The Frontier Post E-Paper 21 April, 2015

TUESDAY, april 21, 2015

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Lahore Edition

Chinese messiah comes to Pakistan’s rescue PAF’s JF-17 Thunders escort the Chinese president Pak, China agree to elevate ties to strategic partnership President Xi lauds

Nawaz Sharif's reforms, counter-terrorism efforts Pakistan, China sign 51 MoUs Xi terms Zarb-e-Azb a game changer President Xi, PM Sharif perform ground-breaking of five energy projects Xi Jinping plants 'Pakistan-China Friendship Tree' at PM House

ISLAMABAD: Chinese President Xi Jinping with tens of billions of dollars investment in energy and infrastructure landed at Noor Khan Airbase amidst historic and warm red carpet reception by Pakistani government here on Monday.

Mr Xi Jinping was escorted by eight JF-17 Thunder aircrafts when his plane entered the Pakistani airspace. Accompanied by first lady on People’s Republic of China, senior ministers, leaders of Communist Party and a high level delegation comprising CEOs from a wide spectrum of business houses of China, Jinping was honored with a 21-gun salute on arrival. Jinping was welcomed

by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Mamnoon Hussain, Chairman Joint Chief of staff Committee, three service chiefs, members of the federal

NADRA submits evaluation report to JC ISLAMABAD: National Database and

Registration Authority (NADRA) on Monday submitted an evaluation report of 37 electoral constituencies to the Judicial Commission (JC) which was made to probe election 2013 rigging.

NADRA sources said that the administration has presented the analytical report of 37 constituencies to the JC whereas the remaining ones will also get evaluated soon. Earlier on the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), JC directed NADRA to submit the report in three days. —DNA

PTI wins JUP support for NA-246 KARACHI: Jamiat

Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) today put its weight behind Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Imran Ismail for the by-election of NA246, Karachi. “We announce our decision to support Imran Ismail in the byelection” Owais Noorani told media persons in Karachi. He called upon voters of NA-246 to come out of their homes on April 23 and vote for the PTI. “We won’t allow anyone to shed blood of people in the name of ethnicity,” he said. —DNA

cabinet and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif on his arrival. JF-17 thunder aircrafts also presented flypast to honor Jinping.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Service Chiefs of Armed Forces and appreciated Pakistan's strenuous efforts in counter-terrorism to promote peace, stability in region. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Monday performed the ground-breaking of five energy projects, via video link.

The two leaders pushed a button together that remotely launched the projects, at a ceremony held at the Prime Minister's Office. The visiting Chinese President vowed to stand by Pakistan in all its endeavours and fight against terrorism in order to bring stability.

Mr Xi visited Prime Minister Secre-

tariat where Prime Minister and his cabinet members received him and his delegates. Jiping on this occasion retreated the slogan “Pak-Sino friendship is higher than Himalaya & deeper than sea” & added that this friendship between the both countries that was started many decades back is growing stronger with passage of time & hoped that it will became like an unbreakable solid rock in coming days.

President Xi Jinping also mentioned how both countries had assisted each other during the evacuation of their citizens from Yemen. He appreciated the leadership of Pakistani Premier & said that he is determined to convert Pakistan into one of the most developed countries of the world. He assured his all-out assistance in efforts of economic development of the country.

ECP demands CCTV cameras at polling stations NAZIR H SIYAL KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) directed the authorities concerned on Monday to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at all polling stations It was also requested the provincial home department to ban pillion riding in the city to thwart any untoward incident citing security risks for the by-polls. Sindh Home Department has decided to impose threeday ban on pillion-riding in Karachi as part of security plan for April 23 by-elections in city’s NA-246 constituency. The ban is likely to come into effect from April 20 (midnight) and remain enforced till April 23.

Meanwhile, the elections commission has also directed Presiding Officers to report at their designated polling stations a day ahead of the by-election, so that the Returning Officers (ROs) visited various locations of NA-246 included City College, Siraj-ud-Daulah College, Zubeida Hajiyani and Metropolitan School polling stations, as a part of the probe, The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started probing allegations leveled by the PTI pertaining to the by-election in NA-246 on April 23.

The by-polls are scheduled for April

23 (Thursday). The National Assembly seat fell vacant following resignation of Nabil Gabol earlier in February. Gabol was elected from the Azizabad constituency in the 2013 general elections on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ticket.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has set up monitoring cell in NA-246, whereas after the withdrawal of two candidates the contest will take place among 13 nominees on the occasion.

All the preparations have been made relating to the by-election in NA-246 due on April 23, while ECP has also formed monitoring cells in the constituency.

Any complaints relating to the by-polls could be submitted in these cells.

ECP sources told that election material will be delivered at all polling stations in the constituency, in due time.

There are 3,57,801 registered voters in the constituency, polling in the constituency will begin at 8am on April 23 and conclude on 5pm, the process will continue without any break.

Presiding officers and assistant presiding officers will have the powers of Grade-1 Magistrate during the polling process.

All the candidates will have to wind up their campaign by 12 at mid-night on April 21.

Six ordinances tabled in National Assembly ISLAMABAD: The government on Mon-

day presented six ordinances to National Assembly as promulgated by President of Pakistan time to time.

The ordinances were presented to the Lower House by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs on behalf of Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Pervaiz Rashid to the House as required by clause (2) of article 89 of the Constitution.

These ordinances include 'the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Ordinance 2015; the Countervailing Duties

Ordinance 2015; the Anti-Dumping Duties Ordinance 2015; the National Tariff Commission Ordinance 2015; the General Election 2013 Inquiry Commission Ordinance 2015; and the Publication of Laws of Pakistan (Regulation) Ordinance 2015.'

On presentation of these ordinances, Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah urged the government to go for legislation through the Parliament instead of promulgation of ordinances.

Parliamentary Leader of MQM

Rasheed Godel said legislation through Parliament will add to the honor of the Parliament.

Therefore, all proposed laws should be brought to the House as bills and give members opportunity to discuss proposed laws.

MNA Ayaz Soomro also spoke on the issue and complained of delay of bills at Standing Committee level and requested intervention of the Chair to expedite working of House Committees. Engr Tariqullah also complained of delay in bill at Committee level. —FP Monitoring

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday evening planted 'Pakistan-China Friendship Tree' at lawn of the Prime Minister House.

On arrival at the Prime Minister House, Xi Jinping, Chinese First Lady and the high-level delegation was received by the Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

Addressing on this occasion Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hoped that with the recent visit of Chinese leader friendship between both the countries will meet its new height & both the countries would collectively work for the peace, progress, prosperity & stability in the region. He asked the Chines Prime Minister to help Pakistan to become permanent member of Shingai Coordination Council & added that Pakistan is determined to illuminate extremism, poverty, terrorism & drug from the region. He said that Pakistan always desired peaceful & friendly neighborhood & is fully determined to wipe out terrorism as it is curse for Pakistan & other countries.

President Jiping in his address thanked Pakistani Government & the people for warm welcome & added that his country is fully agreed to assist Pakistan in all sectors & to improve its economic condition.

He said that China always consider Pakistan as its brother & added that when

brothers are united their strength is doubled. He said that Pak-China Economic Corridor (PCEC) will transform Pakistan into important economic hub.

He also assured free economic assistant to Pakistan. He also lauded the efforts of Pakistan to curb terrorism & assured assistance in the form of security and fighting equipment to meet the challenge.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will address a joint sitting of the Parliament on Tuesday.

The Chinese President will also inaugurate solar power system of the Parliament and hold a group meeting with

the Speaker National Assembly and the Chairman Senate.

The visiting dignitary would later proceed to Aiwan-e-Sadr where he would spend some time with President Mamnoon Hussain. An investiture ceremony for the Chinese President would be held at Aiwan-eSadr in which the visiting dignitary would be conferred upon Nishan-e-Pakistan.

Later, the President of Pakistan would host a luncheon in honour of the Chinese President and his delegation. Afterwards, President Xi will depart in a special aircraft escorted by JF-17 upto the end of Pakistan's airspace. —FP Monitoring

NATIONAL

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RADIO PAKISTAN OFFICIALS ASKED TO WORK TIRELESSLY

ISLAMABAD: Director General, Radio Pakistan, Syed M Imran Gardezi Monday asked the officials to work tirelessly to earn good name for the prestigious Organization. He was speaking at a ceremony held here in the lawn of Natioal Broadcasting House to unveil prizes won by Radio Pakistan at different flower exhibitions recently held in Federal capital. The Director General said it was due to hard work of PBC gardeners the organization has been winning top prizes for several years. He announced honorarium equal to one month salary to gardeners for winning top prizes in exhibitions organized by National Horticulture Society of Pakistan and National Rose Society. —APP

ISLAMABAD: Former Diplomat Akram Zaki said here on Monday that China accords top priority to Pakistan in its Foreign Policy. While talking in special transmission of Pakistan Media he said China believed that prosperity was intertwined and that regional prosperity was supreme to it. Moreover, owing to geo-strategic position of Pakistan, China accorded top priority to Pakistan in its Foreign Policy similar to the one which United States of America gave to Britain in development, he added. Akram Zaki said focus should be on enhancing and cementing trade ties. —DNA

Senator criticizes ‘execution by tweets’

President Xi Jinping visit to ensure new uplift opportunities ISLAMABAD: Chinese President,

Dacoits' gang busted; 15 outlaws arrested OUR CORRESPONDENT ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police

have busted a gang of dacoits and also arrested 15 other outlaws from various areas of the city besides recovering looted items, weapons, daggers and stolen property from their possession, a police spokesman said on Monday. On a tip off, Station House Officer of Koral police station along with police team including Assistant Sub-Inspector Shakeel Ahmed and others raided at the hide out of dacoits in ` Marwa Town' and arrested five dacoits. They were identified as Waqas, Ajmal, Masood Khan, Aslam Khan and Ishtaiq while police recovered three 30 bore pistols along with ammunition and one dagger from their possession. Station House Officer of Sihala Police Station along with police team including Assistant Sub-Inspector Aurangzeb and others raided at gambling den at Rawat. Police team arrested 10 gamblers identified as Faisal, Qadeer, Luqman Yousaf, Daud, Kabeer, Khushnood, Shajar, Sajjad, Qaissr Azad, and Zaheer Jilani and recovered stake money from their possession.

Bani Gala Police arrested an accused Mujhaid and recovered four wine bottles from him.

Sabzi Mandi Police recovered one dagger from Awal Gul while Bhara kahu police arrested two accused Siddique and Ehtesham involved in decanting gas in cylinders illegally.

Teacher booked

SHEIKHUPURA: City A division police got registered the case against a school teacher here on Monday. According to the detail Dr Iqbal Husain controller of examination reported to the police that a school teacher Mohsin Nazir is attempted the examination against the place of one candidate Ibrar ul Hasan of B.A examination. Police have started the investigation against Mosin Nazir. —Our Correspondent

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

CHINA ACCORDS TOP PRIORITY TO PAKISTAN IN ITS FOREIGN POLICY

BRIEF

Xi Jinping visit to Pakistan, will bring new development opportunities for the traditional bilateral friendship. President Xi's visit shows the importance of these relations, as Pakistan is a key neighbour and an all-weather strategic cooperative partner of China, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. China and Pakistan are linked by mountains and rivers and the two peoples share a traditional friendship based on sincerity and mutual support since the establishment of diplomatic ties 64 years ago. The Chinese people have always regarded the Pakistani people as reliable friends, and Pakistan has supported China on many issues concerning its core interests and spared no effort in helping the Chinese people when natural disasters occurred. Today, China and Pakistan stand at a new starting point and are blessed with favourable conditions of new opportunities, geographical convenience and common resolve to further develop traditional friendship. During President Xi's state visit, new signed deals on a wide range of issues, from energy and infrastructure to education and culture, will give fresh and powerful impetus to deepening of China-Pakistan friendship and comprehensive collaboration. The two countries have maintained good momentum in developing bilateral ties and their cooperation featuring the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project aimed at boosting connectivity between the two neighbours, has been pragmatic and fruitful. —APP

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Senator Farhatullah Babar on Tuesday criticized what he said executions by tweets without even a word about who the criminals were when and where they were tried, the charges against them, the prosecution's case and the defence pleas and called for laying down procedures for the military courts.

This new state policy of execution by tweets if not checked will result is severe backlash he said. The government and the Parliament should have laid down procedures for the military courts to ensure some minimal measure of transparency and accountability in the trial before military courts.

He said that while some action has been taken like blocking SIMS the core issues promised in the action plan been ignored.

He said that another disturbing feature was that decision making seemed to have shifted from civil-political to the military.

This is evident from the holding of the Apex committee meetings in the air bases and offices of security establishment, he said.

He said that due to the absence of rules of engagement of the apex committees it appeared that they were treading in the domains of the provinces in the name of security. He called for adoption of rules for apex committees as well as the conduct of trials in the military courts.

Chinese President’s visit to strengthen bilateral ties: Chairman Evacuee Trust Board Siddiq ul Farooq on Monday said that Prime Minister ISLAMABAD:

Peshawar: Children from Pakistan workers Federation activists hold a protest outside the press club. —DNa

SC restores PPP MPA’s membership UMAR HASHMI ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday restored membership of PPP’s member Sindh assembly Nawaz Chandio and suspended the decision of re-election in 38 polling stations of PS-56.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Saqib Nisar heard the case which was filed by Nawaz Chandio. He had challenged the decision of election tribunal for re-election in 38 polling stations of the provincial constituency.

Nawaz Chandio is Pakistan Peoples

Party’s leader and Election Tribunal gave the decision on the opposition leader Ismail Raho’s allegations of rigging. Hearing on the case adjourned up to the second week of June.

40 suspects arrested: Islamabad Police have arrested 40 suspects during search operation in various areas of the city, a police spokesman said on Monday.

He said IGP Islamabad Tahir Alam Khan directed all SDPOs and SHOs to enhance patrolling as well as checking in various areas of the city and conduct search operation at slum areas, Afghan habitats, under construction buildings,

workshops, bus stands and inns. Following his directions, Sub-Divisional police officers performing in Islamabad headed this search operation in the areas of Shahzad Town, Golra and Khanna police stations.

They succeeded to nabbed 40 suspects who are being investigated further. SSP Islamabad Mir Vais Niaz has said the purpose of this search operation and high vigilance is to ensure foolproof security in the city and he further directed all SHOs to continue it.

He has also appealed the citizens to remain vigilant and inform police in case of any suspicious activity around them.

Nawaz Sharif wanted to make Pakistan the Asian Tiger and massive Chinese investment would help achieve this goal.

Talking to media, he said the agreements to be signed during the Chinese President's visit would not only strengthen bilateral friendship, but also make Pakistan a stronger, developed and prosperous country. Siddiq ul Farooq said that China's cooperation would help Pakistan achieve development and prosperity. DNA Xi’s visit to change economic map of country: Renowned economist, Dr Saboor Ghayyur said on Monday that Pakistan-China Economic Corridor was a very important project for connecting the regional countries.

Talking to media, he said that visit of Chinese President, Xi Jinping would have positive impact on economy and generate multiple economic activities in the country. He said the visit would usher in a new era of progress and development in the region. —DNA

Un-checked rising stationary prices annoys parents

ISLAMABAD: The un-checked rising

prices of stationary items in capital is annoying parents of most of the children, just promoted into new classes.

The prices of stationery items such as bags, pens, notebooks, geometry boxes and other school supplies observed high increase putting extra burden on the pockets of parents.

Junaid Kyani an employee of a private organization said, "Our children demands new books, bags, notebooks etc. for the new class but the high increase in prices made it difficult for us to fulfil their demand".

He said, "I have noticed increase in the prices of items, especially cartoon character schoolbags which is main demand of their children studying in primary classes". Sarfraz Khan another father of three children commented, "We belong to a lower class family so the new increased stationary prices are out of our reach".

"Stylish and unique bags are not only a demand of our children but it is also a major incentive for small kids to go to school and unfortunately at the start of new academic years, shop keepers increased their rates", he added. He said that he has to buy notebooks, pen, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, markers, geometry boxes etc. for their kids always demand trendy

and latest design stuff so shopkeepers taking advantage of new session increased prices.

He demanded the government to take action of the issue and keep a check on all book shops, adding that those who are charging extra money on these items should be fined.

Waseem Akhter, a shop owner at Jinnah Super said, "At the start of new session they brought new supply of all stationary items which is available on high prices so they left with no other option to raise prices". He said, they also have school going children and they knew problems of parents but what can they do if they got the stuff from wholesale market at higher prices.

ATC acquits five accused: An Antiterrorist Court on Monday acquitted five accused in hate speeches case. During a hearing in ATC court No 2, Judge, Asif Majeed Awan acquitted Maulvi Muhammad Umer, Muhammad Hafaz, Khalil Nawaz, Fakhar Hussain and Ch Arshad Hussain in the case, saying the evidence against them was not sufficient for further proceedings. The case had been registered against them at police station in Attock and were arrested on charge of delivering hate-speeches and inciting to violence. Meanwhile ATC adjourned the hearing of Raja Bazar firing case till April 21. —APP

Peshawar: PTI workers hold a protest outside the press club. —DNa

Abductors kill man in Sheikhupura M AKRAM KHAN FARIDI SHEIKHUPURA: A man was shot dead due to non receipt of ransom amount by the three abductors on Monday.

According to the detail that the victim Naeem Khan resident of city area Habib colony allegedly was abducted by three abductors identified as Aqib, Farman and Bilal. The abductors took the victim near village Bahrianwala and kept him there for 24 hours

.Meanwhile the abductors demanded the ransom amount from the family .When the prescribed amount was not paid the victim was shot dead by the abductors. City a Division police have started the investigation against the accused.

Paramedics demand raise in pay: The paramedical staffers posted in local DHQ hospital protested against step motherly behaviour of the health department .The protesters blocked Lahore

– Sargodha road suspending the traffic for about two hours .While talking to the media the protesters leaders told that the Chief Minister had revised their scales .The staffer posted in Lahore had been provided all the facilities after the revision of scale .But the staffer posted in Sheikhupura are still deprived of these facility .They demanded the health officials of Sheikhupura should also provide them the said facility according to Lahore staffers.

Oxford University Press to hold literature festival

ISLAMABAD: Oxford University Press

(OUP) is once again gathering avidreaders, writers, academics, and literary figures from across Pakistan and the worldat the 3rd Islamabad Literature Festival to be held on 24, 25, and 26 April at the Hotel Margala, Islamabad.

This was announced by Ameena Saiyid OBE, Managing Director, OUP, at a press conference.

OUP’s previous Literature Festivals have been heralded as massive successes, attracting a great deal of attention among the literary and intellectual communities in the country. In Islamabad last year, literary enthusiasts thronged to the ILF to meet renowned authors and attend over 60 interactive sessions.

Ameena Saiyid highlighted that the 3rdIslamabad Literature Festival will feature, talks/interviews, panel discussions, Mushaira, English poetry recitation, book fair, book launches, readings, author signings, film screening, performing arts, Sufi music, art exhibitions by Art Now, and much more.

Apart from Pakistani authors, poets, and academics, speakers from UK, USA, France, India and Australia will also be participating in the ILF. The keynote speakers at the opening and closing ceremonies will be AnatolLieven, Ataul Haq Qasmi, Zehra Nigah, and the Pulitzer Prize winner, Paul Harding.

Joining the roster of prominent speakers at the third ILF will be Ahmed Fouad, Ali Akbar Natiq, Al-

mas Bobby, ArfaSayeda Zehra, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Asif Noorani, Asif Raza Mir, Ataul Haq Qasmi, Athar Tahir, Bilal Tanweer, Aitzaz Ahsan, Fatema Hassan, Farooq Qaiser, Feryal Ali-Gauhar, Harris Khalique, HaseenaMoin, HinaJillani, I.A. Rehman, Ilona Yusuf, Ikram Sehgal, Intizar Husain, KishwarNaheed, Masood Ashar, Mohammed Hanif, MujahidBarelvi, Mushahid Hussain, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Nasim Zehra, Raju Jamil,SarwatMohiuddin, Shahid Nadeem, ShandanaMinhas, Shehryar Fazli, Sorayya Khan, Syed Talat Hussain, SyedaAbida Hussain, ZahedaHina, Zehra Nigah, and Zobaida Jalal.

The event will also feature a performance on Kishwar Naheed's poem

‘Yaey Hum Gunahgaar Aurtain Haen’

by Feriyal Aslam, dramatic readings of Ismat Chughtai’s stories by Feryal Ali Gauhar, English Poetry Recitation, film screening of ‘Life’s Worth Living’, and Sufi Music by the Rafi Peer Ensemble.

Some of the exciting sessions at the ILF will include Baat se Baat: Asif Farrukhi and Muhammad Ahmed Shah in conversation with Ataul Haq Qasmi;Rights and Wrongs of Transgender Issues; He, She, or…:Feryal Ali Gauhar in conversation with Laxmi Narayan Tripathi; Winner of the KLF Best Fiction Prize: Framji Minwalla in conversation with Shandana Minhas; Khushwant Singh: Among the Immortals; A Women's Jirga from Swat;Why We Write; Winning the

Pulitzer Prize: ShandanaMinhas in conversation with Paul Harding; Author to Author: Shehryar Fazli in conversation with Mohammed Hanif; Politics: The Art of the Possible and Sometimes the Impossible; News, Views, and Sensationalism; Ahmad Faraz: The Poet as Witness to the Age; Pakistani Cinema: KalaurAaj; Gul Chandni: Readings and in Conversation with Zehra Nigah; Healing a Nation: Trauma and Mental Health in Pakistan; and Yemen: Difficult Choices for Pakistan.

The Karachi and the Islamabad Literature Festival is free and open to all and co-founders Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farukhi have invited the people of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to attend the festival and join in the festivities. —DNA

NATIONAL

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

BRIEF

A3 Two labourers electrocuted

PHA retrieves 32 kanal land from illegal possession

M AKRAM KHAN FARIDI SHEIKHUPURA: Two labourers died after being electrocuted in city area Jandiala road on Monday .According to the detail that the deceased Sanaullah and Azam riding on a tractor trolley laden with iron bars were going to nearby village Chapa Minara .Reaching near Nasheman park the deceases heads touched with the hanging electric wires .As a result the both felt critical electric shock They were taken to in local DHQ hospital in an unconscious condition. After some time they lost their lives .Housing colony police are looking into the matter.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Housing

Authority (PHA) has retrieved over 32 kanal land from illegal possession of the locals which was acquired for Kurri Road Housing project. The step was taken on the directives of the Federal Minister for Housing and Works Akram Durrani, an official of PHA told APP. He informed that the PHA team along with Deputy Director Asad Ali Shah and ICT administration held a joint operation in the area and got vacated the land. He said that the Housing Scheme, which was planed in 2012 for the federal government officers from grade 20 to 22 was delayed due to illegal possession by the locals. PHA had acquired 90.8 acres of land from CDA to construct housing units for federal government officers at Kurri Road Zone (IV). The official said that the authority was also committed to get back the remaining land from the possession of local people, to complete the project as soon as possible. —APP

Special lecture on Allama Iqbal's death anniversary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Academy

of Letters (PAL) will organize a special lecture on the occasion of 77th death anniversary of "Allama Muhammad Iqbal" to be held on April 21 (Tuesday). Prof.

Fateh Muhammad Malik will preside over the lecture while Dr. Shahid Iqbal Kamran, Chairman, Department of Iqbaliyat and Faiz Chair, Allama Iqbal Open University will deliver the lecture. Dr Muhammad Qasim Bughio will present key-note address. —APP

Speakers oppose Israeli-style settlements in IHK

ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a seminar organized by the Islamic Students League (ISL) in Srinagar (Indian Occupied Kashmir) have opposed Israeli-style settlements for Pandits in the territory. The participants also opposed the Indian plan to issue resident certificates to illegal settlers and Hindu mercenaries in Jammu, Kashmir Media Service reported. The ISL Patron, Shakeel Bakshi and President Sheikh Musaib also addressed the seminar. The speakers said that all the 20 lakh Muslims from Jammu, who were forced to flee in 1947 should also be allowed to return. They maintained that attempting to settle 14 lakh illegal settlers in Jammu on the excuse of humanitarian ground was a facade, aimed to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir. —APP

314 candidates submit papers for district councillor seats TIMERGARA: As many as 314

candidates have filed nomination papers for the seats of district councillor and 307 for tehsil councillor for local bodies' election 2015 in Lower Dir district. Official sources told APP on Monday that 2317 candidates submitted papers for general councillor while 482 would contest on the seats of women councillor. As many as 928 candidates will flex their muscles for farmers councillor seats whereas 875 for youth and five for non-Muslim seats.

Following successful completion of nomination papers by the candidates, the scrutiny of the nomination papers has been started today (Monday that will continue till April 25 across the province including Lower Dir. The appeals against acceptance and rejection of the nomination papers would be filed on April 26-28 and subsequently would be disposed of on April 29 to May 4. The withdrawal of candidature and allotment of symbols would be issued to candidates on May 5 whereas May 6 has been fixed for publication of list of contesting candidates and allotment of symbols to them. The polling for LG elections would be held on May 30, 2015. —APP

Statement of COAS hailed IslamabaD: a helicopter seen flying over the capital to monitor the security situation during the visit of Chinese President. —DNa

ECP urged to stop use of government machinery in PK-95 by-polls

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party Parliamentary leader and Spokesman Sardar Hussain Babak here Monday urged the Election Commission to take notice of the alleged use of 'official machinery' in the by-elections PK-95 Dir Lower.

Addressing separate joining public functions at union council Goga and Nawagai in Buner district, the ANP leader said people were disappointed due to PTI Government's performance.

The ANP Spokesman alleged that PTI has prepared plans to rig by-election in an attempt to hide its ill performance and government resources were being used indiscriminately in the said constituency, which was a clear violation of the code of conduct of the Election Commission.

He claimed that PTI was in search of lame excuses in a bid to postpone the by election, however, the ANP would

frustrate such undemocratic tactics.

He urged people to vote those who have the ability and outstanding past service record.

NAB arrests forest officer for corruption: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Monday arrested Tariq Khan a serving Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kohistan (BPS 18) of Forest Department for allegedly making illegal assets worth million of rupees.

As per details a complaint received by Bureau wherein it was mentioned that Tariq Khan DFO Kohistan has accumulated huge assets in different areas of Peshawar District including houses, plots, heavy investments in different schemes and huge transactions made through his and his family members bank accounts.

Taking cognizance of the complaints Director General NAB-KP authorizes inquiry into the matter. During in-

quiry it was revealed that the accused Tariq Khan accumulated illegally One Bungalow on University Road Peshawar, 1 Kanal and 13 Marlas Agricultural Land on Warsak Road Peshawar, 2 Kanal and 18 Marlas plot in Mauza Tehkal Payan, Peshawar, 3 Kanal Land in Mardan and 4 Marla Flat situated at Mauza Tehkal Payan Peshawar.

Moreover, the accused Tariq Khan has huge unexplained cash transaction through his and his wife Bank Account to the tune of Rs.29.57 Million.

Further an unexplained transaction of USD 1.10 Million has been uncovered in his wife's Bank Account.

The accused will be produced before the accountability court for obtaining his physical remand into NAB custody.

Minister directs to complete auction of non-functional vehicles within two months: Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Finance, Muzaffar Said Advocate Monday directs ensuring transparency in auction of non- functional government vehicles and completing the process within two months period.

Addressing a auctioning ceremony here, he directed to remove hindrances in the auction saying acceleration of the process would help reduce losses incurred on public exchequer resulting from unnecessary delay.

The minister also directed the concerned committee of Administration, Excise and Finance departments to compile details of the out of order vehicles.

He also suggested devising a plan to increase revenue generation by introducing reforms in auction process adding the auctioning should be completed within two months with the facilitation of buyers by removing intricacy in the existing procedure. —APP

OUR CORRESPONDENT KHANEWAL: Member Provincial Assembly Abdul Razzaq Niazi in his statement has appreciated the statement of The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, in which the COAS said that “the political consensus against terrorism should not be lost to petty differences. He said the entire nation was looking towards the political and military leadership of the country to take bold and meaningful decisions leading to stern action against the terrorists and their sympathizers.

“Abdul Razzaq Niazi termed the statement of General Raheel Sharif as the voice of the time; he also added that Pak army always defended that geological and ideological boundary of our beloved country Pakistan. Niazi further said that our army is one of the best army of the world and we are very hopeful that they will defeat all the terrorists through operation “Zarb-e Azzab”. Abdul Razzaq Niazi added that whole the nation is standing and backing Pak army at this crucial ever time of the history of Pakistan.

30 convicts to be hanged in Punjab in 3 days

ISLAMABAD: A total of 30 convicts will

be hanged to death in three days of which 20 on April 21 (Tuesday) in different jails across the Punjab.

Inspector General of Prisons Punjab Mian Farooq Nazeer told APP on Monday that 75 convicts had already been executed in the Punjab so far since lifting of moratorium. He said that 8 will be taken to gallows on April 22 and two on April 23. He said that such large number of executions were never carried out

in the history. He said that all Superintendents of Jails had already been directed to make necessary arrangements for the executions.

He said that all the convicts were awarded capital punishment by the trial courts and their appeals/mercy petitions were rejected later on.

The following is the break-up of the executions:-April, 21,2015 Central Jail, Gujrawala, 3 Central Jail, Lahore 2 Central Jail, Sahiwal 2 District Jail, Sialkot 2 Central Jail, Rawalpindi 3 Central Jail, Faisalabad 3 District Jail, Faisalabad 1 Central Jail, Multan 1 Central Jail, Bahawalpur 2 District Jail, Gujrat 1 April, 22,2015 Central Jail, Lahore 2 Central Jail, Sahiwal 3 Central Jail, Bahwalpur 1 District Jail, Sialkot 2 April, 23,2015 Central Jail, Sahiwal 1 District Jail, Sargodha 1.

Senior Superintendent Jail Malik Mushtaq Ahmad Khan while briefing the DIG said that relatives were allowed meeting with the convicts and the "Will" if any will be recorded in the presence of Magistrate while jail doctor will conduct their complete medical examination be- IslamabaD: balochistan Governor mohammad Khan achakzai is flanked with the QaU VC Dr. Javed ashraf, NIhCr fore execution. Finally body will be Director Prof Dr sayed wiqar ali shah and the NIPs Director Dr.Tahir amin after inaugurating the balochistan books Corner at the NIhCr resource Centre on monday. —DNa handed over to the heirs. —APP

Pakistanis hail Chinese President’s article on friendship ISLAMABAD: A signed article by Chinese President, Xi Jinping on Sunday drew enthusiastic responses from Pakistanis in all walks of life, who said his historic state visit will open a new chapter for China-Pakistan allweather strategic cooperative partnership.

The Chinese president who arrived on a two days state visit to Pakistan Monday morning before travelling to Indonesia for an Asian-African summit and activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, Chinese news agency `Xinhua' reported.

The visit will provide a "historic opportunity" for further deepening the time-tested all-weather friendship between the two countries, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain said.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, described the article titled "Long Live China-Pakistan Friendship" as "incisive and warm."

"The article very rightly pointed out

the historical background, and the progress made in strengthening relationship and predicts with confidence that these relations will be lifted to a new height in the coming years," he said.

He said that Pakistan firmly adheres to the "one China" policy and has supported China on such core issues as Tibet, human rights and fight against terrorism.

Rahimullah Yousafzai, a senior journalist, said the article showed that like the old generations of Chinese leaders, the new Chinese leadership is familiar with the longstanding relations with Pakistan.

"The Chinese president's comments show the bilateral relations had been friendly despite so many changes in the world and the region. There is more potential to further cement these relations under the incumbent Chinese leaders as the president has also mentioned," he said.

Echoing Yousafzai's view, Javed Sid-

diqui, editor-in-chief of the Urdu daily, said that in the article, the Chinese president has rightly and in true spirit explained his sentiments about Pakistan.

"The former Chinese leaders had laid a strong foundation for bilateral relations and President Xi and other leaders have continued the same policies and want to contribute more to make the relationship strong," said Siddiqui.

"President Xi has expressed special sentiments for Pakistan in his article and that is important ahead of his historic visit. Pakistanis have similar sentiments for the Chinese president and other leaders as all survey conducted in Pakistan shows China is the number one friend of Pakistan," he said.

Saeed Chaudhary, director of the Islamabad-based Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues, said through the article, Xi directly talked to Pakistanis and made them aware what he has been feeling about Pakistan.

"His start with a quote from an Urdu poem is touching because Xi Jinping told Pakistanis that Pakistan lives in the heart of China," he said.

"I heard that Chinese President Xi Jinping possessed a charismatic personality that easily win hearts ... but now during last one week what atmosphere has been developed in Pakistan to welcome him is really a proof that he has something fascinating," he added.

Huamira, a student of International Relations at the National Defence University, said he was moved by the Chinese president's words that described Pakistan as the home of his own brother.

"I also love China because China has always helped us like a true brother.

Pakistan and China's relationships are old and I hope that they will keep on supporting each other in the future," she said.

She said that both countries have ancient civilizations and that cultural ex-

change programs will give chance to the two peoples to learn from each other.

"Chinese people have worked very hard ... and I hope that by following the footsteps of China, Pakistan will fulfil its dream of becoming an Asian Tiger," she said. —APP

CorreCtion of name

My father’s Name is Muhammad Khalid instead of Rana Muhammad Khalid which may be corrected in Board Record . I have passed Matric Exam under Roll No. 733496 Annual 2011 from BISE Multan and FA under Roll No. 201299 Supplementary Year 2014 from BISE Sahiwal. Muhammad Aftab Khalid S/o Muhammad Khalid Chak.No. 147/E.B Tehsil ArifwalaDistt. Pakpattan

LAHORE

www.thefrontierpost.pk

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

LIBRARY WEEK AT ITU BEGINS

LAHORE: The 5-day Library Week began at the Information Technology University (ITU) on Monday.

Registrar ITU Zaheer Sarwar opened the Library Week by inaugurating ITU Library website at Conference Hall. In this connection, Iqbal Day will be observed while known poet Khalid Sharif will be the guest of honour. National Book Day will be organized on April 22, while "Mazahia Mushaira" at Arfa Karim Software Park, Auditorium will be held on April 23. The ITU also is going to organize a book fair on April 24 which will be inaugurated by the ITU Vice Chancellor Dr Umar Saif. —APP

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PEF CHIEF TAKES NOTICE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT LAHORE: Managing Director Punjab Education Foundation Dr. Aneela Salman has taken strict notice of a news item about an alleged incident of corporal punishment in a PEF partner school in Layyah. She has directed PEF director (monitoring) Samina Nawaz to conduct a departmental inquiry in this regard. Reiterating institutional commitment of the foundation with regard to strict ban on corporal punishment in the light of the policy of the Punjab Government, Dr. Aneela Salman said that child-friendly atmosphere is ensured in PEF partner schools so that the students could study in most conducive and congenial atmosphere and emerge as a confident youth. —FP Monitoring

Health Dept tries to divide paramedics to end strike STAFF REPORT LAHORE: Punjab Health Department

(PHD) is trying to divide paramedic’s alliance into two groups so that paramedics’ sit-in could be finished through dialogues.

On the other hand, Punjab Paramedics Alliance (PPA) members conducted strike in front of Chief Minister House and neither the Health Department nor the parliamentarians bothered to resolve their issues. Paramedics protested for their demands as it was the final phase of their protest.

Hundreds of paramedics including laboratory technicians, X-ray technicians, Laboratory assistants, MRI and CT Scans technicians and employees participated in the strike. The agitation started in shape of rally from Jinnah Hospital and moved toward Jail road where a number of PPA workers who belonged to Services Hospital and Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) participated in the rally.

PPA workers gathered at Club road in front of CM House and chanted slogans against Punjab government and the Health Department. Protesters held banners and placards for their demands.

PPA also suspended all medical facilities including indoor treatment, operation theatre and Out-patient Departments (OPD) while emergency departments were also affected due to the strike. Paramedical staff refused to perform their duties in all teaching hospi-

tals including Jinnah Hospital, Services Hospital, Lahore General Hospital and Mayo Hospital while paramedical staff from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital not only refused to perform their duties in OPD but also indoor medical facilities also suspended due to the strike.

More than 139 paramedical staff members and other technical staff members from different categories belonging to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital were also a part of the sit-in.

The protesters demanded their rights and implementation of service structure in SGRH as other teaching hospitals already issued notification for service structure for Grade 5 to 17. The protesters also demanded for notification of regularization of Board of Management class four employees.

While talking to the Frontier Post, PPA Chairman Malik Munir said that their basic demands are the implementation of service structure for the health support staff from Grade one to four and five to 17 because old staffs do not fall in the implementation of new service structure which is totally injustice with us. “Paramedics from Grade five to 17 would be awarded with Health professional Risk allowance as doctors and nurses are being paid by the Health Department” he added.

Malik said that the Health Department should regularize all workers appointed under Board of Management rules while daily wages and work charge workers’ regularization is their basis right.

Issuance of Bardana to begin within few days

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Depart-

ment is ready to kick off wheat procurement drive for the current season and issuance of `Bardana' (empty bags) will be started within next couple of days.

Talking to journalists on Monday, Deputy Director Wheat Purchase Amir Muhammad Barmani said that Issuance of Bardana would hopefully start from Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan districts from April 23-24 on the basis of suitable weather conditions and on the report of DCOs concerned that wheat harvesting had started there and required quantity of marketable wheat was available.

He said that a tentative date of April 20 was announced for issuance of Bardana which was being finalized. He said that season's impact had delayed wheat harvesting but even then issuance of Bardana was not being delayed. "Practically the issuance of Bardana is started from 3rd week of April every year", he said.

He said that the Food department would procure 4 million ton of wheat at the rate of Rs 1300 per 40 Kg from the growers. He said the procurement

process starts from Southern districts to Northern districts of the province with a gap of `one and two days per district' due to weather conditions.

He said that 8 jute bags or 16 PP bags would be entitlement of growers against one acre of wheat field. Bardana will be issued on the principle of `first come first served' basis with maximum limit of 200 jute bags (100Kg) or 400 PP bags (50Kg) in one go. In case the entitlement of a grower is more than 200 jute bags or 400 PP bags then further bags would be issued to the farmers after they bring back the first consignment and so on but not before a fortnight.

The food department official further said that an officer of Grade 16/17 having experience of wheat procurement would be appointed by the DCO at each procurement centre as coordinator. Recommendations of Revenue staff on the basis of `Girdawari' of wheat will be needed for issuance of Bardana, he said. Bardana upto 50 jute bags of 100 Kg or 100 PP bags of Kg may be issued on personal surety of Numberdar or any gazetted officer, he added. —APP

a woman sits behind a man on a motorcycle holding a fan to deal with the rising temperature. —mohsin raza

Railways to recruit 120 through PSC exams STAFF REPORT LAHORE: Pakistan Railway Director

General Education Dr Farhan Ebadat Yar Khan said on Monday they require more than 120 people but to ensure transparency in the selection process they will select candidates through Public Service Commission exams after the ban is removed from government jobs.

Responding to a question of the stan-

dard of education he said last year their student Suman Sajjad got 1040/1100 and was one of the top ten students in board, adding previous year’s result was more than 90% percent. He said that comparing the education standard of the Railway Employees’ children with Army Public School students is totally injustice because they don’t have huge funds like Army Public Schools.

He said that their education is welfare based because there was no sense of

profit making and commercialization in their schools, “because we charge Rs 60 as fee from the children of railway’s employees while the children of non railway employees are charged Rs 660 only per month.”

The Director General said that Pakistan railway schools have good security measures, as they have deployed security guards, snipers, and policemen. He said there was a high wall and barbwire were placed,

adding that CCTV Cameras were also installed.

Dr Farhan said that they arrange sports classes for the students, and there is a separate coach for every sport who trains students professionally and tries to infuse in them sportsman spirit. He said that these activities keep the students physically and mentally strong.

He said they are providing pick and drop facilities to the students and single penny is not charged from them.

LDA auctions 11 Visit to strengthen plots at Rs 41 million Sino-Pak ties: Ashrafi LAHORE: A total of 11 plots, including 10

commercial and one residential, were auctioned by the Lahore Development Authority against a sum of Rs 41.57 million on Monday.

Maximum bid was offered for corner plot No. 797-H, situated in block G-4 of Johar Town, measuring 38.40 square meters, which was auctioned at Rs 6.246 million. Its bid starting price had been fixed as Rs 2 million per marla whereas it was auctioned at Rs 3.4 million per marla. A total of 39 bidders had deposited the earnest money for participating in the open auction which was held at LDA Community Centre, 239-A, New Muslim Town.

Severe competition was observed on the occasion as the competitors enthusiastically offered their bids. Per marla base price of these plots had been estimated by the approved Evaluators of the State Bank of Pakistan. —APP

LAHORE: Pakistan Ulema Council central chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi has said that visit of Chinese president to Pakistan will further strengthen Pak-China relationship.

In a statement on Monday, he said that China and Saudi Arabia friendship had significant importance in the foreign policy of Pakistan.

He said the visit and agreements in different sectors including energy and transport showed a sound relationship of China and Pakistan.

Ashrafi said Saudi Arabia and China always supported Pakistan in hard time and Pakistan would never leave these countries alone in any difficult times.

Jahangir badr, Dr mehdi hassan, Farkuh suhail Gondi, abdul Qadir shaheen Terming the visit of Prime Minister and mian Jameel akhtar at a seminar held by Paksitan People’s Party Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to Saudi Ara- human rights wing on Zulifqar ali bhutto’s thoughts. —FP Photo bia as a good gesture, he said the visit would help to remove misunderstandings among the two brotherly countries. —APP

TEVTA to train 450 students

STAFF REPORT

students protest against the higher education Commission as they appeal to the Punjab Chief minister to get them the promised laptops. —Zubair mehfooz

LAHORE: Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) will train 450 students in selected institutes under Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme across the province of the Punjab in collaboration with The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC).

According to details, the duration of the courses offered in institutes is six months which include Motor Winding, General Electrician, Electrician, CCA, HVACR, Tailoring/ Dress Making, Machinist, Auto CAD, Welder. Every trainee will get a monthly stipend of Rs. 2000 per month.

Chairperson TEVTA Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that this training is the extension of Phase-I in which TEVTA has already trained more than 4600 students. He was addressing a meeting at TEVTA Secretariat here on Monday.

Chief Operating Officer Jawad Ahmed Qureshi, General Manager (Operations) TEVTA Hamid Ghani Anjum and others officers were also present on this occasion.

Irfan Qaiser Shaikh said that TEVTA has identified seven institutes which include Govt. Technical Training Institute, Sargodha, Govt. Technical Training Center Kanganpur, Govt. Technical Training Center Dinga, Govt. Vocational Training Institute (Women),

ABAD D.G.Khan, Govt. Technical Training Institute Kamalia, Center for Agricultural Machinery and Industries (CAMI) Mian Channu.

He said that the aim of Prime Minister’s Youth Skills Development Scheme was to provide technical training to unemployed youth of the Punjab province. He said that middle pass candidate having age upto 25 years are be eligible to get admission in Prime Minister's Youth Skills Development Scheme. This training will enable them to improve their living standards, he added.

Irfan said that more than 60,000 students will be given skilled training through short courses during the year.

He said that TEVTA is also planning to offer Information Technology related courses to the students who will be admitted in second phase of short courses. He said that necessary arrangements are being made to collaborate with Microsoft to introduce I.T. courses. “In past, there was no system to place skilled manpower in the industry due to which, most of the TEVTA pass outs were unemployed,” he added.

Chairperson said that TEVTA recently established foreign placement center to assist its pass-outs to get job in foreign countries. He also showed his deep interest in the curriculum, text books, and encyclopedia for children, research division and the courses prepared for understanding Quran.

LAHORE

B2 Sarwar wants crop payment to farmers on time LAHORE: Pakistan

Tehreek-e-Insaf Core Committee Member Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said that farmers are not being paid on time by the government hence they are not able to prepare for their next crop.

Talking to a delegation representing small farmers and agriculturists in Lahore on Monday, Sarwar said that the government’s role is to promote Pakistan’s economy and facilitate the farmers and agriculturists but instead it is impeding the farmers and the growth of agriculture in Pakistan.

Pakistan is an agrarian state and 44percent of its workforce is related to agriculture. Agriculture is the backbone of economy and the government today seems to be bent in destroying this backbone. Sugar cane growers are also treated unfairly where they are made to wait for their payments which benefits the sugar mill owners and tycoons but harms the poor growers. The government is doing the same to the wheat, cotton and fruit growers - they are not being paid on time hence they are not able to prepare for their next crop. The government continues to chant slogans of good governance however the treatment of the farmers and daily wage earners goes against this.

The Government allowed imports of 7 lakh tonnes of wheat from Russia and

Ukraine - harming and undermining Pakistan’s farmers and Pakistan’s wheat. The wheat that was imported was substandard and the Government manipulatively processed the wheat into flour and exported that at a subsidy of $55 per tonne. So we have actually taken the tax payers money and subsidised sub-standard wheat and no one has been held accountable for this loss to the exchequer.

Instead of importing wheat the government should provide subsidies to the farmers for seed purchase and electricity usage.

During a meeting with the farmers and PTI ticket holder Rao Mustafa, Sarwar said that the Government should be introducing best practices and should facilitate the farmers by introducing pro agriculture policies and subsidies. The common man is left at mercy of the feudals, landlords and the elite. In Punjab it is the farmer’s dream to sell wheat at Rs 1300 per maude. The farmers have always been mistreated and not been given their just dues. All over the world, people holding Government portfolios are not allowed to engage in all Pakistan waPDa hydero electric workers Union protest against rising inflation and load-shedding in the country. —Zubair mehfooz businesses or trading activity due to conflict of interest. However in Pakistan, the majority of people running businesses and mills are those who hold a Government office. —FP Monitoring

Minister wants health reforms a success

84 FIRs registered for violating anti-dengue laws LAHORE: EDO Health Lahore got

registered 84 FIRs on the violation of Dengue Regulations during the current month, an official said on Monday.

The official on the condition of anonymity said that biological and chemical control methods are being used for elimination of reported dengue larvae.

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

He said that private hospitals are not extending cooperation in providing information about dengue cases.

The official said all authorities concerned have been directed to continue anti-dengue activities according to SOPs. He further directed them that special attention should be paid to dengue surveillance in remote areas. —FP Monitoring

STAFF REPORT LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Law,

Excise & Taxation and Finance, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman said that under Punjab Health Reforms Roadmap, the government is providing quality health facilities to the masses and asked all stakeholders to make this programme successful.

Talking to delegations of doctors on Monday, the minister said that target has been fixed for provision of modern health facilities to the people in basic health centres whereas medical facilities to the patients round the clock in 700 basic health centers would be ensured till May this year.

He said that there would be coexist, indirect and competition with children from India and China, whereas, China is mining talent from 80-90%, India from 50% and we must do everything for the welfare of our young generation.

MA/MSc Part-II examinations from June 9 STAFF REPORT

Punjab University’s MA/MSc Part-II annual examination 2015 and MA Education (Elementary/Secondary/General/) supplementary examination 2014 & annual examination 2015 will commence from 9-6-15 and 11-615 respectively. Details are also at PU website sakhi sultan baba Jani sarkar addresses his followers at a religious available gathering in lahore. www.pu.edu.pk.

LAHORE:

He said that our children may enrich with education and habit of hard work therefore parents and teachers have to play basic role in this regard. He maintained that our country of 190 million people has a vibrant economy, and our majority population is under 20 and this makes South Asia as the only large economic area that shall not face a decline in the number of people entering the labour force for the next 50 years, whereas, future is ours. He said, therefore, we have to provide state-ofthe-art healthcare facilities to our younger generation in particular and to the public in general. He said that government is establishing medical institutes for the state of the art treatment facilities of fatal diseases.

Mujtaba said that additional grant will be provided for making high-tech Punjab Institute of Nearue Sciences (INS) operational, whereas, Rs.650 million is being spent during current

fiscal year and emergency ward of the INS will shortly be made operational.

He said that government would establish state of the art Punjab Institute of Nearue Sciences (INS) with a cost of Rs.2745 million. He further told that 50 acres land at Burkey road & required funds were being provided for construction of state of the art kidney and liver transplant institute.

He said that government has provided extra Rs. 2 billion for the control of communicable diseases whereas, government has also increased 19.8% budget for ongoing expenditure for health sector. He said that government has reserved Rs.2 billion to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs).

He told that DFID Michael Barber has said that encouraging results are being witnessed in health sector under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and public health facilities are im-

proving in the province and DFID team has also appreciated the steps taken by Punjab government for the coverage of immunization programme of children.

Mujtaba said that focus of the Provincial Government is upon Primary and Protective Health Care so that to achieve the millennium Development Goals (MDGs). He said that by increasing the health budget up to 121.80 billion rupees, the present government has ensured modern health facilities and free medicines as well as airconditioning in general wards to poor and resource-less people.

He told that with a cost or Rs.4 billion health insurance card will be issued so that to provide state of the art healthcare facilities even in private health institutions to the poor card holder patients. He said that Rs.60 crore has been reserved for dialysis facilities to the poor kidney patients and Rs. One billion has been provided for mobile health units.

Traders welcome power generation agreements with China

LAHORE: The traders of Lahore on

Monday welcomed the signing of historic agreements worth about $ 46 billion with most trusted friendly country of China and expressed hope that existing ties between China and Pakistan will further strengthen, touching new heights.

The on-going visit of President of China will open diverse vistas of progress and prosperity for Pakistan as China had always been time tested and most trustworthy friend of Pakistan, said Nadeem Butt, traders’ leader of Shah Alam mar-

ket during a survey on Monday.

Referring to the agreements signed between both the countries, another trader Umair Haq said, these include sectors like, energy production and construction of economic corridor infrastructure and these projects would help usher Pakistan in to economic revolution.

He said both the countries enjoy most cordial and trusted relations and these will continue to flourish further with the passage of time.

He pointed out that energy agreements also include the projects where-

by around 16,400 MW of power would be generated through various means, like gas, coal, wind and solar.

He said that China would also construct road and rail links from Gwadar Port to China as part of Pak-China economic corridor.

He said that the export volume between both the countries was around $ 2 billion in 2007 and the same had increased to US $ 10 in the last fiscal. The export volume will further after this historic visit of President of China, Umair said. —FP Monitoring

141 degrees and 34 gold medals awarded to postgraduates STAFF REPORT LAHORE: 6th Convocation of Post Grad-

uate Medical Institute (PGMI) held at a local hotel and awarded students with best performance were awarded with gold medals and degrees. Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafiq was the guest of honour who distributed degrees among the student VC University of Health Sciences Dr Muhammad Aslam, Principal PGMI Prof. Anjum Habib Vohra, Chairman Board of Management Gen.(R) Zia-udDin Butt, faculty members, retired and in-service principals of different medical colleges, superintendents of the hospitals, students and their parents were present on this occasion.

While talking to the convocation ceremony, Khawaja Salman Rafiq said that the focus of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and provincial government is in providing best treatment facilities to the patients and revolutionary steps are being taken for this purpose. He said that nurses are an important pillar of healthcare system and government is taking various steps for their welfare including conversion of nursing schools into colleges and revision of curriculum.

Salman said that PML-N government believes in practical measures instead of slogans and the steps taken for the upgradation of healthcare system are unprecedented. He said that government has provided a solid base for the development of primary and secondary

healthcare. He said that reforms have been introduced at BHUs, THQs and DHQs hospitals through Chief Minister Health Roadmap. He said that special pay package has been offered to the specialized doctors for posting at THQs and DHQs hospitals. He said that these specialists would get upto Rs.1.5 lakh additional allowance during their posting in the said hospitals. He lauded the services of Prof. Anjum Habib Vohra as principal PGMI. He said that PGMI is pro-

viding opportunities to the doctors for research in different fields of medical sciences besides fulfilling the requirement of specialist doctors in the country. The Advisor said that Health Department is taking necessary steps to complete institute of neuro sciences at Lahore General Hospital; in this connection he himself attended meetings with the senior officers of C&W department.

Earlier, Principal Anjum Habib Vohra informed that PGMI is imparting diplo-

ma and degree courses in different subjects of medical sciences which included 34 degree courses and 12 diploma courses. He said that PGMI is not only fulfilling the needs of young doctors in Punjab but also providing specialist doctors to Sindh, KPK, Balochistan, Islamabad, FATA, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that students of different countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Arab countries are getting benefit from the teach-

ing and research facilities of PGMI. VC UHS Maj.Gen.(R) Dr. Muhammad Aslam said that high positions cannot be obtained through charity but it needs vigorous efforts and hardworking to achieve high goals in life. He said that the medical ethics in developed countries are changing and a paradigm shifting is in process. Today focus is not only on the rights of doctors but there is also awareness of rights of patients. He asked the degree holders that their new journey has

been started from today and their curiosity and research should be continued for the welfare of humanity. He emphasized the importance of role of nurses and paramedics in patients care and said that nurses and paramedics spend more time on patient care, therefore, government should pay attention for their welfare. Later, VC UHS and Advisor Kh. Salman Rafiq distributed degrees and gold medals among the postgraduate doctors.

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APRIL 21, 2015

BRIEF Blast damages railway track in Hyderabad

FATA/SINDH/BALOCHISTAN

Dumper-car collision kills nine in Karachi

LCCI demands train service between Karachi and Hub NAZIR H SIYAL KARACHI: The Lasbela Chamber of

HYDERABAD: A blast at railway

track in Hyderabad suspended rail service in many areas on Monday. Police sources said the blast occurred in Husainabad area and it damaged 1.5 feet up railway track. However, no loss of life has been reported. Police have cordoned off the area and launched search operation. –FP monitoring

Rangers, police submits case challans of Nine-Zero detainees

KARACHI: Police and Rangers submitted case challans of the suspects detained from Nine Zero in the court on Monday.

Rangers and police personnel submitted the case challans of Asif, Syed Abdul Haseeb, Faizan, Sajjad, Nauman, Zubair, Naeem, Rizwan and Tauseef in the court. As per police sources, the detainees were unable to present the official licenses of possessed weapons and Awan bombs. –FP Monitoring

Containers placed near Aisha Manzil removed KARACHI: Containers placed near

Aisha Manzil were removed after 11 hours from the procession place of Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaaf (PTI), on Monday. The party management made no immediate arrangements to remove the containers causing difficulties for the people as the routes going to Kareemabad and Liaquatabad were closed from Aisha Manzil for traffic. Moreover, alternate routes were also not announced by the traffic police due to which traffic pressure was increased in surrounding areas. –FP Monitoring

PMA stages protest over Mir Baksh abduction QUETTA: Doctors of Pakistan

Medical Association (PMA) on Monday staged a protest outside governmental hospitals over the abduction of Dr Mir Baksh. As per details, the doctors boycotted all the OPDs of hospitals and demanded to recover the kidnapped doctor within one week. They further warned of the government that they would halt ongoing measles and polio campaigns in case of not fulfilling their demands. –FP Monitoring

JI demands biometric machines again KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) head Siraj-ul-Haq again asked for the installation of biometric system for the by-elections of NA-246, on Monday. Haq said his party wants to see free and fair elections. “If government can carry out biometric verification of cellular phone SIMs across the country, why it can’t arrange biometric machines in one constituency,” he said. JI chief also urged the Mutahidda Quomi Movement’s supporters to give JI a chance in the byelection. “There is no war in NA246. We all are taking part in a friendly by-election,” he said. “If nation wants to bring about real change, it should change the existing leadership,” he said.

The JI chief has urged the nation to learn from the experience of developed countries.

“Corrupt politics and country cannot go along,” he said. On the other hand, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ruled out the possibility of using biometric machines in NA-246.

It, however, agreed on use of cameras. The ECP has ordered local administration to install CCTV cameras at polling stations. –FP Monitoring

KaraChI: At least nine people got killed when a speedy dumper collided with the car in Baldia Town’s area in Karachi, on Monday. according to details, the family was returning from shah Noorani mazar in hub when an oncoming fast dumper hit the car claiming the lives of nine people whereas two were miraculously saved and are in injured condition. The two children were shifted to civil hospital for medical assistance whereas the dead bodies were shifted to edhi morgue from where the relatives have taken the bodies to their village in edhi ambulance. moreover, no administration official has yet reached the scene. —FP monitoring

Wanted terrorist arrested

by Shikarpur police WAHEED PHULPOTO SHIKARPUR: Under the supervision of

Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Shikarpur Saqib Ismail Memon, the police party raided the hideouts of the terrorists on Monday and arrested one of the terrorists Zameer Marfani, who was wanted by police in Shikarpur bomb blast incident earlier this year.

About 65 innocent people were killed and more than 73 persons were injured in suicide bomb blast in Central Imambargah Masjid Karbla Moula on 30th January 2015.

The arrested terrorist Zameer Marfani has confessed that he was the informer and facilitator of the terrorists including Khalil Brohi, Ghulam Rasool Brohi, Ali Sher Brohi and others involved in Shikarpur carnage. He also confessed that involvement in two more incidents of bomb blasts on Hajan Shah Marri Waro and Syed Hussain Shah of Kambar Sharif.

Further investigation is in progress.

Two killed, three injured in road accident: Two people including a woman were killed while three others received serious injuries in a collision between a motorcycle and a truck on Shikarpur-Jacobabad National Highway road near Abidal Shaakh on Monday. Mrs. Iqbal of 50, and Abid Bhutto of 40, residents of Thull District Jacobabad were killed on the spot while three of their relatives including Nasir Bhutto, Shaharbano and Komil were seriously injured when a speedy truck coming from opposite direction collided with a motorcycle on which the victims were ridding.

The injured were referred to Sultankot Hospital and Larkana Hospital for medical treatment. The dead bodies were handed over to the heirs of the deceased after conducting post-mortem examination from Civil Hospital Shikarpur. Area Police Officials (APOs) have taken the truck in their custody while the truck driver escaped from the place of incident.

3 TTP terrorists sentenced 14-year imprisonment

KARACHI: An

anti-terrorism court (ATC) sentenced three Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) men to 14 years in prison on Monday.

Accused Ahmed Hassan, Syed Altaf and Naeem Khan were presented in

an anti-terrorism court over the charges of carrying unlicensed weapons and explosives. The ATC sentenced three accused to 14-year imprisonment each after finding them guilty of the offence. –FP Monitoring

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Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Monday demanded the Minister of Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafiq to order work on laying railway lines between Karachi and Hub in order to facilitate about 50000 daily commuters between the two cities.

On the occasion of Chinese President's visit to Pakistan, the President LCCI, Yakoob Karim said that multi-billion dollar projects are being executed in the region with the support of China in laying railway tracks whereas provision of other infrastructural facilities are being ignored. He said that introducing railway link between the two strategically important cities would also generate Pakistan Railways' income significantly as about 50000 passengers, mostly skilled labour work in Hub industrial area commute to Lasbela on daily basis.

He said that considering the importance of Lasbela District due to its being the gateway to the Free Port of Gwadar,

the Lasbela Chamber had proposed to the Ministry of Railways for laying a railway track from Karachi to Hub and starting a passenger and goods train to facilitate the industries to reduce the cost of transportation of their workers and goods, thus reducing their cost of production.

The railway authorities took up this proposal very seriously and an interdepartmental committee comprising the representatives of Railway, LIEDA and the LCCI was formed to study the technical and commercial aspects of the project. The LCCI provided the necessary commercial and industrial data to railway for their assistance in developing the feasibility. Since then no progress has been made by the railway authorities.

The Chamber is confident that the start of train service between Karachi and Hub, Lasbela would provide an incentive for local and foreign investors to set up their commercial and industrial units in this region. He said that present minister for railways should take the lead to execute the historic project.

PPP-SB, NWA and growers protest against food inspectors ABID ALI SOLANGI DADU: Activists of Pakistan People’s Party Shaheed Bhutto (PPP-SB), Nojawan Welfare Association (NWA) and wheat-growers of union council Yar Muhammad Kalhoro held demonstration outside press club on Monday to protest against the alleged embezzlement and sale of gunny bags to traders by Food Inspectors.

Activists carrying banners and placards marched in streets and roads and staged demonstration outside the press club. They raised slogans against the Food Inspector. The protest was led by Bashir Solangi, Saddique

Jokhio, Mujeeb Panhwer and Tarique Panhwer.

Annual Railway Convention held in Dadu: Annual Railway Convention (ARC) was held on Monday, where union workers warned that they would go on strike if their genuine demands were not fulfilled.

The ARC was attended by huge number of railway workers and union workers including Muhammad Junaid Awan, Khalid Hussain Bhand and Mumtaz Solangi.

Speakers on that occasion said that railway workers work day and night with low salaries on railways tracks in order to run railway system smoothly

across the country but government was neither providing any travelling facility nor health & education facility for their children. They said that Federal minister for Finance, Ishaque Dar booked luxury hotel in Dubai for his son but he could not provide good packages for railway workers.

They demanded the Prime minister, Finance minister and Federal minister for Railway to take notice of their genuine demands and order concerned authorities to solve their problems. Union workers warned if their genuine demands were not fulfilled, they would go on strike and block the railway tracks across the county.

CCTV cameras to be installed at NA-246 polling stations

KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ordered the authorities concerned on Monday to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at all polling stations for the upcoming by-election in NA-246 constituency of the city.

The by-polls are scheduled for April 23 (Thursday). The National Assembly seat fell vacant following resignation of Nabil Gabol earlier in February. Gabol was elected from the Azizabad constituency in the 2013 general elections on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ticket.

Police have also requested the provincial home department Meanwhile, the elections commission has also directed to ban pillion riding in the city to thwart any untoward in- Presiding Officers to report at their designated polling stacident citing security risks for the by-polls. tions a day ahead of the by-election. –FP Monitoring

Merger with KPK or separate province for tribesmen AHMAD NABI KHYBER AGENCY: There have been dis-

cussions for a long time among the intellectuals and political parties in the tribal belt regarding the future status of FATA. The tribal belt should be granted position of separate province or merging in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) would be more useful for the tribesmen.

When lecturer in Political Science department, University of Peshawar, Madam Noreen was asked for her expert opinion on the question, she suggested an imposition of sub-structure system that can run the local government in the tribal belt. However, she said the sub-structure system should be formed through free and fair election.

It should act without the impact of political agent and work for the welfare of the tribesmen. The elected body should have an authority to seek information about tribal belt business including monetary matters. When the system is activated in the tribal areas, then the decision making authority should be rested with the tribal people to choose either merging in KPK or a separate province is useful for them.

Ex-MNA and leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Fata Akhundzada Chattan said, “An autonomous council on FATA level should set-up and the decision should be made by it to join the KPK province or comprise a separate province keeping in view willing-

ness of the dwellers of tribal belt.”

President Fata lawyers’ forum, Ijaz Mohmand said that merging in KPK is better than a formation of separate province of tribal areas. Justifying his opinion he said after mixing in the province, the tribesmen would have a significant majority in the provincial assembly and beside with legal gains, the tribesmen would collect all human and political rights that the rest of population enjoy in parts of KPK. Counting demerits of a separate province of FATA he said, the tribal would not be enough capable to eliminate criminal elements inside them and to curtain any foreign offense against Fata province. Pak-Afghan route is the main source of business for KPK and FATA and through it they can invade markets of Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, and said the hided minerals in FATA can be hunted and utilised usefully for the welfare of the masses when the tribal areas merge in KPK. The Pak-Afghan People Forum, FATA chairman, Iqbal Khyberwal was asked for his opinion on the matter he neither favour a separate province for the tribal nor joining KPK but suggested a grand council that should run the business of the government. He said the tribesmen are against in implementation of police and Kachehri system in their areas therefore he proposed formation of councils on tehsil, agency and on FATA level to carry out all the gov-

ernance routine activities. It would be a temporary set up to avoid any administrative or legal vacuum and then decide the grand council of FATA of its future keeping in view the wishes of the tribesmen.

When Tribal Union of Journalist (TUJ) founder and senior tribal journalist Sailaab Mehsud was asked for

his opinion weather integration with KPK or separate province is useful for the tribesmen he said, if the government seriously and in real sense grant the tribal regions a status of province with all its autonomy then pursue the hided minerals in the tribal belt will not only make the tribal province economically prosperous but will

cause add to the national exchequer.

In case of giving nominal powers to the separate tribal province than union with KPK is much better under certain conditions like governor or chief minister of the KPK should be from Fata and all incentives benefited the people of settle should be awarded to the tribesmen.

B4

BRIEF ‘US, regional countries against AfghanistanIran friendship’ TEHRAN: Ayatullah Ali

Khemenei, supreme leader of Iran says that America and some regional countries are against the friendly relationship between Afghanistan and Iran.

Khemenei in a meeting with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in Tehran said that Afghanistan is going onwards development, adding that the security and development of Afghanistan is the security and development of Iran. IRNA the official news agency of Iran states that both leaders in the meeting held Sunday afternoon stressed that issues between the two countries including Water, transit and refugees can be resolved. —FP Monitoring

Three people killed, 11 others wounded in Laskhkargah attack

LASKHKARGAH: Three people were

killed and 11 others sustained injuries during a coordinated attack at the police station of Lashkargah’s first police district last night. Nabi Jan Mullahkhil, police chief of southern Helmand province said the attack took longer because security forces were very carefully acting during the attack. He said that the attack started with a suicide attack at the gate of the police station after which another militant entered the police station and began a gun battle with security forces but he was also killed during the clash. —FP Monitoring

2 soldiers, 4 militants killed in operations KABUL: General Zahir Azimi,

spokesman for the Ministry of Defence says that two soldiers from Afghan National Army embraced martyrdom due to enemy actions in past 24 hours.

A statement issued Monday morning by Azimi does not specify the location of the enemy actions. The statement adds that four militants were also killed in military actions in eastern Laghman province in past 24 hours.

Eight other insurgents were also wounded and 26 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were discovered and defused by the security forces. —FP Monitoring

19 de-miners kidnapped in Paktia PAKTIA: Unknown gunmen kidnapped 19 workers of a de-mining organization in Paktia province yesterday. Abdul Wali Sahi, Deputy Governor of Paktia province says that the 19 deminers were cleaning an area off explosive devices in the jurisdiction of Zurmat District when unidentified gunmen attacked them and took them to an unknown location. Kidnappers have also taken four vehicles and other equipments belonging to the de-miners. The company is reported to be an American company but the workers kidnapped are Afghans. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the kidnapping nor is the motive behind the kidnapping identified. —FP Monitoring

Police chief concerned over Uzbek terrorists JOWZJAN: Jowzjan police chief said Monday local officials were concerned that a number of Uzbek insurgents, along with their families, have moved into the area after being ousted from other provinces in the country.

The police chief Gen. Faqir Muhammad Jowzjani said the group is believed to have been active in Faryab province previously, but now, following security force operations in that area, the insurgents have relocated their families to some districts in Jowzjan province. —FP Monitoring

AFGHANISTAN/IRAN

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

Kabul orphanage gets new nursery with Afghan lawmaker’s support KABUL: The newly renovated nursery was inaugurated orphan children kept at Alauddin Orphanage House in capital Kabul on Sunday.

The nursery was rehabilitated with the support of Afghan lawmaker Farkhunda Zahra Naderi and was presented to children under six years of age on the occasion of her birthday.

A number of the lawmakers including Dr. Nilofar Ibrahimi and Raihana Azad along with advisor for the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Humaira Qaderi and Atiullah Wahaj head of the orphanages solidarity and coordination center.

The nursery has been equipped with standard equipment and was handed over to the relevant authority for use to educate the children living in the orphanage house.

Ms Naderi has been visiting Alauddin orphanage house during the recent years in a bid to take part and assist with the construction and reconstruction works parts of the orphanage Around 250 children are kept in The orphanage houses are operating Labour and Social Affairs house requires.

Alauddin orphanage house in Kabul. under the umbrella of the Ministry of Afghanistan. —FP Monitoring

Ghani seeks Chinese support for Silk Road KABUL: President Ashraf Ghani and the

Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) have indicated a delegation from China is expected in Kabul next week in order to discuss plans to construct a new Silk Road between the two countries.

Efforts at economic integration and trade development in the region have been initiated under the heading of the Silk Road project since 2002, yet construction of the main road that will connect remote areas of Badakhshan province to Xiangyang province in China has only just begun. So far 44 km of the road has been built with aid from the Asian Development Bank, and another 108 km will also be paid for by the bank, with the road eventually stretching from Baharak to Ishkashem.

The remaining 380 km of the road will pass through some of the most inhospitable terrain in Badakhshan province, which will be more expensive to build, but President Ghani has indicated China is open to providing funds for it. —FP Monitoring

KABUL: A radio has published a report stating that Daesh and Taliban group have announced Jihad against each other.

Nabi Jan Mullahkhil, police chief of southern Helmand province has told the radio during an interview that he has received documents in which both the terrorist groups have announced Jihad against each other.

The radio quotes Mullahkhil as saying when the matter of peace talks between government and Taliban comes into discussion some intelligence agencies make new groups to keep the war ongoing in Afghanistan.

Reports of minor clashes between the fighters of Taliban group and the newly emerged Daesh have published in the past. Both groups oppose each other.

Abdu Bakar Al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS has called Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar “a fool and ilin literate warlord”. Al-Baghdadi has said that Mullah Omar does not deserve a spiritual or political credibility. While on the other hand Taliban fighters have been ordered by their leaders not to let Daesh flag raise in Afghanistan. —FP Monitoring

Senate grills security officials over recent violence

The Minister of Interior, Deputy Director of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and Deputy Chief of Army Staff were invited to the Senate to answer questions about the recent wave of deadly attacks that has swept the country in recent weeks.

Minister of Interior Nur-ul-Haq Ulumi was the first to acknowledge neglect on the part of some of the security forces, but assured that all together they would not hesitate to destroy the enemy. "The security forces have been ordered to kill as many anti-government armed forces as Afghan forces are killed and no mercy will be shown," Ulumi said.

He added that immediate reforms are being pursued within the Ministry of Interior. "We have started to bring changes to the Police Commands; for example, we fired the Ghazni police chief because he had come to Kabul and gone abroad without cooperating with us," KABUL:

Ulumi said. "His file has been sent to the Attorney General's office and someone else will be appointed to the position instead of him," he continued.

General Murad Ali Murad, the Deputy Chief of Army Staff, recognized significant challenges facing the Afghan military. "Enemy activities have increased, and the upcoming year will be a difficult year for us," Gen. Murad told the Senators on Saturday. The general also emphasized that internal and ethnic disagreements pose a more difficult challenge than anti-government armed forces in many parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Hesamuddin Hesam, the Deputy Director of the NDS, assured the Senators that progress was being made, despite how things may seem on the surface. "Despite some neglect that we have had recently, we have had achievements, too," Hesam said on Saturday.

"We have arrested seven suicide

ISIS, Taliban announce ‘jihad’ against each other

Mohammad Nabi quits as cricket team captain

bombers in a week."

And yet, the responses provided by the top security officials were by and large unacceptable to the lawmakers of the Upper House, who accused the National Unity Government of letting petty politics threaten national security.

"The president is a very unprofessional and inexperienced individual," Senator Zalmai Zabuli said.

"Who answers for all the killings that happen every day?" Senator Gul Ahmad Azami asked. "Has the son of an MP or Minister been killed so far?" Senator Farhad Sakhi suggested President Ashraf Ghani would have been wise to stall his trip to Iran and come to Parliament to answer for all of the violence and turmoil of the past couple weeks. "I wish the Commander-in-Chief was in the Senate today with his cabinet to answer and KABUL: Mohammad Nabi Eisakhil wouldn't have gone to Iran to be deceived captain of the national cricket team of again," Sakhi said. —FP Monitoring Afghanistan officially resigned from his post on Monday.

Eisakhil told a press conference in Kabul that the resignation does not mean he is leaving the team.

He said he after this he will continue to play as a normal player and share the experience with other players that he has received during the captaincy.

Mohammad Nabi Eisakhil who had been the captain of Afghanistan’s cricket team from the past two years told reporters that during the captaincy he was under severe pressure which had affected his playing.

He said: “At the time when I was offered, I accepted the captaincy for Afghanistan’s cricket team. During my captaincy we won several matches and qualified for world cup.”

Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Nasimullah Danish praised the efforts of Eisakhil and said that he is not only a good captain but also a distinguished player. Danish said that Eisakhil made the decision willingly and that he wants to continue to play as a normal player for the cricket team. —FP Monitoring

Tehran, Caracas share anti-bullying policies: Zarif

TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister

Mohammad Javad Zarif has condemned the United States for declaring Venezuela a threat to its national security, saying Tehran and Caracas have adopted similar policies in countering threats and use of force.

“Regarding Venezuela’s [non-permanent] membership in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the pressing challenges facing the region, Tehran and Caracas have [adopted] common policies in opposing [the use of] force and bullying approaches,” Zarif said in a joint press conference with his Venezuelan counterpart Delcy Rodriguez in Tehran on Monday.

Earlier in March, US President Barack Obama signed an order to impose new sanctions on Venezuela, labeling the country an “extraordinary threat to national security.”

KABUL: Usually the most indenting

vicissitudes on embodying someone’s legacy that elongate towards immortality usually stems from their absence. Thus is the case with Former President Hamid Karzai, his departure from government reflected his respect for the Afghan constitution and reflected many other admirable traits he withholds.

Hamid Karzai’s voice, I would imagine was undoubtedly the sound of the most joyful man in the world when he received the phone call from an American CIA agent that he will be the Chairman of the Transitional Government. If his legacy as Chairman does not manifest itself into the immortal pages of history, then his time as President unquestionably should. From the time of his initiation into the Presidency, he grilled at the notion of Gul Agha Sherzai becoming Governor. This converged a tradition of regional

The Iranian foreign minister said that Venezuelan people like the Iranian nation have stood up to foreign threats.

Also underlining the necessity of coordination between Tehran and Caracas on oil policies, Zarif said that he and his Venezuelan counterpart had held discussion in that respect.

Zarif also noted that cooperation between Iran, Venezuela and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is an important factor for the stability of the oil market. Both Iran and Venezuela are OPEC member states.

Rodriguez, for her part, called for the further enhancement of bilateral relations between Iran and Venezuela, hoping that Tehran-Caracas cooperation would serve the interests of both countries. —FP Monitoring

Karzai’s legacy thus far

strongmen becoming government officials. Imagining Karzai persisting to not have Gul Agha Sherzai as governor of Kandahar may have not paved the road for other regional strongmen to become government officials. A struggle, Afghanistan has till this very day.

Nevertheless, Karzai’s yearn for peace and stability always connived itself into his politics. Kandahar hadn’t fallen yet, but already he portrayed the blueprints of his politics.

Karzai’s love for the land showcased in his relationship with Pakistan, a relationship of constant mistrust, a rehearsing history Afghanistan has had with Pakistan since 1947, composed of constant paranoia among two nations transgressing to the death of millions. Therefore foreign policy with Pakistan was simply simple; don’t trust them. However Pakistan is not half away across the world, his stance against Pakistan epitomized Karzai’s

belief in Afghan institutions, armed forces and notably the Afghan people to not become a commission of antigovernment forces aligning with Pakistan. History tells us otherwise, more often than not the people of Afghanistan end up revolting against the government. But this time I believe his trust proved him right, 2006 was one of the safest years of the post-Taliban Afghan state.

Some criticize his donative view on power and high government positions to Regional Strongmen and Warlords whether it be in the provincial or national level. His outlook was predicated from the measure of value these Regional Strongmen brought to the table.

The security factor infiltrated itself as a major source of value to Karzai. He needed security to give the people of Afghanistan peace. Peace always has a price and in this case it was having these particular Regional Strongmen in

government positions. Resultantly, Balkh and Kandahar enjoys more peace than the Capital.

Another influence, were the Americans on Karzai’s stance on the Strongmen. On the eve of the fall of the Taliban, mental skirmishes within the CIA caused Karzai to compromise.

The Northern Alliance was advancing in a swift manner compared to the Southern contingents. This controlled Afghan led invasion initiated political frustration that still troubles Afghanistan to this very day. Karzai’s outlook became all the more comprisable, but his knack at looking at the bigger picture prevailed, which was keeping the peace.

His approach became almost robotic throughout the years as head of state. Cater to the Strongmen and Warlords by overlooking corruption and in trade have amity. Using exactly the right amount of balance to keep

everyone content came from his experience. Still managing to build a country from scratch while the world watching, flagranted his brilliance.

The balance of keeping everyone content was tested by the Bilateral Security Agreement. His refusal to sign soured relationships between the Afghan and American governments was a calculated move and was basically asking America; so what’s in it for us?

Long term American presence in one of the world’s most strategic areas, is of American interests not Afghanistan’s, from a long term perspective. Karzai held off to not sign until the newly elected government formed. Since signing the Bilateral Security Agreement by the NUG, security has worsened, proving Karzai’s position on the BSA as vindicated and empathetic to Afghanistan’s deeper interest. While most were mesmerized by the illusion of what the BSA would have brought. —FP Monitoring

SPORTS

www.thefrontierpost.pk

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

ABDUL RAZZAQ BECOMES COACH OF BLIND CRICKET TEAM ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) Syed Sultan Shah has appointed Abdul Razzaq the coach of Pakistan Blind Cricket team. He has been appointed till the Twenty-20 World Cup to be played in India in November 2016, said a statement issued on Monday. His immediate assignment is to prepare the team for the forthcoming Asia Cup T-20 Blind Cricket (May 2015). —FP Monitoring

C1

FOOTBALL: GUARDIOLA PLEDGES NEXT SEASON TO BAYERN MUNICH: Pep Guardiola insists he will remain Bayern Munich's coach next season amidst reports he is set to take over at Manchester City when his current contract expires in June 2016. "My future is: Wednesday free, Thursday training, and, of course, next year to be here. That's my future," said Guardiola when asked about his plans on Monday. Over the weekend, ex-England midfielder Paul Scholes claimed Guardiola will take over as City boss when his Bayern contract expires with current coach Manuel Pellegrini under severe pressure after a slump in form. —FP Monitoring

We didn't expect to lose against Bangladesh: Azhar Ali

MIRPUR: Bangladesh clinched a historic

first ever one-day series win over Pakistan with an emphatic seven-wicket victory in the second of the threematch ODI series in Dhaka on Sunday.

The new-look Pakistan, with just four World Cuppers in their ranks and led for the first time in a series by Azhar Ali, needed a massive improvement after their 79-run defeat in Friday's opening match. But a toporder collapse pushed them into a corner and left the tourists seeking a consolation win in the third and final match at the same Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday. A dejected Ali asked his team to stand up but at the same time doesn't expect quick results.

"It is a big blow for us. We are going through a rebuilding process. We have new guys in the team but we didn't expect to lose here. We wanted to win, but we didn't play good enough cricket," Ali was quoted as saying by espncricinfo.

He said Pakistan were 60 runs short of a good score after winning the toss on a good batting turf. "I think the wicket was good. I think we lost wickets at bad times, very quickly to start with. I think the wicket was easily 300-plus. It was coming onto the bat. We didn't play well."

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal struck his second consecutive century to guide his team to a historic series triumph against Pakistan. Ali also rued the team's below-par bowling and said his bowlers could have made a better effort defending 239. Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan had given his team an early breakthrough by dismissing Soumya Sarkar on

17 but Tamim kept piling up the runs, denying the visitors any chance of dominating the game.

"When you go inside and have runs on the board, you have to believe. We had to believe with the bowlers we had. I think we could have made a better effort.

We definitely could have bowled better, 240 shouldn't have been allowed to be chased like this. Conditions were definitely different. In the World Cup we bowled really well. We haven't seen the yorkers which we generally bowl," Ali said.

Calling for an allround improvement from his team, Ali added: "We can't just put our head down.

Our heads should be up. We have got to work and play better cricket. We have to bat well, field well. It is a simple message that we have to improve in all three departments."

While praising Haris Sohail and Saad Nasim, Ali said individual performances can't win matches. "I think Haris batted really responsibly. Obviously the new guy Saad Nasim contributed really well. I think Wahab Riaz and Nasim made us come back in the game. Otherwise we were nowhere. So these are good signs for us. We are giving performance in patches. We have to combine them as a team effort.

"You can't win on one or two performances. We have to perform as a team. I think we have very good cricketers. We have a bunch of good guys. I think if we keep trusting them, they can do well." —FP Monitoring

Pakistan cricket is in trouble: Waqar DHAKA: As Bangladesh clinched a

historic series win over Pakistan on Sunday, head coach Waqar Younis had to give in to the criticism from all quarters.

He admitted that the team was in ‘trouble’. “I accept what the critics’ say, Pakistan cricket is facing problems,” Waqar said in an interview to the local media.

“Pakistan need to change the way it plays cricket. Our cricketing style is very defensive and it will take us time to get free from this mindset,” he added.

The defensive playing style is not the only worry for Pakistan though.

The national team is currently facing a 'fitness crisis' of sorts which has meant the coach has not been able to pick the best side.

Pacemen Sohail Khan, Ehsan Adil, leg-spinner Yasir Shah and middleorder batsman Sohaib Maqsood were ruled out due to injuries for the series against Bangladesh.

Right before the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Pakistan’s camp had been affected by fitness issues, resulting in the nonavailability of seasoned players such as Umar Gul, Junaid Khan and Mohammad Hafeez.

“Our team’s biggest problem is fitness and we will not compromise in ensur-

baNGalore: harbhajan singh of mumbai Indians is congratulated after picking a wicket against royal Challengers bangalore on sunday. —FP monitoring

Mumbai snap losing streak in run-fest

BANGALORE: Faced with the prospect of their fifth successive defeat in IPL 2015, Mumbai Indians' top order pulled together to help set up an 18run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chinnaswamy Stadium. Halfcenturies from Lendl Simmons and Unmukt Chand, and 42 off 15 from captain Rohit Sharma, lifted the visitors to 209 for 7.

That did eventually prove to be a match-winning total but Mumbai Indians' defence underlined yet again how heavily dependent they are on Harbhajan Singh and Lasith Malinga. The offspinner choked Royal Challengers' start with tight overs and the wickets of Chris Gayle, Manvinder Bisla and Rilee Rossouw. When a sensational cameo from AB de Villiers and David Wiese's clean hitting threatened to take the game away, Malinga turned up with his

accurate yorkers to ensure Mumbai Indians snapped their losing streak.

The adage of well begun half done seemed to bear some truth for Mumbai Indians. After they were asked to bat, Simmons and Parthiv Patel finally stitched together the start the side had missed in its previous four defeats. The West Indies batsman took the lead, particularly against Varun Aaron, whom he struck for three fours in his second over.

Simmons' aggression allowed Unmukt Chand, among four changes for Mumbai Indians, to play his shots and the pair were almost equal contributors in their rapid 72-run stand. And then came Rohit's parry - 15 deliveries, 42 runs, three fours and four sixes. One of those sixes was a stunning demonstration of his timing - a flick played on one knee had enough on it to sail over deep midwicket. Rohit and Chand accumulated 63 runs

in only 25 deliveries and despite a flurry of wickets at the end - Wiese took three in the 19th over - Mumbai Indians were helped across the 200-run mark by two sixes from debutant Baroda allrounder Hardik Pandya.

Royal Challengers have chased down a 200-plus target three times at Chinnaswamy Stadium in the past. Add Mumbai Indians' struggling attack and their own line-up of powerful hitters and that target could be considered a par one.

Instead, they found they could barely get the scoreboard moving along at the start. Chris Gayle was given a reprieve on the second ball of the chase and another one in the eighth over but all he could make of it was 10 off 24.

Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik flickered briefly before an almost surreal innings from de Villiers posed the first real challenge to Mumbai Indians. He

seemed oblivious to the match situation and the wickets falling around him, smacking bowlers down the ground, over the slip region and sending one delivery to the roof of the stadium.

De Villiers' fall for 41 off 11 brought Mumbai Indians momentary relief, which soon turned into a little worry as Wiese and Iqbal Abdulla - among four changes effected by Royal Challengers began to play with the freedom of those with little to lose. Wiese punished Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell McClenaghan for any errors in length - between them the two bowlers finished with 2 for 82 - before Malinga held the charge at bay.

Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 209 for 7 (Simmons 59, Chand 58, Rohit 42, Wiese 4-33) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 191 for 7 (Wiese 47*, de Villiers 41, Harbhajan 3-27) by 18 runs. —FP Monitoring

Lancashire batsman hits Bengal player dies after triple century in a one-dayer on-field accident

A 21-year-old English batsman on Lancashire's books made history on Sunday by scoring 350 in a club match.

Liam Livingstone's stunning innings was the centrepiece of Nantwich's mammoth 579 for seven in just 45 overs during their National Club Championship clash at home to fellow north-west side Caldy. Livingstone's runs came from just 138 balls, including 34 fours and 27 sixes.

"Had worse days! Thanks for all the messages," Livingstone said on Twitter.

His astonishing assault is believed to be the the highest recorded individual in any form of one-day match, surpassing the 334 not out made by the then 15-year-old Nikhilesh Surendran in an Indian school fixture in Hyderabad in 2008. Three of Caldy's bowlers, who play in the Liverpool and District competition, long regarded as one of England's leading club leagues, conceded in excess of 100 runs.

KOLKATA: Ankit Keshri, a former cap-

LONDON:

ing that each and every player is match fit,” he said.

Waqar rejected the idea of looking back at the ‘tried and tested’ lot following the historic series defeat against Bangladesh. “There is no need to look back,” he said, adding: “We have to move forward with younger players.”

Pakistan is scheduled to play the third and the final One-Day International against Bangladesh on Wednesday, April 22, at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka.

The one-day series will be followed by a Twenty20 International and two Tests. —FP Monitoring

Overwhelmed by what had happened to them in the field, Caldy collapsed to 79 all out as Nantwich won by a scarcely credible 500 runs.

Livingstone, yet to make his firstclass debut, endeared himself to Lancashire fans by finishing last season with 204 in the Roses 2nd XI clash against arch-rivals Yorkshire. —FP Monitoring

tain of the Bengal Under-19 team, died on Monday morning in Kolkata three days after a freakish accident on the cricket field. Keshri had collided with his team-mate Sourabh Mondal on Friday while attempting a catch and had been rushed to the hospital after he stopped breathing briefly. Though his condition improved, he eventually died of a cardiac arrest. Keshri was 20.

The incident occurred during a Cricket Association of Bengal's Division 1 knockout match between East Bengal and Bhowanipore at the Jadavpur University Campus ground in Kolkata.

Keshri, who was among the 30 India Under-19 probables for the World Cup in 2014, had actually come in as a substitute fielder.

In the penultimate over (44th) of the Bhowanipore innings, Mondal, who was bowling, rushed to take a catch that was hit towards cover. Keshri was

fielding at deep cover and charged in too. Neither of the two noticed the other and collided. According to Shibsagar Singh, who was fielding at point, Mondal's knee crashed into Keshri's head and neck region.

As Mondal went down, wincing in pain, Keshri was lying flat and not breathing. Blood was trickling down from his mouth, according to Shibsagar, a former India Under-19 player who has played first-class cricket for Bengal.

Keshri responded to Shibsagar's resuscitation efforts. —FP Monitoring

Bangladesh believed they were favourites - Mashrafe

MIRPUR: Mashrafe Mortaza has said the team's belief before the ODI series that they were favourites kept them in the right frame of mind. Pakistan became the fourth Full-Member nation after Zimbabwe, West Indies and New Zealand to lose an ODI series to Bangladesh .

Pakistan have looked short of experience with the ODI retirements of Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi, but Mashrafe said every team goes through such phases, and Bangladesh's win wouldn't be diminished despite their opposition's weakness.

"Shakib (Al Hasan) and (Mahmudullah) Riyad said before the ODI series that we start as favourites," Mashrafe said. "It was a feeling within the team too. We all believed that we were favourites. I felt it

was important for our preparation. If you say Pakistan is inexperienced, teams go through such phases. It is quite natural.

They take a bit of time. But they have a world-class bowling attack. I wouldn't say there's a huge difference between the two sides."

Although Bangladesh had not celebrated much on the field after winning the first ODI last Friday, they were jubilant after Shakib Al Hasan took the winning run to complete the series win.

The rest ran out to the middle and also took some time to thank the crowd before heading into the dressing-room where the revelry continued.

While Mashrafe did not want his team to turn the confidence from the 2-0 lead into impudence, he said it was also important to celebrate such an occasion.

"When we had returned home from the World Cup, there were moments when I felt whether we were being given too much importance," Mashrafe said. "Continuing on our World Cup performance was on my mind, so the sub-

sequent series was always going to be important. I think the boys should be proud of what they have achieved, but they don't need to make it too apparent.

"We should keep it among ourselves," he said. "But we must also celebrate this victory, enjoy it. We saw how Australia celebrated after beating us in 2003. They never took a win for granted. Similarly, if we don't enjoy our successes, it will be hard to keep hold of the winning feeling." Mashrafe said that they were prepared for a final assault in the last 15 overs regardless of Pakistan's stuttering start. At one stage, Pakistan were 77 for five after which Saad Nasim added 77 and 85 for the sixth and unbroken seventh-wicket stands with Haris Sohail and Wahab Riaz to lift the total to 239.

Mashrafe, however, praised

Bangladesh's bowlers for keeping Pakistan down to a low total.

"Matches change course these days between the 35th and 50th overs," he said. "Many teams now bat in the old way of conserving wickets in the first ten overs, and then go after the bowling after the 35th over. I think if we had taken one more wicket at that stage, they would have broken down further. I think they scored 20 runs more than what their initial position suggested.

"We bowled very well today. These days a score of 240 is something like 180 of the past. (Arafat) Sunny was brilliant, Shakib took the wickets and everyone chipped in. Nobody expected such a professional performance from our bowlers in this wicket," he said.

Mashrafe also felt that a good start with

the bat was necessary to ward off any threat from Pakistan's bowling attack.

Soumya Sarkar fell after hitting four boundaries off 11 balls but Tamim Iqbal kept finding the boundaries.

Bangladesh's score of 83 for 1 was their second highest in an ODI after 10 overs.

Tamim and Mahmudullah added 78 for the second wicket before Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim added their second consecutive 100-run stand between them, which got them within 22 runs of their winning target. "Two hundred and forty is not really a good score in modern cricket," he said. "We never felt it was a tough chase. When we returned to the dressing-room at the break, we were all confident that we will overcome this chase quite easily if we don't lose early wickets." —FP Monitoring

SPORTS

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TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

Djokovic beats Berdych in Monte Carlo to set ATP record

MONTE CARLO: Novak Djokovic set

another career record on Sunday with his second Monte Carlo title, as the Serbbecame the first man to win the opening three Masters 1000 events in a season through a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 defeat of Tomas Berdych.

The top seed, who lives just a few hundred metres away from the centre court, had to survive a comeback from his Czech rival as well as a 70-minute rain interruption which came as he led by a set and 3-2 on serve in the second.

Djokovic s victory was his 17th straight win of the season and also marked a fourth straight Masters 1000 title after also winning at Paris Bercy last November.

"I won this match with my heart and with battle," said Djokovic. "I don t think I played on the level that I wish to play and that I have played throughout the whole week.

"But credit to Tomas because he has played very aggressively, staying close to the line, pushing me back. So I had to defend a lot of times.

"It was a battle," said the 2013 Monte Carlo winner, who was frustrated as he comitted 38 unforced errors and lost his first set of the week while converting on only five of 14 break points.

Djokovic now owns 52 career titles and 23 at the elite Masters level. He stands 19-2 over Berdych and 30-2 this season.

Berdych missed a chance to move up

to a career-best number four in the world. "By the result, I m very disappointed. But by feeling, it s quite good.

I m fit. There is no issues with that," said Berdych. "I m on the right track, I still need to keep working on it and keep improving myself.

"We are three or four months into the new things that I ve been working on.

It s very clear on the results on the matches that they are there, they are the right things.

"I just need to keep doing that and keep pushing myself, being better and better."

Djokovic won the opening set comfortably but was unable to come back after the rain break and close it out in straight sets.

Instead, Berdych got the early momentum upon the return and levelled at a set each.

In the third, Djokovic again seized the initiative, going up two breaks only to lose one of them.

Berdych saved a match point, holding for 3-5 with an overhead winner. But Djokovic prevailed a game later as the Czech s service return sailed just long over the baseline.

"I came on the court today hoping and wanting, of course, to play as well as I played throughout the whole week," said Djokovic. "I played my best match and best tennis in the week against Nadal yesterday. Maybe I was a little bit also mentally exhausted coming into this match." —FP Monitoring

Faldo to join Watson in British Open farewell golf LONDON: Six-times major champion Nick Faldo will play his last British Open when it returns to St Andrews this year, the 25th anniversary of his victory at the Old Course.

"The Open and St Andrews will forever hold a significant place in my heart," the 57-year-old Briton said in a news release on Monday.

"My fondest moments on my journey with this great sport are woven with pictures and emotions in this setting. It all means a huge amount to me. "I look forward to celebrating all that golf has given me as I cross that storied (Swilcan) bridge and the wonderful memories I share with many people. I am grateful for it all and grateful to golf."

Faldo won the Open at St Andrews in 1990 and at Muirfield in 1987 and 1992.

He also landed a hat-trick of U.S. Masters titles in 1989, 1990 and 1996.

The Englishman, who will turn 58 during this year's Open, joins American Tom Watson, a five-times champion, in bowing out of golf's oldest major from July

VaNCoUVer: People take part in the 31st annual Vancouver sun run on monday. The Vancouver sun run is Canada's largest 10km road race and is the 2nd largest timed 10km in the world. —Xinhua

Motorcycling: Rossi wins dramatic Grand Prix of Argentina

TERMAS DE RIO HONDO: Valentino Rossi survived a late battle with defending world champion Marc Marquez, who crashed with two laps to go, before the Italian icon went on to win a dramatic Grand Prix of Argentina on Sunday.

Marquez led the race from the start and opened up a lead of over four seconds before tyre problems allowed the veteran Rossi to reel him in and finally take the lead on the penultimate lap.

Spanish rider Marquez, who won a record 13 races last season, then clipped Rossi s back wheel and crashed out as Rossi raced on to victory from eighth on the grid.

The decision by Marquez and his Honda team to go with hard tyres backfired badly as Rossi gradually reeled in the Spaniard on his Yamaha.

Rossi closed ground over the final stages and finally made his move on the second last lap before Marquez immediately tried to regain the lead which led

to his accident.

Marquez was on track to move level with Rossi in the world championship standings but now loses ground after the third race of the season.

Rossi also won in Qatar while Marquez won the second race of the campaign in Texas where the Italian came third.

"We had great pace and this was an important race because I struggled in practice. I knew he was on hard tyres but I just took it step by step and slowly I could smell the victory. I m disappointed by his crash and it would have been a great fight to the end but I m very happy." said Rossi. —FP Monitoring

KP Inter-Region Olympics-SportAccord chief launches scathing attack on IOC Youth Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president is blocking plans by a sports federations umbrella group to set up its own multisports events, SportAccord President Marius Vizer said on Monday in a scathing attacking on the IOC. International judo federation president Vizer, whose SportAccord organisation represents Olympic and non-Olympic sports federations and organisers of multi-sports games, said Bach interfered with the autonomy of sports bodies.

"After becoming SportAccord President, I always tried to develop a constructive collaboration with the IOC and with President (Thomas) Bach," Vizer said at the opening of the SportAccord convention in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi.

"Unfortunately, it never became reality," he said. "Mr President, stop blocking the SportAccord strategy in its mission to identify and organise conventions and multi-sport games. Do not try to create a theory around which sports are and are not eligible for multi-sport games," he said.

BARCELONA:

16-19.

"Nick Faldo is an inspirational figure in British golf and has enjoyed a remarkable career in the Open," said Peter Dawson, chief executive of championship organisers the Royal and Ancient.

"He has delighted the galleries over

many years with his three victories and consistently outstanding performances.

"I'm sure there will be great anticipation among the galleries at St Andrews to see him play in the Open once again and he will receive a rousing ovation worthy of a great champion." —FP Monitoring

The IOC has had an uneasy relationship with Vizer, who took over SportAccord in 2013 and instantly attempted to set up his own international multisports event, the United world Games, which never materialised.

The IOC, which usually holds an executive board meeting during SportAccord, has scrapped its meeting this time, leaving the convention without one of its highlights.

It has also stopped bid cities for the 2022 winter Olympics from attending the event, robbing it of another attraction. "Do not try to impose upon the organisers of SportAccord events guidelines on how to distribute funds generated and earned by ourselves," Vizer said.

"Do not interfere in the autonomy of the sport organizations."

Vizer also rejected the IOC's Agenda 2020, a set of reforms approved in December, to make the Games more attractive and relevant to fans, bid cities and sponsors. "The Agenda 2020 hardly brings any real benefit to sport, to International federations, or athletes," he said. —FP Monitoring

Bolt clocks 10.12sec in Rio 100m exhibition RIO DE JANEIRO: Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt clocked 10.12 seconds to win

rawalPINDI: bodybuilders flexing their muscles during body building competition on monday. —FP monitoring

an exhibition 100m race in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. The six-time Olympic champion, world record holder in both the 100 and 200m events, suffered from a sluggish start in rainy conditions in the host city of next year s Olympic Games where he will be bidding for an unprecedented third golden treble. "My start wasn t very good and that made me pay," the 28-year-old said after outstripping Dutchman Churandy Martina and American Ryan Bailey in the latter stages of the race."But I m happy to have won and I can t complain." —FP Monitoring

begins

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inter-Region Male Wrestling, Basketball, and Squash got under way at three different venues here on Monday under the aegis of Directorate of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with players from all seven regions are taking part.

Adviser to the Chief Minister on Law and Parliamentary Affairs Arif Yousaf was the chief guest on this occasion who formally inaugurated the events in Lala Rafique Sports Area, PSB Coaching Center and Hashim Khan Squash Complex. Former World Champion Qamar Zaman, Director Sports Tariq Mehmood, Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Haji Abdul Qayyum and Coordinator Peshawar Uplift Program, the main sponsors of the event, Organizing Secretaries Syed Saqlain Shah, Jamshed Baloch and Amir Zahir Shah, officials, players and spectators were also present.

In his address to the players, Arif Yousaf appreciated Peshawar Uplift Program for giving full kits to all the participating players including track-suite, shoes and playing uniform. He said the government is also striving hard for ensuring playing field facilities to the players in their respective districts.

He also announced holding of National Games in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for which, he said, talks would initiate with the Pakistan Olympic Association.

He said it is good to have teams from all seven regions including Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Kohat, Swat, Mardan, Hazara and Peshawar. —FP Monitoring

GB Govt agrees to jointly organize Shandur Polo festival with KP in August PESHAWAR: After redressing the reser-

vations, the Gilgit-Baltistan government has agreed to jointly organise the Shandur Polo Festival with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in the first week of August.

The decision was taken at a seminar titled ‘Shandur Peace & Tourism held at a local hotel here on Monday.

Besides Advisor to Chief Minister on Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs Amjad Khan Afridi, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Minorities Soran Singh, members Provincial Assembly (MPAs) from Chitral Fauzia Bibi and Sardar Hussain, Additional Secretary Naeem Anwar and Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Managing Director Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Gilgit-

Baltistan Tourism and Youth Affairs Minister Inayatullah Shumali and other ministers Niamatullah Khan, Mushtaq Ahmad Advocate, Abdul Jahan, Ali Murad and Diamer-Astore Commissioner Zafar Waqar Taj, President Chitral Journalists Forum Zulfiqar Ali Shah, President Sports Writers Association Nadir Khwaja and others attended the seminar.

Advisor to Chief Minister on Sports and Tourism Amjad Afridi said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government agreed to all the demands of the GilgitBaltistan government.

He said that the three-day international polo festival would start from August 7 and the spectators and tourists would get the opportunity to watch the

match between teams of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Gilgit-Baltistan Minister for Sports and Tourism Inayatullah Shumali said that players and administration of GilgitBaltistan had certain reservations. However, he said, the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa addressed their reservations and invited them to participate in the event. Gilgit-Baltistan had not participated in the event for three years because of certain reservations over Shandur Polo Festival.

He said their team would participate in the International Polo Festival which would help promote polo and attract tourism to the region.

Inayatullah said representatives of both the governments discussed the is-

sue for the first time in history. He thanked the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for its hospitality and cooperation.

He lauded the efforts of the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for understanding the prevailing disappointment among the youth in Chitral and taking steps for revitilising the international polo festival.

Managing Director TCKP Mushtaq Ahmed Khan said the seminar was aimed at providing a cordial environment to the management and players of both teams to understand each others point of view.

It would help in promotion of polo and tourism, he said, adding that 2016 would be the year of tourism. —FP Monitoring

CENTRAL ASIA

www.thefrontierpost.pk

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

TAJIKISTAN TO BOOST ECONOMIC TIES WITH CHINA, SAYS RAHMON Dushanbe: President Emomali Rahmon met on Monday with Communist Party Secretary for the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Zhang Chunxian in Dushanbe on Monday, the press service of the president reports. Chunxian told about joint ventures and institutions of the two countries in the south and north of Tajikistan. He expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of their activities, said in the report. Rahmon expressed satisfaction with the level of current relations between Tajikistan and China. —FP Monitoring

EU TO FORMALLY CHARGE GAZPROM ON WEDNESDAY BRUSSELS: EU antitrust regulators will this week formally charge Russian gas giant Gazprom with overcharging customers in Eastern Europe and hindering rivals in the region, two EU sources said on Monday. "Statement of objections for this Wednesday," said one of the sources. A statement of objections is the term used by the European Commission for a formal charge sheet setting out specific concerns about possible anti-competitive practices. Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso declined to comment. Gazprom did not provide any immediate comment. Gazprom, which supplies about 30 percent of the bloc's gas, has been on the Commission's radar since September 2012 on suspicion of blocking the free flow of gas across the region among other things. —FP Monitoring

Syrian opposition to visit Kazakhstan for reconciliation talks ASTANA/MOSCOW: A group of mem-

bers of the Syrian opposition will visit Astana on April 27 to discuss the possibility of holding intra-Syrian talks in Kazakhstan, the founder of the Movement of the Pluralistic Society, Randa Kassis said Monday.

"We, the representatives of Syrian opposition, signatories to the appeal to the Kazakh President, intend to visit Astana on April 27," Kassis told RIA Novosti. Earlier in April, seven Syrian opposition activists officially requested President Nursultan Kazakh Nazarbayev to mediate the future reconciliation talks.

On Saturday, Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov wrote in a letter to the members of the Syrian opposition

that Kazakhstan is "in principle" ready to provide a forum for negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Arab country. Idrissov invited the Syrian opposition members to visit Kazakhstan "at a convenient day" for further discussions of Astana's possible mediation in the Syrian peace process.

Syria has been in a civil war since 2011, when an anti-government uprising started. More than 220,000 people have died in the hostilities.

Various extremists groups, including the Islamic State, are fighting in the war. Earlier in April, Moscow hosted the second round of intraSyrian peace talks between the country's authorities and the opposition. —FP Monitoring

BISHKEK: Kazakhstan is ready to provide a platform for talks aimed at political settlement in Syria, Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov said in a letter obtained on Monday by RIA Novosti Russian news service.

Members of the Syrian opposition have officially requested Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to mediate future reconciliation talks, according to a letter signed by seven opposition leaders. "We consider it vitally important to continue our discussions in order to establish a consistent and structured platform, comprising various groups of realistic and constructive opponents," the letter reads. Idrissov invited the Syrian opposition in Kazakhstan to discuss possible political settlement talks in Astana. Syria has been in a civil war since 2011, when an anti-government uprising took place. More than 220,000 people died and millions were displaced as a result of the hostilities between the army and various militias, including radical Islamists. —FP Monitoring

BAKU: Defense Minister Brigadier Gen-

Arabia's military campaign against Yemen with the backing of Washington and Tel Aviv, which has exacerbated the situation in the Middle East.

The Azeri president endorsed the idea of enhancing defense cooperation between Tehran and Baku. He also considered the security, stability and development of Iran as those of Azerbaijan.

Around 600 Russian republic of Dagestan, Defense Minmarines from the Caspian Flotilla istry Southern Military District press have begun amphibious assault service said Monday.

“Some 600 personnel, the Ataman exercises in the country’s southern

MOSCOW:

R

ussia and Turkey sit on opposite coasts of the Black Sea. Geographically, this has made them historic competitors. The Russian Empire and Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, competed for control and influence along the sea's shores in Crimea and the Caucasus, fighting a total of 12 wars over a four-century period.

In 1952, Turkey joined NATO and, because of its control of the Bosporus, became a critical part of the Western Cold War alliance, allowing the country to cut off Soviet access to the Mediterranean Sea. Over the past decade, Turkey's increased political and economic strength has enabled it to define a regional policy independent of the United States but has not yet directly challenged Russia.

Turkey continued to rely on imports of Russian natural gas, and it was further dissuaded from taking an assertive role in the Caucasus and Black Sea by Russia's regional resurgence in the past decade.

However, tensions between Russian and Turkish officials have been pronounced in recent weeks. Over the past

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan agree to end routine gas flaring BISHKEK: Chief executives from major

Aliyev underlined Baku's support for Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and made it clear that nothing can affect this stance of Azerbaijan. Dehqan is on a visit to the neighboring country at the invitation of his Azeri counterpart ColonelGeneral Zakir Hasanov. Last year, Hasanov paid a two-day official visit to Iran. —FP Monitoring

Some 600 Marines carry anti-terror drills in Southern Russia

BY STRATFOR

What happened in Bishkek five years ago?

Kazakhstan to mediate Syria reconciliation talks: Foreign Ministry

Tehran, Baku agree to boost defense cooperation

eral Hossein Dehqan held talks with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev on defense ties in Baku on Monday.

Dehqan expressed Iran's readiness to supply the Republic of Azerbaijan's Army with the equipment it needs, Tasnim reported. “Iran is ready to upgrade defense ties with the neighboring country and meet the Azeri Army's demands for military equipment,” he said.

The Iranian minister said Azerbaijan has a special position in Iran's foreign policy and defense diplomacy, highlighting the capacities for promoting cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the military and defense sphere.

Dehqan underlined that the common interests of Tehran and Baku as well as their common threats necessitate stronger bilateral cooperation in all fields. The minister criticized the US strategy to pressurize regional countries by fomenting crises in the Middle East, saying that an example of this is Saudi

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Platov landing boat, four Serna-class landing craft and more than 50 pieces of military and special equipment from the marine units are taking part in the exercises,” the press service statement said. The statement described a drill scenario, in which the marines would conduct an operation to counter illegal armed groups in remote coastal regions.

“The marines from the amphibious assault company completed a forced march and carried out an amphibious assault to engage a simulated enemy,” the press service said.

Dagestan is a hotbed of Islamist insurgency in the North Caucasus and multiple violent attacks have been recorded in the region over the past decade. —FP Monitoring

oil companies joined together with senior government officials from several oil-producing countries to commit, for the first time, to ending the practice of routine gas flaring at oil production sites by 2030 at the latest.

The “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” initiative—already endorsed by nine countries, ten oil companies and six development institutions—was launched today by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. They were joined by Royal Dutch Shell Chairman Jorma Ollila; Statoil CEO Eldar Sætre; Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende; Gabonese Minister of Petroleum Etienne Dieudonne Ngoubou; and several other senior government and corporate officials, and representatives of international development banks. The endorsers collectively represent more than 40 percent of global gas flaring.

Every year, around 140 billion cubic meters of natural gas produced together with oil is wastefully burned or “flared” at thousands of oil fields around the world. This results in more than 300 million tons of CO2 being emitted to the atmosphere—equivalent to emissions from approximately 77 million cars. If this amount of associated gas were used for power generation, it could provide more electricity (750bn kWh) than the entire African continent is consuming today.

But currently, the gas is flared for a variety of technical, regulatory, and economic reasons, or because its use is not given high priority. “Gas flaring is a visual reminder that we are wastefully sending CO2 into the atmosphere,” said World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. “We can do something about this. Together we can take concrete action to end flaring and to use this valuable natural resource to light the darkness for those without electricity.” By endorsing the initiative, governments, oil companies and development institutions recognize that routine gas flaring is unsustainable from a resource management and environmental perspective. —FP Monitoring

Kyrgyzstan celebrates the 5th anniversary of the april revolution, which took place five years ago. This month is famous not only because it has changed the old political order in the country, but also because the city of bishkek has experienced major destruction. In particular, a number of big shopping malls, located in the capital, have suffered damage.

As Russia weakens, Turkey grows assertive

year, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remained in close contact and minimized public disagreements. But this changed in early April, when Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu publicly criticized Russia. He condemned Russia's treatment of Turkic minorities in Crimea — the Crimean Tatars — and called Moscow's shutdown of a Crimean Tatar television station "oppression." Putin's spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, responded by saying the Russian government provides "exhaustive information" to Turkish officials. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded, in turn, by reminding Turkey that Ankara's insistence on traveling to Crimea through Ukraine was the only thing preventing closer monitoring of the situation there.

This exchange between Moscow and Ankara came as Turkey's senior leaders traveled through Europe's borderlands, visiting the countries most involved in the U.S.-led efforts to boost defense cooperation along NATO's eastern edge.

On March 20, Erdogan visited Ukraine, and Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna visited Ankara three days lat-

er. From late March to early April, top Turkish leaders visited Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova and Lithuania.

Prior this set of visits, Turkey had largely kept its distance from the U.S.-led European alliance, preferring to remain on good terms with its Russian neighbour.

Turkey's stance continues to change in response to changes in the security environment of the Black Sea. Russia's participation in the Ukraine crisis saw the country flexing its muscles along the northern stretch of the Black Sea coast by annexing the strategic Crimean Peninsula. Russia then strengthened its position on the sea by upgrading the majority of its Black Sea Fleet with new and advanced equipment. These moves have worried Turkish strategists, bringing back memories of centuries-old struggles for control of the region and Russia's historic encroachment on Ottoman lands.

Of the countries Turkish leaders recently visited, Lithuania and Romania have been particularly open to working together with their neighbors, alongside NATO and the United States, to shore up defences, set up new coordinating structures and adds troop rotations. Some

within this emerging alliance are making an effort to include Turkey. If their efforts are successful, Turkey would be the southern anchor of a band of countries — spanning the Baltics in the north down to the Mediterranean — forming strategic protection from Russia. The United States is especially interested in including Turkey in this alliance and bringing it closer to its NATO partners.

The changes in Turkey's regional behavior are also tied to shifts in energy dynamics. Turkey imports half of its natural gas from Russia. In 2014, Turkey paid about $418 per 1,000 cubic meters for Russian natural gas — a much higher rate than some European countries. This high price was a function of Turkey's dependency on Russian energy. Negotiating a significant discount on natural gas prices has been among Turkey's highest priorities. At the same time, under a 2010 agreement, Russia's state-owned Rosatom is set to build Turkey's first nuclear power plant in the southern town of Akkuyu. But the $22 billion project, which would be financed by Russia, has been beset by delays, reportedly for environmental and financial reasons, and could now be completed in

2022 instead of 2019.

During his Dec. 1 visit to Turkey, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the cancellation of the planned South Stream pipeline project. The South Stream project was cancelled as a result of rising costs and regulatory hurdles from the European Union. Moscow instead commenced planning for a new pipeline that would cross the Black Sea to Turkey and carry Russian natural gas to the Greek border, a project known as the Turkish Stream. For Turkey, a new pipeline would bring extra revenue and boost the country's energy security, since half of the natural gas Turkey currently imports from Russia flows through volatile Ukraine. Putin added that Turkey would receive a 6 percent discount for natural gas purchases from Russia in 2015, while also importing an extra 3 billion cubic meters that year from Russia, an expansion of Blue Stream.

In December, however, signs emerged that Russia may not be able to finance Turkish Stream either. The ruble's volatility and continued low energy prices have reduced Russia's funding capacity. Turkey is aware of Russia's vul-

nerable state and concerned about Turkey's own current account deficit.

Ankara used the opportunity to press harder for a discount on natural gas. On Feb. 27, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz announced that Russia would give Turkey a 10.25 percent discount.

Nevertheless, a few weeks later Yildiz clarified that while there is an agreement on a discount, the deal has yet to be signed by the two sides. It appears that the deal has encountered difficulties.

There are some indications that Russia is looking for a firmer commitment from Turkey on Turkish Stream before it concedes. While in the past Turkey's dependence on Russia for most of its natural gas supplies led Turkish decisionmakers to agree to high prices, Russia's growing financial constraints and inability to fulfill its pledged monetary support for Turkish Stream are strengthening Turkey's negotiating position.

The Kremlin's options, however, have been limited by low energy prices and an economic crisis at home. These have made Russia more dependent on its customers.

When global energy prices were high, the Kremlin used natural gas a tool.

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ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

‘The Golden Era’ tops Hong Kong film awards

HONG KONG: Ann Hui and her biogra-

phical drama “The Golden Era” were the big winners at the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night. Hui collected five awards including best film and best director.

The expensive, three-hour picture has been a regular winner on the Asian awards and festival circuit, but it flopped badly at the box office in both China and Hong Kong. Its continuing awards tally may reflect Hui’s efforts to make a large-scale art-house film at a time in Chinese cinema history that is often described as a ‘golden era,’ for growing commerciality and the huge expansion of the mainland Chinese box office.

The best acting winners were Sean Lau Ching-wan in Hong Kong actioner “Overheard 3” and Vicky Zhao Wei in “Dearest,” Peter Chan Ho-sun’s drama about child abductions in China.

Other significant wins on the night included singer turned actress Ivana Wong’s double win – best supporting actress and best new performer – in comedy “Golden Chickens’” and the best new director award for David Lee Kwong-yiu with “Insanity”.

These days most movies that are defined as Hong Kong productions also contain major elements from China.

That was certainly true of “The Golden Era,” “The Crossing,” and “Dearest,” which were all largely set in mainland China. Zhang Yimou’s “Coming Home” was named as the best film hailing from mainland China or Taiwan. —FP Monitoring hoNG KoNG: actress Tang wei (C) and other cast members of the movie "The Golden era" pose at the 34th hong Kong Film awards the other day. —Xinhua

Preity Zinta supports Anushka Sharma

NEW DELHI: Anushka Sharma had been

at the receiving end of Virat Kohli’s ‘not so impressive’ performance in the last few cricket matches, including the World Cup. Many Bollywood celebrities rose to her support, and Preity Zinta, one of the owners of the IPL’S Kings XI Punjab, says that Sharma should take a bow when Kohli hits a century.

Sharma received a lot of flak and blame for Kohli’s under-performance. After all this negativity, Zinta feels that whenever Kohil performs well, Sharma should be taking the credit this time. According to the DNA India, Zinta stated, “Next time Virat hits a century, Anushka should take a full bow in the stadium.

She should go and collect the Man of the

Match, and say, that’s my contribution.”

Zinta is currently busy, promoting the seventh season of Star Plus’s popular dance reality show, ‘Nach Baliye.’ She will be debuting as a judge alongside author Chetan Bhagat and popular choreographer Marzi Pestonji. —FP Monitoring

Miranda Lambert wins big at 2015 ACM Awards TEXAS: Miranda Lambert was a huge

winner at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards.

The 31-year-old 'Kerosene' singer scooped up seven nominations at the 2015 ACMs, more than any other artist. The songstress took home the Song of the Year trophy for her tune 'Automatic' and the Album of the Year award for her record Platinum, the coveted 50th Anniversary Milestone Award and she was also dubbed Female Vocalist of the Year.

And Miranda rocked the house with a sizzling performance on the night.

She took to the stage in a red and black corset lifting the crowd to their feet with exciting live renditions of her hit songs 'Mama's Broken Heart' and 'Little Red Wagon'.

Miranda was presented with her 50th Anniversary Milestone Award by stunning duo Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon. During her acceptance speech the Platinum crooner made it clear she shares the accolade with fans.

"Thank you so much for allowing me to live my dream. I love you so much, thank you," she noted. The 50th Anniversary Milestone Award was also given to Brooks & Dunn, Taylor Swift,

Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney and George Straight in honour of their career achievements, which have altered the country music industry forever.

Cannes: Critics’ week announces 2015 line-up

PARIS: Elie Wajeman’s “The Anarchists,” a period drama starring Tahar Rahim (“The Past”) and Adele Exarchopoulos (“Blue Is the Warmest Color”), is set to world premiere on opening night of Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival, anchoring a strongly French-flavoured line-up of first and second features.

Set in 1899 Paris, “The Anarchists” (pictured above) turns on a cop who infiltrates a network of anarchists and unexpectedly develops a sincere attachment for the group. Its Wajeman’s followup to his 2012 debut film, “Aliyah” which played in Directors’ Fortnight, the festival’s other parallel program.

In addition to “The Anarchists,” Critics’ Week artistic director Charles Tesson selected two French films — Louis Garrel’s “Les deux Amis” and Mathieu Vadepied’s “La Vie en grand” — for the Special Screenings section. “La Vie en grand” marks the feature film debut of Vadepied, who has worked as cinematographer on Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache’s “The Intouchables” and Jacques Audiard’s “Read My Lips,” among other films. Vadepied’s comedy, produced by Toledano and Nakache, follows children growing up in the projects, where they juggle the pressures of school and street life. Tesson said the film “will let a wind of tenderness and freshness swirl through Critics’ Week.”

“Les deux amis,” the directorial debut of thesp Garrel (“Saint Laurent”), stars Golshifteh Farahani, Garrel himself, and up-and-comer Vincent Macaigne.

France will also be repped in the Critics’ Week competition with Clement Cogitore’s “Ni le ciel, ni la terre.” Previously titled “Le Front du Wakhan,” Cogitore’s movie is a contemporary war drama set in Afghanistan. The film was presented, along with Grimur Hakonarson’s Un Certain Regard-bound “Rams,” at Les Arcs’ co-production village in 2013. “Ni le ciel, ni la terre” stars Jeremie Renier and Kevin Azais, who won this years’ newcomer Cesar award for his performance in “Love at First Fight.”

A pair of debut films will represent lahore: a model presents a creation by designer Jeena during the Pakistan Fashion Design Council sunsilk Fashion week in Pakistan's cultural North America in competition. U.S. capital the other day. —Xinhua helmer Trey Edward Shults’ “Krisha,” a

tense family drama that won the grand jury prize and the audience award at SXSW, will make its international bow, while Canadian director Andrew Cividino will bring “Sleeping Giant,” a coming-of-age tale about three teenagers who are having a vacation by a lakeside.

Critics’ Week will also play Arab and Tarzan Abunasser’s directorial debut, “Degraded,” a Palestinian comedy (with Hiam Abbas) about women crammed in a tiny beauty parlor on the Gaza Strip; and Jonas Carpignano’s “Mediterranea,” the American-Italian helmer’s follow-up to his short film “A Cambria,” which won last year’s Critics’ Week prize. “Mediterranea” follows the journey of two African immigrants who arrive in Italy.

While Latin American cinema is not particularly well represented in the official selection, Critics’ Week will unspool two films from the region: “Paulina,” Argentine helmer Santiago Mitre’s follow-up to his acclaimed “The Student” (2011) and “La tierra y la sombra,” a first feature from Colombian filmmaker Carlos Acevedo.

Sold by Versatile Films, and produced

by Argentina’s La Union de los Rios, Paris-based Full House, Walter Salles’ VideoFilmes and Telefonica Studios, “Paulina” centers on a woman lawyer (Dolores Fonzi, “La Aura”) in a humble neighborhood who is brutally attacked, but refuses to give up on her social work. A slice-of-life family drama set on a blighted sugarcane plantation, “Tierra” portrays a rural way of life condemned to extinction. Burning Blue’s Diana Bustamante (“Crab Trap,” “Refugiado”) produces.

The Critics’ Week has also added another Special Screening: “Coin Locker Girl,” from South Korea’s Han Jun-hee, about a girl raised by a Chinatown loan shark but whom, as a teen, discovers a world beyond its servitude. Produced by Pollux Pictures, “Coin Locker Girl” is sold

by CJ ENT. As many as 1,100 feature films were watched by Tesson and his team in order to come up with the final 10 movies. The Critics’ Week’s jury will be presided by Israeli actress and director Ronit Elkabetz (“Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem”). —FP Monitoring

Miranda's performance wasn't the only hot set of the evening, as band Florida Georgia Line sang their song 'Sippin' on Fire' while surrounded by flames. The fiery spectacle literally sent the crowd into chaotic glee. Another touching moment on the night is when Taylor Swift's "very proud" mother Andrea gushed over her daughter while presenting the 25-year-old musician with her Milestone Award trophy.

"I've watched this milestone artist from the time she was a tangle-haired little girl growing up on our farm full of imagination and creativity," Andrea shared with the audience. "For many years, I was her constant companion.

And I witnessed a young girl with few friends become a young woman with many, learning to stand up for herself and the things she believes in.

"I'd like to thank the ACMs for honouring her in this way. But I'd also like to thank the entire music community for taking such good care of her." —FP Monitoring

Sonakshi will never compromise family’s dignity, says father

MUMBAI: Shatrughan Sinha recently

went on record to say he supports the decision of abusive words being banned from Bollywood films. However, a daily paper responded to this by pointing out that the actor-politician’s daughter, Sonakshi Sinha, has been a part of hit songs such as Gandi Baat.

To this, Sinha says he strongly believes Sonakshi would not do anything to compromise their family’s dignity.

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, the senior Sinha said, “Please don’t try to fire your guns from my family’s shoulders. I know what my children are capable of.

And Sonakshi would never do anything to lower the family’s dignity… It may be titled ‘Gandi Baat’. But there isn’t word that’s improper in the song. And really, I don’t need to defend my children against desperate attempts to hit out at me.”

The veteran actor also added that when daughter Sonakshi decided to become an actress, his only condition was that she never indulges in anything that would compromise the family’s dignity. —FP Monitoring

BUSINESS

www.thefrontierpost.pk

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

D1

minister urges staff to aChieve 100pC reCovery target

free trade zone to be set up at gwadar: miChael

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael has said that a free trade zone would be set up at Gwadar Port for tax free manufacturing. He said 2,281 acres of land had been acquired for this purpose. Kamran Michael said Gwadar port was the deepest along the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, Radio Pakistan reported on Monday. He said the federal government would soon inaugurate a project of international airport at Gwadar at a cost of 26 billion rupees. –APP

SUKKUR : Provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation Gian Chand Esrani has urged the officials of his department to achieve 100 percent recovery targets within the specified period. Presiding over a meeting with officials of his department in Sukkur and Larkana regions here, the minister hoped the officials would continue working as a team and play their due role in the welfare and development of the country. He asked the officers to keep an eye on black sheep in the department and on some agents earning it a bad name. –APP

China to invest $46 billion in Pakistan, NA told

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Secretary

lahore: washermen are busy in washing the clothes of the customers at electric washing machine. —FP monitoring

ICAP signs MoU with UMT KARACHI: The Institute of Chartered

Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) and University of Management & Technology (UMT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) recently.

The MOU was signed by Yaqoob Suttar, President ICAP and Abid Sherwani , Director General UMT at UMT campus Lahore.

As a result of this collaboration, the graduates of BS Accounting from UMT will have an opportunity to pursue highly recognized Chartered Accountancy qualification. Under the MOU, these graduates would be able to avail exemption from eight papers of the CA examinations.

Similarly ICAP students who have cleared the respective ICAP subjects and ICAP members would be able to avail exemptions in the mapped subjects of BS Accounting at UMT. —DNA

Banks disburse Rs 326 billion agriculture loans in 9 months

KARACHI: During first nine months

of current fiscal year (July- March 2015), the banks have disbursed Rs 326 billion which is 65.2% of the overall annual target of Rs 500 billion and 27.5% higher than disbursement of Rs 255.7 billion made during the corresponding period last year.

The outstanding portfolio of agriculture loans has also surged by Rs 31.6 billion or 11.2% i.e. from Rs 281.1 billion to Rs 312.7 billion at end March 2015 as compared to same period last year, said SBP statement here on Monday.

Five major banks as a group have disbursed Rs 167.4 billion or 66.3% of their annual target and two specialized banks Zaree Tarqiatee Bank Limited and PPCBL disbursed Rs 62.1 billion or 61.2% of their annual targets of Rs 101.5 billion.

Fifteen domestic private banks collectively disbursed Rs 72.1 billion or

62.4% against their target of Rs 115.6 billion. Seven microfinance banks have disbursed Rs 20.7 billion or 73.6% of their annual targets. However, the four Islamic banks as a group have already surpassed their annual targets by disbursing Rs 3.7 billion against the target of Rs 2.3 billion during the period under review.

Amongst the five major banks, Muslim Commercial Bank has achieved 80.5 % of its annual target,United Bank Limited achieved 76.7%, Habib Bank Limited 75.3%, National Bank of Pakistan 55.3% while Allied Bank Limited could achieve only 45.2% of its individual annual target.

Under the specialized banks category, ZTBL disbursed Rs 56.2 billion or 62.4 % against its target of Rs 90.0 billion while PPCBL disbursed Rs 5.9 billion i.e. 50.9 % against its target of Rs 11.5 billion during the period under review.

Within fifteen domestic private banks, Bank of Khyber has achieved 90.4%, Faysal Bank achieved 81.1%, JS bank 64.8%, NIB Bank 58.5%, Sindh Bank 56.3%, Bank Al Habib and Bank Alfalah 54.9% each, Soneri Bank 50.6%, Silk bank 48.8 %, Summit Bank 46.8% while Askari Bank and Bank of Punjab could achieve only 40.9% each of their annual targets during Jul-Mar 2015.

However, Standard Chartered Bank has already surpassed its annual target of Rs 2.5 billion by disbursing Rs 3.8 billion during the period.

Under microfinance category, seven microfinance banks as a group have disbursed Rs 20.7 billion or 73.6% against their annual target of Rs 28.2 billion while under Islamic mode of financing, 4 Islamic banks collectively disbursed Rs 3.7 billion against their targets of Rs 2.3 billion to agriculture borrowers. –APP

for Planning Development and Reform Syed Muhammad Saqlain Bukhari on Monday informed the National Assembly that Chinese companies and banks were making around $ 46 billion investment in various projects. Replying to various supplementary questions during Question Hour, the Parliamentary Secretary said that neither loan was being taken from China nor interest would be paid. "The Chinese companies and banks are making billions of dollars foreign investment in various projects including power projects and Pak-China economic corridor," he said. He said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Pakistan and China for planning and development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during the Prime Minister's visit to China in July 2013.

He said that CPEC was a comprehensive package of cooperative initiatives and projects, which covered the key areas including connectivity, information network, infrastructure, energy cooperation, industries and industrial parks, agricultural development, poverty alleviation and financial cooperation etc. Saqlain Bukhari said that the projects of CPEC currently valuing $44 billion would be implemented and financed through a cooperative mechanism established under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Replying to a supplementary question, he said that no change was being made in original plan of CPEC. Xi’s visit to be great booster to economy: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Monday expressed optimism that Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping's visit would prove a great booster to Pakistan's economy. Talking to a highpowered Chinese delegation led by Yu Xiao, Director General, Qinghai Provincial Commerce Department here at LCCI, LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz said that China had played a significant role in economic development of Pakistan.

He observed that visit of Chinese President would not only further cement trade and economic ties between the two brotherly countries but also pave way for joint ventures be-

tween Pakistani and Chinese businessmen in various sectors of economy. On the occasion, a number of topics of mutual interest came under discussion and both sides pledged to play their due role to strengthen bilateral economic ties. Ijaz A. Mumtaz said that visit of Chinese President was a landmark and historical moment in the history of Pak-China relationship, adding that agreements worth billion dollars would help Pakistan to overcome its economic ills.

He said, the visit of Chinese delegates from Qinghai province indicated that Chinese business community was focusing Pakistan in general and Punjab in particular for strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations. The LCCI President said that Lahore had a special significance being the hub of business activities in Punjab, asserting both public and private sector organizations were striving hard to fully exploit trade and investment potential of Punjab in collaboration with foreign investors.

"China will be our first choice to join hands for joint ventures. We do hope that the state level cooperation between two countries would bring greater fortune to both of us," he added. Ijaz A. Mumtaz said that in the present economic scenario when Pakistan was facing acute energy crisis and desperately needed foreign investment to get out of this situation, the need and importance of high level meetings between the heads of states could not be overemphasized.

"China is an important trading partner of Pakistan and second largest importing country after the UAE and regarding top exporting countries of Pakistan, China comes at second place after USA", he maintained. Through developing private to private contacts, both side could further strengthen trade relations. Private sectors of both countries needed to interact on regular basis for exploring more avenues for trade expansion and opportunities for investments.

The LCCI President also invited the Chinese investors to come here and exploit the vast untapped potential of Punjab. "We need to forecast the upcoming potential of business opportunities which will emerge after the completion of Gwadar Port.” –APP

Two-day IWCCI expo concludes

ISLAMABAD: With the active participa-

tion of more than seventy-five thousand visitors, the Islamabad Expo 2015 concluded here late Sunday night with a pledge to continue struggle to empower women.

Various corporate, commercial and non-government organisations and those working for betterment of women, as well as individual entrepreneurs participated in the expo organised by Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI).

The exhibition was an interactive platform for women that highlighted the progressive image of society. The idea behind the expo was to develop women’s interactive platform to integrate the efforts of all concerned quarters that were working for women development and empowerment.

This interactive platform helped im-

prove collaboration and bridged gap amongst the government, non-government and corporate sectors.

More than 150 stalls have been allocated for the exhibitors to display garments, handicrafts, homes décor, Nongovernmental Organizations’ stuff, Food Street, fun area for kids and much more.

Many artisans also participated in the expo and displayed their talent. A number of conferences, competitions and activities were also arranged during the exhibition including talent hunt, cooking, beauty workshops and makeovers.

At the occasion President IWCCI Zakia Hashmi, and former presidents Samina Fazil and Farida Rashid said that our objective is to empower women and we want that women’s rights must be respected and protectlahore: a worker is busy in stiching pents at a workshop in Garhi shahu. —FP monitoring ed everywhere. —FP Monitoring

Gas company chief ordered to sign LNG deal or pack up

ISLAMABAD: In dramatic circumstances, three public sector stakeholders of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have ‘initialled’ a tripartite agreement to facilitate import of the commodity through back-to-back guarantees amid resistance by their managements.

This comes at a time when the first encashment of $50 million guarantee becomes due in a couple of days because of failure of the government side to arrange imported LNG in time for re-gasification and transmission into the national network through the Engro terminal at Port Qasim.

According to sources, LNG has not been arranged so far and the Engro ter-

minal has been processing nothing since April 16.

“Unless Engro waives its service charges in goodwill, it has to encash SSGCL’s guarantee on April 21,” said an official.

The sources said technical and legal teams of the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) were kept in Islamabad for more than three days to enter into the tripartite agreement.

The managements of SSGCL and SNGPL were reluctant to sign the agreement handed over to them by the PSO and Interstate Gas Company Limited

(ISGCL) because it put all liabilities of failure in LNG supply on the gas utilities.

“The officials of SSGCL and SNGPL were virtually made hostage for almost three days and coerced into signing the agreement with PSO for import and re-gasification of LNG,” said an official of the petroleum ministry, adding that the representatives of the two gas utilities were not ready to sign the agreement without approval of their boards.

“They were kept sitting late after midnight to pressurise them into signing the agreement,” said a member of the board of directors of one of the companies, adding that such signing without approval by the management and board

was a violation of provisions of the Companies Ordinance, articles of association, code of corporate governance of public sector and rules and regulations of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority.

“The agreement will expose the companies to financial risk and the GoP being a major shareholder will have to ultimately pick up the losses to benefit a particular party,” he said.

The sources said the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Reso¬urces had asked the managing directors of the three companies on Monday to sign the agreement or get ready to go home.

“One of the three MDs has initialled the

agreement and linked its signing with the approval of the board of directors,” an insider said.

On Friday last, SNGPL Managing Director Arif Hameed was called to sign the tripartite agreement, but he refused to oblige without clearance from the board.

He was told to resign if he could not sign the agreement. Mr Hameed is reported to have left the company without signing the deal.

A member of the SNGPL board said that Mr Hameed had been called back to the SNGPL headquarters by the board of directors who assured him of their full support and advised him not to resign or sign any agreement without first con-

sulting the board.

Under the previous LNG supply agreement, it was explicitly committed in the minutes of board meetings of the SSGCL and SNGPL that in case of failure to provide re-gasified LNG, the PSO would pay the penalty. According to official sources, the PSO has so far failed to enter into a sale-purchase agreement with Qatar Gas or any other supplier.

Also, it was a collective responsibility of the PSO, ISGCL and, indirectly, of Engro and Port Qasim that the channel for traffic of big ships was of the required depth, said a member of the board of directors of a gas company. —FP Monitoring

EDITORIAL

D2

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

Editor-in-Chief & Chief Executive | REHMAT SHAH AFRIDI Resident Editor | RIFAT ALAM Managing Editor | MAJ. (R) JAVED IQBAL Email: thefrontierpost1@outlook.com — rehmatshahafridi@outlook.com Tel: +92 42-36300931-4 Printed and published by Rehmat Shah Afridi at Maidan Press, 10-Queen’s Road Lahore

R

Sino–Pak relations

elations between China and Pakistan are indeed growing, but must be considered in a wider context to understand their potential implications for the United States and India. Close Sino-Pakistani relations are nothing new. Especially with respect to military and nuclear ties, Beijing and Islamabad have been friendly since the 1960s. In recent years, bilateral trade and investment have increased. Looking to the future, China's expanding influence in Central Asia and its interest in overland access to the Arabian Sea could motivate even stronger links with Pakistan.

From that starting point, add the following: Pakistan's deeply rooted hostility toward India, Washington's post-Cold War courtship of New Delhi, and the potential for a future global order characterized by competition between the United States and China. If these were the only pieces of the regional puzzle, it would be reasonable to expect a competitive two-bloc formation to take shape in South Asia: China and Pakistan versus India and the United States. But the puzzle is actually much more complicated. First, China-India trade is now larger than both trade between China and Pakistan and trade between India and the United States. Whereas during the late Cold War China had good reasons to unite with Pakistan in undermining India, today Beijing profits from regional stability and normal working relations with New Delhi.Second, India is not entirely sure that it wants to place all its eggs in the U.S. basket; longstanding nonaligned tendencies die hard, and "strategic autonomy" is more popular in Delhi than is playing for Washington's team.

Third, Pakistan's future is a real wildcard. In a worst case scenario, internal violence and instability would even scare off its Chinese ally. In a best case, Islamabad would act to realize its own economic interests through normalized relations with India.

Finally, if future US-China relations are cooperative more than conflict-prone, then Chinese involvement in Pakistan offers little to fear; it may even promote stabilizing economic development that would serve everyone's purposes.

Chinese cooperation with Pakistan has reached economic high points, with substantial Chinese investment in Pakistani infrastructural expansion including the Pakistani deep-water port at Gwadar. Both countries have an ongoing free trade agreement. Pakistan has served as China's main bridge between Muslim countries.

Pakistan also played an important role in bridging the communication gap between China and the West by facilitating the 1972 Nixon visit to China. The relations between Pakistan and China have been described by Pakistan's ambassador to China as higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans, stronger than steel, dearer than eyesight, sweeter than honey, and so on. [10] According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Pakistan is China's biggest arms buyer, counting for nearly 47% of Chinese arms exports.[11] According to a 2014 BBC World Service Poll, 75% of Pakistanis view China's influence positively with only 15% expressing a negative view. In the Asia Pacific region, Chinese people hold third most positive opinions of Pakistan's influence in the world, behind Indonesia and Pakistan itself.

K

Karachi peace

arachi is the economic and commercial hub of the country which generates nearly 70 percent of the nation’s revenue.

The country’s main sea port is also situated in the city, but Karachi is facing enormous political and ethnic strife as wells street crime which is though a common phenomenon in every mega and cosmopolitan city of the world, but has crossed all limits in this city.

As a matter of fact, problem is not with Karachi but with every successive government which has taken just ad hoc measures and left the souring issues to the next government. The problems faced by the city are multi-dimensional and a multi-prong strategy is required to resolve them.

Currently also a democratic government is in the office, but writ of the government is seldom visible at the level of common man who needs security to lead a peaceful life. The by-election at NA 246 – which is the residence of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain and the party headquarters -- has become a litmus test for the popularity of the MQM, which claims that it represents Muhajirs. The byelection also challenges the popularity of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, who claims that he will bring a change not only in the city, but also in the country. Addressing the participants of an election rally, Khan said that the politics of violence in Karachi has diminished potential of Muhajirs, who progressed rapidly in Pakistan after migrating from India. The Muhajir community gave Pakistan top bureaucrats, intellectuals, soldiers, and politicians and they served as true Pakistanis. Khan claims that the city peace has been taken over by violence due to introduction of ethnic-based politics in the city.

He also alleged that the peace of Karachi had been deteriorating since 1985, when the Muttahida Qaumi Movement started politics of ethnicity, pushing the city into chaos and anarchy.

No doubt the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement both are patriotic political parties and both claim that they will change the lot of the people and are representative of the middle class in the country. Both the parties have rejected family based politics but political differences should not be dominated by violence as fear of bloodshed on the election day cannot be casted away. Just and fair election is the process to judge how a party is popular among the people. Both Imran Khan and Altaf Hussain have following in the country and abroad and they should show political maturity to avoid violence on the election’s day. The Jamaat-e-Islami and Awami National Party also have good followings in Karachi and all the political forces – which matter -- should sign a code of ethics to maintain peace in the city.

W

A slogan of exploitation

hen general public is socially impoverished, deprived and illiterate, it produces incompetent, opportunist and corrupt leadership. Such leaders just exploit people and secure their vote bank in the name of democracy. The leadership in Pakistan asserts that they are for the people but actually, they entertain their vested interests only. Provision of social welfare, education and justice are not their priorities and democracy for them, is just a slogan of exploitation and nothing else.

Cause of failure of democracy in Pakistan lies in our socio - political system. Feudalism, illiterate and apathetic people, self – imposed leaders and inherited politics are a few salient features of this failed system. It's a feudal state and most of our political leaders are just feudal lords who have assumed and established their identity as political leaders. Feudalism has been leading towards the traditions of inherited politics as well in this country. A huge number of people in this feudal cultureare landless and illiterate peasants whose social status is not more than slaves. Auctoritas of this community is not even accordance with the minimum standards of human rights. How can such impoverished, deprived and economically margin-

U

and unemployment alised peasants comhas become common. munity can express The sovereignty of our their will in a democountry and land has cratic process? During been simply auctioned elections, due to their to foreign forces. When lack of knowledge or the people of Pakistan the fear of the landget fed up with the lord, such communigovernance of corrupt tiesonly express the democratic governwill of their feudal ment, then they proplords. agate that there was The essence of Muhammad Zaman Khan more prosperity democracy lies in the general will of the public. Almost during previous military regimes and 70% population of Pakistan leads life there is no doubt, military coups of the in such feudal and rural traditions. past were the consequence of failed Consequently, general election be- democratic governments.

An economically impoverished comcomes a selection of a fewvisionless and powerful people who are no bet- munity like Pakistan has only concern ter than hungry and growling wolves. with its bread and butter and cannot In this way, democracy has been re- comprehend and follow the true spirduced to oligarchy and aristocracy in it of democracy. Such community gives guns in the hands of monkeys by electour country.

A democratic government is required ing irrelevant persons who are not to provide justice, social welfare and se- competent enough to cope with the curity to the public. But in the present contemporary national and internasetup, government of Pakistan has tional challenges. On the other hand, not perceived or made any such inte- our leaders are always busy in pillaggrated package for the nation. On the ing the national resources and throwother hand, corruption and embezzle- ing dust into eyes of ignorant and ment are in full swing. There is no se- slave people. Another manifestation of curity for the citizens and people are illiteracy is that most of our politicians being killed like rats on the name of contest election on the basis of fake detarget killing. Suicide due to poverty grees. In such morally corrupt and il-

literate nation, how democracy can flourish and become functional?

A qualified person from a middleclass family cannot even think of contesting electionno matter how knowledgeable he or she may be. Fancy cars, security guards and senseless people around are the criteria of judging a potential election candidate. As a result, most of the politicians are nothing but disgrace to the name of the country.

More educated people from good families are required to step into mainstream politics in Pakistan in order to end this animal culture. It is about time that we move ahead of our personal interest and build a country that would have respect and integrity and break the shackles of oligarchy. It needs to be understood that Pakistan is not a social club but a country and everyone has a right to live, express their views and contest in elections. If we won’t choose to pay the price of liberty, then by default we shall suffer the cost of servitude - whether it is the iron chains of a tyrannical oligarchy or the regulatory chains of unelected, faceless bureaucrats.

The writer is a staff member of The Frontier Post and can be reached at zee.kay400@gmail.comand @khanz657

What the West owes Ukraine

ANDERS ÅSLUND

kraine may not be grabbing as many headlines now as it did a year ago, but the crisis there is far from over. The latest cease-fire agreement, concluded in Minsk in February, has contained, but not stopped, Russian military aggression.

And, though the stabilization program that Ukraine agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last month is superior to last year’s deal — this one includes both more financing from the IMF and a more credible economic-reform plan from the government — it will be insufficient to repair the country’s economy.

What Ukraine really needs is to escape the old Soviet order — and, for that, it needs the West’s help.

Ukraine never managed to recast its state after the Soviet Union’s collapse. Instead, the old Soviet elites held onto power — and most of the country’s wealth — through corrupt practices that became entrenched in the country’s economy and political system. Reforming both will be a major challenge — one that Ukraine’s leaders have lately committed themselves to meeting.

Since February of last year, when the Parliament voted then President Viktor Yanukovych out of power by more than a two-thirds majority, Ukraine has held fresh elections for both institutions. Hundreds of top of-

ficials have been replaced by young, western-educated professionals and the government is now working feverishly to implement deep and comprehensive reforms, including a new law on public procurement and a package of anti-corruption legislation.

Dozens of superfluous inspection agencies have been abolished, significantly reducing the regulatory burden. Just last month, President Petro Poroshenko sacked the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, the billionaire tycoon Igor Kolomoisky More recently, the authorities have been working to reform the energy sector.

But Ukraine still has a long way to go. The good news is that the public largely understands and supports the government’s reform efforts. The bad news is that Ukraine still faces considerable destabilizing threats — beginning with a renewed Russian military offensive. A Russian attack on, say, Mariupol, eastern Ukraine’s second-largest port (accounting for roughly one-third of the country’s exports), would devastate an economy that is already tanking. Though several factors — including western sanctions, a lack of public support for war in Ukraine, and the Russian economy’s rapid decline — should discourage the Kremlin from taking such a step, they may not be enough.

After all, Russia’s leaders have shown

themselves to be unpredictable.

Even absent further Russian aggression, Ukraine’s economic woes could prevent further progress on reform. The economy contracted by 6.8 percent year on year in 2014, and output has plunged by 15 percent in each of the two last quarters. Moreover, at the end of February, with the country running low on reserves, Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, lost half its value; as a result, annualized inflation surged to 45 percent in March. A full-scale financial meltdown was avoided only when the IMF provided an early disbursement that doubled Ukraine’s reserves, to $9.9 billion; by the end of the month, the exchange rate more or less recovered. Nonetheless, the international financing that Ukraine has received, though invaluable, remains insufficient to support genuine recovery and reform. The latest bailout program foresees about $40 billion in funding, nearly half of which will come from the IMF, over the next four years. That means that, this year, Ukraine will receive only $10 billion — not enough to enable the country to replenish its reserves and service its debts.

Indeed, given Ukraine’s large bond debts, many of which will mature in the next two years, there is a $15.3 billion funding gap in the bailout package, which the IMF and Ukraine’s government hope to plug with a debt

restructuring. But, even if they succeed, Ukraine would need more funding than it is getting.

It needs more strategic support as well. European politicians’ overwhelming opposition to supplying Ukraine with defensive arms is difficult to fathom. Europe’s leaders claim that they want to avoid giving Russia reason to escalate its war on Ukraine. But that is already happening, and Ukraine’s fight against Russia is, after all, a defense of core European values — and, indeed, of Europe itself. The EU flag has draped the caskets of Ukrainians killed in that fight. Europe’s leaders argue that the central focus of their policy toward Ukraine must be to support its economic recovery. But here, too, Europe is doing too little, offering paltry credits of €1.8 billion ($1.9 billion) this year, when €10 billion would be more appropriate. If the US then met Europe halfway (at least), Ukraine’s financial crisis could finally be contained.

On April 28, Ukraine’s government will host a donor conference in Kiev.

At a time when the country’s leaders and public are more committed than ever to combating corruption, building a welfare-creating economy, and becoming a normal liberal democracy, Europe should be eager to support it. It is time for western politicians to remember their ideals — and stand up for them. —Courtesy Arab News

The views expressed by the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper KARACHI Office No 402 4th Floor Alflah Court, I.I. Chundrigar Road. Telephone 03213434158 ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI Office No 14 First floor, Qaisar Plaza, Hathi Chowk, Sadar Rawalpindi. Telephone: 0313-5106612 MULTAN 61 Ali Imran Centre Abdali Road. Telephone: 0300-63773133

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OPINION

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

A

Ed Miliband — not America’s poodle

BY MEHDI HASAN

s Britain’s general election approaches, opinion polling suggests that the outcome is too close to call. But most polls in April have given the Labour Party a slender lead over its main rival, the Conservative Party, led by the incumbent prime minister, David Cameron.

If that advantage holds through May 7, Labour’s leader, the 45-year-old Ed Miliband, could claim a considerable accomplishment: The last leader to return an opposition party to power after just one term out of government was Margaret Thatcher, in 1979.

Mr. Miliband has been demonized as “Red Ed” by the right-wing press for daring to stand up to corporate interests and advocate higher taxes on the wealthy. In reality, in time-honored Labour tradition, he is a mainstream social democrat.

But that doesn’t tell the whole story, especially on foreign policy. A Miliband premiership could have big implications for the decades-long transAtlantic alliance. Mr. Miliband could become the first British prime minister in a generation willing to stand up to the United States and chart a distinctive path.

Staking out a different position was one of his first acts after defeating his older brother, David, the former foreign secretary who had backed the invasion of Iraq, in the party leadership election in 2010. Pointedly declaring the war “wrong,” Mr. Miliband said, “Our alliance with America is incredibly important to us, but we must always remember that our values must shape the alliances that we form and any military action that we take.”

Most British politicians are obsessed with the “special relationship” — a phrase coined by Winston Churchill in 1946 — even if their American counterparts are cooler on it. There is an apocryphal story about Churchill’s visit to the White House in 1941 in which President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrived at Churchill’s room unannounced only to discover the British prime minister naked after taking a bath. The president, embarrassed, tried to leave, but Churchill declared: “The prime minister of Great Britain has nothing to conceal from the president of the United States.”

The special relationship phase of the trans-Atlantic alliance reached its zenith in the 1980s, with Margaret Thatcher hailing Ronald Reagan as a “truly great American hero,” while he complimented her as “the best man in England.”

In recent years, Tony Blair hugged Bill Clinton close, and George W. Bush closer still — following the American leader into Afghanistan and Iraq.

On paper, Mr. Miliband should be apt to continue the tradition. He has more ties to America than any prime minister, perhaps, since Churchill. As a child, Mr. Miliband attended school in Boston, while his father, Ralph, a Marxist political scientist, was lecturing at local universities. Taken to Fenway Park, young Ed became a lifelong fan of the Red Sox — despite his father’s regarding baseball as “two and a half hours of mind-destroying boredom.”

In 2002, Mr. Miliband took a sabbatical from his job as a Treasury adviser to teach economics at Harvard. He cites Robert F. Kennedy as his political hero, and as leader, he hired Barack Obama’s election guru, David Axelrod, to advise Labour’s campaign.

But here begins the paradox of the Miliband brand of Atlanticism: Americanophile he is, America’s poodle he is not. “The U.S. has a special place in Ed’s heart,” one of his closest advisers, Stewart Wood, told me. “The relationship must remain strong and close, but it should be a relationship aimed at strengthening multilateralism, not as an alternative to it.”

While Mr. Miliband is an admirer of Mr. Obama, he has diverged frequently, and at times sharply, from the policies of the president.

Take Syria. In August 2013, as Mr. Obama and Mr. Cameron prepared to launch airstrikes against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, in response to a chemical attack on civilians in Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus, Mr. Miliband refused to support military action in a vote in the House of Commons. Arguing against a new “rush to war” and insisting that “the lessons of Iraq” be heeded, the Labour leader inflicted a humiliating parliamentary defeat on Mr. Cameron.

I was watching SkyNews this morning, and discovered that the British politician who most appeals to me is actually … not: it's Nicola...

Time for a new Labour broom to sweep away the Conservatives in their elections on 7 May 2015. Time for Queen Elizabeth II to name Ed...

Since Mr. Miliband appears to be familiar with American "culture", he presumably is acquainted with the unique mindset of republican...

It was said to be the first time since 1782 that a prime minister had lost a vote on military action. Mr. Cameron’s failure to win support for military action against Mr. Assad unquestionably changed the political calculus also for Mr. Obama. He reversed course, proposing to go to Congress for approval of airstrikes, and finally, when that looked dubious, abandoned any military intervention. It should be noted that Mr. Miliband is not antiwar across the board.

In 2011, he backed NATO’s bombing of Libya, and he supports America’s airstrikes against the Islamic State.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, however, Mr. Miliband condemned the Israeli incursion into Gaza last summer, whereas Mr. Obama called mildly for an end to hostilities. In October, Mr. Miliband led 191 Labour members of Parliament as they voted for a motion calling for recognition of “the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel,” again defeating the government — and in marked contrast to the Obama administration’s steady opposition to the Palestinian Authority’s bid for statehood at the United Nations. Distinct from his Tory opposite number and both his Labour predecessors, Mr. Blair and Gordon Brown, Mr. Miliband made the correct call on Iraq, the biggest geopolitical fiasco of our time. The key point is that he isn’t afraid to challenge the foreign policy establishment, even the president of the United States.Election Day beckons. British voters may for the first time elect a leader who is a passionate baseball fan — and also, at last, a prime minister who has the special relationship in correct perspective.

Mehdi Hasan is a presenter for Al Jazeera English and a co-author of “Ed: The Milibands and the Making of a Labour Leader.” – courtesy The New York Times

‘Blessed homeland — unlucky inhabitants’

C

ALI ZAFAR JAFRI

an we name any country having blessed with unimaginable blessings like as an average 11 hours bright sunlight, one of the largest coal reserves, precious metals like gold etc. in Sandak (Balochistan), fresh water in the form of melting of ice and rains in an era of drought around the world, fertile land, four distinct seasons ideal for better growth of variety of crops, more than 50 percent population of youth and last but not the least a talented and hardworking manpower?

Yes, only one country, the Pakistan, our homeland. But how unlucky the inhabitants , we the Pakistanis, of this homeland are, overcastted by hunger with more than 60 percent population living below poverty line, death in miserable conditions due to non availability of health facilities , lowest literacy rate, declining educational standards to the extent that none of our seat of higher learning find its place among top 500 universities of the world, highest unemployment rate, sectarian and religious intolerance to the extent of becoming security threat to the country and last but not the least making entire nation mentally sick clearly reflected in talk shows of TVs which only highlight negativity and unluckily people also like such programs as they do not see any escape from hardships.

More than 67 years have passed but none of the stakeholders of the state have bothered to analyse the reasons of failure of their hi if development plans announced in the name of changing the fate of the poor to a respectable status.

At the end of the day, poor people feel themselves further sinking into the sea of poverty in contrast to ever increasing and flourishing business empires in personal capacity of the stakeholder having control of state affairs. It is for the

According to press reports, the government has decided to ban the import of LNG by private companies and only Pakistan State Oil will import it. This decision is against the government’s policy of privatization and free market.

Why does the government want to have monopoly of natural gas and LNG? The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) must take action to protect consumers’ right of choice. The only possible reason seems to be that the government has a political and financial interest. It is now a fact that greater the government control, greater the corruption. It is due to the government’s wrong policies that there is rampant corruption as a result of which a majority of Pakistanis are deprived of basic necessity of life, which is the responsibility of the state to provide its citizens. Good governance demands that the government’s role should be of a neutral regulator and it should protect the rights of people. It is not the government’s job to manage businesses. The government

should allow the private sector to play its role freely.

TARIQ MANZOOR LAHORE

One dish rule

In Punjab our chief minister has made one-dish rule on weddings to stop the wastage of food and to finish the evil customs as rich people used to display large varieties of food, because of which the middle class had to suffer and provide a number of dishes in their weddings as well. This was initially a good rule made for the betterment for people but it has not facilitated people as it was intended. Because the prices of food in the weddings is the same as it was before the rule. The only people who have benefitted from this law are wedding hall owners who are making a lot of money. But the public has to spend the same amount of money as before the law. As compared to Punjab cities like Karachi offer a lot of dishes at the same price. The government should consider that if a law has been made it should be properly applied and facilitate people.

MALIK SOHAIL LAHORE

simple reason that reign of the state from 1948 remained in the hands of Haves, who initially opposed independence movement, but Pakistan emerged on the map of the world, they immediately changed their loyalties, joined PML and because of their feudal control over most the West Pakistan, sought positions in govt. machinery and later to rule the country was considered as inherent right. Present political scenario clearly reflects this inherent ownership where same political faces can be seen shunting from one to the other party to remain in power. With feudal lords, industrialists and armed forces known as establishment also succeeded in making their place among stakeholders of the state. But these two entrants are also backed by feudal lords.

These stakeholders simply look towards their interests, fix priorities which suit to their living in Pakistan and expanding their business abroad.

Though they raise slogans to eradicate miseries of poor in election campaigns or eradicate corruption when establishment take control of govt. but as none of them have experienced hunger and hardships of life, so as they come to power, on one or the other pretext, they launch policies which make poor more poor and rich more rich. This strategy is continued with such consistency that now people have accepted their miserable condition as their fate. It is for this reason that there are dumps of illegal arms and ammunition among thickly populated areas and whenever terrorists want, play havoc with life at places of choice.

It is further verified by the facts that we have not seen any demonstration to provide shelter, jobs and against price hike of consumable products needed for daily life. Realizing the indifferent attitude of people on govt. policies, it appears that govt. is intentionally

making such policies which further weaken state enterprises like steel mill. Railway, PIA etc etc and on one day, God forbid, they may put Pakistan on sale. Even today if we look priorities of state development policies, they are confined to non productive ventures like metro buses/trains, Azadi interchange, etc etc. which simply elevate the infrastructure of big cities where under shade of same infrastructure, homeless people take shelter.

It is irony of the nation that in a blessed homeland, most of the population is struggling for one time meal, people die of hunger and diseases in areas like Thar, millions of people become homeless with loss of life, crops and domestic animals in floods and in the 21st century where there is defined system of forecasting climatic conditions, we cannot save life and property of those calamities which can be forecasted. On 8th October, 2014, Dr. Samar Mubarakmand was disclosing in an interview on Geo TV that 1000s of MW electricity can be produced for indefinite period from our Thar coal reserves. For this project, govt. approved funding of 9 billion rupees to produce 100MW, but by this time only 1.9 billion rupees have been released. Look, this the priority of the govt.

Govt. can spend 70 billion rupees on mega non productive projects but cannot release fund for energy production, which is the backbone of development of any country. No exception, all governments. When come into power abolish old projects, do not even bother to maintain the already completed projects, and instead launch new ones for the simple reason to get kickbacks from huge investments or to get tenders by their own firms running in share with others. It is too much. It is the time for non political writers, thinkers to use

your writings repeatedly to make stakeholders of the state realize of their duties to converge them towards removal of poverty, uplift socio-economic scenario of rural areas, make use of modern technology to produce energy and exploit and utilize natural resources for the overall improvement of economic conditions of the country.

To claim rising reserves of foreign exchange by depositing loans from donor agencies and by selling national assets by the govt. is not development, it is befooling the people.

For development, govt. will have to revisit its developmental priorities as under: initial focus should be on production of energy by any means may be thermal/nuclear/hydal as it is the driving force of industry, erect agriculture based industries in rural areas , spread network of quality education institutions and state of the art health centres in rural areas, construct farm to market carpeted roads, construct water reservoirs (dams) to store water in an era of international droughtstored water to prevent it from becoming curse when it becomes flood and destroys life and property, instead transform it to blessing to irrigate our crops in periods of drought , which can also be used to produce hydel energy , give incentives to talented youth of better and respectable employment on completion of education to stop brain drain, introduce merit and only merit for admissions and recruitment and abolish quota system . Once these rural areas are developed to the extent that urban migration is stopped, then divert development plans for urban areas.

Such policies can change the fate of poor people and insha- Allah time will come when this blessed homeland will be enlightened with peace and prosperity.

Inside Yarmouk — IS deepens Palestinian misery

F

BY JAMAL

or weeks, Islamic State (IS) militants, aided by Al Nusra Front, waged a street war in Syria's Yarmouk refugee camp against Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis, an anti-government battalion.

Snipers targeted anything that moved. The Syrian government also launched aerial attacks targeting civilian areas, including dropping about 50 barrel bombs, two of them on Palestinian Hospital this month. Reports that Islamic State has left Yarmouk are inaccurate; it has merely redistributed its forces in the camp and Al Nusra remains as well. The residents' situation is still dire.

The Islamic State attacks started April 1, but the Assad regime first sealed off Yarmouk from the outside world in 2013. This 2-year-long siege made me feel old before my time. I was born in Yarmouk in 1989 and lived there until recently, when I had to leave for my safety.

Yarmouk is where more than 180,000 Palestinians once lived, made refugees in 1948 by the creation of Israel. All but 14,000 to 15,000 have now fled. Not allowed to return to land and homes taken from us decades ago, those who remain are trapped and are struggling desperately to stave off the Islamic State assault.

The Syrian government has declared the camp a war zone and overseen the systematic destruction of our heritage, houses and future. It has prevented aid deliveries, which means

LETTERS TO EDITOR

New corruption of CCP

D3

Teaching techniques

The number of MPhils and PhDs has increased manifold in the last five years.

The qualification required for getting a job in a university has also been upgraded from being a master’s degreeholder to MPhil/MS and PhD. There is no harm in upgrading the criteria. The question is: whether a fresh MPhil, MS and PhD degree holder can effectively transfer knowledge as compared to an experienced teacher having a master’s degree. It becomes difficult for a teacher, who has been teaching for many years, to suddenly start studying again in order to fulfil the criteria of universities. Moreover, they have ample experience to teach students of undergraduate, as well as postgraduate, level effectively.

They can easily be offered contractbased jobs, if not made full-time faculty members. Closing the doors on these teachers does not make a university a better place to study. Teaching is a practical job which not only requires knowledge but also needs a sound teaching methodology to clearly convey the concepts in the subject matter to students. MPhil and PhD may increase

doors to Palestinian refugees, even as they take in Syrians.

We used to chant, “The Syrians and the Palestinians are one,” and the Syrians who have helped shelter our displaced are our brothers. Yet we Palestinians face an even greater uncertainty than our Syrian friends. We need more than temporary shelter — after all, that is what Yarmouk was supposed to be.

In our greatest hour of need in 66 years, we want to return home, to Pales-

no medical supplies for the wounded, no food for the survivors; water was cut off in September. By 2014, at least 200 camp residents had died, most of starvation, as reported by Amnesty International.

“I am thirsty — we haven't had water for some days now. After all this, will we die from water scarcity?” was the message a friend, trapped in a different part of Yarmouk, texted me recently.

More than half a million Palestinian refugees in Syria yearn to return home to Palestine. Yet that option -that right -- is not raised in the West.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency wrote this month that the “people are starving and terrified” in Yarmouk. It called on “the international community, including the United Nations Security Council, to take swift political action to ensure that all civilians are protected in accordance with the U.N. charter and international law. Failure to do so could lead to the gravest and most appalling of consequences for civilians in Yarmouk.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon called Yarmouk “the deepest circle of hell” in Syria. It is, he said, “beginning to resemble a death camp.”

Before the Islamic State attacks, even amid all the violence and deprivation forced on us by the Assad regime, my friends and I had managed to create a semblance of a livable existence. We planted a garden and distributed food to our neighbors.

We established courses on citizenship

and human rights, on first aid, on project management, planning and implementation. We also established support projects for children. The Islamic State militants, however, had no interest in our initiatives. They destroyed our media office and those of relief organizations in Yarmouk.

More than half a million Palestinian refugees in Syria yearn to return home to Palestine. Yet that option — that right — is not raised in the West.

Jewish immigration is allowed all

knowledge but does not necessarily inculcate teaching techniques into students. Therefore, the minimum criterion for applying to a university should a standard master’s degree so that an experienced segment of the educational fraternity can have a chance to teach at the highest level.

NADIA KHAN PESHAWER

in Karachi and the mass of students who apply there is immense, which means most of them will be rejected. The government should seriously consider building more medical schools.

Last week during my lecture at a local IsSYED ALI RAZA SYED lamabad-based university, I was remindKARACHI ed of some famous lines of former US President John F Kennedy who once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”Against this wisdom, when I think about the role and contribution of our Pakistani rulers, Turbat, the second largest city of bureaucrats, especially, retired and rehired Balochistan, is suffering from internet ones, I can without any doubt say that they connectivity problems. Presently, most all have given crime, corruption, misof the official works like online banking, management and misuse of resources to bill management, money transfer, news the country. They have done nothing to reporting, etc, are carried out through the change the fate of the ordinary people, parinternet, but the people face many com- ticularly in the rural areas of Sindh and plications in their work due to the non- Balochistan. They have done nothing for our future generations but only and only availability of the internet.

The residents of Turbat pay their tele- for their families and kith and kin, both at phone and internet bills regularly on home and abroad. It is disgraceful for this time but the system hardly works prop- society to produce such a breed of rulers, erly. Despite several complaints to the bureaucrats and technocrats. However, the concerned department, the problem of relevant organizations must do some soul internet connectivity has not been re- searching and strive to give selfless leadsolved. Therefore, I request the con- ers to this country who may take this nacerned authorities to intervene and re- tion to new horizons of peace, progress and solve the problem as soon as possible. prosperity.

ALI HASHAM GHORI MANSOOR AHMED HUSSAINI ISLAMABAD TURBAT

Increase number of medical school

I would like to request the government to take action in building more medical schools in the country. Students nowadays are passionate about their career.

They are told to do as much as they can to uplift the country how can they help when there are not enough educational institutions for them? This tragedy was even more depressing for the schoolmates as some of them got into private medical colleges while some of them even refused to continue studies.

I was a victim of the same tragedy but I moved on and got admission in another university alongside many other people with the same problem. There are only four public sector medical schools

Please send your letters to editor@thefrontierpost.pk

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency wrote this month that the “people are starving and terrified” in Yarmouk. It called on “the international community to take swift political action to ensure that all civilians are protected in accordance with the UN charter and international law. Failure to do so could lead to the gravest and most appalling of consequences for civilians in Yarmouk.” over the world, but Palestinian refugees are not allowed home. “Born Palestinian, Born Black,” as Palestinian poet Suheir Hammad says. We are, in Western eyes, inferior.

Our cause is rhetorically deemed sacred to the Syrians who wield power, as well as to the Arab kings and presidents who praise it. But they do little or nothing to reverse our limited rights and dispossession. No neighboring Arab country will open its

tine. And if that is too much for the international community to bear, we need to be evacuated to a place where we can live with dignity and rights, and without fear of yet another Nakba, another catastrophic dispossession.

Jamal is a Palestinian Syrian human rights activist who was recently displaced from Yarmouk after an Islamic State attack on the camp. His full name is withheld to protect his safety. Courtesy Los Angeles Times

Selfless leadership

Issue of Internet connectivity

BUSINESS

D4

TUESDAY

APRIL 21, 2015

Italy to pay $52b of state debt to companies ROME: Italy's caretaker government

Visitors look at a benz concept car during the 2015 shanghai International automobile exhibition in shanghai. about 2,000 automobile enterprises from 18 countries and regions participated in the exhibition that kicks off on monday. –FP Photo

Oil prices rise in Asian trade SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose in Asia

Monday, fuelled by sustained unrest in the crude-rich Middle East, while also gaining support on hopes that declining US production will ease a global supply glut, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for May delivery gained 78 cents to $56.52 while Brent crude for June gained 77 cents to $64.22 in latemorning trade.

"Escalating conflicts in Yemen, a drop in the US rig count and weak US inventory data led to benchmark prices making significant gains," said Sanjeev Gupta, head of the Asia-Pacific oil and gas practice at business consultancy firm EY. Clashes between rebels and pro-government forces, and Saudi-led air strikes, killed at least 85 people in Yemen on Sunday, medics and military sources said.

Yemen is a small crude producer that sits along the Bab al-Mandab Strait, through which about 3.8 million barrels of oil per day are transported.

The country has been gripped by turmoil since Shiite rebels launched a power takeover in Sanaa in February.

Dealers are also reading a drop in US oil rig activity as a sign of a production slowdown that could alleviate global oversupply and push prices up, analysts said.

The latest count by Baker Hughes showed rigs targeting US crude dropped by 26 to 734 last week, Bloomberg News reported.

Oil prices rallied last week on news that US shale output may be on the cusp of easing.

Crude prices collapsed more than 50 percent between June and January owing to the oversupply and weak demand. –FP Monitoring

Cyprus might need yet more liquidity, says ECB policymaker BERLIN: The Cyprus bailout shows

banks can be wound down despite difficulties, European Central Bank (ECB) policymaker Jens Weidmann said in an interview broadcast, adding the situation on the island had stabilized.

Weidmann, chief of Germany's Bundesbank, told Deutschlandfunk radio he wouldn't rule out that Cyprus might need yet more liquidity, but stressed it was longer term structural reforms that would solve Nicosia's problems and not more cash.

To secure a 10 billion euro EU/IMF bailout last month, Cyprus forced heavy losses on wealthier depositors. Initially it had also pledged to introduce a levy on deposits of less than 100,000 euros before reneging in the face of protests.

The agreement also includes the wind-

hired at the weakest pace in nine months in March, a sign tax hikes that kicked in early this year as part of Washington's austerity drive could be stealing momentum from the economy. Payrolls expanded by just 88,000 last month outside the farming sector, the Labor Department said That was well below market expectations for a 200,000 increase and fell short of even the most pessimistic forecast in a poll. The jobless rate ticked a tenth of a point lower to 7.6 percent largely due to people dropping out of the work force.

"The U.S. economy just hit a major speed bump," said Marcus Bullus, trading director at MB Capital in London.

Some of the weakness appeared due to higher tax rates that took effect in January. While recent reports have pointed to relatively buoyant retail sales in January and February, the data showed retailers actually cut staff in March by 24,100, making it the hardest-hit sector last month.

Moreover, the government said hiring in the retail sector was weaker in January and February than initially thought.

The report rattled investors and sent U.S. stocks lower, contributing to the biggest

ly drafting a directive on bank safety which would incorporate the issue of investor liability in member states' legislation. Weidmann warned that the appetite for making structural reforms in Europe was waning, and this posed a problem.

Commenting on Italy he said although the country seemed to be functioning on auto-pilot and sticking to measures already agreed, so long as it lacked a government it would trigger uncertainty over whether it could tackle its problems.

"It is not that we have too little liquidity in the euro zone or that the central banks have not been active ... the problems are rather a lack of competitiveness in certain countries and doubts over financial sustainability. We need to fix this, and only governments can do that," he said. –FP Monitoring

Grilli said the government planned to examine its fiscal performance again in September and the Economy Ministry would be able to adopt corrective measures if the deficit looked likely to breach the "precautionary" limit of 2.9 percent. He said payments to companies could begin as soon as the decree is published officially.

Grilli is due to meet European Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn in Brussels to explain the new measures, a government source said. Monti said he was hopeful Rome would be able in May to exit the European Commission's excessive deficit procedure, which imposes corrective measures on countries that exceed the deficit threshold.

Italy has been in political limbo for weeks with no party able to form a government while economic problems pile up. Public finance data so far this year has not been encouraging, with borrowing in the first quarter higher than the same period of 2012.

The government says settling the bills will provide a cash injection for an economy now stuck in its longest recession for 20 years.

But it has proved difficult to find the money to pay the companies, most in the healthcare and construction sectors, which have total accumulated claims estimated by the Bank of Italy at some 90 billion euros at the end of 2011.

Italy will raise its target for government bond issuance in 2013 and 2014 to pay off a portion of the outstanding debts, a senior Treasury source said.

Some industry groups criticised the decree. "The proposed mechanism makes it almost impossible for firms to recover what they are owed," said Carlo Sangalli, head of the small business association Rete Imprese Italia.

Giorgio Squinzi, head of Italy's biggest employers' lobby, Confindustria, told SkyTG24 television he wanted to see the final text of the decree, but warned that Italy was in a "desperate crisis" and "immediate action" was necessary.

Italy's biggest trade union, CGIL, said the decree, though slow to arrive, was a "positive signal that could provide oxygen to an economic system in serious difficulties". –FP Monitoring

‘Green’ car maker fires 75 percent of workforce

BETROIT: Fisker Automotive, the strug-

gling government-backed hybrid sports car maker, terminated most of its rank-and-file employees in what sources said was a last-ditch effort to conserve cash and stave off a potential bankruptcy filing.

Fisker, which raised $1.2 billion from investors and tapped nearly $200 million in government loans, has "at least" $30 million in cash on hand, according to a source familiar with the company's finances.

About 160 workers were fired at a meeting at Fisker's Anaheim, California, headquarters, according to a source who attended the meeting. They were told that the company could not afford to give them severance payments.

Fisker confirmed in a statement that it let go about 75 percent of its workforce but did not specify the number of work-

Weak job gains hurt economic outlook

WASHINGTION: American employers

ing down of the island's second-largest bank Cyprus Popular Bank.Cyprus' bailout was not a template, Weidmann said, due to the large size of its financial sector, although it was crucial that those who bore responsibility for getting banks into trouble bore some liability.

"It is important to draw the lesson from Cyprus that banks can be wound up, despite all the difficulties along the way in working out the program. This is a positive signal, and should help limit uncertainty," he said. Weidmann pointed to discussions at European level on a directive for dealing with failed banks. "We can't always rescue banks which have got into difficulties with taxpayers' money. It is about winding down banks in such a way that it doesn't endanger the financial system."

The European Commission is current-

said it would pay $52 billion that the state owes to private companies over the next 12 months, while vowing to stick within the European Union's deficit limit.

The cabinet approved a decree intended to provide funds to cashstrapped firms and help tackle a deep recession in the euro zone's thirdlargest economy. But some industry groups said it would be difficult for businesses to claim their money despite the measures.

The massive backlog of bills unpaid

by Italy's public administration has long been a complaint by companies, which are having difficulty raising credit from banks that are facing increasingly tight credit conditions themselves. Prime Minister Mario Monti said that delayed payment of bills was "an unacceptable situation that has been accepted for a long time".

Monti, who continues to lead a caretaker government after an inconclusive February election, has been in talks with the European Commission, which is concerned about the impact the decree will have on Italy's deficit and its massive public debt.

The measures were originally due to be approved but were delayed due to doubts over how they would be funded. Monti said the government was committed to remaining within the European Union's fiscal deficit ceiling of 3 percent of gross domestic product.

"Economic policy is not changing course, and we don't believe that to revive the economy you have to create more public debt," he told a news conference. Last month the government eased its deficit target for this year to 2.9 percent of GDP from a previous target of 1.8 percent, partly to allow the payments to private firms.

Local authorities lacking their own resources to pay bills will receive money from the central state, and will be asked to set out a plan to reimburse it within 30 years.

"We have to follow a path between the two requirements: to help our economy to recover ... and to maintain budget discipline," Economy Minister Vittorio Grilli said. "It's a narrow path but a path that is absolutely viable."

ers affected. It called the move "a necessary strategic step in our efforts to maximize the value of Fisker's core assets."

"Unfortunately we have reached a point where a significant reduction in our workforce has become necessary," Fisker said, adding that it was still searching for a strategic partner.

The mass termination triggered a lawsuit seeking class-action status from angry former employees. A lawyer for the fired employees said he expects the company to file for bankruptcy "sooner rather than later."

A Fisker representative could not immediately answer questions on the company's financial position. In the past, the automaker has declined to comment on the possibility of a bankruptcy restructuring.

The layoffs, which hit departments in-

cluding engineering, public relations and marketing, are the latest symptom of Fisker's cash crunch. In late March, Fisker put its entire US workforce on furlough. It also hired law firm Kirkland & Ellis to advise on a possible bankruptcy filing.

Fiskersked 53 senior managers and executives to stay on board, primarily to pursue buyers for the company's assets, according to the source who attended the meeting in Anaheim.

The remaining Fisker executives also are continuing negotiations with the U.S. Department.

The class action is one of several challenges Fisker has faced over the past month. In March, company founder Henrik Fisker abruptly resigned, citing "several major disagreements" with top management.

The lawsuit accuses the automaker of

violating the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification or WARN Act, which requires 60 days' notice for mass layoffs. The lawsuit seeks 60 days' worth of unpaid wages and other benefits, as well as interest.

Jack Raisner, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said that the termination is a "harbinger" of likely bankruptcy.

Raisner, who represented employees of Solyndra, the government-backed solar panel maker that terminated its employees shortly before filing for bankruptcy in 2011, said Fisker's current situation is similar to Solyndra's final days. "It feels like almost deja vu," he said.

The Energy Department's loan program has been under scrutiny ever since Solyndra's bankruptcy. Since then, other U.S.-backed companies have gone bankrupt, notably Fisker's battery sup-

plier formerly known as A123 Systems and now called B456 Systems Inc. Fisker, which was founded in 2007, hopes to renegotiate a DOE loan payment due on April 22, which the source familiar with Fisker's finances said was around $10 million.

In 2009, the DOE awarded Fisker a $529 million loan as part of a U.S. program to finance advanced vehicle development. Fisker pledged its assets, including equipment and property, as collateral on the DOE loan, according to the loan agreement dated September 18, 2009.

The company's flagship vehicle, the $100,000-plus Karma plug-in hybrid, quickly won accolades for its styling and cachet with celebrities, including pop star Justin Bieber and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who is also an investor in the company. –FP Monitoring

weekly decline for share prices this year.

Benchmark Treasury debt yields fell to their lowest this year and the dollar declined against a basket of currencies.

It was unclear whether across-theboard federal budget cuts that began in March played a role in the weak pace of hiring, although nervousness over the cuts might have made businesses shy about taking on more staff.

Some economists cautioned against reading too much into the report, though the data nonetheless raised questions over whether the strong hiring seen in the winter actually meant the economy had shifted into a higher gear.

"We don't think there is enough signal here to conclude the U.S. economy is wobbling. Rather, it appears that the underlying trend has not improved as much as the January-February data suggested," said Julia Coronado, an economist at BNP Paribas in New York.

March's slowdown in job growth could make policymakers at the Federal Reserve more confident about continuing a bond-buying stimulus program.

Prior advances in the labor market recovery had fueled discussion at the central bank over whether to dial back the purchases, perhaps as soon as this a little girl and her grandmother look at Japan's high-tech giant Toshiba's humanoid robot "aiko Chihira" at the head store of Nihonbashi mitsukoshi department inJapan, april 20, 2015. The android is in charge of the reception at the department store from april 20-21. —FP Photo summer. –FP Monitoring

TUESDAY

www.thefrontierpost.pk

APRIL 21, 2015

Senate urges Balochistan to take measures for uplift ISLAMABAD: Senate on Monday unanimously urged the provincial government of Balochistan to take effective steps for the development of livestock sector in the province.

The resolution was moved by Senator Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel.The House unanimously adopted it as the treasury did not oppose the resolution.

Responding to the resolution Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan said the government was ready to facilitate Balochistan for enhancing livestock development.

Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan urged increasing the export of livestock to other provinces of the countries. Mean-

saNaa: a man tries to put out the fire in sanaa. at least 60 people were killed and 49 others wounded on monday morning in one of the fiercest air raids by saudi-led coalition forces that began more than three weeks ago. —FP monitoring

19 mine sweepers abducted in Afghanistan

NEPRA grants license to Reshma Power Generation Ltd for 96.96 MW

GARDEZ: Unknown armed abducted 19

ISLAMABAD: National Electric Power

mine sweepers of a mine clearing agency in Afghan province of Paktia with Gardez as its capital 100 km south of Kabul on Sunday, deputy to provincial police chief, Mohammad Zaman, said Monday. "The gruesome incident took place on Gardez-Zarmat road and the unidentified armed men took 19 people working for a land mine clearance agency to unknown location," Zaman told Xinhua.

He added that joint efforts by police and tribal elders had been underway to secure the safe release of the abductees. However, the official didn't blame any group for the abduction.

Taliban militants are active in parts of the mountainous Paktia province bordering Pakistan's lawless tribal area of Wazirastan. —FP Monitoring

15 Afghan Taliban killed in 24 hours: MoI KABUL: Units of Afghan national police backed by the army have killed 15 Taliban militants during series of operations across the conflict-ridden country over the past 24 hours, Ministry of Interior said in a statement released here Monday.

During the operations conducted in Baghlan, Paktiya, Nangarhar, Kunar, Takhar, Faryab, Jowzjan, Kandahar, Laghman, Kunduz, Herat, Farah and Helmand provinces, 10 more insurgents were wounded and 22 others were arrested, the statement said.

However, the statement didn't say if there were casualties on security personnel. —FP Monitoring

Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has granted power generation license to Reshma Power Generation (Pvt.) Limited (RPGPL) for its 96.96 MW RFO based generation facility.

The license was granted in pursuant to Section 15 of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act (XL of 1997), said a press release issued here on Monday.

The sustainable and affordable electric

Siraj demands biometric machines again KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) head

Siraj-ul-Haq again called for the installation of biometric system for the byelections of NA-246, Karachi scheduled to be held on April 23.

Speaking to media persons on Monday, Haq said his party wants to see free and fair elections. “If government can carry out biometric verification of cellular phone SIMs across the country, why it can’t arrange biometric machines in one constituency,” he said. Haq also urged the MQM’s supporters to give Jamaat-eIslami a chance in the by-election.

“There is no war in NA-246. We all are taking part in a friendly by-election,” he said. “If nation wants to bring about real change, it should change the existing leadership,” he said. The JI chief has urged the nation to learn from the experience of developed countries. “Corrupt politics and country cannot go along,” he said. On the other hand, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ruled out the possibility of using biometric machines in NA-246. —FP Monitoring

power is a key for socio-economicdevelopment of any country.

The Economic Growth of any Country is directly linked with the availability of safe, secure, reliable and cheaper supply of electricity.

Presently, the country is also facing Supply-Demand Gap. More capacity addition at reasonable cost is necessary.

In this regard, concrete efforts are being made to set up electric power projects using cheaper fuels including Coal,

Liquefied Natural Gas-LNG and Hydel.

The construction/installation of new Power Plants is a lengthy laborious task which cannot be completed in days.

In fact such activities involve minimum of 18-24 months of construction time from Financial Close which itself is a process of 6-12 months after the determination of tariff. —FP Monitoring

Lebanon gets first shipment of French weapons

BEIRUT: Lebanon received on Monday

the first shipment of three billion U.S. dollars worth of French arms under a Saudi-financed deal to boost the country's defensive capabilities to combat terror threats.

The handover ceremony held at Beirut's international airport was attended by French and Lebanese ministers of defense and other senior officials.

Visiting French Defense Minister JeanYves Le Drian said that around 60 French officers will arrive in Lebanon to oversee the training of Lebanese troops and the implementation of the aid program, adding that "the second batch of weapons will arrive next month."

"We aim at modernizing and restructuring the security forces to enable it to enter a new era of leading military operations", Le Drian said.

He praised the Lebanese army's efforts to prevent terrorists from infiltrating the country and the significant role it plays in its war against terrorism.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri said at the ceremony that the kingdom's financing came as Lebanon faces more challenges than ever, adding that "the Kingdom will support the Lebanese army and legitimacy in Lebanon." France is expected, according to the deal entirely funded by Saudi Arabia, to deliver 250 combat and transport vehicles, seven Cougar helicopters, three small Corvette warships and a range of surveillance and communications equipment over four years.

The contract also promises seven years of training for the Lebanese army and 10 years of equipment maintenance.

Lebanon has faced mounting spill-over threats resulting from the Syrian crisis, most notably the five-day clashes between the army and the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State militants on the eastern border town of Arsal. —FP Monitoring

SC adjourns Qadri’s petition till May SHEHRYAR MALIK ISLAMABAD: ISLAMABAD: A two member bench at the Supreme Court here in Islamabad on Monday adjourned the hearing of Malik Mumtaz Qadri, killer of the former governor Punjab Salman Taseer till May 2015.

The hearing was scheduled to be on Monday, but was adjourned by a twomember bench of apex court, which directed the government to file their appeal as well.

A brief synopsis of the case is that Mumtaz Qadri, the convicted murderer of Salman Taseer had filed an appeal in The Supreme Court earlier this month asking for the reduction in his punishment and challenging his death sentence, claiming through his lawyer that the matter was of religious provocation and not murder. Previously in October 2011, an anti-terrorist court (ATC) in Rawalpindi sentenced Qadri on two death counts un-

Monday fought back the Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's oil-rich province of Kirkuk, while the Iraqi forces continued their battles against the extremist militants in the country's central province of Salahudin, security source said.

In Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, the Kurdish security forces, known as Peshmerga, repelled an attack by the IS militants on two villages near the town Daqouq, some 40 km south of the provincial capital city of Kirkuk, leaving at least five Peshmerga members killed and 16 others wounded, a Kurdish security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The extremist militants started their attack with suicide bombers and mortar barrage on the Peshmerga positions in the two villages and were followed with dozens of IS militants armed with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades, the source said without giving further details about the IS casualties.

The battles in Kirkuk came a day after the Peshmerga forces carried out an offensive in the area and managed to free several villages near Daqouq, the source added.

In Salahudin province, the security forces and allied Shiite and Sunni militias backed by Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition aircraft continued their fighting

der section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and section 7 of Anti-terrorism Act (ATA), with the later one being declared void by Islamabad High Court (IHC) subsequently. The then government had submitted an application, which was withdrawn owing to some amendments to be made in the same.

It is pertinent to note here that the death penalty given by ATC under Section 302 of PPC was upheld by IHC which was appealed by Qadri’s Lawyers, while the penalty under section 7 of ATA was appealed by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Government. The twomember bench comprised of Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Umar Ata Bandia who adjourned the hearing till May 2015, asking the government to submit their appeal against IHC’s decision in order for the bench to hold both hearings simultaneously.

Saudi Arabia on Defence secretary alert over possible meets Egyptian oil or mall attack Army chief RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has put securi-

ty forces on alert for a possible militant attack on a shopping mall or energy installation, the Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour Turki said on Monday.

"There was information about a possible act targeting a mall or Aramco installations. We passed this information to the security forces to be on alert," he said. —FP Monitoring

15 killed after strikes on Yemen arms depot

Federal Secretary Defence, Lt-Gen (retd) Muhammad Alam Khattak held one-on-one meeting with Egyptian Army Chief Mehmood Hegazi and Secretary Defence Egypt General Sedqi Sobhi Sayed in Cairo on Monday.

The meetings were held on the sidelines of 9th Military Cooperation Committee meeting held in Cairo. Pakistani delegation was headed by Secretary Defence, LtGen (retd) Muhammad Alam Khattak, according to a message received here.

During the meetings it was agreed that bilateral ties between Egypt and Pakistan are of significant importance. "Both sides need to expand and strengthen all aspects of bilateral relations including defence and defence production", said Secretary Defence adding that there is a potential between the two countries to explore new avenues of mutual cooperation, close relations between the two countries base upon similarity of views on all important regional and international issues.

The meeting ended with the hope that the MCC will continue on reciprocal basis and prove beneficial in enhancing defence ties between Pakistan and Egypt. —FP Monitoring

RAWALPINDI:

SANAA: At least 15 civilians were killed in explosions that followed an air strike

by Saudi-led coalition warplanes on a missile depot in the rebel-held Yemeni capital, medics said. Dozens others were wounded, medics said, as scores of nearby houses and vehicles were destroyed after the raid on the base on Fajj Attan hill, south of Sanaa, witnesses said. The base belongs to the missile brigade of the elite Republican Guard, which remains loyal to former president for the third successive day to free west- Ali Abdullah Saleh. —FP Monitoring ern part of the town of Baiji, after the troops managed on Saturday to free the eastern and the central parts of the town, a provincial security source anonymously told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, the troops continued their clearing operation in Iraq's largest oil refinery, just north of Baiji, as sporadic clashes are underway with individual IS fighters who still hiding in some buildings inside the refinery, the source said.

On Saturday, Jasim Jbara, head of the security committee of Salahudin provincial council, told Xinhua that the Iraqi The Frontier Post and Daily Maidan forces "have completely liberated the vast are looking for fresh news and oil refinery of Baiji after they drove out programme anchorpersons for their the IS militants." upcoming Urdu and Pashtu TV The battles of the oil refinery and the channels. Interested candidates nearby Baiji were part of a large-scale should immediately contact with their operation launched Wednesday aiming degrees and latest photographs. to recapture areas seized by IS militants in Salahudin, particularly after the militants progressed inside the huge oil facility on Tuesday. rehmatshahafridi@outlook.com Phone 042-36300931-4 Separately, Iraqi forces and Shiite militias, known as Hashid Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization, carried out clearing operations in the rural areas between Salahudin's provincial capital city of Tikrit, some 170 km north of Baghdad, and Samarra, about 50 km south of Tikrit, the source said. —FP Monitoring

Kurdish forces repel IS attack in Kirkuk, clashes continue in Salahudin province

BAGHDAD: Kurdish security forces on

while speaking after moving a motion urging the government to provide facilities to hospitals of the federal capital, Ms Sehar Kamran said the budget allocation for providing medicines to government run hospitals must be enhanced. Speaking on a resolution urging the government to take effective measures to ensure implementation of National Action Plan, moved by Ms Sitara Ayaz, the Senators showered glowing tributes to armed forces of Pakistan for making serious efforts to eliminate terrorists and urged the government to further fine tune NAP and concentrate on its implementation. —FP Monitoring

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