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Disaster in the air a private airliner with 127 people on board crashed in bad weather as it came in to land in Islamabad on Friday, scattering wreckage and leaving no sign of survivors. the Boeing 737, operated by Bhoja air, was flying to the capital from Karachi. It crashed more than five miles (nine km) from the international airport. residents said they had seen a ball of fire in the sky when the plane crashed, making it one of the worst air crashes in the last five years. story | Page 03
rs 15.00 Vol II No 294 22 Pages
Crash caused by outdated plane, Caa negligence list of passengers
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Human limbs litter plane crash site Page 03
Lahore edition
ISLAMABAD: Rescue personnel remove the covered remains of victims at the site of a plane crash in the outskirts of Islamabad on Friday. AFP
saturday, 21 april, 2012 Jamadi-ul-awal 28, 1433
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02 News Today’s
Saturday, 21 april, 2012
LahorE
nEWS
PML-N pulls out of troubling Siachen withdrawal position
Govt incapable of resolving Balochistan woes: Imran
Story on Page 25
Story on Page 06
cartoon
Quick Look LAHORE STAFF REPORT
hough Though the illfated aircraft was believed to have crashed due to bad weather conditions, aviation experts fix the responsibility of the accident on the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and management of the Bhoja Airline. Speaking to Pakistan Today, a senior aviation expert revealed that it was routine practice in private airlines, especially in budget carriers, that pilots were hard pressed to land in all circumstances to
avoid explanation. Sometimes, a single diversion could cost the captain his job due to cut throat competition in the aviation industry, they underscored and added, “But it is a job of the aviation regulator, Civil Aviation Authority, to ensure enforcement of aviation rules.” Responding to a question, aviation experts stressed that working practices in CAA were not much different from other government departments. “one cannot move a single paper from one office to another without paying underhand. officials in the CAA are virtually selling death warrants to airlines as no airline could get Air operation Certificate (AoC) or Air
ISLAMABAD: A plane wheel lies amongst debris at the crash site. AFP
Worthiness Certification (AWC) without paying bribes,” they alleged. They said that political appointments in CAA had further compromised the capacity and capability of the CAA. “Almost on all key positions retired Pakistan Air Force and Army Aviation officials are posted, who do not have any experience of commercial airline operation,” they added. Answering about the age of the aircraft, aviation experts indicated that as the aircraft was some 27 years old and had completed its age, this aspect should not be ignored that the ill-fated aircraft hull (outer shell of the aircraft body) could not sustain the high air pressure and caught fire, they concluded.
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Seat chart: Number of adults: 110 Children: 6 Infants: 5 ToTal passengers: 121 Crew members: 6
Below is a list of passengers who had checked in: 1. Abbas Ali 2. Abida Javed Malik 3. Adeel Chughtai 4. Aiman Ikram 5. Altamash Khan 6. Anisa Akbar 7. Anum Hussain 8. Asif Aftab 9. Asmaa Ahmad 10. Ataur Rehman 11. Azizur Rehman 12. Baqir Mehdi 13. Bibi Hameeda 14. Chand Baboo 15. Chd Faiq 16. Dilshad Kamaal 17. Dr Abdul Qadir 18. Dr Asadullah 19. Fahira Laiq 20. Farah Sajid 21. Fatima 22. Fehmeeda Zubair 23. Farooq Qasmi 24. Ghulam Rehman 25. Gul 26. Gul Faraz 27. Gul Sharif Jana 28. Gul Zaman 29. Habibur Rehman 30. Hafeezur Rehman 31. Hafsa Chughtai 32. Hafsa Shahid 33. Haleema Sadia 34. Hamida Khadima 35. Haris Haris 36. Husun Nisa 37. Imran Waheed 38. Irfan Ali 39. Javed Akhtar Malik 40. Javed Iqbal 41. Kalo Abbasi 42. Khwaja Raziuddin 43. Liauqat Ali 44. Masooda Begum 45. Mishir Jan 46. Atiq Khan 47. Mohammad Latif 48. Mohammad Latif 49. Moiz Sadiq 50. Mrs Khalida 51. Ms Yumna 52. Abdul Hafeez 53. Anwar Khan 54. Ashfaq Khan 55. Muhammad Farooq 56. Muhammad Irfan 57. Muhammad Irfan 58. Muhammad Qasim 59. Shahnawaz 60. Muhammad Sohail
61. Muhammad Younus 62. Abdullah 63. Mujtaba Siyal 64. Mukhan Jan 65. Munawar Sultana 66. Musarrat Shaheen 67. Nadir Khan Fazaldad 68. Nasreen 69. Nazmeen 70. Nighat Mehdi 71. Nihaluddin Alvi 72. Nisar Ahmed 73. Nuzhat 74. Qamar Aftab 75. Qari Muhammad Abdul Rahman 76. Rakh Shanda 77. Rakhshanda 78. Rashida Rehman 79. Raza Ali Khan Feroz 80. Ree Han 81. SM Saud Ishaq 82. Saba Amber 83. Sadaf Baloch 84.Sadaf Tanveer 85. Saeed Khan 86. Saeeda Akhtar 87. Sania Abbas 88. Sarah Chughtai 89. Sardar Shah 90. Sarwat Mumtaz 91. Shabbir Ahmad 92. Shahid Iqbal 93. Shamima Abdullah 94. Shazia Baloch 95. Sobia Ubaid 96. Suleiman Chughtai 97. Sumaiyah Chughtai 98. Muhammad Amjad 99. Muhammad Rizwan 100. Syed Omar Ali 101. Syed Sajjad Ali Rizvi 102. Amjad Shaheen 103. Syeda Rizwan Sufia 104. Tabbasum Sarwat 105. Tabia Rehman 106. Talat Mahmood 107. Tanveer Jan 108. Tariq Mehmood 109. Tasadouq Mahmood 110. Tasneem Begum 111. Tuba Shewar 112. Usman Rahim 113. Usman Rasheed 114. Uzma Inam 115. Wajat Abbasi 116. Waji Ha 117. Yasmin Muhammad 118. Zaheer Shah 119. Zahida Aziz 120. Zaibun Nisa 121. Zuhra Begum Crew members: Captain Noor Afridi Officer Javed Malik Head of Cabin Ammad Purser Ghazala Malik air HosTess Princess Flavia Sanam Fareed
Manmohan grieved ISLAMABAD APP
Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Friday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic air crash at Islamabad that killed 127 people. In a message to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, the Indian prime minister conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident. Manmohan Singh said he was deeply grieved over the air tragedy that lead to loss of so many precious lives. “I pray that the Almighty will grant them the strength to bear their loss. Our thought and prayers are with the people of Pakistan in this time of grief,” the Indian Prime Minister said.
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Saturday, 21 april, 2012
forEign nEWS
artS & EntErtainmEnt
SPortS
Syria activists call protests as bomb kills 10
Priyanka delays ‘Barfi!’
Pak tour, ICC presidency not related, says Kamal
News 03 commEnt Warts and all: The government’s mixed report card
Anger and apology:
At the same time
Arif Nizami: Terms of endearment: Will the current Indo-Pak goodwill last?
Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad: Peace and profits: The new ambassadors of amity
Raoof Hasan: The inevitable question: Portents of a serious aberration
Story on Page 15
Story on Page 17
Story on Page 18
articles on Page 12-13
ISLAMABAD
B
KARACHI: Relatives mourn the death of a loved one at the Karachi airport. reuTers
Human limbs litter plane crasH site HUSSAIN ABAD AFP
The smell of burning filled the air at the scene of Friday’s deadly plane crash on the outskirts of Islamabad, where chunks of charred wreckage lay scattered across farmland. The Bhoja Air Boeing 737 from Karachi came down at dusk as it tried to land at the city’s airport in a thunderstorm and officials say there is no hope of any of those on board, believed to number up to 130, surviving. Rescue workers in orange jumpsuits and local residents used torches to search through the wreck-
age after nightfall, assisted by soldiers carrying assault rifles. Part of the airline’s name could be read on a large section of ripped white fuselage from the passenger cabin. Witnesses described seeing human limbs strewn over a wide area spattered with blood and an AFP reporter saw plane oxygen masks and luggage littering the wheat fields around the village of Hussain Abad. A long row of coloured sheets at the edge of the fields covered the remains of victims recovered from the crash site so far. Part of the plane’s wing fell on a house in the village. The owner Intezar Hussain said it damaged a
ISLAMABAD: Rescue workers search through the debris for survivors. AFP
balcony but caused no casualties. “The plane came down with huge noise,” his son Jaffer Hussain said. “Its pilot perhaps tried to land into the farmland. It hit trees and exploded,” he said. “It all happened in front of my eyes. I rushed away to save my life. When I looked back I saw flames were coming out of the plane. “It crashed in heavy rains. There was thunder also.” A large section of wing with the airline logo and an engine could be seen among the debris. There were emotional scenes at Islamabad airport as distraught relatives wept bitterly for the victims of the crash. “I had come
to receive my newly wed son and daughter-in-law. My son Sajjad Ali married only 20 days back. He was coming with his wife Sania Abbas today, I had come to receive the couple,” said one heartbroken old man. In the southern city of Karachi, hundreds of people gathered outside the airport to inquire about relatives who had departed on the flight to Islamabad. Women, men and children were seen crying after finding the names of loved ones on the list of passengers displayed by the airline. “My wife was on the plane, she was alone, going to see her parents,” said Arshad Hussain, 27, tears rolling down his cheeks.
TAHIR NIAz/KASHIF ABBASI
HOJA Air’s inaugural flight from Karachi to Islamabad crashed just three kilometres away from the Islamabad airport late on Friday evening, resulting in the deaths of 127 people on board, including six crew members. The crashing plane also razed to ground some houses in the Hussain Abad area, a suburb of the twin cities, minutes before it was to land at the Islamabad International Airport in unfavourable-to-fly conditions. The weather in Islamabad region was windy, cloudy and it was raining, however, no casualty was reported on the ground. Friday’s air crash is the second of a private airline’s plane in the last two years. Six children, five infants, 68 women and 53 men were onboard the unfortunate Islamabad-bound flight. President Asif Ali Zardari was among several important personalities expressing grief over the tragedy and asked for an enquiry report immediately. PIA announced that it would fly the family members of the crash victims from Karachi to Islamabad in the morning today (Saturday). The plane, a 27-year-old Boeing 737-200, took off from Karachi airport at 5pm and was supposed to land at the Islamabad Airport at 7pm, but harsh weather barred the plane from making it to the runway without an accident. According to sources in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the plane lost contact with the Air Traffic Control at 6:40pm after it was given clearance to land. Captain Noor Afridi was flying the plane in which, according to the CAA sources, no foreigner was travelling. Witnesses said the plane was up in flames even before it crashed to the ground. Military and civilian rescue teams, including Civil Defence, Rescue 1122 and Islamabad Police, rushed to the site of the accident immediately after it occurred. An emergency was declared in military and civil hospitals, as the Young Doctors’ Association also called off its strike to join the rescue operation. The wreckage of the plane was scattered across a radius of over a kilometre. Rescue teams said several of the recovered bodies of passengers were beyond recognition. Sniffer dogs had also been called in to help find the dead. Reports said rescue officials had succeeded in locating the plane’s black box. Bhoja Air had only just re-launched its domestic operations with a fleet of five 737s in March this year and Friday’s flight to Islamabad was its first from Karachi since. The airline had been grounded in 2000 by the CAA amid financial difficulties, reports said. Long queues of cars and people were seen scuttling in and around the Islamabad airport, waiting to hear some hopeful news about the ill-fated flight. A man who had been waiting at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport for the flight only managed to scream “my two daughters are dead”, tears running down his face. He then collapsed to the floor in shock and sat silently as other relatives of passengers crowded around lists of those on board. An uncle of the sisters, 18 and 20, said they were supposed to return to Islamabad on Sunday, but flew early to see an aunt who was visiting from London. “We don’t even know when or where we will get to see their bodies,” said the uncle, Qamar Abbas, who kept mumbling “no, no, no” to himself. Nearby, relatives of passengers hugged each other and sobbed. One man cried “my kids, my kids”. Among them was Zarina Bibi, desperate to determine whether her husband was on the flight. “He called me before leaving Karachi but I don’t know if he was on this flight,” she said, eyes red from crying. “There is no chance of any survivors. It will be only a miracle. The plane is totally destroyed,” police official Fazle Akbar told a foreign news agency. Rescue crews were combing through the charred wreckage of the plane through the night, as TV footages kept showing passengers’ belongings – clothes, shoes, jewellery – and disbelieving relatives up in wails. Former CAA DG Junaid Ameen said bad weather was usually not the cause of plane crashes, because planes had equipment which helped deal with the situation. “Planes are designed to fly in bad weather.”
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Saturday, 21 april, 2012
Govt incapable of resolving Balochistan woes: Imran g
News 05 Sc summons four mPs, including, malik in dual nationality petition ISLAMABAD
Pti chief blames nawaz Sharif for Balochistan crisis; invites exiled Baloch leaders for talks QUETTA
P
AGENCIES
A K I S T A N Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday blamed PML-N President Nawaz Sharif for the deteriorating situation in Balochistan, saying he persuaded the APDM to boycott the 2008 election. Addressing a massive public rally on Friday, Imran said the boycott of elections by the APDM at the behest of Nawaz led to the deterioration in law and order. He said Nawaz had to gather people for his meetings by distributing laptops.
The PTI chief said there was no law and order in Balochistan and people were tired of killings and kidnappings. He said military operation was not the solution of any issue and the resources of Balochistan should be utilized for the betterment of the province. Imran said the PTI had come to Balochistan to break the shackles of fear across the province. He said had the rulers been able to provide justice to the people, they would not have to hide behind walls today. Imran mentioned the Rs 110 billion announced for Balochistan in the NFC Award, asking “where has this money had gone”? He said until corrupt rulers were present, the money would con-
tinue to disappear. The PTI chairman vowed to unite all segments of Balochistan and bring peace to the area. He said there was no military solution to the problem and they would talk with Baloch leaders and politicians. He said if educated people left the province, it would not make progress. He asked Baloch leaders outside the country to talk to the PTI leadership, which would not be a slave of any one. He said they would bring peace to Balochistan not through FC, but police by making the department free from political interference. He said the rulers had no capability to deal with the situation in Balochis-
INP
tan. Imran said the incumbent rulers used military force when they were not capable to handle the deteriorating law and order, however, military operation was no solution to a problem. “The US used military force in Afghanistan but failed, similarly India failed in Kashmir,” Imran added. He said all issues would be resolved politically. He also sympathised with the family members of missing persons and assured that justice would prevail once PTI came to power. He said the PTI would spend all resources of Balochistan on the people of the province.
The Supreme Court has sought a reply from four parliamentarians including Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Faranaz Asphani in a case of dual nationality of the members of parliament. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the petition pertaining to the dual nationalities of the MPs. During the hearing, the deputy attorney general submitted that Rehman Malik has sought time to reply in this case. The CJP said the court did not serve notices on Rehman Malik and Farah Naz Asphani as it did look decent. The petitioner told the court that more than 24 parliamentarians hold dual nationalities on which the deputy attorney general replied that dual nationality holder becomes ineligible to become parliamentarian under Article 63 of the Constitution. Justice Tariq Pervez remarked that Rehman Malik should deny if the allegations leveled against him were false. Adjourning the hearing till May 8, the Supreme Court sought reply from Farah Naz Asphani, Rehman Malik, Iftikhar Nazir and Zahid Iqbal after declaring them respondents in the case. The petition has been filed by Mahmood Akhtar seeking disqualification of lawmakers holding dual nationalities.
Woman injured in gujranwala acid attack GUJRANWALA NNI
QUETTA: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan addresses a public gathering in Ayub Stadium on Friday. ONLINe
JSQm calls for province-wide strike today
No major breakthrough in siachen rescue efforts: IsPr RAWALPINDI
LARKANA
ONLINE
NNI
The rescue operation at the Gayari site is being carried out round the clock since an avalanche hit the base, the ISPR said on Friday. Rise in temperature has not only increased the chances of slides being triggered onto work site but has also made plant work difficult due to soft melting snow. Work is being hampered by large boulders and the site is being expanded to bypass these boulders and continue excavation work. The Norwegian team conducted steam test followed by aerial shoots of the avalanche site for map work to be utilised by engineers during excavation of the site. The team has completed its work and there is no major deviation from existing findings. A total of 503 personnel including 425 military, 78 civilians along with 25 heavy machines are employed on search and rescue effort. Water level in the blocked channel is rising quickly due to rise in temperature and resultantly it is melting snow. Excavator is working to widen existing seepage from the channel. However, no major breakthrough has been
Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) has announced province-wide wheel jam and shutter down strike today (Saturday) against the fake and obscure postmortem report of late Nationalist JSQM leader Bashir Khan Qureshi. The JSQM workers and leaders in every city and town of Sindh took out rallies to distribute handbills and appealed all the civil society, business community and transport services to shut their business and routine activities to support the JSQM call against the fake and fabricated reports of their leader’s death. Several other Nationalist groups and political parties among Pakistan Muslim League and others supported the JSQM call for the strike today.
A woman was injured when unidentified men threw acid on her on Friday. According to police, unidentified miscreants threw acid on a woman identified as Fozia in village Barranwali of Gujranwala district. The woman is a mother of three children. Her face and body have received serious burn wounds and she is being treated at a local hospital. Doctors said her condition was serious. Police have registered a case against the unknown miscreants and started investigation.
achieved so far. Wapda team has completed hydrological survey of the blocked water channel and has recommended immediate excavation of the channel to
route the water. Ground penetrating radars and geological technical experts are assisting rescue efforts.
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06 News
Saturday, 21 april, 2012
india’s new missile ‘operational in two years’ NEW DELHI AFP
India’s new long range missile, capable of delivering a nuclear warhead anywhere in China, will be operational within two years, its developers said Friday, a day after the weapon’s maiden test. The state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which built the Agni V, also rejected the prospect of India “capping” its missile programme just because it had now had a weapon with an intercontinental reach. “We will carry out two more tests of Agni V which will take about one-and-a-half years, and after that the production of the missile will commence and we will start handing it over to the military,” DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat said. “When it reaches the military they will start training and so a maximum time of two years is needed to operationalise Agni V,” he told reporters. India successfully tested the Agni V, which has a range of 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) and could potentially hit targets in Europe, on Thursday, triggering an outpouring of national pride. With its ability to strike across the Chinese mainland, the missile is seen as marking a significant upgrade of India’s nuclear deterrent. India and China, each with a population of more than one billion, have prickly relations and a legacy of mistrust that stems from a brief but bloody border war in 1962. Saraswat, who described Thursday’s test as “textbook perfect,” rejected suggestions that the Agni V meant India had achieved its regional strategic objectives and so had no need of more powerful, even longer-range missiles. “Our development needs are based upon today’s threats and also evolving threats,” he said.
US helicopter crashes in afghanistan WASHINGTON AFP
A US Black Hawk helicopter crashed in southwestern Afghanistan on Thursday with four people believed to be on board, likely American soldiers, a US defense official told AFP. “We’re assuming they’re American,” said the official, adding he could not confirm whether those on board had been killed or wounded in the incident. The official added that poor weather had likely been a factor, but cautioned that nothing was being ruled out. “The crash site is secured; the cause is under investigation. Additional information will be released as appropriate,” NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement. In NATO terms, southwestern Afghanistan includes Nimruz and Helmand provinces, where nearly 20,000 US Marines are stationed. While helicopter crashes occur with some regularity in Afghanistan, ISAF says they are rarely the result of Taliban fire. On March 16, 12 Turkish soldiers and two civilians were killed in a chopper crash in the Afghan capital Kabul.
FAISALABAD: Police arrest women who were protesting outside the sessions court on Friday against the registration of a case against a 15-year-old boy. ONLINe
Perceptions of Afghan Taliban victory dangerous: Gen Rabbani PESHAWAR
T
REUTERS
HE withdrawal of most combat troops from Afghanistan at the end of 2014 has raised questions from Kabul to Brussels to Washington about the potential chaos that may follow if the Taliban press to take over again. Few people are as worried about what the pullout could trigger next door in nuclear-armed Pakistan as Lieutenant-General Khalid Rabbani, commander of the frontline corps fighting militants in the northwest of the country. Sitting in his office in the heavily-fortified headquarters of the XI Corps in Peshawar - one of the Pakistan cities worst hit by suicide bombings - he speaks anxiously about creating the right perceptions as the foreign troop exit approaches. If the Taliban are seen as the victors in any way, that could be disastrous for Pakistan, emboldening home-grown Taliban militants, who are close to al Qaeda, to step up their campaign to topple the U.S.-backed Islamabad government. “If they are leaving and giving a notion of success to the Taliban of Afghanistan, this notion of success may
have a snowballing effect on to the threat matrix of Afghanistan,” Rabbani told Reuters in an interview this week. “On our side, it may give impetus to the already dying down so-called Tehrike-Taliban’s (Pakistan Taliban) effort over here.” Rabbani has good reason to worry, even though he and other military officials say security crackdowns have hurt the Pakistani Taliban. “Our friends on the other side know exactly where they are because we communicate it to them. But they have capacity issues,” said Rabbani, referring to Western and Afghan forces. “I wonder, that if the superpowers and the Western world operating on the other side, they have capacity issues, we certainly have them too.” Critics say Pakistan has created a major security threat along the border by supporting militant groups for decades, an allegation Islamabad denies. “CoUnTerproDUCTiVe” Drone sTriKes: Rabbani took command at a time of deep crisis in relations between Washington and Islamabad, a week after a cross-border NATO air attack killed 24 Pakistan soldiers on November 26.
Pakistan’s parliament recently concluded a review of ties with the United States, recommending that the government demand an end to American drone strikes in the nation’s tribal areas. Even though analysts say drone strikes which kill high-profile al Qaeda or Taliban militants are not possible without Pakistani intelligence assistance, the campaign fuels anti-American senti-
ments. Rabbani acknowledged the strikes can be effective, but said they also kill civilians and are counterproductive. “You kill five, and you’re making 50 more enemies. It’s very clear arithmetic. This is the arithmetic that we’re trying to make them understand,” he said, adding that instead intelligence should be shared so that Pakistan can act. “They may indicate (a target), we’ll pound it with the precision shooting of our F-16s. So it can be done, it has been done at one or two places. Why can’t this model be followed, we keep on telling them this is a possible model to be followed.” Washington has repeatedly urged Pakistan to mount a full-scale assault on North Waziristan and go after the Haqqani network, one of the deadliest Afghan insurgent groups. Rabbani said the region near the Afghan border was a major security risk, but repeated the official line that Pakistan will set its own timetable for any operation in the area. “Something has to be done with North Waziristan. The sooner the better. And we are already looking into it as to how we are going to deal with it,” he said. “We will have our own time and decision to go.”
Kabul attacks will help us press Pakistan: analysts ISLAMABAD AFP
The weekend attacks on Kabul, blamed by the US on the Pakistan-linked Haqqani network, will strengthen Washington’s hand in talks with Islamabad over drone strikes and NATO supply routes, analysts say. The US ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker said Thursday the attacks — the biggest to hit the Afghan capital in 10 years of war — were planned by Haqqani leaders in North Waziristan, in Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said Washington will continue to urge Pakistan to “squeeze” the Haqqani network, comments echoed by Crocker, who said the US
was “pressing the Pakistanis very hard” for action against the militants. A senior official with Pakistan’s powerful intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), told AFP that after what happened in Kabul this kind of pressure from Washington was expected. “Our apprehension right from the beginning has been that the US will use the Kabul attacks as a pretext to resume drone strikes with increased vigour, put pressure on Pakistan to launch operations in North Waziristan and re-open the NATO supply route,” the official said. Islamabad and Washington are trying to patch up a fractured relationship that lurched from crisis to crisis last year and reached a low after a US air strike inadver-
tently killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at a border post in November. Pakistan closed its border to convoys supplying NATO troops in Afghanistan in response to that incident and a parliamentary review of ties last week called for an end to US drone strikes within Pakistani territory. Analysts say the Kabul attacks give the US greater scope to lean on Pakistan in talks to reopen the supply lines and continue drone strikes. “The US pressure can increase in future both in terms of re-opening NATO supplies or taking action against the Haqqanis,” security analyst Hasan Askari said. “Re-opening of the supply route is the top and foremost priority for the US. If Pak-
istan does not re-open the supply route, then they will exert all sorts of pressures.” Islamabad denies any support for Haqqani activities, but former US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen has described the network as a “veritable arm” of the ISI. The United States blames the Haqqanis, who are closely affiliated with the Taliban, for fuelling the 10-year insurgency in Afghanistan, attacking US-led NATO troops and working to destabilise the Westernbacked government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Washington significantly stepped up demands last year on Pakistan to take action against the network, which it blames for a series of attacks including a 19-hour siege of the American embassy in Kabul on Septem-
ber 13. But Pakistan’s military says it is overstretched fighting local Taliban to launch an offensive against the Haqqanis in North Waziristan, a stronghold of Taliban and AlQaeda linked militants. “There is no question of any new military offensive in North Waziristan as our troops are currently engaged in consolidating the gains in other northwestern and tribal regions, where operations were earlier conducted,” the ISI official said. Drone strikes are resented in Pakistan as violations of sovereignty, despite the fact that they have at times worked in Islamabad’s favour, such as when they killed Pakistani Taliban founder Baitullah Mehsud in August 2009.
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Saturday, 21 april, 2012
Officials yet to be held accountable for Kharak factory incident LAHORE
T
YASIR HABIB
HE City District Government Lahore mafia won and the 24 people, who perished in the Kharak factory incident, lost as none of the officials held responsible, including District Officer (Environment) Tariq Zaman, have been taken to task. Instead a survey to identify the industrial units operating in the city’s residential areas has been started to distract attention from the real issue at hand. The survey, which was due to be conducted over the last 10 years, was approved last week by newly appointed Lahore District Coordination Officer Noor-ul-Ameen Mengal, following the directions of the Supreme Court.
According to the survey, 306 industrial units have been identified so far. Out of these, nine are operating in Ravi Town, 12 in Data Guj Buksh, 13 in Gulberg, 19 in Aziz Bhatti Town, 10 in Iqbal Town, 10 in Shalimar Town, 12 in Samnabad Town, 16 in Nishtar Town and 12 in Wagha Town. The survey also found 68 industrial units operating in the densely populated area of Bund Road. DCO Mengal told Pakistan Today that the survey was being conducted on the SC’s orders and would be completed in two months, after which its final report will be submitted to the Punjab government. When asked about the fate of Tariq Zaman and the others held responsible for the Kharak factory incidents, the DCO said he was not aware of it. It is pertinent to mention here that
former DCO Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta had issued orders for conducting a survey of the illegal industrial units in residential localities. Former nazim Mian Amer Mehmood had also ordered, in 2004, that the industrial units should be shifted away from the residential areas. DO Tariq Zaman, who is also a personal staff officer of Mengal, was second in command to both the former nazim and DCO, but did not comply with their orders. Commissioner Jawad Rafique Malik had also directed the CDGL environment section, headed by Tariq Zaman, to identify illegal industrial units and to register criminal cases against them for creating environmental pollution. Sources said Zaman had held the post of DO for the past 10 years, due to his political connections. They stated that although chief sec-
retaries, DCOs, EDOs and other officers have been transferred, but Zaman has managed to retain his post. A senior official in the Environment ministry said factories could not be established within 30 miles of the district courts. Citing the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, he stated that the industrial units needed to get NOCs from the CDGL and the Environment Protection Department, but that more than 80 percent of these units were operating without fulfilling basic legalities. An official in the DCO’s office said Zaman had tried to get approval for establishing a CNG filling station on the Multan Road, Motorway interchange. Although he got the NOC, the CDGL refused to sanction the CNG station as its construction would disrupt the traffic.
DPC holds protest rally against restoration of NATO supply lines
LAHORE ONLINE
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Following the call for countrywide protests by the Defence of Pakistan Council (DPC), a protest rally was held in the provincial capital at Nasir Bagh on Friday to condemn the reopening of the NATO supply routes. The protesters, led by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, gathered to express their resolve against the parliament’s move. Addressing the protesters, Hafiz Saeed vowed to stop the NATO supplies by force and threatened the government with consequences for the mistakes it had made, saying that they were “worse than the mistakes made by former military dictator General Musharraf when was in America’s service.” He stated that the nation supported his move of protesting against restoring the NATO supplies and said the rulers were not aware of the demands of the masses. He blamed USA for the recent sectarian killings and the Balochistan separatist movement and criticised the government for acting as Washington’s slaves. He announced that long marches will be held in various cities and signature campaigns will be initiated to demonstrate the public’s criticism for restoring NATO supplies. The protest was also addressed by Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Qari Yaqoob Sheikh, Dr Farid Paracha, Pir Saifullah Khalid, Naeem Badshah, Yusuf Ahrar, Hasnain Siddiqi, Shamsur Rehman Muavia, Maulana Asim Makhdoom, Rana Nasrullah and Idris Farooqi among others.
Police claims it has found Sapna Khan’s body, parents deny
LAHORE: Rescue workers shifting a lady health worker who went unconscious during a demonstration. ONLINe
In another attempt to close the Sapna Khan’s abduction case, the police claimed that it has found the body of the actress; however the parents of Sapna have rejected the claim. The Race Course police on Friday contacted Sapna Khan’s family and claimed that they had recovered the body of a female, who resembled Sapna Khan and asked them to come to Gujar Khan to identify the body. On seeing a photograph of the body, Sapna’s bother and her family rejected the police’s claim and confirmed that it was not Sapna’s body. The police officials then insisted that the family visit Gujar Khan and verify the body. Expressing resentment over the attitude of the police, Sapna’s brother asked them to initiate an enquiry against Dost Muhammad Khosa. In the past, Sapna’s family has said the police are unwilling to arrest Khosa. Earlier, a Session court had summoned the Race Course police station investigation officer over not arresting Dost Khosa despite the abduction case filed against him. Dost Khosa married Sapna Khan on June 02, 2010 and divorced her on June 19, 2011 stating personal reasons. She was abducted on June 22, 2011. The session court had ordered that an FIR be filed against Dost Khosa on December 7, 2011. On March 16, 2012, the High Court issued directives to file a case against Dost Khosa when the session court’s order was not implemented. Following the High Court’s order, a case against Dost Khosa was filed on March 30.
Dengue awareness campaign in progress LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Health, Khawaja Salman Rafique, has said that due to effective and consolidated efforts of the concerned departments and active participation of the community in dengue prevention and control campaign, the overall situation of dengue is very much under control. He directed all provincial departments to pursue vector surveillance and larvaeciding campaign and special attention should be paid to controlling dengue in the monsoon season. He was presiding over a meeting for reviewing the steps taken by various de-
partments for prevention of dengue, here today. Besides elected representatives, secretaries of concerned departments, Commissioner Lahore and other senior officers attended the meeting and gave briefing regarding the measures taken by their respective departments for dengue control. The meeting was informed that dengue awareness campaign was in progress in the province and seminars were being held at school and college level. Moreover, the subject regarding dengue was also being taught to students in educational institutions and questions were asked about dengue from the students through class tests. The meeting was informed that more than 7500 volunteers had been registered till now for door
to door dengue awareness campaign and checking dengue larva and 1500 blood donors had also been registered for donating blood to the dengue patients at the time of need. The training of doctors and paramedical staff by dengue expert advisory group was going on in the hospitals and process of training in treatment of patients to the private doctors and nurses had also been completed. Salman directed WASA and Irrigation department to complete the desilting of drains and sewerage lines before the commencement of monsoon season so that the growth of dengue could be checked. He said that vector surveillance, larvaeciding, monitoring of tyre shops, removal of solid waste and dis-
posal of stagnant water should be continued without interruption. Special Branch officers pointed out unsatisfactory cleanliness conditions and accumulation of water in the premises of some educational institutions and hospitals of the city upon which Salman directed to send letters of displeasure to the heads of these hospitals and educational institutions and warned that action would be taken if the situation did not improve.
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citY DirEctorY LAHORE: Students of Government Elementary School General Hospital, hold a demonstration in support of their demands. ONLINe
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Pakistan can earn foreign exchange by exporting meat: CM LAHORE
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ONLINE
UNJAB Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, has said that Pakistan could earn precious foreign exchange by exploiting the international market of Halal meat. He said that a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse had been set up at Shahpur Kanjran for providing fresh and hygienic meat to the people of the provincial metropolis. Addressing the board meeting of Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company (PAMCO), here on Friday, he said that 35 lakh animals would be slaughtered in this slaughterhouse annually which was equipped with the latest technology and besides fulfilling the local needs it would also make it possible to export certified Halal meat of international standard to Malaysia, Middle East, Europe and other countries. Similarly, he said, the slaughterhouse would especially benefit the local livestock sector as well as promote the trend of cattle farming. Minister for Agriculture, Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Advocate General Punjab, Ashtar Ausaf Ali, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretaries of Agriculture, Livestock, Finance and Law departments, District Coordination Officer Lahore and members of Board of Directors of PAMCO were present. The meeting reviewed the project of the slaughterhouse and supply of healthy and hygienic meat of international standard to the people. The Chief Minister said that the trade of Halal items had become an industry of billions of dollars annually and was continuously expanding. He said that the demand for Halal items in different countries of the world was increasing day by day and Pakistani investors could introduce themselves at an international level through the supplying of fresh, quality products in this
growing market. He said that Halal meat had been exported to Malaysia from Punjab for the first time in national history, therefore, local investors and exporters should benefit from the increasing opportunities in Halal food industry through continuous hard work and dedication. The CM further said that the slaughterhouse at Shahpur Kanjran could be operated in two shifts and 500 large animals and 6,000 small animals could be slaughtered under scientific conditions in one shift. He said that Punjab government had done away with the old and obsolete system of slaughtering of animals and set up a slaughterhouse of international standards. He said that this slaughterhouse was a benchmark of Punjab government in the livestock sector of the country and also had international certification in Halal industry. He said that Meat Technology Institute had also been established with the collaboration of University of Veterinary and Health Sciences for establishing the meat industry on scientific lines. He said that this institute would produce highly qualified experts for harmonizing the meat industry with the demands of the modern age. The CM further said that provincial government was strengthening national economy through development of livestock sector. He said that investment in livestock sector would help eliminate unemployment besides development of this sector as an industry would increase exports of the country. He said that the livestock sector could bring prosperity to the people and especially benefit rural economy. The meeting also decided to the appointing of the new Chief Executive Officer of PAMCO while a four member committee headed by Secretary Livestock would manage the slaughterhouse for the timebeing.
100 GHaZals OF maulana rumi
Patients breathe a sigh of relief after YDa ends strike LAHORE INP
The patients in Lahore and other districts of southern Punjab breathed a sigh of relief as the Young Doctors Association (YDA) ended its strike and the doctors resumed their duties on Friday. The YDA called off the strike after conducting successful negotiations with the provincial government. The YDA had been on strike for the past week to protest against the transfers of doctors, putting patients through a number of problems. During the strike, the government hospitals’ OPDs remained closed, causing problems for the patients visiting these hospitals from far flung areas. Following widespread protests by the public and the criticism of the opposition political parties, the Punjab government which had initially stood firm on its stance, finally agreed to negotiate with the YDA. The young doctors across the province were demanding the government to withdraw the orders given for the transfer of their colleagues and to revise the service structure for the doctors serving under the Punjab government. After successful dialogues the Punjab government agreed to the demands of the YDA. A committee formed for the purpose has been assigned with presenting a report on the service structure within a month.
majlis-e-iqbal to commemorate iqbal’s death anniversary laHore: The Markazi Majlis-e-Iqbal is holding a seminar in the Aiwan-e-Iqbal today (Saturday) in connection with the death anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Renowned journalists, scholars of Iqbal’s works, journalists and other personalities, including former Pakistan Bar Council president Aitzaz Ahsan and Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami will address the session. STAFF REPORT
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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: march 19 to aUgUSt 29, 2012 VEnUE: thE KnoWLEDgE factorY (tKf) Bored of usual dance routines? fitness workouts come with a 'yawn'?! Whether you know how to shake or not, this's the place to bring your groove! Learn to follow the rhythm, let loose, how to catch new steps and master old ones. mondays and Wednesdays: 78pm, Per Session: 500 only!, monthly: PKr 2,500/-
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cultural mela inaugurated at alhamra cultural complex LAHORE STAFF REPORT
A three-day Pakistan Cultural Mela has been inaugurated at the Alhamra Cultural Complex Qaddafi Stadium. Information, Culture and Youth Affairs Secretary Moaiuddin Ahmad Wani, Media Coordinator Farah Deeba, Kanwal, film actor Bahaar, actors Irfan Khosat, Masood Akhtar, Additional Secretary Tahir Raza Hamdani, Executive Director Muhammad Ali Baloch, officers, artists and singers attended the ceremony. The attendees said the Punjab chief minister has set an example of unity and brotherhood by bringing together artists and industrialists from across the country. More than 80 handicraft stalls have been displayed in the cultural festival. In his speech, Wani said the Punjab government will arrange such festivals in other cities of the province to provide recreation to the citizens. He stated that the government was not generating any income from the event, rather free recreation has been provided to the people in collaboration with donor agencies. The festival will continue till April 22. The main events of the festival will be held at the Cultural Complex and Minar-e-Pakistan today (Saturday) and Sunday in which renowned artists, singers and hosts will participate.
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Pak-Iran capable to cater to each other’s needs LAHORE
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ONLINE
HE Iranian Consul General, Muhammad Hussain Bani Assadi, said that Pakistan and Iran have the potential to cater to each other’s needs provided the business community in the two countries has the exposure to the available opportunities. Assadi was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday. The LCCI Presdietn, Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, Senior Vice President, Kashif Younis Meher, and Vice President, Saeeda Nazar, also spoke on the occasion. The Iranian Consul General said that the business community in the two countries would have to increase interaction to share their experiences in the larger interests of the people of two brotherly nations who have a lot of commonalities. He said that the volume of mutual trade between Pakistan and Iran did not match the level of their brotherly relations. He said that both the countries and their respective trade bodies would have to focus on expansion of trade by holding single country exhibitions or through trade delegations to each other’s countries. He said that it was the duty of the chambers of commerce both in Iran and Pakistan to ensure dissemination of sector-specific and trade-related information. He said that both the countries should also share their experiences in the filed of science and technology as well. He said that agriculture, tourism sector and metal industry of Iran had a lot of opportunities of investment therefore the Pak-
istani business community should avail this opportunity. Speaking on the occasion, Irfan reassured the Iranian Consul General that the Lahore Chamber will continue to play its role for increasing bilateral trade and economic relations as a huge potential was still untapped in the two countries. The LCCI President however said that the bilateral trade would get a boost as soon as the gas pipe line project with Pakistan and Iran was completed. He said that Pakistan and Iran are two brotherly Islamic countries. Therefore, maximum efforts are needed to strengthen their relations in all fields. He said both the sides needed to conduct market research to further strengthen trade relations between the two countries. Priority should be given to each other for import of goods rather than buying from distant countries. There is a lot of scope for collaboration in SMEs and mega projects like onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration activities, hydel and coal based energy projects, paper and board, sugar, cement, chemicals, transport and communication, construction of roads in Pakistan, scientific and educational cooperation, handicrafts, artificial jewelry, carpets, fancy furniture etc. Irfan said that Pakistan was basically an agricultural country bestowed with a variety of seasons and agro-based products. But due to the lack of post harvest technology a lot of agriculture produce was wasted. Hence, cooperation in technology from Iran could help Pakistan’s agro-based food processing and dairy industry to improve. Pakistan is one of the leading countries in textile potential and products, which still needs to be properly introduced in the Iranian business houses. Such efforts could also prove vital to equalize our trade balance.
cabinet expansion challenged in Lhc LAHORE ONLINE
The government’s step to expand the number of cabinet members has been challenged in Lahore High Court. The petitioner, Siddique Azhar, has stated that the expansion of cabinet is a violation of the 18th amendment. He lamented that, Raja Pervez Ashraf, had been made minister who didn’t fall on the merit as per article 62 and 63 of constitution after being accused in cases of corruption. The petitioner requested the court to halt functioning of new ministers as the Prime Minister had taken an unconstitutional and illegal step. Earlier, a decision was made to induct new ministers and expand the Federal cabinet size to 55.
DDit records statement of Dg health LAHORE APP
The Defective Drugs Inquiry Tribunal on Friday recorded the statement of Director General Health, Punjab Dr Nisar Ahmad Cheema. In his preliminary submissions, the DG sought time to submit a comprehensive report duly supported by documents. The tribunal accepted his request and directed him to reappear on April 27. Deputy Director General, Drug Regulatory Agency of Pakistan Dr Sheikh Akhtar Hussain, also appeared before the Tribunal and placed, on record, comprehensive reports duly supported by documents. The tribunal summoned Director Technical, Khurram Munaf, and General Manager (Plant), of Efroze Chemicals Limited Shaekeel Ahmad Khan, for April 23. The tribunal comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan of the Lahore High Court, conducted proceedings of the case on a day-to-day basis. The tribunal is probing the matter to ascertain causes of death of patients of PIC, allegedly, by using contaminated drugs and to make recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.
change in weather will bring more rain and strong winds LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Gusty winds kept the provincial capital engulfed in dust throughout the day however scattered showers at different places in the city turned the weather pleasant. Meteorologists have predicted rain with gusts of wind in some parts of Upper Punjab. These rains are predicted till Saturday. The temperature in the city remained between 32 and 34 degree Celsius. According to weather advisory of Meteorological department, a well marked westerly wave still persists over northwestern parts of Balochistan. Under the influence of this weather system, moderate to heavy rainfall associated with gusty winds is very likely over north Balochistan during the next 36 hours. These rains may cause flash flooding in the local rivers and streams of the area. The system is moving in a northeast direction and would dissipate from Northwest Arabian Sea during the next 24 hours. Therefore fishermen would be able to continue their activities by Friday afternoon. Scattered rainfall of light to moderate intensity is also likely over most parts of KPK, upper Punjab, and Kashmir during the next 36 hours with isolated heavy rainfall in, DI Khan, and DG Khan divisions during the period.
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SC urged to take a stand on forced conversions LAHORE
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STAFF REPORT
HE Catholic (National) Commission for Justice and Peace representatives Fr Emmanuel Yousaf and Peter Jacob on Friday urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take a comprehensive look into the issue of forced conversions of non-Muslim girls and to take a firm stand for upholding justice and human rights. Referring to the recent cases of the conversions of Faryal alias Rinkal Kumari, Haleema alias Asha Kumari and Hafza alias Dr Lata, they said in a statement that the court’s procedures become an instrument of injustice when the principle of ‘free consent’ is applied loosely or selectively, and in disregard to social realities. They said in the cases of these girls’ conversions, the courts did not ascertain the age of the girls and whether the men who had married them, had done so with the consent of their first wives, according to the Muslim Personal Law. “Applying the principle of free consent without looking at corroborative evidence can result in miscarriage of justice,” the statement read. The CNCJP
representatives said: “The law and court procedures cannot work on the assumption that armed and unarmed, minority and majority, men and women enjoy the equal scope of free will in a weaponised, male dominated, violent and bigoted environment.” They added that the Supreme Court had on April 18, raised concerns that the religious minorities are not only demographically threatened, but that the rising religious intolerance in the society also poses problems for them. They said the court should have applied legal principles for safeguarding the vulnerable girls, like the ones ordered by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in Ludhani versus State case, by requiring surety for good treatment from the husband and that the converted Hindu women could meet their parents after the marriage. They said the Supreme Court or the government can control the damage to religious diversity by defining forced conversion according to international standards of religious freedom, which include the right to reconvert. “If a conversion comes simultaneously with marriage and the newly converted cannot meet her parents, then it is not an exercise of free choice. The Supreme Court should take notice of the
matter of conversions and any cover-up for the crimes committed under the pretext of conversion.” The statement also said the CNCJP would aid the Supreme Court or any other forum if a comprehensive review of the issues is desired. — HalTs sHifTing of waHDaT roaD sCHool: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday gave orders to stop shifting of City District Government (CDG) Primary School, Wahdat Road to Bhabhra area in Gulberg. Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan passed the order on a petition filed by Muhammad Qasim, whose children study there, challenging transfer of the school to a new site. The petitioner’s counsel said that the Lahore DCO ordered EDO Cantt, on April 16, to shift teaching and non-teaching staff along assets of the said school to CDG Boys School, Bhabhra, Gulberg. The counsel contended that the step would severely impact the families of children as it would increase financial burden on the parents. — moVeD for maKing UrDU offiCial langUage: A constitutional petition has been moved in the Lahore High Court seeking court directions to the government to make Urdu the official language of the country as per the constitution and vision of the father of
the nation. The petition was filed by Rana Illamuddin Gazi, advocate, contending that Urdu was the lingua franca of the country and the constitution also had clear provisions for making Urdu a national and official language of the country. He said that in the last 64 years people had been denied the right to have their own language despite the speeches of the father of the nation stressing on adopting Urdu as the national and official language. He said the successive governments and state functionaries had been violating clear provisions of the 1973 constitution in favour of Urdu language. He said Article 251 of the constitution was about Urdu as the national language which says, “ National Language…..the national language of Pakistan is Urdu and arrangements shall be made for it being used for official and other purposes within fifteen years from the commencing day”. He said 32 years had passed since when the constitution was passed and the provisions relating official language had not been implemented by the state functionaries. He said it was criminal negligence of the government which could not be tolerated. He prayed to the court to issue directions to the government to take steps to make Urdu an official language.
Lhc declares friday as green Day in Punjab’s courts LAHORE
INP
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Syed Munawar Hasan said President Zardari and PM Gilani cannot change the America’s defeat in Afghanistan into victory. Addressing the Friday congregation at the Mansoora mosque, he said the rulers in Islamabad had given the call for a war with the nation by agreeing to restore NATO supplies in exchange for dollars. Hassan noted that a war was
INP
The police, here, arrested 10 robbers of various gangs and recovered arms, snatched motorcycles and other valuables from their possession. According to details, Civil Lines Police, during snap checking in its jurisdiction arrested three members of a gang involved in robberies, picket looting, street crimes and other criminal activities. Arms, four snatched motorcycles, mobile phones and other theft valuables were recovered from their possession. SP Model Town, Mahroof Wahla, said that during separate operations in Garden Town, the police arrested seven accused of being in two gangs. The accused have admitted involvement in robberies. Arms, a car, motorcycles, snatched mobile phones, Rs 25,000 fake currency notes and fake currency printing machinery was recovered from the detainees. Separate cases have been registered against the detained culprits and investigations are underway.
LAHORE APP
LAHORE: Activists of Difa-e-Pakistan Council shout slogans against NATO supply during a demonstration in the provincial capital. ONLINe
Second phase of Muslim Town Flyover completed LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Muslim Town Flyover constructed at a cost of Rs 3.66 billion in a record period of five months will be inaugurated on Saturday. This the second portion of the flyover. One leg of the flyover has already been opened. More than 4 lakh 27 thousand 262 vehicles will pass over this 1.25 km long flyover daily. The construction of the fly-
over would not only save the time of the people but also reduce fuel expenses and environment pollution. It may be mentioned that it took five to six minutes for the vehicles to travel from Ichhara to Muslim Town Mor due to heavy rush of traffic which, with the construction of the flyover, will reduce the time to only 70 seconds. According to statistics it cost around 2.60 billion to the people annually in fuel expenses due to traffic jams in the area which will be substantially reduced due to construction of the flyover.
Zardari, Gilani can’t change us defeat in Afghanistan into victory: Munawar Hassan LAHORE
LAHORE
govt allocates rs 4.1b for labourers’ healthcare
STAFF REPORT
The Lahore High Court Registrar Sohail Nasir said on Friday that Green Courts comprising of 36 district and session judges and 109 civil judges have been established all over Punjab to hear cases relating to environmental degradation. The LHC registrar stated that on the direction of the LHC chief justice, each Friday will be observed as a Green Day as the green courts will work on Friday across Punjab. He said the judiciary will focus on environmental cases to halt environmental degradation which poses serious threats to public health. The registrar said a Green Division Bench comprising of justice Mansoor Ali Shah and justice Shuhaat Ali Khan has been already started hearing environmental cases at the LHC as well as on the Green Single Benches. He said the Green Courts, instead of merely passing judgments, will try to find out solutions to environmental problems. He stated that the government throws the judicial commission’s recommendations on judicial probes in matters of public importance, adversely affecting the judiciary’s image. He said the apex court has taken notice of it and that the matter will be reviewed in detail on April 27 in the next meeting of the judicial commission scheduled to be held in Karachi. He said if the government does not want to implement the judicial commission’s recommendations, it should not ask for an enquiry to be conducted by a judge. About the LHC Green Benches, the registrar said senior judges at the court’s benches in Rawalpindi, Multan and Bahawalpur will also hear environment cases, including appeals against judgments of civil judges and session judges.
10 accused of being part of various gangs, arrested
going on between Islam and secularism, in which the rulers were siding with secularism. Commenting on the suggestion for the unilateral withdrawal of troops from Siachen, he said the politicians have a soft corner for India and wanted to negate the Pak-India border. The ameer stated that Zardari and Gilani were not the only ones who were corrupt, and that their children had also adopted the same path. The JI Ameer said the government was keeping the nation in the dark by
saying that arms and ammunition would not be allowed in the NATO supplies. Hasan said the recent Taliban attacks in Afghanistan had caused huge financial losses to the US. “The Taliban accepted the responsibility for these attacks, despite which, Washington was blaming the Haqaani network,” he said. He said NATO supplies will not be allowed to pass through Pakistan as and thousands of people would be on the roads to stop them. Later, while addressing the All Pak-
istan Ulema Conference under the aegis of the Rabita-ul-Madaris-al-Islamia, Syed Munawar Hasan said the religious movements were not fond of bringing the masses on the roads but that conspiracies that threatened their freedom and sovereignty, forced them to do that. Stating that the USA was the main cause of all the problems faced by the world, he urged the Ulema to play their role in uniting the nation for the defense of the country’s independence and sovereignty.
Minister Labour Punjab, Haji Ehsaanud-Din Qureshi has said that the labour department would spend Rs 4.1 billion for the provision of healthcare facilities to the labourers and their families. While addressing delegations of doctors, Ulema and labourers, here, Haji Ehsaan-ud-Din Qureshi said that the government had reserved Rs. 42.30 billion for the provision of healthcare facilities to the people in the province. He said that Ulemas had deep respect among the masses therefore, they should communicate protective steps regarding dengue virus to the public to their individual as well as collective contacts. He asked the Ulema to teach the people regarding cleanliness of atmosphere so as to avoid dengue mosquito, fever and other epidemic diseases. He further said that ulema could successfully execute the awareness campaign in mosques especially during prayer hours to the society. “Programmes launched for the maternal and neonatal healthcare would ensure progress towards achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs) in maternal and infant health” Qureshi added.
Several trains behind schedule LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Many trains at the Lahore railway station were hours behind schedule and passengers, especially children and women, had to face immense problems on Friday. Talking to APP, a spokesman of the Pakistan Railways said that shortage of locomotives was the main problem due to which Night Coach Karachi Express, Jaffar Express, 7up Express, Allama Iqbal Express, Farid Express and some other trains arrived late. Passengers complained that they had to wait more than 6 hours for trains at the Lahore railway station. However, railway officials hoped the situation would improve soon.
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Editor’s mail 11
a good gesture It has been more than 10 days since the Pakistani soldiers have been trapped buried under the snow avalanche at Siachen. The whole nation is praying for our brave warriors and expecting a miracle that those 135 lives are safe. PML(N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Siachen was an important highlight of the week. His visit was not only been broadcasted on electronic media but was also trending on social media. In general, the Pakistani masses appreci-
the problem of smuggling ated Mian Nawaz Sharif’s gesture of gratitude and solidarity towards the brothers trapped under ice. Mian Nawaz Sharif, despite the bad weather, reached Siachen which was appreciated not only by masses but journalists like Hamid Mir, Mubasher Lucman and Dr Shahid Masood. Nawaz Sharif along with himself carried relief goods and stayed at Gyari for half an hour and then met the families of the soldiers buried under ice. He offered
5 lakh for each family with a job in Punjab government. Mian Nawaz Sharif’s suggestion of a unilateral pullout of troops from Siachen was endorsed by different media people from both the countries. It’s high time for both sides, India and Pakistan, to realise that they are not gaining much by losing precious lives. Mian Nawaz Sharif visit was not only important to show solidarity towards the brothers fighting there but also showed
his concern for his people. It is sign that change is afoot since leaders like him now vouch for peace. This means that there is an evolving consensus for the need of peace across the political ideological spectrum. Mian Nawaz Sharif’s gesture must be appreciated regardless of party affiliation as he has put the right foot, and words, forward. MAJID TAIMOOR Lahore
on ending loadshedding Former federal minister of water and power, Raja Pervez Ashraf, who has now graced the federal ministry of Information Technology, whose famous, definitive deadline on the end of loadshedding passed uneventfully insisted, while talking to reporters on April 19 outside the National Accountability Bureau, that there is no other short cut to ending the electricity crisis but to rely on rental power plants and around 140 countries are using RPPs. He could well be right but only in the context of a country which has exploited all other existing resources of energy generation and distribution to the full, and pending completion of the ongoing projects, is constrained to rely on the RPPs as a stop-gap measure. In our case, where the installed capacity exceeds the actual demand, and where the existing plants are not used to the full mainly due to lack of planning resulting in the nonavailability of fuel, and things like that, the statement does not sound very convincing, and that is putting it mildly. In a recent discussion programme on the issue, it was stated that government buys lot of surplus electricity from the textile mills in Punjab, for which it has a policy, but when asked why does not the government buy electricity from sugar mills which have offered 2,000 mw of their cheaply-produced surplus electricity, the excuse given was that the government does not as yet have a 'policy' for purchasing power from sugar mills. Now, is the government waiting for angels to descend from heaven to devise for them a policy to enable purchase? We also know that Dr Samar Mubarakmand had offered to solve all electricity problems through cheaplyproduced Thar Coal Energy Project. However, recently he was heard on television complaining that despite having proved the viability of the scheme through the pilot project, he has not been allocated necessary funds to expand operations. It would seem that the reason behind massive loadshedding is inefficiency more than anything else. S R H HASHMI Karachi
consider it at least It is rather pitiful that a veteran politician Chaudhry Shujaat’s formula for ending electricity load shedding when presently recently at the National Energy Conference was brushed aside instead of being given due consideration at least at the appropriate level in order to provide much needed relief to the people, to make the industry wheels rolling again and ensure that employment opportunities, which are currently being curtailed due to no electricity and industrial units not working, are created. It is rather strange that the rulers, at the national and provincial levels, keep claiming to be concerned about the welfare of the people but are somehow reluctant even to give due consideration to Ch Shujaat’s formula and part with just total amount of Rs 150 billion out of their share of the divisible pool of resources under the NFC Award for three months for making payment to the IPPs towards their circular debt and make them run according to their full installed power generation capacity. The amount they would be so giving up to the federal government would just be in the form of a loan and would surely be given back to them in few months time. The formula should be given due consideration and not be made yet another victim of politics and vested interests. EHSANUL HAQ QAZI Lahore
I want to draw the attention of government toward the crime of smuggling in Pakistan. Smuggling is an illegal trade. Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by it. Pakistan has become the gateway of smuggling now and there seems to be no way of stunting its growth. Smuggling is very ruinous for the economy and the future of a country. Our border is long and deserted that’s why it creates a conducive atmosphere for the smugglers to carry items with comfort and ease. There are lots of causes for this crime including lack of peace and stability, lack of policing infrastructure etc. One of the reasons is the imbalanced policies delineated by government and high rates of taxation on the goods. Sometimes, the dishonest custom officers, policeman or rangers become accomplices in this disastrous activity, which makes smuggling by roads, by air, as well as by sea on a large scale a common activity. The government should post an antismuggling force all along the border to pursue and capture the smugglers. The government must provide employment in a country and relaxation on taxes at least on the most demanded goods. Officers who are responsible to control this crime should be honest and develop such regimes which can curb smuggling. BUSHRA ASIM Karachi
Safety first
is not to teach students how to do research, collect information and produce their own report but to collect assignments or reports as a mere formality to fulfil the policy requirements of the institution. Teachers are not concerned from where it has been copied. The education minister and all the educational institutions should take
this thing into notice as it is a serious crime. One just can’t copy any other’s work and claim it as theirs. Teachers should act responsibly and should check these things thoroughly rather than just making easy money. NATALIA ISLAM Karachi
In previous years, the city of Karachi was hit by predicted thunderstorm but nobody was ever actually prepared according to the intensity of the storm. Hospitals had to face hundreds of casualties due to unpreparedness for such thunderstorms. Pakistan is predicted to receive a thunderstorm that could carry on for more than one day. So to deal with this thunderstorm and mitigate its harm, we should all take some simple measures to protect ourselves and our families from being harmed. Firstly, if you have any loosely fixed windows, get them fixed properly because they can easily break from the pressure of the wind. Secondly, it’s better and much safer if you move your beds and sitting areas away from windows. Thirdly, many of us have our wiring systems on our roofs. The wires should be checked properly and if any wire is exposed or naked, an electrician should be called and it should be covered posthaste. Fourthly, a fact that is ignored is that when there is heavy rainfall, the water seeps in to walls and may enter the electric socket/electrical board due to which there is a danger of a person receiving an electric shock. So use rubber slippers as much as you can and before using a socket/electrical board, observe the area around it for any seepage. If there appears to be some, try using a wooden tool to operate it. ALIZA ALI RIZVI Karachi
coming a fiefdom of corrupt political elite, or its equally selfish paid civil and uniformed bureaucracy. Nobody including the president enjoys immunity from investigation. It is the process of prosecution from any criminal charges, from which the president enjoys immunity if any, and that is also subject to interpretation of Supreme Court and not the perceived immunity understood by office of president, the prime pinister or law ministry. Those who hold high public offices, such as that of president, prime minister, governor, chief minister or ministers must be subject to public or media scrutiny and investigations to ascertain that they are not involved, or have ever been convicted of financial misappropriation, or any other crime involving moral turpitude. Pakistan has suffered enough because of misconceived powers assumed unto themselves by its rulers, both elected or dictatorial, who destroyed the moral and constitutional fibre of this country and its economy either by their incompetence, or their indulgence in rampant corruption and insatiable greed. MALIK TARIQ ALI Lahore
(II) This is with reference to lead news appeared in your esteemed paper (20 April) that Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) nominates prime minister's son in Rs 7 bn drug scam. As a result, prime minister has warned the Anti Narcotics Force Chief, Brig Fahim, for nominating his son in drug quota scandal. While sounding a warning used language unbecoming of a prime minister. It is very strange that our chief executive is unaware that ANF is a civilian organisation and operates under civil law and not under the army act. Since his son has been named in the FIR, the prime minister should have extended all the courtesy instead of threatening the officer and reminding him that he was borrowed from the armed forces. Officers are not borrowed but sent on deputation or services are loaned by ministry of defence to other ministries I would like to cite two specific examples of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife Cherry Blair while travelling in the subway was caught by the local subway police for not having a ticket. In another case, Tony Blair while serving as Britain’s prime minister had to go to the local police to complete the official for-
malities of bailing out his son hauled up for rash driving. Incidentally when this happened I was in UK and the TV flashed this news. To my utter surprise, the same evening during question answer session in the house of parliament, he tendered his apology to the house on account of this incident. Can such a thing ever happen in this country? Our rulers should now understand ground realities that things have changed, people are well aware about their activities and with such large number of TV channels nothing can be hidden. It is time they respected the law of the land. The prime minister should have refrained from interfering in the case and should have avoided confrontation and allowed the law to take its own course. No one has the right to influence the proceedings of the case as it tantamount to interfering in the matter and attracts provision s of law. Let the law takes its own course, the investigating officer knows that he is handling son of a prime minister and would be extra cautious while dealing with him, but he must present himself. MUKHTAR AHMED Karachi
Coming out of the shadow of war Pakistan army chief General Kayani suggested the other day that Siachen, the infamous world’s highest warfront of inhabitable terrain, shall be vacated by both India and Pakistan, a step towards establishing peace between these two archrivals. In any established democracy, the army chief would have been by now fired upon making comments on foreign policy matters; however, everyone accepts who in Pakistan really pulls the strings on such issues. Indian defence ministry (not the Indian army chief as this is not his area to comment upon!) has welcomed General Kayani’s statement. Therefore, Kayani’s views shall be greeted as it’s from a person who previously took pride as being ‘India-centric’. One would presume that such a thinking represents a real shift in army’ stand vis-à-vis different issues with India. The time has come for both countries to stop taking the hawkish line that war or threat of war is the only way forward to keep the other on its toes. There is no military solution to any of the land disputes
on plagiarism Plagiarism nowadays is very common among students. In many schools, colleges and universities, this activity is quite an acceptable activity. Many teachers openly talk about plagiarism and even appreciate students for it because their basic motive
whether it’s Kashmir, Sir Creek or Siachen. Pakistan can never win Kashmir by military means; India can also never win hearts and minds of its Kashmiri population at gun point. Diplomacy is only way forward to resolve the issues. The sooner this fact is realised by both countries the better. Funds allocated for keeping the world’s 3rd and 7th largest armies in fighting gears shall be diverted towards education, health care and poverty alleviation. One would only wish no one in Pakistan would be studying how to respond to India’s launching of April 19 inter-continental ballistic missile; we shall not be starting a new arms race in South Asia. Millions of people who are living below the poverty line have no access to clean water, health care, whose children are working as wage labourers instead of joining schools don’t take pride in continental or inter-continental missiles. One day this wish may come true, perhaps! MASOOD KHAN Saudi Arabia
the Ephedrine scam The PM must understand that he is not above the law and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) investigators have a right and an obligation to carry out investigations, even if that involves summoning record of Prime Minister House visitors. Organisations such as ANF are funded by the tax-payer, so that narcotics manufacture and distribution is strictly regulated in accordance with laws and international monitoring agencies. No individual, including the elected constitutional office holders have any right to play with lives of our future generations. We have had enough of this damage inflicted on our nation by the abuse of self assumed powers of our public office holders, who lack ethics or respect for rule of law. After all if the PM is innocent, as he claims, why does he want to evade investigations and obstruct judicial procedure. The Ephedrine and Hajj Scam depicts the pits to which our political elite, obsessed with their greed for ill-gotten wealth can sink to. These stinking episodes are a smear on our democracy and the image of Pakistan. It is an insult to our founding fathers, who dreamed of creating a modern welfare state delivering justice to its citizens, instead of be-
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.
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12 Comment Warts and all The government’s mixed report card
I
t would be churlish not to give Prime Minister Gilani the credit rightly due to him for restoring the 1973 constitution. This should not, however, lead him to assume a selfrighteous attitude. Government leaders all over the world have been subjected to probes and even sentenced when evidence of culpability was available. It should in fact be a matter of pride for the PM if under him the agencies investigating possible scams are seen to be as free to investigate those in power as they are in the case of commoners. Several scams involving politicians and their close relatives have made headlines during the last four years. Some of them have landed up in courts. Unfortunately, complaints of lack of cooperation or even attempts to create hindrances in the probes by the government have been all too common. The two cases presently before the SC are typical examples of the sort. Soon after the enquiry into the Ephedrine case was initiated by ANF, two of the investigating officials were immediately removed, only to be restored on the orders of the SC. The PM was quick to defend his son. It was maintained that his family was being targeted for supporting the Seraiki province and for remaining loyal to President Zardari. The ANF has finally nominated eight persons including Musa Gilani in the case. The court was told that Musa Gilani was returning to Pakistan but suddenly he changed his mind giving birth to all types of surmises. Raja Pervez Ashraf who was one of the accused in the Rental Power Plants(RPP) case was rewarded with the IT ministry which would play a crucial role in the award of 3G licenses soon. SC orders to arrest the persons involved in the case continued to be ignored by the NAB for three weeks. On Thursday, the apex court ordered the NAB chairman to “implement the judgment from A to Z” within a week. This is likely to be considered as yet another case of the government obstructing the course of justice. While judging the performance of the present government, the historian would record a number of achievements. The record would also contain several glaring failures. High among these would be the government’s insensitivity to the phenomenon of corruption and lack of cooperation with the courts.
anger and apology At the same time
O
scillating between carrot and stick might be the mantra of choice for the Americans but they appear to have upped their game. Gone are the days where the alternating policies of tough love and sweet talk could get things done. It needs to be even more nuanced. Like saying everything simultaneously. In this vein, US Senator John Kerry is to arrive in Pakistan with what many believe would be an apology for the Salala incident. Kerry, the chairman of the senate’s foreign affairs committee, would be meeting with high-level civil and military leaders, in his first visit to the country after the incident which resulted in the death of 26 Pakistani soldiers. But, at the same time, the US is also sounding off on the Haqqani network, believed to be somewhere in Pakistani tribal areas, who the Americans believe to be behind the attacks in Kabul from a couple of days ago. Hawkish and peaceniks at the same time. Perhaps a valid response to Pakistan’s own alleged behaviour of playing all positions. “They have two tongues in one mouth, and two faces on one head, so that they can speak everybody’s language. They use everybody, deceive everybody.” The words of Mullah Zaeef, former ambassador of the Taliban regime to Pakistan. True, Zaeef would obviously be peeved more because of the blatant disregard the Pakistani state showed him when the chips fell where they did, but few from the world over would deny, in private, the veracity of his assessment. The world, however, also needs to realise Pakistan’s position. The Americans waged a war in Afghanistan and left Pakistan to pick up the pieces. It was ugly for Pakistan. Not as ugly as it was for the Afghans, granted, but tough nonetheless. When the Americans came back to wage another war in Afghanistan, Pakistan response was a wisened one. That hedging of bets has been vindicated by the Americans’ decision to pull out of Afghanistan and take the Taliban on board to discuss a future setup in the country. Advocates for doublespeak are pretty smug right about now. It is the lot of the US to try to win over Pakistan by a consistency in policies and ownership of the dispute. Only then can the political governments in Pakistan, who do not in any way see Afghanistan as a fifth province, be emboldened enough to carry sway over the deep state in these matters.
Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami Editor
Lahore – Ph: 042-36298305-10 Fax: 042-36298302 Karachi – Ph: 021-34330811-3 Fax: 021-34330900 Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287414-6 Fax: 051-2287417 Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
Saturday, 21 april, 2012
Terms of endearment Will the current Indo-Pak goodwill last?
By Arif Nizami
B
ack in 1984, when Indian troops shocked the Pakistani nation by wresting control of the Siachen glacier, the president and COAS General Zia-ul-Haq expressed his utter surprise at the furore. Instead of expressing any remorse at his armed forces being caught unawares, he said, “What is the fuss all about? Not even a blade of grass grows there.” That was more than a quarter of a century ago. Since then, more than 2000 troops on both sides of the divide in Siachen have lost their lives mostly not in combat but owing to extremely harsh terrain and weather conditions; Pakistani troops being buried in an avalanche is the latest in the series of battles the men have lost against the elements. Despite a ceasefire holding since 2003, the longest running armed conflict between two regular armies in the twentieth century still rages on. The human and economic cost of sustaining the conflict cannot be overemphasised here. The late Zia-ul-Haq’s erstwhile protégé Nawaz Sharif managed to make it first to Gayari amongst the politicians. After meeting the families of the victims, he urged Pakistan to take the first step to end the Siachen standoff. Only a section of the gung-ho media has taken Sharif to task for “suggesting to accept Indian hegemony”. No one else accused him of being a ghaddar (traitor). These are signs of changing times. The most significant statement in this regard is that of the COAS General Kayani who has called for “peaceful coexistence” with India terming it vital for the welfare of the people of both the countries. Accompanying President Zardari during his visit to Siachen, Kayani surprised everyone by declaring that you cannot be spending on defence alone while forgetting about development. Its detractors accuse the military of con-
verting Pakistan into a national security state. It is generally perceived by the commentariat that he GHQ calls the shots on vital security and foreign policy issues. At this stage, it is too early to say to what extent General Kayani can walk the talk. However the military chief’s statement does reflect a change in priorities. India has welcomed General Kayani’s remarks on resolving the Siachen issue and that resources be spent on development of the two countries. The Indian state minister for defence has acknowledged that deployment of troops in glacial heights have taken a heavy economic toll. Official sources in South Block have also welcomed Kayani’s remarks. The cautious welcome by New Delhi should however be taken with a pinch of salt. General Kayani had spoken of all issues to be resolved in an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence. But the Indians it seems prefer the bonhomie to be limited to Siachen and that also on their terms. It is not disclosing a state secret that Islamabad with its narrow economic base for long now has not been in a position to match India’s increasing military build up. Pakistan’s military budget has shrunk in real terms whereas India only recently announced a whopping 17 per cent increase in its military spending. In order to justify its enormous defence spending, India cites China as the reason. It has just successfully test fired a new longrange nuclear missile, Agni V, capable of delivering a nuclear warhead anywhere in China. Recently, the Indian navy acquired a nuclear powered submarine from Russia to patrol the Indian Ocean. It is obvious that India with its blue water navy, its modern air force fleet and its nuclear capable missiles has readily assumed the role of becoming the West and Russia’s cat paw against China that is increasingly being perceived as a burgeoning military power. This is happening at a time when the Indian economy is slowing down. And despite ‘India shining’ on a fast growing elite and middle classes, there is a vast sea of humanity in India which is poorer than the poorest in Pakistan. In this context, President Zardari's recent ‘dargah diplomacy’ that took him to New Delhi for an impromptu summit with the Indian prime minister can only achieve limited results. India is more interested in opening trade, expanding economic ties and committing Pakistan to restrain non-state actors to perpetrate terrorism on its soil. In this backdrop, nabbing Jamaat-ud-
Daawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks, and also bringing the planners of the 2008 carnage to book will remain New Delhi’s top priority. This is unlikely to happen .The foreign office spokesman in Islamabad has stated that the Jamaat-ud-Daawa chief had sought protection from the Lahore High Court following the announcement of a $10 million bounty on his head and, since Pakistan is a democracy, the courts will determine Hafiz Saeed’s fate. Pakistan would like resolution of issues like Siachen and Sir Creek, which it feels, were decided long ago but India dithered subsequently. Defence secretaries of the two countries are due to meet soon in Islamabad to discuss Siachen on a date yet to be determined. It is unlikely that New Delhi would agree to Pakistan’s proposal for redeployment of forces form Siachen. A unilateral redeployment as hinted by Nawaz Sharif has been ruled out by Pakistan. After General Musharraf’s disastrous Kargil misadventure, New Delhi is even more unlikely to agree to vacate its strategic foothold on Siachen. It gives it a clear advantage over Pakistan no matter what the cost in human and economic terms. Similarly, any meaningful progress on contentious issues like Kashmir and water disputes with India is also out of the question at this stage. Musharraf’s foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri claims with some credibility that the Kashmir issue was almost clinched through back channel diplomacy during the last year of Musharraf’s regime. The present government has abandoned the back channel route to resolve the Kashmir Issue. And rightly so. Although relevant UN resolutions are no longer our mantra, back channel surreptitious deals cannot fly in a democracy. The Economist commenting on the recent luncheon meeting between Zardari and Manmohan Singh has labelled the two leaders as the ‘two lame ducks’ unlikely to be reelected. This makes it even more difficult and contentious to tackle the basic issues haunting the two South Asian neighbours since their inception. In the meanwhile, fast track progress on trade and strengthening economic ties seem to be the way to reap peace dividends. However, the tenuous honeymoon of sorts can come to an abrupt end if there is another terrorist attack in India perceived to have been launched from our soil. The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today
whiteLIES A By Ess aich
high rise Information Technology centre in Lahore was recently named after an IT whiz kid who won a Microsoft Corporation contest. Arfa Karim died prematurely but has become a symbol of the potential of our young generation and what it is capable of contributing to the development of Pakistan. Naturally the Arfa Karim IT centre is meant to pay silent tribute to that young girl, inspire others and give a pat on the Chief Minister’s back for getting his priorities right. Unfortunately, the IT centre is not thriving and expanding at the rate that the Chief Minister secretariat chain is growing. We hear that yet another Chief Minister secretariat has come into operation on the top floor of the Arfa Karim IT centre. It is also rumoured that another two floors may also be needed for the purpose which makes us wonder what the
T
he Energy Conference held recently at the “Freemason Hall” Chief Minister secretariat on the Mall had every one buzzing about the simplicity that was being observed there. Delegates remembered the good old days of the Chaudhry rule when there
appropriate name would be for the building. The Arfa Karim Chief Minister secretariat maybe?
was a five tier menu at every meal and that a simple cup of tea was considered a travesty even for a casual guest. Faryaadis recalled being served fish fingers even if their problem did not get resolved. We hear that even the comptroller
complained to the delegates that the Chief Minister secretariat tradition under Chaudhry Sahib had gone and they missed that style and camaraderie. But then every Chief Minister has his days and this one has asked them to tighten their belts.
For feedback, comments, suggestions and, most importantly, tips, contact us at whitelies@pakistantoday.com.pk
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Saturday, 21 april, 2012
Comment 13
Peace and profits The inevitable question Portents of a serious aberration
The new ambassadors of amity
By Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad
T
he Pak India peace campaign has now been taken over from starry eyed peaceniks belonging to the civil society by hardnosed businessmen motivated by strong material incentives. The move has, thus, entered a new stage where economic forces which are in a better position to influence the establishment are playing a dominant role. The last couple of decades have seen the emergence of a section of businessmen in Pakistan who find domestic market too small for their capacity. Unlike a previous generation which was the product of state patronage and were shy of competition, the newcomers are more confident of being able to stand their ground in the South Asian market. This was clear at the four day Lifestyle Pakistan expo at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Pakistan was represented by big brand names that included Gul Ahmed, Al-Karam, Sefam, Orient Textiles, Nishat Textiles, Asim Jofa and Chen One. The Sefam which already has a store in the Indian capital's Greater Kailash market announced it was planning to launch its collection in more than 200 brand stores in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Ludhiana by 2015. The stocks were sold out by the last day and Gul Ahmed's stall had to arrange for merchandise from their Delhi distributors. "The Indian public’s re-
sponse is very encouraging. We are very much satisfied with the business in the exhibition", observed Bashir Ali Mohammed, chairman Gul Ahmad. Mian Mansha was in New Delhi meanwhile planning to launch franchises to sell his textiles in every major city, buy technology from India, set up a cement processing plant and open branches of his MCB bank. “We hope that Indian banks come to Pakistan too.” Back in Pakistan, the cement industry, with much more modern plants than in India, was complaining that it was not able to export as much as it wanted due to the Indian NTBs. There are also big Indian concerns which look at Pakistan as a lucrative market. Pakistan has a 220 million kg consumption of tea which is increasing at the annual rate of two percent. With Iran stopping its purchases from India due to a payment problem, Indian tea producers are banking on Pakistan as one of the emerging export markets in the coming years. A trade delegation from Pakistan Tea Association was in India last week to strike long-term business deals. Pakistan also needs Indian petroleum products as its existing refining capacity meets only half its total domestic requirement. India has offered to export petrol, diesel and other petroleum products to Pakistan and there is already a talk of building of pipeline from the Mathura, Panipat and Bhatinda refineries for transporting petroleum products to this side of the border. . Pakistani billionaire Mian Mansha wants to see energy pipelines across borders, buy software from India instead of paying ‘10 times more’ to European firms and launch his IPLlike cricket team with Indian players. He suggests
that trade would 'cushion' a 'soft landing' to hold the frayed bilateral relationship in case of a future 'incident'. Realising the full potential of the mutual trade is vital for the two countries because Asian exports are still vulnerable to the economic slowdown in Europe with near zero growth and diminished import expenses as well as sluggish growth in the US. Intra-regional trade and redrawing of economic linkages alone can help Asian countries to deal with the after effects of the economic crisis in the west. Free trade between India and Pakistan would substantially increase trade and investment flows, incomes and employment, and would reduce poverty levels. It would also generate compulsions to resolve the perennial disputes. Interdependence created by Iranian or Turkmen gas flowing through Pakistan to India and Indian supply of power to Pakistan would act as a potent incentive for peace. “Flourishing trade is the biggest confidence-building measure between any two nations,” said Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma. The way to peace and friendship is littered with booby traps though. What can become a game changer in Pakistan is a historic consensus between the political and military leadership over improving ties with India which led Zardari to meet Manmohan Sigh. There are fears this time that the attempt to stall the peace initiative might again come from the Indian side as happened after the Gilani-Manmohan talks at Sharm al Sheikh. It would be unfortunate on the part of the two neighbours if they fail to seize the moment. The writer is a former academic and a political analyst.
W
hat has been known to most all along but what has been denied vociferously and aggressively by everyone associated with Mr Zardari was finally confirmed on April 18 by none other than the legal wizard of the government: Aitzaz Ahsan. In the SC, he was made to read out from the record provided by the government which confirmed that, number one, there was a conviction handed down by the Swiss magistrate to Mr Zardari and others and, number two, it was set aside by the appellate court not on merit, but remanded on the plea that the punishment given was less and the case needed to be reinvestigated. In addition to causing extreme embarrassment, it spelled a major setback for the barrister in his strenuous efforts to convince the bench to drop the contempt proceedings against the prime minister. The question that arises, thus, and which this scribe has highlighted on numerous occasions in the past also is whether, in the presence of this case that was remanded to another court for the award of a possible higher sentence which the magistrate was not empowered to give, Mr Zardari was eligible to be the president of the country when he moved his papers for the coveted office? Its moral relevance is irrefutable, but it is the legal aspect that needs to be looked into in greater detail by those more familiar with matters of law. If, in the end, it transpires that Mr Zardari’s papers contained claims which were not completely true, or they did not include facts which, otherwise, should have been clearly stated, what impact it would have on his ultimate eligibility for election as the head of the state and how would it be reviewed in the realm By Raoof Hasan of history? Also, if a serious aberration is established, how would it be dealt with now that he has been president for a while? The question of writing the letter to the Swiss authorities has really got the nation glued to the news emanating from the SC on a daily basis. The filibustering technique adopted by the defence attorney, fully aided and abetted by the entire state apparatus which is being shuffled ever so frequently to keep adding to the existing mess, is both unnerving and humiliating. It is unnerving because the charade has gone on for too long already and humiliating because, in full public view, statements and claims are being made by the advocates of the government which are erroneous in content and misleading in intent. Whether all this is going to get the accused party off the hook in the end remains debatable, but it has already exhausted a nation. The ephedrine scandal has been added to the huge stock of cases against the government. The prime minister’s son, Ali Musa Gilani, a recently elected MNA, has been formally nominated as the principal accused in the ANF report submitted to the apex court. Also accused are the principal secretary to the prime minister, the former health secretary and the acting sec-
Candid Corner
retary of the ministry of narcotics control. The involvement of this incredible galaxy in a major scam only strengthens the pervading perception that the bureaucracy has been inordinately politicised and they use their positions for personal gains in exchange for demonstrating loyalty for the corrupt ruling mafias. The effort to give political twists to simple cases of embezzlement, loot and plunder is absolutely bewildering. The manner in which the president went wild finding the non-existing link between the prime minister’s avowed support for a Seraiki province and the contempt proceedings against him in the SC defies logic. Corruption combined with blatant defiance in the face of adverse judicial adjudications make for a venomous mixture with potential to cause a major catastrophe. That is the potion the nation is being served as a matter of routine to cleanse it of its faculties to debate issues in a pragmatic and rational manner. The question of new provinces is being consciously raised at a time when the next elections are less than a year away (that may actually not be the case as murmurings for postponement of elections are already being heard from the government quarters including its sitting ministers and advisors). There is total disharmony even among the government and its allies in this regard. PPP leadership has come out aggressively in support of a Seraiki province, but refuses to lend support to a similar demand for the Hazara province. The carving out of a new province in the KhyberPakhtunkhwa is also being opposed by another government ally, ANP, but supported by MQM which also sits with the government in the centre and in the Sindh province. PML(N)’s stance is generally ambivalent: while it comes out against the creation of a Seraiki province, it doesn’t show the same sentiments for the Hazara province. Let’s also not forget the calls for Bahawalpur province and the wall-chalkings in Karachi and elsewhere in Sindh for the creation of a Mohajir province. Smells of anarchy, doesn’t it? Creation of new provinces is a major task which, under no circumstances, should be politicised. Decisions taken in this regard will have lasting impact on the future of the country which is already showing signs of disintegration under numerous pressures. Adopting or encouraging a divisive approach is bound to precipitate the fissures that mark the national scene presently. An advisable course would be for all political parties to espouse this as an election manifesto item and then wait for the electorate’s decision. If a political party is able to secure the verdict, it’ll have the moral and constitutional authority to proceed with the initiative. But raking up the issue at the highest political level with an obvious intent to divert public attention from a plethora of corruption and serious misdemeanour cases against an errant government and its functionaries would be an immense tragedy. The writer is a political analyst and a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He can be reached at raoofhasan@hotmail.com
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Saturday, 21 april, 2012
IN LIMELIGHT
NEWS DESK LI Zafar will play Shahid Kapoor's older brother in the much talked-about Hindi remake of ‘Vettai’. Madhavan who played the older brother’ part in the original, is out of the remake of ‘Vettai’. The director of the film says, “Madhavan is out of the country for three months (getting his knees treated).We can't wait. Shahid Kapoor has been finalised to play the younger brother. We're going ahead with Ali Zafar for the other hero's role." Interestingly there was a 10-year age-gap between screen brothers Madhavan and Arya in the original. Ali
A
Zafar who will play Shahid's elder brother in the remake is hardly a year older than Shahid. When we made inquiries about how this skimpy agedifference would be covered in the remake, a source close to the project informed, "Ali may be just a year older. But he played Imran Khan's elder brother in ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’. Maddy (Madhavan) suggested the director take a look at Ali and Imran's bhai-bhai act. That's how Ali came into the picture." Ali, who is now wrapping up another remake, that of ‘Chashme Buddoor’, for David Dhawan would be meeting his screen brother shortly. As for the leading ladies, the director bursts the bubble by saying he has so far not finalised any actress.
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LONDON: Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson and Cobie Smulders attend Marvel ‘Avengers Assemble’ European premiere.
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NEW YORK: Emily Blunt attends the ‘Your Sister's Sister’ premiere during the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.
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COLOMBIA: Paul McCartney waves as he performs at the Nemesio Camacho stadium. MUMBAI: Waheeda Rehman (R) and show host Raveena Tandon perform onstage during the talk show ‘Issi Ka Naam Zindagi’.
Simon Cowell ‘embarrassed’
by tell-all book LONDON AGENCIES
Simon Cowell has admitted that he is embarrassed by juicy revelations about his personal life in his unauthorised biography. The ‘XFactor’ boss is said to be “hardly sleeping” following the publication of journalist Tom Bower’s book-which reveals details of a seedy one night stand and an affair with former ‘X Factor’ judge Dannii Minogue. Speaking to TMZ Live, Cowell says he feels “not gentlemanly at all” as details of the yet-to-be released book-‘Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell’ - hit the headlines. The 52-year-old star insists it is not his style to “kiss and tell” but said: “When you are with someone for a long time, they do
get stuff out of you”. Cowell says he decided to let Bower have personal access to him after taking advice from his pal Bernie Ecclestone, who was also the subject of an unauthorised Bower book. As Simon put it during his chat with the tabloid: “If someone is going to write
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MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan attends the Polio Eradication Champion Award ceremony.
an in-depth book on you, I want him to really understand, you know, how I work, so (he would) have a clear understanding when writing the book.” But as the revelations about his personal life hit the headlines this week, Cowell seems to admit a degree of regret. “What I would say about the book, and I have to say this, is that I’ve been very embarrassed actually this week. It’s not my habit to kiss and tell. I’ve never done it. I’ve always tried to keep my private life private, and it is unfortunate. So I was feeling very embarrassed and not gentlemanly at all this week because it’s just not my style. At the same time, the guy’s got the right to write the book he wants, but it has been uncomfortable to be honest with you,” he added.
Why is Sonakshi
‘John Abraham
Akshay’s girl?
deserves
MUMBAI: it is a well-known for a fact that Salman Khan discovered the actress in Sonakshi Sinha, who had no plans to venture into Bollywood initially. and with 2010 blockbuster ‘Dabangg’, Bollywood got one of its best talent and that too in a desi avatar. though just one film old Sonakshi has grabbed plump projects and has three films with Salman’s friend akshay Kumar. With films like ‘rowdy rathore’, ‘Joker’ and ‘once Upon a time in mumbaai’ sequel, Sonakshi has struck a purple patch and co-incidentally she will be playing akki’s love interest in all these films. most importantly, the girl has ‘Dabangg 2’ in her kitty and will be seen romancing her mentor Salman once again this year end. While talking to a weekly magazine, Sonakshi spoke about what she likes the most about Salman and akshay who are almost double her age. She said, “Salman and akshay don’t take their work or stardom too seriously and are generally very chilled out. i like that about them and have imbibed that attitude. Like them i don’t feel that i am in a race and i don’t have to prove myself by showing a person down.” We are sure, as long as you have this Khan and Kumar by your side, there’s nothing that can stop you from making it big in Bollywood. AGENCIES
a big thank you’ MUMBAI: it's a subject that's often talked about in hushed tones, but director Shoojit Sircar decided to go hammer and tongs with this very subject. What was he thinking when he thought of making ‘Vicky Donor’? he laughs and says, "i just knew one thing - that this film had to be made. i knew that John abraham had turned producer and was looking to produce some different kind of films. So i just went to him with my script and that was enough to convince him to back the film. in fact, i really want to thank John for backing me and the script, because without him the kind of reach this film has got was unimaginable." Speaking about stardom and sensitive topics, Shoojit says, "often you need the big stars to speak on sensitive subjects. it lends a certain credence to the subject and of course helps the film reach a wider audience. ‘Vicky Donor’ is a super example of this and John's made this possible. he deserves a big thank you.” AGENCIES
WASHINGTON: Julia roberts has offered to baby-sit for newly engaged couple Brad Pitt and angelina Jolie as a wedding present. the actress has starred alongside Pitt in two films, ‘the mexican’, and ‘ocean’s Eleven’ was happy to hear the news of his engagement to his partner of seven years Jolie, and has even offered to look after the six children they raise maddox, 10, Pax, nine, zahara, seven, Shiloh, five and 3-yearold twins Knox and Vivienne - if they needed some quiet time. “oh yes, it’s exciting news. it’s always nice when you’re ready to hitch your wagon for eternity to somebody,” contactmusic quoted her as telling E! news. on being asked about the gift she’d choose for the wedding, she revealed that she would baby-sit for them. “that’s a ways down the road, but it’s starting to be, now that people are starting to ask me and put pressure on me, so - babysitting. Yeah, that’s good,” she added. AGENCIES
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15 Gaga turns alien for
‘men in black 3’ LOS ANGELES
S
AGENCIES
INGER Lady Gaga is to make a cameo appearance as an alien in upcoming movie ‘Men in Black 3’. Director Barry Sonnenfeld revealed the singer could make an appearance as an alien in the movie, which will also have a cameo by teenage singer Justin Bieber. "So, the challenge is getting celebrities that are famous, will give you permission and won't be like 'Who's that guy?' in 10 years. So that's one thing, the alien surveillance board that we've had in all three movies," aceshowbiz.com quoted Sonnenfeld as saying. Talking about nabbing famous names for the cameo part in the ‘Men in Black’ franchise, Sonnenfeld said: "The
first movie I know we had (Steven) Spielberg, Danny DeVito, George Lucas, (Sylvester) Stallone, Isaac Mizrahi, my baby daughter. I can't remember who we had in the second one, but in this one there are a few people that you'll see up on the surveillance board including Lady Gaga, Tim Burton, who probably knows more about aliens than I do, and let's see who else-Justin Bieber-oh, I think in the second one we had Martha Stewart and Michael Jackson. So far we've been pretty luck and people have been kind and interested. I am surprised that Lady Gaga said yes.” Asked whether Gaga would be able to tackle a comic role, the filmmaker said: "Yes, and by the way, probably could be an alien." Based on Lowell Cunningham's comic, ‘Men in Black 3’ will focus on time travel involving Smith's Agent J.
Cinnabon Pakistan holds first ever blogger’s meetup
Scorsese, DiCaprio finally officially
reunite for ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ LOS ANGELES AGENCIES
NEWS DESK Cinnabon Pakistan held its first ever blogger’s event at Dolmen Clifton Mall, making it an exciting and adventurous event. The blogger’s event was a huge success with food bloggers from all over the city gathering to feast on Cinnamon rolls and Cinnabon Stix. The blogger’s event was conducted as part of the pre-event campaign for Cinnabon’s launch of their second Karachi outlet. The blogger’s event was held to bring together some of the most influential voices in the food industry, including free lance writers, bloggers at news desks, photo bloggers and even
a V-logger. “I think this was a great initiative and one I was extremely excited about,” said Farah Kamal, renowned food blogger and photographer. “Such blogger’s meetup give us the chance to really get to know a product, do some tastings, share our thoughts and get to meet the owners.” Another blogger Sidra said she was super-excited about this blogger’s meetup because this was the first time she had ever been invited to a meetup of food bloggers. “It’s a really neat idea and I hope other people catch on and start conducting more such meetups,” she said. “Kudos to Cinnabon Pakistan for taking the initiative.”
‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, the long, long, long discussed reunion of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, is finally official. According to a press release from production company Red Granite, ‘Wolf’-an adaptation of Jordan Belfort's best-selling memoir-is scheduled to start shooting in August. If ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ sounds familiar, that might be because you remember when Scorsese and DiCaprio were first attached to the film in February of 2011. Scorsese replaced Ridley Scott, who was initially rumoured to direct. This will be the fifth film that Scorsese and DiCaprio have collaborated on together. The director and actor previously made ‘Gangs of New York’, ‘The Aviator’, ‘The Departed’ and ‘Shutter Island’. ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ chronicles Belfort's fast-andloose life as an investment banker, and his involvement in drugs, sex and fraud during the '80s and '90s. “Everything about this film plays to Martin
Scorsese’s genius and visionary storytelling,” Red Granite's said in a statement. "At its heart, 'The Wolf of Wall Street’ is about the rise of new 'modern' gangsters in New York that redefined excess, greed and arrogance. We’re excited to see Mr. Scorsese take the reins of this visceral, tumultuous ride.”
Salman Khan
Priyanka delays ‘Barfi!’
fears marriage?
MUMBAI: anurag Basu's woes continue over ‘Barfi!’. first it was the director's best friend imtiaz ali who reportedly took all of ranbir Kapoor's dates for ‘rockstar’. next, Priyanka chopra's dates have been a constant source of worry and delay for the project. the film's release has been pushed forward twice already. and we now hear that it may not make the august 31 deadline after all. reason? Priyanka chopra still needs to shoot for two days. Says a source close to the film, "only Priyanka's portion remains to be shot, the film is complete. the producers have already postponed the release from July 13 to august 31 to give Peecee to devote a couple of days. But she's already started on ‘zanjeer’." ranbir we hear, is at the end of his patience with the delays. he just wants ‘Barfi’ to be over.apparently he has personally requested Priyanka to find the two days in her calendar. Basu rises to his heroine's defence. "our schedules went haywire and all the actors had to re-adjust their dates. Priyanka tried her best to accommodate us. i'm sure she will manage to give us the two crucial days." meanwhile, Basu is working on his other leading lady ileana's dubbing. Says he, "ranbir has no dubbing to do since he plays a deaf and mute character. i'm happy to say ileana's hindi has improved and she can confidently dub her own lines. not bad for a girl who couldn't speak the language when she started." AGENCIES
MUMBAI: Salim Khan and his family might be eagerly waiting for the eldest son Salman to get hitched, but the actor seems to have a major mind block. the 46 year old hunk is very much a bachelor and isn’t interested in getting married yet. an entertainment channel reported that when Salman had joined in to celebrate Bappa’s wedding with the Lahri family recently, he was blessed by an elderly guest present at the party. apparently, when the senior person blessed Salman for his impending marriage, the actor requested the elderly gentleman to not do so. Salman asked him to bless him with money, health and success instead. the actor looked petrified on hearing the word ‘marriage’. So why does Salman fear entering marital bliss? is he commitment phobic or is there some other reason? Well only Salman can tell. AGENCIES
Jackman's ‘The Wolverine’ to be shot in Australia LOS ANGELES AGENCIES
The latest instalment of the XMen franchise, ‘The Wolverine’, starring Hugh Jackman, will be shot in Australia. The potential blockbuster was due to be filmed in Japan last year but the devastation from the tsunami and earthquake that hit in March put production on hold. Sydney-born Jackman, who will reprise the role of the metal-clawed, muscled-up mutant, said he could not be more excited. "It will be great to work with the highly talented crew and to provide employment opportunities to so many people across all levels of the industry," he said in a statement. ‘XMen Origins: Wolverine’, the fourth film in the franchise and a prequel to the original trilogy, was also filmed in Australia in 2008.’Other large-scale productions to have been made Down Under recently include ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Happy Feet 2’.
World’s oldest living
man turns 115 KYOTO AGENCIES
Japanese centenarian Jiroemon Kimura is proving that a sense of humour may truly be the secret to longevity. On his 115th birthday, he faced reporters gathered at his home in Kyotango City west of Kyoto, with a smile and a brief message-in English. “Thank you very much. You are very kind man,” Kimura said, as photographers gave out a collective “ohhh,” surprised by his language fluency. The oldest living man in the world, Kimura is just 237 days shy of the oldest living person, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. That title belongs to supercentenarian Besse Cooper, who lives in Monroe. Kimura was born in 1897, and worked at the local post office until he retired at the age of 65. He has 5 children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and 13 great great grandchildren. While Kimura has slowed down with age, his family says he continues to read the newspaper every day, and never misses a meal. Japan has the world’s fastest aging population, and Kimura is just one of five Japanese who are on the list of 10 oldest people, according to Guinness.
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16 Foreign News
Saturday, 21 april, 2012
Breivik gives Oslo court graphic account of massacres OSLO
T
AFP
HE gunman who killed 77 people in Norway’s massacres showed no emotion Friday as he recalled shooting his victims at pointblank range, but insisted he was a nice person and not a psychiatric case. Anders Behring Breivik said he had trained himself to shut out emotions but acknowledged that his twin attacks last July were “gruesome, barbaric actions” and said he had to work on his psyche for many years because “you can’t send an unprepared person into war.” The 33-year-old right-wing extremist began providing gory details of his shooting spree on Utoeya island, describing how
he calmly walked across the island, picking off his victims coldly, one by one. In his rampage on July 22 Breivik first bombed an Oslo government building, killing eight people, and then shot dead 69 people, mostly teenagers, at a Labour Party youth camp on the nearby island of Utoeya. Breivik has said he was motivated by the belief that Norway is being overrun by a “Muslim invasion” and claimed he is part of a militant ultra-nationalist network named after the Knights Templar, a Christian military order. As he recalled the shooting spree, he showed no emotion despite the horror he was describing. “There is a person 15 metres (yards) from the entrance. ... I walk calmly over to him and shoot him in the head.” “There is another group in the other corner,
and I shoot all of them.” “I lifted my weapon and shot him in the head.” Survivors and families of victims in the courtroom cried as he recounted killing after killing. Two women hugged each other as they wiped away tears. Breivik’s defence team had warned that Friday’s testimony would be the most difficult for the families to hear. The self-confessed killer insisted earlier on the stand that he was not “a psychiatric case,” telling the court he was a “caring person” who spent years meditating to “deemotionalise” himself. “I am a very likeable person under normal conditions,” he said. “I was rather normal until 2006 when I started my training,” he said, adding that he cut back his social life to focus on his goal. “You have to choose tactics and strategies to dehumanise ... the enemy ...
those who I see as legitimate targets,” he said. “If I hadn’t done that ... I wouldn’t have managed to do it.” On the island, where he was disguised as a police officer, Breivik spent more than an hour methodically shooting at hundreds of people, many of whom tried to flee by jumping into the icy waters. Many victims had multiple gunshot wounds to the head and back, in what was the deadliest shooting rampage committed by a lone gunman. Breivik said his “technical” wording and cold demeanour during his testimony was necessary to “distance himself” and to hold up throughout his trial, which is expected to last until mid-June. He is intent upon proving his sanity so as not to delegitimise his Islamophobic and anti-multiculture ideology. “If I were to use more normal lan-
guage, I don’t think I would be able to explain everything,” he said. The gunman has explained to the court that he sees himself as a militant nationalist “knight” heroically fighting to defend “ethnic Norwegians” from being wiped out by a “Muslim invasion.” He reiterated Friday that he especially blames Norwegian and European media for making his attacks “necessary,” since they “systematically censor” ultra-nationalists like himself. He said he would not have carried out his attacks if he felt that Norwegian media had provided fair coverage of the immigrationskeptical Progress Party ahead of 2009 parliamentary elections. Breivik, charged with “acts of terror,” has entered a plea of not guilty, saying his actions were “cruel but necessary.”
un awaits syria green light for $180m relief plan GENEVA AFP
LYON: Supporters of the Front de Gauche (FG) leftist party’s candidate for the 2012 French presidential election dance on Friday prior to watching, on a canvas stretched over the side of a truck, the FG campaign meeting held at the same time at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. AFP
clashes in Bahrain ahead of f1 practices DUbai: Bahraini security forces clashed with protesters against Bahrain’s controversial Grand Prix in Shiite villages on Friday despite beefed up security for the start of practice sessions. The overnight clashes between protesters and security forces across Shiite villages continued into the early morning, witnesses said. “The people want to topple the regime,” chanted dozens of protesters carrying pictures of jailed hunger striker Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. “Down Hamad,” they called, referring to Bahrain’s king. Met by tear gas and sound bombs, the protesters responded by hurling petrol bombs at security forces, witnesses said. Security forces also fired buckshot to disperse the crowds, wounding dozens of people. Protesters burned tyres, briefly blocking several main roads leading to the Sakhir circuit where Friday’s Formula One practices were taking place, witnesses said. The February 14 Youth Movement had called on social networking sites for “three days of rage” to coincide with the event. And Bahrain’s main opposition group, AlWefaq, called for a week of daily protests to coincide with the Grand Prix, to focus media attention on their longstanding demands for greater equality in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. AFP
political tension eases in mali as prisoners freed BAMAKO AFP
Mali’s transition premier, the astrophysicist Cheick Modibo Diarra, pondered the make up of his interim government Friday in a defused political climate after the military released 22 political prisoners. The military guard watching former minister Soumaila Cisse, was lifted from his post at the hospital where Cisse was recovering, after an announcement that the exminister was free to go. Ousted president Amadou Toumani Toure, who formally resigned after being overthrown by the military last month, left the country to seek refuge in Senegal. Abou Abel Thiam, spokesman for Senegalese President Macky Sall, told AFP that Toure, who arrived late Thursday in Dakar with his family, had been taken to the Residence Pasteur where high-
ranking guests are lodged. “He was calm. He was with his entire family” of about 15 people, Thiam said. Senegalese Foreign Minister Alioune Badara Cisse had gone to pick them up in the Malian capital Bamako in the Senegalese presidential plane, he added. It was not immediately known if Toure, 63, would stay in Senegal or was just passing through. A military source in Bamako had earlier said on condition of anonymity that Toure had departed “with the agreement of Captain Amadou Haya Sanogo”, the coup leader, after soldiers posted at the airport had refused to let him leave. The military source said troops had tried to oppose the former president’s departure by firing in the air, provoking mass panic. Toure’s departure from Mali and the release of his allies who were rounded up by the junta helped ease tensions in Bamako where some feared soldiers were loathe to give up power as arrests
continued despite a commitment to a return to civilian rule. The wave of detentions took place shortly after former NASA astrophysicist and head of Microsoft Africa, Diarra was appointed. He is expected to announce the make up of his transition government in coming days. Television footage had showed assault rifles and ammunition clips as Colonel Diamou Keita, the head of the gendarmerie, said they had arrested 22 people, 11 of whom were civilians — one a banker — and 11 of them soldiers. “Everybody has been released,” a source close to the leaders of the March 22 coup said late Thursday, adding however that Cisse and Toure ally, General Waly Sissoko “remained under medical observation”. “It was only this morning (Friday) that Soumaila Cisse was informed of his freedom in his hospital bed,” said a member of his entourage, indicating he would be evacuated to Fran.
A $180 million draft plan for delivering humanitarian aid for Syria’s one million needy has been drawn up and is awaiting the green light from Syria, the United Nations said on Friday. A successful assessment mission has been carried out and donors are ready with their cash to provide food, medical and other supplies, said John Ging, director of operations for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “We were able to access all areas that we needed to access to assess the situation and get a more accurate understanding of the needs,” Ging said on the fringes of a meeting of aid agencies in Geneva. “We have shared with the forum the draft response plan that has been developed by the UN agencies on the ground. “That plan amounts to $180 million which is added to the regional refugee response plan of $84 million. “Our donor community are fully aware of what we have planned. Now it’s a question of implementing those plans,” he said. Friday’s private meeting, the second so-called Humanitarian Forum on Syria, was hosted by OCHA, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the European Commission Humanitarian Office. Ging said that the Syrian government had agreed “that there is a serious humanitarian need and there’s an urgency for humanitarian action.”
South Sudan orders troop pull out from heglig oil field JUBA AFP
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Friday ordered the immediate withdrawal of his troops from the contested Heglig oil field, as the two former civil war foes inched back from a wider war. “The Republic of South Sudan announces that the SPLA (Southern army) troops have been ordered to withdraw from Panthou-Heglig,” Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said, reading out a presidential statement. “An orderly withdrawal will commence immediately and shall be completed within three days,” the statement added, potentially easing conflict that has threatened to plunge the countries back into war. Fighting between Sudan and South Sudan escalated earlier this month, following the South’s April 10 seizure of Heglig, which makes up around half of Sudan’s oil production for its faltering economy. Sudanese troops launched a renewed counter-attack late Thursday with air strikes hitting Southern troops entrenched along the frontline, Southern army spokesman Philip Aguer said. “There was fighting on Thursday evening, SAF (Sudan’s army) was advancing and they were beaten,” he said, adding he had no reports of fighting on Friday.
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Saturday, 21 april, 2012
Qaeda, army clashes kill 20 in Yemen SANAA AFP
Clashes between Al-Qaeda militants and the army on the outskirts of Zinjibar in Yemen’s restive south left 20 people dead, mostly jihadists, as soldiers advanced towards the city, the defence ministry said Friday. “Eighteen Al-Qaeda militants were killed and dozens wounded while the rest fled” the clashes on the outskirts of the extremists’ stronghold of Zinjibar, which Yemeni troops have been trying to retake since May, the ministry’s website 26sep.net said. “Two soldiers were also killed while seven others were wounded” in the clashes that erupted late on Thursday, it said. AFP could not independently verify the toll. The ministry said the army had “made a major advance towards Zinjibar, driving out the terrorist Al-Qaeda elements from several positions they held.” Since May 2011, the army has been battling the extremist group’s Yemeni branch, known as the Partisans of Sharia (Islamic law), which took over Zinjibar, in an attempt to regain control of the capital of Abyan province. The website 26sep.net also reported that Islamist insurgents were planning to target gas terminals and companies in Belhaf, Shabwa province, with “six bomb-laden cars driven by six suicide bombers.” “The interior ministry has given orders to Shabwa security services to deal seriously with this information and to take the security measures needed to foil this terrorist plot by Al-Qaeda,” it said.
Foreign News 17
Syria activists call protests as bomb kills 10 DAMASCUS
S
AFP
yrian activists protested against Bashar al-Assad on Friday, saying the Syrian president will be defeated, as a bomb the government blamed on terrorists killed 10 security personnel. The latest violence, which left three security forces dead elsewhere, came as international envoy Kofi Annan’s spokesman acknowledged the situation was “not good” and as rights monitors reported an opposition activist killed and intense shelling of protest centres. “It’s a very fragile ceasefire,” Ahmad Fawzi told reporters of the tenuous truce which has seen more than 120 civilians killed since it went into effect on April 12.\ The deadly blast on took placed in the southern region of Quneitra, near the border with Israel in the disputed Golan Heights, state television reported. “An armed terrorist group exploded a 100kilogramme (220-pound) bomb in Sahm al-Jolan in the region of Quneitra, killing 10 members of the security forces,” the television said. Meanwhile, an advance team of UN military observers resumed work bolstered by the signing on Thursday of a protocol governing their mission to monitor a six-point plan brokered by Annan. UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged the
Security Council to take “early action” to bolster the mission, while acknowledging that boosting its numbers to 300 was “not a decision without risk.” Opposition activists had called for a show of defiance against Assad’s regime for the main weekly protests on the Muslim day of prayer and rest. “We will win and Assad will be defeated,” was the slogan on the Syrian Revolution 2011 Facebook Page, which has been a major engine of the 13-month uprising that monitors say has left more than 11,000 people dead. Videos posted online showed thousands of demonstrators joining a huge rally in the city of Hassaka in the mainly Kurdish northeast. Others showed demonstrations in the southern province of Daraa, cradle of the uprising, as well as in the Damascus suburbs. Across the country, activists reported a massive security force presence, particularly outside mosques, the traditional starting point for marches and protests. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the UN observer mission needed to be able to guarantee Syrians the freedom to protest. “We need observers on the ground, but properly equipped observers with helicopters that can ensure the right to protest. It’s extremely important. The day this freedom is guaranteed, the regime will fall,” he said. But the head of the small observer advance team, Mo-
assads’ luxury lifestyle is target of new eu sanctions brUssels: The Assad couple’s lifestyle is the next target of EU sanctions on the Syrian regime, with the bloc ready to ban exports of luxury items, diplomats said Friday. “Sanctions are ready,” said an EU diplomat who asked not to be named. “We will see Monday, depending on the situation on the ground, if European Union foreign ministers decide to adopt them or not” at talks in Luxembourg. This 14th round of EU sanctions would concern luxury goods and so-called dual-use goods which can be used for internal repression or for the manufacturing of equipment used for internal repression, a senior EU diplomat said. By targeting luxury items, the EU is “symbolically” targeting the lifestyle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his glamorous British-born wife Asma, said a European diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity. “The Assad couple, as well as his inner circle and leaders of the regime must be made to understand that events in Syria will also impact their personal lives,” the source told AFP. The EU a month ago tightened the noose on Assad’s family, slapping a travel ban and asset freeze on his wife, mother and sister in the 13th round of EU sanctions in a year. His immediate family were among 12 people and two oil companies added to an existing EU blacklist totalling 126 people and 41 firms or utilities. Asked whether the EU would provide logistical support to the UN team monitorihng a ceasefire in Syria, a senior EU diplomat said Brussels had informed UN chief Ban Ki-moon of the bloc’s readiness to back the mission. “They may need helicopters, armoured cars and trucks or satellite images,” he said. “We can supply all of that and we’re in contact to see exactly what they need.” AFP rocco’s Colonel Ahmed Himmiche, said it would not be attending demonstrations on Friday for fear that “our presence is used for an escalation.” “Today, we have
other tasks. We are going to meet civilians and representatives of organisations,” Himmiche told AFP as his team prepared to leave their Damascus hotel.
Suspected islamists kill eight in northern nigeria KANO AFP
Suspected members of Islamist group Boko Haram have killed at least eight people, including a policeman, in separate attacks in restive northern Nigeria, police said Friday. The attacks, which also wounded a policeman, occurred in three different cities, with most of the violence in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state in Nigeria’s northeast where Boko Haram has been based. “Five people were killed yesterday by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram, in a bakery. All five were labourers in the bakery, located in the Polo area of Maiduguri,” Borno state police commissioner Bala Hassan told AFP. He said two gunmen stormed the bakery with guns concealed in a sack and shot the five dead. The attackers fled before police arrived, he said. Hassan said a customs officer was shot dead on Wednesday at Gamboru market in Maiduguri, while a water vendor was also killed in another area of the city on the same day. In nearby Yobe state, police spokesman Toyin Gbadegeshin told AFP a policeman was killed outside his house in the state capital on Thursday. “We lost a policeman to unidentified gunmen who trailed and killed him outside his house at Pawari neighbourhood of Damaturu,” he said, adding that Boko Haram was suspected.
DARET EzAAH: A Syrian demonstrator calls for ‘Freedom’ during a protest in Daret Ezaah, close to the Syrian city of Aleppo, on Friday. AFP
sarkozy’s mea culpa as French presidential campaign winds up PARIS AFP
Nicolas Sarkozy apologised for his missteps Friday, the final day of campaigning in France’s presidential election, while his main rival Francois Hollande was increasingly confident of victory. The latest polls ahead of Sunday’s first round point to a resounding win for the Socialist in the May 6 run-off against Sarkozy, dogged by criticism his flashy and overbearing style lowered the standing of France’s head of state. “Perhaps the mistake I made at the start of my mandate is not understanding the symbolic dimension of the president’s role and not being solemn enough in my acts,” a contrite Sarkozy told RTL radio. “A mistake for which I would like to apologise
or explain myself and which I will not make again,” he said, insisting: “Now, I know the job.” The vote is seen by many as a referendum on the unpopular Sarkozy, who feted tycoons and married supermodel Carla Bruni during his fiveyear term, rather than a chance to choose France’s first Socialist president since 1995. The latest survey before campaigning and opinion polls were to be banned at midnight on Friday said Hollande would win 29 percent of votes to Sarkozy’s 25.5 percent before the pair meet head-on in the second round. Hollande is on course to win the final vote 56 percent to the right-winger’s 44 percent, polling organisation Ipsos forecast. Far-right candidate Marine Le
Pen could take 16 percent in the first round, the far-left’s Jean-Luc Melenchon 14 percent and centrist Francois Bayrou 10 percent, IPSOS said. IPSOS’ Brice Teinturier said that if the figures proved accurate, “for the first time since the start of the Fifth Republic, five candidates will have double-figure scores.” He nevertheless noted voter “porosity and uncertainty” and added that far-right voters initially drawn to Sarkozy were now abandoning him. Even pro-Sarkozy newspaper Le Figaro said “confidence has swept into Francois Hollande’s camp” where “the candidate is having difficulty concealing his optimism”, to the point of denigrating potential second-round allies. Amid speculation that he could reach out to Melenchon or Bayrou to ensure his victory in the run-off, Hollande has said
there would be no between-round deals, such as tapping a prime minister from among his rivals. “There is no place in a presidential election for negotiations between parties. No bartering, no concessions, no exchanges,” Hollande said. Sarkozy’s campaign spokeswoman Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet played up French voter unpredictability, with polling organisations themselves saying they had never seen “such erratic predictions so close to the first round.” “I think that there will be big surprises,” she told Le Parisien newspaper, thanks to “the silent French, who don’t express themselves in the media or on the Internet.” Hollande’s campaign chief Pierre Moscovici told the same paper that voters had a “powerful and tranquil expectation of change” and those backing
other left-wing candidates in the first round would end up voting Hollande. “Hollande will become the candidate of the Socialist Party and of its allies: he will be the candidate of the left and of change,” Moscovici said. Sarkozy was briefly buoyed by security fears in the wake of last month’s AlQaeda-inspired killings in Toulouse and has vowed to cut immigration, but the economy has been the overwhelming issue throughout the campaign. Unemployment is at a 12-year high, the eurozone debt crisis has shaken the economy and French citizens’ purchasing power is diminishing. Hollande took a statesmanlike stance Friday, saying France would join UNbacked military intervention in Syria and calling for the European Central Bank to cut interest rates.
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Saturday, 21 April, 2012
Berdych takes down murray in monte carlo marathon Page 21
Phf asks rebel players to explain LAHORE STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has on Friday issued show cause noticed to some of the senior members of the national hockey team for teir participation in an illegal tournament in India. According to reports, Nimbus Communications Ltd engaged around seven Pakistani players for “World Hockey Series”, which was played in India. The FIH declared the event as unsanctioned. "Seven Pakistani players featured in the "World Hockey Series", which was played in India. The FIH declared the event as unsanctioned so these players have violated the constitution of PHF and FIH," a PHF release said. The Pakistani players have violated the Constitution of PHF and FIH and participated in the said event. The players Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmed, Tariq Aziz, Zeeshan Ashraf, Adnan Maqsood, Shakeel Abbasi and Imran Warsi. The PHF has issued Show Cause Notices to the above players and asked them to appear before the PHF Discipline Committee on 7th May 2012 in the PHF Office, National Hockey Stadium Lahore to explain their point of view. Pakistan's dwindling fortunes in field hockey would suffer another serious blow if the players were banned. Pakistan, four times world and three times Olympic gold medal winners, have slumped in recent years, recording a worst-ever eighth position at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. They finished 12th and last in the 2010 World Cup held in New Delhi but surprisingly won the Asian Games in China the same year to win an automatic berth in the London Olympics.
Pak tour, ICC presidency not related, says Kamal LAHORE STAFF REPORT
p
RESIDENT of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Mustafa Kamal, has denied that he committed to Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan in return for Pakistan Cricket Board’s support of his vice-president candidacy for the International Cricket Council (ICC). “No that is absolutely incorrect. I can’t get the vice-presidency with Pakistan’s support only. I need endorsements from at least 7 of 10 full members of the ICC to acquire the important office,” said Kamal, on a private television channel.
Bangladesh were scheduled to play one One Day International and one Twenty20 match in Lahore at the end of April. However, the tour was postponed after Dhaka High Court issued a stay order due to which the BCB postponed the trip. According to the petition filed in the Dhaka High Court, Kamal had committed to the tour without the permission of the relevant authorities. Speaking after the tour was postponed, Kamal said that his sincerity should not be doubted. “PCB and BCB are striving hard for the betterment of cricket in the region, and I hope the bilateral cooperation will continue,” he added.
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Clarke vows to keep pressing for victory PORT OF SPAIN AFP
Australia captain Michael Clarke vowed to keep making ambitious declarations even if it meant risking seeing his plans come back to haunt him. Clarke set the West Indies a 215-run target off 61 overs in the second Test on Thursday, after declaring on 160 for eight early in the afternoon, only for torrential rain to wash away any chance of a result. His decision to tempt the West Indies to force a result had paid dividends in the first Test in Barbados, which his team won by three wickets, despite declaring his team's first innings 43 runs behind. Thursday was also set for an intriguing finish when West Indies reached 53 for two off 11 overs before rain returned to end the weather-battered contest. "My goal my whole career has been to help the Australian team win as many games as possible and I guess now that I am captain I have the opportunity to show that," said Clarke. "At times with my declaration, when there is a chance for winning, you've got to have a go at it. "There's going to be times
Sohail questions Bcci policy of leaving Pakistan players out of iPL
that it might backfire and we might lose every now and then. But I enjoy the brand of cricket that we're playing at the moment. "I know the guys are really focused on the team having success and trying to win as many games as we can. And I think it's bringing the best out of the team." The draw meant that Australia retained their two-decade grip on the Frank Worrell Trophy with just the final Test to play starting in Dominica on Monday. In an effort to win on Thursday, West Indies captain Darren Sammy switched his batting order, moving Kieran Powell to open and placing himself at number three. But Australian seamer Ben Hilfenhaus soon had the West Indies rocking, trapping Powell lbw for just four in his second over which allowed Sammy, himself, to come to the crease. Hilfenhaus had both openers back in the dressing room just two overs later when he produced a beautiful outswinger that took the edge of Adrian Barath's bat and the catch was taken by Clarke at first slip. That left West Indies on 13 for two. Sammy, though, still had his sights firmly set on an unlikely win and launched into an attack on Hilfenhaus, striking him for two boundaries and a six over long-off.
Former Test captain Aamir Sohail has called on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the government to ensure participation of Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Sohail, a former chief selector and now a wellknown cricket analyst and commentator, said while the IPL was a domestic event of the Indian board but it was sad that only Pakistani players were missing from the ongoing competition. "Players from all over the world are invited to take part in the competition. Why should only Pakistani players continue to be kept out of the IPL," he questioned. "The PCB and even the government should find out the cause for this issue. The PCB must ask the BCCI why only Pakistani players are not allowed to take part in the IPL. "When our players can go and play in the World Series Hockey, I don't understand why not in the IPL. No one appears to have a logical explanation for this," he said. BCCI vice President Rajeev Shukla had last week said that Pakistani players could only be invited to take part in the IPL once bilateral cricket ties resume between the two countries. He made it clear that the IPL was a sub-committee of the BCCI and was governed by it. "We have nothing against Pakistan if that was so we wouldn't have allowed Pakistani umpires, commentators or coaches in the IPL," Shukla had said. Sohail welcomed the PCB move to invite Bangladesh to play two matches in Lahore. "I think the PCB has done the right thing by inviting a foreign team to Pakistan because we need to get the ball rolling. It is a series where we should also try out our new players particularly fast bowlers."
Second Windies, Australia Test abandoned as draw PORT OF SPAIN
SCOREBOARD
AFP
Australia retained their two-decade grip on the Frank Worrell Trophy when heavy rain meant the second Test against the West Indies petered out into a draw on Thursday. The disappointing end came just when the home side were cranking up their pursuit of a 215-run victory target at Queen's Park Oval. Australian skipper Michael Clarke had declared his team's second innings at 160 for eight early in the afternoon, leaving West Indies with a minimum 61 overs to force a result and level the three-game series. But after reaching 53 for two off 11 overs, the umpires led the teams off as bad light and heavy rain, which had restricted Wednesday's action to just 30.4 overs, returned. "I think it was going to be a good final day if the rain stayed away," said Clarke, whose team won the first Test in Barbados. "It was disappointing for both teams and the fans. It's going to be a tough fight in Dominica (where the final Test starts on Monday) because we played inconsistent cricket here." In an effort to win the game, West Indies captain Darren Sammy switched his batting order, moving Kieran Powell to open and placing himself at number three. Australian seamer Ben Hilfenhaus soon had the West Indies rocking, trapping Powell lbw for just four in his second over and the decision stood despite another wasted review by the home side. Sammy, himself, then came to the crease. However, Hilfenhaus had both openers back in the dressing room just two overs later when he produced a beautiful outswinger that took the edge of Adrian Barath's bat and the catch was taken by Clarke at first slip. That left West Indies on 13 for two. Sammy, though, still had his sights firmly set on a win and launched into an attack on Hilfenhaus, striking him for two boundaries and a six over long-off. He
Port-of-SPain: West indies cricketer Darren Sammy (r) and fidel Edwards (L) celebrate the wicket of australian batsman michael clarke during the final day of the second test match. AFP reached 30 not out from 26 balls with his team still needing another 162 runs to win when the weather intervened. "We were going after the runs. We lost two wickets, but we had Shiv (Chanderpaul) and Narsinh (Deonarine) in the end. We made a positive statement. We looked at it as a one-day scenario," said Sammy. During
the morning the unlucky Fidel Edwards finally took his first wicket of the match in his 10th over of the second innings. A short ball to Ricky Ponting had him playing one of his favourite hook shots but he failed to keep the ball down. It went straight to Powell on the square leg boundary and Ponting was gone for 41 off 85 balls, an innings which featured
Australia 1st innings 311 (M. Hussey 73, S. Watson 56; K. Roach 5-105, S. Shillingford 3-92) West Indies 1st innings 257 (S. Chanderpaul 94, N. Deonarine 55; N. Lyon 5-68) Australia 2nd innings (overnight 73-3) E. Cowan lbw b Roach 20 D. Warner c Bravo b Edwards 17 S. Watson b Roach 0 R. Ponting c Powell b Edwards 41 M. Clarke c & b Sammy 15 M. Hussey b Roach 24 M. Wade not out 31 B. Hilfenhaus b Roach 0 N. Lyon c Sammy b Shillingford 3 Extras (b4, lb1, w1, nb3) 9 Total (8 wickets dec; 61.5 overs) 160 Did not bat: J. Pattinson Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Warner), 2-26 (Watson), 3-57 (Cowan), 493 (Ponting), 5-95 (Clarke), 6-145 (Hussey), 7-149 (Hilfenhaus), 8-160 (Lyon) Bowling: Edwards 10-2-28-1 (1nb), Shillingford 23.5-4-55-1, Roach 18-4-41-5 (1nb), Sammy 8-0-17-1 (1w, 2nb), Deonarine 20-14-0 West Indies 2nd innings A. Barath c Clarke b Hilfenhaus 5 K. Powell lbw b Hilfenhaus 4 D. Sammy not out 30 D. Bravo not out 8 Extras (b6) 6 Total (2 wickets; 11 overs) 53 Did not bat: Kraigg Brathwaite, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Carlton Baugh, Shane Shillingford, Kemar Roach, Fidel Edwards Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Powell), 2-13 (Barath) Bowling: Beer 4-1-10-0, Hilfenhaus 4-0-22-2, Watson 3-1-15-0 Toss: Australia Result: Match drawn Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG), Marais Erasmus (SA) Match referee: Jeff Crowe (Nz) Third umpire: Tony Hill (Nz)
three fours. The highlight of the morning came in Sammy's second over. He had dropped a sitter at first slip earlier in the innings but now took an excellent catch off his own bowling to remove his opposite number Clarke. The delivery seemed to stop a bit off the pitch and Clarke was through the stroke a little early before Sammy thrust
West indies call up assad for third test porT of spain: Left-hander Assad Fudadin was on Thursday called into the West Indies squad for the third and final Test against Australia which starts at Windsor Park in Dominica on Monday. He comes in for leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo. Middleorder batsman Kirk Edwards, who was in the squad for the second Test, has not recovered from a leg injury and is not available for selection. Fudadin, a 26-year-old from Guyana, is a steady batsman, who was the second highest run-scorer in the recentlyconcluded Regional 4-Day competition where he made 576 runs at an average of 48 with a top score of 108. Chairman of the West Indies Cricket Board selection panel, Clyde Butts said: "Fudadin has been a member of the West Indies A Team for a while now and we have seen signs of development and improvement." "This year he batted well in the Regional 4-Day Tournament, and made over 500 runs including two centuries. He was very consistent in the middle-order. He can also bowl medium-pace and that is an asset." The second Test at Queen's Park Oval here was abandoned as a draw on Thursday after Australia won the opener in Barbados by three wickets. AFP out his right hand to take the chance. Mike Hussey and Matthew Wade took Australia through to lunch at 123 for five with a lead of 177 before the pace was stepped-up after the interval. West Indies paceman Kemar Roach took two more wickets to give him his second five wicket innings in the match as he finished with 5-41.
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Pakistan rejects US demand for NWA military operation ISLAMABAD
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SHAIQ HUSSAIN
AKISTAN has firmly turned down renewed US demands for a full-scale military operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) against the Haqqani network allegedly based there, and blamed by Washington for recent coordinated attacks in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan. The Obama administration resumed pressure on Islamabad for military action in North Waziristan. The demand was first made by US Ambassador to Pakistan
Cameron Munter during his meeting with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar which took place after the Kabul attacks, followed by a telephone call from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to her Pakistani counterpart. Besides, official sources say that the US also conveyed the demand to the Pakistan Army leadership through military channels. However, Pakistan has once again refused to budge to US pressure for launching a military offensive in North Waziristan, where the Obama administration believes that senior Taliban leader Siraj Haqqani is hiding, along with his fighters. US Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan
C Crocker also blamed the Haqqani network on Thursday for conducting coordinated attacks in Kabul and other cities. Talking to reporters in Kabul, he demanded Pakistan to crack down on what he called “Haqqani safe havens” in Pakistan. “There is no question in our minds that the Haqqanis were responsible for these attacks. We know where their leadership lives and we know where these plans are made in Pakistan,” he said. A Pakistani diplomat seeking anonymity, however, rejected US allegations, saying that everything that happens in Kabul is not planned in Pakistan’s tribal belt. “There might be Taliban fighters
News 19
present in North Waziristan and other tribal areas, but blaming those people for every bad thing that happens in Afghanistan seems to have become the Americans’ habit now,” he said, while ruling out the possibility of a new military offensive in North Waziristan. A security official, who also sought anonymity, confirmed that the US was exerting increasing pressure on Pakistan for a new military offensive. However, he too rejected the likelihood of any such offensive, saying that would put too much burden on Pakistani security forces already overstretched due to ongoing operations in areas such Khyber and Orakzai agencies.
sC directs ANF to conduct PML-N pulls out of troubling CoNtINUeD From Page 28
Ali Musa Gilani and some bureaucrats, including PM’s Principal Secretary Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, to appear before the court for being allegedly involved in the scam. In Friday’s hearing, Salman Akram Raja, counsel for Ali Musa Gilani and Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, informed the bench that his clients were ready to appear before the court, whereas the bench allowed former parliamentarian Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed to become party in the case and asked him to extend cooperation to the ANF. Narcotics acting secretary Zafar Abbas Lak told the bench that the ANF had not recovered any facility to convert ephedrine into any narcotic material so far. He said any evidence of misuse of ephedrine had also not been traced. He blamed the ANF of fabricating cases, adding that ANF officers were rebels who never bothered to follow rules and regulations.Lak said the ANF implicated innocent people in drug cases and he was ready to resign if the accusation were not proved. He maintained that it could also be possible that ANF might even incriminate
the prime minister of the country by planting heroin in his car. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain said in his remarks that the investigation teams must be dismissed if thousands of cases were registered on fabricated grounds. Lak requested the bench to protect him from the ANF, saying the force may arrest him from his home, to which the chief justice said, “You are a powerful person who can transfer a sitting brigadier and general”. The CJ added that incumbent narcotics secretary Zafar Abbas was becoming the basis of defaming the ANF. Munir Ahmed Piracha and Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi, counsels for M/s Danas Pharmaceuticals pleaded before the bench that they had already approached a high court for grant of bail and had nothing to say in present proceedings. Raja Shahid Mehmood Abbasi, counsel for ANF, pointed out that the bail matter was lingering on for one or the other reason, upon which the bench asked the concerned high court to dispose of the matter of bail within seven days. The bench adjourned the hearing of the case to be fixed after three weeks.
siachen withdrawal position ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
After facing strong criticism from various quarters, including mainstream political parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday backtracked from its earlier stance in which its president Nawaz Sharif had proposed the unilateral withdrawal of Pakistani troops from Siachen. “We have never asked for a unilateral withdrawal of troops from Siachen,” Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Friday in response to a question at a press conference he jointly addressed with Nawaz Sharif. Nisar blamed a section of the press for “misquoting” Nawaz’s statement. “What he (Nawaz) said
was that Pakistan should lead dialogue with India over the Siachen issue,” he added. Replying to another query on a recent statement by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, Nisar said: “There is no doubt that Imran Khan is a poor fellow and cannot afford a visit of Giyari to express solidarity with soldiers trapped under a gigantic avalanche. Khan can use private jets owned by several members of his party for foreign and domestic visits, but cannot go to Giyari.” Addressing the press conference, Nawaz said the past mistakes of both Pakistan and India and their attitude towards each other, had proved to be a stumbling block in the dialogue over Siachen. When asked about the PML-
Govt to get destination countries’ consent before deporting OBL family ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The federal government has decided to get the consent of the home countries of the family members of slain Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden before deporting them from Pakistan. In this respect, Interior Minister Rehman Malik chaired a high-level meeting on Friday which was attended by the federal Interior secretary, the Islamabad chief commissioner and deputy commissioner, the Islamabad inspector general of police, and the directors general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Crisis Management
Cell (NCMC). The senior officials briefed Malik on the deportation of the 13 family members of Osama Bin Laden. Malik directed the Islamabad chief commissioner to visit Osama’s family members with a female police officer, and ask them about their choice of the destination country. The minister also directed the Interior secretary to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for taking the consent of the respective countries to accept Osama’s family members. Malik said that the process of deportation of OBL family members should be completed under the existing rules and regulations.
sC reserves verdict on election expenses case ISLAMABAD NNI
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday reserved its verdict on the election expenses case after hearing arguments from both the sides. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez, heard the petition regarding the election expanses. The chief justice said that the Election Commission was responsible for not holding municipal elections
which were a constitutional requirement. The chief justice further said the provincial governments had held the Election Commission responsible for not holding municipal elections and remarked that preparation of electoral rolls was the responsibility of the ECP. Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry also criticised the Election Commission for absence of the ECP directorgeneral from the hearing. “The ECP has become just a post office. It is not fulfilling its duties of holding transparent elections,” said the chief justice.
N’s plans for forcing the government for early elections, Nawaz said that his party was performing its “due role”, but added that the coalition partners of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) “should also think about the country”. “The government’s allies are equally responsible for the current state of affairs in the country,” he said. Earlier in the day while addressing a laptop distribution ceremony at Convention Centre, Nawaz said the past PML-N governments had not been allowed to complete the tenure. “We (PML-N) were never allowed to work for more than two years,” he added. He told the students to use their votes “carefully”, saying that “some people” had disguised themselves and were talking about a revolution.
11 more gunned down in Karachi KARACHI ONLINE
The deadly trend of target killings in Karachi showed no sign of decline as 11 more people were gunned down in the city, rescue sources said. Police and rescue sources said six people were gunned down in separate incidents in Orangi Town while five others were killed in Liaquatabad, Teen Hati, Clifton, Memon Goth and Sabzi Mandi areas of the city. A total of seven people were killed in Orangi Town. Two of them were killed and one sustained injuries when unknown assailants opened fire in the Gaddafi Chowk area of Orangi Town, Chhipa sources said. Orangi Town Deputy Superintendent of Police Tariq Malih, confirming the incident, said the injured had been shifted to a nearby hospital. Two people were killed in the New Sabzi Mandi area and one near Bilawal House in Clifton. Another person was gunned down in the Teen Hatti area. DSP Malih said the condition of two out of the three injured was serious because bullets had pierced through their heads and chests. Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan directed the respective SHOs to patrol their areas to curb any terror bid. INP adds: Two armed men opened fire at Shoaib, 22, in the Ram Swami area, injuring him critically. The injured was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The police recovered dead bodies of two persons from Orangi Town. The bodies were shifted to hospital for postmortem. Identity of the deceased aged between 25 to 30 years, has not been confirmed. In the Old City area, gunmen opened fire at a man leaving him critically injured. The injured was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The police recovered the dead body of an unknown person from the Memon Goth area. The arms and legs of deceased were tied with ropes. Meanwhile, more than 10 persons were injured in various firing incidents in New Karachi, Liaquatabad, Jahangir Road, Shah Faisal Colony and Lyari.
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20 Sports
Saturday, 21 april, 2012
LoNDoN: The uS team practice ahead of the teams technical routine during the FINA olympic games Synchronised Swimming Qualification competition, a part of the London Prepares series of test events, at the Aquatics Centre in the olympic Park. aFp
a pivotal moment in the race for champions league football
national Boxing from 23rd
Previewing the Arsenal-Chelsea game, highlighting the ramifications of the outcome for the teams between 3rd and 6th
The 34th Velo National Boxing Championship will be held on April 23 to 27 here at Punjab College. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Pakistan Boxing Federation President Duda Khan Bhutto, who was to address the press conference could not make the occasion and Akram Khan, secretary PBF addressed the gathering and said that the championship has been allotted to the Punjab Boxing Association and would be participated by all the affiliated units of the federation. Velo is the sponsor of this 34th edition of the Championship in which prominent teams from the four provinces, FATA, Islamabad, PAF, Army, Navy, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Police, Railway and Wapda will be participating. Akram Khan, secretary PBF, informed that the weigh in ill be held in the morning at around 10 am and will be followed by bouts in two sessions, morning and evening. The winners will be awarded medals, he maintained. Mohammad Yousuf Mahmood Butt, secretary Punjab boxing was also present on the occasion. He said: President, Pakistan Olympic Association, Lt Gen (r) Syed Arif Hasan will inaugurate the national championship whose finals will be played on April 27.
EPL CRYSTAL BALL KUNWAR KHULDUNE SHAHID With four games to go – five for some, six for Bolton – every match in the English Premier League would have massive repercussions for not only the two teams involved but also those that surround their position on the league table. The early kickoff today at the Emirates is one of the biggest games of the season for both the clubs involved and of course for Tottenham Hotspurs and Newcastle United as well. All four of them could finish anywhere between 3rd and 6th depending on results going in their favour – or lack thereof; that’s how close the race for Champions League football is. As things stand Arsenal are 3rd with 64 points, Tottenham 4th with 59, Newcastle 5th with 59 and Chelsea 6th with 57 points. And Arsenal have played 34 games – a game more than the rest of the chasing pack. Arsenal and Chelsea are coming off the back of contrasting results. The away team for today’s encounter beat possibly the greatest club side to ever play the game in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, owing to a dogged, determined performance. While Arsenal came unstuck against a relegation contender – even though teams of that particular kith and kin are veritable beasts at this time of the year – Wigan, who are fighting for their life with vigor and verve that has seen them conjure up back-to-back wins over Manchester United and Arsenal. As far as Champions League qualification are concerned, Chelsea need the win today more than Arsenal do – unless they’re going for the ‘easy way out’ and
beating Barcelona and one of Bayern Munich or Real Madrid en route to winning the Holy Grail of club football and getting automatic qualification. How-
ever, back-to-back defeats for the Gunners would give their North London neighbours a sniff of the third spot; even though they haven’t seemed particularly
interested in sniffing around that particular spot recently. Chelsea should also get more motivation – as if they needed any – owing to being on the wrong end of a jarring 53 loss at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, and the blues should have reason for optimism knowing that Mikel Arteta is out for the rest of the season and that Yossi Benayoun would not be involved against his parent club while Abou Diaby has next to no fitness level to fill that void. That would mean that Aaron Ramsey – who has had a mixed season and continues to divide opinion – should be played in the middle. Chelsea, meanwhile, have fitness issues of their own. Considering the fact that the collective age of their normal first choice 11 is only a couple of years less than the Egyptian pyramids, the Barca match would undoubtedly take its toll in the second half against Arsenal. Furthermore Arsenal’s tormentor-inchief historically Didier Drogba – who has scored 12 goals in 14 games against Arsenal – would not be playing today after the Ivorian was ruled out with a knee injury. Hence Fernando Torres should get the umpteen hundredth chance to pay back some of the amount the Roman Abramovic splurged out for his services. It goes without saying that Robin Van Persie would have a major part to play for Arsenal, and if he finds his groove – like he did in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge – Arsene Wenger’s younger, fresher troops might just run Chelsea ragged. Despite Chelsea needing it more, Arsenal look better placed to take the three points – something that, as things stand, Abramovic might even give a blank cheque for.
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
rokhri Badminton from monday LAHORE STAFF REPORT
The 14th All Pakistan Aamer Hayat Khan Rokhri Badminton Invitation Tournament 2012 will be held in the hall of New Khan Sports Board from April 23 to 29. All the four provinces namely Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa besides players from Wapda, Railway, National Bank of Pakistan have confirmed their entries. Teams from Fata, AJK and Gilgit Baltistan are also participating.
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Sports 21
Berdych takes down Murray in Monte Carlo
WATcH iT Live GEO SUPER IPL-5: Super Kings v Royal Challengers 03:30PM
Pff forms Local organizing committee LAHORE STAFF REPORT
monaco: Britain's andy murray hits a return to czech tomas monaco: czech tomas Berdych hits a return to Britain's andy murray Berdych during the monte-carlo atP masters Series match. AFP during their monte-carlo atP masters Series tournament match. AFP point chances and converted on five. Murray 4-2 in their career series. The MONTE CARLO AFP
T
OMAS Berdych staged a fightback to deny Andy Murray a third semi-final in four years at the Monte Carlo Masters, with the Czech squeezing out a tight 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-3 win on Friday to reach the final four. Berdych, seeded sixth, will face the winner from top seed Novak Djokovic, playing on despite learning on Friday of the death in Serbia of his grandfather, and Dutch surprise Robin Haase. Murray could only be frustrated with himself after a performance in which Berdych managed 16 break
Murray had one opportunity on the Czech's serve but was unable to take advantage. Berdych girded for a battle on the clay under sunny skies after losing the 74-minute opening set in a tiebreaker. The former Wimbledon finalist took his chances and profitted from a Murray miscue in a struggle lasting for just over two and threequarter hours. "I had to stay in the fight after the first set," said the winner. "I had some bad luck in the tie-breaker, but my game started getting stronger. "I hope to keep playing my best tennis on clay," said the Monte Carlo semi-finalist from 2007 who now leads
big Czech stands 2-0 over the Scot on clay after a 2010 fourth-round win at Roland Garros. Murray looked like fighting through after the marathon opening set, where he saved a total of seven break points - four of which were set points. But after salting away the opener, he let his game drop. Berdych turned the tide ending with 50 winners and 40 unforced errors from his go-for-broke style. The final set began with three consecutive breaks of serve before Berdych steadied to earn the win on his first match point, a forehand winner to the corner. The Berdych win was his 22nd of the season against just five losses.
Grieving Djokovic battles into Monte Carlo quarters MONTE CARLO AFP
changoz in Lcci Polo cup final
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Changoz has qualified for the final of the LCCI Polo Cup after it beat Guard Group here at the LPC ground on Friday. The final will be played on Sunday while the subsidiary final will see Diamond Paints figure against the team to be decided yet. Changoz beat Guard Group 8-6 to make it to the final while Diamond Paints thrashed TNBT 9-1.
Novak Djokovic buried his grief to advance to the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday, just hours after learning of the death in Serbia of his beloved grandfather. The world number one elected to take to the court against Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine after suffering the heart-breaking blow at training in the morning. His match, interrupted by the fourth rain shower of the day at the Monte Carlo Country Club, eventually ended with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 win and a pleading look to the Mediterranean skies from the distraught star. Djokovic was said to be close to grandfather Vladimir and sheltered with him and other family members during the NATO bombing of Belgrade in 1999. After leaving the court in silence organisers the ATP released a statement which read: "Novak Djokovic would like to ask for your understanding. "As you know, he lost his grandfather today just before the match, and it was very hard for him to play. After he won, he just felt totally exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally." There was no word as to whether the world number one would continue in the tournament which he missed last year during a record-setting season of ten titles including three of the four grand slams. He is due to face Holland's Robin Haase in Friday's quarter-finals. Second seed Rafael Nadal continued his quest for an eighth straight title at the tournament as he dispatched Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-1. Nadal will next face Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland for a place in the semi-finals. World number two Nadal needed just 60 minutes to see off Kukushkin, breaking serve five times from six opportunities and dropping only six points on serve.
The Pakistan Football Federation on Friday constituted a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for AFC President’s Cup, 2012 which is being held at Punjab Football Stadium from May 8 to 12. Dr. Allah Bakhsh Malik, Secretary Sports, Punjab has been named as the chairman of the committee to facilitate this event in a professional manner. THE PATRON IN CHIEF OF LOC WILL BE MAKHDOOM SYED FAISAL SALEH HAYAT, PRESIDENT PFF. THE DETAIL OF LOC IS APPENDED BELOW: chairman of the Loc is Dr. allah Bakshs malik, Secretary Sports, government of Punjab and the Vice chairmen of Pff Loc are muhammad arshad Khan Lodhi, President Pfa & member Pff congress, Usman anwar, Director general Sports, govt. of Punjab, Lt. col. ® ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi ti (m), general Secretary, Pff, rana muhammad tahir, additional Secretary govt. of Punjab and while Wing. cdr. ® Pervaiz Saeed mir ti (m), Director Development & competition as organizing Secretary Loc. the Loc members are Lt. col. ® farasat ali Shah (Director ma & Projects Pff), Sardar naveed haider Khan (consultant marketing & Events Pff), Khalid mahmood (member Pff congress), Secretary KPK football association, Secretary Balochistan football association, Secretary Sindh football association, riffat mehmood (Dg Sports WaPDa), rana ibrar anwar (Secretary railways Sports Board), Khalil ahmed (manager admin Pff), Shahid niaz Khokhar (manager marketing Pff), agha muhammad ajmal (media manager Pff), rauf Bari (manager competition Pff), amin tahir (manager it Pff), muhammad Shabaan (manger finance Pff), muhammad nasir (administrator Punjab Stadium), Superintendent of Police Security Lahore, Superintendent of Police traffic Lahore, representative of rescue Emergency Services 1122, representative of LESco Wapda Lahore, SDo Wapda garden town Lahore and Sho gulberg Police Station Lahore.
honours for PU teams LAHORE STAFF REPORT
monaco: Serbia's novak Djokovic reacts at the end of his monte-carlo atP masters Series tournament match. AFP
The All Pakistan Inter-University Badminton Championship was organized by Punjab University Sports Department from April 10 to 13. In all 16 universities qualified for the All Pakistan Inter-Universities Badminton Championship 2011-12 and University Central Punjab, Lahore won the title and was followed by Punjab University at the runners-up position and University of Science & Teach, Bannu got the third position. At the conclusion of the Championship Prof. Dr. Syed Mansoor Sarwar, Director Sports, award prizes, trophies and souvenirs. University Central Punjab Lahore Team includes Hafiz Irfan, Ali Nawab Dil, Sherazi, Ali Raza, Muhammad Adan. Punjab University, Lahore Team comprised Abdul Rehman, Saqib Nawaz, Anwar ul Haq, Soban, Naeem Ashraf. Meanwhile, Punjab University Teaching Department won the All Pakistan Inter-University Gymnastics Championship organized by Karachi University Sports Department, Karachi from April 19 to 22. Govt. College of Commerce, Faisalabad was runners-up and University College of Fine Arts, Lahore was third.
Hurdles champion Robles starts Olympics build-up HAVANA AFP
Cuba's Olympic 110m hurdles champion Dayron Robles said Thursday that he is now injury-free and will start his build-up to the London Games on Friday in Ecuador. Robles, the world record holder, hurt his back in a training accident in Spain in March which ruled him out of the indoor world championships in Istanbul where he would have defended his title. "I am completely recovered from my injury and I am going to Guayaquil in Ecuador for two weeks starting from Friday where I will be working on my technique," the 25year-old told AFP. "After my accident in Europe, I went back to Cuba to follow a short course of treatment and then worked under my coach Santiago Antunez but without overdoing it," he added. Robles plans to race on May 1 in Martinique, then in Puerto
Rico, on May 12, Havana on May 27, Eugene, Oregon, on June 2 and then New York on June 9 before he heads to Europe. feDUloVa geTs olympiC berTH afTer freesTyle win: Svetlana Fedulova of Saint Petersburg took gold in the women's 50-metre freestyle on the third day at the Russian swimming championships here Thursday. With a time of 25.32sec Fedulova won the right to perform for Russia at the 2012 Olympics in London. Veronika Popova was second (25.77), with Natalia Lovtsova in third (25.83). In the championships, which also double as Olympic qualifiers, Danila Izotov of Krasnodar region also received a pass to the Olympics, winning the men's 200m freestyle in 1:46.56. The race also opened the way to London for second-placed Yevgeny Lagunov (1:47.47) along with third-placed Artem Lobuzov (1:47.53) and Nikita Lobintsev,
who came fourth obtaining a place in Russia's 4x200m relay team. in the men's 200m breaststroke, Vyacheslav Sinkevich won gold in 2:11.04, sendingt him on his way to the 2012 Games along with secondplaced Anton Lobanov (2:12.35). Marat Amaltdonov was third (2:12.38) Yulia Efimova won the women's 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:07.05, earning her an Olympic pass along with the silver medalist Daria Deyeva 1:07.22. Anastasia Chaun finished with bronze (1:08.74). In the women's 200m backstroke Anastasia Zueva came first with a time of 2:06.59 beating Maria Gromova (2:11.11) and Yulia Larina (2:12.97). Nikita Konovalov won gold in the non-Olympic men's 50m butterfly clocking a time of 23.32sec ahead of Yevgeny Korotyshkin (23.95) and Roman Kaigorodtsev (24.20). Meanwhile, Yelena Sokolova won the women's 800-metre
freestyle earning a place in Russia's Olympic team with a time of 8:36.44. Yelizaveta Gorshkova was second (8:44.48), while Yekaterina Seliverstova came third (8:49.78). polanD CoaCH wenTa qUiTs afTer olympiC miss: Poland's men's handball coach, former international Bogdan Wenta, announced his resignation on Thursday after his team failed to qualify for the London Olympics. "To halt all the discussion, assumptions, speculation, rumours and lies about me, I wish to inform the media that I am ending my cooperation with the Polish men's handball team," Wenta told reporters. "I already made up my mind in Alicante," he said, referring to the Spanish city which from April 6-8 hosted an International Handball Federation Olympic qualification tournament. Spain and Serbia won out in that race, while Poland
and the fourth participant, Algeria, both failed to make the cut. Wenta, 50, has been a handball star in Poland for years and was an iconic member of his country's squad in the 1980s and 1990s. ‘german Dressage CoaCH sCHmezer Dies’: Holger Schmezer, the coach of Germany's equestrian dressage team, has been found dead at a hotel in the Netherlands, the German Equestrian Federation (DRV) announced Friday. Schmezer, 65, was found in a hotel room in the Dutch town of 's-Hertogenbosch, which is hosting the final of the Equestrian World Cup series. The DRV said no circumstances of his death were yet known but paid tribute to one of the sport's "most devoted" coaches. "It's unbelievable to think that Holger Schmezer is no longer with us," DRV president Breido Count said. "The sport of dressage has lost one of its most devoted coaches."
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sC offers to halt Zardari rules out unilateral troop withdrawal from Siachen contempt proceedings g
says Punjab govt is a gift to PML-N that can be withdrawn anytime OKARA
P
AGENCIES
RESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari on Friday ruled out any unilateral withdrawal of troops from Siachen, two days after army chief General Ashfaq Kayani proposed demilitarization of the world’s highest battlefield. President Zardari was apparently reacting to the statement of opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, who had urged Pakistan and India to withdraw troops from Siachen, where harsh weather had killed more troops of the two countries than actual fighting. President Zardari said the Punjab government was gifted to the PML-N by the PPP, a gift he said he could “withdraw anytime”. He said the PPP would contest the
forthcoming general elections from Punjab and would win hands down. “We cannot unilaterally withdraw troops from Siachen,” President Zardrai told his party supporters in Okara district. “If Pakistan withdraws troops unilaterally from Siachen, we would have to explain the losses suffered during the last ten years. I am aware of the difficulties of soldiers in Siachen which is a difficult terrain, but our opponents are also not in any comfortable position there,” he said. “If India withdraws its troops we will be ready to take a similar step,” he said. He said Pakistan was ready to resolve Siachen and all other disputes with India through dialogue. Zardari said if Pakistan unilaterally withdrew troops, the people would criticize the decision. “India is suffering more losses
in Siachen than Pakistan,” President Zardari said. He also announced to consider opening Head Sulemanki border for trade with India, adding he had discussed with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ways to promote trade ties during his visit to India this month. Nawaz had also suggested the government take the initiative of withdrawing troops even if India was unwilling to withdraw the troops first. India occupied its areas of Siachen in 1984 and Pakistan has been demanding withdrawal of Indian troops to previous positions. The dispute over Siachen has been in focus since an avalanche hit a Pakistan Army camp on April 7, burying 138 soldiers and civilians under heavy snow.
if PM writes the letter
aitzaz says letter can neither be written, nor should it be written g Bench asks ag to begin arguments on tuesday
g
ISLAMABAD MASOOD REHMAN
A seven-member special bench of the Supreme Court on Friday extended an offer to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani of halting contempt proceedings against him even at this stage if he admitted his mistake and wrote to Swiss authorities for reopening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. The special bench consists of Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s counsel Aitzaz Ahsan, however, contended before the bench that under national as well as international law, a letter could neither be written against the president, nor should it be written. The bench asked Aitzaz that when the president enjoyed immunity according to his stance, why was the letter not being written, as nothing would happen even if it was. Justice Nasirul Mulk noted that writing the letter was meant to restore the claim of Pakistan’s civil party on the amounts in Swiss accounts. Aitzaz then contended that writing a letter against the president would be embarrassing for the entire nation. “Impeach the president, there will be a way out for writing the letter,” Aitzaz said. Aitzaz contended that the prime minister acted on a summary by the Law Ministry. He said his client thought that letter could not be written against the president, as he enjoyed absolute immunity until he was president. The bench
noted that the point of immunity was not raised at the stage of review against the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) judgment. Justice Ijaz Afzal noted that the prime minister was firm on not obeying court orders. “Can any one say that he will implement the court order by his own will,” he inquired. Aitzaz contended that writing the letter was tantamount to withdrawing the immunity of the president. To a court query, he said the letter should not be written until Asif Ali Zardari held the office of the president. Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa noted that it seemed as if the prime minister would not write the letter during his tenure as the PM. “If it happens, everyone would do so on different pretexts,” Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed observed. Concluding his arguments, Aitzaz pleaded that the court’s earlier order pertaining to writing a letter without any summary or advice should not come into effect in the present case. Meanwhile, the court adjourned hearing for Tuesday, directing the attorney general, who is acting as the prosecutor in the contempt case, to start his arguments on Tuesday. Talking to reporters later, Aitzaz said a new bench should be constituted to hear the contempt of court case against the prime minister. He opined that under Article 10-A of the constitution‚ the bench presently hearing the case could not hear it, as it had initiated the proceedings itself. He said he still expected the court to refrain from asking the prime minister to write the letter to Swiss authorities. Aitzaz said parliament was independent and could make constitutional amendments, and couls even nullify any order of the court.
pm’s son won’t return without pre-arrest bail ISLAMABAD INP
OKARA: President Asif Ali zardari presents the keys of a tractor to a farmer under the National Bank Easy Loan Scheme for agriculture at Wasawewala on Friday.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son Ali Musa Gilani postponed his return to Pakistan, as he could not get a pre-arrest bail in the Ephedrine drug case involving a corruption of over Rs 7 billion. Sources said that Ali Musa had been asked to stay back in Dubai because the AntiNarcotics Force (ANF) had decided to arrest him upon returning to Pakistan. According to reports, Ali Musa was scheduled to reach Islamabad from Dubai on Friday morning, and the protocol staff of the Prime Minister’s House had reached the airport to receive him. However, the PM’s son suddenly postponed his return. His counsel Fawad
Chaudhry told a private TV channel that an application for the pre-arrest bail of Ali Musa Gilani would soon be filed in the apex court. However, Chaudhry was reluctant to specify a date or time for the application’s submission. But sources said that Ali Musa would return only after he was granted a prearrest bail by the court. The Supreme Court had earlier issued a notice to Ali Musa Gilani and directed him to appear before it, as part of the ongoing investigations regarding the import of controlled substance Ephedrine, and the subsequent attempts to hush up an enquiry into the matter. The PM’s son, who had flown to South Africa just before the issuance of the notices, has claimed that he was being “wrongly” implicated in the case.
sC directs ANF to conduct fair probe into drugs scam involving PM’s son ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Hearing the Rs 7 billion ephedrine chemical quota scam in which Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son Ali Musa Gilani has also been nominated as an accused, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) to conduct a free and fair trial and investigation into the matter without maligning anybody. A three-member bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez also declared the directives of Narcotics Control Ministry through which prosecutors’ funds were frozen as null and void. The court noted that Ministry of Narcotics Control Secretary Zafar Abbas Lak was creating hurdles in the investigations instead of extending his cooperation. The bench also asked Lak to reverse all directives that resulted in transfer of officials probing into the scam, including ANF Regional Director Brigadier Fahim Ahmed Khan and investigation officer Deputy Director Abid Zulfiqar, as well as those who rendered the ANF dysfunctional and powerless through substituting ANF director general with Narcotics Control secretary. Earlier on April 10, the bench had summoned Primer Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son CoNtINUeD oN Page 25 Published by Arif Nizami for Nawa Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.
Editor: Arif Nizami, Executive Editor: Sarmad Bashir