The Frontier Post E-Paper 13 March, 2015

FRIDAY, march 13, 2015

A POST OF HOPE Former Afghan presidential candidate found dead PAGE B4

Vol.XXX No.249

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Fawad Khan demands two crore for Pakistani flick

AB De Villiers enters World Cup top-10 scorers’ list

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Lahore Edition

Army has broken back of terrorists: PM Nawaz endorses Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2014 and National Commission on Rights of Child Act 2014

ISLAMABAD

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said Nawaz said on Thursday the Operation Zarb-e-Azb has broken the back of terrorists.

According to a PM’s House statement, he was talking to Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi who called on him at the PM’s House.

The PM said with the change of leadership in Afghanistan the two countries have commenced a historic new phase in their bilateral ties, while agreeing to overcome the past and building a forward-looking relationship based on mutual trust.

Nawaz said that Pakistan's focus was on enhanced political engagement, security and counter-terrorism cooperation, trade and economic partnership and regional cooperation.

He termed terrorism a common enemy of the two countries and said it requires common endeavours to defeat it.

"We have a commitment not to allow our territories to be used against each other. Pakistan is in favour of an Afghanowned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process," he said.

Balkhi said it is a blessing for the entire region that the PM is a visionary leader who has prioritized establish-

tricity in the country, a press release issued from the PM’s Office read.

The body was briefed about the progress made so far on two power plants of 660MW in Jamshoro. It was also informed that financial arrangements have been made and the project will be undertaken after international competitive bidding.

Separately, Nawaz approved Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2014 and National Commission on Rights of Child Act 2014 for presenting in parliament.

Chairing a coordination meeting for taking steps for child welfare, National Commission for Child Welfare and Development (NCCWD) Director General KARACHI: Corps Commander Lietenant General Naveed Mukhtar inspects weapons during his visit to Rangers Hassan Mangi said these bills would Headquarters on Thursday. –Online soon be presented in the House.

Meanwhile, Nawaz said that the government has prioritised development in Balochistan and wanted to take all decisions through consultation and cooperation of all parties of the province.

According to an official handout, he was talking to Balochistan National Party-Mengal President Akhtar Mengal who called on him at the PM’s House.

The PM said that the government wanted to provide equal opportunities to the people living in all parts of the country through infrastructure development, especially by constructing better roads KARACHI penalty by the courts. Separately, ex- Obaid alias K2, he said. and highways. –Agencies Separately, at least 27 suspects were plaining the reasons for the raid, Karachi Corps Commander Lieutenant Rangers spokesman Colonel Tahir said presented before an anti-terrorism court General Naveed Mukhtar on Thursday the paramilitary force had informa- on Thursday.

The rangers produced the alleged tarinspected weapons that were seized in tion that Nine Zero had become a novarious targeted operations including go area, a private TV channel reported. get killers, including MQM leader Amir “We also knew that the criminals were Khan and sought their physical remand. those recovered from the Muttahida The judge accepted the application for Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters. present on the premises,” he added.

He also said that the raid was carried 90-day preventive detention.

The corps commander visited Rangers claimed that they appreSindh Rangers Headquarters in out on the orders of the Supreme Court Karachi and met Sindh Rangers and under the powers granted to hended several target killers, including WASHINGTON Faisal Mehmood aka Mota, who was Director General Bilal Akbar who Rangers by the federal government.

A huge quantity of arms and ammu- condemned to death by a court over his The US has said that no NATO weapons briefed him on the law and order.

Mukhtar praised the efforts of Rangers nition, walkie talkies, binoculars and involvement in the murder of television were transported through Karachi.

In a tweet posted on its official officials for successfully carrying out other military gear used by NATO journalist Wali Khan Babar.

MQM’s coordination committee memTwitter account, the US State De- the operations. He affirmed that opera- forces in Afghanistan were also seized partment said that the United States tion against criminals would continue in- during the raid, Rangers spokesman ber Amir Khan is also in the custody of Rangers for investigation.

Colonel Tahir said. and the International Security As- discriminately.

Nadir Shah who is also convicted and “The seized items included Five G3 riMajor General Bilal Akbar said that sistance Force (ISAF) had never used the Karachi port to transport arrested 26 men were wanted in vari- fles, 23 submachine guns, 2 light ma- sentenced 13 years imprisonment, ous cases of murder and extortion.Bi- chine guns, 22 12Bore guns, 19 7MM Farhan Shabbir alias Mullah, Amir, weapons and explosives.

Ubaid K-2 and Nooruddin Subhani are According to Rangers spokesper- lal Akbar said that Rangers raided and guns and 166 TT pistols,” he said.

Other ‘hardened criminals’ arrested among the 26 alleged targeted killers arson Colonel Tahir, ammunition acted as per the ruling of Supreme stolen from NATO containers was Court and mandate given by the gov- during the raid included Kamran alias rested during a series of targeted raids He said such criminals should also be also seized during the search op- ernment of Pakistan and managed to ar- Zeeshan, Farhan Shabir alias Mullah, at surrounding areas of Nine-Zero on rest target-killers sentenced death Aamir, Nadir, Faisal alias Mota and Wednesday. —Agencies tried in the Special Courts established for eration at Nine Zero. –Online dealing with terrorism. To a question, he said he was not campaigning for NA-122 for personal gains. "I won three other constituencies but we want to make an example of NA-122 for future elections."

He said the PTI had no doubt in NADRA's capacities to verify thumbprint as long as they act independently. All rigging allegations would be proved in a istani troops "jointly". month, he claimed. –APP PESHAWAR A Taliban commander in the country's northwest told AFP that representaThree major terrorist groups have put tives of the three militant groups met aside their differences and pledged supsomewhere in eastern Afghanistan and port to the main insurgent group condecided to align after holding several fronting a full-scale military offensive, meetings. Pakistani troops have been ening the goal of complete peace in the city. commanders said on Thursday.

He said all political parties were takgaged in a full-scale offensive against TalThe Pakistan Army has stepped up its en into confidence before starting the tar- fight against terrorists since Taliban iban and other militants in North geted operation in Karachi against crim- gunmen massacred more than 150 peoWaziristan and Khyber tribal districts inals. Nisar said the Rangers' raid at ple, most of them children, at a school in along the Afghan border since last year.

MQM headquarters was within the pa- Peshawar in December.

The school massacre, Pakistan's deadrameters of law and conducted on inliest ever terror attack prompted the govOn Thursday, leaders of Taliban splintelligence-based reports. ernment to announce a tough crackdown ter group Jamatul Ahrar and terrorists He said seminaries were not involved belonging to Lashkar-e-Islam pledged alon militant groups. in terrorism. Law enforcers were mon- legiance to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan A moratorium on executions in terror itoring their working and funding and if (TTP), which claimed responsibility for cases was lifted and the constitution was any seminary was found involved in get- the deadly school shooting. amended to set up military courts for the ting illegal funds, it would be dealt with speedy trial of terrorism cases. The govTTP is led by Mullah Fazlullah, who is according to law. The minister said the believed to have ordered the 2012 shoot- strong Jihadi groups," Ehsanullah Jamat-ul-Ahrar split from TTP last ernment extended the order on Tuesday, Afghan government was cooperating ing that gravely injured Pakistani school- Ehsan, a Jamatul Ahrar spokesman, year but has claimed many attacks directing provincial governments to with Pakistan to arrest banned TTP girl Malala Yousefzai, last year's Nobel said in an emailed statement. Lashkar- against Pakistani troops and Shiite Mus- proceed with hangings for all death row chief Mullah Fazlullah. Nisar said the Peace Prize laureate. e-Islam, led by warlord Mangal Bagh, lims. TTP main spokesman Muhammad prisoners who had exhausted their apgovernment, soon after coming to pow"We congratulate the Ummaat-e- has also joined the alliance, Ehsan said. Khorasani confirmed the re-alliance in peals and clemency petitions. er, activated the National Counter-Ter- Muslima (Muslims across the world) and Twenty-four people have been hanged The group is feared for kidnappings a separate statement sent via email. rorism Authority to eliminate terrorism especially the Mujahideen (holy war- and extortion in Khyber, one of seven Both the spokesmen threatened to since executions were restarted in Defrom the country. –Online riors) of Pakistan for the coalition of tribal districts along the Afghan border. carry out more attacks against Pak- cember. –AFP ment of peace in the region. He regarded this police of the prime minister as history changing.

He said the desire of the Afghan people is to focus on economic development and not to hear the sound of gunshots again.

“We wish our security cooperation deepens and both the countries work as one team, so that terrorists are given a decisive defeat,” he said.

Balkhi said an inter-ministerial Board has been formed in Afghanistan overseeing return of Afghan refugees which is being chaired by President Ashraf Ghani.

He apprised the PM of his earlier meetings in Pakistan at the SAFRON and the Foreign Affairs ministries.

He also conveyed condolences over the tragic attack on Army Public School, Peshawar.

States and Frontier Regions Minister Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Special Adviser to PM Tariq Fatemi and Afghan Ambassador Janan Musazai were also present.

Separately, chairing the 11th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy, the PM said that load shedding in summers should not be more than six hours in cities and eight hours in the rural areas.

He emphasised that measures should be taken for the conservation of elec-

MQM behind killing of Zahra Apa, Wali Babar, says Imran ISLAMABAD

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday alleged that MQM workers were involved in the killing of Zahra Apa and Wali Khan Babar but witness in such crimes could not come forward due to intimidation and lack of security.

He said Rangers raid at the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters was a positive step for restoration of peace in Karachi.

Talking to media after meeting with the NADRA chairman in connection with verification of voters in NA-122, he said.

"The Rangers operation is sign of change for Karachi, it came late but a welcome step towards a free Karachi."

Imran Khan said Rangers operation would lead to freedom of citizens of Karachi from politics of terrorism. "Karachi will once again become the city of lights."

Imran Khan demanded disbandment of political parties involved in keeping illegal weapons and patronising criminals.

‘Pakistan free from Daesh’

ISLAMABAD

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday said there was no presence of Daesh in Pakistan.

Talking to state-run TV, he said the ongoing Karachi operation will continue without any discrimination until achiev-

Nine Zero raid earns praise for Rangers

Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar says operation against criminals will continue indiscriminately

No NATO weapons transported via Karachi: US

3 terrorist groups team up against army Terrorists belonging to Jamatul Ahrar and Lashkar-e-Islam pledge allegiance to TTP

NATIONAL

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AC ORDERS TO VACATE STATE LAND FROM ENCROACHERS

KHANEWAL: Assistant Commissioner has ordered to vacate the state land from squatters, with the direction to register an FIR against 33 squatters under Articles 32/34 of Colony Act. As per detail, 33 persons including Muhammad Sabir captured the state land in Gul Abad Chak 18/8 R. Assistant Commissioner Abid Hussain Bhatti has issued directions to police to clear illegally occupied land and registered an FIR against them. —Our Correspondent

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FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

BODY FORMED TO MONITOR SPRING FESTIVAL KHANEWAL: A special supervisory committee led by Assistant Commissioner Abid Hussain Bhatti has been formed to monitor 3-day spring festival in Khanewal on Thursday. EDO Health Dr Iqbal Shahid , EDO Agriculture Rana Ahmad Munir , EDO Information Salman Khalid ,EDO Education Shahid Mahmood , DO Sports Gulzar Ahmad , DO Civil Defence Officer Shkaibul Hassan , DO Colleges Ijaz Shaikh , DO Forest Ch Abdullah and ,EDO Education Rao Muhammad Shahid are also part of the committee. —Our Correspondent

ECP ready to hold LB polls in given timeframe, says Sher Afgan ISLAMABAD

Acting secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Syed Sher Afgan said that the ECP has started preparations of holding local body (LB) elections per the given timeframe.

He stated this while talking to reporters after the meeting of ECP. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Raza Khan presided over the meeting.

The printing of ballot papers matter has was discussed in detail during the meeting. The officials of Pakistan Printing Corporation (PPC) were also present in the meeting.

While giving the detail of election schedule, Sher Afgan said that the

ECP would issue the election schedule on 28 July and added that the final list of the contesting candidates would be issued on August 24.

Answering a question regarding the printing of ballot papers, Sher Afghan said that it was necessary to print 150 million ballot papers within 25 days, as Punjab and Sindh provinces needed 40,000,000 to 42,000,000 ballot papers and KPK needed 80,000,000 to 10,000,000 ballot papers.

Responding to another question he said that PPC, Security Printing Corporation and Post Office Foundation have capacity to print 1,100,0000 ballot papers in the given timeframe and added that authority was considering

SC seeks security plan for minorities worship places in Sindh, Balochistan ISLAMABAD

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the Sindh and Balochistan governments to submit their security plans for the protection of minorities' religious places and also issued a notice to National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for registration of minorities marriages and deaths information.

The two-member SC bench, comprising of Chief Justice Nasir-Ul-Mulk and Justice Amir Hani Muslim resumed hearing of Dr Rameesh Kumar Vankwani's petition regarding implementation of the rights of minorities in the country.

During hearing of the case, patron-in-chief Pakistan Hindu Council and Member National Assembly Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani told the court that the newly appointed NADRA Chairman had taken remarkable steps for the preparation of Hindu marriage certificates and death certificates.

He also presented the NADRA certificates sample copies before the bench.

Dr Ramesh said that that the Sindh government, following the orders of SC, had also removed hate material in

the curriculum and in this regard, a copy of the revised curriculum, that would be taught in the educational institutes across the province, had also been submitted to the court for review.

The court also ordered other provincial governments to offer hate-free syllabus to students.

Mushtaq Gill, a Church representative, informed the court that the Christian community was totally ignored in the meetings regarding protection of minorities. On this, the bench remarked that the Christian community should also be included in high level meetings.

Later, hearing of the case was adjourned till April 16.

Meanwhile talking to reporters outside the SC, Dr Ramesh lauded the role of DPO Thatha Fida Hussain Mastoi for providing protection to the local minorities citizens.

He said the registration of Hindu temples and holy places was under process and in this regard, he had meetings with the government officials.

Dr. Ramesh also pointed out that all provincial governments were unable to finalize the security plan for the protection of minorities worship places. —APP

to print the remaining ballot papers through private printing press.

Regarding the issuing of funds, he said that all preparations would be finalised on time and added that there was no matter of funds. He said that ECP has urged upon the printing corporations to upgrade printing machines. Additional Secretary Cabinet, officials of government Printing Corporation attended the meeting. Previously, the ECP came under fire from various political parties for failing to provide ballot papers in some areas of RAWALPINDI:The twin cities regularly witness a traffic mess on the main roads due to the construction of Metro the country. Keeping the importance Bus Service project. Vehicles are seen caught in a similar traffic jam on Benazir Bhutto Road. —Online of LG polls in mind, the ECP has taken measures to ensure transparent elections. —Online

Court orders forfeiture of salaries of PEMRA inspectors, ASI OUR CORRESPONDENT KASUR

A local court ordered forfeiture of salaries of four inspectors of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and an assistant sub inspector (ASI) of Kasur police on Thursday, besides giving orders for their arrests over avoiding court orders for the last three years in connection with a pending case.

S p eci al Judic ial Magis trate Amadudin ordered district police officer Kasur to arrest the PEMRA inspectors, including Ali Husnain Zaidi, Kashif Saleem, Sohail Bhatti, Asif Rehmani and Khudian police station ASI Abdul Ghafoor and present them before the court on March 26. Verdict of a case registered with the Khudian police station, regarding use of illegal channels by the local cable operators, was pending since 2012, for want of witnesses of PEMRA and police officials.

Despite repeated calls, the officials were ignoring court orders.

The court also ordered district account officer Lahore for forfeiture of the salaries of the accused officials till further orders.

Three day polio drive in 51 UCs of Naushero Feroze from March 15 NAUSHERO FEROZE

A three-day anti-polio drive will start from March 15 in 51 union councils of the district.

The polio drops would be administered to 2, 90,356 children in the district during the campaign.

This was said in a meeting held here on Thursday with Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mirza Nasir Ali in the chair to review the arrangements for the anti-polio campaign in the district.

On the occasion, the DC said that every doctor of respective government hospital would monitor the three-day drive. Each medical officer

offices, rather they should visit the field, the DC said.

DC Ali further said that strict action would be taken against those field or medical officers in case a complaint is received against them.

Each official has to work hard to make the campaign successful so that no child would be deprived of polio drops, he added.

The meeting was attended by representatives of World Health Organisation, District Health Officer Dr Abdul Wahab Wadho, all commissioners, Peoples’ Primary has to monitor his respective teams Health Initiative, police and repreand during the drive, Taluka Thul sentatives of non-governmental ormedical officer should not sit in their ganisations. —APP

CDA goes green to pay tribute to APS martyrs

ISLAMABAD

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday launched 'Green Islamabad Campaign' to pay tribute to the martyrs of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar and to enrich the natural beauty of the federal capital.

CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal inaugurated the campaign by planting saplings in sector D-12. The campaign was attended by renowned personalities, including cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq, drama artists Kanwal Naseer, Laila Zubairi, CDA officers, traders and a large number of people belonging to all walks of life.

During the campaign, the CDA would plant 0.45 million saplings to beautify the green belts, major avenues, and service roads of the federal capital. In addition, different varieties of flowers would also be planted in and around the green belts to give a befitting welcome to spring season this year.

Addressing the participants, the CDA

chairman said that the civic body has planted 150 saplings at D-12 sector and named the trees after the martyrs of APS to pay tribute to their bravery. The D-12 sector would be remembered by the names of APS martyrs, he added.

Chairman Afzal further said that it is our national obligation to plant as mush trees as possible to preserve the environment.

Furthermore, Afzal said that the CDA would not only plant new trees but also provide protection to existing ones. In addition, he said that the civic body would provide space in the federal capital to educational institutions for planting trees. He appealed to all citizens to participate in the tree plantation campaign.

Moreover, Afzal said that the CDA is planning to outsource the parks and playgrounds under corporate social responsibility in an effort to attract funds for the purpose of promoting the ‘Green Islamabad Campaign’. Taking

CM complaint cell receives 35,625 complaints in 3 months PESHAWAR

Complaint Cell of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak received as many as 35,625 public complaints against government departments during the last three months, out of which 6,155 complaints have been addressed.

During his visit to the complaint cell here, the CM was informed that 3,800 complaints are being investigated while 25,670 complaints did not fall within the scope of the complaint cell.

Chief Minister's Complaint Cell Chairman Dilroz Khan, while briefing the CM, said the number of complaints have decreased to a great extent as the system was operating in a dynamic manner.

He said the number of FIRs registered also showed a downward trend. However, problems were being observed in police investigation because police often fail to implement the decisions of the court regarding land disputes, he added.

CM Khattak heard many live phone calls and assured the callers that their grievances would be redressed at the earliest. He directed the authorities concerned to further strengthen the system of complaints regarding public grievances in order to provide relief to the

common man. He further said that the provincial government wanted to solve the problems of people at their door-step.

Therefore, every organ of the system should extend facilities to the masses instead of creating unnecessary hurdles for them, he added.

The CM directed the provincial ministers and advisors to regularly visit the complaint cell, listen to the complainants and pursue the authorities concerned to solve genuine problems of the people on priority basis.

Furthermore, CM Khattak said that committees of local elders were being established on police station level for investigation. He directed the officials concerned that a time period should be specified for implementation of court decisions.

He also said the complaints regarding any federal department should be referred to the relevant federal ministry.

Revenue minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Excise and Taxation minister Mian Jamshed ud Din Kakakhel, Agriculture minister Ikramullah Khan, Advisor to CM for Minorities Affairs Sardar Sooran Singh, Member Provincial Assembly Dr Haidar Ali, Special Secretary to CM Israr Ahmad and others were also present on this occasion. —APP

NAB, ITP join hands to ‘say no to corruption’ ISLAMABAD

On the directions of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, NAB is aggressively pursuing “Awareness and Prevention” campaign throughout the country to curb the menace of corruption.

NAB has been mandated under section 33C of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 to educate and advise public authorities, holders of public office and the community at

large in order to campaign against corruption and spread awareness among people in this regard.

The ITP responded very positively and has joined NAB’s National Campaign against corruption.

In this respect, the ITP has agreed to print NAB’s message “SAY NO TO CORRUPTION” on thousands of driving licenses from March 2015, supporting the cause of creating awareness against the ill effects of corruption amongst the masses and to joins hands with

NAB against corruption and corrupt practices.

NAB Chairman Chaudhry welcomed printing of NAB’s message on all driving licenses issued by ITP. He said our experience of 15 years in NAB shows that struggle against corruption is not the fight of one man or one institution, rather the responsibility lies on every citizen.

We can only win this war through collective efforts. We need to show cooperation and spirit to fight the menace of corruption. —Online

the first step in the right direction, the CDA would also plant a large number of trees along the route of the newly constructed Metro Bus service in the federal capital.

The CDA chairman also informed the participants that the ongoing campaign is being supported by Serena hotel Islamabad, Engro foods and the agriculture society.

Earlier, CDA Member Environment Mustafain Kazmi welcomed the participants, especially students and teachers belonging to various educational institutions.

Kazmi said the CDA also displayed a sign board with the names of the martyred APS students at the venue.

In the end, Kazmi thanked the senior citizens, students, teachers, sector citizen committees, traders, CDA union, agriculture society, non-governmental organisations, Serena hotel, Engro foods, Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) and celebrities for attending the event. —APP

KP speaker asks SNGPL for early provision of gas to Swabi

PESHAWAR

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has directed the removal of complications in the provision of Sui gas to district Swat at the earliest to facilitate the people of the area.

He was presiding over a meeting at KP House, Islamabad.

Besides, Senior General Manager (Distribution) North Syed Zahid Hussain, General Manager (Coordination) Abdul Ahad, General Manager (KP) Arbab Saqib, Deputy Chief Engineer Shafqat Virk, Deputy Director MNPR Aleem Khan and Executive Engineer Fawad Khan, and MNA Aqibullah Khan were also present on the occasion.

The speaker asked the SNGPL authorities for provision of Sui gas to Marghuz, Kotha, Thandakoi, Zarobi, Gar Munara, Ghara Akakhel, Ambar, Kunda, Pontia, Mankai, Zaida, Kalabat, Minai, Jalozai, Jalbai, Thordher, Punjpir, Yousufi, Chota Lahore, Shah Mansoor, Kaddi, Bamkhel, Dhok, Batakara and Hamlet on priority basis.

The meeting decided that as per unanimous resolution passed by the KP Assembly, the Ministry of Petroleum should send a summary to the prime minister for provision of gas to district Swabi. —APP

NATIONAL

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

BRIEF Police fail to recover abducted child OUR CORRESPONDENT KHANEWAL

Police failed to recover two-yearold child Abdullah who had been abducted five days back. Investigation Officer Ch Shafi told that the applicant Muhammad Hussain, father of the victim, had moved an application regarding the abduction of his son. Later police raided many dens and arrested five suspects but the issue could not be resolved. He added that circle of investigation is going to be expanded for recovery of the abducted child, with the hope that they would succeed their mission.

Wanted gangster along with 2 aides arrested OUT CORRESPONDENT KHANEWAL

Police have arrested an alleged gangster Mukhtar alias Mukha along with his two associates Qamar Shehzad and Abdul Hafiz and recovered sophisticated weapons, motorcycles, cell phones, cash and cattle from them. SHO Police along with his team of competent officers raided a den of robbers and arrested the gang leader Mukhtar alias Mukha along with two accomplices. During the investigation, the accused admitted that they have committed robberies and other criminal activities. They are also wanted to seven police stations for being involved in more than 41 cases. The gang leader also disclosed that some of his accomplices have been killed in encounters. Apart from this, police also have recovered sophisticated weapons including two Kalashnikovs, one pistol, and dozens of bullets.

Rs 180m water, sewage scheme begins in Khanewal ADNAN SAEED KHANEWAL

MPA Nishat Ahmad Khan Daha inaugurated development scheme works with the estimated cost of Rs 180 million for the Khanewal city in a ceremony held at Jaswant Nagar Chowk here on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, the MPA said that the completion of the development schemes would help in solving the problems of the city. The residents of the city have been facing problem of drinking water and sewerage since long and the scheme with the estimated cast of Rs 180 million has been launched in this regards, he added.

The MPA said the development schemes of billions of rupees had been completed or in progress through the district as well in Punjab province by the present government. At the inaugural ceremony, former councillor Muhammad Aslam Rehmani along with his hundreds of companions announced their joining PML-N. Ad-

NAYA PAKISTAN

dressing the gathering Aslam Rehmani appreciated the policies of PML (N) and said Nishat Daha is a favourite leader of the city. On the demand of the public the MPA announced that new name of the Jaswant Nagar Chowk will be Rehmani Chowk. In this regards TMA Khanewal will process the case of change of name of the said chowk, he added.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Muhammad Aslam Rehmani, Ch Zahid Kamboh, Abdul Sattar Jutt, Salah-ud-Din Mirza, Khalifa Roshan Ali, Malik Ali Muhammad and others.

Khanewal to get new DCO: Khalid Mehmood Sheikh will be the new PESHAWAR: Kids wade through sewage water to reach their school on time. It is a sad sight to see the future of the District Coordination Officer (DCO) of country facing such hardships in an effort to fulfil their right to education. —Online Khanewal. According sources he will resume his duties on Monday he was previously working as additional secretary. Former DCO Khanewal Khawar Kamal was posted as DCO two months ago but he was on leave since two weeks. He has been transferred and posted as OSD in civil secretariat Lahore. the GBQM secretary general termed it mount pressure through diplomatic MUHAMMAD ISHFAQ US dictated and against the national in- sources to get its resolution impleGILGIT terest of Pakistan. He was of the view that mented,” Khalid said.

The GBQM secretary general said Gilgit Baltistan Qaumi Movement peace in the region could not be restored (GBQM) Secretary General Haroon till introduction of bold foreign policy that instead of befooling the people of Pakistan and Kashmir, Pakistan should Khalid said on Thursday that the surge sans influence of alien forces.

Khalid further said that both the coun- adopt a clear cut policy on Kashmir in terrorist activities and deterioration of law and order situation in the country as tries have lost precious lives during the based on reality and should strive tothe ultimate reaction to the United last 68 years in the unwanted wars aris- wards strengthening its diplomatic ing from the dispute. He also said that contacts to mount pressure on US by States (US) dictated policy.

Khalid said that undue interfer- India and Pakistan have fought three convincing the permanent members to ence by the previous governments in wars over Kashmir, including the Indo- support Pakistani stance regarding early implementation of its resolution the internal affairs of other countries, Pak wars of 1947, 1965 and 1999.

Furthermore, Khalid said that since of the burning issue. especially those that shared borders While terming US and her allied with Pakistan, has greatly damaged 1984 the two countries have also been inthe country and this practice should volved in several skirmishes over control countries as hypocrites, Khalid said of the Siachen glacier. He said that re- that these countries have always bestop immediately.

Talking exclusively with the Frontier peated cross firing between the border trayed Pakistan to safeguard their inPost, Khalid said that the Pakistani gov- forces of the two countries has resulted terests. Moreover, he said that as US ernment should take an initiative on in the widening of the gulf of differences. and other European countries have peace talks with India to resolve minor He said that only the United Nations has economic interests with India rather disputes, including Siachen, Sirkarik, the mandate to implement its resolution than Pakistan, so it always favoured the Baglihar Dam, water accord, cross bor- regarding plebiscite in the region and talk former. He suggested that instead of der firing and other biting issues by put- of negotiations between India and Pak- relying on US, the government should only prefer national interest by introting longstanding Kashmir conflict aside. istan would be a foolish step.

“Instead of wasting time and widen- ducing independent foreign policy While bitterly criticising foreign policy of the government, especially over ing the distance between the two coun- based on non-interference in the affairs capacity from present 50 to 100 beds, Kashmir issue and Pak India relations, tries, the Pakistani government should of neighbouring countries. establishment of a special paediatric unit , accidental rescue service and setting-up a Zakat counter for free medication in addition to arranging a highly equipped ambulance fleet. He urged the philanthropists to join hand with the FDT for providing more health and education facilities to the needy.

Mian Shaiq Jawed and Mian FARMAN HANIF RAMAY real representatives of the nation are Muhammad Tayyab also enumerated ARIFWALA thrown to the winds while mafia mothe accomplishment of development nopolises the whole of the system in the OUR CORRESPONDENT plans and financial assistance to poor PTI local leader Haji Qurban Chouhan name of so-called democratic system. FAISALABAD patients and students by the trust. said that government should introduce He added that some corrupt elements Trustees Mian Ahmad Shafi, Mian election reforms for transparency in from state machinery join hands with The problems being faced by Punjab Abid Kamal and Mian Amir Kamal political system. politicians in order to watch their interests. based textile industry are increasing while taking part in the discussions Expressing his views in a meeting, he That is another dilemma of the system due to lack of gas supply to captive pledged in the meeting that they said that the politics of the country has which has lost true sense of rule of law. He power plants (CPPs). would continue implementation of been vulgarized to the hard extent and suggested that corrupt elements that are According to details, the textile inthe welfare projects for betterment of money has become a criterion for com- addicted to hijack elections be dealt with dustry has been receiving gas supply for the masses and lauded Citizen Foun- ing to power. iron hands, so that the pure democratic a mere four to six hours each day despite dation for spreading a big network of He maintained that democracy has system in the country may be introduced. clear-cut instructions from Prime Minschools in the country to impart qual- been unanimously accepted as a form of He said that if rulers want to consolidate ister Nawaz Sharif to ensure uninterity education to the students. government in the country but by rigging the system, they introduce land reforms for rupted gas supply to the textile industry.

Mussadiq Zulqarnain said a net- and other undue tactics, competent and fair play, justice and rule of law.

People linked to the industry have critwork of 1,000 standardized schools icised the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd was working under aegis of TCF and (SNGPL) for not following the governthe fees and other dues of these ment's decision regarding gas supply to schools are much less than governtextile units, which make up 70 percent ment and private educational Insti- ABBOTTABAD of the total capacity in the country. tutions. He claimed that the TCF was Meanwhile, press reports regarding 64 leading in imparting quality education Ten people have been arrested on Thursday for violating Rent Act in different ar- percent increase in gas tariff by early to the students in the country and eas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during search operation carried out by police and Elite April have further panicked the millers called upon the local philanthropists Force. Station House Officer (SHO) Maangal police station Abdul Gahfoor told at large and they fear that the textile into extend financial assistance to these APP that the forces carried out raids in many villages including Gojri, Sajjikot, Mast dustry would be negatively impacted due schools and thus help further im- Maira and arrested owners and tenants who were allegedly involved in violating to gas shortage. prove their education system.

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association KP Rent Act. —APP (APTMA) Chairman S. M. Tanveer said that the Punjab based textile industry is not just being deprived of gas supply but also electricity supply. The industrial units in other regions of the nation are Parliamentarian Makhdoom Syed good money for farmers of the country. not confronting these problems, due to New Zealand has two renowned agriMeanwhile, UAF Department of which the cost of energy is lower in othcultural universities for a population of Alam said that the country was blessed with tremendous resources. He said Agronomy Chairman Prof Dr Ehsan er provinces of the country against the four million people.

Former UAF VC and Centre for Ad- that food security on the internation- Ullah said that the country has tremen- cost accrued by the textile units in Punvanced Studies in Food Security and al level and depleting water resources dous potential in terms of agriculture jab, he added.

Agriculture Director Prof Dr Bashir Ah- are the real challenges being faced by that needs to be explored properly.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Muhammad said that countries around the the farming community. He further world have increased the agricultural said that we have to take extra meas- mad Rashid said that the UAF in colproductivity manifold. He was of the ures to promote modern technology in laboration with the Punjab Agri Extenview that the promotion of ICT in agri- the farming sector and make them ac- sion Department had developed a fertilizer model through which the farming culture sector was the need of the hour cessible to farmers.

International Centre for Agricultural community would be educated about KHANEWAL to compete with the rest of the world.

He further said that we had losing the Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) Coun- proper use of various fertilizers.

Another speaker, namely Dr Ahsan A prize distribution ceremony was held million of rupees because of imbal- try Manager Dr Abdul Majeed said anced usage of fertilizer, while adding that Pakistan has been blessed with re- Raza Sattar, said on the occasion that in Government Commerce College that food security is one of the major sources which have not been properly 63 percent of farming community in Khanewal on Thursday. DO Colleges, threats for the world amid unpre- utilised by successive governments in Pakistan comprised of small farmers. Ijaz Shaikh as the chief guest distributed dictable trends of climate change and the country. There is a need to tap into He said that we have surveyed the 36 cash prizes among students who sedepleting water resources. H also said the potential resources to ensure effi- districts of Punjab province to find out cured first, second and third positions in that we have to utilise modern tech- cient usage of the existing resources. Dr the problems being faced by the farm- annual Examination of D.Com on behalf nologies and make them useable for Majeed further said that the ICT in agri- ing community and map out a com- Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. farmers to reap the maximum amount culture would not only curtail the prehensive strategy to address the is- Principal and teachers were also awardwastage of inputs but would also fetch sues at hand. of benefits from fertile lands. ed with cash prizes and trophies. —PR

Rise in terrorist activities reaction to US dictated policies: GBQM

FDT donates Rs 3.5m for Citizen Foundation schools

Two arrested for making kites M AKRAM KHAN FARIDI SHEIKHUPURA

The Ferozewala police arrested two persons for making kites in Chak 46 near Ferozewala. The raiding team arrested Nadeem Gull and Kazim while their two accomplices managed to flee.

The team also seized 600 kites and a huge quantity of string.

Further investigation is under way. Police fail to recover car of journalist: Police have been criticised for failing to recover the car of journalist. According to details, Ali bid, Secretary Finance Press Club Sheikhupura parked his car outside his house.

In midnight some unidentified thieves broke into the car and took it away. The City A Division Police have registered a case but still failed to recover the car of the said journalist. Train driver injured: The driver of Tezgam Express sustained head injuries when some unidentified people threw stones on the train near Rana Town .Reports said that driver Rafiq of the Rawalpindibound train suffered head injuries while windowpanes were also shattered. The train was stopped for some time and then it left for its destination after the driver was provided first aid. The Ferozewala police have started investigation.

A3

OUR CORRESPONDENT FAISALABAD

Faisalabad Development Trust (FDT) has donated a sum of Rs 3.5 million to Citizen Foundation for the second time as financial assistance for its two schools.

Syed Omer Nazar Shah, the chairman of trust, handed-over the Cheque to Mussadiq Zulqarnain, the director of the foundation during a function arranged at the FDT Headquarters here on Thursday. Former chairmen Mian Muhammad Tayyab and Mian Saiq Jawed, FDT trustees Mian Ahmad Shafi, Mian Abid Kamal, Mian Amir Kamal and Syed Asim raza Kazmi and Col (Retd) Ijaz Ahmad Nasir attended the function.

Speaking on the occasion, FDT Chairman Syed Omer Nazar Shah said the trust was working in two main sectors i.e. education and health. He said during the short tenure the FDT spent Rs 120 million on various welfare projects which include supply of costly injections and medicines to cancer patients of Allied Hospital, Rs 3.1 million to 196 unprivileged students of the University of Agriculture, Rs 1.8 million to 100 most deserving girl students of the GC University and millions of rupees as financial help to widows, deserving students and poor patients.

He said the FDT have planned to upgrade the emergency and health services at Civil Hospital Faisalabad and would raise the emergency ward’s bed

Election reforms must for fair polls: PTI leader

Punjab textile industry suffers due to uneven gas supply

Ten arrested for violating KP Rent Act

UAF sets up farmer facilitation centre to boost agriculture MUHAMMAD ARIF DOGAR FAISALABAD

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) has set up a farmer facilitation centre under which a helpline 080054726 and a website kissandost.pk have been launched in collaboration with the National ICT R&D Fund.

It was revealed at the stakeholders’ conference, titled “Site Specific and Economical Crop Production Technology and its Dissemination through ICT” at New Senate Hall.

Chairing the session, the UAF Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the initiatives would provide necessary guidance to the farming community to help them develop the best cropping system, provide suitable technology for farming purpose and providing farming resources at the doorsteps of agricultural land owners.

The VC said that mobile phones, televisions sets, internet and other forms information technologies have gained immense importance in the modern world by influencing the opinions of people. The effective use of these technologies for agriculture purpose can help the country uplift the agricultural sector, he added. He also said that a knowledge base in connection with agricultural activities was being developed at a satisfactory pace and the collected information would be communicated to the farmers by the officials concerned.

He further said that an uneven usage of fertilizers was costing the country millions of rupees and called on the authorities concerned for taking measures to guide the farming community about balanced usage of fertilizers. Governments of developed countries give preference to agriculture, among which

Prize distribution ceremony held

LAHORE

www.thefrontierpost.pk

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

12 INJURED AS SPEEDING VAN OVERTURNS IN LAHORE

LAHORE: At least 12 people sustained injuries as a speeding van overturned in Johar Town. The speedy passenger bus overturned after colliding with a tree while attempting to overtake a car. The injured including eight women have been shifted to Jinnah Hospital for medicinal assistance. Fatima, Komal, Sabiha, Beenish, Shumaila, Anam, Zoya and Mariyam were among those injured. —Online

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SUSPECT HELD ON LHC PREMISES LAHORE: Police arrested a man in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday. He was trying to enter the chief justice’s room with a knife. The suspect identified as Zubair was stopped for a security check outside the courtroom when he took out a knife and threatened the law enforcement personnel. He was immediately arrested, police told. Police said the suspect was trying to attack the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court. Media Reports revealed that Zubair was agitated by constant delays in a case pertaining to his land in Kala Bagh. —Online

Profiteers won’t be allowed to exploit people: CM LAHORE

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said a few profiteers cannot be allowed to exploit people of the province. He was presiding over a meeting of the Price Control Committee through video link at Civil Secretariat, here Thursday.

He said protection of rights of people was a responsibility of the government which will be efficiently discharged at any cost. He said the Pakistan Muslim League-N government would spare no effort for protecting rights of people and no compromise will be made over the steps for providing relief to the masses. Implementation of new prices of vegetable oil and ghee and measures taken in this regard were reviewed in the meeting.

Shahbaz Sharif directed that indiscriminate action be taken against

World Kidney Day celebrated at Sharif Hospital LAHORE

World Kidney Day-2015 was celebrated at Sharif Medical City Hospital Lahore.

Prof Junaid Sarfraz Khan Pro-Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences was the chief guest. Prof. Brig.

(R) Zafar Ahmad, Principal Sharif Medical & Dental College presided over the inauguration. On this occasion, free medical screening camp was established outside the Medical Out Patient Department.

More than 1000 patients were examined by specialist doctors of nephrology.

They were tested free of cost for blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol and uric acid. Later, in the public seminar, Prof.

Mahmood Ali Malik Physician and Prof.

Tahir Shafi Nephrologist addressed the participants. They explained that the main reasons of kidney failure are hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

People can stop injury to kidneys by adopting healthy life style and controlling their blood pressure and blood sugar. Theme of World Kidney Day-2015 is “Kidney Health for all”.

World Kidney Day is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of kidneys, reducing the frequency and impact of kidney diseases and its associated health problems worldwide which are celebrated by joint initiative of International Society of Nephrology and International Federation of Kidney Foundations.

Motions on this occasion are a sign of its deep belief on creating and spreading awareness regarding chronic renal diseases. —FP Monitoring

hoarders and profiteers. He warned that the elements exploiting the masses in the form of profiteering will be put behind the bars.

The chief minister directed to ensure sale of vegetable oil and ghee at new prices and said immediate implementation of newly fixed rates be ensured in the province.

He said strict action under the law should be taken against those creating artificial shortage and no leniency be shown to violators. He said exploitation of people through overcharging would not be tolerated.

The chief minister also constituted a committee at provincial level for the implementation of new rates of vegetable oil and ghee. He said implementation of the comprehensive mechanism for keeping essential items within the reach of a common man will be continued in future as well and availability of quality essen-

tial commodities to the masses at affordable rates will be ensured.

CM expresses resolve to win war on terror: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday has expressed a resolve to win the war on terror for the progress and prosperity of the country and the nation. He said that insurgents who shed blood of innocent people will soon meet their dreadful fate.

He expressed these views while talking to the Punjab Assembly members in Lahore.

The CM said that the entire nation has resolved to eliminate extremism from the country. He said that the brave nation has given countless sacrifices in the cause. Shahbaz said that the country would soon become a centre of peace and stability.

Extremism, terrorism and sectarianism are hurdles in the way of progress of LAHORE: A worker preparing floats in connection to Jashn-e-Baharan Festival at Racecourse Park. —Photo Mohsin Raza the country, he added. –Online/APP

STAFF REPORT LAHORE

Provincial Home Minister Shuja Khanzada has said that counterterrorism force is the best force of the province and the second batch of its 425 corporals will pass out this month. He said that the corporal completing training are infused with the spirit of sacrifice against terrorism and will come up to the confidence reposed in them by the nation.

He was inspecting various training

courses at Elite Police School Badian Road. Deputy Inspector General Elite Force Ch M Tahir, Commandant Elite Police School Col Saad Saleem, Course Commander Corporals SSP Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, Course Coordinator SP Qamer Zaman and other officers were also present.

The minister said that other provinces are also following the steps taken by Punjab government against terrorism. He said that war against terrorism has become the war of the

nation and has to be won through collective efforts.

Khanzada further stated that the government has decided to set up counterterrorism school and academy and this decision will soon be implemented. He said that government, military, people, law enforcement institutions and all political parties are on one page against terrorism and determined to root out this menace. He said that the eyes of the nation are on counterterrorism force.

5 held for printing hate material HAIDER JAVED SYED/SAIF ULLAH CHEEMA LAHORE

Law enforcement agencies raided a printing press on Nisbat Road Wednesday night and arrested five people including three owners of the press. Hate material including a renowned magazine was also taken into custody by law enforcement agencies.

All provinces were instructed to take strict action and they have arrested many people involved in terrorist’s activities, funding to the banned groups and spreading hate material. Punjab government has so far arrested 2700 people; Sindh government has arrested 900, out of whom 400 were arrested from Karachi. KPK government has deported more than 6500 Afghan nationals and have detained about 3740 people who were suspected to be involved in terrorist activities and were holding the position of “Imam” in different shrines. During their raids, the agencies also took

confiscated 115 books, 243 periodicals and journals.

Nazeer Ahmed, a tyre shop owner located near the said printing press told that some policemen came to the neighbouring shops and strictly warned them to remain away from this matter. He alleged that they were harassed to keep silent. Gawalmandi po-

lice station’s Station House Officer (SHO) Mudassar Ahmed Khan said to the Frontier Post that it’s purely law enforcing issue and they are duty bound to keep the matter secrete for further arrests. Other sources told FP that still many religious and linguists groups involved in printing hate material needs to be addressed.

Rue the day when politicians unite

MANZOOR ALI

T

MANZOOR ALI

he whole village was in turmoil as the two brothers, sons of a noble with a lot of land, fought over a piece of land when their father passed away. A pious man passing through the village and hearing of the troubles between the two brothers stood in the village square and delivered a speech. He said it was all because of the sins of the villagers that the two notable brothers were fighting. Disarray can only bring disaster, he scared the villagers.

He advised the villagers to repent and go with him in procession to the two brothers and beseech them to unite, as unity was a blessing and source of strength. So, the

Punjab to send skilled workers abroad: Ashfaq

Counterterrorism schools soon

villagers lead by the pious man went in procession and prayed the brothers to dispense with their dispute and unite. The brothers agreed to the advice of the pious man and the beseeching villagers. They settled their dispute peacefully.

The whole village was overjoyed and proud of their achievement, as for once they had been able to force their will on the members of the powerful noble family.

The happiness, however, did not long last.

The warring brothers, now strong in their unity, demanded more share of the crop from the villagers who worked as serfs on the brothers’ lands. The villagers rued the day they listened to the pious man and had beseeched the landlord brothers to unite.

They could do nothing else because the brothers were now united and had enough armed servants to enforce their will on their serfs.

Probably, the Europeans who later invented modern democracy and created political parties to run the democratic system were the descendents of the above said villagers. They had learned their lesson which was never to let the ruling elite get united. In establishing democracy the descendents of the villagers made sure that their views were heard and by creating political parties they made sure that the ruling brothers never were united but remained divided and in rival parties

while vying to be in government. Thus fighting each other the ruling brothers would never able to force their will on the ordinary people.

But the people of Pakistan and their pious and wise men don’t have the experience that the villagers of Europe; perhaps even if we and our wise have had such an experience, we were never prone to learn lessons from our past. Nevertheless, the ordinary people are happy and so are their wise men, particularly, the many political analysts who are commending the fact that the Mian and Zardari brothers as well as the lesser brothers like Asfandyar Wali, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, off course, the original Chaudhry brothers, even Brother Achakzai and not to forget the MQM brothers all have decided to set their differences aside and unite on a single name of Raza Rabbani for chairman of the Senate.

One can understand the happiness of the political brothers who though of different parents and from different provinces are nevertheless, mentally brothers. If the trend continues they will jointly vote for raising taxes on the ordinary people, increase the power of police, have more security protocol for themselves and their kin and be tolerant of each others corruption and so on and so forth. In fact all the evil and ills this na-

tion is plagued with will now be tolerated. And in the faces of criticism from the people these political brothers will jointly say that everything is normal and as it should be. It is not unthinkable as these very political brothers have declared their critics as traitors.

Because we don’t get lesson from history, instead of removing contradictions from our lives we practice and live with them. Democracy, especially, with political parties is a system based on adversarial relations. In democracy difference of opinion is encouraged. Dissent among political parties is a welcome factor and beneficial for the people. It is scary for the ordinary people when people elected on tickets of different parties reach consensus on such major issues as electing chairman for the Senate. It means that our democratic system has failed. The spirit of adversarial relations and dissent that is the soul of democracy has been overcome by the political cartel; like commercial organizations which seem compitators from the outside but covertly form a monopoly and agree to charge high prices from the people, so have our political parties though seeming to be competing each other have in fact formed a monopoly.

The ordinary people may have to pay a very high price of the unity and consensus of our political elite brothers.

LAHORE

Minister for Labour & Human Resource Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that Punjab government is giving final shape to a strategy for providing facilities like identity card, passport, visa, security clearance and vaccination to the skilled and unskilled workers going abroad under one window operation for Punjab overseas labour.

He said that two lakh skilled and semi skilled workers will be sent abroad from Punjab during next four years for mega infrastructure projects of Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

He said this while presiding over a meeting regarding training courses according to modern demands and provision of skilled workforce to Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and international market at Social Security Head Office, today. Provincial Assembly Member Saira Iftikhar, Secretary Labour Ishrat Ali, Director HRS Global Syed Fakhar Ahmed, Dr. Javed Gul and representatives of TEVTA, Punjab Vocational Training Council, PSDF and other training institutes attended the meeting.

Raja Ashfaq Sarwar told the meeting that Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai governments have demanded skilled and unskilled workers for the projects of infrastructure particularly con-

struction, under which, vast job opportunities will be available for two lakh skilled and semi skilled force on best remuneration. He said that government and private sector will provide training to two lakh skilled and semi skilled workers during next four years for providing them opportunities at international labour market particularly Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He said that not only Pakistan will earn foreign exchange of more than 60 billion rupees annually but besides job opportunities, the living standard of more than 20 lakh persons of workers’ families will also be enhanced. He said that Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi governments have demanded manpower including Computer Operators, Paramedics, Carpenters, Steel Fixers, Masons, Welders, Heavy Duty Drivers, Crane Operators, Machine Motor Mechanics, Plumbers, Shovel Operators and other skilled workers. The Minister said that all arrangements have been completed for providing training to the workers at vocational training institutes at Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Lahore.

He said that the demand of such a large number of skilled and unskilled workers in international labour market will help increase economic development and provide job opportunities to them. —FP Monitoring

People to get information under Punjab RTI Law STAFF REPORT LAHORE

Open Data Initiative (ODI) launched by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) will help the citizens to obtain information under Punjab Transparency and Right to Information law efficiently.

Chairing a meeting, PITB Chairman Dr Umar Saif said that under this innovative programme, the PITB is working with government agencies to establish a functional system through which quality information can be made available to the public on a web platform in easy-to-use and interactive open formats which allow citizens to search, aggregate, compare and view data according to their need. He said that the initiative has been started in collaboration with the World Bank and Information Technology University Lahore and it will be operationalized up to Tehsil level in the province.

Saif revealed that the datasets uploaded so for contain information related to the population census, agri-

culture census, ADPs, development schemes, budget, salaries, Mauza (village) mapping, Multiple Index Cluster Survey, Education and Health Management Information System and Household Integrated Economic Survey etc while the work on other fields is in progress.

He claimed that this online accessibility and transparency of information can lead to the creation of an effective system of government responsibility and accountability.

Saif further elaborated that through crowd-sourcing of data the citizens would also be able to monitor and provide feedback on government projects through different media such as SMS services, mobile applications, webportals and Geo-tagging of project site photographs thus creating two-way communication between the government and its people.

“The availability of reliable and good quality government data through this project will also be of immense benefit to people from different fields including journalists, researchers, policy-makers and academics,” he added

LAHORE

B2 PEC hires 149 officers to compile school results ALI SHAH

Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) become more conscious than ever and deputed 149 officers for compiling and managing results of primary and middle classes, as they had to face a harsh reaction to their negligence.

Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) has assigned these officers a task for 22 lakhs enrolled students. It was a newer practice because the entire work was previously done on an electronically designed system by Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).

An education officer from Narowal district on anonymity told the Frontier Post that he has stopped the marking as he is not being given any clear instructions.

The teachers as well are not happy on this kind of a lethargic response by PEC officials. He said the instructions are already issued by the commission, but a few officials are becoming a hurdle in their official work.

The Punjab Examination Commission Chief Executive, Nasir Malik told the Frontier Post, “We are actually flying a plane like a first flight. I accept our little negligence but apart from all, it is also a fact that we made it what we had claimed.

The entire province was now connected with a main server, which exists at Punjab Information Technology Board, where the whole data of result was being stored and checked on daily basis.

Punjab Examination Commission has established about 173 central examination centres in all districts where the committed teaching faculty are deputed to mark the paper, being

checked through the computer tabs.

Every movement was being observed through this gadget. On a question about halting the marking of the English paper of Class-IV and VIII, he said, “I heard about the news and it was true because as you said, we are little more conscious for our work and we believe in zero tolerance.

About 2000 data entry operators are compiling the entire results of about 10 million answer sheets while they all are being submitted in the main server system at Punjab Information Technology Board. We are doing our best and expecting the maximum outcomes from the whole plan”, he added.

Deputy Director Coordination & Implementation Shahzad Malik told the Frontier Post that our team is actually trying to produce transparent results for which we have changed the plan.

Central marking system was not transparent in previous practice but now examiners arte expected do their jobs and the entry operators are connected with main hub. We have provided three layers bags for transporting the answer sheets and an obsolete practice has been removed now.

We have deputed 140 people for visiting all examination centres of the province along-with 9 assistant directors who will be leading the whole strength of employees.

These assistant directors will submit their reports on daily basis and we are bound to report it directly to our officials.

On a question about expectations of this whole systematic wisdom, he said that “our results will prove our vigilance,” he concluded.

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

SNGPL disconnects domestic metres supplying gas for commercial use IMRAN SHAH LAHORE

Youngsters pose for a photograph while riding a motorcycle in Samanabad on Thursday. — Photo Zubair Mahfooz

MoU signed to train school teachers in lifesaving skills STAFF REPORT LAHORE

The Director General, Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) Dr. Rizwan Naseer and Program Director of Directorate of Staff Development (DSD) Punjab Ehsan Bhutta has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work jointly in the best interest of public for capacity building of District Teacher Educators (DTEs) as master trainers, so that they may regularly train school teachers in lifesaving skills.

In this regard, the Head of Community Safety Wing of the Punjab Emergency Service Ruqayya Bano Javed and Course Coordinator Humaira Siddique also signed the document as focal persons for implementation of this program.

According to the MoU, Rescue 1122 shall organize basic and advance training of lifesaving skills for DTEs in all districts of Punjab.

Furthermore, the DTEs qualifying for basic training shall be imparted with the training of educators. Accordingly, the DSD shall provide all logistic support for basic and advance training of DTEs, who shall constitute Community Emergency Response Teams after enrolment as volunteer with Rescue 1122 and shall work as Rescue Scouts in case of major emergencies and disasters.

While both organisations shall closely coordinate for follow up and sustainability of School Safety Program and further training of teachers in schools, all teachers’ trainings conducted by DTEs

to the extent of School Safety shall be monitored by rescue staff.

On this occasion, DG Rescue said that teachers are the real guides and advisers of students; therefore, they can best deliver in character building of students to make them socially responsible citizens, so that they can play their part for prevention of increasing number of emergencies, development of healthy, resilient and safer communities.

He further said that once all teachers started training their students in lifesaving skills and character building, only then we can bring about a social change in our society. Ehsan Bhutta also spoke on this occasion by saying that DSD shall work shoulder-toshoulder with Rescue 1122 to achieve aforesaid purpose.

Punjab police issues list of ‘most wanted’ terrorists LAHORE

A gas cylinder explosion caused damage to an office in Model Town M Block on Thursday. —FP Photo

Four injured in cylinder blast LAHORE

At least four people were injured in a cylinder blast at a flat in Model Town area of Lahore.

According to details, workers of the Mblock market were preparing tea for breakfast in their flat when the suddenly the cylinder exploded and set the flat on fire injuring four men. The injured identified as Ishtiaq Hussain, Aun, Shahid and Tariq were shifted to Jinnah Hospital for medical assistance whereas fire-brigade teams controlled the fire on taking prompt action.

JI launches drive against land mafia STAFF REPORT LAHORE

Arshad Majeed, President IT department.Jamat-i-Islami (JI) said that the party started a campaign against land mafia on Thursday. He said JI will openly stand against all land mafia and would try their best to protect the properties of government and people from these land mafias.

The campaign would help to increase awareness and act as a deterrent for land grabbers.

The campaign will start from 10 Court Street and spread throughout the city.

Wheelie – a question mark on police performance H A GILANI LAHORE

The activity of a young one-wheeler has arose a big question mark on the performance of the police department and other law enforcement agencies, after The Frontier Post’s acquiring the video exhibiting a young boy performing the trick of one-wheeling wheeling without wearing any clothes on main boulevard, Gulberg in provincial metropolis.

On the one side, Chief Traffic Officer Tayyab Hafeez Cheema has recently introduced camera monitoring system against one wheelers for capturing their movements in the camera and tracing to them; and on the other side, traffic police has also decided to utilize the facility of modern technology including WhatsApp and Viber system, which could be shoot, filmed and recorded by anyone to the concerned authorities for taking action against such a perilous, unlawful and immoral activity.

In this regard, The Frontier Post reporter has sent a video on WhatsApp here on Thursday. According to video details, a young boy could easily be seen in the video who is one wheeling in nude on Honda 125 and traveling with large number of members of the group from Siddique Trader Center towards Liberty Roundabout in the daylight without

Punjab Police have issued a list of 110 wanted terrorists involved in sectarian killings and other terrorism related incidents.

The militants in the list are involved in high profile suicide blasts and sectarian killings, according to a private news channel. Amongst the wanted criminals, Mati-ur-Rehman, was involved in attacks on former president General Pervez Musharraf , former prime minister Shaukat Aziz and a suicide attack on Sheraton Hotel in Karachi.

The government has announced an amount of 10 million rupees as head money for Mati-ur-Rehman.

Mansoor alias Chhota, Ibrahim Hasan, Qari Ehsanul Haque alias Shahid were also involved in December 25, 2013 suicide attack on General Pervez Musharraf. A bounty of five million rupees has been announced for their arrest.

The militant involved in the suicide attack on late Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, Ikramullah, belonging to Baitullah Mehsud Group of Taliban, is also included in the list.

The government has announced Rs two million as bounty for the capture of Ikramullah.

A Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) Masood Azhar group militant, Mehmood Afzal, is also included in the list. Anyone informing about Afzal will be awarded a sum of five million rupees. Afzal was on good terms with Al-Qaeda’s Middle East commanders and was carrying out terrorist activities with the help of Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

Qari Abdullah, belonging to TTP’s Lashkar-e-Khurasani group masterminded a suicide attack on Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) office in Multan.

The government has announced rupees five million as head money for Abdullah. —Online

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd. on Thursday conducted raids gas consumers falling in the list of discrepancy and disconnect the connections providing gas supply to other commercial areas.

The SNGPL Task Force conducted the raid on the orders of chief engineer Imran Latif and disconnected a connection providing gas supply to a dental clinic in area of Guldashat Town and detached another connection in area of Airport supplying gas to a hotel. Task Forces also reached in Jallo Pind area and removed a service line supplying gas to a printing unit. Another team also conducted raid in northern side of the city and disconnected a fake gas meter in area of Afshan Park. Later, the team reached in Hajvery Park and Ismail Park and disconnected a fake meter as well from the areas illegally supplying gas to different streets.

BSc nursing degree introduced STAFF REPORT LAHORE

Post Graduate College of Nursing Punjab has introduced BSc nursing degree course programme (Post RN Course) this year. For the 20 seats of the programme, as many as 382 nurse candidates have applied who will appear for entry test on Saturday (tomorrow) at University of Health Sciences.

This was told by Principal Post Graduate College of Nursing Punjab, Kousar Parveen. She said that newly introduced 2 year Degree program would go a long way to update the knowledge of nurses imparting them a high level of nursing education. She further said that this program is an initiative the Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif which will help nurses to serve with more efficiency and competently by virtue of this higher education programme.

11 LDA officials promoted STAFF REPORT LAHORE

Upon recommendations of Departmental Promotion Committee of Lahore Development Authority, headed

by Additional Director General (HQ) Amina Munir, a total of 11 officers have been promoted as Assistant Director (BS-17) on regular basis.

These included 9 Private Secretaries including Akbar Ali, Haroon Rashid, Khalid Pervaiz, Riaz Ahmad, Arshad Pervaiz, Mazhar Maqsood Butt, Arshad Ali Dogar, Sher Ahmed Awan and Javaid Iqbal and two Staff Officers Syed Tanveer-ul-Hassan and Nadeem Iqbal.

Rafiq, Hamid asked to provide names of 5 polling stations LAHORE

Killer guard killed in ‘encounter’

Election Tribunal (ET) has offered Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Hamid Khan for the provision of naming 5 polling stations of their choice for verification of votes from NADRA. The petition filed by PTI leader, Hamid Khan, against the alleged polls rigging in NA-125 came up for hearing before the ET on Thursday. ET made an offer to Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Minister for railways, and PTI leader, Hamid Khan, to provide the names of 5 polling stations of their choice by March 16 for the verification of votes from NADRA. —Online

LAHORE having the slightest fears of reprehension or legal consequences. The members of Sacked security guard Ghulam Abbas, who killed three of his former employthis group of boys accompanying the ers on Wednesday, was killed in an encounter with police on Thursday. Acnude one-wheeler also witness the entire cording to police, Guard Abbas came to the showroom again on Thursday with activity by developing the video of this the possible intent to kill more people. The police stopped the suspect to enter incident and taking pleasure in this acthe building. Abbas opened fire at the police party and killed in retaliation. tivity. According to sources, the nude boy On Wednesday, the security guard had killed three traders in an apparent atperformed this act out of the betting he tempt to revenge his sacking from the duty. Malik Shafqat, Adeel and their has made with his friends. It is interpartner were taken to Jinnah Hospital but could not survive. The suspect fled esting to mention here that the entire acaway from the site on a motorcycle. The police have launched a search opertivity was performed in daylight and duration to arrest the suspect. —FP Monitoring ing the days, when security was high alert in the city due to recently held Horse and Cattle Show.

When the attempt was made to contact on mobile phone number (0311-021466) allocated for the public complaints from Traffic police for extracting comments, the call recipient did not response to the call. Similarly when contacted with DIG Operation Haider Ashraf, his operator excused by stating that DIG (Sahab) is in meeting and would call the reporter later, though no contact was made with reporter till filing of this report.

The Provincial Monitoring Cell of Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) has informed the DG Rescue 1122 Rizwan Naseer in the meeting of last month, that one wheeling has increasing moderately in the city, and wheelers found in this life-risky activity particu- The Sunni Tehreek activists protest for the release of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s killer Mumtaz Qadri outside the Lahore Press Club. —FP Photo larly on Sundays.

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

FATA/SINDH/BALOCHISTAN

BRIEF

Swabi woman honoured in UK

Six suspected militants killed during raid in Dera Bugti SWABI QUETTA

At least six suspected militants were killed during a search operation in Balochistan's troubled Dera Bugti district on Thursday morning. A spokesperson for Frontier Corps – a para-military force – said security forces conducted search operations in Dur Jan and Rustam areas of Dera Bugti during which six militants were killed. He claimed the militants were involved in targeting security forces and blowing up gas installations in the district. He said arms and ammunition were also recovered from the deceased militants. The spokesperson said a large number of personnel were involved in the search operation being conducted in different parts of Dera Bugti. He added that security forces were backed by helicopter gunships. The FC claim could not be verified by independent sources. The incident has come a day after the killing of seven suspected militants by security forces in Pir Koh area of Dera Bugti. —FP Monitoring

Murder case registered over killing of MQM worker KARACHI

A murder case has been registered against unidentified persons over the killing of Muttahida Qaumi Movement worker Syed Waqas Ali Shah. Shah was shot dead during aerial firing following the raid. The case was registered in the Azizabad police station in Karachi on Thursday.

Rangers carried out a raid on Nine-Zero, the headquarters of the MQM in Karachi, on Wednesday, during which the party claimed that several leaders had been arrested and one worker had been killed. Shah was a member of the MQM Central Information Committee. —Online

8000 gas connections disconnected in Balochistan QUETTA

The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Quetta has launched an emergency campaign for recovery of its outstanding dues against consumers in the province. Senior Manager Recovery SSGC, Nawabzada Ismaeel Jogezai, said over Rs 1.5 billion dues was outstanding in different parts of the province. "Some 8000 gas connections of domestic and commercial consumers have been disconnected, besides imposing heavy fine in different parts of the province during the recovery campaign," he said. He also said that violators in the future would be severely punished according to the rule of law. —APP

Eight killed, ten injured in clash LARKANA

At least eight persons killed and more than ten others were injured when a shoot out took place between two rival groups in Pakho, 13 Km away from Larkana on Thursday. SSP Qambar, Sarfraz Nawaz Sheikh, said that a clash erupted between two rival groups due to land dispute that resulted in eight casualties and ten injured.

He told that the persons who lost their lives included Dedar Moughari, Liaqat Moughari, Gulam Murtaza, Ashaq Ali, Murtaza Bhok, Manzoor and Muhamad Baksh. The injured are Mukhtar Ali Bhok, Nawaz Bhok, Zahid Moughari, Abdul Razaq Moughari and others, he added. The Police party led by SSP reached on the spot and shifted the dead and injured to Chandika Medical Hospital, Larkana. —APP

B3

Gulalai Ismail, a 28-year-old activist belonging to Marghuz village of Swabi district, received ‘Youth Award for Excellence in Development’ in London, United Kingdom the other day.

She is daughter of Prof Mohammad Ismail, a known social worker of the region. The award recognises outstanding young people under 30 whose development projects and programmes have significant impacts on their communities, countries and the world.

Gulalai along with other award winners also met Queen Elizabeth-II one day before the award ceremony.

She received the award in recognition of her efforts for protecting rights of young women and girls and strengthening the political participaBANNU: A view of grand jirga of North Waziristan IDPs held at Bannu Township. The Jirga unanimously demanded the government to send back the IDPs to their homes after the area has been declared clear. —Photo Hissam Dawar tion of young women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Gulalai had launched a rights organisation, Aware Girls, when she was only 16 to empower young women by strengthening their leadership capacities so that they could act as agents of change, to sensitise the communities for creating a conducive environment where young women could exercise their human rights and to advocate for laws and policies which could protect the rights of “The change in the name is not because young women and girls. our own area,” said Malik Ghulam Khan, HISSAM DAWAR General Secretary, for the committee of we are beloved of the government but beNORTH WAZIRISTAN IDPs. He added the people were not in cause they want us to be deprived of our Elders and political figures threatened on the position to show patience and cool- legal rights,” Nisar added.

Malik Khan Mar Jan said while adThursday to hold a protest march to- ness to the false promises of the govwards North Waziristan (NWA) if the ernment. Another tribal elder and grand- dressing to the Jirga Participants that government did not issue a timeframe son of Faqir of Eppi, Haji Sher Muham- the government should release all the mad, said the government had decreased withholding scholarships of the IDP for the return of IDPs. This was decided in a grand jirga held at the food and non-food items previous- students as were promised during masBannu township area on Thursday with ly given to the IDPs. “We demand com- sive migration. “We demand the au- LARKANA a huge number of IDPs representatives plete ration for our people as were thorities concerned to release with impromised at the time of migration,” mediate effect all the scholarships of the Sindh Minister for Education Nisar and elders of NWA. IDP students,” Jan said, adding that the Ahmed Khuhro has asked school heads The participants of the Jirga from all Haji Sher Muhammad stated.

Nisar Ali Khan, president of the IDPs people are jobless and their businesses not to charge students any extra fee on over KPK and other parts of the country said they were fed up with the dates giv- committee said the status change from have been destroyed, “ Where they the pretext of buying answer sheets and en by the government for the return of IDPs to the TDPs was also a conspiracy should go and what they will do, he said. question papers and warned if anyone of the government so that the people It was also decided that the next Jirga was found collecting it, they would have the displaced people.

“We will not give sit-in in Islamabad would not get all the facilities according will be held at Bagh-e- Naran, Pe- to face action. shawar, on Monday next week. rather we would prefer to march towards to the rules of the United Nations.

The minister has taken notice of reports that Rs50 each are being taken from students of class V to VIII for the examination, starting from March 16, and directed the secretary of education to immediately release funds to district education officers for the exams-related expenses, according to a statement emailed to Dawn on Wednesday by Shaoceanic water in Thatta, Sujawal & Badin UPPER DIR keel Memon, press secretary to the minTHATTA Districts is the migration graph is unFishermen communities are migrating fortunately ascending high, EX Sindh Police arrested a militant allegedly refrom Indus Delta along Thatta and Su- Minister on Tourism & Culture Sassui sponsible for the attack on Maj-Gen jawal Districts towards Karachi, Gwadar Palejo says.

Sanaullah, General Officer CommandConsequently, EX PPP MPA Humaira ing for Malakand division, and Lt Col and other wetlands in Interior Sindh.

Chairman PFF Pakistan Fisher Folk Alwani revealed that around 5768 acres Tauseef Ahmed, in 2013.

Forum, Syed Muhammad Ali Shah be- agricultural land has been rendered barAbdul Rahim, alias Raes, was arrestlieves that for the last couple of years, ow- ren due to shortage of water. Currently, ed today during an operation in Baraw- KARACHI ing to several reasons, fishermen and la- the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) is dis- al, near the Pak-Afghan border. bor communities are migrating from charging more than 2800 cusecs of poiAccording to District Police Officer An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on southern areas of Sindh towards the in- sonous water into the Indus delta caus- (DPO), Dir Israr Bacha, Rahim was also Thursday issued a death warrant for terior Sindh. Non-release of water in In- ing considerable damage to the fish involved in killing 27 Frontier Corps (FC) the execution of a condemned prisdus downstream Kotri, frequent arrests seedlings. Provincial Minister in Sindh personnel at a check-post in Shalotal. oner Shafqat Hussain, who is said to of fishermen from Pakistan territorial wa- Cabinet Muhammad Ali Malkani , an The suspect was taken to an undis- be a juvenile at the time of committing ters by Indian Naval forces and shrink- MPA from coastal constituency “Jati”, in- closed location for investigation. In the crime. age of livelihood resources are some of stead of realizing the miseries of the 2013, a day after the Khyber Hussain, who is now 23-years-old, is the major reasons behind this huge shift. deltaic population seems to be optimistic Pakhtunkhwa government had an- set to be executed on March 19.

Syed Shah revealed that, over 5000 and contended. He expects no positive nounced a phased withdrawal of troops Shafqat was arrested and sentenced fishermen from coastal island prompt step regarding the arrests of the from Malakand division, a Taliban bomb to death in 2004 for kidnapping and Kharochann and scattered settlements fishermen by the neighboring country un- attack killed two senior military officers killing a seven-year-old boy from an Ketibunder, Ghorabari, Sajjanwari, Mor til a permanent settlement of controver- and a soldier in Upper Dir. apartment building in Karachi where Chaddai, Babeeho, Jhaalo, Udasi, Shah- sial “Sir Creek”- a 96 km (60 mi) strip of The Inter Services Public Relations he was working as a guard. bunder and Jati have already migrated water that is disputed between India (ISPR) had released a statement which In September the same year, and Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch marsh- said Maj Gen Sanaullah, General Of- Shafqat, said to be 14 years old at the in search of bread and butter.

Ghani Katiyar, head of Katiyar clan land is made amicably. Moreover, con- ficer Commanding for Malakand divi- time, was sentenced to death by an said, “We are tired of pleading for help secutive natural catastrophes and man- sion, and Lt Col Tauseef Ahmed were anti-terrorism court. His murder to get our families released from the In- made jolts were also the reasons behind returning with a convoy from Shahi charge was reduced to ‘involuntary dian prisons in Gujarat, Rajasthan. this gradual migration from Indus delta. Kot in Upper Dir district, near the manslaughter’ on appeal, but the Therefore, the families there had no op- He adds that being a representative from Afghan border. When they reached Gat terrorism charges against him were tion but to move towards other places the coastal constituency, he would do his area an improvised explosive device not quashed. utmost to deliver and help address the is- planted on a road went off destroying and strive for some labor jobs.”

Officials of the Karachi central Due to degradation of delta, vanishing sues of coastal population by exploring al- their vehicle. The Tehreek-i-Taliban prison asked the trial court (ATC-III) mangrove forests and outpouring of ternative avenues of livelihood in the Pakistan has claimed responsibility on Wednesday to issue the fresh over 1.3 million agricultural land under coastline. —FP Monitoring for the attack. —FP Monitoring black warrant for the hanging of the

Jirga threatens march if IDPs’ return time not given

She also works for countering violent extremism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by promoting non-violence, pluralism and tolerance. She is a staunch supporter of the role of young women in peace building and development.

Gulalai, when contacted by this scribe, said that she believed that if young people especially young women were not engaged in the decision making processes then the dream of living in a decent, developed and peaceful world couldn’t be materialised.

About receiving the award, she said it meant the voice of Pakistani and South Asian girls working for their rights was being recognised. “While I receive this award, there are millions of girls, who are denied their right to education and are forced into marriages. They are victims of domestic abuse and violence in their communities,” she added.

Gulalai urged people to break the silence and speak up for supporting the cause of human rights and political participation of women and girls. In 2013, she received International Democracy Award in the US Congress. She was invited by White House to attend Obama Civil Society Summit in 2013.

In 2014, she received the International Humanist Award and is one of Foreign Policy Magazine’s 2013 ‘Leading Global Thinkers’. —FP Monitoring

Minister asks schools not to charge students extra fee

Fishermen migrate for bread and butter in Sindh

Militant arrested for killing army officials

ister. The minister asked the secretary to ensure funds were released in time so that question papers could be prepared and printed in time and answer copies could be arranged, he said.

He said the minister expressed concern over non-utilisation and lapse of ‘school specific budget’ for two years and asked the secretary to check as to why the budget lapsed and who was responsible for it.

Mr Khuhro said that action would be taken against the delinquent and observed the current year’s ‘school specific budget’ should be spent adequately till April 30 to bring improvements in schools and asked the officers concerned to send him progress reports daily to show how the budget had been spent, said the statement. —FP Monitoring

ATC issues black warrant for condemned prisoner

death row prisoner since the government had lifted an interim stay against his execution.

The appeals and mercy petition of the condemned prisoner had already been rejected by the superior judiciary and the presidency, respectively, they added.

The death row prisoner has been dodging death for the past many years since implementation on his black warrants, repeatedly issued by the trial court, was stayed as the Pakistan Peoples Party government had placed a moratorium on executions after coming into power in 2008.

The counsel for the death row prisoner had petitioned the Sindh High Court against his possible hanging stating that he was wrongly convicted as a juvenile in the kidnapping and murder case. However, earlier this week, Pakistan lifted its moratorium on the death penalty in all capital cases, after initially restarting executions for terrorism offences in the wake of the Taliban Army Public school massacre. —FP Monitoring

Archaeological discoveries under threat in Thatta THATTA

Theriro or Thari hills — a long sandstone outcrop overlooking the alluvial plain, 10 meters down to the south of the road linking Gharo with Thatta — is considered a site of historical importance, with the discovery of signs or monograms engraved on its hill structure. These discoveries are under constant threat due to the uninterrupted encroachments around it by the land mafia.

With the excavation of sand and the extraction of carved stones, this is a matter of great concern, according to a

team of archaeologists.

The team consisted of Masood Lohar, explorer of archaeological sites, and office-bearers of Thatta, Historical Society, historian Dr Muhammad Ali Manjhi, Abdul Qadir Gandhro and Nawaz Qureshi, all in the quest of determining the exact route of Alexander’s army, from the coastal areas of Thatta district through Makran coast to the Persian capital, Persepolis.

“Gedrosia appears to be the Greek form of Gwadar. The Macedonian conqueror, on his way back to Babylon, marched through the Pabb range of Balochistan. There are reports of

Greek signs and wall carvings in those mountains.

“We are trying to document those before they vanish forever in the wake of natural disasters and increasing human activity,” remarked Lohar.

The Theriro Jabal monograms of Alexander’s army were discovered by archaeologist Dr Asma Ibrahim years ago.

“The fort and pier constructed by the Macedonians at Theriro suffered heavy damage by a massive earthquake in the 9th century, with an epicenter only 8 miles north-east near Jungshahi,” said Lohar. He added: “The subsequent earthquakes in the 17th and 19th cen-

turies further damaged the structures.”

Showing photographs of the mint marks/monograms were found on the hill. Lohar disclosed that unscrupulous elements were frequently extracting precious stones and excavating the sand from the site, hence causing irreparable losses to the hill that houses the remains of the fortress built by Alexander the Great. Theriro hill is located near the Gujjo town of Thatta district and the team was of the view that a careful archaeological study of the site can reveal a wealth of information about Alexander and his army.

Different customs were in practice to

mark victory or the presence of a certain ruler in a conquered area. In this fortress, the signs engraved showed monograms on Greek and Indo-Scythians coinage.

Referring to Arrian’s Anabasis of Alexander’s, General Haig’s near the historic site Kalan Kot at Makli, but also he praised its environment. Praising the research work of Dr Asma Ibrahim, the team suggested further research on the subject, proper protection and preservation of the historical site and its enlistment on the archaeological sites list. They also called for a strict ban on cultivation of land around the hill and the site to be guarded properly. —FP Monitoring

AFGHANISTAN/IRAN

B4

BRIEF Afghan attorneys protest against recruitment test KABUL

Dozens of attorneys on Wednesday gathered in front of the gate of the Presidential Palace in Kabul to raise their voice about the test planned by the president. Protestors avoided going to work and accused the government of dismissing them from the job under different pretences to replace its desired elements to those he promised to during the election campaigns. However, Ghani's legal advisor on his Facebook page wrote that implementation of reforms in the legal and judicial institutions of Afghanistan were part of the commitments sought by the government of national unity. But why are the attorneys hesitate to take the test? –FP Monitoring

Najibullah Musafir’s detention ends KABUL

Najibullah Musafir after being pardoned by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani was released from the prison and reunited with his family. Najibullah Musafir spent about three weeks in Pul-i-Charkhi prison for charges according to his family were cleared eight years ago. He was sentenced by the court for six months imprisonment but yesterday President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani released a decree pardoning the remaining of his imprisonment period. After leaving Pul-i-Charkhi prison on Wednesday, Najibullah Musafir met with journalists and thanked them for the voice they raised for his released. –FP Monitoring

Family of taxi driver thrashed by MP convoy seeks justice KABUL

The family members of a taxi driver who was killed when his car collided with the convoy of MP Iqbal Safai this week have claimed that the lawmaker fled the scene after hitting the taxi and killing their relative. They have said students from Kabul University took it upon themselves to bring the dead body to the family at the hospital. The accident occurred in the Kart-eChar area of Kabul when the convoy of MP Iqbal Safai was speeding down a road. Mr. Safai has confessed that his driver was responsible for the incident, and has promised to hand him over to law enforcement. "It was the convoy of an MP and it was moving at maximum speed in the wrong direction and collided with the taxi and the driver was killed on the spot and three others were wounded who were sitting inside the MPs car," an eye witness named Khalid told the press. –FP Monitoring

Sima Samar — a sonorous voice from Afghan Hazara

11 Afghan policemen martyred in ambush

Khwaja Ghar District this morning.

Sunatullah Taimor, spokesman for Eleven Afghan soldiers have embraced the acting governor of Takhar province martyrdom in an insurgent ambush in confirmed the attack.

He said that policemen were on their northeastern Takhar province.

Officials confirm the ambushes in way from Dasht-i-Arche district to KhwaTAKHAR

Former Afghan presidential candidate found dead

KABUL

Shahla Ata, a former member of parliament and a candidate of the presidential elections in 2009 – in which she did not succeed – was found dead at her residence this morning in Kabul.

Afghan economy staggers during initial months of new government KABUL

The Central Statistics Organization (CSO) has reported assessments of economic trends since the formation of the national unity government and they do not bode well. According to the monitoring office, economic stagnation and rising inflation have been the hallmarks of the past half year.

Meanwhile, small business owners in Kabul markets have also voiced concerns about the decline in consumer trends and overall business activities.

Although the national unity government leaders made many promises when on the campaign trail, vowing increased employment, economic prosperity, national production, and more, these commitments have gone largely unmet. The CSO reports a one percent growth in the national inflation rate over the past five months, and a decrease in the purchasing power of Afghans per capita.

"When there is an economic recession, people's economic capabilities also decline and demand in in the markets decreases, therefore it shows bad eco-

nomic conditions," CSO Deputy Habibullah Mauahid told the press on Wednesday.

The precarious economic conditions of the country, which have grown more tenuous as the NATO coalition withdraws its presence and financial support, have had a major impact on the lives of everyday Afghans. Mohammadullah, for example, is a street seller and he has

felt the ripple effects of the overall economic downturn in the country. "We want jobs, and we lost our daily wages since the national unity government was formed," he said.

"We are in need of jobs, but unfortunately the new government doesn't have enough capability to provide us jobs," another Kabul resident named Mohammad Anwar said.

The decline on value of Afghani currency against foreign currencies has led to price hikes in local commodity markets. But the Central Bank of Afghanistan has said that the issue is not desperate.

"The value of the Afghani currency has been stable over the past six months against the foreign currencies and currencies of neighboring countries and dollar, therefore, we hope that the market manages the value of Afghani currency and it would be in the interests of the country and our economy, so the current value of Afghani currency isn't concerning," CBA Acting Chairman Khan Afzal Hodawal said.

Analysts have said part of the reason being the national unity government's economic failures so far is the lack of a coherent and decisive strategy for development. "When there is no inclusive economic strategy and plan, how we can be optimistic that the situations will be better? So far the government hasn't been able to form itself completely because it has no programs, because of that there is no hope," economic analyst Haseebullah Mauahid said. –FP Monitoring

Security measures halt killings in Maidan Wardak MAIDAN WARDAK

Officials of Maidan Wardak province say that civilian casualties have been decreased by 53 % in this province.

Officials say looking at the information collected there is 53 % decrease in the civilian casualties in the year 2014 compared to 2013.

According to Maidan Wardak offi-

cials, United Nations has recorded 126 separate incidents in Maidan Wardak province where 70 people including women and children were killed and 125 others wounded.

As per the information provided to the governor’s office of Maidan Wardak province by the United Nations, out of 195 civilians killed or injured in 2014, 94 casualties were recorded in the at-

tacks of the armed opponents, 51 in the security forces actions and 27 others were killed or wounded during the fighting by unknown sides.

However, the information that is provided to the governor’s house of Maidan Wardak province by the United Nations shows that the civilian casualties recorded in Maidan Wardak province were 106 persons

killed and 303 others wounded which is 53 percent more than that of recorded in 2014.

In the meantime, Abdul Majid Khogyani, the acting-governor of Maidan Wardak province has ordered the security agencies in the province to put all efforts in bringing the percentage of the civilian casualties to zero in 2015. –FP Monitoring

Kabul police confirm that Shahla Ata was found dead at her residence in Kabul this morning but have not issued further details.

Kabul police told reporters that the details will be issued after initial investigation. –FP Monitoring

Acting Afghan governors fail to diminish public grievances KABUL

The ongoing administration of day-today affairs by acting governors in provinces across the country has become a growing point of grievance against the new national unity government. Citizens of different provinces around the country have reported district chiefs going completely absent and provincial authorities neglecting their duties because they feel no obligation to continue their service as placeholders.

News gathered from Maidan Wardak province investigated the conditions, on the ground under an acting governorship, that of Abdul Majid Khogyani. Maidan Wardak province is located just 87 kilometers away from Kabul. "If this caretaker issue is resolved, undoubtedly all issues will move in the right direction," Chief Executive of the Jalris district of Maidan Wardak Safai said on Wednesday.

Everyday tasks like getting signatures from officials, licenses and certifications take days on end. "I waited for a stamp for several hours, however there is no one to reach us and solve our issues," a resident of Jalris district named Homayoun said. But in a addition to local administration, insecurity has also gotten worse as time passes without a new provincial government. "Sometimes we fight seven times a day, but there isn't enough equipment and the government should address our problems," an Afghan Local Police Officer named Jaffar told the press.

In neighboring Chack district, the situation is similar. "There is no employment and our future is uncertain, the government must focus on our province so that we move forward toward development and better management of the province," a resident of Chak district named Pacha Gul said. –FP Monitoring

‘Iranian project could revamp Lebanon’

KABUL

There's a woman bleeding to death on her operating table and there's absolutely nothing she can do about it. She runs and runs but has no idea which way to go. She runs as fast as she her legs can carry her to get as far from the shooters as she can, but they are closing in and she still can't find a place to hide. The sheer terror jolts her awake. Yes, these are nightmares—but not ones she hasn't lived through. She's watched young women die for no greater cause than a lack of adequate medical facilities. She has hidden in a hotel kitchen, while a suicide attack was underway at the Serena Hotel in 2008, only to walk out later past lifeless bodies on a bloody floor. –FP Monitoring

ja Ghar District when they came under Taliban ambush in the jurisdiction of Khwaja Ghar District and.

He added that when Taliban ambushed policemen a gun battle erupted between the two sides which lasted for about four hours.

He added that during the gun battle four police men embraced martyrdom and two gunmen killed.

He further said that four other policemen were detained by the Taliban who were killed after their weapons were taken from them.

Taliban insurgents have not commented on the report at this time.

Although, compare to past years 2015 started with more hopes for Afghans due to the reports that Taliban insurgents are ending their over decade long insurgency and making a peace deal with government but this year too proved to be one of the deadly year for Afghan forces.

In one deadly attack that took place in Logar province last month, at least 20 Afghan soldiers lost their lives. –FP Monitoring

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

TEHRAN

Recently, the former minister Wiam Wahab, in an interview on television, said something to the effect that he was saddened by the vacuum in the Lebanese presidency. He was saddened because Lebanon might never have a Maronite president again.

This could have been hyperbole, but there were those who saw a more sinister underpinning to Wahab’s remarks.

Pointing to his close ties with Hezbollah and Iran, they read in his remarks the first hints of a broader Iranian vision for a new reality in Lebanon. Not surprisingly, the greatest potential victims of an Iranian-inspired overhaul of Lebanon’s political system could be Christians in general and the Maronites in particular.

As Iran expands its power throughout the Middle East, it is seeking to reshape the political landscape in ways designed to enhance its leverage and that of its allies. Nor is anybody successfully hindering this. On the contrary, it has become increasingly apparent that the United States has no intention of challenging Iran’s sway in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Gone are the days when the American priority was containment of Iran in the region. Under Barack Obama, the U.S. appears to favor a new regional order in which Iran will be granted a choice role.

That is why Tehran has been so adamant about defending Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria. His downfall would have crippled Iran’s efforts. Today, Iranian combatants are fighting in

Syria, compensating for the losses in the Alawite community, while Iran has spent billions of dollars to prop up Assad’s regime.

In Lebanon, it seems highly probable that Iran will pursue a similar logic by seeking to modify the political system to the advantage of the Shiite community, led by Hezbollah. That is easier said than done, however, which is why Hezbollah is using the clashing ambitions of the Maronites themselves to help discredit the current post-Taif political arrangement.

Taif is widely viewed in Lebanon as having favored the Sunni community because it turned the Cabinet into Lebanon’s executive authority, taking most powers away from the Maronite presidency. –FP Monitoring

SPORTS

www.thefrontierpost.pk

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

OVER HALF A BILLION INDIAN FANS TUNE IN TO WORLD CUP

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BRENDAN TAYLOR TO QUIT ZIMBABWE TEAM

MUMBAI: With India's winning streak extending to a record nine matches in the World Cup, the viewership for the 50-over showpiece event has risen to over half-a-million in the cricket crazy country. The league stage figures post three weeks of the quadrennial event have touched 534 million viewers after the first 29 matches. After their record-breaking wins against Pakistan and South Africa, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side once again made the fans stay glued to their television sets. Viewers across the country cheered for Team India across multiple feeds. —Agencies

AUCKLAND: Top Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon Taylor could be featuring in his last game for his country when his side faces India in their last World Cup Pool B game at the Seddon Park on Saturday. Taylor has signed a three-year Kolpak deal with Nottinghamshire, subject to England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) approval, which makes him ineligible to play for Zimbabwe while that contract is in effect. The Kolpak deal allows English county cricket clubs to employ the services of a multitude of overseas cricketers. —Agencies

De Villiers, Behardien thump UAE by 146 runs WELLINGTON

UAE's slow bowlers had tossed sugar into the fuel tank of the South African batting machine on a sluggish track at the Regional Stadium here on Thursday.

But AB de Villiers' rapid 99 had it purring in no time for Farhaan Behardien to step on the gas in the final overs with an unbeaten 64 off 31 balls to reprise their record of scoring 300-plus every time they have batted first in this World Cup, and thump UAE by 146 runs.

De Villiers was the clincher again. He repaired a minor top-order wobble by adding 108 off 107 balls with David Miller and built his own innings towards the crescendo that has become a day-today occurrence.

De Villiers arrived in the 17th over as Mohammad Tauqir, the offspinner, and Amjad Javed, who may as well be called the offcutter, were in the middle of a productive spell. Rilee Rossouw's stint at No. 3 was a perfect case study. There was no swing for the UAE seamers and they pitched the ball on either side of the good length area for Rossouw to punch and pull. Kamran Shazad, who replaced Manjula Guruge despite a 4 for 56 against Pakistan, was hit out of the attack after twin fours in three of his five overs.

South Africa cruised past 50 in the ninth over and Rossouw was 28 off 17.

Even de Villiers was briefly tied down - 32 off 41 balls in the 29th over. But it was simply clever batting considering UAE's death bowling stocks wouldn't tempt a compulsive gambler and they conceded 101 runs in the final 10 overs.

UAE could have bailed themselves out had Javed taken a return catch off de Villiers in the 38th over. Instead, he had to watch his next ball sail beyond the midwicket boundary. Thirty-two off 41 had become 90 off 75 with hardly a fuss.

SCOREBOARD SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS HM Amla c Amjad Ali b Naveed ............ 12 Q de Kock c Saqlain b Amjad ................26 RR Rossouw c & b Tauqir ........................ 43 AB de Villiers c Amjad b Kamran ..........99 DA Miller b Naveed .................................. 49 JP Duminy lbw b Naveed ........................ 23 F Behardien not out ................................ 64 VD Philander not out ..............................10 Did not bat: DW Steyn, M Morkel, Imran Tahir EXTRAS (B 4, LB 1, W 5, NB 5) ................ 15 TOTAL (6 wickets; 50 overs) ................341 FALL OF WICKETS: 1-17, 2-85, 3-96, 4-204, 5-257, 6-292 BOWLING Mohammad Naveed ..................10-0-63-3 Kamran Shazad ............................8-0-59-1 Amjad Javed ................................10-0-87-1 Mohammad Tauqir ....................10-0-47-1 Fahad Alhashmi ........................7.2-0-45-0 Khurram Khan ..............................4-0-31-0 Shaiman Anwar ..........................0.4-0-4-0 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES INNINGS Amjad Ali c Behardien b Duminy ............21 AR Berenger c Rossouw b Morkel .......... 5 Khurram Khan c e Kock b Morkel .......... 12 Shaiman Anwar c Rossouw b Tahir .... 39 SP Patil not out ........................................ 57

Saqlain Haider c Rossouw b de Villiers .. 7 Amjad Javed c sub Parnell) b de Villiers 5 M Naveed c de Villiers b Philander ........ 17 Mohammad Tauqir b Steyn .................... 3 Kamran Shazad c Steyn b Philander .... 0 Fahad Alhashmi absent hurt EXTRAS (B 4, LB 16, W 6, NB 3) ............29 TOTAL (all out; 47.3 overs) ..................195 FALL OF WICKETS: 1-29, 2-45, 3-45, 4-108, 5-118, 6-125, 7-163, 8-189, 9-195 BOWLING DW Steyn ........................................9-1-40-1 VD Philander ..............................8.3-1-34-2 M Morkel ........................................10-2-23-2 JP Duminy ..........................................3-1-12-1 F Behardien ......................................4-1-11-0 Imran Tahir ..................................10-0-40-1 AB de Villiers ..................................3-0-15-2 To s s : United Arab Emirates, who chose to field Points: South Africa 2, United Arab Emirates 0 Player of the match: AB de Villiers (South Africa) Umpires: SJ Davis (Australia) and RJ Tucker (Australia) TV umpire: BNJ Oxenford (Australia) Match referee: RS Mahanama (Sri Lanka)

A fifth century in the last 25 innings beckoned, but one short of the mark, de Villiers sliced Shazad's medium pace to short third man. A crop of school kids clutched their heads in disbelief, but the man himself walked off with a smile. It was his first 99 in 178 innings, and his wicket allowed just enough time for Behardien to stake his claim as a finisher. Mohammad Naveed had begun his spell with a beamer that nearly took down Hashim Amla, but he finished as UAE's most successful bowler with 3 for 63.

A target of 342 against the calibre of South Africa's pace attack meant UAE's only realistic aim was surviving 50 overs.

There were spurts of brilliance - Amjad Ali's instinctive pull off Dale Steyn in the

first over, Shaiman Anwar's vicious straight drives against Vernon Philander in the 26th over and Naveed hoisting Steyn into the stands behind long-on - but they were lost amid Steyn and Philander whizzing past the outside edge numerous times, Khurram Khan wearing a nasty bouncer on the ear and Andri Berenger helplessly fending a catch – a stunning one – to Rossouw at point.

The latter two incidents epitomised the menace of Morne Morkel, who finished with 10-2-23-2 and conceded only one boundary. Anwar 's efforts frustrated South Africa for 64 balls to claim the record for most runs by an Associate batsman in World Cups and Swapnil Patil's 100-ball 57 took them through to the 48th over. —Agencies

Shikhar Dhawan's hunger doing the trick for India HAMILTON

A full ball on the pads, a nervy turn of the blade to deflect the ball, a hared single, and Shikhar Dhawan held his pose at the other end. Chest puffed out, back arched, arms in the air in triumph, Dhawan was soaking in the moment. There were only a few more than 10,000 people in the crowd at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Tuesday (March 10), but a sizeable majority were Indian fans, so vociferous that they would have shouted down the competition even if outnumbered.

Cricket has been a slightly odd game to Dhawan. After what can only be called a false start to international cricket – his two-ball duck against Australia in Visakhapatnam lasted all of a minute – came the most dramatic reinvention of technique, and, to an extent, temperament. The result was a Test debut against the same opposition that none can forget. Replacing Virender Sehwag, Dhawan's blade flashed rapier-like for a little over four hours, 187 coming at better than a run-a-ball in Mohali.

Since then, the game has given joy, but sporadically, and consistency has evaded. Dhawan played a crucial hand in India's Champions Trophy winning run in England in 2013, where he made more runs than anyone else, 363 from five matches including two

hundreds. If the big tournament, in demanding conditions in England, brought the best out of Dhawan, his game tailed away after. Going into the World Cup, only a brave man would have picked Dhawan to top the likes of Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina when it came to hunger for runs. Ravi Shastri, the team director and eternal positivist, was one such, telling Indian journalists that Dhawan would be a star at the World Cup, even before a big innings had been played.

What has happened since is sufficiently dramatic. With centuries against South Africa and Ireland, both times after being reprieved via dropped catches, Dhawan only has Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara ahead of him on the run charts.

To suggest that Dhawan has made

any dramatic adjustments to his technique would be disingenuous, for most batsmen look good when they're making runs by the bucketful. But, the fact that the team persisted with Dhawan was not a complete mystery.

Dhawan's game is an odd one. His weaknesses seem fairly obvious. He plays very uppishly when dealing with the short, wide ball and, oddly enough, the full ball coming into him or straightening finds a way to burst through the bat-pad gap. Equally, Dhawan hits the ball in odd places, making it difficult to set a field to him.

Dhawan explores angles that other left-hand batsmen seldom do, and this is a bowler's nightmare.

While Dhoni might have precise explanations for why a successful Dhawan makes for a happy Indian dressing room, the statistics tell their own story. When Dhawan has made a hundred with India batting first, they have never racked up anything less than 294, and on three other occasions they have topped 300. Batting second, Dhawan has four centuries, one of which ensured that India hunted down a target of 350. Whether you want analysis or prefer to take it on good faith, the truth is simple. When Dhawan goes big, India do exceptionally well. That's enough reason to back a player who can occasionally drive you to distraction with his inconsistency. —Agencies

WELLINGTON: David Miller, who put on 108 runs with AB de Villiers for the fourth wicket and fell one short of his fifty, looks at his stumps after being bowled during the South Africa and UAE match on Thursday. —FP Monitor

Home-bound England fear one last shock as they face Afghanistan today SYDNEY

Lanka and similarly well in the win over Scotland, Afghanistan's spearhead Hamid Hassan will be looking forward to charging in at a few timid English batsmen. The SCG pitch appears better grassed than the strip that hosted Australia on Sunday, affording Afghanistan's bowlers the hope of some lateral movement in their final outing for the tournament.

Team news: Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali leave gaps in the team that will likely be filled by Ravi Bopara and James Tredwell, while Alex Hales is set to open after batting at No. 3 against Bangladesh.

Jos Buttler may find himself up the order, and Steven Finn also has some chance of inclusion ahead of Stuart Broad or James Anderson. Afghanistan's team should change little, their faith placed in the pace bowlers who have ac-

quitted themselves well thus far.

Pitch and conditions" The SCG pitch is to the left of the pitch square towards the Bill O'Reilly stand side, and looks somewhat grassier than that prepared for Australia and Sri Lanka. The weather forecast is for some showers across the afternoon and evening.

Squads: England 1 Ian Bell, 2 Alex Hales, 3 James Taylor, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan (capt), 6 Jos Buttler, 7 Ravi Bopara, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 James Tredwell, 11 James Anderson.

Afghanistan 1 Javed Ahmadi, 2 Nawroz Mangal, 3 Asghar Stanikzai, 4 Samiullah Shenwari, 5 Mohammad Nabi (capt), 6 Najibullah Zadran, 7 Afsar Zazai (wk), 8 Gulbadin Naib, 9 Dawlat Zadran, 10 Hamid Hassan, 11 Shapoor Zadran. —Agencies

In some ways a meaningless match, in others quite the opposite. England and Afghanistan are both guaranteed to be going home regardless of what transpires at the SCG, but there are plenty of points of interest for observers both partisan and neutral. Having been dumped from the World Cup

by Bangladesh, England will be petrified of finishing their tournament with another loss to the kind of team the ECB have given short shrift to by way of fixtures and ICC-level decisions in recent times. Jobs are at risk now for players and coaches - this may be Eoin Morgan's last match in charge of the team while Peter Moores cannot feel that much more secure himself. The level of analysis applied to England's limited-overs fortunes over the past few days will have an interesting counterpoint at the SCG, as the players ponder whether to change their ways or try to carry on in the old style.

For Afghanistan the fixture provides one last chance to appear in the game's shop window, against opponents they have never played in ODIs and on a ground they are visiting for the very first time. Their coach Andy Moles has suggested that over the next four years Afghanistan aspire to be the preferred warm-up opponents for teams visiting the UAE and other nearby countries. A victory or even a close result against England would underline the validity of his point, and perhaps also cause other countries to ponder even greater opportunities for this team that has grown so much in so little time.

In the spotlight: Having languished without an opportunity until the last possible moment against Bangladesh, Alex Hales will get a chance to bat in his preferred position as opener in what is now a meaningless fixture for England.

But it will not be meaningless for Hales, one of numerous members of a chastened England squad seeking to shore up their place in the plans of whoever turns out to be captain and coach of the team once the England's Peter Moores and Mark Ramprakash look on during a practice dust settles from their elimination. session in Sydney on Thursday. —FP Monitor Having bowled beautifully against Sri

New Zealand firepower between Bangladesh and third spot HAMILTON

For both these teams a place in the quarter-finals is safe –- New Zealand courtesy of a serene run through the tournament and Bangladesh after their seismic victory over England in Adelaide.

Now there is a final chance for fine-tuning before the knockouts. While New Zealand are assured of topping the group, a win for Bangladesh will push them past Sri Lanka, meaning they will avoid facing defending champions India in the quarter-final. Despite Bangladesh's performance against England the home side remain strong favourites for this match. Bangladesh have never beaten New Zealand in New

Zealand, and the co-hosts are on an ODI winning streak of seven.

But this hasn't quite been a seamless few days between matches for New Zealand.

A sickness bug has taken down three players, with Kane Williamson the last to recover, while Adam Milne has been nursing a sore shoulder. Still, they are minor blips in a smooth campaign. For Bangladesh this is a brief return across the Tasman before heading back to Australia for the quarter-final. "We've proved a point," said Ruwan Kalpage, their spin bowling coach, when the team arrived in Hamilton. Their performance against England was notable for its calmness and efficiency, led by Mahmudullah's hundred followed by the all-round bowl-

ing performance. The quarter-finals was their initial target at this tournament, now they are looking at greater deeds.

In the spotlight: Will we see New Zealand's middle order under pressure?

Only against Australia have they been threatened, and it nearly proved too much.

Ross Taylor remains short of form, while Grant Elliott has faced 94 balls in the tournament and Luke Ronchi 36. New Zealand insist they are not into box-ticking, but if a situation arises that gives these players a significant role it would be no bad thing.

Rubel Hossain is the man of the moment, and should have been the Man of the Match against England. It was his twin double-strikes, first to remove Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan and later Stuart

Broad and James Anderson, which condemned England. He will also have fond memories of facing New Zealand having taken 6 for 26, including a hattrick, in Dhaka in October 2013.

Teams news: Brendon McCullum could not confirm his side with doubts remaining over Milne. He said that would err on the side of caution Mitchell McClenaghan would be the favourite to replace him if required.

Kane Williamson has overcome his sickness. Mashrafe Mortaza has been suffering from a sore throat and a decision on whether he plays will be taken on the day of the game. Significantly, Mortaza is sitting on an over-rate warning after being docked following the England

match and if the team were slow again in Hamilton he would miss the quarterfinal. Chandika Hathurusingha, the coach, suggested that the balance of the attack would remain the same with Arafat Sunny retaining his place.

Pitch and conditions: India had no issues chasing down 260 against Ireland and it should be a challenging pitch for the bowers. But New Zealand have had no problems so far finding swing when others have not. Hathurusingha did not think the pitch would aid spinners much - saying it was quite hard with a good covering of grass - although R Ashwin and Suresh Raina bowled well for India against Ireland. It was a damp day on Thursday but the forecast for the game

is much better, although being under covers could change the pitch's characteristics a little.

Squads: New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum (capt), 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori, 9 Adam Milne/Mitchell McClenaghan, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Soumya Sarkar, 4 Mahmudullah, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Sabbir Rahman, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Arafat Sunny, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Taskin Ahmed. —Agencies

SPORTS

C2 Boxing

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

Pacquiao and Mayweather face-to-face at last LOS ANGELES

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather came face to face for the first time since their May 2 mega-fight was announced, as Hollywood rolled out the red carpet for the richest bout in history. "It's been a long road but we're here now," said the unbeaten Mayweather on Wednesday, as the countdown began to an eagerly awaited welterweight world title showdown in Las Vegas that has been a long -- and at times fraught -- five years in the making. Filipino ring icon Pacquiao countered: "The fight is on and we're very excited. Both of us will undergo hard training, and we will do our best on May 2 to make you happy." The celebrated duo seemed relaxed as they posed and chatted for a phalanx of about 600 media representatives who were recording their every move.

The deal for the fight wasn't sealed until February 20, leaving little time for the usual pre-bout media blitz, making Wednesday's event the only joint news conference they will conduct before fight week. "On May 2 I have a tough test," Mayweather said. "Manny Pacquiao is a good fighter. I can't see how it will play out, I am not a psychic. But you best believe I will be in top shape and the best I can be." The American, smartly clad in a dove gray suit and pale striped shirt with diamond cufflinks winking, showed only rare glimpses of his "Money" Mayweather swagger -- he did predict he would emerge with his unblem-

ished record intact. "I believe in my skill.

I believe in myself," said Mayweather, who puts a record of 47-0 with 26 knockouts on the line.

Quiet confidence: Pacquiao, 57-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, wore a darker suit and tie, and displayed his usual quiet confidence in a cavernous auditorium normally reserved for pop concerts and Hollywood A-listers. "I believe I will win on May 2," said the down-to-earth 36-year-old southpaw, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions. Pacquiao's Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach couldn't resist a few jabs at Mayweather, who turned 38 in February.

"His legs are little bit shot," Roach said.

"He is going to have to exchange more.

He has to exchange more because his legs won't take him out of the way ... if he has to exchange with Manny Pacquiao he is in trouble."

Mayweather made little impact with his own somewhat half-hearted attempt to get into Pacquiao's head with a reference to the defeats on his resume.

"When you lose, it's in the mind," said Mayweather, widely considered boxing's pound-for-pound king. "From day one, I was taught to be a winner."

But Mayweather admitted the stakes are higher -- and not just because by the time the pay-per-view revenues are counted the fight is certain to be the most lucrative of all time. "I've never wanted to win a fight so bad in my life," said Mayweather, projected to make an eye-

watering $120 million. Pacquiao will pocket $80 million. Previous bids to put together a fight between the two -- most notably in late 2009 -- had run aground over various issues, including division of the purse, drug testing protocol and animosity between Mayweather and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum. No lingering ill-feeling was in evidence on Wednesday.

"We're family. We're all part of this boxing family," said Arum, who promoted Mayweather until an acrimonious split in 2006. Another complication was the fact that Mayweather has a deal with US telecaster Showtime and Pacquiao with fierce rival HBO. 'Monumental': The two networks are working together on the bout, with HBO Sports president Ken Hershman saying Wednesday the event "transcends boxing for sure and will probably transcend sport." Showtime's Stephen Espinoza called it a "monumental event" that is sure to be the "biggest and most lucrative combat sport event the world has ever seen." The fighters entered the theater separately, walking to the stage in a parade reminiscent of a walk to the ring.

They faced front from the stage -- to throaty cheers from their camps and various hangers-on -- then strode toward each other for a classic pre-fight staredown. "May 2, the fight of the century," Mayweather declared, sweeping aside suggestions that the bout comes with each fighter past his brilliant best. "This is a fight that the world can't miss." —AFP

Flower warns Pakistan to shape up ahead of Ireland tie ADELAIDE

Pakistan's batting coach Grant Flower hoped the underachieving middle-order will come good in Sunday's mustwin World Cup clash against Ireland in Adelaide, saying another failure could prove disastrous. With both teams on three wins from five matches, the winner will advance to the quarter-finals, while the loser's fate will likely be decided by run-rates against the West Indies. Pakistan's batsmen have crossed 250 just once in the tournament when they hammered 339 for six against the amateurs from the United Arab Emirates at Napier. Misbahul Haq's team were bowled out for 224 by India, 160 by the West Indies and 222 by South Africa, and were even restricted to 235 for seven by Zimbabwe.

Flower, the former Zimbabwean batsman who joined the Pakistan team management a year ago, said another mea-

gre total could mean the end of the campaign. "I would like to believe our best is yet to come," he said. "If we don't, I don't think we will go much further in the tournament. "I do expect the batsmen to deliver. That is what they are there for.

They can bat a lot better than they have." Pakistan revived their faltering campaign with a stunning 29-run win over South Africa in a rain-effected match in Auckland after the bowlers dismissed the Proteas for 202. Misbah has been the lone batsman to play consistently, making four half-centuries in the five matches so far. Flower said he wants the batsmen to show an aggressive intent and is even making them play big shots at training. "It's usually a flat wicket at the Adelaide Oval and the side boundaries are smaller than usual, so it does help to get some big shots going," he said. "I think for some batsmen the problem is mental, for others it is technical. I think they have done well in Test cricket, but in ODIs a lot of work needs to be done." —AFP

SPORTS DIARY Australia test new helmet safety guard HOBART

Australian players tested a new helmet safety attachment – designed in the aftermath of the Phillip Hughes tragedy – on Thursday although they will not be obliged to wear it in matches, Cricket Australia said. Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and George Bailey all wore the new Masuri StemGuard clip-on, made of honeycomb plastic and foam, while they batted in the nets at Bellerive Oval ahead of the World Cup match against Scotland on Saturday. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara has already used the device at the World Cup while Ireland all-rounder John Mooney has designed his own version. “Masuri has worked very hard to bring this guard to market in a very short period of time and we appreciate and commend that,” Cricket Australia Executive General Manager of Team Performance Pat Howard told cricket.au.com “The players have now been given the guards to trial at training before deciding whether they wear them in match conditions. “It is very much a personal decision which we will respect.” Australian batsman Hughes died on November 27 last year, two days after being hit on the head by a Sean Abbott bouncer in a first-class match in Sydney. —Agencies

Chris Gayle doubtful for West Indies' do-or-die clash NAPIER

Chris Gayle is a doubt for the West Indies do-or-die World Cup duel against the United Arab Emirates on Sunday after struggling with a back injury. The veteran opener did not train with the rest of the squad at Napier's McLean Park on Wednesday, remaining at the team hotel to rest. "We'd love him to play all the games but we'll just have to manage him better," said coach Stuart Williams told local media. Gayle, 35, blasted a World Cup record 215 in the win over Zimbabwe but his form in other games has been patchy with 36 against Ireland, four in the game with Pakistan, just three in the loss to South Africa and 21 facing India. West Indies have just four points from five games after two wins and three defeats and need to beat the UAE handsomely to boost their run rate if they are to have any hope of squeezing into the quarter-finals. Ireland and Pakistan, both on six points -- two ahead of the West Indies -- clash in Adelaide on the same day.

"Our destiny is in our own hands and on Sunday we'll know exactly what we'll have to do to qualify," added Williams. —AFP

AB De Villiers enters World Cup top-10 scorers’ list WELLINGTON

South African cricket captain AB de Villiers continued to script statistical history at the ongoing World Cup as he on Thursday entered the top-10 of all-time scorers' list besides breaking the tournament record for most sixes by a player. With his 99-run knock against the UAE in a pool B match, de Villiers took his total score at the World Cups to 1,142, which placed him seventh on the overall list topped by retired Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar (2,278 runs). During the course of his 82-ball knock today, de Villiers hit four sixes, which took his overall World Cup count to 20, breaking the record of 18 set by former Australian opener Matthew Hayden in 2007. The dashing right-hander, however, also became only the third batsman in World Cup history to be dismissed on 99 -- the other two being Australia's Adam Gilchrist (2003) and another South African JP Duminy (2011). —Agencies

YABULI: Dario Caviezel of Switzerland competes during the Men's Giant Slalom match on FIS Snowboard Junior World Championships on Thursday. —FP Monitor

Florida golfers undeterred by large alligator on putting green ORLANDO

Golfers at a course in Florida on Wednesday were careful to putt around a large alligator, days after the beast was photographed lounging on the edge of the green in an image that went viral on Facebook. A women's tournament went on as planned at the Myakka Pines Golf Club in Englewood, on Florida's west coast, as the gator, estimated at 12 to 13 feet (3.6 to 4 meters) long, reposed in full view of about 100 participants, said Mickie Zada, the club's general manager. "If we stopped playing because of alligators, we'd never have golfers," Zada said.

Zada said she had spent much of Wednesday morning fielding calls from reporters asking whether the photo, taken by a golfer on Friday, was doctored to make the alligator appear larger.

"This gentleman is well into his 80s. He wouldn't even know Photoshop," Zada said. While more than 200,000 people had viewed the Facebook photo as of Tuesday, according to the club, the alligator is far from the first - or even the biggest - to show up on the course.

An American alligator estimated to be 12-13 feet long walks onto the edge of the putting green on the seventh hole of Myakka Pines Golf Club on Wednesday. —FP Monitor A 15-footer (4.5-metre long one), nicknamed "Big George," hung around for years until his death, Zada said. Despite nearly daily alligator sightings at the course, none have attacked a person in the club's 37 years, Zada said, owing in part to a strict policy against feeding the ani-

mals. Dangerous confrontations between humans and alligators usually stem from people feeding them, Florida wildlife officials have said. The new alligator has yet to be given a moniker, but that may soon change, Zada said. "We might name him Viral," she said. —Agencies

Five things to watch as Formula One 2015 season begins MELBOURNE

With everyone looking to challenge Mercedes this year in Formula One, former world champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso will do so with new teams. Here are some things to look out for in the upcoming season, which begins in Melbourne, Australia, on March 15: Best of enemies: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg went into last season on about as good a terms as any teammates can be at a top team, yet the inevitable pressures of fighting each other for the drivers' championship strained their relationship to near breaking point. A collision between the pair at the Belgian Grand Prix forced Hamilton out of the race and left Rosberg 29 points clear at the top of the standings and seemingly headed for the championship. However, Hamilton responded by winning six of the seven remaining races to earn his second career title. Preseason testing indicates Mercedes will continue to excel into the new season, at least in the early part, so another Hamilton vs. Rosberg title showdown looms.

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo was the only man to take race wins off Mercedes last year, and the team is banking on an improved Renault engine to narrow the gap to Mercedes, but faces an uphill task to surpass the silver cars. Ferrari, too, will be hoping for better things with the arrival of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, but it also has a lot of ground to make up in terms of engine development. F1 fans would have been hoping for a broader mix of title contenders, but will likely have to settle on another intra-team battle. Rosberg will feel it is his turn this year, but can ill afford to give way to Hamilton, whose thrives on confidence.

Patient wait: On paper, the combination of McLaren, engine supplier Honda and two world champion drivers in Alonso and Jenson Button promises much. McLaren won half of its eight constructors' titles with Honda, which is returning to the sport in 2015 after six years. Alonso, having made way for Vettel's arrival at Ferrari, is also making a McLaren reunion, after one unhappy season with the team in 2007. He and Button have competed in more than 500 F1 races between them, and are both drivers renowned for getting the most out of underperforming cars. That's a strength they may need to draw upon more than ever before as Honda plays catchup on the design of the complex V6 hybrid-power engines.

Preseason testing exposed a slew of predictable teething problems, and things got even worse when Alonso suffered a concussion in a crash. The lingering effect of the concussion means he will sit out the season-opening race in Australia, to be replaced by Kevin Magnussen.

F1 has a nose job: After the major technical changes of 2014, when the sport ushered in its complex new engines, this season will have relatively minor alterations to the rules governing cars and racing. The most apparent change is a return of noses tapering down to a low front wing, as the high fronts of recent years have been outlawed. It may have created a lot more work for aerodynamic designers, but is much more aesthetically pleasing. The restriction on pit-driver communication will be stepped up this year, with teams for-

bidden from sharing technical data like settings for fuel use.

In a sport where exploitation of loopholes can often be the difference between success and failure, expect to see teams sailing close to the wind on that one. The late afternoon start times for several races have been moved forward in response to the crash of Jules Bianchi last year in Japan. The French driver suffered severe head injuries when crashing into a trackside mobile crane in gloomy and wet conditions late in a race that finished near dusk. Bianchi remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Colour co-ordination: A year after from introducing individualized driver numbers, Formula One now wants to force the sport's stars to stick with iconic helmet designs. The proposed rule would severely restrict the number of design changes to helmets each season, to make drivers more identifiable both at the track and on television. The plan still has to be ratified by the World Motor Sports Council. Sebastian Vettel regularly changed his helmet design when he was at Red Bull, with some innovative displays, and was not the only one to do so. Chopping and changing designs attracted interest, sparked discussion on social media and brought in some short-term sponsorship boosts, but for the watching public it also caused confusion as to which driver was which. Some drivers have already grumbled about curbs on self-expression and restraint of trade, but the broader interest of fans and the sport seem likely to win out. Bigger numbers on the cars could be the next step to helping fans.

Mind the manor: Manor, the team that has raced under the names Virgin and Marussia in its five years in Formula One, is making a late bid to join the 2015 championship. After sitting out the closing races last season with huge debts, the team looked to be following Caterham onto the long list of failed F1 ventures. However, new ownership in the form of Stephen Fitzpatrick, head of the Ovo energy company, has arrived, chief creditor and engine supplier Ferrari has been appeased and the team is hastily preparing for the season ahead. It has named Will Stevens - who drove in the final race of 2014 for Caterham - as one of its two drivers. No second driver has been named yet, and the late resolution of its 2015 entry and absence of preseason testing makes its claims of being ready to race in Melbourne seem very ambitious. Teams can miss three races in a season without penalty, meaning Manor has until the Bahrain Grand Prix - the fourth race of the season - to be up and running. —Agencies

CENTRAL ASIA

www.thefrontierpost.pk

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

SOYUZ LANDS IN KAZAKHSTAN

ASTANA: The Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft successfully landed in Kazakhstan. A three-member space crew returned to Earth just after sunrise Thursday in Kazakhstan, descending through a sun-splashed sky under an orange and white parachute before dipping through fog for a rocket-cushioned touchdown on the snowy steppes of Central Asia. The trio concluded a 167-day mission on the International Space Station and appeared in good health and spirits after ground crews extracted them from the landing capsule. –FP Monitoring

KYRGYZ PRESIDENT, MALTESE PM TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN BAKU: President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev and Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat will visit Azerbaijan in late April to attend the 3rd Global Shared Societies Forum in Baku, the State Committee for Work with Diaspora told APA. A. Atambayev and J. Muscat will also hold several meetings in Azerbaijan. On April 27-30, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center will organize the 3rd Global Shared Societies Forum with the support of State Committee on Work with Diaspora. About 350 guests including former and current heads of state and government will attend the forum. —FP Monitoring

BRIEF

Tajikistan’s ruling party retains position in parliament

Foreign military base on Uzbek soil unacceptable: Karimov BISHKEK

Candidate to presidency from Liberal-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan incumbent president Islam Karimov met with the voters in Andijan region on March 10 as part of his election campaign to tell about the main directions of this program and plans for 2015. He told the citizens about the foreign policy priorities of the country, saying "Uzbekistan should not join any military block and/or allow deployment of military bases on its territory." Karimov said Uzbek soldiers should never participate in military actions outside the country. Speaking of economic development of the country, the president said the state must focus on private entrepreneurship, agriculture, and reduce state interference in the economy. Islam Karimov noted the importance of attraction of investments to industry, increasing employment rate and life standards of population.

Andijan welcome the candidacy of Karimov. —FP Monitoring

68,000 smart electric meters installed in Bishkek BISHKEK

Bishkek resumed full-scale work on the installation of "smart" meters, the press service of Severelektro JSC reported. According to it, at the moment their installation is being held in all four areas of the capital - in the areas of Lumumba, Gorky, Intergelpo, Yanvarskaya, Zhigulevskaya, Yunusalieva, Matrosov streets and others. Total, as of March 12 at least 67,923 electronic electricity meters, combined with automated information measurement system of control and accounting of electricity are installed to residential and industrial customers in the capital.

These counters covered a number of residential communities, and equipped 2.1 thousand industrial facilities in Bishkek. Recall, in September 2013 Severelektro began the installation of meters within investment to improve the health network in Bishkek and efficiency of power distribution.

The whole city will be equipped with 110,136 "smart" meters till the end of 2015, including 93,000 in the private residential sector, 14,636 - at industrial customers, 2,500 - in multi-storey buildings as common house - for information Balance of consumption of electricity. —FP Monitoring

95 kgs of drugs seized at Tajik-Afghan border DUSHANBE

Two border trespassers were detained with 95 kgs of heroin and raw opium on Tajik-Afghan border, a spokesman for the Main Border Guard Directorate at Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security (SCNS), Muhammad Ulughojaev, was quoted as saying by the state-run Khovar news agency on Thursday. Border guards have warded off an attempt by a group of armed drug traffickers to smuggle a large amount of drugs into Khatlon’s Farkhor district, Ulughojaev said. According to him, border guards on a routine patrol spotted a group of armed people who were illegally crossing the border river in the Farkhor district late on March 7. As a result of exchange of gunfire, two trespassers were detained and 19.40 kilograms of heroin and 75 kilograms of raw opium were found on the spot. Criminal proceedings have been instituted. —FP Monitoring

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DUSHANBE

BAKU: President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain meets President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. —FP Monitoring

Mamnoon urges strong ties with Azerbaijan BAKU

President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday stressed collective efforts for taking economic relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan to new heights.

Addressing the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Business Forum here in Baku, the President said energy sector of Pakistan offers vast opportunities for investment and called upon Azeri investors to take advantage of it, a press release said. The President noted that over a period of time, Pakistan and Azerbaijan had developed expertise in different fields which can be shared for mutual benefits.

He said the pharmaceutical products, surgical instruments, sports goods, defense equipment, ready-made garments, rice, fruits and sea food were some of the high quality products of Pakistan awaiting effective introduction in Azeri market. He said likewise, Azerbaijan's expertise in the field of oil and gas exploration, extraction and refining could potentially bring great benefits to Pakistan.

President Mamnoon Hussain said there was a tremendous potential to significantly increase and diversify the two-way trade for which there was a need to devise joint strategies. The President stated that Pakistan's geography, 180 million people, burgeoning middle class and existence of large

Pak-Azeri business forum inaugurated in Baku

Pakistan, Azerbaijan to promote bilateral relations

The Pakistan-Azerbaijan Business forum was inaugurated in Baku on Thursday which will help promote economies of the two countries. The inauguration was jointly carried out

by President Mamnoon Hussain and his Azeri Counterpart Ilham Heydar Aliyev. On the occasion, Mamnoon Hussain said that Azerbaijan can benefit from the experiences of Pakistan in different sectors while the Azeri president said that businessmen of his country are interested to invest in Pakistan. Earlier, the two leaders held a one-on-one meeting in Baku followed by delegation level talks. During the talks, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to promote bilateral friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan in diverse field including energy and tourism. —FP Monitoring

A one-on-one meeting was held between President Mamnoon Hussain and his Azeri Counterpart Ilham Heydar Aliyev in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Later, the delegation level talks were also held between the two sides. During the talks, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to promote bilateral friendship and cooperation in diverse field including energy and tourism. The two countries also signed various agreements. In a joint declaration, President Mamnoon Hussain’s visit to Azerbaijan was declared a historic occasion. The declaration said the visit would provide impetus to bilateral cooperation and called for turning the relationship into a strategic partnership. The declaration also called for early resolution of Kashmir. —Dispatch News Desk

coal deposits offer enormous opportunities for foreign investment.

Calling upon Azeri businessmen to take advantage of investor friendly policies of Pakistan, the President elaborated that Pakistan offers a liberal investment policy, which includes, 100 percent equity ownership, full repatriation of capital, tax breaks and customs

duty concessions on import of plant, machinery and raw materials. The President said that Pakistan was also working to expand cooperation with regional economic organizations. The traders, industrialists and investors of two countries held very useful and productive discussions on different sectors of mutual interest. —FP Monitoring

People’s Democratic Party, the ruling party of Tajikistan, gained 65.4 percent of the vote at a recent election to the parliament’s lower house, retaining most of the parliamentary seats, RIA Novosti reported March 12. The election to the Tajik parliament’s lower house was held March 1. The first meeting of the lower house’s new composition is scheduled for March 17. The Tajik President Emomali Rahmon will address the meeting.

Tajikistan’s Central Election Commission published on March 12 the final data on the election held, according to which the difference with the preliminary results was very small. According to the preliminary results made public by the commission on March 2, the People’s Democratic Party collected 65.2 percent of the vote in a single republican constituency.

The final data show that in a single republican district, the Agrarian Party gained 11.7 percent of the vote, and the Economic Reform Party and the Socialist Party gained 7.5 percent and 5.5 percent respectively. The Democratic Party, the Islamic Renaissance Party, the Communist and the Social Demo-

cratic parties were unable to overcome the five percent threshold needed to enter the parliament.

The Islamic Renaissance Party won 1.6 percent of the vote, the Communist Party - 2.2 percent, the Democratic Party - 1.7 percent, and the Social Democratic Party - 0.5 percent.

The preliminary results announced March 2 showed that the Agrarian Party won 11.7 percent of the vote, the Economic Reform Party - 7.6 percent, the Socialist Party - 5.5 percent, the Islamic Renaissance Party - 1.5 percent, the Communist Party - 2.3 percent, the Democratic Party - 1.7 percent, and the Social Democratic Party - 0.5 percent.

Some 35 candidates from the People’s Democratic Party, two candidates from the Agrarian and Communist parties each and one candidate from the Democratic and Economic Reform parties each passed to the parliament on 41 single-mandate constituencies.

In the parliament’s lower house, which includes 63 MPs, the People’s Democratic Party has 51 seats out of 63, the Agrarian Party has five seats, the Economic Reform Party has three seats, communists have two seats, and the democrats and socialists have one seat each. —FP Monitoring

Iran proposes Turkmenistan its territory for gas transit ASHGABAT

Iran has proposed Turkmenistan to study the possibility of transiting gas to other countries through its territory, said the message from Turkmen government on March 12. “Our countries are among the largest oil and gas producers and the partnership in this sphere will be significantly expanded in the future,” the message quoted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as saying during his state visit to Ashgabat on March 10-11.

Rouhani said that the issue of increasing the volume of Turkmen gas export to Iran was discussed during his visit, adding that Iran is interested in cooperating in the sphere of energy, as well as electricity supply from Turkmenistan.

Furthermore, Turkmenistan-Iran business forum was held in Ashgabat with participation of presidents of the two countries, Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported on March 12.

The message quoted the Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as saying at the business forum that the country is pursuing large-scale work to diversify the exports of its energy resources to world markets. Bringing specific examples, Berdimuhamedov said that the second branch of the gas pipeline for the Turkmen natural gas supplies to Iran and three international gas pipelines to China have been built in recent years.

“Currently, preparation is underway for the construction of the fourth branch of this gas pipeline,” he said.

He added that it is projected to realize such major projects of regional and international importance as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and the TransCaspian gas pipeline. The president also invited the companies and financial structures of Iran to take part in these projects’ realization. Turkmenistan holds a key position in the region in terms of natural gas. –FP Monitoring

Armenian FM blames Baku for tensions in Karabakh YEREVAN

Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian blamed Azerbaijan for escalation of tension in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. In an interview with a Slovenian daily ‘Delo’ Nalbandian said Azerbaijan declined a proposal of the OSCE Minks Group co-chairs to establish a mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations; Azerbaijan declined another proposal of the peace brokers to take steps to strengthen the ceasefire and declined one more proposal to withdraw snipers from the line of contact.

‘This is why the entire responsibility for the escalation of tension falls on Azerbaijan, because it is Azerbaijan that re-

jects all the proposals of the co-chairs, including confidence-building measures, " Nalbandian said. According to him, it is obvious that Azerbaijan provokes tensions in the region. "Over the past ten years Azerbaijan has increased its military budget 30 times - from $163 million to almost $5 billion. One can hardly find another country that has surged its military spending 30 times. This happens along with Azerbaijan’s threats to renew hostilities,' he added. In this context, Nalbandian said that war is not a way to solve the conflict and that the parties must return to the negotiating table. "Today we have the opportunity to continue negotiations with the mediation of the OSCE KAZAKHSTAN: The Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft carrying Russian cosmonauts Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Minsk Group. —FP Monitoring Serova (Roscosmos) and US astronaut Barry Wilmore (NASA) landed successfully. —FP Monitoring

CIS arrives in Uzbekistan to observe presidential election TASHKENT

The long-term group of CIS observer mission led by the first deputy chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, Vladimir Garkun has arrived in Uzbekistan to observe the preparations and holding of presidential election, the republican press center on coverage of the election said March 12. The presidential election in Uzbekistan is scheduled for March 29.

The CIS observers have arrived in Uzbekistan at the invitation of the country’s Central Election Commis-

sion (CEC). The headquarters of the mission will start operating to coordinate the activities of CIS observers. It will be engaged in collecting, processing and analyzing the materials on the election process, legal expertise of the election law and monitoring of the information programs and TV programs, as well as print media and holding meetings in the election headquarters of the candidates.

The members of the observer mission were issued mandates which give them right to participate in all events for preparations and holding the election

and to attend the polling stations on the election day and when counting votes.

The limited mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) started work on observing the presidential election in Uzbekistan in late February.

The mission’s purpose is to analyze the compliance of the voting process with the norms of the democratic elections, national law, compliance with the obligations within OSCE and other international obligations. The mission will also assess the legal framework and its usage procedure; observe the pre-

election campaign, registration of voters, the work of the election commissions and relevant state bodies. Moreover, the mission will hold a complex monitoring of media outlets.

The mission, sent to the country at the invitation of Uzbek authorities, includes 11 international experts based in Tashkent and 10 long-term observers who will be sent to the country’s regions.

In total, over 300 foreign observers will observe the presidential election process in Uzbekistan, according to the CEC. The pre-election campaign started on Dec.26, 2014. The presidential can-

didates are: incumbent President Islam Karimov from the Liberal Democratic Party, the member of the parliamentary faction, chairman of the committee for democratic institutions, NGOs and citizens’ self-government bodies, Akmal Saidov - from the National Democratic Party Milly Tiklanish; the chairman of the Central Council of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (PDPU) Hotamzhon Ketmonov - from the PDPU, the chairman of the executive committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Adolat, Narimon Umarov - from SDP. –FP Monitoring

ENTERTAINMENT

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FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

Kylie to pay 'homage' to Hutchence

Fawad Khan demands two crore for Pakistani flick

PERTH

KARACHI

Kylie Minogue is busy preparing for the Australia leg of her Kiss Me Once tour which kicks off this Saturday in Perth.

And the pop superstar has revealed that being Down Under is making her feel closer than usual to INXS star Michael Hutchence, who she will pay homage to during her shows over the next month. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph about performing a cover of INXS track Need You Tonight during the upcoming shows, she added that she can feel his presence.

The 46-year-old Melbourne-raised beauty, said: 'I feel like he's with me…I feel like he's my archangel, on this tour especially.' Kylie, who commenced a two year relationship with the troubled star in 1989, also explained she feels that parts of the show will be a 'homage' to the late musician, who died in 1997.

'Even what I'm wearing (on stage) is something I would have worn when I was dating Michael. 'There's a definite homage to him. Hand on heart, every night before that song I have a moment to myself where I say "This is for you" and it feels really good.' Kylie appeared on The Project earlier this week and sounded nervous about remembering all the moves for her spectacular stage show.

On Monday night the star revealed that she goes to special lengths to remind herself of the dance routines. As she saw a clip of herself on stage, Kylie reacted dramatically as she told the presenters: 'I have to do that on Saturday night! Oh my God I'm not ready! I guess it's like riding a bike it will come back to me. –FP Monitoring

Pakistani born Bollywood actor Fawad Khan demands an astronomical figure to star in a Pakistani movie. The Pakistani heartthrob demanded a whopping sum of Rs. 2 crore to work in a Lollywood flick. Yeah, you heard me correct.

Fawad first courted fame in Pakistan when he became the lead singer of the popular Pakistani rock band EP. Later, he ventured into acting and became every girl’s favorite TV actor. Due to his boy-next-door persona and charming good looks, the audience was instantly LOS ANGELES: (L-R) Musician Keith Urban, Dana Walden, Co-Chairman/CEO, Fox Television Group, singer/actress Jennifer Lopez and musician Harry drawn to him. The drama serial HumConnick Jr. arrive at Fox TV's "American Idol XIV" finalist party. —AFP safar made him into one of the biggest stars in Pakistan and established his reputation in India as a talented actor as well.

According to reports, soon as Fawad demanded the astronomical figure of 2 crores from a Pakistani director, the director chose to cast Moammar Rana instead for an affordable Rs 200,000.

NEW YORK Fawad’s recent success in India might 'Living for Love' hitmaker said moving have led him to ask for such a large back to her native Michigan wasn't an amount as remuneration. Khoobsurat Madonna first made shocking admission option because she didn't want to be star acted alongside Sonam Kapoor in an interview that she had been raped. around the "basic" locals. and the movie was well received in InShe said: "Have you ever been to Madonna didn't go to the police when dia, along with Fawad’s acting. Not she was raped in New York at the start Rochester, Michigan? I just didn't want only was that but Fawad able to notch of her career because she felt humiliat- to go back. I can't be around basicup a Filmfare award for Best Actor-Deed. The 56-year-old singer opened up thinking people." Madonna first made but (Male). Bollywood rumors and gosabout her traumatic ordeal during a the shocking admission she had been sip talks indicate that the handsome star new candid interview and admitted she raped in a 1995 interview with NME might have successfully caught the eye didn't report the sexual assault at the magazine, but didn't speak about it of big name producers, directors and again until 2013 when she revealed she time because she was ashamed. would sign high budget projects in the Asked why she didn't seek legal help was held at knifepoint. She said at the when it happened, she explained on Sir- time: "New York wasn't everything I knife in my back. "I had my apartment blonde beauty stronger. She explained: near future. –FP Monitoring ius XM's 'Howard Stern Show': "You've thought it would be. It did not welcome broken into three times. I don't know "I was defiant. Hell-bent on surviving, on already been violated. It's just not worth me with open arms. The first year, I was why; I had nothing of value after they making it. But it was hard and it was lonely, and I had to dare myself every day it. It's too much humiliation." And de- held up at gunpoint. Raped on the roof took my radio the first time."

But the horrible incidents made the to keep going." –FP Monitoring spite the heartbreaking incident, the of a building I was dragged up to with a

Madonna didn’t report rape Going to police was more humiliating

Greenspoon loses cancer battle

Late dinner caused Clarkson to punch LONDON

The more we learn about Jeremy Clarkson’s latest drama, the uglier it gets. After the BBC hastily suspended the host and canceled the broadcast of this season’s remaining episodes, British tabloid The Mirror reports that the whole thing erupted when Clarkson got angry over his dinner not being served on time.

We’re taking this with a grain of salt, as the claims haven’t been confirmed elsewhere and The Mirror hasn’t got the most spotless record, but the allegations aren’t entirely surprising: The report holds

that Clarkson was suspended after throwing a punch at Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, 36, for not having his meal ready at the end of a shoot. “It was all over a catering issue,” the unnamed insider

told The Mirror. “They came to the end of filming after a long day and Jeremy discovered that no food had been laid on.

He just saw red and hit the assistant producer, who he blamed for not having organized the food. He snapped.” The Mirror goes on to say that Clarkson, along with co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May, were just days away from finalizing new three-year contracts for Top Gear. The tabloid reports that all negotiations have been suspended, and “insiders speculated over whether the series could continue without [Clarkson] if he is sacked.”–FP Monitoring

Aishwarya on an endorsement spree in Kuwait

Aamir Khan apologizes

MUMBAI

Aamir Khan apologized for hurting anyone’s religious beliefs, stating categorically that it wasn’t his intention to do so. Upon its release, Pk emerged as the most successful Indian movie of all time and broke the record of the highest grossing Bollywood film overseas. The movie has not only become a bench-

mark for excellence in the Indian film industry, it has emerged as a trendsetter. With its witty dialogues, to the unique plot and the uncanny, funny instances (remember the dancing cars) Pk was adorned throughout India. It was, however, also the subject of much criticism and flak on account of making fun of the various religions practiced across India as well as the country’s cultural traditions. Aamir Khan, however, recently apologized if his mega hit film injured anyone’s religious sentiments and stated that it wasn’t on purpose.

“The film has been loved by the majority. Personally I want to say I feel bad if I hurt a single person; that was not my intention at all. What we wanted to tell we told that because it was an important point. But I want to apologise if I hurt people,” Aamir said at the DVD launch of PK. Khan was at the event to launch the DVD of Pk. –FP Monitoring

Jalaibee collects Rs.5 million before release KARACHI

In an unprecedented fashion, the upcoming flick garnered an astounding Rs. 5million before its release.

Jalaibee is already making headlines way before its much anticipated release. The upcoming Pakistani movie has already pocketed an impressive five million rupees and it is still one week shy from debuting in theatres. The money has been received courtesy advanced ticket sales of the movie. Bahria Town founder, owner and real estate tycoon Malik Riaz boosted the movie’s promo-

tion by purchasing an impressive 10,000 tickets beforehand. The move seems to be part of the promotional partnership between ARYFilms and Bahria Town as the media group had earlier announced a reward of gold equaling the price of one ticket to any who sees the film, in bahria’s cinema. –FP Monitoring

NEW YORK

KUWAIT CITY

Indian Bollywood film actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai arrives for a promotional event on March 11, 2015 in Kuwait City. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan attended an event of a watch company in Kuwait recently. The Bollywood actress has been associated with Longines for 15 years. The former Miss World wore a black Burberry outfit for the event. She kept her open, wore a pair of Louboutin and a red lip completed her look. Daughter Aaradhya Bachchan and her mother Brindya Rai had also accompanied her. For the evening dinner Aishwarya opted for an Indian outfit designed by Manish Arora. The outfit looks outstanding on the runway and in a print ad, but unfortunately, Ash's desi way with the addition of the dupatta, looked gaudy. On the movies front, Aishwarya is currently gearing up for her comeback movie 'Jazbaa'. Directed

by Sanjay Gupta, 'Jazbaa' will see the actress play a lawyer. Apart from 'Jazbaa', she will also be seen in filmmaker Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' with Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma. –FP Monitoring

A post on Three Dog Night's Facebook page confirms the 67 year old's death. It reads: "We are very saddened at the passing of our dear friend and longtime band mate Jimmy Greenspoon. Jimmy died peacefully at home today surrounded by his family. Please keep him and his loved ones in your prayers and your hearts." Greenspoon was part of the group's classic 1960s and 1970s line-up, which notched up a series of hit albums and 21 consecutive Billboard Top 40 hits in the U.S. Frontman Chuck Negron offered a tweet tribute to his late bandmate on Wednesday, writing, "Today, God took another for his rock and roll band in heaven. Jimmy Greenspoon left us today after a gallant and brave fight with cancer." Greenspoon continued to perform with Three Dog Night until he began battling health issues. He also worked with Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix, among others, and he composed original music for films like Field of Dreams, Die Hard and Predator.–FP Monitoring

Farhan speaks for gender equality on UN radio NEW YORK

Bollywood star Farhan Akhtar voiced the need for highlighting gender equality and ending violence against women through awareness.

He’s an actor, a scriptwriter, a producer, director, playback singer and television host. I guess it’s safe to state the obvious; that the man is a versatile artist.

With all the laurels, awards and appreciation he has garnered, Farhan is also a magnanimous human being and makes it his point to highlight the plight of the downtrodden. That is why he orig- aimed to eradicate gender inequality and inated MARD (Men against Rape and promote positive sentiments for women.

Discrimination) a social organization The lad showed up at the United Nations

Headquarters in New York to represent his organization and voice his views on female empowerment and their role in the society.

Farhan’s efforts in denouncing rape and social inequality against females have not gone unnoticed as he was appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Being a Goodwill Ambassador of UN Women is a matter of great pride and honor as it was established directly under the directives of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Farhan gave an interview to UN Radio

and in a nutshell, these were the views expressed by him. “There was a time where you didn’t hear about what was going on in people’s homes,” he said in the interview. “Women were afraid to talk about if they were the victims of rape. More often than not stigma of rape attached to the victim than to the perpetrator.” The actor was, however, hopeful that this trend was ending and women were becoming more bold and courageous with the changing times. I think those things have changed. A lot of women have a lot more courage to speak about what’s happening with them.” –FP Monitoring

BUSINESS

www.thefrontierpost.pk

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

DRAW OF RS 200 BONDS ON MARCH 16

PQ SHIPPING ACTIVITY REPORT

FAISALABAD: 61st draw of prize Rs.200 bond will be held on March 16 at Hyderabad. According to a spokesman of the National Savings here Thursday, the first winner will get a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh whereas 5 prizes worth Rs.2.5 lakh each have been reserved for second position. Similarly, third prize worth Rs.1250/- will be given to 2394 position holders each, he added. —APP

BRIEF Pak-US Working Group discussed ways to expand bilateral trade ISLAMABAD

A joint session of the Working Group of Pakistan-United States Trade and Investment Framework was held on Thursday.

Matters pertaining to the proposed Pak-US Joint Business Council were discussed in the session. The participants reviewed exchange of trade delegations, easy market access and ways of increasing bilateral trade. The Pakistan side provided a list of members for the proposed council. —APP

Rates for conversion of FCD, DBC, FCBC, US dollar bonds KARACHI

The following rates will be applicable for conversion into rupees of Foreign Currency Deposits, Dollar Bearer Certificates, Foreign Currency Bearer Certificates, Special US Dollar Bonds and profits thereon by all banks and for providing Forward Cover on Foreign Currency Deposits (excluding F.E- 25 deposits) by the State Bank on March 13. The rates are U.S. Dollar 101.7550, Japanese Yen 0.8396, Pound Sterling 152.2357 and Euro 107.7687. —APP

PIDA sets 100 per cent 'Abiana' recovery target FAISALABAD

Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority (PIDA) has set 100 per cent Abiana (water rate) recovery target for (farmer) Kissan organizations by June 30. The target was fixed in a departmental meeting held here Thursday to review the performance of kissan organizations. General Manager, PIDA Khawar Tanveer presisded over the meeting. GM said the kissan organization should be provided all out assistance for recovery so funds could be available for repairing and maintenance of canals. He directed the officers concerned to start training programs for kissan organizations for their capacity building. Earlier, the meeting was told that kissan organizations of all the five area water boards have deposited more than one billion rupees collected from the farmers in national exchequer. —APP

KARACHI: Shipping activity remained active at the port where four ships carrying containers, canola seed and furnace oil berthed at Qasim International containers terminal, FAP terminal and FOTCO terminal respectively. Meanwhile five more ships carrying containers, steel coil, chemical and diesel oil also arrived at outer anchorage of Port Qasim during last 24 hours. Berth occupancy was 56% at the port on Thursday where seven ships namely CGM Carmen, Sealand Michigan, Tanbinh, Inception, Batter Sea Park, MT Lahore and Horizon are currently occupying berths. —APP

IMF sees continued improvement in Pakistan economy WASHINGTON

The International Monetary Fund has noted that continuing improvement in Pakistan's economy as a result of Islamabad's implementation of prudent policies and strong capital inflows.

"Pakistan's economy is improving, helped by prudent monetary and fiscal policies, strong capital inflows, robust remittances, and lower international oil prices," Masood Ahmed, Director of the Fund's Middle East and Central Asia Department said in a statement upon conclusion of his visit to Islamabad and Lahore from March 6-9.

Ahmed, who met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Ashraf Wathra, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and members of parliament, academics, and the business community during his visit, appreciated that Islamabad has "made progress with consolidating macroeconomic stability, strengthening public finances, and rebuilding foreign exchange buffers."

As a result, immediate crisis risks have greatly receded, economic growth is gaining strength, inflation is declining, and macroeconomic vulnerabilities are gradually addressed.

"The current improved economic and financial situation presents a unique opportunity for Pakistan to reinforce and build on recent stability gains to work towards achieving higher, sustainable and inclusive economic growth. This will require further bolstering government revenues through broadening the tax base and improving compliance in order to generate the resources that will allow for further reducing public debt while increasing spending in priority areas such as public investment, health and education."

Ahmed said also noted the importance of a further build-up of international reserves, which will strengthen

IMF approves $17.5b aid for Ukraine WASHINGTON

The International Monetary Fund approved a $17.5 billion (15.5 billion euro) aid plan for crisis-wracked Ukraine, whose economy is reeling from a pro-Russia insurgency in its industrial heartland.

The new loan, with $5 billion to be disbursed immediately, replaces an IMF program less than one year old that proved inadequate to stabilize Kiev's finances as it fights the separatists.

"This new four-year extended arrangement will support immediate economic stabilization in Ukraine and a set of deep and wide-ranging policy reforms aimed at restoring robust growth over the medium term and improving living standards for the Ukrainian people," said IMF managing director Christine Lagarde. —APP Pakistan's financial resilience while supporting exports.

Other key priorities include stemming the accumulation of arrears and addressing long-standing imbalances in the energy sector, restructuring and privatizing public sector enterprises; moving ahead with investment climate and trade policy reforms; and continuing with financial sector reforms to improve resilience and financial inclusion. In this context, it will be critical to protect the most vulnerable from the direct and indirect impacts of economic reforms through continued expansion of targeted social assistance, the statement said. —AFP

LAHORE: A boy welding a cauldron used in soap-making industry in Badami Bagh. —Mohsin Raza

Govt to procure 6.6 million tons of wheat this year ISLAMABAD

Government would procure about 6.6 million tons of wheat during the current harvesting season to fulfill the staple food requirements as country was expecting to harvest bumper wheat crop of 26 million tons during the current season.

Wheat harvesting has been started in lower Sindh where as crop harvesting is likely to start from next month in Punjab and other provinces including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, said an official of Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

He said that government has decided to procure about 6.6 million tons of grains to fulfill the domestic requirements as well as to keep the strategic reserves for food security purposes and ex-

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STAFF REPORT

LAHORE: An artisan making brass and copper pots on Ravi Road. —Zubair Mahfooz

FPCCI leaders misuse powers, harass staff: PEW ISLAMABAD

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said situation is deteriorating in the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) due to mismanagement and misuse of power which calls for immediate attention of the authorities concerned.

The ruling United Business Group (UBG) has planned to muster support through misuse of funds and replace majority of the staff by harassing them, it said.

Uncertainty looms as staff of the FPCCI head office is forced to work until midnight without overtime or any other facility and they have to listen to the speech of the president of the chamber video calling which contains little except self-praise, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW. He said that some senior officials have been forced to work against petty

lowed the farmers to export their surplus wheat and provided facilities in this regard.

The official said that country has carry forward stock of over 1-2 million tons with provinces and field formation has also reported a health crop out put during current season.

It may be recalled here that government had set a target to cultivate wheat crop of over 9,810 thousand hectares during the crop season 2014-15 to produce 26 million tons as compared to last year's output of 25 million tons.

Wheat cultivation targets for the Punjab Province were fixed at 6,600 thousand hectares, Sindh cultivation targets at 1,150 thousand hectares, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 760 thousand hectares and Balochistan's crop cultivation targets fixed at 400 thousand hectares. —APP

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ports. He stated that Punjab Province has given the task to procure 4.5 million tons of wheat across the wheat producing areas at official fixed rates to facilitate the growers particularly small scale growers.

Besides, about 0.9 million tons of wheat to be procured from Sindh and 0.3 million tons from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces respectively during the current procurement campaign, he added.

He informed that about 100,000 tons of wheat to be procured from Balochistan where as Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation has assigned the task for procuring about 800,000 tons of wheat from across the four provinces.

He informed that to facilitate the growers and better return of their produces the government has also al-

LCCI greets new Senate chairman

NBP EXCHANGE RATES Country

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jobs, manager of the office of the president FPCCI has been forced to work as receptionist and permanent staff is being mentally tortured by publication of the advertisements for the jobs they have occupied since long.

Sources in the FPCCI told Dr. Murtaza Mughal that all the decisions are being dictated by an industrial group of Faisalabad while the elected representatives including vice presidents have little say in the critical decisions.

They said that resources of the FPCCI are being mercilessly used to buy loyalties, keep friends happy and increase the vote bank.

The cars of the FPCCI are serving those who have doesn’t quality to use official vehicles which speaks of the mentality leadership of the UBG. UBG which blamed Businessman Panel for mismanagement and corruption has been following the same path rather aggressively which proves that slogan of

Traders want increase in mango export

ISLAMABAD: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Chairman Standing Committee on Horticulture and Agri produce Ahmad Jawad has said that government department must start the preparation from now for the mango exports to EU. While talking to Mr. Bruno Valanzuolo Chief Technical Adviser of UNIDO TRTA II programme, jawad said this year the situation will be more competitive, as EU allowed Indian mango after visited their facilities. change proved to be a change of faces.

The FPCCI staff demanded of the government to take to task the UBG leaders involved in the corruption worth tens of millions in the construc-

Last year Pakistan mango exports dropped to 40% as compared to previous years due to non-compliance of the DG SANCO requirements timely. The fruit, however, is fetching two to three times more price in 2014 as compared to last year’s mainly because due to no competition from the Indian counterpart.

The drop in the export reflected how the government was desperately trying to avoid a possible all-out ban by putting in place strict measures to ensure export of pest-free fruits. —Online

tion of FPCCI Capital Office Building, Display Centre of the ICCI and asked commerce ministry to take stock of the situation to save this institution marred by inefficiency. —Online

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has congratulated new Chairman of Senate Mian Raza Rabbani and hoped that he would strengthen the democratic system in the country. His unopposed election was an ample proof of his spotless repute and services for the country.

In a statement issued here Thursday, LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz expressed the optimism that Raza Rabbani would maintain good working relations with all stakeholders including business community. He hoped that new Chairman would utilize his best abilities for political stability and economic uplift of the country.

Ijaz A. Mumtaz also hailed the decision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to endorse Mian Raza Rabbani for the Senate Chairmanship. He said that Mian Nawaz Sharif has set a new tradition by fielding a consensus candidate for the Senate Chairman and it would give a very healthy signal to the international community.

RCCI for shifting wholesale markets to outside city RAWALPINDI

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has urged the provincial government to shift the wholesale markets including goods transport terminals from interior city to outside the city limits.

Chairing a meeting of chamber executive committee here, President RCCI, Syed Asad Mashadi said the roads and streets of wholesale markets were narrow and remain blocked most of time, as a result people particularly traders and transporters faced problems. He demanded of the government to shift the wholesale markets out of the city to give relief to local traders.

The meeting was also attended by senior vice president Hummion Bashir, Kamran Saeed and others. —APP

USAID, Khushhalibank join hands to promote business ISLAMABAD

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Pakistan has inked an eight year tenure U.S.-Pakistan Partnership for Access to Credit Agreement with four partner banks including Khushhalibank limited.

The announcement was made at the US- Pakistan Business Opportunities Conference held in Islamabad, to facilitate Pakistani companies in improving and creating international trade relationships, says a statement issued by

the bank here Thursday. The 8 year tenure US-Pakistan Partnership for Access to Credit programme will support partner banks to provide access to formal financing facilities for MSMEs and facilitate broad-based economic growth.

The dominant aim is to encourage lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. This new partnership will serve to stimulate targeted domestic, commercially viable investments, by mitigating some of the credit risk factors that prevent access to credit by small businesses across the country. —APP

EDITORIAL

D2

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 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

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Signs of threat to humanity

ecently freed from the need of Saudi oil, the US is now more aggressively pursuing a policy of making friends with Tehran against the wishes of Riyadh.

Russian President Valdimir Putin refuses to be caught unaware as he was found in the case of Iraq’s Saddam, Libya’s Gaddafi when the US and Europe managed the downfall of both dictators.

The Russian leader is nervous at the understanding developing between Iran and the US and he instead of trying to come to a broader understanding with other major global powers is trying to create problems for rival nations in parts of the globe where Moscow is more influential. The US and Europe are hesitant to further their destructive activities of toppling governments in the Middle East because of the onslaught of ISIS, which has captured large territories in Iraq and Syria and is trying to expand to other neighboring countries.

The US regardless of its experience in Afghanistan, Egypt and Iraq refuses to recognize that the creation of extremely violent groups like al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS are the direct results of its intervention in militarily weaker countries and humiliation of the population there. The US for its temporary gains, goaded by Israel, have either created or deepened the fault lines among these nations. The extremist groups in Muslim countries are fighting their own governments for failure of their rulers to stand up to the US. No wonder these militants are finding support among the ordinary people whose national pride has been hurt. History tells that non-Muslim rulers tried to take advantage of the divide in the infighting among Muslims divided on sectarian lines. The United States of America continues this. It playd Saudi Arabia against Iran and vice versa; it activated a Sunni, Shia divide in Iraq whose population lived in sectarian peace in spite of the religious differences. Influenced by these events the Shia population in Saudi Arabia located in areas where the oil reserves are, is becoming restless. Saudi Arabia and Iran are playing in the hands of Washington and Tel Aviv. Instead of respecting each others sovereign interests, they are acting as rivals and vying for the leadership of the Muslims and for that both are playing the sectarian card and the US is encouraging them.

Lest Washington forgets, there are hundreds of thousands of men and women in its South. One may call them hillbillies or rednecks but they are the American version of extremists. Then there is the Catholic and Protestant divide waiting for the right moment. African Americans still think they are wronged to no end by white America. US should beware; it has as many chinks in its armor of national unity as has any other nation and if such organizations as the ISIS succeeds in overthrowing established governments and systems. It may catch the fancy of many groups which live in America but resent its very existence. Once such sectarian organizations or ones believing in an extremely narrow version of nationality succeeds, it will give hope to the hillbillies in America. The specters of the past may become alive not rest till they undo the reality of America as it exists today. The US may be able to defeat foreign armies but it may not be able to fight the shadowy individuals springing from within its own society. Either the world is not aware of it or doesn’t care that the fault lines developed by various nations and ideologues to promote national interests are widening into huge chasms ready to swallow us all. The wish and endeavors to subdue, cheat or annihilate rival nations and populations have always been there but in the modern times, it has achieved massive proportions. Because of the increased destructive ability of newly invented weapons and the speed of modern means of transportation and communication, it has made the endeavors more feasible. It has also become easier for small renegade groups to play havoc nation states. One can only hope that in the presence of so many dangers to all nations, good sense will prevail and instead of fueling fire in each others’ backyards, these states will join to fight the common enemy and save the world from destruction.

Economic deprivation, a result of Pakistan’s class stratum

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ince Pakistan came into being, the income distribution has been a serious issue. During the time of partition, many people were stripped of their lands, properties, valuables and other financial assets. The unequal distribution of income we are experiencing today has its roots from the time of the partition of India and Pakistan. Feudalism in those days was at its peak and remnants of it can still be seen in the modern society. Many powerful feudal lords claimed lands by force from people who were financially or socially weak, thus the wealth became concentrated and its effects can be seen today in our society, as the unequal distribution of income. Even today, many influential people such as politicians and local feudal lords all around Pakistan are in control of the major chunk of the income that is generated and flows through the economy, which is why Pakistan also faces extreme poverty. Pakistan has experienced an uneven trend in the distribution of income in the past years, as there is no significant trend of increase or decrease. This uneven pattern of income distribution has been the root cause of the division of the population into various classes on the basis of income inequalities. During the early years of Pakistan, the population was less divided, but with the passage of time and the uneven trend of the income inequality has caused the population to be divided into upper, middle and lower classes based on different employment patterns, wage rates, households, social status and limited resources etc. The formation of these classes has led to the widening of the social gaps between the people and has also led to social exclusion of people belonging to different classes. As the general population is divided into these stratums, belief and ideals change, thus a conflict arises due to these changing ideals. Over the past years, since the birth of Pakistan, this conflict between the different classes has been slowly boiling and has erupted into a class conflict based on income disparity.

Since Pakistan’s inception, the populace has been plagued with the diabolical issue of income distribution. The seriousness of this issue cannot be denied, since it has been the root cause of constant upheaval in the society in general and also the catalyst of constant unrest, distrust and sometimes violent protests. In other words we have been compromised in a never ending stalemate, since there is no significant trend of increase or decrease of income distribution in Pakistan, thus this kind of uneven trend is giving rise to undesirable hybrid classes based upon this income inequality. The increasing social gap, distrust and lack of communication between the people, nourishes the problem of income distribution and provides sustenance for its future. The prevailing feudal culture in Pakistan is also one of the major catalysts of the unequal distribution of income in Pakistan.

The most influential people or the ruling class has the most concentration of resources; they also include the politicians of Pakistan who are responsible for making policies against this burning issue. Inflation is another factor contributing to the lowering of the purchasing power of the lower classes, which in turn induces a conflict among the general public, as inflation hits hard on the lower classes and has little effect on the elite class. All the foreign investment and the remittances are also controlled by the upper or elite class, thus the flow of money in the economy is limited to a set number of influential or powerful people, while the majority of the population is deprived of even the basic necessities of life.

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Sizing up China!

TOM PLATE

ne of the sillier and least useful quarrels in world economics these days is whether China or the United States has the larger economy. The question is like having two huge elephants looking about the same size and weight getting on the bathroom scale to weigh themselves down to the last comparative ounce. And pity the poor bathroom scale, eh?

For a further laugh, take a look at who’s asserting what. Rather than denying it has become the number two economy, many US experts are agreeing that China is number one.

But not China: rather than proudly claiming the top spot, many of its officials experts are insisting that the US is still in first place because of this statistical reason or for that.

The reality behind these perspectives is that China gains some trade benefits by presenting itself in trade talks as a still relatively poor Third World economy. By many measures this is technically accurate (it is far more poor than rich, and as it has the world’s most populous nation, this is no joking matter). But with each successful economic year its assertions becomes less believable even as they remain statistically true.

As for the US, it is extremely helpful to the anti-China crowd aiming to sell military containment as the best China policy to be able to overstate or at least dramatise Beijing’s roaring economic growth. And I mean … roaring! Remember the great fear in the eighties about Tokyo? That the

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CHARLES M. BLOW

his week, when video was posted showing members of the University of Oklahoma’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon gleefully engaged in a racist chant on a bus, some people were shocked. Others, like me, were not.

This was just video confirmation of a racism that envelops us like a fog, often just as evanescent and immeasurable.

Some people seemed surprised because these were millennials, and college students to boot. Both because of generational easing and educational enlightenment, weren’t these sorts of things supposed to be vestiges of the past?

After all, as the Pew Research Center put it last year, “Millennials are the most racially diverse generation in American history,” with “some 43 percent of millennial adults” being nonwhite. A 2010 Pew report found that “almost all millennials accept interracial dating and marriage.” An MTV poll of millennials found that “84 percent say their family taught them that everyone should be treated the same, no matter what their race,” and that 89 percent “do believe that everyone should be treated the same no matter their race.” But

booming Japanese economy would soon take over the world? Now we have a new Asian peril from across the Pacific. I actually am rooting for Beijing to sell the China as number two arguments because it will help feed its many hundreds of millions of unwealthy. I don’t like seeing people starving or hungry, whether Communist or capitalist.

The reality, though, is that reports of the demise of Chinese economic growth are at best premature. As investment economist Kenneth Courtis, one of my favourite Asia watchers puts it: “Has the world gone completely mad? A 7.4 per cent growth for a USD 11 trillion economy is not bad.

And it represents about 40 per cent of total world growth in 2014! Plus as China’s trade surplus has crumbled from 10.6 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent over the last six years, it is exporting vast amounts of growth to the region. If you take the direct growth of the domestic economy and the growth China is providing to the rest of the world, through its falling trade surplus, I estimate that about 60 per cent of world growth in 2014 was China driven....”

So we suggest that rather than fighting over whose tusk is the bigger, instead we agree that there is an Asian elephant and a North American elephant, and right now they are the two biggest animals in the jungle, by far.

Viewed in this colourful way, the question then becomes not who’s got biggest but who’s got the smartest perspective: Might both be smart enough to realise it’s a huge global jungle out there and the challenge is

how they are going to navigate all the danger without adding to it with foolish bilateral policy.

One way to go wrong would be to paint each other not as wise elephants but as giant piranhas with razor teeth aching to take bite out of the other up. This attitude of course would provide the emotion for the next big war in the Pacific. But looking at everything logically, China and the United States really have no irreconcilable differences as long as each side gives the other room to breath, as long as each is not adamant about getting every issue, dispute and differences its own way, and as long as its inner angels get the better of its ideological devils who wish the worst for the other.

Over time, China’s rise, if all goes reasonably as expected, will make it predominant in Asia, its enthusiasms kept from excess by India and Japan in mutual wariness. And the US, while staying put in the Pacific and reassuring Japan’s nonnuclear nerves, will remain predominant in North America. But note that China, for its part, declines the option of pesky patrolling off America’s West Coast even as the US hovers constantly and annoyingly over China’s East Coast.

If the Sino-US environment in the Pacific turns out to resemble something approximately this sensible, then the hard part for Washington and China will be the bilateral relationship itself.

How low can it be allowed to sink; how high might it be maneuvered to soar? Factors within each nation will determine that, not the political en-

US experts are agreeing that China is number one. But not China: rather than proudly claiming the top spot, many of its officials experts are insisting that the US is still in first place because of this statistical reason or for that.

The reality, though, is that reports of the demise of Chinese economic growth are at best premature vironment of Asia itself. Thus the most dangerous enemies of peace between Beijing and Washington are within China and the US themselves.

—Courtesy: The Khaleej Times

Hate takes the bus these numbers can be deceiving. They don’t herald an age of egalitarianism as we might think. As New York magazine pointed out in a January article on its Science of Us site, the problem that obscures some disturbing persistence of racism is that these polls lump all millennials together and don’t separate white millennials from the rest. The magazine reported the findings of Spencer Piston, an assistant professor of political science at Syracuse University who found that “younger (under-30) whites are just as likely as older ones to view whites as more intelligent and harder-working than African-Americans.”

‘White millennials appear to be no less prejudiced than the rest of the white population,’ Piston told Science of Us in an email, ‘at least using this dataset and this measure of prejudice.’ ”In the same vein, as data from the Race Implicit Association Test published in the January/February issue of Mother Jones magazine showed, pro-white biases were also strongest among people 65 years old and older, although people 18 to 24 ranked second among the age groups. It is in this environment of dualities that today’s young people exist, dealing with the growing pains of in-

creasing diversification grinding against unyielding racial attitudes.

And we must acknowledge that the most deleterious effect of racism they face isn’t about hurt feelings or exercises of poor, outdated social graces, but rather about the actual material effects of racism as it suffuses society and becomes embedded in our systems. Real psychophysical injuries can result from confrontations with overt or even subtle racism. There is a real and worthy conversation taking place in this country now, particularly among young people, around the idea of microaggressions — slight, often unintended discriminatory comments or behaviors. The idea of racial battle fatigue — that “chronic exposure to racial discrimination is analogous to the constant pressure soldiers face on the battlefield,” as Psych Central put it — is also gaining currency and exposure. Indeed, as The Atlantic pointed out in 2013: “A growing literature shows discrimination raises the risk of many emotional and physical problems. Discrimination has been shown to increase the risk of stress, depression, the common cold, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and mortality. Recently, two journals — The American Journal of

Public Healthand The Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race — dedicated entire issues to the subject. These collections push us to consider how discrimination becomes what the social epidemiologist Nancy Krieger, one of the field’s leaders, terms ‘embodied inequality.’ ” This says nothing of the bias that can — consciously or unconsciously — influence our policies and procedures in all areas of our lives, including education, policing, the criminal justice system and employment. Here is where it’s important to recognize how much of an influence the fraternity systems have in these areas.

As a major examination of the United States fraternity system published by The Atlantic last year pointed out: “Fraternity men make up 85 percent of U.S. Supreme Court justices since 1910, 63 percent of all U.S. presidential cabinet members since 1900 and, historically, 76 percent of U.S. senators [and] 85 percent of Fortune 500 executives.” If this trend continues — and there is no indication that it won’t — the boys on that bus and others like them will be tomorrow’s leaders, and the attitudes they carry with them out of school and into the wider world will have a real impact on real people’s lives. —Courtesy: New York Times

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OPINION

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

E-gate epidemics

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VICTOR DAVIS HANSON

ormer CIA Director David Petraeus plea-bargained to a misdemeanor count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material after having given classified government information to his onetime mistress, Paula Broadwell. How was Gen. Petraeus‘ transgression uncovered? By exposure of a nongovernment email account that he had set up with to communicate with Ms. Broadwell free of CIA scrutiny.

After a series of Democratic scandals in the New York state legislature, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is instituting a policy to have the emails of state employees automatically deleted after 90 days. Apparently, Mr. Cuomo does not want e-trails of politicians’ communications. Meanwhile, the former speaker of the New York state assembly, Sheldon Silver, faces charges of corruption and was forced by subpoena to turn over computer correspondence. Under the Cuomo plan, a politician like Mr. Silver could delay and obfuscate for three months, and then safely assume that almost all of his communications had safely vanished — in a fashion that pre-email politicians could never have imagined.

In December 2012, shortly after the re-election of President Obama, Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson quietly stepped down without much public notice. Mrs. Jackson, in apparent violation of the law, had been under federal investigation for fabricating a phony email persona, “Richard Windsor.”

Mrs. Jackson, using the Windsor persona, communicated in a way that allowed her to skirt federal record-keeping laws. But she not only wished to exchange email beneath the radar of the federal government that employed her, she also wanted to create an alias that might weigh in favorably on her own agency’s policies. In surreal fashion, Mrs. Jackson’s self-created Windsor also received an award from the EPA for meritorious service — perhaps the first case of a bureaucrat rewarding her own electronic alter ego.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is now trying to explain away her own email scandal. During her tenure, she may have broken federal laws by creating several personal email accounts on her own private server. Like Gen. Petraeus, Mrs. Clinton ostensibly sought to avoid leaving an electronic trail that might have allowed the government to have full access to her correspondence, in her case while serving as secretary of state. Earlier, Mrs. Clinton had issued a cable to State Department employees warning them not to use their personal email accounts for national security reasons — even though she herself did exactly that.

Mrs. Clinton even went so far as to create her own private domain server that, in effect, allowed her to adjudicate which of her government communications would eventually be deleted and which would be retained. Consider the controversies that arose and contentious decisions that were made during Mrs. Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state: a failed reset with Vladimir Putin’s Russia, the pullout of all U.S. peacekeepers from Iraq and that country’s subsequent implosion, the estrangement from Israel, the killing of U.S. personnel in Benghazi and the scapegoating of an obscure video-maker. In theory, Mrs. Clinton alone could have chosen to release official or unofficial communications that she found useful and to simply delete those she found problematic — messages that, most likely, only her staff knew existed. Why, otherwise, would Mrs. Clinton avoid all standard, required government email accounts to create her own for official business — even with the risk that her shenanigans would be exposed as unsecure, unethical and potentially unlawful?

In all of these email scandals, the root of the problem is not, as is sometimes alleged, undue government intrusiveness into the private lives of federal officials. After all, the public deserves transparency — even with regard to bureaucrats’ private correspondence, at least while they are in office and communicating as public figures. Public service is also voluntary. It is usually of a limited nature. And it requires accountability to the public.

The real problem is that our public servants are using their electronic correspondence to affect their public records — indeed, to massage history itself far more easily than had been done in the pre-computer age.

A CIA director who is entrusted with the nation’s secrets cannot use email to facilitate secret lives in a way that would be difficult with just postage stamps and phone calls. Mrs. Jackson created a false identity that enhanced her own reputation in a way that would have been nearly impossible with a typewriter or pencil. With the aid of high-tech correspondence, Mrs. Clinton attempted to decide for herself which of her emails should be subject to oversight — in a manner difficult for prior secretaries of the pre-electronic age who were forced to leave a clumsy carbon paper trail.

Email speeds things up. It expands the power of communications and allows one to message far more people, far more often — and sometimes more stealthily.

Our public servants who get caught up in these electronic scandals are not victims of a new face of intrusive Big Brother. Instead, they are using technology to become a sort of Big Brother themselves. —Courtesy: Washington Times

Hillary Clinton is now trying to explain away her own email scandal. During her tenure, she may have broken federal laws by creating several personal email accounts on her own private server

D3

They love calling it ‘democracy’

A

new study confirms the obvious the will of the people carries no weight in Pakistan.

Within the nation’s borders democracy is everywhere proclaimed by a certain ruling class, but nowhere to be found. These truths we hold to be selfevident: “ordinary citizens have virtually no influence over what their government does in Pakistan.

A certain ruling class in Pakistan loves to boast that the Pakistan is a democracy, especially in absence of an authoritarian rule.. That idea is accepted uncritically and celebrated as proof of this country’s superiority.

Every public activity and event is an opportunity for the false narrative to be repeated and indulged. Events as disparate as elections, holiday celebrations, advertisements, school commencements and religious worship are all used to propagandize and create false belief about the degree of power the average citizen has vis a vis their government.

Of course all evidence shows that this narrative is and always was a lie.

Dictionaries define democracy as government representing the citizens through elected representatives, or as majority rule, or a society which provides equal rights to all. The history of this country has rarely lived up to any of those descriptions but in the recent past the notion that this country is a democracy has become openly farcical. We have nothing but meaningless trappings and any power exercised by the people is sadly in short supply.

This state of affairs has been obvious to anyone who has been paying close attention. Pakistanis not only don’t get what they want from the political system, they actually get the opposite of what they want. The pace of the oligarchic state has quickened lately but the dynamic has been evi-

dent for quite some time.

Even elite academia is taking notice and has given official imprimatur to a conversation that had been ignored. The students of demography use the term plutocracy to the system labeled as democracy. Pakistan’s current political leadership comprise of elites, interest Groups, and average citizens.” While their work does not as news stories suggest use the word oligarchy, the researchers are quite clear about their findings. “I’d say that contrary to what decades of political science research might lead you to believe, ordinary citizens have virtually no influence over what their government does in the Pakistan’, said a researcher. And economic elites and interest groups, especially those representing business, have a substantial degree of influence. government policy-making over the last few decades reflects the preferences of those groups – of economic elites and of organized interests.”

While this study has however briefly changed public discourse, it is important to note that the disregard of popular will is obvious for all to see.

If this were not true, the minimum wage would be higher, there would be no cuts to entitlement programs, and Pakistanis would have a single payer health care system.

This class follows the grand capitalistic empire or there would be no NAFTA or TPP free trade agreements which force a race to the bottom for workers, destroy entire eco-systems and violate national and popular sovereignty. If the empire were truly democratic, the city of Detroit would not have filed for bankruptcy for the simple reason that voters in Detroit and in the state of Michigan voted to

repeal the emergency manager law which brought bankruptcy into being.

Pakistanis don’t want the increasingly frequent interventions abroad forced upon by them by elite class having different faces. Yet that is what they get. We want to address the problems created by human made climate change. We don’t want hydraulic fracturing, or the pollution or earthquakes that come with it, but that is what we have. We don’t want rich people to control the political process but the Supreme Court has said time and again that money equals speech and those decisions prove the point of the study. Simply put, money talks and those without money have no voice.

If that were not the case, Pakistani workers would not be poorer than their counterparts in the rest of the world.

The so-called middle class workers in this country had the distinction of being better off than their peers around the world. That is no longer the case with stagnating wages and job loss and a country that does not practice income distribution that would keep people out of poverty. In a democratic country, a big company with its low wages would not be the largest employer.

The manufacturing that once dominated the economic landscape would still employ the bulk of the work force with its higher wages and other benefits that provide economic security.

In a democracy, the financial services industry that created the worldwide economic meltdown would not have been bailed out. Workers would be bailed out. Corporations wouldn’t get tax breaks and other government

Elite academia is taking notice and has given official imprimatur to a conversation that had been ignored subsidies. Workers would get them.

And if the average person had any say in the matter, the big time banksters would now be behind bars.

The myth of Pakistani democracy is just one of many that are cherished out of ignorance and suspension of disbelief but that is not a reason to continue the confusion and self-delusion. The only time we get any taste of democracy is when we proclaim that we don’t have it but assert plainly and loudly that we intend to get it.

The phony narrative wears thin as the quality of life diminishes. Pakistan is not a democratic nation if the only right that citizens have is to go to a polling place every few years.

It is time to stop fetishizing what clearly does not work for the majority of people and start talking about something new. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result. The only result we have to show is rule by the elites and if that is acceptable then the people have gone truly insane.

The author is currently working with the Frontier Post and can be reached at: faheemaamer1968@gmail.com

Habib Jalib the man and the movement

W

Dr. Taimur Rehman

ho was Habib Jalib and why does he continue to evoke such a passionate response more than two decades after his death? Shair e awam has not been credited as a great literary genius, mainly because he did not use too many Arabic and Persian metaphors, nor can he be thought of as a great philosopher such as Iqbal.

Yet he towers, in many respects, above those making claims to either.

It is perhaps because he expresses in the language of common people, the aspirations, hopes, and dreams that continue to be felt right down to the soul of our people.

Too often, in speaking about individuals that tower in history, scholars

and historians are principally interested in their individual traits, their talents, their creativity and their genius. Little emphasis, in such instances, is paid to the fundamental ideas and movements that form those towering figures of history. So when people ask, “why are Habib Jalibs not born today?” they are arguably simultaneously asking what the historical and intellectual conditions were that create individuals like Habib Jalib.

Jalib, who did so much to shape the popular imagination of those aspiring for a more egalitarian society, was really the product of two epoch making simultaneous movements of the 20th century.

The first of which was an intellectual movement, namely, the intellectual dynamism of Marxism. And the second, were the mass movements that erupted all throughout the 20th century for liberation from class oppression, racial oppression, sexist oppression, and colonial/neocolonial oppression. I end this short tribute to Jalib on his death anniversary with his poem Nazr e Karl Marx

LETTERS TO EDITOR

Please send your letters to editor@thefrointerpost.com

Education turns into business It is indeed disappointing to see the plight of the private schools of Pakistan. These schools apparently aim to impart quality education using state of the art facilities to the students with sheer hard work, effort and determination. The reality nonetheless is contrary. The private schools have more or less emerged as commercial or profit maximizing entities. They aim to generate maximum revenue from the students’ fees neglecting the quality of education imparted to the students. It is clearly evident that the standard of education delivered at the private schools is gradually dwindling.

Many renowned schools are currently characterized by low quality of educational services. The administrative and the managerial staff managing and running the schools lack expertise and specialized skills required for attaining the maximum performance outcomes from the students and the teachers. There is a dearth of intellectual and cognitive faculties essential for delivering top of the class quality education amongst the managerial and administrative staff of the private schools. This impedes the creation of an effective and balanced

educational platform; which can prepare and nurture disciplined, mature, refined and cultivated individuals for tomorrow. The academic quality imparted at the private schools at present is devoid of all such premium aspects, which existed years ago. The decline in the quality is attributed to many factors; the prominent being lack of skilled teaching and managerial staff recruited at the private schools. These factors result in low academic quality imparted at the private schools of Pakistan. Considering such adverse situation, there is a dire need for the ministry of education to take notice of the private schools of Pakistan for improving their educational standards.

from 1996-2006 by 30.9 and 25.8 per cent respectively in a period of 10 years. These figures indicate a negative impact on milk and meat production from bovines that ought to be taken serious note of by the authorities.

Since a long time fodder crops have not been paid due attention by the agriculture department as it has focused attention mainly on food and cash crops while neglecting feed and fodder crops. The only increase that has been seen is in the maize production by efforts of private sector by introducing hybrid varieties which has sustained the poultry industry in the country. It is time that due attention is paid to feed and fodder crops.

MUHAMMAD JAVIED KHAN The neglect of this area would spell LAHORE disaster with increased cost of production of meat and milk with a narrowed base of feed and fodder supply envisioned in the future.

Decline of fodder Production

The Agricultural Statistics Journal of 2012-13 published by Federal Ministry of National Food Security and Research has revealed a drastic reduction in fodder crops with a reduction of 22.2 percent in the area of fodder from 1995-96 to 2012-2013 as also a reduction of 2.25 per cent in yield per hectare. On the other hand, cattle and buffaloes have increased

jam-packed while every commuter seemed to be in a great hurry. The air was filled with smoke and dust. As usual, the Islamabad traffic police was nowhere to be seen. Vehicles had no space to run and they were moving at a snail’s pace. Many people, actually hundreds, were waiting for the clearance of the traffic. They were looking perturbed. I am thankful to the Almighty that I do not live near this road. I think the next prospective site for the Metro bus service is parallel to Islamabad Highway. But it will be better if we build future metro systems underground and not suspended in the air. The pressure of increasing population in Rawalpindi in particular and other cities in general is becoming so intense that hundreds of metros cannot solve the transportation problem. The government should take alternative steps regarding public transportation sysDR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB tems. It should build an underground FAISALABAD metro train service in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The government should also take measures to check increasing population in the country.

Traffic rush in federal capital

MUHAMMAD ASHTAR ISLAMABAD

A few days ago, I had to travel on the Islamabad Highway from Kok Bridge to Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. I was amazed to see innumerable vehicles To keep healthy is our basic right present on the road. The road was and to have access to a doctor as

No more quacks

well. As the government provides no incentive to doctors to work in rural areas there is a dearth of doctors. This space has been filled by non qualified dispenser and quacks. Untrained and unqualified dispensers and quacks have setup clinics in small towns and rural areas and are treating poor patients, while charging them heavy fees and provide some medicines with extra charge and wrong prescriptions resulting in many deaths or worsening of disease.

In a country that lacks any kind of check and balance this continues unchecked. Many medical stores sell medicine to patients without any prescription by an authorized doctor.

Many a time people go to medical store and ask them for medicines.

There is a dire need to take action against these quacks because they cannot diagnose any ailment. I would like to request the health department to take action against such people.

tunity to attract international buyers and investors to Pakistan’s indigenous industries. Business of $1.3 billion is expected from foreign investment deals, being initiated and carried out with our export industry. These foreign importers have increased the volume of their existing orders, while taking initiatives for exacting new export deals in items of sports, jewellery and pharmaceutical etc. The Expo was inaugurated by PM and top exporters were given awards for their excellent performances. This appreciative patronage is worthy of appreciation, as a strong economy, with a flourishing industry.

FARHAT MALIK LAHORE

Cutting back salaries

Recently, I came across a news report saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin has cut his own salary, the earnings of the prime minister and a number of other high-ranking officials by 10 percent due to economic hardships being experienced by the The four-day Expo Pakistan 2015, country. Can we ever see this hapconcluded with participation of near- pening in Pakistan? ly 600 exhibitors and 750 buyers and MUBASHIR MAHMOOD importers. This provided an opporKARACHI SHAHID AHMED QURESHI KARACHI

Expo Pakistan 2015

BUSINESS

D4

FRIDAY

MARCH 13, 2015

Greece allows lenders back into Athens ATHENS

NEW YORK: The facade of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) building. —AFP

Landmark Rome restaurants closed in anti-mafia swoop ROME

Italian police on Thursday closed down two of Rome's best-known tourist restaurants and seized assets worth 210 million euros ($224 million) in twin moves against the 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate's money laundering operations.

The national anti-mafia unit said the two restaurants, La Rotonda and Er Faciolaro, were controlled by alleged mobster Salvatore Lania and used to recycle millions of euros generated by what is now Italy's most powerful criminal organisation.

Separately, financial police in Calabria, 'Ndrangheta's southern homeland, said they had issued 11 arrest warrants and sequestered property, companies and other assets in an operation targeting the Piromalli, an alleged "family" or clan of the 'Ndrangheta based in the port of Gioia Tauro.

Lania was arrested on charges of fraudulently registering the Rome restaurants and a nearby souvenir shop as belonging to other people when he was, in fact, the beneficial owner.

All three businesses are located close to the Pantheon and other landmark sites in the Italian capital's historic centre. A recent study by Coldiretti, the body which represents Italian farmers,

Alibaba to invest $200m in Snapchat SHANGHAI

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba will invest $200 million in Snapchat, the vanishing-image service, Bloomberg News and a person familiar with the deal said Thursday. US media reported last year that Snapchat -- which allows the sending of text and photo messages that disappear seconds after being viewed -- had held discussions with Alibaba. A person familiar with the deal told AFP that Alibaba had committed to a $200 million investment. Alibaba declined to comment. Bloomberg News, which also quoted sources on the investment, said the deal valued Snapchat at $15 billion. —AFP

German inflation bounces back in Feb FRANKFURT

Inflation in Germany, Europe's biggest economy, was back in positive territory in February with consumer prices rising by 0.1 percent, official data showed on Thursday. The data, released by federal statistics office Destatis, confirmed a preliminary estimate published at the end of February. The previous month, the consumer price index had fallen for the first time in five years, dropping by 0.4 percent as a result of lower energy prices. According to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) -- the yardstick used by the European Central Bank -- inflation in Germany remained in negative territory, slipping by 0.1 percent in February, Destatis said. —AFP

estimated that at least 5,000 restaurants, bars and other eating places across Italy are in the hands of organised crime. Anyone eating at either of the two Rome restaurants would have had no idea that they were run by the mob.

A review of La Rotonda on Tripadvisor notes: "Service was excellent and staff very friendly and funny."

The anti-mafia unit said Lania's ownership of the restaurants and his involvement with 'Ndrangheta had emerged as a result of their investigation into the so-called Alvaro clan's activities in Rome. They suspect he was involved in the gang's smuggling of counterfeit goods made in China into Europe through Gioia Tauro with the support of the Piromalli family.

'Ndrangheta has emerged as the most powerful of Italy's mafia groups thanks to the huge profits it has made through its role as the principal importer and wholesaler of cocaine produced in Latin America and smuggled into Europe via north Africa and southern Italy. Recent arrests have confirmed the secretive, ritual-obsessed group's expansion beyond Calabria to both Rome, where it has been involved in a deadly turf war over cocaine prices, and the wealthy industrial cities of northern Italy. It also has well-documented links with Colombian produc-

er cartels, Mexican crime gangs and mafia families in New York and other parts of North America. The group has however suffered some setbacks of late.

In January Italian authorities ordered the arrest of 160 alleged members and claimed to have dismantled several of its "mafia entrepreneur" networks in northern cities.

That followed the arrest of dozens of alleged mobsters linked to the group in Milan in November 2014 - an operation which uncovered secretly-filmed footage of 'Ndrangheta's initiation rites.

The quasi-religious ceremony involves would-be members swearing allegiance to their "wise brothers" before taking an "oath of poison" which requires them to kill themselves should they ever betray fellow clan members.

The 'Ndrangheta is not the only problem Rome faces with organised crime.

More than 100 people, including former mayor Gianni Alemanno and prominent business figures, are curently under investigation in a probe into a criminal network suspected of skimming millions from public funds for years. Police in charge of the "mafia capitale" investigation believe the network was run by Massimo Carminati, a notorious one-eyed underworld figure with links to the far-right. —AFP

Asia stocks rebound, dollar at 12-year high HONG KONG

The dollar edged closer towards parity with the euro Thursday after the European Central Bank kicked off its stimulus programme this week, while Asian equity markets recovered slightly from a recent sell-off.

Sydney shares were given a lift by data showing Australia's unemployment rate had eased slightly, while South Korea became the latest country to cut interest rates as it struggles to fight off deflation.

Tokyo rallied 1.43 percent, or 267.59 points, to 18,991.11, Sydney added 0.98 percent, or 56.97 points, to close at 5,850.17 and Shanghai rallied 1.78 percent, or 58.42 points, to 3,349.32, while Hong Kong advanced 0.34 percent, or 79.99 points, to 23,797.96.

However, Seoul fell 0.52 percent, or 10.24 points, to close at 1,970.59.

Traders brushed off more losses on Wall Street, where the three main indexes have given up all their 2015 gains on expectations the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates as early as the summer. The Dow fell 0.16 percent, the S&P 500 shed 0.19 percent and the Nasdaq eased 0.20 percent.

However, bets on the rate increase, mixed with the ECB's new asset-purchase scheme, known as quantitative easing (QE), has sent the dollar soaring to 12-year highs against the euro.

On Thursday the single currency fetched $1.0542, down from $1.0548 Wednesday in US trade and around its weakest level since March 2003.

With the ECB just starting on QE and the Fed due to lift rates, analysts are tip-

German banks face big losses from Austria's Hypo FRANKFURT

Officials from Greece's creditors returned to Athens Thursday for their first time since the Syriza party came to power, with the radical new government denying it had allowed back the hated "troika" it had vowed to shun.

Athens -- which has been scrabbling for cash to meet its next major debt repayments -- insisted it had not been strong-armed into submission.

It claimed the technical experts were merely junior officials and not to be compared with the troika teams who it had accused of storming into ministries like colonial "invaders".

Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis described the officials as a "fact-finding mission" who would gather data to assist the main thrust of talks between Greece, the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which took place in Brussels on Wednesday.

He said the officials would not visit ministries but would remain in their hotels, and the relevant documents could be delivered to them there.

Varoufakis said the experts, who will help draw up a new economic plan for the troubled eurozone nation, will report to the new so-called Brussels Group, which it made up of the old troika plus the European Stability Mechanism.

A finance ministry source had earlier told AFP that the experts would first gather fiscal data, and that discussions on structural reforms and banks would be held next week. This is the first time that technical teams representing Greece's creditors have returned to Athens since the talks were suspended in December owing to elections being called. The breakthrough came after six weeks of difficult talks -- and often ugly rhetoric -- between the EU-IMFECB creditors and the radical Greek government that came to power in January

German banks could face substantial losses from a looming haircut on their loans to a bank in neighbouring Austria, but the losses will be manageable, rating agency Fitch said on Thursday.

"German banks have larger exposures than Austrian banks to Heta Asset Resolution AG," Fitch said in a note to investors. "Losses are likely to be material for German banks but should be manageable," the rating agency said.

Heta was set up as the so-called "bad bank" of the troubled Austrian group Hypo Alde Adria (HGAA).

HGAA, the local public bank in Carinthia, ran into trouble after embarking on a breakneck expansion into the Balkans as well as Italy and Germany via acquisitions and risky investments.

Austria nationalised the bank and split it up, with the bad debts ring-fenced in BERLIN Heta Asset Resolution. —AFP

with the promise to tear up the country's austerity-driven bailout.

The new government's aggressive stance quickly alienated Greece's creditors, who want the new government to respect the terms of the 240-billion-euro ($255-billion) bailout signed by its predecessors.

With many promised reforms still incomplete, and the new Greek government freezing a number of key privatisation projects, Athens has received no money from the remaining bailout funds, and the state is now desperate for cash.

This month alone, Greece must find some 6.0 billion euros to meet its debts -- including 1.5 billion euros to the International Monetary Fund.

Varoufakis insisted that Greece would be able to pay. He said the creditors and Greece "have taken measures" and would come to an agreement to address what he called "a relatively small cashflow problem." On Wednesday, Athens raised 1.3 billion euros in a new issue of three-month treasury bills, but had to pay a higher interest rate of 2.7 percent.

Reports on Wednesday said the government was also turning to its pension and agricultural assistance funds for emergency cash to pay government salaries. On Monday, Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem blamed Greece for wasting precious time. "We have spent two weeks discussing who meets who, where and in what format, and it's a complete waste of time," said Dijsselbloem, who is also Dutch finance minister.

Athens has insisted on dismantling the previous system of EU-IMF-ECB fiscal audits, conducted by a team of experts from the three institutions known as the 'troika'. The Greek government now calls the creditors 'institutions'. Athens is arguing that the austerity programme that has plunged tens of thousands of families into poverty should be relaxed, a demand opposed by Germany and other eurozone creditor nations. —AFP

Cost-cutting to start bearing fruit: Volkswagen

Spanish bank Sabadell bids to buy Britain's TSB LONDON

Spanish bank Sabadell has bid to buy TSB, a unit of British bailed-out lender Lloyds TSB, the pair announced Thursday.

TSB said the informal offer was worth 340 pence per TSB share, valuing the group at £1.7 billion ($2.5 billion, 2.4 billion euros), adding it would be willing to recommend a formal offer at that price to shareholders.

"The boards of TSB and Banco de Sabadell SA note the recent media speculation. The board of TSB confirms that it has received a preliminary proposal from Sabadell which may or may not result in a formal offer for the entire share capital of the company," said a statement. —AFP

German auto giant Volkswagen said Thursday it expects a massive cost-cutting programme to begin bearing fruit this year.

In a bid to turn around its flagship VW brand, the carmaker has embarked on a drive to cut costs by 5.0 billion euros ($5.3 billion).

The programme "has gotten off to a very good start," chief executive Martin Winterkorn told the group's annual earnings news conference.

So far, "we have identified opportunities for improvement that represent about half of our 5.0-billion-euro target.

We expect a benefit of well over 1.0 billion euros in our result for the current year," Winterkorn said.

Last year was "another successful year" for Europe's biggest car maker, the group said. Deliveries grew by 4.2 percent last year to over 10.1 million vehicles, sales revenue increased by 2.8 percent to 202.5 billion euros and operating profit rose by 1.0 billion euros to a

record 12.7 billion euros. VW also made a "promising start to 2015," Winterkorn said. In the first two months, worldwide deliveries were up 1.6 percent at 1.5 million vehicles. "We expect deliveries to increase moderately in full-year 2015 despite the persistently challenging market environment," said Winterkorn.

The difficult market environment, fierce competition, interest rate and exchange rate volatility, and fluctuations in raw materials prices all posed challenges, he said.

"Depending on economic conditions, Volkswagen expects 2015 sales revenue to increase by up to 4.0 percent above the prior-year figure." In terms of operating profit, Volkswagen anticipated an operating return on sales of between 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent in 2015 "in light of the challenging economic environment," he continued.

"We are being deliberately rather more cautious," Winterkorn said.

"Our stated goal for fiscal year 2015 is to achieve further growth both in terms of volumes and in our sales revenue and operating profit." —AFP

ping dollar-euro parity possibly by next year, which would be the first time since 2002.

"The asset-purchase programme, which is starting now, that's obviously going to drive the euro lower," said Fabian Eliasson, head of US corporate foreign-exchange sales at Mizuho Financial Group.

"The dollar is just crushing it across the board." The euro also bought 128.77 yen against 128.10 yen, with investors nervously watching strained talks between Greece and its European creditors over reforming its bailout obligations.

The greenback, meanwhile, was at 121.30 yen on Thursday in Tokyo against 121.44 yen in New York.

"We've never seen stimulus created like this before and how you bleed that out is creating a lot of uncertainty as to what's going to happen," Michael Cuggino, president of Pacific Heights Asset Management LLC in San Francisco, told Bloomberg TV. "There's such a divergence between what's going on in the rest of the world with central banks cutting rates and the US likely raising them."

South Korea's central bank announced a surprise cut in interest rates to a record low 1.75 percent Thursday in a bid to avert a painful deflationary spiral and kick-start the struggling economy.

The dollar rose to 1,131.55 won from 1,126.40 won on Wednesday.

Korea is the latest country -- following China, India and Australia -- to low- Shoppers walk through a market in central Seoul. South Korea became the latest country to cut interest rates as er rates in the face of falling prices and the central bank announced a surprise 25 basis point reduction to a record-low 1.75 percent, as it tries to fend weak economic growth. —AFP off deflation and kick start the struggling economy. —AFP

FRIDAY

www.thefrontierpost.pk

MARCH 13, 2015

UN chief demands ‘determined measures’ to end Syria crisis

BRIEF Raza Rabbani takes oath as 7th Senate chairman ISLAMABAD

Senator Raza Rabbani on Thursday took oath as the Senate chairman after he was elected unopposed for the office. Presiding Officer Senator Ishaq Dar administered the oath. Rabbani, a consensus candidate of all political parties has succeeded one of his party colleagues Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari who retired on March 11 after completing his tenure of the office. –Agencies

Pakistani accused in US consulate plot held TORONTO

Canadian immigration officials have arrested a Pakistani man who they say was plotting to attack the US consulate and other buildings in Toronto's financial district. At a hearing, Canadian authorities said Jahanzab Malik, a self-proclaimed supporter of the Islamic State and al Qaeda who received weapons training in Libya, told an undercover police officer about his plans involving remote control explosives. –Online

Two terrorists killed in Peshawar PESHAWAR

At least two terrorists were killed in retaliatory fire by security personnel on Thursday after a security check-post near Gora Qabristan area in Peshawar was attacked. At least seven other people, including a soldier, were also injured in the attack, police said.

Police officials said the attackers were riding a vehicle when they opened fire on the check-post near Amn Chowk. –Online

Maj Gen Sanaullah Niazi's killer held PESHAWAR

In a major development in ongoing anti-terrorism operations, security forces have arrested a most wanted terrorist involved in killing of Major General Sanaullah Niazi, a private news channel on Thursday. On September 15, 2013, a roadside bomb explosion struck a vehicle carrying Maj Gen Sanaullah Khan Niazi in the Upper Dir district as he returned from a visit to troops posted on the border with Afghanistan. –Online

46 senators-elect take oath ISLAMABAD

As many as 46 senators-elect on Thursday took oath at a special session of the Upper House in the Parliament House with two among them still awaited.

Hasil Khan Bizenjo and Raheela Magsi could not take oath.

Presiding Officer Senator Ishaq Dar administered the oath. Later, the names of the senators were announced to sign the roll of members. –Online

Putin to attend genocide centenary MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend ceremonies marking 100 years since the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire in April, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Armenia is hosting the commemoration for those killed by Ottoman forces in World War I in its capital on April 24. "Yes, he will fly to Yerevan," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told AFP, adding the Russian leader had discussed the issue with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian by telephone on Thursday.

Armenia says an estimated 1.5 million people were killed by Ottoman forces in 1915 in what it calls a genocide. –AFP

UNITED NATIONS

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged the Security Council to take "determined measures" to end the war in Syria, as it entered its fifth year with little prospect for peace.

"The Syrian people feel increasingly abandoned by the world as they enter the fifth year of the war that has torn their country apart," Ban said in a statement.

The suffering continues "under the eyes of the international community, still divided and incapable of taking collective action to stop the killing and destruction," he said.

"I call upon the Security Council to take determined measures to resolve this crisis and on the way forward."

The Security Council has been diAn Iraqi Christian forces member stands in front of Christian clerics during a graduation ceremony in Iraq’s vided over how to put Syria back on northwestern town of Fishkhabur, near the borders with Syria and Turkey, on Thursday. –AFP the road to peace, with Russia blocking moves to punish its ally President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

Ban's appeal for action came as more than 20 rights groups accused the Security Council of "failing Syria" despite three resolutions calling for peace efforts, access for humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians. large parts of Iraq thrust into areas A plan by UN peace envoy Staffan de in seven months ago.

FISHKHABUR Mistura for a freeze in fighting in the "Around 600 peshmerga from our controled by the peshmerga.

The exodus has been described as the Iraq's first Christian-only brigade of Christian brothers in the Nineveh plain regular forces graduated Thursday to joined this course, which focused on worst disaster to befall the minority, help retake the community's towns and physical training, military lectures and which is one of the world's oldest Chrisvillages from the Islamic State group. shooting exercises," said Abu Bakr Is- tian communities.

Iraq's Christians have not traditionalThe new brigade will answer to the mail, the commander of the training ly had strong home-grown militias and government of Iraq's autonomous Kur- academy.

"All the participants are volunteers... adopted a low profile when sectarian vidish region, whose peshmerga fighters are playing a leading role in the war and want to liberate their land from IS olence flared across the country a decade and then protect it," the Kurdish special ago. against the jihadists.

But those who haven't already fled the WASHINGTON Fighters paraded and jumped through forces major general said.

The new brigade is called the "Tiger country have in recent months shown a fiery rings in front of Kurdish and Assyrian officials in the northwestern town Guards" and was formed out of the willingness to take up arms and take US Secretary of State John Kerry left of Fishkhabur, near the borders with Syr- remnants of an Assyrian force first cre- their future into their own hands.

Thursday for a key economic conference Several other Christian groups have in Egypt, before a new round of talks in ated in 2004 to protect churches in the ia and Turkey. formed in recent months in northern Switzerland on Iran's suspect nuclear Most of Iraq's Christians lived in the region.

Up to 100,000 Christians fled their Iraq. They do not fall under the pesh- program.

Nineveh plain, an area between the main IS hub of Mosul and the Kurdish homes overnight in early August when merga's command but are hosted and Kerry is due to arrive Friday in the capital of Arbil, before IS fighters swept IS fighters who had already conquered supported by Kurdistan. –AFP Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm alSheikh to attend an international economic conference, set to burnish President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's global credentials.

Egypt hopes the foreign investor conference will jump-start its battered economy while showcasing international support for Sisi as he battles radical Islamist opponents. bers of the public reporting five sightings month exercise in the Baltic to reassure Kerry is due to meet with Sisi -- a forSTOCKHOLM mer general who led the army's ouster of suspicious vessels in a week. The Russia's nervous neighbours.

Operation Atlantic Resolve would see of elected Islamist president Mohamed Sweden said on Thursday it would raise Swedish military's failure in October to defence spending by $720 million and find what it would only refer to as "a for- major NATO forces working alongside Morsi in 2013 and then resigned from bring back troops to a "strategic" Baltic eign vessel" -- but which was believed by their allies in Latvia, Lithuania and Es- the military to stand in the 2014 elecisland amid concerns over Russia's mil- most experts to be Russian -- raised ques- tonia -- former Soviet republics now tions. Kerry could also meet with other tions over the country's military spend- members of the Western alliance, mili- Arab and European leaders. itary resurgence.

Angered by stalled Egyptian demoThe country's left-wing government ing after years of cutbacks in the post- tary officials said.

The search last year in Stockholm's ar- cratic reforms, Washington has frozen said most of the money, to be spent be- Cold War era. The extra funds would also tween 2016 and 2020, would go towards be used to re-establish a permanent chipelago, involving battleships, a chunk of its $1.5 billion in mostly modernising ships that could detect military presence on the island of Got- minesweepers and helicopters, stirred up military annual aid to Cairo since land, between southern Sweden and Swedes' memories of Cold War cat- October 2013, insisting greater and intercept submarines.

"We want to strengthen our ability Latvia, for the first time in 10 years. The and-mouse games with suspected Sovi- progress must be made.

Apache helicopters, however, have to hunt submarines," Defence Minis- country's largest island "is of high strate- et submarines along Sweden's long, been delivered to the Egyptian military ter Peter Hultqvist said at a press gic value for Sweden and all of the Baltic rugged coastline.

Together with a series of alleged air- -- a key ally in the fight against Al-QaeSea," Hultqvist said. The government conference.

The announcement came a few months wants 150 troops to be stationed on space violations by Russian jets over the da and Islamic militants sheltering in the last year, it helped bolster public support Sinai peninsula. after a week-long search for a suspected Gotland, Swedish media reported.

The United States on Monday began for NATO membership in the nonFrom the divers' paradise of Sharm alRussian submarine in the waters off Sheikh, Kerry will fly to Lausanne in Stockholm was called off despite mem- to deploy 3,000 troops on a three- aligned country. –AFP landlocked Switzerland on Sunday for fresh negotiations with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Talks with global powers for a deal reining in Iran's suspect uranium enrichment program in return for sanctions relief are reaching a critical stage as a

Iraq's first Christian brigade formed to fight IS

northern city of Aleppo appears to be making little headway, as the death toll mounts.

Last year was the deadliest yet in the war, with at least 76,000 people killed out of more than 210,000 since it began on March 15, 2011 with peaceful demonstrations, inspired by the Arab Spring in Egypt and Tunisia.

More than four million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries and 7.6 million civilians are displaced within the country as Assad's forces battle opposition rebels and extremists from the Islamic State group.

While world powers were rightfully mobilizing to defeat IS extremists, "our focus must continue to be with the Syrian people," Ban said. He called on the international community to "unite and lend its full support" to UN efforts to forge a deal for a political transition in Syria and to bring those responsible for atrocities to justice.

"We have an obligation to the Syrian people to help ensure that serious crimes committed over the past four years do not go unpunished," he said.

Russia and China last year vetoed a Security Council resolution on referring Syria to the International Criminal Court for war crimes prosecutions. –AFP

Kerry heads to Egypt, before new Iran talks

Sweden raises military spending amid concerns over Russia

Iran will not be duped in nuclear deal: Khamenei TEHRAN

The Iranian negotiating team will not allow Tehran to be duped in any nuclear deal with world powers, the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday.

After the fallout from an open letter sent to Iran by Republican senators, Khamenei appeared before the Assembly of Experts, Iran's highest clerical body, to praise Iran’s "trustworthy" team negotiating with the "deceitful" world powers.

President Hassan Rouhani "has selected a nuclear (negotiating) team who are truly good, trustworthy and hardworking," he said, quoted by ISNA news agency, whereas "the other party is deceitful and stabs in the back". Iranian officials "know what they are doing and they also know how to act in case of an agreement so that Americans cannot break it later", said Khamenei, who has the final say on any deal.

In the letter, which has drawn criticism in both the Islamic re-

public and from the US administration, senators stressed that President Barack Obama is in office only until January 2017 and a successor could scrap any nuclear deal if Congress has not approved it.

On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the Assembly of Experts that the letter had sapped Tehran's confidence in dealings with the United States.

The Republicans' letter appeared to be another bid to influence or even derail the talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia as well as the United States.

With a March deadline looming, negotiators are furiously working to agree the political outlines of a deal that would curb Iran's nuclear programme in return for a lifting of Western sanctions.

A new round of talks between Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to take place in Lausanne, Switzerland on Sunday. –AFP

German FM hits out at Republicans over Iran letter

March 31 deadline for a political framework accord looms.

With uncertainty still surrounding the deal, the State Department has not said how long Kerry will stay in Lausanne, nor when he is expected to return to Washington. Zarif is also due to meet with EU partners Britain, France and Germany in Brussels on Monday.

"There's no deal yet," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki insisted on CNN on Thursday.

"The primary objective of any deal is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," she added.

But the negotiations fueled political tensions in Washington earlier this week when 47 Republican senators wrote to Iran warning that Congress could modify any deal struck with US President Barack Obama's administration.

Kerry hit out at that suggestion, saying it was "flat wrong," and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on a visit to Washington also denounced the political stunt which he feared could undermine the talks. –AFP

WASHINGTON

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday criticized Republican senators for sending a letter to Iran over the nuclear talks, fearing that the political stunt could undermine Tehran's confidence in the ongoing negotiations.

"This is not just an issue of American domestic politics, but it affects the negotiations we are holding in Geneva," Steinmeier told journalists in Washington before meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "Obviously, mistrust is growing on (...) the Iranian side if we are really serious with the negotiations."

Steinmeier added it would be good "if the letter of the 47 senators no longer causes any disturbance in the negotiations."

In the letter to Iran's leaders, the Republicans warned that any deal agreed before Obama leaves office in 2017 is "nothing more than an executive agreement" that could be struck down by Congress later. The German foreign minister was due to meet the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Corker, and the panel's top Democrat, Senator Robert Menendez.

"Iran's path to the nuclear bomb must be blocked in an unambiguous, verifiable and durable way," Steinmeier said on Wednesday night before meeting with his US counterpart John Kerry for a working dinner. –AFP

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