‘The Revenant’ leads charge at ‘whitewashed’ Oscars HOLLYWOOD—Hollywood hits the Oscars red carpet Sunday for its annual show of glitz and pageantry honoring cinema’s finest — with a broiling row over diversity an awkward guest at the party. Tinseltown’s elite are looking forward to the usual sparkling night of celebration, with survival epic “The Revenant” leading the charge for golden statuettes and a panoply of rivals snapping at its heels. But controversy over the “whitewashing” of nominations — there are no ethnic minority nominees in the main acting categories for the second year running — threatens to steal the limelight. An audience expected to number several hundred million around the world will be hanging on every word uttered by black comedian and actor Chris Rock, who is hosting despite calls for him to join a boycott.—AFP
20 Indian fishermen arrested STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Pakistan has arrested 20 Indian fisherman for violating the territorial waters of the country, its maritime security agency said Sunday. The Indian fishermen were arrested and brought to Karachi early Sunday morning. Their boats were also seized. “We are preparing documents to produce all of them in court tomorrow,” police official said. Both Indian and Pakistani fishermen are frequently detained on the charges of violation of water territories. Many are sent to jail before being handed over to the authorities in their homeland.
BD shock Sri Lanka by 23 runs D HAKA —Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by 23 runs in the Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday. Sabbir Rahman struck a polished 80 off 54 balls as Bangladesh posted 147-7 before restricting Sri Lanka to 124-8. Shakib Al Hasan scored 32 to give Rahman useful sup-
port as they combined for an 82-run stand for the fourth wicket. Mahmudullah was unbeaten on 23. Bangladesh’s bowlers then did their job, holding Sri Lanka to 124-8 with fast bowler AlAmin Hossain claiming 3-34. Left arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan had 2-21. Sri Lanka opener Dinesh Chandimal, reprieved on 0, went on to score 37 and Shehan Jayasuriya added 26.—Agencies
Get PhDs trained in China also
................................................ Victory of moderates augurs well for Iran ................................................ Let Syrian guns be silent forever
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We’ll go to any length to crush terrorists: COAS Attends funeral of martyred army men TARIQ SAEED PESHAWAR—The Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Sunday expressed Army’s firm determination to crush terrorists all over the country with full might. He expressed satisfaction over the progress of final phase of the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb that began a couple of days back to flush out terrorists from isolated pockets of the Shawal valley of North Waziristan agency. “We are determined and will go to any length to destroy all pockets of terrorists from every nook and corner of the country.” Chief of Army Staff (COAS) said in Peshawar where he air-dashed to attend the last rites of an officer and jawaans of the security forces who had embraced martyrdom in shootout with terrorists during ground operation in Shawal valley on Saturday. General Raheel also paid rich tributes to the sacrifices and resilience of soldiers who are courageously fighting terrorists in the difficult mountainous area of Shawal in North Waziristan agency and other areas to establish writ of the State and frustrate the nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan. The funeral of the Army captain and jawaans was held at the Corps Headquarters which, besides the Army Chief, was attended by the Acting Governor Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and senior civil and military leadership. Gen Raheel expressed complete solidarity with the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls. At least 34 militants were killed and four soldiers, including an Army captain, were martyred on Saturday during a clash with terrorists who were hiding in the remote Shawal valley. The security forces were conducting a ground offensive against militants in their remaining strongholds in Shawal near the PakAfghan border when the shootout with the terrorists erupted.
The martyred soldiers included Captain Umair Abbasi, Havaldar Hakim Ali, Sepoy Rashid and Sepoy Hameed. Two of the martyred soldiers belonged to Sindh and one was from Dera Ismail Khan. The bodies of the soldiers were first shifted to Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan, in a military helicopter from where they were transported to Peshawar before being taken to their native places for burial. The incident took place three days after the Army Chief visited the valley and gave orders to military commanders to launch the last phase of Operation Zarb-e-Azb to clear Shawal of terrorists. The valley is reportedly infested with terrorists who are resisting the advancing troops. The Army chief on Sunday also visited the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Peshawar to inquire about the health of those injured in the ongoing phase of Operation Zarbe-Azb. Gen Raheel also visited and inquired about the well-being of an Afghan National Army soldier Sepoy Alam Zeb, who is being treated at the CMH Peshawar. Sepoy Zeb was evacuated from Bajaur on February 25 due to head injury and has been admitted at the CMH Peshawar since February 26. He was injured by gunfire from terrorists in Afghanistan and was brought to a Pakistani post and later to Peshawar. At the Peshawar Corps HQ, the COAS was briefed by Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Hidayat ur Rehman about the progress of the last leg of the ongoing operation Zarb-eAzb in Shawal valley of North Waziristan agency. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Sunday, the sacrifices of Pakistan Army soldiers who are fighting against terrorists will not go in vain. “They will be in our hearts and prayers, and we will make sure that their sacrifices do not go in vain,” a statement issued by the PM House quoted the premier as saying.
Fazl to launch movement for husbands’ rights Terms WPB violation of Constitution, Shariah STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday once again lashed out at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for passing Women Protection Bill(WPB) in Punjab, which he says is an attempt to destroy the family system in Pakistan. Addressing party workers, he termed the WPB a violation of the Constitution and Shariah. “I plan to launch campaign for men’s right now,” he said jokingly. He said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the PML-N joined hands to follow the western civilization by approving the bill. Reacting to JUI-F chief’s statement, senior PML-N leader Uzma Bukhari said the maulana was causing pain to women by giving such remarks. She said not only he was causing pain to women, but was also risking his position and reputation. Speaking to media on Saturday, he said he
feels pity for the husbands in Punjab after the passage of the women protection bill. The Punjab Assembly adopted the bill last Wednesday. Since then, the maulana has been criticizing the PML-N for the legislation. Taking a dig at Shahbaz Shairf , the JUI-F chief said the Punjab chief minister is Khadime-Aala from his own house. Fazl said Islam makes the husbands and wives the protectors of each other’s honour but such a law will disturb the basic fabric of a Muslim household. “If a woman gets treated badly, she should go to her family or tribal elders and if she doesn’t get justice then she can go to the courts because this is our culture,” he said. The JUI-F leader stated that during the Musharraf tenure, the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) opposed a similar bill but now they themselves have become the followers of the ‘European culture’. He added that such a law seems to have been brought in by the nongovernmental organizations (NGO).
Hillary sweeps vital S Carolina primary COLUMBIA—United States: Hillary Clinton State, where the majority of Democratic voters scored a resounding victory against Bernie Sanders in Saturday’s Democratic primary in South Carolina, seizing momentum ahead of the most important day of the nomination race: next week’s “Super Tuesday” showdown. Four weeks into the White House primaries, the former secretary of state earned her first decisive win of the campaign, after a nail-bite victory in Iowa, a thumping loss to Sanders in New Hampshire, and then a five-point win in Nevada. South Carolina was the first southern state to vote for a 2016 Democratic nominee, before the race broadens to 11 contests across the country. “Tomorrow this campaign goes national,” Clinton said to a loud roar as she thanked supporters in Columbia, South Carolina, where she emerged with a clearer path to the nomination. “We are going to compete for every vote in every state. We are not taking anything, and we are not taking anyone, for granted.” US networks called the race for Clinton immediately after polls closed in the Palmetto
are African-American, a voting bloc that she and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, have successfully courted for decades. Clinton also looked beyond her battle with Sanders, tweaking the man many now see as the likely Republican nominee: Donald Trump, whose campaign slogan is “Make America Great Again.” “Despite what you hear, we don’t need to make America great again. America has never stopped being great,” she said, reading off a teleprompter. “But we do need to make America whole again,” she added, laying out an argument against the divisive rhetoric favored by Trump, who has antagonized immigrants, Muslims and campaign rivals. “I know it sometimes seems a little odd for someone running for president these days and in this time to say we need more love and kindness in America,” she added. “But I am telling you from the bottom of my heart, we do.” With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton stood at 73.5 percent compared to 26 percent for Sanders.—AFP
PESHAWAR: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif accompanying coffins of soldiers martyred in Shawal clashes.
CCI meeting on census, other issues today
‘Thunder of the North’ exercise begins in Saudi
STAFF REPORTER
Troops from Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Sudan participating
ISLAMABAD—The Council of Common Interests (CCI) would meet Monday to discuss various agenda items including the holding of national census. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will chair the meeting. The provincial chief ministers and other officials would also attend the meeting. According to a PM House statement, the constitutional body would review the status of its important decisions taken during the meeting held on March 18 last year. It would also discuss the holding of national census besides approving the annual reports of the CCI for the years 2013-14 and 2014-15. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi would brief the body on import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The CCI’s agenda also includes NEPRA’s Annual Report 2013-14 and State of Industry Report 2014 and formulation of National Flood Protection Plan-IV 2015-25. It would also discuss the pumping of drainage effluent, rationalisation of water distribution from Hub dam and early completion of RBOD-III.
RIYADH —Armed forces from 20 countries have tory used,” the news agency added. begun manoeuvres in northeastern Saudi Arabia that the official Saudi Press Agency described as one of the world’s biggest military exercises. Troops from Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Sudan are among those participating in the “Thunder of the North” exercise, which began on Saturday and involves ground, air and naval forces, SPA reported. Forces from the other five Gulf Arab states are also taking part in “one of the world’s most important military exercises based on the number of forces participating and the area of terri-
It said a major goal of the exercise was to improve training in responding to the threat posed by “terrorist groups.” Saudi Arabia has carried out air strikes against the Islamic State group in Syria as part of a US-led coalition fighting the jihadists. Last December, it also formed a new 35member alliance to fight “terrorism” in Islamic countries. Since last March, it has been leading a military campaign against Iran-backed rebels in its southern neighbour Yemen. —AFP
Pak-US strategic talks today ISLAMABAD—Four-member Pakistani delegation energy; education, science and technology; law reached Washington on Sunday to attend the sixth round of ministerial-level Pakistan-US strategic dialogue due to held today. The delegation is headed by Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and includes Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali and Interior Secretary Arif Khan. The talks will take stock of entire gamut of bilateral relations between the two countries. The US delegation will be led by John Kerry in the talks. The six segments of the strategic dialogue include cooperation in economy and finance;
enforcement and counterterrorism; security, strategic stability and non-proliferation and defense. It will be the third annual meeting since the present government has come to power. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the United States in October last had given necessary impetus to the dialogue mechanism. While talking to private TV, Ahsan Iqbal has said that the purpose of Pak-US strategic talks is to extend the relations between both the countries. He said that in the past, relations between both the countries were limited to security only.—SABAH