The Spokesman

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2013

DR ASIM IN THE DOCK PG I 03 RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD DAILY

BRINGING GWADAR BACK TO LIFE

LOOKING BEYOND THE BOX

– AARISH U. KHAN

– SYED BAKHTIYAR KAZMI

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VOL V, NO. 308

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RABI-US-SANI 10, 1434

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SC opens doors to JC report

Defaulters since 1972 made public

Rs 200 billion waived as loans from 1972-96 Top politicians, bankers, major groups default in billions

SAEED MINHAS

QUETTA: People carrying the coffins of 113 martyrs of Hazara Town blast for burial after their funeral prayers. –ONLINE

SNEAK PEEK

CJ threatens to summon PM

Jirga ʻdispensesʼ justice but at the cost of humans Justice in Pakistan's tribal border areas is a contested issue. “We are quite clear what justice is.

If someone kills, commits adultery or some other offence, they deserve to die,” said Javaid Khan of the Utman Khel tribe in Bajaur Agency, reports IRIN, a news service of the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

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Little audience for Zero Dark Thirty in Pakistan Pakistan stars in Zero Dark Thirty, from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of Osama bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the Al-Qaeda leader has sparked a controversy.

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Cook sparkles as England score easy win over Kiwis Alastair Cook's patient knock of 78 anchored a well-executed England run chase of 270 to beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the second one-day international at McLean Park, levelling the three-match series at 1-1 on Wednesday.

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SC rejects Fasihʼs request Dismayed Supreme Court sought details of a judicial commission reportedly formed by President Asif Ali Zardari to examine and review a strongly-worded letter written by NAB Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari accusing the superior judiciary of influencing the Rental Power Projects scam investigation.

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SC rejects ISI report on Quetta carnage Spy agency accuses govt of lacking strategy; claims passing prior info to civil admin

MASOOD REHMAN ISLAMABAD: Declaring the top intelligence agencies’ reports over the Quetta carnage as dissatisfactory, the Supreme Court Wednesday summoned for today (Thursday) the Home Secretary, Frontier Corps Commandant and CCPO of Balochistan.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Sh. Azmat Saeed while hearing a suo motu case pertaining to the killings of Hazara community in Quetta, however exempted the Interior and Defence secretaries from personal appearance.

The court again asked the president and the prime minister to file, through Cabinet Secretary by today (Thursday), their replies about the steps taken so far to provide security to the Hazara community.

Interior Ministry’s Additional Secretary Saqib Javed told the court that prior information about Quetta attacks had been given to the provincial government. He said 11 people were involved in the attacks on Hazara community.

Commander Shahbaz, a legal representative of Interior Ministry told the court that ISI had provided the information about the incident beforehand. After examining the ISI and IB reports, the CJ noted that the government had 30 to 40 per cent accurate information about the attack. The chief justice asked the

Balochistan Advocate General Amanullah Kinrani why the security agencies did nothing if they had prior information , adding that the answer to this question would be sought from the FC Commandant today (Thursday).

Kinrani stated the government received many intelligence reports, but they did not know where the incident would take place. The chief justice noted that all the concerned institutions should have conducted search operations after receiving intelligence reports about the possible attacks. The court rejected the ISI report on the Quetta incident, terming it dissatisfactory and directed the Defence Secretary Lt Gen (r) Asif Yasin to resubmit it.

He later re-submitted the report and also read it out.

The Interior Secretary Khawaja Muhammad Siddique Akbar submitted the report of Intelligence Bureau (IB) on Hazara killings and requested the court to keep it confidential.

Justice Khilji Arif Hussain noted that explosives were transported from Lahore to Quetta and questioned what the agencies and police were doing.

The court said that since the Attorney General Irfan Qadir was not answering the questions, thus the court would have to summon the prime minister to answer the questions. The defence secretary said the Military Intelligence (MI) did not play any role in such matters. The court adjourned the hearing for today (Thursday).

Hazara victims buried amid tears, rage MIRZA KHURRAM SHAHZAD QUETTA: Tensions, grief and cries kept the Hazara Town in grip as all the victims of last Saturday's water tanker bomb blast were buried at the community's graveyard.

Charged and emotional scenes were witnessed when hundreds of women and youth tried to stop the burial as they thought that the leaders agreed to end the agitation without major demands being accepted.

Angry protesters also pelted stones on a car of the deputy commissioner Quetta and the security forces resorted to aerial firing shots in response. Hazara youth then replied with the aerial firing through automatic weapons and later community leaders convinced the soldiers to vacate the area.

After FC left the graveyard, hundreds of volunteers formed a human chain to protect the participants of funeral.

The confusion about burying the victims led to chaos at the sit-in site early in the morning when many relatives of the victims refused to bury and others to end the sit-in. But the leaders prevailed and the coffins were moved to the graveyard in the lap of the Chilton Mountain. The protesters remained shouting and crying and encircled the graves dug out in a line. The volunteers, somehow managed to bury all the bodies wrapped in white shrouds engraved with the words 'Ya Hussain' when the women went on chanting slogans 'Labiak Ya Hussain.'

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Wednesday made public report evolved by a 3-member judicial commission led by Justice Syed Jamshed Ali in respect of the persons who have got waived their loans since 1972.

A 3-judge bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took up the case for hearing Wednesday.

With the opening of this report several names of important figures will stand exposed and sword of disqualification is likely to hang over the heads of several politicians.

Major defaulters among the politicians were Chaudhries of Gujrat who defaulted in payment of six loans worth Rs 109.66 million against Phalia Sugar, Punjab Sugar and Sapco Limited; Ittefaq group Rs 83 million against Ittefaq Foundry, Saifullah's Rs 37.3 million while Zardari group was in default of Rs 7 million.

The State Bank had issued a total of 33 circulars since 1972 to 2007 in that respect.

According to Section 25 of the Banking Ordinance, a loan write off case should be sent to the Parliament but this section had continuously been ignored.

The total amount waived off as loans from 1972 to 1996 is over Rs. 200 billion.

Three lists of bad loans have been published since 1993, the first by caretaker PM Moeen Qureshi, followed by two lists

by Benazir Bhutto and caretaker government of Meraj Khalid in October 1996 and January 1997 respectively. The bad loans which were Rs 1,340 million when Z A Bhutto was removed swelled to

Rs 80 billion in August 1993, Rs 126 billion in November 1996 and Rs 130 billion in January 1997.

According to details, 244 loans were written-off amounting to Rs 4,724 million between March 1985 and August 1993 but the number of written-off loans increased 942 in November 1996 valued at Rs 8,247 million. Thus during her second term, Benazir government wrote-off 698 loans worth Rs 3,550m.

Some notable beneficiaries of loans written-off before August 1993 included New Era Textile (Rs 136.7m), Hashwani Hotels (Rs120 m), Fancy (Rs 64.89m), Colony (Rs51.4 m), Saifullahs (Rs 39.21m), Hyesons (Rs 35.7m), Habib group against RKD Sugar (17.m), Saigol against Omaryar Limited and Kohinoor Textile Mills (17.1m), Mian Mansha (Rs 7.5m), Bibojee (Rs 4.2m), Packages (Rs4.2m) and Bawany (Rs 2m).

The 698 beneficiaries of written-off loans under Benazir included Farooq A. Sheikh, whose five loans worth Rs 500 million in Adamjee Industries, Dost Mohammad Textile Mills, United Exports and United Group of Industries were writtenoff.

Six loans worth Rs 131m of Jan Mohammad, a member of the National Group owning the Muslim Commercial Bank, relating to Charsada Sugar Mills were written-off. A few other beneficiaries were: Saifullahs, Hashwani, House of Habib, B.D Avari, Taufiq Sayed Saigol, MNA Shahid Nazir and former NA Speaker Gohar Ayub.

List of defaulters on Page 9

Sherry booked for ‘blasphemy’ GHAZANFAR ABBASS ISLAMABAD: Punjab police have lodged an FIR against Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman on alleged charges of blasphemy.

A resident of Multan, Faheem Akhtar Gill, had submitted an application in Multan in 2010 but no action was taken. The applicant also submitted his plea to senior police officials in Multan, as well as IG Punjab and Shahbaz Sharif, none of them entertained his request, after which he moved the Supreme Court.

The apex court entertained his petition (CP-2027/2011) on January 17 and directed the CPO Multan to take action in accordance with the law. On February 19,

SHO of Chehliak police station affirmed that the FIR against Sherry Rehman had been lodged in light of the SCs order.

According to Gill, the Multan RPO Rao Amir Zulfiqar has constituted an inquiry board comprising SP Investigation Ghulam Shabbir Jafri, SP Cantt Nazar Abbas and DSP Cantt Saleem Niazi which has begun investigation.

Gill had claimed in his petition that Sherry Rehman had committed blasphemy while speaking on a TVshow on a private news channel in 2010. When contacted the SP Investigation confirmed that the investigation was underway, after which the Ambassador would be approached for necessary legal requirements.

PPP, PML-Q to field joint candidates STAFF REPORT ISLAMABAD: The PPP and PML-Q have decided to field joint candidates during the upcoming general elections.

This decision was taken during a meeting attended by representatives of both parties here Wednesday. The PML-Q delegation was led

by Ch Shujaat Hussain and Ch Pervaiz Elahi while the PPP side was represented by Manzoor Wattoo, Makdoom Shahbuddin, Tanveer Ashraf Kaira and Nazir Muhammad Gondal. The two parties would discuss the criteria for selection of candidates in the next meetings. Shujaat said this electoral alliance would usher in a new era in national politics which will strengthen the tradition of political alliances.

Pakistan, Iran ‘manage’ breakthrough on pipeline

Islamabad to get gas at discounted rate Pact to be signed on 27th now Tehran to help build oil refinery at Gwadar port

SAHTAK BALOCH ISLAMABAD: Iran has agreed to supply natural gas to Pakistan at a discount price while Pakistan has shown its willingness to change certain provisions of the draft agreement pertaining to construction of 781-km-long pipeline - to be laid on Pakistani side.

The two countries have also agreed to set up an oil refinery at Gwadar port, which will refine 4-lac barrel crude oil per day, the agreement to this effect will be signed during forthcoming visit of President Asif Ali Zardari. Pakistan is also all set to import 10,000 ton per day Liquefied

Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Iran.

Last week the crucial talks between Iranian firm Tadbir Energy and Pakistan's Inter-State Gas Systems (ISGS) was postponed due to Pakistan's demand to reduce gas price for Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline to bring it at par with the rates finalised in Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-PakistanIndia (TAPI) pipeline project.

To resolve the minor differences ahead of finalising a deal concerning the $1.5 billion IranPakistan gas pipeline project, Iranian Minister for Petroleum Mr. Rostam Ghasemi Wednesday called on Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum & Natural Resources Dr

Asim Hussain here at his residence.

During the meeting, Iranian Minister for Petroleum told the Advisor that Tehran would review the bilateral Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) owing to the persistent demand of Islamabad to reduce the price of gas planned to supply to Pakistan

by December 2014.

Dr Asim Hussain also assured Iranian Minister for Petroleum that Pakistan will introduce certain changes in the legal points of draft of Engineering, Procurement and Commissioning (EPC) agreement pertaining to construction of 781-kmlong. And, the signing ceremony of IP

gas pipeline project agreement would be held till February 27 expectedly in Pakistan, said a well-placed source in the Petroleum Ministry.

The official further said the great gurus from both the sides have also reviewed the fifth days long talks held last week between Tadbir Energy and Pakistan's Inter-State Gas Systems (ISGS). Both high ups reiterated the commitment of two neighbouring states to give a hopelessly pathetic shoulder to Uncle Sam's pressure seeking to stop the project.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Asim said signing on the EPC contract of IP gasline project would be held on February 27 as all

technical issues had been resolved and a Pakistani delegation comprising ISGS officials would go to Iran today (Wednesday) to finalize the much awaited deal.

He also said Iran would also construct oil refinery at Gwadar with a refining capacity of four-lac barrel per day and signing of the agreement pertaining oil refinery would be done on 27th February when the President Asif Ali Zaradari would be visiting Iran.

Credible sources in petroleum ministry told this scribe that in another uniquely unprecedented development, Pakistan has also decided to initially buy 10,000 tons of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) on

daily basis from Iran as the neighbouring state has offered a low price of $30/ton of the commodity in comparison to the price of international market.

The Iranian LPG would be brought to Pakistan via road and the quantity of importing Irani LPG to the country would be enhanced in second phase, sources added.

It merits mentioning here that Mr. Rostam Ghasemi Iranian Minister for Petroleum also called on President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday morning where Advisor on Petroleum Dr. Asim Hussain was also present.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

NCA graduates display artwork Mind Maps exhibition held at Pakistan National Council of Arts SHANEL KHALIQ

ISLAMABAD: An exhibition of art works, titled ‘Mind Maps’ by the fourth batch of the graduates of the National College of Arts, Rawalpindi, was held at the Pakistan National Council of Arts.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Ministry of National Heritage and

Integration Secretary Asif Ghafoor appreciated the budding talent and said that the youth has potential to cope with challenges in any field. “Our young generation is leading in academics at world level. I hope that more opportunities await our talented youth,” he said.

The work on display is part of the

thesis of the young graduates who represent multiple themes ranging from personal ethos to socio political issues. They used variety of mediums, techniques and expression in their work which is reflective of artist’s own experiences in life, notes from their personal diary and the circumstances that they were subject to.

The young graduates have experimented with miniature painting, digital printing, installation, video art, painting, mixed medium and print. Xahra Hafeez Khwaja, one of the artists while explaining her work says that she has tried to use suitcases as symbols of representing hard realities of life. Similarly, other artists

such as Hira Shakoor made use of bald images to disregard harsh feelings such as vanity.

The exhibits put together on display at the National Art Gallery can be considered a post modern discourse that gives young artists a chance to place their art practice in the global context.

Long queues of vehicles for CNG ruin traffic system ISLAMABAD: The traffic system in the twin cities has been ruined due to long queues of vehicles at the compressed natural gas stations, while on the other hand, most domestic users remained deprived of gas and used firewood to cook meals. The owners of CNG filling stations were seen overcharging consumers, who had to wait for hours to get the fuel. Transporters urged the chief justice of Pakistan to fix separate petrol pumps and CNG stations for the public transports.

They also demanded strict action against the owners of CNG stations for not providing gas to motorist and transporters. ONLINE

Nine new tubewells to be installed ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority has decided to install nine new tubewells in the federal capital to improve supply of clean drinking water to the citizens.

The tube wells will be installed at the cost of Rs 18 million. One tube well each will be installed in sector F-8, sector I-8 Markaz, sector I-8/1, Margalla town, Shahzad town and 4 in national park area. CDA has already replaced old motors of 135 tube wells under US aid program.

Post audit has also been conducted in this regard and CDA has cleared 106 tube wells. As many as 37 water filtration plants are operating in the federal capital while 5 more filtration plants will be constructed

by CDA to facilitate the citizens.

The new filtration plants will be built in sectors G-7/I, G/9, H/8,G10, I and T center. ONLINE

IHC dismisses petition against ECP ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court rejected on Wednesday a petition filed to declare the Election Commission of Pakistan null and void. A single bench, comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, heard the petition of Niaz Inqalabi Advocate who stated that appointment of Chief Election Commissioner was not in accordance with the Constitution, therefore the ECP be declared null and void. Justice Siddiqui said in his remarks that “why this issue was not raised when ECP chief was appointment? As the elections are approaching you have turned up to object over it.” “The doctrine of necessity has been buried and so would be the conspiratorial tactics…This petition is therefore non-maintainable,” observed Justice Siddiqui while throwing out the plea. ONLINE

Most private schools have no playgrounds ISLAMABAD: Despite charging heavy tuition fee and other charges from students’ parents, several small and large private schools in the twin cities lack playgrounds.

This is affecting the students’ physical and mental fitness. The private school industry has grown and flourished extensively in almost every city, district and even small towns at a very fast rate, especially in the last couple of decades. Sports play an important role in students’ lives by teaching them sportsmanship, physical fitness, team spirit, mental strength, constructive use of time, maintaining health, confidence and decision-making. ONLINE

A beautiful view of sunset in the federal capital. ONLINE

CDA laxity gives way to lawyers’ sleight of hand Traders for stern action as lawyers say they want temporary chambers on ‘football field’ SALMAN ABBAS

ISLAMABAD: After a lower court’s decision, the laxity of Capital Development Authority has provided an opportunity to lawyers to grab more land of a football field in Sector F/8, where they have now drawn chalk lines to build their chambers.

A source in the Capital Development Authority Sports Directorate told The Spokesman that a fresh survey was conducted by the civic body on Wednesday to check the condition of the football field and after reaching there they found that the lawyers had already drawn chalk lines there to build chambers there.

Previously, it may be recalled, the lawyers were just trying to cover a small piece of land in the field.

He revealed that the directorate has sent an application to the chairman office for taking concrete steps for saving the field from encroachment but nothing has been done in this regard by the high-ups of the authority.

He said that some proposals for preventing the field from encroachment have also been sent to the chairman including the construction of concrete wall at the site of F/8 district courts so that the entrance from the court side could be closed permanently.

In 2010, the administration of the nearby mobile company office

also tried to use the field as parking place but the authority had also not taken any step at that time to save the field.

However, the court decision has also played a role in the whole scenario which has not restricted the lawyers from carrying out illegal construction at public place, he said.

Civil Judge Muhammad Naveed Khan passed an interim order against the Capital Development Authority and its Enforcement Directorate by restraining them from using force against the members of the District Bar despite the fact that the football field is a public place and any type of construction here even by CDA itself is illegal. CDA did not try

to take action against the lawyers but soon after the court judgment, it took action against the illegal construction by violating court orders.

F/8 Markaz Traders Action Committee President Qamar Zaman Abbasi said that the Capital Development Authority was not taking any action against the lawyers and also the Supreme Court registrar has also not addressed their complaints so far.

District Bar Secretary Shajjar Abbas said that no administration can restrict them from carrying out construction in the field as they have got an interim order from the court. He said that they wanted to construct the chambers on temporary basis.

CDA chief plays trick with SC over F/7 park OUR STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD: Apparently to show his great concern with issues related to F/7 Jubilee Park, Capital Development Authority Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz on Wednesday visited the park and directed his Environment Directorate officials to expedite its development. But the thing which can, in fact, go in his favour is to implement the Supreme Court orders regarding the same park.

On February 9, the SC bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had given a 10-day deadline to the CDA for furnishing the names of those CDA officials who had once tried to convert the park into a mini golf course.

In 2005, the then chairman of the CDA, Kamran Lashari, went into a joint venture with Shah Sharabeel, the owner of a private firm, to convert Jubilee Park into a mini golf course, but on February 2, 2006, the Supreme Court took a suo moto notice of the issue and termed the lease agreement (dated June 4, 2005) illegal, declaring it contrary to the fundamental rights of the public. The civic agency was also directed to take action against those involved in the gaffe.

CDA sources told The Spokesman that the authority has virtually failed to furnish the name of guilty officials and to take action against the officials involved in the scam, calling anger of the superior judiciary. They said that the legal wing of the CDA has also asked the sports directorate to provide their reply on F/7 Jubilee Park. However, they said that the special visit of a chairman to the park might be a move to show himself very concerning about implementing the court orders of ensuring the fundamental right to the residents.

The CDA chairman has in the meanwhile said that the work being carried out for the development of Jubilee Park is satisfactory but should be further expedited for completion of this recreational facility to facilitate the residents at the earliest. He was apprised about the progress on the development work being carried out in the park and the facilities to be developed for the general public.

During his visit to the park, Tahir Shahbaz said that the authority is taking concrete measures for development, maintenance and up-gradation of parks to provide the best recreational facilities to the residents of the federal capital.

Security for polio teams ISLAMABAD: Inspector General of Islamabad Police Bani Amin Khan on Monday announced that the capital police have ensured special security arrangements for the assistance of polio teams so that they can administer the polio drops without fear. ONLINE

300 illegal water connections snapped Bigwig knocks out police in murder case HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: Alleged involvement of an influential personality in a murder of a man in Gangal Town has been testing the nerves of the Koral police who find it difficult to arrest the relative of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q’s representative and younger brother of former National Assembly deputy speaker, and also seem helpless to find any clue against him.

An FIR number 41 was lodged against Imtiaz alias Taji Khokhar along with his four men for killing Khalid in a property dispute on Tuesday. According to details, Khalid aged 32, resident of Amar Pura and a toy seller by profession, was killed in a small dispute of property when Imran, along with Sajid and Tanveer opened fire on him in Gangal Town.

Tanveer, cousin of the diseased, told The Spokesman that, “We were constructing our home at their family land when two months ago some men, claiming to be supported

by Imtiaz Khokhar, interrupted us by

saying that we should take permission to construct building here, but we refused their demand.

Yesterday they came and opened fire on our house hitting Khalid, who died on the spot.”

When contacted, Advocate Zaheer-ud-Din, the lawyer of the affected family, said that three out of four accused were charged under Section 302 for murder, while charges against Imtiaz Khokhar were of abetment. “So technically, it will be difficult to get any proof against him in the court of law because in this case his men claimed to be appearing on his behalf. So the scenario will be different if the accused changed their statement.”

It merits mentioning that Imtiaz alias Taji khokhar, younger brother of former deputy speaker Haji Nawaz Khokhar and uncle of Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, a PML-Q representative, is known as a big fish in the land grabbing mafia, and is also wanted in a murder case of a woman, who was also allegedly killed by his men in a land dispute in August 2012.

Lavish weddings an urban elite culture SHANEL KHALIQ

ISLAMABAD: Extravagant and elaborate weddings have become part of the urban elite culture in the country however many circles still criticize such practices as utter waste and in conflict with our religious ideals. This theme was beautifully captured by a play performed by a group of amateurs at Pakistan National Council of the Arts Auditorium. The play titled “Tamasha” was directed by renowned television artist Laila Zuberi and it was the brainchild of a 22-year-old Nida Karim who has no experience in the field of performing arts but wants to channel her energies into educative and thought provoking entertainment. The cast, the technical team and the back

stage managers were all students in the bracket of 18-20 years of age, and this was their first experience of live acting and management. The play is about the wedding ceremony of children belonging to some of the most illustrious and well-off families in town. It was a brilliant satire on the wasteful and lavish spending made on high-profile weddings in the city. Ranging from the massive guest list to the elaborate decorations on stage to the long and profligate menu, weddings in the society have become a means to flaunt wealth and opulence in the most tasteless manner.

A few entertaining dance sequences added more flavour to the story and were thoroughly applauded by the audience.

Nida, the producer, said that they were not expecting such a good response with such a little experience in the field.

ISLAMABAD: The civic authorities of twin cities, including Cantonment Board Rawalpindi, have removed 300 illegal water connections in its campaigns against such connections. Widespread installation of illegal water connections in the areas of Cantonment Board has posed

water availability crunch to the residents. In the wake of growing complaints in this regard, Cantonment Board water recovery cell set up special team to launch operation against these connections. Team identified 1500 illegal connections. ONLINE

POWER ALLEYS |

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Buttering up before the elections

V

enom Inc. This should not be held against me in a court of law as I solemnly declare that these are absolute lies, dirty whispers and wild speculation that I have heard while crawling in the dark power corridors of the creepy Capital. You will believe them at your own risk Shh...If you have venom to spill please don’t hesitate to share with us on our blog at www.thespokesman.pk

Why Mandviwalla became FM?

anna know how Saleem Mandviwalla, who as Minister of State for Finance was only tasked with keeping a liaison with banks, got elevated to a full Ministerial status?

Well it’s a $2 billion question.

According to somebody in the know of the national fiscal mess (and quite peeved with dear departed Sheikh Sb) the government wanted Sheikh to cough up $2 billion dollars to pay for a generous election menu which included agriculture tubewell subsidies running into billions of rupees; pumping in another few billion into the BISF to buy election sympathies; development funds for government candidates and a tidy amount for the PM’s constituency itself. And the list reads on, the only caveat being that Sheikh refused to read it any further.

The former Bretton Institute man suggested what he knows best: the IMF. Except for a little

W

hiccup: the IMF money would have come with strings attached and strings as thick as the anchoring ropes of a giant ship.

Enter Mandviwalla. He’s assured the real appointing authority (yep, not the PM) that armed with a GOP sovereign guarantee he can raise the required funds as commercial loans from the “private sector”. In other words borrowing at exorbitant mark up from anyone willing to lend. The scheme was opposed by some top finance mandarins on the grounds of any such market foray playing havoc with Pakistan’s international credit rating, but hey, who cares about ratings in an election phase. It’s the votes that matter.

So that’s where it stands. A full ministry on the promise of filling the empty pockets of the rulers.

The silver lining?

Probably anyone pledging $2.5 could end up edging out Mandviwalla and landing the prized post of FM. Any takers, ladies and gentlemen?

By the way, Mandviwalla dangled a carrot before his masters about his Saudi connections, giving them the hope that he could bring the money from them. Sheshnag knows that he is not as well connected as he claims. Of course if he had promised to build multiplex cinemas that would have been a more credible claim. Those in the know know why.

Sshhh...

Dr Asim in the dock PMDC insiders claim he is unfit for current vice president position SHANEL KHALIQ he tide has been against Dr Asim Hussain recently as controversy surrounds him with regards to the multiple important designations that he is holding. Although the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council itself has been surrounded by intense controversy in recent times with regards the forthcoming elections and the appointment of an administrator however Dr Asim has been at the center of most of this conundrum.

Currently he is Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources. On the other hand he is also the vice President and de facto President of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, which is a government post. He is also the owner of Zia uddin Group of Hospitals which is one of the largest network of private hospitals in the country.

It is no surprise therefore that neither the Petroleum ministry nor the PMDC

T

is skyrocketing with success in their own separate domains.

The post of an administrator in the PMDC has been created specifically after amending the PMDC Ordinance by the current PPP government. Although this step in itself is deserving criticism however Dr Asim’s presence in the entire episode adds spice.

In addition to all the posts mentioned above Dr Asim is also personal physician to the President and is a member of the Board of Governors of Agha Khan University, Dow Medical College, University of Health Sciences and Liaquat Medical College. Furthermore he is also the President of Private Medical Colleges Association.

The PMDC’s primary function is to supervise institutions that are involved in providing training and education in medicine and also those that are involved in the provision of healthcare. It is an internationally recognized body that is supposed to function au-

tonomously and administer and control medical schools across the country.

Conflict of interest is bound to arise in such a scenario when Dr Asim Hussain is supposed to take decisions in his capacity as Vice President of PMDC. There is a high probability of any individual in his capacity to administer policies that will ultimately favor private medical universities and in some way his own university. To add to the heap of controversies, it is likely that he is now eyeing the post of President of PMDC. He summoned a meeting of the Council last month in absence of the President which is illegal according to the legal framework of the Council.

Unfortunately this inconsistency goes unnoticed by the authorities. The government on top of this has issued a show cause notice to the current President PMDC Dr Sibtul Hasnain, whose removal will quite obviously benefit Dr Asim Hussain.

A recent petition has been filed in the

“

There is a high probability of any individual in his capacity to administer policies that will ultimately favor private medical universities and in some way his own university.

”

Supreme Court calling for his removal from the post of Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources.

The Young Doctor’s Association has also chided him as “incapable of holding the post of Vice Presidency and now looking to manipulate the forthcoming elections”.

According to the legal framework of the PMDC, the membership of the Council, let alone the Vice Presidency, is the right of a teacher at a medical college. Dr Asim has although served as a faculty member at Zia uddin Medical college but has not been a Professor of Medicine and Surgery.

Sources from PMDC reveal that Dr Asim Hussain has also previously been involved in hindering the council from working autonomously after the death of its President back in 2004, until the Supreme Court finally came to its rescue.

It is therefore quite inconceivable how one individual is practically in control of the entire medical machinery in the country now and yet has also been granted a ministry of a completely separate department. Moreover his academic qualifications and professional competence are also questioned by the medical community at large.

Nadeem F. Paracha @NadeemfParacha Shahid Afridi just opened a restaurant in Lahore. Hope it's not called 'Tableeghi Inn' and lasts longer than Afridi does on the wicket.

Rezaul Hasan Laskar @Rezhasan What's with this South Asian Media Summit in #Islamabad? Almost all sessions named after James Bond movies Newsweek Pakistan @NewsweekPak Pakistani gang rape victim Mukhar Mai says female oppression can only be countered with literacy, education http://newsweekpakistan.com/scope/2615 Talat Aslam @titojourno We don't need no education? Of the 51 working days this year, most schools in Karachi have been closed on 25 Nadeem F. Paracha @NadeemfParacha Extremist mindset to Pakistan in the 21st century, is what the Bubonic Plague was to Europe in the 14th century. omar r quraishi @omar_quraishi Adil Jawad of Daily Express, Amir Adeel of Geo and Razeshta Setna of Herald win Chevening South Asia Media Fellowships from Pakistan Ayesha Tammy Haq @tammyhaq Balochistan is doomed. No one has an idea of what the hell to do other than look after their own interests. #Pakistan Nosheen Abbas @Goshno Wake up Pakistan Government! RT @jhaque_: When the victims are buried in mass graves, it’s genocide http://bit.ly/11UureR #Hazara #Pakistan Asad Munir @asadmunir38 Avoid meeting your Twitter friends,they are different than the image you have conceived, based on their tweets.

Ayesha Siddiqa @iamthedrifter after dismantling all police capacity ISI blames civilian administration wow SC reviews ISI newly submitted report Rob Crilly @robcrilly Pakistan has been through more "tipping points" in the past year than the average dumper truck. Have they made any difference?

Nadia Jamil @NJLahori Crazy some of us live in a country & know so little about it.Allow ourselves 2B brainwashed by 1 perspective.I would like 2 learn frm every1 Anwar A Durrani @aliarqam #LLF has a session on "Future of #Urdu literature in #Punjab" but no session on the bleak future of #Punjabi language #Lahore Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan @DrAQ_Khan PML N has been backing sectarian terrorists in Punjab and forming coalitions with them, It must stop or It should get banned too Asad Munir @asadmunir38 "There is no sincerer love than the love of food."- George Bernard Shaw Shahid Saeed @shahidsaeed MNA, former Senator, Khatu Mal Jeevan had to pay Rs 5000 at a Lahore hotel as he's achoot & rendered crockery unclean barkha dutt @BDUTT Cameron says sorry. 94 years later. Will our political lot take a cue and apologise to citizens for more recent wrongs ? farrukh saleem @SaleemFarrukh The failure of politics and backfiring of a military doctrine are the major drivers behind Quetta’s bloodshed Arif Rafiq @ArifCRafiq Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry: "Just go and get this Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

Haroon Rashid @TheHaroonRashid When will v get even 3G“@USEmbassyKabul: Etisalat #Afghanistan,to launch country's first trial 4G network saeed shah @SaeedShah Resigned or ousted?: Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh resigns Hassan Abbas @Watandost Thanks a lot Ayesha @iamthedrifter: To understand Jihadi politics & Pak state very important to read .. 'Pakistan Drift into Extremism' Murtaza Solangi @murtazasolangi Taliban in Nowshera put up posters ordering closing of CD Shops & internet cafes. So how will people watch their horrific videos?

Raza Rumi @Razarumi MT @ShireenMazari1:Strange how LJ ppl can call media houses issung threats/taking resp 4 killings but intel agencies cant reach/arrest them?

Omar Waraich @OmarWaraich If this report is true, then Kabul and Islamabad are cooperating RT @FATANews: Maulvi Faqir arrested in Afghanistan http://bit.ly/XttUea

Legharis likely to ditch PTI for PML-N GHAZANFAR ABBASS DERA GHAZI KHAN: As general elections loom round the corner, an interesting political scenario is developing in Dera Ghazi Khan. Two families from the district have dominated the local politics in the parliamentary history of the country. They are the Khosas and the Legharis, the rivals who occupied the slots in assemblies alternatively.

On one hand, Farooq Leghari, the chief of Leghari family, grabbed the Presidency, and, on the other, Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa served as Punjab governor and his son as the chief minister.

But situation is quite different now.

The Khosa family, who remained active in politics under the banner of

“

PML-N for the last several decades, is currently torn apart by differences. His eldest son Saifuddin Khosa has joined the PPP camp, while PML-N has started giving cold shoulder to the family. Its biggest example is the senior Khosa’s latest press conference held at his house. Previously, he always held interaction with media at either the DCO office’s committee room or the circuit house.

Zulfiqar Khosa is currently in his hometown, but spending most of his time at his home – an exercise contrary to his usual practice. The reason is simple. The PML-N has adapted itself to counter the strategy to PPP and is attracting influential political families to boost its chances in coming polls.

There are reports that the PML-N

Four members of the Leghari family are currently members of the national provincial assemblies. It is said Jamal is more people-friendly than Owais who visits Choti Zerain only after months and prefers to stay at his home in Bahria Town Islamabad. On the other hand, their uncle Maqsood Leghari remains in the constituency which has earned him the trust of electorate.

has invited the Legharis – the family which remained part of PPP for a long time, but later formed its own ‘Millat Party’ and then became part of PML-Q - to join its ranks. The Legharis have already started consulting the family members and the tribal elders on the issue. Sources say Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Choti Zarain on 26th of this month and the Leghari group is expected to announce joining the PML-N on the occasion. It

will be a U-turn, as they had previously announced to contest the elections independently and would not aspire for the party ticket from any grouping.

Jamal Khan Leghari is the incumbent head of the Legharis, who became the 27th chief of Leghari tribe after the death of his father Farooq Leghari. He served as the district nazim of Dera Ghazi Khan during the Musharraf regime. After retiring from Senate in 2011, he joined the PTI on December 28, 2011.

But the Leghari family, whose 28 members had chosen the PTI as its new home after leaving the PMLQ, now looks unconcerned with the party. This is despite the fact that Imran Khan visited Choti Zerain and also annoyed Shirin Mazari on the issue of allowing the Legharis to enter the PTI. Later, Shirin quitted the PTI under the pretext of protest against Imran’s decision of not visiting her Rajanpur district.

The chief of Leghari tribe will now a candidate from NA-172, from where his brother Owais Leghari is the cur-

rent MNA. Farooq Leghari always won this seat with a huge margin, but it was not the usual game in 2008, when he defeated PML-N Hafiz Abdul Karim after a hard-fought battle. Hafiz is the district’s leading business man. The other aspirants for NA-172 are Hafiz Karim of PML-N, Maqsood Leghari – another member of Leghari group – and PP’s Sardar Shabbir Leghari.

In case the Leghari group joins the PML-N, it will be interesting to see

who will be able to get the party ticket, as both Hafiz Karim and Maqsood Leghari are in the race for the National Assembly constituency. However, the Leghari considers this seat part of his fiefdom and will never the ‘rights to keep it’ in their control.

Four members of the Leghari family are currently members of the national provincial assemblies. It is said Jamal is more people-friendly than Owais who visits Choti Zerain only after months and prefers to stay at his home in Bahria Town Islamabad. On the other hand, their uncle Maqsood Leghari remains in the constituency which has earned him the trust of electorate.

Jamal, who likes hunting, has served as senator but is presenting itself for popular politics (direct elections) for the first time. Therefore, it can be said that he will grab the NA-172 easily, if he joins the PML-N and both Hafiz and Maqsood do not jump into the contest; otherwise, it is possible that the Legharis chief may lose their stronghold in coming polls.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Sindh PA calls for placing Quetta under army control

Dutch commander likes JF-17 ISLAMABAD: Royal Netherlands Air Force Commander Lt General Alexander Schnitger on Wednesday visited the Air Headquarters where Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt received the distinguished guest. The Dutch commander also visited the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra, where he was received by Aeronautical Complex Board Chairman Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan. The delegation took keen interest in the manufacturing facilities of JF-17 Thunder aircraft. On his arrival, a smartly turned contingent of the Pakistan Air Force presented the Guard of Honour to the guest. Later, Lt General Alexander Schnitger was introduced to Principal Staff Officers of the Pakistan Air Force.

The distinguished guest paid homage to the martyrs by laying wreath on the Martyrs Monument at the Air Headquarters. Lt General Alexander Schnitger also called on the Air Chief Marshal in his office. PR

Imran raps blast ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf Chairman Imran Khan, strongly condemned the blast in Ahmed Deen Brohi village near Jacobabad which resulted in the death of Shafiq Hussain Shah, grandson of Sain Hussain Shah, Pir of Qambar Sharif and left four injured. The blast took place near an ongoing rally of a religious party which was followed by protests on the streets as a result of which the city came to a standstill and businesses closed down. Such attacks against spiritual leaders violate the sanctity of Islam and are strongly reprehensible. The dangerous upsurge of sectarian and ethnic violence in recent months has turned into a full-blown conflict. Those responsible for deteriorating law and order situation in the country are ineligible to be in power, for leaving the nation on the mercy of terrorism.

Secessionist groups, religious and a weak government response have combined to make the country one of the most dangerous in the world. The nation should stand firm and united against these agents of terror. ONLINE

190 vehicles challaned RAWALPINDI: Motor Registration Authority of Excise and taxation department challaned 190 vehicles during general hold up against token tax defaulters and non-registered vehicles. In the general hold up not only 190 vehicles were challaned but 15 vehicles were also impounded while fine of Rs 500,000 was also received. The E&T department also checked vehicles at check posts and took action against non-registered vehicles and motorcycles. ONLINE

Bat decision deferred ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has deferred its decision to allot a new election symbol to the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf. The decision was taken during an ECP meeting, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim. According to sources, the PTI had asked for the allotment of bat as party symbol for the upcoming general election. Previously, the ECP had turned down a PTI request to allot tarazoo (scale). Both JI and PTI had applied for the election sign.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the ECP allotted tarazoo to the JI. The commission had reportedly suggested torch and hill as alternate symbols to the PTI. ONLINE

Altaf sincerity questioned QUETTA: Majlis Wahdat-ulMuslimeen General Secretary Allama Amin Shaheedi has reacted in strong terms to Altaf Hussain’s criticism of ‘some Shia elders’ who played role in ending Hazara community sit-in and persuading them for burial of their loved ones who died on Saturday’s deadly blast. ONLINE

RAWALPINDI: Workers preparing traditional blinds at Chik Bazaar. ONLINE

SC rejects Fasih’s request NAB says no commission formed by president as court seeks details OUR STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD: Dismayed Supreme Court Wednesday sought details of a judicial commission reportedly formed by President Asif Ali Zardari to examine and review a stronglyworded letter written by the NAB Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari accusing the superior judiciary of influencing the Rental Power Projects (RPP) scam investigation.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sh. Azmat Saeed, while hearing a contempt of court case against NAB chief, also rejected his

request seeking exemption from personal appearance before the court.

Appearing on notice, the NAB chief requested the court to grant him exemption from personal appearance as he had been appearing before the court for last three days, while he had to look after the affairs of his office.

The court also issued notices to the publishers, printers and editors of two Urdu language dailies, which published the news about formation of the commission, directing them to produce all information about the formation of the commission.

During the hearing, the chief

justice noted that he came to know through media reports that President Zardari had formed a two-member judicial commission headed by Justice (r) Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi to examine and review the letter. “Has the commission been formed to supervise and monitor the Supreme Court,” the chief justice inquired. “The NAB chief had committed contempt. This letter has dragged the judiciary into politics,” he observed.

Naveed Rasool Mirza, counsel for NAB chairman, told the court that he had no knowledge about any such commission.

Contempt of court notices to top doctor, secretary SALMAN ABBAS

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday issued notices to Pakistan Medical & Dental Council Vice President Dr Asim Hussain, Ministry of National Regulations and Services Secretary Imtiaz Inayat Elahi and others on a contempt of court petition filed by Dr Aftab Akbar for not restoring him on the post of PMDC registrar despite court’s orders.

The executive committee of the PM&DC on January 22 suspended Dr Akbar and on February 6, the IHC ordered his restoration by ruling that the council’s executive committee, which had suspended him, was not the competent authority. However, the high-ups concerned did not obey the court

orders. Aftab, then, filed the contempt case.

Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan heard the case.

Dr Aftab’s counsel contended before the court that his client had informed all the authorities concerned about his restoration, adding that Aftab specifically wrote a letter to Dr Raja Amjad Mahmood, who had been posted in his place as registrar.

The counsel also informed the court that Raja Amjad was an employee of Ministry of National Regulations and Services, was sent by the government on deputation and appointed as registrar, apparently against the provisions of PMDC Ordinance, 1962 and the rules framed there under and this fact was also brought into notice of the IHC. He pleaded that despite court orders Raja Amjad did not vacate the office of the registrar.

Normality returns to Karachi, Lahore as Hazara protests end KARACHI/LAHORE: Normal life was restored in Karachi, Sindh interior, parts of Punjab and Balochistan after country-wide protest of Shia community ended late on Tuesday following talks with the government.

According to Media Reports, protests in support of the Shiites in Quetta were held across the country, with protestors blocking main thoroughfares and rail tracks, burning tyres on roads which crippled life in Karachi and other cities.

In the capital of Islamabad, protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court, where the powerful chief justice has opened hearings into the violence. A parliamentary

delegation, led by Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, told the Shia leaders in Quetta that four suspects had been killed and 170 people arrested, adding that FC and Rangers had kicked off an operation against the militants. "The operation will go on until all culprits are nabbed," Kaira said. "All our demands have been met," said Shi'ite leader Amin Shaheedi. "The government has assured us that Quetta will be protected now and such incidents will not be repeated."

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the government had also replaced the provincial police chief and offered to heavily fortify the Hazara Shi'ite enclave in Quetta. ONLINE

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Registrar Dr Faqir Hussain presented before the bench his note in response to the media reports about the commission’s formation.

In his note, the Registrar stated that he had contacted the Law and Justice Secretary on telephone to inquire about the matter, however, he rejected such reports stating that no such commission was formed and besides they did not proceed on media speculations.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till March 14 due to replacement of Justice Gulzar Ahmed with Justice Khilji Arif Hussain from the bench.

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Wednesday passed a unanimous resolution, requesting the Sindh government to approach the federal government for the arrest of those involved in terrorism in Quetta. The joint resolution was moved by MQM deputy parliamentary leader Faisal Sabzwari, PPP MPA Mujadid Isran and PML-F leader Marvi Rashdi.

During the debate, some MPAs demanded that Quetta be placed under control of the armed forces.

“Why are you opposing the army’s deployment and have made it a self esteem issue?” PML-F leader Jam Madad Ali said. “The civilian government has lost its writ in the province as innocent people are being killed. We demand control of the city be given to the armed forces for a while till the situation returns to normal,” he added.

Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, who belongs to the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, said that victims of the incidents have not demanded the deployment of the army, but are asking for targeted action against culprits with the help of armed forces. Another PPP MPA Imdad Pitafi while criticising the role of intelligence agencies and armed forces said that the government spent huge national capital on them, but they have totally failed to secure the lives of citizens.

“It is the prime responsibility of intelligence agencies to prevent such incidents, but they are getting incentives and doing nothing,” he said. On the other hand, MPAs of the PPP and MQM called it a ‘conspiracy’ against the democratic government and said that national, local and international hands are behind the incidents to defame Pakistan and destabilise its economy.

“Why does the government always pledge to take steps after the massacre of innocents? Nothing tangible will come out of suspending some police personnel and removing the IG. We demand armed forces take action. No harm will come from our forces being temporarily deployed over there,” Nuzhat Pathan of PML-Q added.

Intelligence agencies involved in terrorism, allege senators Provinces have failed to protect their citizens, says interior minister ZEESHAN JAVAID

ISLAMABAD: The legislators in the Upper House of parliament on Wednesday claimed that security and intelligence agencies are either directly involved in terrorist activities across the country or they are incapable of dealing with the situation, while Interior Minister Rehman Malik claimed that they have rendered great sacrifices for the country. Malik told the House that Lashkar-eJhangvi, Sipah-e-Sahaba and Jaish-e-Muhammadi are carrying out all the terrorist activities in the country, including recent Balochistan killings. “As many as 31 workers of the banned organisations have been arrested and they have confessed to carrying out several terrorist hits,” said Malik.

“The information on expected terrorist activities always proved true, and was always shared with all the provinces,” he maintained. For Balochistan and Karachi, several alerts were forwarded to the respective governments, he added. “The intelligence agencies always provided correct information, but the provinces have failed to take appropriate measures for the protection of their subjects. What have we done for the security forces during the last five years? Nothing!” said Malim.

He informed the senators that there are 3,117 workers of Laskhar-e-Jhangvi and the government has made a plan to arrest them.

About the Balochistan blast, he said that the explosive matterial used in it was brought from Lahore.

Regretting the Balochistan incident, ANP’s Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash claimed, “This is failure of the intelligence agencies and security forces operating there. In Swat, FATA and Balochistan adventurism were carried out by our own institutions. The forces created these terrorist

groups with the hope that they will independence Indian Occupied Kashmir. If Pakistani forces are not involved in these activities then it is thei inability to deal with the issue.”

MQM’s Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan said that political scoring was carried out over dead bodies in Balochistan, which he termed as insult of humanity. Through a well plane conspiracy the situation of Karachi was destroying. Senator Zahid Khan said it was shameful for our forces that within a month a second big incident has occurred in Balochistan. The Balochistan governor termed the incident a failure of the intelligence agencies, which means it is failure of the federal and provincial governments. Punjab is responsible for terrorism in the country because they established the banned organisations.”

Senior parliamentarian Senator Raza Rabbani said Pakistan is passing through critical stage having internal and external threats. The Parliament has identified the matter and suggested several option for their solution but the inner states have to correct themselves. After the 18th Amendment law and order is the concern of provincial governments, while the federal government can just give guide lines. He identified three issues including internal situation, international situation and lego-political issues are responsible for uncertainty in Pakistan.

There are terrorism in several countries but they handled properly. But the government has to decide in which direction we have to go. Kalsoom Parveen, Saber Baloch and Maulana Sherani also spoke on the occasion. The JUI-F senator staged walked out over Balochistan incident. They said Bangladesh like situation were created in Balochistan and stressed for appropriate measures before it was too late.

Japanese ambassador calls for strengthening cultural ties ISLAMABAD: Hiroshi Oe, Ambassador of Japan in Pakistan, has stressed that “we must continue to work hard to promote cooperation and strengthen cultural ties between Japan and Pakistan in the future”. He expressed these views while addressing the inaugural exhibition of Japanese Calendars at the Rawalpindi Arts Council on Wednesday.

The exhibition in cooperation with the Rawalpindi Arts Council will remain open for the public from February 21 to 27, from 9 am to 5 pm.

The annual Japanese Calendars Exhibition is very popular in Pakistan.

This year, around 100 calendars have

been displayed in the exhibition with the cooperation of Japan Calendars Association, Tokyo. These calendars show Japan’s traditional and contemporary arts, sports, automobiles, nature, cultural heritage and architecture.

Since every calendar is a piece of art, the Japan Calendar Association has tried their best to attract viewers through different subjects and mediums. The exhibition not only gives a picture of the socio- cultural development of Japan spread over centuries, but also exhibits the aesthetic features of Japanese printing technology.

While speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Hiroshi Oe, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan said that a variety of Japanese calendars have been put on display in this exhibition which represent the beauty as well as the true life image of Japan. The visitors will be able to see things Japanese in a way they would see them in Japan. Most of the calendars being displayed are made by private Japanese companies, and most of them are printed on recycled paper which is a fine example of Japan’s efforts to be eco-friendly, added the ambassador.

Ambassador further said that Japanese companies work hard to be

globally competitive through innovation, improvement, and by being environmentally conscious.

They use innovation in their technology to preserve the environment. By doing so, they can enhance corporate image and, at the same time, satisfy their passion for improving the environment.

Ambassador Oe stressed that we must continue to work hard to promote cooperation and strengthen cultural ties between Japan and Pakistan in the future. After the exhibition, all the calendars will be distributed to the lucky visitors through lottery by the Rawalpindi Arts Council. ONLINE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Jirga ‘dispenses’ justice but at the cost of humans

A tribesman from Khar says his main concern is to keep change away since it will ruin morality, especially for women, who need to be modest

MONITORING DESK

PESHAWAR: Justice in Pakistan's tribal border areas is a contested issue.

“We are quite clear what justice is. If someone kills, commits adultery or some other offence, they deserve to die,” said Javaid Khan of the Utman Khel tribe in Bajaur Agency, reports IRIN, a news service of the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Talking to IRIN from the town of Khar in Bajaur, he did not see these as extra-judicial killings or a violation of the law, saying: “We have our own means to keep order here… Yes, over the years, killings have been carried out on `jirga’ orders - for murder, adultery or other offences.”

Traditional justice is strong in many of these areas - but that comes at the expense of universally accepted legal rights, say campaigners. “The `jirga’

may offer justice in some cases, but there are flaws and there is evidence that the will of powerful tribal elders holds sway over the less influential,” Asad Jamal, a Lahore-based lawyer, said. The less influential, he said, “would include women”.

The power of `jirga’ is particularly strong in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which are only covered by limited parts of the Pakistan Penal Code and the 1973 Constitution. Instead, FATA operates under the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) of 1901: colonial-era laws that condone collective punishments and lack a right of appeal or trial by jury.

According to a human rights activist, jirgas are widespread, notably in tribal areas and affect women more adversely than men by holding back progress for them, keeping them confined to within the four walls of their houses, preventing them from acquiring

education, and promoting damaging traditions like child marriage.

Those who campaign against the justice of `jirgas’, say they often deliver injustice, in part because women have so little power over their decisions.

“Since women are not represented on the `jirgas’, verdicts often go against them,” Samar Minallah Khan, a human rights activist and documentary film-maker who has worked extensively in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, says.

Far-reaching influence The hold of tradition and “traditional justice” extends beyond the more legally autonomous tribal belts.

Minallah said women in KP were frequently produced before jirgas, most often in cases of `swara’

‘Search for rights means more sufferings’ Women urge Punjab govt to immediately pass bill against domestic violence

OUR STAFF REPORTER

SARGODHA: Domestic violence against women is on the rise in Punjab and the provincial government needs to immediately pass the bill to help rural women overcome the menace was the demand of a women assembly held in Sargodha on Wednesday.

More than thousand women from ten union councils of five tehsils assembled in the lawns of Sargodha’s Town Hall under the Women Awareness Programme of Aurat Foundation in ‘Awaz Women Assembly’.

Addressing the gathering, representatives from Union Council Lilyani said women were still deprived of their right to vote in their area and democracy remained hijacked by male members of the society.

“Raising voice against such an injustice has led to an increased violence against women,” they added.

Representatives of the assembly demanded the Punjab government to provide a level playing field to women in rural areas without which hope of any

positive change in the society will remain a distant dream.

Representatives from Union Council Slianwali were of the view that women were facing discrimination not only in distribution of inheritance but also in workforce. And any attempt to counter the practice meant more violence against women. However, they said that women wanted a change in their lives but government need to help them realise their dream.

Women assembly members later held a peaceful march from Town Hall to press the provincial government to ensure immediate passage of the bill, which is pending before various committees for a long time, to bring an end to domestic violence against women. The march, which culminated at Shaheen Chowk, was led by Aurat Foundation Resident Director Nasreen Zehra and Mumtaz Mughal. Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister Begum Zakia Shahnawaz and MNA Begum Mehnaz Rafi were also amongst the participants.

(marriages of exchange), where they were handed over to an aggrieved party to settle a dispute, including murder or other crime. “Under-age girls are often produced before jirgas by their fathers in such cases,” Minallah said.

The `jirgas’ often help reinforce discrimination against women, which can be particularly acute in rural areas in the north.

In the remote Kohistan District of KP where, technically speaking at least, national law applies, three men were shot dead in January this year as a result of a long-standing tribal feud involving allegations their brothers had mingled with unrelated women.

“The ease with which people are willing to kill women, often on `jirga’ orders, is shocking,” says another activist Farzana Bari.

“In our culture men and women unrelated to each other are not

permitted to mingle at all,” Nazir Kohistani, a businessman who now lives in Peshawar but has origins in Besham, Kohistan, told IRIN. He said he had moved to Peshawar when his three daughters were infants “so they could be educated and lead a normal life.”

Womenʼs rights curtailed “It is difficult to change established ways,” said a woman who now lives in Peshawar, but hails from Mohmand Agency. “We as women can only try, but despite my efforts I have been unable to persuade my husband to allow our two daughters to study beyond grade five.”

She says she will need to “fight hard” to allow her daughters to receive even vocational training in sewing or embroidery, and the right to leave their home to receive the training.

Businessman Kohistani says he has

Rickshaw driver shot dead, two crushed to death CHICHAWATNI: At least three persons, including a rickshaw driver who was shot dead by robbers, died in separate incidents on Wednesday.

In the first incident, rickshaw driver Muhammad Shaukat was gunned down by unidentified robbers in village Iqbal Nagar.

Shaukat, resident of Chak No 11/14 L Mamdot Farm, was returning to his home from Iqbal Nagar when armed assailants appeared form the garden and tried stopped him, but he tried to drive away his rickshaw.

As result, the criminals opened indiscriminate fire, resulting in multiple bullet injuries to him. The locals shifted him to hospital for medical aid but he succumbed to his wounds.

And a six-year-old Muzammil alias Haider Ali was crossing the road at the Chichawatni Bypass when suddenly a wagon coming from Sahiwal crushed him to death.

In another incident, a police constable Tariq Abbas, deployed at Patrolling Post Kotala, was trying to cross the U-Turn and sustained severe injuries when a speedy car.

He succumbed to his injuries while he was being shifted to a local hospital. ONLINE

HYDERABAD: The city is famous for bangle-making which involves thousands of workers, mostly in cottage industry. INP

Hospital has structure but no doctors

CCU Ward at main medical centre of Ahmedpur East remains unattended for the last six years

ATHAR LASHARI

AHMEDPUR EAST: The Tehsil Head Quarters (THQ) Hospital Ahmedpur East’s CCU Ward is still waiting for doctors, six years after the Punjab government of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi allocated funds for upgrading the tehsil-level hospitals in District Bahawalpur.

As a part of the project, four new wards were also established in the THQ hospital, including the Trauma Centre, Dialyses Centre and Children Ward, the CCU Ward has

no consultant and physician till now. On the other hand, the expensive machines for the ward remain unused and are being damaged. According to Medical Superintend Dr Ejazul Haq, there is no consultant or doctor in the ward.

“We are facing serious problems; the Punjab government’s service structure is not providing any support to us.”

Ejaz says Ahmedpur East is a remote region but there is no ‘hard-area allowance’ for the doctors; therefore, they avoid working here. He also demanded the provincial government

that the policy should be revised according to the service structure.

Six months ago when Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the area, a doctor from Bahawal Victoria Hospital was appointed here temporarily, but he returned soon afterwards. In 2011, the local business community established a fund to run the Dialyses Centre, but the initiative worked for only one year, as it is unable to serve the patients due to lack of funds It is said absence of doctors forced referring more than 262 patients to Bahawalpur last month, while some

Forced marriages a huge challenge: UK official Aurat Foundation Resident Director Nasreen Zehra, Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister Begum Zakia Shahnawaz and MNA Begum Mehnaz Rafi at ‘Awaz Women Assembly’ which discussed the issue of domestic violence against the women. STAFF PHOTO

Peace committee member shot dead TANK: A member of local peace committee was killed and two passers-by were injured in a firing incident at Adha Bazaar, a busy market of the town, on Wednesday.

According to report, unidentified armed miscreants opened fire near the bus stand on Wednesday evening, killing Gul Masha Baiowali, the peace committee member, on spot and injuring Tariq Shah and Zarjanan. One of the injured, Tariq Shah, is stated to be in a critical condition and has been shifted to a hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan, the Punjab district bordering Dera Ismail Khan area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

After the killings, police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to hunt the criminals.

The southernmost districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank, borders the Waziristan region of FATA; therefore, the spillover of violence from the tribal belt is nothing new for the locals. AGENCIES

OUR STAFF REPORTER

MIRPUR (AJK): The British government is worried about the forced and early age marriages and the increase in the cases of divorce. The problem is more serious in the Asian communities living in the UK. Keeping in mind the magnitude of the problem, the British High Commission is working on the grass root level by conducting seminars and workshops to highlight the issue with the help of religious scholars, political and national personalities and journalists. The whole exercise is aimed at enabling the British government to tackle the challenge.

These views were expressed by Charles Haaye, the director of British Foreign Office Counsel Services, while addressing a seminar conducted by Kharri Sharif Welfare Society. British Counselor Albert

David and others famous personalities were also present on the occasion.

Charles further added that “we are not against the arranged marriages; it’s a wrong opinion about us. We are just telling about the difference between forced and arranged marriages.”

“A large number of families UK Foreign Office official are getting disturbed by Charles Haaye these kinds of incidents and the British government is facing loads of problems.” He said, “We will promote Kharri Sharif Welfare Society to arrange more and more seminars in Kotli and Mirpur, and will support them whenever they needed.

Albert David, Miss Neelam Farooq, Miss Arzoo, Common Wealth Officer Miss Helen and others also addressed the seminar.

Environmental issues causing increase in poverty

Workshop told that more than half of total population of four million in AJK is facing water and sanitation-related problems

OUR STAFF REPOTER

MIRPUR (AJK): The participants of the two-day workshop on ‘Review and Finalisation of State of Environmental Profile in AJK’ emphasised the need for stringent measures to resolve the environmental issues and threats on a priority basis to overcome poverty in Azad Kashmir.

The workshop culminated on Wednesday with the conclusion that the environmental hazards resulted in the increased poverty in the region. The workshop was arranged by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the AJK with the coordination of the Ministry of Climate Change of Pakistan,

come up against the same issues. He told IRIN: “In areas such as ours, there are women who never, ever leave the four walls of their home, simply moving from the home of their parents to that of their husbands. I did not want my daughters, or my two sons, to grow up in such a culture, and therefore I escaped it.”

However, escape is not possible for most. Nor do they necessarily wish to abandon old ways.

“We live as are grandfathers and great grandfathers did, we keep to our own ways as tribesmen; we believe life must follow tradition so we preserve our culture - and we are proud of the morality that comes with this,” said Javaid Khan from Bajaur.

He says his main concern is to “keep change away since it will worsen, not improve our lives, ruining morality, especially for women, who need to be modest and kept away from public life.”

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Embassy of Kingdom of Netherland in Pakistan, the sponsor of ongoing ‘National Environmental Information Management System (NEIMS) Project’ in AJK. The EPA is one of the major stakeholders of the project.

Besides environmental experts and the heads of various departments of the AJK government including Forests, Local Government, PWD, Education, Electricity, Public Health, Agriculture and Livestock also expressed views about the rime objectives of holding of the workshop.

Project Director Baber Minhas disclosed in his report that 2.3 million people out of a total population of four million in AJK were

facing serious water and sanitation issues, as they lack access to hygienic drinking water.

Speakers emphasised that the socioeconomic conditions could be improved through the sustainable development in the AJK territory. “However, better development needs better planning and better planning needs better knowledge and information data. And at the same time, better information management system helps better resource allocation,” they observed.

“The workshop, indeed, will infuse better understanding of the prevailing state of environment in A JK through the involvement of all the stakeholders both from public and private sectors,” they observed.

“In terms of the outputs, the project is aimed to assembly scattered data on environment from all available sources and organise it in the form of and manner that it adds value to the work of policy, programme and control measures for environmental protection and natural resource conservation by all stakeholders, on a continuous basis and to achieve sustainable development in AJK as ultimate goal,” he pointed out.

AJK Minister for Environment Shazia Akbar was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony, while Ministry of Climate Change (Pakistan) Director General Javed Ali, Representative of Embassy of Netherland John William and others were also present on the occasion.

of them died on their way to Bahawal Victoria Hospital, which is located at a distance of 50 km.

“We do not have health facilities in our town. Where is the chief minister’s development? There are no doctors, no medicine and not even nurses,” a local Aziz-urRehman Qureshi said.

It is also heard that more than 16 doctors of Bahawal Victoria Hospital are performing their duties at the Nishter Hospital Multan; therefore, the main hospital of Bahawalpur is also facing dearth of doctors.

Govt has 10 days to remove encroachments ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has directed the government for removing encroachments from the entire state-owned land, including public parks, in Karachi within ten days.

These orders were issued by the Supreme Court on Wednesday during proceedings of the case regarding encroachments in Karachi.

The three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed the hearing.

The chief justice said in his remarks that the whole economy of the country was disturbed due to encroachments. Commercial plazas were made in the public parks and the menace of land grabbing was spreading dayby-day. “All the major roads of the country are full of encroachments. State lands are being utilised for commercial purposes.”

Former district nazim of Karachi Naimatullah Khan had moved the application. During the hearing, Additional Advocate General Sindh Yasin Azad appeared before the court. He said law and order situation in Karachi was not satisfactory; therefore, he could not compile report on the encroachments. He requested the court to grant more time to enable him complete the task.

The CJ said people knew the land grabbers were so powerful that they would not vacate the properties easily.

Justice Azmat said why the possession of land mafia was not eliminated so far. The government had done nothing since 2010.

Yasin Azad said that some 164 plots in Karachi were retrieved back from the clutches of land mafia and the matter of 63 more plots was underway. On the request of assistant advocate general, the court gave ten more days to government and adjourned the hearing. ONLINE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

THE SPOKESMAN

Bringing Gwadar back to life

Chief Editor: Huma Ali Executive Editor: Atif Mateen Resident Editor: Saeed Minhas Consulting Editors: Jalees Hazir Samina Choonara

Given the security circumstances of the country and the enormous developmental needs of Gwadar port, it would take careful planning by Pakistan government to pursue its medium to long-term economic and foreign policy goals

Block 11, G-6/1, Aabpara, Islamabad Telephone: 051 260 7153-4 Fax: 051 260 7498 www.thespokesman.pk ce@thespokesman.pk

AARISH U. KHAN

Civil-military debate The recent terrorist attack in Quetta has kicked up a debate on the civil-military equation in the country. Immediately after the incident, the Balochistan Governor termed it a failure of intelligence agencies.

As if on cue, politicians of different hues and media anchors and analysts were quick to put the onus of the deteriorating law and order situation in the country on the shoulders of the “intelligence agencies”, a vague term that is rendered even more elusive because it is often, and wrongly, used interchangeably with the security establishment. This knee-jerk response of political leadership and media to summon the ghost of the erstwhile monopoly over state power exercised by the military leadership to explain the current mess is inaccurate and misleading. The situation on the ground after the installation of the present democratic dispensation and General Musharaf’s departure from the scene is not as simple. To address the serious challenges facing the State of Pakistan, it is important to broaden the framework of discussion on civil-military relations.

Other than the intelligence agencies under the military’s control, there are many that fall under the domain of the civilian administration; the IB, FIA, CID and the special branches of the Police departments. Technically speaking, even the much-criticised Inter Services Intelligence comes under the Ministry of Defence.

Using the blanket term of “intelligence agencies” to bracket them all together as a monolith and then using the spurious category to target the security establishment is malicious. Such discourse was perhaps more relevant in the past when the military was directly involved in governance or indulged in political engineering even at the constituency level. The military has withdrawn itself from such heavy involvement in politics and governance in the post-Musharaf era, and to discuss its role in the present scenario as if nothing has changed, reduces the discussion to a counter-productive blame game that does not help in developing an understanding of the problems, let alone finding ways to solve them.

The political leadership has found it convenient to shift the responsibility of its failures on to the “invisible government” purportedly run by the military, refusing to put its own house in order. The reports of “intelligence agencies” clearly indicating the involvement of so-called public representatives in criminal activities have been ignored by the civilian administration. In Karachi, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, who was the sitting Sindh Home Minister at the time, raised a storm when he flashed lists of dangerous criminals identified by the Joint Investigation Team of military and civilian intelligence agencies that were apprehended but set free due to political interference. In Balochistan, ministers of the suspended government were named by intelligence reports for being involved in kidnappings for ransom and other criminal activities but no action has been taken against them to date. This is not to suggest that the conduct of the military intelligence agencies is above board. However, for a discussion that helps us apportion the blame accurately and take corrective measures, it is essential that we appreciate the new scenario that includes power players other than those under direct military control.

The government of Pakistan officially transferred the control of Gwadar port to China Overseas Port Holdings Limited, a company owned by the Chinese government, on 18 February.

Although China had paid 80 percent of the $248 million cost of the port’s development since 2002, the port operations were leased to the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) International Private Limited in 2007 for 40 years by the Musharaf regime, ostensibly to please the US. The company hit a roadblock, however, when the Pakistan Navy (PN) refused to let go of the legal ownership of 584 acres of land in favour of PSA in the port area owing to strategic concerns.

In 2008, after going back and forth between PSA and PN, the then Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani decided in favour of the retention of land by PN asking it to spare some 30 acres of land in favour of PSA for the rail and road link from Gwadar Port to the Container Freight Terminal.

Considering the land in possession of PN critical to its operations, the company did not spend anything out of the promised $525 million on the development of the port from 2007 to 2012, and backed out of the agreement in favour of the Chinese state-owned company.

President Asif Ali Zardari, in his address during the signing ceremony of the transfer in Islamabad, underscored the significance of the port in integrating the economies of the countries in the region. He argued that the port would provide an excellent trading corridor for western China and would also facilitate Chinese oil imports from the Persian Gulf region.

India fears that the Chinese, in addition to reaping the economic benefits of the project, might use the port as a naval base to extend their maritime influence to the Arabian Sea and keep an eye on the shipping lanes passing through the Straits of Hormuz. Whether this is part of the plan or not, there is no denying the fact that the port is strategically located at the entrance of the Straits

of Hormuz, which could give a strategic edge to both Pakistan and China near the busy shipping lanes of the Arabian Sea. Indian apprehensions aside, the development of the Gwadar port certainly has a great potential of not only becoming a trade corridor for western part of China but becoming a trading hub of the region as well. It is estimated that the port would reduce the time taken by a container to reach from western China to the Middle East from more than three weeks to less than a week. The port would also be at the shortest distance from Kandahar, the main trading center of southern Afghanistan and could possibly provide easy warm water

suspended, which leaves the inhabitants of the city to rely on tankers for their water needs. Two of the three irrigation canals from the dam that are operational are being used for watering fields that grow fodder for the horses and camels of Middle Eastern Sheikhs instead of growing food crops. Linking Gwadar with water from Mirani Dam as well as judicious use of this precious resource will have to be ensured for making Gwadar a livable town for a large number of inhabitants. Gwadar is already utilising power supply from Iran and might need gas supply from there as well either as a stand-alone project or as part of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

Two of the three irrigation canals from Mrirani dam that are operational are being used for watering fields that grow fodder for the horses and camels of Middle Eastern sheikhs instead of growing food crops and providing drinking water to people of Gwadar access to the Central Asian Republics.

Nevertheless, to fully benefit from the economic promise that the port holds for China and Pakistan, several challenges would need to be addressed. Gwadar used to be an isolated fishermen village; it still is an isolated town with limited availability of basic necessities of life such as water. Mirani Dam was completed on Dasht River 40 km west of Turbat in 2006 to provide drinking water to Gwadar besides providing water for irrigating fields of food crop for the town. The dam, which has an extendable storage capacity of 302,000 acre feet, can amply meet the water needs of Gwadar. Since the discontinuation of development work on Gwadar in 2007, however, work on connecting the canals from the dam to Gwadar city have remained

The isolated nature of the town also dictates that it would be like a developed oasis in the sparsely populated, poverty-stricken, and bandit-infested desert. For it to serve the purpose of being a trade corridor for western China or Central Asia, it will have to be viably linked with the rest of the country through a safe and smooth road network. At the moment, the only major highway that connects Gwadar to the rest of the country is the coastal highway, which links it with another port city of Karachi rather than anywhere inland. The around 1,000 km-long proposed motorway, M8, from Gwadar to Ratodero in Sindh, passing through Turbat, Hoshab, Awaran, and Khuzdar in Balochistan, is still a long way from completion. Even when complete, it would merely link Gwadar

to the Grand Trunk road, which is already choking with goods and passenger traffic from Karachi to Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. The national highway from Khuzdar to Quetta through Kalat and Mastung would also need the attention of the National Highway Authority for its effective utilisation for container traffic from Gwadar to Kandahar.

The authorities will also have to come up with a plan to secure the vast expanse of wilderness through which the M8 will have to pass between Gwadar and Khuzdar.

Besides the physical security of the highways that would connect Gwadar internally and with the region, the general lawlessness in the country will also need to be tackled before Pakistan can hope to become an effective trading corridor linking Afghanistan, Central Asia, and China with the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. Currently the security situation in the main port city of Karachi is so bad that it has become difficult to do business there. Major trade centers like Peshawar and Quetta are in the grip of extremist violence and sectarianism.

The whole country is presenting a picture of bad governance and insecurity. It is true that this might not stop trade as such but it would keep the business confidence in the country generally low and trade disruptions frequent.

In a nutshell, given the current security circumstances of the country and the enormous developmental needs of Gwadar port, it would take some careful planning on the part of the government of Pakistan in ascertaining and pursuing its medium to long-term economic and foreign policy goals. Otherwise, we could be a long way from realising our vision of becoming a trade corridor for China or a regional trading pivot for that matter; and Gwadar could possibly be reduced to what the Indians fear it to be.

THE WRITER IS RESEARCH ANALYST AT THE INSTITUTE OF REGIONAL STUDIES ISLAMABAD

Who killed the coastline in Karachi?

SHIREEN GUL Living along the seaside has always been a fantasy of many people, and is generally an expensive idea in almost any coastal city around the world. In Pakistan, the coastline of Karachi used to be prized property and I still remember when Clifton was once considered an upscale residential area. Today, property has devalued to such an extent that it is much cheaper living there than in other parts of town far from the coastline.

One of the main reasons for this is the invasion of oil tankers in the last two decades that are allowed to park along the beach adjoining what was once an upscale residential area. Not only is it the parking, what is inexplicable is why these tankers transporting inflammable material are allowed to ply all day long through crowded residential and commercial areas and high-voltage electric cables. This poses threat to the life and property of the residents besides making Clifton the largest tanker parking area in the world. A total number of 14 000 registered oil

The once peaceful coastline of Karachi is now held hostage to the tanker mafia that continues to ply at least 7000 vehicles through residential areas at all hours of the day and uses this as a parking lot at night. This defies Supreme Court orders for a permanent parking area to be created for them at the port tankers are being used to transport oil products, with at least 7000 among them operating from Karachi, but no parking terminal has been constructed for them over all these years.

I have been a resident of Clifton since the last two decades and things have changed drastically in all this time. When my father bought this flat, people used to visit us and remark at how beautiful and peaceful the place was. How did this change? Now people visit me and ask ‘Why do you still live here? Are you not afraid?’ What is scary is how easy it is to slam into the rear of a tanker some dark night when it is parked in your backyard with no tail lights, no bumper and no number plate, and a tanker-friendly policeman on duty nearby.

Karachi is Pakistan’s only metropolis and port city but unfortunately commercial activity is not regulated here. There are more water and oil tankers plying and

parked around Clifton than anywhere else in Pakistan. The sad part is that those carrying water have successfully foiled all schemes for clean piped water supply to the residents and it seems as if no one can now counter the tanker mafia.

The tanker mafia is made up of powerful figures in the police, the city administration and other departments who either own a fleet of such tankers or have a stake in their continued operation. In short, almost everyone has strong political connections. Then there are the noisy, smoke-emitting, creaking vehicles plied by the mafia that even scrap dealers would be reluctant to purchase from them since their condition is not road-worthy and the rash way in which they are driven poses a grave threat to other road users.

In November 2010, the Supreme Court asked the chairman and secretary of the Oil Companies Advisory Committee to

Maryam replaces Safdar?

Maulana magic?

Getting Maryam married to Safdar was as bad decision as was Benazir marriage to Asif Zardari. Both decisions were taken in haste and under duress.

Mullah presence in our elected bodies and Parliament is manifestation of our resolve to push our society towards bigotry, prejudice and intolerance.

This also shows our insolence to the teachings of peace in our religion.

A J KHAN AJK@YAHOO.COM

EDITOR’S MAIL BOX Feedback from the web

Half of GB languages fading away Non Pamirians celebrated Pamiri Culture e.g. the so-called renowned scholars mentioned in the news are neither scholars nor have in depth understanding of Pamiri culture. We are surprised.

A J KHAN AJK@YAHOO.COM

Wajid enjoys personal residence at tax payersʼ expense An impressive share, I have just given this to a colleague who was performing a little analysis on this.

And the truth is that bought me breakfast due to the fact I discovered it for him *smile*. So let me reword that: Thanks for the treat! But yeah thanks for spending the time to talk about this, I feel strongly about it and really like reading more on this topic. If feasible, as you develop the expertise, would you mind updating your weblog with much more details? It truly is extremely valuable for me. Big thumb up for this weblog post!

AYAZ PAMIRI

CRORMIBRA

POMIR.2013@GMAIL.COM

FLWXJA@799FU.COM

Ayesha Haroon̶ Journalist to the core Huma bhai that's very true what you have written about Ayesha. It's really hard to imagine that she is gone. A tragedy for the journalist community in Pakistan that one of our strongest pillar has fallen at such a young age.

AFNAN KHAN AFNANKHANLODHI@GMAIL.COM

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submit a compliance report on the removal of oil tankers from the residential area of Shireen Jinnah Colony within two weeks.

The superior court ordered for a temporary parking area to be created on a plot belonging to the Karachi Port Trust till a permanent place was made, the proposed Zulfikarabad Oil Tanker Terminal.

Finally, in 2012, Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad said that oil tankers will be shifted to the Zulfikarabad Oil Tanker Terminal by November 2012 and this will reduce traffic jams on Karachi’s main roads. But to date, there is no change to be witnessed and the tankers keep lumbering into the traffic at all hours.

It is at least helpful to know that the superior court of Pakistan puts some pressure on a corrupt and ineffectual city government to provide relief to the people through its directions and orders. But the order of removing the oil tankers from

Shireen Jinnah Colony and Clifton Block 1 has not been implemented and the residents are still waiting for the governor to make a move on it. Meanwhile, the hopelessness is growing.

It seems that it is easier in this country to remove a prime minister than it is to dislodge the commercial interests of some people over the peace and security of ordinary citizens. Perhaps it is time for residents to take action and approach the superior court to punish those who do not implement its orders, because we can no longer do nothing. This “nothing” reminds me of the Shakespearean tragedy King Lear, where the King questions his daughter about how much she loves him, and she says: “Nothing!” The King gets angry and replies: “Nothing will come of nothing, speak again.”

their problems.

Elections a tough job for ANP amidst Taliban threats

to). You unquestionably put a new spin on a subject that’s been written about for years. Terrific stuff, just superb!

BACYAQUAMYGUT YICZXO@799FU.COM A fascinating discussion is worth a comment. I think that you simply ought to write far more on this topic, it may not be a taboo topic but common persons cannot speak on such topics.

To the next. Cheers!

MALIHA JAVED MALIHA.JAVED001@YAHOO.COM

ʻʻNational interestʼʼ behind Bahawalpur province Thanks to my father who wanted to me see this weblog. This blog is really awesome.

RINGING IN EARS TREATMENT XAVIERWALKER@GMAIL.COM

Bahawalpur province Durrani-led BACYAQUAMYGUT movement doesn’t have mass support.

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The Nawab is in trouble Do you have any advice to help fix this problem?

You are absolutely right. Good Nawab EMERGENCY PLUMBERS must take rest now.

It is the time for new generation and BIRMINGHAM the people whom voters can access for DEVONMCCORKLE@INBOX.COM

THE WRITER IS A FREELANCER

Today it’s ANP who are sufferings at the hands of these terrorists but tomorrow it could be others. The sad thing is that, most of the Pakistanis are un-aware of the threats that are coming their way.

Pakistan has become the hub of terrorists and even its nuclear Army has somewhat surrendered to these terrorists.

HASINA MARWAT HONEY8882000@YAHOO.COM

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ETHELSTARKEY@CARE2.COM

Please email your letters to letters@thespokesman.pk or post them to our address in Islamabad.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Diary of a female journalist Regardless of how much you know about journalism, all you need is a big coffee mug and to hang around your boss with a yoyo accent around to find a seat for herself.

Sometimes, male reporters also use foul language in speaking with a source or a personal friend over the phone quite oblivious to the presence of women.

Most men think that if the woman FATIMA ALI is out of her house to work, she is public property. They often say that It wasn’t difficult for me to make a if a woman is so conscious of self choice when I was asked to either respect, she should stay at home, keep my job or go for a year-long fellowship at a school of journalism in never thinking that it may be her the US. That was a defining moment financial circumstances that bring her out to work. She is always in my professional career and the moment it became clear to me where considered a soft target to hit on.

Sadly, women reporters are never I stood and how much I was valued considered responsible enough to by the news channel where I had cover hard news. If somehow a worked for more than five years. woman succeeds in getting a good Instead of encouraging me to story she challenges her boss instead increase my professional of pleasing him. She is no longer to qualifications, the human resource department asked for my resignation. be trusted. Her senior will turn against her and try to snub her as According to the policy of the much as possible by rejecting her organisation, a year-long leave of absence was out of question and one’s story ideas. Other than this, she is also expected to work late hours but sincerity, professionalism and dedication meant nothing to the seth. at the end, it is all a thankless job.

Interestingly, in this male dominated I thought I would return to this society, women in the media are also organisation better trained, with paid less than their male greater exposure and confidence to counterparts. work after this fellowship. I thought This is one side of the coin. If you they would be proud of me, but I was flip the coin, there is another picture absolutely out of line. In a split of women who work only for the second, I tendered my resignation sake of fame and glamour. I have and walked out of office.

Just like other professions, women’s seen transformations of such participation in journalism, especially women, going from veils to jeans and short tops and a visible makeover. in the electronic media, is still a cultural taboo to be overcome. People The media world has injected so much glamour in some women that can see you on screen, praise your their presence is really hard on those appearance, try to follow you on women who are out to do serious social media, but you will not be the professional work and who want to most respected of girls for most people. It is not their fault but the way be recognized as good journalists.

Regardless of how much you know we are brought up. I remember once about journalism, news production a relative of mine almost had a heart or anchoring, all you need is a big attack when she came to know that I mug of coffee and to hang around work for a news channel. She was your boss with a yoyo accent. Such actually worrying about my future prospects and anticipating ( with her women rapidly get promoted and their increments are always high. jaw dropping down to her knees ) They are good at gossiping and that it would be hard for me to ever spreading rumours to seniors of the get married because I appeared on newsrooms. If you are good for screen, worked alongside men, and nothing, the boss will keep switching was self confident. She was of the your department to see if you can do view that girls who work for the something better, but depending on media are considered of “bad” character. Well! She was not the only your skills to charm people, you will surely get good opportunities one who has this perception. I found somewhere else in some other most people in the news media with organisation in the country or maybe almost the same mindset.

Women make half of the population abroad. This media world is really of 180 million Pakistanis, yet only five cruel to those who are talented and honest with their work and to per cent of the total female themselves. population works outside the house.

Interestingly, most complaints In media organizations, the female staff is almost 10 to 15 per cent. Most about harassment go down the drain. (We must thank the Women of the time, there are a couple of Protection Bill and the antiwomen or at times just one female harassment law). Please don’t think I reporter working among more than am exaggerating. I have only penned 50 men, including the bureau chief, down what I have observed and fellow male reporters, cameramen, experienced in five years. I know that DSNG operators, drivers and sometimes even the canteen boys too, most of my former bosses and their colleagues, and even some women all sitting together in one congested journalists, may feel offended and it room of the city bureau.

In this room, the female reporter is may be really hard for me to find a always fighting silently against visible position in a media organization of seths. Still, I cannot gag my or invisible discrimination and conscience. different forms of harassment.

Harassment can be a comment THE WRITER IS A HUMPHREY FELLOW against her work, a whisper regarding her clothes or it can be a stare from AT CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM head to toe, beginning from the AND MASS COMMUNICATION, ARIZONA minute she enters the room or moves STATE UNIVERSITY

Economic doubtlook: looking beyond the box International trade is a no-win situation for developing nations. Burdened by debt, adverse trade balances and a depreciating currency, poor economies end up exporting more and more of their resources to make ends meet SYED BAKHTIYAR KAZMI "They think because they are white, they have a divine right to our resources. Not here. Never again….What we have is ... a foreign-owned and foreigncontrolled economy. Of course we participate as wage-earners, but as modest and circumscribed wageearners….The land is ours by birth, ours by right, also ours by struggle", Robert Mugabe.

Ignoring prejudices, the quote appropriately articulates the current plight of the developing world and there appears to be no reason to believe that the future will be any different. Ironically, developing nations were earlier referred to as “backward”, optics perhaps were the reason for the more condescending substitution.

Irrespective of the terminology, there continues to be a dearth of economic theories which provide for a credible course of action which developing nations can adopt going forward.

Curiously, the economic theories and policies prescribed for developing nations today are in stark contrast to the ones adopted by industrial nations when they were backward. State ownership, protectionism and government intervention were the rage of economic thought only a few decades ago. So why is it that what was, or rather what is, good for the fat gooses is bad for the gander?

It is not that economic thought is sacrosanct. Conversely in fact, theories seem to be modified or fresh insight coined into theories, as and when needed in the western hemisphere. But for some reason, developing nations are coerced into following a path to perdition.

When global crises struck, too big to fail was touted as adequate justification for government acquisition of private enterprise.

Conversely, the only solution offered for ailing State Owned Enterprises in this part of the world, is privatisation. Why don’t critical national assets fall within the purview of too big to fail, remains an enigma?

Free markets, consumer choice and unrestricted international trade are currently projected as the ultimate salvation of ailing economies. On the other hand when it comes to agriculture, the subject is not open to debate.

There is a plethora of literature which argues that it is extremely beneficial for backward economies to practice protectionism and restrict consumer largesse, but for some reason it has never managed to attract the limelight. It would be rather naïve to imagine that ignorance is the cause of such oversight amongst third world professionals; there are other forces at play.

It is quite astonishing to note that there are always apparently irrefutable views challenging conventional assertions on most international and national occurrences and economy which somehow never manage to attract attention. Specifically, in the case of Pakistan, it is all the more mysterious why such views on significant matters, for instance the Kalabagh Dam, hotly debated in coffee table discussions, are not highlighted by an over enthusiastic media which professes patriotic activism. But let’s move on.

At the dawn of the new world order, having elevated their economies to the industrialised

status, the only irritant for the developed nations was access to raw material on a continuing basis.

The lopsided international pricing regime, controlled by these very major economies facilitated this particular objective.

Compelled to import necessities with consequent negative trade balances, the situation further exacerbated by unwarranted military spending due to domestic conflicts, third world economies, by default, ended up smack in the middle of the debt trap. Forced to borrow against extremely controversial terms, the current account balance continued to worsen, thereby further strengthening the negotiating power of the global lending and trade institutions.

Ultimately simple access to raw material was substituted for direct ownership of resources by disguising privatisation in the garb of a knight in shining armor. The general view that all foreign investment is beneficial for the nation is incomprehensible; investors are in the business of making profit over a very short horizon beyond which payouts are a form of monopoly rent and a drain on national resources.

International trade is a no-win situation for developing nations.

Burdened by debt, continuing adverse trade balances and a depreciating currency, poor economies end up exporting more and more of their resources in an attempt to make ends meet.

Foreign investment which in most cases is accompanied by foreign management, imported technology and equipment and guaranteed returns, hardly ever facilitates import substitution, on the other

hand it results in export of currency.

While there are circumstances in which such initiatives are indeed in the best interest of the nation, a uniform view and uneducated decisions can indeed be hazardous.

“The Muslim leaders swallow the advice of the Western powers and bodies like the IMF and World Bank, even when it is bad for their countries and they know this”, Abu Bakar Bashir.

Free trade policy is generally accompanied by a few other dictates which again are hardly in the interest of the third world.

Struggling economies are instructed to pursue austerity measures, enhance taxation, and reduce infrastructure spending and decrease prices through monetary policy rather than borrowing more to spend on productive projects, investing on education and skilled labor and spurring economic growth. The question is how long can this state of affairs continue?

With the passage of time the true wealth of a nation, its resources, will continue to deplete without an iota of improvement in the quality of life of the populace. Admittedly, extracting the nation out of this particular quagmire will not be a walk in the park. But unless the leadership, and relevant professionals, pursues a strategy to dream up out of the box solutions, the future indeed looks very bleak.

Sufficient uncustomary theories exist that can stimulate future course of action other than simply standing with hands up!

THE WRITER IS A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT BASED IN ISLAMABAD

Rafael Correa, Ecuador and lies of the western media ADAM CHIMIENTI AND CARMEN L. ARIAS Latin American elections always seem to get it these days. Western journalists cannot deny an opportunity to pass without throwing some stones. So it was hardly surprising when the words “dictator” (Reuters, BBC) and “handouts” (USA Today, CBS News) were thrown into the hastily assembled reports on the election in “tiny”, read: insignificant, Ecuador and the results turned out to be heavily in favor of the “anti-American” candidate.

It’s interesting to look at each of these terms to see the duplicitous nature of Western reporting.

For example, the word dictator should hardly apply to Rafael Correa, the Ecuadorian President comfortably reelected. President Correa in Ecuador has killed no one. He has started zero wars, tortured or killed zero citizens, and while he may have a “pugnacious” (Reuters again) attitude how else could one realistically expect a politician to survive in the 21st century.

Here’s what you need to know. Rafael Correa was a nobody on the political scene in Ecuador when George W. Bush was being inaugurated for the second time in Washington 8 years ago. Bush just beat the current Secretary of State John Kerry in the November election and presumed he had a mandate. It turns out though, that Bush’s victory was an incredibly narrow one, with allegations of strange occurrences in Ohio.

All in all, the result was a US democracy looking less and less like an established fact, and more and more like some kind of disturbing case of regression back into the “good old days” of black, brown, poor, and those with some form of exploitable vulnerability being prevented

President Correa is giving ordinary people a chance at living a life devoid of the desperation that comes with deep impoverishment from voting because they were black, brown, poor or vulnerable. No matter though. Both Kerry and Bush were rather familiar politicians, both extremely wealthy, both went to Yale and both even played in the same dark dungeons there. How nice!

Meanwhile, Rafael Correa was a nobody on the Ecuadorian political scene back then. Journalists would have found no reason to write about him, negatively or otherwise. Then, the Ecuadorian people had grown tired of dirty politics and politicians once and for all it seemed. Various social groups came together including natives from the highlands and lowlands and leftists who were inspired by Chavez in Venezuela, Lula in Brazil, Kirchner in Argentina, and Morales in Bolivia. They decided to throw out a president they called Sucio (Dirty) Lucio. Lucio Gutierrez was an alright guy in their eyes back in the year 2000 when he was in military fatigues and had decided to lend his hand to the social movements that were stirred up by a terrible economic crisis that featured dollarization of the economy. If you live in the US and wondered what happened to all your dirty old dollar bills, then dollarization could help you understand.

In 1999, the country was told by economists from the US and those benevolent monetary institutions, the IMF and World Bank, that its sucre currency was especially filthy lucre and needed to be thrown out. In turn, they could start using the US dollar and be happier for it.

One problem though was that anyone with any

small amount of savings in the bank were practically wiped out. So along came Sucio Lucio with some supporters behind him, ready to say ¡Ya Basta! but it turned out that he was only playing nice. Actually, Sucio Lucio was destined for bigger and better things than low or highland “Indians”. He had a date with George W. from Yale. How exciting!

Eventually, the people of Ecuador were stirred up once again and decided to take to the streets one more time. The legislature would have to take decisive action. The rest, as they say, is history. Lucio Gutierrez would be removed from office, albeit in a very civilized way, and his vice President Alfredo Palacio would take over. The man who would temporarily be in charge of the government in Quito was a medical doctor by trade. This story isn’t about him though. It’s about the colorful and confident, if not pugnacious, finance minister he chose for a brief stint in 2005. This man subscribed to the views of Ha Joon Chang and other heterodox economists who pointed out that the West was “kicking away the ladder” when it came to advice on how to run an economy. His name was Rafael Correa!

Correa would then go on to run for president himself and surprise everyone by whipping the ever-persistent banana magnate and #1 wealthiest man in the country. Alvaro Noboa is the man behind Bonita bananas and he believed Ecuador should proudly continue in the path of the banana republicanism that it was known for.

He felt so strongly about this that he was to run for president five times and not be deterred by his lack of success. Correa disagreed and so did the Ecuadorian people. The West was, wait for it now, flabbergasted.

Correa’s plan was to save the economy of Ecuador by putting into place the economic programs so rarely enacted but superior in every way to the IMF Structural Adjustment Plans (SAPs) that economists love to talk about. There would be no more borrowing to pay off loans.

There would be no more privatizing to place premiums on necessities such as water, electricity, gas and oil. Correa would reverse course and, six years later, Ecuador is celebrating their democracy with pride. While I do not wish to be overzealous and depict a knight in shining armour, most of the people are very happy with their president. They respect him and they even care about politics with him at the helm. This includes young and the old, the poor and the middle class, the black, brown and white.

Electoral politics is a sham but let’s give the Ecuadorian people and the government some credit here. The election appeared wellorganized and peaceful. The winner was an incumbent with a plan to continue to try to revitalize the economy by giving ordinary everyday people a chance at living a life devoid of the desperation that comes with deep impoverishment. They are investing in social programs like healthcare, education, grassroots cooperatives, and even trying to mitigate serious

environmental problems. In an article in The Guardian, the Indian economist Jayati Ghosh has called Ecuador the most radical and exciting place on earth as a result.

Since Correa first took office in early 2007, he got a lot of interesting things done. He defaulted on Ecuador’s debt (that his predecessor swore would be the death of the country). He kept his campaign promise to evict the United States military from their base at Manta. He set about correcting some serious problems with the constitution by leading a team to draft a new one. This new constitution would be the first to provide rights to the environment, that is, rivers, lakes, and forests in Ecuador have rights and can be legally defended. He also sponsored a plan to keep the oil in the soil with the Yasuni Initiative, a plan to attract investors whose funds would be used to not extract oil. The plan and the constitution were hailed as trailblazing. Imagine all that from a dimunitive nation like Ecuador.

He also declared solidarity with the plaintiffs in the Amazon against a shameless US corporation (Shell, now Chevron), whose refusal to act with minimal responsibility when drilling for oil and to clean up after itself has led to serious problems with the land and its inhabitants. He even invited Julian Assange to come down and live, so he could be sheltered from those countries (Sweden, Australia, the US) willing to destroy liberties to avoid the frightening idea of the free flow of information.

(COUNTERPUNCH)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Nigeria on red alert over French nationals kidnapping MAIDUGURI, Nigeria: The Nigerian government on Wednesday said it has placed its security personnel on red alert and devising strategies following the kidnapping of seven French tourists in Cameroon on Tuesday. The Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Rilwan Musa told reporters in Maiduguri, the northeast Borno State capital, that the immigration service will operate a very stringent border regime to protect Nigeria from the insurgency issues and illegal migration that might occur from the crisis in Mali and other neighboring nations. "We have alerted our personnel and have sent message across to our officers and men in all our borders, particularly borders in Borno. –AGENCIES

New anti-austerity strike grips Greece

New strike comes ahead of new audit by European Union and International Monetary Fund creditors next week

ATHENS: Greece was gripped by a fresh 24-hour general strike on Wednesday, the first in the New Year, in protest against the harsh austerity and reform program introduced to lift the country up from a severe threeyear debt crisis.

Thousands demonstrators marched in central Athens and other cities during the nationwide mobilization organized by the two largest labor unions, representing most of the private and public sector workers,

GSEE and ADEDY, as well as Left opposition parties.

The new strike which brought a large part of public services and business to a standstill comes ahead of a new audit by European Union and International Monetary Fund creditors next week that will determine the release of new rescue financing to Greece.

The debt-laden country is being kept afloat by bailout financing since 2010 in exchange of tough spending

cuts and tax hikes, which have fueled unemployment, recession and reactions on the streets.

Government officials and lenders have argued that austerity was a necessity to avert bankruptcy and pledged development-boosting measures to exit the crisis in coming years. Protesters responded that they have run out of patience and cannot afford more sacrifices.

"The harsh government policies push more people out in the streets to

MOSCOW: Russia would not back trade and economic sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Tuesday. UN Security Council sanctions should not exceed the nonproliferation goal, Gatilov said, adding that Russia would not support sanctions that may harm normal trade and economic relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. –AGENCIES LUCKNOW: The nationwide strike by trade unions turned violent in Noida where workers clashed with factory owners and the police in a hosiery complex and set ablaze vehicles. –WIRE SERVICE

MAZAR-I-SHARIF: Up to 16 Taliban militants renounced violence and joined the government- initiated peace and reconciliation process in the northern Afghan province of Balkh on Wednesday, police said. "A total of 16 Taliban, including their commander Amir Gul, give up fighting and joined the peace process Wednesday," the deputy provincial police chief Abdul Rizaq Qadri told Xinhua. –AGENCIES

Bulgarian opposition calls for early election SOFIA: Bulgaria's opposition called on Wednesday for an early election after the rightist government resigned, saying that a new parliament was needed to form a government. "We need early elections because no government formed by this parliament can lead normal policy," Socialist leader Sergei Stanishev said. Bulgaria was originally due to hold a regular general election in July. –AGENCIES

Philippine govt mulling release of leftist detainees MANILA: The Philippine government is considering to release the alleged political consultants of the leftist National Democratic Front (NDF) in line with legal processes, a senior government official said Wednesday. "On the matter of the release of political prisoners, the Office of the Presidential Adviser (OPAPP) is conducting an internal review process in accordance with our laws and court processes as this remains a priority," said OPAPP spokesperson Polly Michelle Cunanan amid calls of some groups to free detained NDF consultants. –AGENCIES

chanted strikers at Syntagma square outside the Greek parliament, in the meantime, as public administration offices, banks, schools and stores shut down, flights were grounded, ships remained docked and public hospitals run on skeleton personnel.

Demonstrators argue that there are always alternative ways to distribute the burden so that poor households will no longer suffer from record high unemployment and poverty rates. –AGENCIES

Tunisia seeks new PM to end crisis

Russia opposes trade sanctions against DPRK

16 Afghan militants lay down arms in Balkh

claim their rights," said Kostis, a 20year old student.

"The only solution to change this situation is mobilization. Only if we all the people who suffer- unite, we can win this battle. The austerity policies that the Greek government has adopted should stop. Everything is very difficult, but we as new generation must be optimist for the future," he added.

"No to further belt-tightening, yes to resistance and life with dignity,"

Mortars hit Damascus stadium, kill soccer player DAMASCUS: Two mortars exploded next to a soccer stadium in central Damascus Wednesday, killing one player and injuring several, Syria's state-run news agency said.

The mortar attack was the second in as many days in the capital. On Tuesday, two mortars exploded near one of President Bashar Assad's palaces, causing material damage only.

But it was the first confirmed strike close to a presidential palace and another sign that the civil war is moving closer to the heart of Assad's seat of power and into areas of the capital once considered safe.

SANA news agency said the mortars landed Wednesday in a complex housing the Tishrin Stadium and a hotel next to it in the central Baramkeh district. Some players were practicing in the stadium at the time.

It said the player killed was from the Homs-based al-Wathbah club.

He was wounded inside the hotel as some players were getting ready to go out and join the practice and died later at the hospital.

The Britain-based activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported one player was killed. Players from alWathbah team who witnessed the attack identified the dead teammate as 19-year-old Youssef Suleiman, the team's striker.

They said he was the father of a 6-

month-old baby.

They said the mortars landed in front of Tishrin hotel next to the stadium where players normally stayed, and shattered some of the building's windows.

The attack hit a few hours before the team was to play against the Hama-based al-Mawaair club as part of the domestic league.

"We were collecting our things about to head to the stadium when we heard the first explosion and the windows were blown off," said Ali Ghosn, a 20-year-old player.

"Youssef was hit in the neck. We ran out to the corridor when the second explosion struck and I saw Youssef fall down bleeding from his neck," he told The Associated Press in Damascus as some of his colleagues wept.

Ali said Suleiman died shortly after he arrived at the hospital.

Three other players were wounded, one of them in critical condition.

Assad has tried to maintain an image as the head of a functioning state even as rebels edge closer to the heart of Damascus.

The capital had largely been spared the violence that has left other cities in ruins. For weeks, however, rebels who have established footholds in the suburbs have been pushing closer to the center of Damascus from the eastern and southern outskirts, clashing with government forces. –AGENCIES

4 dead in Calif shooting spree TUSTIN: An early morning shooting spree in Orange County, California has left four people dead, including the shooter, and several more injured.

Police first responded to a shooting in Ladera Ranch in south Orange County. Police there found a female victim shot dead. The suspect fled the scene and headed to the nearby city of Tustin.

There were reports of several gunshots fired on the freeway. Police believe the suspect opened fire while driving or stepped out of his car to fire rounds at passing motorists. One of the shootings was at an off-ramp to Freeway 55 in Tustin and resulted in one death. The shooting continued just blocks away, leaving a third person dead and one more wounded. Another shooting at a nearby freeway on-ramp left one more victim wounded. Police finally caught up to the gunman as he was driving a stolen vehicle. But he shot himself as authorities closed in. The motive for the shootings is still unclear. It is also unclear if the victims knew each other or the shooter. The violence began at 4:45 a.m., when deputies responded to a call from Ladera Ranch, a sleepy inland town about 55 miles southeast of Los Angeles. –AGENCIES

TUNIS: Tunisian leaders began the search for a new prime minister on Wednesday to try to lead the North African nation out of its gravest political crisis since an uprising that inspired a wave of Arab revolts two years ago.

President Moncef Marzouki was due to consult the leader of the main Islamist Ennahda party on who should lead the next government, a day after Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali resigned.

Jebali quit after his plan for an apolitical technocrat cabinet to prepare for elections failed. He had proposed it after the assassination of opposition leader Chokri Belaid on February 6 shocked Tunisia and widened Islamistsecular rifts.

Eventually it was Jebali's own Ennahda party that scuppered the idea, extending a political impasse that has cast a shadow over Tunisia's fledgling democracy and its ailing economy.

"The crisis deepens," ran the headline in the independent Assarih newspaper, which said Ennahda's efforts to keep its cabinet posts and the collapse of Jebali's initiative had "returned the country to square one".

Tunisia began a transition to democracy after the peaceful overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011, electing a National Constituent Assembly to write a new constitution, and then forging a deal under which the moderate Ennahda party agreed to share power with its secular rivals. But disputes have delayed the constitution and the failure to tackle unemployment and poverty in a country that relies on tourism has dismayed many Tunisians and led to frequent unrest.

Negotiations on a $1.78 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund cannot be concluded amid the latest

uncertainty.

"Once a new government is named, we will enquire about its intentions/mandate," an IMF spokeswoman, Wafa Amr, told Reuters in an email. "Once the political situation is clarified, we'll assess how best to help Tunisia."

Standard and Poor's lowered its longterm foreign and local currency sovereign credit rating on Tunisia on Tuesday, citing "a risk that the political situation could deteriorate further amid a worsening fiscal, external and economic outlook".

Marina Ottaway, senior scholar at the Wilson Center's Middle East Program in Washington, said the economic woes of countries like Tunisia and Egypt could not be solved in the short run.

"There will remain unfulfilled expectations and a lot of economic hardship, but the major cause of instability now is a struggle for power between Islamists and secularists," she said.

No one claimed responsibility for Belaid's assassination, the first in Tunisia since 1952, but it deepened the misgivings of secularists who accused the government of failing to rein in the sometimes violent activities of Islamist hardliners.

Three days of unrest followed the killing, straining the Islamist-secular coalition government and prompting Jebali to propose a non-partisan cabinet to avert further strife.

Secular parties mostly supported his idea, but Ennahda, the biggest party in the assembly, opposed the idea, fearing it would be sidelined from power. Jebali, who has been in office for 15 months, may be asked to carry on as caretaker premier. –AGENCIES

Egypt floods Gaza tunnels GAZA: The tunnels area on Gaza's southern border with Egypt was lively and busy with trucks mostly loaded with construction materials and food making their way through the unpaved roads out. But smugglers said Egyptian security forces have started closing some tunnels with new tactic: flooding them with waste water, noting that dozens of underground passages were flooded with sewage water, causing severe damage that takes weeks to be repaired. The tunnels acted as Gaza's lifeline between 2007 and 2010, when an Israeli blockade imposed on the coastal enclave to isolate its Hamas rulers was tight. Israel relaxed the closure later, but the tunnels remained vital supply for cheaper fuel and construction materials. Ahmed Barhoum, a resident of the Rafah border town, noted that the Egyptian crackdown focused on the neighborhoods of al-Salam and al-Barazil, to the west of Rafah crossing point. The Egyptian army and security forces flooded the tunnels with waste water last week, according to the residents and tunnels owners who live near the borders. Abu el-Bara'a, 41, who owns a tunnel used to bring in cement and gravel, said his tunnel was swamped with sewage water, but he did not give up. "From our side, we used our own pumps to get the waste and sewage water out," he said. "If Egypt and Israel destroy the tunnels, we will dig more new tunnels," he said. –AGENCIES

The second anniversary of New Libya Once independent, wealthy, and powerfully defiant, today Libyan resources are almost being given away to foreign powers that “mentored” Libya’s revolution. Foreign investors in Libya’s oil sector are being given years of tax exemption, as if they need it MAXIMILIAN FORTE HIS weekend, marking the second anniversary of the start of protests that would usher in a bloody and prolonged NATO-led coup to overthrow the Libyan Jamahiriya and Muammar Gaddafi, offers many reasons to celebrate for those whose intention was the demolition of Libyan self-determination, African integration, and a domestic system of extensive social welfare and stability.

In return, Libyans have won the right to live in fear, as they have won the freedom to be ruled by countless armed despots each engaged in torture, abductions, and persecution of minorities. In spite of what seems like an unstoppable momentum towards greater strife and social disintegration, romantic imperialists in the West still insist on speaking in the most unwarranted terms of the “street revolution,” that has “brought freedom and hope to millions of people here” (Globe and Mail, 15/2/2013).

In the warm glow of fires that consume others, some among us find reason for a warming selfcongratulation. Symbolic of the depth

T

of Western respect for Libya’s “new freedom” is this very statement, from the government of Canada itself, warning Canadian travelers: “Do not criticize the country, its leadership or religion. Harsh penalties may be imposed.” The few remaining pro“revolution” propagandists in the West are not only unwilling to simply state that what they support is globalized regime change and a new colonizing wave that would make non-Western self-determination and sovereignty principles something to be wrecked and thrown aside, they are equally immune to irony. After all, blessed Benghazi, which was to be “saved” at all costs, saved against all else, by Western military intervention is now the same city from which Western interests flee in order to save themselves.

Few Westerners live in Benghazi, which has borne the brunt of a wave of violence against diplomats and international bodies, including the killing of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and a gun attack on the Italian consul’s car this month.

Britain’s recent call to its nationals to leave immediately due to a “specific and imminent” threat to Westerners highlights the insecurity plaguing

Benghazi. The assault on the U.S. mission, for which no arrests were made, grabbed world attention. But there had already been attacks on British, Red Cross and U.N. properties here. Randy Robinson, principal of British School Benghazi, said: “One of our staff was carjacked.

Our residence last spring was robbed with teachers in a room held at gunpoint as thieves cleaned out the apartments. We have to take care.”

Two years ago the anti-Gaddafi uprising had the strongest support in Benghazi but today a very different mood has emerged. “Most people here would say they are very unhappy,” a local oil worker said. “Some say they are worse off than before.” So let’s celebrate the “new Libya,” this “revolution for freedom,” in all of its glory. Let it be an example to others.

Now there is a call from Western media and the usual RAND voices urging NATO to establish a “mission” in Libya (CSM, 15/2/2013). And if foreign occupation, or foreign boots on the ground were allegedly anathema to the Libyan “revolutionaries,” that too changed well before Gaddafi was overthrown, and is being revived at present: military forces from Italy, and

once again from Qatar, have landed in Libya, to help it celebrate its “revolution” (RT, 13/2/2013).

The thing about authentic, legitimate revolutions these days is that all of their legitimacy comes from external sources and is dropped from the air in explosive 2,000 pound bursts of authenticity.

Real revolutions, it would seem, require foreign guardians and can only survive under the tutelage of colonial powers (Washington Times, 5/2/2013).

Beautiful thing then, these revolutions.

Once independent, wealthy, and powerfully defiant, today Libyan resources are almost being given away to foreign powers that “mentored” Libya’s revolution. Foreign investors in Libya’s oil sector are being given years of tax exemption, as if they need it; specifically aimed at encouraging Gulf state investors, Libya grants the investor 65% from a project’s value; “various large scale projects will be given to Saudi companies in order to strengthen brotherly ties, remove previous disputes between the two countries, establish a new strategic partnership and benefit from the expertise of Saudi companies. Aarusi also said that all obstacles facing Gulf investors will be overcome.”

And, “last but not least Aarusi said he expected this Saudi company [whose name he refuses to reveal] to be totally in charge of starting up the sugar and cement factories in mid-2013,” whose aim is to export to Europe and Gulf states (Al Arabiya, 4/2/2013). Along with Gaddafi himself, what the “new Libya” buried in that unmarked grave was resource nationalism and a sense of integrity and dignity in the face of foreign vulture capitalists.

Then there is the IMF, in its newly acquired role of dictating to Libya, another reality permitted by the “street revolution” (Arabian Business, 6/2/2013). After all, as the IMF’s Christine Lagarde herself has recently said, the “Arab Spring” must be followed by a “Private Sector Spring” (IMF, 9/1/2013). Libya, formerly a significant actor in international investment, buying up properties and shares of lucrative enterprises across Europe, is now the target of investors (IMF, 9/1/2013).

The IMF knows when it can take advantage of a situation smelling of ripe disaster: “The budget deficit was 27.0 percent of GDP in 2011, compared to a budget surplus of 16.2 percent in 2010.

Similarly, the current account surplus

narrowed from 19.8 percent of GDP in 2010 to 1.3 percent in 2011 (IMF, 4/5/2012). Thus the IMF can now instruct Libya to eliminate universal price subsidies, to reduce public sector wages, and to eliminate incentives for individuals to seek employment in the public sector: “the recent surge in the public sector payroll to 1.5 million (80 percent of the labor force) will need to be unwound” (IMF, 4/5/2012). The IMF has had its sights on Libya from before Gaddafi was overthrown by NATO and NATO’s local neocolonial dependents: days before Gaddafi was murdered, the IMF had a mission on the ground in Libya (IMF, 20/10/2011) and had previously decreed its recognition of the rebel National Transitional Council as the government of Libya, thrashing international law as the Libyan government under Gaddafi still existed (IMF, 10/9/2011).

But you won’t find Naomi Klein writing the Libyan chapter of the “shock doctrine” (Gulf News, 26/10/2011)– Naomi Klein was too busy throwing her support behind a Canadian politician, Nathan Cullen, who voted in support of NATO’s intervention in Libya, with little regret.

(Counterpunch)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Gold 10 Gms

Dollar Interbank

Rs.52500

Rs. 98.22

Kibor 6 months 9.44%

T Bills6 months

Crude oil (WTI)

9.26%

$95.66/brl

Coal Spot $94.05/Ton

FBR directed to take action in ISAF container scam

SC unhappy with government for not recovering taxes from responsible officials

OUR STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD: Expressing dismay over the Federal Board of Revenue for not recovering taxes from the officials involved in illegal pilferage of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) containers, the Supreme Court on Wednesday noted that despite its repeated directions, no action was taken against the responsible, who caused billion of rupees losses to the national exchequer.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Sh Azmat Saeed noted that despite knowing very well that

there were no stay orders from the courts, the FBR was showing restraint towards the officials involved in the ISAF containers scam.

The court also noted that it could send back the ISAF containers scam cases to the Federal Tax Ombudsman for adjudication as these cases involved tax evasion. Due to pilferage of hundreds of ISAF containers, the national exchequer was deprived of billion of rupees, the court said. Addressing FBR counsel Rana Muhammad Shamim, the chief justice said that still there was not progress on pending cases.

He said that the court had directed FBR to register cases against the responsible

persons/officials, however it did nothing.

Submitting a report, the FBR counsel told the court that over 500 cases were pending for adjudication before the tribunals. To a query, he said that the accused had filed applications in response to the show cause issued to them by FBR. When he stated that members of these tribunals had not been appointed by the concerned courts, the chief justice told him that he must knew that it was the job of the government and not of the courts to make such appointments. Rana Shamim stated that the Lahore High Court in its recent decision ruled that all such appointments should be made in consultation with the chief justices of the

concerned high courts.

On September 25, 2012, a meeting was held between the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman and FBR authorities, in which Rs 19 billion losses were estimated, he said. However, out of this amount, Rs 5.6 million had been recovered so far, he said. Appearing on notice, NAB’s additional prosecutor general Rana Zahid Mahmood requested the bench to grant him some time to go through the case as had recently been given this case.

The chief justice told the FBR counsel that FBR could send back these cases to the Tax Ombudsman and he could adjudicate these cases under Section 11 of the act. Meanwhile, the court adjourned further hearing until February 22.

Spain's Rajoy wants growth, without letting up on austerity MADRID: Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy pledged on Wednesday to pull Spain out of its painful recession without relaxing his drive to cut the country's high public deficit. He struck a difficult balance that may please neither voters, who are fed up with austerity, not Spain's European partners, who did not get from him the new reform agenda they have been seeking. In his first state-ofthe-nation speech since taking office in December 2011, Rajoy said the deficit had dropped below 7 percent of gross domestic product last year, still above the European Union's short-term target. He also announced new incentives for employers to hire young people youth unemployment is 56 percent and cut taxes for small- and medium-sized companies. At the same time, he told parliament he would remain strict on deficit cutting while implementing tough reforms to the labor market, financial system and public finances.

But he fell short of meeting demands from the EU and European Central Bank to lay out an ambitious legislative plan of further structural reforms to the economy. –AGENCIES

Iran economy far from collapse as sanctions tighten DUBAI: Hossein Ahmad, an Iranian who runs a jewelry shop in wealthy Dubai, marvels at the spending power he sees on show during his monthly trips to Tehran, a year after U.S. sanctions largely froze Iran out of the global banking system. Shops in the Iranian capital are crowded.

Finding a seat at good restaurants can be difficult. And the ski resorts in the mountains north of Tehran continue to attract Tehran's glamorous and well-heeled. "The economy has problems with the sanctions, yes. But it's still working," he says. "It isn't as bad as people outside the country think." Sanctions are clearly having an impact; the country's oil revenue has been slashed and other trade disrupted; a weak currency has sent the prices of some imports soaring, destroying jobs as some factories using imported parts have folded. But they are not close to having the "crippling" effect envisaged by Washington. The Iranian government has found ways to soften the impact, and Iran's economy is large and diverse enough to absorb a lot of punishment. –AGENCIES

Wall Street dips on weakness in energy NEW YORK: Stocks dipped on Wednesday as weakness in energy and materials sectors weighed on indexes and as traders said there were unconfirmed rumors in the market that a troubled hedge fund was selling assets. The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 16.03 points, or 0.11 percent, to 14,019.64. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX dropped 5.81 points, or 0.38 percent, to 1,525.13. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC dropped 13.82 points, or 0.43 percent, to 3,199.77. –AGENCIES

CURRENCY US Dollar Euro British Pound UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal Kuwaiti Dinar Canadian Dollar

BUYING 99.25 132.02 151.14 26.90 26.35 349.10 96.65

SELLING 99.50 132.25 151.36 27.15 26.59 351.85 98.35

ISLAMABAD: Mr. Attaullah Khan Chairman Bank of Khyber (BOK) Board of Directors (BOD) & Additional Chief Secretary Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa presiding over 118th BOK BOD Photo Shows (L-R) Mr. Zahid Sahibzada – Company Secretary, Mr. Asad Muhammad Iqbal – Member BOK BOD, Mr. Bilal Mustafa Managing Director BOK, Mr. Attuallah Khan – Chairman BOK BOD, Sahibzada Saeed Ahmed – Member BOK BOD & Secretary Finance Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Mr. Sajjad Ahmed – Member BOK BOD & Mir Javed Hashmat Executive Director BOK. –AGENCIES

OGDCL posts profit after tax of Rs 49.23b STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Board of Directors of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in its meeting held on 20th February, 2013 at Islamabad announced the financial results for the six months ended 31st December, 2012. The Company’s net sales revenue increased to Rs 110.626 billion compared to Rs 88.680 billion in the corresponding period in 2011. Profit after tax increased to Rs 49.227 billion in the period under review against Rs 41.573 billion in the same period of last year and earnings per share has increased to Rs 11.45 as against Rs 9.67 in the same period of year 2011.

The Board of Directors announced the second interim cash dividend for the period ended December 31, 2012 at Rs 2.00 per share i.e. 20 percent.

The above entitlement will be paid to the shareholders whose name will appear in the Register of Members on Monday, April 15, 2013. The Share Transfer Books of the Company will be closed from Tuesday, April 16, 2013 to Tuesday, April 23, 2013 ( both days inclusive). Transfer received at the Share Registrar Office at the close of business on April 15, 2013 will be treated in time for the purpose of above entitlement to the transferees.

Dr Asim instructs OGDCL to start Ms Petroleum Engineering programme:

Dr. Asim Hussain Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum & Natural Resources has directed to accelerate the process of establishing OGDCL Institute of Science & Technology immediately to accomplish the PPP lead Government programme for promotion of higher education and technology in the country. Following the instructions OGDCL Institute of Science & Technology affiliated with Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad has initiated its MS Petroleum Engineering Programme for thirty students who will be selected through Graduate Assessment Test (GAT) by NTS. The institute has started acquiring faculty and some visiting faculty members have been identified. The Board of Governors for the Institute and Board of Studies (BOS) have been constituted with the collaboration of international organizations including Shell International, Imperial College UK, Patronas University Malaysia and Stanford University of USA. Dr.X.D Jing Professor of Shell at Imperial College UK and Shell Innovation and Manager (R&D) China/Asia has accepted to be member of the Board of Studies.

The Institute has developed course outline and BOS meeting is scheduled to be held today for the approval of its MS Program. The admission rules, examination system, dropout policy, CGPA have been defined for the MS course and for thesis work.

10-Y PIB

PTCL launches ‘reconnect’ campaign ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has launched a new strategic campaign enabling its customers to re-connect their closed landline connections by just paying 50% of the total PTCL outstanding amount without any additional reconnection charges.

The PTCL “Reconnect Landline Link” campaign features a creative jingle ‘Come on People, Come on People’, sung and performed by Shahid Nazir known worldwide as “One Pound Fish Man”, that creatively depicts the affordability and reliability of PTCL landline network.

The Pakistani singer and internet sensation, Shahid Nazir, acclaimed international fame through his viral hit song ‘One Pound Fish’. He has also featured in the UK based international music show, X-Factor, and has recently signed a record deal with Warner Music. “PTCL believes in nurturing the local talent and this initiative is a part of our broader efforts towards creating opportunities for the local talent to showcase their abilities,” commented Furqan Habib Qureshi,, PTCL Senior Executive Vice President (SEVP) Commercial. –AGENCIES

Global shares, oil slip as investors await Fed minutes New York: Global equity markets faltered on Wednesday as a mixed reading of U.S. housing data took the edge off this year's stock rally, while oil prices fell as the prospect of increased Saudi supply offset optimism spurred by an improving worldwide economy. A measure of world shares rose above a peak set in May 2011 to trade at highs last seen 4 1/2 years ago, before paring gains. Investors were cautious with minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent meeting due for release later in the day. Global equity markets have surged over the last seven months as major central banks repeatedly delivered monetary support to weak economies. MSCI's all-country world equity index .MIWD00000PUS hit a session high of 359.37 before paring gains to trade at 358.21, 0.04 percent higher on the day. Wall Street was mostly lower and the FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 index of top European shares was down 0.15 percent at 1169.96. The benchmark S&P 500 has gained more than 7 percent so far this year, giving some investors pause. U.S. residential construction fell in January but a jump in permits for future home building to a 4-1/2 year high offered hope the housing market recovery remains on track. "Any sustained recovery will continue to be underpinned by a recovery in housing, and the building permits suggests a slow, grinding recovery. There will be fits and starts, but the general trend is a positive slope, which bodes well for the market," Steven Baffico, chief executive officer at Four Wood Capital Partners in New York. The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 7.22 points, or 0.05 percent, at 14,042.89. –AGENCIES

Furnace oil

11.42%

76,188/MT

List of Top Loan Defaulters till 1996 Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Amount borrowed (Rs in millions) Ittefaq 3,675 Fazalsons 3,475 Tawakkal 1,768 Bela Chemicals 1,259 Abdul Shakoor Kalodia 1,215 Naqvi 1,213 Zahur 1,035 Ghani 1,023 Arabian Sea Enterprise 950 Hyesons 750 Chaudri Cables 716 Farooq A Sheikh 632 Habib 615 Bawany-Alnoor 601 Chaudry Shujaat 544 Dawood 540 Adamjee 526 Total 20,537

default 2,891 3,475 1,464 1,217 1,215 1,060 905 985 913 725 684 632 615 485 381 325 494 18,466

Top Defaulters in January 1997 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Name Amount in Default (Rs. in Million) Ittefaq 3,013 Tawakkal 2,956 Fazalsons 2,800 Bela Chemicals 2,339 Chaudri Shujaat 1,557 Abdul Shakoor Koladia 1,254 Fauzi Ali Kazim 1,159 Saigol 1,086 Naqvi 1,056 Zahur 1,028 Abdullah Al-Rajaih 1,031 Ghani 903 Habib 845 Adamjee 832 Hashwani 640 Arabian Sea Enterprise 626 Sargodha 581 United 501 Chakwal 441 Dawood 376 Bawany-Alnoor 352 Fateh 213 Packages 166 Colony 81 Total 25,389

Kuwait requests acquisition of two more exploration blocks ISLAMABAD: Government of Kuwait is has desired to invest in oil exploration sector in Pakistan and asked for acquiring two exploration licenses over Paharpur (block no.

3170-5) and Ranipur (block no. 2768-11) on government-togovernment basis. A delegation of M/s Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) comprising Nizar Al-Adsani (Chairman & Managing Director, KUFPEC), A. Naser Y. Al-Fulaij (Deputy Managing Director, KUFPEC), Syed Wamiq Bokhari (Manager Middle East region, KUFPEC) and Shahid Salim Khan (Country Manager, KUFPEC Pakistan) met with Dr. Asim Hussain, Minister / Advisor to Prime Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources.

During the meeting the delegation appreciated the incentives provided in Petroleum Policy 2012 promulgated recently by the Government of Pakistan. Encouraged by the new Policy, they informed that the Government of Kuwait is interested in acquiring licenses on Government-toGovernment basis under clause 2.3 of Policy 2012 for which they have already submitted applications to DGPC. Recently, the Government of Pakistan has granted a block namely “Jati” on Government-to-government basis as a result of personal efforts of Dr. Asim Hussain who has desired that Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources should be dynamic to meet the new challenges faced in meeting energy needs. Dr. Asim Hussain has also emphasized that since execution of new Exploration Licenses/Petroleum Concession Agreements forms an integral part of the Government’s drive to attract investment in oil & gas sector, therefore, maximum number of exploration licenses may be executed with the multinationals as well as public sector/local E&P Companies to achieve the desired goals to cater for the energy requirements of the country in the shortest possible time. –ONLINE

Sony to strike Microsoft with PS4 TOKYO: Sony Corp is expected to showcase a new PlayStation console on Wednesday in a pre-emptive strike against Microsoft Corp's bid to make its Xbox the world's leading hub for household entertainment. The rare PlayStation event in New York comes amid industry speculation that Microsoft is set to unveil the successor to its Xbox 360, which beats the seven-year-old PlayStation 3's online network with features such as voice commands on interactive gaming and superior connectivity to smartphones and tablets. "Their focus is on establishing a beachhead for the next generation of consoles, and that's what February 20 is all about," said P.J. McNealy, CEO and founder of Digital World Research. "The reality is they have been playing catch-up." Pushing ahead of Microsoft's Xbox and Nintendo Co Ltd's new Wii U could help Sony revive an electronics business hurt by a dearth of hit gadgets, a collapse in TV sales and the convergence of consumer interest around tablets and smartphones built by rivals Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. –AGENCIES

KSE inches closer to 18,000 mark with 129-point surge STAFF REPORT

KARACHI: As expected the market bounced off a minor correction as value buying in various sectors spurred the market to inch closer to the elusive 18,000 points target.

Under pressure from previous session the telecom sector led by PTCL though mainly remained in red but some intraday price recovery was witnessed.

The volume leader closed at 21.80 Rupees after making a low of 21.10 earlier in the day.

The index made another record after closing at 17947 registering an increment of 129 points.

Trade volumes nudged up a bit to 306 million indicating further room for Bull Run. Results Preview

PSO

Pakistan State Oil is scheduled to announce its value against green back in the second the financial results for the first six months of quarter. Company’ total receivable from power the current fiscal year today. Global research and other sector stand at 158 billion and anticipates profit of 5.9 billion and the earning payables at 134 billion. The company is worst per share to be around 28 rupees 70 paisa an hit by circular debt in the whole energy chain. increase of 29% on yearly basis which was at However for the share price in the market there is still a potential the back of revised margins. upside of 28% percent Non payments from the according to research power sector forced PSO to KSE 17947.07 +129.36 +0.73% analysts. somewhat hold back ISE 3372.09 +7.48 +0.22 Nishat Mills Furnace oil during the LSE 4289.66 -37.18 -0.86% The Board of Directors of second quarter of the Nishat Mills Limited (NML) current fiscal as a result FO sales went down by 28% and the total off take is due to announce the financial results for 2nd was down 10% as furnace oil usually quarter of the current fiscal year on February constitutes half of the total sale. Additionally 22, 2013, JS research expects the company to the company in going to realize PKR 1.8 billion report earnings after tax of Rs1.3bn Translating dollar of exchange loss as rupee lost 2.52% of into earning per share of 3.76 Rupees, up

24%QoQ and 52%YoY. Rising sales coupled with higher gross margins are the key driver for core earnings while recognition of dividend income from subsidiaries is expected to further boost the company’s bottom line in Second quarter. Resultantly, cumulative 1HFY13 earnings are anticipated to come in at Rs2.4bn (EPs Rs6.79), up 25%YoY. NML currently trades at P/E ratio of 4.9x and the JS research is still bullish on the stock.

Predictions for next session

The index is just one good session away from breaching another level, which by all means can be today. Many of the stock however are technically close to an exhaustion point or have already entered the bearish mode. Next Few days are extremely important because of high profile Result announcements Stay safe.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Freida Pinto to host pre Oscar bash

Lindsay demands big money to promote a drink in Dubai

LOS ANGELES: "Slumdog Millionaire" star Freida Pinto will host a special pre Oscar party where she will promote the issue of girl child education. A week-long celebration leading up to the Academy Awards by Vanity Fair magazine is one of the most attended and sought after celebratory events and the 28-year-old beauty is the first Indian origin actress to host the event. "When Vanity Fair approached Freida to co-host the pre Oscar party with them she was more than happy to align with them and bring more attention to the 10X10 Girl Rising initiative. She has always felt committed to this cause and wouldn't miss out on this opportunity," her spokesperson said in a statement. -SHOWBIZ DESK

LOS ANGELES: Cash-strapped Lindsay Lohan is demanding half a million dollars for an energy drink promotional appearance in Dubai. But the troubled actress' latest legal woes could derail the planned trip, reported Radar Online. "Lindsay wants USD 500k for an appearance in Dubai to promote Mr Pink's Ginseng Energy Drink, which executives at the company are balking at. Mr Pink is prepared to offer the actress USD 200k, and would pay for all of Lohan's travel expenses," a source said. "However, the trip might not happen at all because of Lindsay's criminal past and current pending criminal charges. Dubai has very strict laws about convicted criminals entering the country, and Lindsay is still on probation for a necklace theft case. Lindsay is very upset about her financial woes and doesn't trust her new lawyer, Mark Heller, to handle the Dubai travel problem," the insider added. The 26-year-old starlet was forced to move from Los Angeles, back to New York, because she could no longer afford to pay the USD 8000 monthly rent on her house. -SHOWBIZ DESK

Little audience for Zero Dark Thirty in Pakistan Instead of the film being taken seriously, it became a joke among Pakistanis SHOWBIZ DESK ISLAMABAD: Pakistan stars in Zero Dark Thirty, from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of Osama bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the Al-Qaeda leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon. Partly, the film taps into national discomfort that bin Laden was found to be living for years near Pakistan's equivalent of West Point, and anger over the US decision to enter its airspace and raid the compound without giving advance notice. Doubts about whether bin Laden was really hiding out for years in the city of Abbottabad are also common across Pakistan, a country where conspiracy theories often have more weight than fact. But Pakistanis who have seen the film on DVD or Internet downloads are also making much of what they say are factual errors. Nadeem F Paracha, a cultural critic in Pakistan, noted that in some scenes characters speak Arabic, whereas Pakistanis in fact speak Urdu or Pashto or one of the tens of other languages found here.

In other scenes protesters get right up to the US Embassy gates when in

reality the embassy is situated in an enclosed diplomatic enclave that demonstrators can't access. Some scenes that were supposed to show the frontier city of Peshawar looked more like 19th century Delhi in India.

"How can you make a Hollywood blockbuster, put in so much money and get simple things wrong?"

Paracha asked. "Instead of the film being taken seriously, it became a joke among Pakistanis." The movie traces the arc of the CIA's decadelong hunt for bin Laden through the eyes of a young female analyst, who spends most of her time ostensibly in Pakistan. Screenwriter Mark Boal visited Pakistan to do research, but

the movie scenes were not shot here.

One scene that also raises questions shows a vaccination worker going to the compound door as part of the American plan to get DNA samples from the bin Laden family. The US did in fact run a fake hepatitis campaign, but in the movie it's portrayed as an attempt to vaccinate against polio. This could add suspicion to polio workers already facing attacks by militants in the tribal agencies. Pakistan has only a few movie theaters that show English-language films, and none so far has aired Zero Dark Thirty.

All films shown at cinemas must be approved by a board of censors, and

the head of the censor board, Dr. Raja Mustafa Hyder, said no distributor has applied for permission to show the film.

Whether or not it would actually make it past the censor board is another question, considering that a representative of the powerful Pakistani military sits on the board.

After it came out that bin Laden had been living in Abbottabad and that the military failed to detect the American raiding party coming to get him, the once-revered Pakistan army found itself on the defensive. The film also highlights the cooperation between the C.I.A. and Pakistan's intelligence agency during the early years after the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the United States, a potentially embarrassing topic in a country with such vehement anti-American sentiment.

Jamshed Zafar, one of the leading importers and distributors of foreign films in Pakistan, said he decided after discussions with friends that it wasn't worth importing "Zero Dark Thirty." "If you get into such controversy, you not only lose money but your reputation is also at stake," he said. Any distributor or movie house that showed the movie might also be courting trouble with the public. Last year during demonstrations against an anti-

Islam film crowds of right-wing Islamic hardliners burned some movie houses. The fact that neighboring India Pakistan's archenemy substituted for many of the Pakistani street scenes has also raised concerns, said Rashid Khawaja, a Lahore-based film producer and distributor.

Until recently it was possible to purchase a DVD of the film in Islamabad. But at least two stores in the capital said in recent days that they stopped selling it because of rumors it had been banned. Another store was still selling the movie albeit under the counter. In Abbottabad, the DVD is available at local video stores but hasn't sold particularly well. "This movie is about Osama and Abbottabad, and still I honestly say people living here are not showing much interest in it," said Akhtar Hussain. Even in the city where people could hear the Navy SEALs as they swooped in on helicopters and flew away with bin Laden's body, there's still disbelief he was living so close. College student Raheel Ahmed said he watched "Zero Dark Thirty" and came away thinking the movie's intent was to praise President Barack Obama. "I don't know whether Osama was here," he said, "but Americans have defamed us by producing the movie."

Farah gives fashion tips Does dosti trouble Katrina? to Jacqueline Fernandez SHOWBIZ DESK

SHOWBIZ DESK MUMBAI: Even though Sajid Khan is yet to confirm his relationship with Jacqueline Fernandez, the actor seems to be spending a lot of time with the director's family. The Race 2 star recently attended the birthday of Farah Khan's (Sajid's sister) triplets. And now, Farah is helping Jacqueline out by giving her advice on styling and make-up. Jacqueline says, "Farah is a close friend and I take what she says seriously. She has made the actresses (in her films) look great, so I keep asking her for tips on styling, hair and make-up every now and then." The actor has previously worked with

Farah for a song in Housefull 2. "So I've known her for quite some time," adds Jacqueline, who we have just found out will be doing an item number in Prabhudheva's next directorial, Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya.

Ace designer Manish Malhotra will be designing Jackie's costumes for the film that will be produced

by Kumar Taurani. So, is the choreographer-turned-director helping her with some tips on dancing as well? "Unfortunately, no," says Jacqueline, smiling. Ask Farah about their budding friendship and she says, modestly, "I'm very fond of Jacqueline. She's a lovely girl. I'm just helping her out with whatever little I can."

MUMBAI: The latest gupshup around B’town is all about the quiet little dinners; Ranbir Kapoor has been sharing with former flame Deepika Padukone. Our sources tell us that Ranbir and Dippy have shared many such private dinner dates and meetings, and were even snapped by shutterbugs on a few of these jaunts. This has not gone down well with Katrina Kaif, who B’town rumours suggest, Ranbir has been seeing, after his break-up with Dippy. “Ranbir and Deepika may be working together in a film, but they have

been caught on camera, spending time together even when they aren’t shooting,” our source shared. In a recent interview, Ranbir had announced that he is answerable to his family and no one else with respect to his personal life. So where does that put his relationship with Katrina? The buzz doing the rounds in Bollywood is that Ranbir and Kat had a heated argument over these rumours.

“Katrina has always been clear about her equations.

After her break-up with Salman Khan, she has maintained her friendship with him. But her relationship with Ranbir is the priority. She expects the same,” our source adds.

Jackson's teenage son lands in television gig

LOS ANGELES: The teenage son of late pop star Michael Jackson has signed up to be a correspondent for the "Entertainment Tonight" television show, following in the footsteps of his show business family.

Prince Jackson, 16, was to debut on "Entertainment Tonight", interviewing actors James Franco, Zach Braff and director Sam Raimi as they promote their upcoming film "Oz the Great and Powerful," the program said. Prince, who was born Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., is the oldest of Michael Jackson's three children.

Jackson show that he wants to eventually get into the film business. "I'm looking to become well-rounded as a producer, director, screenwriter and actor," he said. Jackson's sister Paris signed up in 2011 to star in a movie called "Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys," based on a young adult fantasy novel. The film is still in development. Michael Jackson died unexpectedly at his home in June 2009 at age 50 from an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol and sedatives. -SHOWBIZ DESK

Lady Gaga is in a wheelchair after hip surgery

Randeep excited to go on Highway with Imtiaz Ali NEW DEHLI: Having signed on to star in Imtiaz Ali's next project Highway, actor Randeep Hooda says he can't wait to embark on the new journey with the Rockstar director. Randeep, who was last seen in Murder 3, said he is excited about working in the film as he admires Imtiaz as a director. "I am very excited about working in Highway with Imtiaz. I admire him as a director. I have a lot of affection and reverence for him because he is such a nice guy. We will shoot the film at one go for 3-4 months. I cannot wait to go away on this journey on the Highway. I personally feel it is the most romantic film," Randeep said. His schedule is choc-a-bloc these days, what with shooting for Karan Johar's short film as well as Dharma Production's 'Ungli'. Randeep is also about to complete filming for 'Shooter', directed by Vishram Sawant. -SHOWBIZ DESK

NEW YORK: Singer Lady Gaga is using a wheelchair to move around after undergoing a recent hip surgery. She has even named her wheelchair, reports. “This is Emma,” Gaga tweeted along with a picture of the wheelchair. The 26-year-old had to cancel her US tour at 25 places as she was unable to walk due to an injury in her right hip. She was suggested to undergo a surgery. -SHOWBIZ DESK

London Fashion Week hits PR jackpot this year LWF is on the up, garnering of global attention it has not had it in decades SHOWBIZ DESK LONDON: George Osborne’s austerity cuts are only just beginning to bite and the UK economy may be on the brink of dropping in to an unprecedented triple-dip recession at any moment but, ironically, over in British fashion land they’ve never had it so good. On the surface at least London Fashion Week is on the up, garnering the kind of global attention it has not had in decades. Dig a little deeper and it’s clear these are still tough times – UK retail sales dropped 0.6 per cent last month and even handbag mega-brand Mulberry saw profits fall 36 per cent last year but in terms of public relations, London Fashion Week hit the jackpot this season.

First there was a small matter of the Tom Ford show coming to town. Until now the one-man brand had kept his presentations small and closely guarded from the prying eyes of all but a few editors, but this time round he decided to stage one of the swishest shows London has ever seen, complete with bucket loads of champagne, lines of flaming torches and an army of black-suited male models to usher guests to their gilt chairs in the Georgian splendour of Lancaster House. And the clothes? Well let’s just say that Mr Ford’s take on global

fusion even managed to out-bling the surroundings.

Add in the fact that American designer L’Wren Scott also decided to move from New York to London via a presentation in Paris last season with a show that not only served up her ultraglamorous, ultra-feminine designs (inspired by Gustav Klimt this season) but a shepherd’s pie lunch and her significant other Mick Jagger, and a pretty impressive trend was emerging.

It was only bolstered by luxury giant PPR’s recent acquisition of 51 per cent of the buzzy Brit label Christopher Kane, which made London fashion suddenly look bankable on an international scale. And indeed, Mr Kane’s upscaled, if overlong, collection of camouflage prints, lace and outsized crystals shown on Monday was impressive. Still, as fashion moves into the virtual sphere both in terms of sheer click-to-buy selling and as an instant global showcase real geographical location is becoming less and less relevant, as the London crew are well aware. Hence the fact that “60 per cent of London’s show are livestreamed”, says Caroline Rush, the chief executive of the British Fashion Council, who works closely with new chairman and internet supremo Natalie Massenet. Leading the way, of

course, has been Burberry, and this season the big news was the introduction of a personalised name tag that could be attached to various pieces available to order direct from the catwalk.

Pity the same innovation had not been ploughed into the clothes, however: Christopher Bailey’s “Trench Kisses” collection of 20-plus variations on ye olde raincoat seemed rather thin on ideas, with the use of latex yes, he really is pandering to the rubber mac brigade – and lots of heavy brass detailing the only newsworthy additions. (Not that Mr Bailey is alone in his rubber fixation; madcap Meadham Kirchoff likewise mixed the shiny black stuff with Victoriana to more unsettling effect.) High street giant Topshop also embraced the online experience, bolting on a whole host of added extras to the live streaming of its Topshop Unique show including “model cams” attached to stars Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn, the better to reveal the nail varnish (buyable straight from the show) as well as the collection’s key themes: shiny vinyl fabrics, slouchy knits and on-trend shades of soft pink, grey and black. And as for what London used to be known for: cutting edge creativity? There was plenty of

Models on the catwalk during the Maria Grachvogel autumn/winter 2013 London Fashion Week show. that too. Mary Katrantzou swapped whimsy and eye-popping colour for a sombre mood and ghostly Victorian landscape prints to winning effect, while Erdem too embraced the dark with an exquisite collection of mainly black dresses lifted with the odd hit of sour green and blush pink. By contrast, Peter Pilotto flew the flag for colour with signature print dresses, and Jasper Conran, Paul Smith, John Rocha and Matthew Williamson were

all thinking pink with neat sixties shifts, masculine tailoring, oversized felted wools and ombré effects inspired by the northern lights respectively.

Married design duos Preen and Clements Ribeiro both channelled a punk vibe, albeit with a very ladylike finish, and Jonathan Saunders, Roksanda Ilincic and Henry Holland – as well as new girl Simone Rocha – all embraced the plastic fantastic. Finally, Richard Nicoll went for pared down

grey, as did JW Anderson with a collection of offbeat minimalism, Marios Schwab looked to preRaphaelite-velvet for gowns and Giles and Osman went for gold. Mulberry, however, embraced the metal metaphorically, by dramatically upluxing its offering. The new Suffolk bag in Oxblood Alligator, shown on the catwalk with the label’s chunky knits and tweeds, will cost a cool £18,000 when it hits store later in the year.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Mayweather to face Guerrero in May, inks new TV deal LAS VEGAS: Unbeaten welterweight fighter Floyd Mayweather said Tuesday that he will face fellow American Robert Guerrero on May 4 as part of a new deal with telecasters CBS and Showtime. Mayweather, who previously had worked with rival telecaster HBO, called the new deal for up to six fights over 30 months the biggest in boxing history, but said financial details of the contract were confidential. Should all six fights take place and his pay-per-view averages of more than one million buys per bout hold steady, Mayweather claimed the deal would be the largest for an individual athlete in sports history.

Mayweather, 43-0 with 26 knockouts, has not fought since taking a unanimous 12-round decision from Miguel Cotto last May. Since then, Mayweather has served a 90-day jail sentence for domestic battery.

Southpaw Guerrero, 31-1-1 with 18 knockouts, has won 15 fights in a row since suffering his only loss, a 2005 split-decision defeat at the hands of Mexico's Gamaliel Diaz. AGENCIES

Thai veteran to open Asian Tour golf season today YANGON: Record-breaking Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant will have the honour of hitting the first drive as golf 's Asian Tour starts its 10th season with the $300,000 Zaykabar Myanmar Open on Thursday. Thaworn, 46, holder of an unmatched 15 Asian Tour victories and the winner of his second order of merit title last year, will symbolically get the season underway from the 10th tee.

"I've played on the Asian Tour for many years so I'm not feeling nervous ahead of the new 2013 season," said the world number 78. "I want to keep going and improving on my world ranking. I want to stay in the top 100. Golf is a cycle. You don't expect to play good in every tournament." AGENCIES

Cook sparkles as England score easy win over Kiwis NAPIER: Alastair Cook's patient knock of 78 anchored a well-executed England run chase of 270 to beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the second one-day international at McLean Park, levelling the three-match series at 1-1 on Wednesday. England's bowlers, particularly James Anderson, had done a superb job to dismiss New Zealand for 269 in 48.5 overs at a small venue with short square boundaries, where a score of at least 300 was needed to set a competitive total.

Joe Root (79 not out) then picked up from where Cook left off when the captain was dismissed by Tim Southee, while Jonathan Trott finished on 65 not out as England easily chased down the total for the loss of two wickets in 47.4 overs. England's victory ensured the series finale at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday would be a decider after New Zealand won the first match in Hamilton on Sunday by three wickets. New Zealand's innings was dominated by Ross Taylor's 100, his seventh one day international century, and a brutal 74 from 36 deliveries by captain Brendon McCullum, but it was well short of a ground that consistently yields innings in excess off 300.

Taylor century: Taylor, who was dumped as captain by coach Mike Hesson in December and chose not to tour South Africa, had barely played any cricket since and had looked rusty in his return to the international scene. The 28year-old took a little time to get into his stride and also curbed his attacking instincts to anchor the innings after Anderson and Finn had put the hosts under immense pressure.

Taylor combined with Kane Williamson (33) in a 72-run partnership, then 52 runs with Grant Elliott (23) for the fourth wicket before the latter was dismissed by Finn in the first over of the batting powerplay to leave New Zealand struggling at 143-4 in the 36th over.

McCullum, however, then thrashed nine fours and four sixes in a 44-minute knock that included a 100-run partnership with Taylor, 77 of which came in 5.5 overs. McCullum's dismissal then sparked a collapse with the final five wickets falling for 26 runs as Anderson returned to mop up the tail and finished with impressive figures of five for 34. AGENCIES

Ian Bell of England bats against New Zealand during their second one-day international at McLean Park on Wednesday. AGENCIES

SCOREBOARD NEW ZEALAND INNINGS B Watling c Cook b Anderson 7 H Rutherford c Cook b Anderson 11 K Williamson b Woakes 33 R Taylor c Buttler b Anderson 100 G Elliott c Bairstow (sub) b Finn 23 B McCullum c Woakes b Broad 74 J Franklin c Root b Woakes 1 N McCullum c Buttler b Anderson 7 T Southee b Woakes 2 K Mills not out 3 T Boult c Woakes b Anderson 1 EXTRAS: (LB 3, W 3, NB 1) 7 TOTAL: (all out; 48.5 overs) 269 FALL OF WICKETS: 1-12, 2-19, 3-91, 4-143, 5-243, 6-245, 7-254, 8-261, 9-267, 10-269 BOWLING Anderson 9.5-2-34-5 Finn 10-1-33-1 Woakes 10-0-68-3 Broad 9-0-69-1

Pakistan names ODI, T20 squads for South Africa

Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik make comeback

Indian official expects global ban to be lifted MUMBAI: Indian International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Randhir Singh is confident the world amateur boxing federation (AIBA) will soon lift its ban on the country's pugilists, the official told Reuters on Wednesday.

The AIBA suspended the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) in early December for "possible manipulation" of its elections, in the wake of a wider Olympic ban that has sent shockwaves through sport in the South Asian country. Randhir, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general during the previous regime, said he asked AIBA chief Wu Chingkuo to lift the ban on the country's boxers when he spoke to the Taiwanese official on Tuesday. "I spoke to Wu and told him that the boxers should not be made to suffer for no fault of theirs," Randhir said by phone. The IOA was kicked out of the Olympic family for allowing government interference in its Dec. 5 elections, which also saw a tainted official being elected to a key post. AGENCIES

Tour de France unveils funfest for centenary race PARIS: Organisers of the Tour de France unveiled plans on Tuesday a series of celebrations to mark the 100th edition of the world's most famous bicycle race later this year. "We are overflowing with projects," said race director Christian Prudhomme. The race which starts for the first time in Corsica on June 29 and runs until July 21, will take in some of France's most famous landmarks such as the Chateaux de Versailles as well as Mont Blanc, Mont Saint-Michel and the Loire region which are renowned for their chateaux. One of the highlights will be the finish, which is expected to be at approximately 1945GMT local time and will include 500 of the 1400 former Tour de France riders who are still alive. There will also be a photo exhibition celebrating the 100 years of the Tour at the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris as well as a film to be released on June 12 about an amateur rider who leaves one day before the peloton, after he was left by his wife and fired from his job. His popularity grows as he tries to stay ahead of the professionals before being finally caught, but not after a brief spell riding alongside the yellow jersey holder. AGENCIES

FIFA calls for strict anti-match fixing laws

OUR STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE: All-rounders Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik have made a comeback to Pakistan's ODI squad for the series in South Africa, after being omitted for the tour of India in December last year. Batsman Asad Shafiq and spinner Abdur Rehman are the other inclusions for the fivematch series that begins on March 10.

The players left out from the ODI squad that went to India were Anwar Ali, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail and Zulfiqar Babar. There is only one change to the Twenty20 squad, with Wahab Riaz replacing Sohail Tanvir, who was part of the team that had travelled to India.

ODI squad: Misbahul Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Imran Farhat, Abdur Rehman.

Twenty20 squad: Mohammad Hafeez, NasirI Jamshed, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Amin, Zulfiqar Babar, Asad Ali, Junaid Khan.

Swann ENGLAND INNINGS A Cook c&b Southee I Bell c Rutherford b Williamson J Trott not out J Root not out EXTRAS: (LB 1, W 3) TOTAL: (2 wickets; 47.4 overs) FALL OF WICKETS: 1-89, 2-149 BOWLING Mills Boult Franklin Southee N McCullum Williamson Toss: England and elected to bowl Umpires: Gary Baxter (NZL), S Ravi (IND) Third umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS) Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)

10-0-62-0 78 44 65 79 4 270 6.4-0-43-0 9-1-55-0 5-0-32-0 9-0-54-1 10-0-46-0 8-0-39-1.

KUALA LUMPUR: Football authorities vowed Wednesday to excise the "cancer" of match-fixing but said tougher laws were needed worldwide to smash criminal syndicates suspected of rigging hundreds of matches. FIFA's director of security Ralf Mutschke told a two-day gathering with Interpol that the world governing body's "zero tolerance" for match-fixing must be buttressed by "the right policies for law enforcement and the football community".

The meeting follows revelations a fortnight ago that gambling gangs targeted almost 700 matches worldwide, including Champions League ties and World Cup qualifiers. "We are banning players and referees for life but criminals are out there free – they get no sentence.

That's wrong," Mutschke told reporters when asked to comment on Singapore's refusal to arrest a key suspect wanted in Italy and suspected of rigging games. "We have to bring in governments to change legislation and laws. Many countries do not have laws to fight match manipulation," Mutschke said. He pointed to the November acquittal of three players in Switzerland accused of committing fraud by throwing games, where a judge said there was no obvious victim.

Mutschke said FIFA was cooperating with the Council of Europe to draft legislation to fight match-fixing, with hopes it would be implemented across the continent. FIFA's legal team will also press the case at a May meeting of national sports ministers in Berlin where match-fixing is due to be discussed, he said. About 150 delegates from Asian football associations, player and referee representatives and government agencies are meeting in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, home to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

"We are ready to work hand-in-hand to eradicate this cancer from the game. AFC will not rest until this plague is completely stamped out in Asia," the AFC's acting president Zhang Jilong said in a speech.

But he later admitted to AFP that eradication "could be difficult, especially in Asia", where gambling is widespread and flourishing. AGENCIES

Defending champ Radwanska into Dubai Open quarterfinals DUBAI: World number four Agnieszka Radwanska overcame a misfiring serve to beat Kazakh teenager Yulia Putintseva 7-5 6-3 in the second round of the Dubai women's tennis championships on Wednesday. The Pole, who received a firstround bye, lost three of her first four service games on an overcast centre court and she will need to improve if she is retain her Dubai title, with Petra Kvitova or Ana Ivanovic awaiting her in the next round. "For me, the first match is always a bit tricky," Radwanska told reporters. "I didn't hit on the centre court here this year, and I was just practising outside – it was actually much faster. I was surprised – the ball is just not going anywhere and it was tough for me."

Serving at 3-3, Radwanska saved four break points after falling 0-40 behind, but Putintseva was undeterred and she earned another break point with a forehand winner down the line that fizzed past the advancing Pole. Rattled, the 2012 Wimbledon finalist double-faulted to fall 4-3 behind.

Radwanska, 23, responded by coming to the net more frequently to force Putintseva, ranked 101 in the world, to play on the back foot. The Kazakh, seeking her third victory over a top-50 player, was found wanting and Radwanska broke for 4-4, with six out of eight games going against serve. Putintseva, who beat Britain's Laura Robson in an all-teenage first-round battle, prefers brute force over finesse and although a fast hitter, she consistently played the ball too short, allowing Radwanska to stay in rallies with relative ease.

The Pole was too out of sorts to fully exploit her opponent's shortcomings but as the overcast sky gave way to a muggy desert sun she also upped the playing temperature on court, earning two set points with a flat forehand winner down the line. She needed only one as a tempestuous Putintseva smashed an attempted winner long. Radwanska's greater pedigree – she has 12 tour singles titles to her name, while Putintseva has never made it beyond the second round of a tournament – eventually told, and she won five of the last six games. "In the very important moments a bit of experience is always good to have," added Radwanska. Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki routed Chinese qualifier Jie Zheng 6-0 6-1, while Russian Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska serves the ball to veteran Nadia Petrova had a similar romp against Spain's Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva during their WTA Dubai Open match on Wednesday. AGENCIES Carla Suarez Navarro, winning 6-1 6-0. AGENCIES

Centurion will test Pakistan’s learning FIRDOSE MOONDA

ne thing was evident about Pakistan's mood when they left Cape Town for Johannesburg (and ultimately Centurion) on Tuesday: they were relaxed. Many of them, including Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul and Younis Khan, cradled babies, while the rest chatted and milled about like a tour group off on their next adventure.

Most of their squad are on their first trip to South Africa and seem to be enjoying it despite defeat in the Test series. They know they have nothing but further improvement to gain and the difference between their performance at the Wanderers and their showing at Newlands indicates the learning process is taking shape. Pakistan should be careful not get too comfortable with

O

the upward curve, though, because SuperSport Park has been a snake pit for sub-continent sides and a fortress for South Africa.

None of India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka have ever won a match at the venue while it also challenges both the Wanderers and Newlands for status as the home of South African cricket. In results terms, the title belongs to SuperSport Park. Since the ground came into existence after readmission, South Africa have lost on it only once to make it their most successful home venue.

England are the only other team to have tasted victory in Centurion – theirs came in the 2000 Test in which both sides agreed to forfeit an innings and the result became famous for other reasons.

But the sub-continental record reads like a sorry saga. Sri Lanka have been defeated four times at and India and Pakistan once each.

The last two teams beaten at the venue, India and Sri Lanka, were dealt innings defeats and South Africa have won five of the last eight Tests in Centurion by such a margin. Reasons for their success at Centurion are simple. It is a typical South African surface that offers

has often been enough to unsettle visiting sides especially because SuperSport Park has often hosted the first Test of a series and they have yet to find their feet. Coupled with the mental effects of seeing a pitch that two days before the match is only briefly

Although defeat in the series, Pakistan put in a much-improved display at Newlands on a surface that was more favourable to their game.

However, coming back to the Highveld will be a different story again plenty for the quicks and turns batting into a challenge were only the toughest survive.

The same can be expected this time with the pitch a familiar shade of green a day and half before game time. But the threat

distinguishable from the outfield, teams have been skittled out.

In four of the last five Test at SuperSport Park, the first innings total was 250 or less and Kirsten expected the par score to hover around there again. Pakistan have

had three weeks to shift their mindset and the demons that face many visiting teams at Centurion should not affect them in the same way. Their first Test nerves were settled three weeks ago at the Wanderers where they did not even have to front up first on a tricky pitch. Graeme Smith chose to bat first to get the series underway and South Africa had to survive bowler friendly conditions.

At Newlands they gave South Africa the ‘big battle’ Kirsten said they expected and now they have the chance to take that one step further. Problems against the newball remain but one thing they can hope for at Centurion is that their bowlers, and Mohammed Irfan in particular, will be able to take as much advantage of the surface as South Africa's attack. Words that will give Pakistan reason to snap out of any relaxation pretty quickly.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2013

THE SPOKESMAN - RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD

ECP sets up committee to identify defaulters

SBP, FBR, NAB, NADRA assure full support EC bound by law for scrutiny in 14 days

OUR STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has constituted a committee to identify tax evaders, loan and utility bill defaulters and beneficiaries of written off loans to prevent them from running in the upcoming elections.

Chief Election Commissioner

(CEC) Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim chaired an election commission meeting in this regard on Wednesday. The meeting was also attended by the State Bank Governor Yaseen Anwar, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chief Ali Arshad Hakeem, and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA)

High energy bills

President signs Fair Trial ‚ TOs bills ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Fair Trial Bill 2012. The Bill has already been passed by both the Houses of Parliament. The Fair Trial Bill authorizes the state to intercept private communications in order to catch terrorists. The bill became controversial because certain quarters felt it would pose a threat to people’s privacy and civil liberties. The President also signed Trade Organizations Bill 2012 providing for the registration and regulation of trade organizations. -ONLINE

Three-day strike begins in Held Kashmir SRINAGAR: Most shops and businesses were shut on Wednesday in Held Kashmir after separatists called for a three-day strike to demand the return of the body of a Kashmiri man secretly executed and buried in the Indian capital. The strike began Wednesday and authorities imposed a ban on the assembly of more than four people to prevent protests in the region. -AGENCIES

Fazl denies any contact with Taliban PESHAWAR: JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Wednesday denied any contact with the Taliban for holding talks. Talking to reporters, the JUI-F Ameer said neither Taliban contacted him nor he made contact them to hold dialogues. Commenting on Qatar talks, he said he got information regarding talks with Taliban from newspapers.

“Without agenda how this is possible that talks would be held with Taliban.”

Fazl said those creating unrest in the country want to postpone upcoming elections. -ONLINE

Karachi Rangersʼ powers extended for 3 months KARACHI: The special powers of Rangers have been extended for further three months in Karachi.

Sindh Government issued a notification on Wednesday for extension of Rangers’ special powers of search, raids, arrests and probing a suspect whenever and where ever required. The paramilitary troops are performing special task of maintaining law and order and providing security along with the police force in Karachi. -ONLINE

Bulgarian PM resigns amid protests SOFIA: Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov tendered his government's resignation Wednesday after eight days of nationwide protests over high energy bills, his office said.

The protests against soaring electricity bills have morphed into wider discontent over austerity and the way the country is being run, the official Bulgarian News Agency reported. Parliament will vote Thursday on whether to accept the Cabinet's resignation, the government said. –AGENCIES

officials. According to sources, it was decided that a mechanism would be developed by a committee comprising these five institutions to identify those who were tax evaders or bank defaulters. Such culprits would subsequently be disqualified from candidacy in the polls. At a press conference held after the meeting, the SBP governor and FBR chief said full

cooperation would be provided to the Election Commission for free and fair elections. Tax and asset details of election candidates will be available to the ECP via online access, they assured. NAB Director General Sher Afghan said that the records of all those investigated by the NAB will be provided to the ECP. Meanwhile, ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said the

Election Commission wants the process of scrutiny to be completed in 30 days but there are constitutional problems as Senate Committee has recommended 14 days instead. “So the process will be completed within 14 days.”

He said there is a need to bring changes in the nomination papers.

“Summary in this regard will soon be sent to the Law Ministry.”

IT AINʼT HAPPENING IN PAKISTAN

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov leaves parliament after announcing resignation. –ONLINE

ECP’s new ‘rules of the game’ under fire in NA TAHIR NIAZ ISLAMABAD: Leaving the burning issue of terrorism and Hazara killings in the middle, the legislators in the National Assembly on Wednesday preferred bashing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for introducing new ‘rules of the game’.

The legislators from treasury as well as opposition sans MQM took the ECP move of introducing new pattern of 6-page nomination paper for general elections and direction for verification of degrees as an insult to the respected members with few terming it an intentional attempt by the ECP to disqualify majority of the sitting parliamentarians.

It was Leader of Opposition Ch Nisar Ali Khan who prompted his fellow colleagues to stand against what he dubbed as influenced ECP, saying it has been acting on the ‘advice’ of PTI and Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri.

He objected to the tone and tenor of a

letter written by the ECP to 249 plus one (Nisar) sitting MPs. “Is this the way to interact with parliamentarian I will refuse to entertain this kind of letter, let the ECP disqualify me”, he announced in the house.

Nisar refused to submit his “OLevel” and “A-Level” certificates unless the ECP withdraws the letter.

Law minister Farooq H Naek also supported Nisar’s stance by saying that ECP was on a witch-hunting mission against the legislators adding that it has no right to write letters to the MPs for verification of degrees but as he, taking advantage of the situation, tried to put other issues on the list of ‘reservations against the ECP’, leader of the opposition clarified that ECP has done nothing unconstitutional, rather it should adopt a rational approach for scrutiny of the candidates. Naek had also criticized the ECP for putting a ban on release of grants to the bar associations.

MQM leader Farooq Sattar, however, supported ECP strategy for strict scrutiny of the candidates, saying it makes no difference if one is neat and clean.

PML-Q’s Raza Hayat Hiraj criticized the ECP in severe possible terms, saying it would be impossible for the candidates to share family details with the ECP. “We are willing to cross all the bridges the ECP lays in our way but the mechanism for scrutiny must be logical and realistic”, he demanded. He also suggested formation of a parliamentary committee to take up the issue with the ECP. MNA Riaz Fatyana also supported the stance of leader of the opposition and also criticized the ECP for banning recruitment process in the ministries.

The house also passed the Antiterrorism (Amendment) bill, 2013 to address the shortcomings relating to terrorist financing provisions in the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997.

Musharraf elaborates his ʻachievementsʼ ISLAMABAD: Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf has released a recollection of his days in office to outline his achievements from 2000 to 2008 by comparing the economy, energy, education, cultural heritage, telecom, industry, agriculture and above all democracy of his times with the present scenario. The paper released by the local information office of the former dictator reveals how he managed internal and external threats faced by the country by controlling Karachi, Balochistan, Taliban and other issues. –STAFF REPORTER

AMRITSAR: British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the site of a colonial-era massacre in India on Wednesday, describing the episode as “deeply shameful” while stopping short of a public apology.

On the last leg of a three-day trip aimed at forging deeper economic ties, Cameron took the bold decision to visit the city of Amritsar and tackle an enduring scar of British rule on the subcontinent. Dressed in a dark suit and bowing his head, he laid a wreath at the memorial to the victims at Jallianwala Bagh, where British troops opened fire on thousands of unarmed protesters in 1919.

In a message in the visitors’ book, he wrote: “This was a deeply shameful event in British history and one that Winston Churchill rightly declared at the time as ‘monstrous’. We must never forget what happened here. And in remembering we must ensure that the UK stands up for the right of peaceful protest around the world.”

Cameron is the first serving prime minister to visit the site, but not the first senior British public figure.

In 1997, the Queen also laid a wreath at a site during a tour of India, but her gaffeprone husband Prince Philip stole the headlines by reportedly saying that the Indian estimates for the death count were “vastly exaggerated”. –AGENCIES

PM for united stand against terror

Govt refuses to clip OGRA wings OUR STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet Wednesday rejected a Petroleum Ministry summary calling for the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to be placed under the ministry.

Ogra and the Petroleum Ministry have been at loggerheads over whether the regulatory authority should fall under its purview or not.

Last week, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain and Ogra Chairman Saeed Ahmad Khan exchanged harsh words during a meeting of a parliamentary committee.

The PM’s adviser had urged parliament to abolish the ‘redundant’ regulator to stave off the country’s bankruptcy while the Ogra chief described it as part of a campaign to punish the regulator for its refusal to condone inefficiency and losses of gas utilities.

The cabinet also offered Fateha for the victims of Saturday’s blast in HazaraTown, Quetta.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who was chairing the cabinet

session, said the country must stand united against terrorism. He said measures will be taken to ensure the protection of all citizens.

"Pakistan continues to confront courageously the menace of terrorism and we will continue to fight till it is wiped out," he said. He contended that negotiations with Hazara community in Quetta had been successful because of the efforts of the parliamentary committee.

He said a wrong impression was being created by the enemies of the democracy that the government had not done anything during the last five years. "In fact, the government has taken all possible measures for improvement in the law and order situation and economy despite many constraints," he said.

The cabinet also approved the 2013 Haj policy, according to which 180,000 Pakistanis will perform the pilgrimage this year. Applications are to be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

In addition, the cabinet approved a bill in connection with cracking down on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The bill is to be presented soon in Parliament.

Grandson of a top Pir killed in blast

17 insurgents killed in Khyber, Orakzai JAMRUD/HANGU: Some 17 insurgents were killed and many others injured in shelling and bombing by security forces and jet fighters in Khyber and Orakzai tribal agencies, official sources said on Wednesday.

Forces continued artillery shelling by jet fighters against the militants’ bases in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency. Security forces hit the positions of banned terror outfits in Doh Toi area in near Jamrud.

Official sources claimed that 9 militants were killed and several others injured in the shelling. Meanwhile, eight militants were killed in the jetfighters’ strikes near Hangu in Orakzai Agency. -ONLINE

Cameron ‘shameful’ of Jallianwala Bagh incident

DERAALLAHYAR: Pir of Qamber Sharif Syed Ghulam Hussain Shah seen in a car after a remote-controlled bomb blast near his vehicle which killed his grandson and injured 5 others. –ONLINE

JACOBABAD: The grandson of Syed Ghulam Hussain Shah, the Pir of Qambar Sharif, was killed and five other were injured on Wednesday when a bomb went off near a religious rally in Jacobabad, officials said.

According to sources, the blast ripped through of gathering of Ghulam Hussain Shah in Goth Ahmed Din Brohi of the district.

According to police, the blast occurred soon after the Pir of Qambar Sharif, who has millions of followers in Sindh and Balochistan, arrived at the site of the gathering but he remained unharmed.

Police said Shafiq Hussain Shah, his grand-son, who was wounded in the blast, succumbed to his injuries in hospital. –AGENCIES

Senate panel passes Bahawalpur-Janoobi Punjab Bill

PML-N opposes legislation on constitutional, political grounds Bill to land in Senate next week

OUR STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD: Amidst PML-N opposition on constitutional and political grounds, the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Wednesday approved with majority the 24th Amendment Bill, 2013 for creation of Bahawalpur-Janoobi Punjab province comprising territories of Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan Divisions and the Districts of Mianwali and Bhakkar.

The government is likely to table the Bill in Senate in the next week.

PML-N opposed the Bill, saying that no provision existed in the constitution for formulation of a new province; rather, it only allows alteration in the boundaries of the existing provinces.

Rejecting the parliamentary committee’s report, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq of the PML-N stated that there is no constitutional backing for formulation of new provinces, saying that article 239 of the Constitution only describes the procedure of changes in the boundaries of provinces. Haq said in Indian constitution, Article 3 empowers their parliament to

form new provinces. He said it was incomplete proposal because some other proposed provinces were not included in the Bill. The PML-N also presented Punjab assembly’s condemnation resolution in this regard. PML-N representatives also said that the people of Mianwali and Bhakkar districts staged protests against including them in the proposed BJP province. He said political objectives led the ruling PPP to move the bill for creation of new province.

The ruling party’s legal wizards also backed the point of view of

Raja Zafrul Haq to a great extent.

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan of the PPP said a new province could not be formulated under the constitution until Article 239 of the Constitution is amended.

Referring to the said Article, Aitzaz held that there was vast difference in “alteration’ and ‘creation’. He added if the bill for the formation of a new province was presented in the house under the present scenario, it can be challenged in the court. Law Minister Farooq H Naek however, stated that the constitution did not prohibit formation of new

Published by Ahmad Waleed from Yasmin Majeed Printing Press, 69-Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

provinces. An amendment in Article 239 (4) is also proposed in the constitutional amendment bill so as to replace ‘alteration’ of boundaries of the provinces with ‘creation’ of new provinces.

JUI-F senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri said that Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajan Pur districts should be included in Balochistan province, as these areas were previously part of the province. MQM also expressed its reservation over PPP’s move, saying that why Hazara Division was not being given the status of a province.