds of militants killed in Tirah clashes Heavy fighting between troops and militants led to the killing of 13 soldiers and scores of enemy fighters along the Afghan border, military officials said on Tuesday. The clashes signalled a fresh military push in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency, where the military has been targeting the Taliban and Lashkar-eIslam, who have been attacking Peshawar frequently. PAGE 04

STORY ON PAGE 02

Tainted and ticketed: PPP, PML-N face litmus test

No arrest for Musharraf yet

With the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) set to announce their party ticket-holders in a few days, the real test for both mainstream political outfits would be to maintain transparency and keeping up promises, as both have been claiming to be whistleblowers for a change in the country’s system. PAGE 03

Musharraf hopes won’t be denied right to contest polls STORIES ON PAGE 02

Gilani no more enjoys immunity: SC STORY ON PAGE 02

ECP seeks ‘appropriate’ action against interior minister STORY ON PAGE 03

Justice and equality for all!

LHC lifts the bar of Wathra from working as SBP deputy governor STORY ON PAGE 16

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday unveiled its 12-point election manifesto ensuring justice and equal opportunities to all segments of the society, making Pakistan an Islamic welfare state, uprooting of all sorts of injustices and exploitations, introduction of an sovereign foreign policy based on friendly ties with all states on the basis of transparency, mutuality of interests and respect for sovereignty. PAGE 19

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My father Zia Ul Haq introduced Articles 62, 63 which are now being used to cleanse politics — Ijazul Haq

N News

wednesday, 10 April, 2013

Gilani no More enjoys iMMunity, says sC

rising outages, anger force govt into action pm takeS notiCe of outageS, orderS immediate releaSe of rS 20 billion for fuel Supply

punjab Cm Sethi announCeS two weekly holidayS, aSSureS CitizenS load Shedding would be Cut down Soon

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday said Yousaf Raza Gilani did not enjoy any immunity as he was no more the prime minister. The CJP gave these remarks while presiding over a three-member bench of the SC during hearing into the Haj corruption case. Investigation officer Hussain Asghar told the court that Zain Sukhera and Najibullah had been granted bail. He said Gilani assets have swelled dramatically and the fattening of assets came to light following initiation of the Haj corruption case. He said the Law Ministry had prevented him from holding investigations against Gilani. The CJP said “when the umbrella of immunity has been taken off from him then who is stopping the proceedings to be initiated against him”. FIA Legal Director Azam Khan told the court that former haj DG Rao Shakil was arrested and his accounts had been frozen. Former establishment secretary Ismail Qureshi was in the US and Aftab Islam, former joint secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs was also under arrest. Former minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi was on bail and his name and name of other officers who were allegedly involved in this scam had been put on the ECL. Assets of Ahmad Faiz have been confiscated. The CJP asked why Faiz had not been arrested so far. Azam said three of their teams had left for Saudi Arabia to arrest Faiz, adding that he kept changing his addresses despite being identified. Asghar said immunity being enjoyed by Gilani was causing a delay in the case. The court remarked that as he was no more the prime minister, so he did not enjoy any immunity anymore. The court then issued notices to the attorney general, the Law Ministry and Gilani and adjourned the proceedings for two weeks. ONLINE

sTaFF REPORT

A K I N G notice of the worst ever outages in Punjab that have stretched for several hours at a stretch in urban centres like Lahore, the country’s top leadership sprung into action on Tuesday. Prime Minister Hazar Khan Khoso ordered an immediate release of Rs 20 billion to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply to power units, while Punjab Chief Minister Najam Sethi announced two weekly holidays to mitigate the people’s suffering. The government machinery scrambled for relief measures after people in Punjab suffered up to 20 hours-a-day outages over the last several days, apparently due to disruption of gas supply to Uch power plant following an attack on a gas supply line. “What on earth is going on? First my UPS ran out of steam, then there was no gas to run the generator, and the filling sta-

tion refused to sell petrol when I went out to get fuel for the generator! However, the electricity was never restored all this time. Has there been a complete breakdown of the system?” an agitated citizen, Ali, told Pakistan Today in Lahore’s Mozang area. “The lights went out for four hours straight!” said Haider, a resident of Garhi Shahu in Lahore. “I was relieved that electricity had been restored, but it was lights out after just one hour. I don’t know what the people’s fault is.” RS 20 BILLION INJECTION: As citizens cursed the authorities, a high-level meeting under the caretaker PM decided that the Ministry of Finance would inject Rs 20 billion immediately to ensure fuel supply to thermal power plants and partially resolve the circular debt issue. The prime minister also directed that new gas reservoirs be identified for provision of gas to thermal power plants to improve generation, fuel mix and reduce cost of electricity. Khoso also directed WAPDA to begin

an intensive drive to recover outstanding dues to improve liquidity and overcome circular debt issue. He directed the Ministry of Water and Power to take immediate measures to improve power supply and use all available resources to ensure power generation was optimised in order that minimum load shedding was carried out across the country. Ministry of Water and Power Additional Secretary Arshad Mirza informed the prime minister that the main cause of increased load shedding was disruption of gas supply to Uch Power Plant due to sabotage. The PM said all necessary measures should be taken to secure power installations, transmission lines and power installations throughout the country. “No installation should be left unattended and a security plan should be submitted spelling out detailed arrangements for their protection”, emphasised the prime minister. Khoso was told that load shedding in urban areas was 10-12 hours a day while it extended to 16-18 hours in rural areas. The prime minister expressed concern over the present situation and desired that there must be a visible improvement in the situation that was possible through better management and resource mobilisation. He observed that though the prime responsibility of his government was to hold

No arrest for Musharraf yet SC rejeCtS plea for putting former preSident behind barS ISLAMABAD Tayyab HussaIN

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea seeking arrest of former dictator Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf and exempted him from personal appearance, as it adjourned the hearing of the treason case against him until April 15. A two-judge bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Jawwad S Khwaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, resumed hearing in the case against the retired general on Tuesday. The SC took up five identical petitions against Musharraf involving charges of high treason and subversion of the constitution. Musharraf did not appear before the bench in person and his counsel, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, represented him in the court. No one represented the federal government during the hearing. However, the court rejected the plea for arrest and adjourned the case until April 15. Kasuri sought from the court six weeks’ time from Musharraf to submit his response and said he would have to prepare a response to all the petitions. He said that it was a case of first impression, as no other case of this kind had been presented before the court earlier.

He said Musharraf would also be involved in electioneering, so the case may be adjourned until May 20. During proceedings against the former president, Kasuri argued that his client had full faith in the apex court, but he had feared that some judges of the court were biased against him. Justice Jawwad S Khwaja said the former general should inform the court about his reservations against judges and the same could be detached from the case hearing. Kasuri argued that the intent of the petitioners was mala fide and the case was being pursued in a hurry and haste just for damaging the former president politically. “My client is being involved in litigation so as he could not spare time for his political campaign,” he contended. Kasuri said no one had forced the retired general and he h a d d e -

cided on his own to return to his homeland despite facing death threats. Justice Jawwad replied that the former general had been dodging courts for the past four years. The bench observed that no stay order regarding the political activity had been issued. Kasuri expressed surprise why the name of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani had been included in the petitions and why was he not served notice in the PCO case. Justice Jawwad, however, said all the respondents had been issued notices. As proceedings continued, Kasuri sought six-week’s time to submit a reply, but Justice Jawwad said though Musharraf would be given ample time, six weeks were unnecessary. Kasuri said that if the court continued with the hearing of the case, it might open a Pandora’s Box and several hidden names would be revealed. Justice Jawwad said the court was not bothered if a Pandora’s Box was opened. Justice Khilji Arif said the court had to follow the constitution. Talking to reporters prior to the hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan (AG) Irfan Qadir had said he would perform his duties according to the constitution.

general elections in the country, it was a duty of the government to provide relief to the people and ensure that basic necessities like electricity were available to them. Khoso was told that the power situation which had worsened two days ago, was improving. The PM directed the Ministries of Water and Power, Petroleum, Interior and Finance to firm up short-term and medium-term plans with a view to minimise load shedding in the country, so that routine life was affected the least. The electricity shortfall in the country surged to 3,200MW on Tuesday as the total power generation was recorded as 8,950MW against the demand of 12,150MW during the last 24 hours. According to the brief on daily power generation and load-management position, the hydro generation stood at 2,300MW, WAPDA thermal at 1,380MW and IPPs at 5,270MW. It said 570MW of electricity were supplied to the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC). TWO WEEKLY HOLIDAYS: In Punjab, caretaker Chief Minister Najam Sethi assured reporters that load shedding in the province would be reduced drastically in a few days’ time. “I have spoken to the prime minister and he assured me that power outages would come down to eight hours a day in a few days,” Sethi promised.

Musharraf hopes won’t be denied right to contest polls ISLAMABAD ONLINE

Former president Pervez Musharraf has said he had full confidence in the judiciary and hoped his right to contest polls would not be taken away from him. In an exclusive chat with BBC, Musharraf said he hoped justice would be administered to him by the courts. “If I don’t hope for dispensation of justice from the courts, who will I pin this hope on,” he added. He said the decisions taken by him for holding the constitution in abeyance, proclamation of emergency and removal of judges were correct and compatible with then environment. “There was such atmosphere prevailing over then wherein I was striving to put in place a democratic process and stable democratic order in the country. Certain actions were taken at that time. This is all history and these will be presented before the court,” he underlined. The former president said, “There are multiple fronts where I will have to fight. Contesting polls is right of everyone and it is my right too.” To a question on rejection of nomination papers from Islamabad and Karachi, he said per Articles 62 and 63, no there was no matter for his papers to have been rejected. He said he would decide to sit in parliament after assessing the situation in the event of winning the election. “I will not want to sit on some unimportant position. If some position emerges where I may play some vital role, I will think about it after elections,” he said. To a question that court had barred him from leaving the country and if it was acceptable to him, Musharraf said “I have come here to contest elections and stay here. Therefore, I have no objection over it if any such thing has been done.” Commenting on his appearance in a court in Karachi, Musharraf said he had earlier dubbed it insulting.

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Case against Musharraf to have long term affects on country’s politics — Khurshid Shah

News

tainted and ticketed: PPP, PMl-n face litmus test

ISLAMABAD Tayyab HussaIN

I T H the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) set to announce their party ticket-holders in a few days, the real test for both mainstream political outfits would be to maintain transparency and keeping up promises, as both have been claiming to be whistleblowers for a change in the country’s system. It would be a test of integrity of the leadership of both parties and it remains to be seen if they deny party tickets to those who are facing allegations and their cases are being heard in courts for corruption, drug trafficking etc. There are a number of potential candidates among the ranks of various political parties who have tainted past and have been involved in mega corruption scandals and cases, but ironically they were cleared by the returning officers for their respective constituencies for contesting the coming elections. As the elections are fast approaching, the sword of disqualification still hangs over several political heavyweights, including chiefs of the major political parties. Interestingly, the PML-N leadership took strong stance against the alleged corruption by PPP leadership and always demanded minister or prime minister step down if he or she was accused of corruption charges. But it would be a question

Though the PML-N leadership missed no chance in the near past to blame other parties for their misdeeds and corruption, it is all-set to pitch Hanif Abbasi against PTI chairman Imran Khan for NA-56 Rawalpindi seat, despite the alleged involvement of Abbasi in the Ephedrine case whether the PML-N leadership stands by its principles. As almost the most difficult and strange phase of scrutiny has came to an end, the real test of political leadership has begun, and every party has given refuge to a good number of alleged looters and corrupt leaders in its ranks. Now it is up to their leadership to go to the polls with the same old corrupt guards or introduce new and fresh cadres of good repute. The real test would be for the leadership of PML-N, which has gathered a huge crowd of heavyweights just to grab power. Though the PML-N leadership missed no chance in the near past to blame other parties for their misdeeds and corruption, it is all-set to pitch Hanif Abbasi against PTI chairman Imran Khan for NA-56 Rawalpindi seat, despite the alleged involvement of Abbasi in the Ephedrine case. The PML-N is facing another test as former MNA from NA-48, Anjum Aqeel Khan, has been allegedly involved in the National Police Foundation (NPF) land scam of Rs 6 billion, due to which he was detained by the Islamabad police. However, Aqeel managed to flee police

sC summons ex-PM’s son-inlaw for illegal appointment ISLAMABAD sTaFF REPORT

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday the summoned son-in-law of former premier Raja Pervez Ashraf, Raja Azeem-ul-Haque, in a case pertaining to his illegal appointment in the World Bank. A bench headed by Justice Anwar Zahir heard the case. During the hearing, one of the members of the bench Justice Saqib Nasir observed that the prime minister was entrusted with the responsibility to appoint someone in the World Bank. He remarked that Haque was selected for the post because he was the son-in-law of Raja Pervez Ashraf and questioned about the number of people whose rights were usurped as a result of the former premier’s decision. Haque’s counsel, Afnan Kundi replied that his client’s appointment was based on merit, adding that all other potential candidates were lower in seniority. The court said that it would investigate how Haque was promoted from grade 18 to 21 within a few years and adjourned the hearing until May 7.

custody with the support of hundreds of his supporters who raided a police station he was detained at. “Hanif Abbasi is all set to win the PML-N ticket for NA-56, Rawalpindi while a debate is on for Anujm Aqeel, whose future might be sacrificed not for his corruption, but if the PML-N got into alliance with the Jamat-e-Islami,” a source in the PML-N told Pakistan Today. As far as Abbasi is concerned, the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) in Rawalpindi had booked him for his involvement in getting a quota of ephedrine of 500kgs illegally and among the charges filed against him, drug trafficking was also included. Brigadier Fahim, who was tasked with investigating into the Ephedrine case, was later removed from his office in ANF and his services were transferred to the army. Fahim had given statement against Abbasi, but the PML-N is inclined towards awarding him a ticket, sources maintained. On the other hand, three PPP leaders, including sons of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and former federal minister of health Makhdoom Shahabuddin are facing corruption allegations. But all three have been awarded party tickets for the forthcoming polls, a PPP source said. Abdul Qadir is facing allegations in the Haj scam, while Ali Musa Gilani and Makhdoom Shahabuddin are accused of being involved in the in Ephedrine case; still the PPP has awarded them tickets for the upcoming general elections. Political and defence analyst Hassan Askari Rizvi said the stance taken by the PML-N and other parties’ leadership was part of political point-scoring and none of them really believed in the argument. “Politicians only look for elect-ables and financiers, not people with integrity. Their arguments are always for others. The politicians only want people with money and loyalties for their families,” he added. Askari said whenever they were confronted to act against their own leaders, they hid behind argument of lack of evidence. When contacted, Shaikh Mansoor, coordination secretary to Faryal Talpur told Pakistan Today that the PPP leadership had finalised party tickets for its candidates in Punjab. “The PPP would announce the party

wednesday, 10 April, 2013

You know how many cases of grave allegations were filed against President Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto and other leaders. But none could be proven. Moreover, our leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged in a false case. So the allegations don’t become a hurdle for us SHAIKH MANSOOR Coordination SeCretary to faryal talpur tickets in three days’ time.” Asked whether the PPP leadership was going to award party tickets to people like Musa Gilani, Abdul Qadir Gilani and Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Mansoor said allegations of corruption and FIRs were not a new phenomenon for his party leaders. “You know how many cases of grave allegations were filed against President Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto and other leaders. But none could be proven. Moreover, our leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged in a false case. So the allegations don’t become a hurdle for us,” he added. He said Faryal Talpur was likely to arrive in the federal capital today (Wednesday) as she was busy finalising party tickets in Sindh. Mansoor said party tickets would be announced after the election tribunals decided appeals by candidates. Despite repeated attempts, PML-N Secretary Information Mushahidullah Khan did not attend his cell phone.

CeC seeks political parties’ help to ensure free, fair polls

ISLAMABAD aPP

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Fakhruddin G Ibrahim on Tuesday sought help of the political parties to ensure free, fair and impartial general elections in the country. In a letter written to all the 148 political parties, the CEC urged them to help promote tolerance and nurturing democratic values in the country so that no one could dare subvert or sabotage the ensuing elections in any manner. He said with the conduct of peaceful elections, the real face of the society could be portrayed that believed in peace and harmony. “The political parties should promote and maintain peace and harmony during the election campaign and respect the right of other to campaign and propagate their manifestoes in an impartial atmosphere,” he said. The Election Commission of Pakistan has already taken various measures to ensure free, fair and smooth elections. He said he would continue adopting every conceivable measure to provide a conducive environment to candidates as well as voters to vote freely without any fear or intimidation. In his letter to political parties, the CEC said democracy was the only reliable medium of governing people in accordance with their free will expressed by them through a credible and transparent electoral process. CEC MuLLS INTER-pROvINCIAL TRANSfERS IN BuREAuCRACY: Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim has said the proposal of interprovincial transfers in the bureaucracy was underway in order to ensure transparent elections. During a meeting, leader of the opposition team, Imtiaz Sheikh, expressed concern over transfers and posting ahead of the general elections. The CEC said all reservations concerning polls would be removed, and proposal of inter-provincial transfers would be actively considered in order to ensure free, fair and transparent poll.

eCP seeks ‘appropriate’ action against interior minister i’m impartial…i Swear, SayS interior miniSter malik habib ISLAMABAD sTaFF REPORT

The Election Commission has written a letter to the caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khoso requesting for appropriate action against caretaker Interior Minister Malik Habib Khan for making a controversial statement disclosing his likes for a political leader. The ECP had taken notice of Habib Khan’s remarks favouring Nawaz Sharif and sought all records over the statement. Earlier on Monday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) had demanded the resignation of Malik Habib Khan over a statement made in favour of Pakistan

Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif, in which he said that the PMLN leader was the only real leader in Pakistan. Meanwhile addressing reporters, Malik Habib Khan said that he had no affiliation with any political party and challenged the critics to provide evidence to the contrary. The interior minister said he respected the entire political leadership of the country and his prime responsibility as an interior minister was to provide security to all the leaders. Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary ECP Muhammad Afzal Khan said that electronic and print media organisations should install maximum number of cameras at polling stations to point out shortcomings, if any. He said media should not compromise on national interest, intentionally or unintentionally, just to lead in breaking news. He said it was almost impossible to cast bogus votes in the elections. The interior minister added that maintenance of law and order to en-

sure free and peaceful elections was his prime responsibility which would be fulfilled at all costs. Malik Habib said the ECP would decide whether or not to deploy army personnel on sensitive polling stations in the federal capital. The additional secretary stressed for administrative changes in all the provinces and called for keeping away officers with a bad reputation. He said the neutrality of the caretaker government was inevitable to ensure free and transparent elections in the country. “Election Commission is not acting upon anyone’s dictations nor would it do so in the future,” Afzal K h a n added.

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If I don’t hope for dispensation of justice from the courts then I will pin this hope on whom. — Former president Pervez Musharraf

News wednesday, 10 April, 2013

‘i never appealed to Baloch rebels to lay down arms’ bnp preSident SayS baloChiStan iSSue iS not being taken SeriouSly QUETTA sHaHZaDa ZuLFIQaR

ALOCHISTAN National Party President Sardar Akhtar Mengal has said he has not appealed to the Baloch rebels to lay down their arms. He was speaking at a luncheon he hosted for journalists at his residence on Tuesday. He said that when he did not consider the situa-

tion secure for him and his party workers how he could guarantee for others. Party leaders Dr Jahanzeb Jamaldini, Sajid Tareen, Agha Hasan, Sana Baloch, Malik Wali Kakar and Jawaid Baloch were also present. Mengal said that in several English newspapers he was wrongly quoted that he had appealed to the Baloch rebels to lay down their arms after descending from mountains. He said that neither he could ask the Baloch rebels to descend from the mountains nor anyone pressure his party workers to go to mountains. He said, “In what capacity I will appeal to the rebels as they adopted other mode of struggle for achieving Baloch rights while we believed in parlia-

mentary struggle.” The Baloch leader rejected the impression that the Balochistan issue would be resolved in the wake of active participation of his party in elections and said that he did not want to spread negative impression. He said the issue was not taken seriously rather it was tried to resolve through killings of Baloch youth and throwing their mutilated bodies. He expressed concern over European Union not to send their observers during the elections in the wake of prevailing situation of KP and Balochistan and they should reconsider their decision. He said that EU had always been playing an active role for human rights by sending their observers in war like

situation in the Middle East. He said that if the world community wanted to resolve the Balochistan issue peacefully they should send their observers to Balochistan for election monitoring, but they should also highlight human rights abuses/violation in Balochistan. Mengal said that a particular force was involved in Balochistan’s problems and disruption in the elections and if that force wished, peaceful, fair and free elections were not impossible. He added that when party workers were confined to their houses then who would run election campaign. He said that his party had already expressed reservations and it was possible that his party would take any decision before polls.

He said that none should label BNP leaders and workers as traitors for going into polls and added that yesterday’s traitors had become very much patriots as loyalty certificates could not be obtained from anyone forcibly. He said that the BNP would not desist from its stand and ideology. He said that his party workers had taken into custody armed men who were planning to attack him during his movement in Quetta. He said the armed men were handed over to the police, but the police denied as usual like the government, agencies and Frontier Corps had been denying their involvement in killing of Baloch youth. When asked about his deal with military establishment, the BNP leader

said, “We did not know kite flying so were unaware of deal or ‘dheal’.” He said that the real powers in fact presented Baloch nationalists as terrorists and the purpose of his party decision to take part in the elections was to dispel such impression. To another question, he said his party leaders would make seat-to- seat adjustment with other parties and individuals. About handing over of Gwadar Port to China and Pak-Iran pipeline project, Mengal said that both agreements were made during governor’s rule in Balochistan without taking Baloch people into confidence. He said that the Baloch were not bound to accept such agreements as beneficiaries would be the people of Punjab and Sindh.

NAB references against Sharifs sent to referee judge LAHORE aPP

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday referred the petitions seeking quashment of three corruption references prepared by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the Sharifs, to a referee judge after the division bench hearing the matter gave a dissenting order. The division bench comprising Justice Khawaja Imtiaz Ahmad and Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan heard three petitions titled Ittefaq Foundries Limited etc, Hudabia Papers etc and Shahmim Akhtar etc versus the Federation of Pakistan, the National Accountability Bureau and the accountability court judge, Rawalpindi, at the LHC Rawalpindi Bench. The bench differed on the

e-voting system for overseas Pakistanis ready to be installed: naDra ISLAMABAD ONLINE

E-voting system for overseas Pakistanis is secure and technically ready to be deployed subjected to the final approval of the Election Commission of Pakistan. These views were expressed by NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik while briefing the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Barrister Feroze Kakakhel who visited NADRA headquarters on Tuesday. NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik briefed the Minister by demonstrating e-voting system for Overseas Pakistanis. During his presentation, Chairman NADRA informed the Minister that its solution is secure and technically ready to be deployed subjected to the final approval of Election Commission of Pakistan. The minister showed his keen interest in extending e-Voting facility for Overseas Pakistanis.

point whether there was no necessity or requirement to give observations that NAB authorities were competent to proceed against the petitioners if investigation was initiated again. The matter was referred to the chief justice by the senior judge who had nominated Justice Sheikh Najamul Hassan to decide the query. While Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan appended a note that NAB was competent to proceed against the petitioners, if the investigation was initiated again according to law mainly on the ground that 12 years had elapsed, it would not only amount to give a premium to prosecution of their own faults but also provide them another opportunity ostensibly to fill up their lacunas and equip them with better tools for combating and victimizing petitioners at the hands of NAB.

Advocate Akram Sheikh represented the petitioners. In its references, NAB accused the Sharifs of corruption of Rs 642.743 million in the Hudaibya Paper Mills. The second reference - the state versus Nawaz Sharif, etc. - relates to the Raiwind assets. The main allegation is that the accused had acquired vast tracts of land upon which palatial houses and mansions were built with resources which appeared to be grossly disproportionate to their known sources of income. Apart from Nawaz Sharif, his mother is an accused in this case. In the state versus Ittefaq Foundries case, Nawaz Sharif, Abbas Sharif and Kamal Qureshi are accused of committing corruption of Rs 1,063 million. The main allegation in the case is that Ittefaq Foundries Ltd obtained cash finance from the National Bank.

13 soldiers, hundreds of militants killed in Tirah clashes PESHAWAR sTaFF REPORT

Heavy fighting between troops and militants led to the killing of 13 soldiers and scores of enemy fighters along the Afghan border, military officials said on Tuesday. The clashes signalled a fresh military push in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency, where the military has been targeting the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Islam, who have been attacking Peshawar frequently. Khyber straddles the NATO supply line into Afghanistan, used by US-led troops to evacuate military equipment ahead of their 2014 withdrawal, and officials say it is key to protecting security in Peshawar for the elections next month. “Thirteen soldiers have died over the past three days in various parts of Tirah. Ground forces have intensified operations against the

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Islam,” a military official said. The official said more than 100 militants had also been killed, but the death toll was not possible to verify independently as the area is cut off to journalists and aid workers. He said the town of Tut Sar had been “captured” back from militants and that soldiers had now erected a post in the area. “Helicopters and fighter jets participated in the operation. They are shelling militant hideouts in the valley,” the official said. A second military official confirmed the same details. Pakistani troops have been fighting for years against insurgents in the north-western tribal belt, where the United States has accused them of not doing enough to crack down on Taliban and other militants active in Afghanistan.

FAISALABAD: Traders hold a demonstration on Tuesday against the imposition of Sales Tax on import of cell phones. INP

Militants fire mortar bombs in Peshawar PESHAWAR sTaFF REPORT

Militants on Tuesday fired five mortar bombs into Hayatabad Phase 6 area of Peshawar injuring seven persons. Police officials confirmed that seven persons including a woman were injured in the explosions. Two of the mortars fell near houses and two landed in an empty plot. Nearby houses in the vicinity were damaged and the windows of several houses were shattered as a result of the blasts. One mortar hit a vehicle injuring a woman whereas six others pedestrians were also injured. CD SHOpS TARgETED: Three CD shops were damaged in explosions in Peshawar on Tuesday. Two shops were damaged in the explosion that occurred early in the morning at Peshawar’s Mian Iqbal chowk. The site of the blast lay within Peshawar’s Cantonment area. In the second explosion, unknown militants blew up a CD shop at Lalarukh Colony on Kohat Road. The blast damaged the entrance of the shop. No casualties were reported in the explosions. TOY BOMB ExpLODES IN BARA: Separately, a roadside toy bomb exploded, critically injuring a child, in Khyber tribal region’s Bara tehsil. The explosion occurred in Bara’s Karigar Ghari area.

India warns its army against threats from China, Pakistan NEW DELHI ONLINE

India’s deep unease over China’s growing military might and assertiveness as well as intransigence about the boundary dispute resonated at a military brass conclave on Monday, with Indian Defence Minister AK Antony underlining the threat posed by the expansive nexus forged between Beijing and Islamabad, Indian media reported on Tuesday. China’s approach to India on the long-standing boundary dispute and other issues, even after the recent leadership change in Beijing, “is not likely to change” in the foreseeable future. “Consequently, the Indian armed forces need to constantly develop their capabilities to achieve minimum credible deterrence against China,” Antony said. The minister, addressing the closed-door army commanders’ conference, did point out the government was trying to resolve issues with China in a “peaceful” manner, and also cited the new bilateral boundary management mechanism as “a positive development”. But Antony also stressed it was crucial to modernise the armed forces to counter China’s “military assertiveness”, including its massive development of military infrastructure along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) as well as in other

neighbouring countries, like the Gilgit-Baltistan areas of Pakistan, said Indian officials. India has belatedly taken some steps to strategically counter China but much more needs to be done at a rapid clip. While IAF is now progressively basing Sukhoi-30MKI fighters in the north-east and the Navy is bolstering forcelevels on the eastern seaboard, the army’s Rs 81,000-crore plan to raise a new mountain strike corps with associated structures is yet to take off. Holding that the recent Chinese takeover of Pakistan’s strategically-located Gwadar port near the Iranian border had further strengthened the economic and security linkages between the two countries, Antony promised all government support to the armed forces for “the necessary measures” needed to tackle “any emerging threats”. Pakistan, he said, posed “a unique threat” due to its rapidly growing nuclear arsenal, military modernisation with the help of China and the US, and its continuing support to a large number of terrorist groups undertaking “proxy war” in Jammu and Kashmir. While India “welcomes” the forthcoming elections in Pakistan — to be held on May 11 — it is unlikely that its “anti-India stance” and its “obsession with J&K will ever abate”.

eCP scrutiny data, big names cleared amidst ambiguity KARACHI sTaFF REPORT

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday released data pertaining to the scrutiny of all candidates whose nomination papers had been accepted for the coming general election. The data, released on ECP’s website, comprised of details from National Accountability Bureau (NAB), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on the candidates’ tax records as well as any loans that they may have taken. The record cleared former premier and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Tehrik-iInsaaf (PTI) Presidnt Imran Khan, Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam – Fazl’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Farooq Sattar was also cleared, even though in 2010, the former lawmaker declared no income and paid zero taxes. Furthermore, General (R) Pervez Musharraf’s records indicated that he paid no taxes in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012.The information was released a day after the scrutiny process for the contenders’ nominations was completed. Moreover, election tribunals had begun receiving appeals from aspiring candidates challenging the returning officers’ judgments.

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All resources for drainage of water are being utilised and heavy machinery and labour is being used for drainage of the rainwater. – Administrator Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi

accused thrash sHo, 4 cops f KARACHI

KARACHI wednesday, 10 April, 2013

WEathEr updatEs

290C high

0C 22 Low

suNNy

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fajr sunrise Zuhr asr Maghrib Isha 4:59 6:16 12:34 4:03 6:52 8:10

sTaFF REPORT

OUR policemen, including the Gizri Police Station Station House Officer (SHO) Suhail Ahmed, were tortured by the security guards of an influential political leader’s relatives in Defence area on Tuesday. According to sources, a police team was attacked and tortured when it arrived in Gizri after getting the information of a clash between two rival groups. The cops, after reaching the area, tried to take the culprits to the police station but instead of proceeding with them, they tortured the policemen, including SHO Suhail. The injured SHO and policemen, including Farid, Dilawar and Muhammad Aslam, were shifted to a local hospital to undergo medical treatment. Later, superintendent of police issued a statement saying that the guards of Sardar

ANOTHER BANK LOOTED KARACHI: Despite repeated operations in different areas of the metropolis, police and rangers’ have failed to break the back of outlaws who made their presence felt by looting yet another bank located on Tariq Road here on Tuesday. Police sources said that some armed robbers barged into a private bank and plundered Rs.1.7 million within a few minutes by holding the bank staff hostage at gun point. Bank officials alleged that one of the bank’s security guard had assisted the robbers, who managed to flee along the entire bounty. INP

649 polling stations to be set up in city NAWABSHAH aPP

District Election Commissioner (DEC) Sain Bux Channar said that a total of 673,714 male and female voters will exercise the right to cast their votes during the general elections. He said that 649 polling stations would be set up to facilitate voters who would be casting their votes for the candidates of choice. He said that 75 polling stations were declared most sensitive and where a total of 825 personnel of army, rangers’ and police

would be deployed to maintain a cordial law and order situation. Furthermore, he said that three army, two rangers’ and six police personnel would be deputed at each polling station identified as most sensitive. On the other hand 1,568 personnel of army, rangers’ and police would perform duties at 196 sensitive polling stations to maintain peace and tranquility in their respective circles. The DEC also said that out of this figure, two army, one rangers’ and four police personal would be deployed at each polling station respectively.

KARACHI: A worker puts a sheesha in a vehicle after a raid by DHA personnel against sheesha bars in Defence. ONLINE

Sanaullah Zehri and Captain (r) Shehryar Durrani have been arrested for assaulting the policemen. 45 MORE NABBED IN TARgETED OpERATIONS: The Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) have nabbed 45 suspects and recovered illegal arms and drugs from their possession in a targeted operations launched in different localities of the metropolis. According to details, the LEAs continued targeted operations against miscreants in different areas of the city, including in Patel Para, Baloch

Para and Lyari localities. Heavy police contingent undertook the targeted operation in Patel Para area. The LEAs, during the operation stormed the offices of two political parties near Darban Bazaar and apprehended over 40 miscreants during the action. Earlier, three suspected people were arrested during the targeted operation in Baloch Para on Jah a n g i r Road. In the meantime, the rangers’ embarked on crackdown mission against miscreants in Lyari’s

Kumhar Wara and Ghulam Shah Lane localities. According to rangers’ sources, two suspected people were arrested from a house located in Kumhar Wara during the night time operation. The LEAs have claimed to recover illegal arms and drugs from the possession of the detainees. 3 KILLED IN ApARTMENT ROOf COLLApSE: Three people were killed when the roof of their apartment collapsed in the Kharadar area of the city on Tuesday. Per details, the apartment was situated on the sixth floor of the residential complex and a six-month-old baby girl, along with her parents, were killed in the tragedy. Rescue teams and neighbours rushed to the venue after witnessing the collapse, but the residents had died well before the time when they were recovered from the debris of the collapsed building. The bodies of the deceased were later shifted to a local hospital.

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KARACHI wednesday, 10 April, 2013

outages bigger nuisance than security

NEWS DESK

ECURITY concerns didn’t create that much of a bother during the first day of the Secondary School Certificate part I and II exams at some 223 examination centres of the city as much as rain and power breakdowns did for the examinees. Four students were caught cheating, reports a local newspaper. The skies opened and it began raining heavily minutes before the students were to sit their class IX and X Computer Studies theory exams at 9am on Monday. “It goes to the credit of the invigilators who seeing a small attendance initially waited for the students to get to their respective centres. So the morning paper at certain centres was delayed. Otherwise if they had started the paper, the others’ entry to the centres would have been blocked after half an hour,” said Private School Management Association chairman Sharaf-uz-Zaman. “The Board of Secondary Education had earlier appealed to the Karachi Electric Supply Company to try and supply uninterrupted electricity to the areas where the centres are located at least but nothing happened and the candidates had to appear in the exams in heat and darkness,” he added. “And due to the unexpected rain the schools couldn’t even bring out the desks in the open yards or in verandas or outside corridors to let them solve their papers outside,” he explained. “This is a country where power is insured during a big cricket match but not when children take exams,” he regretted.

We live in Defence Phase-I. My daughter was getting anxious so we left home early. Good we did that otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to reach the centre on time

Traffic flow was also disturbed due to water accumulated on Sharea Faisal near FTC. “We live in Defence Phase-I. My daughter was getting anxious so we left home early. Good we did that otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to reach the centre on time,” said a mother outside the Gulistan Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai School in Sindhi Muslim Society, where the English Compulsory Paper II was being held in the afternoon. It was also observed that the promised Rangers and police vans were missing from most centres due to the rain. Some did stick around for a while

in the morning but there was no sign of them later in the day during the English Compulsory Paper-II. But William John, the vice principal of St Judes High School near Kati Pahari in North Nazimabad, said four Rangers vans provided them security during the examination and there was also a visit by the deputy commissioner in the morning. “Since we are a big centre with 42 rooms and have had a terrible experience last year, we demanded security. If things go smoothly for a few more days then maybe we’ll reduce the vans,” said the vice principal, who is

also the centre superintendent. Meanwhile, Khalid Shah, who heads All Private Schools Management Association, said he found no big problem as far as the examinations were concerned. “I think all went smoothly on Monday although there had been the problem of changing centres at the last minute,” he shared. “We sat up with the exam controller, secretary and chairman of the BSEK till late Sunday night to solve the centres problem when parents and schools protested that some students couldn’t go to take their exam in a certain area which

could be hostile. Then some centres which had had bad experience last time didn’t want to hold exams. Some were also getting threats. So we solved their problems case by case,” said Mr Shah.“The board issued the students new letters during the night but then the centres, too, had to be intimidated about the change to make space for the extra students, which we did early in the morning at around 8am,” he said. According to BSEK Controller Examinations Noman Ahsan, five boys were caught, four of whom were cheating at the Govt SM Public School, Nazimabad, while one who was nursing a hand injury at a centre in New Karachi brought with him a writer who turned out to be an intermediate student. “All these cases have now been referred to the unfair means committee. The students will be allowed to appear for other papers though,” he provided. “But as compared to previous times, we are satisfied that things during the examinations on the first day went rather smoothly,” he concluded.

3 powerful governor’s advisers ordered to vacate posts NEWS DESK

BoMB defused!

KARACHI: The city police on Monday night recovered five kilogram explosives from a rickshaw and diffused it successfully in Khawaja Ajmeer Nagri area. According to SSp Central Amir farooqui, unidentified men left a pressure cooker bomb in the rickshaw after they saw a

police van stopping the cars for checking. The police found a suspicious material from the vehicle and called the bomb disposal squad which diffused the bomb. The police have started search for the culprits in the nearby areas. sTaFF REPORT

Three powerful advisers to the Sindh governor, who were earlier hesitant in vacating their posts, have finally been told to pack up their bags. Per details, the Governor House issued an internal order to Maj (r) Aftab Ahmed Lodhi, Dr SM Qureshi and Mumtaz-ur-Rehman, and directed them turn in their official vehicles, vacate their offices, and to return government records that they had in their possession. According to the portfolios held by the three advisors, Aftab was working as the governor’s adviser on higher education since the past one year and could also exercise in the capacity of chancellor of public universities. Meanwhile, Dr Qureshi was holding the additional charge of the Charter Inspection and Evaluation Committee chairman, while Mumtaz was also acting as the chancellor of provincial public universities. It is pertinent to mention here that the Supreme Court, last week, had ordered the termination of services of the three mentioned officials. Sources said that despite the court’s order, these officials were refusing to vacate their posts and continued using the perks and privileges attached with the job. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad had left for abroad and had directed the Governor’s House authorities to issue an internal order for the three advisers’ dismissal from foreign soil. So far, the three men have failed to act per orders and were refusing to surrender the official vehicles and the Governor House record that they possessed. Sources within the Sindh government said that the three advisors enjoyed absolute powers to do whatever they wanted and the state-run universities and educational boards were also obedient to them. The sources further said that the Governor House had become very weighty for the exchequer as large amounts of money were diverted towards the same during the presence of the above mentioned three advisors. They further said that the mentioned advisors might also have been involved in creating misunderstandings between Governor Ishrat and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) when the Sindh government had a move to dissolve certain powers delegated to the governor in the absence of provincial chief executive.

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The Queen will attend the funeral of Britain's former prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. The ceremony will be held with full military honours in London on April 17 — Buckingham Palace

News

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wednesday, 10 April, 2013

earthquake shakes iran south of nuclear plant TeHRAN: An earthquake measuring magnitude 6.3 struck around 100 km southeast of the Iranian city of Bushehr, where the country's only nuclear power station is based, the US Geological Survey reported. Tremors from Tuesday’s quake in western Iran could also be felt in Gulf countries. In Doha, the Qatari capital, people told Al Jazeera that they could feel buildings shake before residents were evacuated. There was no immediate word on damages. agENcIEs

France begins withdrawing troops from Mali PARIS: France has begun withdrawing troops from Mali, the military said on Tuesday, confirming that a first group of around 100 soldiers had already left the country at the end of March. “Around 100 troops were redeployed from Tessalit (in the northeast) to Abidjan (Ivory Coast) about a week ago,” military spokesman Colonel Thierry Burkhard told DPA. The troops belong to parachute regiments that were pursuing Islamist rebels in their mountain strongholds near the border with Algeria. From Ivory Coast they were brought to Cyprus to recuperate before being repatriated to France. The start of the withdrawal, which had been announced for the end of April, comes three months after France launched a ground and air offensive to stop the Islamist rebels who seized northern Mali advancing on the capital Bamako. Since then, Operation Serval has grown to include 4,000 troops, who are working with African forces to rout the al-Qaeda-affiliates from the entire country. Within two weeks of the start of the intervention, French and Malian forces had recaptured most northern towns from the rebels. But the insurgents have continued to launch sporadic attacks from their bases in the hinterland. On Sunday, the French Army launched a major offensive north of the town of Gao in pursuit of rebels who have repeatedly infiltrated that town in recent weeks. “Security is being tightened around the town of Gao. French and Malian troops are patrolling up to 150 km from the town in search of munitions used by the armed groups,” Astor Bilal, an advisor to the mayor, told DPA. The operation, which involves 1,000 troops backed by tanks, helicopters and drones, is expected to last several days. The French forces aim to deal a knockout blow to the rebels before accelerating the pace of the withdrawal in the coming weeks. French President Francois Hollande said last month he would reduce the troop level to 2,000 by July. agENcIEs

north Korea urges foreigners in south to evacuate PYONGYANG

agENcIEs

ORTH Korea has warned that the Korean peninsula was headed for "thermo-nuclear" war and advised foreigners in South Korea to consider evacuation. In the latest in a series of threats, Pyongyang said on Tuesday that it could not ensure the safety of their personnel if a conflict broke out. "The situation on the Korean Peninsula is inching close to a thermo-nuclear war," the North's official news agency said. Saying it did not want to see foreigners in South Korea "fall victim", the statement requested all foreign institutions, enterprises and tourists "to take measures for shelter and evacuation in advance for their safety". The North blamed the heightened war risk on the "warmongering US" and its South Korean "puppets" who were intent on invading the North. 'ALMOST COMIC': The "thermo-nuclear war" threat has been wielded several times in recent months, most recently on March 7, despite expert opinion that the North is nowhere near developing such an advanced nuclear device. Last week's warning to embassies was also largely dismissed as empty rhetoric,

with most governments involved making it clear they had no plans to withdraw personnel from their Pyongyang missions. "It's almost comic," Daniel Pinkston, a North Korea expert with the International Crisis Group, said of the latest threat. "They want to rattle the investment market, create pressure and make people nervous. "But it's just not working. It's as if they didn't get a rise out of the embassies in Pyongyang, so they're just moving on to the next target," Pinkston said. The South Korean stock market closed slightly up on Tuesday, before the statement was published. The Korean peninsula has been locked in a cycle of escalating military tensions since the North's third nuclear test in February, which drew toughened UN sanctions. fEvER pITCH: Pyongyang's bellicose rhetoric has reached fever pitch in recent weeks, with near-daily threats of attacks on US military bases and South Korea in response to ongoing South Korea-US military exercises. There has been no significant foreign investment fallout in South Korea from the current crisis, and Tuesday's threat was unlikely to cause any great consternation for a foreign community of around 1.4 million that has calmly weathered the rhetorical storm thus far. Earlier Tuesday, North Korean workers followed Pyongyang's order to boycott

JAPAN DEPLOYS MISSILES OVER N KOREA THREAT TOKYO: Japan has deployed Patriot missiles in its capital as it readies to defend the 30 million people who live in greater Tokyo from any North Korean attack, officials have said. Two Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air missile launchers were stationed at the defence ministry in Tokyo before dawn, a ministry spokesman said on Monday. Itsunori Onodera, Japan's defence minister, said "we are proceeding with measures including deployment of PAC-3 as we are on alert". Local reports said batteries would be deployed in another two locations in the greater Tokyo area. "The government is making utmost efforts to protect our people's lives and ensure their safety," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters Tuesday morning. "As North Korea keeps making provocative comments, Japan, cooperating with relevant countries, will do what we have to do. "For the moment, the most important thing is to implement sanctions under the UN Security Council resolutions," Abe said. SeA-BASeD mISSILeS: Tokyo's response thus far to the threats emanating from Pyongyang has been low key and Tuesday's moves are the most visible yet that it is rattled.PAC-3 batteries will also be installed in the semi-tropical island chain of Okinawa, Onodera told a television programme broadcast Monday. He said Okinawa was "the place that is most effective in responding to emergencies ... so we should deploy the unit in Okinawa on a permanent basis". Japan's armed forces are authorised to shoot down any North Korean missile headed towards its territory, a defence ministry spokesman said Monday. agENcIEs

the Kaesong joint industrial zone with South Korea, signalling the possible demise of the sole surviving symbol of crossborder reconciliation. "Not a single worker showed up this morning," the manager of one of the 123 South Korean companies

operating in Kaesong told reporters. The North announced Monday it was taking the unprecedented step of pulling out its 53,000 workers and shutting the complex down indefinitely. Established in 2004, Kaesong has never been closed before.

nato helicopter crash in afghanistan leaves 2 american troops dead KABUL agENcIEs

Kenyatta sworn in as Kenya's new president NAIROBI agENcIEs

Kenya's new president, Uhuru Kenyatta, who faces international charges of crimes against humanity, has been sworn in to office at a ceremony in a stadium packed with supporters and foreign dignitaries. Kenyatta took the oath on Tuesday on a bible used by his father, Kenya's first president, and was watched by tens of thousands of Kenyans, almost a dozen African leaders and other officials. "I do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Republic of Kenya," Kenyatta said, clutching a bible as he took the oath of office.

Many Kenyans hope that the son of the nation's independence hero will live up to his pledge to be a leader for all and not just work for people from his own ethnic group, a practise they have come to expect from their politicians. For Western states, big donors to east Africa's biggest economy, Kenya is a vital player in the regional battle against ultraconservative Islam. But they now have to juggle their wish for close ties with a policy of limiting contacts with those indicted by the ICC in The Hague. 'DIffICuLT pOSITION': The US and European powers sent ambassadors to attend Kenyatta's inauguration ceremony, a level of representation diplomats said

was still in line with their position of having only "essential contacts" with indictees. "They find themselves in a very difficult position," said Kenya expert Daniel Branch at Britain's Warwick University. "My sense is everyone will find some method of accommodation." If the West slips up, it also risks opening more space to China and other Asian powers that are gaining both political and trading influence in Africa. Sitting alongside the Western envoys will be about a dozen African heads of state, as well as prime ministers and other top officials. China and India, neither signatories to the statutes that set up the ICC, are sending senior government officials.

A NATO helicopter crashed in a field in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing two American service members. The US-led International Security Assistance Force said the cause of the crash is under investigation but initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time. It did not immediately identify the nationalities of those killed. But a senior U.S. official confirmed they were Americans. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information ahead of a formal announcement. The deaths raised to nine the number of Americans, including three civilians, killed in Afghanistan so far this month. A local official, Mir Baz Khan, said the helicopter crashed in an agricultural field in the Pachir Wagam district in Nangarhar province. Shir Azam, a teacher who lives in a village near the site, said he heard a loud explosion, then saw the helicopter in flames as it plunged to the ground. Then, he said, more helicopters came and American troops sealed off the site. He also said he heard nothing to indicate any shooting before the crash.

Serbian war veteran kills 13 relatives and neighbours in shooting spree BELGRADE agENcIEs

Mother and two-year-old child among the dead after man opened fire before turning gun on himself A veteran of the 1990s Balkan wars has shot dead 13 people, including his mother, son and a two-year-old child in a dawn rampage through a village in central Serbia, authorities said. The man, identified by police as Ljubisa Bogdanovic, also shot his wife before turning the gun on himself. Both were in critical condition in hospital, police said. "Most of the victims were shot in the head as they slept," police chief Milorad Veljovic told reporters in Velika Ivanca, about 25 miles (40km) south-west of Belgrade. He said the victims were relatives and neighbours of the man: six men, six women and a child in five houses. "We've never had such a tragedy in Serbia and we have to find out what drove this man to kill so many peo-

ple as they slept," said Veljovic. The government has called a cabinet session. The motive for the killings, carried out with a semi-automatic 9mm pistol shortly after 5am (03.00 GMT), was not known. Veljovic said Bogdanovic, born in 1953, had fought the 1991-95 war in Croatia during the collapse of federal Yugoslavia and had a firearms permit. He and his son had lost their jobs with a Slovenian firm in Serbia last year. Serbian media reports said the man's father and uncle had both killed themselves several years ago. Police said Bogdanovic turned the gun on himself after seeing a police patrol car approach the village. "He's a good man, everyone would open their doors to him. He helped everyone in the neighbourhood," said neighbour Milovan Konstantinovic. "Something must have snapped in his head." In 2007, a man in the eastern Serbian village of Jabukovac shot and killed nine people and wounded two, and in 2002, in the southern town of Leskovac a man shot dead seven people.

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Cases against Musharraf should be deferred till elections. — Ahmed Raza Qasuri

News wednesday 10 April, 2013

elections 2013 is good for the printing business PESHAWAR aPP

HYDeRABAD: A candidate for recruitment in the police gets his chest measured before a physical test on Tuesday. INP

Pti minorities candidate in trouble as 69 in run for 10 na seats Sajid iShaq Sindhu Charged with involvement in woman’S abortion to hide illiCit relationShip ISLAMABAD

KasHIF abbasI

FTER scrutiny of nomination papers of candidates for 10 National Assembly seats reserved for minorities, 69 candidates representing various political parties are in the run. However, one of the candidates, Sajid Ishaq Sindhu from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has landed in a serious controversy after a former banker has registered a case against him for having illicit relations with his wife. The Election Commission of Pakistan received 168 nomination papers from across the country. Only 69 candidates have been given clean chits by the returning officers. They have been nominated by 18 political parties in order of preference under Section 47-A of the People’s Representation Act, 1976. However, during the scrutiny process on April 5, the PTI nominee Sajid Ishaq did not inform the returning officer that he had been charged under Section 338A and 506 by the Women Police Station G-7 Islamabad for having an illicit relationship with the wife of Zafar Iqbal and aborting their alleged love child with the woman’s consent.

Complainant SayS pti minoritieS preSident ConCealed the truth from ro

Sindhu denieS allegation, SayS hiS rivalS are uSing Complainant for politiCal gainS

ECP officials told Pakistan Today that this act could create problems for Sajid Ishaq, who had been recently elected as the president of the PTI Minorities Wing, as the Commission could disqualify him for concealing the registration of a case against him during the scrutiny process. Talking to Pakistan Today, Zafar said that he had lodged an application with the Women Police Station on October 15 last year, alleging that he had credible evidence in support of his claim. He said that he had been trying to get a case registered against the accused but he had been evading an FIR allegedly in connivance with the SHO, Sadaf Basharat. However, he claimed that Sadaf had not entertained his application on one pretext or the other and alleged that she had been heavily bribed by Ishaq not to register the case. “Sajid has played a pivotal role in ruining my family life and I’m now seriously concerned about the future of my two daughters who are presently in custody of my wife Shazia, against whom I’m engaged in a separation suit,” he said, adding that Sajid and his bodyguards had also given him life threats in the police station when he went there to record his statement. “They asked me to stop pursuing the case or else I would be killed. I have lost everything but I’m not going to let him destroy the lives of my daughters, aged

16 and 13, respectively,” he added. Zafar told Pakistan Today that after being repeatedly ignored by the police, he moved an application along with the supporting evidence in the Sessions Court seeking registration of a case against Sajid Ishaq but in spite of the court’s orders the police kept delaying the case. “Finally on April 4, the Sessions Judge-West rebuked Sadaf Basharat for flouting the court’s orders and told her to submit the FIR in court. Although Sadaf reluctantly registered the FIR, she avoided adding the section related to fornication (Zina Bil Raza) which is a non-bailable offense, thus enabling Sajid to obtain pre-arrest bail,” he said. Zafar said that when he came to know that Sajid was a nominee of the PTI for the National Assembly, he approached the ECP to file an appeal but was told that Sajid’s nomination had been accepted by the Commission. “Sajid did not inform the ECP returning officer that he had just obtained pre-arrest bail in a criminal case and is therefore in violation of Articles 62 and 63. The ECP should take notice of this issue,” he said. When contacted, Women Police Station SHO Sadaf Basharat refuted all allegations leveled against her by Zafar. She said that she had been delaying the FIR registration for more than four months because she had been investigating the matter. “I have not been

10 killed, 14 injured in accident HYDERABAD: As many as 10 passengers, including four women, lost their lives and 14 others received injuries when a bus collided with a truck on Indus Highway near Aliabad town on Tuesday. According to Edhi Welfare Centre, the accident took place when the driver of Larkana-bound bus lost control and it collided with a truck coming from opposite direction in village Daad Shaheed. As a result of collision, 10 died while 14 others were injured. Three bodies have been identified as that of Shamshad Begum, Zubeda and Arif while the injured persons who were shifted to Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro have been identified as Muhammad Arif, Saeed, Liaquat, Muhammad Din, Muhammad Saleem, Imamuddin, Mohsin, Akhtar, Asif, Shakeel, Sajid Ali, Barkat Ali, Punhu Khan and Bayam. The bodies were shifted to the mortuary of Liaquat University Hospital, the volunteers of Edhi Welfare Centre said. aPP

bribed. This is a sensitive matter and only after thorough investigations I registered a case against the PTI leader,” she said, denying that she had deliberately avoided adding that section related to fornication in the FIR. Sajid Ishaq told Pakistan Today that Zafar was his acquaintance for over 20 years. “I have never had illicit relations with his wife. All allegations leveled against me are false and Zafar is only trying to blackmail me,” he said. Ishaq refused to disclose further details of the matter, saying the case was subjudice and he would only inform the court about the nature of the telephone calls’ record Zafar had submitted in court as part of the prosecution’s evidence. “I have full faith in God and believe that I will get a clean chit in the case. I have always stood up for the rights of my community and I believe that Zafar is being used by my political rivals to tarnish my reputation,” he said. However he refused to comment on whether he had disclosed the FIR against him before the returning officer, Imtiaz Alam. It is relevant to note here that PML-N’s candidate Dr Nelson Azeem’s nomination papers were rejected on the ground that he didn’t mention a case which was registered against him during the last six months. “All candidates are supposed to share information of cases registered against them, if any, with the returning officer. In the case of Sajid, he submitted nomination papers on March 30, and FIR in question was registered against him on April 4. So, technically he did not conceal the fact while submitting nomination papers. However, if someone feels that Sajid is not fit under Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution, he should file an appeal in the Election Tribunal against him,” ECP Deputy Director (Media) Khursheed Alam told Pakistan Today.

Elections 2013 is set to initiate a boom in the printing business all over the country. Hailing from Peshawar’s Landi Arbab, Tufail, a 35-tear-old printing unit owner, told APP on Tuesday that election activities had brought significant investment into the local printing industry and its associated businesses. Entering into this hard-hitting business after completing his education, Tufail, who owns a printing unit in Mohallah Jhangi disclosed that some of the printers had received printing orders of around Rs 1 million for preparation of posters, stickers and bills boards of the candidates contesting in the general elections. He said he was receiving printing orders from polling agents, who usually played a key role in attracting investment for their blue eyed printing unit owners. “Most of the orders we receive from candidates are of publishing posters of 18-23 inch and several sizes of stickers,” he said, adding that candidates were taking a keen interest in posters, preparation of party flags, billboards and stickers. “I would definitely encourage new talents if they wish to join the printing industry as a profession,” said Tufail. “Those involved in this business mostly go to Lahore to repair technical faults in their printing machines, as local expertise are non-existent,” he said. “It is a very costly practice and sometimes we have to pay up to Rs 100,000 for repairing,” he said. “The printing industry could flourish in Peshawar if we had the required expertise, quality manpower and a mechanism to control prices of paper and inflation,” he maintained. “Election activities have seen an upward growth in the printing business, especially of those printers who deal with stickers and bill boards,” another printer of Qisakhwani, Adeel Khan said. “Business activities are generated in almost all fields of advertising and of printing during the elections,” he added. Printers claimed that agents of political candidates were receiving high commissions for brokering business deals of upto Rs 50000 between candidates and printing press owners. He said the entire responsibility of the quality of posters, bill-boards and stickers lied on the shoulders of the agents and any fault, if pinpointed, was to be beared by the agents. The printers in Mohalla Jehangir said printing business was picking up momentum due to an improvement of law and order situation and participation of all mainstream political parties in the general elections. “Printers have started working till late night to meet the targets and demands of elections candidates,” he said. Zulfiqar Aziz, a candidate for PK-13 Nowshera told APP that printing material played a key role for dissemination and mobilization. He said there would have been no need of installation of big bill-boards had the candidates been provided a free atmosphere for electioneering. The printers expressed optimism that their businesses would increase further as the date of the elections came nearer and demanded the government to include printing industry in their priority list.

eCP takes notice of Qaim Ali shah’s illegal use of oﬃcial protocol ISLAMABAD sTaFF REPORT

Taking notice of former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah’s illegal use of official protocol during the election campaign, the Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday directed the Sindh chief secretary to stop the former chief minister from using official protocol. ECP Secretary Isthiak Ahmed Khan, in a letter, directed Sindh Chief Secretary Raja

Muhammad Abbas to ask Shah to avoid using such protocol as it was a violation of the code of conduct as well as against the principle of provision of level playing filed to all contesting candidates. The ECP secretary also directed Abbas to transfer the Khairpur deputy commissioner and the DPO to any other province. The commission said both these officers had earlier served as secretary and security incharge at the residence of the former chief minister.

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ANP rejected US pressure not to sign peace deal in Swat. — Asfandyar Wali Khan

News

09 N

wednesday 10 April, 2013

justiCe anD equality For all! pti unveilS 12-point eleCtion manifeSto ISLAMABAD

sTaFF REPORT

H E Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) on Tuesday unveiled its 12-point election manifesto ensuring justice and equal opportunities to all segments of the society, making Pakistan an Islamic welfare state, uprooting of all sorts of injustices and exploitations, introduction of an sovereign foreign policy based on friendly ties with all states on the basis of transparency, mutuality of interests and respect for sovereignty. “All governance in cities and towns will go to the municipality and the city government will raise revenue for city development. Primary healthcare for the poor and elderly will be free. The policy of fighting war for others and act as a surrogate for any power will not pursue any further. Nation building will be a priority and its natural resources will be exploited for development of the country and would also

benefit the people living in resource rich areas. Pakistan’s strategic location will be used to strengthen the nation by becoming a lucrative trade and energy corridor and take economic advantage of it,” said the PTI chief Imran Khan while outlining the party’s manifesto. PTI President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umer, Shafquat Mahmood, Jahangir Tareen, Dr Shireen Mazari, Imran Ismail, Naeem-ul-Haq, Dr Israr Shah, Faisal Javed Khan and others were also present on the occasion. “It is not possible for parties who have destroyed the country to bring reforms in the country,” he said. He added that two major political parties had taken many turns but never had brought reforms in the government departments. These parties have not allowed the shifting of power to local level. “PTI will transfer power to grass root level by holding local government elections in three months time,” he said, adding that other political parties had not taken such steps. Imran Khan said that corruption had become a major issue of the country and the PTI would wipe out this curse within 90 days after coming into power, adding that the PTI’s manifesto was not based on slogans but it was formulated after case to case study, so there should be no ambiguity regarding its implementation.

He added that power outages would be brought to end within two to three years. He said defense spending would be rationalised and the defense budget would be

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR PARTIES WHO HAVE DESTROYED THE COUNTRY TO BRING REFORMS IN THE COUNTRY debated on in the parliament with incamera sessions, according to the sensitivity of the issue. He said PTI would eliminate the railway ministry and departments like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would be made autonomous. He said PTI would reduce the number of ministries because other parties had used this tool as political bribe, adding that his party would also depoliticise the bureaucracy and police. Imran Khan said Pakistan Television (PTV) would also be made an autonomous body during the tenure of PTI.

“PTI recognises the scourge of terrorism and its devastating effect on Pakistan in the form of intolerance, fear and hate, hence, it stands committed to fight for the betterment of Pakistan,” said Imran Khan, He added that agricultural reforms would also be put in place and a 15 percent agriculture tax would be introduced on land holdings exceeding 50 acres, while domestic industry would be encouraged and flowered. “We will computerise all the landrelated data and the infamous patwari system would be replaced with a computerised system to facilitate the community,” said Khan, adding that his party seeks to establish a social and political order in Pakistan where equal opportunity exists for each citizen in every walk of life. “PTI is the party of the ordinary Pakistani and elected representatives from grassroots, up to the chairman stand committed to provide better a future to the people of Pakistan. PTI stands for an effective government with merit and the legacy of misrule and misery by corrupt inept elite will become history. We have a mission to

build a Naya Pakistan on Iqbal’s dream and Jinnah’s vision – encapsulated in an Islamic Welfare,” he added. Khan said PTI gave over 35 percent electoral tickets to youngsters. “PTI will ensure a move towards the achievement of a welfare state where every citizen can live in peaceful security and prosperity with no discrimination,” he said. “In order to make Pakistan a welfare state, one system of education for all its citizens should be ensured, besides equal opportunity and healthcare and a social safety net for the unemployed. In addition, primary healthcare for the poor and elderly will be free,” he added. He said PTI has focused on policies for the minorities, labour (including agricultural), youth, women, and persons with disabilities to ensure no discrimination. PTI also recognises the overseas Pakistanis as a valuable asset for the country and has outlined a policy for improving their access to Pakistan and its development. “The economic policy will be governed in a way to promote fast-paced industrial growth and to ensure job creation. It will ensure that a minimum wage of labor is commensurate with the inflation level in the country. To fast track development within the first 100 days, PTI will take full advantage of the natural resource of the country like copper and coal,” he said.

nizami briefs PM on media policy of caretaker regime ISLAMABAD sTaFF REPORT

Information and Broadcasting Minister Arif Nizami on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso and discussed with him the media policy to be pursued by the caretaker government during the general elections. While talking to the minister, the prime minister said that the focus of the government was to hold free, fair, transparent and credible elections in the country. The minister exchanged views with the prime minister on various issues relating to the role of the ministry and disseminating the message that the caretaker government was impartial. The prime minister directed the information minister to gear up the ministry for a proactive role and engage the media for effective dissemination of information.

Pakistan among countries worst-hit by climate change ISLAMABAD ISLAmABAD: Caretaker Federal minister for Information Arif Nizami calls on Caretaker Prime minister mir Hazar Khan Khoso at the Pm’s House on Tuesday. INP

ANP promises peaceful Pakistan in manifesto ISLAMABAD aPP

The Awami National Party’s (ANP) election manifesto promises a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan, ANP Senior Vice President Haji Muhammad Adeel said on Tuesday. Presenting the part’s manifesto at a policy seminar, Adeel said, “Progress is only possible in a peaceful and stable environment, that’s why ‘Pur-Amn Pakistan” is the ANP’s slogan for 2013 elections.” The event, organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), was third in a series of seminars, planned to bring manifestos of political parties into discussion and their impact on electorates in the run up to the general elections. Shakeel Ahmad Ramay of the SDPI

moderated the proceedings. Adeel said the ANP was committed to evolving a national consensus on extremism with peace as guiding principles. “The ANP believe in dialogue with militants who recognise constitution and the writ of state and renounce violence,” he added. He said the ANP’s manifesto secured social and economic rights for all federating units of Pakistan as equal partners in the federation. Regarding status of FATA, he said, annexation of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was possible but only in accordance with the wishes and expectations of people living in the Tribal Areas.” Talking of ANP’s commitment to education, Adeel said the party would increase education budget to six percent of the GDP if came into power. “In the last five years of the ANP government, nine

new universities were established along with campuses in every district of the province.” “ A l s o other measures such as free education to all in public schools and free uniform, textbooks and stipend of Rs 200 for each girl were some of the milestones of ANP’s resolve for promoting education in the province,” he added. Commenting on economic reforms, the ANPleader said his party would increase the tax-to-GDP ratio

PROGRESS IS ONLY POSSIBLE IN A PEACEFUL AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT, THAT’S WHY ‘PUR-AMN PAKISTAN IS THE ANP’S SLOGAN FOR 2013 ELECTIONS

from the current level to a minimum of 15 percent of the GDP. He said the ANP government had initiated power projects with the capacity of 2200MW, which would cater to the energy needs of the province in years to come.

aPP

The Senate’s Standing Committee on Climate Change has said Pakistan was ranked among top 10 countries worst hit by impacts of climate change in form of floods, torrential rains, rise in temperature and cyclones. The committee highlighted vulnerability of the country due to increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters in the country, which were being caused due to changing and unpredictable weather patterns. The committee met under Senator Dr Saeeda Iqbal who emphasised to work together with civil society organisations to mitigate these impacts and help vulnerable communities to better adapt to changing weather patterns. While briefing, Resource Centre Director Akhtar Hameed Khan said Pakistan was among the most vulnerable countries facing climate risks and mechanisms needed to be devised for greener, more resilient options for growth and sustainable development. “Pakistan’s contribution to global warming is negligible but it is one of the top ten most affected countries”, he said. Chairperson Senator Dr Saeeda Iqbal said, “We must pursue sustainable economic growth by appropriately addressing the challenges of climate change and integrate climate change policy with other interlaced national policies.”

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Be as smart as you can, but remember that it is always better to be wise than to be smart. –Alan Alda

election diary – two the process moves on

CoMMeNt wednesday, 10 April, 2013

stirring up a hornet’s nest one indiscreet remark provides the spark

HE election campaign is being conducted in an atmosphere marked by suspicion and distrust. There is ill will between the PPP, the PML-N and the PTI while religious parties like the JUI-F and Jamaat-e-Islami do not trust one another. Most of all these parties are wary of the machinations of the establishment. This is understandable because the country has not seen a single free and fair election during the last four decades. The only difference this time, which provides a modicum of hope, is the presence of an independent election commission, though here too some have called into question the way the four provincial members of the ECP were elected. There is also a consensus caretaker set up in place. In this case too, the most common question asked invariably about each and every member was regarding who was behind his appointment. In this background comes the remark attributed to Malik Habib that Nawaz Sharif is the only true national leader and that he had been voting for the PML-N in the past. There is no denying that every man has the right to have political likes and dislikes and vote according to his inclinations. But once someone agrees to take over a job in the interim government one has to be extra cautious. This is all the more important in the case of the caretaker interior minister who controls the civil law enforcement bodies and security agencies which have gained enough notoriety for election-rigging over the period. The minister is therefore going to be constantly under watch by the political parties and the media. This explains why Malik Habib’s earlier slip of tongue describing his tenure between two to three years did not miss the watchful eye of the media. Any sign of partiality on his part is likely to create doubts about the fairness of the elections. With one indiscreet remark the interim minister has brought the impartiality of the caretaker setup into question. The ANP has now joined the PPP and PTI to demand his resignation. The MQM has called on the president and the ECP to dismiss him. The PPP’s Samsam Bukhari has suggested that instead of being a part of the caretaker set up he should run the election campaign for the PML-N leader whom he considers the only true national leader. The PPP is meditating over filing a reference against him in the ECP. The PTI’s Shafqat Mahmood has called Malik partisan and thus unacceptable. Malik Habib has now said that he has left his past affiliations behind and is an impartial caretaker minister. The explanation should have been enough to settle the matter between two gentlemen. But whether it would satisfy the political parties who have had an exceptionally bad experience of the establishment remains to be seen.

army operation in tirah Valley decisive action important to secure peaceful general elections in kp

NOTHER military operation is now underway in Khyber Pakthunkhwa (KP). The small matter of the continuing militancy in our north western province continues to return to the top of the political agenda. With 23 soldiers killed in the Tirah valley operation, the militant presence in this critical region in the province has become a source of instability and fear as elections draw near. The military’s response has been to intensify the operation in the area. The Tirah Valley has a strategic importance for both the military and militants groups. Located in Khyber, part of the semi-autonomous tribal region, it is the main sanctuary for Taliban militants in the country. The army has launched scores of operations against the Taliban in the tribal region in recent years, but certain areas like the Tirah Valley have remained outside its control. Securing the Tirah Valley would be an important victory for the military in terms of reasserting its control on the rebellious northern regions. The current military’s campaign is therefore meant to cleanse the strategically important area of the malign presence of militants, and aims at the greater goal of securing Peshawar and the settled areas for the upcoming general elections. For militants, the Tirah Valley is an important hideout that has strategic significance. On one side, it shares a border with Afghanistan while on the other side it leads to the plains of Bara, which connect the agency to the outskirts of Peshawar. The Khyber Agency also links several tribal districts to each other, serving as a north-south route within the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The region has been long fought over by a mix of militant organisations, including the TTP, the Ansarul Islam and Mangal Bagh’s Lashkar-e-Islam, all of whom see it as an important base for their activities. Khyber is among seven semi-autonomous tribal districts of Pakistan near the Afghan border and is rife with homegrown insurgents and home to religious extremist organizations. The facts on the ground are that the Pakistan army has sacrificed too many personnel without any decisive action taken against militant groups that inhabit the area. It is hoped that the current operation shall be able to cleanse the area of militants. The area still remains a base for militants for attacks on Peshawar, such as the missile attack on the Peshawar airport this Tuesday. The recent killings of army personnel should have served to strengthen the resolve of the security apparatus of ridding us of the threat in a decisive manner. While victory is not guaranteed by the current operation, the Pakistan Army needs to take control of it once again to get a moral victory and provide a promise of peace for the general elections which are a month away.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

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

HE electoral process entered the third phase of appeals against the decisions of the scrutiny officers on April 8. The first two phases were the filing of the nomination papers (March 24-31) and their scrutiny (April 1-7). The appeal stage will experience some firework among the political leaders because the scrutiny officers (Returning Officers) in their enthusiasm and with the encouragement from the Supreme Court overplayed their hands by rejecting more nomination papers than ever on subjective interpretation of some provisions of articles 62 and 63 of the constitution. The fake degrees’ issue pertaining to the 2002 election has also gained prominence as the Supreme Court pressed the junior courts and the Election Commission to settle these matters. The session judges are not delivering judgments in rapid succession with punishments on the higher side. Most of the convicted leaders are expected to file appeals in the higher courts which will start a new legal and political wrangling. For the first time in Pakistan’s electoral history the Chief Justice of Pakistan has addressed the Returning Officers (who have come from judicial service) in Karachi, Hyderabad and Lahore while they were scrutinising the nomination papers. He DR HasaN asKaRI RIZvI a s s u r e d them of the Supreme Court’s support for performing their task without any fear and that they s h o u l d “ s t a n d firmly by the constitution and law…. Nobody would be allowed to interfere in electoral process or abuse it to his advantage.” The Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court also addressed their meeting and gave them a

similar advice. The Returning Officers perform their task within the parameters set out in the electoral laws, constitutional provisions and the directions of the Election Commission. The Supreme Court does not come in the process directly. The speakers at the All-Pakistan Lawyers’ convention at Lahore on April 6 described the address of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to the Returning Officers as “an attempt to influence the process of the upcoming general elections.” Political parties are slowly getting ready for the elections. The Jamiat-eUlema-e-Islam Fazlur Rahman Group (JUI-F) held a mammoth public meeting in Lahore on March 31 which was no less impressive than the public rally of Imran Khan on March 23. The JUI-F had brought its religious loyalists mainly from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) who were more disciplined than Imran’s youths that were treated with Islamic discourse on the one hand and popular music and dancing on the other. The JUI-F leadership appears quite confident about winning more seats in KP, cashing on the negative fallout of the incumbency factor for the ANP and the PPP. The other faction of the JUI, led by Maulana Samiul Haq, (JUI-S), is maintaining a low profile and intends to contest the election under an electoral alliance of some religious parties called the Muttahida Deeni Mahaz. Maulana Fazlur Rahman faces a minor encounter in Balochistan where another JUI faction, JUI-Ideological, wants to maintain its separate political identity. The PPP is contesting elections under a separate name the PPP-Parliamentarian under the leadership of Makhdoom Amin Faheem. This arrangement goes back to the 2002 elections when the PPP-P was established to avoid any legal wrangling under the military government of General Pervez Musharraf that brought in a law that made it impossible for the PPP under the leadership of Benazir Bhutto to contest the elections. The PPP (original name) was also registered with the Election Commission in March with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as the Patron-in-Chief. However, the candidates are being put up for the elections by the PPP-P led by Makhdoom Amin Fahim. It launched its election campaign on the night of April 3-4 with the address of Bilawal Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari to party leaders. The Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz Sharif Group (PML-N) has held one major and some small rallies but its campaign is still slow-paced, although the potential candidate and its activists are working for political mobilization at the constituency level. The PML-N top leadership appears convinced that the

PML-N will sweep the polls and that they are going to set up the government at the federal level and in the Punjab. The other optimist about the outcome of the election is Imran Khan who has claimed to experience a dream of the PTI’s electoral victory and assumption of power by him. The PML-N appears at this stage in a clear lead in the Punjab but its position is very weak in other provinces. Therefore, at the National Assembly level its lead becomes marginal. Imran Khan is still viewed as number three after the PML-N and the PPP. However, he still has a month to go to set aside both parties. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) plans to put candidates all over the Pakistan but no one takes the MQM seriously except in urban Sindh, especially in Karachi and Hyderabad, where it will sustain its electoral domination. It is upset because the Election Commission made some changes in 3 National Assembly and 8 Sindh Provincial Assembly constituencies in Karachi on March 22, shortly before the announcement of the election schedule. The MQM views this as a conspiracy to undermine its electoral strength. It has approached the court challenging this decision. The MQM’s US leadership has sought the United Nations intervention in this matter by submitting a memorandum to the UN headquarters. This appears to be a publicity move because the MQM leadership must know that the UN cannot intervene in exclusively internal legal and political affairs. According to the information released by the Election Commission on April 2 the registered voters are 86.15 million (males 48.57 million, female 37.56 million. These are round figures. The nomination papers filed for the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies are 7,364 and 16,730 respectively. The election process has so far received the commitment for funding from two external sources. Japan: US dollars 2 million; the United States: $6.5 million (out of the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Assistance Programme). Some foreign funding was also available for the 2008 elections. The distribution of party-tickets to the candidates caused internal conflicts in the PML-N, the PPP and the PTI. A large number of party-activists took to strong protest, scuffles among the supporters of different candidates and the exit of some members from the party. The ANP and several other parties also faced some difficulties in ticket allocation. How these internal problems affect election prospects of a party will be known when the election campaign picks up momentum. The writer is an independent political and defence analyst.

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

twisting facts In your column “Asma’s decision” you have fairly argued my decision on not appearing one-to-one against Ansar Abbasi. I want to clear a few things. First, CNBC did not tell me of the other guests at all. While Haider Waheed did say so on television – to my shock – he admitted later to me that he had never told me, neither did anyone else. Hopefully, he will clarify it. I have no problem in sitting with anyone who disagrees with me. I have been doing so since many decades, but I do not want to lend publicity to the people who start media campaigns in a distorted manner and vilification campaigns on social media against people who disagree with them. Simply because a journalist can misuse his access to media does not give them the right to twist facts in order to persecute others who have a different point of view from them. Every society has such dangerous elements. They are, however, neither considered journalists nor are allowed to use media to project themselves with twisted facts. They are also not brought on a one-to-one basis against other people to give them an open opportunity to distort facts and publicise the same while trying to project themselves. ASMA JAHANGIR Lahore

land grabbing mafia About 50 years ago, the banks of river Indus in the Punjab

were lush with green forests. But as the river started to dry up due to several reasons, those trees started disappearing. The land over which those trees had stood, completely bare by now, has been occupied by squatters who are making millions of rupees without giving anything to the government, the rightful owner. Thousands of acres of such land lying on the eastern fringes of mauza Lundi Pitafi and the adjoining villages in district Muzaffargarh has been grabbed by some unruly miscreants who on the strength of this free booty not only behave like dacoits, creating mischief for the surrounding settlements. The government of Punjab is requested to get this land vacated and auction it off on merit to deserving tillers. HAJI MUSA Basti Korai, Muzaffargarh

Pensioners’ plight It has been reported recently in the national press that the salaries of government employees are going to be enhanced in the next budget by five thousand rupees per employee irrespective of their grades. But there is no mention of the poor pensioners in these reports. It would be a most cruel act of the government if it does not increase the pensioners’ allowance as well by the same amount. The caretaker government is requested to take immediate steps for this measure in favour of the retirees or be prepared to be remembered as the most unjust government in the history of our country. MUHAMMAD ALI Muzaffargarh

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I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for their intellects. A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies. –Oscar Wilde

CoMMeNt

wednesday, 10 April, 2013

return of the dragon is there any change in the military’s mindset?

nota or nothing a small but significant victory for all

aIma KHOsa

MONG the several decisions the Supreme Court of Pakistan took on June 8, 2012 regarding electoral reforms, the order of implementation of the None of the Above (NOTA) option on ballots remained a small but significant victory for smaller parties and plurality in Pakistan’s democracy as a whole. While the rest of the year went by without further news and updates on the implementation of the NOTA option, this year, in January 2013, Awami Worker’s Party (AWP) President Abid Hasan Minto filed a petition in the Supreme Court, alleging that the ECP had not complied with the court order, adding that with the elections around the corner, it was detrimental that the NOTA be implemented soon. Even then, at least three months had passed when rumors began to float that ECP was implementing the court order for the upcoming elections. Coupled with fake degrees’ arrests, the nuisance of Returning Officers and their rejections, this NOTA option spooked mainstream political parties even more. Within hours of the news breaking, messages of “disappointment” began coming in from various political quarters, saying that this move would “weaken” democracy, cause unnecessary election expenditure, and may lead to seats remaining vacant. Critics of the NOTA ballot argued that this option is not used by other countries. Furthermore, there was a sinister whisper that this was a ploy of the army to delay the elections. And almost overnight, the rumor was squashed, with ECP officials saying that the implementation of the order would require massive amounts of red-tape, including prime minister’s recommendation to the president and the issuance of an ordinance by the latter. While one may understand the national paranoia surrounding the upcoming elections, one does wonder how serious the ECP is about implementing the electoral reforms ruling. While the leaders are patting themselves on the back, hailing the “smooth” transition of democracy, it must be remembered that these very leaders have made it next to impossible for smaller political parties to make space for themselves in Pakistan’s political spectrum. Pakistan’s electioneering system is designed to cater to big political parties with

deep pockets. For example, the Supreme Court ruled that the First Past the Post rule be abolished; a rule that generally encourages twoparty competition. It is also true that the winner via First Past the Post is not always a representative of the majority. Yet, the rule still stands for the upcoming general elections. The NOTA ballot would have been a significant step in establishing plurality in the early stages of the establishment of real democracy. What is NOTA? By having the None of the Above option on the ballot, the voter will be given a right to reject the candidates hopeful for seats in his constituency. Simply put, NOTA is based on the principle that the very foundations of consent is the ability to withhold assent. When NOTA is listed on a ballot, there is the possibility of it receiving a majority, and hence winning, vote. In such a case, there are a variety of options available; the seat could remain vacant, could be filled by appointment, nominations re-opened or holding another election. Either way, it does not limit the options of voters to big names representing big political parties. It allows them to lodge their protest against the status quo and reject all candidates. NOTA is not universally used in all countries, but it is exercised in several places, for example the former Soviet Union. In the 1991 election, over 100 representatives of the Communist Party were defeated by the NOTA. NOTA does not have to be always about rejections. As in Spain’s case NOTA (or voto en blanco) stands as a statistical indicator of the candidates’ popularity. In Spain, the NOTA ballots only increase the amount of valid votes, raising the threshold of votes which every political party has to overcome to be fully considered. The parties over the threshold then get

their seats according to the D’Hondt method. The United Kingdom, too, has had an entertaining relationship with NOTA. No Candidate Deserves My Vote! was registered as a political party in November 2000. The No Candidate Deserves My Vote party’s single objective was to introduce a bill to parliament to have a “None of the above” option added to every local and general election ballot paper of the future. The argument that Pakistan need not emulate the examples of other countries because the “context” of NOTA in the country is different is a very weak view. NOTA is about rejecting the choices your political forces gave you. There is no ambiguity or “negative” feelings behind such an option. NOTA is a fundamental right and it helps reinstate faith in the electoral process. Why should a voter vote for someone because they had to? The ECP is not entirely to blame. The NOTA has to through the parliament and the parliament is dominated by the same political forces that oppose such reforms, vastly decreasing the options available to voters. The belief that Pakistan is not “ready” for a re-election if 51 percent voters vote NOTA is another weak argument. Pakistan’s elections and democracy has always been about baby steps. “We have weak institutions, let them strengthen first,” is the age old argument. Perhaps it is time that a radical line be taken on the ballots. Pakistanis are set to elect recycled politicians only because these leaders are too powerful to allow otherwise. No one wants the army, indeed, but voting NOTA was a choice of the people. The writer is a research analyst and web editor at Pakistan Today. She tweets at @aimamk

ORMER military dictator and tormentor of this hapless nation is back with his usual demeanour of haughtiness, conceit and remorselessness for what he did to this country during his nine years of despotic and corrupt rule. He is also aspiring to contest elections with the make-belief that he can steer this country out of the present quagmire in his capacity as a political leader. Leaving aside maLIK muHammaD asHRaF what he contemplates to do or whether he will be able to participate in the elections or not, what is surprising for most of the people is that how can a person involved in sedition, murder, other cases of severe nature and facing death threats from Taliban, has the courage to return at this critical juncture without the assurances of the internal and external actors who have always controlled the flow of events in this land of the wretched? There are already reports in the media suggesting that the return of the dragon is a sequel to another NRO negotiated and guaranteed by the praetorian powers for his safety and ultimate clearance from the charges that he is facing. Our checkered history supports this view vehemently. Had it not been so the military dictators and corrupt politicians would not have gone scot-free for their crimes against the people of Pakistan that include insulting their mandate by the khakis and betrayal of trust by the politicians besides looting the wealth of the nation. Majority of the people of Pakistan, except those who benefited from his magnanimity and favours designed to prolong his stint in power, believe that Musharraf is guilty of sedition under article 6 of the constitution for having deposed a legitimately elected representative government through a conspiracy that was hatched much before the actual coup in the backdrop of the rift between former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Musharraf over latter’s daredevil act to start the Kargil War with a view to sabotage the process of dialogue and reconciliation between Pakistan and India. He is also held responsible for the Lal Masjid episode, murders of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti, decimating the constitution, humiliating the judiciary and taking unconstitutional steps to scuttle and suppress the freedom of media in the wake of lawyers’ movement which was supported by it. Petitions have also been filed by lawyers in the SC urging it to try the former dictator for his act of sedition. The permeating view is that Musharraf will not come to any harm and across the board justice will remain an elusive dream. In this regard, I cannot agree more with the remarks of Babar Sattar, an Islamabad based lawyer in his article published in an English national daily some times back which read, “The civil-military imbalance continues to hurt democracy, rule of law, across the board accountability and citizen security. The gravity and relevance of this problem that has bedeviled us since this country’s inception cannot be ignored or downplayed in present day Pakistan.” One needs to read the text of the Charter of Democracy signed by the two former prime ministers to understand the meaning of these words or look at the assertive position taken by the military commanders on Kerry-Lugar Bill and publicly expressing dissent over the contents of the package to embarrass the elected government, ostensibly to let the government and US know who was calling the shots in Pakistan. General Kayani and his commanders may have resisted the temptation to derail democracy but the fact remains that the mindset of coercing and armtwisting the representative governments has remained intact. That indeed is a worrying factor. The civilian-military imbalance will have to be rectified if this country is to move ahead towards its cherished destination. Similarly, the judiciary will also have to safeguard its new found independence by curbing its inclinations to act as a popular court, strictly abiding by the internationally recognised principles of jurisprudence, remaining within its powers given in the constitution and avoiding transgressing into the territories of the other state institutions. That is what the rule of law means. Regrettably, the decision in the NRO case was a classic example of SC acting as a popular court rather than the court of law. The fact that the court gave the decision asking the government to write to Swiss authorities for reopening the case against the president, notwithstanding the immunity conferred on him by article 248 of the constitution, is a ranting testimony of the court playing to the gallery. The contention of the government not to write to the Swiss authorities has ultimately proved right. The Swiss authorities respecting the immunity enjoyed a sitting president have refused to re-open the case. An elected prime minister became a casualty of this unfortunate decision; which invoked harsh criticism by constitutional experts and judges of international repute. There is also a very strong feeling among the intellectual circles that SC has been excessively interfering in the domain of the executive. The petitions filed for trial of Musharraf will undoubtedly be a litmus test for the much hyped independence and impartiality of the judiciary headed by CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and a rare opportunity for it to dispel the impression that it was engaged in the witch-hunt of the politicians only. Those who hold this view refer to the inability of the SC – who has shown an irresistible propensity to make excessive use of its suo motu jurisdiction in regards to the actions of the executive – to exhibit a similar disposition towards US attack in Abbottabad, attacks on GHQ, PNS Mehran, Kamra, the Asghar Khan case, NLC and Royal Palm case. The outcome of the case against Musharraf will also determine once and for all whether this country will remain mired in a culture of selective justice or a new dawn of equality before law will nurture our growth into a respectable, judicious and vibrant nation enjoying due recognition as such in the comity of nations. His conviction will act as a great deterrent for the would-be power usurpers and his acquittal would mean continuation of the status quo which will be yet another tragedy for the country. The leadership challenge for generals and other state institutions does not lie in fiercely defending their perceived turfs but in demonstrating remorse over the past wrongs, showing the aplomb, determination and courage in revisiting their perceived notions about their role, striving for a real change in their behaviour, extending unqualified support to democracy and strengthening representative institutions. The writer is an academic.

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A ARTS

wednesday, 10 April, 2013

joHansson oPens uP on FaileD MarriaGe to reynolDs

I can write the saddest poem of all tonight. I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too — Pablo Neruda

MarGaret tHatCHer

was a figure of awe, says Meryl Streep

NEWS DESK

HO won an Oscar for playing in the 2011 movie ‘The Iron Lady’, has hailed the former British premier as a trailblazer for women. “Margaret Thatcher was a pioneer, willingly or unwillingly, for the role of in politics. It is hard to imagine a part of our current history that has not been affected by measures she put forward in Britain,” the Herald Sun quoted her as saying. “But to me she was a figure of awe for her personal strength and grit,” she added in a statement released after Thatcher’s death from a overnight in London, at the age of 87. Streep noted that Thatcher won the British premiership “not because she inherited (the) position as the daughter of a great man, or

the widow of an important man, but by dint of her own striving.” “To have given women and girls around the world reason to supplant fantasies of being princesses with a different dream: the real-life option of leading their nation; this was groundbreaking and admirable,” she added. A statement from Buckingham Palace announced that had been “saddened” to hear of Margaret’s death, and the monarch will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family. Thatcher was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century. She will be honoured with a full state funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Halle Berry, Michael Kors design watches for charity

avatar’ sequels to use underwater motion capture technology

NEWS DESK

Scarlett Johansson has opened up on her failed marriage to , saying she’s being able to move forward. Johansson has seldom talked about her relationship with Reynolds, which ended in 2010. “Well, it wasn’t that long ago. But I think I’ve had a fair amount of time to process the experience and be able to move forward,” the New York Daily News quoted her as telling Marie Claire. Since her divorce, the ‘Avengers’ star has been linked to , big wig advertising director Nate Naylor, and is now dating French creative agency manager Romain Dauriac. Meanwhile, Reynolds is now married to actress Blake Lively. She said that she continues to get to know herself better as she gets older, and that helps her in her relationships. NEws DEsK

Hollywood actress Halle Berry has collaborated with designer Michael Kors to raise money for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The duo will design two special watches as a part of the organisation’s Watch Hunger Stop campaign, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Discussing Berry’s involvement in the project, Kors said: “She brings talent, energy, generosity and, of course, star power to a cause that is extremely important to me.” The accessories will be on sale in May. With every watch sold, 100 meals will be provided to the hungry — thanks to WFP. The actress, who is expecting her first child with fiance Olivier Martinez, believes it’s important to stand up for world hunger, especially as a woman, in order to have a real impact on the way families live. “Statistics show that women play a crucial role in defeating hunger. WFP is especially focused on providing assistance to women because, as mothers, teachers, and entrepreneurs, they will improve the future for their families and communities,” she said. “It’s an effort I’m eager to be a part of because I’m certain we can make a real and substantial difference in the lives of people in need,” Berry added.

Spanish actress Sara Montiel is dead Spanish actress and singer died Monday at her home in Madrid, apparently of natural causes, emergency services officials told EFE. She was 85. An ambulance from emergency services rushed to attend the artist, but paramedics could do nothing to save her life. Montiel was one of Spain’s internationally renowned actresses and singers when scarcely knew the Spanish movie industry existed. Born Antonia Abad Fernandez in the town of Campo de Criptana in La Mancha, she was the diva of Spanish films, an icon of sensuality

and of the “cuple” (a Spanish song style). She acted in some 50 movies and recorded more than 30 discs. Her stunning beauty got her picked to share top billing in the 1950s with and in the film “ “. In Spain she starred in one of the great blockbusters of Spanish cinema “El Ultimo Cuple” in 1957, on the 50th anniversary of which a special tribute was arranged for her in . She soon became an erotic legend, an artist who sang seductive songs like “Fumando Espero”, “Besame Mucho”, “La Violetera” and “Amado Mio”. In America’s movie mecca she signed million dollar contracts with and United Artists, worked with directors like - her first husband - and onscreen infatuated such Hollywood heartthrobs as Cooper, Lancaster and . NEws DEsK

Producer has revealed that unlike James Cameron’s first ‘Avatar’ that was shot largely on a green screen performance-capture stage, parts two and three will be shot partially underwater. According to the , the 52-year-old said at the NAB Technology Summit on Cinema that they have kept a team of digital artists from the first film, in order to test how they can create performance capture underwater. Landau told the that though they could simulate water in computer graphics, they can’t simulate the actor’s experience, so they are going to capture performance in a tank. He said that they wanted to take advantage of the technology that people are putting out there to make the next two movies more engaging and visually tantalizing, and wrap up the story arc of the two main characters. Award winner added that they are trying to stay as current as possible with the digital technology. NEws DEsK

Kruger named new face of Chanel beauty campaign

NEWS DESK Diane Kruger has been unveiled as the new face of French fashion house Chanel’s new beauty campaign. praised the 36-year-old actress’ “natural elegance and beauty” and her “cosmopolitan spirit” and said that it will be releasing the images later this year, the New York Daily News reported. Previously, Kruger appeared in ads for the Chanel’s Paris-Biarritz bag line in 2007, having made her Chanel debut back in the 1990s with a print campaign for the Allure fragrance.

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Always be a poet, even in prose — Charles Baudelaire

No one should dare to remake ‘Mother India’:

VIdyA BAlAN

NEWS DESK

E M A K I N G Mehboob Khan’s Oscar-nominated Mother India is an unachievable feat, says and if someone dared attempt this, she wouldn’t be a part of this. As a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema,

Vidya has donned Nargis’ look from the 1957 cult film Mother India and Meena Kumari’s from the 1962-classic Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam for a magazine’s special edition. However, the actress, who entered filmdom with the Parineeta remake, has no intention of working in a Mother India remake. “I don’t think anybody would even dare to remake

ARts wednesday, 10 April, 2013

Mother India and if someone does then I will salute him, but I will not do it. It is unachievable, really,” Vidya, 35, told reporters at the unveiling of the cover page of the magazine. “Mother India is known for Dutt’s power-packed performance as a righteous mother, who shoots down her son, played by , whom she married after the movie, for being on the wrong side of the law. One of the most expensive projects of its time, the film is said to be a remake of Khan’s 1940 movie Aurat and it was India’s first submission for the Oscras for the Best Foreign Language Film in 1958. Talking about dressing up as Nargis in the same look, Vidya said: “It’s an honour for me to have recreated those two images. One is the image of Nargis from Mother India and when you think of those iconic images from the Indian cinema over time, it definitely features in the top 3.” “The other image we recreated was Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam and I remember seeing that picture when I was in school and finding it extremely intoxicating,” added Vidya talking about Meena Kumari’s drunk look from the film. Vidya is currently shooting for Shaadi Ke Side Effects with while the first look of her upcoming film Ghanchakkar with Emraan Hashmi has already released.

Marriage with soha might happen soon, says Kunal Khemu Bollywood couple and are likely to tie the knot soon. As soon as Soha’s brother married last year, there were rumours about her and Kunal’s marriage. “As of now we have not made any actual plans for marriage. But yes, if everything goes well then it (marriage) will be soon,” Kunal said. Both the actors have been dating since quite some time and have been open about their relation. “We are in good and comfortable position today in our relationship. We are focusing on our careers,” he said. Soha, recently in an interview had said she will be moving in with Kunal. Reportedly, the couple has bought a place together in Khar and will be staying there together. NEws DEsK

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Disney child star, ‘beach’ movie star Funicello dies US actress Annette Funicello, who first gained fame as a “Mickey Mouse Club” member and later starred in 1960s “Beach Party” films, died Monday aged 70, giant Disney announced. Funicello died of complications from multiple sclerosis, a disease she battled for over 25 years and whose sufferers she championed through charity work in later life. She was one of the original “Mousketeers” on America’s “Mickey Mouse Club” variety television show in the 1950s, before growing into a star of the teen “Beach Party” movies in the 1960s. Cast alongside teen idol , the raven-haired actress starred in “Beach Party” (1963), “Muscle Beach Party” (1964), “Bikini Beach” (1964), “Beach Blanket Bingo” (1965), and “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini” (1965). “Everyone who knew Annette loved and respected her. She was one of the loveliest people I’ve ever known, and was always so kind to everyone,” said Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney. “She was also the consummate professional, and had such great loyalty to my father,” she added. Funicello was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987, and went public with the illness in 1992, establishing The Research Fund for Neurological Diseases. Despite her health challenges she founded a business selling collectible teddy bears and launched her own perfume line, before withdrawing from public appearances in the late 1990s. chairman said: “Annette was and always will be a cherished member of the Disney family, synonymous with the word Mousketeer, and a true Disney Legend. “She will forever hold a place in our hearts as one of Walt Disney’s brightest stars, delighting an entire generation of baby boomers with her jubilant personality and endless talent.” NEws DEsK

sANjAy dutt’s working double shifts to meet deadlines The actor has started dubbing for Policegiri on double shifts to complete it The post-production work might have been difficult to wrap up for Policegiri with its cop, Sanjay Dutt, who has multiple projects to finish before his imminent incarceration. But the way our Munnabhai had planned his schedule everything is going as planned. With limited time left, is trying to make use of each and every moment he has. To keep up with his promises, Dutt is working double shifts for Rahul Aggarwal’s film Policegiri. After working hard whole day to shoot for Policegiri, the actor has started dubbing for his cop role in the film at night. We have learnt that the actor is also calm on the sets and doing his work like a pure professional. But with backto-back shooting schedules to keep his commitments, it looks like Sanjay Dutt will get very limited amount of time to spend with his family. The actor is running against the time to finish his projects. “He is intended to finish Policegiri soon so that he can start with his other movies too. To save time, he started dubbing for the film after we are don’t with the shoot. Sanju is one of the most proficient people I have ever met.” says Rahul Aggarwal. NEws DEsK

When Beyonce enjoyed being ‘crazy fat’ Singer-songwriter Beyonce Knowles, who has a 15month-old daughter named Blue Ivy with husband , says she gained 57 pounds when she was pregnant. Nevertheless, she admits she enjoyed the changes in her body. “There were moments when I felt my nose had 20 inches, and my face felt crazy fat, and my lips were swollen, and I gained 57 pounds. But ultimately I enjoyed it,” femalefirst quoted Knowles as saying. The 31-year-old was in no to lose her baby weight afterwards, but she was eager to regain her toned figure. However, she felt it was more important to do it in a healthy way. “After a month, I went strict. Before I gave birth I said, ‘I don’t want to get comfortable with whatever weight I gain. I want to still feel my best. I have a child - god willing I’ll give myself more time.’ Because it was just not necessary to do it that fast,” she added. The singer is now gearing up for her ‘Mrs. Carter Show’ world tour, for which she will rehearse for up to 10 hours a day. NEws DEsK

Michael jackson sensed death: Dermatologist Late legendary singer had a faint idea about his end, says his dermatologist Jason Pfeiffer. Jackson died in his Beverly Hills house June 25, 2009. He reportedly died due to an overdose of Propofol. “The last time I saw him, he ways saying his goodbyes to everyone in ,” thesun.co.uk quoted Pfeiffer as saying. “It was like he knew he was never coming back, and he would often say he thought he was going to be shot on stage,” he added. Jackson was popular as the King of Pop among his fans. NEws DEsK

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INFOTAINMENT Wednesday, 10 April, 2013

a unique fragrance that smells like all the 1,400 perfumes launched last year

Created by Dutch art duo Lenert and Sander, Everything is a unique perfume made up of 1,400 samples of every new perfume launched in 2012. Can you imagine what it smells like? The perfume business is doing better than ever, and it seems like every time you open a magazine or turn on your TV there’s a new fragrance being promoted. There are literally thousands of new fragrances being launched every year, and it looks like the world can’t get enough of them. Inspired by this booming market, creative Dutch artists Lenert and Sander have spent a whole year collecting 1,400 samples of all the perfumes launched last year and mixed them all in a 1.5 liter container to create a potent combination aptly named Everything. If you’ve ever asked yourself what a mix of all the perfumes in the world would smell like, this is your chance to find out. I for one can’t even imagine the scent of a unique perfume like Everything, but the two artists were kind enough to share their opinions about the fragrance in an interview with The Huffington Post.”We think Everything smells of your average fragrance department store — that wall of smell that hits you when you enter it,” Lernert and Sander said. ”A friend of ours thinks it smells of Chanel #5. We think it doesn’t, but love the idea that all the fragrances of 2012 mixed together ends up to smelling like the most iconic smell in the world.” Just because it’s made up of 1,400 different perfumes, doesn’t mean everyone will like it, as Lenert learned after his public transportation experience: ”When Lernert tried it on in our studio yesterday and took the tram, the unbelievably handsome man that came to sit next to him instantly got up and found another seat after smelling Everything. But hey, Everything is not for everyone”, the two concluded. Lenert and Sander presented their creation between March 1 -9, at the Colette shop, in Paris, and offered bold patrons the chance to smell the crazy concoction. NEws DEsK

It is ironic to think that man might determine his own future by something so seemingly trivial as the choice of an insect spray. –Rachel Carson

ancient life form breathes rocket fuel ingredient NEWS DESK

N ancient form of life can use an ingredient in rocket fuel for energy, suggesting creatures with this odd ability are more diverse than anyone thought. The new discovery might offer insight into the history of life on the early Earth, and the evolution of metabolisms like ours that use reactive chemicals like oxygen. Called Archaeoglobus fulgidus, today the microbe lives in extreme environments, such as extremely hot hydrothermal vents. It's a member of the Archaea, one of the three domains of life. (The other domains are bacteria, or prokaryotes, and creatures with cells that have nuclei, or eukaryotes, which include humans and other multicellular life.) Archaeans are some of the oldest life forms on Earth, thought to have appeared at least 2.7 billion years ago – and they are possibly much older than that. They often live in environments that don't have oxygen or are otherwise inhospitable to many other living things. A group of Dutch researchers found that A. fulgidus metabolizes perchlorate, a chlorine atom connected to four oxygen atoms. Moreover, the microbe does so in a different way than known Archaea or bacteria do ― A. fulgidus is missing one of the enzymes other bacteria use to break down perchlorate.

TOxIC EARTH When combined with potassium, perchlorate is used as an ingredient in fireworks and, when combined with ammonium, as an ingredient in rocket fuel. But it also occurs naturally, in deserts such as the Atacama in Chile, and

may have been more plentiful on early Earth and even on Mars. Recently, the Curiosity rover found possible evidence of perchlorates in Rocknest ― a patch of sand in Mars’ Gale Crater ― suggesting the compound may exist all over the Red Planet.

MICROBE'S pERCHLORATE-EATINg WAYS Other bacteria that can breathe and eat perchlorates use a two-step process involving specialized enzymes that turn perchlorate into chlorite ― which has two, rather than four, oxygen atoms ― and then separate the chlorite into chlorine and oxygen. A. fulgidus doesn't do that, Liebensteiner and his colleagues found. Whereas it uses an enzyme similar to that of known bacteria to perform the first step, it doesn't have the enzyme that breaks up the chlorite. Instead, A. fulgidus' metabolism uses sulfur compounds called sulfides, in a reaction that isn't controlled by any enzyme but occurs naturally between the two sets of chemicals. One other feature of A. fulgidus is that it lives in hot, high-pressure environments without oxygen. The creature was discovered in an underwater volcanic vent and is happy at temperatures near the boiling point of water, between 140 and 203 degrees Fahrenheit (60 to 95 degrees Celsius). That's a lot like the conditions on Earth more than 2.5 billion years ago, when the planet’s atmosphere had no oxygen because plants hadn't yet evolved. In addition, volcanic activity was much more intense. Robert Nerenberg, an associate professor of environmental engineering who has studied perchlorate-metabolizing bacteria,

the mechanical joke maker NEWS DESK The world of mechanical automata is a fairly small one. Possibly the most well known form of automata is the rather creepy, wooden character who bangs away at a shoe in the cobbler’s shop window. There is a more artful side to this form of vintage hacking, however, as can be seen by the extraordinary and strange work of Falmouth based automata maker, Paul Spooner. Over the years, Spooner has made some true oddities, including the cat who drinks poisoned milk, dies, comes back alive and does it all over again; the women who swallows the day and leaves the night behind; and the man who produces a pipe from his head. MECHANICAL JOKES In defining his work, Spooner says, “I call them mechanical jokes really. The mechanism is the medium and my intention is to make people laugh or to at least feel something.” One of my favourite pieces by Spooner is called The Science of Conversation: two men sit opposite

each other and they share a brain. Each of them can only talk when the brain is in his head – the brain is passed between the two men via a fishing rod-like lever. Spooner explains, “I was in Cyprus visiting my dad when I first thought of it. It’s a kind of physical joke. When the brain goes into the head it engages the mechanism that makes the jaw work and when it is not there it cancels it. There are certain tribes of people who can only speak in a group if they’ve got the talking stick so it is a bit like that but taking it to another level by saying that you have to have your brain in your head before you talk.” It also suggests that the person who is not talking is not listening either – after all, he hasn’t got a brain at that point. Spooner says, “That is where my dad comes in because I would be thinking about something, possibly thinking about this machine, while he was talking about something that happened in Egypt in 1956.” THE WORKSHOp His workshop, while it is cluttered with volumes of sketches and

half-finished creations, is fairly low on cutting-edge tools. Spooner says, “I’ve got a small Myford lathe, a drilling machine and quite a fancy fret saw but I’m not that inclined to get complicated. I do like machinery and nothing would give me more pleasure than owning a Bridgeport mill or something like that but I know I don’t deserve it and I wouldn’t be able to cope with it. I’ve seen people with those mills and they have to be very disciplined. It’s a responsibility that I’m not prepared to shoulder.” COMMISSIONS A lot of Spooner’s work is sold at the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre in Falmouth, which is home to all manner of quirky automata. Spooner has also accepted commsions over the years but was put off the process ever since he, along with Will Jackson (who is making a humanoid robot calledrobothespian) were asked to make wooden, life-sized people, designed to hold Louis Vuitton handbags for the companies centenary. Spooner says, “They were just incredibly snooty. Some of them were quite nice but there was something very bothersome about the whole project because it had to be extremely right and these figures were supposed to be for handbags to be hung on. They came to us and said can you make seven life size figures in your style by February, I think it was November when they asked, and it was the most terrifying job I had to do.” Despite this, he has recently accepted a commission for a school playground. He has designed a goat that can do a hand (hoove) stand when you turn a handle. As he is concerned the children will break the machine, Spooner has created the goat to sit on a platform 3m high.

noted that A. fulgidus only metabolizes perchlorate when it is in an environment where only sulfur is present. The research team did that in order to remove any oxygen from the environment, but the interesting thing, Nerenberg said, is that in the presence of chlorates the bacteria metabolize those instead of perchlorates. (Chlorate is perchlorate with one less oxygen atom). So A. fulgidus' "preference" may not be for perchlorate. The question, he said, is why any creature — bacteria or archaean — would retain an ability to metabolize perchlorate after billions of years when it might not need to. "Usually certain genes just sort of stop working after a while if there's no selective pressure for them," he said. "There has to be some benefit." What that is, though, is a bit of a mystery. The fact that A. fulgidus has a pathway for breaking down perchlorate that is similar to known bacteria, but lacking one enzyme suggests that, at a minimum, there are several ways to evolve perchlorate metabolism — either spontaneously or via gene transfer, which can happen among single-celled life forms. More work is needed to see if this same kind of metabolism occurs in other Archaeans, and even in bacteria. "It definitely means that [A. fulgidus] is probably more diverse than people thought," he said.

Modern espressionist creates amazing latte portraits

New York City barista Mike Breach uses a toothpick as a brush to create beautiful portraits into his tasty lattes. From Albert Einstein to rapper Jay Z, it seems like there’s no face this self-proclaimed “espressionist” can’t draw on coffee. Today Mike Breach is well-known coffee artist, with a big following on social sharing sites like Tumblr, but only a year ago he was just another barista working in a hotel kitchen surrounded by espresso machines. He was “so, so bored” that he started drawing things on coffee just to pass the time. Armed with a toothpick he realized he could manipulate the coffee foam and milk to create all kinds of designs. He started by doing hearts on his cups and people got really excited about it, so he kept on practicing and came up with adorable teddy bears, and even a portrait of the hotel boss. At first he didn’t think he could ever draw faces into his lattes, but his skills gradually improved to the point where he’s now able to create detailed celebrity portraits. The fact that his artworks only last for a few minutes only makes them more personal. “I kind of want to be like Willy Wonka with coffee- make it interesting and fun for people; take the pretentiousness out of it, take the seriousness out of it,” Mike says. “It’s like, if something is lacking, you’ve got to find a way to make it exciting and fun. Right?” Mike reflects on his experience. I mean, I’m so happy that my old job was so boring! Otherwise I wouldn’t be making these! And this is just the beginning. I want to start a movement.” The talented barista is currently seeking sponsorship from roasters to get his coffee studio up and running. NEws DEsK

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sPoRts wednesday, 10 April, 2013

LAHORE sTaFF REPORT

EVEN of the eight participating sides have named their best cricketers in the preliminary squads for the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy 2013 - the only nation versus nation tournament of the year – to be staged at Cardiff Wales Stadium, Edgbaston and The Oval from 6-23 June. Defending champion Australia has submitted its provisional squad to the International Cricket Council (ICC), as required, but has opted not to release the names. New Zealand has become the first side to announce its 15-member squad while Australia, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies are expected to trim their provisional squads and announce the final line-ups on or before the 6 May cut-off date. The ICC Champions Trophy will feature the top eight-ranked sides in the world in the only ‘best versus the best’ 50over-a-side tournament being held between the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in the Asian sub-continent, and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. The importance and significance this tournament on the international calendar can be gauge from the fact that all the sides have named their most flamboyant, charismatic and well-known cricketers, including Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott (all England); Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh (all India); Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori (all New Zealand); Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul (all Pakistan); AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn (all South Africa); Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardena, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Kumar Sangakkara, (all Sri Lanka) and Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels (all West Indies). Of all the players named in the squads, only Shahid Afridi, Kallis and Vettori featured in the inaugural edition of the

Of course he (Whatmore) discusses important issues pertaining to T20 cricket and players with me and I always try to give my input to best of my professional approach and standing in the game. – Muhammad Hafeez

( CHAMPIONS TROPHY

(

WorlD’s toP CriCKeters naMeD in ProVisional teaMs

tournament in Dhaka in 1998. Amongst the probables are a number of players who played in the ICC Champions Trophy when it was last staged in England in 2004. These players include Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Imran Farhat, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardena, Farveez Maharoof, Kumar Sangakkara, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo. Australia will aim to complete a hattrick of titles, after it won the past two events in India and South Africa in 2006 and 2009, respectively. At the Cricket Club of India in 2006, Australia defeated the West Indies by eight wickets and then three years later became the first side to successfully defend the title when it beat New Zealand by six wickets at Centurion. For India, which shared the title with Sri Lanka when the event was staged in Sri Lanka in 2002, it will be an opportunity to match Australia’s feat of being the holders of both the 50-over tournaments – the ICC Cricket World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy. Ricky Ponting’s side had achieved the rare distinction when it added the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 title to its ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 crown. The Australians repeated the feat when they won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007 and followed it up by retaining the ICC

Champions Trophy title in 2009. In addition to chasing the feat of equaling Australia’s achievement, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side will also defend its number-one ranking on the Reliance ICC ODI Championship table. It currently leads second-ranked England by two ratings points while Australia is one more ratings point behind in third position. Below the top three, only seven ratings points separate fourth-ranked South Africa from sixth-ranked Pakistan while there is a gap of only four ratings points between seventh-ranked West Indies and eighthranked New Zealand. England and Pakistan are the two sides in the eight-team contest not to have won the tournament. England came precariously close to winning in its own backyard in 2004 but was denied by a 71run unbroken ninth wicket partnership between Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw as the West Indies won the final with seven balls and two wickets to spare. The first two tournaments were called the ICC Knock-Out and were won by South Africa and New Zealand in Dhaka and Nairobi, respectively. PROvISIONAL SquADS: AuSTRALIA (has opted not to announce) eNGLAND: Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Gary Balance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Varun Chopra, Rikki Clarke, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, James Harris, Craig Kieswetter, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Chris Wright, Luke Wright and Chris Woakes INDIA: Ravichandran Ashwin, Unmukt Chand, Shikhar Dhawan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ashoke Dinda, Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Siddharth Kaul, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra, Ishwar Pandey, Irfan Pathan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Parvez Rasool, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammed Shami, Jalaj Saxena, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Manoj

Tiwary, Umesh Yadav and Murali Vijay NeW ZeALAND (final squad): Brendon McCullum (captain), Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Andrew Ellis, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori and Kane Williamson PAKISTAN: Abdur Rehman, Ahmed Shehzad, Aizaz Cheema, Asad Ali, Asad Shafiq, Anwar Ali, Azhar Ali, Ehsan Adil, Hammad Azam, Haris Sohail, Imran Farhat, Imran Khan, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan, Nasir Jamshed, Rahat Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umer Amin, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Arafat and Zulfiqar Babar SOuTH AFRICA: AB de Villiers (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Henry Davids, Quinton de Kock, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Imran Tahir, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Justin Ontong, Robin Peterson, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn,

No rift with Hafeez: Misbah

LAHORE sTaFF REPORT

Pakistan test and one day captain Misbah ul Haq said on Tuesday that confusion is being created by different means to disrupt the harmony of the team ahead of an important assignment, the Champions Trophy in England this summer. "Certain base less issues are being highlighted to cause grave confusion for creating misunderstanding among the ranks", he said here while talking to journalists when his attention was drawn to the statement of a former PCB Chairman, Ijaz Butt who accused National T20 captain Hafeez for his role to join hands with coach Dave Whatmore to design a conspiracy against (him) Misbah. Misbah pointed out that the ongoing propaganda campaign can bring adverse impact on the team which is yet to start

its preparations for the Champions trophy. "In the past as well I have contradicted such baseless statements which aimed at creating confusion to harm the interest of Pakistan cricket and it is sad that some quarters are still busy in the same practice", he added. He once again dispelled differences between him and Hafeez and said a harmful campaign is being launched once again prior to start of team's participation for Champions Trophy. "It is the high time that we should not pay any attention to such baseless propaganda and start our preparations for Champions Trophy which is going to a challenging event", he asserted. When approached Hafeez said: "I have nothing doing with the exclusion or inclusion of any player in the side and it is the job of the selection committee to pick the players and my job is to get best out of the combination handed

over to me", he asserted. "I enjoy very good friendly relations with him (Misbah) and I learnt a lot from him when he was the captain and still I seek his advice at times",he said adding " When I play in test and one day formats I always try to rise to the occasion being a useful force for my team and captain". He said it was unfortunate that he was being associated with the unfounded sagas that he was hand in hand with Whatmore to make things difficult for former T20 captain, Misbah. Hafeez said as T20 captain his main responsibility is to inspire the team to produce desired results and to utilize his energies to lift the level of its performance keeping in view the future of Pakistan in the game. He pointed out that after every series abroad unjustified things are attributed to him regarding omission of players or a specific player which add to confusion rather serving any purpose. Hafeez said Whatmore is a coach who is rich in coaching abilities and he is making best possible efforts to bring overall improvement in the team. "Of course he (Whatmore) discusses important issues pertaining to T20 cricket and players with me and I always try to give my input to best of my professional approach and standing in the game",said the Pak T20 captain. To a question, Hafeez said his leadership qualities in the shortest version of the game can be judged by the results the team achieved in recent time. "I am trying hard to duly justify in what ever format of cricket I play,he said. He said the important task ahead of him to concentrate on preparing for the Champions trophy.

Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe and Vaughn van Jaarsveld SRI LANKA: Malinga Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath, Ishara Jayaratne, Shehan Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal , Dilhara Lokuhettige, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Angelo Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachithra Senanayake, Milinda Siriwardana, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne , Thisara Perera, Seekuge Prasanna, Chanaka Welagedara, Kithruwan Vithanage WeST INDIeS: Adrian Barath, Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cotterrell, Narsingh Deonarine, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Nikita Miller, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Ramneresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, Dwayne Smith, Devon Thomas and Chadwick Walton.

PAK-INDIA MATCH TICKETS SOLD OUT WITHIN 30 MINS LAHORe: The allocated tickets for the ICC Champions Trophy match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan scheduled on June 15 at the Edgbaston in Birmingham, has been sold out within half an hour of its release for online sales. "We've been staggered by the interest shown by today's ticket sales," said Tournament Director Steve Elworthy in a press release, adding: "The allocation of tickets for India v Pakistan sold out in under 30 minutes, with tickets released for other matches, including the final, also selling-out. The tickets that were released today sold very quickly." Adult tickets for the ICC Champions Trophy are priced in three categories – Gold, Silver and Family Stand – and range from £20 (for a group game in the Family Stands) up to £60 (Gold ticket for the Final). Tickets for under 16s are priced at £5 for the entire tournament (including the Final), but the youngsters are suppose to attend with an adult. A new pricing structure also sees the introduction of tickets for under 21s, priced between £10 £25. ICC Champions Trophy will be held in Cardiff, Edgbaston and The Oval. sTaFF REPORT

wICB working to finalise Pakistan tour schedule LAHORE sTaFF REPORT

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has brushed aside media reports suggesting that Pakistan’s tour of the Caribbean this year is in jeopardy. A WICB statement released Monday says the board remains optimistic that the tour will take place in July as planned and says negotiations are still being held to finalize plans. A report in CRICINO said the tour is unlikely to take place after the WICB and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) failed to find a new window. “In light of recent media reports emanating from the Asian subcontinent, the West Indies Cricket Board wishes to advise the media and the public that negotiations with the Pakistan Cricket Board are ongoing with regard to finalising the schedule for the West Indies vs Pakistan series to be held in the Caribbean in July,” the statement said. “The WICB remains optimistic that the tour will proceed once arrangements are concluded, and further, the WICB look forward to the much anticipated visit of the Pakistan cricket team as indeed all cricket-

loving fans of the Caribbean do”. According to the FTP (Future Tours Programme), West Indies was scheduled to host Pakistan from the last week in June to the last week in July, but a tri-series involving India, Sri Lanka and West Indies have since been planned. Pakistan was originally scheduled to play two Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20s. To avoid a clash, the WICB is reported to have asked the PCB to reschedule its tour to August but this change would have interfered with Pakistan's own plan to host India and to play out the Zimbabwe series that was postponed last year. Also, the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is scheduled to take place from July 29 to August 26. “The WICB wishes to assure the players, the fans and the wider public that it views in the highest regard its ICC Future Tours Programme commitments (which includes the Pakistan tour of the Caribbean) and will fulfil all such commitments to the mutual convenience of the players and teams involved and for the benefit and enjoyment of fans, “ the statement said. “Once all arrangements are finalized they will be announced to the media and public in the usual manner and at the earliest opportunity”.

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We will be arranging our team's tour to Europe to add to the experience of players as a part of team's preparations for Youth Olympics. – Asif Bajwa

Winner Pakistan hockey juniors return to a warm reception LAHORE

sTaFF REPORT

HE under-16 hockey team was accorded warm welcome, here on Tuesday, after they returned from a highly successful Singapore trip, clinching the title of Asia Cup. The squad and the staff were greeted by a large number of hockey fans, media representatives and general public at the Allama Iqbal Airport here. Speaking to the media, Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation, Asif Bajwa said the youth program aimed at discovering sport talent has brought the spectacular result. Responding to an answer, he said that the goal-ratio and match statistics of the national team are simply outstanding and it’s a result of a two and half year investment in the squad. He termed the win an evidence of strength in the players. Team coach Rehan Butt was

saqlain back as Bangladesh spin consultant LAHORe: Pakistan’s off-spin bowler who created dosra, Saqlain Mushtaq is rejoin Bangladesh as their spin bowling consultant for the side's tour of Zimbabwe. He will join the squad in Dubai on Wednesday from where the team will travel to Harare. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has a deal with the former Pakistan offspinner for 100 days of work this year, after his previous contract ended last December. This will be Saqlain's first assignment with Bangladesh in 2013. He wasn't with the team on their tour of Sri Lanka. "We will only call Saqlain when the need arises," BCB's cricket operations chairman Enayet Hossain Siraj was quoted by Cricinfo. "We will not ask him to stay with us for a prolonged period. He will work for 100 days in a year, and this will start with the series against Zimbabwe." Saqlain was appointed in July last year when Richard Pybus was head coach. He was with the team during the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka and the subsequent home series against West Indies. sTaFF REPORT

also present on the occasion. Pakistan U16 team beat Bangladesh 5-3 in the final, while they didn’t lose a single match during the tournament, bringing laurels for the homeland. Pakistan U16 hockey team's consultant, former hockey olympian, Tahir Zaman attributed teams success to collective efforts and brilliance of players.

"Despite hot weather conditions our team rose to the occasion and displayed excellent performance and remained unbeaten in the event," he said. He said the entire side demonstrated collective efforts and the players played every match with a renewed pledge to gain success. The team was given a warm welcome on its arrival at the airport and hockey lovers, led by Secretary PHF Muhammad Asif Bjawa and rose petals were showered on the players and team management. The crowd chanted slogan for the rise of Pakistan hockey and Pakistan young team. Tahir said each player of the team struck brilliance helping the side to maintain unbeaten run in the event. "It is a new beginning in Pakistan hockey as real efforts are being made to groom a young team focusing on the future of Pakistan hockey", he asserted. The PHF hockey consultant expressed the hope that the team will produce similar results in future events

as well. Asia Cup was played under a completely different format compared to original hockey. The five a side matches were played on a short version with three halves of the play, each of twelve minutes. The green shirts beat Bangladesh in the ultimate show down. The captain of the team, Noukhaiz Khan said he was delighted that his side won a title in its maiden appearance ,thus qualifying for next year's Youth Olympics in China. He acknowledged the role of every team member in its success saying all of them demonstrated high quality hockey endorsing the thoughts that Pakistan hockey is on right track. "It is a good start and I am confident that we will be able to put up a much improved performance in the Youth Olympics," he said. Bajwa said the victory was the result of the PHF long term planning under which academies were established throughout the country.

sindh olympics election illegal, says PoA LAHORE sTaFF REPORT

The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) condemns in strongest possible terms the unauthorized and illegal elections of the Sindh Olympic Association reportedly held on April 7, at Karachi under the aegis of what itself is an unlawful body – the so-called interim POA created by vested interests backed by some federal government functionaries. It may be noted that the Islamabad High Court has also issued a stay order, restraining the operation of the socalled Interim Committee while the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already branded it as an illegal body. The elections of the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) have already been held under its constitution with its term running from 2012 to 2015, with its office bearers being: Syed Waseem Hashmi, Acting President and Chairman (in place of Late Dr Syed Mohammad Ali Shah), Mr. Ahmed Ali

Rajput, Secretary General and Syed Saeed Jamil, Treasurer, said an official POA statement. The POA recognizes only the above office-bearers and considers the elections held by the so-called Interim Committee of POA as fraudulent because neither does this body have any jurisdiction nor any locus standi. And only the POA has the authority to supervise the elections of the provincial associations for they are the legal constituents of the POA – an independent and autonomous body that is recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the IOC. Another aspect of the bogus elections held with mala fide intent was the people gathered from various provincial associations who were not even bona fide members of the SOA. The POA’s loud and clear instructions to all sporting entities in Sindh are: anyone having any dealing whatsoever with the bogus SOA will face suspension, just as the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP), Pakistan

Netball Federation (PNF) and the Islamabad Olympic Association (IOA) have previously been suspended by the POA under intimation to the international sporting federations. It is pertinent to mention here that the so-called Interim Committee of POA headed by Mr. Asif Bajwa filed a civil suit in the court of Mr. Muhammad Adnan Jamali Civil Judge 1st Class Islamabad against Lt Gen Retired Syed Arif Hasan and others posing itself as the legitimate body. The court not only rejected its plea, but also fined the litigant for concealing facts. The news item appearing in a section of the press dated 8 April, 2013 reports that observer of the so- called Interim Committee of POA namely Mr. Iftikhar Hussain Syed (Olympian) participated in the process. It is interesting to note that the Interim Committee despite the rejection of its suit and fined by the court is still continuing in its nefarious and foul methods to bring infamy and chaos in Pakistan sports.

Rajasthan hold off Kolkata JAIPUR agENcIEs

A valiant half century from Eoin Morgan was not enough as the Rajasthan Royals beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by 19 runs in their Pepsi IPL clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday. Morgan’s 38-ball innings of 51 was the shining light in an otherwise dismal batting performance by the visitors, as they slumped to 125 all out after earlier restricting the Royals to a total of 144 for six. Kevon Cooper (4-0-15-3) and Siddharth Trivedi (4-0-23-3) were the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, while Brad Hodge’s late fireworks en route to an undefeated 46 from 31 balls had earlier helped his team to a match-winning total. The Royals have now won both their opening games, and join the Sunrisers Hyderabad on four points, while the Knight Riders slip to fourth place on the standings with two points from their two games. Earlier, the Royals had lost the toss and been asked to bat first. However, they struggled to get the ball away in the opening exchanges, and lost opener Shane Watson (5) to a sharp catch off the bowling of Brett Lee (4-0-20-1) in the

third over with the score on 11. Captain Rahul Dravid (17) was unable to continue his form from Rajasthan’s opening encounter where he made 65, and, after being tied down by some disciplined Kolkata bowling, played all around one from Rajat Bhatia (3-0-21-1) at the end of the eighth over to end a partnership of 35. Stuart Binny (14), who amassed 40 from just 20 deliveries in the first match, attempted to up the ante as he crashed three blows to the boundary in the space of five balls. However, he was trapped in front by Laxmi Shukla (2-0-14-1) at the start of the 11th over, and with the score at 63 for three, the Royals seemed to be behind the game. Opener Ajinkya Rahane (36) and Hodge then steadied the ship for the home side, and a glorious six and a four for each batsman over extra cover in the 15th over took the score past the 100 mark. Sunil Narine then stunned the home crowd with a double strike an over later as he had Rahane caught behind to one that left the outside edge, before Cooper (0) was stumped just two balls later. However, the wrist spinner was at the wrong end of an 18-run blasting from Hodge and new batsman Dishant Yagnik (16) in the penultimate over, and a further 12 in the

final six deliveries gave the hosts a competitive total. In reply, the Knight Riders looked to captain Gautam Gambhir (22) to make a positive start, and he duly delivered, bludgeoning a four and a massive six off Sreesanth (4-0-25-1) in a first over which went for 14 runs. The diminutive paceman was duly replaced by Rahul Shukla (3-0-28-2) two overs later, and the change worked wonders as he got rid of Manvinder Bisla (1) and Jacques Kallis (0) in the space of three deliveries to reduce the visitors to 20 for two. Gambhir was then joined by Manoj Tiwary (14), and the duo offered brief respite for the Knight Riders with a partnership of 20. However, another double strike in the seventh over by Trivedi had the stadium bouncing. Tiwary was trapped plumb in front of his stumps at the start of the over, before wicketkeeper Yagnik snared a sharp chance off a thick edge from the dangerous Gambhir four balls later to leave the men from Kolkata in disarray at 43 for four. It got worse for the Knight Riders though as Yusuf Pathan (0) lasted just two deliveries before being caught by the self-same Yagnik, and when Laxmi Shukla (2) became Trivedi’s third victim

at the end of the 11th over with the score on 56, the batting side’s last hope lay with England left-hander Morgan. The usually dynamic Morgan looked all at sea in the early stages of his knock, but began to hit his straps as he first struck a lusty six off Trivedi, before taking Shukla for a boundary and a maximum over long off in the 14th over. His innings was fast becoming a lone hand though, as Bhatia (12) was caught an over later, and by the time Lee (5) fell in the 16th, the Knight Riders required 42 from 27 deliveries with just two wickets in hand. Morgan raised his fifty with an audacious flick for six over fine leg from the pace of Shaun Tait (4-0-29-1) in the 18th over, but when he played on to his stumps off Cooper in the penultimate over, any hopes of a Kolkata victory were ended, and the final wicket fell with an over still remaining in the innings. RAJASTHAN ROYALS: SR Watson, AM Rahane, R Dravid (capt), STR Binny, BJ Hodge, DH Yagnik (wk), K Cooper, SK Trivedi, SW Tait, S Sreesanth, R Shukla KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDeRS: G Gambhir (capt), MS Bisla (wk), JH Kallis, MK Tiwary, YK Pathan, EJG Morgan, LR Shukla, R Bhatia, B Lee, SP Narine, Shami Ahmed.

sPoRts

wednesday, 10 April, 2013

servis Club crush lucky star club LAHORE: Servis club has won the initial round match of 16th Tauseef Trophy cricket championship when they beat lucky star club by 37 runs. SCOReS: Servis Club 216/4 in 20 overs. Arshad Nadeem 82, Farhan Asghar 80, Umer Shareef 34. Zubair 2/26, Jahanzaib 1/22, Zeeshan 1/46. Lucky Star Club 179 all out in 18.5 overs. Aziz Mohsin 73, Noman ul haq 32, Zubair Khan 16, Bukhtyar 13. Satar Khan 3/36, Ghulab Singh 3/29, Adnan Dabish 3/41. sTaFF REPORT

tauseef Club beat Zafar Memorial club LAHORE: Tauseef Club has won the league match of 2nd NAzir Sr Memorial Cricket Tournament when they beat Zafar Memorial club by 2 wickets. SCOReS: Zafar Memorial Club 202 in 33.5 overs. Usman Liaqat 81, Fazal ur Rehman 12, Arslam Butt 14, Tamim 15, Ayaz 10, Waqas Junior 26. Sher Baz Khan 5/37, Awais Manzoor 2/32, Israr Baig 1/33, Ali Rana 1/45, Mohsin Agha 1/41. Tauseef Club 205/8 in 29.5 overs. M Ahmed 20, Ismail Mudasar 29, Zeeshan 14, Ibrar Baig 49, M Ali Rana 40 , Mohsin Agha 11(no). Waqas 3/38, Talha 1/49, Tamim 2/34, Adil Khan 1/24, Usman Liaqat 1/20. sTaFF REPORT

jallo Gym outplay Ghaziabad sports LAHORE: Jallo Gym has oved into the 2nd round of 28th M Yaseen Akhter Memoroial Cricket Event when they outplayed Ghaziabad Sports by 65 runs. SCOReS: Jallo Gym 206/7 in 20 overs. Asif Butt 14, Awais Butt 35, M Irfan 38, Asher Nazir 22, Usman Shafqat 41, Irfan 18, Arshad Butt 14. Nasir Ahmed 4/27, Noman 1/27, M Imran 1/37, Tajamal 1/26. Ghaziabad Sports 141/7 in 20 overs. Umer Afzal 23, Asaf Qureshi 46, Babar Hussain 50(no). Irfan 1/22, M Husnain 1/17, Asif Butt 2/31, Ashar Nazir 2/25. sTaFF REPORT

Zareef Memorial down Baghbanpura LAHORE: Zareef Memorial club has crushed Baghbanpura Greeners by 1 wickets in the exciting match of 28th M Yaseen Akhter Memoroial Cricket Event played at Jallo ground the other day. SCOReS: Baghbanpura Greeners 172/7 in 20 overs. Riazuddn 48, Tariq 20. Naveed 19, HAfiz Ghafoor 12, Zohaib 21. Shahid 1/20, Umer 1/38, Ahmed 3/25. Zareef Memorial 174/9 in 19.5 overs. Khuram Liaqat 41, Shokat 22, Umer 30, Jamil MAlik 12, M Naveed 12. Adil 2/23, Riazuddin 2/31, Hafiz Ghafoor 2/23, Iftikhar 1/28. sTaFF REPORT

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It was a very intense game with the two best teams in the country. – Sir Alex Ferguson

17 S

sPoRts wednesday, 10 April, 2013

GCu annual sports festival LAHORE sTaFF REPORT

The annual sports festival of Government College University will be held here on Wednesday at Punjab Stadium. As many as 1400 players will take part in the march past which will mark the opening of the threeday festival. A number of events will be held besides the athletics championship. Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Khaleeq ur Rehman will declare open the event and former test cricketer and manager of Pakistan cricket team, Shafqat Rana will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on April 12.

Monfils beats Blake at us Clay Court Champs

POLAND: Klara Zakopalova plays a shot against Kristyna Pliskova at the Katowice Open.

anwar sports beat City Gym LAHORE sTaFF REPORT

Anwar Sports beat City Gymkhana by four wickets in a friendly cricket match here on Tuesday. SCOReS: City Gymkhana 254 for all. Jahangir Faraz 60, Asif Khan 64, Waleed Ahmed 31. Adil Sharif two for 44, Shahzad Hameed three for 34, Majid Ali two for 22 and Ghulam Haider two for 25. in reply Anwar Sports 256 for six. Salman 33, Irfan Munir 65, Danial Zahid 40, Amer Hayat 33. Usman two for 42, Shahroz Khan one for 57, Asif Khan one for 53 and Waleed Ahmed one 15.

appolo sports beat Prince LAHORE sTaFF REPORT

Appolo Sports beat Prince Club by 8 wickets in the 2nd Iqbal Yousaf Memorial Cricket Tournament. Playing at Railway Allama Iqbal Institute Ground, Prince Cricket Club batting first 199 all out. Sadiq 51 & Iftikhar 34 runs. Shahid 4/51, Sabir 2/38 & Adnan 2/22 wickets. In reply Appolo Sports 201/2. Tanveer Jabbar 81 & Salman Ali 67 runs not out. Prince Club bowling Shahzad 1/49 & Saeed 1/43 wickets.

Zafar Memorial beat Dharampura LAHORE sTaFF REPORT

In a Challenge Cricket match Zafar Memorial Cricket Club beat Dharampura Sports by two wickets at Bara Dari Cricket Ground. Dharampura Sports batting first 338/6 after 35 overs. Maqsood Butt 83, Shahzaib 60, Rehman 55 & Adnan 45 runs. Ehtisham Tahir 3/48 & Hafiz Khurram 2/65 wickets. In reply Zafar Memorial Cricket Club 339/8 after 34.1 overs. Maknan Ali batted well 102, Usman Liaqat 56, Hassan Munir 65, Tameem Shahid 45 & Sajjad Haider 40 runs not out. Asghar 2/56, Rehman 2/60 & Bobi 2/45 wickets. End of the match Cricket Promoter Rana Sadiq Ali give away cash award to Maknan Ali.

aligarh Club down Muslimabad Gym LAHORE sTaFF REPORT

Aligarh club has moved into the next round of 28th M Yaseen Akhter Memoroial Cricket event when they outplay strong Muslimabad Gym by 7 wickets played at Model Town Aligarh ground on Tuesday. SCOReS: Muslimabad Gym 129 all out in 19.3 overs. Mudasar Zaidi 17, Kashif Rasheed 17, Shahid Akram 10, Ali Abas Zaidi 13, Khuram 33, Jalal 16, Sheraz 10. Shakil MAlik 3/29 , Rehan Rauf 2/19, Rohail 1/20, Imran 1/23, Rehan Ali 1/10, 2 batsmen runout. Ali Garh Club 130/3 in 19.3 overs. Sheraz Ali 40, M Mubashar 51(no), M Farookh 25(no). M Adeel 1/11, Zain Islam 1/14, Akbar Yousuf 1/27.

OAKS

agENcIEs

AEL Monfils of France served 15 aces to beat John Blake of the United States 76 (5), 7-5 in the first round of the US Men's Clay Court Championships on Monday. Blake, once ranked No 4, played his 51st match at River Oaks Country Club where he is a crowd favourite but Monfils won cheers for his performance in his first match in the city. Monfils, who played in only 10 tournaments last year because of a knee injury, matched the sixthhighest total of aces in the tournament. He will next face top-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain. Rhyne Williams of the United States, playing on a wild card, beat Guido Pella of Argentina 7-5, 7-5 in an earlier first-round match. Monfils broke Blake in the 11th game of the second set on three straight errors by Blake and wrapped it up quickly with a love final game that included two aces. He won at the first match point

on Blake's backhand error. "I am 100 percent with the level the way I played," Monfils said. "I was happy the way I was moving. I can say it's a nightmare (injury) behind me so I am very happy." Blake held after six break points in the eighth game of the first set but his serve failed him in the 10th game and the set eventually went to a tiebreaker. The score was tied at 3-3 in the tiebreaker when Monfils won three straight points and then capped the set with an overhead at set point. "He really makes it tough out there," Blake said. "He makes you work hard to win points and combining that with a pretty big first serve. When that's going in, that makes a big difference." Monfils applauded the crowd after his win but said he didn't hear their cheers during the match. "It's been four weeks since I played so I was more focused on winning this match and hoping there was no more pain," Monfils said. "The crowd was very fair today. I knew it would be tough because James is a big favourite here."

BRITISH DAvIS Cup HERO READY fOR THE AxE: British Davis Cup hero Dan Evans admits the return of Andy Murray means he is facing the axe for his country's next tie despite an epic performance in their victory over Russia. Britain, playing without world No 2 Murray, battled back from 2-0 down to beat Russia 3-2 at Coventry's Ricoh Arena on Sunday, with Evans, ranked 325 in the world, producing the best match of his life to crush world number 80 Evgeny Donskoy 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 in the deciding rubber. In Murray's absence, Evans has won three Davis Cup rubbers against players ranked much higher than himself. But Britain's first Davis Cup victory from 2-0 down since 1930 means Leon Smith's side go forward to a World Group play-off in September with the chance to return to the elite group of 16 nations. US Open and Olympic champion Murray has committed to playing in the tie, which could pit Britain against the likes of Spain, Switzerland, Germany or Australia.

Serena keeps top spot BERLIN: American Serena Williams continued to lead the women's tennis rankings in an unchanged top 10 issued Monday by the WTA. Williams has 11,115 points to command the standings from Russia's Maria Sharapova (10,240)

and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus (9,325). agENcIEs WTA top 10 as of April 8 (previous ranking in parenthesis): 1. (1) Serena Williams, US, 11,115 points 2. (2) Maria Sharapova, Russia, 10,240 3. (3) Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, 9,325

4. (4) A Radwanska, Poland, 6,845 5. (5) Li Na, China, 5,880 6. (6) A Kerber, Germany, 5,500 7. (7) Sara Errani, Italy, 5,405 8. (8) P Kvitova, Czech Republic, 5,225 9. (9) Samantha Stosur, Australia, 3,790 10. (10) C Wozniacki, Denmark, 3,760

Volandri hits back to down oswald

CASABLANCA: Top seed Filippo Volandri recovered from a set down to dismiss Philipp Oswald in the first round of the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca. Volandri lost the opener 6-3 but recovered to take the next two 6-2 and 6-3. The second seed, Marc Gicquel, also won in three sets, beating Dominic Thiem 6-4 1-6 6-4, while Tommy Robredo enjoyed a straight-sets victory over Guillaume Rufin. agENcIEs

Djokovic doubtful for Monte Carlo Open ZEGRAAB agENcIEs

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic may miss the Monte Carlo Masters. Belgrade – World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who suffered an ankle injury during the Davis Cup World Group quarterfinals with the United States, said his participation at the Monte Carlo

Masters was uncertain, media reported Monday. “The season on the clay begins... I would like to play in Monte Carlo, where I live. I love that tournament, I am optimist, but I do not know if it is realistic,” Djokovic was quoted as saying by Serbia's Beta News Agency. Talking about his injury, Djokovic said he had “avoided the worst degree of

distortion”. “My ankle swelled... but I have to check how serious it is and then to estimate if I can play in Monte Carlo,” from April 14 to 21, he said. But the No. 1 was more optimistic regarding his participation at the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris, which is the only Grand Slam that eludes him. “Roland Garros is still far away,” he

added. Djokovic has earlier said that winning in Paris was one of his main goals for 2013, along with the Davis Cup. Djokovic's victory over Sam Querrey on Sunday helped take Serbia into the semi-finals of the Davis Cup, where they will meet Canada in September.

DJOKOVIC MAINTAINS LEAD AT THE TOP BeRLIN: Novak Djokovic maintained his big lead in the men's tennis rankings in the latest list issued Monday by the ATP. Djokovic, who helped Serbia on the weekend to beat the United States for a place in the Davis Cup semi-finals, has 12,500 points to rank ahead of Briton Andy Murray (8,750) and Swiss Roger Federer (8,670) in an unchanged top 10. agENcIEs ATP TOP 10 AS OF APRIL 8 (PRevIOuS RANKING IN PAReNTHeSIS): 1. (1) Novak Djokovic, Serbia, 12,500 points 2. (2) Andy Murray, Britain, 8,750 3. (3) Roger Federer, Switzerland, 8,670 4. (4) David Ferrer, Spain, 6,970 5. (5) Rafael Nadal, Spain, 6,385 6. (6) Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 5,015 7. (7) Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina, 4,750 8. (8) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France, 3,695 9. (9) Richard Gasquet, France, 3,230 10. (10) Janko Tipsarevic, Serbia, 3,000

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I said anything is possible and we must be very careful against Galatasaray. – Jose Mourinho

sPoRts

wednesday, 10 April, 2013

wAtCh It LIve STAR SPORTS AFC League: Buriram United v Jiangsu Sainty

04:25 PM

GEO SUPER IPL: Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings

07:30 PM

Zakopalova records easy win at Katowice open POLAND agENcIEs

Third seed Klara Zakopalova made light work of Kristyna Pliskova at the Katowice Open. The first set of their firstround clash went to a tie-break but, after taking that to two, she won the next set 62. Anina Beck was also victorious in the opening round, beating Marta. Domachowska in straight sets, while in qualifying, Raluca Olaru was `doublebageled` by Alexandra Cadantu. Anna Schmiedlova, Jill Crayba, Petra Martic and Karolina Pliskova also got through to the main draw. Lourdes Dominguez Lino also won on Monday, seeing off Laura Robson 6-1 in a third-set decider.

que in line for solaire open challenge

Pakistan Cricket Commentators Club formed LAHORE

teen shares dream practice with tiger

sTaFF REPORT

The veterans commentators of radio and television have formed a Pakistan Cricket Commentators Club (PCCC) to have their existence felt. The club was formed in a first ever meeting of the commentators and the attendants were present in person or by telephone. They decided certain matters and the roles of members. The list: Munir Hussain (Head of the Club), Iftikhar Ahmad and Chishti Mujahid (Special Advisors), Mohammad Idrees (President), Tariq Raheem (Senior Vice President), Mirza Iqbal Baig (Vice President), Brigadier retired Pervez Asghar Mian (Vice President), Amjad Aziz Malik (Vice President), Raja Asad Ali Khan (General Secretary), Tariq Saeed (Finance Secretary), Hassan Jaleel, Tariq Bucha, Dr Tariq Raz, Ihtasham-ul-Haq, AR Zaidi, Ijaz Ahmad and Munawwar Hussain. Talking to the members in the conference, Senior Cricket commentator Munir Hussain expressed happiness over existence of the club, congratulated Iftikhar Ahmad and said the club will be a good omen for both Cricket and its commentators. Another veteran commentator Chishti Mujahid also hailed the idea of forming a commentators’ club for first time in 60 years and appreciated all the members for getting united on one platform. The members of the club congratulated management of Radio Pakistan for rejuvenating cricket commentary and announced that soon they will hold a meeting with Information Minister Arif Nizami (Editor Pakistan Today), Agha Nadeem (Chairman PBC and PTV), Murtaza Solangi (DG Radio), Yousuf Baig Mirza (MD PTV) and will suggest them ideas to make commentary as rejoicing and popular as it was in the past and promote young talent. The late commentators and ex-fellows of the club members, Omar Qureshi, Shahzad Humayun and Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, were not forgotten. The members paid tribute to the late commentators and prayed eternal peace for them.

tiger woodS waS praCtiCing at the maSterS driving range on monday when up walked 14-year-old ChineSe prodigy guan tianlang AUGUSTA agENcIEs

Tiger Woods was practicing at the Masters driving range on Monday when up walked 14-year-old Chinese prodigy Guan Tianlang, greeting the superstar player who had inspired him to start golfing. Guan asked Woods to autograph his cap and in addition to doing that, Woods invited Guan along for an afternoon backnine Augusta National practice round with Dustin Johnson, a session in which Woods taught Guan some Masters secrets. “He hits it good,” Woods said. “I showed him a few of the pins, helped him a little bit. The kid is 14. He's good. We

had a good time.” After playing fabled Amen Corner Ä his favorite holes on the course Äwith the 14-time major champion he dreams of emulating, Guan spent another half hour on the putting green with Woods. “Every time I play with him, I feel a lot better and give myself some confidence,” Guan said. “It's very good.” They skipped balls together across the surface of the water at the par-3 16th hole and finished as the shadows began to fall across the course. Much the way Woods has set a goal of surpassing the 18 career major titles of boyhood hero Jack Nicklaus, Guan dreams of a calendar-year Grand Slam, a feat not even Woods has managed even though he has won four

majors in a row. “He can't play for his high school team because he's in middle school and now he's in the Masters,” Woods said. “That's pretty amazing.” TIgER fEELINg gREAT AHEAD Of MASTERS: World No. 1 Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday to begin a challenging week that he hopes will culminate in a fifth Masters title and a 15th major championship victory. Fifty years to the day since Jack Nicklaus won his first Masters title, the man trying to break Nicklaus' record of 18 major crowns spent about 20 minutes on the practice range and played a practice round with pal Steve Stricker. “I feel great,” Woods said. “Everything is good.” Woods is the only three-time winner on tour this season after triumphs at Torrey Pines, Doral and Bay Hill and tops the money list with $3.8 million ahead of his 19th Masters start.

MYANMAR agENcIEs

Filipino star Angelo Que hopes to be the ace of the pack when he vies for a fourth Asian Tour title at the inaugural US$300,000 Solaire Open on Thursday. Que, a multiple Asian Tour winner but not since 2010, leads a strong line-up of local talents which includes decorated veteran golfer Frankie Minoza, Elmer Salvador, Jay Bayron, Antonio Lascuna and highly rated Miguel Tabuena at the venerable Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. The bubbly Que reverted to a new set of equipment at the start of the 2013 Asian Tour season which resulted in a fourth place finish at the season-opening Zaykabar Myanmar Open in February. Que insists there is still room for improvement in his game after missing his first cut in four Asian Tour events two weeks ago. He said he will need a bit of ‘luck' to emulate his victory at the 2008 Philippine Open, which was staged at the same venue.

Yang has Masters belief AUGUSTA agENcIEs

Asia's history-maker Y.E. Yang believes he has the game to win the Masters Tournament as he seeks to land a second Major victory. The Korean star, who became the first Asian male golfer to win a Major title when he beat Tiger Woods in a head-to-head duel at the 2009 PGA Championship, has flown under the radar in recent times following a quiet spell of form. But the Asian Tour honorary member insists that the Masters is "winnable" as he prepares to take his place alongside the world's elite at Augusta National Golf Club starting on Thursday. "It is certainly winnable. Apart from the other three Majors, Augusta National does not have tough rough and it is not as long as the other Majors," said Yang, 41. "I have come up on the leaderboard

at the Masters a few times previously. I have confidence going into the Majors but with Augusta National, it's different. You play the same course every year and you have a feel of the whole layout and tournament. "If you can get used to the green speed which is horrendous for the players, I feel it's the better Major for the Asians to excel. It's not too long but overall, it's fairly straight forward. If you can get used to the green speed, it's really anybody's game." Yang's best showing at the Masters was a tied eighth finish in the 2010 edition. He followed that up with a top-20 in 2011 and shared 57th last year. The powerful Korean also finished equal third in the U.S. Open in 2011. "I don't know how many more Masters I'll play in, but within my strength and ability, I'm going to try to go for another win and hopefully it will be the Masters which will be my second Major," he said.

Yang has not won on the PGA Tour since his life-changing victory four years ago but three top-20s in recent times, including at

the Asian Tour's inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT two weeks ago, have boosted his confidence.

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wednesday, 10 April, 2013

Covert talks begin to resolve Pak-afghan differences uS, uk puShing iSlamabad and kabul to get relationS baCk on traCk ISLAMABAD sHaIQ HussaIN

ITH the help of United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan are working silently through back channel diplomacy to put their strained relations back on track and resume the stalled process of formal negotiations on the proposed ‘strategic partnership agreement’ between Islamabad and Kabul, as well as the Afghanistan reconciliation

baCk Channel talkS likely to lead to formal ContaCtS, bilateral viSitS process. Afghanistan blames Pakistan for creating hurdles in the Afghan reconciliation process by advocating talks between all Afghan groups and the Mullah Omar-led Taliban and by also halting the release of Taliban detainees from Pakistani prisons. A few months ago, Pakistan released around two dozen Taliban detainees and said the remaining prisoners would be set free in phases. But the Afghan government kept pushing for the immediate release of Taliban de-

tainees, including the number two Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Afghan authorities have also been angry over some military constructions reportedly done by Islamabad along the PakAfghan border, but officials in Islamabad say Pakistan has not engaged in any border violations and Kabul’s allegations are unfounded. Officials in Kabul allege that for facilitating the Afghan reconciliation process, Islamabad has asked for acceptance of certain conditions, one of which is Afghanistan limiting its relations with India and immediately signing a strategic partnership with Pakistan. Pakistani officials, nonetheless, reject the allegations, saying they are committed, as ever, to work for the success of peace efforts in Afghanistan. The officials say the series of allega-

were also likely to take place. He said once the formal talks were resumed, they would lead to negotiations on the proposed strategic partnership agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan and also on ways and means to proceed forward with efforts to bring the Taliban to the table of negotiations. Another Pakistani official expressed his ignorance about the back channel talks between Islamabad and Kabul, but said Pakistan was committed to peace and security in Afghanistan. “We want a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan, which clearly reflects the strong desire in Islamabad for strengthening relations with Kabul and any allegation that we are trying to create hurdles in the Afghan reconciliation process is baseless,” he said.

tions by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other officials in Kabul against Islamabad can harm the bilateral relations and also cast negative impact of efforts aimed at the success of reconciliation process. Disturbed by fresh feud between Islamabad and Kabul, the US and its key ally UK is trying hard for a patch up between the two key states in counter-terrorism global campaign. “These diplomatic efforts by US have led to some melting of ice in Islamabad and Kabul and now both sides are back to negotiations, though through back channel diplomacy, to iron out their differences on various matters,” a diplomatic source said, seeking anonymity. He said talks between Islamabad and Kabul through back channel were likely to lead to formal contacts between the two states and some visits of concerned officials

Maggie is dead, let’s party! LONDON agENcIEs

PeSHAWAR: A man shows the damage caused to the gate of his house after militants fired five mortar bombs from the Khyber tribal region into Hayatabad on Tuesday, injuring seven people. INP

Egyptian satirist faces new probe for ‘insulting Pakistan’

Khoso to visit quetta today QUETTA INP

Caretaker Prime Minister Hazar Khan Khoso who was due in Quetta on Tuesday could not come due to inclement weather. His visit has been cancelled; official sources confirmed, adding that he would reach his hometown on Wednesday. During his visit, Khoso will meet Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi and caretaker Balochistan CM Nawab Barozai and discuss issues pertaining to the law and order in the province with special reference to general elections 2013.

CAIRO agENcIEs

Egyptian prosecutors are probing new complaints against popular satirist Bassem Youssef, this time for “insulting Pakistan” and “spreading atheism,” judicial sources said on Tuesday. The wildly popular Youssef — whose weekly political satire programme AlBernameg (The Show) has spared few public figures of merciless critique — is currently on bail pending investigation into charges of insulting President Mohamed Morsi and Islam. The new lawsuits accuse Youssef of “insulting the state of Pakistan and causing tensions in its relations with Egypt.” He is also accused of insulting religion and “spreading atheism.”

In an episode after Morsi visited Pakistan in March, Youssef made fun of a hat worn by the president when he received an honorary doctorate from a university in Islamabad. One lawsuit claimed that Youssef was attempting to “spread atheism” after he allegedly made fun of the prayer ritual which constitutes “questioning one of the five pillars of Islam.” Youssef confirmed he was being investigated again on his Twitter account. “A new investigation started against me accusing me of: insulting Islam(again), spreading atheism & insulting Pakistan #LOL.” Under Egypt’s legal system, complaints are filed to the public prosecutor who decides whether there is enough evidence to refer the case to trial. Suspects can be detained during this stage of investigation.

Hundreds of people took to the main square in Brixton, an area of south London which suffered serious rioting in the 1980s, to celebrate the death of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Holding placards saying “Rejoice Thatcher is dead”, around 200 people gathered in the neighbourhood, a hotspot of alternative culture, and toasted her passing by drinking and dancing to hip-hop and reggae songs blaring from sound systems. “I’m very, very pleased. She did so much damage to this country,” said one man brandishing an original newspaper billboard from 1990 announcing Thatcher’s resignation. Others scrawled “good riddance” on pavements. “We’ve got the bunting out at home,” said Clare Truscott, a woman in her 50s wearing a sparkly beret and holding a homemade sign reading “Ding dong, the witch is dead”. “I’m from the north, where there were no jobs, where the industry was rapidly disappearing, and her policies ensured it went more quickly.” Brixton was the scene of fierce riots in 1981, two years after Thatcher became prime minister. Carole Roper said: “We’re here to celebrate her death.”

Sipping from a can of beer, she said, “I don’t think it’s vindictive, it’s not so much about the death of Thatcher but what she has done, the policies she introduced to this country.” Meanwhile, in the Scottish city of Glasgow over 300 people gathered to hold their own impromptu “party”. Anti-capitalist campaigners shouted, “Maggie, Maggie, Maggie” while the crowd replied “dead, dead, dead”. The crowd also broke into a chorus of “So long, the witch is dead” while drinking champagne. Thatcher, the controversial “Iron Lady” who dominated a generation of British politics and won international acclaim for helping to end the Cold War, died following a stroke on Monday. She was 87.

Wikileaks shows AJK as part of Pakistan, no LoC NEW DELHI ONLINE

Whistleblower website Wikileaks made Indian government and its media upset by showing Jammu and Kashmir (JK) as part of Pakistan in its recently released global map. According to Indian media reports, published on Tuesday, there was no mention of the Line of Control on the map released by Wikileaks, as is the common practice to refer to the two sides of LoC as India-controlled

Kashmir and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. The interactive map was released by Wikileaks yesterday to help people search into it’s 1.7 million cables in a userfriendly manner. The Indian Embassy in Washington protested the authorities for goof up, what they believed, and demanded their desire of representation of the international boundary. Though on its website, Wikileaks has said that the map was created using country boundary lines of 1975.

Quake hits near Iran’s nuclear city Bushehr, 32 dead DUBAI agENcIEs

A powerful earthquake struck close to Iran’s only nuclear power station on Tuesday, killing 32 people and injuring 850 as it destroyed homes and devastated two small villages, Iranian media reported. The 6.3 magnitude quake totally destroyed one village, a Red Crescent official told the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), but the nearby Bushehr nuclear plant was undamaged, according to Iranian officials and the Russian company that built it. Many houses in rural parts of the

province are made of mud bricks, which have been known to crumble easily in quake-prone Iran. “Based on the most recent figures on the impact of the earthquake, 32 people have been killed and 850 injured,” said deputy governor of Bushehr province, Shahpour Rostami, Fars news agency reported. Across the Gulf, offices in Qatar and Bahrain were evacuated after the quake, whose epicenter was 89 km (55 miles) southeast of the port of Bushehr, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The early afternoon shock was also felt in financial hub Dubai. The Russian company that built the nuclear

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

power station, 18 km (11 miles) south of Bushehr, said the plant was unaffected. “Personnel continue to work in the normal regime and radiation levels are fully within the norm,” Russian state news agency RIA quoted an official at Atomstroyexport as saying. Iran informed the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency that there was “no damage to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and no radioactive release from the installation”, an agency statement said, adding that it was not currently seeking additional information. EARlIER stoRy PAgE 07