HANGU: Security personnel collecting proof after the blast on Friday.

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ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI—In an explosive revelation, thePakistan Army Colonel (Retd)Ashfaq Hussain has blamedPervez Musharraf revealed thatthe former Army chief had him-self crossed the LoC during the1999 Kargil operation.

Ashfaq Hussain in his book‘Witness to Blunder’ said theKargil mission was master-minded by Major GeneralJaved Hassan, GeneralMehmood and General Aziz.They made Musharraf agree tothe plans which later led to a

Musharraf himself crossed LoCduring 1999 Kargil operation

Former Indian Army Chief impressedlimited conflict between Indiaand Pakistan.

Ashfaq Hussain wroteMusharraf had himself crossedthe LoC and spent a night on theIndian-controlled side. “On 28thMarch 1999 General PervezMusharraf crossed 11 kms be-yond the LoC on a helicopter andwas escorted by Colonel AmjadShabbir at a location namedZakriya“Mustakar.”

Pakistan began its operationin Kargil on December 18, 1998when Captain Nadeem, CaptainAli and Hawaldaar Lalak Jaan

crossed LoC to carry out a recce. “On 17th May 1999 Nawaz

Sharif was given the Kargil brief-ing,” the book further said.

Another former Army of-ficer, Lt Gen (Retired) ShahidAziz, who headed the analysiswing of the ISI during the Kargilconflict, recently revealed thatthe operation was mastermindedby a group of four generals ledby Musharraf.

Interestingly, Musharraf, inresponse to the allegations, said

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Opposition in NA rejectsCommission report on new province

Two killed in USAnkara embassy blast

ISLAMABAD–The ParliamentaryCommission on creation of newprovinces tabled the report of theCommission for creation of newprovince/ provinces in Punjabbefore the lower house on Friday.

The National Assembly re-sumed its session with NadeemAfzal Gondal in the chair.

The House offered Fateha forthe departed souls of thosegunned down in Karachi Thurs-day. The members strongly con-demned the incident of targetedkillings in Karachi.

Member of the Parliamen-tary Commission on creation ofnew provinces Arif Aziz Shaikhlaid before the House the reportof the Commission for creation

of new province/ provinces inPunjab.

The commission, in its re-port, has proposed amendmentsin Article 1, 51, 59 and 104 ofthe Constitution to make way forcreating a new province inPunjab. It has proposed 59 seatsfor National Assembly and 124for provincial assembly.

The parliametnary commis-sion has proposed newBahawalpur South Punjab prov-ince.

The report proposes that thematters relating to the watershould be sorted out by the Coun-cil of Common Interests. SardarShahjehan Yousaf voiced con-cerns over the presentation of

report regarding the creation ofnew province in Punjab saying itis incomplete and does not en-visage the creation of Hazaraprovince.

Humair Hayat Rokhri re-jected the report on creation ofnew province saying no opinionof the Opposition members havebeen sought on it. Besides, twodistricts of Punjab having no con-nection with Janoobi Punjab havebeen included in the new prov-ince, he said.

Munir Khan Orakzai alsoopposed the report.

Members belonging to JUI-F staged walkout from the Houseover the Karachi incident and the

ANKARA—Two security guardswere killed in a blast outside theUS embassy in Ankara on Fri-day, local television reported,amid speculation it was a sui-cide attack.

The force of the explosiondamaged nearby buildings in theCankaya neighbourhood wheremany other state institutions andembassies are also located.

NTV television reportedthat a person detonated a bombat the security roadblock nearthe entrance to the embassy’svisa section, where dozens ofpeople wait every day.

Police have cordoned off thearea but there has been no offi-cial comment on the blast out-side the highly fortified com-plex.

NTV television said two se-curity guards were killed andseveral people wounded.

US embassy staff were notimmediately reachable for com-ment.

Predominantly Muslim Tur-key is a close US ally and amember of the North AtlanticTreaty Organisation.

The blast comes barelya week after NATO declared thata battery of US-made Patriotmissiles went operational onTurkey’s border with war-tornSyria on Saturday.

In July 2008, three gunmenand three Turkish policemenwere killed in an attack outsidethe US consulate in Istanbul.

In November 2003, four sui-cide car-bomb attacks on twoIstanbul synagogues, the Britishconsulate and British bankHSBC killed 63 people, includ-ing Britain’s consul general.

The bombings were claimedby an al Qaeda cell. —AP

President Zardariin LondonLONDON—President Asif AliZardari has arrived in Londonto attend the trilateral Summitbetween Britain‚ Pakistan andAfghanistan.

Besides President Asif AliZardari‚ Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai and BritishPrime Minister DavidCameron will attend thesummit on the regional peace.

Analysts described theTrilateral Summit of Afghani-stan‚ Pakistan and the UK asvery important as it willdiscuss the post 2014 situationin Afghanistan after thewithdrawal of foreign troopsfrom the country.

The proposed strategicagreements between Pakistanand Afghanistan is lively to beon the top of agenda. —NNI

LHC blastsmoves for new

provincesSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The Lahore HighCourt (LHC) questioned wisdomof Punjab Assembly lawmakersfor passing resolution on resto-ration of Bahawalpur provincedespite their lack of knowledgeabout the status of Bahawalpurin the past.

Seeking notification aboutformation of a controversialparliamentary commission forcreation of new province inPunjab, LHC judge JusticeKhalid Mehmood said that lackof knowledge on part of Mem-bers of Punjab Assembly waslaughable.

He said MPAs adopted reso-lution for restoration ofBahawalpur province despitebeing unaware of its past status.

Strike acrossBalochistan

againstgovernor rule

OBSERVER REPORT

QUETTA—A complete shutterdown strike was being observedacross Balochistan on Fridayagainst the governor rule im-posed in the province.

The strike was being ob-served on the call of the JamiatUlema-i-Islam (JUI) andBalochistan National Party –Awami (BNP-A).

In different parts of the pro-vincial capital, Quetta, attackershad smashed the windows of sev-eral cars and had set fire to amotorcycle. All commercial ac-tivity in the city remained sus-pended during the strike.

Due to the strife caused bythe protesters on Quetta’s Sariab

Kamran Faisal case

NAB boss exempted fromcourt appearances

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt’s bench hearing the caseconcerning the death of of NABinvestigator Kamran Faisalgranted on Friday conditionalexemption to Chairman NationalAccountability Bureau (NAB)Admiral (retd) Fasih Bukharifrom appearing in court.

Faisal, who was investigat-ing the Rs22 billion rental powerprojects scam, was found hang-ing from a ceiling fan in his offi-cial residence in Federal Lodges,

Islamabad, on Jan 18. His deathcame three days after the Su-preme Court ordered the arrest ofPrime Minister Raja PervezAshraf and 15 others in connec-tion with the scam.

A two-judge bench of theapex court, comprising JusticeJawwad S Khawaja and JusticeKhilji Arif Hussain, has beenhearing the case.

During Friday’s hearing, theNAB chairman had appearedbefore the bench and had in-formed the judges that the gov-ernment had set up a commission

to investigate Faisal’s death.The court included the

government’s notification for thesetting up of the commission inthe case’s record.

Justice Khawaja said theNAB chairman would not haveto appear at the next hearing ofthe case, adding that he wouldhave to show up only when sum-moned .

Moreover, the registrar’s of-fice has objected to the writtenreservations expressed by theNAB’s Prosecutor General K K

Karachi mobilephone servicesremain suspendedfor 3 hoursSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Mobile phoneservices resumed in Karachion Friday after remainingsuspended from 12-3 pm uponthe orders of Federal InteriorMinister Rehman Malik amidsecurity concerns.

Malik had said onThursday that there was aterror threat in Karachi forFriday, hence mobile phoneservices were to be suspendedduring Friday prayer timingsfrom 12 noon to 3 pm.

The minister had furtherstated that all stake-holderswere consulted over the matterand preparations were made toincrease security aroundmosques and other religiousinstitutions. Malik had saidthat police had also been di-rected to improve patrolling,adding that the motive for cre-ating unrest in Karachi was to

27 perish in Hangumosque blastOver 50 critically injured

TARIQ SAEED

PESHAWAR—There appears to beno end to the barbarism of theheartless terrorists as a suicideexplosion outside a mosque im-mediately after the Juma congre-gation in communal strife riddenHungu district Friday afternoonleft least 27 faithful dead and se-rious injuries to over fifty others.Condition of large number of thewounded persons in various hos-pitals of the city was described ascritical with the medics appre-hending the death toll might gohigher. A policeman is also in-cluded among the dead.

The police authorities said amajority of those killed in theFriday’s deadly blast belonged toShiah community. A number ofvehicles and many shops were

also damaged in the blast that de-stroyed the mosque badly.

Reports reaching here fromHangu said, a teenaged suicidebomber blew himself outsideJamia mosque Faizullah in PattBazaar area where the Fridayprayers had hardly concluded andthe faithful were coming out of themosque playing havoc in the areawhere a busy market is located.

While the locals rushed thevictims to the district headquar-ters hospital, the security forcesand the rescue teams too reachedthe spot to carry out rescue op-eration. The law enforcers imme-diately cordoned off the area notallowing anybody to get close tothe site of the blast in order tofacilitate the rescue activities ef-fectively and to avoid the risk ofanother explosion. The doctors at

the City’s major hospitals de-clared as many as 27 people deadwhile more than fifty others wereadmitted for treatment to varioushospitals including Kohat andPeshawar with many of themstated to be in precarious condi-tion.

Incharge District Headquar-ters Hospital (DHQ) Hangu saidmore than 50 people were broughtto the hospital out of which 16,who were stated to be in seriouscondition, were shifted to hospi-tals in Kohat.

District Police Officer (DPO)Hangu Dr. Muhammad Saeedsaid the blast was a suicide attackand that the bomber had tacticallyselected a spot outside of themosque which opened into acrowded market. “The bomber

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ANP calls for army deployment in Karachi

JUI-F walks out of Senate againstBalochistan governor rule

ISLAMABAD—The Awami Na-tional Party (ANP) duringFriday’s session of the Senate,demanded that army be deployedin Karachi in order to improvethe city’s security situation.

Speaking to media represen-tatives after the session, SenatorHaji Adeel of the ANP said lawand order could not be establishedin the city without a military de-ployment, adding that an indis-criminate operation against crimi-nal elements in the country’s fi-nancial capital was necessary.Adeel said Karachi also neededto be rid of illegal arms. The de-

mand came in the wake of thekilling of two religious teachersand a student of a seminary whowere gunned down in a brazenattack on their hi-roof van onKarachi’s Sharae Faisal. The at-tack follows Interior MinisterRehman Malik’s recent state-ment that Karachi could wit-ness bloodshed in the comingdays and that he had credibleinformation about it.

Also during the session,senators from the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) staged awalk out from the parliament’supper house in protest against the

imposition of governor rule inBalochistan.

Senator Talha Mahmood ofthe JUI-F said if the governor rulein Balochistan was not soon re-placed with a government of theprovince’s elected representa-tives, members of the JUI-Fwould stage a sit-in inside theparliament. Governor ruled wasimposed in Balochistan days af-ter thousands of Hazara Shias be-gan a sit-in in the freezing coldon Quetta’s Alamdar Road alongwith the bodies of dozens ofpeople killed in bombings in theprovincial capital

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India not torelax vigil atLoC: Antony

NEW DELHI—Tension alongthe Line of Control (LoC) hadreduced but India could not re-lax its vigil until it was convincedthat Pakistan’s promises were“actually translated into action”,Defence Minister AK Antonysaid on Friday.

Following the series of talksat the level of the Directors Gen-eral of Military Operations(DGMO), tension along the LoC,which divides Jammu and Kash-mir between India and Pakistan,was much reduced, Antony said.

“But we cannot relax andhave to be on vigil 24X7 becauselots of promises were madepromises are not enough. Wewant to see that these are prom-

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Pak bowlersruin Smith’shistoric dayJOHANNESBURG—Two part-time bowlers spoiled Graeme

Smith’s big day asSouth Africa werebowled out for 253 onthe first day of the firstTest against Pakistan atthe Wanderers Stadiumon Friday.

South Africa weredismissed after Smith,celebrating 100 Tests as captainand his 32nd birthday, won thetoss and decided to bat in what

were always likely to bechallenging conditions on apitch with pace and bounce.

Pakistan survived two overat the end of the day, finishingon six for no wicket.

The South African batsmendid well enough againstPakistan’s front line bowlers,but lost five wickets to part-

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Milan court convicts3 Americans in CIA

kidnappingMILAN—A Milan appeals courthas convicted a former CIA sta-tion chief and two other Ameri-cans in absentia in the 2003 ren-dition kidnapping of an Egyptiancleric. The court on Friday sen-

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ISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt has directed NAB, FIA, theForeign Office (FO) and all otherstate authorities involved in theOGRA case to ensure that theaccused Tauqir Sadiq is broughtback to the country by the nexthearing on February 7.

On Thursday, January 31,2013, a two-member bench of theSupreme Court, conducting pro-ceedings in the OGRA Imple-mentation case, announced itsorder. The court noted with re-gret that more than 14 monthsafter its initial order directing aprompt inquiry by NAB in thismulti-billion corruption scam,and despite more than a dozenfollow-up hearings, littleprogress has been made. The ac-cused Tauqir Sadiq had still notbeen brought back to Pakistan

after being allowed to escape. Inwhat appears to be the latest ruse,instead of the swift deportationprocess, long-drawn extraditionproceedings are being contem-plated. This might substantiallydelay the progress of the case.

According to a press releaseof the Supreme Court, the courthas also noted a series of irregu-larities which, on the face of it,indicate that certain NAB high-ups may have been deliberatelyhampering the progress on theinquiry.

Details of such irregulari-ties, based on NAB’s officiallyfiled reports to the SC, have beenquoted in the order at length. If adeliberate attempt to hamper theinvestigation was established,this would constitute a serious

SC orders Tauqir Sadiqproduction on Feb 7

Continued on Page 7

See also Sports Page

Year’s first poliocase surfacesSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—A two-year-oldchild was diagnosed with polioin Bin Qasim Town of Karachi.

Sources said, this is the firstpolio case of the year 2013 in thecountry. They added that parentshad refused to administer anti-polio vaccine to the affectedchild.

Continued on Page 7

ISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt on Thursday issuedorder on implementation ofjudgment regarding allegedcorruption in Rental PowerPlants (RPPs). Following isthe text of the order:Order Iftikhar MuhammadChaudhry, CJ.-We havepassed an order on 30. 01.2013, contents whereof arereproduced herein below:-

It has transpired that dur-ing pendency of instant mat-ter, relating to implementa-tion of the judgment of thisCourt dated 30.03.2012, re-ported as Alleged Corruptionin Rental Power Plants, etc.(2012 SCMR 773), some printand electronic media hadprinted and televised, thecontents of a letter of theChairman NAB. We enquiredfrom the learned ProsecutorGeneral NAB, about such let-ter, he replied in affirmative.We also enquired from him,as to whether the Chairman,NAB has expressed somereservations, he stated thatperhaps some reservationshave been expressed by theChairman NAB.

2. In such view of thematter, we direct to the Chair-man, NAB to place on record,an authentic copy of the saidletter and also disclose thename of the Authorities towhom the same has been cir-culated and also verify, as ithas been delivered to themedia, both print and elec-tronic, for its publication andtelecasting, he may do so till31.01.2013.

2. Mr. K.K. Agha, Pros-ecutor General, NAB in com-pliance of the aforesaid direc-tions has placed on recordcopy of the letter authenti-cated by the Chairman NAB,reference of which has beenmade in the order notedabove. Before considering itscontents, it is to be notedthat this Court in a case of“alleged corruption in theRental Power Plants etc” ini-tiated proceedings on thebasis of applications submit-ted by Makhdoom SyedFaisal Saleh Hayat, one of theParliamentarians of PML Q)and the Parliamentary Leaderof his Party in the NationalAssembly as well asKhawaja Muhammad Asif,Member of National Assem-bly of PML (N). The applica-tions moved by them werenumbered as HRCs No.7734-G of 2009, 1003-G of 2010, and56712 of 2010. These matterswere heard from time to time,however, the final judgmentin respect of the issues ofcorruption in the matter of theRental Power Plants was de-livered on 30.3.2012. It is tobe noted that during hearingof the petitions, a consider-able amount which had beendoled out to the sponsors ofthe RPPs was received backon short notices pointing to-wards illegal payments of thesaid amounts. In the judg-ment, inter alia, following di-rections were made:

ix. All the Governmentfunctionaries, including theMinisters for Water andPower holding charge in 2006and onward and from 2008 toonward, during whose tenurethe RPPs were approved/setup and Minister as well asSecretary Finance holdingthe charge when the downpayment was increased from7% to 14%, prima facie, vio-lated the principle of trans-parency under Articles 9 and24 of the Constitution andSection 7 of the Act, 1997,therefore, their involvement

in getting financial benefitsout of the same by indulgingin corruption and corruptpractices cannot be over-ruled in view of the discus-sion made hereinabove. Con-sequently, they are liable tobe dealt with under the Na-tional Accountability Ordi-nance, 1999 by the NAB;

x. . . .xi. The Chairman NAB is

directed to proceed againstall the persons referred to insub paragraphs (iii), (ix) and(x) above forthwith in accor-dance with law and submitfortnightly progress report toRegistrar for our perusal inChambers.”

As it is evident from thecontents of the relevant di-rections that this Court hav-ing been conscious aboutthe rights of the persons in-volved in corruption and cor-rupt practices had usedguarded language. However,in view of findings so re-corded and as per the direc-tions noted herein above,Chairman NAB was directedto proceed against the per-sons reference of which hasbeen made in directions,noted above and conveyedto him immediately after thepronouncement of the judg-ment of even date.

The office had been re-ceiving reports from time totime but with certain reserva-tions at times: and the NABwas asked to do the needful.Ultimately, despite lapse ofconsiderable period of time,on 15th September, 2012, spe-cific order was passedwherein it was concluded thatprima facie, it appears thatNAB authorities are inten-tionally avoiding to imple-ment the judgment in clearviolation of the observa-tions/directions and are com-mitting contempt of Court asenvisaged under Article 204of the Constitution of the Is-lamic Republic of Pakistan,1973 read with Section 3 ofthe Contempt of Court Ordi-nance, 2003.

Therefore, show-causenotices were issued to theChairman NAB as well asother persons whose namesfind mention in the orderdated 14.09.2012. He alongwith his other officers ap-peared and thereafter matterwas postponed and on someof the dates of hearing ap-pearance of the ChairmanNAB was also not insistedupon, in this behalf refer-ence may be made to thehearing which had takenplace on 25.09.2012,01.10.2012 and 08.11.2012.On the last mentioned date,CMA No.4649 of 2012 wassubmitted by MakhdoomSyed Faisal Salah Hayat.Notice of the same was is-sued. It is to be noted thatin this application, it wascomplained that one of theRPP Barage MountedKarkay was being allowed tosail out of the territorial wa-ters of Pakistan without ef-fecting recovery of theamount due against it.

Therefore, orders werealso passed that without set-tling the outstanding duesagainst it may not be allowedto go. In the meanwhile,learned Attorney General forPakistan appeared and hewas also requested to lookinto the matter in respect ofthe implementation of judg-ment to the extent of settlingthe accounts of Karkay andan order was passed on12.11.2012 and for this pur-pose thee case was ad-

journed for 20.11.2012 ,21.11.2012, 22.11.2012 and26.12.2012, when the matterto the extent of Karkay wasdisposed of with the obser-vation that let the NAB ef-fect the recovery of outstand-ing amount, subject to all justand legal exception with fur-ther observation that it shallbe the responsibility of theChairman NAB to effect itsrecovery, if the ship left theterritorial waters of Pakistan.

3. On 09.01.2013, RajaAmir Abbas, learned counselfor the officers of NAB towhom the contempt noticeswere issued, informed thatreferences have been recom-mended in two cases and thereports have been receivedfrom the Regional Headquar-ters of the NAB. The num-bers of those cases are asfollows:i) Case No.2(3-RPP)/SOD/2012/NAB(Against Raja ParvezAshraf, Ex-Minister W&Pand 15 others)ii) Case No.2(4-RPP)/SOD/2012/NABAgainst Shahid Rafi & 21others)

4. These references wererecommended against theformer Minister for Water &Power, Raja Parvez Ashraf,the incumbent Prime Minis-ter and others. On the saiddate, it was also informedthat vide letter dated07.01.2013 when the IOs un-der contempt have been re-moved from those cases onthe ground that the SupremeCourt did not appear to behappy with their perfor-mance. As this Court hadnever expressed any reser-vation about their perfor-mance, therefore, on queryas to why the name of theSupreme Court is being usedfor such purpose and it wasinformed by Brig (R) FarooqNasar Awan, who appearedin person.

He was asked that as towhy action in this behalfshould not be taken againsthim in accordance with law.However, subsequently, ittranspired that there is ahandwritten note of theChairman NAB, which in facthad furnished the basis fortheir removal. It is to be notedthat these reports weresigned by one Asghar Ali.The notice was issued to theChairman NAB to explain asto why he falsely used thename of the Supreme Courtto remove those IOs. Thisorder was written on15.01.2013, wherein thenames of M/s Asghar Ali andKamran Faisal were alsomentioned. However, direc-tions were issued to preparethe challan/reference andprocess the same and there-after cause arrest of the ac-cused. On 17.01.2013, CMANo.224 of 2013 was filed inthe Court, which was signedby Rana Zahid Mehmood,which was not found satis-factory and the Court ex-pressed strong reservations,however, on the said date itwas decided to see the filesof investigation as towhether the judgment is be-ing implemented in letter andspirit. Learned ProsecutorGeneral NAB raised objec-tion upon the jurisdiction ofthe Court to look into the in-vestigation. However, he wasasked to address the Courtand the case was adjournedto 23.01.2013. In the mean-while, on 18.01.2013 Mr.Kamran Faisal, Assistant Di-rector, NAB engaged in in-

vestigation of the cases wasmysteriously found dead,therefore, a note was receivedfrom the Registrar and thematter was transferred to an-other Hon’ble Bench to lookinto the same. After23.01.2013, it appeared in thenewspapers that a letter hasbeen sent by the ChairmanNAB to the President of Pa-kistan, therefore, vide orderdated 30.01.2013, ProsecutorGeneral was asked to informthe Chairman NAB to makeavailable an authenticatedcopy of the letter. We havegone through contents of theletter, which was read out atour request by Mr. K.K.Agha. On having gonethrough the letter, we havenoticed that the ChairmanNAB has mentioned the situ-ation prevailing in the coun-try and admitting that ourpeople are anxious to holdfree and fair elections and,inter alia, stated as follows:-

“At this juncture all po-litical players appear unani-mous and united to respondto the aspirations of theircountrymen. There is broadconsensus that non-politicalplayers must not be allowedto derail the political process.The Military has made itsposition clear and firmlystands with the people”.

He further states that:-“I am constrained to ob-

serve and bring to your no-tice that the position of theHon’ble Supreme Court, onthis issue, remains cloudedby actions that are bearingheavily on my mandate tostrictly abide by the NAO inboth letter and spirit, as thetime for elections ap-proaches.”

The letter further reads asfollows:- “The clear line be-tween the recognized author-ity of the Supreme Courtmonitor NAB investigationsto the limited extent of ensur-ing fair investigation, and it-self becoming involved inguiding investigations ap-pears to be becomingbreached as a norm as theelections near. ContemptNotices, verbal orders thatdefer from written orders, andinsufficient time to preparenumerous progress reports,are placing extreme pressureon NAB personnel who ap-pear before the Hon’bleJudges. There is even a dan-ger that NAB personnelcould lose their indepen-dence and are unable to carryout their investigation in anindependent manner due tothe pressure being exertedon them by the Hon’ble Su-preme Court to proceedalong lines which seem to bedesired by the SupremeCourt.

In relieving this pressure,to safeguard their jobs, andso as not to displease theHon’ble Court, there is dan-ger of unfair investigationbeing resorted to. This phe-nomenon is observable in theinvestigation of very seniorpoliticians of the Govt. whereorders, to even arrest them,have been issued on investi-gation reports of regional in-vestigators that had yet toreach the Executive BoardMeeting at NAB Headquar-ters that is chaired by me.This could be construed as aclear violation of the powersof the Chairman NAB, and tosome degree circumventingthe NAO which I am requiredby law to follow. The NAO inmy view as it remains lawpassed by Parliament repre-sents the will of the people

and as such I am bound tofollow it.

The National Account-ability Ordinance mandatesthat no reference can be fileduntil I have been allowed toexercise my mind, and decidethat a clear case of criminal-ity has been made out. Iwould be failing in my statu-tory duty if I shirk from up-holding the law that I ammandated to protect. Let meassure you, Mr. Presidentthat I will not flinch from pros-ecuting whosoever may beidentified as having commit-ted a criminal act under theNational Accountability Or-dinance. All are equal beforethe law. The nation expectsthat there be no sacred cows,nor rigging bulls.

The above para was fol-lowed with the followingpara:-

“I am constrained to alsobring to your notice the re-volt within NAB, clearlyabated by a certain sectionof the media that used the saddemise of Mr. Kamran Faisalto vilify me and some seniorNAB officers. This section ofthe media appears to be act-ing as an intelligence unit in-fluencing the public and pos-sibly influencing certainmembers of the judiciary.Long stand “stay” on taxesto be paid by this mediahouse appears to be relevantalso. This campaign, in whichthe role of the Hon’ble Su-preme Court appears evi-dence, is placing great pres-sure on me to please theHon’ble Supreme Court inwhat could be seen as pre-poll rigging, and hurried un-lawful action on my part.”

5. It is to be noted that ref-erence to the stay order ontaxes to be paid by some me-dia house, nothing was statedin respect of the case whichis pending before this Court.However, last line startingfrom the expression “this cam-paign” wherein he has alsogone to the extent of usingthe expression “the role of theHon’ble Supreme Court ap-pears evident, is placing greatpressure on me to please theHon’ble Supreme Court inwhat could be seen as pre-pollrigging, and hurried unlawfulaction on my part”. (Empha-sis is supplied)

6. Similarly, he has madefurther observation in thefollowing para in respect offunctioning of the SupremeCourt, etc.:- “The Ombudsman officeswere established to also ad-dress human rights issues.The need to allow theHon’ble SC to be divertedfrom its prime roles as the fi-nal Appellate and Constitu-tional Court may need to beaddressed since ability totake suo moto notice of hu-man rights cases can becomean open license to underminegovernment, and may be tak-ing time away from address-ing the issues of judicial man-agement of the current hugependency of cases in ourcourts. In the absence oftimely justice the people areforced to take the law intotheir own hands and theiranger becomes focused ontheir governments. The es-sence of law is to provide amoral benchmark to society.That benchmark is sadly be-ing lost by a judiciary thatmay be fast losing its ownmoral authority by relying onthe contempt law, media,street power of lawyers, andunchecked violations of theSupreme Court Judges code

of conduct.”7. It is needless to ob-

serve once again that thisCourt vide its judgmentdated 31st July, 2009, andsubsequent thereto at differ-ent occasions had repeat-edly insisted and shall con-tinue to insist about the en-forcement of rule of law andsupremacy of the Constitu-tion as well as the continu-ance of the democratic orderand in this context while de-livering judgments, particu-larly, in the case of Workers’Party Pakistan throughAkhtar Hussain, Advocate,General Secretary and 6-oth-ers Vs. Federation of Paki-stan and 2-others (PLD 2012SC 681) certain suggestionshave also been made andduring the hearing of thiscase on 30.01.2013 had madeit loud and clear that thereshould not be any delay inthe forthcoming electionswhich should be held freely,fairly, honestly and strictlyin accordance with the Con-stitution without any inter-ference or obstacles fromany quarters.

Despite of such a clearstance of the judiciary in thiscountry, we the Judges areconfident that there wouldnot be any delay of whatso-ever nature in holding theelections in accordance withthe Constitution, but at thesame time, we have to expressour concern being the cus-todian of the Constitutionabout the press reports aswell as the statements beingmade by the highly reputablepersonalities like Mr. RazaRabbani, who has shown hisconcern about the derailmentof the democracy in a newsitem published on 29th Janu-ary, 2013 in the Daily Dawn,Nation, Daily Times, DailyJang, Daily Express,Khabrain and Al-Akhbar,etc. Similarly, there are analy-sis of different authors pub-lished in different newspa-pers on a daily basis whereinit is being apprehended bythe persons who believe inthe rule of law and the Con-stitution, that in view of theletter which has been notedhereinabove a situation isbeing created whereafter tak-ing on the judiciary the elec-tions will be delayed or someother ulterior motives andobjects are achieved. Thepeople/citizens are fullyaware that as far back as on3rd of November, 2007, whenimportant matters were pend-ing before this Court and theBenches were seized of thesame, particularly, in respectof the qualification or other-wise of Gen. PervezMusharraf to contest elec-tions in uniform but beforethe conclusion of the caseunder certain apprehensions,Martial Law was imposed inthe name of Emergency Plusin the country. However, im-mediately on coming to knowof it an order was passed bya seven Members Bench ofthis Court, which ultimatelyresulted after the restorationof the instant judiciary in ajudgment in the case ofSindh High Court Bar Asso-ciation through its Secretaryand another Vs. Federationof Pakistan through Secre-tary, M/o Law & Justice,Islamabad and other (PLD2009 SC 879).

8. In such view of thematter, at present it is ourduty being the Apex Courtwho had made a commitmentto protect and preserve theConstitution of 1973 not to

allow any subversion or de-viation in any manner for thepurpose of achieving theobjects noted hereinabove.And also to ensure that asfar as the constitutional au-thority of this Court is con-cerned, it cannot be under-mined or the respect or thehonour of this Court can bebring under hatred. ThisCourt undoubtedly enjoysthe confidence of the citizensof this country being theApex Court and similarly inthe case of Baz MuhammadKakar and others Vs. Federa-tion of Pakistan through M/o Law & Justice and others(PLD 2012 SC 923) we havealready observed that it is theconfidence which gives trustto the general public and citi-zens who are the subject orperson in the country in thejudicial system, therefore, itis considered utmost neces-sary to pass two followingorders.

i) As the parliamentarysystem is flourishing in thecountry on the basis of ademocratic order in terms ofthe Constitutional provi-sions and the elections af-ter 5 years, for the Nationaland Provincial Assembliesare scheduled to be heldshortly, therefore, it is heldthat the elections must beheld in accordance with theConstitution and thereshould be no apprehensionof the derailment of the de-mocracy as expressed in thestatements which are beingpublished and have alsobeen attributed to highlyreputable and respectableparliamentarians and nor theexecutive both the civiliansand the military shall takeany action in this behalfwhich would tantamount todeviation from the Constitu-tion and the democratic or-der whereunder the countryis governed by elected rep-resentative of the peopleonly or by introducing anyother system which is notrecognized under the Con-

stitution, in the name of tak-ing actions against the judi-ciary or the Judges of thesuperior Court on the basisof the letter which has beenwritten by the ChairmanNAB, relevant paras there-from have already been re-produced hereinabove.

(ii)Copy of the letter ofAdmiral (R) Fasih Bokhari,Chairman NAB, as pre-sented which he has sent tothe President, contentswhereof have been notedhereinabove and perused.We are of the opinion thatwhatever he has expressedtherein, tentamounts tocausing interference withand obstruction in the pro-cess of the Court and is sub-stantially detrimental to theadministration of justice andalso has used certain expres-sions which have also scan-dalized the Court and its per-formance with the object toundermine the authority ofthe Court and bring it intohatred and ridicule in theeyes of the general publicwho have to approach theCourt for the purpose of de-cision of their cases and ifsuch a move made by him isnot noticed properly thepeople would loose the con-fidence in this Institution ashe has involved the Su-preme Court as a whole be-ing an Institution, therefore,we issue notice to him un-der Article 204 of the Con-stitution read with Section 3of the Contempt of CourtOrdinance, 2003, with thedirection to him to enter ap-pearance in person on 4thFebruary, 2013, for filing ofthe reply and for further pro-ceedings according to theConstitution and law”.

9. The Office is directedto issue notice to Admiral (R)Fasih Bokhari, ChairmanNAB, to the extent of the con-tents of the letter and the lastpreceding para of this ordernoted hereinabove during thecourse of the day.10. Adjourned to 04.02.2013

Text of SC order on implementation of judgment in RPPs case

RAWALPINDI—Lt GeneralSalim Nawaz, Inspector Gen-eral Arms, GHQ has said thatPakistan is currently facedwith both internal and exter-nal security threats, whichdemands exercise of extraor-dinary vigilance by all in pro-tecting our national assets. Hewas addressing an impressivePassing Out Parade of SSBC-3 (Security Soldier BasicCourse) held at the SPD Train-ing Academy here on Friday.

While addressing thebatch of passing out sol-diers, Lt General Salim Nawazsaid that the passing out sol-

diers have taken an oath tosafeguard these StrategicAssets at all cost, and he hasno doubt in their capabilitiesand resolve to perform thissacred duty in the most be-fitting manner.

The Chief Guest con-gratulated the passing outbatch on the successfulcompletion of the rigoroustraining with diligence andcommitment. He also praisedthe instructional staff for im-parting quality training. Ear-lier on arrival at the TrainingAcademy, the Chief Guestwas received by Major Gen-

eral. Muhammad Tahir, Direc-tor General Security, SPD,Commandant SPD TrainingAcademy, and other seniorofficials of Security Division.

Meanwhile chairing theannual meeting of Board ofGovernors at PAF-KarachiInstitute of Economics andTechnology on Friday AirChief Marshal Tahir RafiqueButt, Chief of the Air Staff,Pakistan Air Force who isalso the patron in chief ofPAF-KIET said technicaleducation is the key to suc-cess”. He further lauded theefforts made by the faculty

for providing quality andmeaningful education to thestudents that can bring sig-nificant and positive changein their lives.

Earlier on his arrival, AirChief Marshal Tahir RafiqueButt, Chief of the Air Staff,Pakistan Air Force was re-ceived by the chairman PAF-KIET Air Marshal Azim DaudPota. PAF-KIET was estab-lished in year 2000 and is pro-viding quality education in thefields of engineering, com-puter information, manage-ment sciences, electronics andmedia arts ever since.—INP

Protection of national assets needsextraordinary watch: Gen Salim

RAWALPINDI: Lieutenant General Salim Nawaz, Inspector General Arms, reviewing the passing out parade ofSecurity Soldiers Basic Course held at the SPD Training Academy.

SUKKUR—Additional DeputyCommissiner (ADC) Shikarpur,Yasir Jan Baloch has said thatafter the approval of senior citi-zen bill maximum rights wouldbe available to the senior citi-zens. Speaking at an Advo-

Senior citizens bill to bring positive changes in societycacy workshop on senior citi-zen bill, jointly organised bySindh Rural SupportOrganisation (SRSO) and HelpAge International at ShikarpurGymkhana on Friday, the ADCsaid such a bill will bring posi-

tive changes in the lives ofsenior citizens.

Senior Manager DisasterMangememt PreparationCell (DPMC) of Sindh RuralSupport Organisation(SRSO) Abdul Hameed Bullo

urged the government topresent bill on senior citi-zens’ welfare for approval bythe parliament. He said theelderly people faced prob-lems, especially during emer-gency situations.—APP

Kausar condemns Hangu blastStaff Reporter

PESHAWAR—The Khyber Pakhtunkhwagovernor Barrister Masood Kausar hascondemned the blast at Hangu and ex-pressed his deep shock and sorrow overthe loss of precious lives in the tragicincident on Friday. In his condolencemessage, the Governor expressing hisdeep sympathies with members of thebereaved families and said the incidentwas worst act of terrorism wherein inno-cent worshipers were killed. Governor

also advised concerned authorities to ensure best ever avail-able treatment facilities to the injured. He has also prayedfor the eternal peace of the departed souls and grantingcourage to families to bear the irreparable loss with patience.He prayed for early recovery of the injured. Meanwhile,Chief of ANP Asfandyar Wali Khan and Provincial Presi-dent Afrasiab Khattak have condemned blast outsidemosque in Hangu and over the loss of precious human livesin the inhuman act. In a statement issued from Central Me-dia Cell Bacha Khan Markez Peshawar here on Friday, ANPChief and Provincial President stated that terrorists wereindulging in inhuman acts merely to hold their sway overpeople. ANP Leaders opined that terrorists would not es-cape the wrath of Allah Almighty adding that ANP and peoplehave rendered great sacrifices in the war against terror, whichwould always be remembered. ANP Chief said that the facesof terrorist were unmasked adding that terrorist were killinginnocent people and were acting on foreign agenda.Asfandyar Wali Khan and Afrasiab Khattak prayed for theeternal blessings of the martyrs and for the early recoveryof the injured. National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirzaand Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi Friday stronglycondemned blast in Hangu city which result in loss of livesand injuries to many persons.

Elect honest repsQUETTA—Chief Executive and gover-nor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar AliMagsi on Friday urged people to electhonest people in general elections toensure good governance in future. Talk-ing to a Hazara delegation here at Gov-ernor House, he said that compensa-tion amount for the families of the Quettatwin blasts’ victims has been releasedbesides directives has also been issuedto compensate the others who died in

violence in recent past. Nawab Magsi said he had askedthe officials concerned to make Benazir Hospital opera-tional immediately. Earlier, delegation commended the ef-forts of Governor to maintain peace in the province.” Thereis tangible improvement in the law and order situation af-ter the imposition of Governor’s rule in Balochistan,” theysaid. Meanwhile it is reported that Minister in Charge forthe Ministry of National Harmony, Dr. Paul Bhatti calledon former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and discussedthe role and participation of minorities in the upcominggeneral elections. Dr. Paul also affirmed that All PakistanMinorities Alliance (APMA) would continue its alliancewith Pakistan Peoples Party that was agreed upon betweenformer Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheedand former Minister of Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti (late).Gilani assured Dr. Bhatti of his full cooperation and re-affirmed his party’s resolve to bring the minorities intomainstream of social, economic and political life. Duringthe course of meeting, Dr. Paul also shared with Gilaniarrangements for the upcoming National Conference titled“Living together with diversity.—APP

IPR certificate courseStaff Reporter

PESHAWAR—The inaugural ceremonyof Independent Project Reporting (IPR),three months certificate Course on De-velopment Journalism was held here atthe Department of Journalism and Com-munication (JMC), University ofPeshawar. The Independent Project Re-porting (IPR) is an integral part of theFATA Development Programme imple-mented by FATA Secretariat andDeutsche Gesellschaft for Internationale

Zusammenarbeit GIZ, funded by the German government.University of Peshawar Department of Journalism andCommunication (JMC) is an important partner of theProgramme since 2010. This course focuses on the appliedside of journalism and helps students achieve better un-derstanding on the work of development cooperation andpromotes responsible journalism. Vice Chancellor UoP Prof.Dr. Muhammad Rasul Jan was the Chief Guest of the day.DG Projects FATA Secretariat Mazhar Ali Shah, StefanSchmid, Head of FATA Development Program, Dean Fac-ulty of Management and Information Sciences Prof. Dr.Abdul Qayyum, Chairman Department of Journalism andMass Communication Prof. Dr Shah Jehan Syed were alsopresent. The department has been imparting trainings forcapacity building of the journalists for the last sixteen years,said chairman Department of JMC in his opening remarks.He added the Independent Project Reporting programstarted in January 2010 with the support of GIZ to providehands on experience to media practitioners of KP andFATA. About the certificate course on development jour-nalism he said that the program is initiated with the aim offilling the gap between theory and practical. FATA is anarea of concern for me as a Pashtun, head of this institu-tion and being an inhabitant of this area he said.

Govt to safeguard minorities’ rightsISLAMABAD—The present governmentwas very much committed to safeguardits citizen including minorities without anydiscrimination on creed, race and colorbasis. Minister of State for National Har-mony, Akram Masih Gill stated this whileattending a Christmas Milan Party givenat Oil and Gas Development CompanyLimited (OGDCL) in the honor ofcompany’s Christian employees. He saidthe government was working on the

agenda to promote interfaith harmony to bring peace andtolerance in the society and for this purpose the Ministry ofNational Harmony had been established. He further said thatgifts had been distributed by the ministry among the deserv-ing christian families to add their joys on the occasion ofChristmas. The government always made its efforts to fulfilits responsibility to ensure peace and security at all worshipplaces of the minorities and the diverse festivals announcedby ministry including Besakhi, Dewali, Holi, Eid-e-Rizwan,Chelumjusht, Nauroze, Christmas and Easter, he said. TheChairman OGDCL, Masood Siddiqui while speaking on theoccasion said, “We need to promote tolerance, forbearanceand forgiveness. As a supreme creation of Almighty Allah,human beings must take care for needs, rights and aspira-tions of others to foster balance in society, he added.” Chair-man Christian Association, Tariq Masih also spoke at theevent and said, every religion teaches peace and brother-hood to protect rights of others and promote tolerance. “Weshould have dialogue, understanding, cooperation to achieveharmony and remove misperceptions among different faiths.The Minister also underscored the need for the job securityof all the employees and said that all employees should betreated on equal basis without any discrimination.—APP

HYDERABAD—The deathsof scores of children in therecent measles outbreak indifferent parts of the coun-try has exposed the weakroutine immunisation systemin Pakistan in general and theprovince of Sindh in particu-lar. Regional Manager Soci-ety for Protection of theRights of Child (SPARC)Iqbal Detho while talking toAPP informed that Pakistanis among the ten countriesthat account for almost twothirds of the world’s un-immunised children. He saidthat 53 percent of children inthe province of Sindh hadnot received the vaccine de-spite its availability.

He said that Child Rights

Movement (CRM), Sindhchapter is concerned aboutthe huge difference in rou-tine immunisation coveragebetween the provinces, dis-tricts and cities which hemaintained, is at the root ofmeasles outbreak in thecountry.

Prominent consultantpediatricians have put theblame of these under-fivechild deaths due to measles,on mismanagement at dis-trict level, neglect of routineimmunisation and lack ofawareness among parentsregarding routineimmunisation, he said. He in-formed that WHO presenteda report to the governmentwhich stated that the pri-

mary reason for the outbreakwas a failure to complete theimmunisation programme.The report also confirmedthat the country’s continu-ous struggle with a fraughthealth care system, unsani-tary conditions in many re-gions, and lack of educationabout how to prevent chil-dren from the disease con-tributed towards this out-break as well, he added.

Iqbal Detho maintainedthat no medical teams or vac-cinators had as yet visitedthe affected areas of the dis-tricts despite reporting ofdeaths on a daily basis andcomplaints of a large num-ber of children having beenaffected by measles. He

claimed that villagers arehelpless as neither the vac-cine nor the medical staff isavailable at the local healthfacilities, numerous childrenare suffering but their help-less parents could do noth-ing but wait for the vaccina-tors or doctors supposed tobe sent to the village by thehealth department. He saidthat it is high to respond tothe situation effectively andtake steps that maystrengthen the routineimmunisation system in Pa-kistan on a sustainable ba-sis which will also helperadicate polio from thecountry.

He recommended that theSindh Health Department

should launch a high qualitywidespread vaccination cam-paign against measles acrossthe province and ensure theavailability of vaccines atvaccination centres to eradi-cate the disease from theprovince.

He said that the federaland provincial governmentsshould start allocating spe-cific resources to scale uproutine immunisation target-ing uncovered areas andchildren from poorest seg-ments. The government andthe donor agencies shouldlaunch awareness raisingcampaigns to highlight theimportance of routineimmunisation and to get thechildren vaccinated with two

doses to eliminate theirchances of contracting theviral disease.

There are approximately10,000 vaccinators through-out Pakistan, strongly limit-ing the immunisation cover-age he said and added thatSindh government need toincreases the number of vac-cinators so that there is onevaccinator for every 5,000people in order to reach suf-ficient numbers of children.He said that it is essential forthe provincial government touse and expand the set of re-sponsibilities of LHWs toinclude the administration ofvaccinations particularly inthe uncovered areas andpoor segments.—APP

Kids measles deaths expose weak immunisation system

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—Mian IftikharHussain, Minister for Infor-mation, KhyberPakhtunkhwa has said thatprovincial government hasspent ‘four percent’ of pro-vincial GDP on educationwhich is the highest in thecountry. The minister wasspeaking at the launchingceremony of baseline stud-ies organized by SustainableDevelopment Policy Institute(SDPI) here on Friday.

He said that education isa priority agenda for ANPgovernment, which consideressential for social and eco-nomic development. “Be-sides constructing newschool, the government hadheavily invested on trainingand capacity building ofteachers in the provinces. In

higher education, we haveestablished eight new univer-sities increasing the numberof universities to eighteen,”he added.

He also talked on basiceducation and added thatANP government has intro-duced basic education inmother tongue. The educa-tion in Pashtu language hasbeen implemented whereaswork on Hindku, Seraiki, andChitrali is going on, headded. He said that devel-oped countries had pro-gressed through democ-racy and it is vital tostrengthen democratic pro-cess through creating po-litical awareness in popula-tion and strengtheningdemocratic values.

Giving details of ANPgovernment work on secu-rity he said that government

has doubled the number ofpolice force from 40,000 to80,000 with substantial in-crease in salaries, modernequipment, a compensationof 3 million for each shaheedand other benefits their fami-lies. Briefing on the launchof baseline studies andAAWAZ programme, IrinaMosel, Technical Specialist,AAWAZ, SDPI said thatAAWAZ is a five-year voiceand accountabilityprogramme which seeks tostrengthen democratic pro-cesses in Pakistan by mak-ing it more open, inclusiveand accountable to citizens.She informed thatprogramme is supported bythe Department for Interna-tional Development (DFID),UK and managed by leadingcivil society organizations inPakistan.

KP spent 4pc of GDP oneducation, highest in country

NAZIR SIYAL

LARKANA—Chief MinisterSindh Sayed Qaim Ali Shahsaid that PPP government hasearmarked Rs. 14 billion forhealth sector to improve skilldevelopment and quality ofhealth provision, besides Rs.2 to 12 billion increased ineducation sector in five years.Addressing to the 1stShaheed Muhatarma BenzirBhutto Medical University(SMBBMU) Convocation inLarkana, Chief Minister, saidthe dream have been comestrue today to distribute de-grees amongst 968 MBBSgraduates of various batches.

Qaim Ali Shah high-lighted that the present Sindhgovernment increased healthand education budget for theproper services of Sindhpeople, which was our prior-ity development of Educa-tion and Health sector. ChiefMinister told about successand uplift of health sectorwithin 5 years, that’s why,established five district hos-pitals and 11 Taluka hospi-tals in different parts of prov-ince he said. Qaim Ali Shahsaid that Shaheed Zulfikar AliBhutto and Shaheed BenazirBhutto devoted their lives forthe downtrodden people and

SMBBMU convocation: Rs 14bfresh projects to boost healthcare

LARKANA: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah awarding medal to a successfulstudent during the Ist Convocation of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical Uni-versity and 9th Convocation of Chandka Medical College.

PPP government every timeprovided jobs to hundreds ofdoctors, added that thosewho are daily wages andcontract employees are alsopermanent in the PPP gov-ernment he said.

Chief Minister said theConvocation is the first stepof SMBBMU graduates,which is a remarkable effortsof medical professionals in theAsia, when these graduateswill prove after post gradua-tion and M.phil research ondifferent health issues. TheUniversity requires morefunds about Rs. 4 to 5 millionsto fulfill the needs of all cor-ners, because it is a challeng-ing jobs to take a gigantic aimto the objectives he said. Onthe occasion, Vice ChancellorLiaqat Medical University(LUMS) Hyderabad Profes-sor Mashhood Alam Shah,Vice Chancellor SMBBMU Dr.Akber Hyder Soomro, Secre-tary Professor Shahid JamalSiddiqui, Registrar SMBBMUProf. Dr. Amanullah Jokhio,Principal Chandka MedicalCollege (CMC) Prof.Assadullah Mahar, Prof.Saifullah Jamro and otherswere present.

Meanwhile acting Gover-nor and Speaker Sindh As-sembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro

on Friday said the PPP hassuccessfully completed anenormous task and missionand vision of ShaheedZulfikar Ali Bhutto andShaheed Benazir Bhutto.Speaking to the 1st Convo-cation 2013 and taking oathfrom all newly graduates ofSMBBMU here at the site ofMohen-Jo-Daro roadLarkana, Acting Governorand Speaker SA advisedfresh graduates to take theirresponsibility to serve thehumanity in the health envi-ronment; it is a challengingopportunity for you to provein the national services atgrass roots level, where thedegree endorsed with its mis-sion and clear vision of op-portunity by SMBBMU.

He said the graduatesshould serve the cause with-out any discrimination, be-cause the people are waitingyour skilled approach inhealth sector through a tech-nological advancement andexperience, so that follow thefootprints of pioneers as theyserved he said. He said themedical graduates ofSMBBMU are the asset sothat you should prove youridentity of SMBBMU in theworld with a new research ofpost graduation and M Phil

he said.While, the Local govern-

ment provincial Minister AghaSiraj Durani said that the gift

of SMBBMU by the Presi-dent Asif Ali Zardari andMNA Faryal Talpur has given

a window of opportunity tothe people of our area to servethe masses they are facingcommon health problems, so

that lot of expertise of healthsector will prove in health is-sues he said. Law Minister and

Housing Mohammaed AyazSoomro has said thatSMBBMU a remarkable stepof the achievement of PPP

government and Doctors willget job in present governmentto serve the community.

KOHAT: A security personnel escorts the health workersas they administer polio vaccination to children in 2nd cam-paign. Concerned authorities are now providing healthworkers with security as during previous campaign at leastnine polio workers, including six women were killed in astring of gun attacks across country in December-2012.

ISLAMABAD—Minister forInformation and Broadcast-ing Qamar Zaman Kaira onFriday said that private sat-ellite TV channels licensedby PEMRA under their li-cense terms & conditions(clause 7.2) are allowed tobroadcast 10 percent of for-eign programming content,including 6 percent of Indianprogramming content and 4percent programming con-tent in any other foreign lan-guage. In a written reply sub-mitted in the National As-sembly, the minister said thatno foreign channel shall hedistributed unless landingrights permission for suchchannel has been obtainedfrom the Authority.

“Whereas, channels hav-ing landing rights permissionare allowed to air 10 percentlocal content except that ofUrdu-1 which is allowed 90percent of foreign contentdubbed in Urdu and 10 per-

cent locally produced Paki-stani content”, the ministersaid. He said PEMRA underSection 19(5) & Section (20)(f) of the PEMRA Ordinance2002 as amended PEMRA Act2007 and Section (15) (1) ofPEMRA Rules 2009 has de-vised code of conduct formedia broadcasters and cableTV operators which explicitlyprovides standards for pro-gramming and advertisementseligible for airing on privatesatellite TV channels.

It is pertinent to mentionhere that under the existingPEMRA laws, TV channelscannot be stopped from air-ing foreign dubbed contentas the same falls under thepermission allowed by theAuthority. “However, theAuthority is constrained totake any decisive step on theforeign dubbed content tillthe time policy directives areissued by the government”.

Minister for Informationand Broadcasting QamarZaman Kaira on Friday saidthat the Indian TV Channelsare not showing Pakistani TV

programmes and films in In-dia. “However, a joint work-ing group on Informationcomprising on India and Pa-kistan Ministries of Informa-tion and Broadcasting is work-ing on the mutual sharing ofTV programmes between theTV channels of both the coun-tries,” said the minister in awritten reply submitted in re-sponse to a question duringthe Question Hour in the Na-tional Assembly.

The minister said that theinformation section, PAHIC,New Delhi has informed thatas per Policy Guidelines of theMinistry of Information andBroadcasting, Government ofIndia, only the registered/li-cenced Satellite TV Channelsare down linked/received/transmitted and re-transmit-ted in India for public watch-ing. “Since Pakistani (TV)channels are not registeredwith or licenced from the In-dian Ministry of Informationand Broadcasting, therefore,these are not available on dis-tribution networks for publicviewing,” he added.—APP

No Indian TV channel broadcasting Pakistani contents

Satellite TV channels allowed tobroadcast 10pc foreign contents

QUETTA: Protesters of JUI-F, BNP Awami, PPP and other political parties block western bypassduring a shutter down and wheel jam strike against the Governor Rule in the province..

Widespreadrains, snowpredicted

ISLAMABAD—Widespreadrains with snowfall is likelyover Balochistan, KhyberPakhtunkhwa, Upper Punjab,Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistanduring first week of February.Spokesman of Pakistan Me-teorological Department

(PMD) informed that an ac-tive weather system is likelyto approach western parts ofcountry on Saturday and itwould grip many parts of thecountry on Sunday.

The expected weathersystem is very likely to gen-erate winter rainfall at a num-ber of places in the countryfor three to four days. Underthe influence of this weathersystem, widespread rains withisolated heavy falls is ex-pected in Balochistan,Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP),upper Punjab includingRawalpindi, Sargodha,Faisalabad, Gujranwala,Lahore.—APP

Is massacre inKarachi in the offing?AS members of the National Assembly and Senate were grilling

Interior Minister Rehman Malik for his apparently reckless statement about massacre in Karachi in February and even its possible

‘fall’, the gory incidents of Thursday sent shivers down the spine of ev-ery serious citizen of the country about what is happening in the port city.At least 18 people including two renowned religious leaders were gunneddown in the city by assailants, triggering fresh wave of fears, apprehen-sions and uncertainty.

The way the movement of the van of the religious leaders wasblocked by a vehicle to facilitate an attacker to target passengers andthen comfortably ride a motorcycle along with two other terrorists is astark reminder that Karachi is slipping out of hand and nothing short ofmajor surgery could stem the rot. The CCTV footage repeatedly airedby different television channels was a clear testimony to the fact that itwas meticulously planned and implemented with shameful ease, send-ing a clear but wrong message to Karachiites that there was absolutelyno law enforcement in the city and they have just to pray to AlmightyAllah for their own safety and security of their belongings. Today weare witnessing the same situation in Karachi as people of Beirut saw inthe past with alarming surge in target killings, acts of terrorism, kid-napping for ransom, extortion of almost every home and income-earn-ing individual and rise in street crimes. No doubt, Rehman Malik gavea categorical warning but is his duty confined to sharing of such infor-mation with public? Why the Federal and Provincial Governments haveso far not been able to take corrective steps when factors and reasonsare known even to the layman? Sharjeel Memon has talked about anoperation but we have seen that Police, Rangers and agencies are notgetting free hand to treat criminals as criminals alone as at the end ofthe day they have to release terrorists and target killers due to interven-tion from here or there. A genuine operation to cleanse the city of alltypes of criminals is overdue and this should be done without fear orfavour as it has now become a question of life and death of the peopleand future of Karachi and in a way of Pakistan.

Qadri may reconsiderECP reconstitution

DESPITE clearly told by legal experts and members of the governmental negotiating team that dissolution of the Election Commis-

sion of Pakistan (ECP) was impossibility in view of the protection that itenjoyed under the Constitution, chief of Minhajul Quran Dr Tahirul Qadriis adamant to pursue his demand and has threatened now to move theSupreme Court on the subject. Addressing a press conference in Lahoreon Thursday, he also announced to knock the doors of the judiciary againstuse of discretionary funds of the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers.

No one would differ from the point of view of Dr Qadri as his de-mands are aimed at ensuring holding of elections in free, fair and trans-parent manner and provision of level playing fields to all. His emphasison misuse of discretionary funds by PM and CMs is laudable and logicalas no one should have any power to spend taxpayers’ money in whimsi-cal manner to promote personal or party agenda. It is because of thisthat the Election Commission has placed a ban on transfer or diversionof funds and the Supreme Court too has taken notice of such instances.However, the demand for removal of the ECP and its reconstitution issupra-constitutional and that is why it is not finding favours with anyone including people of Pakistan. Apart from constitutional position, itis also a fact that the general elections are shortly to be held and thedemand for dissolution and reconstitution of the Commission so closeto the polls date amounts to seeking delay of the elections, which willnot be allowed by the nation. At this point of time, all including DrTahirul Qadri should focus on the one point of holding of electionstimely and in a transparent manner, otherwise undue emphasis on is-sues like ECP dissolution could amount to opening of Pandora’s box.Dr Qadri has carved out a vital role for him in the society but he shoulduse his position and influence to create an enabling environment forholding of elections as this alone would further elevate his stature.

UN reviews Palestinianhuman rights

THE United Nations has demanded of Israel to immediately stop allsettlement activity without preconditions and start withdrawing its

settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories. In a report to be pre-sented before the UN Human Rights Council a fact finding mission hasnoted that because of the illegal settlements, Palestinians’ human rightsare being violated consistently and on a daily basis.

It is encouraging that there is now growing realization on the part ofthe world community and the UN to safeguard political and economicrights of Palestinians, which are being usurped and denied by the Jewishstate in sheer violation of universally accepted rights and norms. Theobservations of the UN fact-finding mission are yet another victory ofPalestinians after upgradation of status of Palestine at the UN. There isalso a viewpoint that this logical outcome of this recognition should beinvestigation by International Criminal Court into the serious crimes com-mitted by Israel on Palestinian territories and the subsequent prosecu-tions of the perpetrators deemed responsible. It is ironical that despitehue and cry by the civilized world and Palestinians, Israel is persistingwith its settlement policy to gain footholds on occupied Palestinian lands.This is one of the major roadblocks in the way of peace process butregrettably the UN and influential members of the world community haveconfined themselves to mere expression of opposition. The question ariseswhy Israel is not being penalized at the UN?

Parliamentary vs Presidential system

Honesty is the bestpolicy.

It is first time in the history ofPakistan that the Parliamentwill complete its tenure. Since

elections are a few weeks away,political parties are up to their usualtricks and gimmicks. The PML-Nhad moved a resolution in thePunjab assembly for formation oftwo new provinces in Punjab -Bahawalpur and South Punjab. ThePPP has come out with idea ofBahawalpur-South Punjab prov-ince, which will include Mianwaliand Dera Ghazi Khan. In fact, bothmajor parties are trying to woopeople of South Punjab who hadbeen ignored and neglected duringthe last six decades. Anyhow, bycreating new provinces and mak-ing all provinces somewhat equalin size of the population, presiden-tial system could be ideal. Leadersfrom southern Punjab feel that withnew provinces they will have thechance to enjoy the perks and privi-leges of gubernatorial offices, andwill be able to negotiate with themajor political parties to get theirshare of cake. Anyhow, smallerparties will be in a position to bar-gain with or blackmail the majorparties, as is obvious by the pres-sure tactics of the MQM, JUI-F,PML-Q and PML-F.

It was in this backdrop thatthere were voices in the past for apresidential form of government.But the proponents of parliamen-tary system quoted Quaid-i-Azamto prove their point that he

A deadlymotoring

game

Young people showing off inautomobiles are by nomeans something that is

unique to the Kingdom. Through-out the Gulf, young men with timeon their hands and the keys to pow-erful cars, whether souped up orbought brand new from an auto lot,indulge in handbrake turns, dragraces and speeding aroundroundabouts. Many of these youthswould argue that what they are do-ing is harmless fun. Well fun it maybe, but harmless it most certainlyis not. Working off youthful exu-berance behind the wheel of a ve-hicle is all too often a short cut tothe graveyard, for some innocentpasser-by or other motorist, if notfor the young driver himself.

Ten days ago, Eastern Prov-ince traffic police nabbed over 200students who were taking part indrag racing. They confiscated thevehicles in which these young menwere misbehaving. The police areto be congratulated on their firmand effective action in a campaignto clamp down on this sort of fool-ish and dangerous behavior. Itshould also be noted that some ofthe students arrested were laterreleased, so that they could goand sit exams. What sort of finalrevision these individuals weredoing, the night before they weredue to be tested, can be wellimagined. Unfortunately for theseyoung fools, there is no qualifica-tion to be earned from doing ahandbrake turn.

Equally unfortunately, policecannot be everywhere. Youths stag-ing contests of speed and daring onpublic roads are becoming ever-more sophisticated in their attemptsto avoid arrest. People are posted amile or two up all the approachroads to where the “events” arebeing staged. Using powerful hand-held radios as they sit in innocu-ous-looking automobiles, the job ofthese guards is to warn race orga-nizers of any approaching policecars or vehicles with plain-clothesofficers. Therefore, by the time theauthorities reach the site, it is likelythat the event will have broken up,spectators and competitors alikewill be driving off and all that willbe left, will be the marks of burnedrubber in the tarmac.

Indeed snubbing their noses tothe police is one of the extra plea-sures to be gained from doing dan-gerous tricks and games in an au-tomobile. There may be those whoare now responsible and respectedmembers of society, who will re-member that they themselves per-haps behaved with similar irrespon-sibility and disrespect for motoringlaws and other road users. Thatmemory should not howeverprompt any indulgence of today’smotorized hooligans. For a start,even 20 years ago, automobileswere generally less powerful.Moreover, there were a lot less ofthem on our roads.

It may sound kill joy, but thissort of dangerous conduct on pub-lic roads can no longer be tolerated.If young people want to show offtheir driving prowess to each otherand their friends, then let them or-ganize an event in the countryside,with proper safety precautions andwhere the only people likely to bekilled or seriously injured, are theparticipants themselves. If settingup such an event seems like toomuch effort and a lot less fun, thenthat is their problem. A public roadcannot be used as a racetrack noran arena for stunt driving.

There is a wider point here.Young people are obtaining theirlicenses and clambering behindthe wheel of motor vehicles, withlittle or no understanding of thecraft and responsibilities of sounddriving. A good driver is a safedriver, who watches the roadahead carefully, drives defensivelyrather than aggressively and rec-ognizes the automobile he is driv-ing for what it really is, in irre-sponsible hands, and that is, a le-thal weapon. There needs to be anationwide clampdown on under-age drivers and young people whothink that it is fun to speed likeFormula One Racing heroes orbehave as if the road outside theirwindscreen was some sort of on-line gaming experience.

If, even after one of theseourses, a driver refuses to reformand continues to behave idioticallyon the road, then a long driving banand a hefty fine should be imposedby the courts. If even that does notwork, then the only option left willbe prison. —Arab News

MEDIA WATCH

—Proverb

strongly believed in fed-eral parliamentary sys-tem. They also referred tothe remarks made inHamood-ur-RehmanCommission Report thatformation of One-unit,principle of parity, uni-tary form of government

and system of basic democracieswere the reasons for alienating thepeople of smaller provinces that ledto disintegration of Pakistan.

It is true that both systems - par-liamentary and presidential-aredemocratic systems that are quitesuccessful in European countriesand the US respectively. Both sys-tems have good points; but in acountry like Pakistan where feder-ating units have differentethnicities, languages and cultures,the smaller federating units con-sider the presidential system as aneffort to exploit and dominate them.The people of smaller provinceshowever feel that under parliamen-tary system there is chance for theregional parties to make it to the topslot in the province.

In 1990s, Mr. Manzoor Wattoowith only 17 members out of 240members was electeds the ChiefMinister of Punjab. But there aresome demerits of parliamentary sys-tem. Perpetual political upheavals,the wheeling and dealing of electedmembers of the parliament for per-sonal gain, perks and privileges ofpower, making majority party hos-tage to a minority party are to namethe few. In this system, members ofthe assembly elected by the peoplein turn elect the Leader of the House,meaning that it is an indirect elec-tion of the prime minister. Evenwhen a party gains a clear majority,the government is susceptible tosplits and defections, necessitating

re-alignments or re-elections. Evenin the entrenched democracy, theway Margaret Thatcher waschanged mid way of her tenure bythe ruling party is a case in point.In Pakistan, at least seven primeministers took oath and none ofthem completed the tenure. Simi-larly from 1988 to 1999, the PPPand Muslim League were twice re-turned to power, but none couldcomplete the tenure due to their in-tolerance towards to each other, andwere sent packing under 58-2(B).

It should be clear to any studentof history or political science that po-litical systems were evolved in stepwith changing conditions; therefore,it was crucial that its political setupwas open to reform. It is an irrefut-able fact that from the tribal and feu-dal epochs, with their own peculiarpolitical systems of kingship, tribalJirga, and dictatorships, the worldhas progressed to the present demo-cratic order based on the system of‘one-man one-vote’, and the electedgovernments of fixed tenures. Inother words, the stage of develop-ment, tools and modes of productiondetermined the form of government.If the leaders with the vested inter-est or ruling classes tried to stem thechange, there was economic turbu-lence, social upheaval and anarchy.In seventeenth-century England, thetrading community forged unity inits ranks to wage a struggle againstthe absolute powers of the king andinfluence of the clergy. The countrywas ready for change for a new or-der, which gave birth to the Indus-trial Revolution.

The Westminster model of par-liamentary democracy may well besaid to be the first of the modernsystems that evolved, as the newclasses associated with the marketeconomy emerged. This British

Misstep aside, the US andNATO should remaincommitted to stabilize Af-

ghanistan because whatever the fluc-tuation in international securitypolicy occur between now and 2014,the capacity of dialogue and nego-tiation cannot be ignored. The ques-tion is how policy of installing Spe-cial Operation Forces can be coun-tered by negotiation processes andpoint out the long-term risks of onlyresponding through military strate-gies. Although Americans/NATOnations are painfully aware of ef-fected by wars (i.e. Vietnam/Korean/Iraq/Afghanistan, WWI & II), andwaging wars away from Americaand other Western capitals wouldeventually misalign the internationalrelations, and thus transferring risksto respective societies. Fighting forpeace may well become both causeand effect, and would therefore con-veniently create further economicdependency for the developingworld. Conversely, the nations in-volved in wars have greatly suffered,and allowed major powers to createtheir own “antithesis”, by arousingprivate armies, resistance move-ments and thereby clinically attach-ing the youth of these countries in“multibillion dollars conflictproject”. No assessment of Westernvulnerabilities represents disregardfor a harmonic international society,and further disdain for American/NATO foreign and security policies.

Yes, it is too significant to aban-don “energy security” drive for thedeveloped world, but the concept ofstrategic objectives is being used to

US & fighting for peacerationalize battles that arebased on contradictory prin-ciples of: destroying regularways of human life and, win-ning “hearts and minds”. Ac-cording to Sun Tzue, “oneshould avoid battle unless

one is absolutely certain of winning”.This realization perhaps characterizesthe importance of objectivity betweenoperational strategy and ground re-alities in war zones. One example ofthe way the current wars are beingperceived by the Muslim population.Their thinking is that employmentof highly modern weaponry andSpecial Forces against grossly back-ward and under trained armies can-not be a characteristic of modernmilitary planning against handful ofextremists. Thus in the final assess-ment, the current American/NATO/French led military operations areconsidered about creating possibili-ties to maintain control over localpopulation/resources through smallcontingent of armed forces.

The permanent engagement ofWestern troops in Somalia, Iraq,Libya, Afghanistan, and now Malishow that assembly of foreign troopsfeeds on the rise of vengeance andextremism, and hence consequencesfor combatant as well non-combat-ant entities. Comparatively, the ad-vance loss of future generations ofthe Third World is really a threaten-ing policy of socioeconomic paraly-sis to the majority of world popula-tion (e.g. Africa, Iraq, Syria, & Af-ghanistan). A clumsy argument tofight for peace has also complicatedstate-society relations in every Mus-lim country. By being closer to theUS policies for instance, the govern-ments in war zones appears to belosing strategic opportunities to es-tablish a unanimous peace. How-ever, the current US strategy in pro-moting bilateral peace talks between

Afghanistan and Pakistan are wel-coming development because fromrational perspective, a victory inAfghanistan is inconclusive, andnegotiating with Taliban believes tobe a different rationality, but still lessdangerous than continue to fight thelocal population. The US and NATOwill need to remember that not allsociopolitical structures are immuneto occupation, therefore thinkingbeyond perception is certainly anoption to establish peace and stabil-ity in Afghanistan. The challenge isthat how the US establishes its cred-ibility as sponsor of peace as wellas fulfilling the demands of an ap-propriate response to roots causes ofterrorism. In this perspective, talk-ing, rather than fighting should havea fair chance of outmaneuvering theextremists sections of major societ-ies because this is actually the im-portant element of avoiding home-grown terrorist networks.

To be concluded, the focus on‘cyber warfare’ to penetrate the criti-cal systems of information and,building of drone-bases in NorthAfrica and the “permanent” presenceof French troops in Mali carriespowerful strategy of achieving na-tional security objectives of West-ern powers beyond South Asia.Against the backdrop of tough USrhetoric against Iran and the neces-sity to negotiate peace – just as therehad been attempts to compromisethe potential negative consequencesof long wars by other superpowers,demonstrates the complexities ofarmed conflicts and invasions. Thecore of fighting for peace thereforeshould be to address the challengesthat Western military leadership anddecision-makers are facing, ratherthan portraying definitive evil to amajor population of the world. Thereought to be some upper limit to howthe US conducts its future war strat-

model was at best a compromisemodel after seesaw battles hadbeen fought between the ‘royalists’of the British aristocracy and therepresentatives of the emergingnew classes. It was a system thatfinally gave people the right toelect the Lower House membersand government, while retainingthe King as head of state, and theHouse of Lords as the upper Housewhere the country’s hereditary feu-dal representatives sat on the basisof their titles. The system is suc-cessful in England, as the countryis developed, and the system ca-ters to the needs at home andabroad. It has to be mentioned thatdemocracy was byproduct of thecapitalistic system envisaged afterthe Industrial Revolution.

There are, indeed, some mer-its of presidential form of govern-ment, such as: “The system allowsthe president to select his team thatin his view is the best suited andmost competent for the job. How-ever, in a developing country likePakistan, mostly mediocre personsare elected on the basis of theirclout as a jagirdar or tribal leader.Secondly, once elected by a clearmajority, the legitimacy of thepresident both moral and constitu-tional is not in dispute; and unlessimpeached he completes the ten-ure. Protagonists of this system be-lieve that it serves as a bulwarkagainst perpetual political upheav-als, allows stable functioning ofgovernment and a peaceful changeof political power. In Pakistan,unless remnants of feudalism,jagirdari system and tribalism aredone away with, there is no hopethat either of the two systems couldwork. But who will bell the cat?—The writer is Lahore-basedsenior journalist.

egy as fundamentally flawed andfaulty intelligence assessment – re-inforcing peace with war cannotrestore world peace, and there maybe nothing more to be gained byfighting low-intensity wars in vari-ous parts of the world.

Also, International laws haveoutlawed wars – in fact it might al-ways have been the case that lawsdealing with wars have poorly dealtwith negotiating capacity of theweak nations. This is of huge con-sensus among a minority, however,powerful states imagine that themodern age and technological ad-vancement warranties applicationof Western approach to resolute glo-bal conflicts. It is on this count thatstill the US leadership can help de-sign “new” benchmarks and proce-dures to strengthen the concept ofconflict resolutions and help nego-tiate the peace between differentnations of the world. It is all aboutprocess of making the role of USmore attractive and “real” to differ-ently judge implications of aggres-sive foreign and security policies.

Most of the time the conclu-sion has been that poverty and il-literacy possess the tendency tofurther confrontation between thecivilizations of this world, but, thepeace and stability have rarelybeen the appealing values of mod-ern diplomacy. The US will prob-ably solve the problem of assess-ment and may also guarantee thatstability will prevail – [because]“a positive peace would restorerelationships, meet the needs of thewhole population, provide ways tomanage conflicts constructively,and hence be widely regarded byAfghans as legitimate, fair, andworthy of support”.—The author is a Denmark-basedNational Security Expert andDefence Analyst.

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Voice of the People

Indian Muslims: Pawns in Indo-Pak game

Now what was Shahrukh Khanthinking when he did that article for Outlook? If anyone

in the Mumbai film industry knowshow to engage the media and use itto his advantage with his cerebral witand those ready sound bites, it’s themost famous of Khans. If he has ruledthe roost in the world’s biggest movieindustry for two decades, constantlyhogging the limelight, some creditgoes to his consummate media man-agement skills.

He can charm the fiercest of hisdetractors with his disarming,dimpled smile and goes to greatlengths to be politically correct in anation of a billion people with a mil-lion competing identities. But suchis the toxic nature of relations be-tween India and Pakistan that eventhe most innocuous statement or

Sensing that elections are closeby, all stakeholders inside andoutside the parliament have be-

gun to make moves to gain an edgeover their opponents. PPP lost thesupport of Sindhi nationalist partiesas well as Jamots of PML-F by asso-ciating itself with MQM on the sen-sitive issue of local bodies. This losstogether with the loss of neglectedPPP stalwarts in Sindh was cashedin by PML-N, desperately seeking toget a toehold in Sindh. PML (N)-Na-tionalists-PML-F alliance weakenedthe fort of PPP in Sindh and to makeup the loss Zardari used the occasionof 5th death anniversary of BenazirBhutto to launch his son BilawalBhutto in the political arena.

Bilawal’s address in Urdu didhelp in boosting the sagging spiritsof Jayalas but his unwise diatribeagainst the judiciary wrongfullyblaming it for not arresting and pun-ishing the murderers of his motherwas not well received. In order tostem the downslide of PPP vote bankin Punjab and to enhance politicalspace in southern Punjab, Zardari hasappointed Makhdoom AhmedMahmood as the new Governor of

Muddied political environmentPunjab at a time when PPP’stenure is ending. Earlier on,Zardari had brought in wilyManzur Watoo as PPP PunjabPresident hoping in conjunctionwith PML-Q, he would bolsterPPP’s chances in by-elections.

But PML-N’s sweeping victory leftthe two contenders dazed. PPP is nowhoping that Tehrik-e-Insaf (TI) woulderode the vote bank of PML-N ingeneral elections.

Bashir Bilour’s tragic assassina-tion in Peshawar was a huge loss forsecular ANP which has already lostseveral of its leaders and over 600 ac-tivists in militancy. Owing to its toughstand against the TTP and its affili-ates, ANP’s leadership is on the hitlist and this threat would become aserious handicap for the ANP duringforthcoming elections.

Nawaz Sharif hasn’t set aside hisaversion for the military establish-ment which he had piled up in hisheart because of the rough handlingmeted out to him and his family byGen Musharraf. He is not preparedto buy the idea that the Army is anydifferent under Gen Kayani. It is es-sentially due to his distrust for themilitary establishment that Nawazchose to remain attached with Zardaridespite his repeated betrayals think-ing him to be a lesser evil.

PML-N has emerged as the mostpopular party in Punjab. ShahbazSharif has proved to be a far better

Let thembe in NA

DR SAMIULLAH KORESHI

Now that it is most likely that theGeneral Elections will be held intime I would like to suggest that re-tired Government servants who haveID card as Islamabad registered vot-ers consider putting up a retired tech-nocrat for an MNA as an indepen-dent candidate to represent problemsof serving and retired governmentservants. No political party does itand therefore the Government ser-vants problems are ignored. More-over, the retired Government ser-vants know well the rules and un-necessary expenditure the politiciansincur at their whims as pleasuretours, on unjustified medical treat-ment, create uncalled for ministriesand jobs, etc. Recently I read thatGovernment has held up approvalto 154 officers to BS 21, I may bewrong but if I am not too wrong in1982 when I was promoted to BS22, I there were not more than 250officers in the entire Secretariat fromFederal Secretaries to Section Of-ficers. Now you turn a stone andthere are BS 22 officers under it.

There are a large number of re-tired government servant who wereamong the original inhabitants ofIslamabad. The have houses inIslamabad their children are inIslamabad as students or in govern-ment service etc. They are the peoplewho know as they say where theshoe pinches. The older generation,the second tier of the Governmentservants who devoted their wholelife to serve Pakistan and on a pal-try salary and quite a few whoworked as students in PakistanMovement should be in the Na-tional Assembly. Their long expe-rience and known spirit of serviceand honesty and integrity- some-thing the politicians lack will be avaluable contribution to the delib-erations in the N A.

These days whenever I meetcommon man he says “Your timewere different. They were honestpeople, may be harsh but dedicated.Let me say the retired governmentservant will have an experience nopolitician can at all claim to have.The person should be of high repu-tation, integrity, free of any blem-ish, one of most respected formercivil servant. There are many suchpersons. They can fill the gap wherepoliticians are deficient—Islamabad

Help Indiafight extremism

WAHEED HAMID

The Indian society leaps towardsmore understanding of human val-ues and truth as it matures its demo-cratic culture after lapse of almostseven decades of its birth. The un-cultured ideology of having no eth-ics in war and enmity was rational-ized and the civilization developedwith expansion of space for HumanRights, ethics, rule of law and mo-rality. The developed world came upwith rules for every game includingwar and the rights for prisoners.Most of this was refined and formal-ized by the culture of democracy.The strength, power and control ofextremist elements at times force thepillars of state to act on their de-mand. Recently, Indian Prime Min-ister threatened Pakistan after thefiring incident on LoC resulting indeaths of soldiers from both sides.Pakistan said unprovoked Indian fir-ing has resulted in death of threePakistani soldiers where as Indiablamed Pakistan for killing and mu-tilating the bodies of its two soldiers.

On the other hand Indian Inte-rior Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde,has put serious blames on HinduExtremist Organizations support-ing Pakistani claims. He said that“We have report that training campsof BJP and RSS are promotingHindu terrorism. Hindu extremistorganizations recruit ArmedPeople. We are closely watchingit.” At the AICC session in Jaipur,Shinde had accused BJP and RSSof conducting terror training campsand promoting “Hindu terrorism”.Another leader Vijay Singh saidthat BJP demanded concessions forProhit and others involved in

The terror in KarachiHAFIZ MUHAMMAD NOMAN

It was a very tragic incident when a man with two of his accomplices killed two religious clerics andtheir driver on the main Nursery, Shahrah-e-Faisal Karachi. Whoever had watched the CCTV foot-

age of this terrorism would surely have been afraid of how savagely and easily could an innocent bekilled! The three men easily then ran away on a motorbike and no law enforcement agencies could arrestthe culprits yet. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement concerning terrorism rise in Karachiand Balochistan has come true which he gave last week. A new wave of terrorism has surely been startedin Karachi. Two days ago, a bomb was exploded and 300 kilogram of explosive material was recoveredfrom a taxi and now open day terrorism? Where are the law enforcement agencies sleeping? When willthey pacify Karachi? On the other hand, we have been watching for a long time that Rehman Malikalways gives a statement about any act of terrorism before the incident but he has never tried to capturethe culprits, why? When he receives tip-off before any mishaps, why not he takes measures to deal withsuch an incident so that lives of men can be saved?! It is a pity that culprits like Ajmal Pahari arereleased here and none is here to ask about them!—Via email

Views From Abroad

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are requested to typetheir letters legibly withdouble spacing and only onone side of the paper.

—Editor

administrator than his counterparts inother provinces. Large numbers ofPML-Q parliamentarians have re-turned to PML-N. It has swept by-elections in Punjab. Besides makinginroads in Balochistan and Sindhwith the help of nationalist parties,it got a shot in the arm in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) when PML-Q’sAmir Muqam joined PML-N. It islikely to form an alliance withJamaat-e-Islami (JI) which is hop-ing to capture sizeable number ofseats in KP. JI whose two respectedstalwarts died recently has exhortedall patriotic forces to form a grandalliance and block Tahirul Qadri’slong march.

Tehrik-e-Insaf (TI), which hasemerged as the third force is likelyto cut PML-N’s votes in Punjab,which may go in favor of PPP. ButImran’s Tsunami has lost its steamafter in-house heart burning overinduction of heavyweights fromother parties and Tahirul Qadri’smammoth public meeting in Lahoreon 23rd December. The two emerg-ing powers outside the parliamentseeking a change have posed a seri-ous challenge to the two mainstreampolitical parties believing in statusquo, but TI’s decision to go on a soloflight, and if need be oppose Qadri,will weaken both. PPP, PML-N,ANP, JI, JUI, judiciary, ElectionCommission, and military establish-ment have joined hands to contest

Samjhota Express blasts. ManiShankar completely agreed to Inte-rior minister and said,“ its good thatinterior minister himself told this asit is not something hidden, every-body knew it but no one had thecourage to speak.” The extremistseven force the sports and culturalevents to function under their desire.

Indian Kashmir, keeps suffer-ing at the hands of security forces.Meenakshi Ganguly, senior SouthAsia researcher at Human RightsWatch said that “It is extremely rarefor the security forces in Kashmirto turn over one of their own to thecivilian justice system,”. Over thepast two decades, the conflict inKashmir has left over 47,000 peopledead by the official count. TheKashmir Solidarity Day is observedon 5 February each year since 1990as a day of protest against unjusti-fied Indian control. India has alwaysdenied the right of freedom to theinnocent Kashmiri masses and triedto suppress their voice through ex-tra judicial/mass killings, arbitraryarrests, ruthless and inhuman tor-ture and sexual molestation using theinstrument of Indian security forces.

The UN resolutions on Kashmiradopted under Chapter VII of the UNCharter remain legally binding on theparties. Article 25 also reiterates theirobligatory nature. The SecurityCouncil under the UN Charter has thepower to enforce its decisions andresolutions militarily or by any othermeans necessary; the powers that ithas used during the Korean War in1950 and in Iraq and Kuwait in 1991.The debate of legal status and obli-gations of the parties to the disputeunder UN resolutions and that of theSecurity Council to have its resolu-tions implemented must culminate.The hope of a prosperous future ofPakistan and India and this regionlargely depends on solution of Kash-mir issue. The turning tides of Indianmaturity must realize this and theworld powers should facilitate to putan end to all types of extremism.—Via email

MFN status &Indian pressure

AFSHAIN AFZAL

The 31st of December 2012 was theday on which Islamabad was ex-pected to grant ‘Most FavouredNation’ (MFN) status to India butIslamabad missed the deadline.What is next… it is something Indiacannot wait and see as Indian busi-nessmen have already carried outinvestment of billions of dollars inPakistan including purchase of busi-ness centres and houses in all themajor cities of Pakistan. The exo-dus of Indian small and mediumbusinessmen to Pakistani cities isalso linked with the status. In thedesperate expectation of MFN sta-tus, Indian businessmen and theirfamilies did not miss opportunity tofind accommodations in slums aswell as congested areas to seasontheir businesses by the time MFNstatus is granted.

In an interesting development,despite ceasefire agreement betweenIndia as and Pakistan some seriousviolations were reported from bothsides of the Line of Control (LoC).One version of the analysis clearlyindicates that the drama is a doubleedged sword to pressurize Islamabadto grant MFN status to India on onehand while on the other to persuadeinternational community to pressur-ize Pakistan to take stern actionagainst Jamat-ud-Dawah chief HafizMuhammad Saeed (Lashkar-eTayyiabia). The incident involvedmartyrdom of two Pakistani soldiersfollowed by killings of two Indiansoldiers. Had it been a mere borderviolation by the Indian forces andkilling in return of fire that wouldhave been acceptable but as claimedby Indian authorities, beheading ofthe two Indian soldiers, identified asLance Naik Hemraj and Lance NaikSudhakar Singh, is unacceptablerather barbaric.

The incident is worth condemn-ing in strongest words but who hasdone this is a mystery about whichIndian and western intelligence agen-cies had consensus months ago. NewDelhi is leveling allegations on Paki-stan that its troops crossed the LoCto ambush a patrol party at KrishnaGhati area of Mendhar Sector,Poonch district in Indian held Jammuand Kashmir state but Islamabad de-nies these charges.

Improving the people’s lot

Given the government’s tilt towards roads, if the mass transit system in Pakistan is fast

heading towards oblivion one shouldnot be surprised. Though about 90%people do not use cars for their dailytransport, bulk of development fundsare being used for the development ofroads and flyovers so that the elite doesnot have to suffer the trauma of trafficjams. Against this, allocations for pub-lic transport system, pedestrians’ mallsand exclusive lanes for cyclists/motor-cyclists have remained meagre.

A comparative study of alloca-tions for the rail and road sectors canillustrate the point and highlight thegovernment’s tilt towards the roadsector, beginning the sixth Five-YearPlan (1983-88), rather thanmobilising the entire population. Inthe first Five-Year Plan (1955-60), theinvestment on rail stood at 68% ascompared to 32% on roads. In thethird Five-Year Plan (1965-70), theinvestment on rail declined to 61%while on roads it rose to 39%. In the6th Five-Year Plan, the investment onrail nose-dived to 38% while it wentup to 62% on roads. In the 8th Five-Year Plan (1993-98), the public sec-tor investment on rail further declined

to 18% while on roads it shot upto 82%. During 1998-2005, thepublic sector investment on railstood at 20% while on roads itjumped to 80%.[1] If proper re-medial steps are not taken im-mediately, Pakistan Railways

might meet the same fate as did thestate-owned ‘Omni Bus Service’some two decades ago.

Despite being a Capital territoryand a newly-built city, evenIslamabad lacks proper public trans-port system. Non-availability of de-cent public transport compels thepublic to use private vehicles. As aresult, the number of cars has mush-roomed, which is neither good for theenvironment nor recommendable interms of financial expenditure anddrain on the country’s precious for-eign exchange resources. The diffi-culties and risks faced by the massescould be minimised by introducingmass transit infrastructure in majorurban centres in keeping with the glo-bal norm. One would, therefore, com-mend the Punjab Chief Minister’sinitiative in introducing rapid transitbus system in Lahore. Similar ser-vices need to be introduced in allmetropolitan cities of the country.

That explains why developedcountries focus on building and de-veloping mass transit systems andadopting policies that discouragepeople to bring their cars on roadsduring peak traffic hours. Taking acue from the developed countries,

many developing states have success-fully solved the problems of trafficjams and environmental degradation.For instance, till the end of the 20thcentury, traffic situation in Bogota(Colombia) was not different fromthe one obtaining in Pakistan thesedays. For decades Bogotá was inun-dated by urban problems typical of amajor city in a developing country.Pollution from cars and busesshrouded the city, much of it trappedby the surrounding mountains. Thecity’s population boomed — morethan 140,000 people move to Bogotáeach year. About half of them, ruralimmigrants, many displaced byColombia’s civil strife. Rampantcrime and corruption had hamperedpast reform efforts. Rising incomesled to more cars (about 70,000 newcars hit the roads in Bogota everyyear) and more gridlock.

After taking office, Peñalosaimplemented a number of measuresdesigned to make living in the cityeasier. He built schools, paved roads,ran sewers to poor neighbourhoods,repaired parks, and instituted policiesto restrict automobiles. At first, hewas almost impeached for gettingcars off sidewalks. But, Peñalosapressed ahead with his transportationreforms. And as the city becameeasier to navigate, support for his ef-forts grew. The city built 70 miles ofbicycle routes and prohibited entry ofcars in several streets, convertingthem into pedestrian malls. More

Qadri’s threat of bringing a changethrough unconstitutional means.

Dr Qadri is being asked whetherhis arrival and demand of electoralreform is well timed consideringthat elections are round the cornerand some reforms through 18th,19th and 20th Amendments in con-stitution have been made and anhonest CEC acceptable to all stake-holders has been appointed and bo-gus voters list has been corrected?

How would Qadri overlookPML-Q’s tainted past of having re-mained as Gen Musharraf’s createdKing’s Party for five years and sus-pending and mutilating constitutiontwice? What is his yardstick of con-sidering MQM and PML-Q betterthan PPP and PML-N? Why was hesleeping all this time when Pakistanwas sinking? While he believes inconstitutionalism and wants elec-toral rules to be tailored in accor-dance with the constitution, he mustknow that the TTP consider west-ern parliamentary system, consti-tution and judicial system un-Is-lamic and want the whole systemreformed in the light of Quran andSunnah? The muddied politicalenvironment has bred uncertaintywhether coming elections will beheld in time. Timely fair, free andtransparent elections and peacefultransition of power to the nextgovernment will be in the interestof the country.

Aijaz Zaka Syed

Pakistan Army, however, had allegedthat Indian troops allegedly crossedthe LoC and targeted a border post.Indian Army had denied that therehad been any cross-border movementby its troops. “

Meanwhile Additional DeputyCommissioner Poonch, JatinderSingh has ordered discontinuation oftrade, saying that trade operationswould not resume unless and untilfiring stops. Islamabad has also de-nied entry to trucks from India tocross the LoC in the Poonch districtto reach designated trade centre inAzad Jammu and Kashmir. In theprevailing tense situation, there is anempowered pro-India lobby whohave want to go ahead with a plan togrant MFN status to India to ease thesituation. On the other hand NewDelhi is confident enough that Paki-stan, under the prevailing pressure,would grant India MFN status butthings are not that simple. Under theprevailing situation, if Pakistanis re-move negative list regime or grantMFN status to India it would not onlytarnish the image of Pakistan butwould be a matter of insult and shamefor Pakistanis as a nation.—Via email

Discretionaryfunds

SYED SADAQAT HUSSAIN

The TMQ Chief Dr.Tahir-ul Qadrirecently demanded of the presentgovernment that all discretionary anddevelopment funds being distributedby the center and provinces be haltedimmediately to provide level playingfield to all the candidates in the com-ing election. In response, rulingparty’s spokes person apparently re-jected the idea saying that this wouldnot be possible technically, while thefunds have been disbursed for thedevelopment projects and the Fed-eral government will not interfere inthe affairs of provinces after the au-tonomous status of provinces led bythe constitution. Other than the rul-ing alliance or co-partners of gov-ernment kept silence over it. Ironi-cally, what is allow technically un-der the government is; corruption,commission, drones attacks, irregu-larities and discrepancies that goes infavor of ruling party and their co-al-liance partners.

It is the corrupt culture that needsto be rectified. And that will not beeasy. The time to do it is now, whilewe still have the capacity to be ap-palled by the results of this culture.Will legislative house (Parliament)and Senate offer general guidelinesfor a national dialogue on sensiblesolutions to this deadly malady? Isthere any mechanism or check-n-bal-ance to scrutinize the disbursed fundsto be distributed to the members ofparliament in the name of develop-ment? Whether their utilization is fairor not. I hope they should consider itin the larger interest of nation, whichwould not change their legislativeposition one iota.

I would say the demands andspeeches of Dr Tahirul Qadri are ex-ample for today’s politicians, whoare totally speechless in front of himand expressing their shattered state-ments to safe face in public. Finally,each of us should look into our ownheart to consider what type of na-tion we want to be. Because no onewants to live in a country where in-nocent people are killed indiscrimi-nately by the rampant terrorism andtargeted killing. This is a problemfor all Pakistanis, which we have todecide it, while the government istechnically knocked out to over-come these problems.

The next elected governmentshould try to clean all stink andgarbage scattered by the presentgovernment. Further, providingrelief in terms of daily life com-modities should be a key compo-nent of their comprehensive strat-egy made by the people.—Karachi

quote is prone to be hijacked by themedia and hawks on both sides. Evenbefore the special issue of Outlook,brought out in collaboration with theNew York Times, hit the stands inIndia, Pakistani papers had run withthe story, screaming: “ShahrukhKhan exposes Indian secularism.”

Indian papers quickly followedsuit. “King of Victimhood: ShahrukhKhan bites the hand that fed him”proclaimed FIRSTPOST. As AakarPatel puts it, with his article, the ac-tor opened himself to an attack whichgoes in this fashion: “Aren’t yougrateful, are you not satisfied, withwhat we gave you — you Muslim!— such fame, such success? Youdidn’t whine about this then, did you?Now the Pakistanis are lecturing usbecause of your remarks. You shouldbe ashamed.”

And soon you had Pakistan’s per-petually bumbling Interior MinisterRahman Malik and Hafiz Saeed ofall people springing up in his defense.

While Malik has lectured India to“protect” its biggest superstar — theworld’s biggest, according to Timemagazine — the man seen in Indiaas the architect of 26/11 attacks hasoffered to “shelter” him in Pakistan.Now with friends like these, whoneeds enemies? Huwe tum dost jiskedushman uska aasman kyun ho, asGhalib would quip. Malik’s offer,made rather sweetly at the RepublicDay celebrations at Indian Embassyin Islamabad, has sparked anotherwar of words between the perpetu-ally sparring neighbors. Indian HomeSecretary R.K. Singh responded bysaying Shahrukh is completely safein India and that the country knowshow to protect its citizens.

Predictably, the Hindutva groupslost no time in joining the zero-sumgame of competitive zealotry askingthe superstar once again to move overto Pakistan. The fact that the actor ismarried to a Hindu and Hindu dei-ties adorn his home seems to be of

no consequence. Ironically, this isprecisely what the actor, who has hisroots in Pakistan like the otherBollywood greats including DilipKumar and Raj Kapoor, has arguedin his Outlook article: “I sometimesbecome the inadvertent object of po-litical leaders who choose to make mea symbol of all that they think iswrong and unpatriotic about Muslimsin India. There have been occasionswhen I have been accused of bearingallegiance to our neighboring nationthan my own country — this eventhough I am an Indian whose fatherfought for the freedom of India. Ral-lies have been held where leadershave exhorted me to leave my homeand return to what they refer to as myoriginal homeland.”

There’s a background to this rareemotional piece by the actor who hasnever before complained of being tar-geted for his faith or his communityalthough the rage brigade has longtargeted him.—Arab News

drastically, the city began to restrictcar use during rush hours, banningeach car in the city from the down-town area two days a week, basedon the license plate number.

And then came TransMilenio.The city had been debating a multi-billion dollar subway system for de-cades. But Peñalosa decided to copythe significantly cheaper rapid tran-sit bus system that had turnedCuritiba (Brazil) into a model cityfor effective public transportation.With an initial expenditure of $350million, 38 kilometer TransMileniosystem was up and running in lessthan two years. The buses, runningin separate lanes down the centre ofthe city’s main arteries, are able tocarry 780,000 people a day at anaverage speed of 26 kilometres perhour — considerably outpacing carsand private buses. Estimates havefound that the system saves peoplean average of 300 hours of commut-ing time annually. Unlike expensivesubways or elevated trains, theTransMilenio runs at a profit. Andthe city plans to add a number ofnew lines to the system by 2015, sothat 85% of residents live within 500meters of a bus station. It is not onlynow easier to travel around Bogotá,Peñalosa’s reforms have helpedmake the city considerably safer.Since 1998, crime rates have alsodropped dramatically.—The writer is a freelance colum-nist based at Islamabad.

Since the present governmentof India is on a banning spree;banning films, books and au-

thors, it was felt, I believe, by a sec-tion of the same rulers that insteadof going through the gamut of bring-ing out a movie, seeing agitations,and then invoking a ban, it wouldbe better to have guidelines regard-ing the type of books that could be

published, films that could be pro-duced and authors who could be in-vited to the country. “It is better wedo this at the beginning itself than tohave people insulted,” said a seniormember of the government to the or-ganizer of a literary festival, wholooked a little concerned.

“We have had our own authorspen down books that will be allowed.All you have to do is to change thename of the characters! No ban, noprotests, no love lost, no hate gained,and our nation marches forward asone single unit of thought! Doesn’tit sound wonderful?” “And who arethese authors?” “Why we govern-

ment leaders ourselves! We are thebest judges of what will hurt the sen-timents of the people, so we haveauthored the guideline books. Are youa writer?” “I know, I know,” said theliterary festival organizer, “andfilms?” “Same formula! No problemlike poor Kamal Hassan faces; nodemonstrations, no High Court ten-sions. Those poor judges can spendevenings in a more relaxed way now,than having to go through privatescreenings, or read books to ban ornot to ban!

“And the public?” “What aboutthem?” asked the senior leader in thegovernment looking at the literary

A banning spree..!festival organizer, “What about thepublic?” “Don’t you think they willreact to this direct affront to theirfreedom of speech and expres-sion?”

“Ha! Ha! Ha!” “Why are youlaughing?” “Luckily, those who be-lieve in such freedoms don’t react.They will sit in coffee clubs andtheir homes and tell each other howunfair the government is, maybethey will have one candle light vigil,but who is bothered; they are a mi-nority. It is the other minorities weare bothered about; our votebank..!”—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

Asif Haroon RajaEmail: asifharoon7751@yahoo.com

Alauddin Masood Email:alauddinmasood@gmail.com

DAVID LEWIS, PASCAL FLETCHER

THE French or African troops who huntdown the Islamist fighters holed up inthe mountains and deserts of northeastMali may find a resilient enemy capable

of fighting back with a concealed arsenal of sur-prising firepower. France’s initial success in itsthree-week old intervention in its former colonyhas gained Paris plaudits at home and abroad as awelcome blow struck against radical jihadiststhreatening Africa and the West. Timbuktu andGao, the main Malian towns held by Islamist in-surgents since last year, fell to the French at theweekend, and French troops also seized the air-port at Kidal, the last urban bastion abandoned bythe rebels.

But the next step in stabilizing Mali and pur-suing the al Qaeda-allied fighters in their remotedesert and mountain bolt-holes near Algeria’s bor-der looks like a much tougher task. It will takelonger than a few weeks and likely require a big-ger and more international effort than the limitedoffensive that has so far involved 3,500 Frenchsoldiers on the ground, backed by warplanes, he-licopters and armored vehicles.

“Both politically and militarily, now is goingto be the hard bit,” Gregory Mann, a Mali expertwho is associate professor of history at ColumbiaUniversity, told Reuters. The Islamist forces arethought to be sheltering north of Kidal in the Adrardes Ifoghas, a vast, rugged mountain buttress thathas given sanctuary before to al Qaeda hostage-takers and Saharan traffickers of drugs, people andcigarettes. They are believed to have weapons, fueland supplies hidden in caves, tunnels and rockstrongholds. These were stashed away before theirpell-mell retreat from relentless French air strikesthat left a trail of rebel charred vehicles and aban-doned arms caches in dusty Niger River and Sa-haran towns.

“This is where they have the bulk of the stuffhidden,” said Rudy Atallah, a formercounterterrorism director for Africa at the U.S. De-partment for Defense. “They have barrels of fueland weapons. They have been preparing for a longtime.” Their preserved arsenal could include heavy

machineguns, hand-held rocket launchers and alsopossibly one or more Grad multiple rocket launch-

ers mounted on vehicles, according to arms expertswho have viewed photos and footage of munitionscaches abandoned by the rebels in their hasty with-

drawal. “This is pretty heavy ordnance, a level thatwould achieve parity with or even out gun mostWest African militaries,” James Bevan, head ofConflict Armament Research, told Reuters afterviewing photos of a cache found at Diabaly in cen-tral Mali.

A Western security source, who asked not to benamed, said air power would help in the next phase

- but only so much. “Ground troops will have to gointo the mountains and that will lead to casualties,”

he said. Guinea’s President Alpha Conde, whoseWest African country is offering troops to a U.N.-backed African intervention force being deployed

in Mali, predicted a “battle in the Sahara” againstwhat he called “narco-traffickers” and “terrorists”.

“The rebels will not disappear into the sky,” hesaid last week in Davos, Switzerland. “If we don’twant the Sahara to become Afghanistan, then weneed the world to get involved, not just France andAfrica but also the United States and the EuropeanUnion,” he added. But the United States and Eu-

rope, where a recession-hit public has little appetitefor overseas wars after Iraq and Afghanistan, haveruled out sending combat troops and offer insteadtraining as well as logistical and intelligence sup-port. French President Francois Hollande, anxiousto reassure his people France will not get boggeddown in a messy war in a faraway former colony,has said he expects African forces to take over thejob of hunting down the rebels in the north.

It is hard to know exactly what materiel andmanpower the Islamist rebels have lost in hundredsof French air strikes that are now homing in on rebelpositions north of Kidal. A French military videoshowed a rebel Grad multiple rocket launcher de-stroyed near Gao. French estimates speak of sev-eral dozen rebels killed in the limited direct clashesso far. The real figure could be higher given theintensity of the air strikes. Estimates by some secu-rity experts had put the combined original strengthof the Islamist alliance in northern Mali, whichgroups al Qaeda’s North African wing AQIM,Malian group Ansar Dine and AQIM splinterMUJWA, at around 3,000 fighters.

Mark Schroeder, director of Sub-Saharan Af-rica analysis at Stratfor consultancy, believes Franceand its allies will try to prevent rebels from fleeingover Mali’s porous Saharan borders into neighbor-ing states such as Algeria, Niger and Libya. “IfAQIM can be degraded ... forced into a space fromwhere they can offer no threat, that can be a suc-

cess,” he added. Nearly 2,000 troops from Chadand Niger, with experience of fighting in the Sa-hara, are backing up the French and Malians as theyconsolidate their gains in Gao and Timbuktu andalso push reinforcements up towards Kidal in thewild northeast. “The military cycle is far ahead ofthe political cycle ... They are liberating more thanthey can occupy,” Mann said.

He added Malian authorities also needed to bepragmatic in handling fickle pro-autonomy north-ern Tuareg rebels, many of them experienced desertfighters, who have offered to help the French-ledoffensive against al Qaeda and its allies Mali’s in-terim President Dioncounda Traore, who says heaims to hold national elections on July 31, said onThursday he was open to dialogue with the Tuaregsprovided they dropped any territorial independenceclaim. It was a revolt by the Tuaregs, swelled byarms and fighters from the 2011 conflict in Libya,that initially seized Mali’s north following a Marchmilitary coup in the southern capital Bamako, be-fore being hijacked by Islamist radicals. But anyattempt to placate the Tuaregs could draw a hostilereaction from the Malian public and military, thelatter still smarting from its defeat last year by thedesert rebels and the massacre of its troops. How-ever, the army’s meddling hand in national politicsmay have been weakened by French intervention.

Mali’s army now guards roadblocks and check-points behind the French advance, but pockets ofrebels still lurk in the bush. Four Malian soldierswere killed on Wednesday between Gossi and Gaowhen their vehicle struck a landmine suspected tohave been planted by insurgents in a nominally lib-erated area.

The African follow-up force intended to takeover security from the French is far from being inplace as it grapples with shortages of kit and sup-plies and lack of airlift capacity. Besides Chadiansand Nigeriens, only around 1,000 other Africansare on the ground in Mali, from Togo, Benin, Nige-ria, Senegal and Burkina Faso, out of more than8,000 soldiers expected to comprise the Africanforce, known as AFISMA. Advocates of the Afri-can force to pacify northern Mali point to the ex-ample of the AMISOM African peacekeeping forcein Somalia, which now numbers more than 17,000.Deployed in 2007, it has driven al Shabaab mili-tants out of the capital Mogadishu and, more re-cently, out of the southern port of Kismayu.

“The wild card is something completelyasymmetrical, like the Algeria gas plant, or an at-tack in Bamako itself,” Mann said, cautioning thewar in the Sahara could be long and hard.

—Courtesy Reuters

WEI LIANG

POOR prospects for a global economic recovery. The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting2013 held in Davos, Switzerland,

on January 23-27, focused on minimizingrisks and boosting the resilience of econo-mies and societies, promoting a theme of“resilient dynamism” in an event that re-flected on major concerns regarding a per-ceived slowdown in economic growth anda constrained recovery. Rickety recovery:Entering the new year, people around theworld have been anticipating what is in storefor the world economy. Several major in-ternational organizations have released theirown forecasts of 2013 global economicgrowth over the past months, with the IMFpredicting 3.6 percent, the UN 2.4 percentand the World Bank’s latest figure at 2.4percent. The forecasts may not be perfectlyaccurate, but they hint at three developingtrends.

First, economic growth this year willnot return to the normal pace prior to theglobal economic crisis of around 4 percent.

It shows that the crisis is still ongoing andthe world economy remains in a recoveryphase. Second, the driving force behind theeconomic recovery is weakening. On theone hand, forecasting figures from leadingworld economic organizations for this yearare universally lower than the 2011 growthrate, a sign of the slackening impetus forworld economic growth. On the other hand,revising economic growth to lower expec-tations has been common in recent years.The gradual downplaying of prospects for

A Global Economic Outlook for 2013the global economy is another signal for thesoftening of economic growth. GoldmanSachs’ Global Leading Indicator and“Swirlogram” framework also confirmedthe belief that the world economy is slow-

ing.Third, benefits from anti-crisis policiesare diminishing in almost all countries, whileprospects for a natural recovery of the worldeconomy remain weak. Since 2010, worldeconomic growth has mostly relied on thestimulation of new monetary and fiscal poli-cies. However, the effect of policy stimulusis limited. The marginal effect of economicgrowth brought by the stimulation is de-

creasing. So far, there have not been newtechnologies or institutional reforms that canunleash economic vitality in place of gov-ernmental power. In 2013, it is unlikely forthe world economy to achieve a great re-bound. Negative competition: The steadygrowth of the world economy requires notonly strong impetus but also a stable devel-opment environment. However, govern-ments around the world have made little con-tribution to this as the financial crisis goesinto its sixth year. On the contrary, the world

economy has demonstrated its characteristicvulnerability. Last year, international coordi-nation for world economic policies wasshelved while general elections gripped thepolitical activity of countries accounting for

more than half the world economy. There-fore, political leaders have shifted their focusfrom international to internal affairs. The poli-cies they advocate tend to aim at winningvoters instead of maintaining steady globaleconomic growth, adding to the difficulty forthe implementation of anti-crisis policieswhile further provoking protectionism.

In the next couple of years, the globalpolitical landscape should stabilize. Nonethe-less, having missed the opportunity for inter-national coordination in 2012, the worldeconomy in 2013 will suffer the conse-quences. Major countries will grapple withaggravated negative economic competition;international trade disputes will becomefiercer with the risk of trade war on the rise;the fight for international financial rights willcontinue; major currencies will compete fordevaluation; and, despite a low probabilityof currency wars, the resulting cost of finan-cial volatility will be high. Loose monetarypolicies on a global scale will become the rootof the world economy’s predicament in 2013.Quantitative easing (QE) will probably con-tinue for a long time. Currently, developedcountries are almost at the end of their re-sources. Generally, fiscal policy, monetarypolicy and industrial policy are the major toolsfor economic stimulus. Advocates of neo-lib-eralism such as the United States and Britaindo not acknowledge industrial policies. Mean-while, developed countries are mired in debttroubles and their fiscal policies are limited.Therefore, monetary policy makeovers havebecome the only means that are repeatedlyused for economic stimulus. In this context,the monetary authorities have automaticallybecome the instructor of the economic fateand even the political fate of the countries.Ruling by finance has partially become truein some countries.

—Courtesy Beijing Review

RATIH HARDJONO

I remember arriving at KingsfordSmith Airport in Sydney 30 yearsago amid hysterical Italian-Australian women dressed in black, who

were waiting for the arrival of a relativeand yelling out “Maria, Maria!” Therewas hardly an Asian face in the crowd.Back then, one was conscious of the seg-regation of those of English and Irish de-scent and those of Mediterranean origin.When I visited Sydney last December,the wave of Mediterranean immigrantshad well and truly left its imprint on ev-eryday Australian life. When visitorsstep out of the arrival hall, the smell ofbrewing coffee from the coffee stall fillsthe air. At the same time there are nowmany more Asian faces, not just as visi-tors but also in the crowds, awaiting thearrival of friends and relatives. In the1970s only Mediterranean people drankcoffee in Australia. The first wave ofAustralian settlers, the English and Irish,had drunk tea.

Another influence brought about bythe Mediterranean culture has been theuse of garlic. The traditionally bakeddinners of the English and Irish back thenwere devoid of garlic. For someone likeme, coming from the Indonesian culi-nary tradition, eating without garlic waslike just swallowing a meal and not wor-rying about taste. Yet today, looking atthe vast number of restaurants and foodstalls around Sydney, it seems that gar-lic farmers are the pulse of culinarySydney. On a recent trip I watched a littleblond girl standing in front of a Japa-nese food stall at Bondi Junction inSydney. She was explaining to her eld-erly Anglo Saxon grandmother that itwas safe to eat sushi. Her grandmotherreplied: “But it is raw fish and you willget a stomachache.” The little girl an-swered: “No, grandma, the whole of Ja-pan eats sushi and they are all OK.” Oldgrandma shook her head and said: “Itreally needs to be cooked!” Neverthe-less she pulled out a AUS$20 note to paythe Japanese seller. In a way this littlegirl sums up Australia’s historicalmulticultural journey.

The tolerant, multicultural Australiahas not always been there. The WhiteAustralia policy, which permitted onlypeople from England and some Euro-pean countries to remain in Australia,was revoked only in 1966. It was first

implemented in 1850 when Australianminers clashed violently with Chinese ri-vals in Victoria and New South Wales. In1901, the Australian government passedthe Immigration Restriction Act, whileformer prime minister Curtin in 1941,during World War II, pronounced the phi-

losophy of the White Australia policy. TheAustralian Census of 2011 shows that 26percent of Australia’s people were bornoverseas and that they originated frommore than 25 countries. Asians, as the lastwave of immigrants, still account for only

9 percent of Australia’s population. Asianimmigration remains a sore point withsome as there are still a small number ofconservative Australians who are worriedabout the threat of the so-called “yellowperil” from the north of Australia. Mostof Southeast Asia, however, is also grap-pling with the growth of China up northas a superpower and with its economicdomination in the region. It is not auniquely Australian problem.

There have always been Australianleaders who have stood fast, determinedthat Australia must be a tolerant countryand insisting that the White Australiapolicy must not return. Australia does,however, still face challenges with its in-

digenous population, the Aborigines.Multicultural Australia has not managedto absorb them. Indonesia on the otherhand, known to be multicultural and tol-erant for centuries, is going through astage in which this long tradition of toler-ance is being tested. It was this tolerance

that produced the national motto “Unityin Diversity”. Yet it also produced a di-versity in unity, a crucial part of the con-solidation of Indonesia in 1945 when theRepublic of Indonesia was declared. It isironic that it was the authoritarian New

Order period that insisted we all be toler-ant of each other, respecting our differ-ences in culture, language and religion. Itis worrying that incidents of intolerance,many leading to conflict, have been onthe increase in Indonesia recently.

I for one, having been based in Aus-tralia for 16 years as a Kompas correspon-dent, never thought I would find myselfacknowledging the presence of a strongtradition of tolerance within Australiansociety.There are still many issues thatneed to be addressed between Australiaand its Asian neighbors. Perhaps the qual-ity of political communication still needsfine tuning.

—Courtesy Jakarta Post

France, Africa face tough Sahara phase of Mali war

The reason for the change is simple. Australianleadership has been forced throughout the years to

take a stand and advocate tolerance; those who advo-cated otherwise have lost in elections.

The Politics of the Australian Multicultur….

But this has been a tough campaign lasting several years, AMISOM has suffered several hun-dred casualties and countries with troops in Somalia, such as Kenya and Uganda, have experiencedmilitant bomb and guerrilla attacks on their soil. So even as Malian and French leaders celebratesuccess on the ground, there is concern Islamist militants inside and outside Mali could strike back,just as they did in the surprise raid on the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria earlier this month.

French soldiers patrol the area outside the Sankore Mosque, a world heritage site, in Timbuktu

The firm attitude of the monetary authoritiestoward various loose currency policies means only

when the real economy returns to the right track, canthe policies be terminated. At least before the end of

2013, reducing liquidity stock in the market is notonly harmful for economic stability but also againstthe monetary authorities’ judgment on the current

economic operation.

Australia’s long journey to multiculturalism

Burma’s Biggest Win: Its Legislature

World economy to strengthen modestly…

THOMAS KEAN

BURMA’S legislature has been a boon forthe country. But building a parliamentary house takes time. The changes inBurma over the past two years have been

startling. But what is arguably the most importantdevelopment has gotten the least international at-tention: The country now has a vibrant, indepen-dent legislature. In Burma today, members of par-liament are investigating land disputes and corrup-tion, cutting ministry budgets, seeking justice forextrajudicial killings by the military and, most im-portantly, delivering tangible benefits to their con-stituents. Indeed, many parliamentarians find them-selves in a state of disbelief at what they have beenable to achieve since the first parliament session con-vened in January 2011. With so much changing soquickly, MPs’ desire to implement a system of po-litical checks and balances has regularly broughtthem into conflict with government ministers whoare more used to autocracy than legislative over-sight.

Expectations were low following a deeplyflawed election in November 2010, in which themilitary-backed Union Solidarity and DevelopmentParty (USDP) won about three-quarters of the seats

in the fledgling parliament, largely due to a boycottby Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democ-racy (NLD). The ethnic and opposition parties thatcontested the vote won around 20 percent of the seatsup for grabs. “Before, I thought that this parliamentwas also just under the USDP and we have to followwhatever they do. But there are many things we cando,” said J Yaw Wu, an upper house representative

from the northern state of Kachin. Since securing aplace in parliament, J Yaw Wu has helped organizerelief flights to the remote northern town of Putao toalleviate food shortages, lobbied for greater ethnicminority representation on parliamentary committeesand delegations, and pushed the government to crackdown on immigration officials who are extortingmoney from members of the Lisu minority. He isalso a member of a commission dedicated to investi-

gating land disputes throughout the country.During our interview in Naypyitaw, he pulled a

thick dossier from his bag that was marked with thename of a township that is notorious for land confis-cations. “The people bring us these all the time,” hesaid, referring to the dossier, which contained a com-plaint that had been submitted to the committee toinvestigate. Parliamentarians from the USDP are not

alone in their difficulties adjusting to the new politi-cal reality in Burma. The transformation has beenjust as dramatic for the 41 representatives of the NLD,including Aung San Suu Kyi, who won seats in theby-elections held in April 2012. In a matter of months,Zaw Myint Maung went from languishing in jail torubbing shoulders with MPs who had until only re-cently been appointed by the commander-in-chiefunder the 2008 military-backed constitution. Although

the NLD has vowed to amend the constitution andremove military MPs from parliament – they hold25 percent of the seats – Zaw Myint Maung said thattheir presence has provided a “good opportunity” forthe NLD to engage with the Tatmadaw military partyon a daily basis.

“[When] we talk about the issue of the future ofour democratic system, our transition period, we have

no problem with each other,” he said. “We are friendsnow.” He added, “I’ve been in prison for nearly eigh-teen and a half years with the political case but nowwe are in the parliament with them. [It is] very funny.I didn’t imagine I would be here in the parliament.… My life has changed, but I have no resentmenttowards them for that time. Now we want to [ensure]democratic stability, genuine democracy. We want tocooperate with the other parties, including military

members, for the betterment of the people.” BlurredParty Lines: One of the most striking features ofBurma’s post-military rule parliament has been itslack of party allegiance. On countless occasions overthe past two years, parties have split when votingon proposals and bills – even during the tightly con-trolled first session. Despite ostensibly coming fromthe same party, USDP legislators regularly ignorerecommendations from government ministers, andeven the president. In February 2012, PresidentThein Sein returned a parliament-approved draft ofthe Ward and Village-Tract Administration Law, andrecommended that the selection process for localadministrators be changed from being determinedby secret ballot to “negotiated selection”. Repre-sentatives narrowly voted against the proposal, 278to 236. The upshot of this committee compositionis that representatives are forced to regularly mixwith their counterparts from other parties in moreintimate settings than the parliamentary chamber.“Now there are so many committees and we are allcooperating. We are basically party-less in terms ofhow we think and operate,” Khine Maung Yi of theNational Democratic Force told me at an upscalecafé in Yangon during a break between parliamentsessions.

—Courtesy Diplomat.

“The one I like most is the speaker, Thura Shwe Mann. He encourages us a lot,” Khine MaungYi said to me. Despite the progress they have made, Burma’s MPs still face a number of chal-lenges in carrying out their legislative duties. Foremost among them is limited access to re-

sources. For example, the parliament complex has only recently been given an internet connec-tion. Further, many of the legislators have little experience in administrative or legal matters. This

leaves a relatively small number to do the bulk of the work.

Agha over the constitution of theapex court bench.

Agha has, in turn, requestedthe court for time to work out theobjections raised by theregistrar’s office. The hearingwas later adjourned to Feb 11.

Last week, the SupremeCourt had decided to take up thecase of the mysterious death andhad said it was probing the caseas it wanted to ascertain the truthover the demise of the man whowas investigating the high-pro-file scam involving the primeminister

NAB bossexempted from

courtFrom Page 1

KARACHI: Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan AirForce visiting Air Commodore (R) M M Alam, the veteran of 1965 and 1971 wars.

offence against public justice,punishable under various provi-sions of the PPC and the NAO.An explanation has been calledfor, from the relevant official.The Court also requested KhwajaHaris Ahmad, a respected law-yer, to assist it as amicus curiaeon legal issues concerning depor-tation and offences against pub-lic justice.

The court has noted the stun-ning disclosure made by the I.Othat at one point in the investiga-tion, NAB had tracked down noless than Rs3 billion lying in thename of Tauqir Sadiq and closefamily member, held in bank ac-counts. However, just beforeNAB officially placed caution on

the accounts, the accused got atip of it and managed to siphonall the money off. The court hasasked for an explanation for thiscritical lapse in the investigation.

The court noted that the draftWarrants of Arrest went back-and-forth between the Investigat-ing Officer and the higher-up fourtimes, with seemingly unjustifiedobjections.

The back-and-forth went onfor more than one month at astage when speed was of the es-sence. In one of these episodes,while the chairman did sign thewarrants, they were kept hiddenfrom the relevant I.O for 12 days.When, on 02.05.12, the I.O didget the warrants, he found out thatTauqir Sadiq was sitting rightthere in the NAB building andhad him detained. In the mean-

while, the I.O went on to discussa procedural matter with one ofhis superiors, the DG SOD. TheDG SOD, however, tore the war-rants into pieces in front of theI.O and let Tauqir Sadiq escape.

The court has also noted theI.O’s statement that during prepa-ration of the reference, the NABfile was handed over to a legaladvisor who also happened to bethe legal advisor of two oil com-panies. The I.O refused to con-sult this person, and noted thepotential conflict of interest thatmight arise because of an indus-try insider. His objection was,however, ignored.

The NAB will be filing a re-port to explain all of these irregu-larities. The court will now re-sume the hearings on Thursday,7th February. —INP

SC orders Tauqir Sadiqproduction on Feb 7

From Page 1

was targeting the Shia Muslimsyet many Sunni fell prey, owningshops which were razed grandby the explosion,” the DPO added.

“Most of the victims werecoming out of a mosque in themarketplace after Friday prayerswhen a huge explosion took themout,” a senior police officer saidand added, “We have found thehead of the bomber, who reachedthe spot on a motorbike.” He saidthe bomber was between the ageof 14 to sixteen years.

Eye witnesses said a manstanding outside a mosque, blew

27 perish in Hangu mosqueFrom Page 1

himself up the moment Jummacongregation was over and thefaithful had emerged outside themosque.

The bomb disposal squad af-ter gathering clues from the siteconfirmed it was a suicide explo-sion wherein 7kg explosive ma-terial was used. Communal vio-lence hit

Hangu city, it may be recalled,is considered among the most sen-sitive cities and sectarian uprisingsas well as sabotage activities inthe past have eatenup hundreds ofpeople.The Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa

Governor, Barrister MasoodKausar has strongly condemnedthe bomb blast at Hangu and ex-pressed his deep shock and sor-row over the loss of precious livesin the tragic incident. This is worstact of terrorism wherein innocentworshipers were killed, he added.

In his condolence message theGovernor while expressing hisdeep sympathies with members ofthe bereaved families, said that thetragic incident shocked the entirenation asked the concerned au-thorities to ensure best ever avail-able treatment to the injured.

Musharraf himself crossedFrom Page 1

that 1999 Kargil operation was a“big success militarily” andopined that if the then prime min-ister Nawaz Sharif had not vis-ited the US, the Pakistani Armywould have “conquered” 300square miles of Indian controlledterritory.

Musharraf has said he wouldreturn home in some two and ahalf months before the forthcom-ing elections to boost the elec-toral chances of his party - AllPakistan Muslim League

(APML). However, ColonelAshfaq Hussain, who then partof Pakistan’s Inter-Services Pub-lic Relations Directorate, said,“How can Musharraf call it anexcellent operation when therewere no Indian troops on that lo-cation during winters? Hecrossed the LoC when Indiantroops were not present at all. Heassumed that Indians won’t cometo know till June. The ones whowere launched the operationdidn’t know the aims and objec-

tives of the operation which isstrange.” Hussain said.

In former chief of the In-dian army General VK Singhsaid, “As a military com-mander, I commend GeneralMusharraf that he came 11 kmsinto enemy territory and spentthe night with his troops. It is atestament to his internal cour-age, on the other hand, from ourside, what was happening , whydid we let them in? There weresome lapses on our part.”

Road, transport in and out of thecity remained suspended.

Authorities have increasedthe frequency of patrolling bythe police and FC personneldeployed in the city as a partof strict security arrangements.

Hub, an industrial city in theprovince, also experienced acomplete strike, as all commer-cial centres remained closed thereon Friday.

Attendance in educationalinstitutions and offices was poorand transport remained scarce onthe roads due to the strike. Thestrike was also being observed inthe province’s Dera MuradJamali district where protestersburnt tyres and staged a sit-in

Strike acrossFrom Page 1

imposition of the Governor’sRule in Balochistan. PML-Nmembers staged walkout fromthe House over law and ordersituation in Karachi.

Deferring Questions Hour,the House started discussion onthe prevailing law and order situ-ation in the country particularlyin Karachi. Taking part in the dis-cussion, Sajid Ahmad said re-sponsibility rests with the secu-rity agencies to ensure protectionof lives and properties of thepeople of Karachi. —Online

OppositionFrom Page 1

He remarked that incumbent par-liament and no political party hadmandate to create new provinces.The IHC judge observed that afew hundred lawmakers wantedto force their decision on thepeople that would led to anarchyin the country.

The observations came dur-ing the hearing of a petitionagainst creation of proposed‘Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab’Province. The court refused toissue a stay order against creationof new province and adjournedthe hearing till Monday.

LHC blastsFrom Page 1

timers Younis Khan andMohammad Hafeez and anotherto a run-out.Younis took only hiseighth wicket in an 80-Test ca-reer to dismiss Hashim Amlawith his third delivery of thematch, while off-spinner Hafeezdid even better, taking four for16 after only being introduced inthe 71st over.

Hafeez, who had taken 29wickets in 29 Tests before Friday,had AB de Villiers caught behindoff his first ball. Remarkably,Hafeez was given the second newball and struck again four ballslater when Robin Peterson pad-ded up and was bowled by astraight delivery.—AFP

Pak bowlersFrom Page 1

destabilise the country at large.Over a dozen people were

killed on Thursday in differentincidents of violence across thecity. The victims included a re-ligious scholar of Karachi’sJamia Binoria, his driver and acolleague, who were shot deadon Shaharea Faisal near Nurs-ery area of Karachi.

Karachi mobilephone services

From Page 1

ises being translated into action,”the minister told reporters on thesidelines of a function here. “Sowe have to wait and watch andshould take all measures unlesswe are convinced that thesepromises are actually translatedinto action,” he said. —INP

India not toFrom Page 1

tenced former CIA station chiefJeff Castelli to seven years, andhanded sentences of six yearseach to Americans BetnieMedero and Ralph Russomando.

All three had been acquittedin the first trial due to diplomaticimmunity. Italy’s highest courtlast year upheld the convictionsof 23 more Americans in absentiain the abduction of an Egyptianterror suspect from a Milan streetas part of the CIA’s extraordinaryrendition programme.—Agencies

Milan courtFrom Page 1

Interim setup throughdemocratic process: Kaira

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Punjab Chief Min-ister Muhammad ShahbazSharif has said that there is aneed for further promoting eco-nomic, trade and industrial tiesbetween Pakistan and Iran.

He said Muhammad NawazSharif played a very importantrole as prime minister instrengthening relations withIran. He said that time has comefor Pakistan and Iran to moveforward together in economic,trade, industrial and agriculturesectors. He expressed theseviews while talking to Advisorto Supreme Leader of Iran, AliAkbar Walaiti who met theChief Minister accompanied by

Shahbaz, Walaiti forstrengthening of Pak-Iran ties

a 14-member delegation atModel Town on Friday. Mattersof mutual interest and bilateralrelations were discussed in themeeting.

The Chief Minister said thatrole of Ali Akbar Walaiti as Ira-nian foreign minister has beenlaudable in bringing the Islamiccountries closer besidesstrengthening Pak-Iran rela-tions. He said the offer of Iranto provide assistance to Paki-stan to overcome energy crisisis a good omen. He said hadfederal government seriouslyworked on energy crisis, Paki-stan would not have been fac-ing darkness.Dr Ali AkbarWalaiti said that the relationsbetween Pakistan and Iran were

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Infor-mation and Broadcasting QamarZaman Kaira has said that interimsetup would be establishedthrough democratic process andwith consultation of all politicalparties. In an interview Kaira saidthat Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)believed in power of the institu-tions and for this all institutionalreforms had been introduced bydemocratic government tostrengthen the democratic institu-tions in the country. He said thatcaretaker Prime Minister would benominated through democraticprocess, in which leader of thehouse and leader of the oppositionwould consult in this regard andfor this consensus of all politicalstake holders will also be neces-sary. The minister said thatgood governess is only possiblethrough strong and stable demo-cratic institutions, which give po-litical right to the people accord-ing to the constitution.Replying toa question, he said that PPP fully

favour a strong and independentelection commission to conductfree, fair and transparent electionsin the country.

Kaira added that the demo-cratic government has appointedthe honest Chief Election Commis-sioner (CEC) Fakhrrudin GIbrahim with the consultation of allpolitical parties, which was a sin-cere efforts to ensure transparencyin polls. Replying to a question,Kaira said that in past history allprecedents existed that non demo-cratic forces had grabbed electionsfrom PPP. He said that PPP has ren-dered a lot of sacrifices for democ-racy and we would protect it at anycost. He strongly criticized theleader of the opposition ChaudharyNisar on his statement and said thathe (Nisar) is still living in politicsof 1990 era. Replying to anotherquestion, Kaira said that majorityof politicians including legislatorsare paying their taxes regularly. Hesaid that some quarters of mediawas exaggerating the statistics re-

garding politician’s tax collections.The minister said that PPP govern-ment has increased the tax collec-tion in double digits and also in-troduced tax reforms in the coun-try. Replying to a question, Kairasaid that current democratic gov-ernment has increased the exporttrade volume from $16 to $24 bil-lion, which is a clear indication ofsustainable industrial and tradegrowth. Kaira said that PPP madestructural changes in political sys-tem and brought a record legisla-tion in the country’s history.

He said that democratic gov-ernment has faced the huge crisisof world history in its initialmonths, like global economic de-pression, war on terrorism and twohuge flood but despite that govern-ment has accepted allchallenge.The minister said that thegovernment and its coalition part-ners had peacefully negotiated withMinhaj-ul-Quran chief TahirulQadri according to the Constitutionof the country.m. —NNI

MOSCOW—With planning forthe Western military withdrawalfrom Afghanistan in full swing,officials in Uzbekistan want tomake a deal: we will provide theroads out if you leave some ofthose extra vehicles and sup-plies behind for us. Uzbek offi-cials have quietly contactedAmerican, German and Britishofficials with the offer, in theirlatest bid to supplement theirmilitary despite internationalembargoes, according to offi-cials in NATO countries, humanrights advocates and Germannews reports. On the wish listare armored vehicles, mine de-tectors, helicopters, navigationequipment and night-visiongoggles, used and dusty wouldbe fine, a report in the New YorkTimes said.

It is a proposal that has wonthe attention of Western capitalsand that is said to have annoyedthe Kremlin enough that it ispushing through an arms dealwith Uzbekistan’s neighbor,Kyrgyzstan. “The Uzbeks seethis as their window of bargain-ing leverage,” Alexander Cooley,a professor at Barnard Collegeand an authority on the formerSoviet states of Central Asia, saidin a telephone interview. BothUzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan wereonce Soviet republics.Uzbekistan is ranked as the sixthmost corrupt country in the worldby Transparency Internationaland has been banned from mostarms purchases in Europe and theUnited States since political pris-oners were discovered to havedied in detention a decade ago

from scalding water, from, infact, being boiled alive.But what Uzbek officials areoffering, however, has value.Over the next two years,NATO forces are expected toremove about 70,000 vehiclesand 120,000 shipping contain-ers from Afghanistan, and theway out will require rail linesand well-surfaced roads.

Although Pakistani portsare seen as the most efficientavenue for the cargo’s with-drawal, alternatives will be im-portant, and allied officials aremindful of a potential disrup-tion if Pakistan ever decides toagain close the routes or askfor more money, as it did dur-ing a diplomatic crisis with theUnited States in 2011 and2012. —NNI

HRCP demandsearly recovery ofabducteesStaff ReporterLAHORE—The Human RightsCommission of Pakistan (HRCP)has condemned Thursday’s ab-duction from Karachi of fourvolunteers working with an NGOand called upon the governmentto act swiftly to secure theirrelease.In a statement issued onFriday, the Commission said:“HRCP strongly condemns theabduction from Maripur, Karachi,of four NGO workers and is ex-tremely concerned about theirsafety, and indeed the safety of allhuman rights defenders who hadalways operated in difficult circum-stances in Pakistan but who faceeven tougher challenges todayacross the country. The four vol-unteers, along with two womendoctors, were part of a mobile dis-pensary offering medical servicesto fishermen at Maripur.

One shot deadQUETTA—One person waskilled and another wounded ina drive-by shooting here onFriday. The firing incidenttook place in Faqirabad. Ac-cording to the police, uniden-tified motorcyclists opened in-discriminate fire at a barbershop, killing its owner AbdulRashid on the spot. AbdulAziz, who was inside the shopfor hair cut, was critically in-jured. Police reached the sceneand shifted the victim to CivilHospital while the attackersmanaged to flee. The policetermed it a target killing, say-ing the deceased hailed fromPunjab. —NNI

ISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterRaja Pervez Ashraf Friday appre-ciated efforts of the provincialgovernment for initiating con-struction on the Gandao dam inMohmand Agency to overcomeshortage of water in Ghalanai andadjoining areas. Talking to Gov-ernor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bar-rister Masood Kausar here at thePM House, the Prime Minister ap-preciated the FATA administrationunder the leadership of GovernorKPK for initiating feasibilitystudy for establishing CoalBriquetting Plant in FATA in col-

laboration with SMEDA. He said the initiatives would helpin providing employment oppor-tunities to the tribal populationwhich was a priority on the agendaof the government.

The Prime Minister reiteratedthe firm resolve of the governmentin providing basic amenities of lifeto the tribal population at their doorsteps. He said establishment of uni-versities, medical, professional andtechnical colleges and other relatedinstitutions in FATA areas werebeing vigorously pursued by thegovernment in this regard. .— APP

PM lauds initiation ofMohmand Agency dam

As NATO prepares for Afghan withdrawal,Uzbekistan seeks war’s leftovers: NYT

Senate passesInvestigationfor Fair Trial

Bill, 2012ISLAMABAD—The Senate Fri-day passed “The Investigationfor Fair Trial Bill, 2012”.

The bill moved by LawMinister Farooq H. Naek pro-vides for investigation and col-lection of evidence by means ofmodern techniques and devicesto prevent and effectively dealwith scheduled offences. It willalso regulate the powers of thelaw enforcement and intelli-gence agencies.Under this billall the law enforcement and in-telligence agencies will begoverned by a uniform legal sys-tem for collection of evidence,which will be admissible evenif collected prior to the registra-tion of an FIR. This would pro-vide a legal framework to theagencies to lawfully conduct thesurveillance of an individualwho is suspected of engaging orpreparing to conduct an act ofterror.

The bill will render neces-sary assistance in successfulprosecution of perpetrators ofsuch crimes. When came into ef-fect, the law will prevent the ar-bitrary use and abuse of intercep-tion powers particularly by theintelligence agencies and forcethem to abide by the law. —INP

PESHAWAR—Supply to Natoforces via Khyber Agency couldnot be resumed despite passageof one month as the ongoingtalks between Nato transportersand supplier companies failedon Friday.

The supply via Torkham andChaman border to Afghanistanhas been suspended since Jan 1.

Israr Shunwari, a spokes-man for All Pakistan GoodsTransporters Union, urged the

Talks on supply to Nato forcesvia Khyber Agency fail

owners of supplier companies toprovide insurance cover to thetransporters and their containersand double the fare.

He said that owners of thesupplier companies were notready to accept their demandsdue to which the supply has notbeen restored since Jan 1. Hesaid that talks being held inKhyber Agency between Natotransporters and supplier com-panies have failed.—INP

HAIDERABAD (INDIA): Activists of opposition party BJP burn effigy of Interior Minister Soshil Kumar to express theirresentment.

Governor Ebadleaves abroadKARACHI—Governor SindhDr. Ishrat ul Ebad khan left hereon Friday for abroad, SpeakerSindh Assembly Nisar AhmedKhuhro took the charge of act-ing Governor Sindh. In a state-ment issued here on Firday Gov-ernor Sindh Dr. Ishrat ul Ebadkhan left here on friday forabroad on a four days visit, NisarAhmed khuhro speaker SindhAssembly would perform as act-ing governor Sindh during thevisit abroad of Dr, Ishrat ul ebadKhan.Mean while Deputyspeaker Sindh Assembly SyedaShehla Raza would perform asacting speaker of Sindh assem-bly. —NNI

Sindh to have 3anti-terror courtsStaff ReporterKARACHI—Chief MinisterSindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah hasapproved the summary sent bythe home department for theformation of three more anti-terrorist courts in Sindh. Nowthe Ministry of Law would ap-proach Chief Justice Sindh forthe permission and approval ofthe formation of three moreanti-terror courts in Sindh af-ter which these courts wouldstart working. According to thesources in Law Departmenttwo of the three new anti-ter-ror courts would be formed inKarachi while the third wouldbe in Kandhkot.

Malik alerts Karachiagainst terrorism

ISLAMABAD—Interior MinisterRehman Malik has ordered theKarachi Police to remain alertin the next few days and keep aclose watch on pillion riding aswell as on public transportwhich could be used for terror-ist activities.

The minister issued the di-rection to Inspector General Po-lice Sindh on Friday. He said theassassination of Ulema of JamiaBanoria Town was part of a deeprooted conspiracy to give it asectarian colour.

He also instructed the Rang-ers and SHOs of all the policestations to increase patrolling toward off the designs of the en-emies. —INP

MQM office beareramong 4 killed

KARACHI—Four people, in-cluding an office bearer ofMQM, were killed in separateincidents of gun violence inKarachi on Friday.

Nayyar Shahab, 30, a localMQM office bearer, was shotand killed near Rehmat Chowkat Orangi Town Sector 11 onFriday morning. The deceased,dead body was shifted to AbbasiShaheed Hospital. —INP

extremely strong during therule of Muhammad NawazSharif who played an importantrole in cementing mutual ties.He said the management andefforts of Chief MinisterMuhammad Shahbaz Sharif forthe welfare, progress and devel-opment of the people are highlylaudable. He prayed that wholePakistan should progress aspeople of Punjab have progressedunder Muhammad ShahbazSharif. He invited President Pa-kistan Muslim League-NMuhammad Nawaz Sharif andChief Minister MuhammadShahbaz Sharif to visit Iran. TheChief Minister said that he con-sidered Iran as his second homeand he would soon visit Tehran.

Govt, oppositiontalksISLAMABA—The governmentis likely to hold talks with theopposition next week over theformation of caretaker setupahead of general elections. Theopposition had suggestednames of two former judges,Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid andJustice Shakirullah Jan, for thepost of caretaker PM.— NNI

MOSCOW —A rocket carryinga communications satellite suf-fered engine trouble andplunged into the Pacific Oceanshortly after launch on Friday,Russian news agencies reported.

The unsuccessful launch ofthe Intelsat-27 satellite was oneof several setbacks for Russia’s

Russian rocket falls into sea in failed launchspace program in recent years,including failed satellitelaunches and an unsuccessfulmission to study the Mars moonPhobos.The Zenit-3SL rocketcarrying the satellite sufferedengine failure shortly afterliftoff, state-run Itar-Tass re-ported, citing a Russian space

industry source. The rocket is ajoint production of Ukrainianand Russian companies, it said.

Intelsat-27 was to provideservices for media, governmentand other customers in theAmericas and Europe, accord-ing to the website of Luxem-bourg-based Intelsat. —Reuters

Afghanistan mortarskill five in Pakistan

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—Mortar shellsfired from Afghanistan on Fri-day killed five people inPakistan’s South Waziristantribal district, Pakistani officialssaid.“The shells hit five peoplenear Angoor Adda, around threekilometres (1.8 miles) from Af-ghanistan border, and killedthem,” said a Pakistani securityofficial.

The identity of the victimswas not immediately clear astwo officials said they were lo-cal militants and another saidthey were still identifying thebodies.

“They were local militantswho were coming towardsAngoor Adda from Afghan bor-der,” said the security official oncondition of anonymity becausehe was not authorised to speakto the media.

W A S H I N G T O N —Hi l l a ryRodham Clinton has steppeddown as America’s top diplomatbut still flying high.

After four years as PresidentObama’s secretary of State andAmerica’s ambassador to theworld, Mrs. Clinton is perhapsthe globe’s most recognizablewoman – one of her few rivalsmight be the queen of England– and she figures among themost admired.

Clinton’s approval ratingamong Americans is almost un-heard-of in the current climateof over-the-top partisanship: Sheconsistently scores 70 percent orbetter. And many political pun-dits assume the 2016 Demo-cratic presidential nomination,not to mention the presidency,is hers if she wants it.

Yet despite Mr. Obama’s

Hillary departs State: What’sher legacy as top US diplomat?

recent pronouncement ofClinton as “one of our finest”secretaries of State, expert opin-ions are more divided over thejob Clinton did and the impactshe’s had on US foreign policy.

Clinton’s last day on the jobis Friday, when she’ll culminatea week of valedictory events andgoodbyes to an adoring StateDepartment staff. On Thursdayshe addressed the Council onForeign Relations on the futureof American power, after hold-ing a global town-hall meetingearlier in the week with youthsasking questions via satellite.

Also in her last week,Clinton gave a series of sit-downinterviews to some of thewomen journalists assigned tothe State Department, under-scoring her focus on women’sempowerment.—AP

FOR years, damaged discs in the lowerback or spinal nerve problems have takenthe blame as the most common cause of

sciatica, a painful condition in which the sci-atic nerve in the back of the leg is pinched andpain radiates down the leg.

But a new study suggeststhe cause of sciatica pain mayactually be piriformis syn-drome, a condition in whicha muscle in the buttockscalled the piriformis com-presses or irritates the sciaticnerve.

The study appears in theFebruary issue of the Journalof Neurosurgery: Spine.

The findings may helpmany patients finally get re-lief from their pain, said studyauthor Dr. Aaron Filler, a neu-rosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai In-stitute of Spinal Disorders inLos Angeles. “Doctors oftenrecommend spinal fusion sur-gery for spinal problems [as-sociated with sciatica],” he said, “when the realproblem is piriformis syndrome.”

In the study, Filler and his colleagues evalu-ated 239 patients whose symptoms of sciaticahad not improved after diagnosis or treatmentfor a damaged disc. They performed the usualX-rays and MRI scans, and found seven of thepatients had torn disc-related conditions thatcould be treated successfully with spine sur-gery.

The other 232 patients underwent MR neu-rography, a new technique that generates de-tailed images of nerves. The researchers reportthat 69 percent had piriformis syndrome, whilethe other 31 percent had some other nerve, joint

or muscle condition.To treat piriformis syndrome, Filler’s

team injected a long-acting anesthetic into thespine, muscle or nerve areas. About 85 per-cent of the patients got some relief from the

injections, which helps relaxmuscle spasm. However, reliefwas not long-lasting and 62patients needed surgery to cor-rect the syndrome. Of those, 82percent had a good or excellentresult during the six-year fol-low-up.

The findings may help le-gions of Americans sufferingfrom sciatica, Filler said. “Morethan 1.5 million Americanshave experienced sciatica se-vere enough to be sent for lum-bar MRI scanning each year,”Filler said. “About 300,000lumbar disc surgeries are doneeach year for sciatica. Of those,about one-third fail.”

In some cases, those surger-ies may fail because disc dam-

age is not the underlying problem, Filler said.Instead, the real culprit could be other condi-tions, such as piriformis syndrome.

The nerve scan used in the study is rela-tively new, Filler said, being first used in hu-mans in 1993. His group reported on the firstgroups of patients who underwent the tech-nique in 1996. “Since 1996, we have imagedseveral thousand patients,” he said. The tech-nique is available now at major universitiesand hospitals, Filler said, and is expected tobecome more widespread in the next year orso.While the study provides new clues to sci-atica, experts say its results need to be dupli-cated.

New clues for sciaticapain relief

RAWALPINDI: Models displaying their make-up during a Beauticians’ Competition at a local hotel on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD: CEO RIS Walid Mushtaq speaks during International Education Sympo-sium 2013 organized by Roots School System at Jinnah Convention Centre. Ambassador ofBrazil Alfredo Leoni, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi, InchargeGlobal School Partnerships Cromwell Community College Cambridgeshire UK EdrichAdigun Harris, Executive Director RIS Sarah Walid, Head All Saints Primary SchoolCambridgeshire UK Rachel Clare and Urooj Iqbal are also seen sitting on the stage.—POPhoto by Sultan Bashir

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Air Univer-sity will organize RoboticsCompetition among the uni-versities of the country onFebruary 6 (Wednesday) toselect team for participatingin the upcoming grand finaleof Global Robotics Compe-tition (GRC) to be held inIndia in March.

A number of teams fromdifferent universities havingengineering and computerscience programmes will par-ticipate and compete for the

grand finale of GRC. According to the event

manager and Assistant Profes-sor at Air University, LiaquatAli Khan said this year, the AirUniversity has been selected asofficial organiser of the GRCfor Pakistan.

He said it is for the firsttime that Pakistan is going totake part in GRC competition,being held in India from March14 to 17 this year at Indian In-stitute of Technology Kanpur,India.

Liaquat informed the stu-dents from different universi-

ties of the country have con-firmed participation in theevent.

The participants will com-pete in two categories Interna-tional Autonomous RoboticsCompetition and InternationalRobot Got Talent, he said, add-ing that the winners of GRCPakistan will compete in theInternational finale of GRC.

The festival ‘Techkriti-2013’ serves as a valuable op-portunity for engineers aroundthe globe to converge theirskills and abilities on a singleplatform and it will be a great

opportunity for Pakistan stu-dents, he said.

Liaquat told that the an-nual technical and entrepre-neurship festival which hasemerged as one of the besttechnical festivals around theglobe is being organised by theIndian Institute of TechnologyKanpur. India, Pakistan,Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal,Sri Lanka, UAE, Egypt, UK,Japan and other countries areparticipating in the event.

He said that Techkriti waslaunched in 1995 with the aimof developing interest and en-

couraging innovation in tech-nology.

In seventeen years of itsexistence, Techkriti hasevolved and grown, fulfillingits purpose and becoming oneof the most eagerly- awaitedfestivals in Asia.

The word ‘Techkriti’ iscomposed of two words,‘Tech’ in English which standsfor technology and ‘Kriti’ inSanskrit stands for creation.

It may be mentioned thatRobotics, has been one of themost interesting field of tech-nical advancements.

Robotics competition at Air University

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Third IslamabadGem Exhibition, featuringPakistan’s minerals, preciousgemstones and jewellery, re-mained the point of attractionfor foreigners and residents ofCapital, on Friday.

Organized by PakistanGems and Jewellery Develop-ment Company (PGJDC), thethree-day gem exhibition, fromFeb 1-3,is an effort to promotethe local gems industry in or-der to support the economy ofthe country.

Sparkling rare gemstones ofPakistan such as emerald, rubyand aquamarine, attracted Am-bassadors and diplomats of sev-eral countries including China,

Gleaming jewellery luresislooites to shopping spree

Brazil, Japan, Oman, Russia,Czech Republic, and EU Am-bassador.

While the unique, gleam-ing jewellery sets attracted theelites of the city, especiallywomen. Secretary Ministryof Production, Gul MuhammadRindh inaugurated the exhibi-tion.

Talking to APP, an offficialof PGJDC Abdul Ahad said“To carry upon the success ofthe 2012 event, and make it aregular feature, PGJDC hasdecided to host the thirdIslamabad Gem Exhibitionwith maximum participationfrom around the country”.

In this exhibition, Gemssector from all across Pakistanis showcasing variety of gems

and related products includingprecious/semi-precious gem-stones, mineral specimens, or-namental stones, beads, gem-stone carvings andmade-ups.

More than 80 exhibitors areshowcasing their products dur-ing the Gem Exhibition.

In view of the main purposeof the event, to highlight Paki-stani gems and related productsin the most versatile manner, aspecial table arrangement ismade for all exhibitors to show-case their products in the bestpossible manner so that peoplecan have a closer look at theproduct.

The three day event is openfor general public, providingthem a rare opportunity to buyrare stones from all over Paki-

stan.PGJDC is the subsidiary of

Pakistan Industrial Develop-ment Corporation under Min-istry of Production.

The charter of the Com-pany is to enhance the valuechain productivity of gems andjewellery industry of Pakistanfrom mine to market throughpublic/private partnership.

The Company aims to in-crease exports through facilita-tion, technology up-gradation,skill development and market-ing/branding initiatives.

With adequate supportfrom government, PGJDC issuccessfully realizing these ob-jectives and providing requiredinfrastructure for the gems andjewellery industry of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD—Lake View Parkhas become a ‘no go area’ forthe general public these days dueto undue entry charges, chargedby the administration.

In fact, the park coveredarea has been divided into vari-ous blocks and on every entrypoint, they levy separately thatis a bit inconvenient for thevisitors hailing from far flungareas.

Alisha, while talking toAPP pointed out that she wasamazed to pay time and againfor the same picnic point.

She also complained forunhygienic sneaks and food be-ing served in the park at a highcost to the local market.

Lake View Park becomes‘no go area’ for public

She said that there was noone for the check and balanceof all these things that has be-come a great cause of discom-fort of the visitors.

Aysha Khan, another tour-ist, urges the authorities con-cerned to look into the matterand make it comfortable for gen-eral public.

An official of CDA told tothe scribe that the minimalcharges are being taken from thevisitors for keeping the environ-ment neat and clean and providemore comforts for them.

He informed that the fol-lowing entry fee is charged af-ter the officially approval of thecompetent authority.—APP

IGP orders massivecrackdown against

criminalsISLAMABAD—Inspector Gen-eral of Police (IGP) IslamabadBani Amin Khan on Friday di-rected all police officials to takefurther effective steps to controlcrime in the city and adopt a pro-fessional as well as responsibleattitude to mitigate the suffer-ings of the people.

He stated this while address-ing a meeting held to review thecrime situation in the city andefforts of Islamabad police inensuring foolproof security ar-rangements.

The meeting was also at-tended among others by DIGHQ Sultan Azam Tamuri, AIGSpecial branch Waqar Choan ,SSP Islamabad Yaseen Farooq,SSP Tarffic Dr Moeen Masoodall SPs, all sub-divisional policeofficers, in-charge CIA, ACLC,as well as SHOs.

The IGP ordered for strictpatrolling and vigilance to en-sure effective policing and spe-cial crackdown against the gam-bling dens and guest houses in-volved in immoral activities.

He ordered to ensure arrestof proclaimed offender and othercriminals involved in crimes ofheinous nature and are still atlarge.He also directed police of-ficials for strict monitoring ofthose ever faced imprisonmentin car-lifting or involvement inother criminal activities.—INP

AIOU to holdMA Education

workshopISLAMABAD—Regional Cam-pus of the Allama Iqbal OpenUniversity will hold work-shop/teaching practice of MA(Education) Course Code No.6550 and 6551 for the Semes-ter Autumn, 2012 from Febru-ary 11.

This was announced by Re-gional Director, Islamabad Re-gional Campus, AIOU,Chaudhry Muzammal Pervaiz.

He said the letters for par-ticipation in the workshophave been sent to all the con-cerned students at their givenaddress.

The particulars of venue ofworkshop/schedule has alsobeen placed at websitewww.aiou.edu.pk of the Univer-sity, he added.

For further information, thestudents can also contact toMustahsan and Abrar Ahmed onphone Nos.9057144 and9250024.—APP

Woman dies, 3injured in gas

leakage explosionISLAMABAD—A woman diedand three others including twochildren were injured due to gasleakage explosion in a househere on Friday.According to de-tails, the incident took place inGul-e-Agha area of Kahuta, dis-trict Rawalpindi. House wifeturned on the stove to preparebreakfast but it exploded due tocontinues leakage of gas.

As a result the woman diedon spot due to burn injures whilethree others including her hus-band and two children receivedburn injuries.Rescue teamrushed to the spot and shifted thebody and injured to Kahuta hos-pital.—INP

RAWALPINDI: A vendor preparing traditional item Halwa at his set up in a local market ofthe city.

ISLAMABAD: People taking keen interest in books and magazines displayed at a roadsideset up in Federal Capital.

RAWALPINDI: Activists of Sunny Tehrik protesting against target killings in Karachi.

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador Richard Olson greets American and Pakistani journalists at a media summit for alumni ofthe US-Pakistan Professional Partnership in journalism.

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—US AmbassadorRichard Olson joined State Min-ister for Information SyedSumsam Ali Shah Bukhari incongratulating Pakistani jour-nalists on the important workthey do to advance Pakistan’sdemocracy. More than 70 jour-nalists from various TV, radio,and print outlets across Pakistangathered in Islamabad for athree-day media summit. Thejournalists are alumni of a U.S.government-funded exchangeprogram known as the “U.S.-Pakistan Professional Partner-ship in Journalism.”

“The U.S. governmentstrongly supports a vibrant andindependent media in Pakistan,”said Ambassador Olson in hisremarks at the opening cer-

Role of journalists indemocracy praised

emony of the media summit. “Afree press is the cornerstone ofany democracy. It provides theinformation and facts needed forthe people to hold their govern-ment accountable.”

The U.S.-Pakistan Profes-sional Partnership in Journalismwas established in 2011. It isadministered by the InternationalCenter for Journalists (ICFJ).After two weeks of orientation inWashington, DC, Pakistani jour-nalists spend three to four weeksworking as staff reporters at newsoutlets across the United States.

The program also bringsU.S. journalists to Pakistan fora two-week orientation on Paki-stani politics, society, and theeconomy through site visits, in-terviews, and interactions withjournalists, officials, and ordi-nary Pakistanis. Currently, a

group of seven U.S. journalistsfrom print, television, radio, andonline media is in Pakistan fromJanuary 20 to February 3.

The three-day alumni mediasummit in Islamabad includespanel discussions with mediaprofessionals, breakout sessionson topics such as conflict-sensi-tive reporting and social media,and a “train-the-trainer” work-shop for highly-motivatedalumni who will share what theylearn with other journalists intheir communities.

The U.S. government in-vests nearly $30 million annu-ally in exchange programs withPakistanis. More than 1,000 Pa-kistanis participate in varioushigh school, undergraduate,graduate, and professional U.S.-sponsored exchange programseach year.

RAWALPINDI—Sale of unhy-gienic milk is continuing un-checked in all the areas ofRawalpindi City and Cantt inconnivance with the corrupt el-ements of health departmentposing health hazards to the citi-zens.

The adulterated milk isbrought from Sargodha andother areas of the province insmall tankers and blue coloreddrums and is supplied to thewholesale contractors at thestipulated points in their respec-tive areas.

In order to ensure thicknessof the milk, soda, surf, cookingoil and powder of expired milkis mixed up in it and later it isfreezed. Ice is put into this milkto keep it cold and through thismethodology; milk does turnsour for at least 10 days.

This toxic milk has prolif-erated abdominal and other fa-tal diseases in the areas where itis being sold out with impunity.

The heinous business ofminting money through sale oftoxic milk is on rise in the areas

particularly Dhok Ratta,Kashmiri Bazar, Murree road,Sadiq Abad, Dhok Kashmirian,Dhok Kala Khan, Pindora, NewKatarian, Asghar Mall, Banni,Jamia Masjid road, BaghSardaran, Pir Wadhai, Foujicolony, Dhok Hussoo, DhokMangtal, Ratta Amral, Sadarcantt police station road, Hos-pital road, Chohar, Misrial road,Dhok Banaris, Sadat market,Dhok Syedan and other areas.

Health department officershave never visited these areasand they are not only shuttingtheir eyes to this unlawful andimmoral business but also theyhave given the criminals openlicense to play with the lives ofcitizens by pocketing heftymoney.

If any complaint is lodged,then these corrupt officers rushto the entry points at GT road andtail end of the motor way and startgrabbing their share. The citizenshave demanded of Punjab gov-ernment to take immediate mea-sures for curbing the sale of un-hygienic milk.—Online

Sale of toxic milkgoes unchecked

DysfunctionalCT scan machine

at PIMSISLAMABAD—CT Scan ma-chine of the largest hospital offederal capital PIMS is lying outof order since long and the pa-tients of emergency wards areforced to move to private labo-ratories for this test.

It is irony of the fate that thelonely ultra sound machine ofthis hospital is no more func-tioning to its full capacity andthe patients are being given timespanning several weeks in con-nection with this test.

PIMS administration isplaying with the sentiments ofthe patients as they are givingone-month period to patients forultra sound test and free ultrasound test has become night-mare for the poor patients.

Patients demanded of minis-ter for capital administration anddevelopment division NazarMuhammad Gondal to play his duerole in addressing the problems ofthe patients in PIMS.—Online

Stray dogs makelife of G-8/4

residents miserableISLAMABAD—The residents ofSector G-8/4 have expressedtheir concern over increasingnumber of stray dogs in the sec-tor, saying stray dogs can easilybe seen roaming in the sector.

They underlined that it hasbecome almost impossible forcitizens to move freely at nightbecause of great increase innumber of stray dogs.

Killing of stray dogs hasnever been taken seriously de-spite continuous rise in numberof untoward incidents due todog-bites.

The public and socialcircles underlined that theNamazis also facing problemsto offer prayers in the night andseveral dog-biting incidentshappened.

The people have demandedof authorities concerned to takemeasures for the elimination ofstray dogs.

Some circles, howeveropined that instead of killingstray dogs, some other wayshave to be adopted by the au-thorities.—Online

Protest againstincrease in

transport faresIS L A M A B A D—Employeesworking in the Senate Secre-tariat have protested the increasein the transport fares by the au-thorities.

They staged a sit-in in frontof the chambers of chairmanSenate and deputy chairman inthe Parliament House and in-formed Senate ChairmanNayyar Hussain Bukhari abouttheir demands.

The employees peacefullyreturned to their offices on theassurance to review the fareslist.—INP

RawalpindiDivision students to

get 1,325 laptopsRAWA L P I N D I —In secondphase of Chief Minister MianShahbaz Sharif Laptop Distri-bution scheme, 1,325 laptopswould be awarded among bril-liant students of educationalinstitutes while 6,012 talentedstudents of schools wouldget solar penal on February04.

Sources said that list of theeligible brilliant students havebeen compiled for the purpose.

Directorate of CollegesRawalpindi Division, director,Prof. Humayoon Iqbal saidthat list of 1,325 students ofFatima Jinnah Women Univer-sity, Pir Meher Ali Shah AridAgriculture University, Uni-versity of Engineering Taxila,Govt Post Graduate Collegefor Women/Boys SatelliteTown, Govt Post GraduateCollege Asghar Mall and GovtGordan College has been pre-pared for the award oflaptops.—INP

90 acres landapproved inSector H-16

for District JailISLAMABAD—Capital Devel-opment Authority (CDA) boardhas approved allotment of 90acres land in Sector H-16 for theconstruction of District JailIslamabad.

The approval of the allot-ment was given in a meetingpresided over by ChairmanCapital Development AuthoritySyed Shahbaz.

Member Planning and De-sign Syed Mustafin Kazmibriefed the meeting about thecase.

According to sources, thedistrict administrationIslamabad had paid Rs72 mil-lion to the CDA for the land.

Role of allotment scrutinycommittee was also discussed inthe meeting.

The board directed to furtherbrief the board about the issuesrelating to allotment scrutinycommittee in the next meeting,especially to bring the cases ofscrutiny of allotments of agrofarms for approval in the nextmeeting.

The board members agreedupon minimizing the role ofproperty dealers and allottingplots to deserving people onmerit basis.—INP

Parking facility inweekly bazaar

demandedISLAMABAD—Lack of parkingfacilities in G-6 weekly bazaarhas added to the woes of the citi-zens.

This is the oldest bazaar offederal capital and majority ofresidents of federal capital visitit to buy essential commoditiesand daily use items. But theparking problem has forcedthem to move to other weeklybazaars located in far off sectors.

Most of the consumers re-turn without making any pur-chase as they are forced to re-verse their vehicles due to lackof parking facilities and this waythe business in the bazaar is de-clining remarkably, said a groupof stall holders.—Online

Inmate dies inAdiala jail due

to illnessRAWALPINDI—An inmate inAdiala Jail who was arrested inhashish case died due to illnesshere.

The Jail administrationclaimed that, Naseerabad policearrested an accused Ansar hail-ing from Rawalpindi fromQasim Abad in hashish case.

Nowadays he was in Adialacentral jail and was sufferingfrom fever. He was shifted to jailhospital for medial aid where hecould not recover his health anddied during under treatment.

After completing legal for-malities the dead body washanded over to his heirs.—Online

ISLAMABAD—Most of the resi-dents living across theIslamabad Expressway seem tohave no interest in using theoverhead bridges built on vari-ous points to facilitate pedestri-ans.

Despite warnings by thepolice and traffic instructions,pedestrians seem to not take thatextra effort to climb the bridges,and instead,just walk across theroad.

Pedestrians generallythinks they were saving theirtime with using short-cut insteadof overhead bridges for crossingthe road.

While they waste extra timein wait because the rushy trafficon the road.

An official of IslamabadTraffic Police said that they aredoing their best to educate theroad users and different sign-boards have been installed toguide the road users. “I agreethat most of the pedestrians pre-fer short-cut, avoid use of theseoverhead bridges and face roadaccidents”, he said.

Several fatal and non-fatalroad accidents have occurred onthe Islamabad Expressway dueto the negligence of pedestrianswho suddenly jump at the road.

The official said that policewould continue efforts to edu-

Pedestrians not usingoverhead bridges

cate road users. He requested the people to

use overhead bridges as theywere erected for their safety andsmooth flow of traffic. The Ex-pressway is one of the busiestroads of the city as most of thetraffic coming from Lahore useit to enter Islamabad andRawalpindi.

Atif Noor, a car owner talk-ing to this agency said the gov-ernment has spent millions ofrupees to facilitate people livingacross the Expressway for theirsafety, but most of the pedestri-ans are not using this facility, heregretted.

Shoaib Ahsan a publictransport driver of route 21, saidmostly people do not use thebridge for crossing the road anddisturb the flow of traffic.

Qaiser Zaman, a govern-ment employee said that he al-ways use overhead bridges asthese have been installed to fa-cilitate the public. Talking to thisnews agency, a CDA spokesmansaid that a proposal was beingconsidered to construct a six-feethigh safety wall along theIslamabad Expressway to dis-courage the pedestrians fromcrossing the road other than des-ignated places but due to finan-cial crunch the plan had beendropped.—APP

Waris Khan police bustedthree gangs last month

RAWALPINDI—Waris Khan Po-lice have busted three gangs in-volved in street crimes, car-lift-ing and sale of stolen cars’ spareparts in the last month, StationHouse Officer (SHO) of the Po-lice Station Abdul Rashid saidhere on Friday.

Talking to APP, he said aspecial drive was launched fol-lowing the directives of CityPolice Officer (CPO) AzharHameed Khokhar to takeprompt action against anti-socialelements and purge the area ofcriminals.He said the policeteam, led by Deputy Superinten-

dent of Waris Khan Circle MirzaJamil Baig, arrested six accusedand recovered snatched and sto-len items including cars, motor-cycles, engines of different makevehicles and several spare partsof the lifted-vehicles from theirpossession.

Giving details, the SHO saidthe police apprehended accusedNayyab s/o Abdul Rashid, FaisalMehmood s/o Arshad and recov-ered a stolen car, mobile phones,computers and two kilograms ofcharas from them.

Besides, it nabbed SharjeelAhmed s/o Muhammad Shafiq

and Zeeshan s/o Zameer Ahmedfor their alleged involvement instreet crimes and recovered amotorcycle, mobile phones andother stolen items, he said.

SHO Abdul Rashid said po-lice held two accused FazalMaula and Gul Wali involved insale of stolen carsâ•™ spareparts and recovered two cars,five engines of different vehiclesand other spare parts.Replyingto a question, he expressed theresolve to eliminate the anti-so-cial elements from the area forwhich a well-planned strategywas in full swing.—APP

Police arrest 17outlaws, recover

stolen goodsRAWALPINDI—The police onFriday arrested 17 outlawsand recovered drugs, weap-ons, bottles of liquor, UPS,Hair Cutting Machine, mobilesets, TV Sets from their pos-session.

According to police spokes-man, R.A Bazzar Police heldNaeem and recovered 1080gram charas from his possessionwhile New Town police arrestedAqeel and recovered 1075 gram.

City Police nabbedKhursheed and recovered 4bottle of liquor from him. NewTown police held Pervez andrecovered 5 bottle of liquor fromhis possession.

Saddar Barooni police re-covered 10 bottles of liquor fromMazhar.

Rawat police arrestedZameer and recovered a pistol30 bore along 3 round from him.

Pirwadhi police held Sarfrazand recovered a dagger from hispossession. Saddar Wah Policeheld Tariq and rcovered UPS,Hair Cutting machine, mobileset and TV set from his posses-sion.

Police have registered sepa-rate cases against all of them andstarted investigation.—APP

RAWALPINDI—The sixth meet-ing of Inter Agency Task Force(IATF) was held here at AntiNarcotics Force Headquatersunder the chairmanship of Direc-tor General ANF to maximizeeffectiveness of Anti NarcoticsPolicy through coordinatedimplementation of the counternarcotics enforcement.

It was decided to enhancemutual cooperation among dif-ferent LEAs to give a strongmessage to drug mafia.

Senior officials from allLaw Enforcement Agencies(LEAs) attended the meetingand presented reports of theirperformance on narcotics con-trol, said a press release.

Matters related to alternatelivelihood programmes forpoppy prone areas of

Balochistan and KhyberPakhtunkhwa, destruction ofdrug dens, establishment oftreatment centers for addicts ingovernment hospitals and jailsand few other matters of mutualinterests were discussed in de-tail.

It was emphasized byChairman IATF that all agenciesconcerned to take meaningfuland tangible measures to fulfillthe objectives of IATF forumand to eradicate this menacefrom the country.

Director EnforcementHeadquarters ANF Rawalpindibeing Secretary of IATF Secre-tariat presented national seizuredata - 2012 made by all LEAsrelated to drug seizures and co-ordinated efforts by LEAs in dif-ferent operations.—APP

Implementation ofcounter narcotics

measures

CPO to holdKhuli Kutchery

todayRAWALPINDI—On the direc-tives of Chief Minister PunjabCity Police Officer RawalpindiAzhar Hameed Khokar will holdopen Khuli Katchery at AirportPolice Station here on Saturday.

The CPO will hear com-plaints of the people.

It is pertinent to mentionedhere that crime rate is growingday by day in the city.—APP

06:2001:3004:15

07:30

Zohr

February 02

M E H F I L - E - M I L A Dorganised by the Associationof Business, Professional andAgricultural Women andAnjuman-e-Rifah, at the PearlContinental Hotel, The Mall,Rawalpindi at 10:30 am.

February 05

PRIME Minister Raja PervezAshraf to chair Kashmir Con-vention to mark the KashmirSolidarity Day at the Audito-rium Hall, Prime MinisterSecretariat, Islamabad at 3:00pm. Speakers include Presi-dent AJK Sardar MuhammadYaqub Khan, Prime MinisterAJK Chaudhry Abdul Majeedand others.

*****HAMDARD thinker forumwill hold a meeting on ‘Elec-tion of Public Representa-tives in the light of constitu-tion’ at Hamdard CentreMurree Road at 4 pm.

*****INSTITUTE of StrategicStudies will hold a seminaron ‘The Kashmir Issue’ at1045 hrs.

Honest youth returnsRs1m cheque

ISLAMABAD—A youngster re-turned the lost bag containinglaptop and other important docu-ments to deputy director ofUfone cellular company.

According to details, an ad-dict person offered SunnyMasih, an employee of INP topurchase a bag containing laptopfor Rs 500.

The youth paid the moneyto the addict and contacteddeputy director Ufone cellularcompany, Kashif Salman, theowner of the bag through thecontact number labelled on thebag.The bag contained alaptop, Rs 1 million opencheque and other importantdocuments.

Kashif Salman thanked 24-year-old Sunny Masih for hishonesty and also awarded cashprize to him.—INP

MUZAFFARABAD: AJK Minister for Transport Muhammad Tahir Khokar address-ing departmental meeting.

ISLAMABAD: AJK Prime Minister Chaudhary Abdul Majeed in a meeting with Federal Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan.

AZAM INQILABI

DEVOTIONAL affinity, proclivityand propensity for a cause - personal, social or political -forms

the cornerstone of all the factors whichmotivate and inspire a man to scramblefor the accomplishment of a cherishedobjective with enthusiasm and fervour.So devout adherent of a cause is, infact, a repository of an indwelt intu-itional urge to remain wedded and com-mitted to his sacrosanct objective withunshakeable resolve and determination.The splendour of sobriety, probity andpropriety of a devout activist ideallyglamourizes his demeanour andstruggle. His devotional zest and zealaccentuates and glorifies his mission-ary pursuit of the objective which is sodear to him.

Ostensibly-flamboyant political andreligious leaders are basicallydoctrinists who feel overwhelmed byexuberant and ebullient sentiments ofsubjective assertion for an altruistic,populistic and egalitarian objective.

They are, in fact, idealists who perpetu-ally nurture seemingly romantic andinnovative ideas for a change. Theyremain metaphysically engrossed andabsorbed in a process of emotionalmetamorphosis which fructifies in theform of symbiotic communion of revo-lutionary ideas and notions. SheikhHasan-ul-Banna and Syed Qutub, thedoctrinists of Egyptian revivalist Is-lamic movement Ikhwan-ul-Muslimoon, were passionate propo-nents of Islamic revivalism and renais-sance. They were neither pedantictheorists nor doctrinaire romanticists.They were pragmatists and rationalistswho believed that puritan transfigura-tion and transformation of Muslim so-ciety was achievable objective. So theirobjectivity was aimed at the revival ofcaliphate (Khalafat). The accumulativemomentum of the Ikhwan movementwas an eyesore to the Egyptian self-

centred and egotistic rulers whowere, in fact, mavericks believingin hedonism, revelry and joie devivre. Hypocrisy of the haughtyrulers conviently facilitated the as-sassination of Sheikh Hasan-ul-Banna on Feb. 12, 1949. The popu-lar pioneer of the revivalist move-ment was 43 when bullets of themorally barren and bankrupt rulerspierced through his chest. SheikhHasan’s martyrdom imbued his fol-lowers with hope and optimism.They remained asserting for theircause with added resolve. SyedQutub, the author of 24 books (in-cluding Tafseer Fee Dalalil Qur’an),was a prominent pillar of his pro-Ikhwan movement. President JamalNasir, the dictator averse to the ca-liphate movement of Ikhwan-ulMuslimoon, connived with hissleazy coterie to facilitate the execu-

tion of Syed Qutub who had alreadyundergone untold suffering and hard-ships during his 11-year detention andconfinement. Eventually the 80-year-old Egyptian revivalist movement cul-minated in the coronation of Mr. Mursias the democratic revivalist ruler of Is-lamic Republic of Egypt in 2012. Thisis how the burgeoning and plethoricrevolutionary sentiments of Egyptiandoctrinists got materialized; and theirsustained struggle was, thus, crownedwith success.

It was the monotheistic resolve ofEgyptian doctrinists which successfullyresisted the onslaught of the dictatorialand totalitarian dispensation there. So,in the dynamics of revivalist resistanceof Egypt, monotheistic idealism andconviction played a pivotal and defini-tive role indeed. Now we understandwhy the eyes of pensive adherents ofrevivalism there become glaringly lus-

trous and glittery when they recite theverse of the Holy Qur’an: “Don’t feeldejected and disheartened; you willcertainly emerge victorious if you aremomineen (sincere adherents of Islamicfaith)” (Surah Al-Imran-139).

Martyrdom of every doctrinistmarks the beginning of a change; hismartyrdom, in fact, delineates and por-trays the preludial and precursory suc-cess of his movement. Syed AhmadBarailvi, who achieved the objective ofmartyrdom on May 6 – 1831(Zequa’dah 24, 1246 A.H.) at Balakotewas the harbinger of what was chris-tened as Pakistan movement whenMuslim League, in its convention atLahore, passed a resolution on March23 – 1940 propounding the concept ofa separate and sovereign Muslim state.Ten thousand Muslim scholars andclerics, all doctrinists symbolizing andtypifying the sentiments of patriotism

and monotheistic commitment, weremartyred by British colonialists dur-ing the revolt of 1857 A.D. Quaid-e-Azam M. A. Jinnah, as an adept revo-lutionary jurist, adroitly capitalizedon the heroic sacrifices of these mar-tyrs to carve out an ideological Mus-lim state. Bhagat Singh, the revolu-tionary patriotic doctrinist, was gib-beted on March 23 – 1931 by theBritish imperialists for no fault of thepatriotic warrior except that he was acommitted freedom maximalist deter-mined to take on the alien rulers evenat the cost of his life. Monotheisticdoctrinist and Mujahid AshfaqMajeed Wani was martyred onMarch 30 – 1990 by Indian soldiersfor no fault of the overzealous anduncompromising Kashmiri freedomzealot except that the 23-year-oldrevolutionary played a role that wasreminiscent of the subjective asser-tion of 23-year-old freedom votaryBhagat Singh.—Kashmir Watch

—Writer is Patron of JKMahaz-e-Azadi

Understanding the dynamics of resistance

ISLAMABAD—ParliamentaryKashmir Committee ChairmanMaulana Fazl ur Rahman onFriday said that Indian lead-ership should stop threaten-ing Pakistan as it is detrimen-tal to peace efforts in the re-gion. He said that the offer ofnegotiation on part from Pa-kistani should not be consid-ered a weakness.

He emphasized that reso-lution of the ‘Kashmir Dis-pute’ is must for sustainablepeace in the region. Mualanacalled upon the InternationalCommunity to play its duerole in the resolution of thislongstanding issue betweentwo nuclear arm countries.

He said it is unfortunate

that a single incident at Lineof Control has damaged allbilateral agreements includ-ing resumption of transpor-tation, sport, music, visas,trade agreement between thetwo countries. He said Kash-mir is the basic problem andit should be resolved for thepeace of the region.

Mualana said that Indiahas always blamed Pakistanfor terrorism but now HomeMinister admitted that Hinduterrorists training camps areinvolved in fanning Hinduextremism. He said that nowit is responsibility of Indiaauthorities to take stern ac-tion against such terroristscamps on Indian soil.—APP

Threats from Indiaintolerable: Fazl

Troops martyr 5Kashmiris including

2 childrenISLAMABAD—Indian troopsin Occupied Kashmir in theircontinued acts of state ter-rorism, martyred fiveKashmiris including twoschool children during thelast month of January. Ac-cording to the data issued bythe Research Section ofKashmir Media Service, Fri-day, these killings renderedone woman widowed andthree children orphaned.

During the month, 66people were critically injuredwhen Indian police and para-military personnel usedbrute force against peacefuldemonstrators in the occu-pied territory while 218 civil-ians, mostly liberation activ-ists, were arrested.

The troops destroyedone residential house anddisgraced four women in themonth.—APP

JKLF-R to observe“Maqbool Butt

Week” from Feb 5ISLAMABAD—The Jammuand Kashmir LiberationFront- R (JKLF-R) in occu-pied Kashmir has decided toobserve “Maqbool ButtWeek” from February 5 onhis 29th death anniversary.JKLF-R in a meeting held atits central office in Srinagarsaid that from February 05 toFebruary 11 seminars andfunctions in different dis-tricts of the territory wouldbe held where light on thelife and contribution ofMuhammad Butt for Kash-mir cause would be thrown,KMS reported.

The meeting said that onthe call of JKLF-R completestrike would be observedFebruary 11. The partywould also take out a rallywhere the leaders would de-mand of India to hand overthe mortal remains ofShaheed Maqbool Butt tothe people of Valley for hisrespectable burial.—APP

SHRC seeks acidattack report from

Police ChiefSRINAGAR—The State Hu-man Rights Commission hasdirected J&K’s Director Gen-eral of Police to file a factualreport about the acid attackcase in Srinagar wherein 30-year-old girl was attackedhere with acid earlier thismonth. The Commissionalso asked the DivisionalCommissioners of Kashmirand Jammu regions to “sub-mit the mechanism by whichthey monitor the sale, importand storage of various acidsin their areas of operation.”

While hearing the peti-tion filed in the case, the Di-vision Bench of the Commis-sion comprising f JavaidKawoosa and Rafiq Fida hasasked the authorities to filetheir report within a stipu-lated time.

The bench asked theSHO of Sheergari Police Sta-tion, where the FIR was reg-istered, to file the status re-port before the Commissionwithin a given period of time.

Soon after the acid attack,a human rights group—In-ternational Forum for Justiceand Human Rights—filedthe petition in the SHRCseeking stringent actionagainst the perpetrators. Thepetition was filed by Chair-man of the Forum,Muhammad Ahsan Untooappealing the Commission totake immediate cognizance ofthe gruesome act of acidthrowing and ensure safetyof womenfolk.—NNI

Earthquake earlywarning sytemsinstalled in AJK

MUZAFFARABAD—A Ger-man non-governmentalorganisation formallyhanded over the control ofsix earthquake early warn-ing systems to AzadKashmir’s State DisasterManagement Authority(SDMA).

Malteser Internationalhad installed these costlysystems in Ali Akbar AwanBoys High School and GirlsHigh School Madina Mar-ket in the municipal area ofMuzaffarabad andKoomikot and PhagwanDupatta villages in the sub-urbs of state capital. In theneighbouring Bagh district,one system was installed inBoys High School in thecity of Bagh and another inKharal Abbasian village.

Before that, warning si-rens were sounded at 11:30with a view to familiarisingpeople with its distinct tone,which organisers said couldbe heard in a radius of 2.5kilometres.

The audience were toldby Amy Louise Keith,project director of MalteserInternational, about the util-ity of the system butstressed that more stepswere required to be takento mitigate the losses in theevent of such calamities.The earthquake early warn-ing, she said, could providea few seconds to tens ofseconds warning (throughsirens) before ground shak-ing during an earth-quake.—NNI

AFSPA shameon democracy,ex-IB official

GUWAHATI—The ArmedForces (Special Powers) Actis a shame on a democraticcountry like India and in theyear 2011, Assam had thedubious distinction of top-ping the list of states whichrecorded “extrajudicial” kill-ings, said former Special Di-rector of the IntelligenceBureau (IB), RN Ravi.

Talking to a local dailyof Assam, Ravi said that theAFSPA is the biggest im-pediment to the restorationof peace in Assam as a warlike situation is being cre-ated.

The states of Assam,Nagaland, Manipur, tribalareas of Tripura, Jammu andKashmir, Tirap andChanglang districts ofArunachal Pradesh and a 20kilometer belt along the bor-ders of Assam have beendeclared disturbed areas un-der the provisions of theAFSPA.

Interestingly, the stateshit by violence by theMaoist rebels are not yet de-clared as disturbed areasunder the AFSPA.—NNI

SRINAGAR—As shallowwaterbodies of the migratorybird’s reserves in the KashmirValley remain frozen, flocks ofgeese, mallards, teals, gadwallsand pochards have startedlooking for alternate feedinggrounds.

Thousands of greylaggeese, mallards, teals, po-chards, wigeons, shovellers,gadwalls and coots can beseen leaving the Hokarsar,Mirgund, Hygam andShallabugh bird reserves in theevenings.

“Traditional bird reserveslike Hokarsar, Hygam, Mirgundand Shallabugh are basicallyshallow water bodies. Theseare just two to four feet deepand because of the winter chill,the bird reserves freezequickly,” said MuhammadMaqbool Baba, wildlife warden(wetland Kashmir).

“For natural feeding afterthe reserves remain frozen,Wullar Lake is one famousfeeding destination for the mi-gratory birds these days,”Baba said. “Larger ones amongthe birds like the geese prefernocturnal feeding in WullarLake. The sheer vastness of thelake and abundant supply ofwater chestnuts provide natu-

ral feeding grounds to thesebirds”, Baba said.

He added that the migra-tory birds return to the reservesin the mornings. Last year, dueto extreme winter, the wildlifedepartment had to arrange ar-tificial feeding for the migratorybirds in the Hokarsar bird re-serve, 12 km from Srinagar.“This sometimes becomesnecessary because the birdsare unable to fend for them-selves in frozen water bodies.We arrange stocks of paddy,which is thrown towards flocksof migratory birds in the re-serves. Birds remain huddledtogether in small pools of wa-ter during extreme winterfreeze”, Baba said. It is esti-mated that there are 400,000migratory birds in theShallabugh bird reserve,100,000 in Hokarsar and around10,000 in the Hygam bird re-serve, according to figuresavailable with the wildlife pro-tection department. “A major-ity of greylag geese come herein February. Some of the moreendangered bird species likecotton teals, tufted ducks andBrahminy ducks have not ar-rived yet and we are expectingthem in February”, Babasaid.—NNI

Kashmir’s frozen water abodes forcesmigratory birds to look for lakes

HR activistapproaches

SHRC for rightsviolation

JAMMU—Expressing seri-ous concern over risingnumber of road accidents inthe State, a Jammu basedhuman rights activist,Deepak Sharma, has filed acomplaint to the State Hu-man Rights Commission(SHRC) alleging violation offundamental right of ‘Rightto Life’ of the passengersand accident victims.

In the complaint, the ac-tivist has submitted that the‘Right to Life’ of the passen-gers is being violated in theState, because of the uncar-ing and callous attitude ofthe State administration,which has failed to ensurethe safety of the commonpassengers.

He said State govern-ment is not able to deputeadequate number of vehicleson the routes and thus com-pel the passengers to boardthe already overloaded ve-hicles and even the govern-ment is not able to providetimely medical care to acci-dent victims in case of acci-dents.

The act ivist throughhis complaint has prayedto the State Human RightsCommission to issue ap-propriate notice/recom-mendation to the Stategovernment to establish‘Emergency Accident Re-l ief Centers’ on the na-tional highway of the Stateat a distance of every 50km to provide the emer-gency medical care.

He has also prayed inhis complaint for launchingof an Emergency Toll freeNumber and a call center,where the accident casescould be reported andwhich in turn would beconnected to the Emer-gency Accident Relief Cen-ters, Hospitals, Ambu-lances and Police Stationsetc to provide immediateand timely medical relief tothe accident victim.—NNI

SRINAGAR—Hailing theHigh Court Bar Associationfor its annual jail visit report,Hurriyat Conference (G)Chairman Syed Ali Geelanihas said that their role re-garding the ongoing move-ment was admirable andworth praising. Expressingconcern over the conditionof Kashmiri prisoners,Geelani, in a statement is-sued here, urged Interna-tional Committee of the RedCross (ICRC) and AmnestyInternational (AI) to take se-rious note of the patheticconditions of detainees andimpress upon Governmentof India to provide them pro-visions as per the jailmanual.

“International bodiesshould take cognizance ofthe report and impress uponthe authorities to shun theircallous and unilateral atti-tude and provide due re-quirements to detainees asper the jail manifesto,”Geelani said.

He termed the details re-vealed by the Bar Associa-tion as “horrific”. “Indianestablishment in Kashmir isavenging prisoners and sub-jecting them to atrocities andworst type of torture,” hesaid. Referring to Abu Ghraibprisoner abuse by US troops,Geelani said the details hadshocked the entire world andeven US had hanged its headin shame.

“Unfortunately, Indianauthorities opt to ignorethe agony and the woes ofthe Kashmiri political pris-oners,” he said. Haling theintellectuals and the mem-bers of Bar Association,Geelani said the Bar had al-ways provided free legaladvice and assistance tothe detainees.

He said Kashmiris wereindebted to the Bar Associa-tion for their contributiontoward the ‘freedom move-ment’. Calling for the exten-sive publication of the re-port, Geelani said the con-tents of the report shouldcome into the notice of theinternational bodies of hu-man rights.—NNI

Condition of Kashmirprisoners horrific

S R I N A G A R — J a m a a t - e -Islami has demanded a highlevel probe by an impartialjudicial commission into thecomplaints of the HighCourt Bar Associationpublished in their annualjail visit report. In a state-ment issued here, Jamaat ex-pressed concern over theplight of detainees andother political prisonerslanguishing in different jailsof the State.

A team of the Bar vis-ited various jails of Jammuand prepared a comprehen-sive report regarding thetreatment meted out to de-tainees there.

“The lack of provisionof proper food and medi-

care is of grave concern asit directly affects the life ofthe inmates,” Jamaat said inthe statement. “Having ajoint mess for Muslims aswell non-Muslim inmates iscondemnable as during thepreparation of food, no re-gard is given to lawful andprohibited food itemsserved to the Muslims in-mates, which violates theirfundamental right of prac-ticing their religion.”

Jamaat statement saidthe detainees were forcedto violate their religious in-junctions dearer to themthan their life, under du-ress.

Jamaat demanded thatthe inmates be provided

with al l basic faci l i t ies ,which they were entitled toas poli t ical prisoners.“Keeping in view their re-ligious sensitivities, thereshould also be a separatemess for Muslim inmatesso that their religious sen-t iments are not hurt ,”Jamaat statement said.

Jamaat also demandedimmedia te ha l t to theprac t i ce o f a r res t ingpeop le on po l i t i ca lgrounds and called for anearly release of all politi-cal detainees and prison-e r s inc lud ing Qas imFaktoo , Mush taq-u l - I s -l am, Ayub Dar, GhulamQadir Bhat, Nazir Ahmadand others .—NNI

Jamaat demands probe intoKashmir prisoners’ condition

80pc power beingpurchased in KashmirSRINAGAR—About 80 percent of the power was beingpurchased from differentparts of the country, includ-ing northern grid, to provideelectricity to people in theKashmir valley. Officialssaid against the requirementof 1000 mega watts of elec-tricity, only 200 mega wattswere being generated locally.

The remaining power wasbeing purchased from differentparts of the country on higherrates. Against 8.50 lakh regis-tered consumers, electronicmeters have been installed in3.50 lakh households, theysaid, adding that most of thepopulation in the Valley demandinstallation of metres in theirareas and cooperate fully inpaying the bills. The PowerDevelopment Department(PDD) has collected a rev-enue of Rs 700 crores duringthe last financial year in theValley, they said.—NNI

ISLAMABAD: AJK President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan talking to Federal Min-ister for Law Farooq H. Naek.

SRINAGAR—The senior re-sistance leader and Na-t ional Front chairmanNayeem Ahmad Khan hassaid the pro-India politi-cians were the biggest hin-drance in the way of reso-lution process of Kashmirdispute as they changetheir s tance and colourlike a chameleon four timesin a month.

“The pro-India politi-cians talk of plebiscite inone week, autonomy in theother, Atoot Ang in thenext and finally they endup on bowing before thetr icolor,” Nayeem Khansaid while addressing NFactivists here.

“The politicians of au-tonomy and self rule in or-der to achieve their endsdamage the collective in-terest of the Kashmiris andif they think over the mat-

ter their conscience wouldscold them and they wouldfeel that they are workingagainst their own people.

The attitude of chang-ing colours by the pro-In-dia politicians from time totime has damaged the po-litical strength of Kashmiripeople and the role playedby them leads to the agonyof the people,” he said,adding, “These politicianscollaborate with New Delhito damage the collectivecause of the Kashmiripeople and the irony is thatfor mere personal gainsthey simply get used by theGovernment of India.”

“Activities of pro-In-dia poli t icians can onlypro-long the agonies ofKashmiri people but themovement wil l not getkilled. People will achievetheir goal.”—NNI

Pro-India politicians changecolours like chameleon

Men err when theythink they can be

inhuman exploiters intheir business life, andloving husbands and

fathers at home.

— Smiley Blanton

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The Asian Devel-opment Bank (ADB) andCitibank on behalf of its philan-thropic arm Citi Foundation to-day signed a partnership agree-ment to develop a cadre ofskilled rilli making artisans andharness business opportunitiesfor poor women in the Khairpurand Shikarpur districts ofPakistan’s Sindh province dev-astated by floods in 2010 and2011.

Citi Foundation will providea US $50,000 grant to enhancetraditional patchwork (rilli)making skills of 500 low-in-come women and expand theirmarket access. The projectbuilds on a matching grant andother ongoing development ac-tivities of the Flood EmergencyReconstruction Project (FERP).Under the FERP, ADB is assist-ing Pakistan in reconstructing

ADB, Citibank join hands to boost skillsamong flood-affected women in Sindh

790 km damaged national high-ways and 800 km of provincialroads, bridges, irrigation sys-tems to safer and higher stan-dards, as well as flood and drain-age protection works in theworst affected areas.

“We are banking on Sindh’srich cultural heritage and localwomen’s enormous talent toraise income generating oppor-tunities for families hit-hard bythe floods, while reviving thetradition of hand-woven rillimaking cottage industry in thetargeted districts” said WernerE. Liepach, ADB’s Country Di-rector for Pakistan.

The small-scale ADB-Citibank joint venture titled“Patching Dreams for Prosper-ity” seeks to add value by in-creasing the range of ralli prod-ucts and by setting up local pro-duction units and supply hubs.The project will enable womenentrepreneurs to introduce their

crafts to a wider local and inter-national market.

“The project demonstratesADB and Citi Foundation’scommitment to work together inrestoring livelihood of the flood-affected communities by help-ing poor women train and thusearn better and more to improvetheir lives”. Said Nadeem Lodhi,Managing Director and CitiCountry Officer, Citibank N.A.Pakistan.

The project will be imple-mented in Shikarpur, Khairpurand Sukkur by Thardeep RuralDevelopment Program (TRDP)and Empowerment thru CreativeIntegration (ECI).

ADB, based in Manila, isdedicated to reducing poverty inAsia and the Pacific through in-clusive economic growth, envi-ronmentally sustainable growthand regional integration. Estab-lished in 1966, it is owned by 67members — 48 from the region.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—In order to pro-vide maximum facilitation toinvestors and to bring moretransparency and accuracy tothe KYC (Know Your Client)process, the SECP has takenthe initiative of establishing aCentralized KYC Organization(CKO) and has designated theNational Clearing Company ofPakistan Limited (NCCPL) tofunction as the CKO.

The CKO shall develop acentralized web-based systemnamed KYC Information Sys-tem and maintain separate andexclusive database for the stor-age of KYC information en-

NCCPL asked to function ascentralised KYC organization

tered by the market intermedi-aries.

At present, all entities in thecapital market are performingregistration/account openingprocess for their clients sepa-rately, which leads to duplica-tion of effort and waste of re-sources. At the same time inves-tors desirous of opening ac-counts with different intermedi-aries for the purpose of trading/investing/dealing in the capitalmarket have to repeatedly un-dergo the KYC process.

The CKO shall develop acentralized web-based systemnamed KYC Information Sys-tem and maintain separate andexclusive database for the stor-

age of KYC information en-tered by the market intermedi-aries. All authorized interme-diaries will be given access toit through a dedicated user IDand password. Afterwards aninvestor who fulfills the KYCrequirements through an autho-rized market intermediary shallbe able to open accounts withother intermediaries withoutrepeating the process of sub-mitting KYC documents andthe CKO shall provide the rel-evant information on demandto other intermediaries.

In the first phase the NCCPLwill provide centralized KYCservices to the brokerage andmutual fund industry.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The transporters’strike at two container terminalsadversely impacted the handlingof ships and cargo at thecountry’s largest seaport.

The handling of container-ized cargo at the Pakistan Inter-national Container Terminal(PICT) and Karachi Interna-tional Container Terminal(KICT) remained suspendedthroughout the day and had notresumed till this report went tothe press.

According to KPT’s onlineshipping intelligence report, atleast two ships, naming M/vSanta Rufina and M/v APLBrisbane, were currently an-chored at the KICT. No ship,however, is existed at the PICT.

The transporters are onstrike to protest what a spokes-man of Goods Transporters As-sociation (GTA) said, fictitious

Strike stops cargo handlingat container terminals

charges being taken by the ter-minal operators on the loadingand unloading of their vehiclesat the terminals.

Madad Khan, GTA’s Gen-eral Secretary, claimed that theterminals were charging thetransporters with Rs 1500 to Rs5000 at time of loading and un-loading of cargo at the terminal.Also, the haulers are protestingthe rampant kidnapping of theirloaded and unloaded trailers inand outside the city.

“We want the authoritiesconcerned to abolish these un-lawful charges and take effec-tive measures to stop the kidnap-ping of our vehicles,” Khan de-manded.

The haulers whereas seemdetermined to prolong the striketo press their demands, the en-tire episode seems to have fallenon deaf ears in the governmentcircles where no one so far hadcontacted the transporters.

Chairman BOI, Saleem H Mandviwalla along with Chairman FBR Ali Arshad Hamkim chairing a meeting with the del-egation of the Electronic Industry Manufacturers Association.

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—The Deputy Gov-ernor, State Bank of Pakistan,Kazi Abdul Muktadir has ad-vised the consumer associations,trade bodies, Banking Ombuds-man, financial & legal function-aries, banks and CompetitionCommission to join hands ineradicating financial consumermalpractices for building an in-clusive and stable financial sec-tor in Pakistan.

Delivering his key note ad-dress on ‘Financial Inclusion,Consumer Awareness and Pro-tection’ at the 4th Conference onFinancial Services and Consum-ers at a local hotel in Karachi,he regrettably pointed out thatfinancial sector in Pakistan re-mains restricted in its outreachas the majority of populationremains either excluded or in-

Eradication of financialmalpractices stressed

formally served. ‘This limitedaccess is reflected in the totalnumber of bank accounts, pres-ently around 32 million, and thetotal number of borrowers,which is only 5.7 million,’ headded.

This high level of financialexclusion is largely attributed totwo major factors, i) lack of ap-propriate product offering by fi-nancial service providers and ii)lack of public awareness aboutavailability of financial servicesand products, he said.

Abdul Muktadir said thatSBP is cognizant of high finan-cial exclusion in the country andcommitted to tackling the asso-ciated challenges in a sustain-able manner.

He outlined the multi-pronged financial inclusionstrategy of SBP which includesintroduction of Basic Banking

Account (BBA), requiring com-mercial banks operating in Pa-kistan to provide basic bankingfacilities to the low incomepeople of the country. A BBAcan be opened with a minimumdeposit of Rs1, 000 carrying nofee, no limit of minimum bal-ance and offering full ATM fa-cility, Introduction of the AnnualBranch Licensing Policy whichrequires commercial banks with100 branches or more to open atleast 20% of their branches out-side big cities and set upbranches in Tehsil Headquarterswhere no branch of any bankexists. A world class regulatoryframework to enable commer-cial microfinance and branch-less banking in Pakistan andanational microfinance strategy

SBP with the assistance ofUK Department for International

Continued on Page 14

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—MCB Bank Ltd,the country’s largest bank, hasraised the salaries for its perma-nent clerical staff and guardsalong with increase in variousallowances keeping in view thesurging cost of living in thecountry.

The bank stated that thebank’s management maintainedits commitment towards wel-fare of their staff members andtheir families and announcedincrease on the account of mar-riages, children scholarship,maternity charges and funeralexpenses.

MCB management andMCB Staff Union of Pakistan(CBA) signed today an agree-

MCB increases employees salariesment effective from January 1,2013 for two years onwards af-ter successful negotiation.

Usman Hassan, Group HeadHuman Resources, on behalf ofMCB Management and RiafatKhan Jadoon, President MCBStaff Union of Pakistan, signedthe agreement in a ceremonyheld at Principal Office, Lahorein the presence of ImranMaqbool, President, MCB BankLtd.

“The management decidedto raise the salaries of the bank’sclerical staff and guards consid-ering the present inflationarypressures and the increasing costof living that resulted in hard-ship for all segments of society,”said Imran Maqbool, President,MCB Bank Ltd.

“MCB Bank always thinksfor its employees’ bettermentand prosperity and I hope thatthey will get significant reliefand keep on performing theirduties honestly as a reciprocalgesture,” he added.

Riafat Khan Jadoon, Presi-dent MCB Staff Union of Paki-stan (CBA) said that all MCBBank employees are part of thesuccess story of the bank and ourprosperity lies with the growthand progress of the bank.

Usman Hassan, Group HeadHuman Resources Manage-ment, thanked both the manage-ment and union representativesfor their efforts and hoped thatthis team spirit would strengthenrelationship between employeesand employer.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—In a gracefulevent in the Embassy of RussianFederation, held to install HabibAhmed, as the Honorary Con-sul, the Russian AmbassadorExcellency, Andry Budmik saidthat Habib Ahmed has played avery vital role in Promoting re-lation between the two countriesand contributing in strengthen-ing of Economy of Pakistan. Heexpressed that Habib Ahmedwill continue working hard tofurther strengthen cultural, Eco-nomic ties between Pakistan andRussia.

Earlier on reaching the Em-bassy, Habib Ahmed waswarmly welcomed by the Am-

Habib Ahmed appointed as HonoraryConsul of Russian Federation

bassador Excellency Budmik,Trade Commissioner YuryKozlov and other senior Diplo-mats of the embassy.

In reply, Habib Ahmed saidit that was a Great honor for meto have been appointed as thehonorary consul of a greatcountry world leader. The Rus-sian federation, whose peopleare brave, friendly and ex-tremely hard working, Tradi-tionally Russia has always borethe front and set heroic ex-amples of steadfastness andbravery.

He assured, he will leave nostone unturned to promote cul-tural economic, social and po-litical ties between Russia Fed-eration and Pakistan.

Russian Ambassador Andry Budmik and Habib Ahmed,Managing Director of Habib Rafiq Group at the ceremonyof apportionment as the honorary consul of Russian Federa-tion at Russian Embassy.

U MicrofinanceBank to operate at

national levelAMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—The State Bank ofPakistan (SBP) has issued a na-tionwide microfinance bankinglicence to U Microfinance BankLimited (formerly RozgarMicrofinance Bank Limited) tooperate at national level.

It may be pointed out thatRozgar Microfinance Bank Lim-ited was a district widemicrofinance bank (MFB) oper-ating in Karachi district with onebranch and 6 service centres. InAugust, 2012, Pakistan Telecom-munication Company Limited(PTCL) was allowed by SBP toacquire 100% shareholding ofRozgar Microfinance Bank Lim-ited with the condition that PTCLwould enhance the status of thismicrofinance bank into a nation-wide MFB within one year bybringing in a professional man-agement team. After completionof all relevant formalities andchange in name of Rozgar MFBto U Microfinance Bank Limited,SBP issued a nationwideMicrofinance Banking Licenceto U Microfinance Bank Limited.

Bank HolidayObserver ReportKARACHI—The State Bank ofPakistan and all offices of SBPBanking Services Corporation,including the Public DebtOffices, will remain closed on5th February, 2013 (Tuesday)being Public Holiday declaredby the Government of Pakistanon the occasion of KashmirDay.

PIA on itsway to

turnaround:Chairman PIA

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—PIA is on the pathof recovery and will achievenew heights, said ChairmanPIA, Lt General (Retired) AsifYasin Malik while addressingthe PIA employees here.

He said there will be no jobcuts, rather salaries and pen-sion will be increased in duecourse of time depending uponthe financial health of the air-line. He especially praised theengineers and technicians ofPIA for their dedication andhard work.

PIA is one of the few air-lines of the World which hasthe ability to make use of itsengineering and maintenancecapabilities whereas most ofairlines have outsourced thisfunction. He informed PIAemployees about the inductionof A320 fuel efficient aircraftin PIA fleet with deliveriesbeginning in a couple ofmonth’s time. These aircraftwill help improve the airline’sflight Schedule, frequenciesand performance. He said.

Chairman PIA announcedconstruction of three newhangers, two in Karachi andone in Lahore which will en

Farzana laudsNADRA services

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Federal Ministerand Chairperson Benazir IncomeSupport Programme (BISP)Farzana Raja has appreciatedNADRA’s role in supportingBISP’s initiatives and facilitatingthe issuance of ComputerizedNational Identity Cards (CNIC)and Benazir Debit Cards (BDCs).

In a meeting with Tariq Malik,Chairman NADRA, she saidNADRA is playing a pivotal rolein the implementation of BISP’stechnology based initiatives andits contribution at every stage ofeffective implementation ofPakistan’s largest social safety netprogramme is commendable.

The minister praisedNADRA’s vital partnership inBISP’s technology based pay-ment mechanisms and issu-ance of BDCs and authority’scommitment to register poorpeople, especiallymarginalized women from far-flung areas, said a news releaseissued here on Friday.

She appreciated its swift re-sponse in issuing CNICs to eli-gible BISP beneficiaries to en-able them to benefit fromBISP’s initiatives. Farzana Rajaalso condemned the bomb at-tack on Benazir Debit CardCentre in Chaman district ofBalochistan and said such ma-levolent acts can never deterour commitment to serve thepoor people of Pakistan.

Power shortfallStaff ReporterLAHORE—Power shortfallreached to 5000MW onWednesday, causing longspells of power outages in thecity. The domestic consumersfaced power outages for 8 to10 hours, as the Pepco sourcespointed out that powergeneration is stuck to9000MW against a demand of14000MW. Resultantly, thepower shortfall has jumped to5000MW. There is comprehen-sive schedule for loadshedding and the governmenthas failed to control thephenomenon of load sheddingeven during winter season.

LPG prices downISLAMABAD—LiquefiedPetroleum Gas (LPG) priceshave been reduced by Rs 5 perkilogram with immediateeffect. After decrease of Rs5,000 per metric tonne, priceof domestic cylinder hasdeclined by Rs 60 andcommercial cylinder by Rs240. After the current decreasein the prices, LPG would besold at Rs 140 per kg inKarachi and Rs 145 per kg inLahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha,Gujranwala and Gujrat. Thecommodity would be sold atRs 155 in Rawalpindi/Islamabad. and Rs 160 perkilogram in Gilgit-Baltistanand adjoining areas.—INP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—SSGC has be-come Pakistan’s first utilityCompany to develop a mobileApp that makes available rel-evant gas bill information oncompatible Nokia mobilephones. The App Developmentfollows a strategic agreementsigned last year in this regardbetween Sui Southern Gas Com-pany (SSGC) and Nokia. Cus-tomers can now downloadSSGC App by logging onto

First utility to introduce this serviceSSGC develops mobile app bill payment

Nokia Store (http://store.ovi.com). SSGC App willalso come built-in in all futureNokia handsets in Pakistan.

The SSGC App providesthree key features -Bill Details,Bill and Payment History andMeter Information. Bill Detailsallow the user to view currentmonth’s bill details includingtotal amount due and due date;Bill and Payment History letsthe user view previous threemonths’ bill history and pay-ment history for previous pay-

ment dates andMeter Informa-tion gives up-to-date informa-tion on user’s current and pre-vious months’ meter readings.

While explaining the needfor developing the mobile App,Zuhair Siddiqui, MD, SSGCsaid, “In today’s digital age,SSGC wants to take its servicesto the next level by making themeasily accessible onmobilephones. Since our cus-tomers’ are leading extremelyfrenzied lifestyles, they find it

Continued on Page 14

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—France greatlycherish its relations with Pa-kistan and strengthening theseties is one of the priorities ofFrance’s economic policy. Hesaid that France and Pakistanhas a huge scope to expandrelations in various sectors ofthe economy therefore the pri-vate sector in Pakistan shouldenhance its interaction withFrench counterparts.

This was stated by FrenchCommercial Counsellor MarcMurcia while talking to LCCIPresident Farooq Iftikhar hereat the Lahore Chamber ofCommerce and Industry on

France and Pakistan possess vast scope to expandrelations in various sectors of the economy

Friday. LCCI Vice PresidentMian Abuzar Shad, formerPresident Mian MisbahurRehman, former Senior VicePresident Abdul Basit andformer Executive CommitteeMembers Dr Shahid Raza andKhawaja Khawar Rashid alsospoke on the occasion.

He said that the existingtrade volume between Pakistanand France is enough to makethe point that both the sides havemultifaceted and strong tradeties. He said a number of Frenchlarge companies had recognizedPakistan’s potential and areworking here.

The diplomat said that thepurposed of his visit to the

Lahore Chamber of Commerceand Industry is to furtherstrengthen relation between thetwo countries. To a questionabout cumbersome visa proce-dure, the French Commercialcounsellor said that embassywould look into the issue andfacilitation to the business com-munity is one of the priority ar-eas they are focusing presently.Speaking on the occasion, theLCCI President Farooq Iftikharsaid that there is a vast scope ofjoint venture in the field of phar-maceuticals, food processing,mining, oil and gas.

Joint venture opportunitiesalso exist in the field of hightechnology that includes tele-

communication, chemicals andautomobiles. He said Frenchequipment and technologies cansmartly help exploit Pakistan’sfull potential in agriculture, hor-ticulture, dairy, livestock andfood processing sectors. TheLCCI President suggested thatit is necessary that both coun-tries have access to each other’smarkets to further expand com-mercial and economic ties.

This will definitely lead bothsides to a more strengthened andstable economic partnership. Hesaid that forums like PakistanFrance Business Alliance(PFBA) can also play effectiverole in promoting trade betweentwo countries. He said that the

Lahore Chamber of Commerceand Industry really values tohave greater interaction withcommercial sections of embas-sies on regular basis in order todevelop close linkages with dip-lomats. He said Pakistan andFrance share cordial diplomaticand economic ties.

There have been frequenthigh-level contacts between thetwo sides dating back to 60’s.The French multinationals havebeen able to find the favourableenvironment for long-term in-vestment in Pakistan. Brandnames like Total, Alcatel and LUetc. have found acceptance in thePakistani market on the basis ofthe strength of their products.

ADB to fund$300m of

infrastructure projectsin Afghanistan

KABUL—Asian DevelopmentBank said it will provide morethan US$300 million to fundprojects in Afghanistan in 2013,indicating the funds will bespent in three main areas.

The three most prominentprojects for the ADB are to im-port electricity fromTurkmenistan to three southernprovinces, to construct a num-ber of average dams on rivers inBamiyan and Badakhshan andreconstructing irrigation sys-tems, and providing investmentopportunities for the country’smines.

“For this year, as a mini-mum we are allocating about$300 million, and this will beincreased with the support fromthe co-financing funds. Thisshows our commitment to thecountry, and our full commit

Continued on Page 14

PQ activityKARACHI—Four ships, C.VHansa Liberty, C.V NYK Kai,M.T Stolt Spary and M.T GasChem Pacific carrying contain-ers, palm oil and LPG werearranged berthing at QasimInternational Container Terminal,Multi Purpose Terminal andSSGC LPG Terminal respec-tively on Thursday. Berthoccupancy was remained at thePort at 71% on Thursday whereten ships namely C.V HansaLiberty , C.V NYK Kai, C.VCMA CGM Bellini, M.VThelsis, M.V Maritime Suzana,M.T Mid Fighter, M.T StoltSpary, M.T Gas Chem Pacificand M.T Al Soor-II wereoccupying at PQA berths to load/offload container, cement, canolaseeds, chemicals, LPG, palm oiland diesel oil during last 24hours. Cargo handling registeredan upward trend at the Portwhere a cargo volume of 140,011tonnes, comprises 91,369 tonnesimports and 48,642 tonnesexports inclusive containerizedcargo carried in 3,889 containers(1,807 imports.—APP

Continued on Page 14

Gold Tezab 53571.00Silver Tezabi 960.00

Gold Tezabi (24-Ct) 53500.00Gold 22 Ct 52000.00SilverTezabi 960.00Silver Thobi 800.00

USA 97.60 97.40

UK 154.27 153.95

EURO 132.48 132.21

Canada 97.34 97.14

Switzerland 107.36 107.14

Australia 101.40 101.19

Sweden 15.38 15.35

Japan 1.0744 1.0722

Norway 17.83 17.79

Singapore 78.76 78.60

Denmark 17.76 17.72

Omani Riyal 255.00 245.45

Saudi Arabia 26.02 25.97

Hong Kong 12.58 12.55

Kuwait 347.22 346.51

Malaysia 31.47 31.40

Newzeland 81.48 81.31

Qatar 26.81 26.76

UAE 26.57 26.52

KR WON 0.0896 0.0894

Thailand 3.274 3.267

Campaign againstNESPAK a

personal vendettaOBSERVER REPORT

LAHORE—In its meetingheld on 24th Jan, the PACforwarded a report of its Sub-Committee on NESPAK’sinternal matters and allegedirregularities purported tohave been made in promo-tions and appointments. Allthis, was on the behest of oneMNA Ayaz Sadiq, whosedemand for promotion of twoNESPAK employees was notfavoured by the ManagingDirector. Thus began the re-lentless assault on NESPAKby the PAC Sub-Committee,particularly just two mem-bers out of seven, casting as-persions on NESPAK’spurely administrative mattersand questioning actions anddecisions taken by the MD.A blatant case of personalvendetta against the MD,was pursued with relish, byMNA Ayaz Sadiq, singlehandedly, spearheading theentire smear campaignagainst NESPAK and itsManagement - for the onlypurpose to see the MD re-moved from office for hisfully exposed ulterior mo-tives and paving the way fora Vice President, who unbe-comingly is already in ca-hoots with him.

That NESPAK, which is aPrivate Limited Company es-tablished under the CompaniesOrdinance 1984, is entirely lostto most members of the PAC,who were repeatedly informedthat NESPAK employees arenot government servants andtherefore not subject to scrutinyunder government rules. It maykindly be noted that NESPAKgenerates its own revenues andaccording to SECP Regulationsworks under a fully empoweredBoard of Directors. Let it alsobe known, NESPAK draws nofunds from the National Exche-quer. It is legally an indepen-dent Private Limited Company,albeit owned by the State.

LCCI welcomesestablishment

of PLPASTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The LahoreChamber of Commerce andIndustry (LCCI) has wel-comed a government decisionto establish Pakistan LandPort Authority (PLPA) anddemand of the governmentgive proper representation tothe private sector in it.

In a press statement is-sued here on Friday, formerLCCI Vice President andPak-India Trade PromotionCommittee convener AftabAhmad Vohra said the gov-ernment deserved apprecia-tion as the decision wouldhelp increase the volume oftrade across the border.

He said that private sec-tor representation at federaland provincial levels wouldensure implementation ofdecisions in letter and spirit.

“At least, 50 percentmembers should be takenfrom the private sector,” headded.

Jubilee Life Insurance recently held an entertaining gala eventfor its Bancassurance partners. Picture shows Jubilee Life’stop management at the event.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Jubilee Life Insur-ance recently celebrated yet an-other successful year ofBancassurance business byholding an entertaining galaevent for its partners. The eventwas aimed to appreciate theoutstanding performance of itspartners and thank them fortheir contribution in the suc-cess.

Event was attended by Ju-bilee Life’s Bancassurance part-ners, Commissioner of Insur-ance (SECP), directors and se-nior management of the com-pany, along with other promi-nent and well known personali-ties from the corporate world.

Jubilee Life pioneeredBancassurance in 2003 and isnow the largest player in theBancassurance arena with 11partner banks. With its innova-tive product offerings and unpar-alleled levels of customer ser-vices, Jubilee Life cemented itsmarket leadership with over50% of total new Bancassurance

Jubilee Life thanks Bancassurancefor successful partnerships

premiums written in 2012.Javed Ahmed, Managing

Director & CEO Jubilee Lifespeaking to the guests said, ‘I amdelighted in celebrating ourproud achievements togetherwith our partners. I attribute thissuccess to my team and on thetop to all our partners whosecommitment and focus served asthe key ingredient to the successof Bancassurance.’ He furtheradded, ‘Our achievements todayare just a beginning in uncover-ing the huge potential ofBancassurance in the country.’

He also thanked the insur-ance regulator, SECP, for their

regulatory support to the life in-surance industry in developmentof Bancassurance business in thecountry.

The audience at the eventwas enthralled by upcomingmusic sensation and vocalistZoe Viccaji. Zoe performed ondiverse range of music, givingaudience memorable momentsto take back home.

Jubilee Insurance is a glo-bal brand of Aga Khan Fund forEconomic Development(AKFED) that offers diverseinsurance solutions (life, healthand general) in the Asian andEast African markets.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The Canada Paki-stan Business Council (CPBC)hosted a lunch in honour of SM Muneer. Senator SalmaAttaullah-Jan; the ConsulGeneral of Pakistan,Mohammed Nafees Zakaria;MPP Dr. Shafiq Qaadri; theCanadian International Devel-opment Agency (CIDA) Direc-tor for Pakistan, JacobThoppil; President of theMississauga Board of Trade,Sheldon Leiba; and CPBCBoard members and advisorswere also present on the occa-

CPBC lunch in honour of Muneersion.

CPBC Chairman BryonWilfert and CPBC PresidentSamir Dossal welcomed theguest of honor representingFPCCI, Mr. S.M. Muneer. Inhis remarks, Mr. Muneer saidhe would continue to extendfull support and assistance toCPBC members during theirvisits to Pakistan for business.He also spoke of opportunitiesfor Canadian businesses to in-vest in Pakistan in the powergeneration sector and export ofhigh quality Canadian cattleand beef. He extended invita-tion to CPBC to lead a delega-

LG announcesfinancial results

OBSERVER REPORT

KARACHI—LG ElectronicsInc. (LG) today announced con-solidated revenues of KRW50.96 trillion (USD 45.22 bil-lion) and a net profit of KRW91 billion (USD 80.75 million)for full-year 2012. Despite a 6percent revenue decrease from2011, operating profits increasedsignificantly in 2012 to KRW1.14 trillion (USD 1.01 billion)from KRW 379 billion (USD342.06 million) in full-year2011.

Fourth quarter 2012 consoli-dated revenues were KRW13.50 trillion (USD 12.37 bil-lion) with an operating profit ofKRW 107 billion (USD 98.08million). Unaudited consoli-dated financial results for thefourth quarter ending Dec. 31,2012 showed a net loss of KRW468 billion (USD 428.96 mil-lion) which reflects a fine relatedto alleged cathode-ray tube pric-ing issues imposed by the Euro-pean Commission in December.

The LG Home Entertain-ment Company reported recordsales of flat-panel TVs with 9.3million units in the fourth quar-ter resulting in a 17.4 percentrevenue increase quarter-on-quarter to KRW 6.44 trillion(USD 5.91 billion) and full-yearoperating profit of KRW 542billion (USD 480.92 million).Revenues from 3D and SmartTVs increased with higher unitsales in the United States, Eu-rope and CIS countries.

Boeing batterywoes

SE ATTLE—In 2007, U.S.regulators cleared Boeing’suse of a highly flammable bat-tery in the 787 Dreamliner,deciding it was safe to let thelithium-ion battery burn out ifit caught fire mid-air as longas the flames were contained,and smoke and fumes ventedproperly, according to docu-ments reviewed.

Fire risk on planes has al-ways been a major concern, es-pecially given the amount of fuelthey carry and the heat generatedby jet engines. U.S. aviation stan-dards require planes to have nu-merous on-board fire suppressionsystems.—Newswire

ISLAMABAD: Zafar Bakhtawari, President ICCI discuss-ing the matters of mutual interest with Ambassador of Ro-mania in Pakistan, Emilian Ion.

Dr Amir Muhammed, Former Chairman, PARC presidingover a meeting on Independent Third Party Evaluation, DrIftikhar Ahmed, Chairman and former Chairman Dr KauserA Malik, Dr M E Tusneem and other senior officers are alsopresent on occasion.

Berkat Ullah, Regional Director, ZONG handing over the keyof Honda Civic to lucky winner Ghulam Yasin.

OBSERVER REPORT

KARACHI—Dawlance, the No.1 home appliances brand of Pa-kistan recently launched a newAutomatic Washing Machine(Model No. 1100-A) to add to

its already impressive range ofwashing machine models. Thislatest addition has loads of tech-nically advance features i.e.Hassle Free Wash, One TouchOperation, Power Failure Re-sumption, Delay Start-up, ChildSafety Lock and Tub Clean Op-

Dawlance automaticwashing machine

tion which will revolutionize theway clothes are being washed inhouseholds today.

Speaking at the launch Mr.Hasan Jamil, head of sales,Dawlance said: “Dawlance un-derstands that people now ex-

pect much more from a wash-ing machine than just washingof clothes. A hectic lifestyleleads to a continuous need forcomfort which is in part pro-vided by Dawlance’s innovativehome appliances like the 1100-A automatic washing machine.

KARACHI: Hassan Jamil, Head of Sales, Dawlance (C) withhis team at the launch of Dawalance automatic washing ma-chine 1100-A.

Brand of the Year Award

Shaheen Zamir Head of Marketing First Women Bank Ltd receiving the Brands of theYear Awards 2011 for the First Women Bank from Federal Minister for Finance Dr AbdulHafeez Shaikh.

Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Minister for Finance presenting“Emerging Brand of the Year Award” for “OES Power”portable generators to Imran Hasan, Assistant General Man-ager, Head of Corporate Communications and HR, at OrientEnergy Systems.

NIT getsBrand of theYear Award

in assetmanagement

OBSERVER REPORT

KARACHI—National Invest-ment Trust (NIT) has beenawarded Brand of the YearAward – 2011 as leading Brandin the category of Asset Man-agement.

The grand awards distribu-tion ceremony was held in a lo-cal hotel of Karachi recently inwhich CEOs’ of the top nochbusiness houses of Pakistan par-ticipated. The award ceremonywas presided over by Dr. AbdulHafeez Shaikh, Federal Minis-ter of Finance.

Wazir Ali Khoja Chair-man/MD NIT received theaward of the Best Brand of theYear from the Minister of Fi-nance. Brand of the yearaward is the biggest nationalplatform that crowns thebrand champions from everytrade and industry sector ofPakistan.Wazir Ali Khoja Chairman/MD NIT receiving the award.

tion to Pakistan this year. Themeeting served to re-establishand consolidate the Memoran-dum of Understanding that is inplace between the FPCCI andCPBC.

The Consul General spokeabout the need for improvingbusiness between both countriesand emphasized the need to fo-cus on positive image buildingfor Pakistan in Canada. He ap-preciated CPBC’s commitmentand major contributions toRoyal Ontario Museum (ROM)and their South Asian Galleryand in the South Asian HeritageDay celebrations with the ROM.

Development (DFID) and otherdonors launched programs to in-crease access to finance in thecountry, he said, adding that theDFID-funded Financial Inclu-sion Program (FIP) aims to ad-dress financial exclusion througha variety of interventions.

Mr. Abdul Muktadir pointedout that FIP interventions largelyfocus on addressing market fail-ures and industry bottlenecks,while addressing issues of fairtreatment of clients and con-sumer protection.

FIP is supporting the estab-lishment of a separate nationallevel Credit Information Bureau

for microfinance clients, he said,adding that FIP is also support-ing Pakistan Microfinance Net-work (PMN) to introduce theTransparent Pricing Initiative inPakistan. ‘This initiative willmake the prices for themicrofinance market availablefor the first time in history,’ SBPDeputy Governor added.

SBP Deputy Governor saidthat FIP is also supportingstrengthening consumer protec-tion under the industry-ledSMART campaign that is seek-ing to improve client protectionmechanism in the microfinancesector.

The first-ever NationwideFinancial Literacy Program(NFLP) launched in January2012 intends to create awarenessabout basic financial conceptssuch as budgeting, savings, in-vestments, debt management,financial products, branchlessbanking and rights and obliga-tions of consumers etc., he said,adding that the pilot phase ofthe program has been concludedsuccessfully by targeting about50,000 beneficiaries in variousprovinces, regions and districtswith emphasis on low incomestrata and its effectiveness iscurrently being evaluated.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Mobilink haslaunched a new service division,‘Mobilink Business’, aimed ataddressing the connectivityneeds of businesses across Pa-kistan. As part of Mobilink’snew business model, manage-ment and owners of businesseswill be empowered to custom-ize their cellular and enterpriseservices to suit their businessand budgetary needs.

Mobilink Business offers aunique portfolio of ‘MobilitySolutions’ that will enable en-trepreneurs, professionals,SMEs and large business con-cerns to enjoy increased control,value and flexibility over theirbusiness communications. Busi-ness managers will now be ableto tailor solutions by selectingtheir preference of numerousMobilink services that areunique to their needs.

Bilal Munir Sheikh, Chief

New paradigm in businesscommunications

Commercial Officer, Mobilink,emphasized, ‘Mobilink has al-ways been innovative when itcomes to the needs of our cus-tomers across Pakistan. We be-lieve in going beyond businessto change the way businessesmanage their communicationsneeds. Mobilink Business is an-other milestone in the history ofPakistan’s cellular industry thatwill change the paradigm of howbusinesses manage their connec-

EradicationFrom Page 13

tivity needs.’Azfar Manzoor, Vice Presi-

dent Business Services Divi-sion, Mobilink said, ‘The con-tinuing evolution of Pakistan’sbusiness sector necessitated ashift in strategy to cater to itsconnectivity needs. Mobilink isthe first cellular operator in Pa-kistan to address this need byoffering a robust solution thatensures complete control to ourbusiness customers’.

hance the airline’s mainte-nance capabilities. He also as-sured of new induction of en-gineers and technicians toovercome the shortage ofskilled human resource.

Chairman PIA later visitedthe engineering facilities andwas briefed by Deputy Man-aging Director Engineering,AVM Qasim Masood Khanand Director Engineering,Syed Samin Uddin Naqvi. PIADirectors, General Managersand Chief Engineers were alsopresent at the occasion.

PIAFrom Page 13

cumbersome to call CustomerService for required bill infor-mation. Now with mobiles be-coming one of the most commoncommunication tools, the infor-mation they require regardingtheir gas bills is now availableright ontheir mobile sets.”

SSGC App has been de-signed to allow our customerswith compatible Nokia phonesto check billing details, view billpayment history as well as trackother related information with-out waiting for the paper bill tobe delivered at their homes,” theMD further added.

Commenting on the collabo-ration, Arif Shafique, GM,Nokia (Pakistan and Afghani-stan) said, “We are really excitedto showcase Pakistan’s utilitysector’s first-everApp on NokiaStore. SSGCApp will addgreater convenience in the livesof Nokia users by giving theman unprecedented option of hav-ing quick access to their SSGCbilling and other relevant infor-mation right on their Nokia sets.Just like SSGC, Nokia toooffersmobile services thatcomplement customers’lifestyles.”

SSGCFrom Page 13

Bank Alfalahchooses Wateenfor connectivity

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Wateen Telecom,has been chosen by BankAlfalah after a stringent vendorevaluation process for providingFiber & Radio deployment toestablish Data-VPN link for 75branches and aggregation sites.

Wateen offers organizationssupport for planning, implemen-tation and management of theirnetwork and is a gold partner forCisco.

We have always maintainedexceptional level of customerservice for both enterprise cus-tomers and the general con-sumer. Mr. Naeem Zamindar,CEO Wateen Telecom, in a mes-sage to the employees stated,“This achievement is furtherrecognition of our focus on cus-tomer centricity and keeping ourcustomers at the center of ourthought process while dealingwith all environmental and eco-nomic challenges. We intend tocontinue delivering the highestquality solutions, products, andservices to our valued custom-ers.”

Etihad Airwaysawarded

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Etihad Airwayshas bagged the ‘Airline Brandof the Year Award’ recently or-ganized by the Brands Founda-tion here at a local hotel.

The award, which is one ofthe highest honors bestowed inthe business and corporate com-munities in Pakistan, wasawarded to the airline due to itspopularity, strong company pro-file and commitment to its cus-tomers as shown by nationwidesurveys.

The Brands Foundation, apublic company monitored bythe government of Pakistan, or-ganizes the award annually withan aim to promote healthy com-petition among local, nationaland multinational brands oper-ating in the country.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Global PostalServices Market would reachUS$323.6 Billion by 2015, asmail volumes continuously de-clining owing to growing promi-nence of digital alternatives.

According to a new reportby Global Industry Analystsupon the ‘comprehensive globaloutlook on the Postal ServicesIndustry’, postal industries inseveral countries are on theverge of reporting costs exceed-ing revenues.

Global postal services in-dustry continues to falter underthe growing prominence of digi-tal alternatives. With mail vol-umes continuously declining,postal industries in several coun-tries are on the verge of report-ing costs exceeding revenues,

Global Postal Services marketto reach $323.6b by 2015

Technology Times Reported. The traditional practice of

assessing GDP of a country forpredicting the volume growth inmails is now pass‚. Though glo-bally, economies are restoring,mail volumes continue to be onthe declining trend.

The postal industry is seenas entering into a new era wherecomplete revamp of productsand services portfolios wouldbecome the order of the day.Several postal organizationshave added digital alternatives,such as e-commerce and digitalmail to their portfolios.

Digital channels also provideadditional opportunities for en-hancing service quality. With digi-tal solutions being aggressivelypursued, the share of core tradi-tional products in the overall rev-enue mix is rapidly declining.

However, digitalization hasits own shortcomings. Connec-tivity and bandwidth limitationsof the digital infrastructure com-prise major growth barriers.

Moreover, the functionalityof Internet is not available to allthe citizens, unlike postal ser-vices. The global recession andslowdown in economy furthereroded the postal services indus-try revenues in recent times.However, certain service seg-ments managed to fare well dur-ing the crisis period.

Tremendous growth wasexperienced by the postal finan-cial institutions since the begin-ning of the crisis. Annual growthrates of savings accounts andnumber of postal deposits ofabout 15 leading postal financialinstitutions across the globe av-eraged 50% in 2008.

ment to see after 2014,” said JojiTokeshi, Country Director forADB Afghanistan at a press con-ference.

Marking the bank’s interest inhydropower projects, the ADB di-rector pointed out the bank is mak-ing a master plan of the energy sec-tor along with the government andother donors to the country.

“We are interested in support-ing the hydropower development,however it would be irresponsibleif we just put in themoney...because the important partof infrastructure is operation andmaintenance of the infrastructure.So for that purpose we have to bevery careful about that and whatare the priorities. There are manyprojects, [but] what is the priority?That is why ADB is preparing withthe government and other donorswhat is called the master plan ofthe energy sector in which we willmake the priorities,” Tokeshisaid.—NNI

ADB to fundFrom Page 13

German forces to have dronesBERLIN—Germany’s military will acquirearmed drones its Defence Minister said onFriday, reigniting a heated debate in Ger-many over the ethics of using such aircraft.The drones would protect soldiers in dan-gerous situations, and offer precision andspeed, Thomas de Maiziere told the Germangovernment’s YouTube channel in an inter-view. The drones were identical in legal,ethical and technical terms to manned air-craft because someone would still have to

decide whether to attack, he said. Germany would develop thenew generation drones in conjunction with France, he said. Ger-man armed forces are currently using unmanned drones for re-connaissance in Afghanistan, where they are serving as part ofthe ISAF force. “We have a gap in our capabilities which wewant to close,” de Maiziere said. Prior to the official announce-ment, German opposition lawmakers had already condemned thepurchase of armed drones, with the head of the Greens parlia-mentary group Juergen Trittin saying they could lower the thresh-old for military engagement. Critics of drone strikes argue thatthey end up killing high numbers of civilians and that they arefrequently launched across sovereign states’ borders - far morethan conventional attacks by piloted aircraft. Most attacks withunmanned aerial vehicles have been by the United States. Britainand Israel have also used them, and dozens more states are be-lieved to possess the technology.—Reuters

Russia’s 2012 crackdown was worstMOSCOW—Russian authoritarianism rose tolevels unprecedented in recent history in 2012,Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thurs-day, assessing what it called the harshest crack-down on political freedoms in the country sincethe Soviet era. Russia introduced restrictive laws,harassed activists and interfered with non-gov-ernmental organisations during the year, whichsaw Vladimir Putin return to the Kremlin andformer President Dmitry Medvedev appointedprime minister, the New York-based rights group

said. “Since Putin’s return ... not only has the tentative shift towardsliberalisation of the Medvedev era been totally reversed, but alsoauthoritarianism in Russia has reached a level unknown in recent his-tory,” said Rachel Denber, deputy director of HRW’s Europe and Cen-tral Asia Division. Speaking at a news conference in Moscow coincid-ing with the publication of its annual report on human rights world-wide, Denber also criticised the government’s stance toward the West.Since Putin started a six-year term in May, he has signed laws re-stricting protests, demanding foreign-funded NGOs register as “for-eign agents” and setting new rules on treason that critics say couldplace almost anyone who associates with foreigners at risk of pros-ecution. Several opposition leaders and activists face potential prisonterms if convicted on charges Putin’s critics say are trumped up,though Putin’s spokesman has denied the Kremlin uses courts andpolice to pressure critics. “Measures to intimidate critics and restrictRussia’s vibrant civil society have reached unprecedented levels,”Hugh Williamson, director of HRW’s Europe and Central Asia Di-vision, said in a statement.—Reuters

UK detective hacking phone jailedLONDON—A senior British counterterrorismdetective was sentenced Friday to 15 monthsin prison for trying to sell information to RupertMurdoch’s News of the World tabloid. ChiefInspector April Casburn, 53, was the first per-son convicted on charges related to Britain’sphone-hacking scandal since a police investi-gation was reopened in early 2011. She wasfound guilty last month of misconduct for phon-ing the tabloid and offering to pass on infor-mation about whether London’s police force

would reopen its stalled phone-hacking investigation. Judge AdrianFulford said Casburn’s action was “a corrupt attempt to make moneyout of sensitive and potentially very damaging information” in hissentencing at London’s Old Bailey criminal court. Fulford said hewould have sentenced Casburn to three years in prison had she notbeen in the process of adopting a child. While the tabloid did notprint a story based on Casburn’s call and no money changed hands,Fulford said that if the News of the World had accepted her offer, itwas clear in his view that Casburn would have taken the money.“As a result, she posed a significant threat to the integrity of thisimportant police investigation,” he said. Casburn, who managedthe Metropolitan Police terrorist financing investigation unit, hadadmitted contacting the newspaper but denied that she offered con-fidential information or had sought payment. Britain’s long-run-ning phone-hacking scandal has led to dozens of arrests and tocriminal charges against prominent journalists, including PrimeMinister David Cameron’s former communications chief. Otherjournalists, police officers and civil servants have been questionedabout whether bribes were offered, solicited or accepted in ex-change for information. —AP

Al Qaeda asks Iraqis to pick armsBAGHDAD—Al Qaeda’s Iraqi wing onThursday urged Sunni protesters to take uparms against Shi’ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, adding fuel to growing sectarianunrest in the world’s fastest-growing oil ex-porter. Al Qaeda’s local affiliate IslamicState of Iraq said “peace and patience” wereuseless for dealing with the Shi’ite-led gov-ernment they see as oppressors of Iraq’sSunni minority. “You have two options, notthree: either kneel before the apostates,

though that will be impossible, or to take up arms,” AbuMohammed al-Adnani, the group’s spokesman said in an audiostatement posted on a jihadist website. Thousands of Sunni Mus-lims have rallied mostly in the western province of Anbar sinceDecember over frustrations they have been sidelined since thefall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Maliki says he will address le-gitimate demands, but warned against militants hijacking pro-tests, heightening concern the OPEC nation risks worseningShi’ite against Sunni confrontation. Weakened by war with U.S.and Iraqi troops, Islamic State of Iraq last year vowed to retakeground lost to the government. With Sunni Islamist militants flow-ing into neighbouring Syria to battle President Bashar al-Assad,security experts say al Qaeda is gaining funds, recruits and mo-rale on both sides of the border, after years of losses. —Reuters

Huah Taiwan’s new premierTAIPEI—Taiwan’s vice premier Jiang Yih-Huah will replace premier Sean Chen, the presi-dential office said in statement issued late onThursday, as part of a cabinet reshuffle thatcould see a new central bank chief. Central bankchief Perng Fai-nan wants to retire as part ofthe reshuffle, two lawmakers told a Taiwanesetelevision station on Thursday. A central bankofficial refused to comment on Perng’s pos-sible retirement. Perng’s third five-year termis due to end in February. Taiwanese media

have reported that Chen was a possible candidate to replace Perngnicknamed the “forex killer” by currency dealers. It was thoughtChen would take a less stringent stance on forex management afterthe forthright Perng, who was known for his tough stance againstcurrency speculation and for keeping an iron grip on Taiwan’s ex-change rate. Taiwan has the world’s fourth-largest foreign exchangereserves. In replacing Chen, a career civil servant, with academicJiang as the new premier, President Ma Ying-jeou was installing anally as head of the administrative branches of government, said ShaneLee, a political science professor at Chang Jung university. “So Idon’t expect any big changes in policy direction after Jiang takesover, it’ll still be under the control of Ma,” Lee said. “He is verysmart but he may not have enough experience in political adminis-tration or get enough support in cabinet.”—Reuters

CAIRO—Opponents of Egyp-tian President Mohamed Mursiplanned mass demonstrations,raising the prospect of morebloodshed despite a pledge bypoliticians to back off after thedeadliest week of his sevenmonths in office. Protests mark-ing the second anniversary of theuprising that toppled HosniMubarak have killed nearly 60people since January 25,prompting the head of the armyto warn this week that the statewas on the verge of collapse.

The country’s most influen-tial Islamic scholar hauled in ri-val political leaders for crisistalks on Thursday and persuadedthem to sign up to a charter dis-avowing violence and commit-ting to dialogue as the only wayto end the crisis. But barely hadthose talks at a mediaeval uni-versity ended, when Mursi’sfoes called for new nationwideprotests, including a march onthe presidential palace in Cairo,

Egypt opposition dead set to stir mass demonstrationwhich his followers see as a pro-vocative assault on a symbol ofhis legitimacy.

“We are going out tomorrow,to Tahrir, and there is a groupgoing to the palace,” said AhmedMaher, a founder of the April 6youth protest movement whichhelped bring down Mubarak in2011. “We also confirm ourpeacefulness and that weaponsmust not be used, because we seethat violence, weapons andmolotovs have cost us a lot,” headded after attending the talks.

In a statement released over-night, leftist leader HamdeenSabahi said signing the peace ini-tiative did not mean an end to theprotests. He would not enter dia-logue until bloodshed was halted,the state of emergency lifted andthose responsible for the previ-ous week’s violence brought tojustice. “Our aim ... is to com-plete the goals of the gloriousJanuary revolution: bread, free-dom and social justice,” he said.

The protesters accuse Mursiof betraying the spirit of the revo-lution by concentrating too muchpower in his own hands and thoseof his Muslim Brotherhood, adecades-old Islamist movementthat was banned under Mubarak.The Brotherhood accusesMursi’s opponents of trying tobring down Egypt’s first demo-cratically elected leader and toseize power through street unrestthat they could not win throughthe ballot box.

The rise of Mursi, an electedIslamist, after generations of ruleby authoritarian, secular militarymen in the most populous Arabstate, is probably the single mostimportant change of the past twoyears of Arab popular revolts. Butseven months since taking powerafter a narrow election victoryover a former general, Mursi hasfailed to unite Egyptians and pro-tests have made the country seemall but ungovernable. The insta-bility has worsened an economic

crisis, forcing Cairo to drain cur-rency reserves to prop up itspound.

Cairo’s streets were still quietin the morning, with protestersexpected to gather following af-ternoon prayers. The vio-lence has been worst in citiesalong the Suez Canal, especiallyPort Said, where demonstratorswere enraged by death sentenceshanded down against 21 soccerfans on Saturday for stadium ri-ots a year ago that killed morethan 70 people. Dozens of pro-testers were shot dead in PortSaid and Mursi responded byimposing a state of emergencyand curfew there and on twoother Suez Canal cities.

Protesters plan to demon-strate at the stadium on Friday,the first anniversary of the riots,said Mahmoud Naguib, an activ-ist in the April 6 movement. Theyalso plan other marches aftermidnight to defy the curfew. “Wehave one demand: that Mursi and

the interior minister go on trialfor inciting the killing of protest-ers in Port Said,” Naguib said.Brotherhood supporters battledprotesters outside the presidentialpalace during protests againstMursi in December. Critics ac-cused the Brotherhood of deploy-ing a militia against the demon-strators. Keen to avoid a repeat,the Islamists have so far kept offthe streets during the latest waveof protests.

Thursday’s meeting of politi-cal leaders was convened bySheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb, headof the 1,000-year-old al-Azharuniversity and mosque, one of thefew institutions still seen as neu-tral in a society that is increas-ingly polarized. He persuadedparticipants to sign a documentpledging to renounce violenceand agree to set up a committeeto plan more talks. That markeda climbdown by Mursi’s foeswho had previously rebuffed in-vitations to negotiate, demanding

that Mursi first promise to in-clude them in a unity govern-ment.

The presidency said the ini-tiative was “an important step onthe road to achieving stability inthe Egyptian street”. But it is farfrom clear that opposition politi-cians could call off the streetdemonstrations, even if theywanted to. The protest movementhas become a spontaneous ex-pression of anger, often onlyloosely allied to the secularist andliberal parties running against theBrotherhood in elections.

“You have groups whoclearly just want a confrontationwith the state - straightforwardanarchy; you’ve got people whosupported the original ideals ofthe revolution and feel those ide-als have been betrayed,” said adiplomat. “And then you haveelements of the old regime whohave it in their interests to fosterinsecurity and instability. It is anunhealthy alliance.”—Reuters

ABUJA—A lawmaker who leda corruption probe into Nigeria’sfuel subsidy last year wascharged on Friday with accept-ing a $3 million bribe from a bil-lionaire oil tycoon to remove hiscompany from the list offraudsters. Nigerian legislatorFarouk Lawan blew the lid on a$6.8 billion scam in a state fuelsubsidy, exposing a web offraudulent transactions that en-abled corrupt officials and fuelmarketers to grow rich, oftenwithout delivering a drop of fuel.

He pleaded not guilty incourt on Friday to four counts ofbribery brought against him bythe federal government and hissupporters say he is being tar-geted by those implicated in hisinvestigation.

Africa’s largest crude ex-porter has to import 80 percentof its fuel needs because its re-fineries are in disrepair. The gov-ernment pays a subsidy on thefuel, which breeds corruptionand is the single biggest drain ofthe federal budget.

Lawan’s arrest risks discred-iting his findings, although two

Nigeria anti-graftlawmaker takes $3m bribe

subsequent independent probeshave come to similar conclu-sions. He is accused of taking$500,000 - part of an agreed $3million bribe - from FemiOtedola, one of Nigeria’s richestmen, to keep his oil firm ZenonPetroleum out of his report.

“You Farouk Lawan ... in thecourse of your official duty cor-ruptly asked for the sum of $3million for yourself from FemiOtedola ... to afterwards show fa-vor to Femi Otedola,” chargesread in the Abuja High Courtsaid. The judge ordered thatLawan be remanded in policecustody until a bail hearing onFebruary 8.

Another member of Lawan’sparliamentary fuel subsidy com-mittee, Emenalo Boniface, ischarged on three counts for alsodemanding the bribe fromOtedola, who will not face pros-ecution because he told the au-thorities about the deal. Lawan’ssupporters say this is evidence hewas a set up by PresidentGoodluck Jonathan’s administra-tion, in collusion with Otedola,because they were embarrassed

by his findings.Lawan’s lawyer said last year

that the case was a conspiracybrought by fraudulent oil market-ers and powerful government of-ficials who wanted his report dis-credited. He said Lawan acceptedthe bribe only to expose Otedola,saying he disclosed the paymentto parliament and left the cashthere. If Lawan is found guilty itcould end any attempt to seek jus-tice in the subsidy scandal, anoutcome likely to pleaseNigeria’s powerful oil marketersand some corrupt governmentofficials, but enrage the public.

The report fingered severalfuel companies, including a lo-cal unit of ExxonMobil, as beinginvolved and called for the boardof the state oil firm, including itshead Oil Minister DiezaniAlison-Madueke, to resign.Lawan’s report was scathingabout some of Nigeria’s mostpowerful people - few would daretake on the oil minister - and wasan embarrassment to Jonathan,whose office pledged to pros-ecute those implicated but urgedpatience. —Reuters

GENEVA—The United Nationsrefugee agency said on Fridaythat for the first time it hadreached the opposition-held Azazarea of northern Syria where itfound an estimated 45,000 dis-placed people living in appallingconditions in makeshift camps.“This is an area that the U.N. hasnot been able to physically reachever since the beginning of theconflict,” Yacoub El Hillo, direc-tor of UNHCR’s Middle East andNorth Africa Bureau, told report-ers in Geneva.

Azaz is located oppositeKilis camp on the Turkish sidethat holds about 10,000 Syrianrefugees who have crossed thatborder, according to the U.N.High Commissioner for Refu-

UNHCR reachesrebel-held Syria zone

gees (UNHCR). “On this (Syr-ian) side it is makeshift camps inappalling conditions. So hope-fully this will be the first of many,many convoys that we will beoperating,” El Hillo said.

The Syrian government doesnot allow U.N. agencies to enterrebel-held areas from across itsborders, but aid agencies includ-ing Medecins Sans Frontiereshave been active in the Azaz re-gion where temperatures are nowsub-zero, he said.

“They want us to continue,it could not have happened with-out the Syrian government. Forthe planes to land near Latakiawe had to have landing permitsand also for the trucks to move,”El Hillo said.—Reuters

YEREVAN—A fringe candidatefor the Armenian presidencywas recovering from surgeryFriday after being shot in thechest by an unidentified gun-man, officials said. ParuirAirikian was reported in stablecondition as police searched forthe shooter, while the speakerof Parliament suggested theelection could be delayed.Airikian, an also-ran in threeprevious presidential elections,was shot outside his house inthe Armenian capital, Yerevan,just before midnight. A neigh-bor who heard gunshots andcries for help called the police.

Another presidential candi-date who visited Airikian inhospital told Armenian TV thatthat the assailant first shot himin the back. Airikian thenstarted struggling with the at-tacker, who fled. Airikian, aformer dissident who spent 17years in Soviet prisons, is oneof eight candidates in the Feb.

18 presidential vote, whichincumbent Serge Sarkisian isexpected to easily win despitethe nation’s economic prob-lems. Recent opinion surveys

show Airikian getting just over1 percent of the vote.

Yerevan Clinical Hospital’schief doctor, Ara Minasian, saidthat the 63-year-old Airikian wasbeing treated for a single gun-shot wound and remained instable condition. Doctors laterperformed a surgery to removea bullet that got stuck in hisshoulder.

Eduard Sharmazanov, adeputy speaker of Parliament,said the attack on Airikian was a“provocation against democratic,free and transparent elections.”Education Minister ArmenAshotian, who is deputy chief ofthe ruling Republican Party, de-scribed it as an “attempt to de-stabilize the situation in the coun-try and compromise the vote.”

Armenian parliamentspeaker Ovik Abramian, who vis-ited Airikian at the hospital, saidthe assault could be an attemptto thwart the election. He said thevote could be postponed ifAirikian’s condition prevents himfrom taking part, but the nation’selection chief refused to com-ment on the possibility.Armenia’s constitution requires

JERUSALEM—Military secretsare not readily divulged anywhere.But in Israel the blanket silencethat envelops officials after anevent like Wednesday’s mysteri-ous air strike on Syria reflects adeeper strategy involving bothdeterrence and outreach. Beyondcustomary concern to safeguardspies and tactics for a governmentcurrently engaged in a graver con-frontation with Iran, Israelis seesuch reticence as allowing theirfoes to save face and thus reducethe risk of reprisal and escalation.

Keeping silent, and so avoid-ing accusations of provocativelybragging of its exploits, alsosmoothes Israel’s discreet coop-eration with Muslim neighbors -such as Turkey or Jordan - whomight otherwise feel bound to dis-tance themselves. Israeli leaderssee benefit at home from not trum-peting successes that might givetheir public, or indeed Westernallies, an exaggerated faith in theirforces’ capabilities.

And given international com-plaints that an unprovoked strikeon a sovereign power breachedinternational law, admitting thefact could only provide diplomaticcomplications. So it was in 2007,when then prime minister EhudOlmert muzzled his staff after thebombing of a suspected Syrianatomic reactor - a no-commentpolicy still in effect, though theUnited States has freely discussedthat Israeli sortie and its target.

Olmert “wanted to avoid any-thing that might back Syria into acorner and force Assad to retali-ate,” the U.S. president at the time,George W. Bush, would recall in

Israeli silence onSyria is strategic

his memoir. A former Olmert aideconfirmed that account, tellingReuters the premier also feared forclose military ties with Turkey,whose territory the Israeli war-planes crossed en route to Syria.

Israelis were then - as now -poised for a threatened war againstarch-enemy Iran. Olmert, skepti-cal about whether Israel had theclout to take on the distant andmuch larger adversary, did notwant to mislead his public by play-ing up the successful but farsmaller-scale sortie against Syrianext door. “We knew the messageof what had taken place would bereceived by the Syrian and Iranianleaderships, and that was enoughfor us,” the ex-aide said on condi-tion of anonymity.

So if Israel did attack a Syr-ian arms convoy headed toLebanon’s Hezbollah guerrillas,or a military complex near Dam-ascus, around dawn on Wednes-day, as described by varioussources, a similar logic may nowbe keeping Prime Minister Ben-jamin Netanyahu, his cabinet anddefense chiefs quiet. Tackling theIranian nuclear program is Israel’stop priority, making it hesitant tolurch into other conflicts - espe-cially with Syria’s Assad govern-ment, an old enemy whose men-ace has faded, in Israeli eyes, withthe two-year-old revolt.

Nor does Israel seek a flare-up with Hezbollah, which hasmostly held fire since their 2006war in southern Lebanon. Russia,Damascus’s long-time arms sup-plier, said any Israeli air strikewould amount to unacceptablemilitary interference.—Reuters

Saudi Arabiaappoints Prince

Muqrin as seconddeputy PM

RIYADH—Saudi Arabia’s KingAbdullah has appointed formerintelligence chief Prince Muqrinbin Abdulaziz second deputyprime minister. Holders of thepostition have gone on in thepast to be crown prince and thirdin line to lead the world’s top oilexporter, where the ruling fam-ily controls most senior govern-ment posts and, in the absenceof elections, wields near abso-lute authority. Muqrin, who isabout 70, headed Saudi intelli-gence until he was replaced inJuly, and is the youngest son ofthe kingdom’s founderAbdulaziz ibn Saud.

“His Royal Highness PrinceMuqrin bin Abdulaziz al-Saud,adviser and special envoy to theCustodian of the Two HolyMosques, is appointed seconddeputy to the prime minister,”said a Royal Court decree car-ried by the state news agencySPA. Strategically importantU.S. ally and the birthplace ofIslam, Saudi Arabia faces long-term domestic worries such asgrowing energy consumptionand high youth unemployment,as well as fears about regionalinstability after the ArabSpring.—Reuters

Teenager shot atUS middle

schoolWASHINGTON—A teenage stu-dent was shot Thursday at amiddle school in Atlanta, Geor-gia with the victim hospitalizedbut “alert,” police said, after thelatest gun attack against youngAmericans. In a statementposted on their Facebook page,the Atlanta police said the vic-tim, whom they did not identify,was shot outside Price MiddleSchool, and was “transportedalert, conscious and breathing toGrady hospital.”

US media has reported thatthe person shot was a 14-year-old male. The police also said asuspect had been taken into cus-tody. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reedcondemned the shooting andothers like it as “unconscio-nable,” and said gun attacks inand around US schools “mustend.”

“Too many young peopleare being harmed, and too manyfamilies are suffering from un-imaginable and unnecessarygrief,” he added in a messagethat was posted on the city’swebsite.—Reuters

Sunni Muslims take part in an anti-government demonstration at Abu Hanifa Sunni Mosque in Baghdad’s Adhamiya district.

Armenia presidentialhopeful shot, hurt

the vote to be postponed fortwo weeks if one of the candi-dates is unable to take partdue to circumstances beyondhis control. It envisages a fur-ther 40-day delay if the prob-lem isn’t solved.

The Armenian president hasbroad executive powers, and thecampaign for the job has beenmarked by much tension.Airikian, a Soviet-era dissident,briefly joined a hunger strike byanother candidate over proce-dural issues related to the vote.This landlocked, overwhelm-ingly Christian nation of 3 mil-lion has faced severe economicchallenges caused by the clos-ing of its borders with Turkeyand Azerbaijan because of a ter-ritorial conflict.

The Nagorno-Karabakh re-gion of Azerbaijan and some ad-jacent territory has been underthe control of Armenian troopsand local ethnic Armenian forcessince a six-year war ended witha truce in 1994. But internationalefforts to mediate a settlementhave brought no result.Armenia’s politics have beentense and often mired in vio-

BEIJING—A truckload of fire-works intended for Lunar NewYear celebrations went off Fri-day in a massive, deadly explo-sion that destroyed part of anelevated highway in centralChina, sending vehicles plum-meting 30 meters (about 100feet) to the ground.

State TV broadcaster CCTVsaid eight people were con-firmed dead and 11 injured af-ter seven vehicles were recov-ered from the wreckage. Thedeath toll appeared likely to rise:The official Xinhua NewsAgency said the collapsesmashed and buried at least 25vehicles. Earlier reports byChina National Radio and someother outlets of 26 people killedwere later removed fromwebsites, without explanation.

An 80-meter (260-foot)stretch of a major east-westhighway collapsed in Mianchicounty in Henan province. Itscattered blackened chunks of

Fire causes highwaycollapse in China

debris and shattered the win-dows of a nearby truck stop. Atruck driver interviewed onCCTV said he was only 20meters (yards) away from theexplosion.

“I heard a huge bang andimmediately braked. I saw smallfireballs falling down one byone,” said the unidentified truckdriver, whose truck windshieldwas smashed from the impact ofthe blast. “I then heard thesounds of clanking and explod-ing for five to six minutes,” thedriver said. “My face was cov-ered in dust.”

Photos posted online byXinhua showed a stretch of el-evated highway gone, with onetruck’s back wheels perched atthe edge of a shorn-off sectionof the highway. Other photosshowed firefighters belowspraying water on scorchedhunks of concrete, wreckedtrucks and flattened shippingcontainers.—Reuters

BIPIN DANI

OBSERVER

CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI—Come Sundayand the London-basedauctioneer, RichardMadley will be at his busi-ness again. Nothing com-pares to the thrills of con-ducting the IPL Auction -which is now firmly inkedinto the auctioneer’s diaryevery February.

Speaking exclusivelyover telephone from Lon-don, he says, “the snow isfalling in Wiltshire as Ispeak to you and theweather is below freezing.Next Saturday I will land inChennai when things willreally start to heat up inmany ways !”.

“The wonderful thingabout the auction processis that none can predict theoutcome - there will alwaysbe high points as well asdisappointments. No onecan predict the outcomeand this week sale willindoubtedly produce a fewsurprises”.

Explaining the process,he says, “I will conduct theauction in exactly the sameway I have done in previ-ous years-the same rules-

IPL auction will be firm, fairand friendly: Richard Madley

same bidding increments -thesame tempo”.

“I aim to implement thethree “F”s in the auction -being being FIRM, FAIR &FRIENDLY.! I will try andmaintain a good pace and beclear in communicatingwhere the bids are comingfrom. I know that fans fromacross the world are watch-ing the auction and keen tosee who their team ownersare bidding for”, he furtheradded.

“I have been conductingauctions of cricket memora-bilia for many years-where Ihave achieved extraordinaryprices for bats, balls andbooks. I have sold pieces ofcricketing history and alwaysenjoy selling copies ofWisden’s CricketersAlmanack. I conduct manyauctions at Lords & The Ovalas well as for my own countyGlamorgan County CricketClub.

“I am often asked if I getnervous before the auctionand I liken it to the nervesyou experience before a bats-man goes out to the crease.It is a mixture of excitement& anticipation - and ofcourse a few nerves. A goodactor should be nervous be-fore he goes on stage and an

auctioneer is no different”,he further added.

“I try not to show tomuch emotion if a player failsto sell. The reserve price istransparent and the biddersknow where I will open thebidding. I can normally tellpretty quickly if there is in-terest in the player and I willnot dwell for too long if thatinterest fails to materialise.Remember an “unsold”player could easily return tothe auction later in proceed-ings”.

“Equally when a playeris selling easily it is impor-tant to maintain the sametempo and treat the biddersconsistently and fairly”,Madley added.

“I have not been askedto conduct any other playerauctions in Pakistan,Bangladesh or Australia. Iwould like to meet thoseauctioneers and discusshow different or similar theirauctions are. I am an inde-pendent auctioneer andwould be available to con-duct other cricket auctionsbut would not want to com-promise my position withIPL”. “I attend the auctionat the express invitation ofthe BCCI and it is an honourto be here”, he concluded.

JOHANNESBURG: Umar Gul had Graeme Smith caught behind during South Africa vs Pakistan, 1st Test on Friday.

JOHANNESBURG—In asplendid bowling display ledby Mohammad Hafeez Paki-stan bowled out South Africafor 253 here at the Wander-ers Stadium on Friday.

Winning the toss, Pro-teas captain Graeme Smithelected to bat but could notmake a big score againstPakistan’s accurate bowlingon the bouncy wicket.Off-break bowlerMohammad Hafeez capturedfour wickets for just 16.

South Africa vs Pakistan, 1st Test

Pakistan demolish Proteasfor 253 on first day

A quick-fire 79-run standfor the third wicket betweenJacques Kallis and HashimAmla looked to have giventhe hosts the advantage,but two fine catchesdragged the visitors backinto the contest.

Kallis, having justreached his 58th test 50, wascaught by Asad Shafiq in thedeep while Amla wassnapped up in the gully byAzhar Ali for 37.

AB de Villiers will re-sume after the tea intervalon a patient 10 not out,along with Faf du Plessiswho has 14.

Resuming on 68 for twoafter lunch, Kallis and Amlamade hay as they flayed thebowling to all parts of theground with some wonder-fully controlled shots.

They were particularlysevere on debutant fastbowler Rahat Ali, who hadfigures of 0/43 from his nineovers on a pitch that was stillgiving assistance to theseamers. The introduction ofoff-break bowler SaeedAjmal failed to produce awicket as there was preciouslittle turn on offer.

The breakthrough camewith the score on 125 as Kallischased a short ball outsideoff stump from Umar Gul, buttop-edged his pull shot intothe deep.

Shafiq made hugeground to his left before pro-

ducing a full-length dive toclasp the ball just above theturf.

Ten runs later and SouthAfrica had lost Amla too, hehung his bat out to an in-nocuous Younis Khan deliv-ery and the edge was ex-pertly grasped by Azhar inthe gully.

Before lunch, GraemeSmith failed to mark his spe-cial day with a big score whenhe was caught behind bySarfraz Ahmed off Gul for 24.Smith is captaining his 100thtest and also celebrating his32nd birthday.

Four balls earlier fellowopener Alviro Petersen wascaught at third slip byMohamed Hafeez off thebowling of the excellentJunaid Khan.

South Africa won thetoss and chose to bat first ona lively wicket that has pro-vided plenty of encourage-ment to the bowlers.Teams:

South Africa: GraemeSmith (captain), HashimAmla, AB de Villiers, Faf duPlessis, Dean Elgar, JacquesKallis, Morne Morkel, AlviroPetersen, Robin Peterson,Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Asad Shafiq,Azhar Ali, Junaid Khan,Mohammad Hafeez, NasirJamshed, Rahat Ali, SaeedAjmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, UmarGul, Younis Khan.—AFP

South Africa 1st innings:Smith c Sarfraz Ahmedb Umar Gul ..................... 24Petersen c Hafeezb Junaid Khan ............... 20Amla c Azhar Alib Younis Khan ............... 37Kallis c Asad Shafiqb Umar Gul ..................... 50AB de Villiers b Hafeez . 31Plessis b Junaid Khan .. 41D Elgar not out .............. 23RJ Peterson not out ........ 0Extras: (lb 4, w 1, nb 1) .... 6Total: (6 wickets) ......... 232Fall of wickets 1-46, 2-46, 3-125, 4-135, 5-199, 6-232Bowling: ........... O-M-R-WUmar Gul ............. 17-2-45-2Junaid Khan .... 16.4-7-32-2Rahat Ali ............. 14-0-56-0Saeed Ajmal ....... 23-4-68-0Younis Khan ........ 4-0-16-1Hafeez ................... 4-1-11-1

K A R A C H I — A l l - r o u n d e rShahid Afridi has made anemotional appeal to thecricketing world to endPakistan’s four-year isola-tion over terror attacks.

No international crickethas been played in Pakistan,which suffers near dailyTaliban and Al-Qaeda-linkedviolence, since gunmen at-tacked the Sri Lankan teambus in March 2009, killingeight Pakistanis and wound-ing seven visiting players.

Minnows Bangladeshtwice called off tours lastyear over security fears andthe head of the Federationof International Cricketers’Associations (FICA) haswarned players not to takepart in an inauguralTwenty20 tournament inMarch.

Former captain Afridisaid Pakistan has been side-lined and had “suffered be-cause of being the frontlinestate in the war” against Is-lamist militants.

“We are desperately try-ing to revive internationalcricket in our country andneed co-operation but it’snot coming,” he told AFP onThursday.

For four years, Pakistanhas been forced to play itshome series at neutral ven-ues in England and theUnited Arab Emirates, deny-ing millions of local fans thechance of watching live in-ternational cricket.

“Pakistan cricket is suf-

fering because of non-coop-eration and it is high timethat other nations contributeto our efforts. Don’t leave usalone,” said Afridi, knownfor his hard-hitting and wilyleg-spin in limited overscricket.

He said cricketing na-tions and FICA should helpthe Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) bring foreign playersfor the PSL.

“If two players from eachcountry come we can stagea good league and I requestCricket Australia to sendtheir players,” said Afridi.

“FICA must also co-op-erate. Pakistan needs sup-port and if a player is willingto come and we are assuringhim security, then they mustnot stop him. This is the timethat world cricket must sup-port us.”

Afridi said Pakistanwants a special bond withBangladesh, India and SriLanka. “Pakistan has helpedBangladesh, they shouldn’tforget that,” said Afridi, re-

ferring to gettingBangladesh Test status in

2000. The country won in-dependence in a bitter warwith Pakistan in 1971.

“We toured India for alimited over series in Decem-ber-January which helpedthem earn a huge amount andnow it’s India’s time to helpus — all the more so becausecricket has been the biggesttool in bringing both nationscloser,” said Afridi.—APP

Afridi urges world to endPakistan isolation

CUTTACK: Sumaiya Siddiqi erupts after picking up the wicket of Meg Lanning duringAustralia vs Pakistan. Women’s World Cup 2013, Group B match on Friday.

C U T T A C K — P a k i s t a nwomen’s cricket team makesa disastrous start to theirWorld Cup campaign, losingthe game by 98 runs.

Chasing 175 set by Aus-tralia, Pakistan were bowled

WWC: Pak lose opening game against Australia

Australia Women innings:Lanning lbw b SumaiyaSiddiqi ............................. 17RL Haynes run out ....... 39Cameron run out ............. 7Blackwell lbw b Asmavia 18Sthalekar b Sadia ........... 32JM Fields lbw b Asmavia . 1Perry c Batool Fatimab Sadia Yousuf ................ 0SJ Coyte not out ........... 35Schutt run out ................. 0Chappell b Sadia Yousuf 5Ferling run out ................. 0Extras: (lb 4, w 17) ......... 21Total: (all out) .............. 175Fall of wickets 1-28, 2-39, 3-83, 4-88, 5-90, 6-99, 7-144, 8-148, 9-174, 10-175Bowling: ........... O-M-R-WQanita Jalil ............ 8-0-31-0Sumaiya Siddiqi ... 8-1-27-1Asmavia Iqbal ..... 9-0-36-2Sana Mir ............. 10-0-42-0Sadia Yousuf ..... 9.1-0-30-3Bismah Maroof ...... 2-0-5-0

Pakistan Women innings:Sana Mir b Schutt ........... 2Nahida b Perry ............... 10Nain Abidi lbw b Coyte .. 7Bismah c Fields b Perry .. 43Javeria Khan lbw b Coyte 5Sidra lbw b Ferling .......... 1Asmavia b Ferling ........... 0Qanita b Sthalekar ........... 0Batool Fatima c Blackwellb Sthalekar ....................... 4Sumaiya Siddiqi b Coyte 1Sadia Yousuf not out ...... 0Extras: (b 4, lb 5, w 1,nb 1) ................................ 11Total: (all out) ................ 84Fall of wickets 1-9, 2-18, 3-39, 4-49, 5-55, 6-57, 7-58, 8-68, 9-77, 10-84Bowling: ........... O-M-R-WEA Perry ............ 5.2-0-18-2ML Schutt .............. 5-2-7-1SJ Coyte ............. 10-3-20-3LC Sthalekar ......... 9-3-19-2HL Ferling ............ 3-1-10-2RK Chappell ........... 1-0-1-0

out for a mere 77 runs.Bismah Maroof fought a

lone battle scoring 43 with thehelp of 6 boundaries, but be-cause of lack of support fromthe other end it was in vain.

SJ Coyete was the de-

stroyer in chief for theAussies picking up 3-20. Shewas well supported by LCSthalekar, HL Ferling and EAPerry, each taking a couple

CUTTACK—New Zealandcrushed South Africa by ahuge margin of 151 runs in theirGroup ‘B’ match of theWomen’s World Cup here atthe DRIEMS Ground, Tangi onFriday. After being put into batby South Africa captain Mi-gnon du Preez, New Zealandpiled up a big total of 321-5 infifty overs.

This strong total was builtround the third-wicket standof 128 between Suzie Bates andSophie Devine, and a 101-runstand off 43 balls for the fifthwicket between Devine andNicola Browne.

Devine cracked 145 off 131deliveries with six sixes and 13boundaries while Bates made73 with eight fours.

Browne remained not outon 40 from 20 balls and SaraMcGlashan hit 32.

South Africa, in reply, lostwickets regularly, and no one

of wickets.Pakistan women play

their second match at thesame venue on February 3against New Zealand.—AP

New Zealand trounce SouthAfrica by 151 runs

scored more than 37 as theycapitulated for 170

Seamer Morna Nielsen and

Lea Tahuhu destroyed the toporder, and South Africaslumped to 82 for 7 in the 21stover. Susan Benade andShabnim Ismail tried to rescueSouth Africa, adding 72 runsin quick time, but left-armseamer Sian Ruck, who fin-ished with four wickets,mopped up the tail.—AP

Sri Lanka recordthrilling one-wicketwin over England

MUMBAI—Sri Lanka de-feated England by one wicketoff the final ball in a thrillingmatch of the Women’s WorldCup 2013 Group ‘A’ here atthe Brabourne Stadium onFriday.

Chasing 239, Sri Lankaopeners Chamari AtapattuJayangani and YasodaMendis made a bright startto provide a solid base totheir team for victory.

Both made 103 runs forthe opening stand asJayangani made 62 andMendis scored 46 beforeEshani Kaushalya blasted a41-ball 56 with three sixes andfive boundaries.

Skipper ShashikalaSiriwardene also contributeda useful 34 but it was tail-ender Manodara DilaniSurangika who hit a winningsix off the last ball.

For England, KatherineBrunt, Georgia Elwiss andArran Brindle claimed twowickets each. Earlier, SriLanka captain winning thetoss, put England into batand restricted them to 238-8in the allotted 50 overs.

Main scorers for Englandwere Jenny Gunn (52), AmyJones (41), Heather Knight(38) and Arran Brindle (31)while Chamani Seneviratna,Kaushalya and Siriwardenebagged two wickets each forSri Lanka.—AFP

Asif overpowersPraprut to

advance in Thaisnooker semis

KARACHI—World AmateurChampion Muhammad Asifadvanced in the semi-finalsof Sangsom Mukdahan CupSnooker Tournament whenhe overpowered PraprutChaithanasakun of Thailand5-3 in Thailand on Friday.

Pakistan number one,Asif made a steady recoveryfrom 0-2 down to beat formerAsian championChaithanasakun after an ex-citing tussle.

Asif constructed thebreaks of 67 and 57 in the lasttwo frames to chalk out 47-66, 26-52, 71-29, 62-50, 100-29, 7-72, 71-5.

Veteran PraprutChaithanasakun, who fin-ished runner-up in the worldchampionship at Karachi in1993 made a brilliant start bywarpping up the openin twoframes.—APP

Ghana denymatch-fixing

claimsPORT ELIZABETH (SouthAfrica)—The Ghana FootballAssociation (GFA) has dis-missed as untrue media alle-gations that they attemptedto fix an Africa Cup of Na-tions Group B tie againstNiger.

Ghana defeated Niger 3-0 last Monday to advance tothe quarter-finals of the com-petition in South Africa.

Sections of the Ghanaianmedia have reported thatGhana attempted to bribeGhana-born Niger defenderKofi Dankwa to play belowpar so that the Black Starscould win easily.

It reported that Ghanaskipper and striker AsamoahGyan met Dankwa.

However, the nationalfootball association has dis-missed the report as “false,mischievous and reckless”.

“The GFA wants to stateemphatically that there is noiota of truth in the report and itis the reckless imagination ofthe authors,” said a statementby the association.—AFP

FOR years, damaged discs in the lowerback or spinal nerve problems havetaken the blame as the most common

cause of sciatica, a painful condition inwhich the sciatic nerve in the back of theleg is pinched and pain ra-diates down the leg.

But a new study sug-gests the cause of sciaticapain may actually be piri-formis syndrome, a condi-tion in which a muscle inthe buttocks called the piri-formis compresses or irri-tates the sciatic nerve.

The study appears inthe February issue of theJournal of Neurosurgery:Spine.

The findings may helpmany patients finally getrelief from their pain, saidstudy author Dr. AaronFiller, a neurosurgeon atCedars-Sinai Institute ofSpinal Disorders in LosAngeles. “Doctors often recommend spi-nal fusion surgery for spinal problems [as-sociated with sciatica],” he said, “when thereal problem is piriformis syndrome.”

In the study, Filler and his colleaguesevaluated 239 patients whose symptomsof sciatica had not improved after diagno-sis or treatment for a damaged disc. Theyperformed the usual X-rays and MRIscans, and found seven of the patients hadtorn disc-related conditions that could betreated successfully with spine surgery.

The other 232 patients underwent MRneurography, a new technique that gener-ates detailed images of nerves. The re-

New clues for sciaticapain relief

searchers report that 69 percent had piri-formis syndrome, while the other 31 per-cent had some other nerve, joint or musclecondition.

To treat piriformis syndrome, Filler’steam injected a long-actinganesthetic into the spine,muscle or nerve areas.About 85 percent of the pa-tients got some relief fromthe injections, which helpsrelax muscle spasm. How-ever, relief was not long-lasting and 62 patientsneeded surgery to correctthe syndrome. Of those, 82percent had a good or ex-cellent result during the six-year follow-up.

The findings may helplegions of Americans suffer-ing from sciatica, Filler said.“More than 1.5 millionAmericans have experi-enced sciatica severeenough to be sent for lum-

bar MRI scanning each year,” Filler said.“About 300,000 lumbar disc surgeries aredone each year for sciatica. Of those,about one-third fail.” In some cases, thosesurgeries may fail because disc damageis not the underlying problem, Filler said.Instead, the real culprit could be otherconditions, such as piriformis syndrome.

The nerve scan used in the study isrelatively new, Filler said, being first usedin humans in 1993. His group reportedon the first groups of patients who un-derwent the technique in 1996. “Since1996, we have imaged several thousandpatients,” he said.

KARACHI: Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan AirForce visiting Air Commodore (R) M M Alam, the veteran of 1965 and 1971 wars.

KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah with a delegation of Ambassadors and High Commissioners ofdifferent countries led by Dean of Diplomatic Corps Rodolfo Martin Saravia at CM House.

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—The first day ofthe Beaconhouse AnnualDrama Festival concludedsuccessfully with sophisti-cated performances byBeaconhouse students onThursday at the Bahria Au-ditorium in Karachi. Morethan 60 O’level students offive Beaconhouse schools -Jubilee, Gulshan Cambridge,North Nazimabad Cam-bridge, Defence and PECHSCampus – participated, witheach branch presenting a 30-minute English theatre pro-duction. Students performedon a number of diverse

themes. ‘The Conspiracy’,presented by Jubilee Cam-pus, was co-authored by BSSstudent Radhya Kareem andteacher Tahira Zaman. Thiswas a comical suspense playdepicting the social chaos onsecurity issues. The storyrevolved around agentThames, Bonzo (the gang-ster) and the media, and howtheir individual pursuits un-fold into a comedy of errors.

Pete Benson’s ‘Crossingthe Line’, performed by stu-dents from Gulshan Cam-bridge, was the story of how abunch of teenagers comeacross and interact with a mur-der convict, subtly touching

on the theme of the importanceof good childhood develop-ment and experiences.

The team from NorthNazimabad showcased ‘TheMan Who Came To Dinner’by George S. Kaufman andMoss Hart, which wasadapted by Beaconhouseteacher Razi Imam. This de-picted the timeless theme ofthe impact of fame and wealthon a people’s personalitiesand behaviour.

PECHS Campus chose alocal theme — the daily lifeof a Karachiite — in ‘TheResilient’ written by studentsAmna Khalid and NiazAhmad. It talked about how

people in Karachi are surviv-ing against all odds. Mean-while, the Defence Campusteam performed on ‘Avatarsin Pakistan’, written byteacher Javed Ali. This was aunique story based on Ava-tars landing in the middle ofKarachi, with the broadtheme being the power of thepen. Prominent media per-sonalities, Nida Butt,Arjumand Rahim and NailaJaffery graced the occasionas part of the judges panel.Students won in the catego-ries of Best Actor (from eachplay), Best Production, BestDirection, Best Art Design,Best Play and Best Actor of

the Day.Students prepared ex-

tensively for the theatre fes-tival with the help of exter-nal tutors and their teach-ers. Beaconhouse also ar-ranged drama workshopsfor students and teachers,conducted by well-knowntheatre personality, SohailMalik. BSS students wereactively involved in the pro-duction, direction, cos-tumes, set designing, prepa-ration of props and soundeffects etc. for the plays.The second day 8th Febru-ary 2013 of the theatre festi-val will present perfor-mances by A’level students.

Enthralling Beaconhouse drama festival

KARACHI—A 17-memberdelegation of diplomats ofvarious countries Thursdayevening had a meeting withSindh Chief Minister, SyedQaim Ali Shah, at the CMHouse here. The delegationwas led by Ambassador ofArgentina and Dean of thediplomatic Corps in Pakistan,Rodolfo Martin Saravia.

The Chief Minister whilewelcoming the diplomats ap-prised them about historical,social and cultural back-ground of the province. He

said that the province is ag-riculture oriented and de-pendable on rural economywith huge natural resourcesand manpower.

Qaim said that Karachi isnot only the capital of theprovince but also the biggestand thickly populated city ofPakistan, thus there are nu-merous problems faced bythe people. He said that theprovince is facing law andorder, economic, health andeducation problems.

Chief Minister stated thatthis is the first time in historyof democracy of Pakistan thatthe present government iscompleting its constitutionaltenure of five years. Headded that we have respectfor judiciary and have alwayspledged that every institu-tion should work under theprovisions of constitutionand should not interfere inaffairs of any other institu-tion.

Regarding a question

about conduct of elections,Syed Qaim said that GeneralElections will be held onscheduled time as envisagedin the Constitution aftercompletion of tenure whilethe coalition partners of thepresent government have al-ready agreed to dissolve as-semblies on or before March15 this year. He added thatthe elections will be held ontime and also hoped thatworld community will alsosupport the present electedgovernment in its endeavourto hold free, fair, transparentand impartial elections in thecountry.

Chief Minister added thatcriminal and anti-human ele-ments are involved in bombblasts and killings etc. He saidthat the police and the lawenforcement agencies havebeen directed to effectivelycurb such activities and keepa vigilant eye to protect thelives and property of thepeople.—APP

17-member diplomats team meet CM Sindh

Province reputed for naturalresources, manpower: Qaim

14th Convocation ofPreston University

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI —The 14th Con-vocation of Preston Univer-sity is going to be held onWednesday, 06th of Febru-ary, 2013 in the Grand BallRoom at Sheraton Hotel,Karachi. A total of 1000 stu-dents are expected to attendthis mega event.

It will include awardingdegrees in various disci-plines/programs while med-als including Patron, Rectorand sponsor medals on thebasis of outstanding aca-demic performance will alsobe awarded to thePrestonians.

The Convocation will beattended by the HonorableGovernor Sindh, Mr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan as Chief Guest,Dr. Abdul Basit, ChancellorPreston University and otherVIPs.

This ceremony will be at-tended by the students whohave graduated between se-mesters Summer 2006 – Sum-mer 2012. All the students willattend a before time rehearsalat 9am Wednesday morningwhich will be followed by themega event.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Karachi ElectricSupply Company under its So-cial Investment Program dis-tributed solar-charged studylamps among high performingstudents of The Citizens Foun-dation School on Friday.

The “Study Lamps forStudents” with dual chargingby solar power and electricitywere handed to around 90 topstudents of TCF SchoolQayyumabad in a ceremonywhere CEO of KESC Mr.Tabish Gauhar was presentalong with TCF Chairman Mr.Mushtaq Chhapra.

In his speech, Mr. Gauharsaid this was the first step ofthe project initiated by KESC,under which the power utility

would be providing solarlamps to all secondary highacademic achievers in eightcampuses of the TCF. Underits Social Investment Plan(SIP), KESC has already beenproviding free of cost electric-ity to all these purpose-builtschools run by TCF with anapproximate enrollment of52,000 students in Karachimostly coming from low in-come families.

Mr. Mushtaq ChhparaChairman of TCF thankedKESC and termed the gift oflamp as “a friend to our stu-dents from KESC.”

With the solar-chargedlamp, which has a battery lifeof 6 hours, students wouldhave an alternate source ofcarbon free light for studying.

KESC distributessolar study lamps

Air Chief visits1965 war veteranAir Commodore(R) M M Alam

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Air Chief Mar-shal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chiefof the Air Staff, Pakistan AirForce, visited Air Commo-dore (Retd) M. M. Alam, theveteran of 1965 and 1971 warsat his residence. A PAF state-ment here on Friday said thatthe Air Chief enquired abouthis health and well being.

It said that the war veteranwho was earlier hospitalizedhas now shifted to his resi-dence and is stable. The AirChief remains in constanttouch about the health of AirCommodore (R) M. M. Alamand pays regular visits to himwhenever he visits Karachi.

US CG meets DeputyCommissioner SouthKARACHI—US Consul Gen-eral (CG), Michael Dodman metDeputy Commissioner,Karachi-South, Mustafa JamalKazi in his office on Friday anddiscussed issues related topolio campaigns in the district.According to a press releaseissued by the office of DC-South, Mustafa Jamal Kaziapprised him in details aboutthe arrangements made for oralpolio vaccination campaign inthe district, that also includesareas where resistance wasregistered against the vaccineduring previous occasions.

The Deputy Commissionerspecifically referred to arrange-ments made by the administra-tion for the protection of work-ers engaged in OPV adminis-tration. He also referred tosteps taken for the welfare ofpeople in general. The USConsul General appreciatedthe administrative measuresadopted in the district Southof the metropolis. —APP

UoK to establishmedical college

hospitalKARACHI—The Universityof Karachi will soon estab-lish a medical college hospi-tal. An announcement on Fri-day said that the teachingand non-teaching staff of theuniversity would benefit fromsuch a facility. An official ofthe University said that thiswould help provide bettermedical facilities. The Uni-versity would save quite a bigamount under the head ofmedical expenses and thismoney would be allocated forresearch and provision of fa-cilities to the students.

There would be a panelof doctors and experts asso-ciated with the proposedhospital.—APP

KARACHI—Women activistshere on Friday have urged fe-male members of society toactively participate in theforthcoming polls. Addressinga meeting arranged by a groupof working women KulsoomZehra, Fauzia Kareem andSwaleha Zaheer said equal re-sponsibility lies upon politicalparties to ensure that womenare actively involved in policymaking procedure.

“For this it is extremely rel-evant that women workers aregranted tickets for winningseats,” said Kulsoom Zehra.Swaleha supplemented her

with a plea that there is noshortage of socially and politi-cally conscious women work-ers in the ranks of differentpolitical parties.

High-ups in each of thepolitical party need to reformtheir approach and take intoconsideration educationalcredentials and political aswell as social commitment ofthe women who may be is-sued party ticket. FauziaKareem said political leader-ship must adopt as a policythe grant tickets to candi-dates who are committed tosocio- political cause.—APP

Women urged to activelyparticipate in polls

Altaf condemnsHangu blast

K A R A C H I — M u t a h i d aQaumi Movement (MQM)Chief Altaf Hussain has con-demned Hangu suicide blastand demanded the govern-ment to arrest the terroristsinvolved in the incident with-out any delay.

Altaf Hussain has con-demned the suicide attackoutside a mosque in Hanguand expressed sorrow overprayer performers and others’killings through a statement,issued from London thisday.—NNI

A NEW study from the University of Oxford has found that the risk ofhospitalisation or death from heart dis-

ease is 32 percent lower in vegetarians thanpeople who eat meat and fish.

Heart disease is the single largest cause ofdeath in developed countries.The new findings suggest thata vegetarian diet could signifi-cantly reduce people‘s risk ofheart disease.

“Most of the difference inrisk is probably caused by ef-fects on cholesterol and bloodpressure, and shows the im-portant role of diet in the pre-vention of heart disease,” ex-plains Dr Francesca Crowe,lead author of the study at theCancer Epidemiology Unit,University of Oxford.

This is the largest studyever conducted in the UKcomparing rates of heart dis-ease between vegetarians andnon-vegetarians.

The analysis looked at al-most 45,000 volunteers fromEngland and Scotland enrolled in the EuropeanProspective Investigation into Cancer and Nu-trition (EPIC)-Oxford study, of whom 34 per-cents were vegetarian. Such a significant rep-resentation of vegetarians is rare in studies ofthis type, and allowed researchers to make moreprecise estimates of the relative risks betweenthe two groups.The EPIC-Oxford cohort studywas funded by Cancer Research UK and theMedical Research Council and carried out bythe Cancer Epidemiology Unit at the Univer-sity of Oxford. “The results clearly showthat the risk of heart disease in vegetarians isabout a third lower than in comparable non-

Being vegetarian can cut heartdisease risk by up to a third

vegetarians, said Professor Tim Key, co-au-thor of the study and deputy director of theCancer Epidemiology Unit, University ofOxford. The Oxford researchers arrived at thefigure of 32 percent risk reduction after ac-counting for factors such as age, smoking,

alcohol intake, physical activ-ity, educational level and socio-economic background.

Participants were recruitedto the study throughout the1990s, and completed question-naires regarding their healthand lifestyle when they joined.These included detailed ques-tions on diet and exercise aswell as other factors affectinghealth such as smoking and al-cohol consumption. Almost20,000 participants also hadtheir blood pressures recorded,and gave blood samples forcholesterol testing.

The volunteers weretracked until 2009, duringwhich time researchers identi-fied 1235 cases of heart dis-ease. This comprised 169

deaths and 1066 hospital diagnoses, identi-fied through linkage with hospital records anddeath certificates. Heart disease cases werevalidated using data from the Myocardial Is-chaemia National Audit Project(MINAP).The researchers found that vegetar-ians had lower blood pressures and choles-terol levels than non-vegetarians, which isthought to be the main reason behind theirreduced risk of heart disease.

Vegetarians typically had lower body massindices (BMI) and fewer cases of diabetes as aresult of their diets, although these were notfound to significantly affect the results.

LAHORE: PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif giving away laptop to a student duringlaptop distribution cermeony. Zakia Shahnawaz, Advisor to Chief Minister is also present.

LAHORE: Ali Akbar Walayati Advisor to Iranian supreme leader offering Fateha for the soul of Abbas Sharif, brother ofChief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

Punjab-wideRescue 1122

networkMUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—With formal start ofRescue 1122 Services in DistrictChiniot, the Punjab EmergencyService (Rescue 1122) has com-pleted expansion to all Districtsof Punjab.

In Chiniot, Rescue Servicewas formally inaugurated by Di-rector General Punjab Emer-gency Service (Rescue 1122) Dr.Rizwan Naseer and MoulanaIlyas Chinioti, MPA here at Res-cue Station Tehsil Chowk,Sargodha Road, Chiniot.

Rescue 1122 Service wasstarted from Lahore as a smallpilot project of emergency am-bulance service in 2004. Expan-sion of the service was approvedto other districts of Punjab afterits third party evaluation as ex-emplary service in terms oftraining.

Medicaluniversities can

have non-medical faculty

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The Higher Educa-tion Commission (HEC) has al-lowed medical universities ofthe country to have non-medi-cal PhD faculty to supervisemedical PhD candidates.

In a letter written to the Uni-versity of Health Sciences(UHS), the Quality AssuranceDepartment of HEC has clari-fied that candidates having non-PhD degree can be appointed asresearch scientist in medicaluniversities.

It has also been notified thatcandidates having degree otherthan PhD as prescribed in theHEC criteria for appointment ofProfessor in Medical Sciences(Clinical Sciences) such as MD/MS/FCPS/MDS/PhD/MPhil(Old Courses of 4-years)/ Mem-bership of Royal College UK/Diplomat of American Board orequivalent international terminalqualifications can only be ap-pointed as a co-supervisor butonly in medical universities topromote research in relevant dis-ciplines.

Workshop onbehavioural

sciences at UHSMUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Experts have calledfor equipping the medial stu-dents with essential knowledgeand skills from the behaviouralsciences so that they could ‘rec-ognize, understand and effec-tively respond to patients as in-dividuals, not just to their symp-toms’.

In a workshop held here atthe University of Health Sci-ences (UHS) on Friday, notedpsychiatrist and varsity’s chair-man academic committee, Prof.M.H. Mubbashar said that psy-chological, social, biologicaland behavioural factors had beenshown to influence disease riskand illness recurrence.

He was of the view that suchmind-body interactions andbehavioural influences on healthand disease were important con-cepts to which medical studentsshould be exposed.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Laptop distributionceremony among students ofUniversity of Education heldhere in Alhamra Cultural Com-plex in which 2345 laptops wereawarded to students of ten cam-puses and all divisions. MemberNational Assembly (MNA)Hamza Shahbaz Sharif was achief guest on this occasion.

While addressing the cer-emony, Vice Chancellor Univer-sity of Education Dr. Faiz ulHasan said that educational re-forms and services being pro-vided to educational sector byChief Minister Mian ShahbazSharif are not hidden from any-one. We pay our gratitude to en-couragement of merit as a resultof which students are getting fruitof their hard work. Moreover healso paid tribute on providingsuperior educational and researchenvironment to students and the

University of Educationstudents get laptops

steps being taken to make the stu-dents active members of the so-ciety.

Vice Chancellor also advisedthe students to carry on thehardwork and play their role inmaking the university and ourcountry progress by leaps andbounds. He also thanked the chiefguest and all those who werepresent in the ceremony and saidthat University of Educationstands on a unique positionamong all the universities in Pa-kistan and it will leave no stoneunturned to continue the curricu-lar and extra-curricular activities.

The stage was decorated withPakistani flag and colorful bun-tings whereas guard of honor wasalso presented along with na-tional songs. Awarded students

welcomed the step of laptop dis-tribution by Government of thePunjab and paid their gratitudeon encouragement of merit. Ad-visor higher education to ChiefMinister and MPA ZaeemHussain Qadri, MPA Haji AllahRakha, MPA Ijaz Ahmed Khan,Registrar Bashir Ahmad Ch.,Principals, Directors and studentsfrom all campuses and divisionswere present in the ceremony.

Chief Guest, MNA HamzaShahbaz SharifS said that stu-dents must concentrate on theirstudies according to the modernneeds.

He said that students shouldplay a leading role through cour-age and strength. He also said thatwe should be ready to sacrificefor our nation.

HRCP demandsearly recovery of

abducteesSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The Human RightsCommission of Pakistan (HRCP)has condemned Thursday’s ab-duction from Karachi of fourvolunteers working with an NGOand called upon the governmentto act swiftly to secure their re-lease.

In a statement issued on Fri-day, the Commission said: “HRCPstrongly condemns the abductionfrom Maripur, Karachi, of fourNGO workers and is extremelyconcerned about their safety, andindeed the safety of all humanrights defenders who had alwaysoperated in difficult circumstancesin Pakistan but who face eventougher challenges today across thecountry. The four volunteers, alongwith two women doctors, were partof a mobile dispensary offeringmedical services to fishermen atMaripur. The abductors had left thetwo women behind when they tookthe men away.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—On the orders ofOmbudsman Punjab, a sum offour lakh rupees has been paidto the heirs of a Rescue 1122employee who died on the firstday of joining.

According to details, a resi-dent of Sheikhupura MushtaqAhmed submitted an applicationto Ombudsman Punjab that hisson Adil Mushtaq died duringtraining on the first day of em-ployment in Rescue 1122 but theadministration of Rescue 1122is not ready to accept him as theregular employee of the depart-ment and had refused to pay the

Ombudsman provides reliefto heirs of a rescuer

dues. Ombudsman Punjab di-rected Consultant OmbudsmanOffice Wazir Ahmad Qureshi toprobe the matter.

The officers of Rescue 1122took the stance before WazirAhmad Qureshi that any em-ployee of Rescue 1122 is con-sidered the regular employeeonly after successful completionof training and is paid his dues.Wazir Ahmad Qureshi orderedRescue 1122 to give salary ofone day to the deceased AdilMushtaq for the day of his train-ing.

After the payment of oneday salary by the Rescue 1122,Wazir Ahmad Qureshi gave the

decision as Rescue 1122 hadaccepted that deceased em-ployee was a regular govern-ment servant by payment of oneday’s salary, therefore, the heirsof the deceased have the rightof financial assistance as is ad-missible to the government ser-vants and trainee officials willalso be considered as govern-ment servants.

In the light of decision ofWazir Ahmad Qureshi, Om-budsman Punjab ordered imme-diate payment of four lakh ru-pees to the heirs of deceasedAdil Mushtaq and his fatherMushtaq Ahmed was given thecheque for the said amount.

Shahbaz for cementingall-round ties with Iran

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Punjab Chief Min-ister Muhammad ShahbazSharif has said that Pakistan andIran enjoy a strong bond of loveand affection. He said Iran is asincere and reliable friend ofPakistan, while there is a needfor further promoting economic,trade and industrial ties betweenthe two countries.

He said Muhammad NawazSharif played a very importantrole as prime minister instrengthening relations withIran. He said that time has comefor Pakistan and Iran to moveforward together in economic,trade, industrial and agriculturesectors. He said Iran is an im-portant country of the region andhas to play an active role in es-tablishment of peace in the re-gion.

He expressed these viewswhile talking to Advisor to Su-preme Leader of Iran, Ali AkbarWalaiti who met the Chief Min-ister accompanied by a 14-mem-ber delegation at Model Town,today. Matters of mutual inter-est and bilateral relations werediscussed in the meeting.

Senior Advisor SenatorSardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa,Provincial Minister for LawRana Sana Ullah Khan, SpecialAssistant Zaeem Hussain Qadri,Chairman Planning & Develop-ment, Chief Executive OfficerPunjab Investment Board andIranian Consul GeneralMuhammad Hussain Bani Asadiwere also present. Talking on theoccasion, the Chief Minister saidthat role of Ali Akbar Walaiti asIranian foreign minister hasbeen laudable in bringing theIslamic countries closer besidesstrengthening Pak-Iran rela-tions.

He said the offer of Iran toprovide assistance to Pakistan toovercome energy crisis is a goodomen. He said had federal gov-ernment seriously worked on

energy crisis, Pakistan wouldnot have been facing darkness.

He said due toloadshedding, industrial and ag-ricultural sectors of Pakistan aregetting negatively impacted. Hesaid the federal government hasnot adopted any concrete policyduring five years to overcomeenergy shortage. He said com-bating energy crisis is a big chal-lenge while Punjab being a bigprovince, is being more im-pacted by the loadshedding. Hesaid Punjab government hasmade planning to overcome en-ergy crisis through its own re-sources, whereas work on vari-ous development projects forgeneration of energy from wa-ter, coal and solar power is be-ing carried out expeditiously.

He said Punjab governmenthas initiated a unique and revo-lutionary Ujala programme toprovide relief to the students fac-ing loadshedding, under whichbrilliant students studying atgovernment educational institu-tions are being given free of costsolar panels.

He said the talented students

would be enabled through solarpanels to continue their aca-demic activities duringloadshedding, along with keep-ing their houses bright.

He said Punjab governmentis spending a hefty amount oftwo billion 50 crore rupees onUjala programme under whichmore than two lakh solar panelswould be distributed among stu-dents purely on merit. He said amodern slaughter house hasbeen established in Lahore, withthe cooperation of Iran, whichwill increase the export of Halalmeat in accordance with hy-gienic principles, while Punjabgovernment would also set upmodern slaughter houses inother cities of Punjab. He saidPunjab government has expedi-tiously completed metro busproject to provide modern andaffordable traveling facilities tothe common man which is be-ing inaugurated on February 10.He said this project is not onlyfor Lahore but for whole Paki-stan and would bring aboutrevolutionary changes in trans-port sector.

Talking on the occasion,Advisor to Supreme Leader ofIran Ali Akbar Walaiti said thatthe relations between Pakistanand Iran were extremely strongduring the rule of MuhammadNawaz Sharif who played animportant role in cementingmutual ties. He said the manage-ment and efforts of Chief Min-ister Muhammad ShahbazSharif for the welfare, progressand development of the peopleare highly laudable.

He prayed that whole Pa-kistan should progress aspeople of Punjab have pro-gressed under MuhammadShahbaz Sharif. He said Punjabis the heart of Pakistan, whichis progressing under the lead-ership of Muhammad ShahbazSharif. He said gas pipelineagreement is an important de-velopment, through which theties between both the countrieswill be further strengthened. AliAkbar Walaiti stressed the needfor further promoting Pakistan-Iran relations in economic,trade, industrial and agriculturesectors.