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Friday, 26 April, 2013 Jamadul Sani 15, 1434Rs 17.00 Vol III No 299 19 Pages Lahore Edition
story on page 02
eCp rules out delay in elections
Do not vote,warn ttp threatpamphlets
sC orders audit of information Ministry’ssecret fund
story on page 02 story on page 02 story on page 03
stories on page 19
story on page 04
story on page 18
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02
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Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan
before the withdrawal of foreign
troops. – Maleeha Lodhi
do not vote, warnTTP threatpamphletsKARACHI: The banned Tehreek-e-Tal-iban Pakistan (TTP) distributed pam-phlets in Buner, Peshawar and differentareas of Karachi warning citizens not toparticipate in the upcoming elections.Leaflets were distributed in various areasof Karachi warning people against at-tending political rallies and casting theirvotes at polling stations. Local adminis-tration and security officials were report-edly unaware of any such incident. Thepamphlets warned voters that they wouldbe responsible for their own lives. TTPspokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan told amedia outlet that democracy was un-Is-lamic and was the agenda of secularforces in Pakistan due to which theywere opposed to it. He added that themilitant organisation would continue itsfight against secular forces and govern-ments which were backed by externalsecular countries. Pamphlets were re-ceived near a mosque in Shingrai inShalbandi area of Buner warning resi-dents against taking part in upcomingelections. Local residents and securitypersonnel confirmed that the threateningleaflets were distributed in the areawhich had warned of similar conse-quences to those of the 2008 by-electionsin the area. The pamphlets were issuedby Taliban militants based in Malakanddivision’s Swat area. Similar pamphletswere distributed in Peshawar’s Badaber,Mattni and Adizai areas. AGENCIES
Pakistan ulema Council declares voting ‘islamic responsibility’
ISLAMABAD: Religious scholars fromthe Pakistan Ulema Council have issueda fatwa that declares not casting vote asin, adding that voting was an Islamic re-sponsibility. The fatwa further states thatwomen have equal rights to vote, addingthat it was not religion that barred themfrom voting but the feudal system. ONLINE
2 PmL-n leaders jailed for dual nationality, fake degree SAHIWAL/KASUR: The district andsessions courts of Kasur and Sahiwal onThursday sentenced another two PML-N leaders Rao Mazhar Hayat in a fakedegree case and Zahid Iqbal in a dualnationality case. Sahiwal sessionscourt sent PML-N leader Zahid Iqbal tojail for 15 months in dual nationalitycase. Sessions Judge Mushtaq Ahmedalso imposed a Rs15,000 fine on Iqbal.He was immediately arrested as hecame out of the court. Separately,Kasur District and Sessions Judge TariqIftikhar Ahmed sent PML-N leader RaoMazhar Hayat to jail for two years in afake degree case. Hayat was also finedRs 20,000. INP
KARACHI/QUETTA/PESHAWARSTAFF REPORT
IN continuing incidents of vio-lence that threaten holding of thegeneral election on May 11, atleast 12 more people, includingsix political workers and four
personnel of law enforcement agencies,were killed in separate incidents of vio-lence in Karachi, Balochistan’s Noshkidistrict and Karak district in KhyberPakhtunkhwa on Thursday, while severalother were left seriously injured.KARACHI BOMBING
At least five supporters of the Mut-tahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) werekilled and 13 others wounded when a blastripped through the party’s election officein the Nusrat Bhutto Colony area onThursday night. This is the second bombattack on the MQM in as many days.Three party workers were killed in the firstbombing targeting the party’s election of-fice at People’s Chowrangi.
Initial reports suggested that the bombwas planted in a motorcycle near theMQM election office. The explosion dam-aged nearby buildings and vehicles.Sources said that three brothers wereamong the five deceased.MQM CALLS FOR STRIKE
Reacting strongly to the bomb attack,the MQM Coordination Committee has
postponed its election rally in Nawab Shahscheduled for today (Friday) until Satur-day, and appealed to traders, transportersand citizens to join the party in mourningthe loss of its party workers and condemn-ing the attacks on political parties in aSindh-wide strike.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pak-istan (TTP) has claimed responsibility forthe attack. Speaking to a media outlet,TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said themilitants had targeted the MQM as theyvowed to do so in the past. In nearby Hy-derabad, a Rangers personnel was killedwhen unidentified men attacked theRangers Headquarters in the city. BALOCHISTAN ATTACK
In Balochistan’s Noshki area, one per-son was killed and another was injured ina hand grenade attack on the election of-fice of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) can-
didate Sardar Umar Gorgach, who is alsoa former federal minister.
Three persons were also killed in var-ious parts of the volatile province while anElection Commission office was attackedin Kalat.
According to reports, the party work-ers were sitting in the office in the mainNoshki bazaar when two persons riding amotorcycle threw a hand grenade on them,killing one person instantly.
Furthermore, unidentified attackersthrew a hand grenade in the premises of anElection Commission office in Kalat. Thegrenade landed with a huge blast butcaused no damage. Moreover, unknownpersons gunned down a police constablein a shooting on a Chamalang-bound pas-senger wagon in Loralai town.
In Awaran district, two unidentifiedmotorcyclists killed a man while another
was left injured with multiple bulletwounds. ENCOUNTER IN KARAK
A bloody encounter between militantsand police in Karak left two police offi-cials and four militants dead while threepolicemen were injured, police said.
On a tip-off about the presence of mil-itants in the Teri area in Banda Daudshahtehsil, the police started a search operation.When the militants saw the police party,they started indiscriminate firing. The po-lice retaliated and in the ensuing encounterthat continued for several hours, ASIKhurshid Khan, Constable Ashraf Zahidand four of the militants were killed. PARACHINAR ATTACK
In Parachinar, a man was killed andthree more were injured when a tractorcollided with an improvised explosive de-vice (IED) planted on the roadside.
Terrorism monsTerdevours 12 more
Six political activiStSand four lawenforcementperSonnel amongthoSe killed inviolence in karachi,noShki and karak
ISLAMABADSTAFF REPORT
After expressing satisfaction over security arrangementsput in place by provincial governments for the May11 elections, the Election Commission of Pak-istan on Thursday ruled out any possibilityof delay in elections. A meeting held at theECP on Thursday reviewed securityarrangements in detail. Representatives ofECP, NADRA, Defence Ministry,Rangers, Ministry of Interior, Ministry ofLaw and all four provincial governmentsparticipated. CEC Fakhruddin G Ebrahimafter reviewing security arrangements ex-pressed satisfaction. During the meeting,Defence Secretary Asif Yaseen Malik sug-gested the Election Commission to use army asa “Quick Response Force” on polling day to maintainlaw and order. The army would also perform security dutiesat marked sensitive polling stations, the CEC was told. The
meeting discussed the strategy pertaining to security of polit-ical leadership during electioneering and polling stations onthe polling day and the participants shared views over the sub-
ject. It was decided that modalities to deploy armywould be left for the military commanders and
local administration so that the force could beused per need. The ECP also decided to con-
tact WAPDA chairman and finance secre-tary so that there was no load-sheddingbetween May 11 and 13 to keep the elec-tion process smooth. Security in the up-coming polls has been a major problemfor the government and the ECP, as sev-eral political parties and leaders have be-
come target of terrorist during theircandidatures, particularly in KP. After the
meeting, ECP Secretary Isthiak Ahmed Khansaid all provincial secretaries and defence sec-
retary assured the commission that they would en-sure peaceful environment for the elections. He said thatElections would be held on May 11 at all cost.
Amnesty urges authoritiesto probe election violenceISLAMABAD: Amnesty International called onPakistan Thursday to investigate a wave of attacksand threats against politicians and election workersthat have marred the run-up to key polls next month.At least 26 people have been killed by bombers andgunmen since April 11, including 16 mown downby a suicide bomber at a rally by the Awami Na-tional Party (ANP) in Peshawar, according to anAFP tally. Militants have directly threatened thethree main parties in the outgoing government, thePakistan People’s Party (PPP), the ANP and theMuttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which areoften described as secular. “This has been a particu-larly deadly election period marked by an alarmingsurge in attacks and intimidation of political ac-tivists and election officials,” said Mustafa Qadri,Amnesty’s Pakistan researcher, in an open letter.Amnesty said at least 37 people had been killed and183 injured in attacks on election officials and partyrepresentatives and supporters countrywide. As a re-sult of the threats, there have been few large-scalepolitical rallies leading to a lacklustre campaign forthe May 11 polls. “With these deliberate attacks, thearmed groups have shown flagrant disregard forhuman rights, including the rights to life, freedom ofexpression and freedom of peaceful assembly,”Qadri said. AGENCIES
ECP rules out delay in elections
KARACHI: A rescue worker and Rangers personnel inspect the damage
after a bomb attack on the office of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on
Thursday night in which five people were killed and 13 injured. ONLINE
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Friday, 26 April, 2013
Caretaker govt is extending all possible assistance
to Elelection Commission in conducting the general
elections. – Prime Minister Hazar Khan Khoso
sC wants AG, Law ministryto speed up process ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed theattorney general of Pakistan and the Law Ministry to speed upthe process for issuing an ordinance to give the right of fran-chise to expatriates. The three-member bench headed by ChiefJustice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising JusticeGulzar Ahmad and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed resumed thehearing into identical constitutional petitions by Imran Khanand others. During the course of the proceedings, the CJP said itwas the desire of the constitution not that of the Supreme Courtand it was the court’s obligation to follow the constitution.Deputy Attorney General Ali Zai informed the court of the gov-ernment’s concern that granting voting rights to overseas Pak-istanis was almost impossible as it needed a lot of time. “Thesoftware is untested which is the real problem and testing thesoftware is not possible before May 11,” he said. The CJP saidprima facie the government was not serious in providing votingrights to overseas Pakistanis. “All the stockholders are willingbut the government is using delaying tactics,” the CJP said. APP
ISLAMABADONLINE
THE Supreme Courthas ordered FederalAudit DG Dr AsifurRehman to scruti-nise Rs 180 million
utilised from the secret fund of In-formation Ministry within threeweeks.
The three-member bench underthe chairmanship of Justice JawwadS Khawaja started hearing the caseon Thursday.
Attorney General Irfan Qadirraised objections about the publicis-ing and audit of the secret fund ofMinistry of Information and Broad-casting. He said his character assas-sination was being carried out in themedia and the court should take no-tice of it.
The bench sought reply fromthe attorney general, Ministry of In-formation and Broadcasting andother concerned on May 2.
Justice Khawaja said theamount was taken from the pock-ets of the public, so the courtwould take account of every singlepenny. Clean journalists wouldcome out from the audit, the courtsaid.
It asked the Ministry of Infor-mation to provide the list of benefi-ciaries of the secret fund after theattestation of three officers of theministry. “If the list proves bogus,
the court will take action against theofficer who attested it.”ASMA’S LASHES OUT
The SC’s decision to publishthe list of journalists who were al-legedly paid by the InformationMinistry from its secret funds drewflak from Asma Jahangir, who is ep-resenting journalists who denied re-
ceiving any such benefits.“The Supreme Court’s website
is not a gossip column. There is alimit to such things,” a visiblyangry Jahangir told the bench.
As the hearing of the casebegan today, several journalistsfiled applications saying theirnames had been falsely included inthe said list.
Responding to Asma’s criti-cism, Justice Khawaja said the listwas corroborated and signed by thesecretary and director general of theconcerned ministry.
Jahangir however said the SCdid not publish the names of hard-ened criminals on its website.
“Instead you have put orangesand apples in one box,” Asma re-sponded.
Furthermore, Justice Khawajasaid the list was published in orderto inform the world about the truth;
hence, theapex courtdirected theaudit of thelist. He alsosaid that thej u d i c i a r ywas not a
holy cow.Moreover, Jahangir said the
court should get out of the state ofself-righteousness and stop engag-ing in ‘loose talk’. Attorney GeneralIrfan Qadir objected to her remarks.
Federal Audit DG Dr AsifurRehman told the court that he ap-peared on behalf of the AuditorGeneral of Pakistan and that theyreceived the list and order of thecourt two days earlier. “The matterpertains to Rs 860 million and itsaudit may be completed withinthree weeks or more time.”
Justice Khawaja said manycontroversies had been createdabout the usage of secret fund as ithad not been audited in the past.
“Once the audit would be con-ducted everything would becomeclear.”
Senior Journalist ShakeelTurabi said offi-cials of the min-istry had notadded names oftheir blue-eyedjournalists in thelist that washanded over tothe court. Tothis, the courtsaid their nameswould also comeout.
Absar Alamsaid his commu-nity wanted
audit of secret fund but the name ofthe innocent people should be re-moved who did not benefit from thesecret fund.
The court adjourned the hearinguntil May 2.
nAB ends RPP probewithout informing sC
sC orders audit of infoministry’s secret fund
the supreMe Court’swebsite is not agossip ColuMn.there is a liMit tosuCh things!
expats’ right to vote (
(
LHC orders action against 14 candidates LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday orderedaction against 14 candidates in Articles 62 and 63 implementa-tion case. A full bench resumed hearing and issued the order totake action against 14 contesting candidates. The court also sum-moned record from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) regarding 1,319 candi-dates who had moved appeals in the court. In this regard, theState Bank, NAB and the FBR have been issued notices for fur-ther proceeding. The court has made it clear that the main job ofthe Election Commission of Pakistan is not limited to the holdingof general elections; rather it has to do a lot of things after elec-tions. “If anybody wants a medal in this regard, he would be be-stowed with special award after elections,” said the court order.On the other hand, the ECP is of the view that it was busy inmaking arrangements for holding of free and fair elections. Like-wise, the FBR is of the opinion that the data of more than 600candidates was provided to the ECP but returning officers hadnot conducted scrutiny honestly. AGENCIES
Terrorists trying toderail polls: Habib
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker InteriorMinister Malik Habib on Thursday saidsome external and internal elementswanted to derail electoral process inPakistan. He said the caretaker govern-ment had formulated an effective strat-egy to maintain peace and tranquility inthe county during polls. Talking to aprivate TV channel, Habib said that lawenforcers had identified the elementswhich wanted to spread unrest inKarachi during electoral process. Heclaimed that morale of law-enforce-ment agencies was high to tackle ter-rorists in the country. The caretakergovernment was coordinating with lawenforcers to formulate strategy againstterrorists. To a question, he claimedthat the caretaker government wouldestablish a peaceful environment dur-ing polls. The caretaker governmentwas using all resources to maintainpeace across the country, he added.He said that symbolic presence duringpolls was necessary across the countryduring polls, adding that Rangers per-sonnel would be deployed inside thesensitive polling stations. He claimedthat the caretaker government wouldset all to ensure free, fair and transpar-ent elections in the country. He saidthat maximum security would be as-sured to the polling staff during polls toavoid the incidents of harassment. Toanother question, he said that the care-taker government would remove thereservations of all political stakeholdersof Balochistan and Karachi regardingsecurity issues. APP
MONITORING DESK
The National Accountability Bureau(NAB) discreetly ended its investigationinto the high-profile Rental Power Plants(RPPs) corruption case involving formerprime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf lastmonth without informing the SupremeCourt, according to media reports.
In fact, not only was the SC notkept in the loop, NAB also sought moretime from the apex court on Wednesdayto conduct further investigations despitealready closing the case.
During Wednesday’s proceedings,which were headed by Chief JusticeIftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, NABProsecutor General (Accountability)KK Agha requested the court to grantan extra month to the bureau so that itcould complete its investigation. Thistime, Agha said, was needed to complywith the court’s orders regarding thefiling of references against the accusedbefore the accountability court and forinitiating action against them.
However, official documentsavailable with a local newspaper re-vealed that the investigation into theRPPs scandal was ended three days be-fore the end of the Pakistan People’sParty-led government’s tenure. OnMarch 13, the executive board meetingof NAB closed the investigations intothe alleged corrupt practices and mis-use of authority in awarding the 192megawatts RPP contract to PakistanPower Resources Piranghib Multan.
According to documents, the inves-tigation was closed on the grounds thatsince there was no money trail, Mensrea (guilty mind or intent) could not beproved and there was only violation ofPublic Procurement Regulatory Author-ity Rules and it appeared that the viola-tion was resorted to save money.
Similarly, the anti-graft body alsoended its investigation into the150MW RPP contract which wasawarded to Techno Engineering Serv-
ices (Pvt) Ltd at Sahuwal, Sialkot,causing Rs 20.44 million in losses tothe national exchequer. The contents ofthe meeting’s decision regarding thiscase reads: “Investigation Officerfailed to collect any evidence about acriminal act and the money trail somens rea cannot be established, andthere is only violation of PPRA Rulesand it appears that the violation was re-sorted to save money. The investiga-tion into the government functionariesis closed except the company, whichshould be offered Voluntary Return ifany amount is due against them.”
The reasons given by NAB to jus-tify the closure of the investigation sug-gest that many high profile governmentofficials who were allegedly involvedin corruption amounting to billions ofrupees have been given a clean chit.
The winding up of the cases, atleast by NAB, is good news for the ac-cused, which included Ashraf, formerfinance minister Shaukat Tarin, formerfinance secretary Salman Siddique, for-mer water and power secretary ShahidRafi and former establishment andwater and power secretary IsmailQureshi, among others.
The copy of the letter pertaining tothe minutes of the EB meeting held onMarch 13 at NAB headquarters was is-sued with the stamp and signature ofBrigadier (r) Farooq Naseer Awan, theprincipal secretary to NAB chairman.
The Supreme Court on January 15,2013 had ordered NAB to arrest for-mer premier Ashraf and 15 others, in-cluding Tareen. A three-member benchheaded by Chief Justice Chaudhry alsodirected NAB to submit a report onJanuary 17. The court said that, on theface of it, the accountability body’s in-vestigating officers case were not beingallowed to ensure the implementationof the court’s judgment in letter andspirit. Kamran Faisal, one of the leadinvestigators in the case was alsofound dead on January 18.
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Friday, 26 April, 2013
PoWer Crisis ToWorsen in nexTTHree monTHs
The electricity crisis is expected to
get worse in the coming three peak
summer months as oil stocks are
plunging to historic low with reserves
covering less than two days and the
Pakistan State Oil (PSO) is canceling
shipments of fuel for May. Anticipating the
worst power crisis, the government came
up on Wednesday with an offer to a group
of 10 independent power producers (IPPs)
to put on hold their financial claims for two
months and run their plants to full capacity
against direct fuel supplies to them on
credit. “Practically, it is a two-way short-
term moratorium on cash payments. The
IPPs will not pay anything to fuel suppliers
and run their plants to full capacity without
getting payments for electricity they sell to
the power system. The government will be
responsible to meet their fuel
requirements,” a senior official told Dawn
after talks between IPPs and a government
team, led by Minister for Water and Power
Dr Musadik Malik. MONITORING DESK
Partial lunareclipse occurs onThursdayISLAMABAD: A partial moon eclipse
occurred on Thursday night and it was
visible in all parts of the country.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological
Department the penumbral eclipse of
moon began at around 11:04pm and
the partial eclipse started at 12:52am.
It reached its peak at 01:09am and
ended by 01:30am. NNI
Pakistani-Americanarrested overterrorism chargesVIRGINIA: A Pakistani-born US citizen
has been taken into custody on charges
for allegedly making threats of terrorism
against county officials, local American
media reported on Thursday. Saad Lodhi
started making threats after federal
lawsuits he filed against Fairfax County
were dismissed, foreign media reported.
According to the affidavit, Lodhi sent
threatening emails to several county
officials since May 2012. “Lodhi sent an
email … with the statement ‘Advise the
Board of Supervisors to start hiring new
commonwealth attorneys because I’m
about to tell them what municipal fatality
means very soon’,” the affidavit said. In an
April 3 email to the Board of Supervisors,
Lodhi is quoted as writing, “Dear Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors, just to give
you an update, we are now proceeding to
the next phase of warfare. I just submitted
a concealed weapons permit… and once
that clears through, I have a special gift
for Fairfax County commonwealth attorney
– click click click.” ONLINE
Three Britishmuslim men jailedfor terror offencesLONDON: Three British Muslims,
including a convert who was featured in a
documentary about radical Islam and a
former London police support officer,
were jailed on Thursday for terror
offences. Richard Dart, Imran Mahmood
and Jahangir Alom pleaded guilty last
month for traveling to Pakistan for terror
training between 2010 and 2012. Dart,
who appeared in a BBC documentary that
chronicled the efforts of his filmmaker
stepbrother to understand why he had
embraced an uncompromising form of
Islam, was jailed for six years Thursday
at London’s Old Bailey court. Alom, a
former police support officer who
appeared in an online video expounding
hardline beliefs, was sentenced to four
years and Mahmood to more than nine
years. ONLINE
LAHORENADEEM SyED
It is not just true about Lahore butelsewhere in the Punjab too, thefinal outcome – who is going towin, and who is going to lose – isawfully difficult to predict.
A certain measure of uncer-tainty is an intrinsic part of theelections, yet in the previouselections in so many constituen-cies one used to get the feel of thecandidate who was ahead of thepack. And also could safely esti-mate the number of seats any ofthe two major contestants were
going to win. Not this timearound, for almost in every con-stituency it is not just a three-waycontest, but with other factorsthrown in it has become an in-triguing, too close to callelection constituencyafter constituency. Eventhe all-powerful Estab-lishment, said a well in-formed source, has littleclue about how the chipsare going to fall.
In public and in private, thePML-N leaders display an air ofconfidence and certainty. They ac-tually seem quite cocky about their
chances, and brag about being onthe home run – ‘our turn’, theyclaim. Only the other day KhawajaSaad Rafique, dishing out his
analysis was of the view thatreal contest in the city was
on just a few seats. Onothers, he held forth, thePPP and PTI were nomatch to the ‘N’. Even
so, he was kind enoughto ‘grant’ one seat to the
PPP, and here too he promiseda close contest.
Knowing Lahore’s con-stituency politics as intimately asthe back of their hand, some ana-
lysts foresee the PPP going firstpast the post in three to four con-stituencies. In the rest, they seethe PTI and the PML-N slugfest.
Khawaja Saad Rafique’sbluster notwithstanding, deepdown the Sharifs too are feelingthe heat and doing everything intheir power to turn things around.There is this palpable sense of ap-prehension around them , thoughthere is no shortage of peoplewho think that they are through atleast up to the extent of Punjab.
Amid this air of uncertainty,one thing though is certain: thePTI is making waves. Whatever
the PML- N ranks may say aboutits prospects, the PTI is now aforce to reckon with, making itspresence felt on the ground. ThePTI mantra of ‘Change’ is defi-nitely gaining currency. And onecan note a growing goodwill forPTI amongst the youth, womenand even working classes. Butthe main question: how much ofthis goodwill gets translated intoelectoral success? The PTI’s dra-matic rise as a potent third forcehas disturbed the conventionalcalculations, and political analystsare not really certain by howmuch Imran Khan and the PTI aregoing to dent the PML-N and thePPP? These are only guesstimatesat the moment, but for the PML-N particularly, the setback couldbe a sizeable one.
ISLAMABADSHAIQ HUSSAIN
AFTER a long period of un-willingness on holdingtalks with the United States(US), the Afghan Taliban
have shown an inclination for re-sumption of peace dialogue withthe US, that had broken down inMarch 2012 in Doha.
The talks in Doha between theMullah Omar-led Taliban and USwere suspended after Taliban repre-sentatives led by Tayyab Agha, a closeaide of Mullah Omar, blamed Wash-ington for going back on its promiseto release some senior insurgent lead-ers from Guantanamo Bay.
Taliban representatives includingTayyab Agha, Maulvi ShahabuddinDilawar, former Taliban ambassadorto Saudi Arabia Sohail Shaheen, for-mer Taliban envoy in Pakistan andQari Deen Muhammad have beenleading a quiet life in Doha alongwith their families since the collapseof talks in March last year.
However, diplomatic sourcessaid off late there had been indica-tions that the Taliban leadershipcould give its nod to re-engagementin talks with US officials in Qatar.
They said the Taliban were wellaware that they needed to sit on thedialogue table with American author-ities before US withdrawal fromAfghanistan in 2014.
A source said the Taliban wouldstill like the US to set free their lead-ers from Guantanamo Bay and alsorecognise their movement as a grouprepresenting Afghan people and nota terrorist organisation.
“The difference this time couldbe that these Taliban conditions couldbe discussed in talks with the US of-ficials in Doha and they would not belike any pre-conditions to resume thesuspended talks,” the source said.
Another source, familiar with thelatest developments on theAfghanistan reconciliation processsaid indications that Taliban could re-sume talks with the US didn’t meanthat they (Taliban) could go for anyimmediate ceasefire in Afghanistan,as was desired by the US.
“Taliban are likely to continuewith their attacks on NATO andAfghan troops as part of their strat-egy to put pressure on their oppo-nents so that if and when there werepeace negotiations, the Taliban rep-resentatives could speak from a po-sition of strength,” said a source.
A Pakistani official when con-tacted said he was unaware of anywillingness on part of the Taliban toresume talks with Washington. How-ever, he said the matter of talks be-tween different Afghan groups and theTaliban talks with US was discussedin the recent meeting in Brussels be-tween the US Secretary of State JohnKerry, Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ash-faq Parvez Kayani and Afghan Presi-dent Hamid Karzai.
He said it was agreed during theBrussels meeting to accelerate effortsto bring Taliban to the table of negoti-ations so that the “sluggish”Afghanistan reconciliation processcould be given the required thrust.
He said the three sides also agreedon the need to work for ironing outdifferences between Islamabad andKabul on various issues.
The official said Pakistan wascommitted to continue its positiveand constructive role towardsachievement of a durable peace inAfghanistan.
“Islamabad, however, needsKabul to reciprocate in the same man-ner and instead of engaging in anyblame-game through media, it shouldwork to improve ties between Pak-istan and Afghanistan,” he said.
MONITORING DESK
Internet users are likely toface a slowdown in browsingspeed once again as an impor-tant submarine cable thatmanages 40 percent of thecountry’s total bandwidth (in-ternet traffic) will undergomaintenance and repairs fromApril 28, industry sourcessaid. They also suggested thatgiven the undersea cables’vulnerability to damage, Pak-istan needed to increase its in-ternet landing points.
South East Asia-MiddleEast-Western Europe-4, alsoknown as SMW-4, is one ofthe four submarine cables thatconnect Islamabad globallyvia the internet. The 18,800-kilometre long fibre opticcable developed fault in itswestern segment betweenAlexandria (Egypt) and Mar-seilles (France) on March 27.
The breakdown came at atime when India-Middle East-Western Europe, another in-ternet landing point for thecountry, was being repairedand the country’s internet traf-fic plummeted over 60%.
According to updates, theinternet service providers(ISPs), which received band-width from SMW-4 NetworkOperations Centre, the repairwork of the affected segmentwill start on April 28 and mightcontinue into May. The centre,however, did not give an esti-
mated time the repair will take.“The damaged cable is
pulled to the surface by diversor robots and is then repaired,”Convener of Internet ServiceProviders Association of Pak-istan, Wahajus Siraj, said.
“Sometimes the damagedpart is replaced by a joint of upto three kilometres dependingon the damage done,” he said.Once repaired, the robots re-place it well under the seabed.Admitting that undersea cablesare vulnerable to damage, Sirajsaid, “These cables are usuallydamaged by the anchors offishing trawlers, which canpenetrate the seabed and strikethe undersea cables.”
The high-end users, ac-cording to industry sources,had switched to more expen-sive satellite-based connec-tions, but a majority of internetusers faced myriad of prob-lems as a result of this break-down. The operators shouldincrease the number of under-sea links to avoid major out-ages in the future, they said.
“Given the frequent out-ages and risk of damage to theundersea cables, we must dou-ble our landing points,” sug-gested Haroon Rashid,Director of Interconnect Part-ners, who also works for theBroadband Commission of In-ternational Telecommunica-tion Union (ITU), a UnitedNations specialised agencyfor ICTs based in Geneva.
KABULNNI
Following withdrawal of in-ternational troops fromAfghanistan by the end of2014, Washington and Lon-don will keep their drones tosupport Afghan securityforces continue fightingagainst insurgency, NATO’sAir Force General JakePolumbo said.
Present challenges facingthe Afghan air force requiredusing the unmanned aerialvehicles beyond the end of2014, Polumbo said. “Afghanair force will need time till2016 to end up at full opera-tional capability (FOC). Theway we have partnered withthe Afghan security forces, inparticular the air force, is tobe committed to that dura-tion, to bring on these air-crafts, these trainingmechanisms, and the like,”the senior NATO and US air-
man said.The US general added
that there were currently6,000 aircrafts for the Afghanair force, yet only one per-cent of them were capable ofcarrying out air operations.“The results are showing, notonly in the training environ-ment but more importantlyon the battlefield. Afghan airforce airmen have conductedre-supply missions to remoteAfghan national army loca-tions in Nurestan province inthe east, and they have pro-vided direct support toAfghan border police in Pak-tika, Zabul province in theeast and also down in thesouth in Kandaharprovince,” he said.
“During recent combatoperations Afghan air forcehelicopters flew life-savingcasualty evacuation flightsand they also conducted inde-pendent air assaults in thecontested areas.”
Al Qaedaintelligence chiefkilled in Waziristandrone attack
ISLAMABADMONITORING DESK
The Pakistani chapter of al Qaeda suffereda major setback with the death of AbuUbaidah Abdullah Al Adam, the intelli-gence and internal security chief of the ter-rorist group who was killed in a droneattack in North Waziristan. The killing ofyet another high-profile al Qaeda leadershowed that the Waziristan region contin-ues to be a hotbed of the wanted al Qaedaradicals, over 11 years after the 9/11 terrorattacks and the subsequent beginning ofthe US-led war against terror. Even thoughal Qaeda has not yet issued an officialmartyrdom statement about the death ofAbu Ubaidah Al Adam, there are crediblereports in the Western media to suggestthat he was killed in an April 17 US dronestrike in the Datta Khel area of NorthWaziristan Agency. Two close aides of alQaeda’s intelligence chief - Al Wathiq Bil-lah and Sanafi Al Nasr – have tweeted thatAbu Ubaida has been killed in an Ameri-can drone strike in Pakistan.
Taliban hinttowards peace talksresumption with us
Drones to stay for‘support’: nato general
ISLAMABADSTAFF REPORT
The World Health Organisa-tion (WHO) acting head inPakistan, Dr Nima Saeed Abidon Thursday warned the coun-try against a rising number ofmeasles cases because of poorimmunisation coverage acrossthe country, saying only 59percent of minors in Punjabhad been vaccinated so far.
Addressing a news con-ference, Dr Nima said foodinsecurity as well as substan-dard food were the mainproblems being faced by thePakistani children, addingthat this was making the sit-uation worse. He said inter-national stakeholders werewell aware of the situationand had recently held a sit-
ting to review the scenario inPakistan. “There are variousprogrammes under progressat the provincial level in thisconnection,” Dr Nima said,adding however that theneed of the hour was creat-ing awareness regarding thedisease among rural womenand children. The WHO’sacting head was of the viewthat international health en-tities had expressed concernsover the rise of measles inPakistan. Regarding polio,Dr Nima said the situationworst than measles.
“Pakistan is rated amongthose countries where thepolio situation is not muchhopeful,” he said, adding at-tacks on polio teams werecontributing a lot to the de-teriorating situation.
pakistan at risk of measles,polio, warns who
internet speed toslow down againfor cable repairs
with the pti factor, too close to call
eleCtion
Diary
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LAHORENADEEM SyED
INTRA-PARTYrivalries andgroupings withinPakistan MuslimLeague-Nawaz
(PML-N) are affecting theelection campaigns of mostPML-N ticket holders,including new and old ones.
An interesting situation isdeveloping in severalconstituencies where PML-Ncandidates are not only facingPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)candidates but also their ownparty men who are not ready towithdraw, despite being deniedparty tickets.
The other day PML-Nleader Shoaib Niazi opened hiselection office in front of
PML-N’s Rana Mashood,former deputy Speaker andparty candidate from Lahore.
Niazi’s supporters are alsothreateningto bring outa whitepaper againstMashood.
A party insider toldPakistan Today that a similarsituation prevails in manyconstituencies, with PML-Nticket holders pitted againsttheir own party members.
This is making it difficultfor genuine ticket holders tobuild their campaign withdivided workers.
Initially, the party’s seniorleadership took the situation lightlyor overlooked it entirely. But withcomplaints starting to mount, acommittee has been formed on the
instruction ofIshaq Dar tolook intodivisions insidethe party at aconstituency level.
A source saidin order to cool downrebels and withdraw themfrom contesting the Sharifs
would have tointervenethemselves.
Similarly, newcomers in the line-upfrom Lahore, those whoreceived tickets for the firsttime, are also groping inthe dark. The party hasdecided in their favourand awarded them ticketsbut the party network ofworkers and supportersin the constituencies has
not yet reconciled.Sources told Pakistan
Today there are 13 suchconstituencies including threeNational Assembly (NA) seatswhere serious rifts exist.
A senior party leader saidparty leaders would soonovercome these differences butfor the time being the party’scampaign is not making anywaves in the city due to
cribbing in the party’s rankand file.
PmL-n versus PmL-n
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
Punjab Chief MinisterNajam Sethi onThursday said thatimmediate relief
would be provided tocitizens as load shedding
would be reduced bythree hours till
May 1 andreduced byfive hoursafter the saiddate. Hefurther
clarified that restaurants in Punjab would not beshut down after 11pm to save electricity.
The interim chief minister said that thefederal government had given approval to therelease of Rs 45 billion for reducing loadshedding. “After release of this money, therewould be a significant reduction in loadshedding across the province,” he said.However, the chief minister announced thatstreet lights would be shut off across theprovince to conserve energy.
Furthermore, the chief minister said thatdue to decrease in load shedding, the law andorder situation would improve in the province.
Sethi said that as chief minister, he hadbeen calling out energy crisis as a nationalproblem since the first day. He stressed the needfor adopting a national approach for resolvingthe issue. The chief minister said that thepresident, prime minister, federal ministers,industrialists, traders and representatives of themedia were apprised of the seriousness of theload shedding during meetings.
LesCo fLouTs CourTorders As 18 HrsouTAGes ConTinue
LAHOREONLINE
The traders raised their voice against unprecedentedpower breakdowns in the provincial capital onThursday. They observed that all power distributioncompanies in Punjab including Lahore ElectricSupply Company (LESCO) were flouting orders ofthe Lahore High Court (LHC). APAT CentralSecretary General Naeem Mir said that 18-hour loadshedding by LESCO indicated the magnitude ofcorruption by the power company’s officials. Thecourt had ordered the company to cut down on loadshedding period to 8 hours but LESCO continued tocarry out electricity outages for more than 18 hours,he said. He remarked this practice amounted toelectricity theft. He further said that all ministriesconcerned would have to sit together to end powercrisis in the country. He lamented that the prevailingcrisis was a result of poor political policies.The trade leader urged the government to ensureequal supply of electricity throughout the country asthe province was the worst hit by the electricityshortage and only last year it lost three percent of itsGDP share due to power crisis. He said acuteelectricity and gas shortage had not only crippled thetrade and industry but also brought widespreadunemployment and poverty. He said consumers ofthe efficient distribution companies with lowest linelosses and the highest recovery ratio were beingtreated unfairly.
former judge sentencedfor 7 years for corruption
LAHORE NNI
An accountability court on Thursday sent former Civil JudgeTariq Masood to jail for seven years over corruptionallegations. Masood was accused of corruption during hisappointment in Jehlum. The court has found him guilty ofcorruption and sent him to jail for seven years. It also orderedthe judge to pay Rs 5.5 million fine.
nAveed Promises To uPLifT neGLeCTedLoCALiTies
LAHOREAPP
NaveedChaudhry, a PPP-backed candidatefor NA-125, hassaid that his
constituencycomprised mostly
of neglectedlocalities where much
of the population waswithout basic amenities. He said that during thelast elections, the people of this constituency hadelected MNA and MPAs of PML-N who didnothing for the development of the neglectedlocalities. He said that he was determined to endthe miseries of the people of his constituency ifvoted to power in the elections.
LAHORE: Former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif has urged
the people to vote for the Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League
in the next general elections. Talking to party workers on Thursday,
he said, elections were about to be held in the country and it was
up to the people to elect either those who served them or those
who looted them. he said the PML-N during its five-years tenure in
Punjab had written a new chapter of public service.
he said projects like Metro Bus, Daanish
Schools, Aashiana housing Scheme
and laptop distribution among
students had made their mark. he
said if voted to power, the PML-N
would eliminate load shedding
within three years.
Shahbaz told party workers that
they had a revolutionary
economic agenda and would
bring industrial revolution
through ideal business-friendly
policies. APP
3-hour reduction in loadshedding now, 5 hoursfrom May: Sethi
SayS federal governmenthaS approved rS 45b forreducing load Shedding
shahbaz vows anindustrial revolution!
Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might
endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably
endangers the morals of the entire country. –Karl Kraus
pml-n candidateS facing their ownparty men who are not ready towithdraw deSpite being denied partyticketS from variouS conStituencieS
meAsLes on A kiLLinG sPree
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
Measles continue to claim lives as another child died ofthe epidemic on Thursday raising the overall death tollin Punjab to 64. According to details, a minoridentified as Ali Raza who was undergoing treatment atMayo Hospital expired on Thursday morning.It should be mentioned that hundreds of children areadmitted to different public hospitals where vaccinationis being provided to the victims by the government.However, despite tall claims of caretaker provincialgovernment and health authorities the spread of theepidemic could not be brought under control.Meanwhile, the government has decided to launchnationwide vaccination in June against measles.
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SoZo WorLd JUrASSIC pArk 04:45pMph: 36674271 ek thI dAAyAn 12:00pM
AAShIqUI 2 2:15, 11:30pMobLIvIon 09:30pMChAMbALI 07:00pM
SoZo GoLd ek thI dAAyAn 03:00, 8:00pMph: 111-999-977 AAShIqUI 2 05:30pM
ChAMbALI 12:30, 10:30pM
pAF ChAMbALI 09:00, 11:30pM
ph: 36688880 ek thI dAAyAn 06:30pMChAShMe bAddoor 02:00pM
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At royAL pALM ChAShMe bAddoor 11:00pMph: 111-602-602,36118679
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the CroodS (3d) 04:00AMJUrrASIC pArk (3d) 06:00pM
the CroodS (3d) 08:15pM
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ek thI dAAyAn 04:15pMthe CroodS (3d) 06:45pMJUrrASIC pArk(3d) 08:45pM
ek thI dAAyAn 11:00pM
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
Awoman was caught red-handedkidnapping a new born atGanga Ram Hospital onThursday. As per details, awoman, later identified as
Zainab, a resident of Gulshan Ravi, dressed inguise of a doctor was on her way out of thehospital with a newborn when the securityguards intercepted her. When the guards
inquired about the newborn she failed toexplain her case.
The security guards took the child’scustody and handed over to the hospital’s staff.According to sources, the woman was assistedby two unidentified people who managed toescape. The Civil Lines Police have registeredan FIR against the culprit on the request of thechild’s father Mohammad Irfan. Ganga Ram’sDr Rana Sohail lauded the hospital’smanagement for foiling the kidnappingattempt.
SMUGGLING ATTEMPT FOILED: Asmuggling attempt was foiled at theAllama Iqbal International Airport onThursday. As per details, Taib, a residentof Sargodha, was on his way to Dubai viaQatar Airlines when he got ill. Uponinquiry the airport security found out thathe had swallowed heroin pills and was ina bid to smuggle them out of the country.He was shifted to the Sevices Hospital fortreatment and recovery of heroin pills andwas later arrested.
Newborn’s kidnapping foiled at Ganga Ram Hospital
LAHOREAPP
Former Punjab governor andPakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP)Secretary General Sardar LatifKhan Khosa on Thursdaydemanded of the ElectionCommission of Pakistan andcaretaker government to takenotice of the insulting commentsagainst President Asif Ali Zardari.
Khosa, in a meeting with thePPP candidates from Lahore at PPPPunjab media office, said that thepresident had been barred fromparticipating in the politics but theopponents were commenting on theoffice of the president which was aclear violation of the constitution.
Khosa demanded the transferof the Punjab education secretary.
He further demanded of theECP to implement Articles 218 to220 to provide security to thepolitical parties and candidates assome parties including the PPP,ANP and MQM were beingtargeted at several places. Healleged the PPP was not beingprovided a level playing fieldwhich created the impression ofpartial role of the institutions.Khosa said that PPP ChairmanBilawal Zardari Bhutto wouldlead the election campaign whichhad been started from the day ofthe death anniversary of lateZulfiqar Ali Bhutto and he wouldaddress the public gathering soon.PPP leaders Samina KhalidGhurki, Khurram Latif Khosa,Faiza Malik and others were alsopresent on the ocassion.
HeC calls nationalCurriculum reviewCommittee meetingLAHORE: The higher education Commission
of Pakistan called the 5th National Curriculum
Review Committee meeting to review and
approve the courses for the fourth year of Bed
(hons) elementary program from April 24-25
at a local hotel on Thursday. The meeting was
facilitated by the United States Agency for
International Development’s (USAID) Teacher
education Project. Senior faculty members
from leading universities of the country
participated in the meeting. Rana hussain,
Director of Curriculum for the Project and Dr
Frances Schoonmaker, Professor emeritus,
Teachers College, Columbia University (Senior
Curriculum Adviser to the Project) facilitated
the meeting. STAFF REPORT
Khosa stands up againstpresident’s insult
The struggle for water treatment at Ravi continuesLAHORE
WALEED MALHI
The site at the Ravi River which was once allottedto the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) by the Water and Sanitation Agency(WASA) for installing wastewater treatment plantis now being considered the best site by the RaviCommission for setting up a biodegradation plan.Currently, the Ravi River Commission and WASAare discussing to settle the matter throughnegotiations.
The Ravi Commission was constituted lastyear by the Green Bench of the Lahore HighCourt to identify the nature and source of thepolluted water being disposed of into the RaviRiver. The objective of the commission was torestore the natural ecology of the river which isthe most polluted river in Pakistan andcontributes to nearly 50 percent of the overall
discharge of effluent into the Indus River.Sources in the Ravi Commission said that a site
of 400 kanals to 700 kanals had been identifiedthrough satellite mapping for its project ofbiodegradation plan. The identified site, however,falls within the 7,000 acres of land which hadalready been allotted to JICA by WASA forinstalling its wastewater treatment plant.
The JICA project plans to throw treated waterin the river which is clear of pollutants. TheJapanese donor agency has been trying to install thisplant for the last 20 years. The Punjab governmentfirst allotted a site to JICA in Mehmood Booti forthe treatment plant but later it gave the site to theLahore Waste Management Company for solidwaste management. JICA was then given a site inBabu Sabu, which is now being eyed by the RaviCommission for its biodegradation plan.
WASA and the Ravi Commission are nowtrying to settle the matter through negotiation.
illegally sold polio
vaccine
refrigerators seizedLAHORE: A scandal of selling refrigerators
provided by the provincial government to
store anti-polio vaccines was unveiled on
Thursday when the authorities seized several
refrigerators in a raid.
According to Sheikhupura health eDO Rafeeq
Ahmed, health authorities along with a team
of police conducted a raid on a shop in
Rachna Town and seized four refrigerators
and several vaccine boxes owned by the
Punjab health Department.
The police arrested the refrigerator repair
shop’s owner Muhammad hussain who during
the preliminary interrogation has claimed that
refrigerators were handed over to him for
repair. however, the recovered refrigerators
were packed and not used as yet and on the
other hand health Department technical staff
itself repairs the faulty appliance.
The vaccinator identified as Jehanzeb who
sold the refrigerators and vaccines is still
at large. INP
A REfRESHING SpLASH: Boys bathe in the
Ravi River to cool themselves down. ONLINE
If you put the federal government in charge
of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there’d be
a shortage of sand. –Milton Friedman
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07
nEwsFriday, 26 April, 2013
There cannot be a crisis next
week. My schedule is already
full. —Henry Kissinger N
BOSTONAGENCIES
The federal government had added thename of the dead Boston Marathon bomb-ing suspect to a terrorist database 18months before the deadly explosions, USofficials are reported to have said.
Five days after the US determined whowas allegedly behind the deadly Bostonmarathon terror attacks, Washington is piec-ing together what happened and whetherthere were any unconnected dots buried inthe US government files that, if connected,could have prevented the bombings. "Daysafter the Boston Marathon bombing sus-pects were caught and it's now clear thatboth the FBI and the CIA were aware ofTamerlan Tsarnaev for more than a year,"said Al Jazeera reporter Dominic Kane.
"When the hunt for the Tsarnaev broth-ers concluded last week, police and law en-forcement agencies spoke of it as a victory.
"But now the revelation that TamerlanTsarnaev was on a watchlist of potentialterror suspects might put that in a differentlight." The surviving suspect, DzhokharTsarnaev, 19, told authorities that his olderbrother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, only re-cently recruited him to be part of the attack,two US officials said on Wednesday.
Dzhokhar told the FBI that they wereangry about the US wars in Afghanistanand Iraq and the killing of Muslims there,officials said. How much of those conver-sations will end up in court is unclear.UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: TheCIA named Tamerlan to a huge, classifieddatabase of known and suspected terroristsa year and a half ago, officials said, an ac-
knowledgment that will undoubtedlyprompt congressional inquiry aboutwhether the Obama administration ade-quately investigated tips from Russia thatTsarnaev had posed a security threat.
Shortly after the bombings, US offi-cials said the intelligence community hadno information about threats to themarathon before the April 15 explosions.
The US officials who spoke to The As-sociated Press were close to the investigation,but insisted on anonymity because they werenot authorised to discuss the case with re-porters. Investigators have said the brothersappeared to have been radicalised throughmaterials on the internet and have found noevidence tying them to any one group.
Tamerlan, whom authorities have de-scribed as the driving force behind the plot,was killed in a shootout with police.
Dzhokhar is recovering in a hospital frominjuries sustained during a getaway attempt.
The CIA made the request to addTamerlan's name to the terrorist databaseafter the Russian government contacted theagency with concerns that he had become afollower of extremism. About six monthsearlier, the FBI had separately investigatedTsarnaev, also at Russia's request, but theFBI found no ties to terrorism, officials said.CAPTURED UNARMED: Officials saythey never found the type of derogatory in-formation on Tsarnaev that would have el-evated his profile among counterterrorisminvestigators and placed him on the terrorwatch list. Lawmakers who were briefed bythe FBI said they had more questions thananswers about the investigation of Tsarnaev.
US officials were expected to brief theSenate on the investigation on Thursday.
Officials said on Wednesday thatDzhokhar acknowledged to the FBI his rolein the attacks but did so before he was ad-vised of his constitutional rights to keepquiet and seek a lawyer. It is unclear whetherthose statements would be admissible in acriminal trial and, if not, whether prosecu-tors even need them to win a conviction.
Officials said physical evidence, includ-ing a 9 mm handgun and pieces of a remote-control device commonly used in toys, wasrecovered from the scene. Authorities hadpreviously said Dzhokhar exchanged gun-fire with them for more than an hour on Fri-day night before they captured him inside aboat covered by a tarp in a suburban Bostonneighbourhood backyard. But two US offi-cials said on Wednesday that he was un-armed when captured, raising questionsabout the gunfire and how he was injured.
us had already been tipped off about boston bombing suspect
BELGRADEAGENCIES
Serbia's nationalist President Tomislav Nikolic has per-sonally apologised for the first time for the 1995 Sre-
brenica massacre of 8,000Muslims, but stopped short
of calling it genocide."I kneel and ask for
forgiveness for Serbiafor the crime committedin Srebrenica," Nikolicsaid on Thursday in aninterview to be aired on
Bosnian national televi-sion parts of which have
been released on YouTube.
"I apologise for thecrimes committed
by any individ-ual in the nameof our stateand our peo-ple," he saidin the inter-v i e w .Nikolic's of-fice con-firmed to
AFP news agency the authenticity of the statement.Thousands of Bosnians, mostly Muslims, were killed
by Serb soldiers during the Balkan War between 1992 and1996. After being elected last May, Nikolic caused a stirin the region by refusing to acknowledge that the massacrein the Bosnian enclave, was a genocide, despite it beingruled as such by two international courts. Nikolic at thetime said "there was no genocide in Srebrenica".WAR CRIMES TRIAL: Until five years ago Nikolicwas a top official of the ultra-nationalist Serbian RadicalParty, which has denied that Serb forces committed crimesduring the Balkans wars.
Its leader Vojislav Seselj is currently on trial for warcrimes before The Hague-based UN International Crimi-nal Court for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
While this marks Nikolic's first apology on Sre-brenica, Serbia has in the past expressed regret over thedeaths. In 2010, the Serbian parliament passed an historicdeclaration condemning the Srebrenica massacre in a ges-ture ending years of denial by Serbian politicians aboutthe scale of the killings, but Nikolic at the time did notsupport the move.
Nikolic's predecessor Boris Tadic also apologised toSrebrenica victims during a commemoration event in2005. Both the ICTY and the United Nations' highestcourt, the International Court of Justice, have found thatthe Srebrenica massacre was a genocide.Bosnian Serbwartime political and military leaders Radovan Karadzicand Ratko Mladic are currently on trial on genocidecharges before the ICTY for their role in the massacre.
DHAKAAGENCIES
rESCUERS in Bangladesh havecontinued to hunt for survivors in acollapsed building as the death tollrose to 161 and criticism mountedof foreign firms that source cheap
clothes from the country.More than 1,000 people were injured
when the site housing five garment factorieson the outskirts of Dhaka imploded onWednesday, allegedly after managers ignoredworkers' warnings that the building had be-come unstable.
Flags flew at half-mast on Thursday asthe shell-shocked country declared a day ofmourning for the victims of the nation'sworst factory disaster, which highlightedanew safety concerns in Bangladesh's vitalgarment industry. Army Brigadier GeneralMohammed Siddiqui Alam Shikder saidmany people are still trapped in the building,which housed a number of garment factoriesemploying hundreds of people.
Workers had warned a day earlier thatlarge cracks had developed in the structure. Aclearer picture of the rescue operation wouldbe available by afternoon, Shikder said.Searchers worked through the night to getthrough the jumbled mess of concrete withdrills or their bare hands, passing water andflashlights to those pinned inside the build-ing. "I gave them whistles, water, torchlights.I heard them cry. We can't leave them behindthis way," said fire official Abul Khayer.
Local police chief Mohammaed Asaduz-zaman said police and the government's Capi-tal Development Authority had filed separatecases of negligence against the buildingowner. Searchers cut holes in the jumbledmess of concrete, passing water and torchesto those pinned inside the building as rescueoperations illuminated by floodlights contin-ued through the night. The disaster came lessthan five months after a factory fire killed 112people and underscored the unsafe conditionsin Bangladesh's booming garment industry,the second biggest in the world.
death toll risesto 160 in dhakabuilding collapse
serbia president apologises for massacre
isrAeL sHooTsdoWn LeBAnesedroneTEL AVIV: The Israeli military says it
has shot down an unmanned aircraft
several kilometres off the coast of the
northern port city of haifa after it
entered Israeli airspace from
Lebanon. "An unmanned aircraft
(UAV) was identified approaching the
coast of Israel and was successfully
intercepted by IAF aircraft five
nautical miles off the coast of haifa at
approximately 14:00 (1300 GMT)
today," it said. "I view with great
gravity this attempt to violate our
border," Israeli Prime Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu said in a
statement on Thursday. "We will
continue to do what is necessary to
defend the security of Israel's
citizens." Last October, an Israel
missile shot down a UAV sent by the
Lebanese group hezbollah after it flew
some 55km into southern Israel.
Israel waged a month-long war on
Lebanon in 2006 after a hezbollah
cross-border raid. Since that incident,
Israeli aircraft has regularly
performed overflights into Lebanese
territory. AGENCIES
s koreA WArnsnorTH To ACCePToffer To TALkSEOUL: South Korea warned of an
unspecified "grave measure" if North
Korea rejects talks on a jointly run
factory park shuttered for nearly a
month, setting up the possible end of
the last remaining major symbol of
inter-Korean cooperation. In a
televised briefing with reporters on
Thursday, Unification Ministry
spokesman Kim hyung-suk refused to
describe what Seoul would do if
Pyongyang does not respond by a
deadline Friday to a demand for
formal working-level talks on the
industrial complex just over the
heavily armed border in the North
Korean town of Kaesong. But Seoul's
talk of a "grave measure" may be an
attempt to signal it will pull out its
remaining workers from the complex.
"There is no change on our stance to
support the stable operation and
improvement" of Kaesong, Kim said.
"But we cannot let this situation
continue as it is," he added. "If North
Korea rejects our proposal... we have
no choice but to take significant
measures." Kim did not elaborate on
what steps might be taken, but the
ultimatum suggested South Korea was
considering a permanent withdrawal
from the zone, which normally
employs 53,000 workers at 123 South
Korean companies. The talks
proposed by Seoul would be between
the respective heads of the North and
South committees that oversee
Kaesong operations. AGENCIES
DHAKA: Bangladeshi rescue
workers and volunteers search
the rubble after an eight-storey
building collapsed, killing many
people. AGENCIES
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nEwsNFriday 26 April, 2013
08 Army may intervene if any effort
is made to sabotage the election.
– General Aslam Baig
Contempt of
court plea hearing
against zardari,
Ashraf adjourned
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC)
has adjourned for three weeks the hearing
in contempt of court case against President
Asif Ali Zardari, former prime minister Raja
Pervez Ashraf, Senator Rehman Malik, the
chief election commissioner and others.
President Asif Ali Zardari and former prime
minister Ashraf were issued contempt of
court notices by the SC for not
implementing court’s verdict in dual
nationality case. A three-member bench
presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan
(CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took
up the case for hearing on Thursday. The
court maintained, “We want to hear the
case in detail, therefore, the hearing is
being adjourned for three weeks”. The
contempt of court petition was filed by
Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi. ONLINE
sC exempts Gilani from courtappearance
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on
Thursday exempted former prime minister
Yousaf Raza Gillani from appearance in the
court and directed him to appear through
his counsel in hajj corruption case. A three-
member bench, headed by Chief Justice of
Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry, when resumed
the hearing Gillani appeared before the
court seeking immunity from appearance.
During the course of proceeding, the CJP
said, “The court did not direct you to appear
before the court, there are some legal
issues to be discussed so appoint a lawyer
so that he could plead your case.” APP
measures beingtaken to improveenergy situation
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Mir
hazar Khan Khoso on Thursday said the
government was taking all possible steps to
improve the energy situation in the country.
“We look towards our friends, particularly
the United States (US), to help us in
overcoming energy crisis,” he said while
talking to Richard G Olson, US ambassador
to Pakistan, who called on him. The PM said
that Pakistan and the United States enjoyed
good bilateral relations. he reiterated that
the caretaker government would support
and do all to hold free, fair and transparent
elections in the country. The government,
he said, was also extending all possible
assistance to the election Commission of
Pakistan (eCP) in the conduct of general
elections. The ambassador informed the
prime minister that the US government was
supporting the Diamer-Basha Dam and
funding its feasibility studies. APP
PmL-n WiLLoverCome LoAdsHeddinG WiTHin 2yeArs: sHAHBAz
JHANGNNI
Former Punjabchief ministerShahbazSharif hassaid thePML-Nwillovercomeloadsheddingwithin twoyears if votedinto power.Addressing apublic meeting in Jhangon Thursday‚ he promised to end loot andplunder and darkness from the country. Heurged the people to vote for the PML-N ifthey wanted industries to function‚ exports toincrease‚ self-reliance and jobs. He saidunemployment had increased due to energy crisis.
PAKPATTANAGENCIES
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chair-man Imran Khan on Thursday for thesecond time challenged Pakistan Mus-lim League-Nawaz (PML N) chiefNawaz Sharif to a live debate on TVahead of the elections.
Addressing a public rally in Pak-pattan, Khan reiterated his resolveagainst taking oath from President AsifZardari, unlike Nawaz, who he allegedwas hand in gloves with the president.Boasting about his cricket credentials,the PTI chief said he would bowl thePML-N leader on the very first ball,adding that the nation would celebratethe making of a new Pakistan on May11. Khan said the PML-N had been re-peatedly tested but failed each time. Hesaid former Punjab chief ministerShahbaz Sharif should have focused onresolving the power crisis instead ofspending millions on the metro bus
project, adding that thebiggest factor behind theincreasing unemployment wasthe energy crisis.
“The excessive load shedding inPunjab is due to the mismanagement ofShahbaz Sharif’s government and notthat of the Centre,” Khan said. The PTIchairman again made it clear that ifvoted into power‚ the PTI willbring a revolution in the countrythat was on the verge of col-lapse. “The people of Punjabhave decided for change andwill vote for the PTI onMay 11,” Khan said.
imran issues another Tvdebate challenge to nawaz
i won’t take oathfrom Zardari ifelected into power
LONDONAGENCIES
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) hasdenied seeking the Ahmadiyya commu-nity’s support in the upcoming generalelections after a video clip surfaced inthe social media of a meeting betweena party delegation and the Ahmadiyyaspiritual chief in London recently.
According to the video, the supportof the persecuted Ahmadiyya commu-
nity was sought through a PTI delega-tion led by one Nadia RamzanChaudhry who met Mirza MasroorAhmed, spiritual leader of the Ah-madiyya community.
In the video clip, Nadia Ramzan in-troduced herself as a London-based of-fice-bearer of the PTI working in theParty’s Secretariat. During the meeting,the two sides discussed the upcominggeneral elections in Pakistan.
“We had voted for Zulfikar AliBhutto but in return he declared us non-Muslim, Allah Almighty bestow youwith success…we will think on the mat-ter if PTI will do justice after cominginto parliament,” responded Mirza Mas-roor when Nadia Ramzan asked for hissupport for PTI in the general elections.
Nadia enquired from Mirza whatwould be the outcome of the generalelections, as the Ahmadiyya communitybelieved in justice and equality and thePTI also believed in the same principle,the community would support which
party and what would be Mirza’s direc-tives to his followers?
Mirza said as far as casting votewas concerned, the Ahmadiyya commu-nity would vote for the party that wassincere with the country and believed inequality. He said, “The community hasbeen declared as non-Muslims in Pak-istan, we have a separate voters listwhich discourages the community fromtendering votes.”
During the meeting, Mirza saidwhen Imran Khan was building his po-litical party, he had sought the Ah-madiyya community’s support throughone of his emissaries during Mirza’svisit to Pakistan. He said that no onetalked about withdrawing the law de-claring Ahmadis non-Muslims for fearof ‘Maulvis’.
At one instance, Nadia said thePTI’s manifesto ensured liberty to allreligions and sects, to which Mirza en-quired which party’s manifesto declareddiscrimination among Pakistani citi-
zens? “We will definitely vote for thePTI next time when the party does jus-tice with us after coming into power,”Mirza added.PTI DENIES ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Commenting on the meet-ing, PTI Information Secretary ShireenMazari said the individual in the videodoes not represent the PTI “politically”.
“Imran Khan has categorically de-nied having passed on any such instruc-tions to anyone on the party’s behalf,”she said. “Nadia Ramzan is the daugh-ter of Imran Khan’s friend. Our secre-tariats both in the US and UK haveelected office-bearers and a young man,Shahbaz heads the PTI Secretariat inthe UK,” she said.
However, she said that Imran Khanhas a personal secretariat in Londonwhich collects funds for charity projectssuch as cancer hospitals and universi-ties and “Nadia is a part of that secretariat which includes Khan’s close friends”.
pti denies seeking ahmadis support in pollspti info Secy SaySnadia ramzan iSdaughter of imrankhan’S friend andraiSeS fundS forcharity projectS
BAHAWALpUR: pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz president Nawaz
Sharif addresses a public rally at
Yazman on Thursday. NNI
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nEws N
09
Friday 26 April, 2013
A plot is underway to create law and order problems in
Karachi, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in order to
postpone the upcoming polls. – Abdul Ghafoor Haideri
ISLAMABADSTAFF REPORT
THE Federal InvestigationAgency (FIA) on Thursday for-mally arrested Pervez Musharrafin the Benazir Bhutto murdercase after an Anti-Terrorism
Court (ATC) allowed the FIA to includethe former dictator in the investigation ofthe Benazir case.
The formal proceedings for the arrestwere completed by a FIA deputy director atMusharraf’s farmhouse which has been de-clared a sub-jail. During the interrogation,the former president was asked why BenazirBhutto was not provided security upon herreturn to Pakistan to which Musharrafreplied that she was provided complete se-curity. Musharraf also refused to accept theallegations against him and said Benazir
Bhutto became the target of terrorists. The FIA will file a petition seeking
the physical remand of Musharraf in theAnti Terrorism court on Friday.
Earlier in the day, Anti-TerrorismJudge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman took upan application filed by Chaudhry ZulfiqarAli, special public prosecutor, in which herequested the court that after dismissal ofMusharraf’s bail application the FIAshould be allowed to investigate the for-mer president.
“The trial court already issued perpet-
ual arrest warrants of the accused so inorder to complete challan against Mushar-raf, his statement is required,” he added.
Musharraf’s counsel Afshan Adil ob-jected to the application saying, “It is acase of murder of a former prime minis-ter which is registered with the City Po-lice Station of Rawalpindi. Police canprosecute the case.” After hearing the ar-guments, the special court accepted theFIA application and directed them to inves-tigate Musharraf in the assassination case.
It was also observed in the judgementthat due to security concerns, Musharrafshould not be moved out of the sub-jailand his statement could be recorded in-side the premises of his farmhouse.
Musharraf is accused of involvementin a conspiracy to murder Benazir Bhutto,who died in a gun and suicide attack inDecember 2007.
former preSident tellSfia interrogatorS heprovided completeSecurity to former pm
musharraf formally arrestedin Benazir murder case
Musharraf’s lawyerseeks 14-memberSC bench fortreason hearing
ISLAMABADSTAFF REPORT
Former president Pervez Musharraf’scounsel Ibrahim Satti on Thursday said theverdict of July 31 had been announced bya 14-member bench and the same benchshould be formed for hearing the treasoncase against the former COAS.A three-judge Supreme Court benchheaded by Justice Jawwad S Khawajaresumed hearing in a set of petitionsseeking the initiation of treason caseagainst the former army chief.Satti said, “If there are ambiguities in therules and regulations of the SupremeCourt, the constitution of the state wouldbe preferred,” argued the counsel. He alsosaid that India had also formed aconstitutional court in order to tackle suchhurdles and complexities. Satti saidMusharraf was not a party to the petition inwhich a ruling was issued against him.Moreover, Attorney General Irfan Qadirsaid the measures taken on November 3,2007 were unnecessary. Justice Khawajaasked what did the attorney general meantby “unnecessary”, adding that all ends ofjustice would be met and a verdict wouldbe given in consonance with the law andconstitution. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain remarked, “TheSC has laid down in its decision incategorical terms that no step of dictatorswill be indemnified by the court nor theparliament wields the power to do so. Ifany judge of SC or high court does so hewill also be proceeded against under thecode of conduct. Advancing remarksagainst the judges should stop now.” Satti said the SC was still keeping thedoctrine of necessity alive. “In the July 31decision all martial laws imposed by pastdictators were declared just whileMusharraf’s martial law was declared amartial law that he imposed to servepersonal interest because he wanted tobecome president. The court should notgive such a decision which may affect trialprocess against Musharraf.” Satti said theSindh High Court (SHC) verdict was notagainst Musharraf directly. Justice Khilji remarked, “You have tried togive an impression that we have beenendorsing ultra constitutional steps. Readthe other paragraphs of the decision. Thecourt has made it clear that parliament isnot allowed to indemnify the steps ultravires of the constitution nor any judge ofSupreme Court or high court can giveverdict in favour of them. If it is so done,the proceedings will be initiated againstthem under code of conduct.” He made a special mention of LegalFramework Order by Musharraf, saying alljudges had taken oath under PCO and thesitting Chief Justice Iftikhar MuhammadChaudhry was also among them. He further said the court’s objective wasmaking others realise rather than takingrevenge. MUSHARRAF NOT HEARD: Satti saidMusharraf was never heard. “I have notasked for setting aside the decision. Let thefederal government do what it has to do.” The hearing of the case was adjourneduntil Monday. MUSHARRAF ESCAPE CASE:Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Pakistandisposed off on Thursday an appeal filedby Islamabad’s Inspector General Policeagainst the Islamabad High Court’s earlierverdict and ordered the Interior Ministry tohold an impartial enquiry into the matterkeeping in view the IHC’s earlierdirectives over the case.Islamabad Police IG Bani Amin had filedan appeal against the IHC’s earlierdecision which had ordered action afterholding him responsible for Gen (r) PervezMusharraf’s escape from the courtpremises on April 18.Amin had blamed the Rangers for theincident and pled to the apex courtthat they were not expecting thatRangers, deputed inside the IHC forsecurity purpose, would becomehelpful in his escape.
ISLAMABADTAyyAb HUSSAIN
Amid claims of another exile being of-fered to former dictator General (r) Per-vez Musharraf in the garb of seeing hisailing 95-year-old mother, the formerpresident has reportedly rejected anyoffer of safe passage, saying he would notleave Pakistan until and unless declaredinnocent in all cases framed against him.
“Some international leaders haveconveyed to Musharraf to make up hismind for another exile keeping in view
the hostile media and judiciary in Pak-istan. They also asked him to file a pleain the court seeking bail on pretext tosee his ailing mother. But Musharrafpolitely refused to accept the offer andtold all his well-wishers that he wouldnot leave Pakistan until he was freed bythe courts in all cases against him,” asource who met Musharraf at his farm-house told Pakistan Today.
“General Musharraf told the inter-locutors that it was none other than hisailing mother who had directed him togo to Pakistan and face courts and get
himself cleared from all charges. Hesaid his mother had told him that Pak-istan was his country and he should liveand die there,” the source added.\ Thesource said Musharraf told visitors thathe had made up his mind to return tohis homeland after through thinkingand he would bravely face the courts ir-respective of the behaviour he was fac-ing. “He strongly believes that thecourts would give him justice but weknow that this is not going to happen,”the source added. APML Secretary In-formation Aasia Ishaq confirmedMusharraf had rejected an offer madeto him for visiting her ailing mother.“Musharraf is not a coward and he willface the legal process. He will not leavethe country come what may. He be-lieves that he would get justice and thecourts would decide his cases onmerit,” she added.
Musharraf refuses exile offerbrokered by ‘int’l players’
ex-preSident waSoffered to leavecountry on pretext ofviSiting ailing mother
apml SaySmuSharraf to facecourtS, live anddie in pakiStan
don’t take it toheart- it’s only thelaw of the land
MONITORING DESK
The ‘grief’ of the former dictator’s house-arrest has not only affected ex-generals,but also some unusual suspects it seems.According to All Pakistan Muslim League(APML), a man named Kacho Nisar fromGilgit-Baltistan passed away due to aheart-attack after the shocking news of thearrest. Nisar, 30, was following GeneralMusharraf’s legal saga on his televisionfrom Basho village, a valley in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), when he suffered a heartattack. APML claimed that the incidentcould not be immediately reported due topoor communication facilities in thevillage. “The former president is beinghumiliated and this is somethingMusharraf’s fans and lovers cannotendure,” said Yoltar. General (r)Musharraf’s ‘plight’ is unique as he is theonly Pakistani military ruler to be tried bycivilian courts, for violation of theconstitution amongst other things.
HYDERABAD: An election candidate
seeks votes in a door-to-door campaign
in Hala Naka on Thursday. INP
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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: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami
C
all parties resolve to ‘do their homework’meeting of the three ks in Brussels
Punjab’s violence-free elections
The decline of the right wing
WOULD the plethora of religious parties that claim a stake in Pakistan beable to regain the space ceded for various reasons in the 2008 generalelections? is the question that is on peoples lips. The leaders of various
religious parties have been seen in negotiations with political party leaders, includingthe Sunni Ittehad with the Pakistan People’s Party, the Jamaat-i-Islami with thePakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and more recently with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Huffing and puffing with bloated egos, religious parties have foundthemselves on the wee end of the negotiating table, with none of the mainstreamparties giving much wind to the electoral alliance offers. Religious parties are perhapsthe demon of last choice for mainstream political parties: changing positions andalliances at will – or where the best offer is. Religious parties have for a long timebeen accused of piggy riding on the back of military dictators – and claimingmainstream credentials once the helping hand of the establishment is missing.
This is most visible in the JI’s failed attempt to take the upper hand in negotiationswith mainstream parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and PakistanMuslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). After the PTI refused a purported 50:50 seat sharingformula offered by the JI, the PML-N has also rejected the JI position that it wantedsupport on 18 NA constituencies, including those where its stalwarts Liaqat Baloch andFareed Paracha were contesting. The demand was reduced to 8 NA seats and 25 PAseats, but with such a weakened position, the PML-N thought it more prudent to let theso-called advantage to be gained with an ‘understanding’ with the JI be forgiven andforgotten – at least for now. The religious vote itself has been divided this term, witheach religious party playing to different galleries. With the so-called unity of theestablishment-backed Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) nowhere to be seen, the SI, theJamaat-e-Ulema-i-Islam-Sami ul Haq (JUI-S) and Ahle Sunnat Waljammat (ASWJ) arepursuing their own strategies. To its credit, the JUI-Fazli has changed some of theperimeters of the role of religious parties, choosing not to join the DPC, and managing tohold two large rallies in Lahore and Karachi. However, it is not expected to reap fruit inany province other than Khyber Pakthunkhwa (KP).
Remember the year 2002. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), a conglomerationof religious parties, formed government in the two provinces of Balochistan and the thenNorth Western Frontier Province (NWFP). To those watching the politics of Pakistan, itwas the rebirth of the so-named Military-Mullah Alliance (MMA). This was the militaryestablishment’s way of gaining legitimacy, but in return the credibility of the religiousright fell, resulting in the poor results of the 2008 general elections. Having failed inwooing genuine electables to support it, the JI chief Munawar Hasan has begun to claimthat “previously elected electables need to be defeated.” The statement is to be taken asmore of an admission that religious parties shall have lesser sway, than they have vervein the next general elections.
PAKISTAN and its neighbour to the west, Afghanistan, haven’t had a relationthat can be described as warm, much less ideal, in the past few weeks. A trustdeficit has put a wedge between the two nations. However, with the US and
NATO forces preparing to leave Afghanistan by the end of next year, rocky relationsbetween the two would benefit no one. In this context, the tripartite meeting held atBrussels between the three Ks – Kerry, Karzai and Kayani – could certainly pave theway for a relation based on trust, instead of the blame game that goes on unabatedly.
Any tension between the two is going to hurt them both, for it’s the militants thatwould cash in on the rift and thwart attempts at peace talks that are so important forthe region and the world at large. The Karzai government blames Islamabad ofbuilding a new gate on the border between the two nations. Pakistan issues a strongdenial, and says that it is merely a renovation and repairs work at an already presentone. The rift somehow escalated and the Afghan government severed military tieswith Pakistan and held protests in its country. While ideally there should be no suchissues between the two neighbours who have so much to lose if peace doesn’t returnto the region. However, dwelling on one point or the other won’t solve them; theyhave to sit together and thrash out their differences before their tiff can cause troubleto more than just their egos. And, that’s exactly what US Secretary of State, JohnKerry, seems to have succeeded in accomplishing. And the two leaders, HamidKarzai and Gen Ashfaq Kayani, both appeared relaxed in their body language aftertheir three-hour meeting in Brussels.
Their meeting, on the face of it, hasn’t produced any result though what the threecame out of it with is better than nothing at all. As John Kerry said, “We’re not goingto raise expectations or promise results that can’t be delivered… We’re all going to gohome and do our homework.” This is good news as it means peace stands a chanceand that Pakistan and Afghanistan have come to some sort of an understanding that itis up to them, and in their interests, to have peaceful relations and focus their energiesin solving much bigger problems than a gate at the border. Both of them can influencethe Taliban to come to the negotiating table to discuss peace, a direction now the USagrees with too. The sooner they agree to do so, the better the chances to weed outterrorism from the region, thus eliminating a threat to world peace as well.
left without patrons, religious parties expected to perform poorly
Friday, 26 April, 2013
10
being a safe havens for militants lacking high-profile targets has saved province
Each generation must discover its
mission, fulfill it or betray it, in
relative opacity. –Frantz Fanon
THE MQM leadership hasasked why Punjab alone ishaving violence-free elec-tioneering while the otherthree provinces are facing
the wrath of terrorists. What is beingsuggested is that this is a part of somesort of conspiracy against the MQM.Since few in other provinces would oth-erwise grieve over MQM’s bad perform-ance in elections under an independentEC, the party has included two moreprovinces in the list of the targets of con-spiracy to gain sympathy.
In fact if the conspiracy element isremoved, none can have beef with thestatement that Punjab remains by andlarge violence-free while KP, Balochis-tan and Karachi and Hyderabad are highon the list of the terrorists.
There is far lesser terrorist activity inPunjab because most of the high profiletargets the TTP is looking for are outsidethe province. Of the three parties de-clared secular and thus game for the ter-rorists, the ANP and MQM have littleelectoral presence in Punjab.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains asever the stronghold of the ANP while theparty is also a significant player inBalochistan. It is contesting on 33 Na-tional Assembly (NA) and 81 ProvincialAssembly (PA) seats in KP-cum-TribalAreas. In Balochistan, it is fighting on 7NA and 29 PA seats. The party has con-sistently opposed militancy as through-out its history and has practiced thepolicy of non-violence preached byBacha Khan. It has faced the major bruntof the terrorist offensive in the twoprovinces with exemplary courage andfortitude. A number of its candidateshave fallen victim to deadly terroristblasts and hardly a day passes without anattack on a party rally. Despite this theparty has shown no self pity. The ANPchief Asfandyar Wali insists that anypostponement of the elections would
have catastrophic consequences. The ANP is the weakest in Punjab as
it has never won a seat here since 1988. Itis contesting only on 10 NA and 13 PAseats in the province. The TTP is after eas-ier targets i.e. in the KP districts adjoiningthe tribal areas or Balochistan districtsalong the Durand Line where militantscan cross over from Afghanistan to launchattacks. It is less likely to target low pro-file ANP candidates in distant Punjab.
The MQM remains a paper organi-sation in Punjab, KP and Balochistan.The announcement of candidates fromthese provinces is an exercise in smokeand mirrors aimed at creating a false per-ception that the MQM is an all Pakistanparty. As few serious people are willingto contest on its ticket in Punjab, its listof nominees mostly comprise ghost can-didates. In 2008, it announced 39 NAcandidates from Punjab. It turned out tobe a sheer joke. Not a single one couldget second, third or even fourth position.The overall vote percentage of theMQM, with kite as election symbol, wasthe lowest in the province
This time the joke has gone too far.The MQM is “contesting” on 130 NAseats in Punjab and 258 PA seats. Thereare 10 districts at least whose names the“candidates” have mis-spelt on the offi-cial party website! Would genuine localcandidates would ever do that? The ter-rorists would prefer high value targets inKarchi and Hyderabad rather than dum-mies in Punjab.
The PPP alone has a major presencein Punjab. It has however shunned biggatherings and has confined itself largelyto either small constituency level meet-ings or door-to-door canvassing.
Punjab may not remain terror-freeonce the electioneering reaches climax.The local elite habitual of free use of mus-cle power is likely to test the ability of theECP and the caretaker set up. Terroristsmay also decide to launch attacks onsome of the more exposed PPP candidates
There is also a second reason behindthe lull in terrorist activity in Punjab.While the law and order situation in Pun-jab was in no way enviable under thePML-N, the province remained muchmore peaceful than Karachi. The rival-ries between the ruling parties compris-ing PPP, MQM and ANP led to a killingspree in Karachi that continued non stopon for five long years. Each one of thethree partners accused the other of beinglawlessness, patronising the extortionmafia and groups of land grabbers. In-stead of working as a team, mutual re-crimination characeterised the alliance.The ANP and PPP accused the MQM of
patronizing the killer gangs while theMQM announced that the People’s AmnCommittee supported by the PPP was themother of all evils.
As the SC was to discover subse-quently the entire police service and ad-ministration had been politicised.Notorious killers were released by HomeDepartment under pressure from one orother ruling party on parole who thendisappeared in thin air only to continuetheir gory mission from the shadows. Asa judge commenting on MQM Sen. Nas-rim Jaleel’s petition asking the SC to re-store peace in Karachi remarked earlythis month, “Members of the assemblywho relished power for 20 years are nowwriting to the court. But they did nothingon their own. The caretaker set up hasalso been installed with their consulta-tion.” Another observed, “They have re-mained allies of the government, whyhave they not done anything?”
There is however a third reason be-hind the suspension of terrorist activity inPunjab. The PML-N leadership has al-lowed major militant networks to set upheadquarters in Punjab where their lead-ership moves around freely. It is not with-out reason that Hafiz Saeed, chief of JuDwhich is a reincarnation of the bannedLeT, is free to address meetings despitethe bounty announced by the US on hishead. Similarly, Malik Ishaque of LeJ issafely stationed in the provincial capital.
This has raised the question if thereis a give and take between the PMLNleadership and the terrorist networks.After all it is not without a reason thatthe TTP had suggested to make thePML-N, along with two religious parties,an a guarantor for peace. While themainstream Sunni population, the lawenforcement agencies and governmentinstallations have been safe from the ter-rorists, they have attacked Ahmadis,Shias and Christians with a vengeance asthe government failed to provide minori-ties adequate shelter. There have been al-legations that networks enjoyingfreedom in Punjab launch attacks inother provinces. It is highly dangerous toharbor groups like LeJ who conduct at-tacks on Hazara community in Balochis-tan, only to have peace in PML-N ruledPunjab. This raises a serious questionabout the future. Suppose the PML-Ncame to power in the country will it, forthe sake of peace in the country, harbourand allow these networks to use Pak-istan’s territory as a spring board for at-tack on neighbouring countries?
The writer is a political analyst anda former academic.
A good stepA bill to facilitate reproductive healthcare and health rights hasbeen approved by the national assembly. This is a welcome stepto promote and protect these rights in accordance with the con-stitution and international commitments made by the govern-ment of Pakistan.
With the effective implementation of the approved bill,everyone would have access to information related to reproduc-tive rights and responsibilities within a gender perspective freefrom stereotyped and discriminatory practices. These interven-tions would surely be beneficial especially for younger genera-tion as access to this information will guard them against abuse,exploitation and will improve their knowledge and access tomodern contraceptives to reduce chances of getting infectedwith various diseases including HIV.
Now, responsible stakeholders including government de-partments and media should play their role in translating thesewords into reality to ensure required execution of related lawsand legislations for the protection and promotion of basic youthrights in the country.
AMINA SARWARIslamabad
fulfilling his job descriptionIt was good to learn that the Caretaker Prime Minister Jus-
tice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso is a man who simply wants toconcentrate on the job. His stand, not to get involved in extrane-
ous activities when general elections are just a couple of weeksaway is both sound and based on proper reasoning.
When the senate passed the resolution on the issue, Mushar-raf didn’t take the first flight out of the country. He stayed inPakistan for quite some time during which the government couldhave taken the action but failed to do so.
We know in Turkey and Egypt, the civilian leaders havelimited the military to its conventional role but this feat has beenaccomplished by ‘real’ leaders with untainted past.
I think it is about time that those in authority, and the com-ing government, adopt a positive attitude, do things that wouldbe beneficial to the country and the people.
S R H HASHMIKarachi
vulnerable election campaignsAs the election campaigns of different political parties for
the general election 2013 are on full swing, different terroristgroups have begun to target major political parties in Quetta, Pe-shawar and Karachi to sabotage the election. It has not onlycaused deaths and injuries, but also frightened people who wishto cast votes on election day.
Therefore I request the Interim Government and ElectionCommission of Pakistan to take highest security measures inorder to overcome security lapse, for a free, fair and peaceful en-vironment for the elections.
NASEER HASHMIKarachi
Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. Fax: +92-42-32535230 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusivelyEditor’s mail
AzIz UD DIN AHMAD
LHR 26-04-2013_Layout 1 4/26/2013 1:55 AM Page 10
IN terms of content, theArmy chief Gen AshfaqKayani’s speech on theoccasion of passing out
parade at Pakistan’s premiermilitary academy, Kakul, is notmuch different from his lastfew speeches: the emphasis onIslam and Pakistan, the sacro-sanctity of ideology of Pakistanand vows to make Pakistan anideal Islamic welfare state. Thistime the speech has pointed to-wards the provocative state-ments from the neighboringcountries and a sentence aboutfocusing on the internal threats.But the emphasis on the ideology of Pakistan has flustered some quartersthat were all praise for the speech last year on the eve of IndependenceDay, when General Kayani had a speech at the same venue after witnessingthe ‘Azadi parade’ on August 14.
In that speech, Gen Kayani had discussed the threat of religious terrorismin detail, challenging their interpretation of Islam while contesting anyone’sclaims to be the sole interpreter of Islam and using violence to impose it overothers. Gen Kayani ordained a fight against the forces of extremism and ter-rorism, insisting it as our own war and warned against a civil war situation ifcobwebs persisted in the minds on the complexity of this crucial issue.
Though in that speech too, Gen Kayani didn’t forget to remind us thathow Islam was the basis for the foundation of Pakistan and had the samepledge of making Pakistan an ideal Islamic welfare state and society basedon the golden principles of Islam. The speech came after fresh settlementswith United States post-Salala affair over allowing NATO supplies andother issues, it was considered as building environment for an offensive inNorth Waziristan, so the weary parts of the speech were brushed aside.
But now, what has perturbed many is the omission of the resolveagainst those misinterpreting Islam for political means and trying to imposeit upon others by use of violence. While the speech kept reiterating its em-phasis on the Pakistan ideology and the inseparable relation of Islam andPakistan, hence putting his weight in favour of those elements that havemade a particular interpretation of Ideology of Pakistan a Procrustes bedfor the political forces to stretch or hack them off to fit that standards.
More dreadful is the fact that, Taliban have attained an unvanquishablestatus due to the cobwebs of confusion around them in the national narrativeled by the security establishment for its changing preferences. Lack of suf-ficient action against them and allowing them to prescribe their terms forthe upcoming elections to the people on who should be supported or alien-ated in their electoral campaigns.
The focus on the internal security should have prioritized measuresagainst active networks of terrorism across the country and their sleepingcells in the Punjab. For peaceful elections and providing level playing fieldto the political parties who have actively supported army offensives againstthe Taliban and extolled them for their glorified Swat and Malakand oper-ations, kept a close eye over and defended them against harsh criticism bythe human right organisations over detentions and extra-judicial killings ofthe suspected militants, dumping the bullet riddled bodies or throwing theminto river Swat or handing them over to their relatives after their deaths indetention due to some mysterious illness.
During these years, Taliban’s physical control over some territoriesmay have diluted but virtually they still have the powers to strike in thoseareas against security forces or civilian gatherings. Also their virtual controlhas been extended manifold to new areas and territories. Their ability toacquire or manufacture arms and explosives, generating finances via dif-ferent sources and reinforcements through recruitments of certain types ofwarfare experts or ordinary fighters has not been forestalled.
What has been required in the mean time is to interdict their terror op-erations of hitting at the targets of their choice. Putting strict security meas-ures to secure possible targets can deter their power to achieve specifictargets. But it is possible only if these orgqanisations have been attackedin their dens and militarization points, before they start out by going throughtheir plans. But this all can be done through effective intelligence measuresand well coordinated plans to hinder networks of terror of their plans andtactics as well as admonishing the impression of indomitability of thesegroups in society and among the fearful and disconcerted populace.
The exulting right wing religio-political groups over the conjecturalUS military setback in Afghanistan have started speaking out loudly againstthose political forces that have opposed Taliban or have supported militaryoffences against them, especially in Pakistan. It has also reinforced a ratherflawed argument of dealing violent groups politically by acceding to someof their demands. It has been testified through the turbulent history and thelast few years of this country that ceding political space to those employingdeliberate violence to attain ideological objectives will not stop at a desiredpoint but it eventually results in conceding turf to these forces.
The reemergence of state-friendly Jihadi organisations or the so-calledgood Taliban too bears witness to the same false assertions around theendgame narrative in Afghanistan. If one desires that these Jihadi locomo-tives of us will drag the good and bad Jihadi militants out of Pakistan toaid their ideological counterparts in Afghanistan, it should be kept in mindthat Pakistani Taliban have its network of support and reinforcement ex-isting across Pakistan, it is highly unlikely that it will be unrolled or sentback packing to their perceived buffer zones.
The external threat narrative around neigbouring countries and the ide-ological foes has bucked up jingoism, at the same time projecting conspir-acy theories. All this while the persisting threat of the Taliban and theirideological allies has given rise to a sense of haplessness in the people di-rectly hit by terror. And it has been transforming society drastically pushingit towards adopting more radical traits and losing its traditional attributesof tolerance and pluralism.
Ali Arqam is a journalist and researcher based in Karachi. He can becontacted ataliarqam@hotmail.com or interacted on twitter at @aliarqam
with the end game in aghanistan, the ttp is unlikely tounroll its extensive network in pakistan
IN their works titled “Women in the MuslimUnconscious” and “Quran and the Woman”Fatna Sabbah and Amina Wadud respec-
tively present contrasting opinions on the rolesand depiction of women in Islam. They use thekey source of information, the Quran, to validatetheir arguments. Sabbah suggests that womenbecome ‘objects of religious discourse’ as thebulk of Quranic scripture is addressed to men,forming a power structure in which men regu-late and enforce divine law over women. Thisresults from an essential discrepancy betweenthe sacred and the biological analysis of events,and as each occurrence is predetermined byGod, women’s natural capacity to give birth andthus be responsible for the expansion of thehuman race, is undermined. Wadud converselyproposes that the Quran, except on a few occa-sions, addresses both men and women. Accord-ing to her, the traditional interpretations of theQuran are shaped by the social/cultural notionsof gender, which are separate from the actualcontent of the religious text. Moreover, theQuran is meant for all mankind and has a “nat-ural adaptive nature of interpretation” meaningthat no single explanation is ‘definitive’.
Sabbah suggests that Islam is based on a hi-erarchal structure of relationships where God hasexclusive control over mankind and the malebeing takes precedence over the female being. Herprincipal argument relies on the fact that the scrip-ture portrays women to be objects of gratificationfor men. ‘The existence of God is rooted in thevery existence of man’ – the sacred discourse im-plies that God is omnipotent, attributing the cre-ation of man solely to God’s will and thereforeeradicating the woman’s importance in theprocess of procreation. In fact, Sabbah notes thatas per the Islamic rendition of the Adam and Evestory, woman was ‘created from’ man, reinforcingher position as the ‘other’ in Islamic society.
The concept of ‘sacred space’ stretches be-yond the Earth and attaining Paradise is madeout to be a believer’s ultimate goal. However, inthe quest for Paradise, the element of gender in-equality arises as many verses pertaining to Par-adise appeal to the desires of men. The
importance of the earthly woman is reduced andalmost obliterated in Paradise by the introductionof the ‘houri’ or the paradisal woman solely cre-ated for the pleasure of “those of the right hand”.Sabbah points out that “nowhere in Paradise arethe needs of this earthly woman taken into con-sideration” hence reducing the woman’s signifi-cance in the sexual discourse. “The houri isdefined in physical terms” and “is created to bea sexual partner for the male believer,” reducingwomen in general to anatomical objects. TheQuranic verses are isolated and read literally bySabbah as she uses the verse “Enter the Garden,ye and your wives, to be made glad” to suggestthat women’s fate is dependant on their hus-band’s virtues. However, there is a contradictionin this statement as another verse of the Quranreads “and whoso doeth good works, whethermale or female, and he (or she) is a believer, suchwill enter paradise” stressing on the accountabil-ity of men and women as individuals.
According to Sabbah, the superiority ofmen is established in Islam as they are definedas the caretakers of women. Islam, by allowingpolygamy or multiple marriages, “encouragesthe husband to make little emotional invest-ment” and reiterates the woman’s role as apleasure tool designed to gratify the sexual de-sires of male. “Mastering the woman meansmastering desire” and the woman’s sexualneeds are given almost no importance due totheir lack of mention in the Quran.
Wadud diverges from Sabbah as she takessimilar verses from the Quran and dissects theirlanguage in terms of grammar and content toshow that divine law is equally applicable toboth men and women. Instead of concentratingon the immediate intricacies of the text she pres-ents the idea that “allegorical verses cannot beempirically determined” and draws attention toGod’s larger scheme. Her major argument restson the fact that the verses of the Quran, whethergrammatically masculine or feminine refer toboth. “Grammatically the ‘nafs’ (self) is femi-nine… Conceptually, ‘nafs’ is neither masculinenor feminine”. However, her case for genderneutrality in Islamic learning is laid out by com-paring it to other religions such as Christianitywhich states that Eve was created from Adam’srib. As the Quran excludes any verse specificallystating the aforementioned, Wadud suggests thatthe important factor is the creation of humanity,not a particular gender.
The crux of Wadud’s argument lies in her as-sertion that the Quran does not “support a specificand stereotyped role for its characters”. Hence therelations to specific women must be placed in theparticular “social, cultural, and historical context”in which they are related. Wadud points out thatthe Prophet was situated in Arab society, hencein order for the people of the time to comprehendthe message, God had to speak in a cultural con-text they could relate to. Hence, “the referencesto female characters in the Qur’an use an impor-
tant cultural idiosyncrasy which demonstrates re-spect for women.” Women, like men are used todepict models of believers/behavior in Islam.
The relationship between God and the indi-vidual is not based on gender as there is no dif-ference in the spiritual capacity of men andwomen laid out in the Quran. Instead, the distinc-tion between believers is made on the basis offaith as the verse “Whoever does good, frommale or female and is a believer, all such willenter Paradise (4:124)” clearly suggests.
Examples of believing women are given, andWadud suggests that the derived lesson ‘tran-scends their femaleness’. Unlike, Sabbah’s asser-tion that Islam removes the significance ofwomen from the process of procreation, Waduduses Mary’s example in the Quran to assert theopposite. The Quran refers to Mary as ‘one of theqanitin’ (believers-masculine form) instead of thefeminine plural, a fact which Wadud uses to reit-erate that the teachings from the narratives in theQuran are meant for all humanity.
The discussion of Paradise is also brought upby Wadud who approaches the verses/message ofthe Quran in an untraditional manner. Her explana-tion for the verses geared towards sexual gratifica-tion of men and the existence of the ‘Hur-ul-Ayn’(the paradisal woman) is that the Quran at the timeof its revelation spoke primarily to ‘prominent pa-triarchs in a patriarchal society’. The later verses(revealed in the Madinan period) hardly containany mention of such women and instead lay em-phasis on ‘harmony’. However, an essential con-tradiction arises in Wadud’s argument as shesuggests that Quran is an eternal message from Godthat transcends time, space, gender and socialnorms yet her argument asks one to contextualizethe Quran. This sense of confusion arises becausethere is no clear indication as to when the Qurancan and can not be taken out of a specific contextand speak to the entire mankind instead of peoplein a certain historical time frame or locality.
Unlike Sabbah, Wadud views the Quran asan inclusive text that “adapts to the concept of themodern woman” and instead of giving impor-tance to literal intricacies the “goal has been toemulate certain key principles of human devel-opment: justice, equity, harmony”. The traditionalpatriarchal interpretation of the Quran that sug-gests “a woman’s subservience to a man” hasbeen made by readers who are situated in socialsystems that promote these ideals and hence theytake advantage of the open-endedness of theyQuran by enforcing their own value system intheir explanation of it. Wadud further reads theQuran as an accommodative text that does notgeneralize and “negative terms” “are neither di-rectly nor exclusively associated with women”,encouraging the reader to look at them through amultidimensional lens.
The writer is a staff member of PakistanToday and holds a degree from Mount HolyokeCollege.
CoMMEnt CFriday, 26 April, 2013
11Without music, life would
be a mistake.
–Friedrich Nietzsche
feminism and islaman analysis of two different points of view
of hope andhaplessness
NADIA KHAWAjA
ALI ARQAM
LHR 26-04-2013_Layout 1 4/26/2013 1:55 AM Page 11
melissa Gilbert and TimothyBusfield get married!Little house on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert said
"I do" to actor Timothy Busfield on Wednesday at
San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., the
actress's rep confirmed to People. Gilbert, 48, wore
a red dress for her nuptials. She and Busfield, 55,
got engaged over the holidays. At the time, a rep
for Gilbert, a Dancing With the Stars alum, told e!
News the future spouses were "both incredibly
happy." A source added that the duo have "known
each other for quite some time, as their paths have
crossed off and on over the past 20 years." This is
the third marriage for both. Gilbert has two children
from previous relationships, and Busfield has three.
Congrats to the newlyweds! NEWS DESK
GWYNETH PALTROWcrowned world's most beautiful woman
NEWS DESK
Gwyneth Paltrow, who was voted as the most hated celebrity lastweek, has now been named as the world's most beautiful woman.The 40-year-old actress topped People magazine's annual list, withactress Kerry Washington coming in second place and 'LesMiserables' star Amanda Seyfried coming third, the Mirrorreported. Paltrow has stolen the title from her friend Beyonce whowas voted the fittest of them all last year. Speaking about theaccolade the Hollywood star said that her Coldplay frontmanhusband Chris Martin and their two kids, Apple, eight, and Moses,seven, are surprised by the news as they see a very different sideof her. She said that when she is in house, she wears just jeans anda T-shirt and doesn't really put-on any make-up. "And Chris willmake a joke about it. If I've gotten fully dressed up, he'll be like,'Oh, wow! You're Gwyneth Paltrow!' Because he's used to seeingme in like baggy shorts and frizzy hair," she said.
sofia vergara launches'sexy shapewear line'Sofia Vergara has decided to add a shapewear line
to her existing Kmart collection. According to
WWD.com, the 40-year-old actress is expanding her
collection to include toning bodysuits, camis, tanks,
bustiers, waist-shaping briefs and boyshorts, thigh
slimmers, and half and full-slips, the New York Post
reported. Vergara, who posted a photo of her
shapely rear after her 2012 emmys gown split from
the back and wailed via Tweet before the ceremony,
"nothing fits meeee!!!!" told WWD that usually,
when she goes to an event, she wears shapewear.
She said that it's not to hold anything in, but to
smooth everything out, and she does make it a
point to wear a bra with her garments. The curvy
stunner said that each of the undergarments have
been Vergara approved. She said that she is not
really a designer but her lines are based on what
she likes and what she wears. Vergara added that
they have a lot of meetings and all of the products
get tried on by her.
The items run M to
2X and products
with built-in
bras contain
cups sized
from 36C
to 38DD
and 40D.
NEWS
DESK
arts
AFriday, 26 April, 2013
12
I'm stupid, I'm ugly, I'm
dumb, I smell. Did I mention
I'm stupid? –Eminem
zuLQArnAin for PromoTinGPAk-irAn Co-ProduCTionTo overComeindusTry Crises
LAHORE: Renowned television actor
and comedian Zulqarnain haider said
Pak-Iran co-production should be
promoted to overcome the ongoing
crises in the film industry.
In a media interview he said Iranian
film industry possesses modern
technology and we are able to utilise
it for competing with India’s
Bollywood. he said if this trend is
promoted and encouraged‚ it would
bring investment in the showbiz
sector in Pakistan. NNI
MONITORING DESK
FULLY titled, Chambaili: the Fragrance ofFreedom, the film has been written and co-produced by Shahzad Nawaz and directedby Ismail Jilani. Set against a political back-drop, the film purports itself to be a ‘saga of
courage, romance and sacrifice of a group of friends whoare led by circumstances and incidents to find themselvesat the crossroads of fate’. Some of the actors starring in thefilm include Salman Peerzada, Khalid Ahmed, MairaKhan, Shafqat Cheema, Omair Rana, Sadia Hayat, SaiqaKhayyam, Ali Tahir, Ehtisham, Khalid Qureshi, Fatima,Ali Fateh, Humayun Bin Rathor and Shahzad Nawaz witha special guest appearance by Ghulam Mohiuddin.
“This is a 100 per cent Pakistani film and we takegreat pride in saying that,” said the director while intro-ducing the film. “The revival of cinema doesn’t takeplace with one film or by corporate-sponsored projectson TV. How is the corporate sector going to bring abouta revival? They’re here to sell products.”
“What does a film have anything to do with TV?”he questioned, “There will be a revival of cinema whenwe start treating films like films.” “When I made thisfilm I only had Rs7,000 with me,” the filmmaker saidhinting at the struggle involved in making the film. “YetI believe it’s the biggest film ever produced in the coun-try,” he said. “Every intelligent person told me that thiswould sink. But when you connect with your soul, youlose the fear of losing. Every time the film ran out ofmoney, it came in from somewhere,” he said.
first political film made in Pakistanto release today
Ben To Live on$1.50 A dAy TorAise AWArenesson PoverTy
Ben Affleck has pledged to live on
1.50 dollars a day for five days as
part of a campaign by the charity Live
Below The Line to raise awareness for
world poverty.
According to News.com.au, the
campaign is meant for participants to
"better understand the daily obstacles
faced by 1.4 billion people trapped in
the cycle of extreme poverty".
Singer Josh Groban and actress Debi
Mazar are also taking part. NEWS DESK
Centimeter is a quiet Swedish band that, foralmost ten years, has been content to recordsad and beautiful songs in its native tongue.“Motorhead” is Centimeter’s inauguralEnglish-language single and the first off itsupcoming release, 70, which came out April 3.It’s something of a coming out from under thesafety blanket for the band. “Changing fromSwedish lyrics to English was kind ofliberating but also an inspiring challenge. Ienjoy playing with words and we always startwith the lyrics, even in English. No lyric, nosong,” says singer Johan Landin. Of thecreative process, he says: “We talked abouthow we function as human beings and why thefour of us are playing together. This album isa huge turning point for us.” The video for“Motorhead” goes a long way towardscapturing just that unsettling moment oftransition. It’s filmed on a high-speed Phantomcamera on a cold November day in Stockholm,with youthful bodies feigning summertimeelation leap through fireworks—all in hypnoticslow motion. Like the song, there’s a below-the-surface foreboding, a simultaneous ecstasyand melancholy: live in the moment becausesummer, like love, won’t last forever. NEWS DESK
SONG REVIEW:
Centimeter’s perfectly summery single, Motorhead
LHR 26-04-2013_Layout 1 4/26/2013 1:55 AM Page 12
13ARtsFriday, 26 April, 2013
A
The reader becomes God, for all textual
purposes. I see your eyes glazing over,
so I'll hush. –David Foster Wallace
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
PAKISTAN Fashion DesignCouncil (PFDC) Sunsilk Fash-ion Week 2013 Lahore editionbegins on Friday (today) at theExpo Centre in Johar Town.
This is the sixth edition of the PFDC Sun-silk Fashion Week. The first day, of thefour-day long event, will showcase worksof the following renowned designers.
TAPU JAVERIBRAND PHILOSOPHY: To make
wearable art.INSPIRATION: The “Tapulicious”
line is an evolution of the KaraChakra ex-hibition photo-manipulations, pop culture,old buildings and the streets of Karachi.
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:-Vivid colors-Vibrant prints-Unique wearable art in the form of
bags, scarves and prints-Incredible shoes and earrings
MISHA LAKHANIBRAND PHILOSOPHY: A unique
sense of personal style, weaving the Ro-mance of Old India with the language of In-ternational chic
INSPIRATION: Mughal style geo-metrically based frames lattices containingfloral ornaments cutwork.
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:-Cutwork-Floral motifs-Geometric configurations-Crushed silk
FNK ASIABRAND PHILOSOPHY: To make
cutting-edge, free spirited fashion for thewoman of the subcontinent.
INSPIRATION: “East of Bengal”- atrip to Bengal and a visit to the lush rain-forests and tree plantations of Srimongal.
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:-Reconstructing the saree drape -The revival of the Pakistani craft-Big black and white patterns-The new Boho with a feminine twist-Pop of neons
ELANBRAND PHILOSOPHY: Energy and flair
INSPIRATION: Romantic Poets andChinese Imagery
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:-Billowing silhouettes-Structured pieces-Large beaded embellishments-Earthy colors
SUBLIME BY SARABRAND PHILOSOPHY: Minimalist
by nature and emphasis on cuts and drape.Belief in the power of understated glamour.
INSPIRATION: A desire to liveNOW. A need for change. A pop of colour,femininity and funk.
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:-Neon-Floral prints-Stud embellishment-Orient classic
AKIF MEHMOODBRAND PHILOSOPHY: Fusing tra-
ditional design with contemporary cuts tocreate a product that is fashionable yetwearable.
INSPIRATION: The art of collageTRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR: -Long and short flared silhouettes-Printed pants-Uniquely designed separates
SANIA MASKATIYABRAND PPHILOSOPHY: To use
pure fabrics and the finest craftsmen avail-able to create a balance between elegance,comfort and practicality.
INSPIRATION: The craft and motifsof Persian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic andItalian Renaissance ceramics and tiles.
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:-Bold and vibrant colors paired with
pastel hues.-Customized digital and screen prints-Embroidered motifs
MARIA B.BRAND PHILOSOPHY: Affordable
fashion for the modern womanINSPIRATION:“The Sunshine Collection”, inspired by
the happiness, joy and innocence of youth.
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:-Candy hues-Bold and modern asymmetrical prints-Clean cuts-High impact accessories-Pure cotton, khaddar and silkCHEN ONE- PAREESA LAWNBRAND PHILOSOPHY: To create an
ethnic line of prints in sub-continental em-broideries and motifs.
INSPIRATION: Young and cuttingedge graphic prints in black and white withsplashes of colour
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:-Modernizing lawn with a contempo-
rary feel-Targeting a chic and style conscious
consumer. KAYSERIA
BRAND PHILOSOPHY: The brandis intrinsically based on the universal con-cept of soul, inner meaning and spirit.
INSPIRATION: Synonymous withgreat quality and magical prints
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:-Bright, electric and alive- the Neons
have arrived!SITARA TEXTILES
BRAND PHILOSOPHY: Sitara hasalways considered originality to be itsstrongest asset and quality to be its mostprominent feature. This belief has estab-lished Sitara as the brand of preference formajority of the population.
INSPIRATION: The impact of theemerging global fashion trends
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:-Woven-Dyed in brilliant shades of nature-Sparkling fabrics-Comfort and uniquenessRIZWAN BEYG LAWN SHOWPHILOSOPHY: The Rizwan Beyg
philosophy is fundamentally based on wear-able practical clothes.The pret line aims atedgy separates in natural fibres like silk ncotton and follows creative current trends.The bridal line is based on traditional em-broideries like marori zardozi reshamkariand rich handloom fabrics like jamavaarbrocade and kimkhaab. The couture line isbased on embroidered classics with fine fin-ishing and are timeless heirloom pieces.
INSPIRATION:The inspiration for lawn comes from a
global perspective on fashion with a strongemphasis on subcontinental traditions.Chintz, kashmiri shawls, Damask and Is-lamic tile-work are rich in inspiration. Theoriginal concept of lawn as a fine count cot-ton with simple beautiful prints has alwaystaken precedence with the label and lawnshould always be affordable and simple isthe labels motto. The mass appeal of lawnis the way lawn was meant to be worn.Simple fine count voile in stylish prints as99% of Pakistanis have and will alwayscontinue to wear the shalwar kameez de-spite trends at fashion weeks.
TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:The classic tunic shift slightly A- Line
cut close to the body is this years lawntrend. NO volume, panels’ embroidery ormix and match prints. The addition of lace,trims and different fabrics to formalise thelook. A very simple and ‘do it your self ap-proach’ to keep it affordable and wearable.
PfdC sunsilk fashion Week 2013 kicks off
On Wednesday morning, Vidya Balan was
chosen to be a part of the nine-member jury,
headed by Steven Spielberg, at this year's
Cannes Film Festival. The actress, who was
busy shooting for a special song at
Filmalaya studio for Ghanchakkar, did not
have enough time to field media queries
about the honour. But she did have time to
make that one very critical call: to the
man who has turned her into the biggest
brand ambassador of the saree,
Sabyasachi. Given that Vidya has never
had an easy relationship with the fashion
police, and how the Cannes red carpet
comes under the severest scrutiny, sources
close to the actress say she has been quite
anxious about her high-profile appearance.
When she called Sabya with a mix of excitement
and apprehension, the feeling was mutual. A friend of
the actress said: "Sabyasachi is very excited to be a
part of Vidya's big moment. They have become thick
friends over the years and Vidya trusts the designer
blindly when it comes to designing her sarees.
however, Sabya is a bit nervous this time, as he
doesn't want anything to go wrong on the red
carpet." The designer called up Nisha Kundnani, an
independent stylist who has worked with Aamir and
Kiran Rao in the past. A source added: "Sabya
requested Nisha to carry alternative options for
Vidya, in case there were last-minute changes."
While Ash has mostly stuck to western designers
for her Cannes appearances, Sonam Kapoor and
Deepika have turned to the saree for making a
mark at the fashion mecca. NEWS DESK
Vidya Balan:Cannes I pull itoff in a saree?Anxious Vidya calls up Sabya to work out a slam-proof look for her Red Carpet stint
NEWS DESK
Award-winning actor Nana Patekarhas spoken out against Sanjay Dutt ina rare outburst amid a chorus ofcelebrities voicing support for theconvicted Bollywood star who re-turns to prison in May.
Patekar, a Bollywood veteran andthree-time National Award winner,said he will never work with Dutt orwatch his films.
"That is the punishment I cangive him from my side," the 62-year-old actor told a Marathi news chan-nel. Dutt was sentenced to six yearsin jail in 2007 for acquiring illegalweapons from men convicted for the1993 Mumbai bombings that killed257 people, but has been out on bailever since.
In March, the Supreme Court re-duced Dutt's sentence to five yearsand ordered him to return to prison.On April 17, the court granted the 53-year-old actor four more weeks offreedom, allowing him to finish workon some of his films before servingthe remainder of his prison term.
Dutt was cleared of conspiracycharges in the bombings but wasfound guilty of illegal possession ofan AK-56 rifle and a pistol, weaponsthat he claimed were to protect himand his family during a period of ri-oting. Patekar hinted that Dutt, themost high-profile of 100 people in-volved in the Mumbai bombings trial,had been let off lightly.
Twelve people received the deathpenalty and 20 others were given lifesentences in the case.
"The nature of his crime is horri-ble. Why should justice be meted outdifferently for him?" Patekar said.
"The law is different for a poorman and different for me, just be-cause I am actor? Why should thatbe?" he said.
Patekar's reaction is at odds with
the Hindi film industry that came outin Dutt's support and called for himto be pardoned, describing him as amisguided youth and a victim of hisstar lineage.
Dutt, son of actor and formerCongress minister Sunil Dutt and ac-tress Nargis, enjoys goodwill in bothpolitics and the movie industry. Hissister Priya is a Congress lawmakerfrom Mumbai.
NANA PATEKAR SAYS he won't work with Sanjay Dutt
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inFotainMent
IFriday, 26 April, 2013
14
redWoodsfeLLed A CenTuryAGo To Live on
meet Lamo, the sheepthat thinks he's a dog
reverse engineeringthe food in front of you
Cancer patients could have treatmentchosen by computer rather than a doctor
COURTESy HUMANS INvENT
LEO KENT
WHILE many of us in the west loveAsian food most of us have no ideahow to cook it for ourselves – past asimple stir-fry that is. In Sweden,however, a leading supplier of oriental
food has come up with a clever way of helping peoplekeen to give it a try.INSTAGRAM: Ask CT Food is a new service peoplecan use through Instagram to find out the ingredientsand methods of cooking Asian food. If you’re at arestaurant and want to know how to make the Sushithat you’re about to eat, you can take a photo of thedish and CT Food will tell you how. Luong Lu, who,along with co-creative Farnaz Sajadi and web devel-oper Nikola Romcevic, created this concept for CTFood, says, “It is a very personal, almost 24/7 cus-
tomer service right in your pocket. Everytime youhave a question about an Asian dish at a restaurant youjust snap a picture and then put in our username@askctfood. We will then see the picture and, basedon what the question is, reply as quickly as possible.”EXPERTS: The service is completely free with ateam of specialists ready to answer any questions.Lu says, “If you have a weird ingredient that you’venever seen before, you can take a picture and ask uswhat you want to know about it. We have between6 to 7 experts who will reply to your question, giv-ing ingredients or recipes.”
Many ingredients can appear unusual to a west-erner and CT Food makes sure these are carefullylisted in their responses. “At Instagram, you can findthe most popular 500 products and each product hasits unique hashtag so when we reply with the recipe,you’ll also get this unique hashtag which tells you ex-actly what products you need for a specific dish.”
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS: This conceptwas developed upon realising that while Swedes loveto eat south-east Asian food, they were apprehensiveabout making it for themselves.
“The Asian shops are actually much more focusedon the Asian people than the general public so we wantto crash this barrier and create a service where youdon’t feel intimidated, you just go in there, show thepicture and say, ‘I need this, this and this’ and thecashier or service person will locate it for you.”
Lu concludes, “What we’ve done is take customerservice and put it into a very relevant medium.” In-deed, it is a clever piece of marketing that will raisethe awareness of CT Food at the same time as makingthe Swedes more au fait with the ingredients andrecipes behind the food they already love to eat. Withluck, this type of social-media based customer servicewill be appropriated by food suppliers across Europefor all manner of exotic cooking.
NEWS DESK
A computer model of lung cancer was found to be consis-tently better at predicting the future symptoms of patientsfollowing a course of radiotherapy or chemotherapy thanthe doctors responsible for their care. Each model is fedwith the personal medical details and the treatment historyof each patient, researchers explained. Dr Cary Oberije, ofMaastricht University Medical Hospital in the Nether-lands, said: "If models based on a patient, tumour and treat-ment characteristics already outperform the doctors, thenit is unethical to make treatment decisions based solely on
the doctors' opinion. "We believe models should be imple-mented in clinical practice to guide decisions." Dr Oberijeand his team used computer models to determine howmany lung cancer sufferers in a group of 21 would survivefor two years, how many would experience difficultieswith breathing and how many would find it hard to swal-low. As more and more data is collected on patients, suchas information about their genetic make-up, computermodels are set to become increasingly important in decid-ing how to respond to certain diseases. Scientists have re-cently shown that cancer tumours can vary betweenpatients and different types of treatment may be neededaccording to a patient's genes. Computer models couldprove effective at calculating this complex mathematicalanalysis. Dr Oberije said the research proved that "indi-vidualised treatment can only succeed it prediction modelsare used in clinical practice". He added: "We know thatthere are many factors that play a role in the prognosis ofpatients and prediction models can combine them all." Pro-fessor Alan Ashworth, chief executive of the Institute ofCancer Research in London, said computer models werebecome increasingly important as doctors collect moreand more information on genetics and cancer diagnostics.
If you are religious, then remember that the atomic bomb is Man's challenge
to God. It's worded quite simply: We have the power to destroy everything that
You have created. If you're not religious, then look at it this way. This world of
ours is 4 600 000 000 years old. It could end in an afternoon. –Arundhati Roy
wild cheetah may disappear by 2030NEWS DESK
The number of cheetahs in the wild has been droppingso quickly that wildlife experts think the animal coulddisappear by 2030, reports AFP. They estimate thatmaybe 10,000 of the big cats exist, mostly in Africa,down from 100,000 about a century ago. The problemis that while the animals' natural habitat is shrinking, theanimals generally don't do well in wildlife preserves.
They need more far more open space because, fast asthey may be, they can't compete against bigger animalssuch as lions and leopards. To make matters worse, thecheetah is suffering from widespread inbreeding as itsworld shrinks. One sliver of hope, according to AFP, isthat the animals are easily tamed and thus can be raisedin captivity. The big question is whether cheetahs bornin captivity can survive once released in the wild, andearly experiments haven't been encouraging.
It's unlikely that the name of an
Indian woman who died on Sunday
will mean anything to you, but her
nickname is sure to resonate.
Shakuntala Devi, aka the "human
computer," died at the age of 83 in
Bangalore, leaving behind a legacy of
jaw-dropping computational genius.
her colorful story begins at age three,
when her lion-tamer father discovered
her prodigious talent for memorizing
numbers. Major public performances
began at the age of six, taking her
from what she once described to the
Times of India as the semi-slums to
locations around the world. Among
her feats, as also recounted by the
New York Times and the Telegraph:
• 1977: She extracted the 23rd
root of a 201-digit number in 50
seconds; a Univac computer
tasked with performing the same
calculation did so in 62 seconds.
• 1980: She entered the Guinness
Book of World Records after
multiplying two 13-digit
numbers—and voicing the 26-digit
solution—in a total of 28 seconds.
• She famously gave answers (once
on the BBC, another time at the
University of Rome) that were
different from the ones the
interviewers had; she was correct
on both occasions.
• An American researcher who
studied her abilities asked her to
find the the cube root of
61,629,875, and the seventh root
of 170,859,375. She did so before
his wife was even able to start a
stopwatch. NEWS DESK
A new weapon in the fight against
climate change: 18-inch-tall redwood
clones. The laboratory-produced trees
are genetic duplicates of three giants
that were cut down in northern
California more than a century ago.
Remarkably, shoots still emerge from
the stumps, including one known as
the Fieldbrook Stump, which measures
35 feet in diameter and is believed to
be about 4,000 years old. The tree
was about 40 stories high before it
was felled. "This is a first step toward
mass production," says David Milarch,
the co-founder of the nonprofit group
spearheading the project, which is
planting redwoods today (yep, it's earth
Day) in Australia, New Zealand, Great
Britain, Ireland, Canada, Germany,
and the US. The group has developed
several methods of producing genetic
copies from cuttings, including placing
branch tips less than an inch long in
baby food jars containing nutrients
and hormones. NEWS DESK
'HumAn ComPuTer'deAd AT 83
Thirteen-month-old Lamo is so sure he is a canine
he fetches sticks and balls, wears a collar and a
lead, jumps up on his hind legs and tries to bark.
Lamo does not even recognise his own kind -
preferring to chase rabbits instead.
Owner Jennifer Jones, 45, who runs Rockfield
Animal Rescue in Wentnor, Shrops, took Lamo in
when he was run over last February. She fed Lamo
milk and brought him up with her three dogs - a
Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Wallace, a Jack
Russell called Judy and a Labrador called Poppy.
She said: "Lamo was given to me as a terrified
little lamb and we have no idea where he came
from. "There's a farm nearby but the farmer said it
couldn't be his. "I raised him with my three dogs
so now he thinks one of them. "he really is
wonderful, he follows us around everywhere and is
always under our feet. "he doesn't care about the
other sheep, he prefers humans. he's always
trying to get our attention and is constantly getting
up to mischief." Jennifer also takes Lamo round to
her friends' houses to mow their lawn by chewing
the grass and puts him on a lead to take him for
walks at the weekend. NEWS DESK
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sPoRts
S
Friday, 26 April, 2013
15I love watching Virat Kohli bat. He looks to me like an individual ofmy own heart. I love his aggression, and [he has] serious passionthat I used to have. He reminds me of myself – Viv Richards
NEW DELHIAGENCIES
THE BCCI has onceagain declined thePCB proposal ofhaving a bilateralseries between Indiaand Pakistan,
CNN-IBN reported onThursday. The recentpoliticaldevelopmentsbetween the twocountries don’tpresent anappropriatesituation forresuming thecricket ties,opined sources.
Earlier,PCB had sent aproposal to theBCCI for a bilateralseries titled Gandhi-Jinnah series, along thelines of the Ashes. In theproposal it was mentioned that theseries would be played on a regularbasis, at a neutral venue - though
playing in India would also be anoption. The recent politicaldevelopments between the twocountries don\’t present an appropriatesituation for resuming the cricket ties,said the sources. Though Pakistanvisited India for a short limited oversseries in December last year, there
hasn’t been a bilateral seriesbetween the two countries
since 2007. There havebeen several
attempts by thePakistan CricketBoard in recentmonths toconvince theBCCI for aresumption asthe contestsfeaturing the
two arch-rivalsare a huge hit
with fans andgenerate good
revenue. Tensiongripped the two nations
after two Indian soldierswere killed by Pakistani soldiers and
one of them was beheaded at the borderearlier in the year.
Another no by BCCi toPak-india bilateral series
pCb yet to naMe squaD For ChaMpions trophyLAHORE: Pakistan’s national selection committee continued its
deliberations for the third day with no signs yet of the final
squad being announced for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Reports said that one thing that had been decided by
the selectors was that all players would have to
undergo fitness tests before they are sent to england.
“The team captain, Misbah-ul-haq has infact insisted
that fitness tests should be conducted before the
squad is announced as the deadline for sending the
final 15 names to the ICC is around May 5,” the source
said. Interestingly, besides the deliberations on the
Champions Trophy squad the selectors have also been told to
prepare a list of players who qualify for the new central contracts for 2013. “The
selectors have been told to prepare a list of 20 players but they feel the list should
be of atleast 25 players as the board’s idea is to do away with the retainer
category,” it said. In the past the board has announced central contracts in three
categories A, B and C while a fourth category is of retainership. “This time the
selectors have suggested having four categories for central contracts and only those
players should be given contracts who are seen as strong candidates to play the 2014
T-20 World Cup and 2015 World Cup,” it added. Although four months have passed
this year the board is yet to give out central contracts which were also delayed last
year. The source said some seniors might not be given central contracts this time
around and will be told to keep on playing on series-to-series basis as and when their
form and fitness allows them to be considered for selection. “There might be a few
surprises this time around although the selectors and team management is divided
on how much experimentation can be done in the Champions Trophy,” another source
close to the selectors said. STAFF REPORT
Play cricket thereligious way, saysAnwar the preacher
LAHORE: The Pakistani pace bowlerstraining at a specialised camp under thesupervision of former captain, WasimAkram, were given a religious sermon byex-opener Saeed Anwar.In an surprise development, Anwar, adevout Muslim, visited the NationalStadium with a group of religiouspreachers including former pop star,Junaid Jamshed, to deliver the sermon.“The idea of talking to the players was totell them how important it is as a Muslimfor us to follow the teachings of Islam. Itold them they can improve as humanbeings and become better players if theyfollowed the principles of Islam in theirlife,” Anwar said. The bearded Anwar,dressed in a flowing white robe andwearing a skull cap, spent nearly 30minutes with the group of 23 players, asAkram and the national team’s head coach,Dav Whatmore listened from a distance.Anwar, a prolific left-handed opener of histime, who retired after the 2003 WorldCup after scoring two hundreds, told theplayers to “lead a pure and simple life”.Anwar had found solace in religion afterthe tragic death of his infant daughter.Religion became an important part of thePakistan team during the tenure of formercaptain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, between 2003and 2007, when the players prayedtogether regularly, leading to fears that theplayers might not be able to focus oncricket. Pakistan’s former Test batsman,Mohammad Yousuf, had also converted toIslam from Christianity. Anwar told theplayers to make use of the opportunity towork with a legendary bowler like Akram.The camaraderie between Anwar andAkram — both had played a lot together— was obvious from the moment theformer walked into the stadium.“The sort of facilities being given to theseplayers now we did not have in our timesso I think these players are lucky to have achance to train in such conditions withWasim,” Anwar said. STAFF REPORT
JOHANESSBURG AGENCIES
South Africa are confident that all-rounderJP Duminy will be fit to play in theChampions Trophy tournamentin England and Wales inJune. Duminy was ruledout for six months afterrupturing his Achilles’tendon in a warmdownsession during the firstTest against Australiain Brisbane inNovember. “JP is five-and-a-half monthspost-op and has startedsprinting at up to 80 percentof maximum,” Proteas teammanager Mohammed Moosajee said onWednesday. Duminy had been workingwith South Africa’s head coach, GaryKirsten, under the supervision of Proteasphysiotherapist Brandon Jackson and the
Cape Cobras medical team of ShaneJabaar and Dieter Swanepoel, and was oncourse to return to full activity by the endof May. “At present he is batting withoutrestriction with the help of Gary in the
nets, and should be able to startbowling unrestricted within
the next week,” Moosajeesaid. “We are exercisingextreme caution becauseof the sensitive natureof the injury but weremain cautiouslyoptimistic of his speedyreturn to action.”
Meanwhile, ProteasT20 captain Faf du Plessis
was expected to return to thefield next week after six weeks
on the sidelines.The 28-year-old all-rounder was ruled
out of the last two one-day internationalsagainst tourists Pakistan, due to a lowerback injury, in March.
DuMiny sEt FoR ChAMPions tRoPhy REtuRn
SyDNEy AGENCIES
Skipper Michael Clarkesays Australia willprove their criticswrong and bring theurn home fromEngland despite histeam being panned asthe “worst Ashessquad”.
Clarke has backedhis 16-man party namedon Wednesday to do the jobin five Tests against England,starting at Nottingham’s Trent Bridgeground on July 10.
Sections of the British press haveslammed Clarke’s touring party withThe Daily Mail declaring:” Aussiesname worst Ashes squad in memory”,adding gloatingly: “Is that it, Australia?Is that all you have got?”
Clarke said the reaction does notsurprise him following Australia’signominious 4-0 Test series rout inIndia in March.
“It didn’t come as much of asurprise when an English reporter
described us as Australia’s ‘worst Ashessquad’ at yesterday’s team
announcement,” Clarkewrote in Sydney’s Daily
Telegraph onThursday. “I’ve beenhearing commentslike that throughoutmy time as captainand, more often thannot, I’d like to think
we’ve proven ourcritics wrong. “I’m not
going to make any GlennMcGrath-style (5-0)
predictions about theAshes result, but I will saythat I’m confident wecan bring the urnhome with us if weplay to ourpotential.”
Clarke said histeam will giveEngland “duerespect” in their homeconditions but he addedthat Australia had selecteda number of players who havesucceeded playing in English
conditions.The skipper pointed to recalled
opener Chris Rogers playing more than100 games, scoring almost 10,000 runsand averaging close to 55 in England.
“This is obviously a huge tour forAustralian cricket and to be in aposition to call a batsman into the squadwith that kind of experience is a hugeasset for us,” Clarke said.
Clarke said paceman Ryan Harrisalso has the potential to make a bigimpact for the Australians and his styleof bowling was well suited to English
conditions. He added that veteranwicketkeeper Brad Haddin
would not be burdened bythe vice-captaincy or the
intensity of an Ashesseries and “absolutelyloves the heat ofbattle”. The skipperalso backed theyounger players in his
squad, highlightinguncapped all-rounder
James Faulkner as acompetitor who has taken
125 wickets at just over 22 in 34first-class games for Tasmania.
we’ll surprise critics, says Clarke
Australia Michael Clarke isquietly confidenthis team can do
the businessagainst England
s. Africa areconfident that all-rounder JP
Duminy will be fit to play in the
Champions trophytournament in
England and wales
english batsman hitssix sixes in one over
LONDON:Lancashire’s
Jordan Clarkhas becomeonly thefifthbatsman tohit six sixes
in one overduring a
professionalcricket match. The
English County said in a statement onWednesday that the 22-year-old hadachieved the feat in a Championship SecondXI game against Yorkshire to join anillustrious list of names. Former West Indiesall-rounder Garfield Sobers was the first manto do it, in 1968, and Indian Ravi Shastrifollowed suit in 1985. South Africa openerHerschelle Gibbs smashed six sixes in anover at the 2007 World Cup and IndianYuvraj Singh did the same at the inauguralTwenty20 World Cup the same year. AGENCIES
Test spinner Lyonmoves to nsW
MELBOURNE:Australian test
spinnerNathan Lyonhas made aninter-stateswitch,leavingSouth
Australia tojoin New South
Wales, CricketNSW said on
Thursday. The New South Wales-bornoffspinner, 25, has played 22 tests and wasnamed on Wednesday in Australia’s touringsquad to play in this year’s Ashes series inEngland. Cricket NSW said the move willallow Lyon to work closely with former testbowler Stuart MacGill, who works as a part-time spin coach at Cricket Australia’s centre ofexcellence. “Having grown up in New SouthWales and played my early cricket there, it isan exciting prospect to be returning home,”Lyon said. “Knowing a number of the playerspretty well, I’m looking forward to coming toSydney to live and being part of the Bluessquad for next season.” NSW boast a numberof other Australian internationals on theirbooks including test captain Michael Clarke,Brad Haddin and Shane Watson. AGENCIES
Kp ruleD out oF ChaMpions trophyLONDON: england batsman Kevin Pietersen will not
be ready for the one-day series with New Zealand
and June’s Champions Trophy after a further scan
on his injured knee on Wednesday, fuelling
speculation he could be an Ashes doubt. “Kevin
Pietersen has been ruled out of the ICC
Champions Trophy following a repeat MRI scan
on his right knee earlier today,” the england and
Wales Cricket Board said in a statement, adding he
would also skip the New Zealand one-dayers which
precede the tournament. The 32-year-old had already
been told he would miss the two-match test series against
New Zealand next month because of the injury. he suffered the knee problem
during fielding practice in the away series in New Zealand last month and was
unable to play in the third and final test. The home five-test Ashes series against
Australia starts in Nottingham on July 10 with the Champions Trophy one-day
tournament taking place from June 6-23, also in england. Pietersen remains
england’s most explosive batsman and any sign he will miss all or part of the
Ashes offers encouragement to Australia, who named their squad earlier on
Wednesday and are seen as underdogs after losing the last two series. AGENCIES
LHR 26-04-2013_Layout 1 4/26/2013 1:56 AM Page 16
sPoRts S
Friday, 26 April, 2013
16If you look at the IPL and the money that’s going around there, that’s
got to be a big influence I think. As much as they all say ‘Test cricket’s
the No. 1’, a million dollars is very distracting – Mark Taylor
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
SEAMER Junaid Khan haswelcomed the tutelage offormer fast bowler WasimAkram, ahead of Pakistan’sChampions Trophy. Akramhas agreed to a short-term
contract, which will see him workalongside the country’s seamers in thebuildup to the limited-overs tournament inEngland in June.
“I have learnt a lot fromWasim in the bowlingcamp and I assure youeveryone will see thedifference when Ibowl in theChampionsTrophy,” insistedJunaid. “He hasspent a lot of timewith me workingon making my in-swinger moreproductive. It has agreat experience tolearn from a great howmuch you can do with thecricket ball.” The 23-year-oldlooked forward to translating his recentstretch of solid form for Lancashire intosuccess on the international stage,alongside fellow left-armer MohammadIrfan, who has also been improving underthe watchful eye of Akram.
“I will also try to use my previous
experience of playing county cricket togood effect in the tournament. But I canpromise you everyone will see a moreimproved and lethal Junaid now,”concluded Khan. Pakistan have beenpooled with South Africa, India and theWest Indies in Group B, with theircampaign underway against the Windies atThe Oval in London on 7 June.
The 23-year-old left-armer willspearhead Pakistan’s attack in the absenceof injured Umar Gul in the eight-nation
event to be held June 6-23. Khansaid his 2011 Lancashire
stint introduced him tothe conditions in
England.“I played for
Lancashire andlearnt about theconditions inEngland whichare helpful forswing bowling,so that will surely
come good when Iplay in the
Champions Trophy,”Khan told reporters at a
tune-up camp for Pakistanpacemen. Khan said tips from
Wasim, who introduced him toLancashire, are a great help.
“Learning is a never-ending processand in this camp Wasim told me how toimprove my in-swingers and yorkers whichare considered as the two best weapons forthe left-arm bowler, so I am learning fast,”
said Khan.Khan, who rose after playing first-class
cricket in 2007 in the Pakistani garrisontown of Abbottabad, said he was alsodeveloping aggression under Wasim.
“Wasim told us how to showaggression towards a batsman and I amdeveloping that. I was the most aggressivebowler on the tour to India and then SouthAfrica,” said Khan of Pakistan’s last two
tours. He said tune-up camps are good forburgeoning talent.
“It is a very good initiative from thePCB and chairman Zaka Ashraf has showninterest in helping fast bowlers becausePakistan has always been known for itsquality pace bowlers,” said Khan.
Wasim praised Khan’s talent.“He has the capacity to spearhead
Pakistan’s attack and after noticing his
talent I recommended his name toLancashire,” said Wasim of the county heplayed for in the 1980s and 90s.
“As a young boy he did well forLancashire and his ability to learn will helphim in the Champions Trophy,” saidWasim. Pakistan will play two one-dayinternationals each against Ireland andScotland in May before competing in theChampions Trophy.
‘you will see an improved, lethal Junaid’lehMann to aDDress paK’s batting woes away FroM hoMe?
LAHORE: The PCB is looking to appoint former Australian cricketer
Darren Lehmann as a batting consultant for Pakistan’s tour of
england, later this year. “Lehmann should join the team in late
May after the Indian Premier League. he will join the team
when they are playing ODIs against Ireland and Scotland and
before they go to england for the Champions Trophy,” a PCB
source was quoted as saying, informing that the burly
Aussie has agreed in principle. Pakistan is due to play a
series of ODIs against Ireland and Scotland in May before
the Champions Trophy. “The two parties will decide after
the Champions Trophy whether they should sign an
extended contract,” the source added. Lehmann had made
it clear in the past about his reservations over the
security situation in Pakistan so he is unlikely to work with
the players in Pakistan but could work out a arrangement
where accompanies the team on their foreign tours. Lehmann,
44, who played 27 tests and 117 one-day internationals has
taken to coaching after his retirement and is currently the coach
of Kings XI Punjab. S TA F F R E P O RT
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
Pakistani pacer Wahab Riaz believes thenational team will not be haunted by thespot-fixing scandal when they go toEngland for the ICC Champions Trophyin June. Wahab was part of the Pakistansquad that was hit by the spot-fixingscandal in 2010 after the fourth Test atLords, which led to the suspension ofcaptain Salman Butt and pace bowlers,Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir,followed by bans.
Wahab was also suspected of beinginvolved in the spot-fixing racket whenhis footage was released by the nowdefunct tabloid ‘News of the World’ withthe Pakistani bookmaker, Mazhar
Majeed. But the pacer was later clearedof all wrongdoings. “I don’tthink what happened inthe past will affect usnow. It is historynow and I think theteam is now justfocused ondoing well inthe ChampionsTrophy,” hetold reporters atthe nationalstadium inKarachi.
“Those weredifficult times forPakistan cricket but theplayers have shown after
that they are committed to presenting apositive image of Pakistan
cricket to the world,” headded. Wahab is
among a list of pacebowlers who are
presently beingtrained byPakistan’slegendary pacer,Wasim Akram,in a 10-dayspecialised
camp at theNational stadium.
Wahab saidspending time with
Wasim and getting one-to-one attention from him
was proving very beneficial for all thebowlers.
“I am working hard on myoutswinger but Wasim has greatexperience and he is focusing on teachingus how to make use of our run-up, thecrease and the bouncer/slower ball in allthree formats of the game,” the pacer,who took five wickets on his test debut atthe Oval in 2010, said. “There are thesesmall details he is talking about whichotherwise we didn’t pay attention to, likehow to best use the new ball and that isgreat for all of us,” he said. Pakistan’shead coach Dav Whatmore also joinedthe camp on Wednesday and paid specialattention to the bowling of MohammadIrfan, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz andEhsan Adil with the new ball.
nothing haunts Pakistan team: wahab
Continue yourbattle, sukultells Asif
MUMBAIbIPIN DANI
Salman Butt, the former suspendedPakistani captain has agreed to ICC’srehabilitation process, however, thepace-bowler is yet to accept the offer.Mohammad Asif has been advised by hislawyer to continue his battle against theICC. “My advice to Asif is that I havegiven after I examined the evidence inhis case, we must continue to pursuejustice with the same energy we had atthe beginning”, the Barrister Ravi Sukul,who along with his wife, Savita,represented the bowler at the Court ofArbitration for Sport, said exclusivelyfrom London. “The ICC can say whatthey want to say. They usually do. Theyare a powerful entity and flirted with anabuse of their power. But no entity isgreater than the law, and one day the lawshall prevail”, he added. “I adviced Asifnot to confess to the crime, which he hadnot committed. He is not a spot-fixer”,the lawyer insisted. “I am yet to take thefinal call. Shall discuss the issue withmy lawyer”, Asif, when approached inPakistan said. The buzz is that the 30-year-old Pakistani pace bowler is invitedto participate in popular Big Boss realityTV show in India, though it could notbe confirmed. Asif neither denied norconfirmed the news, which has beenfirst conveyed to us by his friend andlevel II coach Mohammad Haroon inLondon. Asif, during his trial period inLondon last year stayed with him. Hehas been serving his seven-year ban,with two years suspended for hisalleged role in spot-fixing.
Pakistan haverecovered fromspot-fixing: misbah
LAHORE:Pakistan captainMisbah-ul-Haqhas insistedthat hisplayers willnot be affected
by the spot-fixing scandal
when they return toEngland this summer. Salman Butt,Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amirwere found guilty of spot-fixing during thefinal Test against England at Lord’s in2010 and were jailed a year later. Misbah,who will lead Pakistan in the upcomingICC Champions Trophy in England, hassaid that the squad is determined toimprove the country’s reputation. “I don’tthink the scandal will haunt us and we arenow mentally prepared to play in Englandfor the first time since the incident,”Misbah was quoted by Sky Sports News.“It has been three years since the scandaland the players have made a consciouseffort to project a positive image ofPakistan cricket with positive results.There is more discipline and unity in theteam. “We see the Champions Trophy asan ideal opportunity to redeem ourselvesin the eyes of our supporters in Englandbecause there is a big Asian communitythere.” STAFF REPORT
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
Former Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis opines thatSouth African pacer Dale Steyn in just 2-3years away from hitting the top of the all-time pace bowling list.
The former pacer, who himselfestablished a reputation of beingone of the best ever in the world,believes Steyn is among thetop-three fast bowlers of all-time and that he was a ‘bigfan’ of the Proteas’ front-linepacer.
“I don’t want to offendanyone because there havebeen some great bowlers inthe last four-five decades thatI can remember. We’ve hadImran Khan, Kapil Dev, DennisLillee, Glenn McGrath, WasimAkram, Michael Holding and somany big names,” he was quoted assaying in Indian T20 league’s officialwebsite. The 41-year fast bowling great isworking as a mentor with Hyderabad in theongoing T20 Cricket League (T20-League) and hasbeen impressed with Steyn. “Dale Steyn is definitely in thetop three for me. And if he keeps going like this for the next
two-three years, he’ll hit the top. Not many bowlers swing theball at his pace and have his fitness,” Waqar said.
Waqar was candid in his admission that he is a “big fan”of Steyn who has played a key role in getting his team
to a good position in the tournament with eightwickets at an average of 19 and an
economy rate of 5.46. Waqar alsohopes Ishant Sharma would live up
to his potential in the future. “He is a very, very hard-
working kid. He really wants tolearn. Fair enough, he hasn’tlived up to his potential upuntil now but he is on his way.I believe he will do well inthe future.” The Pakistanigreat said unhelpfulconditions in the Indian sub-continent was Ishant’s
undoing. “The first and thebiggest reason are the slow
pitches in India. They don’t suithis bowling style. He has played
most of his 50 Test matches in India. “I think it has a lot to do with his
action as well. He’s got a hard action andhis height makes it even tougher for him. At
times, he also tries to do too much when he doesn’tget wickets. We are trying to get him to bowl more gooddeliveries in a row,” added Waqar.
steyn among the top 3pacers of all time: waqar
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sPoRtsS
Friday, 26 April, 2013
17My message to myself was to go there, get in
and do what I want; I knew they won’t be
able to stop me that easily – Dwayne Smith
MUHAMMAD BUTT
There is a fair chance that somewherein the lead up to the game againstChelsea, Brendan Rodgers would haveasked his players to show a bit moredesire and hunger. A perfectly normalresponse following two dire and insipidperformances against lowly rankedteams.
Suarez’s response however wasneither perfect nor natural or so onewould think. But this is Suarez and onedoes not associate such adjectives,especially the latter, with theUruguayan. His key contributions in thematch were an expertly taken goal, abeautifully weighted assist forSturridge, a silly handball which led toa penalty and a bite on the shoulder ofBranislav Ivanovic. Routine stuff really.
Suarez’s actions of biting-attemptedor otherwise-were in bad taste. Of thatthere is no doubt. That he should bepunished is something everyone can
agree on despite Suarez apologising tothe Serbian. The extent of thepunishment is however debatable. It cancertainly be argued that attempting tosink teeth into an opposition player isno worse than say an elbow to the faceor a high two footed challenge butbecause the culprit in this case happensto be Suarez, there is bound to beunwarranted vitriol directed towards theAnfield striker.
The FA has already released astatement deeming the standard threematch ban ‘insufficient’. Given thehistory between Suarez and the FA andthat he is already committed a similaroffence in the past, El Pistolero couldface a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Best case scenario is that he missesthe rest of the Liverpool season whichfor all intents and purposes is prettymuch over anyway. However, what isthere to say the striker will not dosomething similarly stupid next year,get banned and subsequently miss a
sizeable portion of the season?The temperamental and the
sometimes only mental Uruguayan hasnot exactly shown the ability to learnfrom his mistakes. Suarez could bemarooned on an island alone and stillstir up a controversy.
Calls for him to be sacked have byand large involved a moralistic leaningand are somewhat over the top but thereis football logic in there somewhere aswell. A team that is not that good in thefirst place cannot afford to have its bestplayer miss a quarter of the season.
The flipside is of course Suarez’splaying ability and the fact that at thispoint Liverpool probably needs himmore than the other way round. He isdefinitely Liverpool’s best player andarguably deserving of the PFA Player ofthe Year award for which he has beenshortlisted. There have been rumoursthat Suarez may either leave or be soldin the summer even before this incident.The American owners who were clearly
not amused by Evra-gate last year wouldnow have a ready made excuse to cashin on their prized asset if they so desire.
The theory of selling your bestplayer and then rebuilding the teamusing that money sounds appealing butit rarely ever works. There is obviouslyno guarantee that the 3-4 players signedwould be adequate replacements. Withno Champions League football, thedeparture of Suarez will only weakenthe clubs hand to attract established starsor talented youngsters for that matter.
Suarez has time and again reiteratedhis desire to stay at Liverpool but comesummer, he may not have a say in thematter. Fenway Sports Group have sofar shown to be ruthless paymasters butthey would probably be advised to givethe matter some thought before makingany decision. After all the last time theclub had a conundrum in the strikingdepartment, Andy Carroll was signedfor 35 million pounds and we all knowhow that turned out.
onCE BittEn, twiCE shy
STUTTGART AGENCIES
CARLA Suarez-Navarroof Spain beat worldnumber 10 CarolineWozniacki 7-6 (8-6),6-1 in the first round
on Wednesday as the first seed fellby the wayside at the PorscheGrand Prix. The seventh-seededformer world number oneWozniacki squandered an early 3-0lead en route to defeat in 1 hour 47minutes against the 23rd-rankedSuarez-Navarro. The winner impressedwith her one-handed backhand and racedthrough the second set after winning the tight
first. Suarez-Navarro wrapped up her sixthcareer win over a top 10 player on her first
match point when Wozniacki’s baselineshot was ruled out. “I played well and
am very happy. Caroline is a verygood player and fights. It was adifficult first set, very close,”Suarez-Navarro said. Suarez-Navarro has reached four finals,including Acapulco 2013, but isyet to lift a trophy. Set to play laterwas fifth-seeded former
Wimbledon champion PetraKvitova against Annika Beck, 2011
champion Julia Goerges againstKirsten Flipkens and 2008 champion
Jelena Jankovic against the sixth-seeded2010 runner-up Samantha Stosur.
WozniACki CrAsHesouT in sTuTTGArT
monaco reachesBarcelona quarters
BARCELONA:Juan Monaco
of ArgentinaoutlastedJeremyChardy ofFrance in along
second-settiebreaker to
win 6-0, 7-6(11) in the third
round of the Barcelona Open onThursday. The seventh-seeded Monacowill play either Martin Klizan orPhilipp Kohlschreiber in thequarterfinals. Also, Dmitry Tursunov,the Russian qualifier who upset top-seeded David Ferrer on Wednesday,was beaten by Thomaz Bellucci ofBrazil 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. Seven-time winnerRafael Nadal plays Benoit Paire ofFrance later, while Tomas Berdych,Nicolas Almagro and Milos Raonic arealso in action. AGENCIES
suarez may leave Liverpool
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool striker LuisSuarez’s future at the club is in doubtaccording to multiple sources in England.Suarez and Liverpool were left stunned onWednesday after the Football Association(FA) announced the striker had beenhanded a 10-match ban, pending anappeal, for biting Chelsea’s BranislavIvanovic at Anfield last Sunday.This would cover the final four games ofthe current Premier League campaign aswell as the first six of the 2013/14 season.An independent regulatory commissiondelivered the charge of violent conductagainst the Uruguayan, upholding the FA’sclaim that a standard suspension of threematches would not be sufficient.Suarez, should the length of ban stay thesame, would not be able to kick a PremierLeague football for Liverpool untilSeptember. It is understood he will stillhave to serve the remainder of his 10-game suspension next season even if heleft England as Queens Park Rangersmidfielder Joey Barton had to do when hejoined Marseille on loan.Suarez has until midday on Friday toappeal, but several UK newspapers andbookmakers are backing the 26-year-oldto quit the Anfield outfit.According to sources close to theGuardian, Suarez feels he is being‘victimised by the football authorities inEngland’.The newspaper suggests that the Uruguayinternational continues to ‘feel wronged’by the punishment handed down fromanother independent regulatorycommission last season which found himguilty of directing racially abusivelanguage at Manchester United’s PatriceEvra. On that occasion, he was banned foreight games and fined £40,000 and thepublication believes Suarez is nowconsidering ‘a fresh start in Europe’ withJuventus and Bayern Munich lurking inthe background.Juve were interested in signing Suarez lastyear while incoming Bayern manager PepGuardiola may have the inside track as hisbrother, Pere, is Suarez’s agent.Another UK title, The Sun quotesSuarez’s family members in Uruguay assaying that the 10-game ban has left theplayer ‘morally destroyed’ by wreckinghis dream of being recognised as the bestforward in England this year. AGENCIES
LHR 26-04-2013_Layout 1 4/26/2013 1:57 AM Page 18
GEO SUPERKKR v Kings XI
03:30 PM
sPoRts SFriday, 26 April, 2013
18Obviously it’s a massive game for us with a Champions League
place at stake but it’s also massive for next season with the
confidence we can get from winning – Oxlade-Chamberlain
wAtCh It LIve
yaseen Akhter event in quarters stageLAHORE: The 28th M Yaseen Akhter
Memorial Cricket event has reached in
the quarterfinal stage. The four clubs
i.e rising star club, Ghulam Qadir
memorial club, Tauseef Club and crown
club have already reached into the
quarterfinal stage. The match between
Wahdat eaglets club and Ghari Shaho
gym will be played on April 26 at
Mehran Block ground. The other match
between Jallo Gym and Mughalpura
Institute will be played on April 27 at
Mughalpura Instute ground. The
importent match of the event i.e Model
Town CLub and Shining club will be
played on April 29 at Model Town
Ground. The same day Ludihana Gym
will also face with Model Town Gym at
same ground. STAFF REPORT
AKHTER, ALIGARH, SERVICE
QUALIfY fOR 3RD ROUND: The
Akhter Abdul Rehman club, ALigarh club
and servis club have qualified for 3rd
round in the 10 M Siddiq Memorial
cricket event. Model Town Greens,
National Gym, Prince CLub and
Mughalpura Whites have reached into
2nd round. The match between
Mughalpura Whites and National Gym
will be played on April 26 at Mehran
Block ground. STAFF REPORT
SIx CLUBS MARCH IN QUARTERS:
The prominent 6 clubs of the city have
marched into the quarter final of 16th
Tauseef Trophy cricket championship i.e
Ghari Shaho Gym, Muslimabad Gym,
Servis Club, Mughalpura Whites, Akhter
Abdul Rehman Club and Wahdat
eaglets. The two remaining matches for
quarterfinals will be played in next
week. The 4 semifinals clubs will play
league matches . every club will play 3
matches. STAFF REPORT
ZAfAR MEMORIAL BEAT
DHARAMpURA: Zafar Memorial Cricket
Club beat Dharampura Gymkhana by 5
wickets here at the Bara Dari Cricket
Ground. Scores: Dharampura
Gymkhana 240/8 in 30 overs. Babar
Butt 56, Rana Shahid 36, hamza 32,
Baba Jameel 26 & Amir 15 runs. Fayyaz
Butt 3/40, Abu Bakkar Malik 2/36 &
Usman Zahid 2/40. Zafar Memorial
242/5 in 26 overs. Adil Raja 63, hafiz
Mashood 52, Sajjad haidar 39 &
Shahbaz 21 runs. Babar Butt 3/45 &
hamza 1/4 wickets. STAFF REPORT
SHAHjAHAN LATIf MEMORIAL
TABLE TENNIS : The Lahore District is
organizing the Shahjahan Latif Memorial
Inter School Table Tennis Tournament
from April 26 to 28 at Muhammad Ali
Johar hall, near Mian Plaza, Johar Town
here. educational institution teams from
all over Lahore will be participating in
the event. “It will provide a platform to
the young players to experience sports
at the highest and most competitive
level,” said Sabah Waris. “It will indeed
be a sports extravaganza of the highest
quality, as the events will take place at
the state of the art facility,” he added.
The matches will be played at the
custom built Muhammad Ali Johar hall.
The event will start at 10pm on April 26
with the girl’s team events. The finals
will be played on April 28 at 11am.
Ahmer Mallick, honorary secretary
Pakistan Table Tennis Federation will be
the chief guest for the finals.
The events to be contested includes boy’s
team and girl’s team event, boy’s/girl’s
singles (under-14), boy’s/girl’s singles
(under-16) and boy’s/girl’s singles
(under-19). STAFF REPORT
loCAl nEws
LAHORESTAFF REPORT
Punjab and Khyber Pathkunkhawafashioned out high margin victoriesagainst their respective rivals on thethird day of the National WomenBaseball here on Thursday at PunjabStadium. Sindh suffered severepunishment at the hands of Punjaband KPK in the two back to backmatches it played.Punjab thrashedSindh 11-1 after establishing early leadand consolidated it with brilliance andall around performance.Punjab’snotable run getter’s were Nabila 2Tahmina, Mussarat ,Nazia Nazir,Sabahat with two runs each followed
by Rabia with one run.Sindh linescorer was Fiza with one run. KPKgave baseball lesson to Sindh with aimpressive 15-1 victory dominatingwith coordinating as their opponentslacking basics of the game failed tocome out of the pressure giving enoughspace to them to pile up runs one afteranother.Naila Javed ,Safiashared threeruns apiece followed by two runs eachfrom Samreen Hashmi , Sidra,Erum ,Rubaba as Yusra added one. Aleenasupported Sindh with one run.Secretary, Punjab OlympicAssociation, Idris Haider Khawaja wasthe chief guest on the occasion. HigherEducation Commission will take onPunjab on Friday.
PunJAB, KPK EAsE to wins in woMEn BAsEBAll
STAR SPORTSMartial Arts: Super League
9:00 PM
ESPNBarcelona Open Tennis
4:00 PM
BALLANTINEAGENCIES
WORLD No 7LouisOosthuizenwas tucked inone strokebehind the
leaders with two holes to go when badlight ended play prematurely in theBallantine’s Championship first round inSouth Korea on Thursday.
The South African, who flew in fromhis home in Florida on a private jetprovided by the organisers of theEuropean Tour event, was four-underthrough 16 holes in Seoul.
After a day when play wassuspended for more than two hours dueto rain and poor visibility, Oosthuizentrailed clubhouse leaders Jean-BaptisteGonnet of France, Australian KieranPratt, Swede Johan Edfors, BritonMatthew Baldwin and South KoreanKim Gi-whan who all shot 67s.
Oosthuizen roared to the turn in 30strokes thanks to six birdies in theopening eight holes including fourin a row from the first.
The 2010 BritishOpen champion, whomissed the cut atthe US Mastersearlier thismonth, thendropped backwith bogeys atthe 10th and12th.
“It’s agood start,”Oosthuizen toldreporters at theBlackstone Golf andCountry Club. “I’mhitting it really well andhit it fairly close on the frontnine.
“When I teed off on 10 the wind and
the weathercame in ... butI’m feeling
good. I haven’thit it as well as I
did on that frontnine for a while.”
Ireland’s PeterLawrie and South Korea’s
Lee Jung-hwan carded 68swhile Briton Tommy Fleetwood wasalso four-under after 17 holes.
Former US PGA Championshipwinner Yang Yong-eun of South Koreaposted a 70 in the sixth edition of theevent that is also co-sanctioned by theAsian Tour.
“I’m quite used to the hot weather ofThailand, Malaysia and Singapore andalso the chilly weather of Korea and theUnited States,” Yang said.
“I know I need to overcome thosedifficulties...to perform well. However,it was not that easy out there today.”
early birdie barragelifts oosthuizen
top junior series travels to benoniBENONI: The Glacier by Sanlam
Junior Series, South Africa’s
largest junior golf series, travels
to Gauteng for the first time
this year when the Larry
Nestadt Tournament tees
off at Benoni Country Club
this Sunday. The first
three tournaments on this
year’s series have been
played in the Western
Cape and have already
featured some impressive
scoring. At two of the three
previous tournaments, rounds
of 69 were needed to win the
elite A Division. The series features
25 tournaments played around the
country, with the winners in each of the A, B and
C Divisions qualifying for the National Final later this year. The winner here
qualifies for an all-expenses paid trip to compete against some of the world’s
top juniors in the Orange Bowl Junior Invitational in America. each
tournament is sponsored by either a leading professional golfer or South
African golf official, institution or benefactor. Nestadt, who was born in Benoni,
has long been a major benefactor of South African golf. As one of the
founders of Investec Bank, Nestadt has channelled his passion for
golf into supporting the Glacier Junior Series as well as
promoting a Sunshine Tour event. Nestadt himself benefited
from the strong junior golf platform in South Africa, and
was a scratch golfer by the age of 16. he captained the Air
Force Gym golf team, and has continued to serve the
game through his passion for it. AGENCIES
Amir resumesrebuilding process
LONDON: Amir Khan will resume hisefforts to rebuild his career when he fightsJulio Diaz in Sheffield on Saturday night.The former WBC and WBA “super”junior welterweight champion will havehis second fight since Danny Garciastopped him in the fourth round last year.He takes on Diaz in a 12-roundcatchweight bout at 64.85 kg at theMotorpoint Arena.The 26-year-old Khan, who hails fromBolton in England, has a new trainer,Virgil Hunt. He takes a professionalrecord of 27-3, with 19 wins inside thedistance, into the fight.Diaz, who is the 33 years old and has arecord of 40-7-1; 29, was born in Mexicobut fights out of Coachella in California.Khan must beat him to get back into aposition from where he could challengefor a “world” title again.The Briton, a former Olympic Gamessilver medallist, has beaten AndriyKotelnik, Paulie Malignaggi, MarcusMaidana and Zab Judah; all highly ratedopponents. His points defeat againstLamont Petersen caused an uproar.Diaz has been a professional boxer for14 years. Kendal Holt stopped him inthe third round in 2011 but since then hehas beaten Henry Aurad (14-4-1) andHector Sanchez (19-2). His fight againstShawn Porter (20-0) ended in a splitdecision draw.On the undercard, former OlympicGames super-heavyweight goldmedallist Audley Harrison meets 27-year-old American heavyweightDeontay Wilder in a fight scheduled forten rounds. The 41-year-old Harrisonhas a record of 31-6; 23. Wilder (27-0;20) won a bronze medal at the 2008Olympics. AGENCIES
LHR 26-04-2013_Layout 1 4/26/2013 1:57 AM Page 19
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