Mounting tension South Sudan rebel chief orders ceasefire ADIS ABABA—South Sudan’s rebel chief Riek Machar ordered his troops to lay down their arms in line with a ceasefire to end a 20month civil war, his spokesman said Saturday. His rival, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, had on Thursday ordered all government troops to stop fighting rebel forces as part of the agreement to end the conflict, which has left tens of thousands dead. No clashes were reported between the two sides Saturday morning, according to both Machar’s spokesman and the regional eight-nation IGAD bloc which brokered the ceasefire deal along with the United Nations, the African Union,
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Three provincial ECP members to step down STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Three provincial members of Election Commission of Pakistan have agreed to step down from their respective offices, sources said on Saturday. These ECP members — Justice (retd) Riaz Kayani for Punjab, Justice (retd) Roshan Ali Essani for Sindh and Justice (retd) Shahzad Akbar for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — will submit their resignations to the Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza on Monday. The election commis-
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UK facilitating govt, Baloch leaders talks OBSERVER REPORT LONDON—Baloch separatist leaders have reportedly agreed to engage in a dialogue with the Pakistani government, a crucial breakthrough reportedly facilitated by Britain as part of backdoor diplomacy. The dissident Baloch leaders can also announce thier return to Pakistan any time soon, sourced added. Pakistan had reportedly requested the British officials to facilitate the dialogue with the Baloch leaders. Continued on Page 7
PM tasks Baloch to allay PPP, MQM concerns ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday took notice of grievances raised by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Federal Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch has been tasked by PM to meet with the aggrieved parties over the situation arising in Sindh and allay their concerns. According to sources, Abdul Qadir Baloch will arrive in Karachi on Monday and will meet with the Corps Commander Karachi as well as the Director General Rangers.—INP
Drag India into Security Council
................................................ Nation needs to show more solidarity with army ................................................ Whose language Qaim is speaking?
See Page 04
Obama’s NSA rushes to Pak to dampen heated borders LIAQAT TOOR/AGENCIES ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON—To damping down the explosive situation in the region, particularly on Pakistan’s easter border where at least ten persons have lost their lives due to continuous firing on LoC by India during the last two days, President Obama’s National Security Advisor Susan Rice is due today on one- day emergency visit to meet Pakistan’s top civil and military brass. The cancellation of Delhi talks, fear of high scale military clashes, postponement of KabulTaliban talks, attacks on Pak posts from Afghan side and rising blame game have warranted the visit to arrest the mounting tension. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Advisor to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will hold separate meetings with the US diplomat. Rice is also likely to meet Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif. According to re-
ports, the US National Security Advisor will discuss the India-Pakistan tension due to ceasefire violations and situation in Af-
ghanistan. The visit will see discussions on matters including Indian aggression across Line of Control. Rice will be accompanied by a high-level delegation and will hold important talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. According to sources, the National
Security Advisor will discuss Pak-Afghan relations as well as Pakistan role in the Afghan reconciliation process. Moreover, a top military source said that the US national security adviser will hold a separate meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters, where the regional security situation will come under discussion. Rice’s visit comes on the heels of cancellation of talks between India and Pakistan’s national security advisers. Expressing disappointment at the cancellation of the proposed talks between the NSAs of the two countries, the United States had urged the neighbours to soon resume formal dialogue. “We are disappointed that the talks will not happen this weekend and encourage India and Pakistan to resume formal dialogue soon,” State Department spokesman John Kirby had said. Rice is expected to also meet her counterpart Sartaj Aziz, among other leaders. The visit will see discussions on matters including Pakistan-India tensions, Afghanistan reconciliation process and defense cooperation between US and Paki-
Imran on warpath with ECP
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Pakistan to respond India strongly: Asif STAFF REPORTER SIALKOT—Federal Minister for Defence, Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said Pakistan will respond India strongly if it does not stop its hostilities along the Sialkot
here on Saturday after inquiring about health of those injured by the Indian shelling. “We will counter this situation on all levels. If war is forced on us we will take good care of them,” Khawaja Asif said. “Absolutely we have the right to retaliate, and retaliate in kind, retaliate in full force,” Asif said after he visited the wounded in hospital. He added: “If India crosses the international border and aggression is commitSTAFF REPORTER ted again, we will defend our homeland and KARACHI—A three-meminflict much ber observer team of the more damage United Nations visited the than 1965,” Working Boundary at Asif said. Kundanpur village in Prime Minister Sialkot on Saturday to reNawaz Sharif Continued on Page 7 would raise the issue of continued aggression at a UN General Assembly session next month, Asif said. He added that now Pakistan would respond effectively against violation of ceasfire by India. The minister said it seemed Modi government had become so confused due to the
UN team visits Sialkot village to observe Indian firing damages
Woking Boundary. He said this while talking to newsmen at CMH
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PPP breaking up alliance with PML-N
Pak in decisive war to bury terrorism: CM
Announces sit-in in Islamabad if ECP members do not resign; Tareen, Aleem to contest by-polls
— rides on bandwagon of PTI, demands resignation of ECP members
LAHORE—Punjab Chief Min-
have taken to the streets if their earlier demand of opening four constituencies had been enterLAHORE—Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman tained by the then chief justice Iftikhar Imran Khan announced on Saturday to hold a Muhammad Chaudhry. “After the judiciary under Iftikhar Chaudhry sit-in in front of Election Commission of Pakistan if its members do not tender their resigna- refused to open the four constituencies, it became clear to us that everyone was tions by October 4. Imran Khan, who was address- Picture on Back Page involved in the rigging,” stated Imran. ing a public gathering after chair“I had asked for only for four constituening a party meeting here, said “there was no justification for the ECP members to hold their cies, and I knew that they would not have obliged posts after 21 political parties had claimed that me as they were protecting those who had rigged rigging took place during the 2013 elections”. the elections,” added Imran. Imran Khan also said that he respects JusThe high-level party meeting was held to decide the future policies regarding the upcom- tice Nasirul Mulk, as he constituted a free and ing by-polls in the constituencies where elec- fair Judicial Commission, and that he accepted the report issued by the commission which tions tribunals have ruled in favour of PTI. “We contested the elections as for the first claimed that there were ‘illegalities and malpractime in Pakistan there was an independent judi- tices’ during the 2013 elections. Imran said his party would contest all byciary,” remarked Imran. He added that his political party would not Continued on Page 7
LAHORE—The Pakistan People’s Party will not also go for seat adjustment with the opposition
STAFF REPORTER
18 Indian troops injured in army camp blast
PM directs NHA to complete projects by Sept 2017 ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Saturday said that the unprecedented infrastructure building activity under the National Highway Authority road portfolio was underway in the country which would change the entire landscape of Pakistan from Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir to Karachi and Gwadar.
Headscarf wearing lady named minister in Turkey ANKARA —For the first time in the history of Turkey, a Muslim but secular country, a woman who wears an Islamic headscarf has been named as a government minister. Aysen Gurcan, a 52-yearold academic, was appointed Friday to be the minister in charge of family and social policies in the provisional government of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that will run the country until November 1 elections. The mother of three is
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SRINAGAR—At least 18 sol-
The Prime Minister said that these development projects including the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects ran through all the provinces. The whole country would benefit from the fruits of this
diers were injured, seven of them critically, in an “accidental” explosion at an Army camp in south Kashmir ’s Pulwama district on Saturday. An Army official told PTI that as many as 18 jawans had been injured in the explosion at Core Battle School at Khrew (in Awantipora area of Pulwama) inside the Cantonment in Khrew area of district resulting in the injuring of at least eighteen troops. Seven jawans were critically injured and airlifted to 92 Base Hospital at Badamibagh Canton-
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take part in forthcoming by-elections, if controversial members of Election Commission of Pakistan do not resign, declared Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, President Punjab PPP, while talking to media in Islamabad on Saturday outside Zardari House. He added that there was no moral or legal or moral basis of these members of ECP to remain in position and they should better voluntarily tender their resignations and go home with degree of honor and dignity. While responding to media questions, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo said that the PPP, Punjab, had recommended to the top Party leadership of giving up the policy of reconciliation because it had cost dearly to the party adding it could not afford the same any more. He said that the PPP would contest the forthcoming local bodies’ elections and was confident to show good results. The PPP will
parties keeping in view the dynamics of local politics, he added. He strongly condemned the arrest of PPP leader, Dr. Asim Hussain, which was a sheer political victimization because he was arrested without investigations. He regretted that the issuance of arrest warrants by the Karachi Court of former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Mr. Amin Fahim, top leader of the Party. All these activities are manifestations of witch hunting that will not accrue well for the country and the democracy, he observed. He maintained that the PPP was against corruption but the observance of due process of law was the condition precedent to deal with such cases. Arrests of senior leaders of the PPP without the due process of law are sheer political victimization that would be resisted by the Party, he asserted.—INP
14 more mowed down in fresh blitz Soldier martyred, 3 wounded in Shawal ground operation TARIQ SAEED PESHAWAR—As the ongoing Operation Zarbe-Azb in the troubled North Waziristan agency is gaining momentum with the each passing day, the Pakistan Air Force war planes struck hard on the positions of the terrorists on Saturday mowing down another 14 terrorists besides destroying a number of their hideouts in the Shawal valley. During the ground combat in the afternoon a jawan in uniform embraced martyrdom and three soldiers sustained serious injuries. The PAF war birds, resumed strikes on
the Shawal valley, believed to be the last strong hold of the miscreants in NWA, after a pause of days and went for incessant bombings on the militant’s dens that resulted in the killing of at least 14 trouble makers and wounding many others as a number of their hideouts were also destroyed in the fresh blitz. While the ground operation is also going side by side, a shootout between the Pakistan Army led security forces and the insurgents in Shawal Saturday afternoon led to Shahadat of a soldier while three others received serious wounds. However, losses on part of the
SALIM AHMED ister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is making serious efforts to overcome terrorism and load-shedding being faced by the country. He said that national and military leadership are on one page against terrorism and the entire nation is united for eliminating terrorism. He said that the menace of terrorism and extremism will be eliminated from the country forever with the help of the people. He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of office-bearers and workers of PML-N in London on Saturday. Shehbaz Sharif said that extraordinary situation demands extraordinary steps and the bold decisions of national and military leadership are a milestone with regard to war against terrorism. He said that terrorism and extremism are being eliminated through implementation of national action plan against terrorism. He said that indiscriminate strict action is being taken against the terrorists and their facilitators. The Chief Minister said that there is no room for terrorists and extremists in Pakistan. He said that the scourge of terrorism will be rooted out with the unity of the nation and Pakistan will be made a haven of peace in accordance with the dreams of Quaid and Iqbal. He said that the political, religious and military leadership is also determined for coping with terrorists. He said that
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SSGC’s DMD Shoaib, 2 others remanded to Rangers custody for 90 days Rangers detain Ziauddin Hospital Deputy MS; Dr Asim in good health STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Pakistan Rangers on Saturday informed an anti-terrorism court (ATC-I) that three top officials of the Sui Southern Gas Company were under preventive detention for 90 days over ‘credible information’ on their involvement in terrorist activities. The SSGC Deputy Managing Director, Shoaib Warsi along with two other officials, Zuhair Siddiqui and Kamaran Ahmed, were reportedly taken into custody af-
ter a raid on Wednesday at the company’s head office. The trio were presented by Rangers before the ATC-I judge, Bashir Ahmed Khoso where their detention orders and jail warrants were submitted. Further, according to sources, the measure was taken upon receiving information about the officials’ involvement in offences including misuse of authority, as well as embezzlement of funds, which under the Anti-terrorism Act is classified as a form of terrorism. The SSGC officials have been interrogated by Rangers under Section 11EEEE of ATA which allows armed and civil armed forces of
the country to detain any person suspected to be involved in terrorist activity for as long as three months. The suspects were formally taken into custody by Rangers after the court session. During the detention period, the suspects will be cross-examined by a joint interrogation team regarding the allegations. Should substantial evidence be found during the probe, the officials will be implicated in the case and tried by the court of law. Meanwhile, Rangers paramilitary personnel descended upon the Ziauddin Hospital in Nazimabad on Saturday and examined documents and data present in the administration
department as well as the hospital’s IT department. According to sources, the rangers have taken CCTV video records from the hospital and have also detained Dr Yousuf Sattar, the Deputy Medical Superintendent of the hospital. The paramilitary force also confiscated documents from the finance and IT department. Pakistan Rangers informed an anti-terrorism court that Dr Asim Hussain – a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari — was in good health and under special medical care. The response came after Hussain’s family conveyed to the court that he was a chronic
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Minorities worship places protected WAH CANTT— Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Siddique ul Farooq Saturday said Pakistan is a peaceful country and will protect minorities and their worship places in the light of Quiad-e-Azam’s vision. He was addressing as chief guest ceremony of Rakhi at Punja Sahib Hassanabdal. He said that present government has taken various steps for the welfare and betterment of minority community. He said that a tample would be constructed in Cliftion Karachi. He said Hindi and Gurmakhi language would soon be taught at ETPB schools while model schools for minorities would be established in all major cities of the country.—APP
Bulleh Shah’s philosophy weeds out social evils: Rabbani K ASUR —Senate Chairman KPK and Balochistan could volved in the incident of protect the motherland Mian Raza Rabbani on Saturday said philosophy of Baba Bulleh Shah provided the best foundation for national integration to weed out frustration, fanaticism, sectarianism and sentiments of hatred from society. Addressing the 25th Bulleh Shah Conference on the 258th Urs of Baba Bulleh Shah in Kasur, he said: “An unknown civilization was imposed on our society which did not have link with our culture, history and ideology. He added that: “We can make progress and prosperity besides strengthening the centre only if we adopt our culture, history, philosophy and ideology”. He stressed the need to promote regional culture as culture of Punjab, Sindh, the
develop historical synthesis which would emerge as Pakistani culture. The chairman said philosophies of sufi saints were reflected in the Constitution which ended discrimination of a cast or sect and promoted equality in society. He added that article 253 of the Constitution gave complete right for the promotion of all regional languages. Paying rich tribute to the security forces that were fighting against terrorism, he said the whole nation stood shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces. Condemning the Kasur incident, the chairman said those in-
child abuse should be punished as per law. He said such incidents happened due to deviation from teachings of spiritual leaders and saints, adding that a senate standing committee on child protection was evolved to protect rights of children as they were an asset of the country. Raza Rabbani strongly condemned the unprovoked shelling and firing by India on the Sialkot Working Boundary and said the US, the UK and other countries should raise voice against the Indian aggression. He added that people and Pak army were united to
against any aggression. Earlier, the chairman Senate distributed awards among prominent scholars, poets and notables. PPP Executive Committee Member Ch Manzoor Ahmad, PU Dean Oriental Languages Asmatullah Zahid, president conference Khadim Ali Khokhar, Anjum Shakeel Gilani, Sharif Anjum, Akram Sheikh and other scholars also highlighted the teachings of Baba Bulleh Shah. Later, the chairman held a meeting with the families of victims of the Kasur incident and assure them of his support for juctice.—APP
6 people deprived of cash, valuables MULTAN—Six people including two women were deprived of cash, jewellery, laptop and other valuables in various incidents of robberies here on Saturday. According to police, three outlaws identified as Shoaib, Tariq and Aamir allegedly stormed into the house of Shahbaz s/o Afzal Khan in Zakariya town in the jurisdiction of BZ police station. They held hostage the family at gun point and looted jewellery, laptop and cash total worth Rs
180,000 and decamped. Haroon s/o Munir Ahmed resident of Cheeta Wahin was deprived of Rs 28,000 and a mobile phone by two motorcyclists at gun point near Bohar Gate in the remit of Haram Gate police station. The outlaws snatched cash and a mobile phone from Kanwal Batool d/ o Rafaqat Ali near Nishtar Hospital in the precincts of Cantt police station. Similarly, Muhammad Tahseen s/o Allauddin resi-
dent of Dehli Gate was deprived of mobile phone by two outlaws in Cantt police station area. Five unidentified armed outlaws snatched mini truck (MNP-8391) from Muhammad Ali s/o Riaz resident of Peeran Ghaib when he was going to Qasba Marral. Nazam Khatoon w/o Ghulam Fareed resident of Mouza Punjabi in his report to Sadar Shujabad police alleged that Allah Wasaya, Ghulam Abbas, Hashim, Hakim, Qasim.—APP
A tell-tale sign of India’s use of American military aid during Indian aggression in Kashmir.
August 30, 1965
News Highlights Occupied posts must be vacated: The President of Azad Government of Kashmir , Abdul Hamid Khan has asked India to vacate the forcibly occupied posts and start pulling out of Kashmir. Movement of Indian troops on E.Wing border: Large scale deployment of Indian troops along East Pakistan border has been reported. Rajasthan tightens up security steps: The Rajasthan state Government is considering more steps to tighten up security measures on the state border adjoining West Pakistan. Soviet Stand on Kashmir: The Independent Member of Indian Parliament Mr. Prakash Shastri said that the Soviet stand on Kashmir should be an eye opener for India. Awkward poster for Delhi: Indian paper doubts stories on Kashmir.
Five suspects arrested in Chakbeli Khan C H A K B E L I K H A N —The police and army in joint operation arrested five Afghan national suspects here on Saturday. According to details, the police and army conducted search operation against the outlaws in village Dhanda and surrounding areas of Chakbeli Khan. During operation five suspects stated to be Afghan nationals who failed SIALKOT: Federal Minister for Water and Power and Defence, Khawaja Muhammad to provide CNICs and Asif and MNA Choudhry Armghan Subhani are inquiring about the health of an injured prove their identity were victim of unprovoked Indian firing and shelling alongside Working Boundary at village apprehended. Kundan Pur during their visit to CMH. The detainees included Doulat Khan s/o Sher Khan, Nazar Khan s/ o Sher Khan, Nadir Khan s/o Hayat Khan, Doulat Khan s/o Baz Khan and Husnain Gul s/o Dad Gul who were handed over to police for further interrogation.—INP
Lawyers boycott courts for LHC bench
FAISALABAD —The lawyers have boycotted the courts here Saturday to press their demand of establishment Lahore High Court (LHC) bench at Faisalabad division. According to spokesman of the DBA, divisional bench of the LHC is a constitutional right of the people of Faisalabad division for which we are struggle for the last many years and our struggle will continue till the fulfillment of this demand.—APP
Two minor killed, three injured in road accident DG KHAN—Two minor children were hit to death while three others sustained injuries in road accident here on Saturday. According to Rescue 1122, a speeding bus was on its way to DG Khan from Kot Mithan when it collided with a rickshaw at Adda Mana Ahmadani of Kot Chatta. Resultantly, four-yearold Sadai and six-year-old Ahsan were killed while Izat Mai, Muhammad Arif and Muhammad Qamar were injured. Rescue 1122 shifted the injured to Teaching Hospital DG Khan and Jampur hospital.—APP
Rs 2.9861bn allocated for repair of courts
PESHAWAR: The newly elected lady councillors of the Town-I, II, III are
F AISALABAD —The Punjab government has allocated Rs 2.986135 billion for repair, renovation and rehabilitation and construction of district and civil courts rooms in the province under annual development programme. A spokesman of the administration said here on Friday that Rs 55 million would be spent on the construction of boundary walls around civil and session courts whereas Rs 70 million will be expended on repair, maintenance and renovation of court rooms. Similarly, Rs 334 million will be spent on the construction of family and guardian courts while Rs 2.527135 billion has been taking oath here at Govt High School No.1 on Saturday. allocated for construction of chambers, toilets etc at courts of judicial officers and their residences. Out of this amount, Rs 32.04 million would be spent on the construction of courts of additional district and session judge and seven civil judge in Tehsil leader Haji Ghulam Ali, while ad- deal with the election of Nazimeen Jaranwala whereas Rs dressing press conference here at (Nazim and Naib Nazim). 12.671 million would be He claimed that PTI did the spent on the construction Peshawar Press Club along with leaders of ANP Sartaj Khan and amendment for its personal ben- of residence.— APP Safadar Baghi said that they have efits otherwise the amendment decided to boycott the district were not needed. He further said Nazim and Naib Nazim’s election that they have objections over the process of the election for Nazim along with the three towns. The alliance announced to boy- and Naib Nazim because PTI is cott from the election of Nazim and doing this for rigging. Ghulam Ali I SLAMABAD—The Met OfNaib Nazim for district Peshawar and said that only 12 hours have been fice on Saturday forecast town-I, town-II and town-III. Ghulam kept for the election of the Nazim mainly hot and humid Ali criticized PTI government for and Naib Nazim after the oath tak- weather in most parts of the making amendment to the Local ing ceremony adding the members country for next 24 hours. However, rain-thunderGovernment Act 2015 and particu- have been given only one hour to larly molding the election of the submit their nomination papers for shower is expected at isoNazim and Naib Nazim. “We have the election which in injustice. He lated places in Malakand, serious reservations over the amend- said that all the three parties’ mem- Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, ments in the local government act ber in the three towns would chal- Bannu, D.I Khan, Sargodha, Rawalpindi divisions, upper and changes in those clauses which lenge the elections in court.
Oath taking ceremony of district councillors held
Tripartite alliance boycotts Nazim, Naib polls STAFF REPORTER P E S H AWA R —Three months after election of the Local Government (LG) in the province the elected members took oath at district council hall here on Saturday. Osama Wariach, district returning officer, administered oath to 135 members of the district council, including women and minorities representatives. Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Riaz Mehsud was also present on this occasion. They would elect district nazim and naib nazim on Sunday. The election of the District Nazim and Town Nazim would be held on August 30 in all the 25 districts of the province. The 92 districts members of
Peshawar would elect District Nazim and Naib Nazim and Nazim and Naib Nazim for the four town councils. Speaking on the occasion DC Riaz Mehsud said that the government has already in power the councilor and district represen-tative to serve the people at gross root level. He said that 30 percent of the total ADP will be spent through the local representatives in their respective areas. Meanwhile, the tripartite alliance of Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has announced to boycott the elections of District Nazim and Town Nazim in Peshawar for making amendment to the Local Government Act 2015. Former Senator and JUI-F
FATA journalist completes ICFJ fellowship NASIB SHAH SHINWARI KHYBER AGENCY —Senior journalist from FATA among 15 other Pakistani journalists completed fellowship under the project of International center for journalists (ICFJ) in USA. The senior tribal journalist from of Khyber Agency and correspondent of daily the news Int Ashrafuddin Pirzada was selected among 15 other Pakistani Journalists to visit USA and participate in the fellowship program of ICFJ. The other day Ashrafuddin Pirzada was awarded a honorary certificate after he has successfully accomplished his fellowship in San Antonio ExpressNews of Texas city of the USA. Talking this scribe Pirzada told that he was proud to participate and successfully completed the fellowship program of ICFJ as tribal journalist of FATA. He said participation in this fellowship was full of journalistic information and eth-
ics and that he has learnt some more voluble information in regard to perform his journalistic activities well. Pirzada added that what he learnt and observed during his fellowship program would deliver and share with his FATA journalist colleagues. The senior journalist thanked and applauded the role of some senior editors of the News Int and other FATA journalists who supported and encouraged him in the field of journalism. It is to mention here that Ashrafuddin Pirzada was the third journalist from Khyber Agency after Farhad Shinwari and Rahat Shinwari who were respectively selected by the ICFJ and were facilitated to participate in the fellowship program in USA. After he successfully completed the one month fellowship with San Antonio Express-News, the officials of ICFJ awarded the journalist with honorary certificate during a ceremony held at the office of ICFJ.
Hot, humid weather expected FATA and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, The Multan local Met office has forecast partly cloudy weather
for the city and its suburbs during the next 24 hours. On Saturday, maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded as 36.0 and 25.6 degrees centigrade, respectively. Humidity was recorded 78 percent at 8 am and 58 percent at 5 pm. The sun will rise at 5:47 am and will set at 18:41 pm tomorrow.—APP
Drag India into Security Council
MEDIA WATCH
Patel row: Gujarat on boil
T
HE impression that India has still not reconciled with the reality of an independent Pakistan even after 68 years of partition, gained fur ther currency on Friday as Indian troops committed gravest violation of the Working Boundary since the two countries signed ceasefire agreement in 2003. It was a sort of mini but unilateral war as eight civilians including women and children were martyred and 47 others injured in unprovoked firing by Indian forces mainly at Chaprar Sector. India has done nothing but blackened its own face by targeting villages and killing civilians. This is not for the first time that India resorted to ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, as over one hundred such incidents have been recorded in recent months. However, Friday’s firing was the most intense and serious in terms of loss of human lives and injuries. Therefore, it was not a routine violation and conveyed something else, which must be understood by all concerned at home and abroad. Indian belligerence has assumed new heights in the aftermath of cancellation of dialogue between National Security Advisors of the two countries because New Delhi wanted to impose pre-conditions, which were not acceptable to Pakistan. In fact, ever since incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose links with extremist Hindu organizations are well known and whose entry into the US was banned because of his dirty role in massacre of Muslims in Gujarat, India is more aggressively pursuing hegemonic policies and wants to dictate its terms on smaller regional countries. Pakistan is rightly and firmly resisting such policies and believes in a relationship that is governed by universally accepted principle of sovereign equality. India is, therefore, using all tactics to intimidate Pakistan and blatant aggression on the LoC and the Working Boundary seems to be part of its overall strategy to force Pakistan to bow down. We believe that Pakistan has adopted a sagacious policy of not to be provoked and Friday’s reaction of the national leadership was reflective of this saner approach. Instead of responding in kind, Pakistan should take the issue to the UN Security Council where India is lobbying for lateral entry and also sensitize the international community about real designs of New Delhi as has been done by Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan by highlighting Indian interference in and aggression against Pakistan during his meeting with the British Foreign Secretary.
Nation needs to show more solidarity with army T
HERE is no doubt that dark clouds are hovering and possibility of Narendra Modi launching a limited war cannot be ruled out. If it happens, it would be most unfortunate and a serious set back to the cause of peace in the region. Indications are that India intends to keep up the pressure on Pakistan to divert its attention from Zarb e Azb in North Waziristan and operations in Karachi and Balochistan, where RAW backed terrorists are on the run. That is why it is daily indulging in unprovoked firing along the LoC and Working Boundary. It was good of the Chief of Army Staff that he dashed to Sialkot on Friday, visited CMH to inquire about the health of the injured and on the occasion people raised slogans enthusiastically in favour of General Raheel Sharif and Pakistan Army. These sentiments were manifestation that people of Pakistan have developed deep respect for them for giving the nation a message of hope. Every one admits that Pakistan had become somewhat porous and destabilized as terrorists of all sorts and foreign funded agents had been having a free hand. The COAS during briefing by the Rangers also pointed out the Indian involvement in acts of terrorism in Pakistani cities and that there is a relationship between terrorist attacks and violations on Working Boundary. Credit goes to the Pak Army that it launched Zarb e Azb operation in North Waziristan and took action against enemy backed anti state elements in Balochistan and Karachi leading to a visible improvement in the situation. After witnessing the defeat of its agents in FATA and other parts of the country, there is possibility of India launching swift attack or start skirmishes by creating ploy of some terrorist attack on its soil. Therefore there is need for unity among the political parties and people and support for the Armed forces should be further deepened. We say so because morale of our valiant Armed forces has to be further boosted at this point of time when danger is looming at the border.
Whose language Qaim is speaking? F
RIDAY’S utterances of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah con veyed a vivid message that he has gone berserk and utterly clueless about what is going on around him and in the country. His remarks during press talks in Karachi that Sindh has been ‘attacked’ and ‘invaded’ were mind-boggling and not expected of a chief executive of a Province. Nowhere in the world, leaders, especially those in power use such wild language and react in a manner as the Shah has done. His comments were devoid of sanity, highly provocative and insulting. Why to react in such a violent manner to the arrest of a person who has against him charges like terror financing and when the Rangers also presented the evidence to the Chief Minister? In the first instance, arrests of scores of officials and figures in Sindh on charges of corruption has confirmed the perception that Qaim Ali Shah is a feckless chief executive, who has no guts to purge his government of undesirable elements. Now that the job is being undertaken by someone else, he, instead of creating obstacles, should cooperative all possible assistance in netting both small and big fish as per the oft-repeated objective of good governance. Going by the overall image of the CM, it can safely be assumed that cannot speak such language until and unless asked to do so. But the CM is well advised not to be misled and instead of hurling allegations he should welcome action against all sorts of criminals be it terrorism or white collar crime. We also believe that instead of making such irresponsible remarks, he should be demanded more transparency in the on-going operation and this would have been welcomed by all concerned. One may also remind Syed Qaim Ali Shah that it is 2015 when Pakistan is changing and he too should become part of the change.
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Morality questions in Pakistan read voraciously about all three. On the legal side I have been Justice Oliver Wendal Dr Zafar Altaf reading Holmes whose judgments are Email:dr_altaf@hotmail.com considered pristine in the legal world. His contention is that law is in living-meaning HE bureaucratic system seems thereby that what you experience in to have been demolished over law is what makes or breaks a counthe years but now it is the po- try. We would do well to read more of litical system that is under fire. The him. He states quite categorically that recent wave of arrests indicates that the law is witness to and external dewe are just about beginning to un- posit of our moral law. derstand what the politicians have And that means that the law is to been upto. Financial misdoings are be taken seriously. Those that do not just one aspect of the entire episode. understand the import of law will live The politicians have been using the to pay for it. The law part is to be learnt institutions to settle their own ven- by all in this country. Only then will dettas. I think the government of the the moral courage be present to take day should review its own actions. the country to its logical conclusion. But why set a thief to catch a thief. The public cannot be indifferent to That is alright in movies but not in what is happening. If that happens then real life. The entire can of worms is the time of each one of us will be there going to open up and the entire eco- and we will not be supported by any nomic gains that have been made by one. The boundaries of law have not the politicians need to be revisited by been understood and the dogma conhonest investigators. Are their any tinues. Should a judge be a man of the honest and competent investigators? street? Obviously not? Should he be Public trust has been badly dented in isolated from the street? Obviously the substantive allegations that have not. Should he have the right to be in a been made against the state actors. political party? Obviously not. We are so to say in the pits of the When there are so many obviously world and that is a bottomless pit. nots what then he should do that his How is morality to be inculcated life is worth his while. The problem is in to the system? The task is a diffi- in the power structure that does not cult one. Probably one has to con- desist from interference in the judicial sider the world culture on this. The work. The political party does not want works of Whitehead and of Gardner to see defeat in a country as viciously to mention a few are worth consider- organized as Pakistan. A loser has no ing. Both of them have done what right to live and the victor is pretty was extraordinary in their times. Add nasty. Both lost out on decency. Are Vaclav Havel the Czechoslovak the lot that try and influence the judiPresident and we have an assembly ciary not corrupt? To say that money of three people that can teach us a lot constitutes corruption is naïve. The real about life and its variations. I have danger to Pakistan is the unforeseen
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slavery to the power[s] that be. If you examine the two governors - KB and Monem Khan - my opinion was and is that KB was a saint when compared with Monem Khan. Monem Khan was ripped apart when he lost power because the people of East Pakistan remembered his acts of commission. Monem Khan’s generations were murdered save one grandson who was studying in Lawrence College. KB was also murdered and he never got justice. People that do not provide justice receive the same treatment. Do Pakistanis realize their moral duty or they are ignorant of it. It is moral duty of every citizen to convey any criminal activity that he is witness to. Does that happen? These colonial laws that we implement through courts are faulty. The other day I was talking to a group of lawyers and explained my concerns. They agreed. They all agree but seldom do anything about it. Let us move a little towards the rural side. Do you think that they are human beings? Do you think that they deserve any consideration by the government - any government? The rural areas have been vilified by the industrial class and all kinds of mafia who practise money as their religion. And I daresay that most of the bureaucracy, politicians and now media people are also involved in this money game fair or foul. The results will not be fully endorsed unless all those that have assets beyond their known means of income are hauled up. The only disciplined institution is the Army and they have to do the needful. Where and how did we lose the moral compass and our virtues? This is important for us to understand. The political governments when they want
to use a member of the bureaucracy some examples will clarify. Either he has to be a junior given charge of e senior appointment or he has to be a son in law of a powerful personality who will then be blackmailed in to doing things that they cannot say no to. The powerful sons-in-law will be made to do the needful for the government of the day. Fulton was right when he pin pointed that the bureaucracy has to follow rules and procedures for recruitment as well as promotion and subsequent service matters. Waqar hated the civil service for he was unable to get in to it. He is no more; therefore, I would let the good be interred with his body. I was a great admirer of Lew Kwan Yew and in one meeting with him in Singapore, I enquired as to how he managed the bureaucracy and how he was able to remunerate them at par with the income of the private sector. His way was clear and the management of the bureaucracy was rigidly followed in terms of procedures and processes. In other words both concepts and cognitive abilities were recognized. The East India concepts were done away and a civil service on merit was established by British. Over years those that were unable to get in to the civil service campaigned hard against it. The police had its own grouse. Before 2004 there was not a single death of a police man in the affairs of the state. Now we have forgotten how many families have lost their bread earners. Recreate moral campus and stop baseless decisions. Fear is never successful in public policy. — The writer is a retired Federal Secretary based in Islamabad.
Sodom Ville Lord and Lady Mountbatten – Gyroscope severally! (Both for their sexual preferences?) Abdul Rehman Mian Forecasting the Email: arm@boremaster.com 2015 Monsoon & Fall Media avalanche, the ODOM Ville’ is located Government of the Punjab had petiwithin a few hundred meters tioned the Lahore High Court to acof Pak-India border Check cord verdict to launch a Judicial InPost. It comprises of just about six quiry. The request had been turned hundred houses. Here, the criminals down. The ruling clique of National have been buggering the children – Assembly Legislature is promising and have been ‘Shooting’ them – on to introduce a ‘Bill’ for enhancement digital videos! Police have been re- of the punishments for such heinous cording the images of the complain- crimes. Let’s hope such a law comes ants and threatening them of: ‘Fram- into force – during a few working ing’! The Multitude has been han- days of both the Houses! Meantime, kering to ‘Hang’the criminals at pub- the Media ferver may die down; for lic places! Like once it happened in yet another as horrible crime or ‘Puppo’s case, during mid 1980s – catastrophy? We have had devastatby the verdict of a Military Court. ing floods, already. A political This Indo-Pakistan border was tremor of a 3.0 plus scale upheaval, somehow created in a hurry, by: Sir with shallow depth origin may be – Radcliffe’s Boundary Commission. the order of the day!!!? Everysince 2005, a Child ProSince, according to; Soren A. Kierkegaard. “Life has to be lived tection and Welfare Bureau exists in forward, but can only be understood Lahore, Punjab. It’s controlling ofbackward…. “Hence the following:- fice is located – within an hour’s drive from Kasur. The Hussain BENDING THE BORDER. BBC’s Alaster Lawson aired Khanwala village – the children’s an interview with Robert Beau- sexual abuse Centrum – is not very mont – heir and by chance custo- far off. Incidentally the said bureau dian of his father Mr. Christopher was established under the Punjab Beaumont’s Memoirs – in draft Destitute & Neglected Children’s format. Mr. Beaumont Sr. was the Act passed in 2004. And amended Secretary to the British Judge; Sir three years later - almost a year beCyril Radcliffe, who was the fore the advent of the initial wave Chairman of the Indo-Pakistan of the Child Sexual Abuse and blackmail cases! Though, reports are surBoundary Commission. “Mr. C. Beaumont’s docu- facing now. This, of course, is in ments repeatedly allege that addition to the International obligaMountbatten put pressure on tions about prevention or punishRadcliffe, to alter the boundary in ment of child abuse. This scribe as India’s favour”. Louis Mountbatten yet has to search specific details. The Viceroys / Governor Genwas good looking – but not wellread. Radcliffe was quietly civi- erals did have obligations to raise lized. Edwina Mountbatten had to land revenues from their Crown use all her adroitness to keep con- Jewel Colony: India. They executed versation between them, on even and installed the Irrigation network; keel”. It is also authentically cited the Railway system and Post & telethat: Pundit Nehru slept with both, graph grids – which helped and fa-
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cilitated HM’s Indian subjects in addition to gratifying the vital British defence needs too. Hussain Khanwala village had a tract of land about 12 Acres reserved as: “Shamlaat-e-Deh” dedicated for all the village population’s civic needs. All the village population had the proprietary rights over it. Even if the Moghul rulers introduced it and gave it its Persian name, the Sikh warlords of Kasur had accorded them, the due sanctity. Certainly, Maha Raja Ranjeet Singh must have maintained them – with his due Royal Deference – before the British did the same. This parcel of land survived all the upheavals of history till sixty plus years after the advent of partition and, later that of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan! Lo and behold! This village property, designated for public Welfare Projects is stated to have been ‘sold’ out to an individual or a group for his / their exclusive private use! At least, that’s how, the issue has been explained by the ‘Spokesperson of the Punjab Government, to muddle the gross sexual abuse of the fateless children of Hussain Khanwala and surrounding villages”. Yet another; ala Miss Aryan Ali’s worthy legal counsellor’s statement that: Miss Aryyan wanted to build a place of worship in the vicinity of the Airport. It was common knowledge that Mr. Winston Churchill was against granting independence to India and Pakistan just yet, stating; “They are not ready for it”, he argued, on the eve of independence. He stated, and I quote: “Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues, freebooters. All leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight amongst themselves for power and India and Pakistan will be lost in political squabbles. A day would come when even air and water would be taxed.” Unquote: Mr. Churchill must have been suffering one of his:
Rare Sober Spells, if, as and when he may have said it. Else, he would have added one of his traditional ‘Provisos’ as: “With a few honourable exceptions?” A latterday-one had expressed it, thus; “It is not the speaker, that defines the merits of the words – but, the words and events themselves do – in due course of time. Department of State (DOS) United States of America projects the soft image of US. This Gyroscope is triggered by the fact to suggest / appeal to US, DOS; CIDA and DFID; but not limited to them. There happen to be some highly qualified scholars of Therapeutic Sciences in unites States, who originate from this part of Pakistan and still speak the local language and dialects of the this child abuse centrum. Their respective employers may not be aware of our dire need of rehabilitation of the victims of the trauma that we as a nation are going through. Only the afore-stated US, organs can sponsor the visits of the suitable professionals and practitioners of therapeutic sciences of both the genders. We, in Orient have long memories. US President John F. Kennedy directed his Secretary of Interior Mr. Stewart Udall, who directed his Science Advisor Dr. Roger Revelle, to personally head the Panel that conducted the intensive study and analysis of the problems of water-logging and salinity in West Pakistan. (During 1961-62) and suggest solution of low agricultural productivity. The Comprehensive Report was collaged, compiled and presented in a presentation by Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner Special Assistant for Science and Technology, to the American and Pakistani Presidents. Hope it merits President Obama’s immediate attention and we have another memoire – to treasure for generations? — The writer is a freelance columnist.
OSS of seven precious lives in police firing and preceding violence in Gujarat and injuries to several others following massive rally by Patel community on Tuesday is unfortunate and highly condemnable. Moreover, police firing on unarmed persons participating in the rally that was called as a show of strength for pressing on their demand for reservation under Other Backward Classes (OBC) in government services and other avenues of employment in Gujarat cannot be condoned in any manner. This involved the people, who started pelting stones on the police and resorted to violence targeting government property after the arrest of their leader Hardik Patel, who was leading the rally in Ahmedabad as an expression of anger against the police action. The question, who started first the violent incidents and who resorted to police firing is matter of inquiry, which may take its own time after a probe is ordered into circumstances leading to such a situation after peaceful rally. What prompted the police to detain the Patel community leader, who called and led the rally in support of their demands for reservation for the community is also a matter of investigation. Now the demand for registration of murder cases against the policemen, who opened firing on unarmed and innocent persons, is also justified because there were orders from the magistrates for such an action. There is also confusion why police opening firing when those after having participated in the rally were not resorting to any violent act after the incidents of arson and violence had already taken place in various parts of Gujarat capital city and elsewhere in the state. Anyway, the state government has to ensure that proper action is initiated against the cops, who indulged in such irresponsible acts without any provocation and come up to the aspirations of the people. While everything was going on in Gujarat, the centre stepped in high speed to assist the state government on bringing the situation under control at the earliest. As such the state government has not ordered any inquiry into the incidents and police firing to fix the guilt of the forces. But it is strange that the prime minister Narendra Modi was also quick in making a live telecast of his speech for appealing the Patel community members and other citizens to restore peace and normalcy in Gujarat. Modi has not shown such urgency in addressing the nation when similar incidents have taken place elsewhere in the country including Kashmir where many innocent lives have been lost in such incidents. Such a stance of Modi exposes his duplicity of ideology on all major issues including the Land Bill, which was aimed at land acquisition for corporate purposes in whole India. Firstly, it is not only a question of reservations for the Patel community in Gujarta but a part of bigger problem that is afflicting the society in whole of Gujarat and other parts of the country. The employment opportunities have shrunk due to wrong policies of the central government and lack of level playing field for the people from the downtrodden sections of the society. In fact, the whole gambit of reservations needs to be reviewed at the national level so that people having suffered socially and economically can be targeted and provided relief in the form of reservations or economic upliftment so that they can compete with other communities in the country. Unfortunately, the anger of Patel community has also expressed against the person of Modi, who drew lot of support for riding on the wave of socalled change for becoming first the chief minister of Gujarat and then as prime minister of India. Naturally, Patel community, which is quite affluent and influential have been expecting something more from him than simple assurances to them. Secondly, the whole notion of vibrant economy of Gujarat has been exposed with one single rally and agitation of Patel community. Suddenly everything appears to have disappeared as a whimper when the question of employment opportunities in Gujarat is further probed from a different perspective. Gujarat government and centre have to bear in mind if all major issues are to be sorted out through the process of dialogue and reconciliation, the initiative has to begin from the very beginning so that people and the government are caught in a piquant situation unawares. — Kashmir Times
The early bird catches the worm. — Proverb
Pak-Kazakhstan relations: A welcome initiative Voice of the People major challenge for this project is provision of security. The important opportunity is Muhammad Munir second improvement of relations beEmail: munirwarsi@yahoo.com tween Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan’s role in Afghan reconciliation process is critiN the special invitation of cal. The third opportunity is beginPresident of Kazakhstan, ning of the official process for PaH.E Nursultan Abishevich kistan and India’s full membership Shanghai Cooperation Nazarbayev, a high-level Pakistani of delegation led by Prime Minister organisation (SCO) as announced Muhammad Nawaz Sharif paid a at the 15th SCO Summit held in Ufa, two-day visit to Astana, Russia, on 9-10 July 2015. This opKazakhstan, on 25-26 August 2015. portunity will provide a space to The military operation Zarb-e-Azb both Pakistan and India to improve and China-Pakistan Economic cor- their relations. The fourth important ridor are two game changers in the opportunity for Pakistan lies in region - the first one for regional Iran’s nuclear deal with the West. peace and second one for regional The removal of various sanctions prosperity. These two initiatives against Iran as a result of the deal have raised Pakistan’s profile not will help Pakistan to complete its only at regional level but also at the portion of Gas pipeline with Iran. The progress in these four spheres international level. The unfolding new realities in will help Pakistan in meeting the the region are providing new av- imperatives of regional security. All enues to Pakistan to realize its true these developments are termed as potential as regional hub for trade game changer for Pakistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s and economic cooperation. H.E. NursultanNazarbayev in his meet- visit to Kazakhstan took place at a ing with Pakistani Prime Minister critical time for Pakistan when the Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif meeting of National Security Advery rightly pointed out that in light visors of Pakistan and India that of new realities, it is time to start a was scheduled to be held on August new page in the bilateral relations 24, 2015, was cancelled due to Inbetween Kazakhstan and Pakistan. dian pre-conditions for talks; espeThe statement clearly reflects that cially it wanted Pakistan not to conKazakhstan is interested to start a sult with Kashmiri Hurriyat leadnew page of cooperation with Paki- ership before talks with India. Furstan due to unfolding new develop- ther, India is trying to limit the diaments in the region. There is no logue to just one single issue of terdoubt that both countries hold enor- rorism whereas Pakistan is intermous significance for each other to ested in discussing all the issues have close political, economic and including the core issue of Jammu security relations. Both countries are and Kashmir through a meaningful important in terms of their potential result oriented dialogue. Many exin diversified field and can benefit perts were of the view that with such from each other’s experience. The moves India is trying to isolate Patwo countries share common views kistan. Therefore, in this respect the on major regional and international timing of the visit to Astana, was issues and cooperate closely in mul- very significant for Pakistan. Pakitilateral forums including the UN, stan accords high priority to its deep historical and cultural bonds with the SCO, ECO and OIC. With the changing global stra- Central Asian region. The Prime Minister’s visit to tegic milieu, Pakistan has several opportunities at its disposal especially Kazakhstan was reflective of his in four broad gradients. The first op- vision to enhance and strengthen portunity is the initiation of China- Pakistan’s relations with Central Pakistan Economic Corridor. The Asian Republics Prime Minister
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Nawaz Sharif ’s visit to Kazakhstan was considered very successful as he held very important and result oriented meetings with President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev and Prime Minister Karim Massimov. The leadership of both countries expressed their resolve to further reinforce bilateral trade, investment and build long-term economic cooperation. According to a joint statement issued after the visit, the two countries would cooperate in the field of energy such as oil and gas, civil nuclear cooperation and renewable energy. The two sides confirmed that the 8th Session of Intergovernmental Kazakhstan-Pakistan Commission on trade and economic, scientific and technical and cultural cooperation, will be held in Astana on October 29-30, 2015. Further the leadership of both countries highlighted the importance of setting-up of Joint Business Council and enhancing cooperation in the field of defence. In view of their considerable transit and transport potential, both sides agreed to enhance their cooperation in the field of transport and communications. The two sides noted that one of the potential links between Astana and Islamabad could be established through connection of railways Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran and Pakistan-Iran-Turkey. This project would be very much in line with Kazakhstan’s New Economic Policy ‘Nurly Zhol’ (The Bright Road) and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. While realizing the importance of people to people contact, both sides expressed intention to develop regular exchange between organisations, artists, research centres, educational institutions, mass media, and to intensify cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, art, tourism and sports. The joint statement is a very comprehensive document and also elaborates the importance of cooperation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan in promotion of regional security and stability. The joint communiqué said, the two
sides reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen cooperation on prevention and peaceful resolution of international conflicts, and to counter challenges posed by terrorism, disasters and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They underscored the importance of coordination among all stakeholders in holding the Fifth Ministerial Conference in Islamabad in December 2015, within the framework of the Heart of AsiaIstanbul Process. Kazakh President expressed full confidence in successful hosting of this forthcoming event by the government in of Pakistan. Pakistan and Kazakhstan had a common interest in a peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan. The two countries also support an all-inclusive Afghan-led and Afghanowned reconciliation process. Pakistan thanked Kazakh President for supporting Pakistan’s candidature for non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council in 2012-2013 and reiterated her support for Kazakhstan’s candidature for the non-permanent seat of the UNSC in 2017-18. There is a bigger scope for trade in textile and cotton products, pharmaceuticals and food items, engineering equipment and machinery and construction enterprises. Pakistan and Kazakhstan signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, defence and strategic studies, and training in foreign services. Nawaz Sharif ’s visit to Kazakhstan is part of Pakistan’s plan to diversify its foreign engagements. Kazakhstan is one of the major Central Asian players and it has shown eagerness to cooperate with Pakistan in multiple sectors. Starting a new page in bilateral relations with Kazakhstan will help Pakistan realizing its potential to become a hub for regional connectivity and economic interdependence. —The writer is working as Research Fellow at Islamabad Policy Research Institute.
View From Abroad
A great leap forward Javier Solana
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EXT month, the world will achieve a milestone for glo bal development efforts. The United Nations General Assembly will adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), an ambitious set of global objectives expected to improve the lives of millions of people by 2030. The fact that the SDGs are being established on the UN’s 70th anniversary could not be more appropriate. Though the UN’s record over the last seven decades has not been perfect, with many instances of inadequate responses, its success in engaging the world in the pursuit of shared objectives like development has been impressive. In 2000, the UN adopted a development agenda underpinned by the so-called Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and guided by the principle that no one should have to suffer the consequences of extreme poverty. At that time, very few people believed that the goals could be attained by the 2015 target date. But, although poverty has not been eliminated, there has been significant progress — and some major victories. Since 1990 (the reference year for measuring improvement), the number of people living in extreme poverty (living on less
than $1.25 a day) has fallen by 33 percent, from 1.9 billion to 836 million worldwide, with most of that progress coming after the MDGs entered into effect. The number of people with access to safe drinking water has increased by 15 percent, to 1.9 billion. Infant mortality has been cut by more than half, and maternal mortality by 45 percent. Likewise, primary-school enrollment rates have risen from 83 percent to 91 percent since 2000. The number of new HIV/AIDS infections has dropped by 40 percent. And official development assistance from developed countries has risen by 66 percent. These figures show that, with well-defined objectives and real action, it is possible to bring about big changes. This idea was instrumental in designing the post-2015 development agenda. The SDGs build on the MDGs’ success, while adding a new dimension: sustainability. World leaders now recognize that efforts to meet development needs today must not jeopardize future generations’ prospects. The sustainability dimension brings with it a universality that was lacking from the MDGs. Developed countries are no longer just enablers of progress, earmarking a percentage of their GDP to support the efforts of developing countries to reduce poverty, improve health, and raise living standards. Instead, they must be committed and active par-
ticipants in the effort to achieve the agreed goals, in some cases even modifying their own domestic policies. In this sense, the SDGs more clearly reflect the conviction, upheld by the UN, that all of us are global citizens. This conviction lies behind the establishment of international humanitarian law and the supranational courts that address violations of it. And it underpinned the adoption of the “responsibility to protect” principle, which demands that the international community defend a country’s people from mass-atrocity crimes when their own government fails to do so. It comes down to personal dignity. No matter who you are or where you were born, you have a basic right to be protected from brutal crimes like genocide or the undue suffering of extreme poverty. Future generations, too, deserve personal dignity — including that afforded by a clean and healthy environment. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has emphasized personal dignity in the discussions leading to the adoption of the SDGs, even asking Pope Francis to address the General Assembly on the subject at its next meeting. So what exactly is on the next development agenda? The draft agenda, on which agreement was reached at the beginning of this month, contains 17 goals — including ending poverty in all its forms, achieving food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, providing
quality education to all, ensuring access to energy and clean water, and adopting urgent measures to combat climate change — backed by 169 targets. Fulfilling this ambitious agenda will require realistic and effective evaluation mechanisms that help reveal the best policies and keep countries’ efforts on track. According to the draft agenda, the monitoring procedures will be directed by individual countries, so that each government can tailor them according to its national priorities. But it is up to the international community to ensure that all governments establish specific goals and deadlines for meeting them. Without strong accountability mechanisms, the SDGs will amount to little more than an exercise in raising awareness, effectively subordinating the health, dignity, and prosperity of all humanity to short-term national interests. The upcoming SDG summit, which will bring together the largest concentration of heads of state and government in the history of the UN, presents the ideal opportunity to establish such mechanisms. The SDGs are extremely ambitious. With a sustained commitment from all countries, developed and developing alike, the world can ensure that it celebrates another great leap forward in 2030. — Courtesy: Arab News
Smile with your voice..!
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ANY, many years ago when FM first came into my city, crowds gathered outside the radio station after a particular program. The reason? They all wanted to have a glimpse of the girl who hosted the show. “She must be so beautiful!” they said to each other as they jostled one another to have a look of this beauty queen. They were so busy trying to find her they hardly noticed a wisp of a girl, ordinary and hardly very attractive, making her way out through the gates. They didn’t know she was the one, who with her voice en-
chanted her listeners day after day. I knew her well. “How d’you do it?” I asked her once. “I smile with my voice!” she told me. “You do what?” I asked puzzled “Bob,” she said, “just say, ‘How d’you do?’ the way you normally do. Now stretch a smile across your face, no Bob, not a grimace, a nice happy, pleasant smile and say the same words. There’s a big difference isn’t there? You feel like stretching across and hugging me! That’s what happens when you smile with your voice. You become different: A difference Bob that’s helped me up the ladder of success!” After that little talk I’ve realized how important voice is for any sort of communication; email and cell messaging won’t ever achieve what a smiling voice does. I don’t know what your job is, but lets pretend for a few moments
you’re either an executive or a businessman, shall we? Okay Mr Hotshot you need to make an appointment to meet Mr Bigger Hotshot. You pick up the phone, dial Mr Bigger Hotshot’s number and with your best foot forward and tongue stiffly in place tell his secretary who you are. “Who?” she growls and you fumble, flounder and become flustered. “Who?” she snarls again, and before she can put the phone down, you squeak out your name. “Mr Bigger Hotshot is busy,” she says and cuts you off. Ah Mr Hotshot! Let’s give it another try. Give the ‘smile in your voice’ theory a try. Smile as you call. Smile as you dial. That’s just not enough, not enough at all! Grin; a happy smile, yes that’s it, a nice whammy of a stretcher! Now speak to her, yes that same hag, that witch who cut
you off. Put a smile in your words. Let her feel your lips stretching out to bursting point. She’s listening! She feels your attitude, senses your joy, there’s a feel good factor at work my friend. You ask for her boss and she puts you through. Just like that, and if she doesn’t do so at once it’s because she wants to feel your warmth a few moments more! A smile in your voice always works. And here’s something more. There’s a small bonus after you use such voice: You start feeling good. You begin to feel a deep sense of happiness, a pervading sensation of peace and contentment. There’s a spring in your step and lightness in your walk. There’s joy in your heart! A smiling voice makes a smiling you..! —Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com
School: A comfort zone for girls of KP NAVEED KHAN
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n the conservative society of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, boundary walls are a symbol of protection and security especially for girls. Apart from the cultural requirement, the security situation also warrants a safe and secure environment for children to study. For creating a conducive learning environment for the girls of KP, the first and foremost priority is providing them a comfort zone where they do not fear any intrusions and feel secure away from unsolicited attention. Cultural norms demand respect and sensitivity and the government of KP considers it a prime responsibility to provide the conditions in which effective learning and teaching can take place. The government of KP has by words and action signposted in neon that girl’s education is its priority. An amount of Rs. 8.5 billion has been allocated for provision of missing facilities including boundary walls to help assuage the fears of parents regarding the pardah of their daughters and also, to bestow a sense of security on the girl students. This prodigious allocation would cater for the boundary wall needs of all the schools of the Province during the FY 2015-16. Government of KP has started myriad of reform initiatives to facilitate girls in pursuing education. One of the many reforms that are a resounding success is the establishing of community schools for girls through Elementary Education Foundation. Girls’ Community Schools serve out of school children whose parents are not willing to send their daughters to far- flung, unfamiliar government schools. These schools are located within their respective community and currently over 857 community schools operate in 24 districts of KP. GCSs are located within the community, in donated rooms, and source teachers from the community. In FY 2014-15, Rs. 891.35 million had been allocated for establishing 1000 Girl’s Community Schools across the Province. Currently over 943 community schools operate in 24 districts of KP with 900 teachers and they cater to around 35412 girl students. The current revamped Girls’ Stipend Programme is another example of government’s interventions for facilitating enrolment and retention of girls in schools. The government decided to continue the programme and Rs.1.1 billion were allocated in FY 2014-15 for the Girls Stipends. Around 442030 girls benefited from this scheme in 2014-15 while 465000 girl students will be awarded stipends during the current Financial Year. Under this scheme, girls enrolled in grades six to ten are eligible to receive Rs. 2400 stipend in two instalments, bi-annually in 23 districts, excluding Torghar and Kohistan. The second stream of Stipend programme specifically caters to Torghar and Kohistan. In this stream, all girls enrolled in grades one to ten in Torghar district and grades six to ten in Kohistan receives stipends. Amount of stipend varies from PKR 1,500 per month for primary school girls and PKR 2,000 per month for girls in grades six to ten. The third stream is the Special Initiative Program that was launched in 2013-14 by the current government and was especially designed as an incentive to target female school students in seven districts with a low net enrolment rate, to go to school. These districts included Hangu, Peshawar, Battagram, Dir Upper, Shangla, Swat and Tank. For creating an educated society, the role of girls and women is pivotal and therefore, their educational needs that include a culturally acceptable and safe environment particularly for girls, is of great import to the Government of KP. —Via email
NA-154 Election Tribunal’s decision J. BASHIR On the eve of 26th August 2015, PTI has bagged the third consecutive win in the election rigging matter. This time the Election Tribunal has declared the result of the NA-154 constituency election as ‘null and void’, thus de-seating PML-N’s candidate, Siddique Baloch. Jahangir Tareen speaking on the occasion thanked Allah the Almighty and conveyed the decision to the Chairman PTI Who was elated by this good news. ‘We were expecting the decision in our favour; Mr Tareen worked very hard to fight this battle; The truth has won’ was the spontaneous reaction, as Imran Khan’s stance on election rigging had been endorsed again. Baloch has been disqualified for life to contest any election, on grounds of presenting fake degree. The election has been declared as void due to massive rigging. Earlier PML-N leadership and Baloch were claiming victory predicting favourable decision. This did not happen, and they had to cut a sorry figure before the Press and the Public. The Court has ordered re-election in the NA 154 district Lodhran, Multan. This was one of the four NA Seats against which PTI had filed petitions in the election Tribunals. They have won 3 out 4 matches. The result of the 4th seat is being awaited eagerly. Hopefully the result of the 4th would come in their favour too. That should trigger mid-term elections. PML-N and its government are in deep trouble and are fighting hard for survival, as the common man’s confidence of this government is being eroded with the passing of days and weeks. Hearty Congratulations to the entire nation. —Via email
NBP clarifies pensioners’ details SYED IBNE HASSAN The news item that was published in various newspapers on Aug. 19, 2015, quoted National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on the reduction in the number of the pensioners. The articles have used language of “Ghost Pensioners” which was not mentioned by NBP officials and neither was any amount given. NBP there clarifies that the government initiated automation of the pension system in 2012 and hence the NBP adopted/introduced new procedure for processing pension payments of the pensioners as per bank system requirement. NBP while disbursing the pensions to pensioners throughout the period has disbursed pensions only to verified pensioners, through its main and subordinate branches. The impression given in the article that there were people who received pensions were not genuine, is incorrect. Prior to 2012, the NBP was servicing 2.1 million plus pensioners, reduced to 1.629 million in 2015, as a result of the automation and direct transfer of pension to the Pensioners’ bank accounts. The reduction in the number of the pensioners serviced by NBP could be attributed to the change brought about under the Supreme Court ruling in 2009 which authorized other commercial banks also to disburse pensions to the Pensioners, with effect from December 2010. As such, during conversion over the period, the number of pensioners reduced and reasons could be multiple, including: (a) Pensioner moving to other commercial banks; (b) Pensioners who could not fulfil the standard-
ization requirements that NBP had put in place to identify pensioners; (c) Pensioners whose pensions might have been stopped by their respective organizations; and (d) Pensioners who may have opted for other institutions including post offices or district treasury offices. Whatever the reason, this led to reduction in the number of pensioners over the period from 2.1 million plus in 2012, to 1.43 million in 2014; and again this number of the pensioners increased to 1.629 million as of June 2015, due to new pensioners and transfer of existing pensioners from other banks/institutions to NBP. — Via email
ISIS is for Israel? MADIHA ATHER HASHMI There are rumours which are somehow true that ISIS works for Israel. ISIS was not created by Israel; it was funded by them, the US and even some Muslim countries to terrorize the Middle East in search of regional hegemony to counter the growing influence of Iran. Funny how US sent ground troops to topple Saddam’s government but won’t send a single troop to fight ISIS. ISIS fighters are trained and headed by Israelis themselves and I’m afraid that leader of ISIS Abu Bakar Baghdadi is a Jew himself Stereo typed as a Muslim Caliph or Jihadi ISIS is a creation of deep seated Muslim hatred, American greed and lobbying and Israel’s insecurities. It’s just a matter of time before they turn their guns on Israel too. These people together have created a monster they didn’t mean to be this big.. —Via email
Resolve Kashmir dispute RAJA AMJAD HN MINHAS The veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, while hailing the undaunted support of the people of Pakistan, expressed the confidence that Pakistan will use all its channels to build pressure on India to resolve the Kashmir dispute by implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. Syed Ali Gilani in a media interview in Srinagar said that the entire international community acknowledged that the Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed territory. He said that the UN resolutions provided the best solution to the lingering dispute; therefore, the world community should use its influence and take practical steps for their implementation. It is a historic fact that India had forcibly occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 by landing its troops in Srinagar in total disregard to the Partition Plan of Indian Subcontinent and against the wishes of the Kashmiri people – laying foundation of the Kashmir dispute. Kashmiris had strongly resisted this Indian invasion and launched a massive uprising against it and within a few months, they had forced New Delhi to take the Kashmir dispute to the UN seeking its help for settlement of the dispute. Subsequently, the World Body had passed several resolutions acknowledging the Kashmiris’ right to decide their future through a plebiscite to be held under its supervision. The first Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had promised before the world community, and at several other occasions, that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be given the opportunity to decide their
future by themselves. However, this commitment remains unfulfilled despite the passage of more than six decades and the sufferings of the Kashmiri people continue. It is also a reality that Pakistan has always advocated resolution of the conflict over Kashmir through giving the Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination as promised by India and the world community. Pakistan is continuing its moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris’ liberation struggle for the last over six decades and using every channel to highlight the Kashmir dispute at the global level. During all these years, New Delhi’s intransigence and unrealistic approach towards the conflict had been the main impediment in the way of its settlement and instead of implementing the relevant UN resolutions; it has been using all kinds of undemocratic and repressive tactics to intimidate the Kashmiris into submission. However, it has failed to succeed in its nefarious designs even after killing lacs of innocent people, subjecting thousands to custodial disappearance and putting hundreds behind the bars besides torturing and rendering scores of others handicapped for life. The UN resolutions on Kashmir are of enormous importance as they recognize the disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir. They form the basis for the settlement of the dispute and provide its best practicable solution. The deplorable aspect of matter is that the UN has so far totally failed to take any serious step for the implementation of these resolutions as it has done in the cases of other international conflicts like East Timor, Kosovo and South Sudan. This attitude of the World Body has emboldened India to carry on its brutalities against the innocent Kashmiris with impunity, resulting in constant threat to the peace and stability in South Asia. It is high time for the world community to come forward in a big way and impress upon New Delhi to fulfil its commitments and give the Kashmiris their right to decide about their destiny on their own. This will be the biggest favour not only to the inhabitants of the region but also to the whole planet. —Via email
Unhygienic food HARIS MAJEED The issue of unhygienic food is on a raise and the latest we can see by the number of cases that have hurt the health of the people working at government institutions. During the lunch time or tea time, the food is served to the employees which is often reported as unhygienic as the utensils used are not clean. I therefore want to request the respective department of the Sindh government, and especially to the Health Minister, Jam Mahtab Hussain to please arrange a check and balance system of the food being delivered for the employees of the government institutions, as the responsibility lies solely on the government. —Karachi
DISCLAIMER THE articles, columns and letters are published on these pages in good faith. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
—Editor Email:editorial@pakobserver.net
Libya arrests 3 suspect smugglers over migrant boat disaster
Inside the Pentagon’s Manhunting Machine SEAN NAYLOR
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TRIPOLI—Three people have been arrested, said a security been arrested in Libya on suspicion of involvement in launching a boat packed with migrants that sank off the country’s Mediterranean coast, killing up to 200 people, a security official said on Saturday. The vessel with up to 400 sub-Saharan, Syrian and Asian migrants on board capsized on Thursday after setting off from the town of Zuwara, a major launchpad for people smugglers exploiting anarchy in a country with two rival governments. Oil-producing Libya has turned into a major transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty to make it to Europe. Three Libyan smugglers involved in launching the illfated boat and other vessels to bring migrants to Italy have
official, asking not to be named. “They are in their twenties,” he said. “We think that more are involved which we are still chasing.” Arrests of smugglers are rare in Libya, where the judiciary has little power since the country is effectively controlled by ex-rebel groups which helped to oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. On Thursday, Zuwara residents staged a protest to demand authorities clamp down on smugglers who use the town to launch boats due to its proximity to the Italian island of Lampedusa. Libya has asked the European Union for help to train and equip its navy, which was largely destroyed during the 2011 uprising.—Reuters
A view of the bodies of dead migrants that were recovered by the Libyan coastguard after a boat sank off the coastal town of Zuwara.
UN urges all states to sign, China, U.S. should ratify Nuclear Test Ban Treaty overcome headwinds, UNITED NATIONS—United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon has welcomed voluntary moratoria on testing imposed by nuclear-armed states but stressed that these cannot substitute for a legally-binding treaty. “The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is essential for the elimination of nuclear weapons,” the secretary-general said in a message marking the fifth International Day against Nuclear Tests. “It is a legally-binding, verifiable means by which to constrain the quantitative and qualitative development of nuclear weapons.” The UN General Assembly declared August 29 the International Day against nuclear tests in December 2009, adopting a unanimous resolution that calls for increasing awareness and education “about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.” 2010 marked the inaugural commemoration of the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Reminding the world that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the dawn of the nuclear age, the UN chief said 70 years ago in 1945, “the Trinity Test unleashed the power of more than 20,000 tons of TNT and precipitated over
2,000 additional nuclear tests.” “Pristine environments and populated communities in Central Asia, North Africa, North America and the South Pacific were hit,” he said. “Many have never recovered from the resulting environmental, health and economic damage. Poisoned groundwater, cancer, leukaemia, radioactive fallout - these are among the poisonous legacies of nuclear testing.” “The best way to honour the victims of past tests is to prevent any in the future,” he said, noting that two decades after the CTBT was negotiated, “the time has long past for its entryinto-force.” “I welcome the voluntary moratoria on testing imposed by nuclear-armed states,” Ban said.”At the same time, I stress that these cannot substitute for a legally-binding treaty.” “On this International Day, I repeat my longstanding call on all remaining states to sign and ratify the Treaty – especially the eight necessary for its entry-into-force – as a critical step on the road to a nuclear-weapon-free world,” he said. Pakistan, India and Israel have declined to sign the NPT on grounds that such a treaty is fundamentally discriminatory as it places limitations on states that do not have nuclear weapons while making no efforts to curb weapons development by declared nuclear states.—APP
Journalists Fahmy and Mohamed talk to the media at a court in Cairo.
manage differences BEIJING—Despite differences and occasional fric- way to promoting peace and development in the tions, China and the United States should effectively manage discords and minimize their impact on bilateral ties, which are of critical importance to both countries and the world as a whole. U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice’s ongoing visit to Beijing demonstrates the great attention paid by Washington to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States in September and bilateral ties. The visit of Rice, who bears the responsibility of preparing the upcoming summit between Xi and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, will underscore the U.S. commitment to building “a more productive relationship” between the two countries. Similarly, China also values its relationship with the United States and would like to work together with it to maintain sustainable and steady growth of ties between the world’s firstand second-largest economies. As Xi put it, a stable and growing ChinaU.S. relationship will not only benefit the peoples of both countries, but also go a long
Asia-Pacific region and beyond. However, as two friends quarrel but never end their relationship, discord between China and the United States is natural. The right thing for them to do is to always maintain communication, build mutual trust, and respect and accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns. Dialogue has been a two-way process of learning and adapting, which enables the two sides to approach issues in a more collaborative and effective manner, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang has said. Among many different ways of resolving differences and frictions, dialogue is certainly the most cost-effective means of doing so. The ongoing U.S.-China bilateral investment treaty (BIT) negotiation is a good example. The groundwork for the negotiations, which began in 2008, was laid in 1982, but had long been stalled until 2013, when the fifth round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue adopted a pre-establishment national treatment clause and the negative list approach.—Xinhua
Egyptian court sentences three Al Jazeera journalists to prison CAIRO—An Egyptian court sentenced three Al Jazeera TV journalists to three years in prison on Saturday for operating without a press license and broadcasting material harmful to Egypt, a case that has stirred an international outcry. The verdict in a retrial was issued against Mohamed Fahmy, a naturalized Canadian who has given up his Egyptian citizenship, Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian, and Peter Greste, an Australian who was deported in February. Rights advocates say their arrest was part of a crackdown on free speech since the army overthrew President Mohamed Mursi, a senior Muslim Brotherhood figure, in July 2013 following mass unrest over his rule. Judge Hassan Farid said the defendants, dubbed the “Marriott Cell” by the local press because they worked out of a hotel belonging to that chain, “are not journalists and not members of the
press syndicate” and broadcast with unlicensed equipment. Baher received an additional six months in prison. The state news agency MENA said that extra time was handed down because he was in possession of a bullet at the time of his arrest. The three men were originally sentenced to between seven to 10 years in prison on charges including spreading lies to help a terrorist organization, a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood which the military toppled from power two years ago. The three defendants denied all charges, calling them absurd. Three other Egyptians, all students, also received three-year sentences for the same charges. Speaking on Al Jazeera in reaction to Saturday’s verdict, Greste said he was shocked at the scale of the sentence.—Reuters
Achieving peace through strength – a good lesson EYAD ABU SHAKRA
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AST week marked the second anniver sary of the chemical weapons attacks perpetrated by the Syrian regime against the towns and villages of Eastern Ghouta near Syria’s capital, Damascus. That day, according to reliable sources, the area covering the eastern and northeastern suburbs of the city—especially Zamalka, Ain Terma, Kfar Batna and ‘Arbeen, as well as the southern suburbs of Mu’aththamiyya and Darayya—was shelled in the early hours of the morning by rockets carrying Sarin gas – as well as other poisonous material – from army bases in the Qalamoun mountains, northwest of Damascus. The number of casualties—most of whom were women and children—varied between 1,300 dead (the Syrian National Coalition) and 1,729 (The Free Syrian Army); while a preliminary U.S. government assessment determined that 1,429 people were killed in the chemical weapons attack, including at least 426 children. The number of those injured was estimated to exceed 3,600. That massacre took place after another “red line” was issued to Bashar Al-Assad regime by the U.S. administration, as his government escalated its crackdown on the peaceful popular uprising, from shooting at demonstrations, to the use of heavy artillery, then resorting to the use of the air force and surface-to-surface missiles. The worse the suppression got, the faster American and Western condemnations, threats and “red lines” were issued, only to be proven empty and insincere. The Ghouta chemical massacre made it clear that the Obama administration was interested in only two things regarding Syria Eyad Abu Shakra Consequently, Syrians’ anger and despair of international justice increased; and it was only natural that such a situation would destroy the case for moderation and give cre-
dence to extremism. Indeed, as if this was the international community’s plan all along, moderates began to lose out, defections from the army, security services, and political bodies all but stopped, while extremists took over the revolt. This was the most natural outcome of the shameless betrayal of the popular revolt by the international community, and its refusal—time and time again—to genuinely support the Free Syrian Army, formed by honorable officers and soldiers who simply refused to murder their own people. Soon enough, foreign terrorists began flocking into Syria, from all over the world, with the declared aim of “supporting (Nusra) the Syrian people” and “fighting the infidel regime that is killing Sunni Muslims with Iran’s and Russia’s weapons”. Alas, as we all know now, the very chemistry of the revolt has changed, and the ugly international conspiracy has been exposed. Those foreign extremists—particularly Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants, who have turned their weapons on the revolt and Assad’s opponents—have now become the excuse given to Assad’s regime to continue its genocide. Assad continuing to rule Syria Barack Obama’s reaction to the August 2013 chemical attacks erased all doubts regarding his position. It was the landmark that proved that, contrary to all previous announcements, Washington did not mind Assad continuing to rule Syria even over the dead bodies. That year secret talks between the U.S. and Iran were uncovered too; and since then everything in the Middle East has been snowballing. The Ghouta chemical massacre made it clear that the Obama administration was interested in only two things regarding Syria: First, striking a regional deal with Iran, Assad’s protector, sponsor and lifeline; and second, protecting Israel against any weapon
of mass destruction that may fall in the hands of groups that—unlike Assad—may truly threaten its existence. Thus, since any deal with Iran necessitated going back on all calls for Assad to go, Washington ignored all its previous “red lines”. Furthermore, the only practical reaction to the Ghouta chemical massacre was convincing Assad to hand over “most of” his chemical arsenal. This step was helpful both in reassuring Israel, and giving the Syrian dictator the green light to commit as many massacres as he pleases, while the U.S. was working with Russia, Iran and China, to rehabilitate him, and accept him as a partner in the global war against ISIS! As the fight for votes on the Iran nuclear deal intensifies in the U.S. Congress, President Obama is using all means available in tempting and pressuring U.S. lawmakers. After making clear that he would stick to the deal even if Congress voted against it—surely his opponents would not muster the two-thirds majority needed to kill off the White House veto—Obama announced last week in a letter to a Congressional Democrat “that the United States would unilaterally maintain economic pressure and deploy military options if needed to deter Iranian aggression.” Such words in the present time sound very much like the “red lines” ridiculed and killed off by the Ghouta chemical attacks. They do not differ much from the White House’s futile attempts to reassure the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries while the dimensions of the Iranian regional aggression unfold day by day—even before international sanctions against Iran are lifted—and the plan for sectarian cleansing, ethnic partitioning, and redrawing of maps gathers pace in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Expansionist war: All this means that for the foreseeable future we must expect more maneuvering, cajoling, and threats. Even after the Congress vote, expected next month, the
Iran deal will be part of the U.S. presidential campaign, while unforeseen developments in Iraq and Syria may create new realities on the ground. Still two interesting and important questions beg for answers: First, will Washington be able to contain the repercussions of the regional chaos and disintegration if a deal-empowered Iran continues its expansionist war on its neighbors? Second, is it really true that Obama’s long-term strategy will eventually target Iran’s military capabilities and ambitions, as his defenders keep telling us? I believe we, Arabs, must pose these two questions; but until we have convincing answers Arab countries, more so the GCC states, need to plan their priorities, and raise the level of trust among each other instead of giving their enemies gratuitous political gifts. Surely no one at the moment is drumming up war, and no one will benefit from rejecting dialogue; however, a proper and meaningful dialogue cannot be conducted by means of arms, as the Iranian president Hassan Rowhani seems to envisage. Last week while attending Defense Industry Day in Tehran, Rowhani, said frankly “military might was necessary to achieve peace in the volatile Middle East.” You got it absolutely right Mr. Rowhani… Thanks for the advice! This article was first published in Asharq alAwsat on August 26, 2015. —Courtesy: AA [Eyad Abu Shakra (also written as Ayad AbouChakra) began his media career in 1973 with Annahar newspaper in Lebanon. He joined Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper in the UK in 1979, occupying several positions including: Senior Editor, Managing Editor, and Head of Research Unit, as well as being a regular columnist. He has several published works, including books, chapters in edited books, and specialized articles, in addition to frequent regular TV and radio appearances].
T the cutting edge of the U.S. military’s campaigns against al-Qaeda and its offshoots over the past 14 years has been an organization still unused to the spotlight. Born from the wreckage of the United States’s failed attempt to rescue its hostages in Iran in 1980, Joint Special Operations Command was created to provide a standing headquarters that could run similar operations in the future. But although JSOC (pronounced “jay-sock”) had grown significantly in its first two decades, on September 11, 2001, it remained a fringe presence on the U.S. military scene, with a narrowly circumscribed set of responsibilities that included short-term counterterrorist missions, operations to secure weapons of mass destruction, and very little else. Since then, however, as the United States has grappled with an interconnected web of Islamist terror networks around the world, uniformed and civilian leaders have increasingly relied on one JSOC specialty in particular: its proficiency at the “manhunt,” the most famous recent example of which was the May 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. But it is a skill the command has been honing, at some cost, for most of its history, and it is one that has become central to the current U.S. campaign against ISIS. In that sense, JSOC’s history says a great deal about America’s future in the Middle East. By far the most ambitious operation of JSOC’s first decade— one that would foreshadow its future in the global war on terror—was its lead role in the U.S. invasion of Panama. Following years of escalating tensions between the United States and Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, culminating in Panamanian Defense Forces personnel killing a U.S. Marine, in midDecember 1989 President George Bush gave the order to depose Noriega. The dictator went to ground during the invasion’s first hours, and operators from the Army’s Delta Force and the Navy’s SEAL Team 6—the elite “special-mission units” at the core of JSOC—pursued him and his associates in what Carl Stiner, a former JSOC commander who led the invasion force, later described as “one of the most intensive manhunts in history.” Operators kicked in doors of safe house after safe house, immediately interrogated any Noriega cronies they found, and then launched new missions based on that intelligence. These nonstop operations set a precedent for future missions in Afghanistan and especially Iraq. Although nobody in 1989 was talking about Noriega’s “network,” that’s exactly what JSOC was attacking. But the Noriega manhunt also taught the command how difficult it can be to find someone who is on his own turf and doesn’t want to be found. Noriega stayed one step ahead of the task force until December 24, when he took refuge in in the papal nunciature—the Vatican’s embassy in Panama—and was flown to the United States following his surrender on January 3, 1990. His signature red underwear, which he believed protected him from harm, ended up in a display case at Delta’s compound in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, JSOC also did “a lot of planning” for the most sensitive mission possible: sending undercover operators into Baghdad to kill Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, according to a Pentagon special-operations source. “There was an effort to just solve the problem by taking out Saddam Hussein,” the source said. JSOC considered a range of methods, from shooting the dictator with small arms to having operators call in an air or missile strike. In the end, the officer said, the planning foundered on an all-too-common failing: “The intel just could not provide the proper foundations for being able to launch a mission like that.” Indeed, in manhunting, actionable intelligence is the coin of the realm. Nowhere was that more apparent than in Colombia, where JSOC soon became actively engaged in another manhunt, for the drug lord Pablo Escobar. For more than a year beginning in 1992, JSOC rotated Delta and Team 6 operators through the country, keeping a force of about a dozen between Bogota, the capital, and Medellin, Escobar’s hometown. Their mission was supposed to be limited to training the “Search Bloc,” the Colombian force going after Escobar and his henchmen, but the American operators found ways to accompany their trainees on missions, while another unit worked to zero in on Escobar’s radio and cell-phone calls. Escobar knew he was being tracked, so he kept his conversations short and always operated in a way that aimed to mislead the searchers about his real location. But on December 2, 1993, he finally made a mistake, staying on the phone with his son for several minutes instead of the customary 20 seconds. The phone-tracking devices the Americans had taught the Colombians to use led the Search Bloc straight to a two-story house. Escobar and his bodyguard were gunned down as they tried to flee across the rooftops. Persistent rumors suggested that the shot that killed the drug lord was made by a U.S. operator, perhaps a sniper stationed on a nearby rooftop. No one has ever produced any evidence or witness that validates this claim, and Jerry Boykin, who was then the Delta commander, has gone on record to say his men didn’t pull any triggers that day. While in theory targeting individuals was an economical and efficient way to wage war, in practice the costs could still be incredibly high. Whoever took the final shot, JSOC chalked Escobar’s death up as a successful mission. The mission would also have longlasting impact on the command, as it provided the template for how to use a quarry’s cell phone to track him down. The mission also underlined a lesson learned four years earlier by operators who had hunted Noriega through Panama City: Finding a man of resources who is hiding in his hometown is a difficult task. As the search for Escobar was reaching its climax in the fall of 1993, another, much larger JSOC task force on the other side of the world was learning a similar lesson. That manhunt did not end quite as well. Mohammed Farah Aideed, a Somali warlord who controlled much of Mogadishu, the capital, was waging war on the United Nations-backed international peacekeeping force that had deployed to deliver humanitarian assistance to the famine-gripped East African nation. In August, U.S. President Bill Clinton approved the deployment of a JSOC task force to capture Aideed. JSOC put the lessons learned in Panama and Colombia to use and launched half a dozen operations in August and September designed to strip away the layers of protection that surrounded Aideed. On the afternoon of October 3, based on an informant’s tip, the task force launched a seventh mission, an air-assault raid on a meeting of Aideed’s inner circle at the Olympic Hotel in the Bakara Market neighborhood, the very heart of Aideed territory. The timing of the raid was not ideal—JSOC preferred to operate at night rather than in broad daylight—but the transitory nature of the opportunity left the task force little choice. The raid was going well until a militiaman shot down a Black Hawk helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade. About 20 minutes later, another RPG downed a second Black Hawk. What had been a routine, if dangerous, mission that should have lasted no longer than an hour descended into chaos. The battle left 18 U.S. soldiers dead and scores wounded, as well as many hundreds of Somali casualties. Aideed remained at large. What became known as the “Black Hawk Down” incident showed that, while in theory targeting individuals was an economical and efficient way to wage war, in practice the costs could still be incredibly high. Yet following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Defense Department made manhunting a priority. Throughout the first year after those attacks, the department’s most senior military and civilian officials were “trying to understand how do you defeat an organism or a network,” said a Joint Staff officer who was deeply involved. “First of all we said, ‘Hey, we can do it by [eliminating] leadership.’” He described the strategy as “cutting off the head of the snake.” That approach, so enticing to policymakers because it seemed to offer a neat solution to the intractable global problem of violent anti-Western Islamism, also perfectly matched JSOC’s skill set, something not lost on then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. —Courtesy: TA
Pak in decisive war
Obama’s NSA rushes From Page 1
From Page 1 it is high time to eliminate terrorists from the country forever by displaying exemplary unity and solidarity. Shahbaz Sharif said that the entire nation is standing with Pak Army and law enforcment agencies. He said that officers and Jawans of Pak Army, police officers and officials, politicians and citizens have rendered unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terrorism and more than 50 thousand Pakistanis have sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism which has no such example in the history. The Chief Minister said that Pakistani nation has new spirit, commitment and full force. He said that a decisive war is being fought for eliminating the menace of terrorism and this is the war of survival of Pakistan. He expressed the hope that we all will come up to the expectations of the nation and win the war of saving Pakistan at all costs. Shahbaz Sharif said that PML-N government after coming into power has set up high standard of transparency even our worst opponents cannot attribute any scandal to our government. Referring to the efforts being made for resolving energy crisis, the Chief Minister said that the serious and sincere efforts made by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for energy projects during last two years are unprecedented in the history of the country. He said that various energy projects are undercompletion with the cooperation of China and other friendly countries and 5000 megawatt electricity will be generated after the completion of energy projects by 2017.
PM directs NHA From Page 1 gigantic structural development activity, being underway across the length and breadth of the country, he added. The Prime Minister was chairing a high level meeting in which he was given a detailed briefing on the NHA Road portfolio projects, said a PM House press release. He was informed that an investment of $1 billion from private sector in the road infrastructure projects would be achieved by the end of September 2015 and the overall communication network construction activity would contribute about 1% to 1.5% in the GDP. It was also informed that a total of 1,272 kilometres would be added in the existing Motorways network with the completion of under construction and proposed projects. The Prime Minister directed for completion of all projects by December 2017, other than those projects scheduled for earlier completion.—APP
UK facilitating govt, Baloch leaders talks
LONDON: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif addressing a meeting through video on Saturday.
EU parliament chief attacks ‘cynical’ states over refugee crisis BERLIN — The “glaring failures” of some joint European solution,” Schulz told they accept binding quotas to share out European countries to take in refugees are turning the Mediterranean into a mass grave and creating gru some scenes at borders, the head of the European Parliament has said. Martin Schulz, a German Social Democrat, said those European governments that have resisted European Union proposals to agree a common plan must do more to deal with the crisis, which is intensifying due to a surge in migrants fleeing war and poverty. The International Organization for Migration estimates a third of a million people have crossed the Mediterranean so far this year to wash up in southern Europe. “We are not dealing with a failure of the EU, but rather with a glaring failure of some governments, who don’t want to take responsibility and thereby impede a
Germany’s Die Welt newspaper. Germany expects to receive a record 800,000 refugees and asylum-seekers this year. “The governments of some member states must finally remove their blockade and end this unworthy game,” Schulz said. He did not single out any states. However, Hungary, which is part of Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone, is building a fence along its border with Serbia to contain what it calls a threat to European security, prosperity and identity. Britain has a long-standing exemption from EU rules on border issues, along with Ireland and Denmark. Eastern European states have pleaded immigrants would simply not fit in. The difficulty of agreeing a common policy was manifest in June when leaders angrily rejected European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker’s proposal that
asylum-seekers from Italy and Greece. “The current refugee crisis shows what happens when there is less Europe,” Schulz said. “The Mediterranean becomes a mass grave, gruesome scenes play out at borders, there is mutual blame - and those in greatest need, seeking our protection, are left without help.” Austria said on Friday 71 refugees, including a baby girl, were found dead in an abandoned freezer truck, while Libya recovered the bodies of 105 migrants washed ashore after their overcrowded boat sank on its way to Europe. Schulz said some EU countries, “who don’t care about European integration”, had prevented agreement on a Europewide plan to tackle the refugee crisis. “That is more than cynical, when one looks at the plight of the refugees.”—— Reuters
Turkey joins US-led coalition airstrikes against ISIS in Syria ANKARA—Turkey announced Saturday access to a key air base close to the Syrian using the Arabic acronym for IS. “The that its fighter jets have carried out their first airstrikes as part of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group in Syria. A Foreign Ministry statement said the jets began attacking IS targets late Friday across the border in Syria that were deemed to be threats to Turkey. After months of hesitance, Turkey agreed last month to take on a more active role in the fight against IS. Turkish jets used smart bombs to attack IS positions in Syria, without crossing into Syrian airspace and later Turkey granted U.S. jets
border. The Turkish attacks that began Friday were the first launched as part of the U.S.-led campaign and came after Turkish and U.S. officials announced they had reached a technical agreement concerning their cooperation, which calls for Turkey to be fully integrated into the coalition air campaign. “Our fighter aircraft together with warplanes belonging to the coalition began as of yesterday evening to jointly carry out air operations against Daesh targets that constitute a threat against the security of our country,” the Foreign Ministry said,
fight against the terrorist organization is a priority for Turkey.” On Thursday, IS militants seized five villages from rebel groups in northern Syria as they advanced toward the strategic town of Marea near the Turkish border. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other groups said IS carried out a suicide bombing on the outskirts of Marea amid fierce fighting in the area. The IS advance was in the northern Aleppo province near where Turkey and the United States have agreed to establish an IS-free safe zone.—AP
Imran on warpath with ECP From Page 1 polls and local bodies elections, but not under the existing ECP set up. He announced Jehangir Tareen would contest the by-poll from Lodhran while Aleem Khan would contest from NA-122, the constituency where Imran contested against Ayaz Sadiq in the general elections of 2013. Shoaib Siddiqi will contest election from PP-147 which falls under NA-122, said Imran. He challenged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif once against to contest against him from NA122 to see who owns Lahore. He further said that it took the tribunals 2
years and 3 months to verify 93,000 votes and more fake votes will be found if more constituencies are opened. Chairman PTI once again alleged that former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was also involved in rigging. Challenging Nawaz Sharif to an election in NA122 once again, Imran Khan said that he won’t run and will take part in the election. Imran said his party would not allow anybody to do rig the upcoming polls. “We will install cameras at every polling station and will not allow anybody to cast fake votes,” he said.
From Page 1 It merits mentioning here that head of Baloch Republican Party Brahamdagh Bugti had already indicated he was ready to give up demand of independent Balochistan if people of the province wish so. He had said he wants resolution of all issues through political means and peaceful dialogue.
14 more mowed From Page 1 militants could not be ascertained. “In precise aerial strikes in Shawal area in North Waziristan agency as many as 14 terrorists were killed today”.
SSGC’s DMD Shoaib, 2 others remanded to Rangers custody From Page 1 patient of diabetes, hypertension and requested them to facilitate his meeting with a physician. The report – carried by Ranger’s deputy director of health services – stated that a doctor and two nurses were looking after him 24 hours a day, while medicine was also being provided. Rangers submit Dr Asim Hussain’s medical report in ATC Personnel from the paramilitary force also produced a medical report of Dr Asim in
ATC-III today. Dr Asim is currently in detention at the Meetha Ram Hostel sub-jail and has a doctor and two nurses at his disposal 24-hours a day, the court was informed. Saturday’s development comes a day after Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that interference by federal agencies in the provincial government’s affairs amounted to “invasion of Sindh” and that he had already lodged a protest with Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif. The uncharacteristic outburst of anger was the chief minister’s first reaction after the arrest of Dr Asim Hussain, former federal minister and Chairman of Sindh’s Higher Education Commission.
18 Indian From Page 1 ment for specialised treatment. The rest of the injured have been given first-aid and are stable, he said.—Agencies
Pakistan to respond From Page 1 communual roits in Indian state of Gujarat. He said the Indian government was diverting attention of the world from these roits by resorting to unprovoked intensified shelling on border villages. He expressed solidarity with the affected villagers besides paying rich tributes to their resilience and spirit. Khawaja Asif said the entire nation stood united with the armed forces in defending the motherland.
stan. Earlier on Thursday, the US reiterated its call for nucleartipped neighbours to resume dialogue to resolve issues, saying America wanted to see tensions decrease between the two countries. US State Department spokesman John Kirby has said speculation about the potential use of nuclear weapons will not help reduce tensions between India and Pakistan. At a news briefing, John Kirby also stressed the need for exercising restraint in developing nuclear weapons. “Obviously, we continue to urge all nuclear-capable states, including Pakistan, to exercise restraint regarding furthering their nuclear capabilities,” he said. He refused to get dragged into a media debate, claiming that some Pakistani officials had threatened to use the nuclear option if the current situation in South Asia led to an armed conflict with India. “I haven’t seen those comments, so I’d be loath to specifically address them,” Mr Kirby said, “what we want to see are the tensions decrease.” Asked if the United States was working with Pakistan to bring it into the mainstream on the nuclear issue, Mr Kirby said: “Obviously, these kinds of matters are matters we discuss with Pakistani leaders on a routine basis.” The nuclear issue, he said, was something that the US would continue to focus on, as it was consistent with President Obama’s vision of a world without nuclear weapons. Mr Kirby said the United States regularly held discus-
South Sudan From Page 1 China, Britain, Norway and the United States. But the government accused rebels of attacking its forces in the strategic northeastern town of Malakal in violation of the deal. “The rebels yesterday attacked our position in Malakal but they were repulsed and this morning they again attacked Malakal,” said government spokesman Michael Makuei.—AFP
ECP members From Page 1 sioners of the three provinces seemed to have succumbed to the pressure mounted first by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and intensified further by the added force from the Pakistan People’s Party. According to sources, one of the three provincial ECP members who have shown readiness to quit, has already drafted his resignation.
Headscarf From Page 1
also a member of the board of the Foundation for Youth and Education (TURGEV), of which Bilal Erdogan, a son of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is an executive. The NGO was at the centre of a corruption scandal involving Erdogan, who was then prime minister, as well as his family and political entourage. Over the past two years, the Turkish government has lifted bans on women and girls wearing headscarves in schools and state institutions, From Page 1 moves denounced by oppoview damages caused by firing nents as undermining the baat the border. sis of the country’s secular According to Punjab Rang- society.—AFP ers spokesman Major Waheed Bukhari, the United Nations Military Observers group in India and Pakistan team observed damages and losses caused during the exchange of fire. Yesterday, the UN observers had visited the Thathi Khurd village in Sucheetgarh and had met locals affected by Indian shelling.
UN team
sions with Pakistani officials on the country’s nuclear programme but he refused to comment on a US think-tank report that Pakistan would be the third-largest nuclear stockpiles after the United States and Russia in a decade. “I’m not going to have anything substantive to offer on the report’s findings,” he said. Meanwhile, the White House said on Saturday that it is confident Pakistan is aware of its responsibilities pertaining to the safety and security of its nuclear weapons. “We continue to be confident that the government of Pakistan is aware of those responsibilities and takes those responsibilities quite seriously,” White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said at a news conference. The remark came a day af-
ter two leading US think tanks claimed in a report that Pakistan would have more than 350 nuclear weapons in a decade, which means that the country would have the third largest stock piles of nuclear weapons after the US and Russia. Commenting on the report, Earnest said, “I did see the report. I don’t have an official administration assessment to share with you. I would say there a couple things that come to mind.” The spokesperson went on to add that responsibility for nuclear stockpile remains with all countries who have secured a nuclear stockpile. “This applies not just to Pakistan but to countries around the world that have a nuclear stockpile – they have a responsibility for securing that nuclear stockpile.”
Taliban kill 8 Aghan cops in Ghazni Fighting between rival militant factions leave 5 dead KABUL—At least eight police tween rival Taliban factions left
Bid to blackmail Moroccan king PARIS—The Paris prosecutor’s office and a lawyer for Morocco’s King Mohammad VI say two French journalists Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet have been arrested in France for allegedly trying to blackmail the monarch. Eric Dupont-Moretti, a lawyer for the king, told RTL radio that Laurent claimed he and Graciet were writing a compromising book about the monarch and demanded 3 million euros ($3.4 million) to keep it unpublished. Dupont-Moretti said the Moroccan leadership filed a lawsuit in Paris and the arrests came after a sting operation. —AFP
Mahathir joins protesters KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s former leader Mahathir Mohamad made a surprise appearance on Saturday among tens of thousands protesting to demand the resignation of the prime minister over a multi-milliondollar payment into an account under his name. The rally in Kuala Lumpur brought into the streets a political crisis that has raged since reports in July that investigators probing the management of debt-laden state fund 1MDB had discovered the transfer of more than $600 million. Prime Minister Najib Razak, who denies wrongdoing, has weathered the storm and political analysts doubt the two-day rally will force him out of power.—Reuters
N deal not affects mily power DUBAI —Iran’s military capability has not been affected by its nuclear deal last month with six world powers, President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday, moving to reassure hardliners that the deal was no sign of Iranian weakness. “With regards to our defensive capability, we did not and will not accept any limitations,” Rouhani said at a press conference carried on live television. “We will do whatever we need to do to defend our country, whether with missiles or other methods.” Rouhani said at the ceremony that Iran’s military might was a precondition for peace, after being criticized by hardline factions in Iran’s multi-tiered leadership for negotiating with Western powers they see as fundamentally hostile to the Islamic Republic.—Reuters
LAHORE: Chairman PTI Imran Khan, flanked by Organizer Punjab Ch. Sarwar, National Organizer Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Central Organizer Jahangir Tareen and supporters during his address to a gathering of workers at Punjab Office IK Secretariat.
Some politicians, businessmen against Pak progress
CPEC to elevate Pak importance in the region: Munter Islamabad’s concerns over Indian ceasefire violations legitimate STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Former US Ambassador Cameron Munter says there are certain business personalities and politicians in Pakistan who do not wish for the country to progress, because they benefit if things remain stagnant. Cameron Munter was the chief guest at a seminar titled “one belt one road” held at a private hotel in Karachi on Saturday. Addressing the audience Munter said, Pakistan is justified to have legitimate concerns over the Pak-India situation. He told the audience that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor will elevate Pakistan’s importance in the region, he added that not just Pakistan but the entire region will benefit from the corridor.
Sindh to refer 8 terror cases to mily courts STAFF REPORTER
He urged Pakistan and India to resolve their outstanding issues through talks. “Not just Pakistan but the entire region will benefit from the corridor,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s economic future could be very bright if the blueprint for the corridor is executed and managed properly.
400 ghost teachers terminated in Balochistan STAFF REPORTER
K ARACHI —The provincial QUETTA—The provincial edugovernment of Sindh on Saturday decided to refer eight terrorism cases to the military courts, in line with actions taken under the National Action Plan. Under NAP, 18 terrorists have been executed, while black warrants issued for the execution of another four terrorists have been stayed by courts. “18 terrorists have been executed in different jails of the province while the courts have granted stay against four execution orders.” the chief secretary said. Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah was briefed on Saturday by Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Home Secretary Mukhtiar Soomro and Sindh Police Inspector General (IG) Ghulam Hyder Jamali.
“People here have to want to see good governance, to see honest businesses, to see themselves open up to the world.” When asked about IndiaPakistan relations, the former ambassador said, “both countries have an enormous stake in good relations and I hope they realise that the success of one is the success of the other.” “At this time, I hope that the leaders of both countries can listen to the people who are interested in working together. It is really up to the people of these countries and the business communities to see where their business interests are.” The seminar was attended by Federal Minister Muhammed Zubair, former Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr. Ishrat Hussain as well as other notable personalities.
cation department of Balochistan on Saturday terminated more than 400 ghost teachers across the province as part of an ongoing scrutiny regarding ghost employees. The ghost employees were drawing their salaries from the districts of Quetta, Panjgor, Killa Abdullah, Pishin, Kharan, Dera Bugti and other areas of the province. “Inquiry committees were established across the province to detect fake and ghost teachers,” said the provincial secretary of education, Saboor Kakar. The provincial government has terminated 112 ghost teachers in Quetta, 57 in Killa Abdullah, 39 in Pishin, 65 in Dera Bugti and other districts of the province. Balochistan is lagging behind other provinces
in terms of key social indicators. “The number of students across the province is 1.2 million, whereas the number of teachers was 66,000,” added Kakar. Interior areas of the province present a much dire picture in terms of student to teacher ratio. “The teacher to student ratio in Balochistan is better when compared to Punjab where there is one teacher for every 26 students, while in Balochistan the ratio is one teacher for every 14 studnts,” stated Kakar. However, he stated that the presence and capacity of teachers in provincial schools leaves much to be desired. “2000 new schools are being established with the help of global partnerships, in order to ensure provision of quality education to children,” stated Kakar.
Indian council orders 2 sisters be raped for brother’s sin B AGHPAT , India—An unelected, all-male village council in India has decided to punish a man who eloped with a married woman by ordering his two sisters to be raped. The two women, ages 23 and 15, fled their village in the Baghpat district after the decision was handed down on July 30. The Times of India reports that the brother ran away with
a woman who belonged to a higher caste. Now, a petition from Amnesty International is calling on the Indian Supreme Court to help the sisters return home. The NGO has slammed the “disgusting ruling,” made by a so-called kangaroo court. These tribunals operate outside of the country’s legitimate legal system, Amnesty International said.
“More often than not they are made up of older men from dominant castes, who prescribe rules for social behavior and interaction in villages,” the group said. Other family members who fled with the sisters say they fear for their lives should they return, and their home has already been looted by other villagers. —ToI
PTI asks ECP for more time to submit asset details STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf asked the
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officers were killed in separate attacks by Taliban insurgents in eastern Afghanistan, a government official said on Saturday. Col. Asadullah Ensafi, the deputy police chief in Ghazni province, said Saturday another 15 police officers were also injured in the attacks on police checkpoints in the province’s Andar and Qarabagh districts. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks, carried out on Friday. Insurgents have targeted police checkpoints in recent months, resulting in high casualties. Separately, Ensafi says an Afghan airstrike killed 16 insurgents and wounded 17 late Friday in Ghazni’s capital. The war with the Taliban has been particularly tough this year for Afghan forces, who are fighting without international troops backing them up following the US and NATO ending their combat mission last year. Meanwhile, gunbattles be-
at least five dead in southern Afghanistan, a top official with the insurgent group said Saturday. The five deaths came after Taliban commander Mullah Mansoor Dadullah, loyal to Mullah Omar’s family, led hundreds of gunmen against Mansoor supporters in the southern Afghan province of Zabul, where the Taliban have long had a fighting presence. Meanwhile, at least 13 police were reported killed in separate attacks in eastern and southern Afghanistan. Col. Asadullah Ensafi, the deputy police chief in eastern Ghazni province, said at least eight officers were killed and 15 wounded in separate Taliban attacks on police checkpoints Friday in Andar and Qarabagh districts. Separately, in the Chora district of southern Uruzgan province, five police officers were killed when their vehicle hit roadside bomb, said Abdul Qawi, the Chora police chief.—Agencies
LEAs to crackdown on dubious NGOs IRFAN ALIGI K ARACHI —The law enforcement agencies (LEA) are in final preparations for a decisive action against the rescue services providing nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and other welfare entities for their alleged involvement in heinous crimes as facilitators. The intelligence agencies have in this regard completed their work and handed al the relevant details to the LEAs, which are fully determined to take the terrorists and their patrons to task at the earliest so as to render Pakistan a terrorfree state. According to details, the welfare and rescue services NGOs especially those with a network of morgues and ambulances are claimed to have been working for the terrorists, target killers, kidnappers for ransom and extortionist groups as facilitators. The staffers of the welfare NGOs have been serving the terrorists especially the target killers as informers and their active involvement is recently exposed during recent bids of target killings and other heinous crimes.
Year of birth has an influence on genetic risk for obesity
T
HE year in which a person was born may have an influence on their obe sity risk, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Global environmental factors such as trends in food products and workplace activity, not just those found within families, may impact genetic traits,” says Dr. Rosenquist. Previously, research has linked a variant in the FTO gene to obesity risk. Now, researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry suggest in a new study that the impact of this variant on obesity risk depends largely on birth year. The researchers noticed that most studies investigating the interactions of genes and the environment focused on differences within groups of people born during a particular span of years. The team realized that studies of these birth cohorts would not account for environmental changes occurring over time. In an attempt to understand whether the environmental conditions experienced across different age groups affect the impact of a gene variant, the team analysed data from the Framingham Offspring Study, which follows the children of participants from a long-term study that collected data from 1971-2008. The body mass index (BMI)
of the participants was measured eight times during the study period, which allowed the MGH team to examine the correlations between BMI and the FTO variants of the participants. The researchers found no correlation between FTO variant and BMI for participants born before 1942. However, in participants born after 1942, the correlation between BMI and FTO was twice as strong as had been reported in previous studies. “Looking at participants in the Framingham Heart Study, we found that the correlation between the best known obesity-associated gene variant and body mass index increased significantly as the year of birth of participants increased,” says lead author Dr. James Niels Rosenquist, of the MGH Department of Psychiatry. He adds: “These results - to our knowledge the first of their kind - suggest that this and perhaps other correlations between gene variants and physical traits may vary significantly depending on when individuals were born, even for those born into the same families.” Although the environmental differences that caused this change in the association are not identified in the study, the authors hypothesize that the increased reliance on technology, rather than physical labour, and the availability of high-calorie processed foods - both of which emerged following World War II are likely contributors.
Ambassador of Lebanon Mrs Mona El Tannir and Mr Mohieddine El Tannir in a group photo with H. E. Dr. & Mrs. Rushdi Al-Ani out going Ambassador of Iraq on the occasion of farewell reception hosted by the former in honour of the out going Ambassador of Iraq. Charge D Affair of Yemen Mr. Ahmad Kaid Ahmed Al Odaini, Nawabzada Malik Ahmad Khan, High Commissioner of Brunei H. E. Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud Bin Haji Saidin, Ambassador of Cuba H. E. Zenen Burego Conception, High Commissioner of Australia H. E. Margaret Adamson, Ambassador of Algeria H. E. Lakhal Benkelai, Ambassador of Palestine H. E. Walid Ahmad Mahmood Abu Ali, Ambassador of Jordan H. E. Nawaf Khalifeh Saraireh, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia H. E. Abdullah Marzouq Al-Zahrani, Ambassador of Nepal H. E. Bharat Raj Paudyal, Ambassador of Oman H. E. Ahmed Khamis Salim Al-Jamri, Editor-in-Chief Pakistan Observer Mr Zahid Malik and Counselor of Embassy of the State of Kuwait Khaled Ahmed Alshami are also seen in the picture. —PO Photo by Sultan Bashir
Massive land encroachment scandal emerges in capital CITY REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Pakistan’s
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zakaullah, Ambassador of Turkey Sadik Babur Girgin, Deputy Chairman of the Senate, Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Turkish Armed Forces Attache Captain Halil Kepecioglu cutting cake to mark Turkish Victory Day.—DNA
Man with heroin capsules in belly gets ‘sick,’ arrested at BBIA ZUBAIR QURESH ISLAMABAD—A Sharjah bound passenger on Saturday was arrested from the canteen of the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) as he was found ‘storing’ 100 capsules filled with heroin in his stomach. According to details, Eid Ullah Khan a resident of Hangu was to take his Sharjah-bound flight PA-212 at 13.30 hrs but his stomach got upset and he had to quit the flight. The airport authorities offered him medical help which he turned down saying he would catch the next flight; meanwhile, he preferred to stay at the airport canteen. According to an official of the airport staff, the man neither took some juice nor tea from the canteen. What he did was to simply sit upright in his chair and trying to control his sickness. “This intrigued us as usually passengers take some light juice to prevent sickness,” he further said. One of the staff offered him green tea but he did not take that too.
Being suspected, we informed the security staff that a man with upset stomach is sitting at the airport canteen, he said. Personnel of the Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) asked him a number of questions and after screening of his stomach recovered 100 heroin-filled capsules from him. The man is in the ANF custody and further investigation is under way. Meanwhile, two fake police officials in the vicinity of Bhara Kahu in the name of investigation and search deprived a US-returned man of US $8,000. The incident has sent shockwaves in the entire police department of the city as a few days earlier a similar incident took place in which robbers in police uniform cracked down on the commuters and made away with Rs200,000. A police spokesman while talking to Pakistan Observer said, a message has been sent to all the checkposts and close surveillance and scrutiny have been ordered. “This time these fake policemen would not be spared,” he assured.
national exchequer suffered heavy losses up to the tune of Rs20.2 billion during the last 20 years in a massive land encroachment scam in the federal capital, says a private TV channel.. It emerged that Islamabad is no exception to ‘China-cutting’, encroachment and illegal trade of government lands, as Capital Development Authority (CDA) is said to have sold 4,000 plots on throw-away prices to its own employees. According to a report, during the course of illegal business, public parks, green belts, mosques and lands allocated for hospital were also encroached and sold illegally.
Traders give another strike call No transactions with banks on Sept 4 Z UBAIR QURESHI I S L A M A B A D —Traders are poised for another countrywide strike against 0.3pc withholding tax as their representatives would hold demonstration and rallies at the federal and provincial capitals. Speaking at the press conference, representatives of traders unions including Markazi Anjuman Tajiran Pakistan, Anjuman Tajiran Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh Tajir Ittehad, Anjuman Tajiran Karachi, Multan, Sukkur and Hyderabad demanded of the government to withdraw its 0.3pc withholding tax on bank transactions or the traders community would be forced to come to streets. “We want complete withdrawal of the withholding tax and we shall hold no dialogues on this issue,”
said the central president of the All Pakistan Tajir Ittehad Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry. He was of the view that there was no such example of withholding tax on banking transactions all over the world but unfortunately in Pakistan it is in practice. “This is tantamount to state extortion,” he further said. In Pakistan hundreds and thousands of people go to banks either to deposit or withdraw their hard earned money. The government by imposing tax on their transactions is depriving them of their fundamental right which is quite unjust and unfair, said Kashif Chaudhry. Such a measure with not only affect the business of banks it will also promote illegal transactions like hundi and hawala, he said. He asked the government not to
make the traders community a scapegoat as the result of the failures of the Federal Board of Revenue. He said traders’ community would hold complete shutter down on Sept 09 while on Sept 04, no banking transaction will take place, he said. We call upon the government to announce withdrawal of withholding tax on Aug 31 (tomorrow) or the month of September will be a month of protest and no transaction will take place from any trader on Sept 4. Traders are respectable tax-paying community of the country and such measures will do nothing but discourage them. Traders’ representatives Abdul Rahim Kakar, Sheikh Habib, Allah Daad, Waqar Ahmed, Sheikh Waqar, Haroon Meman, Sharafat Ali Mubarak also spoke on the occasion.
‘Red eye’ on rise in twin cities Z UBAIR QURESHI I S L A M A B A D —Eye disease ‘Erythematous Conjunctivitis’ has broken out in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and several cases of ‘red eye disease’ were reported at the hospitals on Saturday. Generally, in such disease, the eyes of the affected persons turn red and wet. In common the disease is known as “Ashob-eChasham”. In the beginning the irritation in eyes starts and when patient rubs his/her eyes, it become wet and turns red. The number of patient are on the increase as it is a epidemic diseases but the attack lasts one week after that the patients soaring eyes gets better usually, said Dr Ali Bangish
eye specialist while talking to Pakistan Observer Saturday. The virus usually affects the children and senior citizens, he said. The eye specialists recommend the eye drops for the patient, which should be used according to doctor ’s advice. Water also begins to pour in from the eyes then irritation changes into pain, he said. As precautionary measures the patient should avoid direct exposing of sun light as he should use sun glass all the time during the attack of disease. The most important factor is that it is a epidemic disease and the patient should keep himself away from the public gatherings especially the parents should not send their affected children to school as other
people might also be affected, he said. In addition to this the patient should wash his eyes with cold water after every three hours, he said. They may keep ice on their eyes for two or three minutes daily as well, he said. The eastern medicines also suggest that affected eyes should be washed with rose water mixed with boric powder thrice a day, he said urging them not to rub eyes. According to Dr Bangish the affected person should use separate utensils, clothes, towel for few days. “He should not use computer and turn his TV screen off or watch it only with sunglasses. Other people should also keep away from the sunglass, towel and comb of the patients for a week,” he said.
Floral art designing techniques workshop held STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Floral Art Society of Pakistan (FASP) Islamabad Chapter organized a workshop to teach women techniques to design flowers and leaves, both natural and artificial, for decoration purpose. Waqarunnissa Boolani, a passionate floral designer imparted skills to the participating women abstract and interpretive arrangements by using natural and artificial
material. She used different techniques such crosshatching, twisting and tying. She created sculptural pieces, which can be used with seasonal flowers. Her demonstration at the workshop was an enriching experience for the participants. Talking to media, Waqarunnissa Boolani said that the Floral Society has been making commendable efforts in promoting this art form by giving demonstrations at vari-
Wiqarunnissa Boolani and participants of workshop ‘Wearing Magic’ at a local hotel.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir
ous forums of this region. President Floral Society Islamabad Chapter Asma Ansari said “with more than 50 members, we are eager to teach and learn floral art to our members.” “Our competitions, demonstrations, workshops, informative discussions as well as special prizes to encourage the new members have brought about much needed understanding of this field of fine arts,” she said. In a modern art, plant
material is inverted, spray painted and altered by trimming to suit a design. Floral design is a three-dimensional form of art, like sculpture, it has both form and space, incorporating the elements of painting. Like paintings, floral designs, fall into different categories, traditional, modern, miniature, contemporary and abstract. Farhat Zaman said that “Islamabad, for the floral artist is a virtual paradise! nothing refreshes me more than an early morning walk
in the wooded areas around my home,”. She said that old trees, the well tended lawns in the neighbourhood and quite air all provide a welcome and soothing pace. She said for a floral artist, observation and interpretation are the key of a design. Nature provides its own dimensions, pattern, shapes, textures and colours that leave the viewer to contemplate with a sense of wonder and to seek inspiration for fresh ideas.
Fajar Zohr Asr
05:00 01:30 05:30
Meghrab at Sunset Isha 08:45 Brothers in Islam establish regular prayers & charity
Upto August 31
Stage play/Sufi Night RAWALPINDI Arts Council is hosting a stage play ‘Is Diye ko Jalne Do’ to encompass certain social issues. The Council will also arrange Sufi Night on Aug 31 wherein Sain Muhammad Ali, Jan Miri Qawwal, Wahadat and Rameez and Shaukat Dholi will perform. General public will be facilitated with free entry for these events. September 3
Reference NATIONAL Literary reference in memory of Lt. Gen (R) Hameed Gul Former Director General Inter-Services Intelligence will be held on Thursday, September 3, at 2:45 pm at Preston University Islamabad Campus. General (R) Mirza Aslam Beg Former Chief of Army Staff will preside the event as chief guest.
Pindi’s poor civic facilities major cause of depression, anxiety ZUBAIR QURESHI RAWALPINDI—Cases of psychiatric disorder are on the rise in Rawalpindi as ten out of every 100 men are suffering from depression while the ratio is almost two-time among women. One wonders why there is such an enormous rise in number of cases of psychiatric disorder in Pindi. The reason may be that Rawalpindi has been the most neglected city in the past and its public representatives have done little for the uplift of the city. Despite the fact the city is proudly called a stronghold of the ruling PML-N, it is still in the clutches of property mafia, corrupt officials, poor administrators and ill-trained city planners. Food and sanitation standards are below the minimum mark and frequent power outage coupled with rising prices and traffic problems have made the Pindiites mentally weak and depressed. Moreover there are very few doctors or specialists who could guide or treat these victims of depression. World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends one psychiatrist for a population of 50,000 but in Pakistan the total number of the psychiatrists is not more than 400, which shows there is only one psychiatrist for a population
MD PBM distributes shields among blood donors
BISP providing relief to over 5m families: Marvi STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Marvi Memon on Saturday said that over five million families are being provided relief under BISP. In an interview she said the government is focusing on the welfare projects for people of the country. “We are trying to empower the beneficiaries of BISP and also improve their living standard,” she added.
Unattended bag causes panic R AWALPINDI —An unattended bag lying near a petrol pump on busy Murree Road caused panic. Police along with a bomb disposal squad reached the site and after checking the bag, found no explosive material. Station House Officer Sadiqabad Malik Allah Yar told journalists that the bag was full of clothes, which possibly was dropped from a passing vehicle.—APP
Sheikh Rashid warned of terrorist attack
of 500,000 or more. In the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad the number of psychiatrists does not exceed twenty-five. In Punjab, at every DHQ Hospital there is a seat of District Psychiatrist but mostly it lies vacant so is the case at the DHP Pindi. The government instead of establishing a Department of Psychiatry at every hospital, it seems is bent upon closing down the existing ones. The Holy Family Hospital and DHQ are the two recent examples. There are no psychiatrists at these hospitals for counselling patients and the only facility the city claims is the Institute of Psychiatry at the Benazair Bhutto Hospital. A Consultant Psychiatrist, Assistant Professor at Rawalpindi Medical College says that President Al-Khidmat Foundation Abdul Shakoor presenting souvenir to Minister of State and Chairperson BISP not only people but the government also needs Marvi Memon during his visit to foundation office.—INP to be sensitized on severity of psychic problems. “Usually patients are brought to us a year after they are (mis)treated by faith healers and quacks. By that time their disease has turned into chronic ailment and chances of recovery are bleak,” he says. To a question he said patients suffering from depression, anxiety, phobia, schizophrenia, mania and mental retardation were brought to him for treatment or counselling. ISLAMABAD—Managing Director of Pakistan Baitul Mall (PBM) Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh visited blood donation camp in Rawalpindi and distributed shields among people who donated blood for thalasThe Chairperson pointed out the Paki- semia patients. The blood camp was orstan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) govganized by the Vice Presiernment has extended maximum facilities to the BISP beneficiaries since assuming the dent of Pakistan Muslim Leauge (N) Rawalpindi, office. Each deserving family is getting Rs 4500 Mirza Mansoor Baig for the patients of Thalassemia, every three months, she added. Marvi Memon said the recipients of said a press release here. On the occasion BarrisBISP can register their complaints about any delay or less payment on toll free number ter Abid said that PBM established Pakistan Thalas080026477. semia Center in Islamabad and another Thalassemia center would be established in Chakwal in collaboration with DHQ Hospital. He urged people to come forward and donate blood for this noble cause. The managing director said donated blood could save human life adding that PBM always provided assistance of every kind to thalassemia patients in the country.—APP
WAPDA employee electrocuted A vendor selling stuffed toys at Khanna Pul.—INFN
Garbage throwing at Korang Nullah along expressway continues ISLAMABAD—Garbage throwing at Korang on daily. Ali Naqi, a government servant who
travel between Rawat and Islamabad, said R AWALPINDI —Punjab gov- Nullah along the expressway is causing nau- daily seating smell and has become a constant prob- he and his colleagues have develop the habit
ernment on Saturday advised Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rasheed to limit his movements due to security concerns. The provincial government has written a letter to the AML chief. The letter warns Rasheed against a suspected terrorist attack. The government has also advised him to not participate in public gatherings. Rasheed confirmed that the government has provided him security in Rawalpindi.—INP
lem for motorists using this busiest road on daily basis. Motorists are of the view that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and private housing societies on both sides of the expressway are equally responsible for the unhygienic situation because they continuously throwing garbage at nullah and do not have appropriate facilities to dispose of solid waste in an environment-friendly manner. Talking to APP, they said sanitary workers and garbage collectors from different localities dump the filth in the Korang nullah, which can block its water flow and cause flash-flood in during the monsoon season. Locals said that no existing or upcoming housing society has a proper design or plan to construct a separate landfill site or incineration plant to dispose of solid waste produced
of covering nose even sitting in car with closed windows while passing through the nullah. Abdul Salam, a local, said the dumping site had become a source of diseases and should be immediately shifted from there. Malik Abid, who received his guests coming from abroad at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, said he felt ashamed when passed through the nullah along with guests to reach his home in Kahuta. When contacted, a CDA official informed that the place of garbage dumping of the Capital is on IJP road. He said the garbage collectors of the Rawalpindi city are throwing garbage at Korang Nullah added, several times CDA has complained Rawalpindi Development Authority (RAD) about the issue but RDA did not take it serious.—APP
A view of under construction work on bridge over Nullah Leh nears Moti Mahal.—INP
R AWALPINDI —A WAPDA employee was electrocuted while changing an electric meter in a house located near Lal Haveli in Raja Bazaar. According to details, the 35-year-old lineman namely Abdul Maroof was electrocuted when he touched a live electric wire. Rescue 1122 team reached the spot and shifted the victim to District Headquarters Hospital but he passed away on way to hospital.—APP
ECP commences new delimitation of constituencies for Islamabad LB polls I SLAMABAD —The Election Commission has started the process of new delimitation of constituencies for fifty union councils for upcoming local government elections in the federal capital. According to schedule, preliminary list of constituencies will be prepared from 29th of this month to 22nd of next month. The preliminary list will be published from 26th to 30th of next month for inviting representations and objections. The process of filing of Representations and Objections before the Delimitation Authority will be held from 1st to 5th of October this year. Representations and objections will be disposed of from 6th to 10th of October. Last date for communication of decisions of delimitation authority to delimitation officer is 11th October. Final notification of delimitation of constituencies will be issued on 13th of October this year. Earlier on Friday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the schedule of Local Government elections for the Islamabad Capital Territory. The elections will be held on 30th of November this year.—INP
Mirwaiz asks India, Pakistan to resolve urgently K-Issue Appeals UN to probe thousands of Kashmir disappearances SRINAGAR—Terming the continuous escalation of pepper gas in Downtown, the leaders said in gov-
hostilities between India and Pakistan on borders as ernment forces were indiscriminately using it (pepworrisome and dangerous to the peace of the re- per gas) and pellets. Meanwhile, the APHC Chairgion, Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq man has stressed upon the United Nations and Instressed upon both the nations to resolve the Kash- ternational Human Rights organizations to press upon India to probe the thousands of enforced dismir issue sooner than later. Expressing concern over the loss of lives at appearances cases in Kashmir and bring the truth working border in Sialkot and Suchetgarh sectors and facts related to such cases before the public. In connection with the International day for the during the cross border shelling between the militaries of two countries, Hurriyat (M) Chairman enforced disappearances, Mirwaiz stated that it was stressed that people living across the borders have the responsibility of International community and Human rights organizations to to suffer and bear the brunt of hosbring the truth before the people tilities between the two countries. regarding nine thousand people Asserting that the attitude of India who were subjected to enforced in connection with the NSA level disappearances by the government talks has added to increase in hosforces in Kashmir besides also untilities between the two countries at raveling the facts about thousands the borders, Mirwaiz said that the of unmarked graves dotting the intransigent imprudent and unrealKashmiris landscape. istic approach adopted by Indian Reiterating the demand to unleadership has allowed the situation ravel the reality behind the thouto reach to this dangerous Level. sands of enforced disappearances Hurriyat (M) Chairman stated that and unmarked graves on this interthe India’s ‘reluctance to talk on ISLAMABAD: All Parties Hurriyet Conference PakistanAJK chapter leaders meeting here on Saturday with chairman Pakistan People's Party Mr Kashmir reflects its intransigence’ national day for the enforced disBilawal Zardari Bhutto. AJK President Sardar Mohammad Yaqub Khan and Prime Minister Ch Abdul Majeed are also present. towards solving the Kashmir dispute. He said India appearances, the Hurriyat stated that it want to apshould realize that issues can’t be addressed by mili- prise international community and HR organizations tary means and instead such approach could lead to that the relatives of the victims are still looking for more violence and instability. Appealing the leader- the return of the dear ones with moist eyes. Exship of both nations to show maturity and wisdom pressing concern over the double standards of interand deescalate the situation at the borders, Hurriyat national community to stop the HR violations in (M) Chairman said both the nations have no option Kashmir, APHC Chairman stated that Kashmir was but to solve their disputes through dialogue. He stated heavily militarized and force and coercion was bethat both the nuclear nations have to take the ing employed to oppress Kashmiris to unsuccessS RINAGAR —Pro freedom Kashmiri leadership along and find a resolution fully prevent them from demanding right to self deleaders Saturday appealed in- which satisfies their aspirations and political aspira- termination which has led to gross HR violations on daily basis. He stated that Kashmiri prisoners in ternational community to find tions. 1997 to 2000 and in 2000 he was out the whereabouts of those Meanwhile Senior Hurriyat (M) leaders Javaid jails were treated inhumanly while government S R I N A G A R —For the fourth time, mission nominated by the organization. Ghulam Muhammad Bhat was elected Bhat bagged 61 out of 125 votes,” JeI again elected for three years. This is the Kashmiri people who accord- Ahmad Mir and Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi led a protest forces were equipped with black laws to suppress as the Ameer (president) of Jamaat-e- spokesperson Advocate Zahid Ali told fourth time, Bhat has been elected as ing to them have been lying in at Downtown against the use of deadly pellet and Kashmiris. He stated that it has become a routine affair that the president of Jammat-e-Islami. the hundreds of unmarked pepper gas in Kashmir particularly in Qaimoh, Islami (JI) in Jammu and Kashmir in media. Bhat will take over reins from Bhat is a resident of Latishat area graves in Kashmir. Kulgam in which dozens of youth received injuries peaceful protesters are arrested, tortured and booked the election held at party headquarters Muhammad Abdullah Wani on 1st Sep- of Sopore town. He received his early Women wing of Pro free- last week. Senior leaders including Ghulam Nabi in severe cases to break the resolve of Kashmiris. in Srinagar. “Ghulam Muhammad Bhat was tember for a term of three years. Bhat education from his native village and dom organization Jammu and Zaki, Jaffer Kashmiri and dozens of other activists He said that it was the duty of UN as a party to the elected as president of the organization had been the president of the organiza- later completed his BA B.Ed from Kashmir Salvation Movement also participated in the protest. The leaders stated dispute, to play its role in ending the state sponKashmir University.—KW along the leaders of Vice of Vic- that a youth Muhammad Asif, of Kaimoh received sored terrorism and solve the Kashmir dispute in under the patronage of election com- tion from 1985 to 88, tims staged a peaceful protest in injury due to the deadly pellets which causing the accordance with the wishes and aspirations of Press Enclave Srinagar. The ac- lost vision in his one eye. Condemning the use of Kashmiris.—Email tivists and the leaders demanded that a thorough investigation should be taken up to trace the identity of those Kashmiri’s who have been buried in unmarked graves after getting killed by Indian security personnel. protesters carrying placS RINAGAR —Nocturnal raids in old city ing and in a bid to disperse the agitated pro- ardsThe and banners alleged that Intesters, government forces allegedly fired sparked protest and clashes between youth SRINAGAR—A group of youth has hoisted banner was erected on the outer-fencing of and police on Saturday morning. Reports said some bullets. Eyewitnesses said that one dian government has been delib- flags of militant outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in the grand mosque, displaying a message in erately punishing the families of identified as Sajjad Ahmad sustained S R I N A G A R —The veteran that police arrested many youth during noc- youth disappeared Kashmiri’s by not old Srinagar’s Nowhatta locality—the strong- Urdu—Kashmiri ki sarzameen par Islam ka Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali turnal raids in Nowhatta and Gojwara area bullet injures near Saraf Kadal and was disclosing the whereabouts of hold of Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman jhanda lehra kar he dham le gay (We won’t shifted to SKIMS for treatment. The medicos Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Police called the de- rest till Islam’s flag is unfurled on Kashmir Gilani, has said that India’s sparking night protests. Locals informed media that several youth treating Sajjad said he is out of danger, but their kith and kin. rigid stance is the main The protest was attended velopment a “matter of concern.” Soon after soil). his condition is under close medical obserThe second message on the same banner hurdle in peaceful settlement were dragged out from their houses during vation. by pro-freedom activists like the mid-day prayers were held at historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta, a group of youth further read, ‘Kashmir kay baray mein hum of the lingering Kashmir dis- the intervening night of Friday and SaturAbdul Qadeer, Abdul Rauf A police official wishing anonymity told day and were lodged in police station pute. Ruqiya Baji, held a picture of Hizb Commander Burhan Pakistan kay mouqif ki himayat kartay hain, CNS that several youth allegedly responsible Khan, Nowhatta, a charge refuted by police. Syed Ali Gilani in a Muhammad Rafiq and it cul- Wani dressed in army fatigues with a Hizbul Mujahideen (We support Pakistan’s The random arrests of youth sparked pro- for waving and unfurling ISIS, Pakistani stance on Kashmir, Hizbul Mujahideen, Kalashankov slung over his shoulder. statement issued in Srinagar, minated peacefully.—KW Earlier in the morning, a green-coloured J&K).—GK today, said that the unre- test and according to eyewitnesses, scores flags and Hizb posters are on police radar. “Some suspects have been arrested for quessolved Kashmir dispute was of protesters resorted to stone-pelting in tioning,” he said. the root cause of tension be- Nowhatta and Sarafkadal areas and forced Pertinently, on the previous day, after the tween Pakistan and India and shopkeepers to close their shops. Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid at Nowhatta, Reports said that most of the shops in could lead them to another Nowhatta area remained closed on Saturday; a group of masked youth had unfurled postwar. He said that Pakistan’s however, transport was seen plying normally ers of Hizb commander Burhan Wani sending the security apparatus into tizzy.—KW bold stance on Kashmir had on roads. Police resorted to tear-gas shellunnerved India and due to this reason New Delhi had flared the situation on the border to give vent to its anger. He urged the Indian rulers to acknowledge the realities about the Kashmir conflict and take steps towards its settlement for the betterThis all is done on the behest of extremist ment of Indian people as well SRINAGAR—Hurriyet leader and Chairman as the inhabitants of the en- of Jammu and Kashmir National Front Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak (JKNF) Nayeem Ahmad Khan Saturday con- Sangh (RSS) and other anti-Muslim forces to tire south Asian region. Syed Ali Gilani said that demned the use of brute force by Indian po- curb the Kashmir struggle, he added. Nayeem India claimed to be the larg- lice on peaceful protesters in Khudwani, Khan hailed the statement of the Secretary est democracy of the world Kulgam and Pulwama areas, Indian Held General of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), but did not respect the demo- Kashmir (IHK). He said that Jammu Kashmir had virtu- Iyad Ameen Madani, in which the called for cratic rights of the people of ally been turned into a police state where the the implementation of the relevant United NaKashmir. He said that the people of men in uniform were being used to suppress tion (UN) resolutions on Kashmir. “The day is not far when the whole interKashmir had been struggling the voice of political opponents. He said, “From Baramulla to Islamabad national brethren will raise voice against Infor securing their birthright to self-determination for last sev- and from Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama to dia and New Delhi will be forced to leave eral decades but India and its Srinagar and Bandipora, the men in uniform Jammu and Kashmir,” the JKNF Chairman puppet regime in the territory were suppressing people by using pellet guns, said. He also condemned the illegal detention were suppressing it through slapping draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) of Hurriyet leader, Syed Bashir Ahmad and using batons against peaceful protesters.” Andrabi.—KMS use of brute force.—KMS SRINAGAR: Posters of Hizbul Mujaheedin were displayed during protests in downtown Srinagar on Saturday.
G.M. Bhat elected Amir Jamat for 4th time
India’s rigid stance main hurdle in Kashmir solution: Gilani
Who are buried in unmarked graves?
Night raids, arrests spark shutdown in Nowhatta
Hizb flags hoisted in old Srinagar
Nayeem condemns use of force on protesters
View from Srinagar
Kashmir back in international limelight HASSAN ZAINAGIRI
T
HE first foreign level talks between Delhi and Islamabad, scheduled in March last year didn’t take off. The Hurriyat Conference leaders who Pakistan continued to talk to for the last decade and who were invited as state guests to the Pakistan embassy, were held back by New Delhi and asked not to cross Lakashman Rekha. Expectedly Islamabad stuck to its precedent and foreign level engagements were scuttled. The Ufa statement, though interpreted differently in both the capitals, committed both countries to restart negotiations on all issues the long term solution of which is vital for the durable peace and prosperity of the region. Assuming Oaf restrained Nawaz Shrief to talk ‘terrorism’ only, but you cannot discuss terrorism in the void. It is related to other equally, rather most important, factors. Without addressing them, peace and stability is a distant hope. it is imprudent to expect other to lend patient hearing to your charge sheet and, in a way bag him approver, without acknowledging his right to expect the same in reciprocity. The ‘victim terrorized’ will instantaneously cry: yeh dastoor-e-zubaan bandee hai kaisa teree mahfil mayn yahaan to baat karnai koa tarastee hai zuban mairey. Sovereignty of both countries demands equality in status and treatment. One cannot force its agenda on other. Diplomacy is not
the battle ground where guns and tanks set the agenda. If you have decided to opt the diplomatic channel, it is after the calculated risks involved in head-butting which nudged you thus far. You cannot dictate terms thinking other weak. Spirit of accommodation, not hardening of stances and seriousness and sincerity are the essentials to prop you on the tedious path to negotiate. ‘If the only instrument you have’, warned Abraham Maslow, ‘ is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail’. Unfortunately BJP government suffers from this obsession. In its approaches of dealing with Hurriyat or Pakistan it takes a maximalist position. And as the recently cancelled National Security Advisor’s meeting in Delhi also proved this approach is counter productive. The situation it wants to wriggle out from, its getting too much scary of ultimately rebounds on her. It wanted Hurriyat not get prominence, not be seen a voice articulating a narrative different from what it advocates. The curbs put on their dissent and peaceful assembly – a sharp contrast to the idea of ‘democratic India’—on a ‘silent mode’ authenticates Hurriyat’s claim. The more Delhi banks on denying Hurriyat access to people, more it helps her gain credibility and establish its (what it trumpets often) ‘ representative character’. Had BJP followed the foot steps of Congress and not objected on Hurriyat’s meeting Sartaj Aziz, both Kashmir and
Hurriyat would not have come on the Centre stage the emphatically amazing way they came. Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj in invoking Simla Agreement stated that ‘third party like Hurriyat has no role in bilateral talks’. In doing so she had not only acknowledged Hurriyat being the ‘third party’ to dispute, with India and Pakistan the other two ( Hurriyat says it is the basic principal party to the dispute), but brought her to the center part of spectrum, the involvement of which in any meaningful dialogue on Kashmir cannot be ignored. Kashmir has now scripted a status of ‘disputed’ character from the hands that craved and strived to its assimilation and sing a requiem for her. The main international players and sections of international media are watching Kashmir with renewed focus. The United States have called Kashmir a ‘disputed territory’ that remains, in the opinion of its media, a ‘dangerous flashpoint’. The UN General Secretary asked both countries to solve their differences through dialogue. The influential New York Times in its August 19 editorial ‘The need for restraint in Kashmir’, in the back drop of escalated firing incidents along borders, warns that violence on the borders ‘could spiral out of control and set off another war between two nuclear armed adversaries’. Reminding India of not getting swayed of having edge over Pakistan, it said ‘ India, which is considerably stronger and more successful than Paki-
stan, has the most to lose if another war erupts’. In a wake up call to international community, the editorial mentions that ‘the disputed region of Kashmir remains a dangerous flush point’. Wrongly, perhaps, the think tanks in Delhi had hoped that macho-posturing pursued by Modi government would exact concessions from Pakistan, but as analyzed by veteran Indian journalist, Prem Shankar, in his write-up in GK,23 August, ‘ Pakistan does not need to make any concessions to India on Kashmir. Instead, thanks to the Manmohan Singh and Modi government’s execrable treatment of Kashmir since 2008, everything in that valley is moving Pakistan way’. Indian Express in its August 22 editorial ‘ an unwise posture’ blamed Delhi ‘in letting slip its opportunity to talk to Pakistan’. While Modi government is trying to restructure the framework of dialogue with Pakistan on its own terms, Islamabad too reciprocates in equal measure. The message sent from Islamabad is there can be no forward movement without Kashmir and Hurriyat. This freeze in relations of the two nations is detrimental for larger peace constituency. It is time all outstanding issues they resolve as both are sitting atop a nuclear volcano. —Courtesy: Greater Kashmir
PIA performance lauded Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD—The Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Saturday, lauded performance Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and advised authorities to keep up the spirit of work in future also. While chairing a high level meeting to review financial performance of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the light of the steps taken by the new management and the drop in oil prices, Dar said that the government would support all efforts aimed at improvement in PIA’s services. The Minister appreciated that 88% of PIA’s flights were now on time and that operational losses had been turned into operational profit through dedicated efforts. He said that as national flag carrier was expected of PIA to ensure quality travel and cargo services. SAPM on Aviation, Capt Shujaat Azim, Secretary Finance Dr. Waqar Masood Khan and other senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, Aviation Division and PIA were present in the meeting.
FBR seeks 2 months transaction record from banks ISLAMABAD —Federal Bureau of Revenue has directed all banks to submit details of twomonth transaction record till September 15. It sought transaction record of more than Rs 50,000 from all the banks that had been done in the past two months; a private news channel reported Saturday. Names, identity card numbers, quantity of transactions would also be provided by the banks The record of those who are not paying withholding tax, will be checked and processed in this regard. —APP
Jubilee Insurance launches Takaful business ISLAMABAD —Jubilee Insurance, the leading insurance brand in Pakistan, launched their Takaful business in an impressive event at a hotel in Karachi. The event, hosted jointly by both Jubilee Life and Jubilee General, marked the commencement of the highly anticipated launch of Takaful business. The event was hosted by the top management of both companies for key stakeholders. “Jubilee Life has been working to develop innovative solutions that are beneficial for Pakistanis of all walks of life,” said Mr. Javed Ahmed, MD & CEO, Jubilee Life. “The launch of Jubilee Takaful is a step towards the industry’s growth – something we are major advocates of. As has been our tradition, we will continue our pursuit of developing world class insurance and Takaful products for the Pakistani market.—PR
Trade deficit forces MoC to review PTA with Indonesia MIAN ARSHAD ISLAMABAD—The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) is holding review of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Indonesia to reduce the widening trade deficit with Indonesia. PTA became operational between both the countries in 2013, however, PTA failed in reducing the ever widening trade deficit the friendly countries. Main reason of trade deficit is higher quantity of imports by Pakistani importers as compared to exports. “Efforts will be made to further deepen market access for Pakistani products in Indonesian market to increase exports and bridge the trade deficit” a well placed official source at MoC told Pakistan Observer here on Saturday. The source said that Pakistan had been facing trade deficit with Indonesia even before signing of PTA and it continues to remain so and primary reason for the trade deficit is import of large quantity of palm oil from Indonesia. “In the year 2013-14, Pakistan imported 2.2 million tones of palm oil amounting to $ 1.9 billion” the source added saying that of the total import of palm oil, 52% was imported from Indonesia. The source said that Palm Oil was raw material for cooking oil and other consumer items and availability of palm oil at cheaper rates had resulted in lower cost of production and benefited con-
Textile exporters yet wandering for refunds
REAP election 2015-17
SLAMABAD —Despite the immediate attention. Value L AHORE —All candidates IFederal Board of Revenue added textile sector officefor Managing Committee
Members of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) have been elected unopposed in the Annual Elections for the year 201517. Abdul Latif Piracha, Nadeem Polani, Inder Lal and Abdul Rauf Shivani have been elected Members Managing Committee of REAP from Karachi for South Zone Corporate Class. Chaudhry Muhammad Shafique (Hafizabad), Khawaja Fawad Kaleem (Gujranwala), Mian Abdul Razzaq (Gujranwala) and Bilal Mohammad (Peshawar) have been elected unopposed for North Zone Corporate Class. Hamid Hussain Qureshi has been elected for Associate Class (South Zone) and Mohammad Aqib Chaudhry (Muridkey) for Associate Class (North Zone). Abdul Rahim Janoo, Senior Vice President, FPCCI & Chief Patron of REAP and Rafique Suleman Chairman REAP have facilitated the newly elected members for governing body.—Agencies
(FBR) has issued refund payment orders (RPOs) for January and February 2015; some exporters are still waiting for their refund cheques. The exporters lamented this delay which they pointed out was in spite of the commitment of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar made in his budget speech 2015-16 that refunds to export oriented sectors relating to tax periods till May 31, 2015 shall be issued by August 31, 2015. When contacted, textile industry stakeholders said that about Rs 100 billion of textile exporters are stuck with FBR in sales tax, customs rebate and federal excise duty refund regimes creating severe financial crunch. The sales tax refund issue has been a sticking point between the textile mills and the government with the former repeatedly insisting that delays in refunds are negatively affecting their sector. All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) office bearers revealed that delay in payment is one of the main issues hindering their operations and requires
—Herbert Hoover
bearers said that about 2 percent of the value of total textile exports is stuck with FBR under different schemes, making it difficult for them to remain viable. The FBR officials in a recently held meeting challenged the amount of refunds cited by APTMA and maintained that refund claims are no more than Rs 25 billion and would be cleared by 31 August, as per the government’s commitment. The FBR has taken some decisions to expedite payment of refunds and duty drawback to the textile exporters. In the last meeting between FBR and APTMA, the industry objected that the Expeditious Refund System (ERS) for payment of sales tax refund claims entertains those claims where the refund claim does not exceed 3.5 percent of value of supplies. It was suggested that the said threshold needs to be increased. The FBR decided that the FBR Member IR Operations should appropriately increase the said threshold.—Agencies
NIB Bank operating profit grows 425pc STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—NIB Bank announced Financial Results for H1 2015 on Wednesday, 26 August 2015. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Bank has posted an operating profit of Rs 3.34 billion compared to an operating profit of Rs 635 million for the same period last year, an increase of 425%. Key highlights for the half year ended June 30, 2015, compared to the same period last year are; Operating profit of Rs 3.34 billion, a 425% increase, Total revenue increased by 89% to Rs 6.63 billion, Net interest income increased by
25%, Non-funded income increased by 154%, Profit after tax of Rs 1,487 million as against profit after tax of Rs 421 million in H1 2014. Commenting on the results Mr. Atif R. Bokhari, President & CEO, NIB Bank, said, “These results show that NIB Bank is on the right trajectory towards realizing its full potential. In H1 2015, the Bank has maintained a strong focus on improving organizational efficiency and responsiveness to customer needs, while achieving revenue growth and rationalizing costs. With continued focus, NIB Bank can achieve even better results going forward.”
APBF elects Dr. Inam new President Islamabad Board OBSERVER REPORT ISLAMABAD—Recently National Board of All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) has conducted its meeting, headed by the Chairman APBF - Mr. Khalid Rafiq, while President APBF Ibrahim Quraishi was the Co-chairman of this meeting. All the members Unanimously elected Dr. Inam Ullah Haq as the new President of Islamabad Board. The session was intended to evaluate overall performance of APBF Islamabad Board and its office bearers. Thorough appraisal during the session resulted in a unanimous decision by the members to terminate the tenure of Mr. Imran Shauqat, EX President Islamabad Board for not meeting the goals and objectives of APBF. Hence National Board declared officially that: “Mr. Imran Shauqat is no longer associated with APBF, and he should not be considered President, representative or member of APBF. Mr. Naeem Murtaza will hold his office position and will carry on as Secretary General of Islamabad Board. The board was happy to see his performance and the approach for making APBF a success. Mr. Ibrahim Qureshi, President APBF, welcomed Dr. Inam Ullah Haq as a new President of Islamabad Board. Mr. Qureshi also said that: “Dr. Inam Ullah Haq is a valuable addition to the association”. Mr. Qureshi also expressed his trust in the leadership qualities of Dr. Inam Ullah Haq to provide a robust growth to the APBF Islamabad Chapter. The National Board meeting saw enthusiastic participation from all board members, representing high-profiled enterprises, associations and institutions, belonging to numerous industrial sectors, from all over Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD—The weekly inflation for the week ended on August 27 for the combined income group witnessed decrease of 0.06 percent as compared to the previous week. The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week under review in the above-mentioned group was recorded at 213.57 points against 213.70 points registered in the previous week, according to data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Similarly, as compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review decreased by 1.23 percent. The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007-2008=100, covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups and combined. Meanwhile, the SPI for the lowest income group upto Rs 8000 was also decreased by 0.24 percent as it went down from 205.32 points in the previous week to 204.82 points in the week under review. As compared to the last week, the SPI for the income groups from Rs 8001-12,000, Rs 12,001-18,000, Rs 18,001-35,000 and above Rs 35000 decreased by 0.25 percent, 0.12 percent, 0.04
percent and 0.00 percent respectively. During the week under review average prices of 09 items registered decrease, while that of 19 items increase with the remaining 25 items’ prices unchanged. The items which registered decrease in their prices during the week under review included tomatoes, bananas, chicken farm (live), potatoes, wheat flour (bag), sugar, wheat, vegetable ghee (pouch) and pulse moong (washed). The items which recorded increase in their average prices included onions, cooked beef plate, curd, eggs hen (farm), cigarettes, electric bulb, soap, pulse maoor (washed), mutton, mustard oil and red chilly. The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included rice, irri-6, bread plain, milk fresh, powder milk, cooking oil (tin), vegetable ghee (tin), salt powder, long cloth, tea prepared cup, shirting, lawn cloth, georget, sandal ladies, gents chapal, gents sandal, electricity charges, gass charges, kerosene oil, fire wood, washing soap, match box, petrol supper, hi-speed diesel and telephone charges.—APP
Gwadar port to be connected with railway network ISLAMABAD —Pakistan Railways is focussing on connecting Gwadar port with railways network and establishing new dry port at Havelian to generate revenues. The government is committed to make Pakistan Railways a profitable organization and a number of steps are being taken in this regard, an official in the Ministry of Railways told state-run media. Pakistan Railways is involving private parties in commercial management of four passenger carrying trains and cargo express trains, he added. He said right mix of passenger and freight trains and a freight transport company is being established to give top priority to freight transportation for generating revenues. To control corruption in the department, he said there is a strict control over expenditures through computerized payments and pensions to eliminate ghost pensioners and rule out possibility of over pay-
ments. He said that procurement of new boogie oil tank wagons and new state-ofthe-art locomotives would also enhance the revenue for the department. The official said the project of online tracking system and monitoring of locomotives and freight wagons is also on cards. The terminal facilities are being augmented to curtail loading un-loading time by introducing modern facilities. He said Pakistan Railways is in process of up-gradation of its existing tracks on main corridor with the collaboration of China. “Existing speed of trains from Karachi to Lahore would be increased upto 160 kms per hour and from Lahore to Peshawar upto 120 kms per hour,”he added. Pakistan Railways would renovate and up-grade railway stations in collaboration with National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), he added.—NNI
TDAP briefs NA body on exports shortfall STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—SC of the National Assembly on Commerce visited TDAP led by Mr. Siraj Muhammad Khan Chairman of The Standing
Committee. S. M Muneer, Chief Executive Officer of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan briefed the committee about the issues being faced by the exporters of the country, due to which exports value of the outgoing fiscal year 2014-15 decreased. The CEO, TDAP further informed that both electricity and gas crisis in the country badly affecting the manufacturing process. Not only
this, but there is water shortage in Karachi created by water mafia is affecting the industrial activities. Companies are spending lot of money on purchasing their own theft water, due to huge amount of over Rs. 200 billion of Exporters on account of the refunds are stuck up with the FBR for the last two years which is also creating finance problems for them He also informed the committee that he and his team working very hard to promote exports, all the TDAP officials are worried on the declining export trend. Secretary TDAP further informed the committee that TDAP is giving special attention to the women entrepreneurs and SMEs. She informed that WEXNET, which is an event for women exporters, only will be held in December this year. Furthermore, Alishan Pakistan will also be held next year in the major international cities. Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Commerce was of the view that TDAP should take the committee into confidence for important issues, so that an affect voice can be raised in the parliament.
Dar asks NBP to prepare for AGP audit MIAN ARSHAD I SLAMABAD —The Finance Minister Ishaq Dar,
Economic depression cannot be cured by legislative action or executive pronouncement. Economic wounds must be healed by the action of the cells of the economic body - the producers and consumers themselves.
sumers. However, the source said that in order to reduce trade deficit and enhance Pakistan’s exports to Indonesia, MoC had regularly been conducting trade promotional activities like exhibitions, trade fairs and business delegations. The source observed that in the post 18th amendment scenario, Ministry of Commerce had setup a Domestic Commerce Wing for creating linkages between domestic & International trade to enhance exports compositeness. In this regard the source added that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) participated in Interfood Indonesia 2014 held from November 12-15 in Jakarta International Expo Kernayoran. Similarly, two representatives of SAARC Chamber participated in program on ASEAN Mechanism at ASEAN Secretariat Jakarta on June 16-18. The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Jakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August1823, 2014. A delegation of LCCI also visited Jakarta and Signing of MOU, between LCCI and JCCI on August 26, 2014” the source recalled adding that a 15 Member Delegation of Pakistan Vanaspati Manufactures Association went to Indonesia and participated in 10th Indonesian Palm Oil Conference held from November 25-29.
Weekly inflation eases by 0.06pc
Saturday, directed the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to prepare for an audit by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) along with withdrawal of petition in this regard. While chairing a briefing session here at the Auditor General’s Office, He said that audit was necessary for fulfilling the objectives of transparency and complete accountability, as NBP was a fully state owned entity. The Minister specially referred to 18th amendment, which had enhanced Auditor General’s powers for conducting audit and maintaining financial discipline. The Minister also expressed concern over the reports about ghost pensioners. He ordered formation of a special committee comprising representatives from the Controller General of Accounts and the AGP Offices to review the system of pensions, point out malpractices and suggest measures for revamping it. He said the committee should also come up
with proposals for simplification of pension procedures and facilitation of the pensioners. The Committee, the Minister said, has 15-days time to come up with its recommendations. “I wish to see an end to pensioners queuing up in long lines to receive pensions. They should receive pensions just like someone receives regular salary”, the Minister remarked. The Minister in his address to the senior officers of the Auditor General’s office on the occasion said that effective working of institutions like the AGP could help curb financial irregularities and ensure financial discipline among government institutions. He called upon the Auditor General to make the system of audit as effective and robust as possible. Auditor General of Pakistan, Rana Assad
Amin, briefed the Finance Minister about the current profile of the AGP Office. He said capacity building of audit and accounts personnel and elimination of corrupt practices was among the top priorities currently. He apprised the Minister that all heads of field audit offices having ill repute had been replaced and efforts were afoot to introduce quality audit practices. He said the AGP office would extend full support to the Government for maintaining financial discipline, promoting accountability and ensuring good governance. He said the uneasiness among the officers due to proposed bifurcation of Audit and Accounts services had been removed. He also shared with the Minister information about audits conducted by the AGP in FY14-15. He said every year, through audit, the AGP effects recovery of an average of
Rs. 48 billion. He said the AGP has conducted audits of World Bank, DFID, ADB, JICA and other donor-funded projects, winning acclaim. The number of foreign funded projects audited in 2014-15 was 133, he said. He also briefly touched upon the AGP’s strategic plan 2015-19 and said a MoU between USAID and AGP for technical assistance in capacity building of human resource had been signed. Discussions with USAID and World Bank were in process for financial assistance of USD 10 million through budgetary mechanism, Rana Assad added. The Finance Minister assured full support to the AGP for efforts in ensuring financial discipline and removal of corrupt practices. Later, the Minister performed soft opening of the additional block at of Audit House. Revised PC-1 for this block is under process and on receipt of funds the additional block would be duly completed with installation of all the necessary equipment and machinery. It would help accommodate various audit offices from different areas of the city.
Currency
Selling
Buying
USA
103.80
UK
160.25
159.94
Euro
116.92
116.70
Canada
78.70
78.55
Switzerland
107.55
107.34
Trade expos boost business activities: Dastgir
103.60
Australia
74.40
74.26
Sweden
12.26
12.24
Japan
0.8583
0.8566
Norway
12.53
12.50
Singapore
74.00
73.86
Denmark
15.67
15.64
Saudi Arabia 27.67
27.62
Hong Kong
13.39
13.37
China
16.24
16.21
Kuwait
344.08
343.42
Malaysia
24.62
24.57
Newzealand
67.18
67.05
Qatar
28.51
28.45
UAE
28.26
28.21
Kr Won
0.0882
0.0880
Thailand
2.894
2.888
Naukri Ya Karobar Convention OBSERVER REPORT ISLAMABAD—The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) inaugurated a twoday Naukri Ya Karobar Convention at a local hotel in Islamabad, where NyK operators will showcase their successes and the NyK concept will be shared with participants so that they can replicate the model for the economic betterment of their communities. PPAF will also introduce the NyK Franchise to participants, elect a NyK Franchise Council and build the capacity of operators on franchise management at the Convention. As the name suggests, the NyK brand focuses on both ‘naukri’ or employment and ‘karobar’ or self-employment and enterprise development. PPAF invests technical and financial resources in programs that transform the more marginalized and vulnerable segments of the population including the youth into empowered components of their communities. By June 2015, PPAF had established a total of 76 NyK Centres across Pakistan and 20,733 men and women had registered with the Centres. There have been a total of 6,605 referrals, 2,652 successful placements and 2,578 businesses established. The NyK Centres have explored 327 different employers including opportunities overseas, industries, NGOs, Government departments, construction companies, and private schools, amongst others. Dr. Syed Asif Hussain, Group Head Grants, said, “The proof of this sustainable concept is established with the fact that PPAF has not invested in a single penny to establish these centers except two individuals trained on employment cycle and enterprise development. However, all operational management expenses are borne by the community themselves.” In terms of opportunities, one of the biggest, untapped sectors in Pakistan is the service industry, where there are immense job and entrepreneurial opportunities in both the formal and informal sector. NyK Centres do more than just link employers with employees; they also provide capacity building services and host activities such as job fairs and exposure visits. Samia Liaquat Ali Khan, Group Head, Compliance and Quality Assurance Group, said, “PPAF believes in developing institutions of the poor as a means of empowering them. The NyK brand is one such institution. PPAF owns the NyK brand and will encourage current NyK operators to form a self-governing body for operating and spreading the NyK franchise for the benefit of vulnerable communities. NyK will therefore be an Operator-Governed Franchise (OGF) for employment promotion for the poor.” There is a need for more NyK Centres across the country as approximately 60 percent of the population of Pakistan is below the age of 25.
STAFF REPORTER L AHORE —Federal Commerce Minister Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan has said mega trade exhibitions help in increasing business-to-business interactions. Talking to the media after inaugurating the 14th International Textile Asia Trade Fair here at the Expo Centre on Saturday, the minister said about 300 foreign delegates had come to participate in the mega fair and about 700 stalls had been set up. He said modern machinery was required for good working so the exhibition was focusing the immense buying and selling potential of textile and garment machinery, accessories, raw material supplies, chemicals and allied services under one roof. To a question, he said: “We are
‘King of fruits’ attracts people in Turkey
LG unveils OLED TV ISLAMABAD—LG Electronics (LG) unveiled the company’s latest OLED TV line-up at its MEA regional launch event held at the Madinat Jumeirah resort in Dubai. The event included a presentation detailing LG’s rise to the top of the global OLED industry and how the company intends to use its edge in technology to build on its leading position by offering its customers the absolute best in innovation, technology and design. Guests were also able to hear video endorsements from Former Director of MBC Action, Iyad Qassem and live endorsements from OLED VIP consumers from the MEA region.—PR
moving ahead under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and trying to take industry towards value addition which would attract buyers and traders.” He said: “We want to export our cotton after full processing. Value addition factories create job opportunities especially for women besides developing linkages with other countries.” Responding to another query, he said the export of Pakistan readymade garment had increased. It is pertinent to mention here that The Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) was organising the exhibition in collaboration with the E-commerce Gateway Pakistan, which will continue till August 31.
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Commerce Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan talking to media at Expo Centre.
ISLAMABAD—A large number of people in rea, and Australia. Briefing the guests about Turkey tasted the freshly arrived varieties of Pakistani mango at the Pakistan House in Ankara. Guests including key political figures, representatives of the food and beverage industry, food importers, diplomats and media representatives also enjoyed selected Pakistani music and cuisine, said a message received here Saturday from Ankara. Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Swissotel Ankara has organized the event. Pakistan exports mangoes to over 40 countries including the United States, Canada, many EU member countries, Middle East, and Far East while new markets for Pakistani mangoes are Japan, Ko-
the ‘King of Fruits’ ambassador Sohail Mahmood said that they were endeavouring to popularize the mangoes even more and facilitate easier marketing in Turkey. “There are over 110 varieties of high quality mangoes in Pakistan and the country is the 5th largest producer and 6th largest exporter in the world,” he informed. Chairman of Pakistan-Turkey Cultural Association and member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Burhan Kayaturk, who was the chief guest on the occasion, referred to the special flavour of Pakistani mangoes, terming it the best one in the world. He encouraged Turkish entrepreneurs to consider importing Pakistani mangoes in the next season.—APP
PBIF hails Dar’s role in economic revival I SLAMABAD —Pakistan’s economy is on growth trajectory which has infused confidence of investors and international institutions but pace of reforms must be accelerated, a business leader said. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has focused attention on energy, expanding tax net, reforming PSEs, stabilising prices, currency and reducing deficit which is laudable, said President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain. In a statement issued here, he said that country was on the brink of default when PML-N came to power and change the situation by floating Euro and Sukuk bonds, auctioning 3G and 4G licences and by reducing interest rates. Mian Zahid Hussain said that CPI inflation was 8.63 in fiscal of 2014 while it was reduced to 4.53 in 2015. Inflation, which was 7.9 in 2014, is now at 1.8 percent while current account deficit,
which was 3.13 billion dollars in 2014, came down to 2.28 billion in 2015. Forex reserves were at 7.58 billion in Feb 2014, which are now above 18 billion dollars. Mian Zahid said that massive investment in Pak-China Economic Corridor, special focus on infrastructure development, and zero tolerance for terrorism and corruption are satisfactory developments but improvement in tax system and pace of privatisation must be improved. He said that incompetence of export institutions has forced government to burden existing taxpayers, which are not going down well with business community. Country is already burdened with 163 billion dollar of loans for which government has to allocate 44 percent of tax income to pay interest. 3.2 million Pakistanis falls into category of rich but not even one-third pay taxes while the axe falls on the poor, which result in social problems.—INP
Plasti & Pack 2015 Int’l Expo STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The International Plastics and Packaging Industry Exhibition- Plasti & Pack 2015, the hallmark of introducing the most innovative and latest technologies of plastics and packaging in Pakistan is scheduled to commence from September 1-3, 2015 at Karachi Expo Center. The most prominent technology fair on food packaging IFTECH 2015 would also get of at he same venue simultaneously. China and Iran are setting up their full-fledged pavilions this time. Exhibitors belonging to injection molding; mold making; extrusion; printing and packaging machinery; testing equipment and raw materials mark Chinese participation. The plastics sector from Iran is represented by INPIA, Iran National Plastics Industry Association, which is organizing the biggest ever-single country pavilion in Plasti & Pack Pakistan 2015. International exhibitors from Austria, Germany, Hong Kong,
Italy, India, Taiwan & UAE are also going to display latest display of high speed printing packaging machines, injection molding machines, solvent less laminators, compressors, mono and multi-layer blown film lines and petrochemicals products. Another highlight of Plasti & Pack 2015 is a national pavilion of locally made packaging machines from some of the biggest names of the industry. Local participation also consists of converters, packaging suppliers, printers and representatives of international companies. The International Exhibition of Food & Beverage Processing Packaging Technologies is known as the largest annual gathering of food and beverage technology leaders and professionals in Pakistan. The mega event on food technology, IFTECH is also a B2B event, is second to none in attracting the leading global suppliers of dairy, meat, poultry, fruits & vegetable processing, packaging, bottling & filling lines, bakery, confectionery.
Mobilink donates mobile dispensary to Khidmat Foundation
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Sohail Mahmood and other dignitaries cutting ribbon to inaugurate Pakistan Mango Festival in Ankara.
STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Mobilink donated a state-of-the-art mobile dispensary to Khidmat Foundation, at a handing over ceremony in Islamabad. This newly delivered vehicle, fittingly titled the Mobile Dispensary, will be used by Khidmat Foundation to provide free medical assistance to the rural population around Islamabad who have a limited access to medical centers, dispensaries and hospitals. The dispensary houses a qualifieddoctor commissioned by Khidmat Foundation, basic testing tools for common ailments and stocks of various medicine. Its areas of operation include Bari Imam, Pind Sangrial, Alipur Farash, Romali and Loi Bhair. This move further strengthens the longstanding partnership between the two organizations, which began back in 2007 when Mobilink Foundation donated its first mobile dispensary unit to Khidmat Foundation. Speaking at the ceremony about Mobilink Foundation’s Health initiatives, Omar Manzur, Head of Corporate Communications – Mobilink stated, “Our aim with Mobilink Foundation’s investments in healthcare is very simple - the universal provision of basic but essential health services to every needy Pakistani.
A delegation of Pakistani journalists from Punjab in Istanbul, Turkey with Farhan Ahmad, Manager Marketing, Turkish Airline. This visit was arranged by Turkish Airline Lahore office.
Abid Beli, E-commerce consultant, Osama Qazi, CEO Lush, Hussain Ali Talib, Manager Corporate Affairs Unilever Pakistan, Waqar Bukhari, Adamjee Insurance and Ms. Nadia Hussain, Fashion Model at at Institute of Business Management during career counseling and development session.
B2B contacts vital for increasing Pak-Brunei trade SALIM AHMED L AHORE —Business-to-Business (B2B) contacts are a must to increase bilateral trade between Pakistan and Brunei Darussalam. The Chambers of Commerce & Industry of the both countries should expedite relations to achieve the desired results. These views were expressed by the High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam Dato Mahmud Saidin while talking to the LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The LCCI Vice-President Syed Mahmood Ghaznavi and Executive Committee Members were also present on the occasion. The High Commissioner said that Pakistan and Brunei Darussalam would have to make joint efforts to strengthen their economic ties, as despite having excellent relations, volume of mutual trade is very small. He said that his country also attaches importance to Pakistan being one of its brothers and an economic partner. He said that investors from Brunei would certainly like to take benefit of huge potential in Pakistan. He said that Pakistani entrepreneurs could initiate joint venture with the counterparts in Brunei Darussalam in various sectors. It is high time for the joint business ventures as the business community in Brunei Darussalam is quite impressed with the Pakistan’s growth. He said that the exchange of trade delegations between the two countries would definitely help boost the volume of bilateral trade and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry should arrange a visit as early as possible. The LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz in his address
said that that Pakistan has got special place due to fully facilitating Brunei under defence cooperation agreements. Both countries have common perception about harmony and peace. He said that Pakistan and Brunei Darussalam are members of OIC and maintain cordial diplomatic relations based on historical affiliation. However, the bilateral trade figures hardly reflect these relations. “The total worth of Pakistan exports to Brunei in 2013 was just dollar 0.4 million that increased to dollar 0.7 million in 2014. The major items of exports are aluminum tables, fruits & vegetables, fresh & frozen fish and rice etc. Similarly Pakistan’s imports from Brunei are virtually negligible”, Ijaz A. Mumtaz added. The LCCI President said that Brunei Darussalam is a small country and its economy heavily depends on exports of crude oil and natural gas. He said that out of total exports of Brunei, petroleum based products have the share of more than 90%. Secondly, nearby countries like Malaysia, Singapore and China etc. are major importing countries to Brunei, which fulfill more than 50% of other requirements. Ijaz A. Mumtaz said Pakistan is a producer of finest quality of textiles items, surgical goods, sports goods, leather products, carpets and rugs etc. Brunei Darussalam should consider importing such commodities from Pakistan. “There is a lot of scope for Brunei to make investment in Pakistan. Brunei can make direct investment in Pakistan in sectors like infrastructure, banking, insurance, oil & gas; automobiles, construction and hotel industries etc. and can also
enter into joint ventures with Pakistani counterparts, the LCCI President said. He said that it is right time to invest in Pakistan owing to Pakistan’s economic performance and investment friendly policies of the government. There is no limit on foreign equity and one can freely transfer capital, profits and dividends to their country. Ijaz A. Mumtaz said that Brunei has sufficient capital and further plans to widen the economic base beyond oil and gas. Pakistan can help Brunei through cooperation agreements that can include sharing of knowledge and technical knowhow, supplies of labor force, machinery and raw
materials etc. He proposed that there should be active collaboration among the Chambers of Commerce & Industry of both the countries. He stressed the need to initiate a consultative process for enhancing bilateral trade and investment. We should
try to explore the possible ways to take benefit from each other’s strengths.
Akhtar’s advice to Amir: Hire a shrink L AHORE —Former Pakistan pacer out and have a bold time for Pakistan.” wrong, very wrong, but now to wash Shoaib Akhtar has advised disgraced fast bowler Mohammad Amir to ‘hire a shrink’ as he charts his return to international cricket after a five-year ban for spot-fixing. Akhtar, who played alongside the then teenager Amir in 2010, said the left-arm fast bowler could have picked up ‘250 or 300 wickets if it wasn’t for the ban’ and will need to be psychologically tough when he returns. The Rawalpindi Express said all was not lost for Amir, who along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, will have served his five-year ban on September 1. “I really want him to grow up, mature and get serious help, get a serious shrink, and serious advisors, and go out to perform to the best of his ability,” the 40-year-old Akhtar told Gulf News in an interview. According to him, Amir had another six to seven years in him despite being out of action for five years. “Amir has six or seven years to go
The outspoken Akhtar, who picked up 178 Test and 247 ODIs wickets in a 14-year career for Pakistan, said the
spot-fixing trio would forever be indebted to the country. “They are indebted to Pakistan and every day they play for their country they will carry that burden until the minute they retire,” he said. “They have done something
that off they will need go out and play at their optimum and bring glory back to Pakistan. That way people will forgive and forget. “There will be a million judging eyes and stigma upon them, it’s not going to go away, so they have to try and make it fade away.” The disgraced trio will be eligible for an international return in 2016 after a new Pakistan Cricket Board rehab programme for the three cricketers. Akhtar said the trio would redeem themselves if they manage to be a part of Pakistan’s squad for next year’s World T20 and bring back the cup. “The perfect apology for me would be if they went on and won the T20 World Cup. If they want to apologise don’t say it verbally, bring the World Cup back from India, or perform at the best of your ability and bring laurels back to Pakistan, and we will forgive you.”— Agencies ISLAMABAD: Players of Army and PAF hockey teams struggling to get hold on the ball during a match at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium.
Yani Tseng leads Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic P RATTVILLE —Yani Tseng closed with an eagle and a birdie for an 8-under 64 and a one-stroke lead Friday in the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. Tseng hit a 6-iron to 4 feet to set up the eagle on the par-5 eighth hole just before play was delayed for about 90 minutes because of lightning and rain, then took the outright lead on the par-4 ninth with her sixth birdie of the day. ‘’I can’t wait to come out tomorrow,’’ Tseng said. ‘’It will be a brand new day, but we’ll keep the same strategy and make as many birdies as I can.’’ Ranked No. 1 in the world for 109 weeks, the 26year-old Taiwanese player has slipped to 75th and is winless in 85 events since the 2012 Kia Classic. The 15-time tour winner tied for second in March in the LPGA Thailand for her only top-10 finish of the year. ‘’I’ve been working on my game forever, like every day,’’ Tseng said. ‘’It’s just exciting. I really want to win a tournament for sure. We only have probably seven, eight tournaments left, but it’s never too late. Just very happy my game’s really coming back. ... It doesn’t matter if it’s this week or next week or next year, just try to be patient as much as I can and stay positive.’’ Third-ranked Stacy Lewis, the 2012 winner, played alongside Tseng. ‘’You can see she’s confident,’’ Lewis said, ‘’She’s firing at pins that are tucked and hidden. She hits it so far and hits the irons so high that they have a lot of spin, so she’s able to kind of attack pins that nobody else is. ... It’s fun to see her playing the way she should be.’’ Tseng reached 10-under 134 on the links-style Senator Course with her lowest round since a 63 in the 2013 LPGA Thailand. ‘’It just feels like this course suits my game,’’ Tseng said. ‘’I feel very comfortable and confident out there. I’m just kind of getting back to enjoy playing golf again and it was so much fun to play with Stacy. She made a bunch of birdies and we kind of kept that momentum keep going. ... Stacy’s amazing. I don’t know how to describe the feeling because we are good friends, but at the same time we’re competitors, too.’’ Austin Ernst was second after a 65, and playing PRATTVILLE: Yani Tseng of China hits a shot on the 5th partner Lexi Thompson, the 2011 winner at age 16, was hole during the first round of the Yokohama Tire LPGA third at 8 under after a 67.—AFP Classic.
Abbottabad district Karate C’ship begins P E S H AWA R —Abbottabad
Trio doesn’t deserve a second chance: Rameez Raja ISLAMABAD—Former cricketer Rameez Raja has said that the trio Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir and Salman Butt don’t deserve a second chance to play for Pakistan as that had brought a bad name to the country. Raja advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rule out any chances of the trio returning to the national team. “The PCB can give them permission to play some domestic cricket and perhaps even assist them financially but they must not be allowed to represent Pakistan again,” cricketcountry.com quoted Raja as saying. Raja said the trio by indulging in spot fixing in England on the 2010 tour had brought a bad name to Pakistan cricket and
tarnished its image and their offense was unforgivable. Raja said even the reintegration and rehabilitation plan would not make the trio corruption free cricketers. “They did something which badly hurt Pakistan cricket and its integrity and image and it has taken many years to once again restore our image internationally,” he said adding the trio doesn’t deserve a second chance to play for Pakistan. Raja also felt that the current Pakistan team had become an unified outfit, which could survive and continue to do well without the three tainted players. “Even if these three don’t play I don’t think it will make any difference to our team, which is now doing well,” Raja said.—APP
District Karate Championship commenced under the aegis of District Sports Officer District Council Hall on Saturday. Col. Adil and Haji Abdur Rashid jointly inaugurated the Championship in which more than 30 probables of various clubs are taking part in different age groups. District Sports Officer Mir Bashar Khan, officebearers of the District Karate Association, and players were also present. In the 25kg weight category of the junior class Mizaan Ahmad won gold medal, followed by Raadad Khan won silver medal, in the 30kg weight junior class Anus claimed gold medal, followed by Sher Qadir, In the 35kg weight category of the Junior Class Moeen claimed gold medal, followed by Qadir Ali while in the 45kg weight class, 50kg weight class, 55kg weight class and 60kg weight class Mobeen, Bilal Ahmad, Shehbaz and Shakeel grabbed gold medals and Waqas, Ammad Sher, Moazam and Muhammad won silver medals. Col. Adil and Haji Abdur Rashid gave away medals to the winners.— MULTAN: A view of cricket match between Khan Sports and Combined Cricket Club teams during Jashne-e-Azadi Tournament played at Sports Ground. APP
Abbottabad, Haripur reach Inter-District Basketball final P E S H AWA R —Abbottabad and Haripur took berth into the final after recording victories against their respective rivals in the semi-finals of the Hazara Division InterDistrict Basketball Championship being played here at District Council Hall Court on Saturday. In the first semi-final Abbottabad defeated Peace College team in a thrilling battle by 53-51. The players of both Abbottabad and Peace College struggled hard for a single point. It was the dying moments when Abbottabad, struggling at 51-51 made a three pointer by winning the match. In the second semi-final Haripur defeated Mansehra by 59-41 in another thrilling encounter. Haripur dominated the proceeding and did not give much rooms to Mansehra strikers to strike back, winning reaching to the final.—APP
Rabish, Fahadis to lead Karachi teams in Inter Region U19 cricket K ARACHI —Rabish Ahmed and Fahadis Bukhari have been named to lead Karachi Blues and Karachi Whites teams respectively in Inter Region Under-19 One-Day Cricket Tournament starting in different parts of the country from September 1. Teams were named here on Saturday by Secretary Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) Shafiq Kazmi. Karachi Blues is proceeding to Rawalpindi on Sunday by PK-368 to play their opening tie against Peshawar Region at Marghazar Ground, Islamabad. Karachi Region Whites will play their first match against Quetta Region here at the UBL Sports Complex Ground. Teams: Karachi Blues: Rabish Ahmad ( Captain), Hassan Khan, Hassan Mohsin, Azam Khan, Azizuddin, Kashif Iqbal, Zeeshan Haider, S.M. Tahami, Osama Butt, Wasiuddin (Wicketkeeper), Asher Qureshi, Muhammad Omar, Harman Waris, Mehmood Ali and Saif Ali Ghouri. Officials : Iftikhar Zaman Khan (Manager). Muhammad Masroor (Coach) Karachi Whites: Fahadis Bukhari (Captain), Hassan Shahab, Osama Ali, Khurram Taj, Ammad Alam, Muhammad Asad, Ashir Ahmad (W/K), Muhammad Ali Butt, Alam Khursheed, Kaaf Patel, Asadullah Hamza, Imran Shah, Arsal Bashir, Saeed Raza and Samiullah Khan. Officials: Asif Mehmood (Manager) Asim Rizvi (Coach—APP
Women’s selection committee slammed for ignoring deserving players KARACHI—Former first class cricketer and former Women’s coach Adnan Jamal slammed the national women’s selection committee for ignoring deserving players for the tour of the West Indies. In a statement issued here on Saturday, Adnan alleged that selection of Pakistan women’s team was not made purely on merit and several deserving players were overlooked. Giving an example, he said, left arm spinner Sadia Yousuf, all-rounder Kainat Imtiaz and Nahida Bibi were not considered in the team despite their consistent performances in women’s circuit. He said Sadia from Sargodha claimed 17 wickets in eight matches while representing Omar Associates in Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah championship. She was ranked among the top three in International Cricket Council (ICC) women’s ranking in the past. Kianat Imtiaz of Karachi also enjoyed good all-rounder show with the bat and ball in the same event. But was placed among the reserved which was disappointing. Similarly, Nahida Bibi is also an emerging batter from Quetta was ignored in the final 15-member squad. Adnan said Sadia Yousuf was punished for leaving Zarai Tariqiati Bank Ltd and joining Omar Associates while others two are not in the good book of captain. He said captain Sana Mir, who is also the captain of ZTBL team, was influencing the one-man selection committee of Farrukh
Zaman for not considering these for the team. He appealed to Shaharyar Muhammad Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board and Chairman Executive Committee Najam Sethi for increasing the number of selection committee members to at least three in number. He said PCB chief was taking great personal interest in the promotion of women’s cricket. But some elements are not working in right direction. With one-man selection committee, fair and transparent selection was not possible. Giving statistical data, he said, Naini has scored mere 331 runs in 25 ODIs with just two half centuries while in 19 Twenty20 Internationals, she has scored 313 runs. Diana, he said, captured just three wickets in three matches of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah Trophy while Sania Khan claimed just three wickets in 11 ODIs and in 22 T20s, she got 21 wickets. Sania got just six wickets in eight matches of Fatima Jinnah Trophy. “With this kind of record, you cannot pick players in the Pakistan team because other players also performed much better,” Adnan, said. He alleged that a number of undeserving players like Syed Naini Abidi, Daina Baig and Sania Khan were selected on the behest of the captain Adnan Jamal said due to faulty selection policy, the number of players in the national team was not increasing and many departmental teams are not growing.—APP
Bolt perfect yet again at worlds; Eaton sets world record B EIJING —Usain Bolt is perfect yet again. pion beat his own mark with a stirring run in Dispelling two years of injury doubts, the the closing 1,500 meters. Eaton was around Jamaican won three sprint gold medals this world-record pace throughout the 10 events week for an overall world championship over two days and, with exhaustion hangrecord of 11. The last of them came Saturday ing heavy in the Bird’s Nest, he pushed when he anchored the 4x100-meter relay team through pain to total 9,045 points, six better with free-flowing, giant strides that have made than his previous best. His chest heaving, he crumpled to the him an icon for the sport. ‘’This is even better to me. Just to prove track. Once he got up, he only had one thing everybody wrong,’’ Bolt said. ‘’I came out on his mind: seeking out his wife, heptathlon and proved you can never count Usain Bolt silver medalist Brianne Theisen-Eaton, for an out.’’ Behind him, the United States was far back in second place. But Justin Gatlin, who had been unbeaten in two seasons of sprinting, lost the chance for a third silver when the American team was disqualified for a bad exchange on the anchor leg. According to Bolt, the Americans just couldn’t deal with the situation of being the favourites. ‘’It is stress. It is pressure,’’ Bolt said. ‘’It is easy for people to chase people, but when you are the one being chased it is much harder.’’ The Americans lost their chance for a medal when they botched their last handover, just as Bolt grabbed the baton for the last leg of the race. ‘’We looked good in prelims. We looked good in practice,’’ Tyson Gay said after he got the baton to Mike Rodgers outside the exchange zone. ‘’We just didn’t get it around.’’ To the delight of the tens of thousands of fans in the Bird’s Nest, China moved up to silver and Canada took bronze. BEIJING: Jamaica’s Usain Bolt smiles as Jamaica wins It was Bolt’s third sprint the men’s 4x100m relay final at the World Athletics Chamtriple in a row, starting at the pionships at the Bird’s Nest stadium on Saturday. London Olympics and continuing through the 2013 worlds in Moscow, emotional embrace in the stands. ‘’The result and fifth overall. The Americans got solace is awesome,’’ Eaton said. For the Jamaicans, from Ashton Eaton’s world-record perfor- the women’s 4x100 relay team made Saturday’s mance in the decathlon. The Olympic cham- sprint party complete.—Agencies
Golf: Spieth to lose No. 1 ranking to McIlroy after missed cut
Pujara’s comeback ton lifts India
EDISON—Jordan Spieth’s first spell atop the world golf rankings proved short as the Masters and US Open champion missed the cut at the Barclays on Friday to hand the top spot back to Rory McIlroy. Spieth, 22, was playing his first tournament since taking the number one ranking with a runner-up finish to Jason Day at the PGA Championship on August 16. After a four-over-par first round of 74, Spieth was unable to make up enough ground to extend his week. He had six bogeys in a two-over 72 on Friday, his six-over total of 146 putting him four strokes outside the projected cut line of twoover when he walked off the course at Plainfield Country Club. —AFP
Wolfsburg’s De Bruyne jets off to Manchester BERLIN—Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne jetted off to England on Saturday morning with his club Wolfsburg poised to agree a German record transfer with Premier League giants Manchester City. De Bruyne sat out Friday’s 30 win over Schalke which put Wolfsburg top of the league with club bosses about to agree a reported fee of around 74 million euros ($83.64m, #54m) before Germany’s transfer window closes at 1800 (1600 GMT) on Monday. German broadcaster Sport1 showed De Bruyne boarding a private jet at Braunschweig airport, near Wolfsburg, en route to Manchester shortly before 10am local time (0800). On Friday night, Wolfsburg director of sport Klaus Allofs said there were “only small details” left to finalise in the transfer. —APP
Atletico agree to sign Argentina midfielder Kranevitter MADRID—Atletico Madrid’s busy summer in the transfer market has continued with the La Liga club’s signing of Argentina midfielder Matias Kranevitter from River Plate on a five-year contract. Kranevitter, 22, who was included in the latest Argentina squad, will not join coach and compatriot Diego Simeone and his new team mates until after December’s Club World Cup, where River will compete as Copa Libertadores champions, Atletico said on their website (www.clubatleti codemadrid.com). “Once the tournament has finished I will join Atletico to give my all right from the start and try to adapt as quickly as possible to the working methods and to Spanish football,” Kranevitter said. “I am very happy with the deal.”—AP
COLOMBO: Tharindu Kaushal attempts to vs India, 3rd Test’s 2nd day on Saturday. COLOMBO—Cheteshwar Pujara marked his recall with an unbeaten century after Sri Lanka’s Dhammika Prasad ripped through India’s batting in the decisive third and final Test in Colombo on Saturday. The tourists, who resumed at 50-2 after a rain-curtailed opening day, moved to 292-8 by stumps on the second day at the Sinhalese Sports Club with Pujara holding fort on a watchful 135 not out. Pujara, who had been dropped for India’s last four Tests across Australia, Bangladesh and the ongoing series, may not have played this match too if both regular openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan had been fit. The 27-year-old grabbed the chance to notch up his seventh Test century that has so far included 13 boundaries. Fast bowler Prasad bowled superbly to take four wickets in the innings, including two off successive balls on either side of the lunch break that reduced India to 119-5.Number nine batsman Amit Mishra came to India’s rescue with a defiant 59 during an eighth wicket stand of 104 with Pujara which boosted the total. Just 15 overs had been bowled in the 75 minutes of play possible due to rain on the opening day after India
trapped Stuart Binny legbefore with the first delivery to open up India’s lower order. Debutant wicket-keeper Naman Ojha helped Pujara add 54 for the sixth wicket, himself making 21 before he holed out in the deep attempting to smash off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal out of the ground. Prasad removed Ravichandran Ashwin with the first ball of a new spell, caught behind by Perera for five, but Mishra joined Pujara to frustrate Sri Lanka. Mishra reached his half-century by driving seamer Nuwan Pradeep to the cover fence for his seventh boundary, but fell soon after when he was stumped off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. The series is locked at 11 after Sri Lanka won the opening Test in Galle by 63 runs and India drew level with field off his own bowling during Sri Lanka a 278-run win in the second match at the P. Sara Oval in had been sent in to bat on a greenish pitch Colombo on Monday.—APP under overcast conditions. When play resumed under bright skies on the second day, the tourists were restricted to 22 runs in the first 15 overs by some accurate bowling by the Sri Lankans. India 1st innings (overnight 50-2): Indian skipper Virat Kohli survived Rahul b Prasad .............................. 2 a torrid opening over from Prasad Pujara not out .............................. 35 in which he was lucky to escape a Rahane lbw b Pradeep .................. 8 loud shout for leg-before off the Kohli c Perera b Mathews ......... 18 second ball and was beaten by the Sharma c Tharanga b Prasad ..... 26 final ball of the over. Binny lbw b Prasad ....................... 0 Kohli added four runs to his Ojha c Tharanga b Kaushal ....... 21 overnight score of 14 when Sri Ashwin c Perera b Prasad ............ 5 Lankan captain Angelo Mathews, Mishra s Perera b Herath .......... 59 who replaced Prasad at the bowl- Sharma not out .............................. 2 ing crease, had his counterpart Extras: (lb2, w3, nb6, pen5) ....... 16 caught behind by Kusal Perera. Total: (for eight wickets) .......... 292 Rohit Sharma added 55 runs for Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-14, 3-64, 4-119, the fourth wicket with Pujara, scor- 5-119, 6-173, 7-180, 8-284 ing 26 with three fours and a six Bowling: ....................... O-M-R-W before he edged a catch to first Prasad ............................ 23.3-4-83-4 slip off Prasad in what became the Pradeep ............................. 22-6-52-1 final delivery of the morning ses- Mathews .......................... 13-6-24-1 sion. Herath ............................... 25-3-81-1 Prasad, who still had one ball Kaushal ............................ 12-2-45-1 to bowl in the over on resumption,
Petra Kvitova, Lucie Safarova advance to New Haven final N EW
H AVEN —Second-seeded Petra Kvitova beat third-seeded Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-1 on Friday night to reach the Connecticut Open final for the fourth consecutive year. The defending champion will play fourth-seeded Lucie Safarova in an all-Czech Republic final. Safarova held off lucky-loser Lesia Tsurenko of the Ukraine 62, 7-6 (7-4). “We are friends and it’s always difficult to play friends for sure, even in the final,” said Kvitova, practices with Safarova during the Fed Cup and when back home. “It’s not always easy, but that’s how it is in tennis and when we are on the court I don’t we are really thinking about the friendship.” Kvitova is 6-0 against Safarova. “It’s going to be a tough finals match, which it should be,” Safarova said. Kvitova also won the Connecticut tournament in 2012, and lost to Simona Halep in the 2013. Wozniacki, from Denmark, won the last of her four New Haven titles in 2011. Kvitova is fighting mononucleosis, and
the players went to deuce 19 times. “Yeah, it was very similar to yesterday when I was 5-3 down, as well, and I had to really fight back,” Kvitova said. “I think in the end of the first set, every game what we played was really close. It was just few points and could be on the other side. “I was happy I won the first set. I was really happy because we play over the hour. So for me was good to be the first one, for sure.” Wozniacki won just one game in the second set, tying it at 1-1, before Kvitova began to dominate. In the last three games, Wozniacki managed just one point. Prior to the last game she had her left knee re-tapped, but said it wasn’t a factor in the loss. “She played very well,” Wozniacki said. “She took the ball extremely early, went for her shots. I had my chances in the first set I didn’t take. Then in the second set, I didn’t play bad. “She stepped it up a little bit, didn’t really give me any free points. Then I started to try and force it a little bit too much and started making more errors.” Kvitova and Safarova
NEW HAVEN: Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, reaches for a forehand shot during a semifinal against Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, at the Connecticut Open tennis tournament. Wozniacki is slowed by leg and back woes. last played in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon Wozniacki was particularly sharp in in 2014, but they practice together at the Fed building a 5-3 lead. However, Kvitova Cup and also hit together when back home. “I know her game a little bit, but on the stormed back to take the next three games and go up 6-5. In the tiebreaker, Wozniacki other side she should know mine as well,” saved match point five times and the play- Kvitova said. “I don’t know I think in imporers went to deuce seven times before tant moments I might be a little bit stronger Kvitova prevailed. In the 12-game first set, player.”—APP
France’s Riner wins gold at world judos A STA N A —Teddy Riner of France won the gold medal in the over 100kg category
at the world judo championships in Astana on Saturday, defeating Ryu Shichinohe of Japan in the final. In so doing, and at 26 years of age, he became the first judoka to win eight world titles, seven of them coming in the over 100kg class. Riner is now unbeaten in 95 bouts, his last loss coming in September 2010 when he dopped a points decision to Japan’s Daiki Kamikawa in the final of the open-category division at the world championships. The bronze medals went to Adam Okruashvili of Georgia and to Iakiv Khammo of Ukraine. Earlier Japan’s Ryunosuke Haga won the men’s under 100kg category, defeating Karl-Richard Frey of Germany in the final. The bronze medals went to Belgium’s Toma Nikiforov and Dimitri Peters of Germany. In the women’s competition, Yu Song of China won the women’s over 78kg category with a win over Japan’s Megumi Tachimoto in the final. The bronze medals went to Kanae Yamabe of Japan and Cuba’s Idalys Ortiz.—APP
I still have some thing to offer: Saeed Ajmal ISLAMABAD—Ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal still has hopes to make a comeback to the national team as he has some thing to offer for his country. Ajmal said he is looking forward to playing once again in the upcoming domestic cricket season in Pakistan. “I am ready to take on the challenge of regaining my place in the Pakistan team. I am confident that I can perform well again in domestic cricket in Pakistan and make a comeback for my country and prove my critics wrong,” Pakispassion.net quoted him as saying. Ajmal said it would be great to play for Pakistan again as international cricket is the pinnacle for any cricketer. “I feel that I am not a spent force when it comes to international cricket and as a bowler I still have something to offer my country,” he said. Speaking about his intentions to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Ajmal said he is looking forward to playing in the PSL which is an exciting venture and one that we are all looking forward to. “There are a number of T20 leagues around the world and it is great news that the Pakistan Cricket Board is launching the PSL. As well as the PSL I am available to play in leagues around the world and I am in talks with one of the franchises in the Bangladesh Premier League also,” he said. Talking about his contract with
Worcestershire, Ajmal said there was no sacking or early termination of his contract as was reported. “My contract with Worcestershire is until September 4 as I will be leaving for Hajj the day after I return to Pakistan next week,” he said. Ajmal said Worcestershire had wanted him to play for them for the whole season but he had decided and agreed with Worcestershire prior to signing the contract this season that he wouldn’t be able to play the whole season and would return to Pakistan prior to the end of the season.—APP
Slovakia’s Toth wins 50 km walk at world championships B EIJING —Matej Toth became the first Slovakian to win a gold medal at the world athletics championships when he cruised to victory in the men’s 50 km walk on Saturday. The 32-yearold Toth surged ahead after opening an early lead in the gruelling event to win in a time of three hours, 40 minutes and 32 seconds on a hot and humid morning in the Chinese capital. Toth finished almost two minutes clear of his nearest rival, crossing the finish line at Beijing’s national stadium with the Slovakian national flag raised over his shoulders. Australia’s Jared Tallent, the silver medallist at the last two Olympics and bronze medallist at the previous two world championships, finished second, continuing his impressive streak of podium finishes at major events. Tallent completed the journey in 3:42:17, his best time this season, with Japan’s Takayuki Tanii taking the bronze medal in 3:42:55. Hirooki Arai of Japan was fourth, ahead of Ireland’s defending champion Robert Heffernan. Meanwhile, Mo Farah retained his world distance double on Saturday when he stormed to victory BEIJING: Matej Toth of Slovakia celebrates winning the in the 5000 metres in men’s 50 km race walk final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium on Saturday. Beijing.—AFP
Birthday umpire gets soft corner from players: Madhav Gothoskar BIPIN DANI OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT MUMBAI—Friday saw the Australian umpire Rod Tucker officiating on his 51st birthday in a Test between Sri Lanka and India at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo. However, the game of cricket has also seen the “rare” instance of two on field umpires officiating on their common birthday. On October 30, 1983, Madhav Gothoskar and Dara Dotiwala became first (and may be the only) umpires to officiate in a Test (against West Indies at Delhi’s Ferozsha Kotla) together on a common birthday. Dara Dotiwala is four years younger to Gothoskar’s present age of 85 years. “It (umpiring on a birthday) brings no pressure. On the contrary, the umpire gets soft-corner from the players”, Madhav Gothoskar, speaking exclusively said. “News about our common sharing birthday was broken to both the teams by a TV commentator Dr. Narottam Puri and both
teams congratulated us in the middle”. “We get congratulatory messages and good wishes which inspire and encourage umpires to perform better on this day (birthday)”, Gothoskar added. Dotiwala, however, had something more to say, which has not been reported so far about this incident in the said Test. “One day after the rest day in this Test, Viv Richards, when was declared out LBW (off Kapil Dev) called the two umpires as “Indian cheats” and had to apologize after captain Clive Llyod’s intervention the next day. Gothoskar had threatened to boycott the Test if his complaint to the team manager was not answered”, says Dotiwala. There have been 37 instances of an Umpire officiating in a Test match on his birthday, according to Bharath Seervi, the cricket statistician. “The last in Tests was Richard Kettleborough on his 40th birthday on March 15, 2013 at Mohali in India vs Australia Test (day 2). David Shepherd and Rudi Koertzen are the only Umpires to officiate on their birthday thrice”, he informs exclusively.
Year of birth has an influence on genetic risk for obesity
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HE year in which a person was born may have an influence on their obesity risk, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Global environmental factors such as trends in food products and workplace activity, not just those found within families, may impact genetic traits,” says Dr. Rosenquist. Previously, research has linked a variant in the FTO gene to obesity risk. Now, researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry suggest in a new study that the impact of this variant on obesity risk depends largely on birth year. The researchers noticed that most studies investigating the interactions of genes and the environment focused on differences within groups of people born during a particular span of years. The team realized that studies of these birth cohorts would not account for environmental changes occurring over time. In an attempt to understand whether the environmental conditions experienced across different age groups affect the impact of a gene variant, the team analyzed data from the Framingham Offspring Study, which follows the children of participants from a long-term study that collected data from 1971-2008. The body mass index (BMI) of the participants was measured eight times during the study period, which allowed the MGH team to examine the correlations between BMI and the FTO variants of the participants.
The researchers found no correlation between FTO variant and BMI for participants born before 1942. However, in participants born after 1942, the correlation between BMI and FTO was twice as strong as had been reported in previous studies. “Looking at participants in the Framingham Heart Study, we found that the correlation between the best known obesity-associated gene variant and body mass index increased significantly as the year of birth of participants increased,” says lead author Dr. James Niels Rosenquist, of the MGH Department of Psychiatry. He adds: “These results - to our knowledge the first of their kind - suggest that this and perhaps other correlations between gene variants and physical traits may vary significantly depending on when individuals were born, even for those born into the same families.” Although the environmental differences that caused this change in the association are not identified in the study, the authors hypothesize that the increased reliance on technology, rather than physical labor, and the availability of high-calorie processed foods - both of which emerged following World War II - are likely contributors. “We know that environment plays a huge role in the expression of genes, and the fact that our effect can be seen even among siblings born during different years implies that global environmental factors such as trends in food products and workplace activity, not just those found within families, may impact genetic traits,” says Dr. Rosenquist.
Workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Q burning Indian flag to protest against killing of innocent people in border firing.—DNA
CM reviews NAP progress
Qaim directs IG police to coordinate with Rangers to comb out terrorists CITY REPORTER KARACHI—Under the National Action Plan (NAP) 18 terrorists have been executed whereas black warrants issued for the execution of four other terrorists have been stayed by courts. This was disclosed in a joint presentation given to the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah by Sindh Chief Secretary, Muhammad Siddique Memon, Home Secretary Mukhtiar Soomro and Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali here on Saturday, said a press release. They said that under NAP various drastic measures have been taken. “Some 18 terrorists have been executed in different jails of the province and the courts have granted stay against four execution
Activists of ISF hold a demonstration to condemn the Kasur child pornography scandal, outside KPC.—INP
Exam dates announced K ARACHI —University of
Karachi on Saturday announced the dates for the annual examinations 2015 of the LL.B. Part I and II. According to the University’s Controller Examinations, Prof. Dr. Arshad Azmi, the examinations would be held involved in various cases of street crimes and from September 5 to 22.—APP dacoity. Separately, Noman, a dacoit who was injured in police shootout in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block-V, was arrested, while his accomplice Zeeshan managed to escape, said SP Abid Qaimkhani. Police seized arms, cash, ATM card and motorcycle from the custody of the injured dacoit. Also in PIB colony, a dacoit was arrested in injured condition after exchange of fire with police.
Two dacoits killed, two arrested in police encounters CITY REPORTER KARACHI—Two dacoits were killed and two others arrested after police encounters in various localities of Karachi on early Saturday morning . According to Police sources, two dacoits were killed in exchange of fire with law enforcers in Qayyumabad within the limits of Korangi Industrial area. Two pistols, handbag, mobile phone and snatched motorcycle were recovered from their possession, they added.The accused were
Course on conflict resolution KARACHI—A two-day course on conflict and conflict resolution would be held from September 1, a KU official said on Saturday. The venue would be Sardar Yasin Malik Professional Development Center at Karachi University Campus. It was pointed out that the course will be
orders.” the Chief Secretary said. Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali directed the Chief Secretary, Advocate General and Law Secretary to pursue these cases in the courts properly and get the stay vacated so that their execution could be carried out. The Chief Secretary also informed that the Sindh Government had recommended 74 cases for their trial in military courts. Of these, the ministry of interior approved only three case including attack on Rangers mobile in Sachal, blasts and martyrdom of DSP Kamal Mangan. On Chief Minister’s query, Home Secretary said that presently “we have scrutinized 10 cases in our legal committee which has cleared eight cases which included attack on Justice Maqbool Baqar, Nishter Park blast, at-
tack and martyrdom of four policemen, attack on Gulistan-i-Jauhar police station and sectarian murder in New Karachi and five other connected cases.” Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah directed the Home Secretary to scrutinize more cases because Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif had already ordered establishment of more military courts in Karachi, the statement said. The Home Secretary recounted the achievements made by Rangers during the operation in the city from September 5, 2013 to August 17, 2015. About hate speeches, the Chief Secretary said that some 1,023 cases had been registered under the Loudspeaker Act, 813 other nominated in FIRs, 552 arrested and 810 challaned. About police action in Lyari, the IG
police said that 130 gangsters have been neutralized. “We have reduced social vice dens by 90 percent; highway dacoities/ robberies reduced exceptionally. Only 19 highway dacoities in 2015 while their figure stood at 68 in 2014. He also said that the number of Madaris in Sindh were being re-verified through special branch. The exercise would be completed within a week. “Additionally, all the Madaris are being brought on digital map through geotagging. This exercise would also be completed within 15 days,” he said. The Chief Minister directed the IG police to strengthen their coordination with Pakistan Rangers and secret agencies to comb out terrorists from this thickly populated city and simultaneously keep an eagle eye on lower Sindh where they might move.
Tree planting from Kashmore to Karachi K ARACHI —Chief Secretary Sindh, Muhammad Siddique Memon emphasized upon arrangements for sufficient tree plantation in Katcha areas to ensure the safety of dams and prevention of water-waste, in addition to beautification of the environment within the province, in the larger national interest.
Presiding a meeting, to this effect, he advised the Secretaries of Forests and Irrigation, to undertake joint action for tree-plantation. It was decided that over an area of more than 400,000 acres from Kashmore to Karachi the task of tree plantation would be implemented. The Secretary Forest Sajjad Hussain Abbasi would present line of action, in con-
sultation with the Secretary Irrigation Zaheer Hyder Shah, to the Chief Secretary within 24 hours and under formal approbation of the competent authority the work should be started without further delay. The Chief Secretary noted that the task should be completed within a month, throughout the province.—APP
Legal fraternity observes strike over killing of former Joint Secretary
highly beneficial for executives, managers and students. The Dean of Karachi University’s Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmar, would be the resource person of this course. The timings of the course will be from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, it was further announced.—APP
Three-day international trade fair from September 1 KARACHI—Three-day international plastics and packaging industry exhibition - Plasti & Pack will start from Tuesday (1 to 3 Sept.) here at the Karachi Expo Centre. Also prominent technology on food packaging IFTECH-2015 will be held simultaneously at the same venue. Sindh Minister for Industries Muhammad Ali Malkani will inaugurate this important event at 10am said statement here on Saturday. The Plasti & Pack exhibition will provide opportunity to introduce the most innovative and latest technologies of plastics and packaging in Pakistan. China and Iran are setting up their full-fledged pavilions this time. Chinese participation is marked by exhibitors belonging to injection
molding, mold-making, extrusion, printing and packaging machinery, testing equipment and raw materials. The plastic sector from Iran is represented by NPIA, Iran National Plastics Industry Association which is organizing the biggest ever single country pavilion in Plasti & Pack Pakistan 2015. International exhibitors from Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, India, Taiwan and United Arab Emirates are also going to display latest high speed printing packaging machines, injection molding machines, solvent less laminators, compressors, mono and multi-layer blown film lines and petrochemicals products. Another highlight of Plasti & Pack 2015 is a national pavilion of locally made packaging
machines from some of the biggest names of the industry. Local participation also consists of converters, packaging suppliers, printers and representatives of international companies. The International exhibition of food and beverage processing packaging technologies is known as the largest annual gathering of food and beverage technology leaders and professionals in Pakistan. IFTECH is also a B2B event, is second to none in attracting the leading global suppliers of dairy, meat, poultry, fruits and vegetable processing, packaging, bottling and filling lines, bakery, confectionery and commercial kitchen equipment, flavors and aromatics in relation to the corresponding growth of the local industry.—APP
Lawyers protesting against killing of their colleague, on Saturday.—DNA
KARACHI—Karachi Bar Council Saturday uniden-tified assailants near Hassan Square progress in the investigation of the Amir ob-served strike in Karachi over killing of its former joint secretary Amir Haider. The legal fraternity boycotted the courts proceedings and protested in the city court. Yesterday, Haider was gunned down by
in the metro-politan city. Police officials said three masked men riding a motorbike opened fire on the lawyer, who died on the spot. A passer-by was also injured in the incident. Meanwhile there has been
Haider murder case as the Motor-cycle used in the crime has been recovered from Lyari area. The motorcycle was used with fake number plate and the owner has been arrested for interrogation.—INP
Year of birth has an influence on genetic risk for obesity
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HE year in which a person was born may have an influence on their obesity risk, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Global environmental factors such as trends in food products and workplace activity, not just those found within families, may impact genetic traits,” says Dr. Rosenquist. Previously, research has linked a variant in the FTO gene to obesity risk. Now, researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry suggest in a new study that the impact of this variant on obesity risk depends largely on birth year. The researchers noticed that most studies investigating the interactions of genes and the environment focused on differences within groups of people born during a particular span of years. The team realized that studies of these birth cohorts would not account for environmental changes occurring over time. In an attempt to understand whether the environmental conditions experienced across different age groups affect the impact of a gene variant, the team analyzed data from the Framingham Offspring Study, which follows the children of participants from a long-term study that collected data from 1971-2008. The body mass index (BMI) of the participants was measured eight times during the study period, which allowed the MGH team to examine the correlations between BMI and the FTO variants of the participants.
The researchers found no correlation between FTO variant and BMI for participants born before 1942. However, in participants born after 1942, the correlation between BMI and FTO was twice as strong as had been reported in previous studies. “Looking at participants in the Framingham Heart Study, we found that the correlation between the best known obesity-associated gene variant and body mass index increased significantly as the year of birth of participants increased,” says lead author Dr. James Niels Rosenquist, of the MGH Department of Psychiatry. He adds: “These results - to our knowledge the first of their kind - suggest that this and perhaps other correlations between gene variants and physical traits may vary significantly depending on when individuals were born, even for those born into the same families.” Although the environmental differences that caused this change in the association are not identified in the study, the authors hypothesize that the increased reliance on technology, rather than physical labor, and the availability of high-calorie processed foods - both of which emerged following World War II - are likely contributors. “We know that environment plays a huge role in the expression of genes, and the fact that our effect can be seen even among siblings born during different years implies that global environmental factors such as trends in food products and workplace activity, not just those found within families, may impact genetic traits,” says Dr. Rosenquist.
Adulteration in eatable items is intolerable: Hamza Shahbaz STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Member National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz has said that adulteration in eatable items is intolerable and Punjab government is taking steps on war footing in this regard. He said that protection of health of the citizens is the top priority of the present government and no compromise will be made on it. He said that implementation of prevailing laws will be ensured by the government institutions and action will be taken against those preparing adulterated food items.
Entrance tests today STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Entrance test for
the admission of Medical & Dental Colleges in Punjab is going to be held today (Sunday) throughout the province at 34 centers in 13 cities of the Punjab. More than 47,000 candidates (31,000 female and 16,000 male) are appearing in the Entrance Test this year which is being conducted by University of Health Sciences. A spokesman of UHS informed that the Punjab govt has finalized the arrangements for the test and has deputed senior bureaucrats including provincial secretaries, divisional commissioners and BoR members as monitoring officers whereas senior medical professors will conduct the test. District Coordination Officers (DCOs) of respective districts will act as ‘focal persons’ to look after the arrangements of the test. The test shall be held simultaneously at 34 centres established in 13 cities of Punjab including Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, D.G. Khan, and Hasanabdal. The test shall start at 09:00 A.M. The candidates, however, asked to reach their respective centres at least one hour before the commencement of the test as all the centres would be sealed at 08:15 A.M. and nobody would be allowed to enter after that. In Lahore, there are six centres established at the Examination Halls of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Lawrence Road; Examination Halls of Punjab University, Wahdat Road; Government Comprehensive Girls High School, Wahdat Road; University of Education, Township; Lahore College for Women University, Jail Road and Government Central Model School, Lower Mall where Chairperson BISP Marvi Mamon chairing a TEVTA meeting.—APP around 14,500 candidates will sit 1500/- pm. to help out the needy people. Our in the test. SALIM AHMED beneficiaries will also apply to get technical L AHORE—Minister of State/Chairperson and professional training in different proBenazir Income Support Program (BISP) grams being offered by TEVTA Punjab. We will work with all TEVTA across the Marvi Memon has lauded the efforts of TEVTA for offering demand driven short country but we are starting this initiative from courses to train the youth in employable trades TEVTA Punjab which is functioning well. She across the province of the Punjab in a befit- appreciated the initiatives taken by the TEVTA for introduction of industry endorsed ting manner. She emphasized the need of promoting vo- and demand driven new short courses for the cational training which was the only way to youth of province of the Punjab. She was of create employment avenues along with har- the view that these initiatives would lead tonessing industry institution linkage. She was wards immediate placement of TEVTA passaddressing a meeting at TEVTA Secretariat outs and alleviating poverty in the Punjab. Earlier, Chairperson TEVTA Irfan Qaiser here Saturday. Chairperson TEVTA Irfan Qaiser Shaikh, Secretary Benazir Income Sup- Sheikh in his address highlighted the efforts port Program (BISP) Saleem Ranjha, Direc- of TEVTA for boosting vocational training tor Punjab BISP Sara Saeed, Chief Operating and increasing opportunities for training of Officer Jawad Ahmed Qureshi and other top youth of the province. Introduction of demand management was also present at this occasion. driven courses and placement of pass-outs is Marvi Memon said that priority of Prime the main focus of TEVTA. Industrial growth Minister is to look after the poor people across of our country is not possible without provithe country. BISP is providing stipend Rs. sion of trained manpower.
Marvi lauds TEVTA for offering demand driven short courses
He was talking to a delegation of Gowala Association, here Saturday. Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah, Minister for Food Bilal Yasin, Chief Secretary Punjab Khizar Hayat Gondal and senior authorities were present on the occasion. Hamza Shehbaz said that according to the direction of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, government machinery is vigilant everywhere and a watchful eye is being kept on adulteration in edible items. He said that deterrent punishments are being proposed for responsible persons upon which common man
is getting a sigh of relief. He said that reservations of Gowala Association related to government institutions will be checked and strict action taken against those preparing adulterated and unhygienic milk. Office-bearers of Gowala Association assured complete cooperation to the government in the ongoing campaign and demanded that instead of retailers, action should be taken against big fish preparing substandard milk. The participants appreciated the performance of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and offered their all out support to him.
Plan finalized for promotion, preservation of Harappa: Mashhood STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Provincial Minister for Education & Archeology Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has said that a plan of promoting and preserving Harappa archives has been prepared under public private partnership. He said that Provincial Archaeology Department and COMSAT Institute under an agreement will develop an archaeology site and work jointly for setting up of a research center, art and craft bazaar and preserving a temple. The Minister said that tourism department, local district government, Lahore Museum and other stakeholders will also extend full cooperation in the completion of this project. A committee headed by Provincial Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran who belongs to Harappa, Sahiwal has been set up for early completion of this project.
He said this while presiding over a meeting at Lahore Museum. Provincial Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran and senior officers of COMSAT, Archaeology and Museum attended the meeting. Rana Mashhood Ahmad said that civilization and archives of Harappa have more importance than Mohenjo-Daro and Taxila in Pakistan which are losing their existence due to not paying attention. He said that Pakistan is an attractive country due to its archives for the researchers and historians having interest in this subject all over the world. The Provincial Minister said that Punjab government has evolved a strategy for promoting and preserving all archaeological sites of the province with the cooperation of private sector. He said that protection will be provided to the agreements of preserving archives through legislation. Provincial Minister for Zakat & Ushr
Malik Nadeem Kamran gave a proposal to arrange special lecture of internationally renowned researchers Dr. Jonathan Marc who is carrying out research on Harappa sites since 1986 which was approved. He said that participation of local people in this project is essential for creating awareness about Harappa. Rana Mashhood directed Director Museum to prepare a list of participants of the function for providing maximum information about Harappa and lecture of Dr. Jonathan Marc and people of all walks of life including those interested in archaeology should be included. He said that UNESCO and American government has also offered assistance for preserving Harappa archives. He also directed to prepare a documentary in Urdu about Harappa archives and also launch a website in this regard.
LWMC starts preparation for Eid-ul-Azha cleanup operation MUZAFFAR ALI LAHORE—A meeting, presided over by Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab and Chairman Lahore Waste Management Company (LMWC) Khawaja Ahmad Hassan, was held at 90 Shahra-e-Quaide-Azam to review the Cleanliness Plan for Eid-ul-Azha 2015 devised by LWMC in collaboration with Albayrak & Ozpak. Managing Director LWMC Khalid Majeed, in the presence of Mehar Ishtiaq(Member National Assembly), Chaudhary Shahbaz (Member Provincial Assembly) and Abdullah Sumbal
(Commissioner Lahore) gave a detailed presentation over the arrangements expected to be made by LWMC and Turkish contractor companies on the upcoming mega and challenging day. LWMC measures for Eid-ul-Azha cleanup plan include three phase strategy i.e. before, during and after Eid. Deployment of workers along with machinery and setting up of awareness camps in district government’s animal markets; Distribution of customized waste bags among public through zonal/Union Council offices, mosques, markets and other channels and dissemination of Eid Plan at larger scale to make every citizen/ stakeholder aware
of standard instructions and operating procedures of operation for successfully achieve desired outcomes; are the major components of before Eid measures. Whereas during Eid measures include hiring of additional picks ups/ machinery for effective waste collection on UC level, setting up of waste transfer stations for timely transportation of waste from the residential areas, setting up of model awareness camps to facilitate citizens on provision of services and re-dressal of complaints and most importantly establishment of environment friendly dumping points for the large amount of animal waste.
Indian terrorism must be stopped, says Ch Sarwar MUZAFFAR ALI L AHORE —Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab Organizer Chaudhary Mohammad Sarwar said the Indian terrorism must be stopped to create peace in the region but regretted over Pakistan government’s “condemnation” policy alone. He said the Pakistan government’s
protest to Indian High Commissioner was insufficient and there was a need to respond India in the same coin. He was addressing a women delegation led by PTI Punjab women wing president Saloni Bukhari and media head Shanila Ali at party’s Chairman Secretariat here on Saturday. Terming Indian firing on working boundary as terrorism, he de-
manded that the United Nations should take strict notice of the situation instead of acting as a silent spectator. Chaudhary Sarwar said Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif’s stance on Indian aggression represented the nation and stressed that Indian terrorism must be retaliated because Pakistan’s peaceful stance was being considered as its weakness.
Monsoon tree planting campaign to be made a success SALIM AHMED L AHORE —Provincial Minister for Forests Malik Muhammad Asif Bha Awan has said that all possible resources and energies are being utilized for making monsoon tree plantation campaign a success, but, vigorous public participation is essential to overcome increasing environmental pollution. He said that we have to make planning from now onward for providing clean environment to our coming generations. He said that every citizen will have to come forward to discharge his re-
sponsibility by planting a sapling. He said this while presiding over a meeting with regard to monsoon tree plantation campaign in his office. All senior officers of Forests Department were also present on the occasion. The Provincial Minister stressed upon the officers to utilize all their energies for making monsoon tree plantation campaign successful and achieve the target of planting 90 lakh saplings by December 31 at all cost. Malik Muhammad Asif Bha Awan said that saplings are available in abundance in 191 nurseries of Forests Department set up under monsoon tree
plantation campaign throughout the province from where saplings can be obtained at cheaper rates. He said that more than six lakh, 50 thousand saplings have been planted so far in the province and saplings are being provided to education, health and defense institutions free of cost. He said that 37 lakh, 50 thousand saplings will be planted on government forests, six lakh saplings on other government land, four lakh saplings on the land of defense institutions while 42 lakh 50 thousand saplings on private land and all institutions are making efforts to achieve the fixed target.
Activists of Punjabi Parchar hold demonstration for starting classes of Punjabi language in schools.—INP