e-Paper April 15, 2015

ECP denotifies 11 ex-MPs Security plan for top political leadersNo vote seeking on basis of religion, sect STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The Election

Tribunal for hearing appeals against Sharifs changed ISLAMABAD—Election Commission has changed the tribunal for hearing the appeals against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif.

According to the notification issued on Sunday, the appeals against them have been transferred to the new tribunal comprising of Justice Nasir Saeed Shaikh and Justice Shahid Wahid.

Four appeals were filed against acceptance of nomination papers of Mian Nawaz Sharif from NA-120 Lahore.

Similarly, four appeals were filed against acceptance of candidature of Mian Shahbaz

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Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday denotified eleven former parliamentarians for having fake degrees. Five former lawmakers from Punjab assembly, two from Sindh assembly, one from Balochistan assembly and three from Senate have been disqualified by the commission.

Fake degree holders included former Senators Israrullah Khan Zehri, Rehana Yahya Baloch, Mohabbat Khan Mari and former provincial lawmakers included Samina Khawar Hayat, Seemal Kamran, Shumaila Rana, Shahina Khan, Rana Ijaz Ahmed Noon, Bashir Ahmed Khan, Nawabzada Tariq Magsi and Mir Nadir Magsi.

The commission also directed these disqualified lawmakers to return all amenities

KARACHI—Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim’s laptop has been stolen from the ECP office in Karachi.

According to a report, important data was stored on the CEC’s personal laptop when it was stolen. Sources have said that important documents were also stolen from the office during the break-in.—INP

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BISP stipend to be increased to Rs2,000 STAFF REPORTER

five-year term under the coura- the dust once again because the geous leadership of President masses have not forgotten their ISLAMABAD —The Pakistan murky past. Those who had been People’s Party chairman groomed by General Zia ul Haq Bilawal Bhutto has said the PPP and who had been vowing to would sweep the upcoming genfulfill the mission of the dictaeral elections with the support tor should stop portraying them of the people of Pakistan to form as the champions of democracy. the next government in They are trying to deceive the Islamabad once again to further people of Pakistan once again by take forward Pakistan in the stating that they would change community of nations in line their fate once given power. with the vision of the Shaheed Each time they took the reign of Benazir Bhutto and Shaheed power following some engiZulfikar Ali Bhutto. neered elections, the remnants of Bilawal Bhutto said that he General Zia did nothing for the would lead the election campoor masses”. paign of the PPP like her mother Bilawal Bhutto said, followBenazir Bhutto who laid down Asif Zardari and the party would ing the military takeover of her life for the cause of democ- bag the 2013 polls with a thump- 1999, the followers of General racy and for the people of Paki- ing majority. “The products of Zia who were impersonating stan. He said the PPP govern- Zia Martial Law who are dream- themselves as tigers, turned out ment successfully completed its ing of victory shall have to bite Continued on Page 6

ARACHI

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CEC’s laptop, important documents stolen

would be disqualified even after the clearance of their nomination papers and elections.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has drawn up a security plan for the top leadership of political parties during the election campaign.

Politicians have been placed in two categories and they would be given security as per the new plan and the authorities have started contacting these leaders.

According to sources, the Interior Ministry is working on emergency basis in coordination with the provincial governments to ensure security for the top leaders who have been placed in first category including Mian Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Faryal Talpur, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and others.

The act of seeking votes on

PPP to sweep general elections: Bilawal

MQM, PML-Q reiterate to support each other Drone strike K —Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and kills four in Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have reiterated to N Waziristan support each other on national issues. This was announced during a joint press conference after meeting with PML-Q delegation in Karachi on Sunday, by Deputy Convener of MQM Rabita Committee Dr. Farooq Sattar.

He said both the parties will keep in contact with each other on national issues to steer the country out of ongoing crises. He said MQM has informed PML-Q delegation about the threats received by it from terrorists.

Farooq Sattar said manifestos of MQM and PML-Q are similar.

He quoted Altaf Hussain as saying that an across the board operation against the terrorist elements should be launched in Karachi.

they had got during their regime.

The ECP had vowed that the process of scrutiny would continue even after the elections and those found to have deceived

MIRAMSHAH—A drone strike in Datakhel area of North Waziristan tribal region killed four persons on Sunday.

Political administration sources told that the drone targeted a compound with two missiles killing at least four persons all of whom belonged to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group operating in the area.

The last drone attack in the region that place on Mar 22.

North Waziristan region is close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and is one of the seven regions in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), governed by tribal laws.

Attacks by unmanned US

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Major terror bid foiled after heavy gunfire Car-load of explosives seized KARACHI—The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of police in Karachi conducted an operation in Surjani town area on Saturday/Sunday night and thwarted the possibility of a major terrorist attack. The explosives-laden car was seized by CID personnel after an exchange of fire with the terrorists in which one of the accused persons, Aslam Mehsud was killed and two others were injured.

Reportedly the CID personnel, who, following a tip-off, raided an area in Surjani town in search of an outlawed Tehrike-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideout, met ith heavy resistance as suspected terrorists used heavy

as well as long- arrel automatic weapons against them.

A sub-inspector of police, Khalid Saeed, a head constable, Punnu Khan and an approver, Gul Aslam, who came in the line of fire for not only not having enough cover but also for having been caught off-guard, took hits at the very outset of the clash. Reportedly they were sitting in a police vehicle. An alleged terrorist was also detained after the gun-battle.

The redeeming part of the ordeal was that amid the fierce gunfight, the CID, despite suffering two early non-fatal casualties, seized a car with explo-

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NAB scrutiny of candidates to begin after elections: Bokhari ISLAMABAD—The regulatory mechanism in the country has collapsed begetting corruption and corrupt practices in national institutions against what the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is promoting a culture of resilience. “NAB is contemplating to widen its scope down to district level to reach out the complaints of the general public and strengthen the regulatory and accountability system in the country,” Chairman NAB Admiral (Retired) Fasih Bokhari in an interview on Sunday.

He said the old mechanism

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ANP leaders targeted in Charsadda, Swat TARIQ SAEED PESHAWAR—Two bomb blasts one each at Charsadda and Swat targeting the Awami National Party leadership on Sunday left an ANP leader and dead and seriously injuring to four others including party candidate for PK -21 and former advisor to chief minister KP, Syed Masoom Shah.

The ANP leadership took strong exception to the withdrawal of security from the party leaders and demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan to immediately provide security to ANP leaders and candidates as they were on the hit list of the militants.

In the first incident a local leader of the ANP and member of the village defense commit-

tee Mukarram Shah defence blasted with the help of remote was killed when his vehicle was Continued on Page 6

Disgruntled PPP workers to rejoin party soon: Hassan M HALEEM ASAD T IMERGARA —Member of the PPP provincial parliamentary board and senator Ahmad Hassan Khan has said that according to party decision all tickets for national and provincial assemblies had been issued to former lawmakers. Addressing a workers convention at Bandagai Talash on Sunday the PPP leader said that all disgruntled party workers would soon join party ranks

Electioneering gears up Q UETTA —Political parties and their candidates for May 11 general elections have started opening their campaign offices for making contacts with the voters, following completion of the election commission scrutiny of nomination papers in Balochistan.

Like other parts in the country, the scrutiny of nomination papers by the returning officers across Balochistan have also been completed and the candidates whose nomination papers have been accepted are celebrating the event and started mass contact with the voters to win their hearts and minds.

Political observers say the contest in Balochistan would be hot and interesting as in addition to major national parties, nationalists are in the fray and hoping to bag maximum seats.

However they said that in Balochistan, votes are cast on the basis of tribes and except for a few surprises, most of the tribal chieftans are likely to return to the national and provincial assemblies.—INP

as their reservations would be resolved through jirgas.

Former provincial minister and PPP nominee for PK-94 Mahmood Zeb Khan, former naib nazim Azam Khan and others also addressed the gathering.

Senator Ahmad Hassan Khan said that the PPP was contesting the election without alliance with other parties in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the party would form next government in the province on

the bases of its past track record and achievements.

The PPP nominee and former provincial minister Mahmood Zeb claimed that renaming the province, getting due share in the NFC award, supply of Sui gas to Dir Lower and net profit of electricity were the achievements of the PPP. He said the ANP had been claiming this but the fact was that president Asif Ali Zardari had agreed to it.

He said he had got sanctioned from the government

58 primary schools, 15 higher secondary schools, 11 colleges, 5 new electricity feeders and install 400 power transformers in his constituency PK 94 during his last tenure as MPA and minister.

He said one billion rupees was being spent on Sui gas project in the district while more than 70,000 families were benefiting from the BISP programme of his government. He said people of the area would again trust him and he was sure to win the seat.

People express full confidence in Shahzada Amanur Rehman GUL HAMAAD FAROOQI C HITRAL—The residents of Town Area, Chitral, have expressed their full confidence in Shahzada Amanur Rehman, independent candidate from PK89. Addressing the elites of Chitral town area in a corner meeting leaders of different tribes said that they had examined different politicians but they frustrated Chitralis. They said that Shahzada Amanur Rehman belonged to a royal family and hoped that he would render services to residents of Sub-division Chitral and town area.

This was the second big

gathering after Lutkoh valley where a large number of people along with some elites of Lutkoh valley spoke on the occasion. They said that Lutkoh road was in a very dilapidated condition but former provincial Minister Saleem Khan failed to black top this road which links his own village.

Addressing the meeting Shahzada Amanur Rehman said that he was contesting elections only to serve his people. He said, “people of Chitral know that I need nothing from them but want to develop my area.” He said, “If I succeeded in general elec-

tion I will solve electricity, health, communication problems at Chitral.”

He said that upgradation of local hydro power house, schools, hospitals and improving of communication network was his top priority. He said that creating of separate district of Mastuj was also included in his manifesto and would try his best to declare Mastuj as a separate district so as to create new jobs opportunities for youth of Chitral.

A large number of leaders of different tribes from town area participated in corner-meetingcum-public meeting of Shahzada Amanur Rehman.

Rattodero-Gwadar M-8 completion within 3 months

houses LEAs foil terror bids in Several reduced to Bannu, Chaman, Gilgit ashes

ISLAMABAD—National Highway Authority (NHA) will complete the under-construction sections of Rattodero-Gwadar Motorway (M-8) within three months. The decision has been made following the directives of the Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso for early completion of ongoing projects in Balochistan, an official of NHA informed APP on Sunday.

About the present status of the M-8 he said that 60 per cent work on 54 km Gwadar-Dasht has been completed, while 64 pc work on 63 km Dasht-Turbat section has been completed.

60 pc work on 76 km Turbat-Hosbab section has been completed while on 50 km Khori-Wangu Hills 65 work has been completed,he added.—APP

B A N N U /Q UETTA /G ILGIT / containing metal ball-bearS WABI —aw enforcement ing.

Kamra: 184 polling stations declared sensitive

Dr Saleem -uz-Zaman remembered ISLAMABAD—Leading Pakistani scientist Dr. Saleem-uzZaman Siddiqui remembered on his 19th death anniversary today. Saleem-uz-Zaman Siddiqui was born in Subeha (Barabanki District) near Lucknow, India on 19 October 1897. He obtained his Doctorate degree from Germany in 1927, reported a private news channel.

He was the founder member of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, and remain the Chairman of the drafting committee of the Pakistan Science Commission, Chairman of the Pakistan Council of Science & Technology, Director Institute of Chemistry and the founder of Hussain Ibrahim Institute of Chemistry.

He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1961. He published over 400 research papers.

Siddiqui died on 14 April 1994 due to cardiac arrest after a brief illness in Karachi.—APP

HYDERABAD: PPP Hyderabad District President Zahid Bhurgari announcing party candidates of district Hyderabad during a press conference at Qasimabad.

agencies (LEAs) foiled multiple terrorism attempts in Bannu, Gilgit, and Chaman towns as they recovered and defused bombs from different public places.Bannu was saved from a major terrorism bid as police found two bombs fitted on two separate motorbikes near a crowded bus stand.

Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) said the bombs weighted about 45 and 10 kilograms. A bomb fitted on a motorbike was recovered near FC check post in PakAfghan border town of Chaman.

In Gilgit, police said bomb disposal squad found a two kilogram bomb was recovered in a suspected shopping bag outside the house of JUI’s member of Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) Rahmat Khaliq,

Meanwhile, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) here Sunday averted a possible bid of terrorism by defusing a bomb planted in the under construction house of Muhmmad Naeem Khan, the candidate of PPP for NA-13.

According to Police Station Chota Lahore, unknown miscreants planted a bomb in the house of Naeem Khan situated near Government Degree College.

After receiving the information regarding presence of a suspected object, police and officials of BDS rushed on the spot and found a 5 Kg bomb that was concealed in a pressure cooker. The BDS squad recovered the bomb and later defused it successfully. Police have registered the case against unknown miscreants and started investigations.—Agencies

KAMRA CANTT—As many as

MULTAN: Women taking interest in the items displayed during Cultural Exhibition organized by NPO and USAID in Multan.

Record 55 women contesting on general seats in KP I SLAMABAD —A total of 55 covering candidates. Many seats Yasmin Sherazi, Asma women candidates are participating on 20 National and 35 Provincial assembly seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhaw and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the upcoming general elections. Such a huge number of women are participating on general seats first time in country’s history.

KP and FATA have 47 National and 99 Provincial assembly seats. Political parties have reposed confidence on women candidates and awarded them tickets. A predominant majority of women have submitted their nomination papers as

women are participating in the elections as independent candidate.

Candidates including Asma Alamgir, Fiza Tariq, Tabana, Anila Shaheed, Najma Zaib, Shazia Aurangzeb, Mumlakat Bashir, Khurshid Begum, Nusrat Anjum, Rabia, Irum Fatima, Noor ul Huda , Musarrat Shaheen, Hazrat Bibi, Maqbool Bibi, Nusrat Begum , Saadia Jan and Badam Zari will participate from Bajaur Agency are in the run for National Assembly.

For Provincial Assembly

Alamgir, Robina Shaheen, Dilbara, Samina Naz, Emarat Khan, Nusrat Azad, Zeenat Begum, Mehr Gul, Musarrat Shafi, Shagufta Begum, Mehr Sultana, Farzana Mushtaq, Naeema Shaheen, Sajida Masood, Faiza Bibi, Syeda Bukhtawar Shah, Noor ul Ain, Raasia Dawood, Arsheed Bibi, Gulshan Bibi, Napaid Bukhari, Shaheena Khan, Yasmin Bibi, Syeda Batool Nasir, Gulana Bibi, Amber Jan , Hazrat Bibi, Yasmir Zia, Bukhtawar Ali, Hafiqa, Asma Mehmood and Fazla Akbar are among the participating candidates.—APP

184 polling stations, out of total 788, have been declared very sensitive for the election2013, where army and Rangers would be deployed besides taking others extra security measures to ensure holding of May 11’s election process in very peaceful and discipline manner.

It was disclosed by the district Returning officer (DRO) Attock Mujahid Mustaqeem Ahmed while briefing local newsmen here on Thursday about the major key’s measures for election-2013.

The DRO Mr Mustaqeem, who is also the district and Sessions Judge Attock, has informed that out of total 184 sensitive ( A-category) polling stations, the 42 polling stations are in NA-57 Attock-1, 98 in NA -58 Attock-II and 44 are in NA59 Attock-III. Owing the situation, the six companies of Army and 10 companies of Rangers have already been demanded from the concerned higher authorities of the government for it provision to ensure foolproof security of such sensitive polling stations, he further CHAMAN: Security officials stand near a motorcycle in said. —Online which a bomb was planted. The bomb was defused near FC checkpost situated in the Chaman area near Pak-Afghan border.

HEC focuses on increasing access to higher education Officials asked to I SLAMABAD —The Higher Under faculty development scholarships Education Commission (HEC), in its effort to increase access to higher education in far flung areas of the country, has established 55 new university campuses including 31 in rural areas in the recent years. An official of HEC told APP that around 49 development projects amounting to more than Rs. 10 billion have been approved so far in Balochistan.

The federal quota policy has been applied over indigenous and foreign scholarship programmes with the efforts of HEC to enable and encourage the youth from Balochistan to avail exclusive scholarship opportunities, the official said.

programs, 390 PhD scholarships have been allocated for the faculty members belonging to various higher education institutions of the province.

The faculty development programme will equip them with latest knowledge and expertise at leading universities of academically advanced countries. The official informed that HEC has already awarded 2,000 scholarships to students of Balochistan and FATA under the project “Provision of Higher Education Opportunities for Balochistan and FATA” during the last four years.

Under second and new phase of the project, 1500 more

would be awarded to the students of Balochistan and FATA. Besides, 600 Masters leading to PhD scholarships for the natives of Balochistan province have been announced under the “Aghaz-e-Haqooq-eBalochistan Package” with a cost of Rs. 3,138.692 million.

Commenting on HEC initiatives for Balochistan province, Chairperson HEC, Dr. Javaid R. Laghari said that all the federal units have effective representation in 17 members’ governing board of HEC and National Scholarship Management Committee, the main decision making body. Through the Steering Committee, which comprises of all provincial sec-

retaries of education, HEC is closely working with the provincial governments to evolve joint strategy for promotion of higher education in the country.

He informed that more than 10,000 Need Based Scholarships are being awarded to the talented but financially constrained students belonging to far flung and remote areas of the country with special emphasis over Balochistan, Interior Sindh, South Punjab and FATA. As an outcome of decade long useful initiatives, enrollment at the universities of Balochistan have increased from 4400 to 11300 while the number of universities has been increased from two to

seven including first women university of Balochistan.

HEC has launched special projects for the development of basic infrastructure at higher education institutions of the province including labs, class rooms, seminars rooms, labs, transport facilities, digital libraries, video conferencing facility etc. He stressed upon the scholars and youth of all provinces to avail all HEC opportunities and play their pivotal role for the development of their region and the country. He reiterated HEC’ commitment towards equitable access to higher education especially to marginalized segments of the society.—APP

facilitate ECP

HYDERABAD—Caretaker Sindh ensure proper investigation if Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Zahid Qurban Alvi has directed the officials concerned that besides maintaining law and order situation in their jurisdictions, they should also acilitate the Election Commission of Pakistan in monitoring the observance of the code of conduct by candidates. In a meeting with the officers of Revenue Department and Sindh Police, Mirpurkhas Division, at Circuit House Hyderabad, he said sensitive polling stations should be identified and precautionary measures at such stations be taken in advance.

He asked police officers to

any incident is reported. Commissioner Mirpurkhas Ghulam Hussain Memon, briefing the Chief Minister, said all logistic support has been provided to District Returning Officers and other officers of the ECP. He said that ECP’s monitoring committees constituted to check whether code of conduct is being followed, have been provided vehicles and visual cameras.

DIG Police Mirpurkhas Muneer Ahmed Shaikh in his briefing said in addition to 5,848 police personnel, 3,000 Rangers will be deployed to maintain law and order during elections.—APP

NAZIR SIYAL LARKANA—Two women and children fainted and household valuables worth millions of rupees were reduced to ashes, when a fire broke out in Katcha houses at Rasool Abad, a Muhalla of Larkana city on Sunday. The flames engulfed several houses in Larkana city and reduced valuables worth millions of rupees to ashes. Two women and children fell unconscious due to heavy smoke in the air, while trying to extinguish the fire at their own houses by the dwellers they also received burn injuries.

The rescue officials and fire fighting team, could not reach in time at the scene, which resulted in burning of valuables. They injured were shifted to Chandka Medical College Hospital Larkana in an emergency ward.

It is a fact that lack of seriousness of healthcare policy makers of Sindh province is evident from the fact that despite passage of seven years no action has been taken to set up burns centers in major teaching hospitals of interior Sindh particularly in Larkana.

ANP demands security from government I S L A M A B A D —Vice President Awami National Party Haji Adeel condemning the assassination of ANP leader Mukarram Shah in Swat on Sunday urged the interim government to provide fool-proof security to leaders and candidates of his party.

Talking to APP, he said that ANP leaders had been receiving threats from terrorists and it was very difficult for the party’s candidates to run election campaigns and hold public rallies for mobilizing people.

He said ANP leaders faced threats from terrorists because of the party’s categoric stance against militancy in the province.

“We are being targeted as our government wiped terrorists out of Malakand Division and took military action against terrorists across the province,” he said.

Mukarram Shah is the second ANP leader who fell victim to terrorists before elections. Former KhyberPakhtunkhwa ANP’s MPA Adnan Wazir was killed in a remote-controlled bomb explosion in Frontier Region (FR) Bannu when he was on his way to attend a public gathering.

A former ANP agriculture minister Arbab Ayub Jan survived assassination bid on Friday in the jurisdiction of Chamkani Police Station, Peshawar.

Haji Adeel said such coward attacks would not deter the party from contesting elections. —APP

2 sisters die of measles Seraiki province just demand: Gilani MULTAN—Former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said Sunday that Pakistan Peoples Party is sincere in establishing Seraiki province and if voted to power, it would give top priority to it.

Talking to media persons in Multan, he said that the people of south Punjab have a sense of deprivation for a long time and only solace was to establish a separate ‘Seraiki’ province for them. To a question, Gilani said Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had laid down their lives for Pakistan and democracy. Gilani said the Saraiki Province will be established smoothly if the PMLN supports its creation. He said the PPP is sincere in establishing the Saraiki province and if voted to power‚ it would give top priority to this issue. Meanwhile, Senior Vice Chairman Pakisatan Peoples Party (PPP) and former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that PPP will win the elections on the basis of its performance and hoped that masses would give them the mandate again. Talking to journalists after offering condolence with the family members of Pakistan Seraiki Party (PSP) chief Barrister Taaj Muhammad Langah over his death, he said that PSP chief fought about 40 years for the right of people of South Punjab. He said that PSP Chief’s mission would be continued and hoped that the depriviations of the people of this area would be end soon. On a question about seraiki province, Gilani said that PPP had passed resolutions for the establishment of seraiki province and it could be establisehd easily if PML-N did not create hurdles. He said that PPP leadership was sincere and establishment of seraiki province would be at PPP’s top priority if the masses would given them the mandate again in elections. Gilani said that PPP was an idiological party and added that Shaheed Z.A Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto rendered sacrifices for the right of common man.—Agencies

PML-N ray of hope A BBOTTABAD —Pakistan

Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for NA-17 Sardar Mehtab Khan claimed that his party would put the country on the right track. Addressing a public gathering here Saturday he claimed PML-N was the only hope for the masses in the forthcoming elections. He also vowed economic boost in the country by creating employment and eliminating the load shedding. He pledged if people voted for his party, PML-N would take steps for the creation of Hazara province. PML-N leader claimed that PMLN has always created employment, health, education, road infrastructure and basic facilities of life for the masses. He urged people to vote for their party if they wanted a prosperous Pakistan. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) will formally launch its campaign for general elections by next week. “Party chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will lead the campaign and address public gatherings and rallies throughout the country,” PML-N Secretary Information, Mushahid Ullah Khan told APP on Sunday. He said the party was all set to announce final candidates for general elections shortly, adding that a large number of tickets would be awarded to youth and educated applicants. Mushahid Ullah said that the delay in the announcement of final candidates for National Assembly and provincial assemblies was due the process of negotiations with political parties. Secretary Information rejected the perception that PML-N was not giving any importance to political alliances with any party for elections on the basis of survey reports.—APP

AJK govt for more power projects

QUETTA: Relatives of missing persons make victory sign at their protest camp.

Five shot dead in clash

Youth ready for change ISLAMABAD —Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

of the diseased in different areas of the province since Jan 1st, 2013.

However, despite loss of precious lives, the Provincial health ministry has taken not step any on ground to curb the spread of the epidemic which has increased the fear among the people of the area.

Sources said that around 2,558 children suffering from measles had been admitted in various hospitals of the city since January. They said that a majority of the affected children had not been vaccinated during the routine immunisation coverage, which was the main reason behind the outbreak of the disease across the prov-ince.

Meanwhile, the caretaker government of the province took strict notice of the spread of the disease in various areas of the province and directed the Health Department to take immediate steps for its prevention.—INP

Scattered rain likely

G ILGIT /B OLAN /S IALKOT / val group set ablaze house against the culprits at con- M ULTAN —Bangladesh Am- I SLAMABAD—A fresh west- southern parts of the counof opponent gutting the cerned police station and in—Five persons of two families including a woman and a child were shot dead while four others were seriously injured in a clash between two groups in remote Thore valley.

According to police, two minors scuffled while returning home from school on Saturday and later their elders joined them with guns and opened fire on each other. As a result, five persons were killed and four others were seriously injured. No case was registered till filing of this report.

INP adds: At least two persons were killed in exchange of fire between two rival groups here on Sunday.

The enraged people torched the houses of opponent group. According to police, the incident took place in village Thor Nullah, district Diamer of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) where armed men of two groups which were in old enmity traded fire. Two men were killed in the fire exchange.

The enraged people of ri-

house holds. Heavy contingent of police reached the scene and brought the situation under control. A case has been registered against members of both groups and investigations were in progress.

Bolan: At least three persons including a retired employee of district government and his son were killed in firing incident over personal enmity here on Sunday. According to Levies sources, armed men of rival group opened fire over opponents in Goth Shadi Khan locality of Bala Narri in district Bolan of Balochistan.

As a result of firing three people including Rehmatullah, a retire district officer of local government, his son and a servant will killed on the spot. The accused fled the scene after committing triple murder. The Levies personnel shifted the bodies to hospital for medico-legal-requirement. A case has been registered

vestigations were underway.

Meanwhile, it is reported from Sialkot that three teenaged sisters and a brother died while another was injured in a house roof collapse in the outskirt village here on Sunday morning. The unfortunate incident took place in Khokhar village in the outskirts of Sialkot.

Rescue sources told four sisters and brother—Khalid, 10, Zainab, 6, Amina, 5 and Zulekha, 3 were buried under the debris as the mud roof of their house collapsed in the outskirt village Khokhar.

Rescue team reaching the site of incident started the relief work, however, Khalid, Amina and Zainab could not be saved, while the wounded Zulekha was retrieved from the debris, who was shifted to the District Headquarter Hospital. Rescue sources said that the incident occurred due to dilapidated condition of the roof. The injured has been shifted to a local hospital for treatment.—Agencies

bassador in Pakistan Suhrab Hossain is scheduled to visit the Multan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) on April 16. Sources at MCCI told APP on Sunday the Bangladash ambassador would meet MCCI members followed by a question-answer session.

Suhrab Hossain will also visit two industrial units of Multan and is likely to visit the Bahawalpur Chambers of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) on April 17, they added. Agri Mela on Sept 21: World Food & Agriculture Organization will organise an “Agri Mela” at CCRI Multan on Sept 21 to create awareness among growers of latest agriculture technologies.—APP

ern disturbance will affect the northern parts of the country from Monday night and cause scattered rain and thunderstorm with gusty winds in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and some parts of Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

An official of Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday told APP that the scattered rains are expected from Monday night till Wednesday.

The official said hot and dry weather will prevail in other parts of the country especially in Sindh and Balochistan during the next few days.

The temperatures will slightly increase in the

try during the next 24 hours.

The maximum temperatures recorded during the last

24 hours in the main cities were Islamabad 31C, Lahore 34C, Karachi 35C, Peshawar 31C, Quetta 20C, Skardu 23C, Gilgit Baltistan 27C Murree 19C, Muzaffarabad 31C,, Faisalabad 35C, Multan 36C and Hyderabad 41C. The pollen count in Islamabad 619 per cubic meter.—APP

4-day peace festival at Lower Dir begins

M U Z A F FA R A B A D –Azad Jammu and P ESHAWAR —The colourful sion Commandant Dir Scout

Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed has said government is utilizing all the resources for the completion of reconstruction projects on priority basis in the quake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir.

Talking to a public delegation in Muzaffarabad‚ he said billions of rupees are being spent for completion of projects under Muzaffarabad city development Project and concerned authorities have been directed to ensure their timely completion. He said work is in progress to complete by pass road to overcome traffic jams in Muzaffarabad. He said Parking Plazas and a modern tourist complex would be constructed in Muzaffarabad soon. Chaudhry Abdul Majid said government is taking measures to set up more power projects to meet the power requirement at local level. He said agreement of Neelum-Jhelum project would be inked soon and assured that problems of project affectees would be addressed. Meanwhile, it is reported that Chairman Standing Committee AJK Council Sardar Saghir Ahmed inaugurated the AJK Council stall at business expo at the Convention Centre here on Saturday. The stall was set up by the teachers and students of various girls vocational centres under the administrative control of AJK Council Secretariat, said a press release.

These girls vocational centres are located in various cities of AJK and Pakistan. Various products with Kashmiri touch produced by the girls vocational centres were exhibited at the AJK Council stall.—Agencies

BD envoy due in Multan on 16th

MUZAFFARGARH/LAHORE— Despite caretaker provincial government and health ministry’s claims of providing medicines against the disease, two real sisters died of measles and several other children affected in different areas of the province on Sunday.

According to details, two real sisters identified as Shahana, 06, and 3-year-old Farzana hailing from tehsil Ali Pur of Muzaffargarh district died of measles while the epidemics was diagnosed in several other children of the area.

Reports said measles have been confirmed in more than ten other children of the area. The affected children were admitted in various hospitals.

Meanwhile, 21 children were hospitalized after measles was detected in them. It should be mentioned that more than four thousand children have been affected

four-day Peace Festival at Lower Dir got under way at Football ground amidst fun and joys with thousands of spectators turned up. The Peace Festival was formally inaugurated by two youngsters Farman Ullah and Hashmat Ali, who were disabled as result of bomb blast and electrocution. The opening ceremony was also attended by school children, besides officials from Pakistan Army, elders of the area and people from different walk of life.

Speaking on this occa-

Col. Kamran Aslam said that completed peace has been restored to Dir Lower and now there is peace in the area like other part of the country. He said for the restoration of peace people hailing from Dir Lower, jawans of security forces and police rendered great sacrifices.

He underlined the importance of education and that is why most of the schools in Dir Lower have been rehabilitated in order to provide education to the youth of the area.

He said no nation could progress without education.

He said holding of the Peace Festival is to bring smile back on the faces of our youth who were traumatized due to insurgency and militancy besides promoting cultural activities in the area.

The opening ceremony also carried Khattak Dance, demonstration of para-gliding and national songs. The kids also took keen interest.

The schools kids presented national songs amidst tight security arrangements were made by the civil and security forces.—APP

HASSANABDAL: Sikh pilgrims performing rituals during Besakhi festival celebrations at Gurdwara Panja Sahab, Hassan Abdal.

2-hour reduction in load shedding announced

Int’l Medical Education, Research Conference opens

PESHAWAR—Vice Chancellor ing scenario.

Dr Hafeezullah said that HYDERABAD—The Chief Ex- Khyber Medical University, ecutive of the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) announced a two-hour reduction in eight hours load management in Hyderabad.

According to a spokesman, the decision was taken after Chairman HCCI SubCommittee on HESCO Abdul Sattar Khan in a meeting with HESCO Chief Executive Muzaffar Ali Abbasi on Saturday apprised him of the hardships faced by the business community due to loadshedding.

He also directed executive engineers and sub-divisional officers to check the entire network and installations of the power utility to avoid any inconvenience to the people during summer season. AJK Transport Authority official Mirza Azher electrocuted: Mirza Azher Mahmood Jiral, an official of the AJK Transport Authority.—APP

(PTI) Senior Leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Sunday that the youth would play a vital role in ushering a new era of change in the country. Talking to APP, he said that the obsolete and corrupt political system would end through new political reformation. To a question, he said PTI expects a 60 to 70 percent voter’s turnout and the party is going to sweep the general elections. To another question, Qureshi said that his party’s win would LOWER DIR: A special child cutting ribbon to inaugurate Dir Aman Saqafti Mela. ensure the supremacy of law and constitution in the country. Earlier addressing a meeting in NA-150, he also criticised the PML-N leadership for what he called deceiving people of the region. He claimed that the PTI would never betray the masses if it came to power after general elections. again but to no avail. “I have tion papers which have been ership if she was not Qureshi alleged that the sons of former Prime Minister M HALEEM ASAD not contacted Imran Khan di- accepted by district return- awarded the ticket.

Yusuf Raza Gilani were involved in ephedrine and Haj corruption scandals. Qadir Gilani and Musa Gilani would have T IMERGARA —The first rectly so far,” she said, add- ing officer Dir Lower peer to return taxpayers’ money one day, he claimed. He urged woman in the history of Dir ing that other party leaders Bakhash. The party has now the people to elect clean people for a better tomorrow. The Lower, Nusrat Begum who were asking her to withdraw awarded ticket to another member Bashir Khan. “My former foreign minister lamented that about Rs 72 billion, had filed nomination papers her nomination papers.

Nusrat Begum has been candidature is in danger if I which was more than the total education and health bud- to contest the upcoming get in South Punjab, was spent only on one development general elections in NA-34 an active member of the PTI was not awarded party project in Lahore. He charged most of the development seat, has appealed to chair- and became its district vice ticket,” she said, adding that budget of south Punjab was shifted to Lahore on the di- man of the Pakistan Tehrek president for Dir Lower dur- for this purpose she visited party office at rectives of the PML-N leadership. He criticised PML-N Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan to ing recent intra-party election the legislators who were elected from south Punjab but kept review party decision about while defeating her male coun- Islamabad and requested for quiet on the exploitation of their land. Meanwhile, Shah awarding ticket in her con- terparts. She filed nomination party ticket but her request Mahmood Qureswhi also visited Ghauspura in NA-150 stituency. Talking to this re- papers for NA 34 seat when was turned down by the where he addressed a public gathering. He urged people porter at her one room house the election commission of leaders. Now Imran Khan to reject people who had failed to deliver. Many local com- at Warsak Adenzai, Mrs Pakistan announced sched- was his last ray of hope for getting ticket, she said, addmunities including the Ansaris, Khokhars and others an- Nusrat Begum said that she ule for May 11 election.

She mentioned the PTI ing that she would ultimately nounced their support to the PTI candidate in the con- had been contacting the PTI She said she was commitstituency.—APP leaders for ticket time and as her party in her nomina- dare to expose the party lead-

Dr Muhammad Hafizullah here Sunday said that holding of International Medical Education & Research Conference would not only supplement the capabilities of our researchers and medical professionals but also help in improving the sector of medical education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He expressed these views in the inauguration ceremony of three-day International Medical Education & Research Conference. The VC said we are facing the dearth of teachers in medical sector and technical experts are capable of competing foreign medical professionals.

He highlighted the need of improving medical curriculum to make it more result oriented regarding preventive and precautionary measures and said that treatment of diseases is the main focus of health professionals in exist-

education process is based on three important factors including education, curriculum and examination, adding harmonization of these three factors would pave the way for achieving desired results.

He said that keeping in view the significance education, curriculum and examination; Institute of Health Profession Education has been established under which education of Master Level would be given to 20 health professionals annually in the first phase. He said PhD, M.Phil and short courses would also be started in the institution.

The ceremony was also attended by former Principal of KMC; Dr Siraj Ahmad, Prof. Dr Gohar Wajid, Prof. Dr Idrees Anwar, Dr Fazal Mehmood, Director Academics Prof. Dr Shad Muhammad and renowned medical professionals.—APP

Nusrat urges Imran to review party ticket decision ted to contest the upcoming election at any cost. “I will contest it as an independent candidate if the election commission allowed me and the party refused to accept me as its candidate for NA 34,” she said. She disclosed that some of the party leaders were denying party ticket to her on the ground that Dir Lower was a militants’ infested area and she could face threat. “I am not afraid of anyone except Almighty Allah. My life and death is in the hands of Almighty Allah and no one can harm me,” she reiterated.

About her election campaign,

she said that she had visited several areas of the Dir Lower where women and men had promised her to vote for her.

“I want to solve the problems being faced by women, children and jobless youth if elected as MNA,” she said, adding that women and children rights were being exploited in the area and she wanted to struggle for them.

She also appealed to the Election Commission of Pakistan to allow her to contest the upcoming election as independent candidate if the PTI’s chief Imran Khan too refused to award ticket to her.

Defaulters of all sorts escaping net

MEDIA WATCH

A WikiLeaks way out

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EFORE the announcement of elections, hype was built up that de faulters, corrupt and tax evaders would have no scope to escape when strict scrutiny would be carried out under articles 62 and 63 of the constitution. Some of the big thieves did not file their nomination papers while those of many others were rejected by the Returning Officers but with the passage of time it appears that the old faces are in the fray and return to the elected houses.

After the march of Dr Tahirul Qadri against corruption and the determination of the Election Commission, the whole of Pakistan stood up against corruption and it was believed that the defaulters whose number runs into thousands would be weeded out and debarred from the national politics.

But after the dust settled down, it looks that those against whom there were number of cases of corruption and default have escaped the net. After going through the details of assets of the candidates as published in the media, people were astonished that our parliamentarians were poor people having only a few lakhs in their bank accounts. But the fact is that they gave wrong estimates of the bank accounts and properties at prime locations in major cities in a couple of millions where as according to market rates they are in hundreds of millions and they are keeping accounts abroad.

This was another corruption and those giving false information cannot be considered as “Sadiq and Ameen” and hence disqualified from contesting elections. Majority of the candidates are non filers of tax and the authorities are failing to question from where they are meeting massive election expenses. NAB, State Bank and FBR have shut their eyes to this mega corruption after giving the lists of defaulters and taking no action.

The utility services like power, gas, telephone and others also did not avail the opportunity to recover their dues from the heavy weights. In this scenario, people are justified to say why they pay the taxes for the corruption and luxurious lifestyle of legislators who while in power hardly contributed anything worthwhile for the masses and enhanced their perks and privileges for a lifetime.

Terrorism re-raising its ugly head in KPK S

INCE 9/11, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa(KPK) has suffered a lot due to acts of terrorism as people gave supreme sacrifices including loss of innocent lives and destruction of infrastructure. Despite threats and destruction, people of KPK and FATA stood fast to defeat the menace, millions had to leave their homes and were still staying in camps or with relatives and in rented houses.

Several senior level political leaders, security officials and ordinary citizens were martyred in the explosions and suicide bombing. Due to the firm resolve of the security forces and the people, the militants could not dictate their terms and the situation gradually started improving in Malakand, Swat, Buner and FATA. Though stray incidents of terrorism continued yet over the past few months the situation was somewhat under control. But with elections approaching, the terrorism appears to be re-raising its ugly head and on Saturday there were a string of incidents including the powerful blast that ripped through a passenger van in the bazaar of the militancy hit Matani village near Peshawar claiming more than ten lives. Taliban militants are opposed to the holding of elections and they have hurled open threats to target political leaders and candidates. Some attacks by them on the contesting candidates have been foiled but there is danger that there would be more attacks at the public meetings and other places to create an atmosphere of scare. It may have dampening effect on the turn out of voters during elections. A few blasts on election day or ahead of elections would keep the people away from polling stations. Therefore we would stress that the authorities should devise a strategy to ensure foolproof security arrangements in and around the polling stations so that people feel themselves secure while going to the polling booths.

Dampening fall in forex reserves T

HE State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in its second quarterly report has emphasised that the government must prioritise addressing stubborn structural problems in public sector enterprises and energy sector and to enhance revenue collection to overcome the economic crisis. The report warned that the dismal revenue collection might result in a huge fiscal deficit during the current financial year.

One may appreciate that the SBP has taken a critical stock of the economy and particularly the tax collection and fall in forex reserves which have come down to the alarming level of below $ 12 billion. The Bank projected that the external sector of economy will remain precarious unless fresh foreign inflows build up the foreign exchange reserves.

Though remittances by overseas Pakistanis are on the increase, exports are not matching with imports and foreign investment is not coming and as a result the outlook in balance of payments is depressing. In addition the country will have to repay around $ 900 million to the IMF before June that would put additional burden on the forex reserves. The question arises why the economy is on the downslide? The answer is simple because the focus of the government had not been on economy but to remain in office at whatever the cost. It did not initiate much needed structural reforms in public sector enterprises and energy sector and continued to political point scoring in the garb of democracy. What was more astonishing was that despite reduction in tax collection, the government reduced taxes on several products. Anyhow, we hope the next government would pay due attention to address the ills in the economy and put it on the path of growth.

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Beyond elections: National priorities Iqbal Khan Email:tweets @wonderous101

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ith each passing day, post elections political land scape, at the national level, is becoming more and more predictable. It is now time to evolve a near consensus based national manifesto which post elections’ government should be able to pursue, irrespective of its composition. Hopefully, elections would be fair and credible; and the law and order situation would remain manageable during the electoral campaigns.

It is likely that around 60-70% of the outgoing parliamentarians would be able to make a comeback, thanks to their individual standing in respective constituencies. Party positions would alter, though not drastically. Hence, there would be continuity in the collective mindset and working culture of the upcoming parliament. Most likely, it would be another hung parliament, throwing up a shaky coalitions and a weak government. Keeping in view the post 18th Constitutional Amendment limits on the cabinet size, it would be difficult for the government to woo, glue and maintain the coalitions. To stay in power, single majority party will have to walk a tight rope and make compromises.

Therefore, any meaningful corrective reforms or even bold course corrections may not be possible in a single package format.

Yet, there would be ample political space to carryout incremental yet meaningful course corrections.

Manifestoes launched by various political parties, promise a bright future and cover most of areas of public interest. Manifestoes of the major contesting political parties are quite similar in substance and only

very symbolically and rhetorically.

Indeed these resemble over-blown advertisements of a mediocre brand.

Nevertheless, common ground in the manifestoes of major political parties provide adequate tactical spaces for a wide range of possibilities for coalition forming by agreeing on minimum common agenda for reform, development and forward movement.

Parties aspiring to lead the post elections’ government should evolve a near consensus based national agenda in the context of global, regional and domestic scenarios; it is a difficult but not an impossible task.

Challenges facing the country are: war (on terror) fatigue, weak economy; disdainful law and order situation; poor governance; gross negligence in the areas of social security, Human Resource Development; low quality services etc. Contributing factors are: energy crisis; spill over effects of foreign occupation of Afghanistan; rampant financial corruption; dysfunctional lower judiciary, political appointments against professional slots etc.

Undoubtedly, terrorism is a threat, which has to be tackled in a prudent manner; focusing upon its causes and not merely its manifestations. It is indeed a political problem and there can be no military solution to a political problem. So called war on terror has exacted a huge toll on our nationhood, both in tangible and intangible ways. It has seriously eroded public confidence in the ruling classes. A large number of people think that their leadership is not making decisions on the basis of national interest. Pakistan needs to extricate itself from this unfortunate situation through a consensus based multidimensional strategy. It is a task easier said than done. Deterioration of law and order is directly related to our involvement in this futile and open ended war. Extremely bad gover-

nance, wrought with corruption and compromises, in the name of continuity of democracy, have driven the country to an unenviable reputation.

This has given rise to several crises having long-term implications like: erosion of our sovereignty, downslide in economic growth, unhealthy wrangling between state institutions, and haziness in our identity as a nation.

There is a need for robust governance reforms covering domains like right sizing, transparency of information and merit based recruitment etc.

Moreover, there are serious public level apprehensions, some real some imaginary, about the role of intelligence agencies in civil, political and regional affairs. Detractors have been able to portray a sustained negative image of the armed forces in the context of Baluchistan, especially on the issue of missing persons. Hence, trust deficit between the military and the people has increased over the years. Civil-Military relationship have survived numerous jerks over the past five years, however, it does not mean that these do not need a structural review. Our Higher Defence Organization is based on a outdated model; it certainly needs a major revamping/reworking.

Executive-Judiciary tussle for turfs has occupied the centre stage of public focus since General Musharraf days. Judicial activism became necessary because of the failure of Executive to function within the acceptable norms and traditions. This certainly contributed towards strengthening the rule of law. However, most of the judiciary’s landmark decision remained unimplemented at least in their true spirit. Elusive and cunnings executive was able to outmanoeuvre the judicial verdicts. Especially the anti-climax of Swiss accounts case has not gone down well with the public. Moreover, structural and other limitations of the lower judiciary con-

tinue to haunt the provision of speedy justice to common man.

There is a need to take a fresh look at the judicial structures and make it accessible, affordable and time bound.

Energy crisis has virtually disrupted the economy and has adversely impacted the living conditions. Ironically, as of today electricity generation capacity far exceeds the peak summer demand. Core issue is that consumers cannot pay for the actual generation cost and government does not have the financial capacity to foot the cost of requisite subsidy. There is a need to look for ways and means for generating electricity through cheaper means.

Province-local government level relationship is another sore area which has effectively blocked the grass root level devolution of democracy. It goes to the discredit of national political leadership that no civilian government has ever conducted local bodies’ elections. As a result, municipal services have degenerated over the years. Sustainable resurrection of this tier of democracy is long overdue.

Freedom of media is essential for flourishing of free thinking and intellectual honesty. Unfortunately the pendulum has swung to the other extreme —unlimited freedom. Our media has become excessively corporatized, whereby even core national interests take a second priority. An effective non-government Media regulator is now a necessity.

Those who finally qualify to form the next government would essentially have to face daunting challenges. Their homework should be solid, precise and professional, churning out practicable and sustainable remedies to these challenges.

—The writer is consultant Policy and Strategic Response, IPRI.

Complexities of Afghan conflict Dr Raja Muhammad Khan Email: drmk_edu@yahoo.com

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ccording to New York Times, “Taliban insurgents dealt a serious blow to one of the Afghan Army’s most highly regarded units on Friday (April 5, 2013), killing 13 soldiers and overrunning their remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan.” This attack was on the Third Battalion of the Second Brigade, which was rated by US commanders as the only a handful of Afghan Army battalions which can operate independently; indeed the best trained and equipped with most sophisticated weapons and equipment. This and many other such like attacks by Taliban have created alarms, whether Afghan Security Forces, would be able to control the Afghanistan in the post 2014 scenario. It is worth mentioning that, over 80% security responsibilities have already been transferred to Afghan Security Forces and remaining 20% responsibilities are going to be transferred to them in next few months.

As per the ISAF spokesperson, Colonel Thomas, “We know the enemy’s going to come out hard this summer, so the numbers are going to go up.” Indeed, as per Afghan Government in 2012, only, Afghan army lost 1000 soldiers and Afghan police lost 1800 men. Afghan Army spokesperson Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, told NATO Headquarters that, “110 soldiers and 200 policemen were dying each month.”

In the last over, 11 years of military engagement in Afghanistan, United States and its allies have lost over 3100 soldiers besides over 18000

wounded. The number of Afghan civilian who lost their lives in the post US invasion is still unsure. Financially, US alone has expended over $527 billion, besides, the allies have spent $73 billion as aid to Afghanistan, without bringing any positive change in the lives of Afghan masses.

With all these realities, has United States and its allies attained the strategic objectives of the war.

More than this had this super power brought any positive change in the lives of Afghan people, as portrayed initially and now claimed. With the available facts and figures, there is a broad consensus that, “After 12 years of bloody conflict in Afghanistan, US could not attained its objectives.”

Whereas, Al-Qaeda might have scattered world over, the Taliban has become stronger and active as compared to 2002-2005. It is a considered view that, Afghan Security Forces are unlikely to sustain the Taliban offensive in the post 2014 scenario, after US drawdown.

The envisaged situation would not be very different from the post Soviet withdrawal; a factional fighting and civil war for the racing to take control of Kabul. This would mean that all that has occurred and invested in the last over twelve years have gone waste. As per the Telegraph article of April 11, 2013, the writer Con Coughlin writes, “Britain’s Afghan war is over – but there is still no sign of peace.” The paper foresees that unless a deal is brokered between Taliban and Hamid Karazai, “there may well be another civil war.” Should this be allowed to happen once again; as a destiny of the Afghan people, who suffered ever since 1979, Soviet invasion, indeed, in the clash of major powers over their strategic interests.

The fragmented and isolated dialogue process-taking place between United States and Taliban has not yielded any promising outcome as yet. A similar exercise between Afghan incumbent Government and some Taliban groups could not made headway, despite Karazai’s visit to Qatar, where there is Taliban office established under the host Government. Had there been any such breakthrough, Taliban could have restrained their offensive, at least against own fellow citizens and so could have been done by Afghan security forces. The emerging trends are contrary to reach a consensus situation.

The problems perhaps lie in the perception and mindset of all those involved in this complex process.

Rather going for a win-win situation, all parties to the problem, desire to have a lion’s share from these negotiations. Each one of them wants to be at the victory stand all alone.

United States wants to talk to the Taliban from the standpoint of a victorious power, projecting them (Taliban) as the defeated party of the conflict. The demand and perception is against the ground realities and unacceptable to Taliban. Then there is a misconstrued contemplation of good and bad Taliban in the minds of US strategists. Whereas the fact is that, Taliban have presented them as a united force, without surrendering to US military might in last over eleven years.

In the negotiation process, President Hamid Karazai wants to be at driving seat. Owing to his growing differences with US, he wants negotiations between Afghan Government and the Taliban without involvement of any third party, especially United States. Indeed, Karazai wants to secure the future for himself and his

party. Though he cannot contest election for the third time, yet, desires guarantees from the Taliban for his nominee/appointee in the 2014 elections of Afghanistan. He too wants Taliban to talk to them within the ambit of Afghan Constitution.

He too wants Taliban to talk to him from the position of weakness; both conditions are unacceptable to Taliban. On their part, Taliban wants complete pull out of foreign forces and a new set up where they have the domination. After all, they claim to defeat the super power and its coalition partners besides, the incumbent Afghan Administration.

The way forward of this complex proposition seems to be a bit complicated, as none of the party accepts for itself the position of a runner-up. The deadlock and mutual antagonism is not making headway.

The status quo indicates a perilous scenario in the making. Should the country pushed to experience another bloody civil war, the international community and Afghan neighbours will have to pay a heavy price. Then what about the 30 million Afghan masses, whose future is always decided by few none representatives, mostly away from their homeland.

Under such a situation, it is extremely essential that a positive breakthrough is achieved through a win-win situation. A peaceful and all-inclusive solution of Afghanistan, keeping the interests of Afghan masses at the centre stage would be a durable solution to the problem.

Therefore, the peace process in Afghanistan should be Afghan led and Afghan owned, rather dictated from elsewhere.

—The writer is Islamabad-based IR analyst.

rosecutors must prove that Pfc. Bradley Manning “had reason to believe” that the classified material he provided to WikiLeaks would harm the nation, a military judge ruled Wednesday — offering the Pentagon and the Obama administration an opportunity to bring an end to a prosecution that has become an exercise in overkill.

Manning, the 25-year-old former intelligence analyst in Iraq, pleaded guilty in February to 10 charges, including possessing classified information and transferring it to an unauthorized person. The plea alone could subject him to 20 years in prison, but the government wasn’t satisfied. It continues to charge him with multiple violations of the Espionage Act and of “aiding the enemy.” Conviction on the more serious charges could put him in prison for life. To Manning’s supporters, he is a valiant whistleblower; they often cite the video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack that killed 12 civilians in Baghdad that Manning provided to WikiLeaks. His detractors argue that his actions sprang as much from personal problems as from altruism and that his indiscriminate document dump went way beyond identifying war crimes, undermining national security and the conduct of diplomacy.

Even if Manning was engaged in principled civil disobedience, he must face the consequences that await anyone who violates the law in a supposedly higher cause. But the current charges against him go too far. In arguing that Manning aided the enemy, the government’s case apparently will rest on the assertion that some WikiLeaks material made its way to a digital device found in the possession of Osama bin Laden. This is an ominously broad interpretation. By the government’s logic, the New York Times could be accused of aiding the enemy if Bin Laden possessed a copy of the newspaper that included the WikiLeaks material it published. As for the Espionage Act charges, the judge, Col. Denise Lind, ruled that the prosecution must prove that Manning had “reason to believe” that providing computer files to WikiLeaks would harm the nation; it wouldn’t be enough simply to show that he knew he was disclosing classified information. Whether this ruling would make conviction of Manning significantly harder isn’t clear. But it could make it easier for the government to announce that pursuing the additional charges wouldn’t be productive — a graceful exit that would still leave Manning facing considerable time in prison.

— Los Angeles Times

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Curbing drug menace

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new report revealing that children in the UAE are using drugs before they enter their teens is shocking and calls for all-out action to curb this menace. The report by the Ministry of Interior also said that nearly 40 per cent of illegal drugs in the world are sold in the Gulf. Drug-traffickers are using innovative ways to push drugs to children. Pain-killers like Tramadol or herbal smoking mixtures are being given to those who are susceptible to outside influences or too young to think for themselves.

Schools must play a leading role by conducting anti-drug workshops during which children are taught not to accept substances from strangers or experiment with things given to them by friends. Too often addiction begins with a puff encouraged by a friend or the urge to experiment due to peer pressure, but the role of the family can never be discounted or underestimated.

Children must be encouraged to share at home all that they do outside, so that they can be counselled before it is too late. A close relationship between parents and their children will go a long way in keeping the next generation safe.

— Gulf News Youth is something very new: Twenty years ago no one mentioned it.

—Coco Chanel French designer

Failed scrutiny for 2013 elections Voice of the People

have not been made public to save the culprits from law. The Rizwan Ghani media statement of NAB chairman dubbing scrutiny as an onEmail:sadcat44@hotmail.com going process shows his non-seriousness towards process of scrutiny.

There is no legal and moral he clearance of candidates with tainted records to contest justification for it. Similarly, there is the 2013 general elections has no mention of super corruption in our shown that the scrutiny process has State owned setups in scrutiny profailed. The statement of a major cess. Beijing has charged country’s party leader about scrapping of pro- railway minster with bribery and visions of the constitution mandat- abuse of power, and revamped railing financial inspection of candi- way. Earlier, capital punishment was dates has exposed politicians respect given to vice president of State Bank for law and accountability. The fail- of China for corruption. If corrupt inure of state institutions to provide dividuals manage to contest elections information about candidates to and come to power, it will be an afElection Commission of Pakistan front to State, Constitution and de(ECP) has eroded public trust in the mocracy. process. The delaying tactics have Purpose of politics is to serve kept the information from the ECP, country not individuals. It is now the returning officers and public at clear that the interim heads are unlarge during the scrutiny week. It was a deliberate act of filibustering willing to act against the corrupt, bank process of law to protect stakes, and defaulters, tax cheats, fake degree the interim setup has failed to stop holders due to influence of the last it. This is continuation of last government and the government in government’s policy of obstructing waiting. Reportedly, 50 percent of the candidates (ten thousand plus) don’t justice and rule of law.

The strategy of protect corruption have National Tax number and many is spot-on. The State institutions and leading politicians have not paid their the ECP have failed to take notice of taxes. There is no detail of offshore media reports of mega corruption, accounts, property and source of incover-up of bank defaulters and loan come.

Money laundering has not been write-offs. No action has been taken against those whose names are in the stopped for holding free and fair eleclists held by the state institutions, tions. Reportedly, billions are being parliaments, and media. The lists laundered back into the country in one

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form or the other including tax amnesty scheme(s). The lifestyle of our politicians does not match their tax returns, source of income and qualifications but they are headed to contest elections. Without taking decisive action against at scrutiny stage, the incentive for unfair means and illgotten money cannot be stopped.

French president has ordered all MPs to give details of their overseas accounts and ordered banks to submit detailed annual reports of their overseas businesses after media reports of offshore account of budget minister.

The use of protocol is abuse of public mandate and tax money. Gilani was removed from the office. The law does not authorized Ptate protocol to such individuals and those who undermined oath of PM, failed to show allegiance to state and uphold trust of voters at the cost of supporting corruption. Pakistani taxpayers are not paying taxes to provide protocol to individuals who serve vested stakes, mock law and refuse to pay taxes. The provision of protocol staff should be replaced with money to end its abuse. Margret Thatcher asked her cabinet to do something for her ahead of party vote against her but she was removed. The party members said that purpose of politics is to serve country externally and internally not self-interest (Source: BBC film on Thatcher, Saturday April 13, 2013).

Our rich globetrotting politician al-

legedly holding billions of dollars in offshore tax havens and palatial properties are demanding protocol services from Pakistanis whose majority is living below $2 a day.

The politicians who abused their powers should be punished.

The last minute passage of laws in the assemblies allowing lifelong protocol services merit to scrapped because it is abuse of power and public trust in their leaders. All those politicians who have been using protocol after dissolution of government should be punished under relevant laws and provisions of the Constitutions for abusing protocol.

Reportedly, 50 percent of police force is deployed on security and protocol duties. In Sindh alone, around 9,000 police is deployed on protocol duties, which is almost one third of the total police force.

Finally, scrutiny of different crimes including financial, moral, constitutional and legal is no easy task. The politicians and other stakeholders will resist and block every inch of the way but it is the responsibility and obligation of, state institutions, tax payers, government of the day, media and individuals to uphold rule of law to fight against corruption, greed and abuse of power to have a model state. It is therefore need of the hour to have just scrutiny so that voters have faith in elections, democracy and rule of law.

Successes & failures of democracy Waqar Abro

T

here is a notion in everyone’s mind that what are the suc cesses of democracy in the last five year. Though, there is a big list of failures yet positive aspects are always neglected. Democracy has brought revolutionary and evolutionary changes in Pakistan.

Yes,it had brutally failed to adopt welfare-oriented democratic norms but it has still delivered. Mental poverty is worst then social and economic poverty.

The main reason that always prevented democracy to thrive was intellectual bankruptcy.Though democracy brings political independence yet it is meaningless without economic and intellectual indepen-

dence. In the last five years, people have started learning political system and its functioning.Today, due to modern means of communication and free media, people are more aware of politics then before. They know very well that what is going on in the capital. They in their street gossip do not only exchange their political opinions but also analyze different manifestos and past performances of various political parties.And, the main actor of this success is electronic and print media.Unavoidably, democracy is flourishing and people are keenly observing each and every thing. It seems as people are intellectually liberated. To further elaborate the successes and failures of democracy, the writer has enlisted the crux of the topic as follow; Successes: 1) Judicial Populism

2) Freedom of Media 3) Social Media and its effects on society and Institutions. 4) Intellectual, Political and Economic bankruptcies addressed 5) Pluralism In Politics (First time ,in the history 216 political parties will contest general Elections) 6) Openness in System 7) Accountability of Army and wealth eaters 8) Political Socialization 9) Women rights to some extent addressed and their status also elevated (Fehmeeda Mirza, Shela Raza, Malala etc) 10) Legacy system nosedived 11) Mature and Harmonized Political system (APC example) 12) Provincial Autonomy 13) Independent Election Commission 14) Change in Status quo mindset 15) Constitutional Amendments.

Failures: 1) Bad governance 2) Politicization of institutions 3) Cor-

ruption 4) Target Killings 5) Poverty 6) Energy Crisis 7) Economic meltdown 8) Unemployment 9) Slaughter of merit 10) Drone attacks 11) Unfair distribution of resources 12) Balouchistan Issue 13) Tax evasion 14) Institutional disharmony 15) Sectarian violence.

Though, there may be few more points to be added in the failure list yet successes of democracy should not be neglected.

Someone has rightly said that democracy may be a terrible system but it is the best system that we know. Now,the future of Pakistan is to be decided by the people in the upcoming general elections.whom they want to bring to the parliament a cheater or a changer? To conclude,the best form of revolution is the positive and correct use of vote.

Views From Abroad

The ghosts of Afghanistan’s past William Dalrymple

O

n March 10, Afghanistan’s president, Hamid Karzai, shocked Western leaders by declaring that recent attacks proved that the Taliban “are at the service of America.” The implication was clear: terrorists were colluding with the United States to sow chaos before America’s planned withdrawal in 2014. American and European leaders, mindful of the blood and treasure they’ve expended to defend Mr. Karzai’s government, were baffled and offended.

But to students of Afghan history, Mr. Karzai’s motivation for publicly spurning foreign powers was quite obvious. A Taliban news release on March 18, which received little notice in the Western press, declared: “Everyone knows how Karzai was brought to Kabul and how he was seated on the defenceless throne of Shah Shuja,” referring to the exiled Afghan ruler restored to the throne by the British in 1839. “So it is not astonishing that the American soldiers are making fun of him and slapping him on the face because it is the philosophy of invaders that they scorn their stooge at the end ... and in this way punish him for his slavery!”

The Taliban inadvertently put

their finger on a key factor in understanding Mr. Karzai’s psychology.

After all, as an elder of the Popalzai tribe, Mr. Karzai is the direct tribal descendant of Shah Shuja ul-Mulk, Britain’s handpicked ruler during the first Western attempt at regime change in Afghanistan in the mid-19th century. And although few in the West are aware of it, as the United States prepares to withdraw from Afghanistan, history is repeating itself. We may have forgotten the details of the colonial history that did so much to mould Afghans’ hatred of foreign rule, but the Afghans have not.

Today, Shah Shuja is widely reviled in Afghanistan as a puppet of the West. The man who defeated the British in 1842, Wazir Akbar Khan, and his father, Dost Mohammed, are widely regarded as national heroes.

Mr. Karzai has lived with that knowledge all his life, making him a difficult ally — always keen to stress the differences between himself and his backers, making him appear to be continually biting the hand that feeds him.

Not only was Shah Shuja from the same Popalzai sub-tribe as Mr. Karzai, his principal opponents were Ghilzais, who today make up the bulk of the Taliban’s foot soldiers. Mullah Omar is a Ghilzai, as was Mohammad Shah Khan, the resistance fighter who supervised the

slaughter of the British Army in 1841.

Just as Britain’s inability to cope with the Afghan uprising of 1841-2 stemmed from leadership failures and the breakdown of ties between the British envoy and Shah Shuja, the strained and uneasy relationship of NATO leaders with Mr. Karzai has been a crucial factor in America’s failures in the latest imbroglio.

Afghanistan is so poor that the occupation can’t be financed through natural resource wealth or taxation.

Today, America is spending more than a $100 billion a year in Afghanistan: it costs more to keep Marine battalions in two districts of Helmand than America is providing to the entire nation of Egypt in military and development assistance. And then, as now, the decision to withdraw troops has turned on factors with little relevance to Afghanistan, namely the state of the occupier’s troubled economy and the vagaries of politics back home.

History never repeats itself exactly, and there are some important differences between what is taking place in Afghanistan today and what took place during the 1840s. There is no unifying figure at the centre of the resistance, recognized by all Afghans as a symbol of legitimacy and justice: Mullah Omar is no Dost Mohammed or Wazir Akbar Khan, and the tribes have not united behind

a single leader as they did in the 1840s.

Moreover, the goals of the conservative, defensive tribal uprising that brought colonial rule to an end were very different from those of today’s Taliban, who wish to reimpose an imported Wahhabi ideology on Afghanistan’s diverse religious cultures. And most important, Mr. Karzai has tried to establish a broadbased, democratic government, which, for all its many flaws and prodigious corruption, is still much more representative and popular than the regime of Shah Shuja ever was. Mr. Karzai is keen to learn the lessons of his forebears’ failures.

When my book came out in India in January, he got hold of a copy and read it. “Our so-called current allies behave to us just as the British did to Shah Shuja,” he told me. “They have squandered the opportunity given to them by the Afghan people.”

Mr. Karzai believes that Shah Shuja didn’t stress his independence enough, and he made clear that in his own last year in office he is going to act in such a way that he will never be remembered as anyone’s puppet. The writer is the author, most recently, of “Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, 183942.” — Courtesy: The New York Times

His new mentor..!

M

ost terrorist dictators try to twist facts: Iran’s presi dent has gone around saying that the massacre of six million Jews by Hitler did not really happen! I imagine it was a few days ago that a tired yet satisfied President Ahmadinejad lay down to sleep, when a strange sound woke him up. He sleepily made out a strange figure in his room: “Who is it? Is it the Ku Klux

Klan?” “Guten Tag!” said the figure, “I do not need to cover my face like those Ku Klux idiots, I am proud of my face, I am…”

“Hitler!” “Ja, Ja, You can Heil me if you wish to!” “What are you doing here?” asked the President shivering with a chill that did not come from open window. “I have come to congratulate you my friend! It eese not everybody who eese bold enough to discuss the holocaust!” “Thank you Hitler!” “For sixty years I have been wronged!” “I know that Hitler!”

“For sixty years I have been accused of killing six million Jews! Do I look like a man who would kill six million?” “No Hitler!” “Danke! Thank you! I knew you would understand!”

“That is why I said what I said Hitler, I knew that it was all western propaganda!”

“Danke! Danke my friend! You are a brilliant man! You think I would waste six years of a bloody war to kill six million fellows? You think Hitler is mad?”

“No Hitler you are not!” “Danke!

Danke! You are a brilliant man Ahmadinejad! Brilliant!” “Thank you sir! I have always known you would never do such a thing!” “You think Hitler is mad?” “No sir! No Mr Hitler!”

“I am not a man to kill six million my friend!” “That is why I said it was a lie!” “You know what kind of a man I am Ahmadinejad?” “Herr

Hitler you must tell me, so I may tell the world!” “Danke!” Danke!” said the figure, “I am not a killer of six million! You tell the world that okay?” “Yes Hitler!”

“You tell the world I regret being a killer of just six million, but now that I have become your guru and mentor I will soon become the killer of sixty million, maybe six billion people! Aaaaaaarghhhh..!”

It was a pale, petrified president who tiptoed to close the window, where he heard faint laughter as a woman’s voice called out, “Guten Nacht!” “Eva Braun must you always have ze last word..!” laughed the Fuhrer.

—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

Guns without license SAAD UDDIN KHAN

I

would like to discuss the issue of weapons, which I think every Pakistani wants a solution. In our country Guns are a very common thing to purchase or can celebrate occasions with the help of this equipment, the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. A license is required to purchase a firearm. The license involves the payment of fees, a processing time ranging from a few days to months. They are issued by both the Federal government and Provincial governments. Young hands have that thing to trigger in occasions like in marriages, New Year, Independence Day and many other events. From this act a serious happily killing has been going on. The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Pakistan is 18, 000, 0001; the rate of private gun ownership in Pakistan is 11.62 firearms per 100 people. The manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid license. So, people who want to purchase guns should purchase it legally but with the license. In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Pakistan ranked at No. 61. Limitations need to the control the increasing death scale of Pakistan by unintentional acts.

—Karachi

Gender disparity in education

done when due to lack of resources and extreme poverty Daughters of this nation become Public property.

They are used and abused just because they have nothing else to do. It RAMSHA SHAKEEL is time to stand against these customs According to UNDP 2010 report, and traditions at individual and sociPakistan ranked 120 in 146 coun- etal level. tries in terms of Gender-related De- —Karachi velopment Index (GDI), and in terms of Gender Empowerment Measurement (GEM) ranking, it ranked 92 in 94 countries. Gender inequality in education can be meaSUMAIRA AHMED sured in different ways. Gross and net enrollment rates and completion and drop-out rates are the ways to Electronic media, print media & soidentify the gender inequality in edu- cial media have given adequate awareness to the common Pakistani cation.

Pakistan aims to achieve Mil- men/ women for their rights & dulennium Development Goals and ties. This awareness is in rapid also aims to eliminate gender dis- progress and people know well of parity at all levels of education by change & how will it comes. Luckthe year 2015. Elimination of gen- ily first time in the history of Pakider disparity at all levels of educa- stan an elected democratic govt. has tion requires higher allocation of completed its 5 years term. After the resources on women’s education. 18th, 19th & 20th constitutional Strong gender disparities exist in lit- amendments Election Commission of erary and educational attainment Pakistan headed by Justice between rural and urban areas of Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim ( R ) Chief Election Commissioner is functional Pakistan.

Pakistan needs to fully address and a care taker set up is ruling the and resolve the gender concerns. country for a period 60 days for conThere should be immediate increase ducting fair, free & impartial elections the public expenditures on female through ECP. People of Pakistan know well education in order to achieve genthat change will come through balder equality at all levels. lot. Supreme Court of Pakistan & —Karachi.

Armed Forces are behind the ECP to ensure fair & free elections. Political parties have given their manifestos to attract their voters. Although voting system in our country is based on urSYED UMARULLAH HUSSAINI ban/ rural areas but majority is rural areas. Votes in rural areas are tradiWe are only fooling ourselves by tionally cast on community basis. constructing the tallest building on However this time we may see a earth in Karachi. What we need are major change in urban area and vote good roads, hospitals, and of course of youth will play a major roll/ change law and order. And as long as in the status quo.

Karachi has all those overflowing —Via email gutters and pools of stinking water, no one will think it is a city worth emulating. If only our leaders spent more time reading newspapers, they‘d know what the people of KHUSBOO RIZWAN Karachi want.

—Karachi We so often read in the newspapers and listen in the news about the shortage of Water and Food across the various parts of the country. As you SYED AREEBA RASHEED know all the political parties playing I would like to draw the attention of the usual blame game on each other, the concerned department to the se- in different propagandas or no one rious issue of passport crisis. In a thinks of one common issue of nabid to resolve the ongoing crisis of tion, which is the high population in passport issuance, a number of sum- the country.

The country is perhaps too overmaries and statements have been passed but no actions are taken yet. crowded, and due to which the counThe recently appointed DG indi- try is finding it difficult to even feed cated that the matter would be re- its own people. It is perhaps a high time to think on this issue, and do solved within a month.

The tender for the supply of similar to what China did, a one child laminate was awarded to the previ- policy or something similar. This is ous company based in the United one issue, which if resolved, can reStates as the Islamabad High Court solve many multiple issues as our had already issued a verdict in this country is severely facing shortage of regard. The printing of a large num- resources, be it coal, oil, food, water ber of passports was held up due to etc. the non-availability of laminates, —Karachi causing agony to applicants.

—Karachi

How will change come?

What Karachi wants

Growing population

Passport crisis

My daughters in Pakistan!

YASMEEN In our part of world and insane society daughters are so unfortunate that they are used in many different ways. In some regions of our society they are challenged by the traditional customs of “Vani” (young marriages) just to resolve and settle issues between tribes young girls are forced to marry person of the opposition . They are also faced with Honour killing “Karo Kari” where after been accused of minor issues of not giving divorce to being accused of adultery they are been killed for honour of their family.

The other side of picture is our so called Elite class where daughters are been used to increase wealth of families. It is more of a business deal than a marriage. The girl from a rich family is only allowed to get married within the family just to not letting go family business and wealth to other families. Most of the times the girls are not willing getting married but they have to do so for their families and family business. The most strange practise is

Ojhri camp tragedy

OSAMA AFNAN HANAFI On a bright sunny morning on April 10, 1988, an explosion rocked Rawalpindi. A mushroom cloud of black smoke bellowed up thousands of feet into the sky followed by an incessant rain of rockets and projectiles that continued the whole day.

The flying rockets hit unsuspecting people several kilometers away from the scene of the fire in an ammunition depot in Faizabad at the junction of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Not many people were even aware that an ammunition depot existed in the midst of a densely populated locality. Many suspected that Pakistan had perhaps been attacked.

Some others suspected a mishap at one of the nuclear installations. The blasts continued at almost regular intervals. When the initial salvo died down the sound of secondary blasts could be heard for the next several days. There was chaos all around. All at once the city roads and streets were littered with the dead and the dying.

Official estimates put the dead at about 100 and over 1,000 injured.

Unofficial count placed the dead at several hundreds. The damage would

have been worst if a large number of rockets that fell several kilometers had also exploded. These rockets did not explode just because they were not fused. Initial official reaction said the blast was caused by an act of sabotage. Later, however, it was claimed that the explosion had been caused by an accident. People of the twin cities still remember that deadly blast even after passage of some 25 years.

—Karachi

Free and fair elections FAIZA AZAM We should expect the May 2013 election to be the fairest parliamentary election ever in the history of Pakistan owing to numerous factors. First, the ECP is strong and autonomous; it is fully capable of holding a fair election under the CEC whose credibility is beyond doubt. Second, the judiciary is independent and determined to make sure that elections are transparent. Third, the media is free and vigilant. Fourth, the civil society is ever more conscious of its role of bringing positive social and political change in the country. Fifth, the youth of Pakistan is concerned about the outcome of this election because a politically stable and economically prosperous Pakistan will affect their future.

—Karachi.

Nuclear proliferation HASSAN AHMED There are problems with nuclear proliferation, the main one being that at some point and at some time, a rogue nation or terrorist group will succeed in acquiring a nuclear device of some type. Another major problem with nuclear proliferation is that as more and more countries acquire the technology to make nuclear weapons, the world becomes increasingly unstable.

At the close of the Cold War, there was a sigh of relief that both the U.S. and Russia were scaling down their nuclear arsenals.

How could it be that today, there is more threat of nuclear weapons than during those days? The answer is due to the amount of nations with nuclear weapons today. Some of these countries have unstable governments or leaders. Furthermore, Iran is working with North Korea to develop ballistic missiles. Syria is working with North Korea as well to develop a nuclear program. Russia is now working with Iran to help them develop their nuclear power capabilities.

—Via email

JDC welfare organisation MUHAMMAD RIZWAN AFATB I want to admire the JDC (NGO) and also wants to enhance the confidence and appreciat the welfare work of JDC. JDC was established around three years ago, it was established by a number of students in late 2009 and it makes its own space within a very short time only because they welcome the people of all beliefs either they have political and social background.

They serve all without any curie it was JDC which played a significant role in with all others NGOs in the hazard of Abbas town. It has no affiliation in the past, present or future with any regional, ethnic or political organization of Pakistan or anywhere in the world. We welcome people of all beliefs from all social and political backgrounds. Our aim is to support disaster management, education, health care and other relief services.

—Karachi

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

—Editor Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

QWP unveils 12-point election manifesto

NAB scrutiny of candidates to begin after elections: Bokhari From Page 1

P ESHAWA R —The

Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) on Sunday unveiled its 12-point election manifesto envisaging the restoration of comprehensive and sustainable peace by building national consensus and introducing a policy framework to identify the root causes of terrorism and militancy.

It underscored the need for enabling pro-active and civilianled initiatives to address the problems of violence, intolerance and militancy. The party’s manifesto said that Pakistan was a federal state under the 1973 Constitution and the party would strive for the creation of new federating units on the basis of public demand.

Announcing the party’s manifesto at a press conference, QWP Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said that no effort would be spared to implement the election manifesto in letter and spirit if voted to power. About the fiscal issues, he said the party believed in the constitutional framework that determined the rights of the provinces on resources generated within the provinces. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the biggest producer of hydel power, but despite constitutional guarantees, it remained deprived of its due share in the net hydel profits. “The party will initiate a three-tier good governance programme i.e. politica.— Online

MQM, PML-Q reiterate to support each other From Page 1 He urged the voters to come out of their homes on the polling day and cast their votes without any fear. He said MQM will follow the code of conduct laid down by the Election Commission of Pakistan and hoped that all other political parties will follow suit Mushahid Hussain Syed, on his part, said PML-Q and MQM have long-standing relations and they have a better coordination on the national issues.

He said both the parties have seen ups and downs and he expressed solidarity with the party over assassination of its workers and leaders. Mushahid Hussain said all the political parties should unite on national issues as no single political party or person can resolve these issues.—Online

BISP stipend to be increased to Rs2,000 From Page 1 to be jackals when they signed a secret deal with General Pervez Musharaf and left Pakistan for ten long years in return of a presidential pardon.

Unlike those paper tigers, Bilawal said, her mother Benazir Bhutto always stood like a rock in the face of successive dictatorships and went to the extent of laying down her life for the cause of democracy.

Bilawal said the PPP would continue to serve the downtrodden sections of the society as always and would never leave them in the lurch.

Bilawal said after returning to power, his government would double the monthly stipend amount of Rs. 1000 per month which is being given to the poor families under the Benazir Income Support Programme.

Bilawal Bhutto said: “The PPP is the real heir to the legacy of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. My mother gave the best years of her life while protecting her father’s legacy.

She confronted the worse at the hands of General Zia ul Haq who had sent my grandfather to the gallows.

She kept the party and its mission alive with great steadfastness. She gave her life for the preservation of democracy and the people of this country acknowledge her great sacrifice. Let me assure the followers of Shaheed Bhutto’s that I will protect their legacy till my last breath while carrying forward their mission, vision and philosophy being the leader of the largest and most popular political party of the country, which has roots in all the provinces.

We shall live and die for the cause of Pakistan as done by my mother Benazir Bhutto and my grandpa Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto”.

LAHORE: A farmer family busy in cutting the wheat crop in their fields.

ANP leadership bombed in Charsadda, Swat controlled device in Manglore area of Swat district Sunday morning.

“The vehicle of Mukarram Shah, a local leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) and member of the peace committee, was targeted with a bomb in mountainous area Banjot area of Swat valley. He was going to Banjot from Manglore.” Police said adding the explosive materials were planted on the roadside, which hit his vehicle that was completely destroyed in the explosion. The security forces rushed to the blast site.

According to DIG Malakand Abdullah Khan, the ANP leader was some five meters from his residence near his car in Banjote Sarbanter area of Manglore some three kilometers from Mingora, when the explosive device, believed to have been planted at the road side, was detonated killing him on the spot. His vehicle was completely destroyed in the explosion.

Later, in the afternoon , Awami National Party (ANP) provincial assembly candidate contesting election from PK-21 constituency, Syed Masoom Shah and four others were injured in a bomb attack in Katozai area in Shabqadar Tehsil of Charsadda

From Page 1 district on Sunday.

According to reports, the explosives were concealed in a garbage heap which exploded as Syed Masoom Shah passed beside it. The ANP convoy was heading to a venue in Katozai to address a public gathering.

The injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, where according to hospital sources Masoom Shah was out of danger. Syed Masoom Shah had also served as an advisor to former chief minister Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Hoti.

The bomb exploded near the convoy of Awami National Party (ANP) in Shabqadar, injuring the party’s candidate from PK21 Syed Masoom Shah and three party activists on Sunday. Police said the convoy was passing through Katozai area of Shabqadar when the explosive material planted in piles of garbage exploded.

In the meanwhile the Awami National Party (ANP) taking strong exception to the attacks on party leaders on Sunday and withdrawal of security from party leaders demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan to provide security to ANP leaders and candi-

dates who are on the hit list of the militants.

Talking to media the ANP leader senator Zahid Khan said that despite facing life threats, the security from the ANP leadership including Asfandyar Wali Khan was withdrawn. He said that the ANP was receiving threats from the militants and the ANP leaders could not go out of their homes and in such situation fair and transparent elections were difficult. He said that the ANP leaders and candidates could not campaign for May 11 elections effectively, demanding of the Election commission to ANP provide security to leaders make sure peaceful environment sure for May 11 general elections.

It may be recalled that ANP has been on the hit list of militants since long. During the past few years more than two hundred ANP activists including party MPAs and MNAs have been killed in acts of terrorism. In a tragic incident the top leader of Awami National Party and Senior Minister Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Bashir Ahmad Bilore embraced Shahadat along with eight others when a suicide bomber had blown himself up near to him in a congested Qissa Khawani bazaar Peshawar in December last.

Bombs and gun battles kill at least 19 in Somali capital M OGADISHU —At least 19 form, some not, but it was not cial mujahideen for the court people were killed in the Somali capital on Sunday in suicide bombings and assaults by al Shabaab militants linked to al Qaeda, breaking a fragile return to peace in Mogadishu.

A bomb exploded outside law courts in the city as gunmen stormed the compound. Security forces then arrived and battled the fighters inside.

Later, a bomb exploded near an African Union and Turkish Red Crescent convoy near the airport. Al Shabaab said it carried out the attacks.

“About seven well-armed men in government uniform entered the court today as soon as a car bomb exploded at the gate. We thought they were government soldiers,” said Aden Sabdow, who works at the mayor’s office adjacent to the court. “Armed men entered the court and then we heard a blast. Then they started opening fire. We do not know the number of casualties,” said Hussein Ali, who works at the courts.

Government forces arrived and laid siege to the compound and there were more blasts while the two sides exchanged gunfire. Hours later, the shooting stopped, but government forces said they believed some fighters were still hiding inside. Reuters reporters counted 16 bodies around the compound, some of them in uni-

clear how many of them were government soldiers, attackers, or civilians.

Witnesses at the scene said in addition to the car bombs, three of the gunmen who stormed the court also blew themselves up using explosives strapped on their bodies.

Security in Mogadishu has improved greatly since an African Union and Somali government offensive drove al Shabaab out of the coastal capital in August 2011.

Now its rubble-strewn streets are choked with traffic and construction sites point to a new confidence as Somalis return from abroad and invest in their homeland. “Somalia is moving and will keep moving forward and will not be prevented from achieving the ultimate noble goal, a peaceful and stable Somalia, by a few desperate terrorists,” President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in a statement on Sunday.

But the threat persists from al Shabaab, which still controls much of the countryside, and it has hit back this year with a series of bomb attacks.

“We carried out a superb intense mission in Mogadishu today.

We killed 26 people including soldiers and court staff,” said al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage. “We assigned five spe-

four of them entered and killed the people inside. The other mujahid with his car bomb exploded when government soldiers gathered at the gate.” Al Shabaab routinely inflates the number of people it kills.

Soldiers managed to rescue the Supreme Court chairman and other officials. Some climbed down ladders against the walls. Later, a car bomb exploded at a building housing Somali intelligence along the road to the airport as Turkish and AU vehicles were passing, police and witnesses said.

Government forces then opened fire and blocked the road.

“I saw three dead people including a man, a woman and a child. The ruined car bomb is in the middle of the road,” said Hussein Bile. “The explosion occurred here, the car with the bomb targeted Turkish vehicles and hit the last car of the convoy, two Turks died while two women passersby were also killed,” said Abdifatah Canjex, a district police officer.

Another Somali police officer said there were Turks among the dead. But a Turkish official who spoke on condition of anonymity said a Somali driver was killed and three Turkish passengers were wounded in the attack.—Reuters

ECP denotifies 11 ex-MPs From Page 1 the basis of religion or sect was termed an offence by the Election Commission of Pakistan on Sunday.

After the strict scrutiny process of candidates, the ECP has announced new stringent rules to govern the upcoming polls.

The poll body has also strengthened the security of polling stations.

Trying to reduce the external influence on voters, the commis-

sion announced that candidates, lawmakers and polling staff who criticise or elevate any political party in front of voters within the premises of polling station will be put behind bars.

Furthermore, anyone trying to refrain voters from voting altogether will also face charges.

The ECP announced a jail term for those who disrupt the working of polling staff, add-

ing that voters are expected to maintain secrecy at all times both inside and outside the polling stations.

A few other existing rules are: It is illegal to vote on someone else’s behalf.

Voters cannot bring their ballot papers outside the polling booth.

Political parties cannot provide transport to voters.

‘Private medical colleges receiving hefty fees’ LAHORE—Medical Superintendent of Government Mozang Hospital, Capt (R) Dr Niaz Ahmed, has said the government should ban private medical colleges or nationalize them which were producing just glorified MBBS quacks while the aim of owners of the colleges was to make money.

Talking to APP here on Sunday, he said that owners of private medical colleges were charging hefty fees which was around Rs 600,000 per annum. MS Dr Niaz Ahmed said that Government Mozang Hospital was a 50-bed state-of-the-art hospital which was catering around one million population of interior Lahore city including Temple Road, Mozang, Shadab Colony and other adjoining areas.

All kinds of tests including sugar test,ultrasound,urine test,pregnancy related tests, blood tests and digital X-rays with ambulance service are available free for needy people.

Free medicines are also being provided to outdoor patients and indoor patients. The Punjab government has also provided Rs 66.5 million to construct a new block for its expansion to 75-bed, he added. Dr Niaz said that around 300 patients including male,female and children visit OPDs every day while 93,145 patients were treated at OPDs during 2012 and 3,546 patients were treated at its wards as indoor patients. Around 50 percent of disease burden can be reduced by providing clean drinking water, he claimed.—APP

of full dependence on the enforcement had not worked because more than 60 legislations on combating the corruption made in the past failed mainly because of emphasis on enforcement. He said the accountability is not only to go after the people after they have committed the corruption and put them into jail rather there is a need to strengthen the system to minimize the chances of the corruption.

“NAB has already approached the Prime Minister for getting two of its wings back including Economic Crime Wing and Anti Corruption Wing from FIA to strengthen the Bureau. He said that this would enable the Bureau to reach the district level much faster than starting from the scratches.

To a question, the Chairman NAB said that the Bureau has forwarded the data regarding different candidates to the Election Commission of Pakistan that would decide the fate of

sives loaded in its trunk saving the city from a major terrorism.

The casualties were shifted to hospital, where the injured approver succumbed to the wounds caused by the shots fired by his own comrade(s) guns.

Hospital sources later told that the constable, was out of danger but the sub inspector was still critical.

The bomb disposal squad after a tremendous effort defused a probable mega improvised explosive device (IED), the sources said.

According to bombdefusers there were at least five IEDs including a couple of pressure cooker and two watercooler bombs wired together into one big explosive device.

It is mention-worthy that the raid was conducted on the basis of information the CID reamed out of four TTP suspects held a day earlier and the approver, the CID brought with them to identify the militant den, was one of them.

Later, Senior Superintendent of CID Police, Chaudhry Aslam told media the approver, Gul Aslam, who died in the encounter was a confirmed TTP activist as well as the mastermind of Abbas Town blast.

He said according to Gul Aslam, the TTP had planned attacks at US Consultate, MQM headquarters Nine Zero and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

According to SSP Aslam, many police vehicles, which the CID men used for cover, were turned to junk as the terrorists riddled them with bullets fired from large bore guns.Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad announced Rs 2 million reward for the policemen and directed the police to continue opration against terrorists. —INP

rather the process adopted for the appointment.

Fasih Bokhari said that real role of NAB regarding scrutiny of candidates of national election would begin after the elections as it would be much easier for the Bureau to investigate the details of the 728 elected public representatives in National Assembly and provincial assemblies. The NAB chief explained that Bureau would report to ECP if any concealment was found in the details submitted by the candidates in their nomination papers.

“If someone conceals the facts, it is a criminal act and he should not only be disqualified but all the facilities and privileges should also be taken back,” Bokhari viewed.

To a question, Fasih Bokhari said that NAB was actively perusing RPPs cases and no one would be spared if sufficient evidence were found for filling the references. —INP

Iraq election candidates slain before local vote BAGHDAD—Two Iraqi Sunni Muslim candidates were killed less than a week before local elections that are considered a major test of the country’s political stability after U.S. troops left more than a year ago.

The election on Saturday to select provincial council members will measure Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s political muscle against Shi’ite and Sunni rivals before the parliamentary election in 2014.

Violence and suicide bombings have surged since the start of the year with a local al-Qaeda wing promising a campaign to stoke sectarian confrontation among Shi’ites, Sunni Muslims and ethnic Kurds. No group claimed responsibility for the weekend attacks, but the two candidates killed since late Saturday night were moderate Sunnis campaigning in mostly Sunni areas where Islamist insurgents target political rivals.

Police said gunmen in Baiji town, 180 km (112 miles) north of Baghdad, killed Hatem al-Dulaimi, who was connected to the al-Ensaf Front group headed by Sunni politician Mishaan al-Jubouri.

Jubouri once ran a small block in parliament. “My cousin was secular, and his speech was moderate,” said Dulaimi’s cousin Ali Sabah. “I think

Major terror Syrian govt bid foiled after airstrikes kill heavy gunfire at least 25 From Page 1

those involved in plea bargain, wilful default and against whom the cases have reached to finality in the courts. He said that the information that NAB has provided to ECP regarding Sharif brothers was almost identical as mentioned by Mian Muhammad Nawas Shairf in his nomination papers submitted to Returning Officer.

To a question, Bokhari said that NAB released no information to media rather the media disseminated their own reports on the basis of ECP record. He said the NAB had immediately clarified that Bureau was not mandated to object the candidature of any one rather it had provided the information to ECP as it stands in the record.

To another query he said that our political leadership should show a restraint and should not criticize the state institutions without confirming the facts.He said that Pakistan Muslim League leadership had not objected his appointment

BEIRUT—Syrian government warplanes carried out airstrikes on a rebellious neighborhood of the capital as well as a village in the country’s northeast Sunday, killing at least 25 people, including 12 children, activists said. With its ground forces stretched thin, President Bashar Assad’s regime has relied heavily on its fighter jets and helicopters to try to stem rebel advances in the country’s civil war. The air raids also frequently hit civilian areas, drawing criticism from the international community.

A Human Rights Watch report last week accused the Syrian government of committing war crimes by using indiscriminate and sometimes deliberate airstrikes against civilians, killing at least 4,300 people since the summer.—AP

Tribunal for hearing appeals From Page 1 Sharif from PP-161.

Earlier‚ the election tribunal of Lahore had eclined to hear the appeals against both PML-N leaders on personal grounds.—INP

Drone strike kills four in N Waziristan From Page 1 aircraft are deeply un-popular in Pakistan, which says they violate its sov-ereignty and fan anti-US sentiment, but US officials are said to believe the attacks are too important to give up.—Agencies

those who killed him were the political groups with ties to the armed groups which operate in this area.”

Hours later on Sunday morning, a roadside bomb killed Najim al-Harbi, with two of his brothers and a bodyguard in Diyala province, police said. Harbi had ties to Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, a Sunni who has edged closer to Maliki since his Sunni-backed Iraqiya block splintered. Another Sunni candidate escaped a separate roadside bomb in Balad Ruz, 90 km (55 miles) northeast of the capital on Sunday, authorities said.

Ten years after the U.S.led invasion, Sunni ranks are deeply divided over how to manage a power-sharing agreement with Maliki. Some moderate leaders work with the government but others see

the Shi’ite premier as an authoritarian. Thousands of Sunni Muslims have protested since December in western provinces at what they see as their marginalisation since the fall of Saddam Hussein and the rise of the country’s Shi’ite majority to power since the 2003 invasion.

Many Iraqi Sunnis feel they have been sidelined from power-sharing and unfairly targeted by security forces.

Maliki has offered concessions on reform of tough anti-terrorism laws and released prisoners. But Sunni protests continue. Washington has weighed into the election process, warning of the risks of disenfranchising Sunni voters after Maliki’s cabinet postponed voting in two majority Sunni provinces because local officials said security could not be provided there.—Reuters

Ijaz Butt advises Afridi to concentrate on his game L AHORE —Former

tion to you would be that you work hard to improve your batting and bowling efforts.

In the past you have been one of the best all-rounders but in recent times you have had a very lean time.

“I also felt very bad about Younis Khan not getting selected in the 30 probables named by the selection committee. This was very unfair because Younis still has a lot of cricket left in him and has served the country well. “Similarly, my criticism regarding making Hafeez the captain of Twenty20 team is based on logic and facts. Hafeez is a very good all-rounder and can prove an asset to Pakistan cricket if he concentrates only on his cricketing activities. “I very strongly feel that he should not be made captain of any of the side. ATTOCK: Tent peggers displaying their skills during Jashn-e-Baharan Festival in Attock.

“Currently, the pattern in most teams of the world is that the skippers, in case they are unavailable to lead the team due to any reason, themselves appoint their deputies. “My suggestion is that our Board should also go by this rule,” con- H OUSTO N —Top seed given a two-shot penalty that left him four strokes off cluded Ijaz.—APP Nicolas Almagro, whose 12 A U G U S TA —Augusta Na- Saturday morning, turning the lead held by Brandt tional kept Tiger Woods in previous ATP wins have all the 71 into a 73. But he was Snedeker and Angel come on clay, reached the fi- the Masters on Saturday, not disqualified because of Cabrera. saying it would be ‘’grossly nal of the US Clay Court a revised rule (Rule 33-7) Even though Woods was Championships Saturday by unfair’’ to disqualify him for that allows players to stay guilty of not knowing the routing wild card Rhyne Wil- a rules violation that club officials didn’t immediately liams 6-2, 6-1.

Spain’s Almagro squares recognize. In a bizarre twist P E S H AWA R — P e s h a w a r off in Sunday’s final against to a complex case, it was a clinched the trophy after se- K ARACHI —Pakistan’s Test “They actually offered last year ’s runner-up John television viewer ’s phone curing 91 points in the and ODI captain, Misbah-ulme a two-year contract with Isner, who won a re-match call that ultimately spared Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inter- Haq, reportedly said no to a an extension of one more year against defending champion the world’s No. 1 player.

The viewer questioned Region Women Taekwondo lucrative offer from county on mutual agreement.

Juan Monaco 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the way Woods took a penChampionship, which con- side Worcestershire due to Misbah said it would the other semi-final. cluded here at Gymnasium commitments with the nahave been a great experience World number 12 alty drop after his wedge into Hall, Qayyum Sports Com- tional team, according to but his role with the national Almagro is also bidding to the par-5 15th hole struck the plex on Sunday. Col. Waseem ESPNCricinfo. Misbah said he side is more important. “Play- claim his first title on Ameri- flag stick and bounced back Ahmad Janjua, Secretary Pa- had been offered a two year ing county is obviously a can soil and 13th on clay. into the water. Woods kistan Taewondo Federation deal to be Worcestershire’s great experience but for a Earlier this year he success- dropped the ball two yards was the chief guest on this overseas player but he rewhile I think I have a key role fully defended his title at the behind where he had hit his previous shot, a violation. occasion. Director (Women fused because of his duties in Pakistan cricket and I am ATP Nice event.

Games), Directorate of Sports with national team. fully committed to the team.”

Almagro broke Williams Fred Ridley, head of the MasKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Miss After a deal with Misbah five times, winning 61 percent ters competition committees, “It was potentially a luRashida Ghaznavi, President crative deal for me but it was could not be agreed upon, of his return points in the 59 said officials reviewed the and Secretary Khyber actually clashing with my inWorcestershire signed Sri minute match at River Oaks video of Woods’ drop and found nothing wrong, so Pakhtunkhwa Taekwondo ternational commitment,” Lanka’s Thilan Samaraweera Country Club.

Assocation Ilyas Afridi and Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. for the 2013 season.—APP American Isner, who took they didn’t bother talking to Murtaza Hassan, three interdown Monaco in two hours Woods before he signed for national female referees and two minutes, now has a 71 in the second round, Maham Aftab, Radiqa Jan three wins and one loss leaving him three shots be- AUGUSTA: Tiger Woods holds up his ball after putting hind. and Mihronisa Khan, two feout on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters against the Argentine.

It was only after Woods golf tournament. male judges Syed Sadaqat Ali The world number 23 Shah and Mushtaq Hussain, Isner has lost both previous explained in interviews why in the tournament if a dis- rules, Augusta National Miss Muskan, Secretary Fematches to Almagro, includ- he took that drop - to land pute was based on television took the blame for not alertmale Wing, Khyber ing a five-set loss in the short of the pin - that evidence. Woods took ad- ing him of a potential violaPakhtunkhwa Taekwondo Davis Cup semi-finals in prompted another call to the vantage of his reprieve to tion pointed out by a TV club and led to another reAssociation, officials and PARIS—Team Sky prepared in were a factor, like Ian Stannard The method raised a few eye- 2012. —AFP unconventional fashion for the at Milan-San Remo, but they brows, with Norway’s Edvald view. Woods ultimately was shoot a 2-under 70 Saturday viewer. ‘—AP players were also present.

Peshawar secured 91 Flanders classic races this sea- were never true contenders. Boasson Hagen’s race time points with four gold medals, son, hoping to crush the com- “It shows it’s not just about entering Milan-San Remo beone silver and seven bronze petition as they have been being physically fit,” Thomas ing reduced by a third commedals, followed by Kohat doing on stage events, but re- told a handful of reporters as pared to last year.

“To prepare for the clastook 70 points and grabbed sults let them down. The Brit- he reflected, his face covered with dust, on his classics persics you need to ‘eat’ stress L AHORE —Nadeem Ghauri, years respectively by the thing to PCB’s notice. ish team have only Mathew runners-up trophy with one “I was not under any conthe Pakistan umpire banned PCB’s integrity committee. gold medal, three silver and Hayman’s third place in the formances after finishing a and cobbles,” Europcar sports “It’s a one-sided decision tract with the PCB and we were 7 bronze medals while Dwars door Vlaanderen race to distant 79th in Paris-Roubaix director Andy Flickinger told P E S H AWA R — M u h a m m a d for four years by the PCB, has Reuters, explaining the need Ilyas and Aziz Khan, hailing criticised the board’s decision and I am not happy with it,” trying to make some money Mardan remained at third boast about while Geraint Tho- on Sunday.

Sky, who powered Bradley for race time heading into the from Peshawar, clinched Mr as “one-sided”. Ghauri was Ghauri said during a press through these leagues for livewith 64 points with winning mas managed fourth in the Het two gold medal, two silver Nieuwsblad and the E3 Prijs Wiggins to Tour de France classics, which this year have and Junior Mr Khyber punished after the PCB’s in- conference at his residence. lihood without knowing that glory last year, held a training taken place in tough weather Pakhtunkhwa titles in the tegrity committee found him “I didn’t compromise my in- I am actually being trapped.”

Vlaanderen-Harelbeke. and two bronze medals.

Hazara took one gold In the biggest European camp in Tenerife under the conditions. In Boasson Hagen Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inter- guilty of being willing to ac- tegrity and didn’t even enter Both umpires, as a result of medal and four bronze med- classics - Milan-San Remo, guidance of head of perfor- and Welshman Thomas, Sky Region Mr and Junior Mr cept money for favourable any deal with them but still the bans, cannot officiate in Contests umpiring decisions. The alle- they have slapped me with any form of cricket and will als by securing 43 points and Tour of Flanders, Paris- mance support Tim Kerrison have two of the biggest pros- Bodybuilding got fourth position.—APP Roubaix - they sometimes to prepare for the 2013 season. pects for the classics.—AP played here at Qayyum Sports gations against him, Ghauri this ban. They [PCB] didn’t not be considered for any role Complex on Sunday. Former said, were baseless. They sur- give me a chance to [explain] in Pakistan’s regional associaSports Minister and President faced during a television sting my version properly. I will re- tions. The bans took effect on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic operation, broadcast by India quest the chairman and will October 11, 2012, the day the Association Syed Aqil Shah TV, last year, which claimed appeal that I should get jus- PCB began its investigation. was the chief guest on this oc- to have “exposed” several tice.” “I don’t think it’s true,” Ghauri, 50, played one Test, first-class umpires from Ghauri said of the claims made against Australia in Sydney casion.

President Khyber Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and by the sting operation. “I was in 1990. He also played six Pakhtunkhwa Bodybuilding Pakistan who were allegedly actually referred by Nadir ODIs and 147 first-class Association Haji Ibrahim willing to give decisions Shah (a Bangladesh umpire) games. He was part of the lauded the efforts of Syed Aqil favouring players for a fee. with regard to a cricket league ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires Shah for the promotion of Ghauri and his umpiring col- in Sri Lanka. They were offer- and the PCB’s international sports in Khyber league Anis Siddiqui were ing me a lucrative package for panel in an umpiring career Pakhtunkhwa in particular and banned for four and three umpiring and I brought every- that spanned 13 years.—APP in the country in general.

He said a record developmental work has been done by him during his five year tenure besides a record allocation of funds for the associations and different activities. He also presented Syed Aqil Shah a memento of the Championship. players of his Lahore Board other international cricketBIPIN DANI Secretary Khyber team”, the source added. ers, added.

Pakhtukhwa Taekwondo AsOBSERVER “The four-year punishNadeem Ghouri, who sociation Tariq Pevez, SecreCORRESPONDENT ment to Nadeem Ghouri is not played only one Test match tary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association Zulfiqar MUMBAI—Nadeem Ghouri, enough considering the (and six ODIs’) under Imran Butt and large number of spec- the 50-year-old umpire, who crime he has committed. He Khan’s captaincy in Austators were also present. has been banned by the has brought bad name to the tralia has the dubious Tariq Pervez said that the Pakistan Cricket Board country and should have record of scoring neither a Championship carries Mr (PCB) is a gambler, accord- been life-banned”, he added. run nor taking a wicket. He “In the beginning, Ghouri also failed to held any catch and Junior Mr Khyber ing to another former umPakhtunkhwa titles for the pire, who happened to be used to play gambling with in his Test career.

The other Pakistan umYear-2013 besides the play- his manager in the past. the cards and became more ers would also contests in “Umpire Ghouri is a gambler greedy thereafter”, the um- pire, Anis Siddiqui, who got three junior weights like 65kg, since the days when he pire, who has officiated in the “lenient” three year70kg and above 70kg and two used to play for Habib Tests and ODIs’, and also ban by the board has been senior weight categories Bank”, he said. “He also shares special memories with Nadeem Ghouri’s close 70kg and Above 70kg.—APP used to be involved with the India’s Ajit Wadekar and few friend, it is learnt here.

DOHA: Team Sky riders cycle during the second stage of the 2013 cycling Tour of Qatar.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, while hailing the services of the incumbent chairman Zaka Ashraf for the promotion of the game on Saturday, advised all-rounder Shahid Afridi to focus on his own performance instead of issuing reckless statements. Last week Afridi said during Butt’s tenure Pakistan was hit by match-fixing scandals and that he was removed as ODI captain despite Pakistan making the semifinal of the 2011 World Cup.

Peshawar win KP Inter-Region Women Taekwondo C’ship

In a written reply to Afridi’s recent outburst against him, Ijaz said: “I have read your statement with interest and would like to tell you about a few things. “I would like to inform you that Mr Zaka Ashraf has not only known to me for over 40 years now but he is also a good friend of mine.

“My statement was basically an advice to Zaka but I have never interfered in any of his workings ever since he became PCB chairman and I have the feeling that some

people are not advising him sincerely in his cricketing activities,” wrote Ijaz.

“As regards your comments, I always have felt very strongly that playing members of the team should not make any comments publicly.

When you retire, you can definitely make such comments but not at this stage.

“You have mentioned that you are looking forward to the tournament in England and also looking to make the squad for the 2015 World Cup. “For this my sugges-

Almagro to face Isner in Houston final

Tiger Woods gets a reprieve in the Masters

Ilyas, Aziz win Mr & Junior Mr Khyber Pakhtunkhwa titles

PCB ban ‘one-sided’: Ghauri

Misbah rejects lucrative Worcestershire offer

Sky fail to have it their way in demanding classics

Nadeem Ghouri is a gambler, should have been life-banned, says his one-time manager

Pictorial warning on cigarette packings fails to get desired goals

P

ICTORIAL health warnings on cigarette packings are not having the desired ef fect of driving people away from smoking as the trend of cigarette usage in Pakistan has been increased by 30 percent compared to 1998 figures.

According to the World Health Organization, in Pakistan, the usage of cigarette smoking has increased by 30 per cent compared to 1998 figures, whereas The Pakistan Pediatrics Association has estimated that around 1,000 to 1,200 school-going children of six to 16-year age resort to smoking every day in the country.

To control the tobacco use, federal government has made it compulsory for the tobacco companies to carry pictorial health warnings on the cigarette packs since July, 2009.

The pictorial warnings shall cover at least 30% on both sides of the pack.

The warnings must be written at the top portions of both the face of pack (in Urdu) and on the back (in English).

It is important to mention here that a recent Maastricht University (Netherlands) study commissioned by a Ministry of Health funded organization, found that graphic health warnings are “at best ineffective, and at worst cause health-defeating behavior,” actually making some people smoke more.

The researchers also rejected several other studies recommending the application of threatening graphic health warnings because they are biased, methodologically flawed, and do not properly assess the effec-

tiveness of graphic health warnings.

The researchers found that there is no scientific evidence that graphic warning labels, such as the familiar warnings on packs of cigarettes, are effective.

Even the graphic images used in other countries to deter smokers are not having the desired effect of making people smoke less.

Experts in Pakistan believe that scary graphic warning labels are a popular tool among the policy makers.

Many countries encouraged using texts and images on packs of cigarettes. However, there was no clear consensus about this in the scientific community.

They were of the opinion that the graphic warning labels only work if one important condition is met, the people must have to be convinced that they can decrease the risk, and smokers are often not convinced that they can quit smoking.

In that case the graphic warnings have no effect. They believe that too many young people are still opting for smoking and mostly smokers are aware that their smoking habit is damaging for their health, but still they smoke.

So the concern authorities should look at more useful campaigns including increase in tobacco prices, anti-smoking legislation, the prohibition of tobacco advertising, subsidizing of the anti-smoking schemes and comprehensive smoking prevention among the young to control tobacco use in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: A view of banners of different political parties hanging at Aabpara Chowk for upcoming general elections.

Chairman CDA directs to provide basic amenities in Farash Town STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Syed Tahir Shahbaz Sunday issued directive to start work on the construction of roads and to provide basic facilities to the people of Farash Town.

In a visit to Farash Town, he said the basic amenities would be provided to the town so that the people, who have been allotted plots could shift in the town.

He directed Engineering Wing of CDA would expedite the construction of remaining roads and patch work of damaged roads in coordination with Planning and Estate Wings and formulate a strategy for up gradation and rehabilitation of dwellers of Katchi Abadies in Farash Town on war footing.

Member Planning and De-

sign Syed Mustafain Kazmi, Member Estate, Mrs. Shaista Sohail and officers of Planning and Engineering were also present.

He said that CDA would make all out efforts for removal of encroachments from Farash Town to develop it into potential town where the residents could enjoy basic civic amenities.

He directed them to carry out consistent operation for removal of encroachments and keep strict vigilance of the areas so the encroachments could not crop up again.

Member Planning and Design, Syed Mustafain Kazmi apprised the Chairman CDA that Farash Town has been planned under Model Urban Shelter Project (MUSP) where threemarla plots have been allotted to 1231 slum dwellers from four katchi abadis including Muslim

Pollen allergy patients asked to take preventive measures ISLAMABAD—Medical experts unnecessary exposure to irritants on Sunday advised the pollen allergy patients to adopt precautionary measures to avert any complications. They said allergy patients should avoid going to places having the offending plants and pollen in the air. They asked pollen allergy patients, especially those working outdoors to wear face masks designed to filter pollen out of the air reaching their nasal passages.

Dr Sharif Astori from Federal Government Polyclinic (FGPC) said that during periods of high pollen levels, people with pollen allergy should try to avoid

such as dust, insect sprays, tobacco smoke, air pollution, and fresh tar or paint as any of these can aggravate the symptoms of pollen allergy, he added, He said when pollen allergy is not treated, complications may occur. He said people with seasonal allergies who cannot avoid pollen, their symptoms can be controlled with medication on advise of physicians. Dr Wasim Khawaja from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said that proper arrangements have been made for care of critical patients of pollen allergy.—APP

Colony, Esa Nagri, Dhok Najju and Haq Bahu Colony, adding that plan for allotment to rest of the dwellers of said Katchi Abadi has been worked out.

RAWALPINDI: Unprivileged youngsters taking bath in garbage filled dirty water of Nullah Lai to get some solace from hot weather.

Encroachments persist in market places ISLAMABAD—Despite imposition of fines and regular crackdowns on encroachers, Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to eliminate encroachments in various market places of the federal capital.

Abapara Market, Melody Market, Peshawar Mor, F-10 Markaz, Super Market, G-9 Market, G-8 Markaz and Blue Area are heavily encroached by handcarts and shopkeepers who place their tables bearing goods for sale on footpaths and in corridors leaving no passage for pedestrians.

In connivance of corrupt officials of the CDA, illegal transport stands, workshops, handcarts and booths have virtually occupied the entire area flanking Faizabad Flyover.

Moreover, right off way on both sides of the IJP Road also belongs to encroachers.

Sources allege that officials of the civic body receive monthlies from encroachers.

Encroachments have also increased to alarming level in fruit and vegetable market in I11 and Lehtra Road was also occupied by large number of hand carts and illegal booths which result in traffic jam most times of the day.—INP

Election 2013

CPO directs police to perform duties diligently CITY REPORTER RAWALPINDI—City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi, Abdur Razzaq Cheema has directed Superintendents of Police (SPs), Sub-divisional Police Officers (SDPOs) and all Station House Officers (SHOs) of Rawalpindi district to perform their duties honestly for holding free and fair general elections 2013.

CPO chairing a meeting held here at Police Line no.1 directed all the police officers that they should remain impartial and the code of conduct of Election

Commission be implemented strictly. He further said that strict legal action should be taken against those violating the code of conduct.

He ordered that all available resources should be utilized to ensure transparent, free and fair general elections.

The CPO also issued special instructions that if any violation of the code of conduct especially arms display is noticed then immediate action in accordance with the law should be taken against the violators.

A grand operation against

proclaimed offenders should also be launched immediately and special teams in this regard should be formed, he said adding, report in this connection should be sent to him on daily basis.The CPO said, all the police officers should perform official duties in accordance with the law and the citizens should be given due respect.

He said, strict action against police personnel found absent from duty will be taken and strict disciplinary action would be taken on the violation of rules.

PML-N finalises candidates for Pindi RAWALPINDI—Pakistan Muslim League (N) has finalised names of six candidates for National Assembly constituencies of the city in the forthcoming general elections.

Talking to APP former MNA Shakeel Awan said here on Sunday, the name of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been

finalised for NA-50, Murree, Former Opposition Leader Ch Nisar Ali Khan will contest election form NA-52 Kalarsayda and NA-53, Taxila.

The name of Malik Ibrar has been approved for the NA54 Rawalpindi cantt constituency.

The PML (N) has given ticket to Malik Shakil Awan for NA-55, Rawalpindi city and Hanif Abbasi will be the candidate from NA-56.

The names of the provincial constituencies will be finalised within one or two days.—APP

Pak, Afghan, Indian, US students work together to better Islamabad CITY REPORTER ISLAMABAD—More than 400 alumni of U.S.-government sponsored exchange programs came together Sunday to offer community service at locations all over Islamabad as part of the International Young Alumni Conference, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy.Following a four-day gathering of more than 400 alumni of U.S. professional and educational exchange students from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and the United States, the students capped off their Conference by performing community service at locations across Islamabad.

During their studies in the U.S., international exchange students are exposed to community service projects and encouraged to continue to perform community service upon return to their home countries.

In Islamabad, students planted more than 100 trees at Green Queen Tree Plantation, practiced storytelling, face painting, and drawing with nearly 1200 students at Pehli Kiran Schools, and shared laughter and their favorite children’s books with kids un-

dergoing treatment in the pediatric ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

“It is hard to express the level of satisfaction and joy I get from helping people in my com-

munity who are underprivileged,” said U.S. exchange program alumnus Mubashir Ghani Khawaja, who organized the event. “When I was studying in the U.S., I learned about com-

munity service, and am happy to bring that concept, and so much happiness, to people here at home.”

The International Young Alumni Conference which took

place April 11-14, is the largest U.S. government-sponsored young alumni gatherings ever held in Pakistan.

The theme, “The Faces of Change, the Changes We Face,” is meant to inspire student alumni of U.S. funded exchange programs to make positive changes in their communities and equip them with tools to make those changes.

During the Conference, the young participants attended workshops on social entrepreneurship and social media, heard from high-profile speakers such as Nobel Prize winner Dr. Adil Najam, and enjoyed musical performances from Pakistani bands, such as Usman Riaz and Danish Ali, who are themselves alumni of U.S. government-sponsored music exchange programs. Exchange programs are just one part of the comprehensive U.S. education assistance program for Pakistan, which includes building or rehabilitating more than 850 schools; launching new degree programs in education at 90 teacher colleges and universities; and expanding English ISLAMABAD: Students perform during the International Young Alumni Conference with skills for more than 5,000 lowthe theme ‘The Faces of Change, the Changes We Face’.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir income students.

APRIL 15 Iqbal International Institute For Research & Dialogue (IRD) of the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) is organizing a lecture on “ Muslim World United and the Role of Motamar Al-Alam Islami” *****

FINAL Exams of ATTC, PTC, CT and B Ed programmes of the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) for the Semester Autumn, 2012 will start on Monday (today) across the country.

Measures to protect wildlife I SLAMABAD—Speakers at a seminar have suggested preventive measures to protect precious wildlife from scabies that is very important to predict the spread of disease both in domestic and wild animals.

Department of Zoology at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) on Sunday organized a seminar titled “Scabies and Wildlife Molecular Perspective of an old parasite.

The purpose of the seminar was to strengthen the research link between Europe and Pakistan for prosperous future relation, said a press release.

They were of the view that there should be management programmes initiated to cope with the challenges posed by Sarcoptic mite because due to its communicable trait a single infected animal is sufficient to cause an outbreak in wildlife population and this could lead to extinction of precious wildlife species in the country.

Speakers said that scabies is a contagious skin disease that is associated with intense pruritus (itching) along with various skin lesions.—APP

EU, Japan begin trade talks BRUSSELS—The EU and Japan begin a first round of talks Monday on one of the world’s biggest free trade accords, part of a push to boost growth and get their faltering economies back on track. Europe, like the United States, Japan and its other major partners are all looking for fresh momentum after the 2008 global financial blow-out morphed into the debt crisis and the worst economic downturn since the 1930s ‘Great Depression.’ Both sides have highlighted the benefits of an accord between them which would cover some 30 percent of global economic output and 40 percent of trade.

That is incentive enough to do a deal but it will not be plain sailing—there are considerable differences to overcome, not the least of them cultural, which will take hard bargaining to resolve.

“I consider that it is a matter of great significance,” Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi said last month when the formal decision to start the talks was announced. Japan is a big prize for EU exporters but they complain that its large market is skewed in favour of domestic producers, prompting Brussels to sound a note of caution.—APP

NCB Q1 net profit rise RIYADH—Saudi Arabia’s largest lender by assets, National Commercial Bank (NCB), posted a 19.4 percent increase in first-quarter net profit on the back of higher special commission and fee income, it said on Sunday. The majority stateowned bank reported a net profit of 2.33 billion riyals ($621.3 million) for the first three months of 2013, compared to 1.95 billion riyals in the corresponding period of last year, the bank said in a statement. The profit jump was driven by a 10.4 percent increase in special commission income and a 7.2 percent hike in fee income from banking services, Mansour al-Maiman, chairman of NCB, said in the statement without elaborating.

Unlisted NCB reported loans and advances climbed 19.9 percent year-on-year to stand at 171 billion riyals at the end of March, while customer deposits grew 11.6 percent to 277 billion riyals.—Agencies

State Life paid Rs24.36b to 13,552 families in 2012 STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—“State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan in the year 2012 has paid total amount of Rs.24.36 billion against all claims, thus providing financial protection and savings to thousands of valued policyholders and their families nationwide.

This was stated by Shahid Aziz Siddiqi, Chairman State Life while talking to the media persons on the occasion of State Life Convention 2013 held at Bhurban Murree. Executive Directors Mukhtar Hussain Soomro, Ms. Talat Waseem, Izqar Khan & M Rashid and senior corporate executives were also present on the occasion. He said that State Life in the year 2012had secured record total premium and investment income of Rs.89.71 billion

up from Rs. 75.77; showing an unprecedented increase of 18%, while the total premium has increased from Rs. 45.03 in 2011 to Rs. 53.913 in 2012; showing an increase of 20%”. Shahid Aziz Siddiqui said that State Life is a public sector organization which is not a burden on the national exchequer.

In fact State Life is playing a pivotal role in providing financial protection to millions of families through life insurance. The Marketing force of State Life has also extended financial protection to 750,867 new families nationwide during the year 2012. The No. of Individual Life Policy Holders has increased from 3.8 million in 2011 to 4.4 million in 2012.Chairman State Life also informed that Corporation’s Life Fund which is the key indicator of its financial

stability has now reached to Rs.315 billion.

Further, he said that State Life is the only Life Insurance Company that is distributing 97.5% of its Actuarial surplus to policy holders as compare to the private life insurance companies, in the year 2012. State life has expected to distribute Rs. 29.80 Billion as Bonus on with profit policies to its policy holders in 2013; based on the actuarial evaluation of 2012 and it would be after the official approval by the State Life’s B.O.D’s. Replying to a question Shahid Aziz Siddiqui informed that State Life recently has entered an agreement with NADRA to offer life insurance to CNIC Smart Cardholders.

Under a two-year contract, Nadra will pay the premiums on behalf of the cardholders and

NUCES Demand to accommodate budget organizes business plan proposals of business bodies competition 2013 STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Budget 2013-14 should be finalized based on the proposals of Business Bodies of the country. FPCCI has constituted a Budget Committee comprising renowned economists and budget experts and all Chambers of Commerce & Industry should send their proposals to FPCCI for preparing a consensus budget document that would be submitted to the FBR soon. These Remarks were made by Mr.Zubair Ahmed Malik, newly elected President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) while addressing a luncheon meeting organized by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) in his honor.

He said close liaison between FPCCI and all chambers

of commerce and industry of the country is vital to raise a united voice of business community.

He vowed that FPCCI will take all business bodies on board on important matters and make decisions with consensus. He said our country is facing multiple economic challenges including rising budget deficit, circular debt & low tax revenue and stressed that government should start immediate consultation with business leaders to steer the country out of difficult situation.

Zubair Ahmed Malik said that he has unveiled a 15-point agenda for bringing structural changes in the working of country’s apex trade body and improving Pakistan’s image worldwide with a view to attracting investment. He said that Chambers and associations must strengthen the hands of FPCCI so that this apex business body

could play more effective in resolving businessmen problems.

President FPCCI said that the capital office of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Islamabad would augment liaison and coordination with foreign trade missions and embassies which would further establish business links with other foreign markets.

Speaking on the occasion, Zafar Bakhtawari, President ICCI congratulated Zubair Ahmed Malik on his appointment as the President of FPCCI and said that Malik’s efforts and vision for the welfare of business community and industrial development of the country are indeed creditable and commendable. He said that it was the matter of great honour for ICCI as Zubair Ahmed Malik has also been served as the former President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry in 2004.

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

— Thomas A Edison

STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD—National University of Computers and Emerging Sciences (NUCES) organized a two-day business plan competition for the students of Fast School of Management to polish the raw thinking of young business students.

In the contest students present their unique business ideas in marketing, organizational and financial dimensions, said a news release issued here on Sunday.

During the two-day contest students demonstrated their projects on the first day while on the second day presentation were held in front of industry executives.

The objective of this contest is to develop a sense of self knowledge amongst the students whereby the can trust their creative and professional skill.

Continental AG says Q1 sales fell more than expected B ERLIN —Germany’s Conti-

Shipping remains active at PQ KARACHI—Four ships arrived at the Port to load/ offload chemical at M.W-I, rice at FAP, project cargo at M.W-4 and containers at QICT on April 13, port sources said here Sunday. Berth occupancy was maintained at 64% at the Port on Saturday where a total of nine ships namely M.V KPS-I Alican BEYPowership, M.V Faith EX (Kuksan-N), M.V Amaviti, M.V Recon Emre, M.T Atlantic Glory, M.V Dai Doung Sunrise, M.V MSC Levina, M.T Akaki, M.T Norgas Creation are currently occupying berths to load/ offload containers, wheat, rice, furnace oil, ethylene, project cargo. Cargo handling operations were carried out smoothly at the Port where a cargo volume 78269 tonnes comprising 71469 tonnes import, 6800 tonnes export and (2200) TUEs was handled at the Port during the last 24 hours. M.V Styliani-Z, sailed on Saturday afternoon, M.T Norgas Creation, M.V Amavisti sailed on Saturday night navigation and M.T Akaki sailed on Sunday morning. M.T Chemriad Journey at EVTL, M.V Lantau Arrow, and M.V Maersk Kentucky at QICT, arrived on April 14, as per arrival schedule, the port sources said.—APP

nominees/ next of kin of card holders will have the benefit to avail the cover of Rs. 100,000/for an accidental death. Siddiqi said that a strategy is being chalked out to redress the policyholder’s grievances and for this purpose; State Life has set up the centralized Data Center at its principle Office in Karachi. However, he added that there is a sharp decline in the complaints from the policyholders and their families.

He further stated to the media persons that State Life in support of Govt. of Pakistan’s social programme (BISP) has provided Rs.1,00,000 (One lac) as group insurance to hundred thousands of families; in this regard, a pilot ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce and Textile Maqbool H H Rahimtoola speakproject had already initiated in ing at a workshop during Islamabad Expo 2013.

Faisalabad providing ‘Health Insurance’ to approx. 44,000 families.

ISLAMABAD: Zubair Ahmed Malik, President, FPCCI addressing business community at ICCI. President ICCI Zafar Bakhtawari, Chairman Founder Group Tariq Sadiq, former President ICCI Munawar Mughal and FPCCI Capital Office Chairman Hameed Akhtar Chadda are also in picture.

OMV buys RWE stake in Nabucco gas pipeline project V IENNA —Austrian energy group OMV has bought German utility RWE’s nearly 17 percent stake in the Nabucco pipeline project that aims to bring Caspian gas to Europe, OMV said on Sunday.

An OMV spokesman confirmed media reports about the sale but gave no financial details. RWE also confirmed the stake was transferred on March 1 but gave no price or other details.

“You can be pretty sure that this is not going to be the final (Nabucco) shareholder structure

as it is today,” the OMV spokesman added.

OMV Chief Executive Gerhard Roiss had said in December that talks with RWE on a sale were under way. Both companies own 16.67 percent stakes in the project.

A decision on which pipeline project will get the contract of delivering Azeri gas to Europe is due within months.

Nabucco is competeing against the Trans Adriatic Pipeline group.

RWE had said in May it was reviewing the Nabucco project.

OMV and its partners have proposed a scaled-down version of the project called Nabucco West that would run from Turkey’s western border to Austria.

Nabucco West foresees the construction of a 1,300 km pipeline from the Bulgarian/Turkish border to Austria.

Original plans were for a 4,000 km pipeline. Critics said estimated costs of more than $12 billion would make it too pricey and there would not be enough gas available to fill the pipeline with non-Russian supplies.—Agencies

nental AG posted a sharperthan-expected drop in first-quarter sales as the slump in core European auto markets was exacerbated by bad weather and fewer working days, Euro am Sonntag reported, citing finance chief Wolfgang Schaefer.

Sales at the auto parts and tyre maker in the January-March quarter fell slightly more than the projected drop between 1 and 3 percent, Schaefer was quoted by the weekly newspaper as saying in an interview.

First-quarter operating profit declined below very strong yearago levels, but stayed within expectations the CFO told Euro am Sonntag, without being more specific.

Despite the decline in European car markets, Continental trusts that group business will steadily improve following a first-quarter low to help achieve a targeted 5-percent increase in 2013 sales to over 34 billion euros ($44.53 billion), according to Schaefer.

The CFO reiterated ambitions to grow overall business by making purchases outside of Europe. Continental’s reduced debt would allow the Hanoverbased group to shoulder possible acqusitions worth about 1 billion euros, he said.—Agencies

China’s ZTE honours Pak national

B EIJING —A Pakistani na- ZTE Corporation, Nanjing, continents including Pacific China at various industry standards organizations and forums, and an active researcher, contributor and technical editor in the development of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) related specifications and standards in different reputed organizations such as International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) and Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF).

His other major distinctions include: Attended more than 40 face to face International technical meetings held in different

Asia, Europe, and North America; Delivered and presented about 400 proposals/contributions in different technical standards developed in ITU SG13, OMA, and DMTF; He received his MSc degree in Computer Science in 2003 from Quad-e-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad. His MSc thesis was on the design and implementation of an Internet Protocol-Private Automated Branch eXchange (IPPABX).

ZTE has long history of cooperation with Pakistan.—APP

Construction boom: Value of awarded deals hits SR235b

Lucky winners of 20 Ufone cars

tional, Ghazanfar Ali Sanpal is selected as Vice-Chair of Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) Cloud Management Sub-Committee on behalf of renowned Chinese ZTE Corporation.

DMTF is North America based organization which is responsible for developing the standards for the distributed computing technologies and promotes interoperability of different cloud technologies to meet the market needs, said a company statement.

Ghazanfar Ali represents

JEDDAH—Saudi Arabia’s con- mately 3,117 capex-related struction and manufacturing will remain the key beneficiaries in 2013, growing at 10.5 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively.

During 2012, the value of awarded construction contracts remained above the SR 200 billion threshold, registering SR 235 billion, albeit falling short from the historical record of SR 270 billion in 2011, the National Commercial Bank (NCB) said in its Saudi Economic Review for April released here yesterday.

The awarded contracts in the manufacturing sector reached SR 17.8 billion in 2012, the fourth largest share across all sectors, surpassed only by the oil, transportation and power sectors, with Maaden aluminum smelter awarding the highest contracts by value. Ostensibly, the role of the government is critical, whereby it signed approxi-

contracts with the private sector valued at SR 172.9 billion, according to the Ministry of Finance.

However, the bank said: “We are concerned about the recently released report by the Saudi Control and Investigation Board (SCIB) that detailed 650 projects facing delays and that will need to be financed from excess surpluses of previous budgets.”

The NCB report said government’s adamancy in pursuing diversification have to be matched by strong supervisory structure that ensures execution within strict timeframes given the enormity of the projects whether in size or number. Accordingly, the recent decision by the Ministry of Transportation to withdraw a number of failed projects from contractors facing myriad challenges is a step in the right direction.—Agencies

KARACHI: Colin Hu, Managing Director of Huawei Enterprise in Pakistan and Saeed Sheikh, Country Manager of EZY Infotech Pvt Ltd after a distributor partnership agreement signed between Huawei Technologies Pakistan- Enterprise BG and EZY Infotech Pvt Ltd.—PO Photo Sultan Chaki

AMANULLAH KHAN KARACHI—20 lucky winners of ufone ShahCar 2013 finally out which will once again make 20 lucky winners dreams a reality.

In order to qualify for the lucky draw customers simply required to buy a Ufone SIM, use an existing Ufone SIM or simply port in to Ufone’s network and consume a minimum balance of Rs.300 between the 7th of Feb till 31st March 2013 to get a chance to be a part of the ShahCar offer 2013 lucky draw. On every consumption of the said balance a customer would get another entry in the lucky draw, hence the more credit used would increase his/ her probability to win.

The lucky winners for the Shahcar offer 2013 are: Abdul Sattar from Karachi, Muhammad Khalid Jameel from Faisalabad, Muhammad Tariq from Okara, Mohammad Ishaq Naeem from Jhang, Muhammad Tariq from Bhakar, Muhammad Siddique from Taxila, Muhammad Imran from Sahiwal, Kashif Iqbal from Hyderabad, Shahzad Anjum from Lahore, Muhammad Asghar from Kasur, Abdul Jabar from Lahore, Shahid Akhtar from Bhai Phero, Muhammad Buta from Sargodha, Noor ul Qamar from Swabi, Rashida kausor from Karachi, Muhammad Hassan Tariq from Lahore, Shafique al Rehman from Bhawalnagr, Shahid Maqbool from Lahore, Muhammad Nasir from Gujrawanla andAbdul Satar from Sheikhpura According to Ufone’s spokesperson, media personnel in Lahore will soon get a chance to meet each of these winners at a press conference.

Women Entrepreneurs to be encouraged: Rukhsana Jehangir STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Product modification and diversification is need of hour to achieve economy of scale and enhancement of trade. This was stated by Mrs. Rukhsana Jehangir Vice President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) during her visit to South Punjab Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SPWCCI).

In her address, she emphasized the strengthening

of women entrepreneurship which is one of the most negligible areas in Pakistan.

There is lack of awareness among women entrepreneurs regarding market access, identification of opportunities, quality assurance, productivity, business information, benefits of branding, networking etc and to overcome these problems, there is a need to create awareness based programme and to provide equal opportunities to women in order to increase their contribution in national

economic activity, she stated.

At present, our women entrepreneurs are facing difficulties particularly in the areas of finance, source of raw material as well as marketing. She assured her full support from platform of FPCCI and affirmed that she will formulate trade delegation soon specifically for those countries wherein there is a huge potential of our traditional products like jewelry, fashion designing, handicrafts, leather garments, readymade garment etc so that they can have exposure and enhanced trade opportuni-

ties.

She also emphasized the women entrepreneurs to register themselves in tax net in order to get benefits of government schemes. She said that her aim is to make women entrepreneurs capable to play their due role in national development, face competitive environment and explore new business frontiers. She further added that she has formulated a working plan and in this connection visiting all the Women Chambers and institutions in order to get the feedback and

suggestions of Women entrepreneur for expanding their business activities from Micro to Small scale and small scale to medium level.

The meeting was attended by eighty businesswomen belonged to different businesses from Southern Punjab. In reply to her address, many women demanded that FPCCI should facilitate and support women entrepreneurs and organize training programme related to technical and managerial skills of women which is currently the weak part of women entrepre-

neurs.

They further stated that the unavailability of finance is a main hindrance in women entrepreneurship and in this respect FPCCI should assist the women entrepreneurs in getting collateral free and low cost financial assistance from banks.

Moreover, there should be reserved quota for women entrepreneurs, in the exhibitions of FPCCI, they added. The women further demanded that FPCCI should assist them in market access and help in getting subsidy from TDAP so that

more women be encouraged to set up their own business ventures.

The participants also demanded that seminars, lectures, group roundtable discussions, e-business sessions, and study excursions programme should be organized to create awareness and to provide right direction to women.

They termed that these sessions are very important for crucial leadership skills, business management, and methods to strengthen ties with fellow women entrepreneurs.

Pictorial warning on cigarette packings fails to get desired goals

P

ICTORIAL health warnings on ciga rette pickings are not having the de sired effect of driving people away from smoking as the trend of cigarette usage in Pakistan has been increased by 30 percent compared to 1998 figures. According to the World Health Organization, in Pakistan, the usage of cigarette smoking has increased by 30 per cent compared to 1998 figures, whereas The Pakistan Paediatrics Association has estimated that around 1,000 to 1,200 school-going children of six to 16-year age resort to smoking every day in the country.

To control the tobacco use, federal government has made it compulsory for the tobacco companies to carry pictorial health warnings on the cigarette packs since July, 2009. The pictorial warnings shall cover at least 30% on both sides of the pack. The warnings must be written at the top portions of both the face of pack (in Urdu) and on the back (in English).

It is important to mention here that a recent Maastricht University (Netherlands) study commissioned by a Ministry of Health funded organization, found that graphic health warnings are “at best ineffective, and at worst cause health-defeating behavior,” actually making some people smoke more. The researchers also rejected several other studies recommending the application of threatening graphic health warnings because they are biased, methodologically flawed, and do not properly assess

the effectiveness of graphic health warnings. The researchers found that there is no scientific evidence that graphic warning labels, such as the familiar warnings on packs of cigarettes, are effective.

Even the graphic images used in other countries to deter smokers are not having the desired effect of making people smoke less.

Experts in Pakistan believe that scary graphic warning labels are a popular tool among the policy makers.

Many countries encouraged using texts and images on packs of cigarettes. However, there was no clear consensus about this in the scientific community.

They were of the opinion that the graphic warning labels only work if one important condition is met, the people must have to be convinced that they can decrease the risk, and smokers are often not convinced that they can quit smoking. In that case the graphic warnings have no effect.

They believe that too many young people are still opting for smoking and mostly smokers are aware that their smoking habit is damaging for their health, but still they smoke.

So the concern authorities should look at more useful campaigns including increase in tobacco prices, anti-smoking legislation, the prohibition of tobacco advertising, subsidizing of the anti-smoking schemes and comprehensive smoking prevention among the young to control tobacco use in Pakistan.

KARACHI: Motorists are stuck in a massive traffic jam on MA Jinnah Road.

Islah appointed CM’s Special Assistant

EC ban on free transport to voters to create hindrance: Khuhro

KARACHI—Former Pakistan K ARACHI — Speaker Sindh Speaker SA Nisar Ahmed SC can give any decision but

hockep captain and Olympian Islahuddin Siddiqui has been appointed Special Assistant to Sindh Minister, it was learnt here on Sunday.

Islahuddin led Pakistan to triumph in 1978 World Cup in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and won gold medals in Champions Trophy Asian Games and silver medal in 1972 Munich Olympics.

While he was Manager/ Chief coach Pakistan won bronze medal in 1992 Sydney Olympics. Islah remained the member of International Hockey Federation rule board and served in the same position in Asian Hockey Federation for eight years.

He was awarded Pride of Performance in 1982 and Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2007 for his meritorious services to PakiKARACHI: Nadeem Usmani presenting his book to CG China Pan Qinjiyang during the stan hockey.

Official portfolio of launching ceremony. Abdul Qadir Jaffar and Qasim Pirzada also seen in picture.—PO Islahuddin has not been anphoto by Sultan Chaki nounced as yet however he said he is looking forward to serve the people to the best of ability.

In the meantime former Olympians Samiullah Khan, Ayaz Mahmood, Hasan Sardar, Qamar Zia have congratulated him on his apment chapter has closed in and wealthy adding the JI pointment.—APP STAFF REPORTER K h y b e r - P a k h t o o n k h a w a leadership will eliminate corKARACHI—Jamaat-e Islami (KPK) by Jamiat Ulema Islam- ruption, extortion and terror(JI) Chief Syed Munawar F and Pakistan Tehreek-e ism after coming into power.

Munawar Hasan also deHasan termed the 10-party Insaf while PML-N has manded of the Election Comalliance, a pleasant change closed it in Punjab.

He said that the JI is a ray mission of Pakistan (ECP) to and referred it to a contest between the Muttahida of hope for the deprived take notice of the paid adverQaumi Movement (MQM) people and on the day of elec- tisement of different political versus rest of all in upcom- tions, May 11, the people will playing on various TV chan- KARACHI—Pakistan’s leaddefinitely rejected the slavery nels. ing general elections. ing scientists‚ Salimuzzaman JI Sindh Chief Dr Mairaj Siddiqui was remembered He expressed these views of United States, as all other while addressing a ‘Tarazu big parties were busy in mak- Ul Huda Siddiqui, Naib Sunday (April 14) on his 19th Road Karawan’ from Karachi ing their God father (United Ameer Sindh Asadullah death anniversary. to Peshawar, organised by States) happy. However; JI Bhutto, JI Karachi Chief Born in Subeha will take part in the elections Muhammad Hussain (Barabanki District) of Shabab-e Milli Sunday.

The JI chief said that the on the faith of Allah and the Mahenti, President Shabab- Lukhnow on 19 October e-Milli Sindh Azeem Baloch, 1897‚ Salimuzzaman Siddiqui chapter of seat adjustment people of the country.

On the occasion, JI Chief General Secretary Shabab-e was a leading Pakistani sciwith any party has been closed and the party will con- appealed the youth and oth- Milli Pakistan Qaisar Sharif entist in Natural Product test elections individually. He ers to vote for ‘Tarazu’ to and others also spoke on the Chemistry. He is credited for further added the seat adjust- make the country prosperous occasion. pioneering the isolation of unique chemical compounds from the Neem (Azadirachta indica)‚ Rauwolfia‚ and various other flora.

As the founder director of H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry‚ he revolutionised the research on pharmacology of various domestic plants found in South Asia to extract novel chemical substances of medicinal importance.

In addition to his scientific talents‚ Siddiqui was also an avid painter‚ a poet‚ and a great connoisseur of music. His paintings were exhibited in Germany‚ India‚ and Pakistan.

Siddiqui was a foundermember of the Indian and Pakistan Academies of Sciences‚ and later a founder member of the international KARACHI: Ameer Jammat-e-Islami Syed Munawar Hasan and others, raising their body the Third World Acadhands to show solidarity during the launching ceremony of their election symbol. emy of Sciences.—NNI

10-party alliance against MQM pleasant change: JI chief

Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said that the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding imposing ban on providing voters a free transport to the polling stations is creating hindrances for voters and this decision is to minimize the voting turn out on polling day.

According to statement issued here on Sunday,

khuhro has said if election commission of Pakistan wants to see voting turn out better on polling day then ECP should increase the number of polling stations as voters can cast their votes easily without any difficulty.

He said Supreme Court has taken suomoto notice for providing life time privileges to the former chief ministers, speakers and deputy speakers and

assembly is authorized for any legislation and he himself do not need life time privileges.

Speaker SA Nisar Ahmed khuhro has said that 10 party alliance is break up and they are unable to to run the alliance then how can they will face the ppp is general elections. He said Pakistan People’s party will face opponents with the support of people on Election Day.—NNI

Efforts of young engineers in energy sector commendable K ARACHI — Advisor to the truly commendable, and that Energy Leaders’ Award & Chief Minister on Youth Affairs, Haroon Farooqui, said that at Pakistan was facing a dire shortage of energy at present.

Appreciating the efforts of the youth at the competition, he stressed the need for the youth of the nation to use their talents and skills to master engineering and energy sector disciplines. He further added that the efforts of the young engineers were

they deserved encouragement. He also said that via this method, a viable alternative to power and gas as sources of energy could be found. In the quest for alternative energy, the role of engineering colleges and universities is particularly important, and students should be funded for good projects.

He was addressing as chief guests at the prize distribution ceremony of Young

exhibition on innovative energy solution , organized in a joint collaboration by Youth Affairs, Govt. of Sindh & National Forum for Environment & Health and of.

Naila Wajid, Secretary Youth Affairs, Govt. of Sindh, Khursheed Ali Shaikh, Director Youth Affairs, Govt. of Sindh, and Naeem Qureshi, President NFEH, also addressed the audience.—NNI

Salimuzzaman’s death anniversary observed

KARACHI: A car rally of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.—PO photo

Rangers arrest 6 suspects KARACHI—At least six suspects have been arrested during targeted operation of Rangers in Kunwari Colony of Karachi on Sunday. The paramilitary troops conducted a search operation in Kunwari Colony after closing entry and exit points of the locality.

Commandos and women officials were accompanying the Rangers during the operation. The paramilitary force launched the raids on a tip off about presence of criminal elements in the area.

Over six suspects were held and different kinds of weapons were also recovered from their possession during the operation.The arrested suspects have been shifted to an undisclosed location for investigation. Earlier, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of police in Karachi conducted a raid operation in Surjani town area on Sunday and eliminated the possibility of a major terrorist attack.

Following a tip-off, police conducted an operation in the Surjani town area where they discovered a major terrorist hide-out including a heavy explosives-laden car. The explosives-laden car was seized

by CID personnel after an exchange of fire with the terrorists in which one of the accused persons, Aslam Mehsud was killed and two others were injured.—NNI

Dentists can save lives by identifying patients with undiagnosed hypertension K ARACHI — Dentists can even death. In the absence the College Auditorium lo- swelling and overgrowth of save lives by identifying patients with undiagnosed hypertension, said Dr. Syed Hussain Askary, Head of Dental Public Health, Director Academics & Administration, Fatima Jinnah Dental College (FJDC).

One in three people suffer with hypertension in Pakistan, 60% remain undiagnosed and are at the risk of various complications like, loss of eyesight, shock, stroke, heart attack and

of an effective or affordable health care system in Pakistan, if dentists simply screen their patients, who commonly visit them for dental pain and other problems, they can warn the patients, inform them about the risks and also ensure safety during dental treatment.

FJDC during its Blood Pressure Week celebration held a Seminar themed; “Control Blood Pressure Save Lives” which took place at

cated in Korangi Creek. Leaders and experts in the field presented latest research, up-to-date information and provide training to over 400 attendees.

Dr. Gul Rukh Askary, Head of Oral Pathology, FJDC said patients taking medication to control their blood pressure are at very high risk of developing various diseases of the mouth, most common of them are xerostomia (dry mouth),

gums, resulting in chewing difficulties, in some cases, gum surgery to remove excess gum tissue, called gingivectomy, may be needed.

She also added that she puts in special effort to make sure the upcoming dentists are well trained and can manage such pathologies.

Other speakers included, Dr. Sabiha Mirza, Dr. Farhan Jaleel, Dr.Zubia Waqar and Dr. Nazia Sultan.—NNI

9

Blocked Heart Arteries May Presage Stroke

E

ven if you are considered to be at low risk for stroke, having blocked heart arteries can mean you are more likely to have one, says new research published online this week in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association. The researchers suggest blocked arteries should be taken into account to the same extent as other known risk factors such as atrial fibrillation when assessing patients’ stroke risk.

Lead author Dirk M. Hermann is professor of vascular neurology and dementia at the University Hospital Essen in Germany.

He says in a press statement their findings reveal “that stroke risk is tightly aligned with coronary atherosclerosis, showing the closely related nature of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease”.He calls for more collaboration across different disciplines to better prevent and manage these diseases.

For their study, Hermann and colleagues used a variation of the conventional CT scan to look at heart arteries in 4,180 male and female patients. The patients were aged from 45 to 75, were randomly selected from three German industrial cities, and had no history of stroke or heart attack.

With non-invasive electron beam-computed tomography, the researchers could see how much plaque had built up in the patients’ heart artery walls.

They then followed the patients for around 8 years, during which time 92 strokes occurred in the group. 82 of the strokes were ischemic (due to blood clot in brain), and 10 were hemorrhagic (due to bleeding in brain).

Strokes tended to occur in patients around 65 years of age, who had diabetes, higher body mass index, and higher levels of blood pressure and cholesterol.

However, comparing the stroke incidences with the scans taken earlier, the researchers also found the patients whose heart artery blockages were due to coronary artery calcification (CAC) were far more likely to be among the stroke casualties than those without CAC. A CAC level higher than 400 Hounsfield units (HU, a measure of the density of tissue and other matter seen on a CT scan) was tied to a threefold higher risk for stroke than levels under 399 HU. The authors note that CAC measures were particularly strong at predicting stroke in the younger participants (under 65) and in those whose risk assessed using conventional risk factors put them at low risk for cardiovascular disease. Plus, CAC measures accurately predicted stroke in both male and female patients, regardless of whether they had a form of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, which is often tied to higher risk for stroke.

‘Private medical colleges receiving hefty fees’ LAHORE—Medical Superintendent of Government Mozang Hospital, Capt (R) Dr Niaz Ahmed, has said the government should ban private medical colleges or nationalize them which were producing just glorified MBBS quacks while the aim of owners of the colleges was to make money.

Talking to APP here on Sunday, he said that owners of private medical colleges were charging hefty fees which was around Rs 600,000 per annum. MS Dr Niaz Ahmed said that Government Mozang Hospital was a 50-bed stateof-the-art hospital which was catering around one million population of interior Lahore city including Temple Road, Mozang, Shadab Colony and other adjoining areas.

All kinds of tests including sugar test,ultrasound,urine test,pregnancy related tests, blood tests and digital Xrays with ambulance service are available free for needy people.

Free medicines are also being provided to outdoor patients and indoor patients.

The Punjab government has also provided Rs 66.5 million to construct a new block for its expansion to 75-bed, he added.

Dr Niaz said that around 300 patients including male,female and children visit OPDs every day while 93,145 patients were treated at OPDs during 2012 and 3,546 patients were treated at its wards as indoor patients.

Around 50 percent of disease burden can be reduced by providing clean drinking water, he claimed.—APP

Children to join politics at appropriate time: Ghinwa

LAHORE: A farmer family busy in cutting the wheat crop in their fields.

Education vital for Muslims to progress: Ahmer STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Caretaker Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Ahmer Bilal Soofi hoped that an able leadership would emerge as result of forthcoming general elections which will put the country on road to progress.

Addressing a launching ceremony of book titled “Meri Kahani Meri Zubani” written by eminent Lawyer S.M Zafar at Al-hamra here Saturday, he said that only education

LAHORE: Mother of a child suffering from measles sits beside him on bed at Mayo Hospital. Twenty-one more children, affected by measles, have been admitted in Mayo Hospital, raising the number of patients more than 1100 in the current year. In the 13 days of April, at least 200 measles affected children have been admitted in Mayo Hospital, five children have died in past three days.

Effective steps needed to prevent road accidents SALIM AHMED LAHORE—The Director General, Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) Dr. Rizwan Naseer said that effective steps need to be taken to prevent increasing number of road traffic crashes in Pakistan. While presiding over a meeting organized by a nongovernment organization Safe Communities Pakistan (SCP), Dr Rizwan Naseer said that when “we say a safe community, it means a community safe from emergencies and ready to respond accidents and disasters”. He further said SCP’s President Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar, first Muslim Member of British Parliament, has spe-

cial interest in establishing safe communities in Pakistan.

Dr Rizwan Naseer asked the participants to launch awareness campaigns besides making special efforts to reduce road traffic crashes in Pakistan. He further suggested that there should be a plan to make stickers, banners, animated sensitization and model parks in order to make children aware of the Traffic Safety.

A participant Sohail Aziz stressed upon the need for starting awareness programs regarding road safety to sensitize general public. Similarly, a renowned safety lawyer Rafay Alam believed that there was dire need for safe street initiatives. Another partici-

pant and senior journalist Naheed Niazi said that media can play a vital role by popularising the concept of safe communities in Pakistan.

Mr Khalid Butt, a leading member of disaster management of TABA Foundation, stressed upon the advocacy for road ethics besides making flyers of safe Communities Pakistan. Sumiya Siddiqui, SCP Coordinator, said that the forum of Safe Communities Pakistan encourages greater cooperation and collaboration among concerned organization including nongovernmental organizations, the business sector, local and Government agencies for developments of safer Communities in Pakistan.

of all provinces were taking part in the elections which proved that political system was moving ahead and it would strengthen the democracy. Mehnaz Rafi, Ata ul Haq Qasmi, Qayyum Nizami, Barrister Ali Zafar, Mowahid Hussain, Lahore High Court former chief justice Allah Nawaz, Sohail Warraich, Ahmed Awais, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Bushra Rehman and others also spoke on the occasion.

PML-N challenges statistics given by PPP STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Pakistan People’s L AHORE —Pakistan Muslim Party (Shaheed Bhutto) Chairperson Ghinwa Bhutto said on Sunday that her party does not have electables, but despite that 107 candidates are contesting the elections 2013. Addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club here on Sunday, she believed it was not time for elections.

She said her children were disappointed by the political system of the country, but they would join politics if political environment supported.

Ghinwa, the wife of late Murtaza Bhutto, said that the PPP declared former dictator Pervez Musharraf as killer of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed because the incident happened when he was the ruler. “Then who is the killer of my husband as it was PPP which was ruling at that time?” she questioned.

She said that she does not have any hope of justice in Murtaza Bhutto murder case.

Pakistan was in need of unity among people, she said adding the country had to face immense destruction during last five years which had no example in the history. Ghinwa demanded the caretaker government to take notice of alleged corruption of the previous government. She alleged that confrontation among the rulers was the major cause of terrorism in the country.—APP

would take the Muslims ahead to achieve their goals.

He said that S.M Zafar had always played a significant role in motivating the youth adding that SM Zafar had great talent of communication.

Later, talking to the media the minister said the Caretaker Prime Minister had asked all institutions to extend full cooperation to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He said that politicians

League-Nawaz leader Tariq Azeem Sunday said the PPP is now trying to mislead people about the reality of our economic situation by misrepresenting figures and focusing on nominal values.

Reacting to media campaign of the PPP claiming that inflation had been controlled while the GDP had witnessed significant growth, the PMLN leader said the figures quoted by the PPP rely on nominal amounts and the real economic situation is far from it. The PPP chose to compare the last few months of their government with the last few

months of the previous tenure instead of doing a tenure by tenure analysis, he claimed.

Giving tenure by tenure analysis, Tariq said, Pakistan’s growth rate has more than halved in the time the PPP has been power. The inflation rate has increased on an average of 5.82% to over 12.2% while PPP makes the claim to have curbed the inflation rate. In the PPP tenure the Pak Rupee to US Dollar value increased from PKR 60 to 1 US$ to PKR 100 to 1US$. During this time, Pakistan’s public rose to 12 trillion of rupees from 4 trillion of rupees in 2007 – 08, the PML-N leader said. As a

JI to ensure supremacy of Constitution, judiciary L A H O R E —Secretary General, Jamaat e Islami, Liaqat Baloch, has said that if comes to power in elections, his party will take every possible step to ensure the supremacy of the constitution and the law and the independence of the judiciary in the country.

Addressing corner meetings in NA-126 here on Sunday, he urged the JI workers, candidates and their supporters to step up

their election campaign with full faith in Allah Almighty and apprise the masses of the JI manifesto.

Meanwhile, Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan, Syed Munawar Hasan and JI Secretary General, Liaqat Baloch, have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of ANP leader Mukarram Shah and injuries to other ANP men in bomb blasts in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. —APP

result the current budget deficit stands at 8.5% as opposed to the 6.5% being wrongfully claimed by the PPP, he said, adding: “Same is the case with the tax revenues, while the PPP claims to have increased tax revenue, they have failed to mention the crucial tax to GDP ratio which is still about 9% and has hardly witnessed any improvement.” With regards to the remittances, Tariq said the nominal growth witnessed is mainly due to the fact that financial authorities across the world are tightening money transfer rules whereby more transactions are now being routed through banks. Additionally, due to higher inflation cast in leaving in Pakistan, more money is now needed back home to maintain the same quality of life which has translated into higher remittances, he added.

According to him, in the last five years, Pakistan’s GDP per capita has remained stagnant, public debt has ballooned to over 60% of our GDP while Foreign Direct Investment has fallen from 5.4 Billion US Dollars down to 525 Million US Dollars for 2012 – 13. The PPP is now trying to mislead people about the reality of our economic situation by misrepresenting figures and focusing on nominal values.

Baloch leaders hail PU decision for free education to Baloch students STAFF REPORTER L A H O R E —The leading Baloch political leaders and people from various strata of society across the country hailed the epoch-making decision for providing free education and monthly scholarships to Baloch students in all disciplines of the Punjab University.

Leading Baloch leaders Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Jan Muhammad Jamali, Sana Ullah Zehri, Chief Editor, the Balochistan

Times, Fasih Iqbal and several other Baloch leaders widely and Balochis from different schools of thought besides a large number of parliamentarians termed it an epoch making step for providing free quality education up to PhD with free hostel facility as well as monthly stipend upto Rs 3,000 to all students from Balochistan.

Senator Fasih Iqbal who hails from Balochistan told media persons Sunday that VC PU Prof Dr. Mujahid Kamran had reserved one

seat in all 74 teaching disciplines exclusively for Baloch students which he added was a good omen for expressing solidarity with the neglected people of Balochistan.

He said that it is for the first time in the history that all eligible students from Balochistan will have direct access to get free of cost quality education in one of the best varsity of the subcontinent.

VC PU had managed all such expenses to be spent on free education to Baloch

and special students within its own meagre resources and it has not asked for any grant from the government in this regard. It may be mentioned here that all special students are also availing the same package offered to Baloch students. Now PU has become the first public sector university in the world which is offering free education to all Baloch and special children as this facility is not extended in any varsity in the world.

LAHORE: A herd of sheep crossing the road through overhead bridge at Ring Road.

Protest against blasphemy film L AHORE —Adara Sirat-eMustaqeem (ASM) staged a protest demonstration against Terru Jones and a blasphemous film.

A number of workers participated in the protest outside Lahore Press Club on Sunday. The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with different slogans against Terry Jones.

Addressing on the occasion, ASM City Amir Muhammad Siddiqu demanded the blasphemous film should be removed from YouTube.—APP

PML-Q announces more candidates for 12 NA seats STAFF REPORTER L AHORE : Pakistan Muslim League-Q President Senator Ch Shujat Hussain has announced names of party’s final candidates from 12 more constituencies of the National Assembly while candidates for the remaining constituencies will be announced shortly.

The PML-Q candidates are Khurrum Munawwar Manj from NA-134 Sheikhupura, Shahid Manzur Gill from NA-136 Nankana Sahib, Raza Hayat Heraj from NA-156 Khanewal, Hamid Yar Heraj from NA-157 Khanewal, Nauman Iqbal Langrial from NA-163 Sahiwal, Ch Tahir Iqbal from NA-169 Vehari, Khwaja Sheeraz Mahmud from NA171 Dera Ghazi Khan, Sardar Maqsood Leghari from NA172 Dera Ghazi Khan, Syed Muhammad Asghar Shah from NA-188 Bahawalnagar, Muhammad Basharat Raja from NA-52 Rawalpindi, Ch Anwar Bhinder from NA-97 Gujranwala and Sajid Hussain Chatha from NA-101 Gujranwala.

Moreover, PML-Q Punjab President Ch Parvez Elahi has announced the names of party’s final candidates for 19 more constituencies of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab.

The PML-Q’s candidates are Sardar Muhammad Salim PP-1 Murree, Aamer Sultan Cheema from PP-32 Sargodha, Nazar Abbas Kahawar from PP-48 Bhakkar, Ch Zaheeruddin Khan from PP-55 Faisalabad.