e-paper Dec 23, 2012

SHO Kabuli, provincial minister’s PS among dead; TTP claims responsibility; PM announces one-day mourning

Bashir Bilour among 9 dead in suicide blast TARIQ SAEED P ESHAWA R —In a highly tragic incident the top leader of Awami National Party (ANP) and Senior Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bashir Ahmad Bilour embraced Shahadat along with eight others when a suicide bomber blew himself up close to him in a congested Qissa Khawani bazaar here Saturday evening.

While personal secretary to senior minister and SHO Police Station Kabuli are among the dead, twenty other people sustained serious injuries in the blast that sent a wave of shock and sorrow all over the country.

Elder brother of Shaheed Bilour and Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad

Bilour had a narrow escape a couple of minutes before Bashir Bilour who esas he had left the area hardly the blast. caped attempts on his life many times before including bom blasts, sustained fatal injuries on Saturday on his chest and abdomen. He suc-

President, PM shocked ISLAMABAD —Top leadership including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf have expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over martyrdom of ANP leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour in a bomb blast in Peshawar.

In his messages, the Continued on Page 7

Zardari to sign pipeline deal in Tehran TEHRAN—President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to visit Iran in the near future to sign a contract on Tehran’s investment in a pipeline project which is due to take Iran’s rich gas reserves to energyhungry Pakistan, Iranian meISLAMABAD —Pakistan on dia reported Saturday.

Saturday summoned Earlier on Thursday, ForAfghan Charge d’Affaires eign Minister Hina Rabbani for lodging a formal protest Khar reiterated her country’s over torturing of a group of determination to push ahead Pakistani nationals in with the building of the gas Afghanistan. Pakistani pipeline, adding that Zardari authorities had closed is scheduled to travel to border with Afghanistan Tehran in near future to disafter they received comcuss the finalization of the plaints of alleged Afghan project.

Underscoring torture of 29 Pakistani Pakistan’s daily-growing deContinued on Page 7 mand for Iran’s gas, she said the project would be pursued under any condition.

The agreement was to be

Pakistan summons Afghan envoy over torture of nationals

Kerry a fast friend of Pakistan: Sherry

W ASHINGTON —Welcoming the nomination of John Kerry as the next Secretary of State, Islamabad’s top diplomat in Washington has said the Massachusetts Senator has been a steadfast friend of Pakistan.

Kerry, 69, on Friday was nominated by US President

Continued on Page 7

India to ink more Sukhoi deals with Russia N EW DELHI —India and Russia are expected to ink potential defence deals amounting worth over USD 4 billion during the visit of President Vladimir Putin on December 24.

The Indian Air Force (IAF), which has a fleet of 230 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, will be signing a deal worth USD 3.77 billion for 42 additional fighter jets. India has till now lost three Sukhoi planes in crashes the first one in April 2009, the second in November 2009 and the third in

Continued on Page 7

Eight more fall prey to target killing K ARACHI —At least eight persons were gunned down in separate incidents of firing in different areas of Karachi on Saturday.

Miscreants opened indiscriminate fire in the area of Bohari Bazar and killed the office-bearer of ANP, Ramzan Kakar. After the killing of the

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inked between Tehran and vember visit to Pakistan by Islamabad during the No- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but the text of the contract was not ready and the endorsement ceremony was postponed, FARS news agency reported.

Pakistani Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister AZERBAIJAN—Iran will fi- Asim Hussain visited Tehran nance a power supply earlier this month to prepare project in Pakistan, valued the grounds for compiling at $300 million, ISNA the text of the contract and quoted Iranian deputy en- held meetings with several ergy minister Mohammad Iranian officials, including Behzad as saying.

President Mahmoud A joint committee has Ahmadinejad. been formed to study the The Pakistani governfeasibility of exporting ment has on many occasions 6,000MW of electricity to reiterated its resolve to push Pakistan, he added. ahead with the $1.5 billion The two governments Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipe-

Iran to finance $300m Pak power supply project

Continued on Page 7

Continued on Page 7

Imran blasts PPP, PML-N on caretakers AMANULLAH KHAN / ISMAIL DILAWAR K ARACHI —Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaaf (PTI), on Saturday alleged that the leadership of PML-N and PPP once again were trying to rig the general elections by trying to bring a favourable interim set up in the country.

The cricketer-turned politician made the statement while addressing public rallies at neighbourhoods like Metroville, Baldia Town, Hazara Colony, Sohrab Goth, Korangi and Keamari. He, started his day with addressing the traders and industrialists at Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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No Kashmir solution sans Kashmiris acceptable: Mirwaiz MUZAFFAR ALI L AHORE —All

Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, terming Kashmir dispute as a “trilateral” matter and not a “bilateral dispute” between India and Pakistan said no solution without the involvement of Kashmiris would be acceptable to them as they are an important party in the Kashmir dispute.

He urged both the Pakistani and Indian governments to include the

Kashmiris in the peace process because the Kashmir issue was not a matter between just India and Pakistan.

He was addressing a press conference held here in a local hotel on Saturday.

Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen Maulana Abbas Ansari, Muslim Conference Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat, J&K Peoples Conference Bilal Ghani, J&K Peoples League Mukhtar Ahmed Waza, J&K Anjuman-e-Shari-Shian Agha Syed Hasan al-Moosvi and J&K Peoples Political

Front Mussadiq Adil were present there. Provincial Minister Chaudhary Abdur Ghafoor also accompanied them on behalf of the Punjab government.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the leadership of India and Pakistan should fully open the Line of Control for travel and trade to give impetus to the peace process. He said Confidential Building Measures (CBM) were so much important for developing good relation between both the

Continued on Page 7

cumbed to his injuries at Lady Reading Hospital after fighting a battle for his life for more than an hour.

Bashir Bilour who had addressed an ANP rally in Dhakki Naalbandi in Qissa Khawani bazaar was coming out of the rally venue along with his personal secretary and police officials, when a suicide bomber exploded himself close to them. PS to Senior Minister Haji Noor Mohammad and SHO Kabuli Police Station Abdus Sattar along with three other party workers died on the spot while more than twenty others including Bashir Bilour were immediately shifted to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. Emergency was declared in city hospitals and PESHAWAR: Relatives weeping in the hospital after the Continued on Page 7 death of Senior Minister of KP Bashir Ahmad Bilour.

Obama visits Afghan spy chief Asadullah in hospital V IRGINIA —The US President Barack Obama visited the Afghan intelligence chief Asadullah Khalid Friday afternoon in a hospital in Virginia.

Mr Khalid, who survived a suicide attack at a National Directorate of Security guesthouse in Kabul on December 6, received substantial injuries to the lower part of his body.

He was taken to the United States for treatment on December 15.

President Obama told Mr Khalid that he was sorry for what happened to him, asking him to contact him directly for anything he may need.

Mr Obama told Mr Khalid that he prayed for him to get well soon.

The US President’s visit to the hospital was also to make sure all required services were provided to Mr Khaild. President Obama told Mr Khalid that President Hamid Karzai is visiting the US on January 7.

President Karzai had earlier said that Mr Khalid will return to his position as head of intelligence when he makes a full recovery.— NNI

President accepts Khosa’s resignation K ARACHI —Punjab Gover- Karachi at Bilawal House on ongoing political situation in nor Latif Khan Khosa has submitted his resignation to President Asif Ali Zardari, which has been accepted by the later. Punjab Governor

Saturday. Khosa eached at Bilawal House without his usual governor protocol; just five vehicles escorted him during his visit of Karachi

Punjab and future strategy for the province.

President Zardari praised the services of Khosa as Punjab Governor The Federal

Asif Hayat to be new FPSC chairman

KARACHI: Outgoing Governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khan Khosa called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Bilawal House on Saturday. Federal Law Minister Farooq H Naek I SLAMABAD —Decision has was also present during the meeting. been taken at the top level to Latif Khan Khosa called on During the meeting, both Law Minister Farooq H. Naik appoint secretary to presi- President Asif Ali Zardari in the leaders discussed the Continued on Page 7 dent Major (Retd) Asif Hayat, new chairman Federal Public Service Commission and successor of Justice (R) Rana Bhagwan Das who retired from his post on Friday.

Source said Asif Hayat, a retired Police Group Official has resigned from his office FATEH JANG—Prime Minis- elected government was go- would again return to power to take charge of his new as- ter Raja Pervez Ashraf Satur- ing to complete its 5-year with people’s support in next signment. The notification of day said due to the saga- mandated term.This has been elections.He said the PPP had Hayat’s appointment as cious PPP leadership, the made possible due to the sa- its roots in the masses, beFPSC chairman is likely to be coalition government was gacious and prudent leader- cause of its leaders’ commitment to live and die for issued within next 48 hours. going to complete its tenure people.He said PPP founder Picture on Back Page Major (Retd) Asif Hayat for the first time in the parShaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto during his service had been the liamentary history of the inspector general police and country despite all odds and ship of President Asif Ali ensured right of franchise for a Zardari, he added.The Prime the common man and emalso acted as federal secretary challenges.Addressing and following his retirement he public meeting here, the Prime Minister said the Pakistan powered labourers, workers was appointed as Secretary to Minister said it was for the Peoples Party (PPP) came to and farmers. He also made first time that a democratically power through ballot and the President.—INP Continued on Page 7

Sagacious PPP leadership helping govt to complete its tenure: PM

Media accountability case: Full text of SC verdict IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN (Appellate Jurisdiction) PRESENT: MR. JUSTICE JAWWAD S. KHAWAJA MR. JUSTICE KHILJI ARIF HUSSAIN Constitution Petition No.105/12 alongwith CMAs-3795 & 3798 of 2012, HRC No.23957-S/2012 and Const. P. 53/2012.

AND Constitution Petition No.104 of 2012 & CMA 3464/12.

AND Constitution Petition No.117/ 12.

Hamid Mir and another. … Petitioner (s) VERSUS Federation of Pakistan etc. …

Respondent (s) For the petitioners: Hamid Mir & Absar Alam, in person.

(In Const. P.105/12) For the petitioner: Dr. Tariq Hassan, ASC (In Const. P.53/12): Syed Safdar Hussain, AOR For the petitioners: Mr. Tausif Asif, ASC (in Const. P.104/12)(regarding obscene and objectionable material in media) For the petitioners: Sheikh Ahsan ud Din, ASC (Sh. Ahsan ud Din) (in Const.P.117/12): Ch. Akhtar Ali, AOR For the respondent-1: Mr. Zulfiqar Khalid Maluka, ASC Mr. Mehmood A. Sheikh, AOR Mr. Nasir Jamal, DG & Rashid Ahmed (Secy.) and Muhammad Azam (Press Information Officer) For the respondent-2: Mr. Hasnain Ibrahim Kazmi, ASC Dr. Abdul Jabbar (Acting Chairman) For the respondent-3: Nemo.

For respondent-3: Mr. Hasnain Ibrahim Kazmi, ASC (Sh. Ahsan ud Din) (in Const.P.117/12): M r .

Mehmood A. Sheikh, AOR For the respondent-4: Mr. Dil Muhammad Khan Alizai, DAG (Sh. Ahsan ud Din) (in Const.P.117/12): Mr. M. S. Khattak, AOR For the respondent-5: Mr. Jawwad Hassan, Addl.A.G. (Sh. Ahsan ud Din) (in Const.P.117/12): For the respondent-4&5: Syed Zahid Hussain Bukhari, ASC For the respondent-6: Nemo

For the respondent-7: Mr. Naveed Ihsan Mr. Asif Hussain For the respondent-8: Nemo.

For the respondents:1, 2, 6&8: Nemo. (Sh. Ahsan ud Din) (in Const.P.117/12) For the respondent, 9&10: Mr. Jawwad Hassan, Addl. A.G. Mr. Tahir Raza, Addl. Secretary Information Deptt: Mr. Hassan Raza Khan, Dy. Director, ACE. For the Province of KPK: Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, Addl. A.G. (In Const.P.105/12 & in Const.P.117/12) For the Federation: Mr. Dil Muhammad Khan Alizai, DAG. For the respondent-11 & Value TV:Mr. Yasin Azad, ASC Raja Muqsat Nawaz, ASC Ch. Akhtar Ali, AOR For the applicants: Mr. Hashmat Ali Habib, ASC (CMA 4053/12 in Const.P.105/ 12) Nemo (CMA 3820/12 in Const.P.105/12) Mr. Arshad Sharif, Bureau Chief, DUNYA TV (CMA 3428/12 in Const.P.105/ 12) Mr. Ghulam Nabi, President Press Association SC (CMA 4063/12 in Const.P.105/12) Mr. M. Hanif Awan, in person (CMA 3464/12 in Const.P.104/ 12) Nemo (CMA 3631/12 in Const.P.105/12) Nemo (CMA 4210/12 in Const.P.105/12) Nemo (HRC 23957-S/12) For M/s Vision Network: Mr. Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry, ASC For M/s AURORA: Mr. Munir A. Malik, Sr. ASC alongwith Faisal Siddiqi Advocate.

For AAJ TV, Kashash TV, AVT, Mr. Mehmood A. Sheikh, ASC DHOOM, APNA TV: For Express TV: Mr. Asad Kharl, (Reporter) For VIVE TV: Nemo.

For PTV: Mr. Shahid Mehmood Khokhar, ASC For PUNJAB TV: Nemo For PEMRA: Hafiz S. A. Rehman, Sr. ASC (in Const.P.104/12) Mr. Mehmood A. Sheikh, AOR (regarding obscene and objectionable material in media) Dr. Abdul Jabbar (Acting Chairman) For Airways Media: Mr. M. Bilal, Sr. ASC Mr. Babar Bilal, ASC For ARY: Nemo For Cable Operators: Dr. Amjad Hussain Bukhari, ASC For Pakistan Broadcasters: Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb,

ASC (CMA 3521/12 in Const.

P.104/12) (regarding obscene and objectionable material in media) For Cable Operators Association: Dr. Amjad Hussain Bukhari, ASC (in CMA 3464/12 of Const.P.104/12): Mr. M. S. Khattka, AOR (regarding obscene and objectionable material in media) For Indus Television: Tariq Ismail Date of Hearing: 20.12.2012 ORDER Jawwad S. Khawaja, J. These constitutional petitions have raised important issues concerning the twin rights of freedom of speech and access to information protected by Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution. Since all petitions before us concern similar or connected issues, these are being heard together.

2. The brief particulars of the petitions are as follows: Constitutional Petition No. 53 of 2012 has been filed by three petitioners: Independent Media Corporation (Pvt.) Ltd. which conducts business in the name of Geo TV Network; Independent Newspapers Corporation (Pvt.) Ltd. which conducts business in the name of Jang Group and News Publications (Pvt.) Ltd. which conducts business in the name of The News Group. Constitutional Petition No. 105 of 2012 has been filed by two media persons, namely Hamid Mir, presently Executive Editor of Geo News, and Absar Alam, presently associated with Aaj News. Constitutional Petition No. 117 of 2012 has been filed by two senior advocates: Sheikh Ahsan-ud-Din, and Sajid Mehmood Bhatti. And Human Rights Case No. 23957S of 2012 is based on a complaint filed by Syed Adil Gilani of Transparency International.

3. The Respondents in the various petitions are: Federation of Pakistan, PEMRA, PTA, Bahria Town (Pvt.) Ltd., Malik Riaz Hussain, FBR, SECP, FIA and others. Notices were also issued by the Court to a number of media houses who have filed replies and are now party to these proceedings.

Asad Kharral, a journalist, has also filed an application to be made a party.

4. These petitions give rise to a large number of issues on which arguments

have been heard over the course of a number of hearings. In our order dated 16.10.2012, we identified 8 issues on which the hearings were focused. During subsequent hearings, some other connected issues have also emerged. At this stage it is useful to re-state the key issues and make certain prima facie observations. Documents which still need to be submitted have also been identified. This order is meant to enable the various parties to present their concluding arguments in an informed and effective manner and to ensure that necessary documents are available on record.

I. Maintainability.

Whether the petition raises questions of public importance in relation to the enforcement of fundamental right? If so, what are these questions and what fundamental rights are involved?

Whether the allegations in the petition against the Respondents No. 4 & No. 5 and M/s Midas (Pvt.) Limited merit examination by this Court in its jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution? And if so, what should be the extent, scope and methodology of such an inquiry?

5. Most parties before us are in agreement that these petitions, as a whole, do raise questions of public importance with reference to the enforcement of fundamental rights, particularly the right to information (needless to say correct information) guaranteed under Article 19A and the right to free speech guaranteed under Article 19. As such, the jurisdiction of this Court under Article 184(3) is attracted.

6. However, prima facie, some issues arising in these cases require detailed probe into facts. These issues raised in the petitions do not require the Court to exercise its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 184; instead, it would be more appropriate for aggrieved parties to seek their legal remedy at some other competent forum.

Some general principles in respect of these issues can, however, be settled at the conclusion of the hearing.

II. Constitutionality of Federal Ministry of Information.

Whether after the enactment of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the legislative competence of Parliament extends

Community must exert to end forced child labour Govt girls primary school sans basic facilities JAVED MOAVIA

district government was already working for the betterment and welfare of the workers and children working at brick kilns. It is prime obligation of the state to utilize all its available resources to safeguard the rights of the children working at different cottage industry, auto repair and maintenance workshop, hotels, and brick kilns, etc.

State must ensure the enrolment of children in schools to control the forced labour of kids by the poor and deprived families. Speakers said instead of speeches and claims we must do something practically for the betterment and welfare of the children involved in labour especially at brick kilns which is our national, moral and religious obligation. ***** The Government Pri-

mary School, Ghausia Colony, situated in the center of the city is still without boundary wall and basic necessary facilities contrary to the claims of the district and education department officers for the last eight years. More than 120 poor and deprived innocent students are studying in severe winter weather in open air on ground with expectations to contribute to the development of the country after completing their education.

Students, their parents and teachers have demanded the DCO to provide basic necessary facilities to the students to avoid any mishap in the school without boundary wall. There are only 2 rooms and 3 teachers for 120 students and students are without clean water and electric fan

even in the presence of power connection and meter. Its important to mention that there is no proper path for the school and no toilet for the students and teachers.

It is worth mentioning that government allocations have been given thrice but that had been used somewhere else instead of providing basic essential facilities to the students without any justification and explanation.

Students, teachers and their parents have urged Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to take notice of the absence of basic facilities for the students and boundary wall and instruct the department concerned to save the innocent poor and needy students from cold and hot weather.

to the print and electronic media so as to justify the retention of the Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting?

7. Since this is an important constitutional issue any parties wishing to address arguments on the same may do so on the next date of hearing.

III. Principles of Media Regulation. Is this a case where the Court should lay down the contours of the fundamental rights contained in Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution in the context of the electronic media? If so, what are the boundaries of these rights in the context of the electronic media and are there any corresponding duties owed by such media to the general public?

IV. Content Regulations and the Authority’s proper constitution. Whether the Content Regulations framed

by PEMRA under the PEMRA Rules, 2009 are consistent with the fundamental rights contained in Article 19 and 19A of the Constitution and the mandate conferred by the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002? If not, whether it is appropriate for the Court to formulate Content Regulations or would it be more appropriate to constitute a Commission for this purpose? Assuming that a Commission is to be constituted, what should be its terms of reference and the manner and character of its composition?

8. During the proceedings of this case, PEMRA issued a notification titled PEMRA (Content) Regulations, 2012. These regulations contain a number of affirmative obligations which are to be discharged by the licensees. However, the petitioners have raised challenges against the substantive as well as procedural validity of the regulations.

9. Prima facie, at this stage a full review of the substance of these regulations does not seem warranted by the facts before us. In line with the common law method, it would be better that as and when any party feels aggrieved by the various provisions of the regulations, it may invoke the jurisdiction of the appropriate forum. The constitutionality of the provisions and the proper interpretation thereof can then be ascertained. To do so now by attempting to envision all future possibilities is not necessary.

S A H I B —The

tions: Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, Associated Press of Pakistan, Press Council of Pakistan and a few other. He contended that there were only two – “Special Publicity Fund” and “Secret Service Fund” – which contain a total of around Rs. 14.3 crore in FY2011-2012, details of which could not be disclosed during the course a public hearing. The Court clarified that in line with Article 19A, it is not inclined to accept this argument. At this point, Mohammad Azam, the Principal Information Officer, Ministry of Information, stated that the Secretary Information is willing to disclose the details of these funds to the Court by submitting the details in sealed cover.

13. Prima facie, while the Ministry may claim privilege from making public disclosure of certain parts of its budget, such privilege is not automatically available to the Government. It must be claimed from the Court. Information for which secrecy is sought must be clearly marked and the reasons for seeking secrecy must also be clearly stated. The Court can then make a determination on this point in line with the law and the Constitution.

VI. Fiscal Misappropriation. On 18.12.12, Mr. Asad Kharal, contended that the budgets of 27 other Ministries also contain secret funds similar to the ones which are in place in the Ministry of Information.

This is a disturbing disclosure since secrets funds may potentially be a tool for undermining the right of citizens protected under Articles 19 and 19A. Since all public authorities are fiduciaries of the public and receive their funds from the public, the Auditor General or other constitutionally authorized bodies must have access to ensure transparency in the manner in which they spend the allocated budget.

VII. Commission. Some petitioners urge the Court to appoint a Commission which may examine issues IV, V and VI at length and propose appropriate content regulations, and record findings about the manner in which government advertisement spending is being made and determine whether it is in line with Article 19A. While we do not find it appropriate to

give any finding on this issue at the present stage, the parties pressing this point are directed to suggest Terms of Reference of the proposed Commission.

14. The case is now fixed for hearing on 9.1.2013. Within 7 days from today all documents specified in this order, or anything else which the parties deem necessary for determination of the above-mentioned issues, must be filed in Court so that the hearing of this case can be concluded.

15. Having gone through the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002 and the various notifications presented in Court including Notifications dated 27.9.2008, 27.7.2009 and 14.5.2011 and also having heard the learned counsel on the question of Dr. Abdul Jabbar purporting to represent himself and to act as Chairman PEMRA, we are prima facie, of the view that Dr. Abdul Jabbar has no authority to act as, or to represent himself as Chairman or acting Chairman PEMRA. This aspect was also highlighted in our order dated 17.9.2012 passed in Constitution Petition No. 104 of 2012, in the following terms:“It has also been pointed out to us that there is no permanent Chairman of PEMRA and incumbent is an acting Chairman for the last about two years. Relevant provisions of PEMRA i.e. section 6 of the PEMRA does not contain any such provision, however, it is understandable that temporarily for a shortest possible period acting Chairman can be appointed to find suitable person to be appointed as permanent Chairman. In this behalf notice be issued to the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to appear and explain on behalf of the Government as to why the permanent Chairman has not been appointed so far”.

16. Despite the above, no Chairman of PEMRA has been appointed in accordance with the provisions of PEMRA Ordinance and particularly section 6 thereof. Consequently, Dr. Abdul Jabbar is restrained from acting as or representing himself as Chairman or acting Chairman of PEMRA. The questions as to the validity of acts taken in the name of PEMRA during the period starting 13.05.2011 when it had no Chairman, will be considered on the next date of hearing.—NNI

Doctors asked to perform duties with missionary zeal BASHIR AHMAD RAHMANI

HAFIZABAD—District Coordination Officer, Hafizabad, community must play its Farah Masood has directed due and constructive role to the doctors in DHQ Hospital get rid of forced child labour to be courteous and perform from the country. This was their duties with missionary stated by the speakers durzeal as serving ailing humaning a seminar held at Zila ity is great worship. While Council Hall organized by visiting the Hospital she indistrict government, FFF, quired about the medical ILO and PRISE on the topic treatment being provided to “Our role and obligations to the patients. Farah Masood, finish forced labour”. The first woman ever appointed speakers included DO labour as DCO in the Punjab, said Imran Haider Tipu, Alam that best service delivery Muhib Nabi Tahir, Haji should be provided to the Abdullah Hameed Rehmani, patients and warned that she DO E&IP Shafique Tariq and would show zero tolerance to others. negligent and work shirkers.

The speakers said it She went round different shoud be our mission to wards, stores, record room make this district forced and operation theatres and labour free with the assisexpressed her dissatisfaction tance of the society, busiover the insanitary conditions ness community, NGOs and and directed prompt hygienic all stakeholders. District Ofcondition improved particuficer Imran Haider Tipu said larly in the operation theatres.

She also directed availability of medicines through local purchase system so as to save the hapless patients from purchasing expensive medicines from their own pockets. ***** Zahid alias Zahdi of Kathianwala (District Chiniot), a notorious proclaimed offender wanted by different police stations in 16 heinous crimes was rounded up by Kaleke Police. On a tip off, the police raided his hideout in nearby village and nabbed him alongwith sophisticated firearms. ***** Kissan Board Pakistan would stage demonstration in Lahore on December 24 to protest against giving MFN status to India. Divisional President Kissan Board Aman Ullah Chattha has said that import of rice and other commodities from India would ruin agrarian community and would badly affect already shattered economy of Pakistan. He said that thousands of farmers FAISALABAD: Commissioner Faisalabad Syed Tahir Hussain leading an awareness walk in connection with Work- across the province would paring Women’s Day. ticipate in the demonstration.

NANKANA

10. The procedural challenges lodged by the petitioners are more serious. The petitioners contend that the Regulations were formulated without the necessary consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Furthermore, the Regulations were notified in a period when the Authority was improperly constituted, since Dr. Abdul Jabbar, who claimed to be Acting Chairman and actually chaired the Authority’s meetings, had no legal authority to hold this office. Also, since he had notice of this defect, PEMRA may not be able to rely on de facto exercise of authority.

11 . The issue of the appointment process for key statutory offices is of the utmost importance in ensuring the integrity and independence of statutory institutions. Therefore, on 18.12.12, the Court directed Mr. Hasnain Ibrahim Kazmi, counsel representing PEMRA, to produce the full record relating to the process whereby Dr. Abdul Jabbar claims to have been appointed Acting Chairman.

The Court also directed Mr. Kazmi and the learned Deputy Attorney General, to present the record of the appointment process of all other members of the Authority.

The Court also directed the DAG to present similar record for the appointment to the Board of APP and PBC, the major recipients of the budget of the Ministry of Information. Some documents in this regard have been filed.

However, the complete record is still awaited and may be submitted within one week.

V. Secret Funds.

Whether the Federal Budgets have allocated from time to time to the Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting any funds that may be spent in its absolute discretion or that may be spent in secrecy without disclosing the purpose of the disbursements or the identity of its recipients? If so, did the said Ministry have a constitutional basis for such disbursements?

12. Mr. Zulfiqar Khalid Maluka, ASC, representing the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting addressed the court about the details of the Ministry’s budget. He apprised the Court that the bulk of the Ministry’s budget is spent on statutory corpora-

LANDIKOTAL: Security personnel searching a man at sealed Torkham border.

Severe weather closes link roads in upper parts I SLAMABAD —Pakistan Me- private news channel reteorological Department (PMD) on Saturday forecast mainly cold & dry weather in most parts of the country, however, light rain with light snowfall may occur at few places of Gilgi-Baltistan during Sunday night. According to the synoptic situation, continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country.

The lowest minimum temperatures recorded during the next 24 hours were Skardu -13øC, Astore -12øC, Parachinar -10øC, Kalam 07øC, Gupis, Gilgit & Hunza -06, Kalat -05 C, Rawalakot & Dir -03 C, Quetta & Murree 02øC and Bunji -01øC. The severe cold wave that has hit upper parts of the country is creating hazards for the people as many link roads have been closed due to snow and people are facing difficulties in carrying out day-to-day chores. The temperature in Skardu has dropped to -13 degree Centigrade while many link roads in Gilgit-Baltistan have been closed due to the snowfall,

Lawyers protest judicial complex shifting

ported.

JAVED MOAVIA The mercury has also dropped in Malakand and N ANKANA S AHIB —District Hazara Division where un- Bar Association launched a availability of gas has added protest against shifting of the Judicial Complex at Peeray Wali, six kilometers away from the city Nankana Sahib on Saturday. President District Bar Association, Nankana Sahib, Chauhdhry Haq Nawaz, and other lawers told the mediamen that District Government wanted to to the misery of the people build proposed Judicial while the cost of woods used Complex at Peeray Wali as fuel has also soared due which is six kilometers away to the cold weather. The up- from the city. per parts of Balochistan and They said that if the proAzad Kashmir have received posed Judicial Complex was heavy snowfall while the built at Peeray Wali the lawers weather in tribal areas includ- and people will face a lot of ing Waziristan and Kurram problems. They also said that Agency is also cold. there are already chambers of Pakistan Meteorological lawyers and courts working Department (PMD) had fore- in the middle of the city and cast mainly cold and dry there is also enough place to weather for most parts of the bulid the proposd Judicial country during the next few Complex. They demanded days. The lowest minimum the higher authorties to build temperatures recorded dur- the Judicial Complex in the ing the last 24 hours were city, otherwise, lawyers will Parachinar -11 C.—APP launch a series of protests.

Wattoo, Azad laud Makhdoom nomination

Sindhi culture model of peace

M ULTAN —Member Federal for Punjab. He said that the

QUETTA —Sindhi culture and language always taught lesson of peace and love to different nationalities and tribes living in the region. These views were expressed by Speaker Balochistan Assembly Muhammad Aslam Bhootani who was addressing a ceremony organized at Quetta Press Club premises in connection with Sindhi Cap and Ajrak Day. “Cultural traditions and values of Sindh and Balochistan provinces have several similarities as they have been living together in this region for centuries,” he said. Mr. Bhootani said that he would not compromise on his stance only for saving his office of speaker ship. Mir Sadique Umrani, President Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Balochistan chapter said that dictatorial forces had exploited the constitutional, political, social and economic rights of people of Sindh and Balochistan. He said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had struggled for the restoration of democracy and protection of rights of downtrodden and oppressed segments of the society. He demanded equal rights for all nationalities living in Pakistan. In connection with the Culture Day, Sindh Culture Department arranged a musical concert here at Sindh Museum Hyderabad evening. The Director Sindh Museum HYDERABAD: Christian students perform tableau in connection with upcoming Christmas celebrations.

Muhammad Ayoub Jamali who was the chief guest on the occasion said that on the directives of Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo and Sindh Secretary Culture Abdul Aziz Uqaili, the department has started three-day long celebrations in connection the Culture Day.—APP

Attack on polio teams condemned

BGSA felicitates officials on promotion

Staff Reporter

PESHAWAR—Khyber Pakhtunkhwa As- QUETTA —Balochistan Geo sembly strongly condemned armed attacks on polio teams in KP and killing of their few members including women.

Starting debate in the provincial assembly on a point of order, MPA Javed Abbasi of PML (N), said the incidents are very condemnable and needs strong reaction from quarters concerned. He said due to refusal of polio vaccinators about 0.8 million children may miss vaccination and become vulnerable to the crippling disease.

Javed Abbasi demanded of the government to apprise the house about measures being adopted for providing security to the polio teams and for pre-empting such happenings in future. Javed Abbasi requested Speaker, Kiramatullah Khan to allow the house to debate the issue because it was of great importance. Supporting the opinion of Javed Abbasi, MPA Saqibullah Khan Chamkani of ANP said attacks on polio teams were not only condemnable but concerning too as the trend adopted by militants was very alarming. MPA Mufti Kifayatullah of JUI(F) also condemned attack on polio teams and termed it totally un-Islamic. He said decrees have been issued by prominent religious scholars declaring administration of polio drops to children Islamic and necessary for safety and proper health of minors. Qalander Lodhi and MPA Nighat Orakzai of PML(Q) also condemned attacks on polio teams. Nighat said polio team workers were saving our coming generations from disability. MPA Inayatullah Jadoon said no religion allows targeting of health workers and it was not clear on which agenda the militants were working. He also asked the government to apprise the house as what policy has been adopted for providing protection to polio teams.

BA MPs seek royalty Q UETTA —The lawmakers of the Balochistan in the Balochistan Assembly session held have demanded of the federal government to release full royalty on natural resources and gas surcharge. The assembly session started with Deputy Speaker Syed Matiullah Agha in chair. Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani was also present in the house. Delivering his speech on point of order, Senior Minister for Planning and Development and Parliamentary leader of Jamiat Ulemae-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Abdul Wasey said: “Balochistan is not being given full amount of royalty on natural resources and gas surcharge”. He said that other provinces were being given much amount on head of gas surcharge than Balochistan despite the fact that Balochistan has vast reserves of natural gas, meeting the energy demand of the country. He said that other province were also given much amount of royalty on natural resources. He said that Balochistan government respects the Supreme Court of Pakistan and has taken steps to implements the apex court’s verdicts regarding law and order situation. “People know that Nawab Aslam led-provincial government has done a lot for them and surely this government would come in power once again as people would vote for it in upcoming general elections,” the Senior Minister said. He said that on one hand Baloch and Pashtoon nationalists used to raise voice against Punjab province and on other, they call on Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. Minister for Industries and Balochistan National Party-Awami (BNP-A) leader Syed Ahsan Shah said that Balochistan is given only nine percent from total revenue of the country. He said that federation could be strengthened only by giving equal prosperity to all provinces.—APP

Women education stressed

Scientists Association (BGSA) leaders have felicitated officials of Water Resources, Directorate of Irrigation on their promotion. In a statement issued on Saturday, BGSA leaders including the Chairman Abdul Razzaque Khan Khilji, Vice Chairman Elections Abdul Quddoos Khan, Executive Officer Munir Ahmed Baloch, General Secretary Muhammad Abdullah Khan Kakar, Joint Secretary Shah Zaman Kakar, Secretary Finance Mazhar Ali Hashmi and the presidents of different zones congratulated Nasir Ahmed Baloch, Abdul Nabi, Syed Nadir Shah and Munir Ahmed Baloch on their promotion to the post of Deputy Director in Water Resources Directorate of Irrigation.—APP

Council and Central Executive Committee of Pakistan People’s Party, Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan, Khan Muhammad Hussain Azad on Saturday lauded the nomination of Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood as Punjab governor. According to a press release on Saturday, Azad said the nomination of governor from south Punjab would enhance the popularity of the PPP in the area.

He said the next election would bring positive result for the PPP and praised President Asif Ali Zardari for taking good decisions in every situation.

It was reported earlier that Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmad Watto on Friday also welcomed the appointment of new Governor

Police fail to find clue of Dr Wahab Wadho

No monitoring of polio-drive funds utilisation NAZIR SIYAL

L ARKANA —Corruption and misuse of funds regarding anti-polio drive in Larkana and other parts of the province have been witnessed as there are reports of big corruption in the funds. According to sources the authorities from the top to bottom Federal and provincial level as well District Health Department, WHO and UNICEF representatives have failed to properly monitor and hold accountability in the funds utilized for proper anti-polio drive.

A large number of staff among Vaccinator and teachers, field workers, area and union council incharge and other medical professionals had various times com-

plained about the honorarium they are not receiving properly. Further there are no invitations to print and electronic media personnel to cover the national level antipolio drive and other health and educational activities and important meetings of provincial and federal government for polio, pneumonia and other vaccination and health awareness programmes.

It is worth mentioning here that millions of funds are utilised on the campaign and communication with media and civil society, but ironically, the officials of UNICEF and WHO with heavy funded projects did not bother to invite the print and electronic media personnel to brief them about the cover-

age of polio drops and other health issues. ***** Pakistan Medical Association, Larkana chapter, on 10th consecutive day held protest demonstrations and observed token hunger strike demanding safe recovery of fromer Executive District Officer and present Medical Superintendent, Mirokhan tehsil, Dr. Abdul Wahab Wadho, who was kidnapped about a week ago. PMA Sindh has expressed dissatisfaction over the kidnappings and killings of doctors and demanded safe recovery of Medical Superintendent Dr. Abdul Wahab Wadho.

The leaders of PMA Sindh including Dr. Sharif Pirzado, Larkana PMA President Dr. Shah Baig Chandio,

Dr. Ikram Tunio, General Secretary, Dr. Shah Mehmood Mugheri and others condemned the abduction of Medical Superintendent Dr. Abdul Wahab Wadho, who was abducted at NasirabadWagan Indus Highway road along with his driver. The police could not found Dr Wadho butsome sources say that the abducted doctorhas been shifted to the Balochistan province, but police failed to find him.

Meanwhile World Health Organization has vowed to support Balochistan government in its efforts to eradicate poliovirus from the province. Polio Coordinator of WHO in Pakistan Dr. Nima Abid said that WHO teams working in Balochistan had no serious security issues.

appointment of Governor would help resolve the problems of the masses of South Punjab.

He said that Pakistan Peoples Party members have good working relations with allies parties particularly Pakistan Muslim League Quaid.

He said that Pakistan Peoples Party government after coming into power had completed a number of development projects in different areas of the country.

Talking to a private television channel, he said that his nomination as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central leader of Punjab boosted the confidence in the workers of party. Replying to a question, he said that choosing Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood as Governor Punjab

by President of Pakistan is a good decision.—APP

Drive against gamblers, drug pushers SHER GONDAL M ANDI B AHAUDDIN —In a special drive against gamblers and drug pushers a police contingent, led by SHO City Inspector Shafqat Butt, raided a Snooker Club and arrested 33 culprits gambling red-handed with bet money amounting to Rs 39,000. Police took the money into their possession. ***** A house has been looted on gun point here. Reportedly, five unknown persons armed with fire arms entered house of Ghulam Abbas Lilla, brother of member PPP Punjab Council Arshad Lilla, in Mohalla Lilla Town and on gun-point took away gold ornaments worth Rs 45 Lakh.

PC releases Rs101.1b under PSDP ISLAMABAD—The Planning to data, these releases have cluding 178,245 packs in Commission of Pakistan has so far released Rs. 101.1 billion under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) against the total allocations of Rs. 233 billion for the on going financial year 2012-13. Out of total Rs. 55.7 billion have been released for 345 infrastructure development projects while Rs. 42.3 billion for 688 social sector projects.

Similarly, Rs. 1.1 billion have been released for 68 other projects and Rs. 2 billion for Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA). According

been made against Rs. 233 PSDP allocations. It is pertinent to mention here that the total size of the PSDP for the current financial year 2012-13 is Rs. 360 billion, including Rs. 100 billion foreign aid, which is managed by Economic Affairs Division and Rs. 27 billion special programmes, release of which are made by Cabinet Division or Finance Division.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has delivered 265,895 food packs in floodhit areas of the country in-

Case against 2 for buying TMA shops thru fake deeds SYED ADNAN NOOR JHANG—On the complaint of the Assistant Commissioner, the Kotwali police have registered a case against two people for buying two shops owned by the TMA through fake transfer deeds instead of the TMO under whose alleged patronage the process was completed. Sources disclosed that the TMA had several shops worth millions of rupees on Tehsil Road, Circular Road and in other markets, which had been rented out to different people for specific periods.

They added that the TMA had deputed staffers under the supervision of the TMO to collect rent, re-auction and verify the shops.

They said the TMA staffers had made the shops a source of minting money and deliberately ignored the illegal occupants. They said that Assistant Commissioner Sajjad Zafar Gondal was informed that two shops out of 11 shops located on Circle Road outside Government MB High School had been sold by the old tenant through fake land transfer deeds.

They added that the AC had recommended the case against two people after the sub-registrar confirmed that land transfer deeds were bogus. A case was registered under sections 471, 420 and 468 of the PPC. When contacted, TMO Anwar Baig was reluctant to give his version and disconnected the call made by this correspondent.

Sindh, 22,400 in Punjab and 65,250 in Balochistan. According to an official, NDMA has so far delivered 47,300 tents to the people of flood hit areas including 13000 tents in Punjab, 14000 in Sindh, 20,000 tents in Balochistan, 300 tents in AJK

by State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).

Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Management Authority have separately delivered 114,770 food packs, 45000 mineral water cans, 36000 ton rice bags, 38000 flour bags, 8,839 tents, 15000 blankets.—APP

Taman assures to fulfill demands SHAFFAAT MALIK T ALAGANG —Paiman team, along with CRG members of NA-61, met with Sardar Mumtaz Khan Taman, MNA NA-61 on Saturday. National NGO Paiman’s team and Constituency Relation Group of NA-61 demanded of Sardar Mumtaz to construct boundary wall of Bhilomar High School and water supply facilities to schools and repair of RHC Jhatla road. **** Tehsil Municipal Administration, Talagang, has set up a Christmas bazaar to facilitate the Christian community. The bazaar has been established from Dec 21 to 25th December. Newly appointed Assistant Commissioner, Administrator TMA, Tanveer ur Rehman.

SWAT: Students performing during a ceremony at Government High School No 3.

Women demand more seats reserved in public transport STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Pakistan celebrates the National Working Women’s Day on December 22 with the aim to honour working women and conveys a message to the society that women’s role in nation building can not be ignored. The objective of observing the day is to recognize the contribution made by working women in social up lift and urge policy- maker to uphold their rights. On this day Working Women demand to reserve more seats for them in public transport as it is a major challenge for them to have a seat specially on the

F AISALABAD —Speakers highlighting the women rights said that issues of Pakistani women including domestic violence, dowry abuse, acid throwing incidents, head and eyebrow shaving and low wages can be uprooted with raising the education level and awareness among the society. This was stated by speakers at a seminar arranged by Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) to mark International Working Women Day, here. GCUF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zakir Hussian, MPA Rana Muhammad Afzal, Dr Najma RAFIULLAH MANDOKHAIL Afzal, Faculty of Science and Technology Dean Prof Dr Naureen Aziz Qureshi, Director Food Science Prof Dr Nighat ZHOB—Bolan Scout of FronBhatti, Chairperson Economics Department Dr Sofia tier Corps Balochistan on Anwar, Dr Zia Ul Haq and Assistant Director Medical SciSaturday held a day-long free ences Kiran Fatima were present on the occasion. Dr. Zakir medical camp in Gwal Husain stressed the need to active participation of women, Hyderzai area of Zhob discomprising around 48 percent of total population, in the trict and treated hundreds of every sphere of life to meet challenges of the modern era. patients suffering from variHe said that quality education was only a tool to raise the ous diseases. Medical team awareness to ensure implementation of women rights. He heading by Naib Sobedar called for equipping the youth girls, consisting of 45 milKhursheed, comprising spelion, with the education as the aware and qualified mother cialist doctors with parawas a guarantee of skilled and progressive family. He anmedic staff provided free nounced upgrading of Day Care Centre and establishment check up to the patients of another Day Care Centre at New Campus which is under along with free medicines. construction. Dr Najma Afzal said the Punjab Government The medical camp was would table a bill titled Women Rights Package 2012 soon held in the remote and backin the Provincial Assembly to protect the rights of working ward area of the district, women on the directives of Chief Minister Muhammad where FC doctors including Shahbaz Sharif. She said that Punjab Bank will bring a lady doctor examined hunscheme worth one billion rupees and Akhuwat Welfare Trust will open a programme worth two billion rupees to PESHAWAR: WAPDA staffers busy in repairing transformer without taking safety dreds of patients including women, children and aged give soft loans to women for promoting handicraft.—APP measures.

days when Compress of Natural Gas loadshedding.

National Working Women day was declared on 22nd December 2010 in recognition to the struggle of working women to secure a dignified and respectful working environment. It is also celebrated to acknowledge the economic and progessive contributions made by women to the country. The day also symbolizes the working women’s struggle for a dignified work environment. Talking to APP here Saturday, a lawyer Shahida Sukhera said every working class women leaving her house for professional responsibility has to travel

through public transport to reach their destination but they have to wait for hours at bus stops to get a seat and only two front seats were reserved for the women commuters at public vans plying on different routes of the city but now a large number of women are rendering services in almost every walk of life the reserve seats were not revised, she added.

“Now our nation is enjoying the affects of women empowerment as women are producing much better results as compare to their male colleagues but no one is ready to give them facilities according.—APP

Militia holds free medical camp, treats 950 persons. Major Asim visited the medical camp and inspected the health facilities.

The camp was organized on the special directives of Inspector General Frontier Corps Balochistan Ubaidullah Khan Khattak, where the Pak Army and FC doctors Captain Dr. Mehdi, Dr. Tariq Khan and Dr. Ayesha Dilawar examined the patients. More than 950 patients were examined and given free medicines besides performing diagnostic tests.

Children under five years of age were administered antipolio drops and gifts were also distributed among them.

Residents of the area highly appreciated the endeavors of

FC to mitigate sufferings of ailing patients living in these distant areas and suggested more camps in future. Talking to this correspondent FC Commandant Talat Masood told that FC held free medical camps in various parts of the district periodically where thousands of patients were provided medicines free of cost.

He further said that on the directives of IG FC, medical camps were being organized in far-flung areas of district Zhob and Sherani. FC doctors were extending their expertise in free medical camps organized for the poor and needy patients in rural areas. Similar camps would be held in the near future.

PPP performance: perception & reality

MEDIA WATCH

Russian orphans as political pawns

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ITH general elections approaching and term of the coalition government nearing maturity, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday launched the book “Reconciliation, Reforms, Revival: 4 Years of Democratic Government (2008-2012” beautifully and comprehensively produced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting encompassing information about policies and achievements of the ruling party.

The material and data contained in the 378-page book would surely form basis of heated debate before and during electioneering and help mould opinion for and against the Government.

Both the Prime Minister and Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira rightly pointed out towards enormous challenges that the PPP Government inherited in 2008 and sailed through troubled waters by dint of wisdom and correct approaches. No one can deny credit to the Government where it is due like the historic amendments that removed distortions in the Constitution and devolved powers from Presidency to Parliament and from centre to the provinces. NFC award is another feather in the cap of the Government that has empowered the provinces financially besides fulfillment of demands of people of Gilgit-Baltistan and KPK. Similarly, much has been done for empowerment of women and amelioration of lot of farmers and workers.

The most important achievement of the Government is its policy of reconciliation and accommodation that also enabled it to complete its mandated five years despite rumour-mongering and uncertainties. However, one must point out that benefits of macro-level achievements have not yet trickled down to masses, who are groaning under price-hike, unemployment, corruption, insecurity and shortages of electricity and gas. Lack of attention towards economic issues and contradictory approaches have played havoc with the industry leading to loss of production and employment. It lost precious time in quarrelling with state institutions instead of addressing worrisome issues like Balochistan problem, weakening federation and growing water and energy scarcity. It also miserably failed to enhance allocations for education and instead scrapped visionary projects like those of nine universities of science and technology. The Government, however, with some exceptions, deserves appreciation for conducting an honourable foreign policy that has helped avoid isolation and embarrassment in a world that rightly or wrongly look things through the prism of terror.

Rich in water resources but …

S

PEAKING at the inauguration ceremony of Sea Water Desalination Plant in Karachi on Friday, President Asif Ali Zardari stated that unlike several countries, Pakistan was bestowed with sufficient water resources that needed optimum utilization and effective management.

The country receives fair amount of rains during monsoon season but due to lack of storage huge amount of water is being wasted that results in floods, losses to agriculture and displacement of population. Over the last sixty-five years, we could build only two major water reservoirs, which are losing storage capacity due to sedimentation affecting irrigation water availability and hydel power generation. The President rightly pointed out that huge amount of water was being wasted in the agricultural sector from canal to the lands and the trend needed to be urgently reversed. Though Kalabagh Dam has been made controversial and there is no possibility of implementing this project at least in the near future, the progress on the much-hyped Diamer-Bhasha is also extremely slow. The PPP government after coming to power in 2008 announced construction of medium and small dams in the four provinces but except launching of a couple of them, there is no apparent movement to start others to conserve water for use during dry season. As global weather pattern is changing and winter rains over the last decade have been much below the normal, we strongly believe that Pakistan must tap all sources of water to meet its drinking and irrigation needs otherwise the country would be turned into desert. We believe that the President, who is fully conscious of the situation, would take personal interest to accelerate work on the Diamer-Bhasha and other small dams to stop water wastage and its efficient utilization for irrigation and power generation.

S&T and Army I

T is indeed appreciable that the Pakistan Army has indigenously devel oped Automated Fire Order System, demonstration of which was witnessed by Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday. In a related development, he also inaugurated the IT based Resource Management System in Gujranwala that is likely to greatly enhance administrative efficiency in the Army.

Who knows better than the army leadership and planners that conventional war-fighting is fast losing its relevance in the 21st century, which is century of science and technology. Sword, arrows and horses were replaced by guns and military vehicles but now these are becoming redundant and even artillery and tanks are going in the background. Now is the era of missiles, rockets, laser, pain beams, robots that are assuming central place in deciding fate of a war as well as minimizing the human and material cost.

Again, the way the intelligence was gathered in the past has undergone a tremendous change with the application and development of latest information and communication gadgets. All these aspects require defence S&T investment that will enable us to counter military threats and to overcome any advantage that our adversaries might be seeking. Research and development as well as application of technology inevitably means induction of duly qualified manpower that cannot only undertake R&D but also becomes good user of sophisticated weapons and gadgets. However, at the moment, majority of our troops can hardly be called science and technology literate and therefore, there is need to take care of this aspect. There is no escape from inducting qualified people and giving them necessary incentives if we are really interested to maintain a strategic balance in the region.

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Does urban economics work? of their past policy failures the likes of WB and ADB now attack the issue for the end. Why not Dr Zafar Altaf other take credit for what Email: dr_altaf@hotmail.com has been happening as a result of their policy of exclusion of the rural areas. The pilot Training and here is need to understand ur Visit [T&V borrowed from Israel] ban economics and I am program of the WB was an utter failaware of the recent and the not ure and when I made this presentaso recent past [Musharaf’s time] tion to one of the greats of the Planwhen people in power were trying ning Commission I was told that the to foist urban economics. I had a failure of the pilot project may be detailed discussion with some there but Pakistan needs the foreign Oxonians and their view was that exchange and this is the way to imthis kind of fashioned economics prove our forex reserves. does not last. Then I recall that the In a recent seminar that I atWB appointed a consultant [they tended this was again the main usually appoint people who they are theme. The politicians are not on of the opinion can be a nuisance to board. This I can see. There game is their way of thought]. The USA was much larger. In Pakistan if you lose still going strong on sub-prime an election then you are also inmortgages. One of my students terned. So the first game is to win at from the Fatima Jinnah Women’s all costs. The second is to make more University [FJWU] also came to the money for the next time. The third conclusion that this cannot last. is to try and boost one’s ego by whatThe distinction that was made ever means. Musharaf was the third by the Oxonian was that in Paki- one in line whose finance minister stan financial resources that will go keeps on toting this figure of growth in to urbanism will be money that of the economy through urbanizaotherwise will stink. It would be tion. Let the mafia alone. money that cannot be explained Drink deep with them. The away. He was right. At that time I armed forces are also in this game was very cynical on the issue. Now and Bharia was not constituted after I understand that some policy plan- due diligence and after analyzing the ners are suggesting that growth can problems. The land grab mafia has be through cities and that this is distorted not only policy matters but the engine of growth for the future. has created a national shame and Policy makers and donors cannot every now and then there is some do anything about urban size that scam or the other that comes up. I then becomes their point of ratio- was recently looking at some of the nalization. So to remove the stigma assets provided on line of some of

T

the politicians. The humblest of them whose assets are on line or with other agencies seem to indicate that the housing societies that have been developed are either phantom or that there are serous fraudulent contracts that have taken place.

Suppose that these finance and planning commission people [ministers and what not] are correct.

What are some of the other options that have to be complied with? First urbanization brings its own level of transaction cost. It also means that new and expensive roads are to be built to satisfy the egos of the people who have a chip on their shoulders.

One road cost 175 million rupees a mile and another underpass cost 469 million rupees. All it did was to serve a few hundred powerful house holds.

Is this inclusive development. What have we done for N&S Waziristan, for PATA , for Balochistan, for Thar, for Cholistan and for the other marginal and fragile areas like the coastline and the DI and DG Khan. In one sector of Islamabad there are 8000 residences and the way sectors have been opened to use the financial resources to satisfy people’s whims and caprices could only mean that once we were at land’s end resources would dry up. The sinecure and supercilious snitchers always win out as the powerful use them for their own purposes. The Kuri scam is a current incidence. Where are you going to get all that electricity. Talk of shortages and all that these people go on talking about. You cannot meet the demand for urban energy. That having been said what about gas and fossil fuel?

What is going to ply on the roads of Pakistan? Then the SBP Gover-

nor General decided to abbey the done deals with the WB and discard the cooperative system. Anything to do with the poor had become useless. The came the cheap interest rate that in classical economics would mean that investment would pick up. That did not; then came the leasing for cars.

People leased cars and then defaulted. That led to vigilante corps by retired army officers. The police came in to help these vigilantes. The agreement was that the police would take away the tapes, the radios and the air conditioned unit. The rest would be Vigilante groups taking. If the lease manager wanted a car for his nephew all he had to show was that the recovered car was in bad shape and he could take the car that he wanted at pea nut prices. All criminals were happy. Well done agents of WB/ADB. The developed countries were happy because their capital goods were having a heavy demand. The local policy makers were happy because they could show growth and it did not matter whether it was pristine or junk growth. Well take a leaf out of China. They had projected that an additional 6.7 million jobs would be created when in fact the jobs were 12.7 million-more than the targeted. I would suggest to the really serious student of planning to read two books that have recently been published-China-thirty years from now and the Blue Book that is about finance and economic policies. Grow up. Can we learn from others or should we be the slaves of western thinking?

ussian legislators looking to retaliate against a new Ameri can human rights law have settled on an exceptionally vulnerable target: Russian orphans. The proposal would bar American citizens from adopting them. This is a cynical and cruel response. The American law, called the Magnitsky Act, was signed by President Obama last week and seeks to punish Russian citizens accused of violating human rights by denying them visas to visit the United States and the right to own real estate in this country. Congress passed it after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who was arrested after trying to expose a huge government tax fraud, died in prison in 2009. There were allegations that he had been denied proper medical care. American lawmakers condemned the death as another attempt by President Vladimir Putin and his government to crush political threats and basic freedoms.

The Kremlin reacted furiously to the enactment of the American law, and, on Friday, the Russian Parliament gave final approval to the measure, the most anti-American action of Mr. Putin’s new term. Now, he must decide whether to sign or veto it. At a news conference on Thursday, Mr. Putin he was evasive and said he needed time to read the legislation, but no time should be needed. No one has an accurate count of the orphans in Russia, though one American aid organization estimated that there were 800,000 in 2011.

The Russian government says some 956 children were adopted in 2011 by families in the United States, the most of any country; more than 45,000 such adoptions have taken place since 1999. It would be a terrible wrong to prevent children from being placed into loving homes as an act of political retaliation. Mr. Putin needs to consider not just the impact on the orphans but also on the United States-Russia relationship, which is under severe strain in large part because of his policies on Syria, missile defence and other issues. The two countries have to find ways to work together. This adoption legislation will only make that harder.—The New York Times

*****

Iran needs to normalise relations

India complicates Sir Creek issue I number of instances of apprehending Pakistani fishermen and are reSajjad Shaukat trawlers ported from the Sir Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com Creek area regularly.”

However, any such attempt made

by India would lead s part of the Confidence to misunderstandings between Building Measures Islamabad and New Delhi. India il(CBMs), renowned Paki- legitimately claims that the Creek stani and Indian media anchors in- boundary which opens up to the cluding retired high civil and mili- Arabian Sea should be in the middle tary officials gathered on Decem- of the estuary, while Islamabad leber 2, 2012 in New Delhi at a gitimately argues, it should lie on seminar to discuss practical solu- the southeast bank. In fact, Sir tions to the bilateral issues like Sir Creek is sovereign part of Creek, Siachen, Kashmir dispute Pakistan’s territory. Sir Creek sits etc. under the Aman Ki Asha ini- in the Rann of Kutch marshlands is tiative. At the same time, India de- the 96 km narrow piece of water becided to erect a ‘floating fence’, tween India’s Gujarat state and anchored by submerged metallic Pakistan’s Sindh province. meshes, along the disputed Sir Although India and Pakistan Creek border area with Pakistan. had surveyed the 100 km Sir Creek According to Indian media reports, estuary in 2007, yet Indian delaythe two agencies would be the Na- ing tactics frustrated Islamabad’s tional Buildings Construction Co- attempts to demarcate the maritime operation (NBCC) which will boundary between the two counerect the fence of 75 km of the tries. Since 1969, many rounds of Creek, while the Central Public talks between India and Pakistn Works Department (CPWD) has were conducted on Sir Creek issue, already started work in rest of the relating various steps such as alloarea. The fence is a ‘gabion box’ cation, demarcation and administrawhich is a regular technology hav- tion. But no breakthrough occurred ing all-weather concertina wires due to Indian tough stand. New and poles, and is also used for Delhi has proposed that the mariflood water control. time boundary could be demarcated While showing contradictory first, as per the provisions of Techstatements of New Delhi, an In- nical Aspects of Law of Sea dian official stated, “Sir Creek area (TALOS). But Islamabad has prois characteristic with shallow and posed for international arbitration, slushy water and these boxes which New Delhi has flatly refused. would be the best material to be We cannot see Indian delaying sunk under water considering the tactics regarding the solution of Sir difficulty of the terrain.” On the Creek dispute in isolation because other side, some Indian officials it has always remained part of other accused that the Sir Creek area is related issues between India and Pavulnerable to infiltration and kistan. In this regard, India sussmuggling by Pakistan, adding, “A pended the ‘composite dialogue’ in

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2008 under the pretext of Mumbai terror attacks which were in fact, arranged by its secret agency RAW in connivance with Indian homegrown terrorists. India and Pakistan resumed the new phase of parleys in March, 2009. But every time, prime ministers and foreign ministers of both the countries have ended their meetings with issuance of positive notes, and vowed for the solution of all issues, but the same failed without producing tangible results. Nevertheless, on April 8, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who met in New Delhi also remarked that the two countries “are willing to find pragmatic solutions” to various issues like terrorism, Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, water etc. In the recent past, both the leaders also met in Tehran and agreed to settle all the outstanding disputes between Pakistan and India. Meanwhile, while addressing rallies in Kutch and North Gujarat, Chief Minister of Gujrat Narendra sharpened his attack on Prime Minister Singh on December 13, alleging that he had agreed with Pakistan’s president to resolve the issue of Sir Creek which would be given to Pakistan, but, Prime Minister’s Office termed these allegations as baseless.

In fact, India is emphasising more on CBMs than to pay attention on the settlement of real issues which also include Sir Creek. It is only interested in promotion of trade, friendly exchanges, tourism, relaxation of visas etc. Implementation of these agreements has started.

In this context, Islamabad also signed a number of trade agreemens with New Delhi, which allowed India exports of mutltiple items across the Wagah border. It also granted India Most Favoured Nation status, which permits trade in almost every-

thing. It is notable that a meeting in relation to military to military CBMs held in Lahore from 23-25 September 2012 in which top retired officials of Indian and Pakistani armed forces participated.

They gave positive suggestions for the settlement of all issues between both the countries including Sir Creek dispute.

Notably, on November 10, 2011, the then Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreed in Maldives to resolve all issues.

Quite contrarily, two days after, Singh stated, “I left Gilani in no doubt that that if justice is not being done to those responsible for the barbarous attack of Mumbai, it would not be possible to move forward with the peace process.”

On the other side, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor of the 26/11 terror-incident is a “non-state actor…should be hanged, so should perpetrators of the Samjhauta Express blast.” Following Indian duplicity, during his visit to Islamabad, India’s External Affairs Minister S M Krishna in September, 2012, also warned that in case of Mumbai-like incident; relations between the two countries could lapse.

Nonetheless, keeping in mind anti-Pakistan designs, New Delhi has rejected a number of positive suggestions of Islamabad about the solution various disputes like Kashmir, Wullar Barrage, water, demilitarisation of Siachen Glacier and demarcation of Sir Creek.

It is only fulfilling formality through the new phase of talks. At this juncture, while both the countries have accelerated CBMs, Indian decision to erect a ‘floating fence’, along the disputed border of Sir Creek will further complicate this issue.

ran made two serious allegations about the Arab Gulf states last week, which are unfounded and designed to be destabilising. These wild allegations have been denied by the Gulf states, but rather than attack each other, it is important that all countries in the region focus on the need to work for more cooperative and rational regional relations, based on goodwill and mutual respect. This is not helped by fantastic Iranian claims that Bahrain forces used poisonous gas during the recent unrest, which was claimed by Iran’s deputy foreign minister in Moscow.

The Bahraini government said: “We are deeply astonished at the false allegations that aim to cover up the catastrophic situation in Iran and the disastrous and tragic economic conditions suffered by the brotherly people of Iran.”

The Kuwaiti government was forced to reject another unfounded attack on Gulf states made by Iranian General Yahya Safavi, who is an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a former commander of the Revolutionary Guards. He accused Gulf states of spending billions of dollars to buy weapons in order to serve US and Israeli interests in the region, adding a more direct reference to the Arab states when he said that “We warn smaller countries that petrodollars cannot make them play key roles in the region”.

The Kuwaitis were right to make clear that Kuwaiti and other Arab states run their own foreign affairs, that after three terrible wars and serious loss of life, the Arab states “want to live in peace with all neighbouring countries, including Iran”. The Kuwaitis have direct experience of Iranian interference since 2011 when they uncovered an Iranian spy ring working for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. — Gulf News Energy is Eternal Delight.

William Blake —British poet

FMCT: Why Pakisatn can’t compromise? Voice of the People Waqar-un-Nisa

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akistan became the focus of criticism by the international community for blocking the negotiations for Fissile Material (Cut off) Treaty (FMCT) at Conference on Disarmament. Despite the fact that Pakistan is not alone at the forum that has reservations but none of them is openly expressing their reservations saving their faces behind Pakistan. A Fissile Material Treaty is currently focus of attention of an international effort in non-proliferation arena which bans the future production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other devices.

In 2012, the global stockpile of the HEU was around 1440 tons while global Plutonium stockpile was around 500 tons. This includes the stockpile being used for civilian purposes. 99% of global stockpiles rest with the nuclear weapons states.

There are several states in the CD which include the Non Aligned States argue that under the UNGA resolution 48/75L, the treaty should be non discriminatory. Some suggest that the treaty should be named as FMT instead FM(C)T. FMCT would only require the ban on further production

while FMT would also address the existing stocks of fissile material along with the ban on the further production. Pakistan also strongly supports the idea of FMT. Pakistan’s security interests are directly threatened by the proposed treaty at both regional and global level. Pakistan is among eight states which posses nuclear weapons. Pakistan has clearly stated that it is not going to compromise over its principled position. There are several reasons why Pakistan is consistently insisting on the same position in spite facing pressure by the international community. The interests of P5 are secured as they have enough stockpiles. India as the result of civil nuclear deal with U.S. is even not at disadvantageous position. Pakistan’s stockpiles of fissile material are smallest than that of other nuclear weapons states. According to International Panel on Fissile Material (IPFM), in January 2012, Pakistan has 2.75 tons of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) and 0.14 metric ton of plutonium stockpiles. These stockpiles can be compared to that of other of nuclear weapons states.

At regional level Pakistan is also concerned about the strategic imbalance that arises from Indo-U.S. strategic partnership and especially Indo-

US civil nuclear deal. The matter of concern is that India can divert this peaceful nuclear energy for military use. It will give India an opportunity to increase its nuclear capability both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Pakistan’s pursuit of nuclear weapons was because of filling the gap of conventional disparity between the two countries. Pakistan requires building sufficient stockpiles of fissile material shorten the gap in nuclear capability. The purpose is not to indulge in an arms race that is something beyond Pakistan’s capacity but to take the measures that ensure its survival and maintain the deterrence stability in the region. Ambassador Zamir Akram said in an interview:“We need to enhance our own capabilities so that we have sufficient fissile material for what we would then feel is a credible secondstrike capability, or credible deterrence capability.”

According to Analysts the reason for the introduction of Tactical nuclear weapons by Pakistan was to deter the threat that emerges from Indian Cold Start Doctrine which tends to inflict an aggressive attack by Indian conventional forces. These tactical weapons are plutonium based weapons. Pakistan’s fissile material stockpiles mostly consist of HEU.

Given the fact that Pakistan has smallest stockpile of plutonium, now Pakistan has turned toward the production of Plutonium. Plutonium Production Reactors, Khushab I and II are operational. Third and fourth reactors at Khushab are under construction.

Now it does not mean that Pakistan would equalize its stockpiles to that of other nuclear weapons states or specifically to that of India. The requirement is to develop sufficient fissile material stockpiles to cater for developments in nuclear arms field. Pakistan would need some parity with India. Indian pursuit of Sea-based Ballistic Submarine and Sea based Ballistic Submarine and Ballistic Missile Defense would definitely question the deterrence stability in South Asia. Even in future India can go beyond this.

It would be inevitable for Pakistan to find alternatives for these developments in its own capacity to maintain the deterrence stability. In context of these strategic compulsions Pakistan has sustained the concept of dynamic “credible minimum deterrence” which would allow Pakistan to deal with changing strategic requirements.

—The Researcher works at Islamabad Policy Research Institute.

Intelligence Chief in trouble are not ready to accept these details.

The concocted stories of befooling the officials of Afghan seAli Sukhanver curity and NATO are Email:alisukhanver@hotmail.com nothing new. There have been so many occasions when different so-called imposters approached Afghan and he suicide attack on the Afghan NATO officials and claimed that they Intelligence Chief Asadullah are the representative of the Taliban Khalid is simply a beginning of and have come to settle matters another story in Afghanistan. Khalid through table-talk and negotiations was targeted when a suicide bomber though the actual Taliban leaders have struck at a guesthouse used by the always maintained their firm public National Directorate of Security line that they would never consider (NDS) in a heavily guarded area of any negotiations or table-talk until the Afghan capital Kabul. The inci- foreign troops leave Afghanistan.

Let us look back at a report pubdent took lives of many officials present at the scene and left Khalid lished in the New York Times on 22nd seriously wounded. Just at the clos- November 2010 which said the Afing of 2012, almost a year before the ghan and US authorities held faceUS proposed date of withdrawal of to-face talks with a man who claimed her troops from the Afghan lands, this to be Mullah Akhtar Muhammad incident indicates countless possibili- Mansour, the second highest official ties and probabilities, unfortunately in the Taliban movement .but later on all referring to an extension in US stay it was exposed that the man was lyin Afghanistan. According to the de- ing about his identity. Just after the tails, the suicide bomber posed him- revelation was made public through self as a peace messenger from western media, Joshua Foust comTaliban and exploded him during the mented the episode in a very logical negotiations but most of the analysts and impressive way. He says, “The

T

story is moderately shocking: a senior Taliban figure was being flown around the region, talking directly with General Petraeus, President Karzai, and other senior figures in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Afghan government. Think about this for a moment: a man whose identity no one was able to verify was flown, by NATO, for face-to-face meetings with high-ranking members of the coalition. All this is hugely embarrassing for ISAF, for the war, and for any prospects of ending it soon.”

Now two years after that episode, same seems the case with the suicide bomber who attacked Asadullah Khalid, the Intelligence Chief of Afghanistan. This ‘incident’ was planned just to defame the Taliban and Pakistan and to give the world around a deceptive impression that the situation in Afghanistan is still so frightening that even the Intelligence Chief is not safe at the hands of the terrorists. The fact of the matter is that the US conspirators are trying their utmost to find out some lame excuses which could provide logical justification for extension in the stay of US troops in Afghanistan.

It is neither Pakistan nor the Taliban behind the assassination at-

tempt on Asadullah Khalid, it is the handiwork of the US agents who are all time busy in disturbing the law and order situation both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Instead of taking care of his own people, unfortunately Mr. Karzai is also playing in the hands of these agents and safeguarding the US interests in the region.

Everyone remembers that just after the suicide attack on Asadullah Khalid, Mr. Karzai abruptly issued his statement in which he blamed that the assassination attempt on the country’s intelligence chief was planned in Pakistan. He said, “We will be seeking a lot of clarifications from Pakistan because we know that this man who came there in the name of a guest to meet with Asadullah Khalid came from Pakistan.” The situation needs a very sympathetic and sincere analysis. Afghanistan could never be a peaceful land unless the foreign troops say farewell to it. Only the people of Afghanistan have an ability and skill of dragging Afghanistan back to peace and prosperity. Pakistan is the only force which could give a helping hand to the people of Afghanistan in this regard.

Views From Abroad

Kerry will face significant challenges Michael O’Hanlon

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s expected, John Kerry, the senior senator from Massa chusetts and former Democratic presidential candidate in 2004, has been nominated by President Obama to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of State in Obama’s second term. Kerry is popular in the Senate on a bipartisan basis. His confirmation should present few issues, especially since he has already gone through the even more severe vetting process of an intense and highly competitive presidential race. And because of his detailed knowledge of many foreign policy issues, due to his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee over the years, not to mention his presidential aspirations and his Vietnam military service at an earlier stage in life, he is also well placed to ensure thoughtfulness and continuity in American foreign policy in the months ahead.

Like Clinton, Kerry is diligent, hardworking, patient and pragmatic.

Like her, while not necessarily personally close to President Obama at

the outset of his Cabinet service, he is certainly on friendly and collegial terms with the commander-in-chief.

He has been seasoned by the frustrations of dealing in intractable foreign policy issues for many years, yet is still idealistic and visionary on issues ranging from climate change to Middle East peace to global development. Once confirmed, Kerry’s challenge will be to help the president navigate some very demanding shoals in the four years ahead. They may be tougher than those the president had to face in his first four years.

In Obama’s first term, there were big decisions to be sure, and the administration handled most of them reasonably well. Even though the Afghanistan war has proved frustrating, Obama showed tenacity in tripling US combat forces there for a time, and expanding aid to neighbouring Pakistan as well (through a law that Kerry co-sponsored in the Senate). Even though Obama failed to negotiate a way to keep US forces in Iraq a little longer as desired, the president and his team were still careful in how they executed America’s departure from that controversial conflict.

Syria now represents a far deadlier and more intractable conflict than Libya and it is not clear that we can really continue to keep our hands largely off this mess, given its importance in the broader Middle East.

Nor will the Libya model of intervention work in this much more populous country. A little tougher stance with China through the socalled Asia “rebalancing” was the right policy for Obama’s first term, as Beijing had become too assertive.

But now is the time to make sure this firmer American line does not lead to another Cold War. Now that Vladimir Putin is back in the Kremlin, finding a way to work with him again will be much harder than was Obama’s earlier success at repairing US-Russian relations with President Dimtry Medvedev.

In Iraq, we could afford to leave because Iraqis have now formed a strong state. But in Afghanistan, we probably need to find a way to stay, as it is doubtful that the weak Afghan state can really survive totally on its own. When it came to the budget, predecessors, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton had it easy. They presided

over diplomacy and development budgets when federal spending was rising. Kerry will have to protect core capabilities as his budgets are cut.

Most of all, possible war looms with Iran. Attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities (with or without Israeli participation) would be a substantially more monumental decision than tripling combat forces in Afghanistan, authorizing the raid against bin Laden, using force against Gadhafi in Libya, or leaving Iraq. Kerry, a Vietnam vet who is tough but who also knows firsthand the horrors of war, will be an important adviser to President Obama as this choice is perhaps directly confronted in the year or two ahead.

Alas, at that point the honeymoon with his Senate colleagues could be over, the politics could be rougher, and the stakes will surely be very high. All the more reason why someone with Kerry’s stature and experience in Congress are needed.

The president has found a good man for a very difficult job. The writer is a senior fellow at Brookings Institute. — Courtesy: USA Today

Transformation..!

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friend of mine came and sat next to me, he had just fin ished his ten rounds jogging around the park with me. “Am not going for work today,” he said happily. “Bunking?” I asked. “For a good reason,” he said, “my religious leader is giving a talk in our Gurudwara, am going to attend it.”

“So we’re going to see a different man tomorrow?” “How different?” asked my friend. “That what

you hear today will be seen in you tomorrow,” I said. “That you will not just attend the meeting, feel good and come out, but come out with good in you.” “Yes,” said my friend, “that is my prayer also.”

We walked back home and I wondered what had made me say this to him, and my mind went back to the day before. My neighbour had decided to build an illegal fencing. I went over to visit him. “Welcome sahib, “ he said, “do you mind if I complete my prayers?”

“Go ahead, “ I said, “I’ll wait.”

My neighbour explained to me the different rituals he was doing. I watched as he sat in prayerful pose and chanted his mantras, every now

and again telling me what it meant, “I am now filled with peace,” he said finally, “what is it you have come to see me about?”

“It is a small matter,” I said. “I am at peace, I can deal with small matters or big matters now. What is the small matter?” “Your fence,” I said. “What about my fence,” he said in less peaceful tone. “You have closed the pathway,” I said. “People were disturbing me by walking outside my house,” he said. “It is illegal,” I said. “Illegal!” he shouted, “You are accusing me of breaking the law?” “If you put it like that, yes,” I said. “Who do you think you are?” he shouted. “An affected party,” I said simply. “Are you the police?” “No,”

I said. “Then,” he said walking up to me and shouting. “There is nothing you can do about that fence.”

“Okay,” I said, “I will report it to the police.” “You will regret if you do so, I have connections with the underworld. I will finish you off..!”

I walked away from my neighbours house. My mind was troubled, not by threats he had made to me, but that someone who one moment could be in deep prayer could turn so violent the next minute.

I wondered what sort of person I was? Did I go to church on Sunday, say my prayers, sing hymns, listen to the sermon and feel good, or did I come transformed?

—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

Killing of polio workers SYED HASHMI Those among us who mistreat, even kill our benefactors, must be just about the most ungrateful people on earth apart from being wicked and cruel to the extreme. The latest chapter in this sordid story is killing of health workers associated with the polio campaign in three provinces of Pakistan: Sindh, Balochistan and KP. The acts look even more shameful when we consider that majority of victims consists of females. Also, health workers associated with the anti-polio campaign are mostly from poorer backgrounds who used to receive meagre payments which, according to one report, amounted to Rs.250 for administering polio drops at 180 houses and that, too, at irregular intervals. Moreover, they are constantly harassed and insulted by the ignorant and misguided masses who have been made to believe that these health workers are helping in operations that are somehow damaging the cause of religion. What is worse is that by people with twisted thinking, these killings are portrayed as something in furtherance of religion whereas our religion teaches us that anybody who killed one innocent person, is supposed to have killed the entire humanity.

And the crime that these murderers commit is not just of killing of these innocent workers. By interrupting the anti-polio campaigns, they hold direct responsibility for all the children who fall victim to polio because of being deprived of immunization.. And these misguided people take out their anger on just about the most vulnerable sections of our population: female and male workers from very poor background and innocent children.

As usual, our officials will again declare this matter to be purely a law-and-order issue, which indeed it is to some extent, but is much more than that. There is a need to teach these zealots that they are not serving any useful cause, least of all that of religion. While some religious scholars are doing a commendable job, there is a need to take it up on a much bigger scale. This anti-polio sentiment is not prevalent just among the extremists but is a fairly widespread belief. I have met people who were definitely not militants and looked quite sane and sensible, but still believed that polio vaccine has some anti-fertility element.

We need to consider that in the present-day Pakistan, where even able-bodied persons have a problem surviving, what future the disabled children would face. It is criminal to create circumstances which could expose the children of Pakistan to a life of disability especially when the tragedy could be avoided quite simply by administering polio drops.

—Karachi

**** COL RIAZ JAFRI (R) According to a news report 49 Muftis of Ahl-e Sunnat wal Jama’t have given the Fatwa that Polio Vaccination is not un-Islamic. It is sincerely hoped that these Fatwas would do the necessary damage control for the ignorant who have been in the name of Islam waylaid by the crafty clerics and muftis into believing that the polio vaccine contains haraam ingredients and/or more comically ingredients that induce impotency and affect the reproductive organs of the male and female ! To lend credibility to their such damaging fatwas they had come up with their pet conspiratorial theory of Hanood o Yahood against Islam!!

Incidentally, where from Muftis in such abundant numbers and huge fat bellies come to regulate our lives? Are they the graduates from some Mufti Degree Awarding Institution(s) or they just prefix the title to their names by themselves?

Isn’t there a possibility of conflicting Fatwas on the same some issue in the presence of hundreds of such Muftis around? And, then who is their Mufti-e-Azam, whose verdict would be taken as the final and the ultimate one? Surely, their number can be reduced to an appropriate single digit for better, harmonious and unanimous interpretation of any doubts pertaining to the religion and the religious matters. It will also do away with the issuance of the Fatwas like the one against the Polio vaccination.

—Rawalpindi

**** SYED SADAQAT HUSSAIN Four female anti-polio campaign workers lost their lives while two others sustained injuries as a result of shooting incidents in different parts of the city. This was the tragic news of tuesday everybody heard this with grief. The considerable moment after this attack is that what

Education for child labours MUHAMMAD AHSAN NAWAZ

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overnments of Pakistan could not allay the issue of child labours in any stint. Even parents in financial dearth could not minimize taking this step. As due to financial crisis in Pakistan, if this problem can not be eradicated then Child labours may be educated up to better level. Government of Pakistan must stand on decision to provide education facilities for Child labours. Such adroitness must be free for them. This campaign may require extraordinary strategy and relaxation in process and curriculum respectively. Govt Schools must start this campaign for daily less duration because Child labours get much busy in employment in maximum time of day.So 2 to 3 hours may be enough to engage the Child labours daily in study.Relaxation in curriculum must be necessary to enhance students’ will to move ahead in education. If government get this campaign as impossible or hard to carry on then Multinational and National companies, organizations in Pakistan may decide mutually as a contract of Corporate Social Responsibility.

—Rawalpindi

would be the in-depth psychology and motives of this cold-blooded murder by the attackers? Obviously to halt NGOs work in our country, whether it is in any form of assistance, material help and cooperation etc. etc.

Whiles this news spread infuriation, anger and disappointment among the people widely.

It is a shame for all of us responsible for the security of our cities that four young women can be targeted while they were vaccinating our children against the crippling disease, Polio, which we have pledged to eradicate from our country. The Government must provide protection and reassurance to these caregivers that are trying to protect and help our next generation. This monstrous crime deserves not only universal condemnation but also the government’s most urgent attention, noting that it is imperative that the police and other agencies concerned are sensitized to the danger that our daughters, sisters mothers and lady workers face every day.

—Karachi

**** KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ According to media news thousands of Pakistani children are at high risk of Polio disease after killing of ten polio workers most of them women, in Karachi and other parts of country. After well coordinated attack and killing of several polio vaccination program workers UNO has stopped polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan. Due to large area and large campaign government find it hard to provide security to thousands of workers who are taking part in polio vaccination campaign. Pakistan is at high risk of polio disease. Last year more than two hundred cases of polio reported in different parts of country. Now after worst security situation polio vaccinating camping has become big challenge for government. Last year Militant organizations had banned vaccination campaign in their influence areas.

According to health officials thousand of children are facing risk of Polio disease because government is not able to organize vaccination campaign due to security concern.

Vaccination campaign in Pakistani tribal area is also worst affected after last year, fake vaccination campaign organized by CIA to hunt down Osama Bin Laden in Abbotabad. Pakistani doctor who organized fake vaccination campaign is sentenced to 33 years. After Abbotabad operation several foreign medical teams have left the tribal area because of security concern. According to health officials due to ban imposed by militants record number of Polio cases reported this year. Due to last year worst floods and army operation thousands of families have migrated to temporary shelters and don’t have proper medical and sanitation facilities and government is not able to reach thousands of children due to security concern which is very unfortunate.

—Jeddah

Students and politics SHOAIB SHAH Politics is very notable and difficult purist as it is related with the solution of problem of people.However there are three points of view about participation of students in politics as arthodox, revolutionary and moderate. According to orthodox point of view, politics is last resort of scoundrel about participation of student in the politics; the supporters of this view say that politics corrupts the mind of student. And degenerates his moral gains. So he must have no concern with the politics and lead a life of single minded devotion to his studies.

According to revolutionary point of view, politics is one of the noblest gift. The students should be allowed to take part in politics of the establishment of true democracy and the politics should not remain vacant for uneducated or semi-educated feudal lord. According to moderate of view, full facilities should be given to stu-

dent to study and observe politics.

The politics should not be regarded as prohibited subject to the student.

Political education should be imparted to them in their academic institution through debates discussions and lectures. On the other hand they say that the political knowledge is good, for them but no political agitation because it creates choices in the institution, disturbs their studies and hampers theirs moral growth. However as a student, his first and foremost duty is to study and to seek knowledge. A student who begins to take early interest in politics, harms his career. Therefore, he should make himself fit for the task before joining the political field.

—Via email

We miss you Imam-e-Kaaba SYED MUZAMMIL HUSSAIN The world was widely shocked over sad demise of Imam-e-Kaaba. He was a great legend of the Muslim world. He was most favorite voice who reached every nook and corner of the world with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an.

Imam-e-Kaaba was a symbol of the Muslim Unity as he was accepted to all. People liked him due to hisrole in the Muslim world affairs. Imam Al Subayyal we miss you. You served Islam and Muslims a lot. May Allah bless you.

—Islamabad

Salute to Siachen martyrs SANOBAR NADIR BUTT 7 April 2012, most of us might not have remembered what happened on this day.135 people died on this day, do we remember them? Well it is one of the sorrowful days for us. It is the day when we lost our 135 brave people. A destructive avalanche knocked Pakistani army headquarters at Gayari near the Siachen glacier.

124 soldiers and rest 11 civilians, were buried alive deep down in snow.

Those brave people were performing their duties on the world’s highest battlefield in the most difficult circumstances, as we all know that the temperature on Siachen glacier is extremely frigid and it is highly difficult for normal people to survive in these extreme conditions, but our heroes were performing their duties at their best and even without complaining. The force which kept driving them was the love, the love for their country, the love for their people and the passion to protect their country. What great soldiers we have!

Does not it seem an ungrateful act if we forget them? Let us imagine ourselves in their place, leave this thought let’s think if we were part of their family how would we feel that our father, brother or son who devoted his life for his country and his people, and those people do not even remember him. It is itself a very painful thought. Our these heroes had reached the destination which they dreamt of, they had sacrificed their lives and earned the utmost title of ‘Shaheed’, their families are sad because of losing them but at the same time they are very happy and proud of them because of their great achievement. We should always remember our true heroes and their sacrifice. We should thank Allah the Almighty for gifting us such great souls, because of them we are living a peaceful and secure life. Now as 2012 almost came to an end, wouldn’t it be really momentous if the last salute of 2012 shall be dedicated to our these super heroes.

—Karachi

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

—Editor Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

Full Steam Ahead: The Burma Boom SIMON ROUGHNEEN

entirely based on natural resources such oil, gas, hydropower sectors that might bring in vast rev-

described her country as sitting on an unemployment “time bomb” when speaking at the World Eco-

enues but not a huge number of jobs for the country’s young.

7 out of 10 Burmese work in agriculture, much

nomic Forum in June, while urging investors to try provide jobs for young Burmese.

Similarly, the military-in-disguise civilian gov-

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ITH Burma opening to the outside world, the opportunities for investors and its people are vast. The chal lenges may be equally daunting. Khin Yu Waddy Myint is manager at Pyrex Trading and Distribution, a Burmese pharmaceutical company that employs 250 people across the country. Part of her job is to source and import medicines from India and Australia, a task she concedes she doesn’t know enough about. “It is the first time for me to learn many of these things about how to tender,” she says, taking a break from some business training at the SME Center inside a Ministry of Commerce building in Rangoon, a short walk from where opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest during Burma’s military government. Now that military rule is a thing of the past, formally at least, and more donor-funded NGO work is being done in a country where Western aid was, until very recently, on ice for the most part as a part of sanctions imposed on the military junta.

And while eyes might roll at the notion of another NGO doing yet more training in a poor country, the group behind the course says that its work is all about boosting local business and creating jobs.

Yuki Kuronuma is Business Development Manager at Building Markets, an NGO that aims to bridge the business-aid divide. She says that “part of what we try to do is link local business and entrepreneurs with international suppliers and business opportunities. In Myanmar the need for this is quite clear, given that the country has been closed to the much of the outside world for so long.”

Burma’s economic prospects are on the rise, now, with the World Bank saying on December 19 that “the Myanmar economy continued to accelerate in fiscal year 2011-12, with GDP growth at 5.5 percent, and expected to reach 6.3 percent in fiscal year 2012-13.” But a lot of that growth might not be conducive to small businesses or job creation.

Exports and inward foreign investment are almost

That’s a maybe, for now, and while companies such as General Electric and Coca-Cola have investments lined up for Burma, there’s little indication yet that Rangoon will play host to the sort of mass production jobhub industrial parks seen in neighbors such as of which is low-tech, low-yield subsistence while 32% percent of the population lives under the poverty line. The country has the lowest GDP per capita in Southeast Asia and only a quarter of the population has electricity. Job creation is the cornerstone of economic policy for Aung San Suu Kyi, who

ernment headed by President Thein Sein, a former army man and Prime Minister of the old military dictatorship that formally ceded control after its proxy party won a rigged election in late 2010, is hoping that a new foreign investment law coupled with low labor costs will attract foreign business.

End of Assad: Russians and Iranians plan his departure ALI BULWI

C

ONVENTIONAL Arab wisdom holds that it is unwise to place too many demands on opposing parties when searching for a solution to an impasse. Dictators, on the other hand, believe that it is necessary to unleash the regime’s power on its people, and present options that the people can wrongly regard as their hopes. These days, however, such traditional wisdom does not reflect

reality anymore. The street has found its voice as have even martyrs. That said, Bashar Assad of Syria has abandoned all values related to unity and pan-Arabism and has instead retreated to an increasingly isolated Alawite mountain. Needless to say, an Alawite state cannot survive as there are no objective conditions for even its initial establishment.

In 1996, Iran’s Hashemi Rafsanjani along with a number of other clergymen paid a visit to Syria. The visit resulted in a link between Nusayris and Twelver school of Shiite Islam. The same took place when Tehran forged a link between the Houthis — a Zaidi Shiite insurgent group operating in Yemen — and the Twelver school of Shiite Islam. Perhaps, one day Iran may try to link the Twelver school of Shiite Islam and Red Indians in the America! In essence, Tehran has been looking for a religious basis to interfere in the internal affairs of other states. Since the 1996 visit, Iran has interfered in Syria. This has confused the Syrian Ba’thists who are supposed to be engaged in conflict with the Persians (an historical conflict indeed) and who are really in conflict with Turkey, which still occupies the Sanjak of Alexandretta. Nonetheless, the regime has

bypassed this reality in its bid to rein and rule.

Tehran was quick to put forward a sixpoint plan to guarantee a safe exit for Assad within the context of parliamentarian elections, a government with full power, release of detainees and reconstruction of Syria. The initiative was put forward as if no bloodshed had taken place and as if the bloodshed is not a part of the transformations overtaking Syria. At the beginning of the crisis, I met a Syrian intellectual who

is a friend of President Assad himself. He told me that he had spoken with a high senior official in Syria. The official told him that the regime would be able to control

J

mise is inevitable within three months. The primary barriers to Assad’s quick fall are the repercussions of his fall on Hezbollah, Iran, Al-Maliki of Iraq, and Russian President Putin. These states will not succeed in keeping Assad in office, as there is no possibility of restoring a regime that has cracked down so brutally on its own people. Also the support of Iran, Iraq, Russia, and China for the current regime could well backfire on these countries as the Syrian people will not forget their role in supporting the regime in its slaughter of innocent Syrians.

Just a few days ago, it was learned that Russia was trying to push a political initiative through Turkey. As we know, Turkey, like Iran, has regional interests to defend. It just signed a $ 100 billion agreement with Russia, a deal that came as a result of the situation in Syria. Even Farouq Shara — who was absented by a presidential decree — appeared again with a presidential decree to promote the no win, no lose theory. If anything, it exposes the weakness of the regime and its imminent collapse. The Turkish-Russian deal lends credence to the talk of Assad’s departure in the first three months of next year. But the belief is that both Iran and Syria welcome any time that can be bought to modify reality on the ground. Additional time, however, may give Assad a free hand to use more lethal weaponry, including chemical weapons. And yet, in a recent secret security meeting, Assad is reported to have talked about the weakness of his side in holding on and that each extra day

For this reason, Assad sees that his strength derives from his internal situation and he knows that there is a huge price tag for people giving up on him. The Syrian Free Army and its leadership know how much support Assad has lost inside Syria. the situation even if it were to entail the deaths of some 10,000 Syrians. The sacrifice has reached some 57,000 to date, in addition to thousands of detentions, billions of dollars worth of damage, and the destruction of Syria. That said, Deputy President Farouq Shara is in denial when he says that the conflict has no winner or loser and the one way to stop the fighting is to come up with a political settlement. The problem is that the Shara’s talk coincided with a similar speech delivered by Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah in which he urged a political settlement that would leave Assad in place. Given the state of affairs in Syria, this, of course, is an untenable approach.

The friend of President Assad with whom I spoke says that the regime has come to an end and that its ultimate de-

DOUGLAS BRINKLEY OHN Kerry is about to get the secretary of state job he was always meant to have. With a little prodding, Sen. John Kerry once re luctantly showed me his childhood passport. It was tattooed with border crossing stamps from almost all the Western European countries. From 1951 to 1954, his father Richard Kerry, a career Foreign Service officer, worked as an attorney for what was then called the Bureau of United Nations in the State Department. But when John was 10 years old, Richard Kerry was assigned to Berlin to serve as legal advisor at the U.S. mission in the divided German city.

From that Cold War outpost base, young John was taken sailing by his father across the vast fjords of Norway. He wandered the beaches of Normandy collecting shell casings from D-Day. He studied history and learned languages in a Swiss boarding school among the sons and daughters of other American diplomats. But young John’s most memorable experiences came as a Cold War kid in a Berlin divided between East and West, split between democracy and communism, watching allied American, British, and French troops guarding their own sectors of the city.

On one occasion, Kerry mischievously rode his bicycle into Soviet East Berlin, where he saw starkly just how polarized daily life was on sides of the city,

That’s a maybe, for now, and while companies such as General Electric and Coca-Cola have investments lined up for Burma, there’s little indication yet that Rangoon will play host to the sort of mass production job-hub industrial parks seen in neighbors such as Thailand and Vietnam no matter what laws the government passes.

“The new foreign investment law isn’t perfect by any means, and gives a lot of discretion to the investment commission to rule on whether a proposed investment is valid or not, opening the way for possible corruption,” says Jared Bissinger, an economist who specializes on Burma. “It does seem though that the law is geared towards job creation,” Bissinger says. But entrepreneurs want more than just words on paper. “There are other hidden costs that might counter the attractiveness of low wages for investors be that a lack of skilled people, unreliable electricity, poor infrastructure,” warns Bissinger, who recently undertook a survey of 150 local businesses. His findings so far indicate some growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Burma, something that SME Center director Aye Aye Win also believes to be the case. “We have 40,000 SMEs listed,” she says, “but we estimate that there are maybe 300,000 such businesses in Burma altogether.” The disparity in numbers is caused by some of Burma’s other main business hurdles poor communications and a lack of reliable data.

“The communication process for us in Myanmar

is not in his favor. For this reason, he is looking for an exit that guarantees no legal prosecution.

Now, some are even talking about a Russian-Turkish dialogue to secure Assad’s safe departure for Venezuela. All of Syria’s neighbors confirm that Assad’s control on the ground is all but gone and it is obvious that the national coalition has started organizing itself. The Syrian regime tried to defame the Syrian opposition by accusing it of links to groups outside of Syria and with collaboration with foreign intelligence agencies. But at the same time, Assad harbored some fears of Russia and Iran as the Russians had sold out Saddam before as did the West with Mubarak.

—Courtesy Arab News

is so slow, that is probably the most difficult thing about doing business here,” says Khin Yu Waddy Myint. The country awaits the liberalization of the telecommunication sector change that could in time bring Burmese people the type of cheap and fast mobile phone and internet services seen elsewhere

Naughty or Nice JOSHUA E. KEATING

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HICH world leaders will be getting coal in their stock ing this year? With the year coming to an end, and Santa finalizing his list, we run down the leaders most deserving of praise and scorn in 2012. He’s moving in the right direction on democracy. There were plenty of reasons to be skeptical in 2011 when this longtime member of Myanmar’s ruling military junta took over the presidency, but so far he’s followed through on his pledges to allow the country to slowly democratize, holding relatively free and a fair parliamentary elections in April that brought longtime regime foe Aung San Suu Kyi into the parliament. The two might make an unlikely pair, and Myanmar is still a long way from true democracy, but this year’s success is worth noting.

She’s undone the damage caused by her predecessor. Banda took over the presidency in April after the unexpected death of her predecessor Bingu wa Mutharika, who had been best known for lavishing millions on presidential palaces, private jets, a fleet of Mercedes (while his people have one of the lowest living standards in the world), and brutally crushing the political opposition. Banda quickly came in to clean house and restore her struggling country’s reputation: she leased the jet, fired officials known for cracking down on the opposition, and persuaded foreign governments including Britain and the United States, who had tired of Mutharika’s antics to start sending aid again.

Senegal’s president for the past 12 years leaves a decidedly mixed legacy, praised by some as a bold reformer but chastised for wasting public money on garish monuments, pursuing a constitutionally questionable third term in office, and seeming to groom his son as a successor. But when push came to shove, and polls showed he had been commandingly defeated by onetime protégé Macy Sall in April’s presidential election, Wade surprised many by quickly calling Sall to concede avoiding yet another political crisis.

Considering Senegal’s unruly neighbors every one of the four countries it borders has had a coup in the last five years that’s sadly worth some praise.

Putting aside his controversial economic plans and views on the Eurocrisis for a moment, Hollande deserves credit for publicly confronting some of the uglier moments in French history. In July, at a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Vel d’Hiv round-up during which over 13,000 Jews were detained by French police and deported by concentration camps, an event that was denied by French governments for decades Hollande gave

a moving speech calling for citizens to come to terms with this “crime committed in France by France,” and praised political rival Jacques Chirac for being the first president to acknowledge French complicity.

In October, Hollande became the first French president to acknowledge the government’s responsibility for the 1961 massacre of hundreds of pro-Algerian pro-

than Hugo on economics this year, while pursuing some dramatic social reforms — including measures to loosen restrictions on abortion, allow gay marriage, and legalize small amounts of marijuana.

Once widely considered among the most promising of the Middle East’s reformist autocrats, Assad has taken the wholesale destruction of his own country to unspeakable levels this year, with the

testers by Paris police. In a visit to Algeria this month, he followed up by referring to the “profoundly unjust and brutal” nature of French colonial rule. While the remarks

death toll topping 37,000 according to some estimates, hundreds of thousands displaced, and entire towns leveled. Assad also apparently has few reservations about us-

But Lukashenko is done with that facade, telling a Reuters correspondent this year, “I am the last and only dictator in Europe. Indeed there are none anywhere else in the world... You came here and looked at a living dictator.

Where else would you see one?” stopped short of the direct apology many Algerians were hoping for, Hollande deserves credit for his willingness to discuss the times France has not lived up to its ideals.

Lots of presidents talk about their humble origins and portray themselves as men (or women) of the people, but Mujica backs it up. The “world’s poorest president” donates 90 percent of his salary to charity, has forgone the presidential palace to live in a ramshackle farmhouse outside Montevideo, and gets around in a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle. Uruguay’s business community may have worried when the former leftist guerilla fighter was elected in 2009, but so far he’s been more Lula

Born on the Seventh Floor from the fear of those living under the yoke of communist oppression to the gratitude and goodwill toward an America that had liberated a former enemy.

Kerry recalled vividly sitting on a train watching an American officer who had the diplomatic pouch

the world of diplomacy. Because he was a student at Yale University, he perhaps could have finagled out of the draft. But Kerry was raised to be a public servant. He and his closest classmates including future Ambassador David Thorne, the future founder of

infiltration operations, which since 1965 had searched half a million vessels. He’d been attracted to the squadron’s small boats because they offered a young officer the chance for a command. As a Swift boat lieutenant in South Vietnam, Kerry was wounded,

He partnered again with McCain and President George Herbert Walker Bush’s national security advisor Brent Scowcroft, and later with President Bill Clinton, to lift the trade embargo with Vietnam and normalize relations. One wonders if, standing in Hanoi as Clinton in 2000 became the first U.S. president to visit Vietnam since the end of the war, Kerry wistfully harkened back to his own antiwar testimony — and his hopes then that one day “small boys” would talk about Vietnam and think not of a war but of “the place where America finally turned and where soldiers like us helped it in the turning.” handcuffed to his wrist. Along with the crowd deboarding the military train, Kerry stood at attention as an Army band played patriotic tunes. His heroes back then were naturally the names he heard around the dinner table: President Dwight Eisenhower, and diplomats George Kennan, Dean Acheson, and George Marshall. His passport had him at 4 foot 3 inches tall.

By the time Kerry enlisted to serve in the Vietnam war in 1966, he was 6 foot four and conversant in five languages. Like his father, he was attracted to

in Southeast Asia. For now, however, it has been estimated that 3-5 percent of the population have mobile phones, while internet penetration may be as low as 1 percent, both legacies of a paranoid military government. And despite its optimism about next year’s projected growth numbers, the World Bank warned this month that the country needs to improve its telecommunications if it is to maintain growth. Lack of data and statistics is another hurdle, as Aye Aye Win suggested. There hasn’t been a census since 1983 (a new one is planned for 2014), and William Aung, a Burmese who returned from Canada after the country’s “glasnost” began, says that finding out businessrelevant information – how many of what and where – can be difficult to impossible in Burma.

Mr. Aung is a director at Thura Swiss, a Rangoonbased business consultancy. “Information is hard to come by here, for many sectors, there is no official data available. We literally have to get out and walk the streets to find things out ourselves.”

As for Burma’s immediate economic prospects, Mr. Aung says that “the economy will grow, but little by little. But we have very poor infrastructure, land is expensive, office space is hard to come by.” Land prices have been jacked up by a cabal of well-connected business crones that have grown wealthy from Burma’s natural resources. With the country’s limited banking and financial infrastructure many have put their money into property and land. The result is office space rental prices of around U.S. $50 per square foot in downtown Rangoon where the total floor space available is only 3 percent of that in Bangkok, an hour’s flight away. Such scarcity and high prices are another deterrent to doing business for Burmese and foreigners alike. Nonetheless some ambitious companies are pushing ahead. Leafing through a glossy brochure, Ye Yan Naung Soe, marketing manager at the construction company Yadanar Myaing, tells me that one high-end high-rise condo block that is still under construction is almost sold-out.

—Courtesy Diplomat

Federal Express Fred Smith, and the grandson of General “Black Jack” Pershing together pledged to join the military. Pershing would never return from the war. Kerry chose the Navy because of his interest in all things nautical. From 1966 to 1970, he served on the guided-missile frigate USS Gridley, spending time in the Gulf of Tonkin in North Vietnam, at Subic Bay in the Philippines, and in Wellington, New Zealand. Later, he reported for duty to Coastal Squadron 1 of Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, the strategic nerve center for the U.S. Navy’s MarketTime anti-

awarded three Purple Hearts, while probing enemy strongholds and sanctuaries in and about the river mouths, inlets, caves and canals of coastal Asia. He was awarded both the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat V for valor and meritorious action in combat. In 1969, Kerry came back to the United States, where he served as an admiral’s aide in New York. But he continued to be troubled by the war and haunted by the deaths of close friends. He felt compelled to speak out as an activist an activist disillusioned by the widening of the war into Cambodia,

ing weapons like Scud missiles and cluster munitions on his own people. Even his friends in Russia seem to be getting tired of defending him.

He’s a daddy’s boy... and consider who his daddy was. Hopes that North Korea’s young leader might take some steps to help his isolated and impoverished country rejoin the world faded quickly this year, with Kim reaffirming his father’s “military first” policy, launching ballistic missile in defiance of international condemnation, detaining U.S. citizens, and reportedly executing wayward military officials by mortar fire. Perhaps fatherhood will soften him a bit, but we wouldn’t count on it.

—Courtesy FP

questioning the strategy of American military intervention in Southeast Asia in general. For Kerry, it was an at times uneasy plunge into the anti-war movement. He was uncomfortable with the radicalism of some, or the broader agenda others crusaded for. Still shaped by his own childhood experiences, Kerry was not a pacifist or a doubter of America’s ability to make a difference in the world or of the occasional necessity to use force. Diplomat Richard Holbrooke would later describe Kerry as “an eloquent but moderate member of the anti-war movement.”

Kerry’s best-known moments came as an eloquent spokesman for Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), a group whose singular mission was to end U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia.

Famously, he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 22, 1971 asking; “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?” But in that very testimony, Kerry offered other powerful observations about a war he felt had gone off course, including his disenchantment over the absurdity that “American lives are lost so that we can ... Vietnamize the Vietnamese.”

Many others in VVAW hated the war passionately.

Kerry, though, seemed to be probing deeper questions about a foreign- policy strategy he found unsustainable and a poor use of American power and influence.

—Courtesy FP

Sagacious PPP leadership helping govt to complete its tenure: PM

Pakistan summons From Page 1 laborers in Kabul, official sources said.

“The Government of Pakistan takes serious note of the incident involving 29 Pakistanis who were returning from Afghanistan and were badly beaten enroute reportedly by Afghan forces despite having valid travel documents/passports,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said.

“The Afghan Charge d’Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning and a strong protest was lodged, seeking an investigation into the incident and action against those responsible,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The Afghan government was also asked to take appropriate measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future, it said. A similar protest was lodged by the Ambassador of Pakistan in Kabul with the Afghan government, the statement said.

Official sources said that Pakistani forces shut its main Torkham border point with Afghanistan after the incident, which stuck of hundreds of people on both sides of the border. Sources said that Afghan officials tore the documents of these laborers and their security forces subjected them to torture, after which they were sent back from Kabul.

Local media quoted locals at the border area as saying that closure of the Torkham gate resulted in a standstill of traffic on both sides of the border, stranding thousands of people.

Long lines of vehicles were seen on both sides, including trucks and cars. The closure of the Torkham Gate is also affecting NATO supply, the reports said.

Official sources said that there are nearly 70,000 Pakistani working in Afghanistan, mostly in building construction. They said that around 2000 Pakistani daily cross into Afghanistan for work.—NNI

Sherry From Page 1 Barack Obama to succeed Hillary Clinton as his next secretary of state.

“He (Kerry) has been a steadfast friend of Pakistan and is keenly aware of the strategic importance of a democratic, economically viable and stable Pakistan,” Pakistan’s ambassador to US Sherry Rehman said in a statement. “Senator Kerry has demonstrated through the years an extraordinary understanding of the complexities of South and Central Asia,” Rehman said.

Kerry, with decades of foreign policy experience, was the architect of the Kerry-LugarBerman bill, through which the Obama Administration committed USD 7.5 billion to Pakistan in five years. The Obama Administration relied heavily in Kerry whenever US-Pak relationship dipped low.

In fact, Obama dispatched Kerry to Pakistan several times in the last four years to resolve outstanding disputes, including in the immediate aftermath of the killing of Osama bin laden, the al Qaeda leader. Kerry enjoys personal relationship with top Pakistani leadership.

“We welcome news of the nomination of Senator John F Kerry as the next US Secretary of State. Senator Kerry is a man of towering stature and accomplishments, having served the United States with great vigor and distinction,” Rehman said.

“We look forward to his confirmation and to working with a statesman of his high moral standing and outstanding diplomatic caliber, to strengthen Pakistan-US relations, and to build peace and stability in South Asia,” the ambassador said.—Online

LAHORE: Polio field workers protesting in favour of their demands.

Bashir Bilour among 9 dead in suicide blast From Page 1 the doctors were called to meet the emergency situation.

The security forces and the bomb disposal squad also rushed to the site of the explosion as all routes leading to the city area were sealed. Since the blast took place in a densely populated area and a hub of business activities, a number of houses and over a dozen shops were also damaged badly.

The intensity of the blast was so high that it smashed the windows panes of scores of nearby houses and destroyed vehicles and motorbikes in close vicinity.

The bomb disposal squad experts said it was a suicide explosion as the body parts of the bomber were recovered.

Explosive material weight than six kilogram was used in the explosion.

A team of surgeons tried their level best to save Bashir Bilour’s life and operated upon him for more than an hour but could not succeed and Senior Minister lost his battle for life. Three more people also succumbed to their injuries in the LRH taking the death toll to 9.

The Chief Executive LRH

Dr. Arshad Javed, who had earlier told media that Bilour was in a critical condition, confirmed eight deaths saying around twenty others were undergoing treatment with the condition of many persons described as critical. “Mr. Bilour was not breathing when he was brought to the hospital and he remained on the ventilator in critical condition.

The surgeons pronounced him dead after an hour long surgery”. Dr. Arshad Said.

Officials said before exploding himself, the bomber had been intercepted by the policemen on duty who embraced Shahadat. ANP local leader Shah Jehan was also martyred.

The body of Bashir Bilour was brought to his house from the hospital amid tight security, where hundreds of party workers were mourning his death. President of ANP Asfandyar Wali Khan termed the death of Bashir Bilour a great loss for the party and the country. He recalled that he used to advise late Bashir to be careful after two attempts on his life. The ANP leader reiterated that his party would continue to offer sacrifices in war against terror and will never handover the moth-

erland in the hands of terrorists.

Bashir Bilour, was in active politics for 40 years. He was born on August 1, 1943 in Peshawar and belonged to a prominent political and social Hindko speaking family.

He is survived by two sons, Haroon Bilour and Usman Bilour.

Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour and Federal Secretary, Aziz Ahmad Bilour are brothers of late Bashir Ahmad Bilour.

Late Bilour had a very tough stance on terrorism and always came in open after every terrorist activity despite severe threats to his life.

The Taliban spokesman had on so many times threatened him of dire consequences but he never stepped back from his position and always spoke against them at every forum.

Agencies Ad: TTP has accepted the responsibility for the attack.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf announced one-day mourning. The KP and Balochistan governments have declared three-day mourning while the Punjab and Sindh government announced one-day mourning.

Iran says seizes explosives on Pakistan border D UBAI —Iran has seized 20 bombs and other explosives on its border with Pakistan, a police official was quoted as saying on Saturday.

He called on Islamabad to control its border regions properly.

Iran’s impoverished southeastern Sistan-

Eight more From Page 1 office-bearer of ANP, a demonstration was held against murder of the ANP leader.

Meanwhile, the infuriated people started protest and forced to close markets and set on fire two motorbikes.

Later on, the dead body of Ramzan Kakar and the wounded attacker was shifted to Jinnah Hospital.

Police claimed that the assailant was identified as Abdur Rehman and the residents of Mangupeer and the emergency of Jinnah hospital was closed temporarily due to protest.

Rangers has arrested proclaimed offender Sadam Kakar and recovered two SMG riffles from his car while the injured CID official Noorul-Amin succumbed to injuries.

In another incident, Faizan was shot dead in Samanabad while the officebearer of Gulshan Bahar Market, Razak was also killed in target killing while the dead body of Nabeel was recovered from Garden.

The CID police arrested three alleged terrorists of banned outfit, who belonged to Sher Khan Mehsud Group from Mangupeer namely Sital Khan, Mubashar and Risalat Khan and recovered 3 hand grenades, pistols and two riffles.—Online

Baluchestan province, bordering Pakistan, faces serious security problems including bombings and frequent clashes between police and drug dealers and bandits.

“Border agents learned that subversive groups wished to enter our territory,” said Ahmad Reza-Radan,

Iran’s deputy police chief, according to the Mehr news agency.

“The agents were successful in identifying and seizing a large shipment of explosives which had entered our country.”The haul included 20 bombs, Radan said.—AFP

President accepts Khosa’s resignation From Page 1 was also present on the occasion. Later on, Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood, the expected new Punjab governor called on the president at Bilawal house.

The president had summoned Makhdoom at Bilawal House where both discussed things regarding new Punjab Governor job.

According to sources, PPP’s defeat in the recent by-polls in Punjab has irked the party leadership enough to take the decision. Yusuf Raza Gilani reportedly briefed

President Zardari about Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz’s victory in the bypolls.

Sources say the former premier held PPP’s lackluster campaign responsible for the rival party’s victory. They added that in addition to appointing Mehmood as the new Punjab Governor on Gilani’s recommendation, the President also decided to make the former premier responsible for the PPP’s campaign for upcoming elections.—Online

Zardari to sign Yemen court sentences 3 militants pipeline deal in to up to 6 years Tehran S ANAA —Yemen’s state se-

From Page 1

curity court has sentenced three al-Qaida militants to up to six years in prison for planning attacks on security forces, foreign diplomatic missions and state institutions.

The court on Saturday gave the three militants between two and six years each. They have the right to appeal.—Agencies

line project. According to the project proposal, the pipeline will begin from Iran’s Assalouyeh Energy Zone in the south and stretch over 1,100 km through Iran. In Pakistan, it will pass through Baluchistan and Sindh but officials now say the route may be changed if China agrees to the project.—NNI

Iran to finance $300m Pak power supply project From Page 1 have signed an MOU in this regard, he noted.

The project would cost $451 million, of which $300 million will be ensured by Iran, he said.

Meanwhile IRNA reported that Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou had said that Iranian experts will construct a power plant soon on Iranian border with Pakistan to export electricity to Pakistan and India He said the plan is under negotiations between the two countries’ officials, and will be implemented upon a request made by the Pakistani President to his Iranian counterpart.

He said Pakistan has also asked Iran to construct small power plants which will be built by MAPNA company once a consensus is reached.—Online

President, PM shocked From Page 1 President said the sacrifice of Bashir Bilour against terrorism would not go in waste.

He said the entire nation is united against terrorism and its resolve would not weaken. He said political services of Bashir Bilour would always be remembered.

Prime Minister Ashraf condemned the killing, saying that he was a courageous person and sacrificed his life for his conviction.

In a message of condolence to the family of Bashir Ahmad Bilour, the Prime Minister said that “this is not a loss to his family or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but a national loss”.

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed grief and sorrow over the tragedy. Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said Bashir Ahmed Bilour was a brave person who always remained steadfast in war against terrorism.

He appealed to the people of Pakistan to stand against the people of the particular mindset to defeat them. He also said media outlets to join hands with leadership of the country for fight against militancy.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik while condemning the attack has sought a report about the incident from I.G. Police, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and President Pakistan Muslim League-N Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep sense of grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Senior Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwah, Bashir Ahmad Balour in a bomb blast in Peshawar today.

In his condolence message, he prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant strength to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude. He also prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has also expressed condolence over the death of Bashir Bilour.—Agencies

the country a nuclear power and strengthened its defence, he added.

He said Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto also launched mega projects like Pakistan Steel Mills, PAF Kamra Complex and POF expansion, besides laying the foundation of HMC. The great leader also brought back 90,000 prisoners of war and recovered occupied land from India.

He said he had brought a message of goodwill from President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for the people.

He said the people of Fateh Jang always supported the PPP, which was also proud of their consistent support and dedication.

The Prime Minister, while addressing in Potohari language, said the people of Attock were very brave, who always extended full support to the party.He said he had very strong affiliation with the people of this area as he hailed from the Potohar region. The people always gave him respect and honour, when he visited the area, he added.

From Page 1 The Prime Minister said he was proud to be a political worker from this area.

He also appreciated Minister of State for Defence Sardar Saleem Haider for taking steps for the welfare of the area.

The vision to take care of the workers was of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, he added.

Referring to his previous visit to the area, the Prime Minister said he was not among those “Fasli Baterey” (seasonal friends), who never visited their constituents after winning the election as they had no association with the masses. The oppotunists will not survive and only devoted politicians will continue to serve the people, he added.

He said former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who won election from here, did not know any worker of the area. He went abroad when he was not in the government and never came back, he added.

On the other hand, the

PPP parliamentarians always remained committed to the masses, he said.

He said Shaukat Aziz was not a democratic person rather he was a representative of the dictator who had no link with the masses.

The Prime Minister said Zia ul Haq once said that if Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto seeks apology, he will forgive him.

But Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto refused to do so and preferred to sacrifice his life, saying that he was the leader of masses.

He said those, who loved the masses, were not afraid of anything.

But those, who left the village, cannot be the leaders of the masses, he added.

Referring to the TV talk shows, the Prime Minister said the participants,who always criticized the government, had no links with the masses. Some of the leaders are also just doing drawingroom politics, he added. Prime Minister Ashraf said the politics of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was the essence of true democracy. —APP

India to ink more Sukhoi deals with Russia From Page 1 December 2011. While two IAF pilots were killed in the first accident, two pilots each bailed out to safety in the second and third crashes.

New Delhi is also expected to ink a deal of 59 Mi17 V5 fighter helicopters during Putin’s visit.

The 59 Mi-17V5 choppers are to be used by the IAF to replace its fleet of the existing old versions of the Mi-17s and Mi-8s.

The force has started receiving the Mi-17V5s from a previous order of 80 such machines and even started deploying them at various

locations including Bathinda, Srinagar and Baghdogra in West Bengal.

It is widely being anticipated that India will express its displeasure over the delay in delivery of the refurbished aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. Defence Minister AK Antony had earlier stressed that the early delivery of the 45,000-tonne aircraft carrier was important for India.

Russia had said it would deliver the refurbished aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov to India only in the fourth quarter of 2013. Notably, it was expected to be

handed over to the Indian Navy by December 04, 2012.

Earlier in October, the Indian government had given its nod for the purchase of 25,000 Invar missiles for T90S main-battle tanks.

Besides these, India and Russia are also expected to discuss the details of fifth generation fighter aircraft. Earlier, Russia had confirmed that that the prototype of the fifth generation fighter aircraft, being jointly developed with India, will be delivered in 2014 and its production in this country will start in 2020.—Online

Imran blasts PPP, PML-N on caretakers (KCCI).

Khan said “ muggers” using dirty tricks to undermine his election campaign would be dragged to the courts.

“The law and order situation can be controlled in 90 days. PTI is fully prepared to tackle the entire crisis including the energy shortfall,” said Imran.

He reminded his workers and supporters that his party manifesto was to turn the government citadels of President, Prime Minister and Governors, into public libraries and parks.

Jahangir Khan Tareen, Dr. Arif Alvi, Nadir Akmal Laghari, Imran Ismail,Firdous Shamim, Jamal Siddiqi, Subhan Ali Sahil and other party leaders were with him at his public rallies.

Earlier in the day, the PTI Chairman talked to a large number of traders, industrialists and businessmen at the KCCI where he unveiled his party’s economic policy to be enforced if voted to power.

“It is impossible to check the Tsunami” Khan told the audience at KCCI.

From Page 1 He claimed that around 80 percent of the masses were with the Tehreek-eInsaaf who were waiting for a system of justice in Pakistan. “A majority of the people believes that only PTI can root out corruption from the country,” he said.

He said any government if it wants to could establish its writ within 90 days of its election and the PTI would show it to its supporters. He said the industrialists would see the country peaceful and free of weapons.

Citing example of Muslim countries like Malaysia and Turkey, Khan said these countries had given their traders and industrialists a sense of security that led to socio-economic development there.

The PTI’s opponents, he claimed, were in fact covert allies to each other and were trying their dirty tricks against his party.

“But,” Khan said,” the nation was ready to fight against these “hooligans”.

He said PTI would make Pakistan self-sufficient by

introducing structural reforms in the energy, revenue and taxation systems.

On his arrival at the Karachi Airport, the PTI chief told reporters that free and fair elections were the need of the crises-hit country.

To a questioner Khan said the PML-N and PPP were again rolling up their sleeves to join hands for looting the masses for another five-year term.“Any foul means in elections may result in terrible result,” he warned. He said PTI would alone confront the two parties in general elections.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement the PTI chief condemned the terrorist attack on a public gathering of ANP in Peshawar that among others left ANP’s Senior Minister Basher Ahmed Bilour.

“PTI condemns Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan who has claimed the responsibility of the attack and their approach of violence as a weapon to achieve their reprehensible ends,” a party statement quoted Khan as saying.

No Kashmir solution From Page 1 countries. “Solution of few India and Pakistan, he said Kashmiris and India had not issues does not mean that all rivers flowing from Kash- right to stop the natural flow everything is going in better mir valley belonged to of these rivers. direction until special attention on CBM should not be focused,” adding he said both the countries should revisit the issues occasionally.

He said the limited movement of people and goods is not enough and it should be opened for Kashmiris so that they can move across freely to boost the peace process.

He further said the international players should refocus on Kashmir dispute and their deliberate ignorance on this burning issue is tantamount to crimes against humanity. He said like Philistine and other global issues, the Kashmir dispute required the attention of the international community at that time when other international disputes were progressing towards solution.

Answering a question about water dispute between

General elections must not to be delayed: Nawaz SALIM AHMED

Ministry seeks dual national judges data I SLAMABAD —Federal Law Ministry has sought details of the Supreme Court judges who possess dual nationality when the members of Senate raised questions in this regard. These details will be presented in Senate once Registrar Supreme Court reveals them. Senator Farhatullah Babar from Pakistan People’s Party had submitted questions in the Senate Secretariat, interrogating about the dual nationality of certain Supreme Court judges. Before this, in answer to a question from PPP’s Senator Sughra Imam, the Law Ministry made it clear that there is no restriction.—Online

3 militants killed in fire exchange SWAT—At least three militants were killed in exchange of fire with security forces and arms were recovered from their possession here on Saturday. According to details, the security forces on a tip off launched search operation in Sarsir Dara area of Banjout in Swat valley.

During operation the security forces signaled to stop three suspects who started firing at soldiers and tried to flee. In retaliatory fire all the three extremists were killed on the spot. The security personnel recovered arms from the possession of the accused killed in the fire exchange. The bodies were shifted to hospital for medico-legal-requirements. A case has also been registered at Sangot Police Station and investigations were in progress.—INP

Dacoits snatch valuables

FATEH JANG: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf addressing a public gathering.

Paris Intra-Afghan dialogue to serve as ice-breaker for future talks KABUL—Amid continued militancy in Afghanistan and ahead of the pullout of U.S. and NATO-led forces in 2014, major players in the Afghan conflict have reportedly gathered in Paris for exploratory talks. The meeting, reportedly held on Thursday and Friday in the outskirts of Paris, obviously was the first ever face-to-face gathering among stakeholders and warring factions in Afghanistan to discuss the country’s future.

Hosted by a French think tank, Foundation for Strategic Research, the Paris conference reportedly has brought together representatives from Afghan government, the armed militant groups, that include the Taliban,the Hekmatyar-led radical Islamic party Hizb-e-Islami, and Afghan political opposition groups inside the country.

Although there has been no official statement from the government of President Hamid Karzai, the initiative by an independent group has been welcomed in Afghanistan.

President Karzai has said

Nato-led coalition soldier missing

last Tuesday that his government is supporting any sincere efforts to achieve peace in Afghanistan, including the efforts in Paris.

Etilaf-e-Millie or National Coalition, a platform of several political opposition groups to Karzai government, has already sent its delegation to Paris, a spokesman of the platform said.

“A delegation of Etilaf-e-Millie headed by lawmaker Mohammad Yunus Qanooni is presently in Paris to represent Etilaf-e-Millie in the talks there,” a spokesman of the Coalition, Sayed Muzafar Daraisufi,told Xinhua but declined to provide more details.

Afghan political observers have also shown support for the intra-Afghan meeting in Paris but expect no immediate results in the peace and national reconciliation efforts. “Efforts by the government to achieve peace will not yield the desired result unless and until the Taliban soften its stance,” a former diplomat and political analyst Ahmad Sayedi said in a television panel discussion.

However, he opined that the Taliban and other militant groups should be given the chance to explain their respective positions if any future formal talks could prosper. But another Afghan analyst and former lawmaker, Mohammad Asim, is not very optimistic on the prospects of the Taliban’s participation in the peace efforts.

Asim said that while the Taliban agreed to join the dialogue in Paris,it does not want to hold direct talks with the Afghan government.

The Taliban, which had been labeled as a terrorist group a few years ago was able to prove itself as political force at international level,forcing major players in Afghan war, including the United States and Afghan administration, to seek talks with it.

In a statement posted on its website, the Taliban confirmed its participation in the Paris dialogue, saying a two-member delegation from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (name of ousted Taliban regime) would

attend the conference to explain its position on the situation in Afghanistan. But in its statement, the Taliban categorically said that they would not hold any talks with the delegation of the government of Afghanistan, adding that there “will be no political deal with foreign occupiers and Kabul administration.”

The armed group, in its previous statements, had described the U.S. and NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)as occupying troops and conditioned their participation in any peace negotiations on the immediate pullout of foreign forces from the country, a precondition unacceptable to both Kabul and Washington at least at this stage.

Although most Afghan observers expect no positive outcome from the Paris talks, they, however, believe that just by sitting around the same table by Afghans may break the ice and could pave the ground for the holding of formal peace negotiations in the future.—NNI

Thatcher improving in UK hospital after operation

L O N D O N —Former British though she has occasionally minister from May 1979 until KABUL—A search is under Prime Minister Margaret appeared at private functions, her resignation in November

in southern Afghanistan Thatcher is recuperating at a she has not made public state- 1990. She was the first leader GUJRANWALA—Armed rob- way to win three consecutive elecfor a soldier from the NATO- hospital after an operation to ments for some time. bers looted mobile phones, cash and jewellry from dozens of citizens at gun point here on early Saturday morning. According to details, two armed robbers set up a picket in Nai Abadi area of Gujranwala and snatched cell phones, thousands of rupees cash and jewellry from 35 persons. The robbers also took away the keys of motorcyclists so that they can’t inform the police. However, despite getting information the police as usual arrived at the scene with hours of delay providing an opportunity to the robbers to flee safely with the looted valuables. Police authorities said that a case has been registered against the plunderers and search for them was underway.—INP

led coalition, believed to be the first to have gone missing since a U.S. Army sergeant was captured by the Taliban more than three years ago, a military spokesman said Friday.

U.S. Army Maj. Martyn Crighton said the soldier was among the 1,560 troops from the former Soviet republic of Georgia serving in the country.

A statement from Georgia’s Defense Ministry on Thursday said an intense “search and rescue” operation was being mounted in Helmand and Nimroz provinces, describing the soldier as a military officer who went missing on Wednesday.—AP

remove a bladder growth, a friend said Friday.

The 87-year-old Thatcher went to see her doctor after experiencing some discomfort and subsequently had the growth removed, according to longtime adviser Tim Bell.

The operation was “completely satisfactory,” Bell said.

He said he couldn’t go into detail as to the nature of the growth and declined to name the hospital, saying he did not want it to be inundated with calls.

Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister, has been in fragile health since she suffered a series of small strokes more than a decade ago. Al-

Thatcher was not well enough to join Britain’s queen for a lunch with former and serving prime ministers earlier this year, and two years ago she missed an 85th birthday party thrown for her by Prime Minister David Cameron at his official residence at No. 10 Downing Street. But in October she was well enough to mark her birthday with a lunch out in London with her son Mark and his wife.

Thatcher ’s declining health was a focus of Oscarwinning biopic “The Iron Lady,” which premiered last year.

Thatcher served as prime

Russian copters will not fly in Afghanistan MOSCOW—Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed a hope that U.S. President Barack Obama will not approve the decision of the Senate to cease cooperation with the Russian defense export company Rosoboronexport.

The Americans have not been able to break the Afghans of fighting with Soviet (Russian) weapons. They purchase simpler analogues in Eastern Europe, but the Pentagon decided to buy helicopters from Russia, according to a Pravada report.

In April 2012, Rosoboronexport unexpectedly won the tender of the command of the U.S. ground troops for the purchase of military transport helicopters for international coalition forces in Afghanistan (ISAF). Five companies (General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical System, Alliant Techsystems Operations LLS,

Chemring Ordnance and Military Products, Bulova Technologies Group Inc and Arma Global Corporation) - the partners of the U.S. government - asked the Russian company to become a subcontractor to supply helicopters. The Americans buy and continue to buy Kalashnikov assault rifles and ammunition, often counterfeit, from Eastern Europe. However, they decided to go to Russia for more complicated hardwar In May of the same year, a contract was signed for the supply of 21 Mi-17V5s choppers in the amount of $367.5 million. In June, the Pentagon announced the purchase of ten more helicopters of the same configuration. The total cost of the contract, including engineering services and spare parts, according to the Pentagon, could amount to $900 million. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that “the strengthening of the combat potential of the

army of Hamid Karzai was a subject of tireless care and attention of all security and intelligence components of the United States.

The choice in favor of Russian helicopters was dictated by military and economic feasibility, taking into consideration the fact that it is Russian Mi helicopters that are reliable in Afghanistan, just like Kalashnikovs.”

However, American politicians interfered in the case. It turned out that they did not care much about the combat capability of the Afghan Army after the withdrawal of the troops. The politicians are much more concerned about the toppling of the legitimate government of Bashar alAssad, who also receives weapons from Russia’s Rosoboronexport. On July 19, the U.S. Congress, almost unanimously (407 vs. 5) approved the amendment, which “prohibited all types of transactions and agree-

ments with the Russian arms exporters, including the leasing of arms.” On November 30th, the Senate issued similar recommendations following the initiative from Republican John Cornyn, was had been jealously watching Russian military successes.

As explained by Senator Cornyn, who recently criticized the Pentagon for the appearance of a Russian submarine in the Gulf of Mexico, “American taxpayers should not indirectly finance the mass murder of Syrian civilians, especially if there are good alternatives for purchasing these weapons through U.S. brokers.” The senator is probably not aware of the fact that arms trade in Russia is a monopoly of the state, and that Rosoboronexport represents the interests of the state.

Therefore, one can hardly find good alternatives through U.S. brokers.— NNI

tions, dominating British politics throughout the 1980s.

She was a firm supporter of her American ideological peer, President Ronald Reagan, but is a divisive figure in Britain, where the fruits of her legacy are still debated.—AP

L AHORE —Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Nawaz Sharif has made it clear that the upcoming general elections would neither be deferred nor delayed.

While addressing a seminar on the topic of “Real Independence Transparent Democracy and Pakistan ” organized by Khawaja Rafique Shaheed Foundation in connection with the 40th martyrdom day of Shaheed-e-Jamhoriat Khawaja Muhammad Rafique Shaheed here Saturday, Nawaz said that people are anxiously waiting for change and nobody would dare to sabotage the elections.

He urged President Asif Ali Zardari to restrain himself into the presidential role; otherwise, not only he himself but the elections would also become controversial which would not in the interest of the country.

He said that it was the politics that created the State of Pakistan, made it functional by devising rules and regulations under the Constitution of Pakistan through elected parliament.

The politics has also played pivotal role in freeing the judiciary from dictatorial subjugation and now the politics would ensure the vote to right to the people of Pakistan .

Emphasizing the sanctity of ballot box, he said that a government should come and go out through vote, if we are serious in earning good name in the comity of nations.

He said that both the gov-

Explosives seized on Pak border: Iran D UBAI —Iran has seized 20 bombs and other explosives on its border with Pakistan, a police official was quoted as saying on Saturday.

He called on Islamabad to control its border regions properly. Iran’s impoverished southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, bordering Pakistan, faces serious security problems including bombings and frequent clashes between police and drug dealers and bandits.

“Border agents learned that subversive groups wished to enter our territory,” said Ahmad Reza-Radan, Iran’s deputy police chief, according to the Mehr news agency.

“The agents were successful in identifying and seizing a large shipment of explosives which had entered our country.”

The haul included 20 bombs, Radan said. He did not say when exactly the explosives were found. One person had been arrested in connection but others had escaped to Pakistan.—AFP

ernment and the opposition have bestowed their confidence and trust in the Election Commission of Pakistan for free, fair and transparent elections. He said the Constitutional has been amended accordingly and a powerful caretaker set up would be in place within three days after the dissolution of assemblies.

The PML-N President said both he and Shahbaz Sharif besides other party leaders were sidelined in 2008 elections under the garb of NRO. Pervez Musharraf, agencies, nazims and caretakers were active against us leaving the PML-N with a defeat on over 20 National Assembly seats. But we showed patience and avoided confrontation on organized rigging in 2008 polls and instead remained focused on a new beginning in Pakistan politics where past was buried for a bright future.

He said the PML-N chal-

lenged the establishment first time in the country and made sincere efforts to transform Pakistan into an honorable state where the sanctity of vote kept intact. We refused to bow down the dictator who sent us Jeddah but I remained committed to my words that I can quit politics but no compromise with a dictator like Pervez Musharraf.

He said Pervez Musharraf wan not infavour of our return to the country, therefore, our nomination papers were rejected. Let me say the judges of Pervez Musharraf were enemies of Pakistan and they had no sympathies for the country in their hearts. I salute media and lawyers for their unstinting role in role in challenging the despotism of Musharraf.

Nawaz further said that only a transparent democracy can guarantee real liberty and transparent democracy can only be ensured through free and fair elections.

Tahir Qadri addresses public rally today MUZAFFAR ALI L AHORE—Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) and Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri will address the people at Minor-e-Pakistan here on Sunday (today).

He came to Pakistan after five years and his first address to the people is indication of political change in Punjab as he enjoys big supports of likeminded religious and political parties including MQM. Political pundits are terming his entry in politics at that crucial time few months before general elections a serious threat to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that he would dedicate first five minutes of his address to answer all those questions being asked being his return to Pakistan.

He said that he did not

know any establishment nor was he in contact with it.

He said that he was connected to 180 million people of Pakistan.

Supporters of MQI were seen marching on roads waving their party’s flags and posters throughout the day.

People all over the country started to reach Lahore to welcome Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri and special arrangements were made for their stay at Minhajul-Quran secretariat, MQI College and other institutions.

Students especially females are enthusiastically charged to receive him at Minor-e-Pakistan and they firmly believe that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is the only option for present crisis prevailing in the country.

They say the politicians are corrupt and bureaucrats of the country are not doing their jobs honestly while the country is heading towards destruction.

HPV vaccine not linked to autoimmune disorders

A

two-year study of nearly 190,000 girls and women, finds that Gardasil, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine made by Merck & Co, does not trigger autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. The results are published in the Journal of Internal Medicine. Study lead author Dr Chun Chao, a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research & Evaluation in Pasadena, California, said in a statement released on Friday, that: This kind of safety information may help parents with vaccination decisions.” “”These findings offer some assurance that among a large and generalizable female population, no safety signal for autoimmune conditions was found following HPV4 vaccination in routine clinical use,” said Chao.

Gardasil is a “quadrivalent” vaccine because it helps protect against 4 types of HPV. In girls and young women age 9 to 26, it targets 2 types that cause about 75% of cervical cancers, and 2 other types that cause 90% of cases of genital warts.

The vaccine, which is given as three injections over six months, also helps protect boys and men age 9 to 26 against 90% of cases of genital warts. Genital warts is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US, where it infects about 6.2 million people every year. It can also lead to cervical cancer in women.

Gardasil received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2006.

But a longstanding concern about links with autoimmune disorders has surrounded the vaccine, and many parents won’t let their children be vaccinated because of this. However, Chao and fellow co-investigators from Kaiser Permanente told the press “most speculated associations have stemmed from case reports that have not been confirmed by large, controlled epidemiologic studies”, and their investigation “presents findings from a well-designed, postlicensure safety study of the vaccine on a large, ethnically diverse population”.

For the study, Chao and colleagues used electronic health records of 189,629 girls and women age 9 to 26 years in California.

The participants had been followed for six months after receiving each dose of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine in 2006-2008. They found no increase in any of 16 autoimmune disorders in the vaccinated population compared to a matched population of nonvaccinated girls and women. The 16 autoimmune disorders they looked for were: “... immune thrombocytopenia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto’s disease, Graves’ disease, multiple sclerosis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Advisor to PM on National Harmony Dr Paul Bhatti and Minister of State for National Harmony Akram Masih Gill praying for the prosperity and solidarity of the country at Fatima Church.

RMS, first term parent teacher meeting STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—The First Term

ISLAMABAD: Students throwing their caps in the air during the 10th Convocation of Shifa College of Medicine and 6th convocation of Shifa College of Nursing at Bahria University.

Shifa College convocation honours new MBBS graduates SANA JAMAL ISLAMABAD—The 10th convocation of Shifa College of Medicine (SCM), was a moment of pride and jubilation, for 94 students who were conferred degrees of MBBS on Saturday. The convocation ceremony, held at Bahria University, especially honoured the position holders: Dr. Rishtya Meena Kakar (first position); Dr. Hassan Zafar Baig (second position) and Dr. Saleha Rizwan (third position holder). 27 nursing graduates from Shifa College of Nursing (SCN) were also conferred degrees at the occasion. Danish Nadeem secured top position among nursing graduates. Dr. Hassan Baig was also awarded with the ‘Ibn-eSeena Gold Medal Award’ for his outstanding performance, being the best student of his batch.

Dr. Zafarullah Chaudhry, President of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), honoured the achievements of the students by awarding degrees.

“Public health practice requires extensive practical experience in application of skills for the provision of best medical care to patients”, he said. Practicing medicine is not just a career but a noble profession, he said urging the students to never forget the oath they have taken and become role models for newcomers in this noble profession. Dr. Chaudhry also encouraged the students to go for specialization in relevant disci-

plines to serve the people of motherland.

Rector Bahria University Islamabad Rear Admiral (Retd) Ehsan Saeed; Dean SCM and SCN Dr. Muhammad Ameen,; Principal SCM Gen. (Retd) Dr. Muhammad Shoaib; Chief Executive Officer Shifa International Hospital Dr. Manzoor H. Qazi, faculty members, students and their parents attended the convocation. The participants at the convocation paid tribute to a deceased student of the graduating class, Wajiha.

Rear Admiral Ehsan Saeed congratulated the graduating students, award

winners, their parents and teachers. He observed that SCM has established its repute and credibility as an outstanding medical college of the country in a very short span of time.

Dr. Muhammad Ameen, while addressing the convocation, congratulated the qualifying doctors and termed it an auspicious milestone in their lives. Medical professionals should be able to plan in advance for patient’s treatment. “Physicians will have to expand their horizons in many directions and constantly reflect and reorient treatment approaches” insisted Dr. Ameen.

Parent Teacher meeting (PTM) of Roots Millennium Schools-RMS was held at Roots Millennium Schools– Wahid Campus F-10/2, Islamabad as RMS continually work on finding ways to garner more parent involvement in their students’ education, knowing it makes a positive difference in student achievement. This fall, the school started Academic Parent Teacher Meeting with the theme of “Advocating the 3 R’s of environmental Protection, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Save the Endangered Species on Earth.

Welcoming the students and parents, Mrs. Erum Atif, Principal Wahid Campus F10/2, Islamabad said: “Parent teacher meetings can play a very important role in a student’s development and academic success by maintaining an open dialogue and comparing notes on the student’s achievements, personality or behavior.”

Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) CEO, Roots Millennium Schools while addressing parents and teachers said: “Education plays pivotal role in the transformation of people into a well-balanced society.

Parents got glimpse of education strategy of the school and also they were made aware of their crucial role in catering to various needs of children with the coordinated efforts of the professionals, educationists, school counselors and luminaries of allied fields.

Raja underlines need for interfaith harmony SHARAFAT KAZMI ISLAMABAD —Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has underlined the need for interfaith dialogue for promotion of peace and harmony in the society. He was addressing a function in connection with the Christmas celebrations at Fatima church in Islamabad on Saturday.

The Prime Minister said some misguided elements have tried to sow seeds of suspicion and target religions and their teachings. Raja said we cannot sit back and allow a few extremists to attack our shared values. He said the way the entire civilized world came together and denounced blasphemous caricatures of the holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) indicates that the followers of all great religions would not allow misguided elements to dictate their narrative.

Prime Minister Pervez

Ashraf said we need to stand together and promote shared values of compassion‚ moderation and tolerance and love. He said all minorities are part of Pakistan ‘s social fabric and we value the contributions and services of minority community in general and Christians community in particular in the development of the country.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said the present government is committed to the vision of founder of Pakistan Quaid-eAzam‚ Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for an enlightened‚ moderate‚ progressive and tolerate Pakistan . He said constitution gives every individual the right to freely practice their religion and share economic opportunities for their empowerment in the country.

The Prime Minister said the government has taken

landmark decisions which include approval of enhancement of minorities seats in the National and provincial assemblies by the federal cabinet‚ reservations of five percent quota in federal government jobs‚ reservation of seats in senate‚ and declaration of eleven august as national minority day. He said special efforts are being taken to bring the weaker sections of the society into the mainstream. Ministry of Harmony has been mandated to actively engage in dialogue with scholars and leaders of all faith to remove misunderstandings.

He said our government has proposed inter faith dialogue as a long term measures for achieving sustainable peace and harmony. He said the people of all religions should stand together to fight the menace of extremism and terrorism. On the occasion‚ the prime minister also cut Christmas cake.

Pet show ISLAMABAD—Dog and cat lov-

ers of all ages gathered at a pet show held at Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) on Saturday with participation of unique breeds of the two species. The show amused the spectators and was arranged for raising awareness about better care of cats and dogs and also providing people know how to ensure hygiene for themselves.

The specially trained cats and dogs enthralled the guests with their variety of tricks and acts such as cat-walk, dog race and wall climbing. The pets which participated in the show included breeds of cats such as, Australian Mist, Arabian Mau, German Rex, Persian Cats, an American Curl, and dog breeds included American Bulldog, German Shepherded, Australian Wolf dog, Teddy Roosevelt and Russian Puppies.

Dr Faisal Khan, a pet expert while addressing the gathering said that pet lovers need to strictly follow certain guidelines to ensure their safety and hygiene ISLAMABAD: Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq, CEO Roots Millennium Schools with Princi- while keeping cats and dogs.—APP pal Mrs Erum Atif and Staff of RMS Wahid Campus, F-10/2.

Eco-Adventure Activity-2012

WWF Pakistan’s Green School Programme CITY REPORTER I SLAMABAD —WWF – Pakistan’s Green School Programme, in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) launched the Eco-Adventure Activity on Trail 5, Darra Jangla, Margalla Hills National Park. The Eco-Adventure Activity is designed for students of all age groups, from Grade one till 13.

WWF – Pakistan has been working on environmental education and awareness for more than 42

years, ever since its inception in Pakistan in 1970. The Green School Programme started in 2010 and aims to change the mindset of the students so that they become environmentally aware and responsible.

The objective of this one-day activity is to create awareness of Pakistan’s natural environment and provide students with an opportunity to enjoy a healthy outdoor experience.

The activities are designed to incorporate a blend of ISLAMABAD: Children from different schools participating in Eco-Adventure Activ- skills including physical training, self reliance and ity-2012 arranged by WWF Pakistan.

inculcate the spirit of team work.

Essentially, this activity aims to develop a sense of respect and love for nature among the Green Students.

They were taught different skills, which include camping, tent pitching, knots techniques, lashing, navigation, compass reading and many more outdoor activities.

All the Green Schools of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Abbottabad and Peshawar took part in the activity with strength of over 1,200 Green Students.

Looking at its success, ten volunteers from Telenor HumQadam also joined WWF- Pakistan team to be a part of Eco-Adventure activity for Two days. First day was a capacity-building and training session of EcoAdventure with the team.

The training session was an advanced version of the activity designed for the students so that the Telenor team can learn from the experience as well. Second day, the Telenor team trained the green students of class 6-8 with the help of WWF - Pakistan team.

Colourful Family Gala

Capital made precedent of exemplary development Juma

06:20 01:30 03:45 07:00

December 24 SPECIAL programme for children in connection with Quaid-i-Azam Day celebrations, organised by the Children’s Art Workshops of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, at the PNCA Auditorium, Sector F-5/1 at 10 am to 1 pm. ***** LECTURE on ‘Transformation of Shariah into state law in British India,’ organised by the Islamic Research Institute and Department of Law, Faculty of Shariah and Law, International Islamic University, to be delivered by M Zubair Abbasi at the Allama Iqbal Auditorium, IIUI Faisal Mosque Campus, Islamabad at 11 am.

Continuing EXHIBITION of realistic paintings by Aqeel Javaid from Rawalpindi and Kamran Ahmed from Karachi, at the Gallery 6, House No 19, Street 10, Sector F-8/3, Islamabad at 11 am to 7 pm, continuing up to December 23. ***** EXHIBITION of paintings titled ‘Sublime Encounters’ by Qadir Jhatial and Tahir Ali, at the Rohtas Art Gallery, House No 57-B, Street 26, Sector F-6/2, Islamabad, continuing up to December 24.

SHARAFAT KAZMI

Park. A large number of offic- General CDA Mazoor union CDA officers and media. He ers, members of the Authority were also present on the mara- called upon the officers to exISLAMABAD — A proactive Muneer Ahmed Chaudry and thon festivity participated by pedite the development actividevelopment approach is re- Sana Ullah Aman and Secretary the families and children of the ties in the city and improve the quired to make Islamabad one of the beautiful metropolitan of the world with clear future vision. The concrete and concentrated efforts of the workers and officers of CDA have made the city a precedent of exemplary development, however; a lot is due to be done to bring it at par with the modern capitals of world and for evolving a sustainable financial mechanism for the authority. All the CDA officers are like a family striving for development and better upkeep of the city and prosperity of the organization.

Chairman CDA Syed Tahir Shahbaz said this while e addressing the colourful Family Gala of the CDA Officers organized by the CDA Officers Welfare Association (COWA) ISLAMABAD: Chairman CDA Syed Tahir Shahbaz and others during CDA Family gala here at Fatima Jinnah (F-9) at Fatima Jinnah Park.

3.5m Pakistani children miss polio vaccine: WHO STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—More than 3.5 million Pakistani children missed out on polio vaccination this week in a campaign overshadowed by the deaths of nine immunisation workers, a UN official said. The Muslim-majority nation of 180 million people is one of only three in the world where the highly infectious, crippling disease remains endemic and infections shot up from a low of 28 in 2005 to almost 200 last year.

Nine people working on the UN-backed programme were shot dead in Karachi and the northwest this week, murdered for trying to protect children from a cruel disease that can leave limbs flaccid

and useless in a matter of hours. “Out of a total target of 18.5 million for the last polio round, 14.9 million children were vaccinated throughout the country, resulting in over 3.5 million children missed during the campaign,” Dr. Elias Durry, the World Health Organization’s senior coordinator for polio eradication in Pakistan.

“WHO and all the partners in polio eradication salute the bravery of thousands of polio team members in the country who performed their duties in the line of fire to reach the 14.9 million children,” he said.

Durry said figures showed 1.75 million children were missed in southern Sindh province after the cam-

paign was called off following the killing of four female polio team members in Karachi, the country’s commercial capital.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province around 700,000 children were missed as a result of the early suspension of the campaign after the deaths of polio team members.

In central Punjab province, more than 800,000 remained unvaccinated but WHO officials said some major cities started the campaign a day late and data were still awaited. It was expected the number of missed children would significantly fall. More than 200,000 children in different areas remained unvaccinated for reasons unrelated to the attacks.

***** PAINTING exhibition by A Q Arif, at the Tanzara Gallery, House No 14, Street 12, Sector F-7/2, Islamabad, continuing up to December 27.

***** GROUP exhibition titled ‘Bend in the Scapes,’ at the Satrang Art Gallery, Serena Hotel, Khayaban-e-Suhrwardy, Islamabad, continuing up to January 8. ***** FESTIVAL Christmas and New Year’s exhibition at Ottoman Jewels with a sale upto 70% on your favourite Turkish jewellery up to 25 th December, at 44, Street No. 29, F-8/1 Islamabad.

Rs7.78m funds for municipal dispensaries R AWALPINDI —The Punjab government has released Rs7.78 million funds for the up-gradation of basic health units and dispensaries of the city.

According to sources, MPA Shehryar Riaz during his meeting with chief minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif apprised him about problems faced by municipal dispensaries due to non-provision of funds needed.

The chief minister taking notice issued directives for releasing funds for up-gradation of 10 municipal dispensaries of Rawalpindi.

Sources said that funds would be spent on renovation of basic health units and dispensaries in different areas of the city including Taili Mohallah, Dhoke Ratta, Dhoke Mongtal, Sarfraz Road, Millat Colony, Mohanpura, Sirajia Park and Amarpura.

Release of funds would help upgrade the labour rooms, purchasing equipment and machinery required.—INP

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan, Chairman Interfaith League, Sajid Ishaq, Mulana Tahir Ashrafi and others cutting the Christmas cake.— PO photo by Sultan Bashir

Imran Khan reaffirms PTI’s commitment to minorities SANA JAMAL

lim community. Wising the Christian brethren a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year, Imran Khan said that the celebration was true representation of the Quaid’s vision as well as the vision of PTI. Sajid Ishaq, Chairman of PIL and Advisor to the Chairman PTI on Minority Affairs, presented the Policy for Minorities on the occasion that Imran Khan graciously accepted. The proposal of establishing of Minority Wing would be approved after consultation with the Strategic Committee of PTI by truly democratic means, told Khan.

He informed the participants

cessive regime. They extended their full cooperation on behalf of CDA officers to the Chairman of the Authority.

The marathon one day event was thrilled with colourful activities including Tug Of War, Luddi, DJ, Police Band, Food Court (National & International Cuisine) Musical Chairs, Kite Flying, Magic Show, Cricket, Horse Dancing, Rubab, Badminton, Signing Competition and Folk Dances. All the officers including members of CDA board participated in the different activities. The event was also characterized by different stalls, shops, food court, game shows, play rides and other festivities designed in a unique manner, which were enjoyed by the families and children.

The Colourful family entertainment gala concluded with thrilling win of the Chair-

man CDA XI to beat the CDA Officers Welfare Association (COWA) XI in a cricket match at Fatima Jinnah Park on Saturday.

Captain of the Chairman CDA XI won the toss and elected to bat first. The team scored 56 run in the stipulated 5 overs with the captain knock of Abdul Rauf Khan who made 35 runs.

Noman Sheikh , Umar Saghir, Ramzan Sajid and Malik Atta also payed proactive role in the match during which the COWA XI could scored 50 runs with 25 runs of the sherazaz khan. Manoor Ahmed khan scored 20 runs in the match.

Chairman CDA announced that arrangements would be made to show the upcoming T20 matches between Pakistan And India on big screen in the cricket ground of Fatima Jinnah Park.

Three bogus medicine suppliers arrested R AWALPINDI —Rawalpindi police have arrested three persons for supplying fake medicines. Police upon receiving a tip off arrested three men Nadeem Akhtar (Bakra Mandi), Shakir Hassan (Marir Hassan) and Muzammil Butt (Adiala road) for supplying counterfeit medicines to various medical stores of the city.

The police recovered Rs 100,000 worth of counterfeit medicines from them. The arrested used to prepare fake medicines but labeled them with original medicine named and sold them to different pharmacies on retail price.

Police have registered the case and started thorough investigation.—Online

Residents demand plugging of leakage in gas pipeline R AWALPINDI —Leakage of

***** EXHIBITION of paintings by Mashkoor Raza, Mughees Riaz, Ufaq Ehsan and Arjumand Husain, at the Nomad Art Gallery, 22, Justice Abdur Rashid Road, Sector F-6/ 1, Islamabad, continuing up to December 30.

working of the civic agency to facilitate the residents of the Federal Capital. He said that all the officers of CDA are his team and would contribute towards productive activities to come up to the expectations of the residents.

He said that CDA we should chalk out a strategy to resolve the outstanding issues especially development of the stalled sectors provision of civic amenities and execution of the public oriented projects. Chairman CDA Officers Welfare Association (COWA), Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Secretary General, Riaz Ahmad Randhawa, and general secretary mazdoor union Ch Yasin also spoke on the occasion and highlight the problems and issues of CDA Officers and committed that they would continue their constructive role for the rapid development of Islamabad as done by them during the suc-

gas from gas pipeline passing through Jabba Chaklala Dhok Kala Khan has led to suspension of gas supply to the residents. The 700-feet gas pipeline laid in this area is leaking since the last six months disrupting the gas supply to us but no heed is being paid to this state of affairs by the concerned department, said a group of residents.

“We have informed the DG Sui Gas Department on several occasion and have been filing applications seeking repair of the pipeline. The DG promised to take action against the contractor but we are still the victims as status quo is still making mockery of our helplessness, said Hanif Muhammad, a teacher.

The contractor is of the opinion that sui gas department is not providing pipes which is very costly and as soon as it is provided he will replace the leaked pipeline.

We are forced to arrange our meals at hotels and the unhygienic food being supplied at hotels has committed us to abdominal diseases, said a group of house wives. The residents demanded immediate steps for replacement of faulty pipeline otherwise they will be forced to hold protest demonstrations.—Online

that 25% seats would be allocated for youth under the age ISLAMABAD—Pakistan of 35 years and that PTI would even financially support the Tekreek-e-Insaf Chairman, deserving candidates for conImran Khan reiterated his testing the elections. party’s commitment to the Ishaq ensured Chairman dignity and honor of minorPTI that the minorities would ity communities, proclaiming stand firm with PTI in the Genequal treatment for all minorieral Elections and play a decities, including Christian sive role in the success of PTI. brothers and sisters. Khan Ishaq also highlighted the key was speaking at a Christmas alliances of Pakistan Interfaith festivity jointly organized by League such as Pakistan Ulema Pakistan Interfaith League Council, Supreme Council of (PIL) and Interfaith League Bishops of Pakistan, United against Poverty (I-LAP). council of Churches Islamabad, The Christmas Dinner All Hindu Punchait Balmeek was a true depiction of interSabah Pakistan and Pakistan faith harmony as it was atSikh Gurdwara Parmandak tended by the Christian, ISLAMABAD—District adminCommittee.

Hindu, Sikh, Bahai and Musistration launched operation against profiteers and imposed fine on 60 profiteers who did not display rate list here the other day.

As per details, District administration has launched operation against profiteers and at least 60 profiteers were being fined of Rs 29850 who did not display rate list.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Industrial area Imran Ali Sultan kicked off operation in Peshawar Mor, I-9 while AC Nauman Yousaf in Margalla Town, Pak Road, and AC Rabia launched operation in Tarnol.

Meanwhile, they also directed to shopkeepers to display rate lists and ensure the quality of edibles otherwise strict action would be taken ISLAMABAD: Lady Health workers hold a demonstration in support of their demands against them under food outside PM Secretariat. —PO photo act.—Online

60 profiteers fined

RAWALPINDI: A polio worker along with a policeman for his security travelling on his motorbike towards place of assignment at Khayaban-e-Sir Syed.

PM greets Japanese counterpart on Emperor’s birthday STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD –Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has extended his warm felicitations to the Prime Minister of Japan His Excellency Mr Yoshihiko Noda on the auspicious occasion of birthday of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan and their National Day falling on December 23.

In his message to his Japanese counterpart, the Prime Minister said that on this auspicious occasion of the birthday of His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Japan and the National Day, the people of Pakistan joins him in expressing their heartiest felicitations to His Excellency and the people of Japan.

The Prime Minister said that it was matter of deep satisfaction for him that Pakistan and Japan enjoy close and cordial relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Japan has always remained at the forefront to assist Pakistan in the socio-economic development.

The Prime Minister said that this year, the two countries were celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. In this regard, a number of activities have been undertaken in bringing the friendly people further closer, he added.

The Prime Minister wished continued progress and prosperity of Japan and its people.

Mosque in Sector G-8 Markaz sealed ISLAMABAD—The Islamabad administration has sealed Jamia Masjid Al-Rasheed in G-8 Markaz after a dispute between two groups over the appointment of Imam in the mosque.

The residents have been offering their prayers in an adjacent park for last two days.

According to residents of the area, a dispute between two groups occurred on the appointment of Maulvi Zulfiqar Gilgiti in place of Mufti Abdul Saboor as Imam in Jamia Masjid in Sector G-8 Markaz and a clash was very likely when the federal capital administration interfered and ended the conflict. The conflict grew again on Friday, thus the city administration and police sealed the mosque. Police officials have been deployed around the mosque to avoid any untoward incident.—INP

ISLAMABAD: CEO Uniworth Kh Bilal Ahmad, Muhammad Aslam Janjua, Abdul Qayyum, President ICCI Zafar Bakhtawari and Abdul Rouf cutting the ribbon to inaugurate a garment shop in Blue Area.—PO photo

Cantt Board meeting on old Shifting of tube dispensary grant lease of properties wellplotto resented

R AWALPINDI —Rawalpindi eral of Military Land and CanCantonment Board has called a special board meeting to discuss the pending applications seeking change of old grant lease of properties to regular lease on Monday (tomorrow).

According to sources, a 150 point agenda is expected to be approved in the meeting.

All the concerned high officials would attend the meeting, while holidays of all the employees have been cancelled for the purpose. According to the officials of the Cantt Board, after resolving all the cases in the meeting, they would be sent to the director and director gen-

tonment for approval. Properties of those, who would not regularise their old grant lease, would be cancelled. The current old grant policy is going to end on December 31.

It is pertinent to mention here that three months ago all the old grant properties holders had been notified to renew their lease agreement till 31 December. While, the owners of the old grant properties opined that if they accept the policy, they would have to rebuy their own properties inherited by their forefathers in pre-partition times.

RAWALPINDI—Shifting of tube well to the plot allocated for dispensary has sparked resentment among the residents of Khiaban-e-Sirsyed-11.

Residents said that a tube well was installed on a plot allocated by housing and physical planning division and it was supplying water to them since long and a filtration plant was also constructed along side the tube well. All of a sudden the tube well was shut and the plot whereon the tube well was operating was allotted to a government employee, they added. —Online

One-sided talks won’t resolve Kashmir

Omar asks Hurriyat to talk to Delhi on return from Pakistan SRINAGAR—Expressing hap- initiative taken by the issue,” said Omar, flanked by aspirations of people is piness over the Hurriyat (M) initiative of starting dialogue with Pakistan, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said the amalgam should initiate unconditional talks with New Delhi after their Islamabad visit as “one-sided dialogue won’t resolve Kashmir issue.”

He asked the “opponents of dialogue” to revive their policy, stating that no issue LAHORE: All Parties Hurriyat Conference delegation, headed by Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, flanked by can be resolved without parleys. Addressing an impresJamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Liaqat Baloch, talking to media persons after meeting at Mansoora. sive gathering at Zainakadal area of old city here after inaugurating a bridge, Omar said he was happy over the

MLA Rashid slams Indian politicians for ‘double standards’

SRINAGAR —MLA Langate Engineer Rasheed while condemning the recent rape incident in New Delhi in which a 25 year old student was gang raped has demanded stern punishment for the culprits. He said that whole of Kashmir could feel the pain of the victims and her family.

In a press statement he said, “Who other than Kashmiris can better understand the pain and the grief as a result of such barbaric incidents as they have seen such countless incidents including that of KunanPoshpora mass rape and Tabinda Gani rape and murder case”.

He said that though one must applaud Indian politicians, media, intellectuals, students and human rights activists for taking to streets and raising their voice against the Delhi gang rape case from Sheela Dixit’s house to parliament “but It is astonishing and so sad when these people keep mum if incidents worst than the Delhi one take place in Kashmir”.

He said that history is the witness that incidents like Kunan Poshpora have been ignored in the name of so called national interest and the incidents are being interpreted as propaganda by anti-national elements.—NNI

Resolution of Kashmir must for peace SRINAGAR—Democratic Political Movement (DPM) chairman Firdous Ahmad Shah has said the resolution of Kashmir issue was imperative for abiding peace in subcontinent and Indo-Pak bonhomie.

“There cannot be durable friendly relations between India and Pakistan until Kashmir issue is resolved in accordance with the wishes, sentiments and aspirations of Kashmiri people,” said Firdous Shah while addressing a meeting of DMP leaders, adding that “no solution other than one for which the people of Kashmir have offered supreme sacrifices will be acceptable.”

The meeting elected advocate Parvaiz Ahmad Shah as party ambassador for Azad Kashmir in place of Showkat Ahmad Bhat.— NNI

Armed struggle to continue till forces vacate Kashmir: Salahuddin

S RINAGAR —While paying India. tributes to the militants killed in an encounter in Sopore, United Jehad Council Chairman, Syed Salahuddin has said that the sacrifices of the slain militants were an indication that armed struggle will continue till complete vacation of the India forces from the state.

UJC spokesperson Syed Sadaqat Hussain quoting the UJC chief said that the militant ranks were united and committed to taking the ongoing struggle to its logical end.

While addressing a joint session of the United Jehad Council, Salahuddin urged the leadership in Pakistan and both sides of the LoC to unite on the agenda of UN resolutions and fight till withdrawal of troops from the state by

“Issues like Trade and tourism are acceptable but they should not overshadow or push the issues of Right to self determination and complete withdrawal of troops to the back burner.

That would not be acceptable to the freedom loving people of the state”, Hussain quoted Salahuddin as having said.

“Sacrifices of lakhs of lives were not offered for trade or tourism but for ending occupation of India. The sacrifices are going on and have been going on for last 65 years”, Salahuddin said.

He termed the killing of 6 LeT militants in Sopore as yet another episode of sacrifices for the cause. “Upholding the honour of sacrifices offered by martyrs is not only the duty but a debt on the

Signature campaign completed in UK L ONDON —Signature cam- parts of UK will take cognipaign initiated by Kashmir Centre London, was completed for the alder shot constituency on December12, 2012.According to Kashmir Media Service, the event was organised by Ch. Mohammed Farooq, president Jamia Masjid Alder shot and Ch. Mohammed Khan, member of AJK council. On this occasion a delegation headed by Mr. Nazir Ahmed Shawl, chairman Kashmir centre included Mr.Mohameed Ayub, president of the advisory council and Ch. Sabir hussain chief co-ordinator.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Nazir Ahmed Shawl described the kashmiri diaspora as the embassodar ’s of Kashmir cause and hoped that, the parliamentarians in different constituencies in different

sance of petition and help in full fledged debate, in the House of Commons. It is a unified demand of all the Kashmiris that, human rights violation taking place with impunity should end and Kashmiris should be granted the right of self determination, as promised by United Nations in its resolutions. Ch. Mohammed Khan, MLC and Ch. Mohammed Saleem- Mayor of Alder shot, promised thier complete co-operation in all the efforts being made by Kashmir centre London. to highlight the Kashmir cause. Mr. Mohammed Ayub thanked the organisers for completeing the signature campaign in thier constituency. The Petition will now be handed over to the member of Parliament after Christmas.—KMS

people of Kashmir “, Salahuddin was quoted of having said. According to the spokesperson, it was pledged in the meeting that the ongoing struggle will be taken to its logical end and no one will be allowed to indulge into treason.

Meanwhile, Syed Salahuddin also urged the leadership in Pakistan and both sides of the Line of Control to unite on the agenda of UN resolutions and fight till withdrawal of troops by India from J&K. In a statement to a local news agency, KNS, he said, “Issues like trade and tourism are acceptable but they should not overshadow or push the issues of right to self determination and complete withdrawal of troops to the back burner.—NNI

Leh town of IHK freezes at minus 17 S RINAGAR —In occupied Kashmir, the Leh town literally froze, today, with minimum temperature dipping to minus 17 degrees Celsius. The Met Office of the occupied territory has forecast a further dip in the night temperatures across the Ladakh region and the Kashmir Valley. “The minimum temperature dipped to minus 17 degrees Celsius today (Saturday) in Leh. It was minus 14.4 degrees Celsius in Kargil town, minus 8 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam and minus 3.4 degrees Celsius in Srinagar,” an official of the meteorological department told media men.

“As the weather is likely to remain dry across the Valley for the next few days, we are expecting a further fall in the night temperatures,” he added. Occupied Kashmir has been reeling under cold waves since Chillai Kalan, the coldest 40-day period, commenced on Friday.—KMS

Media should raise voice against AFSPA N EW D ELHI —The Armed dia International Centre.

Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives sweeping powers to the armed forces, has been in force in India’s northeast for the past 54 years and also in Jammu and Kashmir and the media should collectively raise their voices against the draconian law, experts said at a seminar.

Eminent media persons, including Sanjoy Hazarika, H.K. Dua, Kumar Ketkar and Kuldip Nayar, also said that media persons reporting in conflict zones should be provided insurance. They were speaking at a seminar on “Reporting conflict zones” by the South Asia Media Commission, India Chapter, at the In-

“Media reporting on AFSPA is only about its imposition in Jammu and Kashmir.. It is forgotten that it is in place in the Northeast for 54 years,” said Hazarika, author, columnist and Director of the Centre for North East Studies at the Jamia Millia Islamia here.

“We cannot have an act for 54 years, 65 years after our Independence.. This constitutes discrimination and it is placed in the bedrock of law..

We have to raise our voices against it,” said Hazarika.

According to Dua, senior journalist and Rajya Sabha member, in areas where the AFSPA is in force “The army is deciding the policy and not

the government.”

“We have to do more reporting from such areas,” said Dua, adding that media should also guard against biases playing up in their reporting. “Truth should not be sacrificed even if one has to pay with personal safety,” he said and emphasized that insurance cover should be there for media persons reporting from conflict zones.

According to veteran journalist Kumar Ketkar, there should be demilitarization of the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir as the reportage from there “is biased, giving a feel of normalcy” which in turn makes the government not consider lifting AFSPA.—NNI

Inqalabi condemns military action in Sopore S RINAGAR —In occupied Kashmir, APHC leader and the Chief Patron of Jammu and Kashmir Mahaz-eAzadi (MeA) Muhammad Azam Inqilabi has strongly condemned the Indian Army’s excesses during a military operation in Sopore.

Muhammad Azam Inqilabi in a statement issued in Srinagar said, “Not only six youth were martyred in unilateral military action, but two houses were also flattened. Belongings and orchards of residents of Saidpora, Sopore, were destroyed.”

He warned India of dire consequences if the human rights abuses continued in the territory.

He asked Indian government to analyse the impending dangers of its rigid stance on Kashmir.

He said that it was better for Indian leaders to fathom the ground reality and act accordingly.

He urged New Delhi to take steps for holding tripartite talks to resolve the Kashmir dispute, once and for all.—KMS

Hurriyat (M) to visit Pakistan and start dialogue process.

“Many efforts were made to resolve Kashmir. Even 20year long militancy couldn’t resolve it. On the contrary, it made issues difficult,” the Chief Minister said. He did not address the people from the decorated podium and preferred to sit closer to the people.

“Dialogue is the only way to resolve issues. Hurriyat’s Pakistan visit is a good beginning. They should not remain under the impression that holding parleys with only Islamabad would resolve the

Law Minister Ali Muhammad Sagar.

“I hope Hurriyat will begin unconditional talks with New Delhi soon after their Pakistan visit. Talks should be held with both India and Pakistan simultaneously so that something is achieved.”

Heavy security arrangements were put in place in the area to ensure a smooth function.

The Chief Minister said the Kashmiri leaders who are in Pakistan at present should put forth their views before New Delhi too “so that a solution as per the

reached.”

Without naming Hurriyat (G), the Chief Minister said the “opponents of dialogue should revisit their agenda.”

“This is after a long time that any leader from National Conference has made a speech in an area once dominated by late Mirwaiz Muhammad Yousuf Shah and Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.

This area has people having only two ideologies- NC and that of the Mirwaiz family,” said NC minister Ali Muhammad Sagar on the occasion.—NNI

Guru scapegoat of judiciary trying to balance justice, populist sentiment: PUDR SRINAGAR—New Delhi based and executed in the 26/11 justice and populist sentiPeople’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) while strongly condemning the death sentence to Mohammad Afzal Guru as unfair and unjust has demanded the commutation of his sentence.

“Not only does PUDR oppose capital punishment in principle as violating the right to life, as based on ‘an eye for eye’ revengeful ‘justice’; as inhumane, brutal, arbitrary, and discriminatory, but having followed the case closely we have observed the denial of justice to Afzal. We therefore appeal for clemency for Afzal”, the PUDR secretary said in a statement.

UDR said that of those whose mercy petitions have come up before the President , the most frenzied demands in recent times have been for the execution of Muslim political prisoners- Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistan national sentenced

Mumbai attack case , and now Afzal Guru. t said the case against Afzal has been based on faulty investigation, circumstantial evidence, and the suspicious role of the police.

“Afzal was not present at the site of the shooting, nor could he be associated with any unlawful organization”, it added.

“As is well known the High Court judgment in the Parliament attack case acquitted one of the accused given death penalty by the Special Court, reduced another’s sentence to ten years’ imprisonment, and acquitted a third who’d earlier been sentenced to five years. in what was clearly a ‘balancing act’, the High Court enhanced Afzal’s sentence to three life terms and two death sentences. Afzal thus became the scapegoat of a judiciary trying to balance

ment”, the PUDR statement read. he PUDR said that Afzal’s case casts doubt on the free and fair trial for those tried under anti-terror laws, and sections under the IPC on waging war and conspiracy.

“The SC in its August 4, 2005 judgment sentencing Afzal to death even while accepting that there was no evidence that Mohammed Afzal belonged to any terrorist group or organization”, the Court observed “What hangs in the balance is the life of a Kashmiri Muslim who crossed over into Pakistan when very young, who returned three months later and then voluntarily surrendered, who was tortured by the army for refusing to become a BSF informer, who tried to carve out a new life for himself by getting a degree in Delhi University, and set up a business in Delhi, who was unfairly convicted and sentenced to death.—NNI

Shah, Mir arrested S RINAGAR —The

Democratic Freedom Party chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah along with other separatists Javid Ahmad Mir, Muhammad Yousuf Naqash and Wasim Ahmad Lone were arrested by police when they were on way to Arihal Pulwama in south Kashmir.

Before his arrest Shah while talking to reporters said: “Kashmir is not any border dispute between India and Pakistan but is the issue of the political future of the people of the Valley.

It has to be resolved in accordance with the United Nations resolutions or through tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and the pro-freedom leadership of the Valley.”

“Kashmiris are the principal and the primary party to the Kashmir issue,” Shah said adding that it is very unfortunate that New Delhi has not kept the promises which it had made with Kashmiris from time to time.

Paying rich tributes to the martyrs, Shah said, “It is because of these sacrifices the Kashmir issue has come to the limelight.” —NNI

MUZAFFARABAD: AJK Prime Minister Ch Abdul Majid addressing a press conference.

Troops destroyed property, orchards S RINAGAR —Residents of Army. The affected families during a crackdown troops Saidpora Sopore have accused Indian troops of deliberately destroying their belongings and apple orchards during the 72-hour gunfight in which six militants were killed by the army and police in a joint operation. However, police rejected the claims of residents.

Those affected during the course of gunfight alleged troops of “inhuman behavior”. They said their residential houses and orchards were destroyed by Police and

alleged that 13 kanal orchard was completely destroyed and around 100 fruit trees uprooted by troops using earth excavation machines. Ghulam Muhammad Dar son of Ghulam Rasool Dar and his nephew Khursheed Ahmad Dar said troops during the operation rendered them homeless by acting recklessly.

“Troops burnt to ashes earnings of our entire life,” they said.

“This reminded us of the bitter memories of 1995 when

tortured various persons of our village. My brother Muhammad Nawab Dar succumbed during torture and the torture made me physically weak,” said Ghulam Muhammad Dar. Rejecting the claims that militants were present in their houses, he said: “Our village was under siege for three days. We were asked to come out of our residential houses.when we left. We had heard some gun shots at 4 am..—NNI

India complicates the Kashmir, Sir Creek issues SAJJAD SHAUKAT

R

ENOWNED Pakistani and Indian media anchors including retired high civil and military officials gathered on December 2, 2012 in New Delhi at a seminar to discuss practical solutions to the bilateral issues like Sir Creek, Siachen, Kashmir dispute etc. under the Aman Ki Asha initiative organised by The Times of India and Pakistan’s Jang Group. The move was part of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between both the neighbouring countries to narrow down their differences.

At the same time, India decided to erect a ‘floating fence’, anchored by submerged metallic meshes, along the disputed Sir Creek border area with Pakistan. According to Indian media reports, top sources disclosed that the two agencies would be the National Buildings Construction Cooperation (NBCC) which will erect the fence of 75 km of the Creek, while

the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has already started work in rest of the area. The fence is reported to be a ‘gabion box’, which has all-weather concertina wires and poles. It is a regular technology used for flood water control and prevention of rock breaking along coasts by the impact of the saline ocean water.

While showing contradictory statements of New Delhi, an Indian official stated, “Sir Creek area is characteristic with shallow and slushy water and these boxes would be the best material to be sunk under water considering the difficulty of the terrain.” On the other side, some Indian officials pointed out that the Sir Creek area including a particular stretch called ‘harami nala’ is vulnerable to infiltration and smuggling

by Pakistan, adding, “A number of instances of the Border Security Force apprehending Pakistani fishermen and trawlers are reported from the Sir Creek area regularly…hence the border guarding force has raised and deployed a special unit called ‘crocodile’ commandos in the

marshy territory.”

However, under this ambivalent strategy, any such attempt made by India would lead to misunderstandings between Islamabad and New Delhi because Pakistan’s position is that the Sir Creek is sovereign part of its territory.

Sir Creek which opens into the Arabian Sea, and sits in the Rann of Kutch marshlands is the 96 km narrow piece of water between India’s Gujarat state and Pakistan’s Sindh province. The major dispute between India and Pakistan over Sir Creek is about understanding of the maritime boundary between Kutch and Sindh.

Although India and Pakistan had surveyed the 100-km Sir Creek estuary in 2007, yet Indian delaying tactics frustrated Islamabad’s attempts to demarcate the maritime boundary between the two countries. This has resulted into the detention of hundreds of Pakistani fishermen, who unintentionally strayed across the poorlydemarcated territorial waters. India illegitimately claims that the Creek boundary which opens

up to the Arabian Sea should be in the middle of the estuary, while Islamabad legitimately argues, it should lie on the southeast bank.

Since 1969, many rounds of talks between India and Pakistan were conducted on Sir Creek issue, relating various steps such as allocation, demarcation and administration. But no breakthrough occurred due to Indian tough stand.

India has proposed that the maritime boundary could be demarcated first, as per the provisions of Technical Aspects of Law of Sea (TALOS).

However, Pakistan has staunchly refused the proposal on the grounds that the dispute should be resolved first. Islamabad has also proposed for international arbitration, which New Delhi has flatly refused. We cannot see Indian delaying tactics regarding the solution of Sir Creek dispute in isolation because it has always remained part of other related issues between India and Pakistan. In this regard, India suspended the ‘composite dialogue’ in 2008 under the pretext of Mumbai terror attacks which were in fact,

arranged by its secret agency RAW in connivance with Indian home-grown terrorists. India and Pakistan resumed the new phase of parleys in March, 2009. But every time, prime ministers and foreign ministers of both the countries have ended their meetings with issuance of positive notes, and vowed for the solution of all issues, but the same failed without producing tangible results.

In fact, India is emphasising more on CBMs than to pay attention for the settlement of real issues which also include Sir Creek and particularly thorny dispute of Kashmir. It is only interested in promotion of trade, friendly exchanges, tourism, relaxation of visas etc. Implementation of these agreements has started. In this context, Islamabad also signed a number of trade agreemens with New Delhi, which allowed India exports of mutltiple items across the Wagah border. It also granted India Most Favoured Nation status, which permits trade in almost everything. —Courtesy Kashmir Watch

Concessional lending Youth biz linkages stressed Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD—Nearly 200 delegates from the 8 countries Commonwealth Asia Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs (CAAYE) met for 3 days in Mumbai towards networking, building business linkages, conduct field studies, attend learning sessions and jointly prepare a set of recommendations to improve the ecosystem of youth entrepreneurship in the form of an official communique that would be submitted to member governments through the Commonwealth Secretariat. A delegation of entrepreneurs led

by Shaban Khalid Chairman Young Entrepreneurs Forum (YEF) of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has returned home after attending the CAAYE Summit.

Oil prices fall NEW YORK—Oil prices fell on Friday amid worries that Washington will not act in time to stop the United States from going over the “fiscal cliff” by an end-of-year deadline. New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for February delivery, fell $1.47 cents to settle at $88.66 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for February delivery dipped $1.23 to close at $108.97 a barrel in London trade. The United States risks falling off the so-called fiscal cliff in the absence of a political compromise to avert a series of tax hikes and spending cuts from taking effect in January.

Experts say going over the cliff could push the world’s biggest economy back into recession.

Investors have “real fear of the potential to go off the fiscal cliff,” said Robert Yawger of Mizuho Securities USA. If investor concern mounts “the stock market could slide rather aggressively,” he said, adding that he believed crude “will be at the mercy of the equity market”.—AFP

PQ shipping activity KARACHI—Three ships arrived at Port load/offload at QICT palm oil at LCT, rice at FAP on Friday. Berth occupancy was maintained at 50% at the Port on Saturday where a total of five ships namely M.V KPS-I Alican Bey - Powership, M.V PrinceK, M.V Lantau Arrow, M.T Argent Daisy, M.T Al Salam-II M.V Shang Donghai Chang, M.V Meta, M.V Beautiful Rena are currently occupying berths to load/offload wheat, containers, palm oil, coal diesel oil. Cargo handling operations were arrived out smoothly at the Port where a cargo volume 42,771 tonnes comprising 39,507 tonnes import, 3,264 tonnes export and (391) TUES was handled at the Port during last 24 hours. M.V Princes-K sailed on Friday afternoon. M.V Lantua Arrow, M.V Shang Donghai Chang, M.T Al Salam-II sailed on Saturday morning.—APP

The secret of business is to know something that nobody else knows.

— Aristotle Onassis

IMF okays 2-year zero interest rates on poorer-country loans STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The International Monetary Fund (IMF)has approved a two-year extension to the zero interest rates charged on loans to low-income countries.

The extension is part of a wider strategy to support concessional lending to poorer countries as they combat the effects of the global economic crisis.

Following further weakening of global growth and lowincome countries’ declining ability to weather the crisis, the IMF approved a second extension to the exceptional interest waiver on loans under its Pov-

erty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT).

The move, approved by the IMF Executive Board December 21, extends the waiver through 2014. In addition, the IMF announced a postponement by one year, to end 2014, of the next review of PRGT interest rates.

“The Executive Board decision to keep interest rates at zero for all concessional loans for a further two years is testament to the Fund’s continued support for low-income countries since the global economic crisis hit in 2009,” said IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde.

The zero interest-rate extension follows other recent steps by the IMF to bolster lending to

poorer countries that include increased resources, higher borrowing limits, and more flexible terms. These moves stem from the major overhaul of the Fund’s support programs for low-income countries in mid-2009, which created a new framework for loans to the world’s poorest nations and initially set zero interest rates on concessional loans through 2011.

This is the second extension of the zero interest rates. After the first bi-annual review under the PRGT interest rate mechanism in December 2011, the IMF decided that the significant downside risks to the global economic outlook required a one year extension, through 2012, of

PTA asked to follow 3G licences auction rules STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) may suspend 3G spectrum auction process after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) termed the hiring of consultants for the auction in violation of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.

The NAB has requested the Regulator to properly follow PPRA rules and give confirmation till December 26.

The auction process may remain suspended till PTA convinces the Bureau that PPRA rules were followed in hiring consultants of international repute and it was in conformity with the PTA Act, said sources.

One of the key and relevant

officers of the Authority directed the Director General (Coordination) PTA that NAB the hiring of consultants for 3G/4G spectrum auction in violation of PPRA rules. And as a consequence, he directed to stop all the proceedings in this regard.

These directives were also forwarded to Member Technical, Director General (Licensing), OIC (Law and Regulation), Director General (Finance), Director General (Commercial Affairs) and PSO to Chairman PTA).

The auction process became controversial when two members of the Authority namely Member Technical Dr Khawar Siddique Khokar and Member Finance Nasrul Karim Ghaznavi refused to approve the Information Memorandum (IM) prepared by the three consultants in

a meeting recently held with Prime Minister in the chair.

They termed the hiring of consultants in violation of PPRA rules and a violation of the PTA Act and apprised NAB of their reservations. The NAB took action on the complaint and asked PTA to brief the Bureau in this regard. PTA briefed NAB over the hiring process however the latter termed it unsatisfactory, saying that it was in violation of PPRA rules.

Chairman PTA Farooq Awan recently said that the advisory group comprising experts/consultants of international repute hired for the auction of 3G spectrum reckons that the process would be completed

by January 23, 2013. However this deadline appears difficult to meet in the current scenario, sources maintained.

FTO for punishing all tax evaders STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Shoab Suddle has said that if only a few influential in Pakistan would be punished for tax evasion, all the evaders would get on track automatically.

Speaking to the office bearers and members of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) said that due to his suo motu action in an effort to redress the genuine complaints of taxpayers, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) provided relief of Rs 8 billion to 196,000 tax-

payers. “If we have to run this country then everyone should pay tax on his income”, Suddle said pointing out the dismal tax to GDP ratio in Pakistan, which is below 9 percent as against 16 percent in India and 51 percent in Sweden. He said that it’s pity that only 700,000 people have filed tax returns this year.

Suddle said that the FTO office provides relief against unjust taxation by the tax collectors. “It is, however, not an office to facilitate tax evaders”, he said regretting that tax compliance in Pakistan is very low.

Against global tax to GDP ratio

of 25-30 percent and this ratio in Pakistan is below nine percent.

He said that a web-based Complaint Handling System was being set up with the office of Tax Ombudsman soon to address taxpayers’ grievances efficiently.

He said the misuse of discretion by tax collectors is often not reported. “You should raise your voice against such malpractices when the services of Tax Ombudsman are available with you.”

He said that 1,500 to 1,600

Continued on Page 14

Trading remains bullish at cotton market STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Trading remained brisk with strong physical prices amid firm spot rate, traders at the Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) said.

The KCA kept the spot rate unchanged at Rs 6,000 per maund to provide support to baseline prices and weak stockholders for getting better prices, floor brokers said.

During the trading session, spinners bought all kinds of lint at Rs 5,700 per maund to Rs 5,850 per maund while those spinning

units in Sindh and Punjab stations eager for producing better grade yarn purchased fine grades at around Rs 6,050 per maund in order to strengthen their long positions on back of local as well as foreign yarn orders.

Majority of the sellers in Sindh and Punjab stations offloaded their stocks of all grades on competitive prices at around Rs 5,700 per maund and Rs 5,875 per maund. Around 18,000 bales changed hands with more than 85 percent of Punjab’s share in trading.

“The New York Futures

market remained fundamental in translating international as well as domestic lint prices on back of growing demand by major users besides non-availability of fine lint,” said an analyst. “Buyers made forward deals for all grades on ending week on competitive prices at around Rs 5,550 per maund to Rs 5,650 per maund in Punjab stations.”

Second grade lint was available at around Rs 5,500 per maund in Punjab stations while same grade lint in Sindh was offered at some stations at around Rs 5,450 per maund.

zero interest rates on concessional facilities. After the global financial crisis first erupted in 2008, the IMF stepped up its lending to lowincome countries to combat the impact of the ensuing recession.

Initially, poorer countries succeeded in adjusting policies to offset the worst effects of the crisis. But this success was partially reversed in 2011, with Chairman Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan addressing the members of Karachi Chammany low-income countries ber of Commerce and Industry. having limited fiscal space and running current account deficits that were higher than pre-crisis levels.

Low-income countries face the slow pace of the global recovery and increased volatility in food and fuel prices. uniform GIDC, said Ghiyas not only add the miseries of the STAFF REPORTER Abdullah Paracha, Chairman masses but ruin CNG sector ISLAMABAD—The All Paki- Supreme Council APCNGA. which in turn will result in naIn a statement issued here tionwide wheel jam. stan CNG Association Masses are paying diverse (APCNGA) on Saturday asked today, he said that masses as Oil and Gas Regulatory Author- well as owners of the CNG sta- taxes for CNG in different reSTAFF REPORTER ity (Ogra) to announce interim tions are facing miseries since gions, they are made to pay Rs KARACHI—The dollar began to CNG sale price to save CNG two months while authorities 13.25 in Region I while they pay Rs 9.18 in Region II which is rise against the rupee in the in- filling station owners from in- remain indifferent.

Despite directives, the sub- discrimination, he informed terbank market, dealers said. It solvency.

Interim prices will help committee of the Economic Co- adding that the difference of Rs opened the day’s trading at Rs 97.35 for buying, gained 16 Ogra take time to review audit ordination Council and Minis- 4.70 should end now.

Ghiyas Paracha said that paisas and closed at Rs 97.51 for reports of 3400 CNG outlets to try of Petroleum and Natural buying and Rs 97.56 for selling. know average cost etc. and take Resources hasn’t started consul- move to link CNG prices with tation with the stakeholders petrol will be steep violation of On the other hand, the European appropriate decision, it said.

As per the directions of the which indicates their unsympa- ruling of the Supreme Court. currency closed lower versus the He called upon those who rupee as it started the day’s trad- Apex Court, the new formula thetic behaviour, Paracha regretmatter to fix responsibility on ing at Rs 128.79 for buying, fell should be made acceptable to all ted.

He said that unjustified de- those directly responsible for eight paisas and closed at Rs the stakeholders and masses by 128.71 for buying and Rs 128.91 imposing similar gas tariff and lay in CNG pricing decision will prolonging the current crisis. for selling. The pound sterling ended up against the local currency as it initiated the day’s trading at Rs 158.31 for buying, appreciated by 10 paisas and closed at Rs 158.41 for buying and Rs 158.61 for selling.

Open market: The dollar conand General Manager Bulk Ma- deal for Iranian iron ore with ISMAIL DILAWAR tinued to decline against the ruterial Department Pakistan Steel metallurgical coke which is pee, dealers said. It began the produced by Pakistan Steel.

K ARACHI—A four-member Captain(R) Shamsi Hasan. day’s trading at Rs 97.60 for buyHe said the main purpose of He said that the visit delegation of Pakistan Steel ing, fell 30 paisas and closed at the visit was to finding possibili- agenda also includes to discuss Mill (PSM) on Saturday left Rs 97.30 for buying and Rs 98 for ties for supply chain restoration the payment for remaining selling. Similarly, the euro posted for Iran on a four-day visit to of iron ore to Pakistan Steel, 10% amount of two Iranian losses against the local currency explore the ways and possi- from Iran. companies, blocked due to inas it initiated the day’s trading at bilities to procure iron ore for He added that PSM is fac- ternational sanctions from last Pakistan Steel from the neighRs 129 for buying, lost 87 paisas ing difficulties from importing two years, as 90% payment and closed at Rs 128.31 for buy- boring country. iron ore from Australia, Canada, was cleared according to the According to a PSM ing and Rs 130.30 for selling. spokesman, Major Gen (Rtd) Brazil etc as it takes about 50- planned schedule, before the Mohammad Javed, Chief Ex- 60 days long journey, expensive sanctions.

He hope that the success ecutive Officer of the PSM is freight rates than a 10-12 day leading the delegation that in- cost effective journey from a of this trade visit will play a great part in Pakistan economy cludes member board of direc- neighboring country.

He said that PSM delegation and also support continuous tor and conveynor Price ComOBSERVER REPORT mittee Engr. Abdul Jabbar, will meet 5 Iranian companies iron ore availability to Pakiboard of Pakistan in this visit and also discuss a stan Steel, to achieve its proKARACHI—President of Pakistan Member Steel Nayyar Hussain Bukhari way out option through a barter duction targets.

Asif Ali Zardari awarded NBP Chairman and President Qamar Hussain ‘Gold Medal on Corporate Social Responsibility’ during the 36th FPCCI Export Trophy Awards at Governor Sindh House.

This award is a top slot award STAFF REPORTER STAFF REPORTER and is given on the basis of overtunity to grow by equalizing the all NBP contributions and donatariff both for them and gas-fed tions for charitable, social, educa- LAHORE—Tariff gap is a cause mills. If not possible, they add, K ARACHI —Karachi Port is tional and public welfare pur- of concern for the power-reliant the government should divert pleased to announce that since poses. NBP mainly contributes in textile mills, paying Rs12 per gas supply of CPPs to the gov- November 2012, when it rehealth, education, community de- unit in a situation when the cost ernment-owned Generation ceived its first 13 meter deep velopment, disaster relief, women of each unit is around Rs6 for Companies (GENCOs) and sup- draft vessel, it has successfully emancipation, infrastructure de- the mills busy in self-generation ply electricity to the whole of handled 12 more deep draft vesvelopment, environment, water of electricity through gas sup- industry without tariff discrimi- sels in the same draft depth purification and sanitation, special ply from the system. range. Amongst the deep draft nation.

But the problem is that the children, sports and culture.

Majority of the power-reli- vessels visiting Karachi Port 9 The event was attended by power-reliant mills are note ant mills are closed at present carried coal, 2 general cargo and Federal Minister for Commerce more than 20 percent of the to- due to tariff problems coupled one Rock Phosphate.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Gov- tal and rest of the 80 percent with The arrival of deep draft carunprecedented ernor Sindh Dr Ishrat ul Ebad mills have switched over to self- loadshedding, haunting the in- riers has resulted in fair amount Khan, Chief Minister Sindh generation of electricity through dustrial growth since November of reduction in business costs of Syed Qaim Ali Shah, NBP Chief gas supply from the system af- 2007. Not only this, these mills shipping lines and port users and Operating Officer Dr Asif A ter investing millions of rupees are also defaulting on bank pay- they feel better placed to opt for Brohi, Vice President & Divi- in the installation of Captive ments one after another, remain- large sized vessels for shipmen sional Head Corporate Commu- Power Plants (CPPs) since 2002 ing clueless as how they can get of their cargoes, KPT generated nication Syed Ibne Hassan, and around. business revenue of more than out of this quagmire.

The power-reliant mills, other senior executives of NBP Unfortunately, these 20 per- Rupees Thirty million from the and other federal and provincial however, are having a strong cent of the total industry are fi- movement of these 12 vessels ministers, top bureaucrats, for- feeling that they are paying nancially weak to the extent that and it is estimated that maritime eign diplomats, FPCCI mem- through their nose until the gov- they are not able to lobby for business also was recipient of ernment ensures an equal opporbers and other social elite.

Continued on Page 14 Continued on Page 14

Ogra asked to announce interim CNG prices

Dollar overpowers rupee

PSM delegation in Tehran to discuss Iran iron ore import

NBP chief gets medal on CSR

Textile millers concerned over tariff gap

Karachi Port facilitating 13 meters draft cargo vessels

Pakistan, India trade expansion faces infrastructural snags SALIM AHMED L AHORE —The

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Saturday agreed that the infrastructure issues were hindering the growth of the trade between Pakistan and India.

The consensus was developed at a meeting between LCCI and FIEO here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry where the President of FIEO Rafiquee Ahmad spoke on behalf of Indian ex-

porters while LCCI President presented the case of Pakistani businessmen, Vice President SAARC Chamber o0f Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik, former Vice Presidents Aftab Ahmad Vohra, Shafqat Saeed Piracha and Saeeda Nazar also spoke on the occasion Both the sides were of the opinion that the land route is most competitive as carrying a container through Wagah costs much smaller while the same through Mumbai-Dubai-Karachi costs many times more.

We need to provide better infrastructure to facilitate trade

through the closest route. They said that both the countries should try and explore ways and means to create synergies and not get overly competitive. Improved bilateral ties between India and Pakistan will give the necessary oxygen to South Asia Free Trade Zone which will open vistas of opportunities for countries of the region.

The FIEO President Rafiquee Ahmad said that India is an opportunity for Pakistan and the Pakistani businessmen should avail it. He said that with the likely grant of the Most Favoured Nation

(MFN) status by Pakistan and phasing out of the negative list, the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan is expected to rise to $6 billion in the next three years from the existing level of $2 billion. Talking about airlink between the two sides, he said that he would press upon the Indian government to open up more flights to Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar said that Pakistan and India can cooperate in many fields including transfer of Technology, Raw Materials, IT sector, Tourism, Agriculture

and Medical.

He said that cooperation in these areas could change the fate of the people living in the two countries. He said that LCCI is formulating a strategy keeping in view the critical position of Lahore in days to come with regard to direct and greater trade between Pakistan and India particularly through Wagah border. He said that Pakistani businessmen are aware of the fact that free trade between Pakistan and India would pose relatively tougher challenges to the industry in this part of the world.

“To ensure sustainable trade relations between two countries with an aim to have long term benefits of greater regional trade, both the sides need to supplement each other’s economies.” Farooq Iftikhar said that we can mutually identify areas of economic cooperation which may lead to joint ventures, outsourcing and sharing of technology. He said that Pakistan’s exports to India are just one-sixth of that imported directly from India.

Once the quantum of indirect trade is shifted to direct trade, this proportion will go

much more in the favour of India. We need to expand trade relation in phases.

Like initially certain raw materials and semi-finished goods should be imported from India. He said that let that time come when finished goods should be traded freely.

It will also cause boost in the confidence of Pakistani companies while freely trading with India. Sharing the concerns of Pakistani exporters, he highlighted enormous problems due to Non Tariff Barriers.

He said that LCCI wants

preferential treatment from Indian authorities so that fruits of greater trade may be adequately shared among the businessmen of both the countries. Pakistan’s exports to India mainly consist of fresh fruits, cements, polycarboxylic acids, cotton yarn, light petroleum distillates, carbonate, unwrought lead and leather etc.

Imports from India comprise cotton, cyclic hydrocarbons, soybean oil-cake, tomatoes, sugar, dried vegetables, polymers of propylene, tea and synthetic organic coloring matter etc.

FPCCI executive body meets STAFF CORRESPONDENT LAHORE—Executive Committee (EC) meeting of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) held at Regional Office Lahore under the chairmanship of Haji Fazal Kadir Khan Sherani President FPCCI. A large number of EC members participated across the country.

There was a lengthy debate on the agenda of economic situation of Pakistan and expressed their resentment on the loadshedding of electricity and gas supply. The House unanimously resolved for the revival of economy and urged the Government to resolve the issues of energy and law & order situation on priority which is badly effecting economy confronting many challenges. Shaikh Abdul Waheed Sandal, Regional Chairman FPCCI and Azher Majeed Shekh Vice President FPCCI emphasised that the industry which has a capital investment of $6 billion in textile only will be eliminated as the industry cannot survive 180 days working and also the exports is badly suffers to the tune of $10 billion.

Sardar Usman Ghani also demanded emergent steps to control value of rupee and take necessary steps for stabilisation of Pak Rupee. The matter of dual nationally of the Governor of State Bank of Pakistan also came under discussion and members demanded to probe into this matter.

They also demanded concrete steps to maintain peace in the country because investors are not ready to travel in Pakistan due to worst law and order situation. The House also demanded a close interaction among the regional countries to enhance exports.

The Executive Committee has decided to go to the maximum extent even they will not hesitate to resort to strike and long march for the restoration of law and order and against the loadshedding of gas and electricity. Tariq Saeed, Vice President CACCI and Former President FPCCI, Iftikhar Ali Malik Vice President SAARC CCI, Senator Haji Ghulam Ali and Azhar Majeed Shaikh, Haroon-urRashid, Shakeel Ahmed Dhengra, Dawood Iqbal Pakwala, Begum Salma Ahemed, Mirza Abdur Rehman, Zubair Ali and former Vice Presidents, Ch Aamir Ata Bajwa, Mian Idrees, Haji Aftab Barlas and many others were also present in the meeting.

Suspension of gas supply to industries slamed STAFF REPORTER F AISALABAD —Mian Zahid Aslam, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) criticises the SNGPL for suspending gas supply to industries in Faisalabad for prolonged period and urged to end the discriminatory attitude of gas supply to Faisalabad industrial sector; this is anti-industry and anti-worker and hampering the textile exports from the area.

Chamber Chief deplored that the industries particularly the textile industries in Faisalabad are out of gas supply for ten and a half days in last 16 days of the month and when provided supply of gas for a day now the pressure was too low to make use of it. He continued, the gas to industrial sector is

used to curtail in the previous winters due to enhanced domestic consumption and city load on its system but this time the supply situation proved worst and he termed it bad management on the part of authorities who have halted the industrial production to standstill.

He said that country’s economy is under severe balance of payments’ pressure and forex reserves are already lowered to a dangerous level consequently pushing the rupee’s parity with that of dollar to further low and the balance of current account has also been deteriorated during the last month.

He maintained that the Government is inviting foreign investment in the country while the investors in the country are willing to invest and expand their industries but the gas and

OBSERVER REPORT I SLAMABAD —The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to convene Chief Commissioners’ conference in second week of January 2013 to review revenue collection position during first half of 20122013 and measures to overcome revenue shortfall during JulyNovember (2012-13).

The conference would be attended by all Chief Commissioners of Large Taxpayer Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs). All Chief Commissioners would submit their progress on the revenue collection and suggest measures to improve revenue collection in the second half of 2012-13. The FBR would also review impact of budgetary measures taken in 2012-213 and actual collection from budgetary measures vis-àvis assigned targets.

The Chief Commissioners would also present the action plan for improving revenue collection during remaining months of current fiscal year. Besides, the FBR will also take input of Chief Commissioners for increasing withholding tax collec-

tion during 2012-13.

According to sources, the FBR will explore new avenues for plugging loopholes in withholding tax regime during next Chief Commissioners’ conference.

When contacted, a tax expert opined that there is a huge gap of approximately Rs 120 billion between the potential of withholding tax and actual collection, pointing towards immediate measures to improve withholding tax regime. In the past, the FBR had estimated revenue leakage of withholding tax to the tune of roughly Rs 120 billion which could be checked through enforcement of withholding tax provisions in potential areas.

The estimated potential of Rs 120 billion has been worked out by the Directorate General of Withholding Taxes on the basis of long-term plan to improve withholding tax regime.

According to sources, some of the measures would definitely be helpful in reducing this huge gap included imposition of penalty for failure to file withholding tax statement under section 182 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. Along with the enforcement of section 165 of the

From Page 13 sizeable financial returns.

During this exercise KPT ensured that load/unloading of cargoes was undertaken round the clock to reduce turnover timing of these large vessels. Since assuming office Mr. Jawed Hanif Khan, Chairman, KPT has consistently strove to reduce turn around time as well as laying stress on dredging the channel deep to facilitate movement of modern state of the art large ship.

KPT is actively engaged in improving the infrastructure of Karachi Port and has undertaken many mega projects to realize its avowed goal.

ISLAMABAD—Turkish power

firm Karadeniz Holding said it was suing Pakistan at a US arbitration court for at least $600 million compensation after two of its electricity-generating ships were seized in March.

Karadeniz Holding chief commercial officer Nuray Atacik told Reuters the ships were being kept by Pakistan without a reason. Officials at National Accountability Bureau (NAB) did not return calls seeking comment. “Adding it all up together, our total loss so far has reached $600 million. As long as the Pakistani side keeps the ships this amount is increasing,” Atacik said.

Karadeniz Holding sent two ships with 330 megawatts generating capacity to Pakistan in 2009 and both sides signed a 564 million five-year contract, Atacik said. After prices rose, Pakistan did not supply fuel to the ships nor did it make rental payments to Karadeniz Holding, she said. The company ended the contract but Pakistan kept the ships which operate 300 metres offshore. Karadeniz Holding’s ships were going to supply the annual electricity need of 5 million people, accordOrdinance for filing of state- ing to its web site. ments, the proper monitoring of returns/statements filed under section 182 would play a major role in improving withholding tax collection. Any person who fails to furnish any statement required under section 165 shall be liable to a penalty of Rs 2000.

The FBR should initiate de- L ONDON —European stock fault proceedings against the markets sank on Friday, mirrorconcerned persons under section ing losses in Asia, as sentiment 161 of the Ordinance 2001. was rocked by unsuccessful Where a person fails to collect talks to avert “fiscal cliff” meatax or deduct tax from a pay- sures which threaten to push the ment, the person shall be person- United States back into recesally liable to pay the amount of sion.

Traders also digested offitax to the Commissioner. Similarly, the FBR should impose cial data showing that the Britadditional tax under section 205 ish economy grew by a downof the Ordinance 2001 for col- wardly-revised 0.9 percent in the lection of additional tax from third quarter of the year. In afpersons who fails to collect tax, ternoon deals, London’s benchor deduct tax. The recovery pro- mark FTSE 100 index of leadceedings under sections 161 and ing shares fell 0.75 percent to 206 would also be instrumental 5,913.73 points, Frankfurt’s in generating additional rev- DAX 30 index dipped 0.81 perenue. Besides, potential areas cent to 7,609.59 points and the including salary, electricity, tele- Paris CAC 40 slid 0.45 percent phone, stock exchanges, divi- to 3,650.08 points.

Milan’s FTSE Mib index dends, profit on debt and other important sectors are needed to meanwhile dived 1.07 percent to be focused upon for improve- 16,223.36 points as Italian lawment in withholding tax collec- makers began a vote on a 2013 budget that is widely expected tion, tax expert added. to trigger the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Monti.

The European single currency edged down to $1.3200, from From Page 13 $1.3241 late in New York on their rights. The APTMA Thursday.

“The world hasn’t ended— sources, on the other hand, have informed that the APTMA had but hopes for a deal to avert invited all the power-reliant tex- the US fiscal cliff before the tile millers a few months back year-end may soon come to an to take suggestions as how the end after the latest developAPTMA should proceed further ments in Washington,” said ETX Capital strategist Ishaq on the issue.

The APTMA leadership had Siddiqi. “US Republicans yesurged these millers to remain terday failed to vote on a taxactive on the platform of the as- bill drummed up by top Repubsociation to exert required pres- lican House Speaker John Boehner. sure on the government.

Global share prices have The APTMA leadership had also agitated before the Prime fallen on fresh concerns over the Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf fiscal cliff of automatic tax hikes against withdrawal of exemption and spending cuts that are due from loadshedding to textile to kick in on January 1—and could send the world’s biggest mills on independent feeders.

The Prime Minister had economy spinning back into reconstituted a committee then cession.

On Thursday, Boehner and there to solve the issue. The committee considered a special scrapped a vote on a bill that industry tariff against guarantee would have extended tax cuts of uninterrupted power supply, for all Americans earning less which disapproved by the mill- than $1 million even if a wider ers fearing that it would become deal could not be struck.— permanent tariff when there is AFP not power shortfall in the country. electricity load shedding have paralyzed their investments and hence capital flight and relocation of industries to other environments conducive.

He said that Faisalabad textile sector contributes to US$4 billion to the national textile exports as well as meets the domestic demand which has also risen due to increased requirement with the severe winter across the country for warm fabrics and clothing.

He said that with the India-Pakistan trade liberalisation and European Union allowing export from Pakistan under Autonomous Trade Preference Scheme (ATPS), textile industry is in a position to support the external sector with increased exports if absolved of the gas and electricity load shedding by the authorities.

European stocks slide as US fiscal hopes fade

Textile millers

MULTAN—Trade Development

Karachi Port

STAFF REPORTER

Chief Commissioners conference to be held next month

Applications for SAARC exhibition sought Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has sought applications from traders till December 27 to participate in a “Made In SAARC” exhibition at New Dehli (India).

TDAP sources said the exhibition would be held at New Dehli on February 21, 2013, in which the capacity of stalls was minimum, so early filed applications would be preferred.

Sources said Rs. 100,000 fee had been fixed to participate in the exhibition.—APP

Turkish firm suing Pakistan

KARACHI: The Director Medicam Khurram Khalil presenting a painting to the French Consul.

TCF wins prestigious international award STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Karachi The Citizens Foundation (TCF), Pakistan has won the prestigious Skoll Award. The Skoll Foundation announced the winners of its 2013 Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship (SASEs). Chosen from hundreds of applicants, the award recognizes a highly selective group of the world’s most promising social entrepreneurs.

While Skoll’s new awardees focus on different issues, they share what Skoll believes is key to accelerating large-scale change: an entrepreneurial approach, a proven innovation with demonstrated impact that can be scaled, focus on a pressing issue that is at an inflection point, and an ability to catalyze systems change. Some of the previous international winners of Skoll Award include Pratham, Teach for All, INJAZ Al-Arab, Bare-

foot College & Kashf Foundation.

TCF is an internationally acclaimed, not-for-profit organization, which was set up in 1995 by a group of Pakistani citizens.

It is now one of the country’s leading organizations in the field of formal education for less privileged children. As of now, TCF has established 830 purpose-built school units in rural areas and urban slums with an enrollment of 115,000 students who are studying on a pay-asyou- can-afford basis. The vision of TCF is to remove barriers of class and privilege to make the citizens of Pakistan agents of positive change. The belief that access to basic education is the right of every individual and not a privilege is fundamental to TCF. Jeff Skoll created The Skoll Foundation in 1999 to pursue his vision of a sustainable world of peace and prosperity.

S Asian women leaders gather in Dhaka

DHAKA: The Sindh Minister for Women Development Tauqir Fatima Bhutto, and Tara Uzra Dawood, along with participants of South Asian Women Leaders Symposium.

D HAKA —The U.S. Department of State recently hosted the South Asia Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (SAWES), at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh. According to Assistant Secretary of State South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake, who has three daughters, this first-of-its-kind Symposium was “designed to explore the challenges and opportunities facing womenowned small and medium sized enterprises and to create cross border economic linkages between women entrepreneurs and leaders across the South Asia region.”

The main mission of the three-day event was to arrange panel discussions and breakout sessions that engage women leaders and experts from around the region and globe. Participants shared experiences as well

L AHORE —The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Saturday fully endorsed, backed and welcomed CCI’s decision that power supply to the national grid be increased to the extent of 350 MW. The LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar said that the trade and Industry had already been facing hardships due to power crisis and consequences of the KCCI petition against the CCI decision

would devastate national growth that had already plunged to alarmingly low level. “If the decision of CCI is not implemented it would jeopardize the business community efforts aimed at rejuvenating economic activities in the country.”

The LCCI President said that the mandate given to CCI under the Constitution is not restricted to formulation and regulation of policies only but it is a forum that has absolute powers and only joint Parliament session can undo Council Common Interest decisions therefore the

government is left with no other option but to implement decisions. The LCCI President said that the KESC is being supplied 600 MW of power through the national grid while according to the agreement KESC has to selfgenerate 300MW of power which is not being implemented.

He said that the KESC needs to use its idle capacity to reduce their 650 megawatts import from National Grid by 300 MW. Farooq Iftikhar said that the CCI decision would not only help reduce load-shedding in the other federating units but

Dipu Moni, Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, who opened the Symposium, and Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Honourable Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, who closed the Symposium.

The event was moderated by Eileen O’Connor of the US Department of State and a Cultural Evening was hosted by Dan Mozena, US Ambassador to Bangladesh. The Pakistan Delegation was headed by Sadia Khan and deputy head Ayla Majid, and included Provincial Minister for Women Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto, Tara Uzra Dawood, Nilofer Saeed, Shahnaz Kapadia Rahat, Shagufta Parveen, Lubna Farooq, Shah Rukh Khan, Mahbina Waheed and Aasia Saail Khan.— Agencies

Upgradation of Peshawar Dry Port offered STAFF REPORTER P ESHAWAR —Pakistan Railways (PR) has offered conditional upgradation of Peshawar Dry Port adding that the service of special cargo train would be launched in case business community ensured the provision of 30 loaded containers on daily basis.

The offer was made during a meeting of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) Standing Committee on Railway and Dry Port held here with Chairman, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi in the chair. Those who attended were included Divisional Superintendent, Pakistan Railways, Peshawar Division,

M. Syed Khawar Malik, Deputy Collector, Customs, Dry Port, Khiyal Mohammad, DTO (PR), Imran Mashal, Faiz Mohammad Faizi, Mazhar-ul-Haq, Arooj Ahmad Ansari, Numan-ul-Haq, Syed Kamran Ali Shah, Waheed Bacha, Mohammad Asif Jamal, Asad Bilal, Shakeel Ahmad and Azam Sharif.

Speaking in the meeting Senior Vice President, SCCI, Malik Iftikhar Ahmad Awan stressed need for reactivation of Pakistan Railways and provision of facilities to business community. He said that the lack of facilities in Dry Port is badly affecting both imports and exports from the city. He urged Pakistan Railways for entering into joint

ventures with different countries including China to initiate measures for the revival of the organization. He also called for seeking the services of private sector in this regard.

Chairman SCCI, Zia-ulHaq Sarhadi said that Pakistan Railways is passing through worst crisis of its history adding that the unavailability of locomotives and diesel had brought railway system to standstill in the country and the direct affectees are business community.

He said that due to the prevailing crisis importers and exporters are carrying their import and export either through bonded carriers or private trucks.

Economic problems related to management STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The Southern Regional Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) organized a seminar on Pakistan’s Economic Outlook – 2013 & Beyond recently at ICAP House.

Syed Salim Raza, Ex. Governor, State Bank of Pakistan and S.M. Shabbar Zaidi, FCA Partner, A.F. Ferguson & Co. were the speakers while Dr Ishrat Husain, Dean & Director, IBA and former governor, State Bank of Pakistan was the session chairman of the seminar.

Syed Salim Raza in his presentation discussed the eco-

nomic challenge faced by Pakistan. He said that Pakistan’s economic problems are mostly pertinent to management and not resource oriented.

He highlighted the financial indicators of year 2008-2013 and Management Do’s and Don’ts to achieve growth scenario in Pakistan. He emphasized on strengthening of economic institutions and progressive devolution of revenue and expenditure authority to most relevant tier of government for the sustainability of economic growth.

Addressing the seminar, Syed Muhammad Shabbar Zaidi spoke on international outlook-

trends and effects on Pakistan’s economy, general state of affairs and Pakistan’s fiscal position in year 2012-2013. He particularly underlined that the country’s economic outlook poses a going concern issue for which undocumented economy is playing a lethal role.

He gave various suggestions for additional generation of around Rs 800 billion (with 10 per cent increase every following year) as taxes from untaxed sectors, revamping of indirect and direct tax structure, devolution, documentation, asset records, automation, no disguised whitening of wealth and automation of land records.

French growth weak WASHINGTON—The IMF said Friday that France’s growth outlook “remains fragile” and warned that it would probably miss its target of reducing its public deficit to three percent next year. “Economic growth remains sluggish and the near-term outlook is subject to downside risks,” it said, saying France’s deficit would not fall below 3.5 percent while growth will fall from 1.7 percent in 2011 to 0.2 FAISALABAD: Syed Sajjad Ali Shah, Chief Manager, Zaheer Sabir, Deputy Chief Manager of State Bank of Pakistan percent in 2012.—AFP snapped with regional bankers after a workshop on Agriculture Financing.

LCCI supports CCI’s decision for adding 350 MW to national grid SALIM AHMED

as successful strategies and proposals to address challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.

They also came up with partnership initiatives and proposals for potential funding.

According to Ambassador-atLarge Melanne S. Verveer of the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, the Symposium aimed to facilitate the invited delegates from 10 South Asian countries – as well as Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan) to be linked to a supportive regionwide network of women leaders.

The event was hugely successful, creating several business deals, connections and even the genesis of the LADIESFUND® South Asia Woman of the Year Award to be presented in Pakistan. In addition to hosts Assistant Secretary Blake and Ambassador Verveer, keynote speakers included Dr.

it would also add to the national growth as a large number of industrial units particularly in Punjab had already stopped their operations. He said that the gas and electricity shortages were not only hitting hard the productions at domestic level but also damaging to the investment in the country at the moment when the neighbouring countries were progressing leaps and bounds.

The LCCI President said that the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry must not be party to the issue as all

the chambers of commerce in the country represent business community and the electricity shortage in one province has serious implications for the businessmen in the other parts of the country. “Challenges to the economy including unavailability of gas, unprecedented power cuts, delayed decision-making on important national economic issues, lengthy procedures, poor public transport mechanism, law and order and smuggling had dogged the investment scenario.”

The LCCI President said

that unless and until energy is not made available to the industrial sector, efforts to attract investment would hardly bear fruit. He said that economic scene is not as rosy as in being painted by some circles as no foreign buyer is ready to come to Pakistan because these challenges. The LCCI President said that a considerable amount of resources to develop mechanisms are needed to convince both local and foreign investors for an investment in this part of the world.

FTO From Page 13 complaints are received every much concentration of powers year and out of that total 80 per- in FBR, which gives birth to cent end up in the favour of com- corruption. There should be plainants, which represents the separation of powers and mulinefficiency of tax machinery. tiple functions should not be FTO said that concerted efforts performed. are needed on the part of FBR Earlier, Chairman Kati, to alleviate the sufferings and Mohammad Zubair Chhaya said agony of taxpayers. in his welcome address that He said that in order to get FTO’s performance has become rid of widespread maladminis- par excellence since the day Dr tration a total shift is required Suddle has come into this office. in the policies, as the approach He also praised Dr Suddle’s couis still based on old colonial sys- rageous role in Shoab Suddle tems and practices.

Commission to probe Dr He said that there is too Arsalan case.

Tougher EU sanctions againstIran

Egyptian vote on disputed constitution

months while giving the mostly CAIRO—Egyptians voted on on the west bank of the Nile. “I ponents of Islamists set fire to Mohandiseen neighborhood, a years ago.

BRUSSELS—Rigorous new sanctions against Saturday in the second and final am here to say ‘no’ to Morsi and cars and dozens of people were group of 12 women speaking to An opposition made up of toothless upper chamber legisla-

Iran’s banking, shipping and industrial sectors took effect on Saturday, as part of the European Union’s effort to force Tehran to scale back its nuclear program. The sanctions, agreed in October, entered EU law with their publication in the European Union’s Official Journal on Saturday. The toughest EU measures yet, they include bans on financial transactions, sales to Iran of shipping equipment and steel, and imports of Iranian natural gas, adding to earlier bans, including on the OPEC producer’s oil. They reflect heightened concern over Iran’s nuclear goals and Israeli threats to attack Iranian atomic installations if diplomacy and other measures fail to deliver a solution. Diplomats say they hope talks with Iran can resume in January, but are waiting for an answer from Tehran, which maintains its nuclear program is for purely peaceful purposes. In a statement, Britain’s foreign office said there was a clear need “for an urgent solution”. “Iran’s leaders know that sanctions are having a significant impact,” Britain’s Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt said. “They should be in no doubt that the international community will keep up the pressure until they are ready to negotiate in good faith and take the concrete steps needed to convince the international community that they are not building a nuclear weapon.” The new sanctions mark a significant change of policy for the 27-member bloc, which previously sought mainly to target specific people and companies with economic restrictions.—Reuters

phase of a referendum on an Islamist-backed constitution that has polarized the nation, with little indication that the result of the vote will end the political crisis in which the country is mired. For some supporters, a ‘yes’ vote was a chance to restore some normalcy after nearly two years of tumultuous transitional politics following Egypt’s 2011 revolution, or to make society and laws more Islamic.

Opponents saw their ‘no’ vote as a way to preserve the country’s secular traditions and prevent President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood group from getting a lock on power.

“I came early to make sure my ‘no’ is among the first of millions today,” oil company manager Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz said as he waited in line outside a polling station in the Dokki district of Giza, Cairo’s twin city

his Muslim Brotherhood,” he said. Another Giza voter, accountant and mother of three Sahar Mohamed Zakaria, had a different take on Saturday’s vote.

“I’m voting ‘yes’ for stability,” she announced. Saturday’s vote is taking place in 17 of Egypt’s 27 provinces with about 25 million eligible voters. The first phase on Dec. 15 produced a “yes” majority of about 56 percent with a turnout of some 32 percent, according to unofficial results. Unofficial votes for the second round are expected late Saturday or early Sunday. The vote comes a day after clashes between Morsi’s opponents and supporters in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria. It was the latest outbreak of street violence in more than four weeks of turmoil, with the country divided first over the president’s powers then over the draft constitution.

The clashes — in which op-

hurt — illustrated how the new constitution, regardless of whether it is adopted or not, is unlikely to ease the conflict over the country’s future. In Fayoum, an oasis province 60 miles (100 kilometers) southwest of Cairo where Islamist groups have traditionally had strong support, a member of the local Christian community said she also supported the charter.

Hanaa Zaki said she was also voting “yes” for stability and an end to the country’s deepening economic problems. Most Christians elsewhere in the country are seen to oppose the draft. Speaking as she waited in line along with bearded Muslim men and Muslim women wearing headscarves, Zaki said: “I have a son who didn’t get paid for the past six months. We have been in this crisis for so long and we are fed up.”

In Giza’s upscale

each other in a mix of French, Arabic and English said they all intended to vote “no.” “My friends are Muslim and are voting ‘no.’ It’s not about Christian versus Muslim, but it is Muslim Brotherhood versus everyone else,” said one of the 12, Christian physician Shahira Sadeq.

“Voting ‘yes’ does not mean stability.”

Kamla el-Tantawi, 65, voted with her daughter and granddaughter. “I voted ‘no’ against what I’m seeing,” she said, gesturing to a woman standing close by wearing the full-face veil known as niqab and as a hallmark of ultraconservative Muslim women. “I lose sleep thinking about my grandchildren and their future. They never saw the beautiful Egypt we did.” In part, Egypt’s split has been over who will shape the country’s path nearly two years after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak nearly two

liberals, leftists, secular Egyptians and a swath of the public angered over Morsi’s 5-monthold rule fear that Islamists are creating a new Mubarak-style autocracy. They accuse the Brotherhood of monopolizing the levers of power and point to the draft charter, which Islamists on the Constituent Assembly rammed through despite a boycott by liberal and secular members.

They are calling on supporters to vote “no.” Morsi’s allies say the opposition is trying to use the streets to overturn their victories at the ballot box over the past two years. They also accuse the opposition of carrying out a conspiracy by former members of Mubarak’s regime to regain power.

If the constitution is adopted, Morsi will call for the election of parliament’s law-making lower chamber to be held within two

tive powers until the lower house is seated. The upper chamber, known as the Shura Council, was elected by less than 10 percent of the country’s 50 million registered voters. It is dominated by Islamists.

Morsi was already gearing up for the next steps after the constitution’s passage, making a last-minute appointment of 90 new members to the Shura Council, a third of its total membership. Current rules allow him to do so, but if he waited until the charter was passed he could only appoint 10. Friday’s appointments added to the handful of non-Islamists in the upper house, but preserved the Islamists’ overwhelming hold.

A spokesman for the main opposition umbrella National Salvation Front dismissed the appointments, accusing Morsi of setting up a token opposition much like Mubarak did.—AP

China bans alcohol in military HQs

Monti mulls future after resignation ROME—Italian caretaker Prime Minister Mario Monti is mulling his political future after resigning on Friday but a source close to him said he was unlikely to commit soon to any active role in the national election expected in February. President Giorgio Napolitano was meeting representatives of the main parties on Saturday and later in the day was expected to dissolve parliament and call an election for February 24. For weeks, speculation has swirled over what role Monti would play in the election. The former European commissioner, appointed to lead an unelected government to save Italy from financial crisis a year ago, has faced growing pressure to seek a second term and earlier this week Italian media widely reported he would do so.

That now seems far less certain, as Monti has had to digest opinion polls that suggest a centrist group headed by him would probably come a distant third or even fourth in the election, expected to be won by the centre-left Democratic party (PD). “The outcome of the election may well not be all that favourable and the question is where that would leave his own credibility and also his reform agenda,” a person close to Monti told Reuters. Italy’s main newspapers also widely reported on Saturday that he was inclined not to run, partly because of disappointing opinion polls and partly because of doubts about the quality of the centrist parties that would be using his name. European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso have called for Monti’s economic reform agenda to continue but Italy’s two main parties insist he should stay out of the race.—AP

BEIJING—China has banned subordinates and make sure they

senior military officers from holding alcohol- fuelled banquets or from staying in luxury hotels when on work trips in the latest move by Communist Party chief Xi Jinping to fight corruption, state media reported on Saturday. Receptions will also no longer feature welcome banners, red carpets, flowers, honor guards, performances or souvenirs, the powerful Central Military Commission, which Xi oversees, has decreed, major newspapers reported.

Officers will have to cut back on both the number and length of inspection tours, overseas visits, meetings and reports, according to the new rules.

Speakers at meetings should avoid “empty talk”, while the use of vehicles equipped with sirens will be “rigorously controlled during official visits in order to prevent public disturJapan to mend ties wit China bances”.

“Additionally, commission T OKYO —Japan’s next Prime Minister A soldier stands near women queuing outside a polling centre to vote during the final stage of a referendum on Egypt’s new officials are required to disciShinzo Abe plans to send senior ruling party constitution in the El Arbeen district of Suez, 120 km away from Cairo. pline their spouses, children and member Masahiko Koumura as an envoy to China as early as next month in a bid to repair ties between Asia’s two largest economies, the Nikkei business daily said. Abe, a hardliner who has questioned claims by China and others that Japan’s army forced woman from occupied territories into prosT BLISI —At least 83 people titution during World War II, wants to bolhave died in Ukraine from a cold W ASHINGTO N —Sen. John ster relations with his nation’s biggest neighbour after anti-Japanese protests there this year, the paper D HAKA —Prime Minister tion for investment, Hasina said the steady growth in bilat- spell that has been gripping the Kerry, President Barack reported, without saying where it obtained the information. Sheikh Hasina on Saturday sought more Thai investment, eral trade, increased number of country, officials say. Tempera- Obama’s pick for secretary of Komura will carry a letter from Abe for China’s leaders, the called for narrowing down trade especially in infrastructure devel- high political level interactions, tures as low as -23C (-9F) and state, is a familiar face to the Nikkei said. Komura is a former foreign minister who served as gap between Bangladesh and opment, food processing, power and greater people-to-people heavy snowfall this month have world leaders vital to American Abe’s defence minister during his first administration in 2007. Thailand for mutual benefit as generation, and oil and gas ex- contacts, bear testimony to the left the capital Kiev and most of interests. The son of a diplomat the country under a thick frozen As head of the Japan-China Friendship Paliamentarians’ Union, she said facilitating greater mar- ploration sectors. time-tested relationship between layer. In western areas, vehicles and Obama’s unofficial envoy, the lawmaker is known for his strong ties with China. During ket access to each other’s prod“With over 150 million our two countries, which is now were trapped in a three-day traf- Kerry spent hours walking campaigning for the general election that returned his Liberal ucts and services would further populations and a steady 6.5 per- moving towards a much higher around the palace in Kabul perfic jam stretching at one point suading Afghanistan President Democratic Party to power after three years, Abe pledged to take boost bilateral trade. “We also cent annual GDP growth rate, a plane. about 20km (12 miles). The sea tough line with China in the dispute over islands in the East need to work together with our vast and vibrant workforce and “I believe enormous oppor- vere weather is also affecting Hamid Karzai to agree to a runChina Sea islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. private sectors to harness the full most liberal investment climate, tunities exist for greater collabooff election in fall 2009. The reA Chinese boycott of Japanese cars, electronic gadgets and other potential in our trade ties for our Bangladesh offers an ideal desti- ration in the areas of trade and neighbouring Bulgaria and Ro- lationship will be crucial in the mania, where six people have products earlier this year, however, hurt Japanese companies, mutual gain,” Hasina said. nation for Thai investment, espe- investments, agriculture, energy, reportedly died. Meteorologists coming months as the adminiswhile violent anti-Japanese protests damaged some businesses. tration draws down U.S. forces The PM was addressing a cially in infrastructure develop- tourism, culture and education, Abe also plans to send an envoy to South Korea following the luncheon programme hosted by ment, food processing, power science and technology, ICT, and warn that the cold snap in the after more than a decade of war. region could continue and temelection of Park Geun-hye as president, the Nikkei said.—Reuters her in honour of visiting Thai generation, and oil and gas ex- security. We need to tap these In Pakistan, Kerry helped peratures may drop even further. quell the anger after the U.S. ploration sectors,” she said.

The exciting real potentials,” she said.

Prime Minister Yingluck On Saturday, a senior offiRomania govt wins parliament backing Shinawatra at Pan Pacific PM said Bangladesh deeply val- The PM said the unique situation cial from Ukraine’s health min- incursion into the country to kill BUCHAREST—Romanian Prime Minister Sonargaon Hotel. According to ues its relationship with Thailand of Bangladesh and Thailand has istry said that 83 people were Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

Victor Ponta’s new government won parlia- Bangladesh Bank statistics, the which is firmly rooted in our turned them as the gateway to now known to have died from The uneasy ties between Washmentary backing on Saturday, drawing a line trade gap between Bangladesh shared linguistic, religious and South and Southeast Asia and is the cold. Most of the victims had ington and Islamabad will be a destined to develop it as the natu- been found on the streets. priority for Kerry at the State under a period of political uncertainty in the and Thailand stood at around cultural heritage.

“Thailand occupies a very ral bridge between the two re- Volodymyr Yurchenko also said Department. “He knows most of European Union state that had raised doubts US$ 830 million during 2011over its IMF-led aid deal. Ponta told parlia- 12 fiscal. Bangladesh imported special place in our foreign policy gions. She said enhanced connec- that more than 500 people were the world leaders,” said Sen. ment he would now focus on negotiating a goods worth about $880 million priority and we deeply value our tivity through road and sea links still being treated in hospitals Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “So when he goes into a country he renewal to that support package, which ex- from Thailand and exported relationship with Bangkok which between Bangladesh and Thai- across the country. will be a known quantity.” pires in 2013 and is vital to maintain inves- products valued at $51.4 million is firmly rooted in our shared lin- land would not only benefit the Nearly 100 towns and vilThe five-term Massachutor confidence in the EU’s second poorest during the period. Terming guistic, religious and cultural two countries and their peoples, lages across the country remain member. The country was plunged into po- Bangladesh as an ideal destina- heritage,” she said. The premier but also the entire region.—Star without electricity, and emer- setts senator has spent his entire congressional career on the Forlitical crisis this year when the prime minister and his leftist gency crews are continuing their eign Relations Committee, the Social Liberal Union (USL) tried to impeach his rightist rival, work to try to restore power. last six as chairman. He has travPresident Traian Basescu. The European Union criticised Ponta Army units have also been de- eled extensively both as intrepid for the tactics he used, saying they threatened the rule of law. ployed to help clear the snow on lawmaker and administration The standoff sent the leu currency to a record low and stalled major motorways.—BBC policymaking. The impeachment effort failed but Ponta’s USL, a loose alliance of leftists and liberals, went on to win a twothirds majority in a December 9 election, cementing his posi- KANO—Two suicide car bomb- DUBAI—Iran plans to send hu- ing. tion. “I must say we will respect and continue the relationship ers attacked the offices of two Iran will send an initial shipwe have with international institutions,” Ponta told parliament mobile phone operators on Sat- manitarian aid to Palestinians in ment of blankets, food, and Syria living in an area recently before the vote. “Not everything the IMF, the European Com- urday in Nigeria’s northern city medicine in the coming days via mission and the World Bank suggest is perfect. We have a duty of Kano, killing themselves but seized by Syrian rebels, Iran’s Damascus airport to be delivered CHICAGO—It happened after ambassador to Syria was quoted to negotiate. But it is extremely important to have a deal for now no civilians, police said. India’s to Yarmouk officials for distri- V ATICAN C ITY —Pope Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aubecause ... Romania is in a storm along the rest of Europe.” The Airtel and South Africa’s MTN as saying on Saturday.

Iran has been a staunch sup- bution among Palestinians, Benedict has pardoned Paolo rora, Colo., and now Sandy Hook: leu has bounced back since the standoff but markets remain on were the targets. porter of Syrian President Iran’s ambassador to Syria Gabriele, his former butler who People figure there surely were edge given the tense relations that remain between the prime Islamist sect Boko Haram Bashar al-Assad of Syria who Mohammad Reza Sheibani told was convicted in October of signs of impending violence. But minister and the president.—Reuters has previously blown up tele- has been battling to put down a the Mehr news agency on Sat- leaking sensitive documents that experts say predicting who will be phone masts and offices of phone 21-month uprising against his urday. alleged corruption in the Holy the next mass shooter is virtually Russia won’t persuade Assad to quit Iran’s Foreign Ministry and See, the Vatican said on Satur- impossible — partly because as companies, saying they help the rule, and Tehran has also long MOSCOW—Russia refuses to act as an inter- security forces catch its mem- cast itself as a champion of the the Red Crescent organization day. The Vatican said the pope commonplace as these calamities mediary trying to talk Syrian President Bashar bers. “The one who hit the Airtel Palestinian people. had taken the decision to send visited Gabriele in the Vatican’s seem, they are relatively rare al-Assad into fleeing, Foreign Minister Sergei office was shot by military men The aid would be dispatched the aid, Sheibani said. He did not jail on Saturday morning to tell crimes. Still, a combination of risk Lavrov said in comments released on Friday. before the bomb exploded ... at to Yarmouk, a Palestinian dis- say specifically when the aid him personally of the pardon. factors in troubled kids or adults Russia is at loggerheads with the West and some the MTN office the car rammed trict near the center of Dam- would be sent.

Gabriele was convicted of including drug use and easy acArab states who accuse Moscow of shielding into the fence but no civilians ascus, which has become one of Western countries have ac- aggravated theft on October 6 cess to guns can increase the likeAssad, a long-term buyer of Russian arms, in were killed,” Ibrahim Idris, the the latest battlefields for Syrian cused Iran of supplying weap- and had been serving an 18- lihood of violence, experts say. the Syrian conflict that has already claimed chief of police in Kano, told rebels and a target for Assad’s ons to Syrian government forces month sentence in a Vatican jail But warning signs “only bemore than 40,000 lives since it erupted in March Reuters. Both bombs went off. artillery. to help put down the uprising, cell. He was arrested in May af- come crystal clear in the after2011. “We are not in the business of regime A military source said one seEarlier this week, insurgents though Iran has denied it is help- ter Vatican police found many math, said James Alan Fox, a change. Some of the regional players were sug- curity guard was injured and has took control of the Yarmouk ing Assad militarily. Both documents that had been stolen Northeastern University criminolgesting to us ‘Why don’t you tell President been taken to hospital. MTN and camp, a densely populated urban Assad’s government and the from the pope’s office. ogy professor who has studied and Assad to leave? We will arrange for some safe haven for him’,” Airtel Nigeria’s parent company district home to thousands of mainly Sunni Muslim Syrian He gave them to the media written about mass killings.

Russia’s veteran Foreign Minister told the state-owned Russia To- Bharti Airtel, India’s top impoverished Palestinian refu- rebels have enlisted and armed in what became known as “They’re yellow flags. They only day English-language TV channel in an interview. “My answer is cellphone operator, gave no im- gees and Syrians. divided Palestinian factions as “Vatileaks” and mushroomed become red flags once the blood very simple: if indeed those who suggested this to us have this in mediate comment.

Rebels said on Thursday the uprising has evolved into a into a major embarrassment for is spilled,” he said. mind, they should take it directly to President Assad. Moscow says Whether 20-year-old Adam The national emergency they had negotiated to put the civil war.

Benedict’s pontificate. it will not allow a repeat of last year’s events in Libya, where NATO agency confirmed the bomb- camp back into the hands of antiThousands of displaced The Vatican said he pope Lanza, who used his mother’s helped rebels topple Muammar Gaddafi after Russia let through a ings and said it was not aware Assad Palestinian fighters. Yarmouk residents have fled the had also pardoned a second guns to kill her and then 20 chilSecurity Council resolution that was used as a pretext for military of any civilian casualties. The There are some 500,000 Pales- violence for the Lebanese bor- Vatican employee, Claudio dren and six adults at their Conaction. On Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin also said any security forces have played tinian refugees and their descen- der or set up Palestinian com- Sciarpelletti, who was convicted necticut school, made any hints solution to the crisis must ensure the rival parties in Syria do not just down the death toll in previous dants living in Syria, and they munities elsewhere in Dam- of aiding and abetting about his plans isn’t publicly swap roles and fight on.—Reuters known. Fox said that sometimes, bombings.—Reuters Gabriele.—Reuters have been divided by the upris- ascus. —Reuters

Bangladesh, Thailand to develop closer ties

Suicide bombers hit cellphone firms in Nigeria

Iran sending relief aid to Syrian Palestinians

83 die in cold spell

Pope grants as pardon to former butler

do not take bribes.”

The rules echo similar demands made of party officials by Xi earlier this month. The party, which has shown no sign of giving up its tight grip on power, has struggled to contain public anger at a seemingly endless stream of corruption scandals, particularly when officials are seen as abusing their posts to amass wealth.

China intensified a crackdown on rampant corruption in the military in the late 1990s, banning the People’s Liberation Army from engaging in business. But it has crept back in recent years due to a lack of transparency, checks and balances and moral decay. A senior officer, Lieutenant General Gu Junshan, was sacked earlier this year in what Hong Kong media have said would be the biggest military corruption scandal since the Communists swept to power in 1949, though details have not been officially announced.—Reuters

Republicans, Democrats both praise Kerry emissary. Fulfilling a Kerry dream, Obama on Friday tapped the 69-year-old lawmaker, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, to replace Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for the top job at Foggy Bottom.

“I think it’s fair to say that few individuals know as many presidents and prime ministers, or grasp our foreign policies as firmly as John Kerry,” Obama said in making the announcement. “And this makes him a perfect choice to guide American diplomacy in the years ahead.” Kerry is expected to sail to confirmation, with both Republicans and Democrats praising the nomination. His friend, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., jokingly referred to him as “Mr. Secretary” earlier this month, a remarkable turn as just eight years ago Republicans ridiculed Kerry as a wind-surfing, elitist flip-flopper in his bid for the White House.

While Kerry has tamped down diplomatic fires for Obama, he has stepped ahead of the administration on a handful of crises.—Reuters

Prediction who is at risk for violence is not easy in the days, weeks or months preceding their crimes, mass murderers voice threats, or hints, either verbally or in writing, things like “‘don’t come to school tomorrow,’” or “‘they’re going to be sorry for mistreating me.’” Some prepare by target practicing, and plan their clothing “as well as their arsenal.” (Police said Lanza went to shooting ranges with his mother in the past but not in the last six months.)

Although words might indicate a grudge, they don’t necessarily mean violence will follow.

And, of course, most who threaten never act, Fox said. Even so, experts say threats of violence from troubled teens and young adults should be taken seriously and parents should attempt to get them a mental health evaluation and treatment if needed.

“In general, the police are unlikely to be able to do anything unless and until a crime has been committed,” said Dr. Paul Appelbaum, a Columbia University professor of psychiatry, medicine and law.—Reuters

Bangladesh confirms Pakistan tour: Officials

Pak cricket team leaves for India LAHORE—Pakistan Twenty20 team left here for India today with high hopes but apprehensions abound for its first bilateral series between the two arch rivals in five years.

A large number of cricket lovers gathered at the Allama Iqbal International Airport to see off their team with good wishes.

The team led by allrounder Mohammad Hafeez will go to Bangalore via New Delhi as the ODI team captained by Misbahul-Haq will leave for India after three days. Pakistan would be

since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan squad in 2009, an official said Saturday.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf said Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had announced the team’s intention to tour. “We were in constant touch with the BCB officials and they have conveyed to us that the tour is confirmed,”Ashraf told. “They have also got approval from their board members and we are in touch for the schedule.”

Foreign teams have shunned playing in Pakistan since gunmen opened fire on a convoy in Lahore, killing eight people and leaving seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach injured. The attack pushed Pakistan into a cricket exile as the national team was forced to play their home series at neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and England.

Ashraf said the best security arrangements will be put in place for the Bangladesh team.

“We will soon co-ordinate with the provincial governments and put in place the best arrangements for the tour and I am pretty confident that the tour will take place in the best possible manner and pave (the) way for more teams to come,” said Ashraf.

Bangladesh earlier this week said they will play a Twenty20 and a one-day on January 12 and 13 respectively, both in Lahore.

The team had agreed to tour Pakistan in April this year but the LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team players at PCB Academy before their departure to New Delhi. event was blocked by Dhaka high court.—AFP

SBSA honours World Snooker Champ Asif

looking to give their best on the brief tour which begins with a Twenty20 International at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on December 25.

The series opener would be followed by the second and last T20I at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera in Ahmedabad on December 28. The three One-day Internationals would take place in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi.on December 30, January 3 and 6, respectively.

The team will reach Bangalore in the night through a char-

tered flight after a brief stop-over in New Delhi. Following are the players of the Pakistan T20I team: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shahzad, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan Asad Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Zulfiqar Babar.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh have confirmed they will tour Pakistan next month for a short two-match series, becoming the first team to visit the country

World champ Nicol David in squash 7th heaven

KARACHI—Sindh Billiards and G R A N D C AYMAN —Nicol herself to accept that no more However, she did so last year Snooker Association (SBSA) honoured Reigning World Snooker Champion Muhammad Asif with cash reward of Rs.200,000.

While paying glowing tributes to Muhammad Asif, SBSA President Jameel Sakrani expressed the hope that he will honor and glory to the country in future. He presented Rs 100,000 to Muhammad Asif for his outstanding achievement in Sofia (Bulgaria) earlier this month.

A supporter Yasin Tejani also presented a purse of Rs 100,000 to the champion.

Talking to reporters on the occasion, Muhammad Asif said his victory was like a “dream come true”. He expressed the hope that his victory will boost the game of snooker and attract players towards sport.

He said many announcements have been made but he had so far Rs.1.2 million as cash awards and brand new car presented to him by State Tycoon Malik Riaz.

Chairman of newly renamed Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) Asghar Valika hoped that Muhammad Asif will be duly honored for accomplishments for the country.—APP

David extended her record of World Open titles to seven from eight finals on Friday with a balanced performance and great patience to beat English third seed Laura Massaro.

The Malaysian heroine’s 116 11-8 11-6 victory silenced critics who had suggested younger rivals were closing the gap on the 29-year-old champion.

Massaro forced many long rallies and even led 7-5 in the second game, but David responded well to the important moments which followed.

She mixed containment with well-timed drops and lightning-quick changes of direction that prevented her opponent from getting a crucial foothold in the match.

The outcome was that David only dropped one game throughout the entire tournament, but she had to focus harder and for longer in the final than in any of her four other encounters.

Her relief and joy at surviving the perpetual pressure of expectations yet again was smilingly obvious.

She held her head in both hands, then placed her hands high on the court, and finally caressed the ball affectionately against a wall before allowing

was required of her racket. Then her words reflected the frequent struggle between doubt and selfconfidence. “I can’t believe it,” she said. “I just can’t believe it.

“I am just so pleased with

and, although the challenger has improved further since then, the champion at her best has too, perhaps just as much.

Two of the most crucial moments came when David got

LAHORE: Girls perform during the opening ceremony of 32nd National Games.

Sterling signs long-term Liverpool deal LONDON —Teenage England winger Raheem Sterling has committed his future to Liverpool by signing a long-term contract, the club announced on Friday. The fleet-footed 18-year-old has established himself as a first-team regular at Anfield, making 25 appearances to date, and made his England debut in a friendly against Sweden in November.

There had been speculation that Sterling was considering a move away from the club, with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers warning him not to be “foolish”, but he said he was thrilled to sign a new deal.

“It’s every 18-year-old’s dream. I’m just really grateful to be at such a big club like this,” Sterling told the Liverpool website. “There’s a lot more to be done. I haven’t begun yet, as the manager has said. Hopefully I can kick on after the New Year and try to do my best for the team and the football club.” —APP

Football: Brazil inaugurates 2nd WC arena SAO PAULO—Brazil President

GRAND CAYMAN: Malaysian Nicol David won seventh world squash title in Caymans. my match. Laura pushed me every point.

There was no point where I could let up because she was just on it every point. She played a very good match.”

David knew the danger well as Massaro is one of the few players to have beaten her twice.

back to 7-7 in the pivotal middle game and then nosed ahead to 8-7 with a disputed point.

The levelling rally saw brilliantly nimble retrieves from David, plus some patient backhand wall straight driving with a tight little backhand drop to finish it.—Agencies

Dilma Rousseff has inaugurated the second stadium designated to stage 2014 World Cup matches.

The Mineirao venue at Belo Horizonte, which has undergone a $1,750 million renovation, was given the presidential seal of approval on Friday, five days after the first arena at Fortaleza was given the all clear.

“Brazilians are showing the world that we are good both on and off the pitch,” said Rousseff.

Both grounds are also playing host to 2013 Confederations Cup matches. Other Brazilian host cities for the Confederations Cup are Brasilia, Salvador, Recife and Rio.—APP

Nottinghamshire block players joining IPL LONDON—English county side Nottinghamshire have defied the wishes of some of their England internationals by banning them from playing in the Indian Premier League, the club said on Friday.

The new IPL season begins on April 3 and Notts players Alex Hales, Michael Lumb and Samit Patel are all reported to have attracted interest from teams competing in the lucrative competition. However, Notts are due to start their County Championship campaign just seven days later and the club’s director of cricket, Mick Newell, says the players must

make themselves available for domestic duty.

“We were very clear that we expected all of our players to be available to us as we would be severely weakened if we were to lose them for that period of time at that stage of the season,” Newell said in a statement.

“The players asked me to consider releasing them to enable them to take part in the IPL, but they are key members of the squad and I explained that we wouldn’t be able to allow them to take part.”

Despite his stance, Newell said that Notts’ other England players,

Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, will be allowed to play in the IPL because their contacts are managed centrally by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Allrounder Jacob Oram has been released early from his central contract by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) after an agreement was reached by both parties. Oram said he could no longer make “a full-time commitment to NZC” and would continue playing Twenty20 cricket for Central Districts and in various competitions around the world.—APP

PIA flight captain greets team members on-board: Also wishes good show by India BIPIN DANI OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT MUMBAI—Late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the world-renowned Pakistani musician, and his nephew Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the famous singer, are few of the names have been flown to India by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) chief pilot Altaf Sadiq.

On Saturday, the PK 270 flight from Lahore to Delhi, the captain Sadiq had members of the Pakistan squad for a 15-day trip to play two Twenty20 games and three ODIs’.

“All members of the Pakistan team will be greeted on board”, he said exclusviely over telephone before the 95-minute journey began. “During my 20year-association with the air-

lines, this is not the first occasion when the Pakistani players are with me. In the past also, I brought our team to India”, the 60-year-old pilot, now on 5-yearcontract with PIA, said.

“Play the game in true spirit and bring laurrels for the nation will be my message to the team”, the flight pilot, who has been following the game and his team’s progress, said. “I wish win for Pakistan in both formats, but can’t resist the temptation of wishing good cricket by Mahendra Singh Dhoni team either”.

“Pak-India matches have always been the most exciting entertainment in cricketing history.

I wish the entire Pakistani cricket team best of luck on the Indian tour and hope that the Pakistani players make us proud”. “My best wishes are with the Pakistani

Team and nothing would make the people of Pakistan more happy than Pakistan winning the series and bringing the trophy back home”, he further added.

“We love Indians and hope the two nations unite together.

The waghah border between India and Pakistan be opened for all public”, he added.

The captain was scheduled to return to Pakistan after dropping the VIPs on Indian shore.

On the eve of team’s departure, the players and members of the support staff received a pep talk from the PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf. The meeting was also attended by the CEO, Shubhan Ahmed and PCB lawyer, Taffazul Rizvi.

The players have been explained to be the good ambassadors of Pakistan.

McCullum backs misfiring Kiwis after South Africa rout DURBAN: New Zealand cap- the toss, with several of the bats- We were probably a bit too keen, pitch with pace and bounce, the tain Brendon McCullum was unapologetic for his team’s approach after South Africa trounced them by eight wickets with 47 balls to spare in the first Twenty20 international on Friday.

Fast bowler Rory Kleinveldt took two early wickets to start a slide from which New Zealand never recovered.

Kleinveldt took the key wickets of Rob Nicol and McCullum before he finished with three for 18 to capture the man of the match award.South Africa romped home in 12.1 overs with new captain Faf du Plessis making 38 not out, while Quinton de Kock, making his debut four days after his 20th birthday, slammed a quick 28 not out.”We played some aggressive cricket and missed a couple of fundamentals on the way,” McCullum said of his team’s collapse to 86 all out after winning

men falling to over-ambitious we were outplayed,” added the strokes. captain, who said he expected a better performance in the second match of the three-game series in East London on Sunday.Du Plessis hailed a “fantastic” performance by the home side.

“The bowling was fantastic, the energy on the field was awesome,” he said.It was a disappointing start for New Zealand, who arrived as underdogs but were expected to put up a reasonable fight in the Twenty20 internationals.

They were missing several key players, including former captain Ross Taylor, who was unavailable for the tour, and they suffered another blow when experienced batsman Martin Guptill could not play at Kingsmead because of a stomach ailment.

“That is the way we are goFast bowler Trent Boult was ing to be, that is the way we are also unavailable because of a going to put them under pressure. similar problem.On a Kingsmead

tourists lost three wickets inside the first five overs.Nicol charged Kleinveldt and was caught behind, while McCullum top-edged a hook and was caught at fine leg.

In between Peter Fulton drove Dale Steyn to mid-on.It did not get much better for the Black Caps although left-handed newcomer Colin Munro, who was born in Durban and did his early schooling in the city before his family moved to New Zealand, made 23.

Doug Bracewell hit 21 not out.Steyn, newcomer Chris Morris and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson all took two wickets.New Zealand new cap Mitchell McClenaghan had Richard Levi caught at slip for a duck, bowling a wicket maiden at the start of the South African innings.But Henry Davids and Du Plessis put on 45 before the captain and De Kock finished the ISLAMABAD: Danish Atlas in action against Yasir Butt in the 2nd semi-final of PSF-AVT Khyber Pakistan International match.—AFP Squash Circuit-IV at Mushaf Squash Complex.

HPV vaccine not linked to autoimmune disorders

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TWO-year study of nearly 190,000 girls and women, finds that Gardasil, the hu man papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine made

by Merck & Co, does not trigger autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. The results are published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Study lead author Dr Chun Chao, a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research & Evaluation in Pasadena, California, said in a statement released on Friday, that: This kind of safety information may help parents with vaccination decisions.” “”These findings offer some assurance that among a large and generalizable female population, no safety signal for autoimmune conditions was found following HPV4 vaccination in routine clinical use,” said Chao. Gardasil is a “quadrivalent” vaccine because it helps protect against 4 types of HPV. In girls and young women age 9 to 26, it targets 2 types that cause about 75% of cervical cancers, and 2 other types that cause 90% of cases of genital warts.

The vaccine, which is given as three injections over six months, also helps protect boys and men age 9 to 26 against 90% of cases of genital warts. Genital warts is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US, where it infects about 6.2 million people every year. It can also lead to cervical cancer in women.

Gardasil received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2006. But a longstanding concern about links with autoim-

mune disorders has surrounded the vaccine, and many parents won’t let their children be vaccinated because of this. However, Chao and fellow co-investigators from Kaiser Permanente told the press “most speculated associations have stemmed from case reports that have not been confirmed by large, controlled epidemiologic studies”, and their investigation “presents findings from a welldesigned, post-licensure safety study of the vaccine on a large, ethnically diverse population”.

For the study, Chao and colleagues used electronic health records of 189,629 girls and women age 9 to 26 years in California. The participants had been followed for six months after receiving each dose of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine in 2006-2008. They found no increase in any of 16 autoimmune disorders in the vaccinated population compared to a matched population of non-vaccinated girls and women. The 16 autoimmune disorders they looked for were: “... immune thrombocytopenia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto’s disease, Graves’ disease, multiple sclerosis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, other demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, vaccine-associated demyelination, Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuromyelitis optica, optic neuritis and uveitis.” The researchers explained that the clinical trial data on the vaccine, and the subsequent adverse event reports, have important limitations when it comes to assessing its safety profile.

KARACHI: Chairman Sunni Tehreek Muhammad Sarwat Ejaz Qadri and other leaders raising their hands to show solidarity during Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Conference.

PoBT to operate 5000 eye patients for free OBSERVER REPORT KARACHI—The Prevention of Blindness Trust aims at doing free of cost 5000 surgeries annually along with annual examination of 50,000 poor patients, said Dr Misbahul Aziz, Consultant Ophthalmologist, President Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) Karachi.

Also, he adds, the POB is to increase the number of training

courses for ophthalmologists and paramedics, eye care institutes in Pakistan, and enhance research.

‘Highly qualified and properly trained workforce of eye specialists is needed for prevention of blindness at grass root levels in Pakistan, and there is also a need to launch programs for poor patients regarding affordable treatment for eye surgeries,’ he added. While sharing the PIMA’s Karachi endeavors he said as

many as one thousand patients had undergone broad range of eye surgical operations this year, and around 4,300 patients were examined/treated for different eye diseases across the country free of cost.

He said around Rs 7.5 million have been spent on cataract surgeries with the help of donations given by people while the cost of one cataract surgery is around Rs 4000.

KARACHI: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry with office-bearers of Sindh, Karachi and other District Bar Associations.

Exhibition to mark birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam KARACHI—In connection with the 136th birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam, a special exhibition would be organized by the National Museum of Pakistan at its premises here.

This was announced by the Superintendent of the Museum in a statement here on Saturday.

The Special Exhibition would display the Relics and Photographs depicting Quaid’s early social and political life and also his personal artifact.

The Exhibition includes different kind of relics including Passport belonging to Quaid-iAzam Muhammad Ali Jinnah issued by the British Indian Government on 4th July, 1931 from London.

A sword presented by Muslim League Aligarh to the Quaid on 6th February 1938.—APP

Arrangements for BB’s death anniversary KARACHI—Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has urged the party leaders and elected representatives to ensure befitting arrangements for observing the fifth death anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on December 27.

He was presiding over a meeting in Karachi to assess the arrangements. Federal and provincial ministers‚ PPP MNAs and MPAs attended the meeting.

The participants reiterated the resolve to continue pursuing the programmes and policies of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.—NNI

Conference concludes with pledge to restore glory of ‘City of Lights’ KARACHI—Karachi Electric ment conference starting Dec. dressing these sessions, Mr. want our colleagues not to folSupply Company, during the closing month of 2012, the Year of Turnaround, has successfully concluded the final phase of its AZM Tameer-e-Nau Management Conference involving 2,200 officers and management staff, dedicated to reinforce the common goal to restore Karachi to its former glory as the ‘City Of Lights’.

Earlier this year, around 8,600 employees had participated in the first two phases of AZM Conference that expressed the unanimous commitment to transform KESC into a truly customer centric private entity. With the final phase completed, the total number of employees taking part in the AZM Conference stood at approximately 10,800.

As many as 10 sessions were held during the final phase of this change manage-

11. The initial three sessions were dedicated to senior officers, next five sessions were aimed at engaging Assistant Managers and Managers, while the final two sessions were mainly reserved for Deputy General Managers.

Asir Manzur, Chief Human Resource Officer, reflected on the objective, implementation and evolution process of “Performance Management” system in great detail and said that “KESC is a dynamic institution, striving to deliver the very best to its customers.”

Mr. Ghufran Atta Khan, Chief Engagement Officer, said, “The fate of our people rests in our management colleagues’ hands so we must act responsibly while making decisions. We are all responsible for providing the values driven leadership to those who work for us.” Ad-

Nayyer Hussain, Chief Distribution Officer stated, “It is because of your hard work and continuous dedication that after 18 years we have collectively brought the organization into profit.”

Mr. Arshad Zahidi, Chief Generation and Transmission Officer said, “All we need to do is to work with honesty, complete dedication and fairness. We are all equal – we are one but the only thing that differentiates us is the factor of performance and performance alone”.

In the concluding session of the Azm Conference, addressing the participants, Mr. Tabish Gauhar, CEO of KESC, said, “Our intent is to see that a fair system is established which allows talent to surface and flourish. It is imperative that we follow principles, instead of personalities, to ensure on-going growth and sustainability. We

low any instructions that violate the law and our guiding principles and policies.”The participating senior management officials of KESC appreciated the initiative and expressed their full commitment and solidarity towards KESC’s renewed AZM and embraced the newly unveiled vision and values of the organization.

The aim of the conference was not only to establish better communication with the employees, but also to provide an interactive forum where everyone had the opportunity to share ideas on how to transform KESC into an operationally efficient and effective entity with single minded focus on quality and service delivery by realizing the AZM to “Restore and Maintain Pride in KESC, Karachi and Pakistan.”—NNI

Judiciary has never tried to assume role of Executive or Legislature: CJP KARACHI —Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that the success and efficacy of a democratic system inter alia depends on the independence of judiciary which cannot be ensured until and unless all the state institutions work within the constitutional framework.

Addressing the roll signing cermony of newly enrolled lawyers of the Supreme Court here on Saturday, he said, in the present state of affairs in Pakistan, the judiciary is, at times, criticized for intermeddling in the routine affairs of the State.

However, in reality the judiciary has never tried to assume the role of the Executive or the Legislature, he said.

Rather it respects the integrity and independence of every other institution, the CJP said continuing that it has always played its part within the parameters of its constitutional domain.

He said that the role of judiciary is not that of an opposition to the legislature or the Executive, however, in cases of unauthorized actions in utter violation of constitutional norms, the judiciary has to become responsive through exercise of judicial review.

He said that the judiciary has the constitutional mandate to annul any act, whether it being an act of Parliament or action taken by a State functionary that transgresses the constitutional limits.

With the passage of time the people have become more assertive in the enforcement of their legal rights and checking the illegal or malafide actions of the executive, he expressed.

The judiciary after its restoration in 2009 has emerged not only as a bastion of justice but also a catalyst of societal reformation to guide the nation on the path of constitutionalism.

It has played a major role in bringing good governance in all State’s institution through upholding the rule of law and curbing social ills by responding efficiently, fearlessly, promptly and effectively.

The role of judiciary in the democratic governance of Pakistan is more of a check against

constitutional transgressions than just an adjudicator in settling bilateral quarrels and disputes.

A strengthened and independent judicial system plays assertive and decisive role for the promotion of rule of law which is a basic substance of democracy and necessitates the supremacy of constitution, equality before law and equal protection of law.

It is the statutory and constitutional responsibility of judiciary to safeguard democracy from being distorted and disrupted by state elements for their vested interests. Judiciary has a definite role to play for effective administration of justice for the establishment of a just society, based on respect for law. —APP

uplift in Qaim condemns Peshawar blast Latest quantum STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI —Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, has strongly condemned the suicide blast in Peshawar on Saturday evening in which senior minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and ANP leader, Bashir Ahmed Bilour, also embraced Shahadat.

In a statement issued here he expressed deep sorrow and grief over the casualties in the tragic

incident. Qaim Ali Shah said that the services of Shaheed Bashir Ahmed Bilour in the realms of politics would always be remembered. He stated that those who are targeting innocent people are enemies of humanity also.

Chief Minister Sindh said that Bashir Ahmed Bilour very bravely faced the terrorists.

He said that in this hour of grief we are with the Awami National Party.Qaim Ali Shah said

that the nation is united to eradicate the menace of terrorism.

He stated that such dastardly acts cannot lower the morale of the nation.

Chief Minister Sindh prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved families. He also prayed for the early recovery of those who sustained injuries in the blast.

computing will solve problems KARACHI—Quantum comput-

ing represents a future where some problems would be solved much faster than the present conventional computers.

This was stated by Dr.Suhail Zubairy, Professor of Physics and Munnerlyn-Heep Chair in Quantum Optics at Texas A&M University.

He was delivered a lecture on ‘Quantum Computing- New Frontiers’ at a local hotel, says a statement on Saturday.

It said that the talk was part of Habib University’s Lecture Series which aims to promote academic discourse and provide a space for dialogue and enquiry.

Dr. Zubairy is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a recipient of several awards such as Hilal-e-Imtiaz and Sitara-eImtiaz of Pakistan and the Humboldt Research Prize of the Republic of Germany.

In his talk, Dr. Zubairy presented a general review of interesting developments in the field of quantum computing and the implications it has on other scientific areas. According to him, ‘Quantum computing represents a future where some problems KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism Sassi Palejo unveiling the plaque dur- shall be solved much faster than ing Project Launching of Conservation Press Club building. by our present conventional computers.—APP

7,600 candidates given admission in KU morning programme STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—A total of 7,600 admissions have been granted in different faculties in Karachi University’s morning programme for the academic year 2013.

In all 3,500 candidates have been given admitted in the Bachelors/Honors programme, 2,500 in Masters, 1,200 test based departments and 400 admissions were

granted in Pharma-D, informed the Director Admissions, Prof. Dr. Khalid Iraqi.

A University statement on Saturday said that he was updating the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Qaiser, during his visit to the Admission Camp at the Silver Jubilee Gate, University of Karachi.

The Vice Chancellor visited all the counters installed for processing admissions in

different departments of the University in BS/Honors Programmes.

It is pertinent to note that the University has set up an admission camp where successful candidates can approach and obtain the admission processing forms.

The fee, after endorsement of the forms, can be submitted in the bank counter situated at the Silver Jubilee Gate, it was further stated.—APP

Study shows solo acts at higher risk than bands

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N ACADEMIC study published Thurs day confirms that rock and pop musicians are more likely to die prematurely than the general population, and finds that solo artists are twice as likely to die young as members of bands.

Researchers from Liverpool John Moores University and Britain’s Health Department studied 1,489 rock, pop, punk, R&B, rap, electronic and New Age stars who became famous between 1956 and 2006 – from Elvis Presley to the Arctic Monkeys.

They found that 137 of the stars, or 9.2 percent, had died, representing “higher levels of mortality than demographically matched individuals in the general population.”

The researchers dismissed the “fanciful but unsubstantiated” popular myth that rock stars tend to die at 27 – as Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse all did. The average age of death was 45.2 years for North American stars and 39.6 for European ones.

Solo performers had twice the death risk of members of bands. Lead researcher Mark Bellis speculated that could be because bands provide peer support at stressful times.

“Solo artists, even though they have huge followings, may be relatively isolated,” said Bellis, director of the Center for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University.

Music critic John Aizlewood agreed that solo artists receive more attention and adulation – and also more pressure. “And when you are a solo act, irrespective of what they say in interviews,

it’s an incredibly egotistical thing,” he said.

“So you tend to be dealing with people who are more emotionally extreme. “They have an ego in the way a drummer or even a lead guitarist in a band doesn’t.”

In good news for aging rockers, the study found that, after 25 years of fame, stars’ death rates began to return to normal – at least in Europe. A European star still living 36 years after achieving fame faces a similar mortality rate to the European public. But U.S. artists continue to die in greater numbers.

Bellis said factors contributing to the difference could include longer careers – and thus longer exposure to rock ‘n’ roll excess – in the U.S., a huge, populous country with greater opportunities for aging stars to stay on the road. Europe’s stronger social safety net and socialized medicine may also play a role, he said.

The research, which updates a 2007 study by the same team, was published in the online journal BMJ Open.

The study suggests the infamous rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle may not be entirely to blame for rock stars’ death risk. The researchers looked for the first time at the role of “adverse childhood experiences” – such as physical or sexual abuse – on stars’ later behavior. They found that performers who had had at least one adverse childhood experience were more likely to die from drug and alcohol use or “risk-related causes.”He said troubled artists from Vincent Van Gogh and Ernest Hemingway to the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson all illustrate “the torment that creativity brings with it.”

Kaira to address PPP workers conventions LAHORE—Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira will visit various cities of South Punjab from December 24 to 26.

According to a handout issued by Press Information Department (PID) here, Qamar Zaman Kaira will address the Pakistan People’s Party workers conventions. He is scheduled to address party convention at Haroonabad on December 24, at Bahawalpur on December 25 and at Rahim Yar Khan on December 26.

Kaira will proceed Garhi Khuda Buksh to participate in the 5th martyrdom anniversary of Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto to be held on December 27. —APP

20 stolen cars recovered LAHORE: Former Prime Minister and President PML-N Muhammad Nawaz Sharif talking to National People’s Party

LAHORE—Sabzazar police have leader Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi. smashed an inter-district auto lifter gang and arrested its three members besides recovering stolen cars worth Rs 10 million.

SP Sadar Adeel Hussain Chandio constituted a special police team under the supervision of DSP Sabzazar which arrested ring leader Muhammad Anwar and his two accomplices Amjad Kharal and Azim and recovered 20 cars from their possession.

During preliminary interrogation, the gangsters confessed to 114 incidents committed various places of Lahore, Jhang and SALIM AHMED Faisalabad districts.

DIG Operations announced commendatory awards for the LAHORE—Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif raiding team.—APP has said that Pakistan Muslim League-N has set records of public service, while Zar Baba Forty Thieves have broken all records of corruption and pushed the masses to a blind alley. said that how a country LAHORE—Three joined teams that He suffers loadshedding for sixof City Traffic Police, Regional Transport Authority and Lahore teen hours can make progress and Company have been constituted the people will hold Zardari gang to take action against vehicles accountable in the forthcoming without fitness certificates and general elections for pushing the country into the darkness. He said route permits. that the masses will demolish all CTO Lahore Sohail Chaudhry said on Saturday the “statues of corruption” in the genteams were checking vehicles at eral elections.

The Chief Minister exthe Badami Bagh bus terminal, pressed these views while talkNiazi terminal on Multan road and Thokar Niaz Baig and im- ing to Ch. Khadim Hussain, newly elected MPA from Jhelum pounded vehicles.

He said that the teams had in the bye-elections, and a deltaken action against 70 vehicles egation of office-bearers and in two days and the action would continue.

Meanwhile, transport department and district administration challaned 71 vehicles and impounded 44 others for overcharging of fares and using substandard gas cylinders. Inspection teams during special drive also cancelled 11 route permits and declared several vehicles unfit for transportation.

The Punjab government set up a monitoring squad under the supervision of Secretary Regional Transport Authority Lahore Mian Mohsin Rasheed.—APP

PML-N built new records of public service: CM Path of development our chosen field

70 vehicles impounded

LAHORE: Polio field workers protesting in favour of their demands.

Pending cases stigma on Judiciary’s face: LHC CJ STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial has said that cases pending since 2008 are a stigma on the face of judiciary and these cases must see the light of day as soon as possible.

Addressing a seminar on “ Public Interest Litigation” (PIL) organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association at Aiwan-eIqbal here, he said that these cases should be decided on merit in line with the Constitution and law rather than technical grounds only.

The chief justice said that he was mindful of the reality that justice rushed was justice

crushed, therefore, decided cases were being monitored closely.

The CJ said that some institutions were self active and some others were less active and ineffective.

Therefore, PIL is a tool to provide help to poor people to get their rights, he added.

“PIL is not to insult and embarrass anyone but to ensure rights enshrined under the Constitution to the downtrodden”, he added. The chief justice said that judiciary had to switch over to PIL because our institutions have been weakened. “There is hardly need for PIL in western countries as their institutions are stable”, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice Supreme Court of

Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Justice Azam Khan appreciated the PIL

by Supreme Court of Pakistan and said that Azad Jammu & Kashmir Supreme Court has also decided a number of such cases and there was a need to discourage frivolous litigation.

LHC Judge, Justice Abdul Sattar Asghar, requested the Supreme Court to add appropriate rules of procedure to enhance the utility of PIL. Advocate General Punjab Ashtar Ausaf said that PIL should be introduced at preliminary courts and a mechanism for judicial restraint should be evolved.

Ali Zafar, an eminent lawyer, put forward numerous resolutions for regulating the PIL.

Shujaat, Pervaiz ask West to respect Islamic distinctiveness STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi have urged the United Nations and the west not to test the patience of Muslims and give examplary punishment to the blasphemers besides making proper legislation in this regared to check the recurrence of anti-Islam moves in future.

Talking to party leaders and elected representatives here on

Friday, they said, Muslims around the world are followers of peace and cannot tolerate any blasphemous act in the dignity of Quran and the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

They urged the Islamic world to adopt a common strategy to abreast the Western world about strength of the Muslims. They said that Muslims have never targeted sacred books and personalities of other religions but west was bent upon hurting the sentiments of Muslims to attain certain unholy objectives. They said

that West has remained engaged in disgraceful and shameful acts. Freedom of expression, they said, must have some limits, it cannot be used to humiliate values and beliefs held by others otherwise relations between east and west will continue to deteriorating.

The PML-Q leaders hailed the government decision to observe Yaum-e-Ishq-e-Rasool at official level and said this move has sent western world a signal that the entire Pakistani nation was united on the issue.

workers of PML-N from Jhelum.

Development projects in Jhelum and political situation were discussed in the meeting. General Secretary PML-N Punjab Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif and Raja Iqbal Mehdi were also present on the occasion. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that the thumping success of the PML-N in the byeelections has held the opponents awestruck and the masses have undoubtedly expressed their full confidence in the leadership of PML-N which will come up to their expectations at all costs.

The Chief Minister congratulated Ch. Khadim Hussain for winning the bye-election and said that PML-N has achieved massive success in the bye-elections and its candidates will also win the general elections with thumping majority. He said that the PML-N under the leadership of

Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will begin the journey of development again and put the country on the path of development after steering it out of crises. He said the PML-N will change the destiny of the nation and the country, and will improve living standards of the deprived segments of the society. He said that the masses have defeated in bye-elections the alliance formed to plunder the national wealth.

He said that Punjab government has promoted justice, transparency and merit in the province, and for this reason, the PML-N got glorious victory in the bye-elections. He said that the only way of progress in the country is merit and new culture has promoted in Pakistan especially Punjab due to the merit policy of the Punjab government. He said that the people of Pakistan have deep affection for Muhammad

Overhead bridge collapses LAHORE—An over-head pedestrian bridge collapsed when a truck hit it near Punjab University, Lahore on Saturday.

According to police, a trailer carrying heavy machinery that exceeded 16-feet height struck the overhead pedestrian bridge resulting in its collapse.

The truck driver sustained serious wounds in the bridge collapse incident and he was rushed to hospital for treatment.

Traffic in the area remained suspended for hours and later it was cleared for traffic after removing the debris of the collapsed bridge.—INP

DRF rescued 8,351 flood-hit affectees LAHORE: PML-N workers celebrating upcoming birthday of their Party President

LAHORE—Disaster Response Nawaz Sharif.

Force (DRF) rescued 8,351 people during flood in Rajanpur and DG Khan whereas medical treatment was provided to 1,227 flood affectees and 49,178 cattle were vaccinated.

This was disclosed by Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Mujahid Sher Dil while presiding over a review meeting of relief items being provided to flood affectees.

Mujahid Sher Dil said that Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was personally monitoring the rehabilitation of flood affectees and all concerned departments had been bound not to create any hindrance in the relief activities.

He said that 20 more trucks carrying relief goods had reached in affected districts and the total number of trucks had increased to 305. He said that 37,000 flour bags through 204 trucks, 1500 blanket through nine trucks had also reached there.

He told that tents were also distributed among 5,570 flood affectees of Rajanpur and 1,999 of DG Khan. —APP

Punjab Govt approves multi-sector uplift schemes STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—The Punjab Government on Saturday approved the scheme of Transport Sector with an estimated cost of Rs 3269.678 million for “Construction of Metro Bus Transit System for Lahore-Ferozepur Road Corridor, Erection of Escalators and Platform Screen Doors at MBS Stations Package-IX (Revised)”.

Eight development schemes of various sectors of the economy were also approved worth Rs 9111.084 million in the 25th meeting of Provincial Development working Party of current financial year 2012-13 presided over by the Punjab Planning and Development Board Chairman, Javaid Aslam.

Nawaz Sharif and they admire policies of PML-N. He said the Punjab government has utilized all resources for the progress and development of the people and to provide them relief, and if the masses gave him another chance then more resources will be spent on their welfare and betterment.

He asked the parliamentarians, office-bearers and workers of PML-N to enhance contacts with the people and utilize all their energies to resolve problems of the masses.

The office-bearers and workers of PML-N from Jhelum said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif proved himself as “public servant” in real sense by serving the masses round the clock. They said the victory of PML-N in bye-elections reflects the confidence of the public in the merit policies of the Punjab government.

Members of the Planning & Development Board and other senior representatives of the relevant Provincial Departments also participated in the meeting.

The approved development schemes included: Purchase of Equipment for Up-gradation of existing Department of Govt.

Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Hospital, Govt Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital and Establishment of PMU 2nd Revision at the cost of Rs 353.902 million, Construction of District Jail, Okara (Non Residential Building) (5th Revised) at the cost of Rs 474.318 million, Establishment of Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory, Lahore (Revised) at the cost of Rs 2566.408 million, Widening / Improvement & Construction of road from

Lady human smuggler held LAHORE—FIA Lahore claimed

to have arrested a lady human smuggler involved in a number of fraudulent cases.

According to FIA, Lubna Rafiq Chohan, a lady smuggler, Gali Jagir to Tehsil Fatehjang was proclaimed offender in many Chakri Inter-Change M-2, cases. —APP length 23.56 km, District Attock and Rawalpindi (3rd Revised) at the cost of Rs 336.377 million, Widening and Improvement of road from Kanday Wala Bridge to Derawar Fort (All three Sections) District Bahawalpur (Revised) at the cost of Rs 229.663 million, Construction of Parking Plaza G.T. Road Gujranwala at the cost of Rs 557.261 million, Punjab Water & Sanitation Academy, Lahore (Revised) at the cost of Rs 421.885 million and Provision of Computers / IT Education in 4286 Govt. Secondary / Higher Secondary Schools in Punjab (4th Revision) at the cost of Rs 4171.270 million.