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Transcript of E-paper Pakistantoday 17th April, 2013
Wednesday, 17 April, 2013 Jamadul Sani 6, 1434Rs 17.00 Vol III No 290 19 Pages ILahore Edition
Musharraf pulled out fromelection raceFormer president Gen (r) Pervez
Musharraf, who had returned to
Pakistan after years of self-imposed
exile to contest the May 11 polls, has
been thrown out of the election race.
The former military strongman’s
nomination papers were rejected on
Tuesday from NA-32 Chitral, after
him being earlier disqualified from
three other constituencies. PAGE 02
CJP takes suo motunotice of funds doledout by former PMChief Justice of Pakistan Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took
suo motu notice of funds doled out
by former PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf
10 days after having completed his
tenure. The notice was taken on a
note by the SC registrar based on
press clipping containing details
that Ashraf doled out billions of
rupees in form of development
funds after having completed his
mandated tenure. PAGE 02
Massive manhuntlaunched forBoston bombersUS investigators stepped up a massivemanhunt Tuesday for attackers whodevastated the Boston Marathon withtwo bombs that killed three people andwounded more than 140, many leftwith horrific injuries. Boston’s BoylstonStreet, scene of the marathon finishline carnage on Monday, remainedsealed off as investigators soughtleads in the worst bomb attack in theUnited States since the September11, 2001 atrocities. PAGE 07
STORY ON PAGE 03
STORY ON PAGE 02 STORY ON PAGE 03
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NWednesday, 17 April, 2013
02
NEWS
Disqualification of former prime
ministers will not affect Pakistan People’s
Party. — Senator Farooq Naek
CJP takes suoMotu NotiCe offuNds doLed outby forMer PMISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan
Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took
suo motu notice of funds doled out by
former PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf 10 days
after having completed his tenure. The
notice was taken on a note by the SC
registrar based on press clipping containing
details that Ashraf doled out billions of
rupees in form of development funds after
having completed his mandated tenure. It
was stated that the beneficiaries included
sons of former prime minister Yousaf Raza
Gilani, namely Ali Musa Gilani and Abdul
Qadir Gilani. Besides, Yousaf Raza Gilani
also got Rs 25 million from Ashraf after
ineligibility from premiership. Per report,
Moonis Elahi received Rs 50 million in form
of development fund, Chaudhry Shujaat
Hussain, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and
Wajahat Hussain also received Rs one
billion in form of development fund. It was
reported that Sheikh Waqas Akram got Rs
30 million, whereas the Shirazi family of
Sindh received Rs 100 million in funds. The
report claimed that official documents
revealed that around Rs 2.5 billion were
transferred by Ashraf for his own
constituency. The news report mentioned
names of 69 politicians in all who drew
billions of rupees in the form of
development fund. Notices have been
served on the cabinet and finance
secretaries to appear and explain if the
funds belonging to the public exchequer
had been allocated in accordance with
the constitution and law. The matter has
been fixed for hearing today
(Wednesday). STAFF REPORT
biLawaL warNsof surPrisePoLLs’ resuLtsKARACHI:
Pakistan
People’s Party
Chairman
Bilawal
Bhutto
Zardari has
said he
would start
his party
election
campaign from
April 20. In an address
to party workers from Lahore, Multan,
Quetta and Larkana via video link on
Tuesday, Bilawal warned PPP opponents
that the party would give ‘surprising results’
in the upcoming general elections. He said
those who thought the PPP was out of the
election race lived in a fools’ paradise.
Bilawal said the PPP did not do any political
witch hunt during its tenure, adding that
there were no political prisoners during its
rule. He also demanded the caretaker
government provide security to PPP’s
election candidates. ONLINE
QUETTASTAFF REPORT
Amajor earthquake centredon the border area of Pak-istan and Iran killed at least34 people on the Pakistaniside, destroyed hundreds of
houses and shook buildings as far away asIndia and Gulf Arab states on Tuesday.
The US Geological Survey said the 7.8magnitude quake hit at 10:44 GMT at adepth of 15.2 km. The epicentre was insoutheast Iran in an area of mountains anddesert. It was located 201 km southeast ofthe Iranian city of Zahedan and 250 kmnorthwest of Turbat in Pakistan, the USGSsaid.
More than 100 people were injured inthe Panjgur and Mashkeel areas ofBalochistan, while around 50 people sus-tained injuries in Karachi in incidents ofroof collapse. Over 1,000 houses were par-tially damaged in Balochistan.
Three women and two children werealso killed when their mud house collapsedin the Panjgur. “The earthquake has killedat least five people in Panjgur,” said AliImran, an official at the government disas-
ter-response unit in Quetta.Tremors were felt in Karachi, Hyder-
abad, Lahore, Larkana, Jacobabad, Quettaand other cities which created panicamongst people. The earthquake was alsofelt in Rahim Yar Khan, Serai Desert,Faisalabad and Shahdadkot. In areas nearMultan and DI Khan the tremors were feltfor around ten seconds, panicking citizens.
Buildings in Karachi were im-mediately evacuated after thetremors were felt.
“We immediatelyvacated the buildingas soon as ourdesks and otherfurniture beganshaking,” Irfan,a Karachi resi-dent said,adding thatmost people re-fused to go in-side thebuildings antici-pating aftershocks.
According to MetOffice sources, the in-tensity of the earthquake
was 5.4 magni-tude in Balochis-tan, however,some other geolog-
ical sources said thatthe intensity was
recorded at 6.4 magni-tude.
Strong tremors alsoshook buildings in India’s capi-
tal New Delhi.Iran appeared to have emerged rela-
tively unscathed. Experts said the depth wasthe likely reason for the relatively low levelof damage from a 7.8 magnitude quake.
The Iranian city of Saravan, which liesnear the centre of a 7.8 magnitude earth-quake which hit the country on Tuesday, hasnot seen serious damage, the Fars newsagency said.
Quake kills 34, leaveshundreds homeless
The US GeologicalSurvey said the 7.8 magnitude
quake hit at 10:44 GMT at a depthof 15.2 km. The epicentre was in
southeast Iran in an area of mountainsand desert. It was located 201 kmsoutheast of the Iranian city of Za-
hedan and 250 km northwestof Turbat in Pakistan
PESHAWAR/ISLAMABADSTAFF REPORT
Former president Gen (r) PervezMusharraf, who had returned to Pak-istan after years of self-imposed exileto contest the May 11 polls, has beenthrown out of the election race.
The former military strongman’snomination papers were rejected onTuesday from NA-32 Chitral, afterhim being earlier disqualified fromthree other constituencies. Appealsagainst the acceptance of PervezMusharraf’s nomination papers for
NA-32 (Chitral) were approved bythe Election Tribunal in Peshawar.
Musharraf’s lawyer said theywould contest the decision in a highcourt.
Earlier in the day, an election tri-bunal had decided against an appealfiled by Musharraf challenging the re-turning officer’s rejection of his nom-ination papers for NA-48(Islamabad-I).
The returning officer had rejectedMusharraf’s nomination after objec-tions, saying the retired general hadsubverted the constitution as the army
chief and had illegally placed judgesunder house arrest.
Musharraf’s appeal for NA-139(Kasur-II) was also rejected by anelection tribunal in Lahore. The tribu-nal said the former president had ab-rogated the constitution thrice andtherefore, did not qualify to contestthe coming general election.
An election tribunal inRawalpindi also rejected Musharraf’snomination papers on Tuesday.
The nomination papers of PervezMusharraf for NA-250 (Karachi)have already been rejected.
Musharraf pulled outfrom election race
PML-N will changecountry’s destinyafter coming intopower: Nawaz
HAFIZABADNNI
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chiefNawaz Sharif on Monday said that if his partyreturns to power‚ it will put the country on thepath to progress and prosperity and will providejobs to the unemployed youth. Addressing apublic meeting in Hafizabad on Tuesdayafternoon‚ he said prosperity was his party’s goaland he was determined to achieve the goal.Nawaz Sharif said PML-N would change thedestiny of the country after coming into power.He said war would be waged against poverty‚price hike and corruption. Nawaz Sharif said theenthusiasm of the people of Hafizabad, “likealways, is unmatchable”. “Voters will holdaccountability of the plunderers on May11,” hesaid. Nawaz said Pakistan attained prosperityduring the tenure of PML-N government and thePakistan flag enjoyed respect in the world.“Today Pakistan is drowned in darkness due toload shedding and corruption”, he said. He urgedthe masses to support PML-N in order to bringPakistan out of darkness and into light, and torestore Pakistan’s respect in the world. Nawazpromised the youth that they would be providedjobs and opportunities for business. Hecondemned the killing of the son and brother ofPML-N Balochistan President Zahri. He said thepeople will hold all those accountable on May 11who had deprived them of electricity and gas. Hesaid the respect of the country would be restoredin the comity of the nations. Nawaz Sharif saidhis party will steer the country out of theongoing crisis. He said that the problems beingfaced by the people of the area would also beresolved on a priority basis.
KARACHI: Severe tremors forced people to rush out of
their offices after a massive earthquake struck
Balochistan on Tuesday. ONLINE
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NEWS N
03
Wednesday, 17 April, 2013
If disqualification is to be carried out merely on the basis of
allegations then it will not be possible to find a single
candidate to contest the elections. — Qamar Zaman Kaira
seNators exPressCoNCerN overCaNdidates’ seCurity
ISLAMABADSTAFF REPORT
The Senate on Tuesday expressed concern thatthe Taliban might attack political parties andkeeping in view the threats, the governmentshould provide foolproof security to candidatesand ensure safety of voters as well. PPP SenatorMian Raza Rabbani said if somebody wanted topostpone election by hurling threats, he wasliving in a fools’ paradise. He said the securityof former ministers had been drawn back, but itwas being provided to Pervez Musharraf. Thegovernment should end such double standards.He said three big political parties having liberalthoughts, including the PPP, ANP and MQM,were facing challenges from terrorists.“Candidates form these parties are under firefrom terrorists and ECP scrutiny.” Rabbani saidthe country could not afford a delay in electioneven for an hour. “The Tehreek-e-TalibanPakistan is issuing statements openly but nopolitical party condemns the group.” CaretakerInterior Minister Haji Habib said the he wouldraise the issue in the cabinet meeting and allcandidates would be provided appropriatesecurity and holding of timely election would beensured. ANP’s Senator Haji Adeel said thecountry was passing through a difficult time andpeople were horrified due to terrorism incidentson a daily basis. He said coming electionswould be the first ever in the history of thecountry in which no political party could holdlarge public meeting. He said the turnout ofwomen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained low,whereas in the prevailing circumstances, theycan not cast their votes. Adeel said the conditionwas getting worse in all provinces exceptPunjab. MQM’s Nasreen Jalil said the role ofthe Rangers in Karachi was not appreciable andthe personnel barged into houses during searchoperations. “The workers of MQM are beingtargeted for the last two years.” Senator ZahidKhan said the ANP was not in favour of pushingany political party to the wall. Over 750 workersand leaders have been killed in sabotage activities,he added. JUP’s Haji Ghulam Ali said the peopleof KP were facing many problems in getting theirnational identity cards made and the issue shouldbe resolved on priority basis before elections.
four soldiers
killed, nine
injured in clashes
with militants
PESHAWAR: Four soldierswere killed and nine lawenforcement officials injured infierce clashes with militants inseparate incidents on Tuesday.According to details, a bombattack on a security forces convoyprotecting the Frontier WorksOrganisations’ (FWO) staff inSaidgai area of North WaziristanAgency left at least four securitypersonnel dead and five othersinjured. Official said that thesecurity forces’ vehicles weretargeted near Dorduni area ofSaidgai in Ghulam Khan tehsil ofNorth Waziristan Agency with aroadside improvised explosivedevice (IED). Furthermore, fivesecurity personnel were injured inclashes between security forcesand militants in the Akka Khelarea of Bara in Khyber Agency. TANK ATTACK: Separatelyin Tank, at least two suspectedmilitants were killed and fourpolicemen injured in a clashon Tuesday morning. Tankconnects the Waziristan tribalbelt with Dera Ismail Khan.Police officials said a group ofmilitants attacked a policeparty near the office of SouthWaziristan politicaladministration in Tank. As aresult of indiscriminatefiring, four policemensustained serious injuries.The officials said securityforces retaliated and shotdead two suspected militants,while the remaining managedto escape. STAFF REPORT
PESHAWAR/QUETTASHAMIM SHAHID/SHAHZADA ZULFIQAR
MILITANT attackson aspiring lawmak-ers across the coun-try continued onTuesday, as 20 more
people linked with election activitiesone way or the other lost their lives invarious attacks.
Tuesday’s deadliest attack came inPeshawar, where 16 people were killedand over 40 injured in a suicide bomb-ing targeted at Awami National Party(ANP) leaders Ghulam Bilour and hisnephew Haroon Bilour as they arrivedto participate in an election meeting inthe Yakatoot area of the provincialcapital. The Tehreek-e-TalibanPakistan have claimed re-sponsibility for the attack.
The dead includedYakatoot Police SHOAbidur Rahman, Assis-tant Sub-InspectorHussain Shah and twoconstables. Bilour, aformer federal minis-ter for railways, was
among the injured, but his conditionwas stated to be out of danger.
Witnesses and police officialssaid a suicide bomber blew himselfup near the bulletproof SUV of Ha-roon Bilour, son of the assassinatedANP leader Bashir Bilour, when hearrived to attend a public meeting.The vehicle was badly damaged, butHaroon escaped unhurt.
Other people injured, includingchildren and policemen, were rushed tohospitals for medical treatment.
Bomb Disposal Squad AdditionalInspector General Shafqat Malik saidthe attack was carried out by a suicidebomber using five to six kilogrammesof explosives. ANP BLAMES ECP FOR ATTACK:
Talking to reporters at the Lady readingHospital, Bilour said it was time for theinterim government and security estab-lishment to decide on whose side theywere on. “They should decide who willlive in KP...us or the militants. No mat-ter how many times the militants attackus, they will not be able to break our re-
solve,” a resolute Bilour said,adding that the govern-
ment had taken awaytheir security,
making themprone to terror-ist attacks.
A N Pchief Asfand-yar WaliKhan said thecaretaker gov-
ernment andElection Com-
mission of Pak-istan were
responsible for the at-tacks on his party companions,
as they had withdrawn securityfor ANP leaders who were regu-lar targets of terrorists.
He demanded the ECP andsenior provincial police officialsbe booked in the FIR for the at-tack, alleging that the intention
of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa care-taker government was not clear. “Iwrote to the ECP and the caretakerCM regarding security concernsfor our party leaders but they havestill not responded to me letter,”he said.
“We are ready to make moresacrifices but the elections shouldnot be delayed...the law and orders i t u a t i o nwill worsenif the elec-tions are de-layed,” hewarned.
A N P ’ sformer in-f o r m a t i o nm i n i s t e rM i a nI f t i k h a rHussain saide l e c t i o n sshould notbe delayed even for a second, as doingso would mean succumbing to the tac-tics of anti-democracy forces.ZEHRI’S CONVOY ATTACKED:
Another four deaths came in Quettawhen a bomb targeted a convoy of Pak-istan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)Balochistan President Sardar SanaullahZehri, killing his son, brother, nephewand a bodyguard. Several people werereportedly injured in the attack as well.The blast took place in the Anjira areaof Zehri tehsil of Khuzdar district.However, Zehri remained unharmed inthe blast.NAWAZ CONDEMNS: Reacting tothe attack on his party’s Balochistanpresident, PML-N President NawazSharif said: “Now that the process ofelections has been conducted and elec-toral schedule has been announced,such acts seem to be a conspiracy to de-rail the process.”
Nawaz said that anti-state elementsand “those fearing defeat in elections”are conspiring to derail the process. PPP CANDIDATE TARGETED: An-
other attackwas reportedin the Gulba-har area ofP e s h a w a rearlier in theday whenunidentifiedm i l i t a n t shurled a handgrenade atthe house of
PPP candidate for NA-1, ZulfiqarAfghani.
No casualties were reported as thegrenade exploded on the roof of thehouse. Police personnel and ZulfiqarAfghani said the bomb exploded on thethird floor of the house, creating panicin the area. No damage to life or prop-erty was reported.
“It’s a cowardly act to sabotage theelections. Earlier, ANP leaders havebeen targeted and now the terroristshave started targeting us,” Afghanisaid. “I have no enmity and have nevereven carried a weapon in my life, soit’s very clear that whoever is targetingpolitical workers wants to derail thedemocratic process. But we will not beafraid,” he added.CABINET MEETING: MeanwhilePrime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khosohas summoned a meeting of the federalcabinet to take into account the wors-ening law and order situation in thecountry as caretaker Interior MinisterMalik Habib has ordered more securityfor leaders of the ANP.
At leAst 20 killed AsANP rAlly, PMl-NcoNvoy boMbed iNPeshAwAr, QuettA
WE ARE READY TO MAKEMORE SACRIFICES BUT THEELECTIONS SHOULD NOT BEDELAYED...THE LAW ANDORDER SITUATION WILLWORSEN IF THE ELECTIONSARE DELAYED
THOSE FEARINGDEFEAT INELECTIONS ARECONSPIRING TODERAIL THEPROCESS BYSUCH ATTACKS
More deaths as eLeCtioNs Near
ISB 17-04-2013_Layout 1 4/17/2013 6:05 AM Page 3
NEWSN
04
Wednesday, 17 April, 2013
PML-N announcescandidates for 13Na constituencies LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-
Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday announced
candidates for 13 National Assembly
constituencies while the candidates for
provincial assembly seats would be
announced on Wednesday. The candidates
for the National Assembly and their
constituencies are: Malik Riaz for NA-18,
Hamza Shahbaz for NA-119, Nawaz Sharif
for NA-120, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for NA-122,
Malik Pervaiz for NA-123, Saad Rafique for
NA-125, Ahmad Hasan for NA-126, Afzal
Khokar for NA-128 and Shahbaz Sharif for
NA-129. Decisions on NA-130, NA-127 and
NA-124 are still pending. STAFF REPORT
PML-Q bringsforward candidatesfor 13 Na, 25 Pa seatsLAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-
Quaid (PML-Q) on Tuesday announced the
names of final candidates for 13 National
Assembly and 25 provincial assembly
constituencies. According to a press release
issued on Tuesday, PML-Q President Senator
Chaudhary Shujat Hussain announced the
names of party’s final candidates for
another 13 constituencies of the National
Assembly after seat adjustment with the
Peoples Party, while candidates from
remaining NA constituencies will be
named shortly. STAFF REPORT
red Cross chiefcriticises us droneuse in PakistanGENEVA: Red Cross chief Peter Maurer on
Tuesday condemned US drone strikes
outside areas officially engulfed in armed
conflict, warning against a creeping
expansion of the definition of what
constitutes a battlefield. Washington’s
secretive and controversial use of drones
was not a problem in itself, said Maurer,
as in the context of an armed conflict
drones are considered legitimate
weapons. “But if a drone is used in a
country where there is no armed conflict…
there is a problem,” the head of the
International Committee of the Red Cross
told reporters in Geneva, urging the “very
restrained use” of the weapon. AGENCIES
Polio workers
attacked in 2 cities KARACHI/KHANEWAL: Anti-polio
vaccinators on Tuesday faced dual assailant
in two different parts of the country.
According to details, a polio vaccination
team was beaten up in Kabirwala town of
Khanewal. Sources said that unidentified
men beat up lady workers. They were
identified as Sorayya and Tasleem. An anti-
polio vaccination team was attacked in
Karachi’s Baldia town. According to the
police, the polio team entered Sector 8 of
the Baldia Town when assailants opened
fire on them, adding that no injuries were
reported as polio workers resisted the
attack. SSP Asif Sheikh said that they had
arrested four workers including a woman
involved in the attack. The police also said
that the polio campaign had been
suspended until tomorrow. ONLINE
tauqir sadiqreleased on bailDUBAI: The bail of former OGRA chairman
Tauqir Sadiq was approved on Tuesday and
he was released from the Abu Dhabi prison.
The next hearing of the case will be held on
April 20 and as part of his bail, Sadiq has
submitted his passport to the court and
been barred from leaving the UAE.
According to sources, the family of the
former OGRA chairman has also arrived in
UAE. Tauqir Sadiq is allegedly involved in
the Rs 82 billion corruption case. AGENCIES
KARACHIISMAIL DILAWAR
rEITERATING the interim govern-ment’s commitment to hold trans-parent and timely elections, FederalInformation Minister Arif Nizami
said the caretaker regime was striving to im-prove law and order in Karachi, Balochistanand Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through boostingthe country’s intelligence network.
He said further the government haddecided to increase advertisement quotaof the Press Information Department(PID) from 25 percent to 50 percent.
The minister said this while addressingjournalists at a luncheon he hosted in theirhonour at a hotel. Flanked by APNS Pres-ident Sarmad Ali and Federal InformationSecretary Agha Nadeem, Nizami expressedconcern over the recent terrorist attacks on
the candidates of secular political partiessuch as the PPP, ANP and MQM.
The information minister said his gov-ernment, having entered into 3rd phase ofthe election process, was fully alive to theconcerns of those political parties bravingterrorist attacks during election campaign.
He said all organs of the government,the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)and security agencies were on the samepage in their efforts to improve security sit-uation for elections. The federal ministersaid focus of the government’s securitymeasures was the politicians and the votersalike. “It, however, is not an easy job to do,but a daunting task for the interim govern-ment,” Nizami added. The minister said hewas also engaged with the interior ministerto make hassle-free visa issuance process toforeign journalists who are likely to visitPakistan to cover the upcoming polls.
He also urged the implementation ofECP’s election code of ethics for mediathat had a key role in the May 11 polls.Nizami said in a recent meeting at thePakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA)he had proposed to merge all the codes ofconduct for the print and electronic mediafor further improvement. These codes, theminister clarified, were never aimed at re-straining the freedom of media.
“We are here in this setup only as facil-itators,” he maintained. Referring to ECP’srecent banning of the election candidates towoe the voters in the name of religion, sectand ethnicity, the information ministerstressed upon the journalists, mostly fromprint media, to be mindful of the commis-sion’s order in their publications.
While Nizami vowed to make “revolu-tionary changes” in the distribution patternof government’s advertisements among the
newspapers, Federal Information SecretaryAgha Nadeem said the government and AllPakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) hasagreed to increase the advertisement quotaof the PID to 50 percent. He hoped that thiswould make a difference.
The federal minister said efforts wereunderway to keep only genuine newspapersin the government’s centralized list for ad-vertisements. To a question, Nadeem saidthe 8th Wage Board Award would be imple-mented within next 10 to 15 days as thelegal hitches the journalist-friendly awardwas facing had been removed.
To a question, Nizami said that thegovernment had taken a serious notice ofthe problems being faced by certain news-papers after publishing the news aboutsome banned organisations. “It is a seriousmatter and the government has taken a se-rious note of it,” Nizami said.
LAHORENADEEM SYED
The significance of the monumental forth-coming general elections has increased man-ifold as several sectarian parties are intent ontrying their luck in elections as a large num-ber of their candidates have already cruisedthrough the security phase, and are ready tocontest polls from various national andprovincial assembly constituencies.
As per information gathered from reli-gious parties and sources within the Elec-tion Commission of Pakistan (ECP), asmany as 62 candidates belonging to sectar-ian parties have joined the run-up to thegeneral elections. From among these sec-tarian groups, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat,formerly Sipah-e-Sahaba, is so far leadingthe show with utter ease in Punjab province.Experts believe that the party has stole theshow mainly due to the reason that it isbeing patronised by Malik Ishaq and led byMaulana Ahmad Ludhianvis, who himselfwill be contesting the upcoming polls.
It has been reliably learnt by PakistanToday that the above mentioned party hasawarded tickets to exactly 150 candidates be-longing to various constituencies, but on the
other hand, some two dozen candidates be-longing to the party have moon walked theirway out of the scrutiny phase. It is pertinentto mention here that Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaathas also remained in the past the true-blueally of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML-N) on the provincial level, but the for-mer ruling party has publicly denied any in-volvement with the mentioned sectariangroup after such groups picked up heat withthe law enforcing agencies after the rise ofsectarian onslaught in the country. Followingthe Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat on the meander-ing path leading towards the corridors ofpower, are other sectarian parties that havebeen taking keen interest in the fast ap-proaching elections. Some of these partiesare as follows: Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Tehreek-
ul-Mujahidin and Muttahida Deeni Mehazled by Jamiat Ulema Islam-Samiul Haq chiefMaulana Samiul Haq. These sectariangroups are expected to dance towards victoryon some important provincial seats as theyhave pockets of influence in vast areas of thePunjab province, especially southern Punjab,including Faisalabad, Jhang, Dera GhaziKhan, Layyah, Khushab and Muzaffargarh.Historically, all the above mentioned sectar-ian groups have always taken part in elec-tions but they have ever having been able tocreate a presence in the parliament. This timethough the scenario will be very different asthe leaders from these parties think that withanti-US sentiments running high among thegeneral populace they are well placed to stealthe limelight at the hustings.
ttP on bostonbombings: itwasn’t us!
MIRANSHAHAGENCIES
The Pakistani Taliban, which claimed the2010 Times Square bomb plot, onTuesday denied anything to do withexplosions that killed three people andwounded more than 100 in Boston. “Webelieve in attacking US and its allies butwe are not involved in this attack,”Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said. “Wehave no connection to this bombing butwe will continue to target them whereverpossible,” Ehsan added. Monday’sexplosions at the Boston Marathon, oneof America’s top sporting events, forcedcities from New York to Los Angeles togo on high alert and conjured upmemories of the September 11, 2001attacks. An Internet video purportedlyfrom the TTP claimed responsibility fora car bomb attempt in New York’s TimesSquare on May 1, 2010, for whichPakistani-American Faisal Shahzad wasjailed for life. A TTP spokesman laterdenied that the faction had trained orrecruited Shahzad. Shahzad said duringhis trial that he received bomb-makingtraining during a 40-day stay with thePakistani Taliban, but that on his returnto the United States he planned thebombing and acted alone. He was alsoshown in a video embracingHakeemullah Mehsud, commander ofthe TTP, who has vowed to attack majorUS cities. The TTP is based in Pakistan’snorthwestern tribal belt on the Afghanborder and has been blamed for some ofthe deadliest suicide attacks in Pakistan.US President Barack Obama says it isnot yet clear who was behind the blasts.He said the perpetrators would pay. Hedid not utter the word “terror”.
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Former president Pervez Musharraf’sdictatorial regime and the corrupt PPPgovernment have pushed Pakistan backdecades, former Punjab chief ministerShahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday.
“The extremely difficult times thatPakistan is facing now requires that thePML-N come in power and that too witha majority,” Shahbaz said, adding that in1998, when Nawaz Sharif had won bytwo-thirds majority, the PML-N govern-ment had carried out nuclear explosions.
“Now the party will ensure massivegrowth in Pakistan’s economy to bring
prosperity back to Pakistan.”Addressing PML-N workers at the
party’s secretariat, Shahbaz said the PPPgovernment had destroyed all national in-
stitutions. “Steel Mills, PIA and Railwayare a few examples. Even worse is the factthat NAB and other institutions that holdthese people accountability and checkcorruption, have been transformed intobodies that protect these governments.”
The former Punjab chief minister saidthe PPP was using the tax payers’ moneyit had amassed while in power on extrav-agant election campaign. He assured thepeople that all these efforts will go in vain.
“Had Zardari and Co not shame-lessly looted the national exchequer,Pakistan would not have been facing thedarkness of load shedding. In the comingelections, these unable rulers will have tobe answerable to the people of Pakistan.”
Govt boosting intelligence net toensure peaceful polls: Nizami
‘Musharraf, PPP pushed country decades back’
Sectarian parties in South Punjab all set to tango62 cANdidAtes froMvArious sectAriAN grouPsget PAst the scrutiNy toeNter the electioN frAy
CHAMAN: An anti-polio workeradministers the vaccine to achild at the Civil Hospital as thegovernment began a three-daypolio campaign in the provinceon Tuesday. INP
The Awami National Party will not seek
a delay in elections. The interim
government should hold the polls on
time. —ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain
ISB 17-04-2013_Layout 1 4/17/2013 6:05 AM Page 4
LAHOREWednesday, 17 April, 2013
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05
LThe one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority,
or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds,
by force or fraud, in carrying elections. –Lord Acton
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
PUNJAB Inspector General(IG) Aftab Sultan has saidthat 97,000 police personnelwill be recruited for threedays for holding free and
fair election and law and order.Addressing a press conference at his
office on Tuesday, Sultan said that eightpersonnel would be appointed for everyA-category sensitive polling station whilefour would be arranged for others.
He said that free and fair election wasthe top priority of Punjab Police and thedepartment would ensure fullimplementation of the code of conduct ofthe Election Commission of Pakistan.
He also asked the media to highlightviolation of the code of conductanywhere, adding that police would takestrict action against it.
He told the media all national leadersand political party heads faced threats.“Providing security to the top leadershipof the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz,Pakistan People’s Party, and Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf as well as other politicalparties is our utmost priority,” he added.
To a question he said unnecessarysecurity had been withdrawn from theSharif brothers and more security wouldbe provided or removed, if needed.
Sultan added that any kind of politicalpressure during elections would not betolerated and all newly appointed regionalpolice officers and district police officers
had been directed in this regard.The IGP told the media that eight
out of nine RPOs and more than 50percent DPOs were newly promotedwho were not given any chance beforeit and all transfers, postings were madepurely on merit.
He said security could not be providedto all candidates and asked them tocontact private security companies
registered with the Home Department.TRANSFERS/POSTINGS: Meanwhile,Punjab IGP issued transfer and postingorders of four SSPs and SPs, alsoshuffling four DSPs.
According to details, MuhammadRizwan, who had been awaiting postinghas been posted as CPO Punjab LahoreAIG Discipline, replacing Shaukat Abbaswho has been now transferred to SpecialBranch as SSP. Hamad Raza Qureshi,who had been awaiting posting has beenposted as Faisalabad Traffic SP, whileGujranwala Sadar Division Additional SPSyed Junaid Arshad has been transferredto Multan Investigation as SP.
Similarly, Choa Saiden Shah CircleChakwal SDPO Nazar Abbas has beentransferred to Chunian Circle Kasur asSDPO, while Tafoor Akhtar, who hadbeen awaiting posting, has been postedas Choa Saiden Shah Circle ChakwalSDPO. Also, Kabirwala Circle KhanewalSDPO has been transferred to PattokiCircle Kasur as SDPO, while PattokiCircle Kasur SDPO Muhammad Afzalhas been transferred to Kabirwala CircleKhanewal as SDPO.
97,000 cops will be hired for election: Sultan
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
A local Election Tribunal onTuesday discarded objectionson Ayesha Ahad’s candidature,allowing her to contest electionsfrom NA-119, Lahore.
Ayesha’s candidacy waschallenged by Pakistan MuslimLeague - Nawaz (PML-N)’s
Bilal Yasin, claimingshe was a bankdefaulter and hadmade asettlement withbank on herloan.
The tribunaltold Yasin thatmany of his seniorleaders would be out
of the election raceif bank
settlements weremade an issue.
Ayesha,who claims tobe the wife ofHamza
Shahbaz, willcontest elections
from NA-119.
ASIF HASHMI
DISQUALIFIED: An ElectionTribunal on Tuesday declaredPakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’scandidate Syed Asif Hashmiineligible for upcoming polls.The Returning Officer haddismissed Hashmi’s nominationpapers for NA-118 on variouscharges leveled by twopetitioners.
ayesha ahad is iN the raCe!
LAHOREAPP
PML-N Lahore President Pervez Malik onTuesday said the party would make effortsto eliminate load shedding after winning theupcoming elections.
Addressing corner meetings atBaghbanpura and Shadbagh, he alleged theprevious regime had become history and anew era of progress and prosperity wouldusher in soon.
He said the PML-N, under the dynamicleadership of Nawaz Sharif, would spend allits energies to ensure relief to the people. Hesaid the PML-N did not believe in hollowslogans and always worked for the welfare ofthe poor and it would again utilise allresources to bring the country out of crisis.
He said that early solution to ongoingload shedding and national sovereignty was apriority of his party. He said in the tenure of
Nawaz Sharif, people witnessed uniquedevelopments; motorway was constructed andPakistan became an atomic power whileShahbaz Sharif turned the province into a hubof economic activities, alleging that the PPPpromoted corruption, nepotism and exploitedthe national resources for own interests andthus tarnished the image of the country.
He said some elements were shouting slogansof tsunami despite the fact that it was a sign ofdestruction. He said the international communitywould witness a new Pakistan if the PML-Ncame to power. He said the people would be asource of power, uninterrupted electricity and gaswould be available to the industry and householdsacross the country and every citizen would haveaccess to health and education facilities.
Malik urged the people to reject allelements which had harmed the country andeconomic fabric and promoted malpractices.“People should cast their precious vote to thePML-N for a bright future,” he added.
LAHORERANA HAIDER
Samanabad Police on Tuesdayarrested a resident of Samanabad forallegedly killing his housemaid whilethe residents of the house she workedin claim that the girl had committedsuicide.
Aqsa, the 15-year-old maid,originally from Kasur, had beenworking at the residence of Shaharyar,a resident of Samanabad, for two years.
On Monday, Shaharyar had reportedto the Samanabad Police Station thatAqsa had committed suicide by
strangling herself with a water pipe.Police shifted the body to the morguefor an autopsy and started aninvestigation.
Sheheryar told the police that he hadpaid a heavy amount to Aqsa’s parentsin advance salary.
He said that Aqsa’s parents hadcommitted that Aqsa would work athis house until the amount debitedwhile Aqsa wanted to go home.
Sheheryar claims that Aqsa,perturbed by the longing to go backhome, committed suicide.
Samanabad Police say thatinvestigation was underway and it was
premature to say if Aqsa was killed orshe committed suicide. However, onthe complaint of Aqsa’s fatherZulfiqar, the police have arrestedSheheryar’s son Ali Raza.
The police say that they havearrested Ali Raza because according tothe postmortem report minor bruiseswere found on Aqsa’s body whichsuggested that she might have been‘handled roughly’.
However, according to the reportAqsa was not raped.
Samanabad Police say that theywere interrogating Ali Raza andthey would arrest Sheheryar as wellas soon they get hold of substantialproof.
Ali Raza denied all accusations andsays that Aqsa was just ‘homesick’ andcommitted suicide. He said that he hadnever tortured Aqsa.
HOMESICKNESS KILLS?
Measles claims
two moreLAHORE: Two more measles-
affected children died at
Children’s Hospital on Tuesday,
raising the measles death toll
to 43 in Punjab. A 6-month-old
boy, Abdullah, and a two and a
half years old girl, Jannat, were
under treatment at the
hospital. According to sources,
about 9,000 people have been
suffering from measles across
Punjab. The Punjab
government has decided to
observe a week-long “Safe
Mother and Child” campaign
from April 24 to 30 to spread
awareness about measles. In
addition, a nationwide measles
vaccination campaign will be
launched in June. STAFF REPORT
PML-N will end energy crisis: Malik
GEARING UP FOR ELECTIONS: Policemen from the Mujahid Squad
service their rifles at the Qurban Lines. MURTAZA ALI
Accused sAys MAidcoMMitted suicide outof ‘hoMesickNess’
Police Arrest MAN for killiNg his MAid
ISB 17-04-2013_Layout 1 4/17/2013 6:05 AM Page 5
L
06
Wednesday, 17 April, 2013LAHORE
Wars and elections are both too big and too small
to matter in the long run. The daily work - that
goes on, it adds up. –Barbara Kingsolver
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PPP to sweeP
Next PoLLs,
says khosaLAHORE
APP
PPP Secretary General LatifKhosa on Tuesday claimedthat the party would sweepthe upcoming elections.He said the government hadsuccessfully completed itsfive-year term and hoped thatthe PPP would win the 2013polls with a thumpingmajority. The people wouldnever forget Zulfikar AliBhutto (ZAB) who gavethem voice, empowered themby providing the right to voteon the basis of adultfranchise enabling them toelect their representatives togovern the country, he said. He said that ZAB hadsacrificed his life but did notgive up the cause of thepeople and democracy.“The history marked Bhuttoas a hero of the people,” headded. He said that it wasdue to the vision of ZAB thatPakistan became a nuclearpower and its defencebecame impregnable andnow no enemy could eventhink of aggressive designsagainst Pakistan.
LAHOREAGENCIES
The police headquarters superintendent onMonday requested AdditionalDistrict and Sessions JudgeChaudhry Ghulam Murtaza tohold trial proceedings forSawan Masih, accused ofblasphemy, in a jail instead ofopen court, local mediareported.
SP Hassan MushtaqSukhera said this was asensitive matter and certainmeasures were required toensure the security andprotection of the prisoner.
Judge Murtaza wrote toDistrict and Sessions Judge NazirAhmed Ganjana on Mondayseeking directions on SPSukhera’s letter. Sawan Masihmeanwhile, withdrew hisapplication for an after-arrest bailfrom the court on Monday.
A panel of four lawyersfrom an NGO Centre forLegal Aid Assistance andSettlement (CLAAS),submitted power of attorneyon behalf of Masih. BashirSahotra withdrew the plea
for bail saying that it was too early in thecase to seek bail. The judge distributedcopies of the case record and fixed April22 for framing charges.
JaiL triaL reQuested for sawaN Masih
ISB 17-04-2013_Layout 1 4/17/2013 6:05 AM Page 6
07
NEWSWednesday, 17 April, 2013
Army deserters may be pardoned, if those still in Syria
hand themselves in within 30 days, and those outside
Syria hand themselves in within 90 days, — Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad issues new amnestyN
BOSTONAGENCIES
uS investigators stepped up a mas-sive manhunt Tuesday for attackerswho devastated the BostonMarathon with two bombs that
killed three people and wounded more than140, many left with horrific injuries.
Boston’s Boylston Street, scene of themarathon finish line carnage on Monday, re-mained sealed off as investigators sought leadsin the worst bomb attack in the United Statessince the September 11, 2001 atrocities.
President Barack Obamavowed that the attackers “willfeel the full weight of justice”,police searched the apartmentof one “person of interest”and a Saudi man remainedunder guard in hospital. Butthere were no convincinganswers for a city in mourn-ing. According to the latesttoll, the two bombs, whichwere 13 seconds and about 100meters (yards) apart, left 17 peoplein critical condition.
The dead and injured were aged be-tween two and 71, hospital authorities said.Nine children were injured. Among the deadwas an eight-year-old local boy, MartinRichard, who had been waiting at the finishfor his father to cross the line. His motherand sister, who lost a leg, also suffered crit-ical injuries. Many of the wounded lostlimbs in the blasts, which sent metal shrap-
nel flying into thecrowd of thousands of
people packing BoylstonStreet, traditionally a venue of
joyful partying at the end of theworld’s oldest international marathon.
Liz Norden tearfully told the BostonGlobe how two of her sons, both in their 30s,lost legs in the blast. Most of the 23,000 run-ners participating in the 26.2 mile (42 kilo-meter) race had finished when the first bombwent off behind a row of national flags.
One 78-year-old runner, Bill Igriff, was
blown to the ground and many bloodiedspectators were pushed by the force of theblast through barriers onto the street. Igriffgot up again and walked away with justscratches. “We saw people with their legsblown off,” Mark Hagopian, owner of theCharlesmark Hotel, told AFP from the base-ment of a restaurant where he had soughtshelter. “A person next to me had his legsblown off at the knee — he was still alive.”
Boston relived the horror in the manyvideo films taken with telephone camerasthat investigators also pored over in the
hunt. Vigils and other ceremonies of re-membrance were to be held in the city.
Armed National Guard troops and po-lice patrolled Boston commuter trains andbuses and authorities warned that tight se-curity would be imposed for several days.
New York, Los Angeles, San Franciscoand several other major US cities also putextra police on the streets. Obama wasbeing kept informed of the investigation. AWhite House official said late Monday thatthe attack was being treated as terrorism.
“There were no intelligence warnings that
we know of,” said Representative Peter King,a member of the House Intelligence Commit-tee who gave details of the huge hunt launchedby US authorities. Federal and state investiga-tors and firefighters searched an apartment inthe Boston suburb of Revere, Massachusetts,and took away bags after a man described as“a person of interest” was stopped. A 20-year-old Saudi man who suffered a leg injury wasunder armed guard in hospital.
But media reports said the man was co-operating and investigators said no suspectwas in detention. Russian President VladimirPutin led a chorus of global condemnation,describing the twin explosions as “barbaric”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel saidshe was “horrified” and that “nothing justi-fies such a malicious attack on people at-tending a peaceful sporting event”. Iranstrongly condemned the blasts whichbrought back memories of the nearly 3,000people killed in suicide airliner strikes on theUnited States on September 11, 2001. TheNew York Stock Exchange held a minute ofsilence before trading started for the day.Organizers of Sunday’s London Marathonsaid their race would go ahead despite theBoston attack. British government officialsincluding Home Secretary Theresa May metrepresentatives from the security services toreview Sunday’s race through the streets ofthe British capital. “We do have robust se-curity measures in place... but, given eventsin Boston, it’s only prudent for the policeand the organizers of Sunday’s race to re-ex-amine those security arrangements,” saidLondon mayor Boris Johnson.
Massive manhunt launched for boston bombers
RIYADHAGENCIES
Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Al Waleedbin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah, hasthrown his support behind allowing Saudiwomen to drive, saying it makes economicsense. Women are barred from driving in theArab kingdom - leaving them reliant onmostly foreign drivers.
“(The question of) women driving willresult in dispensing with at least 500,000 for-eign drivers, and that has an economic and so-cial impact for the country,” the prince saidon his Twitter account on Sunday.
He did not spell out the economic bene-fits, but Saudi officials have said they areworried about the amount of money beingsent out of the country by foreign workers.
Many Saudi families would also havemore disposable income if they no longer hadto pay for drivers. Saudi Arabia, home toabout nine million foreign workers, began acrackdown on illegal immigrants this year toboost the proportion of Saudi citizens in pri-vate sector jobs from the current 10 percent.
In the same Twitter message, the princesaid he supported that campaign.
Saudi Arabia is a conservative monarchy,backed by religious scholars. It follows anaustere Salafist form of Sunni Islam and al-lows clerics wide powers in society wherethey dominate the judicial system and runtheir own police squad to enforce religiousmorals. After pro-democracy protests sweptthrough the region in 2011, dozens of Saudiwomen responded to the “Women 2 Drive”campaign, posting pictures and videos of theirdriving on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Some of the women were detained brieflyand two faced charges, including that of “chal-lenging the monarch”. One of them was let goafter signing a pledge not to drive again, whilethe other was sentenced to 10 lashes. Reuterscould not confirm if the lashing sentence wasinflicted, but a Saudi princess tweeted that ithad been revoked. While there is no writtenlegislation banning women from driving,Saudi law requires citizens to use locally is-sued licenses while in the country. Such li-censes are not issued to women, making iteffectively illegal for them to drive.
NEW DELHIAGENCIES
Video footage of a man being ig-nored as he begged for help follow-ing a road accident that killed hiswife and child has led to accusa-tions of “shameful” public apathyin India. Police said Kanhaiya Lal’sappeals were ignored for 40 min-utes on Monday after a speedingtruck rammed his motorcycle onSunday, which was also carryinghis wife Guddi, 26, their 10-month-old daughter and four-year-old son.His wife and daughter died of theirinjuries at the accident scene whilethe man screamed for help with hisson, who was also injured, CCTVfootage aired nationwide on Indiantelevision showed “My son and Iwere shouting for help but no onestopped or came to our rescue.Passersby and several cars did stop
to catch a glance but no oneseemed to be bothered,” Lal said.“Some cars almost touched thebodies as they passed by but no-body offered any help.” He saidthat when an ambulance “whichwas not well equipped” finally ar-rived on the scene, the body of hiswife was tossed into the back ofthe vehicle “like garbage”. Thefootage showed motorists speedingpast the stricken family until a cityworker came forward to help. “It’sthe duty of all people to take suchvictims to hospital because livescould be saved,” Jaipur traffic po-lice chief Lata Manoj said in a tele-vised interview. Prabhu Dayal, anuncle of the dead woman, blamedthe deaths on public indifference.“Her husband cried for help for 40minutes but no-one stopped. It’sshameful that apathy took twolives,” he said.
ACCRAAGENCIES
A mine has collapsed in Ghana’scentral gold-producing region killing atleast 16 people who were working illegallyand had been told to leave by the operator,local police have said.
A total of 16 bodies were recoveredfrom the site of the incident near the townof Kyekyewere on Monday afternoon, ac-cording to area police commander WilliamOtu. The town is about 300km north of thecapital Accra.
The operator had completed its workin the area and had returned only to shutdown the mine and affirm its claim to theland, Otu added, without identifying the
company. Otu said the operator found sev-eral people from the local communitymining illegally, who refused when askedto leave.
Not long after, “the operator got informa-tion that the mine caved in and covered thepeople,” the police commander said.
The west African nation of about 25million people is one of the world’s topgold exporters. Many of the mining oper-ations revolve around unlicensed - andhence illegal - outfits, known locally asgalamsey, which are often funded by for-eign speculators and criminals.
According to an Al Jazeera investigation,some of the operators even employ children,and pay less than six US dollars a day, in“primitive” working conditions.
iraq executes21 in one dayover ‘terror’
BAGHDADAGENCIES
Iraq has put 21 men to death, a senior justiceministry official told AFP, the latest in a se-ries of mass executions that have drawn in-ternational condemnation. All of the menwere Iraqis and had been convicted on anti-terror charges, the official said, speaking oncondition of anonymity. The latest execu-tions brought to 50 the number of timesBaghdad has carried out the death penalty sofar this year, despite widespread calls for amoratorium on the country’s use of capitalpunishment. Justice Minister Hassan al-Shammari insisted last month that Baghdadwould continue to implement the deathpenalty in the face of widespread calls for itto issue a moratorium. Iraq’s executionshave sparked concern from the United Na-tions, as well as from Britain, the EuropeanUnion and rights groups Amnesty Interna-tional and Human Rights Watch.
Anger over public apathyafter India accident
Saudi prince makes economiccase for women drivers
16 workers killed inGhana gold mine collapse
UN AGENCIES CALL FOREND TO SYRIA ‘CARNAGE’ DAMASCUS: Leaders of five UN agencies
have appealed to the international
community to stop the “cruelty and
carnage” in Syria, warning they may
soon be forced to suspend humanitarian
aid to the war-torn country. The UN
leaders said on Monday that their
“capacity to do more was diminishing,
due to security and other practical
limitations within Syria as well as funding
constraints”. “We are precariously close,
perhaps within weeks, to suspending
some humanitarian support,” the UN
leaders said. “We, leaders of UN agencies
charged with dealing with the human
costs of this tragedy, appeal to political
leaders involved to meet their
responsibility to the people of Syria and
to the future of the region. “The
international community needs to find a
political solution to this conflict before the
human carnage grows and grows from a
crisis to what is already becoming a
catastrophe.” AGENCIES
ANY RESPONSIBLEINDIVIDUALS, ANY
RESPONSIBLE GROUPSWILL FEEL THE FULLWEIGHT OF JUSTICE.
BARACK OBAMA
ISB 17-04-2013_Layout 1 4/17/2013 6:05 AM Page 7
NEWSNWednesday 17 April, 2013
08 Provision of security to candidates
is vital for holding peaceful polls.
— PPP Senator Saeed Ghani
ISLAMABADAPP
PR I M E Minister MirHazar Khan Khoso onTuesday approved thelaunch of a scheme forpayment of tuition fee to
students hailing from Balochistan,Gilgit-Baltistan and FATA who in-tended to do Masters, MPhil and PhD.
The scheme called “Prime Minis-ter’s Tuition Fee Payment Scheme”was approved and launched in a high-level meeting in which Minister forProfessional and Technical Education,Science and Technology and IT SaniaNishtar, officials of the PM’s Secre-tariat and the Ministry of Professionaland Technical Education were present.
Sania briefed the prime minister onthe salient features of the scheme. Shetold the prime minister that it was ap-proved by the federal cabinet in June2012 and a sum of Rs 500 billion wasallocated for the purpose in the budget.
The scheme envisages that studentsfrom Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan andFATA will be provided tuition fee bythe federal government so that theycan undertake higher education.
She said the federal governmentwould provide equity to students sothat efforts could be stepped up to im-prove education standard in the coun-try. Sania said the scheme waspre-paid as the entire expenditure dur-ing the degree would be borne by thefederal government.
The scheme further envisages that
federal government will bearall educational expendi-ture of an estimated10,825 students fromthe areas of which9,128 students be-longed toBalochistan.
The primeminister di-rected that gen-der parity mustbe maintainedand the schemeshould be avail-able for the nextfive years.
He approved PhDstudents of Balochistan,Gilgit-Baltistan and FATA
would be eligible for bene-fit from the scheme
even if they got ad-mission in univer-
sities andcolleges outsidetheir cities andregions.
He hasalso approvedthat studentshailing fromFATA wouldbenefit from
the scheme ifthey were ad-
mitted to univer-sities and colleges
in KhyberPakhtunkhwa.
PM launches free educationscheme for baloch, fata students
ISLAMABADONLINE
Justice Ejaz Chaudhry of the Supreme Court(SC) on Tuesday remarked that those who en-joyed power for 20 years were now writingletters to the court for restoring peace inKarachi.
His comments came as a five-memberbench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan(CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took upthe Karachi law and order case for hearing onTuesday.
At the inception of hearing, Shah Khawaradvocate appeared in court on behalf of gov-ernment of Sindh and presented a report. Itwas said in the report that no-go areas werepartly operating in the jurisdiction of seven
police stations in Karachi. The CJP remarked, “You are admitting
that no go areas have been set up in areasunder seven police stations. The court be in-formed about the names of these police sta-tions.”
Shah Khawar presented the list of the saidpolice stations. Also, the Rangers per court or-ders presented details about 71 accused andjoint investigation reports.
The court was told that a political partywas patronising criminals in Lyari.
The court expressed dissatisfaction overthe report, saying the court’s orders had notbeen implemented. “Five persons were killeda day before. Everyone knows what kind ofbarricades the police put up.”
A letter addressed by MQM Deputy Con-vener Nasreen Jalil to the SC was also readout.
The letter said the Taliban were going totake hold of Karachi and were involved in ex-tortion of money and kidnapping for ransomcases.
Life threats were being received by polit-ical leaders, therefore, the court should takenotice.The court remarked what did the dem-ocratic government do for Karachi during thelast five years.
“Members of the assembly who relishedpower for 20 years are now writing to thecourt. But they did nothing on their own. The
caretaker set up has also been installed withtheir consultation,” the bench said.
Justice Ejaz expressed wonder on the let-ter written by Nasrin and observed, “Theyhave remained allies of the government, whyhave they not done anything?”
Shah Khawar read out an affidavit givenby the SHO over performance of Manghopirpolice. The SHO stated that ethnic riots hadtaken place in Sultan Abad in the past but sucha situation was not existing there anymore.
“No-go areas in Mir Muhammad Gothwill be cleared and peace will be restored inthe affected areas,” the report added.
The CJP said, “You had filed identicalstatements of all SHOs during the last hearing.What was written therein?”
Khawar said the court had laid downclear definition and affidavits were filed inconsonance with this definition.
The CJP said “We had told about the de-tails of these areas in clear orders given by usin 2011.” To this, Khawar said action wasbeing taken per court orders.
“It means we are dictating. Does the IGPnot understand his powers?” the CJP said,adding, “What is the need of officers in policewho do not speak the truth and tell lies. TheIGP and chief secretary should give affidavitsthat no-go areas did not exist.”
The court ordered that an old report bythe Rangers DG be read out wherein it was
said that 35 operations and 136 targeted op-erations were conducted.
The CJP said it meant the police report inrespect of seven police stations was incorrect.
“Perhaps you have not understood Eng-lish well. We had said report be given to usper our orders and protection be provided tothe life and property of the people. Peace berestored in Lyari. We are not concerned withwhat you do. No-go areas should be got elim-inated from every locality. We don’t wantanything more. If there is any mistake in Eng-lish, we can correct it. Directives were givento you in writing. For how long we can leavethe people at your mercy.”
The CJP added, “Former chief secretaryhas also been directed to present a certificate.We have been giving chances for the last twoyears. Where is the Rangers DG? Are thecourts a laughing stock? Whosoever is sum-moned does not come. A job ordered is notdone. A joint certificate duly signed by thechief secretary, IGP and Rangers DG be pre-sented in the court. People are dying and thecourt’s orders are laughed at.”
The court was told by the Sindh Policethat a meeting was convened to review thesteps for eliminating no-go areas.
The CJP remarked, “If your stanceis accepted, then everyone is correct butus. Four people have been killed. Is itmatter of delight?”
Why write to SC for peace after 20 years of rule?
sC classifies
dual nationality
holders in six
categories ISLAMABAD
ONLINE
The Supreme Court on Tuesday classifiedthe applicants in the dual nationality casein six different categories and asked allthe former parliamentarians to furnisharguments according to their respectivecategory.On Tuesday, a two-member bench underthe supervision of Justice Jawad SKhawaja heard the dual nationality casein which the counsels of 20 dualnationality holders appeared before thecourt. Barrister Faroogh Nasim told the courtthat his clients and MQM’sparliamentarians Raza Haroon, HaiderAbbas Rizvi, Syeda Tayyba Hussain,Abdul Hameed Siddiqui and NadimAhsan have been asked to return all theperks and salary, but they are not in aposition to comply with the orders.He said that the tenure of the assemblyhas finished so no action could be takenagainst the former MNAs and MPAs At this, the court said that the benchwould put the applicants in six differentcategories. “Separate hearing would be held for everygroup and each of them would givearguments during their respectiveproceeding,” the court added. The first category comprises all thosepeople who are dual nationals by birth;Doniya Aziz and Arif Aziz Sheikh fall inthis group. Second class would be comprised of thosemember of the parliament who tenderedresignation before the expiry of assemblytenure; Sabeen Rizvi, Irish Kumhar, SadiqMemon and Murad Ali Shah are in thisgroup.The third group consists of all thoseparliamentarians who did not give in theirresignations till the last day of theassemblies. These parliamentarians havebeen asked to return all the pay,allowances and perks back to the nationalexchequer, which they received during thelast five years as MNAs and MPAs.The fourth group will be of those peoplewho could not return their salaries andperks due to weak financial position andthe sixth category comprises thosemembers who gave up their dualnationality.The court postponed hearing till May 2.
135 terrorists,7 civilians killedin 2nd week ofapril: fafeN
ISLAMABADINP
Twenty incidents of political violence left 170people dead and 42 injured between April 6 and12, compared with the preceding week when 53were killed and 65 injured in 26 incidents, saysthe Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).Four incidents of electoral violence claimedthree lives while ANP candidate escaped a bombattack. Terrorists constituted majority of the 212victims – 135 killed and five injured. Civilianfatalities decreased from last week’s 22 to seven.Twenty-eight security personnel were also killedand 10 sustained injuries. FATA was the mostvolatile region where 160 people – mostlyterrorists – were killed and 12 injured, followedby Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (3 killed, 30 injured),Balochistan (6 killed) and Sindh (1 killed). Thisweek, 20 political violence incidents werereported in nine districts and three tribal regions,compared with 10 districts and two tribal regionsin the preceding week. Of the incidents in theweek under review, seven targeted public, sixattacks were aimed at security forces, three eachhit terrorists and state infrastructure and one wasaimed at an anti-polio team.
PESHAWAR: A man looks at the damage caused by a hand grenade following an attack on the residence of Pakistan People’s Party candidate from NA-1
Zulfiqar Afghani in Gulbahar area on Tuesday. INP
sc QuestioNs why didthe MQM Not doANythiNg for thePeoPle desPitestAyiNg iN Power for20 yeArs
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NEWS N
09
Wednesday 17 April, 2013
The mandate of interim government is to
ensure free and fair polls — Science and
Education Minister Dr Sania Nishtar
PESHAWARSAjjAD ALI
IN order to maximize its gains inthe fast approaching general elec-tions, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl(JUI-F) has awarded majority ofits tickets to wealthy candidates
by conveniently ignoring the fact thatmost of them have joined the party onlya week or even a day back. By so doingthe JUI-F leadership has completelysidelined its deserving cadre which washoping to get its nod.
The JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman, with“Now or never” as his party’s slogan, hasmanaged to attract wealthy and influentialpoliticians from across the province, espe-cially in the constituencies where the partyhas no roots. While the analysts term themove as desperate, the JUI-F leadershipconsiders this as extending its electoralreach in the newfound political territories.
An interesting fact: most of the freshlyinducted JUI-F candidates have previouslynot been affiliated with any political par-ties, but are now intent on taking advantageof their immense wealth – increasingly ahallmark of the present-day politics.
Prominent among those who joined theparty in recent weeks is former MNA fromBuner Istiqbal Khan, former ANP MPAfrom Charsadda-1 Fazal Shakoor, formerMPA from Kohat Shokat Habib, formerPPP MNA Mehboob Ullah Jan from Ko-histan, PML-Q provincial president SyedQasim Shah from Mansehra and Sajjadul-lah Khan from Kohistan.
In addition, former MPAs Zar Gul andZarin Gul from Torghar, Qaumi Watan
Party’s (QWP) Atiqur Rehman, AsrarullahKhan Gandapur from Dera Ismail Khan,former PML-N MPA Munawar Khan Mar-wat, former JI MPA Anwar Hayyat Khanfrom Lakki Marwat, former MNAMunir Orakzai, PML-N’s SajjadKhan Jadoon and Malik RiazBannu have also joined theJUI-F recently.
The whispersaround the KPKprovince suggestthat the majority offormer MPAs andMNAs are joiningthe JUI-F due tothe threats of at-tacks by the TTP tothe PPP and theANP candidates.
Another importantphenomenon: for thefirst time since 1997, theJUI-F is going into an elec-tion without an alliance. Andon that last instance, the party hadmanaged only two provincial seats! In-side sources claim that the JUI-F leader-ship is worried over the fact that itselectoral history without alliances has notbeen satisfactory. That too necessitatedbringing influential people into the party.The word on the ground is that the JUI-Fneeds to win sizable number of seats as itwill be difficult for it to maintain its latentpopularity if it could not.
Meanwhile, the JUI-F has allocated 10provincial and two national assembly tick-ets to such candidates who have beenelected or have contested election on other
party tickets in the past.Those who will contest on the JUI-F
tickets, include Fazal Shakoor fromCharsadda PK17, Ayub Khatak from
PK- 41 Karak-2, AttiqurRehman from PK 42
Hangu 1, Zarin Gulfrom PK 58, Saj-
jadullah Khanfrom PK 61,M u n a w a rKhan Mar-wat fromPK LakkiMarwat 75,A n w a rH a y y a tKhan fromPK-76 Lakki
Marwat, SaidHabib Ali
from PK-81Swat-2, Muham-
mad Yar Khan fromPK-87 Shangla-1.Furthermore, former
MNA Mehboobullah Jan willcontest on NA-23 Kohistan seat and MunirOrakzai on NA-38 tribal area, while SethGohar Saifullah on NA-40 Kohat.
Meanwhile, billionaires Javid Khattakand Mehmmod Bitani are contesting forthe first time on JUI-F tickets for provin-cial assembly seats including PK-40Karak-1 and PK-69 Tank respectively.However, Malik Raiz contesting on PK-73 Bannu-4 seat and Sajjad Khan Jadoonon PK- 36 seat had been affiliated withthe PPP and PML-N in the past, beforejoining the JUI-F.
Moreover, the JUI-F has also madeseat adjustment with former MPASardar Israrullah Khan Gan-dapur in DI Khan on PK-67 DI Khan-4, JavidAkbar PK-68 andwith former minis-ter SamiullahKhan Alizai.
Sources re-vealed that theparty leader-ship’s haphaz-ard decision toinclude wealthycandidates in theparty has createdrifts within theparty. The areaswhere the heat of theconflict is more evidentinclude Tank, Bannu,Karak, Shangla, Lakki Mar-wat, Charsadda, Mansehra andMardan. As a result of this, the disen-chanted JUI-F loyalists are opting to con-test the elections as independents.
A well known casualty for JUI-F isMaulana Gul Naseem, who has opted tocontest on NA-26 Bannu as an independentagainst former KPK chief minister AkramKhan Durrani. Similarly, Ghulam QadarBitani, former JUI-F MPA from PK 69Tank, will be contesting against MaulanaFazl on Tank/DI Khan NA 25 and on PK69 against Mehmood Bitani. Meanwhile,former MPA Malik Qasim will contestpolls as an independent candidate from PK40 Karak-1 against party candidate AyubKhattak, who is a new inductee.
Qadar Bitani and Malik Qasim, whiletalking to Pakistan Today, made
identical statements: the JUI-F leadership is ignoring
ideological workers,and instead pleasing
the rich candidates.They said, theparty had earlierallocated ticketsto them butlater withheldthem.
On theother hand, inCharsadda, Haji
Gul Yousaf andMaulana Musam-
mir Shah will con-test the elections
independently, whileHaji Said Raheem Shah
Bacha has been shortlistedfor party ticket.
Moreover, the district officer bearers ofShangla also opposed the NA-31 ticketgiven to ex-senator Rahat Hussain andhave demanded a review. There are alsosome differences over the ticket toMuhammad Yar for PK-87 Shangla-1.
Though the JUI-F has recently en-joyed popular support by taking an anti-US stance, but it did not aid the party inentering into electoral alliance with anyone and the possibility of seat adjustmentalso seems improbable. However,Maulana Fazl has already made it clearthat the JUI-F is an ANP alternate, therebydiscarding the possibility of electoral al-liance or seat adjustment.
Jui-f’s craving for the wealthy spreads anger in ranks
Thoughthe JUI-F has recently
enjoyed popular support by takingan anti-US stance, but it did not aid the
party in entering into electoral alliance withany one and the possibility of seat adjustmentalso seems improbable. However, MaulanaFazl has already made it clear that the JUI-Fis an ANP alternate, thereby discardingthe possibility of electoral alliance
or seat adjustment
ISLAMABADONLINE
The Election Commission of Pakistan(ECP) has published a list of candidateswho have submitted nomination papersfor contesting polls from National As-sembly constituencies in the elections.
The Free and Fair Election Network(FAFEN) has obtained the data of all as-piring candidates from the ECP websiteand found out that 40 percent male and
42 percent female candidates are with-out National Tax Numbers (NTNs), saysa press release issued on Tuesday.
The ECP data indicates that only4,120 candidates (60.4pc) possess theirNTN certificates, while 2,699 (39.6pc)are not registered taxpayers. Gender-wise, 2,599 of 6,581 male candidates(39.5 pc) and 100 of 238 female candi-dates (42 pc) do not have NTN certifi-cates.
The profile of every candidate con-
tains a form from the Federal Board ofRevenue (FBR), mentioning the NTNand the status of the candidate.
According to the ECP’s data, a totalof 6,819 candidates are eligible to con-test the elections on NA seats in 272constituencies. A total of 3,335 candi-dates (49 pc of the total) have filed theircandidacy from Punjab, followed bySindh (1,643 or 24 pc), KhyberPakhtunkhwa (870 or 13 pc), FederallyAdministered Tribal Areas (400 or 6pc), Balochistan (378 or 6 pc), Islam-abad Capital Territory (ICT) (147 or 2pc) and the Frontier Regions (46 or 1pc).
Out of a total of 6,819 candidates,only 238 (3.5 pc) are women, while theremaining 6,581 (96.5 pc) are male can-didates.
Out of a total of 6,819 candidates,4,120 (60.4 pc) have NTN certificates,while the remaining 2,699 (39.6 pc)have no NTNs.
Region-wise, FATA has the highestpercentage of candidates (259 out of400, or 65 pc) having no NTNs, fol-lowed by Balochistan (196 out of 378,or 52 pc), KP (428 out of 870, or 49 pc),Frontier Regions (20 out of 46, or 44pc), Sindh (653 out of 1,643, or 40 pc),Punjab (1,100 out of 3,335, or 33 pc)and ICT (43 out of 147, or 29 pc).
As many as 3,982 (60.5 pc) malecandidates have got their NTN certifi-cates, while the remaining 2,599 (39.5pc) do not have NTNs.
Out of the 238 female candidates,138 (58 pc) have NTNs, whereas the re-maining 100 (42 pc) have no NTNs.
40 percent male, 42 pc female NA candidates without NTNecP dAtA shows oNly4,120 cANdidAtesPossess NtNcertificAtes
fAtA hAs highestPerceNtAge ofcANdidAtes hAviNgNo NtN
sherry rehmanrecognised amongworld’s top womenof impact
WASHINGTONAPP
A prominent American organisationdedicated to women’s advancement onTuesday recognised Pakistan’s ambassadorto the United States Sherry Rehman, amongtheir rating of influential women leaders inthe world. Calling her a “master tactictian”, the
Women in the World Foundation said,“Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s ambassador tothe US, is known for her eloquence,elegance, and diplomatic savvy.” Names of125 top Women of Impact were alsoreleased.“And no one seems better at calming the
stormy relationship between Washington andIslamabad,” the foundation added.Ambassador Rehman has led Pakistan’sdiplomatic outreach in Washington at achallenging time for Pakistan-USrelationship, which has seen improvementfrom an unprecedented low-point in 2011-12. Last month, the president of Pakistanconferred on Ambassador Rehman thehighest civilian honor Nishan-e-Imtiaz forher outstanding services to the country andthe role she played in restoring the Pakistan-US relationship since her appointment inearly 2012.Prior to her appointment as Islamabad’senvoy in Washington, Sherry Rehman servedas a distinguished parliamentarian andfederal minister and has been a longtimechampion of women’s rights and freedom ofthe media. The list of Women of Impact features someof the most prominent women leaders suchas former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,current U.S. Ambassador to the UnitedNations Susan Rice, and the only otherPakistani to be named, Oscar winning filmdirector Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy The Women in the World Foundation is apowerful initiative dedicated to drivingsolutions that advance women and girls andcame into being out of Newsweek and TheDaily Beast’s annual Women in the WorldSummit, launched by the publications’Editor-in-Chief Tina Brown, in March 2010.
QUETTA: Lawyers hold a rally on Tuesday for the recovery of former Balochistan Advocate General Salahuddin Mengal who is missing since last month. INP
ISB 17-04-2013_Layout 1 4/17/2013 6:06 AM Page 9
BALOCHISTAN has 14general seats in the Na-tional Assembly and 51general seats in theProvincial Assembly.
There are additional seats reserved forwomen and non-Muslims. They cancontest for general seats as well. Muchinterest is being shown in the electionsin Balochistan. The caretaker primeminister, who hails from Balochistan,visited Quetta to assure the politicalparties of peaceful and fair general elec-tion with additional security during theelection period. The Army Chief alsovisited Quetta to underline the Army’sinterest in peaceful and orderly election.
The politics in Balochistan is frag-mented because of diversified compet-ing interests. These includeprovince-based political parties andtheir factions, nationwide political par-ties, religious parties and sectariangroups, and powerful tribal chiefs andother influential people. The active roleof the federal government and espe-cially the security and intelligence ap-paratus also influence the politicalprocess in Balochistan.
Three province-based political par-ties had boycotted the February 2008general elections. These were Balochis-tan National Party-Mengal Group(BNP-M) led by Sardar Akhtar Mengal,the National Party (NP) led by DrAbdul Hayee Baloch (it took part in theMarch 2009 Senate elections), and
PakhtunkhwaMilli AwamiParty led byM a h m o o dK h a nAchakzai.
These po-litical partiesare taking partin the May2013 elec-tions. Otherp r o v i n c e -based politicalparties takingpart in theelections areB N P( A w a m i ) ,J a m i a t - e -U l e m a - e -Islam FazlurRahman (JUI-F), and JUI-Ideological .J a m h o o r iWatan Party(JWP) facedinternal riftafter the deathof its leaderAkbar KhanBugti in Au-gust 2006. It is
has gone in three directions: JWP-TalalBugti group (quite active), JWP-AaliBugti (nominally active) and JWP-Baramadagh Bugti. The last of the threeJWP groups functions as a separatistparty from abroad under the title ofBaloch Republican Party.
The nationwide parties active inBalochistan include the Pakistan Peo-ple’s Party (PPP), the Pakistan MuslimLeague-Nawaz Sharif (PML-N), thePakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam (PML-Q) , the Awami NationalParty (ANP) and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI). All of them are putting upcandidates and some of them are seek-ing seat adjustments with the politicalparties of their choice. This strategydoes not appear to be working inBalochistan in any significant manner.These parties will be contesting elec-tions against each other. Some inde-pendent candidates are also contesting.
The biggest challenge to electionsin Balochistan is disorder and violencethat has become endemic. The sepa-ratist groups based outside of Pakistanresort to violence from time to time andthey have threatened to disrupt the elec-tions. Their activists are expected to re-sort to armed attacks on the candidatesand leaders of the parties contesting theelection. Religious-sectarian and ethnicviolence also exists in Balochistan. Thepolitical parties, especially the BNP-Mand the NP are raising the issue of themissing persons. A good number ofthem have been traced and returned butstill the issue is not fully resolved.There is a difference on the number ofmissing persons as given by the politi-cal groups and the official circles. Thepolitical circles place the main blameon the state intelligence agencies, espe-cially the ISI, for disappearance of peo-ple. The BNP-M also raises the issue ofdiscovery of dead bodies in variousparts of Balochistan and holds the ISIor what it describes as the gangs oftough people that enjoyed the blessingsof the intelligence establishment.
The official circles deny any in-volvement in kidnapping of people butthis does not change the views of thepolitical circles in Balochistan whocontinue to take a strong exception tothe conduct of security and intelligenceagencies in Balochistan. The echo ofthese sentiments can be heard repeat-edly in the election campaign. The po-litical parties and leaders are alsotalking about socio-economic develop-ment issues in their constituencies, jobs,how to ensure good governance and therelationship between the federal gov-ernment and the province in administra-tive and financial domains. Someparties are also touching on the benefitsof major development projects to thepeople of the province.
Violence or threat thereof is ad-
versely affecting election campaign inKbyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Karachiwhich are experiencing target killingsand terrorist attacks almost on dailybasis. The security agencies are now tak-ing action against criminals and othersengaged in violence in Karachi but theyhave to keep such a pressure on them soas to ensure relatively peaceful elections.
The Tehrik-i-Taliban-i-Pakistan(TTP) has declared the elections to beun-Islamic and threatened to use vio-lence against the PPP, the ANP and theMQM. The defiant posture of the TTPhas an impact on electioneering in theFederally Administered Tribal Areas(FATA) and some districts adjoiningthese areas. Even in the province ofKbyber Pakhtunkhwa, the ANP and thePPP are curtailed in their political activ-ities due to the Taliban threat. The ANPhas lost more activists in terrorist at-tacks than any other political party overthe last two years.
The Qaumi Watan Party of AftabAhmad Khan Sherapo (limited to Khy-ber-Pakhtunkhwa) also faces the threatof the TTP. He survived two attacks inthe past. Asfandyar Wali Khan, the chiefof the ANP, also survived a suicide at-tack in the past. Extra-ordinary cautionis being used for Bilawal Bhutto, theleader of the PPP. His is not expected tomake frequent public appearances.
In the Tribal areas, the candidatesare contesting independently or arelinked with Islamic parties. The Tal-iban policy towards the elections ishelping the JUI-F and the Jamaat-i-Is-lami. Many political activists belong-ing to the ANP and the PPP in somedistricts adjoining North and SouthWaziristan have joined the JUI-F forsecurity reasons. No candidate in thetribal areas can afford to alienate thelocal militants and the TTP.
In Karachi, the ANP is finding it-self under pressure from the TTP. TheMQM candidates face the TTP threatin urban Sindh. The first death of acandidate took place in Hyderabad onApril 11 when an MQM contestantwas killed by the TTP. The exclusivelyelection related violence includedbombing of a candidate’s election of-fice in Miramshah, North Waziristan,a bomb defused outside a JUIF candi-date office in Swabi (KP), two bombattacks on the ANP candidates on April14, injuring one in Charsadda (KP)and killing one in Swat.
The armed groups and criminalswant to disrupt the election process, atleast in some areas. If some major ter-rorist incident takes place or some topleader is assassinated close to the vot-ing date, it will be difficult to holdelections on May 11.
The writer is an independentpolitical and defence analyst.
Militants threaten peaceful, orderly hustings
DR HASAN ASkARI RIZvI
COMMENT
Aziz-ud-Din AhmadEditor
Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963-5 Fax: 042-32535230Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208
Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287273 Fax: 051-2850505Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk
Email: [email protected]
Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami
C
escalation in tension will only help talibanPak-afghan relations
the horror in boston
THE attack on Boston marathon is a highly condemnable act. The bombing wascarried out on Patriots Day when hundreds of people had gathered to watch theiconic event for the city. Initially there are reports of three people dead
including a 10 year old boy. Over a hundred are injured, including nine children. Manyof the injured are in a critical state, and some with shattered limbs had faceamputation. The possibility of more deaths cannot be ruled out.
The people of Pakistan have gone through tragic events of the sort for years now.Hundreds of families have lost their near and dear ones in terrorist attacks.Unsuspecting people traveling in buses, children attending schools and grownupsoffering prayers in mosques have been mowed down or turned into mincemeat.Similarly many innocent people have died in the US drone attacks which continue ontheir deadly mission unabated. It is therefore not difficult to understand the suffering ofthe affected people and their families in Boston.
What remains to be determined is who is responsible for the act. The FBI andpolice are highly trained and well equipped with the latest gadgetry to investigatecrimes of the sort. Currently fingers are being pointed in two directions. A former FBIcounterterrorism investigator told a British newspaper that the attack was reminiscentof the Madrid commuter train bombings, a coordinated attack using multiple explosivedevices on March 11, 2004 which was attributed to an Al-Qaeda-inspired terrorist cell.The Al-Qaeda has developed the skills needed to launch an attack of the sort while ithas also an international reach. The other possible source of the attack could be the UShomegrown terrorists of various sorts including the white supremacists. Last yearalone a gunman claimed 26 lives including kids and teachers in a firing spree at anelementary school in the Connecticut state, the US Army veteran Wade Michael Pagekilled six in a shooting rampage in Wisconsin, another gunman man killed 12 inColorado while two people were killed and at least eight wounded in a shootingoutside the Empire State Building in New York.
President Obama has assured that whoever is found guilty after investigation willfeel the full weight of justice. There is a need in the US to rethink the whole strategy ofdealing with those responsible for such incidents be they Al-Qaeda related terrorists orhomegrown killers. This is all the more needed because whatever measures have beentaken in the past have failed to achieve the results.
RELATIONS between Afghanistan and Pakistan remain at a tipping point withneedless disputes being the order of the day as the recent slandering matchover Pakistan reconstructing an old border gate being the latest in a range of
verbal disputes between the two neighbours. What both countries appear not torealize is that their relations are crucial as the NATO troops plan to leaveAfghanistan by the end of the year, leaving the Afghan government as the de factoruling authority across the border.
The media hype created in Afghanistan over the reconstruction of an old bordergate in Mohmand Agency by the Pakistani authorities. Kabul dropped its objectionsafter it was told that no new military construction was being carried out by Islamabadalong the shared frontier and the issue was only a renovation of an old gate. But forthat a delegation of Afghan army officials, led by Afghan National Army DirectorGeneral Military Operations (DGMO) Major General Afzal Aman, had to visit theGeneral Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi for talks on border coordination. A militaryspokesman later revealed that “all ongoing cross-border coordination issues includingborder post construction in Mohmand Agency were discussed and amicably resolved.”The important statement was that the two “sides agreed on continuation of suchbilateral interactions to enhance bilateral border coordination and reduce space fordetractors.” a military spokesman said. That an issue of everyday border coordinationbecoming an issue that could ignite the Afghan side to the extent of spurring onstudent protests in Jalalabad does not bode well as a mirror of the degree of mistrustbetween the two countries. The Afghan Defence Ministry Spokesman Gen Zahir Azimiclaimed that the recent construction of a gate and other facilities along the border tookplace without any coordination with Afghanistan and President Karzai was reported tohave ordered his defence and interior ministries to take immediate action to remove anewly constructed gate, checkpoints and other installations recently built by Pakistan.
The point here is that the issue at hand was not important, where a particular gateis created or not, should be an issue of easy resolution between the two neighbourspurported to be fighting a war against the same enemy for over a decade. At thispoint, with the impending withdrawal of the US and NATO troops, the exact reverseis needed. However, the ease with which the issue was resolved eventually reflectsthe petty nature of actual disputes between them. There was no need for unnecessaryhype and irresponsible statements from the Afghan President Karzai. It must berealized that an escalation of tensions from either side would only help the Talibanand other militants waiting for the NATO troop withdrawal to up the stakes in theconflict in the region.
Not difficult to empathize with the victims
Wednesday, 17 April, 2013
10You can, you should, and if
you’re brave enough to start,
you will. –Stephen King
election diary – three
Messrs CleanWhen the scrutiny process of election candidates commenced,there was a general impression that soon there would be alist of people labelled as Mr 62, Mr 63, fraud, degree chor,tax chor, defaulter etc. On the contrary, on completion of theprocess, one finds that except for a couple of targeted ones,generally our politicians are Mr Clean. The media is to beblamed for unnecessarily causing aspersions and creatingdoubts in the minds of the people about their popularleaders. Credit goes to the fair and impartial judiciary, whosemembers as ROs and in tribunals ensured that no one wasunnecessarily harmed or any clean image tarnished.
I am, however, reminded of an incident of 2004/05,when the NAB gave a clear chit to someone known forland/housing scam. The foundation published a half pageadvertisement in all important newspapers displaying theNAB certificate in their favour. Since that day, the personhas not looked back — catch me if you can.
HAROON SIKANDAR PASHAIslamabad
Not just electionsWhen you cast your vote in any given election, you are
voting for representatives who will represent your community,district or state. Elected officials are accountable to the voterswho put them into office. Their primary responsibility is tolisten to their constituents and enact legislation that willimprove the lives of the communities they serve.
For this reason, every election is critical. After all, weare electing a parliament and the government to beassigned by this parliament that will make crucial decisionsover a period of five years in a number of fields, includingthe economy, foreign policy, social life and culturaldevelopments. However, the parliamentary elections to beheld next month in Pakistan are far more important thanany other elections for the future of Pakistani democracy.
These elections are not only the elections that willsimply determine the outlook of our future government andparliament any longer but also will determine what sort ofstate we will have as an apparatus that rules and organisesthe affairs of the country. These elections will either makethe nation superior to the state or will result in thecontinuation of the consolidated domination of status quoforces over the political landscape. It will be an electionthat will determine whether the current state will bereplaced by a state apparatus that is based on the rule ofdemocratic principles, equal representation and pluralism.
SARFARAZ SAMADKarachi
Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. Fax: +92-42-32535230 E-mail: [email protected] Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusivelyEditor’s mail
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COMMENT CWednesday, 17 April, 2013
11
AT long last we have an Indian MarieAntoinette. The Bourbon queen be-fore the French Revolution of 1789began to dislocate royal heads from
their shoulders, imperiously asked citizens hun-gry for common bread to eat cake instead. AjitPawar’s recipe for Maharashtra’s farmers suf-fering from the worst drought in decades is notquite as delicious, but it has already earned prideof place in the political thesaurus of memorableinsults. There is nothing like bodily fluids tostoke conversation in a thirsty teashop.
Ajit Pawar is no fool; far from it. Why wouldhe taunt stricken farmers who have loyally votedfor his party with an analogy one would be loathto suggest in the privacy of a drawing room? Noone in his senses tells a public rally, not to men-tion subsequent multitudes on media that he cando little about falling water levels in dams sincepeeing into them won’t help.
This sort of intemperate outburst speaks ofsome deep frustration. What made Ajit Pawarstupid on such an epic scale? As he pointed out,rationally, he could not be blamed for dry skies;he is merely deputy chief minister of Maharash-tra, not deputy chief god of Heaven. The reasonfor this rant lies elsewhere: guilt.
Over the last decade, Ajit Pawar has rippedthrough a cumulative fund of Rs70,000 crore –yes, you read the figure right – meant for irriga-tion projects designed to protect the state’s farm-ers from such vagaries of nature as drought.Much of this money disappeared in the usualdark hole through which cash is siphoned off:project cost escalation. The water saved throughthe dams that were built did not reach farmers.It was diverted to industries.
This manipulation became news when
Pawar’s own Chief Minister Prithviraj Chauhanasked a simple question: what happened? Thosewith fewer constraints than the CM accusedPawar of corruption. Ajit Pawar sulked and re-signed from government. There was a briefmedia and political flurry, which soon evapo-rated. Coalition compulsions, the contemporaryjustification for fiscal appeasement, enabled AjitPawar to return to his old office. Story over.
Or not quite. You never know when anxiety,lurking in some shadow of the subconscious, isgoing to leap up and distort your tongue. Thedeepest wounds in politics are self-inflicted.When Pawar addressed that rally, he must haveseen votes being lost on the face of his audience.Then he lost it.
The pundits of Mumbai are already doinglong division on their calculators to assess thepolitical cost of Ajit Pawar’s urine therapy. Onemeasure of the damage can be gauged from theflurry of apologies. Ajit Pawar did not actuallyhold his ears, put on a dunce cap and stand in thecorner, but he did ruefully admit that this was thebiggest blunder of his career. Contrition rarelycompensates fully for injury; Pawar’s impulsivesnarl was thought, regret was very much an af-terthought. His dilemma is compounded by thefact that the shadow of this drought falls acrossparty strongholds. Almost 75 percent of uncleand patriarch Sharad Pawar’s constituency,Madha, is affected and there is already talk ofdestitution suicides. Insensitivity in times of dis-tress is not easily erased from voter memory.
The conventional analysis was, till recently,that even if Congress suffered because of rising
prices and corruption in the next general election,Sharad Pawar would minimise his own account-ability by some nimble footwork. That certaintyhas been punctured. It is not beyond repair, butPawar will require a very long needle and somestrong yarn to stitch this one back into shape.
Sharad Pawar does not slip easily in Maha-rashtra. He has worked hard in his state andbeen astute in Delhi politics, sliding alongsideBJP when Atal Behari Vajpayee was prime min-ister and standing solidly by Dr ManmohanSingh when fortunes shifted. Parties come andgo; Sharad Pawar stays in power forever, thanksto his fine nose, which can smell the wind fromafar. But when you have been too long in officeyou can miss something far closer, the straw pil-ing up, strand by strand, on the camel’s back.An insult can so easily become the last straw.
The French Revolution, like any historic oc-currence, offers more than one instructive anec-dote. Marie Antoinette’s husband, Louis XVI,who lost his mind long before he lost his headto the guillotine, heard the mobs in July 1789,when Paris stormed the Bastille prison, andasked his courtier Francois Alexander Frederic,duke of Liancourt and grandmaster of thewardrobe, “So what is it? A riot?” The dukereplied, doubtless in silken tones, “No sire, it isa revolution.” But Louis’ diary entry for July 14,the day Paris changed the world, consisted ofjust one word: “Nothing.” The heights of powerare not always the best perch for a cool lookwhen anger is sweeping past your door.
The writer is a senior Indian journalist.
the deepest wounds in politics are self-inflicted
Third EyeM j AkbAR
The biggest adventure you can
ever take is to live the life of
your dreams. –Oprah Winfrey
And it is not anti-Muslim animus
americanattitudes toward egypt have soured
AMERICAN publicopinion has souredon Egypt, withone-half of all
American voters now holdingan unfavourable view of thatcountry and its leadership. Thiswas not always the case.
My brother John Zogbyand I have been measuringAmerican attitudes toward theArab World for two decades.For much of that time, Egypthad the highest ratings of anycountry in the region. In fact, inmost years from 1993 until2010 around 60 per cent ofAmericans rated Egypt posi-tively. However, in our most recent poll, conducted in March of 2013,only 36 per cent of Americans report having a favourable rating of Egypt,while 48 per cent have an unfavourable view.
This dramatic shift in US opinion is a function of two main factors:concern about the role being played by the Muslim Brotherhood and theAmerican public’s general lack of awareness about Egypt’s contempo-rary history.
While modern Egypt has been known in the Arab World for its cin-ema, its comedy and music, and its political and intellectual leadership,the image of the country was never established in the United States. Asa result, positive attitudes were “soft” and/or derivative of other factors.Back when Egypt’s ratings were high, in response to the open-endedquestion “what is the first thought that comes to mind when you hearEgypt?” the overwhelming majority of answers recalled the “pyramids”,“the Sphinx”, and the other “glories of ancient Egypt”. There were alsorespondents who mentioned the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadatand the Camp David Accords.
In the early months of the Arab Spring the images of peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators called to mind for many Americans their owncivil rights movement or Eastern Europe’s fall of the “Iron Curtain”.After an initial drop in ratings in early 2011, by mid-2011 Egypt’sfavourable ratings were back up to 60 per cent. That support has sinceevaporated. But in the March 2013 poll when we asked for respondent’s“first thought when they hear Egypt”, “pyramids” was still the most fre-quently mentioned term, now followed closely by “trouble”, “unrest”and the “Muslim Brotherhood”.
In January of 2012, we asked Americans whether or not they werehopeful that the Arab Spring would bring about positive change. By morethan two to one they answered in the affirmative. But in the tumultuousyear and a half that has followed, Americans have lost that hope. Today,the number of American voters who say they are disappointed with “howthe Arab Spring has played out in Egypt” is three times greater than thosewho say they are still hopeful that positive change will come.
As much as “soft” attitudes are to blame, concern with the MuslimBrotherhood is also a factor in the new negative opinion toward Egypt.Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood,is only viewed favourably by 14 per cent of Americans, while over onehalf have an unfavourable view of Morsi. And by almost three to oneAmericans rate former President Hosni Mubarak as having been moreof a friend and ally of the US than Morsi, the current president.
It is important to note that it is not anti-Muslim animus that drivesthese numbers, since strong negative views of the Muslim Brotherhoodand President Morsi exist even among those Americans who hold afavourable view of Muslims.
There are consequences that result from this change in attitudes.Many Americans now question whether or not the US government canwork with a Muslim Brotherhood-led Egypt. They also question whetherthe U.S. should provide military and civilian aid to Egypt. A majority ofAmericans also say they worry about the Muslim Brotherhood takingover in other countries, and say that they support actions by other Arabgovernments to “limit the activity of Muslim Brotherhood branches op-erating in their countries”.
Another by-product of this negative turn and the general disappoint-ment with the trajectory of the “Arab Spring” has been the public’s em-brace of an interesting combination of principles they feel should guideAmerican foreign policy.
For example, when asked whether the US “should support govern-ments, whether they are elected or not, if they work closely with us topromote regional stability and protect our interests” or whether we“should only support democratically elected governments, even if thosegovernments might pursue policies that are hostile to our interests”, bya wide margin of 72 per cent to 17 per cent American voters chose thefirst approach.
And when asked to choose between providing support “for any gov-ernment that is democratically elected, even if it is pursuing policies thatcompromise the rights of minorities in their countries” or “as a conditionfor US support, we should require that any government, whether it hasbeen elected or not, protect the rights of all their citizens”, by an 85 percent to 10 per cent margin voters chose the second approach.
Two years ago, I compared Egypt to Broadway, noting that it didn’tmatter so much how events played out on other stages across the ArabWorld because the world would judge the Arab Spring by how it playedout in Egypt. We are now two and one-half years into the Arab Springand the “blush is off the rose”. American’s are disappointed, attitudes to-ward Egypt have soured, and the public has adopted a less romantic,more “realist” approach to our relations across the Arab World.
The writer is president of Arab American Institute.
Washington WatchDR jAMES j ZOGbY
off with his head? hardly
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12
baLdwiN waNtsto be dotiNGfather this tiMe
Actor Alec Baldwin says he couldn’t give
much time and attention to his first
daughter, but now he wants to be a very
doting father. Baldwin had his first child
with ex-wife Kim Basinger. His present
wife Hilaria Thomas is now expecting
their first child. The actor says he will
fulfill his duties, which he could not earlier
because of the divorce with Basinger.
“The only thing that I regret was that I
missed so much of my daughter’s
childhood because of this contentious
situation. And that wasn’t at all what I
wanted. So I find that now I have another
chance,” Hollywood Reporter quoted
Baldwin as saying. The 55-year-old wants
to keep his wife and their child away from
the limelight. “I have my daughter
coming and my wife, and I just want to
get as far away from that (fame) as
possible,” he said. NEWS DESk
Matt daMoN‘CaNNot’ write aLoNeHollywood star Matt Damon, who won
an Academy Award for the ‘Good Will
Hunting’ screenplay he co-wrote with
Ben Affleck, has said that he has to
work with a partner on his writing
projects because he “can’t do it” alone.
The ‘Bourne Identity’ star recently
teamed with ‘The Office’s’ John
Krasinski to pen 2012 drama Promised
Land. Damon told Radar Online that he
needs to team up with a writing
partner on all his projects as he
struggles to concentrate when left to
work on his own, Contactmusic
reported. The 42-year-old actor said
that he was an English major at college
and he hated the solitude of just
staring at the computer screen as it
drove him nuts. NEWS DESk
Life is too short to
be little. —
Benjamin Disraeli
NEWS DESK
GRANTA magazine an-nounced its list ofBritain’s 20 best novelistsunder the age of 40 onMonday. Pakistan’s
Kamila Shamsie is among them. Domi-nated by women (who account for 12 outof 20 honorees), the list also features au-thors of Bangladeshi, Chinese, and Niger-ian origin.
“Just announced on BBC Radio 4program [Front Row] that Kamila is oneof Granta’s Best of Young British Novel-ists under 40,” Kamila’s mother, authorMuneeza Shamsie posted onFacebook. “It’s official,” Kamila tweetedafter the announcement, “I’m about as oldas a writer can be while young.”The list,which is issued once in a decade, has pre-viously included Martin Amis, SalmanRushdie, Alan Hollinghurst, and JeanetteWinterson. This is Granta’s fourth suchlist, the first came out in 1983. The an-nouncement accompanies the publicationof Granta 123: the Best of Young BritishNovelists 4,which features stories fromeach of the 20 novelists on the latestlist. Granta and the British Council arescheduled to take these authors on theroad for readings and talks in 10 coun-tries, including Qatar and India.
The 2013 list was finalized byjudges John Freeman, Ellah All-frey, Romesh Gunesekera,
Stuart Kelly, A. L. Kennedy, Sigrid Raus-ing, and Gaby Wood, who looked at morethan 150 authors and their works. Candi-dates under consideration were requiredto be U.K. citizens, under the age of 40 onApril 15, 2013, and to have published orbeen under contract to publish a book.The deadline for submissions was Sept.15, 2012. Judging concluded on Jan. 7.
Shamsie, who is in the process of ac-quiring British citizenship, was given spe-cial consideration by the judging paneland not excluded for technically not beinga U.K. citizen.
Founded by Cambridge Universitystudents in 1889 and named for the riverthat runs through the town,Granta maga-zine was the first to publish the works ofauthors like Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plathwho went on to literary stardom. Afterfighting bankruptcy, Granta reemerged in1979. Its website says the magazine“does not have a politi-cal or literary mani-festo, but it doeshave a belief inthe power andu r -
gency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story’s supreme ability todescribe, illuminate and make real.” In2010, Granta published a special editioncelebrating writing from Pakistan.
kamila shamsie among Granta’sbest british novelists under 40
THE BEST OF YOUNG BRITISH
NOVELISTS 2013:
Naomi Alderman (born 1974), The Liars’
Gospel
Tahmima Anam (1975), author of the
Bengal Trilogy
Ned Beauman (1985), The Teleportation
Accident
Jenni Fagan (1977), The Panopticon
Adam Foulds (1974), The Quickening
Maze
Xiaolu Guo (1973), A Concise Chinese-
English Dictionary for Lovers
Sarah Hall (1974), How to Paint a Dead
Man
Steven Hall (1975), The Raw Shark Texts
Joanna Kavenna (1973), Come to the
Edge
Benjamin Markovits (1973), author of a
trilogy on the life of Lord Byron
Nadifa Mohamed (1981), Black Mamba
Boy
Helen Oyeyemi (1984), White is for
Witching
Ross Raisin (1979), God’s Own Country
Sunjeev Sahota (1981), The Year of the
Runaways
Taiye Selasi (1979), Ghana Must Go
Kamila Shamsie (1973), Burnt Shadows
Zadie Smith (1975), NW (She also made
the 2003 list.)
David Szalay (1974), The Innocent
Adam Thirlwell (1974), Kapow!
Evie Wyld (1980), All the Birds, Singing
kutcher spendsromanticweekendwith kunisAshton Kutcher and Mila Kunis shared a romantic getawayover the weekend as they toured Bruges and Belgium in ahorse-drawn carriage on Sunday. The former ‘That ‘70sShow’ co-stars took in the sights of the cobblestone streetsand ancient bridges.Christine Rohart,sales manager ofthe HotelMontanus, toldPeoplemagazine thatthe pairseemed verymuch in loveduring theirtrip. Rohartadded that thetwo were seenholding hands andthey were givingkisses to each other. Aday prior, the duo,explored the city on foot,stopping into the localmarket and famous chocolateshops just before enjoying ameal at the triple-Michelinstarred Carmelite restaurant.The source said that Kunis, 29,ate a local dish calledHoppescheuten, which shehad never heard of butwanted to try. The sourcesaid that Kutcher, 35, ate aspecial seven course menu,which is a very famousmenu, where the maindish is rabbit with prunesand it costs 210 euros.The insider added that thecouple enjoyed theirmeals so much, that they“came into the chef’skitchen afterwards tothank him.” NEWS DESk
Kate Hudson, who features inMira Nair’s upcoming film ‘TheReluctant Fundamentalist’, hasrevealed that the director used totake utmost care of her on the setof the film. The 33-year-oldactress confessed to almostmissing out on Nair’s mostawaited film due to herpregnancy. Hudson said that shewas actually not going to be ableto do the movie because she gotpregnant and she just had thebaby eight weeks before shestarted shooting, PVR Picturesreported. The ‘Bride Wars’ starsaid that she was breastfeedingevery three hours or so, and Nair
would rub her feet whilethey were changing the set-ups. “It was definitively anemotional experience forme,” she said. The movie,which is shot in five citieson three continents, is atouching and engagingstory of a young manchasing corporate successon Wall Street. The filmalso stars KieferSutherland, LievSchreiber, Riz Ahmed,Shabana Azmi and Om Puri.The movie is slated to releaseon 10 May 2013 in India.NEWS DESk
thanks cops after US stalker attackAustralian actor Hugh Jackman has vowed to “do anything” to protect his family, after US police arrested an
alleged stalker who chased him into a New York gym with an electric razor. The star was outside the gym on
Saturday morning when the 47-year-old woman approached him, a New York Police Department (NYPD)
spokesman said. Media reports said she was screaming “I love you.” The 44-year-old actor told officers that
the woman approached him and “displayed an electric razor,” said NPYD
spokesman James Duffy, adding: “She has approached him before at other
locations.” “This happened in front of the gym. She was trying to start a
conversation with him and trying to get physically close to him. But he fled
into the gym and she followed, and that’s when (gym) security people
stopped her. “There were no injuries. She was escorted out by the gym
security. She fled the scene, leaving the razor behind. We recovered the
razor, and we found her a couple of hours later walking about on the
street,” he told AFP. The woman, identified as Katherine Thurston, has
been charged with stalking, he added. A spokesman for Jackman, Alan
Nierob, told AFP: “Mr Jackman will do anything, under the law, to protect
his family, and appreciates all of the assistance from the DA’s office on this
matter.” Jackman, who made his name on the stage but is best known for his role as
Wolverine in the “X-Men” movie series, was nominated for a best actor Oscar this year for his
role in musical adaptation “Les Miserables.” The Australian star is married with two children. NEWS DESk
Mira Nair would rubmy feet in betweenset-ups: Hudson
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A
The most damning revelation you can make
about yourself is that you do not know what is
interesting and what is not — Kurt Vonnegut
IT has been more than a week
since a member of Priyanka
Chopra’s entourage to Los
Angeles was found dead in his
Beverly Hills hotel room, and
his body is still languishing at the
mortuary. Jiban Patra, 41, was one
of PeeCee’s several assistants
who accompanied her to Los
Angeles and on to Vancouver.
Jiban could not obtain a
Canadian visa and had to stay
back in the LA hotel, where his
body was discovered on April
7. The Los Angeles Police
Department, which is
investigating the case, has
registered a case of unnatural
death and an initial inquest has
pegged the immediate cause of death
as heart attack. Though the police
department has given a clearance for
the body to be brought back to India,
the process is caught in a so-called
logistical muddle. A source from the US
said, “Jiban has two kids and a wife
back in Mumbai and they have been in
constant touch with Priyanka Chopra’s
office to arrange for his body to be
brought back home. But nothing has
worked out so far. The death was
also hush-hush till the Indian
community took it up
strongly and put pressure
on Priyanka to arrange
for Jiban’s passage to
India. It is a tragic case
as he is the only
earning member of the
family and lost his
father to heart attack
last year.” The biggest
hurdle, it seems, is the cost of
transporting the body - pegged at
$15,000. According to sources, no one
is willing to pick up the tab, yet.
While PeeCee remained
unavailable for
comment, a
source close
to her said
that her
manager
has been
in touch
with the
Indian
Embassy
to try
and
work out a solution. “We would like the
crisis to resolve as early as possible,”
said the source. Even as the bereaved
family waits for the Embassy and
PeeCee to arrive at a consensus, the
Oriya community (Jiban is from Orissa)
in the US has initiated a parallel
dialogue with the Embassy and
instituted a fund in his name to
expedite the passage. Online
community pages are also appealing for
help. “...We are requesting Priyanka
Chopra’s team to take the responsibility to
send the body to Orissa. The family at
India was helpless and no one speaks
English/Hindi. We are in contact with PC’s
team and also the LA-Coroner police
department and updating the family. After
Jiban’s death his family is devastated and
will face an immediate financial disaster.
There is no one there to help them...”
says the appeal that has been put up on
the website of the Orissa Society of the
Americans. A source from the
US confirmed that all
necessary paperwork
and legal
authorisation has
been done for
the body to
be
transported
to India.
NEWS
DESk
No funds to bring backPriyanka Chopra’sdead assistant
disgusted over BostonMarathon tragedy
wahLberG
Mark Wahlberg was in a somber mood at the New York premiere of his new film,“Pain and Gain”- still grappling with the tragedy that struck his hometown of
Boston. Earlier Monday two bombs went off near the finish line at the BostonMarathon. Three people were killed and at least 140 were injured. “I reallydidn’t even want to come tonight. I hadn’t really heard much - I spoke to mymom, and most of my family seems to be OK. It’s such a big event, there’s somany people there. It’s horrible man. It’s (expletive) disgusting, man. I just -I’m very upset,” Wahlberg said Monday night. “You try to put everything inGod’s hands and whatever happens here is out of our control and there’s abigger picture. But it’s still obviously upsetting,” the 41-year old actor said onthe red carpet before going into the premiere hosted by The Cinema Society.New York rapper 50 Cent was a guest at the premiere and before going inside,he expressed his dismay. “Why is it even happening? But there’s noexplanation. We don’t even know what happened (yet),” 50 Cent said. He
added: “When you see kids involved in it, I can’t write it off. I can’t say maybe(it was) karma that is why the kid was where he was.” An 8-year-old boy was
among those killed in Boston. But the rapper said the tragedy doesn’t make himfeel less safe than usual. “If anyone is feeling that way they have to allowthemselves to accept the reality that we don’t have control of our fate,” he said.Before coming to the premiere, “Nurse Jackie” star Peter Facinelli was runningon his treadmill when he saw the news on television. “My heart goes out to thefamilies and the victims. I don’t know who caused it, just like everyone else, I’min the dark. I’m waiting to get to the bottom of it,” he said at the event. “If it wasterrorism, people are going to need to know there not going to stop us,” headded. “We’re not going to be afraid. So for me, the best thing to do is to nothide inside. Proceed with caution but live your life.” Authorities still don’tknow who is responsible for the attack. Some 23,000 runners took part in therace, which attracts more than 500,000 spectators and finishes up in the heart
of central Boston, near the landmark Prudential Center and the Boston PublicLibrary. It is held on Patriots Day, a Massachusetts state holiday which
commemorates the first battles of the American Revolution in 1775. NEWS DESk
AGENCIES
Ayad Akhtar’s “Disgraced,” a play about asuccessful Pakistani-American lawyerwhose dinner party spins out of controlamid a heated discussion of identity and re-ligion, has won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize fordrama.
“It’s such a huge honor. I’m still inshock, actually,” the playwright said fromLondon, where he’s helping ready a newproduction of “Disgraced” at the Bush The-atre. “I feel very fortunate and very grate-ful.”
“Disgraced” had its world premiere atChicago’s American Theater Company in2012 and then ran at Lincoln Center The-ater’s Claire Tow Theater.
The lead character, Amir Kapoor, a Pak-istani-American corporate lawyer, lives onthe Upper East Side in an apartment de-scribed in the script as “spare and tastefulwith subtle flourishes of the Orient.” Amirloves the New York Knicks and the Mag-nolia Bakery and his elegant $600shirts with their “ridiculous threadcount.”
The dinner party at the heart ofthe play brings together two couplesand several religious and ethnic iden-tities over pork tenderloin and chorizo.When chitchat touches on Is-lamic and Judaic tradition,the Quran and the Tal-mud, racial profilingand Sept. 11 and theTaliban and Mah-moud Ahmadinejadand Benjamin Ne-tanyahu — alongwith the requisitealcohol intake —chaos is achieved.
“I reallywanted to write aplay that was goingto have a legiti-mately tragic di-mension for acontemporarya u d i e n c e , ”
Akhtar said. “I wanted the play to have im-mediacy and aliveness of engagement thatharkened back to a tragic form but a massform, something that would have audiencesgasping.”
The Columbia University’s prize boardon Monday said the 42-year-old play-wright’s work beat out finalists “Rapture,Blister, Burn” by Gina Gionfriddo and“4000 Miles” by Amy Herzog.
Akhtar, a 42-year-old New Yorker, alsowrote the novel “American Dervish” andco-wrote and played the lead in the film“The War Within.” His “Disgraced” got acelebrity gloss in New York when the leadcharacter was played by Aasif Mandvi, thevery funny correspondent on Jon Stewart’s“The Daily Show.”
The drama award, which includes a$10,000 prize, is “for a distinguished playby an American author, preferably originalin its source and dealing with Americanlife,” according to the official guidelines.
The production must have opened during2012 to be eligible for this year’saward.
Last year’s winner was QuiaraAlegria Hudes’s play “Water by theSpoonful,” about an Iraq war vet-
eran struggling to find his place inthe world. Previous playwrights hon-
ored include August Wil-son, Edward Albee,Eugene O’Neill,Arthur Miller and
Tennessee Williams.Akhtar, the child
of Pakistani immi-grants, grew up in
Wisconsin, andstudied atBrown Uni-versity and at
Columbia Uni-versity’s film school. In ad-dition to “Disgraced,” healso wrote the hostagethriller “The InvisibleHand,” which had its worldpremiere at the RepertoryTheatre of St. Louis last year.
AYAD AKHTAR‘shocked’ by Pulitzer Prize win
stewart’sawkwardmomentwithrossActress Kristen Stewartwas reportedly faced withan awkward situationwhen she crossed pathswith model Liberty Rossat a gig recently. Stewartwas caught having afling with Ross’ nowestranged husband RupertSanders in July last year.The affair rocked herrelationship with boyfriend andacttor Robert Pattinson.However, Stewart and Pattinsonrekindled their romance after abrief breakup. “Kristen has triedso hard to put everything fromlast year behind her and she stillfeels incredibly guilty. She andRob had turned a massive cornerin recent months and they wereboth there to enjoy themselves,”thesun.co.uk quoted a source assaying. “The last thing she wantedto do was make Liberty feeluncomfortable, either. She lookedpretty upset in the backstage barlater on that evening,” the sourceadded. NEWS DESk
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NEWS DESK
The world’s leading space agency, NASA, has an ambi-tious new Grand Plan: to “identify, capture and relocate”an asteroid. Outlining the Agency’s $17.7 billion budgetproposal for 2014, NASA administrator Charles Boldensaid the mission would ensure the United States re-mained in the forefront of space exploration and scien-tific discovery for years to come. “This missionrepresents an unprecedented tech-nological feat that will lead tonew scientific discoveries andtechnological capabilities andhelp protect our home planet”.You can watch a video animationof the proposed mission here. Butthe scheme is already attractingcriticism: Republican Congress-man Lamar Smith - who chairsthe House committee that willhave to review NASA’s budgetproposals - dismissed the plan to“lasso” an asteroid as “creative”.NASA’s need to court support - and funding - with eye-catching or inspiring schemes is understandable. Butwith so many on the go at one time there’s mountingconcern that the big showcase missions are diverting at-tention from the Agency’s primary scientific goals. “TheNASA programme is looking quite lop-sided at the mo-ment” according to Professor Andrew Coates, the headof planetary science at UCL’s Mullard Space Science
Laboratory. “They’re doing Mars with Curiosity obvi-ously, but they’re also going back to Mars with CuriosityTwo in 2020. Then there’s the replacement for Hubble,the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which hasbeen very expensive with lots of cost overruns, and nowthis asteroid mission. It sounds fantastic, but they’remissing out on some of the basic science and explorationNASA should be doing.” It’s a view that’s echoed withinthe NASA family. Planetary scientists like Dr Robert
Pappalardo at the Jet PropulsionLaboratory have grown increas-ingly frustrated as proposals toexplore the further reaches of thesolar system have been sidelinedin favour of Mars and the JWST.“For reasons I don’t really under-stand the outer solar system, andthe potential for life there, has notbeen a high priority”. And thingslook set to get worse. While the2014 budget proposals include$100 million in seed money to getNASA’s asteroid mission up and
running (the eventual cost will run to several billiondollars), yet again there’s no money for the EuropaClipper Mission to survey Jupiter’s moon. It’s a deci-sion Bob Pappalardo finds hard to comprehend. If thequestion is life - and that’s one of the most profoundquestions we can ask, he says - the answer is almostcertainly not Mars or an asteroid, but rather the icymoons orbiting distant planets like Saturn and Jupiter.
INFOTAINMENT
IWednesday, 17 April, 2013
14
NEWS DESK
Akidney “grown” in thelaboratory has beentransplanted into animalswhere it started to pro-duce urine, US scientists
say. Similar techniques to make simplebody parts have already been used in pa-tients, but the kidney is one of the mostcomplicated organs made so far.
A study, in the journal Nature Medi-cine, showed the engineered kidneys wereless effective than natural ones.
But regenerative medicine researcherssaid the field had huge promise.
Kidneys filter the blood to removewaste and excess water. They are also themost in-demand organ for transplant, withlong waiting lists. The researchers’ visionis to take an old kidney and strip it of allits old cells to leave a honeycomb-likescaffold. The kidney would then be rebuiltwith cells taken from the patient.
This would have two major advan-tages over current organ transplants.
The tissue would match the patient,so they would not need a lifetime ofdrugs to suppress the immune system toprevent rejection. It would also vastly in-crease the number of organs available fortransplant. Most organs which are of-fered are rejected, but they could be usedas templates for new ones.
SCAFFOLDING
Researchers at Massachusetts GeneralHospital have taken the first steps towardscreating usable engineered kidneys.
They took a rat kidney and used a de-tergent to wash away the old cells.
The remaining web of proteins, orscaffold, looks just like a kidney, includingan intricate network of blood vessels anddrainage pipes. This protein plumbing wasused to pump the right cells to the rightpart of the kidney, where they joined withthe scaffold to rebuild the organ.
It was kept in a special oven to mimic
the conditions in a rat’s body for the next12 days. When the kidneys were tested inthe laboratory, urine production reached23% of natural ones.
The team then tried transplanting anorgan into a rat. Once inside the body, thekidney’s effectiveness fell to 5%.
Yet the lead researcher, Dr Harald Ott,told the BBC that restoring a small fractionof normal function could be enough: “Ifyou’re on haemodialysis then kidney func-tion of 10% to 15% would already makeyou independent of haemodialysis. It’s notthat we have to go all the way.”
He said the potential was huge: “If youthink about the United States alone, there’s100,000 patients currently waiting for kid-ney transplants and there’s only around18,000 transplants done a year. “I think thepotential clinical impact of a successfultreatment would be enormous.”
‘REALLY IMPRESSIVE’
There is a huge amount of further re-search that would be needed before this iseven considered in people. The techniqueneeds to be more efficient so a greater levelof kidney function is restored. Researchersalso need to prove that the kidney will con-tinue to function for a long time. There willalso be challenges with the sheer size of ahuman kidney. It is harder to get the cellsin the right place in a larger organ.
Prof Martin Birchall, a surgeon at Uni-versity College London, has been involvedin windpipe transplants produced fromscaffolds. He said: “It’s extremely interest-ing. It is really impressive.
“They’ve addressed some of the maintechnical barriers to making it possible touse regenerative medicine to address a re-ally important medical need.”
He said that being able to do this forpeople needing an organ transplant couldrevolutionise medicine: “It’s almost thenirvana of regenerative medicine, certainlyfrom a surgical point of view, that youcould meet the biggest need for transplantorgans in the world - the kidney.”
florida invaded byrat-sized snails
No, this is not a 1970s B-movie:
South Florida really is dealing with an
invasion of giant African land snails.
The beastly mollusks can grow as
large as rats (the biggest measure
eight inches long, the Ocala Star-
Banner reports), and can eat their
way through plaster and stucco. More
than 1,000 are already being caught
per week in Miami-Dade County, and
that number is set to swell when the
mollusks end their underground
hibernation. Since September 2011, a
disturbing 117,000 have been caught.
The invasion isn’t just gross, it’s also
problematic, a Florida Department of
Agriculture rep explains, because the
snails eat “over 500 known species of
plants ... pretty much anything that’s
in their path and green.” And that’s
not all: Their shells can blow out
tires; their slime can make sidewalks
slick; and they carry a lungworm that
can give humans meningitis (though
no US cases have been reported).
They’re also tough to eradicate, since
one typically produces about 1,200
eggs per year and can live up to nine
years. The last invasion, in 1966, took
$1 million—and about a decade—to
deal with. Experts from all around the
US held a symposium last week to
discuss solutions. Among them:
stronger bait. NEWS DESk
Google really istrying to be thestar trek computer
the woman with 1 billionclicks, Jenna Marbles
A young woman with magenta-streaked hair
stands in her bathroom, speaking to a webcam. In
a hushed tone, she chews over a thorny problem
of young adulthood: how to apply full evening
makeup when you’re already inebriated from
drinking all day?
She begins her tutorial by wielding that totem of
collegiate binge drinking everywhere: a red plastic
Solo Cup. One jump cut later (after a “Law and
Order: S.V.U.” drinking game), she re-emerges,
thoroughly intoxicated. She misapplies a gob of
glue. It dangles from a false eyelash. She lines her
lips with a black pencil. “It doesn’t matter what
color it is, ’cause you’re gonna blend it,” she slurs,
batting her eye glue. “Don’t let this scare you.”
The video, titled “Drunk Makeup Tutorial,” is
completely awesome to some, bewildering to others
— and above all, classic Jenna Marbles, another
installment from a reigning queen of YouTube. The
episode has been viewed 14.6 million times.
While few people older than 30 probably know who
Jenna Marbles is, her popularity is unquestioned
among teenage girls who live on the Internet. She
has more Facebook fans than Jennifer Lawrence,
more Twitter followers than Fox News and more
Instagram friends than Oprah. Her weekly videos
on topics as quotidian as “What Girls Do in the
Bathroom in the Morning,” “My Favorite Dance
Moves” and “I Hate Being a Grown Up,” place her
in an elite club of more than one billion YouTube
views, with more than eight million subscribers
and growing. “My perspective is to think, ‘I just
have a lot of Internet friends,’ ” said Jenna
Marbles, 26, whose real name is Jenna Mourey
(Marbles is the name of her Chihuahua). She
acknowledges it is an odd kind of celebrity. She is
a D.I.Y. digital entertainer who conceives of, stars
in, shoots, edits and uploads her own videos —
often in a single day. NEWS DESk
scientists make‘laboratory-grown’ kidney
Is NASA looking in thewrong place for life?
Grief is the price
we pay for love.
–Queen Elizabeth II
For years, when Google employees
likened their projects to the Star Trek
computer, Farhad Manjoo dismissed it
as a convenient media metaphor.
“Google is very likely the nerdiest
large company on earth; of course its
employees like Star Trek,” he writes in
Slate. But after many, many
references, he started to wonder if
there was more to it—and, amazingly,
there is. “The Star Trek computer is
not just a metaphor,” search chief Amit
Singhal tells him. “It is the ideal that
we’re aiming to build.” Singhal says
that the team constantly compares its
work to the Enterprise’s chipper, voice-
activated assistant. Captain Kirk didn’t
need a keyboard, so Google’s been
pushing voice recognition. The
computer could sometimes predict
crew members’ needs, hence the
Google Now project. “Stop thinking
about Google as a ‘search engine,’”
Manjoo writes. “That term conjures a
staid image: a small box on a page.”
Google’s ideal is nothing like that—it’s
a machine so smart it can answer
your questions, anticipate your
needs, and answer completely
unanticipated questions. NEWS DESk
For anyone looking for a miracleamidst the gloomy news, the Vaticanprovides: The Denver Post reportsthat Pope Francis has set a 19th-cen-tury German nun on a journey to-ward sainthood after verifying shewas responsible for healing a Col-orado Springs boy in 1999. In thefirst days of his papacy, Francis up-held the miracle, which will allowfor Mother Theresia Bonzel’s No-vember beatification. One more mir-acle is needed for sainthood. As thePost explains, the now-18-year-oldLuke Burgie was struck with a mys-
tery illness on his first day of pre-school, a severe gastrointestinal con-dition that stumped his doctors, whowere unable to ease his suffering.After six months of violent diarrhea,which struck as many as 10 times aday, the illness mysteriously van-
ished—on the final day of a novenatwo members of Bonzel’s order hadprayed, in which they asked Bonzelfor help. A rigorous investigationcarried out by the Vatican and inde-pendent medical experts ensuedover the next 14 years: to verify theBurgie family hadn’t intentionallycaused the disorder via, say, laxa-tives, and to review all availablemedical records. Now Bonzel is onher way, though Luke Burgie, for hispart, isn’t talking about it. Says hismom, “He didn’t like being singledout as the miracle boy.” NEWS DESk
19th-century German nun performed miracle: Vatican
ISB 17-04-2013_Layout 1 4/17/2013 6:07 AM Page 14
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
PAKISTAN’S T20 captain,Muhammad Hafeez hasshowered words of praise onhis Test and one-day captain
Misbah-ul-Haq, describing him as an"honest" person and a "calm andcomposed" leader. While Hafeez replacedMisbah as the national T20 captain lastyear in May, Misbah continued to remainPakistan`s Test and one-day captain.
Recently, a controversy was ignitedby the former Chairman of the PakistanCricket Board, Ijaz Butt who claimedthat Hafeez had formed a nexus withhead coach Dav Whatmore in the teamand they were pressurising Misbah andtrying to oust him from the team. ButHafeez was all praise for Misbah, saying
it had been an honour playing underhim. "He is one of the best captains Ihave played under. We have played mostof our cricket together for years now atthe first class and international level.
And Misbah has shown himself to be ahonest, fair, dedicated, committed andvery composed captain," Hafeez toldreporters in Karachi. The all-rounderscored a match winning half-century to
lead the Sui Northern Gas team into thefinal of the President`s Cup one-daytournament. Hafeez said that no one hadany problems with Misbah as he hadshown himself to be a very honest, fairand committed leader.
"He equally deals well with theseniors and juniors and he is honest andforthright. His best quality is he remainscalm and composed under all situationsand there is respect for him in the team,"Hafeez added. He made it clear that hehad not found anyone as passionate anddedicated for cricket as Misbah.
Hafeez noted that it was a credit toMisbah the way he had adopted a positiveapproach after Pakistan lost the Testseries in South Africa. "He did well in theone-day series in SA and then also bywinning the national T20 super eightstitle for Faisalabad Wolves," he added.
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
Geared up to deliver the goods forPakistan in future, Kamran Akmal, thewicketkeeper/batsman, claims that hedoes not need to prove anything toanyone, having won numerous matchesfor the country in past.
The 31-year-old cricketer camethrough the ranks of junior cricket in thecountry, having represented Pakistan atdifferent age-groups. Even in his earlydays, the cricketer from Lahore wastipped to be one of the candidates toreplace Moin Khan and Rashid Latif inthe national team.
Akmal went on to make his Testdebut in 2002 but cemented his place inthe Pakistan team in 2005. The right-handed batsman has so far scored 11centuries at the highest stage of thesport, including a number of match-winning ones. Thewicketkeeper/batsman’s wonderfulcenturies in Mohali and Karachi againstIndia are considered to be at the top ofthe list. Quoted by Cricinfo, Akmal
expressed that he still cherishes thosewonderful knocks but he wants toperform well for Pakistan in the comingyears as well. The stylish batsman didnot play any big innings during therecently concluded tour of South Africabut he is happy with a couple of cameoswhich were helpful for the team’s cause.
“These were the finest innings of mycareer but I want to win more matchesfor the country. I don't need to proveanything to anyone as I have deliveredon so many occasions,” said thecricketer from Lahore. “Obviously youlearn every day and improve yourself. Ihad a good South Africa series andplaying up the order really helped meregain my confidence.”
Commenting on the role of awicketkeeper in the team, Kamran saidthat two legends of the modern-daysport, Adam Gilchrist and MarkBoucher, have redefined this job andnow a wicketkeeper must be able tocontribute with the bat as well.
“I think the role of a wicketkeeperwas extended with players like [Adam]Gilchrist and [Mark] Boucher, who
have taken the role to a differentheight. Now a wicketkeeper is one of
the most important players in theteam,” he added.
hafeez praises Misbah’sleadership qualities
SPORTS
SWednesday, 17 April, 2013
15When I did not go to Sri Lanka,I could not understand why theypunished me. – Nadeem Ghauri
I want more wins for Pakistan: Kamran
batting coachis the need ofhour, says Zaheer
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbasbelieves the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)must have hired a batting coach instead ofbringing in former captain Wasim Akram forsupervising a camp for fast bowlers.According to a website, the former captainsaid what miracle it would make to thebowlers in a 10-day camp. "Instead of thisthe PCB should have hired a batting coachfor the team which is the need of the hour,"he said. Commenting on the ChampionsTrophy probable's announced by the PCB, hesaid Shan Masood of Habib Bank Limitedand Raza Hassan should be included in thelist. "All those players who haven'tperformed in the series against South Africashould be dropped," he said. Nasir Jamshed,Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, AhmedShahzad, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal didn'tdo well in the series and have been given toomany chances by the PCB selectors. "Newplayers should have been inducted in theChampions Trophy probable's list," he said.A player who has played a 30, 40 run inningscan do better if the PCB pays attention to theplayers batting instead of focusing onbowling. Talking about Misbah-ul-haq'scaptaincy, Zaheer said until now he sees noother player who can replace him from thecaptaincy. The ICC Champions Trophy willbe played in England from June 6. Theprobable's include Nasir Jamshed,Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, AhmedShahzad, Misbah-ul-Haq, Harris Sohail,Asad Shafiq, Umer Akmal, Shoaib Malik,Umer Amin, Sohail Tanvir, Hammad Azam,Azhar Ali, Shahid Afridi, Asad Ali, AnwerAli, Junaid Khan, M. Irfan, Wahab Riaz,Umer Gul, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, ImranKhan, Aizaz Cheema, Yasir Arafat, SaeedAjmal, Abdul Rehman, Zulfiqar Baber,Kamran Akmal and M. Rizwan.
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
Former Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria hopes to re-vive his international career following an appeal of hislife ban before a disciplinary committee of the Englandand Wales CricketBoard next week.Kaneria was banned bythe ECB last year forpressuring former Es-sex teammate MervynWestfield into spot-fix-ing in an Englishcounty one-day gamein 2009. Kaneria lefton Tuesday for Lon-don, where the hearing will be held next Mon-day. "I have high hopes the panel will be inde-pendent and neutral in this hearing," Kaneriawas quoted by a foreign news agency. "Mylivelihood is stuck due to the ECB's ban." Thehearing was deferred last December when theECB was unable to gain Westfield's coopera-tion to appear before the committee. West-field, who pleaded guilty to receiving paymentwhich could bring him or the game into disre-pute, was banned for five years, but allowed to partici-pate in minor club cricket after three years. Westfield'sadmission of guilt and his evidence against Kaneria led
the ECB to reduce a possible suspension of nine years tofive, and allow him to be involved only in club cricketafter three years of his ban. Kaneria expects Westfield totestify in his favour. "I hope things will be seen moreclearly by the disciplinary committee in the presence ofWestfield," he said. He played for Pakistan from 2000 to
2010, when he was suspended by the PakistanCricket Board until the spot-fixing case was re-solved. An integral part of Pakistan's test team,he took 261 wickets in 61 matches. Kaneria'sdetermination to clear his name included an ap-peal to the Sindh High Court in Karachi to try
to overturn his PCBsuspension. But thecourt dismissed hisappeal in 2011, say-ing it was not withinits jurisdiction. Pak-istan cricket has beenhit badly by spot-fix-ing and match-fixingover the last threeyears. Salman Butt,Mohammad Asif andMohammad Amir areserving long bans fortheir involvement in
spot-fixing during a Test against England in 2010, whilelast week the PCB banned umpire Nadeem Ghauri forfour years for corruption.
Kaneria appeals life banbefore disciplinary committee
Ghauri to appealcorruption ban
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
A Pakistani umpire suspended for fouryears on corruption charges plans toappeal against the ban, a decision hedescribed Sunday as “one-sided”.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) bannedNadeem Ghauri on Saturday for agreeingto “extend undue favours for materialgain” during a sting operation by anIndian television station last year.“It's a one-sided decision and I am nothappy with this decision,” Ghauri said.“They didn't give me a chance, and I thinkthat the PCB did it on some pressure. Icame to know about the decision throughthe media.”Ghauri said he was heard only once by thePCB's inquiry committee and never hadthe chance to appear before the integritycommittee, which imposed the ban.“I will request and appeal to the PCBchairman that I should be given a properopportunity,” he said.Ghauri acknowledged that he spoke overthe internet to the man involved in settingup the sting, saying the contract he wasoffered to work in the Sri Lanka PremierLeague last year was lucrative but notdependent on him helping to rig matches.The contract was worth $4,500 per matchplus $1,000 as a monthly salary, Ghaurisaid. “I was interviewed on Skype after Ireceived the documents of the lucrativecontract,” Ghauri said. “Anyone who seesthe contract would have said yes as it wasvery lucrative.”Ghauri didn't inform the PCB because hewas not under contract with the cricketboard, and said the punishment is harshbecause he didn't take charge of anymatches in the Sri Lanka Premier League.“I have no agreement with the PCB and Iam not under PCB's code of conduct,” hesaid. “When I did not go to Sri Lanka, Icould not understand why they punishedme.”Ghauri said he was introduced to the manby Bangladeshi umpire Nadir Shah, whowas banned for 10 years by his country'scricket board last month on similarcorruption charges.Ghauri officiated in five tests, 43 one-dayinternationals and four Twenty20 matches.A former left-arm spinner, he played onlyone test, under Pakistan great ImranKhan's captaincy against Australia atSydney in 1990. Ghauri also played sixODIs. It's not the first time that Pakistancricket has been hit by corruption chargesin recent years.Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Asif,Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir areserving bans for their involvement in spot-fixing during a test against England in2010.
I HAVE HIGH HOPESTHE PANEL WILL BEINDEPENDENT ANDNEUTRAL IN THIS HEARING
ISB 17-04-2013_Layout 1 4/17/2013 6:07 AM Page 16
PARISAGENCIES
THIS year's French Open singleschampions will receive1.5million Euros (£1.28million)for their efforts - an increase of
20 per cent on 2012. Roland Garros officialsalso announced even greater prize-moneyincreases for losers in the middle rounds,becoming the latest grand Slam tournamentto cede to player demands for a greater sliceof revenue. In total, 22 million Euros(£18.8million) will be in the prize fund - up3million (or 16 per cent) on 2012 levels.
Officials announced the rises onMonday, when they also revealed a further10million Euros would be added the prizefund by 2016. The players who will benefitthe most will be the second, third and fourth-round losers. They will get 25 per cent moremoney this year than last.
That is what the player bodies, the ATPand WTA, have been seeking as they haveargued it is hard for some of the lower-rankedplayers to meet their expenses accrued on
what is a global tour. The announcementcomes just weeks after the US Open deviseda similar plan, increasing their prize moneyto US$33.6 million (£21.9million) for 2013.They have vowed to hit the $50million markby 2017. The Australian Open's total for itsJanuary tournament was Aus$30million(£20.4million). The ball is now in
Wimbledon's court to come up with a similarincrease. The All England Club, which paidout £16.1million in prize money in 2012, isexpected to announce its decision on 2013levels on April 23.MURRAY MUST MASTER CLAY:
Andy Murray insisted on Sunday that theworld No 1 ranking was “not something I
think about on a daily basis”, but as theScot prepares for his first clay-courttournament of the year at the Monte CarloMasters he knows that the next eight weeksare likely to be vital if he is to replaceNovak Djokovic at the summit.
By his own standards Murray had amoderate clay-court season last year,when he was troubled by a backinjury, while Djokovicreached three finals. Theupside for Murray is thatthe 2013 clay campaigngives him an outstandingchance of making upground in the rankings,particularly as Djokovic hasfitness issues. The world No1 hurt an ankle eight days agowhile playing in the Davis Cupand although he has been practisinghere since Friday, he said it was by nomeans certain that he would be fit to playhis opening match on Wednesday. Headmitted he would not be making suchstrenuous efforts to compete if he did not
live just down the road from the MonteCarlo Country Club. Murray, who willmeet the Dutchman Robin Haase orFrance's Edouard Roger-Vasselin in hisopening match after a first-round bye, hasa tough draw. Although the world No 2 isseeded to meet Djokovic in the final, inorder to get there he might have to beatStanislas Wawrinka, Jo-Wilfried Tsongaand Rafael Nadal, who is seeking to win thetitle for the ninth year in a row.
Nevertheless, Murray goes into the clay-court season in much better shape physicallythan 12 months ago. A back problem, whichhad troubled him since the start of 2012 andforced him to withdraw from the MadridMasters, led to his having eight pain-killinginjections before the French Open, where hesuffered severe back spasms. “I've felt muchbetter the last few days than I did coming
into Monte Carlo last year,” Murraysaid. “I think it's something that
will always be with me. [Ineed to do] the rightexercises, have the righttreatment, the rightamount of rest and not doanything silly or playother sports. I used to
play a lot of football andgolf. I've stopped all of that
now and the back has beenbetter.” Although Murray's
results on clay last year were modestas he struggled with his back, hisperformances in 2011, when he reached thesemi-finals here, in Rome and at RolandGarros, showed what he is capable of on thesurface he finds the most challenging.
SPORTS S
Wednesday, 17 April, 2013
16
Murray insiststhat the world No1 ranking is notsomething he
think about on adaily basis
iNCrease iN freNCh oPeNPriZe fuNd aNNouNCed
Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the upcoming Test
series against New Zealand as he continues his recovery from
significant bone bruising to his right knee. – ECB statement.
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
North Zone will support the sittingPresident of Lahore City cricketAssociation Khawaja Nadeem Ahmedin the upcoming elections of the bodyto acknowledge his efforts for therevival of cricket in Lahore.“Nadeem’s services for the cause ofcricket at early level during past threeyears are remarkable and we havetaken a collective decision to lendsupport to him for his re-election,”said North Zone president, MianMubeen at a reception in the honour ofKh Nadeem here on Tuesday at a localhotel. Representatives of 30 clubs, outof a total of 35 were present on theoccasion. Javed Zaman Khan,Mubashar Nazar and veteran umpiresRab Nawaz ,Iftikhar Malik were alsopresent. He said North Zone is acommitted supporter of Nadeem andthey believe there is dire need tocontinue his polices for the overalldevelopment of the game in Lahore.“We have seen a record cricket activitywith new cricket leagues taking placeand sponsors coming in and Lahore’s
team showing encouraging results inthe national tournaments. We stronglybelieve that we should go hand in handto support Nadeem for a bettertomorrow of LCCA,” he added.Speaking on the occasion LCCA Chiefexpressed his gratitude to all the clubsof the North Zone for reposing
confidence on him and assured themhis all out support for achieving acollective cause of uplift of clubcricket. “I inherited a crippledstructure of cricket in LCCA at thetime of my election as president threeyears ago and I devoted my energies tostreamline the affairs of cricket in
Lahore and today we have been able toput the cricket at the right track,” headded. He said LCCA would besupporting Masood Anwar as thePresident of North Zone in the zonalelections of the body as sittingPresident Mubeen is not re-contestingthe elections.
North Zone extends support to Kh Nadeemthree sri Lankanumpires facesuspensionMUMBAI: After the suspension of the
Bangladeshi and Pakistani umpires, now
it is the turn of the Sri Lankan umpires.
"The three Sri Lankan umpires violated
the Code of Conduct and the action is
likely to be taken", the well-placed
source from Colombo suggested. "The
fact-finding committee has completed
the investigations and the report is
likely to be discussed by the higher au-
thorities and they maybe suspended
between 2-5 years", the source added.
All the three Sri Lankans, aged 50, -
Gamini Dissanayake, Sagara Gallage
and Maurice Winston - along with now
banned Bangladeshi and Pakistani um-
pires, were caught in India TV sting op-
eration, where they agreed to fix the
matches or sale the inside information
on pitch and toss. Maurice Winston was
alleged to provide information about
teams, conditions and the toss 90 min-
utes before the match (England vs.
Australia, Sept. 17) in return for a bribe
of Rs 50,000, approximately £600.
Galage also offered the same informa-
tion before the warm-up between Pak-
istan and India and also offered to give
a Pakistani batsman not out during a Sri
Lanka Premier League (SLPL) match.
Gamini Dissanayake had agreed on
favouring his country's players in any
format of the game. bIPIN DANI
JOHANNESBURGAGENCIES
Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday un-veiled exciting new plans to build a Centreof Cricketing Excellence at the current HighPerformance Centre (HPC) at the Univer-sity of Pretoria’s Sports Complex. Knownas the CSA Centre of Excellence, this R30million project was recently given the goahead and approval by the newly formedCSA Board of Directors.
The project is a joint undertaking be-tween CSA and the University who havemade the land available free of charge on along-term basis and will also be used by theUniversity’s own cricket club. In terms ofthe agreement the Centre of Excellence willalso enjoy the use of the University’s maincricket oval. “The CSA Centre of Excellencewill compare more than favourably with sim-ilar centres around the world at Loughbor-
ough in England, Brisbane in Australia andat the International Cricket Council (ICC)headquarters in Dubai,” commented CSAActing CEO Naasei Appiah. “It will con-tribute to the long-term success of cricket inSouth Africa. The support of theUniversity of Pretoria and theHPC and the passion of CSAfor excellence will ensurethat the CSA Centre ofExcellence will be thebest in the world.“Currently all theleading internationalteams have either anexisting high per-formance facilitywith office space for theirhigh performance staff orare in the process of com-pleting their high perform-ance centres. Their ability
to make use of the facility all year roundand in all conditions as well as their abilityto use the best equipment available puts themin a position of strength. “I would also liketo stress that this new facility will be used
across the board for all our nationalteams – the Proteas Castle Lager
and Blue Label Telecoms squads,the Momentum na-
tional women’steam, the Coca-
Cola national under-19 squad as well as our na-
tional squads for the disabledand differently abled cricket.
This facility will not just cater forthe high performance needs of CSA
but will serve as a base forvarious transformation initia-tives of CSA to address the
imbalances within our owncountry.” CSA General Man-
ager: Cricket, Corrie van Zyl, outlined themajor objectives of the new facility. “Ourhigh performance strategy is based on fourpillars: to provide support to all the nationalteams in terms of facilities, equipment, tech-nological support and tour preparation, par-ticularly for out-of-season tours; to bridgethe gap between domestic and internationalcompetition and to close the historical gapswithin our own communities from the past;to support all the feeder structures; and tobroaden the base of potential future interna-tional players. “Research, which will includea video analysis laboratory, is another veryimportant aspect of the new facilities thatwill be made available.
“Another very important aspect will bethe opportunity to set up an ICC-accreditedtesting facility for illegal bowling actions.This will not only mean that CSA can nowtest its own professional players at a fractionof the price but also test professional crick-
eters from all over the world. “Young crick-eters still in their developmental stage canbe tested for possible illegal actions and re-medial work can then be done immediatelyto avoid disappointment further down theline.” The University of Pretoria also wel-comed the expanded relationship with theCSA that represents an extension and con-solidation of the current nine year partner-ship, for another nine years.
“It contributes to the University’s com-mitment to excellence in its core businessof teaching and learning, and research to allits endeavours, including sport. The Uni-versity’s contribution towards the nation’ssporting success internationally as reflectedin the Olympic success in 2012 of athletesthat formed part of its sports system will beextended with the addition of this new andmuch needed facility for CSA,” explainedthe University of Pretoria’s Vice Chancellor,Professor Cheryl de la Rey.
CSA unveils plans for Centre of Excellence
rePreseNtAtivesof 30 clubs giverecePtioN to hoNourlccA PresideNt
ISB 17-04-2013_Layout 1 4/17/2013 6:08 AM Page 17
wenger admitsto wilshere error
LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene
Wenger admits he rushed Jack
Wilshere back too soon - but will take
no more chances with the fitness of
the England midfielder. Wilshere
made his first appearance since the
start of March when he played an
hour of the 3-1 Barclays Premier
League win over Norwich at the
Emirates Stadium on Saturday, but
lacked his usual dynamic drive at the
heartbeat of the team. The 21-year-
old's recovery from any injury lay-off,
the latest a minor ankle problem, is
always carefully monitored given he
spent the whole of the 2011/2012
campaign on the sidelines. Wenger
insists he will not gamble on
Wilshere's fitness again as Arsenal
look to continue their winning streak
at home to Everton on Tuesday night.
"I rushed Jack back a bit. He was not
completely ready," Wenger said on
Arsenal Player. "How careful have I to
be? To listen well to the medical
advice and that is what I have to do,
use him when everything is all right
and listen to him as well, how he
feels. "Jack has been out for six
weeks, so maybe it was a bit too
rushed, what I did. "I will get advice
from the medical department and how
he feels as well and as well use my
experience and the fact I know him
very well. "He practices with me since
he was 16, so I know quite well how
his body responds to things." AGENCIES
ZAREEF MEMORIAL BEATEN
LAHORE: Rising Stars Club outplayed
Zareef Memorial by 5 wickets and
moved to the 3rd round of the 28th M
Yaseen Akhter Memorial Cricket at
Jallo ground the other day.
SCORES: Zareef Memorial 141 all out
in 19.5 overs. Waqas 25, Khuram
Liaqat 23, Umer Butt 26, Yasir 22.
Ghulam Shabir 3/13, Mohsin
Mehmood 2/32, Nasir ullah 2/35,
Amir butt 1/22. Rising Stars 145/5 in
18.3 overs. Naseemullah 11, Abdul
Muqaat 32, Nasir 68(no), Amir Butt
20. Javaid 1/26, Yasir 1/26, Shokat
2/39.
AKHTER CLUB CRUSH QADIR
CLUB
Akhter Abdul Rehman Club has moved
into the 3rd round of 10th M Siddiq
Memorial Cricket Event when they
beat Ghulam Qadir club by 56 runs at
Iqbal PArk ground the other day.
SCORES: Akhtar Abdul Rehman Club
192/7 in 20 overs. Asfand Mehran 77,
Waleed Mubeen 12, Noman Shokat
33, Hafiz Amir (45) no. Zeeshan 2/40,
Murtaza 2/37, Kamran Shokat 1/28.
Ghulam Qadir Memorial Club 136/3 in
20 overs. Adil Khan 24, Mubashar 59
(no), Kamran Shokat 35. Qamar
1/32, Tajamal Ch 2/28.
CROWN CLUB BEAT CHAND
MEMORIAL CLUB
Crown Club moved into the 3rd round
of 28th M Yaseen Akhter Memorial
cricket event when they beat Chand
Memorial club by 8 runs played at
Iqbal PArk ground the other day.
SCORES: Crown Club 145. M Shoaib
20, M Umer 19, Waseem NAeem 10,
Noor ul Ameen 17, Zahid 28 Inayat
ullah 26 (no). Dilawar Bhatti 3/36,
Tanvir 2/20, Ijaz 1/21, Arslan 1/24,
Ahmed 2/18. Chand Memorial club
137/9. Jahanzaib 58, Imran 17,
Rehmat 30. M Shoaib 4/21, Tayaab
3/27.
JALLO GyM IN 3RD ROUND
Jalloo Gym has entered into the 3rd
round of 28th M Yaseen Akhter
Memorial cricket event when they
outplayed Imperial club by 5 runs in
an exciting match played at Jallo
Ground the other day.
SCORES: Jallo Gym 195 all out in
19.3 overs. Amir Usman 33, M Irfan
16, Ashar NAzir 79(no), AsifButt
17(no). Jahanzaib 2/30, Kamal 3/37,
Zulkafil 2/26, Tahir 1/36, HAsan
Mohaudin 1/21. Imperial Club 190/5
in 20 overs. Zulkafil 61, Saqlain
Mohsin 26, M Zahid 53, Nasir Shah
12, Jahanzaib 23. Asif ALi 3/28, Saif
ullah 1/35.
PINDI GyM ADVANCE
Pindi Gym has marched into the 3rd
round of 28th M Yaseen Akhter
Memorial cricket event by 4 wickets
played at Townshship Whites ground
on the other day.
SCORES: Iqbal Town Gym 132/9.
Javaid 16, Faraz 11, Yasir 10, Zahid
20, Abdurehman 28. Asif 3/47,
Farhan 2/32, Abid 3/18. Pindi Gym
136/6. NAdeem Ahmed 27, Imtiaz 16,
Umer 10, Asad Khan 46, Asif 12.
Junaid 2/24, Yasir 1/33, Faraz 2/24,
Abu bakar 1/17. STAFF REPORT
SPORTSS
Wednesday, 17 April, 2013
17It can happen to anyone. Fernando
(Alonso) didn't finish the last race
(in Malaysia). – Lewis Hamilton
PUNEAGENCIES
Aaron Finch’s 45-ball innings of 67proved to be the match-winningcontribution as the Pune Warriors heldoff the Chennai Super Kings by 24 runsin their Pepsi IPL clash at the MAChidambaram Stadium in Chennai onMonday. The Australian’s 10 fours andtwo sixes, along with Steve Smith’sremarkable undefeated 16-ball cameo of39 at the death, catapulted the visitors toa total of 159 for six. Only SouthAfrican Chris Morris starred with theball for Chennai, as he recorded figuresof 4-0-25-2.
The Super Kings reply rarelythreatened and only SubramaniamBadrinath (34) and Ravindra Jadeja’s (27)fourth-wicket partnership of 46
contributed significantly to the eventualtotal of 135 for eight. BhuvneshwarKumar was the shining light with the ball
for the Pune outfit, as he producedimmaculate figures of two for 12 in hisfour overs. Ashok Dinda (4-0-24-2) and
Mitchell Marsh (4-0-35-2) also chipped inwith two wickets apiece. The Warriors'second win of the competition sees themmove up a place into seventh in thestandings, while MS Dhoni’s team sit justone place higher by virtue of theirsuperior net run-rate. With his teamhaving earlier won the toss and elected tobat, Finch wasted little time in showinghis intent as he mauled countryman DirkNannes (4-0-42-0) for three boundaries inthe opening over.CHENNAI SUPER KINGS: S Anirudha,
M Vijay, SK Raina, S Badrinath, DJ
Bravo, MS Dhoni (capt & wk), RA
Jadeja, CH Morris, JA Morkel, R Ashwin,
DP Nannes
PUNE WARRIORS: RV Uthappa (wk),
AJ Finch, MK Pandey, LRPL Taylor (capt),
AM Nayar, SPD Smith, TL Suman, MR
Marsh, B Kumar, R Sharma, AB Dinda
Finch magic steers Pune to victory
LONDONAGENCIES
Manchester United striker WayneRooney appears to have struck a deal tojoin Paris Saint-Germain, according toa source in France. Michel Moulin, whois a former advisor to the Ligue 1leaders, went on French TV anddeclared: "Rooney to PSG is done." "Iannounce from trusted sources, he willbe at PSG next season," he said. Moulinis now the owner of media outlet LeSport 10 and some have viewed hiscomments as a publicity stunt to boostthe profile of his company.
There is genuine interest from PSGregarding Rooney but United manager SirAlex Ferguson has never indicated theclub would be willing to part with theirtalisman. "He will be here next year, youhave my word on that," Ferguson said at apress conference in early March.
The long-serving United managerwas addressing rumours of a bust-upbetween the pair as well as flurry ofreports suggesting the 27-year-old
England striker's future at the club wasuncertain. Ferguson brought on thespeculation himself by droppingRooney to the bench for a crucial UEFAChampions League second leg last-16tie against Real Madrid at Old Trafford.The Scot's decision was "tactical" withUnited opting to use summer signingRobin van Persie as its only recognised
striker in the starting line-up, but it didraise a question mark over Rooney'sstatus in the team. Since the departureof Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid inthe summer of 2009, Rooney had takenon the mantle of United's key player.Events at Old Trafford against Madridlast month, seemed to point that thisrole has now lessened.
Rooney to PSG is done deal
LOCAL CRICKET NEWSLONDON: AKenyan athleteruns on theLondon Marathonroute next to alarge group offans and security.
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TEN SPORTSGerman Cup:Stuttgart v SC Freiburg11:55 PM
STAR SPORTSBarclays League:Arsenal v Everton12:09 AM
GEO SUPERIPL: Warriors v Sunrisers 03:30 PM Royals v Mum Indians 07:30 PM
wapda, Punjabshare honours inNational CyclingLAHORE: Wapda and Punjab shared
honours on day two of the National Cy-
cling Championship winning two events
each here on Tuesday. Wapda won the
individual road time trial and road
scratch race as Punjab stamped their
supremacy in the road team time trial
and three kilometre team pursuit.
Wapda's Shazia Mubarik led her side to
gold in the individual road time trial in
which MehwishIqbal of HEC took the sil-
ver followed by Romana Liaquat of Pun-
jab. Wapda's riders continue to shine
when Ayesha Amin won the road
scratch race. Shazia Mubarik ofWapda
finished second and Nimra of Punjab got
the third place. Punjab halted Wapdas
further advance by winning the road
team time trial through its team com-
prising Romna, Alvina, Mariyum,Zon-
era, Rimra,Zartash . HEC team of
Sidra, Mehwish, Maria, Asma and Asia
won the silver medal and Wapda Team
having Ayesha, Shahzia, Ghazala got
the bronze medal. Punjabs team fur-
ther frustrated the hopes of Wapda rid-
ers for winning another gold by taking
the 3km team pursuit.Punjab Team
comprised Romna, Alvina, ,Nimra,Nida
HEC Team of Sidra,Mehwish, Maria,
Asma won the silver medal and Wapda
Team of Ayesha, Shahzia, Ghazal-
abagged the bronze medal. On
Wednesday the final day, track events
will be held at cycling velodrome . Pres-
ident, Pakistan Olympic Association, Lt
Gen retd Syed Arif Hasan will be the
chief guest on the occasion. STAFF REPORT
SPORTS SWednesday, 17 April, 2013
18I know Sergio is not satisfied with
his performance at the weekend, nor
should he be. – Martin Whitmarsh
wAtCh It LIve
AUGUSTAAGENCIES
World number one Tiger Woods refused towonder "What if?" after coming up short inhis bid for a fifth Masters title and first majorvictory since 2008 at Augusta. Woods cardeda final round of 70 to finish in a tie for fourth,four shots outside the play-off contested byAdam Scott and Angel Cabrera.
Four shots also happened to be thedifference between a likely birdie on the par-five 15th in his second round and the eighthe eventually ended up with, his approachhitting the pin and bouncing back into thewater and ultimately leading to a two-shotpenalty for taking an incorrect drop.
"We could do that 'what if?' in everytournament we lose," the 37-year-old said.
"We lose more tournaments than we win outhere on tour, so that's just part of the processand I'll go back to it." Asked if he thoughtabout the penalty, Woods added: "No, notwhen I'm playing. Absolutely not. I got tofocus on what I need to do, where I need toplace the golf ball and shoot the lowest scoreI possibly could at that moment.
"I thought 65 would win it outright today[Sunday]. I thought that was going to be thenumber and it looks like it was. If I wouldhave shot my number, it might have been adifferent story. "I had a tough time gettingaccustomed to the speed of the greens, theywere so much slower than yesterday. I leftevery putt short on the first eight holes. "Iplayed well but unfortunately did not makeenough putts and missed a few shots here andthere. I had an opportunity today [Sunday]."
No ‘what if’ for Woods after Masters miss
robertsonconfident overLondon Marathon
LONDONAGENCIES
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has stressedthe London Marathon should go ahead onSunday and was "absolutely confident" itcould be kept safe. This comes after two ex-plosions brought a tragic end to its Bostonequivalent on Monday. Race organisers onMonday night confirmed the showpiece an-nual event in the capital will take place de-spite three people being killed and manymore injured in Boston. Robertson said onBBC Radio Five: "The best way for us to re-act is to push ahead with the marathon onSunday, to get people on the streets and tocelebrate it as we always do in London - andto send a very clear message that we won't becowered by this sort of behaviour." He toldthe BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "Theseare balance of judgments but we are ab-solutely confident here that we can keep theevent safe and secure. "I think this is one ofthose incidents where the best way to showsolidarity with Boston is to continue and senda very clear message to those responsible."
MONTE CARLOAGENCIES
THE clay-court season beginswith the Monte Carlo Masters,and for one Rafael Nadal, thepath of redemption continues.
Ever since Nadal defied his critics to liftthe BNP Paribas Open title in Indian Wells,tennis fans have been waiting with batedbreath for the start of clay-court season tosee if he can continue his renaissance.
The Spaniard will walk along thehalls of the Monte Carlo Country Clubaware that he is the overwhelmingfavourite in the first of three dress re-hearsals for the French Open (the Madridand Rome Masters being the other two),especially with world number one NovakDjokovic struggling slightly due to anankle injury picked up while serving hiscountry in the Davis Cup. Roger Federerand David Ferrer have chosen to sit thisone out, leaving Djokovic and US Openwinner Andy Murray as the main obsta-cles in Nadal's bid for a ninth MonteCarlo Masters win.HERE WE PREDICT HOW THE TOP
PLAyERS WILL FARE.
FIRST QUARTER
SEEDS: NOVAK DJOKOVIC [1],
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO [5]
Djokovic is battling to recover from injury in
time for his second round opener against
either Mikhail Youzhny or Daniel Gimeo-
Traver, but the outlook looks good for the
Serbian, who has made it through several
practice sessions with coach Marian Vajda
since arriving in France.
Potential third-round opponent Juan Monaco
will not stand much of chance against
Djokovic once the Australian Open winner
gets going, so Djokovic's first true test will
come in the quarter-final against Del Potro.
With four clay court titles under his belt, Del
Potro knows all about winning on clay and
his impressive performance in Indian Wells
should give him confidence to challenge the
bigger fishes in Monte Carlo.
He won't have it easy though. He's up
against the flashy Alexandr Dogolpolov
before a likely clash with the young
firebomber Milos Raonic in the third round.
That said, I'm still backing the Tower of
Tandil to come through these early tests and
then scalp Djokovic - given the world
number one's injury woes.
SECOND QUARTER
SEEDS: TOMAS BERDYCH [4], RICHARD
GASQUET [7]
Fourth seed Berdych has a decent enough
record on clay, making it all the way to the
Madrid Masters final last year and the French
Open semi-finals in 2010. The Monte Carlo
draw has also been kind to him, as the likes
of Marcel Granollers and Andreas Seppi are
unlikely to be good enough to stop the Czech
from advancing to quarter-finals.
Gasquet might force Berdych to work for a
place in the last four, but the Frenchman will
fall to his higher-ranked opponent.
THIRD QUARTER
SEEDS: RAFAEL NADAL
[3], JANKO TIPSAREVIC [8]
The last time Nadal suffered a defeat in
Monte Carlo, he was a mere teenager of 16.
That alone should be sufficient to illustrate
the task his rivals are faced with if they
intend to snatch the crown from him.
Having chosen to sit out the Miami Masters
to rest his knees, the 26-year old will go into
this tournament refreshed and should see off
compatriot Fernando Verdasco easily in his
opener. Janko Tipseravic or Gilles Simon
await Nadal in the quarter-final after he
beats 16th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber -
opponents the Manacor-born player should
see off easily to set up a semi-final meeting
with Murray.
FOURTH QUARTER
SEEDS: ANDY MURRAY [2],
JO-WILFRIED TSONGA [6]
Going into Monte Carlo hot on the heels of a
win in Miami, Murray has spoken openly
about wanting to do well on the clay court
this year. The dangerous Stanislas Wawrinka
is the Brit's first real challenge after second
round opponent Robin Haase, but Murray
should pull through for a quarter-final
meeting with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
After Tsonga, the world number two will
have to put his money where his mouth is
when he faces Nadal in the semi-finals.
Murray's relatively bare clay court trophy
cabinet is a clear sign of the odds stacked
against him. Expect him to provide some
resistance but ultimately crumble against the
Spaniard.
SEMI-FINALS
DEL POTRO VS BERDYCH
NADAL VS MURRAY
FINAL
DEL POTRO VS NADAL
WINNER
NADAL
AUGUSTAAGENCIES
It may always play second fiddle to theRyder Cup, but Masters champion AdamScott has revealed the pivotal role thePresidents Cup has played in his career.Scott's game was in a rut when he receiveda captain's pick from his idol Greg Normanfor the International Team in 2009, theAustralian having missed the cut in three ofthe year's four majors.
And although the United States won byfive points in San Francisco and Scottclaimed just one win, the 32-year-old
received a major confidence boost fromNorman and team-mate Angel Cabrera - theman he beat in Sunday's play-off at Augusta.SCOTT PAYS TRIBUTE TO
‘INSPIRATIONAL’ NORMAN: AdamScott paid tribute to Australian great GregNorman after breaking his major duck,and that of his nation at the Masters.
Scott saw off Angel Cabrera at thesecond hole of a sudden-death play-off atAugusta to win the 77th Masters and laythe ghost of Lytham last year, when hebogeyed the last four holes of the Open tolose by one stroke to Ernie Els. "I don'tknow how that happens," Scott said of
Sunday's dramatic finale. "It seems a longway away from last July when I was tryingto win another major. "It fell my waytoday [Sunday], there was some luckthere. It was incredible."SCOTT VICTORY REIGNITES
ANCHOR PUTTER DEBATE: AdamScott's Masters victory helped prevent onerules debate re-igniting, but it also broughtanother back to the top of the agenda forgolf's governing bodies. Scott claimed hisfirst major title with a birdie on the secondhole of his play-off with 2009 championAngel Cabrera, ending Australia's 77-yearwait for a winner at Augusta.
Scott grateful for Presidents Cup
Nadal primed to defendMonte Carlo crown
NADAL REFUSES TO TALK ABOUT KNEEMONACO: Rafael Nadal will talk about almost anything except his knee injury
as he bids to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the ninth straight time. The
Spaniard has made an impressive return to the circuit after seven months out
with a left knee injury, reaching the final of the four tournaments he's played in
- winning three - and racing to a career best 17-1 start to the season. “A lot of
talk about the knee for the last year, and I think it's not good to talk about that
anymore. I'm here and competing and so I prefer to focus on the tennis,” the
26-year-old Nadal said Monday. “Talking (about) the knee every day doesn't
help ... (whether) the knee is 50, 90, 80, 100 percent doesn't change the
situation that I am going to be in.” As well as looking to continue his Monte
Carlo winning streak, which stands at 42 matches, Nadal is aiming to extend his
Masters record to 23 titles. Speaking to reporters ahead of his second-round
match on Wednesday, Nadal was keen to turn his attention away from a long
spell on the sidelines which caused him to miss the London Olympics. AGENCIES
FRUSTRATED MCILROY BEMOANS COSTLY ERRORSAUGUSTA: Frustration was the overriding emotion for Rory McIlroy as his bid for a
first Masters title ended on Sunday. The 23-year-old Northern Irishman carded a
closing 69 at Augusta, 10 shots better than his third round, to finish the week two
over par, meaning he has yet to finish better than 15th in
five attempts. "I know I've played good enough golf
here to win, it's just a matter of stringing it all
together," McIlroy said. "I was in a good position and
did not quite have it all yesterday
[Saturday] and that really cost
me. "You have to be right on
your game for 72 holes here, I
played a five-hole stretch in five over and that
was really it. I played nicely again today
[Sunday], if I just limit the mistakes from
yesterday [Saturday] I am right there. AGENCIES
ISB 17-04-2013_Layout 1 4/17/2013 6:08 AM Page 19
Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.
Wednesday, 17 April, 2013
KARACHIAFTAb CHANNA
wHILE it is being assumed thatthe Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F)-led tenparty grand alliance will give
a tough time to the Pakistan People’sParty (PPP), the situation on the groundis changing, as the alliance is set to cometo its end within a few days, PakistanToday has learnt.
Though millions of people of Sindhwho look towards the Pir Pagara-led PML-F for a real change of faces, insiders opinedthe PML-F was under pressure from na-tionalists and was sidelining its own lead-ers. Interestingly, the Hurs and thoseengaged in provincial politics are beingsidelined by the PML-F leadership and themove would not help the people see Pa-gara’s leadership as a PPP replacement.
This attitude would also likely help theformer rulers to secure majority in the up-coming elections. Nearly all political par-ties, excluding the ruling PPP and MQM,had gathered under the umbrella of PML-Fto form an electoral alliance in Sindh to givea tough time to the PPP-led ruling coalition.
The alliance, which consisted of 10political parties, was to field joint candi-
dates to against the PPP and MQM.The grand alliance included PML-F,
PML-N, JUI-F, JI, Pakistan SunniTehreek, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP),National People’s Party (NPP), SindhUnited Party (SUP), Sindh Taraqi PasandParty (STPP) and Awami Tehreek (AT).
Interestingly, when Pakistan Todayvisited the Functional House of the PML-F on Wednesday, it was witnessed thatold faces of the PML-F came out withlong faces, as their devotion and sinceritywas sidelined by the PML-F leadership.
Insiders said two meetings were heldat the Functional House that were at-tended by Hussain Mehnati of JI, LiaquatJatoi, Saleem Zia and Nehal Hashmi ofthe PML-N, Syed Jalal Mehmood Shahand Zain Shah of Sindh United Party.
Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah of SUP se-cured support for his seat from Jamshoro,however, he also succeeded in securing an-other seat of PS-27 Sakrand (district Sha-heed Benazirabad), sidelining the PML-Fleader Ghulam Irtaza alias Shahrukh Unar.PML-F sources said SUP leader Syed JalalMehmood Shah wanted to bring his closerelative Syed Zain Shah from PS-27Sakrand due to it being a stronghold ofPML-F. However, PML-F leader GhulamIrtaza alias Shahrukh was the most poten-
tial candidate as he had more than 8,000votes of his tribe and 15,000 votes ofPML-F die-heart supporters.
Interestingly, PML-F President SyedZahid Shah also attended the meeting tosupport Ghulam Irtaza Unar, however, Im-tiaz Shaikh shut him up during the meet-ing, forcing him to leave the meeting. Thesenior leaders, who wished not to benamed, told Pakistan Today that YasirShah, nephew of Pir Pagara, and ImtiazShaikh were also at loggerheads over dis-tribution of party tickets. “This is whyYasir Shah avoided attending the meetingas he was in favour of fielding PML-Fleaders on majority of seats, however, Im-tiaz was trying to please nationalists to getpopularity instead of providing the masseswith replacement of PPP in shape of PirPagara-led leadership,” they said.
It was noticed that the local leader-ship was also against the grand alliancewith nationalist parties, as they fearedthe PML-F would lose its growing pop-ularity. Furthermore, the sources saidPir Pagara had called an emergencymeeting of all heads of the 10-party al-liance today (Wednesday) to knowabout the future of the alliance and itwas expected that the alliance wouldreach its end there.
ISLAMABADTAYYAb HUSSAIN
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which trumpeted the mantra of fair playand judicious distribution of party tickets forthe forthcoming general elections, has left allother political parties far behind in the race ofinjudicious distribution of tickets. The kith andkin of the PML-N leadership have grabbed alion’s share in the distribution of party ticketsfor reserved and general seats.
The Sharif family is leading the race andabout 30 percent of tickets have been awardedto close relatives of the family. The party’s In-formation Secretary Mushahidullah Khan, whois a senator himself, has managed two party tick-ets for his daughters for the reserved seats of theNational and Sindh assemblies respectively.
Another PML-N leader, Saad Rafique, whoalways talks about principles and democracy, hasreportedly fought hard to gain a handsome shareof party tickets for his family. He himself wouldcontest from NA-125, while his younger brotherSalman Rafique would contest for a Punjab As-sembly seat. Another close relative of Saad hasbeen accommodated on reserved seats for women.Saad’s wife Ghazala has also served as an MPA ona reserved seat in the previous term, while Salmanwas adviser to the chief minister on health.
Another Leaguer, Jaffer Iqbal Gujjar, isnot far behind Saad Rafiq, as he has also suc-ceeded in winning four tickets for his family.
His son Umer Jafar, daughter Zeb Jafar, son-in-law Faisal Iqbal and niece Maiza Hameed Gu-
jjar have been awarded tickets for the upcomingelections. PML-N Chairman and Senator Raja Za-farul Haq’s niece was also awarded a ticket. Thenew entrant into the party’s fold, Amir Muqam,was rewarded for parting ways with the PML-Qand has been given two tickets, disappointingmany aspirants who blame a few influentials inthe party for the withdrawal of their names.
Pervaiz Malik is contesting for a NationalAssembly seat from Lahore and his wife hasbeen selected on a reserved seat for the Na-tional Assembly. Marvi Memon, who is con-testing election on the general seat of PS-88from Thatta, is also on the list of reserved seats
Similarly, PML-N provincial leader NehalHashmi’s wife Faryal Rabab Hashmi was neverseen in any activity of the party, but her name isin the priority list for women’s reserved seats.“Despite tall claims of bringing in new faces inthe forthcoming elections, the PML-N kept its oldtradition alive and only a handful of powerful bigguns kept the ideological and loyal party workersat bay by once again winning a lion’s share inaward of tickets for their families in the comingelections,” said Nayyar Sultana, a diehard partyworker. “PML-N’s loyal leaders and workers –who stood beside the Sharif brothers in thick andthin and kept fighting the war for the party’s sur-vival when their leadership left them in the lurchby settling themselves in Saudi Arabia –have beengiven a cold shoulder, and tickets have beenawarded on the basis of nepotism, likes and dis-likes,” she added. Despite repeated attempts,PML-N Information Secretary MushahidullahKhan did not respond to Pakistan Today’s calls.
Pagara-led grand allianceagainst PPP likely to end?
Democracy at its best: Kith and kingrab a lion’s share of PML-N tickets
19
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