e-paper pakistantoday 13th November, 2012

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:14 AM Page 1

Bhutto’s nationalisation policy deteriorated economy: Nawaz

Nisar, Nawaz not on same page over FIA investigation

PAGE |03

PAGE |19

India favours a stable Pakistan, says Manmohan Singh PAGE |19

Tuesday, 13 November, 2012 Dhu Al-Haj 27, 1433

Rs 15.00 Vol III No 137 19 Pages Lahore Edition

Karzai wants war on terror taken to Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan NEW DELHI

A

AgenCIeS

FGHAn President Hamid Karzai has said the war on terror did not need to be fought in Afghanistan but in the sanctuaries in Pakistan and Afghanistan that were sheltering the Taliban.

In an interview with the Times of India, Karzai hoped that with the re-election of US President Barack Obama, they would have a frank discussion to find an answer to the question. “I hope that now with the re-election of President Obama, we will be sitting down for a frank conversation so we can find answers to these questions. The war on terror cannot be fought in Afghanistan because it isn’t in Afghanistan. It has to go to the sanctuaries.

Those sanctuaries are in Pakistan… and in Afghanistan wherever they are.”

“It is no longer a secret,” Karzai said, adding, “and (even) Pakistan doesn’t deny that any more. The region is infested with terror sanctuaries”. Karzai said this had been conveyed to the US repeatedly, and also at times through the media.

Asked if he was disappointed by Obama’s first term insofar as US’s promises to Afghanistan were concerned, Karzai said, “We have issues with the US and we want them addressed and while we are addressing these issues, we also want the transition to Afghan security forces completed in time in 2013 and the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan by 2014.”

The Afghan president said the Americans never had the immunity to raid and search Afghan homes “but this will become simply im-

Pakistan protests Afghan crossborder shelling ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani on Monday said Pakistan had serious reservations over the cross-border shelling and militant infiltration from Afghanistan. Talking to media representatives on the occasion of inauguration of a two-day regional antinarcotics ministerial level conference in Islamabad, Jilani said the conference was important to address the narcotics issue in the region. He said with mutual cooperation of regional countries, the menace of narcotics could be brought to an end. “Afghan Peace Council chief Salahuddin Rabbani’s visit to Pakistan is of great significance for the success of the reconciliation process in Afghanistan,” the foreign secretary added.

Ministers of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Russia and Uzbekistan are expected to attend the conference. Online possible after 2014”. He said the issue he was willing to respect was a strategic partnership with the US signed about eight months ago.

Karzai said he did not believe that foreign troops had brought peace. “That is the contention that we have with the US. They have not brought security to Afghan lives, rather they have caused serious pain to the Afghan people.”

KARACHI: Women mourn the death of a relative who fell victim to a targeted killing incident in the violence-stricken financial hub of the country on Monday. Online

Obeying illegal orders not justifiable: CJP ISLAMABAD StAff RepoRt

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has asked civil servants to act according to the letter and spirit of the constitution and law to achieve objects of good governance.

Addressing Office Management Group probationers who visited the Supreme Court on Monday, the chief justice said they had been given very important role in the making and implementation of policies.

The CJ said if there was any mal-

functioning on part of public functionaries, knocking the doors of the courts remained the last option.

He pointed out that the constitution in its Article 37 (d) made it obligatory on the state to ensure inexpensive and expeditious justice. “If the courts are dispensing justice impartially and expeditiously, nothing can stand in the way of the nation’s advancement,” he said.

Justice Chaudhry said the courts in Pakistan had always strived for the protection of fundamental rights of the citizen. “The civil service has always been considered as service of the state and not

subservient to the whims of the executive organ of the state and their primary duty is, and has always been, to be in the service of the people.” He pointed out that the court had held time and again that government servants should comply only with those orders of their superiors which were legal and within their competence.

The chief justice said civil servants were also to be provided safety against illegal orders as in such situations, they were either transferred immediately before completion of their tenure, placed as OSDs or their promotional prospects were compromised.

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 2

02 News newS

Today’s

cartoon

Invisible force involved in disrupting peace in Karachi, Quetta: Malik

infotainment Apple and HtC sign truce ending patent disputes

Quick look

Story on Page 05

SC calls Punjab, Islamabad IGs for not nabbing ex OGRA chief ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has summoned the Punjab and Islamabad IGs for not arresting former OGRA chief Tauqeer Sadiq. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry heard the case pertaining to the appointment of the Sadiq.

During the hearing, the chief justice inquired as to why had OGRA’s former chairman still not been arrested. The counsel for the nAB informed the court that a raid was conducted to arrest Sadiq but he escaped before the raid on a tip off. The court also ordered that the officers nominated to arrest the accused be presented in court. The SC ruled that it appeared that Sadiq was being informed of the arrest raids in advance. onlIne

Page 11

Story on Page 14

President signs Drug Regulatory Authority Bill ISLAMABAD onlIne

Pakistanis arrested with heroin worth over Rs 8m

President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Drug Regulatory Authority Bill criminalising the sale and manufacturing of spurious drugs.

According to the new bill, action would be taken against druggists involved in preparation of fake or poor quality medicine. He signed the bill at a ceremony at the Presidency on Monday.

President Zardari said the signing of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Bill into law would ensure availability of safe and quality medical services to the people at affordable prices.

He said the credit went to the PPP to first promulgate the Drug Act 1976 and now setting up an authority in the country to keep a check on the sale and manufacturing of spurious drugs.

He said the authority would ensure protection of the interests of the people as well as that of the pharmaceutical industry.

He said the industry should seek to boost exports through standardisation and quality assurance.

The president noted that unanimous adoption of the law was a sign of wisdom and maturity of parliament‚ all political forces and the provincial governments.

After the president’s signature‚ the Drug Regulatory Authority has been officially set up. The new bill will protect rights of the patients.

COLOMBO: Three Pakistani nationals and a Sri Lankan were arrested with over two kilograms of heroin worth more than Rs 8 million from Bambalapitiya, suburban Colombo, by the Police narcotics Bureau on Monday, police said. Investigation revealed that the Pakistani’s, including one woman, had visited Sri Lanka on nine previous occasions, reported The Daily Mirror. onlIne

SC adjourns hearing in ZAB’s reference on Aitzaz’s request

Jammers in Peshawar Central Jail go out of order PESHAWAR: The jammers which were installed four months ago at the Peshawar Central Jail in order to prevent unlawful use of mobile telephones by the prisoners, including Dr Shakil Afridi, have gone out of order. According to sources, the jail administration has informed the Provincial Home Ministry about the mal-functioning jammers.

The jammers were installed after Dr Shakil Afridi, who has been charged with treason for providing information to the Americans regarding the presence of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, gave an interview to American Fox TV from his jail cell. Reportedly, the prisoners in central jail have started using mobile phones smuggled into their cells illegally.Inp

ISLAMABAD

Balochistan doctors’ strike enters 26th day QUETTA: The ongoing strike of Balochistan doctors entered the 26th day on Monday. The strike was announced by the Balochistan chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) against the abduction of their colleague Dr Saeed Ahmed Khan and calling for his recovery. However, despite the orders of the Balochistan High Court, Dr Khan, who was abducted on October 16, could not be recovered. General operation theatres and out-patient departments in state hospitals remained closed due to the strike, causing severe difficulties for patients coming from far-flung areas. Inp

App

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday put off hearing till date in office on the pending presidential reference seeking a revisit of the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death penalty case.

A nine-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani, Justice nasirul Mulk, Justice Tariq Parvez, Justice Mian Saqib nisar, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed deferred proceedings on a presidential

reference sent to apex court under Article 186 invoking its advisory jurisdiction.

During the course of proceedings, the bench was apprised that Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel for the referring authority, had submitted an adjournment plea, as he was in Karachi to attend the funeral of former law minister Iqbal Haider, who died on Sunday.

The bench accepted his plea and told his assistant Ali Gohar that they had received a letter from the referring authority nominating Aitzaz Ahsan as counsel in the pleading, but they would require an acceptance from the counsel as well because he would no longer appear as amicus curiae (friend of the court)

in the case.

The CJP told him that they would nominate some other lawyer from Punjab in his place as amicus curiae.

In a related matter regarding the temporary suspension of practicing license of Babar Awan, who previously appeared as counsel in ZAB’s case, the bench also deferred proceedings till date in office. The bench in its order said that his application would be heard when the requisite bench of 11 members was constituted as his license suspension order was passed by the said bench. The bench also directed its office to put up the matter for constitution of the required bench.

ECP’s jurisdiction to bar any convict from contesting polls: secretary ISLAMABAD App

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan on Monday said that it is the commission’s jurisdiction to bar any candidate from contesting elections in case he/she has been convicted after trial.

The Supreme Court has not directed the election commission in Asghar Khan case and it has been asked to conduct investigation through the FIA, said the secretary adding it will be the jurisdiction of the election commission to bar any candidate from contesting elections in case he/she has been convicted after trial.

Khan said the ECP is committed to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country and making every possible preparation for organising impartial general elections.

The secretary was briefing the media after a meeting, presided by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Fakhar

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

ud Din G. Ibrahim, held to review the steps and preparations being made for next general elections.

The ECP secretary said that 84.37 million voters have been enrolled so far in the country and 77,000 persons visited the various offices till July 31, headed by AROs established through out the country to check their names in voter list or for any correction purpose.

He said that bye-elections in Bannu and Multan had been already held following the new voters’ list and no complaint has been received regarding it.

The secretary said that no changes are being made in the limitations of constituencies in the country and next general elections will be held following the limitations as it was in the elections of 2008.

He also hinted towards increasing the number of polling stations in Punjab from 37,000 to 40,000, 14,000 to 18,000 in Sindh, 9500 to 11,000 in KPK. Similarly, he said the numbers of polling sta-

tions will be increased in Balochistan and distance of polling stations from voters in huge constituencies will be reduced as compared to previous general elections.

He said the chief election commissioner will hold a meeting in Quetta soon to review elections’ related arrangements and ensure conducive environment in the province for this purpose.

The presiding officers will be above than grade-17 and there will be no transfer of any officer given any assignment regarding elections after December 31, the secretary maintained. To a question, he said that person having dual nationality can not contest elections or become member of the parliament. However, he said there is no binding in constitution for dual nationality holder to become leader of any political party.

He said that international observers have been invited through the ministry of foreign affairs while local media will be also facilitated to observe the elections.

Regarding installation of CCTV cam-

eCP to distribute ballot papers under army’s supervision ISLAMABAD: Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) has decided to distribute ballot papers under Army’s supervision. Speaking to reporters, ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Khan informed that the commission has already paid Rs300 million for ballot paper printing.

He further mentioned that the ballot papers will be printed like currency notes and will have special security features to prevent duplication. It was earlier reported that printing of ballot papers will start just 15 days before the elections as an added security measure.

According to the ECP’s plan, there will be hidden features in the new ballot papers that would change regularly, making it almost impossible to print forged papers. Someone found guilty of bogus voting can be imprisoned for three years according to the law. If it is proven that an electoral candidate is involved in the crime directly or indirectly he would only be disqualified but also banned from taking part in elections for five years.

The commission also issued a consolidated Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates during the next general elections. StAff RepoRt eras at polling stations, he said the commission will install cameras only at most sensitive polling stations. Owing to arrangements in Muharram, the secretary said that the provincial governments

have requested the election commission for postponing bye-elections. Their request has been approved and bye- elections will be held on December 4 in Punjab as well as Sindh, he maintained.

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 3

News 03 artS & entertainment

buSineSS

SPortS

Selena gomez had trust issues with Justin Bieber?

‘Inflation will stick to single-digit this year’

fixing trio innocent: UK journalist

editorial that one stickler of a problem: Law and order breakdown in Karachi.

comment Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi says; Pakistan’s renewal: Re-visioning Jinnah’s idea of a state.

Sultan Barq says; “The United States of Asia”: Let’s build a future of our own.

Story on Page 12

Story on Page 18

Story on Page 15

articles on Page 14

Bhutto’s nationalisation policy deteriorated economy: Nawaz LAHORE StAff RepoRt

Pakistan Muslim League – nawaz (PML – n) President nawaz Sharif on Monday said that the present economic conditions of Pakistan are a consequence of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s nationalisation policies.

Sharif said that were it not for these policies, Pakistan would have been a highly prosperous country today.

The PML-n chief was speaking at an event held at the national Hockey Stadium in Lahore to mark the Punjab government’s internship programme and laptop distribution scheme for the youth.

While speaking at the event, he said that if nothing was done to save the country from its present crises, then their future generations would never forgive them. Sharif also warned the students about elements who were “out to misinform” the youth and advised them not to be misguided and deceived by anyone. He also added that the youth of Pakistan would improve the conditions of the coun-

‘Political’ nature of Gen Kayani’s speech challenged in iHC ISLAMABAD StAff RepoRt

A petition filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday challenged the “political” nature of a recent speech made

by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.

The petition, filed in the IHC by Colonel (r) Inam Rahim, argued that General Kayani had exceeded his professional authority by issuing a political statement.

The petitioner argued that it was not the job of the military chief to issue political statements, adding that Kayani had already acted in violation of the Army Act by taking an extension on his term as military chief.

Gen Kayani’s recent statement created ripples in the political, legal and

civil society circles and several observers believe that his statement carried veiled challenges to the superior judiciary as well as to the media. In his address to a group of officers at the GHQ on november 5, General Kayani had stated that any efforts to create a divide between the people and the armed forces undermined the country’s greater national interest.

He had said, “All systems in Pakistan appear to be in a haste to achieve something, which can have both positive and negative implications. Let us take a pause and examine the two fundamental questions. One, are we promoting the rule of law and the Constitution? Two, are we strengthening or weakening the institutions? In the ultimate analysis, all of us would have served Pakistan better if history and our future generations judge us positively.”

try. He added that the same elements had attempted to hinder the laptop distribution scheme but had been unsuccessful in doing so, adding that more laptops had been distributed than before.

He further said that the current government had brought about the problems of load shedding, unemployment, terrorism and many other similar problems

upon the Pakistani public. He said that everyone should unite in improving the country’s conditions. During the event, talented children were awarded with the Guard of Honour. Sharif added that these children were the truly deserving of the award but it had always been given to those who violated the judiciary, the Constitution and the legislative assemblies.

Bill to curb terrorism financing moved in national Assembly ISLAMABAD

Senate unanimously approves ASF bill

App

The government on Monday introduced a bill in the national Assembly to adopt stringent measures against terrorism financing by removing shortcomings in the existing law.

Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah moved the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2012 that was admitted by the House for further consideration by the standing committee concerned.

The bill reflects the government’s resolve to constantly review and strengthen its anti-terrorism-financing regime and to bring it at par with international standards.

The bill addresses the shortcomings relating to the terrorist financing provisions in the existing Anti-terrorism Act 1997 that were highlighted by the Financial Action Task Force - an international body comprising a number of countries and international organisations which sets and monitors international standards on antimoney laundering and counter financing

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production unanimously approved the bill ‘Airports Security Force (Amendment) Bill 2012’. The meeting was presided over by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, chairman of the standing committee, on Monday at the Parliament House. The bill was moved by Minister of State for Defence Sardar Saleem Haider Khan in the Senate on October 11, and was later referred to the Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production for further consideration. The committee, while approving the bill, asked the Ministry of Defence to review, in consultation with the Finance and Establishment Divisions, the restructuring of Airports Security Force (ASF) in order to overcome the long standing dichotomy in pay scales and ranks of security officers and assistant security officers and submit a detailed report to the committee in 90 days. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said the ASF is an important organization and the committee will make every possible effort to facilitate ASF in bringing further improvement in its working and performance. He said the ASF was performing a difficult task and the committee would endeavour to increase ASF’s capacity so that it can protect the 26 airports in a better way. onlIne of terrorism.

The bill also aims at amending the existing law to strengthen the provision concerning the offences of terrorism financing and to provide more effective enforcement

measures against such offences.

It would also pave way for the law enforcement agencies to take effective actions against those who finance acts of terrorism and benefit from the proceeds of such acts.

Hopes weak for Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks ISLAMABAD AgenCIeS

A high-level Afghan delegation arrived in Pakistan on Monday for talks on peace in the war-torn nation, but analysts warned that without Taliban involvement little would come of the negotiations.

Members of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, led by Chairman Salahuddin Rabbani, are to meet Pakistani political leaders and the head of the powerful military over the coming three days.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf expressed hope that the visit by the delegation “will pave the way for closer relations between the two countries,” a statement said

after he met Rabbani and accompanying members.

“There is consensus in Pakistan that both Afghanistan and Pakistan should work together for peace in the region,” the statement issued by the PM’s house said.

Support from Pakistan, which backed the Taliban regime that held power in Kabul from 1996 to 2001, is seen as crucial to peace in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

Afghan-Pakistani talks were derailed more than a year ago amid a welter of accusations when Rabbani’s father Burhanuddin, then head of the peace council, was assassinated by a suicide bomber in Kabul.

Afghan officials lashed out at Islamabad over the killing of the former president of

Afghanistan, saying it was planned in Pakistan and carried out by a Pakistani, while Islamabad blamed Afghan refugees living in Pakistan.

Suspicion and mistrust have long dogged ties between the two neighbours and Kabul has accused Pakistan of supporting Taliban Islamists in their 11-year insurgency against the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.

This week’s talks come as efforts to end the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan gain a new urgency as the withdrawal of US-led nATO combat troops — planned for the end of 2014 — looms ever closer.

But analyst Rahimullah Yusufzai warned that no progress of any substance

would be made this week, beyond Rabbani getting to meet the Pakistani side for the first time.

“The problem is that the Afghan government has not been in contact with (the) Taliban. Even Rabbani has not been able to get in touch with the Taliban since he became chairman of the council,” Yusufzai said.

“How is it possible to achieve results in such a situation when the council has not been in contact with the Taliban?”

Preliminary contacts between the United States and the Taliban in Doha were broken off in March when the militants failed to secure the release of five of their comrades held in Guantanamo Bay. Yusufzai said that while Pakistan has

some influence over the Taliban it was unrealistic to think Islamabad could convince the militants to return to the negotiating table.

Such a move would require “confidencebuilding measures” from the United States, he said, and in any event could trigger a split in the Islamist movement.

Analyst Hasan Askari said that while Kabul and Washington might be keen for some kind of accommodation with parts of the Taliban, the insurgents had little incentive to talk, knowing nATO will leave in two years.

“They are waiting for withdrawal of international troops and are confident that they can make life for (the) Kabul government miserable,” he said.

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 4

04 Pakistan, Afghanistan must work together for regional peace: PM ISLAMABAD App

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Monday said there was a consensus in Pakistan that both Afghanistan and

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

Pakistan must work together for peace in the region. Ashraf was talking to Salahuddin Rabbani, chairman of the Afghan Peace Council, and his delegation who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House.

Welcoming the delegation, the prime minister said the people of Pakistan had a special reverence for late Burhanuddin Rabbani. Ashraf expressed the hope that the delegation would hold

discussions with Pakistani officials that pave the way for closer relations between the two countries. Rabbani thanked the prime minister for inviting the High Peace Council to Pakistan.

Dual nationality affidavits: submission deadline extended until 30th ISLAMABAD

StAff RepoRt

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday extended the deadline for members of parliament to submit affidavits about their nationality until november

30. The decision was taken in a key meeting of the ECP held on Monday.

ECP Additional Secretary Muhammad Afzal Khan said the deadline was extended on a request by the parliamentarians, adding that affidavits would be

accepted after confirmation.

According to sources in the ECP, there were 212 lawmakers, including some leading politicians of the PPP, MQM and the PML-n, who did not submit the affidavit by november 9, the previous deadline.

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 5

News 05 Invisible force involved in disrupting peace in Karachi, Quetta: Malik ISLAMABAD

M peSHAWAR: Bomb Disposal Squad officials use modern technology to defuse a bomb which was found in the nasirpur area on Monday. Online

PPP, AnP on collision course in next polls PESHAWAR SAJJAD AlI

As the political arena heats up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ahead of the general elections, two current coalition partners – the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Awami national Party (AnP) – have embarked on an undeclared cold war against each other.

The race between the two parties started recently with the appointment of Anwar Saifullah Khan as the PPP’s provincial chief in place of Senator Sardar Ali Khan. Right after assuming office early this year in September, Saifullah announced to discontinue the alliance with the AnP for the election and post-election period. Instead, he hinted of forming alliances and seat-to-seat adjustment with opposition parties, including Pakistan Muslim League (PML) factions, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, and other opposition leaders. Even in his native Lakki Marwat district, Saifullah conveyed a positive message to his family’s traditional rivals – the family of late MnA Haji Kabir Khan.

Saifullah has also been focusing on reactivating party workers and stalwarts. In

this respect, he holds daily meetings with PPP workers, and supervises arrangements for the upcoming elections. In order to win over the conservative population, he recently called Taliban “brethren”, saying the PPP “intends to hold talks with them.”

He has also remained quiet about terrorist attacks, particularly on AnP leaders.

In the run up to the upcoming elections, Saifullah is eyeing seat-to-seat adjustments with other political parties. He has shown interest in PML factions, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Aftab Sherpao’s recently-established Quami Watan Party (QWP). Seat-to-seat adjustments between the PPP and PML factions is not a hard job for Anwar Saifullah, as his brother Salim Saifullah is leading the PMLLikeminded which recently allied with the PML-n. Similarly, Anwar Saifullah’s soft corner for Sherpao could bring the PPP and the QWP closer. In fact, both Saifullah and Sherpao have had similar ideas about the AnP – something which could unite them in the upcoming general elections.

While most AnP leaders are carefully watching the developments, they are also discussing hostile statements by the PPP’s provincial chief. According to insiders, the

AnP high command has directed its office bearers and ministers to remain silent, yet alert to Saifullah’s policies.

Over the past four years, the AnP has backed the PPP government on every platform and all of its policies. However, the hostile statements by newly-elected PPP KP president are becoming a source of concern among AnP leaders. In response to Saifullah’s renunciation of alliance with the AnP ahead of the elections, AnP Provincial President Senator Afrasaib Khattak said that his party needed no alliance with any party, and that it would contest the next election on the basis of its performance.

Saifullah’s statement about the Taliban that they are “our brothers” also exacerbates the differences within the two parties. AnP leaders said that dozens of their workers and leaders, including parliamentarians, had rendered sacrifices to save the country from militants, but the PPP provincial president was calling them “brothers”. Whatever may be the PPP’s strategy regarding the post-election scenario, Saifullah’s nomination as PPP provincial president has taken away the chance of an alliance or understanding with the JUI-F.

App

I n I S T E R for Interior Rehman Malik said on Monday that an invisible force was engaged in disrupting peace in Karachi and Quetta and was giving it sectarian colour. He vowed that he would not let the ‘invisible force’ succeed in its sinister plans against the country.

Talking to journalists after a meeting with Ulema from different schools of thought, Rehman Malik said that there was no sectarian clash in the two cities but rather some enemies of the country who were trying to give it sectarian colour. “The law enforcement agencies are gathering information and soon the names of those who have indulged in these activities, will be revealed,” he added. He said that the objective of meeting the Ulema was to formulate a strategy to control the law and order situation during Muharram ul Haram.

The meeting was attended by Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Syed niaz Hussain naqvi, Muhammad Yasin Zafar, Abdul Malik, Dr Atta-ur-Rehman and Hafiz Syed Qutab. Malik said that all the Ulema will play a positive role for the promotion of religious harmony during Muharram and will avoid hurting sentiments of people belonging to different schools of thought.

“The Ulema will spread the message of peace and unity during the holy month and will condemn bloodshed,” he added. He said that all the Ulema considered terrorists as the enemies of Islam, humanity and of Pakistan. He appealed to the print and electronic media not to publish or telecast provocative reports and statements.

It was decided that a representative from each sect would meet media personnel, asking them not to telecast live programmes, rather release them after proper editing. Rehman Malik said that he would soon establish a mechanism to ensure con-

tinuous contact with the Ulema. It was decided that a strong system would be established with the help of the Ulema and law enforcement agencies in all major cities and towns to counter terrorism. The meeting condemned the killing of innocent students of a Madrassa in Karachi and decided that the government would provide security to the Madrassa’s and mosques all over the country. “Raids on Madrassa’s would be avoided unless very necessary, in which case, they will be conducted in consultation with the Madrassa administrator,” he added.

The meeting expressed concern over the situation in Karachi and agreed that the government should take action against all the perpetrators irrespective of their political affiliation. The meeting asked the Parliament to pass the anti-terrorism act as early as possible.

UN sanctions unlikely to end Haqqani safe haven in Pakistan NEWS DESK now that the Haqqani network has been recognized as a terrorist organization by the world’s premier governing body, are its days of refuge in Pakistan over? not likely, according to veteran observers of the Taliban-allied militant group that hails from Afghanistan but is seen to enjoy cosy relations with Pakistani intelligence services, according to a report on the Radio Free Europe website on Monday.

The Un Security Council’s november 5 decision to blacklist the Haqqani network along with the architect of many of its suicide attacks came as a mild surprise, not least because Pakistan currently sits on the 15-member council.

But while Islamabad has vowed full compliance with the requirement that all 193 Un member states impose asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargos against the Haqqani network, observers don’t expect Pakistan to ditch the group just yet.

Cyril Almeida, an Islamabad-based journalist who covers militant groups closely, suggests that, at best, Pakistan could think twice about supporting Afghan Taliban factions in the future.

“It is sort of taken as a fait accompli,” he says. “What they [the West] want to do, they will do. And what the Haqqanis want to do and Pakistan wants to do, they will continue to do. But we are now one step away from being a state sponsor of terrorism because if we have a designated terrorist group operating from Pakistani soil — a fact that even Pakistan doesn’t deny anymore — then what happens next?”

A Hands-Off Approach

Almeida notes that Islamabad essentially adopted a hands-off approach to the Afghan Taliban after it was forced out of power in Afghanistan in late 2001.

“I don’t think anyone has seen any significant attempt to clamp down on the Haqqani network militarily, financially, or in terms of traveling,” he says.

“It goes to the days of the early 2000s when the Taliban used to crossover into Pakistan after the U.S. attack on Afghanistan, and we didn’t really say anything. We [Pakistan] said: ‘Look, we can’t stop them. If you want to stop them, deal with them on your side of the border.’”

Islamabad does have the wherewithal to severely disrupt or even stop the group’s operations if it chose to, according to Gretchen Peters, an author and researcher who has been investigating the Haqqani network’s finances in Pakistan.

But Peters maintains that Pakistan’s blacklisting is a cause for concern among the country’s civilian and military leaders, who worry about the possibility that the Haqqani network could turn its guns against its erstwhile allies in the Pakistani security establishment.

“I think the question is if [these concerns] therefore translate into the will and the capacity to do very much about them,” she says. “Certainly, Pakistan can cause them a lot of trouble in terms of their financial operations, their movement around Pakistan, [and] their travel. It is well known in intelligence circles where the senior leadership [of the network] are living, are residing. I don’t think there is any reason why Pakistan couldn’t go and arrest the senior leaders of the Haqqani network if they

File Photo

wanted to.”

According to Peters, the Haqqanis and other Afghan militant leaders live fairly openly in northwest Pakistan. She adds that her research shows that leaders of the group could even maintain residences in major cities such as Peshawar and the nearby garrison town of Rawalpindi.

Pakistan’s Patchy Record She asserts that this is supported by information the U.S. military has compiled from captured Haqqani safe houses, leaders, and fighters.

“Virtually every record we found having to do with financial activity or

property ownership — whether it was real estate or vehicles or anything — everything was purchased in Pakistan,” she says. “That was where the command and control of the operation was. This is a network, in terms of its financial operations, [that] was very deeply entrenched [and] has its roots very deep into Pakistan.”

Pakistan has a patchy record of enforcing Un sanctions imposed against Taliban and Al-Qaeda leaders since they were first introduced in 1999.

Arrests and asset-seizures have been few, and some Pakistani militant organizations linked to Al-Qaeda have contin-

ued to operate openly as charities or political groups after renaming themselves or contesting the sanctions in Pakistani courts.

And the recent Un blacklisting came more from inaction than action on the part of Pakistan.

Adding the Haqqani network as well as suicide-mission mastermind Qari Zakir to the blacklist was the result of a unanimous decision by Security Council members. But in what is known as a “silence procedure,” the vote was conducted by email and unanimously adopted when no objections were raised within a 24-hour period.

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 6

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

Child feared dead in Friday’s encounter near DHA n

No suicide vests recovered from ‘terrorists’ hideout’, operation was peaceful LAHORE

A

RAnA HAIDeR

child is feared dead after a police operation took place late Friday night at Punjab Small Industry Housing Society adjacent to Alfalah Town, area residents told Pakistan Today.

According to an eye-witness from the neighbourhood, a policeman was carrying a child who appeared dead with clothes soaked in blood.

Pakistan Today, in a follow-up of the operation discovered that contrary to media reports, no suicide vests were recovered from the house where the alleged terrorists had reportedly been residing since the past six months. The only weapons found at the place were three hand grenades, three Kalashnikov rifles and a khaki bag that was full of bullets.

Whereas initial reports claimed the clash between the police and terrorists lasted for more than two hours, residents from the neighbourhood said the operation was to a large extent peaceful with an exchange of fire that lasted for not more than 20 minutes. “The firing was not continuous,” said a neighbourhood resident.

Sources further revealed that the alleged terrorists were willing to surrender and allow search of their house in presence of the media. “They were calling out to the police to bring Rehman Malik because they wanted to surrender in front

of him and media personnel,” said a man who lived in a nearby house.

The general consensus among the residents was that these people, who had been leading an apparently nor-

mal life for the past many months, seemed harmless.

“We never noticed anything unusual other than that whenever the men used to come out of the house,

they would use helmets to hide their faces. They never stopped for small talk and just waved if they saw anyone in the street,” said an elderly man who lives near the alleged hideout.

He said that the men used to leave the house around 9am in the morning on their motorcycle and returned in

the afternoon. “This was their routine from day one. no one knows what they did for a living or from where they had come,” he said.

The police have taken into custody Shafique, a property dealer, who had leased the house to the suspected terrorists.

Police sources said that during initial interrogation, Shafique told them that the house had been rented out to a man named Zulfiqar for Rs 16,000 per month and the latter used to deposit the rental amount to him. They said that Zulfiqar’s national Identity Card showed his area of residence on Warris Road.

They said that four men, four women and five children were taken into custody during the operation, and have been shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation. They added that all the arrested suspects were Punjabis, contrary to media reports which said that the suspects were Pakhtuns.

According to police sources, the alleged terrorists were not going to carry out an attack but were in fact masterminds behind potential attacks.

Cantt SP Maroof Wahla told Pakistan Today that he had come to know about the incident around 9am on Saturday.

“Intelligence agencies do not take police into confidence when conducting sensitive operations. We do not know about the suspects’ identity or what they are suspected of having been involved in,” he said, adding that he could not comment on claims that a child had been killed or injured in the operation.

Wazirabad Institute of LHC seeks report from CCI until December 10 Shortage of judges causes backlog Cardiology downgraded to 50 beds only LAHORE

StAff RepoRt

n The hospital was planned as a 200-bed facility LAHORE UMAIR AzIz

After many delays and postponement, the Punjab government has finally gotten around to completing the Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology, but it only managed this task after downgrading the health facility to only 50 beds, Pakistan Today has learned.

The Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology was initiated by former Punjab chief minister Pervaiz Elahi during his last regime in 2006 at an approved cost of around Rs 2 billion. The 200-bedded hospital was a state-of-the-art health facility for heart patients, all of whom had to come all the way to the provincial metropolitan at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).

The incumbent Punjab regime, however, after coming to power in 2008, put the project on a back-burner. Recently, however the government faced a lot of criticism by the media for depriving the masses of a crucial health facility only because of political rivalry. The Punjab government formed a committee with MnA Khurram Dastagir and Planning and Development (P&D) Chairman Javaid Aslam who declared the project a subcampus of the PIC. Sources on good authority revealed that so far Rs 450 million have been spent on the project while the main structure

of the building has already been erected. The Punjab government decided, recently, to inaugurate the project by January next year but in a downgraded 50-bedded facility. The government has also decided to convert the top two floors into a hostel changing the entire design and purpose of the structure.

A senior expert on the condition of anonymity said the move has many flaws because downgrading will involve dismantling various equipment such as air conditioning and heating systems to mention the least. “The already installed heat ventilation and air conditioning system involves anti-germs in-built ‘hepa-filters’ and split air conditioners will be harmful for patients,” he said, adding that the building and structure is purpose built and reducing the number of beds is almost tantamount to shelving the project.

Health Secretary captain (r) Arif nadeem told Pakistan today that the quality of human resource available in Lagore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi is not willing to work in Wazirabad.

“Besides, the Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology was meant to be a satellite of the PIC with the rationale that more serious patients will be shifted to the PIC,” he added. To a question he said the CM has announced its completion and the department will observe its deadline.

Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Monday ordered Competition Commissionof Pakistan (CCI) to complete inquiry into alleged violations of competitive law by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Hajj Group Organizers (HGOs) and submit a report by December 10.

The chief justice passed the orders while hearing petitions filed by Al-Aqsa travels and others.

Earlier, the petitioner’s counsel pointed out that Hujaj faced difficulties during Hajj 2012 whereas HGOs failed to provide them with complete facilities. He said that the ministry should inform court about action taken against such HGOs. The court observed that

LAHORE: Despite several excuses given by legal experts in delay of justice being served, it has been discovered that the real reason is a shortage of judges in the courts, Pakistan Today has learned. A senior advocate, Raja Yasir, while speaking to Pakistan Today, said, “135 numbers of seats are vacant in lower courts and this is the main reason for the delay in cases being resolved. Sources reveal that the current 25 judges of the lower courts receive up to 200 to 250 cases every day. Lahore High Court Registrar Ahmad naeem refused to comment on the issue despite repeated attempts. “It has been so long, I could not even marry off my daughters. I’ve already sold off all household equipment and now I’m left with nothing,” said nazira Bibi, who has had a land dispute case pending in the court for over 9 years. Another man named Asfaq Ahmad from Kasoor has been waiting even longer (13 years) and said that this case had been a major financial crisis for him and his family. WAleeD MAlHI

HGOs earned Rs 5 million and saved themselves by paying a fine of Rs 100,000 besides getting quota for next year.

The court asked a federal law officer to submit a report about

LHC moved against army chief’s statement LAHORE StAff RepoRt

Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday moved to seek legal proceedings against the army chief for giving a political statement. The petitioner, Colonel (Retd) Inam, in a petition plead that the statement given by the army chief last week was a political statement and he had overstepped his office by giving such a political statement.

He further said army chief had already breached the Army Act by seeking extension in his service tenure. Therefore, he pleaded, legal proceedings be initiated against him for violating the Army Act and giving politically motivated statements.

action taken against such HGOs, on next date of hearing.

The CCI council informed the court that inquiry had been initiated on the court directions into the alleged violations of

competitive law by the religious ministry and HGOs and documents were being collected for the purpose.

The petitioner’s counsel said that initial information had been given to the CCI in response to a notice.

The court directed the CCI council to complete the inquiry and submit a report by December 10.

The petitioners, in their petition, submitted that cartelization and monopoly in haj quota had badly affected rights of new Hajj Group Organisers.

The petitioners maintained that since 2005, the Hajj quota was being allocated to family members of existing Hajj organisers which limited the scope for new organisers.

They said that the religious affairs ministry had failed to end the cartelization of Hajj quota.

Solar project with German company to be initiated, says Shahbaz LAHORE StAff Re po Rt

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday said that Punjab government and a German company have agreed to launch a solar project in Punjab. He said that his recent visit to Germany has started yielding positive results and German solar companies are taking keen interest in investment in Punjab.

He expressed these views during a meeting with a representative delegation of German solar energy companies at Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

Talking to the German delegation, the chief minister said that solar proj-

ects will be set up in Punjab with the cooperation of German companies and it has been decided in principle to start three solar projects in Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi and Lahore as joint ventures. He said that foundation stone of the first solar project with the cooperation of German company will soon be laid. He said that progress is also being made on a solar project of 50 MW by a German company.

The chief minister further said that Punjab government is taking initiatives for controlling energy crisis in the province. The German delegation gave a detailed briefing to the chief minister and expressed desire to invest in solar energy projects in Punjab.

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 7

Lahore 07

Karachi target killers have support of the leadership: JI LAHORE

J

StAff RepoRt

AMAAT e Islami secretary general Liaqat Baloch on Monday said it was strange that Interior Minister Rehman Malik could see the assailants of Malala sitting in Afghanistan, but was unable to trace the target killers in Karachi. Talking to different delegations at Mansoora, he said that terrorism and target killings were going on unabated in Karachi and Balochistan, and the government had completely failed to protect the life and property of the citizens. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and its allies in the government had done nothing to ease the sufferings of people of Karachi. He said despite law enforcement agencies knowing exactly who these target killers are, no action is being taken against them. Baloch said that according to the report presented in the Supreme Court, hardened and convicted criminals had been released on parole and sent abroad, and all record about their crimes had also been destroyed. All this could happen only with the connivance with the support of the rulers, he argued. The JI leader also feared sectarian violence at the time of Muharram with foreign backing. Strongly condemning the target killing of seminary students in Karachi, Baloch questioned why the government and the human rights bodies were silent on the issue.

PR denies news item about Indian locomotives LAHORE: Pakistan Railways has clarified that no correspondence is in progress between Pakistan Railways and Indian Railways regarding obtaining Indian locomotives on lease. Clarifying a news item published in some daily newspapers here on Monday, the PR spokesman said in a press release that no such matter is under consideration in the Ministry of Railways. StAff RepoRt

BARe MInIMUM: Shamshad, who sells beef for those who wish to ward off evil, earns Rs 150 daily. MURTAZA Ali

cine Star

killing them SoftlY

02:00Pm, 06:15Pm

Ph: 35157462

SkYfall

03:45, 08:00, 10:45, 1:30Pm

Sozo world

SkYfall

12:30, 03:00, 08:30, 11:00Pm

Ph: 36674271

Student of the Year

05:30Pm

Sozo gold

SkYfall

05:30Pm

Ph: 36674271

chakravYuh

11:00Pm

Student of the Year SuPer cinema

12:00, 02:45, 08:30Pm

Student of the Year

1 1:45am, 07:30, 10:15Pm

at roYal Palm engliSh vingliSh

02:15Pm

Ph: 111-602-602 chakravYuh

04:45Pm

36118679

SkY fall

1 1:45, 11:30am, 10:45, 02:15, 05:00Pm

killing them SoftlY

04:30, 11:45Pm

BleeDIng gReen: Students and custodians of lahore grammar School, 55 Main, unite to form a human pakistan flag to show the true spirit and face of the nation. SHAyAn ATHeR

SPMUDA calls for right to education for all LAHORE pReSS ReleASe

The goodwill ambassadors for peace, hope, unity and humanity of the Southern Philippines Muslim Unity and Development Association (SPMUDA-International) for Pakistan have expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, political instability, extremism and religious intolerance in the country.

The association ex-

pressed these views in a meeting chaired

by Munawar Ali Shahid. Other participants included Zameer Afaqi (Goodwill Ambassador Peace &Unity), Mohammad Mahmood Khan (Coordinator Province Punjab) and nadeem Anthony advocate (Goodwill Ambassador for Peace & Hope).

The SPMUDA Goodwill Ambassadors for Pakistan in a joint statement hailed the Un pronouncement for declaring november 10 as Malala Day and paid tribute to Malala Yousafzai for her struggle and courage to stand up for the right to education. They urged the government and people of Pakistan to take initiative and guarantee right to education of every child in the country. During the meeting, Munawar Shahid (Director General Pakistan & Asia Pacific) honoured Zameer Afaqi, Mahmood Khan and nadeem Anthony with certificate of honorary membership extended by the SPMUDA International Secretariat, Philippines.

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 8

08 Lahore Indulge wIthout the 27 °c high bulge- Yogen Früz 13low0c weather uPdateS

SunnY

mondaY

tueSdaY

wedneSdaY

29°c i 14°c

28°c i 14°c

27°c i 15°c

PraYer timingS fajr 5:13

Sunrise 6:37

zuhr 11:52

asr 2:45

maghrib 5:06

isha 6:32

citY directorY emergencY helP reScue edhi control motorwaY Police Police governor’S houSe chief miniSter’S houSe fire brigade bomb diSPoSal mcl comPlaintS lahore waSte diSPoSal

1122 115 130 15 99200081-7 99203226 16 99212111 99211022-29 1139

hoSPitalS mid citY 37573382-3 ServiceS 99203402-11 maYo 99211100-9 general 35810892-8 Sheikh zaid 35865731 Sir ganga ram 99200572 uch 35763573-5 ittefaq 35881981-85 cmh 366996168-72 Shoukat khanum 35945100 Jinnah 111-809-809 adil (defence) 36667275 children’S 99230901-3 defence national hoSPital 111-17-18-19

blood bank fatmid iSlamic alliance

35210834-8 37588649/37535435

comPlaint waPda Sui gaS

111-000-118 1199

railwaYS citY Station (enquirY) reServation railwaY Police

117 99201772 1333

LAHORE

Y

o M e R H AyAt

OGEn früz is an international chain of frozen yogurt stores that has, through company-owned, franchised and various forms of partnerships; become the world’s largest licensor and franchisor of stores that primarily serve frozen yogurt. And now they have landed, with a bang, in Pakistan!

Surrounded by other brands offering similar products, they opened for business Monday evening, right in the heart of DHA Y-Block commercial area with confidence levels running through the roof.

Pakistan Today was there to get a taste of what they had to offer and to find out what they were aiming for venturing into Pakistan in ‘times like these’.

You cannot help stepping into the ambience created inside the restaurant. There’s colour all around, especially the second floor where the walls have been covered with massive picturesque posters with catchy phrases that is clearly a tact to woo the customer into differentiating Yogen as a brand standing out from its competitors. The woodwork is elegantly done and the lamps hanging from the ceiling give the place an exotic look.

It is a self serve outlet where you can choose a tub from two available sizes, and make yourself a yogurt dessert with as many flavours as you desire and the best part is the variety of toppings to go with it.

While it was easy for me to select for myself blueberry and strawberry yogurt (my favourite flavours) from a plethora of other choices including and not limited to peach, blue velvet, butter cream, banana and blackberry, I couldn’t decide what toppings my taste buds would appreciate more- there were so many of them. Eventually I went for the dry ones with hazelnut wafer and choco rings but you could definitely try smarties, M&Ms, lindt chocolate, sliced almonds, cookies and cream or a range of sprinkles to go with your yogurt. needless to say, it turned out to be delicious without the traditional ‘yogurty’ taste which I despise.

During the launch I got a chance to meet Yogen’s Global Vice-President Operations

Carlos Campo who had come all the way from Canada for the store opening. Having opened stores in dozens of countries around the world, my natural question to him was- “Why Pakistan?” With a smirk on his face, perhaps expecting this question, he replied, “Why not?” He had just launched an outlet in Lebanon, which took me by surprise but also answered my question to a large extent.

“Whatever the economic or social situation, we stick to three things and three things only, quality, service and image. And this formula is bound to work,” he said. In Pakistan they are able to employ more labour in one store10 to 20- workers, he said.

In other places like India (where they had opened stores in Mumbai and Calcutta), there are on average five workers at one store he revealed. “This means our service here will

be of a much higher quality and we plan on capitalising on this,” he remarked.

Baseer Sayyed, who is the owner of this franchise, said that this is not going to be just a one-store venture. In fact they have started work on opening a store at Link Road Model Town along with three outlets in Islamabad, five in Karachi and one in Multan.

“We are going to focus on pricing. This is not just about catering to the elite and finding a niche in DHA only. In fact we might be making very low profits by offering such a diverse range of toppings because some of them are very expensive. But we’re going to sell them at very reasonable prices and continue to offer them on the menu. There is no compromise on quality and this is how we will become market leaders,” he said, oozing with confidence.

airPort flight enquirY Pia reServation

114 111-786-786

100 GHAZALS OF MAULANA RUMI

YOGA AND MEDITATION CLASSES

COLOURS OF DESERT

collegeS / univerSitieS PunJab univerSitY kinnaird college queen marY college govt. college univerSitY umt lumS uet lcwu SuPerior college tuesday, 13 november, 2012

99231257 99203781-4 36362942 111-000-010 35212801-10 35608000 36288666 99203072 111-000-078

date: march 31 to december 29, 2012 venue: haSt-o-neeSt centre, lahore hast-o-neest centre for traditional art & culture invites you to its monthly Saturday Sitting with Janab ahmed Javed Sahib (director, iqbal academy Pakistan) on 100 ghazals of maulana rumi 3:30 to 5:00 pm, last Saturday of every month

date: aPril 01 to december 30, 2012 venue: faiz ghar, lahore a unique blend of Yoga, meditation, neuro-linguistic Programming, Sufism & more. achieve self-insight, mind-body harmony & better health.

Yoga master Shamshad haider

date: oct 22 - nov 05 venue: eJaz art gallerY the ejaz art gallery invites you to a colourful display of art work on the desert life in Pakistan. there is no entrance fee.

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 9

Foreign News 09

Low turnout as Ireland votes to improve children's rights Opposition unites as Israel fires Syria warning shots DUBLIN App

Ireland has voted to amend its constitution to improve children's rights, giving the state greater powers to intervene in cases of abuse and neglect, results showed Sunday.

Saturday's referendum passed but not by the expected landslide, with a victory margin of just 169,868 votes, or 58 percent to 42.

The referendum, only the second to be held on a Saturday, had the lowest turnout for 16 years with just 33.5 percent of the electorate casting their vote. Prime Minister Enda Kenny said it was

DOHA

T

App

HE Syrian opposition agreed on Sunday to unite against Bashar alAssad's regime as Israel fired warning shots into the wartorn country in response to mortar fire that hit the Golan Heights. After four days of marathon talks in Qatar, the Syrian national Council finally signed up to a wider, more representative bloc centred on a government-inwaiting, as demanded by Arab and Western states.

The Israeli warning shot across the Un-monitored ceasefire line between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights came after a mortar round fired from the Syrian side hit an Israeli position. It came after Prime Minister Benjamin netanyahu told his cabinet Israel was "ready for any development." Reservations in SnC ranks about what many members saw as a move to sideline it had prompted repeated delays in the Doha talks and mounting frustration among other dissident groups and the opposition's Arab and Western

a historic day for children in Ireland.

"It is the first time the constitution of this republic will recognise (children) as citizens in their own right," he said. "The passing of this amendment will help make childhood a good, secure and loving space for all our children.

"It will also give hope, reassurance and confidence to parents, foster parents and vulnerable children," he added. It follows Dublin's commitment to introduce a change to the constitution after a series of high-profile child abuse cases before the Irish courts in recent years.

The rights of individual children will now be recognised, allowing the courts to make decisions

on a case-by-case basis and allowing the state to intervene earlier in cases of neglect.

Prior to this, the right of the family unit, especially the mother, was given priority.

The final days of campaigning were mired in controversy after the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the government's information booklet -- distributed to homes nationwide -- was biased towards a "yes" vote.

Kenny's government apologised but resisted calls from no campaigners to postpone the vote.

The no camp could potentially lodge an appeal against the result after the Supreme Court ruling.

US declares support for united Syrian opposition The United States late on Sunday declared its support for the united Syrian opposition after various groups opposed to the government of President Bashar al-Assad decided to come together following talks in Doha, Qatar.

"We look forward to supporting the national Coalition as it charts a course toward the end of Assad's bloody rule and the start of the peaceful, just, democratic future that all the people of Syria deserve," State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement. App supporters. But after negotiations ran into the early hours of Sunday and resumed in the afternoon, the anti-Assad factions agreed to form a "national Coalition of Forces of the Syrian Revolution and Opposition." "We signed a 12-point agreement to establish a coalition," said leading dissident Riad Seif, who drew up the US-backed reform proposals on which Sunday's agreement was based.

S. Korea’s first lady to face land-deal probe SEOUL App

South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak's wife will be questioned in writing by special prosecutors probing alleged irregularities in the purchase of a retirement home for her husband, officials said Monday. The questioning of First Lady Kim Yoon-Ok comes at a sensitive time, with South Korea just weeks away from a presidential election on December 19. Park Geun-Hye, daughter of assassinated military dictator Park Chung-Hee, will contest from President Lee's ruling new Frontier Party. Prosecutors have already grilled Lee's brother and son, but assistant special counsel Lee Chang-Hoon said protocol dictated that Kim would not be required to appear before the investigation team in person. "We have decided to conduct a written questioning of the first lady," Lee told reporters. The probe is focused on alleged irregularities in the purchase of a plot of land on the southern edge of Seoul to build a retirement home for President Lee when he formally leaves office in January.

The lot was jointly purchased by the president's son, Lee Si-Hyung, and the presidential security service which would need to house its agents on the site. But the cost was allegedly not split evenly, with suggestions that the security service paid too high a price for its share, while Lee's son got a below-market rate for the residential plot.

The president's wife and brother have been included in the investigation because of reports that they each loaned Lee Si-Hyung 600 million won ($550,000) to buy the lot.

gAzA CIty: A palestinian man cries in a hospital morgue upon learning of the death of his relative in an Israeli strike. AGENCIES

Strong quake strikes o Guatemala WASHINGTON

Street protests as Greek deputies consider budget vote ATHENS

App

App

A strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Guatemala on Sunday, US seismologists said, just days after a tremor in the same area left 42 people dead.

The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 2215 GMT, was located 24 kilometers (15 miles) westsouthwest of the town of Champerico, and 180 kilometers west-southwest of Guatemala City, the US Geological Survey said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was "no destructive widespread tsunami threat" based on the data.

Thousands of protesters massed outside Greece's parliament Sunday as lawmakers prepared to vote on a 2013 budget that includes draconian cuts but needs to pass for vital foreign aid to be released.

Police estimated around 15,000 marchers joined two separate marches in the capital Athens.

The parliamentary vote, due to take place late Sunday or early Monday is the latest hurdle the government needs to clear in its bid to head off bankruptcy in the debt-crippled country. The proposed budget includes another 9.4 billion euros ($12 billion) in cuts and paints a gloomy outlook for the country's economy and government finances.

But Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, while acknowledging the sacrifices already endured by Greeks, told parliament on Saturday that 2013 would crucial for the Greek economy.

This latest vote comes just days after parliament narrowly adopted a separate austerity package on Wednesday.

That suggests that the coalition government led by conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will squeeze the budget through parliament: it controls 169 seats in the 300member assembly.

The austerity regime imposed on Greece, which has included massive cuts to public-sector wages and pensions, has triggered a series of general strikes.

Street protests in major cities have frequently turned violent.

3 Lebanese killed in Hezbollah-linked clashes SIDON App

Three Lebanese were killed in the southern port city of Sidon in a gunbattle on Sunday between supporters of the Shiite group Hezbollah and a Sunni cleric, a security official said.

"Three people were killed and seven injured in clashes between supporters of Sheikh Ahmed al-Assir and Hezbollah near a Palestinian refugee camp in Sidon. One of the injured was a representative for Hezbollah for the area," the

source told AFP on condition of anonymity, updating an earlier toll.

Assir had given an ultimatum to Hezbollah supporters in the city to take down all posters promoting the Shiite militia, but that they refused.

Supporters of the cleric then ripped down a poster of Hezbollah chief Hassan nasrallah, a staunch ally of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, and clashes ensued.

Unknown before the outbreak of the uprising in neighbouring Syria last year, Assir rose to prominence for his outspo-

ken opposition to the Assad regime and his calls for disarming Hezbollah, the strongest military force in the country.

"There will be no security compromises after today. The army will open fire on anyone holding a weapon," Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said during an emergency security meeting with local security officials in Sidon. The statement came after Prime Minister najib Mikati called on Lebanese to "remain calm and execute restraint at this critical and delicate juncture".

The premier also requested the army and security agencies take prompt measures to bring the situation under control and arrest those behind the violence.

Lebanon's opposition coalition has accused Mikati, a prominent Sunni figure, of complacency in leading a Hezbollah-controlled government.

The Syrian revolt has deepened political and religious divisions in Lebanon, which is split between supporters and opponents of the Damascus regime dominated by Alawites.

Bushfire razes homes in Australia SYDNEY App

Seven homes were destroyed by wildfire in Australia, officials said Monday, warning of a long and difficult summer ahead for firefighters. The large blaze at Tulka, 12 kilometres (seven miles) south of Port Lincoln in South Australia state, razed the homes as it tore through 2,000 hectares (4,950 acres) of scrubland late Sunday, the Country Fire Service (CFS) said. Extra crews had been called in to help fight the fire, which was burning within containment lines but was yet to be brought under control. Residents had been evacuated.

"We have about 100 firefighters on the ground," a CFS spokesman said.

"Although it's not posing any immediate threat it still hasn't been controlled."

It was unclear what sparked the fire but it quickly gathered force due to the hot, squally weather, the spokesman said.

Conditions were expected to be milder Monday, favouring fire crews, but South Australia and most other states are anticipating a tough summer with hot and dry weather forecast. "We've had a lot of rainfall, a lot of growth, a lot of vegetation and we're expecting a very busy fire season as a consequence of that," the CFS spokesman said.

Southeastern Australia was last devastated by wildfires in February 2009, when a horrific blaze swept through Victoria state, killing 173 people and destroying more than 2,000 homes.

It was Australia's worst natural disaster in the modern era.

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 10

10 Comment Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Pakistan’s renewal Re-visioning Jinnah’s idea of a state

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

that one stickler of a problem law and order breakdown in Karachi

I

n Karachi, only the VVIPs travelling in bullet proof vehicles and surrounded by personal guards are assured of safety. Leaving the common people at the mercy of the killers, a fairly large number of Police and Rangers act as security details for the VVIPs. A variety of killers, therefore, are having a field day. On Friday and Saturday alone, thirty people died taking the toll of the last week to around one hundred. With Muharram approaching, it is natural for people to feel perturbed.

In September last year, a five-member bench of the SC heard government officials, security agencies and politicians from different parties to evolve suggestions for the improvement in law and order. The suggestions that were finally announced included an operation to cleanse the city of illegal weapons, depoliticisation of police, effective legislation against land mafia, end of no-go areas, action against bhatta mafia, issuance of arms licences only through nADRA and a joint Police-nADRA cell for action against illegal aliens. Thanks to the lack of action on the part of the administration, 1,800 more have been killed since.

Karachi suffers from a combination of factors that include the federal government’s peculiar policy of reconciliation, bad governance and inefficiency of the security agencies. While desperate ailments require desperate remedies, the coalition administration in Karachi is unwilling to go beyond routine measures like prohibition of pillion riding and warnings to police officials. Last week, it was revealed before another SC bench that some of the hardened criminals, including those involved in multiple murders, had been released on parole on the orders of the provincial administration, obviously on account of political exigencies.

It is on account of these factors that a variety of killers continue to strike with impunity in the city. A section of the militants has singled out the members of the Shia community while another has attacked the in-service and retired security personnel and their family members. Last week, the Sachal Rangers’ residential complex was attacked by the militants. That the Rangers were unable to ensure their own security sent a demoralising message to the common man. Gang warfare too continues to rage in the city. The discovery of several tortured bodies stuffed in guinea bags leads one to conclude that there are several torture centres in the city. Unless the civilian law enforcement agencies undertake a well-coordinated operation to clean up and seize weapons, arrest killers and put an end to no-go areas, the demand by the business community for military action in Karachi would be voiced by other sections of society also.

P

akistan is passing through the most dangerous period of its existence. There have been more killings of security personnel and civilians in the wake of terrorism since 2001 than the civilian and military personnel killed in all Pakistan-India wars. A good number of deaths have taken place in urban area. Most of these killings are attributed to the Taliban and their affiliate groups based in the tribal areas and other religious-extremist and sectarian groups based in mainland Pakistan.

A good number of people subscribing to Islamic or conservative-rightest orientations talk about the treacherous Indian policies that threatened Pakistan but they do not criticise any specific militant Islamic groups that have killed more Pakistanis.

They often defend the Taliban and similar extremist and terrorists groups by suggesting that violent activities are resorted to by the agents of Pakistan’s foreign enemycountries rather than the genuine Taliban who are friends of Pakistan. They also attribute sectarian killings to hired killers rather than engaging in dispassionate review of the developments in Pakistan over the last two decades to understand internal turmoil. Some describe the violent activities of the Taliban groups as a reaction of the innocent people by American drone aircrafts.

The divided and confused state of mind of a large section of populace has enabled religious orthodoxy and religio-cultural intolerance to seep deep into the society. It has

By Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi penetrated the state institutions, including the lower echelons of the military and a large section of ex-service personnel. At times vague and generalised statements are issued by Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz and other political parties, including the Tehrik-iInsaf, on terrorism. The madrassas that share sectarian identity with the Taliban and their affiliates consider it obligatory to support them.

The military’s policy of periodically using right wing Islamic groups for defending the causes important for the military or to pursue their partisan agenda in the domestic context has also created enough space for these groups to survive.

There is no empirical evidence to suggest that the suicide bombing and bomb explosions can be linked directly to drone

attacks. Up to now, no Pakistani media person has ever been allowed by the Taliban to visit the building and compound attacked by drone aircraft. The Pakistan media has never been allowed to cover the funeral prayers for those killed in a drone attack. A number of suicide bombers or others involved in violence have been arrested by law enforcing agencies over the last three years. no one has ever linked his violent activities to the killings of his relatives by drone aircraft.

In the first week of november, the Taliban leaders based in Pakistani tribal areas refused, once again, to recognise the Durand Line as the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. This stand is in line with the policy of the Afghan government on the Durand Line. This exposes their so-called friendship with Pakistan. This is in addition to the repeated claim of the Taliban leaders that they wanted to implement Islamic Sharia as articulated by them in Pakistan, rejecting Pakistan’s constitution and law.

Had India publicly questioned the legit-

He articulated an alternative nationalism that challenged the hegemony of the one Indian nation concept and emphasised Islam as a common denominator for political mobilization and identity formation for the Muslims. Thus, the movement for the establishment of Pakistan was not a religious movement. nor was Pakistan created for Islam or for enforcement of Islam as visualised by Islamic parties and groups.

Some of the leading Islamic parties that had opposed the establishment of Pakistan began to talk of an orthodox and conservative vision of an Islamic state that enforced Sharia as interpreted by each Islamic group.

This was meant to justify their return to politics after independence.

The perspective of Islamic orthodoxy was never entertained by the Pakistani state and policy makers until General Zia-ul-Haq assumed power in July 1977. He sought the cooperation of orthodox and conservative Islamic groups to sustain him in power. Later, his government joined hands with the United

Some of the leading Islamic parties that had opposed the establishment of pakistan began to talk of an orthodox and conservative vision of an Islamic state that enforced Sharia as interpreted by each Islamic group. this was meant to justify their return to politics after independence. imacy of the Durand Line, all supporters and sympathisers of the Taliban would have condemned the statement. When it comes to the Taliban, the story is different. These developments have distorted Pakistan’s identity and vision.

There is a strong need to renew Pakistan’s identity as enunciated by the founding fathers, especially by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal as a counterpoise to Taliban’s vision of Pakistan.

Jinnah visualised Pakistan as a modern democratic state that sought ethical basis of state and society from Islam. He viewed Islamic teaching and principles as a source of guidance for the society and law making rather than a set of punitive and regulative legal system. He and his colleagues were convinced that Islam and democracy can work together and the touchstone of a political system was its representative and popular orientation.

The state was to encourage the Muslims to lead their lives in accordance with the principles and teaching of Islam rather than enforce a sharia-based notion of the state.

Jinnah pleaded the case for the establishment of Pakistan as a homeland for the Muslims. He never argued that a new country was needed because Islam was danger in united India. He talked of the threats to Muslim identity, rights and interest in a Hindu-dominated united India.

States and conservative Islamic states, especially Saudi Arabia, to build Afghan-Islamic resistance to the Soviet troops in Afghanistan (December 1979-February1989). Zia-ul-Haq used the state apparatus to enforce Islamic legal order as visualised by Islamic orthodoxy, mainly influenced by Saudi vision of Wahabi Islamic traditions. The slogan in the Muslim majority provinces of the Punjab and nWFP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) for the 1946 elections like “Pakistan ka Mutlab Kia, Lae-La Il-lalla” rather than the resolutions of the Muslim League in the pre-independence period were adopted to rearticulate Pakistan as a religious state and the state took upon itself the enforcement of religious orthodoxy.

If Pakistan has to overcome internal violence, civic disorder and exclusionist political and religious approach, the state and society has to discard the legacy of the military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq and return to the tolerant, liberal, democratic, constitutionalism and inclusionist vision of the polity and equal citizenship for all citizens irrespective of religion, caste, region and gender, as advocated by Jinnah and others. The renewal of Pakistan’s original vision can initiate the process for turning Pakistan into a normal functioning democratic and forward looking state that seeks ethical inspirations from Islam.

The writer is an independent political and defence analyst.

“The United States of Asia” let’s build a future of our own

By Sultan Barq

T

he state of the uni-polar world has generated unchecked governance and caused irreparable loss and change of psyche of billions of people in the world. The change has given birth to many complex problems that were not known to modern systems of governance.

The use of civil airplanes as a weapon to attack the Twin Towers in new York was senseless and brutal that killed thousands of innocent people. This triggered an angry mode of reactionary governance. The world watched redefinition of sovereignty, loss of role of Un, loss of tools of dialogue conflict resolution and imposition of feudalism. Remotely operated weapons like drones are used to kill indiscriminately, which in reaction are creating suicide bombers.

Due to extreme poverty, millions are ready to become suicide bombers and waiting for their turn in poor countries

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan etc, where unemployment rates are high. For every drone attack, there is a suicide attack in retaliation as well. Is anyone thinking of controlling this unique war?

Technically, there should have been a detailed research and inquiry into the Twin Tower accident ab initio under the aegis of the Un. The process should have found the criminals and punished them severely. But the ground reality is contrary to the above. The US is in revenge mode on its own, going for hot pursuits, destabilising the governments in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Iraq, and Central Asia. The process of revenge continues till date while the Un is conspicuously absent.

In Pakistan and most of Asia, people had never witnessed a person in a diplomatic car kill people on the roads of a major city in broad daylight, like it was scene out of a movie. The weakness of governance was apparent when a criminal was given a “princely” protocol and allowed to leave from jail without court or-

ders to board a waiting plane. The prisoner had access to laptop, internet, satellite phone, food picked out of a la carte menu from a five star hotel etc. Where were sovereignty and judicial system of Pakistan then? The perception of common citizen about the system and governance in Pakistan has suffered irreparably and people have lost trust in the system and the managers of the system. This has triggered uncontrollable terrorism, poverty, unemployment, and a loss of capacity to rule. Is anyone in the world thinking about peace, fairness, future of youth, elimination of hunger, poverty, corruption and moral deterioration? The answer seems to be a resounding no.

About 76 percent population in Pakistan is aged below 25 years. The government of Pakistan has never tried to ensure that all able hands will get an opportunity to earn livelihood. Thousands of the poor, hungry and unemployed opt to become suicide bombers. The common sense dictates to control misplaced perceptions and fears and the rule of law

to be reinforced. The mechanisms of conflict resolution should be made to work and succeed.

We have witnessed skewed type of diplomacy, where interests change and define friends and foes. World has witnessed the fall of Shah of Iran, Saddam Husain, Hosni Mubarak, Qadafi, Zia-ulHaq, King Faisal, Osama bin Laden. All of them were once great friends of the US. All of them enjoyed absolute power in their countries. All of them were ruling without democracy and with absolute violations of human rights. All of them faced disgrace and un-natural deaths. All of them were personally extremely corrupt and managed to keep the people very poor.

I am witness to a plan in which Balochistan would be separated from Pakistan soon in order to facilitate Central Asian states access to the sea. The project is planned to be completed during the next 10-15 years. Afghanistan will also be divided into three countries for the purpose.

I gave a detailed briefing to the govern-

ment, chief of army staff and others but no one appeared to be serious in controlling the fate of the country and interests of millions of the poor. They went ahead and killed a great leader like Sardar Akbar Bugti. He was only asking for jobs for thousands of educated youth in Balochistan. There was neither police report nor an investigation and the killer was allowed to leave the country with full honour.

We need to create a ‘United States of Asia’. The continent has about four billion people, fertile soils, educated and trained manpower, wealth and nuclear countries. A do-nothing option will result in hysteric governments, local wars, change in the geographic boundaries of many countries and a new form of colonisation. I believe that the creation of United States of Asia with members from Koreas, Japan, China, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Central Asian states, Turkey and the entire Arab World can resolve the problems of wars and poverty, encourage peace and help sovereign states in achieving peace and prosperity.

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 11

Comment 11

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

Fax: +92-42-36298302.

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

Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively.

islamic values Pakistan was created for the Muslims of the sub-continent with only one argument that Muslims are a different nation and need a separate state to practice its religion - Islam. The Muslims could not live with Hindu majority population where Hindus worship cows and Muslims eat cows besides host of other differences in historical and cultural values.

With this background of creation of a separate state, Pakistan should practice Islamic values as dictated by Quran and Sunnah. no doubt our constitution lays down in its Objective Resolutions that no law would be framed which is repugnant to Quran and Sunnah, but what use this resolution is when nothing is seen according to Quran and Sunnah in the state. The case in point is the recent appearance of pictures of our foreign minister meeting with foreign dignitaries. She should not shake hand with male diplomats/officials thus projecting wrong Islamic values to other countries and not justifying representing a Muslim country.

Similarly, with the exception of very few, majority of the lady parliamentarians are exhibitionists with full makeup from beauty parlours before coming to the parliament and mixing freely with male colleagues. This observation by no means is extremist mindset. The conduct of women in the parliament or the lady ministers is seen all over the world. If they do not follow Islamic values, the non-Muslims would make a mockery of our Islamic values where a Muslim woman is not supposed to touch a stranger (ghair mehrem) and they have to cover their body parts as given in Sura-e-noor (Chap18 Ayat 31) and Sura-e-Ahzaab Ehzaab (Chap 22 Ayat 59).

I strongly feel if our lady parliamentarians and ministers dress up according to Quran and Sunnah, they would look more graceful and convey the correct Islamic values to their counterparts of non-Muslim countries.

MUHAMMAD AZHAR KHWAJA Lahore

local government system Every democratic setup has three tiers of governance – central, provincial (or states) and local/municipal governments.

Unfortunately in Pakistan , baring a few, most of the political parties believe in first two tiers while for the third one they prefer bureaucracy to take care. In my opinion, this third tier of municipal/city governments is far more important as it allows direct participation of general public at town/village level. This tier is directly responsible for upkeep of the cities and towns, however, our political parties prefer to run the towns and cities by unelected administrators and commissioners. By doing so, there is no love lost for the poor public, it’s a

way to keep the bureaucracy under the thumb of governing political party(ies) in that province.

It’s now over three years since the previously elected local/city governments were dissolved at the end of their tenure, but no one knows when there will be elections for new municipal setup. All the provincial governments have chosen to ignore the advice from Supreme and High Courts to hold the city /municipal governments’ elections without any further delay.

All provinces, barring Sindh, have carried out legislation to abolish the local governments systems, have replaced with commissionarate system. In Sindh, both the coalition

fbr’s amnesty scheme After many years of speculating that they have three million tax dodgers, out of a population of 190 million, within their cross hairs, the FBR has finally come up with a new scheme to capture these tax dodgers. Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of 190 million, out of which the FBR collects taxes from only 0.5 percent of the population. now the FBR wants to offer a tax amnesty scheme to all the tax dodgers of the past 65 years and is threatening them with the blockage of their CnIC and passport, effectively cancelling their Pakistani citizenship, which seems like a very bold move to increase the number of tax payers. Unfortunately, it is the only move FBR has been able to come up with in the past four years. Therefore, we all will be very supportive of it.

I would like to request one addition to balance this act: that is to offer a special “Lifetime Tax Free” amnesty scheme to the 0.5 percent Pakistani tax payers, who have been gracious enough to pay taxes for the past 65 years, that covered the cost of every Pakistani for 65 years. If you are going to offer amnesties to the crooks, then you should also offer amnesties to the honest citizens.

SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER Peshawar

an interesting point The Supreme Court of Pakistan held in Asghar Khan case that 1990 election were rigged, illegal, and unconstitutional. The court directed the government to take action against those who were involved in the distribution of money. The verdict also required the government, through FIA, to initiate proceedings against politicians who received money, associated and cooperated in the crime for a sinister purpose.

The government ought to implement SC order in true letter and spirit instead of paying lip service of respecting and holding the apex court in high esteem. However, a pertinent question arises with regard to the silence of SC judgment of the beneficiaries of the outcome of the illegal and

partners – PPP and MQM have held a marathon of meetings (may be more than 100 meetings) during last three years to discuss the future setup for city governments with no obvious breakthrough. Just few days back, on President Zardari’ interference, these two parties have got together to conclude the task; to agree upon a system more near to the one established during Musharraf era.

Both the PPP and MQM have been claiming to have reached on a consensus but I have reservation on this development. If we go by the history, it may be tactical move by PPP to pacify MQM and then by doing so first postpone the upcoming general elections and later get away

unconstitutional action. Perhaps, it is an established fact that nothing good ever comes out from an evil.

And if 1990 polls were illegal and rigged, how could the government that assumed power as a result be legitimate? Can all the subsequent actions taken by an unconstitutional government be genuine and legal?

The registrar, who explained the detailed judgement of the SC on the plea he was doing so to remove any ambiguity, ought to throw some light on this point as well.

RAJA SHAFAAT ULLAH Islamabad

resentment I strongly resent against the friendly relations we are developing with India. Trade delegations, parliamentary delegations and so on are being exchanged almost on weekly, if not daily, basis.

Movies are being made in India to demulsify partition. Borders are being kept as formality with free movement of people with or without visas.

Bollywood stars are being offered little that we are left with to work in our movies (I guess to co-star Shaan in ‘Jatt Sadde Passé Da’). Lot more is being done to hurry up making India and Pakistan as one.

I resent it most ardently.

Hindus can never be our friends; we cannot live or work with them. We are two nations and we have nothing in common except complexion, I think.

India has done and is still doing massive violations of treaties and agreements we have had in the past.

India is bent upon squeezing the last drop of our waters to render us dry and barren. India has massively connived with Jews to malign our religion through modern technology in communication, which somehow the impoverished people of India have excelled in. Indian females have lost all sense of morality and decency and they attract our youth very strongly who are being subjected to ‘hijab’.

I do not understand what has attracted our government to go into the lap of India? All I can think of is some hundreds of those females in Bollwood, who hardly cover themselves now and have nice swinging waists. Veena can be victimized, but not the entire nation. Let’s have decent neighborly relations and the underlying principle of

with city governments elections as well putting up any excuse.

MQM shall be aware that none of the political parties (whether in government or in opposition) are ready to see Karachi city government being handed over to MQM, therefore, it’s up to MQM whether to be pacified with lollypops PPP would be offering, or keep struggling for the third tier governance all across the country. I see not much hope having a turnaround in our political parties thinking, therefore, should we agree with British colonial system to run the cities by commissioners. Perhaps this is the fate of a democratic Pakistan.

MASOOD KHAN Jubail, Saudi Arabia

relationship is: do not interfere in Pakistan and reciprocally we won’t interfere in your lives.

AMJAD H MIRZA Lahore

doing nothing for the masses While wandering into the cities, towns and villages of my home province, Sindh, one can see thousands of children, homeless, without clothes, running in packs in the streets, in particular, the children whose relatives were affected by the manmade and natural disasters of the last two consecutive years. On can witness that the so-called representatives, the money crazy bureaucrats and technocrats, make every effort to degrade and debase these ill-fated children as they beg for food.

One can hear the heart-wrenching stories and at some places can see that the disaster-affected people keep on selling their newborns because they can’t feed them.

The present rulers have done nothing for the common people but they have done a lot for a chosen few families, or better to say a chosen few individuals, in the province and one ethnic group.

People know that a chosen few penniless persons have become billionaires at least in my home district Larkano. In the prevalent situation one of the senior advocates from Larkano rightly says, “ we need a government that stands up for the hopes, values and interests of the downtrodden and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential as it was done during the days of Shaheed ZAB but sorry to say nothing is being done nowadays.”

Where are the national and local nGOs which usually market the miseries of these poor and the disaster affected people in the luxury hotels of the big cities such like Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore and suck maximum funds from the gracious and generous international donor bodies and nGOs? Unfortunately, they too have done nothing to alleviate the miseries of masses in Sindh However, both, the incumbent rulers and the national nGO activists, are there to serve their own interests.

HASHIM ABRO Islamabad

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 12

12 MARIA SHARAPOVA IN

DELHI Timberlake, Biel having problems in their married life?

N

ewly wed singer Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are already having problems in their married life. The couple apparently fell out after Biel ordered Timberlake to cut ties with his hardpartying bachelor pals. “Jessica and Justin are suffering from a bad case of post-wedding blues. And it’s all because she wants him to dump most of his old friends,” showbizspy quoted a source as saying. “All those guys en-joy weekend trips to Vegas, guys-only golf outings in exotic lo-cales and picking up hot chicks at clubs. And Justin used to be a big part of it. Jessica told Justin, ‘That’s it! Choose your stupid friends or me’,” said the source. The couple got married oct 19 at the Borgo egnazia resort, Puglia, Italy. “He told Jessica he’s not ditching his friends. And he added insult to injury when he added that he probably won’t be ready to start a fam-ily for at least two years. “Poor Jess was left in tears. And now she’s wondering if marrying Justin was a major mistake,” added the source. neWS DeSK

Cosmopolis saved me from depression: robert Pattinson

h

ollywood star Robert Pattinson says his muchappreciated stint in vampire franchise Twilight left him struggling with depression for two years. The 26-year-old actor, who is gearing up for the final installment of The Twilight Saga: Breaking dawn — Part 2, said he was saved from spiralling into depression when director david Cronenberg asked him to star in Cosmopolis. “I went through a big time of depression between 23 and 25. I couldn’t go where I wanted to. I was in the tabloids every day and I didn’t have access to the roles I really wanted. I wanted more, on every level,” he says. Pattinson found that while his Twilight co-stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor lautner were off working on other projects, he was stuck in a rut. “I finally realised that you needed to earn this change I so desperately wanted.

That one way or another, you had to suffer to be able to make it. I thought everything was going to be served on a plate but that’s not how it works,” he adds. neWS DeSK

While Shah Rukh Khan and the Jab Tak Hai Jaan team made Delhiites wait for three hours on Sunday, elsewhere, tennis star Maria Sharapova was already winning hearts. And, being won over by the Capital. On her maiden visit to India, the world number two was so awed by the “tremendous energy of the people in Delhi” that she said she wanted to play live here.

“I’d heard that I have a lot of fans in India but seeing it for myself was amazing! There’s so much energy and warmth here. I really, really want to play live in India someday,” said the 25-year-old US-based Russian, who was here as brand ambassador of a UK-based real estate firm. In the country just for a day, Sharapova shelved her Taj Mahal plans for the next visit, but said she did not want to miss out on a desi shopping spree. “I’m really looking forward to visit the local markets to buy some souvenirs for my friends, and may be some ethnic Indian wear for myself,” said the player, who won the French Open this year, followed by a silver at the Olympics.

And Indian food?

“Oh yeah! I already had a dosa for breakfast, it was awesome!” neWS

DeSK

What was the turning point in Malaika Arora’s life?

I

T E M girl Malaika Arora Khan says the day she and her husband, filmmaker Arbaaz Khan decided to turn producers, was the most important turning point in her life. “Professionally, there have been many instances which have made me the person I am today. But by far, the most special was the day when Arbaaz and I decided to become producers and make a film which is Dabangg, and now we are making a sequel. So, professionally, it’s the most important turning point in my life,” says the 39-yearold. While Dabangg was directed by Abhinav Kashyap, Arbaaz has taken the reins himself to direct Dabangg 2. Talking about Arbaaz turning director, Malaika says, “I am really excited but also nervous. It’s been superb not just producing this time, but having him direct the film. I have been pretty hands-on, so yes, it’s really nerve-wrecking right now.”

Dabangg 2 stars Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha, who starred in the first installment as well. While Malaika swooned the nation with her item number ‘Munni badnaam’ in the first installment, actor Kareena Kapoor will be doing a special song in Dabangg 2. But Malaika won’t be completely absent in the sequel. She will apparently be seen in a special appearance, but is keeping the news under wraps. However, contrary reports suggest that Malaika has already shot for another peppy number for the film. Dabangg 2 is scheduled to release on December 21 this year. neWS DeSK

Amitabh Bachchan furious with Bihar police Amitabh Bachchan is still an angry young man at 70.

Upset with the Bihar police for using his face for an anti-Maoist campaign without his consent, the actor took to Facebook and Twitter to vent his rage on Saturday. And it worked. On Sunday, police pulled down billboards featuring Big B’s photograph in Kaimur district in south-west Bihar. “Just read news about my photograph being used by Bihar Police... this is illegal, no consent taken or given, lawyers in action now,” read the actor’s tweet. While the threat of legal action was enough to get his message across, police officials feel the actor misunderstood their social initiative titled Adhaura Super-30. “Amitji’s picture was used to motivate poor college aspirants because he’s a hero to millions,” Kaimur superintendent of police Uma Shankar Sudhanshu said on Sunday. Under the programme, youth in the Maoist-hit area are provided free coaching for competitive examinations, along with food and lodging.

Kaimur additional superintendent of police Manoj Kumar Yadav said Bachchan’s saying on Kaun Banega Crorepati - “Sirf gyaan hi aapko aapka haq dilata hai (only knowledge can get you what is rightfully yours)” - was the best message for the district’s restless tribal youth. “We never used Amitji’s name, photograph or poem to recruit youth to fight Maoists because we don’t see violence by either side as a solution to the problem,” Yadav said. neWS DeSK

SELENA GomEz HAd TrUST ISSUES WITH JUSTIN BIEBEr? Justin Bieber confused?

J

uSTIn Bieber kept mum on the subject of his split from girlfriend Selena Gomez, after a two year relationship in a recent interview, neither confirming nor denying the news of the breakup. The teen popstar was dodging breakup talk during the interview on november 10. “I don’t know what to say,” us magazine quoted him as telling open House Party radio host John Garabedian.“I don’t know what’s going on in my life . . . To even assess that it doesn’t make sense ‘cause I have not made any comment’,” he said.

Gomez, meanwhile, has maintained a low profile since their oct. 31 breakup, hopping a plane from lAX to new york nov. 10 after wrapping production on her disney series wizards of waverly Place. neWS DeSK

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

Celebrity couple singers Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez parted ways as the latter reportedly had trust issues. The news came after Bieber, 18, was spotted attending Broadway production of The Lion King musical with Hungarian model Barbara Palvin, 19, nov 8. The two met the previous day at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Gomez and Bieber maintained a high profile relationship for almost two years but parted ways a week ago.“With them being apart so much it got complicated. She had some trust issues. It’s not easy, but the relationship needed to end,” People magazine quoted a source as saying. “She broke up with him about a week ago,” the source added. Gomez had posted a picture of Bieber and the model on her Twitter page nov 9 and captioned it as “ .....” hinting to her fans that there was something wrong. Bieber and Gomez call it quits after two years of their relationship. It is said that because of their hectic schedules, the power

couple was unable to cope, reports E! news.

Well, now that Justin Bieber is single, it’s certainly good news for his female fans! The news doesn’t come as a suprise because rumours of the couple having a difficult time together had been rife for the last one week or so, reports Huffington Post. A source also told RadarOnline that Bieber was head over heels for Gomez, 20, but she wasn’t feeling it

anymore, and was just riding out the relationship because her team felt the relationship was good for her image.

While it may be possible that Selena was the one to call it off, but Justin Bieber had also been recently linked to Victoria’s Secret model Barbara Palvin. neWS DeSK

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 13

13 Jab Tak Hai Jaan beyond numbers: Shah rukh Khan

S

uPeRSTAR Shah Rukh Khan says his forthcoming film Jab Tak Hai Jaan, yash Chopra’s last directorial venture, is more about feeling and emotions, than box office economics. “My belief is never on counting. For me, numbers are limits. Also, after the demise of yashji, I can’t relate the film with numbers. The film is more about feeling than any other thing and I think people will like it.

It will be beyond numbers,” the 47-year-old told reporters when asked if the movie will join the Rs100 crore club. yash Chopra died on october 21. “when he (Chopra) used to say on the sets that this is his last film, I never took it seriously, nobody of us did that actually. I used to think, I can always convince him to do another one. But his death came as a shock and this is the reason why the film is no longer just a film for me,” said Shah Rukh. Also starring Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, Jab Tak Hai Jaan releases on november 13. neWS DeSK

Aamir Khan uses Google to promote Talaash?

Aamir Khan is famous for his out-of-the-box film promotion ideas. And now, he has planned something out of the ordinary for his upcoming release, Talaash, as well. The marketing team for the film is in talks with search-engine giant, Google. If all goes well, on its India homepage (href=”http://www.google.co.in”>www.google.c o.in), the word Talaash (which means search) will replace the Google Search button for a short period of time leading up to the release. The deal is likely to be signed in the coming week.

“What could be better than using the world’s biggest search engine? If it works out, it will start after Diwali, and continue till november 30,” says an insider.

Aamir is known to be very canny about marketing tactics. It was he who decided to roll out Talaash promotions post Diwali, after the two big releases — Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Son Of Sardaar — have fought it out. neWS DeSK

leonardo dicaPrio and cameron diaz: look good for a good cause, the a-list pals glam it up for hurricane Sandy relief and un women’s charities at the tag heuer event in nYc.

i’m not getting married next year: Aftab Shivdasani Aftab Shivdasani on rumours surrounding his marriage, his Gujarat experience and more in an interview. Aftab Shivdasani seemed to be in a relaxed frame of mind when Ahmedabad Times caught up with him at the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, where he was shooting for Indra Kumar’s Grand Masti. Aftab whose last screen outing was 1920-Evil Returns, says, “Working with Vikram Bhatt is always a pleasure and having done nine films with him, we are great friends today. It was nice to do a horror film.”

On the personal front, having found love again, the actor is in a happy space. While there have been reports that Aftab is all set to get married to his girlfriend nin Dusanj early next year (we spotted her at the palace too, spending some quality time with Aftab after the shoot), the actor says, “These are all rumours! I have never said that I am getting married next year.

However, I am in a steady relationship and it feels wonderful to be in love. The day I plan to get married, I will let the world know.” Aftab, who has seen it all in the last 13

years (Mast, his debut as an adult, released in 1999, while he debuted as a child actor in Mr India in 1987), says, “On hindsight, I could have strategised my career a little better. As a newcomer, I had no godfather in the industry and didn’t know how to go about things. In any actor’s career, there comes a phase when you sit back, reflect on what you have done and get selective.

CoURteSy toI

Abhishek bachchan to play rajiv gandhi?

Abhishek Bachchan is the likeliest candidate for the part of the man who carried India, kicking and dragging, into the 21st century. The Rajiv Gandhi biopic to be directed by Bhavna Talwar would now be made with the consent and approval of Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

While the film’s director and her husband-producer Sheetal Talwar have zeroed in on a number of British and Indian actors who would possibly play Rajiv (among them Colin Firth, Riz Ahmed and Abhishek Bachchan), it is the casting of an actress to play Sonia Gandhi that’s proving more

problematic. This needs to be sorted out at the earliest since the Talwars would be meeting Mrs Gandhi next month in Delhi over the Rajiv Gandhi bio-pic to give her a low-down of the content. Says a source close to the project, “Bhavna Talwar would be making the film in complete harmony with Mrs Sonia Gandhi. She would be kept in the loop about every development in the project. now, casting for the Rajiv part which is on the verge of closure can be delayed a bit more. But when Sheetal and Bhavna Talwar meet Mrs Sonia Gandhi they must be able tell her the name of the actress who plays her.” Explains Sheetal, “It is only reasonable, don’t you

think? We should be able to inform Mrs Gandhi who is playing her role. We’ve narrowed down the list to 5-6 foreign actresses. But we can’t reveal who will actually play Mrs Gandhi until we sign her.” We believe Monica Bellucci who was to play Sonia Gandhi in the biopic that the late Jagmohan Mundhra was to make, is high in the list. Says Sheetal, “We are not looking at stars to play Rajivji and Soniaji .We want actors who understand what they stand for. Rajiv changed not just our society in terms of technological progress, he changed Indian mindsets. We need an actor who understands the lofty ideals that he stood for.” neWS DeSK

Not dating Tom Cruise, clarifies Cameron diaz

A

CTReSS Cameron diaz has denied rumours that she is dating Tom Cruise. The rumours surfaced after diaz was pictured with Cruise and fellow actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem as she celebrated her 40th birthday Aug 30. earlier, Cruise’s representative had slammed the reports and now diaz denies it. “I happened to bump into Penelope Cruz, Javier, Tom and his son in a hotel and joined them for dinner. At midnight I said, ‘I’m 40’. So we took pictures and then said ‘Goodnight, see you later, blah, blah, blah’ and I haven’t seen him since.” “But the next thing I know, apparently I am dating him and it’s full on and he is coming after me,” she added. The actress made the clarification on a chat show. diaz was in a relationship with baseball player Alex Rodriguez for an year but parted ways in September 2011. neWS DeSK

I don’t do all stunts in 007, says daniel Craig

D

AnIel Craig has revealed that he prefers to take the backseat when it comes to James Bond’s daring stunts. The 44-year-old actor made the revelation on the ‘Jimmy Kimmel show.’ “I don’t do all my stunts-I’d be lying if I said that. But I like the fact that occasionally that you’ll see on screen that it’s my face and it’s me,’” the daily Mail quoted him as telling the late night TV host. “And I think audiences hopefully appreciate that. At least, I really hope they do,” he said. Craig also talked about the thrill of getting to drive the iconic Aston Martin dB5 but confessed he prefers to be driven by the professional on-set stunt drivers than handle the automobiles himself. “on the movie I get taught to drive by these really great drivers,” he said. neWS DeSK

monday, 12 november, 2012

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 14

Infotainment 14 Apple and HTC sign truce ending patent disputes

Skype is available for Windows Phone 8

S

IVALS settle patent disputes ending a fight that began in March 2010, indicating the peace could break out in the wider patent wars engulfing the technology industry. In a surprise truce in Apple's ongoing patent wars, the company has signed a 10-year licence agreement with Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC. HTC is thought to have paid Apple between $5 (£3.14) and $20 (£12.57) per handset that it produces using Android - Google's operating system.

HTC say that the deal will not have a material effect on its profit-and-loss account The two firms have settled all their outstanding disputes over patents and signed a 10-year licence agreement that includes current and future patents held by one another. The companies had been suing each other for 32 months in Europe and the US, with Apple succeeding in temporarily preventing US imports of HTC phones.

HTC's has seen its sales tumble since the sec-

r

Something is buzzing around the sky in Denver. It has been captured by at least two videographers and has at least one aviation expert baffled.

According to a FOX TV affiliate, KDVR, a Denver man, wishing to remain anonymous, gave the television station home video that, he claimed, showed unidentified flying objects quickly zig-zagging and maneuvering in the sky over a populated section of the mile-high city. The man told the station that the UFOs have been appearing several times a week, generally between noon and 1 p.m., and launching and landing somewhere in the Denver metro area.

Fox 31 Denver news reporter Heidi Hemmat investigated the sightings and the video. "He captured the images on his digital camera from a hilltop in Federal Heights, looking south toward downtown Denver," Hemmat reported. "The strangest part is that they are flying too fast to see with the naked eye."

ond half of 2011 as it struggles to emulate the success of its rivals. It expects sales to be lower than expected at the end of the year. Apple has been embroiled in a series of high profile patent cases all over the world as the dominant player and its rivals accuse each other of copying designs and ideas.

Legal cases between Apple and Samsung have been filed in more than 10 countries, with each accusing the other of copying designs. In Britain a spat over a UK court decision that found in favour of Samsung has been ongoing for several weeks.

Patents blogger Florian Mueller wrote that "If litigation is the question, licensing is, once again, the answer. The settlement is surprising and unsurprising at the same time. The timing wasn't expected since neither party had massive leverage over the other, but it makes a whole lot of sense that Apple would settle with HTC, and that HTC would accept the terms Apple has imposed (which were not disclosed but are likely somewhat onerous), prior to other Apple-Android settlements.

Mueller added that "Both companies simply have other priorities to focus on. For Apple, the competitive challenge it faces from Samsung and from Google's plan to use Motorola Mobility's patents to reach a point of mutually assured destruction are far bigger issues. If Apple wanted to be embroiled in litigation with a third Android device maker, HTC would no longer be the choice at this stage -- Amazon, for example, would be a higher priority. And while HTC didn't have to fear much from Apple's litigation in the nearest term, it probably knew that it couldn't win this fight in the long run, and it now needs to focus on its business. It recently lost market share and reported disappointing financial results. Google should finally recognize that Android devices need patent licenses, that Android is not free no matter how often Google says so, and that one Android device maker after the other will seek licensing arrangements with Apple, Microsoft, nokia and other significant patent holders." neWS DeSK

Denver UFO mystifies local media

To try and verify the legitimacy of the video, the TV station's photojournalist, noah Skinner, brought his own equipment out to the same location from where the UFOs were first captured on camera. Hemmat says Skinner shot video between noon and 1 p.m. When his video was

slowed down, it revealed an unidentified object flying in the sky.

KDVR then turned to Steve Cowell, a former commercial pilot and FAA accident prevention counsellor, to see if he could make any sense out of the mysterious flying objects on the videos. "I can't identify it," Cow-

ell told KDVR. "That is not an airplane, that is not a helicopter, those are not birds." Cowell suggested that the objects could be debris raising up from the ground by atmospheric winds. He also didn't think the UFOs could be explained as bugs. But according to Doubtfulnews.com, a blog dedicated to the unexplained, that's exactly what these objects are.

"They're bugs! Set up two cameras side by side and triangulate the distance to the object. Clearly they consulted a man in the wrong profession," according to Doubtful news writer Chew. "Get someone who has studied UFOs. Or an entomologist." KDVR reported that both the FAA and nORAD couldn't confirm unusual activity in the skies over Denver during those noon-to-1 p.m. time frames.

UFOs, debris, bugs? Check out the video above and the individual screen shots we've provided and make up your own mind. neWS DeSK

Teen survives bites in snake nest A teenage California girl searching for a cellphone signal to call her mother in a rural area outside San Diego inadvertently stepped into a nest of rattlesnakes and was bitten six times but survived.

Vera Oliphant, 16, spent four days in the intensive-care unit of Sharp Grossmont Hospital, and doctors gave her 24 vials of antivenin after she was bitten by an adult rattlesnake and five young rattlers outside her uncle’s home. “I was trying to find a signal to call my mom and text my boyfriend,” Oliphant said on Friday, a day after she was released from the hospital after the Oct. 27 incident. “I didn’t see them until I already stepped on their nest and I felt them biting me.”

“My vision started to go right away. First, it looked like the snakes

blended into the leaves, and then I started seeing black spots around the edges and I started blacking out.” Her uncle immediately packed her into a car and rushed her to the emergency room, she said.

Doctors there administered antivenin to quash the toxins, a hospital spokesman said. Snakebites usually aren’t fatal, although a handful of people die in the United States each year from snake bites.

Oliphant has recovered and will be returning to classes at Chaparral High School in El Cajon on Monday. She said the next time she can’t get a signal, she will handle it differently.

“Be careful where you step,” she said. “If you don’t need to, just wait until you are somewhere that you can call people.” neWS DeSK

OFTWARE HOUSE Microsoft has released a preview version of Skype for Windows Phone 8, two weeks after the mobile operating system's release. On Friday, Microsoft told The InQUIRER that Skype would be "coming soon" to Windows Phone 8, following complaints from early adopters. It looks like the firm has stuck to its promise, as Skype is finally available to download from the Windows Store on Windows Phone 8. However, Microsoft is keen to point out that it's a Preview version of the full app, which means "experiences are not yet final". According to Microsoft, this means that some capabilities - such as People Hub integration and background functionality - are still work in progress and might not function consistently yet. Still, we managed to download the app onto our Windows Phone 8 powered nokia Lumia 920 handset and didn't notice any issues at the time of publication. Skype for Windows Phone 8 - much like its IOS and Android counterparts - has the abilities to make free video and voice calls over 3G and WiFi, and to send and receive free instant messages. Unlike Skype's other apps, however, it comes styled to tie in with the Windows Phone 8 interface, and its icon is a resizable Live Tile. neWS DeSK

Man impersonates a cop to get into Disney World

L

OOKS like his dreams didn't come true.

Professional photographer Emerito Pujol was arrested after allegedly pretending to be a federal officer in an attempt to get into Disney World's Epcot Center for free, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Police say the 74-year-old showed an Epcot staff member a fake badge while walking through the turnstiles around noon on Saturday.

The employee asked to take a closer look at the badge, and Pujol allegedly told him he was an undercover officer searching for someone. A security officer got involved, Pujol changed his tune, according to WESH. He told the officer he was in the midst "guarding someone important," according to the arrest report. When a deputy was called to the scene, Pujol allegedly admitted that he was just trying to avoid paying the $94.79 cost of getting into Epcot. The badge he had initially produced stated that the carrier was an "honorary member" of the American Federation of Police.

The AFP is a nonprofit organization. The man is facing a felony charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer. neWS DeSK

Priest bites off another priest’s ear

A

n 80-year-old Catholic priest bit off another priest's ear and socked him in the face over a parking spot in Australia, according to Perth now. Father Thomas Henry Byrne appeared in court Friday after he allegedly started the violent brawl when 81-year-old Father Thomas Joseph Cameron Smith wouldn't give up his parking space. After a brief scuffle, Byrne reportedly told Smith to pick up an item on the ground. The item was Smith's ear, according to the Daily Mail, though it took him a while to figure out what it was. Smith wrapped the flesh in a tea towel and drove to a local hospital, where staffed phoned him an ambulance. He was taken to surgery, while cops went to arrest Byrne on a charge of grievous bodily harm.

Byrne had a black eye when he showed up in court on Friday, according to the Independent. An East Perth magistrate ordered that Byrne not go within 30 feet of Smith, who lives in the same apartment complex. neWS DeSK

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 16

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

federer charms fans in murray's backyard Page 17

Pakistan may host India, S Africa in 2013 LAHORE

india put sponsorship condition for Pakistan fans NEW DELHI

StAff RepoRt

P

AgenCIeS

AKISTAn Cricket Board (PCB) is anticipating to hosting arch rivals India and the South African cricket team in full-fledged series sometime in the later half of 2013, a source revealed on condition of anonymity.

Though these series are not in the ICC Future Tour Programme but the PCB chief Zaka Ashraf is trying to convince these countries to tour Pakistan in a bid for revival of international cricket in Pakistan. Zaka Ashraf has created a special window in a bid to revive international cricket in Pakistan. PCB Chief Zaka Ashraf is also hoping that Bangladesh may tour Pakistan in January prior to Pakistan tour of South Africa. If it happens then this will be another big achievement for Ch Zaka Ashraf and Pakistan will move one step closer to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.

The source revealed that Pakistan are scheduled to play three major home and away series in 2013-14 season, starting with tour to South Africa in January next year. The South Africa itinerary will be followed by a tour to West Indies in July and August, and a home series against the Proteas later in the year.

The West Indies tour comprising three Tests, One Day Internationals and T20 matches will be held after the last

doing everything i can to make a comeback: fawad

Champions Trophy to be played in England. Pakistan was also scheduled to play a short limited-overs series against Ireland prior to the esteemed tournament. "The team will go to Caribbean after taking part in the Champions Trophy in England that will be held in June.

Before the tournament we will also be playing a series against Ireland," the source said. South Africa is scheduled to tour Pakistan in October 2013, in the return leg of the bilateral series, but that would depend on the security situation in the country, added the source.

"If security issues lead to South Africa not wanting to play in Pakistan than obviously the other option is to host them at a neutral venue," he said.

The PCB is also hoping to convince the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to send its players to Pakistan, sometime in the latter half of the year.

After the West Indies tour the board has

a window open in August-September, and is contemplating over inviting the Indian counterparts in this period. However, the source said that it is still an idea and it would be too early to confirm anything now.

"The idea is there and discussions on this will be held when Pakistan goes to India in December but it is too early to say anything concrete now," the source said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan has not hosted an international cricket team since the 2009 militant attacks on the on-tour Sri Lankan squad in Lahore, and against India it dates back to February 2006.

The Pakistan Cricket Board chief Zaka Ashraf had promised to bring international cricket back to Pakistan and sincerely working for the cause under a pre-planned strategy and that is bearing fruit. May Allah Mighty give him more

successes and if he succeeded in bringing back international cricket to Pakistan his name will be written in golden words in the history of Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf is doing his best for the revival of international cricket in Pakistan and his efforts started yielding fruit. It is being hoped that his sincere efforts will compel foreign team to visit Pakistan. now it is depend on the Punjab government to keep politics away from sports and cope with the Pakistan Cricket Board chief Zaka Ashraf for the provision of foolproof security to the visitors to avoid any untoward incident in future. now ball is in the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif court and if he extends a helping hand to Pakistan Cricket Board Chief regarding provision of foolproof security to the visiting teams will help a lot and improve Pakistan image in the world.

Any Pakistani cricket lover who wants to visit India to watch the upcoming limited over Indo-Pak cricket matches will have to have an Indian sponsor to get a visa as 12 Pakistani spectators had gone missing after the 2007 bilateral series.The Home Ministry has made it mandatory for each Pakistani cricket fan intending to witness the forthcoming cricket series beginning December 25 to have a local sponsor to get visa.

The decision has come as 12 Pakistani men, who came to India to watch the last IndiaPakistan bilateral cricket series held in november-December 2007, did not return home and are yet to be traced. "There will be no relaxation of visa rules for the cricket fans. We cannot compromise our security as it is our prime concern. So, whoever seeks visa, has to name a local sponsor," a Home Ministry official said. There will be no cap on the number of visas to be issued for the Pakistani cricket lovers and whoever fulfils the prescribed criteria and becomes eligible to get visa will get it. The visa applicants will also have to attach a copy of the ticket purchased to watch the series that would comprise three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals between December 25, this year and January 6, next year. The ODI matches will be played in Chennai, Kolkata and new Delhi and the Twenty20 games in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. All Pakistani cricket fans, who came to watch the 2011 World Cup semifinal in Mohali, had returned home. However, the 12 Pakistanis, who came in 2007, are still to be traced.

Having an Indian sponsor was not mandatory for those who came five years ago.

Full back irfan banned for six months and fined for indiscipline Pak hockey team to

LAHORE

LAHORE

StAff RepoRt

StAff RepoRt

Fawad Alam scored a century in his debut Test for Pakistan in 2009, making 168 out of a total of 320 against Sri Lanka in Colombo after Pakistan were shot out for 90 in the first innings. He finished third on the batting charts in Pakistan's premier domestic first-class tournament in 2011-12, with 945 runs at 67.50 for national Bank of Pakistan. This season, after six matches, he's on top of the run-scorers' table, his 446 runs coming at 51.77.

Yet Alam has only three Tests to his name, the last of which was in november 2009. Three Tests, 27 ODIs and 24 Twenty20s. He is considered more of a limited-overs player, despite not having made much of a mark in the shorter formats and despite his fine numbers in first-class cricket, which show his technique isn't flawed and he has the temperament to succeed in the long form, reported Cricinfo.

Alam grew up in the shadow of his famous father, Tariq Alam, whose twodecade first-class career ended in 1994.

Tariq Alam is now a popular coach, and has mentored many modern Karachi players - including the likes of Younis Khan, Saeed Anwar and Rashid Latif.

Fawad said his father is a source of encouragement for him. "I didn't need to go out to learn cricket - he was there for me to guide and take care of me," Fawad Alam said. "He is my courage and a cricket university at home who helped my career develop."

Alam quashes the notion that he is a short-format player, and puts his lack of Test caps down to luck. "I've always wanted to be prominent, and I want gain this prominence by scoring heavily. I think my first-class career is evidence enough to dispel this false perception," he told ESPncricinfo. "I have scored runs in difficult situations and won my national place in 2007. If I am away from the national side, it is perhaps because of my luck; otherwise I have scored enough. "I don't even buy this point, that I am only getting a chance in the wrong format.

The disciplinary committee of the Pakistan Hockey Federation has banned full back Mohammad Irfan for six months and fined him Rs 100,000 for indiscipline of skipping the ongoing national camp for Champions Trophy without any valid reason.

The three-member committee led by Wasey Jalil, heard the point of view of Irfan who appeared before the committee on Monday at national hockey stadium and also submitted his written reply. “ He committed indiscipline which was in breach of players code of conduct and the committee reached a unanimous decision to punish him for sending a firm message to all the hockey players that no one is above the discipline “,said

Wasey while reading out the recommendations of the committee. “ Irfan will not be playing hockey for six months at any level and a fine of Rs 100,000 has also been imposed on him “,he asserted.

He mentioned that the committee also took into consideration the past record of Irfan who is in habit of committing indiscipline on various accounts.

Irfan took a day from the camp from the camp commandant, Akhtar Rasool and reported after two-day giving false justification for his one day absence which was proved after the team management initiated probe at its own.

The team management reported the whole incident to the PHF which forwarded the case of Irfan to its disciplinary committee which also comprised Saeed Khan and Tanzeela Aamir Cheema as its members.

The chairman of the committee said Irfan has the right appeal against the decision within a week time.

Irfan expressed his regret on breach of indiscipline saying “it should not has happened “, “ I feel sorry on the while incident and I assure the PHF and the team management that I will never be involved in any kind of indiscipline in future . “ I accept the decision of the committee but definitely I am going to appeal against it as the six months ban is quite long “,said the player.

Irfan said he believes that President ,PHF Qasim Zia will give a kind consideration to his appeal and will lift the ban from him . “ I want to play hockey and to serve my country and I hope that PHF will give me a chance so that it should prove that I am a much improved person as far discipline is concerned”.

be named on nov 14 LAHORE StAff RepoRt

Pakistan hockey team will be named here on november 14 to take part in two major tournaments in Australia later this month. “ Pak team manager and head coach, Akhtar Rasool will name the team as the PHF has given the selection committee authority to the team management after abolishing the selection committee “,said a spokesman of Pakistan Hockey Federation here on Monday. The team is undergoing training at Johar town hockey stadium and the team will be named there.

Pakistan senior hockey team will participate in the International Super Series – Perth ,november 22-25 and 34thChampions Trophy Tournament to be held in Melbourne from December 1-9.

Fixing trio innocent: UK journalist LONDON AgenCIeS

British Journalist Ed Hawkins has made yet another claim that the Pakistani cricketers who were earlier believed to be involved in spot fixing are innocent, reports said on Monday.

Ed Hawkins, in his soon to be published book ‘Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy: Journey to the corrupt heart of cricket’s underworld’, has claimed that the three Pakistani cricketers including Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif are innocent and that they were schemed in the spot fixing case.

He said that in India, fixing in not done on no-balls and therefore, Justice Cook’s verdict regarding the involvement of three Pakistani cricketers in spot fixing was unjust.

It is pertinent to mention that the three cricketers have already served

their sentence in the UK jails for their involvement in spot fixing.

The journalist had earlier claimed that the semi-final between Pakistan and India of the Cricket World Cup 2011 was fixed.

According to Hawkins, the bookie had a contract with Pakistan which stipulated that the team would lose the match by a margin of over 20 runs.

The bookie had further said that India batting first would make 260 runs and their first three wickets would fall in 15 overs, while Pakistan would make 100 runs and then lose two quick wickets.

Another claim made is that bookies had used Bollywood actresses in the fixing process.

Hawkins a sport betting journalist spent months investigating corruption in cricket. His book will be published on november 15.

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 17

Sports 16 PUNjAb INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FESTIvAL

Pakistan win another four gold medals in ju-jitsu LAHORE

P

StAff RepoRt

AKISTAn is expecting to gain another two gold medals in the Punjab International Sports Festival after the male touch ball and fist ball teams qualified for the final here on Monday.

On the day, Pakistan got another four gold medals in ju-jitsu raising the tally to nine and more are likely to come in the coming days while today's gold in the game raised the tally to seven.

Until there is a major upset in the finals of touchball and fistball, the gold medals count of Pakistan which is now nine would surely reach 11 and with that Pakistan is likely to take the overall trophy.

In Monday’s matches of international touchball, Afghanistan got walkover against Somalia while hosts Pakistan in a dress rehearsal of the coming final beat Sri Lanka 3-1 in the last league match.

Mazhar Iqbal of Pakistan with a score of 2 provided much-needed supremacy while Amjad Waseem supported him with 1 score to get Pakistan a place in the

onus on bangladesh to take the fight to west indies MIRPUR

final. On the other hand Ramzan from Sri Lanka scored the only point of the losing side.

Pakistan will now take on Sri Lanka again in the final on november 14 at 3.30 pm at the University of Lahore ground and the event will also mark the closing of the Punjab International Sports Festival.

Meanwhile in the fistball final, Pakistan will clash with nepal on Tuesday at 3 pm while Punjab will take on Sri Lanka in the third-fourth position match.

In the semi-finals of the event, Pakistan Punjab’s team went down to nepal 3-2. In a closely-contested match, Pakistan took lead but nepal levelled the score and then went ahead 1-2. But Pakistan first equalized the score and later nepal displayed great fight to win the match.

In the second semi-final Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka 3-0. The home team for the entire proceeding did not let Sri Lanka come into the game and thus Pakistan made it to the final. now Pakistan will face nepal while Sri Lanka and Punjab will play for a position match.

Meanwhile in ju-jitsu, Pakistan won

four gold medals in 85, 77, Doo System and mix Doo system. With the addition of four golds on the day and previous three Pakistan won the overall trophy in the game with seven medals. Beginning from 62 kgs weight class, Iran’s Ali Reza was the winner while Pakistan’s AJmal Ali, Mohammed Hadi of Iraq and Hassan Baksh of Afghanistan won the event categorically.

In 85 kgs, Mohammed Zeeshan Butt of Pakistan,Iran's Waheed,Thailand's Javed and Saif of Iraq won the title.

In 77 kgs, Ayat ullah of Pakistan,Hassan Hamd of Iraq ,Zong yu of South Korea,Rayyan of Iran won the event.

In Doo system, Pakistan grabbed first position, Pakistan whites achieved second, Iran secured third and South Korea managed fourth position.

In Mix Doo system, Pakistan won first position, Pakistan whites got second, South Korea attained third and Thailand achieved fourth positions.

In the International football match between Yemen and Punjab Whites, the visiting team reached the final to take on Serbia. Yemen outplayed Punjab Whites 5-0. Alex of Yemen masterminded three goals while James Teddy and Saleh Abdul

Kareem shared one goal each to show their domination.

In the International Baseball Championship, nepal beat Afghanistan 17-9.

Karishna from nepal scored 4, nabin Ale 3, Arjun 3, Isore 2, Ram Paryar, Abhishek, Anil Paryar, Bijay and nabin

Female touch ball team accorded warm reception

AgenCIeS

A Test series between the seventh and ninth-ranked teams shouldn't attract much attention when four of the top sides are locking horns at almost the same time. But when the higher-ranked team among the two commands a new-found respect for winning a world title with its rising stars and its opposition is an erratic but talented bunch playing in front of excitable home crowds, attention towards Mirpur is expected. Contests such as these come without any guarantees but for those who enjoy a bottom-of-the-table scrap, this is it. To keep it a contest, though, Bangladesh will have to up their game and have the will to fight. West Indies are looking up and have been moving towards a goal - a rise up the Test rankings, though this series will not take them past Sri Lanka, even if the latter concede their series to new Zealand. What West Indies can do is move further ahead of new Zealand and Bangladesh and, more importantly, take their cricket to a higher plane, a level they have been seeking for the past 15 years. Captain Darren Sammy wouldn't want a slip-up against a team they have beaten in all but one series, the one where none of their top players turned up. As ammunition he has Chris Gayle, Sunil narine and Fidel Edwards, while for the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Darren Bravo and newcomer Veerasammy Permaul there is much to play for. It is now a team that has more and more places that are being contested, a phenomenon which is an important aspect of an improving cricket team, coupled with the stability which West Indies have began to develop in some areas of their Test team.

scored one each. Afghanistan's side got its score from Tahir, nasim, Abdur Rehman and Shair Ahmed scored 1 each while Mohammad Alam got 2 points.

The Advisor Sports to Chief Minister Punjab Ejaz Gull was the chief guest on this occasion.

Superior college, adabistan-e-Sofia win respective events

LAHORE

LAHORE

StAff RepoRt

The Pakistan female touchball team was on Sunday night accorded warm reception for winning the first gold medal for the country in the ongoing Punjab International Sports Festival.

Pakistan ladies defeated Iran in a keenly-contested final to bring the first medal for country. Afghanistan team was the third to take part in the event and members of all the three participating teams, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan were present on the occasion during which Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan, Deputy Speaker Punjab and chief organizer Festival was the chief guest. He was accompanied by Usman Anwar, Director General Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab while Speaking on the occasion, Rana Mashood highlighted the importance of the conduct of the Festival and expressed his hope that the participation of international teams in the International Festival would open up door of more international activity in the country.

“The holding of the Festival has changed the world’s approach towards Pakistan. Earlier they have perception but now Pakistan is being seen throughout the world in a positive sense,” he maintained.

“We the hard work of the Sports Board Punjab and the vision Chief Minister Punjab Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif we would soon see the foreign team play in Pakistan on a

StAff RepoRt

large scale. “The festival has given Pakistan a new dimension and now Australia and India are looking forward to break Pakistan records, which is a clear sign of the Punjab government’s success,” he added.

Also present on the occasion were Rai Altaf Hussain, DIG Motorway Po-

lice and senior vice president, MnA and president federation Riaz Fatyana, Syed Tahir Fawad Shah, VP, Abdul Qadir Shaheen, Zahoor Ahmed Secretary, Khawaja Mohammad Akram.

During the reception, the participating teams were awarded medals and the winning trophies.

Superior College and Adabistan-eSofia won the school and college boys’ three kilometer team event of cycling in the Samsung 5th Inter-school, College Games here at Cycling Velodrome.

Hamza Foundation earned second position while Unique College bagged the third position in the boys’ college while Unique School was second and KIPS Rachna Town was third in boys’ school three kilometer team event of cycling. In school boys’ time trail event, Ahsan Ijaz of Adabistan-e-Sofia secured first position M Jalal Butt of Unique School got second and Hamza Faiz of KIPS Rachna Town third. In college boys’ one kilometer, Usman Bhatti of Superior College was first, Waqas Badar of Unique College was second and Zohaib Qadir of GCU was third.

Railway Road Lahore clinched the first position in the college boy’s boxing with 145 points including nine gold medals. Govt College Lahore was second with 55 points and eight golds while FC College was third with 50 points.

In tug-of-war school boys’ event, DPS Model Town was first, DPS Johar Town second and Govt Higher Secondary School Jallo More was third. KIPS College won the first position in the boys’ college tug-of-war event. Today (Tuesday), semi-finals and finals of table tennis will be played.

Aussies look for win after Clarke, Cowan tons BRISBANE AgenCIeS

Majestic Michael Clarke unfurled another double century and opener Ed Cowan scored his first Test hundred as Australia batted South Africa out of the opening Brisbane Test on Monday.

Clarke produced an imperious captain's knock with his third huge innings this year to share in a record stand with Cowan and put the Australians ahead on a battingfriendly Gabba pitch.

At the close of the fourth day, Australia were 487 for four in reply to South Africa's 450, a lead of 33 with Clarke unconquered on 218 and Mike Hussey breezing along on 86, giving the home team an outside chance of victory on Tuesday's final day.

"I definitely think we can have a crack at

winning. The key is tomorrow morning to be nice and positive and see how we go leading up to lunch, and then give ourselves a couple of sessions to be able to bowl South Africa out," Clarke said.

Australia were in some danger at the start of the day at 111 for three and trailing the Proteas by 339 runs. But Clarke and Cowan laid the foundations for their team's lead with a record 259-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Clarke continued his flourishing batting form as skipper with his 20th Test hundred and his third double century of the year, after his unbeaten 329 and 210 against India at home in January.

He is the highest scorer in Tests this year with 1,000 runs at 111.11 and as Australian captain is averaging over 60 with the bat.

"One of (the) things Warney's (Shane Warne) taught me over the years is the better the bowling, the more positive you've got to be and that was certainly my intent from the first ball I faced," Clarke said.

"I wanted to be positive and play my way, and put it back on the South African bowlers because I know they're a very good attack."

His stand with Cowan was the highest fourth-wicket partnership by Australia at the Gabba, surpassing Clarke and Mike Hussey's 245-run effort against Sri Lanka in 2007.

It was also the biggest fourth-wicket stand by Australia against South Africa and the fifth biggest overall against the Proteas in Test history.

The partnership was only ended by a freakish run-out of Cowan for 136 shortly

before tea. He batted for 388 minutes and hit 18 boundaries.

It was the only wicket South Africa took all day. The left-hander backed up too far at the non-striker's end and was out when bowler Dale Steyn got his fingers to a stinging Clarke drive and deflected the ball onto the stumps.

It was Cowan's first century in his eighth Test match and dispelled doubts about his Test credentials after coming into the series with an average of 29.86.

"I want to be playing cricket for a long time for Australia," Cowan said. "There's only one way to do that and that's scoring runs. I'm happy to be judged by the runs I score." Hussey maintained the momentum with his lively undefeated 86 off 109 balls, joining in a rollicking 188-run partnership with Clarke to ram home the advantage.

SCoReBoARD South Africa first innings 450 all out* (J. Kallis 147, H.Amla 104, A. petersen 64; J. pattinson 3-93) Australia first innings (overnight 111-3) e. Cowan run out 136 D. Warner c Kallis b Steyn 4 R. Quiney c Steyn b Morkel 9 R. ponting c Kallis b Morkel 0 M. Clarke not out 218 M. Hussey not out 86 extras (lb-11, w-1, nb-22) 34 total (for four wickets, 121 overs) 487 fall of wickets: 1-13 2-30 3-40 4-299 Still to bat: M. Wade, p. Siddle, B. Hilfenhaus, J. pattinson, n. lyon.

BoWlIng: Steyn 27-3-109-1 (nb-1), philander 25-2-82-0 (nb-8), Morkel 26-6-109-2 (nb-2), Kleinveldt 17-0-81-0 (nb-11, w-1), Kallis 12-3-30-0, Smith 9-0-36-0, Amla 2-0-9-0, petersen 3-0-20-0. * South Africa's Jp Duminy was injured and unable to bat

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:15 AM Page 18

17 Sports kinnaird win u-19 women cricket

london: roger federer returns the ball to andy murray during the atP tour match.

LAHORE StAff RepoRt

Kinnaird won the 4th U-19 Regional InterDistrict Women Cricket Tournament, 2012 by 44 runs on Monday. Playing at the Race Course Park Cricket Ground-1, Kinnaird won the toss and choose to bat first andscored 158 in 25 overs. Ayesha naz 63, Fareeha Mehmood 29, Hafsa Amjad 28.

Kanwal Francis, Kainaat Hafeez and Zara Iqbal took 1 Wicket each Ravi Club 114 in 25 overs. Kainaat Hafeez 40, Zara Iqbal 31, Mehak Asif 15. namra Imran and nasira Rafique and Asha Khan took 1-Wicket each. Ayesha naz from Kinnaird Club declared Women of the Match:

national women karate concludes

LAHORE StAff RepoRt

The Shaheed Benazir Bhutto 8th national Women Karate Championship concluded at WAPDA Sports Complex.

Lt. Gen. Syed Arif Hassan, President Pakistan Olympic Association was the Chief Guest at Closing Ceremony.

Kulsum Hazara of WAPDA clinched 3 Gold Medals in -68 Kg, Team Kata and Team Kumite, while Benish Akber, Sohaila and Uzma Asghar of WAPDA won 2 Gold Medals each.

From Army, Huma, Razia, Faiza won Gold Medals in their respective weight categories.WAPDA won the championship by winning 6 gold and 2 Bronze medals with 160 points while Army stood on second position by winning 3 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals with 120 points, Balochistan secured third position by winning 1 silver and 5 bronze medals with 65 points. Chief Guest Lt. Gen. Syed Arif Hassan admired the achievements of Pakistan Women Karate Team and gave away the medals and winner trophies to the teams and distributed shields to the Technical Officials.

new karate federation formed LAHORE StAff RepoRt

A new Karate Federation of Pakistan was formed here on Monday by Karate players and Organizers from all the four provinces of Pakistan, Islamabad, and from some of the Services Organizations affiliated with the Pakistan Olympic. Lt Col retd Mujahid ullah Tareen was elected president and a former secretary of Pakistan Olympic Association, Mohammad Latif Butt was elected as Secretary of the body, “The participants discussed the problems that were impeding the development of the sport of Karate in the country and they were of the view the present organization of Pakistan Karate Federation (PKF) had miserably failed in its purpose and it had become hostage to a mere handful of individuals, led by the President of the PKF, who were manipulating this organization for their own personal gains while the interest and benefit of the players and the game itself had become of no value to them�,said a spoeksman of the newly formed body.

The following were unanimously elected as it office-bearers: President: Lt. Col. (R) Mujahidullah Khan Tareen, Chairman: Mr. Kamal Shah, Vice-Presidents: nominee (PAF), Zahid Hussain, Mahmood naveed, nominee (navy) Shabana Gulnaz (Women Assoc), Secretary Muhammad Latif Butt (Punjab), Jt. Secretaries: noor Ahmed (Balochistan), Mansoor Ahmed (KPK), Treasurer: Tahir Atta Barry, Members Executive committee, Mutalib (Sindh) 2). nominee (Army), 3. Mr. Qasim (Islamabad) 4). Mr. Muzammil (Punjab).

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

Federer charms fans in Murray's backyard LONDON

R

AgenCIeS

OGER Federer's unique appeal showed no sign of waning on Sunday as he gate-crashed what was supposed to be Andy Murray's party in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals.

Up against Britain's first male grand slam champion for 76 years and an Olympic gold medallist for good measure, the 17,000 crowd at the O2 Arena should by rights have been roaring for Murray as he attempted to reach the final of the prestigious year-ending tournament for the first time.

As it turned out Federer charmed them with the kind of dazzling tennis that has captivated crowds around the globe for the best part of a decade in which he has won 17 grand slams.

Overpowered in the opening games and struggling to stay with the Scot, a repeat of Murray's easy victory over Federer in the Olympics final looked a possibility.

Federer, lethal indoors, however came up with just about every shot in his vast armoury to claim a 7-6 6-2 victory and will contest the year's final match for the eighth time in the last 11 years.

World number one novak Djokovic stands between Federer and a seventh Tour Finals crown. Popular as the 25year-old Serb is, seven-times Wimbledon champion Federer is revered in London like a favourite son.

"It's something definitely that makes playing, well, easier to be quite honest," the 31-year-old Swiss told reporters when asked if he was ever surprised by the goodwill that flows his way, whether it be in London, Paris or new York.

"I guess because I've been in the game for so long, I do have many people who just enjoy watching me play or feel like it's a throwback maybe to the backin-the-day times when they used to play

Happy to explore something new: Sharapova MIMBAI The tennis world can't get enough of the grace and poise that Maria Sharapova brings to the court. She was all elegance as she spoke about her struggles with the shoulder injury, and a successful comeback, here on Sunday.

All the while, when she was battling the injury, she left a void on the circuit.

This season, Sharapova has fought her way to the top of the pack, winning the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam, besides winning the silver medal at the Olympics and also getting back to the no. 1 spot briefly. The process, more than anything else, has taught her to treat success and failure in equal measure.

"It has been a remarkable year," said Sharapova, who was in the Capital on Sunday as a brand ambassador for Homestead infrastructure.

"You work so hard in life and you start at a very young age and usually things keep going for you. And when something you like so much is taken back from you at a young age, it is difficult.

"I was 21 when I had a shoulder surgery which is very unusual for a tennis player, and not many people would come

back from that. The time away from the sport was very emotional and difficult as I was not even able to pick the racquet," Sharapova said.

It is therefore not surprising that she rates the French Open victory as the best among her four Grand Slams. " It is tough to differentiate the most memorable moment of my career, and say that one was more special than the other. It

(Grand Slams) all came at very different times in my career. But the French Open this year was special because I was injured for a year and I was coming back to the sport. It made me realise how hard it is to get to a winning position, and how hard it is to earn it."

Her comeback has spiced up the circuit with her rivalries with Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.

"It is important to have rivalries in sport. That's what makes the competition better. You always keep working hard. Serena is an incredible athlete and someone who has achieved so much success in her career. I was consistent this year and hope it continues next year also." From a precociously talented 17yearold, who triumphed at the Wimbledon in 2004, Sharapova has surely come a long way. "I think I am somewhere in the middle of the generation because I started when I was very young. now, I am seeing the new generation coming up. It's interesting because I am still quiet young and I thought I had many more years ahead of me. You see so much newer talents coming up on the tour and this is what you are going to see in 10 years from now." Having seen the tough injury phase, Sharapova can understand why Sania Mirza has shifted her preference to doubles.

with one-handed backhands, and they like me because of those things.

"I don't know what it is, but I do get a lot of support and do it appreciate it."

"We have played here twice before, and twice the crowds were amazing, electric, and sometimes even in my favor. So today was somewhat similar again," he added. There was plenty for his fans to admire against Murray, who after initially threatening to blow Federer off court with some forceful tennis ended up

under the Swiss maestro's spell.

Federer recovered from an early break of serve before playing a superb tiebreak, setting up a set point after winning a 22-stroke rally of breathtaking quality.

Once ahead the second set became a masterclass.

A stupendous backhand half-volley from near the baseline flashed past a stunned Murray and the daring nature of Federer's charges to the net were a re-

minder of an age when volleying was regarded as an art form.

"Obviously they don't serve and volley as much anymore," Federer said.

"This allows you to throw in the occasional chip and charge. It's a great feeling if it works.

"Today it worked out, so I'm happy.

Don't know if I'm going to throw in those kind of plays tomorrow. But novak is probably going to have a word to say about that."

AgenCIeS

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:16 AM Page 19

Sports 18 Royal Palm lady golfers do well in Delhi Golf LAHORE

T

StAff RepoRt

HE 3rd Delhi Golf Championship Ladies Open Event was held at the historic Delhi Golf Club Golf Course and amongst the invitees to this championship were two upcoming caddie turned lady golfers of Royal Palm Golf Club,Zeb un nisa and Ana James Gil and although this was their first international competitive exposure,Zeb un nisa won the first prize in the net event.And in the process she put many of the established ones in place,hitting accurate drives and demonstrating some beautifully executed pitch shots.Over the three rounds Zeb un nisa had a net score of 50 in the first round,net 55 in the second round and net 50 in the final round.Her net aggregate score for the three days was 155 and brought her honors and a trophy titled as the Talwar Trophy.As for Ana James,she played good golf but missed the second prize by a single stroke.However she won the Longest Drive prize.

On their return to Lahore,yesterday via Wagah Border,Zeb said that she considers herself lucky to have got this oppurtunity to visit India and play amongst some outstanding golfers of India at the Delhi Golf Course which is lined with many Tughlak and Lodhi Dynasty monuments and is also home to 300 species of birds,and is a very challenging course. "We were really looked after well by our hosts in Delhi and the lady Captain Bubble Suneja even helped us take coaching

BANGKOK AgenCIeS

The seven-time world champion has won the nations Cup event in partnership with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, currently chasing his third successive world title, for the past five years.

The two Germans will pair up again at the Rajamangala soccer stadium on December 14-16 to try and win the event for the sixth time in a row and Schumacher, now 43, said it would not be his last appearance.

"I'm very much looking forward to racing with my old mate Seb for another repeat of our title," said Schumacher, who has two more F1 races before retirement, on Monday in a preview podcast for the Bangkok event.

"But my lucky number is actually number seven. So we've got to do this and then the one after. That would be the ultimate. Obviously this means I'm not retiring from the Race Of Champions yet," added the Mercedes driver.

"I could have retired from it by the end of this year, but I don't want to. It's too much fun. And as long as I'm still a bit competitive in it, why not?"

Vettel, who leads Ferrari's Fernando Alonso by 10 points in the Formula One championship with two races remaining, including this weekend's U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, looked forward to continuing his partnership with Schumacher.

Sports Center 07:30PM

ronaldo to miss gabon friendly after nasty gash

LISBON

lessons",said Zeb. "I also thank Ramzan Sheikh Sahib of Royal Palm for having faith in our ability and affording us this chance to play in an international competition.Even in our dreams we have never thought of this",Zeb went on to say.

Just three years back,these two ladies were inducted as caddies,based on an initiative by Royal Palm and at the beginning had little knowledge of golf.The basics were taught to them by a very experienced coach,Siraj Khan and after two and a half years of caddie duties they were allowed to take up golf

as a game and within six months of training,visible was ample golfing talent and ability which secured for them a trip to India.In the subcontinent they have created a record as they are the only lady caddies in Pakistan and India. On the occasion of the concluding ceremonies of the 3rd Delhi Golf Championship Ladies Open, the High Commissioner of Pakistan in India was present and he gifted them India Rupees ten thousand each.

Some other ladies from Pakistan who won prizes were Ghazala Yasmin and Shahzadi Gulfam.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Wednesday's friendly against Gabon in Libreville after he sustained a cut above his left eye in Sunday's 2-1 La Liga win at Levante, the Portuguese Federation (FPF) said on Monday.

The FPF confirmed the injury would keep him out adding Valencia defender Joao Pereira and Dynamo Kiev midfielder Miguel Veloso had also pulled out of the squad because of injuries.

Ronaldo was caught by David navarro's elbow in the opening minutes of the match in Valencia and after being patched up on the side of the pitch returned to score Real's 21st-minute opener. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said after the match Ronaldo's vision in both eyes was affected by the blow, which left one side of the Portuguese international's face covered in blood.

martinez to defend title against briton murray BUENOS AIRES

LAHORE

AgenCIeS

StAff RepoRt

Amar Cables beat Kahyabane Amin by seven wickets and qualified for the quarter-finals of the 3rd Ama Cables T20 Vaterans Cricket Tournament.

Playing at the Shah Faisal Cricket Ground, Amar Cables Beat Khayaban e Ameen by 7 wickets & qualify the quarter final. Khayaban e Ameen batting first 138/6 after 20 overs. Ejaz Ahmad 30, Ashfaq Heera 24, Jameel Shah 16 & Amir Riaz 18 runs not out. Tariq Rasheed 2/28, Munir Shah 1/18, Rouf Wain 1/32, Tariq Hussain Raju 1/8 & Dastgeer Butt 1/32 wickets. In reply Amar Cables 139/3 after 18.5 overs.

Aziz ur rehman 15, Amer Ilyas Butt 12, Shahid Mansoor 65 runs not out & Zahid Umar 24 runs not out. Faisal Mehmood 2/14 & Akbar Khan 1/28 wickets. Irfan Dilshad, Sagheer Ahmad Umpire & Waris Bashir was the scorer.

ESPN

AgenCIeS

Amar Cables beat Kahyabane Amin Schumacher sees a future in race of champions

watch it Live

in the end of the match Chief Guest Shafqat Ali Butt give away man of the

mach award to Shahid Mansoor. Amer Ilyas Butt was also present.

World Boxing Council champion Sergio Martinez will defend his middleweight crown against unbeaten Briton Martin Murray in Argentina on April 17, according to Argentine media reports. The venue for the bout will be chosen from the Monumental stadium belonging to Martinez's favourite football team River Plate and the Luna Park, both in Buenos Aires, and the Estadio Unico in the provincial capital La Plata, the Dyn news agency said. Argentine Martinez won the title in an unanimous points decision against Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Las Vegas in September. The 37-year-old Martinez, 50-2-2, is recovering from fractures to his left hand and said last month he would need surgery on his right knee. Murray, 30, has won 24 fights with 10 knockouts and drawn one. He first meets Venezuelan Jorge navarro for the interim World Boxing Association title in Manchester on november 24.

Matteo Manassero wins Singapore title SINGAPORE AgenCIeS

Matteo Manassero of Italy holds the winner’s trophy on day four of the Barclays Singapore Open. AFP photo Italian teenager Matteo Manassero displayed all the nerve and experience of a seasoned veteran to edge out Louis Oosthuizen on the third hole of a playoff and claim a thrilling Singapore Open victory yesterday. The first two days of the $6 million co-sanctioned event were dampened by lengthy storm delays but with the weather gods smiling down on the Sentosa Golf Club, the tournament reached a gripping climax over the final two rounds.

As an impressive Manassero threatened to run away with the event on a day when he ended up playing 36 holes, the 2010 Open Championship winner Oosthuizen emerged from the pack and could and should have won the Singapore event in the playoff. The duo birdied the par-five 18th in regulation to finish

locked on 13-under 271 and after they repeated the feat on the first extra hole, Oosthuizen had a four-foot birdie putt to claim the title on the next but his nervous effort horseshoed around the back of the cup.

Both men found the fairway on their third attempt at deciding a winner, with the South African’s approach landing short and left of the flag on the green before Manassero ripped a beauty that rolled off a slope to within 10 feet of the cup. Oosthuizen’s eagle putt curled above the hole and his opponent made no mistake, picking up a third European Tour event before his 20th birthday with an assured putt into the middle of the cup that was met with a joyous roar from the packed gallery.

Almost forgotten in the mayhem was a brilliant final round six-under 65 from world number one Rory McIlroy that lifted the Briton up to third place on 10-under and secured the European Tour order-of-merit title with two events to spare.

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

LHR 13-11-2012_Layout 1 11/13/2012 2:16 AM Page 20

tuesday, 13 november, 2012

19

nisar, nawaz not on same page over FiA probe ISLAMABAD StAff RepoRt

Leader of the Opposition in the national Assembly Chaudhry nisar Ali Khan has said that he would not accept an investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency in the Asghar Khan case despite Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz chief nawaz Sharif’s readiness to be probed by the agency.

In an interview with a private TV channel, nisar said nawaz was his leader and he had every right to express his view point. At the same time, he said he too had the right to give his views. He said the record of FIA in the past four years was before everyone and had exposed the real face of the agency. nisar said he was committed to his earlier stance of opposing the investigation by FIA. About the caretaker prime minister, nisar said names were being short listed in wider consultation with all opposition parties and they included two retired judges of the Supreme Court. He said the nominees were not from Punjab but from smaller provinces, adding that they had selected such people whose character could not be questioned by anyone.

neW DelHI: Afghan president Hamid Karzai shakes hands with Indian prime Minister Manmohan Singh prior to delegation-level talks and an agreement signing ceremony on Monday.

Haqqani not a man of his words: CjP ISLAMABAD onlIne

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday remarked that former envoy to US Hussain Haqqani had not honoured his promise of returning to Pakistan despite court orders and notices. “The court had not exempted Hussain Haqqani from attendance. The court had expressed trust in him and allowed him to go abroad. Hussain Haqqani had assured to return to Pakistan on a four-day notice but he did not come back despite receiving court’s notices and orders. He did not keep his promise,” the CJP remarked while presiding over a ninemember larger bench of the Supreme Court (SC) during a follow up hearing of the memogate case. The CJP said that Haqqani should return to Pakistan, and that the court would order the government to provide him complete protection.

Haqqani’s counsel Asma Jahangir argued that the memo commission had declared Haqqani “a traitor”, and that various politicians had addressed him with titles such as “Mir Jaffar” and “Mir Sadiq”. She asked the court to tell if her client should really come back while “facing life threats”.

She said how the government could provide him protection, when it was the one Haqqani was seeking protection from.

“If a guarantee is given to my client that he would be provided complete security and protection on his return, then I can talk to him,” she added. In his remarks, Justice Tassadaq Hussain Jilani said the opinion of the commission was also not agreed upon.

Asma said that the attorney general should ensure permission for Haqqani’s return to Pakistan, and his security arrangements.

India favours a stable Pakistan: Singh g

indian PM urges need for concrete steps to restore peace in Afghanistan NEW DELHI

I

onlIne

nDIAn Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said India favoured a stable and prosperous Pakistan. Addressing a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in new Delhi‚ he said India supported durable peace in Afghanistan and urged the need for taking concrete steps for restoration of peace in Afghanistan.

President Karzai is in India on a four-day official visit that began Friday.

Singh said the Afghan people should have the right of franchise so to decide their future by themselves.

Describing Afghan President Hamid Karzai as a close friend of India and a “steadfast supporter” of bilateral ties, Prime Minister Singh said the two had reaffirmed their shared vision of a “stable, strong, united, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan”.

Singh said they had reviewed progress in implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement and reaffirmed commitment to deepen cooperation “in accordance with the vision outlined in the agreement”.

He said the two leaders had discussed “the need to develop a strategic economic partnership, which will build on our economic synergies for mutual benefit”.

He also “reiterated to President

Karzai our belief that Afghanistan’s regional economic integration will contribute to overall prosperity and stability in the region”.

Singh said India remained committed to supporting Afghanistan in its development efforts.

India’s development assistance commitment to Afghanistan stands at $2 billion.

“We have expanded our programmes for capacity-building, institution-building and human resource development. With the signing of the memorandum of understanding today, we will launch the third phase of Small Development Projects to address the socio-economic needs of people throughout Afghanistan,” he said.

The two sides had discussed “the changes in the security and political situation in and around Afghanistan”.

“I expressed to President Karzai our belief that sustained international support and cooperation in all respects, including in combating terrorism emanating from the neighbourhood, will help Afghanistan meet these challenges. President Karzai’s own enlightened leadership will play a big part in this effort,” the prime minister said.

He said: “India supports efforts to achieve a lasting peace in Afghanistan that brings together all sections of Afghan society while preserving the achievements of the last decade, including in the area of women’s rights.

We respect the choices that the Afghan

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

people make of their own free will.

“I am confident President Karzai’s present visit will further strengthen the excellent relationship between our two countries. I once again convey my personal good wishes to President Karzai as he leads his country through a challenging time and wish to assure him that India stands with him and the people of Afghanistan.”

Speaking on the occasion‚ President Hamid Karzai said peace was vital for prosperity of the region.

India and Afghanistan signed four agreements to cooperate in areas of social welfare, fertilizer, coal mining and youth affairs, an official said.

A memorandum of understanding, under which India will provide grants to Afghanistan to implement small development projects through local bodies, community organisations, charitable trusts and educational institutions, was signed by External Affair Minister Salman Khurshid and Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul, an official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The second MoU signed by Khurshid and Afghan Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani relates to fertilizer sector, while the third MoU aims at cooperation in youth affairs.

The MoU on development of coal resources was signed by India’s Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal and Afghan Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani.

Editor: Arif Nizami

Pakistan elected to Un Human Rights Council UNITED NATIONS App

Pakistan was on Monday elected to the United nations Human Rights Council, an inter-governmental body within the Un system. Pakistan, which had the endorsement of the Asia Group, received 171 votes, when 97 were required. The Geneva-based Council is mandated to promote and protect human rights and prevent human rights violations.

The 47-member body is composed of 13 countries from Africa, 13 from Asia, six from Eastern Europe, eight from Latin America and the Caribbean, and seven from Western Europe and Other States.

3 Hazaras gunned down in Machh QUETTA StAff RepoRt

Three Hazara Shias were gunned down in Machh town of Bolan district, about 120kms south-east of Quetta, on Monday.

Reports said a group of Hazara men was sitting in a shop in main Machh Bazaar when two armed persons riding a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire on them. As a result, one man was killed and four others received bullet injuries, The injured were rushed to a hospital where two of them succumbed to their injuries.

The deceased were identified as Abdullah, Mohammad Ali and Ghulam Ali, while Mohammad Taqi and Asad Ali were injured. SHO Machh Sher Ahmad confirmed the killing of three Hazaras Shias and linked the attack to sectarian violence.