Ep06october2013

Evidence of Balochistan interference shared with India Pak for settlement of issues through talks:Jilani STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Pakistan has

Qaeda in Syria wants to dominate Iraq, Turkey border zones BEIRUT—Al-Qaeda in Syria

shared with India evidence of foreign interference in Balochistan and has raised the issue at every relevant forum, foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said Saturday.

Speaking to reporters after a briefing of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Jilani said that there was evidence of Indian interference in Balochistan, and that it was being raised at all forums.

He said that the issue was ISLAMABAD: United Arab Emirates Special Envoy, Khalid Suleman Muhammad called on Prime Minister Muhammad also raised by the Prime MinisNawaz Sharif on Saturday. ter Nawaz Sharif with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during their meeting in New York.

The foreign secretary pointed out that there were res-

is fighting to drive rivals out of areas bordering Turkey and Iraq in a bid to control territory stretching from Iraq into northern Syria, various sources say.

Across the north and east, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has set up checkpoints on roads to border crossings, and opened fronts to crush other rebel groups fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

Residents have told AFP of a strategy that involves ISIL taking over resources and OBSERVER REPORT routes using brutal methods aimed at forcing the populaGILGIT—The security forces tion into submission. launched a big operation against Continued on Page 7 anti-peace elements in Chilas on Saturday and arrested two terrorists after forces cordoned off the entire town in a major operation.

“We have arrested two highprofile terrorists who were involved in the terror incident of the Nanga Parbat in which ten foreign climbers were killed,”

Two ‘high-profile terrorists’ arrested in Chilas Door-to-door search continued for 30 hours, arms recovered

Govt decides to restore Youtube: Pervaiz

STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD —Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid revealed on Saturday that the government has decided in principle to restore Youtube.

In an interview with Radio Pakistan, Pervaiz Rashid said that the government acknowledged the site as a source of information, but unfortunately, it was also being used to publish objectionable material.

He further said that holding talks with the Taliban is a collective decision of the political leadership.

The government is proceeding on the issue of talks in line with the decision of the government, said Rashid.

Pakistan in IBSF Team World Snooker finals CARLOW—A nerve-racking game of snooker on Saturday finally ended with the Pakistani snooker team prevailing against a seasoned Ireland team in the semi-final to book a spot in the final of the team World Amateur Snooker Championship in Carlow, Ireland.

Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Sajjad went into the match on the back of a good run in the championships, having beaten Poland and India to reach the semifinal.

The Irish duo of Michael Judge and Robert Murphy were always going to be a stern test for Pakistan, after the

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said a senior police official.

Gunmen had shot dead nine foreign mountaineers and their tour guide at the 4,200-meter base camp of Nanga Parbat on June 23 this year.

Police said Saturday that some phone calls were intercepted which disclosed the location of the terrorists and the entire area was cordoned off and a search operation was launched.

SSP of District Diamer,

Muhammad Naveed confirmed that two terrorists were taken into custody after the operation carried out jointly by the police and security forces.

He did not disclose the identity of the terrorists and said naming them right now would spoil the operation because there was a likelihood of further breakthrough.

Shaheen Coat, Takia and Jalil points of the city were

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MQM man identified as killer of Randhawa 8 killers held, house of PAC leader Uzair raided STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI —An eyewitness identified Muttahida man Kazim Abbas Rizvi as the killer of Advocate Naimat Ali Randhawa during an identification parade held at City Court on Saturday.

The senior lawyer Randhawa, who was also a leader of the Sindh Pakistan Muslim League–N legal wing, was shot dead in an attack in the city’s Nazimabad area on September 26 that also left his son injured.

The accused person Kazim Abbas was arrested on October 1. He was produced in court amidst tight security where he was identified as the killer by an

eyewitness.

During a press conference held at the Central Police Office on October 1, Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi Shahid Hayat had said that the man suspected of involvement in the killing of Randhawa, a lawyer involved in the Wali Babar murder case, had been arrested.

He had named the suspect as Kazim Abbasi Rizvi and said he was associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Unit 178.

Hayat was asked whether Randhawa’s killing had a sectarian dimension, responding to which, the police chief said the lawyer’s killing was of a politi-

cal, not sectarian, nature.

He had said that during initial investigation, the accused had confessed to killing Randhawa.

The AIGP had said that the accused was involved in target killings of eight other people, adding that raids were being conducted to arrest three other accomplices of the accused.

In another development, Rangers personnel raided the house of banned People’s Aman Committee leader Uzair Baloch in Lyari on Saturday and conducted a search operation in the area.

According to the sources, Rangers conducted a search op-

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PM: Pak, UAE enjoy close fraternal ties

STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —United Arab Emirates Special Envoy Khalid Suleman Muhammad on Saturday called on Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at the PM’s House.

Talking to the Special Envoy, the Prime Minister said that both UAE and Pakistan enjoyed close fraternal ties which were deeply embedded in history, religion and tradition.

During the meeting, matters of bilateral relations between the two countries came under discussion.

ervations with India over the issue of terrorism. Abbas Jilani said that terrorism was a concern for Pakistan as much as it is for India, but blame is not the solution to the problem.

Pakistan wants to resolve all outstanding issues with Indian, including Kashmir, through the process of dialogue, he said.

Kashmir, claimed in full by both India and Pakistan and divided by the heavily-militarised Line of Control (LoC), has remained a central point of tension between the two neighbouring countries. The two sides also often trade allegations of ceasefire violations from both sides of the disputed border.

He said that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would take up the issue of drone attacks in his meeting with

United States President Barack Obama being held in this month and at all other forums.

He said that the release of Mullah Baradar was part of the Afghan reconciliation process and he was not handed over to any country.

“Pakistan is in favour of the peace talks between Afghan government and Afghan Taliban and will provide support regarding the negotiations,” he added.

The Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said that terrorism was a concern for Pakistan as much as it is for India, and blame is not the solution to the problem.

In response to the allegations, Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued statements condemning terrorism in any form and said

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Clerics: Taliban portraying negative picture of Islam OBSERVER REPORT LAHORE—The stance of Paki-

stani Taliban militants regarding attacks on Christian churches was contrary to the teachings of Islam, leading Pakistani clerics belonging to different schools of thought said on Saturday.

“Taliban’s view point that attacks on churches is in line Stand on Pakistan with the principles of Islam is totally wrong and against the teaching of Islam,” said the clerics in a joint statement.

Taliban were depicting a negative picture of Islam just to defame the peaceful religion, N E W D ELHI —Communist they said.

Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta has said President Pranab Mukherjee could have cautioned the government rather than attempting to get public support and appreciation over his remark that ‘state-sponsored SALIM AHMED terrorism (from or by Pakistan) cannot be accepted’.

Dasgupta said if President LAHORE—A memorandum of Mukherjee has something to say understanding (MoU) was as strong as it is and if he be- signed between Punjab governlieves that the government is not ment and British company Pan doing its job properly and is Africa in a ceremony, attended found to be soft on Pakistan then by Punjab Chief Minister that is surely not the way to take Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, British Senior Minister of State the corrective measures.

“What he believes to be true, for Foreign Affairs Baroness he could have written an official Sayeeda Warsi, Provincial Enletter to the government, he ergy Minister Sher Ali Khan, could have issued a warning to members of Assembly, Chief the government, he could have Secretary and authorities concautioned the government. Dur- cerned.

Secretary Energy Usman ing Babri Masjid demolition, we Continued on Page 7 Bajwa on behalf of Punjab gov-

CPI blasts Mukherjee

The spokesperson for the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Shahidullah Shahid, had claimed that a recent attack on a church in Peshawar was carried out in accordance with Shariah laws and that neither the TTP nor any of its umbrella groups were behind the twin suicide blasts.

Nazim-i-Aala Jamia Naeemia Maulana Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Chief of Pakistan Sunny Tehrike Sarwat Ijaz Qadri, President National Mushaikh Council Pir Khawaja Ghulam Qutubuddin, President Khairul Ummam Foundation Pir Karamat Ali, Vice President Tahafuz Namoos-i-Rasalat

Mahaz Allama Pir Atthar Qadri and President Islamic Research Council Pakistan were among those who issued the joint statement.

September 23rd attack on All Saints Church in the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, that killed more than 80 and injured at least 130, is believed to be the deadliest ever to target the country’s small Christian minority.

The Ulema urged the government to launch an operation against the terrorists who caused irreparable loss to both Islam and Pakistan. “They (Taliban) don’t deserve any leniency,” said the statement.

UK Co to set up 100 MW Zilhaj moon power project in Punjab sighted in

Saudi Arabia

ernment and Marcus Heel on behalf of Pan Africa signed the MoU under which British company will set up a project of 100 megawatts in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that government is taking steps on emergent basis to overcome energy crisis under which agreements have been made for starting various power generating projects with the collaboration of national and international companies. He said that the targets of economic de-

KARACHI—Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on October 15 in Saudi Arabia as Zilhaj moon has been sighted in the Kingdom, state television reported on Saturday.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said that Zilhaj crescent is expected to be sighted Sunday.

The Met office said that Eidul-Azha will be celebrated on October 16 if the moon was sighted on Sunday. The Eid-ulAzha is celebrated on the 10th

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Impasse with Afghanistan raises prospect of total US withdrawal in 2014 KABUL—The United States nior administration official said zero option — complete with- risking a dangerous collapse in on the assistance promises we’ve is Mr. Karzai’s refusal to allow into Pakistan, resulting in an and Afghanistan have reached an impasse in their talks over the role that American forces will play here beyond next year, officials from both countries say, raising the distinct possibility of a total withdrawal — an outcome that the Pentagon’s top military commanders dismissed just months ago.

American officials say they are preparing to suspend negotiations absent a breakthrough in the coming weeks, and a se-

talk of resuming them with President Hamid Karzai’s successor, who will be chosen in elections set for next April, is, “frankly, not very likely.”

“The time to conclude for us is now,” the administration official said on Friday. In the absence of a deal, “this fall, we are going to have to make plans for the future accordingly.”

The impasse, after a year of talks, has increased the prospect of what the Americans call the

drawal — when the NATO combat mission concludes at the end of 2014. That is precisely the outcome they hoped to avoid in Afghanistan, after having engaged in a similarly problematic withdrawal from Iraq two years ago, reports The New York Times.

Moreover, a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan could be far costlier than it was in Iraq.

It would force European powers to pull their forces as well,

confidence among Afghans and giving a boost to the Taliban, which remain a potent threat.

It could also jeopardize vital aid commitments. Afghanistan is decades away from selfsufficiency — it currently covers only about 20 percent of its own bills, with the rest paid by the United States and its allies.

“It is a practical truth,” the administration official said, that without a deal, “our Congress would not likely follow through

made, nor would other partners.”

Many contentious matters in the talks have already been settled, like legal immunity for American troops, which is what scuttled the Iraq deal, Afghan and American officials said. Yet officials on both sides say two seemingly intractable issues remain.

The first is Afghanistan’s insistence that the United States guarantee its security, much like any NATO ally, and the second

American forces to keep searching in Afghanistan for operatives of Al Qaeda. Instead, he has proposed that the United States give its intelligence information to Afghan forces and let them do the searching, said Aimal Faizi, a spokesman for the president.

American officials have rejected both Afghan proposals.

The security pact is especially problematic, they say, because it could legally compel American forces to cross the border

armed confrontation with an ally — and a nuclear-armed power.

“The deal is like 95 percent done,” said another American official in Washington, “and both sides are holding out.”

Mr. Faizi said Mr. Karzai was now taking a lead role in the talks. But, he cautioned, the Afghan leader could not agree to a deal that allowed American forces to raid Afghan vil-

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KP to be made dengue free: Shaukat STAFF REPORTER P E S H AW A R — G o v e r n o r Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Engineer Shaukatullah Saturday said that dengue fever attack was a third major testing time for people of Swat after having faced with terrorism followed by flood havocs in a very short span of time. He said that the disease has been overcome to a great extent and no effort will be spared at every level to get the entire province totally free from dengue.

The Governor was talking at a briefing on spread of dengue during his day-long visit to Swat. He was apprised in detail about prevailing situation in wake of severe attack of dengue fever for the last

one-and-a-half-month. The Governor accompanied by provincial Secretary Health, Fakhar e Alam Khan enquired after the health of the patients admitted in especially established wards of Saidu Group of Hospitals at Mangora.

MNA, Mohtrama Mussarrat Ahmad Zeb, MPAs, Fazal Hakeem Khan and Muhibullah Khan and certain elders of the area were also present on this occasion besides Commissioner, Malakand Division, Muhammad Afsar Khan and other senior officials of the divisional and district administration. “There is a need to make constant efforts to take the people along in the ongoing measures to get the province completely free of the

problem”, the Governor remarked. While referring to various points, the Governor said, passing away of 24 precious lives because of suffering from dengue fever is a big loss and we fully share the grief of the bereaved families.

However, he said, all out measures will be taken to ensure provision of best ever care and treatment facilities to the patients. Appreciating the devoted efforts in extending healthcare facilities to patients and well managed ongoing campaign to promote awareness and educate the people about pre-cautionary measures as well as the steps taken so far to conduct spray and eliminate chances of re-mergence of the dengue mosquitoes, the

Governor pointed out that conveying educating materials to each and every person especially to the women is quite a big task and expressed the confidence that the health management authorities coupled with their partners and well wishers will make this possible especially through radio broadcasts.

Meanwhile it is reported from Hyderabad that a total of 218 cases of Dengue Virus have been detected in different hospitals of the district and all patients have been treated successfully against the virus and discharged from the hospitals. No death from Dengue Virus has been reported from any hospital of the district, maintained District Health Officer Hyderabad

Dr Ghulam Mustafa Abbasi while addressing a news conference here at his office on Saturday.

During September 2013, he informed that 158 cases of dengue virus were reported from different parts of the district, however, Taluka Hyderabad City was on top among other talukas where 121 cases were reported with 28 cases in Latifabad, four each in Qasimabad and Cantonment limitations and only one case was reported from Hyderabad Rural Taluka.

The District Health Office in collaboration with BAHAWALPUR: Minister of state for Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher concerned Taluka Munici- Education Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman sitting on the stage during the inaugural pal Administration con- ceremony of Seminar in connection to World Space Week at Islamia University. ducted fumigation against dengue from September 9 to 15, 2013.—APP

PP-240 by-poll on Oct 7

DHF arranges four-day medical camps

D ERA G HAZI K HAN —Bypoll in Provincial Assembly seat PP-240, DG Khan I, will be held on October 7, 2013.

The seat was vacted after disqualification of JUI-F lawmaker Mir Badshah Qaisrani by the Supreme Court in fake degree case.

According to the Election Commission, nomination papers of Sahmoona Abreen Qaisrani, former MPA Khawaja Daood Sulemani, Imam Bukhsh Qaisrani, Ejaz Khan Khaitran, Rehmatullah Khan, Zahid Asim, Shahnawaz, Muhammad Numan, Hashmat, Abid Mahmood Bakhani, Qaiser Khan Qaisrani and Mumtaz Ahmad have been accepted.

Shamoona Abreen Qaisrani, wife of former MPA Mir Badshah Qaisrani is contesting by-election on PML-N ticket while rest of others are taking part independently.

Out of 128 polling stations, 37 have been declared sensitive. There would be 307 polling booths with 167 for men and 140 for women.

District and Sessions Judge Abdul Mustafa Nadeem has been designated as Returning Officer to conduct the election.—APP

MPs delegation to observe Azerbaijan’s presidential election

I SLAMABAD —Senator Haji Imam, member National AsPESHAWAR—The Directorate Adeel informed on Saturday sembly Tahira Aurangzaib, Health Fata, complying with the Senate Standing Commit- Secretary and Additional the orders of Governor tee on Foreign Affairs, Kash- Secretary Foreign Office and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Engimir Affairs and Gilgit- ex-secretary Senate Iftikhar neer Shaukat Ullah and AdBaltistan that a parliamentary Ullah Baber. ditional Chief Secretary and The committee members delegation would leave for Director Fata Health, Dr Azerbaijan on Monday (Oc- appreciated Azerbaijan’s inPervez Kamal Khan has artober 7) to observe its presi- vitation and said it was an ranged a four-day medical honour for Pakistan that a dential election. camp in different areas of the Chairing a committee large parliamentary delegaKhyber Agency. According meeting here at the Parlia- tion was invited to observe to the Directorate’s press rement House, Haji the presidential election. lease, the camps were orgaMuhammad Adeel said the The committee unanimously nized at Walo Mela, Ali delegation representing six adopted a resolution, tabled Masjid, Shahkas, Haji Yaar different political parities, in- by senators Jehangir Badar Baz Kilay, Ghundai, Haji cluding ruling and opposi- and Mushahid Hussain Mazari Kilay and Tobaagh tion, would stay in Syed, thanking Azerbaijan where doctors examined a for its support on the KashAzerbaijan till October 11. number of area patients free The election commission mir issue at different world of cost. of Azerbaijan invited a 15- forums and expressing full To facilitate the patients, member Pakistan’s parlia- backing for the integrity and a number of paramedical staff mentary delegation to ob- sovereignty of Nagornowas also available at the serve their upcoming presi- Karabakh (Azerbaijan). camps. About 6672 patients Earlier, the committee was dential election, he added. were examined at the camps The meeting was attended briefed by the Additional while 480 medical tests were by senators Farahat Ullah Secretary Foreign Office also performed. The camps JAMRUD: A lady doctor examining the patient at free medical camp organized by FATA Health Directorate.

Baber, Sehar Kamran, about history, economy, foralso arranged 124 x-rays and Jehangir Badar, Tahir eign affairs, culture, religious free of cost medicines for the of Azerbaijan, Hussain Mashhadi, values patients. The camps that Mushahid Hussain Syed, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict worked under the superviMaulana Abdul Ghafoor with Armenia and its relasion of Dr Niaz Afridi were Haideri and Syeda Sughra tions with Pakistan.—APP highly welcomed by the area people who demanded for arrangement of such camps in future too.—APP LARKANA—Unknown armed Q U E T TA —Reconstruction international experts have been four month of stipulated time,” men gunned down two people work of Quaid-e-Azam Resi- providing their service in the Deputy Commissioner Ziarat, including a senior lawyer and Talaha Hussain Faisal said. It injured three others here on dency in Ziarat has started with reconstruction work.

“The provincial govern- may be mentioned that Saturday. The assailants also cost of Rs 67 million. Official sources said on Saturday that ment will bear the expendi- Quaid-e-Azam Residency opened fire at the vehicle of the restoration of the Quaid-e- tures on the reconstruction Ziarat was reduced to ash in a Jiaye Sindh Qaumi Mahaz Azam residency would take work of the residency and it bomb attacks by armed assail- (JSQM) leader who visited four months time, national and would be completed within ants few months back.—APP hospital to inquire after the P ESHAWA R —The Khyber health of injured people. AcPakhtunkhwa Home Departcording to police, unknown ment has decided to collect miscreants opened fire at the data from net cafes across the vehicle of senior lawyer Nazir province following a rise in Ahmed in Ratodero killing him incidents related to threat e- HYDERABAD—The speakers Sindh on Saturday at of medicines, vaccines. and another person on the LUMHS Jamshoro.

He said actions are of a pediatric symposium mails sent to people.

Dr Nima Abid from World needed to prevent and treat spot while three persons susAccording to official underlined the need of presources, the provincial depart- vention, treatment and man- Health Organization who was the prevalent diseases and tained wounds. The bodies ment has written to the KP In- agement of various life the chief guest of the sympo- illnesses that are the main and injured were shifted to spector General for collection threatening diseases among sium said that WHO/UNICEF causes of maternal and child hospital for medico-legal forof data of all net cafes operat- the children. More than one guidelines for Integrated mortality. The Medical malities.

Meanwhile, lawyers have ing within the province. Apart thousand delegates from all Management of Childhood Superintendant Liaquat Unifrom the use of technology by over the country attended Illness (IMCI) are offering versity Hospital Dr Khalid announced to observed militants, the KP government the 6th Pediatric Symposium simple and effective methods Shaikh informed that large strike across Sukkur and was also concerned about rise organised by the Department to prevent and manage the number of children below Larkana Division. Leader of in incidents of kidnapping and of Pediatrics Liaquat Univer- leading causes of serious ill- five years age die each year JSQM Maqsood Qureshi was extortion in which e-mails were sity of Medical and Health ness and mortality in young in less developed countries attacked when he was on his Sciences (LUMHS) children. Eminent consultant because of malnutrition, way to hospital to inquire afused by criminals.

Prof. Dr A.G. Billoo pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, ter the health of the people Jamshoro in collaboration The provincial government was of the view that with the World Health Orga- emphasised the need of con- measles and dengue hemor- injured in firing incident but HYDERABAD: Students participating in education national spelling bee 2013 at Sindh Museum. he remain unhurt.—INP collection of data and moni- nization, United Nation Chil- centration on reducing the rhagic fever.—APP burden of diseases which are dren Fund, Save the Children, toring of net cafes would prove helpful in streamlining Maternal, Neonatal and killing mothers and children the situation in the province. Child Health Programme by supporting the provision

Quaid-e-Azam residency reconstruction starts

Senior lawyer among two shot dead

KP decides to monitor net cafes’ data

Symposium on prevention of diseases

Cost-sharing sacrifices getting popular

OUR CORRESPONDENT DASKA—The trend of costsharing sacrifices gaining momentum in Daska, Sambrial, and Pasrur as the people preferring to participate in cost sharing scarifies due to rising prices of the sacrificial animals ahead of Eidul Azha. People were of the view that the prices of the sacrificial animals were very high as compared to last year’s prices. They said prices were still out of the reach of the common man, persuading them to join the cost sharing scarifies.

Several religious and NGOs have also announced their packages of cost-sharing sacrifices, saying that these packages have been offered for the welfare of the FAISALABAD: Police officials presenting the arrested terrorists and recovered weap- common man and terming it another salient silent service ons before media persons.

to the nation. Mostly the religious organizations have offered a package for cost-sharing sacrifice of the cow at Rs.10000 to 15000 per share with the expenditures of the butchers, who will slaughter these animals during the Eid days. Some daily waged people said that these packages were very lucrative, as they can afford this offer of joining the cost-sharing sacrifices in such skyrocketing price hike, which was putting almost all the things of out of the reach of the common man.

On the other hand, the traders have set their markets of the sacrificial animals on the grounds in congested residential and commercial areas of Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial, Bhopalwala, Uggoki, Satrah, Pasrur, Chawinda, Badiana and surrounding areas. The

traders claimed that there was almost 30 percent increase in the prices of the sacrificial animals as compared to their last years prices due to which it had become very hard for the common man to perform this religious obligation in such rising price hike. The price of a normal sized goat was between Rs.20000 to 30000, the price of a normal sized cow was between Rs. 60000 to 100,000 per cow.

While, the rates of the goat were also very high and the traders and middlemen were demanding their big prices. A swat based trader Abdul Ghani said that the number of the sacrificial animals was very short at this moment in the markets due to which their high prices were keeping away the people from these Bakra Markets.Another

middleman Kashif Iqbal from Mianwali said that the prices of the camel have also soured up to a great extant due to which the people were considering in the cost-sharing sacrifices of the cows, this situation was also badly affecting white-caller people.Several people were still hopeful that the prices of the sacrificial animals will again come down when the sacrificial animals from the other cities will come here in a big number.

The sacrificial animals merchants were of the view that the local administration has this time shifted to the outskirts of the urban areas in Daska, Sambrial, Pasrur and surrounding areas. Due to which, the people were reluctant to go to the Bakra Mandies located in out of the

city-areas.

Meanwhile APP reported from Faisalabad that the 15th All Pakistan Animal (goat, ram and bull) beauty show was held in Standard Ground Jinnah Colony. Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, MNA Dr. Nisar Ahmad Chaudhary, MPA Chaudhary Faqeer Hussain Dogar, MPA Hajji Khalid Saeed, former MPA Khawaja Muhammad Islam and others were also present on the occasion. The most beautiful animals across the country were brought to Jinnah Colony to participate in the beauty competition.

However, the bull of Chaudhary Owais Gujjar from Faisalabad got first position. This bull has total weight 1870 kilograms (kg).

POL, power rates hike withdrawal widely hailed

PTI for change in system Staff Reporter

P ESHAWAR —Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak has said that Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf had contested the last general election with an agenda of change and people had voted for the party for changing the existing system of injustice, corruption, mismanagement and bribery, and not for petty things like pavement of streets, installation of power transformer or posting and transferring government officials adding that once the existing system is replaced with a public friendly and service oriented all the problems of the people will automatically be solved. He said that from the very first day of its inception the present provincial government was working on one point agenda of changing the existing system as promised in the general elections. He expressed these views while addressing a meeting of the divisional and district presidents and general secretaries of PTI, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Peshawar. Besides provincial president PTI, and speaker provincial assembly Asad Qaiser, General Secretary and Provincial Minister, Shaukat Yousafzai and in charge PTIs Provincial Secretariat Ishfaq Paracha, the meeting was also attended by a number of provincial ministers and members of provincial assembly hailing from PTI. The meeting reviewed in detail the implementation status of the reform agenda of the provincial government, preparations ATTOCK: Teachers hold a demonstration on World Teachers Day. of the party for the upcoming local bodies elections and various organizational matters of the party. The Chief Minister urged upon the party office bearers and workers to be united and start preparation for the said election in an organized and effective manner. He also stressed the need to follow the party discipline with special reference to the local They said creating of Dis- hurdles in their promotion.

OUR CORRESPONDENTS body elections. trict Education Authority was Prominent among those who M ANDI B AHAUDDIN / meant to press the teachers addressed the meeting inGovt for all sectors improvement A TTOCK —On the call of who were already forced to cluded District President ISLAMABAD—Minister for Planning and Punjab Teachers Union teach- perform extra duties on the Teachers Union Bashir Development Ahsan Iqbal said that Pa- ers across the district ob- cost of students. They also Warriach, District President kistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) served Teachers day as ‘black criticized EDO education for SES Teachers Union Aziz government is taking steps to bring im- day’. In this respect protest his strict behaviour and pun- Gujjar and Muhammad provement in all the sectors including meeting was held at premises ishing them for showing poor Nawaz Shahid. After the energy. He said that important measures of District Education Office results by students in the ex- meeting the teachers held are being taken to ensure good gover- that was attended by hun- ams. They said it was govern- rally in front of press club to nance and merit in all the institutions. dreds of female and male ment that had forced the condemn to government for He said that the government is making teachers. Speakers in their teachers to come on roads by their anti education and anti ignoring teachers policies. plan to generate more energy, economy speeches termed government deliberately Meanwhile Hundered of besides promoting public-private part- education policies as anti edu- redressal of their grievances.

They demanded govern- teachers of Attock district nership sector. Talking to media, he said that a proper use of cation and anti teachers. They technology would bring results in the tax net system. He said teachers have been play- ment to end district educa- observing “Teachers Salam said that focus is also being given to boost exports. Reply- ing a pivotal role in promoting tion authority, awarding pun- Day” as black day took out ing to a question he said that political stability is the key education in the country for ishment to teachers for poor protest rally condemning the factor to achieve progress in the economic sector. He said better future of the nation but results of students in exams, announcement of DEA (Distt that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz government after com- the government was not seri- downsizing, tasking them on Education Authority) Punjab non-educational duties and Govt. President Teachers ing into power is making efforts to streamline the system in ous about their problems. all the sectors. He said that no proper attention was paid to expand energy sector in the past. Ahsan Iqbal said that present leadership is sincerely working to achieve progress and prosperity for the people of this country. Replying to another question regarding three months progress of the PML- N, he said that the present government has reduced the problem of load shedding, adding that further planning is being made to address the issue in a proper manner. He CHAMAN—One personnel of urday. According to police, driver lost his control over the said that the government had launched a crackdown against Khalid had a domestic dispute steering and the vehicle the power and gas pilferers. Ahsan Iqbal said that in past a law enforcement agency and with his 14-year-old nephew spinned after its breaks failed. two alleged kidnappers were lack of political stability and continuity of policies hindered Chaman: One personnel of Talib. Today, Khalid came his the economical growth adding that, if it not happened then killed while one law enforce- house and killed him with a a law enforcement agency and ment personnel was injured we would be second Japan. He said that we are under mansharp edged device and fled. two alleged kidnappers were aged country therefore it is need of the hour to move for- and four suspects arrested af- Police have registered a case killed while one law enforceter a shootout in Gulistan area ward with positive approach.—APP ment personnel was injured near Pak-Afghan border, on and started investigation.

Mirpurkhas: At least two and four suspects arrested afSaturday. Official sources said MPA deplores snatching of students’ valuables that law enforcement agencies people killed and five others ter a shootout in Gulistan area HYDERABAD —A leader of Muttahida launched search operation in were injured in road accident, near Pak-Afghan border, on Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the op- Gulistan area of Qila Abdulla that took place in Mirpurkhas Saturday. Official sources said position leader in Sindh Assembly Faisal district to trace the where- disrtict of Sindh, Private Tele- that law enforcement agencies Sabzwari has condemned the snatch- abouts of a kidnapped doctor vision reported on Saturday. launched search operation in According to detail, the inci- Gulistan area of Qila Abdulla ing of valuables and documents from and a NGO activist.

Rajanpur: A man killed dent occurred as the ill-fated district to trace the wherestudents in NED University bus by criminals at gunpoint in Nazimabad here. his nephew over domestic vehicle overturned on the road abouts of a kidnapped doctor In a statement, he deplored the incidents dispute at Aasni here on Sat- due to fast speeding.The van and a NGO activist.—APP of armed robbery on students buses.

He said that last month criminals robbed students of Karachi University near Banaras Bridge. Now, this incident happened with the students of NED University. They robbed students of mobile phones, cash, documents and other valuables. He demanded of the authorities concerned to take notice of such LARKANA—A mass awareincidents and arrest the culprits involved in the armed rob- ness walk was organised by bery. Meanwhile, it is reported that a court here gave two the Pakistan Heart Society M U LTA N —Police have ar- accused were identified as days’ time to the SSP Hyderabad, Fida Hussain Mastoi to (PHS) Larkana chapter in rested 62 criminals including Muhammad Javed, Akash show progress in robbery case in a session judge’s house. collaboration with the De- four proclaimed offenders Masih, Muhammad Jamshed, The SSP appeared before the Civil Judge and Judicial Mag- partment of Cardiology, and recovered illegal weap- Muhammad Asif, Sikandar istrate- IX Gohar Khan Gadahi. He apprised the court that CMC Larkana, in connec- ons and drugs during a cam- Hayat, Muhammad Aslam, the police were making all-out efforts to trace and arrest tion with World Heart Day. paign against criminals in the Umair Abbas, Muammad the suspected robbers. However, he informed the court The Walk was held with a city. According to press re- Saeed and Muhammad that no progress in that regard had been made so far. Ac- resolve to continue efforts lease here Saturday, police Tanvir. Police recovered three cording to the details contained in the FIR lodged at Bhitai for creation of a healthy arrested 29 drug pushers and pistols, three guns, a rifle and Nagar police station, three robbers broke in the residence society by checking the recovered 340-litre liquor, 40- 35 bottles of liquor from them. of judge Zameer Tunio in Citizen Colony in the early morn- burden of diseases includ- litre lehen, 290-gramme heroWhile, Rawalpindi police, ing of September 24 and held the family hostage as they ing the cardiovascular dis- ine and unearthed a distillery. in its continued drive against stole the goods worth over Rs 700,000 including cash, eases (CVDs).

Police arrested seven illegal anti-social elements, have laptop, mobile phones and other things. The District and Sindh Senior Minister for arm holders and recovered arrested 10 outlaws, includSession Judge Hyderabad Aijaz Khaskheli last week or- Education Nisar Ahmed five pistols, one repeater and ing three drunkards, besides dered the SSP Hyderabad to personally conduct inquiry Khuhro led the Walk along 11 bullets from them during recovering charras, liquor, ilinto the case and to report progress to the court on alter- with Vice Chancellor of campaign. Police also ar- legal arms and a stolen venate days.—APP SMBBMU Larkana Profes- rested four proclaimed of- hicle from their possession. sor Akbar Haider Soomro, fenders and eight gamblers According to a police Head of the Department of during crack down. spokesman, Saddar Baroni Tanawal to get district status soon Cardiology of CMC Larkana In Sargodha Police on police held Aamir on recovAbdul Khaliq Qureshi Professor Saeed Ahmed Saturday arrested nine per- ery of 200 grams charras, A BBOTTABAD —Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sangi, Principal CMC sons and recovered illegal while Rattaamral police (KP) Minister of Environment and For- Larkana Professor weapons and liquor from booked Asif for having eight est, Haji Ibrar Hussain has said that the Assadullah Mahar, Profes- them. Police source said the bottles of liquor.—APP advancement of a vast backward area sor Hakim Ali Abro.—APP of Tanawal is hidden to convert its status into new 7th district of Hazara. He apprised that within two or three months, the Chief Minister, KP will announce to create 7th Tanawal district of Hazara. He was addressing a two days seminar held on the theme of environment at Mansehra district. Similarly after the creation of a separate Tanawal district, at least 1200 youth would be benefited with multiple job opportunities. Beside, Divisional President, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), Ibrar Saeed Swati, KP Managing Director environment, Bashir Khan, and FCD Director, Gul Muhammad were also present on the occasion. Referring to the Tehsil Municipal Authorities (TMA) Mansehra, the minister said that this institution is being wasted the garbage on Tanawal area due to which cleanliness cannot be stabled, as such, the entire population was facing filthy environment that was being produced multiplicity of diseases to put major segment of the area in the room of ailments on each coming day. Meanwhile, the minister has warned the TMA to stop throwing filth, and the garbage around the jurisdictional territory of Tanawal area in future, adding that the TMA should select a substitute harmless location to waste the same. He said that he had committed promise in regard to creation of peace and tranquility in the area was fulfilled soon after the general elections were held, adding that various other commitments would also be completed soon. He said that saw machines have been closed down in all over the re- HYDERABAD: Polio workers stage a sit-in in favour of their demands outside Edo gion to cut and sale illicit timber has entirely been restricted. Health Office.

BASHIR AHMAD RAHMANI source, the victim encashed

he amount from a local bank

HAFIZABAD—The withdrawal and when he reached near the

Teachers term govt edu policies as anti teachers

Man kills nephew; 2 die in road mishap

3 killed in Gulistan operation

People join Heart Awareness Walk

81 outlaws arrested, weapons recovered

Union Afzal Lahm, President SSA Muhammad Hanif Khattak, Secretary General SSA Mohsin Abbas, President SES Khalil Ur Rehman Khattak, Secretary General Asif Kamran and others led the rally. A large number of teachers who had come from different areas of the district when reached Kutchery Chowk shouted slogans against the anti teachers policies of the govt, were demanding dignity and honour of the teacher.

The protesting teachers were holding different banners and placards inscribed with different slogans demanding the withdrawal of DEA and terming it unjust.

KP cabinet approves Local Bodies, Ehtesab Commission Acts P ESHAWAR—The provincial

of recent hike in POL and power rates on the orders of Supreme Court was widely hailed by the local labour leaders and housewives. The Housewives Associations, Power Looms Labour Union have said that it has been proved beyond any doubt that no politician was sincere with the masses and only the Supreme Court was the saviour of the Nation.

The office bearers of these unions have criticised the increase of two per cent GST on more than 40 items which, they said, would further unburden the consumers. They said that increase in the GST was unjustified and should be withdrawn to provide some relief to the common man. However, the filling station owners were still realising the last week rates and fleecing the bike owners and motorists. **** Four swindlers allegedly deprived Bashir Hussain of Mohallah Bahawalpura of cash amount of 32000/- from near Bus Stand Hafizabad.

According to the police

Bus Stand the accused offered him some intoxicant as a result of which he fell unconscious and the accused snatched away the cash. The police are investigating. **** As many as twenty members of an ‘Ode’ family in Husseke village fallen unconscious after taking stale food in their collective house last night. The Rescue-1122 shifted all the affected persons including Bilal, Muhammad Hussain, Muhammad Zafar, Zulfiqar, Waqar, Maryam, Shahnaz, Sughra, Gulnaz, Ayesha, Zafar and Azhar to the DHQ hospital where condition of five of them is stated to be critical. After receiving the information about the incident DCO Mansoor Qadir rushed to the hospital and directed the MS Dr. Irshad Ahmad Chattha to ensure speedy and effective medical treatment to the patients. According to Rescue source family members of Azhar Iqbal and Zulfiqar had taken stale food when they fell unconscious.

Rain forecast in upper parts of country I SLAMABAD—Met office on Saturday forecast scattered rainfall in Kashmir, Gujranwala, Lahore and Rawalpindi divisions during the next 24 hours, while hot and dry weather would prevail in most parts of the country. Mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, while mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most parts of Sindh province.

Cloudy weather is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan, with chances of rain and thunderstorm at isolated places.

According to the experts, seasonal low lies over Northwest Balochistan and its adjoining areas. A westerly

wave is affecting upper parts of the country and likely to move eastward during next 24hrs. Local meteorological department has forecast

mainly hot and dry weather for most parts of the country during the next 24 hours.

However rain-thunderstorm is expected at isolated places in Malakand, Hazara, Kohat, Rawalpindi Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.—APP

cabinet in its special meeting with Chief Minister, Pervez Khattak in chair approved two legislations titled as Local Government Act 2013 and Ehtesab Commission Act. “Both the legislation are very important and pertained to implementation of reforms agenda announced by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership at time of elections,” said provincial Minister for Information, Shah Farman while briefing the newsmen about the decision of the meeting.

Provincial Minister for Local Government, Inayatullah Khan also accompanied Information Minister in the press conference. Briefing the newsmen, Shah Farman said both the legislations are aimed at empowering the masses and ensuring transparency in governance.

The draft laws will be presented in the provincial assembly on Monday (Oct 7) for introduction, he added. Information Minister said PTI leadership had promised with the people that government functioning in KP will be made transparent and impartial and for that purpose the Ehtesab Commission will be established in the province.

Similarly, he added, the proposed Local Government Act will empower masses at gross root level much more than the law introduced in 2001. He said the draft laws will be tabled for the introduction of the legislatures and discussion would start AWARAN: A volunteer of an NGO distributing relief goods over it for approval.—APP to people in the earthquake-hit areas.

WASA corruption echoes in BA Q UETTA —The alleged em- lines were laid down in con- cluded construction of two bezzlement of billions of rupees of funds released in Pervez Musharraf regime for Quetta Greater Water Plan echoed in the session of the Balochistan Assembly while the Chief Minister ordered inquiry into it. The assembly session started with Speaker Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali in chair, here. The question hour was postponed as there were no questions and answers on the agenda of the assembly.

Pakistan Muslim LeagueQ, MPA, Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel tabled the resolution that reads that approval was made for construction of Mangi and Hulk Dames in the Great Water Supply Scheme to cater the need of Quetta. “Over 1500 kilometers long water pipe-

nection with the water scheme, however, it could not meet the total water requirement of the city,” the resolution said and demanded of the provincial government to start construction of Mangi and Hulk dames immediately.

Delivering his speech, the movers said that underground water reserves were being declined in the metropolis. “When an airplane was purchased for the Balochistan government in past, then the President of the country said that Quetta needed water and not an airplane,” Mandokhel recalled.

He said that then Gen. (retd) Pervez Musharraf regime released a grant of Rs 7.90 billion for execution of Quetta Greater Water Plan that in-

days and laying of water pipelines. He said that 1500 kilometers long water pipelines were laid down but the dames those were water sources for the scheme were not constructed so far.

Speaking in the house, Chief Minister, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that massive corruption was reported in Quetta Greater Water Plan. “On the floor of the house, I ordered inquiry through Anti-Corruption Department against the said officials of Water and Sanitation Authority into the use of sum released by then the federal government for water plan for the metropolis,” he said. He announced release of Rs 100 million for payment of salaries to 1,450 employees of Balochistan Development Authority.—APP

Another avalanche of dearness

MEDIA WATCH

Ban in haste

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HOUGH compulsions of the government are understandable but frequent increases in taxes and tariffs on consumer items and utility services have broken the back of the masses. The decision to raise GST by two percent on forty items may give some lever to the taxation authorities for achieving the revenue collection target for the current financial year, yet it is another avalanche of dearness that would bury more people under the poverty line.

There is no dispute that the government has to raise resources through taxes to meet its development and non-development expenditure but it has to keep in view the situation through which the people are passing. The raise in POL prices has already increased inflation and the imposition of two percent additional GST in addition to one percent that was levied in the budget is beyond one’s comprehensions.

Nowhere in the world such a heavy taxation is imposed on consumer items as governments’ are duty bound to provide relief to their people.

But it appears that it is the easiest way of collection of taxes instead of going after tens of thousands of big fish who are not paying their due taxes and even indulging in theft of electricity and gas. For the last many years there had been sermons by successive governments to nab these tax evaders but the people have seen nothing concrete.

Just one example would be suffice as to how the national exchequer is being denied of due taxes. Palatial houses and multi storey plazas have sprung all around in all the major cities but there is none to question their owners from where they have got the resources and whether they were paying taxes. Even taxes are not being paid on these houses and plazas, which have been rented out. We would very humbly suggest the concerned authorities to broaden the tax base, net the tax defaulters who spend huge amounts on pleasure visits abroad but not ready to pay their due taxes. We have no doubt and it is consensus among the economists that more than a trillion rupees of taxes are being evaded by the mighty of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and if the authorities are able to recover the dues, there would be no need to impose additional GST that badly hurts the poor masses.

Silver lining in clouds of depression W

HILE on the whole pessimism is being witnessed in the country over the state of economy but in our view this is a temporary phenomenon. A silver lining in the clouds of depression is that some prominent businessmen are watching the situation for their long term investment as Pakistan has great potential if it was able to overcome the present day difficulties of energy crisis and law & order situation.

We say so because a Lebanese business magnate Fouad Makhzoumi, Chairman and CEO of “Future Group” who has made investments in many countries is visiting Pakistan to explore opportunities, which is a manifestation that big entrepreneurs are waiting in the wings and wish to invest in the country. The visit of Mr Fouad Makhzoumi could be considered as a first drop of rain because entrepreneurs have futuristic vision and they know where and when to invest. There is cheap labour force and in addition to a market of 180 million people, the country is at the confluence of Gulf, South Asian and Central Asian countries. Items manufactured in Pakistan could be exported to these countries at a cheaper cost and without any restrictions whereas the investment opportunities in the West have almost exhausted. Finance Minister Mr Ishaq Dar who is a well-known personality in the world investment market is trying to get Pakistan’s share, is in the forefront to encourage and facilitate such high profile visitors. We are certain that by these visits, the international investors would see for themselves that the situation was not as alarming as being depicted by the international media and they would consider investing in different sectors of the economy. What is needed is to remove the bottlenecks and extend a helping hand to the potential investors, as increased investment in the economy is the cure of most of the ills in Pakistan.

Punjab’s Right to Information Ordinance I

N line with his agenda to ensure transparency and good governance, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has fulfilled yet another commitment to the people and Right to Information Ordinance (RTI) has been promulgated in the Province. During election campaign, Mian Shahbaz Sharif had repeatedly challenged his opponents to prove even a penny of misappropriation in the Mega projects that he implemented in Punjab at a great speed and with vision at the future.

World over the RTI is a buzz word and it would open up secrecy doors of the government to the people for the first time in history. The law has given the constitutionally granted basic right to people to know what the government and its functionaries do. Earlier everything of the government was a secret. Now except for real secrets, everything else is open to public scrutiny. The law was important, as it would also lead to perfect record keeping by every government department. Now with the enforcement of the RTI ordinance, every department would be obliged to provide the requested information within 14 days and they would also be required to publish their annual reports by the end of August every year. However in case of secret information, the law also authorizes a public information officer to refuse an application for access to information where disclosure of the information shall or is likely to cause harm to national defence or security, public order or international relations of Pakistan. However comprehensive training of all the departments would be required so that the officers could understand the demands of the ordinance and the law is fully operationalzed. We hope that soon the federal government and other provinces would also follow the suit as that would bring an end to all sorts of speculations about wrong doings in government departments.

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Real culprits behind attack on Peshawar Church Sudan and returned after Taliban took Gen Mirza Aslam Beg control of Afghanistan in 1996. Al Email: friendsfoundation @live.co.uk Qaeda did not take part in the armed struggle during the HE attack on All Saints Afghan Jihad and remained focused Church in Peshawar was part on development works. The US and of ‘Al Qaeda’s revenge.’ On Saudi government provided US$ the same day the Nairobi’s shop- 400 million a year to Al Qaeda for ping mall in Kenya was targeted. this purpose.

After 9/11, the US has almost Peshawar Church attackers were not the TTP’s guys but they be- eliminated Al Qaeda and according longed to Al Qaeda’s Jindul Hafza to the CIA, ‘there remained only Group which has joined hands with 150 of them in Afghanistan, PakiAl-Shabab of Somalia and claimed stan and some other countries,’ who responsibility for Nairobi attack. have recently killed pastors and Two suicide bombers attacked Christians in Syria and Nigeria.

Peshawar Church, whereas in Such attacks could also be mounted Nairobi, 7-8 armed men, took part in Europe and in the US. This is a in the attack, shouting that “We are new wave of terror which could not here to take revenge for the killing be prevented despite strong blows of Somalian Muslims by the to Al Qaeda over the years. In fact, Kenyan and Ethiopian Christian like the Star Fish, Al Qaeda has troops.” These incidents provide grown new heads and wings, of a clear linkage between Peshawar heterogeneous group of terrorists. and Nairobi carnages and Ayman- “Al Qaeda is bigger now than it al-Zawahri’s recent statement that ever has been … Besides the Al “Muslim World continues to suffer Qaeda core” - White House report as a consequence of attacks by the .The world therefore, needs to have non-Muslims, therefore Al Qaeda a new strategy and a well defined will carry out world-wide ven- course of action to face this challenge. geance.”

Pakistan must identify the real The Al Qaeda of 1980s is not the same as it is now. It was part culprits behind such attacks, than of the Islamic resistance which de- being reticent, that “achieving APC feated Soviets in Afghanistan. The objectives now was difficult.” In Islamic resistance was estimated fact, the prospects for peace proat sixty thousand mujahedeen cess are greater now, because the drawn from seventy countries of appeal made by the Ulema, has the world, and about forty thou- shown very positive response from sand came from Pakistan alone. all concerned. The drone attack in Whereas, Al Qaeda’s total strength South Waziristan are an impediwas about two-and-a-half thou- ment to negotiations because, the sand. In 1992, Al Qaeda moved to objective of US is to keep Pakistan

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embroiled in fighting with the tribals, forcing deployment of about hundred thousand troops on Afghan borders, which is not in conformity with Quaid-i-Azam’s vision, that

Pakistan must identify the real culprits behind such attacks, than being reticent, that “achieving APC objectives now was difficult.” In fact, the prospects for peace process are greater now, because the appeal made by the Ulema, has shown very positive response from all concerned.

The drone attack in South Waziristan are an impediment to negotiations because, the objective of US is to keep Pakistan embroiled in fighting with the tribals. “the responsibility of guarding the north-western borders of Pakistan lay with the tribals of the area.” True to Quaid’s expectations, they have successfully defended this border, till we hit them.

Peace negotiations with Taliban are a must. In fact there should be a two pronged approach to negotiations: open dialogue as well as secret contacts. In the process, Pakistan needs to be alert as there are enemies, who want to derail the process. There are several splinter group of TTP and the remnants of the banned organizations, who draw their support and sustenance from their foreign pay masters, and are ever ready to conduct such dastardly attack to sabotage the peace process.

The US wants India as the dominant player in the region from Afghanistan to Bangladesh, while there is a visible shift in their policy in the South Asian region, to achieve their objectives by exploiting internal differences of the Muslims, as it has done to change the government in Egypt and the induced conflict between the Shias and Sunnis in Syria. Unfortunately such exploitable fault lines exist within Pakistan, such as secular versus the religious, the sectarian divide, and the Deobandi-Brelvi divide within the Sunni sect of Pakistan, which causes great vulnerability. In fact we ourselves are to be blamed for creating such absurdities within, which can be exploited by fanning these differences as it was done in Egypt by winning over General Al Sissi’s loyalty, in support of the secularists. We also have amongst us the Mir Jafars and Mir Qasims, ready to collude with our enemies to weaken our resolve.

Do we know such elements amongst us, threatening our national security interests?

— The writer is former COAS.

Cultural impunity in this country the bullets coming out of their larynx in the same manner. is reminded of the La Dr Zafar Altaf One Figaro and the cynical attitude Email:dr_altaf@hotmail.com that drove eventually the French Revolution of 1793.

Conditions are going to be VERY one is above the law that way. When I took a delegation in this country. A sweeping to France and when we were in Paris statement you could say but I took the delegation to where the then look at the evidence and try old Bastille was. There was now and collate this to the actual hap- only a plague as the development of penings in this country; the one Paris had removed the old place page theory and the one table theory where now a shopping area was deis no longer valid. The politicians veloped. I wanted the group to unare hard at it in trying to solve the derstand the historical significance major issues in the country through of the place. Dumb as they were they all party discussions. Well what epitomized the current cultural imcame out of it. For a very simple rea- punity of the nation.

The election commission has son all of them were agreed as to what had to be done but no one re- stated that the elected representatives ally knew how to do it, when to do it of the people have not delivered their and where to do it. The how, when asset statements. Why should they. and where taught to us in the pri- Did the election commission ever try mary schools was lost to our power- and analyze the situation and see ful public representatives. The result which ones had assets more than bedlam. The TTB have answered in their known incomes. I looked at no uncertain terms that power does these assets as I got a few papers not necessarily lie in the uniform, from some where. I understand it is formal personal but if the social a massive document and full of system of a country goes haywire many interesting statements. One thing is for sure that money launthen it can go to splinter groups.

Despite one page and one table dering in the nation is done by any there is paralysis amongst the policy one that has substantial financial remakers. Not one of them has raised sources. But what about prize bonds a new issue and the great new find as a means to hide money that is not in the energy sector has disap- from any known source. How pray pointed me for he seems to be more could one explain away Rupees three loyal then the king himself. Give crores and loan from a cosin [cousinevery one a great title and let him this is the spelling by one who these dribble his loyal self and his humble days is a minister]. Socratic thought. self to the powers that be. Impunity The election commission secretariat has practically touched every one. did not bother to find out. Then why It has touched the media as well are they demanding the present lot who now have assumed the role of to give their asset statement. And the great intellectuals. They to me how does one find out whether they are a great entertainment. The re- have actually stated what they have. peat is like the repeater rifle with What about benamis.

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The cultural impunity is not only in our political beings but also in our everyday life. The patawari’s transfer is cone by the CM of the province. God help that that cross the path of the power structure and that explains away the missing person’s case. Those in power do not see it as a trust and the seriousness of that trust. When one spoke out against the deforms [not reforms] of Musharaff one of the participants warned the General of what the police would undergo. He was so conceited that there was no way that he would give in to reason and reasonable situations. If any one has to be held accountable it is Naqvi of the National Bureau of Reform.

Those that were disgruntled were brought in to play stooge to Gen. Naqvi. This they did.

These days the patwaris rate of graft is Rupees one lakh per acre for documentation. These patwaris have their annual conference in Serena and they live in posh houses because of the graft that they have taken.

There living standards are no less than any royals.

The police and loom carefully at the naka stands. You will see m/ cycles and the Suzuki cars and then higher makes and over a period of time these collections have been made. I hold a lot of brief for the police man for the simple reason that we pay him pittance for the work that he does. No wonder than that he helps himself. The British legacy has not been done away. We still hold on to what they had put in place. The reason is that we have not thought through what are the probabilities of new polices that an independent government has to see through. Take the case of land acquisition of 1894 one of the main

stays of becoming rich in Pakistan these days. Land grabbers are everywhere. Debate is raging in our neighboring country on all kinds of tyrannical powers that the power structure is allowing itself.

That luxury is no longer there as politicians and others are made to answer for their misdemeanors.

Even the army generals are held to account because no one is above the law. Pakistan seems to have forgotten that legislation is a primary function of the elected representatives. The philosophical underpinnings are simple-the representatives are able to understand the requirements of the public at large and they can then seek the powers of the parliament to enforce the new requirements. We have had minimal legislation through the assemblies and the rule of ordinance is prevalent. Ordinances are generally issued when assemblies are not in power but this facility has been misused in our country by the all powerful executive and or whenever something surreptitious has to take place.

Our cultural impunity has a vast range for it may go from breaking simple requirements to earth shattering efforts. Those that are doers must sometime fall foul of the objective and it is then that the enemies go for the doers and the decision makers. What is the way out? The attitude and values of a country determine its culture.

That is a long haul but that does not mean that Pakistan must forget about it. The intentions of the few determine the implementations for the many. Take it now and save a lot of social disharmony.

— The writer is a retired Federal Secretary.

T’S a good thing that the Sindh provincial government in Paki stan has decided to ban instant messaging and call networks like Skype, Viber and Tango for three months to test the waters instead of imposing a permanent embargo.

It could then have become a case of banning in haste and repenting in leisure. The government hopes the ban will disable terror and criminal groups from using the communication tools to plot their operations effectively. However, such bans hardly ever have the desired effect. It would be the general public who would bear the brunt of the prohibition while those it targets will invariably find means to circumvent it.

Blocking communications means, especially the ones that cost little or nothing, is never a good idea. There have been times when Pakistan has temporarily banned mobile phones to prevent terrorist attacks during special occasions. In this age of information and communications technology, when smartphones are used for a host of things, from checking in at airports to paying bills and accessing government services, a ban on such devices would mean Pakistan falling behind while the rest of the world evolves into a smarter society and economy. Also, communication and information dissemination tools are now considered an integral part of democracy and human rights. As power gets decentralized from dictatorships to elected parliamentary governments, the force of public opinion will grow and there will come a day when the authorities will not be able to impose bans without convincing the people that they are necessary. There are unhappy examples in the South Asian neighbourhood. When Nepal’s king Gyanendra tried to step outside his constitutional powers and seize absolute power with the help of an army-aided bloodless coup, the royal regime shut down all phone lines. But the move backfired, triggering worldwide condemnation and a disobedience movement that led to the abolition of monarchy.

In Bhutan, the government did a similar thing during elections and the royal wedding, creating disquiet about a country that calls itself a Shangri-la. The fight on terrorism would be effective only if the government cleaned up its own act first.

There have been allegations of terrorists having patrons in high places and the government not moving fast enough or with sufficient seriousness to control them, be it in cracking down on militant groups or beginning peace talks. Jockeying for power, survival and worldly gains have remained the preoccupation of the political parties. Unless this mindset changes, bans will serve very little purpose.

— Khaleej Times

*****

Keep pressure on Myanmar

T

HERE is a pattern develop ing in Myanmar: Muslims are being targeted consistently, becoming victims of widespread ethnic tensions that have gripped the country — thanks to violence unleashed upon them by Buddhists. The first wave of violence saw the Rohingya Muslims, a minority, being singled out and now the Kamans, another Muslim group, are feeling the after-effects of unnecessary oppression. The attacks, according to international observers, are unprovoked. This is a serious observation and sees Myanmar’s supposed attempt at carrying out political and economic reforms, since military rule ended in 2011, being eclipsed by such despicable acts.

The authorities must be seen to be willing to end this wave of oppression by enacting tough and conclusive measures against those who are suspect. It does not help the President Thein Sein’s credibility if speculation that his own security forces are also behind this cycle of violence is true. The international community must keep the pressure on Myanmar. The officials must be held accountable, for this is no ordinary trend of communal violence. A more sinister, devious plot must not be allowed to play itself out at the expense of a group whose numbers are marginal. — Gulf News A stitch in time saves nine.

—Proverb

Mr Prime Minister..!

Sakhi Sarwar Email:andrewsjone@gmail.com

G

ENERAL Elections — 2013, held, under the estab lished democratic norms and dispensations, on 11th May, were reflective of the will and aspirations of the people of Pakistan who elected the Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by Mian Nawaz Sharif and rejected the other parties including the PPP, ANP, MQM, JI, JUI etc. etc. just to name a few.

It is only the PML(N) which was mandated by the people to lead the nation and rule the country, in tune with their declared manifesto, and prove their commitment to the nation and the country by upholding the purposes of the Constitution and other laws of the land. The Constitution recognized the success of the PML(N) and hence the office of the Prime Minister went to its Parliamentary leader, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who has the unique honour to hold this office for the third time.

But it is unfortunate that neither the PML(N), nor its leader – the honourable Prime Minister – are sure and confident that now they are at the helm of affairs to steer the country forward and to put a solace to the bleeding wounds of the nation, without any need or obligation to share the power and right to rule with the rejected political parties.

It is the beauty of democracy that the party which enjoys the support of the majority of the masses is mandated to rule and the minority groups are there to have an eye on the working of the government in office, stop it from any deviation from the Constitution and the law, safeguard the interests, welfare and well-being of the people and play a positive constructive role to upkeep the sovereignty of the state.

There is no concept of joining together all the elected and rejected ones to come on the same page before any action on nation building is taken.

If all the winners and losers in the eyes of the masses come together against the aspirations of the people reflected in the elections, it gives way to dictatorship of a few – a kind of aristocracy – concentration of power in the hands of a few against the masses. It is only the monarchies, one-man rules and dictatorships where only one shade of public opinion is imposed on the system. In a democratic dispensation, consensus is only on the basis principles of the Constitution and allegiance to law.

Mr. Prime Minister, you must be aware that that the people of Paki-

stan have reposed their confidence on you, attached some expectations and high hopes on you and thus given you the mandate, so go ahead, without compromises and apprehensions. I also assure you that now you, and only you, are our Prime Minister; we have rejected others; so don’t go to these rejected elements; don’t share peoples trust and mandate with those who have been rejected by us; let them do their democratic duty and wait passionately for at least five years.

Your inclination towards them is violation of the will of the people. Be brave take bold decisions, don’t wait for consensus, take the lead and undertake the projects which you think are in the overall national interest.

Incidence of indecision and delays in action amounts to inefficiency which the nation doesn’t expect from their chosen Prime Minister, who has a track record of taking bold decisions like the one in 1998 when you made Pakistan impregnable by making it a nuclear power, despite opposition from within and outside Pakistan, and brought stability in the region.

Mr. Prime Minister, win the hearts and minds of the people. Protect them against hunger and fear – provide them food and security.

Come what may, the prices of food items like flour, rice, sugar and cooking oil should remain stable and under no circumstances be allowed to rise; review and re-adjust your priorities in spending, make adjustments in expenditure and remain within national resources – no foreign borrowing, no dictation from IMF to strangulate your masses.

Mr. Prime Minister, to save money and to hold the depleting economy, minimize the concept of tours of public office holders and officials. Touring within or outside the country may be allowed in very exceptional and indispensible situations where TA (Travelling Allowance) may be allowed but the concept of DA(Daily Allowance) and late sitting charges should be abolished, at least for 2-3 years or till our economy comes back on track. No DA, no late sitting and no special allowances be allowed to the high / low officials, MPs, Judges and public office holders. This will save a lot of money to retire the existing debt; simplify the tax system, procedure, return form and make it people friendly; make the people believe that their tax money is not pilfridged, it is used on the improvement of development infrastructure like repair and maintenance of their roads, sewerage system, drinking water portfolio and polite behavior of those who are employed on their tax money. Mr. Prime Minister, win the hearts and minds of

the people and make them a unified whole, give them self esteem, a national honour and pride to be Pakistanis, as we exhibited in the 1965 war and some other events of turmoil in the past; protect the sovereignty of the state as a dignified nation; shoot down the drones if they violate our territorial limits and sacred boundaries; any leader or so-called public opinion holder – politician or otherwise –who is not 100 % agreeable on the sovereignty of the country, deserves no sympathies / what to talk of respect or honour; Give the Armed Forces, Police and security agencies to deal with the external and internal affairs, in their own professional manner, without any political interference or exigencies.

Mr. Prime Minister, corruption is a mindset – it needs to be addressed by providing role models in the shape of your good self, your close associates, your colleagues in power, your Ministers and your senior bureaucrats and functionalities. Spare no corrupt elements. Prosecute them all indiscriminately and ruthlessly. Start from the political leaders – don’t hesitate even from going extra-judicial. You will be coming upto the aspirations of people. Create an atmosphere of awe and ruthless prosecution for the criminals and their mentors and love and affinity for the masses. Uproot this menace start from services like public outfits dealing with provision and billing of electricity, gas, food, provisions, water supplies sanitation and sewerage, health, education, agriculture, land management etc. etc.

Mr. Prime Minister, we are already going to collapse. Imagine what happens if you allow Pakistan Air Force to strike down a couple of drones, if you allow the Armed Forces to respond to any violation of the sacred borders of Pakistan with corresponding force, if you allow the Police to eliminate the criminals and if you give a leadership call to every citizen of Pakistan to tear off and eliminate the black-sheep in the law enforcing agencies who are in any way, involved in criminal activities.

Mr. Prime Minister, don’t be afraid, there will be no anarchy, the nation is fed up with daily killings, daily increases in the prices of petrol, gas, electricity, food items; they are already dead, any foreign aggression or internal strife shall make no difference to them. So Mr. Prime Minister, enough is enough; take bold and abnormal decisions in these abnormal conditions. Believe me, we are a dead nation, we are ready to sell our souls to anybody for peace, a piece of bread and for a word of respect. The nation has given you a mandate and expects desperate decisions from you; don’t

look towards the rejected politicians; they have ruined the country, demoralized the nation to the extent that it doesn’t bother who is there to prosecute it.Please stand on your feet, your stature; take the destiny – good or bad – of the nation in your own hands and take bold decisions. There is no room for indecisiveness; procrastination of time is the worst element crept into our ranks. We don’t mind wasting a whole day in a queue to get CNG, we don’t react on the mental agony we feel at every – manned or unmanned – police check-post, we are prepared to stand for hours in hot sun and rain at a bank window to pay our utility bills; we are dead, we have gone worthless, we shall not stand by you in an hour of turmoil for you. If you want us to stand by you, don’t humiliate us, don’t shatter our self respect and national pride of being Pakistanis, don’t squeeze our blood and life through unimaginable prices of food items, electricity, transport; we are unable to complain even as there is no body to listen to us. We are pigmies and are ready to pocket any insult or disgrace. This state of mind of the nation won’t help you Mr. Prime Minister. Prepare yourself for a decisive moment when we, your lovers, will be seen no where around.

Mr. Prime Minister allow us to live; we want to live; give us new life; we’ll survive, we have a lot of talent and potential which has gone down the demoralization and slavish attributes. Please help us; we have chosen you to be our mentor; give us food, security, honour, a dignified life, a sovereign exposure; we’ll worship you and if at all you lose, you will not lose alone, the entire nation will go down to nothingness with you, because we banked upon you and you left us alone at the mercy of IMF, price hike, terrorists, corrupt politician, arrogant managers and anti-state forces. We know that your comrades - Zardaris, Rehman Maliks, Maulanas, Sardars, Altafs, Gillanis, Rajas etc. ec. have their resorts in foreign lands where they can live as second rate citizens – because they are used to it. Help us, help us survive, Mr. Prime Minister, we are your real strength; we have very willingly given you the mandate to take us out of the process of slow death, Democle’s sword and death by inches, as the decision of the history is not far off. Save us, save yourself; save our children, save your posterity – we are all linked together, Mr. Prime Minister.

— The writer is a freelance columnist.

Views From Abroad

Obama’s diplomatic opportunity David Ignatius

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RESIDENT Obama is ap proaching one of those mo ments when a big turn in foreign policy is possible. People can debate whether it’s the equivalent of the opening to China or the end of the Cold War, but there’s no doubt that this is a time of opportunity — and that, as the old English proverb put it, “there’s many a slip twixt cup and lip.”

What was unthinkable only a few months ago with Iran and Syria now appears to be in motion. On Iran, Obama has talked directly with President Hassan Rouhani about quickly negotiating a deal to limit the Iranian nuclear program. On Syria, the United States and Russia have agreed on a UN plan to destroy President Bashar al-Assad’s stockpile of chemical weapons.

Because this diplomacy engages countries that have been our adversaries, some observers see signs of American weakness or even capitulation. They’re mistaken. The United States will be stronger if it can create a new framework for security in the Middle East that involves Iran and defuses the Sunni-Shiite sectarian conflict threatening the region. But

change frightens people, especially when it’s being pushed by a president who is perceived as weak at home and abroad.

Tactical finesse matters in big strategic moments like this. That’s one lesson I take from the way President Richard Nixon (with Henry Kissinger) shaped the opening to China in the early 1970s and Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush (with Brent Scowcroft and James Baker) managed the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s.

They made it look easy to alter policies and alignments that had been in place for generations.

One thing the Nixon and ReaganBush teams did well was manage communications: The opening to China was accompanied by regular dialogue with the Soviet Union, the nation most affected by the shift in US policy. The endgame with the Soviets required frequent contact with US allies in Europe, who were frightened both by Reagan’s hawkish challenge to Moscow and Bush’s push to unify Germany. US diplomats were on airplanes nearly every week to reassure allies.

To get around the corner with Iran, Obama will need a deal that verifies Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s pledge not to build a bomb — and prevents any quick

breakout capability. Iran will have to cap its level of uranium enrichment (at, say, 5 percent) and its stockpile of enriched material. These numbers must be low enough that Iran would need months to dash for a bomb — long enough that the United States and Israel would have strategic warning. In exchange, the West would accept Iran’s right, in principle, to enrich.

The elements of a workable Iran deal are obvious to all. What’s crucial is that, moving forward, the United States communicate frequently — not just with its negotiating partners in the “P5+1” group (Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany) but also with neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, as well as Israel. Indeed, Obama should invite regional leaders to Camp David this fall to explore new security structures for the Gulf.

Regional coordination may be even more important with Syria. The Saudis and Qataris are still pumping money into a Syrian opposition that’s dominated by jihadists. This is like filling a balloon with poison: Foreign fighters are rushing to Syria to join the well- financed jihad, including nearly 100 British Muslims, more than 130 French, more than 100 Aus-

tralians and as many as 800 Saudis.

This is truly dangerous.

The path toward a more stable Syria passes through Geneva, with the negotiations for political transition being discussed now by the United States and Russia. If all parties (including Iran) can agree that Assad will not run again when his term concludes next year, the Syrian nightmare could begin to end.

The moderate Syrian opposition needs to show that, in a post-Assad Syria, it could help maintain state institutions. A US official needs to coordinate the overt and covert strands of policy and drive it toward Geneva.

Leaving this delicate process to Saudi Arabia and Qatar and their chequebook jihad would be nuts.

Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry must communicate that the United States is reaching an inflection point: In the world that’s ahead, Iran must temper its revolutionary dreams of 1979, just as Saudi Arabia must stop hyper-ventilating about the “Shiite crescent.”

What’s around the corner is a new regional framework that accommodates the security needs of Iranians, Saudis, Israelis, Russians and Americans. It’s a truly big deal, but it will require constant, skilful diplomatic guidance.

— Courtesy: The Washington Post

The best of the worst..!

A

S our newspapers are filled with more and more politi cians waiting to be heard, after all it’s election time soon, here are a few witty words on politics and the politician: Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other. Oscar Ameringer, “the Mark

Twain of American Socialism.” I offered my opponents a deal: “if they stop telling lies about me, I will stop telling the truth about them”. Adlai Stevenson, campaign speech, 1952. A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country! Texas Guinan. 19th century American businessman I have come to conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to politicians. Charles de Gaulle, French general & politician Instead of giving a politician keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.

Doug Larson (English middledistance runner who won gold medals at the 1924 Olympic Games in

Paris, 1902-1981). We hang petty thieves and appoint the bigger thieves to public office. Aesop, Greek slave & fable author. Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. Plato, ancient Greek Philosopher Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.

Nikita Khrushchev, Russian Soviet politician. When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become PM; I’m beginning to believe it.

Quoted in ‘Clarence Darrow for the Defense’ by Irving Stone. Politicians are people who, when they see light

at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel. John Quinton, American actor/writer What happens if a politician drowns in a river? That is pollution.

What happens if all of them drown?

That is a solution ....!!! But despite all these words we need these eminent men and women, they are the ones who are the pillars of democracy: Sounds strange isn’t it? The very ones we lampoon and laugh about are the ones who keep the fires of democracy going! Our job is to choose the best of the worst! Theirs, to look the best of the worst..!

—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

Voice of the People Is this the way to revive economy?

ALI ASHRAF KHAN

A

fter the bombshell announcement of electricity price rise of up to 30% and the country-wide outcry about it now the government has promised to withdraw the rise. This is another example how haphazardly the government is doing their work: these things should have been coordinated with the Prime Minister so that not one member of the government does a thing which the other members advise to undo the next day. The funny part of the story is that Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rasheed said the bitter pill of power tariff increase will have to be swallowed to revive the ailing economy. Well, what does he know about how higher electricity prices will revive the economy? It rather will destroy more companies that will not be able to produce and sell on competitive prices in the market given the high energy costs and result in increase in un-employment. That negates his own party election promises made with the unemployed youth to create more jobs to absorb them but now this stance goes to prove their aim was to come into power only, which they have achieved. There seems to be complete chaos in the government with the right hand not knowing what the left is doing and this does not augur well for economy regardless what the electricity price is. And by the way, raising prices is the easiest way; where are efforts to produce cheaper energy, to reduce losses and to fight corruption? We witnessed a dollar bonanza launched by State Bank that suddenly devalued rupee by five rupees reportedly in a buying spree of $ 50 million that raised the cost of essential items of life. Now Governor State Bank has stunned the nation by saying that $ 25 million are smuggled out of country on a daily basis. My simple observation is where from this currency notes are coming, when our reserves are reported to be on minimum level for quite some time and to pay IMF installment State Bank had resorted to creating a stir in the currency market. What has State Bank been doing posing to be sleeping, I am not sure but I am confident that State Bank controllers in reality have some role in this horrific bonanza.

—Karachi

Peace efforts & Indian leaders GULDAR ALI KHAN WAZIR Pakistan and India’s premiers met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and discussed various issues including Kashmir, Sir Creek, terrorism and counter terrorism measures, tension on the LoC, alleged Indian interference in the restive Province, Balochistan etc. The two leaders agreed to work together for taking some tangible measures to develop trust and de-escalate flareup between the two countries which has plunged the region into uncertainty and chaos. They also reaffirmed their firm resolve to settle Kashmir imbroglio and all other issues through substantive bilateral engagements and in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.

The meeting was, no doubt, of much significance in the backdrop of the mounting escalation in the region and it was given much publicity by some media channels but the pre-summit meeting’s statements attributed to Manmohan Singh and some other Indian fanatic leaders calling Pakistan an ‘epicentre of terrorism and fanaticism’ has undermined its importance and may not be helpful in achieving the desired objectives.

Minds of Indian leaders are shrouded in doubts and suspicions regarding Pakistan saying that it is a ‘sanctuary’ for religious outfits and any ache or pain caused to any Indian civilian on his soil is directly attributed to the Pakistani secret agencies. But it has failed to explain to the world why the worst ever atrocities are being perpetrated on the innocent Kashmiris by its sanguinary forces in the occupied Kashmir and how mercilessly they are subjected to torture and humiliation.

Allegations and counter allegations spark antagonism and animosity instead of diffusing it. Process of productive and pragmatic dialogue wards off trust deficit and promote mutual understanding for reaching any consensus on controversial questions. At a time when the two countries are heading towards a dialogue process to exchange views and suggest any suitable solution to the problems existing between them, an irresponsible statement may adds fuel to fire instead of cooling down the temperature.

My request to both the neighbouring states is to shun differences, forget the checkered past and hold meaningful dialogue on all key issues so that regional peace, prosperity and stability could be restored. Acrimonious environment hampers pace of development which may badly suffer economic life in the region.

—Via email

Inequitable load shedding by KESC SRH HASHMI I understand for deciding load shedding hours, the KESC has divided the city into various categories like with good, moderate and worst payment records, and hence the respective areas get no, minimum, moderate or maximum load shedding accordingly. While this classification may appear reasonable to KESC, it becomes totally unfair when a locality with excellent payment record is lumped with another with the worst payment recorded and thus penalized.

Since the collection of bills and disconnection of power in case of default is the responsibility of the KESC, there is no reason why consumers who pay their bills regularly should be penalized for the default of others over which they have no control and for which

they hold no responsibility. To be specific, residents of sector 18 and the near-about, in KDA scheme 33, Gulzar-e Hijree, Karachi alongwith various housing societies like PCSIR, State Bank, Karachi University Employees, Gwalior etc, experienced no load shedding over two years back, which means they were good payers.

But then the residents of these localities experienced five hours a day load-shedding in three spells, with no load shedding on Sundays, but then the hours started increasing and now the areas get about three hours load shedding at a time, three times a day, adding up to total nine hours load shedding a day, with no relief even on Sundays. At the same time, I understand there are localities in Karachi which are subjected to no load shedding. I know in the present circumstances, load shedding cannot be avoided but it should be apportioned over different localities equitably instead of the present policy of favouring some and strangulating others, for no fault of theirs.

—Karachi

New DG CAA MUKHTAR AHMED Electronic media on 02 Oct 2013 gave breaking news about appointing new DG Civil Aviation Authority. This is first time in the history of Pakistan and civil aviation authority that a senior, seasoned, thoroughly professional officer belonging to CAA cadre shall be taking over as DG CAA. This decision has been hailed by all the employees of CAA as it will help to recapture the lost glory of CAA. This decision has been taken in the light of Supreme Court’s decision in Islamabad case where it was mentioned that new DG CAA be posted in a transparent manner. Another good news as reported in the section of press is that Legan construction company has returned Rs 1.5 billion to CAA as per directions issued by the apex court. This is first case in the history of CAA that contractor has returned the money.

Aviation Division now should hold an inquiry who paid such huge amount to the contractor and they all should be brought to justice as that is the only way to protect the interest of the organization and poor people’s tax money —Karachi

Peshawar Church blast M FAZAL ELAHI Hell was let loose when suicide bomb attacks viciously killed more than 85 people and injured over 145 at a church service in Peshawar on Sunday, September 22, 2013. Unambiguously, this in one of the deadliest attacks on the minority Christians’ community in the country. Earlier, and even now, Mosques and Imambargahs continue to become the targets of the heartless terrorists. According to an eye witness two suicide bombers made their way in to the ‘All Saints Church’ situated in Kohati Gate area of Peshawar and detonated their explosive jackets. The tragic incident took place at around 11:45am, at the conclusion of a service, when hundreds of worshipers were coming out towards the front lawn of the church to have a meal laid out for them on the occasion. The intensity of the blast could be gauged from the impact it made not only at the venue of the attack but also in areas situated in close proximity to it. Blood and body parts of those who were blown up in the blast lay widely scattered in and around the vicinity of the church.

According to media reports, the Taliban movement claimed responsibility, saying it had set up a new faction, Junood ul-Hifsa, to kill for-

eigners to avenge US drone strikes on Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives. The group that claimed responsibility for inhuman terror attacks at the church said that they carried out the suicide bombings and will continue to strike foreigners and non-Muslims until the US drone attacks came to halt.

The suicide bomb attack at Peshawar church sent a wave of shock and awe among people belonging to all sects across the country. Protests against barbaric killing of the innocent men, women and children were launched across the length and breadth of Pakistan. Barbarism of the heartless killers has been condemned in the strongest terms by almost every segment of the Pakistani society. The outburst of the people was natural as none but our innocent Christian brothers, sisters and children became victims of this unfortunate tragedy. What, however, has become a source of major concern is how would this highly condemnable and tragic episode affect the talks offer made to Taliban by Pakistan?

If this is how the Taliban going to respond to Pakistan’s genuine desire to bring an end to the menace of terrorism then the chances of this problem getting resolved seem very bleak. Time has come for the group on the other side of the divide to take Pakistan’s offer for negotiations with all-out sincerity. It must cease to carry out such dastardly terror attacks on innocent people forthwith to create an atmosphere conducive for productive bilateral talks. If this is not done, Pakistan will unfortunately be compelled to look into other options to deal with the issue.

—Islamabad

Sindh Govt decision M OSAMA AFNAN HANAFI The Sindh government has decided to ban instant messaging and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications such as Skype, Whatsapp, Tango and Viber for three months as a security measure. Internet freedom groups and activists have expressed anger and disbelief at the Sindh government’s proposal to ban. Many People said that the government should focus on eliminating terrorism in the province and improving the law and order situation instead of taking away freedom from citizens.

This is not the first time communication services have been blocked in the name of security. In the past several years, the government blocked cellular services over a dozen times. This is not permanent solution .I think government should review their decision and take valuable and authentic decision against terrorist and terrorist organization. On the other hand bilawal Bhutto tweet’s from friend he said “Respected Burger friend ‘I apologize that I will not contact to all because of Skype, Whatsapp, Tango and Viber for three months ban for security measure’. So next three month we just depend on SMS. Your’s truly Bilwal Bhutto Zardari.” After that SMS people of Karachi indulge in jeopardy. Will that decision is affected to solve Karachi situation?

—Karachi

DISCLAIMER THE articles, columns and letters are published on these pages in good faith. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.

—Editor Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

Rouhani’s diplomacy ‘not proper’: Iran’s Supreme Leader D UBAI —Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday he supported moderate President Hassan Rouhani’s diplomatic opening at the U.N. General Assembly last week but that some of what occurred there was “not proper”. Khamenei did not elaborate on his objections, but he also said he did not trust the United States as a negotiating partner, hinting at some disagreement over an historic phone conversation between Rouhani and U.S. President Barack Obama.

But while Khamenei’s endorsement appeared limited, it could help Rouhani parry conservative hardliners opposed to his drive for “constructive interaction” with the world to ease Tehran’s economically damaging international isolation. Khamenei -

the ultimate arbiter of security presidents of the two deeply and diplomatic policy under estranged countries since Iran’s hybrid system of cleri- Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, capped a week of overtures by Rouhani and his foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to the West. The landslide election in June of Rouhani has raised hopes of a negotiated settlement to Iran’s long-running dispute with world powers over its nuclear program - though it is Khamenei who will make the final decision on the contours of any deal.

“We support the government’s diplomatic cal and republican rule - said movements and place imporprior to Rouhani’s trip that he tance on diplomatic efforts, supported “heroic flexibility” and support what was in this in diplomacy, while caution- last trip,” Khamenei said in a ing that the Islamic Republic speech, according to the ISNA must always remember who its news agency. “Of course, in foes are. our opinion, some of what The Rouhani-Obama occurred in the New York trip phone chat, the first between was not proper.” He did not

elucidate. “While we are optimistic about our government’s diplomatic staff, we are pessimistic about the Americans. The U.S. government is not trustworthy, is self-important, and breaks its promises,” Iran’s top cleric said.

Rouhani also won a resounding endorsement for his conciliatory moves at the United Nations from the Iranian parliament, a significant gesture since the assembly is dominated by factions loyal to Khamenei.

The president and his team are hoping to secure a removal of international sanctions on Iran’s banking, energy, and shipping sector that slashed vital oil exports and hobbled the economy. The sanctions were imposed over Iran’s failure to address suspicions that it is enriching ura-

nium to develop a nuclear arms capability. Iran says it wants only civilian atomic energy.

The next round of talks between Iran and six world powers on the nuclear standoff, which has raised fears of a new Middle East war, is to be held in Geneva on October 15-16. A diplomat based in Tehran said Khamenei’s comments were likely an effort to play down expectations from negotiations, while distancing himself from any failure in talks. “There have already been skeptical signs and in a way these comments are not that surprising,” the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The distance between Iran and the United States is very wide. It can’t just turn into smiles and friendliness. He (Khamenei) is giving it a chance, but if it doesn’t work he’ll go back to

his own way.”While in New York, Rouhani emphasized a changed atmosphere between Iran and the United States, and said his goal is to resolve problems and pursue “the shared interest between the two nations.

But while Rouhani’s efforts to undo some of his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s bellicose rhetoric on the world stage have met with cautious approval at home from conservatives, some hardliners in Iran’s complex power structure have been critical given their hostility to any thaw with the United States.

Upon Rouhani’s return to Tehran last week, he was greeted at the airport by a large crowd of supporters and a smaller group of protesters, who threw eggs and shoes at his official car.—AP

Kerry calls government shutdown a brief disruption INDONESIA—The partial shut- this as a moment in politics, an down of the U.S. government, which entered its fifth day on Saturday, is a “momentary episode” and does not change the U.S. commitment to Asia or elsewhere, Secretary of State John Kerry said. Kerry is acting as stand-in for President Barack Obama who canceled a tour of Asia, including a visit to the Indonesian resort island of Bali for a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders, because of the stalemate in Washington.

“Do not mistake this momentary episode in American politics as anything more than a moment of politics. This is an example of the robustness of our democracy,” Kerry said.

But he added that if the shutdown were prolonged or repeated, people would question the U.S. ability to “stay the course.”

In his meetings with foreign leaders in Bali, Kerry said he encountered an understanding of the problems in Washington.

“In the end nothing will change with respect to the issues that bring us here, nothing will diminish our commitment to Asia, we will continue to fulfill our responsibilities and our engagement around the world and I think people are confident of that,” he said.

“Everybody in the region understands ... everyone sees

unfortunate moment, but they see it for what it is,” said Kerry, a former U.S. senator and U.S. presidential candidate.

The political standoff over the U.S. budget has shut down non-essential government services and appeared likely to drag on for another week or longer. Another crisis looms in two weeks when lawmakers must decide whether to increase the U.S. government’s $16.7 trillion debt borrowing limit. While Kerry dismissed any long-term impact from the shutdown, he said it would however delay payments for security assistance to Israel and funding support for a U.S.-led peacekeeping mission in the Sinai peninsula, which divides Egypt and Israel.

He said the U.S. Treasury department that oversees sanctions against Iran had been forced to furlough nearly all of its staff during the shutdown.

This, he said, was coming at a time when the United States was trying to reengage with Tehran to find a solution to a longstanding dispute over Iran’s nuclear weapons program. “I think it’s clear we cannot lose this opportunity to moments of politics, that deprive us of the opportunity to embrace larger and more important goals,” Kerry said of potential talks with Iran.—AP

Italian fishermen honor dead migrants at sea LAMPEDUSA—A flotilla of Italian fishermen motored into rough seas off Lampedusa on Saturday to drop a bouquet of yellow flowers near the spot of a shipwreck where more than 100 African migrants drowned.

Some of them bristled at reports that a boat may have violated the “law of the sea” and ignored migrants fighting for their lives.

The search to recover more bodies, meanwhile, was called off for a second day because of the bad weather conditions.

Up to 200 migrants may still be missing. The 20-meter (65-foot) migrant boat sank Thursday after a fire was set onboard to attract attention because of a problem. The migrants had spent two days at sea traveling from Libya. So far, 111 bodies have been recovered and 155 survivors have been accounted for.

About 10 fishing vessels headed out to the site of the

shipwreck in choppy seas Friday to drop the flowers and blast their horns in honor of the migrants who died. Reports that a boat didn’t help the stranded migrants prompted a Dutch lawmaker to call for an investigation. But there is no evidence that the boat saw them.

Some provisions of Italian law dissuade boat captains from helping migrants in distress, legislators have said.

But fishermen, including one who saved several dozen of the migrants from the shipwreck, say there is a higher law for them.

“It’s the law of the sea!” Vito Fiorini said. “If you find somebody in need you must immediately help. How could you turn away when you see a person who needs help? “They do it (help) all the time, it’s unthinkable that a fisherman of Lampedusa would pretend to see nothing!”—AP

Al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab recruits in the Somalian capital, Mogadishu.

Kenyan military names Nairobi mall attackers seen on CCTV footage

Somali militants say Western forces raid base, kill fighter

M OGADISHU —Somali al Shabaab’s military opera- conflict for more than two N AIROBI—Kenya’s military Shabaab militants said on Sat- tions, told Reuters. It was not decades - and have in the past spokesman on Saturday named four men - including a Sudanese, a Kenyan Arab and a Somali - he said took part in the Islamist militant attack on a Nairobi shopping mall two weeks ago in which at least 67 people were killed.

Closed-circuit television footage from the Westgate mall was broadcast on Kenyan television channels, apparently showing at least four alleged attackers with guns walking around the mall’s supermarket and a storage room. “I confirm these were the terrorists, they all died in the raid,” Major Emmanuel Chirchir, spokesman for the Kenya Defence Forces, told Reuters.

He gave their names as Abu Baara al-Sudani, Omar Nabhan, Khattab al-Kene and Umayr. Kenya said previously that between 10 and 15 militants were involved in the mall attack. Al Sudani, from Sudan, was the leader of the group inside the mall and had been trained by al Qaeda.

“He is an experienced fighter and sharpshooter,” Chirchir said. Nabhan, a Kenyan of Arab origin, was born in Mombasa and traveled to Somalia with his uncle at the age of 16.—Reuters

urday Western forces had raided a coastal town under cover of darkness, killing a rebel fighter, and officials said the target had been a Chechen leader of the Islamist group.

Foreign forces landed on the beach at Barawe, about 180 km (110 miles) south of Mogadishu, and launched an assault at dawn that drew gunfire from rebel fighters in one of the militia’s coastal bases, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, spokesman for al

clear whether the assault was related to the attack on a Kenyan mall two weeks ago, which the al Qaeda-linked group said it carried out and which killed at least 67.

Shabaab’s leader Ahmed Godane, also known as Mukhtar Abu al-Zubayr, said the mall attack was in retaliation for Kenya’s incursion in October 2011 into southern Somalia to crush the insurgents. Western navies patrol the sea off Somalia - mired in

launched strikes on land from warships.

Barawe is fully controlled by the Islamist militia with almost no government presence. U.S. and French forces have carried out similar attacks in Somalia in the past.

Somali security officials gave partly conflicting accounts. “We understand that French troops injured Abu Diyad also known as Abu Ciyad, an al Shabaab leader from Chechnya.—Reuters

Egypt tightens security, warns Muslim Brotherhood CAIRO—Egyptian authorities warned the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood on Saturday against staging violent protests and tightened security in all cities and strategic installations after clashes on Friday killed at least four people.

Supporters of deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on Saturday mounted their boldest demonstrations since troops crushed their protest camps demanding his reinstatement on August 14.

Both opponents and supporters of the Brotherhood have

called for mass protests on Sunday, when the country plans to celebrate the anniversary of an Egyptian attack on Israeli forces in the Sinai during the 1973 war.

“The Ministry of Interior asserts its determination on confronting violence and infringements of the law by Muslim Brotherhood supporters,” a ministry statement said.

“Security has been stepped up on highways, in all cities and at important installations. The Ministry of Interior warns against attempting to

spoil the 6th of October commemoration.” The military boosted its presence around Tahrir Square - where hundreds of thousands of Egyptians demonstrated during the revolt that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011 - after clashes on Friday in several cities. Political tensions have gripped Egypt and hammered the economy since the army ousted Mursi in July, installed an interim government and presented a political roadmap it promised would bring fair elections.—Reuters

Nuclear weapons are the US’s instruments of peace ROBERT SPALDING,

T

HE U.S. rebalance or “pivot” to the Asia-Pa cific must be peaceful and affordable. Unfortunately, our country neglects the one aspect of national defense that can deliver this outcome: nuclear weapons.

As I entered active duty as a bomber pilot at the end of the Cold War, I was among those who questioned the continued relevance of nuclear weapons. The Cold War was over and, thankfully, we had escaped nuclear armageddon.

I believed it was time to put away the bomb and focus on more relevant conventional capabilities. Lately, however, I have become keenly aware of the need for our nuclear force.

The United States won the Cold War by maintaining a credible nuclear force to

stand in opposition to the Soviet Union. U.S. nuclear weapons defended Europe against a numerically superior conventional force. Missileequipped submarines and the bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles of Strategic Air Command were the nuclear triad that deterred the Soviets from attacking. These forces were at the forefront of our defense strategy and received priority in both rhetoric and -funding.

The U.S. nuclear force exists to keep a threshold on the level of violence. This is especially important when disagreements between nuclear powers move beyond dialogue. While numerous smaller wars existed in proxy states during the Cold War, direct conflict between nuclear powers always deescalated back to dialogue.

It is possible that the inter-

national body politic that arose after World War II is the reason we have not witnessed a third world war. Yet it is also possible that has not occurred because the threat of nuclear holocaust is too menacing.

More likely, it is a combination of the two.

To be credible, nuclear weapons must be a key component underpinning relevant U.S. foreign policy. It erodes morale and encourages perpetually low funding when the Nuclear Posture Review adds “as long as nuclear weapons exist” to the phrase “safe, secure and effective,” as if it is a foregone conclusion that these weapons will be eliminated.

Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, France, Britain and North Korea all treat nuclear weapons as a key component in their nation’s strategy, and they are modernizing weapons and/or delivery systems.

Nuclear weapons are instruments of peace. Airmen and sailors nobly ensure that nuclear conflict will be deterred by being ready to use them.

Americans may feel guilty for possessing such terrible capacity to destroy life. Despite their distastefulness, however, nuclear weapons probably have saved lives. A new day dawned on Aug. 6, 1945.

Many who worked on the Manhattan Project believed that they had condemned the world. They could not have known that they might have liberated it. Since Aug. 9, 1945, approximately 7 million to 10 million people have died from conflict.

Before the introduction of nuclear weapons, two world wars alone led to the deaths of 70 million to 100 million — a difference of a decimal point.

Nuclear weapons are an affordable deterrent. The cost of

the triad represents less than 3?percent of the $526 billion Defense Department budget.

In 2012, the U.S. Postal Service lost about $16 billion, or three times the amount it cost U.S. taxpayers for intercontinental ballistic missiles and bombers, two-thirds of the triad. Although the nuclear budget needs to rise to offset the more than 20 years of neglect in modernization, a modest increase would barely register in the overall defense budget.

A perceived march toward complete nuclear disarmament, evident in phrases like “as long as nuclear weapons exist,” weakens the very thing that ensures a peaceful future.

The idea that such weapons are here only until we can figure out how to get rid of them gnaws at the morale of every airman and sailor tasked with this awesome responsibility.

As conventional forces mod-

ernize, nuclear weapons funding dwindles, and weapons systems age. The irony is distressing: We are funding weapons that kill on a daily basis to the detriment of the weapons that exist to prevent war.

The sensible path to peace starts with the realization that peace can be secured only through strength.

Nuclear weapons represent that strength. We must embrace it through funding and rhetoric.

The troops tasked with ensuring our peaceful future must hear that they are important, and they must see and feel it as well. We need new weapons and delivery systems, but, most important, we need a new strategy that recognizes the importance of nuclear weapons to a peaceful future.

Courtesy Washington Post

Passion for swords led Briton to forge career as expert

T

UCKED away in a quiet residential street in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, the Japanese Sword Museum offers a glimpse into an era where men staked their honor and their lives on the blade. The museum appears to be something of a hidden gem, since many residents do not seem aware that it exists. However, it is surprisingly popular with overseas tourists, who come to soak up the history. One frequent visitor to the museum is Briton Paul Martin, an expert on Japanese swords and their history, who now makes his home in Tokyo. Entering the museum on a recent weekday morning, he is warmly greeted by the staff. “I’ve done most of the English translation for the exhibits,” he notes.

As he makes his way around, Martin brings the history of the static displays alive with his rich knowledge of the swords, their makers and their owners. The only other visitor at that time in the morning, a young Westerner, looks across wistfully, probably wishing he had such a guide at his disposal.

While Martin could never have imagined becoming an authority on Japanese swords as a youngster growing up in East London, he had a keen interest in another aspect of Japanese culture — karate. His father had studied the martial art under the tutelage of the late Vernon Bell, the master responsible for introducing karate to Britain in the 1950s, and then went on to teach students of his own. Martin junior displayed his own prowess by becoming the English lightweight karate champion three times during the 1990s and making the national team in his late 20s. He is also highly skilled in kendo and iaido, a martial art focused on smoothly and quickly drawing the sword for instant counterattacks.

After training as an electrician, Martin went to work as a member of the security team at the British Museum. With his interest in Japanese martial arts, he was drawn to the Japanese Antiquities, and he inquired about opportunities for moving from a support staff role to working as one of the curators. “At the time, I was told there was no precedent for such a move — it had never been done before. I set out to prove I was keen to learn, so I applied for and got approval to study Japanese at night school.” These efforts paid off when a vacancy opened up in the Japanese Department and Martin went to see the head of human resources about it.

“She said to me, ‘This would change your life, wouldn’t it?’ and she had the rules amended so that I could apply.”

Thanks to this combination of an HR chief who thought outside the box and his own initiative, Martin landed the position. Thrilled to be given such an opportunity, Martin learned on the job, absorbing everything he could. In time, he was given charge of the sword and armor collections.

“When I saw Japanese swords for the first time, I realized what deeply profound objects they are.”

The job gave him the chance to come over to Japan several times a year when objects from the collection were lent out for exhibitions. Whenever he could, Martin took extra leave during trips to Japan in order to further his knowledge about swords through visits to places such as the Tokyo National Museum and Atsuta Jingu in Nagoya, one of Shinto’s major shrines and home to the sacred sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. Once he successfully imparted his desire to learn, he generally had no problems getting people to talk about the swords in their care or to take them out to show him.

“I was taught the traditional methods of recording them, known as oshigata. First, traditional ‘washi’ paper is laid over the sword and an impression is taken with a waxy ink block. After removing the paper, you look at the hard edge of the sword and copy the markings there by hand.” He drew on his newfound skills to record some of the swords in the British Museum’s collection. Martin points out the hand-drawn oshigata recordings at the Sword Museum.

Learning to replicate the intricate markings in an accurate manner is clearly a skill that takes years of practice and devotion. Martin’s oshigata recordings are recognized as being on a par with Japanese professionals, and he credits his success to having learned the skill firsthand from masters here.

Learning oshigata helps sword scholars to recognize who made a sword, offering clues about its origins and history. In 2006 he became the first non-Japanese to win a kantei-kai (sword appraisal competition), successfully identifying the makers of five different swords. There are a number of groups that organize these competitions, which allow sword enthusiasts to put their skills to the test. This year he took second place in his biggest event to date, the prestigious New Year Kantei-kai held at the Japanese Sword Museum. After five fulfilling years at the British Museum, his department became a victim of economic downsizing, so he decided to take redundancy and see where things would lead. His next stop was Los Angeles, where he had been invited to put on an exhibition for the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. “I was responsible for sourcing all the objects and putting everything together for this Japanese sword exhibition. It was very popular and I learned a lot in the process.”

In 2004 he returned to Japan and stayed for several years. He continued to coordinate exhibitions and source objects on a freelance basis for his former employee, the British Museum, and various other institutions around the word. His skills were equally in demand here in Japan, where he has worked on translation for such places as the Hayashibara Museum of Art in Okayama, as well as for the Japanese Swordsmith Association. “By now I realized there was a need for my skills and experience, but at the time I lacked an academic qualification to back them up.” He applied to the Asian Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley, hoping to enroll in the undergraduate program. To Martin’s delight, the faculty considered his real-world experience sufficient, and he was admitted directly into the graduate program to study for a master’s degree in 2009.

Along with studying Japanese language, literature and history, he was invited to teach kendo at the club on campus. A casual comment from one of his students, a young man in his 20s, led to an “aha moment.” “He asked if I knew about Ichimonji Norimune, a sword smith from the Kamakura Period. I was stunned that someone his age even knew the name. It turned out that the same name was given to a sword wielded by one of the characters in a popular manga and anime, ‘Rurouni Kenshin.’ I realized that while my generation’s introduction to Japanese culture was through martial arts and the films of Akira Kurosawa, today’s generation gets there through anime and manga.”

With a graduate degree under his belt, Martin headed back to Japan last year and took up residence again. In addition to his freelance curating and translating, a new line of work has been opening up. Interest from overseas has been increasing recently, particularly for historic Japanese swords. Although Martin does not deal with the selling of swords, he can offer advice to potential buyers, as well as make arrangements for appraisals and restoration work. Realizing there was a lack of accurate and accessible information in English about Japanese swords, Martin has also written and translated several books and narrated DVDs on the topic over the past few years.

His skills have not gone unnoticed by the foreign media, either, and he is called on quite frequently to share his expertise. Martin talks about his latest appearance, a documentary for an Irish TV company about the late Dr. Aidan MacCarthy, an officer who spent time in a POW camp in Nagasaki during World War II. “He was there when the atomic bomb was dropped, and although he survived, many in the camp were left dead or dying.

—Courtesy Japan Times

CPI blasts From Page 1 have seen the President issuing a public statement warning the government. All these methods are there in Constitutional behaviour,” said Dasgupta.

“If this is not done, if the President chooses his way to speak through the press, then, that may get him appreciation, but that will not correct the government policy,” he added.

To a poser on whether it reflected the fact that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is soft on Pakistan and not President Mukherjee, Dasgupta said: “I do not believe. He was the Defence Minister. What he did at that time? He was the number two unofficially, what did he do?”

“He became president only recently. He has become more conscious now after relinquishing the power. It is a playing to the gallery to get the public support and appreciation,” he added.

Asserting that state-sponsored terrorism from across the border cannot be accepted, Mukherjee had said India wants peace with Pakistan but there can be no compromise with its own territorial integrity. —INP LAHORE: Punjab government and UK company PAN Africa signing an MoU for establishment of solar project in Punjab on Saturday. Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is also present.

Snooker finals From Page 1

team had prevailed against the UAE side in the quarter finals.

On Saturday, Pakistan started slowly, with Asif falling behind to Judge in the first frame 35-69.

Sajjad though brought Pakistan back into match as he battled to a 67-53 victory against Murphy.

In the third frame, Asif and Sajjad fought a combined battle with Judge and Murphy but were comprehensively beaten 39-69.

With Pakistan down by 2-1 at this stage, Asif gained a crucial victory with a 79-46 margin.

This set up a nervous final game in the match. Sajjad was to take on Judge. Sajjad had managed to get into a commanding position at 51-25, but he then allowed Judge back in who erased the lead and squared the match 51-51. But both players made mistakes as each in turn tried to force a result. And just when Judge seemed to have gotten himself in a position to win the match, he made a foul that allowed Sajjad to capitalise and secure a 67-51 victory to lift Pakistan into the final.

In the other semi-final, Iran’s Amir Sarkhosh and Soheil Vahedi beat Wales 1 by 3-2.

Pakistan will now clash with Iran for a team title on Sunday.—Agencies

Qaeda in Syria wants to dominate Iraq, Turkey border zones From Page 1 “ISIL has been acting in such a way as to aggressively assert itself within the complex multi-dimensional insurgent theatres in northern and eastern Syria,” said Charles Lister of IHS Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre.

Jihadists have even sought to justify the strategy on Internet forums by accusing Westernbacked groups, including Ahfad al-Rasul and the Northern Storm brigade, of acting like the USfunded “Sahwa” who fought AlQaeda in Iraq.

But Lister said ISIL had adopted a “perceivable strategy of acquiring and consolidating control of areas on Syria’s borders with both Iraq and Turkey”, ever since it came on the scene in the late spring.

“This allows the group easy access to new recruits, sources of funding and supplies,” he told AFP. “It’s by no means impossible that it intends to put a stranglehold on the ability of moderates (rebels) to secure sustainable levels of supplies from

across the borders,” Lister added.

Havidar, a Kurdish-Syrian activist and citizen journalist who has covered fighting between ISIL and Kurds, said ISIL’s endgame was to establish an Islamic state.

“ISIL doesn’t have an ideological problem with the Kurds or with anyone else. It just wants no other group to have any arms or self-sufficiency, to create a state that extends from northern Syria into Iraq,” he told AFP. Another activist in Raqa, near the Turkish border, said it was now virtually impossible to leave Syria without crossing through one of their checkpoints.

ISIL has a grip on Raqa, the only provincial capital in Syria that is completely out of Assad’s control.

Though tensions between it and other rebel groups — even Islamists — have simmered for months, the opposition has sought to keep that antagonism buried.

But ISIL’s takeover of the border town of Azaz in mid-September, at the expense of the area’s Northern Storm brigade, brought tensions to a head.

This week, six Islamist groups with a nationwide presence, including Liwa al-Tawhid, Jaysh al-Islam and Ahrar alSham, urged ISIL to withdraw from Azaz.

A fighter with one of these groups said: “ISIL has succeeded... in making enemies with all the factions, including the Islamist groups.”Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said ISIL aimed to “take control, but that is not going to happen, because the factions... are aware of what that means, especially after the Iraqi experience”.

Some Sunnis who opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq were supportive of insurgents including those linked to Al-Qaeda, but tribesmen, some militants and civilians later turned against the group over killings and other abuses it carried out.—AFP

Shariah can’t be CM for ending gas, imposed at gunpoint electricity thefts Addressing the meeting, LAHORE—Punjab Chief MinisLAHORE—Ameer Jammat-e- use of force nor peace established ter Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on the base of force can be long Islami (JI) Syed Munawar Hassan has said that rule of lasting. Addressing the leaderShariah can’t be imposed through ship convention of Shabab-eMilli at Mansoora, Lahore, Hassan said that only COURT NOTICE Munawar transparent and free elections are In the Court of Mr. Sajid guarantee for restoration of peace Mehmood Gondal, Family and change in country.

He blamed that looters have Judge Talagang occupied the central and provincial governments who don’t let the Muhammad Nazir country develop, prosper and VS Ghulam Ashgar masses to become self sufficient.

Sue NoThe JI leader alleged that US is Muhammad Ilyas the biggest hurdle in the way of V/S Shakeela Afzal peace talks with Taliban as it don’t Memo Shakeela Afzal D/O wants destabilization in the reMuhammad Afzal Cast Awan gion. He said that Taliban are deR/O Chak No-15/IR Okara sirous of power instead of Shariah and if they would have interested Tehsil & Distt, Okara.

Whereas serving of summon there would be rule of Shairah in to the respondent in the case the country till now.—INP as titled above is not porrible, the respondent is herely in formed through this ad in this newspapers that the respondent has been announced to appear in this court in person on be represented by a lawyer in this court on 07-102013 at 8.00 hours. In case of non-compliance, ex-party proceeding shall take place.

Given under my hand and seal of the Court.

Sd/- Family Judge Talagang

Saturday said that electricity and gas theft is impossible without the connivance of officers and officials of concerned departments.

He was presiding over a meeting of Taskforce on Eradication of Electricity and Gas Theft here which reviewed the ongoing campaign against the electricity and gas thieves in the province in detail.

He said that the ongoing campaign against gas and electricity thieves in the province could not succeed without exposing black sheep of these departments and taking them to task.

While directing to take immediate action against the officers and officials involved in electricity and gas theft, the Chief Minister said that in case of any negligence in this regard, the heads of concerned departments would be held accountable.

He directed to submit the report about the action taken against the officials involved in electricity and gas theft within seven days.

said that the corruption and plunder of national resources has become history of the past.

He said that government has promoted corruption free culture and no effort will be spared for rooting out this menace.

He said that eradication of electricity and gas theft is not possible without bringing the plunderers of national resources to justice.

He said that the common man has to pay heavy bills due to electricity and gas theft.

The Chief Minister said that although electricity and gas theft of crores of rupees has been detected as a result of this campaign so far, yet strict measures are essential for getting best results. He directed IG Police to ensure action against the officers and officials involved in electricity and gas theft as per law on the identification of concerned departments.

Chairman Taskforce on Eradication of Electricity and Gas Theft Irfan Elahi gave a detailed briefing about the ongoing campaign.—APP

PPP will resist privatization LAHORE—Secretary Information Pakistan People’s Party, Qamar Zaman Kaira, has vowed that his Party would resist the privatization of 31 Public Sector Enterprises (PSE)and would not accept the loot sale of the national assets to the crony capitalists. He expressed his dismay over the decision because even the profit making Public enterprises were also on the hit list of the government which defied their claim of selling those PSEs which were running on losses.

He said that the OGDC and the Banks were the success story of the country’s economy and were contributing in the national exchequer in a big way and their privatization was beyond comprehension except to benefit those who were known for good rapport with the people now in the corridors of power.

He said that the PPP would mobilize the social resistance against the decision of the government to privatize the PSEs indiscriminately regardless of their imperatives of strategic considerations.—Online

Zilhaj moon From Page 1 day of Zilhaj.

The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee will meet at Met Complex today to decide about the sighting or otherwise of the Zilhaj moon.

Chairman of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman, will preside over the meeting. It further stated that the meeting would commence after the Asr prayers.—APP

UK company From Page 1 velopment cannot be achieved without overcoming energy crisis and traditional as well as alternative sources are also being utilized for implementing power generation projects speedily.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the method of generating energy through solar energy is also popularizing all over the world.

He said that Punjab government has not only made agreements with different companies for launching energy generating projects through solar under a coordinated strategy but government offices are also being shifted to solar energy under a phased programme.

He said that street lights are also being shifted to solar power in big cities. The Chief Minister said that the agreement of setting up solar power project by Pan Africa company in Punjab is a welcoming step. He said that Punjab government will provide all facilities for rapid implementation on this project.

He said that due to the solid policies of the present government, the confidence of the investors has been restored and they are willing to invest in various sectors including energy. He said that special facilities are being provided to foreign investors in energy sector under one window operation and expressed the hope that these steps will help overcome energy crisis.

Impasse with Afghanistan raises prospect of total US withdrawal in 2014 From Page 1 lages and not at the same time go after militant havens in Pakistan.

“Killing people in homes and killing people in villages is bringing the war on terror to Afghans,” Mr. Faizi said in an interview. “This is not focusing on the root and support systems behind the terror.”

Only months ago, top American generals, including Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dismissed the possibility that negotiations could falter.

The Obama administration has been far more ambiguous. Over the summer White House officials began to seriously weigh the zero option.

The officials say they, too, would prefer that American troops stay in Afghanistan. But “at the right price,” said a senior European diplomat familiar with the American position. “The price that Mr. Karzai is asking is too high for Obama.”

The administration has instructed the lead American negotiator, Ambassador James B. Cunningham, to make one more push this month to bring Mr. Karzai around, officials said. It may consider letting the talks go into November, if necessary. But officials are loath to see the talks become an issue in the Afghan presidential campaign.

This week, the administration also considered sending Secretary of State John Kerry, who has a good relationship with Mr. Karzai, to personally intervene in the talks, American and Afghan officials said. But in a reflection of the administration’s deepening pessimism — and its preoccupation with other priorities — officials decided Mr. Kerry’s time was better spent on an Asian trip that Mr. Obama canceled because of the government shutdown, according to another American official, although that could change if there was movement in the talks in Kabul.

So for now, it is up to Mr.

Pak for settlement From Page 1 that nations had to work together to eliminate militancy.

“Nations need to work together to defeat this common enemy,” said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry in response to Mukherjee’s interview.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on October 4 had accused Pakistan of slipping into the dangerous orbit of terrorism and called upon the neighbouring country to stop the export of state-sponsored terrorism to India. “Terrorist activities must be curbed. And state-sponsored terrorism can never be accepted,” Mukherjee had said.

The Indian president’s remarks came in an interview with Euronews ahead of his visit to Belgium. “Therefore, we have repeatedly been asking (Pakistan) to dismantle the terrorist outfits which are located in their area,” he said.

deal.

Mr. Faizi said the Afghan government had no deadline, and Mr. Karzai would rather wait to get “the right deal.”

The differences between the two sides are as much about perspectives as they are about the legalities of raids and bases and security arrangements. Afghanistan believes the threat posed by the Taliban is largely driven from Pakistan. In the American view, the Pakistani havens are but one facet of a conflict that is mainly internal.

It is a subtle difference, but one that informs diverging approaches to combating the Afghan insurgency, which remains a threat despite the Americanled efforts to quash it that began with the invasion after the Sept.

11, 2001, attacks.

American officials have said they have no intention of fighting the Taliban after 2014. The bulk of the forces left in Afghanistan — administration officials have said they would total 9,000 or less — would train Afghan forces, which are already doing most of the fighting here.

But the United States wants to keep using Special Operations forces to target the roughly 75 operatives that American commanders estimate remain in Afghanistan.

“President Karzai says that has been happening for 12 years, and how come we cannot find them?” Mr. Faizi said. “How much longer will it continue?

One year? Five years? Ten years?”

Ultimately, though, the issue is one of sovereignty, Mr. Faizi said. American-led forces have killed civilians in dozens of attacks, he said, and Afghanistan has concluded that foreigners cannot be trusted with the lives of innocent Afghans.

“After 2014, will any foreign military be free to go where it pleases and operate the way it pleases in Afghanistan?” Mr. Faizi said. “The answer is no.”

MQM man identified as killer of Randhawa

eration in various areas of Lyari and also raided the house of PAC chief Uzair Baloch, however, no arrest was made.

The areas where operation was conducted included Nawa Lane, Afshani Gali, Cheel Chowk, Kala Kot and Chakewara where the security personnel sealed the entry and exit points to restrict movement.

A heavy contingent of Rangers personnel including the female Rangers took part in the action and no one was allowed to enter or exit the area.

From Page 1 Meanwhile, Rangers and completely sealed and no one police personnel claim to have was allowed to enter or exit the arrested at least eight alleged town.

Police also claimed both terrorists were hiding disguised in women’s clothing when they were taken into custody.

Door-to-door search continued for 30 hours and police officials said more raids were to be conducted soon.

Earlier, the SSP Diamer said there were serious threats of terrorism and security has been tightened up in the city and a heavy contingent of police has been deployed in particular areas.

He said that the police was fully prepared to cope with the situation. He spoke well of the security agencies and said their cooperation made arrest of the culprits possible for the police.

The official said a large number of weapons was also recovered during the operation while 15 individuals were taken into custody who were later cleared as there was no criminal record against them nor their involvement was found in any criminal activity.

Two ‘high-profile terrorists’ arrested

Cunningham, who has told his Afghan counterparts that talks would be suspended until after Afghanistan’s presidential election if no progress was made soon, according to Mr. Faizi and other Afghan and American officials.

Assuming the election takes place on time, it would still push talks to the middle of next year, and many Western officials in Kabul say the election could be delayed until the summer. In the estimation of many Western officials in Kabul and Washington, that is perilously close to the drop-dead date of Dec. 31, 2014.

Mr. Karzai, who has served two terms, cannot run for a third.

Adm. James G. Stavridis, who retired in May as NATO’s military commander, said the logistics of organizing a post2014 force could prove daunting if a deal was not struck soon.

Each of the allies has separate logistics, training, supply and transportation requirements, and “we are getting close to the red line for people to be able to put those forces together,” Admiral Stavridis said Friday at a forum in Washington sponsored by the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, where he is now dean.

The impasse in the talks has been apparent to negotiators since late summer, according to Afghan and Western officials.

But both sides had kept the divisions quiet until this week, when the presidential palace issued a statement saying Mr. Karzai had told a gathering of tribal elders that he would not allow American military raids to continue after next year.

American officials have not issued any formal response to the palace’s statement. Officials said they did not want Afghans to see the deadline as a ploy.

They discussed the talks only under the condition of anonymity.

Afghan officials, however, said they believed the deadline and the leaks were solely about pressuring them into signing a

From Page 1 target killers during operations in several areas of Karachi on Saturday.

In the first operation carried out in Azizabad area, two alleged target killers were arrested.

According to a Rangers’ spokesperson, the arrested suspects belonged to a political party, adding that five sub-machine guns (SMGs), four rifles and 12 TT pistols were recovered from them in the raid.

Meanwhile, the paramilitary force cordoned off several areas in Lyari neighbourhood and searched the residence of Amn Committee leader Aziz Jan

Baloch, but no arrests were made.

Moreover, police and Rangers’ personnel conducted a joint targeted operation in the city’s Mauripur area and arrested three suspects said to have links with gang-wars. Security men furthermore recovered commando jackets and Kalashnikovs from the suspects.

Separately, three alleged target killers were arrested during a joint operation conducted by police and Rangers’ personnel near Gulistan Johar Chowrangi.

The arrested suspects moreover confessed to two murders, security sources said.

Egypt issues tough warning to protesters C AIRO —Egyptian authorities said on Saturday anyone who protests against the army on Sunday when the country celebrates the anniversary of an attack on Israeli forces during the 1973 war will be regarded as agents of foreign powers.

Presidential spokesman Ahmed al-Muslimani was speaking to the state news agency in anticipation of

demonstrations by the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been staging protests against the army’s ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July.

Egyptian authorities tightened security around the country after clashes on Friday killed at least four people.

Mursi’s supporters on Friday mounted their boldest

demonstrations since troops crushed protest camps demanding his reinstatement on Aug. 14. The four who died in Cairo were all Brotherhood supporters, security sources said.

Both opponents and supporters of the Brotherhood have called for more mass protests on Sunday, during celebrations of the anniversary of an Egyptian attack on

Israeli forces in the Sinai during the 1973 war. Egyptian forces broke down Israeli fortifications in that attack and pushed across the Suez canal, though Israel later repulsed the advance.

State media said authorities had uncovered a plot by “terrorists” to target police installations during the celebrations on Sunday.— Reuters

PM’s visit to Peshawar P ESHAWA R —The restive provincial capital has been given security clearance for one day visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the city.

This would be maiden visit of PM to the city after assuming charge of premiership.

During his visit he would meet blast affectees of Church incident and kissa Khawani bazaar. He would also meet with Governor CM, Chief Secretary and PML -N office bearers during his visit.

PM would also be briefed on the law and order situation in the province.—Online

Earthquake jolts KP, GB ISLAMABAD—An earthquake of moderate intensity jolted different areas of Khyber Paktunkhwa and GilgitBaltistan early on Saturday.

According to Pakistan Metrological Department an earthquake of magnitude 5.6 on the Richter scale was felt in Chitral, Dir, Swat and Ghizer at 5:27AM. The tremours created panic among the dwellers of the areas where it was felt but no causalities or property damages were reported. PMD said that the epicenter of the earthquake was on AfghanistanTajikistan border at a focal depth of 80 kilometres. —INP

UN team to begin Syria’s CW sites inspections next week U NITED

N ATIONS —The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is reviewing additional information received from Syria about its chemical weapons stockpiles, a United Nations spokesperson has said, ahead of onsite inspections and initial disabling of equipment which could start as early as next week.

The OPCW Technical Secretariat, which together with the UN forms the team tasked with overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons production facilities, received information that was “additional to the disclosure on its chemical weapons programme which Syria submitted on 21 September,” UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday.

Meanwhile, the joint team has made “encouraging initial progress” following the first working day of meetings

with Syrian authorities.

“Documents handed over [on Wednesday] by the Syrian Government look promising, according to team members,” the UN spokesperson said, “but further analysis, particularly of technical diagrams, will be necessary and some more questions remain to be answered.”

The team hopes to begin onsite inspections and the initial disabling of equipment “within the next week,” Nesirky noted, but added that the timing depends on the outcome of the technical groups established with the participation of Syrian experts.

These groups are working on three areas which are key to the mission’s success, namely security, logistics and field support.

They include verification of the information handed over by the Syrian Government; the safety and security of the inspection teams; and

practical arrangements for implementing the plan, under which Syria’s chemical weapons material and equipment are to be eliminated by mid2014.

Also next week, the head of The Hague-based OPCW, Ahmet Uzumcu, is due to brief the organization’s member States on Tuesday, the same day he will address the OPCW Executive Council.

Uzumcu spoke to a meeting of the 41-member body on Thursday.

The OPCW Executive Council on Sept. 27 established special procedures for the expeditious destruction of the chemical weapons programme and stringent verification, including a timetable.

Later that day, the UN Security Council unanimous adopted resolution 2118 (2013), calling for the for the speedy implementation of procedures drawn up by the OPCW.—APP

Indian leader launches fast to protest move to split state K URNOOL —A LANDI KOTAL: Trailer loaded with Nato vehicles bound for Karachi passing through Landi Kotal bazaar.

Children among 5 Afghans killed in Nato airstrike

J ALALABAD —At least five civilians, including three children, were killed overnight in a Nato airstrike in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Saturday. The civilians, aged between 12 and 20, were killed while they were out hunting birds in the area of Saracha, a few kilometres from Jalalabad city, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, provincial police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Railways cuts Mashreqiwal told AFP. A fares by 15-25pc Nato spokesman said he was L AHORE —The Ministry of aware of the airstrike but Railways has decided to de- could not confirm any casucrease train fares by 15 to 25 percent. Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq said the notification in TUNIS—Tunisia’s ruling Isthis regard will be issued in a lamists on Saturday began few days. After the notifica- talks with secular oppotion, train fares for AC Busi- nents to try to agree on a ness class and AC Sleeper transitional government would be Rs3,000 and and new elections to end Rs4,000 from Lahore to months of political deadKarachi, respectively. —INP lock.

The North African country, where an uprising two years ago began the “Arab Minor dies, 10 revolts, has been in injured in accident Spring” crisis since the July assasLAYYAH—A minor girl died sination of an opposition and 10 others injured when a leader triggered street proMansehra -bound passenger tests demanding the bus coming from Karachi turned turtle near Layyah due to over speeding. As a result of accident a four-yearold girl died on the spot while 10 others including women sustained wounds. The injured were shifted to Rural N E W D ELHI —India’s top Health Centre Fatehpur for military leadership have bluntly accused Pakistan of first medical aid. —INP drastically stepping-up ceasefire violations in a bid 8 bombs recovered, to push in as many militants as possible into J&K before 2 rockets fired winter sets in, but dismissed DERA BUGTI—The Frontier suggestions that a Kargil-like Constabulary on Saturday situation had developed in foiled a terror bid by defusing the Keran sector along the 8 bombs after recovering them line of control (LoC). in Toba area of district Dera IAF chief Air Chief MarBugti. According to FC shal NAK Browne, who is sources, some unidentified also chairman of the chiefs miscreants had hidden 8 of staff committee, said Pakibombs in a nullah near gas stan was making “frenetic atfeeder in the area so that these tempts” to ensure the maxibombs could be used for ter- mum number of terrorists inrorist activities. —INP filtrate across the LoC before

alties. “Last night around 11 pm, five civilians aged between 12 and 20 carrying air guns wanted to go hunting birds some eight kilometres (five miles) from the centre of the city of Jalalabad. They were targeted and killed by a foreign forces airstrike,” Mashreqiwal said.

Their bodies were brought to the central hospital, he said.

Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, a provincial spokesman, confirmed the incident.

“Three of the civilians killed in the airstrike were

school children, two were brothers,” Mohammad Atif Shinwari a spokesman for the Nangarhar education department told AFP. Civilian casualties in Nato operations have long been a source of friction between the Afghan government and USled Nato troops, who are winding down operations as they prepare to withdraw by the end of next year.

Last month, a Nato airstrike killed at least 16 civilians including women and children in neighbouring Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan.—AFP

Tunisia’s rulers start crisis talks with opposition government’s resignation.

Negotiations are still delicate, but moderate Islamist party Ennahda has agreed it will step down at the end of three weeks of talks to decide on the caretaker administration and set a date for presidential and parliamentary elections.

Leaders from Ennahda and an alliance of opposition parties on Saturday signed a formal agreement on negotiations at a ceremony at the Palais de Congres in central

Indian mily accuse Pakistan of stepping up terror export the mountain passes get snowed under.

“There is increased intensity in the border violations this year, which is there for the whole world to see.

There have been far more violations this year compared to the last two-three years,” he said, adding Pakistan must “maintain the sanctity” of the decade-old ceasefire agreement.

Army chief General Bikram Singh, speaking separately, also stressed the infiltration attempts from across the border had “definitely” jumped up this year as compared to earlier years. —INP

Tunis.

“It’s a fragile balance now, we have to work to find a consensus,” said Maya Jibri, a leader of a secular opposition party at the ceremony. Tunisia’s path to democracy has been relatively peaceful compared to its North African neighbors, Egypt, whose army ousted an elected Islamist president, and Libya, where a weak government struggles to tame rival militias.—Reuters

WTO chief says global trade deal within reach NUSA

DUA (Indonesia ) — The World Trade Organization (WTO) appealed Saturday for support from AsiaPacific nations to help clinch a deal on easing global trade constraints at crunch December talks, saying agreement is “clearly within reach”.

Roberto Azevedo urged the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping to throw its weight behind the negotiations so that the WTO can agree a deal in time for its ninth ministerial meeting in early December in Indonesia’s Bali island.

“Now we are in need of support as much as ever,” Azevedo said at a news conference after days of fervent diplomacy, including speaking to foreign and trade ministers at an APEC plenary session to drive home his point.

“We hope that by coming here, I would have given the message to ministers of APEC of where we are and how importantly we need the engagement from capitals and from the ministers themselves.”—AFP

powerful former ally of India’s ruling Congress party launched a hunger strike Saturday to protest against plans to carve out a new state in the country’s south.

Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who broke away from Congress to start his own party, was greeted by thousands of supporters as he began the fast against the move to split his home state of Andhra Pradesh and create the new state of Telangana.

“We are opposing this unilateral move of the central government to split Andhra Pradesh,” he told NDTV news network in Hyderabad, the

state capital where many IT giants including Google and Microsoft have offices.

“We will be going to the Supreme Court to protest and challenge the decision of the cabinet. The central government does not want a united Andhra Pradesh.”

Reddy, 40, is the son of the late Y.S.R. Reddy, the hugely popular former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, who died in a helicopter crash in 2009.

The start of his fast came as police fired teargas to disperse a mob that went on a rampage in one district, damaging vehicles, the Press Trust of India reported.Security has been tightened around homes

Gunmen kill 15 Libyan soldiers B ENGHAZI —Gunmen at- the entrance to Bani Walid. tacked a Libyan military post southeast of the capital Tripoli early Saturday, killing 15 soldiers, an official and Libya’s state news agency said.

The attackers rode vehicles topped with machineguns, the military official said. The highway between the towns of Tarhuna and Bani Walid, on which the post was located, was closed immediately after the attack in an attempt to track down the attackers.

The official said the attack took place at Wishtata area, some 60 kilometres from

The town was one of the last strongholds for supporters of dictator Moammar Gadhafi in the country’s 2011 civil war, and was besieged again by pro-government militias last year.

More recently, Libya has been hit by a months-long wave of attacks targeting military officers, activists, judges and security agents. Much of the violence is blamed on armed groups with their origins in the anti-Gadhafi rebel movement.

The Libyan News Agency said another five soldiers were wounded.—AP

of Congress leaders, fearing attacks by protesters, police said.The state would be created out of an impoverished northern area of Andhra Pradesh that its supporters say has been neglected by successive governments.

The national Congress party, led by president Sonia Gandhi, approved the creation of Telangana in July, triggering widespread protests in Andhra Pradesh.

The national cabinet’s clearance of the proposal Thursday sparked fresh demonstrations in the region while three federal ministers tendered their resignations Friday in protest.—AFP

Altaf appeals to Taliban to end violence LONDON—Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain has appealed to Pakistani Taliban to stop attacking army, citizens and renounce other violent activities including bomb blasts to achieve peace and accept government’s offer for negotiations.

During a lecture at the Muttahida Qaumi Movement International Secretariat on Saturday, Hussain said that some people were opposing the idea of holding talks with the Taliban while others were supporting it.

House approves back pay for furloughed workers WASHINGTON—The House, in a rare Saturday session, voted unanimously to guarantee that federal workers will receive back pay once the government shutdown ends, offering a promise of relief if not an actual rescue to more than 1 million government employees either furloughed or working without pay.

The 407-to-0 vote, on a measure backed by President Obama, followed a morning debate in which lawmakers from both parties extolled government doctors and nurses saving lives, emergency relief workers braving disasters to rescue citizens,

and NASA scientists exploring space. In 2011, many of those same lawmakers, swept to power on a Tea Party wave, pressed for legislation imposing a hard freeze on government salaries and held hearings on a federal work force they said was overpaid and bloated.

After the vote, Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House majority leader, criticized Mr. Obama for what he called a failure of leadership for refusing to negotiate a way out of the impasse. But he said Republican leaders would not allow a vote to reopen the government without delivering a blow to the president’s health

care law, with a delay in the mandate that individuals purchase health insurance and a prohibition on federal subsidies for members of Congress, White House leaders and their staff, who must purchase policies on the law’s new insurance exchanges.

“The Republican position has been and continues to be no special treatment under the law, no special treatment under Obamacare,” Mr. Cantor said.

Frustration among Republicans is growing, however. Representative Dennis A. Ross, Republican of Florida who came to Con-

gress on the Tea Party wave of 2010, said his party was misled if it believed that shutting down the government could disrupt or cripple the Affordable Care Act. Because the health law is paid for by its own funding mechanisms, it is moving forward as other parts of the government have ground to a halt.

“Republicans have to realize how many significant gains we’ve made over the last three years — and we have, not only in cutting spending but really turning the ride on other things,” he said.

“We can’t lose all that when there’s no connection now

between the shutdown and the funding of Obamacare.”

“I think now it’s a lot about pride,” he added.

The House also voted, 400-to-1, on a resolution saying military chaplains should be able to conduct religious services, despite the shutdown. Republicans accused the Obama administration of stifling religious freedom. Representative Adam Smith of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services, said Republicans had concocted an issue that did not exist..”—NYT

Just what is in that chicken nugget?

S

TAND-up comedians have long joked that some things, like the actual compo nents of chicken nuggets, are better left mysterious. Recently, Mississippi researchers found out why: two nuggets they examined consisted of 50 percent or less chicken muscle tissue, the breast or thigh meat that comes to mind when a customer thinks of “chicken.”

The nuggets came from two national fast food chains in Jackson. The three researchers selected one nugget from each box, preserved, dissected and stained the nuggets, then looked at them under a microscope.

The first nugget was about half muscle, with the rest a mix of fat, blood vessels and nerves. Close inspection revealed cells that line the skin and internal organs of the bird, the authors write in the American Journal of Medicine.

The second nugget was only 40 percent muscle, and the remainder was fat, cartilage and pieces of bone. “We all know white chicken meat to be one of the best sources of lean protein available and encourage our patients to eat it,” lead author Dr. Richard D. deShazo of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, said.

“What has happened is that some companies have chosen to use an artificial mixture of chicken parts rather than low-fat chicken white meat, batter it up and fry it and still call it chicken,” deShazo told Reuters Health.

“It is really a chicken by-product high in

calories, salt, sugar and fat that is a very unhealthy choice. Even worse, it tastes great and kids love it and it is marketed to them.”

The nuggets he examined would be okay to eat occasionally, but he worries that since they are cheap, convenient and taste good, kids eat them often. His own grandchildren “beg” for chicken nuggets all the time, and he compromises by making them at home by pan-frying chicken breasts with a small amount of oil, deShazo said.

“Chicken nuggets are an excellent source of protein, especially for kids who might be picky eaters,” said Ashley Peterson, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the National Chicken Council (NCC), a non-profit trade group representing the U.S. chicken industry. According to the NCC, its member producers and processors account for about 95 percent of the chicken produced in the U.S. “This study evaluates only two chicken nugget samples out of the billions of chicken nuggets that are made every year,” Peterson said. A sample size of two nuggets is simply too small to generalize to an entire category of food, she told Reuters Health. Two nuggets is a small sample size, deShazo acknowledged, and some chains have begun to use primarily white meat in their nuggets - just not the particular restaurants he visited. Chicken nuggets tend to have an elevated fat content because they are breaded and fried.

Students and teachers taking part in a walk on World Teachers’ Day organized by UNESCO at D Chowk.—PO photo

CJCSC pays farewell call on President ISLAMABAD—Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Khalid Shameem Wynne on Saturday paid farewell call on President Mamnoon Hussain here at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The President appreciated his long meritorious services for the defence of country and the armed forces.

The President also expressed his best wishes for his future life.—APP

Encroachments at auto market ISLAMABAD—Capital Development Authority (CDA) has a lot to do to create an image of an efficient department and encroachments at auto markets in G-7 show apathy that is unending.

The encroachments are a source of constant nuisance for the visitors.Vendors have encroached at every nook and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne called on Presi- corner of Chenab and Khadda Auto Market.—APP dent Mamnoon Hussain at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday.

Corrupt elements in Capital Police and ICT should be weeded out CITY REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday gave directions for cancellation of 2002 passports issued in violation of rules.

Chairing a meeting at the Interior Ministry, Ch. Nisar said criminal and corrupt elements within FIA, Islamabad Police and ICT should be identified and weeded out.

The minister said the FIA should immediately chalk out an emergency plan to nab human traffickers and those involved in illegal immigration.

The representative of FIA briefed the minster that 14 high profile human traffickers had been arrested and six persons charged for forgery had also been taken under custody.

The Chief Commissioner ICT informed the meeting about the campaign to curb drugs and adulteration and stated that li-

censes of six drug stores had been suspended, one cancelled while two drug stores had been sealed as per directives of the minister.

The minister directed the Chief Commissioner to check hotels and restaurants including Five Star Hotels and “Dhabas” within the region to ensure that there was no adulteration in food or beverages. Nisar noted the hard work of the police department with the satisfaction of the recent Police Operation in I-11 sector and directed that all unregistered “Kachi Abbadis” in and around Islamabad must be dually accounted and registered.

“It must be ensured that no criminal activity originates from the area and no one takes refuge in it and directed to widen this activity to other encroached areas of Islamabad,” he added.

The Traffic Police informed the minister that Islamabad Police has handed down traffic vio-

lation tickets to VIP’s including MNA/MPAs, Provincial Minister, Civil and Military officers and officials from the judicial service.

The Director General Immigrations and Passport briefed the minister about the performance and initiatives launched by his directorate.

Ch. Nisar categorically stated that blue passports will be issued to entitled persons only and that there would be no relaxation of rules in this regard.

The DG Immigration and Passports further mentioned that a computerized check had been placed on the process of issuing blue passports to curb its misuse in future. The Chairman NADRA, on the occasion, presented his report regarding his visit to Awaran in background of the relief work being conducted by the department in earthquake affected region on the directives of the federal minister.

Khuli Kutchery RAWALPINDI—Superintendent Police (SP) Potohar Town Haroon Joya held a ‘Khuli Kutchery’ here at New Town Police Station on Saturday.

The Khuli Kutchery, which was held following the directives of Punjab Chief Minister, Inspector General of Police (IG) Punjab and CPO Rawalpindi, was attended by a large number of citizens.

Police officers concerned were also present on the occasion.—APP

NPC celebrates World Teachers’ Day

Society must recognize teachers’ role, respect them: Speakers Prof Yasinzai says teaching is mission not profession ASHRAF ANSARI I SLAMABAD —Speakers at seminar marking World Teachers’ Day at Aiwan-i-Quaid Saturday highlighted the central role of teachers in educating and character building of the younger generations.

Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) organized the seminar.

Addressing the seminar, Prof Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, vice chancellor Quaid-i-Azam University and acting Rector International Islamic University said, there is no denying the fact that teachers have central role in the process of education but it is also a fact that not all teachers recognize their responsibilities.

He said, teachers should be highly educated and groom themselves before they embark on the teaching profession.

They must understand that teaching is not a profession, it is a mission. He stressed the need for teachers to become role models for the students and build their character along with teaching.

Prominent educationist and former vice chancellor of Allama Iqbal Open University, Prof. Dr. S. M. Zaman said, in the whole system of education,

character building should take precedence over teaching of subjects. He said, the teacher should be like an artisan and he should mould a person into a good human being.

Chairman Sultana Foundation and member NPC executive committee, Dr. Naeem Ghani brought to fore contradictions that are prevalent in Pakistan’s educational system. He said, a large number of children in Pakistan have no access to schools and there is a deficit of 200,000 teachers at the school level.

Eminent educationist Dr. Aliya Asim representing Roots educational institutions said, we at Roots are conscious about the need for character building of our students saying that the ultimate purpose of education should be grooming the youth and developing their personality in all respects.She said, Pakistan can make rapid progress through providing purposeful education to its younger generation.

Dr. Mohammad Afzal, President Islamabad Private School Association in his speech said, the state, government and

society should give education highest priority as it is education alone that would empower the nation to overcome the emerging challenges.He pointed out that even in Islamabad capital territory about 200,000 children are out of schools. He also called for maintaining desirable standards of education in all institutions, private or public.

Prof. Dr. Musarrat of Fatima Jinnah Women University in her s p e e c h touched on vital issues of education. She said, there was need to upgrade the quality of teachers through training. She was happy to note that initiatives had been taken at various levels to modernize training and update curricula.

Ali Moin Nawazish, a prominent intellectual and media person said, though Pakistan faced many challenges at the movement, the most pressing one relates to education.

He pointed out that a good society. tance of teachers and give system of education can bring He also underlined the them due honour in the sociabout a positive change in this need to recognize the true impor- ety.

Key to address all problems of Pakistan is education

Key to education is respect to teachers: Zahid Malik L IAQAT T OOR I S L A M A B A D —Mr. Zahid

Malik, Editor-in-Chief, Pakistan Observer, has said that though Pakistan is lagging behind in almost all walks of life compared with other developing countries, yet total apathy to education is most deplorable and somewhat criminal.

Mr. Malik, who is also the Chairman of Nazriya Pakistan Council (Trust), said this in his address at the World Teachers Day function organized by the Council at the Aiwan-i-Quaid.

Having urged the Government to prioritize education, he highlighted how the NPC was engaged in motivating awareness of the necessity of bringing the school-less children to the four walls of the educational institutions.

ISLAMABAD: NPC arranged a seminar at Aiwan-i-Quaid to mark World Teachers “NPC sometimes shudder to Day Saturday. Sitting on the dais (from L to R) are Dr. Afzal, Prof. Dr. S. M. Zaman, imagine the fate of the counProf. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, Mr. Zahid Malik and Dr. Naeem Ghani.—PO photo by try if reported 30 million children remain without schoolSultan Bashir

ing.”

He explained the gathering that the Taleem Network of Pakistan (TNP) launched by the NPC was engaged in inspiring well-to-do individuals as well as organizations of Pakistan to sponsor school-less children and the response was quite encouraging.

He said the fact that the Presidents of various Chapters, the Council has opened in several cities in the country, were educationists reflects the importance and respect the Council attaches to the teachers in Pakistan.

The NPC’s drive to get plaques of the Quaid’s quotes on the importance of education and the expectations of the Founder of Pakistan from the youth hanged at almost all educational institutions was reflective of the NPC’s emphasis on education, Mr. Malik maintained.

PCRWR conducting survey of 12,000 water schemes 05:30 01:30

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan

Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) is Zohr conducting technical assessment survey of about 12,000 04:45 water schemes.

According to officials, the survey of water schemes in 96 districts so 07:45 far showed that 72 percent Brothers in Islam establish schemes are functional and regular prayers and charity providing safe drinking water only to 23 percent urban and 14 percent rural areas. The major contamination found was microbiological, while others Continuing were Arsenic, Fluoride and Nitrate.

PAINTING exhibition by The officials said recIranian artist Mohsen ommendations with workKeiany, at the Tanzara Gal- able solutions based on the lery, House No.14, Street assessment survey have 12, Sector F-7/2, been provided to the conIslamabad, continuing up cerned departments to take to October 18. remedial actions.

The council has also deEXHIBITION of paintings veloped cost effective sotitled ‘Halluginations’, by lutions including water testOmar Farid, at the gallery ing kits, safe water filter, 6, House 19, Street 10, F- water disinfection tablets 8/3, Islamabad, continue and drinking water treattill October 20 daily (except ment sachets.—Online for Eid holidays) from 11 am to 7 pm.

Lease of old grant properties R AWALPINDI —The cantonment boards authorities have extended the deadline for submitting fee in accordance with the new ‘lease grant policy’ to renew the property lease to 2015.

The properties of those residents who fail to submit the fee within the due date will be confiscated.

On the other hand, the old lease grant property holders have rejected the new policy and demanded of the competent authority to give them ownership right of the property instead of renewing their lease. They said that they had been living there for many generations and are not being given ownership even now.

They said that they would collectively start a protest movement throughout the country if the cantonment boards took any action against them.—INP

10 outlaws arrested R AWALPINDI —Rawalpindi police, in its continued drive against anti-social elements, have arrested 10 outlaws, including three drunkards, besides recovering charras, liquor, illegal arms and a stolen vehicle from their possession.

According to a police spokesman, Saddar Baroni police held Aamir on recovery of 200 grams charras, while Rattaamral police booked Asif for having eight bottles of liquor.

Naseerabad police apprehended Matloob with a 30-bore pistol and three rounds. Similarly, City police arrested Anjum and Ahsan for having 25 pistol rounds each.

Rawat police nabbed Munir on recovery of a 12bore carbine.

Meanwhile, Cantt police arrested Muhammad Ali and seized a stolen Alto car.

Airport police nabbed Saif, Mahboob and Qamar while they were allegedly Ambassador of the State of Palestine Walid A M Abu Ali, Ambassador of Algeria Dr Ahmad Benflis, High Commissioner of Mauritius Rashad under the influence of alDaureeawo, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam Col (Retd) Haji Ra’emi Maleek Haji Wahab, General Manager PC Hotel Rawalpindi Aamir H cohol and sent them beKazi and Public Relations Manager Asad ul Hussain inaugurating Regional Food Festival 2013 at PC Hotel Rawalpindi.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir hind bars.—APP

15 dengue positive patients under treatment

Preventive measures stressed to avert dengue fever CITY REPORTER R AWALPINDI —Fifteen dengue positive patients are under treatment in Allied hospitals here so far during this season, 58 positive cases have been discharged and recovered.

According to details, out of total 350 suspects registered to date, who were brought to Allied hospitals with some symptoms of dengue and high fever, 73 were positive and 256 were negative while the reports of 21 patients are awaited.

Data collected by APP, pointed out that out of total suspects, received by the al-

lied hospitals during this season, 73 were tested positive by National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad while 256 were negative.

As mant as 17 new suspected patients reported in last 24 hours while 37 patients are currently admitted in Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital. Seven patients were discharged during last 24 hours.

It is pertinent to mention here that Health teams, under the ongoing anti-dengue drive, visited various urban and rural localities of the Rawalpindi district and

found dengue larva in 582 areas where immediate fumigation was carried out to destroy the breeding, District Officer (Health), Dr Ansar Ishaque said.

In order to avert attack of dengue virus, all possible preventive measures must be adopted as prevention is better than cure said Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) Holy Family Hospital (HFH) Dr. Javed Hayat.

Talking to APP he said maximum preventive measures should be adopted to fight dengue virus.

Dengue is an infectious disease causing frequent epidemics.

CDA prepares lists of fake degree employees I SLAMABAD —The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started preparing lists of its officers and employees having fake degrees and involved in corruption or any other illegal activities.

According to CDA officials, the civic authority has decided to consider degrees of all those employees who failed to submit their verified degree.

Only the names of those employees and officials who submit degrees verified by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) will not be included in the lists.

The officials said that charge sheet of all CDA employees involved in corruption, bribery and other illegal activities are being prepared, which will include the information about their bank accounts, house, property, vehicles and other similar belongings.—INP

Crackdown on vehicles with tinted glasses R AWALPINDI —City Traffic Police Rawalpindi has decided to launch crackdown against the vehicles with tinted glasses in pursuance of the orders of IG Punjab Khan Beg. Special squads have been set up to make the campaign success.

These squads will remove the black papers from the vehicles and issue challan tickets on the spot to the drivers using tinted glasses in their vehicles.

Chief Traffic Officer Syed Ishtiaq Hussain has issued directives to all warden officers, sectors incharge and DSPs of all circles asking them to ensure that campaign is launched under their supervision.—Online

Sacrificial animals prices out of masses’ reach RAWALPINDI—The inflation and hike in the prices of the commodities of everyday use along with the increase in the petroleum price has made it impossible for the majority of the citizens to buy animals to sacrifice on upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

According to a survey conducted by INP, prices of the sacrificial animals have surged up to 50 to 100 percent as compared to last year in major cities of the country including Rawalpindi.

Thus majority of the population of the city is doing window shopping in the animal markets. This year, sheep is costing Rs15,000 to 30,000, goat Rs20,000 to Rs40,000 and prices of bull and buffalo have gone up to Rs100,000 to Rs250,000.

According to reports, the sellers of the sacrificial animals are of the view that with the hike in the price of petroleum prices, transportation and fodder cost have also increased therefore they had to raise the prices of animals.

They said that they spend the whole year on taking care of the animals and if they do not sell on some profit now, the hard work of their entire year will go waste.—INP

President assures support for poverty eradication CITY REPORTER ISLAMABAD—President Mamnoon Hussain has said that the government will support Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and the Asian Association of Open Universities in their efforts achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of poverty eradication and education for all. Speaking at the concluding session of 27th annual conference of Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) held here on Friday at Pak-China Friendship Centre, he said, distant education can play an effective role in providing learning opportunities to diverse groups of the society.

He said such kind of learning will also prepare the new generation to fight social evils such as mal-administration, corruption and terrorism, which have plagued our economic development.

Education is a top priority item on our agenda for development and we are tak-

ing all possible measures to promote education at all levels, the President said and added the government appreciates Allama Iqbal Open University and Asian Association of Open Universities for their efforts establishing a knowledge-based society that helps improve the living condition of the masses.

The President Mamnoon Hussain said the government attaches high priority to education and will extend all support to the relevant institutions to effectively address issues and future challenges in education sector.

The concluding session was also addressed by the President of AAOU, Prof.Dr Ho Sinn Chye and Vice Chancellor of AIOU, Prof.Dr.Nazir Ahmed Sangi while the conference was attended by around 250 delegates from home and abroad.

The President said the two-days deliberations would help enhanced partnership and cooperation

among the member countries in various fields of distance learning and benefit from each other’s experiences and expertise.

He hoped that it would not only serve the cause of distant learning but would also help forging fruitful partnership among the member countries to promote distant education mechanism in the region.

He added that the AIOU has also embarked upon an ambitious plan of Open schooling to bring out-ofschool and drop-out young men and women into the mainstream of education.

He said the scheme also envisages educating one million out-of-school young females through Open Schooling system.

The President said that the government has also introduced constructive schemes for the welfare of youth and sufficient funds have been allocated to promote education and self-employment of the youth.

Threat of Congo Virus in animals I SLAMABAD —Lack of ar-

Students crossing road from the broken fence at Murree Road which may cause serious accident. It needs attention of the authorities concerned.

SC moved for larger bench for army chief appointment I S L A M A B A D — S u p r e m e president and prime minister case was to be heard before Court (SC) has been approached for constitution of larger bench in army chief appointment case.

The petitioner Shahid Orakzai has taken plea in the petition filed by him in SC Saturday that president should not show any haste in the matter of appointment of army chief as the constitution has given him 15 days to deliberate over respective advice of the Prime Minister.

Under article 48 of the constitution, the president can persuade the PM to review his advice, he said.

It was further stated in the plea that the aforementioned appointment can not be made at the individual discretion of the President or PM and the

will not be able to discharge this responsibility under the law and constitution without the decision of the SC because the apex court had not interpreted any military law in this connection so far.

President should not be allowed to become victim to any pressure as the constitution has given a specific period to do this job.

The petitioner said the respondent Mian Nawaz Sharif had staged long march in March, 2009 for independence of judiciary. Therefore, the case pertaining to appointment of army chief be not fixed before such a judge who has benefited from long march, he further pleaded.

It may be recalled this

Wapda Inspector sustains injuries R AWALPINDI —Wapda In- spector identified as Yaqoob spector of Waris khan police station sustained severe injuries when unidentified armed attackers opened indiscriminate firing on him.

As per detail, Wapda In-

went to Liaquat Bagh for performing his day duty when unknown armed miscreants boarded on motorcycle opened unprovoked firing on him.— Online

bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on October, 2 but it was adjourned due to shortage of time.

The court had ordered for fixing this case for hearing in next week.—Online

rangements for testing Congo virus in sacrificial animals in their respective markets has posed the threat of spread of this epidemic in citizens.

The numbers of people have multiplied in the sacrificial markets for purchasing the animals as Eid-ul-Azha reached near, but non-arrangement of testing of Congo virus has raised the chance of this epidemic in animals.District Administration of the city has taken no precautionary steps to prevent citizens from this disease although this virus has been confirmed in different butcher families.

Citizens have demanded from higher concerned authorities to take health safety measures in regard to create awareness among citizens about this virus.—Online

A teacher teaching his students in an open school for the poor children of F-6 Kachi Abadi on World Teachers Day.

Protest against moratorium of capital punishment

I SLAMABAD —Political and against moratorium of capireligious parties protesting tal punishment have said that suspension of implementation on death penalty is similar to provide security to the terrorists.

On Friday talking to Online, Secretary General (SG) Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri said, “It will be the biggest cruelty with Pakistan and its people if capital punishment is delayed, it seems that this decision has been also implemented from outside the country”.

On the same question, SG Shia Ulema Council Allama Arif Husain Wahidi responded terrorist have been given free hand by delaying the capital punishment, while council will stage severe protest against non implementation on the laws of Qisas, Diyat and Hadud.

Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Ch Nisar Ali Khan receiving a donaSG Jamat Islami (JI) tion of one million rupees from Chairman NADRA, Tariq Malik, for earthquake victims. Liaqat Baloch stated that

don’t know upon who’s will rulers want to suspend the implementation on death penalty.

He said JI will not allow eliminating the laws of Quran at any cost.

Deputy SG Majlis Wahdat-Muslameen Allama Amin Shahidi gave his argument that “from first day we were demanding to meet with terrorist with iron hands but government is giving them relief and for this purpose government is not implementing on capital punishment”.

Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam (F) and JI also said that they will protest in the parliament also if against moratorium of capital punishment while resist against any legislation contradicting with Islamic Laws.

They have urged the government to lift moratorium on capital punishment — Online

Indian troops martyr 4 more youth S RINAGAR —In

occupied Kashmir, Indian troops, in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred 4 more Kashmiri youth during a violent military operation in Keran area of Kupwara district. The troops have killed 22 Kashmiris during the operation that continued for the 13th day, today, in the area.

People took to the streets and staged forceful demonstrations in Zalangam area of Kokernag, today, against abduction and rape of a woman

by Indian men in uniform.

Complete shutdown was ob-

NC leader raises doubts SRINAGAR—In occupied Kashmir, senior leader of pro-India National Conference, Mustafa Kamal, has raised doubts about ISLAMABAD: Former AJK Prime Minister Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry inquiring about health of former the police claims that a shootout took place between militants AJK Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum in hospital. (mujahideen) and police in Ahmad Nagar area of Srinagar on Wednesday night in which at least eight cops were injured.

Mustafa Kamal while speaking in the so-called Assembly said that the incident triggered fear psychosis and panic among S RINAGAR —In occupied the locals.—KMS Kashmir, Voice of Victims S RINAGAR —In occupied cluding hygienic food and Condemning the arrest (VoV), a local human rights Kashmir, the veteran Hurriyet medical care. He said that and torture of government forum, has expressed dissat- leader, Syed Ali Gilani has ex- Hurriyet leaders and activists employees, the veteran leader isfaction over the probe an- pressed serious concern over including Muhammad Ayub said that the authorities were nounced by the puppet chief the plight of illegally detained Dar, Yaseen Yattoo, Shakeel trying to resolve every issue minister, Omar Abdullah, into Kashmiris including Hurriyet Ahmad Butt, Maqsood through force. He said that the the killing of five youth by the leaders and activists lan- Ahmed Butt, Aijaz Ahmed people throughout the world personnel of Indian Central guishing in different prisons Dar, Bilal Ahmed Dar, had right to raise voice for Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of the territory and India. Muhammad Ashraf Kumar their rights but in the occuin Shopian. The VoV Execu- Syed Ali Gilani in a statement and Shabbir Ahmed Butt were pied territory, those struggling tive Director, Abdul Qadeer in Srinagar deplored that the losing health due to lack of for their rights peacefully Khan, and Coordinator, detainees were not being pro- facilities in Srinagar Central were subjected to brute Abdur Rauf Khan, in a state- vided with basic amenities in- Jail and Baramulla sub-jail. force.—KMS ment issued in Srinagar said that such inquiries in the past had failed to produce positive results. They said that actually the authorities had J AMMU—In occupied Kash- against the Hurriyet leaders (AI) had described it as ‘Lawstopped the police from bring- mir, the Jammu and Kashmir and activists in the territory. less law” in 2011 and had ing facts to fore. They said Peoples Movement (JKPM), APHC leader and the JKPM strongly recommended its rethat there was no doubt that a constituent of the All Par- Chairman, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, peal. He said that hundreds inthe CRPF personnel were in- ties Hurriyet Conference in a statement issued in Rajouri nocent Kashmiris especially volved in the killings but the (APHC), has said that the said that the international hu- youth had been languishing in puppet administration was authorities are using the dra- man rights organizations had different jails of India and the still reluctant to take any ac- conian law, Public Safety Act strongly criticized the PSA and occupied territory under the tion against the perpetra- (PSA), as a weapon of war even the Amnesty International black law.—KMS tors.—KMS

VOV dissatisfied with probe into Shopian killings

Gilani expresses concern over Kashmiri detainees’ plight

Draconian PSA being used as weapon of war

served in the area. The demonstrators blocked the Islamabad-Kokernag Highway, demanding identification and prosecution of the perpetrators.

Senior APHC leader, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, and the spokesman of Jamaat-e-Islami of the occupied territory in their separate statements strongly denounced the incident. The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, in a statement in Srinagar expressed serious concern over the miserable plight of illegally detained Kashmiris in-

cluding Hurriyet leaders and activists. He appealed to the world human rights organizations to fulfill their obligations vis-à-vis the Kashmiri prisoners. The veteran leader also condemned the arrest of the leaders of government employees, demanding their immediate release.

APHC leader, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, in a statement issued in Rajouri said that the occupation authorities were using draconian law, Public Safety Act, as a weapon of war against Hurriyet leaders and activists to break their

resolve. Another APHC leader, Yasmeen Raja, leading a delegation visited Khanmoh area of Srinagar and condoled with the bereaved family of a youth, Shaukat Ahmad, who was recently killed by Indian troops.

The Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Political Movement, Firdous Ahmad Shah, in a statement in Srinagar said that India was intentionally trying to sabotage the peace process by claiming that infiltrators were crossing the Line of Control.—KMS

Abduction, molestation of woman in Kokernag denounced SRINAGAR—In occupied Kash- the crime. He pointed out that crime and inquiry commission mir, senior APHC leader, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, has denounced in strong terms the abduction and rape of a woman

by Indian men in uniform in Zalangam area of Kokernag.

Shabbir Ahmed Shah in a statement issued in Srinagar expressing sorrow over the incident said that India had adopted double-standard on

India awarded the perpetrators of rape with death penalty in the country while in Kashmir it was using it as a weapon of war to suppress the Kashmiris’ ongoing liberation struggle.

He said, if an Indian trooper is found involved in a rape case in the occupied territory, the whole machinery is set into motion to hide the

are constituted to pacify the tempers, but as soon as the public anger cools down, the matter is buried. Shabbir Shah pointed out that the perpetrators of mass rape of Kunanposhpora, Shopian double rape and murder incident and the Kishtwar communal clashes were neither identified nor prosecuted.—KMS

Solar powered ACs Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD—With a serious power crisis and rising fuel prices, Pakistan’s industry appears to be looking toward alternative solutions to overcome its energy needs. The industry’s predicament also seems to have piqued the interest of foreign companies trying to find new markets for their eco-friendly, energy-efficient products. One such example is the Chinese multinational Midea Commercial Air Conditioner (CAC), which has announced it will be distributing three new “green, energy-efficient” solutions for the Pakistani Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) industry. The products, which fall under Midea’s MDV brand, include a solar-powered airconditioner, a DC Inverter Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system and a “Dual Storage Full Falling-Film Centrifugal Chiller.”

FESCO shutdown Observer Report FAISALABAD—The Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) has issued a shutdown notice for repair, maintenance and expansion of electricity lines.

According to the notice issued by the company, power supply from Islampura, Data, Jinnah, Gardana, Sarshmeer and Sabzi Mandi feeders emanating from 132-KV Jhang Road grid station will remain suspended from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. while Faiz Abad feeder originating from 132-KV Narwala Road grid station will observe shutdown from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Monday (October 07). Similarly, electricity supply from Sindhu, Khurdpur, Aminpur and Langrana feeders emanating from 132-KV Narwala Road grid station will also remain suspended from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on October 07, 2013.

PQ remains active KARACHI—Three ships arrived at Port to load/offload containers at Qict, chemical at Evtl, palm oil at Lct on Friday.

Berth occupancy was maintained at 71% at the Port on Friday where a total of Ten ships namely M.V Kps-I Alican Bey-Powership, M.T Gulf Oasis. M.V Alammanis, M.V Luzern, M.V MSC Levina, M.V Dong Hai Jun 7001-(Dredger) M.T Bahrain Vision, M.T Argent Hibiscus, M.V South. M.V Capital, are currently occupying berths to load/offload, containers, cement, palm oil, fertilizer, chemical and wheat. Cargo handling operations were carried out smoothly at the Port where a cargo volume 43319 tonnes comprising 32133 tonnes import, 11186 tonnes export and (912) Tues was handled at the Port during last 24 hours. M.V Msc Levina sailed at Saturday morning.

M.V Msc Clementina at Qict M.V Lady Amna at FAP arrival on Saturday as per arrival schedule.—APP

Tractor industry in crisis STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—The country’s indigenous tractor industry has almost closed, as one of the major manufacturers Al-Ghazi Tractors has stopped its production for the last three months while Millat Tractors Ltd is presently operating at 20 percent of its total production capacity. This has rendered some 300 plus tier 1 suppliers and thousands of workers who work in these factories and down stream industries jobless.

Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufactures (PAAPAM) Chairman Usman Aslam Malik has said that rest of the small tractor assemblers have also suspended their production, as new orders are not arriving from the cash-starved and flood-hit farmers of the coun-

try. Due to high tractor prices this basic tool of agriculture is no longer within reach of even the large land holding farmers and there has been no support both at federal and provincial level in the new government setup.

He said that lack of farm mechanisation policy at federal and provincial level, high level of taxation on tractors as compared to the regional counties, high inflation, floods, devaluation of rupee, and unprecedented hike in utility tariffs have dragged down the sale of tractors, leading to dead level production despite having capacity of producing 80,000 units annually.

He said tractor manufacturers have suspended procurement of parts from their vendors as there are already several thousand unsold tractors dumped at their plants and countrywide dealership network. Tractor prices surged by Rs 100,000 to

Rs 200,000 a unit depending on engine horse power after imposition of 11 percent GST, plunging the industry in turmoil and endangering investment of billions of rupees.

“Thousands of auto parts manufacturing units which provide 92 percent parts to the tractor industry are laying off their 0.5 million workers after closure of tractor manufacturing units.”

While Pakistan is constantly showing negative year on year tractor sale trend, producing 48,000 units last year against 80,000 units in 2010-11, neighbouring India has registered 7.0 percent jump in sale of tractors by manufacturing 632,279 units in the current fiscal year, as levies by the Indian government has never exceeded the 5.0 percent to 8.0 percent figure, with consistent and massive subsidies to the agri sector.

Efforts to utilise KPK natural resources STAFF CORRESPONDENT P E S H AWA R —Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Parvez Khattak has said that the province is endowed with rich natural resources of oil, gas and hydro potentials and his government will make every effort to get maximum output from these sources.

Presiding over a high-level meeting held at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, the chief minister approved restructuring the administrative framework of government owned oil & gas company and Pakhtunkhwa HydelPower Development Organisation (PHYDO). The restructuring will facilitate quick decision-making and hiring of

key technical and administrative human capital on market based salaries. The KP government will also put sizable investment in its financial obligations for achieving the physical goals and attracting ample foreign direct investment (FDI) in the three sectors of oil, gas and hydropower.

Earlier representatives from MOL Pakistan Oil & gas Co led

by Ali Murtaza Abbas, political advisor, met with the chief minister and presented a brief on the company’s performance in KPK. MOL Group a leading integrated oil & gas group in Central & Eastern Europe headquartered in Hungary, is a market leader in each of its core activities in Hungary, Slovakia & Croatia.

MOL Pakistan as operator of Tal Block has six successive discoveries to its credit.

These are Manzala, Makori1Mami-Khel-1, Maramzai-1, Margalla and Karak. Leasing of a few sites is yet in the process of approval at Federal Government. The Chief Minister was informed that the company is producing 306 mmscftd which is sufficient to meet the requirements of KPK, while the oil exploration is 15500 barrels per day.

MOL has set up new plant starting production of 300 MTons of LPG in early next year. This will give a substantial relief to the LPG consumers.

Pervez Khattak appreci

Continued on Page 14

Logistics shipping and SCM moot to commence on Oct 10 STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Micheal has said that effective and practical steps are being taken for the development of shipping industry while improvement work of channels and dragging will also start from next month.

He was speaking with a delegation of organizing committee of 3rd Logistic, Shipping and Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition being held on October 10 here, said a statement on Satur-

day. The delegation comprised of Chairman Organizing Committee Naeem Qureshi, Advisor Atiq Ur Rehman and Project Head Mehmood Tareen, called on the Minister in PNSC building here.

On the occasion, Mehmood Tareen apprised the Minister that all stakeholders are actively participating in this mega event while more than 20 international delegates are expected to attend the event. Foreign delegates will also speak about the advancements of logistics, supply chain and shipping.

Speakers and experts will include Chairman Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Chairman Karachi Port Trust, Chairman PSSA, PIFFA, ACAAPA, SCAP, Tariq Rangoon wala, Moin Malik CEO Agility,CEO IPDF, Hanif Idress CFO DHL ,Former DG ports Capt Anwer Shah,Zubair Motiwala Chairman SBOI and others. The delegation informed the Minister that organizations will also be honoured with Green Supply Chain Award on their best practices.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance, Muhammad Ishaq Dar in a meeting with Richard G Olson, US Ambassador.

PSO buys 0.4m tonnes gasoline for Oct-Jan

NCL posts Rs 2.3b PAT STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI —Nishat Chunian Limited (NCL) has posted

after tax (PAT) of Rs 2.3 SINGAPORE—Pakistan State profit billion for the fiscal year 2012Oil Co Ltd bought 400,000 tonnes of gasoline for delivery over October to January at prices lower than its previous tender, industry sources said.

The state-owned company bought four cargoes of 50,000 tonnes each of 87-octane gasoline for delivery from mid-October to November at premiums ranging from $63 to $71.50 a tonne to Middle East naphtha quotes, said one of the sources.

Three cargoes were from Gunvor and one from Oman Trading International. The firm also bought another four cargoes of similar volumes and specification at premiums ranging from $64 to $68.50 a tonne for delivery over December to mid-January, the source added.

Total and Gunvor are set to supply one cargo each, while OTI will supply two. Pakistan’s gasoline demand has been steadily increasing due to a gas shortage in the country, causing more cars to switch to petrol from compressed natural gas, sources said.

PSO last bought six cargoes with similar volumes for delivery over September to October at premiums ranging from $104 to $113.88 a tonne from Trafigura and OTI.—Agencies

Italian energy experts offer help to SCCI STAFF REPORTER

SIALKOT—Italian solar and renewable energy experts have offered help to Sialkot industries to cope with the energy crisis.

Addressing a meeting of Sialkot-based business tycoons at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Saturday, Italian experts Gianluca Trotta, Gianelli Angelo and Mastranglo Felice offered lucrative incentive packages for their investment in projects of solar energy plants at Sialkot.

SCCI President Dr. Sarfraz Bashir presided over the meeting. He said the SCCI was also seeking foreign investment for establishing a 100 megawatt solar energy project at Sialkot and “If you concede the it is in close contact with Ameriobvious you’re concedcan, Chinese and German coming nothing, but you panies. Former SCCI Presidents gain back credibility.

Naeem Anwar Qureshi, Mian That’s a trade you Naeem Javaid, Babar Iqbal and should make every Mobilink Torchbearers handing over food supplies for earthquake affectees to PDMA Sheikh Abdul Wahid Sandal also time.”

Balochistan and Pakistan Navy. attended the meeting.

13 (FY13), up enormously by 229 percent as against 699 million PAT in the previous fiscal year.

It announced its earnings per share (EPS) of Rs 12.51 in FY13 as compared with the EPS of Rs 3.84 in FY12. The result came slightly below our EPS expectations of Rs 12.85 mainly due to the lower other incomes during the year, said JS research

analyst. Along with the result, the board of directors also announced a final cash dividend of 20 percent and a bonus issue of 10 percent. NCL’s sales grew by 14 percent on yearly basis to Rs 21.2 billion in FY13 as against 18.6 billion in FY12.

Such a massive growth in sales led to higher gross margins of 16.9 percent compared to 11.2 percent in the corresponding period last year. Support also came in from lower finance cost, which was down by 8 percent on yearly basis on account of lower interest rates during the period. However, the rise in ad-

ministration and distribution expenses, which were up 20 percent on year somewhat curtailed the growth, the analysts added.

Moreover, NCL has planned to increase the number of spindles by 22,000 to 171,948.

This expansion will lead to increase in the company’s yarn production capacity by 7.05 million kilogrammes (KGs) to 55.06 million KGs, assuming new spindles would produce 320 KGs of yarn per spindle. This project is in addition to the acquired spinning assets of Taj Textile Mills which has a capacity of 40,000 spindles.

STEVTA steps forward with job-oriented plans for youth STAFF REPORTER KARACHI —Socio-economic problems, lack of education and skills and poverty were serious problems towards having ideal developed society in the country. The poverty was also the main cause that diverted the social trend towards creating criminal elements in the society.

Public Private Partnership for linking educational and training opportunities to the job opportunities was the only solution that not only would eradicate those problems but would also put the youth on job, who at present were being misused by the anti-state elements.

Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA) managing director (MD) G A Baloch while addressing the consultative work-

shop organized by the management of STEVTA stated this at local hotel Saturday.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the workshop the STEVTA MD said that this government had stepped forward and launched public private partnership under the STEVTA programme to create more skilled manpower and linking it to the job opportunities.

He said that under this programme, we had engaged many successful organizations like institute of business administration (IBA), Sukkur for running marketable skill training programmes and mono technical institutes at different places in Sindh.

He said that skills had much importance for productivity of any organizations and in order to ensure the objectives of pub-

lic private partnership, his management had proposed to the government for creating human resources committee headed by private partners.

He said that STEVTA had 251 institutes to run and it had vast, important and useful infrastructure to create income and employment opportunities for youths of Sindh. He said that we had good talented human resources, which could be utilized within and outside the country.

He said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was taking keen interest not only for creating skill development among youths but also had invited the educational institutions of England and other foreign countries to open their campus in Sindh and provide language training to our skilled manpower so that they could be enable to get jobs at abroad.

NBP opens branch at Wagah border

KASB Bank inaugurates branch in Sialkot

The collector custom said at the moment “It is a great pleasure I SLAMABAD —The National to open this branch as NBP is playBank of Pakistan (NBP) has ing pivotal role to in Pakistan opened a branch at Wagah bor- economy for its services to the der, Lahore to facilitate bilateral nation. MNA Shaukat said, “We trade. The new branch is a re- are proud of the achievements of flection of the Bank’s strong NBP particularly impressed with this initiative to business growth Picture on Page 14 open this branch and commitment to facilitate tax payers and at the hub of this Pak-India Borbusiness community to expedite der which would facilitate the the trading process to avoid any business community and trade related activities. Speaking on the delay in transmitting funds.

The businessmen has occasion, Akram said the branch thanked specially the manage- opening is a major achievement ment of NBP to redress the long and NBP would play a vital role awaited demand of the business- in accelerating trade between the men through establishment of two countries. Jamali said that full branch instead of collection NBP has widely penetrated branches across Pakistan. booth here.

STAFF REPORTER

STAFF REPORTER

K ARACHI —KASB Bank in line with its strategy to provide innovative financial products is in process of transforming its 21 conventional branches into Business Branches.

Faisalabad Branch, Karachi I.I. Chundrigar Branch, Hyderabad Saddar Cantt Branch, Lahore Gulberg Branch, Lahore Peco Road Branch, Lahore Circular Road Branch, Karachi Korangi Industrial Area Branch, Trust Plaza G.T Road Gujranwala Branch and Sialkot Shahabpura Road Branch are now functional as Business Branches.

Planning Commission fails to implement ADB recommendations STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD —Despite the fact that Pharma industry will hit $1bn exports till 2015 unreasonable price caps and absence of mechanism to regularly adjust prices of medicines manufactured in the country during last few years have not only eroded pharmaceutical companies’ profitability but also hampered the sector’s growth and foreign investment.

Industry sources said flawed policies have virtually removed Pakistan from the list of the countries that can attract foreign investment, while existing multinational and local companies have only been making surviving strategies instead of planning growth and expansion of their operations in the country.

It is believed that during last few years there could have been substantial amount of foreign and local investment in the pharma sector, especially to es-

tablish FDA approved plants. It is worth adding here that in India there are 90 FDA certified plants, while there are 40 in Italy, 22 in China, 10 in Taiwan, 4 in Bangladesh, 3 in Jordan, and none in Pakistan.

‘The above mentioned views have been endorsed in a detailed syndication that was carried out on high potential sectors’ issues by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Planning Commission’s steering committee in 2010. However, the Plan-

ning Commission has put aside the report and nothing has been done on the proposed solutions by the government and the concerned authorities since then,’ said a top official of a pharmaceutical company.

As per the research report the EBIT (earning before interest and tax) margin is declining continuously for top multinational pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan. For example, the EBIT margin for a leading Pharma MNC was 22% in 2006 which

declined to stand at 10% in 2012.

Similarly, another MNC had 23% EBIT margin in 2006 which went down to 20% in 2012, while for third one the said margin was 20% in 2006 and now it was standing at 8% in 2012.

‘Average global industry profitability is 30%, therefore, low margins for pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan are conducive in making the country less attractive as destination for investment,’ added the official.

‘Due to freeze on pricing

since the last decade, it is the pharmaceutical sector and ultimate the general public that are suffering, for they face shortage of medicines. This situation is only giving rise to the smuggling of medicines. It is therefore high time the government should take all stakeholders on board and build a consensus over future pricing and investment decisions,’ added the official.

The report mentioned that tight price control in the industry is affecting industry growth and result-

ing in the unfulfillment of social objectives. ‘On the one hand, this issue is hindering the social objectives that include availability, affordability, and quality of drugs.

And on the other hand, the industry is failing to achieve economic objectives that include industry growth/GDP growth, exports growth, and investment in industry,’ stated the report.

The report further stated that the industry is indicating that price rationalization will trigger investment and growth, and position

players for export. ‘The government can expect renewed investment and export development (and the associated jobs, income and tax revenues) in return for price reform, regular reviews, and stability in regime,’ reasoned the report.

This shows, the official adds, that there is a need for rapid resolution on price reform as renewed investment and pursuit of largest export markets are dependent on rationalized pricing.

Currency

Selling Buying

FPCCI to support transparent, responsible privatisation: Zubair Malik

USA

105.50

105.30

UK

171.31

170.99

EURO

143.55

143.28

Canada

102.18

101.99

ISLAMABAD—The Federation

Switzerland

117.11

116.89

Australia

99.08

98.89

of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday lauded the decision of the government to initiate offloading the bleeding stateowned entities (SOEs) so that deficit can be reduced by Rs 500 billion per annum.

However, it stressed on the transparent and responsible privatisation and giving preference to the corporations that tops the list of loss-making entities.

The government should not sell anything to those who have already bought national assets but defaulted to avoid charges of nepotism, said Zubair Ahmed Malik, President FPCCI while speaking to the business community.

He said that white elephants shouldn’t be sold to the parties interested in selling machinery,

Sweden

16.57

16.54

Japan

1.0804

1.0784

Norway

17.58

17.55

Singapore

84.51

84.35

Denmark

19.24

19.21

Omani Riyal

256.00

253.00

Saudi Arabia

28.13

28.08

Hong Kong

13.60

13.58

Kuwait

373.95

373.25

Malaysia

33.00

32.29

Newzeland

87.67

87.50

Qatar

28.97

28.92

UAE

28.72

28.67

KR WON

0.0982

0.0980

Thailand

3.381

3.374

Bullion Rates KARACHI—Following were the bullion rates in major cities yesterday.

RS PER 10 GRAMS KARACHI: Gold Tezab Silver Tezabi

45857.00 728.75

MULTAN: Gold Tezabi (24-Ct) Gold 22 Ct SilverTezabi Silver Thobi

STAFF REPORTER

45 daily use items not chargeable STAFF REPORTER

45800.00 43200.00 789.00 760.00

Ecommerce vital to retail business in Pakistan MUZAFFAR ALI LAHORE—“The rise of digital technologies, retail is now dominated by the shopping mall model – centralized hubs where the customer experience becomes increasingly homogenized and after a sharp rise in online sales, more consumers are using mobile device to research products, comparison shop and purchase items online on the fly.”

Keeping this in view, World’s leading B2B platform Alibaba.com in collaboration of its strategic business partner Pearl Shine Group International (PSGI) on Saturday arranged a training seminar to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan to understand the importance of Ecommerce for international business growth.

For the first time in Pakistan, Alibaba.com hosted a training and awareness seminar named “International Trade Secret 2013” for the business community specific to Manufacturers, Exporters, Suppliers, Importers, Buyers and traders of Pakistan, which was attended by a large number of small and medium entrepreneur entities.

Experts and successful business entities using the platform shared their views and experiences about Ecommerce business as well as vitality of role of Internet playing in the growth of businesses either in local or international market.

Ch Muhammad Shafiq Provisional Minister of Commerce Industry and investment Punjab addressed and emphasized on Ecommerce business and Internet Role. While addressing the seminar’s participants, Irfan Haider Awan, PSGI Founder & CEO said that online B2B market place shifted the major components of any SME to one window operational facility as multiplying a seller’s prospects, opportunities and linkages with International market under one umbrella.

land and other assets rather than running it successfully as observed in some earlier cases.

Moreover, he said, sale to the business groups with vested interests and the mistakes committed by the Musharraf regime in selling Pakistan Steel Mills shouldn’t be repeated to keep controversies away during the biggest sale process of the country’s history.

The human and strategic costs should also be considered as some enterprises are vital for national security while others are providing employment to millions, he stressed.

He said that the current situation should also be considered as it is far from ideal for selling assets as local investors are weary of law and order situation, uncertainty and fall of the rupee while foreign investors are hit by the global recession.

It is a common notion that

PSO initiates relief efforts for quake affected areas STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Pakistan State Oil

I SLAMABAD —The Federal (PSO), the nation’s leading pubBoard of Revenue (FBR) has said that 45 items of daily and essential use are not chargeable to sales tax under existing law.

According to an Explanatory Note, it is informed that the following items of daily and essential use are not chargeable to sales tax:- Vegetables, pulses, fruits, red chillies, eggs, meat, fish, poultry, poultry feeds, ginger, turmeric, locally produced ware potato, locally produced onion, cereals, products of milling industry, ice, sugarcane, salt, fruit juices, bread, nan, chapattis, sheermal, bun, rusk, agricultural produce of Pakistan not subjected to process of manufacture, milk, yogurt, butter, cream, desi ghee, whey, preparations for infant use, fat filled milk, colors in sets, writing, drawing and marking inks, erasers, exercise books, pencil sharpeners, geometry boxes, pens, ball pens, markers and porous tipped pens, pencils colour pencils and colour pencils.

lenders lure developing countries into unrepayable debt traps to ensure the sale of national assets at throw away prices which only benefit selected western tycoons. No step should be taken to strengthen the impression, he stressed.

Zubair Ahmed Malik said that privatisation will not help Pakistan in any way if a policy of supporting tax evaders, assisting looters of public wealth and wastage of precious resources continued unabated which has brought the country to the brink.

The country will soon have to carry the begging bowl again if funds raised from asset sale are wasted to unleash another era of socio-economic and political instability, he warned.

The government has started extracting money from the masses in a way which is beyond their capacity while it continues to support landlords who have

lic sector company has initiated relief activities for the earthquake affected populace in Balochistan.

As part of its CSR efforts, the Company has worked to

dispatch and distribute relief items to meet the nutritional and shelter needs of the displaced families in the earthquake affected area. Towards this end, PSO dispatched a relief convoy containing 25,000 mineral water bottles, 1200 ration bags, 1000 mosquito nets

and 270 tents in the first phase of its relief efforts. These items will be distributed amongst various relief camps in vicinity of Awaraan and surrounding areas. The convoy was dispatched from PSO Head Office on Saturday and was seen off by the PSO management. The Company is partnering with the relevant authorities to ensure

safe delivery of goods and ensure that the distribution takes placed in an efficient and transparent manner.

PSO being a responsible national company is committed to standing by the nation and its fellow citizens during their times of need.

Nepra ruling in two weeks STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—The government has finally decided to approach National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), seeking to review the tariff of domestic and tube well consumers and the regulatory authority would issue a decision within 15 days.

Following the controversial notification that led to phenomenal 40 to 210 per cent increase in the power tariff of domestic and agri consumers, simmering public protest demonstrations

have so far been reported in various parts of the country, unanimous protest calls from all opposition parties of provincial, federal assemblies and Senate coupled with the suo moto notice took by the Supreme Court of Pakistan has ostensibly forced the incumbent regime to withdraw the controversial notification. Taking cognizance of the matter, Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif also expressed his displeasure and directed the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to get the power tariff revised in order to ensure that

interest of the low-income groups should be protected at all costs.

Yesterday, a meeting was held in the ministry of water and power to take a decision with regard to reviewed tariff and new notification.

The meeting discussed threadbare the issue and decided to withdraw the power hike notification and NEPRA would issue a new notification on the basis of revised tariff of the power distributing companies which would be applicable from October 1. It was decided to seek more time from the Supreme Court to rationalise the power tariff.

LAHORE: New National Bank Branch being inaugurated at Wagah Border. (Story on Page 13)

the capacity to retire all the debts if they pay taxes, he noted.

He observed that FBR can easily collect around Rs 8 trillion in taxes to eliminate all deficits and change the entire economic scene as well as the fate of the nation, but it prefers to collect only a fraction of that amount.

Zubair Ahmed Malik said that Pakistan doesn’t need any internal or external borrowing; all the country needs is proper management which must begin from shunning politics of plots, permits, SROs, exemptions, princely living and promoting KARACHI: Wolfgang Schanzenbach, Regional Director Asia Pacific. S M Muneer, Mian incompetent playing havoc with Zahid Hussain, President KATI Farukh Mazhar and others in a group photo.—PO photo the economy.

The country is going nowhere, foreign lenders don’t have a key to turnaround; we need is a sincere leadership with proper focus on economy and a will to change the destiny of Pakistan, said Malik.

Cement industry sales register 2pc growth

PIAF urges govt to announce incentives STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has urged the government to announce incentives for the promotion of alternate energy resources, as the costly thermal electricity is hitting the manufacturing sector hard.

The demand was raised by the PIAF Chairman Malik Tahir Javaid while talking to a threemember delegation of Atari Industrial State at PIAF office.

The delegation comprising Adnan Butt, Mubashir Tanseer, Khawaja Shahzab Akram remained with the PIAF Chairman and discussed issues including recent hike in the prices of electricity and petroleum products.

TPIAF Vice Chairman Amjad Ali Jawa was also present in the meeting.

The PIAF Chairman said Pakistan is a resourceful country having huge potential to produce electricity from coal, solar and wind means and a little attention by the government could help save precious foreign exchange being spent on import of oil.

Tahir Javaid said that a number of developed countries are producing electricity from alternate resources but the previous governments paid no attention towards this area and caused irreparable loss to the economy.

STAFF REPORTER KARACHI —During the first quarter of current fiscal year 2013-14, the cement industry has posted a growth of 2.17 percent in local sales as compared with sales during first quarter of last fiscal year 2012-13, All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association said.

Exports however recorded a decline of 1.40 percent as compared with exports during the first quarter of last year. The overall situation during first quarter of current fiscal year showed 1.12 percent growth as compared to the same period of last fiscal year.

After negative growth in cement despatches during the first two months of this fiscal year, the industry recorded robust growth in September by despatching 2.951 million tonnes of cement compared with 2.611 million tonnes despatched in September last year

showing growth of 13.01 percent.

The exports were down by 0.75 percent in July, 3.29 percent in August and 0.39 percent in September 2013. The cement exports have been declining continuously during the last 15

months and the industry is now mainly depending on domestic market. In the first quarter of this fiscal year, the cement despatches were 7.796 million tonnes as compared to 7.710 million tonnes during same period last year.

Cement industry is very optimistic that during the current budget, the government has al-

Zong sponsors Pak vs S Africa cricket series STAFF REPORTER

L AHORE —Zong patronizes Pakistan’s favorite sport – Cricket, by sponsoring the upcoming Pakistan vs South Africa cricket series. Zong is one of the sponsors of this highly anticipated cricket series. This exciting cricket series will be held from 14th October, 2013 to 15th November, 2013 in UAE. In the Pakistan vs South Africa series, South Africa will re-enter the test cricket arena after 8 months absence where Pakistan and South Africa will battle it out against each other in 2 test matches, 5 ODIs and 2 B E I J I N G — J a p a n e s e T20 matches.

“Zong is immensely pleased automakers including Toyota Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Co. are cutting back production in China in the wake of anti-Japan protests that shuttered dealerships and darkened their sales outlook in the world’s biggest car market.

Production slowdowns are a normal feature of the auto indusSTAFF REPORTER try in mature markets like the United States and Japan, where KARACHI—President FPCCI they are used to keep invento- Zubair Ahmed Malik has shown ries from ballooning and avoid his serious concern over recent pressure for automakers to of- 2 percent increase in General fer deep discounts that erode Sales Tax (GST) on various profitability. items. He said that the measure But the steps by the Japa- to Increase revenue through nese automakers to cut output in GST is not an appropriate China are an anomaly in a mar- policy, it will lead high inflation, ket that has driven the industry’s reduction in manufacturing acglobal growth over the past de- tivities, unemployment and incade and where most crease in poverty level in the automakers had been adding country. capacity until China’s economic Malik stated that the governslowdown in recent months. ment is being advised by experts That caused production to out- who are trying to un-popular the pace sales, resulting in larger- PML (N). Soon after taking the than-normal inventory levels at government measures are being many car dealers.—Newswire taken that affect poor segment

Japan auto makers to slow output in China

and excited about sponsoring one of the most exhilarating cricket series of this season – the Pakistan vs South Africa series in UAE”, said Mr. Farooq Niaz, Head of Public Relations and CSR, Zong. “We have proudly become a regular patron of cricket and hope to see great sportsman spirit in this upcoming series.

We wish both the teams all the best and look forward to a very entertaining series. Pakistan is a cricket loving nation and it’s a sport they literally live, eat, sleep. Zong keeping its legacy to promote sports in Pakistan has sponsored this series as part of our commitment to promote this great game.”

located Rs 1,155 billion for Public Sector Development Porgramme but so far industry has not been able to grow as expected and there is very small growth compared with same period last year. The cement export to India has also declined due to lower demand. The Afghanistan export has also declined due to uncertainty prevailing in the country as NATO and US troops are planning of withdrawal by 2014. During last budget the cement industry has been brought within the purview of ‘3rd Schedule’, which has increased the overall tax burden and has resulted in increase in the local prices.

The industry wants government to reconsider its decision and should remove from 3rd Schedule and to put in the normal sales tax regime. This will help industry to reduce prices, which will help to accelerate construction activities across the country.

Efforts From Page 13 ated various social responsibilities being met by MOL Pakistan. The participants of the meeting were informed that MOL was awarding merit scholarship for talented & deserving students, providing medical services and organising free medical & eye camps at various locations of area of operations. It has also contributed to a large number of water supply & purification scheme & sanitation in various villages and construction & improvement of Infrastructure.

It is also involved in construction of schools and provision of examination halls, construction of roads & pavements, construction of basic health units & medical wards, construction of mosques etc.

Concern over 2pc increase in GST of the society like drastic increase in POL products, hike in electricity tariff and uncontrolled upward movement of dollar which has devalued Pak rupee in historic low and agreement with IMF which is signed without consultation of major stakeholder.

He further added that fiscal and monetary adjustment is a part of Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies signed by the government. The sections of this policy framework paper with the IMF enter aliya; include sections 16 of Para B, Section 35 of Para D and Section 37 of Para D cover monetary policy, taxation and trade policy respectively. He said that

on various occasions and meeting with Ministry of Finance and FBR Business Community has shown serious concern and given solutions for economic revival but economic managers are burdening the business community instead of facilitating them to promote economic activities.

The business and commercial activities are already hampered due to poor law and order situation. This 2 percent increase in GST will result in stoppage to the manufacturing activities.

He urged the government to review its decision in the larger interests of the country, in general, and for the sake of industry and economy, in particular.

Dubai reveals Islamic Economic Strategy DUBAI—In the presence of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the emirate announced its Islamic Economic Strategy which aims to turn Dubai into the Capital of Islamic Economy in three years.

The Supreme Committee of Islamic Economy supervised by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has developed its strategy based on two main pillars to achieve its goal which includes sector building and infrastructure.

These pillars will focus on eight main areas including Sukuk, re-takaful, Halal Parks,

Dubai Halal certification company, Islamic digital economy, financial services regulation and Sharia governance and centre of Islamic economy standards.

Present at the announcement was Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad and Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai. A large gathering of top government officials and media representatives were also present. A comprehensive presentations was given about how the Islamic Economic Strategy in Dubai will work and its goals.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Chairman of the Committee of Islamic Economy and Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said that within six months the committee has developed this strategy based on several different tracks

and 46 initiatives.

“A lot of work has been done to develop action plans and mechanism for the implementation of the various initiatives,” Al Gergawi said.

He also said some of these initiatives have already been launched, such as the Dubai Global Sukuk Centre, which aims to transform Dubai into one of the main centres for Sukuk Issuance. Dubai is expected to have more than Dh60 billion Sukuk by the end of this year, he added.

“The Islamic Economy, which is valued at $8 trillion (Dh29.4 trillion), or 11 per cent of Global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and involves around 1.6 billion Muslims world wide, has gained increasing importance in recent years, and bridg-

ing the gap between the current situation and the vision is a necessity to achieve Dubai Islamic Economy strategy.”

Discussing in detail the main pillars of the strategy, Eisa Kazim, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee of the Islamic Economy and Managing Director and Chief Executive of Dubai Financial Markets, said that to achieve Dubai’s strategy, there should be a focus on what the elements of the Islamic economy are and find opportunities and growth prospects.

“We are working on the establishment of institutional and legislative structure, legislative and regulatory bodies, laws and regulation, Islamic standard for products as well as quality standards,” he said.

He also added that despite

the fact that Islamic foreign trade is growing — it recently reached $4 billion, growing at 24 per cent per annum — the importance of the Islamic economy lies in the fact growth is expected to accelerate.

However, Kazim pointed to the need to establish a legal Islamic infrastructure, which can be used as a global reference.

“This will help organise the banks and Islamic financial institution, increase Islamic finance, promote financial products and services, and enhance Islamic insurance as well as promote the Islamic financial markets.”

Kazim said Dubai will stand out as a pioneer of the Islamic digital economy.

To accomplish this, the emirate will launch initiatives to

make it a destination for family friendly tourism, the capital of Islamic fashion, arts and design, and a global network of Islamic economy information and education as well as world class centre.

Present at the announcement was Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad and Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai. A large gathering of top government officials and media representatives were also present. A comprehensive presentations was given about how the Islamic Economic Strategy in Dubai will work and its goals.

Sami Al Qamzi, the Vice Chairman of the Supreme Committee and the Director General of the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED)

said: “Having such a centre in Dubai will encourage and attract local and foreign investments as well as will promote and develop local Islamic industries.”

He said standards for corporate governance will be ready by the end of this year and will be applied by the second quarter of 2014.

“We set up the legislations of the governance centre based on the rules of Islamic law and the needs of the business sector,” Al Qamzi added.

“This will help organise the banks and Islamic financial institution, increase Islamic finance, promote financial products and services, and enhance Islamic insurance as well as promote the Islamic financial markets.”

The Re-Takaful (Islamic in-

surance) globally is worth $11 billion, and it is expected to grow to $20 billion in the next six years, said Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Committee Member and Vice Chairman of Dubai International Financial Centre.

“The Islamic Economy Strategy is based on setting up re-takaful companies to meet the needs of takaful companies.”

There are 19 companies in the re-takaful sector globally, which need to expand to create more opportunities, according to Al Ghurair “Licensing and monitoring are the main two factors that enables the re-takaful companies and these are among the main services provided by the DIFC,” he added.—Agencies

IOC to review POA’s composition before December OUR CORRESPONDENT KARACHI—The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided on Friday to review the composition of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) before December 1, 2013, in a bid to end the conflict between sports bodies of the country.

In a meeting with Pakistan’s sports officials in Lausanne it was also agreed that after verification of the composition of the POA it would not be challenged by any one. The government of Pakistan promised that it would abide by the Olympic charter and refrain from any undue intervention.

The IOC will shortly write to the government of Pakistan and the POA to establish the details of the process. The verification of the composition of the POA will make it clear which party has the support of genuine federations. “The IOC together with the Olympic Council of

District athletic competitions from Oct 8 KHANEWAL—The competitions of District Inter-schools athletics championship will start from October 8 under the auspices of sports department and district athletics association.

According to district president athletic association Khanewal, Rasheed Ahmad, the competitions will consist of 100, 200, 400, 800 metres race, hammer throw, tent pegging and long jump.—APP

PIA beat NBP in Hockey Gold Cup KARACHI—PIA recorded a convincing 4-2 victory against NBP in the inaugural match of NBP Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at National Hockey Stadium in Lahore.

Kashif Ali, Asfar Yaqoob, Mohammad Zubair and Imran Khan scored one goal each for PIA. Mohammad Sohaib and Mohammad Rizwan scored one each for NBP.—APP

SSGPL cyclist wins 4th Pakistan Mountain Cycle Race ABBOTTABAD—Habibullah of Sui Southern Gaspipe Line limited (SSGPL) has won the fourth Pakistan Mountain Cycle Race of 35 Km, Baluchistan secured 2nd while another cyclist of SSGPL cyclist got third position.

The riders were flagged off from Old BISE building and culminated at Nathiagali.

Habibullah of SSGPL covered the 35 Km distance in one hour and twenty six minutes and secured first position, Saifullah of Baluchistan completed the distance in one hour 27 minutes and got second position while the another cyclist of SSGPL Nehmatullah covered the distance in one hour 28 minutes and reached on victory stand by securing third position.—APP

Asia (OCA) held a meeting today in Lausanne involving IOC member Syed Shahid Ali; Mr Faridullah Khan, Federal Secretary to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) representing the Government of Pakistan and a delegation of the IOC-recognised Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), headed

by Lt General (retired) Syed Arif Hasan,” the IOC said in a press release after the meeting. “... All parties agreed that the current situation must be resolved as quickly as possible in the interest of sport and the athletes in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan expressed a firm commitment to fully respect and comply with the Olympic Charter, in particular the principle of autonomy of the

Olympic Movement in the country. It was therefore agreed that the Government of Pakistan will cooperate and refrain from any undue intervention. “‘In order to resolve any potential doubt with respect to allegations that parallel bodies have been established at the level of National Sports Federations, the IOC, together with the POA and each International Federation concerned, will review the composition of the POA before 1 December 2013 and ensure that the membership of the POA consists of National Federations duly affiliated to their respective International Federations, as per the Olympic Charter. Upon completion of this process, it was agreed that no one would

challenge the composition of the POA, and that all parties will act strictly within the framework of the existing structure of the POA and in accordance with the POA Constitution approved by the IOC,’” it added.

The press release said a letter would be sent shortly to the government of Pakistan and to the POA to establish the details of the process and tell what was expected from each party. It said the IOC expected that a productive relationship can be established between the government and the POA. Akram Sahi-led POA’s secretary Khawaja Farooq Saeed told ‘The News’ that the deci- PESHAWAR: Air Commodore Waseem Hussain with players during Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Junior Squash Tournament sion of the IOC to review the to mark the World Squash Day at PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex. composition of the POA showed that their stand was respected.

“We have been saying that it is the internal problem of Pakistan and should be resolved internally,” he said. Major General OUR CORRESPONDENT (retd) Akram Sahi also attended the meeting.

LAHORE—Ali Hai showed why he is counted among the most is 143, while his highest ranking cure their future. “The biggest OUR CORRESPONDENT talented golfers in the country was 108 in April 2009. issue for players here in Pakistan when he sizzled with a score of KARACHI—Two more squash Aqib told ‘The News’ the is of employment. Most of the three-under 69 in the second players from Pakistan have left “non-supportive attitude” of the players come from humble backround of the 52nd Amateur Golf the country to play and earn in Pakistan Squash Federation grounds. They have to have some Championship of Pakistan.

(PSF) was the major reason why regular earnings to support their the United States.

After a forgettable opening families. The absence of any Aqib Hanif and Hamza he had to leave the country.

Aqib said he was facing source of income makes them PESHAWAR—The 6th edition of 70Kg and Open weight. In this tions in the Championship. Paki- round in which he carded 80, the Bukhari from Punjab have left the Women National Judo Cham- event, besides the four provinces, stan Army will try its best to de- Karachi golfer bounced back the country and are currently many problems due to the lack decide to leave the country,” he of sponsorship from the PSF, “so reasoned. pionship will commence in the Islamabad, FATA, AJK (For the fend its overall trophy, Masood with a vengeance as he sank five playing in the US. Waqar Mehboob hails from Yasir Butt, Aurangzeb the only solution is to leave the last week of November at First time) along Fourteen (14) said. Masood Ahmed said that birdies and an eagle to catapult a well-known squash family, but Lahore, Secretary Pakistan Judo major Units of Pakistan includ- they are fully committed to de- himself to a position from where Mehmund and Waqar Mehboob country”.

Hamza Bukhari is another he too did not see a bright future Federation Masood Ahmad told ing Pakistan Army, Pakistan velop judo all over the country. he can take a shot at the presti- have already left the country to talented junior player who did not here and decided to go to the US Wapda, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan He said PJF wants to encourage gious title over the next two days. play squash abroad.

APP here on Saturday.

Aqib has been playing in the get due recognition and support last year. He, according to his He said the women judokas Police, and HEC will take part. women sports. He also lauded However, in spite of his stellar show on the second day, Ali is US since April this year. His next from the PSF and had to leave. father, is earning significant All the National and InternaPresident Pakistan Judo Federawould compete in the following He was the champion of Un- amounts of money while coachweight categories in the Cham- tional Female players of Pakistan tion Col (Retd) Rana Shujah for still four shots off the pace as event is Champion Fiberglass pionship like -40Kg, -44Kg, - will also participate and they will extending all out support to Peshawar’s Naeem Khan contin- Open, to start from the 13th of der-19 Junior Open held in Scot- ing at lower level in the US. ues to lead the pack despite re- this month in which he has got a land in January 2012. His highHis brother Farhan Mehboob 48Kg, -52Kg, -57Kg, -63Kg, - strive for the best to win top posi- him.—APP turning with a card of 75. has also said he might leave the wild card. The last PSA event est PSA ranking is 148.

The youngster’s opening day he won was Pakistan Circuit No1 When contacted, Vice Presi- country to play in the US. score of 70 was enough to give in March 2012. dent Punjab Squash Association Aurangzeb Mehmund was him an aggregate of 145 which He was regarded among the Rana Tariq said the players leav- another player from Punjab who gives him a slim one-stroke lead most talented junior players in the ing the country could not be went for this option and is now against Lahore Gymkhana’s country.His current PSA ranking criticised because they had to se- playing at Dayton Club, US. Sardar Murad and Taimur Khan of Peshawar.

The second round of the Championship which is in progress at the Lahore Gymkhana produced enough sparks in the contest for International Team Match that left the Majeed doubled their lead with a Aamir Khan told ‘The News’.

OUR CORRESPONDENT host team in agony and players “Amin’s sending off in the start nice short-range drive. from Bangladesh rejoicing as Navy, who lost around a of the second half was dangerKARACHI—Asif Bakhsh hit a they emerged victorious.

Bangladesh were poorly fine brace as Navy came from dozen of their senior players be- ous but the boys played really placed far behind Pakistan B at two goals down to hold Karachi fore the season, were awarded a well after that,” Aamir said.

He was satisfied with his the end of the first round but on Port Trust (KPT) to a 2-2 draw penalty in the 43rd minute which the second day the Bangladesh in their match of the Pakistan was converted by the seasoned outfit’s overall performance. “So far, I am satisfied with the team’s youngsters Mohammed Sajib Ali Premier Football League here at Asif with an enviable ease.

At half time, KPT were lead- performance as the boys have and Mohammed Sagor took con- the KPT Stadium.

Asif, who has been perform- ing 2-1. Soon after the breather shown a lot of improvement,” trol of the situation and through consistent excellence found their ing well this season, struck in the Navy were reduced to ten men said Aamir, a former internatheir midfielder tional. The single point helped way to glory on Pakistani soil. 43rd and 78th minutes. KPT hit when On the first day Sajib Ali two goals in the first half through Mohammad Amin was sent off Navy to move to six points from had a dismal round of 81 but on Junaid Qadir and Zafar Majeed. for double booking. But in spite eight meetings.

KPT coach Mohammad Asif HYDERABAD: Body builders on the occasion of Mr and Mr Jr Hyderabad competition on Friday he displayed champion Following a flurry of incisive of the blow the sailors did a fine Saturday. like form to manage a round of rallies, KPT opened their scoring job and leveled the scores was not satisfied with his team’s 70. His teammate remained through international Junaid through Asif, who landed his sec- performance. “We should have won it as our rivals were playing steady in both rounds with Qadir who capitalised on a com- ond goal in the 78th minute.

“We made a good come- with ten men in the second half,” scores of 74 on the first day and bined move in the 33rd minute.

Four minutes later lanky Zafar back,” Navy coach Mohammad Asif said.

73 on the second day.

Ali Hai shines but Naeem still leads

More squash players leave for greener pastures

Women National Judo Championship in Nov

Pakistan Premier Football League

Asif’s brace rescues Navy

Pakistan storm into 6-Reds quarter-finals

KARACHI—Pakistan stormed of Asif and Sajjad recorded a two times national champion, into the quarter-finals of the IBSF 6-Reds Snooker Team Championship, while Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sajjad entered the last 32 of the IBSF 6-Reds Snooker Championship being held simultaneously in Carlow, Ireland.

According to information provided by the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) here the Pakistan duo

thrilling 3-2 victory over Poland-1 in the pre-quarter-finals that went to the wire.

Pakistan, placed in the Group F, won all the four league matches to be placed at number three in the list, behind Ireland1 and UAE-1. The performance of Asif and Sajjad also remained sensational in the individual event as they remained unbeaten in their respective groups. Late on Thursday evening, Sajjad,

placed in the Group R, was engaged in a tense duel with Rodney Goggins of Ireland, whom he edged out 4-3 with the frame scores 1-41, 7-41, 44-16, 38-37, 0-60, 37-1, 60-0. He overwhelmed Vyacheslav Sorokin of Russia in straight frames with the scores of 68-0, 34-13, 62-0, 51-0. He had earlier beaten Mario Van Herk of Belgium and Ahmed Benraïssi of France. —APP

Ismail hits 19 out of 25 targets in Skeet Shooting Championship P E S H AWA R — P r o m i n e n t if provided better opportunities to at third, followed by Ahmad to qualify for the round of Su-

Amateur shooter Muhammad Ismail was the leader on the opening round of hitting 19 clay made pigeon out of 25 fires in the first Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Skeet Shooting Championship being played here at Army Shooting Range Garrison Park on Saturday.

A total of 35 prominent amateur shooters were there with each of them have 25 fires out of total 50 fires in the first round and among them Muhammad Ismail hit 19 clay made birds, followed

by Habib Hassan 13 gun shots on the target.

They shooters have received thundering applauses from the sitting capacity crowd present on this occasion.

The event, a unique one for the Peshawarites, attracted great crowd, who were there right from the morning by witnessing the skillful prominent amateur shooters in action. The spectators, mostly kids, have photo sessions with the shooters as well. Former Pakistan team skipper M. Tufail, who also won gold medal in the SAF Games as forceful and leading smasher, also took part in the shooting contests and recorded 11 fires on the target, out of total 25 fires. He was there for the 25 more gun-shot.

Talking to APP, M. Tufail lauded the efforts being put in

by Salman Afridi, the organizing secretary of the event for the first time in the history of the province.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is traditionally ABBOTTABAD: Participants moving toward Nathiagali in Cycle Race, organised by Pakistan Cycling Association and good talent of shooters in skeet rifle. It is an Olympic Game and KP Cycling Association.

the shooters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa they like in the past, would also come up at national and international levels. It needs more awareness so that the talented amateur shooters should come up and participate in the contest, M. Tufail added.

Muhammad Ismail fired 25 gun-shot, hit 19 on the target that called as killed and he failed to do the same on just six occasions where he lost, followed by Habib Hassan was on target for 13 times while he missed 12 gun-shot.

Muhammad Murtaza targeted 12 out of 25 and remained

Sherpao with 10 shots, Muhammad Azam Khan, Jabbar Khan Fahad Afridi, struggling with nine shots each, Mali Shafique, Abdul Qasim recorded eight gun-shots on the target, Abdul Qasim (5), Adnan Rasheed, Muhammad Tariq Ali, Mohsin, Naeem, Atif, Fahad Aziz, Muhammad Akbar, Niamat Ullah, Aly Khan Jamali were struggling with four gun-shot on the target.

All the shooters have 25 more gun-shots to complete a total of 50 fires before short-listing the names of 10 top shooters

per-10 shooters out of 35 total shooters. The second round of Super-10 will be held on Sunday, followed by Super-6 and final rounds to be played on Monday.

Former national shooter Ammad Sherpao while talking to APP, said that top amateur shooters would be put in the camp before sending the team to South Korea for further training in the Skeet Rifle Shooting. He said, good numbers of amateur shooters from all across the province are taking part in the competition arranged with the aim to spot out good upcoming shooters.—APP

PESHAWAR: A shooter aiming the target during First Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Skeet Championship at Army Garrison Park Shooting Range.

Hafeez axed, Irfan included in Test squad to face SA LAHORE—Pakistan Saturday second Test in Dubai from Octo- Test and one-day captain. Three the Pakistan Cricket Board said

dropped out-of-form opener ber 23.The 32-year-old, players will be added to the squad in a statement.

Pakistan, who are without a Mohammad Hafeez from the 12- Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain, has after a three-day practice match chief selector, left out batsmen Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shahzad and Shan Masood, but they still have a chance of making the larger squad, which so far only has one opener in Khurram Manzoor.

Paceman Mohammad Irfan, at 7ft 1in the tallest cricketer to play at international level, earned a Test recall despite an unimpressive two-match stint in South Africa earlier this year when he took just one wicket.

Pakistan looked set to ploy a spin-dominated attack against South Africa with the inclusion of 34-year-old left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman. Umar Amin, 24, was also recalled after failing to impress in four Tests in 2010. He will lead Pakistan ‘A’ in the pracMuhammad Hafeez Misbaul Haq Muhammad Irfan tice match.

Squad: Misbah-ul Haq man squad to play a Test series scored just 102 in his last five between Pakistan ‘A’ and South against South Africa in the Tests. He managed 43 in a 3-0 Africa in Sharjah starting from (capt), Khurram Manzoor, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Umar Amin, United Arab Emirates this month, Test defeat in South Africa in October 8.

Pakistan and South Africa Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, the South Asian country’s cricket February and scored only 59 in the two-Test series against Zim- will also play five one-day and Zulfiqar Babar, Abdul Rehman, body said.

The series starts in Abu babwe last month. Misbah-ul two Twenty20 internationals, for Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Dhabi on October 14, with the Haq was last week retained as which squads will be named later, Rahat Ali.—APP

World Nadal returns to world No 1 Afghanistan’s Cup ticket triggers BEIJING—Rafael Nadal will re- the best years of my career with- ing.” Berdych then praised turn to number one in the world rankings after his semi-final opponent Tomas Berdych retired injured at the China Open Saturday, capping an astonishing comeback for the 13-time Grand Slam champion.

The Spanish world number two only needed to make the final in Beijing to edge ahead of

out any doubt”. “Sure is special be back to the top position of the ranking after more than a half year without playing tennis,” he added. “I felt during all the season very excited every time I go on court.”

Djokovic is currently on his 101st week as the top-ranked player. Czech Berdych pulled

Nadal’s achievement on reclaiming top spot. “With Rafa, well, just all the credit. It is really incredibly well done in the whole short time that he has become a number one again,” he said.

“That’s really an achievement for an athlete like him.”

Nadal was sidelined for the second half of last year with a knee

BEIJING: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after returnning to No 1 in the world rankings after his semi-final opponent Tomas Berdych retired injured at the China Open Saturday.

Novak Djokovic in the new out of his semi-final after receiv- injury and is unbeaten since he rankings, which will be an- ing treatment for an injury with crashed out of Wimbledon in the nounced by the ATP on Monday. Nadal leading 4-2 in the first set. first round in June.

Nadal had broken Berdych’s He has twice finished the Nadal, who last topped the rankings in July 2011, has en- serve in the fifth game after the season as the top ranked player, joyed a remarkable season, re- pair appeared to be matching more recently in 2010, and the turning from injury to dominate each other competitively in the first time in 2008, after he edged early stages. into the top position by winning the hardcourt tournaments.

The world number five told gold at the 2008 Beijing OlymHe will overtake defending China Open champion Djokovic reporters after the match that he pics. The 27-year-old, tipped to at the top, even if the Serb over- suffered a back injury when he eclipse Roger Federer’s record of 17 Grand Slam titles, has won comes France’s Richard reached for a shot.

“I don’t know actually what 10 ATP World Tour titles in 2013.

Gasquet in his semi-final later Tennis legends Andre Saturday and retains the title on happened,” he said, adding: “Just the pain was there. That’s it. I Agassi and Pete Sampras reportSunday.

Nadal told reporters after the mean, before I didn’t feel any- edly said Nadal could overtake match that returning to top spot thing. I was completely fine. I Federer before he finishes his had capped “a great year, one of just had no problem at all. Noth- career.—APP

cash windfall DUBAI—Afghanistan’s remarkable success in qualifying for the 2015 cricket World Cup has netted the country a multi-million dollar windfall.

Afghanistan, playing in the fifth tier of international cricket just five years ago, booked their place in the game’s global showpiece by beating Kenya by seven wickets in Sharjah on Friday.

And on Saturday the financial rewards triggered by their maiden appearance in the cricket showpiece became apparent.

The side from the sport’s second tier will receive a $1 million (#624,000, 738,000 euros) preparation fee from the global governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), ahead of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. That comes on top of the $422,000 awarded to the

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) by the ICC Board in April of this year as part of its Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme (TAPP), aimed at raising playing standards.

In 2014, the top ICC Associate and Affiliate Members - including Afghanistan - will also receive approximately $750,000 in base support through the ICC Development Funding Policy.

And according to the ACB Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Noor, there is the potential for further funding that could amount to as much as $850,000 from the country’s government and sponsorship agreements from domestic and international businesses eager to ride the wave of Afghanistan success.

“All the money we will receive will allow us to develop the game even more, and it will also allow us to be as ready as we can be for the ICC Cricket World Cup,” said Noor.—AFP

Lehmann vows stability for Australia S YDNEY —Coach Darren Lehmann has vowed there will be more stability in the Australian team for the return Ashes series after repeated chopping and changing in England without success.

Australia used 17 players in the recent Tests against England and, including the matches in India earlier this year, have picked 22 players in their past nine Tests but failed to win any of them, the Sydney Morning Herald said.

Several former players led

by Steve Waugh have urged Lehmann to select a team and stick with it to have any chance of putting Australian cricket

back on a winning path after their 3-0 defeat against old adversaries England in the fiveTest series.

Waugh, who benefited when selectors stuck with him despite a slow start to his international career, says players find it hard to relax and play their natural game with the axe hanging over their heads.

Lehmann, who was parachuted into the Australia job just 16 days before the Ashes started after Mickey Arthur was sacked, said he plans more stability. ‘’What we will do is settle the side once the team is announced,’’ he told the Herald. ‘’And we’ll make it perfectly

clear where people are batting and we’ll be sticking with that group for a while. ‘’That happens when you’re a coach and you’re not winning — you’ve got to find out about the players and I certainly found out about a few players. ‘’To be fair, in the onedayers we’re really settled. That will happen in the Test matches now. I think we’re at the stage now that we know where we’re going and who we want.’’

Lehmann’s appointment as coach in June, immediately after a stint in the Indian Premier League, means he has barely had any time off since April. Cricket Australia has allowed him to

skip the one-day tour to India — the squad was due to leave Saturday — to focus on the winning back the Ashes.

He said what had become clear now he has had a breather is how much he has learned from the job. ‘’I’ve got my head round it now,’’ he told the newspaper. ‘’Now it’s about working out all the other things we need to do to get better. It was great to just jump straight into it but the other side of the coin is I can sit back and say ‘this is what we need’.’’ The first of the five return Ashes Tests in Australia starts in Brisbane on November 21.—AFP

LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Najam Sethi unveiling the logo of Pakistan and South Africa series during a ceremony.

We’re better prepared than England, Smith warns Pakistan JOHANNESBURG—South Africa hopeful they have finally solved captain Graeme Smith said he felt like a rookie going into the team’s tour to the United Arab Emirates to play Pakistan after six months out of the game with an ankle injury but felt confident of his side’s chances against the hosts.

Smith has played 110 Test matches for the Proteas and holds the world record for the most fiveday matches as captain, 102, but he admitted to nerves before the team departed on Friday.

“It feels surreal to be sitting here today,” he told reporters. “When I went into surgery five and half months ago I knew it was going to be a long road back.

“And it was, it three months on crutches was hard and it hasn’t always gone smoothly. Right now I feel like I am going on my first tour in a way, just with lots of experience.

“I am nervous, I have not played cricket for a long time and I will need to maximize preparation with just one warm-up match before the first test.

“I need to make the most of the next 10 days. I need the experience of being out in the middle again in order to contribute to the side like I want to.” Doctors are

Smith’s chronic ankle problem, helped by custom-fitted boots that should more evenly distribute the weight on the joint.

He admits periods of the last

few months have been disheartening and painful, but remains motivated to play more matches for South Africa.

“I still have the drive to want to play at international level, I still feel like I have the motivation to do it. When you have been captain from the age of 22 and helped to develop a team, you want to see it through.

“There were days when I was really sore, but I had a lot of phone calls from team mates and (coach) Russell (Domingo) checking up on me and that really made a different to know that people still cared.”

Pakistan beat England 3-0 in their last series in the Middle East in January last year.

“I watched the series, the ball spun a bit but I thought England weren’t as mentally prepared as they could have been,” Smith said.

“We understand the style of cricket we want to play, we understand how to be successful in different conditions.

“We expect the wickets to spin, we expect the worst in that regard, and (Saeed) Ajmal and how we handle him could be the key to the tour.”

South Africa beat Pakistan 30 in their home summer last season and have only lost three of their previous 21 five-day matches against the sub-continent side.

The first test starts in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 14, with the second set for Oct. 23 in Dubai.

There will also be five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.—Agencies

Figure skating: Asada boosted by personal best result SAITAMA—Japan’s former world figure skating champion Mao Asada staged a convincing start to Olympic season, landing the tricky triple axel to score a personal best at a home event Saturday.

Asada earned 135.16 points at the Japan Open, an invitational team competition in free skating, with Joannie Rochette of Canada second at 123.99 and US national champion Ashley Wagner third at 119.77 in the women’s section.

European champion Javier Fernandez of Spain nailed three quadruple jumps to top the men’s table at 176.91 points, followed by Japan’s Takahiko Kozuka at 158.42 and American Jeremy Abbott at 157.70.

Japan won the event with a total of 544.85 with North America second at 528.89 and Europe third at 477.84.

The annual Japan Open, which adopted its current form in 2006, has brought together active and former top singles skaters representing Japan and the two continents. It has served as a ground for many to test their free programmes at the start of a season.—APP

RR hold nerve to reach final

Hiroshima back on top of the J-League TOKYO—Defending champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima returned to the top of the J-League after coming from behind to beat Shimizu S-Pulse 3-1 on Saturday.

Genki Omae gave mid-table S-Pulse a 71st-minute lead from the penalty spot, but Tsukasa Shiotani equalised five minutes later before 19-year-old substitute Gakuto Notsuda scored twice to lift Sanfrecce above Yokohama Marinos with six games of the season remaining.

Marinos drew 0-0 with Ventforet Kofu for their second scoreless draw in as many weeks, and face Sanfrecce at home in their next game when the league resumes after the international break on October 19.

“The players responded to conceding a goal in the right way,” said Sanfrecce manager Hajime Moriyasu. “They showed their mental strength and their desire to win.”

Urawa Red Diamonds stayed two points behind the leaders after thrashing local rivals Omiya Ardija 4-0 at home.

Omiya’s Australia captain Lucas Neill was sent off after conceding a penalty in the 9th minute, which Yuki Abe converted before second-half goals from Genki Haraguchi, Shinzo Koroki and Kunimitsu Sekiguchi completed the rout.

Kashima Antlers stayed in title contention one point behind Urawa after a 4-1 away win over FC Tokyo.

Yasushi Endo and Davi gave Antlers a two-goal lead within the opening 10 minutes, before Mitsuo Ogasawara and Yuya Osako made Sota Hirayama’s late strike a mere consolation for Tokyo.

At the other end of the table, Oita Trinita became the first side to be relegated from the first division after a 2-0 loss to Cerezo Osaka.

Trinita were promoted last season via the J-League’s firstever second-division playoffs despite finishing the campaign in sixth, but goals from Cerezo’s Takumi Minamino and Edno sent them straight back down with only win to their name so far.

Three-times champions Jubilo Iwata moved a step closer to joining Trinita in the second division next season after a 1-1 draw with Vegalta Sendai, while fellow strugglers Shonan Bellmare also drew 1-1 with Nagoya Grampus. In the day’s other game, Albirex Niigata beat Sagan Tosu 3-1.—APP

Yuvi’s goal not achieved yet, says his fitness coach

Exeter feels both these play- discussed how he was at the MUMBAI—By regaining spot J AIPUR —Rajasthan Royals in the Indian team, Yuvraj ers have become mentally and time and modified the training have beaten Chennai Super Kings by 14 runs in the first semi-final to reach the finals of the 2013 Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

After winning the toss, Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni invited Rajasthan to bat first and they gave the away team a target of 160.

Ajinkya Rahane shone with the bat for the Royals, making 70 runs off just 56 balls while Dwayne Bravo stuck to his task for Chennai, getting three wickets to restrict the home team from scoring freely in the end overs.—Agencies

Singh has not achieved his final goal, according to Tim Exeter, with whom the 32-yearold Indian all-rounder, along with pace-bowler Zaheer Khan, trained in France.

“It is a fantastic news. I am really pleased for Yuvi, now we just need Zak to join him”, Tim Exeter said exclusively over telephone from the western Isles of Scotland.

Both Yuvraj and out of form Zaheer Khan went to Exeter for a six-week training at his MetaSport system in France a few months ago.

physically stronger and should now be able to take on the challenges that lay ahead for them, especially when Yuvraj is back in the team”.

“No, I have not lost touch with them. I am in weekly contact with them”.

“They were the first international cricketers on my training list. One Mr. Ashish Kaushik, the trainer at India’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) had recommended my name to them”, he added.

“I had made special training program for Yuvraj Singh. We

accordingly”. . “They will train again with me in France at some stage”, he added.

India visit: Tim Exeter’s visit to India in future is not ruled out. “I may be coming to India in the next six months”, he hoped.

“I am always open to work with other players both youth and professional. I would like to work in the next IPL if opportunity comes up”.

One will not be surprised if the recommendation to a few IPL teams comes strainght from Yuvi himself.

Just what is in that chicken nugget?

S

TAND-up comedians have long joked that some things, like the actual components of chicken nuggets, are better left mysterious. Recently, Mississippi researchers found out why: two nuggets they examined consisted of 50 percent or less chicken muscle tissue, the breast or thigh meat that comes to mind when a customer thinks of “chicken.”

The nuggets came from two national fast food chains in Jackson. The three researchers selected one nugget from each box, preserved, dissected and stained the nuggets, then looked at them under a microscope. The first nugget was about half muscle, with the rest a mix of fat, blood vessels and nerves. Close inspection revealed cells that line the skin and internal organs of the bird, the authors write in the American Journal of Medicine.

The second nugget was only 40 percent muscle, and the remainder was fat, cartilage and pieces of bone. “We all know white chicken meat to be one of the best sources of lean protein available and encourage our patients to eat it,” lead author Dr. Richard D. deShazo of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, said.

“What has happened is that some companies have chosen to use an artificial mixture of chicken parts rather than low-fat chicken white meat, batter it up and fry it and still call it chicken,” deShazo told Reuters Health.

“It is really a chicken by-product high in calories, salt, sugar and fat that is a very unhealthy choice. Even worse, it tastes great and kids love

it and it is marketed to them.” The nuggets he examined would be okay to eat occasionally, but he worries that since they are cheap, convenient and taste good, kids eat them often. His own grandchildren “beg” for chicken nuggets all the time, and he compromises by making them at home by panfrying chicken breasts with a small amount of oil, deShazo said.

“Chicken nuggets are an excellent source of protein, especially for kids who might be picky eaters,” said Ashley Peterson, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the National Chicken Council (NCC), a non-profit trade group representing the U.S. chicken industry. According to the NCC, its member producers and processors account for about 95 percent of the chicken produced in the U.S. “This study evaluates only two chicken nugget samples out of the billions of chicken nuggets that are made every year,” Peterson said. A sample size of two nuggets is simply too small to generalize to an entire category of food, she told Reuters Health. Two nuggets is a small sample size, deShazo acknowledged, and some chains have begun to use primarily white meat in their nuggets - just not the particular restaurants he visited.

“Chicken nuggets tend to have an elevated fat content because they are breaded and fried.

But it’s no secret what is in a chicken nugget most quick service restaurants have nutritional information posted in the store or on their website,” Peterson said.

Students taking interest in the items displayed during a festival at Jinnah University for Women.

Mela organised at Jinnah University KARACHI—In connection with the Students Week, a ‘Mela’ was organised at the Jinnah University for Women (JUW) at its premises here on Saturday.

An official of the institution said that the Chancellor of the JUW, Wajih uddin Ahmed, performed the inauguration. The students and their relatives thronged the ‘Mela’ having more than 100 stalls.

According to organisers, the main attraction of the Mela were the stall of eatables, bangles, palmistry and handicrafts etc. besides the swings.—APP

Traders criticize prolonged blackout STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Traders of the city

Ghaus Ali Shah addressing a press conference at KPC. —PO Photo by Sultan Chaki

236 shopkeepers challaned for overcharging K ARACHI —In the local administration’s continuing drive against profiteering, 236 shopkeepers were challaned on for overcharging and a fine to the tune of Rs 36,3500 was imposed.

An announcement to this effect was made by an official of the local administration on Saturday. He said that the Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, has reiterated that the drive against profiteering would continue in the city till the commodities are sold by the shopkeepers in accordance with the officially announced price lists—APP

Stop victimization of Mohajir employees IRFAN ALIGI KARACHI—Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has now been voicing its concerns over the rampant discrimination against the Mohajirs on all forums and this development is very serious and needs to be addressed radically.

There were reports that various public or private organisations and departments had already initiated departmental enquiries to sort out the Mohajir employees and this situation had led to a sever stage of despondency and threats for the economic genocide.

While taking to Pakistan Observer, MQM’s Deputy Parlia-

mentary leader in Sindh assembly, Khawaja Izhar Ul Hasan said it was a matter of grave concern that the Mohajir employees of the PTV and other public and private organisations were being victimized and were exposed to worst discriminatory treatment.

He expressed great concern over the victimization of innocent producers and news staff. They were being victimized for telecasting the report with regard to the appointment of Zulfiquar Cheema as the IGP Sindh during visit of federal interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan regarding the launch of the targeted operation in the port city.

have lambasted the Karachi Electric supply Company (KESC) on shedding load in an unprecedented manners for 10-12 hours in residential and commercial areas of the port city.

The All Karachi Tajir Ittehad finance secretary Muhammad Zubair Ali said that the KESC was minting money through sending inflated bills to the residential and commercial consumers while the government and the other authorities concerned had failed to take any notice of the loot and plunder.

He said that the KESC was spending Rs 160 million on its managing director, which was a sign of prodigality on the money of the consumers and in such circumstances, the KESC would not spare any consumer.

He said that the KESC was producing electricity from gas they obtained from the Sui Southern Gas Company and 75 megawatts from the WAPDA but was minting money from the consumers on the pretext of fuel adjustment charges, which should be taken into notice by the federal government and the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

World Teachers’ Day celebrated KARACHI—To mark the World Teachers Day, the Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) organised an event at a hotel here on Saturday.

Titled “A Call for Teachers,” it was aimed to appreciate and encourage the hard work and commitment teachers put in on daily basis to bring the light of education to the children.

The event served to provide a platform to hold constructive debate amongst stakeholders and experts on how best to solve the issues pertaining to teachers and consequently improve the state of the educational sector.

Over 300 people who included major stakeholders belonging to the field of academics, practitioners working in the field of education and representatives from the Government attended the event.

Sindh Education Minister, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, attended the event as the chief guest.

The seminar also hosted a panel of experts which included Ms. Saba Mahmood, Chief Programme Manager, Reform Support Unit, Dr. Kaiser Bengali, a senior economist, Prof. Dr. Bernadette Dean, Principal, St. Joseph’s College, Wajih Akhtar Media Development Practitioner, Prof. Anita Ghulam Ali, Managing Director, Sindh Education Foundation and Aziz Kabani, Director, Sindh Education Foundation.

Nisar Khuhro said that being a teacher is a highly respected profession and that teachers have more of a responsibility at times towards the development of children than parents even. Dr Kaiser Bengali said that the problem with edu-

cation is not with the demand but the supply and added that the children want to learn but we do not have the facilities to ensure they get a proper education.

Dr Bernadette Dean said that recruitment of teachers is very important. She said just looking at a teacher’s qualification on paper is not enough and it needed to ensure that the candidates also possess the knowledge and skills required to teach.

The teachers of Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) marked the World Teachers Day’ at its premises here on Saturday with great enthusiasm.

An official of the institution said that a cake cutting ceremony was also performed on the occasion. The speakers said that teachers are heart and soul of the society and that they are also the agents of change.—APP

Mumtaz Bhutto for stern accountability of previous rulers CITY REPORTER KARACHI—Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto said that the ongoing condition of Pakistan’s economy, law and order and retrenchments in jobs and decline in local and foreign direct and indirect investments were all fostered by the previous Pakistan People’s party Parliamentarian (PPPP) government. The previous PPPP-led coalition government had under the umbrella of the reconciliation policy not only looted the wealth of public but pinned the poor masses to wall as they were being deprived of basic necessities of the living.

He was talking to a 20-mem-

ber delegation of PMLN local leaders headed by PMLN Sindh chapter general secretary Saleem Zia Awan advocate.

The delegation discussed about problems in the country in general and situation in the Sindh province especially Karachi and also the matters that pertained to making the party active at the union council level in Sindh.

Sardar Bhutto said that the rampant corruption in the country was made the culture of the country during previous government’s tenure and the affairs of the country were run either through printing of the currency note in countless numbers or depending on loans fro the IMF or other monetary

institutions. The present devastating economical deterioration, dilapidated industrial growth position, failure of investment and escalated poverty were gifts of the previous government.

He stressed upon quick, speedy and ruthless accountability of the rulers of the previous country especially the former president Asif Ali Zardari.

While expressing his concern on the armed violence in the province and the terrorism in the country, he said that the previous PPPP’s government could not take the killers of Benazir Bhutto to task so how could they control the terrorism in the country and lawlessness in Karachi.

Job-oriented programmes for youth STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Socio-economic problems, lack of education and skills and poverty were serious problems towards having ideal developed society in the country. The poverty was also the main cause that diverted the social trend towards creating criminal elements in the society. Public Private Partnership for linking educational and training opportunities to the job opportunities was the only solution that not only would eradicate those problems but would also put the youth on job, who at present were being misused by the anti-state elements.

Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Au-

thority (STEVTA) managing director (MD) G A Baloch while addressing the consultative workshop organized by the management of STEVTA stated this at local hotel Saturday.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the workshop the STEVTA MD said that this government had stepped forward and launched public private partnership under the STEVTA programme to create more skilled manpower and linking it to the job opportunities.

He said that under this programme, we had engaged many successful organizations like institute of business administration (IBA), Sukkur for running marketable skill training programmes and mono technical institutes at different places

in Sindh.He said that skills had much importance for productivity of any organizations and in order to ensure the objectives of public private partnership, his management had proposed to the government for creating human resources committee headed by private partners.

He said that STEVTA had 251 institutes to run and it had vast, important and useful infrastructure to create income and employment opportunities for youths of Sindh.

He said that we had good talented human resources, which could be utilized within and outside the country.

He said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was taking keen interest not only for creating skill development

among youths but also had invited the educational institutions of England and other foreign countries to open their campus in Sindh and provide language training to our skilled manpower so that they could be enable to get jobs at abroad.

The head of IBA Sukkur, Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui while addressing the workshop said that his management had established 5 community colleges one each in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Naushero Feroze and Dadu districts to educate the students of rural areas about their basis and technical knowhow.

He said that associate degree in relevant discipline would be awarded to the successful students under this A view of relief goods being loaded into C-130 by Pakistan Army for earthquake affectees of programme.

Awaran.

Plea dismissed against appointment of Asad KARACHI—A bench of Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed petition against the appointment of Asad Ashraf Malik, a retired government officer as Provincial Ombudsman.

The petition against the appointment was filed by a lawyer Mohammad Yousuf Rajpar submitting that the Provincial Ombudsman was given judicial powers equal to a judge of the high court for awarding punishments and the incumbent was required to possess a vast experience of law.

Advocate General Sindh Khalid Javed in his arguments submitted that the Provincial Governor was empowered to appoint or reappoint a person on the recommendation of the Chief Minister under section 4(1) of Province of Sindh Act 1991.

The bench after hearing both the sides dismissed the petition.—APP

IGP orders special security measures for international exhibition KARACHI—Inspector General of Police Sindh Shahid Nadeem Baloch has directed the police to ensure strict security measures to protect local and foreign delegates and other visitors at the 13th ITCN Asia international exhibition to be held from October 08 to 10 at Expo centre.

According to police department’s press release the provincial police chief asked the officials concerned to consult the Expo administration while planning and making the security arrangements. They should also hold briefing for the police officials to be detailed at the roads leading to the Expo centre about security planning.

He further directed to erect scanners at the entering points at the Expo centre and use metal detectors for checking of the visitors. Services of the bomb disposal squad should also be acquired to sweep the area, he added.—APP

Just what is in that chicken nugget?

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TAND-up comedians have long joked that some things, like the actual components of chicken nuggets, are better left mysterious. Recently, Mississippi researchers found out why: two nuggets they examined consisted of 50 percent or less chicken muscle tissue, the breast or thigh meat that comes to mind when a customer thinks of “chicken.”

The nuggets came from two national fast food chains in Jackson. The three researchers selected one nugget from each box, preserved, dissected and stained the nuggets, then looked at them under a microscope. The first nugget was about half muscle, with the rest a mix of fat, blood vessels and nerves. Close inspection revealed cells that line the skin and internal organs of the bird, the authors write in the American Journal of Medicine.

The second nugget was only 40 percent muscle, and the remainder was fat, cartilage and pieces of bone. “We all know white chicken meat to be one of the best sources of lean protein available and encourage our patients to eat it,” lead author Dr. Richard D. deShazo of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, said.

“What has happened is that some companies have chosen to use an artificial mixture of chicken parts rather than low-fat chicken white meat, batter it up and fry it and still call it chicken,” deShazo told Reuters Health.

“It is really a chicken by-product high in calories, salt, sugar and fat that is a very unhealthy choice. Even worse, it tastes great and kids love

it and it is marketed to them.” The nuggets he examined would be okay to eat occasionally, but he worries that since they are cheap, convenient and taste good, kids eat them often. His own grandchildren “beg” for chicken nuggets all the time, and he compromises by making them at home by panfrying chicken breasts with a small amount of oil, deShazo said.

“Chicken nuggets are an excellent source of protein, especially for kids who might be picky eaters,” said Ashley Peterson, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the National Chicken Council (NCC), a non-profit trade group representing the U.S. chicken industry. According to the NCC, its member producers and processors account for about 95 percent of the chicken produced in the U.S. “This study evaluates only two chicken nugget samples out of the billions of chicken nuggets that are made every year,” Peterson said. A sample size of two nuggets is simply too small to generalize to an entire category of food, she told Reuters Health. Two nuggets is a small sample size, deShazo acknowledged, and some chains have begun to use primarily white meat in their nuggets - just not the particular restaurants he visited.

“Chicken nuggets tend to have an elevated fat content because they are breaded and fried.

But it’s no secret what is in a chicken nugget most quick service restaurants have nutritional information posted in the store or on their website,” Peterson said.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Zahid Hamid giving away medals to the students of COMSATS Institute of information and Technology at the 57th Convocation.

LCCI hails Ishaq Dar for reducing sales tax LAHORE—Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry here Saturday appreciated Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for accepting some of the LCCI taxation-related demands. The LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari, SVP Main Tariq Misbah and VP Kashif Anwar said the Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs), quite in line with business community demands, would help give some boost to economic activities that had turned sluggish owing to multiple challenges in the yester years. They also urged Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to visit Lahore Chamber and sit with the business community to sort out the remaining tax related complexities. —APP

Shariah can’t be imposed at gunpoint LAHORE—Ameer Jammat-e- peace talks with Taliban as it Islami (JI) Syed Munawar Hassan has said that rule of Shariah can’t be imposed through use of force nor peace established on the base of force can be long lasting. Addressing the leadership convention of Shabab-eMilli at Mansoora, Lahore, Munawar Hassan said that only transparent and free elections are guarantee for restoration of peace and change in country.

He blamed that looters have occupied the central and provincial governments who don’t let the country develop, prosper and masses to become self sufficient.

The JI leader alleged that US is the biggest hurdle in the way of

don’t wants destabilization in the region.

He said that Taliban are desirous of power instead of Shariah and if they would have interested there would be rule of Shairah in the country till now.

Munawar Hassan claimed that if he would have 15,000 volunteers he can stop the Nato supply.

He said that earlier Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif talk about “Ali Baba 40 thieves” in government but now same elements are part of Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) led government and have been declared innocent.—INP

Activists of Punjab Teacher’s Union stage a sit-in during a day of protests on World Teacher’ day, to condemn the provincial government’s ‘ill-treatment of teachers’, at Faisal Chowk.

Two dacoits arrested LAHORE—The police arrested two robbers in injured condition after exchange of fire and recovered arms and motorcycle from their possession while another managed to escape.

According to details, the patrolling police approached three robbers who were busy in looting a family in front of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park located in Iqbal Town area of Lahore. The police cordoned off the robbers and tried to arrest them but they offered resistance which led to encounter.

In firing by police two robbers identified as Usman and Moin were injured and arrested by police but their one cohort managed to flee. Arms and stolen motorcycle were recovered from the possession of detainees. The injured dacoits were shifted to Jinnah Hospital where according to hospital sources condition of Moin was serious.

Police registered a case and started the search for the third member of the gang who fled from the scene.—INP

Security of trains before Eid-ul-Azha LAHORE—Pakistan Railways (PR) authorities have decided to increase the security of trains in the backdrop of prevailing law and order situation in the country on Eid-ul-Azha.

According to the Railways sources, number of police officials with express trains will be increased. The extra contingents of cops will be deployed from Railways Police Lines, while cancellation of the police officials on the occasion of Eid is also under consideration.

The sources said that usually 10 police personnel travel with each of private and business trains and Shalimar Express and six personnel each travel with Karakoram Express, Night Coach and other express trains, while four police official travel with each of common passenger trains.—INP

CM for ending gas, electricity thefts LAHORE—Punjab Chief Minis- ers and officials involved in possible without bringing the ter Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Saturday said that electricity and gas theft is impossible without the connivance of officers and officials of concerned departments.

He was presiding over a meeting of Taskforce on Eradication of Electricity and Gas Theft here which reviewed the ongoing campaign against the electricity and gas thieves in the province in detail.

He said that the ongoing campaign against gas and electricity thieves in the province could not succeed without exposing black sheep of these departments and taking them to task.

While directing to take immediate action against the offic-

electricity and gas theft, the Chief Minister said that in case of any negligence in this regard, the heads of concerned departments would be held accountable.

He directed to submit the report about the action taken against the officials involved in electricity and gas theft within seven days.

Addressing the meeting, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that the corruption and plunder of national resources has become history of the past.

He said that government has promoted corruption free culture and no effort will be spared for rooting out this menace.

He said that eradication of electricity and gas theft is not

PPP will resist privatization LAHORE—Secretary Informa- the corridors of power. tion Pakistan People’s Party, Qamar Zaman Kaira, has vowed that his Party would resist the privatization of 31 Public Sector Enterprises (PSE)and would not accept the loot sale of the national assets to the crony capitalists. He expressed his dismay over the decision because even the profit making Public enterprises were also on the hit list of the government which defied their claim of selling those PSEs which were running on losses.

He said that the OGDC and the Banks were the success story of the country’s economy and were contributing in the national exchequer in a big way and their privatization was beyond comprehension except to benefit those who were known for good rapport with the people now in

He said that the PPP would mobilize the social resistance against the decision of the government to privatize the PSEs indiscriminately regardless of their imperatives of strategic considerations.

He said that it was most deplorable that the PML (N) during election campaign committed that they would make these PSEs profit making organizations with roots to branches restructuring and by inducting management experts within short span of time.

He pointed out that the government could not even make appointment of such experts even after the period of three months what to speak of making these PSEs making turn around.—Online

plunderers of national resources to justice.

He said that the common man has to pay heavy bills due to electricity and gas theft.

The Chief Minister said that although electricity and gas theft of crores of rupees has been detected as a result of this campaign so far, yet strict measures are essential for getting best results. He directed IG Police to ensure action against the officers and officials involved in electricity and gas theft as per law on the identification of concerned departments.

Chairman Taskforce on Eradication of Electricity and Gas Theft Irfan Elahi gave a detailed briefing about the ongoing campaign.—APP

Death penalty moratorium LAHORE—The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has welcomed the federal government’s announcement on continuing the moratorium on capital punishment and has called for a thorough review of the death penalty regime in the country.

Zohra Yusuf Chairperson HRCP in a press statement here said that the HRCP welcomes the government’s statement that it would persist with the moratorium on death penalty.

The news brings some respite for thousands of death row inmates especially those whose execution was imminent and their families”.

The HRCP is particularly happy to note the government has cited the country’s international commitments, which cannot possibly exclude human rights, as the ground for the decision..—APP

Govt starts welfare-oriented programme CITY REPORTER LAHORE—Minister for Excise & Taxation Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman has said that government has started a socio-economic welfare-oriented programme with a cost billions of rupees so that to minimize the economic problems of the masses.

He said that despite limited resources, Khadim-e-Aala Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has given priority to upgrade the socio-economic status of the impecunious strata. He said that Punjab government, under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is committed to

extend quality basic healthcare facilities to the people at their doorsteps and measures are also being taken for state of the art health care facilities.

He expressed these views while addressing a reception hosted by Khawaja Farooq Hussain at Javed Park Shadbagh, Muneeb Tufail, Rehmat Ali, Abdul Rehman and Malik Khalid also address the reception. Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said that 70 percent population live in rural areas which are closely linked with the basic health centers, therefore, the government is upgrading the infrastructure of basic health centers for provision of modern health facilities to the masses at

grass root level.

He said that by increasing the health budget up to 102 billion rupees to poor and resource less people. He said that huge amount of 7.5billon is being spent on the provision of free treatment and medicines to the poor and destitute in public sector hospitals of the province.

Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said that poverty and unemployment can be minimized through empowerment of women in economic field and the government would provide financial assistance through banks and other financial institutions so that women folk could start small business and cottage industries even in the towns and small

cities.He said that women community will be strengthened in all sections of society and opportunities of employment will be provided to them in government, semi-government and private organizations so that they can play their due role in the development of the country.

Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said that PML N believes in the power of the people and it has brought the national politics out of drawing rooms to the public and the PML N would maintain the supremacy of rule of law as well as the sovereignty of the people. He said that the PML N has promoted the real democracy in Pakistan.

Women are taking keen interest in dresses during an exhibition at a local hotel.

Next three weeks important for dengue LAHORE—Dengue situation is under control in the province due to collective efforts of the people and the government, however, the coming three weeks are very important with regard to breeding of dengue mosquito.

This was informed in the meeting of cabinet committee presided over by MPA Khawaja Salman Rafique, here.

Secretary Health Hassan Iqbal, Secretaries of various government departments, Additional Secretaries, Commissioner Lahore Imdad Ullah Bosal, Vice Chancellor KEMU Prof. Faisal Masood, In charge Chief Minister’s Dengue Research Cell Dr Waseem Akram, DIG Special Branch Shahid Khan and officers of PITB also attended the meeting..—APP

Donations for quake victims SALIM AHMED LAHORE—Philanthropists and heads of various institutions met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and presented cheques for 15.5 million for the Prime Minister’s special fund for the relief of earthquake affectees of Balochistan.

Chairman Lahore Gymkhana Club Salman Siddique presented a cheque for one crore rupees on behalf of Lahore Gymkhana Club, Member Provincial Assembly Sheikh Allaudin 20 lakh rupees, S M Tanvir 25 lakh rupees on behalf of Sundar Industrial Estate while Mian Ijaz a cheque for ten lakh rupees on behalf of Dollar East Company.

Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif appreciated the humanitarian spirit of the philanthropists. He said that help and assistance to the calamity hit Balochi brethren is a national responsibility and Punjab government is making all out efforts for their relief and rehabilitation.

He said that a modern hospital will be constructed in the affected area of Balochistan on the pattern of Swat.