E-Paper November 10, 2012

17 including MNA Ahmadan injured in Dera Bugti blast STAFF REPORTER Q UETTA —Member

National Assembly Mir Ahmadan Bugti and 17 other people were injured in an explosion that took place on Friday at the Gol Chowk

Pillion riding banned in Karachi, other cities

11 dead, 40 hurt in bus accident M URIDKEY —At least 11

persons were killed and 40 Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf inaugurating Optic Fiber Project, Balochistan, at sustained severe injuries in a bus accident at Narowal Gwadar. Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani is also present. road on Friday.

A bus No. FDP5405 bound to Faisalabad from Shakergarh went out of conSTAFF REPORTER trol and fell into a deep raKARACHI —The Sindh vine when the driver tried to government has imposed a save a motorcyclist coming ban on pillion riding in from the other side at Narowal Karachi, Hyderabad and Road near Chora Rajputan Khairpur till 11th of Bust Stop.

Muharram-ul-Harram.

The rescue team reached The ban has been the spot after one hour while imposed to avoid any He said that Habib had Nawaz Sharif said that STAFF REPORTER Continued on Page 7 untoward incident during provided money to topple Pir money was brought in gunny the month of Muharram. bags to topple his governSenior citizens, women, LAHORE —Pakistan Muslim ment in Punjab. He added that League-N President Nawaz children aged below 12 billions of rupees were disSharif has demanded of the years, special people and bursed amongst politicians government to immediately journalists have been by the Pervez Musharraf announce election and put an exempted from the ban. government. end to ‘suspense’ over its Earlier today, Sindh When asked as to why he date.

Chief Minister Qaim Ali would accept being probed In an interview, the Shah summoned an by the Federal Investigation former prime minister disemergency meeting Agency for his role in Asghar missed the allegation that he regarding law and order in Khan case, Nawaz said that received money from former Karachi and security he would do so despite the Mehran Bank head Younis measures before Muharramagency reported to Rehman Habib. “Had I received ul-Haram.

Malik as it was Supreme money and had he been kind Court order. He noted that the enough to us, my government would have not fired Sabir Shah’s government in government should impleSarhad. him from job,” he added.

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Nawaz pushes for immediate election

Dismisses allegations of receiving money from Younis Habib

Shujaat predicts surprising results in elections ISLAMABAD —Pakistan

Muslim League (Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has warned his opponents not to under estimate his party which would give surprising results in the forthcoming elections.

He was speaking at the Iqbal Day function here Friday organized by PML (Q)’s cultural wing. Shujaat said that there is no single popular leader in the country who could muster popular support and therefore elections would be held on the basis of

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17.0

Rs70m doled out for IJI cause: Asad Durrani I SLAMABAD —Former head lected and Rs 70 million disof Inter-Services Intelligence tributed among certain poli(ISI) Major General (Retd) ticians during the 1990 polls.

In an interview with a priAsad Durrani has said that 140 million rupees were colContinued on Page 7

Hina advises BD ‘Bury the past’ Hasina invited to D-8 Summit DHAKA—Bangladesh on Friday demanded a formal apology from Pakistan for the alleged genocide committed by its troops during the 1971 war, but Islamabad said it is

time to carry forward bilateral ties after “burying the past”.

During a meeting with her Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Min-

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Soldier killed in militants SWA check post attack W A N A —One soldier was killed and another was injured when militants attacked a security checkpost in South Waziristan early FriContinued on Page 7

Iqbal’s birth anniversary observed ISLAMABAD—The 135th birth anniversary of Allama Mohammad Iqbal was observed on Friday with utmost zeal.

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Treaty of Medina basis for true Islamic State: Javed Iqbal ‘Pakistan needs to follow Iqbal’s concept of spiritual democracy’; Iqbal stressed need for Ijtehad to meet new challenges ASHRAF ANSARI ISLAMABAD—Justice (Retd.) Dr. Javed Iqbal in his lecture at Aiwan-e-Quaid Friday said, the Treaty of Medina signed by Holy Prophet Muhammad (M.P.B.U.H) in Medina provides the real basis for an Islamic State. The other parties to the treaty were nonMuslims namely the Jews, the Christians and others.

Dr. Javed Iqbal said the treaty provided equal human rights to the citizens of

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‘Whosoever serves Pakistan, serves Islam’ Zahid Malik pleads for Ijtihad STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Mr. Zahid Malik, Editor-in-Chief, Pakistan Observer, has said that Islam, the last revealed religion of God, should be a cementing and not divisive force and Islamic injunctions need to be re-interpreted in the light of the

dictates of the 21st Century.

Mr. Zahid Malik who is also Chairman of Nazriya Pakistan Council (Trust), in his presidential remarks at the talk delivered by Dr. Justice Javed Iqbal on “Thoughts of Iqbal and Pakistan Today” at the

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in Balochistan province’s Dera Bugti district.

Balochistan Republican Army accepted the responsibility for the attack.

The blast occurred near a mosque as people were leaving its premises after of-

fering Friday prayers.

Levies sources said a remote-controlled bomb was used in the explosion and the target of the attack was Bugti, a member of the Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q).

Two of the injured are said to be in critical condition.

The explosion caused damage to shops and vehicles and created panic

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No clash among state institutions: Raja Stresses unity to counter challenges Balochistan one of top national priorities G WADAR —Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday strongly dispelled the impression of any clash among the state institutions and said the challenges the country was facing could be addressed with unity and greater understanding.

He was addressing at the inaugural ceremony of the Gwadar Port Civic Centre, here at the coastal city.

Prime Minister Ashraf said that all state institutions were working with the sole objective of serving the nation and building a strong Pakistan.

“We will have to understand that who is interested in creating dissent and division among the institutions and who will gain from their division,” the Prime Minister said.

He said democracy had

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Zardari, Brown launch joint initiative to enrol 3-million school children STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD —President Asif Ali Zardari along with Special Envoy of UN Secretary General on Global Education Gordon Brown here on Friday launched Waseela-eTaleem Programme aimed at enrolling three million children in Pakistan during next four years. They launched the initiative Waseela-eTaleem - a component of Benazir Income Support Programme - at a well attended ceremony at Aiwane-Sadr. President Zardari said the initiative is aimed at pro-

viding free education to the children of poorest of the poor families.

Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is the flagship programme of poverty alleviation and women empowerment, he said adding BISP has already launched programmes including cash grants, micro financing, skill development and life and health insurance. He said BISP is not merely a cash grant programme but it aims at enrolling the poorest of the poor to stand them on their feet. “It teaches them how to catch a fish,” he remarked

adding. “We are committed to achieve Universal Primary Education.”

As a result of constitutional amendment, education is now included in the fundamental rights, he mentioned. The President said no country can make progress without investing in its human capital. “That is why we have education as a basic right. We believe that ignorance and poverty go hand in hand. Poverty has kept away many children from education,” he added. President Zardari said poverty and ignorance fuel militancy and

extremism.

“We must fight against ignorance to fight poverty and militancy.” The President commended role of Chairperson BISP Farzana Raja for launching multiple programmes providing comprehensive and effective social safety net for under privileged people. He said Waseela-e-Taleem Programme lays solid foundation for a brighter future for poor children. The President appreciated the support of international development partners including DFID, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, USAID and the govern-

ments of United Kingdom, China and Turkey for their assistance.

“Their support has helped BISP to become a great success story.” He said BISP is apolitical programme and its sole mandate is to help the poor regardless of political and other divides.

The role of provincial governments and administration is critical in successful implementation of the programme, he noted. He urged the provincial governments to extend all possible support to BISP. “They should become partners in ensuring that each and every child is enrolled in the schools. I urge everyone to make this initiative a success. Failure is not an option. I will personally monitor the progress and implementation. I assure you of all possible support.”

Homage paid to Allama Iqbal FAISAL KHAWER BUTT

Muharram security RAZA NAQVI A TTOCK —District police have chalked out a comprehensive security plan for Muharram-ul-Haram during which complete security will be provided to all Zuljannah processions and Majalis. Giving details, chief security officer Attock, Muhammad Usman told newsman that during first 10 days of holy month of Muharram. 754 Majalis and 145 zuljannah processions will be carried out throughout dist. Attock from 87 Imam Bargahs these include 29 licensed procession while 116 are traditional procession.

To protect these processions nine gazetted officer, 23 inspectors, 100 sub-inspectors, 110 ASI, 75 head-constables, 1500 police personals, 12 lady police mean while 930 male and female volunteers of imam bargah organi- HYDERABAD: A girl sits with her mother as they attend zations, 47 nation volunteers. inaugural ceremony of science exhibition at a local school.

Light rain likely at various places

Army, judiciary, media roles strengthen nation

STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—The local Met the next few days. However, S IALKOT —The 136th Birth office has forecast dry there were chances of drizzle anniversary of great thinker weather for the city and its at scattered places during the I SLAMABAD —Cooperation

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, Special Envoy of UN Secretary General on Global Education Gordon Brown and Federal Minister and Chairperson BISP Farzana Raja handing over School Enrolment Certificate to a girl from BISP beneficiary family at Waseela-e-Taleem Launching Ceremony here at Presidency.

Winter: People throng kabari markets

Arms for peace on display OBSERVER REPORTER

RAFIULLAH MANDOKHAIL K ARACHI —The modern and

latest arms and ammunition, displayed on various stalls of Ideas-2012 exhibition at Expcentre Karachi are catching the eyes of visitors. Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), a force behind the Pak Armed forces has stolen the show receiving numbers of national and foreign delegations and drawing attention of every single visitor.

Chairman POF welcomes the visitors and briefs on over 70 items the national organization has placed on display that how the arms are passed through various stages during manufacturing and quality. The dignitaries who took special interest in the process of Pakistan’s

Z HOB —People of Zhob thronged Kabari markets to buy warm clothes keeping in view the winter season that has made its presence felt. With the advent of harsh winter, the sale of warm clothes is registering enormous surge in the Kabari markets of Zhob. A large number of people are witnessed crowding Kabari heaps to buy second hand warm clothes to mitigate the hardships of winter. Warm coats, caps, gloves, mufflers and socks are up for sale. The prices of secondhand clothes available in the open markets are skyrocketing and are going out of the reach of common man.

All kinds of wears are also seen hanging in front of shops and stalls, attracting the customers. The business of warm clothes is getting boom in Zhob city after a sudden change in weather.

Taking advantage of the cold weather the vendors have increased the prices of old SHER GONDAL stuff as well. The people complain that this year the M ANDI B AHAUDDIN —The warm clothes are costly as 135th birth anniversary of the compared to last year.

Poet of the East, Allama

conventional arms manufacturing and were well briefed by the Chairman were among others, Secretary Defense Production, MNA Hyder Abbas Rizvi, Air Chief Marshal TahirRafiq Butt, Minister of State for Defense Production Mr. Sardar Bahadur, Mr. MushahidHussain Syed, Chairman Defense Committee and Ms. Sahar Kamran Member Parliament Defense Committee.

The foreign personages and military delegations that visited POF stalls and get acquainted were Japanese Army’s Maj. Gen. Masha Tosha, Commander Inchief Chile Mr. Rejas, Defense Production Minister of Sudan Mr. Ali Usman, Azerbaijan Military Lieutenant Gen. MehmanNourozov,

Uzbekistan’ Lieutenant Gen. Lutfullah, General Joseph from Uganda, Naval Chief Jordan Brig. Gen. Monel, from Air Force of Nigeria Air Marshal I. Umar, Let. Gen. K T Comoni from Letho, Chief of Staff of Afghanistan, Ambassador of Iraq and military delegation of Croatia.

The latest weaponries attracted huge attention of the guests during the expo. Media persons were also briefed about POF role specially in collecting foreign reserves by exporting defense products, progress of country, private and public partnership, textile and automobile industry.

They were told about POF’s export to more than forty countries worldwide which is strengthening the Pakistan’s ties with the countries.

Inspiring message of Allama Iqbal highlighted Muhammad Iqbal, was observed across the district with reverence. National flags were hoisted on government buildings. Ceremonies were held in schools including College of Technology and Engineering, Rasul. Ex-servicemen of Mandi Tehsil arranged a function at Kadhanwala village to pay homage to Poet of the East. In all functions speakers highlighted the revolutionary spirit the Allama inculcated in the youth. **** President Asif Ali Zardari, about two months ago, had announced that a campaign for upcoming elections would be kicked off with holding PPP rally at Malikwal in Mandi Bahauddin district.

Programme in this respect was made and date for the rally was fixed as 25th October. Later on it was postponed to 5th November. Now the date for visit of the president to Malikwal has again been changed.

It may be interesting to know that Federal Minister Nazar Gondal this time had informed the media that he had invited the President on PPP Eid Milan party that would be held on Nov 14 at Malikwal.

After the verdict of the Supreme Court banning president political activities during official visits, the PPP had changed name of the rally/ meeting to Eid Milan party. **** With start of sugarcane crushing season farmers of the area have started preparing Gur. Since sugar mills

purchase sugar cane at low rates and delay payment, the farmers prefer making Gur. Making Gur, as per Yousaf Ghuman of Head Faqiran gives more profitable as compared to sell sugarcane to mills. Besides, this practice has added advantage in shape of fodder for animals.

and philosopher poet of the East in the 20th century, Allama Muhammad Iqbal was observed on Friday at in his birthplace Sialkot, like in the rest of the country with enthusiasm. A number of functions and gatherings were held in the city by various social, political and business organizations in this connection. The Administrator TMA Sialkot Pervaiz Iqbal Butt and other officials of TMA visited “Iqbal Manzil”, the ancestral home of Iqbal in Muhallah Kashmirian where he was born in 1876, to pay homage to one of the greatest of the Muslim philosophers of last century.

Later they also visited nearby historic graveyard of Imam Sahib to offere ‘fatiha’ on the graves of the parents of Allama Iqbal. The President of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Abdul Majeed, vice presidents Kashif Almas and Ikramul Haq, Shzada Ibni Iqbal, ex-President Eden Lions Club Arif Khawar Butt and a number of other members of SCCI celebrated the 136th birthday of Iqbal at ‘Iqbal Manzil’ where a cake was cut in this regard. They also offered prayers at the graves of the parents of Iqbal.

A ‘mehfil-e-mushaira’ was later held under the auspices of “Bazm-i-Iqbal’ at ‘Iqbal Manzil’ in which Nasir Lodhi, Amanat Chaudhry, Prof. Ijaz Butt, Zafar Bangash, Prof.

Nadeem Islam, Maryam Sultana and others paid rich tributes to Iqbal through their verses. Hundreds of men, women and children, local and from other cities visited ‘Iqbal Manzil’ the whole day which has been declared as a museum since 1970, when government declared the house as national heritage and put it under the supervision of Archaeology Department. A number of articles used by Iqbal were put on display including a pen and an ink pot which he had personally used for quite some time.

suburbs for next 24 hours. On Friday, the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded as 28.7 and 14.7 degrees centigrade, respectively.

Humidity was recorded at 84 percent at 8am and 47 percent at 5pm. Dry weather with hazy/ misty morning is likely in the city during next 24 hours.

According to Met office’s weather report, the minimum temperature is expected to remain in the range of 19 to 21 degrees centigrade. The Met Office said, dry weather with hazy/misty morning has been forecast over the period in other parts of Sindh. Cold/very cold and dry weather will prevail in majority areas of Balochistan while dry weather is expected elsewhere in the region. It said night temperatures have risen by 2 degrees centigrade at isolated in lower Sindh.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast chances of thunderstorm with light rain (drizzle) in Rawalpindi, Kashmir, GilgitBaltistan, Malakand and Hazara during the next 24 hours. A Met Office official told APP that mainly the weather would remain dry in

next two days. A westerly weather system is likely to enter the country and chances of rain are obvious during the next week, he added.

“There are chances of rain on November 15 and 16, which will turn the weather cold”, he said. According to the Met Office, normal wind pattern may prevail in most of the agricultural plains of

the country during the decade. It advised the farmers of Barani and irrigated areas to remove weeds from the fields and prepare their fields for incoming Rabi crops. It further advised the farmers of Barani areas to cultivate Rabi crops, including wheat, in time so that present soil moisture may fully be utilized. The Met Office advised the farmers of irrigated lands to harvest Kharif crops, including cotton, in time so that in time sowing of Rabi crops.—APP

between Army, Judiciary and Media can play a pivotal role in strengthening the country, this was stated by ex minister and Chairman National Peoples Muslim League Syed Pervaiz Ali Shah while talking to central media incharge Farheen Chaudhry and General Secretary of the newly formed NPML here. Mr Shah was commenting upon the recent statements of Army Chief, Chief Justice.

Syed Pervaiz Ali Shah said though we have multiple weaknesses but we should not be disrespectful and damage the integrity of our institutions as their very survival is the survival of Pakistan, rather this practice of damaging our institutions for dirty business of politics should be avoided.

We should keep in mind that the decisions of strong institutions like Army and judiciary have always been supreme and in the best interest of the country as they have the credible reputation in the eyes of the people. He further said that if there has been misdoing of some individual it couldn’t be treated.

LAHORE: PML-Q General Secretary Zaheeruddin Khan addressing students during a seminar on Allama Iqbal Day.

Delightful evening at US Consul General house SALAHUDDIN HAIDER

I

T was a delightful evening at the US consul general’s house on 6th November.

He collected some 100 or a little over 100 students from different institutions of Karachi to explain to them the process of American Presidential elections. The response to his efforts was indeed excellent.

Last time in 2008, the then consul general, Kay Anske, an enlightened lady who loved Pakistan and Karachi, , had held a breakfast session on the morning when results were out or about to be announced. That was a much bigger exercise and the turnout was great.

This time, the new consul general Michael Dodman, had earlier explained to me at a private

gathering at my house that he and his colleagues had debated in considerable detail about following the trend set by Kay, and finally opted to educate the younger generations as to how the race for the White House is conducted. Invitees were divided into two different groups with red and blue buttons, pinned on their shirts, jackets, scarf etc, to signify the Democrats and Republicans party colours.

But in order to help them understand the election procedure better, they were actually briefed in three different rooms, by three different consulate officers. Each of the three officers, had ten minutes for briefing and question-answer session, and the particpant putting the best of five questions, allowed to them, was given a token gift.

The exercise, was innovative in character, and yet was full of fun, for the invitees were explained the preliminaries about the electoral system—

from primaries, to allocation of electoral college votes, nomination of candidates at party conventions, and the actual voting day which this time was 6th November. It was simultaneously very, very informative in the sense that not many people here knew as to why Washington had 3 electoral votes. A young and enterprising student was quick to answer that since Washington is not a State, it is District of Columbia which was allocated this number.

A young and pretty officer, Kelly, looking elegant and smart in her dress for the evening, explained in considerable detail the history from 1870 to 1971 how women and younger generations were given voting rights through 15th and 18th amendments to the constitution. The Vietnam war when young people of 18 years or were inducted into forces, helped generate a debate, and allow voting rights to 18-year old.

The Declaration of Inde-

pendence of 1776, guaranteed equal rights for all. Another brilliant student was quick to answer that in case of a tie with 269 votes each between two candidates for the Presidential race, the issue will be decided by the two houses, called senate and the congress. From public point of view, the function was a genuine effort to help America and Pakistan develop goodwill at the grass-root level. America held a high image among Pakistanis till the 65 war against India. And since then the bilateral ties, kept swinging from time to time. Now that these are their lowest ebb, after Raymond Davis issue, the May 2 killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbotabad, or the Salala attack on our military checkpost on Afghanistan border, efforts will have to be made at various levels to help restore public confidence in our relationship.

The new American CG is an excellent choice to head the US mission in Karachi,

and he has been moving around to develop goodwill between the people of United States and Pakistan at different levels. But the spirit behind Monday’s function was a mercurial young public affairs officer, Corina Sanders. She is brilliant, and so were others.

Michael Dodman himself was moving around to make sure that everyone was properly looked after.

Such functions or gatherings are powerful means to achieve an end. Dodman and his team of officers, most of them fresh in their assignment here, have been doing their best to do that. The CG is a jolly person, very articulate, and with Corina, Richard Silver, and Annu, looking after political affairs, they may succeed in their endeavour to remove misgivings among the Pakistanis. Difficult job it is, but attempt has to be made, which they know they are doing honestly.

PPP sacrificed for democracy Staff Reporter

Mian brothers lose moral politics

OKARA—PPP Punjab presi- tending reception hosted in ISLAMABAD —Federal Minister for Po- dent Mian Manzoor Ahmad his honor Friday.

litical Affairs Maula Bakhsh Chandio said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has rendered greatest number of sacrifices for strengthening of democracy.

Talking to private television channel, he said that PPP sacrificed a lot for democracy and PML(N) leadership should follow the democratic norms. Replying to a question, he said that Parliament is the mother of all the institutions and Constitution is the production of parliament. Minister said that the Asghar Khan case has proved that the government installed after the 1990 elections was illegitimate and its decisions need validation. He added that in the past, mandates of the Pakistan Peoples Party were stolen. Replying to another question, he said that there is a serious debate over the legitimacy of the then government and the issue should be resolved. He said that the PPP will not indulge in politics of confrontation but will not allow the opposition to adopt undemocratic methods. Federal Minister for Political Affairs, Senator Maula Bakhsh Chandio said Pakistan People’s Party has not closed its doors for negotiations with political parties over any issue. Addressing at a reception in a village in Hatri town here on Monday, Senator Chandio said: “All political parties which are opposed to the new local government system should present their objections to the system in a democratic and constitutional way.” Chandio said the people expressed support for Sindh People’s Local Government Bill, 2012 through their participation in great number in the Hyderabad public meeting on October 15. They also expressed their trust in the leadership of the PPP.

Musharaf to return soon Our Correspondent

L ARKANA —All

Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Chief Pervez Musharaf will soon return to the country before the election. He is only the leader with a dynamic vision to steer the country out of prevailing crises. These views were expressed by APML President Larkana division Manzoor Ahmed Gorar while talking to a group of media here on Friday. He said that the PPP government failed to over come country cirises among the inflation, poverty, unemployment, energy crises and several other national issues. He said former President of Pakistan was developmed country and institutions and the name of Pakistan was a reputable country and front line anti-terrorist activities. He said the APML will introduce strong candidates for upcoming general election in Larkana division and other parts of country to counter the corrupt politicians he said. He further said that present rulers of PPP are not paying attention to public issues and basic needs of downtrodden people; so that the poverty rate is increasing unabated, while elected representatives have no time to visit their constituencies in Larkana and other areas he said. Manzoor told that masses are can decide about the performance of present and previous government which has delivered best he added that votes should be given on performance and services of rulers. He said APML will work on grass rout level and win the upcoming elections with majority and serve the masses.

Meanwhile several Market Committee Employees token hunger strike and protest for their 40 months salaries and other rights here outside the Press Club on Saturday. On the occasion, protesting employees among Mohammed Hassan Chachar, Mohammed Ali Dayo, Abdul Gaffar Soomro, Saghir Hussain Isran, and Munir Ahmed Abro, Abdul Aziz Gaad, Abdul Latif Jokhio, Nisar Ahmed Odho and others participate in hunger strike.

Youth to decide national future Our Correspondent

He alleged Mian brothers Wattoo said Friday Mian brothers had lost moral stand- hijacked PPP mandate in collusion with establishment in the decade of 1990. SC had exposed them. If Mian brothers have moral courage to face the reality then they should withdraw from politics, he demanded. PPP will clean sweep in the upcoming general elections because it has never compromised with the dictators, he held. Our leadership did not flee from the country by leaving the people in lurch, he added.

Those who consider rule in Punjab their inherited right should listen that they would ing following Supreme Court stand knocked out once for verdict in Asghar Khan case, all from the political arena durtherefore, they should with- ing the next general elections, draw from politics. He said he added. He demanded that this in his exclusive chat with those hijacked people manlocal journalists at the resi- date should be put to trial dence of PPP district Okara under treason charges in line leader Rana Basit before at- with law.—Online CHOLISTAN: Students busy in study in their dilapidated classroom.

Fata reforms process needs robust efforts: Kausar STAFF REPORTER P ESHAWAR —The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Barrister Masood Kausar has said that sustained efforts for promotion and strengthening of the ongoing process of reforms in FATA are must to ensure their better outcome and it is encouraging that the response of the people of the area is highly positive in this respect. Addressing the oath administering ceremony of FATA Lawyers Forum at Governor House, the Governor pointed out that it is a beginning and for ensuring its successful continuity, the support of

lawyer community is also must to ease the situation.

Taj Mahal Advocate, who took oath as President of the forum, welcomed the Governor and highlighted its role and services as well as legal requirements for ensuring protection of rights of the people of the area. The veteran lawyer and the President of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association, Latif Afridi Advocate, also addressed the ceremony.

Barrister Masood Kausar said that the government is focusing on all aspects of life for ensuring well being of the people of FATA in a democratic spirit wherein the economic development of the area

is also getting priority to the and progress and the governutmost level. In fact, he said, ment is doing its best to come up to their expectations. “We are making efforts to mainstream the people of FATA for ensuring their socio-economic uplift in a democratic way which is also very much compatible with their thinking and approach”, he remarked.

Since, he said, the administrative system in FATA is also going through the strengthening process; therefore, he added the role and services of the law experts will also be highly important in making it a success. Repeople of FATA are highly de- sponding to various points sirous to have equal oppor- raised in the welcome adtunities for their development dress, the Governor pointed

Larkana: Street crimes on the rise NAZIR SIYAL LARKANA—The criminal activities are on the rise in the city and adjoining areas as three robbery incidents followed by a murder were witnessed in a day but police has completely failed to control the street crimes and robberies. According to reports, unknown robbers looted millions of rupees from the traders in Lahori Muhalla, Mirokhan Chowk at 7 numbers Naka, Bakrani road and other parts of district. One of trader Waqar Memon 27

was shot dead on the spot on resistance, while a landlord was deprived of worth Rs. 0.3 million on gun point in the limits of Waleed Police Station Larkana.

Simultaneously, unknown robbers also deprived of thousands of rupees a trader at Bakrani road and fled from the scene, while the police are seemed helpless to control the unabated crime in the city. In Larkana, the police are playing the role of silent spectators as inspite of the arrest of culprits in Larkana, police

has arrested hundreds of innocent people on allegedly suspicious and released them after getting heavy bribe said the sources.

The civil society and the Larkana residents have deplored slackness of police for not acting against criminals who commit crimes in the areas without any fear. They have demanded of the higher authorities to take notice of the increasing crime rate in Larkana district and other areas and maintain law and order situation to provide security to the common men they said.

FAISALABAD—PML-N leader and MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif has said the youth will decide the future of Pakistan as PMLN is taking practical steps to bring real change in the country by imparting modern education to youths. Addressing the laptop and internship letters distribution ceremony under Punjab Youth Internship Programme among boys and girls students at Agriculture University Faisalabad, he urged the youth to use their right of vote in the next general elections with a commitment to make the country prosperous and strengthen.

MNAs Ch Abid Sher Ali, Ch Asim Nazir, Begum Khalida Mansoor, Divisional Commissioner Tahir Hussain, Vicechancellor Agriculture University Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan, Vicechancellor GC University Dr Zakir Hussain, Acting DCO Waheed Akhtar Insar and large number of students were present on the occasion. Hamza Shahbaz said the Punjab government was providing all such facilities to youths in the field of modern education so they could play their role for bright future of the country. Danish Schools, scholarships for talented students from Punjab Endowment Funds, distribution of laptops and Punjab Youth Internship Programme were part of such efforts. “Our country is rich in natural resources and we can get rid of problems confronted to the country by utilizing these resources,” he said and added that youth will have to play their role in this regard.

Hamza said that the provision of justice to victims, medical facilities for poor segments, welfare of widows and deprived people, provision of education to deserving students and welfare of common man were among the top priorities of the PESHAWAR: A person pushing a hand-cart carrying a sick old person to a hospital.

PML-N leadership. He said that 73,000 acres land had been distributed among agri graduates while 20,000 green tractors were also given to young farmers on subsidy of Rs 200,000 each tractor in rural areas.

Iqbal competition Our Correspondent

LARKANA—The Cadet College Larkana will organize “All Pakistan Elite Institutions Hifz-e-Iqbal Competition and Prize Distribution Ceremony” on Sunday.

Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro will preside over Elite Institutions Hifz-e-Iqbal Competition and Director Iqbal Academy Lahore Sohel Omar will be the chief guest on the occasion. The religious parties and different groups have widely condemned the cable operators for telecasting obscene and ant-state Indian movies for a long in Larkana. The religious scholars among JUI local leader Muhabat Ali Khuhro, Shia Ulma-eCouncil local leaders Aijaz Jafri, Zulfikar Ali Magsi and others criticized Larana police to ban on these TV channels airing through cable operators. Talking to the media men, they said that under the Islamic provision of article 02, para 06, is clearly mentioned that the state shall prevent prostitution, gambling and consumption of alcohol, printing, publishing, circulation and display of all obscene material, literature and others. They told that despite of all the police is not taking any action against violation and getting bribe from them. The religious leaders have demanded of the district administration and SSP Larkana to take action against the culprits under the law forthwith before the Muharram-ul-Harram they demanded.

Businessmen protest shops demolition

OUR CORRESPONDENT TIMERGARA—Business community of Timergara on Friday protested against demolishing of a medicine store and adjacent laboratory by owner of the shops in front of the DHQ hospital Timergara. The protesting traders, led by president Anjuman Tajaran Haji Anwar-ud-Din marched on a road and gathered in front of the local press club. Later during a news conference Haji Anwar-ud-Din, chemist Bakht Shah Zeb, Muhammad Ayaz, Salman Khan and former traders’ association president Ihtesham ul Haq alleged that owner of the shop Alamgir Khan, brother of the sitting Provincial Minister for Technical Education and Minerals Development Mahmood Zeb

Khan had demolished the shop on Thursday night without issuing any notice to the chemist Bakht Shah Zeb. They said the influential owner had taken law of the land into his hands who not only demolished the two storey building at night but also destroyed cash, prize bonds, laboratory equipment and medicines worth Rs 6.5 million. The chemist Bakht Shah Zeb claimed that he had been using the shops for the last 36 years.

He said that his elder brother Alam Zeb Khan alias Babu Khan, the former Dir Lower nazim had signed proper agreement with the owner Alamgir Khan. He said he had been paying the rent regularly and had not received any notice so far from the owner.

“When I reached here to-

day (Friday), I saw the shops demolished,” Zeb said, adding that belongings inside the shops were of Rs 6.5 million which had been destroyed.

The traders condemned the act of the owner and demanded of the government and district administration to take legal action against the owner. They said that a case had been registered with the Timergara police station. They also warned to enhance their protest if the demand was not met.

Meanwhile the owner Alamgir Khan while talking to local journalists at the Timergara press club rejected the allegations leveled against him by the traders and chemists. He said that formal agreement had been made with late Alam Zeb for only the ground floor.

Martyred Ranger Khalid laid to rest M ZAFAR ANSARI TOBA TEK SINGH—A Rangers personnel who was martyred in a suicide attack on the Rangers headquarters in Karachi was laid to rest in Chak No.477JB on Friday. Ch Mohammad Ashraf, son of Mohammad Khalid Mahmood Tabassum, was performing duties at the Rangers Headquarters in Karachi on Thursday morning when attack took place. Three personnel of Rangers were martyred in the suicide attack. The dead body of Mohammad Ashraf was shifted to his native village on Friday and his funerals were held in Friday. Ch Mohammad Ashraf was laid to rest with full military honours. **** In Gojra, Chak No 283-GB, husband and wife were killed in a firing due to a property dispute between elatives on Friday. Ali Raza and his wife Mehwish were killed by his nephew Ansar on a property dispute. Police shifted the bodies to hospital for Postmortem. Police registered a case and started investigation.

out that indeed the circumstances prevailed in FATA were not of normal nature.

Despite many difficulties, he added, the process of development continued and not only the annual budgetary outlay has been increased manifold as compared to the past, but, it is also his earnest effort to further enhance the volume of allocations to the maximum extent. He also paid tribute to the sacrifices which the personnel of security forces have been offering for ensuring peace and bringing normalcy in the area and stressed that people of the area should also maintain unity in their ranks.

PM&DC revokes illegal admission to private colleges M ULTAN—Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) has decided to cancel the admissions done by private medical colleges in violation of PM&DC admission rules, said official sources on Friday. The PM&DC sources said according to admission rules,private medical and dental institutions in a provinces were supposed to advertise admission only after determination of final order of merit by the respective provincial testing/ admission authorities.

They cannot conduct their own entry test and would form final merit by using the provincial/government/NTS test result in their province/territory, however, they were allowed to conduct an aptitude test.—APP

Section-144 in Mardan

Security plan for Muharram finalised STAFF REPORTERS P ESHAWAR /L AHORE —District Coordinator Officer (DCO) Mardan, Zakaullah Khattak under section 144, imposed ban on assembly of two or more than two persons in the limits of district Mardan ahead of Muharram ul Harram. The ban has been imposed from November 12 to 30 as a part of security measures during Muharram.

The speeches in processions from 1-10 Muharram has also been banned and action against the violators of the rules would be taken against under 188 Cr.PC. Police authorities have also been requested to take extra security measures during Muharram.

On the otherside, Punjab police has also finalized a comprehensive security plan for the forthcoming holy month of Muharram-ul-Haram to main-

tain peace and ensure foolproof security for Majalis, processions and around Imambargahs.

This was stated by Inspector General of Police Punjab Muhammad Habib-ur-Rehman while presiding over the Provincial Law and Order Conference held at the Central Police Office here.

It was decided that at least 118,308 police officials including 78,930 policemen, 8,780 Elite police personnel, 17,808 Police Qaumi Razakars (PQRs), 12,790 officials from the special police force would be deployed across the Punjab province during Muharram to maintain peace and law and order. The police force will provide security to 37,249 Majalis, and 9,136 processions to be arranged all over the province while 69 units of Pak Army and 35 units of Pak Rangers would remain on-call to cope with the situation in case of any emergency.

CEOs’ summit pins hopes in Pak potential

MEDIA WATCH

Going nowhere

Look outward, Obama

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N the backdrop of growing perception about degeneration everywhere, the 4th International CEOs’ Summit, held in Karachi Thursday, has ex pressed full confidence in country’s ability to grow and prosper pointing out that it has necessary potential for the purpose. Speakers at the summit pointed out that Pakistan has immense potential and resources and if people are properly guided they can push the country into a developed nation.

The views echoing at the event were not hollow words as these were uttered by prominent experts in different fields who have necessary background and authority to speak on such issues. They also have rich experience in their relevant fields and therefore, their views must be heard with the seriousness they deserve. We too have been emphasizing in these columns that Pakistan has necessary resources and potential to develop but these are yet utilized properly. The first and foremost is the un-matching faith and resolve of the people in their own capabilities and to fight out challenges. Ever since inception of Pakistan, we have been facing enormous threats and challenges including wars, systematic attempts to weaken the country through all sorts of conspiracies and natural disasters like earthquakes and floods but we overcame them in shortest possible time.

The kind of security dilemma that the country is facing today because of the complicated war against terrorism would have resulted into collapse of the State but it is again because of the determination of the people that Pakistan is bravely meeting the challenge. It is also a fact that we have precious water resources, fertile land, largest coal deposits in the world, gold and silver deposits worth hundreds of billions of dollar and huge and hard working manpower. Our people have demonstrated the capability to excel in different fields including the world’s most complicated technologies. It is, however, also a fact that our leadership has failed as successive leaders could not harness the potential and as a consequence the country remains financially and economically in trouble forcing it to spread hands before others every now and then. We agree with CEOs that enabling atmosphere should be created both in terms of security and incentives to allow businessmen and entrepreneurs to exploit this potential for the good of the country. As general elections are fast approaching, it is job of the political parties to prioritize economic issue telling people what they plan to do to overcome the challenge.

Plundering all around, way out?

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HE Supreme Court has once again highlighted the issue of all-perva sive corruption in the society by raising concern over plundering of the national exchequer in Rental Power projects. A three member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan also deplored that despite its directions the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had failed to initiate proceedings against those involved in corruption.

The way the national exchequer was plundered in RPPs case amounted to broad daylight dacoity which no country worth the name should have ignored. It is, however, regrettable that despite clear findings of the court and its directions to take action against the culprits, relevant authorities and institutions have not yet taken any action towards that direction. As against this, according to reports, one of the company was allowed to move out its ship without payment of billions of rupees, raising questions about intents and ability of the relevant agencies and possibility of retrieval of huge amount. This is only one aspect of the entire episode as the national kitty was looted in a brute manner in the name of overcoming the energy crisis which is as worse as it was five years back when present Government took over. But there is also a genuine and persistent impression that the Supreme Court too has confined itself to mere highlighting of the instances of corruption as cases have not been taken to logical conclusion. It is because of this that despite concerns of the SC and awareness among people, instances of corruption are still there as those in authority are violating the rules and laws and minting money without fear of any accountability. In our view, the court should make at least one case as the test case and award deterrent punishment to those involved in loot and plunder of the national resources. It is also duty of the civil society especially media to highlight such cases and put pressure for genuine accountability of culprits.

Demilitarisation of Kashmir, Siachin T

HREE-day Intra-Kashmir Women Dialogue has ended in Muzaffarabad with adoption of a Declaration that calls for easing of cross-LoC travel by further simplification of security clearance procedure relating to entry permit system and introduction of scanners at these points. It demanded increased cross-LoC interactions between women entrepreneurs, educationists, lawyers, journalists, students and conflict resolution experts and settling up of a Task Force for women for both sides of the divide with mandate to address human rights and humanitarian issues.

The demands made in the declaration have the potential to ease out situation for Kashmiris who are divided on two sides of the Line of Control with tremendous restrictions imposed by Indian occupation forces on their movement, activities and fundamental rights. It is pertinent to mention that as part of the composite dialogue, Pakistan and India have been discussing and agreed to some extent on cross-LoC Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) but the understanding has provided very limited relief to Kashmiris due to intransigent attitude of Indians who spare no opportunity to scuttle such efforts on the ground. But the most important is demand made by the dialogue that there should be gradual de-militarization of both Kashmir and Siachin. It has called for converting Siachin into ‘Peace Park’ and expressed confidence that withdrawal of troops from Kashmir would bring an end to human rights violations. These are very pertinent demands and must be listened to if Indians are really interested for peace and stability in the region. Concentration of over seven hundred thousand troops in Kashmir has led to trampling of rights of Kashmiris including threats to their lives, properties and honour. Similarly, both India and Pakistan have been fighting a very costly war at the highest altitude of the world and turning Siachin into a peace park would provide face-saving to the two sides to disengage from the killer area.

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PSA — a lawless law in IOK offence at all.

Human right violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) by Indian Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs) and SeMohammad Jamil curity Forces conEmail: mjamil1938@hotmail.com tinue unabated as Public Safety Act (PSA) empowers the State authorities to detain any individual in IOK ecently, Amnesty Interna on charges of acting in a manner tional (Al) released a report prejudicial to the maintenance of law titled “PSA Still a Lawless and order. Under section 8 of the SPA, Law” as a follow up of its earlier a Divisional Commissioner or a Disreport of March 2011. The present trict Magistrate may issue a detention report points out that despite pres- order to prevent any person from actsure on Indian government, the Pub- ing in a manner prejudicial to the selic Safety Act (PSA) has not been curity of the State or the maintenance reviewed/amended and people of of public order. It is unfortunate that Jammu and Kashmir are being sub- more than six decades have elapsed jected to repression and oppression but international community shows

by Indian LEAs and Security indifference towards sufferings of Forces. The report further noted: Kashmiris and do not impress upon “The state officials often implement India to implement the United Nathe Public Safety Act in an arbitra- tions Security Council’s resolutions tive and abusive manner… Detain- that bestow on Kashmiris the right to ing authorities fail to provide mate- self-determination.

The Muslim majority population rial to detainees or their lawyers on which the grounds of detention are in IOK suffers from the repressive based. Detainees can approach the acts of the Security Forces. J&K and High Court to quash their order of Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and detention, but Amnesty Armed Forces (J&K) Special PowInternational’s research clearly ers Act (AFSPA-1990), empowered shows that the J&K authorities con- Security Forces personnel to shoot sistently thwart the High Court’s suspected lawbreakers involved in orders for release by re-detaining disturbing the peace, harboring miliindividuals under criminal charges tants and arms. Indian government and or issuing further detention or- pays no heed to international HR orders, thereby securing their contin- ganizations and has always disregarded their recommendations to ued incarceration.”

Amnesty International in its re- stop HR violations in the valley. port further stated that many of the Ironically, human rights are violated people detained under the PSA on large scale in the so-called without charge or trial for periods world’s largest democracy. To crush of two years or more might have the Kashmiri Liberation movement, committed no cognizable criminal India has employed various tech-

News & Views

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niques including black laws. Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act 1990 (TADA) and Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1990, (AFSPA) are enforced in Kashmir despite the fact that they contravene the Indian Constitution and international law.

These laws violate the basic human rights such as right to life, the right to liberty and security of the person and the right to remedy.

The Armed Forces (Jammu & Kashmir) Special Powers enforced on 10 September, 1990 authorized even a non-commissioned officer to search any place, fire at any person (and kill), or arrest on the basis of suspicion.

TADA gives security forces and armed forces special powers for unauthorized administrative detention without formal charges or trial for up to one year. Under POTA, any person can be put into prison for not disclosing the information that can prevent an act of terrorism. In Kashmir, there is one soldier for every twenty people. There are 5,00,000 armed troops, 3,00,000 army men, 70,000 Rashtriya Rifle soldiers, 1,30,000 central police forces as against the total population of 1 crore. In the past 20 years, a generation of Kashmiris has grown with soldiers at every street corner “often even in their living rooms”. The grievance of the people is that instead of confining the role of the military and security forces to external defence, they are regularly and continuously used for domestic repression.

Professor Hameeda Nayeem says : “That has transformed the Indian state into a source of deep insecurity for the citizens – as instruments of the persistent violator of human rights and converted the Indian military into an illegitimate agent of repression.

Both in turn seriously undermine the democratic credential of the state.”

This excessive militarization has re-

sulted in wiping out all space for the exercise of democratic rights by the people. This has resulted in ruthless action on all dissent, and at the same time the military indulges in acts of violence against people with impunity. Human rights organizations are routinely denied permission to investigate in a free manner. Mediamen are being attacked and arrested.

Humanitarian relief is limited as external agencies are not being allowed to provide medical assistance and other relief materials. Many cases of human rights violation stem from abuse of power under repressive laws and police/army brutality unleashed against the Kashmiri people.

Innocent Kashmiri masses, especially the youth are undergoing tremendous psychological trauma due to continued repressive and suppressive policies of regime in IHK. In June 2012 alone, eleven youth committed suicide as they could not further bear environmental distress prevailing in IHK, as the events like unwarranted arrests, killings, arson, torture and molestation by Indian security forces is a matter of routine there. Government functionaries of the state backed by Indian government are involved in human right violations in IHK and encourage the security forces to use coercive measures to suppress the people. Last year, Indian Supreme Court instead of convicting the soldiers involved in killing of a 12 year old boy asked the Army to carry out appropriate action against the culprits. It meant that the court shirked its responsibility, and as a result justice was delayed. Having that said, it is the responsibility of the United Nations to implement its resolutions bestowing the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir.

—The writer is Lahore-based senior journalist.

Obama’s wars: What now? and false starts.

There are many who won’t agree with every decision or those Rana Athar Javed policy…To who would tear the Email: ma_javed@hotmail.com world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security we support you…” ven an ideological partner The ensuing analysis of Obama’s could see that a victorious speech tailors maximum exoneration President Obama faces a to already fragmented leadership of world of distress. From a power- the US. Besides using pretext to ful China in Pacific to an unwill- present an advance excuse of launching Iran, which shows no sign in ing military operations if the future the face of international especially US policy suffers from paralysis of Israel’s pressure to “kill” its consensus and thereby summon nuclear program. The other side of warning for future wars. The rhetothis trouble comprises of complex ric of peace and stability is jointly and crucial alliances in the Arab placed in terms of defending world. In the midst of upheaval and America, rather than mounting efchaos in Syria, Iraq and Libya, Af- forts to disengage from war-torn reghanistan still is an exceptionally gions in the Muslim world. weak nation to handle the dangerThe climate change is another ous consequences of “Great important cause of security threat Games”. While every Nixon has that the mainland America is facing.

Kissinger, President Obama’s lead- The devastation and destruction that ership has been consumed with his the people and infrastructure sufown-reelection campaign for the fered at the hands of superstorm past eighteen months”, and thus re- Sandy shows that no resourceful and markably failed to combine his powerful government of the world valuable skill to convince with the can administrate or control the conidea of US peace with the world. sequences of natural catastrophe.

After so many wars, and in the President Obama might have company of dislikes, disagree- avoided defeat against Mitt Romney, ments and a deepening economic but sending more troops to combat crisis, it would become the most missions in the Middle East or Asia serious challenge for Obama’s new pacific could only demonstrate belmandate to lead the world. So the ligerence and incite terrorist network only question is what now? to operate under anti-American senIn his election speech President timents. This reflection is comObama stated that, “the road ahead pounded by the complexity that the will be long. Our climb will be US may never have another peace steep. We may not get there in one time president, simply because“ year or even in one term, but since September 11, 2001, the presiAmerica….There will be setbacks dent has been able to threaten or use

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military force to achieve a range of foreign policy objectives with few checks and balances or sustained media coverage – to an extent unprecedented in U.S. history. Anything short of deploying large numbers of U.S. ground troops is tolerated, and any executive branch justification for using lethal force is broadly accepted, including the notion that such military operations can continue in perpetuity”.

It is the details of these facts that and setbacks to peace that the character of the President Obama is emerged as indecisive and negligent in tackling Afghan conflict and establishing peace between Israel and Palestine. No matter how strong a leader is; delegating powers and negotiating peace during war are considered two of the most crucial traits.

Without establishing a realistic balance of forces in Afghanistan and in the Middle East region, the largest threat of grand war is looming over the world. As a result, overcoming economic crisis at home and in Europe has scandalizing effects on the first black American President. It is an appealing hypothesis that understanding the security requirements of the world is personalized with the weakness of a US President or with his victory during the wartime.

Yet the President Obama must rise out of harsh realities of downgraded status of the US as Superpower, but for that purpose to be served, the President must present himself as a source of “unity” – another factor that appears to be the central reason of his failure in dealing with changing competitive environment. When forced by the popular opinion, the US remains at the bottom end in the Muslim world, especially in Pakistan. It is here where one meets with an unprecedented re-

ality where a leader comprehensively fails in focusing on the most important problems, which just become crises because a timely stimulus was not being provided. In the case of Pakistan, this has led to tightening of diplomatic concessions to allays, and by extension green lighting the unfriendly and hostile forces to create chaos, havoc and divisions in sociopolitical structures of Pakistan.

To be concluded, President Obama’s wars and current policies is sharply in contrast with the peace making claims of the only Superpower, hence solving Afghan conflict and addressing the concept of modern military interventionism may not be an ideal choice for the current US government. Every country expects no less than progress, peace and prosperity from their presidents, as Harry S. Truman famously said, “The buck stops here”. This is best example of turning Obama’s wars into “Obama’s peace” because taking credit of victory and support of the American people cannot automatically warranty discount on “bad economic and security policies”, and therefore requires a complete US policy shift to take the responsibility of failures in Afghanistan, Iraq; Syria and in the Middle East peace process. Like it is stated at the back cover of President Obama’s autobiography, “a leader focuses on the most important problems, even if they are the hardest”. President Obama has yet to demonstrate that he possesses a clear vision for the world peace in his final term in office and, keeps his word of supporting those who seek peace and stability.

—The author is a Denmark-based National Security Expert and Defence Analyst.

he just-concluded presiden tial election was fought over jobs and the economy. Foreign policy was largely an afterthought. Overall, the differences on foreign policy between the two US political parties have not been nearly so sharp as the domestic divide, though some Republicans continue to be disturbed by the Obama administration’s response to the murder of four Americans, including US Ambassador Christopher Stevens, in Benghazi, Libya, Sept. 11. President Obama may well have a freer hand on foreign policy than he will with the GOPled House on domestic issues. If this proves true, where is his attention needed most?

First, a caveat. An unexpected event could always relegate the president’s best-laid plans to the dustbin, just as George W. Bush’s first term was instantly and profoundly shaped by the 9/11 attacks.

Another terrorist assault on the United States would immediately dominate any president’s agenda.

But assuming no sudden crisis arises, here are some of what should be Mr. Obama’s top priorities: Hillary Rodham Clinton has announced that she would like to leave her post early next year. Appointing someone of equal stature and ability will be an important goal.

Many good candidates look to be available. Several are Republicans and could serve to reinforce a commitment to bipartisanship on behalf of the Obama administration. Those worthy of serious consideration include retired Gen. Colin Powell, former China Ambassador and presidential candidate Jon Huntsman Jr., and former Sen. Richard Lugar. Within his own party, the president should consider calling on Sen. John Kerry (D) of Massachusetts, who has travelled extensively overseas as chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

UN Ambassador Susan Rice would seem to be a logical candidate, but her fumbled explanation of the attack on the US Consulate in Libya might cause problems at a Senate confirmation hearing.

After more than 36,000 deaths in the continued fighting between rebels and troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, finding the way forward to peace will be challenging. The president should consider increasing arms and munitions aid to the rebels while also carefully choosing which rebel forces to back. The right forces should offer the best opportunity to create a single cohesive opposition that would be ready to assume power when that moment arrives.

Afghanistan. Leaving gracefully by the end of 2014, as the president has promised, won’t be easy.

Knowing that a peace deal between the government of President Hamid Karzai and the Taliban was in place would make it much easier. So would Afghanistan holding clean elections next year. The collapse into civil war of a country the US has spent so many years and so many billions of dollars to support would leave a black mark on the president’s record – and would be a tragic statement about the lives sacrificed in fighting this war. The economic sanctions appear to be working, and there’s still time to cut a deal before a military option goes to the front burner. But Iran will leap to the top of the president’s foreign-policy agency if negotiations fail and Tehran is seen to be close to deploying a nuclear weapon.

Where would Obama rather spend his foreign-policy time?

Probably on Asia, where the USChina relationship becomes more important all the time. The two countries are at once economic rivals and massive, interdependent trade partners. China continues to broaden its influence in the region.

The US has many allies in the area, from Japan to Australia. Obama will leave shortly on a trip to Southeast Asia to further strengthen ties there, stopping in Thailand and Cambodia, where he will attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He’ll also make a historic first trip for a US president to Myanmar (formerly Burma), whose military dictatorship is taking encouraging early steps toward democracy and opening up to the world. He has a full plate, and needs to choose his priorities wisely.

The Christian Science Monitor Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains.

— Proverb

The 18th CPC Congress reau of the Party, thus proclaiming the founding of the Communist Party of China.

Sultan M Hali China at that time was under Email: sm_hali@yahoo.com the yoke of foreign occupation, comprising France, Britain, he first National Congress of and other international players in the the Communist Party of China arena like the Russians, Germans (CPC) is one of painstaking Americans and the Japanese. Each labour, peril and sacrifices. The first of which was exploiting the mancongress took place at Shanghai on power as well as natural resources July 23, 1921. This ominous date set of the country but keeping the nathe future course for the PRC and tive Chinese citizens hungry and immarks the birth date for the party that poverished. The clandestine meetled downtrodden China from the ings of the budding CPC were clutches of foreign occupiers to free- fraught with danger as on July 30, dom. The first congress was orga- the congress was forced to suspend nized at 106 Wantze Road, since then its meeting and left its participants renamed as Xingye Road and was scurrying for cover, when the police attended by 13 delegates including in the French concession came prea 27 years old Mao Zedong, who cariously near the meeting venue. was then but a lowly note taker, The congress had to reconvene at Dong Biwu, Wang Jinmei, Deng Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, where it Enming, Li Da, Li Hanjun, Zhang resumed and had its last day’s meetGuotao, Liu Renjing, Chen Gongbo, ing on a pleasure boat on the South Zhou Fohai and Bao Huiseng. Two Lake. The First National Congress representatives sent by Commintern of the CPC, after adopting the Party” (the Communist International) led program, passing the Resolution on

by Lenin also attended the Congress the current work and electing the as non-voting delegates. The first Central Bureau of the Party, pronational congress of the CPC claimed the founding of the CPC. adopted the party’s program and I am currently touring China to passed the resolutions and elected cover the 18th National Congress of the leading organ of the central bu- the CPC and befittingly, our tour

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commenced from Shanghai, the birthplace of the CPC. The site of the first national congress has been preserved

by Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPC. In September 1952, this residence of Li Hanjun, a delegate to the congress and Li Schucheng, his elder brother was renovated and turned into a memorial, and had been opened to the public since then. In March 1961, the State Council proclaimed the site of the first national congress of the CPC as a key historical monument under the state protection. In March 1964, Deng Xiaoping wrote the name of the Memorial House of the First National Congress.

We were taken for a tour of the house and it was heartrending to examine the parchments and documents of the first national congress, photographs of the struggle of the CPC and evidence of the horrifying treatment being meted out to local Chinese by their foreign masters in their own homeland.

When the KMT fled mainland China in 1949, it took with it the gold, silver and foreign exchange reserves accumulated over the years, and left behind a cash-strapped economy ravished by the chaos of war. It took the CPC three years to rebuild China’s economy to the level of 1949, no mean task but it had only reached the take-off stage. Along with the achievements came gross errors. Serious departure of effects from motives, the Great Leap For-

ward and the Cultural Revolution added to the pandemonium. In 1978, China’s economy was on the brink of collapse. At the end of the 1980s and 1990s, the Communist parties in the Soviet Union and the eastern European countries lost their status to rule and western observers opined that China would follow suit.

In subsequent National Congresses, course correction was applied and the implementation of the reform and opening policies of integrating socialism with market economy paid rich dividends. In the past thirty years, China has leap-frogged to emerge as the world’s second largest economy. It is not only feeding its teeming millions but also contributing greatly to solving the problem of grain supply worldwide. The economic meltdown faced by the west has left no dents on China’s economy, instead it has provided support to the US to prevent its collapse, adding to international mayhem. Today the CPC has come a long way from its humble beginning and at the eve of the 18th National Congress, it boasts of over 87 million members. It is expected to take PRC to greater heights.

—The author, a retired PAF Group Captain, served as Air & Naval attaché at Riyadh and is currently a columnist, analyst and TV talk show host.

Agonising cries countries display the same unconcern and indifference to the situation. And when it is the of human rights’ Ali Sukhanver issue violation in the Indian Email:alisukhanver@hotmail.com Occupied Kashmir, this cold apathy reaches its climax. In the blooddripping valley of Kashmir, every day hey hang the victims upside dawns with fear of new episodes of down; they stab them with terror and horror and every sun sets sharp instruments, force ob- with so many sad incidents of crujects such as chilies or thick sticks elty and brutality in its lap. into their rectums and most of the Today the people of the Indian time the victims have to face severe Occupied Kashmir are living in a hell beatings, electric shocks and crush- where all that belongs to them is at ing heavy rollers, says a report of Am- stake. Their sons are slaughtered, nesty International on the situation of their daughters are raped, shops are human rights violation at the hands ransacked and homes are burned, the of Indian forces in the Indian Occu- heads of families are kidnapped and pied Kashmir. Human rights violation kept in illegal detention for years and is one of the most favourite topics for years by the Indian military troops. research and discussion for the west- The people of the Indian Occupied ern society which feels pride in call- Kashmir have been facing this worst ing itself a philanthropist society. But situation of human rights violation for unfortunately all its humanitarianism the last many decades but none of the and preaching of kindness comes to so-called caretakers of human rights an end when the victims of human violation is ready or even willing to rights violations are the Muslims. Be listen to their painful sighs and cries. it Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, AfTurning a deaf ear to the agoghanistan or Pakistan; the western nizing cries of the Kashmiris and

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crushing all their basic rights has simply become the name of a tradition, a culture and a civilization.

The people of the Indian Occupied Kashmir are looking towards the world peace-makers for the remedy of their pains and sorrows. They also want a peaceful and prosperous life of independence liberty and sovereignty. They are waiting for someone who could save them from the clutches of this never-ending series of atrocities.

The unending series of human rights violations is agonizing and painful not only to the people of the Indian Occupied Kashmir but also to the Indian soldiers deputed there in the valley. Most of the officers and soldiers are well aware of the fact that in the name of responsibility and duty they are compelled to support the forces of wickedness and villainy against innocent people but they are unable to detach them from this vicious circle of tyranny and oppression. The situation casts a very negative impact on their personality and as a result of this impact so many soldiers and officers of the Indian army start behaving abnormally; many of them have been declared psycho patients by the

doctors. Committing suicide, killing their fellow officers and soldiers with their official weapons and most of the time sexual exploitation of the female members of the army staff; these are very common and frequent incidents.

According to the Kashmir Media Service, since 2003 till today, more than one thousand soldiers and officers from the Indian troops in the Kashmir valley have committed suicide. Only this year till 31st July, more than 62suicides have been reported in the Indian forces. 2006 was the ever worst year when the number of the suicides in Indian army officers and soldiers touched its climax, i.e.129. The Defence Institute of Psychological Research India (DIPR) says in a recent analysis on the increasing trend of committing suicide in the Indian army that mental stress is one of the major causes of suicides in the Indian Army. The only solution to this crisis is that the people of the Indian Occupied Kashmir must be given the right of self determination. It is the only viable, original and the most universally accepted way out to this problem.

Views From Abroad

Sandy’s lesson for Asia Michael Richardson

A

s Hurricane Sandy, with its devastating winds, rain and ocean surges battered New York and other areas along the US Atlantic recently, another fierce tropical storm was sweeping through the South China Sea, hitting the Philippines, Vietnam and China. Meanwhile, a cyclone churned across the Bay of Bengal, veering away from Sri Lanka at the last minute before striking southeast India, causing extensive damage. Although much smaller in strength and size than Hurricane Sandy, Typhoon Son-tinh, which smashed into the northern Philippines, Vietnam and southern China, killed as many as 30 people, forced more than 176,000 to leave their homes, and caused an estimated $145 million in economic damage as power outages, floods and landslides disrupted normal life.

It was a reminder that cyclonic storms, drawing their destructive power from warming tropical waters and the moisture-laden atmosphere,

are more of a menace in the AsiaPacific region than anywhere else in the world. Known as hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea and near the Atlantic Ocean coast of North America, and cyclones or typhoons in the South China Sea, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the South Pacific, these periodic storms are posing a major economic and social challenge to the Asia-Pacific region, according to a recent United Nations report. Presented to an Oct. 23 ministerial conference in Indonesia on disaster risk reduction, the report warned that as regional growth and urbanization have exploded in the past few decades, the number of people living in cyclone-prone areas has nearly doubled, to about 121 million.

Most new development in the region has been along coastlines and in floodplains, locations highly exposed to sea level rise, storm surges and inundation. Sea levels are slowly rising from thermal expansion as the water warms and from the melting of land-based ice, particularly at the polar caps. The combination of coastal development, climate change and storm patterns has reached a point

where the UN calculates that the Asia-Pacific region now “experiences more than 85 percent of global economic exposure to tropical cyclones.”

The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2012 was published by the Bangkokbased UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the UN’s Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

It received little attention in the media at the time.

But many climate scientists have warned in the wake of Hurricane Sandy that climate change and global warming caused by increasing global greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels and clearing tropical forests, are intensifying extreme weather, including tropical storms. Kevin Trenberth, distinguished senior scientist at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in the United States, put it this way: “The sea surface temperatures along the Atlantic coast (of the US) have been running at over 3 degrees Celsius above normal for a region extending 800 kilometers offshore all the way from Florida to Canada. Global warming contributes

0.6 C to this. Summarizing recent scientific research, the UN report said that the effects of climate extremes and variation suggest that while the number of tropical cyclones are not increasing in number, more of them are stronger. With more than one third of the 305 AsiaPacific cities in coastal areas, this makes the region more susceptible to ever greater potential losses from severe storms. Some Asia-Pacific countries that have been hit hard by cyclones in the past have taken steps to better protect their coastal populations and economic assets.

The lesson for the region from Hurricane Sandy must be to improve coastal urban planning, storm protection, and relief and recovery when disasters strike.

This is expensive and will take time. But with so much economic growth at stake, tropical storm mitigation measures are an essential investment in Asia’s future.

The writer is a visiting senior research fellow at the Institute of South East Asian Studies in Singapore.

—Courtesy: The Japan Times

Monopoly over corruption..!

T

he wife looked back, side ways, forward, then looked back again. “What’s the problem?” I asked. “Just checking,” she said. “Checking what?”

I asked. “No armed attack, suicide bombers, sharp shooters..!”

“I’m not on the hit list,” I said happily. “I wish you were,” she said

sadly. “Mrs Kapoor at the kitty party said her husband’s on everybody’s hit list. They’ve got mine detonation experts and the bomb squad at their beck and call” “Something to do with all his films having bombed?” I asked.

“Its not funny,” “What isn’t?” I asked patiently.

“Your lack of security.”

“Nobody’s got anything against me,” I said. “I wish they had,” said the wife. “How would that help?” “We would have gun wielding black cats following us wherever we went.” “I don’t like those fellows,” I said.

“Their guns could go off by mistake

and I could be a dead man.” “I always knew you were a coward,” she said. “I’m not,” “Then say something provocative,” “Against whom?” “Whoever,” she said. “Say something that will make people want to kill you.” “I don’t know what to say,” I said lamely.

“For my sake, please!” “Okay,” I said rolling up my sleeves. “Way to go!” shouted the wife. “Okay,” I said, “Here goes. I think the opposition stinks!” “What?” “You heard me,” I said. “You think that’s provocative?” “Well I’ve never said

anything so forceful,” “I know,” said the wife looking sadly at a picture of Arnie Schwanzeneggar.

“Can’t you think of anything a little more gutsy?” “Yeah,” I said, “yeah, I’m sure I can come up with something.” “Make it fast,” said the wife, “tonight’s invitation to dinner would look better with some commandos.”

“Okay here goes,” I said, climbing on to the roof of the house. “Way to go,” shouted the wife. “I think there is too much corruption in the country!” I shouted.

—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

Voice of the People Key slots still vacant HASHIM ABRO

I

t is really an alarming fact that some key slots including Federal Ombudsman (Wafaqi Mohtasib), Chairman, National Commission on Human Rights (a newly constituted body by this government), and a few other highly important positions are lying vacant in the federal and provincial governments.

However, the important slot in the federal government called “ Wafaqi Mohtasib” which gives easy and speedy relief to the poor masses, has been lying vacant since last three years. This post cannot be kept vacant for an indefinite period due to its public importance. It is reported that in lakhs the representation are pending in the Federal Ombudsman to be forwarded to the President so that the inexpensive and speedy relief may be imparted to the petitioners. Doubtlessly, this country is not devoid of competent and men of character with whom these vacant positions can be filled up, these key institutions can resuscitated and governance may be improved in the country. Besides, the government, in particular, Sindh government has enough slots those needs to be filled up at the earliest so as to contain the menace of unemployment and bad governance in the country. Indeed, more delay in the filling up of key positions such as Wafaqi Mohtasib will shatter people’s faith and confidence in the ability of the incumbent democratic dispensation to help solve their problems.

—Islamabad

Lawlessness of lawmakers

anchor person in a talk show. I do not know whether this new development in the Criminal Justic System of Pakistan is being debated at judicial and police academies or not.

COL RIAZ JAFRI (RETD) Undoubtedly, this is an intersting subA bridegroom lost his life in ject for academicians to apply their Muzzafargrah due to the indiscrimi- mind to. nate aerial firing by his friends and —Islamabad relations celebrating his wedding.

Isn’t there a ban against such firing on joyous occasions? But such lawlessness is bound to happen when the law makers themselves flout the AHMAD ZIA TULLA law. Was anyone convicted for the brazen firing by dozens of Kalashnikovs and pistols on the oc- Being a student of Politics and concasion of the younger Gilanis win- stitutional Law, it is always fascinating to observe democratic trends of ning their elections at Multan?

No, not to my knowledge. Was democracies, like US. We all must be anyone hauled up for a similar open well aware of the recent Presidential display of lethal arms in a show of elections in US.It was like a hot popower by a political alliance at tato on media channels and newspaHyderabad in a recent political rally pers. An ample attention was given there? None that I have heard of. to the effect of these elections on the Was Watoo’s brand new luxurious US foreign policy on Pakistan. As Prado hauled up for being driven general elections in Pakistan are not without the number plate in so far, I would like to draw your atFaisalabad a few days ago? No, on tention from a different angle Requithe contrary he was escorted by the sites of a democratic election.

Presidential Elections in US are Police in a VVIP protocol style! Has any action been taken against CM a lengthy and tiresome process; startRaisani for ramming his Audi with ing from candidate nominations, a Dubai number plate into a sma ll within party elections, electoral colcar with an ordinary family in it in lege election and eventually the elecIslamabad a few days ago? No. Who tion of president through this electoral cares for the higher judiciary’s or- college. However, it does not affect ders to impound cars without num- the day to day life of the people. There ber plates (Watoo’s) or with the for- was not a holiday on election day eign number plates (Raisani’s Audi). even. Moreover, elections, like any If the lawmakers themselves make other healthy battle, results in a win the mockery of the law how could or a loss. One party or a candidate someone expect the Muzaffargarh win and the other loses. In the parPolice to enforce the ban on the ticular election, Democrats candidate aerial firing that turned a happy wed- Barrack Obama won and republicans candidate Mitt Romny lost. The point ding into a mourning funeral? to ponder here is the, overtly or co—Rawalpindi vertly, gracious acceptance of defeat in the camps of Romny and humble celebration of victory in the camps of Obama. There was no blame game but a congratulations call to Obama on the part of Romany.

ASGHAR MAHMOOD Above all, the speech of Obama In modern democratic societies, the in Chicago is exemplary. He not only press/ media is considered an im- gave an optimistic vision to the portant pillar of the state, alongwith masses but also showed a pragmatic Parliament, Judiciary and Execu- approach by mentioning the chaltive. The social scientists argue that lenges and limitations. To sum up, the structure of a state is incomplete democratic election is not all about without the presence of an indepen- choosing parliamentarians but the dent and free press/media . The me- process it goes through. Election dia has gained this respectable po- commission in Pakistan is vibrant sition after a long struggle and ef- and working on the fair display of forts. In the sub-continent, the Mus- the coming elections. Politicians lim press played a significant role must learn from healthy practices of in the freedom movement. Though the said elections .We as a voters the press faced many challenges af- have a large part to play. Cast your ter establishment of Pakistan in vote for the party or candidate, who 1947, during the last couple of de- is worthy of it. cades the media has become a power —Sargodha to be reckoned with in this part of the world.

The primary role of the media is to inform the people about their rights obligations and how the organs of the state respect those rights. SQN LDR S AUSAF HUSAIN (R) In Pakistan, the media has also assumed a unique role. Worldwide, the Month of Muharram is approaching courts, prosecution service and po- fast during which certain special selice are considered constituents of curity measures have to be taken by the criminal justice system. The po- the government. All imambargahs, lice investigate the crime, prosecu- places of majalis and certain roads on tion service prosecute offenders and which Ashura processions will prothe courts try and adjudicate the ceed all over the country will witness large gatherings. Hence, these places cases brought before them.

In modern societies, the press/ will become most vulnerable to termedia impartially and diligently re- rorists. We have examples of port occurence of crime and trial of Imambargahs and Ashura processions criminals to keep the taxpayers in- being targeted by terrorists in the past. formed about the functioning of the The terrorist attack in Karachi on Decriminal justice system . Here in Pa- cember 28, 2009 targeting the kistan, the media has taken upon it- Moharram 10 procession of mournself the role of trial also. We have ers, in which over 40 innocent lives seen parallel trial of high profile were lost and in excess of 100 peacepersons and cases in the media, es- ful citizens were injured in addition pecially on the electronic media. to looting and arson of private and Prosecutors, Defence lawyers, ac- public property is an example.

Following steps are suggested to cused persons appear on TV talkshows to explain their respective avoid any tragedy: 1) The managecases being adjucated in courts. ment of every imambargah should Some times court proceddings are form a ‘watch’ committee of volunalso discussed in these talk teers to monitor security. A team of shows.This is a new development young unarmed volunteers should be in the criminal justice system in formed to carry out round-the-clock Pakistan.The position of politicians watch and to carryout body search of is unique; they participate in talk all persons entering the Imambargah shows enthusiastically and also pro- and to observe any suspicious activtest against the socalled media trial ity inside and around the imambargah . Retired generals also participate in and other large venues. 2) Imambargahs should be combed beTV talk shows.

A few days back, the viewers fore and after a majlis is to be held to were astonished to see a former DG ensure that no suspicious objects are ISI being grilled by the anchor per- lying or concealed anywhere inside son on a private TV channel in or close to the venue. Any suspicious Asghar Khan case. In the Hajj Cor- item should warrant an immediate ruption case, the accused Minister call to the police. 3) All entrances to was pleading innocent before the the imambargah should remain

Democratic elections

Media trial syndrome

Security during Muharram

locked except the main one which should be manned either by policemen or by volunteers. 4) All windows and openings of the imambargah should have iron grills, with a wiremesh covering, so that no one is able to intrude or throw something like a hand grenade from outside. 5) In the larger and more prominent imambargahs, the government can consider installing CCTV surveillance cameras. 6) Rooftops and balconies of buildings on both side of procession route should be manned by police/Rangers.

However, cellular phone services should not be suspended on 9th and 10th of Muharram in the name of security. Because suspension of cellular phone service not only causes inconvenience for its subscribers but it becomes a security and safety risk for the subscribers as they cannot call any emergency service like Emergency police, Fire Brigade, Bomb Disposal Squad and Ambulance in the event of robbery, fire, road accident or some medical emergency in their house during the mobile phone suspension duration. It should be the responsibility of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the cellular companies to monitor the calls and messages of cell phones. It is pertinent to note that during Olympics in London this year despite apprehending threats of terrorist attack cellular phone services was suspended on a single day but otherwise security was kept very tight without disturbing the people.

It is suggested that our honourable Interior Minister Mr Rehman Malik should learn a lesson from the example of Dr Shah Sindh’s sports minister who worked all year to make foolproof security arrangements for the event of the International World XI series with Dr Ishrat ul Ebad’s support with no violence or unpleasant incident taking place during the matches without asking the interior ministry to suspend cellular phone service.

—Karachi

Sandy’s fallouts MUHAMMAD DAHEEM The estimated loss of commercial and residential properties reaches billions of dollars. Sandy has done the damage and the danger of serious problems, in the aftermath of the hurricane, seems to be enormous. Nonetheless, reconstruction efforts are in progress and repair work has been resumed. The rescue teams are making their efforts through rubbles, fallen trees and power lines.

The social workers and members of community are collecting winter clothes for affected persons including warm socks, sweatshirts, jackets, beanies, gloves, shoes and other basic necessities. This country is passing through a critical phase. The devastated areas immediately need pumping water out of troubled places, debris’ removal and revival of transportation.

This once-in-lifetime super storm would certainly have its impact on the political and social life of the people. The bleeding and crippling economy would go from bad to worse. It’s time for American government to pull out its forces from Afghanistan to save its economy. It should tackle with disastrous situation on emergency basis.

Though not confirmed, it is generally believed that climate change can be the cause of storms in America.

The hurricane did not have a strong impact on the election but it may prove to be the last nail in the coffin of American economy. This region has not seen such a catastrophe in the last 100 years. The situation seems to be more grim than previously perceived. The coastal communities are much worried about another storm that may cause more devastation in near future.

—Via email

READERS are requested to type their letters legibly with double spacing and only on one side of the paper.

—Editor Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

Would John Kerry do a good job of filling Hillary Clinton’s shoes?

JAMES TRAUB

than anyone since George Marshall. As a casting decision, it’s a no-brainer. It’s important

S

TILL, I’m not the only one who knows.

One very plugged-in friend of mine says that she’s talked to Pete Rouse, the Obama advisor now assembling lists of names for President Barack Obama’s second-term cabinet, and he says that Senator John Kerry has the short odds. But a White House correspondent responded by e-mail that, in fact, Kerry is “a long shot,” since Obama won’t want to risk losing a Senate seat, that U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice is still the leading candidate, but that national security advisor Tom Donilon “REALLY wants it.” Then, the New York Times reports that Donilon doesn’t want it, and that Rice is “crippled” because GOP senators will use the confirmation hearing to torture the administration over Benghazi. That’s the problem with rumors: Knowledgeable people know things that contradict what other knowledgeable people know. Since, to be honest, I don’t know what Obama is thinking — and neither does anybody else I’ve talked to — let me try to answer instead the question of who it would make the most sense for him to appoint. I think the answer is pretty clearly John Kerry. Tom Donilon is a highly competent administrator who would die of impatience halfway through an interminable lunch with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Susan Rice is a pugnacious team player who, like Donilon, is more insider than outsider, and is notably deficient in that unctuous fluid which issues from the pores of professional diplomats. She would make a very good national security advisor if Donilon goes elsewhere. Obama, by all accounts, trusts Rice’s judgment and is very fond of her; but he may be penetrating enough to see her shortcomings.

John Kerry is Hillary Clinton in pants. (Yes, I know, Secretary Clinton also wears pants.)

He came within a whisker of being president — much closer than she did — and thus enjoys the aura of the almost-commander in chief. He is, like Clinton, a kind of living embodiment of America. He is immensely solemn and judicious, like her, but, unlike her, immensely tall. He is a decorated veteran with the iron grip of the ex-athlete. His baritone voice bespeaks bottomless gravitas. The man looks and acts more like a secretary of state

aftermath of the arrest of CIA agent Raymond Davis, and the killing of Osama bin Laden;

I’d like to tell you who’s going to be the next secretary of state. But I can’t. It’s a secret. to understand what space Kerry, or someone else, would be seeking to fill. With a few important exceptions, Hillary Clinton has not been asked to formulate America foreign policy but rather to represent it, to talk about

it, and to execute it. And she has done so almost flawlessly. If she is a conceptual thinker, she has kept her vision to herself.

The big thinking in this administration comes from the Big Thinker in the White House, and a very small circle of aides. That is unlikely to change. And Kerry, though deeply familiar with everything and everyone, poses no danger of trying to impose a worldview of his own. He is an implementer, not a thinker. Tell John Kerry to take that hill, and he will take that hill or die trying. Then there’s the foreign policy work that needs to be done.

Pervaiz Kayani. He visited Pakistan in the

and both times he left cooler tempers in his wake (though the effect didn’t last). In 2009, he listened to Hamid Karzai rant for hours about how the world was shafting him before finally persuading Karzai that it was not in

his own interest to accept the outcome of the transparently rigged election which has just won him a second term as prime minister. If anyone can talk those guys off a ledge, it’s Kerry. All presidents want to bring peace to the Middle East. They all fail, but that doesn’t stop them from trying. Nor should they. In the first term, Obama delegated that task to George Mitchell, his special representative.

That won’t work; the Israelis need to feel that they are the most important thing in the world, just as the U.S. Congress tells them they are.

John Kerry has known Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, since the latter was

Europe still a model for Asian integration? ing will cause the destruction of the EU. Old prejudices between the north

JEERAWAT NA THALANG

T

HE ongoing eurozone crisis has raised the question whether the European Union (EU) is still a model for regional integration for Southeast Asian countries. The euro provides less flexibility for countries affected by sovereign debt to manoeuvre their way out of economic trouble. At a recent AsianEuropean Editors’ Roundtable organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, two experts exchanged views on why the EU is a success story. In addition, should Southeast Asian countries strive for some kind of integration with the ultimate objective of creating permanent peace in the region.

The euro-zone debt problem is a crisis in the big picture of the EU project, which has overcome many challenges in the past, including the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, leading to German unification in 1990. “Under the leadership of Chancellor Helmut Kohl, it was possible to combine German unification and the currency union project,” Pflueger said.

While the eurozone debt crisis dominates headlines in the press, the EU is in fact “a political move,” Pflueger said.

Therefore, there is no question of whether the EU should have Greece and Italy on board. “For political reasons, for stability, there’s a consensus to have them in the euro,” he said.

The EU members are closely connected. Seventy per cent of exported goods from Germany go to other EU countries. And now, countries such as Spain, Greece, Poland and Ireland have received rescue funds from the EU to help them through their financial woes.

The crisis erupted in 2009 when it was found that Greece had a high hidden deficit. There was a sudden uproar, but a lack of firm assurances from EU leaders made the matter worse.

“Had the EU said at that time, we know the problem and the EU can handle it [the situation would not have been so bad]. However, the reaction from the EU was ambiguous, causing chain reactions in other euro-zone countries such as Spain and Italy,” he said. The crisis caused by a lack of trust is critical. “Japan’s public debt is higher but people trust Japan,” he added. “We have to restore trust.”

He dismissed the notion of Greek exiting the euro, saying, “Greece leav-

disputes in the South China Sea. In addition, Asean countries have different

Professor Friedbert Pflueger, chief executive officer of Pflueger International Consulting GmbH, a former politician of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU), insisted “the EU is a great success story”. European history was shattered by wars between arch-enemies France and Germany. But the EU project, starting with cooperation in coal and steel, has so far brought long-term peace. “We have lived with peace in the EU for 60 years. Peace is self-evident and natural for people in the EU,” said Pflueger, who is also the German secretary of state in the Federal Ministry of Defence.

and south [of Europe] will be back.”

But if the EU has been successful in ensuring peace, does it serve as a model for Asia to follow?

Brahma Chellaney, professor of strategic studies at the Centre for Policy Research, said that compared to Europe, the inter-institutional structure in Asia is not adequate to provide for regional integration on the lines of the EU. The Asean project, created in 1967, was aimed at bringing peace and stability to the region in the same way as the European project did. Asean started the Asean Free Trade Area in the early 1990s and is now moving towards the Asean Economic Community (AEC), to promote freer flows of goods, services and capital across the region.However, Asean leaders have so far shied away from discussing political and security issues in the region, such as territorial

views on the presence of the superpowers in the region. On the Obama administration’s military “pivot” to the region, the Philippines welcomes the plan but some countries like Thailand do not want to offend China. Chellaney said that regional integration in Asia is contingent on a number of factors. First, Asian countries have to get rid of the baggage of history and negative legacies. Asians have to come to terms with history, as the European countries have done, before moving on to other areas of cooperation. Secondly, Asian countries have to deal with rising nationalism, which, in the Asian context, comes with an increase in wealth. “The more prosperous, the more nationalistic countries become,” said Chellaney. “There is a surge of identity of roots, and governments tend to whip up nationalism.”

—Courtesy - Nation, Thailand

making a living in Cambridge, Massachussetts, some twenty-odd years ago.

I have heard him say nice things about Netanyahu off the record. He knows everyone who matters in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. If a relationship of trust confers any advantage — and I’m not convinced that it does — Kerry has that edge.

Kerry is also a world-class listener. When I traveled to Afghanistan with him in 2010, he

(see this striking WikiLeaks cable). But the Arab autocrats club is history. The point is not that Kerry is naïve, or soft on dictators.

It’s rather that he is, to a profound degree, a status quo figure who deals with the world as he finds it. When I taxed him over his role in Syria, he said to me, “Countries and people and leaders of countries act out of self-interest. Foreign policy is the art of finding those interests and seeing what serves your na-

The Obama administration will spend the next few years trying to extricate itself from Afghanistan and, collaterally, Pakistan with the least possible risk to America’s reputation or national security. Kerry has been the White House’s designated placater of Hamid Karzai and Pakistan’s military chief of staff, Gen. Pervez Kayani let me sit in while he met with a leading human rights campaigner. “Tell me where you think we are,” he said. And, “What do you think are the chances of a civil war?” And, “What is the U.S. doing wrong?” And “What is your most important advice for us?” It has to be very flattering to be so earnestly interrogated by an enormously tall man who was almost president of the United States. Tom Donilon and Susan Rice can’t do that. John Kerry will make heads of state everywhere feel that American policy is in good hands.

He is the secretary of state they would choose if anyone was asking. But this is a limitation, too. The world has been knocked from its moorings; some of the friendly autocrats Kerry had spent years cultivating, like Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak, have been toppled by popular outrage. Kerry’s understanding of the world has been profoundly shaped by the countless hours he has spent talking to leaders in their palaces. He understands their problems. After repeated visits to Syria, for example, Kerry became convinced that President Bashar al-Assad was a man the United States could do business with. Assad and his wife drove Kerry to a mosque in Damascus and spoke sadly of the decline of secularism and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.

Kerry nodded his great, graven image of a head. He asked Assad to take confidencebuilding steps, and Assad came through.

Good friends like the Emir of Qatar told Kerry that Syria held the key to Middle East peace

tion and trying to marry them.” Kerry operates one small turn of the wheel at a time. But his caution goes further than that: He also accepts the existing terms of debate.

Throughout the 2009 debate on policy towards Afghanistan, when Vice President Joe Biden was torturing the generals with tough questions about counterinsurgency and proposing a sharply different alternative, Kerry was keeping mum. He has never deviated sharply from the administration position on this or almost anything else. Kerry is prepared to pilot the boat in the face of incoming fire, but not to rock it. He has courage — but not intellectual courage.

Perhaps Kerry would be more outspoken inside the White House than out. He is not one to speak out of turn. The combination of his natural ponderousness and his extreme care about secret discussions often make him maddeningly vague in public. His default public posture is a kind of high-minded WASP propriety. In private, he is a gracious man with impeccable manners, genuinely curious about others, at times touchingly deferential. And the same restraint and reserve which made him such an unsatisfying presidential candidate have also made him the kind of consummate diplomat whom the White House has counted on to soothe troubled waters in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, and elsewhere. Kerry has shortcomings. Who doesn’t? But I can’t think of anyone who would be better for the job.—Courtesy - FP.

Future scenario

How to View Defense Spending in Asia DR ROBERT FARLEY A recent Defense News special report highlighted global trends in defense spending.

The conclusions are unsurprising; The locus of global military spending (and global military power) is shifting towards Asia, especially as some European countries ramp down defense expenditures. The “Asian Pivot” by the United States threatens to exacerbate this trend, although the United States already devotes a great percentage of its military strength to the Pacific. The bulk of new spending comes in the form of investment in air and naval capabilities, revealing an international focus.

Spending on armies can go to either international influence or to domestic security; ships, planes, and the support capabilities necessary to keep them sailing and flying tend to have foreign objectives.

To be sure, the shift in weight of defense spending can be overstated.

Britain and France remain two of the most prolific spenders, with big ticket items including major warship and aircraft purchases. A few other European countries (most notably Norway and Poland ) have also accelerated defense spending. Taken as a whole, the European Union can throw around a considerable amount of military weight, especially given the lack of any internal tensions. Moreover, the purveyors of the most sophisticated defense technology continue to hail from Europe (as well as the United States).

The increase in absolute defense spending in Asia obscures an important truth, however; despite the increases, the economies of East and South Asia remain relatively demilitarized in comparison to the Cold War. Apart from North Korea, no South or East Asian country spends more than three percent of its GDP on defense.

India devotes a considerably lower percentage of its economy to defense today than it did during the Cold War. Chinese military expenditures have similarly declined as percentage of GDP. Russia spends only a tiny fraction of what it spent during the Cold War, and unlike China and India it spends from a smaller pie. Japan, of course, remains constitutionally com-

mitted to 1% spending, which remains an enormous amount because of the

creases represent balancing against one another, perhaps with a focus on

Rights to the waters of the Nile have been long disputed between downstream and upstream countries. According to the 1929 and 1959 colonial treaties, Egypt and Sudan hold absolute rights to the Nile’s waters. However, after independence, these agreements have been contested. Ethiopia is currently constructing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which would provide the country with hydroelectric power as well irrigation flow. Downstream states, especially Egypt, have felt threatened by Ethiopia’s actions. If diplomatic efforts were to be fail, these tensions could potentially lead to serious regional conflict. size of the Japanese economy. By comparison, the United States currently spends 4.5% of its GDP on defense (including costs associated with the ongoing war in Afghanistan) while both Britain and France spend more than 2%.

China. A second interpretation, however, implies that the great powers of Asia feel relatively secure, and have not yet begun to engage in the kind of defense buildup that would suggest real concern about their safety. In American political culture, dire warn-

There are at least three potential interpretations of the increase in Asian defense spending. The first is straightforward; Asian powers are beginning to transform post-Cold War economic growth into military power, producing more modern, competent, and capable military organizations (especially at sea and in the air). The broad trend of defense growth suggests that these in-

ings about the paucity of the defense budget are common, and yet few-to-no Asian countries devote nearly the same resources to defense as the U.S. In this interpretation, the absolute increases represent simply the results of economic growth, perhaps looming larger in the imagination because of simultaneous cuts to European budgets.

—Courtesy - TD.

Transitions

China and America’s Economic Challenges JAMES PARKER

I

N the United States, the world’s largest economy, President Obama has secured a second term as leader of the country. In China, the second largest economy, by this time next week new leaders will likely have been confirmed as well. In both cases, the new leaders will officially begin their terms in 2013, even if Obama has the luxury of being already on the job.

The end of the leadership “contests” in both countries sees the end of a struggle for power which at times got pretty tough. Obama has already been dealing with a sluggish post crisis-economy, and China’s incoming president and prime minister have also already been bat-

tling economic difficulties in their current roles in government. For both countries, whilst by this time next week the political-leadership struggles may be over, from an economic and financial standpoint, the real challenges are yet to come.

For the United States, the most pressing issue is the impending “fiscal cliff”. This is the term used to describe an automatic package of tax increases and spending cuts with a combined value of appx. U.S. $600 billion. Time is tight with only weeks before the deadline on 1st January 2013. Without a deal to either increase the U.S. government debt ceiling, or an extension of the deadline, the U.S. will almost certainly fall into a double dip recession in 2013.

The Republicans have lost the presidential

election, and have some pretty hard soul searching to do as to why. Their control in the House of Representatives and ongoing ability to complicate matters in the Senate makes them extremely relevant though, especially since they can effectively kill any attempt to push the fiscal cliff further down the road. China’s new leaders, face an equally daunting task. Whilst China’s growth rates still far outshine that of the U.S., the economy is facing structural issues which will take years, and a lot of political capital to resolve. The investment heavy growth model is unsustainable, even if one more burst of investment stimulus may be tempting to a new president and prime minister looking to consolidate their power next year.

China’s rebalancing must require house-

holds to get a larger share of the economic pie, allowing consumption to take over as a growth engine rather than debt-backed investment which is increasingly misallocating capital. The main challenge for the incoming leaders if they are serious about rebalancing is going to be overcoming the opposition of “entrenched interests” as key policies are reversed.

These interests include those linked to state owned enterprises, the export industries, any employers relying on cheap labour, and any firms addicted to what is effectively “subsidized” credit. If the U.S. tumbles over its fiscal cliff, the outlook for China will become that much harder.

A double dip U.S. recession will further batter China’s export markets (pain which will also be felt by countries in China’s manufacturing sup-

ply chains) and rebalancing for Beijing will be much harder in the resulting dismal international environment.

One bit of good news for emerging markets is that Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke, whose looser monetary policies at the Fed have maintained a comfortable international liquidity situation, is now set to keep his job (whereas Romney had promised to remove him). In addition, with the fiscal cliff line up now unchanged, it is more likely than before that Bernanke will have to offset a fiscal rooted slowdown next year with even more monetary accommodation. Generally speaking, abundant liquidity in developed markets is positive for emerging market performance. —Courtesy - The Diplomat.

PAF contingent in China to participate in the air show ZHUHAI, CHINA—The Mayor of Zhuhai city received PAF contingent giving a warm welcome to all the participants of the Zhuhai Air Show planned to be held from 13 to 18 Nov. A formation of JF-17 Thunders has reached, here to participate in the static as well as aerobatic segment of the Air Show.

The PAF Thunders have flown more than 3000 Nautical Miles (5500 Kilometers) and crossed the snow-covered Himalayas en-route to Zhuhai, China. The Zhuhai Air Show in China is expected to attract thousands of visitors from across the globe. The JF-17 Thunder is expected to remain the “Star of the Show.” The aircraft is being jointly produced by Pakistan and China.

‘Whosoever serves Pakistan serves Islam’ From Page 1 Aiwan-i-Quaid, appealed to those religious authorities whose voice was heard in the society to follow the Iqbal’s Ijtihad. He regretted that the society on the whole was caught in the web of trivialities totally ignoring the core of Islam. “What Islam expects from its followers was enunciated by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his last sermon delivered from the historic Mount Arafat”, he said.

Explaining the genesis of Pakistan, Mr. Malik said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah visualized an Islamic State and according to him it was an extension of Riasat-i-Madinah. He expressed the view that if anyone in Pakistan tended to serve Islam, the best course available was to serve Pakistan. However, he suggested that the Council of Islamic Ideology and organizations like the Islamic Research Institute should re-interpret the dictates of Islam and couch these in words which can be easily comprehended by the people.

Mr. Malik told the audience that the Council has chalked out a comprehensive programme to project the objectives for the achievement of which Pakistan was established and deepen the faith of the people in vibrant future of Pakistan.

Soldier killed From Page 1 day, security sources said.

The attack took place at the Toi Khula fort area in Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan, at around 4:00am.

In the counterattack, the security forces killed at least six militants and wounded 13 others, security sources said.

Three vehicles belonging to the militants were also destroyed in the retaliatory attack.The area is cut off to journalists and aid workers and it was not possible to confirm the death toll independently.

Meanwhile, an organisation “Mujahidee-eWaziristan” has distributed pamphlets in Wana in which they warned the Wazir tribes against joining the Levies force.

The pamphlets said the Levies force is being trained with the help of US forces, which is not acceptable.

Assistant Political Agent Shahid Ali Khan has held negotiations with Ahmedzai Wazir tribe for joining Levies force, on which the tribe has sought the time of three days.

—INP

11 dead, 40 injured in bus accident From Page 1 the local people pulled the injured out from under the bus. 11 people including the driver and conductor died on the spot while 40 other including women and children were severely injured.

The injured were rushed to Tehsil headquarter hospital Lahore and Muridkey for medical aid.

The injured passengers were identified as Qamar, Nawazish, Imtiaz, Haider, Awais and Nawaz while also two students, a child and a woman.

Meanwhile, the local people also protested against the late arrival of the Rescue teams It merits mentioning that the due to the non-presence of police from accident place the people started looting from the injured passengers Police registered the case and started thorough invesZHUHAI: A group photo of JF-17 Thunder Pilots and other members of Pakistan Air Force along with Zhang Qiang tigation.—Online of Zhuhai Metropoliton City (China). The Mayor Came personally to greet the PAF contingent for their participation in Zhuhai Air Show-1012.

No clash among state institutions: Raja From Page 1 been derailed several times in the past and after numerous sacrifices it was now back on track. He, however, regretted that all this led to loss of precious time.

“Democracy is still nascent and may still have all its weaknesses and problems, but it is gaining strength. We are passing through a phase of evolution and are trying to learn from our mistakes,” the prime minister said.

He said in his first address to the National Assembly, he mentioned about his priorities that included development of Balochistan and added the four provincial entities make Pakistan strong and vibrant.

He said Balochistan being the largest province was rich with mineral wealth and natural resources and it was the land of people who were courageous and loved their culture, traditions and the country.

The Prime Minister categorically stated that no one should have an iota of doubt that Balochistan does not have any importance in national priorities. He said Balochistan was the most important province of the country.

“Even a single inch of every part of Pakistan is important and precious for us, more than even our lives,” he said.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that in the past certain things have been said and acts were done that created some misunderstand-

ings amongst the people.

However he vowed that with greater understanding all such differences would be resolved to mutual satisfaction of all.

He said at times, in television talk shows things are said without context creating a negative impression.

He said coalition government in federation and all provinces reflect the desire of the government to move forward together, by taking along all parties, factions and groups, with love and understanding, with the aim of progress.

Prime Minister Ashraf said the Co-chairperson extended an apology to the people of Balochistan for any misunderstanding or any such act of the past, that has caused any resentment, as he believes that all people of Pakistan need to move forward together, while rising above their differences.

He said it was the same vision of reconciliation as Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had and has been the focal point of all government policies.Regarding the independent media in Pakistan, he said it was free than other media in many developed countries. He said it was also learning and growing, however, he urged it to avoid sensationalisation and show more maturity.

The Prime Minister said the judiciary was independent and working freely. He said armed forces of the country were at the front in safeguarding the frontiers of the

country and had rendered numerous sacrifices. He said it was also rendering remarkable services in provision of education and other infrastructure in remote areas of the country.

The prime minister said similarly the parliament of the country was also playing a key role in giving a positive direction to the nation and was the voice of 180 million people through its representatives.

He said the people will once again choose their new leadership at the completion of the five-year term. He said democracy was the only way to take the country forward and give it a respectable position amongst the comity of nations.

He assured the people of Balochistan that the entire nation stood with them and was with them through thick and thin. “Every Pakistani believes in seeing the province progress and develop,” he added.

The only way forward for Pakistan is to stand united and rise above the petty differences, the Prime Minister said and added “Allah Almighty has blessed us with everything and all we need now is unity and strength.”

The Prime Minister earlier inaugurated the Gwadar Civic Centre which houses offices providing one-window operation for the port facilities. The Civic Centre has been designed to facilitate people under one roof by offering utility facilities like electricity, gas, telephone,

passport and national identity card offices, banks and private shops. The building also has 12 residential apartments for government officers. The project has a total covered area of 4,180 sqm.

He also laid the foundation stone of East Bay Expressway.

The event was also attended by Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani, Minister for Port and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri, Adviser on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain, Minister for Science and Technology Changez Jamali, federal and provincial ministers.

The Prime Minister said Gwadar project would serve as a milestone in the progress and development of Pakistan.

He said the expressway would open up the entire area for tourism and boost commercial activities.

He congratulated all those involved for making the national project a success.

The Prime Minister announced that all funds of Balochistan in the Public Sector Development Program be released without any delay.

He said work on M-8 to link the Port with the rest of the country would be taken up soon. He declared status of Gwadar as “big city” and announced regularisation of all daily wage earners of the Ports and Shipping and merger of Gwadar Airport into the Gwadar Port Authority.— APP

Nawaz pushes for immediate election Hina advises From Page 1

From Page 1 ment the apex court orders forthwith.

Nawaz said that he wholeheartedly accepted the Pakistan People’s Party led government despite his differences with it.

Answering a question regarding PML-N electoral alliance with other political parties in the next general election, he said that the party would enter into an alliance with any such party that would help control law and order situation in Karachi, Balochistan and Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that several people had joined the PMLN and the party also had good relations with Pakistan Muslim League-Functional.

He didn’t reject possibility of making an alliance with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and his staunch rival, the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf.

Replying to another question regarding Imran Khan’s harsh criticism of him, he said that he had never used immoral language against the PTI

chief in any circumstances.

He said that he was not against the army instead opposed some of its generals.

Nawaz Sharif said that it was for the first time that any civil government was going to complete its tenure without the backing of the military.

Reacting to Gen Kayani’s statement, Nawaz said being a Pakistani it was his duty to appreciate the general’s views on the supremacy of law and the Constitution.

Treaty of Medina basis for true Islamic State: Javed Iqbal From Page 1 the state of Medina which the Holy Prophet (MPBUH) himself headed. The treaty visualized a pluralistic state where all the citizens belonged to a single nation described in the treaty as Millati-Wahida.

He said Islam as the final religion embraces the whole humanity and as such it is a blessing for all irrespective of any distinction on the basis of colour, culture or creed.

He said Iqbal presented concept of spiritual democracy which was based on treaty of Medina and the noble example of the Holy Prophet (MPBUH). Iqbal thought that a Muslim state can have a better form of democracy if it drew inspiration from the model state of

Medina established by the Holy Prophet (MPBUH).

Dr. Javed Iqbal said Allama Iqbal stressed the need for Ijtehad in Muslim societies to meet new challenges and changing circumstances. Iqbal believed that no individual had the right to exercise Ijtehad.

It was right of an elected parliament in the Muslim countries to legislate on the principle of Ijtehad to ensure welfare of the citizens. Iqbal was of firm view that Ijtehad should be exercised on the basis of consensus.

He regretted that conservative forces always opposed exercise of Ijtehad and they hindered process of creativity among the Muslim societies.

He said Muslim Societies remain backward only because they are not exercising Ijtehad within the framework of the Holy Quran and the nobel example of Holy Prophet (MPBUH). The Muslims must adopt democracy and promote human rights on universal basis to get out of stagnation and backwardness.

Dr. Javed Iqbal delivered his lecture as chief guest at a function arranged by Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) at Aiwan-i-Quaid to mark Iqbal’s birth anniversary.

Chairman NPC Mr. Zahid Malik, Editor in Chief Pakistan Observer chaired the function. A large number of intellectuals and students keenly listened to the lecture.

ister of Bangladesh Dipu Moni said, “Bangladesh expects an apology from Pakistan for the genocide carried out by their troops in 1971”.

“Moni also underscored the need for resolving other outstanding issues with Pakistan,” Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes said.

Quayes’s comments came after Moni told a news agency that Pakistan must apologise for “the mass killings.”

Khar, the first Pakistani minister to visit Dhaka since the ruling Awami League assumed office three years ago, arrived on a five-hour tour to invite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to attend the Developing-8 Summit to be held in Islamabad on November 22.

Khar later called on Hasina and handed over an invitation letter from Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari at her official residence. Sheikh Hasina, only founding member of D-8 now in office, thanked Hina for traveling all the way from Pakistan to invite her.—INP

17 including MNA Ahmadan From Page 1 among residents of the locality.Ahmadan Bugti and his son were discharged after first aid and were shifted to Multan for further treatment.

Banned Baloch Republican Army has accepted the responsibility for the attack. BRA spokesman Sarbaz Baloch claimed that target of the attack was Ahmadan Bugi for his alleged anti Baloch activities.

Shujaat predicts surprising results in elections From Page 1

candidates personal influence in their constituencies.

He said every party and leader would know their worth during the elections.

He said the leaders having popularity in Punjab have no place to sit in Sindh and similar was the situation in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Balochistan.

He said the PML-Q has the most reliable and tested candidates who would give good results and that was why he was predicting surprising results.

He said his party will follow the vision of Allama Iqbal and Quaid-i-Azam and take the country out of desperation and crises.

He stressed that those speaking about confrontation among institutions must be discouraged.

Chaudhry Shujaat said conspiracies are being hatched against national institutions and such elements must be exposed.—INP

Iqbal’s birth anniversary observed From Page 1 A ceremony at Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum of changing of guards took police in which the troops of Pakistan Navy replaced the Rangers.

A smartly turned out contingent of Pak Navy took responsibility of guard. Station Commander Lahore, Akbar Naqi was chief guest on the occasion. He laid floral wreath and offered Fateha.

Cultural, educational and literary organizations had chalked out different programmes to mark the day in a befitting manner and pay homage to the great poet who envisioned the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on the occasion have urged the nation to renew the pledge to dedicate all energies to make Pakistan a real Islamic welfare and moderate state.

The President in his message said we are living as a free and independent nation because of the vision of the great visionary and poet philosopher of the sub-continent Allama Muhammad Iqbal.He said it is because that dictators in Pakistan used Islam to perpetuate

themselves in power and on Friday the extremists are exploiting the name of religion for the same purpose.

He said we can defeat the militant ideology by propagating Iqbal’s message of Islam.The Prime Minister said on this auspicious occasion that we should make a pledge that over and above our ethnic and political affiliations, we will dedicate all our energies to take the Pakistan to the glory envisioned by Allama Iqbal.

A special exhibition of books and relics will be held at Iqbal Museum Lahore.

Cinema houses will make arrangements to screen documentary films on Iqbal’s life.

The Iqbal academy of Lahore will arrange a book exhibition on Saturday.

Apart from giving Muslims of sub-continent the idea of Pakistan, Iqbal fired the imagination of Muslims with the true message and spirit of religion.

He boldly challenged the stereotypes, refused to accept the monopoly of interpretation of religion and articulated the pristine message of Islam.—Online

Rs70m doled out for IJI cause: Asad Durrani From Page 1 vate TV channel, he said that the remaining funds were transferred to the secret account of ISI. He claimed that he was informed by the then army chief General Aslam Baig about the plan to finance certain politicians who were contesting the general elections against Pakistan Peoples Party.

Durrani said that the army chief had informed him that he would receive further instructions from the President House.

He admitted that he had distributed heavy funds

amongst members of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) at the behest of the then President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Aslam Baig.

The Supreme Court in its detailed order in the Asghar Khan case confirmed that the 1990 polls were rigged.

The apex court ordered the government to initiate an inquiry into the matter of illegal disbursement of money to politicians, and punish the ones who were responsible for the crime.—Online

COURT NOTICE In the court of Mr. MOHAMMAD TARIQ WALI Judge Banking Court 1, 13-A Qafla Road, Tehkal Payan Peshawar at camp court Bannu Case no 223/1 date of hearing 12/12/2012 Suit for recovery of Rs 465575 ZTBL Lakki through manager VSHaji Rehmatullah NOTICES VERSUS- HajiRehmatullah s/o Aslam Khan R/O Essak Khel District Lakki.

Where as the plaintiff Bank has instituted a suit for the recovery of Rs 465575 against you under section 10(2) of the financial institution (recovery of finances) Ordinance 2001. You are hereby summoned to obtain leave of the court to appear and defend the suit within 30 days after receipt / publication of the notice in the newspaper failing which an exparte decree shall be passed in favor of the plaintiff Bank with costs Seal of the court Judge Banking court 1 Peshawar

COURT NOTICE In the court of Mr. MOHAMMAD TARIQ WALI Judge Banking Court 1, 13-A Qafla Road, Tehkal Payan Peshawar Case no 193/1 of 12 date of hearing 12/11/2012 Suit for recovery of Rs 262256 ZTBL Charsadda Branch VS Jehanzaib NOTICES VERSUS- Jehanzeb Khan s/o Zafar Khan r/o R/O BehlolaBajauro Kelly Tehsil & district Charsadda Where as the plaintiff Bank has instituted a suit for the recovery of Rs 262256 against you under section 10(2) of the financial institution (recovery of finances) Ordinance 2001. You are hereby summoned to obtain leave of the court to appear and defend the suit within 30 days after receipt / publication of the notice in the newspaper failing which an exparte decree shall be passed in favor of the plaintiff Bank with costs Seal of the court Judge Banking court 1 Peshawar

COURT NOTICE In the court of Mr. MOHAMMAD TARIQ WALI Judge Banking Court 1, 13-A Qafla Road, Tehkal Payan Peshawar at camp court Bannu Case no 222/1 date of hearing 12/12/2012 Suit for recovery of Rs 545320 ZTBL Lakki through manager VSPurdil Khan (late) through LRs NOTICES VERSUS- 1) Mohammad Nawaz 2) Amir Nawaz 3) Gul Nawaz 4) Gul FarazSs/o Purdil Khan Rs/o WandhaFateh Khel District Lakki.

Where as the plaintiff Bank has instituted a suit for the recovery of Rs 545320 against you under section 10(2) of the financial institution (recovery of finances) Ordinance 2001. You are hereby summoned to obtain leave of the court to appear and defend the suit within 30 days after receipt / publication of the notice in the newspaper failing which an exparte decree shall be passed in favor of the plaintiff Bank with costs Seal of the court Judge Banking court 1 Peshawar

Pak renews commitment to UN peacekeeping process

Two robbers killed in Lahore LAHORE—Two robbers were killed while their two cohorts managed to escape in exchange of fire with police here on Friday. According to details, the police approached four car rider robbers who were fleeing after committing a robbery in Defence Phase V of Lahore. The robbers seeing the police party started firing and tried to flee. In retaliatory fire two robbers were killed while their two accomplices managed to escape from the scene. The police shifted the bodies of dacoits killed in fire exchange to hospital for post-mortem. —INP

GB nationalists join PML-N SKARDU—A nationalist group, belonging to the Karakoram National Movement (KNM), joined the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) on Friday.

Addressing a news conference at Skardu Press Club on Friday, the local leaders of the KNM, a Gilgit-Baltistan based nationalist party, Mohammad Iqbal Advocate, Maj. Retd Mohammad Amin formally announced to join the PML-N along with their campaigns.

The nationalist leaders expressed confidence in the leadership of the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, saying that he has a positive thought for all the nationalists across the country.—Online

Seven cops suspended LAHORE—Seven policemen of the Elite Force of Punjab have been suspended from service for leaving Indian Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and his delegation unguarded while they went to have dinner at a reception here, officials said on Friday. The incident occurred when a group of businessmen hosted a dinner for Badal and his 45-member delegation at the Royal Country Palm Club on Wednesday. The Elite Force policemen deputed to guard the Indian delegation rushed off to have dinner, leaving the Indian delegation unprotected..—INP

3 brothers kill sister-in-law

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Masood Khan while speaking in the Special Political and decolonization Committee on “comprehensive review of peace keeping operations in all their aspects” said that Pakistan has been a consistent and larger contributor for over five decades to the UN Peacekeeping Missions in all parts of the world and its participation in a wide variety of UN peacekeeping missions reflects practical reaffirmation of Pakistan’s abiding faith in the purposes and principles of the UN charter, says a press released received here Friday from New York.

“Participation in UN Peacekeeping missions has given us ISLAMABAD: Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) arranged a function at Aiwan-i-Quaid on Friday to mark birth anniver- varied and valuable experience sary of the Poet of the East, Allama Mohammad Iqbal. Sitting on the dais (from left to right) are Kanwar Dilshad, Execu- in handling difficult conflict and tive Secretary NPC, Zahid Malik Chairman NPC and Editor-in-Chief Pakistan Observer, Justice(Retd) Dr. Javed Iqbal and post conflict situations in all Justice (Retd) Nasira Javed Iqbal . Photo by Sultan Bashir

Asghar Khan case aftermath

Imran advises Nawaz to quit politics MUZAFFAR ALI LAHORE—Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf Chairman Imran Khan, slamming Pakistan Muslim League (N), said that Nawaz Sharif should leave politics after Supreme Court’s judgment in Asghar Khan Case. Addressing the 11th International Cancer Symposium organized by Shaukat Khanam Cancer Hospital in a local hotel here on Friday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said PMLN chief Nawaz Sharif had no moral credence to continue staying in politics.

“Those politicians involved allegedly in getting money from Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) have no justification to be a part of the politics,” adding he said people knew very well who took money and who did not. He said certain people who come to power through the democratic process expect that no question should be asked pertaining to their corrup-

Paleejo fears Israel-like state in Sindh

tion and misappropriation.

Answering a question about the government’s letter to Swiss authority, he said President Asif Zardari could not remain impartial after Swiss case decision and only an impartial president could conduct general elections. He further said that regardless of who would be in the Presidency at the time of the upcoming general elections, the PTI would be contesting. In response to a query about possibility of postponing general elections, he said general elections would be held in time and there was no question of postponing it. He said PTI tsunami would wash away all the hurdles raised to put off the elections.

Khan said first time in the history, new Pakistan would emerge in the next general elections and PTI would uproot corruption from the soil of Pakistan.

He further said PTI after coming into power would improve governance and economy of the

country. “Shaukat Khanam is crusading against cancer while PTI has initiated its war against corruption and that it would take the battle to its logical conclusion,” adding he said a treatment against corruption had been started and every one would see its result in upcoming general elections.

Answering a question about his alleged link with ISI, he rejected the allegations of getting the support of ISI and vowed to quit politics if any one could prove he had taken money from ISI. Commenting on Chief of the Army Staff’s (COAS) statement, Imran said he is agreed with the army chief’s view point that all the institutions should work in their defined parameters. However, he praised the role of judiciary but criticized the PPP government for suppressing the freedom to protect its president. He said foreigners avoided coming in Pakistan because of the surge of terrorism in the country.

US making Pak Army controversial : Brig. Imtiaz

Pak-Afghan peace talks next week

Shooting US Congresswoman

Man gets seven life sentences LOS ANGELES—The gunman a deal with prosecutors under as dark and evil as your own.

who shot US congresswoman which the 24-year-old pleaded Remember this: You failed,”

ISLAMABAD—Talks between Gabrielle Giffords in a massa- guilty in August to the Jan 2011 according to the AZ Central

Pakistan and Afghanistan government regarding peace negotiations with Afghan Taliban would resume from next week in Islamabad.

Afghan diplomatic officials said that a high level delegation led by Chief Afghan Amman Council Salahuddin Rabbani would soon visit Pakistan to resume the dialogue on reconciliation process and peace in Afghanistan planned.

Earlier, Salahuddin Rabbani had to pay visit of Pakistan, however, it was postponed due to Pak-Afghan border clashes and the issue of release of Afghan Taliban.

Spokesperson Foreign Office Pakistan Muazzam Ali Khan has confirmed the news regarding the visit of Salahuddin Rabbani to Islamabad in order to resume Pak-Afghan peace process. — Online

Malala Day today

Ban urges world to express solidarity

Awami Movement Ayaz Latif Paleejo says conspiracies are underway to establish a state like Israel in Sindh.

Talking to media persons here on Friday, Paleejo said that proposed Israel-like state would occupy land from Gwadar to Zulfiqarabad and paper work in this regard was in progress.

He claimed that Sindh is passing through critical era of country’s history.

“Dozens of innocent people were targeted in Karachi daily and criminals released on payroll were involved in violence in the city”, he said.

Paleejo said “nationalist parties of Sindh are ready to hold dialogue with government if it withdraws the Sindh People Local Government Ordinance (SPLGO).” Presence of the

dier (retired) Imtiaz Ahmed says Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is being targeted because Pakistan Army is a hurdle in American agenda to create Indian supremacy in the region.

“America wants to make Pakistan Army controversial within its own country so that India could be benefited by having a chance to deepen its roots

Imtiaz said United States wanted to create Indian supremacy by giving it access to oil reserves and it was not possible without making Pakistan Army weak.

He said limiting Pakistan’s nuclear ability, influence of China and Iranian military power were also included in American agenda.”—NNI

cre that left six others dead in Arizona was given seven life sentences plus 140 years in jail on Thursday.

“He’ll never have the opportunity to pick up a gun again,” said Judge Larry Burns, according to Tucson, Arizona’s KVOA TV, as he sentenced Jared Lee Loughner.

The sentence, without the possibility of parole, was part of

attack. Giffords was in court, although she did not speak. But her astronaut husband Mark Kelly addressed Loughner in court, saying: “Every day is a continuous struggle to do the things she was once so very good at.” “Gabby would trade her own life for one you took on that day,” he said, cited by Tucson TV station KVOA. “You tried to create a world

news website.Loughner’s only words were “Yes, sir” when the judge asked if he had agreed to decline comment.Victims and relatives of victims gave emotional testimony before Loughner was sentenced.

“You took away my life, my love, my reason for living,” said Mavanell Stoddard, whose 76-year-old husband Dorwan died trying to shield her from the bullets.—INP

Muslim community important for UK: Clegg L ONDON —British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has called for an end to religious hate crime during a visit to Manchester’s Muslim community. Clegg told the M.E.N he wanted to see acts of hatred against Muslims wiped out as he pledged to do all he could to put an end to ‘abhorrent’ prejudicial attacks.

The Liberal Democrat leader was visiting the British Muslim Heritage Centre, in Whalley Range, for a town hall-

style summit with local community members and national Islamic organisations. He was being joined by faith and communities minister Baroness Warsi and Lib Dem communities minister Don Foster. Clegg said: “The reason I’m doing this is because I have for sometime now been very worried about the prejudice, religious hatred and racially motivated violence directed at many Muslims in Manchester and elsewhere.

There’s absolutely no place for

hate crime in modern society. Its an abhorrent thing.” Clegg said: “The Muslim community is incredibly important for the country. “This is a national issue but I was very keen to do this in Manchester where its particularly relevant.” He said interfaith work between the local Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities was particularly important in standing up against intolerance and added: “I will do everything in my power to make sure we take the necessary steps.”—AP

US bans Bilour, wife from entering America I SLAMABAD—After UK the wife’s visas have been cancelled and that a ban has been slapped on his entering the United States.

Talking to media Bilour said that he still stood by his statement and view that he considered the cancellation of US visa and the ban on his entry in the United States as unimportant.—NNI

world community to express solidarity with Malala Yousaf Zai on November 10, Malala Day, as her effort in raising voice for girls’ education is a guiding light for, SAMAA reports. Earlier, United Nations announced to celebrate November 10 as ‘Malala Day’ under its supervision across the world.

Ban Ki-moon has said in his video message, for Malala Day, that education is a basic right of every human being and it is a source of moving forward in life.

Malala Yousaf Zai has set an example of bravery and courage so people around the world should add their voices with Malala’s voice on’ Malala Day’ and support the United Nations for betterment of education, added the UN KHAN YOUNIS: A young Palestinian mourning the death of his relative killed in Israeli air Secretary General in his video attack message.—INP

US Navy Seals punished over breach of secrets

QUETTA—Strike in Balochistan hospitals entered 24th day on Friday in protest against kidnapping of a doctor. According to reports, the doctors in Balochistan including Quetta boycotted work at OPDs of government hospitals for the 24th consecutive day for the recovery of their abducted colleague Dr Saeed Ahmed Khan. The general operation theatres were also shut. — INP

ing in addressing challenges of the future”. Speaking on modern day peacekeeping challenges, Ambassador Masood said that realistic and achievable mandates with due legal scrutiny, deploying adequate and timely resources for implementation of these mandates, devising efficient entry and exit strategies for seamless transition of conflict situation to post conflict stability, peace building and long term politico economic recovery are some of the important ingredients need to be accorded high priority to confront these challenges in a more effective way.

Ambassador Masood reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to the UN Peacekeeping.

“As a leading troop-contributing country, Pakistan remains mindful of the challenges and constraints facing UN Peacekeeping” he concluded.—INP

U NITED N ATIONS —United Secretary General ISLAMABAD—Former Chief of in Afghanistan,” Imtiaz told a Nations’ N OWSHEROFEROZ —President Intelligence Bureau (IB) Briga- local Urdu Daily Newspaper. Ban Ki-moon has urged the

United States has also banned the on Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour from enSWAT—Three brothers in law tering the United States for anaxed to death their sister in law over domestic dispute here SPLGO cooperation with Sindh nouncing head money for anti-Islam filmmaker. The US Embassy on Friday. In the area of government was not possible,” he in Islamabad has formally indistrict Matta at Madiat Ashray added.— INP formed Bilour that his and his three brothers namely Muhammad Zada, Kallar Khan, Gul Zada Pisran Momin Khan axed to death their sister in law Samina, wife of their brother Raza Khan over domestic dispute. Samina’s two children miracously survived the murder.—Online

Balochistan doctors’ strike enters 24th day

parts of the world,” the Ambassador said.

He further said that participation in UN peacekeeping was supported by Pakistan national ethos and was an integral part of its foreign policy. . “ We do this to help address challenges of international peace and security in the spirit of collective responsibility”. Highlighting Pakistan’s security institutions which have developed peacekeeping training modules that form part of the curricula for mandatory courses required in career progression of different cadres. Ambassador Masood said Pakistan was willing to share its training experience with the Secretariat and with UN membership. “With wider dissemination of important lessons learnt in the field, we can optimize the collective efforts to strengthen the UN Peacekeep-

W A S H I N G T O N — S e v e n and a partial forfeiture of pay agreements that Seals sign. He members of the secretive Navy Seal Team 6, including one involved in the mission to get Osama bin Laden, have been punished for disclosing classified information, senior Navy officials said.

Four other Seals are under investigation for similar alleged violations, one official said.

They are alleged to have divulged classified information to the maker of a video game called Medal of Honour: Warfighter.

Each of the seven received a letter of reprimand

for two months. Those actions generally hinder a military member’s career.

The deputy commander of Naval special warfare command, rear admiral Garry Bonelli, issued a statement acknowledging that nonjudicial punishments had been handed out for misconduct, but he did not offer any details.

“We do not tolerate deviations from the policies that govern who we are and what we do as sailors in the United States Navy,” Bonelli said. He alluded to the importance of honouring nondisclosure

said the punishments this week “send a clear message throughout our force that we are and will be held to a high standard of accountability.”

The two main complaints against the Seals were that they did not seek the permission of their command to take part in the video project and that they showed the video designers some of their specially designed combat equipment unique to their unit, said a senior military official.

Seals, including some of those involved in the bin Laden raid of May 2011,

have been uncharacteristically prominent in the news this year.

Matt Bissonnette, who participated in the raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, but later retired from the Seals, wrote a firsthand account under the pseudonym Mark Owen, but he landed in hot water with the Pentagon even before it was published in September.

The Pentagon accused him of disclosing classified information in violation of the nondisclosure agreements he had signed as a Seal. He disputes the charge.—INP

Chief Minister of Bihar in Karachi STAFF REPORTER

Afghan forces take over security charge in southern town

KARACHI—A twelve-member TRINKOT—In the continuation the district and adjoining areas.

Indian delegation headed by Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar arrived here on Friday.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah welcomed him at the Karachi airport.

The Chief Minister is undertaking this trip at the invitation of the chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh provinces — Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Qaim Ali Shah respectively.

Nitish, who is leading a 12-member delegation comprising two ministers and senior officials, would share Bihar’s growth story with the parliamentarians and civil society members of Pakistan.

of security transition process, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) handed over the security responsibility of Deh Rawad district in Uruzgan province 370 km south of capital city Kabul to Afghan government, an Afghan army officer in Uruzgan province said Friday.

“Afghan Security forces formally took over the security responsibility of NATO-led ISAF in Deh Rawad district yesterday,” Brigadier Abdul Qahar said.

He also said that from now on all the security operations and security patrols will be conducted by the Afghan law enforcing agencies including army and police in

The district governor Aminullah Khaliqi also said that Afghan forces are able to ensrue security in Deh Rawad and adjoining areas.

All the foreign troops served in Deh Rawad had moved to the provincial capital Trinkot, the army official, Qahar added.

Troops mostly from U.S. and Australia have been serving in Uruzgan province within the framework of NATO-led ISAF to help stabilize peace and security there.

The security transition process from NATO-led ISAF which began in mid 2011 is scheduled to complete by the end of 2014.—NNI

How many calories should I eat?

T

HE number of calories people should eat each day depends on several fac tors, including their age, size, height, sex, lifestyle, and overall general health. A physically active 6ft 2in male, aged 22 years, requires considerably more calories than a 5ft 2ins sedentary woman in her 70s.

Recommended daily calorie intakes also vary across the world.

According to the National Health Service (NHS), UK, the average male adult needs approximately 2,500 calories per day to keep his weight constant, while the average adult female needs 2,000. US authorities recommend 2,700 calories per day for men and 2,200 for women. It is interesting that in the UK, where people on average are taller than Americans, the recommended daily intake of calories is lower.

Rates of overweight and obesity among both adults and children in the USA are considerably higher than in the United Kingdom.

The NHS stresses that rather than precisely counting numbers (calories), people should focus more on eating a healthy and well balanced diet, being physically active, and roughly balancing how many calories are consumed with the numbers burnt off each day.

According to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the average person’s minimum calorie requirement per day globally is approximately 1,800 kilocalories. Daily calorie consumption varies considerably around the world (countries in gray indicates “no data

available”) Scientifically speaking, one kilocalorie is 1,000 calories. However, the term calorie in lay English has become so loosely used with the same meaning as kilocalorie, that the two terms have virtually merged. In other words, in most cases, a calorie and kilocalorie have the same meaning.

A kilocalorie is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water from 15° to 16° Celsius (centigrade) at one atmosphere. A “small calorie” refers to the traditional scientific term of calorie, meaning one-thousandth of a kilocalorie.

Internationally, most nations talk about food energy in kJ (kilojoules). 1 kcal (kilocalorie) = 4.184 kJ. In industrialized nations and a growing number of emerging economies, people are consuming many more calories than they used to.

Portion sizes in restaurants, both fast food ones as well as elegant places, are far greater today.

The average cheeseburger in the USA 20 years ago had 333 calories, compared to the ones today with over 600 calories The human body and energy usage For the human body to remain alive, it requires energy. Approximately 20% of the energy we use is for brain metabolism. The majority of the rest of the body’s energy requirements are taken up for the basal metabolic requirements the energy we need when in a resting state, for functions such as the circulation of the blood and breathing.

ISLAMABAD: Renowned poet Amjad Islam Amjad recites his poetic verses during Mushaira held in connection with Youm-e-Iqbal at Aiwan-eQuaid. Anwar Masood and other poets are also seen in the picture.—PO photo

School’s shifting stopped till March 2013

R AWALPINDI —The issue of shifting of Government Model High School, Rawalpindi has been resolved by an inquiry committee of the district government.

According to sources, in response to the protest against the merging and shifting of schools by the residents of Rawalpindi, DCO Rawalpindi, Saqib Zafar constituted an inquiry committee comprising of EDO Finance and Planning, Mateeullah Khan and DMO Saima Younas. The committee gave its decision on the issue.

According to the decision of the committee, Principal of Pak Islamia Girls Elementary School, Tahira Younas has been transferred to another school, ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Romania Emilian Ion and Member of Pakistan Romania while Government Model Friendship Association are laying wreath at Mihe-Iqbal monument on the eve of 135th High School would be opbirth anniversary of Allama Iqbal.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir erated in morning shift and Pak Islamia Girls Elementary School in evening.—INP

Seerat-un-Nabi speech contest at Anjuman Faiz-ul-Islam STAFF REPORTER

R AWALPINDI —A

speech contest on “Seerat-un-Nabi” was organized here on Friday under auspices of Anjuman Faiz-ul-Islam. Girl students of more than 22 government and private schools of Rawalpindi and Islamabad took part in the contest and threw light upon different aspects of life of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).

Virda-tuz-Zehra of class 8th of Government Koh-eNoor Girls High School Peshawar Road Rawalpindi stood first while Anum Usman class 8th of Ideal Cambridge School Rawalpindi and Fatima Moosvi Class 10th of Pak. Maktab Girls Secondary School Naz Cinema Rawalpindi got second and third positions respectively.

Special encouragement prize went to Maira Muneer class 8th of Sadiq Public

School Rawalpindi.

Head of Education department of Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) Madam Mussarrat Anwar Shiekh and President of Anjuman Faiz-ulIslam Mian Mohammad Siddique Akbar were the chief guests on this occasion.

Addressing the students they emphasized them to follow the foot steps of Holy Prophet (PBUH) to get real success here in this world and hereafter.

Homage paid to great poet of east

I SLAMABAD —Sale of Stu-

awarded fourth consolation prize. Similarly, in tableau competition which was based on poetry of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Bright Public School remained first; Wish Academy got second, MC Boys High School secured third while CRM Public School succeeded to get fourth position.

Later, a photographic Exhibition based on life and struggle of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal was also arranged which was inaugurated by Naheed Manzoor along with Waqar Ahmed Resident Director.

The ceremony was witnessed by a large number

dent Welfare Prize Bonds worth Rs100 would start from November 16.

According to sources, the bonds would be available at all the branches of National Savings throughout Pakistan.

First prize of the Student Welfare Prize Bond would be Rs700,000, second prize would be Rs200,000 for three winners, while third prize would be Rs1,000 for 1,199 winners, the sources said.

First draw of the prize bonds would be held at Karachi on February 15, 2013.

The basic aim of the student prize bond is to educate the students about savings, the sources said.—INP

STAFF REPORTER R AWA L P I N D I —The 135th birth anniversary of poet, philosopher Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal was celebrated at Rawalpindi Arts Council with national zeal, fervour and enthusiasm here on Friday.

A speech and tableau competition among the students and a photographic exhibition based on life and political struggle for Pakistan of Dr Allama Iqbal were organized to mark the day in a befitting manner and pay homage to the great poet who envisioned the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent.

The aim was to highlight role and service of Dr Allama Iqbal for Muslims of sub continent and getting separate homeland. Naheed Manzoor and Waqar Ahmed Resident Director was the guest of honor while Iqbal Tabassum and Salman Tahir Shah were the judges for the competitions. The office bearers of All Pakistan Private Schools Association were also present on the occasion.

In speech competition, Savera from Morning Star School bagged first position, Javeria Khurshid from Iqra School secured second, Saif Ullah from DXL Public School got third while Ali Farooq from Leads Public School was

Culture for democracy festival at Lok Virsa STAFF REPORTER

ogy, popularly known as In his address, Senator ruling Pakistan Peoples Party Heritage Museum at Lok Jahangir Badar, who is also said, “Democracy is the best I SLAMABAD —A unique Virsa. the Secretary General of the system of government in the festival titled “national culture for democracy” being held at Lok Virsa complex.

The festival has been organized under the aegis of Development Communications Network (DEVCOM) and Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage).

The other partners include Islamabad Crescent Lions Club (ICLC), Capital Development Authority (CDA), National Highway Authority, etc.

The opening of the festival was performed as chief guest by Senator Jahangir Badar, Leader of the House in the Senate of Pakistan in a graceful ceremony organized at the Pakistan Na- ISLAMABAD: Leader of the House in the Senate Senator Muhammad Jahangir Bader tional Museum of Ethnol- with prize winners and organizers during National Culture for Democracy festival.

world. It provides equality to the people in development, social & economic justice and gives their true representation through their elected representatives.”

Moreover, the festival aims to take the message across to people from all walks of life especially to youth and women to take part in the process of strengthening the democracy. The other objective is to sensitize and educate general masses about the continuity of democracy the voice of the people, to reform and strengthen the Pakistani society on more democratic norms and values leading to tolerance for diversity of faiths and opinions resulting peace and harmony.

The festival will continue till Sunday, 11 November daily from 11.00 to 7.00 p.m.

of school children and general public who thronged arts council on the eve of his birth anniversary. Paying rich tribute to Allama Iqbal, Naheed Manzoor said that Dr. Iqbal based his thoughts on the Holy Quran and promoted humanity in his interpretations. She said he aroused the Muslim from disillusionment and reminded them about their future.

Waqar Ahmed Resident Director said that organizing of event was to convey the message of Dr Allama Iqbal to children in a practical way. At the end, Fateh was offered for the soul of Dr Allama Iqbal.

Student Welfare Prize Bonds

Affectees of Bhaikha Syedan compensated after 27 year Zohr

05:50 01:30 04:00 07:00

November 10 NAZRIYA Pakistan Council (Trust) is holding Mehfil Kalam-e-Iqbal in connection with Iqbal Day celebrations at Aiwan-e-Quaid, 6:00 p.m. ***** LAUNCHING of Pakistan United Christian Movement 5 pm at Liaquat Memorial Hall, College Road, Rawalpindi. ***** INTERNATIONAL Human Rights Observer Pakistan has arranged ‘First Malala Zindabad Convention’ to celebrate ‘International Malala Day, 2:00 pm at Holiday Inn Islamabad. ***** GENERAL Body Meeting of the Human Resource Development Network at the HRDN Secretariat, House No. 41, Street 56, F-6/4, Islamabad. ***** OPENING of a panting exhibition by Rajaj Changez Sultan, Mobina Zuberi, Nafisa Athar, Athar Mahmood, Naeem Pasha, Nusratji, Saran Sultan and Shahla Rafi, to be inaugurated by Iftikhar Gillani, Patron-in-Chief of the Tumair Studios, at the Gallery Changez, Islamabad, 11 am to 6 pm. ***** GENERAL Body meeting of the Human Resource Development Network, at the HRDN Secretariat, House No 41, Street 56, F-6/4, Islamabad. ***** PAF Retired Officers’ Association (PAFROA) Rawalpindi / Islamabad chapter is holding monthly meeting at 1600 hours on 10 November, 2012 at Officers’ Mess, PAF Base Nur Khan. All the members and their families are cordially invited and are requested to intimate about their attendance to Secretary PAFROA, Group Captain (Retd) Saeed Nawaz Khan on Telephone No – 9525811, 9280376. PAF retired officers who desire to become member of the association are also cordially invited.

November 12 LAUNCHING of book ‘Confronting the Bomb’ edited by Pervez Hoodbhoy at 4:30 pm at Kuch Khaas, House No 1 Street 1, F-6/3 Islamabad. ***** HUSSANIA conference organised by the Markazi Imam Hussain Council, at the Pearl continental, The Mall Rawalpindi, 2 pm. ***** TWO-DAY 35 th annual ‘World Haseenia Conference’ will be held at Pearl Continental Hotel, Rawalpindi at 2:00 pm.

Ulema and Mashaikh will address on the occasion.

55 encroachers fined R AWALPINDI —Officials of Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA), Rawal Town, in its ongoing operation against encroachments, has fined 55 shopkeepers and confiscated seven truckloads of goods.

On the directives of Administrator Rawal Town, Saif Anwar Jappa, officials of antiencroachment department of the TMA led by Town Municipal Officer, Ahmed Kamal and Town Officer Regulation, Aftab Iqbal accelerated the anti encroachment drive.—INP

SHARAFAT KAZMI ISLAMABAD —After 27 long years, the affectees of the village Bhaikha Syedan of the capital received compensation from the Capital Development Authority, courtesy Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, Capital Administration and Development Division Senator Mrs. Kalsoom Parveen and personal interest of the current Chairman of the Authority Mr. Tahir Shahbaz.

Lands of inhabitants of Bhaikha Syedan were acquired by the Capital Development Authority way back in 1969 and awards for the built up property were announced in 1980, 1982 and 1985. Compensation for the property was made but the CDA failed to fulfil its commitments with regard to compensation for the build up

property against which the affected people were to be given plots in different sectors of the Federal Capital.

The affected people have been raising the issue both with the CDA and different governmental authorities but their efforts did not yield any result.

In 1990, it was agreed to allot plots to the affected people in Sector-F/11 of the capital. Out of total affected people, about 150 were given the plots but others were kept waiting without any genuine reason. The CDA delayed the allotment on the plea that in review some cases were found genuine and some were not found to be genuine. The case was referred to FIA which investigated it thoroughly in 1996 and as a result all three awards as well as the package deal were cleared. But despite then the matter was sent to NAB which also cleared these

awards.

In 2004, CDA board decided that plots should be given to the remaining affected people through balloting. But the process of the balloting was halted midway in the face of stay order obtained by some of the affected people. The CDA again decided in 2011 to allot plots to the affected through balloting. The balloting was cleared by the CDA Board and the Chairman of the Authority but allotment letters were stopped by a senior member of the Authority who wanted to mint money through allotment of plots to the affectees. Credit goes to the present Chairman who himself is a neat and clean man and who has also formed ISLAMABAD: President PML-Q, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Secretary General PML-Q Mushahid Hussain Syed an upright team consisting of and others standing in respect of national anthem during a ceremony in connection with Iqbal Day at PML House. people like Shaista Sohail, Member Estate; Mustafain Kazmi, Member Planning and Director Lands.

Recognition of diversity vital for democratic society SANA JAMAL I SLAMABAD —Recognition of cultural and linguistic diversities at political level is vital for an effective citizenship education, noted the speakers at a discussion held here on Friday.

“Acknowledgment of cultural richness in a society provide impetus to explore ways and means to govern together and share resources”, said Elisabeth Alber, a senior researcher at the Institute for Studies on Federalism and Regionalism while sharing her views and European experiences at discussion, “Promise and potential of citizenship education” arranged by Centre for Civic Education. The Italian scholar said that “the concept of ‘political citizen’ is at the heart of civic education initiatives in various countries.”

Speaking at the occasion,

Zafarullah Khan, Executive Director of Center for Civic Education said, “Civic education is citizens’ currency to participate in the affairs of government and influence public policy in a peaceful manner.” He appreciated the way Election Commission of Pakistan would be conducting voters’ and civic education. Sharing various civic education initiatives in Pakistan Zafar said, “Democracy, constitutionalism and federalism are contested terms in Pakistan and various segments interpret them according to their own convenience.”

Alber also shared a learning simulation game, “Let’s go federal” that involved students to define federalism according to their understanding and then assign different roles and service delivery responsibilities to various tiers of governance along with allocation of resources.

Talking about contested political concepts, Elisabeth Alber shared the way European Academy prepared a glossary of one hundred most important terms. Scholars with varying perspectives assigned meanings to them after deliberation and consensus. She stressed the need to adopt inter-cultural learning techniques and tools and shared examples from various European countries. Representatives of civil society organizations, participating in the discussion, suggested that “Perhaps many segments of the society need crash courses on constitution, democracy and federalism to understand the social contract between the citizens and the state in Pakistan.” The participants also emphasized the need to reform textbooks to incorporate lessons about democracy, constitution and federalism as they enjoy broad political consensus among major political forces in the country.

ISLAMABAD: Elisabeth Alber of Institute for Studies on Federalism and Regionalism speaking at a discussion on ‘Promise and potential of citizenship education’ arranged

by Centre for Civic Education. Zafarullah Khan and Andreas Durr are sitting on the stage. —PO photo by sultan bashir

Police net 28 lawbreakers STAFF REPORTER R AWALPINDI —Rawalpindi Police in its crackdowns against anti-social element have netted 28 lawbreakers including 12 violators of marriage ordinance and recovered charras, liquor, illegal weapons and huge quantity of fireworks items from different areas of the district.

Police recovered 265 grams charras, 39 bottles of liquor, seven 30 bore pistols with 75 rounds, 40 liters

petrol, one dagger, a stolen Corolla car and firecrackers from the possession of the accused.

Sadiqabad police acting on a tip-off conducted a raid and arrested two accused identified as Zeeshan and Shehbaz as they were using firecrackers on a marriage ceremony. Police recovered huge quantity of fireworks items from their possession.

City police also conducted a raid in Ahata Karam Elahi and apprehended Muhammad Mushtaq and

Jehanzeb on violation of marriage ordinance.

New Town police raided at Al-Hameed Marriage Hall at Haideri Chowk and held Zafar and Adeeb and registered a case against them under marriage ordinance.

New Town police in another operation arrested Irfan and others for using firecrackers on a marriage ceremony. Waris Khan police also apprehended four accused on violation of marriage ordinance and recovered fireworks items.

CCTV, biometric system to be installed in hospitals

Capital parks in a shambles

ISLAMABAD—In order to en- I SLAMABAD —The public 6, F-7, G-6, G-7 and G-8 are

sure the presence of doctors and senior consultants in OPDs, the government has decided to install close circuit cameras and biometric system in major healthcare facilities in the federal capital. It was learnt that senior doctors in the major hospital leave their duties and give charge to under training post graduates. Moreover, senior consultants seldom ensure their presence in OPD. Following the complaints from citizens, the government decided to develop a system in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Federal Government Services Hospital which will not only monitor security situation but disciplinary action would be possible against habitual missing doctors from their duties. When contacted, Executive Director PIMS Dr Riaz Warraich confirmed the decision of installation of close circuit cameras and bio metric system in the hospital.—INP

Universities not aligned with Asia’s labour market needs

parks in almost each sector of the federal capital are in very poor condition due to negligence on the part of Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Public parks and playgrounds are very essential for promotion of healthy activities among people but unfortunately, the neglected parks in federal capital have failed to attract the visitors.

The residents of Islamabad complained that public parks situated in various areas were in very poor condition. The parks situated in posh sector F-

in pathetic condition because the jogging tracks, swings, lights and benches installed in these parks have broken. Wild bushes are growing in these parks and the parks have turned to woods.

With advent of evening, the revellers and junkies thronged at these parks and make fuss. The families have started to avoid visiting these parks due to poor management.

The residents have demanded of CDA to take notice of the situation and ensure entertainment facilities at these parks. —Online

Hotels in Diplomatic Enclave declared security risk STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Islamabad Police has shown reservations regarding establishment of private hotels and restaurants in Diplomatic Enclave declaring them as a security risk. Well-placed sources said that the City Police has demanded to cancel NOC and licenses issued to the hotels and restaurants in order to ensure foolproof security of the foreign diplomats.

Office of IG Police, Islamabad, wrote a letter to Chairman Capital Development Authority, Tahir Shahbaz on October 11, 2012.

In the letter the high-ups of Islamabad Police has mentioned that Islamabad is facing security threats. It was also stated in the letter that the terrorists could use dif-

ferent paths to enter Diplomatic Enclave.

The letter stated that a number of embassies have been shifted to Diplomatic Enclave and a large police force has been deployed at the enclave as per counterterrorism strategy.

In addition, the letter said that already two clubs are present in the Diplomatic Enclave and no more restaurants or hotels are needed here, such that the establishment of the dining places are against CDA by-laws.

According to sources, no practical steps have been taken to implement the recommendations made in the letter.

It merits mentioning here decision was made to extend the Red Zone in order to intensify security of Diplomatic Enclave.—Online

NIH’s capacity being enhanced CITY REPORTER

I SLAMABAD —The federal government is in the process to enhance the capacity of National Institute of Health to produce up to 100,000 vials of Anti-Snake Venom Serum annually, said an official Friday.

Talking to reporters, he said NIH has submitted a PCI of Rs. 497.700 million to establish a state-of-the-art Sera Processing Laboratory that had been approved in March 2012.

“After completion by 2015, depending on the flow of funds, the said Laboratory will be able to produce up to 100,000 ASVS vials annually.

The implementation of PC-1 is underway,” said the official.

He said the NIH has supplied a total of 17,020 vials of the anti-snake venom between January 2012 and end of September 2012 to the provincial and district health departments. He said the supplied stock of the vials would be sufficient for about 6000 snake bite cases.

He said the NIH’s capacity is being enhanced in view of the increased ASVS demand because of huge increase in population size of the country. The official said the ASVS is supplied to the Executive District Officers (Health) on their demand for further utilization. The Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centres are administratively and technically run by the respective District Health Departments.

He said it was a wellknown scientific fact that the peak season for snakebite in Pakistan is during summer and monsoon.

I SLAMABAD—Asian universities and secondary schools must better align with labor market needs to ensure graduates have the skills and knowledge required by employers, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.

The report, Improving Transitions from School to University and Workplace, shows Asia’s students need to be better prepared for the rigors of higher learning, including problem solving and critical thinking needed in math and science studies.

The role of education in supporting human resource development is increasingly in the spotlight as more Asian countries move toward middle income status and demand grows for skilled labor to support higher economic growth, it added.

“Asia’s ability to compete in a globalized world depends on the readiness of students entering university, the employability of graduates in the labor market, and acceleration of innovation, science, and technology for creating new products and services”, said Jouko Sarvi, Education Practice Leader in ADB’s Regional and Sustain- ISLAMABAD: Firdous Ashiq Awan, Federal Minister for Population Welfare addressable Development Depart- ing a Press conference. ment.—APP

Police impound 147 vehicles

ISLAMABAD—Islamabad Police have impounded 147 vehicles and 729 motorcycles in general hold-up in the month of October.

According to sources, 10 cars and 16 motorcycles of the impounded autos were tempered, therefore cases were registered against the car and motorcycle owners in different police stations. Rest of the vehicles and motorcycles were returned to their owners after confirmation.

Similarly, black and tinted papers were removed from the windows of 125 vehicles during last month, the police sources said, adding the general hold-up was aimed at purge the federal city of anti-social RAWALPINDI: Regional President Mukhtar Students Organization Arsalan Kazmi elements and ensure foolproof presiding over the seminar on Iqbal Day. security of Islamabad.—INP

DRAP Act to protect patients, pharma industry: Firdous STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Ministry of National Regulations and Services Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan Friday said that the formulation of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Act aims at protecting the interest of the patients, pharmaceutical industry and the officials working in the authority.

Addressing a press conference here at National Press Club (NPC), she said the present government has always tried to formulate people friendly policies that would lessen the financial burden on the masses. So, to make it sure that the drugs are affordable to the patients, a separate directorate is be-

ing established to deal with this issue comprehensively”, the minister said.

She said that the establishment of an autonomous DRAP is the key to regulate the manufacture, import, storage, distribution, sale and advertisement of therapeutic goods which include pharmaceutical drugs, alternative or traditional medicines, biological and medical devices.

Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the process of enactment of the DRAP Act was started on April 30, 2012 when the DRAP Ordinance was tabled in the National Assembly as a Government Bill. Afterwards this Bill was referred to the Standing Committees on National Regulations and Services.

The Minister said that after the signing of the DRAP Act, 2012 into law by the President Asif Ali Zardari on November 12, 2012 the Authority would be functional.

“Also not a single employee of the devolved Drug Control Organization of Ministry of Health has been laid off; their salaries and retirement benefits have been ensured by the Federal Government in the Act” she said.

The Minister revealed that the DRAP is designed on the pattern of the advanced regulatory authorities of countries like United State and Canada. The minister said that the government has always tried to involve the stake holders in the policy formulation process.

Kashmiri shawl vendor found dead in Simla S IMLA —Panic gripped the Kashmiri community living in Simla after a Shawl vendor from Kokernag area of Islamabad district was found dead in the capital city of Indian state, Himachal Pradesh.Reports said that body of a shawl vendor, Ghulam Mohiuddin Tantray, 28, son of Ghulam Qadir Tantray of Watinar Naravpora of Kokernag was found in the Jubbal village of Ruhru Tehsil.

The deceased had gone missing on Tuesday and his body with visible torture marks was found the very next day.

“A customer wishing to purchase some shawls, had called him to his home and he had left his accommodation early Tuesday morning,” said Bashir Ahmad Butt, who runs a showroom of Kashmiri handicrafts in the area. He said that Tantray’s friends got worried after he did not turn up to his place in the evening and they went searching for him. “Unable to find him anywhere they lodged a police complaint,” said Butt.—KMS

Delhi wrongly projected Panchayat polls ISLAMABAD—The Sarpanchs in Budgam district have said that they have been made scapegoats by the Indian government by wrongly projecting panchayat elections at international forums.

The President of Panchayat Conference comprising sarpanchs of Budgam district, Gulzar Ahmad Beigh has said that “Our elections have nothing to do with the Kashmir issue. Kashmir is a disputed territory and it has been recognized by the international community as well,” Kashmir Media Service reported. He asked India and its authorities in the territory to stop projecting their election wrongly at the national and international levels.—APP

India asked to adopt realistic approach on Kashmir Geelani, Shabbir arrested in Srinagar SRINAGAR—The Chairman of continue to take place until the the Kashmir dispute during his All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has urged India to adopt a realistic approach for settlement of the Kashmir dispute as per aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

The APHC Chairman addressing a public gathering at Chadora in Badgam, today, demanded withdrawal of Indian troops from the occupied territory so that the Kashmir dispute could be resolved through tripartite talks involving Pakistan, India and genuine leadership of the Kashmiris.

The Mirwaiz said that human rights violations would

withdrawal of last Indian trooper from the territory. Senior APHC leader, Agha Syed Hassan Al Moosvi addressing Juma congregation in Badgam denounced the restrictions on freedom of speech and movement on Hurriyet leaders and activists by the authorities.

Hurriyet leaders, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Zafar Akbar Butt and Muhammad Yousuf Naqash addressing public meetings in different areas of occupied Kashmir expressed the hope that the US President, Barack Obama would facilitate settlement of

second term in the presidency.

They said that India was pursuing the policy of dividing the Kashmiris on ethnic and sectarian lines to weaken the freedom movement.

The authorities arrested the veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani and put him at Hamhama police station in Srinagar, today, to prevent him from offering Juma prayers.

They also placed senior APHC leader, Shabbir Ahmad Shah under house arrest in Srinagar to stop him from addressing a public rally at main Chowk in Islamabad town.—KMS

Premier Majid invites Geelani to visit AJK MUZAFFARABAD—Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Abdul Majeed has invited Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani to visit Azad Kashmir and has assured him that his government and peo-ple would never disappoint or leave their struggling brethren across the divide alone.

“As a (common) Kashmiri as well as an elected leader of this side of Kashmir, I assure you that we will never leave you alone or disappoint you.

We are with you until our common goal is achieved,” he told Geelani over phone from PM House here.

The telephonic conversation between the two leaders followed Geelani’s address to Muzaffarabad based media during which he regretted that the “ongoing activities in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir regarding Kashmir were tan-tamount to adding insult to the injuries of Kashmiris.”However, Geelani avoided making bitter remarks during his conversation with

Majeed who was all praise for his “commitment and contribution” to the cause. “I salute you for your dauntless struggle. In fact I am short of words to express my feelings for the sacrifices you are rendering for the cause of Kashmiris,” Majeed told Geelani in the presence of two cabinet members and some others. “You have been our role model and we are following you.

We pray for your long life,” he added.

Asking Geelani to visit Azad Kashmir, Majeed told him that he had allocated funds for construction of two monu-ments to the Kashmiri martyrs, which would begin after completion of the prerequisites within three months.

“We have planned to build one monument to the martyrs of Kashmir Valley along Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road and another monument to the martyrs of Jammu in Sialkot (in Punjab),” he said. It may be recalled that early this year Geelani had suggested Majeed in a letter

to build a monument in memory of Kashmiri martyrs in Muzaffarabad.

Majeed also condemned denial by the authorities in Srinagar to the separatists to hold a seminar in connection with Jammu Martyrs Day. Earlier, speaking to media persons over telephone, Geelani said, “Whatever is happening on both sides of Jammu and Kashmir at the moment will remain restricted to trade and (cross LoC) movement of a few selected people whereas for the common Kashmiris only statements are being issued,” he said.

He made it clear that the Kashmiris would protect the geographical integrity of their state and would not allow separation of Jammu province.

Geelani also lamented the statement submitted by Pakistan’s interior ministry in the country’s apex court on Kashmir and said the entire Kashmiri leadership in Azad Kashmir should come out in the public against it.—NNI

MUZAFFARABAD: AJK Prime Minister Ch Abdul Majid and wife of former AJK President K H Khursheed, Ms Suraiya Khursheed cutting cake on the 136th birthday of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

JKLF terms Tandan’s statement ‘mischievous’

Omar calls for Jammu, Sialkot route for trade

S RINAGAR —In Occupied Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has termed the remarks of Congress Member of Indian Parliament Anu Tandan about Kashmir as ‘mischievous’.

In a statement issued in Srinagar, the JKLF Vice Chairman, Bashir Ahmad Butt said that Kashmir was a world recognized disputed territory and the Kashmiris had been struggling for its settlement for the past over six decades.

“UN forum where Indian leader Anu Tandan is claiming that election in Kashmir are substitute to the self determination has in 1952 rejected India’s claim and passed a resolution that these elections were in no way a substitute to the right of self-determination,” Butt added.

The JKLF leader said the UN General Council and Security Council at that time rejected India’s claim.—KMS

RAO ATIQ UL AMIN KHAN trade points across LoC figured I SLAMABAD —Dukhtaran-e-

DeM holds seminar in memory of Marriam Jameela

in the priority list of his “Gov- Milat organized a seminar on

MIRPUR—The puppet Chief ernment”, he would advocate “Marriam Jameela-a great Minister of Indian Held Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah has declared that he would recommend opening of JammuSialkot route for travel and trade to the Indian Government so that it takes up this issue with Pakistan to initiate yet another important Confidence Building Measure (CBM), says a report reaching here Friday from across the line of control.

“Responding to a demand to this effect made by Federation of Industries, Jammu at its meeting with the Chief Minister in occupied Jammu late Thursday, Omar said that opening of this route for travel and trade would not only enhance people to people contact but give considerable fillip to the trade activities”, according to the report.

He said that while issues of opening of other routes and

opening of Jammu-Sailkot travel and trade point on the Working Boundary adding that it would prove highly beneficial for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to travel and undertake various economic activities.

“The Federation of Industries, Jammu led by its Chairman, Annil Suri also raised the matters pertaining to Government of India package of incentives to J&K industry, transport subsidy on raw materials and finished products, income tax exemption, establishment of mother industry, Cross-LoC trade, infrastructure development, VAT refund from SICOP, up gradation of SatwariKunjwani road, construction of new Balole bridge, installation of traffic lights at SIDCO Bari Brahamana Chowk and creation of new industrial estates”, the report said.

thinker of 20th century” at Darasgah Noor-ul-Hudda, Khanyar in Srinagar.

A large number of women from different parts of the Valley attended the seminar, Kashmir Media Service reported.

Speakers on the occasion threw light on the different aspect of the life of late Mariam Jameela, describing her as great Islamic scholar who started the journey of her life from the caverns of Israeli family.

They said, “It is unfortunate that the Muslims especially women are unaware about the Marriam Jameela’s services and contributions.” In her address, the DeM Chief, Asiya Andrabi said: “I started my journey from darkness to light in 1981 after studying Marriam Jameela’s books and I was highly impressed by her books. I have always looked upon her as my benefactor.” —APP

Maqbool new MCB president

Sherry Rehman urges US entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan W ASHINGTON —Pakistan’s

Ambassador to the United Observer Report States Sherry Rehman has KARACHI—The board of asked American business directors of the MCB Bank leaders to invest in Limited has appointed microfinance and a host of Imran Maqbool as its new promising areas to realize president and chief economic opportunity for executive officer with effect people and help leverage her from December 22, 2012, country’s potential as pivot according to an announce- for regional growth. ment on Thursday.

Ambassador Sherry Maqbool’s appointment is Rehman was addressing a subject to the approval of gathering Pakistani and inthe State Bank of Pakistan, ternational microfinance exaccording to the statement perts, investors, donors and dispatched to the Karachi academics at a conference on Stock Exchange. The Pakistan, “ The Dark Horse incumbent president and of Microfinance”. chief executive officer, M U A Usmani would stand retired on December 21, 2012 on attaining the age of 70 years, it added.

“Pakistan offers to you the promise of land, geography and people, all combined. Perhaps it is for this potential that the US-Pakistan Business Council’ describes Pakistan as a giant you haven’t considered for investment”. she said.

The Ambassador informed the gathering the US has launched a multi-year Pakistan Private Investment Initiative (PPII) to attract both Pakistani and international investment management companies to facilitate access for small and medium businesses.

Thanks to their resilience and innovative cooperation, the share of small and medium enterprises has gone up in our the GDP growth.

The two countries are making progress towards concluding a Bilateral Investment Treaty. Sherry Rehman also drew attention of the gathering to Islamabad’s liberal and attractive investment regime with no restrictions on the share of equity that foreign companies may hold and opening of almost all sectors of the economy to foreign investment as factors that Pakistan an attractive

destination for foreign entrepreneurs.

Underscoring Pakistan’s location at the heart of regions, Sherry Rehman said the country offers significant advantages for trade and commerce as Pakistan has common borders with two of the world’s largest markets and emerging economic power houses China and India.

Zeroing in the subject of the conference, the Ambas-

Peace vital to industrial growth

Reserves fall K ARACHI —Pakistan’s

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

foreign exchange reserves declined by $233 million to L AHORE —“I would move $14.10 billion during the my production facility to week ended November 2 Karachi provided the law and from $14.33 billion a week order is at Lahore’s level,” ago, according to the State said a Punjab-based entreBank of Pakistan. Accordpreneur. A Karachi businessing to the latest breakup of man said “Lahore is my prethe foreign exchange ferred investment destination reserves position, the if energy and power issues official reserves of the are addressed.” central bank went down by These views are not lim$259 million to $9.547 billion ited to a few entrepreneurs as compared to $9.806 but almost everyone who is billion last week. However, managing industries in Pakiforeign exchange reserves stan faces region-specific held by commercial banks Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh talking to US Ambassador Richard G Olson. drawbacks, said President witnessed an increase of Lahore Chambers of Com$26 million to $4.553 billion merce and Industry, Farooq as against $4.527 billion a Iftikhar. He said every creditweek ago. able global report on the cost of doing business in Pakistan points towards constantly Rupee gains increasing vulnerability of Our Correspondent investment in this country. will be utilized in on-going work. Silkbank offers full STAFF REPORTER KARACHI —The rupee “What we lack is a viable business operations of the range of commercial banking investment climate at one posted fresh gains against Bank. products.

It also offers conKARACHI —Silkbank, in its the dollar in the forex place,” he said. He added that The shareholders greatly sumer banking products opportunities available in Extra Ordinary General market on Thursday, said appreciated and the consuch as Personal Loans and Meeting of the shareholddealers. In the interbank one region of the country are market, the rupee recovered ers, held on November 6, certed efforts of the manage- recently launched its credit nullified by substantial draw2012, unanimously approved ment in raising the capital of card business. Silkbank has backs affecting only that part its value in relation to the dollar as it closed at 95.92, the issuance of preference the Bank. Since the takeover 85 branches equipped with of the country. shares worth Rs. 2,400 mil- of the Bank by the new man- state of the art T-24 technolrose by five paisas from Engineering entreprelion (inclusive of a Green agement in 2008, the Bank ogy. It recently launched neur, Almas Hyder, said Wednesday’s closing of has continuously been on a Emaan Islamic Banking by Shoe Option of Rs. 1,000 mil95.97, said dealers. The Karachi being a seaport is lion), subject to approval of growing path. Silkbank has opening fully dedicated best suited for establishing rupee was being traded at accomplished many sucseven Islamic branches.

SECP. Proceeds from the is95.91 for buying and at industries, particularly exImproved capital posi- porting concerns. It has sue will contribute towards cesses in the last four years 95.93 for selling in the interbank market, they said. Tier - I Capital of the Bank that include significant reduc- tion of the bank would sig- ample land, electricity and for calculating Minimum tion in NPLs, cleaning of bal- nificantly enhance its capa- gas.

Capital Requirements and ance sheet and enhancement bility to grow and be more Moreover, the city has PQ activity Capital Adequacy Ratio and of risk management frame- profitable. the highest literacy rate in the KARACHI—Two ships C.V country, which has enriched CMA CGM Strauss and M.V its human resource, he said.

Leopard-B scheduled to “However, what it lacks load/offload containers and is the security to the investcement were allotted berths ment,” said Hyder. “Besides at Qasim International paying legitimate governSTAFF REPORTER Container Terminal and Multi auction, sources in Pakistan ment taxes, businessmen are STAFF REPORTER Purpose Terminal respecTelecommunication Author- subjected to extortion by L AHORE —The production tively on Wednesday, three different politically of rice likely to decline by 10 ISLAMABAD—The auction of ity (PTA) said.

November 7. Meanwhile, The committee observed strong groups,” he said. percent due to devastated 3G spectrum has been dethree more ships with “While the government flood effects in Sindh, layed for the third time with that some officials were decontainers and canola seeds Balochistan and in southern the Auction Supervisory liberately delaying the auc- waives all taxes on exports, also arrived at outer anchor- parts of Punjab beside un- Committee (ASC) recom- tion and recommended that the thugs grant no such exage of Port Qasim during the precedented load shedding mending hiring an Indepen- the Ministry of Information emption even to the exportlast 24 hours. Berth occuin rice-belt and high price of dent Advisory Group instead Technology should probe ers,” he added. pancy was reported at the This affects the competidiesel contribute to the loss, of a consultant to make the the reasons behind the dePort at 80% on Wednesday it has been learnt. process more transparent. lay, which was causing a loss tiveness of their products as where thirteen ships namely Another major factor is After failure to generate of millions of rupees to the the extortion cost is almost C.V Abu Dhabi,C.V Maersk expensive fertilizers, which Rs75 billion from the auction national exchequer. as high as government taxes.

Kingston.—APP PTA had proposed the Hyder said those Pakistani has witnessed a 100 percent of 3G license during the past increase in price during the fiscal year, the government name of Interconnect Com- businessmen who did not past two years and small farm- budgeted Rs79 billion from munication, a UK based want to leave the country ers are no longer able to af- the auction during the cur- company, as consultant for were shifting their production ford to give the required quan- rent fiscal year. However, 3G auction process, but at facilities to Punjab until the tity of urea to their fields. sources said that the comple- the same time it proposed province ran out of power The farmers, however, tion of the process during the the formation of an Inde- and energy supplies three The best mental effort in the game of busi- blamed that the govern- current fiscal year seemed pendent Advisory Group. years back. “Now most of the The ASC supported PTA’s Karachi-based businessmen ness is concerntrated ments, both the Punjab and difficult. are shifting their capital outThe ASC met with Dr proposal. on the major problem the Federal, had totally neOn Wednesday, PTA side the country,” he added. glected the agriculture secHafeez Sheikh Federal Fiof securing the “Punjab is facing a differtor and put no attention on nance Minister in the chair reinitiated the process folconsumer’s dollar the two main crops, cotton on November 6, where seri- lowing the ASC directive to ent dilemma,” said Economic before the other and rice, which contribute 70 ous reservations were ex- hire an Independent Advi- Forum of Punjab Chairman fellow gets it.

Nabeel Hashimi. per cent of the agri export. pressed over the delay in the sory Group.

Silkbank approves issuance of preference shares

Rice yield may decline

Auction of 3G spectrum again deferred

sador appreciated the SEEP and Pakistan Microfinance Finance Network for presenting the case for the microfinance industry in Pakistan.

During the last four years, the ambassador said, new players like mobile network operators, commercial banks, and international funds have started investing in institutions focused on the bottom of the pyramid markets

and have catalyzed growth.

This is especially appreciable because there was no deceleration of growth despite the global financial crisis of 2008. Moreover during these 4 years the Benazir Income Support Program has brought almost 4 million people into the formal banking sector thereby extending the coverage of our financial institutions in general and microfinance sector in particular.

She said financial inclusion has the power to pro-

CDNS attracts Rs 180b investments STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) has attracted an investment of Rs 180 billion during the first four months of current financial year 201213, against the target of Rs 75 billion through its various saving schemes which is a record in history of savings in the country. “This is a reflection of confidence of the investors on investments of various national saving schemes”, a statement of the CDNS issued here.

The statement further said that Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) is playing an important role and busy in the socio economic development of the country by promoting safest investments in savings

schemes of the country.

The statement further said that the CDNS has decided to launch Rs 100 denomination prize bonds from November 16, and the bonds will be available for sale in all branches of the CDNS across the country.

The first prize of the Student Welfare bonds will be Rs 700,000 while second prize of the bond would be Rs 200,000 each would be given to three winners and the third prize of Rs 1000 each will be given to the winners of 1199 bond winners.

The statement said that the first draws of Rs 100 denomination bonds on February 15, 2013 in Karachi. The statement added that the objective of the launching the students bonds was to encourage and promote of savings habits among students.

Panic created to bring cotton rates down STAFF REPORTER LAHORE —One of the tex-

textile ministry to regulate entire market, starting from phutti to cotton yarn.

He accused textile mafia, of making huge profits at the cost of growers by hoarding the produce and later selling it high prices, asking the government to stop unchecked export of cotton yarn in the nation’s best interest.

The former central chairman of PRGMEA pointed out that big players are projecting wrong production figures, cotton rates and world cotton scenario as per their interest just to create panic in local market, which is happening under the

tile sectors is trying to create panic in local market in an effort to bring down cotton prices with a view to stock cheaper raw material through cartelization and giving wrong reports of importing cotton from China and India.

Only 10 to 12 big textile groups hoard raw cotton at lower rate, later creating monopoly on yarn and blackmailing the whole local market in the country, observed Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) chief coordinator Ijaz Khokhar, urging the Continued on Page 14

mote inclusive growth and the benefits can positively affect the poorest of the population. “We all know that the social value of microfinance relates to improving the lives of poor and excluded people; widening the range of opportunities for communities in an ongoing, sustainable way both by broadening and by deepening outreach of financial services.

Your services help in reducing vulnerability and the fulfilling basic needs of the people at the bottom of the pyramid”.—APP

Revenue leakages to be plugged STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—In the wake of discovering Rs400 billion scams in the form of bogus invoices for inflated input adjustments and sales tax refunds, the FBR authorities have placed a parameterbased Risk Management System (RMS) to stop massive leakages.

Chairman FBR Ali Arshad Hakeem told reporters that they would implement a plan to increase the effective rate of sales tax by checking inflated input tax adjustments, wrongly claimed refunds, suppressed sales and under-valuation of sales tax by putting in place RMS. However, another senior FBR official said that the RMS for input adjustments would become operational from November 15 after receiving monthly sales tax returns while the sales tax refund system would start working next month.

The RMS, developed by the FBR itself, will track down details by ensuring monitoring at a centralised level while sitting in Islamabad.

An influential and strong mafia exists within the FBR ranks and among the businessmen who have made hectic efforts to ensure decentralisation of the sales tax refund mechanism in order to fill their pockets. However, Hakeem, with his IT skills, made efforts to employ RMS to foil the bids of the mafia.

“Although, the GST rate is 16 percent, the effective rate of sales tax (output minus input) stands at 3.4 percent.

Teams formed to seize smuggled vehicles STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—In pursuance of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s directives in Balochistan law and order case, Pakistan Customs has constituted three teams to impound smuggled and unregistered vehicles plying on the roads.

Khawar Farid Manika, collector of Model Customs Collectorate (Preventive), constituted the teams, which will be headed by Inamullah Khan Wazir, assistant collector, said an official at Paki-

stan Customs.

“All the teams have been assigned to ensure seizing the smuggled and non-paid duty or unregistered vehicles plying on the roads,” said official, adding that one team is especially assigned to monitor the vehicles’ movement during night, because it was informed that most of the people possessing such vehicles ply them on the roads during night to escape from customs monitoring.

The official said that the customs authorities would also recommend rewards for

people who give information about such vehicles.

Pakistan Customs has initiated the recovery of such vehicles on the directives of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and for complying with the Supreme Court’s order dated October 11, and interim order dated October 12, in which the apex court has directed the taxation authorities to impound the smuggled vehicles. The customs authorities said that around 19 luxury vehicles have been impounded so far.

Jobs are cornerstone in developing countries TARIQ KHATTAK I SLAMABAD —In developing countries, jobs are a cornerstone of development, with a dividend far beyond income alone.

They are critical for reducing poverty, making cities work, and providing youth with alternatives to violence, says a new World Bank report.

The World Development Report 2013: Jobs stresses the role of strong private sector led growth in creating jobs and outlines how jobs that do the most for development can spur a virtuous cycle. The

report finds that poverty falls as people work their way out of hardship and as jobs empower women to invest more in their children. Efficiency increases as workers get better at what they do, as more productive jobs appear, and as less productive ones disappear. Societies flourish as jobs foster diversity and provide alternatives to conflict.

“A good job can change a person’s life, and the right jobs can transform entire societies. Governments need to move jobs to center stage to promote prosperity and fight poverty,” says World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “It is critical that gov-

ernments work well with the private sector, which accounts for 90 percent of all jobs. Therefore, we need to find the best ways to help small firms and farms grow.

Jobs equal hope. Jobs equal peace. Jobs can make fragile countries become stable.”

The report’s authors highlight how jobs with the greatest development payoffs are those that raise incomes, make cities function better, connect the economy to global markets, protect the environment, and give people a stake in their societies.

The global economic crisis and other recent events

have raised employment issues to the center of the development dialogue. The WDR authors, who processed over 800 surveys and censuses to arrive at their findings, estimate that worldwide, more than 3 billion people are working, but nearly half work in farming, small household enterprises, or in casual or seasonal day labor, where safety nets are modest or sometimes nonexistent and earnings are often meager.

In many developing countries, where farming and self-employment are prevalent and safety nets are modest at best, unemployment

rates can be low. In those places, most poor people work long hours but cannot make ends meet. And the violation of basic rights is not uncommon. Therefore, the quality and not just the number of jobs is vitally important.

The Report advances a three-stage approach to help governments meet these objectives: • First, solid fundamentals – including macroeconomic stability, an enabling business environment, human capital, and the rule of lawhave to be in place.

• Second, labor policies should not become an ob-

stacle to job creation, they should also provide access to voice and social protection to the most vulnerable.

• Third, governments should identify which jobs would do the most for development given their specific country context, and remove or offset obstacles to private sector creation of such jobs.

Understanding the particular jobs challenge for a given region or country is essential. Differences in the structure of employment across regions, across genders, and across age groups are striking.

“In Pakistan female participation rate in the labor

force is only 28%, it is particularly low in the urban areas,” says Rachid Benmessaoud, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. “After household duties which are cited by more than 80% Pakistani women as the number one reason for non-participation in labor force, lack of education is the second most cited reason.”

Policy priorities are different in agrarian societies and in urbanizing countries. Making smallholder farming more productive is key in the first case, while better infrastructure, connectivity, housing, and city planning are vital in the second. Demography

matters too. Total employment in South Asia (excluding Afghanistan and Bhutan) has grown from 473 million in 2000 to 568 million in 2010, creating an average of just under 800,000 new jobs per month. The demographic window of opportunity in the region is expected to close around 2040 for all countries except Sri Lanka where it closed in 2005 and Afghanistan where it will stay open beyond 2040.

“The youth challenge alone is staggering. More than 620 million young people all-over the world are

Continued on Page 14

Cotton spot rate firm STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The local cotton market remained steady, while spot rate remained unchanged, said a dealer.

The spot rate remained firm at Rs5,850 per maund (37.324kg) and Rs6,269 per 40kg, while ex-Karachi rate stood unchanged at Rs6,005 per maund and Rs6,424 per 40kg after addition of Rs155 as upcountry expenses, he said.

Naseem Usman, chairman of the Karachi Cotton Brokers Association (KCBA), said that prices declined in the local market because of import by mills, which slowed down the activity in the local market.

“Around 2.5 to three million bales are likely to be imported, of which 800,000 has already been imported,” he said.

New York cotton market witnessed decline on all futures on Wednesday, whereas China cotton index increased by a few points.

December futures at the New York cotton market fell by 0.27 cents to 69.83 cents per pound and March futures declined by 0.17 cents to 71.07 cents per pound.

Karachi cotton market recorded active trading of around 23,000 bales from the 2012-13 crop between Rs5,750 to Rs6,175 per maund.

Shahdadpur’s 200 bales were sold at Rs5,700 per maund, 200 bales of Mirpurkhas at Rs5,750, 1,000 bales of Sanghar at Rs5,750 to Rs5,800, 2,600 bales of Khairpur at Rs5,800 to Rs6,000, 1,000 bales of upper Sindh at 6,000, 200 bales of Gojra, 400 bales of Mian Channu and 400 bales of Taunsa Sharif were each sold at Rs5,800 per maund, 2,400 bales of Haroonabad at Rs5,850 to Rs6,050, 400 bales.

Special industrial zone planned in Fata STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The government has planned to establish special industrial zone for private arms manufacturers in the Fata region to get substantial shares in the international market, said senior official of Pakistan Hunting and Sporting Arms Development Company (PH&SADC).

Muhammad Shaheed Khan, product Developer, PH&SADC said the government has allocated some 120 acres of land at Spinatana located at the entrance of FATA region to establish spe-

cial industrial zone for private arms manufacturers of FATA and Peshawar.

Moreover, he said the PC-I of the project was in progress while the government had granted Rs 2.4 million for the purchase of special industrial equipment.

He said that some 600 private arms manufacturers were presently operating in the region and the government was striving to get all of them enrolled to avert the manufacture of prohibited weapons.

Shaheed further said that after prolonged deliberations

with private arms manufactures, some 300 private manufacturers have now come into the tax ambit and hoped that the rest of the others would also be registered soon.

He said that after the government provided logistics and financial assistance to these registered private arms manufactures, some 39 arms manufactures have generated US$ 10.5 million foreign exchange for national exchequer and added that local arms exports have witnessed 39 per cent growth during the last fiscal year.

Businessmen ask Obama for access to US markets STAFF REPORTER L AHORE —The

business community believes that US President Barack Obama in his second term should provide direct access to Pakistani products in US markets, at zero duty, for strengthening our economy that suffered colossal losses since 9/ 11 debacle.

Founder Chairman PakUS Business Council and Vice President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan chapter, Iftikhar Ali Malik greeting Barack Obama on his second time victory as US President said this while talking to media here on Friday.

He stressed that President US Chamber of Commerce (USCC) Thomas Donohue and EU had also fully supported Pakistan’s long standing demand of

duty-free imports of Pak products on urgent basis.

He said in past the USCC Chief in his letter had also strongly urged US President Barrack Obama to help floodravaged Pakistan by getting Congress to pass stalled legislation that would allow duty-free imports of selected Pakistani products.

The world candidly acknowledged several times that Pakistan is the only country of the globe that suffered trillions of dollars’ losses since 9/11, he added.

He said that US President Barack Obama on the occasion of 9/11 last year had announced 440 trillion dollar package for his country, adding that he should also has announced incentives for quick revival of Pak economy as the country suffered vast loss of lives, besides destruction of infrastructure and dis-

placement of millions of people during efforts to stamp out terrorism from the region He said that 4500 valiant troops of Pakistan armed forces laid down their lives in the war against terrorism and more than 35000 innocent people lost their lives in suicide attacks. “At least the US President must announce free market access to Pak products as already promised by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her last visit to Pakistan”. Pakistan has sustained loss of at least 4$ trillion including $ 200 billion to its economic sector in the aftermath of 9/11 and turmoil in Afghanistan”, said Iftikhar Ali Malik.

He said, “The US should buy back products from industrial zones in Pakistan and strengthen the existing industrial zones with the provision of modern infrastructure.”

Textile big From Page-13 government’s nose, who remains a silent spectator.

He called for fact-based analytical approach of government in the larger interest of all stakeholders, including growers, ginners and millers, value-added sector with a view to maximise resource transfer towards the farming sector.

He said that seed cotton is purchased by the ginners at the cheapest price while cotton is sold at the highest price, resulting in fleecing growers from their hardearned money.

Briefing about energy crisis, he said that textile industry is likely to face a worsening situation in the coming days, as the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited has reduced gas supply to the industry to four days a week, urging the authorities to provide non-stop gas to dying and processing mills for seven days a week.

Government has set textile exports’ target at $ 16 billion for the current year 201213, however due to the ongoing energy crisis it is difficult to realize the target and the exports would be no more than $ 12.5 billion, he warned.

Large spinning units have also several other options to run the industry but the processing and dying sectors have no choice to operate due to unavailability of gas, value added sector leader disclosed.

He added that large-scale closures as well as bankruptcies and massive lays off in the textile industry are feared due to energy crisis.

Gas is not available and the industrialists are in a fix to meet their energy requirements, pleading with the authorities to supply gas so that cotton could be converted into value-addition.

Challenges to economy highlighted STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI —The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (KCCI) Sub-Committee on Investment and Privatisation is endeavouring to have representation in Privatisation Commission (PC) and play its role as a major stakeholder with its meaningful inputs and suggestions regarding privatisation of pubic sector entities.

The sub-committee firmly believes that substantive improvement in the operational environment of doing business should be a matter of top priority in order to make the country a modern, dynamic and competitive economy, a KCCI report says.

According to it, manufacturing activities in the country still lingers around traditional low quality and low value added industries.

Destabilised events within the country are disturbed political conditions, an unstable law and order situation, supply shocks, soaring oil, food and other commodity prices, softening of external demand, and turmoil in the international financial market.

All these events have affected the key macroeconomic fundamentals of the country during the fiscal year 2011-12. The most significant aspect, however, has been the non-responsive stance on account of political expediency in addressing domestic and external challenges during most part of the fiscal year, further accentuating macroeconomic difficulties.

Lists of over 3m non-filers prepared STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The Federal

Polapat Neelabhamorn, Thai Airways Country Manager, Khawaja Ghiasuddin, SVP North and Sher Ali Khan addressing a press conference at a local hotel.

Khosa inaugurates ‘Business Professionals Conference’ STAFF REPORTER LAHORE —Punjab Governor Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, inaugurated a ‘Business Professionals Conference’ here at Expo Centre on Friday.

The opening ceremony marked the start of a series of events being organized by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP), including a three-day mega trade exhibition by the title and brand name of ‘Corporate Pakistan’ from 9 to 11 November 2012.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor Khosa applauded the role played by the ICMAP and stated that the Cost and Management Accountants are the specialist in this area who can help businesses reduce costs, optimize the use of inputs,

synergize the same and enable business to produce goods and services at affordable prices with quality orientation for the benefit of the consumers.

He further said that by organizing the Business Profession Conference, the institute has proved that it is fully aware of the challenges faced by the competitive and demanding business world and equipping and training professionals to meet these challenges with full accuracy and efficiency.

The governor highlighted the policy of his Government in encouraging the private sector and the foreign investors to seize the business opportunities available in Pakistan and also urged the Pakistan businessmen to explore new business avenues in the international market.

Company honoured STAFF REPORTER L AHORE —In recognition and acknowledgement of exceptional performance and exemplary service, Atlas Honda Limited recently awarded Servis Tyres with the “Best Vendor Performance Award” for 2012.

The Best Vendor Performance Award acknowledges outstanding quality, value, service, innovation, delivery, organisational health, supply chain management, diversity, technology, environmental practices and price, it said. As the winner of this year ’s award, Arif Saeed, director of Servis Industries Limited (SIL), received the prestigious award from T Oyama, senior managing director, Honda Motor Company, Japan. The award ceremony was held at Atlas Honda plant, it added.

US sponsors study tour for energy sector commercial officials

Board of Revenue has finalized authentic profiles of over 3 million non-filers of income tax returns and picked profiles of 100 major defaulters on national level to be served special notices to enforce the writ of the government for bringing them within documented regime.

The 100 biggest tax defaulters are not contributing even a penny to the national kitty despite enjoying luxurious house in posh areas, possessing expansive vehicles and going on foreign visits for 40 to 100 times in last few years.

Out of 3 million profiles of non-filers, the FBR has selected 100 major non-filers on random basis to launch the documentation exercise even before approval of tax registration scheme to ensure enforcement. The permanent addresses are available with the tax department to ensure that the defaulters should duly receive the notices for initiation of the legal proceedings. The noncompliant persons would be made examples for others. This will give a clear and loud message to the tax dodgers that the government is very much serious to bring potential persons into the tax net in the presence of their authentic profiles, they said.

The FBR will present the Finance Amendment Bill 2012 to National Assembly during the upcoming session. The Bill will be presented in the Parliament as government wanted to take all stakeholders on board.

STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—A group of senior Commercial Operations and Customer Service officials from Pakistan’s power distribution companies (DISCOs) will travel to the UAE from November 10, 2012 to November 16, 2012 to visit the utilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This exchange tour is organized by the U.S. Government to strengthen Commercial Operations and Customer Service functions at DISCOs. “The U.S. Government is committed to assist the Government of Pakistan in improving the power distribution system in the country,” said Matt Lannon, Energy Office Representative at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mis-

sion to Pakistan. “We work with public sector power distribution companies to improve their operations, reduce losses, and ultimately, to make sure that consumers have a more reliable supply of power.”

During their exchange visit to the UAE, DISCO managers have an opportunity to observe operations at several well-run power utilities.

The program will include presentations, site visits, and roundtable discussions to address specific topics related to customer service and commercial management at distribution companies.

The USAID under its Power Distribution Program has previously conducted five exchange programs to Turkey, South Africa, USA and Australia. Approxi-

Sheedi stitching difficult times with perfection OBSERVER REPORT I SLAMABAD —Living in Mohalla Pir Aali Shah, District Badin Sindh, Rehana Sheedi is a young dynamic lady who has emerged as a successful businesswoman with her will and commitment. Rehana got married several years back to an unemployed man, and in order to earn a livelihood for her family took the responsibility of the house by stitching clothes for her neighborhood community after borrowing a sewing machine from relatives. In the meantime, she got a contract for stitching school uniforms for a local school. With the help of neighboring women, Rehana approached Khushhalibank to avail microloan facility, which helped her to procure a new sewing machine, clothing materials and other stitching accessories.

Utilizing her entrepreneurial wisdom and skills, she has now successfully established

a small tailoring unit. Thanks to Khushhalibank, she is now going to establish a fullfledged children’s uniform outlet and expand her business by inducting two embroidery machines into her unit.

Being the victim of bitter circumstances, Rehana always thought about the well being of her community girls who are financially and socially dependent on male family members. For this purpose, she wants to establish a training centre where she could hire a skilled person to impart training to the under privileged girls and on a sharing basis arrange some sewing and embroidery machines.

Rehana Sheedi hails from an extremely poor and conservative family where earning a livelihood by women is considered taboo and in most of the cases they are strictly forbidden to venture outside the realms of their house to earn a livelihood.

Ufone lowest daily charges STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD —Ufone one of the leading cellular operators in the country recently launched Pakistan’s lowest daily charges call offer.

The telecom industry seems to be the only sector where the customers are truly benefiting and getting value for money. Ufone customers will soon be reaping advantages of unlimited calls, 24hrs a day on all on net calls. The offer will help customers better manage their expenses.

To enjoy the Bolo Pakistan offer customers will need to dial *888# to migrate to Uwon package and in turn enjoy unlimited on net calls across the country @ Rs. 8+tax daily.

Akbar Khan Chief Marketing Officer at Ufone, said, “Ufone strives to give its customers call rates other operators can only talk about. For us it is important

that we keep our customers satisfied with utmost commitment, highest standards of quality service and the most innovative offers.

That’s the reason why Ufone keeps coming up with offers for its prepaid customer base of over 24 million customers, that are in accordance with customers’ choice and delivers on their needs – just like the new Ufone Bolo Pakistan offer!”

Ufone consumers are pleasantly surprised with such incredibly low call rates.

Iraj Fatima a fashion designer who runs her own boutique in one of Islamabad’s upscale sectors said, “Mobile telephony plays an important role these days and maintaining mobile budget within limits had become a real challenge for me.” “Now,” she adds, “with Bolo Pakistan offer I will be able to manage my budget and utilize this amazing offer for expansion in my business.”

mately 12 DISCO managers were selected for each exchange program. These managers were nominated

by IESCO (Islamabad), MEPCO (Multan), GEPCO (Gujranwala), HESCO (Hyderabad), LESCO (Lahore), PESCO (Peshawar), FESCO (Faisalabad), QESCO (Quetta) and SEPCO (Sukkur). The main focus of the program in Turkey was Commercial, Financial and Customer Information Systems, and for South Africa the Program focused on Engineering, Planning and Operations.

The U.S. exchange focused on HR and Change Management and the visit to Australia focused on Distribution Engineering and Management.

Jobs are a cornerstone From Page-13 neither working nor studying”, says Jesko. Hentschel, Director Human Development, World Bank South Asia Region and co-author of WDR 2013. “Just to keep employment rates constant, the worldwide number of jobs will have to increase by around 600 million over a 15year period.”

Focusing on the key features of different country types can help identify more clearly the kinds of jobs that would make the greatest contribution to development in each case. This focus allows for an analysis of the potential tradeoffs between living standards, productivity, and social cohesion in a specific context. It provides clues about the obstacles to job creation and, ultimately, the priorities for policy makers as they identify the most important constraints to job creation and how to overcome them.

Policy makers should tackle these challenges by answering such questions as: Should countries build their development strategies around growth, or should they focus on jobs? Can entrepreneurship be fostered, especially among microenterprises in developing countries, or are entrepreneurs born? Are greater investments in education and training a prerequisite for employability, or can skills be built through jobs? Amidst crises and structural shifts, should jobs, not just workers, be protected?

Jobs agendas at the country level are connected by the migration of people and the migration of jobs. Policies for jobs in one country can thus have spillovers on other countries – both positive and negative. The report explores whether international coordination mechanisms, such as bilateral migration agreements, could enhance the positives and mitigate the negatives.

The World Bank Group fosters job growth through its two main channels of support to the developing world — the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

Pakistan, Qatar heading towards era of uplift I SLAMABAD —Pakistan and bin Khalifa Al-Thani from the heels of this visit, the sec- the two leaders discussed a diverse issues including joint two Pakistani gas companies- ter and Foreign Minister over the remittances from Qatar have entered into a new era of friendly collaboration with their eyes set on future that promises sustainable development and progress for their people. The leadership of Pakistan and Qatar have developed an understanding that the multifarious partnership in areas particularly trade, infrastructure and development projects can help further strengthen their existing cordial ties.

President Asif Ali Zardari’s first official visit to Qatar on the invitation of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad

November 6-7 gave another boost to bilateral relations and is being dubbed by the political experts as a significant step that will usher in a vibrant phase of development.

The relations between Pakistan and Qatar were rejuvenated with the visit of the former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani to Doha in February 2012.

During the visit, seven Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements were signed including an MoU on import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Immediately on

ond session of Pak-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission was held on February 22-23, 2012 after a hiatus of 13 years with focus laid on trade and commerce, banking and finance, investment, export of labour force from Pakistan, education, science and technology.

The recent visit of President Zardari to Qatar made advancement in the previous efforts made by the two governments for strengthening relations in diverse fields. In a meeting with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa AlThani at the Diwan-e-Emiri,

range of international, regional and bilateral issues.

President Zardari expressed Pakistan’s desire of promoting ties with Qatar in diverse fields and said the traditional relations provided an excellent foundation for building a mutually beneficial economic edifice.

Both sides agreed to collaborate in energy and trade sectors and discussed ways to resolve formalities for import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Pakistan and opening the branches of Qatari banks in Pakistan.

The leaders discussed

development of hydropower sector, identification of sources of financing, exploration of investment opportunities in energy sector and rehabilitation of existing hydropower plants.

It was stressed that the project of import of LNG from Qatar to Pakistan had the natural win-win potential for both countries.

President Zardari expressed satisfaction that the Qatar Gas had signed a Pact with two Pakistan-based gas companies.

The Pact has been signed between the Qatar Gas with

Sui Southern Gas Company Limited and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, for the supply of LNG upto 3.5 mtpa (million tons per anum). The imported LNG will be initially provided to the power houses in Pakistan to generate 2,500 megawatt electricity.

The two sides stressed enhancing airline linkages between the two countries by increasing flights of Pakistan International Airlines and the Qatar Airways, between Islamabad and Doha.

President Asif Ali Zardari offered Qatar’s Prime Minis-

Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani to absorb Pakistani skilled and semiskilled labour in Qatar and added that already 90,000 Pakistani expatriates were efficiently contributing to Qatar’s economy.

He mentioned that more Pakistanis could effectively be part of Qatar’s demand of two million workforce for its infrastructure projects for FIFA 2022 World Cup to be held in Doha. The President stressed the need for diversifying the trade potential between the two countries.

He expressed satisfaction

Qatar that increased to US$ 354 mln in 2010 as compared to US$ 339.51 mln in 2009.

He mentioned that a high fee of Qatari visa was a deterrent to export of manpower from Pakistan and hoped for its review. He proposed the visit of a ministerial-level delegation from Qatar to Pakistan to discuss modalities of export of manpower for Qatar’s future needs. President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan would welcome Qatar’s participation in the Neelum-Jhelum hydro power project for which a funding of US$200 million was required.—APP

13 Turkish militants killed ANKARA—Turkish air force surge in PKK attacks in

Clinton honors slain envoy to Libya

jets and attack helicopters pounded Kurdish militants along the border with Iraq, killing 13, the local governor’s office and security sources said on Friday.

The attack was launched after a drone identified a group of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants on the second day of operations in Turkey’s southeastern province of Hakkari, bordering Iraq and Iran, the Hakkari governor’s office said.

Following a tip-off, one PKK fighter was also killed in a clash on the Habesti plateau on Thursday, the statement said. One Turkish soldier was killed in subsequent clashes. There was an up-

W ASHINGTON —Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton paid tribute to slain U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, calling him a “fallen hero” who understood that diplomacy requires taking risks. About two months after Stevens and three other Americans were killed in an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11, Clinton said the State Department and Pentagon are reviewing security at high-threat diplomatic posts to determine what improvements should be made. But Clinton also stressed that diplomacy in unstable areas is inherently dangerous and praised Stevens for volunteering for difficult jobs to serve his country. “Our country mourns a fallen hero,” she said of Stevens at a speech honoring him and others receiving the Common Ground award for conflict resolution, negotiation and peace building. The award was presented by the group Search for Common Ground, which is focused on ways of resolving conflicts. Stevens “understood that there is no substitute for going beyond the embassy walls, building relationships, and finding common ground,” she said. “We will never prevent every act of terrorism or achieve perfect security. And our diplomats cannot work in bunkers and do their jobs. We must accept a level of risk to protect this country we love and to advance our interests and values around the world.”

Clinton’s comments came as lawmakers step up demands for information about the Benghazi attack. —AP

Iran warns US after targeting drone Members of the Free Syrian Army run to avoid a sniper during clashes with regime forces in Harem town, Idlib.

Putin fires army chief M OSCOW —President Vladimir Putin dismissed the chief of staff of Russia’s armed forces on Friday in a reshuffle of the military top brass, three days after sacking his defence minister following a corruption scandal. Putin removed General Nikolai Makarov as his top general and replaced him with General Valery Gerasimov, the commander of Russia’s forces in the central military district who has served in the turbulent Chechnya region. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (L) meets with then Chief of Staff General Nikolai Makarov (C) and Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in Sochi. The shakeup at the top of the armed forces of a country that is a nuclear power and permanent member of the United Nations Security Council followed rapidly after the abrupt dismissal of Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov on Tuesday. The changes made clear that the new defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, was immediately making his mark on the ministry. Putin said Gerasimov was Shoigu’s choice. “I think that the minister has picked a suitable candidate and I hope that you will work hard and efficiently,” Putin said at a meeting with Shoigu and Gerasimov. Serdyukov was replaced following the launch of an investigation into corruption at a Defence Ministry company. He had made many enemies in the world of politics and the military as he carried out reforms to modernise the armed forces. Gerasimov has been deputy chief of the general staff since 2010 and is a veteran of the Soviet and Russian armies.—Reuters

UK ending India aid LONDON—Britain will halt all aid spending in India in 2015 in a significant shift in relations between the emerging economic giant and its former colonial ruler, Prime Minister David Cameron’s government announced Friday. Acknowledging the country’s rising wealth and status, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said Britain would change its entire relationship with India — seeking to boost trade as it ends its aid program.

Britain offered India about 280 million pounds (US$447 million) in assistance in 2011, focused heavily on education and health programs for impoverished children. However, many legislators in the U.K. had targeted the development spending for scorn, arguing that Britain, struggling to cut its own national debt, could no longer afford to help a booming nation that has its own space program. “Now is the time to move to a relationship focusing on skills-sharing rather than aid,” Greening said in a statement. “Our own bilateral relationship has to keep up with 21st-century India. It’s time to recognize India’s changing place in the world.” India, which won independence from Britain in 1947, currently has its lowest economic growth in almost a decade. Last month, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund cut their predictions for Asia’s third-largest economy. The World Bank expects India’s economy to grow 6 percent for the year, and the International Monetary Fund forecasts growth of just 4.9 percent, down from its earlier projection of 6.1 percent.— Reuters

UN foresees rising Syrian humanitarian crisis N EW Y ORK —The United ing and falling into ever and half to those who have are no major donors from Nations is warning that the number of people inside Syria needing humanitarian aid could rise sharply from 2.5 million now to 4 million by early next year if the civil war grinds on at its current deadly pace. John Ging, operations director for the U.N. humanitarian office, said the U.N. is also projecting that a failure to end the fighting will lead to an increase in the number of Syrians fleeing to neighboring countries, from almost 400,000 at present to around 700,000 in early 2013.

Ging spoke in an interview ahead of Friday’s fifth Syria Humanitarian Forum in Geneva where between 350 and 400 representatives of governments, international organizations and aid groups will hear reports on the sharply deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria.

“People need to be aware of just how desperate the situation is inside Syria for the people there, how unbearable it is, and how they are suffer-

deeper despair and humanitarian need,” Ging said. “It’s just getting a lot worse very rapidly for the ordinary people.”

At the moment, he said, the U.N. and other aid organizations are only able to reach 1.5 million of the 2.5 million people in need of assistance inside Syria — and one of the reasons is funding. Ging said the humanitarian program for Syrians still inside the country, and the program for Syrian refugees in camps in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and other neighboring countries, are both “seriously underfunded,” with donors providing less than 50 percent of the amount needed.

As of Nov. 2, the U.N. appeal for $348 million to provide food, water and other humanitarian aid for those inside Syria had received $157 million — just 45 percent of the requirement. Ging said about half the aid is being delivered to conflict areas

CHICAGO, USA—The morning after he won re-election, an emotional President Barack Obama credited his youthful staff of several hundred with running a campaign that will

“The most important thing you need to know is that your journey’s just beginning.

You’re just starting. And whatever good we do over the next four years will pale in compari-

P RAGUE —Czech Prime Minister Petr

Israel warns Assad over Golan fire JERUSALEM—Israel warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Friday to prevent his anti-insurgency sweeps from spilling over into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, saying it was prepared to defend itself. The Golan, lost by Damascus in the 1967 Middle East war and mostly quiet for decades, was repeatedly hit by what the Israelis described as stray Syrian ordnance this week.Referring to the 19-month-old Syrian civil war, he said: “If we see that it is spreading in our direction, we will know how to defend the citizens of the State of Israel and the State of Israel’s sovereignty.” Yaalon said Syria had previously “conducted itself appropriately” after receiving such messages. “I hope that in this case, too, there will be someone in Syria who takes matters in hand.” Israel annexed the Golan in 1981 in a move not recognised internationally.—Reuters

fled to safer areas inside the country. As of Oct. 23, the U.N. refugee agency said its appeal for $488 million to help Syrian refugees was only about a third funded.

“This is putting an unsustainable burden on first and foremost the neighboring states,” Ging said in the interview Wednesday before heading to Geneva. “There isn’t a fair burden sharing with those countries who have so generously opened their borders and allowed those hundreds of thousands of people to flee.

They are carrying the lion’s share of the financial cost.” Ging said a key message at Friday’s meeting will be an appeal for a broader base of donors to share the financial burden, especially to the wealthy Gulf states.

The big funders currently are the European Union, the United States, Britain, Germany, Russia, Norway, Australia, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland, he said. There

Happiness tears stream down Obama

Czech PM averts crisis Necas narrowly averted the collapse of his coalition this week but it could still be easily toppled by policy disputes, corruption scandals - or rifts in his own Civic Democrats (ODS) party. “The biggest obstacle we can run into is not among parties but inside one of them,” Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek told Reuters.

“After all it would not be the first time the ODS removed its own prime minister,” added Kalousek, of the conservative TOP09 party in the centre-right coalition led by Necas. Necas’s coalition won a big majority in 2010, raising hopes the country would get a strong administration after a decade of fragmented governments, but the optimism quickly faded amid factional fighting among and inside the ruling parties. The central European country of 10.5 million fell into recession and policymaking became erratic, with taxation plans changing abruptly as the coalition squabbled. The public grew disgusted by a string of graft scandals among politicians of all shades. This week the mildmannered 47-year-old prime minister brought his three-party cabinet back from the brink by outmanoeuvring a rebel faction to force through parliament laws on tax hikes, intended to cut the budget deficit below the EU’s 3 percent limit, and also long-delayed plans for pension reform and the return of church property. But the coalition has been weakened and now has only 99 votes in the 200-seat lower house, making it hostage to independents and internal dissent.—Reuters

southeast Turkey during the summer, notably in the Hakkari region.

Ankara has linked the increased violence to the chaos in neighbouring Syria, accusing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of resuming support for the PKK and arming the militants. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which launched its insurgency in 1984 with the aim of carving out a separate state in mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey.

The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union.—Reuters

“go on in the annals of history.” “What you guys have accomplished will go on in the annals of history and they will read about it and they’ll marvel about it,” said Obama told his team Wednesday morning inside the Chicago campaign headquarters, tears streaming down his face.

son to whatever you guys end up accomplishing in the years and years to come,” he said.

The moment, captured by the Obama campaign’s cameras and posted online, offers a rare glimpse at the president unplugged and emotional.

During the first four years of his presidency, Obama has

never been seen publicly crying.

He first came to Chicago, he told the campaign staff, “knowing that somehow I wanted to make sure that my life attached itself to helping kids get a great education or helping people living in poverty to get decent jobs and be able to work and have dignity.

And to make sure that people didn’t have to go to the emergency room to get health care.”

“The work that I did in those communities changed me much more than I changed those communities because it taught me the hopes and aspirations and the grit and resilience of ordinary people,” he said, as senior strategist David Axelrod and campaign manager Jim Messina looked on.

“And it taught me the fact that under the surface differences, we all have common hopes and we all have common dreams. And it taught me something about how I handle disappointment and what it meant to work hard on a common endeavor, and I grew up.”—Reuters

Nobel Prize for shot Pakistani girl urged L ONDON —Tens of thou- rights. On Friday, a campaign Similar sands of Britons called on the government on Friday to nominate Malala Yousufzai, a Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating girls’ education, for the Nobel Peace Prize. The 15year-old is receiving specialist treatment in the English city of Birmingham after gunmen shot her on October 9 for standing up against the Taliban and openly advocating education for women.

The attack has drawn widespread international condemnation and Yousufzai has become a powerful symbol of resistance to the Taliban’s attempts to suppress women’s

led by a Pakistani-British woman urged Prime Minister David Cameron and other senior government officials to nominate Yousufzai for the Nobel Peace Prize.

“Malala doesn’t just represent one young woman, she speaks out for all those who are denied an education purely on the basis of their gender,” campaign leader Shahida Choudhary said in a statement issued by global petition platform Change.org.

More than 30,000 people have signed the petition in Britain as part of a global push by women’s rights advocates to nominate her for the prize.

campaigns have sprung up in Canada, France and Spain.

Under the Nobel Commit tee’s rules, only prominent figures such as members of national assemblies and governments are able to make nominations. Yousufzai was unconscious and fighting for her life when she was flown to Britain a month ago but the hospital in Birmingham where she is being treated says she is recovering well.

On Friday it released photographs of Yousufzai reading a book and clutching a white teddy bear, dark bruises covering her eyelids. She appeared serious.—Reuters

Muslim countries, but Ging said he hopes that will change since he is co-chairing Friday’s meeting with the EU, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The U.N. will also be making “a big push and a big appeal to convert the rhetoric of concern for the plight of the Syrian people into more concerted and effective political action to end the conflict, because that is what is creating the humanitarian consequences,” Ging said.

Peter Maurer, head of the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross, said Wednesday his organization can’t cope with some of Syria’s humanitarian needs despite its improved operations in the country because of the expanding conflict.

Activists say the 20month civil war has killed more than 36,000 people and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes.—AP

Iran, UN nuke talks next month VIENNA—Iran and the U.N. nuclear agency are planning to hold a new round of talks in mid-December in Tehran over the Islamic state’s disputed atomic programme, diplomatic sources said on Friday. Iran’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh talks to people as he attends a board of governors meeting at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) hoped to use the talks to reach an agreement that would allow it to resume a long-stalled investigation into possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear programme, a senior diplomatic source said. Iran denies Western allegations that it is trying to develop the capability to make nuclear weapons. —Reuters

Ghana steps up search for survivors in mall rubble ACCRA—An Israeli military team arrived in Ghana on Thursday to help search for survivors a day after a fourstorey shopping mall collapsed in the West African state’s capital Accra, killing at least nine. Officials said more people than initially thought were still trapped in the wreckage of the department store, which collapsed due to suspected structural failure, but they declined to provide an estimate.

“The first 48 hours are very critical and it is my hope that we’d be able to reach anybody trapped down there as soon as possible,” Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said at a news conference near the collapsed building.

Accra is in the midst of a construction boom spurred by oil-fuelled economic growth, but building standards region-wide are generally poor and enforcement is often lax.—Reuters

D UBAI —Iran said it would them,” he said. Jazayeri did not deal decisively with any foreign encroachment into its airspace, an apparent warning to the United States after one of its surveillance drones was targeted by Iranian warplanes last week. On Thursday U.S. officials said the unarmed Predator drone was in international airspace when Iranian warplanes opened fire on it on November 1.

The aircraft was not hit.

The intercept was the first time Tehran had fired at an unmanned U.S. aircraft in their 33 year stand-off. “The defenders of the Islamic Republic will respond decisively to any form of encroachment by air, sea or on the ground,” Fars news agency quoted General Massoud Jazayeri, a senior armed forces commander, as saying on Friday.

“If any foreign aircraft attempts to enter our airspace our armed forces will deal with

mention the drone incident specifically.

According to the Pentagon, two Soviet-designed SU25 aircraft intercepted the Predator drone over Gulf waters about 16 nautical miles off the Iranian coast. After firing at the drone they followed it for several miles as it moved farther away from Iranian airspace. Washington has issued a formal protest to the Iranian authorities via diplomatic channels.

Details of the incident emerged ahead of large-scale air defence drills due to start across several provinces in eastern Iran this week.

The “Velayat 4” manoe uvres will be jointly held by the regular armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and will involve testing new radar and surveillance equipment, military commanders say.—Reuters

Foreign air power crucial to Mali battle plan B AMAKO —Malian troops 4,000 personnel, mostly from backed by foreign air power will lead the assault to recapture Timbuktu and other northern cities from al Qaedalinked militants, under a battle plan now being considered, Malian army sources said.

West African bloc ECOWAS is expected to submit a version of the plan to the United Nations Security Council for approval, paving the way for war in Mali’s vast desert amid fears the region could become a new terrorist training ground.

“International forces will not do the ground fighting, that role will belong to the Malian army,” a military officer familiar with the plan, who asked not to be named, said on Friday. “Air strikes will be the responsibility of the international force,” he said, adding foreign partners would also provide logistical and intelligence support and soldiers and police to secure areas captured by the Malian army. Military planners from Africa, the United Nations and Europe in Mali’s capital Bamako last week drew up a battle plan that would involve a foreign force of more than

West African countries. It remains unclear how much of the force would come from Western nations. The plan covers a six-month period, with a preparatory phase for training and the establishment of bases in Mali’s south, followed by combat operations in the north.

A second Malian military source said the army expected Islamist rebels to try to avoid conventional fighting by slipping away into remote mountains or blending in with local populations. “That is the main problem, and it will fall to our intelligence services to solve it,” he said.

Once viewed as an example of progress towards democracy in Africa, Mali fell into chaos after a coup in March that toppled the president and left a power vacuum that was quickly exploited by rebels to take over the north. The Security Council gave African leaders 45 days from October 12 to draw up a plan for military intervention to retake the north, but diplomats say any such operation is months away.—Reuters

Malaria vaccine fails in African babies trial L ONDON —A GlaxoS mith ported in a smaller mid-stage Kline experimental malaria vaccine touted as a new weapon in the fight to eradicate the disease proved only 30 percent effective when given to babies as part Africa’s largest ever clinical trial. The surprisingly poor result for the world’s first potential vaccine against malaria leaves uncertain whether it can have a useful role in fighting the mosquito-borne disease that kills hundreds of thousands of children a year.

Philanthropist Bill Gates, who has helped fund its development, said further data was needed to determine whether and how the vaccine might be used. “The efficacy came back lower than we had hoped, but developing a vaccine against a parasite is a very hard thing to do,” he said in a statement.

Results from the finalstage trial with 6,537 babies aged six to 12 weeks showed the vaccine provided “modest protection”, reducing episodes of the disease by 30 percent compared to immunisation with a control vaccine, researchers said on Friday. That efficacy rate one year after vaccination is less than half the 65 percent re-

trial in 2008 that followed babies of a similar age for six months.

It’s also a lot less than the 50 percent seen last year in Phase III trial data from five to 17 month-olds. Vaccinating babies, rather than toddlers, is the preferred option, since the new vaccine could then be added to other routine infant immunisations. A separate programme for older children would involve a lot of extra costs.

In particular, Berkley told Reuters he wanted to see longer-term data, including the effect of booster shots, and an analysis of how the vaccine performed in different settings. Details of the malaria trial, which is Africa’s largest ever clinical trial involving almost 15,500 children in seven countries, were presented at a medical meeting in Cape Town and published online by the New England Journal of Medicine. Witty said he would have liked to have seen efficacy rates of around 50 percent in infants, but stressed that more data would become available before the trial ends in 2014 which may throw more light on why rates of success are so variable.—Reuters

Amla, Kallis put S Africa in charge at Brisbane Test B RISBANE —Hashim Amla was approaching his third century in his last four tests as South Africa defused Australia’s pace attack and reached a dominant 255 for two at the end of the opening day of the first test at the Gabba on Friday.

Amla, who was 90 not out when the stumps were drawn early because of bad light, put on 136 in an unbeaten third wicket stand with Jacques Kallis (84 not out) after openers Graeme Smith (10) and Alviro Petersen (64) were dismissed either side of the lunch break.

Australian seamer Peter Siddle was left rueing missed chances after his no ball gave Kallis a life on 43 and he dropped a catch off his own bowling that would have sent Amla back to the dressing room with 74 runs.

The home side had hoped the bowling attack which destroyed India’s vaunted batsmen last year would do the same with the South Africans but the fireworks from James Pattinson,

South Africa 1st innings: Smith lbw b Pattinson .. 10 Petersen c Hussey b Lyon64 HM Amla not out .......... 90 JH Kallis not out ........... 84 Extras: (b1, lb1, w2, nb3) 7 Total: (2 wickets) ......... 255 Fall of wickets 1-29, 2-119 Bowling: ........... O-M-R-W BW Hilfenhaus .. 20-5-53-0 JL Pattinson ....... 20-4-53-1 PM Siddle ........... 20-4-58-0 NM Lyon ............ 12-0-61-1 MEK Hussey ....... 4-0-21-0 RJ Quiney ............... 6-3-7-0

PCB bans Afridi, Yousuf from playing domestic cricket L AHORE —The

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stopped Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf from playing domestic cricket.

According to Media Reports, Afridi and Yousuf were barred because their teams did not submit their names in the list of 20 players to the PCB. According to PCB rules, teams competing on the domestic first class level submit names of players to the PCB and only those players can play during the season.

Afridi had expressed his desire to play for Habib Bank and Mohammad Yousuf for Port Qasim.—Online

BRISBANE: Ricky Ponting comforts Peter Siddle after letting go of a caught and bowled chance during Australia vs South Africa, 1st Test on Friday.

Ben Hilfenhaus and Siddle The 29-year-old put on failed to materialise.

90 for the second wicket Amla, the world’s top- with Petersen before the ranked batsman, signalled opener threw away his his intent early in the day wicket by wafting a shot for with a soaring six off spin- Mike Hussey to catch at ner Nathan Lyon and coolly mid-on off Lyon’s bowling paced his innings, easing up halfway through the second when the quicks got into session. their stride and opening up Picking up his 5,000 th against anything loose. test run along the way, Amla

reached his 24th test half century before tea and, Siddle’s dropped catch apart, it looked like only the gathering clouds would stop him reaching his 17th test century.

The evergreen Kallis had designs on the milestone himself after racing to his 56th test half century in just 63 balls, reaching the mark with a sublime cover drive.

The all rounder rode his luck, though, when he ballooned a catch to Lyon only for the umpire to call him back to the crease after TV replays showed Siddle had failed to keep his front foot behind the line.

Australia had earlier benefited from the TV appeal system to dismiss Smith lbw when a Pattinson delivery caught the South African skipper’s trailing leg but umpire Billy Bowden declined to raise his characteristic crooked finger.

South Africa won the toss and chose to bat, which looked like a good decision after the wicket and overcast conditions failed to produce the sort of swing and movement off the pitch the seamers had hoped for.

Whether South Africa’s other big decision of the morning -to drop spinner Imran Tahir and give a debut to Rory Kleinveldt as part of a four-pronged pace attack - proves a good one may only be determined as the contest unfolds.

South Africa’s number one test ranking is on the line in the series, which continues with matches in Adelaide and Perth after Brisbane.—AP

Sri Lanka name rookie spinner for NZ test series COLOMBO—Sri Lanka have named uncapped teenage off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal in their squad for the two-test series against New Zealand starting at Galle on November 17.

Kaushal represented Sri Lanka at the under-19 World Cup in Australia earlier this year and is a member of the Sri Lanka one-day squad currently playing New Zealand in a five-match series.

“Kaushal has a lot of potential and we have included him in the squad to (help him) get the feel of being in the presence of senior players and train with them,” chief selector Ashantha deMel said on Friday.

Kaushal, who has not

played a first-class match yet, almost certainly will not make his debut in the Galle test where off-spinner Suraj Randiv is expected to join experienced left-arm spinner

Rangana Herath in the playing XI. “We will see how the other off-spinner Suraj Randiv bowls in the first test and then decide whether we should take a gamble with Kaushal,” de Mel said.

Colombo hosts the second test from Nov 25.

Sri Lanka test squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Angelo Mathews, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Prassanna Jayawardene, Tharindu Kaushal, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Dinesh Chandimal, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara, Shaminda Eranga, DhammikaPrasad.—AP

MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Ch Abdul Majeed giving a winning trophy to Media IX captain Wahid Iqbal Butt.

Executive committee meeting of PSWF L AHORE —The Executive Committee meeting of Pakistan Sports Writers Federation will be held here tomorrow, Saturday at a local hotel.

The meeting to be presided over by President, PSWF, Shahid Sheikh will take important decisions for the smooth working of the body. The agenda of the meeting includes, 4th PSFWF congress meeting at Peshawar early next, AIPS Asia meeting to be held on November in Kuwait.—APP

Aman T-20 cricket tourney starts DI K HAN —Aman T-20 cricket tournament started in Dera Ismail Khan on Friday, the aim of organizing the tournament is to promote peace in the region.

District Coordination Officer, Khan Bukhsh Marwat and District Tehsildar Abdul Rasheed Khan were the chief guests on the inauguration ceremony.

DCO speaking on the occasion said youth are our future and the district administration will organize sports activities for the promotion of peace.

In opening match Dera Strikers Club defeated Rangpur Badshah club after tough competition. All registered clubs of the district are taking part in the tournament.—APP

Punjab International Sports Festival

Pak girls win touch ball title LAHORE—Pakistan women Lankan best scorers were ner shooter Harpreet Singh, make it 3-1 in the 24th minute 28.16 touch ball team led their country to the first gold of the Punjab international sports festival beating Iran 3-2 score in extra time in an action packed final here on Friday University of Lahore ground.

Touch ball is the only event of the international festival in which a foreign female team participated. Pak team and the hosts played a full time 2-2 draw and the match went into extra time in which the home team received the match winning goal from Ghazala before Nighat added two goals. Iranian team received strong support from their ace striker Sumiya who netted twice.

In rugby final, New Zealand thrashed Pakistan 38-0 to win the gold in a dull and one sided affairs which speak volume of homes team’s dismal performance.

In the International Baseball competition: Sri Lanka thrashed Nepal 10-0.Sri

Sameera with 3 runs, Chmara scored 2,Iresh, Niroshan, Hapurachi, Helanka and Naveen one each.

In the International Football matches, Serbia beat Sri Lanka 3-2.Masic Dejau, Lazaravic Pavle and Dosevski Milos from Serbia hit one goal each. Rohana Denesh and Sanoj supported Sri Lankan side and shared one goal apiece. Yemen will meet Mangolia in a football match tomorrow, Saturday at 11AM. In touch ball international competition six matches were decided, Punjab beat Jordan and then outplayed Yemen, Jordan bt Yemen, Pakistan bt Syria, Sri Lanka bt Jordan and Syria bt Nepal.

In fist ball five league matches were decided, following are the results, Punjab bt Jordan 2-0,Punjab bt Yemen 2-0, Pakistan bt Syria 2-0, Pakistan bt Afghnistan 2-0, and Sri Lanka bt Jordan 2-1.

India, rode on a superb hat trick by ace penalty cor-

made a grand come back to snatch a sensational 5-5 draw in the second match of the Dosti Cup of Punjab international sports festival at Johar Town ground.

The three match series stands undecided as the first tie ended in a draw. The third and the last match will be played on November 11 as tomorrow, Saturday is the rest day.

The green shirts led 4-2 at interval as India came with full force to change the whole complexion of the play to score two goals in last nine minutes to earn a draw with Harpeet appeared master of the situation with four goals in the match.

Pakistan took the lead through Ahsan in 4th minute off a penalty corner as Mohammad Ayub doubled the lead in the 12th minute in a field move. Indian side got their first goal from Harpeet in the 19th minute with Ahsan scoring his second goal to

off a short corner and Mohammad Rziwan expanding lead at 4-1 in the 32nd minute. Harpeet collected his second goal moments before the close of the first half and addanother , five minutes into the second half, showing precision off short corners.

Pakistans Imran Malik scored in a mid field move in 45th minute as Harpeet and Karamjeet Singh scoring one goal apiece to shatter home sides hopes for a success.

Punjab won the national badminton women final beating NWFP 3-0. Farwa bt Khadija 11-2,11-3,11-1, Ayesha bt Sabahat 11-1,111,11-1, Saba bt Nida 11-2,111,11-2.

In the National Sports festival Athletics competitions: Saima earned first position in the 100 M Race finishing the distance in 13.00 seconds ,Adeela of Fata was second.In 200M : Sehrish Asghar of Punjab got first position by completing the distance in

seconds whereas Aneela of Fata was second.In 400M’s,Sahib-eAsra of Punjab achieved first position touching the finishing line within 1:01 seconds,Rukhsana of KPK was second.

In 800 M’s Sahib-e-Asra of Punjab again achieved first position ending the distance in 2:36:00 seconds while Farza of KPK was second. In 1500M’s :Asia Munir acquired first position with finishing time of 5:45 seconds, Farzana of KPK was second.

Nighat Kausar of Punjab won the Long jump .The distance was 5:03 M, Rukhsana of KPK was second.

In Shotput: Sadia Khaliq of Punjab achieved first throwing the ball at 9:08 M ,Adeela of Fata maintained second positions.In the Javelin Throw: Sadia Khaliq of Punjab throw the javelin at the distance of 32:82 M to win first position while Laila Akbar of Fata got second position.—APP

Azhar’s first wife happy : wants son to be coached by his dad BIPIN DANI OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT M UMBAI —Naureen, the first wife of former India skipper, Mohammad Azharuddin has expressed her happiness over the Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement of declaring the life-ban illegal.

Speaking exclusively over her mobile from Hyderabad yesterday, she

said, “I am happy for Azharuddin. His life-ban has been revoked. It was sad that he had to undergo this problems all these years”.

“I was divorced in 1996 and I have moved on with the life. This ban was imposed in the year 2000”.

“No, I am not in regular touch with Azhar, but sometimes I have to be in communication with him because my son is living with him. For my son’s future, I have to be in

touch with the family. I have concern for my son”, she further added.

Naureen was the first to reach to the hospital (Azharuddin was in London) when their younger son, Ayazzuddin met with an accident last year. Ultimately, he died five days after the scooter accident. She wants her eleder son (Asad) to be coached by his father.

Naureen is living with her husband in Hyderabad.

6-time champ Federer reaches semis at ATP finals L ONDON —On an indoor court, Roger Federer can win even when he’s not playing his best. He proved that again Thursday at the ATP finals, beating David Ferrer 6-4, 7-6 (5) and advancing to the semifinals with a group match to spare despite struggling to land his serve and scrambling to stay in the long rallies. ‘’I’ve been very successful over the years. Probably won most titles indoors, maybe more than all the other guys combined,’’ said Federer, who called it a natural surface for him. ‘’But that doesn’t make me the best this week.’’ He is, however, the big favourite.

The two-time defending champion is looking for his seventh title at the seasonending event for the top eight players in the world. He is 20 at the O2 Arena, with his last group match against Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday.

Del Potro beat Janko Tipsarevic 6-0, 6-4 in the other Group B match, improving his record to 1-1 and eliminating the Serb with two LONDON: Mirka Vavrinec watches her husband Roger losses. But Del Potro still Federer of Switzerland play against David Ferrer of Spain during their ATP World Tennis Finals singles match. needs to beat Federer to ad- I wanted to. Either the rhythm vance. was off a bit or I wasn’t push‘’Win in two sets gives ing enough with the legs or me a chance to go to the next whatever it might have round,’’ said Del Potro, who been.’’

With the victory, Federer W E L L I N G T O N — N e w traded shots with ManchesZealand batsman Jesse ter City striker Sergio Aguero improved to 14-0 in his caRyder has been fined $750 after the match. ‘’But before reer against Ferrer. In 10 years for showing dissent towards I need to beat Roger once of facing each other, Ferrer has won only three sets the umpires during a Plunket again.’’

Federer made only 53 per- against the 17-time Grand Shield match for Wellington against Central Districts in cent of his first serves against Slam champion.

Ferrer. And in his first two That looked like it was Napier late last month.

New Zealand Cricket service games alone, he was going to change Thursday.

Ferrer was on the run for (NZC) confirmed today that forced to save six break the entire match, getting to Ryder was reported by the points.

But he did save them, and ball after ball to extend rallies umpires for a Level One breach of NZC’s code of con- three others, while getting and keep Federer on the move. duct for using language that broken only once. ‘’I definitely needed a In the opening game, the was offensive and insulting to the umpires Evan Watkin good second serve, espe- Spaniard quickly took a 0and Chris Gaffaney, after hav- cially in the first set,’’ Federer 40 lead but failed to convert ing an lbw shout off his bowl- said. ‘’I didn’t have that any of his three break many serves in play the way chances.—AP ing turned down.—Online

Jesse Ryder fined for dissent

How many calories should I eat?

T

HE number of calories people should eat each day depends on several factors, in cluding their age, size, height, sex, lifestyle, and overall general health. A physically active 6ft 2in male, aged 22 years, requires considerably more calories than a 5ft 2ins sedentary woman in her 70s.

Recommended daily calorie intakes also vary across the world. According to the National Health Service (NHS), UK, the average male adult needs approximately 2,500 calories per day to keep his weight constant, while the average adult female needs 2,000. US authorities recommend 2,700 calories per day for men and 2,200 for women.

It is interesting that in the UK, where people on average are taller than Americans, the recommended daily intake of calories is lower. Rates of overweight and obesity among both adults and children in the USA are considerably higher than in the United Kingdom.

The NHS stresses that rather than precisely counting numbers (calories), people should focus more on eating a healthy and well balanced diet, being physically active, and roughly balancing how many calories are consumed with the numbers burnt off each day.

According to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the average person’s minimum calorie requirement per day globally is approximately 1,800 kilocalories.

Daily calorie consumption varies considerably around the world (countries in gray indicates “no data available”) Scientifically speaking, one kilocalorie is 1,000 calories. However, the term calorie in lay English has become so loosely used with the same meaning as kilocalorie, that the two terms

have virtually merged. In other words, in most cases, a calorie and kilocalorie have the same meaning.

A kilocalorie is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water from 15° to 16° Celsius (centigrade) at one atmosphere. A “small calorie” refers to the traditional scientific term of calorie, meaning one-thousandth of a kilocalorie.

Internationally, most nations talk about food energy in kJ (kilojoules). 1 kcal (kilocalorie) = 4.184 kJ. In industrialized nations and a growing number of emerging economies, people are consuming many more calories than they used to. Portion sizes in restaurants, both fast food ones as well as elegant places, are far greater today.

The average cheeseburger in the USA 20 years ago had 333 calories, compared to the ones today with over 600 calories The human body and energy usage For the human body to remain alive, it requires energy.

Approximately 20% of the energy we use is for brain metabolism. The majority of the rest of the body’s energy requirements are taken up for the basal metabolic requirements - the energy we need when in a resting state, for functions such as the circulation of the blood and breathing.

The Harris-Benedict equation, also known as the Harris-Benedict principle, is used to estimate what a person’s BMR (basal metabolic rate) and daily requirements are. The person’s BMR total is multiplied by another number which represents their level of physical activity. The resulting number is that person’s recommended daily calorie intake in order to keep their body weight where it is.

KARACHI: Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro being briefed about displayed stuff during photo exhibition by PAPJ & South Asia Photo Journalists Association at Frere Hall.

SZABIST installs locally made 6KVA wind turbine at Gharo OBSERVER REPORT KARACHI—SZABIST has installed indigenously designed and locally fabricated wind turbine at its Gharo Research Center. This wind turbine, first of the project for ‘Development of Renewable Energy’, has the capacity to produce 6KVA of electricity.

This turbine is designed and fabricated by Centre for Renewable Energy Research (CRER) and headed by Dr Imran Amin and his team of engineers and technicians of SZABIST. The design of the wind turbine meets all the international standards and has been using the modern technologies available. Its aerodynamics design, testing and quality control has also been conducted by CRER Team.

Glowing tributes paid to Allama Iqbal K ARACHI —The life and prevailing colonial mentality and achievements of great poet philosopher Allama Dr Muhammed Iqbal were highlighted at a Iqbal Day function held at Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology here Friday. Speaking as chief guest on the occasion the Chancellor SSUET Engr Z.A. Nizami said that Dr Muhammed Iqbal was a great poet, thinker and philosopher at the same time. who devoted his poetry for the renaissance of Islam whose concept later turned as the basis for ideology of Pakistan .

He said Iqbal’s foremost book “Reconstruction of Religious Thought” in Islam was intended to secure a vision of the spirit of Islam and he encouraged Muslims to embrace ideals of brotherhood, justice, and service.

Through his poetry he tried to free the Muslims’ mind from the

own narrow self-interests, he added. Renowned scholar Prof, Dr. Waqar Ahmed Rizvi said that in his poetry Iqbal focussed on love (Ishq) and described it a a great power that brings one closer to Allah.

Senior Aligarhian and columnist Saeed Siddiqui, another senior Aligarian Ali Zafar Khan Afridi also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the effective role which Iqbal’s poetry played in the movement for Pakistan.

Students of Sir Syed University Umar Khan Ufaq and Umar Ali Kazmi while delivering their speeches on Dr Iqbal called for following the philosophy of Iqbal if the nation is to grow. Noted poet and incharge SSUET’s Literary and Culture Forum Khumar Farooqui paid poetic tribute to Allama Iqbal.—APP

KARACHI: An ambulance passing near a burning bus torched by an angry mob at Nomaish Chowrangi.—Photo Imran Gilani

Khuhro hosts lunch in honour of South Asia Photo Journalists body

Strict security measures to maintain peace: Qaim

KARACHI—Speaker Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Friday said that only people and their representatives should have the authority to make decisions in the interest of the country.

He said this while talking to media at a lunch hosted in honor of delegation of South Asia Photo Journalists Association at Sindh Assembly here.

Nisar Khuhro said that the political parties do not appreciate the role of agencies in the politics.He said when the people can found the country, they can run it too.

It is, therefore, only those who got elected with the vote of people have the right to rule the country, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said.

MPA Nusrat Seher Abbasi has been nominated as the leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly, but the resignations of the Ministers belonging to the Functional-League have yet not been accepted, the Speaker said.

He told a questioner that when the resignations of the PML-F Ministers have been accepted, why he has not received the notification with regard to denotify them.—APP

K ARACHI —Chief Minister main intact during Muharram, extra programme, meetings, gence of criminals and said that Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Friday directed the police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies to make concerted efforts for maintenance of law and order in the province while prompt vigilance be ensured on activities of terrorists and criminals so as to protect the lives of innocent people.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah was speaking at a high level law and order meeting at CM House here.

The CM Sindh further directed the LEAs to have comprehensive security plan for Muharramul Haram and full security be arranged for Imam Bargahs, Mosques, processions Majalis in the province.

It was decided that the procedures and permissions will re-

3 gunned down in violence KARACHI—At least three persons were shot dead in different separate firing incidents.

In first incident, some unknown armed persons opened indiscriminate firing on one person at Maripur road as a result he died on the spot.

The deceased was identified as Niaz khan.

On getting information police reached the spot and shifted the dead body to hospital for autopsy. After completing legal formalities he was handed over to his heirs.

Later on, police registered the case and started thorough investigation.

In other incident, in the area of Reeri Goth one man was shot dead by some unknown persons.

Later on, the deceased was identified namely Shah Nazir. In another incident, in the area of Gulzar Hijri some unknown persons gunned down one man at midnight.—Online

Hundreds condemn 65-year Indian occupation of Junagarh

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

K ARACHI —Hundreds of

people rallied on the city roads on Friday to condemn, what the marchers said, 65-year occupation of the predominantly Muslim state of Junagarh by India.

Jamat-e-Islami, Jamatud Dawa, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan and other political and religious parties and various groups in the city supported and attended the rally that marched through Jinnah Mausoleum to Karachi Press Club.

The protesters demanded of the United Nations to end In-

dian occupation of Junagarh state that, they claimed, was still an integral part of Pakistan.

The marchers were led by Muhammad Iqbal Sandh, the president of Junagarh State Muslim Federation (JSMF). According to the organizers, the participants of the rally included various ethno-linguistic groups belonging to the sate of Junagarh like Junagarhy, Kathyawary, Katchy, Memon, Turk, Patni, Ghanchy, Sindhi, Arabs, Baloch,

Syed, Mangrol, Ismaili, Sodhana, Qazi and others.

The protesters gathered at the Karachi Press Club and were addressed by Iqbal Sandh and Abdul Aziz Arab of JSMF, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti of JI, Engineer Naveed Qamar of Jamatud Dawa, Tariq Mehboob of JUP and others.

The speakers said the rulers and politicians in Pakistan, like Kashmir, should also take up the issue of Junagarh on in-

ternational level. They said Pakistan should come eyeball to eyeball with India to retain its occupied land from the later instead of singing trade agreements with New Delhi.

The protesters were holding placards and banners that were inscribed with slogans against India and in favor of Junagarh’s freedom. According to a banner, the rally marked completion of 65 years of Indian occupation of Junagarh.

The protesters slammed the government and media in Pakistan for not being alive to the “Junagarh Debacle” saying the people of the princely state would strive tooth and nail until they get their state free from the clutches of its occupiers.

Sandh appealed to the politico-religious parties in Pakistan to join the people of Junagarh for the attainment of their rights.

He said his side would knock each and every door including that of the Governor and Chief Minister House to press their just cause.

while no other permission, change or addition of any new procession/ Jalsa gathering etc will be entertained.

The CM Sindh expressed his sorrows on suicidal attack on Rangers HQs at North Nazimabat and condoled with affected families.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah announced compensation of Rs 20 lac to each legal heir of affected families of 3 martyred personals of Rangers. Besides, one job will be provided to each affected family. He directed that LEAs should promptly control target killings, sectarian killings, ethnic killings and other criminal activities. Regarding security measures during Muharam- ulHaram, it was decided that no

Majalis etc will be allowed, except the usual and past approved permissions in the province so that the Muharam days are passed smoothly and peacefully.

It was decided to impose ban on pillion riding at Karachi, Hyderabad and Khairpur, while section 144 Cr. P.C will be imposed throughout Sindh province from tomorrow upto 11th Muharramul Haram.

The CM Sindh directed the police, rangers and LEAs to continue snap and proper checking elements coming from up-country. He further directed that all trawlers, trucks, buses and vehicles be checked at all entry points of Sindh border at Punjab and Baluchistan. He stressed to develop information and intelli-

sufficient evidence be collected so as to get the criminals convicted from courts of law.

He further said that inflow of terrorists, criminals and weapons coming to Sindh province be stopped with prompt measures.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that there must be effective checking at Highways, railways tracks, and directed to arrange high power scanners and detectors to be installed at entry points.

Earlier I.G. Police Sindh, DG, Rangers Sindh, AIG Police Karachi and other officers presented detailed briefings. They assured the CM Sindh that prompt measures are under way so as to curb the activities of terrorists, criminals and Bhatakhors etc.—APP

What is the glycemic index and how can it help to lose weight?

T

HE glycemic index (GI) is a measure ment developed by Dr. David J. Jenkins and his associates at the University of Toronto in 1981. They were researching diabetes, and how to reliably predict the effect of certain foods on the body’s blood sugar and insulin levels.

The glycemic index rates carbohydrate-rich foods on a scale of 1 to 100, pure glucose being the highest (100).

A food’s GI rating indicates how rapidly it is digested or absorbed by the body; the higher a food is on this scale, the faster your body will use it up. This is important information – not only for diabetics but also for those interested in losing weight – because foods high on the glycemic index scale tend to give you a “sugar rush.”

They cause insulin to be released into your bloodstream to process the sudden rise in blood sugar.

Unfortunately, once the blood sugar levels have been normalized, your body then has a tendency to crave more food to boost them again, causing a kind of “yo-yo” approach to eating. Also, insulin is considered a “fat storage hormone” because it causes sugar to enter the body’s cells more quickly, so that it can be converted to energy, but at the same time causes them to store the excess sugars as glycogen or body fat.

So the glycemic index can be quite useful when trying to lose weight, and a useful

complement to other diets. Foods with high GI ratings – white bread, cakes, white rice, baked potatoes, jams, jellies, and many processed breakfast cereals – will trigger this “yo-yo” effect, and leave you craving more food very quickly.

These foods also tend to be high in calories. Foods with a GI rating lower than 55 – fruits and vegetables, milk products, high-fiber grains and cereals, beans and lentils, sweet potatoes, and pasta – have the opposite effect.

They take longer to be digested, leading to an increased feeling of satiety.

Because these foods are less processed, and because of their high fiber or particle size, they take up more space in your stomach and leave you feeling more satiated and full.

As a result, you are less likely to “binge eat.”

Paying attention to the GI ratings of foods has been proven to be a useful adjunct to many famous diet plans.

Studies have shown that people on low-GI diets tend to lose more weight and keep it off than those on high-GI diets. One of the most successful commercial diet programs, Nutrisystem®, is largely based on glycemic index research. Whatever the diet program you choose, paying attention to the GI index of the foods you eat can help you make wiser choices. A diet rich in protein (which does not cause the same glycemic response in the body) and low-GI foods is going to be more likely to succeed.

PML-N to defeat corrupt rulers: Nawaz L AHORE —Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) President Mian Nawaz Sharif has expressed his confidence that the people would give a crushing defeat to corrupt rulers and their allies as well as those making empty promises during the next general elections.

He was talking to MNA and Incharge of election campaign for Chichawatni constituency NA-162 bye elections Chaudhry Saud Majeed at Jati Umra on Friday.

Nawaz Sharif said by coming to power with the backing of the people, the PML-N would root out corruption, price hike, unemployment and address the menace of load shedding.

He said they do not want to rule the country but to rid it from corrupt rulers and those making empty promises. He LAHORE: A large number of people gather at the mausoleum of Dr Allama Iqbal to pay homage on occasion of his said people are with the PML- 135th birthday anniversary.

N and in the bye elections, they would vote for the party and make its candidates successful.

The PML-N President before elections, the rulers had made attractive promises to the people but instead of resolving their problems, the people have been made to suffer even more.—INP

Tributes paid to Iqbal

PTI forgotten political saga: Sana LAHORE—Punjab Law Min-

ister Rana Sanaullah has advised Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to prepare for general elections rather than finding out excuses to flee the general elections.

Talking to media persons here on Friday, Rana Sanaullah said that general elections were not far away and PTI would realize about its credibility among the masses.

He said that elements who introduced Imran Khan in country’s politics have retired and chairman PTI would also retire from politics soon.

The Punjab law minister claimed that the PML-N will form the next government and Imran Khan would soon beLAHORE: Girls taking keen interest in the books on Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal come a forgotten part of political history.—INP during exhibition on the occasion of his 135th birthday outside Iqbal Mausoleum.

Govt bound to obey court orders in Asghar Khan case: Khosa MUZAFFAR ALI L AHORE—Governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khosa said on Friday that the federal government is bound to abide by Supreme Court’s orders in Asghar Khan Case regarding distribution of funds by military officers and treason case could be registered against the accused politicians.

Addressing to media on the eve of 136th birthday of the “Poet of the East” at his tomb, Latif Khosa further said the government could initiate action against the alleged politicians under the article 6 of the constitution, subjected to a recommendation by the law ministry. He said the court did not issue any fatwa (ruling) against Pakistan’s armed forces but it is wajib (compulsory) for the government to obey Supreme Court orders as the

decision is very much clear.

Khosa said some segments of the establishment deliberately polluted the process of the elections and thus, committed a crime of treachery. He said it was an illegal government that was setup at the result of rigging in general election 1990 and its all functions should be declared illegal. He said it is the responsibility of the present parliament to endorse that the then an elected government of PPP was ousted deceitfully by violating the constitution of the

country.

Shedding light on the philosophy of Allama Iqbal, the Governor said Iqbal’s poetry was based on universal message and people should concentrate on his philosophy.

He said it was a time to discard all kinds of confliction and should follow the teaching of Iqbal. He said Iqbal’s philosophy stressed on the need of unity and consolidation and this was only possible when they should learn the message of the poet of the East.

Two robbers shot dead LAHORE—At least two robbers were shot dead while their two accomplices fled away during a police encounter in Lahore, media reports said.

According to police, four car riding robbers were trying to escape after robbing a house in Defence Phase-V when suddenly police interrupted them.

Armed robbers opened fire at the police and immediately they retaliated with counter fire. Two dacoits were killed during encounter with police while two others managed to escape from the scene.—Online

Malala Day: HRCP call for education to all STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—While hailing the UN decision to declare November 10 as Malala Day, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called upon the government and the people of Pakistan to rise to the challenge the worldwide tribute to the young girl from Swat presents them with. They must make a solemn pledge to devote their energies to guaranteeing their children, girls especially, their right to education, the HRCP said.

In a statement issued here today the commission said, “The people of Pakistan have reason to take pride in the fact that today (Saturday, the 10th of November) the whole world

will be joining them in a tribute to Malala, who has been accepted as a symbol of girls’ aspiration to receive education and of their courage to stand up for this right.

But the distinction the brave girl from Swat has won for her country brings with it serious challenges to the Pakistani state and its society both.

Their task, in one sentence, is to ensure that all of their children, girls in particular, will have equal opportunities to acquire quality education, free upto the level constitutionally required to be free, and at affordable cost otherwise. What this demands in practical terms is a redoubled effort not only to realize the Millennium Development Goals related to education and girls’

other rights but also the launch of imaginatively drawn-up and workable plans to implement Article 25-A under which the children’s right to universal and free schooling has at last been accepted.

“One wonders whether the attack on Malala and the entire play of forces leading to that cowardly act could have been avoided if the state had not been guilty of ignoring children’s education decade after decade. Today Pakistan has to take a vow that it will make every effort, and bear every sacrifice, necessary to ensure that that each of its girls will be enabled to share Malala’s dream and convictions and escape the pain and suffering that have fallen to her lot.

Nation can overcome crises by practicing Iqbal’s ideals: Shahbaz SALIM AHMED

L AHORE —Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Friday visited the Mazar of poet-philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal at his birth anniversary and laid a wreath as well offered Fateha.

The Chief Minister also prayed for the solidarity, progress and prosperity of the country. He also recorded his impressions regarding the national services of Allama Iqbal in the visitors’ book. Special Assistant Khawaja Salman Rafique, Commissioner Lahore Division, District Coordination Officer Lahore and other senior officers were present on the occasion.

Talking to mediamen, the Chief Minister said that Allama Iqbal through his poetry awakened Muslims of the subcontinent and gave the idea of a separate homeland which was translated into reality under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-eAzam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He said that Pakistan is passing through a critical phase and it is a collective responsibility that message and ideas of Allama Iqbal are spread to every nook and corner of the country as the

Int’l Dengue Conference commences LAHORE—Two-day International Dengue Conference is going to start here today (Saturday).

Sources said that the inaugural session of the Conference would be organised in ‘Aiwan-e-Iqbal’, in which Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif would be the chief guest.

The technical sessions of the Dengue Conference will start on Saturday afternoon in CM House, they added.

The proceedings of all the technical sessions will be documented to refer to it in future for preventing dengue fever at local and international level.

In addition to the medical experts of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore and other countries, the representatives of World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and other international partners will participate in the Conference.

During the two-day conference, CM Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif will distribute prizes among the government officials and others who did a lot to prevent outbreak of dengue in the province.—ONLINE

need of national unity and solidarity is more than ever now.

He said that unfortunately serious and solid steps have not been taken during the last 65 years for the solution of the problems of the country and that is why Pakistan is lagging far behind developed countries in the journey towards progress and prosperity.

He said that it is his firm faith that Pakistani nation can solve its problems itself without looking towards anyone else but for that an honest, capable and committed leadership is required which can work round the clock for achieving the targets of national development.

The Chief Minister further said that though the time is passing very quickly but if decisions are made only in view of national interest, set-

ting aside personal considerations, no power on earth can stop the process of building that Pakistan which was envisioned by Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam.

However, he said, at present Pakistan of the rich is different from that of the poor and while the rich enjoy all privileges, even justice is denied to the poor. He said that there is a need to bridge the widening gulf between the poor and the rich. He said that there is still time to rectify the wrong and give precedence to the national interests otherwise it will be too late.

The Chief Minister further said that Pakistanis are a bold, courageous and hardworking nation and remains steadfast in every hour of trial. He said that he is confident that Pakistan can be made a strong and prosperous country by propagating

and acting upon the message and principles of Allama Iqbal. He said that there is a need to pledge on this day that the message of Allama Iqbal will be spread to every nook and corner of the country while the day is not far off when Pakistan will be transformed in accordance with the ideals of Quaid-eAzam and Allama Iqbal.

The Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif further said that the message of Allama Iqbal is of self-respect and self-reliance and if this principle is adopted and collective efforts and thinking is developed, the country can be steered out of crises.

Earlier, when the Chief Minister reached Mazar-eIqbal, a smartly turned out contingent of Navy presented him salute while national anthem was played.