18
Continued on Page 7 AMANULLAH KHAN KARACHIContrary to the remarks by the World Bank on Pakistan’s economy that the lowest growth in the economy, the economy in Pakistan wit- nessed a modest improvement in financial 2012 – real GDP grew by 3.7 percent during the year, compared with 3.0 per- cent in FY11. According to State Bank’s Annual Report on the State of the Economy for the year 2011-12 released today, the growth was more broad-based compared to FY11, as it was evenly distributed across ag- riculture, industry and the ser- vices sector. The demand side was Economy grows by 3.7% in FY12: SBP more insightful, as the growth in FY12 was primarily driven by private consumption, it said, adding that strong worker remit- tances, a vibrant informal economy and higher fiscal spending, supported consump- tion growth during the year. SBP Report said that food prices have remained relatively stable during FY12, which helped bring down overall infla- tion to 11.1 percent – better than the 12.0 percent projected ear- lier. ‘It was this easing that al- lowed the central bank to reduce the policy rate by 200 bps dur- ing the year; this was done to partially revive private sector borrowing, and encourage banks to improve their intermediation between private savers and bor- rowers,’ the Report added. The external front was posi- tive as remittances posted yet another year of strong growth, which not only helped narrow the current account deficit, but also contributed to economic activity. ‘In overall terms, the external sector has been less worrying than anticipated at the beginning of the year; however, as financial inflows dried up, the burden of financing the current account deficit and external debt, has fallen on the country’s FX reserves. While services continued to support the economy, commod- ity producing sectors (agricul- ture and industry) posted an im- provement over FY11, the Re- port said, adding that the growth in agriculture came from live- stock and kharif crops, but minor crops witnessed a de- cline due to the floods in Q1- FY12. It said the positive spillovers from agriculture, coupled with strong remit- tances and income support schemes, boosted construction activities and household con- sumption – both of which helped the manufacturing sec- tor. ‘In terms of services, there was a sharp improvement in financial sector earnings, driven primarily by the volume of commercial bank financing of the fiscal deficit, and decel- eration in fresh non-perform- ing loans (NPLs),’ the Report Continued on Page 7 Apex court snubs NAB chief Fasih Bukhari creating hatred against superior judiciary Orders production of letter written to President Zardari STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Admiral (Retd) Fasih Bokhari to submit a copy of a letter written by him to President Asif Ali Zardari in which he had accused the apex court of pressurising NAB of- ficers and of interfering in their duties. In the letter sent Jan 27, Bokhari accused the court of interfering in NAB investiga- tions, particularly against poli- ticians, and endangering the in- dependence of their work. A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sh Azmat Saeed, heard the case Wednes- day concerning implementation of its March 2012 ruling in the rental power projects (RPP) case. During Wednesday hearing, the chief justice inquired NAB Prosecutor General Karim Khan Agha on the bureau chairman’s letter to the president express- ing reservations over the judi- ciary. Chief Justice Iftikhar said the court would examine the contents of the letter to deter- mine the reasons that may have led Bokhari to draft it. Chaudhry said the docu- ment, which has been made pub- lic, amounts to “criticising and pressurising” the court. “We want to determine whether the letter was written in an effort to pressurise the court or to bring hatred and ridicule to the judiciary,” said the Chief Jus- tice. “We are very serious about this and will not allow the judi- ciary to be maligned by anyone.” “On November 3, 2007, we even did not allow a military dictator to interfere into the courts. How we can allow the NAB chairman to do so?” the Chief Justice said. “We are jealously guarding our jurisdiction. The Courts are working independently,” he added. Agha maintained that a let- ter was written but it might be a private one and the chairman NAB could claim privilege. The CJ told him that if it was Altaf may never return to Pakistan STAFF REPORTER RAWALPINDI —MQM Chief Altaf Hussain said Wednesday that whenever his party tried to take its message to Punjab, vio- lence was spread in Karachi. Speaking to a gathering of MQM workers via telephone here, Altaf Hussain said he might never be allowed to re- turn to Pakistan. He added that MQM was the only party which repre- sented the poor and middle classes of Pakistan. Altaf further said that his struggle was for the country and people and would continue even if he was not allowed to return. Muttahia Qaumi Move- ment (MQM) chief said only his party would be able to trans- form the fate of the country. He said he would soon hold a pub- lic meeting in Punjab which he said would be the biggest in the country’s history. The MQM chief said the trend of hereditary politics would no longer continue, add- ing that the root of Pakistan’s problems was the corruption in its political culture, politics of inheritance and the feudal sys- tem. He said the MQM repre- sented 98 per cent of the country’s population which was vulnerable and that his party was a victim of negative pro- paganda. Altaf also congratulated the MQM candidates who won un- contested the by-elections for four Sindh Assembly seats in Karachi. Continued on Page 7 Assemblies dissolution before March 15: Shujaat STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—The coalition government has decided to dis- solve the national and provincial assemblies before March 15, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said, adding that the dissolution would be followed by the gen- eral elections in May. Speaking to media represen- tatives, the chief of the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML- Q) said the decisions in this re- gard were made by leaders of parties, part of the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government. Shujaat said the participants of the meeting had agreed upon holding the general polls in May and the dissolution of the pro- vincial and national assemblies would take place before March 15. Moreover, he said Tahirul Qadri, chief of the Tehrik-i- Minhajul Quran (TMQ) would also be taken into confidence re- garding the dissolution of as- semblies. Shujaat said the PML- Q had consulted President Asif Ali Zardari in this regard. Gwadar port transfer to China approved Cabinet okays Pak, Iran gas pipeline project STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD—Cabinet on Wednesday approved a deal transferring from Singapore to China the management of the deep-sea Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea. China provided about 75 per cent of the initial $250 million in funding for the construction of the port in Balochistan. It is currently being operated by Singapore’s PSA Interna- tional, but needs further devel- opment work to become fully operational. According to PSA’s Gwadar website, there has been no ship in the port since Novem- ber. “The cabinet Wednesday gave approval to transfer Gwadar port operations from Port of Singapore to Chinese Overseas Port Holdings Lim- ited,” Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told report- ers. “Both the companies have settled their deal,” he said, with- out giving a timetable for the transfer. Kaira said that Singapore’s PSA International could not de- velop or operate Gwadar “as desired” and said he hoped that under new management the port would soon contribute to Continued on Page 7 Continued on Page 7 Disaster averted in Karachi 300kg explosives recovered from taxi STAFF REPORTER KARACHI —At least three people were killed and several injured in a bomb blast here on Wednesday. The blast was re- ported from Al-Asif Square area located in Sohrab Goth, a hos- tile territory notorious for armed clashes, sources said. Earlier, sources quoted po- lice as saying the explosive de- vice, planted in a motorcycle, detonated outside a mosque, however the cops later withdrew their earlier statement claiming the bomb actually went off near a drug dealers’ den. The identity of the culprits and the motive behind the attack could not figure out. The dead and the injured were shifted to hospital, emergency responders told sources. Security officials, who wasted no time in reaching the blast site to secure it. Fearing the possibility of more incidence, they launched a search operation to clear the area so that any sec- ondary explosions could be avoided. According to sources, an- other detonable device measur- ing 300kg was found stuffed in- side a taxi parked nearby. The bomb disposal squad success- fully defused it.Rangers cor- doned off the blast-stricken area and police remained alert to con- trol the situation. Meanwhile, a cracker attack left two people, including a Sub Inspector of Police, injured in Govt forms 5-member committee to talk with PML-N ISLAMABAD—A meeting of government and its coalition partners chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday decided to talk to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML- N) to hold the elections of federal and provincial assemblies on same day. The meeting also formed a five-member committee to hold talks with the main opposition party PML-N leadership in this regard. The meeting also discussed expected names for the caretaker setup. The five-member committee constituted for talks PML-N for massive transfers in bureaucracy LAHORE—Apart from governors of the provinces, the Pakistan Muslim League-N has demanded transfer of 27 important government officials before the next general elections. A formal demand to this effect was put forth by the Opposition Leader in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to make the upcoming elections transparent. The PML-N has demanded transfer of home secretaries, inspector generals of police and chief secretaries in all the provinces. In addition, it has demanded that NADRA and PEMRA should be made to work under the supervision of the Election Commission of Pakistan. Tauqir handed over to Pakistan consulate ISLAMABAD—Former chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Tauqir Sadiq has been handed over to Pakistan consulate in Dubai. According to the media reports, Tauqir Sadiq, the key player in the alleged mega scandal of Rs82 billion, was arrested in Dubai on Tuesday by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team and Pakistani police. He is likely to be sent to Pakistan in next 48 hours. The police is also trying to send his front man, Sajid Ahmed, to Pakistan but legal 20 killed in Khyber, Aurakzai agencies blitz TARIQ SAEED PESHAWAR—As the PAF jet machines continued pounding the militants positions in troubled Khyber and Aurakzai agencies on Wednesday, 20 more alleged terrorists were re- ported killed and number of oth- ers sustained injuries. This has also brought the number of those killed in two days bombings to 43. Some 23 trouble makers belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Lashker-e-Islam, as the security forces claimed, were mowed down when the Jet fighters tar- geted the militants hide outs in Tiraah valley of Khyber agency and parts of Aurakzai agency on Tuesday. It may be recalled that bloody clashes have been going on between the militants of pro- government Ansaar- ul- Islam (a banned religious outfit) and Taliban in remote Tiraah valley of Khyber agency as well as Bara and Jamrod for the last five days resulting in killing of over eighty people from both sides till date. A number of innocent civil- ians have also fallen prey to the infightings that have rendered thousands of people homeless as hundreds of families are daily migrating towards safer places Continued on Page 7 Germany marks 80th anniversary of Hitler’s rise BERLIN—On the 80th anniver- sary of Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans to al- ways fight for their principles and not fall into the compla- cency that enabled the Nazi dic- tator to seize control. Speaking Wednesday at the opening of a new exhibit at the Topography of Terror memorial documenting Hitler’s election, Merkel noted that German aca- demics and students at the time happily joined the Nazis only a few months later in burning books deemed subversive. “The rise of the Nazis was made possible because the elite private then they would not take notice but if it proved otherwise, it would have serious conse- quences. Khawaja Asif, PML-N leg- islator, appeared and apprised the bench that the letter was sent through NAB media cell. The apex court then issued written orders to the NAB chair- man to submit a verified copy of the said letter and also di- rected him to disclose names of authorities and media persons to whom he had sent his letter. The hearing was subse- quently adjourned until Thurs- day. The court had earlier decided to hold day-to-day hearings of the RPP implementation case. ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians with Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza on the occasion of last session of the National Assembly. Opposition leader Ch Nisar Ali Khan is also present.—Online photo Continued on Page 7 Agha Nadeem new Secretary Information STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has appointed Agha Nadeem as federal secre- tary for information and broad- casting. A BPS-22 officer has been appointed as Secretary Min- istry of Information and Broad- casting, a Prime Minister House spokesman said Wednesday. Agha Nadeem has replaced Chaudhry Rasheed Ahmed who has recently taken the charge of Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). Zardari heads to UK via Dubai for trilateral summit ISLAMABAD—President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday left for Dubai, where he will have a short stay before heading to United Kingdom for a two-day trilateral summit. According to sources, Presi- dent Zardari will stay in Dubai for one day. From Dubai, he will fly to UK to attend the trilateral summit involving Pakistan, Af- ghanistan and Britain. The sum- mit is scheduled to be held from Feb 4 to 5. Apart from the civilian lead- ership, military chiefs of three Continued on Page 7 Today’s issue of Pakistan Observer carries one Page Special Report on ‘3rd Quality Standard Award 2012 by TCEP & PSQCA’ on Page 10. Continued on Page 7 Continued on Page 7 ATC rejects age report of Shahrukh Jatoi STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The Anti-Terror- ism Court (ATC) has expressed no confidence on medical report pertaining to the age verification of Shahrukh Jatoi, main accused in Shahzeb murder. Police on Wednesday pre- sented Shahrukh Jatoi and Siraj Talpur, Sajjad Talpur and Ghulam Murtaza Lashari before Anti-Terrorism Court and sought 10 more days for submit-

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Continued on Page 7

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Contrary to theremarks by the World Bank onPakistan’s economy that thelowest growth in the economy,the economy in Pakistan wit-nessed a modest improvementin financial 2012 – real GDPgrew by 3.7 percent during theyear, compared with 3.0 per-cent in FY11.

According to State Bank’sAnnual Report on the State ofthe Economy for the year2011-12 released today, thegrowth was more broad-basedcompared to FY11, as it wasevenly distributed across ag-riculture, industry and the ser-vices sector.

The demand side was

Economy grows by 3.7% in FY12: SBPmore insightful, as the growthin FY12 was primarily driven byprivate consumption, it said,adding that strong worker remit-tances, a vibrant informaleconomy and higher fiscalspending, supported consump-tion growth during the year.

SBP Report said that foodprices have remained relativelystable during FY12, whichhelped bring down overall infla-tion to 11.1 percent – better thanthe 12.0 percent projected ear-lier. ‘It was this easing that al-lowed the central bank to reducethe policy rate by 200 bps dur-ing the year; this was done topartially revive private sectorborrowing, and encourage banksto improve their intermediationbetween private savers and bor-

rowers,’ the Report added.The external front was posi-

tive as remittances posted yetanother year of strong growth,which not only helped narrowthe current account deficit, butalso contributed to economicactivity. ‘In overall terms, theexternal sector has been lessworrying than anticipated at thebeginning of the year; however,as financial inflows dried up, theburden of financing the currentaccount deficit and externaldebt, has fallen on the country’sFX reserves.

While services continued tosupport the economy, commod-ity producing sectors (agricul-ture and industry) posted an im-provement over FY11, the Re-port said, adding that the growth

in agriculture came from live-stock and kharif crops, butminor crops witnessed a de-cline due to the floods in Q1-FY12.

It said the positivespillovers from agriculture,coupled with strong remit-tances and income supportschemes, boosted constructionactivities and household con-sumption – both of whichhelped the manufacturing sec-tor. ‘In terms of services, therewas a sharp improvement infinancial sector earnings,driven primarily by the volumeof commercial bank financingof the fiscal deficit, and decel-eration in fresh non-perform-ing loans (NPLs),’ the ReportContinued on Page 7

Apex court snubs NAB chiefFasih Bukhari creating hatred against superior judiciary Orders

production of letter written to President ZardariSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt on Wednesday directedNational Accountability Bureau(NAB) chairman Admiral(Retd) Fasih Bokhari to submita copy of a letter written by himto President Asif Ali Zardari inwhich he had accused the apexcourt of pressurising NAB of-ficers and of interfering in theirduties.

In the letter sent Jan 27,Bokhari accused the court ofinterfering in NAB investiga-tions, particularly against poli-ticians, and endangering the in-dependence of their work.

A three-member bench of

the apex court, comprising ChiefJustice Iftikhar Muhammad

Chaudhry, Justice GulzarAhmed and Justice Sh Azmat

Saeed, heard the case Wednes-day concerning implementationof its March 2012 ruling in therental power projects (RPP)case.

During Wednesday hearing,the chief justice inquired NABProsecutor General Karim KhanAgha on the bureau chairman’sletter to the president express-ing reservations over the judi-ciary.

Chief Justice Iftikhar saidthe court would examine thecontents of the letter to deter-mine the reasons that may haveled Bokhari to draft it.

Chaudhry said the docu-ment, which has been made pub-lic, amounts to “criticising and

pressurising” the court. “We want to determine

whether the letter was written inan effort to pressurise the courtor to bring hatred and ridicule tothe judiciary,” said the Chief Jus-tice. “We are very serious aboutthis and will not allow the judi-ciary to be maligned by anyone.”

“On November 3, 2007, weeven did not allow a militarydictator to interfere into thecourts. How we can allow theNAB chairman to do so?” theChief Justice said.

“We are jealously guardingour jurisdiction. The Courts areworking independently,” headded.

Agha maintained that a let-

ter was written but it might be aprivate one and the chairman

NAB could claim privilege.The CJ told him that if it was

Altaf may neverreturn to Pakistan

STAFF REPORTER

RAWALPINDI—MQM ChiefAltaf Hussain said Wednesdaythat whenever his party tried totake its message to Punjab, vio-lence was spread in Karachi.

Speaking to a gathering ofMQM workers via telephonehere, Altaf Hussain said hemight never be allowed to re-turn to Pakistan.

He added that MQM wasthe only party which repre-sented the poor and middleclasses of Pakistan.

Altaf further said that hisstruggle was for the countryand people and would continueeven if he was not allowed toreturn.

Muttahia Qaumi Move-ment (MQM) chief said onlyhis party would be able to trans-

form the fate of the country. Hesaid he would soon hold a pub-lic meeting in Punjab which hesaid would be the biggest in thecountry’s history.

The MQM chief said thetrend of hereditary politicswould no longer continue, add-ing that the root of Pakistan’sproblems was the corruption inits political culture, politics ofinheritance and the feudal sys-tem.

He said the MQM repre-sented 98 per cent of thecountry’s population which wasvulnerable and that his partywas a victim of negative pro-paganda.

Altaf also congratulated theMQM candidates who won un-contested the by-elections forfour Sindh Assembly seats inKarachi.

Continued on Page 7

Assembliesdissolution

before March15: Shujaat

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The coalitiongovernment has decided to dis-solve the national and provincialassemblies before March 15,Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said,adding that the dissolutionwould be followed by the gen-eral elections in May.

Speaking to media represen-tatives, the chief of the PakistanMuslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) said the decisions in this re-gard were made by leaders ofparties, part of the PakistanPeople’s Party-led coalitiongovernment.

Shujaat said the participantsof the meeting had agreed uponholding the general polls in Mayand the dissolution of the pro-vincial and national assemblieswould take place before March15.

Moreover, he said TahirulQadri, chief of the Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) wouldalso be taken into confidence re-garding the dissolution of as-semblies. Shujaat said the PML-Q had consulted President AsifAli Zardari in this regard.

Gwadar port transferto China approved

Cabinet okays Pak, Irangas pipeline project

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Cabinet onWednesday approved a dealtransferring from Singapore toChina the management of thedeep-sea Gwadar port on theArabian Sea.

China provided about 75 percent of the initial $250 millionin funding for the constructionof the port in Balochistan.

It is currently being operatedby Singapore’s PSA Interna-tional, but needs further devel-opment work to become fullyoperational. According to PSA’sGwadar website, there has beenno ship in the port since Novem-ber.

“The cabinet Wednesdaygave approval to transferGwadar port operations fromPort of Singapore to ChineseOverseas Port Holdings Lim-ited,” Information MinisterQamar Zaman Kaira told report-ers.

“Both the companies havesettled their deal,” he said, with-out giving a timetable for thetransfer.

Kaira said that Singapore’sPSA International could not de-velop or operate Gwadar “asdesired” and said he hoped thatunder new management the portwould soon contribute to

Continued on Page 7

Continued on Page 7

Disaster averted in Karachi300kg explosives recovered from taxi

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—At least threepeople were killed and severalinjured in a bomb blast here onWednesday. The blast was re-ported from Al-Asif Square arealocated in Sohrab Goth, a hos-tile territory notorious for armedclashes, sources said.

Earlier, sources quoted po-lice as saying the explosive de-vice, planted in a motorcycle,detonated outside a mosque,however the cops later withdrew

their earlier statement claimingthe bomb actually went off neara drug dealers’ den.

The identity of the culpritsand the motive behind the attackcould not figure out. The deadand the injured were shifted tohospital, emergency responderstold sources.

Security officials, whowasted no time in reaching theblast site to secure it. Fearing thepossibility of more incidence,they launched a search operationto clear the area so that any sec-

ondary explosions could beavoided.

According to sources, an-other detonable device measur-ing 300kg was found stuffed in-side a taxi parked nearby. Thebomb disposal squad success-fully defused it.Rangers cor-doned off the blast-stricken areaand police remained alert to con-trol the situation.

Meanwhile, a cracker attackleft two people, including a SubInspector of Police, injured in

Govt forms5-membercommittee totalk with PML-NISLAMABAD—A meeting ofgovernment and its coalitionpartners chaired by PresidentAsif Ali Zardari on Wednesdaydecided to talk to the PakistanMuslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to hold the elections offederal and provincialassemblies on same day.

The meeting also formed afive-member committee tohold talks with the mainopposition party PML-Nleadership in this regard. Themeeting also discussedexpected names for thecaretaker setup.

The five-membercommittee constituted for talks

PML-N formassivetransfers inbureaucracyLAHORE—Apart fromgovernors of the provinces, thePakistan Muslim League-Nhas demanded transfer of 27important government officialsbefore the next generalelections.

A formal demand to thiseffect was put forth by theOpposition Leader in NationalAssembly Chaudhry Nisar AliKhan to make the upcomingelections transparent.

The PML-N has demandedtransfer of home secretaries,inspector generals of policeand chief secretaries in all theprovinces. In addition, it hasdemanded that NADRA andPEMRA should be made towork under the supervision ofthe Election Commission ofPakistan.

Tauqir handedover to PakistanconsulateISLAMABAD—Formerchairman Oil and GasRegulatory Authority (OGRA)Tauqir Sadiq has been handedover to Pakistan consulate inDubai.

According to the mediareports, Tauqir Sadiq, the keyplayer in the alleged megascandal of Rs82 billion, wasarrested in Dubai on Tuesdayby the National AccountabilityBureau (NAB) team andPakistani police.

He is likely to be sent toPakistan in next 48 hours.The police is also trying tosend his front man, SajidAhmed, to Pakistan but legal

20 killed in Khyber,Aurakzai agencies blitz

TARIQ SAEED

PESHAWAR—As the PAF jetmachines continued poundingthe militants positions introubled Khyber and Aurakzaiagencies on Wednesday, 20more alleged terrorists were re-ported killed and number of oth-ers sustained injuries.

This has also brought thenumber of those killed in twodays bombings to 43. Some 23trouble makers belonging toTehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan andLashker-e-Islam, as the securityforces claimed, were moweddown when the Jet fighters tar-geted the militants hide outs inTiraah valley of Khyber agency

and parts of Aurakzai agency onTuesday.

It may be recalled thatbloody clashes have been goingon between the militants of pro-government Ansaar- ul- Islam (abanned religious outfit) andTaliban in remote Tiraah valleyof Khyber agency as well asBara and Jamrod for the last fivedays resulting in killing of overeighty people from both sides tilldate.

A number of innocent civil-ians have also fallen prey to theinfightings that have renderedthousands of people homeless ashundreds of families are dailymigrating towards safer places

Continued on Page 7

Germanymarks 80th

anniversary ofHitler’s rise

BERLIN—On the 80th anniver-sary of Adolf Hitler’s rise topower, Chancellor AngelaMerkel urged Germans to al-ways fight for their principlesand not fall into the compla-cency that enabled the Nazi dic-tator to seize control.

Speaking Wednesday at theopening of a new exhibit at theTopography of Terror memorialdocumenting Hitler’s election,Merkel noted that German aca-demics and students at the timehappily joined the Nazis only afew months later in burningbooks deemed subversive.

“The rise of the Nazis wasmade possible because the elite

private then they would not takenotice but if it proved otherwise,it would have serious conse-quences.

Khawaja Asif, PML-N leg-islator, appeared and apprisedthe bench that the letter was sentthrough NAB media cell.

The apex court then issuedwritten orders to the NAB chair-man to submit a verified copyof the said letter and also di-rected him to disclose names ofauthorities and media persons towhom he had sent his letter.

The hearing was subse-quently adjourned until Thurs-day. The court had earlier decidedto hold day-to-day hearings of theRPP implementation case.

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians with Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirzaon the occasion of last session of the National Assembly. Opposition leader Ch Nisar Ali Khan is also present.—Online photo

Continued on Page 7

Agha Nadeemnew SecretaryInformation

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterRaja Pervez Ashraf has appointedAgha Nadeem as federal secre-tary for information and broad-casting. A BPS-22 officer hasbeen appointed as Secretary Min-istry of Information and Broad-casting, a Prime Minister Housespokesman said Wednesday.

Agha Nadeem has replacedChaudhry Rasheed Ahmed whohas recently taken the charge ofChairman Pakistan ElectronicMedia Regulatory Authority(PEMRA).

Zardari heads toUK via Dubaifor trilateral

summitISLAMABAD—President AsifAli Zardari on Wednesday leftfor Dubai, where he will have ashort stay before heading toUnited Kingdom for a two-daytrilateral summit.

According to sources, Presi-dent Zardari will stay in Dubaifor one day. From Dubai, he willfly to UK to attend the trilateralsummit involving Pakistan, Af-ghanistan and Britain. The sum-mit is scheduled to be held fromFeb 4 to 5.

Apart from the civilian lead-ership, military chiefs of three

Continued on Page 7

Today’s issue of PakistanObserver carries one PageSpecial Report on ‘3rd QualityStandard Award 2012 by TCEP& PSQCA’ on Page 10.

Continued on Page 7

Continued on Page 7

ATC rejectsage report of

Shahrukh JatoiSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The Anti-Terror-ism Court (ATC) has expressedno confidence on medical reportpertaining to the age verificationof Shahrukh Jatoi, main accusedin Shahzeb murder.

Police on Wednesday pre-sented Shahrukh Jatoi and SirajTalpur, Sajjad Talpur andGhulam Murtaza Lashari beforeAnti-Terrorism Court andsought 10 more days for submit-

Action urgedagainst trafficrules violators

SHAFFAAT MALIK

TALAGANG—llegal use ofgreen number plates, tintedglasses, plying unregisteredvehicles and other types ofnon-proscribed registrationplates on vehicles can beseen in Talagang and thetrend is increasing day byday. Personalised plates like‘Applied For Registration’, or‘AFR’ for short is the com-mon thing nowadays. Theunauthorized and inexperi-enced drivers of the publictransport vehicles are posinggreat threat to the lives ofpeople due to the negligenceof Talagang Police.

The public circles ofTalagang city have de-manded strict actionagainst the violators of traf-fic rules.The most of driv-ers of these vehicles are notonly unauthorized but alsoinexperience and underagethat might cause major ac-cident, they added. Severalpeople have suffered inju-ries due to these inexperi-enced and unlicensed driv-ers who usually make ille-gal turns and drive ruth-lessly.

The people have de-manded the authorities con-cerned to place restrictionson the underage rickshawdrivers. They also demandedthat heavy fines should beimposed on anyone illegallyusing blue lights or green li-cense plates on his vehicle.

1324 kgs ofcharas recovered

OBSERVER REPORT

QUETTA—Anti NarcoticsForce, conducted an opera-tion against Drug Smugglersand successfully recoveredHuge quantity of Hashish inBalochistan. According todetails, Anti Narcotics ForceBalochistan on spy informa-tion conducted a raid at ahutment in foothills of amountain in area of Murbat,Tehsil Ghazaband, DistrictPashin, after encounter withDrug Smugglers/ cross firing.Anti Narcotics Force seized1324 KGs Hashish of finequality. Drug Smugglers es-caped in the cover of firingand darkness. The drugswere brought from Afghani-stan and likely to besmuggled abroad. In timeoperation of Anti NarcoticsForce Balochistan failed planto smuggle drugs abroad.

Inspection of Arms& Ammunition

Manufacturers soonSTAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—The Home &Tribal Affairs DepartmentGovernment of KhyberPakhtunkhwa has an-nounced Inspection Teamfor carrying out inspectionof Arms & AmmunitionManufacturers and dealersas well as license branchesof Bannu Division. The in-spection team will be carry-ing out inspection of armsmanufacturing and dealer-ship units in first week ofFebruary 2013. The inspec-tion team is tasked to fur-nish inspection reportsalong with its recommenda-tions to the competent au-thority by February 11,2013. Recommendations ofsuitable category for armsmanufacturers.

SHER GONDAL

MANDI BAHAUDDIN—Chair-man Mustaqbil PakistanParty (MPP) MumtazNadeem Qureshi has saidthat no change can come inPakistan even in a thousandyears if dishonest peoplecontinue to sit in our assem-blies. He was addressingDistrict Bar Associationmembers here the other dayat bar room. He said the mainain of MPP was to abolishancestral and traditional poli-tics from Pakistan. He saidpresent politicians had failedto provide basic necessitiesto the public and run the de-mocracy on the right path.

He said it was due to theirinability that Pakistan that isrich in resources was eco-nomically unstable. If thistraditional political leader-ship continued to rule thecountry condition of ourpeople would further deterio-rate and country would facedisastrous consequences, headded. Pakistan couldprogress only with compe-tent, sincere and honest lead-ership, he reiterated. Refer-ring to the role of lawyers inthe society, he said that law-yers community was our as-set and very honorable aspeople expect help from them

for speedy and transparentjustice.

Earlier, on his arrival DBAPresident Pervaiz MahmoodRanjha, Vice President SherGondal, Secretary Shaukatand senior bar members in-cluding Amanullah Lak ex-MPA, Ch Farooq Gondal.Fateh Muhammad Gondal, Ex-Sessions Judge MuhammadHussain Maken and ManzoorTarar welcomed the chairmanto the bar. In the evening theChairman MPP addressed apress conference where hehighlighted salient points ofhis party Manifesto.

To a question he said hisparty planned to field its can-didates in the upcoming elec-tions on selected seats but in2017 the party would contestelection on all seats through-out the country. Answeringanother question he saidpresent politicians were los-ing their strength for variousfactors and one of the factorswas the role of electronic andprint media that was exposingtheir true faces to public andcreating awareness among thepeople about their inabilityand misdeeds. He said no citi-zen was happy with presenttraditional politicians’ perfor-mance except those who werederiving benefits from thembeing their close associates.

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—Chief MinisterKhyber Pakhtunkhwa AmirHaider Khan Hoti has ap-pealed to the leaders of thepolitical and religious partiesfor uniting against terrorismand establishment of peaceby rising above party politicsso that to resolve the matterthrough dialogues with thosewho wanted to shun vio-lence. He said that establish-ment of peace was top prior-ity regardless of political af-filiations and directed the lawenforcement agencies forunveiling groups involved intarget killing in Peshawar andbring them to justice.

He expressed these viewwhile chairing provincialjirga comprising Shia-SunniUlema, notables, and offic-ers of divisional and districtadministration at CM House.The jirga members paid trib-utes to the role of Ulema andefforts of administration formaintaining law and orderand religious harmony dur-ing Muharram. ProvincialMinisters Mian IftikharHussain and Amjad Afridi,MPAs Syed Mureed Kazamand Khalifa Abdul Qayum,Home Secretary, DivisionalCommissioners, DeputyCommissioners, CCPO,DIGs, DPOs, and other no-tables were present on the

occasion.The CM expressed satis-

faction over the peacefulcompletion of Muharamphases and termed it resultof joint efforts of the Ulemaand administration. He saidthat solution to problemthrough dialogues with thosecoming in folds of peace andshunning violence was ourtop priority and will remainso. He also termed the role ofreligious leaders from all fac-tions and local notables, im-portant in this connection.

The CM strongly con-demned recent incidents oftarget killing in Peshawar andexpressed sorrow over thedeath of two doctors. He di-

rected police authoritiespresent on the occasion forprompt actions against thegroups involved in target kill-ing in order to bring them tojustice.

He appealed the Ulemafor cooperation in this re-gard. He said that Peshawarwas the heart of KhyberPakhtunkhwa and that wasthe reason why those withmindset of damaging situa-tion in the province, hitPeshawar first for their evilagenda. He welcomed therecommendations of Ulemaand said that guidancewould be sought from theserecommendations.

lnformation Minister

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, SyedAhmad shah from Hazara,Hussain Ahmad Madani andAbdul Wahid Qadri fromPeshawar, Maulana Yunasand Syed Nafees Ahmadfrom Mardan, Allama RamzanTauqeer from Dera IsmailKhan, and Javed IbrahimParacha from Kohat also ad-dressed the Jirga. Theytermed efforts of presentgovernment for religious har-mony and establishment ofpeace as a good tradition.They also lauded arrange-ments of divisional and dis-trict administration. Thespeakers also put up certainrecommendations and threwlight on different problems.

ISLAMABAD—The Senate’Standing Committee on Waterand Power has annoyed thefluctuations in the power tarrifannounced by National Elec-tric Power Regulatory Author-ity (NEPRA) and recom-mended the authority to givecomplete report of changes intariff of 2012. The meeting ofSenate Standing Committee onWater and Power was heldhere on Wednesday with Sena-tor Zahid Khan in the chair andSenator Gul Muhammad lot,Senator Nisar Muhammad,Humayun Mandokhel partici-pated.

The Committee showed

its concerns over increase inelectricity tarrif for distribu-tion companies by NEPRAand said that the Authoritywas mandated to secure theinterests of consumers whileit is only increasing the tarrifand adding the miseries ofcommon man. Senator Zahidkhan said that NEPRA is onlyputting extra burden on themasses. “Rather to securethe interests of consumersNEPRA is adding extra bur-den on them”.

Legislative body askedthe Chairman NEPRA to givecomplete record of last oneyear that how much power

tarrif has been increased andif some relief given to themasses then also to give de-tails about it. The committeealso resented the absence ofSecretary Nargis Sethi andSpecial SecretaryHimayatullah and said thatSecretary committed that pe-riod of evaluation of tariff ofpower project would be re-duced to forty five days butthis promise has not been ful-filled. Standing Committee rec-ommended Nargis Sethi to en-sure her presence during thenext meeting and personallyrespond why this period hasnot been reduced.—Online

Young doctors’strike entres

15th dayMULTAN—Young doctors’strike in the outdoor wardson Wednesday entered intothe 15th consecutive day, asthe Punjab government re-mained indifferent to the de-mands of the striking doc-tors, while the poor patientscontinued to suffer.

The striking doctors haveset up camps outside the out-door wards of all the govern-ment hospitals, where medi-cal check ups of the visitingpatients are being done, how-ever, the patients are not be-ing provided medicines orany required clinical test fa-cilities.

Doctors said that theywould continue their strikeuntil the registered casesagainst the leaders of thedoctors in Gujranawala arenot withdrawn and theirother demands met.—INP

3 suspects heldduring operationQUETTA—Soon after a ter-ror bid was foiled in Quetta,three suspected personswere held from WehdatColony while arms were alsoseized from their possessionWednesday. According toFrontier Constabulary (FC)spokesman, a search opera-tion was conducted inGulshan Bareech area ofQuetta during which eachand every house wassearched and three suspectswere apprehended.

Two rifles, one pistol, 400rounds along with nine maga-zines were also recovered. FCforces are still continuing theoperation.—Online

Government ready to talk tothose who shun violence: Hoti

Senate body calls NEPRA tariff changes report Police directedto arrest accusedBHAKKAR—District PoliceOfficer has directed the po-lice to ensure arrest of pro-claimed offenders on priority.

Addressing a crime meet-ing at Police-Lines, he saidall under investigation casesbe streamlined and anyshortcoming in investigationby the officer will not be tol-erated, he warned. All caseswere discussed in detail andnotices were issued to offic-ers who failed in streamlin-ing the cases in time.—APP

Self-analysis cantake us furtherforward: VCSTAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—The golden ju-bilee ceremony of the depart-ment of political science washeld at Sir Sahibzada AbdulQayyum Auditorium Univer-sity of Peshawar on Wednes-day. A Ninety pound cake wascut to mark the fifty years ofexcellence of the departmenton the day. Vice ChancellorUniversity of Peshawar Prof.Dr. Muhamamd Rasul Jan wasthe chief guest while formerChairman of KhyberPakhtunkhwa Public ServiceCommission Gulzar Khan,Prof. Dr. Iqbal Tajik, Prof Dr.Fatih ur Rehman and otherAlumni of the departmentwere present on the occasion.

Established in the year1962, Department of PoliticalScience is providing compe-tent professionals to the civiland military institutions.

MPP to end dynasticpolitics: Mumtaz

CHAMAN: A view of trucks loaded with luggage passing through scanner installed by Pakistan at Pak-Afghan border.

LARKANA: A delegation of High Commissioners and Ambassadors of various coun-tries based in Pakistan visiting World Heritage of Moen-jo-Daro.

I S L A M A B A D — D e p u t yspeaker of Sindh Assembly,Shehla Raza on Wednesdaysaid that Pakistan PeoplesParty (PPP) has strongly be-lieved in continuation ofthe democratic system,which requires everyone toplay a due role in strength-ening democracy.

Talking to Pakistan Tele-vision channel, Shela saidthat PPP democratic gov-ernment has followed thepolicy of reconciliation toconsult with all politicalstakeholder on national is-sues .

She said the PPP wouldnot allow anyone to derail

the democratic system as ithad been restored after nu-merous sacrifices.

Replying to a question,she said that government isfully committed to ensurethe transparency in comingelections.

She added that underthe independent ElectionCommission (EC) none beinterfere in coming electionto ensure transparency in it.Shela said some elementshad been trying to createconfusion as the nationwas preparing for generalelections.

Replying to anotherquestion, she said the Presi-

dency had been a root ofconspiracies against democ-racy in the past but Presi-dent Zardari strengtheneddemocracy by relinquishingall powers to the Parliament.She said that all provincesshould be forms accordingto the aspiration of thepeoples belongs from theseregions.

She said that PPP had al-ready transferred powersfrom center to the provincesin National Finance Commis-sion Award (NFCA) andAaghaz- e -haqooq-e-Balochistan package, whichshowed our commitment forstrong federation.—APP

PPP not to allow derailingof democratic system

ISLAMABAD—Mostly dryand warm weather is likelyto prevail in the provincialcapital and others plain ar-eas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwain the next two days. Ac-cording to provincial metoffice, the current dryweather would continue inPeshawar and the adjoiningdistricts of Nowshera,Charsadda and Mardan tillFebruary 1st (Friday).

Hide and seek betweensun and clouds would con-tinue in Peshawar and ad-joining areas during the nexttwo days while rain is ex-pected in the next week, saidan official of met office. Themaximum temperature re-mained at 20 degree centi-grade in the provincial capi-tal on Wednesday. The MetOffice has forecast a partlycloudy weather with hazy/misty morning in the me-tropolis for the next 24hours.

The minimum tempera-ture will remain in the rangeof 14 to 16 degree celsius.The Met Office has forecasta partly cloudy weather forthe provincial capital andadjoining areas on Thursday.The maximum temperature isexpected between 15 to 17 Cand minimum temperature isbetween 1 to 3 C.

On Wednesday, the high-

Dry, warm weather forecastest maximum temperature of30 C were recorded at Turbatand Lasbella and the lowestminimum temperature of 1 Cwere recorded at Zhob. Thelocal Met office has forecastpartly cloudy weather with

chances of mist in the morn-ing for Multan and its sub-urbs during the next 24hours.

On Tuesday, the maxi-mum and minimum tempera-ture was recorded as 24.3degrees celsius and 7.5 de-grees centigrade, respec-tively. Humidity was re-corded as 86 per cent at 8 amand 42 per cent at 5 pm.

The consistent cold anddry spell stops the growth ofthe crops and the plants startspreading their roots, DrGhulam Rasool said. Thewheat crop is at the stage ofgrowing spikes when thecrop required sufficient rainfor growth and the rainydays of February will beblessing for the growth ofthe crops especially wheat,he said.—APP

KARACHI: Commander Pakistan Fleet Rear Admiral Khan Hasham Bin Saddique reviewing the guard duringChange of Command ceremony.

KARACHI—Rear AdmiralKhan Hasham Bin SaddiqueWednesday assumed the of-fice of Commander PakistanFleet. On command’s as-sumption, he is now the op-erational in charge of all PNships, Submarines, Missileboats and Aviation units,said a press release issuedhere by Pakistan Navy. RearAdmiral Hasham joined Pa-kistan Navy in 1978 and wascommissioned in 1980. Hehas a distinguished careerwith wide ranging commandand staff experience.

He has commanded Paki-stan Navy Ship Shahjahan,

Khan Hasham Bin Saddique takesover as Commander Pakistan Fleet

PNS Bahadur, Pakistan NavalAcademy, Pakistan Navy WarCollege and Maritime Opera-tions Training Complex. Hehas also been the Comman-dant National Security Col-lege (NDU) Islamabad. Dur-ing his service Rear AdmiralKhan Hisham also served asthe Squadron Operations Of-ficer of 25th Destroyer squad-ron, Executive officer PakistanNavy Ship Badr, Chief StaffOfficer to Commander Paki-stan Fleet, ACNS (Plans) andDeputy Chief of Naval Staff(Admin).

He also held the commandof Multinational Maritime

Task Force (CTF 150) at HQNAVCENT Bahrain. Beforeassuming the appointment ofCommander Pakistan Fleet theAdmiral was serving asDeputy Chief of Naval Staff(Operations) at Naval Head-quarters. The officer under-took initial training at Britan-nia Royal Naval College UKand won the Sword of Honouras best All round graduate.

He did his Masters in Jointwarfare and War studies andMSc in Operations Research;he also attended many pro-fessional courses includingSurface Warfare Course,Long Communication Course,

Joint Services Staff Courseand Armed Forces Warcourse. Rear Admiral Hashamreceived Sitara e Imtiaz Mili-tary as recognition of his ser-vices. The change of com-mand ceremony was held atDockyard, where Vice Admi-ral Zaka Ullah handed thecommand to newly appointedcommander. Rear AdmiralHasham Bin Saddique re-ceived the guard of honorand was introduced to otherofficers of the command.The ceremony was attendedby a large number of Paki-stan Navy officers and sail-ors.—APP

KP Governor desires youth policyStaff Reporter

PESHAWAR—The Khyber PakhtunkhwaGovernor, Barrister Masood Kausar hasdirected the concerned authorities toformulate FATA Youth Policy and fur-ther desired that a complete draft, en-compassing views of the respectiveyouth should be presented to him withinshortest possible time. He was talking tothe office bearers and leading membersof the FATA Youth Assembly who calledon him under the leadership of its Chair-

person, Mehrin Afridi at Governor’s House here Wednes-day. Secretary to Governor, Muhammad Abid Majeed wasalso present on the occasion. Highly appreciating the wellthought proposals and the way of presentation by the del-egates, the Governor said, it is not only an impressive ap-proach but also a right demand and he will have frequentmeetings with the forum. We will appreciate more reason-able points from FATA youth to incorporate in the proposeddraft of youth policy, before it is finalized, he added. Thegovernment, the Governor said, is already making sincereefforts to engage youth of FATA to promote educational,sports and cultural activities and a FATA Youth Festival willbe arranged within next couple of months. . Referring tovarious points, the Governor said, promotion of sports andcultural activities should also be an important segment ofthe proposed FATA Youth Policy. Education is a very com-prehensive subject which does not restricted to only school-ing and institutions, and therefore, the government will fullypatronize the youth from FATA to be competitive at thenational level in all respects, he added.

PML-N promoting politics of serviceSalim Ahmed

OKARA—Central leader of PML-N,Hamza Shahbaz Sharif MNA has saidthat Pakistani people are the biggeststakeholders of the country’s politics.He said that every step and policy ofPML (N) is aimed at the public welfare.He said that PML (N) is promoting thepolitics of service in the country andexpressed the hope that after next gen-eral elections, the era of developmentand prosperity will usher in under the

leadership of Nawaz Sharif. He expressed these views whileaddressing the function of distribution of achievementawards held under the auspices of Okara Chamber of Com-merce and Industry here today. President Okara Chamberof Commerce Ch. Arshad Iqbal, Ch. Riaz-ul-Haq, MianYawar Zaman, Mian Muneer Ahmed, Nadeem AbbasRabaira and a large number of party leaders and workerswere present on the occasion. Hamza Shahbaz Sharif saidthat the traders, industrialists, labourers and common citi-zens are facing economic problems but the rulers sitting inIslamabad have no concern with the problems of the peopleand have not been taking any step for redressal of theirgrievances. He said that it is the responsibility of the na-tion to rid the country of these looters and dacoits in thecoming elections through vote. Hamza Shahbaz said thatevery patriotic person will have to bring the pious andpatriotic leadership through power of their vote for thesurvival of the country. He said that the present rulers arelooting national exchequer ruthlessly. He said that we willhave to wage a crusade against corruption for ousting thering leaders of corruption from the corridor of powers.Hamza Shahbaz Sharif said that our rulers have made Paki-stan a begging country for the aid of a few dollars whereasPunjab government, contrary to it has set a shining ex-ample of national honor by renouncing the foreign aid.

Performance to ensure PPP polls winStaff Reporter

PESHAWAR—Federal Minister for Com-munications Dr. Arbab Alamgir KhanKhalil has said that the amicable dis-posing of all national issues, thepresent PPP government has estab-lished a new precedent, which has nomatch in the history of the country.Talking to different delegations of dif-ferent areas, the government is near thecompletion of five years term and wasconfident that on the basis of its per-

formance it will return with thumping majority, he said.Arbab Alamgir Khan Khalil said that the development ofall areas of Peshawar is his top priority and he had com-pleted development schemes worth millions of rupees inhis electoral constituency. He said that he always feelpleasure while remaining busy in the service of the people.He said that PPP is the real political party of the people,which is carrying forward the vision and philosophy ofShaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He said that all political par-ties are witnessed to the fact that PPP had always broughthe country out of crises. He said that the party duringlast five years had taken practical steps for alleviation ofpoverty and abolition of illiteracy and had succeeded toovercom on several problems including unemploymentinto some extent. Minister for Technical Education andMineral Development, Nawabzada Mehmudzeb has saidthat the manifesto of Pakistan Peoples’ Party was meantto serve the the nation. He was addressing a public meet-ing in Bandagai area of Lower Dir in which main support-ers of Jamat- e- Islami announced to join PPP. Being thelargest party of the country, he said PPP has opened itsdoors for all and those joining the party would be happywith their decision.

Gigantic EUtechnical aid programmeStaff Reporter

PESHAWAR—The European Union isintroducing an 80 million Euro gigantictechnical assistant programme forKhyber Pakhtunkhwa for district gov-ernance and community developmentin Malakand Division. In this connec-tion a one-day dissemination workshopwas arranged in Peshawar on Wednes-day to discuss salient features of theprogramme with the KhyberPakhtunkhwa government and its fi-

nance department. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ministerfor Finance Engineer Muhammad Humayun Khan waschief guest on the occasion while the provincial minis-ters Qazi Asad, Nawabzada Mahmood Zeb Khan, MPABacha Saleh, EU Ambassador to Pakistan Lars Gunner,Secretary Finance Sahibzad Saeed Ahmad, members ofthe EU delegation Jos Jonkers, Berrend de Groot andhigh ranking officers of the KPK government attendedthe workshop. The finance minister said Malakand Divi-sion was the worst effected region by acts of terror andthe European Union selection of such a division washighly laudable. He said it was their strong belief andpart of their PCNA strategy that to mitigate the causes ofconflict they had to devise a Public Financial Manage-ment system that could respond to the needs of the citi-zens in transparent way. He said they knew that the par-ticipation of citizens in the nation building activities wasvery crucial to bring the state closer to them. He saidthey had introduced many innovations in the PFM sys-tems like out based budgeting, pre-budget consultationsand conditional grants to the districts.

M. HALEEM ASAD

TIMERGARA—Four childrenincluding two of the samefamily in Kurshong andUtala villages of Maidandied of Measles’ complica-tion while several othershave been hospitalized; resi-dents and hospital sourcestold on Wednesday. OneAmjad, 7, her sister Roma, 5,children of Amirzada; Raziat,6, daughter of Shah Zaminand a daughter of Ziarat Guldied after suffering fromMeasles for some days.Several other children inBalu Khan, Kurshong andUtala had been suffering

from the disease that hadproven epidemic in parts ofthe Dir Upper district.

District Health Officer(formerly called EDO Health)Dr Shaukat told on contactthat he had received reportsabout deaths due toMeasles’ complications. Hesaid a team of experts wouldbe sent to the area on Thurs-day (today) to investigatethe matter. The DHO said thatall officials of the health de-partment remained too muchbusy in three-day nationalcampaign against poliowhich peacefully ended onWednesday. “Therefore wecould not send experts to the

area during these threedays,” Dr Shaukat said.

PTI ELECTION: Reject-ing the Tuesday intra-partyelections in Dir Lower, onegroup of the Pakistan TehrikInsaf demanded of the partyhigh command to suspendresults of the elections in thedistrict. Dozens of party ac-tivists led by MuhammadBashir Khan, Khan Sherinand Saeedullah late on Tues-day night held a protest dem-onstration in front of theTimergara press club. Theprotesting PTI workerschanted slogans against theelection supervisors and re-jected the results.

Later speaking at a newsconference MuhammadBashir Khan, Khan Sherinand others alleged that theirrival group had rigged theintra-party district and tehsilelections held at the resthouse on Wednesday. Theysaid the election supervisorwas openly supporting therival group. They said theywere not accepting results ofthe election. They demandedof the PTI chief and provin-cial leadership to immediatelysuspend the results of elec-tions in Dir Lower.

They also accused thelocal police for backing theFakhruz Zaman group. “We

have been kept in darkabout polling booths andelection process,” theysaid. Otherwise, theythreatened to observe aprotest sit-in in front of thePTI central secretariat iftheir demand was not met.The PTI activists said thatoffice-bearers of Balambat,Timergara, Maidan, Mundaand Samar Bagh tehsilswould also back them intheir protest.

According to election re-sults advocate FakhruzZaman got 156 votes andwas elected as president ofthe PTI in Dir Lower while hisrival candidate Malik Rashid

got 71. Ali Shah Mishwanigot 233 votes and waselected as general secretarywhile his rival advocateMubarak Jan got 129 votes.

*****Deputy Commissioner

Dir Lower has convened ameeting of the committee onDec 31 to review prices ofdaily use commodities. Allheads of government depart-ments including police, allassistant commissioners,presidents of trade unions inthe district and businessmen had been asked to at-tend the meeting in order tofix fresh prices of daily useitems.

GUL HAMAAD FAROOQI

CHITRAL—Jamat IslamiChitral Chapter held a pro-test rally and public meet-ing against unscheduledload shedding and closingof Lawari tunnel for trafficunnecessarily. The rallystarted from Bazar Masjidunder supervision of formerMNA Abdul Akbar and JIleaders and ended at pologround gate where the rallywas converted into a publicmeeting presided over byMaulana GhulamMuhammad, Amir Jamat-i-Islami and former MPA.Addressing the gatheringthe speakers alleged PescoChitral for exercising 12 to20 hours continued loadshedding. They said that

according to WAPDA rulesthere would be no load shed-ding where consumer pay100% utility bills while atChitral consumers pay theirmonthly electricity bill regu-larly. But even then they aredeprived of power supply forhours. They said that thereis no work inside the tunnelbut it remained closed fortrafficfour days a week andopen for three hours onthree days.

They also passed aunanimous resolution de-manding end to load shed-ding and upgradation of lo-cal power house from 600 KVto 2 Megawatt. They alsodemanded opening of Lawaritunnel for traffic on daily ba-sis. If Korean staff wants tocontinue work they should

be allowed to assume workon small tunnel because itsblacktopping and link road isstill pending.

Giving a deadline of oneweek they warned if their de-mands were not fulfilled theywould come on roads onceagain. They alleged that therewas no work inside the tun-nel but NHA pay 1 billion ru-pees to Korean companySAMBU annually only tocheat simple people of Chitraland get vote for coming elec-tion. They blamed provincialMinister Population WelfareSaleem Khan for corruptionand gaining of millions of ru-pees by getting commission.

They also lamented dis-trict administration for impos-ing section 144 on publicmeeting but blue eyed party

workers are allowed meet-ings. They also warnedshopkeepers to keep theirshops closed during JI rallyotherwise in case of any lossJamat-i-Islami will notberesponsible.

Those who spoke on theoccasion included formerMNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali,Hayatullah Khan,Akhunzada Rahmatullah,Ghulam Muhammad,Maulana Israruddin Alhilaland Qari MuhammadJamshed. It is worth mention-ing here that local hydropower house has been estab-lished at Singore area wherepeople have badly sufferedduring its construction butbeing royalty holders theyare also facing 16 hours loadshedding on daily basis.

BASHIR AHMED REHMANI

HAFIZABAD—Constructionof Trauma centre building,which had started in 2010 hasbeen completed at a cost ofRs. 49.789 million but the gov-ernment has neither postedany staff nor any apparatushas been installed in the cen-tre so far. Local citizens asso-ciation has called upon theChief Minister to ensure earlyposting of the staff to makethe centre functional. It is fur-ther learnt that 13 healthprojects costing Rs. 103.624million have been completedin the district during the pastthree years which includedexpansion of children ward,upgradation of RHC Kassoke,construction of DHU in BhakaBhattian, Sandwan Tarar andLadies Health Centre,Hafizabad.

****Citizens Association,

Hafizabad, has demandedprobe into the mettling of linkcanal road and so-called parkbehind the district complex ata cost of millions of rupeeswhich has lost its utility. Theassociation pointed out thatcommission mafia and someofficials were involved inwasting huge governmentfunds. It was further pointedout that another park cost-ing million of rupees on Sagar

Road, presents deserted lookand sewage water of thenearby localities accumulatedin the park. They also allegeduse of sub-standard materialin the execution of the park.

In this connection a citi-zen had submitted represen-tation to the authorities con-cerned and anti-corruptionestablishment in the past butthe matter was hushed up bythe authorities in connivancewith the commission mafia.Citizens have demanded athorough probe to unearththe irregularities andbunglings committed by thecommission mafia and theiragents in the administration.

****The local transporters

and commuters have ex-pressed their grave concernover snail pace of the mettlingand widening of Hafizabad-Gujranwala road. The provin-cial government has startedthe mettling and widening ofthis 31-mile long neglectedroad, which had become ab-solutely unmotorable for thepast ten years, at a cost of1.70 billion about threemonths back. The chief min-ister himself had laid the foun-dation stone at Gujranwala,who had announced that theproject would be completedwithin four months but theexecution work is very slow.

7 killed in KasurWAQAS ASHRAF

KASUR—Seven people losttheir lives during the lastthree days in different inci-dents at Kasur. Reportedly,Rana Arif and Mehmoodwere on their way to factoryon a motorcyle when aspeedy truck hit them nearRao Khan wala, killing themon the spot. In the secondincident, Yousaf allegedlykilled Anayat and his wifeover an old enmity inKhudian.

In the third incident,Shabir Ahmed and Afzal weresitting in their truck nearDena Nath in Phoolnagarwhen another speedy truckhit their vehicle from the rearside. As a result, both diedon the spot. In the fourth in-cident, a man axed his wife todeath over domestic issue atBasti Charagh Shah in thejurisdiction of B.Divisionpolice station.

Jhang: Prizedistribution tomorrow

SYED ADNAN NOOR

JHANG—The much awaitedprize awards to the first andsecond position holders in theChief Minister MohammadShahbaz Sharif, Punjab YouthFestival Programme 2012, un-der the General Public cadre attehsil and district level in vari-ous competitions wil be givenduring a prize distribution cer-emony on February 1. Thegrand award ceremony will beheld at Jinnah Hall on Friday,February 1, 2013, at 2 p.m. TheDistrict Coordination Officer,Jhang, Mohammad ShahidNiaz, will be the chief guest andMNAs and MPAs belongingto the district will also bepresent on the occasion.

Four kids die of measles in Maidan, several hospitalisedRival group rejects Lower Dir PTI intra-party elections

JI protests loadshedding, Lawari tunnel closure

Trauma centre buildingsans staff, facilities

FAISALABAD: Women protesting against chairperson Sonia Naz Human Rights Organization.

HYDERABAD: A health worker of polio team administering polio drops to a child dur-ing anti-polio campaign at Civil Hospital.

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—Qaumi WatanParty (QWP) provincialChairman Sikandar HayatKhan Sherpao on Wednes-day criticised the govern-ment for raising the powertariff and said the hike wasunjustified as the consumerswere facing prolonged powercuts. “The government mustnot put more burden on thepeople if it can’t providethem relief in the face of bur-geoning inflation, he saidwhile addressing a mammothpublic meeting in BattagramUnion Council in Shabqadartehsil in Charsadda district.

A dozen of activists pre-viously aligned with otherpolitical parties announcedjoining the QWP on the oc-casion. Sikandar Sherpaosaid electricity was beinggenerated in Khyber

Power tariff hikeunjustified: Sherpao

Pakhtunkhwa, but its resi-dents were deprived of its useat subsidised rates. He saidthe rulers didn’t have the rightto remain in power becausethey had been unable to takesteps for the wellbeing of thepeople and to put the coun-try on the path to progress.

The QWP leader furthersaid skyrocketing inflationhad adversely affected thepurchasing power of thepeople, who would vote outthe rulers in the forthcominggeneral election. “The peoplehave lost faith in the rulers,who made no effort to createjob opportunities and revivethe economy,” he main-tained. Sikandar Sherpaosaid his party was the genu-ine representative of thePakhtuns and if voted topower they would take allpossible steps for securingthe rights of the people.

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—Two leopardwere killed in Galliyat and thenumber big cats gunneddown increased, informedofficials working on conser-vation of wild specie. Therecent incidents happenedin December and currentmonth, when armed mengunned down two leopardsin populated areas, saidWasim Ahmad CoordinatorWWF. Apparently the rea-son of killing of the animalsis self safety or retaliationover attack on human or live-stock, Wasim added. He saidmost of the cases of leopardkilling are result of human-carnivore conflict which re-sult in killing from both sides.

“Shrinking habitat due to

Two leopards killed in Galliyat,human-carnivore conflict termed reason

increasing dependence ofpopulation on natural re-sources and ensuing human-leopard conflict in Galliyatare posing serious threat tosurvival of the endangeredwild cat in the region”, ob-served Mubarik Shah, ChiefConservator Wildlife Depart-ment Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Talking to reporters, he saidGalliyat is home to the larg-est population of commonleopards in the country andreduction of habitat for therare wild specie is causingdanger to its survival in theregion.

Human-carnivore (meateating animal) conflict al-ways has negative impact oncarnivore population be-cause of retaliatory killingand when the predator did

not find wild prey due to re-duction in habitat, it starts itsdependence on livestock andin some cases on human be-ing, Mubaik Shah added. Hesaid in winter season, theleopard-human conflict alsorises as the animal descendfrom upper areas due toheavy snow and frequentlyvisit populated area to findprey.

In the recent incidents,cases have been registeredand challans filed against thekillers. Those who kill leop-ard are fined under the Wild-life Act, he said. MubarikShah also informed that inboth the cases the dead bod-ies of the big cats were miss-ing however one is recov-ered and search for other isin progress.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TIMERGARA—Speakers at acondolence reference urgedthe lawyers’ community tofollow footsteps of themartyred Jamil Khan advo-cate who had never compro-mised on principles and lawof the land. A function in thisregard was jointly organizedby the ‘Shuhada MemorialCommittee’ and District BarTimergara at the bar room.Prominent lawyers’ leadersHazrat Rahman, JehanBahadar, Fazal Tawab andpresident Timergara BarSher Hayat, ANP districtpresident Hussain ShahYousafzai, PPP Dir Lowerpresident Khurshid AliKhan, former district nazimMalakand advocate GhufranAhad, provincial presidentAwami Workers’ PartyShahab Khattak, FarkhendaJan and Haidar Zaman spokeon the occasion while poetsIqbal Hussain Salar, SyedKifayat Yar Bukhari, NasirAmin, Dr Luqman Kaimurand Ihsan Bacha Khuglan

paid poetic tributes to lateA. Jamil Khan.

A Jamil Khan was killedby unknown militants onJan 24, 2009 after kidnap-ping him from the busyTimergara city. The killershad thrown his body in asquare of the city. Speakersof the function said thatadvocate Jamil Khan was abrave, tolerant, passionateand humanity-loving per-son. “He was popular in le-gal fraternity of the coun-try for his liberal thoughtsand ideas,” Hazrat Rahmansaid, adding that his mur-der proved he had shownfull resistance to the mili-tants as his bodies had mul-tiple signs of torture.

The speakers said thatA Jamil advocate set an ex-ample of bravery beforeterrorists that later gavecourage to other col-leagues. Participants alsooffered ‘fateha khawani’ forthe departed soul and saidA Jamil would be alwaysremembered by people ofthe district.

Tributes paid toShaheed Jamil advocate

ECP upholdsideology of Pakistan

IN the backdrop of all-round confusion and uncertainty, the ElectionCommission of Pakistan (ECP) has become focus of expectationsof people who have pinned great hopes for a real change through

the upcoming general elections and that in turn depends on the abilityof the Commission to hold the polls in a free, fair and transparentmanner in every respect.

It is satisfying that Fakhruddin G Ebrahim led Commission seemsto be cognizant of its role and responsibilities in this regard and ismaking hectic efforts to realize the objective of fair elections through acombination of measures. The legal and Constitutional framework wasalready there but unfortunately it was never implemented in toto due tolack of commitment and also as a sort of undue favour to the privilegedclass of the society that considers elections and power as their soleprerogative. However, things have started moving in the right directionbecause of the massive public awareness, thanks to the Long March ofDr. Tahirul Qadri. The Commission is meticulously laying down groundrules for candidates and electioneering and issuance of final Code ofConduct for Elections on Tuesday was step in the same direction. The46-point code, if implemented with due sincerity and commitment,would hopefully bring about a positive change in the politics andgovernance of the country. The code contains all good things but, webelieve, the most important one is the one that prohibits propagationof any opinion or act in any manner prejudicial to the ideology ofPakistan or the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country. Wesay so because Pakistan’s identity and foundation is its ideology asperceived by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Pakistan andfor that matter any other state that detaches itself from the vision of thefounding fathers is destined to go astray. Our ideology has been thecementing force but some elements have deliberately been propagatingviews that amount to weakening our very foundation. We are sure thatall concerned would abide by this constitutional obligation and makeconscientious efforts to strengthen the ideology by making it part oftheir election manifestoes and electioneering.

Power tariff hikeon eve of elections

NATIONAL Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) hasonce again allowed an increase of Rs 1.33 per unit price of elec-

tricity that would add to the burden of the consumers. The tariff hikegiven under the pretext of fuel adjustment charges for the month ofDecember, 2012 on the eve of elections would not be received wellby the voters.

While consumers are bound to pay for the utility services theyget, the charges must be justified and there should be no discrimina-tion. The authorities admit the fact that almost 40% of the electricitygenerated is lost either through line losses or theft and a vast majorityof consumers do not pay their dues. That puts additional burden onthe people who make regular payment of their bills. One had ex-pected that the Minister for Water and Power would bring improve-ment in the system by disconnecting the supply of defaulters includ-ing Federal and Provincial Government departments but it appearsthat he too has become subdued in the face of theft mafia. There isdire need that the Ministry must take a bold stance, disconnect thesupply of all defaulters and take action against those indulging intheft to bring down the losses. The question is for how long the gov-ernment and the honest consumers would pay for thieves and corruptpeople who are spending massively on personal luxuries but not will-ing to pay their electricity dues. Therefore we would recommend thatas elections are nearing, the government must go for all-out recoverydrive, bring an end to circular debt and load shedding and providesome relief to the consumers, if it wants to go to the people and tellthem that it has achieved something during its tenure.

Protestors turn chaoticin Minister’s Office

PPP workers are known for their disorganized and frenziedbehaviour during public meetings and even during serene and sober

ceremonies at President and PM House or proceedings of theParliament but on Tuesday they crossed all limits by ransacking theoffice of Minister for Water and Power. They came to the Ministry tomeet him to press for their demand to get jobs, went wild on non-availability of the Minister and started breaking glasses and furniture.

This is indeed sad particularly in view of the fact that thishappened to Ch Ahmad Mukhtar, who is a thorough gentleman,soft-spoken, humble and believes in decency in politics. No doubt,unemployment is a matter of concern not only for PPP workers butpeople of Pakistan but we have to be realistic in our approach. Inthe first place, government jobs are not meant for PPP workers aloneand the Minister is duty bound to ensure that vacancies are filledpurely through open competition and on merit. How can the workersof the party demand that the lists given by them should be entertainedat all costs even ignoring more competent and deserving candidates?Secondly, it is known to all that the Election Commission has placeda ban on fresh recruitments and the PPP workers should realize thisfact. What these workers did was reflective of the overall disrespectto law and rules and regulations and attempts by different pressuregroups and segments of the society to take law into their own handsduring the last few years. This trend needs to be curbed as evendoctors and lawyers have been behaving in rude and violent mannerthrowing insults on seniors and judges.

Hostile elements foment sectarianism

Rules and modelsdestroy genius andart.

While conducting similarkinds of subversive activities in other regions,

foreign hostile elements have alsointensified sectarian violence todestabilise Pakistan. In this regard,situation of Balochistan provinceneeds special attention where re-cently more than 100 people, a ma-jority of whom belonged to theHazara community lost their livesin the twin bombings in Quetta. Theincident was the dark day, as it wasthe worst ever sectarian attack onShias of Hazara community.

The deadly terror-event resultedin severe reaction by the people ofShia community and non-Shia hu-man leaders of political and reli-gious parties, who strongly con-demned the incident, expressingsolidarity with the Hazara commu-nity. On the call of the Shia UlemaCouncil, members of the Shia com-munity held a protest demonstrationon January 12, 2013 in Islamabadand blocked the Faizabad Inter-change. Several people includingmembers of the Hazara community,representatives of non-governmen-tal organisations and human rightsactivists participated in the demon-stration, carrying banners, inscribedwith anti-government slogans. Inthis respect, Shias held rallies allover the country, marking January13 as a day of protest.

Braving the severe cold for anumber of days, while shouting slo-gans against both the federal andBalochistan governments for notproviding security to Hazaras, Shiafamilies refused to bury their dead,

Egypt inturmoil

Five days of protests in Egypt,with dozens of people killedand entire cities in turmoil

have revealed a whopping deficitof public trust in the Muslim Broth-erhood, the Islamic group thatdominates the leadership of thisyoung democracy of the ArabSpring. In cities like Port Said, theprotesters have displayed an opendefiance of President MohamedMorsi’s orders on a curfew andstate of emergency. Egypt’s Armychief warns of the state collapsing.And indeed, many Egyptians nowtalk of splitting up the Arab world’smost populous state.

The triggers for this upheavalwere the second anniversary of thefall of Hosni Mubarak and a courtsentencing 21 people for the deathsof 74 people after a soccer matchlast year. But below the surface ofthis dissent lies a deeper struggle.It is one trying to define the sourceof legitimacy for Egypt’s new lead-ers, or the kind of sentiment thatcements trust between a govern-ment and its people. As it hasslowly risen to power in the pasttwo years, the Muslim Brotherhoodhas broken many promises aboutthe role it would play in represen-tative government. Its flip-flops andpower grabs in forming a new re-gime have only added to a worryamong democracy advocates thatMr. Morsi would define his author-ity from Islam, or sharia law, ratherthan from constitutional rights andsecular pluralism. Even within theBrotherhood, a decades-long de-bate on reconciling Islam as a re-vealed religion with liberal democ-racy has yet to be settled, resultingin splits and high-level defections.

Now an Islamic movementfounded by an Egyptian school-teacher in 1928 faces the kind ofprotests that brought down a secu-lar dictator. Protesters even chantthe same word used in 2011:“Leave.” Many Egyptians, or atleast those in major cities, appearto be worried that their countrymight follow the path of Iran’s 1979Islamic Revolution, in which Is-lamic leaders cite holy writ forsecular authority more than they dopublic polls or election results. Thecurrent protests show Egyptianstrust democracy itself but they wantmore checks and balances on thepower of elected leaders. Distrustis built into any democracy as a wayto prevent the abuse of power by afew even if the system itself re-quires public trust. “Trust is a kindof shorthand for a whole range ofexpectations and emotions aboutthe content of our public life,”writes British philosopher MarekKohn in a 2008 book, “Trust: Self-Interest and the Common Good.” —The Christian Science Monitor

*****

A wake-up call

The Knowledge and HumanDevelopment Authority’s(KHDA) latest report on the

state of Indian and Pakistanischools in Dubai has raised manyquestions about the quality of edu-cation being imparted to students.More than 4,000 students are en-rolled in Indian schools that havebeen given an unsatisfactory grad-ing. Only one of three schools of-fering the Pakistani curriculum wasable to improve its ranking fromunsatisfactory to acceptable. Thereport also found that there was nosignificant improvement in theoverall performance of Indianschools over the last two years.

There has been a lot of debateabout the cost of education and howsending children to school wasburning holes in the pockets ofmost parents. There has even beentalk of how the business of educa-tion was taking priority over thebasics of learning. The reportshows that where there is a weakleadership, there is a decline inquality of key aspects of the school.Parents send their children toschool for good education. Butwhen this is not done, there issomething fundamentally wrongin the way schools are run. TheKHDA report provides a frame-work to work on and if manage-ments are serious about runningschools, they should take note ofthe flaws and correct them. Chil-dren are our future and they havea right to basic and good educa-tion. If we fail to give them a solidfoundation, we will be staring at ashaky future. — Gulf News

MEDIA WATCH

William Hazlitt—British essayist

and continued their sit-in pro-test in Quetta until the armytakes over security of the city.Taking cognisance of themagnitude of the sectarianattack and reaction of theHazara community in Quetta

blasts, leaders of political parties in-cluding those of the ruling party urgedPrime Minister Raja Pervez Ashrafto impose governor’s rule inBalochistan. Chief Minister NawabAslam Raisani who failed in control-ling the deteriorating law and ordersituation of the trouble-hit provincewent abroad to avoid criticism regard-ing the incident.

In that backdrop, Prime MinisterRaja Pervez Ashraf who visitedQuetta and talked to the protestersimposed governor’s rule inBalochistan. Although the sit-in pro-test was ended by the people ofHazara community, yet sporadic sec-tarian violence on these Shias cannotbee seen in isolation as it includesmultiple anti-Pakistan dimensionswhich need appropriate analysis.Notably, secret agencies like Ameri-can CIA, Israeli Mossad and IndianRAW are behind sectarian violencein Pakistan, which has been acceler-ated in the past few years. In fact, theUS had planned to spark a civil warbetween the Sunnis and Shias in wakeof war on terror. So, we cannot blamethese secret agencies without solidevidence.

For the purpose, a study of theRand Corporation, titled ‘US Strat-egy in the Muslim World After 9/11’ was conducted on behalf of thethen US Deputy Chief of Staff forAir Force. The report of the RandCorporation-a leading think tank, re-leased on December 27, 2004 advo-cated that Sunni-Shia sectarian di-vision should be exploited to pro-mote the US objectives in the Mus-lim World. The report of the Rand

Corporation was first implementedin Iraq. In this context, CIA also gotthe services of Mossad and RAW tofuel sectarian violence in Iraq. In2004, major terror-attacks were car-ried out against the Shias in Karbalaand Baghdad. Afterwards, a chain ofShia-Sunni clashes started betweenIraqi Shias and Sunnis, targetingeach other’s mosques, religious lead-ers through bomb blasts, suicide at-tacks etc.

After Iraq’s experiment, moredeadly pattern of sectarian strife andclashes have been conducted in Pa-kistan. While in Balochistan, besidesother acts of sabotage, sectarian as-saults on Shias, particularly on thoseof Hazaras have continued unabatedin order to fuel sectarian riots in theprovince. Besides subversive assaultson other non-Balochis, in the recentmonths, more people of Hazara com-munity have been targeted by themilitants. In fact, some banned reli-gious outfits like Lashkar-i-Janghviand the Sunni militant group,Jundollah (God’s soldiers) whichhave claimed responsibility for anumber of terror assaults on Shias,especially of Hazara community inBalochistan get arms and ammuni-tion from RAW and CIA. These for-eign-backed militants groups are be-hind target killing of many Sunni andShia leaders, political figures of thesesects, bomb blasts etc. in order toachieve the covert designs of the US,India and Israel.

These insurgent groups kid-napped and killed Iranian nationalsin Pakistan including Iranian diplo-mats. Jundollah conducted many sub-versive acts in Pakistan’s Balochistanand Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan. Inthis regard, Tehran has directly ac-cused CIA of funding these types ofterror attacks. While hinting towardsUS, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatol-lah Khamenei rightly disclosed, “The

The government, at the fag endof its tenure, has reportedly invited International Monetary

Fund (IMF) for negotiating a three-year bailout programme. It is a rathersurprising move, especially its tim-ing. Analysts are of the view thatafter bringing the economy to thebrink of collapse, this regime lackslegal or moral authority to negotiatea long-term agreement with the IMF.

They argue that prudence re-quires that they should have leftthe matter to the new governmenthaving a fresh mandate for the nextfive years. One view is that lin-gering and deepening economiccrisis, especially bourgeoning fis-cal deficit, has alarmed the IMF -it has bona fide worries about thecapacity of Pakistan to repay itshuge loan if present political lotcontinues to rule. The forces thatmatter are even trying to engineerdesirable political changes so thatbankruptcy is averted. The IMFwith enormous stake in Pakistanhas been highly critical of FBR’sperformance, in particular, fixingwhat it calls ‘ambitious targets’,and then missing the same withwide margin.

After failure to meet the tar-get of Rs 1952 billion during thelast fiscal year - a shortfall of Rs71 billion was admitted by FBR -fixation of target at Rs 2381 bil-lion was simply irrational, saidIMF’s review mission after lastyear’s detailed discussions withPakistani officials to assessPakistan’s ability to pay back re-maining debt of approximately

IMF: New bailout package?$6.4 billion. According to latest es-timates of IMF, since FBR would notbe able to achieve the revenue tar-get of Rs 2381 billion fixed at thetime of budget for fiscal year 2012-13, consequently budget deficit tar-get of 4.7 percent would not beachieved. The IMF has reportedlyconveyed to FBR that it would evenmiss the downward revised revenuetarget of Rs 2231 billion (it has yetnot made public) during 2012-13.

It is high time that FBR, insteadof announcing any new amnestyscheme, improve its enforcement ca-pacity through Tax Intelligence sys-tem to detect tax losses. Cappingbudget deficit at 4.5% cannot be pos-sible without substantial resourcemobilisation and drastic cuts in non-productive expenses coupled withrapid industrial growth that will ul-timately improve tax-to-GDP ratio.

The real dilemma of FBR is thatmighty segments of society do notpay personal income tax, courtesypermanent amnesty scheme avail-able in the Income Tax Ordinance,2001 in the form of section 111(4).Those who do not whiten theirblack money through “fake” remit-tances periodically avail loathsomeamnesty schemes to decriminalisetheir untaxed wealth and incomesby just paying 1%-2%, whichamounts to sneering at honest tax-payers. One wonders if the IMFwill take note of it or ignore it againas it did in the past.

People in Pakistan ask why theyshould file tax returns when theirpresident, prime minister, ministers,governors and elected representa-tives do not do so. We have writtentime and again in these columns thattax culture in Pakistan will nevertake roots unless tax and asset dec-larations of all the mighty segmentsof society - politicians, high-rank-

ing military and civilian officials,judges and all public office holders- are made public. There should bea public campaign that the absenteelandlords, most of whom are mem-bers of parliaments, should revealtheir tax declarations. All the judges,high-ranking public servants, includ-ing serving and retired generals,should also be required under thelaw to make public their assets andtax declarations on annual basis. Anyperson, who is a tax delinquent orhas been beneficiary of any loanwrite-off, should be debarred fromcontesting elections. All kinds ofexemptions and concessions pro-vided under various tax codes shouldbe withdrawn.

The tendency to squeeze moreand more from the existing taxpay-ers and giving a free hand to non-filers has eroded the tax system toan extent where voluntary compli-ance and tax enforcement have losttheir relevance. The present tax sys-tem imposes greater and undue in-cidence on the poor and middle-classpeople (e.g. 16% GST takes largerportion of low-income groups com-pared to high income groups). Therich and mighty are not paying agri-cultural income tax and income taxon their non-agricultural income.Most of them are landowners-cum-industrialists-cum-politicians andare engaged in massive tax evasion- case of cartelization and tax bo-nanza in sugar industry is a classicexample. Adding insult to injury, thetax collected from the citizens iswasted on unprecedented privilegesand perquisites meant for the elites- indomitable military complex, civilbureaucracy, higher judiciary, landedaristocracy and its cronies, industri-alist-turned politicians, religious andspiritual leaders (sic) and unscrupu-lous businessmen. We can raise tax-

bloody actions being committed inIraq, Pakistan and Iran are aimed atcreating a division between theShias and Sunnis…those who carryout these terrorist actions are di-rectly or indirectly foreign agents.”

Reliable sources suggest thatLashkar-i-Janghvi, Jundollah,Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)and other similar fundamentalistorganisations have close connec-tions with each other, while RAWhas hired the services of the IndianMuslims who have penetrated inthese extremist outfits which are notonly behind sectarian violence inother parts of the country, but arealso targeting the people of Hazaracommunity in Balochistan. It ismentionable that killings of Hazara-Shias is part of the strategic gameof US, India and Israel to createunrest in Balochistan which hasideal geo-political location—andespecially due to its Gwadar Sea-port which can link Central Asiawith rest of the world. China hasinvested billions of dollars to de-velop this port. Moreover, Pakistanis a declared atomic country, whileIran is determined to continue itspeaceful nuclear programme.Therefore, US-led India and Israelhave been sabotaging Pak-Iranianties clandestinely, and by also as-sisting Balochistan LiberationArmy (BLA) and other separatistelements to dismember Pakistan.These hostile elements are behindthe twin bombings on the Hazara-Shias in Quetta.

Now the right hour has comethat instead of manipulating variousissues, Pakistan’s politicians andmedia including all the segments ofsociety must show selfless unitywith the security forces and law-enforcing agencies so as to improvethe aggravated situation ofBalochistan.

to-GDP ratio to 20% if we tax ab-sentee landlords, speculative deal-ers in real estate (this would alsohelp in promoting construction in-dustry as prices of land comedown) and introduce asset-seizurelegislation for untaxed assets andincomes. It is the need of the hourthat FBR should be insulated fromall kinds of political, financial andadministrative pressures. At thesame time, it should not assumethe role of legislature andpolicymaker which, under the Con-stitution is the sole prerogative ofpeople of Pakistan through theirelected representatives.

The appointments of Chairmanand members of FBR should bethrough a public hearing by SelectCommittee of both the houses ofParliament and not on the wishesand dictates of the ruling politicalparty headquarters. All kinds ofloopholes in tax laws should beplugged by proper legislation. Theinfamous SRO culture should beabolished. No executive authorityshould have powers to amend taxlaws. Through public debates anddemocratic processes, the Parlia-ment should devise a rationale andworkable tax policy after takinginputs from all the stakeholders andexperts in the field. There shouldbe zero tolerance in respect of en-forcement of tax obligations acrossthe board without any fear orfavour. Tax collected should bespent on the welfare of the massesand not on the luxuries of themighty segments of society. Therich should be taxed for the benefitof the poor - we are doing just theopposite. This alone can help inimproving tax-to-GDP ratio.—The writers, tax advisers andauthor of many books, are visit-ing Professors at LUMS.

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Voice of the People

The morality of torture

In retrospect, a better title for theterrific film “Zero Dark Thirty”would have been “Rorschach.” As

with the famous ink blots developedby Swiss psychoanalyst HermannRorschach, some people look at thefilm and conclude that torture works,others conclude that it doesn’t, stillothers think the movie advocates tor-ture, while some — and now we havegotten to me — don’t know what tothink. I am implacably opposed to tor-ture . . . unless it can save lives.

This foggy position of confusionand ambiguity has been largely miss-ing from the debate over the film.Everyone seems so sure of every-thing. The rush for certainty started,I think, with the basso profundostatements from the filmmakers thatthe movie is — as the credits state— “Based on Firsthand Accounts ofActual Events.” I have no idea whatthis means since the director,Kathryn Bigelow, and the screen-writer, Mark Boal, concede that they

Puzzled and perplexed people inPakistan today wonder why thecold war has suddenly turned

hot between the two rivals as dem-onstrated by the continued violationsacross the LOC. Is the Indian motiveand reason more prompting todaythan the one that was presented in2008 in the aftermath of Mumbai ter-rorist attack? Pakistan army in thedecade following 9/11 was a strate-gic asset and an all important tool forUS to fight the US led war on terrorin this region.

It was in the interest of the USthat the Pakistani military leadershipfelt no worries to shift its focus ofattention as well as it military assetsfrom eastern to the western frontwhen the world led by US neededthem the most. For this purposepeace, quiet and military calm pre-vailed on the LOC for a decade. Withthe US military draw down from Af-ghanistan now only month’s awayPakistan army today is fixated withthe likely scenarios that may developpost US withdrawal from Afghani-stan. Pakistan Army’s ‘nightmarescenario’ is to be pushed to fight waron two fronts. Promoting and creat-ing hostile environment along LOCat this stage seems only to convey astrong message to the Pakistani mili-

Promoting peace not hostilitytary ‘India will not let Pakistan haveits way in Afghanistan’.

The connection between Af-Pakand Indo-Pak is too obvious. Since9/11 India has worked hard to findspace in Pakistan’s backyard. Fromthe Pakistan army’s point of view theIndian interest in Afghanistan hasspilled the Indo-Pak rivalry into Af-ghanistan.

The strategic ascendancy thatIndia has managed in the ways itfights the proxy war from there to-day puts to shame the manner inwhich Pakistan army mastered fight-ing it over the years in Kashmir. In-dia accuses the Pakistan military ofbeheading one of its soldiers and theworld believes it. On the other handPakistan army has been crying loudof Indian involvement in financingand supporting the militants har-bored across the border in Afghani-stan but the world is not ready tobelieve it. Whether it is support tothe Baloch militants or MaulanaFazlullah’s crusaders that cross thewestern border at will it is allegedlythe Indian led proxy that is killingPakistani security personnel’s on thewestern front.

By escalating tensions acrossLOC there is much that India islikely to lose as well. It will lose theopportunity of promoting andstrengthening democratic process inPakistan which is a guarantee to pre-vention of hostilities and the poten-tial for future military conflicts be-

YouTube banMUHAMMAD ADEEL

Everybody knows that YouTubebanned in Pakistan due to Blas-phemy content. But is its reallybanned on just because of blas-phemy content or rather its theaterto show people something else.

Now sharing some facts aboutwhat theater is behind that ban.Some major entertainment chan-nels broadcast an excellent varietyof dramas on prime time. But view-ers are decreasing day by day dueshortage of time. It doesn’t mean,current dramas are not superior, ac-tually the scene is another. View-ers have started to watch dramasvia internet. In internet viewersdon’t need to wait for ads. Evenviewers can watch the whole dra-mas at a time.

Due to this entertainmentschannels force shortage of ads andthese channels are financially go-ing downward. The image graph isalso decreasing. On the other handsome channels have started a newtrend of Turkeys, dummy dramas,to show on their channels and sav-ing budget. Could YouTube opensoon after filtering of blasphemycontent? You can get best answerby yourself.—Via email

Aman ki ashaZAINAB SHAHZAD

Now a days all around the worldalmost all of us are listening this kindof a stereotype ‘’AMAN KIASHA’’. Once again India and Pa-kistan are considered as ‘wings of asame bird’’ and why not? Before1947 India and Pakistan were notjust known as ‘’the subcontinent’’but we were one nation, same bloodflows through our veins, we are notdifferent then put your hand on yourheart and ask that are we same na-tion? Are we not different? You getthe right answer there is somethingthat makes us different and if we arenot then why we were separated?Why our leaders dreamt a separatehomeland?

Why couldn’t we live togetherat that time? Because our religion,customs, tradition, norms, values,language, concepts everything isdifferent except that we are humans.I agree it’s a good project and webetter live in peace but I can’t seepeace anywhere whether it’s assem-bly or a cricket ground almost all ofus pray for Pakistan how many ofus pray for our neighbor? No one,so is this friendship? We need peaceto survive in future but peace withinourselves...So let’s hope for peaceand May this so called friendshiplasts forever...if this is really friend-ship not any deal with India...—Karachi

RememberingDr Salam

M S SHEIKH

January 29th has a special impor-tance for Pakistan because it was onthis date when the science geniusson of the soil of Jhang, Prof. Dr.Abdus Salam was born and theworld recognized his extraordinaryGod gifted talent in the subjects ofPhysics and Mathematics when hewas awarded the coveted Nobelprize in Physics in 1979.This day/date revives the sweet memories ofthe scientific works of wonder intheoretical physics done by him,with insatiable hard work and laborof love natural sciences of Physicsand Mathematics.

Dr. Salam had a very specialpassion for using modern Scienceand Technology for the bettermentand happy life of common man inthe third world countries of Asia,Africa and Latin America. For thislofty purpose, he established, in1964, a Center of Excellence forScienitific studies, called ‘ The In-ternational Centre for TheoreticalPhysics. Dr Salam served as itsFounding Director, from 1964 to1993 during which more than sev-enty thousand talented science stu-dents from the poor third world

Violence against womenMUHAMMAD UZAIR NIAZI

In contemporary societies, man and woman both deserve same and equal rights. They work mutuallyfor the uplift of their societies and play their part for the growth of the nation. But unluckily, many

countries have a very weak focus on the sensitive issue regarding women’s equivalent rights. Manycommunal, cultural, customary and religious traditions make women submissive to men. In some re-mote areas of Pakistan women live in an atmosphere, which is structured by interpreted false religiousand old cultural values and traditions. As a result, women are tilted towards inequity and violence everynow and then. Violence against women is the destruction of self-respect, wellbeing and individual rights.This dilemma is gigantic, mainly the domestic violence and also aggression against women that prevailsin the form of diverse uncultured practices. Violence against women is frequently seen as a personalmatter, with a slight meddling from the state powers. It is a gigantic transgression and the state has theduty to shield its women from such practices. It is very significant to devise certain laws that can assist incriminalizing the work of violent behavior against women. The appropriate accomplishment of suchlaws will help out in the eradication of such rough-edged practices. The practice of violence againstwomen has extremely penetrated in our society and it, needs to be eliminated as early as possible. As aPakistani I feel that act of violence against women is mounting rapidly in our society. arbaric practicefrom our society.—Via email

Views From Abroad

READERS

Email:[email protected]

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

—Editor

tween the two countries. The currenthostile attitude of India would alsomean that Pakistan military is forcedto again look upon the militants asthe assets that they once were againstIndian occupation in Kashmir. Pa-kistan army’s focus back on LOCwill also affect the intent, purposeand attention of Pakistan Army tohunt down the militants within thecountry. Indian hostile actions willalso badly hamper the all importantongoing debate in Pakistan on thepurposefulness of spending preciousresources on the country’s defencebudget. Courtesy Indian hostile ac-tions across the LOC these expen-ditures will now largely be seen bythe civil society as necessary as wellas justified. In short, Indian hostileactions on LOC will only help Pa-kistan army to re-impose its controlover the civilian authorities that areseeking to limit its role in politics inthis country.

India must realize that promot-ing and creating hostile environ-ment on the eastern borders willonly favor growth of militancy inPakistan. Poor relations with Indiahave been a major factor for ourcountry to raise and foster overambitious military rulers like GenZia and Gen Musharaf. We all haveseen the lengths that Pakistan mili-tary under the military rulers hasgone to match Indian capabilitiesat the cost of the suffering of thepeople of this country. Easing ten-

countries got admission at ICTP togain the latest know-how and knowl-edge of modern sciences at Trieste,all free of cost, pre-paid.

And in our own recent times, thewhole world was thrilled when theCERN Geneva office, splashed thenews on July 4th, 2012, that thelaboratoy experiment results haveproved correct, the theoreticalforeboddings of Abdus Salam, pub-lished decades ago.This newlydicoverd minutest particle in phys-ics, was named as “The God particle”.This name of the newest particlephysics must have pleased the soulof Dr. Salam, in his final resting placeof Jhang district. May God bless thedeparted soul, Ameen.—Jhang

Securityhelp or risk

M ATIF MAHMOOD MAJOKA

Suspension of mobile phone serviceson major religious events has becomea routine in Pakistan on the groundthat it prevents terrorism and helpsto curb the menace. The argument isvery strange and ludicrous; it meansthat government is employing avoid-ing tactics than tackling the problemand root it out. Telecommunicationshelp in nabbing criminals and oftenlead investigators to bust the gangsworld over except Pakistan where itis other way round. It is a centuriesold method to set a trap and catch theculprits.

As Pakistani internal securitychief admits himself that most inci-dents of terrorism involved mobilephone sims , therefore, mobile ser-vice should be closed down on ma-jor religious events. One should raisethe question to security official thatif they know every thing about themisuse of mobile sims then why theydon’t take actions against such law-breakers when their sims can veryeasily lead them to such people.

Modern telecommunicationstechnology has helped investigatorsacross the world to locate exactly thetroubled spots and then carrying outtargeted actions to wipe terrorists out.In Pakistan instead of making use ofmobile sims to trace trouble makers,the actions of government are sim-ply allowing terrorists to mutate andmodify their tactics. I wish govern-ment review its strategy against ter-rorism and use telecommunicationsas a tool in tracing & exterminatingthe menace.—Melbourne, Australia

Improving livestockproductivity

SHAKIRA GHAZANFAR

The major constraint in the develop-ment of livestock sector of Pakistanis poor availability of nutrients. Slowgrowth rate, low milk yield, and poorreproductive and health performanceare the major consequences ofimbalanced nutrition. Imbalances ofnutrients can also affect the activityof certain enzymes, thereby, impair-ing the overall immune function ofthe animal. According to estimates,milk consumption is growing at a rateof 7-9 % per annum while milk pro-duction is growing at an average ofonly 5% per annum (Economic Sur-vey, 2005-06).

On the other hand, various stud-ies showed that not a single one outof 80 milk sample reached the re-quired compositional quality ac-cepted as standard in Pakistan. Poorhygiene, malpractices, lack of pres-ervation technology, cooling facili-ties and sanitation conditions are themain causes of losses in quantity andquality of milk. Most dairy cowsenter into negative energy balancedue to imbalanced diet during earlylactation leads to poor reproductiveperformance. Proper feeding man-agement can provide adequate en-ergy during early lactation and leadto a carryover effect resulting in im-proved energy status. and reproduc-tive performance.

Studies carried out at manyplaces in Pakistan clearly indicate thatwith proper feeding the production ofexisting animals can be increased by30 to 35%. Many micro-organismshave been approved as additives.

Gwadar Port: Tale of neglect

Pakistan’s Port of Gwadar, 267Miles West of Karachi and 43.5Miles East of Pakistan-Iran bor-

der, bears a great strategic value vis-à-vis the Straits of Hormuz, the lifeline of energy to the outside world.On average, around 36000 ships tran-sit through Pakistan’s area of sea in-terest annually. The average trade ofthe country hovers around 38 milliontons out of 95% is through sea.Pakistan’s major port, Karachi ac-counts for 68% of the sea borne tradewhereas the other Port located to-wards the south-east, Port Qasim ac-counts for 32%.

According to one estimatePakistan’s sea borne trade wouldreach 91 million tons by 2015. ThePort of Gwadar became operationalin 2008 when merchant vessel ‘PosGlory’ made a maiden call at the porton March 15. Its location can facili-tate trans-shipment facilities at theinternational levels being very close

to international sea lanes of commu-nications. It also provides a directaccess to Central Asian Republicsand Afghanistan to transport theirenergy resources and other trade toGulf region and else where down theIndian and Pacific Oceans.

Unfortunate as it has been,Gwadar has not been able to live upto its true potentials. Despite beingoperational for the last five years, thePort still gives a deserted look. Thesordid tale of the Port started withinternational tenders in 2006 seek-ing competitors to run, manage anddevelop the Port. Concession Hold-ing Company, a subsidiary of Portof Singapore Authority’s bid for op-erational control of the Port was ac-cepted. As per the contractualclauses, Singapore port authoritieswere to invest US $550 over nextfive years for the development of thePort however, development is yet tobe seen around. The Singapore PortAuthority has made the developmentincumbent upon provision of landfree of cost to construct a ware housefirst. The land would cost theBaluchistan Government a hefty

sum of Rs. 15 bn. The controversialhanding over of Port operations toSingapore authorities has not deliv-ered with the result that the Port stilloperates to its half capacity.

The contract signed between theMinistry of Ports and Shipping withthe subsidiary of Singapore Ports(CHC) was devoid of foresight bythe Ministry officials. The copy ofthe contract acquired through theMinistry is a tell all story of majorflaws and is more in favor of theSingapore company rather than thegovernment of Pakistan. Many inPakistan wonder that non-seriousattitude of the Ministry’s leadershiptowards development of the GwadarPort inherently prevails over thefalse assumption that Gwadar’s de-velopment would result in down gra-dation of Karachi Port activities ashub of national economic activity.The whisperers also say that a cer-tain coterie of the Ministry of Portsand Shipping is involved in acquir-ing big chunks of land around thePort whereas the focus should havebeen acquisition of same land for de-velopment of Gwadar Port.

sions with India for Pakistan army,a force which is primarily struc-tured to combat Indian threat,means the removal of a major fac-tor of its continued developmentand enlargement. A hostile Indiawill mean that Pakistan army willcontinue to develop and enlarge atthe cost of the welfare and wellbeing of the people of this coun-try. Indian self definition maydraw meaning from Pakistan. Butcan’t it be a Pakistan at peace withitself and not a hostile and unac-ceptable Pakistan.

The Benazir-Rajiv attempts,the Nawaz Sharif- Vajpayee at-tempts, the Manmohan Singh-Musharraff attempts all tell us thateven after fighting wars eventuallyit is the lasting peace that the civil-ian leadership of the two countriesseeks. The Indian political leader-ship should see Indo-Pak relation-ship in terms of the future and thepotential it holds rather than tak-ing a narrow view and saying ‘ itcannot be business as usual be-tween the two countries”. Becauseafter the dust settles down as it al-ways does and the national egos aresatisfied as they always are bothcountries will again come back torealize the necessity and impor-tance of re-establishment offriendly relations.—The writer, a defence analyst,is a retired Lt Col from Pak Army& a research scholar at KU.

Richard Cohen

Among them the Saccharomycescerevisiae has been found to exert apositive effect on the ruminant’s pro-duction through an increased drymatter intake (DMI) by 1.8 % andmilk yield by 1.8 kg/day. It has alsopositive effect on milk fat content andmilk urea nitrogen.—Islamabad

Pak-Iran pipelineM UMAR FAROOQ BALOCH

The global energy resources haveconstantly been depleting. Taking theexample of oil, 37% of the world en-ergy need is met through oil and ifoil production remains constant untilit’s gone, there is only enough oil inthe world to last 42 years. The en-ergy crises in Pakistan has aggravatedto the extent which has seriously af-fected the economy and growth be-sides paralyzing the routine life. TheIran-Pakistan gas pipe line project,thus, appears to be the most essentialproject for Pakistan with no apparentalternatives in the foreseeable future.Iran being in direct confrontation withUS and international community onthe issue of nuclear energy is facingchallenges and sanctions. US in or-der to isolate Iran has been forcingthe international community to fol-low the suit.

The US has managed to convinceIndia to abandon the project and beenpressurizing Pakistan to look for otheralternatives. The recent trilateralIslamabad summit of Iran, Pakistanand Afghanistan has sent a clear sig-nal to US that Pakistan will pursuethe project being in its national inter-est. In the prevailing scenario thisenergy rich region has become thefocus of attention of global players.The pipeline project has thus beensubject to the strategic interests oflarge global economic and militarygiants who do not want the project tomaterialize.

The proposed pipeline serves thebest interests of both Iran and Paki-stan. Iran needs new market for itsreserves whereas the energy raven-ous economy of Pakistan economy,stipulates oil and gas injection. Tech-nically there seems to be no hitch inthe project. While Iran has alreadystarted construction work at Parsfield, Pakistan is ready for contract-ing procedure. Iran is subjected toUS sanctions due to its nuclearstandoff and is likely to face eventougher sanctions from United Na-tions or even strike on its nuclear in-stallation. This war situation wouldhave serious consequences not onlyon financing the project but will alsoput the process of construction of thepipeline in jeopardy. However, posi-tive indicators have shown that thefunding of the project is no more acritical issue;A consortium was alsounder discussion among BHP (Aus-tralia), NIGC (Malaysia), Total(France), Shell (Netherlands), BP(UK) in addition to Iranian, Paki-stani and Indian national gas com-panies. Russian Gazprom has ex-pressed interest and last month Rus-sian Prime Minister Mr. Fradkovvisited Pakistan and signed a num-ber of cooperation agreements.

A high level Economic Coop-eration Committee (ECC) officiallyendorsed the formula and plans forthe construction of Pakistani seg-ment showing a commitment on thePakistani side to go ahead with thepipeline even without India. How-ever, a new glitch in the price issuearose when Iran demanded revisionof formula after every three years.In case India also undertakes theproject, Pakistan would get addi-tional benefit on account of transitand tariff fee for which dialoguesbetween the two nations have notyet been concluded although thisproject possess potentail of greatdevelopment.—Via email

used composite characters and havenecessarily compressed the 10-yearhunt for Osama bin Laden into a 2½-hour movie. Some things get left out,like truth.

Almost instantly, three membersof the Senate intelligence committee,Dianne Feinstein, Carl Levin andJohn McCain, protested the film’sdepiction of torture as instrumentalin locating and ultimately killing binLaden. They insisted instead that itwas dogged intelligence work, thepiecemeal accumulation of informa-tion that, say whatever else you willabout it, is not inherently dramatic.No one will ever make an actionmovie about an accountant.

The three senators have access tohighly classified information and,while their demand that the CIA fessup and detail its cooperation with thefilmmakers is out of bounds, theirexperience and knowledge have to betaken into account. As a group, theyare a sombre lot. Still, others havetaken the same position. Journalistswith no access to classified informa-tion but with access to people whopossess that information insist that (1)

torture doesn’t work and (2) it did notlead to the killing of bin Laden. Okay,point taken. But for me, the debatehas gone beyond the veracity of thefilm — all movies are lies to someextent, and the greater lie is to claimthey are not — to all these declara-tive statements about the morality oftorture. They come out, veritablysmoking, from various journalists,who cite reports of detainees whodied under torture with their lipssealed. Our own fear of intense painis beside the point: What would workon you or me might not on a diehardjihadist, for whom torture is a mereoccupational hazard.

Perhaps the most unequivocalstatement comes from Steve Coll inthe New York Review of Books.Coll is a former managing editor ofThe Post and the author of “GhostWars: The Secret History of the CIA,Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, fromthe Soviet Invasion to September 10,2001” for which, appropriately, hewon the Pulitzer Prize. He is, inother words, a highly serious andthoughtful person who says the fol-lowing: “Even if torture worked, it

could never be justified because itis immoral.”

Really? Is it immoral towaterboard someone who knows ofan imminent Sept. 11-type attack?Wouldn’t it instead be immoral notto do everything in your power toavoid the loss of thousands of lives?Torture in that case might be hideous,repugnant and in some rarefied waystill immoral, but I could certainlyjustify it. This is far different thanwaterboarding an al-Qaeda memberwho knows something about binLaden’s whereabouts. After all, if ittook a decade to get him, a bit moretime would not have mattered.

The Rorschachian qualities of“Zero Dark Thirty” have provedbeneficial. We are getting a robustdebate over torture that we shouldhave had years ago, and we are find-ing out a bit more about it —whether it works and whether it canever be justified. In this way, whatthe film says is really less importantthan what is being said about it. Inthe category of “thought-provok-ing,” it deserves an Oscar.— Courtesy: The Washington Post

Many political faces at the cen-tre have changed since the GwadarPort Project lifted off the ground,some for defying the judiciary andsome for being persona non grata.The only thing consistent that hap-pened to the Ports and shippingministry was its leadership. Onewill not be wrong in analyzing thatonus of the failure of Gwadar Portdevelopment lies with the relevantministry and its hierarchy.

Ministry’s failure has recipro-cally added to a long list ofFederation’s woos and failures thatcontinue to strive to resurrect otherwhite elephants like PIA, Railways,Textiles and the energy infrastruc-ture. Unless these issues are re-solved through a well thought outstrategy and foresight, the benefitslike enhancement of strategic ca-pabilities of the country and tan-gible socio-economic benefits forthe people of Pakistan and speciallythose belonging to Baluchistan willremain a distant dream. The suc-cessive governments have failed torealize and exploit the full poten-tial of the Port as well.

We are already into the second or third day of thenew year, and if you are

one of those who’ve made a fewresolutions when the year began, Iwonder how far you’ve gone onkeeping them?

A few days after the new year,a local school had a party for it’steachers and the principal, asked allof them to give him a list of the reso-lutions they’d made at the begin-ning of the year. They did so, and

on the day of the teacher’s function,he put up the list and there was a gen-eral feeling of bonhomie and goodhumour as they read each other’sresolutions, except one teacher,“Where is my resolution she askedthe principal crossly, “Did you thinkit was unworthy of being displayed?”

The principal assured her that hehad, had no such compulsions andthat her paper had obviously beenmisplaced, “Misplaced!” shescreamed, “How could you misplacemy paper and not any of the others?”The head tried to calm her down, butthe lady was furious, and ranted andraved, till her superior, in order toquieten her, said that he would go tohis office and see whether it wasthere. The paper was there, and as the

principal read what the resolution washe broke into a chuckle, which slowlyturned into a sad smile: The teacherhad written, “I will not lose my tem-per this year!”

It took just a small episode, asmall provocation for the same ladyto forget her new year resolution! Iwonder how many of us are like her?What resolutions did you make?Have you been able to keep them tillnow? Many of us can’t keep one foreven a few hours. It was certainly funmaking that promise to ourselves, wewere all geared up, felt mighty goodabout it, took our last puff, our lastbig bite or large peg and told our-selves that from the new year it wouldnever happen. It lasted a day or two,or even three, maybe it will last a

Picture the ‘Resolved’ You..!month. What is it that makes theseresolutions crumble? More oftenthan not, the reason is that you havenot used a tool that is so readilyavailable, your imagination. Imag-ine yourself, slim, then resolve go-ing on a diet. Imagine a happy, con-tent family, a smiling spouse, thenstop those binges, imagine yourselfgetting the highest award, then startstudying and so on and so forth.

Use your imagination, hold apicture of the ‘resolved’ you andwatch yourself holding onto what-ever you’ve resolved to change into.If you’ve already broken your reso-lution, on the verge of doing so, orare struggling to keep it till now,start picturing the ‘resolved’ you..!—Email:[email protected]

Muhammad Ali EhsanEmail: [email protected]

Urooj RazaEmail:[email protected]

From France to Pakistan toChina, many have voiced expec-tations that John Kerry’s vastexperience and diplomatic skillwill be a boon to dealing withinternational crises and issues.

SARA MILLER LLANA,PETER FORD, CHRISTA CASE

BRYANT, SCOTT PETERSON,MAHVISH AHMAD

Hillary Rodham Clintonhas been one of theUS’s most popular andperipatetic secretaries

of state – logging nearly 1 mil-lion miles in four years and be-coming a household name fromPanama to Pakistan.

Her successor, John Kerry,who was approved unanimouslyby the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee and confirmed by theSenate today as the new US sec-retary of State, might not have thesame widespread clout. How-ever, he comes with nearly 30years of foreign policy experi-ence and among his peers islargely considered one of themost capable US politicians forthe job. The son of a US diplo-mat who grew up living and trav-eling across Europe and speaksfluent French, Senator Kerry losthis bid for the presidency in 2004to George W. Bush. But he be-came well known across theglobe for his work on the Senate’sForeign Relations Committee,which he has chaired for fouryears and served on for 28.

In facing the globe’s mostintractable problems, the worldis hopeful that Kerry is wellpoised for the position. “He isseen as the embodiment of tradi-tional foreign policy,” says IanLesser, the executive director ofthe German Marshall Fund’sBrussels Office.

Whether that is good or badis subjective, but from Europe toPakistan to China, many havevoiced expectations that his vastexperience and diplomatic skillwill be a boon to dealing withinternational crises and issues.

Among the immediate chal-lenges that Kerry faces is the USrelationship with Pakistan asNATO withdraws from Afghani-stan. To ensure the stability of thatprocess, Pakistan – which sharesa border with Afghanistan, is

known for militant activity, andwhose security establishment hasbeen accused of maintainingclose ties with the Afghan Taliban– is considered a key player.

Insiders there have expressedhope that Kerry can navigate acomplicated relationship.

“John Kerry, I personallyfeel, is more mature and positivein terms of looking at Pakistanand Afghanistan,” says a Paki-stani security official who is notpermitted to speak on the record.“He has a lot of goodwill amongthe foreign office people and themilitary. I think it is going tobreak a lot of ice, and move theprocess forward in terms of Pa-kistan and Afghanistan.”

Kerry led a successful mis-sion to Kabul in 2009, leadingHamid Karzai to agree to second-round presidential elections.Kerry has frequently spoken ofthe need for a more conciliatoryapproach to Pakistan, speakingout against cutting foreign aid tothe country and saying that it hasnot gotten enough credit for kill-ing Osama bin Laden.

“The biggest thing withKerry is that he knows Pakistan.He’s seen the ups and downs ofpolicy here. So that’s a hugeplus,” says Raza Rumi, directorof the Jinnah Institute in Pakistan.“He’s not a hardliner. In fact, he’sviewed as a friend of Pakistan bymany circles in the country.”

Kerry is a five-term senatorfrom Massachusetts, who at-tended the elite schools and uni-versities of the East coast and isone of the country’s wealthiestpoliticians – now married toTeresa Heinz Kerry.

He has French relatives andspeaks the language perfectly, butthat is not something that servedhim well during his 2004 presi-dential bid. Critics dismissed himas an out-of-touch Francophone,ridiculing him as “MonsieurKerry.” But if that hurt him inmiddle America, it is a leg-up inEurope. “What plays against himin the US plays 150 percent forhim in France,” says StevenEkovich, who teaches Americanforeign policy at the AmericanUniversity of Paris and wrote abook on John Kerry in French in2004 called “Qui est JohnKerry?” or “Who is John Kerry.”He says the French are delighted

to have a man with an affinity forEurope, and especially forFrance, as the face of US diplo-macy.

Kerry’s French counterpart,Laurent Fabius, congratulatedhim upon his appointment andacknowledged “how personallycommitted he is to Franco-American friendship.”

Still, Kerry takes the positionat a time when the “pivot to Asia”has triggered anxiety in Europeancorners. “One of his biggest chal-lenges will be convincing Euro-peans that Europe still matters

politically in Washington,” saysMr. Lesser. He says the US turnsto Europe as the natural partneron key questions, most recentlyconflict in Mali, as well asnuclear arms in Iran, and ques-tions about energy and climate.And despite the focus on Asia,trade between the US and Europeis still dominant in global terms,he says.

It is unclear, whether Kerrywill maintain the same focus onAsia as did his predecessor. Hisfirst international crisis may sur-face in the region, as North Ko-rea threatens an imminent nucleartest in yet another act of defianceof the international community.

But aside from having foughtin Vietnam and made the foreigntrips that are standard for all se-nior members of the US foreign

policy establishment, Kerry hasno particular Asia expertise.

“Clinton made rebalancing[US foreign policy toward Asia]her legacy,” says Bonnie Glaser,a senior analyst at the Center forStrategic and International Stud-ies in Washington. “Kerry maywant to choose another issue forhis legacy.” As a result, Ms.Glaser adds, despite the “AsiaPivot,” “many countries in theregion are preparing themselvesfor a diminished level of US at-tention. There’s a fear the USwon’t have the staying power to

sustain the interest we have seenover the past four years.”

The new secretary of State isnot likely to ignore Washington’srelationship with treaty ally Ja-pan, especially in light of Tokyo’sdangerous dispute with Beijingover ownership of islands in theEast China Sea.

As he manages that relation-ship, Kerry “will have to keep adelicate balance” between tieswith Japan and ties with China,warns Tao Wenzhao, a US-watcher at the Chinese Academyfor Social Sciences.

And Chinese analysts saythey expect smoother diplomaticrelations under Kerry. “I thinkKerry may do more to easeChina’s uneasiness over the pivotto Asia,” says Liu Feitao, an ex-pert on US affairs at the China

Institute for International Studies,a think tank linked to the ForeignMinistry. “I think we will see lessof the conflict and friction we sawunder Hillary Clinton.”

Kerry, who cautioned in hisSenate confirmation hearings thatthe US should be careful “aboutnot creating a threat when thereisn’t one” and against “overreact-ing” to China’s military buildup,“is more diplomatic minded”than his predecessor, believesShen Dingli, a foreign policy ad-viser to the Chinese government.

Iran and its nuclear program

will inevitably be near the top ofKerry’s agenda, continuing a tra-jectory of growing importanceand urgency over Iran that hasbedeviled his predecessors.

Kerry has inherited a stand-off between Iran and the US andits allies marked by ever-increas-ing sanctions, stalled nucleartalks, and a covert war that hasincluded assassinations, mysteri-ous explosions, and computerviruses. Rarely in the past threedecades has Iran been seen assuch a challenge to Washington.So, for Kerry as secretary ofState, critical decisions may de-termine an outcome of peace orwar. Kerry told Senators lastweek: “We will do what we mustdo to prevent Iran from obtain-ing a nuclear weapon, and I re-peat here today, our policy is not

containment. It is prevention, andthe clock is ticking on our effortsto secure responsible compli-ance.” Kerry’s instinct appears tomirror Obama’s own: to err onthe side of diplomacy, and avoida military conflict that strategistsand Iran experts say would haveuncertain chances of success anda host of negative consequences.

He said sanctions have suc-ceeded in strangling Iran’seconomy, though they havecaused no reevaluation in Tehranof its nuclear program, whichIran says is limited to peacefulpower production.

A host of American and Eu-ropean measures target its life-blood, oil exports, and centralbank transactions, along withfour sets of sanctions imposed onIran by the UN.

Israeli Prime Minister Ben-jamin Netanyahu has chastisedthe Obama administration for notlaying down a “red line” forIran’s nuclear advances, whichwould trigger military strikes.

“Iranians need to understandthat there’s no other agendahere,” Kerry said during his con-firmation hearings. “If their pro-gram is peaceful, they can proveit. And that’s what we are seek-ing.” Kerry might face a betterclimate when it comes to thestalled and failing peace negotia-tions in the Middle East.

Kerry said in his confirma-tion hearing that PresidentObama is “deeply committed” toa two-state solution for Israel andPalestine. He also warned that,“if we can’t be successful that thedoor … to the possibility of atwo-state solution could shut oneverybody and that would be di-sastrous in my judgment.”

In 2012, Israel approved fourtimes more new housing projectsin East Jerusalem and the WestBank than in the previous year,raising concerns that it may soonbecome too difficult to piece to-gether a viable Palestinian state.Meanwhile, the rise of Hamas inGaza could compromise Pales-tinian Authority PresidentMahmoud Abbas’s ability to se-cure a peace deal that’s accept-able to his people. Kerry is re-portedly planning a trip in Feb-ruary to gauge the willingness ofboth sides to renew negotiations.It is a delicate time, with Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahufaring poorly in recent electionsand the next government not ex-pected to be firmly in place forat least a month. But once the dustsettles, the situation might beriper for negotiations than whenSecretary Clinton took office. “Ithink he’s coming to a much morelevel playing field than we hadin the last few years,” says AlonLiel, a veteran diplomat, citingObama’s election victory and thePalestinian success in getting rec-ognized as a state at the UnitedNations.

“We have stronger and moreindependent American presidentwe have a weaker Israeli primeminister, and we have a stronger[Palestinian Authority PresidentMahmoud Abbas] after the UNvote,” says Mr. Liel.

Other key issues that Kerryis likely to face: Israeli pressureto strike Iran and working withIsrael to prevent Syria’s chemi-cal weapons from falling into thewrong hands.

In Latin America, hopes arenot high that the US under Kerrywill pay more attention to the re-gion than did Obama withClinton. Some point to the scantreference to the region duringKerry’s confirmation hearing asevidence. That’s a missed oppor-tunity, writes AndresOppenheimer in his column inthe Miami Herald. In response toKerry’s comment in his openingstatement at the confirmationhearing – “More than ever, for-eign policy is economic policy”– Mr. Oppenheimer writes: “No-body in his right mind will arguethat Iran’s nuclear program, or al-Qaida’s cells in North Africa,

should not be at the center of USforeign policy concerns.”

But, Oppenheimer writes, “ifUS foreign policy is increasinglyabout economic policy, and if theUnited States needs to increaseits declining share of global tradeand investment, as Kerry said, itshould definitely seek greatereconomic ties with Mexico, Bra-zil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, andother fast-growing WesternHemisphere neighbors.”

Overall Kerry has less appealin the region than did Clinton,says Analicia Ruiz, an expert onUS-Mexico relations at AnáhuacUniversity in Mexico City.

“People don’t know who heis,” Ms. Ruiz says. “They had anaffinity for Clinton because shebroke a paradigm. She was awoman, the wife of the ex-presi-

dent [Bill Clinton],” Ruiz says.Kerry, on the other hand, is con-sidered a member of the “oldboys” network of Washington.

And on the issues that mat-ter most to Mexicans, she says,the secretary of State position isnot crucial. “Whether we actuallyget a comprehensive immigrationreform depends on the internalpolitics of the US,” Ruiz says.

In fact, expectations are highacross the globe for Obama’s sec-ond term, and his new secretaryof State might see his first chal-lenge “expectation manage-ment,” says Lesser in Brussels.

Blazer agrees, pointing to thepossibility of Chinese hopes notbeing fulfilled. “It’s the presidentwho sets policy,” she says. “TheChinese have inflated expecta-tions of how much US policymight change.” —CourtesyChristian Science Monitor

What does world expect from Secretary of State John Kerry?

Among the immediatechallenges that Kerry faces is theUS relationship with Pakistan as

NATO withdraws from Afghanistan.To ensure the stability of that

process, Pakistan – which shares aborder with Afghanistan, is known

for militant activity, and whosesecurity establishment has beenaccused of maintaining close ties

with the Afghan Taliban – isconsidered a key player.

The Senate’s approval sets in motion a special election for Kerry’s Massachusetts Senate seat.

KEVIN RAFFERTY

US President BarackObama has been dulyinstalled with pompand ceremony for an-

other term in office. He cel-ebrated with another of his trade-mark fine speeches. But it was abit like a minor Mozart opera, toomany pretty words. And as mymother used to say, fine wordsbutter no parsnips: Even thegreatest rhetoric does not easilytranslate into action. Both theUnited States and — especially— the global world are unprettilymuch as grubby as when Obamafirst wooed them with his flightsof fancy words four years ago.

For America’s internationalrole, Obama risks being dis-tracted by domestic dogfightsthat will sap his energy andgobble up his political capital.

For Asia, especially for any-one concerned about relationswith a rising China, it is poten-tially bad news that the U.S.

seems to have little space for se-rious consideration of intricateissues involving complicateddelicate balances between coun-tries, disturbing which could setoff a devastating chain reaction.

Obama has a heaped plate-ful of domestic problems, start-ing with the unresolved debt anddeficit issues and a supposedlyrecovering weak economy. Un-employment of 7.8 is one indi-cator of a country with big prob-lems. Blogger Tyler Durden inZero Hedge produced a list of “75economic numbers from 2012that are almost too crazy to be-lieve”, which show a sick, notmerely an unequal society:

Among them, 48 of Americansand 57 of all children are either“low income” or living in pov-erty; a million schoolchildren arehomeless; four major U.S. bankseach have $40 trillion exposureto derivatives; student loan debtis more than $1 trillion; only 24.6of all U.S. jobs are considered“good jobs”.

Durden doesn’t even men-tion that an ordinary worker atMcDonald’s would have to work550 years to earn the annual payof the fast food company’s CEO.

Obama is presumablysearching for his place in historyin announcing new crusades fortougher gun controls, for actionon climate change and for gayrights. To non-Americans, thesecampaigns might look reasonableor even sensible, but in the U.S.each has attracted oppositionranging from bloody-minded tocrazy. The National Rifle Asso-ciation stooped to new depthswhen it called Obama “an elitisthypocrite” for dismissing its idea

of armed guards in all schoolswhen his own daughters havearmed Secret Service protection.

The president’s resoundingplea for equality as “the star thatguides us still, just as it guidedour forebears through SenecaFalls and Selma and Stonewall”gave gays great hope sinceObama was putting gay rights onthe same level as struggles bywomen and blacks. At SenecaFalls in 1848 the movement forwomen’s suffrage was launched.Selma in Alabama was whereMartin Luther King in 1965started his marches for blackright. At the Stonewall Inn inGreenwich Village in 1969 gays

hit back against police raidsagainst them, triggering the gayrights movement. Obama haspresumably calculated whethermaking gays a touchstone forequality is worth antagonizing anew bunch of opponents.

In foreign policy, the U.S.faces myriad flash points, allclamoring for urgent attentionand all sharing the same featurethat a single small change couldproduce kaleidoscopically largerepercussions.

Stopping Iran from develop-ing nuclear weapons is the top ofthe priority list of many commen-tators in Washington’s think-tanks: If Tehran goes nuclear, itwill encourage hosts of othercountries, from the responsible tothe totally irresponsible to do thesame, either for protection or justto show that they can.

The Arab Spring — regardedas good — has taken on a worry-ing Islamic turn that has caughtWashington without a properlythought out policy. Obama natu-

rally did not want to be suckedinto wasting American lives farfrom home as his predecessor didin Iraq and Afghanistan. In Libya,Moammar Gadhafi was toppledreasonably quickly, whichseemed good news, but there hasbeen a price to pay in with politi-cal uncertainty and the spread ofthe former Libyan dictator’sweapons to radicals in Mali andAlgeria, countries not hitherto onthe U.S. global map.

In Syria, the discreditedAssad regime clings to powerthanks partly to support fromBeijing and Moscow, but only atthe price of daily bloodshed andthe growing influence of Islam-

ists within the opposition.In foreign policy especially,

Obama’s fine promises have beenexposed as clouds of rhetoric. Inthe Middle East, leaders are ask-ing, “Where is America?” InBeijing, by comparison, China isall too aware and resentsObama’s pivot to Asia, claimingthat it is intended to undermineChina’s rise.

In the lead essay of a presi-dential briefing book publishedby Brookings, Martin Indyk andRobert Kagan say that the worldis at a “plastic juncture,” a timeof uncertainty and opportunity.The question for America, theysay, is: “Will America turn in-ward and away from an increas-ingly messy world? Or will welaunch a new effort to strengthenand extend, both geographicallyand temporally, the liberal worldorder from which Americans andso many others round the worldhave benefited?”

The two say that Obama ac-complished little in his first term,apart from raising America’s pro-file and deepening engagement inEast Asia. “Most of the majorchallenges are much as you foundthem when you took office, orworse: from the stalled MiddleEast peace process and turmoilin the Arab world to Iran’s con-tinuing march toward a nuclearweapons capability to China’sincreasing assertiveness in EastAsia.” The briefing book outlinesa series of big bets, which shouldbe the active focus of U.S. policy,and black swans, events with lowprobability but great potential fordamage if they occur. China is themost prominent entry of the bigbets, with Kenneth Lieberthalarguing that Beijing must bebrought back in and friendly re-lations restored, while providingreassurances to allies and partnersof the U.S. in Asia.

“Nobody in Asia wants totake sides between the UnitedStates and China, and none anylonger fear a G-2. All seek ‘wisemanagement’ of U.S.-China re-lations. Any initiative that im-proves U.S.-China relations andcontributes to regional stabilitycan, therefore, potentially en-hance U.S. position throughoutAsia.” And everyone lived hap-pily ever after, as it says in fairystory books.

Unfortunately real life is notso easy, not helped by the fact thatChina’s leaders have an old-fash-ioned and increasingly pricklynationalistic view of the worldand their empire.—Courtesy Japan TimesKevin Rafferty is editor in chiefof Plainwords Media.

Rhetoric won’t solve problems

President Barack Obama and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

RUTH MARCUS

At the dawn of a newpresidential term and anew Congress, the answers to two

overarching questions will shapethe course of the next four years:

First, about Republicans: Aregreen shoots of sanity beginningto appear in the permafrost ofWashington dysfunction?

Second, about the president:Unchained by electoral consid-erations, has the real, unabash-edly liberal President Obama be-gun to reveal himself?

My answer to the first ques-tion is a tentative and very quali-fied yes; to the second, an equallytentative, slightly less qualifiedno.

When it comes to Republi-cans, the most primal politicalinstinct — self-preservation —has belatedly begun to kick in.The last few weeks have offeredtangible, if limited, evidence ofa new reasonableness.

On immigration, several Re-publican senators, understandingthe relentless electoral politics ofimmigration, have joined withDemocratic colleagues in a pushfor reform. Perhaps even moresignificant, if less noticed, a bi-partisan group in the House hasalso been working quietly on animmigration plan — “some of thehard heads on our side, and someof the people involved in immi-gration reform on the other side,”Speaker John Boehner told theRipon Society.

On the fiscal front, recogniz-ing the self-defeating folly of asecond standoff on the debt ceil-ing, House Republicans agreed toextend the federal government’sborrowing authority for anotherthree months.

But Republican rationalityhas its limits. Particularly amongHouse members, Republicansappear ready to allow the puni-tive cuts of the sequester —averted for three months by the“fiscal cliff” agreement — to takeeffect when the deal expires inMarch. Same for the prospect ofa government shutdown later thatmonth when existing fundingends. And having been hit byDemocrats over the punitive im-pact of Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget,the House instructed the BudgetCommittee chairman to producean even more stringent documentthis time — one that gets to bal-ance in 10 years. By contrast, theprevious Ryan budget would not

have reached balance until the2030s.

The fundamental standoffbetween the two parties will be,

once again, over taxes — specifi-cally, the prospect of additionalrevenue and the Republican po-sition, which boils down to “beenthere, done that.” As Republicanssee it, the $737?billion (includ-ing interest) in new revenue theycoughed up in the cliff deal wasthe end of the matter. Even as part

of tax reform, additional revenue,they insist, is off the table.

This attitude is a recipe forgridlock. Republicans act as iffiscal history began with the allrevenue-no spending cuts cliffagreement, conveniently forget-ting the $1 trillion in cuts previ-ously enacted. And they ignorethe difficulty — both substantive

and political — of implementinga cuts-only approach to the debt.

Which brings me to the presi-dent, who has, correctly, ruled out

an unbalanced debt deal. Is sec-ond-term Obama a new, unboundlefty?

Granted, his second inaugu-ral address was distinctly, andsurprisingly, liberal. He paidscant attention to the need fordebt reduction while emphasiz-ing the imperatives of slowing

climate change, ensuring gayrights and preserving the safetynet. But it also goes way too farto describe the speech, in SenateMinority Leader MitchMcConnell’s words, as promot-ing an “unabashedly, far-left-of-center” agenda. It was a tradi-tional Democratic one. Moreimportant, those who see in the

speech a more overtly ideologi-cal Obama risk making too muchof his assertive tone and substan-tive detail. Both were unusual for

an inaugural address, yet thespeech was not the rhetoricalequivalent of Clark Kent shed-ding his mild-mannered de-meanor to emerge as liberal Su-perman. There is no reason, forexample, to believe that the presi-dent who was willing to buck hisbase and back reductions in So-cial Security cost-of-living in-creases has suddenly disap-peared.

Rather, he remains the prag-matic progressive he has alwaysbeen. Obama is more inclined tothe standard liberal vision than,say, Bill Clinton. But he is alsomore willing than many of hisideological compatriots to makethe necessary concessions to po-litical reality, and more resistantto intellectual dogmas of both leftand right.

If this understanding ofObama is correct, the more bel-licose attitude of his second in-augural reflects more of a shiftin strategy than substance. It rep-resents his evolution from naiveyoung president to battle-scarredpolitician. First-term Obamaplaced undue faith in his powerto overcome partisan divisions.Second-term Obama sees tacti-cal advantage in staking out aposition and sticking with it.Whether this approach can helpthaw the Washington permafrostremains to be seen.—Courtesy Washington Post

In Washington, a seasonfor pragmatism?

US Rep Raul Labrador speaks at a Tea Party rally on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.

The fundamental standoffbetween the two parties will be,

once again, over taxes —specifically, the prospect ofadditional revenue and the

Republican position, which boilsdown to “been there, done that.”

As Republicans see it, the$737?billion (including interest) innew revenue they coughed up inthe cliff deal was the end of the

matter. Even as part of tax reform,additional revenue, they insist, is

off the table.

added.Among other factors, SBP’s

decision to cut its policy rate bya cumulative 200 bps in H1-FY12 was partially motivatedby its concern over commercialbanks’ reluctance to extendcredit to the private sector.However, in the presence of arisk-free dominant borrower,average bank lending rates fellby only 112 bps, which suggestthat banks remain apprehensiveabout (or uninterested in lend-ing to) the private sector, andwere willing to accept lowerearnings on government securi-ties, according to the Report.

It said the actual outcome inthe external sector in FY12 wasbetter: a current account deficitof US$ 4.6 billion, and an over-all gap of US$ 3.3 billion, meantthat Pakistan’s FX reserves fellby US$ 4.0 billion, against aninitial projection of US$ 4.4 bil-lion. ‘Nevertheless, this contrib-uted to a 9.1 percent deprecia-tion of the Rupee during thecourse of the year. The Rupeedepreciated from November tolate December 2011, and sharplyso in the last week of May 2012.The first event may have beentriggered by the closure ofNATO supply routes to Afghani-stan, and sustained by rising oilprices; the second adjustmentwas a brief market panic in re-sponse to international develop-ments. In effect, the Rupee wasimpacted more by one-offevents than the underlying eco-nomic fundamentals,’ the Reportadded.

According to the Report, thePakistan economy will grow atabout the same rate in FY13 asit did last year (FY12). ‘We areconfident that milder floodingthis year and the underlying fac-tors that allowed for 3.7 percent

Agriculture, home remittances triggerGDP growth at 3.7pc: SBP report

From Page 1

growth in FY12 will largely re-main in play,’ the Report added.

The Report observed thatthe structural problems in theenergy sector, PSEs and the fis-cal side, may not be tackled inthe near-term. However, sincethe government paid-off the ac-cumulated subsidies in FY12,we do not expect the same levelof fiscal pressure this year.‘While the government hopes toachieve a fiscal deficit target of4.7 percent of GDP, we think arange of 6 – 7 percent is morerealistic,’ the Report added.

According to the Report, akey concern for the central bankis the on-going decline in do-mestic investment.

Although the investmentenvironment in Pakistan islikely to remain challenging,we believe the recent 250 bpscut in the benchmark interestrate, could revive private in-vestment and provide some re-lief to commercial enterprises,‘In our view, with interest ratesat current levels, commercialbanks may be incentivized tobook high-return private as-sets, rather than just placemoney with the government.Although SBP does not tellbanks what to do, commercialbanks should be cautious abouthow their balance sheets areevolving, and look to diversifytheir asset portfolio with along-term view,’ the Reportadded.

Since the size of the fiscaldeficit last year was mainly dueto one-off factors, we are hop-ing things will be better thisyear, the Report said, adding:‘We are also optimistic that withthe opening of NATO supplyroutes, Coalition Support Fund(CSF) will be realized in atimely manner. SBP remains

hopeful that inflows fromprivatization (Etisalaat) and the3G licenses will also be realizedin FY13’.

In making our interest ratedecisions, SBP looks closely atthe likely impact on the FX mar-ket. One must note that the FXmarket’s reaction to the discountrate cuts in August and October2012 was quite muted, addingthat in late November 2012,some pressure, however, ap-peared, even though the currentaccount posted a surplus in thefirst four months of FY13. ‘Inour view, this pressure can betraced to net outflows to the IFIs(around US$ 1.5 billion duringJul-Nov FY13). Although thesepayments do not impact the FXmarket directly, the drawdownof SBP’s forex reserves has im-pacted market sentiments,’ theReport added.

In terms of tradables, ourexport projections assume thatcotton prices have bottomed-out, while Pakistan’s low value-added textiles may be insulatedfrom the demand contraction inthe OECD, the Report said,adding that we do not expectany spike in imports given thesluggishness in domestic in-vestment, and our view on glo-bal commodity prices. ‘Wealso remain optimistic that in-ward remittances will continueto post strong growth,’ the Re-port said.

The State Bank Reportstressed upon the urgent need toembark on structural reforms inthe energy sector, PSEs and pub-lic finances. ‘This, together witha more balanced deficit financ-ing mix in FY13, would ease agreat deal of pressure from do-mestic sources of financing –especially the commercialbanks,’ the Report added.

of German society worked withthem, but also, above all else,because most in Germany atleast tolerated this rise,” Merkelsaid.

After winning about a thirdof the vote in Germany’s 1932election, Hitler convinced ailingPresident Paul von Hindenburgto appoint him chancellor on Jan.30, 1933 — setting Germany ona course to war and genocide.—AP

Germanymarks 80thanniversary

From Page 1

ISLAMABAD: The delegation of Multan High Court Bar presenting shield to Chief Justiceof Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Ch in Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s flagging economy. “The Chinese will make

more investment to make theproject operational,” Kaira said.

The minister said that workon the construction of the Paki-stani side of the pipeline will beundertaken soon at a cost of onepoint five billion dollars.

Gwadar port transfer to China approvedFrom Page 1

He said that work is continu-ing on the proposedTurkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pa-kistan-India gas pipeline project.

Qamar Zaman Kaira saidthat the cabinet also gave ap-proval to Strategic Trade Policywhose details will be announced

tomorrow (Thursday). He saidthat the cabinet was informedthat during July-December2012, inflation remained sevenpoint nine, which is the lowestin recent history of the country.

Information Minister saidthat the cabinet decided to em-power the office of Ombudsmanto institutionalize the process ofaccountability and providespeedy justice to the people.

He said that the cabinet de-cided to give administrative andfinancial autonomy to the officeof Ombudsman.

He said that previouslyeleven different departmentswere carrying out accountabilitywhile now all these departmentshave been streamlined under theoffice of the Ombudsman. Hesaid that departments will bebound to provide relevant infor-mation to the office of the Om-budsman within fifteen days fail-ing which disciplinary action willbe taken against them.

The Minister said that theoffice of the Ombudsman willdecide appeals within forty-fivedays and it will also beauthorised to review its deci-sions.

He said that appeal againstthe Ombudsman’s decisions canonly be made to the Presidentwithin one hunded and twentydays. Qamar Zaman Kaira saidthat the tenure of the office ofthe ombudsman will be fouryears and the method for his re-moval will be the same as thatof the judges of senior judiciary.

Qamar Zamnan Kaira saidthat Prime Minister Raja PervezAshraf appreciated performanceof the present assemblies andsaid that there is no precedenceof what these assemblies havedone.

He said that the assemblieshave provided a basis for han-dling any threat to the system.

Answering a question, theInformation Minister said thatPakistani exports have doubledue to the effective steps of thepresent government. He said thatthe present government has alsoincreased salaries of govern-ment employees upto one hun-dred and fifty percent.

To another question, QamarZamnan Kaira said that democ-ratization process has stepped upand credit for this goes to thedemocratic forces. The cabinetapproved to start talks with Tu-nisia to establish sister cities re-lations between Islamabad andTunis besides signing of MoUwith South Korea for coopera-tion in environmental protec-tion. The cabinet also approvedstarting talks with Philippinesfor defence cooperation.

countries will also attend the keyconference. Political and de-fense analysts are terming theconference as crucial for Afghanpeace process. —NNI

Zardari headsto UK

From Page 1

owing to volatile situation andincessant bombings by the PAFplanes which have come to therescue of the Ansaar ul Islammen and targeting positions ofthe militants belonging toTehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan(TTP).

Reports reaching here fromBara Khyber agency said thePAF birds went for incessantbombings on the hideouts ofTaliban militants in the troubledTiraah valley on Wednesdaykilling over a dozen alleged ter-rorists besides wounding manyothers.

The jet planes also wenthard on the militants in UpperAurakzai agency on Wednesday

20 killed in KhyberFrom Page 1

and heavily bombed miscreantshideouts in the hilly terrain ofOblan. The aerial operation, asthe officials confirmed, resultedin killing of at least seven peoplewhile a number of militantshideouts were also destroyed.

“At least three militant hide-outs were razed to ground in thebombardment that also resultedin the killing of seven militantsand injuries to many others”.Political Assistant of UpperOrakzai Agency MuhammadRafique told the newsmen. Un-confirmed reports said a num-ber of innocent civilians werealso killed in the two days bom-bardment in Khyber andAurakzai agency.

In the meanwhile as manyas three security men were in-jured when a remote controlbomb planted at the roadside hitthe security forces convoy inIsori area of North Waziristanagency on Wednesday morning.

According to reports reach-ing from Miram Shah, the head-quarters of NWA, the securityforces convoy heading towardsMiranshah from Bannu cameunder a remote control bombattack in Isori area near Mir Alileaving at least two securitymen wounded. The securityforces vehicle they were trav-eling in was also damaged inthe attack.

ting challan.The court while rejecting the

medical report issued showcause notices to police surgeonCivil Hospital and M.S Serviceshospital.

The court also accepted re-quest of investigation officer forgranting 10 more days for sub-mitting challan and adjournedthe hearing till Feb 10.

the same area.Reportedly a police party

deployed on a picket came un-der attack near Edhi’s mortuaryin Sohrab Goth.

“We heard two blasts in thevicinity, which prompted us torush to the scene where wefound two people injured includ-ing a police officer”, rescuesources disclosed.

with the PML-N comprising ofSyed Khursheed Shah, NazarMohammad Gondal, Farooq HNaek, Rahim Dad and FatehMohammad Hasni. The com-mittee will hold talks with PML-N for holding elections of thefederal and provincial assem-blies on same day.

Federal Information Minis-ter had already said that ball wasin PML-N’s court to hold gen-eral elections in a same day.—NNI

documentation is needed forthis.

It may be mentioned that theSupreme Court of Pakistan hadissued orders for the arrest ofTauqir Sadiq.

He is accused of misusingauthority, embezzling fundsand causing Rs82 billion lossesto the national exchequer.—NNI

ATC rejectsage report of

Shahrukh JatoiFrom Page 1

Disaster avertedFrom Page 1

Govt forms5-membercommittee

From Page 1

The PML-N has also soughttransfer of director general In-telligence Bureau, DG FIA, fed-eral interior secretary and sec-retary establishment. Moreover,personal secretaries of the primeminister, all provincial gover-nors and chief ministers shouldalso be removed, it added.

The PML-N has also de-manded to change the country’sambassadors in important coun-tries like the United States, UKand others before the generalelections. The opposition partyis also seeking change in topleadership of the state-ownedtelevision and radio apart fromtransfer of IG Islamabad, Addi-tional IG Special Branch andfederal and provincial informa-tion secretaries.—INP

Tauqir handedover to Pakistan

From Page 1

PML-N formassive

transfers inbureaucracy

From Page 1

Judicialofficers

postings,transfers

LAHORE—The Lahore HighCourt Wednesday transfered andposted three additional district andsessions judges (AD&SJs), and 21civil judges-cum-judicial magis-trates.

According to a LHC notifi-cation, the AD&SJs who weretransferred include MuhammadAslam Bhatti from Sialkot toJhang, Bedar Bakht from Jhangto Sialkot and Muhammad Abbassfrom Bahawalnagar to Arifwala.

The civil judges who weretransferred include Shafiq Abbasfrom Kharian to Gujrat, IjazAhmad from Kharian to Gujrat,Saima Pervaiz Butt from Gujratto Kharian, Ghulam Shabbir fromGujrat to Kharian, Fiaz Hussainfrom Liaqatpur to Darya Khan, M.Amin Shahzad from Bhalwal toMalakwal, Shamaila Sheikh fromRawalpindi to Chichawatni,

Tahir Manzoor fromChichawatni to Arifwala, ShaukatAbbas from Arifwala toRawalpindi,. Nabeila JafferySyeda from Chiniot to Chakwal,Dildar Shah from Chakwal toChiniot, Akhtar Hussain Kalyarfrom Fortabbas to Shujaabad,Sarfraz Ali Mirza from Shujaabadto Fortabbas, Malik MuhammadShakeel Ashraf from Khanpur toKhanewal, Muhammad Ahmadfrom Shujaabad to Khanpur, M.Umar Khan Fareedy fromDepalpur to Sheikhupura,Mughira Munawar fromSheikhupura to Depalpur, M.Khalid Mahmood Warraich fromSialkot to Chishtian, RashidNawaz from Chishtian to Lahore,Sultan Asghar Chatha from KallarSyedan to Nankana Sahib andMoshis Mumtaz from NankanaSahib to Kallar Sayedan.—APP

Anti-democratic forcesdesigns to be crushed: Ashraf

Elections in a few weeks’ timeISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterRaja Pervez Ashraf on Wednes-day said anti-democratic forcesshould know that “we havegiven sacrifices for democracyin the past and were ready to doso again”.

Speaking during a meetingof the federal cabinet inIslamabad, the prime ministersaid the demand to dissolve theElection Commission of Paki-stan (ECP) was unconstitu-tional, adding that neither thechief election commissioner, nor

NEW DELHI—In classifiedprotests to a United Nationswatchdog that have never beendisclosed till now, Pakistan hasaccused Indian soldiers of in-volvement in the torture and de-capitation of at least 12 Pakistanisoldiers in cross-Line of Controlraids since 1998, as well as themassacre of 29 civilians.

The allegations, laid out inconfidential Pakistani com-plaints to the United NationsMilitary Observer Group in In-dia and Pakistan (UNMOGIP),suggest that Indian and Pakistanitroops stationed on the Line ofControl remain locked in a pat-tern of murderous violence, de-spite the ceasefire both armiesentered into in November 2003,The Hindu reported on Wednes-day.

Earlier this month, bilateralrelations were severely damagedafter a series of LoC skirmishes,

which culminated in the allegedbeheading and mutilation of twoIndian soldiers Lance-NaikHemraj Singh and Lance-NaikSudhakar Singh. The Indian Min-istry of Defence did not respondto an e-mail from The Hindu,seeking comment on the allegeddecapitation of Pakistani civiliansand troops reported toUNMOGIP. However, a militaryspokesperson said the issue had“not been raised by Pakistan incommunications between thetwo Directors-General of Mili-tary Operations.” The IndianMinistry of External Affairs alsosaid the UNMOGIP complaintshad not been raised in diplomaticexchanges between the two coun-tries. “Ever since 9/11,” a seniorPakistan army officer told TheHindu, “we have sought todownplay these incidents, awarethat a public backlash [could]push us into a situation we can-

not afford on the LoC, given thatmuch of our army is now com-mitted to our western borders.Each of these incidents has beenprotested by us on both militaryand UNMOGIP channels.”UNMOGIP, set up after the In-dia-Pakistan war of 1947-1948 tomonitor ceasefire violations, doesnot conduct criminal investiga-tions, or assign responsibility forincidents. The reports of itsceasefire monitors are sent to theorganisation’s headquarters inNew York, and forwarded to theMinistry of Defence in NewDelhi. Ever since 1972, Indiahas responded to UNMOGIP que-ries with a standard-form letter,saying it believes the organisationhas lost its relevance following thedemarcation of the LoC. Earlierthis month, India argued in theUnited Nations that theorganisation ought to be wound-up. The most savage cross-LoC

ISLAMABAD: Activists of Insaf Students Federation light candles during a demonstration against mysterious death ofNAB officer Kamran Faisal, outside National Press Club .

Chairman FPSCcalls on PMISLAMABAD—Chairman Fed-eral Public Service CommissionMalik Asif Hayat called on thePrime Minister Raja PervezAshraf at the PM’s House onWednesday. The Prime Ministercongratulated Malik Asif Hayaton assuming the office of Chair-man Federal Public ServiceCommission (FPSC). He ex-pressed the hope that he will uti-lize his abilities and vast expe-rience in civil service to ensurethat FPSC carries out its workas stipulated in the constitution.The Prime Minister underscoredthe critical role of FPSC in policymaking, selection and careerplanning of government servants.He assured the new ChairmanFPSC of government’s full sup-port in his endeavours. TheChairman FPSC also discussedvarious matters relating to theCommission. —INP

Police arrest 30USJ employeesJAMSHORO—The policeWednesday arrested 30 employ-ees of University of Sindh,Jamshoro (USJ) and booked 150others under Anti-Terrorism Actfor holding protest and clashwith police cops. According todetails, the USJ employees, whowere peacefully protesting insupport of their demands for thelast six weeks, lost their patienceon Tuesday when police inter-rupted them which led to a clash.During exchange of blow sixpersons including SP Headquar-ter Wasi Haider were injured.Police registering two cases un-der Anti-Terrorism Act arrested30 protesting employees andbooked 150 others. Meanwhilestrike was observed in differentUniversities of Sindh and the aca-demic activities remained sus-pended on Wednesday. —INP

Pak accuses India of 12 Kashmir beheadings since 1998violence Indian forces are al-leged to have participated in wasthe killing of 22 civilians at thevillage of Bandala, in theChhamb sector, on the night ofNovember 26-27, 1998. Thebodies of two civilians, accord-ing to Pakistan’s complaint toUNMOGIP, were decapitated;the eyes of several others wereallegedly gouged out by the at-tackers. The Pakistani militaryclaimed to have recovered an In-dian-made watch from the sceneof the carnage, along with a hand-written note which asked, “Howdoes your own blood feel”? Firstreported by The Hindu’s sisterpublication Frontline in its June19, 1998 issue, the Bandalamassacre is alleged to have beencarried out by irregulars backedby Indian special forces in re-taliation for the alleged massa-cre of 29 Hindu villagers atPrankote.—INP

WASHINGTON—Pakistan hasdropped nine places to 159thrank in the list of 179 countriesin the latest World Press Free-dom Index.

“The ability of journaliststo work freely in Pakistan(159th, -8) and Nepal (118th, -12) continued to worsen in theabsence of any Governmentpolicy to protect media workers.Despite having a diverse andlively media, Pakistan remainsone of the world’s most danger-ous countries for reporters,”Reporters Without Borders saidin its World Press Freedom In-dex for the year 2013.

“In Asia, India (140th, -9)is at its lowest since 2002 be-cause of increasing impunityfor violence against journalistsand because Internet censorshipcontinues to grow,” the reportsaid.

“China (173rd, +1) showsno sign of improving. Its prisonsstill hold many journalists andnetizens, while increasingly un-popular Internet censorship con-tinues to be a major obstacle toaccess to information.”

Pak dips to 159th rank inpress freedom index

As in 2012, the list is toppedby three European countries Fin-land, Netherlands and Norway.Turkmenistan, North Korea andEritrea continue to be at the bot-tom of the list as has been in thelast three years. “The Press Free-dom Index published by Report-ers Without Borders does not takedirect account of the kind of po-litical system but it is clear thatdemocracies provide better pro-tection for the freedom to pro-duce and circulate accurate newsand information than countrieswhere human rights are flouted,”Reporters Without Borders sec-retary-general ChristopheDeloire said.

“In dictatorships, news pro-viders and their families are ex-posed to ruthless reprisals,while in democracies news pro-viders have to cope with themedia’s economic crises andconflicts of interest. While theirsituation is not always compa-rable, we should pay tributeto all those who resist pres-sure whether it is aggres-sively focused or diffuse,” hesaid..—Online

ISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt of Pakistan on Wednesdaysought progress report from theAttorney General Irfan Qadir onFebruary 13 with to regard toimplementation of court’s orderson electoral reforms.

A three-member benchheaded by Chief Justice IftikharMohammad Choudhry heard thecase regarding implementationof court’s June 2012 order onelectoral reforms. Attorney Gen-

Electoral reforms case

SC seeks progress reporteral Qadir informed the courtthat the Election Commissionhas sent its recommendations tothe law ministry whilepetitioner’s recommendationshave also been received, addingthe law ministry is consideringto recommend legislation inlight of the recommendations.

Justice Choudhry askedQadir not to let this work for thelaw ministry alone, adding theattorney general should escalate

the matter and talked to high-upsfor early formulation of laws.

“The court understands thatthe legislation will take time,”the chief justice remarked.

Justice Choudhry said thatthe ECP is already issued a codeof conduct for the elections, add-ing the electoral process has be-gun in the country. “There shouldnot be any delay in elections onthe pretext of legislation,” thechief justice said.— NNI

Akther Mengallikely to returnISLAMABAD—Party leaders ofBalochistan National Party(BNP) have advised their partyhead Akther Mengal to returnto the country, reports sayWednesday. Mengal has de-cided to end his four years longself exile. Now, it is expectedthat Akther Mengal will returnto the country by the end of thecountry. BNP leader AktherWahingo said that AktherMengal will reach Quetta in theend of February and will initiatehis political activities with apublic rally. Sardar AktherMengal came to Islamabad afew months ago where he ap-peared before the SupremeCourt in Balochistan Law andOrder case. —NNI

WASHINGTON —Secretary ofState, Hillary Clinton haslauded efforts of President AsifAli Zardari and Indian PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh toimprove communication, busi-ness, trade and commerce tiesbetween the two countries.

In an interview in Washing-ton, she said such steps help increating a more receptive envi-ronment for dealing with terror-ist threats

Clinton said she planned torefocus her efforts after step-ping down on speaking andwriting and working on behalfof women and girls.

She suggested she may alsoadd her muscle to the work car-ried out by the Clinton GlobalInitiative, which is led byformer President Bill Clinton.

“I’m very proud of what myhusband has done in the last 10years,” Clinton said. “We aregoing to look to see how we can

US lauds Zardari, Singhefforts for improving biz ties

join our efforts together.”She noted that their daugh-

ter, Chelsea, has also been in-volved in philanthropic workafter Tropical Storm Sandy.“We just have public service inour DNA,” Clinton said.

Clinton acknowledged thather legacy includes unsolvedproblems in some of theworld’s hot spots, but noted thatshe assumed the job four yearsago at a time of great uncer-tainty. “I think we have to goback to my beginning in Janu-ary ’09 to remember howpoorly perceived the UnitedStates was, how badly damagedour reputation was, how ourleadership was in question, howthe economic crisis had reallyshaken people’s confidence inour government, our economicsystem, our country.”Clintonsaid she had sought initiallysimply to restore internationalconfidence in American leader-

ship, “sometimes againstpretty tough odds,” whichincluded a crisis in theworld’s economy and thewars in Iraq and Afghani-s tan.

The challenges went on toinclude responding to the ArabSpring, forming internationalcoalitions to inflict sanctions onIran and North Korea and deal-ing with changes in Burma, Eu-rope, Latin America and Africa.

“I’m very proud of whatwe’ve done,” she said, adding,“We began to practice diplo-macy in a different way — notthat we jettisoned everythingdone before, but added newtools to the box.”

Clinton’s legacy as Secre-tary of State Asked about theObama administration’s failureto appoint a woman to any ofthe top four Cabinet positions,she said, “What we have to dois take a look at the broad pic-

NA likely to bedissolved on March13 or 14: KhursheedISLAMABAD—Federal Ministerfor Religious Affairs SyedKhursheed Ahmed Shah hassaid that the National Assemblycould be dissolved on 13th or14th March.

Talking to media persons onWednesday, the minister saidthat the PPP leadership has notfinalized any name for the care-taker Prime Minister yet.

Syed Khursheed AhmedShah marinated that the PPP-ledcoalition government is tryingits best to dissolve all assembliesincluding provincial assemblieson same day. —Online

Malala’s surgery

Bullet removedfrom neck

LONDON—Doctors have con-ducted surgery of MalalaYousufzai to remove bullet fromher neck. Addressing a newsconference in London‚ the teamof doctors‚ led by Dr. DewRoser‚ said that the condition ofMalala Yousufzai is better afterthe surgery. However‚ he saidthat she will undergo anothersurgery‚ which will be con-ducted soon.—INP

Efroze directorsent on 2-day

remandSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The accused inPunjab Institute of Cardiology(PIC) spurious life savingmedicines unleashing scores ofdeaths of heart patients’ casewere presented in the localcourts on Wednesday here.

The court handed over thedirector of Efroze Pharma, Na-dir Feroze to the police on twodays physical remand, whilethe Manager, Shakil Nagar wassent to jail.

Doctors, pharmacists andstores owners involved in thiscase were also presented in thesession court.

The Isotab drug that hadcaused deaths of over 200 pa-tients in PIC was manufac-tured by Efroze Pharma, whichwas declared sub-standard bya London laboratory, as it con-tained anti-malaria drug py-rimethamine out of propor-tion. A case in this regard wasregistered in Shadman Colonypolice station.

any member of the ECP couldbe removed in an unconstitu-tional manner.

Prime Minister Ashraf saidno one would be allowed to de-rail the country’s democraticsetup, adding that Pakistan wasgoing to have elections in a fewweeks’ time.

He said the government wasfully aware of its political andconstitutional obligations andclaimed that it would crush thedesigns of anti-democraticforces that have been trying to

destabilise the country.The premier said the gov-

ernment believed in strong na-tional institutions, adding thatthe collective wisdom of thecoalition parties was strengthen-ing democracy in the country.

He said the government hadresolved to hold free and fairelections in accordance with theConstitution.

The prime minister said thegovernment would hold consul-tations on a caretaker setup withall stakeholders.

NEW DELHI—Indian HomeMinister Sushil Kumar ShindeWednesday reiterated that Indiaremains firm on its demand thatIslamabad must hand over 26/11 alleged mastermind HafizSaeed and all other plotters ofthe Mumbai attacks to NewDelhi.

Shinde was reacting to USSecretary of State HillaryClinton’s statement that justicefor 26/11 attacks is “unfinishedbusiness.”At a “GlobalTownhall” held on Tuesday,Hillary Clinton told NDTV, “Ithink it is unfinished business thatwe are not in any way walkingaway from. I’m leaving office butI can assure you and the Indianpeople that this remains one ofour very highest priorities.” “Wewere successful in capturing andeliminating a number of the mostdangerous terrorists who havesafe haven inside Pakistan. Wehave continued to press the Pa-kistani Government, because of

India again demands handing over of Hafiz Saeedcourse the terrorists inside Pa-kistan are first and foremost anongoing threat to the stabilityof Pakistan, and they need todeal with it because of that,as well as implications for

India, Afghanistan, United Statesand elsewhere,” she added.

Saeed, the alleged master-mind of the Mumbai attacks, con-tinues to live freely in Paki-stan.—Online

DESPITE routine screening for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) by livedonors, a kidney transplant recipient be-

came infected, according the New York CityDepartment of Health and Mental Hygiene. AnMMWR (Morbidity and Mor-tality Weekly Report) report,part of the CDC, highlightsthe need to re-examine na-tional policy on HIV tests andtheir timing when screeningliving organ donors.

The report authors saydonors should be screened forHIV as near as possible to themoment of organ recoveryand transplantation. They addthat serology and NAT(nucleic acid testing) shouldbe used.

Doctors should also makesure their patients are awareof a potential disease trans-mission risk, as well as ask-ing donors to avoid behaviorsthat would raise their risk ofbecoming infected with HIV.

In 2009, a patient with hemodialysis-de-pendent kidney failure was given a new kid-ney from a living donor at a New York Cityhospital - known in the report as “Hospital A”.There was no trace of any STIs (sexually trans-mitted infections) in the individual’s medicalhistory, neither was there any history of high-risk activity, such as injection drug use or sexualencounters with injection drug users.

The patient had received blood transfusionsin 2006, but none before that date. 12 days be-fore the transplantation procedure started, therecipient tested negative for HIV.

After the operation the patient went through

multiple hospitalizations, fevers, episodes ofrenal insufficiency, and evaluation of possibletransplanted organ rejection.

The recipient did not take part in any be-haviors which might have increased his/her

risk of becoming infected withHIV.

The patient was hospital-ized twelve months after thekidney transplant with refrac-tory oral and esophageal can-didiasis. An EIA screening forHIV tested positive, and con-firmed with a positive Westernblot. Initial CDY cell count wasunder 100 cells/μL. In acommuniqué, the CDC added“The recipient’s initial CD4 cellcount was <100 cells/μL. Theadvanced immunosuppressionwas attributed, in part, to therecipient’s induction withantithymocyte globulins (animmunomodulator that depletesT-lymphocytes to prevent graft-versus-host disease) and use of

mycophenolic acid (a drug that suppresseslymphocyte proliferation, prescribed to pre-vent rejection of a transplanted kidney).”

He was evaluated as a possible living kid-ney transplantation donor in 2009 in HospitalA. As is standard practice in that hospital, amultidisciplinary team determined his eligi-bility. They assessed donor-recipient immu-nologic compatibility, as well as his psycho-logical state, willingness to donate, and gen-eral health. The team consisted of a coordi-nator, transplant surgeon, social worker, nu-tritionist, psychiatrist and nephrologist.Thedonor was found to have had a history of par-ticipating in sex with male partners.

Kidney transplant recipientinfected with HIV

ISLAMABAD: A view of Na’atia Mushaira arranged by NPC at Aiwan-i-Quaid. Saif Ali, Anwar Feroze, Asif Akbar and Anjum Khaleeq are seen on the stage.

ISLAMABAD: IG National Highways and Motorway Police Zafar Abbas Luk is giving shieldto Planner/Team Leader John Standingford of Asian Development Bank on his arrival atMotorways Police Headquarters.

Tears turn into smiles

Saudi humanitarian assistance is exemplaryPakistan owes to Kingdom for great generosity: Kaira; Riyadh to stand by Pakistan in hours of need: Jassim Khalidi

LIAQAT TOOR

ISLAMABAD—The King-dom of Saudi Arabia hasproved to be a true and sin-cere friend of Pakistan as hishumanitarian assistance toPakistan during the 2005earthquake and massivefloods in 2010 and 2011 wasexemplary to mitigate thesufferings of the needy.

Saudi Government andthe people stood by Pakistanwhenever natural disastershammered people of Paki-stan. Riyadh got a distinctiveposition in the world and inthe hearts of Pakistanis whoowe to the Kingdom for mas-sive valuable assistancewhich helped to turn theirtears into smiles.

A briefing was arrangedby Saudi embassy in its pre-mises in Diplomatic Enclaveon Wednesday on the hu-manitarian assistance ex-tended so far to Pakistan inthe fields of health, housing,drinking water and other ar-eas. Information MinisterQamar Zaman Kaira was thechief guest on the occasion.

Speaking on the occa-sion, he said the Kingdom

has attained a distinctive posi-tion in the world by providingmassive aid to Pakistan. Paki-stani people owed to the SaudiGovernment and the people forthis great gesture and assis-tance. Pakistan and SaudiArabia have special relationsbased on Islamic brotherhood.Flavoured with Islamic teach-ings, Saudi Arabia alwayscame to rescue Pakistan. En-joying very special and cordialbilateral relations, the King-dom provided help to Pakistanin all fields including security,economic and trade also.

Kaira said historic under-standing between the twoMuslim countries can not bediminished. Specially refer-ring to two Saudi humanitar-ian bodies—King Abdullah’sRelief Campaign for PakistaniPeople (KARCPP) and SaudiPublic Assistance for PakistaniEarth Quake victims (SPAPEV), he said they provedgreat source of relief and in-spiration for Pakistanis. ThePeople of Pakistan will alwaysremember

the Saudi leadership andthe people for this greatsuccour in good and bad timesof this country. The Kingdom

the kingdom and Saudi Arabia.Riyadh has always been withPakistan in all natural and hu-man disasters and is commit-ted to remain so in future. Atbilateral level, Saudi Arabiahas undertaken severalprojects in collaboration withUN agencies like WHO,UNHCR, UNDP and UNICEFin different areas of Pakistan.

He said a distinctive andunique aspect of Saudi aid isits public assistanceprogramme for Pakistanis un-der the patronage of Saudileadership. This assistance isfinanced by private fundingfrom Saudi public. TheSPAPEV was established after2005 earthquake in Pakistanwhile KARCPP was launchedwith royal decree after flashfloods in 2010 and 2011 forcarrying out projects of reliefand reconstruction, Jassim Al-Khalidi said.

Briefing the media aboutSaudi humanitarian assistance,Dr. Khalid M Othmani, Man-aging Director of KARCPPand other programmes saidSPAPEV constructed 8000pre-fabricated houses for sur-vivors of Balakot, Bagh andMuzaffarabad besides the re-

vival of health and educationin AJK and KPK. Theprojects of houses, 28schools and 8 basic healthunits in quake-hit areas havebeen completed.

He said KARCPP alsolaunched projects of 5000houses, more than 200projects supplying cleandrinking water including fil-tration plants, hand pumpsand water supply schemes inflood affected zones ofSindh, South Punjab andBalochistan. Keys of manyhouses after completion havebeen handed over to thefamilies displaced in floodhit areas.

Several MOUs have al-ready been signed with inter-national companies to supplyclean drinking water to thepeople in Balochistan andSouth Punjab.

In future, more health,education and mosquesprojects would also be initi-ated in earthquake and floodaffected areas, he said.

Later, Qamar ZamanKaira was shown and briefedabout the projects with thehelp of models on the occa-sion

ISLAMABAD: Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Information and Broadcasting is beingbriefed by Chief of KARCPP, Khalid Al-Othmani on humanitarian projects carried out bySaudi Arabia in Pakistan at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Jassim Al-Khalidi, Charge d’affaires is also seen in the picture.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

is playing a role for progressand stability of Pakistan.

Riyadh’s role in world peaceis also appreciated, Kaira said.

In his welcoming remarkson the occasion, Jassim Al-

Khalidi, Charge d’ affaires ofSaudi Embassy said having a

long history of bilateral frater-nal relationship, the wellbeing

of people of Pakistan carriesvery special importance for

NPC holdsNa’atia Mushaira

STAFF REPORTER

IS L A M A B A D —Prominentscholar and seniour poet AnwarFeroz, presided over the Na’atiaMushaira, arranged by theNazriya-e-Pakistan Counci, atAiwan-i-Quaid in NPC monthlysocio-literary programmeNuqta-e-Nazar in connectionwith the Eid Milad-un-Nabi cel-ebrations.

Expressing his views hemaintained that writing and re-citing verses in praise of theHoly Prophet (pbuh) carry greatworldly and heavenly rewardsand blessings for all of us. Po-etry of Na’at brings, expressesand showers true love for theprophet of Islam and is alwaysconsidered as a very vocalsource of strengthening the be-liefs of Muslims, he said. PoetsSaif Ali and Asif Akbar were thechief guests of the Mushairawhile Anjum Khaleeq con-ducted the proceedings.

Those who recited theirNaats included Wafa Chishti,Hafiz Noor Ahmed, Ali QaswarKhaleeq, Nusrat Masood,Asghar Abid, Nasir Aqeel,Abida Taqqi, Dur-e-ShehwarTauseef, Rukhsana Sehr,Saleem Shahzad and Aftab Zia.Special prayers for the prosper-ity and solidarity of Pakistanwere offered at the end ofMushaira attended by a goodnumber of people from allwalks of life.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Over a 1000 del-egates have arrived in Islamabadto take part in the ENX 2013Symposium being organized bythe Roots Academy for Profes-sional & Intellectual Develop-ment.

This year, the theme of thesymposium is a reflection of theprognostic vision of ROOTSINTERNATIONAL “EducationNext: Future of schooling”.Congregating educationalists,technologists, teachers,academia, media, think tanksand parents, the symposium as-pires to shape-up an ample edu-cational system for groomingthe generations to come.

The outcomes of this intel-lectual gathering will be promi-nent in shaping the agenda forthe next 25 years of educationalcontribution of RIS towards thesociety. The symposium will becatering to explore the big ideasin education today, examine newdevelopments in subject contentarea or grade level, learningabout global best practices fromeducational speakers, stretchprofessional development learn-ing into new areas, techonologyintegration, globalization, par-ent, studentand teachers trilat-eral relationships and pedagogy& curriculum enhancement.

Dedicated towards the ac-celeration of Professional andIntellectual growth, the vision-ary founder RAPID and ideasponsor of ENX 2013, Mr.Walid Mushtaq recognizes theworth and power of the voice ofparents in developing a holisticeducational system for our bud-ding generations.

The glorious list of confer-ence speakers includes 3 inter-

1,000 delegates congregate at ENX 2013national speakers alongsidehighly experienced and emi-

nent speakers from within thecountry.

ISLAMABAD—A special meet-ing of Executive Committee ofvice chancellors was held at hereand was attended by majority ofvice chancellors from all over thecountry.

The one-point agenda of themeeting was the recent HEC Pri-vate Amendment Bill. The vicechancellors rejected the pro-posed bill and showed strongconcern and expressed their ap-prehension that any legislationthat takes away the dynamismand autonomy of HEC is goingto be damaging to the highereducation sector in the country.

While improvements in anysystem are always possible, theywere of the unanimous view thatHEC is one institution which hasfunctioned extremely well andhas delivered during the last de-cade. The VCs noted that theuniversities have shown tremen-dous progress in the last decadeand the HEC reforms are beingfollowed by other countries asrole model.

The vice chancellors were ofthe view that the higher educa-tion sector has been a growthengine for socio economic devel-opment of Pakistan, and it wouldbe extremely unfortunate if atthis point legislative steps thwartthis achievement by a bill that

VCs EC rejects HECPrivate Amendment Bill

does not have stakeholders’consensus and takes away itsautonomy.

The vice chancellors feltthat after the 18th Amendment,changes in the HEC Act shouldalso have the recommendationsof the Task Force proposed bythe Prime Minister’s High Pow-ered Committee. They saidthese recommendations shouldbe incorporated in the proposedamendment bill, so that anychanges should have broadbased consensus of the stake-holders, which are the univer-sities and the higher educationsector and the provincial gov-ernments and the chancellors

It was decided that the Ex-ecutive VC Committee meet thePresident, Prime Minister, andother lawmakers to apprisethem about the situation.

A meeting of all Vice Chan-cellors, both from public andprivate sector universitieswould be held on 6th February,2013, to have a broad based dis-cussion and come up with rec-ommendations.

The meeting was attendedby Dr. Javaid Laghari, Chair-man HEC, Engr. Syed ImtiazHussain Gilani, Acting Execu-tive Director HEC/Vice Chan-cellor University of Engineer-

ing & Technology Peshawar, Dr.Nasser Ali Khan, Member HEC/Vice Chancellor Haripur Uni-versity, Dr. Nasir Jamal KhattakKohat University of Science &Technology (KUST) Kohat,Engr. Ahmed Farooq Bazai,Vice Chancellor BalochistanUniversity of Information Tech-nology Engineering and Man-agement Sciences Quetta, Ms.Sultana Baloch Vice ChancellorSardar Bahadur Khan Women’sUniversity (SBK) Quetta, Prof.Dr. Mujahid Kamran, ViceChancellor University of thePunjab Lahore, Dr. SabihaMansoor, Vice ChancellorLahore College for Women Uni-versity Lahore, Prof. Dr.Masoom Yasinzai, Vice Chan-cellor Quaid-i-Azam UniversityIslamabad, Prof. Dr. NajmaNajam, Vice ChancellorKarakoram International Uni-versity Gilgit, Prof. Dr. IqrarAhmad Khan, Vice-ChancellorUniversity of Agriculture (UAF)Faisalabad, Prof Dr MohammadNizamuddin, Vice-ChancellorUniversity of Gujrat, Dr.Muhammad Mukhtar ViceChancellor The Islamia Univer-sity Bahawalpur, and Prof. Dr.Ihsan Ali Vice-ChancellorAbdul Wali Khan UniversityMardan.—INP

Govt committedto protect rights

of minorities: PMISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterRaja Pervez Ashraf has said thatthe present government wascommitted to protect the rightsof minority communities as itbelieved in promoting interfaithharmony.

He appreciated the effortsof Evacuee Trust PropertyBoard (ETPB) for taking con-crete measures in facilitatingthe Sikhs to perform their reli-gious rituals at their holy sitesin the country.

The Prime Minister ex-pressed these views in a meet-ing with Chairman ETPB, SyedAsif Hashmi at the PM’s Houseon Wednesday.—INP

More than 1,000 youth languishingin different Jammu jails

Their condition is miserable: High Court Bar AssociationLamenting over the conditionof Kashmiri inmates lan-guishing in different Jails ofoutside Kashmir, High CourtBar Association has come upwith a detailed report of theirvisit to different jails includ-ing District Jail Poonch,Rajouri, Khatua, Amphala,Udhampur, Sub-Jail, HeraNagar and Central KotBalwal. As per the reportthere are 1197 Kashmiriyouth, languishing in thesejails have all been arrested forsupporting on-going freedommovement, however Bar As-sociation in its report has con-demned the harsh attitude ofKhatua Jail Superintendent,Harish Kotwal who accordingto Bar Association Visitingteam refused to divulge theinformation about the totalnumber of Kahsmiri youthlanguishing in his jail.

Kashmir Bar Associationhas said that a team of Barheaded by the Vice PresidentAijaz Bedar Advocate with itsmembers Mohammad AshrafBhat General Secretary of theJ&K High court Bar Associa-tion, Bilal Ahmad Wani trea-surer and Advocate G. N.Shaheen and Hamid Shafivisited seven jails of JammuDivision and interacted withinmates lodged in these jails.

Bar has lamented over the con-dition of inmates and hasclaimed that all Kashmiri in-mates complained of poormedical facility and deficiencyof legal aid. “The team mem-bers almost interacted with allthe detenues and under trialprisoners related to the freedomstruggle and discussed withthem the legal problems andabout the jail conditions. Theconvicts, the under trial pris-oners complained about the de-ficiency of legal aid before thecourts and unilateral attitude ofthe courts which is causingprejudice to the fair and impar-tial trial of these under trialprisoners. The team membersobserved most of the convic-tions are due to the lack of rea-sonable and appropriate legaldefense and the summary atti-tude of the courts in awardingconvicts and treatment beforethe courts to the under trialprisoners who are involved incases related to the on-goingfreedom struggle. The inmatescomplained about the lack ofmedical facilities and non-availability of security escortson the dates of hearing of thecases which fact was admittedby the jail authorities.”

Giving details about the to-tal number of inmates, the re-port filed by Bar Association

claims that largest number ofinmates, numbering 511 arepresent in District Jail Amphalafollowed by 388 in Kot Balwal,115 in District Jail Poonch, 104in Rajouri, 60 in Hera Nagarand 11 in DistrictJail,Udhampur.”

Khatua Jail Superinten-dent, Harish Kotwal who ac-cording to Bar Association Vis-iting team refused to divulgethe information about the totalnumber of Kahsmiri youth lan-guishing in his jail.

“The concerned jail au-thorities have not disclosed theexact number of inmates in thejail, the jail authorities in-formed there are only 08Kashmiri detenues whom wewere allowed to see includingTanvir Ahmad Lone,Mohammad Yousuf Parray,Shabir Ahmad, Abid Manzoorand Shabir Ahmad Gazi, ShabirAhmad Magray most of themare residents are from districtPulwama and districtGanderbal. All these detenuesare detained under PSA fortheir involvement in the free-dom struggle.”Bar Associationin its report has confirmed thepresence of female Kashmiridetenues languishing in thesejails. “The Bar Association haddetailed interaction with Mus-lim League leader Masrat Alam

Bhat who is lodged in the jailunder PSA which has beenimposed on him 07th time insuccession past 2 years. TheBar Association had a heartbreak event to witness in thejail when mother of MasratAlam Bhat all alone waitingfor interview with his sonMasrat Alam Bhat with tearsin her eyes. Masrat Alam Bhatwas in full spirits.”

According to CNS, in theKotebalwal Jail Jammu theteam members could inter-view prominent politicalleader and Chairman of Mus-lim League Mushtaq-ul-Islamof Batamaloo who has beendetained under PSA 04th timein succession and was on thesame day brought toKotebalwal jail Jammu. Inlaw it is the duty of the jailauthorities to respect the fun-damental right of personal be-lief and religious ideology ofevery inmate and have to treatthem accordingly and themess as such in jails deservescategorisation.

The Bar Association rec-ommends separate mess forMuslims and non-Muslimsinside the mess as the Mus-lims are non-vegetarian andsome of the Hindus are veg-etarian in food habits. Cour-tesy —Kashmir Watch.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and President PPP Punjab, Mian ManzoorAhmad Wattoo in a meeting with former Prime Minister AJK Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary, Speaker AJKLegislative Assembly Sardar Ghulam Saqib Khan and Haji Nawaz Khokhar.

SAMBRIAL—Former PrimeMinister of Azad Jammu andKashmir (AJK) Sardar AttiqueAhmed Khan has said that thedisclosure regarding the pres-ence of terrorism hide outs andcamps in India by the Indiangovernment officials has raisedthe curtain from the “originalface” of India, demanding im-mediate ban on Indian militantand terrorist organizationspresent in India. He said that thepresence of terrorism camps inIndia should also be an eyeopener and point of grave con-cern for the international com-munity. He sought immediateban on all the Indian militant

Attique demands ban onHindu militant organizations

Indian outfits spreading terror in Pakistan, Gulf states, EU and CARsand terrorist organization.

He stated this while talkingto the newsmen here Wednes-day. He said that Indian gov-ernment should submit a specialreference before the Indian Su-preme Court, seeking immedi-ate ban on all the militant orga-nizations present in India.

Sardar Attiq Ahmed Khanadded that the Indian terroristorganizations were also spread-ing terrorism in Pakistan, GulfStates, Central Asian Coun-tries, European Countries andAmerica through the terrorismhideouts/camps in India, as thepresence of these camps wereofficially disclosed by the In-

dian Minister for Interior re-cently. He said that the pres-ence of terrorism camps in In-dia was a great international is-sue and “silence” of both Pa-kistani government and oppo-sition over this critical issuewas not proving their nationalloyalty. He urged the Pakistangovernment to call a joint ses-sion of Parliament and Senateof this nasty matter.

He suggested that Pakistanshould highlight this matter ( thepresence of terrorism camps inIndia) globally and urge the In-ternational Community to useits complete influence to glo-bally pressurize India for imme-

diate banning all the militantorganizations in India.

He alleged that Indian mili-tant organization “Shiv Sena”was also producing the HinduTaliban and White Taliban andthe international communityshould take serious notice of themounted terrorism activities bythe Indian militant parties aroundthe world especially in Pakistan.

Sardar Attiq Ahmed Khanstrongly criticised the MostFavoured Nation (MFN) statusto India by Pakistan and urgedthe Pakistani government towithdraw its all favoures re-garding giving MFN status toIndia.—INP

SRINAGAR—The All PartiesHurriyet Conference Chairman,Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has saidthat peace and stability will con-tinue to elude the South Asianregion unless the Kashmir dis-pute is resolved as per theKashmiris’ aspirations.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in amedia statement said that Kash-mir was a political and humani-tarian issue, which needed to beresolved at the earliest. Hehoped that the Organisation ofIslamic Cooperation in its sum-mit meeting to be held on 6thand 7th February in Cairo wouldas in the past raise its voice for

Peace, stability to eluderegion till Kashmir solution

Mirwaiz invited to OIC summit in Cairomitigation of the sufferings ofthe people of Jammu and Kash-mir.

The APHC Chairman,Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has alsobeen invited jointly by the OICSecretariat and the Governmentof Egypt to participate in thesummit.

Senior APHC leader,Maulana Abbas Ansari in a me-dia interview in Srinagar saidthat no amicable solution to theKashmir dispute was possiblewithout the Kashmiris’ partici-pation in the Pak-India talksover Kashmir.

A spokesman for the forum

led by veteran KashmiriHurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilaniin a statement demanded impar-tial investigation into the March2000 Pathribal fake encountercase. The statement said thatany inquiry of the incident bythe Indian army would be trav-esty of justice and could not bereliable.

In a legal petition, theTehreek-e-Hurriyet Jammu andKashmir has informed the HighCourt of the occupied territorythat the veteran Hurriyet leaderSyed Ali Gilani has not beenallowed to offer Juma prayersfor the last two years.—KMS

JAMMU—Ridiculing rulingNational Conference led coali-tion regime for claiming to holdPanchayat elections in the State,opposition Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) Patron MuftiSayeed has said democratic in-stitutions of the State had be-come first causality of thewrong policies being propa-gated by the present dispensa-tion during the last four years.

A statement of PDP issuedhere quoted Sayeed while ad-dressing a public meeting at vil-lage Marjali in Raipur Domanaassembly segment as saying thatsince its formation NC led gov-ernment had systematically dis-mantled all institutions thatmatter in a democracy.

Sayeed said that establish-ment of Panchayati Raj anddevolution of powers at thegrass root level was still a dis-tant dream in Jammu and Kash-mir. “Except conducting elec-tions this regime has done noth-ing to establish a vibrantPanchayati Raj system in theState like different parts of In-dia,” he said and maintained thatthis regime had conductedPanchayati elections only to getgrants which were blocked bythe Government of India for not

Srinagar Admn dismantlingdemocratic institutions: Mufti

conducting Panchayati electionsin the State.

Sayeed said trickling downpowers at village level tostrengthen grass root democracywas never aim of this regime.

“The way this governmenthas been delaying elections ofthe Block Development Coun-cils (BDCs) and District Devel-opment Councils (DDCs) is aclear indication that regime isnot interested to decentralizepowers,” he said.

“With a hope that local selfgovernment at grass root levelwould solve their day todayproblems, people had turned outin large number of participatein Panchayat Raj electionswhich were held in 2011,” hesaid but hastened to add that allhopes of the people have beendashed because this regime haddeliberately sabotaged estab-lishment of the vibrantPanchayati Raj system in theState through its tactics.

“Instead of promoting andconsolidating representativedemocracy in the State, thisgovernment has been proved asauthoritarian regime through itsmisdeeds,” Sayeed said.

He pointed out that UrbanLocal Bodies (ULBs) elections,

which were due in February2010, had been delayed by thepresent regime thus deprivingpeople of their democraticrights.

“People have no faith onthis government because for thelast three years this governmenthas been repeatedly promisingto conduct ULBs elections,” hesaid. “During the last four years,Jammu and Kashmir has beenwitnessing deliberate and overtattempt to irrevocably subvertdemocratic institutions. Thosewho are the helm of the affairswant to control and contain thepowers with themselves to bru-tally exploit this power to ac-complish their petty personalagendas.”Pointed toward ram-pant corruption in the State,Sayeed said level of corruptionin the government had reachedto staggering proportions.

“If this trend remains un-checked, people will lose faithin the democracy and it will leadto chaos in the State,” he said.

Assuring people that PDPhad already launched a cam-paign to establish a new corrup-tion-free system of justice andequality, Sayeed said he hadbeen addressing public meet-ings in different areas.—NNI

Indian trooperkilled in IHK firingSRINAGAR—An Indiantrooper was killed in firing inRajouri district. The trooper of60/Battalion of RashtriyaRifles, identified Nayak PP Silukilled after his service rifle ac-cidentally went off at Palma inBudhal area of the district, theSSP of Rajouri Mubasir Latifeetold media men.

The mishap took placewhen the trooper was travellingin an army vehicle, he added.Meanwhile, a labourer identi-fied as Manzoor Gudda Hazda(47), of the General Reserve En-gineering Force (GREF) wasfound dead under mysteriouscircumstances at a site in theChanglung area of Leh dis-trict.—KMS

JKLF announces8-day protest

SRINAGAR—The JammuKashmir Liberation Front(JKLF) has announced an eight-day protest programme in con-nection with the death anniver-sary of Muhammad MaqboolBhat. A statement of JKLF is-sued here said it had appealedfor a complete shutdown onFebruary 11 saying “this day isour national day and Kashmirisacross the world will remembertheir national hero and his sac-rifices”.

Announcing the eight-dayprogram, the spokesperson saidvarious programs would be heldin every district of JammuKashmir. On February 2, acandlelight march would beheld at Madina ChowkGawkadal after Magrib prayers.

On February 4, the programwould be held in Pulwama andShopian, on February 5 inBaramullah and Bandipora, onFebruary 6 at Islamabad andKulgam, on February 7 atGanderbal, February 8 inBudgam, and February 10 inKupwara, and a complete shut-down across Jammu and Kash-mir along with a public rally inTrehgam Kupwara, the hometown of Bhat would be held onFebruary 11. JKLF said the sac-rifices offered by Bhat were atreasure for Kashmiris. “NoKashmiri can forget those sac-rifices. February 11 reminds usabout the sacrifices of Bhat,” thestatement said.—INP

SRINAGAR—Calling for anend to the culture of immunityfor uniformed services, notedsocial activist and India’s firstwoman Former Indian PoliceService (IPS) officer, Dr.Kiran Bedi has said thatforces personnel accused ofsexual crimes should be triedin civilian courts rather thanin military tribunals.

A front-ranking and out-spoken member of the IndiaAgainst Corruption team ofAnna Hazare, the former In-dian Police Service officerwas at the Kashmir Universityhere for a function.

Dr Kiran Bedi stronglyfavoured open trial of securityforces in civil courts involvedin human right violations andurged central government totake Justice Verma’s recom-mendations on AFSPA seri-ously and implement these inletter and spirit. Dr Kiran

AFSPA immunity for forces’ sexcrimes must end: IPS officer

Verma terror report implementation urgedBedi also said that she wouldcommunicate Team Anna tovisit Kashmir valley as part ofthe country wide protestagainst growing corruption inthe administration.

“I strongly believe that ifa man in uniform, be it a po-liceman or army man, com-mits rape, he should face trialunder civil law and not courtmartial. I also support thatthese cases should be solvedin fast track court for thespeedy trial,” she said. Theformer IPS officer and TeamAnna member also said thattrial of security forces in civilcourt will actually protect thesecurity force at large and notbetray them. “There should beno harm, if the men in uniformwill also be tried in a civilcourt. Not only in normalcourt, the trial should be con-ducted through fast trackalso,” she said. On revocation

of Armed Forces SpecialPowers Act (AFSPA) recom-mended by Justice Vermacommission, Dr Kiran Bedisaid that the recommenda-tions of the commission arevery good and worth imple-menting.

She said that she backsjustice JS Verma’s recom-mendations seeking review ofthe Armed Forces SpecialPowers Act (AFSPA) in con-flict zones to end immunity tosecurity personnel who com-mit crime against women un-der its garb. “I am optimisticthat central government willrespect the recommendationsand would implement them intrue sprit. There is apprecia-tion to these recommenda-tions from varies quarters.The central governmentshould also respect these sen-timents and should implementthem,” she said.—NNI

Pathribal incidentprobe by army

travesty of justiceSRINAGAR—The forum ledby veteran Kashmiri Hurriyetleader, Syed Ali Gilani reit-erating its demand for impar-tial investigation into thePathribal fake encounter casehas said that “any enquiry bythe armed forces into the in-cident would be the travestyof justice and could in no waybe reliable.”

The forum Spokesman,Ayaz Akbar in a statement inSrinagar said that the familiesof five civilians killed atPathribal in Islamabad town inMarch 2000 were being askedto attend Nagrota Army court inJammu for recording their state-ments.

“The victim families havedeclared the proceedings bi-ased and refused to obey thesummons. The family mem-bers of one of the slain civil-ians, while questioning the le-gitimacy of the Army court,have asked why they are insist-ing on investigating the case inJammu when the incident tookplace in Kashmir. —KMS

Whenever you findyourself on the side ofthe majority, it is timeto pause and reflect.

—Mark Twain

SIALKOT: Former Prime Minister AJK Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan addressing themembers of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh chairing the meeting of National LogisticBoard.

Pak, India tradeliberalisation mustmove forwardKARACHI—The process oftrade liberalisation betweenPakistan and India, which haswitnessed several milestonesover the past two years,should continue to moveforward for a long-lastingpeace and stability in theregion. This was observed byPresident, India- PakistanChamber of Commerce andIndustry (IPCCI) S.M.Muneer, said a statement hereon Wednesday. He said thebusiness community of boththe countries had made greatefforts to bring the twonations closer through trade,which was the only way ofensuring greater prosperityfor the poor people of bothcountries. Both the countrieshad made great progress overlast two years on this accountthrough enhanced interactionand coordination on differentfronts including the diplo-matic front and exchange ofdelegations from governmentand private sector.—APP

Conversion ratesKARACHI—The followingrates will be applicable forconversion into rupees ofForeign Currency Deposits,Dollar Bearer Certificates,Foreign Currency BearerCertificates, Special U.S.Dollar Bonds and profitsthereon by all banks and forproviding Forward Coveron Foreign CurrencyDeposits (excluding F.E.25deposits) by the State Bankon January 31, 2013. Therates are U.S. Dollar Rs97.6910, Japanese Yen Rs1.0694, Pound Sterling Rs153.8536 and Euro Rs132.1467.—APP

Pak economy growsKARACHI—Pakistan’seconomy has witnessed amodest improvement inFY12 as real GDP grew by3.7 percent during the year,compared with 3.0 percent inFY11. According to StateBank’s Annual Report onthe State of the Economy forthe year 2011-12 releasedWednesday, the growth wasmore broad-based comparedto FY11, as it was evenlydistributed across agricul-ture, industry and theservices sector.—APP

Sumitomo Mitsui FGprofit jumps 33.9pcTOKYO—Japanese bankSumitomo Mitsui FinancialGroup (SMFG) said Wednes-day its net profit jumped 33.9percent for the nine monthsthrough December thanks toa decline in credit expenses.Japan’s third-largest bank byassets logged earnings of550.4 billion yen ($6.01billion) for the period, upfrom 411.0 billion yen a yearearlier. Revenue rose 8.5percent to 3.18 trillion yen,the lender said. It added thatthe profit boost was largelydue to a decline in bad-loanreserves.—AFP

ISLAMABAD—Zarai TaraqiatiBank Limited has providedfinancial assistance for pur-chasing over 908 tractors togrowers across the countryto mechanized the agri-farm-ing and to enhance per acreyield to fulfill the domesticrequirements as well as ex-port. An official of ZTBL toldAPP that the out of the totalfinanced tractors by the bankduring the year 2011, 884 trac-tors were distributed inPunjab Province, three inSindh and 18 in Khyber

Pukhtunkhwa.He said that Balochistan,

Azad Kahsmir and GilgitBaltistan farmers were alsoprovided tractor financingon each one to increase yieldout put to alleviate povertyfrom the country, he added.

Rs. 58066.4 million dis-bursed among the small farm-ers across the country to ful-fill their credit requirementsadding that Rs. 48381.144million provided to smallscale growers in Punjab andRs. 5541.235 million for farm-

ers in Sindh province, headded.

Meanwhile, Rs. 3656.80million provided loan for smallfarmers in KP, Rs. 82.615 mil-lion for Balochistan, 227.66 forAJK farmers and Rs. 176 mil-lion for Gilgit Baltistan, headded. He said that agricul-ture credit cumulative recov-ery was recorded at 99 per-cent across the country as 99percent credit recovered fromthe Punjab, 98 percent fromSindh, 99 percent from KP and100 percent from AJK.—APP

ZTBL provided financefor 908 tractors

IS L A M A B A D—Pakistan’srank in Open Budget Indexhas increased from 38 in2008 and 2010 to 58 in 2012among 100 countries. “Outof the hundred countriessurveyed by InternationalBudget Partnership - an in-dependent budget trans-parency survey organiza-tion, Pakistan has scored 58,which reflects significantimprovement and demon-strates the Government’scommitment to achieve bud-get comprehensiveness andtransparency”,Rana AsadAmin Spokesman and Ad-

visor to Finance Ministry ina statement issued here.

In its latest ‘Open Bud-get Survey’ report 2012, theInternational Budget Partner-ship has acknowledged im-provement in comprehen-siveness of the budget thathas been achieved throughthe Medium-Term BudgetaryFramework reform supportedby the Department for Inter-national Development(DFID), UK from 2003 to 2011and implemented by the Fi-nance Division under theguidance of the FinanceMinister, Abdul Hafeez

Sheikh, the statement added.“This is a big achieve-

ment for the governmentseconomic managers of the fi-nance Ministry as well aspeople of Pakistan”, RanaAsad Amin told APP. Headded that such kind ofachievements of the govern-ment would signal good im-age internationally and helpfurther restore confidence ofthe foreign investors and at-tract more investments for thebenefit of the country.

The statement said thatthe International good prac-tices including publishing of

eight key budgetary docu-ments at various points inthe budget cycle. Pakistan’sscore of 58 out of 100 ishigher than the averagescore of 43 for all the 100 sur-veyed countries.

It added that the ‘OpenBudget Survey’ report appre-ciates that Pakistan’s pre-budget statement, called the‘Budget Strategy Paper’, isadequately prepared and ad-vises its publication, since aBudget Strategy Paper thatpresents mid-year review,medium-term fiscal frame-work and government’s poli-

cies, will improve budgettransparency and encouragepeople of Pakistan to providetheir comments on policiesand related finances that im-pact their daily lives.

The survey report alsoacknowledges that presenta-tion of the ‘Green Book’ inthe Parliament together withthe annual budget has in-creased the comprehensive-ness of the budget by manyfolds. The ‘Green Book’ pro-vides policy priorities, perfor-mance definition, and budgetby services to be deliveredover the next 3-years.

The Green Book is an im-portant document for theParliamentary StandingCommittees that should re-view it at the time of budgetpresentation (through atleast a month long reviewbudget process as opposedto the existing 12 days), andmonitor performance onregular basis. The surveyreport suggests that Paki-stan should publish a‘Citizen’s Budget’ report to-gether with the annual bud-get. A Citizen’s Budget is a‘non-technical presentation’to enable broad public un-

derstanding ofGovernment’s plans for rais-ing revenues and spendingpublic funds in order toachieve policy goals.

In addition, the surveyreport also suggests that Pa-kistan should publish a‘mid-year review report’ thatprovides actual expenditureof the past six months vis-…-vis the original enactedbudget including changesmade by the Executive in thebudget due to additionalbudgets and movement be-tween budget heads. The‘mid-year review’ also dis-

cusses any changes in eco-nomic assumptions that af-fect approved budget poli-cies.

The survey report alsosuggests that Pakistanshould provide a ‘year-endreport’ that should includeperformance achieved vis-…-vis the performanceplanned in addition to theexpenditure against budget.The performance monitor-ing report is vital for peopleof Pakistan to understandwhat the Government hasdelivered by using theirtaxes.—APP

Govt’s budgeting system shows remarkable improvement

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Palm oil importswitnessed sharp decline of18.92 percent during the firsthalf of the current fiscal year asagainst the same period of lastyear. Pakistan imported palm oilworth $1.024 billion during July-December (2012-13) against theimports of $1.263 billion in July-November (2011-12), accordingto the data of Pakistan Bureauof Statistics (PBS).

In terms of quantity, thepalm oil imports witnessednegative growth of 6.58 per-cent by falling from importsof 1,205,182 metric tons lastyear to 1,032,473 metric tonsduring the period under re-

view. In rupees term the palmoil imports during July-No-vember (2012-13) stood atRs.97,562 million against theimports of 110,182 during thesame period of last year, show-ing negative growth of11.45%. During the month ofDecember 2012, the palm oilimports witnessed decrease of29.44% and 6.38% against theimports December 2011 andNovember 2012 respectively,the data revealed.

On the other hand, the im-ports of soyabean oil witnessedincrease of 26.47 percent dur-ing the first six months of thecurrent fiscal year. Thesoyabean imports were re-corded at $44.241 million in July-

December (2012-13) against theimports of $34.981 million dur-ing the same period of last year,the PBS data revealed.

In terms of quantity, thesoyabean oil imports increasedfrom 26,625 metric tons to34,381 metric tons, witnessingincrease of 29.13 percent. Inrupees term, the soyabean oilimports witnessed increase of37.67 percent by going up fromimports of Rs.3,042 million lastyear to Rs.4,188 million duringcurrent year.

During the month of De-cember 2012, the soyabean im-ports decreased by 93.15% and95.23% when compared to theimports of December 2011 andNovember 2012 respectively.

Palm oil imports fall 18.92pc

Shahid Rashidjoins BOI as

Federal SecretarySTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Shahid Rashid,a BS-22 officer of the Secre-tariat Group,joined theBoard of In-v e s t m e n t(BOI) asFederal Sec-retary.

Accord-ing to apress re-lease issued here onWednesday, Shahid Rashidhaving 34 years of experiencein the civil service, worked invarious capacities in bothfederal and provincial gov-ernments.

In BOI, this is his fourthposting in the Federal Gov-ernment. Previously he hasserved as the Chief Execu-tive in SMEDA and alsoheld the portfolios of Fed-eral Secretary, Ministry ofTourism and Ministry ofTextile Industry.

He holds a degree in Lawfrom the University of Punjaband has done his masters inPublic Administration.

LSE gains21.67 points

LA H O R E—Lahore StockExchange on Wednesdaywitnessed bullish trend bygaining 21.67 points as theLSE-25 Index opened with4150.62 and closed at4172.29 points. Themarket’s overall situationalso corresponded to anupward trend as it remainedat 9.689 million shares toclose against previous turn-over of 3.487 million shares,showing an upward move of6.202 million shares. While,out of the total 108 activescrips, 27 moved up, 67 re-mained equal with 14 downvalues.

Gharibwal Cement Com-pany, Pakistan Tele Commu-nication Limited and SuiNorthern Gas Pipeline Lim-ited were ajor Gainers of theday by recording increase intheir per share value by Re1.00, Re 0.95 and Re 0.81 re-spectively.

Engro Corporation Lim-ited, Fauji Fertilizer Companyand Fatima Fertilizer Com-pany lost their per sharevalue by Rs 1.01, Re 0.66 andRe 0.54. The Volume Leaderof the day included NIB BankLimited with 5.283 millionshares, Pakistan Tele Com-munication Limited with696,000 shares, and TheBank of Punjab Limited with433,000 shares.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—A delegation ofthe United States govern-ment engineering expertsheaded by AmbassadorRobin Raphael and James B.Balocki here Wednesdaycalled on Pakistan Water andPower Development Author-ity (WAPDA) ChairmanSyed Raghib Shah to discussways and means for techni-cal cooperation amongst theUS government engineeringorganizations and WAPDAin water and hydropowersectors.

The WAPDA Chairmansaid that technical coopera-tion among the engineeringorganizations of Pakistanand the US could prove tobe instrumental in optimumutilization of water and hy-

dropower resources in Paki-stan. Underlining the impor-tance of sharing the exper-tise, he said that technicalsupport, like that of financialassistance, is equally signifi-cant in implementation ofprojects.

Referring to the expertiseearned by WAPDA since1958, the Chairman said thatWAPDA is the premier engi-neering organization in Paki-stan and has to its credit theconstruction of a number ofgigantic projects includingthe Indus Basin Replace-ment Plan - the largest engi-neering activity of its time.Both WAPDA and the USengineering organizationsmay benefit from the experi-ence, they have gained overthe years, for the commoncause of progress and pros-

perity, he added.The Chairman apprised

the delegation that WAPDAhad already inked memo-randa of understanding withits Chinese and Koreancounterparts for technicalcollaboration. He hoped thatWAPDA and the US engi-neering organizations, withauspices of their govern-ments, would also formalizesuch an arrangement soon.

He also thanked for the USfinancial assistance to helpcomplete various water andpower projects in Pakistan in-cluding rehabilitation ofTarbela Power Station, GomalZam Dam and Satpara Dam. Healso lauded the US resolve tohelp Pakistan arrange financesfor other key projects includ-ing Diamer Basha and KurramTangi dams.

WAPDA, US expertsdiscuss hydro power coop

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—The potentialdanger of massacre and de-tachment of Karachi pre-dicted by the Federal Inte-rior Minister Rehman Malikhorrified the business com-munity demanding of thegovernment that instead ofadvance information con-crete preventive and correc-tive measures are the re-sponsibility of the govern-ment. Karachi Chamber ofCommerce & Industry(KCCI) expressing deepconcern over what it calledthe revelation of Federal In-terior Minister that therewas information of severeterrorist attack/ massacre inKarachi next month warning

that if God forbid, the Karachiwas “detached from theCountry”, the Government aswell as the intelligence agen-cies would be responsible.

KCCI has demanded thatGovernment must not con-fine its responsibility to re-veal advance information butmust take immediate practi-cal measures to eradicatechances of happening/threats of terrorist attack asKarachi is the economic hubof the country. It is the primeresponsibility of the Govern-ment to tackle with iron handsthe internal and externalthreats/dangers to theeconomy. At time when care-taker government is near tosetup, revealing of danger-ous plans will naturally affect

the economic and commer-cial activities.

According to the PressRelease of KCCI the busi-ness and industrial commu-nity has been made hostageof very powerful mafia andtheir lives and propertyalong with the businessesand homes have becomeunsecure and vulnerable.Recurring criminal activitiesof Extortion (bhatta), targetkilling, firing, kidnapping forransom have shocked andterrified the business andindustrial community com-pelling to think of busi-nesses closures and securethe lives of family members.

In such difficult and hor-rific times when hundreds of

Malik’s prediction of massacrehorrifies business community

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Investment inhigher education Pakistan con-tinues to reap dividends. Rec-ognizing the contribution ofHigher Education CommissionHEC Pakistan in the area ofQuality Assurance, Pakistanhas been honored to be nomi-nated for the position of VicePresident of Asia-Pacific Qual-ity Network (APQN) in the up-coming elections.

The Asia-Pacific QualityNetwork (APQN) has been de-veloped with the purpose ofserving the needs of qualityassurance agencies in highereducation in a region that con-tains over half the world’s popu-lation. Its mission is to enhancethe quality of higher education

in Asia and the Pacific regionthrough strengthening thework of quality assurance agen-cies and extending the coop-eration between them.

APQN has nominated MsZia Batool, Director GeneralQuality Assurance HEC as VicePresident of the APQN for up-coming election of Asia Pacificregion. Ms Zia Batool has beenserving HEC in the field of As-surance since 2003 and devel-oped a globally compatible in-digenous QA Model for highereducation in Pakistan. The QAand Ranking Model developedby her for Pakistan has alsobeen lauded by the Vice Chan-cellors of universities of Com-monwealth countries in a recentmeeting of the conference of AllCommonwealth Universities

(ACU); specifically delegatesfrom South Asia had showngreat interest in adapting theQA and ranking model of HECPakistan. Further, HEC has alsoshared and led the similar modeldevelopment for Islamic Worldand would now facilitate restof the developing regions asthey intend to follow HEC QAModel.

HEC Pakistan has suc-ceeded in having its own QAModel label recognized widely.The education experts term thisglobal recognition as outcomeof continuous reforms intro-duced by HEC during last de-cade aiming at improving qual-ity of higher education andhoped that this journey of suc-cess would continue in futureas well.—INP

Pakistan nominated forVice Presidency of APQN

Continued on Page 7

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Fish and fishpreparations exports from thecountry during first half of cur-rent financial year recorded agrowth of 2.64 percent as com-pared to the same period of lastyear. During the first two quar-ters of current financial yearabout 70,675 metric tons of fishand fish preparations worthUS$156.92 million were ex-ported against the 58,104 met-ric tons valuing 152.88 millionof same period last year.

According the data of Pa-kistan Bureau of Statistics(PBS), on month-on-month ba-

sis the export of fish and fishproducts increased by 12.24percent. During the period un-der review about 13,487 metrictons fish and fish productsworth US$ 3.05 million were ex-ported as against the 13,245metric tons valuing US$ 27.1million in the same period lastyear.

The data revealed that fishand fish preparations exportsduring the month of December2011 was recorded at 9,819 met-ric tons, costing US$ 27.200million. From July-December,2012 the meat and meat prepa-rations exports also went up by43.74 percent as about 35,901

metric tons of the productsworth US$ 120.78 million wereexported.

The exports of meat andmeat preparations during thesame period of last year wererecorded at 27,007 metric tonsworth US$ 84.03 million, thedata revealed. The meat andmeat preparations exports dur-ing the month of December,2012 also increased by 45.8 per-cent as compared to the samemonth of last financial year.

During the month of De-cember, 2012 country earnedUS$ 18.54 million by exporting5,737 metric tons of meat andmeat products.

Fish exports post 2.64pcgrowth in first half

Gold Tezab 53571.00Silver Tezabi 960.00

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

USA 97.60 97.40

UK 153.22 152.91

EURO 131.30 131.03

Canada 97.08 96.88

Switzerland 105.31 105.09

Australia 101.82 101.61

Sweden 15.21 15.17

Japan 1.0730 1.0708

Norway 17.63 17.59

Singapore 78.87 78.71

Denmark 17.60 17.56

Omani Riyal 255.00 254.50

Saudi Arabia 26.02 25.97

Hong Kong 12.58 12.56

Kuwait 346.78 346.07

Malaysia 31.71 31.64

Newzeland 81.57 81.40

Qatar 26.81 26.76

UAE 26.57 26.52

KR WON 0.0896 0.0894

Thailand 3.269 3.262

Oil pricesmixed

SINGAPORE—Oil priceswere mixed in Asian tradeon Wednesday after hit-ting multi-month highs onthe back of upbeat hous-ing data in the UnitedStates, analysts said. NewYork’s main contract, lightsweet crude for delivery inMarch, dropped two centsto $97.55 a barrel in theafternoon, while BrentNorth Sea crude forMarch delivery gained sixcents to $114.42.

“Oil prices finished upyesterday, supported bystrong housing data in theUS. We are seeing someselling after finishinghigh,” said Victor Shum,managing director at IHSPurvin and Gertz inSingapore.

US existing homesales dipped 1.0 percent inDecember from Novemberto a seasonally adjustedannual rate of 4.94 million,the National Associationof Realtors announcedTuesday. But on a 12-month basis, sales saw a12.8 percent increase.

Analysts said the risewas a fresh sign that thehousing market—aclosely watched barom-eter of the health of the USeconomy—has turned thecorner. The market wasalso awaiting the end of atwo-day policy meeting atthe Federal Reserve forclues to the state of theworld’s largest economyand biggest oil consum-ing nation.—AFP

Qatar to invest1b euros in

GreeceDOHA—Qatar has an-nounced it will invest upto a billion euros ($1.34billion) in a joint fund withAthens to bolster reces-sion-hit Greek industry,the state news agencyQNA reported Wednes-day. Prime Minister SheikhHamad bin Jassim al-Thani revealed hiscountry’s investment planin Greece late Tuesday af-ter talks with his Greekcounterpart Antonis Sa-maras, the agency said.

He said Qatar’s invest-ment could equal a similarinvestment by Greece inthe joint fund, along thelines of an existing dealwith Italy. “We want tomatch our joint fundagreement signed withItaly few months back ...where we agreed to set upa fund with a 50:50 sharedcapital of two billion eu-ros ($2.69 billion),” he said.

“We do not have aproblem matching this fig-ure,” he added, referringto Qatar’s around one bil-lion euro investment inthe Italian venture. TheGreek fund, part of coop-eration agreements signedon Tuesday in Doha,would invest in Greeksmall and medium-sizedbusinesses. —AFP

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar presiding over a meeting onBagasse Based Power Generation Projects.

KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Society Sir William Black Burn ring the bell in theTrading Hall of KSE.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Chairman Paki-stan Society UK Sir WilliamBlackburne has said thatmany British companies wereinterested in making invest-ment in Pakistani telecom andretail sectors. Talking to me-dia persons during his visitto Karachi Stock Exchange(KSE) here Wednesday, hesaid that these sectors offerlucrative potential for foreigncompanies.

He said that a large num-ber of British companies werealready working in Pakistanin various projects.

Blackburne said that acouple of UK companieswere planning to come intoPakistani stock market, buthe declined to give theirnames to the media. Earlier,KSE Managing Director,Nadeem Naqvi briefed theguest about the perfor-mance of Pakistani stockmarket and its growth po-tential.

He said Pakistani stockmarket was at par with US andChinese stock markets. Will-iam Blackburne showed keeninterest in the working ofKarachi bourse and rang thebell in KSE Trading Hall.

UK firms keen to investin telecom, retail sectors

ISLAMABAD —The gem indus-try across the country willshowcase variety of gems andits glittering products at a 3-day3rd Islamabad Gem Exhibitionbeginning at a local hotel hereon Friday. The exhibition is be-ing organized by Pakistan Gemand Jewellery Developmentwhich is a subsidiary of Paki-stan Industrial DevelopmentCorporation which works un-der the ministry of production.

The exhibition will be in-augurated by federal secretaryministry of production GulMuhammad Rind on Fridaywhile Senator Semeen Siddiquichairperson of PGJDC will di-late on the potential of the gemindustry. On display at the ex-hibition will be preciousstones, mineral specimens, or-namental stones, beads gem-stone carvings, gem stonemade-ups, said the Chief Ex-ecutive Officer of PGJDC

Bakhtiar Khan in a statementhere.

He said last year abouteighty exhibitors had displayedtheir products during the gemexhibition to a targeted audienceof Business to Business andBusiness to Customers and lo-cals who had evinced keen in-terest in variety of products. Inaddition to local people, orga-nizers are expecting that diplo-mats of different countries, dig-nitaries, representatives oftrade bodies, associations, andchambers would be amongstthe visitors of the event.

The main purpose of theevent, he said, was to highlightPakistani gems and relatedproducts in the most versatilemanner as there would be spe-cial table arrangement for allexhibitors to showcase theirproducts for enabling the visi-tors to have a close look at theproducts, it said.—APP

Gem sector to showcasegems variety

QUETTA—The Korean SolarEnergy Company would build1000 mega watt (MW) solarenergy electricity plant inBalochistan to overcome theshortfall of about 900 MWcurrently faced by the peopleof the province. “ The Koreangovernment has agreed to in-vest in the power sector ofBalochistan as they havesigned memorandum of under-standing for building 300 MWpower plant with provincialgovernment and in order tostart work on remaining 700MW projects, technicalities isbeing thoroughly examined,said Additional Chief Secretary(Development) BalochistanAslam Shakir Baloch here onWednesday.

Talking to APP, he said thatBalochistan officials have heldthree result-oriented sessionswith their Korean counterpartsand they are agreed to invest

in the energy sector of theprovince.Land has been ear-marked for the power projectand it would take three yearsto complete the project aimedat to overcome the powershortfall in Balochistan. “ Pro-vincial government is well cog-nizant of the power issue”,Shakir said and added that weare moving ahead on Rs 888million Solar Energy HomeProject under which around300 villages in parts of theprovince would be electrified.

He recalled that in view ofthe long coastal area be-stowed by Allah toBalochistan, work on the powergenerating alternatives suchas solar, wind and geo-thermalenergy are also in progress. “The Balochistan Energy Com-pany has also been set up tomeet the challenges of powersector”, he said adding solarenergy project on completion

would add Rs 5 billion annu-ally in the provincial exchequerhelping to overcome the finan-cial constraints.

Additional CS noted thatgovernment was working ona line to convert agri-tube-wells to solar-energy run asunder the federal governmentdirectives Balochistan gov-ernment have to give subsidyto about 15600 tube wells inagriculture sector. He saidprovince has about 900 MWshortfall of electricity atpresent. With the implemen-tation of solar energy projectshortage would be completelyovercome.

“ All government build-ings including GovernorHouse, Chief Minister Secre-tariat and Civil Secretariat, as apart of power interventionswould be linked to solar en-ergy system,” he main-tained.—APP

Korea to install 1000 MWpower plant in Balochistan

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan andUkraine have great potentialof trading and investment inmany sectors, which areneeded to be exploitedthrough greater co-operationbetween the two countries.Ambassador of Ukraine toPakistan, VolodymyrLakomov, made these re-marks in a meeting with Presi-dent Islamabad Chamber ofCommerce and Industry(ICCI) Zafar Bakhtawari.

He said that Ukraine andPakistan have enormous po-tential for energy coopera-tion, particularly in the fieldof hydropower as well asUkraine is also interested to

exploit Thar Coal Reserveswhich would help Pakistan toovercome its energy crisis.

He said that Ukraine, be-ing a large Europeaneconomy is rich inmineral,energy resourcesother products like airplanes,turbines, locomotives, trac-tors and tracks. He said thatUkraine is exporting manyproducts to Pakistan com-prising flat and rolled prod-ucts of iron, oil seeds, potas-sium fertilizers, urea, bars androds, and other steel articles.

He said that Ukrainianbusinessmen have alsosigned various MoUs with itsPakistani counterparts to pro-mote cooperation between thebusiness communities of

Ukraine and Pakistan in thefields of trade, investment,technologies and services.The Ambassador said thatExports from Pakistan toUkraine have shown a sub-stantial increase and currentlyUkraine has emerged as oneof the biggest market for Pa-kistani kinnows.

Zafar Bakhtawari talkingto the Ambassador said theannual bilateral trade betweenUkraine and Pakistan was$300 million that is quite en-couraging. He also proposedthat Pakistan and Ukraineshould establish direct air linkbetween Islamabad and Kievthat would be a key to pro-mote mutual relations be-tween two countries.

Ukraine interested to exploreThar Coal reserves project

LAHORE: Hungarian Ambassador to Pakistan Istvan Szabo meeting with Chief Execu-tive Officer, Punjab Board of Investment and Trade Javed Akbar.

KARACHI—Five ships, C.VMaersk Kalamata, C.V AI-Noof, M.V Thelsis, M.T MidFighter and M.T Norgas In-novation scheduled to load/offload containers, cement,palm oil and chemicals wereallotted berths at Qasim In-ternational Container Termi-nal, Multi Purpose Terminal,Liquid Cargo Terminal andEngro Vopak Terminal re-spectively on Tuesday, portsources said here Wednes-day. Berth occupancy at theport remained at 57% onTuesday where eight shipsnamely C.V Maersk Kalamata,C.V AI-Noof, C.V NedloydHudson, M.V Thelsis, M.VMaritime Suzana, M.TNorgas Innovation, M.T MidFighter and M.T Akakai arecurrently occupying berthsto load/ offload containers,cement. canola seeds, chemi-cals, palm oil and furnace oil.

A record cargo handlingwas achieved at the Port onTuesday where a cargo vol-

ume of 144,186 tonnes, com-prising 97,738 tonnes importsand 46,448 tonnes exportsinclusive of containerisedcargo carried in 3,889 con-tainers (1,775 imports and2,114 exports TEUs) werehandled during last 24 hours.

Container vessel“Nedloyd Hudson” sailedout to sea on Wednesdaymorning, while four moreships C.V Maersk Kalamata,C.V AI-Noof, M.T NorgasInnovation and M.T Akakaiare expected to sail on sameday afternoon.

Three ships C.V CMACGM Bellini, M.T Green Parkand M.T Al-Soor- II carryingcontainers, chemicals anddiesel oil are expected to takeberths at Container Terminal,Engro Terminal and FOTCOOil Terminal respectively onWednesday, while three moreships C.V NYK Kai, C.VHansa Liberty and M.VMeem are due arrive at PortQasim on Thursday.—APP

PQ shipping activity

LAHORE—Hungarian Am-bassador to Pakistan IstvanSzabo has said that watermanagement, livestock andagriculture are commongrounds between the twocountries which can furtherbe explored by sharingknowledge and expert skillsin key areas of cooperation.

According to a handout,he also commended the ef-forts of Hungarian petrolcompany for establishingthree gas plants in KhyberPakhtunkhwa (KPK) with theinvestment of US $1.4 billion.

Hungarian ambassadormade these remarks duringa meeting with Chief Execu-tive Officer, Punjab Boardof Investment and Trade(PBIT) Javed Akbar and histeam here at PBIT office.Hungarian envoy was ac-companied by SzantoAttila, First Secretary Em-

bassy of Hungary andMahtab Mohiuddin, Honor-ary Consul General of Hun-gary. Mr. Szabo requestedPBIT CEO Javed Akbar toengage Punjab-based busi-nesses and non-govern-ment organizations to at-tend a major internationalwater event (BudapestWorld Water Summit) inOctober 2013.

CEO PBIT and the direc-tors identifiedagriculture,livestock and irri-gation as key areas for coop-eration between the twocountries. He said that Hun-gary has the strategic knowl-edge and expert skills of ani-mal breeding while Pakistanhas world’s 3rd largest live-stock population.

PBIT offered to host andfacilitate the Hungarian del-egation scheduled to visitLahore in February.—APP

PBIT, Hungary envoyidentify trade avenues

Tanners laudsTDAP

LAHORE—Pakistan TannersAssociation (PTA) appreci-ated a decision of the TradeDevelopment Authority ofPakistan (TDAP) to providefinancial assistance to holdPakistan Mega LeatherShow. The mega event will beheld at Expo Center Lahore,dates of which will be an-nounced later, Central Chair-man Agha Saiddain said hereon Wednesday.

Positive steps shown bythe TDAP to help out theleather sector to bring it outof stagnation deserved ap-preciation, he said. He addedthat the leather industry wasamong the largest foreignexchange earning industriesof Pakistan with an annualexport of $1.05 billion.

He said coordination withPakistan Leather GarmentsManufacturers & ExportersAssociation (PLGMEA),Footwear Association,Gloves Manufacturers Asso-ciation and Leather GoodsAssociation to finalize thedata for Pakistan MegaLeather Show had beenstarted.

He said the leather sec-tor had a potential to in-crease its exports by 100% inthe next three years if it wasprovided level-playing fieldwith India, China, andBangladesh ie our competingcountries.—APP

Chinese tech inrenewable energy

prioritizedSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Acquisition ofappropriate technology fromChina in the field of renew-able energy and alternativesources of energy on a prior-ity agenda of Pakistan ChinaJoint Chamber of Commerce& Industry(PCJCCI). ShahFaisal Afridi, Founder Presi-dent PCJCCI said this in astatement here on Wednes-day.

He said the PCJCCI waslodging an impressive cam-paign to attract Chinese in-vestment companies towardsenergy sector in Pakistanand business corporationsof China had shown theirkeen interest to increase so-lar, nanotechnology, windpower, run of the river in es-tablishing power plants inPakistan.

A match making processwas being planned tomaterialise the investment.He was confident that a del-egation comprising repre-sentatives of such corpora-tions would soon be invitedto Pakistan to review joinventure opportunities avail-able in Pakistan in the fieldof energy.

He asserted to establishharmonious relationships withthe Chinese Business Com-munity through arrangingbusiness to business meet-ings of the both countriesbusiness fraternity with anincreased participation intrade fairs/exhibitions. Paki-stan China joint Chamber willprovide a facility of videoconferencing to its membersfor developing easy accesstrade channel besides impart-ing working knowledge ofChinese language.—APP

‘Pak, Myanmartrade prospect

brighter’KARACHI—Haji Fazal KadirKhan Sherani, President ofthe Federation of PakistanChambers of Commerce andIndustry (FPCCI) has spo-ken about tremendous op-portunities for trade and in-vestment between Pakistanand Myanmar upon return-ing from Yangon.

He further informed thatMyanmar is an emergingmarket offering great oppor-tunities to Pakistani busi-nessmen for the promotionof bilateral trade and eco-nomic relations.

Mr. Sherani was the mem-ber of the delegation fromPakistan led by Mr. TariqSayeed, Vice President ofCACCI. The other membersincluded Mr. Zakaria Usman,Former Vice President FPCCIand Mr. Amin Khatri.

He further informed thepress and media that thevisit of the delegation fromPakistan was planned onthe invitation of the Presi-dent of CACCI, Ambassa-dor Beneditco Yujuico whovisited FPCCI in October2012, and had suggestedthat a delegation from Pa-kistan may accompany himduring his visi t toMyanmar in 2013. —NNI

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Pakistan is agood investment destinationas there exists a lot of scopefor economic cooperationbetween Pakistan and Hun-gary in a number of areas in-cluding Energy, Agriculture,Livestock, Textile and Educa-tion. Ambassador of Hun-gary Istvan Szabo expressedthese views, while talking toLCCI President FarooqIftikhar here at Lahore Cham-ber of Commerce and Indus-try on Wednesday.

The Ambassador saidthat Asia is number one pri-ority of Hungarian busi-nessmen, therefore, Paki-stani business communityshould enhance its interac-tion with them, citing thatboth the countries havetheir own strengths thatshould be tapped and thereshould be some mechanismto exchange research datawith each other that wouldhelp boost economic coop-eration between the two

countries.Szabo said the Lahore

Chamber should focus onexchange of business del-egations so that the busi-nessmen could have firsthand knowledge about theavailable opportunities.

The Ambassador saidthat Hungary can export toPakistan agro-based prod-ucts, food products, machin-ery, healthcare products,medical diagnostic machin-ery, water treatment plants,desalination plants, cellphones, security equip-ments, electrical appliancesetc. whereas Pakistan canexport to Hungary textiles,garments, cotton, cottonyarn, auto parts, sports andsurgical goods etc.

The LCCI President saidthat Hungary and Pakistanenjoy cordial diplomatic re-lations and have signed theagreement for avoidance ofdouble taxation between thetwo countries, which showsmutual willingness of pro-moting trade relations.

Pakistan goodinvestment destination

Malik’s prediction ofmassacre horrifies

business communityFROM PAGE 13

members of the businesscommunity have beenmartyred, the business andindustrial community is prac-tically deprived of facilitiesprovided worldwide and hasbeen forced to give extortion(bhatta) along with taxes andtarget-killing ofbusinesspersons increasingevery coming day, the KCCIis performing with heavyheart. The KCCI has beencontinuously drawing atten-tion of the Government butreceived only momentary as-surances and short-livedmeasures and the deploy-ment of law enforcing agen-cies is revoked to protect theprivileged class.

Government’s promise toprovide 500 police personnelwas never fulfilled. In theprevailing precarious situa-tion and circumstancesKCCI’s former PresidentMian Abrar’s nephew andformer Managing CommitteeMember Mian Taimoor andhis father Mian Arbab andbusiness leader of electron-ics market Muhammad Irfanhave been brutally assassi-nated. The business and in-dustrial community feel inse-cure in the wake of juvenileassurances of the Govern-ment and when the businessand industrial community in-tends to take any extremestep is being forced to ab-stain from strikes and sit-inand to accord chance to con-trol the situation but in vainas no practical steps aretaken. Time is being passedunderstanding the respon-sible and thoughtful attitudeand decisions of the busi-ness and industrial commu-nity as weakness.The business communitydemands permanent solu-tions. Not only Sindh Gov-ernment but also the PunjabGovernment infringed LahoreSession Court’s Orders andkidnapped the officials ofEfroze Chemicals and trans-ferred to unknown place.Despite of the fact that mat-ter was sub-judicial, actswere done above the law andtoday Nadir Feroz andcompany’s manage has beenimprisoned for remand. Itemerges that the businessand industrial communityhas been victimized and re-venged for playing its role inthe country’s stability.

Samsung introducesGALAXY Xcover 2

smartphoneSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Samsung Elec-tronics Co., Ltd, today un-veiled the Samsung Xcover 2,the ideal smartphone for activeexplorers who are enjoyingoutdoor lifestyles and seekinga durable mobile device withessential smartphone capabili-ties. The GALAXY Xcover 2is optimized to endure againstthe most rugged outdoor con-ditions, whether you’re atwork or play. Protected againstthe elements, it is dust andsand proof. It’s even water re-sistant to a depth of one meterfor up to 30 minutes (IP67 Cer-tified). You can now take pho-tos under water with the directcamera key, hold on tight toyour device with the strapholder and not worry aboutdropping your phone as thebattery cover lock gives addedprotection.

Pre-downloaded Googlemap data, an enhanced GPS +GLONASS which shortens thesatellite signal detection by upto 20% to tracks your locationmore accurately, LED Flashnext to the camera which canbe used like a torch and a hugebattery capacity of 570hours(1,700mAh), making theGALAXY Xcover 2 is the bestpossible smartphone partnerfor outdoor exploration. In ad-dition, the Cardio Trainer Proworkout application will alsohelp you achieve your fitnessgoals by creating a tailoredtraining program, checkingyour progress and recordingyour track and speed. For ev-eryday, users can expect thepowerful performance charac-teristic of a Samsungsmartphone with the robustGALAXY Xcover 2 shell.

Not getting back into politics: ClintonWASHINGTON—Outgoing US Secretary ofState Hillary Clinton on Tuesday cast doubton speculation she might run for the WhiteHouse in 2016. In an interview taped for Na-tional Public Radio, Clinton was asked whatquestions she needs to answer for herself asshe decides whether to run for president. “I’mnot even posing those questions. I am reallylooking forward to stepping off the fast trackthat I’ve been on. I’ve been out of politics asSecretary of State. I don’t see myself getting

back into politics,” she said, according to an excerpt of the inter-view. Whether this is her last word on the subject is unknown. Shewill face strong pressure from Democrats to join the field of con-tenders. Clinton will step down this week, following Senate con-firmation Tuesday of Massachusetts Democratic Senator John Kerryas her successor. Those close to Clinton are eager for her to an-nounce a 2016 run, so much so that a group has already formed anew super PAC and registered with the Federal Election Commis-sion on Friday, called “Ready for Hillary.” In 2008, she lost toPresident Barack Obama in a bitter Democratic primary campaignto be the party nominee for the White House. Although Clinton,65, did not categorically rule out another presidential run, in a sepa-rate NBC interview she said that she was healthy enough to wagea campaign. “I have no doubt that I am healthy enough and mystamina is great enough and I’ll be fully recovered to do whateverI choose to do,” Clinton told “Andrea Mitchell Reports” in an in-terview that aired on Tuesday. Clinton was hospitalized in Decem-ber after doctors found a blood clot stemming from a concussionshe suffered previously. She intends to do more public speakingand writing, and work alongside her husband, former PresidentBill Clinton, and daughter Chelsea on “mutual foundation inter-ests,” she said in the NPR interview. “I want to be involved inphilanthropy, advocacy, working on issues - like women and girls- that I care deeply about,” Clinton said.—Reuters

Boeing for full battery historyTOKYO—US regulators said Wednesday theyasked Boeing Co to provide a full operatinghistory of lithium-ion batteries used in itsgrounded 787 Dreamliners after Japan’s AllNippon Airways revealed it had repeatedly re-placed the batteries even before overheatingproblems surfaced. National TransportationSafety Board spokesman Peter Knudson saidthe agency made the request after recentlybecoming aware of battery problems at ANAthat occurred before a Jan. 7 battery fire in a

787 parked at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Boeing hasalready collected some of the information, he said. ANA said ithad replaced batteries on its 787 aircraft some 10 times becausethey didn’t charge properly or connections with electrical systemsfailed, and informed Boeing about the swaps. Japan Airlines alsosaid it had replaced 787 batteries. It described the number in-volved as a few but couldn’t immediately give further details.All 50 of the Boeing 787s in use around the world remaingrounded after an ANA flight on Jan. 16 made an emergencylanding in Japan when its main battery overheated. The 787 isthe first airliner to make wide use of lithium-ion batteries. Theyare prone to overheating and require additional safeguards to pre-vent fires. However, ANA spokeswoman Megumi Tezuka saidthe airline was not required to report the battery replacements toJapan’s Transport Ministry because they did not interfere withflights and did not raise safety concerns. Having to replace bat-teries on aircraft is not uncommon and was not considered out ofthe ordinary, she said. Laura Brown, a spokeswoman for the U.S.Federal Aviation Administration, said in Washington that theagency was checking whether the previous battery incidents hadbeen reported by Boeing. Boeing in Japan said it couldn’t com-ment while the NSTB investigation is underway.—AP

Public gatherings ban liftedYANGON—Myanmar’s nearly 2-year-old re-formist government has abolished a ban onpublic gatherings of more than five people thatwas ordered in 1988 on the day a military juntatook power after crushing nationwide pro-de-mocracy protests. The state-run MyanmaAhlin newspaper reported Tuesday that Or-der No 2/88 was abolished as it was not inline with a section of the constitution that saysexisting laws should remain valid as long asare not contrary to the constitution, which

guarantees basic rights such as freedom of expression. The orderhad been applied selectively to crush dissent against the militaryregimes that held power until the elected government of PresidentThein Sein took office in 2011. His administration has institutedpolitical liberalization, including lifting strict censorship. The or-der had declared “Gathering or marching in processions and deliv-ering speeches on the streets by a group of 5 or more people arebanned.” The junta used many catch-all or vaguely defined ordersand laws as a means of suppressing dissent, and courts generallyhanded out stiff sentences, jailing thousands of political prisoners.Most have been freed under amnesties promulgated by PresidentThein Sein. In December 2011, a “Peaceful Assembly Law” wasimplemented specifically allowing public protests. However, per-mission must be obtained in advance, without which organizersare subject to penalties including prison terms. Several people havebeen arrested under the statute. Exercise of the new-won freedomshas tested the patience of the authorities. Last year, sensationalisticphotos and stories in the media threatened to exacerbate alreadydeep tensions triggered by violent clashes between two separateethnic communities in western Myanmar. A defense ministry state-ment published in state media Tuesday blamed unspecified em-bassies, organizations and media of releasing news and announce-ments that could cause misunderstanding of the military and thegovernment in connection with fighting against guerrillas of theKachin ethnic minority in the north.—AP

Army cleans floods sludgy aftermathBRISBANE—Military personnel headed toflood-ravaged northeast Australia on Wednes-day to help clean up the sludgy aftermath offloods that damaged thousands of homes andbusinesses and left some communities shortof power, food and water. The death toll fromthe flood crisis rose to five Wednesday whenpolice discovered a man’s body in a car sub-merged in a creek. Another man who vanishedwhile traveling through the same area earlierthis week was still missing. Floodwaters were

receding in most places, bringing relief to a region that was bat-tered by worse floods just two years ago. But there were concernsabout food and water shortages in some communities and thou-sands were without power. Around 120 soldiers were en route tothe hardest-hit city of Bundaberg in Queensland, 385 kilometers(240 miles) north of Brisbane. The flooding, caused by the rem-nants of a tropical cyclone, forced around 7,500 Bundaberg resi-dents from their homes, inundated 2,000 houses and 200 businesseswith murky water and prompted helicopter evacuations of 1,000people. As the cleanup began Wednesday, some residents com-plained about dwindling food supplies. “People were almost com-ing to blows this morning at the local shop fighting over breadrolls,” said Chris Pasky of Moore Park, just outside Bundaberg.“We’ve got a baby in the house we can’t feed. We’ve just beenforgotten.” In Brisbane, residents were warned to conserve waterafter muddy floodwaters put pressure on the city’s water treatmentplants. Queensland Premier Campbell Newman told AustralianBroadcasting Corp. that stocks of bottled water were ready to bedistributed to residents if the reservoirs run dry. In other areas,officials scrambled to deliver supplies to residents still cut off bythe slowly receding waters. “We’re discovering people who areisolated, without power, without water, and we’re going to be get-ting some long-life milk and bread supplies in through four-wheeldrive later today.” —AP

LAS VEGAS—Just over a weekinto his second term, PresidentBarack Obama took his fight forimmigration reform to the Weston Tuesday and pushed Congressto quickly find a path to citizen-ship for 11 million undocu-mented residents.

But as Obama praised a bi-partisan immigration plan duringa speech in Las Vegas, disagree-ment emerged between theWhite House and Republicansthat underscored the difficulty ofresolving an emotive issue thathas long defied a legislative fix.

“I’m here today because thetime has come for common-sense, comprehensive immigra-tion reform,” Obama said at ahigh school. “The time is now.Now is the time.”

After years on the backburner, immigration reform hassuddenly looked possible as Re-publicans, chastened by Latinovoters who rejected them in theNovember election, appear morewilling to accept a thoroughoverhaul.

Action on immigration wassidelined by economic issues andhealthcare reform duringObama’s first term but it is partof an ambitious liberal agendathe Democratic president laid outlast week in his second inaugu-ral address. That agenda also in-cludes gun control, gay rightsand fighting climate change.

Hispanic voters were crucialin winning Nevada for Obamain November and the crowd atthe high school was supportive.

“Si se puede,” yelled some,using a Spanish phrase thatharked back to Obama’s 2008“Yes we can” campaign slogan.Some in the audience werebrought to tears when he talkedabout the difficulties some im-

Obama pushes Congress on immigration, split emergesmigrants have experienced.

In Washington, however, dif-ferences quickly emerged be-tween what Obama would likeand the proposals by the biparti-san “Gang of Eight” senators,

whose plan is heavy on bordersecurity. Obama pushed for apathway to citizenship for illegalimmigrants that is faster than theone the Senate group proposed.

Rather than emphasize bor-der security first, he would let

undocumented immigrants get ona path to citizenship if they firstundergo national security andcriminal background checks, paypenalties, learn English and getbehind those foreigners seeking

to immigrate legally. “We allagree that these men and womenshould have to earn their way tocitizenship. But for comprehen-sive immigration reform to work,it must be clear from the outsetthat there is a pathway to citizen-

ship,” he said. For Republicans,this is a sticking point. The Gangof Eight plan envisions first tak-ing steps to toughen securityalong the U.S.-Mexican borderbefore setting in motion the steps

illegal immigrants must take togain legal status.

That difference was enoughto raise concerns among Repub-lican lawmakers who are tryingto frame a package that can passthe Republican-led House of

Representatives. A Hispanic Re-publican, Senator Marco Rubio,complained that Obama’s speechneglected border security and leftthe impression that “he believesreforming immigration quickly is

more important than reformingimmigration right.”

“I am concerned by thepresident’s unwillingness to ac-cept significant enforcement trig-gers before current undocu-mented immigrants can apply for

WASHINGTON: (L-R) Senators Richard Durbin, John McCain, Charles Schumer, Robert Menendez, and Marco Rubioattend a news conference on comprehensive immigration reform at the US Capitol.

a green card,” he said. “Withoutsuch triggers in place, enforce-ment systems will never beimplemented and we will be backin just a few years dealing withmillions of new undocumentedpeople in our country.”

Republicans will likely op-pose any immigration plan thatdoesn’t put border security first.

“This provision is key to en-suring that border security isachieved, and is also necessaryto ensure that a reform packagecan actually move through Con-gress,” said newly elected Sena-tor Jeff Flake of the border stateof Arizona. In addition, Obamamade no mention of creating atemporary guest worker programgeared to the low-skilled, labor-intensive agricultural industry.Labor unions do not yet supportsuch a program.

Another point of contentionis expected to be whether same-sex couples are granted the samebenefits as heterosexual couplesunder immigration reform -something the White House saysObama will insist upon but whichthe Senate group did not dealwith. Obama’s speech in Nevada,coming a little more than a weekafter his second inauguration, re-flects the growing clout of His-panic voters, as does Republicanwillingness to move on the issue.

The president said that ifCongress is unable to act in atimely fashion, he will proposeimmigration legislation of hisown and “insist that they voteon it right away.”

Immigration reform couldgive Obama a landmark second-term legislative achievement,but the White House is mindfulthat success on such a divisiveissue will require a delicate bal-ancing act.—Reuters

SEOUL—With North Korea ap-pearing set to detonate an atomicdevice, the U.N. agency that de-tected two previous tests says itis prepared to confirm an explo-sion when it takes place. But ex-perts say it might be difficult toestablish whether the blast isnuclear in nature.

The best indication of a testwill be seismic tremors and gasesreleased into the air, phenomenathat the Preparatory Commissionfor the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty identified fromprevious testing.

The Vienna-basedorganization’s most potent detec-tion tools are more than 150 seis-mic stations across the globe.Although very small in yield,North Korea’s first test in 2006was picked up by the CTBTO,as was a second test in 2009. Lastweek, North Korea warned that

it plans a third nuclear test to pro-test toughened international sanc-tions meant to punish it for fir-ing a long-range rocket in De-cember. The world sees thelaunch as a ballistic missile testbanned by the U.N., whilePyongyang says it launched asatellite into orbit as part of apeaceful space development pro-gram.

The U.S., South Korea andtheir allies have pressed the Northto scrap its nuclear test plans, say-ing it will only worsen thecountry’s decades-old interna-tional isolation.

The threats have placed sci-entists and experts in South Ko-rea on high alert as any test islikely to aggravate tensions onthe Korean Peninsula.

South Korea’s Defense Min-istry said Tuesday it believesNorth Korea has nearly com-

pleted its nuclear test prepara-tions, confirming satellite analy-sis last week by the U.S.-KoreaInstitute, a research group at theJohns Hopkins School of Ad-vanced International Studies.

U.S. Secretary of StateHillary Rodham Clinton ex-pressed concerns Tuesday aboutthe series of actions the NorthKorean regime led by new leaderKim Jong Un has taken.

“Let me express my regret,because I think with a new youngleader we all expected somethingdifferent. We expected him tofocus on improving the lives ofthe North Korean people, not justthe elite, but everyone to havemore education, more openness,more opportunity,” she said in atown hall-style meeting in Wash-ington. “And instead, he has en-gaged in very provocative rheto-ric and behavior. Its satellite im-

ages of the Punggye-ri site —where the previous two tests wereconducted — show that the NorthKoreans may have been sealinga tunnel into a mountain where anuclear device would bedetonated.In the event of such anunderground nuclear test, boththe CTBTO facilities and earth-quake monitoring stations inSouth Korea can detect seismictremors. But although this is astrong indication of a test, it isnot an absolute confirmation.

An earthquake expert at thestate-run Korea MeteorologicalAdministration said his officeaims to find out the magnitudeof the tremor, the time it startedand the exact location on the mapwithin 10 minutes of the explo-sion. He spoke on condition ofanonymity because he wasn’tauthorized to speak to the media.Experts also note that artificial

earthquakes, such as those cre-ated by nuclear explosions, rarelytrigger the same wave patterns asnatural quakes.

North Korea could still try todeceive and give the impressionthat it exploded a nuclear deviceby simply exploding sophisti-cated conventional weapons thatwould trigger the same seismicwaves produced by a nuclear test,said Chi Heoncheol, an earth-quake specialist at the govern-ment-funded Korea Institute ofGeoscience and Mineral Re-sources. By raising tensions thisway, North Korea may hope towrest concessions or aid in returnfor promises to scale back its un-proven nuclear capability.

“Even if they bring truck-loads of high-powered conven-tional explosives, put them (intoan underground tunnel) and ex-plode them, they will generate the

same seismic wave and soundwave,” Chi said. The only differ-ence is no radioactivity would bedetected from the explosion ofconventional weapons, he said.

The best course for scientistswould be to collect air samplesto look for increased radiation butthe process could take days. Evenif the wind is favorable — andassuming North Korea conductsthe test at Punggye-ri in thecountry’s northeastern corner —it will take more than one day forairborne radioactive isotopes likexenon to reach South Korea, ac-cording to an official at the gov-ernment-run Nuclear Safety andSecurity Commission.

Both South Korea and theVienna-based CTBTO confirmedincreased radiation levels follow-ing the North’s 2006 nuclear testbut didn’t find anything in 2009.—Reuters

Tremors, gases will be best proof of NK nuke test

KUWAIT CITY—The UN chiefmade a dramatic appealWednesday for a major boost inrelief aid for Syria, calling foran end to the fighting “in thename of humanity” as an inter-national conference opened inKuwait with both foes andbackers of President BasharAssad.

The U.N. appeals for up to$1.5 billion reflects the deep-ening civilian crisis for an esti-mated 700,000 refugees whohave fled Syria and more than2 million others uprooted orsuffering inside the country asthe civil war widens — includ-ing what peace envoy LakhardBrahimi called “unprecedentedlevels of horror” in an addressto the Security Council after atleast 65 bodies were found in asuspected execution-style kill-ing near Aleppo.

Ban urged all sides “andparticularly the Syrian govern-ment” to halt attacks in the 22-month-old civil war that theU.N. says has claimed morethan 60,000 lives.

“In the name of humanity,stop the killing, stop the vio-lence,” Ban told envoys fromnearly 60 nations, includingRussia and Iran, key allies ofAssad’s regime.

Before the latest donors’conference, Ban described theinternational humanitarian re-sponse to Syria as “very muchlimited” in comments to the of-ficial Kuwaiti News Agency.

But the meeting appeared toleverage more pledges.Kuwait’s ruler, Sheik Sabah AlAhmad Al Sabah, promised$300 million in a move thatcould prompt other donationsfrom Gulf Arab allies, whichare major backers of Syrianrebel factions. On Tuesday, theEuropean Union and the U.S.promised a total of nearly $400million.

While international aidchannels are open to refugeecamps in places such Turkeyand Jordan, there is far morelimited capacity to organize re-lief efforts inside Syria becauseof the fighting and controls by

Assad’s regimes.Paris-based Medecins Sans

Frontieres said the U.N. andothers need to open more routesfor aid to reach rebel-held ar-eas, which now receive only a“tiny share” of international hu-manitarian help.

“The current aid system isunable to address the worsen-ing living conditions facingpeople who live inside Syria,”said a statement by thegroup’s president, Marie-Pierre Allie.

The escalating hardships incamps outside Syria also canbe used by Assad’s govern-ment as potential fodder in itsclaims that rebels are respon-sible for the country’s collapse,said Fawaz Gerges, head of theMiddle East Center at the Lon-don School of Economics.

“The misery of the refu-gees, their suffering in neigh-boring countries, provide theammunition for Assad, who issaying to them, ‘See, you haveno one else but your country,so come home,’” he said.—AP

UN presses for greaterboost in Syrian aid

SANTA MARIA—Penny-pinch-ing by a band known for itsonstage pyrotechnic displaysmay have cost more than 230people their lives at a nightclubin southern Brazil, according toa police inspector leading the in-vestigation into this weekend’sdeadly blaze.

Inspector Marcelo Arigonytold reporters at a news confer-ence Tuesday that members ofthe band knowingly purchasedflares meant for outdoor use be-cause they cost a mere $1.25 apiece, compared with the $35price tag for an indoor flare.

Brazil police: Outdoorflare started club fire

“The flare lit was for outdooruse only, and the people who litthem know that,” said Arigony,adding that members of the groupacknowledged regularly optingfor the less expensive flares.“They chose to buy those becausethey were cheaper than those thatcan be used indoors.”

Arigony, whose cousin diedin the fire, added: “The pyrotech-nics were part of their show —the guys even wore glovesonstage so they wouldn’t burntheir hands.”

The repercussions of theband’s choice to use flares con-

tinued to send shock wavesthrough Santa Maria, a collegetown of 260,000 people that’sbeen stunned by the early Sun-day morning tragedy in the Kissnightclub.

The Rio Grande do Sul stateforensics department raised thedeath toll Tuesday from 231 to234 to account for three victimswho did not appear on the origi-nal list of the dead.

Authorities say more than120 people remain hospitalizedfor smoke inhalation and burns,with dozens of them in criticalcondition.—AP

SEVARE—French forces havetaken control of the airport inKidal, seizing a key position inone of three provincial capitalsthe Islamist militants took overlast year, officials said Wednes-day. One Malian official saidFrench troops even moved intothe city, which was the last re-maining urban stronghold of theIslamists in Mali.

French and Malian troopshave recaptured two of the otherprovincial capitals, Timbuktu andGao, in recent days, and beenwelcomed by overjoyed crowds.However, already concerns areemerging about whether the Is-lamists will try to return onceFrance hands over the militaryoperation to Mali and soldiersfrom neighboring countries.

Haminy Maiga, the interimpresident of the Kidal regionalassembly, said French forces metno resistance when they arrivedlate Tuesday. “The French ar-rived at 9:30 p.m. aboard fourplanes, which landed one after

another. Afterwards they took theairport and then entered the town,and there was no combat,” saidMaiga, who had been in touchwith people in the town by satel-lite phone as all the normal phonenetworks were down.

“The French are patrollingthe town and two helicopters arepatrolling overhead,” he added.

In Paris, French army Col.Thierry Burkhard confirmed thatthe airport was taken overnightand described the operation inKidal itself as “ongoing.”

On Tuesday, a secular Tuaregrebel group had asserted that theywere in control of Kidal and othersmall towns in northern Mali.Maiga said those fighters had leftKidal and were at the entry postson the roads from Gao andTessalit. France, the former co-lonial ruler, began sending introops, helicopters and warplaneson Jan. 11 to turn the tide afterthe armed Islamists began en-croaching on the south, towardthe capital. —AP

French troops controlkey Mali airport

TEHRAN—Followers of Iran’sminority Zoroastrian religiongathered after sunset to markSadeh - an ancient mid-winterfeast dating to Iran’s pre-Islamicpast that is also drawing new in-terest from Muslims.

Zoroastrian priests, dressedin white to symbolize purity, re-cited verses from Avesta, the holyZoroastrian book, before morethan 2,000 people on Tuesday.

Men and women in tradi-tional dress carried torches andlit a huge bonfire on the outskirtsof Tehran Tuesday, as youngpeople danced.

Sadeh, the feast of creationof fire, has been observed sinceancient days, when Zoroastrian-ism was the dominant religion in

Iran Zoroastrians celebrateancient feast of fire

the powerful Persian empire.Zoroastrianism lost dominanceafter Muslim Arabs invaded andconquered Persia in the seventhcentury.

Today, most of Iran’s 75 mil-lion people are Shiite Muslims,and the ruling establishment isled by clerics who preach a strictversion of Islam.

After the 1979 revolutionbrought in the hard-line Islamicreligious government, many Zo-roastrians emigrated to the U.S.,and their festivals were stronglydiscouraged.

About 20,000 Zoroastriansremain today - down from300,000 in the 1970s, whenmany emigrated to the UnitedStates. —AP

Top US Generalhas confident in

AfghansKABUL—The top commander ofU.S.-led forces in Afghanistanbelieves government securityforces have improved faster thanexpected and will be ready to takethe lead in the 11-year-old waragainst the Taliban when foreigncombat forces take a back seatthis spring.

Marine Gen John Allen toldThe Associated Press that themain job over the next two yearsfor the International AssistanceForce — as the NATO-ledtroops in Afghanistan are called— will be to advise, train andbuild the capabilities needed forAfghan forces to go it com-pletely alone.

They will face their first testwhen the fighting season getsunder way in the late spring andsummer.—AP

Australian PMannounces Sept 14

electionsCANBERRA—Prime MinisterJulia Gillard surprised Austra-lians on Wednesday by announc-ing that elections will be heldSept. 14, in a country where gov-ernments have traditionally giventhe opposition little more than amonth’s notice to keep a strate-gic advantage.

In a speech to the NationalPress Gallery, Gillard said shewanted to create an environmentin which voters could more eas-ily focus on national issues byremoving uncertainty around thetiming.

“I reflected on this over thesummer and I thought it’s notright for Australians to be forcedinto a guessing game, and it’s notright for Australians to not facethis year with certainty and sta-bility,” she said, referring to herholiday break during the currentsouthern summer.—AP

BIPIN DANI

OBSERVER

CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI—It is certainly acoincidence. Shane Warnecalled Cricket Australia(CA) chiefs (Pat Howardand the chief selector JohnInvararity) ‘muppets’ onthe day when Sri LankaCricket (SLC) have new se-lection committee replacingthe chairman Ashantha deMel.

In 2007, MarvanAtapattu, now the team’sbatting coach, launched anastonishing attack on theSri Lanka selectors callingthem a set of muppetsheaded by a joker (chair-man Ashantha de Mel thenalso), and blaming them ex-actly for the same reasonas lack of bench strength

Sri Lanka selector laughs offShane Warne’s ‘muppet’ rant

in the side.Warne has been invited

by CA officials to have one-to-one chat, but apparentlyno apology was sought thenby SLC board. “It was his(Atapattu) opinion and everyone has freedom of speech”,de Mel said from Colombo.No action was taken againstAtapattu by the board then”,he said.

“No, I didn’t take his re-marks seriously but laughedit off as to-day, when I heardabout Warne also sayingso...”, de Mel added.

The BCCI madeMohinder Amarnath the se-lector despite he too calledselectors the bunch of jok-ers.

“CA respects the right ofothers, including ShaneWarne, to hold views, includ-ing passionate views, about

Australian cricket”, PeterYoung, the CA official said.“We acknowledge thatAustralians want to seeAustralian teams to win, arealways impatient for suc-cess, and will often dis-agree with the decisionsadministrators make whentrying to achieve the bestoutcomes for the game”, headded.

“Our CEO, JamesSutherland has invitedWarne to assess the foren-sically-detailed Australianteam performance strategyto offer his views, shouldhe so wish”, Young added.

“Sutherland also notedhis admiration for the workof Pat Howard, who he de-scribed as a world-class eliteperformance expert with ateam of cricket experts un-der his charge”, Young said.

ISLAMABAD—With its rug-ged hills, narrow valleys andgreen plains, SouthWaziristan Agency has longbeen perfect terrain for thesort of guerrilla warfarefavoured by the Taliban intheir fight with the PakistanArmy.

Now it’s the turn of thecountry’s fledgling off-roadcar-racing community tohave the run of the land-scape.

In an effort to persuadea sceptical public that it hasgot the better of the Talibanand that life in one of thecountry’s seven trouble-some tribal agencies is im-proving, The Pakistan Armyis inviting car enthusiasts tohold a motor rally on an 80-mile (130km) route in the re-gion in the last week ofMarch.

The race will start justoutside the tribal agencyand pass through variouskey locations, including thetown of the Kotkai, a formerTaliban-controlled townwhere militants once trainedchild suicide bombers untilthe army retook the areaamid heavy fighting in thesummer of 2009.

Organisers hope about50 cars and their back-up ve-hicles will take part in therace, which they want to be-come an annual fixture inPakistan’s motor sportscalendar.“Peace has re-turned to this area and lo-cals will feel confident once

Army hopes car rally in SWA willprove Taliban threat is on wane

foreigners and people fromother parts of the countrycome,” Major Farooq Virk, amilitary spokesman wasquoted as saying by theGuardian. “It is very secureand no incident has hap-pened in this area for the lastyear and a half.”

So far just a handful ofcar enthusiasts have signedup. One of them is AsadMarwat, president of theIslamabad Jeep Club, whosaid some car owners maystay away because of theperceived security threats.

“If it is something for thebenefit of country, and it canbring some positive imagesaround the world, we will takeour chances,” he said.“Hard-core rally buffs won’thave any problem.”

Just three months agoauthorities did their best todissuade the PTI chief ImranKhan from travelling alongexactly the same route toKotkai with a few thousandof his supporters by arguingit was too dangerous.

The army now insiststhat South Waziristan is safeand ready to open up forbusiness – or at least thesmall portion of it that hasbenefited from near-satura-tion coverage by Pakistanitroops. Critics say peace hasbeen achieved at the expenseof the people of the area, par-ticularly members of theMehsud tribe, who wereforced to leave SouthWaziristan when operations

to clear the Taliban werelaunched in 2009.

“Such gimmicks havebeen tried in the past with noimpact,” said Rustam ShahMohmand, a retired politicalagent who served in theFederally AdministeredTribal Areas (Fata). He re-calls football and basketballmatches being held in otherareas where the army has dis-lodged militants.

“With 80% of theMehsuds having left thearea, staging such showscannot really achieve any-thing,” he said.

The army has tried topersuade some of the dis-placed people to return totheir villages but they havebeen either very reluctant orbitterly disappointed bywhat authorities had pro-vided for them when they didreturn.

Others believe the mas-sive military presence inplaces such as Kotkai hasdisplaced civilian institu-tions that are supposed torun local affairs. Tellingly,none of the civilian officialsapproached by the Guardianhad any knowledge of theplanned motor rally.

Car clubs have sprungup around Pakistan in thelast 10 years with enthusiastsmeeting for organised racesthat take advantage of thecountry’s varied terrains, in-cluding deserts and snow-capped hills.

The most prominent Pa-

kistani petrol-head is MirNadir Magsi, an electedpolitician once described asthe “Pakistan’s MichaelSchumacher” for his win-ning streak in various ral-lies.

Asad Sethi, the founderof the Frontier 4x4 Car Clubin Peshawar, has just re-turned from a weekendevent in Malam Jabba, a hilltown once overrun by theTaliban.

The government hasbeen trying to revive tour-ism in the area, althoughthe ski resort hotel blownup militants has yet to berepaired.

Sethi, who is intendingto take part in the SouthWaziristan rally, said eventslike his off-road weekendcan help. “The people inMalam Jabba suffered a lotin terms of terrorism butactivities like this can attracta lot of media attention andpromote tourism,” he said.

But critics are unlikelyto be convinced as long asthe tribesman who used tolive in the area stay away.“Who is this entertainmentfor?” asked SafiullahMahsud, director of theFata Research Centre. “It iscertainly not for the peopleof South Waziristan. Is it forthe mountain, for the trees?It is a waste of money, theyare not going to foolanyone in Pakistan orabroad.”—INP

MUMBAI—The women’sWorld Cup opens in Mumbaion Thursday with the cricket-ers hoping to put aside memo-

ries of an unsettling build-upand gain recognition in a coun-try where the men’s game

Women seek their placein sun at World Cup

reigns supreme.Barely a week before the

start, the International CricketCouncil was forced to revisethe schedule because of secu-rity concerns surroundingPakistan’s participation inMumbai where the entire tour-nament was to be played.

All group B matches, fea-turing Pakistan, Australia, NewZealand and South Africa, wereshunted to the cricketing back-waters of Cuttack followingthreats from the right-wing na-tionalist Shiv Sena party todisrupt matches in Mumbai.

Pakistan will remain inCuttack if they qualify for thesecond round, but will still

have to travel to Mumbai if theymake the final at the Brabourestadium on February 17.

Indian captain Mithali Rajsaid she was disappointed thatthe Pakistani team had at-tracted protests. “I personallyfeel that politics should not beinvolved in sport,” Raj told.

“Sport is more about en-tertainment and a fun-lovingatmosphere. So we should notbe getting too many politicalissues into it.” Preparationswere also disrupted when thehosts made Mumbai’sWankhede stadium, venue ofthe men’s World Cup final in2011, unavailable at the lastminute.—AFP

JOHANNESBURG—“The bigbattle between any teamcoming up against the cur-rent South African one willbe between their batsmenagainst the South Africanbowlers,” Vincent Barnes,manager of the high perfor-mance centre, who was incharge of the South AfricanInvitation side that playedagainst the touring Paki-stanis, told ESPNCricinfo. “Ifyou can tame the bowlers,you can get close but if youcan’t, you will get a hiding.”

On the evidence of thetour match, which few readinto, Pakistan’s batsmenhave some work to do. NasirJamshed and MohammadHafeez did well in both in-nings but of the middle orderonly Misbah-ul-Haq scoreda half-century.

“It looked like they werejust trying to occupy thecrease and then some of themgot good balls and got out,”Barnes said. “We can’t judgetoo much on that. Guys likeAzhar Ali and Younis Khanhave scored big runs in thepast. Jamshed looks like aguy whose natural game isto play his shots and Hafeezis a quality player who scoresboth sides of the wicket.”

While the batsmen will bethe ones under scrutiny,some may see the real con-test as a battle between bowl-

SA bowlers pose toughchallenge to Pakistan

ing attacks as Pakistan’s hasa lot to offer. Barnes regardsUmar Gul as their “bestbowler who is very skilful”and Saeed Ajmal as the “keyfactor” to their chances ofsuccess.

He also saw first-handthe two bowlers who will berelatively unknown quanti-

ties to South Africa - JunaidKhan and Mohammad Irfan.Left-armer Junaid swings theball both ways while Irfan,at more than two metres tall,is expected to extract steepbounce. “Junaid drifted inan out a bit. He had somegood spells and some aver-age ones,” Barnes said.

“Irfan is definitely a massivepresence. Bounce will be hisstrength but he struggledwith his lengths and didn’tseem to swing the ballmuch.”

Irfan’s Test debut is themost widely talked aboutpoint in the lead up to theseries.—Agencies

HOUSTON: United States’ Brad Evans, left, and Canada’s Kyle Bekker compete for control in the first half of anexhibition soccer match.

PERTH—David Warner’splace on Australia’s Test tourof India is open to serious fit-ness questions after it wasconfirmed he suffered a frac-tured thumb when struck inthe nets ahead of the ODI se-ries against West Indies.

On the eve of the squadannouncement for the sub-continent, Warner was struckby a prancing delivery fromMitchell Johnson in the livelyWACA ground nets andshowed considerable discom-fort before being whiskedaway for scans on the thumbthat confirmed a break.

“David Warner was struckon the left thumb by MitchellJohnson in the nets,” Austra-lian team physio Kevin Simssaid.

“While the fracture is veryminor, it is not worth takingany risks. The injury will keephim out of at least the next twomatches against West Indies.We’ll assess how he is pro-gressing after that to deter-mine his availability for the re-mainder of the series.”

The exit of Warner fromthe West Indies ODIs hasmeant a call-up for UsmanKhawaja, who will fly to Perthto join the team before thefirst match of the series onFriday.

It also adds another layerof intrigue to ShaneWatson’s return as a non-bowling batsman. At thesame time Warner was hav-ing his thumb examined,Watson looked uncomfort-able during a brief innings ofsix from 23 balls for NewSouth Wales against West-ern Australia in a domesticlimited overs match at theSCG.

Struck on the shoulderearly on by a short ball fromNathan Coulter-Nile, Watson

Warner suffers fracturedthumb at training

PERTH: David Warner fractured his thumb after gettinghit by Mitchell Johnson while batting during a net session.was then cramped by aninswinger from the young left-armer Joel Paris and squeezeda return catch off bat and pad.Despite his lack of first-classpreparation, Watson will nowbe in line to open the battingin India should Warner’sthumb not recover in time.

“He would’ve liked moreruns, there’s no questionabout that,” Watson’s formerTest teammate and now WAbatsman Michael Husseysaid. “He’ll get better and bet-ter the more he plays, it’s just

good to have him back outthere playing, I think it’s verygood for Australian cricketthat he’s back out there.

“He can play a crucial rolefor Australia whether it’s highin the order or in the middleorder. I hope to see him backin there.” Hussey termedWarner’s injury “terribleluck”. “He’s been playing well,I think he’s getting a lot ofconsistency to his game, andthat’s a big blow for Australiacoming into this one-day se-ries for sure,” he said.—AFP

Taufiq Umerto return home

injuredJOHANNESBURG—Pakistancricket team opener TaufiqUmer will be returning homefrom South Africa after injur-ing his calf during a practicesession. The tour manage-ment has asked for ImranFarhat as his replacement.

Taufiq Umer who tore acalf muscle during a practicesession before the warm upgame in East London wouldnot be able to recover in timeto take further part in the se-ries about to commence withthe first test starting fromFebruary 1.

Even though his experi-ence would be missed on thebouncy tracks in South Af-rica, it could be a blessing indisguise for Nasir Jamshedwho is tipped to be includedin the starting line-up for thefirst test.

If included in the finaleleven Nasir Jamshed will bemaking his test debut aftersome consistence perfor-mances in the One-day for-mat.

The tour managementhas requested for Imranfarhat as Taufiq Umer’s re-placement, who will be board-ing a plane for South Africain a couple of days.—AP

England nottaking New

Zealand lightlyAUCKLAND—England willnot allow New Zealand’s re-cent woes to lull them into afalse sense of security, thetourists’ Twenty 20 captainStuart Broad insistedWednesday.

England head into thetour as firm favourites overthe Black Caps, who lost tworecent Test matches in SouthAfrica by an innings andhave been destabilised byRoss Taylor’s axeing as cap-tain in favour of BrendonMcCullum.

But Broad pointed toNew Zealand’s face-savingone-day series win over theProteas after their Test lossesas proof the Black Caps willstill pose a threat on the tour,particularly as they will beplaying on home soil.

“We know New Zealandhave just beaten South Af-rica in the one-day format andhaving played a lot ofTwenty20 cricket againstthem, we know they’re verydangerous,” Broad told re-porters.

“We’ll have to prepare forthat and get used to the con-ditions as much as we can.We know New Zealand havesome fantastic Twenty20players and that’s who we’llconcentrate on... we’ll haveto be at the top of our game.”

England arrived Tuesdaynight in New Zealand afterwinning their recent four-Test series in India 2-1 butlosing the subsequent one-day series 3-2. The tour be-gins with three T20s, fol-lowed by three one-dayersthen three Tests.—AFP

Australia not tosupport players

participating in PSLK A R A C H I — P a k i s t a nCricket Board’s effort tobring international stars forPakistan Super League(PSL) suffered a setback onWednesday when CricketAustralia made it clear thatthey would not support anycontracted players partici-pating in PSL.

“Due to the ongoing se-curity concerns in Pakistan,Cricket Australia and theAustralian Cricketers’ Asso-ciation would not be support-ive of any international orstate contracted player par-ticipating in the Pakistan Su-per League,” a spokesman ofCricket Australia told GeoNews.—Agencies

DESPITE routine screening for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) by livedonors, a kidney transplant recipient be-

came infected, according the New York CityDepartment of Health and Mental Hygiene. AnMMWR (Morbidity and Mortality WeeklyReport) report, part of theCDC, highlights the need tore-examine national policy onHIV tests and their timingwhen screening living organdonors.

The report authors saydonors should be screened forHIV as near as possible to themoment of organ recoveryand transplantation. They addthat serology and NAT(nucleic acid testing) shouldbe used.

Doctors should alsomake sure their patients areaware of a potential diseasetransmission risk, as well asasking donors to avoid behav-iors that would raise their riskof becoming infected withHIV.

In 2009, a patient with hemodialysis-de-pendent kidney failure was given a new kid-ney from a living donor at a New York Cityhospital - known in the report as “Hospital A”.There was no trace of any STIs (sexually trans-mitted infections) in the individual’s medicalhistory, neither was there any history of high-risk activity, such as injection drug use orsexual encounters with injection drug users.

The patient had received blood transfusionsin 2006, but none before that date. 12 days be-fore the transplantation procedure started, therecipient tested negative for HIV.

After the operation the patient went

through multiple hospitalizations, fevers, epi-sodes of renal insufficiency, and evaluationof possible transplanted organ rejection.

The recipient did not take part in any be-haviors which might have increased his/herrisk of becoming infected with HIV.

The patient was hospital-ized twelve months after thekidney transplant with refrac-tory oral and esophageal can-didiasis. An EIA screening forHIV tested positive, and con-firmed with a positive West-ern blot. Initial CDY cellcount was under 100 cells/μL.In a communiqué, the CDCadded “The recipient’s initialCD4 cell count was <100cells/μL. The advanced im-munosuppression was attrib-uted, in part, to the recipient’sinduction with antithymocyteglobulins (animmunomodulator that de-pletes T-lymphocytes to pre-vent graft-versus-host dis-ease) and use of

mycophenolic acid (a drug that suppresseslymphocyte proliferation, prescribed to pre-vent rejection of a transplanted kidney).”

He was evaluated as a possible living kid-ney transplantation donor in 2009 in Hospi-tal A. As is standard practice in that hospital,a multidisciplinary team determined his eli-gibility. They assessed donor-recipient im-munologic compatibility, as well as his psy-chological state, willingness to donate, andgeneral health. The team consisted of a coor-dinator, transplant surgeon, social worker, nu-tritionist, psychiatrist and nephrologist.Thedonor was found to have had a history of par-ticipating in sex with male partners.

Kidney transplant recipientinfected with HIV

KARACHI: Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro inaugurating the dome of newlyconstructed Sindh Assembly building.

KARACHI: Fresh graduates flashing victory signs during the annual convocation of the University of Karachi.

OBSERVER REPORT

KARACHI—Aga KhanPlanning and Building Service,Pakistan (AKPBS,P) - anagency of the Aga Khan Devel-opment Network (AKDN) incollaboration with the PakistanEngineering Council (PEC) or-ganized a workshop to share aset of building guidelines forseismic resistance and thermalefficiency of buildings in themountainous regions of Paki-stan.

Provincial Ministers RajaAzam from Gilgit-Baltistan(GB) and Saleem from KhyberPakhtunkhwa (KPK) repre-sented their respective provin-cial governments in the work-shop. Representatives from do-nor agencies including theUnited Nations DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP), the Glo-

bal Environment Facility (GEF),Ministry of Climate Change,Government of Pakistan,Academia, AKDN sister agen-cies and various public sectorinstitutions and developmentagencies also participated in theworkshop.

Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed, Addi-tional Registrar, Pakistan Engi-neering Council (PEC) pre-sented the welcome address andnoted that the building guide-lines developed by AKPBS,Pand PEC will be a key contribu-tion for reducing the risk to thelife and properties of the peopleof the mountainous communi-ties.

Dr. Ashfaque valued thepartnership with AKPBS,P andaccentuated the need to work to-gether to device an implementa-tion plan and facilitate the legis-lation of the guidelines in Gilgit

Building guidelines for high mountain regions of PakistanBaltistan and Chitral regions ofPakistan. He further said thatthe proposed guidelines wouldsupplement the building regu-lations for the region and willbe a milestone contribution.

The workshop wasorganised as part of a four yearproject ‘Promotion of EnergyEfficient Cooking, Heating andHousing Technologies’(PEECH) funded by the UNDPand the Global EnvironmentFacility and implemented bythe Aga Khan Planning andBuilding Service, Pakistan innine valleys of the Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral region ofPakistan. The project aims tocurb the degradation of forestsin the target region and de-crease CO2 emissions resultingfrom excessive use of timberand fuel-wood for house con-struction and household energy

KARACHI: Chief Guest, Raja Muhammad Azam Khan, Minister for Planning andDevelopment, Gilgit-Baltistan addressing the workshop audience.

use in these areas. The aim ofthe project will be achieved byproviding assistance to the lo-cal communities for adoptingthe energy efficient and homeimprovement products devel-oped and promoted byAKPBS,P.

The Chief Guest of theworkshop, Raja Azam, MinisterPlanning and Development,Gilgit Baltistan appreciated therole of the AKDN in the devel-opment of Gilgit-Baltistan andsaid that the guidelines proposedby AKPBS,P have been devel-oped keeping in context the builtenvironment related challengesof the region and the govern-ment of Gilgit-Baltistan com-mends this contribution and as-sures to take necessary steps forthe legislation of the proposedguidelines in the respective gov-ernments.

Specialists from the foremostengineering Universities in-cluding the University of En-gineering and TechnologyPeshawar, University of Engi-neering and TechnologyLahore and NED University,Karachi shared their analysison the proposed guidelines.The Gilgit-Baltistan andChitral regions of northern Pa-kistan fall in relatively high ac-tivity seismic zones. There aremore than 120,000 houses inthe region and each year ap-proximately 3,000 units of newhouses are built - more than90% of these buildings are con-structed by the villagers them-selves without any proper en-gineering inputs and qualitycontrol to meet the minimumstandards of constructions asper the building codes of thecountry.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—More than seventypercent construction work ofnew Sindh Assembly Buildinghas been finished and the projectis expected to be completedwithin next 6 to 7 months at anestimated cost of Rs two billion.

The construction hadstarted in 2010 and the comple-tion was scheduled in October2012, Speaker Sindh AssemblyNisar Ahmed Khuhro told me-dia during his visit to the under-construction Assembly building,here on Wednesday.

“New Assembly building isa state-of-the-art and hi-tech

70 % construction work ofnew SA building completed

project. We are trying to makeit a unique one,” Khuhro re-marked. It is a four-storey build-ing with basement and groundfloor. The seating capacity of theHouse is 300 which would belater enhanced to 500 seats.There are large galleries for visi-tors and media.

It has chambers of theSpeaker, Leader of the Houseand the Opposition Leader be-sides offices for twenty min-isters as well as spacious andbeautiful auditorium and caf-eteria, and various other stan-dard facilities for the parlia-mentarians and the visitors,the Speaker informed.

KARACHI—Sindh Governor,Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, hascalled for the establishment ofsatellite centres in the major hos-pitals of the province.

Presiding over a high-levelmeeting at the Governor Househere on Wednesday, he asked theconcerned officials for a speedyheadway in this regard. Dr.Ishrat was of the view that thiswould help people in far flungareas get treatment facilitiesclose to their places. He pointedout that for treatment, the pa-

Ebad for setting up satellitecentres of major hospitals

tients had to meet doctors manya times as a follow up which isa burdensome phase but withthe establishment of satellitecentres they would get medicalfacilities nearer to their place ofresidence.

The Governor pointed outthat under the Dow University,the Ojha Medical Complexwould soon provide this facil-ity.

He said that where therewould be space problem this fa-cility would be made available

through mobile units.Dr. Ishrat also asked the

Vice-Chancellor of LiaquatMedical University Jamshorothat in collaboration with theCivil Hospital Hyderabad acomprehensive strategy be pre-pared in this regard.

The meeting was also at-tended by the Sindh HealthMinister, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed,Principal Secretary to the Gov-ernor, Dr. Noshad Ahmed andSindh Health Secretary, AftabKhatri.—APP

Politicians callon ChiefMinister

KARACHI—A three-memberdelegation of prominent politi-cians and members of PakistanPeople’s Party (PPP) belongingto district Naushehroferoz calledon Chief Minister Sindh, SyedQaim Ali Shah, at the CMHouse here on Wednesday.

Former Minister for Agri-culture Syed Murad Ali Shah,Syed Asghar Ali Shah Ex-MNAand Syed Sarfraz Shah MPA metwith Chief Minister Sindh, dis-cussed matters of mutual inter-est and political situation. Theyalso discussed various develop-ment schemes pertaining to dis-trict Naushehroferoz. The ChiefMinister assured that all genu-ine problems will be solved onpriority basis. He discussed vari-ous issues on social and politi-cal aspects of districtNaushehroferoz.—APP

KARACHI—Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, SyedMunawar Hassan has said thatmasses will suffer for five yearsmore if in the upcoming generalelections they cast vote in favourof the politicians who looted na-tional exchequer and usurped therights of countrymen.

He stated this while speak-ing during a condolence refer-ence held to pay tributes to lateformer Ameer JI Qazi Hussain

Munawar urges masses notto vote for corrupt politicians

Ahmed and Professor GhafoorAhmed here on Wednesday.

Syed Munawar Hassan saidthat corrupt and illegible lead-ership pushed the country intomultifaceted crisis further add-ing to the woes of masses.

He said that so-calleddemocratic government hasnothing to do with country andits people and its all concentra-tions were to protect personaland political interests.

The JI Ameer said that QaziHussain Ahmed and ProfGhafoor Ahmed were men ofdeeds and he vowed to continuetheir mission.

The reference was also ad-dressed by Akhwan ulMuslimeen leader AmirMehdi Aakif, Hafiz HussainAhmed, Awais Shah Noorani,Justice (Retd) SaeeduzamSiddiqqi, Saleem Zia and DrArif Alvi.—INP

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—At least five per-sons including a woman werekilled and several others injuredin separate incidents of violencein different localities of city onWednesday.

According to details, un-known armed men barged intoa house located in MaccharColony, Docks police station ju-risdiction and opened indis-criminate fire at residents kill-ing Ayesha Farooq while criti-cally injuring her husband

Five killed in Karachi violenceMuhammad Farooq and fledthe scene. The bodies and in-jured were shifted to hospitalfor medico-legal-requirements.Police said that the incidentwas outcome of personnel en-mity.

Salman, 42, was killedwhen unidentified armed as-sailants sprayed bullets at himnear Jinnah Square area ofMalir. Two persons died in col-lision between an auto-rick-shaw and motorcycle inKemari area of city. The bod-ies were shifted to hospital for

post-mortem.Another person was shot

dead at Jamshed road area whenunidentified gunmen openedfire at him.

More than 10 persons wereinjured in separate firing inci-dent in Ghas Mandi, Site, NewKarachi, Nazimabad, SohrabGoth and other areas of the city.

The police arrested five ac-cused during separate actions indifferent localities of the cityand recovered arms, drugs andsnatched motorcycles fromtheir possession.

BBC to launchnew ‘Sairbeen’KARACHI—BBC World Ser-vice will launch the broadcast offirst ever BBC Urdu TVprogramme “Sairbeen”, fromFebruary 11 on a local TV chan-nel in Pakistan. According to anannouncement here Wednesday,new BBC TV programme buildson the longstanding success ofthe flagship daily BBC Urduradio programme brand,Sairbeen, which is a householdname in Pakistan. The launch ofthe new TV programme with thesame name will furtherstrengthen the BBC’s offer to theregion and commitment to au-diences in Pakistan.

Sairbeen will showcaseBBC Urdu talent and regularlyfeature well-known BBC Urdujournalists as well as harness theregional knowledge of the BBCUrdu correspondents working inPakistan and across the world.Working closely with the localtv channel, BBC Urdu will sharethis journalistic expertise whilstalso benefiting from local newsbroadcast and news gatheringoperations. BBC Urdu, whichhas been broadcasting to the re-gion since 1940, is a news andinformation service providingaudio, video, text and graphiccontent across a number of plat-forms including MW, FM, mo-bile handheld devices and onlinevia bbcurdu.com.—APP

SSUET’s studentsproduce solar-

electric operated carKARACHI—A group of studentsof Sir Syed University of Engi-neering and Technology (SSUET)produced a ‘solar-energy oper-ated’ car which has been furthermodified to be used during nighttime. This was claimed in an an-nouncement of the institution hereon Wednesday. It said that aftermodification, the car can now berun both on solar energy and elec-tricity and can be regarded as en-vironment friendly. “Besides usedfor long journey, the car can carrypassengers from airport and trans-port commercial cargo from onefactory to the other and to themarket.—INP

PPP adds newchapter to

country’s historyKARACHI—The government ofPakistan Peoples Party (PPP) bycompleting its five-year constitu-tional term has added a new chap-ter to the country’s history. Thiswas stated by Sindh Minister forLaw, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro.

He said here on Wednesdaythat during the period the PPP-led coalition government suc-cessfully faced every challengeand kept the democratic processon the track. The Minister saidthat it proved that the PPP is ademocratic party which is popu-lar among the masses.

He pointed out that it alsostrengthened the provincesthrough the 18th constitutionalamendment. Ayaz Soomro saidthat President Asif Ali Zardaritransferred his his power to theParliament. He said that tensof thousands of the youth wereprovided employment in thecountry.—APP

A STUDY of elderly people finds thatthose whose diets were high in certainessential nutrients were less likely to

have the brain shrinkage associated withAlzheimer’s disease and more likely to scorebetter on tests of mental performance. The re-searchers published a paper onhow they came to these find-ings in the 28 Decemberonline issue of Neurology.

The paper’s first author isDr Gene Bowman from theDepartments of Neurologyand Public Health and Preven-tive Medicine at OregonHealth & Science Universityin Portland, and a member ofthe American Academy ofNeurology. He and his col-leagues describe three sets offindings:

Elderly people with dietshigh in several vitamins oromega 3 fatty acids were lesslikely to have the brain shrink-age that usually accompaniesAlzheimer’s disease thanpeople whose diets were lowin those nutrients.

Those whose diets were high in omega 3fatty acids and in vitamins C, D, E and the Bvitamins were also more likely to score betteron tests of mental ability than those whose di-ets were low in those nutrients.

Those whose diets were high in trans fatswere more likely to have brain shrinkage andperform less well on thinking and memory teststhan those whose diets were low in trans fats.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for hu-man health but the body can’t make them. Theseare primarily found in fish, also an essentialsource of vitamin D; some plants and nut oils

Nutrients may stop brainshrinkage linked to Alzheimer’s

are also good sources of omega 3 fatty acids,which are also called polyunsaturated fattyacids (PUFAs).

B vitamins and antioxidants C and E areprimarily found in fruits and vegetables, ex-cept for B12, which mostly comes from ani-

mal products, although it is alsopresent in fortified breakfastcereals. Trans fats are prima-rily found in fast, packaged,fried and frozen food, manybaked goods and margarinespreads.

The study is thought to bethe first to measure several nu-trient biomarkers in the bloodas a way to examine links be-tween diet and memory, think-ing and brain volume.

Until now, other studieshave only examined or or twonutrients at a time, or have useddata from diet questionnaires,which rely on people’s memoryof what they eat and do not ac-count for how efficiently theirbodies retain the nutrients, aparticular problem in the eld-

erly.For the study, Bowman and colleagues

recruited 104 elderly people of average age87 who had few risk factors for impairedmemory and thinking. From participants’blood tests the researchers measured 30 dif-ferent nutrient biomarkers.

All the participants also completed testsof memory and thinking, while 42 of themalso underwent MRI scans that measured theirbrain volume.The results showed that over-all the participants’ diets were healthy, but25% were lacking in vitamin D and 7% weredeficient in vitamin B12.

LAHORE: PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif with participants of International Sessionof Youth Coordinators of Nawaz Tigers.

LAHORE: Members of students council taking oath during the investiture ceremony of thecouncil at Lahore College for Women.

LAHORE: Mr Charlas, Director General Security and Anti-terrorism Department of UK called on Chief MinisterMuhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

Committee tocontrol mobile

snatching incidentsSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Inspector GeneralPolice Punjab (IGP) KhanBaig, taking serious notice ofthe escalation in mobile snatch-ing incidents across the prov-ince, decided to setup a com-mittee comprising of police of-ficials and representatives oftraders’ unions to curb the ris-ing ratio of mobile snatchingoccurrences.

According to the sources inthe police department, in a highlevel official meeting, IGPunjab Khan Beig expressedhis annoyance over the risingincidents of the mobile snatch-ing in Punjab and directed theconcerned police officials tokeep strict monitoring of thoselocalities where the business ofthe stolen or snatched mobilephone are going unchecked. Healso directed to collect the dataof those mobiles sold in theopen markets.

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Newly elected Stu-dent Council of Lahore Collegefor Women University (LCWU)Lahore took oath here onWednesday.

Vice Chancellor Dr. SabihaMansoor was the Chief Guest onthe occasion.

The event was organized bythe Directorate of Student Af-fairs in the Auditorium and wasattended by the Registrar Dr.S.E. Benjamin, Dean of SocialSciences Dr. Aisha Roohi, Deanof Management Sciences Prof.Riffat Saqlain, Director Instituteof Languages and CultureNoshaba Farooq, DirectorAdmin Ali Rizvi and membersof Faculty.

Addressing on the occasionVice Chancellor Dr. SabihaMansoor said that Academic in-stitutions have pertinent role inproducing new leadership forthe state. “Quality of education

Efrozepharma’s

manager sentto jail

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The manager ofEfroze pharma, Shakil Khan,has been sent to jail on 14-dayjudicial remand while the physi-cal remand of the owner, MalikNadir, has been extended for twomore days in Punjab Institute ofCardiology (PIC) medicinecase.

The case was heard in alower court of Model Town inLahore on Wednesday.

After the hearing, sister ofMalik Nadir said that her brotherwas arrested despite having bailwhile the uncle lamented that theinquiry over the casualtiescaused by the drug should bemade public.

The Isotab drug that hadcaused deaths of over 200 pa-tients in PIC was manufacturedby Efroze Pharma, which wasdeclared sub-standard by a Lon-don laboratory, as it containedanti-malaria drug py-rimethamine out of proportion.A case in this regard was regis-tered in Shadman Colony policestation.

Three morechildren die of

measlesSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Three more childrenhave died of measles here onWednesday, making the deathtoll to 13 in Punjab.

Despite all claims of con-trolling the disease by thePunjab government, the childrenare dying of measles here.

Three children, Zubair, a resi-dent of Ghazi Road, a 5-month-old Eman, a resident of NeelaGumbad and a 3-year old Rehandied of measles here on Wednes-day. The death toll has risen tothe 13 across the province now.

Measles is caused by themeasles virus, a single-stranded,negative-sense enveloped RNAvirus of the genus Morbilliviruswithin the familyParamyxoviridae. Humans are thenatural hosts of the virus; no ani-mal reservoirs are known to ex-ist. This highly contagious virusis spread by coughing and sneez-ing via close personal contact ordirect contact with secretions

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Punjab Chief Min-ister Muhammad ShahbazSharif has said that large oppor-tunities of investment exist inlivestock sector of Punjab andthere is a need to further developthis sector. He said Punjab gov-ernment has provided a condu-cive atmosphere for investment,and foreign investors are beingextended maximum facilitiesand incentives. He called uponTurkish investors to partake ofinvestment opportunities exist-ing in livestock and other sec-tors of Punjab province.

The Chief Minister wastalking to a Turkish delegationof livestock sector which calledon him under the leadership ofTurkish businessman, Mr.Dursun, at Model Town, today.During the meeting, views wereexchanged regarding coopera-tion in the livestock sector, be-sides exporting Halal meat.Secretary Livestock Punjabwas also present during themeeting.

Shahbaz: Foreign investorsare facility-wise encouraged

Talking on the occasion,Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif saidthat Punjab government hastaken effective steps to promotelivestock sector.

He said Pakistan is a promi-nent country in the world, interms of milk and meat produc-tion, while the economy of thecountry can be strengthened byproviding incentives and facili-ties to the investors in livestocksector. He informed the Turk-ish delegation that a modernslaughter house has been estab-lished in the provincial capital,which is benefiting livestockfarmers.

He said modern slaughterhouses would also be estab-lished in other cities of the prov-ince as well, through which pre-cious foreign exchange wouldbe earned by exporting Halalmeat.

Talking to the Chief Minis-ter, the Turkish businessman Mr.Dursun said that he is visitingPakistan for the first time andhas realized that great invest-ment opportunities exist in

Punjab. He said Turkey is will-ing to work with Punjab govern-ment for the promotion of live-stock sector.

Meanwhile, Chief MinisterMian Mohammad ShahbazSharif has said that journalistsproblems will be resolved onpriority basis.

Addressing a meeting withnewly elected body of MultanPress Club led by PresidentRana Perveze Hameed at CIPlounge Multan Airport, he saidthe government was committedto provide facilities to journal-ists.

Earlier, President MultanPress Club Rana PervezHameed briefed the Chief Min-ister about journalist colony andother problems of Press Club.He invited CM Punjab to payvisit of Multan Press Club.

Chief Minister ShahbazSharif assured the newly electedbody of paying visit to MPC. Onthis occasion, MNAs RanaMehmoodul Hassan, ShiekhTariq Rasheed and others werealso present.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Punjab Law Min-ister Rana Sanaullah Khan hassaid that new provinces shouldbe formed on administrativebasis and not on linguistic one.

Talking to media personson Wednesday, he said, PML-N is not against the creation ofnew provinces but wants infairly manner.

He said the proposedBahawalpur Janoobi Punjabprovince is a stunt to gain po-litical mileage and a con-spiracy to postpone elections.

‘PML-N wants new provinceson administrative basis

A year ago, he said, anunanimous resolution with re-gard to establishment of SouthPunjab Province and restora-tion of Bahawalpur provincewas passed in the Punjab As-sembly.

Therefore, there should betwo provinces instead of one,he added.

“If a bill with regard to set-ting up of Bahawalpur JanoobiPunjab province was tabled inNational Assembly, PML-Nwill also submit a constitu-tional amendment in NationalAssembly in the light of

Punjab Assembly resolution,”he added.

Harvesting credit, RanaSana said, PML-N was firstwhich raised the issue of res-toration of Bahawalpur prov-ince. He demanded that a com-mission of national consensusbe constituted for resolving theissue of restoration ofBahawalpur province and es-tablishment of South Punjab.

The provincial ministerclaimed that popularity graphof Nawaz League had risen andit would win next election withmajority. ‘Edu institutions

produce new leadership’as well as co-curricular activi-ties enhance the standard of aca-demic organization. I congratu-late newly elected members ofStudent Council and hope theywill prove themselves as a rolemodel before more than tenthousand students in the cam-pus. It is our vision to includeLCWU among top universitiesof the world by 2010 and newStudent Council will be helpfuland supportive to achieve thetarget”. She added.

Director Student AffairsShireen Asad, in her address,thanked the Vice Chancellor forher constant support and patronship for the Student Council andthe Society concern to numerousco curricular activities in theUniversity. She further said thatStudents, through Student Coun-cil and societies, are trained andeducated how to manage differ-ent events efficiently and all theseactivities help students to be con-fident, polished and courageous.

Blind studentamong top 10in M.Phil PUadmission test

LAHORE—A brilliant blind stu-dent Sarfraz Ahmad Khan se-cured position among top 10 inwritten test for admission toM.Phil in Special EducationDepartment of the Punjab Uni-versity.

All the top 10 students whoqualified the written test and in-terview have been given admis-sion to M.Phil against a total of15 seats strictly in accordancewith the merit criteria laid downby the Higher Education Com-mission.

Sarfraz who turned blind atthe age of 12 due to wrong medi-cal treatment told APP hereWednesday that my poor parentsdid their best for the restorationof eye sight but top specialiststold that it is not now possible.

Despite a number of hard-ships, all his family membersfully supported him and he kepthis spirit high and qualified allmatric to master exams in highfirst divisions including amongtop 20 in Chief Minister Punjabtalent hunt programme.

Sarfraz said that he is happybecause VC PU Prof Dr.MujahidKamran has offered free educa-tion to all special students uptoPh.D including free hostel andtransport facility besides schol-arships to needy.—APP

City traffic policeface shortage of

wardensLAHORE—Chief Traffic OfficerCapt (retd) Sohail Chaudhry onWednesday said the departmentwas facing problems due to ashortage of traffic wardens in thecity. Talking to APP, the CTOsaid traffic burden had beenshifted to other roads due to con-struction of Ferozpur Road.

He said 300 wardens hadbeen deployed on Ring Roadand 300 were sent to training.

He added that city trafficpolice had sent its recommenda-tions of new recruitment of war-dens to the department con-cerned, he added. The CTO saidthe city traffic police were mak-ing efforts to ensure proper andsmooth flow of traffic in the cityand a summary has been forwardto the government to providegenerator system or solar systemto ensure working of traffic sig-nals round- -the-clock.—APP

DMA startsdistribution of

flood relief fundsLAHORE—Director GeneralPunjab Disaster ManagementAuthority, Mujahid Sherdil hassaid that, on the instructions ofChief Minister Punjab, processof distribution of Rs. 2 crore, 56lakh 32 thousand as “Khadim-e-Aala Relief Card” worth Rs.20,000/- among 12,816 floodaffected families, has been com-pleted, while, in Tehsil Rojhan,release of funds among floodvictims began on Wednesday.

He expressed these viewswhile presiding over a meetingabout provision of “Khadim-e-Aala Relief Cards. While givingdetails, Mujahid Sherdil told that,Rs. 2 crore 56 Lakh 32 thousandas relief fund among 4380 floodaffected families in Rajanpur, 5725in DG Khan and 2711 in Jampurhave been distributed whereas, re-leasing of funds among flood vic-tim families of Tehsil Rojhan hasnow been started.—INP

3 Mujahid forcepersonnel held

LAHORE—The law enforce-ment agency personnel detainedthree Mujahid force personnelfor quizzing a police officer hereon late Tuesday night.

According to the details, threepersonnel of Mujahid force namedKamran Nawaz, Farooq andShafiq who were on duty stoppedthe vehicle of SSP Rana Salman,commandant of a police trainingcentre in Lahore for randomchecking near Gaddafi Stadium.The official, who was drunk, re-fused to allow the personnel for athorough check and summonedother policemen from two differ-ent police stations.—INP

Young doctorsstrike continues

LAHORE—Young doctors con-tinued their strike on 15th con-secutive day on Wednesday inout patients departments (OPDs)of the city hospitals.

The striking doctors, how-ever, continued treatment to pa-tients at makeshift OPD campsset up outside hospitals whilesenior doctors remained busy ingiving treatment to patients atOPD wards of their respectivehospitals.

On the call of Young Doc-tors Association (YDA), youngdoctors are on strike to mountpressure on provincial govern-ment to consider their demandsregarding service structure andrelease of their fellow doctors.

On the other hand, the or-deal of poor patients have wors-ened with each day of strike. Thepatients are not being providedmedicines or any required testfacilities.—APP

LAHORE—The Lahore HighCourt Wednesday transfered andposted three additional district andsessions judges (AD&SJs), and 21civil judges-cum-judicial magis-trates.

According to a LHC notifi-cation, the AD&SJs who weretransferred include MuhammadAslam Bhatti from Sialkot toJhang, Bedar Bakht from Jhangto Sialkot and Muhammad Abbassfrom Bahawalnagar to Arifwala.

The civil judges who weretransferred include Shafiq Abbasfrom Kharian to Gujrat, IjazAhmad from Kharian to Gujrat,Saima Pervaiz Butt from Gujratto Kharian, Ghulam Shabbir fromGujrat to Kharian, Fiaz Hussainfrom Liaqatpur to Darya Khan, M.Amin Shahzad from Bhalwal toMalakwal, Shamaila Sheikh fromRawalpindi to Chichawatni,

Tahir Manzoor fromChichawatni to Arifwala, ShaukatAbbas from Arifwala toRawalpindi,. Nabeila JafferySyeda from Chiniot to Chakwal,Dildar Shah from Chakwal toChiniot, Akhtar Hussain Kalyarfrom Fortabbas to Shujaabad,Sarfraz Ali Mirza from Shujaabadto Fortabbas, Malik MuhammadShakeel Ashraf from Khanpur toKhanewal, Muhammad Ahmadfrom Shujaabad to Khanpur, M.Umar Khan Fareedy fromDepalpur to Sheikhupura,Mughira Munawar fromSheikhupura to Depalpur, M.Khalid Mahmood Warraich fromSialkot to Chishtian, RashidNawaz from Chishtian to Lahore,Sultan Asghar Chatha from KallarSyedan to Nankana Sahib andMoshis Mumtaz from NankanaSahib to Kallar Sayedan.—APP

Judicial officerspostings, transfers