Ep232feb2015

Israel to purchase 14 F-35 fighter jets JERUSALEM—Israel said Sunday it will purchase 14 additional next-generation F35 fighter jets for approximately $3 billion.

The deal adds to the fleet of 19 U.S-made jets already purchased in 2010, the Defense Ministry said. The recent signing with Lockheed Martin Corp. includes an option for 17 more in the future. The first such planes are to arrive in Israel in late 2016.

The F-35 is the Pentagon’s most expensive weapons program, with an estimated cost of nearly $400 billion. The program aims to replace a wide range of existing aircraft for the U.S. and several partner countries.

Israel plans for the stealth jet, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, to replace its fleet of F-16 warplanes and maintain its aerial dominance in the region. —AP

Rangers arrest ten from Sindh STAFF REPORTER KARACH—Pakistan Rangers have arrested ten outlaws including three illegal Afghan immigrants during two targeted raids on Sunday.

The paramilitary force launched a targeted raid on the hideouts of notorious criminals in Jumma Goth, in District Khairpur and arrested seven alleged criminals. The paramilitary force recovered G3 rifles, SMGs, short guns and TT pistols from their possesion.

In a raid at Rohri Railway Station, the paramilitary force apprehended three illegal Afghan immigrants. They were travelling to Karachi from Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KPK).

Rangers launched a targeted operation in Metrovill area in Karachi and arrested a Tehreek-e-Taliban Sawati group activist. They recovered weapons from his possession.

India breaks Proteas jinx with 130-run victory OBSERVER REPORT MELBOURNE—India announced themselves as genuine contenders to defend their World Cup title on Sunday by humbling South Africa’s vaunted pace attack before bowling out the Proteas for an emphatic 130-

Child killed, 9 injured in Chaman blast

Taliban give nod to talks with Aghan govt

OUR CORRESPONDENT

US Defense Secretary reviews troop plans in Afghanistan M.A. KAISERIMAM LONDON—The top leadership of Afghan Taliban has given an approval to begin new round of peace negotiations with the Afghanistan government, sources told BBC on Sunday.

The report surfaced days after Pakistani officials reportedly contacted Afghan Taliban suggesting them to engage in peace talks with the government. Afghan Taliban leadership, however, has not officially confirmed the initiation of stalled peace process.

Meanwhile, a delegation headed by Taliban representative in Qatar, Qari Din Mohammad is likely to visit

Pakistan soon. According to sources, Qari Din had visited Islamabad a few days ago as well and returned to Doha after important consultations.

Key Taliban leader Abbas Stanekzai is also likely to accompany Qari Din during the trip.

A Pakistan Army spokesman had said after reports of these developments last week that Pakistan supports ‘absolutely transparent, Afghan owned and Afghan led’ peace process.

Afghan Taliban’s central spokesman had, however, denied the reports. Meanwhile, New U.S. Defense Secretary

Continued on Page 7

US Marines on ground in Iraq as ISIS burns 45 alive BAGHDAD—“US forces have landed in al-Habbaniya air base,” said Saadon Shehan, a blogger from al-Ramadi, the provincial capital of al-Anbar province in western Iraq.

The target of the Marines supposed operation is to cut a major funding source to ISIS by ending its control of the border area. It is estimated that ISIS makes $150,000 daily by collecting money from travelers using the Iraqi – Jordanian highway.

The town of al-Baghdadi has been surrounded by ISIS for eight months, which launched numerous unsuccessful attacks to capture it. Finally a series of attacks carried out by suicide bombers in the town a week ago gave ISIS control

of a major part of the city, including the residential compound.

“The people of the residential compound are now under ISIS control. They are urging the government to help them. There are more than a thousand families there. All phone and Internet communication have been cut. AlBaghdadi is totally isolated from the rest of the world now,” sheikh al-Obaidi added.

Communication is the least that the people of al-Baghdadi worry about. With ISIS in charge, all kinds of human supply into the town have been stopped as a means to break the city resistance. Food, medicine, water, electricity and fuel

Continued on Page 7

Seven bodies pulled out of coal mine ISLAMABAD—Rescue teams on Sunday pulled out bodies of seven miners from a collapsed mine after four days in Baluchistan, officials said.

The mine at Dukki area of District Loralai had collapsed four days ago due gas leakage, burying 16 miners.

The rescue teams have so far recovered eight bodies. Seven were pulled out on Sunday whole one was found two day earlier.

According to Local miners “lack of safety measures and a delayed rescue response by the authorities caused deaths of the miners.” The miners belonged to Shangla in upper Swat and their bodies sent to native areas. Labour organizations have always called for effective safety measures but the gov’t has failed to address to the concerns. —NNI

Relatives mourn the death of ferry accident victims in Manikganj district of Bangladesh on Sunday.

COAS, UAE officials mull defence, security ABU DHABI—Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Sunday held separate meetings with Chief of Staff United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces and other military officials and discussed bilateral defence ties with them.

During the meeting held with UAE top military officials

Picture on Back Page on the occasion of COAS Gen Raheel Sharif’s visit to International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre matters pertaining to security cooperation and collaboration in regional security also came under discussion.

The COAS visited stalls of various countries including China, Russia, UAE and Pakistan.The UAE leadership appreciated Pakistan Army’s achievements in fight against terrorism specially operation Zarbe-Azb and showed keen interest to enhance training exchanges with Pakistan Army.—INP

Two bomb blasts at Iran envoy residence

KARACHI—At least four Lyari run victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In front of a heaving

See also Sports Page crowd of 86,000, opener Shikhar Dhawan struck a sparkling 137 and Ajinkya

Continued on Page 7

Cricketeria goes sad and violent

................................................

SBP scales up agriculture credit ................................................

To defeat Boko Haram also

See Page 04

gangsters including their supreme commander were killed in encounters of police and Rangers at two different parts of the troubled town on Sunday.

As per details, police launched a targeted operation in Lyari’s gangster’s hideouts established within the jurisdiction of Kalakot police station. During the operation, the outlaws sprayed the police team with bullets. Police retaliated and killed two gangsters.

“We have launched an operation on a tip off,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) City Fida Hussain Janwari said.

“As the teams of Karachi police entered into the town, the gangsters opened straight fire on police and tried to escape away under cover of firing,” SSP said,

adding that “Police retaliated and killed two gangsters after an encounter which took half an hour to end.”Later, the dead bodies were taken to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for medico-legal formalities where they were identified as Mukhtiar alias Lund and Arif.

“Mukhtiar alias Lund was supreme commander of Uzair Jan Baloch group,” the SSP claimed. “Both the gangsters were involved in attacks on police Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) In Lyari during operation,” Janwari maintained, accusing that “The both were also nominated in murder of Bahrain police cop too. Earlier, Pakistan Rangers launched a targeted operation in Lyari Town area of Behar Colony and killed two gangsters in early morning targeted operation. As per Rangers spokesman, the paramilitary

50 passengers saved DHAKA—At least 41 people died in Bangladesh Daulatdia in Rajbari, located on the opposite on Sunday when a passenger ferry capsized after colliding with a trawler on the river Padma with more than 100 people aboard, police said.

Rescuers managed to save at least 50 passengers and were still searching for more survivors, regional police official Bidhan Tripura told Reuters. Low-lying Bangladesh, with extensive inland waterways and slack safety standards, suffers regular ferry disasters, with deaths sometimes running into the hundreds.

The 41 bodies retrieved so far from the water include a baby, Tripura said. Police have seized the trawler and arrested two of its crew, he said. Another police team, assisted by firemen and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, is trying to salvage the ferry, he said.

The ferry was heading to Paturia from

bank of the river and 136 kilometres northwest of Dhaka. A similar accident on February 13 killed at least seven passengers in southern Bangladesh.

Boat and ferry accidents due to poor safety standards and overloading are common in Bangladesh, which is criss-crossed by a network of 230 rivers. Boat owners often ignore warnings and overload ferries with two to three times more passengers than their capacity.

Experts say most of the 2,000 large and medium-sized ferries which ply the rivers are built in local dockyards without proper safety checks.

A similar incident in August 2014 had claimed the lives of several people when a ferry carrying morethan 200 passengers capsized in the Padma River.—Reuters

ploded at the gate of the Iranian ambassador’s residence in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Sunday although nobody was hurt in the blast, Libyan security officials said.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency confirmed the blasts and that there had been no casualties, adding that Iran had previously suspended operations at its embassy.

“Two devices were laid, one exploded first and then the other. The point of the second bomb was to create confusion,” Colonel Jumaa al-Mashri from the National Security Agency

Continued on Page 7

force has launched an operation in Behar Colony. The gangsters tried to escape away. On chase, they opened straight firing on the paramilitary force. Rangers retaliated and killed two gangsters.

Later, the dead bodies were taken to CHK for postmortem.

The identities of both gangsters were determined as Sohail alias Khof and Shehriyar alias Sherry.

They were accused of murders, robberies and extortion collection sinces 2001. Rangers claimed to have recovered two TT pistols from their possession.

In a reaction of Rangers targeted operation, some unidentified armed men hurled a hand grenade on shops located in Behar Colony and fled away. At least seven people were injured during the attack and they were shifted to CHK for treatment. Officials at CHK declared condition of two injured persons as precarious.

Nation, army to win terror war: PM STAFF REPORTER

Imran warns of protests if G-B polls rigged PTI to win AJK elections SARWAR AWAN

in Gilgit-Baltistan, made four demands saying that these

should be given to genuine representatives to rise up,” Khan

I SLAMABAD —Imran Khan, T RIPOLI — Two bombs ex- chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-

Lyari gang supreme commander among four gangsters killed AAMIR MAJEED

41 dead as BD ferry capsizes after collision

CHAMAN—A car blast killed a child and injured at least nine others in Chaman on Sunday evening.

Police said that the blast killed an eight-year-old child, identified as Zabihullah, who was passing by. It was immediately not known who was the target of blast that rocked the bordering town, police said.

Police sources said that unknown miscreants had planted a bomb inside a car parked on Taj Road Chaman.

The blast also destroyed two vehicles and a motorcycle.

Thick-black smoke was visible on the site, Sardar Muhammad Khondai, a local journalist said The injured were rushed to nearby district headquarter hospital Chaman for medical treatment. Police stated the explosion smashed the glasses of nearby shops and homes located in the area.

Taj Road is considered to be the commercial hub of Chaman. The attack comes a day after the police defused a bomb planted near the old customs house on the outskirts of Chaman.Chaman is a small town in the southwestern province of Balochistan and is one of the two main crossing points for supplies for American and Nato troops fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Militants have recently intensified attacks against security forces and national installations in Balochistan, plagued by an insurgency and growing sectarian killings for more than a decade.

Insaf, on Sunday, wearing a traditional pakol, warned the government that his party will challenge it in court and take to the streets in case the polls were rigged in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Talking to newsmen, the PTI chairman, accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of nominating his own ‘umpire’ for the upcoming elections in GilgitBaltistan region. He added that the Chief Election Commissioner was also a Pakistan Muslim League-N activist.

Flanked by former Azad Jammu Kashmir Prime Minister Barrister Sultan Mehmood, who formally joined the PTI recently, Khan told reporters that he was presenting the facts well before the election unlike in the general election. This time his party would preemptively resist poll-rigging in Gilgit Baltistan, he said.

Imran Khan, in order to remove deprivation of people

ISLAMABAD: Chairman PTI Imran Khan addressing a press conference at PTI Central Secretariat. people had been rendered as second-class citizens.

He said that these people should be provided thier basic rights so as to not let the people “feel deprived like the people of Azad Jammu Kashmir”. He also demanded free and fair elections. “An opportunity

added.

He further asked for devolution and decentralisation of powers. “They should be able to run their own affairs. The region is heading backward and should be given a chance to develop and progress.”

Continued on Page 7

Ministry rejects PTI’s appeal to disclose Dar’s assets OBSERVER REPORT ISLAMABAD—Ministry of Finance has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s demand of disclosing the assets and income sources of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The spokesman of finance ministry said that demanding the same thing again is mere mischief mongering, height of ignorance and harping on the same string.

He said that Dar, in his letter to PTI chief Imran Khan, had categorically stated that details of all his sources of income and assets have been

regularly reported in his tax returns which he filed with the Federal Board of Revenue.

“Details of his assets are also annually filed with Election Commission of Pakistan, which makes the same public through gazette notification and anybody can access this information and details,” the spokesman added.

The spokesman said that it is once again clarified that contrary to Imran Khan’s claim that Ishaq Dar is sending money to his sons in Dubai, the finance minister has in fact received money from his sons

through proper banking channels.

“The money was sent in settlement of loans given by Dar to his sons, out of his professional earnings abroad during the period 2002 to 2008,” he said. The finance minister was then working as financial adviser. “It is pity that instead of realising the mistake after receiving aforesaid letter, the PTI spokesperson continued disseminating baseless and ill intended stand in order to mislead people at large,” said the spokesman.

Continued on Page 7

L AHORE —Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif met at Raiwind on Sunday and discussed political issues including the implementation of National Action Plan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the army and people of Pakistan will emerge as victorious in the ongoing war against terrorism.

Briefing the Premier over security situation, the chief minister said that all the security agencies were actively working under the National Action Plan to make the terrorists bite dust.

The Premier asked all the provinces to ensure complete security. Both the leaders also discussed political issues including Senate elections and appointment of new Governor of Punjab.

Altaf, Rehman discuss political scene LONDON—Pakistan People’s Party leader and former minister for interior Senator Rehman Malik and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain made telephonic contact on Saturday night.

According to a statement issued by MQM, Altaf Hussain and Rehman Malik discussed prevailing political situation, increasing terror acts in Pakistan and over all situation in the country.Both the leaders praised Pakistan Army and other military institutions for their courageous actions to rid the country out of the menace of terrorism.

Altaf Hussain and Rehman Malik agreed that both Pakistan and Afghanistan are victim of terrorism, therefore, Afghan government should support Pakistan against the menace.

“The people of Pakistan and Afghanistan alike are victims of terrorism,” they were of the view. For enduring regional peace, the Afghan government should support Islamabad’s every step so that the menace of terrorism could be wiped out from the region, they said.—INP

Modi’s mindset to isolate Pakistan LAHORE—Former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar says that the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to isolate Pakistan in the world.

The former foreign minister said; however, called for a change of the mindset of the Indian leader for regional peace. “Pakistan and India should resolve problems through negotiations,” Hina Rabbani Khar told a literary festival “How to bring peace in Pakistan and India” in Lahore. “The Modi Gov’t has been trying to isolate Pakistan in the comity of nations since it has assumed office,” she regretted.

Speaking on the occasion former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri said Pakistan army has always supported peace process but the speeches of Narendra Modi during elections rallies disappointed Pakistan. Senior journalist Najam Sethi told the seminar that China does not have any political agenda in the region and is interested in Afghanistan peace.—NNI

Baldia Town inferno MULTAN—Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehrik e Insaaf Shah Mahmood Qureshi has demanded transparent investigation into Baldia Town inferno so that those responsible could be made stand trial and provide justice to the bereaved families. Talking to media persons here on Sunday, he said if there was any sale and purchase of votes during the senate elections, it would adversely affect transparency. He said the PTI wants the establishment of a judicial commission, which could probe rigging in 2013 elections impartially and suggest ways and means to prevent rigging in the future elections. In reply to a question, the PTI Vice Chairman said the nation would have to back the government in the fight against terrorism. He said the National Action Plan is not a magic formula and success would be possible through a comprehensive anti terrorism strategy. To another question, Qureshi said the defeat of national cricket team in two world cup matches has disappointed the people and hoped that the team would perform better in the next matches. —INP

JI demands action against horse-trading in Senate polls L AHORE —Acting Ameer of the Jamaat e Islami Liaqat Baloch has called upon the Election Commission to proceed against those who had made the Senate elections as a game of making money.

Talking to the media at al-Markaz, Chiniot on Sunday, Liaqat Baloch said that all the political and religious parties of the country were unanimous on the National Action Plan against terrorism however it must be implemented without discrimination. He said that raid on the mosques and madrissahs in this respect were condemnable. He said the government

S I A L K O T —Four persons died after consuming toxic liquor in village Pathanaanwali near here on Sunday.

District Police Officer Sialkot Dr. Shehzad Asif told the media that Salamat Maseeh and Suraya Bibi along with others prepared liquor at an outhouse in Pathanaanwali village.

I SLAMABAD —First operation of Army Public School’s injured student Ahmed Nawaz went successful as doctors declared his health out of danger. As per details,

14 hours long operation of Ahmed Nawaz was held at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, says a message received here from Birmingham.

His father told media that

the doctors have transplanted Ahmed’s arm and now he has been shifted to the room under observation.

He further stated that the other operation would be

Sindh govt striving for common people welfare S U K K U R —Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah inaugurated the administration block of Khairpur Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that The KSEZ is a milestone project for the revival of economic activities. It will bring prosperity and development to the country, he added.

The CM said that the special economic zone will create more than 20,000 jobs for the youth adding that local and foreign investors will invest in Khairpur special economic zone as the government will provide them all the facilities He said that Sindh government is determined to revive Khairpur’s industrial sta-

tus in the best interest of the region adding that there is a separate power plant for the zone and the zone would promote agro-based industries.

He said the government was focusing on health and education facilities as well as encouraging foreign investors for boosting the economy of Sindh by ensuring all facilities for them, including better law and order.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that Sindh government is mobilising all the available resources to address the problems of the common man. “PPP was persuing a comprehensive policy to facilitate people of all the segments of the society” he said. —APP

10 million saplings to be planted in Sindh districts K A R A C H I —Sindh Forests Department has announced that 10 million saplings will be planted in all districts of the province during the Spring Tree Plantation Campaign, 2015.

According to a notification of Chief Conservator of Forests Sindh, a target to plant nine hundred thousand saplings have been set for Sukkur circle inside and outside the forests during the Spring tree plantation campaign, reported Radio Pakistan.

In this regard, more than five hundred thousand saplings will be planted inside the forests of Sukkur circle, while outside the forests of Sukkur circle, 75 thousand plant saplings in

Later, they consumed the liquor which was toxic, he said. Soon after consuming the liquor, Afzal Janjua, Mubashar Hunjra, Hassan Shah and Mehdi Awan started vomiting and died on the spot.

Sialkot Saddar police have registered a case and arrested two accused Salamat Maseeh and Suraya Bibi, the DPO added.

Climate change serious threat to food security versity

of

Agriculture

F AISALABAD —Deforesta- Faisalabad on Sunday. The

tion, floods, climate change, water scarcity and lack of early warning system are posing a serious threat to food security.

These views were expressed by experts at the first stakeholders meeting of newly established USAID Funded Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) in Food Security and Agriculture (FSA) setup at the Uni-

report on the Baldia Town factory tragedy was meaningful.

This showed that there was a compromise with the party responsible for the burning alive of nearly 269 factory workers as would be a scar on the face of democracy.

He recalled that in the declaration of the APC at London, the MQM had been termed as a fascist party and the signatory parties had agreed not to take the MQM as an ally. However, now efforts were being made to save the MQM and the appointment of a fresh JIT team was a step in that direction.—INP

APS student’s operation successful in Birmingham

Toxic liquor claims 4 lives FAISIL KHAWER BUTT

had authorized the police to implement the NAP which was a joke. This would provide an excuse to the police to make money. He stressed upon the Punjab government to reviews its policy in this respect.

He said that action was being taken only against mosques and madrissahs while the terrorists were active as ever and were attacking mosques and Imambargahs.

He said this implied the failure of the intelligence agencies. The JI acting chief said the silence of the PPP leadership in Sindh and the PML (N) government in the centre after the JIT

session was chaired by CAS Director Prof Dr Bashir Ahmad.

Briefing the audience about the centre, Dr Bashir Ahmad said that five chairs had been established under the CAS-FSA that includes Agricultural Policy Chair; Climate Change Chair; Biotechnology Chair, Precision Agriculture Chair and Outreach Chair.—APP

Sukkur district, one hundred and fifty thousand each in Khairpur and Ghotki districts will be planted.

All the Circle Officers have been directed to seek an active participation of NGOs, farmers, students, general public and the government employees during the plan-

tation campaign. Workshops and seminars will also be held to raise awareness among the people.The circle officers have also been directed to establish cells at their offices for monitoring and evaluation so that the effective success percentage of the planting campaigns could be ensured.—APP

carried out soon. Ahmed Nawaz was among those students who sustained injuries when terrorists opened indiscriminately firing on December 16 at the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar. The incident also claimed at least 135 students and nine staff members’ lives. Outlawed Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility of the attack in response to a major army operation against the insurgents in the tribal areas.

Ahmad Nawaz, 15, is a student of grade nine and was shot on the unfateful day of December 16 when Taliban gunmen stormed into an army-run school in Peshawar, killing 150 people, including 132 children.

TAXILA: Diplomats being briefed about various items displayed at Taxila Museum.

PIA flight reaches Karachi with only two passengers K ARACHI —Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday surprised many by taking off a flight to Karachi with only two passengers aboard, thus causing huge loss to the airliner.

According to details, PIA’s special flight PK-7313 arrived at the Karachi airport from Jeddah, with only two passengers on-board, despite a capacity of 220 passengers.

Sources told that a special flight is only operated, when the required number of passengers is achieved, yet the flight PK-7313 took off with only two pas-

sengers.

The national airliner is already suffering from losses due to the poor performance of its Director Marketing in Umra Operation, while today’s incident once again costed millions of rupees to it.

It should also be noted here that another PIA flight PK-7312 also flew to Jeddah from Karachi with hardly over 70 passengers on-board.

PIA is currently facing losses worth more than Rs 300 billion, just because of the poor strategy of its officials regarding flight and other operations.—NNI

Replacement of GB Governor with son of soil demanded Birjees’s appointment unconstitutional: Kaira L AHORE —The new Governor of Gilgit/ identity to be called as Gilgit/Baltistan instead Baltistan should be replaced by the Gover- of Northern Areas of Pakistan. No one can be nor who is the son of soil and acceptable to allowed to roll back the autonomy given to the the all political parties in the interest of the region under the Ordinance, he asserted.

He regretted that the appointment of forthcoming elections of the Legislative Asthe Governor would strengthen the imsembly in the region, said pression of the people of the Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Secretary region being denied their leGeneral PPP Central Punjab in gitimate rights by the federal a statement issued here Sungovernment adding rights day. once granted cannot be deHe maintained that the apnied was the fundamental pointment of the incumbent principle accepted all over Governor was unconstituthe world. tional because after the 18th The contemplation of the amendment in the constitution government to follow the narrathe Governor has to be from tive of concentration of power the region. Pir Karim Shah, the instead of devolution of power outgoing Governor, is right in would backfire in the face of the his contention to challenge the LARKANA: SSP Kamran Nawaz briefing the media persons about recovery of two sisters Saima and Maryam from kidnaper during a press conference. ground realities in the country, appointment of the Governor he observed. in the Apex Court, he added.

He pointed out that all the He said that the previous government of PPP earned the distinction major parties has rejected the new appointof giving the region the special status with ment describing it as the pre-poll rigging its own representative government to run adding the government was better advised the affairs of the region instead of being to review its decision and make a room for a ruled by the federal government through a new Governor hailing from GB. The rigging allegations in the GB will middle order civil servant sitting the Pak Secaggravate the political tension that has alretariat, Islamabad.

He recalled that the PPP Government ready vitiated the environment to the level through an Ordinance in 2009 gave the region of political stalemate, he observed.—INP ISLAMABAD—Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar here nization would extend all possible help in devis- the last quarter is in final stages, he said adding, ing the required mechanism, facilitating the BISP. under the project Rs. 200 is being given to each on Sunday asked the BISP to launch a drive with Senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, child up to three children per family, after verifitrue spirit, expanding its outreach to cover larger He further said the number of people under its welfare schemes. BISP and NADRA attended the meeting. Al- cation of their attendance.

This institution, serving as part of safety net most 4.83 million beneficiaries of Benazir Income drop out children are not eligible to get the stiand providing social protection to the people, Support Programme (BISP) had received Rs.43 pend so the number of students varies in each ISLAMABAD—Pakistan MeThe humidity was re- HYDERABAD—A man allegshould ensure that most deserving segments of billion during the first two quarters of the cur- quarter. corded 94 per cent at 8 am edly killed his wife, 28- yearteorological Department The BISP aimed to extend its outreach to over the population are benefited, the Finance Min- rent fiscal year (2014-15). Under its cash grant and 45 per cent at 5 pm. old Shumaili, a mother of four package Rs. 20.7 billion were issued in the first 5 million beneficiaries by the close of current said that a fresh rainy spell ister remarked.

The Quetta Met Office children, over a domestic is likely to begin in south quarter for 4.6 million people while in the second financial year, he added.

He further informed that The Minister chaired a meeting focusing has forecast partly cloudy Punjab including from Febdispute here Sunday. mainly on methodology BISP to register benefi- quarter Rs. 21.3 billion were issued for 4.7 mil- the financial help, provision of vocational train- ruary 23 (Today). weather with chances of The incident happened in ing or healthcare facilities BISP aimed to serve ciaries for cash stipends. The meeting was also lion beneficiaries. thunderstorm and rain for According to Met ofChishtia Colony, according The third quarterly payment would be issued the people whole-heartedly and ensure complete attended by Chairman NADRA. Ishaq Dar fice, the ‘western disturto Pinyari police. The police opined that NADRA and BISP could work in in March, an official of BISP told APP here on transparency in financial matters. bance’ will approach the said it arrested the suspect, a Sunday.

He said under Waseela-e-Taleem proRegarding the other programs, he apprised tandem to devise an effective apparatus which country Sunday night while rickshaw driver Iqbal Kabari, faciliates provision of support and assistance gram the payments were issued on calendar year that for Waseela-e-Sehat, Waseela-e-Haq and it would reach at any time who was trying to escape basis and during last year Rs. 13.2 million were Waseela-e-Rozgar they are working to improve to needy and deserving applicants. in Punjab from tomorrow from his house. During initial Secretary, BISP said currently the institution issued to 2200 children in the first quarter of the design of these project and for the purpose investigation, Kabari told studies are being conducted. On the basis of February 23 (Today). catered to around 4.8 million beneficiaries (fami- January to March.

The rainy spell may police that he asked his wife In the second quarters from April to June Rs. these report next plan would be devised for translies) and the number would be expanded to over continue till February 25 to handover a gold set which 5 million by close of FY 2014-15. He said in ac- 22.74 million were issued among 3800 children parent and smooth payment of grants under all (Wednesday). the provincial capital on was given to her by his famcordance with observation of the Minister, due and in the third quarter from July to September, these projects, he said adding that payments for Normal rain of 5 mm is Monday. ily at the time of their marcare would be taken that poor and needy were Rs. 20.5 million were distributed among 34000 all these projects would start hopefully in the expected in the region while The maximum tempera- riage eight years ago. But The verification of attendance for next fiscal year.—APP/ INP never ignored. Chairman NADRA said his orga- children. heavy rains are predicted in ture is likely between 20 to Shumaili refused to give the the upper Punjab, sources 22 Centigrade and the mini- set arguing that he would sell mum is expected between 2 it to arrange money for drugs added.

On Sunday, maximum to 7 Centigrade. and liquor which Kabari was The partly cloudy with used to indulge in, police and minimum temperatures were recorded as 24.4 de- chances of rain has been added. The police said the BASHIR AHMAD RAHMANI gree celsius and 13.8 degree forecast for rest of the re- suspect locked his wife in a gion.—APP celsius, respectively. room after killing her.—APP HAFIZABAD—Local citizens have expressed their resentKARACHI—The Karachi Baldia Town fac- nous crime could have been apprehended ment and indignation over before they were produced before a court tory inferno case has taken a new turn after R AJANPUR —District Coorthe poor performance of the dination Officer Ghazi it transpired that a senior police official cov- with the JIT report.

TMA authorities for their The episode behind the devastating fire failure to provide civic Amanullah has said that the ered up the final Joint Investigation Team of September 11, 2012, in which more than CCTV cameras will be in- (JIT) report despite having received it in June amenities to them.

259 workers and labourers lost their lives stalled outside mosques and 2013.

Different social, political Reliable sources told Online that Senior after saboteurs put the factory on fire after and religious organisations seminaries across the district locking all its gates, came to the limelight to keep watch on suspects. Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nasir Aftab have called upon “heedless He expressed these received the final JIT report of the factory only after the Rangers submitted the same heads” to relieve the citizens JIT report in the court recently. fire in June 2013, but he deliberately conviews while addressing disfrom sewage water accumuRizwan Qureshi, who was arrested by the lated in different localities trict peace committee meet- cealed it from police high-ups, thus providing here at committee room ing an easy escape for the suspects behind Preddy police in 2013, also confessed during due to over-flowing of open investigation, to have his involvement in the drains owing to their nonthe episode. of district complex.

Officials of Sindh Police, Inter Services Baldia Town inferno. The suspect also con- desilting and choking of Ghazi Amanullah said the NADRA staff would work in Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), fessed that he was affiliated with the MQM, sewerage.

DCO office for computeriza- Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and but the Muttahida disowned him. When conAll the low-lying streets tion of arms licenses. He di- Rangers had compiled the JIT report before tacted, Additional IG Sindh Gulam Qadir and roads particularly near Thebo confirmed that he has asked DIG Sul- DSP house on Darbar Road, rected the arms license hold- submitting it to SSP Aftab.

Police sources said that had the JIT re- tan Khawaja to investigate the matter. He said Mohallah Peer Kale Shah, ers issued licenses from 2009 to 2014 to get their licenses port been forwarded to the police high-ups that the investigation report against the SSP Garhi Awan, Mohallah Mian computerized by the end of on time, the main suspects behind the hei- would be made public soon.—Online Da Kot, Mohallah ongoing month of February Sharifpura, Ghallah Mandis and added that licenses and Gujranwala Road have would be stood cancel after become impassable due to the deadline.—APP muddy water.

They have called upon the DCO to order for immediate desilting of all open HYDERABAD: Relatives of a rickshaw driver stage a demonstration for his release B AHAWALPUR —Chief Minister Punjab Bahawalpur division would be given stipend drains and demolition of all outside SSP office. The driver was arrested due to his alleged involvement in cyber crime.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has increased of Rs.150 million during this year, of which Pucca encroachments the quota for students of Southern Punjab Rs.70 million would be provided to 3000 stu- (Tharas) constructed over SHER GONDAL by 25 percent in scholarships of Punjab Edu- dents of Bahawalpur district. the open drains for ensurShe said that the scholars will be given ing their smooth flow.

M ANDI B AHAUDDIN — cational Endowment Fund and International stipend of Rs 9000 per month while boarding They have also called Amanat injured in gruesome Development Fund.

Member Standing Committee on Infor- students will be given stipend of Rs 18000 per upon the DCO to order the multiple murder incident of JAND—A total of 300 examiFriday died. Number of killed mation, Broadcasting and National Heritage month. She said that the stipends and schol- TMA to launch across the nation centers have been espersons increased to 5. MNA Parveen Masood Bhatti, while talking arships were being awarded to the students board anti-encroachment tablished across the Attock on merit without any discrimination.—APP contracts. campaign to facilitate the pe- L AHORE —The Accountant Amanat before his death re- to APP told that some 7,000 students of district to facilitate more than The audit report also 25,000 students to take part General of Pakistan (AGP) has destrians and motorists. corded statement to police They further said that all detected irregularities and highlights that the assets of in 5th and 8th grade examinastating that his son Ikram the push-carts (Rehris) embezzlement worth millions Punjab Education System tion. killed Shamim, her two should be shifted to the old of rupees in the Punjab Edu- were not transferred to the daughters and a son.

According to the Punjab Examination Commis- spokesman of Education deSabzi Mandi on Ali Pur Road cation Department.

His son Ehsaan had diIn its 2013-14-audit report, sion through proper channel partment, 152 centers have which has been lying devorced Shamim and himself serted for the past several the AGP has detected Rs30 after it was merged with the been established for primary went abroad. He mutated his years following the shifting million irregularities in the former. landed property to his grand level exam and 148 centers The audit has recom- have been established for 8th of Sabzi Mandi to Kolo funds of Government Model son and daughter that anSchool, Lower Mall Lahore, mended retrieving the grade examination.

Road. noyed his son Ikram. Ikram They have also re- as the officials have failed to amount related to the Punjab with one more accomplice The spokesman said that minded the administration to satisfy the audit team, about Education System assets, for primary level exam 33 cenentered house located in which have not been transfulfill its longstanding prom- the utilization of funds.

Rasheedabad locality and ters have been established in According to the audit ferred the Punjab Examina- tehsil Jand , 26 exam centers ise to shift the two grain slaughtered Shamim and her markets to new site on report, the school administra- tion Commission through in Attock, 21 exam centres in daughters and son.

Madharianwala Road which tion made an investment of proper channel.

“He also injured me Pindigheb , 30 exam centers The audit report has also in Fatehjang , 29 exam cenhad been acquired by the Rs30 million without consultwhen I intervened” he furgovernment over a decade ing the provincial finance said that the national kitty ters in Hazro and 15 exam centher stated. Elder daughter ministry, as the record about was deprived of millions of ters in Hasanabdal. back. of Shamim who is alive told utilization of funds was replete rupees as the education auThey said that presence that her uncle Ikram with one The spokesman said of grain markets in the con- with loophole and ambiguity. thorities failed to deduct in- that for middle standard exam unknown person visited Similarly, the audit has come and advanced tax from 35 centers in Jand, 25 exam gested localities of the city their house a day before the was creating traffic mess on detected a staggering Rs10.5 employees. incident at evening time. centers in Hazro, 28 exam The AGP audit has also centers in Fatehjang , 21 the city roads particularly million irregularities in purDPO Raja Basharat made during crop seasons and chase through the PPRA found irregularities in under exam centers in Pindigheb a special team to arrest the they should be shifted im- website as the authorities the head of project allow- and 13 exam centers have accused. The occurance took place in daybroad light in pre- LOWER DIR: KP Finance Minister Muzaffar Said Advocate listening to the problems mediately for smooth flow of made the purchase without ances in the Punjab Educa- been established in advertising pre-qualification tion Department.—Online traffic in the city. cincts of Civil Line Police. of a disabled lady applicant during an open kutchary.

Hasanabdal.—APP

BISP to expand recipients to over 5m by end of FY

kills wife over Rain, thunderstorm likely Man domestic dispute

CCTV cameras to be installed outside mosques, seminaries

Son kills father, brother, sister

Investigation ordered against SSP for covering up Badlia Town JIT report

TMA fails to deliver

South Punjab students’ scholarship quota hiked

AGP detects irregularities in PED

300 examination centers in Attock

Cricketeria goes sad and violent

MEDIA WATCH

Right strategy against IS

P

AKISTAN cricket team’s humiliating defeat at the hands of West Indies stunned the nation as record set by the team is worst in World cup history. The shameful surrender pained millions of cricket fans who stayed glued to the mini screens and radios and vented their anger and disappointment by burning the effigies and raising slogans against the PCB establishment.

However the phenomenon of downfall is in line with overall deterioration in all sectors of life over the last few years. Any nation that works hard rise to glory in every field of life yet those who become lacklustre face the situation that we are witnessing in Pakistan today including in sports. However in our opinion the responsibility for this downfall lies entirely with the Pakistan Cricket Board which has been made hostage by a mafia of vested interests and according to people’s assessment Najam Sethi is the main culprit. While international teams were busy in preparation for the World Cup, the PCB was in turmoil with change of guards every month. Above all some former players engaged by the PCB on lucrative terms, from whom the people expected to contribute in development of the game, preferred to take sides with one chairman or the other just to stay on their jobs. Unfortunately, those former players who felt pain at the state of affairs and openly criticised the Board were sidelined for their neutrality. The selection of national side on every occasion becomes target of criticism because some players are always included in the team on recommendation and without merit creating imbalance in the side. It was because of this attitude in the Board that former players like Mohsin Hassan Khan, Aamir Sohil and Abdul Qadir resigned from their positions in the PCB while others continued as yes men to retain their jobs. Though there were some injury problems and banning of a couple of players from bowling by the ICC which made the selection difficult for the World Cup but there is huge talent in Pakistan and if it had been groomed in advance, we would have been able to leave the players that are out of form. Any how the responsibility for what has happened ultimately not only lies on the Chief Executive of PCB but also on the Chief Executive of Pakistan and we recommend that the House of PCB should be put in order as soon as possible.

SBP scales up agriculture credit T

HE State Bank Governor Ashraf Mahmood Wathra has given an en couraging report that during the first seven months of the current financial year banks have disbursed Rs 256 billion of agricultural credit, an increase of 35% compared to the disbursement made during the same period last year. Addressing a Mid Term Review meeting of the Agricultural Credit Advisory Committee in Faisalabad, Mr Wathra congratulated the banks for their remarkable performance.

At the same time the SBP Governor announced formation of two separate committees to scale up warehouse receipt financing mechanism and increased agri credit in under served provinces and regions which we strongly believe is need of the hour. Majority of population in Pakistan is linked with agriculture sector and if proper attention is paid to these areas, it would have far reaching influence on poverty alleviation, food security, export income and employment. It was encouraging that Mr Wathra took notice that while improvements are visible in disbursement of agriculture credit yet there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to scale up agriculture credit and serve all geographic and economic segments. This sector has a major contribution in GDP growth and has immense potential for expansion if incentive based policies are devised and executed. Pakistan can earn much revenue if there is value addition in the agriculture products and for this purpose the SBP and the commercial banks can do a lot. The interest rates are reasonable and only proper counselling is needed to the farmers and the industries how and where to invest to get more returns. We would suggest that investors be encouraged to set up industries for value added agri products and building of cold storages so that the surpluses in fruits, vegetables and other products are duly processed and preserved as that would ensure reasonable returns to the farmers on the one hand and on the other the country would have enough stocks and reliable supply line to meet any shortfalls and check inflationary pressures.

To defeat Boko Haram also A

S the world is appreciative and supportive of Pakistan in its fight against the menace of terrorism and time is not far away when peace will be restored, it is necessary that other countries facing similar situations should be extended support to bring an end to the phenomenon of armed groups that are springing up in different parts of the world. One such group is Boko Haram in Nigeria which has caused havoc through a wave of bombings, assassinations and abductions.

Within its capability the Nigerian government is fighting this group and on Saturday, its forces seized the northeastern border town of Baga from the group which is affecting four African states also. Boko Haram’s uses gunmen on motorbikes, killing police, politicians and anyone who criticises it, including clerics from other Muslim nations and Christian preachers.

The group has staged audacious attacks in northern and central Nigeria, including bombing bus stands, banks, military barracks and even the police and UN headquarters in the capital, Abuja. At the same time, Boko Haram has continued with its urban bombing campaign, and has also carried out cross-border raids into Cameroon. What was more surprising and worrisome was that in April 2014, it abducted more than 200 school girls saying it would treat them as slaves and marry them off. Analysts say northern Nigeria has a history of spawning militant groups, but Boko Haram has outlived them and has proved to be far more lethal, with a global agenda. It has a fighting force of thousands of men and cells that specialise in bombings. Through its raids on military bases and banks, it has gained control of vast amounts of weapons and money. The threat Boko Haram poses will disappear only if international community extends a helping hand to Nigeria’s government with necessary armament and resources to defeat the militant group and reduce the region’s chronic poverty because every one should remember that peace is indivisible.

HURMAT GROUP OF PUBLICATIONS Zahid Malik President & Editor-in-Chief Ph: 051-2256006 Faisal Zahid Malik Gauhar Zahid Malik Editor Ph: 021-35308445

Executive Editor Ph: 051-2853818

Islamabad Ph Exchange: 051-2852027 Reporting Desk: 051-2852028, News Desk: 051-5879329 Marketing: 051-2262254, 2852029 Fax: 051-2262258 Email: observer@pakobserver.net Website: www.pakobserver.net

Lahore

Karachi

Khalid Butt

Faisal Zahid Malik Editor Ph: 021-35308446-49 Fax: 021-35308447 Email: obskhi@pakobserver.net

Resident Editor Ph: 042-37424069, 37424089 Marketing Ph: 042-37560900 Fax: 042-36300043 Email: obslhr@pakobserver.net

Peshawar Tariq Saeed Resident Editor Mobile: 0321-9001476 E-mail:obspwr@pakobserver.net

Sadia Zahid Malik Editor Weekly Magazine

Ph: 2852027-8, Ext: 116 Email: magazinesocialdiary@hotmail.com

H

World War III at our doorstep? know also that there are a number of networks here”. His was a blatant attempt at jumping to unwarranted conclusions; Khalid Saleem never a good policy. British policy makers, regretEmail: binwakeel@yahoo.com tably, have long wallowed in the ‘misperception’ that the terrorist threat emaAS the perspicacious nated solely from Asians. This is reader noticed that people what has made them oblivious of who ought to know bet- the threat emanating from the deter, particularly in the West, never prived sections of their society in tire of calling this country as the their own backyard. epicenter of terrorism and AlPublic figures of the so-called Qaeda? It is as if they have suc- free world have been – through their cessfully solved the riddle of ter- out of turn statements - contributrorism and/or extremism in their ing their bit to creating a state of own backyards. Facts would jitters among their own people, ever prove otherwise. Ever wonder since the advent of the precipitate why is it that some leaders of the ‘war on terror’. The worst thing that developed world take it upon can happen to a people is loss of themselves to accentuate the the sense of security. Once the com‘danger’ to their own countries of mon folk feel that they are the tar‘terrorist attacks’ from certain gets of a ruthless enemy and that quarters, rather than bring down the state is powerless to provide the already prevalent sense of in- them protection, they might as well security? Ever since nine/eleven, be written off as a viable nation. most Western leaders – not to talk This diagnosis may sound unnecof their ‘sidekicks’ - have reveled essarily harsh but then we do live in the self-defeating exercise of in uncertain times, added to a someconstantly frightening their own what unpredictable New World compatriots out of their wits by Order. Things could hardly be in raising the bugbear of newer and worse shape. deadlier ‘terrorist attacks’.

Coming to the tendency of the Take, for instance, the case of people who should know better the then British Prime Minister than to shoot from the hip as it Gordon Brown some years back. were, the inevitable result of all the Writing in The Observer, Mr. ill-considered pronouncements by Brown had asserted that, “We leaders is to rob their own public know that there is an al-Qaeda of their much needed sense of secore in northern Pakistan trying curity. Come to think of it, isn’t to organise attacks in Britain. We this precisely what the objective of

Friendly Fire

H

the terrorist is? To create a general sense of insecurity, that is! Be that as it may, this sorry state of affairs is most relevant to this blessed country because willynilly it has become the vortex of the whole rigmarole. More than any thing else, we need to re-orient our priorities in order to bring them in congruity with the demands of our national interest.

Regrettably, this we appear to have so far failed to do.

As a self-proclaimed ‘frontline state’ in the ‘war on terror’ (how we managed to cause this millstone to adorn our collective necks would also need looking into, but that is another story), the Land of the Pure needs now to take a dispassionate stock of the sorry situation it finds itself in. Rather than take pride in this bizarre appellation, we should instead be looking at ways and means to get out of the quagmire.

History tells us that World War II wrought havoc during the six odd years that it lasted. The aftermath of that War gave birth to several corollaries of International Law in general and those applicable to Armed Conflicts in particular. Most people in their naiveté believed that the world would learn the necessary lessons and nations would never go to war again. And if perchance they ever did, they would do so within the parameters set by International Law. Subsequent events have proved how wrong they were. In the wake of the nine-eleven events, all facets of International Humanitarian Law have been allowed to fall by the

wayside, unlamented and unsung.

The ‘war on terror’ has completed year after year, with nary a sign of a denouement in sight. The whole scenario leaves a person in the numb fear as to whether the WOT is here to stay for all times to come. Provides a person food for thought that; does it not? After all, even each of the two World Wars ended within a matter of six years; and here the world is witnessing a conflict that appears to be open-ended.

Wags used to say that, since the two World Wars were fought on the territory of the First World, the powers that be would see to it that the succeeding wars are diverted to the territories of the Third World. This is precisely what appears to have happened.

Is the world, then, well into World War III? If only the leaders of the Third World had had the foresight and the gumption to avert this disastrous happening! Even now it may not be too late. All that is needed is a bit of introspection and the will to right the wrongs.

Meanwhile, conflict in our region goes on unabated, while the United Nations basks in the glory of its erstwhile Nobel Peace Prize.

In case public opinion has forgotten, Nobel laureate President Obama too has yet to demonstrate the raison d’etre of his ‘award in anticipation’. Or is the world being presented with a brand new definition of World Peace?

— The writer is a former ambassador and former assistant secretary general of OIC.

Boat saga: A reality account Dr Muhammad Khan Email: drmk_edu@yahoo.com

T

HE truth cannot be hidden forever”. Finally, BK Loshali, the DIG of Indian Coast Guard, confessed in a statement that, he ordered for the blowing of the boat, which remained a mystery since the very first day of 2015. The controversial boat, about whom, Indian authorities earlier claimed, that it was a terror boat from Pakistan, finally proved the other way. DIG BK Loshali said in a statement that, “Hope you remember 31st night ... we blew off the Pakistan.

I was in Gandhinagar and I told at night ... blow the boat off. We don’t want to serve them biryani.”

This all was disclosed by the Indian Express, which even released a video of the speech of Coast Guard’s DIG. Indeed, Mr BK Loshali could not control his emotion and told the truth, while taking credit of this entire episode. This he said, off the written script, while he was delivering a speech. Immediately after blowing the boat on night December 31, 2014/January 1, 2015, the Indian officials including Defence Minister and Indian media accused Pakistan for sending this boat for a Mumbai like terror incident. They even said that the boat was blown by the crews on the order of Pakistani authorities to avoid a possible arrest by Indian Coast Guard.

Visualize the wisdom and farsightedness of Indian Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, who very bluntly said without any proof and inquiry that, the ‘mysterious boat that blew itself off Porbander coast on New Year night had terror link and it was in constant touch with Pakistan.’

The minister categorically said that, “(I am) not speculating that it had explosives but it had some activity in mind that does not fit the description of a smuggling boat. Which smuggler would commit suicide? That much I can say.”

Later, the Minister contradicted his earlier statement many a times.

After revealing the truth by the DIG Coast Guard, Indian authorities felt embarrassed and ashamed and Mr BK Loshali was forced to take his statement back, which he did under pressure. Indeed, this is not the first time that Indian authorities are leveling charges against Pakistan. India has been doing this in its past history as well. In fact, Indian authorities always plan and execute fake incident to defame and ridicule Pakistan. In two similar incidents, which Indian authorities planned and successfully executed really put Pakistan into a greater embarrassment.

These incidents include; the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror that, killed 167 people. Those killed in the attack also include, Mr Hemant Karkare; in-charge of Anti-terror Squad, who has investigated another terror attack committed by serving Indian Army officer. His investigation revealed that, a serving Army officer of Indian Military Intelligence, Lieutenant Colonel Prashad Srikant Purohit was behind that attack, for which India had already blamed Pakistani ISI, like the boat saga.

Earlier in another incident, on December 13, 2001, India blamed Pakistani intelligence agencies in a similar fake attack on its Parliament. After this attack, India even mobilized its forces all along the international border. Later investigations could not prove the allegations on Pakistan and a poor Kashmiri; Afzal Guru was arrested on the fake charges of harbouring the militants, none of whom could

survive. Mr Guru was finally hanged on February 9, 2013, which Indian scholars say was a political murder.

During the investigation of these incidents, a former Under Secretary of Indian Home Ministry Mr R V S Mani, revealed that, “the Indian government, and not Pakistan, was behind Parliament (13/12, 2001) and Mumbai (26/11 2008) attacks in India.” The officer of home ministry was categorical in his revelation that, this was orchestrated by India to formulate and strengthened the counter-terrorism laws in India and to defame Pakistan. As per the Times of India, which leaked the story, Mr Mani has submitted and signed the affidavits in the court.

A member of CBI-SIT probe team, Mr Satish Verma, also revealed to Times of India that, these attacks were set up “with the objective of strengthening the counter-terror legislation.”

The story of Indian fake attacks can be traced even in the past history, where this world biggest democracy and so-called secular state even got its own people killed to defame Pakistan and its intelligence agencies. In year 2000, on the eve of the visit of former US president, Bill Clinton, India maliciously exploited his presence once its secret services stage-managed a drama of killing thirty-six Sikhs in Chhati Singpura are of Indian Occupied Kashmir. Later investigation proved that, it was done by RAW to defame Pakistan and Kashmiri struggle. In 2002, Hindu extremists of BJP and RSS burnt a number of compartments of a train carrying Hindu pilgrims in Gujrat and leveled the charges against Muslims, and subsequently causing massacre of over 2900 innocent Muslims, under current Indian Prime Minister, who was the Chief Minister of the state at that time.

India has yet not shared the in-

vestigation report with Pakistan, of the burning of 2007 Samjota Express near Panipat, which burnt alive over Pakistani passengers, travelling from New Delhi to Lahore. Indian Lieutenant Colonel Prashad Srikant Purohit, who was arrested on the charges of attack on Malegaon Mosque bomb blast-2008, was also found involved in the burning of Samjota Express along with his accomplices. Indeed, this inquiry was still underway to probe many more cases of terror by Indian Army personnel, once mysterious Mumbai terror attacks were stage-managed and the investigating officer, Hemant Karkare was killed in the initial phase of the attack. Indeed, Colonel SP Purohit has a huge network of Hindu terrorists, having strong linkages between Indian Army and RSS. These Indian conspiracies and exploitative strategies against Pakistan have finally exposed the Indian leadership and its spying network at the global level. Today, the civilised international community lookdown the Indian conspiracies against Pakistan. After all, these malevolence practices have not benefitted the India anyway.

The time and effort, Indian authorities have wasted in the planning and execution of these fake incidents could have been used positively for the betterment of Indo-Pak relations. The South Asian region and particularly the Pakistan India relationship really need the optimism and positivism. The question arises, will Indian leadership ever learn a lesson to live peacefully with its neighbors, while giving up it’s covet immoral practices against them.

— The writer is Islamabadbased analyst of International Relations.

ORRIFIC events in Libya and Denmark in recent days demonstrate the two sorts of dangers posed by the fundamentalists who call themselves Islamic State: atrocities carried out in areas under its control and acts of violence committed in the West by individuals radicalised by the group’s message. A strategy to “degrade and destroy” Islamic State must address both threats. On Sunday last the group released a video of the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christian men by a Libyan affiliate, another example of the savagery visited by Islamic State on those it considers enemies or apostates. A day earlier, a man identified as Omar Abdel Hamid Hussein fired shots at a Copenhagen centre hosting a debate on free speech, killing a film director, then moved on to a synagogue, where he killed a security guard. The attacks were reminiscent of the shootings in Paris last month at the offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo and at a kosher supermarket. The head of the Danish security service said that Hussein, a former gang member who was born in Denmark, may have been “inspired by militant Islamist propaganda issued by [Islamic State].”

The US has carried out airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Syria and Iraq, a campaign for which President Obama belatedly has requested authorization from Congress. But he rightly has portrayed the military action as a multinational effort and has promised that U.S. forces wouldn’t engage in “longterm, large-scale ground combat operations” against Islamic State.

That remains the proper strategy. As for neutralizing Islamic State’s propaganda, the US has been engaged in a campaign to counter the suggestion that the group’s interpretation of Islam is a valid one. How that response is framed is crucial. Critics accuse Obama of excessive delicacy and political correctness because he doesn’t refer to “Islamic terrorism.”

But the president’s diplomatic language doesn’t mean he’s in denial about either the existence or the popular appeal of radical interpretations of Islam. Indeed, the White House this week is sponsoring a summit on curbing violent extremism that is expected to showcase efforts by Muslim leaders to protect young people from extremist ideologies. Portraying the campaign against Islamic State as a war on Islam wouldn’t just be inaccurate; it would be incendiary and self-defeating. — Los Angeles Times

*****

People continue to suffer

W

E condemn, as we have done before, the contin ued violence caused by the 20-party alliance programmes of oborodh and hartals. The BNP programmes have gone on for more than 45 days without any sign of let up. It is highly condemnable that even on February 21 the alliance did not call off the blockade. Not only that, a further 72-hour hartal has been called from today! We find such actions most reprehensible. We also condemn the total disregard for the plight of the 1.4 million students who could not sit for their exams due to the reckless, mindless and meaningless hartals.

We thus have a situation where the opposition is hell-bent on continuing with violence and the government is unwilling to relent on the suggestion of talks. The net victim of these two intractable positions is the people. Besides the harrowing tales of people’s sufferings that we have been subjected to during the BNP-led movement, economic activities are slowly grinding to a halt.

We are sorry to note that nobody is thinking of the people. It is clear that BNP will not climb down from its position, and the government will stick to its position. Regrettably, the people are caught between an irresponsible opposition alliance which has become completely inured to public suffering and an insensitive government that is unwilling to take any step to end the stalemate. Who will then think of, for and about the people? How long can the situation continue without telling on the country and the people? Thus we feel that people’s concern must take centre stage in any action.

— The Daily Star

Make hay while the sun shines.

— Proverb

An objective apraisal litical reconciliation owned by all stakeholders, are part of the Malik M Ashraf NAP and probably the most crucial elements in regards to Email:ashrafazim2000@yahoo.com curbing terrorism, sectarian and target killings. The most sordid reality of the situation URING the apex committee in Karachi is that those who are remeetings in Sindh and sponsible for running the affairs of the Balochistan the Prime Minis- province and fighting against terrorter expressed uninhibited resolve of ism, target killings and the prevalent the federal government to eliminate culture of extortion, are themselves the scourge of terrorism at all costs and part of the problem and their militant urged the provincial governments to wings have been fighting a turf war pull up their straps and enhance the against each other by resorting to tarpace of implementation of the National geting killings with the blessings of Action Plan( NAAP) against terror- the concerned political parties. The ism. The COAS addressing the apex situation was further aggravated by the committee in Karachi emphasized sectarian killings and the acts of terthe need for de-politicizing the rorism by the elements of TTP. In the backdrop of the foregoing Sindh police, better coordination among intelligence outfits and made facts, the statement of the COAS for it abundantly clear that Army would depoliticizing the Sindh police and go to any extent to restore peace in Army going to any extent to restore Karachi. These statements un- peace in Karachi, is indeed very reequivocally prove the fact that both assuring and possibly the only way the government and Army were ab- the situation can be controlled. There solutely unanimous in their view on has to be ruthless crackdown against elimination of terrorism and had un- the terrorists and the militants of the flinching resolve to take the fight political parties without any distincagainst terrorism to its logical end. tion, divorced from political expediRestoring peace in Karachi and encies. That kind of action surely ending armed insurgency in would not be forthcoming from the Balochistan through a process of po- Sindh government, for the obvious

D

reasons if they matter like in the past is entrusted to it. The Apex committees formed in the province for monitoring the Implementation of NAP by the provincial government must be given the additional duty of formulating strategies for dealing with these elements, without caring for the reaction of MQM and the PPP which is very much expected. The statement

by Khursheed Shah, the opposition leader in the NA that Nawaz Sharif should not try to govern the province through apex committees and turn his friends into enemies, amply demonstrates that mindset.

Karachi immediately needs three things i.e de-weaponising the city, depoliticizing police as suggested by COAS and de-politicizing the process of decision making in regards to the implementation of NAP. Our intelligence agencies surely have exhaustive information on militant wings of the political parties and involvement and backing of the big-wigs of these parties in the acts of terrorism, target killing and patronage of the extortion mafia. These leaders must be confronted with that evidence and told to behave or face public disgrace. The MQM leadership particularly should be urged to cooperate and refrain from shutting down Karachi as a pressure

ploy to derail the operation against the militants. These political parties for the sake of their own good, Sindh province and Pakistan must realize that it would be no more possible for them to continue with their old dirty game and that they have no option except to cooperate with the government and the Army in restoring peace in the city through the implementation of the NAP. Similar approach is also needed in Balochistan. While, settling national issues through political channels with the spirit of reconciliation as envisaged in the NAP in case of the province should remain a preferred option, there should be no let up in action against the terrorists and religious militant organizations who have established Farari camps in the province and beyond our borders with the help and assistance of our enemies.

Balochistan no doubt is seething with sense of deprivation and some of the grievances are absolutely genuine. There is also an urgent need to work in those areas to address those issues so that the narrative of the militants against the state could be neutralised.

— The writer is Islamabad-based freelance columnist.

Punjab counter-terrorism force Amna Malik Email:amnamalikk69@gmail.com

C

OUNTERTERRORISM is not a linear process that can tackle terrorism in its entirety, but is rather a complex and multilayered phenomenon. Military operations- as obvious from previous episodes- do not guarantee absolute cleansing but are instrumental in partial eradication of the menace that may then be buttressed by a political solution. Just like an insufficient dose of antibiotics may lead to a recurrence of an infection that requires an even higher dose than the one initially prescribed, a partial counterinsurgency operation not only reverse the progress but increases insurgent resilience and aggravates the situation.

Keeping in mind the perpetual failures of the previous regimes, Punjab govt has taken a bold initiative to refurbish and form a counter terrorism force in province anew. Beginning by a recruitment of 1500 soldiers that was done purely on merit through the National Testing Service

after which they started with their training. For training purposes, Turkish instructors were called to come to Pakistan. The main aim was to build and enhance the capacity of the force in order to perform efficiently.

The complete training had been divided in three phases – four-months exercise as Elite Force, three-month experience as intelligence personnel and three months as special anti-terror squad. This provincial anti-terror force is part of the National Internal Security Policy released by the Centre on 26 February. Further, for ensuring best possible professional training of the troops army had also been asked to assist in skill enhancement, capacity building and operations.

The counter terrorism force would not only work to overcome terrorism in the province but also it would be tasked to dismantle terrorists’ activities across the country.

Chief minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that setting up of a counter-terrorism force in Punjab is a historic step and this force will play a vanguard role in the war on terror.

Counter-Terrorism Force which has been imparted professional training

on modern lines will prove to be a milestone in the elimination of terrorism, extremism and sectarianism.

The growing realization and assertions made by govt to root terror out of system representatives is certainly a positive indicator as it shows a slight shift in policy. This has spelled out the need for enhancing the functioning of civilian law enforcement apparatus that has become defunct under the inaptitude and negligence of the civil authorities. Therefore, a change was desperately called for at both the Material and Human resource levels to bring about a change in the working methodologies adopted by them so far. In this backdrop, devising and implementing effective new policies and strategies in order to enhance competence and performance of each and every individual through a comprehensive training and education program was direly required.

The Capacity building regime carried out to develop the potentials and skills of an individual soldier in order to undertake higher levels of work is being greatly appreciated.

Despite curbs and curtailment, the terror threat is far from over. This,

however calls for a renewed and revised strategy to take counter insurgency to the next level. The need for the civilian government to support the achievements of the security forces and bolster their accomplishments to undermine and undercut the insurgency is primary and is being seen clearly. It is time that the authorities along with all stakeholders start performing to relieve people of the burden of terrorism that Pakistan can ill afford.

It must be realized that such things are a team effort and require a will to do. Without a serious will of the government, this dream would just remain that. The main purpose of the Counter-Terrorism Force would be to play a key role in war on terror because this war needs to be won at any cost and the enemies of the country would face a crushing defeat. Maximum resources will continue to be provided for the eradication of terrorism. Future of the nation depended on success in this war and no effort would be spared to make Pakistan a haven of peace.

— The writer is freelance columnist.

View From Abroad

Battle of ideologies Fareed Zakaria

P

RESIDENT Obama stands ac cused of political correctness for his unwillingness to accuse groups such as the Islamic State of “Islamic extremism,” choosing a more generic term, “violent extremism.” His critics say that you cannot fight an enemy you will not name.

Even his supporters feel that his approach is too “professorial.”

But far from being a scholar concerned with describing the phenomenon accurately, the president is deliberately choosing not to emphasize the Islamic State’s religious dimension for political and strategic reasons. After all, what would be the practical consequence of describing the group, also known as ISIS, as Islamic? Would the West drop more bombs on it? Send in more soldiers to fight it? No, but it would make many Muslims feel that their religion had been unfairly maligned.

And it would dishearten Muslim leaders who have continually denounced the Islamic State as a group that does not represent Islam.

But “the Islamic State is Islamic.

Very Islamic,” Graeme Wood writes in a much-discussed cover essay for the Atlantic this month. Wood’s essay is an intelligent and detailed account of the ideology that animates the Islamic State. These are not secular people with rational goals, he argues; they really do believe in their religious ideology. Wood notes that the group’s followers are “authentic throwbacks to early Islam” — that is, Islam as it was practiced in the desert 1,400 years ago. Surely the most salient point is not that medieval Islam contains medieval practices such as slavery (which figures prominently in the Bible as well) but why this version of Islam has found adherents today.

Wood is much taken by the Princeton academic Bernard Haykel, who says that people want to turn a blind eye to the Islamic State’s ideology for political reasons. “People want to absolve Islam,” he quotes Haykel as saying.

“It’s this ‘Islam is a religion of peace’ mantra. As if there is such a thing as ‘Islam’! It’s what Muslims do.” Right. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and perhaps

30,000 members of the Islamic State. And yet Haykel feels that it is what the 0.0019 percent of Muslims do that defines the religion.

Who is being political, I wonder?

“The most interesting question about ideologies is why they succeed at any given time,” says Barnard College professor Sheri Berman . “An ideology succeeds when it replaces some other set of ideas that has failed.” And across the Middle East, the ideas that have failed are concepts such as Pan-Arabism, socialism, secularism and (in locals’ eyes) even nascent attempts at democracy. The regimes espousing these principles usually morphed into repressive dictatorships, producing economic stagnation and social backwardness. In some cases, the nation itself collapsed. It is in the face of this failure that groups like the Islamic State can say, “Islam is the answer.”

This battle of ideologies can be seen vividly in the life of one man, Islam Yaken, profiled brilliantly by the New York Times’ Mona ElNaggar. Yaken, a middle-class fitness trainer from Cairo, was interested mostly in making money and meeting girls. “Every guy dreams of hav-

ing a six-pack so he can take his shirt off at the beach or at the pool and have people check him out,” he is quoted as saying in an exercise video shot two years ago.

But “his dreams began to crash into Egypt’s depressed economy and political turmoil,” the article notes. He couldn’t get a good job and began dreaming about leaving Egypt. As the country’s democratic revolution collapsed and its military dictatorship returned, his political alienation increased. Questioning his life choices, Yaken became drawn to a very different ideology, a version of Islam that is rigorous and militant.

Yaken, now 22, fights for the Islamic State in Syria. During the last Ramadan season, he tweeted a photograph of a decapitated corpse. His post read: “Surely, the holiday won’t be complete without a picture with one of the dogs’ corpses.” Islam Yaken is now a true believer. But the question surely is, how did he get there? And what were the forces that helped carry him along? Calling him Islamic doesn’t really help you understand any of that.

— Courtesy: The Washington Post

The face of your brother..!

S

OMETHING that hurts me no end is when a particular community is singled out and bashed. Very often people do it without realizing they are doing so: Let me illustrate; a group of Italians get together and laugh at jokes made about Jews. The laughter becomes loud and crass, and soon one after the other of the group repeats a joke he’s heard about the same community.

Suddenly one of them, pipes up and says, “You know guys my

mother is a Jew and I don’t think she’s so bad!” The others look at him. They have seen his mother. They have had tea and even a couple of meals at his place and they realize they are making fun of a good person. One by one they apologize and soon the air of camaraderie comes back to the group.

One of the group sits that evening for dinner at his home and finds his father making fun of the same community. “Dad,” he says, “I don’t think they are that bad! In fact I think they are people like you and me!” What changed his attitude?

In getting to know somebody from the other community, his views changed. It is important to step across our self made borders, our comfort zones and get to know those on the

other side. There is the story of a man camping in the desert who sees quite far away the shadow of a monster.

To protect his family from impending danger he runs towards the monster, sword in hand, fear in his heart.

As he comes closer he realizes it is no monster but the figure of a man, and when he creeps closer to the man, he realizes it his own brother!

But most of us don’t run closer to see who it is. We don’t because the bullet, the tank and the bomb closes the distance between us and these weapons have no eyes to see, or ears to hear or heart to feel!

But with brotherhood comes understanding! In the city of Mumbai, before flats in highrises took over the landscape most people lived in

chawls, constructed by the mills that were all over the city, for their workers. The chawls had a common corridor and then branched off into rooms. A floor of rooms shared common toilets. But more than that the residents shared each others sorrows, happiness, grief and joy!

Hindus, Muslims, Christians and others lived in harmony. But as walls were built, their hearts distanced themselves from each other.

I am not recommending we go back to living in chawls, but let us learn to know each other as individuals, walk the distance across to someone’s home, and suddenly you will see inside, the face of your brother, the face of your sister..!

— Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

Voice of the People Parents should be held responsible too ABID SAEED

T

here is no doubt that poverty in Pakistan is growing day by day but this should not be the excuse to parents for sending their too little kids for work out. I am feeling sorry to those children who are working in homes, workshops, hotels and even begging in streets and roads. Recently, media has created a hype to one incident occurred in Lahore that a family beaten a little girl so badly that anybody would have tears to see that innocent girl with scares on face. Here I would like to take the opportunity to say, media comes mostly with only those cases which are in the hands of NGOs otherwise its responsibility of free media to discover discrepancies at their own with true picture. Anyhow, my question is, who is responsible for such incidents? Government, irresponsible parents, society or only those who beat the poor kids with no reason? I believe, first of all, irresponsible parents should be held responsible for send their innocent kids to earn money. This is a big issue of our society that people do not see their resources and keep giving birth to children without even thinking about their future and miseries. And in most of the cases, poor has made it habit to have as many children so that they can earn more for these inhumane parents. When I saw on TV that the father of innocent girl asking government to take stern action, then the only think I had in mind is, that this father should be sent to jail because I believe he will not use compensation money for the future of his child but for his own drugs most probably. I have talked to many such parents, and many times I got answers that child comes from Allah what they can do in this regard. But Allah has clearly told about children rights as well and there are clear direction in this regard. I urge government to make an active law for such parents first and I request this society, please be sensible a bit. We collectively should work for the betterment of society rather discussing in streets or in front of TV only.

—Islamabad

Wedding expenses RUDABA GORAYA Beginning of new chapter, having an engagement, mehndi the bar at and lastly the Reception ceremony people are willing to get themselves into huge debt. It seems imported class have banks at their homes or each home has their own money machine for unnecessary outlay. What a sensible weeding’s in Pakistan!

Why don’t we make it simple in accordance to sharia and its boundaries unfortunately we are close to Indian ceremonies except the religious part .those who don’t afford forced themselves to spend exorbitant amount to keep up with the Jones. it’s time to change typical perspectives and adopt practical approach go for simple but elegant weeding to promote new trends we all need to come out of materialistic approach invest your money in a sensible way not on temporary charm.

—Rawalpindi

Insult of word ‘Comrade’ ZUHAIB AHMED How the word ‘comrade’ has been totally changed into a different negative meaning and dimension, it is used for bandits, looters and villains now. word ‘comrade’ is a respectable word. It is used for those who are social activists and fight for the rights of human beings— it also means a friend or companion.

Word ‘comrade’ has been used for great social activists and revolutionists like; Comrade Che Guevara, Comrade Mao Tse Tung, Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi and recently a comrade of Sindh who passed away, Comrade Sobu Gianchandani.

Whenever, I listen to this word for who loot people and ruin their rights, my heart feels pity and I ask myself, ‘is this political consciousness of our land?’. They were the real comrades who fought for the rights of their fellow men and dedicated their lives.

It is my appeal to all through this letter, that kindly don’t use this word for ill-doings and ill-doers. Use it only for those who are worthy of it, who fight for the rights of people.

—Thatta, Sindh

Death by electric shocks RABIA B The loud awful cries hovered over the entire neighbourhood: the roofs echoed with the last dreadful cry, ending up with horrific silence and usual indifference of neighbours who went about their routine chores.

The girl, beaten and tortured, was put to death by the electric shocks.

It is a shameful story of our so called society, nominally Islamic, moderate, modern, liberal, and justice and equality oriented. It is a tale of decay of its values, traditions and sacredness of its relations and the awful decline we are on. It is a sad narration of moral degeneration as well as failure of our social and legal apparatus.

The girl was condemned to death in the broad day light, for having illicit affair with her sister’s husband, and carrying his baby in her abdomen, by her own family in one of the important cities of Punjab.

The thing to debate the gravity of the crime and indeed a sin, to be in an illegal affair with sister’s husband and to be conceived, on the part of the girl, is out of question. Indeed, it is moral bankruptcy and a matter of shame for us; the society as a whole. But the question is “is it only the girl who is to be blamed, and put to death, for this offence?” The onus lies on that man as equally as on her. So, why was it only the girl, who had to meet the consequences alone? Is it because of double standards, hypocrisy, and patriarchal na-

ture of our society, or shameful failure of the juridical and executive state apparatus that has failed to establish its writ, so much so that the authority of reward and punishment is lying with every Tom Dick and Harry?

Whatever it be, it certainly poses a grave question mark on the state of affairs of our society, application of laws and regulations ESP. The provisions of our constitution guaranteeing security to honor and life of men as well women alike and the impotence of incumbent government.

—Sialkot

Time for action MUHAMMAD ALI BALOCH I visited Peshawar after a long time and witnessed the sombre and heartening plight of Peshawar city after the incident of Army public School in the saboteurs and extremists killed mercilessly the future of the Nation, which effected commonly to every honourable citizen of Pakistan. Our masses beard loses of their loved one’s for last 15 years without any reason.

National image has worsen internationally and financially we are marginalized as foreign investors are reluctant to invest. After successful operation against religious extremists in tribal areas , now proxies are being played to enrage sectarian violence like in Iraq and Syria. Pakistan is a country of interfaith harmony and no such grudges were witnessed before.

National interest must be the priority for all stakeholders and this is high time for our politicians, religious scholar to negate this notion and remain on single page for the sake of Pakistan. The bloodshed of innocent Peshawar school children demands this unity and steadfastness among the pillars of state and religious scholars to root out extremists. Now the fight is to save the country.

—Panjgur, Makran

Mismanagement In Qadir Bux Library AAMIR ALI Government library in Shikarpur came up over 35 years ago- as the library is only centre of study for whole of the Shikarpur district. Besides, students of Jacobabad, Kashmore and Kandkot district too come here to study. Unfortunately, as this library becoming the centre of attraction for many it faces enormous problems. There is no lighting in the reference books section, available books are full of dust on the top and are scattered on the drawers.

Moreover; heavy generator is present bit authorities say there is no fund available for fuel. There is also report by some students that books from library get stolen on the basis of nepotism. While, several important newspapers and monthly magazine are not bought by the library while many other newspapers reach at the noon when day comes to an end. My request to the cultural department and other concerned authorities to take some immediate actions for saving this library.

—Shikarpur

laid haphazardly 50 years ago at a time when the city was no bigger than an average-sized village. No consideration was shown for its future extension with the result that houses have had to be built in close proximity to those high-tension lines causing frequent loss of life and property. All petitions submitted to the higher authorities for relocation of these dangerous wires have been completely ignored.

We the residents of Chungi No.6 locality on Alipur Road have repeatedly requested Mepco for removal of 11KV lines passing over the courtyards of our houses which are likely to fall on us during a dust storm but have always had the 1910 electricity rules book thrown in our face.

Mepco authorities must show some respect for human life and take immediate measures to remove our over hanging wires to the roadside to prevent another unfortunate tragedy like the one mentioned above from hitting Muzaffargarh. The Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif is also requested to use his influence to nudge Mepco to do its duty now to save human lives in the future.

—Muzaffargarh

Revamp PCB JAVAID BASHIR Nothing is working in Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). It seems no one is the incharge of administration .

There are two full time Chairmen working in PCB. There are too many cooks spoiling the broth. It seems we are running an Orphanage. PCB is earning too much money , and wasting it on the trips of officials and their families. we are wasting tax payers hard earned money. There is no strategy or plan to improve the things at PCB. This is the worst managed organization that I have ever seen in the history of Pakistan. It has ruined the game of cricket in the country. we have not learned from our mistakes. we need to revamp the Board and start a fresh with young blood. After the dismal performance against the West Indies, we must scrap the entire administration. There is too much politics that has crept into the game. PCB is playing with the emotions of the people. They need relief from torture and pain of watching the team disintegrate and fail all the time.

—Via email

Traffic accidents SYEDA GOHARE MARIUM

Accidents causing loss of life and property are becoming very common nowadays. Most of the roads of Karachi are narrow, and particularly in the evening when there is a heavy traffic, it becomes very difficult for the pedestrians to cross the road due to careless driving of buses, cars, trucks and mini buses. The footpaths too are not safe, for buses and cars usually slip on to them and kill pedestrians.

The drivers are so ignorant of traffic laws and so careless that they never look around while driving even on the main roads, or while taking sudden turns. Many a time you can notice the drivers of mini-buses stopping suddenly in the middle of the road without giving any signal. Consequently many precious lives are lost.

There is no arrangement to control or train these drivers. Besides, the drivers are never heavily fined nor they are imprisoned for long term. In HAJI AHMAD most of the cases they are released According to a news report (dated 21- on bail and so they continue with their 02-2015), Mian Shahbaz Sharif is to reckless driving. visit Muzaffargarh shortly to condole —Karachi the death of 8 labourers who died of electric shock received during work ISCLAIMER from overhanging Mepco electricity cables. It is indeed a very kind gesTHE articles, columns and ture of the Punjab Chief Minister to letters are published on these show such consideration for the poor pages in good faith. However, departed souls. But the Mepco authorities themselves have not shed a the contents of these writings tear even though they are the ones may not necessarily match the who are originally responsible for views of the newspaper. these deaths.

This is because in Muzaffargarh —Editor not only the old Wapda infrastructure Email:editorial@pakobserver.net has decayed to an advanced degree but also the high-tension wires here were

No respect for human life

D

US, Iran to narrow down nukes talks gaps LONDON—U.S. Secretary of sides were working with urState John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif will try to narrow gaps in another round of nuclear talks in Geneva on Sunday as they press to meet a March 31 deadline for a political framework agreement.

The talks will be joined for the first time by U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, who agreed to attend after Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said he would take part.

A close aide and the brother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Hossein Fereydoon, will also be part of the meetings, Iranian media reported.

Kerry was due to arrive in Geneva in the early afternoon, then immediately meet with the U.S. delegation, which has been in Geneva since Friday.

After that he planned to meet Zarif and the Iranian delegation. The Secretary for State said on Saturday the presence of Moniz reflected the highly technical nature of the current talks and in no way meant “that something is about to be decided.”

However, Kerry said the

gency to meet the March 31 target for a political agreement, which would give impetus for further talks. “There is still a distance to travel,” Kerry said in London where he met British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

The negotiations between Iran and “P5+1” powers - the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China have reached a sensitive stage with gaps remaining, mainly over Iranian uranium enrichment and the pace of removing sanctions.

Kerry said U.S. President Barack Obama was not inclined to extend the talks again. The parties already missed a November 2014 target date.

Obama believed it was “imperative to be able to come to a fundamental political outline and agreement within the time space that we have left,” Kerry said.

“If that can’t be done, it would be an indication that fundamental choices are not being made that are essential to doing that,” Kerry added, also emphasizing that Obama was prepared to halt the talks if he thought they were not being productive.—Reuters

Rebels agree to withdraw weapons from E.Ukraine KIEV—A senior pro-Russian rebel com- to withdraw heavy weapons,” Interfax sides continue to accuse each other of viomander said separatist forces were due to begin withdrawing heavy weapons from the front line in east Ukraine on Sunday, a sign rebels may be prepared to halt their advance as part of an internationally brokered peace deal. Fighting has eased in many areas since a ceasefire came into effect a week ago, but the truce was shaken by the rebel capture on Wednesday of the town of Debaltseve, forcing a retreat by thousands of Ukrainian troops.

But moves towards pulling back heavy weapons, together with the exchange of dozens of prisoners with Ukrainian government forces on Saturday, could indicate the rebels intend to observe the truce more fully, having achieved a key military objective by seizing Debaltseve.

“The plan was signed last night ...

Starting from today there are two weeks

news agency quoted rebel commander Eduard Basurin as saying. Russian news agency TASS quoted him as saying the pull-back was still being organized and that the actual withdrawal of weapons would take place from Tuesday.

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said by telephone there was no confirmation yet as to whether the rebels had started pulling back their weapons. A Reuters witness saw a 20-vehicle convoy of separatist military trucks with anti-aircraft missile systems and howitzers leaving Debaltseve in the direction of Donetsk.

On Saturday, government forces and rebels exchanged nearly 200 prisoners, one of the first moves to implement the peace deal reached on Feb. 12 in the Belarussian capital Minsk after the French, German, Russian and Ukrainian leaders met. Both

lating the ceasefire.

The Ukrainian military said rebels had launched 12 attacks on government troop positions overnight, using artillery and mortar fire. The town of Pesky near Donetsk had seen the most intense fighting, while separatist groups had attempted to “storm” Ukrainian positions in Shyrokyne, east of the port city of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, the military said on Facebook.

Kiev accuses the separatists of building up forces and weapons in Ukraine’s southeast and has said it is braced for the possibility of a rebel attack on Mariupol. The rebel press service DAN said Ukrainian troops had been shelling parts of Donetsk, reporting that artillery fire could be heard in the city at around 0730 GMT on Sunday.—Reuters

China ensures safe rural drinking water BEIJING—China will provide policies as well as a new ficlean drinking water to 58.67 million rural residents, including 7.04 million teachers and students, by the end of 2015 to achieve its target for 20112015.

“Safe drinking water in rural areas is a government priorities and we must achieve this goal,” said Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei. Li said the project would be supported by more government funding and favorable

nancing mechanism that would encourage private capital.

The government will strengthen water quality control and step up supervision to resolve drinking water safety issues in rural areas, he added.

The target for the 2011-2015 period was to give 281.37 million rural residents access to safe drinking water. The 58.67 million rural residents is the last group of the target.—Xinhua

An Ukrainian serviceman watches over trucks delivering the bodies of the fallen in recent fighting.

Major transport infrastructure building in China BEIJING—China will maintain the scale and intensity of major transportation infrastructure construction in 2015 to buoy growth.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said that more railway lines, particularly in the central and western regions, will be put into operation this year, which will stabilize economic growth and improve

people’s livelihoods.

The NDRC will continue to encourage social capital through preferential measures to attract investment in major transportation infrastructure in 2015. In 2014, the NDRC approved 34 billion yuan (5.56 billion U.S. dollars) for transportation infrastructure, which included railways, roads, airports and waterways.—Xinhua

At its founding, the People’s Republic of China reserved a special place for bicycles. Targets for manufacturing bikes and building bike lanes were included.

Training Afghan security, US key mission:Carter K ANDAHAR—U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Sunday that training and advising Afghan security forces is “becoming the heart” of a U.S. military mission that is winding down after 13 years of war.

Carter spoke to a gathering of about 100 soldiers, telling them that their work as advisers to the Afghan military is key to cementing security gains. “We want it to be permanent and lasting,” he said. Kandahar is a regional hub for the U.S. training and advising mission.

Carter told the soldiers that they deserve credit for improving the competence and professionalism of the Afghan army and police.

He said the Afghan security forces are strong and now “stand a chance” of prevailing over the Taliban in a lasting way.

Carter got briefed on American military operations at Kandahar airfield in southern Afghanistan as part of what he called a listening tour of the war zone in his first week as defense secretary.

On his second day in Afghanistan, Carter flew to Kandahar from Kabul, the capital, where he had held a series of talks with Afghan government leaders and American military commanders.

Kandahar is home to the Afghan Army’s 205th Corps, elements of which are involved in a major offensive against the Taliban in neighboring Helmand province. U.S. special operations forces also use the airfield at Kandahar to launch counterterrorism operations.

Under the Obama administration’s exit plan for Afghanistan, the U.S. military presence at Kandahar will close down this year.

President Barack Obama, however, is considering changes to the plan, including the possibility of keeping Kandahar open longer while keeping more U.S. troops in Afghanistan this year and next than presently planned.

An Obama decision may come as early as next month when he hosts Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the White House.

The U.S. combat mission ended two months ago, and the focus this year for the 10,000 troops who remain is on consolidating gains in the development of the Afghan forces while also carrying out U.S. counterterrorism raids on remnants of alQaida and associated extremist groups.

In a question-and-answer session with his audience of soldiers, Carter was asked on Sunday about concerns that the White House micromanages the Pentagon.

Carter said he considers it his duty to speak his mind to the president but also to follow his direction once a policy decision has been made.

“I won’t pull any punches,” Carter said.

“I’m going to play it absolutely straight.”

His predecessor, Chuck Hagel, was ousted in part for a perceived failure to provide strong policy options. Others who have run the Pentagon under Obama complained later of being micromanaged by the White House staff.—AP

Myanmar’s Ethnic Stew Will Determine Its Future BRENT CRANE

M

YANMAR’S presidential elections, set to take place towards the end of this year, will be crucial in determining the country’s ultimate direction. Yet, in many ways, what matters for the future of a unified country depends on what happens in its ethnic areas. Without a lasting peace in the fringes, political stability in the rest of the country will be next to impossible.

Myanmar is anything but a unified state. Since the second half of the 20th century, more than a dozen armies, most of them formed around ethnic groupings, have been actively fighting the Burmese army, the Tatmadaw, in a series of stop-and-go conflicts. An understanding of these conflicts and their historical development is critical.

Home to 135 officially recognized ethnic groups, many with their own languages, customs and faiths, the country has long been divided along ethnic lines. The seven biggest minority groups are the Chin, the Kachin, the Karenni, the Karen, the Mon, the Rakhine, and the Shan. Ethnic Burmese, or Burmans, who make up nearly 70 percent of the population, control the major political institutions and military.

In the remote fringes, a number of ragtag militias operate under varying degrees of autonomy, mostly along the country’s resource-rich border areas. The Kachin Independence Army, the country’s secondlargest armed group, has more than 8,000

fighters. The United Wa State Army, the largest of the ethnic militias, controls a territory larger than the country of Lebanon and boasts a fighting force of an estimated 30,000 soldiers.

Since the government began its reforms in 2010, ceasefire agreements have been signed with most of the rebel armies. However, the ability of both Naypyidaw and the ethnic militias to maintain the peace has proven difficult and fighting still flares up regularly.

How did these groups come about in the first place? The history of ethnic animosity in Myanmar harks back centuries and there are many blank spaces. Martin Smith, a renowned historian of Burmese ethnography, rightly noted that “many important details of Myanmar’s ethnic past are still conjecture”. But certainly one of the most impactful periods on ethnic relations was the colonial period.

The British began the colonization of Burma in 1824 but it was the exiling of the Burmese King Thibaw in 1886 that established official British rule. The country was divided into two administrative areas: Ministerial Burma and the Frontier Areas, places formerly governed by a series of ethnic tribes and independent kingdoms.

British rule was a mixed bag of strategies. Some areas were governed by British officials, some by local rulers and others

by Indians imported from the west. The British favored some of the minority groups, such as the Chin, Kachin and the

Karen, granting them positions in the military over the ethnic Burmans. In 1925, the British set the exclusive recruitment of those minority groups as official policy.

This would have a lasting effect on postindependence ethnic relations as minorities would come to be associated with the bitter days of colonial rule.

Towards the end of World War II, British control of the country had waned considerably and gears were put into motion for the formation of a postwar, independent government. One of the leaders of the independence movement was a young Burman general by the name of Aung San, the father of Aung San Suu Kyi, the current figurehead of the National League for Democracy political party and one of modern Myanmar’s most celebrated figures. The late general, skilled in conflict mediation, was one of the few leaders capable of negotiating peace between the various armed factions that had formed in the anarchy of World War Two and Japanese occupation.

“He had a magnetic personality, and one could not help following him,” remarked one Karen soldier about the general.

In September of 1947 General Aung San and the leaders of the Shan, Kachin and Chin ethnic groups drafted an accord that would eventually lead to a new constitution and Burmese independence under a union system of governance. The historic Panglong Agreement was signed by all in attendance and promised, among other things, “Full autonomy in internal admin-

istration for the Frontier Areas”.

It was understood by those there that minorities not represented at the conference should also gain self-determination.

The British were strong supporters of ethnic autonomy. The British director of the Frontier Areas, supported by several officials, put forth a proposal at a 1946 meeting of ethnic leaders, a precursor to the Panglong Conference, trying to ensure the creation of a United Frontier Union, a semiautonomous region that would include territory governed by Karen, Chin, Karenni, Kachin and Shan peoples.

Furthermore, a British White Paper of 1945 contemplating Burma’s future status stressed that decisions made regarding the Frontier Areas should not be made without the minorities’ consent.

Aung San also stood behind the ethnic people. On the eve of the Panglong Conference he announced: “As for the people of the Frontier Areas, they must decide their own future. If they wish to come in with us we will welcome them on equal terms.” On paper, the post-war world was looking pretty good for Burma’s minorities.

But things quickly went south. Only a few months after the signing at Panglong, Aung San was assassinated under shady circumstances in Rangoon. His untimely death plunged the country into chaos and the months leading up to independence in 1948 were marked by insurrection, violence and ethnic revolt.

—Courtesy: Asia Sentinel

Post-Cold War Order Is Breaking Down FYODOR LUKYANOV

T

HE withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Debaltseve re moves a major obstacle to the full implementation of the recent Minsk agreement. However, that development also has a different meaning. It was not the Ukrainian side, but their opponents — who are working to dismantle the current Ukrainian state — that determined when the fighting would end.

That is highly symbolic, and not only with regard to this particular conflict. The world has entered a strange phase when the assumptions underlying the recent historical eras are now in question. This includes the idea of the sovereign state, an understanding that emerged from the European Enlightenment and the outcome of the formation of European states after the Peace of Westphalia, a series of peace treaties signed in 1648, which ended a number of European wars.

The bitter feud in Ukraine is only one manifestation of how the world order is falling apart. The Islamic State is an even more striking example. It is not only challenging the established order in the Middle East by erasing borders, but is also exhibiting an increasingly savage cruelty, frightening its opponents with horrific public executions.

In general, a medieval spirit reigns, with its internecine wars and in which the only great strategy, if one exists at all, is to indulge the passion for blood. This desire to repay the enemy a hundredfold — even if he is yesterday’s neighbor or friend — is often mixed with religious fanaticism or blind nationalism.

A little more than 20 years ago, American political scientist Samuel Huntington suggested that a clash of civilizations would inevitably follow the end of the Cold War. Many rejected that grim warning amid the euphoria that prevailed in the West. And although his theory was somewhat overly simplified, it did not succumb to the illusion that mankind had resolved all of its fundamental challenges with the collapse of communism.

Centuries ago, “good Christians” took great pleasure in publicly burning people alive or massacring an entire town in order to eliminate their enemies, just as the Islamic State is doing now.

Conflicts motivated by the principle of “an eye for an eye” have almost never stopped during any historical period, regardless of which “civilization” was involved. It is just that, over time, social and political progress created regulations restricting those manifestations of ancestral barbarity.

Why did Huntington and other pessimists of the early 1990s turn out to be right? After all, it was assumed that the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Soviet bloc removed the systemic barriers to extending the most advanced humanitarian and social thinking, the product of the European Enlightenment, to the entire world.

And this is where the major disagreement arose that led to the current situation. In an effort to speed up history, the leading world powers, which, in the late 20th century were exclusively found in the West, began reviewing the key principles on which international relations had been built over the previous 400 years.

This primarily boils down to the principle of the inviolability of state sovereignty and nation-states as the building blocks of the global system. This redefining of the attitude toward national sovereignty had the greatest impact on world events since the 1990s.

The classic understanding of sovereignty has developed from a combination of factors. Among the more objective is the globalization of economics and information that crosses over national borders. Subjective factors include, first, the integration of humanitarian principles into the pursuance of political goals, and, second, the success of European integration. The consequence of this “humanization” is the concept of the “responsibility to protect” that was adopted at the United Nations level as a moral, rather than legal, imperative. For the first time, it established the possibility of military intervention in the affairs of a sovereign state for moral reasons.

Observers have repeatedly pointed out the failings of that principle given the lack of clearly defined criteria for intervention, and even the impossibility of defining such criteria. However, regardless of the result, it ended up placing the principle of sovereignty in question. As for European integration, at the beginning of this century that project seemed so successful that it triggered a desire among other countries to attempt the same thing. The EU is not an example of a structure requiring member states to give up their sovereignty, but a serious process by which states forfeit certain privileges in return for greater opportunities.

According to the European ideal, national borders do not disappear, but gradually dissolve in the larger community. They continue to exist, but assume only secondary importance. Everyone understood that unique conditions made that model possible, but the feeling and self-perception of Europe as a standard for others long defined the behavior of the EU and its perception in the world.

—Courtesy: MT [Fyodor Lukyanov is editor of Russia in Global Affairs]

The Sri Lankan Revolution SANJAY KAPOOR

T

HERE is perceptible glee in Indian diplomatic circles af ter Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse was voted out in the January 8 elections. Over the last few months, Rajapakse had antagonised the Indian government by displaying manifest proximity to the Chinese government. “He had literally sold the entire country to the Chinese to buy political longevity.

His continued presence would have hurt Indian interests”, claimed a senior government official.

Rajapakse had taken hefty loans— almost $5 billion—from China to rebuild his country’s war-battered infrastructure. Besides partnering with China in the $1.5 billion Hambantota port project— against India’s objections—Sri Lanka had also built a modern airport at Mattala. Not just these investments, the Indian government was also watching with trepidation how its Sri Lankan counterpart was slowly getting engaged in China’s ambitious maritime silk route project. In some ways, when the Chinese nuclear submarine showed up in Sri Lankan waters, a quiet resolve began to build in the new Modi government’s security establishment that such activities could not be allowed to continue uncontested in an area that resides in India’s arc of influence.

So, did the Indian government actively connive to bring Rajapakse down? A Reuter report of January 18 claimed that a senior official of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India’s external intelligence agency, was expelled by the Rajapakse government for working closely with the opposition parties. Publicly, the Indian government may have denied these suggestions, but it was possible to sense some kind of quiet satisfaction in the diplomatic community over how Rajapakse’s fall was engineered.

It was in December last year that India’s National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, visited Sri Lanka. Although he had gone to the island nation to deliver a lecture on the invitation of the Sri Lankan army, he met with the then opposition leader and now Prime Minister, Ranil Wikremesinghe.

His meeting with Wikremesinghe did not raise too many eyebrows, though The Hindu report of December 2, 2014, states, ‘the NSA is reported to have enquired about the election strategy and campaign plans of the common platform that the UNP is backing, said sources.

The issue of China’s role in Sri Lanka—a major concern for India— also came up in discussions, said the source.’ At that time, not many were discussing the possible fall of Rajapakse’s government, but Delhi’s diplomats who are also attached to Colombo had begun to toy with thoughts about the possibility of his electoral loss. It seems that the Indian government agencies had also sensed that Rajapakse’s influence had diminished due to the departure of his core constituents. However, he wouldn’t have been ousted from power if he had enjoyed the support of the army and the bureaucracy.

—Courtesy: Hard News Media

US Marines on ground in Iraq From Page 1 have been withheld by ISIS. “The people of alBaghdadi are living in a true tragedy. They are facing death in every way: hunger, thirst, diseases and the extreme cold,” said sheikh al-Obaidi. Three children died today after drinking unclean water. Dozens of others were hospitalized.

“The Iraqi government is responsible for the lives of those executed by ISIS or still prisoners.... It has never answered our requests carried by formal and tribal delegations to Baghdad to act and save 50,000 people under ISIS siege in alBaghdadi. As if we are all sentenced to genocide,” said sheikh Qatari al-Semermed, another tribal leader of alObaid tribe in the town. —AP

India breaks Proteas jinx with 130-run victory From Page 1 Rahane an explosive 79 to fire India to a mammoth 3077 and ensure their opponents would need a record chase at the stadium to win.

India were then outstanding in the field, sharing the wickets and running out two batsmen as South Africa were skittled for 177 with 10 overs to spare, losing their last seven wickets for 44 runs.

It was India’s first win against South Africa at the World Cup after three previous losses.

Though the match may have little consequences for their respective campaigns, India, roared on by a blue-clad, flag-waving army of fans will have reaped a huge confidence boost from downing the highlyfancied South Africans following their emotional opening win over Pakistan.

Two bomb blasts From Page 1 told Tripoli-based al-Nabaa television.

A reporter at the scene saw the second device going off some 30 minutes after the first one. Minor damage could be seen at the gate.

Other foreign missions in the capital, such as the embassies of Algeria, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, have also been the targeted with bombings, again with no casualties.

Most Western nations and the United Nations moved out their staff last year during fighting between rival factions vying for control of Tripoli, four years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya’s internationally recognized government and the elected House of Representatives has been forced to work out of the east since a group called Libya Dawn took control of the capital, reinstated the previous assembly and installed a rival administration.

The eastern-based government is recognized by the United Nations and Western powers. The Tripoli administration is not, but still controls ministries, airports and some oil facilities.

In January, gunmen claiming loyalty to Islamic State stormed the Coronthia luxury hotel, killing around nine people, among them five foreigners.— Reuters

Scientific approach of Rescue 1122 has ensured life safety MUZAFFAR ALI LAHORE—The Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Major General Asghar Nawaz visited Emergency Services Academy and said that Rescue 1122 has become a reputable organization and doing commendable job for life safety with good infrastructure and by adopting scientific approach.

“Apart from the services of the emergency services delivery, the training you are imparting among rescue cadets in Emergency Services Academy is definitely going to change the mindset of the public towards emergencies,” General Nawaz added.

Earlier, on his arrival, smartly dressed Rescuers presented a welcome salute to the Chairman NDMA. He visited medical training stall, where he was briefed about training being imparted among rescue cadets about medical emergencies.

He was further briefed about 10 floors high-rise fire tower, as the rescuers demonstrated new techniques to rescue trapped victims from the upper floors of the highrise buildings.

The Chairman NDMA also took keen interest in knowing the Rescue Cardiac Ambulances and the life safety equipment & its functions for life safety. Maj Gen Asghar Nawaz also visited Rescue; Fire and Deep Wells Rescue training areas and examined demonstration of rescue, firefighting and deep well rescue emergencies respectively.

While chairing a meeting of Emergency Officers which was also attended by the office bearers of Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA) of United Kingdom, Gen Nawaz said that he was glad to see infrastructure and service standards of the Punjab Emergency Service.

While lauding the services of DG Rescue Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer, he said, “I’m glad to see that you have clarity about the role you are playing in Punjab regarding emergency management system, which we need at the national level”.

Gen Nawaz further said that Rescue 1122 has become model organization for others, which also needs to be replicated in other provinces for the provision of basic right to timely emergency care to citizens of other provinces.

Imran warns of protests if G-B polls rigged From Page 1 Talking about the Senate elections Imran Khan said that people belonging to a particular province should not be able to contest Senate polls from another province. Why should the Senate polls be held under a secret ballot when we all know it gives rise to the chance of horse-trading.

He also demanded of all political parties to amend the laws to enable direct elections for the Senate seats.

The PTI chairman gave the example of the Pakistan People’s Party which has only five seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly and is contesting two candidates adding that each Senate seat required the votes of at least seven to eight MPAs. Elaborating his point he said the only way PPP can succeed in winning those two Senate seats is through bribery as in his view there was no other way.He said that “One of our MPAs supported a candidate and we have asked the Speaker of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to take action

against him and will take further action if charges of bribery are proved against him.”

“What service will a Senator offer to the country if he comes into position though bribery,” the PTI Chairman questioned.

Imran Khan said that the local bodies will be introduced in AJK. He said that the local bodies would help in curbing corruption. He also announced to hold free and fair local body elections in Khyber Pakhttunkhawa. “Both the major parties did not hold local body elections. Punjab and Sindh have become police states”, he added.

Earlier during the press conference, AJK leaders Nadeem Azad, Ata Muhammad, Gulzar Fatima and Chaudhary Razzaq announced their joining into PTI. More than 50 political leaders belonging to different political parties including Pakistan Muslim League – Q, Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League–N joined Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Nefarious designs of peace enemies to be foiled: Shahbaz STAFF REPORTER L A H O R E —Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is passing through the most difficult phase of its history and terrorism, extremism and sectarianism have caused an irreparable loss to national economy. He said that peace is essential for rapid development and promotion of investment in the country. He said that the whole nation is united in the war against terrorism and the 18 crore people of the country are determined to crush terrorists.

He said that implementation of the National Action Plan is yielding positive results. Shahbaz Sharif said that Pak Army is writing a new history of courage in the war against terrorism and the nation is proud of its brave armed forces.

He said that whole nation is standing behind its army which is fighting against terrorists and the final victory in this war will be of the 18 crore people of the country.

He was talking to a delegation of assembly members of various districts, here today.

The Chief Minister said that the elements shedding the

blood of innocent people are enemies of humanity and the brave Pakistani nation will win the war against terrorists.

He said that terrorists deserve maximum punishment as they have destroyed peace and tranquility of the country.

He said that the blood and sacrifices of the martyrs in the war for rooting out terrorism will not go to waste. He said that every Pakistani is determined to defeat terrorists and a decisive war is being fought against terrorism. He said that brave people of Pakistan will foil the nefarious designs of the enemies of peace and humanity.

Shahbaz Sharif further said that the cowardly enemy will be eliminated and the brutal elements targeting innocent children will meet their logical end.

He further said that every effort will be made with the unity and support of the masses to rid the country of terrorists. He said that elimination of terrorism, extremism and sectarianism has become the mission of the nation and the National Action Plan is being fully implemented for this purpose.

He said that morale of the nation is high in the war against terrorism and peace will soon be restored in the country.

Ministry rejects From Page 1 He said that just the other day, country’s top economists and professionals in a meeting at national level, endorsed the finance minister’s repeated calls (to all political parties) for a ‘charter of economy’ but it appears that PTI leadership is more interested to advocate for a ‘charter of acrimony’, something which we should all avoid at this critical juncture of our history in the national interest, the spokesman concluded. Earlier, Umer Cheema, a spokesman for PTI chief Imran Khan, confirmed that a letter written by Dar to Imran had been received, which he said had endorsed his party’s stance that the minister had indeed transferred $4 million to his sons in Dubai. Cheema said Dar should now reveal the sources through which he had earned the amount.

He also asked the minister to explain why the government had failed to bring back to the country “the ill-gotten money belonging to the nation” from foreign banks. Dar had in the past submitted to a court an affidavit confessing his involvement in money laundering, Cheema has said. His statement came a day after Dar wrote to Imran, criticising the PTI chairman’s claim that the minister had sent $4m to his sons in Dubai “to avoid taxes in Pakistan and was dragging his feet on signing Tax Avoidance Treaty with the Swiss authorities to bring back the ill-gotten money to Pakistan”.

LAHORE: Visitors checking ultra-sound and X-ray machines displayed during 30th Annual Radiology Conference at a local hotel.

Taliban give nod to talks with Aghan govt From Page 1 Ashton Carter traveled to southern Afghanistan Sunday to review plans to withdraw U.S. troops from the country within two years. On his second day in Afghanistan, Carter flew to Kandahar from the capital, Kabul, where he had held a series of talks Saturday with Afghan leaders and American military commanders.

Carter spoke to a gathering of about 100 soldiers, telling them that their work as advisers to the Afghan military is key to cementing security gains.

“We want it to be permanent

sibility for the fight against the Taliban.

He told reporters the issue is on the agenda when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visits Washington next month. Carter met with Ghani, discussing both the drawdown and Afghan efforts to fight the Taliban.

President Ghani told reporters that prospects for peace with the Taliban are better now than they have been in more than three decades, although he gave few details.

He said “the direction is positive” but added he would not make “premature an-

nouncements.” Carter is also scheduled to meet with U.S. troops during his visit.

About 10,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan. Before taking office, Carter told the U.S. Senate he could reconsider plans to pull all U.S. forces out of Afghanistan by the end of the year.

But he said that would depend on the security situation.

He also said he would work with U.S. coalition partners to make sure the Islamic State militant group does not expand from the Middle East into Afghanistan.

RHC ‘Major Shabir Sharif Shaheed’ Kunjah will be upgraded to THQ level

Workshop on echocardiography for young doctors

STAFF R EPORTER LAHORE—Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Khawaja Salman Raffique has said that Rural Health Center “Major Shabir Sharif Shaheed” (Nishan-e-Haider) Kunjah, Gujrat will be upgraded to 40-bed Tehsil Headquarter Hospital level which would be helpful to provide better health facilities for the locals.

He said that PC-I of the project has been approved on which work will be started soon.

He said this, while talking to the media persons after visiting the Rural Health Centre. Commissioner Gujranwala Division, Secretary Health Jawwad Raffique Malik, Parliamentary Secretary Health, Khawaja Imran Nazir, DG Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, DCO Gujrat Liaqat Ali Chatha, Haji Imran Zafar MPA, PML-N local leader Ch. Raza Ali Warraich, EDO Health Dr. Ejaz Haider and a number of notables of the area were present on this occasion. Khawaja Salman Raffique visited different wards of the RHC and inquired after the health of the patients.

He also inspected proposed site for the new building of THQ hospital. DCO Liaqat Chatha and other officers briefed the Advisor, accordingly. Khawaja Salman Raffique

narrated that after up-gradation of THQ hospital, additional staff including doctors and nurses would be appointed and residential colony for the doctors and staff would also be constructed for which chief consultant health department would visit RHC Kunjah very soon.

He welcomed the offer of donating land adjacent to the RHC by President Traders Association Kunjah, Qamar Khursheed. Earlier, DCO Gujrat apprised the Advisor about the performance of RHC Kunjah. He said that Major Shabir Sharif Shaheed RHC is the only hospital on Mandi Bahauddin Road which is catering a load of more than 3 lac people and everyday more than 400 patients are visiting OPD of the RHC. Local PML-N leader Ch. Mubashir Hussain and Ch. Raza Ali Warraich said that the up-gradation of RHC Kunjah is the long standing demand of the local people and by announcing the decision to upgrade the RHC to a THQ hospital, Punjab Government has won the hearts of people.

The local notables appreciated the efforts of Punjab government and especially thanked the Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for granting approval of up-gradation of the hospital.

STAFF REPORTER L AHORE —Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital Prof.

Anjum Habib Vohra has said that training workshops for enhancing the capabilities of young doctors are very essential and hand on training increase the professional ability of young doctors.

He said this, while addressing the concluding ceremony of one-day training workshop on echocardiography for young doctors in Medical Unit-III at Lahore General Hospital, here Sunday.

Senior doctors Prof. Ghiasun-Nabi Tayyab, Prof. Farah Shafi, Dr. Amir Raza, Dr. Tahir Islam and Dr. Rafaad delivered lectures on diagnostic techniques through echocardiography.

Implementation of roadmap to provide health facilities in remote areas STAFF R EPORTER L AHORE—Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health, Khawaja Salman Raffique has said that in order to provide better health facilities to the patients in government hospitals, provincial govern-

COURT NOTICE In the court of Muhammad SulemanGhumansb ADJ Chakwal Civil Appeal Yasmeenakhtarvsmukhtar begum etc Vssohail s/o Raja Muhammad Aslam, Aneela d/o Raja Muhammad Aslam r/o Mohalaghosiajhelulm road Chakwal.

Whereas in the above mentioned case it has been proved to the satisfaction of the court that the above mentioned defendant cannot be served in the ordinary way it is there for proclaimed under order 5 Rule 20 CPC that if the said defendant will /shall not appear personally or through a dully authorized agent or pleader in court at 9AM on 25-02-2015 the proceedings will be taken exparte .No arguments of any nature shall be entertained thereafter. Given under my hand ,seal of this court .

and lasting,” he said, according to The Associated Press.

Carter is in Kandahar, a regional hub for the U.S. training and advising mission, to receive briefings from U.S. and Afghan commanders on progress in training Afghan security forces.

Carter said the United States is “rethinking details” of its counter-terrorism mission in Afghanistan, including whether to slow down the withdrawal of U.S. troops, whose mission is changing from combat to training as Afghan troops take on respon-

LAHORE: Judges checking a dog during Dog Show held in connection with Jashn-e-Baharan at Racecourse.

ment has started implementing Punjab Health Reforms Roadmap and Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif approved the plan of up-gradation of primary and secondary hospitals.

He said that vacant posts of medical officers and specialist doctors would be filled in public sector hospitals and a special package of incentives would be given to the doctors in under developed districts. Moreover procurement of medicines would be completed in all government hospitals by 31st March. He further said that a sum of rupees 916 million would be spent on the improvement of infrastructure and provision of bio-medical equipotent in the hospitals.

He said this while presiding over a meeting of government hospitals of Gujranwala Division at DCO office Gujrat. Secretary Health Jawwad Raffique Malik, Commissioner Gujranwala Division Shumail Ahmad Khawaja, Parliamentary Secretary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir, DCOs of Gujranwala division, DG Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz. Elected public representatives, EDOs Health, Medical Superintendents of the hospitals and officers of the development departments attended the meeting.

Secretary Health Jawwad

Raffique Malik briefed about the measure taken by the government for the improvement of government hospitals. Khawaja Salman Raffique said that improvement in health sector is the top most priority of the government. He said that there are so many challenges which have to be redressed.

He said that a comprehensive development plan for primary and secondary healthcare has been introduced in Punjab through which the performance of government hospitals would be significantly enhanced.

He said that these hospitals facing issues for the last many decades. Khawaja Salman Raffique said that he, himself and the Secretary Health visiting the hospitals throughout the province to review the problems of the hospitals to take effective measures for their solution.

He said that consultants would be appointed in all DHQs and THQs hospitals for which Chief Minister has already approved a package of special incentives for these doctors while strict monitoring of the hospitals would also be carried out. Secretary Health Jawwad Refigure Malik while briefing the meeting said that all vacant posts of MOs/WMOs in BHUs and RHCs would be filled by March 31st through

walk-in interviews policy.

He said that 100% availability of 18 essential medicines would also be ensured at the centres and district governments can purchase locally these medicines from the market for which budget have already been released. He said that absenteeism in the hospitals would not be tolerated.

He directed the officers that during duty hours, Doctors of health centers should not be called in the offices and all the doctors performing special duties should immediately be posted at their original place of posting.

He said that 24 hours delivery/ labour room facility would be provided in 550 BHUs under 24/7 programme. Secretary Health further informed that doctors would be recruited through PPSC and by promotion at 700 vacant seats of specialist doctors in 36 DHQs and 109 THQs hospitals.

He said that government has announced attractive package for the doctors to overcome the shortage of doctors in far-flung areas. He said that these doctors would be given Rs. 30,000 to 60,000 per month according to the laid down criteria. He said that Chief Minister has constituted four Zonal Selection Committees at Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.

Over 130 dead in Myanmar fighting (Myanmar)— Myanmar’s army Sunday said more than 130 people had died in a deepening battle with rebels in the northeast, declaring it would not rest until stability was restored to the border area which tens of thousands have fled.

Fighting raged in the remote Kokang region of Shan state where conflict erupted on February 9 with insurgent attacks on soldiers that triggered a military onslaught, prompting at least 30,000 civilians to escape into bordering areas.

In the first press conference since clashes began, defence ministry spokesman Lieutenant ABU DHABI: Army Chief General Raheel Sharif in a meeting with General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumeithy, Chief General Mya Htun Oo said the conflict had killed 61 military of Staff UAE Armed Forces. and police officers, and around 72 insurgents. More than 100 military members have been injured since fighting broke out.

“The fighting is strong...

Because of serious fighting, our helicopters are helping,” he told G AZA —Israeli authorities reporters in the capital ANKARA—Almost 600 Turkish soldiers crossed week suggesting that one of the guards may have have opened the gates of a Naypyidaw. “We will not redam near the Gaza Strip, treat until we get stability.” the border deep inside Syria overnight in a suc- been kidnapped by IS. He did not provide figures cessful operation to repatriate troops guarding a Davutoglu said in a statement that the mission which led to the flooding of Turkish enclave surrounded by Islamic State — called Shah Firat (Shah Euphrates) — had several homes in the enclave, on civilian deaths in and around militants, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said resulted in the successful repatriation of the sol- according to the strip’s Civil Laukkai town, where the condiers guarding the tomb, as well as the remains Defense Directorate (CDD). flict has centred, as efforts to Sunday.

“The Israeli army opened evacuate remaining communiThe Turkish troops, reportedly numbering of Suleyman Shah himself. the floodgates of a canal lead- ties have been hampered by an around 40, were guarding the mausoleum com- “The remains of (Suleyman Shah) have been plex of Suleyman Shah, grandfather of the Ot- temporarily repatriated and will be reburied in- ing to central Gaza, which led attack Tuesday on a local Red toman empire’s founder, Osman I, which under side Syria at a later date,” he added. “It was a to the removal of sand Cross convoy which wounded a 1920s treaty is considered sovereign Turkish highly successful operation to the last degree,” mounds along the border with two aid workers — leading rehe said, emphasising that the mission was fully Israel,” Gaza’s CDD said in lief groups to officially suspend territory. rescue missions. a statement.

The tomb containing the remains was also in line with international law.

The defence spokesman “Opening the levees to Davutoglu congratulated the Turkish army successfully brought back to Turkey and blamed the convoy attack on the canal has led to the floodon the success of an operation that he said had Suleyman Shah will be reburied in a different the rebels, saying: “Our miliing of several Palestinian pocket of Syria over which Turkey has also se- posed “considerable potential risks”.

Davutoglu said that 572 Turkish soldiers using homes, and we had to quickly tary only provides protection to cured control, Davutoglu said.

One soldier was killed in an accident during the 39 tanks, 57 armoured vehicles and 100 other evacuate the afflicted citi- civilian convoys... We are going to take action against operation to relieve the guards at the tomb on military vehicles took part in the operation.There zens,” it added.

Medical sources said no Kokang rebels’ offence.” the Euphrates River some 30 kilometres inside has been considerable concern in Turkey in reThe Kokang rebels or NaSyrian territory, the Turkish army said in a sepa- cent months over the wellbeing of the troops casualties have been reguarding the tomb although the government has ported as a result of the tional Democratic Alliance rate statement.

Army (MNDAA), who are It said the soldier lost his life in the “initial always kept silent about their status. Ankara had flooding.—TAA stage” of the operation but emphasised there were repeatedly warned of military reprisals if the troops guarding the tomb were ever hurt. no clashes during the mission.

Davutoglu said that the remains of Suleyman The army said the decision to relieve the guards at the tomb was taken because of the worsening Shah, who is said to have died in 1236, would security situation in the area, part of Syria’s be reburied in Turkey at a religious ceremony in Aleppo province that is under the control of IS the next hours. However he said that within days D ERA B UGTI —Militants jihadists who have captured swathes of Iraq and Turkey planned to bury the remains once again blew up an eight inches diaminside Syria in the area of Eshme, which Turkey eter gas pipe line in Pirkoh Syria. area of Dera Bugti on Sunday Turkish authorities denied press reports last took over in the operation..—AFP morning. As a result of the blast supply of gas from wells No.21 and 22 was suspended .

Sources said after the blast, a big fire broke out which was brought under control after suspending gas supply from the wells. After the his kitchen was locked and the troops took his incident security officials and STAFF REPORTER servant along with them.

OGDCL teams reached the ISLAMABAD—Federal minister for information Pervaiz Rashid said when he gave a statement spot. OGDCL officials said and broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid says that whatever happened on 12 October was un- the repair work would be taken the government and the army are on the same constitutional and illegal and he condemned it, up after the area was secured he received a telephone call from Ijaz-ul- from possible attacks by the page for revival of economy, elimiHaq who said he had given a very strong militants.

It is worth nation of terrorism and foreign policy. statement. He said after his statement he mentioning that militants In an interview, the information was again arrested. He was earlier sen- regularly blast the gas pipeminister pointed out that some extenced to six years for making speech lines in the area through exservicemen were very active during against the martial law of Yahya khan. He plosives causing disruption in the sit-in and were guiding the PTI said army and the scientists have learnt a gas supply to the rest of the and PAT. He said the first six months of lot from the past experiences. country in general and PML-N government were wasted by the He admitted that army had a major role Balochistan in particular. — INP former chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad in success of foreign policy, fight against Chaudhary as he would give stay order against the appointments of chief executives of im- terrorism and economic progress. The informaportant institutions. He said zero load shedding is tion minister said other parties have governthe motto of the Prime Minister and hoped that gas ments in three out of four provinces and under storage would be overcome after March when im- the 18th amendment, powers have been deportant LNG would be available. He said the gov- volved to the provinces.

He said they have no majority in Senate. ernment has also been successful in bringing down He said the PML-N government has given prithe inflation rate to 6.5 from 12 percent He said after the overthrow of Nawaz govern- ority to overcoming energy shortage and to eradiSTAFF REPORTER ment on 12 October, he was kept hostage in his cate terrorism. He expressed the confidence that parliamentary lodges’ room for over ten days, electricity load shedding would be over by 2018. LAHORE—Khalid Mahmood, retired Secretary Irrigation Punjab, eldest brother of Governor State Bank of Pakistan Ashraf Wathra breathed his last LONDON–Fifteen-year-old Shamima Begum lice. Our priority is the safe return of these girls at CMH Lahore Sunday.

His funeral prayers were (possibly traveling under the name of Aklima to their families,” Counter Terrorism Command Begum), Kadiza Sultana, 16, and another 15- Commander Richard Walton said in a statement held at Mosque of Askari 10, year-old whose family wishes to withhold her reported by The Independent. In September, Lahore.

Pakistan Observer exname, left their homes on Tuesday at 8 a.m. and the CIA estimated that 2,000 Westerners had presses grief and sorrow on the joined the Islamic State in Syria.

The group is met at Gatwick Airport, where they boarded a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul. The three girls surprisingly adept at recruiting fighters, mainly sad demise of Khalid are students at Bethnal Green Academy in Lon- because they utilize high-quality propaganda, Mahmood, eldest brother of Mr don. The girls are friends with another girl who they appeal to people’s sense of religious obli- Ashraf Wathra May Allah Algation, and provides a sense of identity, essen- mighty give courage to the bereportedly ran away to Syria in December.

“We are extremely concerned for the safety tially preying on “Western youth who are disillu- reaved family to bear this irof these young girls and would urge anyone with sioned and have no sense of purpose or belong- reparable loss and rest his soul in eternal peace. information to come forward and speak to po- ing,” the Monitor reported in October. —AP NAYPYIDAW

Walker not knows Obama loves US WASHINGTON—Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a leading Republican contender for the White House in 2016, said Saturday he doesn’t know whether President Barack Obama loves his country. “You should ask the president what he thinks about America,” Walker told The Associated Press while in Washington for a weekend meeting of the National Governors Association. “I’ve never asked him so I don’t know.” Earlier in the week, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said during a dinner speech, with Walker in attendance, “I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America.”— AP

Kerry for extra sanctions on Russia LONDON— Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday the United States and its allies were not prepared to play games with Russia and are discussing additional sanctions against Moscow over its role in eastern Ukraine, undermining a European-brokered truce.

“Russia has engaged in an absolutely brazen and cynical process over these last days,” Kerry said as he began a meeting with British counterpart Philip Hammond. “We are talking about additional sanctions, about additional efforts, and I’m confident over the next days people will make it clear that we are not going to play this game ... and be part of this kind of extraordinarily craven behavior.” —Reuters

Yanukovich speaks of return MOSCOW— Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, who fled to Russia a year ago after being toppled by months of street protests, said he was ready to return to Ukraine if the opportunity arose. The proRussian leader was overthrown by the “Maidan” uprising in Kiev against his decision to back away from a deal that would have taken the country towards integration with Europe and instead tighten economic ties with Russia, Ukraine’s old Soviet master. Just weeks after his departure, Moscow annexed the Crimea peninsula, a base for Russia’s Black Sea fleet, and pro-Russian separatists seized key buildings in the east of the country leading to a conflict in which more than 5,000 people have been killed.—Reuters

Turkey evacuates troops, tomb from inside Syria

Israel floods Gaza by opening dam gates

Gas pipeline blown up

Govt, army united for national goals: PR

SBP Governor’s brother Khalid passes away

3 London girls stated to have joined IS

fighting for regional autonomy, have denied attacking the convoy.

It is unclear how many people remain trapped in the conflict zone, but while the majority of fleeing civilians appear to have crossed into neighbouring country, tens of thousands more is believed to have been displaced on the Myanmar side of the border.

Since the conflict began several thousand have passed through a monastery in the town of Lashio, some 140 kilometres (85 miles) south of Laukkai, taking refuge as they travel to other parts of the country.

Late Saturday a vehicle ferrying Myanmar national journalists from Laukkai was attacked by unknown assailants, a local government official in the nearby town of Chinshwehal told AFP, leaving the driver and one reporter injured.

They were taken to hospital and are in a stable condition, said the official, without providing any further details.

Local media reports said the attack on Saturday was launched at a Red Cross convoy, but an official from the organisation in Lashio told AFP its vehicles were not involved.

The conflict, the first major unrest in the region since 2009, has renewed doubts over a government attempt to forge a nationwide ceasefire in a country peppered with ethnic insurgencies.

In another ominous sign for peace, the Kokang have been joined by other nearby rebel groups, including the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the powerful Kachin Independence Army.

No one from the rebel groups could be reached for comment on Saturday.

Myanmar’s quasi-civilian government has put the ceasefire agreement at the heart of its reforms as the nation prepares for a general election later this year. But the fighting has raised fears those efforts are unraveling. Myanmar has declared a state of emergency in the region.—AFP

Fruit juice ‘as bad’ as sugary drinks, say researchers

T

WO medical researchers writing in one of The Lancet journals argue that because of its high sugar content, fruit juice could be just as bad for us as sugar-sweetened beverages like carbonated drinks and sodas. Naveed Sattar, professor of Metabolic Medicine, and Dr. Jason Gill, both of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, call for the UK government to change the current “five a day” guideline to exclude a portion of fruit juice from the list of fruits and vegetable servings that count toward it.

In their paper, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, they propose that including fruit juice as one of the five a day is “probably counter-productive,” because it leads people to consider fruit juice as a healthy food that does not need to be limited, as is the case with less healthy foods. They also urge food companies to improve container labelling of fruit juices to inform consumers they should drink no more than 150 ml a day of the product.

Fruit juice has come under the spotlight since medical experts recently started looking more closely at the link between high sugar intake and the risk for heart disease. In 2012, researchers at Harvard reported in the journal Circulation that daily consumption of sugary drinks raised heart disease risk in men. Two years earlier, researchers presenting at an American Heart Association conference said Americans’ higher consumption of sugary

drinks has led to more diabetes and heart disease over the past decade.

Dr. Gill says “there seems to be a clear misperception that fruit juices and smoothies are low-sugar alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages.” “Fruit juice has a similar energy density and sugar content to other sugary drinks, for example: 250 ml of apple juice typically contains 110 kcal and 26 g of sugar; and 250 ml of cola typically contains 105 kcal and 26.5 g of sugar.”

He says research is beginning to show that unlike solid fruit intake, for which high consumption appears linked either to reduced or neutral risk for diabetes, high fruit juice intake is linked to raised risk for diabetes. “One glass of fruit juice contains substantially more sugar than one piece of fruit.”

“One glass of fruit juice contains substantially more sugar than one piece of fruit; in addition, much of the goodness in fruit - fibre, for example - is not found in fruit juice, or is there in far smaller amounts,” he adds.

Also, although fruit juices contain vitamins and minerals that are mostly absent in sugarsweetened drinks, the levels of nutrients in fruit juices many not be enough to offset the unhealthy effect that excessive consumption has on metabolism, says Dr. Gill. In their paper they refer to a trial where participants drank half a litter of pure grape juice every day for 3 months. And the results showed that despite grape juice’s high antioxidant properties, it led to increased insulin resistance and bigger waists in overweight adults.

Dean of Diplomatic Corps Rodolfo Martin Saravia and Ambassador of Thailand Tomwit Jamson cutting the cake during a ceremony to celebrate Thai Halal Food and Cultural Festival 2015.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

Commuters await start of metro bus service to get rid of vans ISLAMABAD—The commuters of twin-city of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are eagerly waiting for the metro bus service to be started soon and give them relief from the fatigue they face daily while travelling on vans. A number of people have lauded the government’s decision to start the services of Metro Buses in twin-city.

A commuter Fayaz Khan, said that most of public transport vehicles plying on different routes in the twin-city did not adhere to the allotted routes and hence create problems for the commuters.

“Similarly, the transporters are overcharging the people, as they have to change different vehicles and pay more than double the fare to reach their destinations,” he added.

Muhammad Azam, a resident of Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi said that the government’s decision to introduce metro buses was a good project, adding that the existing transport system needs to be replaced with buses.

“A decent public transport is a long demand of the residents of the twin cities because the van

service plying on different routes is not adequate to meet the requirements of people,” said Qaiser Bhati, a resident of Saddar.

“Women are facing more problems due to lack of proper public transport as the two front seats for them cannot meet their requirement and they have to wait for hours especially during rush hours to get a seat”, said Zoya Khan, a resident of Rawalpindi.

Like Lahore, the twin cities are also in dire need of a modest transport service through which people will be able to reach their destinations in time without facing extra fatigue, said Sabir Hussain a government employee, adding, it would help them concentrate on their work.

He said this project would also reduce the traffic load on main roads, reduce environmental pollution, as most of the people will prefer to travel through Metro bus rather than using their private vehicles, he added. He said that metro bus service would be a proper transport system for a common man.—APP

Young Rafay cannot come to terms his mother pumped a bullet in his chest ZUBAIR QURESHI ISLAMABAD—“Mother had ensured we took our breakfast fully and had new clothes on as it was supposed to be a picnic day out at Lakeview Park,” said Abdul Rafay 13-year old lone survivor of Saturday shooting while talking to media person here on Sunday.

The day however turned into a nightmare for him. Amidst making preparations for outing, she started arguments with father and it changed into a heated debate. Neither of them was ready to calm down and the fateful moment came when father told her that he had made his mind to divorce her. The words made ‘ami’ quiet for some time and she left the scene and went into the bed room.

We thought it was over,” Rafay the 5-grader was telling the story in a state of trance and it never appeared from his tone that he was on his father’s side or his mother’s. Resuming the account of

Saturday morning’s tragedy he said his sisters, Rania, 7, Nimra, 5 and Nida 2 along with him were excited to spend the whole day out.

However, their happiness proved momentary as mother came out of the bed room with a pistol in her hands.

“Before we could understand what was going on she entered the TV lounge where Farooq Khattak was sitting and shot him.

Then she came towards us and first shot at Rania in the back of her head when she was running towards kitchen for life. We had hidden behind the arm chairs and sofa chairs but she found out each of us and fired at the running kids, said Rafay who had pretended to have fallen dead when the bullet pierced his right shoulder.

One of his young sisters Nimra had locked the kitchen door from inside refusing to open the door but on Kausar Shaheen (mother) assurance

that she would not shoot her, the poor baby opened the door only to meet

the same fate.

Rafay with tears in eyes was in a state of complete distress. It was hard for him to come to terms with the thought that his mother could have killed his sisters who were her ‘dear pretty dolls’ and father whom she loved and cared too much. I have seen mother

serving father and us without taking rest; here she is pressing our clothes, there she is preparing food, taking care of every bit of things.

He mentioned his young sisters especially Nida who was two-year old sweet kid. Mother was very fond of her and she too was crazy for mother’s attention.

Nida followed mother wherever she went in the kitchen, TV lounge out in the yard. They could not live without each other, he said taking sobs. Being the only son of his parents, Rafay was also the apple of his parents’ eye.

She was a loving mother and took care of me. I cannot imagine what happened yesterday. It is a nightmare for me, said the young school going kid who is now the responsibility of his uncle, Ishaq Khattak. Khattak said he would try his best to make Rafay remove the painful memories from his mind and live a normal life.

Sale of unhygienic meat in twin cities RAWALPINDI—The authorities concerned have yet to take firm action against butchers who are selling uncovered and unhygienic meat in the city as the practice is going on unchecked.

The consumers while talking to APP alleged that most of the butchers injected water into the veins of the slaughtered animals to increase their weight. The butchers are selling unhygienic meat in several city markets particularly low income groups areas of the town while people are suffering from several diseases, especially blood pressure and hepatitis.

According to reports most of the butchers slaughtered unhealthy animals and sold wet mutton and beef to increase the weight. Medical experts said the unabated sale and use of the wet meat was spreading hepatitis and other fatal diseases among the people. The local residents further said the butchers were often found slaughtering the animals in their houses or around their shops instead in the slaughterhouses which is an illegal practice.

“The hygiene conditions at the butcher shops are very poor but the authorities concerned seem least interested to take action against the violators in accordance with the law,” said Amjad, a government servant.

The quality of meat at most of the shops is poor, as butchers slaughter unhealthy animals, said Amina Mushtaq, a housewife.—APP

Children enjoying pleasant weather of spring season at Liaquat Bagh.

Boundary walls of schools being raised

52 FDE institutions install CCTV cameras to monitor security RAZA UR REHMAN I SLAMABAD —Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has installed CCTV Cameras in 52 educational institutions of Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) to monitor security situation.

The boundary walls of some educational institutions are being uplifted and concertina wires are also being installed around the boundary walls of the institution campuses as the Division has allocated Rs 180 million in current financial year for this purpose.

Sources at CADD, while listing the steps being taken for security of educational institutions presently working under FDE, Islamabad, on Sunday said private security guards were hired by Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) colleges for providing security in aftermath of Peshawar in-

cident. While mobile emergency alert system has been installed on android phones in each educational institution which sends a distress signal to police along with location of the school/college by a simple push of a button.

Moreover, the sources said focal persons have been identified in each of 422 educational institutions and their names as well as names of heads of institutions/their mobile phone number have been communicated to police.

The other steps are more than a dozen security briefings have been arranged for all Principals/Security Focal points with help of ICT police covering all educational institutions in ICT. The regular inspections are being held to check security measures in all colleges/schools in ICT by concerned Directors/Area Education Officers of FDE. Minister of State chairs a weekly

security meeting to overview securityrelated matters of all colleges and schools, the sources said and added Security Guards have been directed to perform their duties vigilantly to ensure security of the institutions. Security Guards are also equipped with metal detectors.

They said visitors are allowed to enter the institutions after providing their identity for which FDE has developed an online Security Inspection Monitoring System (SIMS) and Daily Visitor Invigilation System (DVIS).

Similarly, emergency telephone numbers are displayed at prominent places in the institutions, emergency exit plans are also implemented the educational institutions, the extinguishers are installed in the institutions and list of teaching and non-teaching staff is being sent to IG Police Islamabad for their security clearance, the sources added.

Tackling climate change must for sustainable development: Mushahid RAZA UR REHMAN ISLAMABAD —Federal Minister for Climate Change, Mushahid Ullah Khan, says weather patterns in Pakistan are changing rapidly due to climate change, causing negative impacts on glaciers, river flows, underground water recharge systems, agriculture and overall biodiversity.

“However, efforts are being made at various level in the light of policy recommendations proposed in the National Climate Change Policy of Pakistan to cope with the negative impacts,” the minister said.

Talking to newsman, here, Mushahid Ullah Khan said that depleting river flows, falling underground water level, shifting rainfall patterns, frequenting heat waves, droughts, sea intrusion/sea-level rise, shrinking winter months, expanding summer months and melting glaciers are all terrible indicators of how fast the climate of the country is changing.

“We need to take corrective measures and work hard in collaboration with relevant government and non-governmental organisations on fast track basis for hammering out mitigation and adaptation plans to tackle the negative impacts of the cli-

mate change on different sectors of economy, particularly irrigated and rainfed agriculture, which is mainstay of national economy,” he stressed.

The minister warned that global warming will exacerbate land degradation and desertification in the countries like Pakistan, where over 80 percent of the land mass is arid. The climate change is also likely to increasing water logging and salinity, and incidence of insects, pests and diseases, he highlighted.

Suggesting measures, Mushahid Ullah Khan said that developing and introducing regulatory mechanisms to

manage and store summer water overflows and construction of new reservoirs of varying sizes is critical for making irrigated and rain-fed agriculture climateresilient.

There is also serious need for encouraging farmers to adopt high irrigation efficiency systems, methods and techniques on farm, which will require policy interventions by government departments concerned including Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, he emphasizes and added that introduction and promotion of short duration crop varieties for both summer and winter season

crops, heat and moisture stress-resistant wheat, rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane, pulses and vegetable crop varieties are inevitable to ensure food security of the country.

It is a matter of serious concern that country’s forest cover is shrinking fast because of deforestation and tree-cutting activities, which is leading to several imbalances ecologically and environmentally, the minister Mushahid Ullah Khan said. He cautioned, “What makes deforestation alarming is the immediate and long-term effects it is bound to inflict on our environmental

and waste our efforts to tackle global warming.”

Agricultural activities, logging, urbanisation, desertification of land, inadequate access to clean/renewable energy are among key causes of unchecked deforestation in the country, he counted and suggested, “However, agro-forestry, sustainable and environment-friendly urbanization, plantation of drought-tolerant tree species, increasing the people’s access to renewable energy for cocking, heating and bathing can help put brakes on deforestation/tree cutting and increase area under tree cover in the country.”

PEF plans 225 new schools under NSP: Chairman Fajar Zohr Asr

06:10 01:45 04:30

RAZA UR REHMAN RAWALPINDI—Punjab Education Foun-

dation (PEF) in future will open all Meghrab at Sunset schools in Punjab through ‘New School Program’ (NSP) while in the first phase, Isha 07:45 225 such partnering schools are being Brothers in Islam planned at sites specified by the schools establish regular education department.

This decision has been taken keepprayers & charity ing in view of PEF’s cost-effectiveness and ability to best serve the “have-nots”

February 23

Literary conference TO observe 33rd Death Anniversary of great revolutionary Poet Hazrat Josh Malihabadi,Josh Adabi Foundation will organize in collibration with Sukhanwar and Rawalpindi Arts Council, Josh National Literary Conference on 23rd February ,Monday at 3.00 pm at Rawalpindi Arts Council, Cultural Complex, Shamsabad ,Murree Road ,Rawalpindi. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Pervaiz Rashid will preside the occasion.

February 24

Speech contest ISLAMABAD Traffic Police would hold speech contest on Tuesday to create awareness about road safety measures and traffic rules. The topic of the contest would be road safety benefits and students of educational institutes of Islamabad and Rawalpindi could participate in it.

at their doorsteps said Chairman Punjab Education Foundation, Engineer Qamar ul Islam Raja.

In a statement issued here he said, PEF is playing a leading role in achieving the targets of education-promotion programs espoused by the Punjab government.

Keeping in view the educational needs of the rising number of deserving students, the free educational programs are being further extended by the foun-

Mushaira in memory of Josh Malihabadi at RAC STAFF REPORTER R AWALPINDI —Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) in collaboration with Josh Memorial Committee arranged a mushaira in memory of Josh Malihabadi in connection with Josh Malihabadi’s 33rd death anniversary.

Renowned poet and scholar Dr. Ahsan Abkar presided over the ceremony while Prof. Maqsood Jafri was chief guest and Saud Saher was guest of honor on the occasion.

Resident Director RAC Waqar Ahmed and Chairperson Josh Memorial Committee, Tabbasum Ikhlaq were also present.

RAWALPINDI—Police during its drive against anti-social elements on Sunday arrested nine lawbreakers including two kite sellers from different localities of the district and recovered 510 grams charras, six liter wine, 14 bottles of liquor, three pistols 30 bore with nine rounds and 200 kites from their possession.

According to Rawalpindi Police spokesman, Pirwadhai police held Naseeb for possessing 510 grams charras.

Ashiq was rounded up for keeping four bottles of liquor.

Rawat police recovered 10 liquor bottles from the custody of Amjad. Banni police seized five liter wine and held Saeed.

Airport police netted Amanullah for having a 30 bore pistol and six rounds.

Murree police sent behind the bars Aqeed and Safdar and seized two pistols 30 bore and rounds.

Meanwhile, R.A. Bazar police taking action against kite sellers conducted raids and arrested Waqas and Irfan and recovered 200 kites. Police have registered cases under relevant sections against the arrested accused.—APP

schools so that they could give quality education to the 1.6 million students. We have also envisaged one-button payment system for our partners so that their monthly dues could be paid timely. Eattendance for partner school students is also being introduced after students’ information system which is a computerized repository of students’ necessary data.

He said that PEF is corruption-free as well as most-efficient in meeting tar-

gets of millennium development goals.

PEF will continue to play leading role in Punjab Education sector roadmap Program, he told.

We are living in a fast-changing world; in order to prepare our students for this life of constant competitions, we need to develop self-confidence and creativity in them. It is hoped that PEF’s useful interventions will develop creative abilities in students to transform them as future leaders, he added.

DIG Islamabad declares fire safety, scouting essential for human survival

The poets who paid tribute to Josh Malihabadi included Hassan Abbas Raza, Nasir Aqeel, Abdul Qadir, Dr. Farhat Abbas, Rashida Maheen Malik, Farooq Haider, Ilyas Babar, Manzar Naqvi, Mazhar Masud, Farah Deeba, Junaid Naseem, Naeem Qureshi, Safdar Jaffery, Tabbasum Ikhlaq and Yawar Azeem.

Dr. Ahsan Akbar addressing the participants said, Malihabadi got that place due to diversity in everything. Resident Director RAC said that Malihabadi did not belong to any organization but he is poet of sub-continent and thousands of people love the revolutionary poet.

New security plan for Islamabad airport

I SLAMABAD —In the wake of a new spate of suicide and gun attacks across the country, the security plan of the Benazir Bhutto International Airport has been changed by putting in place multi-layered safety arrangements.

Airport sources said that as part of the new security plan, strict surveillance was February 26 being carried out on the premises of the airport with strict checking of people at the Urdu Afsanay entrance gate. The sources said that the ALLAMA Iqbal Open Uni- airport staff would also undergo a security versity will hold a special lec- check before entering the airport.

The sources said that the police have ture on “Urdu Afsanay ka Manzar-nama” on February 26 at 11:00 am at its Academic Complex.

Nine lawbreakers including two kite sellers rounded up

dation, he added.

While maintaining that PEF is the most successful model of gratis schooling in which state provides support in shape of monthly fee and text books to the needy, he added that it has also encouraged and promoted the beneficial role of the low-cost private schools. Our public private partnership model is best in the region, he said.

PEF has designed and implemented a coherent system for its 4000 partnering

also carried out a survey of residents of the airport’s adjoining localities.

The sources said that besides Airport Security Force personnel, officials of intelligence agencies will also be deployed at the airport for better coordination and sharing of information.

Meanwhile, DSP Civil Lines Farhan Aslam said that search operations were under way in areas adjacent to the airport including Dhok Haif, Dhok Lalyal, Gangall and other areas. He said that a survey of residents in these areas has also been completed.—Online

2723 PSVs fined for overcharging; 135 impounded

R AWALPINDI —City Traffic Police (CTP) Rawalpindi imposed fine of Rs 1,361,500 on 2723 public service vehicles (PSVs) for overcharging the passengers while 135 vehicles were also impounded.

According to Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi, Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Shoaib Khurram Janbaz, a grand operation was launched against public service vehicles.

Special squads formed by CTP conducted raids and checked over 4524 vehicles and those found indulged in overcharging were fined in Rawalpindi city and Murree areas during last two weeks.

He said special checking was also conducted in other tehsils of Rawalpindi district.

The ongoing drive would continue and the rules violators would be fined, he added.

Special squads were constituted to check and prevent overcharging by the transporters especially public service vehicles. Mobile squads are performing special duties at different public transport terminals to facilitate the people travelling in public service vehicles.

Traffic officers and other field staff have also been directed to take strict action against those found indulged in overcharging.—APP

1.7 million saplings to be planted in Rawalpindi STAFF REPORTER R AWALPINDI—About 1.7 million saplings would be planted in Rawalpindi during current spring tree plantation campaign 2015.

Efforts are being made to plant maximum saplings with the cooperation of civil society, defence and health department as well as educational institutions during the campaign said Conservator of Forests Rawalpindi Region, Iftikhar Ahmed Qureshi while talking to reporter.

He said efforts were being made to achieve the set target. A comprehensive plan of massive tree plantation has been evolved to bring maximum area under forest cover which is basic requirement to overcome environmental degradation.

He said the staff members of the depart-

ment had been activated to make sure proper forestation in their respective areas which will be inspected by the senior forest officers.

According to the forest department spring tree plantation action plan total 1,720,000 saplings would be planted in the district. Under the plan 820,000 saplings would be planted in government forests, 110,000 other government departments ,1,80,000 defence departments and 600,000 on private lands.

Qureshi further said that to achieve the target special instructions had been given to all DFOs. Meanwhile, the forest department has established 26 sale points in the district from where citizens can purchase all available seasonal plants on discount rates.

DIG Sultan Azam Taimori addressing a ceremony to mark World Scout Day.

CITY REPORTER I SLAMABAD—Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Islamabad Police, Sultan Azam Taimori has urged to use fire safely responsibly and said that Scouting could play pivotal role to develop self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skills.

He remarked this while addressing a ceremony to mark the World Scouts

Day, here at Karlot Residential College on Sunday.

On the occasion, fire safety expert Ali Reza, along with his team under the banner of Pakistan Emergency Response Learning Programme (PERLP) also demonstrated fire fighting and rescue drill. Ali Raza told media persons that the control of fire by early humans was a turning point in the cultural aspect of human evolu-

tion and the first large organized force of firefighters was established in ancient Rome in 6 AD. He said that firefighters must work closely with other emergency response agencies, most particularly local and state police departments.

A large number of scouts, civil society members, journalists and people from other walks of life were also present to mark the day.

Roads, streets in Saddar Cantt turn into garbage dumps RAWALPINDI—Many areas in Saddar Cannt have turned into garbage dumps as sanitary workers of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board have abandoned picking up trash, which could be seen strewn on roads and streets.

Due to the dumping of rubbish and litter by people along roads and in the open, many areas have become almost health hazard with air filled with disgusting odour.

On the one hand, the cantonment board claims to have taken several steps to overcome sanitary and environmental issues in its jurisdiction, but on the other hand it has stopped check-

ing its sanitary and janitorial staff, who are nowhere to be seen picking trash.

Areas including Kashmir Road, Flower Market, Adamjee Road, Mittho Khan on Railway Road and many other areas have become hub of unattended garbage, while the local administration looks the other way.

The road on the eastern side of the newly established Flower Market near the Suzuki stand has turned into a garbage dump as areas residents have started throwing the trash on the road.

The picture is no different in areas on Railway Road as unattended garbage could be seen scattered on roads

and streets making it almost impossible for pedestrians and schoolchildren to walk without hassle. Residents of these areas said that the task of lifting trash should be handed over to the Turkish Alburaq Company to get the areas rid of the garbage menace.

According to them, corruption and inefficiency have become the hallmark of the Cantonment Board Authority.

When contact, a Cantt official claimed that their sanitary workers attempt their best to lift the garbage on a daily basis. He, however, admitted that garbage in some areas could not be lifted on a daily basis.—Online

CDA to plant 0.3 million ornamental and fruit trees

Member environment CDA Syed Mustafain Kazmi planting a tree in connection with spring tree planting campaign.

STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —CDA is going to plant more than 0.3 million ornamental and fruit tree and saplings during current spring tree plantation campaign.

On the occasion of 158th Birth Anniversary of First Chief Scout of the World Baden Powell cake cutting ceremony, Environment Wing of CDA arranged a tree plantation camFamous singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan performs during a musical evening to raise funds, organized by Subh-e-Nau.— paign wherein Member Environment, Syed Mustafain Kazmi along with PO photo by Sultan Bashir

more than 300 scouts planted hundreds of trees.

Member Environment, said that Scout Movement enables the youth especially the children to seek training and empowerment to expand their horizon and learn by doing, in an atmosphere of kindness and encouragement, instead of fear and anger.

He said that the world could be made more secure, safe and a better place for the next generation. He said that scout movement helps young

people to develop physically, intellectually, socially, and spiritually. Scouting is all about building confidence and self-esteem, learning important skills of life and leadership skills, team building, outdoor adventure and education, he added.

On this occasion a Senior Scout Commodore Shafi, Director Training and Programme, Zahid Mahboob, Manzoor Hussain Shah and others also spoke on the role and importance of Scouts Movement.

Anti-Islamic posters spark protest SRINAGAR—Whole population of Achabal area in South Kashmir’s Islamabad district came on roads on Saturday morning after they observed anti-social elements had pasted insulting posters related to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Eyewitnesses told CNS that a massive procession was taken out from Hertoora to Achabal after people found anti-Islamic posters had been pasted on electric polls and walls in the area.

“We fail to understand who have pasted these insulting anti-Islamic posters.

We are not going to tolerate such insulting anti-Islamic posters and we demand strict action against these elements who have dared to insult our Prophet (PBUH),” said a resident of Hertoora Achabal to CNS.

According to eyewitnesses, people were aghast when they found dozens of anti-Islamic posters pasted on the walls and electric polls in the area. “Hundreds of people took to roads in Hertoora and marched towards Achabal demanding strict action towards anti-social elements and those responsible for pasting posters against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),” an eyewitness said adding that the protestors were violent and at many places they attacked the police parties deployed on the road.

Reports said that a massive procession was organized by the people from Hertoora to Achabal while police assured them that these anti-social elements and hate-mongers will be identified and arrested without any delay.—KW

India warned of agitation against anti-Kashmir is move MIRPUR: AJK Prime Minister Ch. Abdul Majid laying cloth sheet over the mazar of Hazrat Pirey Shah Ghazi (RA) here on Sunday.

Focus on UN Kashmir roadmap: Survey HAMEED SHAHEEN ISLAMABAD—The track-III Kashmir dialogue between Pakistan and India on Feb 26, 2015, here has been welcomed by a variety of public opinion in this international capital city Sunday. A political science student Mr Naeem Iqbal in a survey Sunday told Pakistan Observer that the level of Kashmir dialogue should be upgraded; only the United Nations Security Council’s Kashmir roadmap needs to be debated - as to how that should be facilitated and implemented; there is no need of devising any other lateral solution recipe; Working biz man Malik Tarik

Mehmood said that the settlement of Kashmir dispute would release enormous trade energy in south Asia; trade and commerce flourish in a peaceful region; Kashmir solution shall bring that windfall outcome, beneficial both for Pakistan and India as well as for struggle-sharpened Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control.

Javed Iqbal, a retired bureaucrat, was of the opinion that Islamabad and Delhi need to broaden their approach on settlement of Kashmir tangle; log jammed way of dealing with such intense but oldest dispute can further draw apart the two nuclear neighbors - Pakistan and India.

Surroya Jabeen, an educated housewife, said that if ‘we trace the history of

efforts for seeking Kashmir solution, we find that Kashmir is a point of life and death for Pakistanis, and a point of prestige for Delhi. This attitude needs to be realistic that Kashmir has got to be solved sooner or later. And Kashmiris are basic party to this dispute.

She said: Kashmir needs to be discussed not away from public eye; it must be given higher solution status; the leaderships of both countries and the Kashmiris must sit together and thrash out their nuances. Mr Modi’s past political career is like that of a Muslims’ body slasher. Modi needs to improve his bloodied-hands image in the region, she added.

Trying to retrieve what Sheikh, Farooq, Omar sold: PDP SRINAGAR—Reacting to former chief minister and NC working president Omar Abdullah’s assertions that Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed made a “sellout” to BJP, the PDP Saturday said the NC has “already made a sellout of the state.”

Talking to local news agency KNS, PDP’s chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said: “What has NC left now to sell? They have sold autonomy resolution. When (NC founder) Sheikh Abdullah took over in 1975 after burying the Plebiscite Front and sacrifices offered by his followers between 1953-1975, he sold them out. Immediately thereafter, he (Sheikh Abdullah) gave the last remnant of autonomy by which state could make amendments to its Constitution, to president of India in lieu of power.”

“Then he (Sheikh) started to give power projects to the Centre beginning

with Salal. Farooq Abdullah gave seven power projects in lieu of employment to his son (Omar) during the NDA government. He (Farooq) banned Shahtoosh and brought new laws like POTA,” he said.

Akhtar said, “Omar gave another three power projects to NHPC and gave the J&K Bank which was the last symbol of fiscal autonomy of the state when he became chief minister in 2009. Now they have not left anything to sell.”

“What we (PDP) are trying to do is retrieve what they (NC) have given and sold out. We are committed to safeguard the interests of people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he asserted. On allegations of Omar that PDP was playing a drama over government formation when they have already contested RS and LC polls in alliance with BJP, the PDP leader said, “We have done an open seat adjustment with BJP and we

don’t deny that. In order to win as many seats from our limited number of MLAs we did so. But NC got Farooq Abdullah elected to RS (in 2009) with the support of BJP and in LC elections (2011) they received the votes from BJP MLAs for which those MLAs were suspended by the BJP. That is what they (NC) did.”

“They had an under-hand liaison with the BJP while we have entered in a seat adjustment which is done by all political parties,” he added.

On allegations that PDP gave entry to BJP in Kashmir when its candidate Yosuf Sofi won a LC seat, he said, “It is on the strength of their (BJP’s) 27 seats. When we had only 21 seats in the previous house we also got four members in the LC. Jammu continues to be part of J&K and if Omar Abdullah thinks Jammu isn’t part of the state then he needs to say it on record.” —GK

Hurriyet leaders pay tributes to martyred youth S RINAGAR —In occupied Kashmir, Hurriyet leaders while paying tributes to the youth, who were martyred by Indian troops in Sopore yesterday have said that the people of Kashmir would never forget their sacrifices and would carry forward their mission to its logical conclusion.

The leaders including Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Shabbir Ahmad Dar, Mohammad Yousuf Naqash and Mohammad Iqbal Mir in their joint statement in Srinagar said that the martyrs’ sacrifices had strengthened their belief that the Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination would succeed at the end of the day.

“The sacrifices of our 6 lakh martyrs will bear fruit and we will reach our destination of freedom,” the statement added. “The sacrifices are an integral part of every freedom movement, where in the fight between good & evil, good ultimately prevails,” they further said.The leaders maintained that they would not allow their supreme sacrifices go waste and would continue the ongoing struggle till it reached the destination of complete freedom from India.—KMS

SRINAGAR—In occupied Kashmir, Hurriyet leaders have warned of a mass agitation against any move aimed at harming the interests of the Kashmiri people including the change of demography in the territory.

The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani in a media interview from New Delhi expressed the resolve that the Bharatiya Janata Party would not be allowed to fulfill its agenda in Kashmir.

He was commenting on reports about the alliance between Bharatiya Janata Party and Peoples Democratic Party for formation of a political set-up in the territory.

He, however, said that the Kashmiris would continue their struggle for right to self-determination no matter who would come to power.Senior Hurriyet leader, Shabbir Ahmad said that the BJP was working on the plan of converting the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir into a minority through granting citizenship rights to nonKashmiris. He said that the move would be resisted, tooth and nail.

The All Parties Hurriyet Conference, the

forum led by Syed Ali Gilani and Hurriyet leader Nayeem Ahmad Khan in their separate statements in Srinagar termed the Kunan-Poshpora mass rape incident as a black spot in Kashmir’s history. They demanded investigation by an independent agency into the tragedy.

The Indian troops had gang-raped around 100 women in the intervening night of February 22 and 23 in 1991 in Kunan-poshpora village of Kupwara district.

Hurriyet leaders, Aasiya Andrabi and Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai speaking at a function in Srinagar hailing Pakistan for extending diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmir freedom movement said that Kashmir would one day become part of Pakistan.

Hurriyet leaders including Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Shabbir Ahmad Dar, Mohammad Yousuf Naqash and Mohammad Iqbal Mir in their joint statement paid tributes to the youth, who were martyred by Indian troops in Sopore yesterday.

They said that martyrs’ mission would be carried forward to its logical conclusion, against all odds.—KMS

2 militants killed in Rafiabad SRINAGAR—Two militants were killed in a gun-

fight with Special Operations Group of J&K Police and security forces in Rafiabad area of Baramulla district in north Kashmir on late Saturday.

Police said that on a specific information regarding presence of militants in village Thake Gund, Rafiabad Sopore, SOG, Army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

“The militants opened fire on the search party, triggering an encounter. Two militants were killed in the ensuing encounter,” police said and identified them as Abu Saad and Abu Noman of LeT. Police said that slain militants were part of

a group of eight militants who infiltrated in September 2013.

Two of their associates were killed in an encounter in Saidpora area of Sopore in January this year, police added.

Police said that the duo was active in Lolab, Sogam, Kralgund, Wavoora, Sahipora areas of district Kupwara and Dooru, Watrgam, Saidpora, Arampora, Maharjpora, Thagund and Mundji areas of Sopore.

Police said they were involved in incidents including IED blast near Watrgam in which one Army soldier was injured.

A cow shed was damaged while some residential houses in the area also suffered minor damages during the encounter.—GK

Aasiya stresses amicable settlement of Kashmir dispute S RINAGAR —In occupied Kashmir, the Chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Aasiya Andrabi has stressed amicable settlement of the Kashmir dispute according to aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Aasiya Andrabi addressing a function to release a book ‘Pakistan Naguzeer Tha’ (Pakistan was inevitable) in Srinagar said that the liberation movement had been transferred to younger generation and it was high time for the pro-freedom leaders to show steadfastness and take it to its logical conclusion. The book has been authored by late Syed Hassan Riyaz and abridged by illegally detained Hurriyet leader, Dr Qasim Faktoo who is behind the bars for past over 22 years.

The book was released in presence of Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Muhammad Yasin Malik, president of High Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom, Jamaat-e-Islami spokesman Advocate Zahid Ali, Chairperson of

Kashmir Tehreek-e-Khawateen, Zamrooda Habib and Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori besides representatives of various profreedom parties.

She said: “My husband has spent over 22 years in jail and did not even waste a minute. He has dedicated his life for the freedom of Kashmir from forcible control of India. His unflinching sacrifice symbolizes resilience and resolve of Kashmiris to achieve their goal,” she said. Hailing Pakistan for extending diplomatic and moral support to Kashmir movement, Asiya said Kashmir will one day become part of Pakistan.

On the occasion, General Secretary of Tehreek e Hurriyet, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, who presided over the function, said formation of Pakistan in 1947 was imperative for Muslims. “The condition of Muslims in India was such that formation of Pakistan was inevitable. Mohammad Ali Jinnah realized the idea of Pakistan as conceptualized by Alama Iqbal.—KMS

MUZAFFARABAD: Secretary Forest Mr. Farhat Ali Mir giving radio interview on Sunday.

PDP, BJP rendezvous DR. ABDUL RUFF COLACHAL

T

HE Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are inching towards forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir, months after Assembly elections. PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will be the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister after his party reached an agreement for forming a government with the BJP, top party sources said. The PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, who returned to winter capital Jammu on Friday after spending a week in Mumbai, told the media that an agreement had been reached on all contentious issues between the PDP and the BJP. BJP will not have its deputy CM this time to pursue the Hindutva goal in Kashmir valley.

As per the agreement, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will be the chief minister for the full six years. A Common Minimum Programme is also ready and is being shown to leaders of both the parties, sources said adding that the PDP will have chief minister’s post for full term and BJP deputy chief minister’s post which is expected to be given to state BJP leader Nirmal Singh. The status quo is likely to continue on Article 370 and there will be no re-looking on the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act as of now.

Sources confirm that main agreement between BJP and PDP has been reached on the draft of the CMP (common minimum programme) on contentious issues like article 370, armed forces special powers act (AFSPA) and the plight of West Pakistan refugees., “It has been agreed that without any written reference to it, both the parties would respect the wishes of the people of the state in consonance with the constitution of the country with regard to article 370,” a top party source told the media The PDP insider who is engaged with the BJP in the dialogue process on government formation on behalf of his party also said instead of accepting the demand that the AFSPA should be revoked from the entire state within one year, it has now been agreed by the two parties that a committee would be formed which would recommend gradual, but timely, revocation of the act from areas in the state.

The PDP has agreed to the BJP demand that the CMP should accept that the problems faced by West Pakistan refugees should not be politicized, but treated as a humanitarian issue that needs to be addressed on humanitarian grounds.

When asked to comment on media reports that government formation in the state was imminent because the PDP and the BJP had

agreed on the draft of the common minimum programme (CMP) for governance, party chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar told IANS in winter capital Jammu: “I am meeting Mufti Sahib today and if anything has been worked out, we will hold a briefing about it during the day.”

Unlike his steady dismissal of any agreement with the BJP during the last nearly two months when he maintained the “structured dialogue between the BJP and the PDP had not even started”, Akhtar sounded less circumspect Saturday about his lack of knowledge regarding an agreement on the common minimum programme with the BJP. West Pakistan refugees are those over 25,000 families who came to the state after the India-Pakistan wars of 1947 partition, 1965 and 1971. Since these people were not citizens of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir as it existed before accession to India in 1947, they cannot vote in the state assembly elections, nor buy property in the state.

These refugees cannot apply for government jobs since all the state government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir are reserved for permanent residents of the state. As an anomaly, the West Pakistan refugees can vote in the parliament elections, but not in the state assembly elections since the state has a constitution of its own in addition to the country’s consti-

tution and both apply concomitantly to the state.

With regard to the PDP demand on return of NHPC owned hydro-electric power projects in the state to state ownership, the sources said it had been agreed that the two would work together for central assistance for state ownership of these projects. “The nuts and bolts job has been completed. All that now remains is an announcement on the agreement between the two which could be made within the next two to three days,” said sources.

BJP has 25 MLAs after results for the state Assembly were declared on December 23.

PDP, which has 28 MLAs, has already named a team of six leaders including two MPs Muzzafar Hussain Baig and Tariq Hameed Qarra besides Akhtar, MLAs Haseeb Drabu and Altaf Bukhari and Vikramaditya Singh.

Efforts from both sides are afoot to have a government in place in the state before Parliament Session begins on February 23. Mufti Mohammaad Sayeed would formally call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the PDP and the BJP announce having formalized the draft of the CMP. It is not clear as to why daughter Mufti has been replaced by father Mufti for the CM chair. However, that really does not matter at all.

—Courtesy: Kashmir Watch

BJP-PDP alliance won’t make a difference: Hurriyet leaders S RINAGAR —In occupied Kashmir, Hurriyet leaders have said that whoever comes to power in the territory will make no difference for the Kashmiris, who will continue their struggle for right to selfdetermination.

The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani commenting on the reports about alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party and Peoples Democratic Party in a media interview said that occupied Kashmir had always been ruled by occupation forces.“BJP’ coming to power doesn’t make any difference for us,” Syed Ali Gilani said, adding that “For us, there is no difference between BJP and PDP or Congress and National Conference or any other pro-India political party. They are all occupiers”.

The veteran leader said that the BJP would try to fulfill its agenda after coming to power and that adds to the responsibility of the people. “It will affect us, it has been affecting us all these years,” he said. “It only adds to our responsibility. The only option left with us is to continue our fight for our right”.

Senior Hurriyet leader, Shabbir Ahmad voiced concern that about BJP’s agenda to change the demography of the territory by granting citizenship rights to nonKashmiris.

“We also know that BJP has the Sangh mindset and they want to change our majority status into minority,” he cautioned. “Be it BJP, PDP, Congress or NC, they are all same, our enemies,” Shabbir Shah maintianed.—KMS

Currency

Selling Buying

USA

101.30

101.10

UK

156.34

156.03

Euro

115.16

114.93

Canada

81.15

80.99

Switzerland

106.74

106.53

Australia

79.09

78.93

Sweden

12.03

12.01

Japan

0.8521

0.8504

Norway

13.36

13.33

Singapore

74.55

74.40

Denmark

15.47

15.44

Saudi Arabia 27.00

26.95

Hong Kong

13.06

13.03

Kuwait

342.47

341.80

Malaysia

27.98

27.92

Newzealand

76.29

76.14

Qatar

27.82

27.76

UAE

27.58

27.53

Kr Won

0.0911

0.0909

Thailand

3.111

3.105

IDC looks for investment in Punjab STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—A high level strategic delegation, comprising of the Chairman, President, Secretary General and Executive Member of Italian Development Committee (IDC) Pakistan visited Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT).

The purpose of the visit was to discuss the investment opportunities existing in Punjab. Over the past few years IDC has successfully built an image of an investment facilitator between Italy and Pakistan as it works closely with the Italian and Pakistani authorities and help business communities of the both countries to identify, develop and build projects.

Chairman IDC Lahore chapter Masud Akhter briefed the PBIT team about the functions of IDC and the projects they are currently working on and the MOU’s they have signed particularly in education, tech-

nology, agriculture, leather and petroleum sectors of Pakistan. Furthermore he announced that Italian chamber of commerce has decided to establish an office in Pakistan in June this year which will further expand the avenues of cooperation between the two nations.

President IDC Tariq Ikram shared the details regarding some successful as well as failed investment projects they have struggled for in the preceding years. Factors which contribute to the completion and success of the projects were great untapped potential, cheap labor and abundance of raw material. He informed that a lot of efforts are underway in the education, technology and research areas. IDC is in contact with all the leading research, agriculture, technology and fashion focused educational institutions of Pakistan and Italy to encourage them collaborate in the form of introducing student exchange

and joint degree programs, said the President IDC. IDC Secretary General Ms. Amna Gul Muqri shared the information pertaining to the number of sector focused road shows they are planning to organize and participate internationally by taking numerous Pakistani companies and institutions on board so that they can build up a strong interface with Italian potential partners.

Director General PBIT, Ms. Lubna Pathan stressed on the need to work further than just the exchange programs between the educational institutions and assured the delegation of their full support in bringing more investment projects to Pakistan. Food processing, agriculture value addition and energy were some of the areas identified by PBIT team for cooperation and it was mutually decided that projects will be shared on the said subjects with IDC.

HMC to address cleanliness, other civic problems HYDERABAD—The Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) has requested the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) to address the business community’s concerns about cleanliness, beautification and maintenance of roads.

HCCI’s Senior Vice President Turab Ali Khoja in a meeting at the HCCI Secretariat here Sunday said the traders in Latifabad face several problems due to dilapidated conditions of roads, drainage issues and a lack of cleanliness, according to a statement.

The Chairman of HCCI’s Latifabad Traders’ Committee Nooruddin Noori said the SSP Hyderabad, Irfan Baloch had issued directives for setting up a police emergency 15 service for Latifabad to ensure immediate response to complaints about crimes.

He said due to bad condition of infrastructure including roads, footpaths and drainage the buyers face problems in moving inside and outside the markets areas.

Noori said a delegation of Latifabad taluka’s traders along with the HCCI’s representatives would meet the Administrator HMC in order to seek an early solution to their problems.

The HCCI office bearers and members including Ziauddin, Yawar Ali Shah, Kashif Shaikh, Fareed Chundrigar, Aslam Nirban and others attended the meeting.—APP

Int’l Halal Conference, Expo-2015 next month L AHORE —Punjab Halal Development Agency (PHDA) in collaboration with Halal Research Council and sponsored by USAID-PEEP will hold 4th International Halal Conference and Expo 2015 here from March 10.

The PHDA spokesman said here that prime objective of the event was to showcase livestock and allied industries potential of Pakistan before the international community to increase the Halal trade.

The agency, he said, had facilitated more than 50 international potential buyers and exhibitors to visit Pakistan and observe livestock and Halal value chain here. The PHDA had also planned field visits for foreigners including livestock farms, abattoirs and allied industries to highlight latent of the industry. He said the Punjab government was striving to promote Halal industry and the Halal Conference and Expo would help increase Halal food trade potential of the province.

The PHDA also called upon the stakeholders to participate in the conference to learn the concept of Halal food and showcase their products in the exhibition to have international contacts of visiting Halal food importers. The meat, poultry, dairy and by-products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, beverages, Islamic financing and other related industries were eligible to participate in the event, he hadded.—APP

ICCI emphasizes for speeding up work on Metro Bus Project STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Metro Bus Project raises many questions due to slow pace of work and on lack of attention to address environmental issues, said Muzzamil Sabri, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry while addressing a meeting at the Chamber.

The Metro Bus project lags behind given timeframe of its completion, creating great problems for the commuters and general public. The repair and maintenance work of roads is also of poor quality and need to be addressed, said President ICCI. He said that at a number of places in Islamabad, especially at 9th avenue, the newly constructed roads are bumpy and uneven, and also the melting work of roads at many places is pending.

To address the environmental aspect, as per reports 180 million rupees were allocated, whereas plantation work at Agha Shahi and other roads have still not been properly executed. To beautify Islamabad and to address environment issues, attention must be given for maximum plantation of trees and green plants, stressed Muzzamil Sabri.

He said that still many roads in Islamabad are closed owing to construction work on Metro Bus project due to which industrialists and trad-

ers are facing great problems in moving goods smoothly. He was of the view that contractors and sub-contractors are not following the safety and traffic diversion rules, and create problems for general public that travels in a large number from Rawalpindi to Islamabad daily. He pointed out that a big number of causalities have already occurred.

He said that businessmen, especially in the Blue area have suffered huge business losses due to Metro-Bus project and emphasized to expedite the work on it to give relief to traders of that area.

Muzzmail Sabri highly stressed that Metro Bus project Management must ensure good quality of road maintenance work and complete all pending work of roads, footpaths and bridges as early as possible for easy movement of traffic along with addressing environmental issues as per existing standards of the Federal Capital.

He said that Metro Buss Project Implantation and Monitoring Committee must seriously look into these vital issues and take urgent measures to speed up the pace of work for timely completion of this project so that business activities could normalize again and the inconvenience being faced by the citizens could come to an end.

Punjab Minister predicts increase in potato prices STAFF REPORTER

GUJRANWALA: Federal Minister for Commerce, Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan is administering oath of office to the newly elected office bearers of Pakistan Pumps and Motors Manufacturers Association.

KP may move court to seek due gas share STAFF REPORTER P ESHAWA R —KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has showed grave concern over denying of due share of gas for the province’s industry despite the fact that Prime Minister and concerned federal ministers had approved it.

He also expressed apprehension that federal govt was hesitant to implement 18th Constitutional Amendment in its true spirit Chief Minister cautioned that his provincial govt would have no other option but to knock the doors of Apex court if our due rights are not given to us in honourable way. “Center working against interests of provinces is simply acceptable to none”, he added.

The CM expressed these views in a meeting with high ups of Sui-gas and Petroleum Ministry at Islamabad wherein he expressed his dismay over the zero progress on right of the industrial use of 100 mcf gas of the already promised share, regularizing the illegal gas connections of the people of Karak and provision of the required funds for the purpose. The meet-

ing besides the Federal Secretary Petroleum, Oil and Gas Arshad Mirza, GM Sui Gas Arbab Saqib and other high authorities of the federal ministries, was attended by KP Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Hammad Awais Agha, Provincial Secretary Energy&Power Abdul Lateef and other senior officers as well as elected representatives of the oil and gas producing areas.

Pervez Khattak said in-spite of all the approvals of the case of industrial use of the province’s gas was first sent to Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet division and then to Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) of the other ministry of water and power where it was put in the cold storage with certain intentional objections. He deplored that the plight of this province due to economic and industrial downfall and the alarming increase in unemployment and poverty due to unrest and terrorism was a secret to none and it is also known fact that all these critical and sensitive issues were continuously raising concerns of the people over here.

Cyprus, Greece look to attract UAE investors LONDON—Leptos Group, a property firm investing in Cyprus and Greece for five decades has moved to Dubai to serve the quickly growing demand for investors from the UAE and Gulf region as well, said Marios Pashardis, overseas marketing executive.

“We have at least 40 enquiries for property in Greece and Cyprus per month before opening of our offices in Dubai. This number has increased due to our presence in DIFC and we believe there will be a good number of investments between Cyprus, Greece and the UAE,” he said.

Irfan Al Hassani, a UAE-based economist, told Gulf News that while Greece’s economy is

starting to show signs of recovery, it was not enough considering the country is entering its eighth year of economic recession.

Just last Friday, Eurozone officials extended Greece’s bailout by four months, giving the troubled country a financial lifeline and avoiding a bankruptcy with potentially destabilising consequences for the region.

The country currently owes £240 billion (Dh1.35 trillion) in sovereign debt and there are still lingering questions of whether Greece will stay in the Eurozone.

In 2012, Cyprus was hit by the Eurozone financial crisis, causing the government to seek •1.8 billion (Dh9.1 billion) of foreign aid.—Agencies

Lower valuations attract investors to Saudi stocks JEDDAH—Between July and September 2014, the Saudi stock market (Tadawul) experienced some “irrational exuberance” driven by the announcement effect of allowing foreign institutional investors to trade in the local market.

The decision which is yet to come to effect led to a persistent and rapid increase in stock prices that propelled the main index up by over 30 percent by late September, breaching the 10,000 point mark for the first time in six years. However, the turn of events thereafter, which included a strengthening US dollar and falling oil prices, embroiled the Saudi stock market with speculation and heightened volatility, resulting in the TASI index ending the year at 8,333.3 at a 2.4 percent annualized loss, according to a report by the National Commercial Bank.

The Tadawul All-Share Index dropped 1.14 percent to 9,300.2 points on Thursday.

Although the correlation between oil prices and the TASI benchmark in recent years has been shown to be low, major trends in the oil market do impact individual investors’ sentiments, most of which tend to hold short positions.

Moving on to 2015, reports on declining US tight oil excavation rigs to a 3-year low are signaling that the oversupply scenario for oil might not become prolonged, and that oil prices have bottomed out.

The unchanged oil production policy in the Kingdom reaffirms that an oil price rebound is likely to be seen in 2015.—Agencies

Gas loadshedding, falling petrol, diesel prices raise generators import STAFF REPORTER KARACHI —The continuous gas load shedding and falling prices of petrol and diesel have raised the import of generators in Punjab.

The increase is largely driven by industrial generators as demand for residential power machines has fallen.

The overall generator imports rose by 20.4pc to $775 million during the first seven months (July-January) of this fiscal year compared to $643m in the same period a year earlier, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The import of generators rose by 12pc to $1.07 billion in 2013-14 from $958.6m in 2012-13.

Punjab, which has been hit hard by gas shortage, holds 60-70 per cent share in total arrival and consumption of foreign generators.

Pakistan Machinery Merchants Group (PMMG) President Khurram Saigol said

Punjab industrialists were importing over 20 kVA (kilo volt amps) diesel generators in large numbers. They were also purchasing second-hand imported diesel generators.

A reduction of more than Rs28 per litre in diesel price from September 2014 till February 2015 must have lured industrialists as it has curtailed operating cost of diesel generators.

He said that further price cut in diesel may push up import of diesel generators as industrial units no more rely only on gas now.

On the contrary, over 90pc people prefer running their residential/portable generators on natural gas. However, the shortfall in gas supply has affected their demand as citizens could not afford operating their generators on petrol, he said. “Despite sharp reduction in petrol price, gas is still economical,” Saigol said.

Falling buying power of consumers is another reason behind low demand for por-

table generators, despite availability of cheap Chinese brands in the market.

The government has been claiming big improvement in power supply, but for consumers the ground reality was the same as it was before.

Buying season of generators normally starts from April and ends in July. The PMMG’s president said that importers are so far undecided whether to raise future import orders or wait for the materialisation of power projects announced by the government. Power outages in summers will further decide the trend of generators sales and imports, he added.

“As long as load-shedding exists, the government should announce some relaxation in taxes and duties on import of generators to provide relief to the consumers,” he said.

He said a sizeable quantity of residential generators from one to six KVA was finding way in the markets through Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).

LAHORE—Provincial Minister for Agriculture Dr. Farrukh Javed has said that government has put ban on potato import and has waved off duty on its export in farmers’ interest.

He said that farmers will now get good prices for their commodity and a little increase in potato prices will be seen in open market. He said that punishment for fake pesticides, seed and medicine producers is being increased and crackdown is started against them with full zeal and zest. He said that record production of Wheat, Cotton and Rice is seen due to Govt’s farmer friendly policies and farmers’ utmost efforts.

Dr. Farrukh Javed expressed these views during his visit to Punjab Seed Corporation’s

seed plant and Corn Research Institute Sahiwal here today. Joint Director of Punjab Seed Corporation Ch. Muhammad Anwar and Director Research Institute Mian Muhammad Shafiq briefed the Minister regarding their performance and latest researches. While addressing the officers, The Minister said that department is focusing on introducing new seed varieties for better productivity in low cost.

He said that Chief Minister Punjab is taking personal interest in Farmers’ issues and he has directed to launch rigorous campaign against fake medicine and pesticides. The Minister assured that Department is serious in reclaiming its land from land grabbers. He said that government is increasing its research budget for better productivity in agriculture sector.

Macroeconomic indicators of Pakistan economy on positive trajectory: Zubair I SLAMABAD —Minister of State for Privatization Muhammad Zubair said that the macroeconomic indicators of Pakistan’s economy were on positive trajectory due to the economic reforms agenda of the government.

He was addressing a dinner reception hosted

by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK Syed Ibne Abbas at the minister’s honor who was leading a delegation of Karachi Stock Exchange and a business delegation comprising 14 leading companies of Pakistan, said a press release received here. He said that the government was committed to providing enabling environment to the business community and was determined to eliminating terrorism and extremism from the country.

The minister also invited overseas Pakistanis to make the most of lucrative investment opportunities offered by Pakistan.

In his remarks, the High Commissioner welcomed the minister, KSE office bearers and

the business delegation. He appreciated their efforts to promote investment in the capital market of Pakistan.

He said that London was the hub of financial services and international trading and such visits could create critical awareness about investment potential of Pakistan in the UK. He said Pakistan High Commission would be happy to liaise with KSE and private sector in future to promote economic and trade interests of Pakistan. Minister Muhammad Zubair thanked the High Commissioner for his hospitality and affording the delegates an excellent business networking opportunity.

The reception was also attended by Zamir Choudhry, Arif Hahbib, Abid Habib, Yasin Lakhani, Munir Kamal Chairman KSE, Nadeem Naqvi MD of KSE and others. Representatives of the FCO and the Lord Mayor of the City of London were also in attendance.—APP

LAHORE: Farmers busy in loading cauliflowers after collecting them from field to deliver in vegetable markets.

2-day fisheris symposium from tomorrow LAHORE —Punjab Fisheries Department and and investors from in and abroad would particiPakistan Fisheries Society (PFS) are jointly organizing a two-day 5th International Fisheries Symposium, ‘Fisheries, Trade & Investment Opportunities’ here from 24th of this month.

Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Fisheries Industry Division Chief Dr. Lahsen Ababouch would chair the symposium, first of its kind in Pakistan.

Fisheries Department Director General Dr Muhammad Ayub said here Sunday that international organizations- the FAO, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Fisheries Development Board (FDB) and European Union (EU) were partners in the event and about 300 delegates including eminent scientists, researchers, academia, farmers, traders

pate in the symposium.

He added that significant participation from foreign and private sector would create an opportunity to modernize aquaculture and fisheries industry in Pakistan.

Dr. Ayub said, the event also entailed a plenary session on trade and investment opportunities in fisheries & aquaculture sector, and a rich selection of topics would be addressed during the Symposium that included Fish Pathology, Nutrition, Fish Quality, Fish Biology & Ecology, Biodiversity etc.

The symposium, he observed, would be an opportunity to share knowledge, promote further international collaboration in research, education, technology transfer and other business activities.—APP

Football: Kane’s late leveller caps dramatic Spurs revival LONDON—Harry Kane wrote another chapter in his storybook season as the Tottenham striker rescued a 2-2 draw with the last kick of a pulsating London derby against West Ham on Sunday (Feb 22).

Mauricio Pochettino’s team had fallen 2-0 behind at White Hart Lane as the Hammers struck through Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho, but an error by goalkeeper Adrian allowed Danny Rose to halve the deficit with nine minutes left.

And when Kane was fouled in the area by Alex Song deep into second half stoppage-time, he kept his composure to smash in the rebound after his spot-kick was saved. It was a welcome point in the end for the home side but really they needed to win to

unmarked to head firmly past Lloris.

West Ham’s delighted fans were nearly silenced four minutes later as Kane chipped the ball forward for Rose, who beat Adrian’s punch to the ball only for his header to drop onto the roof of the empty net. But West Ham continued to pose problems.

Lloris had to rush from his goal to block a shot from Enner Valencia after the forward had got the better of Rose.

West Ham should have gone 2-0 ahead after 59 minutes when Mark Noble’s pass sent Sakho through with only Lloris to beat, but the goalkeeper anticipated the forward’s shot to his left and pushed the ball round the post.

It only delayed the inevitable.

In the 62nd minute Noble crossed from the left, two defenders went with Valencia, and Sakho stole in unnoticed at the far post to touch the ball back across Lloris and in. Spurs then brought on Roberto Soldado but even though that pushed Kane into a supporting role, he still looked Tottenham’s most dangerous player, and he thought he had halved the arrears when scoring at the second attempt, only to be flagged offside.

Tottenham’s lifeline arrived in the 81st minute and owed more to Adrian, the West Ham goalkeeper, than any attacking skill. First he came out to claw a cross from the head of Dier but got no distance on the ball. And as Rose’s shot bounced back towards the unguarded net he appeared to leave it, before realising the ball was LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane reacts after scoring his going to drop in and diving penalty during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and too late.

West Ham United at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Adrian almost redeemed Tottenham failed to clear a West himself by saving Kane’s last-gasp put pressure on Southampton and Liverpool before their two rivals for Ham attack but still had plenty of de- penalty in the sixth minute of stoppagefourth place meet at St Mary’s later on fenders between ball and goal as the time, but he couldn’t prevent the new ball was worked down the left to Aaron hero of White Hart Lane hitting home Sunday.

So a limp first half display was a Cresswell. But when the left back the rebound for his 24th goal of a resurprise, especially in a local derby swung the ball across, Kouyate rose markable campaign.—AFP

MCA to visit Kabul for 5 ODs, 3 T20 matches series

that went the way of the visitors twice last season. Tottenham did go close to the opener when Kane won a race against James Tomkins for a simple ball over the top from Rose.

Winston Reid’s challenge forced the Spurs forward to improvise a poke with his studs rather than a clean strike, but the ball still beat Adrian only to clip the outside of the base of a post and spin to safety.

But West Ham also looked dangerous and Sakho alertly nipped in between Hugo Lloris and Eric Dier as the ball bounced between them and headed goalwards. Fortunately for the home side, Jan Vertonghen was on hand to clear, but there was no salvation for Spurs after 22 minutes as West Ham went ahead.

Bell apology for ‘embarrassing’ England

CHRISTCHURCH—England opener Ian Bell barrassing,” Bell said.

“The fact we have to apologise to people P ESHAWAR —The Under-19 apologised Sunday for his side’s embarrassteam of Malik Cricket Academy Peshawar will visit Kabul on a 20-day tour in April to play five One-Days and three Twenty20 matches against Afghanistan Udner-19 team.

This was stated by Managing Director of Malik Cricket Academy (MCA) Farman Ali while talking to APP here on Sunday. He said MCA has got an invitation from the Afghanistan Cricket Board to visit Kabul for the Series that including five OneDays and three Twenty20 matches.

In this connection, he said, the MCA would soon announce date to conduct open trials before short-listing players for the 15-day camp.

He said the selection of the players would be made, purely on merit. After twoday trials, he said, trials matches would be conducted among those shortlisted for the camp. Initially 30 players would be shortlisted for the camp, he added.

He disclosed that soon after the visit to Afghanistan, the MCA would also visit Sharjah and Dubai on a 15day tour.—APP

ing start to the World Cup after being thrashed by Australia and New Zealand in their first two games.

“We expect people at home to be angry about that performance,” he said on the eve of their third Pool A match, against Scotland, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

England opened cricket’s showpiece ODI tournament with a 111-run hiding by Australia before suffering an eight-wicket thrashing

by New Zealand.

England captain Eoin Morgan said after the New Zealand humiliation that his side was “disappointed” rather than “embarrassed”, but for Bell there was no escaping the “E” word.

“To go out and play like we did was em-

about the cricket is not acceptable. It’s really disappointing what we’ve done.”

Scotland have only played one game so far, losing by three wickets to New Zealand, after putting up a more credible performance than England against the tournament cohosts.Bell, who produced scores of 36 and eight in England’s opening games, where his side totalled 231 and 123 said England had been well off the pace in the tournament “so it would be nice to turn up and put on the kind of game we know we can”.

“We were gutted about the performance” against Australia and New Zealand, he said.

“But it’s about tomorrow now. Hopefully we can put on something that’s at least — I don’t think it will repair the damage fully — but at least it’s a step in the right direction.”

But he was adamant, there was no need to change their game plan of taking an aggressive approach, even though it is not working when either setting or chasing targets.

“We want to play aggressive cricket. We just haven’t managed to do that in the last two games,” he said. “It’s no good doing it in the nets. We have to take it into the middle and do it there. You want to bat through but there’s no point trying to survive either.

You’ve got to play aggressive cricket.

“That’s where one-day cricket is going.

But that doesn’t mean slogging, it doesn’t mean hitting every ball for six — it’s being smart as well.”

Bell said the plan was to maintain the aggressive approach in batting, bowling and fielding. “We don’t want to take a backward step and go back to trying to survive and build a total and go hard in the last 10 [overs].”—AFP

ISLAMABAD: Players of Faisalabad Board in a group photo with the chief guest. Faisalabad board got first position in Inter-Board Hockey tournament held at Naseer Budna Hockey Stadium.

Pak community to promote cricket in US STAFF REPORTER P ESHAWA R —A group of Pakistani players and business men are striving to promote the game of cricket in the United States, a country which is yet to prove its talents in this sports.

A leading Pakistani businessmen of the Houston (America) Sakhi Mohammad has not only established a cricket stadium in the City but also promoting cricket and patronizing the players through his own sources. A Pakistani cricketer Jan Nisar Khan, who hails from Peshawar, is playing a pivotal role in this regard.

In a recently played cricket match between the Smart Choice sports club Houston and Trigger cricket club that consists of players from various cities, the former won the match and tournament titled HCL T-20 and brought laurels to the community. The Smart Choice Club Houston comprises 90% Pakistani Players with the team captain Bilal Ahmad also a Pakistani. The ace player Jan Nisar Khan bowled out five players of the Trigger club and was declared man of the match and was awarded trophy and cash prize.

Jan Nisar who has played matches in, South Africa, England, Bangla Desh and other countries, visits UK every year and coach the local teams while many other countries have offered him coaching their teams.

Don’t have high expectations from Pakistan in World Cup: Sethi L AHORE —Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Executive Committee Najam Sethi acknowledged the Pakistan team’s humiliating defeats in the World Cup and said fans should not have high expectations from its performance in the tournament.

Sethi, who has maintained a silence duri n g P a k i s t a n ’s dismal performance early in the tournament, was speaking to reporters at the venue of Lahore Literature Festival on Sunday.

The former chairman came to the team’s defence, and said that this was the same team which had won Pakistan many Twenty20 matches.

Outlining reasons for the team’s loss, he said that the Pakistan team played less international matches than the other countries participating in the game’s biggest competition.

Sethi, however, was quick to add that the countrymen must not forget that most of the team’s regular bowlers were injured and the batsmen were not experienced either.

He went on to say: “This is only the second match that Pakistan has lost ... in these circumstances, team needs support and not criticism.”

A revitalised West Indies side had cashed in on a sensational Pakistan batting collapse

to notch their first victory of the World Cup by 150 runs at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

In Pakistan’s tournament opener on February 15, arch-rivals India had continued their World Cup unbeaten streak against the Greenshirts by winning their sixth tournament encounter since 1992.

Following the defeats, the board and the team were subject to severe criticism as reports of sidelining captain Misbah-ul-Haq and rifts of certain players with fielding coach Grant Luden started to emerge.

Though the board denied all of such reports, but the players’ performance on the field and the results it wielded did not leave many convinced.

None of the leading Pakistan Cricket Board officials were available in the PCB headquarters at the Gaddafi Stadium the day after Pakistan team’s shock defeat to arch-rivals India at Adelaide in a crucial World Cup match.

Neither chairman Shaharyar M. Khan nor PCB Governing Board member and chairman of three committees Najam Sethi or Shakil Sheikh (head of Cricket Committee) — who had played key roles in taking major cricket related decisions prior to the start of the World Cup — were available in the PCB offices which was extremely surprising and reflective of their mindset about the team’s performance in Australia.

The need of the hour was that the trio should have met immediately to discuss the shambolic display by national team at Adelaide after India, who were under tremendous pressure before the crunch game due to their dismal show in the recent Test series and the tri-nation ODI series in Australia, cruised to a 76-run win over Pakistan for the sixth consecutive time in a World Cup.—APP

Arshad retained as captain of Shaheen Club P ESHAWA R —First

class cricketer Arshad Iqbal has retained as captain of the Shaheen Club for the year2015.

This was stated by Patron-in-Chief of the Club Umar Nawaz Orakzai while talking to APP here on Sunday. He said the decision of retaining Arshad Iqbal as captain was taken on looking after his performance as captain during the year2014. The other players of the club, he said, comprising Farid Shah, Nasrut Ullah, Niamat Ullah, Azam Khan, Obaid Ullah, Kamran Khan, Naqeeb Ullah, Usman, Asfandiyar Khan, Abu Bakar, Zakir Khan, Tahir, Zubair, Dawood Khan, Iltaf Khan.

He said players of Shaheen club had given excellent performances while playing different tournaments. He said Azam Khan was selected in the FATA Under-16 team, Dawood Khan represented Peshawar District team in the Udner19, Naqeeb UIlah, Niamat Ullah, Nusrat Ullah were part of the Afghanistan Udner19 team. Iltaf played for KP Police team while Kamran represented FC team. He expressed the hope that the players of the Club would continue their performance in the Year-2015. He also LAJPRE: Chief guest former Governor Punjab Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood giving away winning trophy to thye ensured all out support to winning team Lake City Polo during prize distribution ceremony of Aibak Polo Cup. the Club.—APP

HYDERABAD: Hockey players of Hyderabad Herpes amd Atlas Honda playing hockey match at Board Stadium Latifabad.

MCC to get minimum share as hosting venue BIPIN DANI OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT M UMBAI —More number of spectators witnessed the India-South Africa match today at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as compared to the people present on February 14, the opening day of the World Cup match between Australia and England.

This was revealed by Stephen Gough, the CEO at the Melbourne Cricket Club.

Speaking exclusively over his mobile after the completion of match on Sunday, he said, “definitely there were more people (in excess of 85,000) to-day than the Australia-England match”.

According to the CEO, the MCC (Melbourne Cricket Club), the venue-host, will get a very small amount from to-day’s gate-money. “The major amount will be taken by the ICC and the two local

organising nations (Australia and New Zealand) will share the gate-receipts”, he further added.

“There are lot of Indians living in Melbourne and people also came from other cities of this country. It was a boost to the Indian team”.

“India played exceedingly well to-day and scored above 300 runs and the brilliant target was always difficult to achieve by the opposite team”.

No ODI team has made 300 while batting 2nd at MCG. “Sachin Tendulkar was the ICC guest and was well looked after by the ICC. Our people escorted him to the special box”.

Sachin Tendulkar has been a brand ambassador of the World Cup. “I am not aware whether his wife (Anjali) is there here with him but Anil Kumble was present with his wife. Kumble has been inducted into ICC’s Hall of Fame”.

‘Have to lick our wounds for a while’: de Villiers MELBOURNE—South Africa’s self-belief has been dented by what AB de Villiers called an “almost embarrassing” loss to India in their second, and most high-profile, match of the group stage. His men were left red-faced by the margin of the defeat, their first by more than 100 runs in 37 matches dating back to July 2013 and their heaviest loss at a World Cup. “You always want to be competitive. We pride ourselves on that. We are going to have to lick our wounds for a while,” de Villiers said.

“With a loss like this, your confidence takes a bit of a knock and it’s up to the senior group of players to make sure the confidence is still there. Little things can creep into your game if you think about too much but we will have a mature and honest chat about it.”

All that will come only after what de Villiers called a “pretty dark” night has passed in which he hopes the team will reflect on what went wrong. “I don’t want to think about it now. I just want to to feel sad in my room for a while,” he said.

Among the things de Villiers was most unhappy about were the run-outs which changed the course of South Africa’s chase. “Two runs outs absolutely unacceptable in the top six,” de Villiers said. “Me and David Miller sat on the side of the field, not even being dismissed by a bowler, which was disappointing.”

Both batsmen were found short of their ground by pinpoint throws from the boundary-riders, whose arms they chanced only because the target was so steep. “You feel the pressure chasing 300 plus so you take on shots that you might not normally take on and you go for second runs you might not normally go for,” de Villiers said, referring to himself in the case of the latter. “India’s fielding didn’t surprise me.

They are a team that always wants to win games. I expected them to be urgent. It was just poor running.”—AFP

Shaken England opportunity for Scotland CHRISTCHURCH—Scotland have never won a World Cup game or an ODI against one of the Full-Member nations.

But as they watch the faltering steps of their sickly neighbour, they might conclude they have never had a better opportunity.

England, thrashed in Melbourne and Wellington, actually scored 19 fewer runs against New Zealand than Scotland and have, at this stage, the worst net run rate in the competition. They have looked devoid of confidence and uncertain what their best XI or their tactics should be. Most of all, they go into this match knowing

that if they win, it will be no more than is expected, and if they lose, they will be pilloried. Already there are whispers over the future of coach, Peter Moores, and managing director, Paul Downton.

In the spotlight The Scotland No. 4, Matt Machan, once opened the batting in the England U-18 side alongside Jos Buttler.

Although a product of the Sussex system, he qualifies for Scotland through his mother and played a leading role in the seven consecutive victories in the World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand a year ago.

Teams news Scotland are likely to keep faith with the same XI who fought back from a tough start to make New Zealand fight for a three-wicket win in their opening game. While tall seamer Alasdair Evans impressed in the warm-up games and would boost an attack that looks short of a fifth bowler, Scotland are wary of diluting their batting and may remain reliant on the likes of Machan and Richie Berrington to make up the overs.

Scotland (possible) 1 Kyle Coetzer, 2 Calum MacLeod, 3 Hamish Gardiner, 4 Matt Machan, 5 Preston Mommsen (capt), 6 Richie Berrington, 7 Matthew Cross (wk), 8 Josh Davey, 9 Rob Taylor, 10 Majid Haq, 11 Iain Wardlaw.

England (possible): 1 Ian Bell, 2 Moeen Ali, 3 Alex Hales, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan (capt), 6 James Taylor, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson.

Pitch and conditions This game takes place on the same pitch on which West Indies scored 310 against Pakistan on Saturday.

With longer boundaries square than straight, it also offers some pace, a little bit of seam and some spin, too. It is, in short, a fine pitch which rewards good cricket.

There have been three first innings scores in excess of 300 in the five ODIs played here. While there has been some rain in Christchurch over the last 24 hours, it is expected to clear and give way to a largely dry, if not particularly warm, day.—AFP

India breaks Proteas jinx with 130-run victory M ELBOURNE —India showed just used spinners in unconventional parts World Cup match - was going to be why no one was writing them off even after they had spent two-and-a-half months in Australia without a win.

They might not be the strongest team in the field, but on big days in limitedovers cricket they stay calmer than

of the innings, but the anxiety showed the most in the fielding. Hashim Amla dropped Dhawan on 53, but anxiety was never more apparent in their trigger-happiness with unnecessary throws at the stumps and fumbles on

MELBOURNE: Shikhar Dhawan celebrates his century with Ajinkya Rahane during India vs South Africa, World Cup 2015, Group B match on Sunday. most. In a match to potentially decide who finishes top of their group, India sat back and saw South Africa work themselves up into a frenzy, get too funky and wilt under the weight of their own mistakes. This was India’s first win over South Africa in a World Cup match.

If at all, India like going old school on big days. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli began slowly, made sure India had a solid platform before they began to accelerate. Dhawan went on to score his first century in three months spent in Australia - his personal best and also the highest score against South Africa in a World Cup match.

Kohli fell for 46, but Ajinkya Rahane scored 79 off 60 to help Dhawan along.

India kept the defence simple too: bowl as few bad balls as possible, and once again under pressure South Africa imploded.

The execution of both the plans from India was spot on, but that had a lot to do with how simple the plans and preparation were. South Africa called in Gary Kirsten and Michael Hussey for consultation, they picked an extra bowler in Wayne Parnell, they

targeted.

Dhawan and Kohli attacked South Africa with proper attacking shots, and not scoops and reverses. They added 127 in 24.2 overs with Kohli taking the back seat to Dhawan’s positive approach. It could have gone better for South Africa. Dhawan had looked in good touch in reaching 53 off 73, Kohli had just about got over a slow start, but South Africa were offered an opportunity to halt the assault. Dhawan cut Parnell to the right of Amla at point, a regulation catch by modern standards, Amla got both hands to it, but dropped it.

Before the match Kohli had spoken about sustained momentum and not relying just on the final 10 overs.

Dhawan and he then walked the talk, taking 53 off the next seven overs.

Parnell was their main target but even the return of Steyn didn’t slow India down. Nor did the fall of Kohli - against the run of play and to a long hop from Tahir - slow them down. Rahane and Dhawan flowed smoothly, building up to a crescendo towards the Powerplay, which brought them 44 runs with no loss of wicket. Rahane and Dhawan added 125 in 16.3 overs.

In the final few overs, though, despite some more ordinary fielding, South Africa managed to pull India back a little. Only 80 came off the last 10, but India had a testing total on the board. South Africa don’t have much batting after No. 6 but their top six are as good as any.—AFP

the ground. It’s hard to remember when South Africa last fielded so badly.

It started much better, though. AB de Villiers sent Rohit Sharma back for a duck with a direct hit from ex- India innings: tra cover. India de- Sharma run out ............... 0 serve all the credit Dhawan b Parnell ....... 137 for not panicking Kohli c b Imran Tahir ... 46 when Dale Steyn Rahane lbw b Steyn ..... 79 was bowling well Raina b Morkel ............... 6 along with Vernon Dhoni c Kock b Morkel18 Philander. It took Jadeja run out ................. 2 them 14 overs to Ashwin not out .............. 5 reach four an over Shami not out ................. 4 for the first time, Extras: (lb 2, w 6, nb 2) . 10 but South Africa Total: (7 wickets) ........ 307 looked the more Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-136, anxious team. Phi- 3-261, 4-269, 5-278, 6-284, lander had walked 7-302 off with a ham- Bowling: .......... O-M-R-W string injury, Steyn .................. 10-1-55-1 Morne Morkel had Philander ............. 4-1-19-0 begun ordinarily, Duminy ................ 7-0-39-0 and Parnell - who Morkel ............... 10-0-59-2 would register the Imran Tahir ........ 10-0-48-1 worst figures for a Parnell .................. 9-0-85-1 South African in a South Africa innings:

Amla b MM Sharma .... 22 Kock c Kohli b Shami .... 7 Plessis b MM Sharma . 55 Villiers run out .............. 30 Miller run out ................ 22 Duminy b Ashwin .......... 6 Parnell not out .............. 17 Philander lbw b Ashwin 0 Steyn c Dhawan b Shami1 Morkel b Ashwin ........... 2 Imran Tahir lbw b Jadeja 8 Extras: (lb 1, w 6) ............ 7 Total: (all out) ............. 177 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-40, 3108, 4-133, 5-147, 6-153, 7153, 8-158, 9-161, 10-177 Bowling: .......... O-M-R-W Yadav ................... 6-0-34-0 Shami ................... 8-1-30-2 Sharma ................. 7-0-31-2 Jadeja ................ 8.2-0-37-1 Ashwin .............. 10-0-41-3 Raina ...................... 1-0-3-0

Jayawardene ton saves Sri Lanka from Afghan embarrassment D UNEDIN (New Zealand)—Mahela Jayawardene´s century rescued Sri Lanka from a batting meltdown as they beat Afghanistan by four wickets in their World Cup match in Dunedin on Sunday.

Set a modest target of 233 to win the Pool A game, 1996 champions Sri Lanka were stunned when openers Lahiru Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan both fell for golden ducks.

They were in further strife at 51 for four before Jayawardene (100) and skipper Angelo Mathews (44) rectified the innings with a 126-run partnership before Sri Lanka won with 10 balls to spare at University Oval.

Jaywardene´s crucial innings was his 19th ODI century and one of his most valuable as Sri Lanka, losing finalists at the last two World Cups, were in trouble before he set about taming the bowling.

This was Sri Lanka´s first win in

Afghanistan innings: Javed c Herath b Lakmal24 Nawroz b Mathews ..... 10 Asghar b Herath ......... 54 Samiullah b Perera ....... 38 Nabi b Malinga ............ 21 Najibullah c Perera b Lakmal ....................... 10 Afsar Zazai c Herath b Malinga ..................... 19 Mirwais b Malinga ...... 28 Dawlat b Mathews ........ 4 Hamid c Mendis b Mathews ........................ 0 Shapoor not out ............ 1 Extras: (lb 6, w 16, nb 1)23 Total: (all out) ............ 232 Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-40, 3-128, 4-157, 5-169, 6-175, 7-221, 8-227, 9-227, 10-232 Bowling: ......... O-M-R-W Malinga ........... 9.4-1-41-3 Lakmal ............... 10-1-36-2 Mathews ............ 7-0-41-3

two games this tournament following a 98-run defeat by New Zealand, but the plaudits went to World Cup debutants Afghanistan, who only let themselves down with a slow runrate in the second half of their innings.

Sent in to bat in spicy, overcast conditions they reached 169 for four before the last 15 overs saw six wickets go down as they were dismissed for 232 with two balls remaining.

It left Sri Lanka with a modest chase but an experienced side made life difficult for themselves as, for only the second time in one-day international history, both openers fell first ball.

Dawlat Zadran had Thirimanne

Perera ................ 10-0-54-1 Herath ............... 10-0-41-1 Mendis ............... 3-0-13-0 Sri Lanka innings: Thirimanne lbw b Dawlat 0 Dilshan b Shapoor ........ 0 Sangakkara b Hamid ..... 7 Karunaratne b Hamid . 23 Jayawardene b Hamid 100 Mathews run out ........ 44 Mendis not out ............. 9 Perera not out .............. 47 Extras: (lb 2, w 3, nb 1) .. 6 Total: (6 wickets) ....... 236 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 318, 4-51, 5-177, 6-178 Bowling: ......... O-M-R-W Dawlat Zadran ... 9-0-44-1 Shapoor Zadran 10-1-48-1 Hamid .................. 9-0-45-3 Mirwais ............ 8.1-0-31-0 Nabi .................. 5.2-0-28-0 Asghar ............... 0.5-0-6-0 Samiullah ............ 6-0-32-0

leg before wicket with the first ball of the innings and Dilshan was caught behind off the first ball he faced from Shapoor Zadran in the second over.

The slump did not end there as Hamid Hassan continued the demolition of the Sri Lankan top order.

He bowled Kumar Sangakkara for seven and Dimuth Karunaratne was caught behind for 23 as Sri Lanka reeled at 51 for four against an Afghanistan side beaten in their tournament opener by Bangladesh.—AFP

Windies chief blasted for Gayle ‘retirement’ retweet SYDNEY—West Indies cricket chief Dave Cameron was blasted Sunday for apparently retweeting a demand for outspoken opener Chris Gayle to be given “a retirement package”.

In the latest controversy to hit the World Cup team, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Cameron’s behaviour was condemned as “unacceptable” by players’ representatives.

The drama unfolded during the Windies’ match against Pakistan at Christchurch on Saturday when Gayle was out for four, stretching his run without a century in ODI cricket to 20 matches.

One fan tweeted: “Gayle goes ... Can’t buy a run. Let’s give him a retirement package ... Can’t fail repeatedly and still front up based on reputation”.

Cameron then apparently retweeted the post even as the match was ongoing.

The West Indies Players Association (WIPA), often at loggerheads with the WICB in a long-standing battle over contracts and payments, immediately denounced Cameron.

“WIPA is extremely disturbed by the unacceptable re-tweeting by Mr Dave Cameron, President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), of a negative ‘fan tweet’ which was directed at our member Mr Christopher Gayle,” said a statement.

“That Mr Cameron’s retweet came in the middle of the West Indies team’s critical game against Pakistan renders it even more unacceptable.”

WIPA chief executive Wavell Hinds added: “We denounce any such behaviour by any official of the WICB in any given circumstance.”

Cameron, who is seeking re-election, apologised for his actions and removed the post from his account.

On the eve of the World Cup, Gayle had accused the WICB of victimisation after Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard were axed from the squad for their roles in the abandoned tour of India last year.

Gayle has since been summoned to appear before a disciplinary board to explain his comments.

Despite the controversy, the West Indies went on to defeat Pakistan by 150 runs at Hagley Oval on Saturday.—AFP

Bangladesh send Al-Amin home for curfew breach M ELBOURNE —Bangladesh on Sunday threw out pace bowler Al-Amin Hossain from the World Cup for indiscipline and promised a full inquiry after the tournament was over.

A media release from the team management said AlAmin had “breached team rules”, with a source telling AFP that he had stayed out late in Brisbane on the night of February 19 and, as a result, breached a team curfew.

“Al Amin has been found to have breached team rules and will take no further part in the World Cup,” the statement read. “Following consultation with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, the team management has decided to send the player home immediately.

“The Board will conduct its own inquiry into the breach after receiving the manager’s report at the end of the team’s World Cup campaign.

“At this stage the BCB or the team management will not release any further information or make any comment on this matter.”

It was not clear who will replace Al-Amin at the World Cup.—AFP

DUNEDIN: Dawlat Zadran is cleaned up by Angelo Mathews during Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, World Cup 2015, Group A match on Sunday.

Fruit juice ‘as bad’ as sugary drinks, say researchers

T

WO medical researchers writing in one of The Lancet journals argue that because of its high sugar content, fruit juice could be just as bad for us as sugar-sweetened beverages like carbonated drinks and sodas.

Naveed Sattar, professor of Metabolic Medicine, and Dr. Jason Gill, both of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, call for the UK government to change the current “five a day” guideline to exclude a portion of fruit juice from the list of fruits and vegetable servings that count toward it.

In their paper, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, they propose that including fruit juice as one of the five a day is “probably counter-productive,” because it leads people to consider fruit juice as a healthy food that does not need to be limited, as is the case with less healthy foods. They also urge food companies to improve container labelling of fruit juices to inform consumers they should drink no more than 150 ml a day of the product.

Fruit juice has come under the spotlight since medical experts recently started looking more closely at the link between high sugar intake and the risk for heart disease. In 2012, researchers at Harvard reported in the journal Circulation that daily consumption of sugary drinks raised heart disease risk in men. Two years earlier, researchers presenting at an American Heart Association conference said Americans’ higher consumption of sugary

drinks has led to more diabetes and heart disease over the past decade.

Dr. Gill says “there seems to be a clear misperception that fruit juices and smoothies are low-sugar alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages.” “Fruit juice has a similar energy density and sugar content to other sugary drinks, for example: 250 ml of apple juice typically contains 110 kcal and 26 g of sugar; and 250 ml of cola typically contains 105 kcal and 26.5 g of sugar.”

He says research is beginning to show that unlike solid fruit intake, for which high consumption appears linked either to reduced or neutral risk for diabetes, high fruit juice intake is linked to raised risk for diabetes. “One glass of fruit juice contains substantially more sugar than one piece of fruit.” “One glass of fruit juice contains substantially more sugar than one piece of fruit; in addition, much of the goodness in fruit - fibre, for example - is not found in fruit juice, or is there in far smaller amounts,” he adds.

Also, although fruit juices contain vitamins and minerals that are mostly absent in sugarsweetened drinks, the levels of nutrients in fruit juices many not be enough to offset the unhealthy effect that excessive consumption has on metabolism, says Dr. Gill. In their paper they refer to a trial where participants drank half a litter of pure grape juice every day for 3 months. And the results showed that despite grape juice’s high antioxidant properties, it led to increased insulin resistance and bigger waists in overweight adults.

Scouts staged a rally in connection with World Scout Day outside Karachi Press Club on Sunday.

Pakistan, Qatar enjoy brotherly ties: Consul General CITY REPORTER KARACHI—The Consul General of the State of Qatar, Saad Bin Abdulla Al-Mahmoud Al-Shareef has said that Pakistan and Qatar enjoy brotherly bilateral relations since ages. This he said while talking to the media at a reception hosted by him here on the occasion of Qatar National Day and anniversary of Sheikh Jassim

Bin Mohammed Bin Al Thani.

He expressed his gratitude for the cooperation extended by the Government and people of Pakistan and said that unique bilateral relations between the two countries are based on strong foundations of common faith and culture and these relations will further flourish in the coming days.

The chief guest at the reception Sindh Minister

Dr. Sikander Mendhro, congratulated the Consul General on this momentous occasion and extended felicitations on behalf of government of Sindh to the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

The reception was attended among others by Sindh ministers, as well as Dr. Farooq Sattar, MNA, military and government officials, diplomats, businessman, industrialists, and elite of the city.—APP

Two gang war suspects killed in Rangers encounter KARACHI—As many as two gang war suspects and entrance points of the metropolis.

A large number of people seen at Quaid-e-Azam mausoleum after its opening for public.

MQM lawmakers to participate in ‘Clean-Green and Peaceful Sindh Week’ IRFAN ALIGI K ARACHI —Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) would ensure active participation in forthcoming week for “Clean-Green and Peaceful Sindh” as was announced by Sindh Local Government Department authorities a couple of days ago. In this regard, a high level meeting of MQM members national assembly (MNA) and members provincial assembly (MPA) along with District Central Deputy Commissioner, District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Administrator, representative officials of DMC Central and Karachi water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) was held at the municipal office Gulberg Saturday.

The MQM legislators included MNA Abdul Waseem, MNA Sheikh Salahuddin, Sufyan Yousuf, MPA and Deputy Parliamentary Leader in Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izhar Ul Hassan, MPA Khalid Bin Wilayat, MPA Waseem Qureshi, MPA Iftikhar Alam, MPA Jamal Ahmed and MPA Anwar Raza. DC Central Dr Saif Ur Rehman and DMC Central Administrator Syed Kamal Ahmed were also present. The MQM lawmakers told the meeting that as MQM always owned the metropolis and hence wanted all, who lived in the city

should also show the ownership to the city by taking pakins for keeping the city clean and tidy.

They expressed grave concern over dilapidated sanitation situation in nook and cranny of the city and urged upon the DMCs to pay heed on their assigned responsibilities for which they were paid. The MQM lawmaker urged upon the DMCs to ensure complete attendance of all the municipal workers and officers strength and show no leniency in any respect as they would form now be held accountable for any lacking or negligence.

They assured the DMCs of full cooperation with regard to resolution of their variety of problems and for which they assured they would play a role of bridge between the DMCs and the finance approving authorities. They asked the DMCs to ensure all the cars and vehicles meant for the execution of municipal workings should be in complete working order failing which they would have to be held accountable. They further assured the DMCs that the MQM MNAs and MPAs of their respective limits would remain on ground and would prove a helping hand in execution of municipal responsibilities especially for the Clean-Green and Peaceful Sindh.

were killed in an alleged Rangers encounter in the area of Lyari, Karachi on Sunday. On getting a tip off regarding the presence of criminals, Rangers cordoned off the entire area and also sealed exit

During the operation, gang war workers opened firing at the security forces, retaliating to which at least two suspects, identified as Sohail aka Khouf and Sheriyar aka Sheri, died. The suspects were involved

in various crimes including extortion and kidnapping for ransom. On the other hand, Rangers also carried out a raid against the criminal elements in Baghdadi but unfortunately, the criminals managed to flee the scene.—INP

Admissions at SZABUL to start in May this year STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The admissions for under-graduate, graduate, post-graduate courses and doctorate at the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law (SZABUL) will formally start from May this year.

This was stated by SZABUL Vice Chancellor Justice

(Retd) Prof. Qazi Khalid Ali at a meeting of the Academic Council of the University, according to a press release issued here.

Brig (Retd) Dr. Shafaat Nabi Sherwani briefed the meeting at the faculty of policy planning and development in which the details for BS, MS and Ph.D. courses were presented. Former federal secretary Science and

Technology and Founder and Executive Director COMSATS Institute of Information and Technology Pervaiz Ahmed Butt was present at the meeting.

The VC thanked Pervaiz Butt for offering his services as visiting faculty to the University, and expressed his resolve that SZABUL will achieve its objectives at local and international levels.

MPAs direct area officials to solve residents’ problems CITY REPORTER KARACHI—MPAs Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan and Nishat Muhammad Zia Qadri have directed the local officials to immediately redress the civic problems of inhabitants of Shah Faisal Colony.

The two MPAs of Muttahida Qaumi Movement directed this while chairing a katchery in Shah faisal Colony here, a statement said Sunday.

The problems pointed out by area inhabitants included shortage of drinking water, poor system of sanitation and cleanliness, encroachment and street

crime, the statement said.

The MPAs assured the business community that problems related to street crime and law and order will be resolved on priority basis.

Besides the residents of the area the concern officials also attended the Katchary.

Former federal secretary and Founder and Executive Director Institute of Information and Technology Pervaiz Ahmad Butt with Vice Chancellor Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto University of Law, Justice (Retd) Qazi Khalid, Ali Registrar Syed Sharaf Ali Shah, Director Finance Aamir Bashir and academic and non-academic staff of the Law University.—PO photo

Fruit juice ‘as bad’ as sugary drinks, say researchers

T

WO medical researchers writing in one of The Lancet journals argue that because of its high sugar content, fruit juice could be just as bad for us as sugar-sweetened beverages like carbonated drinks and sodas.

Naveed Sattar, professor of Metabolic Medicine, and Dr. Jason Gill, both of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, call for the UK government to change the current “five a day” guideline to exclude a portion of fruit juice from the list of fruits and vegetable servings that count toward it.

In their paper, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, they propose that including fruit juice as one of the five a day is “probably counter-productive,” because it leads people to consider fruit juice as a healthy food that does not need to be limited, as is the case with less healthy foods. They also urge food companies to improve container labelling of fruit juices to inform consumers they should drink no more than 150 ml a day of the product.

Fruit juice has come under the spotlight since medical experts recently started looking more closely at the link between high sugar intake and the risk for heart disease. In 2012, researchers at Harvard reported in the journal Circulation that daily consumption of sugary drinks raised heart disease risk in men. Two years earlier, researchers presenting at an American Heart Association conference said Americans’ higher consumption of sugary

drinks has led to more diabetes and heart disease over the past decade.

Dr. Gill says “there seems to be a clear misperception that fruit juices and smoothies are low-sugar alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages.” “Fruit juice has a similar energy density and sugar content to other sugary drinks, for example: 250 ml of apple juice typically contains 110 kcal and 26 g of sugar; and 250 ml of cola typically contains 105 kcal and 26.5 g of sugar.”

He says research is beginning to show that unlike solid fruit intake, for which high consumption appears linked either to reduced or neutral risk for diabetes, high fruit juice intake is linked to raised risk for diabetes. “One glass of fruit juice contains substantially more sugar than one piece of fruit.” “One glass of fruit juice contains substantially more sugar than one piece of fruit; in addition, much of the goodness in fruit - fibre, for example - is not found in fruit juice, or is there in far smaller amounts,” he adds.

Also, although fruit juices contain vitamins and minerals that are mostly absent in sugarsweetened drinks, the levels of nutrients in fruit juices many not be enough to offset the unhealthy effect that excessive consumption has on metabolism, says Dr. Gill. In their paper they refer to a trial where participants drank half a litter of pure grape juice every day for 3 months. And the results showed that despite grape juice’s high antioxidant properties, it led to increased insulin resistance and bigger waists in overweight adults.

Visitors checking ultra-sound and X-ray machines displayed during 30th Annual Radiology Conference at a local hotel.

RHC ‘Major Shabir Sharif Shaheed’ Kunjah will be upgraded to THQ level STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Khawaja Salman Raffique has said that Rural Health Center “Major Shabir Sharif Shaheed” (Nishan-e-Haider) Kunjah, Gujrat will be upgraded to 40-bed Tehsil Headquarter Hospital level which would be helpful to provide better health facilities for the locals. He said that PCI of the project has been approved on which work will be started soon.

He said this, while talking to the media persons after visiting the Rural Health Centre. Commissioner Gujranwala Division, Secretary Health Jawwad Raffique Malik, Parliamentary Secretary Health, Khawaja Imran Nazir, DG Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, DCO Gujrat Liaqat Ali Chatha, Haji Imran Zafar MPA, PML-N local leader Ch. Raza Ali Warraich, EDO Health Dr. Ejaz Haider and a number of notables of the area were present on this occasion. Khawaja Salman Raffique visited different wards of the RHC and inquired after the health of the patients.

He also inspected proposed site for the new building of THQ hospital. DCO Liaqat Chatha and other officers briefed the Advisor, accordingly. Khawaja Salman Raffique narrated that

after up-gradation of THQ hospital, additional staff including doctors and nurses would be appointed and residential colony for the doctors and staff would also be constructed for which chief consultant health department would visit RHC Kunjah very soon.

He welcomed the offer of donating land adjacent to the RHC by President Traders Association Kunjah, Qamar Khursheed. Earlier, DCO Gujrat apprised the Advisor about the performance of RHC Kunjah. He said that Major Shabir Sharif Shaheed RHC is the only hospital on Mandi Bahauddin Road which is catering a load of more than 3 lac people and everyday more than 400 patients are visiting OPD of the RHC. Local PML-N leader Ch. Mubashir Hussain and Ch. Raza Ali Warraich said that the up-gradation of RHC Kunjah is the long standing demand of the local people and by announcing the decision to upgrade the RHC to a THQ hospital, Punjab Government has won the hearts of people.

The local notables appreciated the efforts of Punjab government and especially thanked the Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for granting approval of up-gradation of the hospital.

A large number of youngsters playing cricket and other games to enjoy their holiday at a local park near Ravi on Sunday.

Implementation of roadmap to provide health facilities in remote areas STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health, Khawaja Salman Raffique has said that in order to provide better health facilities to the patients in government hospitals, provincial government has started implementing Punjab Health Reforms Roadmap and Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif approved the plan of upgradation of primary and secondary hospitals.

He said that vacant posts of medical officers and specialist doctors would be filled in public sector hospitals and a special package of incentives would be given to the doctors in under developed districts. Moreover procurement of medicines would be completed in all government hospitals by 31st March.

He further said that a sum of rupees 916 million would be spent on the improvement of infrastructure and provision of bio-medical equipotent in the hospitals.

He said this while presiding over a

Heirs protest as youth dies of counterfeit injection LAHORE—Heirs of the youth who died of fake injection held protest demonstration against the hospital staffers and demanded strict action against those responsible. Brother of the deceased told police that his brother had an injury in his foot on late Saturday night and was shifted to a hospital in Johar Town. The doctor on duty injected the injured youth to provide him relief of sever pain but condition of the youngster deteriorated, he said.—INP

meeting of government hospitals of Gujranwala Division at DCO office Gujrat. Secretary Health Jawwad Raffique Malik, Commissioner Gujranwala Division Shumail Ahmad Khawaja, Parliamentary Secretary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir, DCOs of Gujranwala division, DG Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz. Elected public representatives, EDOs Health, Medical Superintendents of the hospitals and officers of the development departments attended the meeting.

Secretary Health Jawwad Raffique Malik briefed about the measure taken by the government for the improvement of government hospitals. Khawaja Salman Raffique said that improvement in health sector is the top most priority of the government. He said that there are so many challenges which have to be redressed.

He said that a comprehensive development plan for primary and secondary healthcare has been introduced in Punjab through which the performance of government hospitals would be sig-

nificantly enhanced. He said that these hospitals facing issues for the last many decades. Khawaja Salman Raffique said that he, himself and the Secretary Health visiting the hospitals throughout the province to review the problems of the hospitals to take effective measures for their solution.

He said that consultants would be appointed in all DHQs and THQs hospitals for which Chief Minister has already approved a package of special incentives for these doctors while strict monitoring of the hospitals would also be carried out. Secretary Health Jawwad Refigure Malik while briefing the meeting said that all vacant posts of MOs/ WMOs in BHUs and RHCs would be filled by March 31st through walk-in interviews policy.

He said that 100% availability of 18 essential medicines would also be ensured at the centres and district governments can purchase locally these medicines from the market for which budget have already been released. He

said that absenteeism in the hospitals would not be tolerated. He directed the officers that during duty hours, Doctors of health centers should not be called in the offices and all the doctors performing special duties should immediately be posted at their original place of posting.

He said that 24 hours delivery/ labour room facility would be provided in 550 BHUs under 24/7 programme.

Secretary Health further informed that doctors would be recruited through PPSC and by promotion at 700 vacant seats of specialist doctors in 36 DHQs and 109 THQs hospitals.

He said that government has announced attractive package for the doctors to overcome the shortage of doctors in far-flung areas. He said that these doctors would be given Rs. 30,000 to 60,000 per month according to the laid down criteria. He said that Chief Minister has constituted four Zonal Selection Committees at Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.

Scientific approach of Rescue 1122 has ensured life safety MUZAFFAR ALI LAHORE—The Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Major General Asghar Nawaz visited Emergency Services Academy and said that Rescue 1122 has become a reputable organization and doing commendable job for life safety with good infrastructure and by adopting scientific approach.

“Apart from the services of the emergency services delivery, the training you are imparting among rescue cadets in Emergency Services Academy is definitely going to change the mindset of the public towards emergencies,” General Nawaz added.

Earlier, on his arrival, smartly dressed Rescuers presented a wel-

come salute to the Chairman NDMA. He visited medical training stall, where he was briefed about training being imparted among rescue cadets about medical emergencies.

He was further briefed about 10 floors high-rise fire tower, as the rescuers demonstrated new techniques to rescue trapped victims from the upper floors of the high-rise buildings.

The Chairman NDMA also took keen interest in knowing the Rescue Cardiac Ambulances and the life safety equipment & its functions for life safety. Maj Gen Asghar Nawaz also visited Rescue; Fire and Deep Wells Rescue training areas and examined demonstration of rescue, firefighting and deep well rescue emergencies respectively.

While chairing a meeting of Emer-

gency Officers which was also attended by the office bearers of Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA) of United Kingdom, Gen Nawaz said that he was glad to see infrastructure and service standards of the Punjab Emergency Service.

While lauding the services of DG Rescue Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer, he said, “I’m glad to see that you have clarity about the role you are playing in Punjab regarding emergency management system, which we need at the national level”.

Gen Nawaz further said that Rescue 1122 has become model organization for others, which also needs to be replicated in other provinces for the provision of basic right to timely emergency care to citizens of other provinces.

Workshop on echocardiography for young Doctors STAFF REPORTER LAHORE —Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital Prof. Anjum Habib Vohra has said that training workshops for enhancing the capabilities of young doctors are very essential and hand on training increase the professional ability of young doctors.

He said this, while addressing the

concluding ceremony of one-day training workshop on echocardiography for young doctors in Medical Unit-III at Lahore General Hospital, here Sunday. Senior doctors Prof. Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab, Prof. Farah Shafi, Dr. Amir Raza, Dr. Tahir Islam and Dr. Rafaad delivered lectures on diagnostic techniques through echocardiography.

Prof. Anjum Habib Vohra said that the advancement in medical sciences and new interventions have made the process of

diagnosis easy but the doctors should have perfection in new techniques. He said that learning is a continuous process and a professional always remain busy to update his knowledge and every new day guides him to a new thing.

He advised senior doctors to document their research work for the future guidance of new comers. Certificates among the participants of the workshop were also distributed on this occasion.

Judges checking a dog during Dog Show held in connection with Jashn-e-Baharan at Racecourse.