Canadian Pakistani Times
Thursday
March21, 2013
Volume 1, 49
Air commodore Muhammad Mahmood Alam (Urdu: محمد محمود عالم, Bengali: মুহাম্মদ মাহমুদ আলম)(born Muhammad Mahmud Alam; 6 July 1935 – 18 March 2013) was a Pakistani fighter pilot, North American F-86 Sabre Flying ace and one-star general who served with the Pakistan Air Force.
Votes of religious minorities can play a key role in the coming elections in about 96 constituencies of national and provincial assemblies. Analysts believe minorities can change the electoral scene in many of these constituencies if they... choose to collectively vote for specific political parties or candidates. According to official statistics available with Dawn, there are 2.77 million non-Muslim voters in the country, and 13 districts in Sindh and two in Punjab have significant presence of these voters. Umerkot and Tharparkar districts in Sindh have as high as 49 per cent and 46pc non-Muslim voters, respectively. In Umerkot, there are a total of 386,924 voters of which 189,501 belong to religious minorities. In Tharparkar, out of a total of 473,189 voters, 219,342 are non-Muslim.
In Mirpurkhas, the total number of voters is 590,035 and among them 192,357 (33pc) are nonMuslim.
In Tando Allahyar, 74,954 non-Muslims constitute 26pc of the total 288,460 voters.
In Badin and Sanghar, the proportion of nonMuslim voters is 19pc. Total number of voters in the two districts is 642,243 and 797,976, with 123,845 and 150,234 non-Muslim, respectively.
In Tando Mohammad Khan, 39,847 non-Muslims account for 17pc of total 231,522 voters. In Matiari, 81,589 non-Muslims constitute 13pc of total 302,265 voters.
In Karachi (south), total number of voters is 1,070,321 and among them 81,589 (8pc) are nonMuslim.
In Ghotki and Hyderabad, 41,031 and 62,243 nonMuslims account for 7pc of the total 571,636 and 928,236 voters, respectively.
In Chiniot and Lahore districts of Punjab — 35,335 and 247,827 non-Muslims constitute 6pc of the total 604,991 and 4,424,314 voters, respectively.
In Jamshoro and Kashmore districts of Sindh, 18,912 and 17,495 non-Muslims are 5pc of the total 373,097 and 355,904 voters, respectively.
Among 2.77m non-Muslim voters, 1.40m are Hindus,
1.23m Christians, 115,966 Ahmadis, 5,934 Sikhs, 3,650 Parsis, 1,452 Buddhists and 809 Jews. Jews and Parsis are two minorities in which number of women is higher than that of men. There are 1,915 Parsi female voters against 1,735 male voters. The number of Jewish women voters is 427 against 382 men in the community. Talking to Dawn, National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) chairman Tariq Malik asked members of the minority communities to check their names in voter lists through Nadra’s SMS service by sending the number of their computerised national identity card to the code 8300 in a text message.
Squadron Leader Muhammad Mahmud Alam, Commander of No 11 Squadron, was already a notable leader and highly experienced pilot in 1965, when he was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat ("The star of courage"), a Pakistani military decoration, for his actions during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. In earning his decorations, Alam downed five Indian aircraft in less than a minute — the first four within 30 seconds — establishing a world record. He also excelled in gunnery competition, a skill that without a doubt contributed greatly to his becoming the first and the only jet ace in one mission.
02
March 21, 2013
We Love "Pakistan Army
Dozens of wounded Pakistani troops, many of them maimed during the fighting in the country’s tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, gathered on Saturday in Rawalpindi for a sports competition designed to help them recover – in body and spirit. -Photos by AP
Pakistani women journalists recognised By Sara Faruqi and Alisia Pek Xue Ning KARACHI: The first Women in Media Awards ceremony took place at the Beach Luxury
Hotel
on
Wednesday
and
The
Runner-up
for
the
radio
prize,
The first prize in the radio category was
she always learns something from them.
Shamim Anjum of PBC-Islamabad, did a
won by Arifa Habib from PBC Bhawalpur
“You should keep this in mind, especially if
radio feature on Malala Yousafzai. A five
for her radio talk show on the Pakistani
you are a journalist,” she said. Wrapping
minute report, Anjum made a young girl
media and the portrayal of women.
up her speech, Mustafa emphasised that when
celebrated the works of female Pakistani
television,
radio
and
the
The rest of the award winners
online
were: Print first prize, Razeshta Sethna
categories. Each of the women spoke on
from the Herald for her feature on laws
what their story was and how they went
aimed to prtotect women titled ‘Signed,
about covering it.
sealed, delivered’. The runner-up was Imrana Komal from the Roznama Express
For the winner of the online
for her reporting on acid throwing crimes.
journalism award, Sadia Haider, the award was validation for the work she had put in
For Television the first prize was
the last few years. After accepting her
bagged by Shamim Ara Marwat from
award Haider explained that her husband, worked
for
the
News
Khyber News on her story of female
Agency
refugees from the Orakzai agency. While
Reuters, was killed in Afghanistan. Since
accepting her award, Marwat said this was
then she has been exploring the concept
a story that was thoroughly underreported
of violence in society, especially towards women,
in
from larger society.
The journalists won awards in the
who
participate
professional world you can’t isolate them
journalists.
print,
women
through
different
and the women she met were some of the
reporting
most
mediums. “I am glad I’m standing here as
Haider.
read a script in first person of Malala’s life story. For the bridge, however, Anjum
Similar to Haider, the rest of the recipients of the media awards were thankful for being recognised.
personalities
she
had
encountered.
a journalist for my work and not just a camera person or photographer” said
positive
used a male voice. The reason for this, she said, was because “it is men who are stopping girls from going to school, it is men who are blowing up schools.” I
Many spoke about what story they
wanted to use a male voice so that it
had won their awards for and why they
would reach fathers, fathers who need to
chose to produce them in a certain way.
educate Anjum.
their
daughters,
concluded
A lifetime achievement was presented to
The runner-up for the television
journalist Zubaida Mustafa, who reminded
prize was Maimona Saeed, a reporter for
the audience to not forget the importance
Geo News in Multan, for her story on
of the pioneer female journalists in the
female cotton pickers.
country. “The contribution of these female journalists should be remembered,” said
The awards were a collaborative
Mustafa. She went on to advise the
effort of the media research centre Uks
younger women present in the room to
and APNS. – Text by Sara Faruqi, photos
never underestimate anyone, explaining
by Alisia Pek
that even today when she meets someone
03
March 21, 2013
23rd March 1940 – What Our Youth Must Know About? By Faiz Al-Najdi The Pakistani youth of today seem to be simply ignorant of the historical background of the creation of Pakistan. The reason is mostly to do with detest of theirs for Pakistan Studies while at schools. Based on my interaction with many of them, it is my considered opinion that there is a weakness and void out there amongst our youth vis-à-vis history of Pakistan. On this historic day of 23rd March – also known as Pakistan Day – I therefore thought to write something for educating my youth on the significance of this day. The youth of today must know that Pakistan owes her creation to four erstwhile outstanding Muslim leaders, namely: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-98), Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar (1878-1931), Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948), and Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938). These leaders provided intellectual and political leadership to Indian Muslims during about ninety years (1858-1947) of the British imperial rule on the Subcontinent. It is important for them to also know that in the beginning all of these aforementioned leaders were thoroughbred nationalists at one time or another. By being nationalist means they were the proponents of a united India. Now it should not come as a surprise for our young men and women to learn that over the passage of time our leaders got disillusioned with this concept of one united India. The reasons were many. It could have been either because of Hindu ethnocentrism in the late 19th century or Congress`s championing of unitary Hindu nationalism in the 1920s and 1930s. Now let us focus our discussion exclusively on our great leader and founder of Pakistan – Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. It is very important for the youths to understand the elements of the crest and the troughs in the political leanings and ideologies of Quaid-e-Azam over his long career from 1904 thru 1948. It is interesting to note here that for some seventeen years (1904-1920), he was proCongress, pleading the Congress cause and envisioning a truly nationalist destiny for India. And, still for another sixteen years (1921-37), though he was practically out of Congress as he had joined All India Muslim League in 1920, he was still working for a nationalist
destiny. During this period, he was still striving for a Hindu -Muslim settlement and he was still collaborating with the Congress and its leadership for the same. It is also very well known that in pursuit of his mission of Hindu-Muslim unity, he had devised several constitutional formulae, but all to no avail. It is also pertinent to mention here that till early 1937, Quaid-e-Azam was still in his "nationalist" self; preaching his credo eloquently and trying miserably to unite Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. For this he was widely known as the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity. Fast Forward: All said and done, on 23rd of March 1940 a resolution was passed which was read aloud by Moulvi Abul Kasim Fazlul Haque - the then Chief Minister of Bengal - (sans the help of any public address system as he had very strong throat) and was adopted unanimously. The resolution inter alia stated: "Resolved that it is the considered view of this session of the All India Muslim League that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North-Western and Eastern Zones of India should be grouped to constitute `Independent States` in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign." The resolution was seconded by Chaudhry Khaliq-uz-Zaman, and supported among others by Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, Sardar Aurangzeb Khan, Sir Abdullah Haroon and I I Chundrigar. In short, the Muslims of India on that day in fact had proclaimed to the world their determination to make the Muslim Statehood the goal of their struggle under the leadership of the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Let the youths be educated that Pakistan Resolution of 23rd March 1940 was in fact the first salvo fired in the battle for Pakistan. And barely seven years after, was the dream of a separate Muslim homeland in the shape of Pakistan realized. This was all because of that mercurial leadership of the great Quaid. Stanley Wolpert, the American historian and author also gives testimony to this factinhisbook,entitled,“JinnahofPakistan”;Quote"that few individuals significantly alter the course of history, fewer still modify the map of the world, and hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation state. Mohammad Ali Jinnahdidallthree.”Unquote. Lord Mountbatten is on record to have said, "If there had not been Mr. Jinnah there would have been no Pakistan". Let the youths also be informed here that the Pakistan Resolution of 23rd March 1940 was just the culmination but the historic journey for creation of Pakistan had begun right after the fall of the Moghul Empire and advent of the British rule in the Sub-continent in 1857. The
following historic facts would lend credence to this thesis of mine. 1. The first scheme for the partition of India was presented by John Bright in 1858. On the 4th of June 1858, while participating in a discussion in the British Parliament, he was of the opinion, "India should be divided into five presidencies.” 2. As far back as 1867, Sir Syed had said: "It was now impossible for Hindus and Muslims to progress as a single nation." 3. The scheme for the partition of India was proposed by a renowned Muslim Scholar Jamaluddin Afghani who in 1879, proposed a broader Muslim state. 4. Sir John Seeky - author of "The Expansion of England" - as early as 1883 had said, “India does not mark the territory of a nation or a language, but the territory of many nations and many languages." 5. A British writer Wilfred Scawen Blunt in 1883 wrote in hisbook“IdeasaboutIndia”thatpracticallyIndiaistobe divided as such that all Northern provinces under the Muslim Government while the South provinces under a Hindu government". 6. In 1887, Theodore Beck educated at Cambridge and the Principal of M. A. O. College at Aligarh observed that "Muslims are a separate nation, rule of majority is impossible; Muslims will never agree to be ruled by the Hindu majority." 7. In 1899, another British intellectual and the principal of MAO College Aligarh, Theodore Morison proposed that the only solution to the Indian political uncertainty was to centralize the Indian Muslims in one province or tract of the country, for instance, the north of India from Peshawar to Agra. 8. Sir Muhammad Iqbal was the first important public figure to propound the idea of partition from the platform of the Muslim League. He articulated his vision in 1930, in his presidential address at Allahabad. 9. In 1933 Chaudhary Rehmat Ali, a student of Cambridge University, issued a declaration entitled "Now or Never: Are we to live or perish forever?" and demanded a Muslim homeland. He used the term of Pakistan for the first time., 10. In his letter on 28 May 1937, Allama Iqbal wrote to the Quaid that to solve the Muslim problems it was necessary to redistribute the country and to provide one or more Muslim states with absolute majorities.
MP - Kyle Seeback organised a skate for Brampton families & to top it all it was the annual March break for all school kids so everyone came along and yes all had loads of fun.
04
March 21, 2013
PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS BY UMM E HAREEM taught Muslim men to treat their wives and daughters in a good manner, "You have rights over your women, and your women have rights over you." Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was orphaned at an early age. He once remarked that, "Heaven lies at the feet of mothers." As the father of four daughters (in a society that prized sons), he told other fathers that, “if their daughters spoke well of them on the Day of Judgment, they would enter paradise”. Beginning from the time of Hazrat
Women in 7th century Arab had few if any rights. At the time of Hazrat Muhammad's (PBUH) birth even the right of life could be in question, since it was not uncommon for small girls to be buried alive during times of scarcity. In the Qur'an, it is said that on Judgment Day "buried girls" will rise out of their graves and ask for what crime they werekilled”. Islam established the explicit rights for women. Islam teaches that men and women are equal before God. It grants women divinely sanctioned inheritance, property, social and marriage rights, including the right to reject the terms of a proposal and to initiate divorce. In Islam's early period, women were professionals and property owners, as many are today. Although in some countries today the right of women to initiate divorce is more difficult than intended, this is a function of their relevant legislation and not an expression of Islamic values. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) himself frequently
Muhammad's (PBUH) marriage to his first wife Hazrat Khadijah (AS), women played an important role in his religious career. According to Muslim sources, Hazrat Khadijah was the first person Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) spoke to about his initial, terrifying experience of revelation. She consoled him and became the first convert to Islam. She remained a confidant and source of support throughout their entire marriage. Though men commonly took more than one wife in 7th Century Arab, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) remained in a monogamous marriage with Hazrat Khadijah (RA) until her death, when Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was in his fifties.
the wife of a fallen foe. It was to set example for the other Muslims to marry women who are either widow or divorced. With regard to Hazrat Ayesha (RA) Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) often recommended that, if religious questions arose, people should take them to his wife Aisha. After Hazrat Muhammad's (PBUH) death, Aisha became a main source of information about Muhammad, and on medicine and poetry as well. Hazrat Muhammad's (PBUH) daughters also played an important and influential role, both in his life and in the establishment of Islam. Most notable was his daughter Hazrat Fatima, who is still revered by all Muslims. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was a very gentle father. He played with her when she was a little girl and cared for her. He sought her approval when one of the best men of that time sought her hand in marriage.
Muhammad (PBUH) and the Qur'an decreed that, in order to protect the orphans of such families, men might take up to four wives. The permission itself is surrounded with language that discourages the very thing it permits, saying that unless a man can treat several wives equally, he should never enter into multiple marriages. The usual supposition in the modern monogamous West-that Islam institutionally encourages lustful arrangements-is rejected by Muslims themselves as an ill-informed stereotype. Today, Islamic legal and social systems around the world approach the women's rights by varying degrees. Many Muslim feminists hold the view that the problems presently hindering Muslim women are those that hinder women of all backgrounds worldwide- oppressive cultural practices, poverty, illiteracy and political repression. We as the Muslims must be proud to claim that our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a feminist in our modern sense. Yet the same present-day barriers to women's equality prevailed in 7th century Arab, and he (PBUH) opposed them. Because in his own lifetime Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) improved women's position in society, many modern Muslims continue to value his example, which they cite when pressing for women's rights.
Muhammad
These are only three cases from the Prophet’s immediate family and they illustrate relationships of trust, respect and love. We all know of other cases: women praying in the mosque in congregations led by him; women being sent teachers when they complained that they did not have access to Islamic teachings; women who
(PBUH) was working to establish a new community. In that context, over the next 10
fought in battlefields and women who were celebrated for being mothers – all in our
years, he married several women. In some cases, these marriages occurred in order to
Prophet’s (PBUH) lifetime and usually illustrated by his own egalitarian behaviour
hear of women being denied respect and rights – whether these are Muslim women or
cement political ties, according to the custom of the day. In some cases, the
towards women.
not – as Muslims we must reflect back to what Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did. We
By
then,
Hazrat
marriage provided physical and economic shelter to the widows of Muslims who had died or who had been killed in battle, and to
in
Following the Battle of Uhud (625), which many men died leaving
unprotected widows and children, Hazrat
And so to conclude, every time we
must try in all our weaknesses and faults to emulate His style – justness, fairness, steadfastness, boldness.
China replaces Britain in world’s top five arms exporters economy, China’s rise
Bangladesh received 7 per cent of the
has come with a new
arms, and Algeria, Venezuela and Morocco
se n se
have bought Chinese-made frigates, aircraft or
of
mi lita r y
assertiveness growing
2008 and 2012 rose 162 per cent compared to the previous five year period, with its share of the global arms trade rising from 2 per cent to 5 per cent, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said.
C h i n a
replaces Britain in the top five arms-dealing
armoured vehicles in the past several years.
to
Beijing does not release official figures for arms sales.
equipment
France ranked third and fourth on the arms
including
carriers
Germany
and
and
exporter list. China followed only India in the
drones. At the Zhuhai
acquisition of arms, though its reliance on
air show in southern
imports is decreasing as it ramps up weapons
China
production capabilities at home.
in
November,
After
Chinese
attack
decades of steep increases in military
helicopters,
missiles,
spending and cash injections into domestic
unmanned aerial vehicles
defence contractors, experts say some Chinese
and air defences were on
-made equipment is now comparable to
public show for the first
Russian or Western counterparts, though
time. SIPRI maintains a
accurate information about the performance of
global
transfers
Chinese weapons is scarce. China faces bans
countries between 2008 and 2012, a group
database base that tracks arms exports back to
on Western military imports, dating back to
dominated by the United States and Russia,
the 1950s. It averages data over five-year
anger over its crushing of pro-democracy
which accounted for 30 per cent and 26 per
periods because arms sales vary by year.
protests in and around Tiananmen Square in
said.
“Pakistan – which accounted for 55
1989. That makes its domestic arms industry
“China is establishing itself as a
per cent of Chinese arms exports – is likely to
crucial in assembling a modern military force
significant arms supplier to a growing number
remain the largest recipient of Chinese arms
that can enforce claims over Taiwan and
of important recipient states,” Paul Holtom,
in the coming years due to large outstanding
disputed maritime territories.
director
and planned orders for combat aircraft,
China’s J-10 fighter jets from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force Aerobatics Team perform during a flight demonstration at the air show in Zhuhai last year. —Photo (File) Reuters
China’s volume of weapons exports between
budget
a
develop modern warfare aircraft
BEIJING: China has become the world’s fifth-largest arms exporter, a respected Sweden-based think tank said on Monday, its highest ranking since the Cold War, with Pakistan as the main recipient.
with
cent
of
weapons
of
exports,
SIPRI
the SIPRI Arms
Transfers
Programme, said in a statement. The
shift,
outlined in SIPRI’s Trends in International
arms
submarines and frigates,” SIPRI said. Myanmar,
which
has
been
Arms Transfers report, marks China’s first
undergoing fragile reforms that the United
time as a top-five arms exporter since the
States thinks could help counter
think tank’s 1986-1990
data
period.
Beijing’s influence in the region, received 8
Now the world’s second-largest
per cent of China’s weapons exports.
China has faced off recently with its Southeast Asian neighbours and Japan over conflicting claims to strings of islets in the South China Sea and East China Sea, even as the United States executes a military pivot towards the Pacific.
05
March 21, 2013
SPORTS
Quartet makes last-16 round in national snooker Anwar Zuberi
KARACHI: At least four unseeded players who have maintained a clean slate so far have earned a place in knockout pre quarter-finals from their respective groups on the penultimate day of league matches in the 38th National Snooker Championship at Karachi Gymkhana on Wednesday. The quartet includes former Sindh champion Mohammad
Ishtiaq
(group
A),
former
Pakistan No 1 Imran Shehzad (group C), former Pakistan junior No 2 Mohammad Majid Ali (group E) and Abdul Sattar (group F). Ishtiaq has completed his league engagements winning all the four fixtures including the one against world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif on the opening day. league matches on Friday and a win can earn Imran,
Majid
and
Sattar
have
Rasheed
them a place in last 16.
conjured up three victories apiece and play their last fixtures on Thursday.
R
e
s
u
l
t
s
:
Mohammad Javed Ansari (Sindh) bt Rambel Top two cueists from eight groups
Gul (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 4-3 (0-1 (first
will qualify for the last 16 round which begins
frame awarded to Gul), 59-61, 82-37, 59-37,
from Friday.
50-41, 29-69, 60-30); Mohammad Bilal
Khurram Agha, a former country’s top cueist, who is currently ranked 10th in the national rankings, recovered twice from deficit to whip former national champion and contemporary Naveen Perwani 4-3. The former was home 47-60, 74-23, 14-71, 68-13, 64-30, 55-62, 68-4 in the group H tie.
(63-36, 64-60, 66-28, 67-14); Amir
(Punjab) bt Abdul Rehman (Balochistan) 4-0 (56-39, 67-13, 72-33, 104-16); Amir Tariq (Punjab) bt Khizar Aziz (Sindh) 4-3 (15-72, 80 -10, 51-83, 62-49, 63-70, 69-43, 64-37); Farhan Noor (Punjab) bt Mohsin Amin (Punjab) 4-3 (60-41, 34-54, 58-67, 67-40, 3444, 58-54, 70-1); Mohammad Ishtaiq (Sindh) bt Amir Shehzad (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 4-0
Agha and Perwani play their last
bt
Najeebullah
Khan
56).
(Balochistan) 4-1 (25-74, 65-33, 76-8, 78-29, 72-11); Imran Shehzad (Punjab) bt Aakash Rafique (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 4-2 (66-32, 61 -57, 17-63, 6-76, 74-46, 62-58); Mohammad Uzair Aziz (Sindh) bt Qamar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 4-2 (43-79, 63-48, 73-48, 6537, 44-58, 58-2); Mohammad Majid Ali (Punjab) bt Bahadur Khan (Balochistan) 4-2 (60-38, 60-1, 29-60, 13-40, 54-34, 74-55); Abdul
Sattar
(Sindh)
bt
Ayaz
Khan
(Islamabad) 4-3 (64-39, 44-51, 60-65, 29-64, 87-7, 56-38, 77-49);Khurram Agha (Sindh) bt Naveen Perwani (Sindh) 4-3 (47-60, 74-23, 14 -71, (71), 68-13, 64-30, 55-62, 68-4); Vishan Gir
Pakistan triumph in Junior Fed Cup
(Punjab)
Pakhtunkhwa) 4-0 (60-17, 66-24, 86-79, 79-
(Sindh)
bt
Shah
Khan
(Khyber
Thursday’s
fixtures:
Mohammad Sajjad v Mohammad Majid Ali, Mohammad Javed v Abdul Sattar, Shahid Aftab v Vishan Gir, Sharjeel Mehmood v Khurram Agha at 10am; Mohammad Asif v Babar Masih, Asjad Iqbal v Abu Saim, Sultan Mohammad v Mohammad Yousuf, Sohail Shehzad v Umair Alam at 12noon; Bahadur Khan v Rambel Gul, Ayaz Khan v Abdul Rehman, Shah Khan v Khizar Aziz, Naveen Perwani v Farhan Noor at 2pm; Saqib Bashir v Amir Shahzad, Shafiullah v Najeebullah Khan, Abdul Majid v Imran Shehzad, Hamza Akbar v Mohammad Uzair Aziz at 4pm.
Probe into Delhi rape suspect’s death blames jail made a noose and hanged himself from a grille on
KARACHI: Pakistan blanked Iran 3-0 in the Junior Fed Cup in Kuching, Malaysia, on Wednesday, according to information received here. Earlier in the day Pakistan routed Kyrgyzstan 2-1 in their unfinished match. The match was postponed on Tuesday due t o r a i n . Pakistan is due to play Sri Lanka on Thursday. Meanwhile, Pakistan outplayed Sri Lanka 3-0 in their Junior Davis Cup fixture which is being played simultaneously. Earlier, the Pakistan juniors have whipped Turkmenistan by the identical margin of 3-0. They are due to face Syria on Thursday. Junior Fed Cup (Girls under-16): Pakistan bt Kyrgyzstan 2 -1: Unfinished doubles match: Rida/Iman bt Believa/Askarova 7 -6(2), 7-6(6). Pakistan bt Iran 3-0: Singles: Rida bt Jasmin 6-2, 6-2; Iman bt Elaheh 6-1, 6-0. Doubles: Rida/Iman bt Pakbaten/Elaheh 6-2, 6-2.
Junior Davis Cup (Boys u n d e r - 1 4 ) : Pakistan bt Sri Lanka 3-0: Singles: Mohammad Muzamil bt Aadavan Pushparaj 6-3, 7-6(5); Nofil bt Aandrew Muttiah 6-2, 6-1. Doubles: Abdal/Muzamil bt Andrew Muttiah/Jerique Rajapakse 6-3, 6-4. Tuesday’s results: J u n i o r F e d C u p : Pakistan v Kyrgyzstan 1-1: Singles: Eliza Askarova bt Rida 63, 6-4; Iman bt Arina Beliaeva 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-2. Doubles: Iman/Rida v Alina/Eriza 7-6(2), 2-3 (match postponed because of rain until Wednesday).
the ceiling, without waking the other men in his cell or attracting attention from guards. A postmortem examination last week concluded that he died by hanging, but did not resolve the question of whether he was murdered or committed suicide, as the jail authorities have insisted. Singh was charged along with four other men and a 17-yearIndian students and activists express their outrage by shouting slogans and bearing torches following the 2012
old over the brutal December 16 attack on a physiotherapy student who was lured on to a bus
NEW DELHI: A probe into the death of a man and repeatedly raped. Left with horrific internal suspected of gang-raping a student on a New Delhi bus injuries, the 23-year-old died 13 days after the last December blames jail officials for failing to monitor assault, leading to an outpouring of anger over him adequately, an Indian media report said on Sunday. endemic crime against women in India and a Ram Singh, one of six men on trial over the deadly assault which sparked mass protests across India, was found dead
M o n d a y ’ s r e s u l t s : Junior Davis Cup: Pakistan bt Turkmenistan 3-0: Singles: Muzamil bt Andrey Kashchenko 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-3; Nofil Kaleem bt Hadzhymyrat Charyyev 6-1, 6-1. Doubles: Abdal/Muzamil bt Eziz Jumayev/Hadzhymyrat 6-2, 6-2.
in his cell in the high-security Tihar Jail on Monday
Junior Fed Cup: Kazakhstan bt Pakistan 2-1: Singles: Gozal Ainitdinova bt Rida 6-0, 6-1; Iman bt Assel Jumamukhametova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Doubles: Darya Shevchenko/Gozal Ainitdinova bt Iman/Rida 7-5, 6-3.
confidentialprobefindingstoldthenewspaper.“Therewas
morning where he had been held since his arrest after the crime. An investigation ordered by the government into his death has found three jail officials guilty of neglecting their responsibilities to check up on Singh, the Hindustan Times newspaper said on Sunday, citing unnamed sources. One of the men assigned to monitor Singh last Sunday night failed to show up at work, one of the sources with access to the nowatchguardthatnight,”thesourcesaid.CCTVfootage showed that another warden who was meant to make rounds of the cells did not leave his office, another source told the newspaper. A spokesman for the jail told AFP the investigation findings were still being studied and declined to provide further details. Prison authorities are facing serious questions about how the bus driver could have
review of rape laws. All five adult suspects including Singh pleaded not guilty to the charges. Meanwhile, police in central India say they have detained 20 men in central India after a Swiss woman on a cycling trip was gang-raped. Police officer D.K. Arya said on Sunday that no arrests have been made so far but police were questioning the men in connection with the rape and assault on the woman and her husband in Madhya Pradesh state. Police have registered a case of rape against seven unidentified men and were searching nearby villages. The Swiss ambassador in India has spoken to the couple and has demanded a swift probe of the incident. The attack comes three months after the fatal gang-rape of a woman aboard a New Delhi bus, which outraged Indians and spurred the government to pass laws to protect women.
06
March 21, 2013
Indian SC upholds sentence against Sanjay Mumbai: Indian Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt to serve a five year jail sentence in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, Indian media reports.
pictures during the remaining
and a half years of prison
He
possession
acquired
from
Mumbai
by
the
N o vem b e r
27 ,
2007. A
total
of
257
persons were killed and
713
injured
others
when
s e r i e s
who
a 1 3
coordinated
were responsible for the 1993
granted
Supreme Court on
terrorist
acquaintances,
Court
was
bail
2007 to six years in jail weapons
the
said.
sentenced on July 31, illegal
term,
Supreme
Earlier, Dutt was
for
three
e x p l o s i o n s
bomb
shattered the w a s , Sanjay Dutt arrives at a special court to stand trial amongst those involved in India’s worst bombings in 1993 that killed 257 metropolis on people in Mumbai, June 19, 2007.–Photo by Reuters (file) however, acquitted. March 12, 1993. Dutt, will have to surrender within four Dutt, who has already served Supreme Court says that the Supreme Court upheld life nearly 18 months in jail after his arrest in Dutt maintains he knew nothing about the circumstances and nature of offence was weeks. bomb plot and that he asked for the guns so serious that Dutt could not be released sentence of 16 out of 18 convicts 1993, will now have to go to jail and serve to protect his family after receiving threats on probation. They further mentioned that sentenced by TADA (Terrorist and the remaining term of three and a half years. Dutt will not be able to shoot during sectarian riots in Mumbai. convicts who are on bail, including Sanjay Disruptive Activities) court. blasts.
He
Best-selling horror writer Herbert dies aged 69 was honoured by the Queen in 2010, had died at his home in Sussex,
southeast
England,
early Wednesday. No cause of death was given. Editor Jeremy Trevathan called
He wrote 23 novels – the last of which, “Ash”, was released last week – that were published in 34 languages and sold more than 54 million copies worldwide during a writing career which spanned nearly 40 years. Four of his novels were made into films: “The
him “one of the keystone authors
Survivor”, “Fluke”, “Haunted” and “The Rats”, whose
in a genre that had its heyday in
silver screen title was “Deadly Eyes”.
the 1970s and 1980s” and “one of the giants of popular fiction in the 20th Century”. His breakthrough 1974
Herbert, who designed his own book covers, was awarded the OBE in 2010, the same year he was made the Grand Master of Horror by the World of Horror Convention.
book “The Rats” imagined a London terrorised by mutant, The grand master of horror, James Herbert, had written 23 best-selling novels. —Photo (File) AP flesh-eating rodents and its first
printing of 100,000 copies sold
LONDON: British author James Herbert, best known for penning classic horror novel “The Rats”, has died aged 69, his publisher said Wednesday.
out in three weeks, paving the way for Herbert to become
“It’s a true testament to his writing and his enduring creativity that his books continued to be huge bestsellers right up until his death,” Trevathan added. “He has the rare distinction that his novels
Britain’s leading writer of horror. He went on to publish 23 novels and sold 54 million copies worldwide.
were considered classics of the genre within his lifetime,” he said. He is survived by his wife, Eileen, and three daughters Kerry, Emma and Casey.
Pan Macmillan, confirmed that the best-selling writer, who outreach adviser, said in the rejection email.
Ottawa's denial of media access to jailed Omar Khadr
branded
'propaganda' Colin Perkel,
TORONTO - The government's refusal to allow the media access to former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr is aimed at protecting its portrayal of him as a dangerous terrorist, his lawyer says.In rejecting an interview request from The Canadian Press, Correctional Service Canada said such access might pose a security risk or be disruptive, and would undermine his correctional plan.
Khadr's lawyer, Dennis Edney, accused the government of hiding his client from the Canadian public to paint him in the worst possible light."There appears to be a propaganda value to ensuring that Omar Khadr is not seen other than as a terrorist," Edney said from Edmonton."It's important that the public get an understanding beyond how he's portrayed by the government. "The Toronto-born Khadr, 26, has been housed in the maximum security Millhaven Institution west of Kingston, Ont., since his transfer last September to Canada from Guantanamo Bay, where he had already spent 10 years behind bars.Khadr had pleaded guilty before a widely discredited military commission in October 2010 to five war crimes — among them killing a U.S. special forces soldier — committed as a 15 year old in Afghanistan.
essentially because conduct cannot be criminalized retroactively — casting doubt on Khadr's conviction.Most of those who have spent time with Khadr over the past decade — among them prison guards, lawyers and mental-health professionals — have described him as a gentle, non-radicalized and pleasant young man who is keen to get on with normal life.One notable exception was U.S. psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner, who acted for the military commission prosecution. He branded Khadr as a dangerous, unrepentant jihadist. Edney said Canada is acting in the same way as authorities did at the U.S. naval prison in Cuba.
"Detainees such as Omar were never able to have visitors, speak to human rights organizations, or meet the press to publicly express who they were and the injustice of the imprisonment," Edney said. "(Khadr) is a victim who suffered 10 years of horror in Guantanamo Bay, and the government continues to victimize him by keeping him in maximum security at Millhaven prison." "CSC has determined that your request to He was given a further eight years behind Canadian inmates may speak to journalists, although interview federal offender Omar Khadr cannot be bars.Since then, American appeal courts have thrown prison guidelines allow restrictions. In one example, granted," Kyle Lawlor, acting media relations and out two similar military commission convictions — B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton was granted one media
interview before authorities barred further access to him. Corrections refused to discuss the thinking behind the Khadr rejection.However, Lawlor's email cites sections of "commissioner directive 022," which lays out conditions under which prison authorities may allow a journalist to talk to an inmate. "It will not be contrary to the objectives of the offender's correctional plan," the section states. A "correctional plan" is the approach prison authorities take with a prisoner with a view to his or her early release.Also, a media interview may be granted if it can be done with "minimal disruption to the functioning of the operational unit and will not jeopardize the security of the operational unit or present a risk to the health and safety of any person." Khadr is theoretically close to eligible for day parole and nudging toward full parole eligibility.
07
March 21, 2013
Next James Bond movie expected within three years soon and signing a director. We are hoping within the next three years it will be released,” Barber added. He gave no details on casting but Daniel Craig has already signed on for two more films in the lead role as the suave 007 agent. The 2012 Bond film “Skyfall,” starring Craig, made $1.1 billion at the global box office and impressed critics. But Britain’s Mendes said earlier this month that he wanted to focus on his theater projects for the foreseeable future. Barber
said
Mendes
“did
an
amazing job on ‘Skyfall’. We are very thankful for the work that he did.” Privately-held
MGM
jointly
produced “Skyfall” with Sony Corp’s movie
DanielCraigispicturedinaposterofthemovie‘Skyfall’.— Courtesy Photo
studio arm.
LOS ANGELES: Movie studio MGM
In a conference call with investors, MGM
“We are very excited about the franchise,
said on Tuesday it expects to release the next James Bond movie within
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
we look forward to announcing a director
“Skyfall” and “The Hobbit: An Unexpected
Gary
soon,” Barber said.
Journey” had helped bring a three-fold
three years, and hopes to announce soon a new director after Sam
developing the screenplay for the next,
Mendes decided to move on.
about the British secret agent.
Barber
said
the
studio
was
24th movie in the 50-year-old franchise
“We are currently developing the
MGM
said
on
Monday
that
increase in its 2012 net income.
screenplay and working with our partners. We look forward to developing the script
Saint Patrick's Day or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick") is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17 March. It is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 385– 461), the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early seventeenth century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick, his death and entrance into heaven, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. In addition, the Irish as well as Irish heritage and culture is celebrated in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. Christians also attend church services and the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol are lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday's tradition of alcohol consumption.
McKenna: Children Pay the Price for Liberals’ Flawed CAS Funding AleakedmemofromPeelChildren’sAidSocietybroughtto light by the Toronto Star raises questions about the government’s lack of focus on the wellbeing of young Ontarians, said Burlington MPP Jane McKenna, Ontario PC Critic for Children and Youth Services. “Thisleakedmemoreflectstheyear-end scramble to keep the case load as high as possible because the funding formula is based on the number of kids that are in the system,”saidMPPMcKenna.“Themorekidsinthesystem, thegreaterthefundingforthecomingyear.” The internal memo reportedly instructs Peel CAS staff to complete as many investigations as possible, transfer as many cases as possible to “ongoing services” and not closecasesinMarch,theagency’sfiscalyear-end. The Ministry of Children and Youth Services provides funding based on existing service volume, not projected service volume. The memo notes that “our volumes continue to be lower than our projections and this will result in less funding for our organization which directly impacts our current deficit and could impact our funding in futureyears.” The optics of this memo are terrible, said MPP McKenna, and reflect poorly on not just the Peel CAS but also the Liberal government, which bears ultimate responsibility for child welfare in Ontario. “Thecurrentgovernmenthasbeenwarnedinstudy after study, including the Drummond Report, that the CAS funding formula creates perverse incentives that reduce the quality and efficiency of care,” said MPP McKenna. “This government is well aware of the problem, but has been
typically slow in responding. “Ourobjectiveforthesekidsandfamilieshastobesecuring the best possible outcome for the kids, to make sure they are safe and loved. Sadly, the system as it is structured is not entirely focused on the best interests of the child because of the government’s flawed funding formula. This has to change.” Another problem is the lack of rigorous oversight by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. Theprovince’s46Children’sAidSocietiesarenotdesigned to provide an integrated provincial system of child welfare services. The largest has 800 staff; the smallest has only 30. This results in uneven levels of specialization and varied outcomes across the province. MPP McKenna’s Paths to Prosperity white paper, A Fresh Start for Children and Youth, called for fairness in the fundingofChildren’sAidSocietiesanddescribedhowthese very budget pressures create perverse incentives. These organizations are shackled to an ineffective funding model that hasn’t kept pace with current thinking, giving rise to situations such as the one in Peel. MPP McKenna proposed adopting a population-based approach to funding local services. That formula would take into account relative needs and past usage, thereby promoting service delivery of an equivalent quality across very different regions in Ontario. “The government’s current funding model rewards volume increases rather than results, and has made it more difficult for the Children’s Aid Societies to adapt to budget constraints,” MPP McKenna added. “The government isn’t measuringwhatreallycounts,andonceagainit’sourchildren whoarebeingcaughtinthemiddle.”
Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador and Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora around the world; especially in Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.
08
March 21, 2013
Malaysian novelist wins top Asian literary prize “It’s partly about the co-existence of cultural refinement and artistry, and terrible barbarity,” chair of judges Maya Jaggi told reporters, noting that Japan’s occupation of Asia remains a raw issue even today, decades after the war’s end. “What this novel is doing is
Laureate Orhan Pamuk, for the $30,000
Tan, born in 1972, beat out four other authors, including Turkish Nobel
works by Asian writers written in or translated into English, and is intended to widen exposure of Asian literature in the English-speaking
world.This
year’s
think. It’s not glib, it’s about guilt and
Pakistan and included Indian Jeet Thayil,
atonement and how love transforms
who, like Tan, was shortlisted for the
people’s conceptions of themselves and
2012 Man Booker Prize.
Tan published his first novel, “The Japanese occupation and its aftermath.
prize in what was described as a “farranging and intricately layered novel”.
The prize, first awarded in 2007, is for
shortlist spanned Asia from Turkey to
Gift of Rain”, in 2007. It also dealt with the
HONG KONG: Malaysian writer Tan Twan Eng won the 2012 Man Asian Literary Prize on Thursday for a novel dealing with the aftermath of Japan’s wartime occupation of his country, becoming the first Malaysian to claim one of Asia’s main literature prizes.
Asia.”
looking at that, but in such a subtle way, I
what they’ve done.” Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng poses for a photo after winning the Man Asian Literary Prize for his novel ‘The Garden of Evening Mists’ in Hong Kong.–Photo by AFP
have no real awareness of Southeast
He told Reuters in 2008 that he welcomed the growing recognition for
“The Garden of Evening Mists”,
Asian writers in the West but that talented
which was shortlisted for the Man Booker
Southeast Asian voices were sometimes
Prize in 2012, tells the story of Yun Ling
overlooked.
Teoh, the survivor of a Japanese prison
The five shortlisted novels, selected from a longlist of 15: - Between Clay and Dust – Musharraf Ali Farooqi (Pakistan) - The Briefcase – Hiromi Kawakami (Japan) - Silent House – Orhan Pamuk (Turkey) - The Garden of Evening Mists – Tan
camp who in her old age looks back at
“Obviously, the interest in Asian
the early 1950s and her relationship with
writing helps somebody like me, but we
the mysterious creator of then-Malaya’s
sort of feel we’re on the edge, the
only Japanese garden.
outskirts,” he said. “A lot of the publishers
Twan Eng (Malaysia) - Narcopolis – Jeet Thayil (India)
09
March 21, 2013
Punjabi Press Culb of Canada meeting.
Italy envoy does not have immunity: Delhi court
NEW DELHI: India’s chief justice said on Monday that Italy’s envoy, Daniele Mancini, who helped secure the release of two Italian marines who skipped bail while on trial in New Delhi, was not entitled to diplomatic immunity. “A person who comes to court and gives an undertaking has no
Punjabi Press Club of Canada members with MP - Jasbir Sandhu @ a dinner arranged and hosted by NDP on seeking ideas how to promote Punjabi culture immunity,”Altamas Kabir told a hearing into the case, which has caused a and heritage in Canada nationally. Some very worthy suggestion given and the diplomatic crisis between Rome and New Delhi. evening ended on some very positive notes.
PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER ANNOUNCES INITIATIVES THAT WILLDEEPEN CANADA-FRANCE TIES OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Jean-Marc Ayrault, Prime Minister of the French Republic, today announced five initiatives that will further strengthen relations between the two countries in the areas of youth mobility, social security, science and technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, climate change, and the commemoration of Canadian and French involvement in 20th century conflicts. Prime Minister Ayrault is on his first official visit to Canada (March 13-17) since taking office in May 2012.
“Canadaand Franceare important friends and allies who share deep historic, cultural, linguistic and commercial ties and who co-operate closely on the world stage,” said the Prime Minister.
are studying and travelling between the two countries; make it easier for people who have lived or worked in both Canada in France to claim benefits for the periods they were in the other country; and, foster various forms of collaboration and exchanges in “The initiatives announced scientific knowledge, including today will help increase the flow climate change and the need to of people, scientific knowledge reduce greenhouse gases. and commerce between our two great countries in the future and Lastly, the Declaration on celebrate the joint sacrifices and 20th century conflicts helps pay accomplishmentsofourpast.” tribute to the sacrifices and These agreements will serve accomplishments that will forever to: facilitate travel between unite Canada and France. Canada and France for youth who
Find the Job You Want This Summer
The two leaders also endorsed a Joint Statement recognizing the strong and diverse Canada-France relationship and discussed matters of shared interest, including the global economy, trade and investment, progress towards a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union, and international challenges such as the situation in Mali.
Ontario to Celebrate Dedication of Local Volunteers
March 20, 2013 Ontario Government Supporting Youth Employment
March 20, 2013
The new Ontario government is helping students and young people find summer jobs.
Ontario Government Honouring Volunteers in Ceremonies Across the Province The new Ontario government is celebrating the commitment and outstanding contributions of the more than 10,000 volunteers at 52 Volunteer Service Award ceremonies across the province.
Through Ontario's Summer Jobs Strategy, the government helps students find summer jobs or launch their own summer business. In addition, employers are offered a $2-per-hour hiring incentive to hire summer students.
The Ontario Volunteer Service Awards recognize people of all ages for continuous service to an organization. Certificates and trillium pins will be awarded for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 and 60 or more years of service. Youth will also be recognized for two or more years of volunteer service.
Job opportunities are now available through Ontario.ca/summerjobs, where students can:
Search for a job through Employment Ontario partners
Strengthen their marketing and resumé writing skills
Apply for funding to start their own Summer Company
Apply for a job with the Ontario government
The first ceremony will kick off in Stratford on March 20, where 119 volunteers will be recognized. The final ceremony will be held in Toronto on June 27. Recognizing the good work volunteers contribute to the province supports the new Ontario government's efforts to build strong communities and a fair society.
Supporting youth employment and helping young people get summer jobs is part of the new Ontario government's plan to create a fair society and a strong economy.
New Ontario Government Offers Energy Saving Tips to Help Cut Costs On Saturday, March 23, Ontario will join
1.
Seize the daylight: In the winter,
thermostat can reduce heating and
the world in marking Earth Hour by turning
keep curtains open during the day
cooling costs by up to 10 per cent.
lower energy prices during off-peak
off the lights between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.
to draw in sunlight. Solar energy
In the winter, set your thermostat to
hours. Off-peak hours are 7 p.m. to
can help naturally warm your home.
20°C when you're home and 18°C
7 a.m. on weeknights and all day on
when sleeping or away.
weekends and statutory holidays.
Earth Hour is a global event dedicated to raising
awareness
energy
and
fighting
about
conserving
climate
2.
change.
Drafts
be
gone:
Install
and
caulking
weatherstripping
4.
around windows, doors and dryer
technician service your furnace on a
steps to conserve energy after Earth Hour
vents, and insulate your home
regular basis to ensure it is working
when the lights go back on.
properly including plates on outlets
at maximum efficiency. Clean or
to help save up to 25 per cent a
change the filter regularly - a dirty
year on heating and cooling costs.
filter reduces airflow and makes the
can reduce monthly electricity costs and help the environment. Five tips to help manage energy use:
3.
Get
with
properly
the set,
program: a
When
programmable
Off-peak pays: Take advantage of
Heat efficiently: Have a qualified
Everyone can make a difference by taking
Making simple choices about energy use
5.
furnace work harder to circulate the air.
Building a clean energy system and a culture of conservation is part of the new Ontario government's plan to create and support jobs for the people of Ontario, while ensuring we have the electricity we need to power our homes, schools, hospitals and businesses.
10
March 21, 2013
In Pakistan Cost of living doubles in five years been paying average gas bill of over
imported paper. He said that increase in
Rs700-1,000 per month as compared to
the cost of text-books might be more than
Rs300-500 five years back, while he gets
150 per cent due to quality of paper.
on average his power bill of Rs6,000-
However, a rim of an average offset paper
7,000 without using an air conditioner as
of 68 grams is now priced at Rs1,300 as
compared to his monthly bill of Rs2,000-
compared to Rs658 in 2008.
2,500 in 2008.
He said that the imported paper has
Naved Ahmed, who lives in a two
become costlier by 200 per cent due to
bedroom apartment, said that he gets a
losing value of rupee which is now close
gas bill of Rs300-350 as compared to
to Rs100 as compared to Rs62 in 2008.
Rs80-100 five years back.
As new academic year would start from
The school fee has also doubled in the
April,
last five years.
shortage.
A teacher at a private school in North
“We are considering printing school books
Nazimabad said that the monthly school
in
fee
Thailand, China where paper is cheaper
is
now
tagged
at
Rs4,000
as
compared to Rs2,000. As
government
is
highlighting
its
achievements made during the last five years, the cost of living has almost doubled instead of showing any decline.
exceeding 300-700 units) went up to Rs12.3 from Rs6.5 per kwh. However, analyst at the Top Line Security, Nauman Khan, said these are base gas
While the consumers saw a 100 to 200
and power tariffs, but consumers are
per cent hike in food items prices during
getting inflated bills, including changes in
the last five years, they witnessed a
tariff and fuel adjustment charges.
massive hike in utility bills charges, and in the prices of other essential goods as well as school fee and books. A random survey of prices between March 2008 and March 2013 revealed that the average
increase
in
gas
price
for
residential users consuming (up to 100 cubic meters) rose to Rs106 mmbtu from Rs82.1. The
gas
tariff
for
residential
users
consuming above 500 cubic meters, however, declined to Rs530.7 per mmbtu from 688.4 in March 2008. Power tariff for residential
users
(consuming
kwh
He said Pakistan has the fourth largest middle class of Asia where consumption
monthly fee by Rs500 every year. charging
Malaysia,
are
facing
Indonesia,
paper
Singapore,
than Pakistan and its quality is also
Private schools, she said, usually increase
Schools
publishers
better,” he said, adding that after printing of books we would be able to import books duty-free.
Rs3,000-4000
per
month in March 2008 are now demanding Rs7,000-8,000.
The only relief appeared to be in PTCL rate. For example, the line rent was Rs174 per month in March 2008 which is now
Those schools charging Rs500-600 per month are now charging over Rs1,000 or Rs1,500 in many schools.
199. Call charges from 8.00am to 9pm peak hours were Rs2 per two minutes while in
of gas and power has definitely risen due
Some private schools fee hovers between
off peak hours, the tariff was Rs2 per four
to expansion in family members.
Rs10,000 and 12,000, showing a 100 per
minutes in 2008. Nationwide call rate was
cent hike during the last five years.
Rs2 per minute. Now local and nationwide
Consumers working in private and public
call rate is Rs1.10 per minute.
sector offices said that that gas and power
Chairman, Pakistan Publishers and Book
rate looked below 100 per cent rise in the
Sellers Association, Aziz Khalid, said that
A PTCL official said that from land-line to
last five years but they are actually paying
education expenses have multiplied due
mobile phones, charges have not changed
more than double the utility bills now as
to 150 to 200 per cent hike in cost of
and are at Rs2.50 per minute.
compared to 2008 due to hike in various
books
charges and taxes in the bill.
publishers as there had been a surge in
Mohammad Rehan, a resident of Gulistani-Jauhar who lives in a single storey bungalow of 240 yards said that he had
being
published
by
private
prices owing to rising power rates, printing and ink cost, rising prices of imported and local paper and impact of devaluation on
US drones violate Pakistan’s sovereignty, says UN
The official said options for category-wise consumers have risen in the last five year through
new
connection
(freedom
package).
He says Pakistani officials told him they have confirmed at least 400 civilian deaths by US drones. A
Pakistani
analyst
helping
Emmerson’steam, ImtiazGul,saidFriday that he gave the UN investigator case studies of 25 strikes that allegedly killed civilians. Emmerson’s statement was released on Thursday, following his threeday visit to Pakistan that ended Wednesday.
US drone strikes are highly unpopular in Pakistan.—File Photo ISLAMABAD: The head of a UN team investigating casualties from US drone strikes has concluded that the attacks violate Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Ben Emmerson, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, says the Pakistani government made clear to him it does not consent to the
US officials have disputed claims that drones have killed many civilians in Pakistan. They have also alleged Pakistan secretly consents to the strikes.
strikes.
Emily Murphy (14 March 1868 – 17 October 1933)
Helping Municipalities Collect Unpaid Fines New Ontario Government Committed to Road Safety
was a Canadian women's rights activist, jurist, and author. In 1916, she became the first female magistrate in Canada, and in the British Empire. She is best known for her contributions to Canadian feminism, specifically to the question of whether women were "persons" under Canadian law.
The new Ontario government is taking action to help municipalities collect unpaid traffic fines from drivers who do not follow the rules of the road. Legislation to be introduced later this week would, if passed, deny licence plates to drivers who have unpaid fines for offences such as speeding, improper lane changes, illegal turns, driving with no insurance and careless driving. The legislation would also make it easier for municipalities to charge out-of-province drivers who run red lights and fail to stop for school buses. Supporting municipalities and keeping families safe on the roads is part of the new Ontario government's plan to boost the economy and strengthen communities.
March 21, 2013
11
Badami Bagh tragedy: HRCP finds police, admin responsible
Protesters carry crosses during a protest against the attack on the homes of members of the Christian community by a mob, Karachi, March 10, 2013. — Photo by AFP LAHORE: In its preliminary report after a factfinding mission to the Joseph Colony in Badami Bagh, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has held the police and the provincial administration squarely responsible for the attack on Christian homes earlier this week. The mission’s purpose was to “present facts — regarding the incident of violence on Saturday, March 9 — and the events that led up to the incident.” The report also seeks to look at the response of the administration before and during the incident and identify those responsible for the lapse. The initial investigations were conducted over two days and the HRCP plans to
superiors, the IGP, and the chief minister, about the
Sawan, as saying that on the Friday evening the local
situation”. The DCO said “he was present at some point
police told the Christian community to vacate their houses
during the incident on Saturday and asserted that
as there was a possibility of violence erupting on
maintenance of law and order was not part of his job as
Saturday. “The police also assured them of the safety of
after the Police Order 2002 this power had devolved to
their houses and their belongings. Following the warning
the police administration”.
by the police almost the entire community evacuated the colony on Friday.”
On March 9, more than 200 houses in Joseph Colony were attacked, looted and burnt by a mob. The incident which sparked the chain of events that led to the assault is said to have occurred on Wednesday, March 6. “(A)ccording to most residents…on Wednesday evening a quarrel broke out between Shahid Imran, a local barber, and Sawan Masih alias Bodhi, while they were drinking together,” says the initial HRCP report. “At the end of the fight Imran alleged that Sawan had made blasphemous remarks.
local trader community might have played a role in
the protesters and a mistake had occurred in threat
escalating the tensions. A local candidate for the
assessment by the local police and administration”. The
upcoming Trader Association elections was alleged to
entire
have played a subversive role in the episode and in
occurrence, consisting of SP City, DSP Badami Bagh
particular the incitement.
and the SHO Badami Bagh have been removed from
ransacked and looted the colony with complete impunity,
time
of
the
their posts and “were not available for comment at this stage”.
setting fire to majority of houses,” says the HRCP report.
The HRCP mission also tried to contact SSP
“There is enough evidence to suggest that there was a
(Investigation) Babar Bakht, who also was not available.
considerable presence of the police force on the scene of occurrence. There is nothing to suggest that the mob was in any way resisted by the police. According to some residents, there was looting before the houses were set on fire.” The HRCP mission found it “disturbing” that the
“The HRCP mission feels that the responsibility for the incident has to be ascribed at two levels — immediate and ultimate,” says the
report. “The
immediate responsibility for this act lies primarily with the police and district administration that despite prior knowledge failed to act. The ultimate responsibility rests squarely with the provincial government.
measures either before or even during the attack”. The
provincial government at the highest level was aware of
came to know of the incident through Imran. Later Shafiq,
commission asserts that the warning issued by the police
the threat and potential damage, even likely violence in
with the apparent intention of attacking Sawan, went to
on Friday to the residents “establishes conclusively the
advance, and yet failed to order any measures. The
Joseph Colony, burnt down the billiard table (owned by)
fact that the administration knew about arson and plunder
HRCP mission also took note of statements made by
Sawan and proceeded to curse and threaten Sawan and
in advance”.
the people it talked to that the raiders were ordinary
Sawan
of
the
neighbouring locality, Shaikhabad, Shafiq alias Cheeko,
generally.
resident
at
The statement by the DCO establishes that the
community
a
administration
possibility of such an attack failed to take adequate
Christian
stage,
police
a
the
subsequent
who had taken charge of the post after the occurrence. “He said in his opinion the police could have contained
local administration “that was clearly aware of the a
The mission contacted City SP Imtiaz Sarwar,
Some of the residents expressed the fear that the
“On Saturday, a mob reportedly of around 3,000
issue detailed findings within a few days.
“At
The report quotes Zahida Parveen, a relative of
was
subsequently arrested on Friday after an FIR under Section 295-C, PPC, had been registered against him at the Badami Bagh police station.”
DCO Noorul Amin Mengal, while talking to the mission, “admitted the knowledge on Friday about possible violence and claimed to have informed his
residents from the adjacent areas and could not be identified as a group. That points to the effect of accumulated animus against the minority communities.”
12
March 21, 2013
World Bank approves $400 million for supporting education in Sindh
cadre, public private partnerships
promising and ambitious endeavor to reach
in remote rural areas, and measuring and reporting on student
national and global education targets of
achievements in the primary and middle grades.
Education for All. The SERP II will provide financial, technical,
“We anticipate that SERP II will
and advisory support through a results-based specific investment credit with the majority
contribute to substantial improvements in education sector
of disbursements contingent on the satisfactory achievement of pre-specified
service delivery and management over the next three years, by
program implementation progress and performance targets in ten initiatives that aim
directly focusing improvement efforts on students, teachers and
to address gaps in and/or current poor practices in education sector management
educati on manager s,” sai d Umbreen Arif, task team leader of
and governance.
the project.
The credit is financed from the International Development Association (IDA), and will be
We look forward to lending our technical and financial cooperation
on standard IDA blend terms, with a maturity of 25 years, including a grace period of five
to the Government of Sindh in its
years.
Students taking an exam – APP (File Photo) ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has approved a package of assistance worth US$400 million to support the Second Sindh Education Sector Reform Program (SERP II). The
program
will
support
Sindh
school participation through this program. School participation in Sindh has shown a very slow improvement over the past few years and with huge disparities across districts, especially for girls in rural areas.
Governments efforts to increase school participation and measure student
An important factor behind the low education outcomes in the province is poor management
achievement by improving sector governance and accountability and strengthening
and minimal monitoring and accountability of the government school system.
administrative systems.
The situation has been compounded by three
Improving school participation is a priority in Sindh as the government has underlined this
years of continuous flood damage to school infrastructure and disruption in service delivery in
further by passing Sindh Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, said
many districts across Sindh.
Rachid Benmessaoud, Country Director for the World Bank Pakistan.
Realizing these facts, the Sindh government has focused the second generation of reforms on
The World Bank is committed to take the
introducing key governance and accountability measures to improve education outcomes in
next evolutionary step and zero in on improving service delivery performance at
Sindh. These include a continued emphasis on merit and need-based teacher recruitment,
the school level and thereby, increase child
professionalizing the
education management
Today’s wave of bombings killed 56 people. As on this day 10 years ago, U.S. President George Bush lied & announced that American forces were beginning military operations "to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger."
Daniel Pearl’s family hails
US journalist Daniel Pearl. — File Photo NEW YORK: The family of slain US journalist Daniel Pearl welcomed on Monday the arrest in Pakistan of a former leader of a banned militant outfit allegedly involved in his 2002 murder.
Popularly known as Asadullah, Qari Abdul Hayee, from Karachi’s eastern Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighborhood was detained in a raid on his hideout on Sunday, according to a spokesman for Pakistan’s Rangers paramilitary force. Ruth and Judea Pearl, who live in the Los Angeles area, hailed the news, in a statement issued through
the New York-based Daniel Pearl Foundation.“We are gratified with this latest arrest and hope that justice will be served in a timely manner on all those who were involved in the abduction and murder of our son, Danny,” they said. Pearl, 38, was the South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal when he was abducted in Karachi on January 23, 2002, while researching a story about militants.
Five 'admit Swiss woman gang-rape' in India
Officer M L Dhondi from Datia District Police says the couple were robbed before the attack Five men have confessed in India to gang-raping a Swiss woman as she camped with her husband in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, police say. The couple were camping at a village in Datia district on Friday during a cycling trip when they were attacked by a group of men. The assailants overpowered the husband before gangraping his wife and they were robbed of their valuables. Police detained at least 20 people after the attack. The case is getting front-page coverage in the Indian media and the Swiss embassy has called for a swift investigation, the BBC's Andrew North reports from the capital, Delhi. The incident comes three months after the gang-rape and murder of a 23-yearold female student on a bus in Delhi, which triggered widespread protests against the treatment of women in India. 'Husband beaten' "We have detained five men and they have confessed to gang-raping the woman and attacking her husband," local police official MS Dhodee told AFP news agency. He added that police were searching for a sixth man, who was also involved in the crime. Another police official, DK Arya, told AP news agency the couple had said seven or eight men had taken part in the rape, but that it was dark and they could not
be sure of the exact number. After the attack, the rape victim underwent a medical examination at a local hospital before leaving for Delhi with her husband, police said. The victim, who is reported to be 39 years old, and her husband had been cycling from Orchha to Agra, to see the Taj Mahal, a distance of about 250km (155 miles), when they decided to camp for the night in a forested area. One report cited the victim's husband as saying that the group of men had approached them at about 21:30 (16:00 GMT). They then began beating him with wooden sticks before tying him up and sexually assaulting his wife in front of him, he is reported to have added. The assailants stole the couple's valuables, including 10,000 rupees ($185) and a laptop computer, before fleeing into the woods. Police have reportedly recovered some belongings stolen from the couple after raiding nearby villages, and say they now have the names of other suspects. Conscious of the affect on India's international image - battered by the Delhi gang-rape the authorities are under pressure to resolve this case quickly, our Delhi correspondent says. Indian police are still regularly criticised for failing to take other alleged rape cases seriously, despite the outcry over the safety of women in recent months, he adds. They are also often accused of using rough tactics to secure confessions. On Monday, one of the Delhi rape suspects was found dead in prison. Police said Ram Singh hanged himself, but his family suspect he was murdered.