mONDAy mAy 06, 2013 Jamadi-us-Saani 25, 1434 I Rawalpindi/Islamabad I Vol, VI, No. 17 I www.thespokesman.pk Pages 12 I Price 10/-

TTOODDAAYY’’SS WWEEAATTHHEERR

Partly sunny andsummerlike

HIGH: 38 LOW: 21

PG I 07

SARABJIT SAGA:GLORIFYING A TERRORIST– FARAKH SHAHZAD

PG I 06

THE EVERYDAY TRAFFICMESS IN PAKISTAN– IMDAD HUSSAIN

Cmyk

PG I 03

TWO ELECTION COMMISSIONS IN NA-41

SNEAK PEEKPrivate housing societieslooting people in E-11

The slackness of theCapital DevelopmentAuthority towardsimpeding unauthoriseddevelopment work inSector E-11 have

provided an opportunity to some privatehousing societies for looting the peopleby launching their residential schemes.This is being done without getting anyNo objection Certificate (NOC) from thecivic body.

Page 02

70 officials campaigning in25 constituencies

Observers, associatedwith the Free and FairElection Network,reported that a total of 70government oNcialsparticipating in political

activities in 25 constituencies across thecountry. About 36 oNcials were seenseeking votes for diOerent candidates in12 constituencies, while another 17oNcials were observed participating inpolitical rallies in 12 diOerentconstituencies.

Page 04

Israel strikes Syria again,rocking Damascus

Israel carried out itssecond air strike in dayson Syria early on Sunday,a Western intelligencesource said, in an attackthat shook Damascus

with a series of powerful blasts and drovecolumns of fire into the night sky.

Page 08

Song critical of Pakistanigenerals blocked online

A Pakistani band with areputation for satirizingthe country’s militarymay have finally gone toofar. About two weeks ago,the band, Beygairat

Brigade, released a song that criticizesgenerals even more directly than theirprevious oOering, which became a viralvideo hit when it was released two yearsago. But over the past 10 days, the videoof the song, ‘Dhinak Dhinak,’ has beenmysteriously blocked in Pakistan onVimeo, a video-sharing Web site.

Page 10

Aamir Atlas becomes Asian squash champion

Pakistan’s Aamir AtlasKhan brushed asideKuwait’s Abdullah AlMezayan in three sets tobecome the firstPakistani in 14 years to

win the Asian Squash Championship onSunday at the Islamabad SportComplex. Aamir triumphed over AlMezayan after an impressiveperformance with figures of 11-9, 11-3,11-8. Speaking to media after the final,Aamir said the victory was the result ofhis hard work and he was happy to havewon a title for Pakistan.

Page 11

SAEED MINHAS

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: A front of politicalparties led by Mutahida QaumiMovement (MQM) crying hoarselyfor a ‘level playing field’ in thecountry’s first rules-based electionsseems to have failed to have drawn aresponse from the diplomaticcommunity, especially so from theAmericans, EU and the Arabs.Several background talks with top

ranking diplomats from across theWestern bloc including some of theobserver missions of EU, Pacific andGulf countries, revealed that theirmajor concern was not MQM’shalaballoo but the Taliban. “If Talibansucceed in dictating their terms thewhole world will have to seriouslythink about not only the future of

Pakistan but even that of the ‘war onterror’,” contended a senior observerfollowing Pakistan and the Talibanvery closely for over a decade.A group of foreign diplomats who

recently met President Zardari inKarachi said “many of us sympathizewith Peoples Party and its allies fornot getting the chance to campaignopenly because of threats fromextremists, but then 2008 electionswere held under worsecircumstances.” One of themcontended that “technically speakingthis election is much better than anyof the previous ones.” He argued thatnearly 40 million out of 82 millionvotes in the 2008 elections wereconsidered bogus and even more werechallenged in the 2002 elections.Some rules of the election game had

been laid down and for the first timecandidates were following some kindof discipline, he added.One of the same group said, “It

certainly was not nice to seePresident Zardari literally living in abunker in his palatial Karachi abode,but then we have to look at thebrighter side of things.”In one such background briefing by

one of the major players in Pakistanipolitics, it was clear that theproverbial Big Brother was not takingPeoples Party, ANP and MQM’sconcerns very seriously. However, Big

Brother does believe that these partiesmight challenge the election results.Referring to Taliban’s threat and

their reign of terror these elections,Western diplomats consider it notonly alarming but decisive in the daysto come. ‘If they succeed in inflictingtheir will on the state, it will be moredisastrous than anything else,” addedthese diplomats.With the Saudis and other Gulf

rulers already concerned aboutSharif ’s safety as they provided over20 bullet proof vehicles to them andengaging deeply in opening welfarecenters across FATA with the helpof Pakistan Army, they seem morecontent that at least their horse isopenly contesting the polls whileriding in chopper. “There have beenso many splinter extremist groups

in the country that only acollaborated approach can help finda way out that will help all thestakeholders,” whispered a diplomatin his usual Arabic-English drift. One chilling fact that emerges

from such interactions with a crosssection of diplomats remains thatthey still believe that extremistsare not anyone's friends in thepolitical arena. They strongly believe that if three

former allies of PPP are hidingbecause of threats, then those whoare openly campaigning are verymuch a target of these elements too.Therefore, they — especially theArab friends — hoped no one wouldtake this lightly. The consensus,however, was that elections shouldbe held, come what may.

World on edge for fear of Taliban dictation

Amnesty for ensuringprisoners safetyLLUUCCKKNNOOWW:: AmnestyInternational Sundaydemanded that India andPakistan must take promptsteps to enhance security forprisoners lodged in jailsfollowing jail attacks in bothcountries. In an oNcial statement,

Amnesty said, "Indianauthorities should takeimmediate steps to protectPakistani prisoners in variousjails and ensure that suchattacks do not recur." "BothIndian and Pakistaniauthorities must take promptand concrete steps," saidShashikumar Velath.Authorities estimate that

there are around 535 Indianprisoners in Pakistani jailsand 270 Pakistani prisonersin Indian jails. Relatives andlawyers often complain thatIndian and Pakistaniauthorities do not providethem with adequate access tothese prisoners. –AGENCIES

HHYYDDEERRAABBAADD:: SSoollddiieerrss iinn tthheeiirr aarrmmoouurreedd vveehhiicclleess ppaattrrooll tthhee cciittyy aahheeaadd ooff eelleeccttiioonnss.. —— OONNLLIINNEE

LLOOWWEERR DDIIRR:: Police on Sundayseized over 90,000 fake ballotpapers papers a vehicle inChakdara area of Lower Dir.DIG Malakand range

Obaidullah Khan said the policeteam recovered and confiscated theNational Assembly ballot papersduring the search of a vehicle andthat the papers were not carryingthe seal of the ElectionCommission of Pakistan andappeared to be fake.Two persons were also taken into

custody and were booked undersections 419, 420 , 468 and 471 ofthe PPC. The fake ballot paperswere meant for NA-34constituency of Lower Dir.Secretary Election Commission

Ishtiaq Ahmed also confirmed thepolice report. Hailing the policeteam that had recovered the fakeballot papers, he said thepreparation and transportation ofthe ballot papers was being carriedout under the Army’s supervisionto minimise risk of ballots leakageand fake voting.He added that the use of fake

ballot papers was curtailed andthose who were using them shouldno longer dream of using them.Meanwhile, the Election

Commission of Pakistan (ECP) hasstarted E-Ticket Service enablingthe voters to get information abouttheir polling station and votingserial number by just sending SMSon 8300. An ECP oNcial said the service

would be inaugurated on Monday.He said a voter can inquire about

his serial number in voter’s list,polling station and constituency inwhich he is enrolled as voter bysending his ComputerisedNational Identity Card (CNIC)number (without dash) to 8300 -in reply, the Election Commissionwill send him block code, voterlist’s serial number, constituencynumber and location of his pollingstation (in which he is required tocaste the vote).He said the new service will save

time of the voters and makeirrelevant to get paper chit fromthe polling camps established bythe candidates outside pollingstations. He reminded that theSupreme Court of Pakistan hasalready banned establishingpolling camps near pollingstations.He said the Election Commission

is charging Rs 2 per message.Regarding ballot papers, he saidthe printing is being completedlater Sunday and from Monday, itsbulk distribution will begin. The ECP also plans set up a

Special Election Cell this week forprompt announcement ofunoNcial election results.As per media reports, the

Commission will set up a specialelection cell for announcingunoNcial results immediatelyafter receiving them from thereturning oNcers. The presidingoNcers will announce electionresults of their respectiveconstituency in the presence ofpolling agents and also display itat a prominent place. –AGENCIES

E-ticket service introduced for voters

90,000 fakeballot papersseized in Dir

OUR STAFF REPORTERS

KKAARRAACCHHII//QQUUEETTTTAA:: As Karachiremained shut on the call of MuttahidaQaumi Movement (MQM) to protestattacks on it election oNces, thebombers continued to disrupt politicalactivities and carried out five attacks inSibbi, Quetta, Mardan and Mach.At least four people were killed when

militants attacked the convoy ofindependent candidate Sardar SarfarazDomki in Sibbi, Balochistan on Sundayevening. Police said independentcandidate for PB-21 Sardar SarfarazDomki and Dostain Domki candidatefor NA 265 were on a campaign rally inKarak area of Sibbi when their convoycame under attack. Police said one ofthe assailants was killed and anotherwas injured. However, three securityguards of Domki were killed. Policesaid the injured were shifted to civilhospital Sibi for medical treatment.In the second incident, militants

hurled a hand grenade at the oNce ofJamiatul Ulema-e-Islam (Ideological)in Deba area of Quetta. Police said twopeople were injured in the attack, theassailants however managed to escape.In another incident, at least three

persons were injured in a hand-grenade attack near an election oNceof the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) inFazalabad area of Mardan. Rescue andoNcials reached the site of attack.Police sources said unknownmotorcycle-riding attackers lobbed ahand-grenade near the election oNce

of the PTI where the party’s candidatefrom NA-10, Rehmanullah, washolding a corner meeting and that theinjured were shifted to a nearbyhospital for treatment.At least seven people were injured

when militants attacked the officesof Pakistan Muslim League-Nawazand National Party in Balochistanon Sunday.Police oNcial said militants lobbed a

hand grenade in the oNce of PML-Nleader General (retd) Abdul QadirBaloch in Kharan town of Balochistan.Baloch said five PML-N workers wereinjured in the attack. The blast alsodamaged the electoral oNce of PML-N.Militants also targeted the electoral

oNce of National Party Mach town of

Balochistan with grenades. Threeworkers were injured in the attack. Meanwhile, a complete shutdown

was observed in Karachi and othercities of Sindh following a call toobserve a 'day of mourning' by theMuttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)over twin bomb blasts outside theirelection oNce.Life came to a halt in Hyderabad,

Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur,Nawabshah and Karachi, with almostall major markets closed and publictransport oO the roads.Funeral prayers of three workers of

MQM were oOered at Azizabad area ofKarachi. MQM and other politicalparties leaders were among hundredspeople who attended the prayers.

� Cell being set up for uno+cial poll results

Shut Karachi mourns killings

Bombers go onwreaking havoc� Grenades hurled at PTI, PML-N, NP, JUI o+ces � 4 killed in Sibbi attack

NNEEWW DDEELLHHII:: Pakistaniprisoner Sanaullah Haq whowas attacked in an Indiaprison in Held Kashmir lastweek is brain dead, doctors ofthe PGI Chandigarh saidSunday.Doctors at PGI Chandigarh

issued the latest report over thecondition of Sanaullah Haqaccording to which the attackedprisoner was in a brain-deadstate. The report was reportedlysigned by DR SN Mathu Rayaand other doctors of the teamtending to the Pakistani prisoner.Pakistani High Commissioner in India,

Salman Bashir has taken permission fromthe Indian Foreign Ministry to enquireabout the health of the Pakistani prisoner,Sanaullah, who was injured by his Indianinmates at a prison in Bhalwal jail.According to the spokesman of the

Pakistan High Commission in India, thePakistani High Commissioner Salman

Bashir has decided to go toChandigarh, to visit Sanaullah.The spokesman said that

after permission from theIndian authorities, the PakistanHigh Commissioner wouldembark for Chandigarh.Meanwhile, Pakistan has

demanded from India therelease of 47 Pakistani prisonerswho have completed their prisonterms and are languishing invarious Indians prisons.“47 Pakistani prisoners in

various prisons have completedtheir sentence and they should be releasedimmediately” Pakistan’ envoy to IndiaSalman Bashir wrote in a letter addressed toIndian foreign secretary.The letter has been handed over to top

oNcials at Indian Ministry of ExternalAOairs by Pakistan’s deputy HighCommissioner Abdul Rehman Nizamani,spokesman for Pakistan High Commissionin India Manzoor Ali Memon said. –AGENCIES

Caretakers to review situation todayKKAARRAACCHHII:: Interior Minister Malik Habib Khan has said that the caretakergovernment is keenly monitoring law and order situation in Karachi, andwould remove reservations of all the political parties. Addressing a pressconference along with MQM leadership at party's headquarters in Karachion Sunday, Malik said he has been focusing on situation in Karachi andwould improve the security of political parties and leaders. He said a highlevel meeting will be called today (Monday) to address the issue and thereservations of all the political parties. He assured MQM leaders that lawand order situation in Karachi will be improved at all costs. Malik HabibKhan has said that not only Muttahida Qaumi Movement but other politicalparties were also being targeted by the terrorists. He said that correct use ofvote will eliminate those who want to sabotage elections. On the occasion,Farooq Sattar said conspiracies were being hatched to prevent the MQMfrom taking part in elections, adding the party would participate in theelectoral process at every cost. – OUR STAFF REPORTER

� Diplomats say elections still the best-ever � Believe electioneering not as terrifying as victim parties make out to be

Pak prisoner braindead, say doctors� HC allowed to visit Sana in Chandigarh

MONDAY, MAY 06, 2013

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Higher EducationCommission and the provincial governments,under the Tertiary Education Support Programof the World Bank, have agreed for collaborativeefforts to improve standards of collegeeducation.In this regard, a meeting was held here at

HEC Islamabad. Speaking on the occasion,HEC Executive Director Dr Mukhtar Ahmedsaid that the college education was veryimportant pillar of higher education in Pakistanand after 18th amendment, the HEC wasworking with the provincial higher educationdepartments to bring college education at parwith international standards.He also assured the HEC was ready to provide

facilitation and assistance to bring quality inthe college education. He emphasised over thedire need of joining hands among theprovincial higher education departments andthe affiliated universities to develop jointstrategy in this regard.

Earlier, HEC Director General AcademicsFarman Ullah Anjum in his welcome remarkssaid that through this innovative and first sortof activity, 800 college administrators werebeing trained over the period of three year. Healso said that the program is aimed atenchanting the standard of education inaffiliated colleges and to identify those collegeswhich meet the minimum quality standards asprescribed by the HEC.The meeting was attended by KPK HEC

Secretary Ms Farah Hamid, World BankCoordinator Dr S Mahmood Raza, Abdul LatifUniversity VC Dr Parveen Shah, Sindh CollegesDirector General Nasir Ansar, KPK HECDirector Prof Qasim Marwat and other HigherEducation Commission officials.The participants of the meeting appreciated

the joint efforts of HEC and the World Bank andhoped that the program would go a long way toimprove the quality of higher education in thecolleges. �ONLINE

HEC, provinces agree onimproving college education

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Uninterrupted periods ofsitting at work are very unhealthy andbreaking up those long bouts with just afew minutes of light exercise, lowers aperson’s cancer risk, a new study claimed.According to the Diabetes Institute in

Australia, one to two minutes break fromsitting can reduce levels of molecules inthe body that are linked with cancer risk. “It seems highly likely that the longer

you sit, the higher your risk of cancer,” theresearch says.The research has revealed that there’s

more to physical activity than working outon a treadmill and a person who exercisedfor 30 minutes a day, which is therecommended amount of physical activity,is really only active for 3 percent of his or herday. This study suggested that even verybrief exercise may reduce cancer risk andone to two minutes break were associatedwith smaller waists, less insulin resistanceand lower levels of inflammation, all ofwhich are risk factors for cancer. �ONLINE

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Allama IqbalOpen University in collaborationwith the Higher EducationCommission arranged a weeklongworkshop on “Development of Physics and LaboratoryTechniques.”The workshop will be started

from May 10 and AIOU VC DrNazir Ahmed Sangi will presideover the opening ceremony. Senior faculty members from

public and private universitiesacross the country will participatein the workshop.

Allama Iqbal Open UniversityPhysics Department Chairman DrSyed Zafar Ilyas said that theworkshop would focus onlaboratory techniques, BS physics,MSc. laboratory experiments andbasic principles of performingexperiments. He said that the workshop meant

to promote international standardand latest techniques among thestudents, adding that a seniorprofessor from Germany wasspecially invited to share his expertisewith the participant. �ONLINE

Prolonged sittingat work couldboost cancer risk

CMYK

CMYK

Countless defrauded by fraudstersIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Countless innocentcitizens have been defrauded of crore ofrupees by fraudulent gangs andelements operating in the city. Theseactive fraudsters have committedmassive frauds in allotment of plots,houses, businesses and fakeinvestments, using fake cheques,during past one week. Among thecountless hapless ones include a YousafKhan who has allegedly beendefrauded of Rs 1,50,00,000 byShahzad Ahmad, while a citizen namedTahir Nawaz has complained of beingdefrauded of Rs 1,40,00,000. Manyother cases of similar nature have beenregistered against men and womeninvolved in frauds. �ONLINE

Special lectures on researchat Al-Khair UniversityIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The special lectures forAl-Khair University research studentshave been outlined from 1100 hrs to1500 hrs. Head of department DrMahmood Hussain Awan would bedeliberating a series of lectures aboutlimitations, diIculties being faced byresearch students, while others wouldshed light on latest trends and factorsin research. �ONLINE

Adultrated drinks on the rise in summerIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: With the beginning ofhot summer days, the uncheckedadulterated drinks sold by dirty,careless and stall vendors witnessed arise. Masses, especially the innocentschool children anxious to quench theiruncontrolled thirst in a hot summerday are dangerously exposed toadulterated forms of drinks, such as iceballs topped with squashed of highlyand sometimes openly dubious natureand other drinks prepared with highlycontaminated substances. Lacedliberally with chemicals, these drinksoften result in infected throats andother kinds of diseases. The citizenshave demanded strict action againstthese vendors. �ONLINE

Shortage of civic facilitiesat bus stops irks peopleIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The twin cities ofRawalpindi and Islamabad arealready facing shortage of bus stopsbut there is also lack of civic facilitiesat existing stops, causing hugeinconvenience to commuters. Thepassengers traveling through publictransports daily complainedregarding lack of dust bins at stopsand thus compelling the commutersand shop keepers to throw thegarbage at road side. "A number offruit vendors earn their livelihood atbus stop and buyers are left with nooption but to throw the garbage atroad side due to lack of dust bins,"commented Abrar Ahmed at KhanaPul bus stop. Another commuter saidthat garbage heaps can be found atbus stops owing to shortage ofdustbins and also presented an uglylook. �ONLINE

Clean and Green campaignmoves to Sector I-9IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: “The Clean and GreenIslamabad” campaign of the CapitalDevelopment Authority has been movedto Sector I-9 on Monday. The CDAChairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz requestedthe residents to ensure the maximumparticipation in the campaign to make itsuccessful. �ONLINE

OUR STAFF REPORTER

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Capital DevelopmentAuthority Chairman Tahir Shahbazhas directed the officials concernedof civic body’s One WindowOperation Directorate to resolve theissues being faced by the public, whovisit CDA on daily basis, promptly inline with modern techniques.

He said this on the occasion ofsurprise visit to One WindowOperation Directorate here at theCDA Headquarters. On thisoccasion, Estate Member ShaistaSohail was also present. Shahbazsaid that the purpose of the OneWindow Operation was to resolvecomplaints of the general public inan efficient manner in line with the

modern techniques in a singlecompound to avoid the odd officialtools and tactics.The chairman directed the officers

concerned to devise a strategy forcomputerisation of old record so thatmaximum record could be saved forthe future. The computerisation of the old

record would also ensure

transparency as well, he said, anddirected the officials to demonstratemoral obligations while dealing thepublic at the counters with qualityofficial responsibilities in line withbest professional techniques tosatisfy them.On the occasion, Shaista Sohail

apprised the CDA chairman thateffective measures have been taken

for efficient and smooth functioningof the One Window Operation. Sheapprised that most of the record ofthe Estate Wing has beencomputerised and remaining workon computerisation would be carriedout as and when computers andother related electronic applianceswere furnished.Due to increase in population,

development in stalled and openingof new sectors, Estate Wing has beenexpanded by restructuring it. Shealso informed the CapitalDevelopment Authority chairmanthat the Estate Wing has beendivided into two parts, one for thealready established sectors and theother was dealing with the newresidential sectors.

CDA chairman directs staJ to resolve public issues promptly� To ensure transparency, Tahir Shahbaz orders computerisation of record at Estate Wing

JJaammhhoooorrii WWaattaann PPaarrttyy aaccttiivviissttss ffrroomm DDeerraa BBuuggttii ccoonnttiinnuuiinngg tthheeiirr ssiitt--iinn iinn ffrroonntt ooff NNaattiioonnaall PPrreessss CClluubb.. �THE SPOKESMAN

SALMAN ABBAS

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The slackness of the CapitalDevelopment Authority towards impedingunauthorised development work in Sector E-11 have provided an opportunity to someprivate housing societies for looting the peopleby launching their residential schemes. This isbeing done without getting any No objectionCertificate (NOC) from the civic body.A senior CDA official told “The Spokesman”

that the authority would take action againstthe private housing societies that wereinvolved in such crimes. “But ironic is the factthat how the private societies have succeededto get launch their housing schemes withoutgetting NOC from the authority,” the officialsaid, adding that hundreds of people have

invested their hard earned money in these fakesocieties and the action against responsibleCDA officials must also be taken. The housing societies in Sector E-11 namely

M/s Pakistan Medical Cooperative HousingSociety, M/s Federation of EmployeesCooperative Housing Society and the ServicesCooperative Housing Societies have not beenissued NOC, he added.“I had bought a plot in Pakistan Medical

CHS back in 2010 on the recommendations oflocal property dealer as he showed me fakeNOC and approval from the CDA,” saidMuazzam Hayyat a plot owner in PakistanMedical CHS, adding that it was shocking forme to know that I had bought a plot in fakesociety. “I had now given advertisement for urgent

sale of my plot and offered half rate of it,” hesaid. Real Estate Advisor Zaffar Bhutta saidthat due to the negligence of the CDAmanagement, many innocent citizens from allover the country were being looted by theillegal housing schemes. “Even the property dealers and some CDA

officials were getting profits from thesesocieties due to which the action against themhas been delayed for a long time,” he alleged. He elaborated that normally the property

advisors got 1% commission on every deal butthe illegal housing schemes paid a huge profitto real estate dealers for sailing their plots. Heinformed that the sale of plots in illegalhousing schemes in Sector E-11 was in fullswing, as due to its ideal location, many peoplewant to buy plots in the area.

Private housing societiesplundering people in E-11� Fake societies launching residential schemes without NoC from relevent authorities

MMeemmbbeerrss ooff PPaakkiissttaann FFoorreeiiggnn DDooccttoorrss AAssssoocciiaattiioonn hhoollddiinngg aa rraallllyy iinn ssuuppppoorrtt ooff tthheeiirr ddeemmaannddss.. �ONLINE

MMiisshhaall MMaalliikk,, tthhee wwiiffee ooff JJaammmmuu KKaasshhmmiirr LLiibbeerraattiioonn FFrroonntt CChhaaiirrmmaann YYaassiinn MMaalliikk aaddddrreessssiinnggddeemmoonnssttrraattoorrss oouuttssiiddee NNaattiioonnaall PPrreessss CClluubb.. �ONLINE

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Vendors haveencroached on footpaths in differentcommercial areas of twin cities,creating problems not only for thepedestrians but also in the smooth flow of traffic.The shopkeepers and vendors at

Karachi Company, Aabpara, Faizabad,Bhara Kahu, Raja Bazaar, CommercialMarket, Double Road and adjoiningbazaars have encroached on the footpaths. Shopkeepers display goods on

pavements while vendors put up stallson footpaths, forcing pedestrians to walkin the middle of the roads. �ONLINE

Vendors encroach oncommercial areas

Workshop on development ofphysics, laboratory techniques

MONDAY, MAY 06, 2013 POWER ALLEYS|CMYK

TAHIR ALI

PESHAWAR: NA-41, Tribal area – VISouth Waziristan, is one of theconstituencies in tribal areas where thehomegrown militants have set rules andregulations for the candidates. The area isunder the influence of Mullah Nazirmilitant group and no politician in thisconstituency could dare violating rules setby the Taliban. Interestingly theSalahuddin Ayubi, the head of MullahNazir group is also the head of AhmadzaiWazir’s peace committee.In NA-41 there will be a contest amongst

38 candidates. Majority of tribesmen in thisconstituency are Wazir while aconsiderable number of Mehsud tribesmenlive in Tyarza tehsil. The real contest is expected between

Maulana Abdul Malik Wazir andindependent candidate Muhammad Alipopularly known as Ali Wazir. In general elections of 2002 and 2008

the seat went to Maulana Abdul MalikWazir; now after the extension PoliticalParties Order 2002 he is contesting theelection on the ticket of JUI-F which isone of the strongest parties in theAgency. Ali Wazir is a young man whowas affiliated to the student wing ofAwami National Party during his study.At the moment Ayaz Wazir isrepresenting the ANP in the electionshowever his position is very weak, as hecould not openly run his electioncampaign. He was the runner-up in the 2008

general elections. Naseerullah Khan isanother independent candidate who canmake upset. A relatively unpopular AjabGul Wazir is contesting the elections onPTI ticket. Ghalib Khan of CompanyBaghi Zari Noor Tehsil Wana isrepresenting Pakistan Muslim League(PML-N) in the elections while PPP hasawarded ticket to Amanullah Wazir ofKarikot Wana.

During the general elections of 2008Maulana Abdul Malik Wazir grabbed 9000votes; Ghalib Khan of PML-N remainedsecond by securing 8177 ballots. Anindependent candidate Azizul Hasan Wazirwho remained third during the last electionby bagging 7179 votes is not going for thiselection.Before the start of election activities in

NA-41 South Waziristan the local militantsset rules for the candidates. CommanderAyubi invited all the candidates to ameeting and briefed them how to go for theelections. The politicians were ensured thatthe Taliban would not interfere in theiractivities but for safe balloting they shouldtake some measures.The ‘Election Commission of Taliban’

has set four rules for all the politicalparties: Firstly, the political ralliesshould be held in open areas out of theRustam Bazaar, the main market of thearea: secondly the candidates with nopopular votes should contest theelections; thirdly the candidates

should avoid indecent criticism foreach others during campaigning;fourthly, ANP, MQM and PPP shouldnot use party flags, banners in publicplaces.ANP workers in the area allege that

the Taliban treatment towards JUI-F,PTI and PML-N is indifferent whilethe nationalist party has been‘harshly’ treated. ANP is running doorto door campaign while the otherparties are holding meetings in openareas while following the order of‘ECT’.The ANP also approached the ‘Taliban

Election Commission’ to amend the rulesand to allow the party workers to hoistparty flag on the oPce at Wana bazaar butthe permission was not granted.Political analysts term Maulana Abdul

Malik of JUI-F and independentcandidates Ali Wazir and NaseerullahKhan Wazir as the leading contenders inNA-41 but tribal areas are known forupsets.

NA 41 elections to beheld under two"Election Commissions"

Bad venue choice addsto people’s miseries

MOHAMMED RIZWAN

NA 87 Jhang Faisal Saleh Hyat (Ind) vs AbidImam (PPP): Faisal won the previous two

rounds in 2002 and 2008, though on diQerenttickets, against debutant Abid Imam’s motherSyeda Abida Hussain and is favorite to win thisone too. Faisal and Abida are cousins and aretraditional arch rivals in battle of Shah Jewna.Now Syeda Abida Hussain is stuck in PPP,though she made some overtures to PML-N atthe time of ticket distribution while fatherFakhar Imam has made the move to PML-N.Faisal won the elections in 2002 on a PPP ticketwhile Abida was on PML-Q ticket. In 2008,Faisal won the seat on PML-Q ticket whileAbida again lost on a PPP ticket. This time afterFaisal could not work out the deal with PML-N, he is contesting as independent while Abidahas gone into semi-retirement oQering themantle to son Abid Imam. This explains thatthere is no party vote bank in the area, and it’sall about personal rivalry and personal votebank.NA 96 Gujranwala Khurram Dastgir (PML-

N) vs Saeed Gujjar (PPP), S.A. Hameed (PTI):

The reports at the time of writing say that PTIcandidate S.A. Hameed who is a former MPAand a social worker from the area is givingsleepless nights to Khurram Dastgir, son offormer PML-N stalwart Rana Ghulam Dastgir.

The elder Dastgir made his political fortunes byaligning himself with the right quartersthroughout his political career. He was thickwith powers that be when Sharifs were in exileand then again managed to get PML-N ticketfor his son Khurram. The younger Dastgiralong with Fayyaz Chatha, son of Hamid NasirChattha, who was a Musharraf loyalist anddistrict nazim ruled the district without anyrival. But in this campaign the Dastgir clan is introuble. PPP vote of 25,000-35,000 will alsoplay a vital role in deciding the winner fromhere. One of the reasons for their decliningpopularity is a matter of an overhead bridgewhich was ‘shortened’ to save the plushshopping mall he owns.NA 105 Gujrat Ch. Pervez Elahi vs Ahmed

Mukhtar (PPP): This is a big one. The

constituency is being watched nationally astraditional rivals Chaudhries of Gujrat andChaudhries of Service Group have locked hornsagain. This is a Gujrat city seat where PML-Nhas stopped campaigning to give AhmedMukhtar a clear shot at Elahi. Last time itproduced fireworks when Mukhtar defeated ChShujaat Hussain in a close fight and this timethe constituency is on national radar right fromthe start. PPP and PML-Q, partners in thiselection, negotiated for a long time on thewithdrawal of Ch Ahmed Mukhtar. However,after final refusal from Mukhtar, the seat wasdeclared open. The constituency has Jutt, Buttand Gujjars who make bulk of the voters. Elahiis leaving nothing to chance this time as it hasbecome the matter of political survival forChaudhries. At the moment it is a dead heatand will be hard to tell till election night.NA 117 Narowal Ahsan Iqbal (PML-N) vs

Ibrarul Haq (PTI): This constituency has

changed its character and color ever since thefinal line-up was decided. It was an Ahsan Iqbalseat from the start but now the tide has been

partially reversed. Ahsan Iqbal a former IslamiJamiat-i-Talba activist and son of Apa NisarFatima who was a member of Zia’s Majlis-i-Shoora is up against a folk pop star who ishugely popular in youth. Iqbal representseverything that the old order of Pakistan politicshas – strong ‘Biradri ties’, strong connectionswith powers that be and an old hand ofconstituency politics. On the other hand Ibrar isrepresenting new face of politician though hisfamily also has strong connections with Khakias his two elder brothers come from Army (ex-servicemen) and are running Haq’s campaign.Iqbal’s arrogance and aloofness has been adecisive factor in Haq’s rise in popularity. At themoment both are locked in race to the finishand it will be diPcult to predict the outcome.NA 140 Kasur Khurshid Kasuri (PTI) vs

Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali (Ind): The award of

PTI ticket here almost divided the party at theseams just three weeks back. Kasuri and AseQboth Pakistan’s former foreign ministers werecontenders for this ticket and the issue went tothe top creating a lot of bickering and acrimonyin the party. The chairman of the PTI had tostep in himself and decided the issue in favor ofKasuri, an arch rival of Sardar AseQ. AseQ wholeft PPP to join PTI was incensed and left theparty in a huQ along with his loyalists in Kasur.In 2008, Khurshid Kasuri had defeated Sardarby a clear margin of 9000 votes but in 2002,Kasuri won the seat by a margin of just fewhundred votes against Moeenuddin Lakhvi.PPP has a good vote bank in the area but aftertheir Kasur President left the party to join PTI,the party is not running from the constituency.The early campaign trends show an edge toKasuri.NA 147 Okara Manzoor Watto (PPP) vs

Moeen Watto (PML-N): This is Haveli Lakha

constituency, home to Manzoor Watto andfamily. Manzoor Watto has been elected twice

from here and in 2008 his son KhurramJehangir Wattoo won the seat by a big marginon a PPP ticket defeating Zafar yasin Wattoo,son of another stalwart of the area YasinWattoo. This has developed in a straight fightbetween PPP and PML-N as Moeen Wattoo hasbeen an MPA from this constituency. PML-Nthis time has weaved a web around ManzoorWattoo by aligning local landlords of the areaand to pin Wattoo down in local politics. In2002, Wattoo’s daughter Rubina won this seat.This time too, the master of constituencypolitics, Manzoor Wattoo is favourite to win therace.NA 149 Multan Javed Hashmi (PTI) vs Tahir

Rasheed (PML-N): This is a four-way tie

among Javed Hashmi, Tahir Rashid, AmirDogar and Liaqat Baloch. Hashmi won thisseat in 2008 elections by defeating MalikSalahuddin Dogar of PPP on a PML-N ticket.However when Hashmi vacated the seat afterjoining PTI, the seat was won by Tahir Rasheedof PML-N who belongs to city’s big Rohtak-Hassar biradri. However this time localPML-N party was not unanimous on ticket forTahir Rasheed. PPP candidate Amir Dogar isalso a very strong horse. He is son of MalikLiaqat Dogar who won the seat in 2002elections. Jamaat Islami naib Amir LiaqatBaloch is also running from this constituencyto make it a tough mix. Since this is homeconstituency to Hashmi, he has an edge,though the PTI president lost from hereagainst comrade Shah Mehmood Qureshionce.NA 167 Vehari Tehmina Daultana (PML-N)

vs Aftab Khan Khichi (PTI): Here winner since

1993 and a PML-N bigwig Tehmina Daultanalook in trouble for the first time. His mainsupport base held by Saeed Manais is notsupporting party’s candidate because theformer Punjab speaker wanted to run himself

from the constituency. The opponent is son ofKhich tribe Chief Mumtaz Khan Khich and isformer MNA. PPP has a strong vote bank in thearea and if that vote switches to PTI, somehow,Khichi could emerge winner after defeatingDaultana for the first time.NA 173 DG Khan Saif Khosa (PPP) vs Awais

Leghari (Ind): This constituency witnessed

strange ways of politics just before the elections.Saif Khosa, the son of PML-N point man in theregion Zulfiqar Khosa suddenly announced tojoin PPP while Awais Leghari who had joinedPTI along with brother Jamal started makingovertures to PML-N and almost joined Sharifs’party had it been not for Zulfiqar Khosa’sopposition. After disappointment from PML-N, Leghari brothers had no choice but to run asindependents as Khosa’s son had already takenPPP ticket. Now one can’t rule out Legharisfrom this constituency on whatever ticket theymight choose. Saif Khosa is running hiscampaign well and being on a PPP ticket is anadvantage while Leghari has the advantage ofhome constituency. It will be a real cracker.NA 177 Kot Addu Jamshed Dasti (Ind) vs

Noor Rabbani Khar (PPP):This has developed

into a revenge fight between Dasti and NoorRabbani Khar. Pakistan’s former foreignminister Hina rabbani had won this seat in2008 while Jamshed Dasti was elected from aneighbouring constituency till he was expelledbecause of fake degree. PPP decided not toaward him ticket this time and Noor Rabbaniwithdrew Hina Rabbani following her spatwith Dasti. Rabbani Khar has the advantage ofPPP ticket here but Dasti has proved himselfto be a common man’s leader. He is popularlycalled Rescue 1122 in his area because of hisround the clock social work. He belongs to ahumble background which is his advantage.This one will be an interesting contest towatch.

The tough battles of Punjab for NA - Part II

SALMAN ABBAS

ISLAMABAD: The publicgathering of Pakistan MuslimLeague-Nawaz (PML-N) in thefederal capital on Sunday gaveparty activists a chance to catch aglimpse of their leader MianNawaz Sharif, but it also causedhardships for common because ofthe choice of venue.Abpara Chowk is considered the

busiest locality of the city and allthe roads leading to it wereblocked for almost the whole day.Routine business in AbparaMarket stopped and traderscriticized the party leadership forarranging such gatherings onroads instead of grounds or openspaces in the suburbs.However, thousands of PML-N

workers including women andyoungsters were in the gatheringto support the Nawaz Sharif-ledPML-N. “We are here not only toshow our support for PML-N butfor Pakistan, as Nawaz Sharif isthe only leader who wants to takepractical steps toward the welfareof the country,” said Jamil Khan, aPML-N supporter.The main focus of the PML-N

leadership in Islamabad was toattract the youth, drawing out alarge number of youngsters fromtheir homes to participate in thegathering. “Dr Tariq has arrangeda van for us and insisted we come,”said Luqman Amjad, anothersupporter from Koral. AnjumAqeel Khan and Dr Tariq FazalChaudhry are the PML-Ncandidates for two NationalAssembly seats of the federalcapital — NA-48 and NA-49. Inthe 2008 elections, both wonthese seats but now things seem tobe diQerent for both of them. Themain reason for Nawaz Sharif 's

visit to Islamabad was also toboost the PML-N in the federalcapital, where the PTI and PPPare active.A local PML-N leader who

wished to remain unnamed saidAbpara Chowk was chosen asthe venue to ensure "a fine showof party power". We might havenot attracted such a largenumber of people, if thegathering had been arranged atany other place.”Holding PML-N flags, a

charged crowd chanted slogansfor their party leader. During hisspeech, PML-N chief NawazSharif appealed to the residents ofIslamabad to vote for his party. “IfPML-N is voted to power, we willstart the metro bus servicebetween Rawalpindi andIslamabad,” he committed toIslooites. Reiterating theachievements of his party whenhe was in power, Nawaz Sharifsaid the 11th of May would be a

decisive day in the country’shistory and the people must electmature people on that day forPakistan's progress.“We were the people who

carried out the nuclearexperiment despite strongopposition from foreign forcesand we were the people who builtthe Motorway,” he said. “I want torevive the dignity and stature mycountry lost because of the baddeeds by corrupt rulers over thelast five years,” he said.When development work was

being carried out in Punjab, theforces sitting in the powercorridors in Islamabad were busyplundering public money, he said.Swearing that his party would endunemployment, he urged theyouth to support PML-N. “This ismy team and I cannot watch themunemployed,” said Nawazdramatically pointing to thehundreds of youngsters standingbefore him.

� PML-N rally keeps all roads to and from Aabpara Chowk choked entire day

PPP strengtheneddemocracy: KairaLLAALLAAMMUUSSAA:: The Pakistan People’sParty (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kairasaid their party strengthened democracyduring its tenure. Addressing a publicmeeting in Lalamusa on Sunday‚ he saidthe PPP led former government alsopromoted unity of all the federatingunits. Kaira said it is a good omen that allpolitical forces are taking part inelections. The PPP leader also said thathis party served with great couragedespite international pressures. Earlier‚addressing another gathering nearLalamusa‚ he said Zulfikar Ali Bhuttoand Benazir Bhutto never bowed theirheads before dictators. He said PPPworkers also rendered numeroussacrifices for the cause of democracy andwere imprisoned in notorious jails ofShahi Qila‚ Attock and Mianwali. �ONLINE

KP minister vows to adoptmodern education systemPPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: Khyber PakhtunkhwaInformation and Education MinisterMossarat Qadeem said that educationwas the only gateway to success andPakistan should have to adopt moderneducational system to get dignifiedstatus among the nations. Keeping inview the importance of the standardeducational system, the KP governmenthas decided to examine the educationsystems of the developed countries, sheadded. She expressed these views duringher visit to Lahore on Sunday wherePunjab Schools Education SecretaryAslam Kamboh briefed the caretakerminister about educational activities ofthe Punjab. Mossarat maintained thatthe KP government has done aremarkable work in education sector.The education minister applauded thesteps taken by the Punjab governmenttowards quality education. Mossaratalso visited the Directorate of StaLDevelopment Punjab and PunjabExamination Commission where shewas briefed in detail about the work,performance and achievements of theseinstitutions. �ONLINE

Sethi takes notice ofviolence against PTI workersLLAAHHOORREE:: Caretaker Punjab ChiefMinister Najam Sethi has taken noticeof the violence against workers ofPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Toba TekSingh on Sunday. The chief ministerhas sought a report from the Police IGand directed immediate action against the perpetrators. �ONLINE

KKAARRAACCHHII:: Caretaker Interior Minister MalikHabib Khan said that the caretaker government iskeenly monitoring law and order situation inKarachi and would remove reservations of all thepolitical parties. Addressing a press conference along with MQMleadership at party's headquarters in Karachi onSunday, he said that he had been focusing onsituation and would improve the security ofpolitical parties and leaders. He said a high levelmeeting would be called on Monday (today) toaddress the issue and the reservations of all thepolitical parties. He assured the MQM leadersthat law and order situation in Karachi would beimproved at all costs. Habib said that not onlyMQM but other political parties were also beingtargeted by the terrorists. He said that correct useof vote would eliminate those who want tosabotage elections. Dr Farooq Sattar said thatconspiracies were being hatched to prevent theMQM from taking part in elections, adding theparty would participate at every cost. �ONLINE

MONDAY, MAY 06, 2013

LLAAHHOORREE:: Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary Generaland candidate from NA 126 Liaquat Baloch hasurged upon the masses to change their outlookfor the restoration of peace in the country andreject the corrupt politicians.Addressing corner meetings here at hisconstituency on Sunday, he stressed the peopleto vote for honest, competent and patrioticcandidates for bringing about peace and stabilityin the country. Baloch said that the Jamaat-e-Islami would free the masses from the clutchesof lords, terrorists and extortionists and targetkillers. He said that the tenure of the Pakistan

People’s Party, Awami National Party, MutahidaQaumi Movement and the Pakistan MuslimLeague had been a nightmare for the nation asthe country was plunged into a host of problemsincluding loadshedding of electricity, oppression,tyranny, energy crisis and poverty. The Jamaatleader said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nand the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf had onlypromoted traditional politics through mutualmudslinging and bringing around incompetentand corrupt candidates. He said that the Jamaat-e-Islami would have an important role in thecountry’s national politics in future. �ONLINE

Baloch urges masses to reject corrupt politician� Says Jamaat-e-Islami will free nation from lords, terrorists, extortionists, target killers � Says PML-N and PTI promoting traditional politics

RRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: Following impositionof a ban by the PakistanTelecommunication Authority onwebsites infested with x-rated movies,business of obscene CDs has gainedground in this city.This business is touching its peak inall known markets particularlyImperial Market and Mughal SaraiMarket with the involvement of somepolice oKcials. These CDs can be seenin diLerent shops rolling sinister eyesto entrap the frustration-riddled menand women hovering around the market.This trade is not confined to CDs

only but those doing business ofdownloading of the obscene clips inmobile phone memory cards are alsosecond to none in minting moneyfrom this trade. Anyone can buy x-rated films at thecost ranging between Rs 30 to 45and DVD from Rs 50 to Rs 55 inthese markets.These markets are not onlybubbling with foreign x-movies butalso sale of desi nude CD clips is onthe way to hunting both gendersirrespective of their age. Wherefromthis vulgarity breeding businessoriginates, query is raised but is

hushed up when criminals are seenstanding behind it. They bring nudevideo clips to markets in the shape of CDs.The police are harvesting money asthis business has become morelucrative for cops than the traders. Assoon as any client comes out of theshop he is overtaken by policemenclad in plain clothes. But he has tosurrender and makes his way afterfilling an empty pocket at the cost ofpockets of morality, ethics and socialnorms. Social circles demandedcrackdown against this anti-socialtrade. �ONLINE

Obscene CD sales go unchecked

Govt to address reservationsof all parties, says Malik

LLAAHHOORREE:: CCoowwss aanndd yyoouunnggsstteerrss sseeeenn bbaatthhiinngg iinn ccaannaall nneeaarr JJaalllloo MMoorrrr.. �ONLINE

MUZAMMIL HUSSAIN SYED

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Observers, associated with theFree and Fair Election Network, reported thata total of 70 government oKcials wereparticipating in political activities in 25constituencies across the country. About 36oKcials were seen seeking votes for diLerentcandidates in 12 constituencies, while another17 oKcials were observed participating inpolitical rallies in 12 diLerent constituencies.The pre-election update by FAFENhighlighted the use of state resources by somepolitical parties for their election campaigns.It has been prepared from informationgathered by the FAFEN’s Constituency Long-Term Observers (CLTOs) from April 1 to April23, 2013. The observers saw 14 oKcials havingprivate meetings with the political candidatesin seven constituencies, while one oKcial wasseen allowing a candidate to use oKcialresources.In addition, the observers saw a party flagput up at a public oKcial’s residence andanother flag on a vehicle belonging to agovernment servant. The observers alsoreported seeing 74 campaign materials(banners, posters, stickers, wall chalking,flexes and flags) on the premises of

government buildings. PML-N had thehighest incidence (24) of campaign materialdisplayed on state buildings, followed byindependent candidates (19), PakistanPeople’s Party (10), Awami National Party(seven), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (six),Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (four), Jamaat-e-Islami (three) and the Muttahida QaumiMovement (one).The observers reported the initiation of 38development schemes by political leaders. TheFAFEN recommends that the ElectionCommission should take action againstparties and candidates violating the code ofconduct and ensure no political campaignmaterial is there at any government oKce orpublic place. The EC should ensure that thegovernment oKcials do not take part incampaign of any party or candidate and actionmust be taken against violators. The politicalparties and citizens should observe publicoKces across the country and report anycampaigning at public oKces.The observers also observed participation ofthe government oKcials in political activities,the announcement of development schemesand use of government vehicles in the politicalcampaigns. They observed the oKcials’participation in political campaigns in 25

constituencies, government buildings in 30constituencies, and development schemes in18 constituencies. Most of the oKcials (15)were seen seeking votes for the PML-Ncandidates, followed by 11 oKcials doing so forindependent candidates, five oKcials for PTIcandidates, two for PPP and one for JUI-Fcandidate.The observers could not identify the partyaKliation of oKcials seeking votes for thecandidates in two instances. The majority (22)of the 36 oKcials seeking votes for thecandidates belonged to the EducationDepartment. They included schoolteachersand principals who play an influential role insecuring a vote bank in rural areas. Theobservers in Multan saw EDO Educationseeking votes for a PML-N candidate, while aDeputy District Education OKcer was seenseeking votes for an independent candidate inFaisalabad.In addition to education oKcials, the EDOHealth in Kurram Agency was seen seekingvotes for a JUI-F candidate while a policeinspector was observed doing so for a PML-Ncandidate in Narowal. Similarly, AzadKashmir minister was also seen seeking votesfor a PML-N candidate in Narowal, while tworevenue oKcers were seen doing so for an

independent candidate in Bhakkar. Theobservers witnessed a PPP candidate meetinga police oKcial, two health oKcials and fiveeducation oKcials in Jamshoro, and alsoobserved a meeting between a JUI-Fcandidate and EDO Health in KurramAgency.The observers saw the DCO in Benazirabadhaving a private meeting with a PPPcandidate, while an assistant commissionerwas seen having a meeting with a leader ofBalochistan National Party-M in Kech-cum-Gwadar. Moreover, an oKcial belonging to theIrrigation Department was also seen having aprivate meeting with a PML-F candidate inMatiari-cum-Hyderabad. The observers saw atotal of 17 oKcials participating in politicalrallies and most of them belonged to theEducation Department.The observers reported seeing the EDOs(Education) at PPP rallies in Jamshoro andMirpurkhas-cum-Umerkot, while anotherEDO Education was seen at a JUI-Fcandidate’s rally in Dera Ismail Khan-cum-Tank. The observer in NA-213(Benazirabad-I) saw the EDO Works andServices at a PPP rally while the observer inNA-72 (Mianwali-II) reported seeing a policeconstable at a PTI rally.

70 govt o�cials campaigning forcandidates in 25 constituencies

LLAAHHOORREE:: AA wwoommaann aaccttiivviisstt ooff MMaajjlliiss--ee--WWaahhddaatt--ee--MMuusslliimmeeeenn dduurriinngg aaddeemmoonnssttrraattiioonn aaggaaiinnsstt tthhee SSyyrriiaa iinncciiddeenntt,,oouuttssiiddee tthhee AAmmeerriiccaann CCoonnssuullaattee.. �ONLINE

KKAARRAACCHHII:: DDaaiillyy--wwaaggee wwoorrkkeerrss ssiittttiinngg bbyy tthheerrooaaddssiiddee aass tthheeyy wwaaiitt ffoorr eemmppllooyymmeenntt oonnmmoouurrnniinngg ddaayy.. �ONLINE

KKAARRAACCHHII:: AA ppoolliicceemmaann sseeeenn nnaappppiinngg aatt aa cclloosseedd ppeettrrooll ssttaattiioonn oonn SShhaahhrraahh--ee--PPaakkiissttaann oonn mmoouurrnniinngg ddaayy,, aannnnoouunncceedd bbyy MMQQMM ffoorr tthhee ddeeaatthhssooff wwoorrkkeerrss.. �ONLINE

TTAALLAAGGAANNGG:: FFoorrmmeerr pprriimmee mmiinniisstteerr NNaawwaazz SShhaarriiff aaddddrreesssseess aa ppuubblliicc mmeeeettiinngg.. �ONLINE CCHHIINNIIOOTT:: PPaakkiissttaann TTeehhrriikk--ee--IInnssaaff CChhaaiirrmmaann IImmrraann KKhhaann aaddddrreessssiinngg aa ppuubblliicc ggaatthheerriinngg aatt HHoocckkeeyy SSttaaddiiuumm.. �ONLINE

KKAARRAACCHHII:: Sindh police and paramilitaryRangers continued their search operation inparts of Karachi on Sunday, rounding up 11more suspected criminals. Seniorgovernment oKcials said that in a jointcrackdown overnight, Rangers and policecordoned oL Tauheed Commercial area inDefence-V and conducted house-to-housesearch. At least 11 suspected criminals werearrested in the operation. A huge cache ofarms were recovered from their possession,the oKcials said, adding that the suspectswere shifted to undisclosed location forinvestigations. The largest city and financialcapital of the country has been witnessingworst violence in recent years wherethousands of people have lost their lives intarget killing and bomb blasts. �ONLINE

11 suspects held during house-to-house search

LLAAHHOORREE:: Former deputy prime minister andPakistan Muslim League senior leaderChaudhry Parvez Elahi has said that his partydid not believe in politics of victimisation andserved the nation without any discrimination.In a statement issued here on Sunday, he saidthat the Muslim League had always givenpriority to serve the people. Commenting oncorruption scandal of Rs 30 billion in the auditreport of the Tandoor scheme, he said that the

former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif has donesuch work that roti khatam paisey hazam. “Wehave worked for the welfare of the commonman,” he said.The statement also said that someimportant personalities of Sadaat communityincluding Syed Zameer Hussain Shah andSyed Amjad Hussain Shah announced to jointhe Muslim League along with their familyand friends. �ONLINE

We are against victimisation, says Elahi

MONDAY, MAY 06, 2013

MMAARRDDAANN:: Pakistan People’s Party(PPP) central vice-president andformer MNA Khanzada Khan isfacing a tough challenge from thecandidates of JUI-F and ANP.Khanzada Khan who is a close

friend of President Asif Ali Zardari iscontesting election from PPP but twostrong candidates includingMaulana Imdadullah from JamiatUlema-e-Islam-(F) and AwamiNational Party (ANP)’s Inayat Khanare also in the run.A tough contest is expected among

the JUI-F, PPP and ANP though thecandidates of other parties, includingPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), andPakistan Muslim League-Nawaz

(PML-N) and JI are also in the run.NA-11 Mardan-III includes

Katlang, Rustam, Gahri Kapura andsome parts of Gujrat, Bakhsali andCahrbanda areas. The NA-11 hastraditionally been a stronghold of thePPP and ANP as the nominees ofboth the parities, includingMohammad Azam Khan Hoti andAbdul Akbar Khan, won the seat inthe past. However in the 2002election candidate of religious parties’alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal(MMA) candidate Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman won this seat. Later in the2008, election PPP candidate AbdulAkbar Khan won this seat and gained49,060 votes, ANP candidate Haji

Naseem-ur-Reman got 26546 votes.Abdul Akbar Khan also wonprovincial assembly PK 29 Mardan-7.Later on he left the national assemblyseat and took oath as provincialassembly member.In the by-election PPP Khanzada

Khan who was supported by ANPwon this seat. Khanzada Khan hasclose relation with President Asif AliZardari and he did a lot of works inthis constituency. The natural gas wasthe main demand of the people of thisconstituency he fulfilled their demandand also installed several transformersin the areas. On the request ofKhanzada Khan former PrimeMinister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited

Mardan announced several projectsfor his constituency.In the upcoming polls Khanzada

Khan is facing tough contest fromJUI-F candidate MaulanaImdadullah, a religious scholar, whodid a lot of welfare works in the areaand there is great respect among thepeople of the area.ANP candidate Inayat Khan, who

also remained twice nazim of unioncouncil Babuzi, enjoys great respect inthe area while there is a strong votebank of ANP in these areas.Former chief minister Ameer

Haider Khan Hoti in his five yeargovernment also did a lot ofdevelopmental works in the area,

especially Biazi irrigation scheme.However, former MNA and centralvice president of PPP Khanzada Khanis facing tough contest in theupcoming polls. The NA-11 has twoprovincial assembly constituencies i.e.PK-29, PK-30 and some unioncouncils of PK 25 and 28. On PK-29 atough contest is expected among PPPcandidate Abdul Akbar Khan, ANP’sIdrees Bacha, PML-N’s Akhtar

Nawaz and JUI-F’s Taus Khan. In2008 election PPP candidate AbdulAkbar Khan won this seat andgained 11715 votes.In PK-30, tough contest is expected

among PPP’s Imtiaz Shagai, JUI-F’sTajul Amin Jabal, ANP’s candidate

Latif Gul and PML-N’s Azam Khan.In the 2008 election, PPP’s IftikharShagai won this seat, but he died in aroad accident while going to attendthe death anniversary of formerPrime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Hisbrother Imtiaz Shagai won this seat inthe by-election. Though independentobservers said that tough contest isexpected among ANP, JUI-F and PPPbecause positions of these parties arestrong until now if things don’tchange in the coming days as PTI,PML-N and JI have also acceleratedeNorts to win these seats. However,the contest will be a close one and themargin of winning and losingcandidates will be thin. –ONLINE

Tough competition expected in NA-11 Mardan II

RASHID ALI

AATTTTOOCCKK:: Despite being gifted withrich economic, agricultural,commercial and mineral resources,Attock’s problems have never beensolved and it has not been able tostart its journey towards progressonly because of lack of leadership.These views were expressed by HajiMuhammad Gulzar Awan, PPP’scandidate for NA-57. He stated thatthose with vested interests alwaysintrigued to keep Attock backward.He said that he belongs to a poor andmiddle class family and he has risenfrom the ranks and has become goldafter going through the tests ofcircumstances and is fully aware ofthe problems being faced by the

people. He vowed that he wascapable of, after getting elected,changing the conditions of Attockand he could change lives ofthousands like him.He further declared that he can do

what others cannot; whether thegovernment provides funds or nothe, being a technocrat, canaccomplish what others could notduring the last 65 years. Capitalist,feudal, vested interests andprivileged elite are prepared toimpose themselves upon the peopleby befooling them in the generalelections by making false promises.These people have deprived themasses by illegally sucking awaybillions of rupees. Those whopurchase poor people’s lands at low

rates and then resell them atexorbitantly high rates after gettinggovernment schemes on these landscan never be peoples’ well-wishers.

He said that he grew up in Attockand later moved to Rawalpindi toearn his livelihood and he still hashis agricultural land in Attock.Rawalpindi is only at an hour’s

distance from Attock and he willnever in diMculty in keeping in touchwith his constituents. He invited thepeople of the district to directly callhim on his phone numbers in orderto avoid communications problems.He stated that Malik Hakmeen Khanhas opted out of elections in the bestinterest of the country and will gethim elected to the Senate of Pakistanwhereas Sardar Saleem Haider puthis ministry at stake many a times toraise the voice of poor people of hisconstituency. Replying to a question,PPP leader haji Gulzar Awan said

that he himself belongs to the middleclass and is aware of the problemsfaced by the middle class. He alsosaid that after getting elected hewould strive to provide jobs andsmall loans to the youth of hisconstituency so that they can be ableto earn their livelihood by beinggainfully employed. Haji GulzarAwan said that the poor people of theconstituency are with him becausethey want change as they are fed upwith the traditional feudalrepresentatives. Attock’s people havebeen deceived many times but nowthey are aware and would not makea wrong decision rather they wouldvote for the arrow in the comingelections because only the PPP wouldlead them to progress.

PPP’s nominee for NA-57 promises to change Attock

LLAAHHOORREE//MMIIAANNWWAALLII:: PakistanMuslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)President Nawaz Sharif said thatif voted to power, he wouldconstitute a commission to probeKargil conflict and itsinvestigation report would bemade public.In an interview with an Indian

news channel, Nawaz Sharif saidno issue could be resolved atgunpoint, adding that all optionsincluding dialogue should be usedto resolve the issue of terrorism.Nawaz Sharif further said that if

he comes to power, he wouldensure the army doesn't interferein the affairs of the civiliangovernment. He further said theprime minister should the boss ofthe army chief.Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif said

that May 11 was not the ElectionDay but was the day to change thedestiny of the country and fate ofpeople. Addressing a publicmeeting at Piplan near Mianwalion Sunday‚ he said that powercrisis had worsened the life ofcommon man and during the lastfive years‚ PPP government didnot take any step to provide reliefto masses.Nawaz Sharif said that PML N

had taken initiatives in the pastfor the development of thecountry and in MianwaliChashma Nuclear project waslaunched. He said that if voted topower‚ they will make Pakistan adeveloped and prosperouscountry and power crisis wouldbe resolved within shortestpossible time.

The PML-N‚ Chief said thatrevolutionary steps will be takento accelerate economic growthand farmers will be providedincentives for increase in produce.He said that loans would beprovided to jobless youth forbusiness activities and educationfacilities should also be ensuredfor the progress of the country.Nawaz urged the people to vote

for his party to bring back the eraof development and economicprogress. PML-N president saidthe country was passing throughdifficult time and added that theywould put the country on the wayof progress and prosperity.He said the performance of

Punjab government was remarkableand it started new projects tofacilitate the people of Punjabduring the last five years. As the election campaign has

entered into its last week, thefrequency of ralllies is also increasingas all the political parties are tryingto attract maximum voters. –ONLINE

MONITORING DESK

RRAAJJUURRII:: After covering hundreds ofnautical miles, hot air balloons carryingelection banner of Imran Khan's PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party landed in aremote village in Kalakot tehsil in the earlyhours the other day, reported TheHindustan Times.The banner carrying the photograph of

Imran Khan, his party's name and a cricketbat as election symbol carried by a few hotair balloons landed on a tree in Biaraguavillage which is under the jurisdiction ofKalakot police station. At about 6am on Saturday, Sallha

Mohammad saw a banner with 'PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf party' written on it on a treein the fields near his house. Assuming thatsome anti-national elements have hoistedthe Pakistan flag, he immediately informedthe police.

A police party headed by inspector VParihar rushed to the village and seized thebanner. When contacted Parihar said thatafter reading the text written on the bannerit was established that it was a banner ofImran's party which might have been sentin the air during an election rallysomewhere in Pakistan.

PPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: MMaattcchhlleessss wwooooddwwoorrkk aatt aa mmoossqquuee iinn MMoohhaallllaa SSeetthhiiaann.. –ONLINE

OUR STAFF REPORTER

GGHHAALLAANNAAII:: Independent candidate forNA-36 from Mohmand Agency Malik WazirMuhammad Safi on Sunday announced thathe would support another independentNisar Momand in the election.Addressing an emergency press

conference at Mohmand Press Club, MalikWazir Muhammad Safi said that he hadtaken the decision after realising that NisarMomand is the only candidate who had acollective thinking’s for development andprogress of the area. He hoped the NisarMomand would end loadshedding,corruption and lawlessness in the area afterwinning the election.On the occasion independent candidate

Nisar Momand said that he would not teaseinterests of public. He added that if elected,they would reconstruct the damaged housesduring the militancy. He lamented the ex-parliamentarians that they had nothing forthe welfare and progress of the area.Nisar Momand said that it is the

important parts of my manifesto to provideeducation and health facilities to all theMohmand tribesmen.He said that restoration of peace in the

area is my top priority and I will try my bestto restore law and order situation in the area.Nisar also promised that he will works for

the betterment of agriculture, social safety oflabour, unemployment, senior citizens,development works, taxes and for 25disputed villages issue.

NawazpromisesKargil probe�Vows to stop army interference in civiliangovt �May 11 to change people’s destiny

PTI poll bannerlands in Jammu

Election promises

Candidates to ensurerebuilding damaged houses

Sarabjit’s killing

Indo-PakBus Serviceunder threatNNAANNKKAANNAA SSAAHHIIBB:: ThePakistan-India FriendshipBus Service has come underthe grave shadows ofdangers after the killing ofIndian spy, Sarabjit Singh.Media reports said that

due to imminent threats byIndian terrorists, bus understrict security arrangementscame to Nankana Sahibwithout any passenger andthen go back to Amritsarempty handed. Indianmiscreants on Tuesdaythreatened to set on fire theFriendship Bus, after theserumours, the bus was beingbrought to Amritsarthrough secret route. –ONLINE

AATTTTOOCCKK:: WWiilldd bbiigg hhoonneeyy bbeeeess aatt BBaarriiyyaall vviillllaaggee.. –ONLINE

AATTTTOOCCKK:: Police have arrested a FrontierCorps (FC) personnel after recovery ofdetonators along with a safety fuse fromhis possession in an attempt atKhushalgarh bridge on the Kohat-PindiRoad. The bridge borders an entry checkpost between Kohat district of KPK andAttock district of Punjab.District Police officer (DPO) Abdul

Kadir Qamar told this scribe on Sundaythat police stopped a Rawalpindi boundcoach (E-3224), coming from Kohatdistrict, for routine checking atKhushalgarh check post on the Kohat-Pindi Road.During the checking of the vehicle, they

spotted a suspicious passenger carrying ashopping bag in his hands. From hispossession, five detonators along with a23 foot long safety fuse were recovered,which can be used to detonate theexplosives both as a timer device andmanually as well, he said.The accused was immediately shifted to

the Jand Police Station and identified asKhalid Mehmood resident of Haripurdistrict, the DPO said.During a preliminary interrogation, the

accused Khalid Mehmood, disclosedbefore the police that he is a FCserviceman and serving as a bombdisposal expert at Thal Cantonment,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.The DPO further said that the accused

has disclosed to the police that he wascarrying it to his village for personalpurpose of ground breaking, which heneeds for the construction of his house.After the disclosure, the concerned FC’s

authorities were informed about theincident, who also reached the DPOheadquarters and verified theidentification of the accused, Qamar said.After confirming the ID of the accused

as a FC personnel, a Joint InvestigationTeam (JIT) has also been formed.The JIT includes police investigators,

Intelligence Bureau (IB) and InterServices Intelligence (ISI), who will probethe real motive behind the sensitivenature of the incident, he informed.The Jand Police have also registered a

case against the accused and have alsoobtained a two-day physical remand fromthe judicial magistrate Jand for want ofinterrogation.Moreover the FC authorities have also

initiated their own departmental inquiryin the matter, the DPO added.To a question, the DPO said that

preliminary investigation shows that theaccused has so far not been proven to haveany link with any terrorist organisation.It’s also worth mentioning here thatThal is situated near the tribal area ofNorth Waziristan. –AGENCIES

FC man arrestedfor carryingexplosives

PPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: Khyber PakhtunkhwaGovernor Engineer Shaukatullah has saidthat the country has been confrontingmany challenges including terrorism andextremism, which can be reduced throughinvolving the youth in healthy activities,like different sports.Addressing the concluding ceremony of

the 23rd Khyber Pakhtunkhwa OpenGolf Championship held underthe aegis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa GolfAssociation at Peshawar Golf Course onSunday, he pointed out that thesports oriented events certainlycontribute positively in restoringconfidence of the general public.In all 200 renowned golfers from across

the country, who participated in the eventin its Professionals; Seniors,Professionals; Amateurs; Sr. Veterans;Ladies; boys and girls under 18; under 15and minor’s categories, Adil Jehangirfrom Lahore Gymkhana Club won thechampion’s Trophy along with a cash prizeof Rs 87,210. Special prizes were alsogiven to Taimur Naseer and GhazanfarMahmood for their overall bestperformance in the three daychampionship.The governor said the province has

produced Golf champions of internationalfame, whose contribution towardspromotion of this game is wellacknowledged. He expressed his keen desireto promote the game in FATA and other far-flung areas of the province. –ONLINE

‘Pakistan facingextremism,terrorism threat’

Haji Muhammad Gulzar Awan

MONDAY, MAY 06, 2013

THE SPOKESMANChief Editor: Huma Ali

Executive Editor: Atif MateenResident Editor: Saeed Minhas

Consulting Editors: Jalees Hazir Samina Choonara

The everyday tra#cmess in Pakistan

Despite frightening levels of traWccongestion and accidents, therelationship between the wardens andthe wardened is deteriorating fast. Noplaces in the country are more aptthan roads and intersections toobserve the deepening fracturebetween the wardens and thewardened. In the last week ofDecember 2012, my taxi driver inSaddar, Karachi did not stop at anumber of traWc signals. I asked himwhy he was violating signals. ‘BecauseI am not driving in Punjab,’ he saidlaughingly. ‘In Punjab, people fear thepolice. In Karachi, police fear thepeople. They do not dare to stop us,’he stated proudly.I remembered my rickshaw driver in

Peshawar who expressed similar viewsin December 2011: ‘There should beno signals… there should be no traWcpolice, they only create trouble… theyare a problem… they only grabgovernment salaries. It is unfair.’ Thenext evening another rickshaw driverin Peshawar told me that he neverbothered about traWc signals. Hewould not look at the signals whiledriving. I was surprised when he toldme he was safe signal-free.In an evening in April 2013, I

stopped at an intersection near myhome in Dharampura. A traWcwarden with his nose masked wasstanding in the center of theintersection, manually guiding traWc.He stands there everyday, for hours,controlling the traWc coming fromthree sides and tragically ending upcreating a mess. That evening, in afew minutes, he fought with fivemotorcyclists and three car drivers. Ifhe was not vigilant every moment, thedrivers, in a hurry, would pass theirvehicles over him. A driver in a carparallel to my car loudly abused thewarden: ‘They are rascals.’ A youngboy on a Honda CD 70 agreed: ‘Theyonly make money.’ The traWc signalsat Dharampura bridge hardly work,how would they work withoutelectricity?A traWc warden told me there was

no system to operate the Dharampurabridge intersection signals. He alsotold me most of the traWc signals inlow income parts of Lahore wereinoperative. His colleague, another

warden on a bike, told me he oftenchased young motorcyclists forviolating signals, over-speeding andone-wheeling. He annoyingly said,‘The boys like to tease wardens… andthey [the boys] always drive manytimes faster than a warden… and onlya few of them could be punished.’Helplessly he added, ‘But what can Ido? Their parents do not stop themfrom over-speeding and one-wheeling. If a boy is arrested, hisparents go to the police station with“sifarish” and instead of scolding theirchildren they accuse the police ofcorruption.’ The last heartlesscomment of the warden perturbedme. ‘That is why they die. I do notcare. Let them die.’On a Saturday evening in April

2013, many drivers completelyignored the warden on the GarhiShahu intersection. The wardenshouted in order to be heard bydrivers. Then he started abusing, ‘go

to hell, you law breakers.’ I was seeingand hearing all this. I was also waitingfor him to hint at me to pass.Meanwhile, the driver of the carbehind my car maximally pressed thehorn and when I did not move, heyelled at me without lifting his handaway from the horn: ‘Move… howmany hours do you want me to stopbehind you?’ He also asked me if I wasintoxicated. I kept quiet. I pointed tothe warden but the driver ordered meto pass the car over the warden. I gotdisturbed and drove my car. Thewarden did not stop me. Instead, hesarcastically said that he was waitingfor only this excess of mine. I tried toexplain that I was being pushed by thedrivers behind me. But before I couldexplain, the warden angrily said, ‘getaway.’In July 2012, an inspector asked a

wagon driver not to stop in Batti

Chowk in Lahore. The driver did notcomply and stopped for a while topick up a passenger. The inspectortook it as an insult. He snatched abamboo stick from a passing donkeycart. Abusing the wagon driver loudly,he ran towards the wagon. The driverput the wagon into gear but failed toget away. The inspector arrived,grabbed the collar of the driver,opened the door, pulled him out of thewagon, and started beating him withthe stick. Not content with abusingand beating, the inspector slappedand kicked the driver.I was in the wagon and asked the

passengers to stop the inspector. Noone agreed. I got out of the wagon andasked the inspector to stop beating thedriver. I told him it was not in hispowers to treat a driver like this. Heturned to me and said, ‘have you beenappointed DIG on me? Go, get intothe vehicle. Otherwise, I will do thesame to you.’ I did not confront him. I

was surprised some of the passengerswere happy with the thrashing of thedriver. On the way to Sheikhupurasome of the passengers were askingthe driver to be careful in the future.None of them criticised the inspector.I often travel by rickshaw in Lahore.

Rickshaw drivers and wardens have ahighly uncomfortable relationship;they almost hate each other. Pointingto a warden, a rickshaw driver toldme: ‘since they have come, the wholetraWc system has been ruined.’Another rickshaw driver accused alltraWc wardens of giving challans toearn money. A friend of mine driveshis own rickshaw. He recently told methat rickshaw drivers enjoy teasingwardens by not following the traWcrules. But he was not critical ofrickshaw drivers. He criticised traWcwardens heavily. ‘If a rickshaw driverdoes not have money, the wardens will

take anything from mobile oil tomobile phone.’I asked a newly appointed inspector

of traWc about the one change hewould like to make to the traWc ofLahore. ‘If I had the power to decide, Iwould not allow any mosquito on theroad.’ I asked him what he meant. Hesaid: ‘the rickshaws.’In 2012, when I got my driving

license, I asked three senior traWcoWcers about traWc management. Allof them came to the conclusion of nopossibility of traWc management. Oneof them suggested: ‘only a stick canmanage these people.’ Another saidthat ‘those who are beaten behavewell on the roads.’ In the evening ofthat day I asked a few car andrickshaw drivers of their views aboutwhat caused traWc problems such ascongestions and accidents.Startlingly, all of them accentuatedthe point that the traWc problemswere due to traWc wardens.TraWc in Pakistan is an interesting

and confrontational phenomenon.The traWc wardens do not believe in“wardening” in the real sense of theword but in disciplining drivers with astick. On the other side, the drivers donot want wardens. It is a crystal clearfact that the relation between the twois unavoidable and indispensable andat the same time ironically muchtroubled and unhealthy, stipulating animmediate need to review thepatterned values and ethicalfoundations of this relationship.This indictment of the traWc mess

in Pakistan, it seems, is a problemrelated to socialisation. Generalbehaviour and attitude, cemented wellin human nature, need to be broughtto the center of the traWc governancedebate in Pakistan. It will not happenovernight. Rather, this relationshiprequires a gradual, systematic andlong-term ethical policy which isshared mutually by the executives aswell as people on the roads.Otherwise, the wardens and thewardened will continue repelling andvictimising each other. With thismuch finger pointing, with this muchinability to be self-critical, I wonderwhere the gulf between the wardensand the wardened would take us.

THE WRITER ISASSISTANTPROFESSOR AT

FORMANCHRISTIANCOLLEGE, LAHORE

Block 11, G-6/1, Aabpara, IslamabadTelephone: 051 260 7153-4

Fax: 051 260 7498www.thespokesman.pkce@thespokesman.pk

With this much finger pointing,with this much inability to beself-critical, I wonder where thegulf between the wardens andthe wardened would take us

ECP’s incompetence andoverseas PakistanisAs an overseas Pakistani, I voice myutter disappointment at the ambiguitysurrounding overseas voting for theupcoming elections. For over a yearthere has been talk aboutimplementing this and for the past fewmonths in particular there have beenmultiple emotional highs with theSupreme Court positively ordering the

ECP to demonstrate integrity in thisregard and rejecting any excuses infacilitating overseas Pakistanis inutilising their rights, which make up9.1% of Pakistan’s overall vote bank.Still, I do not want to lose hope in

the credibility of the institution. Yes, Iam aware that it has known about theelections since its inception and thusshould have planned to allow 3.7million overseas Pakistanis to makeuse of their votes.Yes, I am aware that there may be a

slight bias because the majority ofoverseas Pakistanis are likely tosupport one party. Yes, I am aware thatthere may be fear amongst certainpeople within the institution due totheir own political allegiances. But,surely is the ECP as independent as itought to be in one of the most criticalelections in Pakistan’s history?The bottom line is, I am tired of

being asked by fellow overseasPakistanis about how they can votewhen it is something which should becommunicated top-down. I am fed up

of the negligently unclear postal ballotform which is being circulated and forsome reason only allows the postalballot for military personnel,government oWcials and their families.I am furious at being told by anembassy oWcial that in order to vote Iwould have to fly to Pakistan when Iknow that a friend of mine has askedhis (political) family to cast the vote onhis behalf. It is my right to vote and itis the ECPs duty to ensure that this isdone through legitimate channels.The only thing that the ECP was

supposed to think about was how toensure that I and the other 3.7 millionPakistanis would be able to vote – notwhether they would be able to. Eventhe “how” question was not that hardas there are many examples of otherelection commissions around theworld catering for this through theirembassies.I know that I am likely to lose out on

my vote due to the incompetence ofthe ECP. However, what I am evenmore extremely uneasy with is that if

the ECP could not handle 3.7 millionvotes, then can it be trusted to handlethe votes of those on Pakistani soil?

SARA ASLAM

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

International Coverage

When I started reading TheSpokesman, I was impressed by yourchoice of international opinion pieces.You have certainly brought forth thealternative narrative in global aXairs.We are bombarded by a particularnarrative by not only the major newsorganisations dominating theinternational media but also by ourown local media outlets. This narrativeonly reinforces the dirty games beingplayed by the powerful countries andthe interests they protect and promote.This narrative is obviously andpatently false. Yet the media keepsparroting within this framework.Thanks for bringing the anti-power

narrative to the fore. I’m glad to seethat other national newspapers havestarted following your lead.

ALI JAVED

RAWALPINDI

Batting for PTIMs. Hafsa Siddique h done a good obon this write up. But she hasforgotten the main thing that in thegame of Cricket there are elevenplayers who bat and bowl in order towin. and gathering a great team is adifficult task. Imran Khan has failedin this first task. How can he effectchange in these circumstances. Iwill be surprised if he can succeed inthis attempt.Although he likes solo flights, but it

is not possible to do everything. hehas promised all things to everybody.

would he be able to deliver ? Let ushope he does. Recently they recruitedRazkars to spread the message ofPTI and put everything on the line.The PTI ladies were enthusastic

about the chances of the bat scoringsome long hits. They expect sixes andfours raining. The battle field is allsetr for the buggle to announce thecompetition.The game must begin in right

earnest. The dream must come true.This is the last bastion of hope andbeacon of light in the darkness. Theymust win the toss and let theopposition go in first to bat. Theyhave great bowlers who can restrictthe flow of runs. It will be an easywin. The winds have changed thedirection.

JAVAID BASHIR

LAHORE

Please email your letters toletters@thespokesman.pk or postthem to our address in Islamabad.

IMDAD HUSSAIN

An anti-terrorism court on Saturday acquitted the chief of defunctTehrik Nifaz-i-ShariatMohammadi (TNSM),MaulanaMuhammadSufi, in a case registered atMatta police station in 1994 whenactivists of TNSMhad occupied several government installations inSwat to push for their demand to enforce their brand of Islamic law.The judge accepted an application from the lawyer of the accused forthe acquittal of his client under Section 265-K of the Code ofCriminal Procedure, which empowers the court to acquit an accusedbefore the conclusion of a trial in case there is no possibility of his orher conviction in light of the evidence on record. Until now, the anti-terrorism court, Swat, whose presiding oWcer is conducting trials inPeshawar, has acquitted SufiMohammad in five terrorism cases,while eight cases against him are still pending awaiting a decision.Initially, he was arrested in the KurramAgency in December 2001 onhis return fromAfghanistan along with a few hundred people whohad survived out of the 10,000 he had led to fight American forces.With the blood of somany youngmen on his hand, he had requestedthe political agent to arrest him to avert the wrath of the people.He was tried and sentenced under several sections of the PPC

and the Frontier Crimes Regulation by the relevant politicalagent. On 21 April 2008, Sufi Muhammad was released under anagreement with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government. Therefollowed another peace agreement between TNSM and thegovernment in February 2009, which failed in restoring peace inthe Malakand division. Afterwards, the security forces began anoperation against TNSM activists in the division leading to the re-arrest of Sufi Mohammad on 26 July 2009 along with his threesons, and since then he is in custody. In November 2011, the ATChad acquitted his sons because the prosecution failed to prove itscases against them. The security agencies of Pakistan have beencomplaining that the terrorists and terrorism suspects arearrested but they are let oX the hook by the courts due to a lack ofevidence that could hold in a court of law. Because of the holes inthe existing anti-terrorism law, terrorism suspects go scot-freefrom courts and then continue with the bloodletting of innocentpeople and members of the security forces.The problem is that witnesses are scared to stand in the witness

box to testify against them because of threats and their ferocioussympathisers. Even the investigators shy away from collectinghard evidence for the fear of their own and their families’ lives.Thus, many accused have been released because of a lack ofevidence or inadequate security for witnesses and judges. Thereis a pressing need to reform the criminal justice system toeXectively handle terrorism. A system has to be evolved so thatthe judges of anti-terrorism courts could hold trials without anyfear. Surely, the methods being employed eXectively by someterrorism-aVicted countries, like “trial incognito”, could bereviewed for possible adoption. Furthermore, the judges need tobe covered with impenetrable security shields. Investigators andprosecutors, as well as the witnesses should also be extendedfool-proof security. The superior courts should support the anti-terrorism courts in every possible way to enable them to dealwith the terrorism cases without fear.

Anti-terrorism follies

At last we know. The mysterious legalauthority for Barack Obama’s killer droneprogram flows from another administrationwith an elastic interpretation of executivepower: that of Richard Nixon.In a chilling 16-page dossier known simply

as the White Paper, one of Obama’s statutorybrains at the Justice Department cites the1969 secret bombing of Cambodia as a legalrationale justifying drone strikes, deep insidenations, against which the United States isnot oWcially at war.This startling disclosure is drafted in the

antiseptic prose of an insurance adjusterannouncing the denial of a claim based on apre-existing condition. Yet, the bombing ofCambodia (aka Operation Menu), whichinvolved more than 3,000 air strikes, wasalmost universally acknowledged as a warcrime. Now the Obama administration hasoWcially enshrined that atrocity as precedentfor its own killing rampages.Since Obama’s election, the CIA has

overseen nearly 320 drone strikes in Pakistanalone, killing more than 3,000 people, asmany as 900 of them civilians. Among thedead are at least 176 children. Assassinationwas never this easy, never so risk-free.George W. Bush was mocked by liberals for

calling himself the Decider. Bush deployedthis pathetic bit of oil slang to defendhimself against accusations that Cheney andhis coterie of Neo-Cons were calling theshots in the Iraq war. But was Bush’sposturing any more absurd than the imageof Obama piously consulting the homilies ofAquinas, as he personally checks off thenames on his drone kill list and watchesstreaming videos of the writhing bodiesshredded by Hellfire missiles?Bush’s murderous psyche at least presented

itself for analysis and explication. Perhaps W’sblood lust stemmed from a Freudian fixationon Saddam’s pathetic attempt to oX his fatherin Kuwait City. Perhaps it was warped byspasms of subconscious guilt over allowing9/11 to occur on his watch. What, however, isthe driving force behind Obama’s savagery?Unlike Bush, who tended to show revealingglimpses of emotional strain, Obama operateswith the icy rectitude of a political sociopath.In Obama’s game of drones, the atrocities

in the name of empire seem consciouslygeared to some deep political algorithm of

power and death.The Left remains largely insensate to the

moral and constitutional transgressions beingcommitted by their champion, leaving onlythe faintly ludicrous figure of Rand Paul tooXer oWcial denunciations against thesemalignant operations. For his troubles, Paul’sadmirable filibuster against the nomination ofJohn Brennan, master of the drones, to headthe CIA is ridiculed as an exercise in paranoiaby the likes of Frank Rich and LawrenceO’Donnell.The professional Left, from the progressive

caucus to the robotic minions ofMoveon.org, lodges no objections andlaunch no protests over the administration’sacts of sanctimonious violence against theempire’s enemies.Worse, they behave like political eunuchs,

oXering groveling tributes and degradingsupplications to their Master, even as Obamadefiles their ideological aspirations.The president has oXered us a master class

in political mesmerism, transforming theanti-war Left into supine functionaries of the

imperial management team.The cyber-Left is kept rigidly in line by the

architects of liberal opinion. From David Cornto Rachel Maddow, the progressive press actsin sinister harmony with the administration’sneoliberal agenda. They seduously ignoreObama’s constitutional depredations, andinstead devote acres of airspace to the fauxclashes over sequestration and gay marriage.Night after night, we are presented with

sideshows, what Hitchcock called theMcGuWn in his films, the dramatic diversionsdesigned to distract the audience’s attentionfrom the real game being played. Meanwhile,the liberal commentariat is balefullycomplacent to the rapacity of Obama’s remotecontrol death squadrons, even in the face ofsomber evidence regarding the droneprogram’s criminal nature. Raid after raid, killafter kill, ruin after ruin, they remain silent.But their silence only serves to emphasisetheir complicity, their consciousness of guilt.Their fingers too are stained by distant blood.Even Nixon, the ultimate enforcer, was

rocked by insubordinates defecting from his

regime, aides and staXers who reached theirlimit and resigned in disgust. One of themwas Roger Morris. Morris, an occasionalcontributor to CounterPunch, served on theNational Security Council during LBJ’sadministration and continued after Nixon’selection under Henry Kissinger. But Morrisreached his limit in the spring of 1970,resigning over the covert bombing ofCambodia. How times have changed.Where are similar figures of conscience in

the Obama White House, or even theDemocratic Party? Where are the leaks andresignations? Perhaps this is the ultimateobject lesson on display in the ongoingpersecution of Bradley Manning. Internaldissent, regardless of its legal and moralstanding, shall not be tolerated. Indeed, it willbe considered sedition and will be smotheredby the supreme sanction of the government.Acts that were once considered outrages

against conscience are now routine.Welcome to the age of Murder.Gov.

(COUNTERPUNCH)

Obama’s murderous game of drones and the Left

Feedback from the web

Tra+c in Pakistan is an interesting and confrontational phenomenon. Thetra+cwardens do not believe in “wardening” in the real sense of the word but indisciplining drivers with a stick. On the other side, the drivers do not want wardens

JEFFREY ST. CLAIR Since Obama’s election, the CIA has overseen nearly 320 drone strikes in Pakistan alone, killing thousands.In Obama’s game of drones, the atrocities in the name of empire seem consciously geared to some deeppolitical algorithm of power and death

MONDAY, MAY 06, 2013

The SustainableDevelopment PolicyInstitute (SDPI) recently launched aseminar series to critically evaluatemanifestos ofmajor political parties ofPakistan. Presenting the politicalmanifesto of the last ruling party, PPPrepresentatives said that the party wasable to deliver onmost of itsmanifesto points but could notimplement some promises due tointerventions from certain quarters.The PPP electionmanifesto 2013

guarantees the provision of basicneed to every citizen, empowermentof all citizens, inclusive growth,infrastructure development for thefuture, a new social contract,ensuring security and positiveengagement with the internationalcommunity. The PPP pledges toincrease education expenditure to 4.5percent of GDP and would bridge thepublic-private and regional gaps inthe quality of education through theestablishment of the NationalEducation Standard Council.According to the party, the BISP has

proved to be a successful socialprotection system and the PPP plansto double themonthly paymentsunder the program if elected to oWce.Health spendingwould be increasedto 5 percent of GDP and it will bringdown the population growth ratefrom2 to 1.6 percent by 2018.The othermajor political party,

PML-N, presented itsmanifestotowards the end of April. The partyseeks to revive the economy during itsfive-year tenure through pro-investment and pro-business policieswith a planned growth rate of about 6percent (double the present growthrate). The party claims that the tax-to-GDP ratio will be increased to 15percent, and investment toGDP ratiowill be pushed up to 20 percentrespectively.To curb the energy crisis, the party

promises to invest USD20 billion inpower sector to generate 10,000MWof electricity (half of it from coal).Expenditure on educationwould beincreased to 4 percent of GDP(through such initiatives such asDaanish schools). The health sectorspendingwould be increased to 2percent of GDP for subsidisation ofhealth care throughmeasures such astheMedical Insurance Card system.The PTImanifesto session briefly

elaborated all the sectors that need tobe prioritised like education, energy,health, economy, rural governancesystems, institutional reform,expenditures reform and revenuereform. PTI envisioned convertingPakistan frombeingmerely a securitystate to awelfare state. The partyrepresentatives claimed to introducefiscal reforms in order to increasespending in the social sector,particularly health and education. PTIwill decentralise the healthgovernance system, and promotealternate energy.Moreover, the partyproposes to form a rural governancesystem,managed by village councils,in order to increase community

ownership and transparency ofresource allocation.PML-Q, in itsmanifesto, promises

to combat extremism through theestablishment of aNational SecurityCouncil and an eXective CounterTerrorism Strategy. PML-Q seeks toenhance synchronisation between thecivil andmilitary systems, the centerand provinces, andwithin various lawenforcement agencies. The PML-Qaspires to build an inclusive, tolerantand pluralistic society. The partyhopes to achieve this by providingfree education to all, forming aspecial parliamentary committee toaddress all legitimate interests of thepublic, and, interestingly, byproviding a comprehensiveinsurance policy for journalists.The ANP envisions a “Pur-Aman

Pakistan”. The party is committed toevolve a national consensus for peaceby engaging in a dialoguewithdisturbed groupswithin conflict areas.Moreover, the party pledges to provideequitable social and economic rightsto all federating units of Pakistan. TheANP is committed to increase theeducation budget to 6 percent of GDP.The party promises to provide freeeducation to all in public schools(including uniforms, textbooks andstipends to female students).TheMQMmanifesto titled

“Empowering People” promises powerto the people to achieve progress,prosperity and stability in the country.EXective implementation of localgovernment system isMQM’s toppriority. Themanifesto ofMQMtackles awide range of issuesincluding education, health, economy,governance, corruption, terrorism andpoverty alleviation in Pakistan. TheMQMconsiders health and educationas themost crucial sectors, andpromises the allocation of 5 percent ofGDP for education and 5 percent forhealth. The party will widen the taxnet by applying agricultural incomethroughout the country andaddressing the leakages andloopholes in various sectors. TheMQMpromise radical reforms in theeducation sector particularly intextbooks where hate material wouldbe removed which is promotingextremism in the country.Themissing element in every party’s

manifesto appeared to be a deliverableplan of action as to how the party isgoing to implement its policystatements.Moreover, the promisesseemmore of a repetition of theunfulfilled-promises that weremadefive-years ago. Themanifestos of theparties in power for the last five yearswere unconvincing as theymade littlereference to lessons learnt frompastexperience and focused on discussingfuture solutions.Pakistan’smajor political parties

demonstrate a clear understanding ofthe issues and problems at hand.However, they are not able to provideany realistic solutions. The politicalparties, before the election, aremotivated towork for the bettermentof the people, but their policies areseldom implemented during theirtenure. The implementation of policyrequires political will. Unfortunatelythis is something that ismissing in theestablished political parties.

THE WRITER IS A FREELANCER

After the BostonMarathon bombers struck onApril 15, killing four in their wake and injuring264, the initial caution about ethno-religiousstereotyping of “Islamic extremists” appears tohave given way to a freewheeling discourse thatseeks to firmly tieMuslims to global terror plots.Before this rather crude logic acquires a

national echo and, similar to the post-9/11scenario, fuels hate crimes against ethnicminorities such asMuslims and Sikhs, it isimportant to give context to America’s cynicalapplication of the notion of “terrorism”.Particularly wemay ask: who qualifies as a

terrorist in American eyes, and how does thepolitical leadership of this nation shape thatperception?In the immediate aftermath of the Boston

bombing, ugly evidence emerged of how ethnicstereotyping tears apart civilisational fabric.Misdirected racist vitriol saw Indian-AmericanSunil Tripathi falsely named as a suspect byhordes of Reddit and Twitter users. One canonly imagine the wretched situation of theTripathi family as one of their own faced a socialmedia lynching, only to be told a week later thata body found in Rhode Island’s ProvidenceHarbour was Sunil’s.Then the Federal Bureau of Investigation

aided the steady, trickling flow of backgrounddetails on the Tsarnaev brothers, Tamerlan (26,killed in a gunfight with police) andDzhokhar(19, in custody but hospitalised with severeinjuries), suspects in the bombing.Within days,themedia unearthed the Tsarnaev link withChechnya, Dagestan andKyrgyzstan and acascade of public commentary proclaimed theIslamist connection established. PresidentBarackObama kept the rhetoricmoving alongsmoothly when he tacitly approved labelling

what happened in Boston an “act... of terror”.But was it really? There are two problems

with America’s eagerness to call the admittedlydespicable attack on civilians “terrorism”. Thefirst is replete with historic irony.What happened on 9/11 on theUS’ eastern

seaboard is often seen as the culmination ofWashington’s engagement in Afghanistanduring the 1980s, particularly the CIA’s shadowyOperation Cyclone, throughwhich hundreds ofmillions of dollars were pumped into the coXersof Afghan fighters battling the forces ofMohammadNajibullah.While some insist the CIA’s funding did not

cross the red lines between the AfghanMujahideen and foreign or Arab fighters,questions were raised about whether the sameweapons and training that flooded Afghanistanduring that era came back to haunt theUS inthe form of an invigorated al Qaeda and Talibanin the late 1990s and 2000s.Freeze frame and switch to another reel, this

time the Russian republic of Chechnya in theearly 21st century, a land in which theUS’infamous “War on Terror” was inexplicablysuspended. Despite the grisly episodes of the2002Moscow theatre hostage crisis, the 2004Beslan school siege and several other “terror”attacks associated with Chechen separatists, theUS, led by the neocon-staXed AmericanCommittee for Peace in Chechnya (ACPC),chose to turn a blind eye to events in the region.Back in 2004, John Laughland of the British

Helsinki HumanRights Group explained thatACPCmembers represented “the backbone oftheU.S. foreign policy establishment,” andincluded Richard Perle, a former Pentagonadvisor, and JamesWoolsey, former CIAdirector who backedGeorgeW. Bush’s foreign

policy.The influential group heavily promoted the

idea that “the Chechen rebellion shows theundemocratic nature of Putin’s Russia, andcultivates support for the Chechen cause byemphasising the seriousness of human rightsviolations in the tiny Caucasian republic.”The ACPC then upped the pressure against

the Putin regime evenmore in August 2004,when it ‘welcomed the award of political asylumin theUS, and aUS-government funded grant,to Ilyas Akhmadov, ForeignMinister in theopposition Chechen government, and amanMoscow describes as a terrorist’.WasWashington happy to countenance

violent groups so long as rival Russia and itsintractable President Putin faced the heat? IninsistingMoscow achieve a political, rather thanmilitary, solution, wasn’t the US administrationactually calling onMr Putin to negotiate withterrorists, a policy theUS “resolutely rejects”elsewhere?The ACPC’s soft-pedalling on terror apart,

evidence of theUS’ unwillingness to crack downon Chechen extremism came in the form of oneof themost high-profile US law enforcementsuccesses in the days leading up to 9/11: thecapture of ZacariasMoussaoui inMinnesota on16 August 2001.Whistleblower Coleen Rowley wrote recently

that not only did her former employers at theFBI, CIADirector George Tenet, and othercounterterrorism experts balk at allowing asearch ofMoussaoui’s laptop and other propertybut, more disturbingly, they brushed aside acritical April 2001memo by erstwhile FBIAssistant Director DaleWatson.Thatmemo, entitled “Bin Laden/IbnKhattab

Threat Reporting”, warned about ‘significant

and urgent’ intelligence to suggest ‘seriousoperational planning’ for terrorism attacks by‘Sunni extremists with links to Ibn al Khattab,an extremist leader in Chechnya, and toUsamaBin Laden’, reported theNewYork Times’ PhilipShenon in his insightful 2011 story of “TheTerribleMissed Chance”.Even after the FBI’s attaché in Paris reported

that French spy agencies had evidencesuggestingMoussaoui was a recruiter forKhattab and despite senior intelligence oWcialsadmitting that ‘the systemwas blinking red’with the prospect of an imminent terror attack,no one seemed to want to acknowledge thatMoussaoui, Khattab and bin Ladenwerebrothers in bloodshed.In the Boston investigation, Dzhokhar is now

said to have indicated that he and Tamerlanwere disenchanted withUSwars in Iraq andAfghanistan - their Chechen background cannotbe discounted here - and thismay have driventheir ghastly actions. If this is established as thetruemotive then history would have come fullcircle. That will - or at least it ought to - provokemore questions about the cynical manipulationof facts and an ever-morphing concept of“terrorism” that sustain theUS’ wars and itseconomy. A second sophisticated obfuscation of“terrorism” in theUS is that it is liberally appliedwhen a person or group perceived as alien interms of race, religion or citizenship is heldresponsible for an act of lethal violence, butmuch less so in other contexts. In this case, thediscovery that the Tsarnaevs wereMuslim led toan almost triumphalist cheer in someconservative corners of the country.To give this odd overzealousness some context,

consider the case of gun crimewhich, some suchasMichael Cohen of The Guardian have argued,

gets a relativelymuted reaction fromAmericanscompared to the random act of terror that hitsthemainland from time to time, despite thelatter’s far greater toll on human life.Approximately 30,000Americans die of gunviolence every year compared to the 17 who diedlast year in terrorist attacks. On the very sameday of the BostonMarathon bombing, 11Americans weremurdered by guns. In the lastfourmonths alone 3,531 Americans were killedby guns - evenmore than the number killed on9/11. Bizarrely, recentmass killings - includingthe Sikh Temple of Oak Creek,Wisconsin, thetheatre shooting in Aurora, Colorado, and theschool shootings at Newtown, Connecticut - bymostly white, gun-toting youngmen, didnothing to prevent conservatives in theUSCongress from defeating a bill proposingrudimentary checks on gun buyers’backgrounds before arming them.In none of these cases did Second

Amendment-warriors attach the “terrorist” labelto the perpetrators.Why are JamesHolmes,AdamLanza,Wade Page, and numerous othersmerely alluded to as “disturbed individuals”?The Tsarnaevsmay be no diXerent from thesemass killers, some such as GlenGreenwald haveargued, and all of thesemen are likely to havebeen driven by a combination ofmental illness,societal alienation andmostly apolitical rage.While a robust debate on the application of

“terrorism” would help the Americanmedia andpublic avoid the frequent retreat to raciststereotyping that we have seen in recent weeks,a failure to do so would only feed theUS’ fatalpolitics of convenience and extinguish theprospect of change that couldmake a realdiXerence.

(THE HINDU)

There has been amassive outrage inIndia over the death of Sarabjit Singh,an Indianman convicted of terrorismand genocide by Pakistan, whowasattacked last week by fellow inmates. Alot of anger and fury has been playedout on Indian TVnews channels. Someof themdescribed Singh, who died in aLahore hospital, as a "martyr".It appears to be an un-meditated

crime and the blame rests upon jailwardenswhowere negligent inbreaking the fight between theprisoners. However, Pakistan dideverything possible to defuse thesituation by taking a quick andexemplary action against prisonoWcials whowere immediatelysuspended from their duty. An FIR ofmurder under section 302 of PakistanPenal Code has already been registeredagainst the accused killers. The Punjabcaretaker ChiefMinisterNajamSethihas ordered an inquiry by a judge ofLahoreHigh Court.India reacted to thewhole incident

with a spirit of vengeance andrevengefulness. As the body of Sarabjitwas being cremated, a Pakistaniprisoner Sanaullah in the Jammu Jailwas attacked by an Indian prisoner whosaid that he had taken revenge forSarabjit. This ‘tit for tat’ settlement ofscores was a premeditated actcommittedwith the tacit approval ofjail authorities. The Indian governmentwanted to pacify its agitated publicperhaps. The foreign analysts areconvinced that the Indians aredetermined to present a Pakistani’sdead body in return of Sarabjit’s. Across reference from the Palestine Israelconflict regarding the exchange ofprisoners between them is a case in

point. They value the sanctity of humanlives and prefer to exchange prisonersinstead of dead bodies.The Indian government has been

fueling the fire by issuing undiplomaticstatements. But themain oppositionparty BJP has been increasingly hostile,accusing Pakistan of “murder” andblaming the Indian government for notdoingmore to ensure the safety ofSingh. The opposition believes that thenational security is an area over whichit can easily attack the Congress-ledgovernment.This is not the end of the sad story.

India is showering all sorts of love andaXection to pay tribute to their terrorist.The shallowness of patriotismwas at itsgaudiest display when Indian PrimeMinisterManmohan Singh termedSarabjit Singh as ‘a brave son of India’.The force of patriotism can becometruly evil if it is exploited as it has beendone in this case.When it works thisway, itmay have adverse eXects.Countriesmay demand toomuch oftheir citizens in the name of patriotism.Therefore, to abolishwar, it is necessaryto abolish frenzied patriotism. Thisoverdose of Indian patriotism, it isfeared, can damage the peace processbetween the two nations living a catand dog life since independence.Sarabjit, a convicted self-confessed

terrorist found guilty of slaughtering 14innocent people, was accorded a statefuneral followed by the Indiangovernment’s announcement of threedays ofmourning. Sarabjit’s family wasawarded IndianRs 10million ‘for hisdistinguished services for India’ andanother special grant of IndianRs 2.5million from the PrimeMinister ReliefFund. Itmeans hewas posthumouslypaid IndianRs 892,857 as a reward forkilling each Pakistani. Rahul Gandhi

took somuch pain to travel to Amritsarto attend the cremation rituals of aconvicted terrorist. It is interesting tonote that the twomajor political partiesof India, the Congress andBJP, arevyingwith each other to attract anti-Pakistan voters.The venom in the voice of Indian

intellectual JavedAkhtarwasunmistakablewhenhe said, ‘we canforgetKargil but not Sarabjit Singh’.When the patriotismof a nationdegenerates to such a cheap level ofhatred thatmass killers are glorified asnational heros, it is time toworry indeed.The collective conscience of India

seems to have gone on leave. In the caseof Ajmal Kasab they felt that hedeserved to be hanged because he hadkilledmany people.When it comes tothe case of Sarabjit, they dub him as awar hero. The Indian authorities haveimpliedly owned Sarabjit and his acts ofterrorism committed in Pakistan. Theyare discriminating between the Indianand Pakistani victims of tragedieswhereas a true humanitarian cannotsub-categorise the deaths of innocentcivilians irrespective of their nationalityor religious background.Pakistan, on the other hand, had an

unequivocal stance onAjmal Kasaband his acts were condemned byPakistani oWcials. The authorities,taking a principled stance, did not evenopt to request for the body of Kasabafter hewas hanged. This shows thatthe government of Pakistan hadnothing to dowith the acts of Kasaband his fellows.It is pertinent to take notice of

Pakistani electronicmedia’s role inturning the tables on Pakistan. Itappeared as if they had been paid totow the Indian line.Here is a set ofBreakingNews that was broadcast

suspending the routine transmissions;Sarabjit family issued visit visa…Sarabjit’s family arrives atWahgaborder… Sarabjit’s family at Jinnahhospital… Sarabjit family praying atNankana Sahib…The family goingback to India… and so on.The Pakistanimedia had given a

celebrity status to the family of aterrorist whereas the Indianmedia hasbeen constantly beating the wartrumpets since the incident. The crazeto break the news first has seriouslydented the quality of reporting on ournews channels.Will the Pakistanimedia provide themicroscopic detailsabout the Pakistani victim Sanaullahand his family now?Inmanyways, the flare up of

emotions over Singh's death againbrings to the fore the neuroses thatmarks relations between the twonuclear-armed, estranged South Asiansiblings. The two nuclear powernations of South Asia are literallysitting on a pile of explosives andapparently a petty incident couldtrigger a war between them.It is relevant to pay due attention to

an apprehensive report on Pak-India’sunderlying ‘war-initiatives’, so to say.According to aUS-basedRandCorp.study, an Indo-Pakistani nuclearexchangewould immediately kill twomillion living souls, and injure or kill100million afterwards, pollute theIndusRiver and send clouds ofradioactive dust around the globe. It isthe responsibility of the Internationalcommunity to findways to avert anuclear holocaust in SouthAsia. And ofcourse, it is the responsibility of theleadership of the two countries to preferdiplomacy over war.

THE WRITER IS A FREELANCE

JOURNALIST

Sarabjit saga: glorifying a terrorist

America’s politics of convenience: view from India

JAMAL SHAH

FARAKH SHAHZAD

NARAYAN LAKSHMAN

In many ways, the flare up of emotions over Singh's death again brings to thefore the neuroses that marks relations between the two nuclear-armed,estranged South Asian siblings

An ever-morphing concept of “terrorism” sustains the US wars and its economy

Newpromises foroldManifestos look great on paper but theyhave been seldom implemented

MONDAY, MAY 06, 2013

German rulers plungein poll amid scandals

BBEERRLLIINN:: German Chancellor AngelaMerkel's conservatives plunged to theirlowest rating in seven months in aleading opinion poll on Sunday as a taxevasion scandal embroiled an ally andtheir Bavarian sister party facedquestions about nepotism. Support forMerkel's Christian Democrats andBavarian partner theChristian SocialUnion fell three percentage pointsfrom a week earlier to 37 percent, theirlowest ranking since October, theEmnid poll for Bild am Sonntagnewspaper showed. Last month, one ofGermany's most admired sportsmanagers, Bayern Munich presidentUli Hoeness, said he had voluntarilyreported himself to authorities in a taxevasion investigation that exposedMerkel's government to criticism it islenient on tax cheats. –AGENCIES

BD threatens to go tougheragainst Islamist groupDDHHAAKKAA:: Hours after deadly clashesbetween Islamists and law enforcersthat left at least four dead and over100 injured, many critically,Bangladesh's ruling party askedhundreds of thousands of protesters ofa Islamic group to "leave Dhaka byevening or face stern action". PrimeMinister Sheikh Hasina's rulingBangladesh Awami League ( AL) partyon Sunday evening issued at a pressbriefing on Sunday the warning to theIslamists who fought pitched battleswith law enforcers for more than sixhours. At least 100 people includinglaw enforcers, Islamists and journalistswere injured in the violent clashes thatleft four people dead. "We've requestedthem (the Islamists) to leave Dhaka byevening after holding their rallypeacefully, or else the government willgo for tougher necessary," AL GeneralSecretary Syed Ashraful Islam told thereporters at the press briefing. –AGENCIES

Ruling party leads in earlycounting of Malaysia's pollsKKUUAALLAA LLUUMMPPUURR:: The ruling BarisanNasional is leading in the early tally ofthe Malaysia's general election onSunday, oLcial polling showed. A liveupdate on the oLcial website of theElection Commission put the Barisanleading the opposition People'sAlliance 26 to 6 in parliamentary seatsby 10 p.m. local time. The local newsportal put Barisan's lead as 25 to 13. Itis still in the early stage of counting as atotal of 222 parliamentary seats arecontested in the election. –AGENCIES

South Korean presidentto visit United StatesSSEEOOUULL:: South Korean President ParkGeun-hye left Seoul on Sunday for afive-day trip to the United States thatwill include a White House summit.The meeting Tuesday with PresidentBarack Obama is expected to focus oncoordinating their ideas on how to dealwith North Korea, and other bilateralissues. The South Korean leader is alsoscheduled to address a joint meeting ofCongress on Wednesday. PresidentPark will first stop in New York to meetMonday with South Korean-born U.N.Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.President Park, who is also heading adelegation of more than 50 SouthKorean business leaders, will stop inLos Angeles Thursday to meet withKorean entrepreneurs. –AGENCIES

TONY CARTALUCCI

Once again, Israel is "leaking"information about alleged airstrikes itclaims it has conducted against Syriaalong the Lebanese-Syrian border.According to CNN's Sources, “The USbelieves Israel has conducted anairstrike into Syria.” It was stated thatthe United States believes Israel hasconducted an airstrike into Syria, twoUS oLcials told CNN.The Israelis have long said they

would strike at any targets that proveto be the transfer of any kinds ofweapons to Hezbollah or otherterrorist groups, as well as at any eMortto smuggle Syrian weapons intoLebanon that could threaten Israel.This was the same flimsy pretext usedin an earlier alleged Israeli attack onSyrian territory earlier this year. In reality, the “other terrorists

groups” Israel claims to worry about,are indeed funded and directed by theUS, Israel, and Saudi Arabia as part ofa longstanding, documentedconspiracy to overthrow thegovernments of Iran and Syria. Reported by Pulitzer Prize-winning

journalist Seymour Hersh in his 2007New Yorker article, The Redirection,it was stated (emphasis added): “Toundermine Iran, which ispredominantly Shiite, the BushAdministration has decided, in eMect,to reconfigure its priorities in the

Middle East. In Lebanon, theAdministration has cooperated withSaudi Arabia’s government, which isSunni, in clandestine operations thatare intended to weaken Hezbollah, theShiite organization that is backed byIran. The US has also taken part inclandestine operations aimed at Iranand its ally Syria. A by-product ofthese activities has been the bolsteringof Sunni extremist groups thatespouse a militant vision of Islam andare hostile to America andsympathetic to al-Qaeda.”Of Israel it specifically stated: “The

policy shift has brought Saudi Arabiaand Israel into a new strategicembrace, largely because bothcountries see Iran as an existentialthreat. They have been involved indirect talks, and the Saudis, whobelieve that greater stability in Israeland Palestine will give Iran lessleverage in the region, have becomemore involved in Arab-Israelinegotiations.” Additionally, Saudi Arabian oLcials

mentioned the careful balancing acttheir nation must play in order toconceal its role in supporting US-Israeli ambitions across the region:“The Saudi said that in his country’sview, it was taking a political risk byjoining the US in challenging Iran:Bandar is already seen in the Arabworld as being too close to the BushAdministration.”

This, in fact, reveals the true natureof the attacks, a result of US, Saudi,and Israeli proxies failing inside ofSyria and the desperate need tocarryout military intervention to savethem, while leaving intact whateverremaining legitimacy and plausibledeniability the US holds globally, andSaudi Arabia holds across theMuslim World. Indeed, Israel's explanation as to

why it struck neighboring Syria istenuous at best considering its long,documented relationship withactually funding and arming the very"terrorist groups" it fears weaponsmay fall into the hands of. In reality, the pressure placed on

Syria's borders by both Israel and itspartner, Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan's Turkey in thenorth, is part of a documented planto relieve pressure on the Western,Israeli, Saudi-Qatari armed andfunded terrorists currentlycollapsing inside Syria. The US foreign-policy think-tank,

Brookings Institution - which hadblueprinted designs for regimechange in Libya as well as both Syriaand Iran - stated this specifically intheir report titled,“Assessing Optionsfor Regime Change.” Brookings describes how Israeli

eMorts in the south of Syria, combinedwith Turkey's aligning of vast amountsof weapons and troops along its border

to the north, could help eMect violentregime change in Syria: “In addition, Israel’s intelligence

services have a strong knowledge ofSyria, as well as assets within theSyrian regime that could be used tosubvert the regime’s power base andpress for Assad’s removal. Israel couldposture forces on or near the GolanHeights and, in so doing, might divertregime forces from suppressing theopposition. This posture may conjurefears in the Assad regime of a multi-front war, particularly if Turkey iswilling to do the same on its borderand if the Syrian opposition is beingfed a steady diet of arms andtraining. Such a mobilization couldperhaps persuade Syria’s militaryleadership to oust Assad in order topreserve itself. Advocates argue thisadditional pressure could tip thebalance against Assad inside Syria, ifother forces were aligned properly,”the Brookings reports added. Of course, airstrikes inside Syria go

beyond "posturing," and indicateperhaps a level of desperation in theWest who appear to have elected theirchief villain, Israel, to incrementally"intervene" just as they had planned inregards to attacking Iran - alsodocumented by Brookings in a reporttitled, "Which Path to Persia?" With regards to Iran, in Brookings'

"Which Path to Persia?" report, itstates specifically: “Israel appears to

have done extensive planning andpractice for such a strike already, andits aircraft are probably already basedas close to Iran as possible. As such,Israel might be able to launch thestrike in a matter of weeks or evendays, depending on what weather andintelligence conditions it felt itneeded. Moreover, since Israel wouldhave much less of a need (or eveninterest) in securing regional supportfor the operation, Jerusalem probablywould feel less motivated to wait foran Iranian provocation beforeattacking. In short, Israel could movevery fast to implement this option ifboth Israeli and American leaderswanted it to happen.”“However, as noted in the previous

chapter, the airstrikes themselves arereally just the start of this policy.Again, the Iranians would doubtlessrebuild their nuclear sites. They wouldprobably retaliate against Israel, andthey might retaliate against theUnited States, too (which might createa pretext for American airstrikes oreven an invasion)," the Brookingsreport on Iran added. And in this statement we can gather

insight behind both Israel's otherwiseirrational belligerent posturethroughout its brief history, as well asits more recent acts of unprovokedaggression against Syria. Israel's role isto play the "bad guy." As a regionalbeachhead for Western corporate-

financier interests, it provides a "footin the door" to any of the West's manydesired conflicts. By bombing Syria, ithopes to provoke a wider conflict - anintervention the West has desired andplanned for since it tipped oM Syria'sviolent conflict in 2011. For Syria and its allies - the goal

now must be to deter further Israeliaggression and avoid wider conflict atall costs. If NATO's proxy terroristforces are as weak as they appear -incapable of tactical or strategic gains,and tapering oM into desperateterrorist attacks, it is only a matter oftime before NATO's campaign grindsto a halt. As mentioned before, such afailure on NATO's part will be thebeginning of the end for it, and theWestern interests that have beenusing it as a tool to achievegeopolitical hegemony.Israel should be expected to commit

to increasingly desperate acts toprovoke Syria and Iran - as itsleadership represents directlycorporate-financier interests abroad,not the Israeli people, or their bestinterests (including peace and evensurvival). For those who live on theoccupied Palestinian land in Israel,they must realize that their leadershipis able, willing, and even eager tospend their lives and fortunes in theservice of foreign, corporate-financierinterests and global hegemony.

(PressTV.ir)

Israel’s airstrikes against Syria prove West’s desperation

DDHHAAKKAA:: SSuuppppoorrtteerrss ooff 1188 ooppppoossiittiioonn ppaarrttiieess ttaakkee ppaarrtt iinn aa mmaassss rraallllyy aatt MMoottiijjhheeeell aarreeaa iinn DDhhaakkaa.. BBaannggllaaddeesshh''ss mmaaiinn ooppppoossiittiioonn iinnppaarrlliiaammeenntt ssllaappppeedd aa 4488--hhoouurr uullttiimmaattuumm oonn PPrriimmee MMiinniisstteerr SShheeiikkhh HHaassiinnaa''ss ggoovveerrnnmmeenntt ttoo aannnnoouunnccee tthhee rreessttoorraattiioonn ooff aa nnoonn--ppaarrttyyccaarreettaakkeerr ggoovveerrnnmmeenntt ssyysstteemm.. –WIRE SERVICE

MMOOGGAADDIISSHHUU:: A suicide bomberrammed an explosive-laden carinto a convoy carrying Qatariofficials through the center ofSomalia's capital Mogadishu onSunday, killing at least eightSomalis, officials said.The visiting delegation of

Qataris, who were travelling inthe Somali interior minister'sbullet-proof vehicle, were "safe", asecurity officer told Reuters,without going into further detail.The minister was not in the car atthe time.The Islamist rebel group al

Shabaab said it was behind theattack and threatened furtherstrikes against Somalia'sgovernment, which it called a"puppet" of Western powers."More explosions are on the

way," al Shabaab's militaryspokesman Sheikh Abdiasis AbuMusab told Reuters by telephone.The al Qaeda-linked rebels, who

want to impose their version ofIslamic law or sharia on thecountry, have kept up a campaignof guerrilla-style attacks sinceAfrican peacekeepers pushedthem out of bases in the city andother major towns.

Western powers, long worriedSomalia is a launch pad formilitant Islam in east Africa andbeyond, fear it could slide backinto chaos if security forcescannot cement security gains.The blast tore through the busy

'Kilometre 4' road junction in thecenter of Mogadishu's commercialand administrative district,hurling metal debris over a widearea. Nearby buildings wereblackened and power cables hungloose from poles.It was not clear in the confusion

that followed the blast how manypeople had been killed. Acoordinator for Mogadishu'semergency services saidambulances had carried away the15 bodies.Earlier, the chairman of the

city's Hodan district, where theattack took place, told reportersat the blast site eight peoplehad died."A silver 4x4 sped around the

roundabout blaring its horn as itchased the convoy," collegestudent Abdullahi Ismail toldReuters at the scene, nursing agash in his forehead. "It hit thelast car in the convoy." –AGENCIES

Bomb hitsmly convoyin Somalia

DDHHAAKKAA:: More than 600bodies have beenrecovered from thegarment-factory buildingthat collapsed well over aweek ago, police saidSunday as the grimrecovery work continuedin one of the worstindustrial accidents ever.Police said Sunday

evening that the death tollhad reached 610. Morethan 200 bodies havebeen recovered sinceWednesday, whenauthorities said only 149people had been listed asmissing. The stench ofdecomposing bodiesremains amid the brokenconcrete of the eight-storyRana Plaza building, andit is anyone's guess howmany victims remain to berecovered.The April 24 disaster is

likely the worst garment-factory accident ever,and there have beenfew industrial accidents ofany kind with a higherdeath toll. –AGENCIES

SSEEOOUULL:: North Korea said on Sunday ithad no intention of using an Americanit sentenced to hard labor for 15 years asa bargaining chip in talks with theUnited States.North Korea sentenced Kenneth Bae,

a Korean American who traveled to visitNorth Korea last November, onThursday for what is said were crimesagainst the state.North Korea has in the past used

detained American as bargaining countersin dealings with the United States. But theNorth's state news agency dismissedspeculation it might do so again."Some media of the US said that the

DPRK tried to use Bae's case as a politicalbargaining chip. This is ridiculous andwrong guess," the KCNA news agencyreported, citing a Foreign Ministryspokesman. DPRK stands for theDemocratic People's Republic of Korea,the North's oLcial name.Bae, 44, was born in South Korea but is a

naturalized US citizen. His sentencingcomes after two months of saber-rattlingthat saw North Korea threaten the United

States and South Korea with nuclear war.Human rights activists in South Korea

say Bae may have been arrested for takingpictures of starving children.A US oLcial said last week Washington

was not looking for an envoy to try tosecure Bae's release.The oLcial, who spoke on condition of

anonymity, said the United States hadsought in recent years to break out of apattern of having to resolve repeated criseswith North Korea through deals.The US State Department urged North

Korea to grant Bae amnesty and immediaterelease. The North's ministry spokesmansaid the Bae case showed the United Stateshad not changed its "hostile" policy."As long as the US hostile policy goes

on, Americans' illegal acts should becountered with strict legal sanctions.This is a conclusion drawn by theDPRK," the KCNA news agencyreported. In the past, prominentAmericans including former presidentsJimmy Carter and Bill Clinton havetraveled to North Korea to try to freedetained Americans. –AGENCIES

North Korea says noplan to use Americanas bargaining chip

BD buildingcollapse tolltops 600

BBEEIIRRUUTT:: Israel carried out itssecond air strike in days on Syriaearly on Sunday, a Westernintelligence source said, in an attackthat shook Damascus with a series ofpowerful blasts and drove columns offire into the night sky.Israel declined comment but Syria

accused the Jewish state of striking amilitary facility just north of thecapital - one which its jets had firsttargeted three months ago. Iran, a keyally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and an arch-enemy for Israel,urged states in the region to resist theIsraeli attack. People living near theJamraya base spoke of explosionsover several hours in various placesnear Damascus, including a townhousing senior oLcials: "Nightturned into day," one man said.The Western intelligence source

told Reuters the operation hit

Iranian-supplied missiles headed forLebanon's Hezbollah, a similar targetto the two previous strikes this year,which have been defended asjustifiable by Israel's ally the UnitedStates: "In last night's attack, as in theprevious one, what was attacked werestores of Fateh-110 missiles that werein transit from Iran to Hezbollah," theintelligence source said.An Israeli oLcial had confirmed a

similar raid on Friday. In Lebanon,Hezbollah declined immediatecomment. Video footage uploadedonto the Internet by activists showeda series of explosions. One lit up theskyline of Damascus while anothersent up a tower of flames andsecondary blasts. Syrian state mediaaccused Israel of attacking inresponse to Assad's forces' recentsuccesses against rebels who, withWestern approval, have been trying to

topple him for two years.In 40 years since a war with a

Syria then ruled by Assad's father,

Israel has been locked in a coldstandoM with Damascus, foughtHezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 and

is threatening to attack Iran,accusing Tehran of trying to developnuclear weapons. –AGENCIES

Israel strikes Syria again, rocking Damascus

French M51 missile self-destroys shortly after launchPPAARRIISS:: A French M51 ballistic missile self-destructedoff the coast of Brittany during a test on Sunday, according tomedia reports. The missile "self-destructed during its firstpropulsion phase... for an unknown reason," LieutenantCommander Lionel Delort, a spokesman for the AtlanticNaval Prefecture, was quoted by AFP as saying. "It was afailure, the reasons will be determined by an investigation," saidthe spokesman. The test-fire was carried out from theVigilant strategic nuclear submarine in the Bay of Audierne at0730 GMT. The missile was not carrying a nuclear warhead andlanded in the ocean after its destruction. The M51 was put intooperation in 2010 after five successful test launches and has arange of 8,000-10,000 km. –AGENCIES

Iran calls for stand againstIsrael after Syria attackDDUUBBAAII:: Iran called on the region to unite against Israel after areported attack on Syriaand said it was ready to train the Damascusgovernment's army. Israel carried out its second air strike in days onSyria early on Sunday, targeting Iranian-supplied missiles headed forLebanon's Hezbollah, a Western intelligence source said. Tehran onSunday denied the attack was aimed at "its missiles destined forHezbollah resistance fighters in Lebanon," according to the Islamicstate's English-language Press TV. Iran has supported its ally SyrianPresident Bashar al-Assad in his efforts to suppress a rebellion thathas raged for more than two years and which Tehran and Damascussay is being waged by Western-backed "terrorists". Iranian ForeignMinistry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast urged countries in theregion to stand against the "assault", the Fars news agency reportedon Sunday. Iranian army ground forces commander Ahmad RezaPourdastan said on Sunday Iran was ready to support its ally. –AGENCIES

Israeli strikes aimto supportterrorists: SyriaBBEEIIRRUUTT:: Syria has condemnedthe Israeli airstrikes againsttargets around Damascus, sayingthe attacks aim "to givedirectmilitary support to terroristgroups" fighting the government.The Syrian Foreign Ministry alsosaid Sunday in a letter sent to theUnited Nations and the UNSecurity Council that the "Israeliaggression" killed and woundedseveral people and "causedwidespread destruction." –AGENCIES

MONDAY, MAY 06, 2013

STOKING tensions with Japan,Vietnam, and the Philippinesover islands in the South and

East China Seas has not prevented anincreasingly assertive China fromopening yet another front by staging amilitary incursion across the disputed,forbidding Himalayan frontier. On thenight of April 15, a People’s LiberationArmy (PLA)platoon stealthily intrudednear the China-India-Pakistan tri-junction, established a camp 19kilometers (12 miles) inside Indian-controlled territory, and presentedIndia’s government with the potentialloss of a strategically vital 750-square-kilometer high-altitude plateau.A stunned India, already reeling

under a crippling domestic politicalcrisis, has groped for an eVectiveresponse to China’s land-grab – thelargest and most strategic real estateChina has seized since it beganpursuing a more muscular policytoward its neighbors. Whether Chinaintends to stay put by buildingpermanent structures for its troops onthe plateau’s icy heights, or plans towithdraw after having extractedhumiliating military concessions from

India, remains an open – and in someways amoot – question.The fact is that,with its “peaceful rise”

giving way to an increasingly sharp-elbowed approach to its neighbors,Chinahasbroadened its “core interests”– which brook no compromise – andterritorial claims, while showing agrowing readiness to take risks toachieve its goals. For example, Chinahas not only escalated its challenge toJapan’s decades-old control of theSenkaku (Diaoyu) Islands, but is alsofacing oV against the Philippines sincetaking eVective control of ScarboroughShoal last year.What makes the Himalayan

incursion a powerful symbol of China’saggressive new stance in Asia is that itsintruding troopshave set up camp inanarea that extends beyond the “line ofactual control” (LAC) that China itselfunilaterallydrewwhen it defeated Indiain the 1962 Chinese-initiated borderwar.WhileChina’s navy andapart of itsair force focus on supporting revanchistterritorial and maritime claims in theSouthandEastChinaSeas, its armyhasbeen active in the mountainousborderlands with India, trying to alter

the LAC bit by bit.One of the novel

methods that the PLAhas employed is tobring ethnic Hanpastoralists to thevalleys along the LACand give them coverto range across it, inthe process drivingIndian herdsmenfrom their traditionalpasturelands.Because the LAC has

not been mutuallyclarified – Chinarenegedona2001promise to exchangemaps with India – China claims thatPLA troops are merely camping on“Chinese land.” Yet, in a replay of its oldstrategy of furtively encroaching ondisputed landand thenpresenting itselfas the conciliator, China now counsels“patience” and “negotiations” to helpresolve the latest “issue.”China is clearlyseeking to exploit India’s politicaldisarray to alter the reality on theground. A paralyzed and rudderlessIndiangovernment initially blackedoutreporting on the incursion, lest it come

under public pressureto mount a robustresponse. Its firstpublic statement cameonly after China issueda bland denial of theintrusion in responseto Indian mediareports quoting armysources. To add toIndia’s woes, SalmanKhurshid, the country’sbungling foreignminister, initiallymadelight of the deepestChinese incursion in

more than a quarter-century. Thegarrulous minister called the intrusionjust “one little spot” of acne on theotherwise “beautiful face” of thebilateral relationship – a mere blemishthat could be treated with “anointment.” With Prime MinisterManmohanSingh’s corruption-taintedgovernment tottering on the brink ofcollapse, there has been no oUcialexplanation of how India was caughtnapping in a militarily critical areawhere, in the recent past, China hadmade repeated attempts to encroach

on Indian land. In fact, the governmentinexplicably replaced regular armytroops with border police in 2010 topatrol the mountain-ringed plateauinto which the PLA has now intruded.Known as Depsang, the plateau liesastride an ancient silk route connectingYarkand in Xinjiang to India’s Ladakhregion through the Karakoram Pass.India, with a military staging post andairstrip just south of the KarakoramPass, has the capacity to cut oV thehighway linking China with its “all-weather ally,” Pakistan. The PLAintrusion, by threatening that Indianbase, may have been intended toforeclose India’s ability to choke oVsupplies toChinese troops andworkersin Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region,where China has expanded its militaryfootprint and strategic projects. Toguard those projects, several thousandChinese troops reportedly have beendeployed in the rebellious,predominantly Shia region, which isclosed to the outside world.For India, the Chinese incursion

also threatens its access to the 6,300-meter-high Siachen Glacier, to thewest of Depsang. Pakistan claims the

Indian-controlled glacier, which,strategically wedged between thePakistani- and Chinese-held parts ofKashmir, served as the world’shighest and coldest battleground(and one of the bloodiest) from themid-1980’s until a cease-fire tookeVect in 2003. India’s nonmilitaryoptions to force a Chinesewithdrawal from Depsang rangefrom diplomatic (suspension of alloUcial visits or reconsideration of itsrecognition of Tibet as part of China)to economic (an informal boycott ofChinese goods, just as China has hurtJapan through a nonoUcial boycottof Japanese-made products). Apossible military response couldinvolve the Indian army establishinga camp of its own on Chineseterritory elsewhere that China’sleaders regard as highly strategic.But, before it can exercise any

option credibly, India needs a stablegovernment. Until then, China willcontinue to press its claims bywhatever means – fair or foul – itdeems advantageous.

CCoouurrtteessyy PPrroojjeecctt SSyynnddiiccaattee

China’s India land grab

Brahma Chellaney

Indo-Pak trade needs a push

CONSTRUCTION is nearingcompletion on a natural gaspipeline linking Iran and Pakistan,

a project that portends a huge geopoliticalshift. As regional powers strengthen ties inthis key energy market, they're looking toChina, and away from the West.Since the early 2000s, analysts and

diplomats across Asia have been dreamingof a future Asian Energy Security Grid.This – among other developments – is

what it’s all about, the conclusion of thefinal stretch of the $7.5 billion, 1,100-milenatural gas Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline,starting from Iran’s giant South Pars fieldin the Persian Gulf, and expected to beonline by the end of 2014.Nobody lost money betting on

Washington’s reaction; IP would putIslamabad in “violation of United Nationssanctions over [Iran’s] nuclear program.”Yet this has nothing to do with the UN, butwith US sanctions made up by Congressand the Treasury Department.Sanctions? What sanctions? Islamabad

badly needs energy. China badly needsenergy. And India will be extremely temptedto follow, especially when IP reaches

Lahore, which is only 100 kmfrom the Indian border. India,by the way, already importsIranian oil and is notsanctioned for it.AAllll aabbooaarrdd tthhee wwiinn--wwiinn ttrraaiinnWhen Iranian President

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad andPakistani President AsifZardari met at the Iranian portof Chabahar in early March,that was a long way after IP wasfirst considered in 1994 – thenas Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI),also known as the 'peace pipeline.'Subsequent pressure by both Bushadministrations was so overwhelming thatIndia abandoned the idea in 2009.IP is what the Chinese call a win-win

deal. The Iranian stretch is alreadyfinished. Aware of Islamabad’s immensecash flow problems, Tehran is loaning it$500 million, and Islamabad will come upwith $1 billion to finish the Pakistanisection. It’s enlightening to note thatTehran only agreed to the loan afterIslamabad certified it won’t back out(unlike India) under Washington pressure.

IP, as a key umbilical(steel) cord, makes amockery of the artificial –US-encouraged – Sunni-Shiadivide. Tehran needs thewindfall, and the enhancedinfluence in South Asia.Ahmadinejad even crackedthat “with natural gas, youcannot make atomic bombs.”Zardari, for his part, boosted

his profile ahead of Pakistan’selections on May 11. With IPpumping 750 million cubic

feet of natural gas into the Pakistanieconomy everyday, power cuts will fade,and factories won’t close. Pakistan has nooil. It may have huge potential for solarand wind energy, but no investmentcapital and knowhow to develop them.Politically, snubbing Washington is a

certified hit all across Pakistan, especiallyafter the territorial invasion linked to the2011 targeted assassination of Bin Laden,plus Obama and the CIA’s non-stop dronewars in the tribal areas.Moreover, Islamabad will need close

cooperation with Tehran to assert a measure

of control of Afghanistan after 2014.Otherwise an India-Iran alliance will be inthe driver’s seat.Washington’s suggestion of a Plan B

amounted to vague promises to helpbuilding hydroelectric dams; and yetanother push for that ultimate'Pipelineistan' desert mirage – the whichhas existed only on paper since the BillClinton era.The Foreign OUce in Islamabad argued

for Washington to at least try to show someunderstanding. As for the lively Pakistanipress, it is having none of it.TThhee bbiigg wwiinnnneerr iiss…… CChhiinnaaIP is already a star protagonist of the

New Silk Road(s) – the real thing, not afigment of Hillary Clinton’s imagination.And then there’s the ultra-juicy, strategicGwadar question.Islamabad decided not only to hand over

operational control of the Arabian Sea portof Gwadar, in ultra-sensitive southwestBalochistan, to China; crucially, Islamabadand Beijing also signed a deal to build a $4billion, 400,000 barrels-a-day oil refinery,the largest in Pakistan.

CCoouurrtteessyy RRTT

Pepe Escobar

Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Qatar — Pipelineistan at work

NOBODY asked theGerman people if theywanted the euro. Now,

almost 15 years after Europeintroduced its common currency, anew political party has emerged tocampaign for a return to thedeutsche mark.Judging by an opinion poll last

month, Alternative for Germanyhas hit a nerve. The party hasexisted for less than a month, yetthe poll by Infratest Dimapfound that 24 percent ofGermans would consider votingfor it in September’s federalelections. Are Germans on theirway to rejecting the euro?The answer isn’t simple or well

understood, which is surprisinggiven Germany’s centrality to theeuro’s survival and how much theglobal economy depends on ahealthy resolution to the currency’stroubles. It starts, however, withthe choice that Germans werenever given: whether to abolishtheir own currency.In the 1990s, as preparations

were under way to create theeuro, Chancellor Helmut Kohlcounted himself lucky that theGerman Constitution didn’tallow for referendums. Kohlaccepted the currency unionbecause he saw it as the onlyway to make the reunification ofEast and West Germanypalatable to the rest of Europe.The French, in particular,feared the new German statewould be too powerful. Theprice they demanded was theeuro, which they saw as a greatleap forward in the EuropeanUnion’s integration.UUnnppooppuullaarr EEuurrooHad the German people been

asked if they wanted the newcurrency, they probably wouldhave said no, because it would havemeant giving up the deutschemark. Such a rejection would haveupset the deal Europe’s politicalelite had made on Germanreunification, throwing the EUinto disarray.The deutsche mark had almost

mythical status in Germany. AfterWorld War II, it became both theinstrument and the symbol of WestGermany’s astonishing economic

and political comeback. EastGermans, too, developed a specialrelationship to the d- mark, as itwas often known. For them, itcame to represent the aTuenceand freedom that they were deniedas long as the country was divided.Can this emotional attachment

to the deutsche mark, combinedwith Germans’ lack of say over itsabolition, explain Alternative forGermany’s rapid gain inpopularity? The same InfratestDimap poll suggests that in theSept. 22 elections, the party couldwin more than the 5 percent of thevote needed to gain seats in theGerman parliament, taking awayvital support from ChancellorAngela Merkel’s coalition andperhaps producing a less pro-eurogovernment.A little history helps in gauging

the party’s support. The euro gotoV to a bad start in 1999. ManyGerman shops used the switchfrom the deutsche mark to raiseprices, giving the new currency thenickname “teuro,” which translatesroughly as “expensive euro.”

During its first months, the euroalso fell sharply against the U.S.dollar, disappointing Germanswho had been proud of thestrength of the deutsche mark.Since 2003, however, the euro

has helped Germany transformitself from the “sick man ofEurope” to the economicpowerhouse it is today. Germanyregained its competitivenessthrough Chancellor GerhardSchroeder’s tough structuralpolicies, which combined radicallabor-market reforms and a longperiod of moderate wage increases.Yet the country’s economy alsobenefited from the euro, becausethe currency had a much lowerexchange rate than the deutschemark, giving German companies aconsiderable edge in global

markets. Germany amassed hugetrade surpluses with the economiesof southern Europe, in particular.MMaakkiinngg PPeeaacceeAs a result, by 2010 Germans

had more or less made peace with

their new currency. That changedwith the beginning of the debtcrisis, when some of the oldskepticism re-emerged. The newsin 2010 that Greece had beenmanipulating its public financestatistics for years seemed toconfirm the prejudices that manyGermans held against southernEuropeans. Also, there were well-justified doubts about thefinancial viability of the rescuepackages that followed and thefeasibility of the reforms thatGreece and other crisis countriesagreed to undertake.Protests became more vocal last

summer, when the EuropeanCentral Bank decided to useexpansive monetary policies tosupport the crisis countries.Global markets welcomed ECBPresident Mario Draghi’s move,but fiscally conservative Germansthought Europe’s central bankwas breeding inflation andgrossly exceeding its mandate.Germany’s conservative newsmedia attacked the bailout plans,and about 200 German

economists signed a public letterprotesting Merkel’s euro policy.Almost a year later, economists

are again leading an initiativeagainst Merkel’s policy. This timethey are opposing not just bailout

packages but also the europroject in general. They want tobring back the deutsche markbecause they don’t believe thecurrency union is sustainable,given the vast economicdiVerences among its members.Alternative for Germany is led by

a University of Hamburgeconomics professor, Bernd Lucke.“In politics, nothing is irreversible,and least of all, the euro,” Luckesaid at the party’s inauguralcongress on April 14. He describedthe euro as “a historic mistake.”The party is supported by many

former members of Merkel’sconservative Christian DemocraticUnion and would steal votes fromall existing parties, according tothe poll data. That wouldstrengthen those in Merkel’sconservative bloc who are unhappywith her and could take awayenough votes from the parties nowin government to force Merkel intoa coalition with the SocialDemocratic Party.Yet almost the entire political

establishment is committed tokeeping the currency union alive.The opposition Social Democratsand the Green Party have voted forevery bailout package to date. It isinconceivable for theoverwhelming majority of Germanpoliticians to abandon Europeanintegration and the euro.FFaaddeedd AAnnggeerrFor this to change, there would

have to be wider populardissatisfaction with the euro -- thekind of anger that existed when thecurrency was first born. There areno signs that this is happeningnow. An astonishing two-thirds ofGermans say they want to keep theeuro, according to an April 9 pollby the Forsa agency.Alternative for Germany is

probably just too radical for 2013.Many Germans would like the EUto adopt a tougher policy on theeuro crisis, to ensure that debtorcountries carry out the changesthey have agreed to. But Germansunderstand that deutsche marks,pesetas and francs can no longercompete against Chinese yuan,U.S. dollars and Brazilian reals.

Courtesy Bloomberg

For Germans there is noalternative to the euro

Jan F. Kallmorgen

BY PRADEEP S MEHTA, ABID SULERI

I NSTEAD of waiting, non-state actors shouldreinforce governmental eVorts with their own andtake advantage of opportunities of improved

commercial relations. The last two years have witnesseda number of promising developments on commercialrelations between India and Pakistan. And they have tobe nurtured, as against just crying over Pakistan’sdecision to postpone the grant of the most-favoured-nation (MFN) status to trade with India. Recentdevelopments show that Pakistan has provided de factoMFN status to India. The Indian establishment shouldlook at it as a deferred success of its diplomatic eVorts.IINN RREEAALL TTEERRMMSSFrom a narrow base of a positive list, Pakistan has

decided to apply a broader negative-list approach. Asagainst the earlier approach of allowing trade in justabout 1,800 tariV lines, this base has increased to allproduct lines except about 1,200. In other words, earlierjust over 20 per cent tariV lines (products) were allowedfor trade between India and Pakistan. Now, about 15 percent are barred from being traded — opening up a newopportunity of trade in almost 65 per cent of the tariVlines. This was followed by a decision taken on the sideof the trade ministers’ meeting on South Asian FreeTrade Agreement held in Islamabad in early 2012.Delegations led by respective commerce ministers paid

mutual visits and declared a series of revitalising steps,liberal business-visa regime being the most notable one.Traders benefited from the commencement of anIntegrated Check Post at the Wagah-Attari border.However, there is fear that the momentum generated

in the preceding years is running out of steam, asimplementation of some of the decisions is taking longerthan expected. EVorts at the governmental level arecovering short-term shocks that may arise out of easingof trade restrictions. At this juncture, what is to bepondered over is how stakeholders other thangovernments can contribute to the latter’s initiatives onnormalising our trade relations.NNOONN--TTAARRIIFFFF BBAARRRRIIEERRSSWhile tariVs are coming down, numerous non-tariV

trade barriers (NTBs), particularly procedural ones, arehindering our trade. Removal of such barriers is now thekey to fostering Indo-Pak trade, but what is lacking is aformal institutional mechanism to do so. This gap can beplugged by involvement of civil society. An initiative,supported by The Asia Foundation and in which CUTSInternational of India and Sustainable DevelopmentPolicy Institute of Pakistan are joint participants, hasrecently made inquiries into the extent of NTBs aVectingintra-regional trade in South Asia. It was observed thatcosts amounting to 34.81 per cent of the value of totalintra-regional trade can be saved if South Asiancountries undertake minimal reforms to harmonise,regulate and remove NTBs. Our work has estimatedthat in the case of Indo-Pak trade, NTBs are muchabove the South-Asian average and accounts for about43 per cent of the value of total aggregate bilateraltrade. This calls for a new tack. The current approach totrade reforms suVers from a number of problems such asunclear definition of NTBs, fragmented policy responsestowards NTBs, diUculties in quantifying costs andbenefits of reforms, and subsequent problems related toincentives and enforcements. Hence, disciplining NTBsremains sub-optimal.IINNVVOOLLVVIINNGG PPVVTT SSEECCTTOORRExcluding relevant stakeholders in the process of

reforming NTBs is a major limitation. Manyimportant NTBs even fail to get discussed, as thedirectly aVected trading community has limited accessto the oUcial channels. Greater involvement of theprivate sector in the formal system of reforming NTBswould strengthen the oUcial initiatives. Businessespossess first-hand information on trade costs andpotential alternatives to costly and ineVective traderegulations. Direct inputs from them will make thereform process more informed and focused. The mostimportant building block of such a participatoryapproach is mutual consultation and consensus amongvarious stakeholders such as government oUcials,business associations, political groups including tradeunions, and consumer groups and other civil society andcommunity-based organisations. Creation of any new orrestructuring of old institutional and legal systems is notrequired for empowering private stakeholders to delivertheir respective roles in this participatory approach.Article 3 (Objectives and Principles) and Article 10(Institutional Arrangements) of Agreement on SouthAsian Free Trade have adequate provisions for creatingsuch a participatory system. According to theseprovisions, businesses from South-Asian countries canaccess the NTB resolution authority under the South-Asian Free Trade Area through their membership in thenational-level business and trade associations; some ofthem are also members of the regional apex body, SaarcChamber of Commerce and Industry.

CCoouurrtteessyy BBuussiinneessss LLiinnee

MONDAY, MAY 06, 2013

Kim Kardashian wants baby to be reality TV starMELBOURNE: Kim Kardashian apparently wants her child to star in`Keeping up with the Kardashians`, despite beau KanyeWest `s disapproval.The 32-year-old starlet has sent mixed messages regarding her baby`s TVfuture, the Courier Mail reported. Kardashian, who is all set to give birth inJuly, has previously stated that her child will be oL-limits when the camerasroll. When asked in an interview with The Times Magazine whether shewould include her unborn child on her shows she said that she is not sureright now. But when her sister Khloe Kardashian added, "Never say never",Kim revealed that it was the rapper who was standing in the way of thembecoming a reality TV family. She also praised Kourtney Kardashian’s twochildren, Mason and Penelope, saying that she loves and enjoys seeing themon the show. -SHOWBIZ DESK

Alia Bhatt eager to hit Highway set, againMUMBAI: One-film-old Alia Bhatt is enjoying shooting for Imtiaz Ali's Highway so muchthat she can't wait to resume shooting for the movie. "We are travelling a lot. It's a journey.I am having a great time. I can't wait to go back and shoot more. Working with Imtiazkeeps getting better," she told IANS. Alia is paired with Randeep Hooda in Highway, abouttwo people and their road trip. The actress, who debuted last year with Student Of TheYear, will also be seen in 2 States and likes the fact that both the films challenge her as anactress. "Everyone loves looking for change and challenges. I am so grateful to work onthese two films. I am very excited. I could not have asked for anything better," she said. Aliais playing a south Indian girl in 2 States, based on Chetan Bhagat's book "2 States -TheStory of MyMarriage", and she will be seen opposite Arjun Kapoor in the film. "I did haveto learn little Tamil to get the nuances of the language," she said. A large part of the filmhas been shot in IIM Ahemdabad. -SHOWBIZ DESK

CMYK

MUMBAI: Sridevi stepped out in a floral Temperley London dress fora book launch.

SHOWBIZ DESK

NEWDELHI: Shootout atWadala, which has made alandmark in the history of Acertificate films in Hindi cinemaby minting Rs. 10.01 crore on itsopening day has hit a sort-of-astumbling block in Pakistan.According to a leading daily, theCensor Board of Pakistan hasdelayed the release of ‘Shootoutat Wadala’, claiming that certainelements in the flick are too boldand provocative, which is not inkeeping with the religioussentiments of Muslims. “Theyfound the ‘Laila’ song, thatfeatures Sunny Leone, and thelovemaking scene between Johnand Kangana too provocative foraudiences in Pakistan,” a sourcesaid.However, Balaji MotionPictures is still hopeful that thefilm will sooner or later releaseacross the border. “We have beeninformed that the Censor Boardobjected to certain portions. Theauthorities are reviewing it,” saysTanuj Garg, chief executiveoKcer of Balaji Motion Pictures,said. On the other hand, the castand crew of the movie have

something to celebrate, the boxoKce collections on the movie onits opening day.Trade analyst Taran Adarshtook to Twitter to announce thesuccessful opening of the movie.“Shootout At Wadala Fri 10.1 cr.

Amongst the top openers of theyear!” he tweeted.“ShootoutAtWadala opens at No11 position in UK. Despite 18certificate by British censors.That says it all!” Taran tweeted.‘Shootout at Wadala’, the sequel

to the 2007 film ‘Shootout atLokhandwala’ - is based on thebook ‘Dongri to Dubai’ andrevolves around the first everregistered encounter by Mumbaipolice in which gangster ManyaSurve was shot dead at the

junction next to Dr. Ambedkarcollege, Wadala, Mumbai on 11January 1982.The film stars John Abraham,Kangna Ranaut, Anil Kapoor,Tusshar Kapoor, and Sonu Soodin lead roles.

Pakistan defers ‘Shootout atWadala’ release

SHOWBIZ DESK

LONDON: Amanda Seyfried hasstepped into the fashion world, as shehas been named the new face ofGivenchy fragrances. The 27-year-oldactress toldWomen'sWear Daily thather response to the french luxurybrand's oLer to be the new face of itsVery Irresistible line was "F-k yeah,"the New York Daily News reported.Seyfried, who also appears in ads forCle de Peau Beaute, insisted that itwas an honest collaboration. Sheasserted that she is proud to be part ofall the brands she is associated withbecause what they do is really cool andespecially Givenchy - they're soartistic. Seyfried, who has replacedfellow actress Liv Tyler, the formerface of Givenchy fragrances, also saidthat she feels like she has got a foot inthe fashion industry now. The 'DearJohn' star wore the brand's gown to

last year's Tony Awards and wasrecently spotted at the fashion house'sready-to-wear show. The beauty brandalso calledmodel "a chic, sexy womanwho is a perfect fit for Givenchy."

While she is thrilled about her ventureinto beauty, Seyfried has stressed thata celebrity fragrance isn't on heragenda. Her Givenchy ads will hitfashionmagazines in October.

Amanda Seyfried named 'newface of Givenchy fragrances'

NEWDELHI: Akshay Kumar's film, produced by Tips anddirected by writers-turned directors Sajid- Farhad, istentatively titled Entertainment. The debutant directors,who have also penned the screenplays and dialogues forfilms like the Golmaal series, Housefull and ChashmeBaddoor, are set to make a complete entertainer. The filmis based in South Africa as that's where Akshay Kumar'scharacter goes to from India. This film, interestingly, alsostars Prakash Raj and Sonu Sood. "In Africa he meets Rajand Sood who play step-brothers in the film. Though bothplay negative characters there are no action scenes or fightsequences. Instead there is an undercurrent of comedythroughout the film and they even have songs filmed onthem," said a source adding that the feel of the film is likeWelcome, the Akshay Kumar-Nana Patekar-starrer. Theleading lady is Tamannah whomade her Hindi film debutin Himmatwala and the cast also includes Nikitin Dheerand Johnny Lever. The shooting of the film is set to take oLin July in South Africa. -SHOWBIZ DESKSHOWBIZ DESK

LOS ANGELES: Baz Luhrmannis talking a mile a minute, theonly speed he ever talks at. He hasa point he needs to make aboutrubber zebras in The GreatGatsby. “If someone says, ‘Therewere no rubber zebras in the1920s!’, then I have photos of girlsin the 1920s holding them,”Luhrmann says, striking a defiantpose as he metaphorically mansthe parapets during a recentToronto visit. The outspokenAussie director, a youthful 52whose immaculate grey hairseemsmore fashion statement

than fate, is bracing himself forthe nitpickers: those who will findfault with his 3D screenadaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s1925 tragic romance, oft cited asthe greatest American novel. Suchas with those zebras. RoaringTwenties flappers are seenfrolicking with them in themansion pool of LeonardDiCaprio’s mysterious millionaireJay Gatsby, whose decadentparties symbolize the era but aredesigned to lure back his lost loveDaisy Buchanan (CareyMulligan). “Everything in thisfilm, despite what people mightsay, has a historical reference.

We’re research junkies.”Luhrmann’s film, the fifthscreen version of Fitzgerald’s slimnovel, opens the Cannes FilmFestival onMay 15, following itsNorth American release onMay10. He’s leaving nothing tochance, and that includes photosof himself.He arrives 20minutes late forthis interview at the Shangri-LaHotel, ground zero for a tightlyscheduled day of mediaencounters, because he’s spent somuch time elsewhere in the hotelinstructing Star photographerTaraWalton exactly how he wantsto be shot.

Baz Luhrmann jazzed about The Great Gatsby

Akshay’s next filmtitled 'Entertainment'

SHOWBIZ DESK

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani bandwitha reputation for satirizing thecountry’s militarymay have finallygone too far. About twoweeks ago, theband, Beygairat Brigade, released asong that criticizes generals evenmoredirectly than their previous oLering,which became a viral video hit when itwas released two years ago. But overthe past 10 days, the video of the song,‘DhinakDhinak,’ has beenmysteriously blocked in Pakistan onVimeo, a video-sharingWeb site. Theband released the song on Vimeo. NooKcial explanation has been given forthe apparent ban on the video of thesong, which critics have praised for itssharp humor. As bandmembers swayand dance, they sing of “the generals”who carry out coups and proxy wars,their corruption,When pockets are

full, all the strings are theirs to pulland their ability to eliminate critics, Ifit’s one of them you give a naughtylook to, very soon youwill disappearfrom view. The lead singer, Ali AftabSaeed, suspects that the PakistanTelecommunication Authorityblocked the video after a nod from themilitary. “The songwas not againstthemilitary,”Mr. Saeed insisted in aninterview. “We have nothing againstthemilitary.Wewere discussinggenerals, including GeneralMusharraf, who had imposed coupsandwere not held accountable.” Hewas speaking of the former Pakistanileader,PervezMusharraf. Lastmonth,Capital TV, a new news network,briefly was taken oL the air after aguest on a talk show used abusivelanguage toward the army chief,Gen.Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. KhurramMehran, spokesman for the Pakistan

Telecommunication Authority, deniedthat the government had blocked thevideo. “I am not aware of anydirectives to ban the video,” he said.Still, on Saturday, the video remainedblocked on several Internet serviceproviders in Pakistan.Some critics say the song isgroundbreaking. “This is definitely

something that was never donebefore,” said NadeemFarooq Paracha,a culture critic and columnist. “Theywent a step further. It is a sarcastictake on the history of army’s role inpolitics and automatically stands out.”He saidmost of the satire in thecountry lampooned politicians buttreated themilitary as a sacred cow.Themilitary, once virtually immune topublic criticism, has come underpressure from several sides in recentyears. Some elements of the newsmedia are increasingly critical, and theformermilitary ruler,Mr.Musharraf,is facing several legal prosecutionsthat could result in jail time or eventhe death penalty, a predicamentpreviously unimaginable. Recordingand producing the song proveddiKcult, saidMr. Saeed, the singer.Several studio owners declined torecord the song, deeming it too

controversial. A studio owner whoeventually agreed requested that hisname not appear in the credits,Mr.Saeed said. Still, he said the apparentcensorship of the song’s video caughthim by surprise. The band’s earlier hit,

“Aalu Anday,” had escaped that fate.He admits that the bandwas trying to“push a little, createmore space,” butnot to push too far. “I thought we hadwittily discussed the issue,” he said.“We tried not to be oLensive.”

Lara Dutta calls herdaughter the 'boss'MADRID:Model-actress Lara Dutta, who is on a vacationwith her family inMadrid, says her one-year-old daughter isthe 'boss' when it comes to deciding what to eat. The 35-year-old formerMiss Universe gave birth to her first childSaira with tennis aceMahesh Bhupati last year. "Enjoyingsome fantastic weather inMadrid!My daughter seems toenjoy Chinese food though over Spanish Tapas! And rightnow she's the boss!," she posted on Twitter. -SHOWBIZ DESK

Song critical of Pakistani generals blocked online�No official explanation has been given for the apparent ban on the video

MONDAY, MAY 06, 2013

CMYK

CMYK

This week I had an entertaining lunchwith former South Australian fastbowler Peter Trethewey. Known to his

mates as "The Claw", Trethewey had his AndyWarhol 15 minutes of fame in the late 1950swhen English cricket writers depicted himand his opening partner Alan Hitchcox as"Trethrowey and Pitchcox". It was a periodwhen doubtful actions were rife in Australiancricket, and the Fleet Street press wasconvinced bowlers of this ilk were responsiblefor Richie Benaud's team cruising to a 4-0Ashes victory. To be fair to England's fourthestate, Sir Donald Bradman, then a selector

and an Australian Cricket Board member,started a purge to eradicate dubious actionsfrom Australian cricket. This resulted inAustralian fast bowler Ian MeckiR beingmade the scapegoat when he was no-balledfrom square leg at the Gabba Test in 1963-64.He never played Test cricket again.That cut-throat approach is a far cry from

the modern stance. The officials gotthemselves in a bind when they misguidedlybent over backwards to accommodateMuttiah Muralitharan's unorthodox action.This shortsighted approach has resulted inall kinds of bends and flexes being allowed inbowling actions. This will lead to anescalation in the epidemic that willeventually force the administrators to eithertake drastic action or declare the game anelongated form of baseball.Instead of looking to simplify the law

regarding bowling actions, administratorshave complicated the process. It has reachedthe point where it's a barrister's dream and it

doesn't take a Rumpole of the Bailey to keepserial oRenders playing the game. Evenworse, the current drawn-out processsurrounding dubious actions doesn't give thebatsmen the appropriate protection in themiddle.It's a nightmare for a batsman when

someone chucks the odd delivery. That makes

it diQcult to adjust, and often a batsmanbecomes so aware of the dubious delivery, he'sfooled by a legal one. No batsman wants abowler thrown out of the game but he isentitled to be protected by a call from squareleg when a bowler transgresses. Under thecurrent law, with all the piPe about 15degrees of flex and a long drawn-out

notification process, this isn't possible.A bowler is no-balled when he oversteps the

front line by a fraction, which makesabsolutely no diRerence down the other end.Yet a batsman isn't protected when a dubiousdelivery (that gives a bowler a hugeadvantage) abbreviates his innings. This is adenial of a batsman's basic rights.The law needs to be modified to something

really simple so the legal people can't get theirteeth into it in a court. This way the umpire atsquare leg will feel comfortable calling a no-ball on the field, knowing he won't finish upin court defending his judgement against abarrister who doesn't know the diRerencebetween a no-ball and no man's land.Any modification of the law will require a

12-month lead-in time so the current crop ofbowlers can iron out any kinks in order tocomply with the new regulations. In themeantime, oQcials need to be vigilant andstrict in youth tournaments, and any bowlerwith a doubtful action should be told to fix his

delivery or find another profession.If these remedies aren't adopted soon, the

copycat syndrome will ensure the market isflooded and then it'll be diQcult to tell thediRerence between the delivery of a bowlerand that of a baseball pitcher. If that occurs,the stormy late '50s-early '60s period will belooked back on as one of relatively purebowling actions.These days the mild-mannered Trethewey

is a successful businessman, living inCalifornia with his charming American wife,Peggy. That means he's mostly quarantinedfrom modern quirky bowling actions, butironically his wife's name conjures upthoughts of the baseball term "pegged out",meaning to throw out a base runner.Wouldn't today's English media have a ballwith that: "Trethrowey pegged out at home"?

((FFoorrmmeerr AAuussttrraalliiaa ccaappttaaiinn IIaann CChhaappppeellll iissnnooww aa ccrriicckkeett ccoommmmeennttaattoorr ffoorr CChhaannnneell 99,,aanndd aa ccoolluummnniisstt))

Beware an epidemic of chucking

BBUULLAAWWAAYYOO:: Sean Williamssmashed a career-best unbeaten 78 asZimbabwe levelled their one-dayinternational series againstBangladesh with a six-wicket victoryon Sunday. Put into bat by the hosts,Bangladesh rallied late in theirinnings to post 252 for nine wickets, apar score on a good batting track.Despite some jitters along the way,Zimbabwe chased down the runswith 13 balls to spare. Zimbabwewere outclassed in the series openerat the same venue on Friday whenthey were thumped by 121 runs, butshowed much more mettle in thesecond match. Williams came in withhis side teetering at 94 for three, butworked the ball around the groundexpertly, hitting six fours and a six inhis 75-ball knock. He got support from Malcolm

Waller (39 not out) as the pair put on86 for the fifth wicket to see their sidethrough to the win. "I wanted to batthrough the innings, it is a greatbatting track so you want to pad upand bat on this. The guys have put ina lot of work in the last few days and ithas paid oR," man of the matchWilliams said in a television interviewafter the game. Zimbabwe captainBrendan Taylor played his part with asteady 37, while opener Vusi Sibanda

struck 49. "We showed a lot ofcharacter to bounce back fromFriday," Taylor said. "Sean Williamswas fantastic along with MalcolmWaller. For 45 overs of their inningswe were excellent with the ball andthen let it slip at the end."

Bangladesh slumped to 124 for fivein their innings before aswashbuckling unbeaten 53 oR 22balls from No 9 Abdur Razzak helpedthe side to 252. Razzak smashed fourfours and five sixes in his first ODIhalf-century. "We didn't bat well, a

couple of guys got going and did (not)go through," Bangladesh captainMushfiqur Rahim said. "At one stagewe were looking at 180 all out, so wewere happy with our total. But weneeded early wickets and those didnot come." –AGENCIES

Williams smashes careerbest as Zimbabwe level ODI series

BBAANNGGLLAADDEESSHH IINNNNIINNGGSSTamim Iqbal c Taylor b Chatara 6Mohammad Ashraful c Taylor b Jarvis 8Mominul Haque c Jarvis b Chigumbura 24Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Chigumbura 26Shakib Al Hasan lbw b Utseya 34Nasir Hossain c Taylor b Chatara 36Mahmudullah c Jarvis b Chigumbura 31Ziaur Rahman c Taylor b S. Masakadza 12Abdur Razzak not out 53Shafiul Islam run out 4Robiul Islam not out 0EEXXTTRRAASS (4 B, 6 LB, 7 WD, 1 NB) 18TTOOTTAALL (9 wkts, 50 overs) 252FFAALLLL OOFF WWIICCKKEETTSS:: 1-10, 2-16, 3-60, 4-88, 5-124, 6-160, 7-185, 8-213, 9-224BBOOWWLLIINNGG:: Chatara 10-2-33-2Jarvis 10-0-52-1S Masakadza 10-0-64-1Chigumbura 10-0-39-3Utseya 8-0-47-1H Masakadza 2-0-7-0ZZIIMMBBAABBWWEE IINNNNIINNGGSSH Masakadza b Shafiul Islam 15V Sibanda lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 49S Raza c Shakib Al Hasan b Shafiul Islam 23B Taylor c Mominul Haque b Ziaur Rahman 37S Williams not out 78M Waller not out 39Did not bat: E Chigumbura, P Utseya, SMasakadza, K Jarvis, T ChataraEEXXTTRRAASS (5 LB, 7 WD) 12TTOOTTAALL (4 wkts, 47.5 overs) 253FFAALLLL OOFF WWIICCKKEETTSS:: 1-29, 2-94, 3-94, 4-167 BBOOWWLLIINNGG:: Shafiul Islam 9-0-51-2Robiul Islam 9.5-0-51-0Abdur Razzak 9-0-44-0Ziaur Rahman 7-0-42-1Shakib Al Hasan 9-0-42-1Mahmudullah 4-0-18-0Toss: ZimbabweUmpires: Johan Cloete (SA) and Owen Chirombe (ZIM)TV umpire: Jeremiah Matibiri (ZIM)Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)Result: Zimbabwe won by six wicketsSeries: Three-match series level at 1-1

ZZiimmbbaabbwwee''ss ccaappttaaiinn BBrreennddaann TTaayylloorr bbaattss dduurriinngg tthhee sseeccoonndd OODDII bbeettwweeeenn ZZiimmbbaabbwwee aanndd BBaannggllaaddeesshh aatt tthhee QQuueeeennss SSppoorrttssCClluubb oonn SSuunnddaayy.. –AGENCIES

SCOREBOARD

OUR STAFF REPORTER

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Pakistan’s AamirAtlas Khan brushed asideKuwait’s Abdullah Al Mezayan inthree sets to become the firstPakistani in 14 years to win theAsian Squash Championship onSunday at the Islamabad SportComplex. Aamir triumphed overAl Mezayan after an impressiveperformance with figures of 11-9,11-3, 11-8. Speaking to mediaafter the final, Aamir said thevictory was the result of his hardwork and he was happy to havewon a title for Pakistan. “I amvery happy and I am sure that

after this victory, squash inPakistan will see better days,” hesaid. The twenty-two year old

had earlier said that he was usingthe home advantage to hisbenefit. “I knew I had advantageof home glass court and crowd,and I took advantage of both,” hesaid. Aamir had beaten AsyrafAzan of Malaysia 11-5, 11-6, 11-6in the semi-final on Saturday. Headded that his expectationsbefore the start of thetournament were low because hehad just recovered from aninjury; however, his goal was towin the Asian title for which heworked hard. In the women’sfinal, Hong Kong’s Annie Au beatMalaysia’s Low Wee Wern 5-11,11-8, 11-7, 11-1.

Aamir Atlas wins final tobecome Asian squash champion

RReeppssooll HHoonnddaa TTeeaamm mmoottooGGPP''ss SSppaanniisshh rriiddeerr DDaannii PPeeddrroossaa cceelleebbrraatteess oonn tthhee ppooddiiuumm aafftteerrwwiinnnniinngg oonn SSuunnddaayy.. –AGENCIES

JJEERREEZZ DDEE LLAA FFRROONNTTEERRAA::Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa gainedhis first win of the season on Sundaytaking the Spanish MotoGP. The 27-year-old Honda rider came homeclear of his team-mate MarcMarquez while defending worldchampion Jorge Lorenzo was thirdon a Yamaha. Marquez, who wenttop of the standings on 61 pointsthree ahead of Pedrosa and four ofLorenzo, once again showed hisclass at just 20-years-old as hepassed Lorenzo on the final bend forsecond spot.However, it left Lorenzo furious as

they came together on the bend andhe refused to accept Marquez'sapology immediately afterwards. Lorenzo maintained a diplomatic

facade once he dismounted from hisbike. "I prefer not to comment onthat I would rather talk about myrace," said Lorenzo, who turned 26on Saturday. "It was a perfect racefor my bike and the team. I am pretty sore about what

happened but I prefer not to makeany further comment."Marquez, who a fortnight ago

became the youngest ever winner ofa MotoGp, accepted that he had beenin the wrong. "I wanted to say sorryto Jorge but it wasn't possible," said

Marquez, who has had a history inthe other categories of upsetting hisrivals with risky manoeuvres. "Sure if I had been him I would be

angry but I entered the last lap and Iknew that I could pass him and so Iwent for it," he added.Pedrosa, who has yet to add the

MotoGP title to his 125cc and 250ccworld crowns, was delighted to havebroken his duck for the season. "Itwas a good race and I am delighted tohave got a win under my belt," saidPedrosa, who has finished titlerunner-up on three occasions. "Jorgewas very strong but once I got pasthim I let myself establish a decentlead and then eased oR as I didn'twant to destroy my tyres." Lorenzo produced an excellent

manoeuvre after losing first place onthe first corner, coming on theinside to pass Pedrosa on the firstlap. Rossi too was in sparkling formon the first lap overtakingMarquez, but the young riderdisplaying the class he showed inthe previous race by reclaimingthird spot on the second lap. Both Lorenzo and Pedrosa opened

up a bit of a gap on the pursuing packled by Marquez and Rossi whilebehind the race saw four riders exitwith 24 laps still remaining. –AGENCIES

Pedrosa winsSpanish Grand Prix

Lax laws and a complicatedreporting process mean the

threat is all too real

Ian Chappell

MMUUNNIICCHH:: Evergreen German Tommy Haas beatdefending champion Philipp Kohlschreiber instraight sets on Sunday to win the Munich claycourttitle for the first time at the 10th attempt, 13 yearsafter his first appearance in the final. Haas neededjust 82 minutes to seal his 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win overcompatriot Kohlschreiber and pick up the 14th titleof his career to become the first 35-year-old to winan ATP tournament since 2008.

Haas in enjoying an Indian summer and onMonday will be ranked 13th in the world, havingreached a career-high of second back in 2002 "Itmeans a lot to win here, it's hard to put it into words,but it's a great feeling," Haas, who lives in Florida, butsaid it had been good to spend some time with hisfamily in Germany this week. "I just came herewanting to play well and try to win the title. "The factthat it has worked out is unbelievable. "I have to paycredit to Philipp, he played really well. He took a fewrisks and was aggressive, he made it a good fight."Having struggled with injuries in recent years, Haas' isyet to win a Grand Slam, but reached the semi-finalsof Wimbledon back in 2009 and beat Roger Federerin last year's grass-court final at Halle. "Perhaps I cango on now and win another title this year," he added,having never got past the fourth round at RolandGarros with the French Open set to start in a fortnight.This was Haas' fourth win on home soil having twicewon in Halle and once in Stuttgart. –AGENCIES

TTIIAANNJJIINN:: Australian Brett Rumford romped to his secondtitle in as many weeks at the Volvo China Open on Sundayin a tournament where China's teen golf stars staked aclaim on future trophies. Rumford swept to victory with afour-under-par 68 in the final round, winning by four shotsto take the 20 million yuan (U.S. $3.2 million) prize at atTianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club.It followed his win at theBallantine's Championship in Korea last week capping aremarkable fortnight that has seen him soar up the worldrankings from 253 to the mid 80s.He finished at 16 under par, with Finland's Mikko Ilonen

(71) in second place and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (68)third. "It's surreal. I'm more than pleased, but it's not mydoing completely – I have a great team around me," saidRumford in a OneAsia press release. Rumford started theday a shot ahead of playing partner Ilonen and they battledit out until the tournament was eRectively settled in a three-hole stretch starting at the 12th. Rumford made three consecutive birdies while Ilonen

had a pair of bogeys, leaving him resigned to secondplace. "Mikko certainly put the pressure on me throughthe turn there, and obviously he was driving well, but it'samazing this game, how quickly it can turn," saidRumford. The relative ease of Rumford's win could nothave contrasted more with his experience in Korea, whenhe broke a near six-year victory drought only afterenduring a nail-biting three-way play-oR.Chinese teenager Dou Zecheng put in another credible

eRort with a 73 that saw him finish the tournament in themiddle of the field at one under par – the same asdefending champion Branden Grace. The 16-year-oldamateur qualifier, the youngest player ever to make the cutin the tournament's 19-year-history, immediately set hissights on even greater glory. "I want more -- I want to play in Majors," he said, three

weeks after 14-year-old compatriot Guan Tianlang stunnedthe golf world by making the cut at the US Masters. OnThursday another qualifier, China's 12-year-old YeWocheng, became the youngest player ever to start aEuropean Tour or OneAsia event. Ye missed the cut by 14after shooting a pair of 79s. Scores after round three of theVolvo China Open 2013. –AGENCIES

Brett Rumford clinchesChina Open golf title

BBrreetttt RRuummffoorrdd ooff AAuussttrraalliiaa ppoossiinngg wwiitthh tthhee wwiinnnneerr''ss ttrroopphhyy aafftteerrtthhee fifinnaall rroouunndd ooff tthhee VVoollvvoo CChhiinnaa OOppeenn oonn SSuunnddaayy.. –AGENCIES

Veteran Haas winsMunich at 10th attempt

GGeerrmmaann TToommmmyy HHaaaass cceelleebbrraatteess wwiitthh tthhee ttrroopphhyy aafftteerrhhee wwoonn tthhee AATTPP BBMMWW OOppeenn fifinnaall mmaattcchh aaggaaiinnssttGGeerrmmaann PPhhiilliipppp KKoohhllsscchhrreeiibbeerr oonn SSuunnddaayy.. –AGENCIES

LLAASS VVEEGGAASS:: World Boxing Council championFloyd Mayweather extended his perfect record to44 victories Saturday, beating Robert Guerrero byunanimous decision in their welterweight title fight.Mayweather, who was defending his title for thefirst time since serving a jail term for domesticviolence, dominated a bloodied Guerrero for mostof the fight at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.All three judges scored the 12-round fight 117-111 infavour of Mayweather. "I had a good tough battlewith Robert Guerrero," Mayweather said. "It wasblood, sweat and tears tonight."

The 36-year-old Mayweather was also fighting forthe first time in a year as he improved to 44-0 with 26knockouts. Guerrero, who had his 15-fight win streakdating back to 2005 snapped, fell to 31-2-1, with 18knockouts. Mayweather spent close to three monthsin jail beginning in June after being convicted ofdomestic violence involving the mother of his threechildren. "I wouldn't wish being locked up onanyone," Mayweather said Saturday. "That's a roughposition, being locked up 23 hours a day with onehour out." Both fighters had their fathers workingtheir corners Saturday. Mayweather sacked his uncleand longtime cornerman Roger Mayweather infavour of bringing his father Floyd Sr back for thisfight. The two fathers grabbed most of the pre-fightattention by exchanging verbal jabs, with RubenGuerrero calling Floyd Jr a "woman beater" in thebuild up to the bout. Mayweather had plenty of criticsheading into Saturday's fight who said factorsworking against him included increasing age, thechange in trainers and the conviction and jail term."Everybody was saying because I am 36 that I don'thave it no more, that my defence wasn't sharp, but Iproved myself," Mayweather said. –AGENCIES

Mayweather downsGuerrero to keep WBC title

WWoorrlldd BBooxxiinngg CCoouunncciill cchhaammppiioonn FFllooyyddMMaayywweeaatthheerr cceelleebbrraatteess aafftteerr bbeeaattiinngg aanndd RRoobbeerrttGGuueerrrreerroo aatt tthhee MMGGMM GGrraanndd GGaarrddeenn AArreennaa iinn LLaassVVeeggaass oonn SSaattuurrddaayy nniigghhtt.. –AGENCIES

MONDAYMAY 06, 2013THE SPOKESMAN - RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD

CMyk

Published by Ahmad Waleed from Yasmeen Majeed Printing Press 69 Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi.

KKAARRAACCHHII:: AA mmaarrkkeett iiss cclloosseedd ffoorr aa ddaayy ooff mmoouurrnniinngg ffoorr tthhee ddeeaatthhss ooff MMQQMM wwoorrkkeerrss kkiilllleedd iinn ttwwiinn bboommbbiinnggss.. —— OONNLLIINNEE

Two posts captured

2 troops, 16militants deadin Tirah clashesOUR STAFF REPORTER

PPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: Security forcescaptured two militant strongholdsin Kismet Sur and Sunghar areas ofTirah Valley in Khyber tribal regionafter successful operations,according to Inter Services PublicRelations (ISPR) sources.At least 16 militants were killed

during the operation and scores ofother militants fled from the arealeaving behind a huge cache ofarms and ammunition. Twosecurity personnel were killed andthree others were injured duringthe operation.In another incident in Orakzai

tribal region's Mamozai area, atleast six suspected militants werekilled and five others were injuredduring clashes between securityforces and militants. Securitysources said two securitypersonnel were also injuredduring the skirmish.Moreover, two security

personnel of the Bomb DisposalUnit (BDU) were killed and threeothers were injured in anImprovised Explosive Device(IED) blast while the unit wasclearing the Esha Razmak Road inNorth Waziristan, oScialsconfirmed.The military oScials confirmed

that the bomb disposal party wasbusy clearing the Esha-Razmakroute for troops’ movement whenit was hit by an ImprovisedExplosive Device, resulting in thedeath of two soldiers.The oScials also confirmed that

three soldiers were wounded inthe blast who were shifted to anearby hospital. A searchoperation continued in the area.

ECP bars another adagainst PML-NIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The ElectionCommission of Pakistan (ECP) onSunday took notice of an anti-PML-Ntelevision advertisement campaignbeing aired by various private televisionchannels focusing leaked conversationsbetween Justice (r) Malik Qayum andSaifur Rehman, directing PEMRA tohalt the commercial. A letter had beensent by the ECP to the PakistanElectronic Media Regulatory Authority(PEMRA) chairman, directing theauthority to stop airing the paidcommercial. The ECP mentioned thatcharacter assassination being reflectedin the advertisement was against therules and regulations and could not bepermitted, adding that suchcommercials could also act as acatalyst in fueling violence ordisturbing law and order situationacross the country. –AGENCIES

ATC to try Musharraf at his farmhouseIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Anti-Terrorism Courtwould hear the detention of judges caseagainst former President PervezMusharraf on Monday (today) at hisfarmhouse in Chak Shahzad which hasbeen converted into sub-jail. Thecounsels from both sides would presenttheir arguments before Special ATCjudge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi. ImranFeroze, the lawyer of PervezMusharraf had submitted a bailapplication in the court on May 4asking granting bail after arrest of hisclient. The court had accepted the pleafor proceedings. –ONLINE

Polls won't change system,not even faces: QadriBBUURRMMIINNGGHHAAMM:: PAT Chief TahirulQadri says the May 11 general electionsin the country would bring about nochange, not even of the faces in thesystem. Addressing a large gathering ofoverseas Pakistanis here, he said hedoesn't have any hope of anything usefulemerging out the polls. “Those raisingthe slogan of change would beprotesting on the election day's nightafter they see being cheated throughpolls,” he said. Qadri said it would be theworst elections held thus far in Pakistan.He said the elections were being soengineered that not even change of faceswould be seen, leave aside change in thesystem. –AGENCIES

Two FC men, 13 dacoitskilled in Bolan shootout QQUUEETTTTAA:: At least two Frontier Corps(FC) personnel and 13 dacoits werekilled on Sunday during an exchange offire in the Bhag area of Bolan. Accordingto FC sources, security personnelconducted a raid to arrest a wanteddacoit Gul Bahar in the Bhag area,adding that two of its personnel werekilled when the raiding team cameunder fire as soon as they entered thearea to arrest the suspects. Securityforces resorted to retaliatory actionwhich was followed by a lengthy gun-battle. Gul Bahar was also killed in thefive-hour long battle betweenmilitants and security forces. Hugequantity of arms and ammunition wasalso recovered during the raid. FCsources said the gang was involved indiTerent acts of kidnappings androbberies. –ONLINE

Altaf addresses anotherrally in PunjabJJAAHHAANNIIAANN::MQM Chief Altaf HussainSunday reiterated his party wantsQuaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal’sPakistan and not Taliban’s Pakistan.Altaf Hussain while addressing a publicmeeting via telephone as part of MQM’selectoral campaign here in the provinceof Punjab, said if religion does notespouse subjecting people to coercionthen why mosques and Imam Bargahsare being attacked. –AGENCIES

Taliban issue warning in tribal areas against votingTAHIR ALI

PPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: While termingdemocracy as a system of ‘infidels’,the Taliban in the semi-tribalDarra Adamkhel have warned thegeneral public not to participate inthe upcoming general electionsotherwise they will be responsiblefor their own destruction.In a leaflet circulated in Darra

Adamkhel, the local Taliban havedeclared war on all politicalparties whether they representreligious agendas or secular ones.“Our war is against democracy andall those who want to implement a

democratic system in the country.Whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims; they live in Pakistan orabroad; whether they callthemselves religious or secular (allare our enemies).”The message which has been

delivered by Tehrik e TalibanPakistan (TTP) Darra Adamkhelchapter says that the religiousparties are the main obstacle inthe way of Islamic Shariah in thecountry. “Those who say they want to

implement Islamic Shariah viaballoting are the real enemy ofIslam. They are mocking Islam

and Islamic history”, reads the leaflet. The Taliban have asked the

common people to join handswith them to implement IslamicShariah in a true spirit.According to the Taliban, a

conflict is going on between Islamand infidel forces all around theworld. Actually it is a battlebetween ‘Islamic Shariah’ and‘democracy’. Pakistan was liberated on the

name Islam but unfortunately theIslamic Shariah was neverexercised here. “Secular forces arestriving to establish an unIslamic

democratic system in the countryand the current elections are partof this”, reads the leaflet.The militants have also

requested teachers not to performduties in polling stations and haveasked the tribesmen to stay awayfrom the balloting process as theycould come under attack.“Wherever we get the opportunityto target the polling stations wewill do so. The Taliban will attackpolitical leaders and theirordinary workers”, warned thestatement.Darra Adamkhel falls under

Frontier Regions constituency

NA-47 where 36 candidates aregoing to contest the elections. NA-47 consists of FR Peshawar, FRKohat, FR Bannu, FR LakkiMarwat, FR Tank and FR Kohat.Previously the seat was won eitherby Bitani or Afridi tribesmen wholive mostly in Darra Adamkhel. In2008 the seat was won byindependent candidate ZafarBattani. This time a close contest is

expected between him and PML-N’s Haji Baz Gul Afridi. If turnoutremained low at Darra Adamkhelit will ease the competition forZafar Bitani.

OUR STAFF REPORTER

LLAAHHOORREE:: Pakistan Tehreek e InsafChief Imran Khan says he willtransform Pakistan into a nation asenvisioned by Quaid-e-Azam.Imran on Sunday addressed a

series of public gathering in Punjab,starting from Lahore in the morningand ending at Faisalabad. Inbetween he also addressed rallies inChinot and Khushab.In Faisalabad, Imran said he PPP’s

arrow has broken and it standsnowhere in election race. He saidSharifs are having nightmares thesedays as they also know that their daysare over. “PPP and PML-N claimcarrying out many project, but mymain aim is to make Pakistan onenation,” he said, adding that he wantsto see Pakistan as an Islamic welfarestate as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam. Imran again reiterated that it is

high time for Pakistan to get out ofAmerican war on terror.Addressing a public meeting in

Chiniot‚ he said if elected his partywould transform Pakistan into aself-suScient country by salvaging itfrom alms and debts.Imran said a revolution has already

come. He said the nation is sagaciousand intelligent. “Nobody can foolanyone in this age of social media.He said youth has decided for achange and will not back down now.”Addressing a public meeting at

Khushab‚ PTI Chairman ImranKhan said that the people should notwaste the opportunity to make anew Pakistan on May 11. He said hisparty would transform the countryinto a self-suScient Pakistan and'we do not need to seek financialassistance from foreign countriesand organizations.'The loans were used by the corrupt

politicians for their lavish life whilethe people do not even get potablewater, he lamented.Addressing Azm-e-Pakistan

convention in Lahore‚ he said it isonly justice that can unite a nation.He said Pakistan is passing througha critical juncture. “PTI would makePakistan a strong and stable state byeradicating corruption and injusticefrom the society.”AAggeenncciieess aadddd:: Imran says his

party would sweep the May 11general elections in Pakistan asmore young people, fed up with thestatus quo, are likely to cast theirballot this time.Imran told The Sunday Times

that “it's middle classes, youngpeople, people who have nevervoted before, exactly like whathappened in the Arab world. We aregoing to sweep this election." "Thisis a revolution. Look at them people.They are fed up with the status quo.This is an across-the-board desirefor change and a fear the countrywon't survive unless we do.

LLAAHHOORREE::PML-N Chief Nawaz SharifSunday said Pakistan should reconsiderits support for the US war andsuggested that he was in favour ofnegotiations with the Taliban.Sharif said the military's

campaign against the Taliban wasnot the best way to defeat theinsurgency. "I think guns andbullets are always not the answer tosuch problems," he said in aninterview in his black armoured caron Saturday. "I think other options need to be

explored at the same time and see whatis workable. And I think we're going topursue all these other options.""Someone will have to take this

problem seriously," said Nawaz, ashe headed to an election campaignrally. "All stakeholders will have tosit down together and understandthe concerns of all parties and thentake a decision, which is in the bestinterest of Pakistan and theinternational community."He became sombre as he recalled

how a former army chief and laterpresident, Pervez Musharraf, toppledhis government in a bloodless coupin 1999. "It was a very bad day forPakistan," said Sharif.Sharif said Musharraf 's plight

should serve as an example to othertop brass who may be planning atakeover.Pakistan is undergoing a

transition, said Sharif. "Thisaccountability which is now taking

place is itself a lesson to all thosewho have any such designs in thefuture," he said. "Now Musharraf has come back

and look at what he's going through.Everybody is seeing it on TV andreading it in the newspapers andthis itself is a lesson to everybody."Sharif believes his team is up to

the challenge of reviving the near-failed economy. He said he wouldpromote a free-market, as he didduring two stints as prime ministerin the 1990s. "We are going to pickup the threads from where we leftoff in 1999," he said."I'm not someone who is against

the IMF. But I am a man whobelieves that we need to stand onour own feet, that should be ourpriority," said Sharif. "But to workwith the IMF until such time, Idon't see any harm in that."Asked what his most daunting

task would be if victorious in thepolls, he said: "To put the countryback on the rails." –AGENCIES

Nawaz opposessupport to USwar on terror

Arrow broken, PPP nowhere in race

We’ll be anation afterpolls: Imran

MOMO BAIG

WWAASSHHIINNGGTTOONN:: A likely decline inPakistan’s foreign exchange reserves isputting it on an 'unsustainable' path,a senior ADB oScial saysPakistan is on a “clearly

unsustainable” economic path thatcould be driving the country towardsrunning out of money, a senior AsianDevelopment Bank oScial toldEmerging Markets on the sidelines ofa conference here.Klaus Gerhaeusser, director general

of the ADB’s central and west Asia

department, pointed to “serious andimmediate pressures on the currentaccount side” facing Pakistan in themonths ahead.Pakistan faces repayments to the

International Monetary Fund (IMF)totalling $700 million betweenelections scheduled for 11 May andthe end of the financial year at theclose of June.Gerhaeusser said that would bring

Pakistan’s foreign exchange reservesdown to $6 billion at best, from justnorth of $6.5 billion at present.“There are pressures on [Pakistan’s

authorities] from all sides,” he said.“The availability of reserves is aserious and binding constraint.”The ADB’s Pakistan country

director, Werner Liepach, warned inMarch that the country was runningout of money and would need tosecure loan commitments of up to $9billion by the end of the year. Liepachsaid Pakistan faced a “critical” balanceof payments situation, noting that thecountry has enough hard currency tocover only two months of imports.Even that number has fallen – by

the end of April Pakistan’s hard

currency reserves amounted to onlyaround 45 days worth of imports. TheIMF considers between two and threemonths’ imports coverage the bareminimum required for anydeveloping country seeking tocushion itself against sovereignbankruptcy. “The way they are going,the path they are on, is clearlyunsustainable,” Gerhaeusser added. The ADB oScial said the first order

of business for a new Pakistangovernment on 11 May would be tocall the IMF and ask for workingcapital. “The IMF is the obvioussolution,” he said. “They provide clearmeasures that can resolve [the

country’s] financial issues, providingthe country with dollar reserves andhelping” trim its massive deficit. TheIMF declined to comment yesterday.Pakistan’s economy is set to expand

this year by 3.3% – low for adeveloping Asian nation. Its fiscaldeficit peaked at 8.5% in 2012 and ison track to finish the year “at aroundor above 7.7%” providing further“serious pressures on the currentaccount side”, Gerhaeusser said.Earlier, Liepach warned that

Pakistan needed at least “$6 billion to$9 billion” before the end of the year.Pakistan media reports say a new setof leaders sworn in at the end of next

week are likely to ask for at least $5billion in immediate loans from theIMF. In 2008, the country secured an$11 billion loan from the fund, but theprogramme was suspended in 2011after economic targets were missed.Once an IMF loan is secured, the ADB

has up to $400 million ready to channelinto Pakistan’s social security system. “This would be part of a

sustainable scheme that includes theissuance of identity cards, and whichis designed to help the poorest of thepoor,” Gerhaeusser said. “There is alot more [multilateral] support thatcould [flow in once] the IMF loan is in place.”

� Says time to bid adieu to US war

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The government hasconstituted a 3-member committeeto look into the energy crisis besidesdevising short term strategy to reduceelectricity shortage for prompt reliefof the people.The Committee includes Advisor

to Prime Mininter on Finance Dr.Shahid Amjad Chaudhry, Waterand Power Minister Dr. MusadikMalik and Minister for Petroleumand Natural Resources SohailWajahat H.Siddiqui. The short-term energy policy would beimplemented without increasingthe power tariTs and puttingfinancial burden on the people.Sources said country was currently

generating 9200 MW of electricityagainst the demand of 13800 to14000 MW, so there is electricityshortage of 4000 MW across the

country, resulting in 12 hours powerloadshedding. They said thegovernment could enhance thegeneration capacity of the powerunits to 2900 MW and bring it intosystem through adopting short termmeasures and reduce the powershortage in the country.The Ministry of Finance has

already released Rs 10 billion whileRs 20 billion will be released shortlyto help overcome the power crisis onshort-term basis. Under the shortterm strategy Ministry of Petroleumand Natural Gas would provide 150-200 MMCFD to the powergeneration companies to ensure gassupply to power generationcompanies for generating electricity.The short term measures would

help reduce the outages period uptothree and half hours. -APP

3-man committee totackle power crisis

ADB raises alarm over 'serious' funding pressures� Says authorities being pressed from all sides

� Backs talks with Taliban � Says Mushhumiliation an example for generals