Ep16august2015

Lt Gen (Retd) Hamid Gul passes away STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lieutenant General

Mushahidullah resigns after controversial interview

PM greets Modi

War no solution to any problem: Nawaz ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister

PTI for judicial commission over PML-N leader’s claim STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Senator and se-

(Retd) Hamid Gul died of brain hemorrhage on Saturday at the age of 79.

Earlier in the day, Lt Gen Gul’s health condition was worsened and he was shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Rawalpindi where he was later pronounced dead.

According to doctors, the cause of his death was brain hemorrhage.

Born on 20th November 1936, Lt Gen (Retd) Hamid Gul served as Director General ISI from 1987 to 1989.

Zehri meets Khan of Kalat in London STAFF REPORTER QUETTA—Chief of Jhalawan and Senior Balochistan Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has met the exiled Baloch leader Khan of Kalat, Mir Suleman Daud Khan in London on Saturday.

As part of reconciliation policy announced by the present government, the two leaders discussed the return of Khan of Kalat and other important issues related to Balochistan.

“Nawab Zehri has met the Khan of Kalat in London and will hold a discussion for his return to the country,” said an office bearer of PML-

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Modi admits massive corruption in India NEW DELHI—Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Saturday that corruption was eating away at India “like a termite” as he used an independence day speech to pledge his commitment to eradicating graft and poverty.

In an address from Delhi’s Red Fort, Modi sought to silence growing doubts about his leadership after key reforms stalled in a rancorous parliament session dogged by allegations of corruption involving some of his top lieutenants.

Modi, who has a reputation as a hard-line Hindu nationalist, also warned against the “poison” of communalism in a wideranging speech that lasted for more than an hour.

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Provide some subsistence to those who surrender

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Achievable target of FE reserves ................................................

Modi greets, Indian army shells

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nior minister of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Musahidullah Khan has tendered his resignation over a comment he made claiming the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) plotted to topple the civil and military leadership during the PTI sitins last year.

In an interview to BBC Urdu at the first anniversary of the sit-ins, on Friday Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan said the conspiracy was foiled after a civilian intelligence agency, Intelligence Bureau (IB), intercepted a call of then ISI chief Lieutenant General Zaheerul Islam who was allegedly giving instruction to create chaos during the sit-ins and take control of the PM House.

In a statement released on Saturday, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said Khan, who is currently in the Maldives, has sent his resignation to the prime minister.

Rashid added that the minister, on his return, will furnish his resignation and provide an explanation in person to the premier.

On Friday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a s k e d Mushahidullah to explain the basis of his remarks.

Later during the day, the army’s spokesperson General Asim Bajwa also termed any reports about a “tape” as baseless rumours.

“The story about any tape recording as being discussed in media is totally baseless, unfounded and farthest from truth,” Bajwa said, adding,

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China favours role in Afghan peace talks, lauds Pak efforts BEIJING—A Chinese foreign mentioning China’s support for ministry spokesperson on Friday said that the country is in favour of playing a constructive role in Afghanistan’s peace and reconciliation process, said a report on the government news service Xinhua.

In a statement, the spokesperson Hua said that China is consistent in its support for the “Afghan-led and Afghanowned” reconciliation process,

peace talks between the Afghan Taliban and Afghan government.

The spokesperson also noted Pakistan’s significant role in the peace talks and said that China hopes that those involved in the talks continue to make efforts to ensure peace in Afghanistan.

Pakistan last month hosted inaugural talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, who are fighting to reestablish Islamist rule more than 13 years after the US-led military intervention that toppled their regime.—Xinhua

Altaf appeals Raheel for meeting with MQM reps STAFF REPORTER KARACHI —The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder and leader Altaf Hussain has appealed to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif for a meeting with the MQM, representatives so as to remove misunderstanding that has developed between the Army and

the MQM. He was addressing a huge gathering of the MQM workers and supporters, in Azizabad in close vicinity of the party’s headquarters, Nine Zero to celebrate Independence Day of Pakistan Friday night.

Hussain felicitated the COAS General Raheel Sharif, paramilitary Rangers, police as

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ISLAMABAD: APHC leaders presenting memorandum to representative of United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan as they gather outside the UN office here to mark Independence Day of India as Black Day.—INP

APHC leaders submit memorandum to UNMOGIP

Indian firing along LoC kills one, injures three

I SLAMABAD —All Parties

Pakistan responds in befitting manner

Hurriyat Conference (APHC) on Indian independence day on Saturday held protest demonstration outside United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) and filed a memorandum regarding UN resolutions on right of the Kashmiris to self-determination.

The protest was led by APHC leader Mir Tahir Masood. The protesters carried placards against Indian occupation of Kashmir and had tied black arm bands. Masood said that Kashmiris worldwide observe Indian independence day as black day because of the killings and violence.

He urged the UN and international community to play their part in provision of right to self-determination to Kashmiris.—INP

Abused boy commits suicide as police ignored his plea M ULTAN —A teenager believed to have been kidnapped and repeatedly sexually assaulted has committed suicide after police refused to help and even taunted him, the victim’s father said on Saturday.

One police official has now been suspended for “negligence”, police have confirmed.

M*, 14, who worked at a furniture workshop in the Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab, was kidnapped by a gang and raped for two days, his father said.

M* was then dumped on a road near his home after his condition worsened but police did not act immediately after he and his father approached a police post in Khanpur city.

Apparently upset by the attitude of police, on Friday, he

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STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Unprovoked firing by Indian security forces from across the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday left a man dead and three injured in Nakial Sector.

According to details, heavy firing and shelling from Indian side of the LoC in Kanthi Gala village, Nakial sector in Kotli, left Mohammad Shafi dead and three others injured, including Imran, Shahpal and Mistri Rasheed.

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the Pakistan Army responded to the indiscriminate firing and shelling by the Indian forces in a befitting manner.

This is the second casualty in as many days due to Indian firing, which has continued

MQM MPs resignations can be taken back STAFF R EPORTER

I SLAMABAD —Jamiat Ulema Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman met with the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Law, Ashtar Ausaf, on Saturday to discuss the issue of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) resignations from the National Assembly.

It was decided during the meeting that until the notifications are not issued, the resignation of each MQM MNA can be taken

back.

The meeting concluded that negotiations should therefore begin with MQM MNAs before any notifications are issued.

Following the resignations submitted by the MQM MNAs a few days ago, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah requested him to convince MQM lawmakers into withdrawing their resignations.

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PTI tussle

Wajih aggrieved against four of ‘Qabza group’ IRFAN ALIGI K ARACHI —Justice (Retd) Wajih Ud Din Ahmed, a Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) leader says the PTI has been

NEW DELHI—Indian authorities are pre- ary after it found the coast guard’s re- there at Gandhinagar and I told at night, sponse to a show cause notice ‘unsatisfactory’. The notice was issued after he revealed in a video he had ordered to blow up the boat off the Porbander coast.

Rejecting his stance, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Coast Guard consistently held the aforementioned stance relating to the interception of the boat on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1.

In his admittance, Loshali had said, “Let me tell you. I hope you remember 31st December night. We blew off that Pakistan. We have blown them off. I was

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Fazl, Ausaf agree

Indian DIG Coast Guard to face court martial for destroying Pakistan boat paring to initiate court martial proceedings against Indian Coast Guard Deputy Inspector General BK Loshali from September, nearly six months after he admitted to blowing up a Pakistani fishing boat.

The move comes after a board of inquiry indicted Loshali on May 3 after he contradicted the government’s version of events that all four crew members of the “terror” boat had been killed after they blew it up themselves following a high speed chase to avoid arrest, The Times of India reported.

The board was constituted in Febru-

even as the two neighbouring countries celebrated their respective independence days.

A civilian woman was killed in cross-border shelling by the Indian army in Kashmir, in violation of ceasefire agreement, officials said.

Three other civilians — the woman’s husband and daughter, and a third female relative — were wounded in the shelling, local officials said.

The incident took place on Friday in Nezapir sector, located in Forward Kahuta district on the Line of Control (LoC).

Earlier on August 11, a 28-year-old woman who was critically injured during unprovoked firing on the civilian population in Jandrot sector along the LoC, before succumbed to inju-

blow the boat off. We don’t want to serve them biryani.”

On February 18, the DIG backtracked on his claims, saying he was misquoted. “I do not subscribe to the report. I have not made this statement. The operation was not being handled by me. I was not privy to it completely. I reiterate the boat set herself on fire and was not sunk by coast guard.”

Loshali was subsequently removed as the Chief of Staff in Northwest region and attached to Coast Guard’s zonal headquarters after the board of Inquiry was constituted.—INP

hijacked by a group of four occupiers, which is impeding restructuring of the PTI as political party.

He was talking to media on Sunday. Ahmed said he has no intention to part ways with the PTI but all he wants is to cleanse the party from the occupiers or Qabza mafia.

He said he wants to hold free and fair intra-party elections in PTI. The merit was ruined during distribution of party tickets for the Cantonment Boards’ elections in other provinces and for local bodies polls in Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa.

This was all done by the occupier group of PTI, he alleged, adding that the group is the biggest hurdle in holding intra-party polls in PTI.

Ahmed said there were 7 million members during intraparty polls and hence there is not further need for more members because reopening the membership would also open doors to rigging.

He said the election tribunal of the PTI has already disqualified PTI incumbent General Secretary Jahangir Khan Tareen, Aleem Khan and Nadir Akmal Leghari.

He said that he has recently held a long meeting with the PTI Chairman Imran Khan and claimed that the Chairman is also in favour of re-elections in the PTI but at an appropriate time.

He said that he has informed Imran Khan that the PTI election tribunal has sacked four leaders from the party but Imran Khan is now facing some difficult time due to which he is not approving the sacking of those four leaders.

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Nawaz Sharif has congratulated his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the independence day of India saying war is no solution to any problem.

He said Pakistan and India should resolve their problems through dialogue.

“Improvement in the relations between Pakistan and India are in the interest of both the countries. War is no solution to any problem. We should find solution of all outstanding issues by sitting across the table, he said this in a letter sent to Indian PM congratulating him on independence day of India Saturday.

Nawaz Sharif said “Pakistan wants good friendly relations with India. Improvement in the ties between Pakistan and India is in the interest of both the countries.

Cordial relations between all neighbouring countries including Pakistan and India are must for prosperity and development of region. Both the countries should sort out their problems on the table because war is no solution to any problem and on the other hand it is hazardous for both the countries.—Online

Jawwad S Khawaja new CJP Nasirul Mulk retires as Chief Justice I S L A M A B A D —Incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Nasirul Mulk is retiring today (Sunday).

The senior most judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Justice Jawwad S Khawaja will take oath tomorrow as the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Justice Khawaja completed his graduation at FC College, Lahore in 1971 before taking LLB degree from the Punjab University Law College, Lahore, in 1973. He then obtained a Masters in Law (LL.M) degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1975.

He was enrolled as Advocate of the High Court in 1975 and as an Advocate of the Supreme Court in 1985. He was a regular legal practitioner until his appointment as a Judge of the Lahore High Court on April 21, 1999. Justice Khawaja resigned his constitutional tenure on March 19 2007. After resigning, he taught law at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and headed the Department of Law and Policy at LUMS. He was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on June 5, 2009, by then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.— SABAH

Floods affect over 50,000 in lower Sindh NAZIR SAYAL L ARKANA —Flood in the lower sections of River Indus have affected over 50,000 people in Jamshoro, Sujawal, Thatta. Warnings were also issued to people living in lowlying areas and close to the river bed in Vehari.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the River Indus is currently in high flood at Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri, and in medium flood at Taunsa, whereas in low flood at Chashma, Tarbela and

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Flow of water being monitored continuously

SUKKUR: Rescue workers helping the flood affectees at the bank of flooded Indus River.

First special Hajj flight today from Lahore

Pre-Hajj flight operation commences ISLAMABAD—The month long pre- and Interfaith Harmony has been vac- the buildings are situated in Azizia Umrah Service.

Hajj flight operation will commence on Sunday with the departure of the first flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from Lahore to Madina Munawwra. According to the PreHajj Flights Operation Schedule issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, the first flight will carry 360 intending pilgrims of the government scheme to the holy land. The operation will be concluded on September 17.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs

ID observed at POF Wah Cantt STAFF REPORTER W A H C A N T T —Independence Day was celebrated in Wah Cantt with great enthusiasm and national spirit in which a large number of people from all walks of life participated. The day commenced with special prayers in the mosques in which prayers were offered for solidarity, prosperity and strengthening of the motherland.

A flag hoisting ceremony was arranged in the lawn of POF Headquarter. Mr. Tabassum Rehman Member POF Board hoisted the flag.

A large number of POF officers, officers and Jawans of Pak Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, DSG Battalion, FIU, PSU posted in POF and POF employees participated in the ceremony.

Addressing on this occasion Director Security Brig.

Sheikh Amir Fakhur congratulated the participants on independence day and remarked that the freedom was a great blessing which was achieved with the numerous sacrifices ren-dered by our forefathers.

cinating the pilgrims free of charge.

The pilgrims have already been intimated about their filight schedules on their given addresses. The first filght from Islamabad will leave on Monday. As many as 71,684 pilgrims will perform the religious obligation this year under the government scheme and the same number under the private scheme.

The ministry has already hired 139 buildings for providing residential facilities to the pilgrims. Eightytwo of

while 57 are in adjacent areas of the Holy Mosque. Only a few more buildings will be hired to accommodate the rest of the pilgrims under the government scheme pilgrims.

Lahore: The first special Haj flight will depart for Madina Munawara on August 16 at 5:00pm from the Allama Iqbal International Airport here carrying 360 pilgrims. This was stated

by Haj Director Lahore Saeed Ahmed Malik in a press statement issued here on Saturday by Pakistan Haj and

A process of providing Haj tickets and passports have been started in Haji Camp, Lahore for pilgrims going to perform Haj under the government scheme. Flight schedules have been sent to all pilgrims and they were asked to check their names and pictures on passports, he added. He said in case of a complaint regarding passport pilgrims should contact the Ministry of Religious Affairs staff in Haji Camp.—APP

Medical exam of 10 Kasur incident victims conducted KASUR —Medical examina- fected children have also demanded sus- prehended today. The Joint Investigation tion of 10 victims of the Hussain Khanwala incident was conducted at the DHQ Hospital here on Saturday.

The medical examination of ten victims, including a woman, were conducted by Doctor Zulfiqar Ahmad, Dr Mu-hamamd Javed and Dr Rashid Ahmad Bhullar and supervised by the MS DHQ Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) also continued investigation on the fourth consecutive day and recorded the statements of affected people. The samples will be sent for forensic test as enough time has passed since the occurring of incidents with these eight victims.

The report of forensic test of these samples will be presented within two and a half month. On the other hand, the counsel of victims had expressed reservations over incomplete joint investigation team (JIT), at which the authorities admitted inducting a cyber crime expert in the JIT. The parents of af-

pension of some police officials accusing victimization by them.

The RPO Sheikhupura Shehzad Sultan said the affectees’ demands are justified, however police neither harassed affected masses nor will do so. The affectees in case of not being served justice warned of a long march.

Meanwhile, another accused of molesting children named Rizwan alias Janaan was ap-

Team (JIT) probing the Kasur Video scandal has ordered the medical examination of the victims. On Saturday the fourth day of investigations, the team recorded statements of victims that have recently stepped forward.

The Joint Investigation Team is being led by DIG Malik Abu Bakr KhudaBaksh.

The JIT ordered the medical examination of 10 victims including a woman.—APP

4 burnt to death, 3 gunned down for honour

8 killed as bus plunges into ravine Old enmity, land dispute claim 4 lives B ATTAGRAM —At least eight persons were killed and five others sustained severe injuries when a passengers bus plunged into a deep ravine in Battagram on Saturday. According to police sources, the accident took place near Bojari area when a passenger bus was on its way and fell into a deep ravine due to over speeding, killing six passengers on the spot and injuring seven others. The injured and dead bodies were shifted to hospital where two more succumbed their injuries taking the death toll to eight.

Mingora/Swabi: At least four persons were killed in separate incidents of exchange of firing due to old enmity and land dispute in Swat and Swabi on Saturday.

According to police sources, at least two persons were killed in an exchange of fire between two rival groups over old enmity in Khwazakhela areas of Swat. The security forces and police rushed to the area and started investigation.

Meanwhile, land dispute claimed two lives in Swabi.

The rival groups exchanged firing over a land dispute in Morrghaz area of Swabi.

Two persons were killed while a woman was injured in the firing. The dead and injured were shifted to nearby hospital.

Kandhkot: Armed men gunned down three including a couple and a child for honour here on Saturday and escaped the scene. Police said that the culprits

stated to be brothers of the deceased woman, barged into a house located in Goth Hamza of Kandhkot and shot dead their real sister, her husband and a child.

Police said that the deceased woman had contracted in love marriage with Jabbal Chouliani some five years ago without taking her family into confidence and started living in the said area away from the parent’s village.

Chaman—At least four children were burnt to death while another was scorched due to fire in a house here on Saturday. Levies sources said that fire erupted in a house located in Touba Achakzai area of Chaman as a huge quantity of petrol was stocked in a room.—INP

QUETTA: Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Muhammad Hasni, Balochistan Minister for Sports and Culture, Minorities, Human Rights addressing the ceremony in connection with International Youth Day.

L AHORE —Chief Relief Commissioner Punjab Nadeem Ashraf has said that flow of water is being monitored continuously at Ganda Singhwala and Head Sulemanki in River Satluj.

He said the administration of both districts was fully prepared and keeping a vigilant eye on the situation. He said 53,600 tents, 171,750 food hampers, 82,000 mineral water bottles, 35,150 mosquito nets and 29,800 plastic mats had been distributed to flood affected administrations, said a press release issued here on Saturday.

He said flood victims had started returning to their homes in the areas where floodwater was receding. He said a process of survey had been started in all flood-affected areas to access the losses to houses and crops of people.

According to the report, flow of water was 100700 cusecs at Noshera in River Kabal. There is flood at Chashma in River Sindh. Flow of water was 34400 cusecs at Tarbela, 466845 cusecs at Kalabagh, 557158 cusecs at Chashma and 417703 cusecs at Taunsa.—APP

Another 42 militants lay down arms Q U E T TA —At least 42 more militants including key commanders belonging to a banned organization on Saturday surrendered and pledged their allegiance to the country, taking the surrendering toll to 700 in two months.

According to the Frontier Constabulary (FC) spokesperson, the militants who were part of a banned outfit in Turbat for many years have laid down their weapons before Commissioner Makran and Commandant Makran Scouts.

The surrendering mili-

tants will receive Rs 0.5 million to Rs 1.5 million each other than education, health and other facilities for their children under the Pur Aman (peaceful) Balochistan Programme.

Earlier on Friday, around 400 rebel commanders from various areas of Balochistan surrendered on the occasion of Independence Day. A grand ceremony was held in Police Lines where Commander Southern Command Lt Gen Muhammad Nasir Khan Janjua appeared as a chief guest.—INP

Rain, thunder shower at upcountry isolated places I S L A M A B A D —Rain-thundershower is expected at isolated places in Punjab and upper parts during next 24 hours while hot and humid weather has been forecast elsewhere in the country. Rain expected to lash at Gujranwala, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, D.G Khan divisions), KP (Malakand,

Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu divisions), Zhob, Kalat, Mirpurkhas Di-

visions, capital, Kashmir, FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan during next 24 hours.—APP

Provide some subsistence to those who surrender

MEDIA WATCH

Monsoon session washout

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OUR hundred Baloch militants laid down their arms in a ceremony held on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day, sending positive signals all around as they held national flag and resolved not to fight against the state. The significance of the development made Commander Southern Command Lt General Muhammad Nasser Khan Janjua to remark that the sun of peace has dawned on the Province.

Earlier too, a number of militants laid down their arms and declared their commitment to lead a peaceful and routine life and it is understood that more might be waiting in the wings not only in Balochistan but also in FATA where backbone of terrorism has been broken and foundations laid for peace and development. In Balochistan, the Government has announced a financial package for those surrendering, which might help persuade others to do so.

However, it is also a fact that mere one time grant or financial assistance would not work and the Government and Pakistan Army will have to devise a programme to ensure that these misguided elements are fully and permanently rehabilitated on their return to national mainstream. For this to happen, they should be provided employment opportunities both in the public and private sectors. As the public sector has limitations and there are bright prospects of generation of economic and employment activities with the launching of some mega projects and those under the umbrella of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, we hope that those surrendering as well as other local unemployed youth would get preference when hiring is done for these projects. The Government and the Army should also keep a vigilant eye to ensure that those receiving financial assistance do not resume militant activities just like Afghan refugees who receive financial and economic package meant for repatriating refugees and return to Pakistan on the first available opportunity. Therefore, those receiving such assistance should be encouraged to initiate some self-employment activity to support them and their families. Similarly, comprehensive package of incentives should be announced for those laying down arms in FATA and we are sure such an announcement would expedite return of normalcy in the region.

Achievable target of FE reserves F

INANCE Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed the confidence that foreign exchange reserves would cross the mark of $20 billion during the next few weeks. Addressing an Independence Day related function of Benazir Income Support Programme in Islamabad on Friday, he said he had fixed the target of $19 billion but we are poised to cross $20 billion soon.

Substantial increase in foreign exchange reserves is surely a source for satisfaction for Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who has been working hard to build them in the face of numerous internal and external challenges. A satisfactory level of reserves would not only boost confidence of investors in the economy of Pakistan but also enable the policy-makers to plan in a better manner for the future. There are many critics who do not buy the arguments of the Finance Minister that the economy was doing well but the fact remains that the conditions have improved substantially. Economic activity has picked up, investors are now looking towards Pakistan and donors are ready to provide assistance for medium and short-term projects launched by the Government in different spheres of life. It is not the Finance Minister alone, who is referring to improvement in economy as multilateral institutions too are appreciative of the policies being pursued by the incumbent Government. It is because of this that they are extending required cooperation for different programmes and projects aimed at accelerating the pace of socio-economic development. However, we would point out to the Minister that $20 billion is not that too ambitious a target to achieve as the country has the potential to realize much more if we concentrate on exports and provide incentives to Overseas Pakistanis. That despite grant of GSP Plus status by the European Union, export of Pakistani textile goods has dropped should be a matter for concern and the factors inhibiting increase in exports should be addressed both by the Finance and Commerce Ministries. Similarly, Overseas Pakistanis can invest billions of dollars in the country if necessary incentives are provided and proper planning is done for secure and gainful investment for them.

Modi greets, Indian army shells I

T is a welcome development that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Pakistanis on the occasion of Independence Day, which would go well ahead of the meeting between the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of the two countries. However, the Indian army continues to indulge in unprovoked firing across the LoC and Working Boundary as it did on the Independence Day resulting in death of a woman and injuries to three others.

Pakistan has been very serious in resolving issues with India and building a working relationship and a message went out from Islamabad on Friday when President Mamnoon Hussain addressing the national flag hoisting ceremony reiterated Islamabad’s quest for tension free relations with New Delhi.

There is need that realization should dawn in the Indian capital that the contentious issues cannot be delayed for an indefinite period and farsightedness demands that they be resolved through negotiations by the leadership. Kashmir is at the heart of the disputes that have been lingering on for around seven decades. India cannot suppress the aspirations of Kashmiris for too long as since 1947 they have been sacrificing their lives for self-determination and raising voice in support of Pakistan. The other day too they hoisted Pakistani flags despite strict restrictions and imposition of curfew by the occupation authorities. In this background we would emphasise that PM Narendra Modi, who enjoys a huge mandate, should take a bold stance and enter into result oriented dialogue with his Pakistani counterpart to remove all the irritants in bilateral relations. There are elements in the Indian establishment who are opposed to good neighbourly relations and it is necessary that Mr Modi should rein them in. Former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee tried to some extent to improve relations with Pakistan but the hawks in his government were too strong and they subverted his efforts. We hope that Mr Modi, like his Independence Day greetings, would give more positive overtures including an end to shelling by the Indian army and release of prisoners, ahead of the NSAs talks, to set the stage for constructive negotiations.

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Economic Theory of Sharks? how soon the projects outputs would be visible and felt. cannot wait anDr Zafar Altaf Balochistan other five or ten years. The reEmail:dr_altaf@hotmail.com quirements are for the here and now. Immediate outcome and that means those projects AKISTAN is triply blessed in with minimum or no gestation pethe sense that its people are riod. This requires that reason ought willing to believe anything to prevail. If reason will not prevail that the political noise makers tell then the entire effort will tend tothem on TV. The law and order wards failure. That is what happened agencies also have geared to this to the previous Balochistan restituwith RPO Sheikhupura telling sto- tion of rights packages that were ries about Kasur that is about 100 given by previous PMs and National miles away. They are so unashamed Assembly. Yet there is no ground to of the incidents that have happened believe that the packages were not at Gandasinghwala that one per- initiated with the best of intentions. force had to hang one’s head in The real reason was whether the inshame. Not so the Minister of Law terventions were thoughtfully dewhose moustache dangles when he vised. They were not. Let me state gives a twist to whatever is cor- this very categorically and I am willrectly asserted by others. When will ing to defend what I am saying. No truth assert itself? With the break- surveys and no indicative surveys neck speed with which allegations either were made. In fact the planare being made, there will not be a ners no longer go and verify what single leader who will be able to they think are the ground realities.

They are not only conceited but are survive for long.

No statement from the CM living their conceits as well.

Now evidence is emerging that Punjab and none from the PM. The dignity of law is never maintained the Millennium Development Goals by the powers that be for they think [MDG] were not achieved and in that they are above the law. Are they fact the situation is much worse than not ashamed of their Ministers and what it was previously. Now one in the police force in general? The so- nine are without food security and 1 cial side of things is difficult to man- in 5 children are malnourished. So age but then difficult matters are where is all that promise of Shaukat supposed to be handled. The pow- Aziz who attended this UN meeting ers that are enjoyed by the political and was full of conceit when he said leaders also signify that they have that not only the MDG but we have obligations too towards the society led the charge on one world; meanof this country. But the noise mak- ing thereby that the developed world ers refuse to acknowledge that as- will be one with the less developed world. That was all hogwash. The pect of their responsibility.

The PM has announced a pack- media bought it. The current bankage of some mammoth amount for ing issues were also the result of his the peace of Balochistan. It is nit reforms. Now every top banker has the amount that is important but his hands in the till. And what of the

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MCB deal? Where were the so called state regulators? All those responsible for the debacle of decency have to be taken to task. Bogus bank guarantees and money siphoned off from the MCB to pay the bid money. In the privatization process why was the Tawakkal Group ignored? A number of other questions will also surface but the most serious was that then owners of MCB were arrested

by NAB and kept in custody for more than four months. They then went in to exile and lived in UK. Who are the beneficiaries of the MCB owners? Do they come under the purview of vicarious liabilities?

If they do what is the law going to do about it. Who were the ones that took junket tours for their families?

The time is a make or break situation. Only truth can save the country. Remember Vaclav Havel who spoke of living in truth rather than living with truth. How do we pervert truth? The Kasur episode has been described as scientific fiction by one defence lawyer? Lawyers are supposed to be friends of the court and have to eschew correctly and not falsely. Our law universities and colleges do not seem to understand how to develop a mind that is in league with decency.

Then may I ask why were Imran Farhat and other cricketers banned from playing test cricket on the basis of electronic evidence? Why does the Bar Council not take notice of this episode of a lawyer as he is supposed to be a friend of the court and help in arriving at the truth? How many cases of this kind have been referred to the Bar Councils? Institutions that are deaf and dumb have no reason to exist. Then why have this presumption of truth when the institutions are false.

Does the country realize what this episode at Kasur has created for us? One has to hang one’s head in shame. The Punjab government is not moving at all. Is it because their politicians are involved or is it because they condone this act as they have been privileged enough to be part of the saga. The milli songs that I am hearing are all about saving the country with celestial powers. Where is the human effort? Where is the law of the people? One is not bothered any more on the law of the nation or the law of the state? Though I have little doubt that the powers that be have never sat down to understand the differences between the three formats that I have stated.

What then is the content of reason in Pakistan? Is it based on universal political values? The conceited would have us believe that they are the last word on reason and that to public reason. Are the political reasons of the parties the same and that they differ on ideological basis? Where is liberalism?

And what do we mean by liberalism? It really means that one’s own censorship system is subject to one’s own controls. They do not have to be ensured by anyone else.

I can give you hundreds of examples of decencies that I have encountered during my visits abroad. We in Pakistan are unfazed and unmoved. It is time to be part of the universal culture of decency. All kinds of liberties are at stake in our country. The Ministers have their own stakes and have never learnt the ability to understand another’s point of view.

The culture of subservience has permeated everywhere.

— The writer is a retired Federal Secretary based in Islamabad.

15th August: Black Day for Kashmiris the state forces, which revolted against the Maharaja were joined by Pathan Sajjad Shaukat and tribesmen.

Lord Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com Mountbatten ordered armed forces to land in Srinagar.

Indian forces invaded VERY year when India cel Srinagar on October 27, 1947 and ebrates Independence Day forcibly occupied Jammu and on August 15, Kashmiris on Kashmir in utter violation of the both sides of the Line of Control and partition plan and against the the world over observe it as Black wishes of the Kashmiri people.

When Pakistan responded Day to convey the message to the international community that India militarily against the Indian agcontinues to usurp their inalienable gression, on December 31, 1947, India made an appeal to the UN right to self-determination.

This ‘Day’ is being marked by Security Council to intervene and complete shutdown, as deserted a ceasefire ultimately came into streets, closed businesses and se- effect on January 01, 1949, followcurity vehicles patrolling the streets ing UN resolutions calling for a could be seen in the Indian-held plebiscite in Kashmir.

On February 5, 1964, India Kashmir. Noting intensity in the war of liberation and hoisting of backed out of its promise of holdPakistani flags by the Kashmiri pro- ing plebiscite. Instead, in March testers, this time, Indian occupation 1965, the Indian Parliament passed authorities have imposed stringent a bill, giving Kashmir the status of restrictions in Srinagar and other a Province of India - an integral part towns, and deployed heavy contin- of the Indian union.

Kashmiris organized themselves gents of police and troops to prevent people from holding anti-In- against the injustices of India and launched a war of liberation which dia demonstrations.

However, during the partition New Delhi tried to suppress through of the Sub-continent in 1947, the various forms of state terrorism. people of the state of Jammu and Passing through various phases, the Kashmir (J&K) having Muslim struggle of Kashmiris which has population in majority, decided to become an interaction between New join Pakistan according to the Brit- Delhi’s state terrorism led by the ish-led formula. But, Dogra Raja, Indian security forces and war of libSir Hari Singh, a Hindu who was eration by the freedom fighters keeps ruling over the J&K, in connivance on going unabated.

It is notable that since 1947, in with the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor order to maintain its illegal control, General Lord Mountbatten, in- India has continued its repressive regime in the occupied Kashmir trigued to join India.

The Radcliffe Boundary through various machinations.

Nevertheless, various forms of Award gave the Gurdaspur District—a majority Muslim area to state terrorism have been part of a India to provide a land route to the deliberate campaign by the Indian Indian armed forces to move into army and paramilitary forces Kashmir. There was a rebellion in against Muslim Kashmiris, espe-

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cially since 1989. It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounters. According to a report on human rights violations in the Indian-occupied Kashmir, since 1989, there have been deaths of 100,000 innocent Kashmiris, 7,023 custodial killings, 1,22,771 arrests, 1,05,996 destruction of houses or buildings, 22,776 women widowed, 1,07,466 children orphaned and 10,086 women gang-raped/ molested. Indian brutal securities forces have been continuing these atrocities.

In fact, Indian forces have employed various draconian laws like the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act in killing the Kashmiri people, and for the arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period.

Besides Human Rights Watch, in its various reports, Amnesty International has also pointed out grave human rights violations in the Indian-controlled Kashmir, indicating that ‘the Muslim majority population in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security forces’.

In its report on July 2, 2015, the Amnesty International has highlighted extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons at the hands of Indian security forces in the Indianheld Kashmir. The report points out, ‘tens of thousands of security forces are deployed in Indian-administered Kashmir…the Armed Forces Special Powers Act allows troops to shoot to kill suspected militants or

arrest them without a warrant…not a single member of the armed forces has been tried in a civilian court for violating human rights in Kashmir…this lack of accountability has in turn facilitated other serious abuses…India has martyred 100,000 people. More than 8,000 disappeared (while) in the custody of army and state police’.

In this respect, European Union has passed a resolution about human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in the Indian held Kashmir.

It is of particular attention that in 2008, a rights group reported unmarked graves in 55 villages across the northern regions of the Indianoccupied Kashmir. Then researchers and other groups reported finding thousands of mass graves without markers. In this regard, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission officially acknowledged in its report that innocent civilians killed in the two-decade conflict have been buried in unmarked graves.

Notably, foreign sources and human rights organisations have revealed that unnamed graves include those of innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and paramilitary troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death by the Indian secret agency RAW. Nonetheless, August 15 which is the Independence Day for India, is Black Day for the Kashmiris and their brethren in Pakistan including those living all over the world, as they re-affirm their commitment to continue their struggle against Indian illicit occupation, and till the attainment of their liberation.

—The writer is political analyst based in Lahore.

HE monsoon session of the Parliament that concluded on Thursday has been a complete wash out with BJP-led NDA government having failed to legislate any worthwhile business and bring round the opposition parties for a consensus on running the two Houses. Now fate of Goods and Services Tax Bill also hangs in balance as no business could be transacted even on the last day in Rajya Sabha where the retiring members made a passionate plea for forging consensus on running the House as well as on wider national policies.

The continued protests that disrupted the proceedings of the two Houses leading to complete wash out of the 17-day session as the central government refused to agree to any of the demands of the opposition ranging from resignations of union ministers and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh over Lalitgate scandal and Vyapam scam. So far as the issues of important legislations are concerned, the government and its team of ministers tasked with responsibility of holding dialogue with opposition parties on major issues could not break the ice and restore order in the Parliament. In fact, it appears that the government was neither interested nor serious in transacting any business in both the Houses of the Parliament. The NDA government was facing the acid test for the first time in the Parliament after allegations of corruption and helping Lalit Modi of IPL for escaping from India and go into hiding in one of the European countries since its formation last year. The other issues have continued to haunt the BJP on the same pattern on which the right wing party continued to oppose the policies of the UPA-I and UPA-II during the past more than ten years when it was in opposition. For right or wrong reasons, the BJP as an opposition party continued to disrupt the proceedings of the two Houses of the Parliament on Land Acquisition Bill, GST Bill and issues of corruption charges against the ministers and now the party is facing the heat on the same pattern. It will not be out of place to mention that it has been quite embarrassing for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi because his government has been forced to restrict its approach to the UPA-I and UPA-II policies and Bills in an attempt to save the Parliament session earlier last week as a last resort to reign in the opposition.

It is more embarrassing for the NDA government when opposition did not even agree to allow the former to introduce the Land Acquisition Bill 2013, enacted by the UPA-II during the past three sessions of the Parliament. The opposition was adamant on seeking the resignations of the union ministers and the two BJP chief ministers and did not allow the Houses to function even for a single day. The fate of the GST Bill also now hangs in uncertainty and the government may be again forced to take ordinance route for promulgation of the law for the convenience of the centre and the states to be affected by its provisions in the future. This is happening despite the fact that the centre held out an assurance on the floor of the Parliament that it would continue to support the states for the loss of revenue collection through other taxes for at least five years once the new regime comes in force. It unfortunate that the senior leaders of the BJP, who have been talking of devolution of more powers and financial autonomy to the states have made a U-turn on this issue and want to go in for more centralized system of collection of taxes. It is no different than the Uturn taken by the NDA government on the Land Acquisition Bill and abandoned the amendments made it to please the corporate India for development of economic zones in the country through a process of land acquisition by the centre on their behalf on cheaper rates. The retiring members of the Upper House were very right in making an appeal to both the government as well as opposition to be responsible for transacting the business in the Parliament on serious and responsible notes. A timely observation by one of the retiring RS members was like an appeal to both the government and opposition, “let us not bring bad name to the Parliament” should be food for thought for all the parliamentarians.

— Kashmir Times Nature never did betray. The heart that loved her.

William Wordsworth — British poet

Pakistan – A Sign of Allah Muhammad Latif Email:abid.latif26@yahoo.com

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EW states are usually formed on the basis of geo graphical divisions, ethnicity, language or other commonalities. Following the World War-II many a new state emerged on the political map of the world; Pakistan was the first state that came into being on the basis of ideology.

The only other such example is apparently that of Israel.

Once Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal presented the idea of a separate state for the Muslims of subcontinent at the historic 1930 Allahabad Convention, it was taken as dream of a mad man. But in a short span of only 10 years the All India Muslim League, under the charismatic leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was able to muster support of the majority of Muslims of the subcontinent, which was unanimously expressed in the form of Pakistan Resolution on 23rd March 1940 at Minto Park Lahore.

Pakistan came into being as the first Ideological state on 14th August 1947. Fortunately the Islamic calendar date was 27th of Ramazanul-Mubarak, the day was Jumatul Wida and the revered night was Lailatul Qadr, not a mere coincidence but seemed to be a Divine destiny. There are numerous reasons to believe that the creation of Pakistan was no less than a miracle; it is really a sign of Allah.

The Muslims of subcontinent got united under the slogan of “Pakistan Ka Matlab kaya, La ilah ha IllAllah”. This slogan is the basis of the Two-Nation Theory and the Ideology of Pakistan. The slogan for Pakistan is a sign of Allah and no one can change the purpose of creation of Pakistan.

Disappointed by the internal rifts and intrigues of Indian Muslims, Muhammad Ali Jinnah left India and started practising law in England. Despite pursuance by

Allama Iqbal, Khan Liaquat Ali Khan and other prominent Muslim leaders, he kept on refusing to accept the leadership of Muslim League. Until one night while asleep he was said to be commanded by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to return to India and lead the Muslims for creation of a separate homeland for them. This Divine guidance reflects that creation of Pakistan is a miracle and a sign of Allah. The guidance through dream has also been reported about Khan of Kalat and other prominent leaders. But, let us only restrict to the visionary dream of Allama Iqbal whose words were of prophetic nature.

Usually the name of a country depicts the ethnic composition of that very country like Germany for German people and Japan for Japanese people. Pakistan is a unique name which does not depict any single nationality; instead it means a place of living for the pious people. Amazingly there is a similarity in the meanings of Madina Tayaba and Pakistan. Is it by chance or a part of grand plan?

When the Quaid proposed to the Khan of Kalat to integrate Balochistan into Pakistan, he asked for some time to consult the Tribal elders. As the story goes, Khan was ordered by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to make Balochistan part of Pakistan. Now that all the enemies of Pakistan have united and conspiring to disintegrate Pakistan, they will never succeed in their nefarious designs as the geographical boundaries of Pakistan are being protected as a sign of Allah.

Most of the European countries have the national flag with the sign of cross in one form or the other depicting Christianity as their religion. The Flag of Pakistan depicts rising crescent with a star, which is essentially a sign of Muslim entity.

Merely looking at the flag of Pakistan one is able to make out that it is definitely the flag of a Muslim state. The design of Pakistan’s flag is therefore a sign of Allah.

The ‘numerology’ related to Pakistan is also quite interesting.

For example every year 14 August, i.e. the Independence Day of Pakistan, 25 December i.e. the birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam and 11 September, i.e. the death anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam fall on the same day of the week and this will keep on happening till the Dooms Day. Tactical number of Pakistan Army is 786, which depicts “Bismillah-irRahman-irRaheem”, while the access code for international direct dialling for Pakistan is 92, which translates into numerology as “Muhammad”.

Now all this is by chance or as part of Divine plan?

The Objective Resolution forms the basis of the Constitution of Pakistan, which says that sovereignty belongs to Allah alone and the members of the Parliament are only His representatives and that all Laws in Pakistan will be formulated in the light of Quran and Sunnah. Now this binding in the Constitution is by default or as part of Divine plan?

Initially Karachi was the capital city of Pakistan. However, later on a small village in the footsteps of Margalla Hills i.e. Noorpur Shahan, was selected to be the new capital with the name of Islamabad.

Pakistan and Islamabad are synonymous to each other and seem to be planned under the same spirit.

Pakistan is the only Muslim country having declared nuclear capability, despite all odds and international sanctions. Today Pakistan possesses a credible nuclear deterrence with a second strike capability. In pursuance of Divine Guidance from the Holy book of Qur’an “And make ready your strength to the utmost of your power including the sinews of war to strike fear into the hearts of the enemies of Allah and your enemies and others besides them whom you may know not but Allah does know and whatever you shall expand in the cause of Allah shall be repaid unto you and you shall not be

treated unjustly”. This unconventional military power bestowed upon Pakistan is a miracle in itself and a sign of Allah.

At the time of division of subcontinent, the Hindus were given a choice to select 14th August or 15th August as their Independence Day. Hindu Pundits declared 14th August as an unlucky date and selected 15th August instead. Perforce Pakistan had to accept 14th August as its Independence Day. Allah Almighty gathered three blessings on 14th of August i.e. the Month of Ramadan, the night of Friday that was Lailatul-Qadr, which is “one night better than one thousand months”. Is this by chance or a miracle and a sign of Allah?

During the Pakistan-India War of 1965, many Muslims in Madina were spiritually indicated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) along with his companions left for Pakistan to help defend Pakistan. Similarly, many Indian soldiers are witness to the fact that unseen forces were fighting against them. As Allama Iqbal said, “Fiza-e-Badr paida kar farishte teri nusrat ko; utar saktay hein gardun say qataar undar qataar abb bhee”. Now this Divine help to defend Pakistan is also a miracle and a sign of Allah.

Above events may sound unrealistic and a fantasy but this is a fact that despite all odds and difficulties, Pakistan is making steady progress in all the fields. Independent international experts are predicting Pakistan to rise as a major economic, political and military power in the near future. Pakistan is definitely a miracle and a sign of Allah; anyone who will respect this sign will be rewarded in this life and the life hereafter, and anyone who will try to harm this sign of Allah will be punished in this life and on the Day of Judgement.

Let us all join hands to work for the purpose for which Pakistan was created.

— The author is a defence and political analyst based in Islamabad.

View From Abroad

A hanging in India Shashi Tharoor

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AKUB Memon, a chartered accountant and the brother of a notorious gangster now living in self-imposed exile, was hanged for complicity in the planning and execution of serial bomb blasts that killed 257 people in Mumbai in 1993.

The hanging, India’s first in three years, has prompted reactions ranging from dismay to scarcely concealed bloodlust. And it has intensified the domestic debate over the death penalty.

To be sure, no one suggests that India’s judicial system did not function properly in Memon’s case. He was convicted according to due process of law, and his punishment was in accordance with valid statutes.

During his 21 years behind bars, Memon exhausted every possible appeal available to him, including one for presidential clemency. The Supreme Court even held an emergency hearing at 2:30 in the morning, just hours before the execution was set to occur, before deciding to allow it to proceed. But the question remains: Should capital punishment be on the books at all?

As an opposition legislator, I attracted considerable opprobrium for voicing my opinion, on the morning of Memon’s hanging, that it should not be. I expressed my sadness that our government has killed a human being, whatever his crimes may have been. State-sponsored

killing diminishes us all, I added, by reducing us to murderers, just like those we are punishing.

My view is not popular in India, and my own party disclaimed my statement. But my position is based on ample evidence that the death penalty does not actually deter the crimes it punishes. Data collected by the Death Penalty Project at Delhi’s National Law University demonstrate conclusively that there is no statistical correlation between applying the death penalty and preventing murder. This evidence echoes similar findings in other countries.

My statements were also motivated by problems with the way capital punishment is imposed in India. The Supreme Court has declared that the death penalty should be applied only in the “rarest of the rare” cases. And, indeed, the last three executions in the country stemmed from terrorist offenses that threatened or took a large number of lives.

But the decision to impose capital punishment remains highly subjective. Indeed, whether the death penalty is meted out depends on a number of variables, beginning with judicial and social biases. Public outrage, potentially fueled by inflammatory media coverage, can push for a harsher sentence, especially in cases relating to terrorism or crimes against women. Economic status also comes into play, with poor criminals being executed much more often than wealthy ones, not least because they cannot afford highquality legal representation. And the

president’s decision to commute a sentence is subjective.

A 1983 case held that one way to determine whether a crime meets the “rarest of the rare” requirement is whether the community’s “collective conscience” has been “so shocked” that it expects those wielding judicial power to inflict the death penalty, regardless of their personal opinions. This leaves much room for the arbitrary and disproportionate application of capital punishment.

From 2010 to 2013, 436 death sentences were handed down by lower courts. Of those, 280 were commuted to life imprisonment, with many of the other cases likely to remain in limbo for decades. As for the death sentences that have already been carried out — two in that four-year period — it is impossible to ascertain the objective criteria that made the crimes in question more heinous or “rarer” than those that did not merit execution. Ambiguity and subjectivity have no place in matters of life and death. Yet, when it comes to the imposition of capital punishment, both are prominent.

That makes it all the more difficult to justify the practice.

Just a couple of weeks before Memon’s execution, India’s Law Commission, a government body composed of retired judges and legal experts that works for legal reform, organized consultations to assess the effectiveness of the provisions governing the death penalty in India and the purpose of the penalty itself. Unsurprisingly, based on the

evidence and the opinions presented at the Law Commission’s hearings, there was a general consensus that the courts are unable to adopt a fair and non-discriminatory approach to the death penalty, and support for its abolition was overwhelming.

That will not happen any time soon. The Indian public overwhelmingly supports the death penalty, especially for convicted terrorists. The debate over Memon’s hanging was often emotional, with media interviewing survivors of the Mumbai blasts.

Globally, India is part of a dwindling minority. More than 130 countries have abolished the death penalty. Twenty-five countries have it on the books, but have not executed anyone for decades.

That leaves roughly 30 countries that still apply it.

India’s membership in this group has international repercussions; for example, European Union countries will not extradite criminals to countries where they may face execution. But the real problem is deeper: Capital punishment is, at its core, about nothing more than retribution.

It may be tempting to declare that anyone who kills (or participates in killing) innocent people does not deserve to live. But is revenge a worthy motive for a state’s actions, especially toward its own citizens? One day, I am sure, it will see the light. Until then, the lonely battle for its abolition must continue.

— Courtesy: Arab News

My agony aunt..!

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VERY newspaper, maga zine I open nowadays has an agony aunt dishing out advice to sobbing youngsters, housewives and middle aged men who have no business to be doing what they are doing. “Dear Aunty” cries the letter writer, or is it Dear Diana or Dear Aunt Agony! Today however the ‘dear aunty column’ had me interested and smiling: “Dear Aunty,” cried school boy, “I’ve fallen for my teacher..!”

I unfortunately didn’t have an agony aunt to confide in when I fell for my class teacher. I was

all of four and my teacher an Irish nun. Sister Gertrude was her name.

But me a little country boy with tongue that could not pronounce such intricate sound, could only manage saying Sister ‘Beetroot.’

Sister Gertrude, bless her heart smiled every time I called her such and me little four year old was smitten. Not just with her saintly, patient smile but by the most beautiful pair of blue eyes I had ever seen.

“Sister Beetroot!” I would shout in class, and the lovely sister would leave desk to come by and ask what I wanted. It generally wasn’t anything, but an excuse to have her stand by my side and smell her sweet Irish fragrance, which to my little nose was heavenly.

She was the reason I loved school; studies I hated. One evening dad announced at dinner that the

Queen of England was visiting the city and that we could all go and watch her go by. It was quite a crowd that gathered to see the then young and pretty queen, and my father eager I should have my first glimpse of royalty, placed me on his shoulders and faced me to the road.

I searched for the Queen and my little heart beat all the faster when I saw a little ahead of me also craning her lovely neck to see her beloved majesty, who else but my Sister Gertrude. A shiver of happiness ran through my little body.

Suddenly the crowd cheered as the Queen’s car was seen, but my eyes were on my queen, and taking deep breath I shouted at the top of my voice, “Sister Beetroot!

Sister Beetroot!” It must have been quite a shout or maybe there was only one person in a nun’s

habit; as people turned, giggled and smiled at the sister who had grown deep startling crimson red.

The Queen passed by at the same time. I was happy to see my Irish sister the next day, but she wasn’t too happy to be seen near me, “Robert,” she said, and I noted it wasn’t ‘Bob’ anymore, “did you have to call me ‘Beetroot’ in front of my queen?”

I never smelt the sweet Irish smells again, as dear sister kept far away from me. “Dear Aunty” I write, “what do I do to get back my teachers love? She must be back in Ireland or above with her God!” “Dear Broken Heart,” writes crafty editor, “tell her you can now say ‘Gertrude’ “Dear Aunty” I write, “its Beetroot!

Beetroot..!”

—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

Voice of the People Middle class is the keeper of values JAVAID BASHIR Normally all societies of the world have three social classes - the rich, poor and the middle class. Middle class is considered as the backbone of a society. The personal values and political preferences of this class have a strong link in-between the horrible poverty and extreme wealth.

Having two meals a day is a big challenge for the middle class white collar individuals, and the fear of becoming lurks as the hanging Damocles’ sword.

Any accident can push this class into abject poverty. Its basic desire is to move into upper class. Fear and dream are two parts of the grinding stone between which the middle class gets trampled. Due to chasing the mirage of status and appearances, this class preserves and adheres to social norms and values religiously. Values and the standards and style of life always keep on changing, but for this class the values remain static and immobile. The first rate hypocrisy is also found among this class. Religious traits are also exhibited by this class.

They have extreme desire of keeping up the values on the one hand, and on the other hand the intense need for the change in the political and social order. This contradiction of thinking and desire gets democratic system to evolve the standards of the society. Democracy for diverse vested interests finds the way for dialogue and compromise. Though influential elite class is fearful of democratic change and hence stands up to fiercely preserve its privileged economy against them.

Then the middle class takes the route of fascism but without changing the thinking. The desire to change gives birth to fascism. In today’s world one of its kind is religious extremism. The assumption is to be believed in a realistic strategy to bring change in the economy. If economic circumstances change then the value system will also be changed.

In Pakistan’s politics and social structure, the middle class has special significance due to many reasons. According to recent estimates and surveys, 60% of its population lives in rural areas. If two dollars per capita is considered standard income, then 6-% of the population lives below poverty line. The average age of population is 22 years.

It means that manpower’s large portion has the capability to participate in productive activities over a longer period of time. If we get rid of energy crisis then we can increase our industrial production by 2% and if we introduce appropriate change in trade policy, we can increase annual growth rate of our economy by additional 2%.

—Karachi

Our real heroes MARRIA QIBTIA S NAGRA A strong institutional framework is a pre-requisite for efficient administration of a state. Unfortunately, Pakistan has very few institutions to boast of when it comes to administrative competency. The major and perhaps the only institution that has served the nation selflessly is that of the Armed forces. Heralded by a strict accountability system, the institution has managed to allow for the deliverance of duty in whatever possible and dangerous circumstances. Dedication towards their duty, the duty of safeguarding the lives of their fellow brethren against all odds is what makes them worthy of praise and admiration from the common man.

Be it the gruelling hot summer days or the chilly winter nights, it is these individuals in uniform who are always on their toes, ready to strike the hidden enemies, who yearn to take us unguarded. Whenever, our nation is afflicted with a natural disaster, floods or earthquakes, it is the virtual presence of our soldiers, our heroes that make us feel ourselves to be in safe and protective hands.

Our victory in the war against terrorism is a direct result of the effective and selfless Zarb-e-Azb operation of the armed forces in North Waziristan, where our brave soldiers sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. All these acts of the Armed forces were not possible in the absence of robust and dynamic leadership. It is the efforts of the commanding officers of the Armed forces, particularly General Raheel Shareef, who rightfully deserve applause and commendation because of his unifying role.

The golden principles of honesty, integrity, truthfulness, and selflessness which were passed on to us by our creating founders should have been held fast by our political administrators but ironically they are oblivious to them.

Instead our Armed forces, emerging as our saving grace have made

Child protection & awareness FAISAL REHMAN

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he senseless and inhuman act of indecency in Kasur demands that there a desperate need to protect children from sexual abuse and harassment. In every Society beasts in human form do exist to get their hands on innocent children. Throughout the world child awareness and protection programmes are being run both by civil society organisations and government institutions. But efforts from the above two will only be complemented when parents and teachers also fulfil their responsibilities towards children. It is the duty of Police and other law enforcement agencies to protect children and women from all kinds of harassment and abuse. In this regard a separate law should be enacted containing not only provisions regarding women and children protection but also severe punishments for the offenders.

—Peshawar these principles their very assets and this is precisely the very reason we see them accomplishing every task they set their hands on.

The institution of armed forces comes across as a perfect precedent of delivering with excellence for the plethora of remnant institutions that are struggling with degeneration and decay. It sets before them a blueprint of earning dignity and respect by endeavouring to serve the nation with pure dedication and motivation. It is time that our political leaders, took a break from delivering their ever green speeches on the eve of every independence day and by realizing their national responsibilities channelize their energies to give something in return to the nation that awaits their sanity with expectant eyes.

—Lahore

Education in Pakistan HASAN FAROOQ Pakistan emerged on the world map on 14th August, 1947. Since then she has faced a number of problems on her way to progress. All of these issues are major and are badly affecting our society. Perhaps the greatest loss comes in the area of education.

Whether or not this is a direct result of Pakistan’s economic problems, it is undoubtedly connected with so many resources directed towards the aforementioned debt payment, educational improvements are given and inordinately low priority. In addition, neither democratic nor military government has understandably given due emphasis on education in Pakistan.

This is evident upon examination of Pakistan’s overall literacy rate of 37.8% (50% for men and 24.4% for women). Literacy being defined as those over 15 who can read and write.

In term of population, low literacy rates are often observed with high population growth. A poorly educated population is unlikely to participate in family planning or any other form of population control.

Secondly, poor educated populace makes Pakistan a poor choice for the foreign investors that we so desperately need. Furthermore, the extremely low literacy rate among Pakistani women (24.4%) lends itself to a society where most women never enter the labour force, creating less incentives for them to limit the size of their families. This is best illustrated by the fact that only 38 million of Pakistan’s 141 million people make up the entire labour force.

—Via email

rat race of saying things without verifying them. The race to be the first one to show scenes like heads being blown off, minors after being gang-raped and accusations being hurled has made them forget the ethics and norms of authenticated and verified reporting.

This is a real chance to redefine the role of institutions, this is an opportunity to redefine the boundaries of freedom of expression, this is a moment to reflect on the system of checks and balances, and this is a moment to rethink the role of the viewer in regulating content. The talk show format reflects the way channels use fighting and instigating techniques to bring the worst out in participants. Accusations, abuse and walkouts are repeated multiple times to gain viewership. The formula is this: the bigger the fight, the higher the viewership, the higher the rating and the higher the advertisement money.

Making PEMRA regulations stronger and the people who head them more capable is essential. The biggest driver of media content and trends is what people watch. As a public we need to question how we keep on cribbing about the negativity of media content and keep on watching it more and more. Eventually, what people watch less will sell less. Thus, for each one of us the responsibility of streamlining programming is crucial. The day the public realises that their collective power is stronger than any regulation on the media, serial dramatics going on in the name of news will give way to genuine, authentic and balanced information.

—Karachi

Kasur scandal MARIUM IMRAN

Pakistan’s largest ever child abuse scandal comes to light in Punjab town of Kasur. Approximately around 400 videos of some 280 children who were forced to have sex were recorded to mentally torture and blackmail the victims and their families, in order to exploit their family honour and to get money by harassing young children.

Moreover, these recorded videos were not only sold overseas but even to the locals of the town in just for an amount of rupees 50. This prejudice act of Kasur scandal reached its height of corruption when the local police and MP tried to cover the heinous criminal act, just by saying that no one came forward to register the case remarking it as the most nonsensical excuse. It’s sorrowful to know that like other scandals in Pakistan, the Kasur scandal will just be discussed a bit on news channels and ANUM SHIVANI talk shows and later the culprits would be free to roam about in the Media is a business and media is in city like nothing happened. the business of news, but when me—Karachi dia gets in the business of breaking news at breakneck speed, the danger of breaking rules and going overboard is all too apparent. In Pakistan, the media has played a pivotal role in raising the voices of the voiceless.

HASHIM ABRO Media independence has seen government performance exposed, corruption laid bare, information made I had opportunity the other day to accessible and public education in- visit a few Islamabad-based educacrease. In the last one decade the con- tional institutions and capacity buildtribution of media in making the man- ing organizations. Surprisingly, no on-the-street more informed is highly readers, no new books in the librarcommendable. The movement for ies and and no new equipment, aprestoration of an independent judi- paratus or the students were found ciary is a prime example where the in the laboratories.

What a nation and what a counmedia and journalists made huge contry where there is decline in everytributions against a hostile government to actually raise the voice of thing but increase in corruption, crime, inflation, moral and ethical people demanding democracy.

The introduction of social me- crisis; but who cares in this country dia further increased the media’s where corruption stands as a religion reach and message. The younger and fiscal corruption as a faith of vast generation, which hardly watches majority of people. television, could upload and share —Islamabad television programmes, clips and statements of people in the millions ISCLAIMER at all odd hours of the day and night.

Then came Facebook and Twitter to THE articles, columns and give each opinion aired in the meletters are published on these dia global viewing within minutes. pages in good faith. However, Now with 3G and 4G technology, the minutes will turn into seconds the contents of these writings and the gadget in your hand will almay not necessarily match the low you to experience the power of views of the newspaper. instant viewing.

The media has fed itself on sen—Editor sationalism. The race to be the first Email:editorial@pakobserver.net one to break the news, particularly bad news, has gotten them into the

Media & ethics

Of libraries and laboratories

D

Chinese warships leave for Sea of Japan for joint drills with Russia QINGDAO—Seven Chinese warships on Saturday left east China’s port of Qingdao for the Sea of Japan where they will join Russian counterparts on a nine-day exercise. The drills, codenamed Joint Sea-2015 (II), will take place from Aug. 20 to 28 in the Peter the Great Gulf, waters off the Clerk Cape, and the Sea of Japan.

This will be the second China-Russia naval exercise this year. A source close to the operation said navies of the two countries will join forces to simulate anti-submarine combat and air defense and other relevant missions.

A joint beach landing of troops is also planned.

The source said the drills “are not targeted at any third party and are not relevant to regional status-quo.” “The drills are part of annual exchange program between Chinese and Russian mili-

taries,” the source said.

The Chinese fleet includes destroyers Shenyang and Taizhou, frigates Linyi and Hengyang, landing craft Changbaishan and Yunwushan and supply ship Taihu. They will arrive at the Russian port of Vladivostok on Aug. 20 where the two navies will hold cultural and sporting activities.

Six helicopters, five fixedwing aircraft, 21 units of amphibious equipment and 200 marines will also join the exercise from the Chinese side.

The Russian navy, meanwhile, will send 16 surface ships, two submarines, 12 naval aircraft, nine amphibious vehicles and 200 marines. Chinese and Russian navies have held five joint exercises since 2005. The last ChinaRussia naval drills, Joint Sea-2015 (I), were held in the Mediterranean Sea in May.—Xinhua

Shells hit N.Syria as 3-way talks with Iran break down BEIRUT—Shelling resumed Zabadani and the evacuation of on Saturday in two government-held villages in northwest Syria and a rebel town near Damascus, state media and a monitor said, as a ceasefire for the areas collapsed.

The violence came despite talks about extending the truce that began on Wednesday morning and aimed at reaching a final deal to stop fighting in the three areas. Syrian state television said a child and her father had been killed and 12 others wounded in “terrorist shelling” on the regime-held villages of Fuaa and Kafraya in Idlib province.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitor, said rebels had fired about 20 missiles at the two villages and also reported shelling on the rebel-held town of Zabadani.

In Fuaa, a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the bombardment. “Today we’ve been hearing the sound of explosions since dawn,” the resident said.

“The truce failed and the attacks have resumed.”

The truce agreement between rebel groups and pro-regime factions, including Lebanon’s militia Hezbollah, came into effect in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Before its expiry on Saturday morning, intensive negotiations had been under way for an extension of the ceasefire and a full deal.

The talks centred on the withdrawal of rebels from

civilians from Fuaa and Kefraya, which are the last two government-held villages in Idlib province.

But the negotiations reportedly stumbled over an opposition insistence that thousands of prisoners be released from government jails, according to Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman.

He said negotiations on the deal were continuing despite the ceasefire faltering. “The talks are ongoing, but there are breaches in the ceasefire,” he said, citing sources close to the talks.

“It’s not clear if the breaches are attempts by the parties to improve the conditions of the deal or come from those who want to thwart the negotiations,” he said. Iran, representing the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, had sought to extend the truce by an additional several days.

However, according to Abu al-Yazid Taftanaz, a spokesman for the Ahrar ash-Sham Islamic Movement (a coalition of groups opposed to the Assad regime), talks broke down because Iranian representatives insisted that Sunni residents of Zabadani – a town located northwest of Damascus on the border with Lebanon – should be transferred to another location. “It [the forced transfer of Sunni residents from Zabadani] is not acceptable,” Taftanaz told Anadolu Agency. “This would only result in more conflict.”—AFP

Europe’s contribution to Israeli colonialism Europeans and other Westerners are blindly complicit in the physical and metaphorical erasure of the Palestinians.

HANINE HASSAN

O

Berlin says Syrian missile threat is diminished, and that they will start withdrawing Patriots in coming months.

Germany to end Turkey Patriot missile deployment BERLIN—Germany will end its contribu- mission, which is mandated to the end of of the region,” she said. “Not only by traintion to NATO’s Patriot anti-missile systems in southern Turkey by the beginning of 2016, the Federal Ministry of Defense said on Saturday.

“The decision was taken after the present assessments made by the NATO in June 2015, which concluded that the threat against Turkish territories by Syrian ballistic missiles is very low,” the ministry said in a statement.

NATO Patriot batteries have been stationed about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the Syrian border since January 2013.

Germany provides two of the five NATO batteries and around 250 personnel to the

January.

The deployment was made at Turkey’s request following the shooting down of a Turkish jet by Syrian forces in June 2012 and the killing of Turkish civilians by Syrian shellfire four months later.

“Together with our NATO partners we have defended the Turkish people against possible missile attacks from Syria,” Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said in the statement. “Our Patriot missiles have successfully carried out their mission.”

She added that the threat in the region now came from ISIL. “Therefore, we will continue our engagement for the stability

ing and supporting the Kurdish and Iraqi security forces in Erbil but also with our naval force… in the eastern Mediterranean.”

The deployment was criticized by opposition parties in recent months for being costly and ineffective and media reports claimed the mission was using too many of the German army’s missile specialists.

German media reports said the timing of the decision indicated it was not a reaction to Turkey’s renewed offensive against Kurdish insurgents. Last month, von der Leyen voiced concerns about Turkish airstrikes on Kurdish bases in northern Iraq.—Reuters

Former US President Carter blames Israel for peace failure WEST BANK—Former US president Jimmy has never sincerely believed in a two-state soCarter said that two-state solution has “zero chance” of being realised Saturday, blamed this on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu according to a news report in Days of Palestine.

In a wide-ranging interview with Prospect Magazine published on Thursday, Carter blamed Netanyahu of adopting a “one-state solution,” and said that the “US had withdrawn” from making further efforts.

He also accused the Israeli occupation of denying Palestinians equal rights, but stopped short of labelling the Israeli occupation an apartheid state, a term he utilised in his 2006 book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.

“These are the worst prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians for years.

At this moment, there is zero chance of the twostate solution,” Carter said.

Carter, who served as US president from 1977 to 1981, said he believes that Netanyahu has no intention of pursuing peace, and lamented that “They [Palestinians] will never get equal rights [to Israeli Jews, in a one-state solution].”

Netanyahu, said Carter “does not now and

lution for Israel and Palestine,” He also explained that when he visited the Israeli occupation and the occupied West Bank in April, he did not bother to contact Netanyahu for a meeting, saying that “it would be a waste of time to ask” — expecting that the request would be refused as those in the past.

The former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner gave the interview ahead of the launch of his new book, A Full Life: Reflections at 90, and shortly after he announced Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with cancer. He will turn 91 in October.

Responding to a question on the use of the term apartheid in relation to the Israeli occupation, Carter said that he is “reluctant to use that word in a news article” but asserted that the argument has legitimacy because of demographic changes in the Israeli occupation and the West Bank.

Either “Palestinians will have a majority in government, or you deprive them of equal rights,” he noted, suggesting that the Israeli occupation would not accept a Palestinian political majority.—AFP

Profound lessons must be learned from Tianjin blasts: Xi

BEIJING—Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday urged authorities to learn from the “extremely profound” lessons paid for with blood as massive warehouse explosions in Tianjin have killed at least 85 people. Xi said in a written instruction that the Tianjin blasts and a string of serious accidents recently exposed severe problems in the work safety sector, and authorities must always keep “safe growth” and “people’s interest first” in mind to avoid such accidents.

He demands a better emergency response mechanism, greater implementation of work safety measures and rule, and careful checks of A 48-hour ceasefire between the Syrian regime and rebel all possible safety risks, to achieve “substantial forces that on Wednesday has broken down. improvement” in work safety.

The repeated emphasis on safety followed the massive explosions at a warehouse storing dangerous chemicals in north China’s Tianjin City on Wednesday night, killing at least 85 people, including 21 firefighters.

The warehouse was owned by Tianjin Dongjiang Port Rui Hai International Logistics Co. Ltd., a storage and distribution center for containers of dangerous goods.

The State Council Work Safety Commission on Friday said the blasts revealed a lack of safety awareness among businesses, lax implementation of safety regulations, irregular practices among workers and weak emergency responses to incidents.—Xinhua

40 migrants die in Mediterranean: Italy navy ROME—At least 40 migrants died after apparently getting trapped and suffocating in the water-logged hold of a fishing boat in the Mediterranean, the Italian navy said on Saturday.

The victims are thought to have suffocated after inhaling fumes from fuel after the boat took on water in the hold, the captain of the navy ship leading the rescue said on Italian state television.

Commander Massimo Tozzi, speaking from the ship, said that when his men boarded the migrant boat they found the dead in the hold “immersed in water, fuel and human excrement”.

Migrants who have arrived in Italy say human traffickers based in lawless Libya charge them between $1,200 and $1,800 for a place on the deck of boats. Those crammed in the hold pay about half as much as those above. Admiral Pierpaolo Libuffo, head of Italy’s rescue operations, told Italian television that 312 survivors had been taken on board, including 45 women and 3 children. He said seven bodies of the dead had been brought aboard the navy ship and some 30 others were still in the hold. The boat was being towed to the Italian island of Lampedusa. Video provided by the navy showed the blue migrant boat, which appeared to be about 20 meters long and made of wood, was still afloat when rescuers arrived. “Either the international community does something to resolve the Libyan situation or this will not be the last tragedy,” Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said.—Reuters

Russia and Ukraine: Back on the Brink of War? Just as there are tremors registered before a major earthquake occurs, there are clear warning signs that things could heat up very quickly, very soon.

NIKOLAS K. GVOSDEV

W

HILE the ceasefire in Ukraine has been gradually eroding over the last several weeks, are we on the verge of seeing full-scale hostilities resume? While the position of the major European powers remains preservation of the Minsk peace process at all costs, even to the extent of studiously ignoring the recent flare-ups that make a mockery of the very idea of a cease-fire, both sides in the conflict—Russia and the separatists on one side, and the Ukrainian government on the other—have considerable incentives to stoke up the conflict at this particular point in time in the hopes of delivering a knockout blow that could change the current facts on the ground.

For Ukraine, every day that the Moscowbacked entities in Donetsk and Lugansk continue to exist diminishes the possibility of reunifying Ukraine under Kyiv’s terms. As we have seen in other conflicts in the greater Eurasian space, temporary cease-fire lines have a way of becoming more permanent lines of control. In addition, the government in Kyiv is coming under greater pressure to do more in

terms of improving the standard of living of the Ukrainian people, as well as moving more aggressively and rapidly on a series of reforms desired by Ukraine’s Western partners. The presidential administration of Petro Poroshenko and the cabinet of Arseniy Yatsenyuk are watching their approval ratings tank, while both the official armed forces and the militia units that have been holding the line in the east are expressing growing frustration with how the government is conducting military operations.

At the same time, even as the cease-fire crumbles, Ukraine has not been able to break through continued opposition in many Western countries to providing it with weaponry.

For its part, Russia’s timetable is now under significant pressure. The slowdown of China’s economy and the expected emergence of large amounts of Iranian oil into global markets presages another major drop in oil prices.

Moscow’s ability to sustain the separatist entities and continue to weather sanctions under such conditions will not improve with time. Yet the status quo is also unfavorable from Russia’s perspective, as the separatist entities have not acquired a more permanent, definitive status and remain vulnerable to sudden extinction.

Under the quieter conditions of even an ineffective cease-fire, the Ukrainian government’s problems with implementing a reform agenda could receive greater attention.

Should open, large-scale fighting resume in the east, national-security considerations will once again take center stage—with the possibility that Western donors and creditors can be persuaded to give Kyiv more time and greater leeway. There is also the possibility that the complete collapse of the Minsk process will help to rally popular support in Ukraine behind the government.

At the same time, if Moscow’s long-term goal is to get recognition of the staying power and essential permanence of the separatist entities—as has essentially occurred for South Ossetia and Abkhazia vis-à-vis Georgia—then Ukraine must be disabused of any hope that it can press for reunification of the country on its terms. This means crushing the Ukrainian forces in a decisive action so that even the prospect of greater Western support for training and equipping Ukraine’s military would no longer hold open the prospect for a Croatian-style Operation Storm at some point in the near future. Luring the Ukrainians into a major pitched battle while Russian-backed and -supplied forces still hold the advantage might also persuade Kyiv that it has no choice but to accept the reality of a permanent frozen conflict. These are the most toxic places on earth. You’ll never believe #5!

There is a second timetable at work. Given the six-month cycle for reapproval of European

sanctions, Moscow must act within a narrow window. If it has any hope of seeing a partial reduction in the sanctions regime, any alteration in the military balance must occur now and be over and done so that by November, when the talks among the twenty-eight states of the European Union are underway, things are once again quiet on the eastern front and the lines have been stabilized. Any major flareup that lasts for, say, ten days in August will by mid-November be “ancient history,” especially if there is a third iteration of the Minsk accords in play.

The Iran deal is taking up most of the energy and attention of the U.S. foreign-policy establishment. But Washington—along with America’s European allies—must be prepared for the likelihood that there could be a fullscale resumption of hostilities. If fighting resumes, there is no excuse for the West to be taken by surprise. Just as there are tremors registered before a major earthquake occurs, the increased frequency of clashes and the deployment of equipment and personnel are clear warning signs that things could heat up very quickly very soon.

—Courtesy: TNI [Nikolas Gvosdev is a contributing editor at The National Interest and co-author of Russian Foreign Policy: Vectors, Sectors and Interests (CQ Press, 2013)].

N July 31, 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh was burned alive in an arson attack on his family’s home carried out by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian village of Douma in the West Bank. His father, Saad Dawabsheh, succumbed to his wounds from the arson attack on August 8.

Israeli and Western media were quick to frame the murder of the Palestinian toddler as an attack by Jewish extremists. The condemnations flowed one after the other, and the European Union called on the Israeli authorities to show zero tolerance for settler violence and to protect the local Palestinian population.

It is exactly at this intersection where irony hits the tragedy of the Palestinians so dramatically.

The EU is tacitly mandating the Israeli army - the occupier to impose a system of governance that would benefit the people it occupies, while simultaneously - and for decades - providing full tolerance of Israel’s systematic policy of settlement expansion. Although the International Court of Justice has ruled that Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory are illegal, Israel’s biggest trading partner, the EU, has failed to impose any trade restrictions to reprimand future settlement building.

Stimulating settlement: Today, 125 government-approved settlements and 100 unofficial ones are home to 547,000 Israelis in the West Bank. While Israel annexed East Jerusalem decades ago, it has stimulated the settlement of an additional 200,000 Israelis in 12 neighbourhoods, which should become part of the future Palestinian state. However, this is just the beginning of this dichotomy.

The architecture of violence: Almost a tenth of Israel’s citizens live in the Palestinian occupied territories - outside Israel’s recognised borders.

International vernacular refers to them as Jewish “settlers”, a synonym of the word “colonist”, to deliberately distinguish those living in occupied territories outside of Israeli’s borders from citizens living within, although they all fall under the same flag that actively implements Israel’s colonial quest.

The number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank has been growing four times faster than that of Israel’s citizens. Settlers migrate to Israel, and from there, they can choose to settle in the West Bank, taking advantage of their Jewish privilege.

Rightful inhabitants: Israeli settlers perceiving themselves as the rightful inhabitants of the land is one corner of a curtain pulled slightly back to expose Z ionism’s perversion of Judaism, which is used to justify settler and colonial tendencies .

A continuous flow of settlers is needed to face the Palestinian “demographic problem”, as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refers to it. The Israeli discourse has normalised the Palestinian demographic threat to the extent that numerous laws and policies, with racist undertones, have been legalised with the aim of containing and isolating the non-Jewish population in historical Palestine . The establishment of more settlements is illegal and a major obstacle to justice for Palestinians, in addition to the mere presence of these settlers in these areas. Israel’s demographic race rotates around one premise: How to end this Palestinian threat? The contemptuous answer is that it won’t.

Israel’s political and social goal to be a fully “Jewish State” will keep Palestinians labelled as an existential problem, even those who carry its citizenship.

Within this framework, it is imperative for the West to understand that migration of their citizens to Israel has morbid consequences for the native population, the Palestinians.

Exponential growth: With the exponential growth of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, more settlers are needed to fill the newly built homes on stolen land.

Israel has exploited its recruitment mechanism, and the number of “olim” - the Hebrew word for immigrants - absorbed by Jewish agencies to settle in Israel hit a 10 year high in 2014, with an average increase of 40 percent from 2013 to 2014.

The Zionist equation remains the same: the arrival of a new immigrant means the disappearance, physically and metaphorically, of the Palestinian.

Israel settled more than 24,000 olim in 2014, whereas it received 17,000 olim in 2013. More than 50 percent originate from the UK, France, and Ukraine - all of which are European countries.

All of these new immigrants in Israel are dual passport holders, and can settle anywhere in Israel or in settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Jewish-Zionist recruitment agencies, which legalise and allow this process, are located in all main European, American, Canadian, Australian, and other Western cities.

For instance, the Jewish Agency for Israel has seen a 190 percent spike in Ukrainians looking to immigrate to Israel, with economic reasons being the main motive.

While these new settlers can take advantage of their religion and race for a better life, as Jewish rights supersede Palestinian rights, more than five million registered Palestinian refugees, with 1.5 million of them in neighbouring countries, have been waiting for 70 years to return to their homes.

The Zionist equation: The Zionist equation remains the same: The arrival of a new immigrant means the disappearance - physically and metaphorically - of the Palestinian.

Additionally, current diaspora ministry Director-General Dvir Kahana and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett - who claimed to have killed lots of Arabs in his life and has no problem with it - gave “special, accelerated approval” to a company called “Initiative for the Future of the Jewish People”, to implement a diaspora affairs ministry programme which aims to enforce a connection between Jews in the world by linking their Jewish identity to the State of Israel.

Bennett is Netanyahu’s coalition partner in the current Israeli government, and hence these settlement policies, which are in a steady recruitment mode, are formulated in Tel Aviv, the main body behind Israel’s expansionist enterprise in the West Bank.

More than 11,000 settler attacks have been perpetuated with full impunity since 2004, leading to a 165 percent increase in the weekly average of settler violence resulting in Palestinian casualties and property damage, including to homes, mosques, and churches. The recruitment of more settlers for more of these illegal settlements results in crimes carried out against Palestinians as Europeans and Americans institutionalise the occupation. It is without a doubt that burned Palestinian toddlers will continue to pay the price. Israel - its government, army, and settlers - are one and the same loose cannon.

Missing justice: One cannot differentiate between the murder by an Israeli sniper in Ramallah of 16-year-old Laith Khalidi, who bred rabbits and loved to play football and the piano, or Majdi al-Muhtaseb, who was handcuffed and beaten by Israeli soldiers in Hebron and then forced to drink petrol.

On November 2014, 32-year-old Youssef al-Ramouni was found hung in the bus he was supposed to be driving in a district of Jerusalem close to Jewish settlements. Just a month earlier, 5year-old Einas Khalil died after being hit by a car driven by an Israeli settler near the town of Sinjil. None of the perpetrators have been brought to justice, as settlers have, for decades, run rampant due to a system tailored to facilitate these terror attacks - the same system that empowered and enabled the murder of 530 children in the Gaza Strip in the July 2014 assault.

The affirmation and support these settlers need come from political leaders who transform expansionist ideologies into facts on the ground.

These facts have caused the dispossession of Palestinian lands, lives, and bodies. alestinian children have suffered disproportionately as a result of the Israeli occupation, but also from US and Western facilitation of settlers and guns and years of diplomatic cover-ups protecting Israel from any real consequences for its acts of terrorism against Palestinians.

—Courtesy: Al Jazeera [Hanine Hassan is a PhD candidate at Columbia University. Her research focuses on the long-term effects of humiliation as a tool of oppression by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories].

Altaf appeals Raheel well as people of Azad Kashmere, GilgitBaltistan, federally administered tribal areas, oversee Pakistanis and the whole nation on the 69th Independence Day of Pakistan.

He also felicitated PTI Chairman Imran Khan, his wife Reham Khan and all heads of political and religious parties.

Hussain said that the government has imposed ban on his live telephonic addresses, which was also imposed on June 19, 1992 but his determination could not be weakened in past and it is still at the apex.

He said, “During a 37 year long struggle for the people of Pakistan and the country, I was forced to leave his home and in the struggle, I lost my brother, a nephew along with thousands of my followers” there are many, who have criticised him for his speeches but he did not rebuke them in past and still brooks their criticism with courage and with sports man spirit, he said, adding that he would not change his stance on principals that a tyrant government, whether a civilian or a military, packed with sheer injustices can never cause him to bow his head down, he asserted.

Altaf Hussain said he never wished for any public office and none from his family is ever appointed as Governor, Mayor, federal or provincial minister and would never ever have a wish for controlling the reigns of power corridors.

He reminded that the ongoing targeted

From Page 1 operation in Karachi was commenced in 2013 on the basis of militant wings in various political and religious parties including the MQM. The apex court had also named those political and religious parties but no raids were so far conducted on headquarters or residences of heads of other political and religious parties except the MQM” Hundreds of FIRs have so far been registered against me all over the country,” he deplored.

Altaf Hussain said he has always spoken truth and when his aides and followers and workers were arrested by police or personnel of paramilitary Rangers or by any other agency’s personnel in plain clothes, he had only laid the actual and factual details before everyone. The workers of the MQM are the victims of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial murders.

He said he had given numerous examples as how and when Senators, Members in Provincial and National assembly lambasted the Pak Army but he was alone whose telephonic addresses are banned in Pakistan.

He said MQM’s photographer Muhammad Hashim was picked from his way toward his home from his office in MQM headquarters on May 6, 2015. He was subjected to brutal physical torture and assassinated out of court. His body was discarded at a deserted venue and the Edhi Foundation had buried his body believing he was either an orphan or had no family behind.

Altaf Hussain said it is an irony that

the innocent workers of the MQM are routinely arrested but there is none to arrest and punish those, who are carrying out murders of the innocent workers of the MQM. He said despite all these injustices and tyranny, he had announced to celebrate the Independence Day with great national fervor. The MQM made appeals for their release of the arrested and their safe return to their homes so that they could also participate in the Independence Day jubilations.

Altaf Hussain was all praise the COAS General Raheel Sharif saying he has been confronting the challenges with courage and gallantry. He requested him to spare a little time to hear the MQM’s representatives.

Hussain alleged while the MQM office-bearers and workers were engaged in preparations for the Independence Day celebrations, terrorists belonging to Haqiqi occupied different areas in Landhi as they had done in past on June 19, 192 in connivance wit the paramilitary Rangers. He recalled that Nawaz Sharif was then Prime Minister, who had assured that the operation would not target the MQM but the MQM was the only victim at that time too.

He alleged that the paramilitary Rangers have seated the terrorists in units 80 to 89 of Landhi in which Urdu speaking terrorists’ number is negligible while the 90 percent of planted terrorists are non-Urdu speaking from other ethnic communities.

PBSA arranges Independence Day programmes ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Boy Scouts Association (PBSA) Friday on the occasion of independence day arranged colourful programmes in children emergency ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

On the occasion, the children ward was beautifully decorated with the flags, buntings and balloons, said a press release issued here.

The independence celebration started by unfurling the national flag by a little girl admitted in the hospital.

The admitted children, their parents, hospital staff and scouts recited the national anthem enthusiastically.

The activities included quiz competition, national songs, and speech contest were also held and the children were awarded with attractive prizes.

Besides other dignitaries, Faisal Jamil, provincial secretary BSA FATA, Scouts from Punjab and AJK also attended the ceremony.

The national Headquarter, PBSA, organized this program with close coordination of Yaha Shah, admin officer PIMS.— APP

Modi admits massive corruption

LAHORE: Students at their school as it reopened after summer vacation.—INP

Quality of drugs PPMA members’ top focus L AHORE —Pakistan Pharmaceutical facturers and it does not contain the ac- ent in the drug is according to the range proManufacturers Association (PPMA) Saturday said that quality of drugs manufactured by its members is their top focus and close to their heart. However the PPMA feels perturbed when substandard drugs are bracketed with spurious drugs.

The PPMA Group Leader Amjad Ali Java expressed these views in a media briefing at a local hotel, while the Association Chairman (North) Ejaz Siddiqui, Action Committee Convenor Hamid Raza and Khawaja Shahzeb Akram also accompanied him.

Amjad Ali Jave said that globally, spurious drug is the one that is mostly fake and produced by unlicensed manu-

tive ingredient required to cure a particular ailment. “This is definitely a criminal act and ought to be punished severely.

There is a global consensus on this issue,” he added.

He said that case of substandard drugs is different as the manufacturer usually did not do anything intentionally that result in lower quantity of the active ingredient in the preparation. “This calls for heavy fines as is practiced universally,” he added.

To a question, he said that when any duly qualified and licensed manufacturer produces an approved drug it is released for marketing after testing its quality, asserting that quantity of active ingredi-

vided in the British or US pharmacopoeias.

He said it may sometime happen that the quantity of active drug in a preparation is reduced due to faulty storage or any other reason, and this drug is then designated globally as substandard drug. The PPMA Group Leader said, manufacturing companies the world over keep testing their products for quality and efficacy till the expiry date of that preparation.

Many a times the substandard drugs if detected are withdrawn by the manufacturer from the market and sometime, the regulators detect the substandard drug, he said and added that in such cases since the fault is not intentional, the manufacturers are heavily fined.—APP

From Page 1 But it was his comments on the dangers posed by corruption that drew most attention, including his admission that the problem went right to the top.

“I want to reaffirm that this nation will get rid of corruption. We can rid the country of corruption, we have to start from the top,” said Modi.

“Corruption is like a termite, it spreads slowly, reaches everywhere, but it can be beaten with timely injections.”

Modi’s speech comes after some of the most senior figures in his Bharatiya Janata Party became embroiled in corruption scandals, including Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and the chief ministers of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states.

The scandals have been particularly embarrassing as Modi’s election win last year was built in part on a pledge to clean up government after a series of scams under the previous Congress administration.—INP

Indian firing along LoC

Mushahidullah resigns From Page 1 “Such rumours are irresponsible and unprofes- formed to probe the allegations against the fedsional.” eral minister.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Meanwhile, ex-PTI president Javed has called for formation of judicial commission Hashmi said that he never levelled any allegaover controversial interview of defunct minis- tions against Pakistan’s prime intelligence ter for climate change. agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He PTI’s central spokesperson Shireen Mazari had claimed he was threatened ‘to be dealt with’ said that intelligence agencies are being linked by General (retd) Pasha over the phone through to ‘peaceful’ sit-in protests as part of conspiracy. various names.

She said PTI is fed up of Pakistan Muslim However, he said, he never talked to League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) ‘dangerous play’ Mushahidullah and that the story about existwhile demanding that a judicial commission be ence of an audio tape is false.

Abused boy commits suicide From Page 1 threw himself on the path of a train and was killed.

M*’s relatives, carrying his body, then blocked a local highway in protest. The road was opened only after local legislators and senior police officials assured the family action would be taken against the alleged kidnappers.

“A gang of three men took my son from his furniture workshop to repair a door. But they raped him at their home for two days and then threw him on the road. He committed suicide after policemen refused to register his case and instead abused him,” the father told AFP.

Police said they have suspended one official and arrested a suspect accused of rape following the victim’s suicide.

“The police official did show reluctance to register the FIR of the case. He has been suspended for this negligence and one accused in the case has also been arrested after formal registration of the complaint,” Tariq Mastoi, district police officer told AFP. The tragedy comes after officials ordered a judicial inquiry last week into a massive child abuse and extortion scandal allegedly involving hundreds of victims amid mounting calls for justice. —AFP

Wajih aggrieved From Page 1 He said he is not creating any group in the cupiers and hold intra-party polls on merit. party but is simply motivating the ideological He warned the PTI would face devastatmembers because the party is not a personal ing consequences if it fails to address the inproperty of anyone. ternal flaws. Decisions made against merit Ahmed categorically refuted reports about would inflict colossal damages to the party in his joining some other political party and said local bodies polls in Punjab and Sindh, he his just demands are for the removal of the oc- warned.

IS ‘beheads’ 12 in battle From Back Page known as “neighbourhood three”.

The agency also reported that IS militants executed 22 other Sirte residents who had taken up arms against the extremist group as they lay wounded in a city hospital.

It said the militants also set the hospital on fire. A Sirte city council official told AFP that clashes continued to rage on Saturday.

“There is continuous fighting, especially in neighbourhood three, and the casualty toll is rising,” said the unnamed official.

Libya’s ambassador to France, Chibani Abuhamoud, told AFP on Friday that fighting in Sirte had left between 150 and 200 dead.

“A real massacre is taking place, and we call on the international community to intervene,” the diplomat said.

Read: In the lurch: Nearly 200 dead in Libya ‘massacre’ The ambassador answers to Libya’s internationally recognised government, which has taken refuge in the east of the country and is in a power struggle with a rival administration based in Tripoli.

Authorities in Tripoli, which was seized last year by a militia alliance known as Fajr Libya, announced on Tuesday the launch of an operation to liberate Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles)

east of Tripoli.

Media loyal to the Tripoli authorities said warplanes were bombing armed groups linked to IS in Sirte.

The Libyan ambassador said the fighting erupted after IS assassinated earlier this week an influential imam from the powerful Al-Farjan tribe.

The militants have since been “massacring people, even killing people in their homes,” Abuhamoud charged.

Late Friday, the Dar al Iftaa Muslim organisation that issues religious decrees issued a statement calling on Libyans to mobilise against IS. “All Libyans able to carry weapons must mobilise to confront this cancer which is trying to destroy our Muslim nation,” said the statement.

Libya has descended into chaos since the fall of Kadhafi in 2011.

It has two parliaments and two governments vying for power and a slew of armed groups and tribes fighting for its oil wealth and cities.

IS, which already controls large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, has exploited the chaos in Libya, notably taking control in June of Sirte.—AFP

From Page 1 ries.

According to ISPR, Fareeda received bullet wounds in the stomach when Indian forces had opened unprovoked fire from across the LoC. India has been continuously violating the ceasefire agreement on the LoC and the Sialkot Working Boundary that divides the disputed regions.

Floods affect Zehri meets Khan of Kalat in London MQM MPs From Page 1 over 50,000 in resignations N. Earlier, Khan of Kalat Mir Suleman Dawood From Page 1 lower Sindh Earlier in August, Chief Minister told a Baloch delegation that only the ‘Grand From Page 1 Kalabagh.

Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Sindh Syed Salman Shah that those living in katcha areas had been shifted to safe havens and people living in relief camps were provided with ration and necessary medical care.

Moreover, Secretary Irrigation Sindh Syed Zaheer Haider Shah also said that water level would recede at Guddu and Sukkur barrages in next two or three days. Further, over 55,000 cusecs of water will pass through River Sutlej with district administration warning residents to evacuate low-lying areas.

To facilitate flood victims, 13 relief camps have been established in the district while seven boats have also been arranged for any emergency. The floods have so far left 207 people dead, injuring 157 people and affecting nearly 1.5 million.

Huge national From Back Page Salman Rafique, Chief Secretary, Members Assembly, Inspector General Police, concerned secretaries, heads of relief organizations, concerned commissioners, DCOs and senior officials attended the meeting from Civil Secretariat Lahore, concerned commissioners’ offices and districts through video link.

Balochistan Abdul Malik Baloch, while talking to mewsmen had confirmed that his government will request members of the ‘Grand Baloch Jirga’ to make a formal appeal for Khan of Kalat’s return.

“We believe in dialogue, and all channels are being used to find a negotiated settlement for the issues facing the province,” said Baloch earlier.

The chief minister also stated that many militants had surrendered their weapons and joined the political process, which is an encouraging sign for the province.

Baloch Jirga’ which had sent him abroad has the mandate and power to make a decision regarding his return.

The delegation had informed the Khan of Kalat that a gulf had formed owing to his prolonged absence from the political and tribal arena of Balochistan. Almost all members of delegation sent earlier belonged to Mastung, Quetta and Kalat districts, and have personal relations with the self-exiled Baloch leader.

The delegation held a comprehensive meeting with Dawood but failed to convince him to return to the country.

Fearless celebrations due Two shot dead to sacrifices of Pak army on resistance in LAHORE—The nation celebrated the Independence Day in a fear-

robbery incidents

less environment this year due to sacrifices of the Pak armed forces and law enforcement agencies.

This year’s celebrations were self explanatory of success of Zarbe-Azb, said representatives of Pakistan Peoples Party Safdar Abbasi, Naheed Khan, Sajida Mir and others while addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club here on Saturday.

They said the Pakistan army had defeated terrorists and extremists and sent a message that its officers and soldiers would not allow enemy to put an evil eye on the motherland.

Safdar Abbasi said the role of Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif as a son of soil would be remembered for a long time.—APP

LAHORE—At least two people were shot dead upon resistance in separate incidents of robberies in various areas of the provincial capital, Lahore on Saturday. Police said that armed robbers gunned down two persons at Ravi Road and Iqbal Town localities of Lahore for offering resistance during robbery incidents.—INP

Independence Day celebrated Blind murder case resolved in relief camps: Nadeem

L AHORE —CIA Police LAHORE—Punjab Chief Relief Commissioner Nadeem Ashraf claimed to have resolved a has said that Independence Day was celebrated enthusiastically and with national zeal in all the relief camps of affected districts.

The relief camps were decorated with national flags and colourful buntings by the administration, he said, adding that provincial ministers, secretaries and assembly members participated in Independence Day celebrations along with the flood victims.—APP

blind murder case and arrested an accused and his accomplice.

Police said accused Muhammad Akram with Razia, strangled Abdul Rasheed and threw the body in BRB canal.

—APP

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of leaders of parliamentary political parties with the prime minister, the JUI-F chief said that political leaders who attended the meeting expressed concern over the resignation of MQM lawmakers and the possibility of a resulting political crisis in the country.

He said that the prime minister and opposition leader requested him to contact MQM chief Altaf Hussain and the party leadership so that they withdraw their resignations and return to Parliament.

Complainant retracts From Back Page He was arrested after a case was registered against him under Section 7-ATA and Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Enraged after his luxury car accidentally hit the vehicle of a woman in Cavalry Ground area of Punjab’s provincial capital city on April 1 Kanju had resorted to gunfire. Zain was hit and died on the spot and Husnain was critically injured after they were hit by gunfire.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had taken notice of the incident, ordered the arrest of the suspect and announced Rs0.5m for the family of the deceased. He also assured them of the provision of justice.

LAHORE: Graduates throwing their caps into air after receiving digrees during Convocation of King Edward Medical College.—Online

PIC to be made a model hospital with all basic facilities LAHORE —Punjab government and Health of official responsibilities with best abilities.

Department will provide all out resources and support for making Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) a model hospital. Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed that all out measures will be taken for making PIC a patient-friendly hospital.

This was stated by Secretary Health Punjab Jawad Rafique Malik while addressing a function in PIC in connection with Independence Day. Jawad Rafique said the best way to celebrate Independence Day is to pledge that all out efforts will be made for the service to the country and performance

He said that development of health sector is the mission of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and government is providing maximum resources for this purpose.

CEO PIC Prof. Dr. Nadeem Hayat Malik and MS Dr. Sohail Saqlain got a promise from the staff of the hospital, doctors, nurses and paramedics that they will perform their duties efficiently and honestly. Prizes including sewing machines and bicycles were given to the hospital employees showing outstanding performance.—APP

CM takes notice of suicide in RYK LAHORE—Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad directed that the culprits involved in the abuse Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the news regarding suicide of a 14-year-old victim of abuse in Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) due to not getting justice from police.

The Chief Minister has sought a report from DPO Rahim Yar Khan and ordered action against the officials showing negligence with regard to registration of the case. He also

of the boy should be arrested immediately so that justice could be provided to the affected family.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of two children due to collapse of a roof in Khurianwala, Faisalabad. The Chief Minister sympathized with the bereaved family.—APP

Nuclear deal

Russia. Iran FMs to meet tomorrow

Khamenei opposes nuclear deal TEHRAN, Iran —Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is opposed to a landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers, a prominent hard-liner claimed Saturday.

Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the daily newspaper Kayhan and a representative of Khamenei, made the comments in an editorial Saturday. It marked the first time someone publicly has claimed where Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, stands on the deal. Khamenei has not publicly approved or disapproved the deal. However, he repeatedly has offered words of support for his country’s nuclear negotiators. Moderates also believe the deal would have never been reached without Khamenei’s private approval. —AFP

Kristen living in ‘comic book’ LOS ANGELES — Hollywood actress Kristen Stewart says she sometimes feels as though her life is like a “comic book” and she’s playing an “assigned personality”. The American Ultra star said: “It’s like I’m involved in a weekly comic book. I have this assigned personality… which I helped create, I suppose. People stand to make a lot of money on people like me – it’s this booming industry, so why would you go and change the character that people are paying for?” Stewart says there are things about the fame game she does not enjoy but insists she’s a tough person, reports femalefirst.co.uk. ® The Hollywood starlet had to have a strong personality because she grew up with three brothers, Cameron, Dana and Taylor. —AFP

WARSAW, Poland —Dozens of fighter jets soared, tanks rumbled and hundreds of troops marched in a Polish military parade Saturday, a show of force on the national armed forces’ holiday.

Poland’s new President Andrzej Duda, who is the armed forces’ supreme commander, received the parade in downtown Warsaw, along with Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz and Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak.

F-16 and MiG-29 fighters, C-130 Hercules transport planes and helicopters flew overhead, while Rosomak and Stryker armored vehicles and Langusta missile launchers rumbled through downtown Warsaw in front of thousands of spectators. U.S. and Canadian troops, taking part in NATO exercises in Poland, also participated.

Polish army soldiers salute as tanks roll on one of the city’s main streets during a military parade celebrating the Polish Army Day in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday.

Hundreds of troops, tanks, aircraft in Polish army parade WARSAW, Poland —Dozens C-130 Hercules transport resurgent Russia and an armed saw. The victory called “The of fighter jets soared, tanks rumbled and hundreds of troops marched in a Polish military parade Saturday, a show of force on the national armed forces’ holiday.

Poland’s new President Andrzej Duda, who is the armed forces’ supreme commander, received the parade in downtown Warsaw, along with Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz and Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak.

F-16 and MiG-29 fighters,

Afghan police held 5 over public beating video KABUL—Afghan police Saturday arrested five people near the northern town of Sar-e-Pol after they were filmed beating a man and his daughter accused of robbery by a village fortune teller, the interior ministry said.

A video of the brutal public beating, which shows a man hitting a young woman repeatedly with a large stick while a crowd looks on, attracted wide attention on social media and local television. The assault occurred earlier this month after a resident of Thughi village near Sar-e-Pol suffered a robbery and consulted a fortune teller to identify the culprit. “The father and daughter were beaten by the village resident after a fortune teller accused them of robbery,” the interior ministry statement said.

In May, film of a young woman being beaten to death by a mob in Kabul after she was wrongly accused of burning a Quran caused global outrage and underlined the vulnerable position of many women in Afghanistan.— AP

planes and helicopters flew overhead, while Rosomak and Stryker armored vehicles and Langusta missile launchers rumbled through downtown Warsaw in front of thousands of spectators. U.S. and Canadian troops, taking part in NATO exercises in Poland, also participated.

Duda, who took office Aug. 6, said he wants to strengthen Poland’s armed forces and raise NATO presence as a deterrent in face of a

conflict in neighboring Miracle on the Vistula” is beUkraine.“I would like us to lieved to have stopped the have a state that is capable of Bolshevik’s march further West. defending those who are weaker and does not have to be afraid of those who are stronger,” said Duda, a Catholic conservative. He was quoting the words of his political mentor, the late President Lech Kaczynski, who was killed in a 2010 plane crash in Russia.

The Aug. 15 holiday marks Poland’s victory over Russian Bolsheviks in 1920 near War-

Zain murder case

Complainant retracts earlier statement MUZAFFAR ALI LAHORE —The prime complainant in the Zain murder case retracted his earlier recorded statement before an anti-terrorism (ATC) court on Saturday.

Sohail Afzal, uncle of 16year-old orphan Zain, who was shot dead by Mustafa Kanju earlier in April, retracted his earlier signed statement which he had submitted to police.

“I was in hospital at the time, and the police took my signature on a blank piece of paper,” said Afzal before the presiding judge of ATC. Referring to Mustafa Kanju, Afzal said, “I do not know these people and have not seen them before.”

Afzal also said that he did not register the First Information Report (FIR) for the incident and refused to identify Mustafa Kanju, the key accused in the

case.

The prosecution on the other hand, has submitted an appeal in Lahore High Court (LHC) asking for the court to be changed. There will be a hearing in LHC regarding the appeal on September 21.

Earlier in June, the ATC had indicted Mustafa Kanju and six others accused in the murder case of Zain.

Mustafa Kanju, son of former minister of foreign affairs Siddique Kanju, had confessed to firing the fatal shots that ended Zain’s life. He had said that Zain was not the target of the fire, nor did he intend to kill Zain or anyone else.

Kanju was earlier sent on

a judicial remand to allow the police to collect evidence pertaining to the investigation in order to frame charges against Kanju.

Continued on Page 7

Huge national resources saved: CM STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Punjab government of Pakistan Muslim League-N has introduced the culture of completing development projects speedily and transparently with high quality in the province during the last seven years. Punjab government has saved billions of rupees of the nation through various steps.

He said that Punjab government has made saving in these projects in the real sense. He said that billions of rupees saved through negotiations are being spent on welfare of the masses.

He said, credit of saving resources of billions of rupees of the nation goes to Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the entire team of Punjab government. He expressed the

hope that the fate of the country and the nation will be changed during next three years.

He expressed these views

while talking to elected representatives of various districts. The elected representatives congratulated Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on saving national resources of bil-

lions of rupees.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif directed that relief activities should be continued in flood-hit areas and all necessary facilities be provided to the affectees staying in relief camps. He said that the survey of losses should be completed in all respects so that no deserving person was deprived of his right. The Chief Minister said that all precautionary measures should be completed in view of water situation in River Satluj. He directed that safe evacuation of people residing in villages of Kasur alongside river bank should be ensured.

Addressing a meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said no effort will be spared for rehabilitation of flood affectees. He said that assistance will be provided in the light of survey of losses and right will be provided to the deserv-

ing at every cost.

He said that 12 water filtration plants have been provided to the affectees in flood-hit areas of Rajanpur.

Shehbaz Sharif directed that every necessary step should be taken keeping in view the weather situation of coming days. He said that a vigilant eye should be kept on the flow of water in rivers.

He said that Cabinet Committee on Flood should review the relief activities and precautionary measures regularly. Provincial Ministers Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada, Bilal Yasin, Dr. Farrukh Javed, Muhammad Shafique, Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Iqbal Channer, Yawar Zaman, Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Sher Ali Gorchani, Advisor Health Khawaja

Continued on Page 7

Duda, who took office Aug. 6, said he wants to strengthen Poland’s armed forces and raise NATO presence as a deterrent in face of a resurgent Russia and an armed conflict in neighboring Ukraine.

“I would like us to have a state that is capable of defending those who are weaker and does not have to be afraid of those who are stronger,” said Duda, a Catholic conservative. He was quoting the words of his political mentor, the late President Lech Kaczynski, who was killed in a 2010 plane crash in Russia.

The Aug. 15 holiday marks Poland’s victory over Russian Bolsheviks in 1920 near Warsaw. The victory called “The Miracle on the Vistula” is believed to have stopped the Bolshevik’s march further West.

IS ‘beheads’ 12 in battle for Libya’s Sirte TRIPOLI—Islamic State group ported Saturday. militants have beheaded 12 people and hung them on crosses during a battle for the coastal city of Sirte, the national news agency LANA re-

The fighting for control of Sirte, hometown of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi, has been raging since Tuesday, with one top Libyan diplomat

warning of a “massacre” in the city. LANA said the 12 people beheaded were local gunmen who had been battling IS in the eastern Sirte district

Continued on Page 7

Does mobile health technology help the heart?

T

HERE is little scientific evidence that mobile health technologies reduce cardiovascular risk factors, but they may encourage healthier lifestyles. This is the message from the American Heart Association in a new statement published in the journal Circulation.

Around 20% of Smartphone users have one or more health apps on their device, the most common of which track physical activity or heart rate.

Wearable health trackers and Smartphone apps have taken the world by storm in recent years. Around 20% of Smartphone users have one or more health apps on their device, and a 2014 report

by Nielsen found 1 in 6 of us use wearable technology - such as fitness trackers - on a daily basis. According to the authors of the American Heart Association (AHA) statement - including Lora E. Burke of the University of Pittsburgh, PA - the most popular self-monitoring devices and apps are those that track physical activity or heart rate. But do such technologies have a direct impact on heart health?

For their study, Burke and colleagues reviewed a number of meta-analyses and randomised clinical trials of mobile health technologies that had been conducted over the past 10 years. They investigated

how such technologies influenced improvement in risk factors for heart health, as determined by the AHA’s Life’s Simple 7: eating healthily, increasing physical activity, weight management, avoidance of tobacco smoke, reducing blood sugar, cholesterol control and blood pressure control.

The team found that the majority of studies reviewed were short-term studies that were small in size. When it came to weight management, the researchers found individuals who used mobile health technologies alongside a comprehensive weight-loss program were more likely to lose weight in the short term than individuals who tried to lose weight on their own. However, the team says there was no published data to show whether weight loss was maintained by technology-using participants over the long term.

The review also revealed that the use of an online fitness program did increase physical activity. When it came to wearable fitness devices, however, the team says not enough research is available to determine whether they can make people more active. Individuals who used mobile phone apps incorporating text messaging for smoking cessation were almost twice as likely to quit, according to the researchers. But after 6 months of using such apps, the team found 90% of individuals had failed to quit completely.

Kids are feeding an elephant at Margazar Zoo on Saturday.—Online

For an ordinary Pindite, it is hard to pass a day without reading newspaper

Garrison city bristling with English, Urdu & bilingual newspapers ZUBAIR QURESHI RAWALPINDI—For majority of the

Ambassador of Romania Emilian ION speaks on the occasion of a farewell reception hosted for outgoing Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Romania Dragos Luca on Saturday.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

Police arrest murderers of Addl Session Judge R AWALPINDI —The police have arrested three culprits involved in murder of additional session judge Tahir Khan Niazi here on Saturday.

Addressing a press

people in Rawalpindi, a perfect morning begins with Fajjar prayers followed by a hot cup of tea and a warm copy of the newspaper. They (the Pindiites) remain depressed all the day if they miss one of the three components.

“My customers have a craze, an unfailing routine to read newspaper especially in the morning time and I have two newspapers daily, both of them Urdu papers of course, at my hotel,” owner of a tea stall situated along the Benazir Bhutto Road, told Pakistan Observer on Saturday.

“The day I don’t have any newspaper, I have fewer customers here than the usual days,” he said. When requested to specifically name some newspaper he chooses for his customers, he said it did not matter which newspaper it was. “It may be Jang, Nawa-i-Waqt, Express, Khabrain or Ausaf. For my customers there must be a newspaper lying before them on the table when they place order for tea.,” he said curtly.

Even smaller restaurants have newspapers for their low-paid visitors, mostly members of the working class. However, these papers are a bit less known and low-priced editions. These are K-2, Azkar, Din, Ausaf, Pakistan, Naya Akhbar, Bhuleka (Punjabi), Mashriq, Kashmir Times, Jammu & Kashmir, Labaik, Public Eye, Capital Post and Kasmir

Express. Gosh! All these newspapers appearing daily from the city! Arthur Miller, the American dramatist, was correct when he said, “A newspaper is a nation talking to itself.”

These dailies, somehow, manage good readership in certain pockets of the city. Government offices, librar-

Some of them make their presence felt while the others simply find their way straight to the scrap merchant’s shop, he commented. Majority of these newspapers are set up in two, three-room offices in commercial plazas along the Benazir Bhutto Road or in Saddar.

ies, schools and colleges, hotels and restaurants are their major targets.

According to an official of the DCO office, more thirty newspapers, mostly Urdu, one English, one Punjabi, and two bilingual (English and Urdu), appear from Rawalpindi daily.

In their limited spheres, these newspapers’ reporters influence the district administration offices including offices of the city government, DCO, RDA, Wasa, police, education, health and other departments in one way or the other.

“It is a mysterious phenomenon

that a common man may or may not know a local newspaper whose circulation hardly exceeds 500 copies a day, but an official of the district government is well aware of consequences of the news story published in that dummy newspaper and never takes it lightly,” said reporter of a newspaper with a tinge of pride in his voice.

Though he was angry with his paper for not paying him for the last two months, yet he rejoiced at the fact that he daily rubbed shoulders with the high-ups of the city, and some of the fearful officers even served him with tea and cake.

But how the owners (Editors-inChief) manage funds to run their newspapers? There are hundreds of ways to generate funds. According to a veteran journalist, advertisements are the major source of their funds.

Besides, there are some clandestine funds allocated by the establishment (civil and military bureaucracy) of the city for such local newspapers, he said.

“They (the newspapers and the establishment) ‘oblige’ each other and hence there is no problem of funds,” he said. But this is not the case with every local and regional newspaper. Some of them believe in true journalistic values and don’t accept any external influence in form of funds or advertisements, he said. It is because of this sole characteristics, newspapers are called the fourth column of a sate, he said.

Allergy, the gift of monsoon becomes a challenge for hospitals ZUBAIR QURESHI Regional Police Officer Wisal Fakhar Sultan briefs media about arrest of killers of Additional and District Session Judge Tahir Khan Niazi.—INP conference, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi, Fakhar Sultan said that three murderers of additional session judge Tahir Khan Niazi have been detained.

He said that culprits including Rashid Masih, Aamir

Bhatti and Faiz reportedly barged into the house of the judge for robbery and the killing was outcome of resistance but further details would be revealed after their remand would be obtained and they would be interrogated.—INP

RAWALPINDI—Allied hospitals of the city —Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ)— are receiving overwhelming number of allergy patients, a gift of the monsoon season.

Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) departments of the Allied Hospitals are registering around 100 to 120 patients suffering from allergic rhinitis daily but unfortunately the government hospi-

tals have no proper treatment facilities for such patients, confided in a doctor of the HFH. Requesting anonymity he said, treatment of allergy comprises anti-allergic syrups, tablets and nasal sprays but these hospitals have none of them.

An office-bearer of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) while talking to Pakistan Observer here on Saturday confirmed that the number of allergy patients reported at the DHQ in last three days exceeded 260. According to ENT con-

sultant at BBH, the number at BBH was 280, while Dr Ali working in ENT at HFH described the number at HFH as 266.

The YDA office-bearer feared that the number might rise in the coming days with the increase in rains.

To a question, he said Allergic rhinitis (sneezing, fever) is not only linked to rains but absence of good nutritious food also causes the disease. The sky high prices of meat, chicken, fruit and milk have made them inaccessible to the common man

resulting in a weekend body resistance against allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is the most common of allergies and the symptoms start with sneezing attacks that continues for hours.

The other symptoms are fever, watering eyes, phlegm (discharge from nose), headache, pain in ears, fatigue and difficulty in breathing. It also has impact on moods and the patient feels irritated. He said if it is not treated properly it can result into damage to nose, voice box, throat, eyes and ears.

Millennials set CIE ablaze by securing more than 1200 St. A’s STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The Flagship Millennium Campus I9/3, Islamabad has proved it once again in Cambridge International ExaminationCIE astounding result by securing more than 1200 St. A’s. Millennials clinch top Distinctions. Millennium Roots College International I-9/3 Campus has yet again demonstrated

that it is the leading International school which offer paths and gateways to the students seeking opportunities to excel in academics, the world over.

The details of the remarkable performance of Millennials in Cambridge International Examination AS & A Level Result 2015; Summiya Najam have secured St. 6A’s with AICE Diploma Distinction,

whereas Taimoor Nasir, Abuzar Zubair and Usama Nadeem have dazzled with St. 5A’s. Asad Jamil, Muhammad Aleem, Mustafa Aziz, Abdul Wassey, Mansha Ahmed, Amina Waheed, Taimoor Aziz, Faran Shaukat Abbasi, Faizan Ahmed Arif, Talha Waheed, Roshan Ashraf and Rafay Ashfaq with St. 4A’s. The longer list of millennial students who

have secured 4 St. A’s follows.

In CIE, IGCSE & O Level Result 2015; Syed M. Ahmed, Mahoor Khalid, M. Aimal Khan, Amna Talat, Ambreen Ayub and Hamza Munir have all bagged 8 St. A’s, whereas Naeema Tariq Mehmood, Ahmed Raza, Junaid Jamil Badini, Faizan Naghman, Hamza Ayad Mahmood, Zain Asif, Mashood Alam, Maham

Asif, Ajwa Bano and Saad Masood secured with 7 St. A’s and their other classmates have all set out with a row of St. A’s.

Roots Millennium Schools continues to strive for excellence and never compromises on ensuring quality education.

Millennials are consistently dedicated to pursuit of excellence. By setting a rich precedent of glorious high

achievement world records with the help of their top of the notch faculty members and their expertise, they continue to climb the ladder of success.

The outrageous Cambridge International Examination Result 2015 for both IGSCE/O Level & A-Level has impressed the parents of the shining stars themselves. The devoted CEO Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq

TI congratulates the entire Roots Millennium Schools students for their consistent hard work/zealousness, the competent Faculty members for their countless efforts and the proud Parents.

The Millennium Schools Flagship Millennium Campus I-9/3, Islamabad is a center of academic excellence for O, IGCSE, AS & A Levels edu-

cation. Roots Millennium Schools’ students are successfully admitted into the world’s prestigious Universities all over the globe, such as King’s College London, WPI, Oxford, Harvard, Boston University, Drexel University, UCLA, Cardiff University and many others.

The young Millennials surely deserve to enjoy the limelight!

Fajar Zohr Asr

11 students visiting China under Seeds for Future programme

04:45 01:30 05:30 ISLAMABAD—Eleven

Meghrab at Sunset Isha 09:00 Brothers in Islam establish regular prayers & charity

August 18

Discussion A discussion by Moeed Yusuf, Riaz Khokhar, Ejaz Haider and Khalid Mahmood on “Changing South Asia: Opportunities and Challenges for Pakistan” will be held on August 18, 2:30 pm at Pakistan Academy of Sciences, 2 Constitution Avenue, G-5/2.

Baby girl’s body found I SLAMABAD —The body of a six-months-old girl was found along the Kashmir Highway at Sector H-13.

Mohammad Nadir, a passer-by, spotted the body dumped along the road and informed the police, which reached the spot and shifted to a local hospital for postmortem. According to the police, the girl had been strangled to death before dumping the body. The police have registered a case against unknown persons and further investigation is under way.—Online

talented young Pakistani students from top-ranked educational institutions and universities are on a 14day vist to China.

The visit has been sponsored by Huawei Pakistan under its programme Seeds for the Future which was launched here for the first time in the country.

Mrs Bao Jiqing, wife of Chinese ambassador to Pakistan addressed the launch of a learning programme for students of Pakistan under “Seeds for the Future”.

She congratulated all the selected students for the seeds for youth programme.

She said, “This is a good beginning for Huawei Pakistan and a precedence for other Chinese companies. Chinese government will encourage all companies to help de-

velop Pakistan and its people. The CPEC is also such a step as they say in China a thousand miles journey starts with a single step”.

“This program would give children cross culture awareness and exposure. High skilled requirement is a big challenge,” she added.

Fazal Ahmed Khalid, Vice Chancellor, University of Engineering and Technology said youth is a ray of hope for Pakistan despite challenges.

‘Seeds For the Future’ is an initiative launched by Huawei Pakistan to further cement the people-to-people contacts between brotherly countries of Pakistan and China under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity.—APP A vendor selling old dresses at his roadside setup in Federal Capital.—INP

Lok Virsa screens ‘Kartar Singh’ ISLAMABAD —Mandwa - Lok Virsa’s Film Club screened “Kartar Singh”, a Punjabi film, known to be superb film on the partition of India and Pakistan, here on Saturday.

The story, screen play and directions of the film were given by Saifuddin Saif whereas cast included Mussarat Nazir, Sudheer and Allahuddin. Lok Virsa Mandwa Film Club is continuously screening various films on important social and cultural issues since its

inception in July 2015.

A large number of people from various walks of life watched the film and appreciated contribution of Lok Virsa in reviving the old tradition in such a beautiful manner.

The audience termed the film as best portrayal of the story of partition effectively. It will also go a long way in creating awareness among youth regarding the efforts put in for creation of the country, said an official of Lok Virsa.—APP

Shopkeeper looted RAWALPINDI—A shopkeeper was deprived of Rs0.5 million in theGunjmandi area of Rawalpindi.

Muhammad Riaz , a resident of Gunjmandi, lodged a complaint with local police that he was sitting in his shop, when three armed persons wearing masks turned up and snatched Rs0.5 million and a Rescue workers busy in their work after fire erupted in a petrol pump near cell phone from him at gun- Faizabad.—Online point. The police have registered a case and investigation is under way.—Online

Minimum wage implementation ISLAMABAD—The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration will soon launch a crackdown on factories and private institutions to confirm whether they implement the minimum wage announced by the district government recently. According to an official, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Captain (retd) Mushtaq Ahmed has directed the ICT Administration’s labour department to conduct a survey of factories and private organizations to confirm whether or not they pay the minimum wage of Rs13,000 per month.

Recently, the Islamabad Chief Commissioner has issued a notification fixing the minimum wage at Rs13,000 per month, with a directive to various organizations and factories to implement the minimum wage.—Online

Musical Night marks Independence Day

R AWALPINDI —A musical night was arranged by Rawalpindi Arts Council to celebrate Independence Day. People from various walks of life thronged Arts Council to enjoy the night.

Resident Director RAC was present on the occasion while Assistant Director RAC Sajjad Hussain anchored the night. The singers including Ishaq Saqi, Master

Majeed Samina Khan, Muhammad Rizwan, Laraib Tahir, Takla, Naveed Alvi, M Asif, Komail Ali, Ramez and Asif performed and sung national songs. Resident Director RAC Waqar Ahmed, in his address said “we are living as freemen due to matchless sacrifices of our ancestors” He asked people to play its due to role for the progress of the country.—APP

Foreign women deported over alleged immoral acts ISLAMABAD—At least 10 foreign women in Pakistan have been deported over ‘immoral activities’ upon orders from Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar. According to details, nine of the women belong to Uzbekistan while three of them were wanted by the Azerbaijan government in various cases and also had red warrants issued against them.

The Uzbek women will be sent back to their country via Dubai whereas those belonging to Azerbaijan will be sent back via Doha. The Interior Ministry had earlier deported three women belonging to Ghana, Nigeria and Kirghizstan and two more Uzbek women will also be among the ones to be deported.—INP

Foreign national women allegedly involved in immoral activities are being deported from Benazir Bhutto International Airport.—INP

Two killed in house collapse RAWALPINDI—At least two persons were killed and two other injured after a dilapidated house collapsed in the Chakra area of Rawalpindi on Saturday.

According to rescue sources, the house cavedin as a result of heavy rain early Saturday morning, killing a man and his son on the spot while injuring two women.

Rescue teams reached the spot soon after the house collapsed and pulled the injured and dead from under the debris before transporting them the district headquarters hospital Rawalpindi for treatment and medico-legal formalities.

The identity of the injured and the deceased could not be ascertained immediately.—Online

Pakistan’s success in war on terror acknowledged worldwide I S L A M A B A D —Information

Minister Pervaiz Rashid says the gov-ernment has achieved major successes in the war on terror and on the economic front over the last one year.

Talking to Radio Pakistan Saturday, he said the world leaders are also recognizing Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terrorism.

He pointed out that the Belarusian president during the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the country appreci-ated Pakistan’s anti-terrorism efforts.

He said the situation in Karachi and Balochistan has improved a lot and they cele-brated Independence Day this year with full zeal and enthusiasm.

Pervaiz Rashid said the world’s leading journals and financial institutions are also recognizing Pakistan’s achievements on the economic front.

The Minister said the country’s foreign exchange reserves have reached record level while the inflation has reduced to single digit. Our stock market is being ranked in the world’s best performing markets.—INP

CDA to start rehabilitation of roads next week

Car, motorcycle stolen

I SLAMABAD —The Capital Development Authority (CDA) would start rehabilitation, re-carpeting and lane-marking of various roads in Sector F and G in next week.

According to CDA spokesman as many I SLAMABAD—A car, a mo- as 11 bids have been received for the astorcycle and other valuables phalt work and 15 for the lane-marking. The have been stolen in differ- scrutiny of the technical bids would be coment incidents in the federal capital during the last 24 hours. Mohammad Ali, a resident of Abpara, filed a complaint with the police that his car (PZ-989) was stolen by unidentified thieve from the porch of his house located in Sector G-6/3.

In another incident, thieves have stolen a motorcycle and valuables worth Rso.3 million from a flat R AWALPINDI —Hundreds of teachers, who owned by Mumtaz, a resi- have been working as daily-wagers in feddent of Sector G-11/4. The eral government education institutions police have registered cases (FGEIs) in Rawalpindi cantt for the last and further investigations many years, get only Rs6,750 a month, despite the fact that some of them hold are under way.—Online masters, MPhil and PhD degrees. During an interaction with the teachers, some of them have been in the profession as dailywagers for the last 25 years, they said that the education department has failed to implement a court order for their R AWALPINDI —A 16-year- regularisation and they were continued to old youngsters committed be exploited by the high-ups for a pittance, suicide at his grandparents’ which is half of the minimum wage residence within the Rata labourers get across the country.

The teachers said that under the law Amrar police limits.

According to police, and in most cases, daily-wagers, contracJamsheed, a 10th grader, tors or temporary employees were who was a resident of regularised after they render at least one Hazaro village and has been to three years in service, in their case, the living with his grandparents, rule and law was continuously being committed suicide after ty- floundered by the authorities by denying ing himself to a ceiling with them permanent jobs “This is a murder of justice. We hold a rope.

The cause of the death MA, MPhil and PhD degrees but what we could not be ascertained im- get is a pittance, which is humiliating mediately. The police have Rs6,750 a month,” said one of the female teachers while requesting anonymity. registered a case.—Online

pleted on Monday.

The city rehabilitation work has been pending for over five years as no major repair work has been carried out in this period.

Similar work in other areas of the capital would be carried out in second phase.—APP

Pindi garrison schools

MPhil, PhD teachers work for a pittance

Youngster commits ‘suicide’

Barbedwire has been erected around bulldozed slum area in H-11.

Basit Iqbal Shaheen, another teacher, who had been teaching for the last 17 years, said that even labourers get Rs15,000 in the country, they were being exploited only by giving them far less than the minimum wage.

Noorin Aziz, another teacher at a garrison school, said that schools were going to be open from August 18, the daily wagers will not be given full salary and they authorities will deduct their salary of 18 days.

Shaista, another teacher who had been in the profession for the last 25 years, said that all the daily wagers were highly qualified but they were never offered permanent jobs. The teachers have appealed to the chief justice and the prime minister to take cognisance of their plight and order the garrison authorities to offer them permanent jobs.

Repeated contact was made on a rent line number to take official version FGEI directorate Rawalpindi, but the call was not attended.

The rent line number given on the FGEI has been changed and the administration has failed to update the new number on the website.— Online

Kashmir shuts on India’s independence day SRINAGAR—A complete shutdown is

Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani also called for complete and statewide shutdown on August 15, appealing to the teachers, students and their parents to boycott all functions related to the event.

“Our demand for Right to Self Determination is purely democratic and India has also promised to fulfill it at national as well as international levels but it (this country) backtracked from its promises and is now busy in sup-

(CPC) in Islamabad.

“Kashmir is an internationally acknowledged dispute and Delhi can neither succeed in changing the status and nature of this state by its rigid and stubborn policy nor can be this

being observed across Kashmir today following a strike call given by Kashmiri separatist leaders against August 15 celebrations in Kashmir.

All businesses and shops were closed and traffic remained off the roads, however, schools, colleges and government institutions are closed due to a holiday.

Roads are wearing a deserted look in Srinagar city and similar reports were received from other district headquarters.

Some private vehicles were seen plying on these roads.

Meanwhile, a large number of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at major intersections to prevent any incidents during the official celebrations being held at Bakshi stadium where Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took salute over a march past.

Security personnel are guarding barricades of concertina wire erected at the entry and exit points of Srinagar city. Almost all the vehicles crossing these barricades are frisked before being allowed to enter the city.

The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had asked Kashmiris to protest against the atrocities aimed to suppress the struggle of Kashmiris besides showing complete commitment and resolve towards the movement.

All types of verhicular traffic is off the roads in Srinagar on India’s independence day, August 15.

“Hurriyat is not against the “We are not against the freedom of any pressing the genuine and just voices of Independence celebrations and region kept permanently under the progress of any country. However, the country including India but until this coun- the Kashmiri nation.” forced control,” Geelani said, praisHe termed as appropriate and try accepts the right of the Kashmiri people peace and prosperity in the region could only be achieved if Kashmir is- and provides them a chance to decide their based on reality the Pakistan’s stand ing the firmness of the Pakistan sue is resolved according to the future by allowing independent plebiscite not to invite the J&K assembly government’s stand despite the boywishes and aspirations of Kashmir,” in Jammu & Kashmir, till then struggle will speaker to the upcoming Common- cott threat given by the Government wealth Parliamentary Conference of India.—GK continue,” Geelani said in a statement.

Mirwaiz said in a statement.

JK’s special status should be maintained: Sayeed S RINAGAR —J&K Chief Minister Mufti see how democracy is flourishing in India for Mohammad Sayeed Saturday asserted that the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir in the constitution of India should be maintained.

“There were some phases in Jammu and Kashmir which should not have happened.

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and PDP support the conditions on which the state and the leadership of that time decided to join hands with India.

“Be it PDP, National Conference, Congress or other regional outfits, they want that Jammu and Kashmir should get the (special) status and identity within the Constitution of the country,” Sayeed said in his I-Day address at Bakshi Stadium here. The Chief Minister pointed out that the people of the state had refused to accept the two-nation theory propounded by Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah and went with the “big country” India in 1947.

“I want to say that the two-nation theory of Mohammad Ali Jinnah was not adopted by the people of Jammu and Kashmir even before Independence.

We had our own stand which was reflected in the 1938 convention at Sopore in which Muslim Conference was converted into National Conference,” he said.

The Chief Minister said during the struggle for Independence, Congress and Muslim League had separate visions but the leadership and people of Jammu and Kashmir had their own stand on the post-independence scenario.

“The Congress leadership stood shoulder to shoulder in our freedom struggle against the aristocracy and imperialist forces.

Resultantly, the people of the state and its leadership decided to go with the bigger country India in 1947,” he said. Sayeed also made a note of Pakistan’s “fight for political existence”, even as India treads the path of prosperity over the past 70 years. “Today we can

the past 70 years, how Indian economy is growing and how the institutions are functioning.

“There is no doubt that Pakistan is our neighbouring country but they are still fighting a battle for their political existence,” he said. Mufti Sayeed said that Kashmiris will be the biggest beneficiary if India and Pakistan go for a dialogue to achieve reconciliation.

After unfurling the tri-colour at the Bakshi Stadium here on I-Day, Sayeed — who took power in March — also spoke of peace and development in the state.

The event was held under tight security amid a shutdown called by separatists that paralysed life in the Kashmir Valley. Sayeed said the ruling alliance between his Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party was formed to bring the three regions of Jammu, Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley together.

“The is the only possible alliance to bring the three regions together. Our agenda is development and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities,” he said.

“We are committed to strengthening trade and people-to-people contact across the borders,” he said, referring to Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir.

The chief minister went on: “Peace through dialogue and reconciliation is the only way forward between India and Pakistan whose biggest beneficiary would be the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

No untoward incident was reported on Saturday from the state, where ministers took salute at various district headquarters. Separatists called for a shutdown in the valley.

Mobile phone services remained suspended until the main flag hoisting and parades ended in different places in the valley.

Security officials said the phone services were temporarily suspended to ensure no remote controlled devices were used by the militants.—GK

PDP-BJP out to weaken Restrictions imposed, no prayers in Articles 370, 35A: NC Jamia Masjid, Pak flags unfurled

SRINAGAR—Authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in Old City and in Maisuma to prevent protests and unfurling of Pakistan flags. However, Pakistan flags were raised at different parts of region. Media said hundreds of police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in the areas of Old City falling under five police stations including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Maharaj Gunj and Safakdal to impose restrictions on the movement of civilians. The government forces who were armed with assault rifles and in riot gear restricted the civilian movement across the Old City throughout the day.

The restrictions were also imposed in volatile Maisuma, which houses the headquarters of pro-Independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), with forces closing all the entry and exit points with barbed wires.

Eyewitnesses told media that forces didn’t allow residents to come out of their houses in Nowhatta, Saraf Kadal, Bhori Kadal, Mallarata, Gojwara, Rajouri Kadal and Jamia Masjid. They said that at Nowhatta, the forces also thrashed many people for violating order of restrictions.

The forces barred worshippers to offers Friday prayers in central Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta. Locals said that the forces personal deployed in the area showed sticks to all those who tried to proceed towards the Grand Mosque. Last time it was on first Friday of Ramadhan this year when people were barred from offering congregational prayers in Jamia Masjid.

Despite strict vigil, the resistance leaders managed to unfurl Pakistan flags at multiple places. The

chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat Syedah Asiya Andrabi and her supporters had raised Pakistan flags in Soura, Illahi bagh, Nowhshehra, Buchpora. They also held a function to celebrate the Pakistan Independence Day and sang country’s national anthem.

The Pakistan flags were also raised atop on mobile towers in various parts of the city. The youths waved Pakistan flags at Habba Kadal, Old Barzulla and also in Khudwani Kulgam and Shopian.

Youths in Hajin area of Bandipora district bursted firecrackers to celebrate the Pakistan Independence Day and also waved pro-Pakistan slogans. They, according to reports, also waved Pakistan flags. Besides Hajin, the flags of Pakistan were also waved at Naidkhai and Sumbal.

The resistance leaders, meanwhile, have reiterated their appeal of shutdown on August 15.—KW

Pak Independence Day celebrated with full enthusiasm in AJK OUR CORRESPONDENT MUZAFFARABAD—Like other parts of the country and world, the 69th Independence Day of Pakistan was celebrated in Azad Jammu and Kashmir with traditional national zeal and fervor in a befitting manner coupled with the renewal of the pledge that the Kashmiris would continue their struggle for freedom besides to serve for the security, stability, prosperity and sovereignty of Pakistan.

The day dawned in the State capital with 21 gun salute followed by special prayers in the Mosques after Namaz-eFajr for the prosperity, integrity and stability of the country and early liberation of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The flag hoisting ceremonies, rallies, processions and the colorful functions under the aegis of various public and private sector, social and political organizations in all small and major cities were

the hall mark of National Day of exceptional importance It was a public holiday in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In the State capital Muzaffarabad main flag hoisting ceremony was held at President House.

AJK President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan unfurled the national flag.

A smartly turned out contingent of AJK Police presented salute to the national flag.

Children of various schools, scouts and girl guides presented national songs on the occasion.

The ceremony was attended by AJK cabinet Ministers, high ranking civil and military officials and notables of the city.

Talking to media on this occasion the AJK President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan felicitated the people and government of Pakistan on eve of Independence Day of Pakistan. He said that a democratic, developing, strong and prosperous Pakistan is greater guarantee for the success of Kashmir liberation struggle.

Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob khan said Kashmiris have linked their destiny with Pakistan before its inception.

He paid glowing tributes to those Kashmiris who sacrificed their lives or liberation of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and expressed the hope that their blood would not go waste.

AJK president said that by waving Pakistani flags in occupied Kashmir, People of Kashmir have given a loud and clear message to the India and international community that they would never compromise on their principled stand and would continue their struggle till goal of liberation and accession of the whole state to Pakistan is achieved.

AJK president called upon International community to take serious notice of Indian state terrorism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and play its effective role in resolving Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people. He

said Kashmiris are peaceful national and want a peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue under UNSC resolutions.

AJK President Paid glowing tributes to Pakistan Armed forces for conducting a successful operation Zarb-e-Azb to eliminate menace of terrorism form the country. He lauded Armed forces for defending ideological and geographic frontiers of the Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

On other side, Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control in Nezaper sector of District Haveli in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. According to official sources Muneera Jan wife of Muhammad Azam was martyred while three persons of the same family resident of Keerni Mori village were seriously injured due to Indian unprovoked firing in the area. The injured have been admitted in DHQ Hospital Haveli, Azad Kashmir.

SRINAGAR—The Opposition National Conference has accused ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of colluding with BJP to “weaken” Article 370 and 35A. “In this unholy pursuit, the PDP had volunteered to be a facilitator in order to weaken Article 370 and 35A,” Provincial President, National Conference, Devender Singh Rana said while addressing workers in Nagrota Assembly constituency.

He said the NC will not allow it to happen as it will mean trampling of the constitutional guarantee held out to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Rana said any attempt to weaken Article 35A will be detrimental, not only to particular region or community, but the people of all faiths, regions and sub-regions of J&K. Article 35A of Constitution allows the state of Jammu and Kashmir to grant special privileges and rights to permanent residents.

In an apparent reference to Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh’s recent rhetoric on the special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Rana accused BJP of manipulating and exploiting Article 370 as per its political exigencies and in a vein bid to cover up its credibility deficit. “BJP justified putting Article 370 in the backburner while entering into alliance with

People agitating against killing of a civilian by BSF in Pulwama, IHK.

View from Srinagar

India failed to win Kashmiri hearts ER RASHID

L

ET us all extend our sincere wishes and greetings to every Indian and Pakistani citi zen on the eve of their 68th Independence

Days.

But one wonders why should Kashmiris be forced to celebrate 14th or 15th August by either of the governments. If they do so in either part of the Kashmir, it looks like ‘beganey shadi mai Abdullah deewana’. No one has ever bothered to ask both the countries that even if Kashmir is your jugular vein or integral part, but from whom Kashmiris got freedom on 14th or 15th August 1947. Huge army, nuclear weapons and mighty institutions can change geography of a region, but not the pages of history or hearts and minds of people. When united India was fighting British, J&K was an independent sovereign state, no matter who the ruler was. In other words we can say the cause for which people of the sub continent were fighting, people of J&K had already achieved that. Throwing Maharaja out of power was nothing beyond an administrative and inter-

nal issue of the state of J&K. Nobody can deny that when India and Pakistan tasted fruits of their indigenous struggle and got freedom from British, countdown of J&K’s freedom started. Both the countries wanted to get Kashmir, whatsoever price it would mean to them.

Assuming some part of J&K to have become India’s integral part and other jugular vein of Pakistan and stand of Kashmiris seeking Azadi or implementation of UN resolutions to be unrealistic, even then both these governments needed to win hearts and minds of the people. Before asking Kashmiris to celebrate India’s republic day, let Indian leadership introspect as why it couldn’t win hearts and minds of Kashmiri people.

Every Friday experts and policy makers cry on national TV channels that ISIS and Pakistani flags are being raised in Valley. They have every right to cry but unfortunately do never introspect the causes of anger among Kashmiri youth. They just keep on talking of taking stern action against Kashmiri youth and try to hide their own failure by calling them anti nationals and paid Pakistani agents. They try to prove themselves lone war-

riors by abusing all those who show even a bit of anger towards Delhi. For them every Kashmiri who speaks of political resolution to Kashmir issue is anti national. These media made intellectuals never try to find the reason that if in any part of the country government officials turn in huge numbers to participate in Independence Day functions why does J&K government need to issue a circular to its employees to ensure their participation in Independence Day functions.

Nobody in centre or state is able to answer that if militants are terrorists why do people in thousands attend their funerals, despite strict restrictions. Neither they have an argument to justify why highly educated youth join militancy. It seems for GoI just hoisting a tricolour at civil secretariat and few other important places is what is required to call J&K its integral part. State government also cannot justify the pro active role of security agencies in the state simply by calling it Pakistan sponsored insurgency. However contrary to what is happening in this part of Kashmir, Pakistan seems to have far better grip over its part of Kashmir.

equally opportunistic PDP and when the people of Jammu turned tables on it for breaking promises, it attempted to rake it up again in the mistaken belief of befooling people,” Rana said.

The Provincial President decried myopic saffron politics, saying it lacked even basic knowledge about the Indian Constitution which has guaranteed special provisions to various states of India, including Jammu and Kashmir, as per urges and aspirations of the people.

He asked those raking up Article 370 just for whipping up passions and further alienating the people of Jammu and Kashmir from national mainstream to have indepth study of the Constitution of India and get updated how other parts of the country like Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Goa etc enjoyed special status as per various sub sections (A to G) of Article 371.

Rana lamented that Jammu and Kashmir was being singled out “just to satiate the communal agenda of BJP.” He said Jammu and Kashmir was undergoing through a nightmarish phase with development take rear seat and rhetoric guiding the political discourse of the anti-people coalition government.—GK

At least they don’t need to force their employees and people to celebrate Independence Day of Pakistan, neither they observe a strike or black day on 14th August. Indian state claims to have tried everything on ground in Kashmir but the relationship between Delhi and Srinagar has always been just a story of mistrust. Neither New Delhi has been able to strengthen its base in Kashmir nor have Kashmiris been impressed by India’s claims of being a secular and democratic country. More Delhi tries to calm down Kashmiris more Kashmiris get alienated.

Unless GoI doesn’t stop blaming Pakistan and Hurriyat for its huge failures due to its own misadventures in Kashmir, even God may not help India in Kashmir. It can manage its control in Kashmir but never can conquer it. Anyway, yet again we may see tricolour being hoisted at every district and Tehsil amid impressive and colourful functions in Kashmir but it may hardly take their hearts and minds close to what India calls patriotism.

—Courtesy: Greater Kashmir

6 injured in Pulwama clashes P ULWAMA , I HK —Six persons were injured in fresh clashes in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, even as complete shutdown was observed there for the fourth consecutive day against the killing of a civilian by BSF on past Tuesday.

The clashes, according to police, erupted in Padgampora village where youth pelted stones on government forces. 23-year-old Bilal Ahmad of Padgampora was killed in BSF firing in nearby Malangpora village where protests had erupted against killing of two militants in the area that day. The BSF personnel, according to villagers, fired on the protesters, critically injuring Bilal who succumbed instantly.

Reports said youth from

different villages held massive protests in Padgampora after Friday prayers. “At least six people sustained injuries in the clashes,” witnesses told Greater Kashmir.

The clashes between forces and protesters continued till evening, they said.

Meanwhile, a complete shutdown observed in entire Pulwama district for the fourth consecutive day against the killing of Bilal.

All business establishments remained closed while traffic was off the roads. The road at Prichoo Pulwama was blocked for some hours by protesters, witnesses said.

Kakapora remained shut for the ninth consecutive day against the killing of a local militant by forces in a brief encounter in the area on August 6. —GK

FBR launches IT return form I SLAMABAD—The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has prepared Income Tax (IT) annual return Form for Tax Year 2015 by incorporating necessary legal changes and suggestions of business community and of professional bodies.

The new Income Tax returns for all taxpayers have been uploaded on FBR’s website www.fbr.gov.pk. According to a statement here on Saturday, taxpayers will have to use these returns for filing their annual Income Tax returns due by August, 31 for salaried persons and by September, 30 for companies closing their accounts by December 31, 2014 and all other non-salaried individuals and Associations of Persons (AoPs).—APP

ICE cotton rises for 3rd straight day L AHORE —ICE cotton rose for the third straight session after an unexpectedly bullish US government supply and demand report from earlier in the week, but encountered resistance at the prior session’s high as physical market activity remained cool.

“We have a standoff: the mills don’t want to pay these prices, and the growers wait for higher prices,” said Peter Egli, director of risk management at British merchant Plexus Cotton Ltd. December cotton on ICE Futures US settled up by 0.16 cent on Friday, a 0.2 percent gain, at 65.95 cents per pound. It traded within a range of 65.25 and 66.51 cents a pound. Total futures market volume fell by 31,750 to 20,826 lots. Data showed total open interest gained 765 to 185,597 contracts in the previous session.

Certificated cotton stocks deliverable as of August 13 totalled 95,711 480-lb bales, down from 97,932 in the previous session.

The dollar index was up 0.06 percent. —Agencies

SECP briefs Dar on demutualization of stock exchanges MIAN ARSHAD I SLAMABAD —The Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) here on Saturday briefed the Federal Minister for Finance, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on the progress regarding the demutualization of the stock exchanges. The Minister was informed about the background of the demutualization of the Exchanges and requirements stipulated in the Stock Exchanges (Corporatization, Demutualization and Integration) Act, 2012 in relation to divestment of 60% shares of the stock exchanges lying in the blocked account to the Strategic Investor(s) (SIs), general public and local financial institutions.

As required under the Act, the SECP had issued directions to the Stock Exchanges for completion of the divestment process by August 25, 2015. The stock exchanges had been in contact with various international exchanges for divestment of stake to SI and/or technical collaboration.

However, nothing concrete has materialized until now and no firm commitments have been received from any counterpart in this regard. The Minister was further briefed on the international trend on integration of stock exchanges and how it helps reduce fragmentation. It was communicated that

Businessmen term WHT imposition as unwise ISLAMABAD—Businessman Panel of FPCCI Businessman Panel and former vice presisaid decision to impose withholding tax on bank transactions is unwise at best as it is against the rights of banked population and violation of tax principles. Govt should not punish masses, businessmen, widows, pensioners and other vulnerable for the failure of FBR to broaden tax base to augment income, it said.

The decision termed as extortion by majority of traders would supplement underground economy, contract documented sector, said central leader of the

—John Paul DeJoria

dent FPCCI Khurram Sayeed. He said that income and consumption is taxed around the world but here govt has found a novel way to milk masses which is not acceptable. He noted that some banks are taking the benefit of the prevailing confused situation to get undue advantage which is illegal as well as immoral. WHT on bank transactions will in no way bring rich and super rich in the tax net and will not promote documentation of the economy, he noted.—NNI

Soneri Bank announces 1H financial results STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI —Soneri Bank Limited posted

The biggest hurdle is rejection. Any business you start, be ready for it. The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is the successful people do all the things the unsuccessful people don’t want to do.

When 10 doors are slammed in your face, go to door number 11 enthusiastically, with a smile on your face.

through integration, markets benefit from operational synergies, cost cutting, economies of scale and streamlined regulation.

The Finance Minister asked the SECP to have the demutualization process completed without any further delay in consultations with the stakeholders.

The Stock Exchanges (Corporatization, Demutualization and Integration) Act, it may be mentioned empowers the SECP to conclude the divestment process if the exchanges are unable to abide by the timeline.

He mentioned that with growing economic activity and business friendly policies of the government the capital market of the country possesses the potential of emerging as a regional investment hub.

While appreciating the performance of the SECP and reforms implemented, he reiterated that providing a fair and transparent market that complies with international best standards is the key to development and the government stands with the SECP in its efforts to ensure the same.

The Chairman SECP informed that the Report regarding 2008 stock market crisis had been completed. The Finance Minister directed that in order to ensure transparency, the report should be presented in the Policy Board and, after appraisal by the Board; it should be released for information of the general public.

profit before tax of Rs1,913.31 million and profit after tax of Rs.1,107.61 million for the half year ended June 30, 2015. In terms of growth PBT is up 79.11pc and PAT by 66.85pc over corresponding period last year. The Board in its 144thmeeting held the other day approved the Bank’s half-yearly financial statements. On this occasion the Chairman, Alauddin Feerasta appreciated the Bank’s continued strong performance during the second quarter and expressed satisfaction with results. The Key drivers of higher net earnings were primarily revenue growth and managed expenses. Bank’s revenue increased by 24.98pc to Rs.5.42billion, from last year’s figure of Rs.4.33billion whereas expenses increased just by 3.88pc.

Bank’s Net assets amounted to Rs.17.82 billion as at 30June 2015, being 4.60 percent higher than December 2014 base of Rs.17.04 billion. Deposits grew by 9.86 percent during the half year closing at

Rs.179.34 billion (December 2014: Rs.163.25 billion) and net advances down by 2.68 percent to Rs. 99.98 billion (December 2014: Rs.106.08 billion) due to seasonal factors.

The Bank continues to follow a prudent policy for making provisions for the infected loan portfolio in line with regulatory requirements.

Soneri Bank successfully closed 2nd Issue of Rated, Listed, Unsecured and Subordinated Term Finance Certificates worth Rs.3,000 million. Issue was oversubscribed 1.3 times reflecting investors’ confidence in the bank. Going forward, this will enhance bank’s capital buffer and support future growth plan.

Soneri Bank has a unique market position in trade-finance and transactions banking services and boasts a loyal and satisfied client-base in all its 247 branches all over the country.The Bank is committed to meet the increasing expectations of its customers and continue to provide them parexcellence services, for which the bank has been investing prudently in information technology, human resources, marketing and infrastructure.

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar being briefed by Chairman SECP regarding demutualisation of stock exchanges.

Call for promoting alternative energy resources

Weekly inflation eases by 0.48pc ISLAMABAD—The weekly inflation for the week chicken farm, bananas, eggs, potatoes, LPG

STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) Saturday called for promoting alternative energy resources as reliance on conventional resources like thermal is one of the biggest reasons of energy crisis. The LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Nauman Kabir said, “We have to plan right now for days to come otherwise Pakistan will become a trading place instead of industrial hub.”

He said, bio energy was a versatile source that could be used to overcome electricity challenge besides making a considerable contribution to climate change phenomenon, adding that biomass energy had the potential to convert a wide variety of wastes into clean energy besides being substitution for diminishing global oil supplies. Nauman Kabir said that bio energy could play a vital role in production of carbon-neutral fuels of high quality, thus adding many environmental issues, especially global warming and greenhouse gases emissions, and foster sustainable development among poor communities.

Biomass fuel sources were readily available in rural and urban areas of all countries, he added.

Pakistan, he asserted, desperately needed some good alternatives and viable solutions in this connection, as a wide range of biomass resources, particularly woody biomass and organic waste was available in abundance, so some serious efforts were required to be made to establish necessary modalities to commercialize it at a mega scale.

He said, Lahore Chamber would hold special training sessions for the guidance of technical people with the latest trends in new alternative technologies to increase their efficiency, besides bringing together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars at one place to come up with a joint strategy to make best use of this technology.

Nauman Kabir said that desired results of our efforts could be doubled or even more if the government’s support remains available in implementing research findings and replicating successful models related to Bio-Energy from modern world.

ended before holiday for the combined income group witnessed decrease of 0.48 percent as compared to the previous week. The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week under review in the above-mentioned group was recorded at 214.46 points against 215.49 points registered in the previous week, according to data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

Similarly, as compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review decreased by 0.27 percent.

The weekly SPI has been computed with base 20072008=100, covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups and combined. Meanwhile, the SPI for the lowest income group upto Rs 8000 was also decreased by 0.4 percent as it went down from 206.62 points in the previous week to 205.79 points in the week under review. As compared to the last week, the SPI for the income groups from Rs 800112,000, Rs 12,001-18,000, Rs 18,001-35,000 and above Rs 35000 decreased by 0.44 percent, 0.47 percent, 0.49 percent and 0.5 percent respectively. During the week under review average prices of 12 items registered decrease, while that of 09 items increase with the remaining 32 items’ prices unchanged. The items which registered decrease in their prices during the week under review included tomatoes,

cylinder, onions, potatoes, pulse moong, wheat, vegetable ghee (loose), wheat flour and pulse mash.

The items which recorded increase in their

average prices included tea, garlic, gur, sugar, mutton, red chilly powder, pulse masoor, beef and pulse gram. The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included rice basmati (broken), rice irri6, bread plain, milk fresh, curd, powdered milk, mustard oil, cooking oil (tin), vegetable ghee (tin), salt powder (loose), cooked beef, cooked pulses, tea prepared, cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn printed, georgette, gents sandal, gents chappal, ladies sandal, electricity charges, gas charges, kerosene oil, fire wood, electric bulb, washing soap, match box, petrol, hi-speed diesel, telephone call charges and bathing soap.—APP

NBP celebrates Independence Day STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—In commemoration of Pakistan Independence Day, a flag hoisting ceremony was held at NBP Head Office Building. The flag was hoisted by Syed Iqbal Ashraf, President/CEO-NBP along with Mr. Khalid Bin Shaheen, SEVP/Group Chief and Media Chief, Mr. Masood Karim Shaikh, SEVP/Group Chief and Mr. Mudassir H. Khan, SEVP/Group. NBP executives and employees prayed for the country and countrymen. NBP Building was illuminated for last few days on the occasion of Independence Day. Syed Iqbal Ashraf, said on the occasion that the foundation of this great nation is based on Unity, Faith and Discipline. Whichever religion, sect or province we belong to and whatever profession we pursue, we should put our country first because Pakistan is our first identity. On this day, he further said we’ll further boost the bank and we all are like a family and we all have to strive hard to make this bank most profitable organization of the industry.

President National Bank of Pakistan, Syed Iqbal Ashraf said that it is indeed an honor and moment of great pride for all of us that we are celebrating our independence day. Our forefathers worked very hard to get this country independent therefore we pay tribute to our nation for all our efforts and achievements of our personal lives and of the Bank. Pakistan is our identity and we have got this through immense sacrifices

of our forefathers. Today we remember our forefathers and pay our gratitude to them for making extraordinary sacrifices to give us an identity.

Pakistan will celebrate its 69thindependence day across the country and overseas by paying tribute to its national heroes who sacrificed their lives to establish a separate Muslim country through undeterred determination and struggle. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan emerged on the map of the world because of untiring efforts our great Quaid, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who would be remembered forever in the hearts of all Pakistanis. It marks the fulfilment of a dream of having and reinstates the fact that Pakistanis all around the world are bind in one relation of nationalism.

This day we celebrate independence across the world with millions of Pakistani expatriates joining by unfurling the green and white flag and singing the national anthem in a show of unity and strength.

Celebratory events this day include flag hoisting, parades, gun-salutes in federal and provincial capitals, award ceremonies, singing patriotic songs and the national anthem and speeches by the President as well as Prime Minister. Under the pivotal leadership and rich experience of Syed Ahmed Iqbal Ashraf (President), National Bank of Pakistan is focusing on strengthening businesses, network, technological capabilities and operating and - financial advancements.

PSM creating huge financial trauma for SSGC AMANULLAH KHAN KARACHI —Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) has been constantly defaulting on its payments to SSGC. PSM’s failure to settle its dues has made it difficult for the gas utility to finance its programs of strategic nature, which includes pipeline augmentation projects across its franchise areas, says SSGC in a press statement. Commenting about the continuously rising dues, SSGC’s spokesperson elaborated that since last three to four years, PSM’s outstanding receivables have continued to rise.

In July 2012, PSM’s overdue balance with SSGC stood at Rs. 8.3 billion. By the same time period in 2013, the balance had shot up to Rs. 15 billion. However, since then receivables have continued to mount uncontrollably, he added. By July 2014, the balance had risen to Rs. 24 billion. Today, PSM’s receivables stand at a staggering Rs. 35 billion. This is a major concern for SSGC since the rising

amount of outstanding receivables has made it increasingly difficult for the Company to make payments to local and foreign E&P companies for purchase of gas as well as to meet other commitments. Since April 2015, PSM has not paid any amount to SSGC and if this grave situation persists, the gas utility may be forced to default on payments. SSGC has given PSM ample opportunity and time to settle its dues through a steady supply of gas but the latter has continued to show a total lack of seriousness in this regard.

PSM is not even offering a palatable payment plan for the settlement of large overdue balances, in-spite of providing them many opportunities for doing the same. The spokesperson further disclosed that since last few years, SSGC has continuously reminded PSM of its mounting dues, both through verbal and written notices, but has always stopped short of suspending gas supply to it. Every time a notice was served to PSM, it made a

commitment to settle its dues, yet PSM repeatedly faltered on its commitment. While recovering dues with the customer, the Company follows a policy of gentle persuasion and when it notices fail to have any effect on the consumer and debts keep on piling up, the suspension of gas supply becomes last resort.

Is PSM heading towards that scenario, the spokes person questioned? According to the media release, the PSM has itself taken SSGC to a point where it had no option but to cut gas supply to it. In July 2015, SSGC served a notice to PSM, asking it to submit an acceptable payment plan along with a down payment and a firm assurance that it will settle the remaining amount. PSM remained unmoved. This August, SSGC served yet another notice to PSM instructing it to take necessary steps to arrange for the payment of outstanding dues on or before, August 15, 2015. The notice clearly said that in the event

of failure in making the requisite payment, SSGC will be compelled to not only discontinue deliveries of gas to the Plant but also terminate the GSA without any further notice at PSM’s sole risk as to consequences thereof.

The spokes person of SSGC commenting on the behavior of PSM management, further said that he sad part is that instead of making any firm commitment towards settling its dues, PSM has unfairly blamed the Ministry of Petroleum and SSGC’s Chairman for cutting gas supplies, asserting that their action has hampered its ability to run its plants productively. It was in fact, the Company’s Board of Directors that gave directives to the management in December 2014 to recover its outstanding payment amounts from PSM as soon as possible.

The Board has also categorically instructed the management that in case of nonrecovery, it can take last resort measures such as disconnection of supply. PSM also alleges

that due to gas cuts, it is unable to pay salaries to its staff. This argument seems illogical since the payment of salaries is being made through the Government’s bail-out package.

PSM has tried to project itself as an aggrieved party by blaming SSGC for its production woes. Right now PSM has Rs. 9 billion worth of inventory.

The fact of the matter is that it has enough avenues to generate funds by selling its inventory. However, due to a huge dump of imported products, its own products have been found to be less attractive. If PSM continues to default on its payments, its action will have a major impact on the financial health of SSGC, forcing the derailment of its capital expenditure projects which are obviously of strategic nature. PSM will have to rethink its policy towards SSGC which has accommodated PSM long enough. PSM may be drowning but why is it that it wants other organizations such as SSGC to drown with it?

Currency USA

Selling 101.80

Buying 101.60

UK

156.30

155.99

Euro

115.18

114.96

Canada

82.12

81.96

Switzerland

109.84

109.62

Australia

78.27

78.12

Sweden

12.28

12.26

Japan

0.8174

0.8158

Norway

13.03

13.01

Singapore

75.16

75.01

Denmark

15.44

15.41

Saudi Arabia 27.14

27.09

Hong Kong

13.13

13.11

China

16.41

16.37

Kuwait

337.28

336.61

Malaysia

27.05

27.00

Newzealand

72.40

72.26

Qatar

27.96

27.91

UAE

27.72

27.66

Kr Won

0.0908

0.0906

Thailand

3.017

3.011

PG to participate in LCCI polls STAFF REPORTER L A H O R E —Progressive Group (PG) has announced to fully participate in the forthcoming elections of the LCCI from the platform of Progressive & Lahore Businessmen Front Alliance. This announcement was made by the Group’s President Khalid Usman while chairing the Executive Committee meeting of the Group. The meeting was attended by Abdul Wadood Alvi, Iftikhar Ahmad, Muhammad Ejaz Tanveer, Ali Imran, Asim Shafique and others. The meeting finalized the features of the election campaign of the group for the LCCI elections. The participants also congratulated the nation and especially business community on Independence Day anniversary.

Speaking on this occasion, Progressive Group’s head and Progressive & Lahore Businessmen Front Alliance Chairman Khalid Usman severely criticized the performance of the ruling group in the LCCI and claimed that it had never represented the issues of traders and industrialists in true manner.

He claimed that business community of the Lahore was perturbed due to this attitude of the LCCI present leadership.

EFU Life, Advantedge sign accord KARACHI—EFU Life Assurance Ltd and Advantedge & Partners (Pvt) Ltd have entered into a service and consultancy agreement to explore areas of mutual interest in business development for Life Insurance and Savings solutions. EFU Life is a leading life insurance company in Pakistan and is the first Window Family Takaful Operator licensed by SECP. Advantedge, a registered Management Consulting firm, specializes in wide range of Trainings, Coaching, HR Solutions, Sales & Distribution, and other Management Consultancy Services. The signing ceremony was held at EFU Life’s head office in Karachi and the agreement was signed by Taher G. Sachak, CEO & MD EFU Life & Rahid Sami, Chairman & CEO Advantedge. Senior officials of both organizations also attended the ceremony.

At this on occasion, Taher G Sachak, CEO and MD EFU Life said “We are delighted to have Advantedge as our partner.

EFU Life is actively engaged in new alternatives of bringing innovation in the insurance business.

This joint opportunity will help us offer our financial protection solutions through untapped distribution channels to all market segments”. Rahid Sami, Chairman & CEO Advantedge said “We are very pleased to join hands with EFU in bringing new innovative products to the Pakistani Market. I am sure that Advantedge’s extensive experience in Sales and Distribution—PR

Business community consent FBR new SRO to exempt in policy formulation urged wheat bran from ST ISLAMABAD —The Federal Board of Rev- product wheat bran has created an anomaly.

LAHORE—All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) has asked cific export promotion agencies having independent bud- enue (FBR) will issue a Statutory Regula- The representation has been examined in the government to take business community on board in preparing policies to enhance exports so that fast widening trade deficit could be diminished, which is prerequisite for economic growth. APBF President Ibrahim Qureshi said that trade deficit surged by 10.68per cent to 22.09 billion dollars in 2014-15 from 19.963 billion dollars in the preceding fiscal year, the record highest trade imbalance since 1980-81, while the government had projected a trade deficit target of 17.2 billion dollars for the fiscal year.

The record 22 billion US dollars trade gap is happening despite the fact that Pakistan is enjoying preferential access to the EU market under GSP Plus and interest rate is also lower at home while oil prices are constantly declining, the biggest drain on the country’s foreign currency reserves. He lamented that country’s exports have been stagnant at $24-25 billion for the last many years. Quoting the figures, he said that during last 30-year period (19802011), India’s share of world exports improved from 0.43per cent to 1.7per cent; Bangladesh’s from 0.04per cent to 0.14per cent; Malaysia’s from 0.74per cent to 1.34per cent and Thailand’s from 0.37per cent to 1.35per cent. But it is unfortunate that Pakistan’s share remains stagnant at 0.15per cent.

Ibrahim Qureshi said that during the fiscal year, imports from China increased sharply to 23per cent from 17per cent a year ago. “International image building is the need of the hour with complete overhauling of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, besides formation of new trade spe-

gets and policies,” he said. He added that though energy shortage and law and order kept the economy hostage during the last many years, yet the government should have a clear vision on the economic issues, to help resolve the problems of export oriented industry at the earliest. “The trade imbalance in favour of China is highly alarming. Free Trade Agreements signed with some of the countries appear to have been playing a major role for this imbalance.

On the other hand, exports fell by 4.88per cent to $23.88 billion as compared to 25.11 billion dollar a year ago.”

Ibrahim Qureshi said that Pakistan’s exports base and markets are extremely narrow. More than 55per cent of its exports earnings are contributed by the cotton group while leather, synthetic made-ups and rice contribute around 14per cent of total exports. Unfortunately, these items are relatively low value-added products. APBF president urged the government that all stakeholders be taken on board while preparing industry related policies, and asserted that industrial estates be exempted from load shedding of gas and electricity to meet the local market and export targets.

Ibrahim Qureshi said the government should also facilitate the exporters and implement all trade facilitations in letter and spirit enshrined in trade policies. He said that APBF understands that law and order is a major cause of decline in local and foreign investment and if the government fails to respond to private sector’s call, the economy will continue to slide ultimately resulting in closure of industry and trade.—Agencies

Int’l low oil prices benefit to public urged

FBR. The FBR is also of the view that S. No 19 of the Sixth Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990, exempts cereals and products of milling industry. Therefore, levy of 5 percent sales tax on wheat bran has created an anomaly whereby the sales tax has been imposed on an industry whose major product is exempt from payment of sales tax.

Now, the anomaly can be removed by granting sales tax exemption on wheat bran.

Such exemption can be granted under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 13 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, which is reproduced below: “(a) the Federal Government may, pursuant to the approval of the Economic Coordination Committee of Cabinet, whenever circumstances exist to take immediate action for the purposes of national security, natural disaster, national foodsecurity in emergency situations, protection of national economic interests in situations arising out of abnormal fluctuation in international commodity prices, removal of anomalies in taxes, development of backward areas and implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements by notification in the official Gazette, exempt any taxable supplies made or import or supply of any goods or class of goods, from the whole or any part of the tax chargeable under this Act, subject to the conditions and limitations specified therein;” In view of above, it is proposed to exempt wheat bran, falling under PCT heading 2302.3000, from whole of sales tax by issuing a notification, sources added.—Agencies

China gold reserves up over 19 tonnes in July

AMANULLAH KHAN KARACHI—The real impact of falling international oil prices in the domestic POL prices is not truly reflected, while gas is also linked with oil prices the benefit should also need be passed on to the consumers. Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has demanded of the government to reduce petroleum products (POL) prices by Rs 20 per litre considering the lowest oil prices prevailing in the international market.

World oil prices are constantly falling and for the last few years and now the price of POL per barrel has gone down below $50 but the present government has remained adamant to provide price cushion to the consumers with the same ratio. He said that it was a sheer injustice with the people of Pakistan that they are not given any price differential in any utility. He said that as per government’s own price mechanism of POL, there should be immediate reduction in prices of not only POL but electricity, transport fares including train and airlines but the high ups are reluctant to bring them down.

President LCCI Yakoob Karim said unfortunately government following the practice of the previous regimes and was not practicing the price mechanism.

Yakoob said government as per its claim of being the business and investment friendly should reduce POL prices honestly as the people of Pakistan deserved it. The masses in general and trade and industry in particular need some sigh of relief at this juncture when everyone is remained under the heavy burden of unaffordable prices of utilities and imposition of various additional taxes and levies.

He lamented the increase of GST on the fuel, which he declared uncalled for and unjustified. He warned industries were closing down in the country due to unbearable cost of production and energy crisis.

tory Order (SRO) to exempt wheat bran, falling under Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) heading 2302.3000, from whole of Sales Tax (ST) to remove an anomaly created through Finance Act 2015. It is learnt that one of the objectives of the budgetary exercise for the year 2015-16 was to withdraw sales tax exemptions on non-essential goods.

The measures so proposed also included withdrawal of sales tax exemption on poultry and cattle feeds and their ingredients.

Initially, it was proposed in the Finance Bill, 2015, to withdraw the exemption and levy sales tax at reduced rate of 5 percent on poultry and cattle feeds and their ingredients.

Later, on intervention of the industry and also keeping view the impact of the measure on poultry prices, the Finance Bill was amended and the exemption on poultry and cattle feed and their major ingredients ie sunflower seed meal, rapeseed meal and canola seed meal was maintained and the sales tax @ 5 percent on other ingredients was levied. The ingredients of these feeds were earlier exempted and enumerated under SRO 1007(1)/2005 dated 26.09.2005. This SRO was rescinded and the items specified therein were transferred to Eighth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, with 5 percent sales tax rate thereon. These ingredients also included “wheat bran” falling in PCT heading 2302.3000.

Now, the Pakistan Flour Mills Association has approached FBR with the request that their major product flour is exempt from sales tax but levy of sales tax on their by-

B EIJING —China’s gold reserves rose by 2012 at the height of the United States’s

Muzzamil Hussain Sabri, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry presenting shield to Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue during his visit to Chamber house.

ICCI demands to stop tax raids on business premises STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Revenue has asked the non-filers to file their tax returns of 2014 by 28th February 2016 and get exemption from withholding tax deduction on their banking transactions. Addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said that government has adopted a soft approach on withholding tax and it was a good opportunity for non-filers to declare their hidden assets, sales and turnovers honestly and file their tax returns that would be accepted without questioning them. Mr. Shahid Hussain Asad Member IR Policy and Mr. Nadeem Dar Member Facilitation FBR were also present at the occasion.

Haroon Akhtar Khan said traders are doing legitimate business and they should come into the formal sector. He said that government is facing huge difference of Rs.1700 billion between revenue and expenditure and it is ready to give more incentives in consultation with business community to bring non-filers into the tax net to improve tax-to-GDP ratio.

He said government is working to develop an integrated database that will help in identifying all potential taxpayers. However, government intends to improve tax collection by taking stakeholders on board.

He assured that no illegal action of FBR against taxpayers will be tolerated and strong action would be taken against wrongdoers.

He said genuine complaints against tax matters should be forwarded to FBR through Chambers and Trade Bodies that will be looked into for remedial measures.

In his welcome address, Muzzamil Hussain Sabri, President, Islamabad Cham-

ber of Commerce and Industry said that I&I Department of FBR should immediately halt raids on business premises and forced debits from bank accounts should also be stopped forthwith because such tactics are creating lot of harassment in the businessmen. He suggested that one house and one office should also be regularized in the wealth tax statement. He said during pre-budget consultations, government did not discuss WHT on banking transactions and imposed it unilaterally which created problems.

He stressed that government should address concerns of traders on 0.3per cent WHT and always consult with stakeholders including business community before levy of any new tax to avoid any protests in future. M. Shakeel Munir Senior Vice President and M. Ashfaq Hussain Chatha Vice President ICCI stressed upon the need of timely return of sales tax refunds as billions of rupees of taxpayers refunds are stuck up with FBR creating cash flow problems for them.

Abdul Rauf Alam, Group Leader ICCI said that there is a communication gap between the taxpayers and tax department due to which taxpayers are losing confidence in FBR. He urged that FBR should always take business community on board before imposing any new tax that will help in broadening the tax base of the country. Zubair Ahmed Malik, former President FPCCI said that government should control its own expenditures and step up efforts to improve exports in order to improve fiscal space.

Mian Akram Farid, Senior Vice President FPCCI, Mian Shaukat Masud, Atif Ikram, Sheikh Waheed, Khalid Chaudhry, Nadeem Mansoor and others also highlighted various tax issues including around 30per cent tax on rental income, 5per cent tax on foreign education fee and requested FBR to look into these matters to address concerns of taxpayers.

more than 19 tonnes in July, the official Xinhua news agency said Saturday, after the central bank last month gave the statistic for the first time in six years. Bullion holdings stood at 1,677.30 tonnes at the end of July, Xinhua said citing the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), a 1.16 percent increase on June’s 1,658 tonnes. The rise is worth nearly $700 million, according to Friday’s price of $1,118.25 an ounce on the London Bullion Market. The PBoC issued gold reserve figures last month for the first time since April 2009, revealing a rise of 57 percent over the past six years.

China is the world’s largest producer of the yellow metal, but the increase marked a slowdown in gold accumulation after holdings jumped 75 percent from 2003 to 2009.

China ranks fifth globally in gold holdings, according to Bloomberg News. The price of gold reached record highs near $1,800 in

bond-buying stimulus programme and the eurozone debt crisis, before falling significantly.

But the yellow metal is considered a safe bet in times of turmoil and uncertainty, and it rose last week after China devalued its yuan currency, raising concerns over the health of the world’s second-largest economy. Beijing said the move was the result of switching to a more market-oriented method of calculating the daily reference rate which sets the value of the yuan.

China keeps a tight grip on its currency on worries sudden fund outflows or inflows could cause more financial risk and challenge its control, but it has also pledged to move towards more flexibility and is pushing for the yuan to become one of the units that make up the International Monetary Fund’s “special drawing rights” reserve currency.—AFP

Vaccine developed to prevent malaria AMANULLAH KHAN KARACHI—After nearly 30 years of research and development, GSK’s malaria candidate vaccine, Mosquirix™ (RTS,S), receives positive opinion from European regulators for the prevention of malaria.

UK’s drug giant GSK announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive scientific opinion for its malaria candidate vaccine Mosquirix™, also known as RTS,S, in children aged 6 weeks to 17 months.

Following this decision, the World Health Organization (WHO) will now formulate a policy recommendation on use of the vaccine in national immunization programs once approved by national regulatory authorities. When contacted, a spokesperson for GSK Pakistan highlighted this as an important breakthrough achievement by GSK Global Vaccines in combating Malaria. He added that Malaria, which is a huge health bur-

den in the country and afflicts approximately 1.6 million Pakistanis annually, has now become a disease that can be prevented through vaccination.

Malaria is an entirely preventable and treatable mosquito-borne illness. In 2014, 97 countries and territories had ongoing malaria transmission. An estimated 3.3 billion people are at risk of malaria, of whom 1.2 billion are at high risk. In highrisk areas, more than one malaria case occurs per 1000 population. There were an estimated 198 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2013, and an estimated 584,000 deaths out of which an estimated 453,000 are under-five deaths. RTS,S, which was developed in partnership with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), is the first candidate vaccine for the prevention of malaria to reach this milestone.

While other vaccines tackle viruses or bacteria, RTS,S has been designed to prevent malaria caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite.

Commemorative postage stamp ISLAMABAD—Pakistan post has started the five commemorative postage stamps for denomination of Rs. 10/- each on Independence Day to mark 2015 year of Pakistan – China friendly Exchanges. Pakistan and China have enduring, close and time tested friendship that is unique and unprecedented in modern interstate relations. A set of five multi coloured stamps of 44.6 x 34.00mm sizes depict the photos of the honourable Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the honourable Prime Minister of the People Republic of China.

In the centre of the set is stamp depicting Karakorum High way (KKH) that connects Pakistan and China across the Himalayan mountain range at Khunjerab Pass. Also, Great Wall of China, a modern wonders of the world that attracts visitors from all over the world and Shalimar Gardens, a Mughal era garden Complex in Lahore, are depicted in stamps.—PR

Global automakers scramble to assess damage of China port blasts B EIJING —Global

automakers including Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp scrambled to assess damage to cars and facilities after two massive explosions in the port city of Tianjin, China’s largest auto import hub. The blasts that ripped through a warehouse storing volatile chemicals in the northeastern city late on Wednesday were so strong that they damaged buildings a few kilometres away.

French carmaker Renault SA said nearly 1,500 of its imported cars stored in a warehouse at the port had been burned while Toyota said the blasts broke windows at its car assembly, logistics, and research buildings, which are jointly run with China FAW Group Corporation. Operations at the Toyota facilities had been closed for a week-long summer holiday and no one was injured, but a spokesman at Japan’s biggest carmaker declined

to say whether it could resume production as normal from Monday. “In our current view, the damage isn’t that severe,” a China-based Toyota spokesman said.

Roughly 40 percent of cars imported to China pass through Tianjin’s port, or more than half a million units in 2014, according to the official Xinhua news agency. China imported 372.4 billion yuan ($60.8 billion) in cars last year, official data shows. The blasts tore through an industrial area in the broader Tianjin port, killing at least 54 people, including a dozen fire fighters, state media said. About 700 people were injured. Subaru maker Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd said more than 100 cars that were imported from Japan and were awaiting customs clearance in a warehouse had been damaged by broken windows. The warehouse, which does not belong to Fuji Heavy, is

about 2 km (1.2 miles) from the blast site, it said.

Volkswagen said that some of its imported cars were damaged but did not know exactly how many had been affected. Photographs from the scene showed rows of Beetles and other VW brand cars badly scorched by the explosion. “We have a task force in the area to find out more and which is primarily concerned with the wellbeing of our employees,” a VW spokeswoman said.Ford Motor Co, Nissan Motor Co Ltd and Toyota also said they were checking their cars parked around the port.

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Corp and Kia Motors Corp had a total of 4,000 cars near the blast site but did not have specific details on the extent of damage, the companies said. BMW AG said it has two vehicle distribution centres near the port but the damage was unknown given the

area had been cordoned off by authorities. Mazda Motor Corp said over 50 cars imported from Japan were also damaged, with peeling paint and scratches.

One nearby showroom was shut on Thursday after its windows shattered, it said. Other Japanese businesses with a presence in Tianjin including a mall owned by Aeon Co and an Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd department store sustained minor damage. Otsuka Holdings Co said a factory that makes the Pocari Sweat sports drink would be closed on Friday and Saturday as it assesses the site’s safety.Shipping giant Nippon Yusen KK said it could not assess damage at a terminal it operates in Tianjin because the area was off-limits, adding that a few workers sustained minor injuries at an affiliated car distribution company, which was also closed off.—Reuters

South Africa v New Zealand, 1st T20

Amla guides South Africa to six-wicket win DURBAN —AB de Villiers did not do and Williamson to settle. Kyle Abbott struck the first six - in the 10th over what he was supposed to - keep wicket and open the batting - because Faf du

hoped to make use of early season conditions with the short ball but offered

DURBAN: Hashim Amla plays a pull during South Africa vs New Zealand, 1st T20 International match.

Plessis’ knee injury meant he had to captain instead. In that role, he did exactly what he was supposed to when he put New Zealand in to bat, managed his bowlers well to haul them in and then set up a successful chase.

South Africa slowed New Zealand’s speedy start, which saw them race to 63 without loss after seven overs, to ensure they only added another 88 runs in the remaining 13 overs.

Even on an early season surface that did not seem to have the same pace, bounce and carry as a South African strip normally does, that was not enough. South Africa were barely troubled as de Villiers shared a secondwicket stand of 50 with Hashim Amla, who top-scored with 48 as South Africa claimed a comfortable win.

The home side seized the advantage thanks to Aaron Phangiso, who started the squeeze with an opening over that included the wicket of Kane Williamson.

New Zealand threatened to make it a oneman show before he was beaten by flight and stumped for a 21-ball 42.

Phangiso’s breakthrough came after South Africa’s seamers were off to a wayward start and allowed Martin Guptill

PAF clinch Independence Day Hockey Series

when he sent Phangiso over square leg and into the stands. With Morkel still struggling for rhythm, New Zealand could rebuild but then Guptill got a little too casual.

He was late in sliding his bat in at the striker’s end after attempting a single off Wiese and Morne van Wyk reacted quickly to get the bails off. Colin Munro was caught by a diving AB de Villiers at mid-on off the next ball and South Africa had successfully clawed their way back. They could have seized the advantage when Worker pulled Phangiso to long leg in the next over but the ball went through Morkel’s hands.

Phangiso only had to wait another over to have the last laugh. He trapped Worker lbw with a flat ball darted in on middle that struck the back pad as the batsman missed the slog sweep. By then New Zealand were well into their collapse after Grant Elliott had holed out the over before.

South Africa’s see-saw evening in the field continued when Wiese dropped Tom Latham and then ran-out Luke Ronchi with a direct hit. New Zealand lost seven for 40 which included two wickets for Rabada in the final over to set South Africa a target they were happy to chase.

Van Wyk, making his comeback after being left out of the Bangladesh series, gave himself time to settle in before announcing himself off Mitchell McClenaghan. Van Wyk lofted the lefthanded bowler over the covers, behind square and then into the off-side stands to start South Africa’s acceleration. He was not able to continue it when he tried to take on Doug Bracewell in the same way but sliced him in the air where Worker juggled but hung on at backward point.

De Villiers picked up where van Wyk left off with a range of clean strokes: the one-handed cover drive, moving to a one-kneed loft over extra cover and the disdainful swat to cow corner. De Villiers was not his side’s top-scorer but he was their game-changer because he put New Zealand’s plans out with his combination of power hitting and precision placement.

When de Villiers holed out to deep midwicket just after halfway through South Africa’s innings, they still needed 67 runs off 55 balls but there was never any doubt they would get there. —AFP

too much width, Kagiso Rabada veered down the leg side too often and Morne Morkel went too full. Williamson’s driving and flicking was authoritative and New Zealand’s foundation was laid.

But Phangiso New Zealand innings: rocked it when, after Guptill run out .............. 42 fluffing the opportu- Williamson st van Wyk b nity to run out Phangiso ....................... 42 Williamson when Worker lbw b Phangiso28 Guptill sent him Munro b Wiese .............. 0 back earlier in the Elliott b Wiese ................ 5 over, he drew the Ronchi run out (Wiese) 5 New Zealand cap- Latham b Rabada ......... 12 tain forward and McCullum c de Villiers b found him short of Rabada ............................. 2 his ground. Guptill Bracewell not out ........... 7 had been accumu- Milne not out .................. 2 lating steadily while Extras: (b 3, lb 2, w 1) .... 6 Williamson attacked Total: (8 wickets) ....... 151 and tried to con- Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-102, tinue the aggressive 3-102, 4-118, 5-125, 6-138, 7approach with 142, 8-142 George Worker. Bowling .......... O-M-R-W David Wiese as- Abbott ................. 4-0-27-0 sisted by providing Rabada ................. 4-0-29-2 more room for Morkel ................. 4-0-37-0 Guptill and Worker Wiese ................... 4-0-24-2

SCOREBOARD Phangiso ............. 4-0-29-2

South Africa innings MN van Wyk c Worker b Bracewell ....................... 19 Amla c Latham b Milne 48 AB de Villiers c McCullum b Worker ........................ 33 Rossouw c Ronchi b McClenaghan ............... 38 Miller not out .................. 2 Behardien not out .......... 4 Extras: (lb 5, w 2, nb 1) 8 Total: (4 wickets) ........ 152 Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-85, 3-144, 4-147 Bowling .......... O-M-R-W Bracewell ............. 3-0-17-1 Milne3.5-0-23-1 McClenaghan ..... 3-0-33-1 Worker ................. 2-0-19-1 McCullum ............ 4-0-34-0 Elliott .................... 1-0-12-0 Williamson ............ 1-0-9-0

Ibrahim takes PSB Independence Day Squash trophy

PESHAWAR—Ibrahim Mohib Ibrahim took the second set by 11-9 and faced tough P ESHAWAR —Pakistan Air clinched the trophy after de- resistance in the third and fourth sets he won at 12-10 and 13Force Saturday clinched the 5-match Independence Day Hockey Series by 4-1 against Peshawar Hockey Academy played here at Lala Ayub Hockey Stadium. Pakistan Air Force recorded victory in the last and fifth match of the 5-matches series and completed 4-1 lead against Peshawar Hockey Academy team. Peshawar Hockey Academy only secured victory in the fourth match when they defeated PAF by 3-2 in a thrilling match.

PAF took the lead in the first 8th minute of the match when inside right Said Shah, who recently attended national hockey camp, slammed in a beautiful goal through field attempt. Said Shah got a free hit from right full-back Zahid at the top of the circle and did nothing wrong in dispatching it into the net to make the tally 1-0. After taking lead, PAF put in more pressure failed to score any goal.

On the other hand, Peshawar Hockey Academy managed their position after conceding a goal and soon leveled the tally 1-1 when fullback Ijaz sounded the board with his forceful hit on the first penalty corner in the 16th minute.—APP

feating second seeded Humam Ahmad in the final of the PSB Independence Day Age Group Squash Championship played here at Mohib Ullah Squash Complex.

Former World Champion Qamar Zaman was the chief guest on this occasion. Director PSB Coaching Center Mohib Ullah Khan, coaches Shehzad Mohib, Pervez Ali and training Adil Khan, officials, players and large number of spectators were also present and witnessed the finals of the Under-9, Under-11 and Under-15 categories.

In the thrilling final, Ibrhaim Mohib faced tough resistance against Humam Ahmad in the marathon four sets battle lasted for 48 minutes.

Ibrahim Mohib lost the first set against Humam Ahmad at 10-12.

Both Ibrahim and Humam exhibited excellent display of forceful strokes, nick, drops and smashes.

Humam Ahmad, a no. one in the Udner-9 category, after winning the first set, failed to click in the remain three sets won

by Ibrahim Mohib. Ibrahim Mohib after losing the first set, staged a strong come back with long rallies and length strokes.

11. Rohaid Asghar got third position after defeating Hassan Zahid in the third position match by 11-9, 11-8 and 12-10.

Hassan Zahid got fourth position.

In the Under-11 category top seed Muhammad Ammad defeated Fahad Sharif in a marathon five sets battle, the score was 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 12-10 and 13-11. The final lasted for 42 minutes.—APP

BAJAUR: Commandant Bajaur Scouts, Col Mir Ameer Ali and Political Agent, Yahya Akhonzada giving away Azadi Cricket Tournament trophy to the captain of winner team.

PCB should invest in U-19 players: Wasim Akram ISLAMABAD—Former cricketer Wasim Akram believes Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must invest in the Under-19 players saying cricket greats Ramiz Raja, Shoaib Mohammad, Basit Ali, Amir Sohail, Inzamam, Mushtaq Ahmed and Waqar Younis are product of U19 cricket.

Wasim, who was training the players in the twoweek fast-bowling camp at National Stadium of Karachi, said all the players in the camp are very talented and ready to play good cricket.

“It is up to selectors and PCB now to arrange U19 and A-Team tours for these players and play them there to judge their improvement,” he said while talking to a private news channel.

“I am very happy with the progress of these young bowlers. They are working very hard and are hungry to learn and do whatever I advised them,” he said.

He said I also advised the players to set their own field. “Field setting is bowler ’s job not that of a captain, captain can help a young bowler but ultimately it’s a bowler’s job,” he said.

He said he is just adjusting players’ run-ups and making few changes with their action so that they can bowl better and fast. “Bowling fast is not that easy as you have to be super fit to bowl fast for 20 years,” he said.

He said talent alone cannot make you a great bowler, you will have to work hard day in and day out to become a great bowler. “I told the players to bowl slower ones which move away from the batsmen, so when batsmen try to hit you ball will get a leading edge,” he said. He said he is not going to change actions of Zia ul Haq and Ahmed Jamal, because they have pace and they have been playing domestic cricket for so long. —APP

Top security bosses give green signal for int’l cricket in Karachi K ARACHI —Top

security bosses of Karachi, including Corp Commander, DG Rangers Sindh and Commissioner Karachi, have given a green signal for holding international cricket matches in Karachi, a spokesman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Saturday.

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Muhammad Khan, who is in the metropolis for the past three days, held extensive meetings. After meeting with Corp Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and Director General Rangers Sindh Maj Gen Bilal Akbar Saturday, he held a meeting with Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui. Senior Manager National Stadium Arshad Khan was also present on the occasion.

During these meetings, all the officials assured the PCB Chairman that the highest level of security will be provided to all the visiting teams in Karachi.

“My meetings with all the officials were encouraging and positive and I see some international teams will be playing matches in Karachi,” Shaharyar Khan said.

“It is our utmost desire to see international cricket returning to Karachi as soon as possible,” PCB head remarked.

Officials told the PCB Chairman that the law and order and overall security situation has improved in the mega city. The

PCB Chairman has expressed his keenness of holding international matches in Karachi after criticism from officials and cricket followers for not organising any match here during Zimbabwe team’s short tour to Lahore.

Shaharhyar Khan has clarified on a few occasions that Zimbabwe refused to play in Karachi due to which matches were held in the Punjab capital.

During a press conference three-days ago, Shaharyar Khan said that they were planning to invite ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers Hong Kong and Oman to play practice matches in Karachi ahead of competition schedule in India in March/April next year. Pakistan will be hosting Bangladesh women cricketers in Karachi later this year.

There has been no official international cricket in Karachi since 2009 after terrorists attacked Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.

Former KCCA President and Member PCB Governing Board, late Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah invited an International XI which played a couple of T20 games against Pakistan Star XI. Former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya led the international and both matches attracted massive crowd at the National Stadium - Pakistan’s premier Test centre.—APP

Ijaz wins Azadi Cup Bowling Championship I SLAMABAD —Islamabad’s Ijaz-ur-Rehman won the men’s singles of the Azadi Cup National Tenpin Bowling Championship held here at Leisure City Bowling Club Safa Gold Mall Jinnah Super.

The championship continued for 46 days in which players from Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Islamabad participated. The tournament was played on Singles, doubles, team, Amateur and deaf event format, says a press release issued here.

In Mens Single’s event final Ijaz got 1st position with total score of 408 out of 2 games and won RS 50,000 cash prize and trophy. Zafar Iqbal from Islamabad with total score of 398 got 2nd position and won Rs 25,000 and trophy while Muhammad Chattha from Islamabad with score of 390, remained 3rd got trophy and Rs 15,000.

In Doubles category Ijaz and Ashiq Ali team dominated with score of 818 and remained at top in double event. Saleem Baig and Muhammad Hussian Chattha team with score of 797 remained second. Ist team got gold medals along with Rs 20,000 while 2nd team got silver medal along with and Rs 10,000. In deaf event, Qasim won the Azadi Cup by defeat-

Ijaz-ur-Rehman with his trophy. ing Nasir Dar by 10 scores in ated youngsters who particithe final round. In the final pated and showed their inQasim makes total 178 scores terest in bowling. He said and wins gold medal while that involvement of such a Nasir Dar remained at 168 and huge number of youngsters got silver medal. in this game proves that the General Secretary of Pa- bowling game is getting kistan Tenpin Bowling Fed- popularity day by day in Paeration (PTBF) Ijaz appreci- kistan.—APP

JK grabe Independence Day Bridge tournament ISLAMABAD—JK team clinched the Indepen- enced pair of Javed Khalid and Saeed Akhtar, dence Day Bridge tournament with a record score of 102 organized by the Islamabad Club here. The event was based on round robin with 10 boards per match. Eight top teams of the region participated in the exciting and ATTOCK: Players showing their strength during arm-wrestling held in connection absorbing contest, says a press release issued here. JK included talented and experiwith Independence Day.

known for their expert declarer play, teaming for the first time with the brilliant duo of Sarwar Khan and Shahid Hameed, one of the finest exponents of attacking play.

They completely overwhelmed their opponents and went on to win all their matches emphatically.—APP

Badminton: Marin books spot in finals for second year running JAKARTA—World number one Carolina Marin advanced to the finals of the women’s singles at the world championships on Saturday for a second year in a row, after staging a gripping comeback against South Korea’s Sung JiHyun in Jakarta.

The top seed and defending champion screamed as she emerged triumphant from the 90-minute battle over Sung 21-17, 15-21, 21-16. Marin claimed the first game comfortably but lost her composure in the second, becoming increasingly frustrated as her unforced errors mounted and her lead slipped away. She trailed Sung in the third game 13-8 before rallying to take 10 unanswered points in a fiery comeback that left her Korean opponent spinning.

Marin was overjoyed at earning the chance to defend her world title, but acknowledged she let herself down mentally.—AP

India left shell-shocked as Sri Lanka win first Test by 63 runs their second innings after lunch on the fourth day to give Sri Lanka the lead in the three-match series. Ajinkya Rahane top-scored with 36, but only three other batsmen reached double figures as India folded up in just 49.5 overs.

In a remarkable turnaround, Sri Lanka won after being reduced to 95-5 in their second innings before lunch on the third day, still 98 runs away from avoiding an innings defeat.

Dinesh Chandimal smashed a brilliant 162 off 169 balls, sharing valuable partnerships with Lahiru Thirimanne (44) and Jehan Mubarak (49) to lift the hosts to 367. It was only the second time Sri Lanka had defended a target of less than 200. Pakistan, set 168 to win at Galle in 2009, were shot out for 117 with Herath claiming four wickets.

India´s hopes of celebrating Independence Day in style vanished in a dramatic morning session in which six wickets fell after the tourists started the day at 23-1.

The 37-year-old Herath picked up four of those wickets to finish with seven for 48 in 21 overs, his 22nd fivewicket haul in 61 Tests.

Young off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal backed his senior partner by taking the other three wickets for 47 runs. India made a slow start, adding seven runs in six overs to their overnight score, five of them coming off

the bat of nightwatchman Ishant Sharma.

Herath, who was brought on to bowl the seventh over, struck with his first delivery by trapping Ishant legbefore for 10. Herath, who had dismissed Lokesh Rahul on Friday evening, claimed his third wicket soon after when he bowled Rohit Sharma for four to reduce India to 34-3.

Eleven runs later Kaushal removed Indian captain and star batsman Virat Sri Lanka 1st innings: .......... 183 Kohli for three as Kaushal Silva took a India 1st innings: ................... 375 low, sharp catch at forward short-leg Sri Lanka 2nd innings: .......... 3 6 7 off a bat-pad edge.

India 2nd innings (overnight 23-1) First-innings century-maker Rahul lbw b Herath ........................ 5 Shikhar Dhawan plodded for 83 delivDhawan c and b Kaushal ............ 28 eries to make 28 when he fell to a suSharma lbw b Herath ................... 10 perb return catch by Kaushal, who Sharma b Herath ............................. 4 dived to his left on the follow-through Kohli c Silva b Kaushal ................. 3 to pluck the ball.

Rahane c Mathews b Herath ...... 36 Herath then had Wriddhiman Saha Saha st Chandimal b Herath ......... 2 stumped by Chandimal for two and Singh c Silva b Herath ................... 1 forced Harbhajan Singh to edge a Ashwin c Prasad b Herath ............ 3 catch to Silva as India slipped to 67-7 Mishra c Karunaratne b Kaushal15 in the 33rd over. India, who went to GALLE: Kumar Sangakkara is carried on a lap of honour after Sri Lanka beat India in Aaron not out ................................. 1 lunch at 78-7, lost Ravichandran 1st Test on Saturday.

Extras: (lb2, w1, nb1) .................. 4 Ashwin in the third over after resumpTotal: (all out) ............................ 112 tion when Dhammika Prasad held a low Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-30, 3-34, 4-45, catch at mid-on to give Herath his sixth 5-60, 6-65, 7-67, 8-81, 9-102, 10-112 wicket.

Bowling: ....................... O-M-R-W Herath had Rahane caught in the Prasad .................................. 4-2-4-0 slips by skipper Angelo Mathews beHerath ................................ 21-6-48-7 fore Kaushal sealed victory by havKaushal .......................... 17.5-1-47-3 ing Amit Mishra caught at silly-point.

Pradeep .................................. 6-3-8-0 The second Test starts at the P. Sara M O N T R E A L — N o v a k Mathews ............................... 1-0-3-0 Oval in Colombo on August 20.—AFP Djokovic had to fight off an upset bid from qualifier Golf: Canada’s Ernests Gulbis, finally deHenderson leads feating the Latvian 5-7, 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 on Friday to reach Portland Classic the semi-finals of the PORTLAND—Brooke Montreal Masters.

Henderson drained birdies Djokovic found himself on three of her final four down a set and a break holes to against the quirky player fire a 67 from the Baltics whose form for a comes and goes without onewarning. shot Gulbis, whose career lead best was a Roland Garros after the semi-final in 2014, has since second gone into a funk in 2015, winround of ning only eight matches the since the start of the year.

LPGA’s But the outsider rose to Portland the big occasion as he Classic. forced his world number one Canada’s Henderson, who opponent to save two match finished in the top five in points in the second-set two major championships tiebreaker of a thriller lasting this season, rolled in an two and a half hours. eight-foot birdie putt on her Djokovic levelled at a set last hole of the round to apiece and re-established pull one shot ahead of order as he ran away with the Germany’s Caroline third set for the win. “Very Masson. “I had to stay lucky” was the message he patient,” Henderson said of scrawled on the camera lens her five-under 67 at the during the traditional tennis MONTREAL: Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return Columbia Edgewater match broadcast sign-off.

Country Club course. “I Djokovic is bidding for against Ernests Gulbis of Latvia during day five of the knew I was hitting great his fourth Canadian title and Rogers Cup. shots. About the fourth the win puts him into a semi- three hours to defeat John through despite 32 aces from hole on my back nine I said, final against unseeded Jer- Isner 6-7 (9/11), 7-6 (15/13, 7- Isner, who found himself ‘Let’s go make some 6 (7/4). struggling in a 19-minute emy Chardy. birdies,’ and I was able to Chardy overcame 32 second-set tiebreaker.

The other two quarter-fido that. “It is a great The American 16th seed nals of a day delayed by rain aces from the big American position to be in, but it is a to reach the final four. He will missed the chance to close were to feature second seed BILBAO: Athletic Bilbao’s Aritz Aduriz heads the ball to score against Barcelona’s Marc Andreter Stegen during long way from being over Andy Murray facing French need to quickly recover af- out the contest in straight and I still have a lot of work their Spanish Super Cup first leg soccer match at San Mames stadium. holder Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ter a marathon which only sets, blowing five match to do.” The 17-year-old and Japan’s fourth-seeded concluded in early evening points. Chardy needed four rising star on the LPGA US Open finalist Kei and threw the day’s sched- set points to carry the tight Tour only made it into the Nishikori taking on resur- ule at least three hours be- battle into a deciding set. field via a Monday But that one also went to gent Rafael Nadal, the sev- hind. qualifier.—APP The match, which began a decider, with the French enth seed. Chardy booked his first career appearance in the two hours late due to rain, challenger earning two match semi-final of an ATP Masters lasted three hours and eight points and converting on the Mueller double 1000 event, struggling for minutes. Chardy fought first. —APP leads Bayern to five- BILBAO —Aritz Aduriz’s second half hat- and after the break he was unlucky when his volley hit the bar.

On Tuesday, Barca beat T O R O N T O — T h r e e t i m e trick sent Barcelona spinning to a shock 4-0 goal stroll defeat at Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Sevilla 5-4 after extra-time to lift the Euro- champion Serena Williams MUNICH—Champions pean Super Cup. extended her Toronto match Spanish Super Cup on Friday.

Meanwhile, CSKA Moscow clinched a win streak to 14 with a 6-4, Bayern Munich crushed An under-strength Barca side were seekHamburg SV 5-0 in the ing their fifth trophy of the year but went fifth win in five matches with a 2-1 victory at 6-3 dismantling of Italian Bundesliga’s season opener behind after a stunning drive from the cen- city rivals Spartak on Friday which put them Roberta Vinci in the quarterafter a scintillating perforfinals of the WTA Rogers tre circle by Mikel San Jose sailed over top of the Russian Premier League.

The victory was also a timely morale- Cup on Friday. mance keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen after 13 minthat set The 33-year-old Willutes. Aduriz headed his first after 53 min- booster ahead of their testing hampions an early utes and then sloppy defending allowed him League play-off first leg clash against Sport- iams powered her way past ing Lisbon on Tuesday. Goals by Russian Vinci by blasting 12 aces in marker in to drive Bilbao’s third. their Dani Alves then fouled Xabier Etxeita international defender Sergei Ignashevich the 78-minute match on cenpolice constable with Delhi police, said BIPIN DANI hunt for and Aduriz sent Ter Stegen the wrong way and Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa set CSKA ter court. exclusively over telephone.

O BSERVER C ORRESPONDENT an She moves on where she from the penalty spot to complete his treble on their way to a well-deserved win. They “Yes, he did spit three times but had unprecafter 68 minutes. Unsettled forward Pedro are three points clear of champions Zenit St will face either Swiss Belinda AHMEDABAD—Sanju Samson’s family in no intention of hurting players. He was edented started the game and came closest to scor- Petersburg who meet Krasnodar on Satur- Bencic or former world num- Kerala is not ready to believe that their not satisfied that the insect which went to fourth ing for Barca with a shot against the wood- day. “It was a very hard match,” said CSKA ber one and fifth seed Ana son could go to the extent of spitting on his mouth had come out and he was feelmanager and Russian national team boss Ivanovic of Serbia in the any players. straight work after 50 minutes. ing uncomfortable and therefore had to spit title.

The return leg is at the Nou Camp on Leonid Slutsky. We’ve notched five wins in semi-finals at the hardcourt The 21-year-old wicket-keeper, bats- thrice”, senior Samson added. a row and won the derby, I’m happy with German warm-up event for the US man Samson is alleged by visiting capMonday but even for Lionel Messi and com“I am not sure if match-referee invited international Thomas pany it may be asking too much to turn the that. But we have no time to celebrate as we Open, the year’s final Grand tain Usman Khawaja to have spat at the him for the explanation but anyone having Mueller scored twice in four tie around. “It was a strange game as they have to meet Sporting on Tuesday.”

Slam tournament that begins feet of the Australian players during doubts can certainly watch the video and Ignashevich put CSKA into the lead August 31. minutes midway through the had three or four chances and scored four Friday’s match against Australia A team. get satisfied”, he added. second half. Mehdi Benatia Williams could win her goals,” Barca defender Javier Mascherano on the half-hour mark with a header after “Let me check with my son first and “During my service with the police deSpartak goalkeeper Artem Rebrov only parand Robert Lewandowski fifth Grand Slam title in a row told reporters.“We are not dead yet, we can then I would certainly get back to you”, partment I was also a strict disciplinarian netted too while newcomer bounce back and win this tie. “We will fight ried a Pontus Wernbloom shot. Musa added and complete a calendar Sanju’s father, Viswanath, had said on and have molded my two sons (Sally, also Douglas Costa, who also set to the end. We have won a lot of games when the second just four minutes later when he year Grand Slam by defend- Friday night. a cricketer and Sanju) in my shoes”, he up a goal, grabbed the fifth ing her US Open crown. we have been behind.” Barca had the better beat Rebrov from just inside the area.

Within half an hour, the father returned further added.

Spartak, spurred on by a capacity 45,000 That would also give her 22 call soon after speaking to his son, who in the 87th minute. Bayern, of the opening minutes but Bilbao, who also Sanju’s father took Voluntary Retireodds-on favourites to retain had a number of players missing through home crowd, pulled a goal back in the 36th Grand Slam singles titles, was travelling to Bangalore (from ment from police service seven years ago minute when Dmitry Kombarov buried a pen- matching Steffi Graf for the Chennai) where he is scheduled to attend and has been a licensed foot ball coach in their league crown, were injury, began to press. never threatened by the Javier Eraso’s shot from a tight angle alty after Bebars Natcho fouled Ivelin Popov. most in the Open era.

Kerala Ranji team camp for few days. his village.

“Today we were not lucky enough to visitors who needed a The world number one was pushed behind for a corner by Ter Stegen “Sanju will never say lie. He had no “Australian players have habit of alrelegation playoff to stay up and then Bilbao took the lead. Ter Stegen get the points,” Spartak head coach Dmitry Williams won in Toronto in intention of spitting at players. Some fly- leging when they can’t digest defeats”, he last season and started the came out of his area to head away a long Alenichev said. “We still have plenty of her last two appearances in ing insect had entered into his mouth and concluded. It is not known whether the new campaign with a shock clearance by opposite number Gorka Iraizoz work to do.” In Friday’s other match, pro- 2011 and 2013. She pulled he spat after removing his helmet on BCCI would initiate any inquiries on meGerman Cup first-round and San Jose hit the ball straight back over moted Anzhi Makhachkala chalked up their out of the Stanford tourna- ground but not at players. He even didn’t dia reports when the visitors have not regdefeat by fourth tier Carl him. The visitors had a lot of the ball but first point of the season with a 1-1 draw at ment last week with an el- look at the players”, the father, who was a istered complaint.

Zeiss Jena last week. —APP their passing was slow. Pedro battled hard Amkar Perm.—APP bow injury.—APP

GALLE, (Sri Lanka)—Veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath grabbed seven wickets as Sri Lanka stunned India by 63 runs in the thrilling first Test in Galle on Saturday.

The tourists, set a victory target of 176 runs, were skittled for 112 in

Aduriz hat-trick helps Bilbao hammer Barca 4-0

Djokovic holds off Gulbis to reach Montreal semis

Williams dominates Vinci to reach Toronto semis

Sanju spat thrice to remove flying insect from his mouth, says his father

Does mobile health technology help the heart?

T

HERE is little scientific evidence that mobile health technologies reduce car diovascular risk factors, but they may encourage healthier lifestyles. This is the message from the American Heart Association in a new statement published in the journal Circulation.

Around 20% of Smartphone users have one or more health apps on their device, the most common of which track physical activity or heart rate.

Wearable health trackers and Smartphone apps have taken the world by storm in recent years. Around 20% of Smartphone users have one or more health apps on their device, and a 2014 report by Nielsen found 1 in 6 of us use wearable technology - such as fitness trackers - on a daily basis. According to the authors of the American Heart Association (AHA) statement - including Lora E. Burke of the University of Pittsburgh, PA - the most popular self-monitoring devices and apps are those that track physical activity or heart rate.

But do such technologies have a direct impact on heart health?

For their study, Burke and colleagues reviewed a number of meta-analyses and randomised clinical trials of mobile health technologies that had been conducted over the past 10 years. They investigated how such technologies influenced improvement in risk factors for heart health, as determined by the AHA’s Life’s Simple 7: eating healthily, increasing physical activity, weight management, avoidance of tobacco smoke, reducing

blood sugar, cholesterol control and blood pressure control.

The team found that the majority of studies reviewed were short-term studies that were small in size. When it came to weight management, the researchers found individuals who used mobile health technologies alongside a comprehensive weight-loss program were more likely to lose weight in the short term than individuals who tried to lose weight on their own. However, the team says there was no published data to show whether weight loss was maintained by technology-using participants over the long term.

The review also revealed that the use of an online fitness program did increase physical activity. When it came to wearable fitness devices, however, the team says not enough research is available to determine whether they can make people more active. Individuals who used mobile phone apps incorporating text messaging for smoking cessation were almost twice as likely to quit, according to the researchers.

But after 6 months of using such apps, the team found 90% of individuals had failed to quit completely.

However, they note that using smoking cessation apps alongside a conventional quitsmoking program could work. On analysing how mobile health technologies impacted blood sugar reduction and control of cholesterol and blood pressure, the team found there was little or no research in these areas.

People enjoying high tide in sea at Clifton Beach.—PO photo

Mother, minor daughter slaughtered STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Killings in the Megapolis seemed to have been geared up as the police found a number of bodies from different areas of the city.

The most dreadful scene of the killings in the city was witnessed when police found body of a minor girl, Mehwish 6 and her mother Sakina 35 from a bedroom f their home. Both were slaughtered and stabbed many times in their abdomen while they were prior to having been murdered made faint or senseless from some drug.

Mehwish had a nickname of Jantoo.

Their bodies were handed over to their family for burial process after

Tariq Masood Arain takes oath as Sindh Minister Judges of Sindh High Court, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, Justice Hassan Feroz and Vice Chancellor SZABUL, Justice (Retd) Qazi Khalid Ali cutting cake during Independence Day celebration at Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto University of Law Clifton.—PO photo

K ARACHI —A member of

Sindh Assembly, Tariq Masood Arain Saturday took oath as the provincial minister. Sindh Governor Dr.Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan administered the oath at a simply ceremony held here at Governor House.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was also present on the occasion. The oath-takanti social evil elements. ing ceremony was also atHe maintained that action was being tended by the provincial mintaken against corrupt and irresponsible ele- isters, MPAs and senior offiments within the department, as a regular ac- cials.—APP countability process.

Inspector General of Police, Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali in his welcome address said that modern training was being imparted to the trainees and special emphasis on counter terrorism and human rights subjects was being assigned to the training syllabus.

He said that the recommendations were being submitted to Sindh Government for having a hospital/poly clinic in the vicinity of Training College Saeedabad, residential accommodations for the college staff and exemption of mess cutting for the trainees.

He further said that Police was actively working on implementation of the National Action Plan and as a result substantial decrease in Crimes is noted.

The passing out parade was largely attended by Senior Police officers and families of police personnel who completed the training course.—NNI

Sial stresses upon Police to ensure safety, security of citizens CITY REPORTER KARACHI—Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Khan Sial stressed upon the Police to adhere to their oath of responsibility and ensure safety & Security of the citizens.

Police and other LEAs have sacrificed even their lives, in the line of duty. “I respect the sacrifices of the police and assure the shaheed families that they will not be left alone”, he observed.

He said this while addressing as the Chief Guest at the 89th Passing out Parade held Saturday at Police Training College Saeedabad.

A total of 658 Police personnel including Police personnel of Islamabad Police and FIA also participated in the passing out parade, after completion of the training.

He said that CTD Department of Sindh Police was being upgraded in terms of manpower, logistics and training on anti terrorism subjects.

Police have been directed to perform duties in a proactive policing manner so as to shun the nefarious designs of anti state and

Peace in city result of targetted operation by security forces STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPAs Dr Sohrab Serki, Dr Sattar Rajpur and Sajid Jokhio have in a statement termed the statement of Mrs. Reham Khan as hilarious and joke of the year.

In a statement issued from the PPP media Cell sindh, the PPP MPAs said that Mrs. Reham Khan had stated that credit goes to Imran Khan for the prevalence of peace in Karachi. God knows better as why she stated so and it was a

sheer attempt to deceive the masses. Mrs. Reham Khan should better convey her such hilarious messages to the Youthias because she could not deceive the people of Sindh as they have already keenly observed the U-turn policies of Imran Khan.

They said the peace in the city is the result of targeted operation in Karachi under the captaincy of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

They said that the CM Qaim Ali Shah has been since the commencement of the targeted operation in Karachi closely moni-

toring the progress of the targeted operation and as well he is also fully engaged in looking after the people of those areas that have been inundated in floods.

On the other hand, the CK of Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa Pervez Khattak had left the people of KP on mercy of the nature, they said, adding that the Army Public school massacre that caused the entire nation to bleed was also neglected by the PTI leaders and a few days later, the PTI Chairman Imran Khan completed his marriage.

medico-legal formalities completed at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Doctors have taken blood samples to ascertain whether the victims were given poison or not.

The twin murder case is occurred in Bhitaiabad area within the precincts of Sachal police station. Police had learned about the incident after people residing in neighbourhood of the slain mother and daughter phoned the police.

Sakina’s husband, namely Abid is a cop posted at New Town police station in District East. He was on duty when his wife and daughter were slaughtered, stabbed and finally killed.

However, his brother was available at

the home. His brother in his statement refused to say he was aware of the incident inside the home and said he was fast asleep on roof top.

Though the police have not yet determined as who was behind this dreadful crime and the motives for such brutal murders, police investigators doubted the case might have resulted over internal dispute or personal enmity.

Police also doubt the cop Abid and his brother were involved in the twin murder directly or indirectly. Police says they are waiting to see the process of funeral and burial of bodies is completed then police would detain the cop Abid and his brother to dig out

some details.

Police have completed necessary work on investigations such as securing finger prints, recording of statements of people, who live in close neighbourhood.

However, they are making strenuous efforts to recover the sharp tool used in slaughtering and stabbing to death of the mother and minor girl.

Separately, police found a body from Lyari Expressway in Qureshi Colony within the limits of Gulbahar police station.

Another body was found from Musharraf Colony within the jurisdiction of Mochko police station. The body was decomposed.

Rangers arrest five terrorists of banned outfit KARACHI—Sindh Rangers arrested five terrorists of a banned outfit and recovered arms during separate operations here on Saturday.

Spokesman of Sindh Rangers said that the paramilitary force conducted search operations against the militants in Clifton, Defence and Guru Mandar area of the metropolis,

Karachi.

During separate actions five terrorists of a defunct organization were detained and arms were recovered from their possession.

The detainees have been shifted to an undisclosed destination for further interrogation.—INP

Govt will not compromise on writ of law: Hakeem Baloch

State Minister for Communications Abdul Hakeem Baloch distributing laptops among students under PM’s Scheme at Dawood Engineering Technology University.—PO photo

KARACHI—Minister of State for Commu- people came out of their homes and par- PM’s Scheme. The State Minister distribnication, Abdul Hakeem Baloch has said that the Federal Government and law enforcers will not compromise in maintaining writ of law in Karachi. He expressed these views in a laptops distribution ceremony under the Prime Minister Scheme, at Dawood University of Engineering and Technology here on Saturday.

The State Minister said that the action against criminal elements in Karachi will continue. He pointed out that this time

ticipated in the Independence Day celebrations fearlessly that illustrates the restoration of peace in the city.

He informed the gathering that he has also got education from the Dawood University in 1973. He said that the laptop is a gift by the Prime Minister to the students and they should take benefits from it.

A total 300 competent students of the Dawood University were provided laptops in accordance with the merit under the

uted among the 39 students while rest will be given in the second phase during the next week.

Among others, Vice Chancellor of the Varsity, Faizuddin Abbasi, Dean Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Abdul Waheed Imrani and representatives of Higher Education Commission Jameeluddin were also present. The State Minister was also presented shield of the University by the Vice Chancellor.—APP

Does mobile health technology help the heart?

T

HERE is little scientific evidence that mobile health technologies reduce car diovascular risk factors, but they may encourage healthier lifestyles. This is the message from the American Heart Association in a new statement published in the journal Circulation.

Around 20% of Smartphone users have one or more health apps on their device, the most common of which track physical activity or heart rate.

Wearable health trackers and Smartphone apps have taken the world by storm in recent years. Around 20% of Smartphone users have one or more health apps on their device, and a 2014 report by Nielsen found 1 in 6 of us use wearable technology - such as fitness trackers - on a daily basis. According to the authors of the American Heart Association (AHA) statement - including Lora E. Burke of the University of Pittsburgh, PA - the most popular self-monitoring devices and apps are those that track physical activity or heart rate.

But do such technologies have a direct impact on heart health?

For their study, Burke and colleagues reviewed a number of meta-analyses and randomised clinical trials of mobile health technologies that had been conducted over the past 10 years. They investigated how such technologies influenced improvement in risk factors for heart health, as determined by the AHA’s Life’s Simple 7: eating healthily, increasing physical activity, weight management, avoidance of tobacco smoke, reducing

blood sugar, cholesterol control and blood pressure control.

The team found that the majority of studies reviewed were short-term studies that were small in size. When it came to weight management, the researchers found individuals who used mobile health technologies alongside a comprehensive weight-loss program were more likely to lose weight in the short term than individuals who tried to lose weight on their own. However, the team says there was no published data to show whether weight loss was maintained by technology-using participants over the long term.

The review also revealed that the use of an online fitness program did increase physical activity. When it came to wearable fitness devices, however, the team says not enough research is available to determine whether they can make people more active. Individuals who used mobile phone apps incorporating text messaging for smoking cessation were almost twice as likely to quit, according to the researchers.

But after 6 months of using such apps, the team found 90% of individuals had failed to quit completely.

However, they note that using smoking cessation apps alongside a conventional quitsmoking program could work. On analysing how mobile health technologies impacted blood sugar reduction and control of cholesterol and blood pressure, the team found there was little or no research in these areas.

Liaqat Baloch, Farid Paracha meet Shehbaz Sharif

Graduates throwing their caps into air after receiving digrees during Convocation of King Edward Medical College.—Online

Two shot dead on resistance in robbery incidents LAHORE—At least two people were shot dead upon resistance in separate incidents of robberies in various areas of the provincial capital, Lahore on Saturday.

Police said that armed robbers gunned down two persons at Ravi Road and Iqbal Town localities of Lahore for offering resistance during robbery incidents.

The bodies of both were shifted to hospital for postmortem and the police after registering separate cases in both incidents at respective police stations started an investigation.—INP

Independence Day celebrated in relief camps: Nadeem LAHORE—Punjab Chief Relief Commissioner Nadeem Ashraf has said that Independence Day was celebrated enthusiastically and with national zeal in all the relief camps of affected districts.

The relief camps were decorated with national flags Jamaat-e-Islami Leaders Liaqat Baloch and Fareed Paracha called on Chief Minister and colourful buntings by the Shahbaz Sharif.—DNA administration, he said, adding that provincial ministers, secMuhammad Nawaz Sharif is determined to over- retaries and assembly members STAFF REPORTER come the terrorism, extremism and energy cri- participated in Independence LAHORE—Central leaders of Jamat-e-Islami sis and serious and sincere efforts are proving Day celebrations along with the Liaqat Baloch and Farid Paracha called on Punjab fruitful in this regard. flood victims.—APP He said that unity, consensus and solidarity Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, here are much needed in the present situation than Saturday, in which matters of mutual interest and ever before. He said that our political and milioverall situation of the country were discussed.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minis- tary leadership is on one page in the war against ter said that country is facing various challenges, terrorism. He said that the entire nation is united however, Pakistan Muslim League-N govern- for eliminating terrorists from the country forment under the leadership of Prime Minister ever.

CM takes notice of suicide in RYK LAHORE—Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the news regarding suicide of a 14-year-old victim of abuse in Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) due to not getting justice from police.

The Chief Minister has sought a report from DPO Rahim Yar Khan and ordered action against the officials showing negligence with regard to registration of the case. He also

directed that the culprits involved in the abuse of the boy should be arrested immediately so that justice could be provided to the affected family.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of two children due to collapse of a roof in Khurianwala, Faisalabad. The Chief Minister sympathized with the bereaved family.—APP

CM appreciates foolproof security on Independence Day CITY REPORTER L AHORE —Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif while expressing satisfaction over best security arrangements on the Independence Day appreciated Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, law enforcement agencies and other

concerned departments.

The chief minister said every possible step was taken for the protection of life and property of people during the Independence Day celebrations due to which the law and order situation remained satisfactory in the province.

He said members of Provincial Cabi-

PIC to be made a model hospital with all basic facilities L AHORE —Punjab government and dressing a function in PIC in connection ment is providing maximum resources for Health Department will provide all out resources and support for making Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) a model hospital. Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed that all out measures will be taken for making PIC a patientfriendly hospital.

This was stated by Secretary Health Punjab Jawad Rafique Malik while ad-

with Independence Day. Jawad Rafique said the best way to celebrate Independence Day is to pledge that all out efforts will be made for the service to the country and performance of official responsibilities with best abilities.

He said that development of health sector is the mission of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and govern-

tive ingredient required to cure a particular ailment. “This is definitely a criminal act and ought to be punished severely.

There is a global consensus on this issue,” he added.

He said that case of substandard drugs is different as the manufacturer usually did not do anything intentionally that result in lower quantity of the active ingredient in the preparation. “This calls for heavy fines as is practiced universally,” he added.

To a question, he said that when any duly qualified and licensed manufacturer produces an approved drug it is released for marketing after testing its quality, asserting that quantity of active ingredient in the drug is according to the range pro-

vided in the British or US pharmacopoeias.

He said it may sometime happen that the quantity of active drug in a preparation is reduced due to faulty storage or any other reason, and this drug is then designated globally as substandard drug.

The PPMA Group Leader said, manufacturing companies the world over keep testing their products for quality and efficacy till the expiry date of that preparation.

Many a times the substandard drugs if detected are withdrawn by the manufacturer from the market and sometime, the regulators detect the substandard drug, he said and added that in such cases since the fault is not intentional, the manufacturers are heavily fined.—APP

this purpose.

CEO PIC Prof. Dr. Nadeem Hayat Malik and MS Dr. Sohail Saqlain got a promise from the staff of the hospital, doctors, nurses and paramedics that they will perform their duties efficiently and honestly. Prizes including sewing machines and bicycles were given to the hospital employees showing outstanding performance.—APP

Fearless celebrations due to sacrifices of Pak army LAHORE—The nation celebrated the Independence Day in a fearless environment this year due to sacrifices of the Pak armed forces and law enforcement agencies.

This year’s celebrations were self explanatory of success of Zarb-e-Azb, said representatives of Pakistan Peoples Party Safdar Abbasi, Naheed Khan, Sajida Mir and others while addressing a press con-

ference at the Lahore Press Club here on Saturday.

They said the Pakistan army had defeated terrorists and extremists and sent a message that its officers and soldiers would not allow enemy to put an evil eye on the motherland.

Safdar Abbasi said the role of Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif as a son of soil

would be remembered for a long time.

The PPP leaders also announced coordinators of their party for district and division levels and pledged to take part in local bodies elections from Punjab and Sindh in an active manner.

Sajida Mir said political parties should not ignore sacrifices of their workers when come to power.—APP

Blind murder case resolved LAHORE—CIA Police claimed to have Akram with Razia, strangled Abdul duction case against unidentified acresolved a blind murder case and arrested an accused and his accomplice.

Police said accused Muhammad

Rasheed and threw the body in BRB canal.

Batapur Police had registered an ab-

Quality of drugs PPMA members’ top focus L AHORE —Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) Saturday said that quality of drugs manufactured by its members is their top focus and close to their heart. However the PPMA feels perturbed when substandard drugs are bracketed with spurious drugs.

The PPMA Group Leader Amjad Ali Java expressed these views in a media briefing at a local hotel, while the Association Chairman (North) Ejaz Siddiqui, Action Committee Convenor Hamid Raza and Khawaja Shahzeb Akram also accompanied him.

Amjad Ali Jave said that globally, spurious drug is the one that is mostly fake and produced by unlicensed manufacturers and it does not contain the ac-

net Committee on Law and Order and law enforcement agencies played an exemplary role for ensuring effective monitoring and foolproof security arrangements.

Shahbaz Sharif said that members of Provincial Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, law enforcement agencies and police officials deserve congratulation.

Students at their school as it reopen after summer vacation.—INP

cused. After two years, a special police team succeeded to arrest the accused.— APP