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Re-marriage of PPPand MQM................................................$50 billion is achievabletarget................................................Nothing wrong inBritain’s Christian identity

See Page 04

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UROOJ RAZA

THE Federal Ministerfor Religious AffairsSardar Muhammad

Yousaf has developed se-rious differences with theincumbent Federal Secre-tary Sikandar Ismail, a per-son with a neat reputation,apparently due to theSecretary’s resistance ofcertain policies of the Min-ister. The tense atmo-sphere may lead to proce-dural delays in routinefunctioning of the Minis-try and disrupt the forth-coming Hajj operations.An insider told to PakistanObserver.

According to the cred-ible source, “Differenceserupted when the Secretaryconstituted a five membercommittee and forwarded toEstablishment Division apanel of three short listedcandidates for the post ofDG Hajj. However, the Min-ister expressed serious res-ervations on the selectionas the names of the candi-dates sponsored by himwere not included. In retali-ation, he has now initiated anote that the post of DG(Hajj) be abolished and in-stead Pakistan’s Embassystaff is given this responsi-bility”.

The Minister has at-

tached a total of 26 staffmembers with his office,against sanctioned strengthof 6. They are mostly em-ployed to manage his per-sonal / political engage-ments.A contractual employee,Bahar Ullah Hazarvi, a closestaff member of the Minis-ter, accompanies him in allhis private and official en-gagements. Recently, theMinister attended a confer-ence in UAE from 9-10March for which BaharUllah Hazarvi took leave andaccompanied him at ownexpense and stayed theremore than a week. During hisstay there, he introduced to

the Minister several Paki-stanis / investors who of-fered their services for Hajjarrangements including hir-ing of buildings during Hajj.

Services of Asif Khanhailing from Minister’s na-tive area Mansehra wererequisitioned and placed asDeputy Administrator,Evacuee Trust Board (ETB)Rawalpindi. He is in BS-14and occupying post ofgrade 16/17. He is involvedin instigating his associates(hailing from Mansehra) toillegally occupy a 6 Kanalplot at Dhok Dalal and 31Kanal land in Seria Maddu(Sector 17), both owned byETB.

“Another close aide of theMinister is Syed Arif Shahwhose services have beenrequisitioned fromBalochistan Government.He was placed as DeputySecretary but later he as-sumed additional responsi-bility of Director to Minis-ter (the post which neverexisted in the Ministry).Syed Arif Shah has beentransgressing into all thelucrative / sensitive do-mains of the Ministry, whichdoes not fall under his pur-view”. Insider furtheradded.

The Secretary has al-ready initiated a case for hisrepatriation however; the

Minister is forcing the Sec-retary to withdraw thecase.Insider said that otherclose associates of Minis-ter suspected to be in-volved in minting moneyinclude Muhammad Asif,Sajjad Qamar, Tariq Gujjarand Shahzad Gujjar. Theyare approaching tour op-erators and other stake-holders of personalfavours.

Another worrisome as-pect is the insistence byChairman Standing Com-mittee of National Assem-bly on Religious Affairs

People should get ready for another Hajj scam

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UROOJ RAZA

ISLAMABAD—“Even CIA has just 20 casualties on creditsince its inception whereas we have 200 officers and sol-diers martyred just in the ongoing war against terror”, saidGeneral Zaheer ul Islam, Director General of ISI while brief-ing the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif.

General Raheel Sharif showed his full support to thepremier insti- tution of thec o u n t r y through histimely visit of the ISIH e a d q u a r - t e r s ,I s l a m a b a d on Tues-day. The blunt reac-tionary alle- gations of aprivate me- dia group,s t r a i g h t away hold-ing respon- sible themost sensi- tive institu-tion of the State is notat all liked by any patri-otic citizen of Pakistan. Itwas ex- pected thatthe Govern- ment woulddefend its in- s t i t u t i o nbut despite talking tomedia after visiting Hamid Mir in hospital, neither PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif, nor the Information Minister PervaizRashid spoke even a single word to condemn the allega-

Gen Raheel,Nisar back ISI

COAS appreciates sacrifices of spy agency InteriorMinister condemns propaganda against defence institutions

tions against ISI. ISPR had to release a statement of hav-ing the right to sue the responsible elements for baselessallegations against ISI. However, on establishment of three-member committee to probe into Hamid Mir attack, ISPRshowed its satisfaction.

Gen Raheel was given detailed briefing on internal andexternal security situation of the country. The COAS ap-preciated the role of ISI towards national security andlauded the c o n t r i b u -tions and sac- rifices ofits officers and ment o w a r d s s t r e n g t h -ening the de- fence ofthe mother- land. Histimely visit to ISI head-quarters is welcomedby the people of Paki-stan which has sentthe message of strongbond of Army with thepremier insti- tution ofISI to all the consp i r a -tors.

K e e p i n g aside thepassive atti- tude ofP r e m i e r N a w a zSharif and Pervaiz Rashid information Minister, ChaudryNisar Ali Khan has always been speaking very high of the

Nuclear capableballistic missile

successfullytest fired

RAWA L P I N D I —Pakis tanTuesday conducted a suc-cessful training launch ofShort Range Surface to Sur-face Ballistic Missile Hatf III(Ghaznavi), which can carrynuclear and conventionalwarheads to a range of 290kilometers.

The successful launchconcluded the Field Train-ing Exercise of StrategicMissile Group of ArmyStrategic Forces Command.The Training Launch waswitnessed by the ChairmanJoint Chiefs of Staff Com-mittee, General RashadMahmood, Director General

PR: Norift amonginstitutions

ISLAMABAD—Minister forInformation and Broadcast-ing Pervaiz Rashid has onceagain em-phatically statedthat there had neither any

tension be-tween thestate insti-tutions inthe past norit is todayand everyins t i tu t ionwas play-ing its role

as mandated in the consti-tution. Talking to media per-sons at Pakistan-ChinaFriendship Centre after in-augurating the NationalBook Day organized by Na-tional Book Foundationhere on Tuesday, the Infor-

ZUBAIR QURESHI

ISLAMABAD—After attackon the senior journalist andanchorperson of a privateTV channel, Hamid Mir,more such attacks are fearedby enemies of Pakistan onmedia persons, politiciansand members of civil soci-ety, well-informed sourcestold Pakistan ObserverTuesday.

A number of federal min-isters, politicians, humanrights leaders, members ofcivil society and journalistsmight come under attack by

the elements that want tomalign the state’s presti-gious institution of theArmed Forces and itswings.

According to sourcesclosely monitoring the situ-ation, the conspiracy washatched in a neighbouringcountry by the anti-state el-ements. “On April 19, HamidMir was attacked by no oneelse but by the elements thatwant rifts between the gov-ernment, civil society, jour-nalists and the armedforces,” said they. However,

Mir, a victim ofanti-Pakistan conspiracyThird party exploited seniorjournalist’s criticism of ISI

3G, 4Gspectrum

auction todayISLAMABAD—All is set forthe long-awaited auction ofthe 3G, 4G spectrum inIslamabad on Wednesday,official said on Tuesday. ThePakistan TelecommunicationAuthority (PTA) ChairmanDr Syed Ismail Shah said allarrangements have beenmade to do the process in atransparent manner and inthe presence of the mediapersons at a local hotel.Ismail Shah told NNI thatmajority of the qualified op-erators of the 3G 4G auctionswould be offered free of cost3G services in the auctionhall on the auction day.

There were two phasesof the auction. The first wasthe sealed bid stage for de-

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9 suspectedmilitantsarrested

PESHAWAR—At least ninesuspected militants includ-ing three injured with gun-shot wounds were arrestedfrom the Lady Reading hos-pital on Tuesday as theywere brought to the hospi-tal for treatment.

According to officialsources, the suspected mili-tants belong to a bannedoutfit operating in theKhyber Agency adding thatthey were first shifted to theKhyber Teaching Hospitalfor treatment but were re-ferred to the LRH for further

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OBSERVER REPORT

KARACHI—The Muttahida Qaumi Move-ment joined the Pakistan People’s Party ledgovernment in Sindh on Tuesday. The partyon Tuesday received slots of two minis-ters, two advisors and a special assistantafter joining the government. Two leadersbelonging to the MQM, Rauf Siddiqui andDr Saghir Ahmed, took oath as ministers.

Faisal Sabzwari and Adil Siddiqui wereappointed as advisors to Chief MinisterSindh while Abdul Haseeb was inducted inthe provincial cabinet as Special assistantto Chief Minister of Sindh.

Although the portfolios were not allottedyet, sources said that Rauf Siddiqui will get

portfolio of Commerce and Industries, DrSaghir Ahmed be given Health, FaisalSabzwari- Youth Affairs, Adil Siddiqui—Tour-ism and Abdul Haseeb — Auqaf.

The oath was administered by SindhGovernor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan at a cer-emony at the Governor House.The ceremony was attended by MQM lead-ers Dr Farooq Sattar, Khalid MaqboolSiddiqui, Syed Sardar Ahmed, Chief Minis-ter Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Senior Min-ister for Education Nisar Khuhru, Ministerfor Information Sharjeel Memon, InspectorGeneral of Police Sindh Iqbal Mehmood andAIGP Karachi Shahid Hayat. Rumors hadbeen circulating for some time about thepossible alliance of the two parties.

MQM joins Sindh govt,two ministers take oath

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Iran: Nuclearagencyreshuffle topave way for5+1 talksTEHRAN—PresidentHassan Rouhani’sgovernment confirmedrumors on Monday it hadreshuffled the leadershipof Iran’s atomic agency tosideline nuclear expertsop-posed to talks on itsatomic program with theWest. Rouhani and hisnegotiators have beenunder intense pressurefrom Islamic hard-linersopposed to the talks withthe United States and fiveother powers seekinggreater transparency in theprogram in return for anend to sanctions againstIran.

As the talks movetoward a possible deal bylate July, the hardliners,many of them holdoutsfrom the administration offormer PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad,have stepped up theircampaign, accusingRouhani of capitulating tothe West on a question ofnational pride and revolu-

BilawalBhutto visitsHamid MirOBSERVER REPORT

K A R A C H I — P a k i s t a nPeople’s Party Patron-in-Chief, Bilawal BhuttoZardari called on Hamid Mirat the private hospital wherehe is being treated on Tues-day.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardariprayed for Mir’s early recov-ery and added, that the PPPbelieved in the freedom ofpress.

Speaking to the mediaoutside the hospital, SindhInformation MinisterSharjeel Memon said thatthe police were jointly work-ing with other agencies toprobe the attack. He addedthat some evidences have

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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan conducted a successful train-ing launch of Short Range Surface to Surface BallisticMissile Hatf-III (Ghaznavi), which can carry nuclear andconventional warheads to a range of 290 kilometres.

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan administering oath to two CabinetMinisters Abdul Rauf Siddiqui and Dr Saghir Ahmed from MQM during a ceremony atGovernor House. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah is also present.

TARIQ SAEED

PESHAWAR—The police force in KhyberPukhtunkhwa was hit twice with in shortspan of 10 hours as a deadly explosion inCharsadda targeting a police van Tues-day morning left at least three peopledead while over forty others including 13cops sustained serious injuries. Thedeath toll may mount as the doctors inPeshawar’s major hospital have describedthe condition of seven injured as critical.

Earlier, militant’s ambush on a policeparty in the outskirts of Peshawar on thenight between Monday and Tuesday re-sulted in martyrdom of six police men in-cluding a sub-inspector. �

Reports reaching here fromCharsadda said as many as three peoplewere killed and 41 others including 13police personnel were wounded in an ex-plosion near a police vehicle onCharsadda’s Noshehra road on Tuesday

Police van targetedin Charsadda; 3 dead

early morning.The explosives material , as the offi-

cials said, was planted in a motorcycleparked outside a shop at Farooq AzamChowk and was detonated when the Po-lice mobile van carrying at least 14 copsapproached nearby.

“It was a remote controlled blast andthe explosives appeared to have beenplanted in a motorbike and detonatedwhen a Police mobile, carrying cops washeading towards Police Lines in the morn-ing, reached closed at Farooq-e-AzamChowk at Charsadda Bazaar on Noshehraroad”. Police sources said adding over adozen cops and 28 civilians received se-rious wounds while three people suc-cumbed to their injuries.

Eye witness said the Police van wasdestroyed completely while a number ofshops and nearby buildings also sus-tained damages. They said the site of the

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WASHINGTON —The number of U.S. troopsin Afghanistan may drop well below 10,000- the minimum demanded by the U.S. mili-tary to train Afghan forces - as the longestwar in American history winds down,Obama administration officials briefed onthe matter say.

Since Afghanistan’s general election onApril 5, White House, State Department andPentagon officials have resumed discus-sions on how many American troops shouldremain after the current U.S.-led coalitionends its mission this year.

US force in Afghanistan may becut to less than 10,000 troops

The decision to consider a small force,possibly less than 5,000 U.S. troops, reflectsa belief among White House officials thatAfghan security forces have evolved intoa robust enough force to contain a still-potent Taliban-led insurgency. The smallU.S. force that would remain could focuson counter-terrorism or training operations.That belief, the officials say, is based partlyon Afghanistan’s surprisingly smooth elec-tion, which has won international praise forits high turnout, estimated at 60 percent of

Biden warns onUkraine asRussia dismissessanctions threatKIEV/MOSCOW —U.S.Vice President Joe Bidentold Russia on Tuesdaythat “time is short” foraction on defusing thecrisis in eastern Ukraine,but Moscow said it couldhandle any toughereconomic sanctions theWest might impose.

Speaking on a visit toKiev, Biden called onMoscow to pull backtroops built up onUkraine’s borders and to“stop talking and startacting” on getting Russianseparatists who haveseized control in easterntowns and cities to disarm.

The United States hasrepeatedly warned Russiait faces “mounting costs”if it fails to ensure fullimplementation of aninternational agreementstruck last week oncalming the crisis. Thisstipulates the rebels must

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Defenceministry moves

applicationagainst Geo TV

networkOBSERVER REPORT

ISLAMABAD—The Ministryof Defence has moved Paki-stan Electronic Media Regu-latory Authority (Pemra) totake action against Geo TVnetwork, for levelling allega-tions against an intelligenceagency of Pakistan.

According to an officialsource, the application hasbeen moved following ap-proval from Federal Minis-ter for Defence, KhawajaAsif under the PEMRA Or-dinance 2002, section 33 and36 to take legal actionagainst the channel man-

ISLAMABAD—As many as 71,555 appli-cations have been received from theyouth all over the country to get admis-sion in Technical Education and Voca-tional training under the Prime MinisterYouth Skill Development Program.

Applications received from AJK are603, Baluchistan 6,320, FATA 2,740, GilgitBaltistan 423, Islamabad 381, KhyberPakhtunkhwa 18,430, Sindh 17,089 andfrom Punjab 25,569. Whereas total 25,000youth will be selected for imparting tech-nical and vocational training, said a pressrelease.The interview process is goingon throughout the country for final se-lection which will be completed on May7. The classes will start on May 12.

Area wise final selected youth fortraining will be: 200 from Islamabad, 500from Azad Jammu & Kashmir, 300 fromGilgit Baltistan, 400 from FATA, 3,000from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2,000 fromBaluchistan, 5,850 from Sindh and 12,750

71,555 applications receivedunder PMYS Development Plan

from Punjab. Out of total these 25,000youth to be trained: 8,524 female youthwill be given technical & vocationaltraining. Region wise breakup of 8,524female youth to be selected for trainingis 40 from AJ&K, 110 from GilgitBaltistan, 825 from KhyberPakhtunkhwa, 547 from Baluchistan,2,699 from Sindh and 4,303 from Punjab.

Likewise Regionwise breakup of12,750 Male Youth to be selected is: 200from Islamabad, 460 from Azad Jammu& Kashmir, 190 from Gilgit Baltistan, 400from FATA, 2175 from KPK, 1453 fromBaluchistan, 3151 from Sindh and 8447from Punjab.

These admissions are totally free asthere is neither admission fee normonthly fee of courses. Moreover toolkits in 27 selected trades will also be pro-vided free of cost to trainees after comple-tion of their course.

The duration of courses will be from

4 to 6 months including one month onjob training. Moreover eunuchs will begiven priority in admissions whereas10% quota for special persons has beenallocated.

It may be mentioned here that as aresult of technical education and voca-tional training to 25,000 youth, they willthemselves not only become economi-cally sound, but their families will be-come economically and socially pros-perous as well.

This skilled manpower will soon availemployment opportunities in the coun-try and abroad, and will certainly resultin reduction of poverty.

The PMYSDP will go a long way forimproving the law and order situationand the middle class will also flourish.Maximum export of skilled manpower willresult in maximum foreign remittancesand as a result foreign exchange re-serves will become more stable.—APP

ISLAMABAD—The WafaqiMohtasib, Salman Faruqui, takingcognizance of media reports regard-ing sudden death of Rab Nawaz, aretired employee of Pakistan Rail-ways seeking approval of his pen-sion case, has directed the PakistanRailways to ensure finalization ofpension cases of their employeesat least six months before the dateof their retirement.

Similarly, the other federal gov-ernment departments have alsobeen asked to follow this practice.

The Mohtasib took cognizanceof the matter reported in the pressand constituted a six-member high-level committee to look into thecauses of inordinate delay occur-ring in finalization of the pensioncase and suggest remedial measureto prevent such incidents in the fu-ture. It was observed that despiteexistence of detailed rules and gov-ernment instructions, often there areinstances of delays in finalizing thepension papers on one pretext orthe other causing hardship to pen-sioners especially those at the lower

WM orders pension cases finalization 6 months prior before retirementlevel.

The committee concluded thatsuch incidents are symptomatic ofa larger problem namely, lack of su-pervisory checks, weakness in in-ternal controls and absence of a vi-able monitoring mechanism in theorganizations.

In order to bring improvementin the system, the Wafaqi Mohtasibrecommended a number of remedialmeasures to streamline the existingsystem of pension disbursement.

Some of the major recommen-dations include the service recordsat all levels are computerized by 31stDecember 2014. An exclusive cell becreated in each organization to main-tain a list of officers and staff dueto retire within a financial year andthe progress of those cases be re-viewed on quarterly basis.

Preparation of pension papersin each case to start one year be-fore the date of retirement irrespec-tive of application from the govern-ment servant concerned.

Switchover from manual tosystem based pension payment,

including the use of direct creditsystem (DCS) so that pension isdirectly sent to pensioner’s bankaccount and withdrawal to be madethrough ATM.

At a later stage by the end offinancial year 2014-15, arrange useof biometrics with the banks to fa-cilitate the pensioners and eliminateany ghost pensioners.

Organizations to appoint a fo-cal person not below BS-20 withsupport staff to exclusively over-see timely finalization of pensioncases. Within Wafaqi Mohtasib aswell, an Advisor would be ap-pointed as the focal person to moni-tor progress in implementation ofthese recommendations.

The cheques, once issued forpayment of settlement dues mustbe honoured by the banks and theorganisations to ensure that thereis no excuse for any budgetary con-straint what so ever.

The Pakistan Railways to adopta de-centralized system for pro-cessing pension cases.

The Federal Minister for Rail-

ways, Khwajwa Saad Rafique, alsotook serious note of the sad inci-dent which ended in death of aformer railway employee in pursu-ing his pensionary benefits con-tinuously for five months after re-tirement.

The Minister for Railways ap-preciated that the Wafaqi Mohtasibhad taken cognizance of this caseand hoped the Mohtasib office willsuggest measures for institutionalreforms in Pakistan Railways with aview to effecting improvements intheir system and procedures for ef-ficient and timely handling of thepension cases in future. It may bepertinent to note that the GeneralManager, Pakistan Railways wasalso associated with the proceed-ings of the committee. It is expectedthat these recommendations willprovide a road map for all the gov-ernment departments and agenciesin order to remove bottle necks fromthe system hampering timely final-ization of pension cases so as toprevent such unfortunate incidentsin the future.—APP

Pak becomessecond largest

food donorISLAMABAD—Pakistan hasdonated 150,000 metric tonsof wheat to World FoodProgramme (WFP) in 2013 asthe country is emerged assecond largest donor for theUnited Nations body.

The donation, valued atRs5.5 billion (US$52 million)has placed Pakistan asWFP’s second largest donorin 2013 which demonstratedthe government’s continuedownership of developmentprocess and a strong com-mitment to helping its peoplein need. The assistance wasprovided at a time when criti-cal funding shortages threat-ened the provision of emer-gency food assistance in thecountry, said WFP PakistanSpokesman Amjad Jamal.

According to WFP Pa-kistan Spokesman, it aims toassist 8.3 million people be-tween 2013 and 2015 at a to-tal cost of US$535 millionwith projects to improve eco-nomic opportunities andpromote social inclusion inFATA, boost community re-silience in disaster- proneareas, and address nutritionand education needs in thecountry.—APP

NA committee appreciatesefforts of POF Wah

ISLAMABAD—Standing Committee of National Assemblyon Defence Production Tuesday visited different factoriesin Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) and appreciated theefforts made by the management of POFs Wah and Minis-try of Defence Production.

The committee met at Ordnance Factories (POFs), WahCantt under the chairmanship of Khawaja Sohail Mansoor,MNA regarding briefing on Pakistan Ordnance Factories(POFs).

Lt. Gen Ahsan Mehmood, Chairman, Pakistan Ord-nance Factories (POFs), Wah Cantt while briefing the in-frastructure and functioning of POFs informed the com-mittee that POFs has played a vital role to strengthen thedefence and security institutions with the motive, forcesbehind forces.

He said that presently POF made the entire require-ment of small arms, machine guns of the armed forces.

He said that presently 14 different factories were work-ing under the umbrella of POF Wah. POF has started fewcommercial projects such as Brass Mill and Clothing withjoint venture of private partners,he added.

The Committee recommended that POF board shouldbe empowered and separate budget allocation should beprovided to MoDP from MoD by the Ministry of Finance& Revenue.

It was also decided in the meeting that first right ofrefusal should be given to the POFs and a meeting of theCouncil of Common Interest (CCI) should be called to dis-cuss the issue of first right of refusal to local

institutions. The meeting decided that next meeting of the commit-

tee will be called shortly to discuss the amendments inPPRA rules and Secretaries, Ministry of Finance, Commerceand DG, PPRA will be called in this regard.

Meeting was attended by Rajab Ali Khan, MuhammadKhan Daha, Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Chaudhry HamidHameed, Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, Amra Khan, MirShabbir Ali Bijarani, Bhawan Das, Ms.Aysha Gulalai , MsAsyia Nasir, Bilal Rehman, Sajid Hussain Turi, MNAs andbesides senior officers from Ministry of Defence Produc-tion.—APP

WAH CANTT: Members of Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production, led byits Chairman Sohail Mansoor, during visit of POF on Tuesday.

2 injured inlandmineexplosion

RAFIULLAH

MANDOKHAIL

ZHOB—Two shepherdswere critically injured whenthey stepped on a landmineplanted near Killi Wiyalaarea here on Tuesday.Sources said.

According to police,landmine was planted alongroadside on Zhob-MirAlikhail Road went off whentwo shepherds – grazingtheir sheep and goatsstepped on near Killi Wiyalaabout 10-km north of Zhobcity. They were identified asAziz-ur-Rehman S/O AhmedKhan Babar and Hazrat S/OGul Karam Babar.

The injured were shiftedto DHQ civil hospital andreferred to D.I Khan for treat-ment, where their conditionis stated to be serious. Po-lice have started probe intothe matter.

LARKANA: Chairman Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Prof MuhammadDaud Memon visiting examination centre at Government Girls Degree College duringannual examination of HSSC (Part-1).

OPERATIONAL BASE: Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt briefing PAF war veterans and retired senior officers during theirvisit to an PAF Operational Air Base.

Govt achieved set target ofHajj applications: Yousaf

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Religious Affairs SardarYousaf has said that government has achieved the set tar-get for Hajj applications on the opening day.

Talking to PTV, Minister said that designated Bankshave received Hajj applications under Government HajjScheme from across the country. He said that governmenthas distributed the application forms equally to all the des-ignated banks specially the banks which have over 250branches in far flung areas.

To a question, he said according to Hajj Policy 2014,143,368 Pakistanis would perform Hajj and the governmentand private hajj group organizers will have fifty fifty quota.

He said under the government scheme applicants havebeen entertained on the basis of first come, first served,adding he said this way no discrimination was made. Toanother question, he said that any person who has per-formed Hajj during the last five years will not be eligible toperform Hajj this year except as Mehram or the one under-taking Haj-e-badal. He informed,” an additional amount of14,500 rupees would be required from those applicants whoopt to perform their qurbani through Islamic DevelopmentBank”. He said that government will send an advisory com-mittee during hajj process which will monitor day to dayactivities of hajj organizers and will report back to the con-cerned Minister.

He said government will take legal action against thecompanies that will violate the agreement.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

OPERATIONAL AIR BASE—Pakistan AirForce arranged a familiarization visit of PAFwar veterans and former PAF leadership toone of main operating Base of Pakistan AirForce. The visit was organized to showcasethe technological advancements in the do-main of air power made by the Pakistan AirForce over the years. Pakistan Air Force hasmade tremendous progress since its incep-tion and has brought many laurels to thecountry. Air Chief Marshal Tahir RafiqueButt, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Forcereceived the guests. The former PAF leader-ship witnessed the static display of F-16Block 52 and F -16 A/B MLU aircraft.

The veterans were deeply impressed bythe newly acquired range of lethal weaponsystems. The PAF Veterans were also givena comprehensive brief on the offensive /

PAF veterans briefed on offensive,defensive Air Base role

defensive role and infrastructure of the AirBase by the Base Commander Air Commo-dore Ahmer Shehzad Laghari. The Air Chiefwhile addressing the august gatheringshared his views about the PAF of todayand said “The PAF Doctrine to safe guardthe aerial frontiers of Pakistan by employ-ing newly acquired capabilities have fullyand firmly been put in place”.

He further said “PAF of today has re-fined its employment strategies byconceptualization, deliberations and haveput in practice through series of in houseand international Air Exercises.

While acknowledging the great effortsof the former PAF leadership he said “It’syour visionary approach which provided asolid foundation for the PAF of today whichcommands respect amongst the best AirForces of 21st Century. The PAF and thenation will always honor your efforts.

Committee toresolve wheatcrisis in GB

I S L A M A B A D — F e d e r a lMinister for Kashmir Af-fairs and Gilgit-BaltistanChaudhry Barjees Tahirhas said that federal gov-ernment and Gilgi t-Balt is tan (GB) govern-ment were on the samepage to resolve the issueof wheat crisis in GB.

He said this in a meet-ing with Chief MinisterGilgi t-Balt is tan, SyedMehdi Shah, who calledon Federal Minister in hisoffice and apprised himregarding sufferings ofthe people due to wheatprices and protests.

The government is se-rious in order to resolvethe crisis and will work to-gether in this regard.

Barjees said that fed-eral government accords agreat deal of respect to thefeelings of the people ofGB and would take everypossible step in order toresolve the crisis.

In meeting, issue ofwheat subsidy was dis-cussed in detail and a fivemember committee wasconsti tuted in chairman-ship of Federal Ministerfor KA&GB.

Other members of thecommittee include Minis-ter for works Gilgi t-Balt is tan Bashir AhmadKhan, and three membersof Gilgit-Baltistan councilnamely Amjad Hussain ad-vocate, MuhammadIbrahim and Atta UllahShahab.

Committee wil l as-semble for meeting onThursday April 24,2014.This committee would for-mulate recommendationswhich would be sent toEconomic CoordinationCommittee (ECC) for finalapproval.—APP

Protest rallyagainst power

outageTANK—Citizenry of variousurban and suburban areas ofthe city here Tuesday held aprotest against the unsched-uled power outages and de-manded resolution of theirproblems on priority basis.

Protestors blocked mainTank-D.I.Khan Road andstaged a rally that was par-ticipated by a large numbersof people. Addressing therally, Alamsher Safder andBhola Khan Kundi said thatdespite payment of utilitybills majority of the areas arefacing load shedding.

They said that their liveshave become miserable whilebusiness activities have beendiminished owing to ongoingload shedding.—APP

FAISALABAD: People from different walks of life participating in a rally to mark theWorld Earth Day.

QUETTA: Provincial Minister Nawab Ayaz Jogazai presenting scholarship cheque to astudent at Pashtoonabad

Call to saveearth from

ecocideFAISALABAD—Speakers ata seminar on Tuesday calledupon civil society, experts,and all stakeholders to ex-pedite efforts to save theearth from environment dev-astation including increas-ing pollution, depleting wa-ter resources and massiveurbanization.The seminarwas held in connection withWorld Earth Day arrangedby Institute of Soil and En-vironmental Sciences, Uni-versity of AgricultureFaisalabad in collaborationwith Pakistan Nuclear Regu-latory Authority (PNRA) atIqbal Auditorium.

Member of ProvincialAssembly Najma Afzal saidthat climate change wasplaying havoc with the en-vironment and scientific ap-proaches could help lowerdown the impact. She saidpublic awareness was es-sential to get tangible re-sults. University of Agricul-ture Faisalabad Vice Chan-cellor Prof Dr Iqrar AhmadKhan said a suitable aware-ness campaign on issues ofland, water and air pollutioncould help cater to needs ofthe era and provide ahealthy environment for fu-ture generations.

PNRA Principal Scien-tific Officer Asad Ijaz saidthat positive usage ofnuclear technology wasbrining tremendous bless-ings to people in industries,agriculture and medicalsectors.PNRA Senior Scien-tific Officer Kamran Sirajsaid that currently 750 MWof energy were being pro-duced from nuclear sources.

He said the governmenthad set a target of producing40,000 MW from nuclear en-ergy by 2050 to meet demandof the increasingpopulation.Faculty of Agri-culture Dean Prof DrMuhammad Arshad said thatit was our duty to provide aclean environment to nextgenerations and stressedupon people to play their duerole so that challenges couldbe tackled effectively.—APP

PAEC rebutsallegations offaulty cancer

injectionsISLAMABAD—The PakistanAtomic Energy Commission(PAEC) has rejected allega-tions appeared in a sectionof media that its cancer in-jections, Technetium, arefaulty.

The PAEC, in a pressstatement on Tuesday, saidsuch allegations could notbe supported by facts.There are or had been noimpurities in the injectionsdelivered to the hospitalsand this can be substanti-ated with documented facts,it added.

A programme was airedon a private TV channel, inwhich it was alleged thatthe Technetium-99 diag-nostics injection generatedfrom the Molybdenum-99produced at PINSTECHcontained harmful radioac-tive impurities beyond al-lowed limits.

The PAEC said one ofthe reporters appearing inthe programme had pub-lished a similar story a fewweeks earlier, the rebuttal towhich was duly issued bythe commission the follow-ing day.

“However, the HumanRights Cell of the SupremeCourt took a suo moto andasked PINSTECH to sub-mit a report to the court.Needful was done and onhearing, the three-memberbench, headed by theChief Justice himself dis-posed off the case afterperusal of the report andlaid down in its verdict that“in view of the report sub-mitted, it seems the newsitem was not based on acorrect appreciation of therelevant facts.

“In any case, i t hasserved a purpose i.e., onintervention of the court,the PINSTECH got the al-legations inquired intoand the findings referredto above lend credibilityto the exercise undertakenby the PINSTECH.”—APP

Funeral prayerof five slain

policemen heldPESHAWAR—The funeralprayer of five policemenmartyred by unknown gun-men in Badabair area was of-fered here at Malik SaadShaheed Police Lines onTuesday. Inspector Generalof Police KhyberPakhtunkhwa Nasir Durrani,Chief of Capital City PoliceOfficer Ejaz Khan and othersenior officers of police de-partment attended the funeralprayers of the policemen.

Assistant Sub Inspec-tor Aslam Khan, constablesLiaqat, Zakir, Fazal Subhanand Nazir Muhammad werekilled when unknown gun-men ambushed their vehiclein the limits of Badabair Po-lice Station late Mondaynight—APP

Students urged toconcentrate on educationPESHAWAR—Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Zakat,Auqaf and Religious Affairs, Haji Habib-ur-Rehman whilestressing on the importance of education has termed itpre-requisite for real progress and development.

Addressing a Parents’ Day function in Iqra School andCollege in Tehsil Chagarzai, district Buner he urged thestudents to fully concentrate on their education.

He said that the provincial government is making sin-cere efforts for the promotion of education. However, hesaid these efforts would prove successful when all stake-holders including teachers, students and parents will alsoplay effective role in the removing of educational back-wardness and maintain close coordination in their ranks.Meanwhile, it is also reported that participants of a semi-nar Tuesday called for increasing the overall educationand health budgets of district Mardan and enhancing thelevel of public participation in budget making and over-sight of expenditure.

The seminar organized by Centre for Governance andPublic Accountability (CGPA) in Mardan uncovered thefindings of three research studies it had carried out inSwabi, Mardan and Peshawar District.The organizers ofthe seminar recommended active involvement of commu-nity, civil society, parents while finalizing budget proposal.The seminar criticized discrepancy between allocation ofbudget for male and female education.

In the education budget of district Mardan, which is aspecifically gender sensitive budgeting, sector, allocation forfemale education is continually substantially less than whatis allocated for male education.The participants observed thatthe previous year’s health budget was brought forward withan incremental increase and no consideration was made aboutthe needs of different health facilities.—APP

Workshop forBiotechnologists

at UoPPESHAWAR—The four daycapacity building workshopgot underway at Universityof Peshawar (UoP) to intro-duce new techniques in thefield of biotechnology andtrain them on PCR, ELISAand Gel Electrophoresisetc.

The training is jointlyorganized by Centre of Bio-technology and Microbiol-ogy UoP and KhyberPakhtunkhwa Directorate ofScience and Technology, inwhich some thirty M. Phil,PhD researchers of eightUniversities are participat-ing.

Vice Chancellor UoP ProfDr.Muhammad Rasul Janwas the chief guest on theoccasion of inaugural cer-emony. He was accompa-nied by Dean of Life andEnvironmental SciencesProf. Dr. Amir Nawaz Khan,Director of the Centre ofBiotechnology Prof. Dr.Ghousia Lutfullah and Di-rector DoST Dr. JavedBangash.—APP

PESHAWAR—Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Gover-nor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan has saidthat socio-economic uplift of FederallyAdministered Tribal Areas (FATA) is im-portant to resolve the problems, grievancesof tribesmen and also to ensure a prosper-ous future for the common people of theFATA. He expressed these views whilechairing a high level review meeting of theFATA Annual Development Program 2013-14 here at Governor’s House Tuesday

The Governor said that every possibleinitiative would be taken to rehabilitate theexisting structure for peace and develop-ment in the region on priority and assuredwith regard to the future of FATA sayingthat our government would respect the as-pirations of tribal people and would honortheir decision in this regard.

He said that rehabilitation of internallydisplaced persons (IDPs) is a challengingtask and the government is trying its bestto accomplish it. With special focus on theIDPs in their smooth rehabilitation as wellas promptly carry forward developmentactivities in tribal areas, he said that auster-ity measures would be taken to ensure theprovision of compensation.

He also assured for rendering his fullsupport as well as the problems of the IDPswill be resolved on priority and those de-velopment projects would be included innext annual development program which

bear maximum capacity to serve maximumpopulace of IDPs.

The Governor said that there is nowbetter understanding at every levelamongst the government functionaries andrealization amongst the people of the areatowards the ground realities as far as FATAis concerned.

The Governor said that mega projectswould be preferred in FATA to overcomebackwardness in tribal areas and assuredthat reconstruction and repair work of de-stroyed schools, hospitals, health unitsand community centers would be startedsoon .

While referring to ongoing developmentprojects in the FATA, the Governor said,merit and transparency is getting extra carein all respects and such projects should getpriority which bear capacity to serve themaximum common people.

He directed the authorities concernedthat major development schemes should beincluded in the next Annual Developmentprogram for the uplift of tribal people. Gov-ernor directed the relevant officials of FATAsecretariat that all development schemeshave to be certified and no compromisewould be accepted in this regard.

He also said that efforts are also under-way to resolve difficulties in consultationwith tribal people and in line with their cus-toms and traditions.—APP

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif offering due after inaugurating University of Engineering andInformation Technology.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Punjab Chief MinisterMuhammad Shahbaz Sharif hassaid that the real purpose of spend-ing billions of rupees on health sec-tor cannot be achieved unless mod-ern treatment facilities become avail-able to the poor and deprivedpeople living in far-flung areas of

the country.He was addressing second an-

nual convocation of Sheikh ZayedMedical College in Rahim Yar Khanon Tuesday. The Chief Minister saidit is unfortunate that like other fa-cilities of life, healthcare has alsobecome limited to a specific segmentof the society despite the fact thatpoor cultivators, low income gov-ernment servants and factory work-ers have as much right over medi-cal treatment as a minister, secre-tary, general or judge.

He said that students showingoutstanding performance havebeen awarded medals in the convo-cation but those who have not beenable to win medals can earn theblessings by serving the ailing hu-

Obsolete system widens gulf between rich and poor: Shahbaz

Poor still deprived of health facilitiesmanity in their professional life. Hesaid that if the flaws of the systemare not removed through evolution-ary process, a revolution will takeplace and in order to avoid this di-sastrous situation every member ofthe society as well as institutionswill have to play their due role. TheChief Minister said that governmentspends millions of rupees from the

public money on the education ofmedical students and it is the de-mand of honesty and sanctity oftheir profession that they shouldalways be ready to serve the people.

He said that the existing obso-lete system has widened the gulfbetween the rich and the poor andif this system is not changed aheavy price will have to be paid. TheChief Minister said that nationalresources have been looted merci-lessly and despite spending billionsof rupees on health sector since thecreation of Pakistan, the poormasses are still deprived of basichealth facilities. He said that doc-tors should serve the ailing human-ity with a spirit of service and com-mitment so that the destiny of the

nation is changed and the countrycould achieve a prominent place inthe comity of nations.

He said it is lamentable thatformer rulers, instead of paying at-tention to the solution of problemsof the country, mercilessly lootednational wealth and they will bebrought to justice. He said that un-der the leadership of Prime Minis-

ter Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Paki-stan will be brought out of the quag-mire of problems and issues and puton the road to progress and devel-opment. He said that such a systemwill be introduced in the country ascould benefit the poor, destitute anddeprived segments of the society.He said that Turkey, which is abrotherly country of Pakistan, hasset up a modern hospital for thepoor in Muzaffargarh and now it isthe responsibility of doctors todemonstrate passion and commit-ment and ensure provision of thebest medical facilities to the peopleof the far-flung areas.

He said that doctors should riseabove such narrow considerationas caste, creed and religion and pro-

vide healthcare to the poor withoutany discrimination. He said thatdoctors getting professional edu-cation in the medical colleges of Pa-kistan have won laurels for thecountry in America, Britain andother countries of the world and areknown as the best doctors. Whileaddressing the graduates of SheikhZayed Medical College the Chief

Minister said that they are nowstepping into the practical field andit is their responsibility to serve theailing humanity.

The Chief Minister alsoawarded medals and certificates toboy and girl students performingoutstandingly in the academicfield. The ceremony was presidedover by Vice Chancellor Universityof Health Sciences Maj. Gen.(Retd.) Dr. Muhammad Aslam whilePrincipal of Sheikh Zayed MedicalCollege Dr. Saeed Ahmed pre-sented the address of welcome. TheChief Minister also inauguratedemergency ward and CCU ward ofSheikh Zayed Hospital and alsoinspected various sections of thehospital.

Rain at scatteredplaces expected

ISLAMABAD—Partly cloudy weather conditions with iso-lated rain/thunderstorm is expected in Northeast Punjabduring next 24 hours. According to daily weather reportissued here on Tuesday, local Met experts have predictedthat temperature is likely to decrease during the next twoof days. The weather remained dry in most parts of thecountry, however,rain-thunderstorm occurred at a fewplaces of South Punjab during last 24 hours. Some of thehottest places during last 24hours:Mithi 40øC, Turbat39øC, Badin, Thatha,Hyderabad, Lasbeela 38øC. Inthe provincial capital mini-mum temperature was 18.5øCwhile maximum was 33øC onTuesday. The Met Office hasforecast a partly cloudy weather for the provincial capitalfor Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the maximum temperature was recordedbetween 24 to 26 Centigrade and the minimum 08 to 11Centigrade in the metropolis and 30 kilometers around.

The dry to partly cloudy weather has been forecast forrest of the region.—APP

DSP among threeinjured in blast

DERA MURAD JAMALI—Three police personnel includ-ing a DSP and Sub-Inspector sustained injuries in a road-side blast in Chhattar area of Nasirabad district, on Tues-day.

Deputy Inspector General Police Nasirabad range,Qamar-ul-Hasan said that unknown men had plantedexplosives on roadside that hit a police vehicle, re-sulting in injuring of Deputy Superintendent Police(DSP), Abdul Ghaffar Silachi, Sub-Inspector, SobedarSial and cop, Abdul Razzaq Jattak.

“ DSP Chhattar along with other police personnel wereon way to PS Mir Hassan when a remote controlled blasthit their vehicle in Piro Pul area, leaving three of themseriously injured,” the DIG Nasirabad said.

The rescue team rushed to the site and shifted theinjured to Civil Hospital Dera Murad Jamali.Later, theywere referred to Quetta due to their serious condition.

Nasirabad police have registered a case againstunknown accused and launched efforts to trace andarrest them. Two persons were reportedly injured in amines blast in Zhob area, on Tuesday.Police said thatunknown men had planted mines on Mirali Khel road ofZhob that exploded, leaving two passersby injured.”Two passersby were on their way when their feet hit themines planted on Mirali Khel road that went off, result-ing in injuring of them,” the police said.

The injured were shifted to hospital where they wereidentified as Hazrat Khan and Aziz-ur-Rehman.

Zhob police have registered a case.Meanwhile, it is reported that a man died and six other

received injuries when a vehicle overturned on NationalHighway near Mach area of Bolan district.

Levies force informed on Tuesday that a Mithari-boundvehicle from Quetta was on its way as it turned turtle dueto over speeding.—APP

Mehtab chairs high-level meeting on FATA ADP

IDPs rehab challengingtask for government

4 armssupplying firms

blacklistedPESHAWAR—The KhyberPakhtunkhwa police depart-ment on Tuesday black-listed four more firms for al-legedly supplying substan-dard weapons, ammunitionand other gadgets.

According to a press re-lease, the procurement ofweapons, ammunition andother gadgets was carriedout in 2008 and 2009through tender.

Besides M/s Majeedand Sons, which has al-ready been blacklisted, itssister concerns M/sShayan-e-Sarhad Enter-prises Peshawar, M/s AlMoiz Trading CooperationPeshawar, M/s ShahidTraders Peshawar and M/s Shaheer Trading Com-pany Peshawar discouragedfair competition in the bid-ding process and incurredcolossal losses to the na-tional exchequer, which tar-nished the image of KhyberPakhtunkhwa police, thepress release added.

These firms were servedshow cause notices as perrules to appear in person toDIG Finance and Procure-ment and explain their posi-tion. However, their officialsrefused to receive the no-tices.—APP

Re-marriage ofPPP and MQM

AFTER weeks of behind-the-scene parleys between their leadership,PPP and MQM have reportedly decided to join hands again inSindh where the latter is expected to be inducted into the Provincial

Cabinet soon. There are reports that six MQM MPAs would becomeCabinet members and details are being sorted out about their portfoliosand related issues to ensure smooth sailing of the new arrangement.

There can be no two opinions that both PPP and MQM are majorstakeholders in Sindh and especially in the metropolitan city of Karachiand the dream of unhindered growth and development of the Provinceand restoration of durable peace in the city would remain unrealised if thetwo parties engage in conflict of any sort, as we saw during the last tenmonths. They remain coalition partners both at the centre and the Provincefor five years and hopefully their re-marriage would not be problematicas they understand each other and are amenable to adjustment. In the pastas well, they went to the extremes but came closer again at the end of theday and the Province and Karachi benefited from this relationship. Theirunderstanding augurs well for the people of Sindh as the Governmentwill not waste time in acrimonious debates and instead would be able toconcentrate on issues and problems that really matter. Interior Sindhand urban areas have problems of their own nature and the leadershipof the two parties should now focus on resolution of these problems.Unfortunately, despite their coalition, they could not produce enviableresults in the past but now there is still competition for good governanceamong Provinces with Punjab leading at the moment, followed byKPK and hectic efforts being made by Dr. Maalik-led Government inBalochistan to improve things. Therefore, we believe that the politicalfuture of the two parties is deeply linked to their performance andcoming up to the expectations of their electorates. They can do so byinitiating mega projects, ending rampant corruption and launchingwelfare programmes for the downtrodden segments of the society. Somecircles are describing their re-union as ‘marriage of convenience’ andnow they will have to prove by their actions that the arrangement hasbeen motivated by their desire to serve the people.

$50 billion isachievable target

CHAIRMAN Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) S.M.Muneer has declared that reforms have been initiated to bring the

Authority back on track to achieve export target of $50 billion. Addressinga gathering of carpet exporters in Lahore, he indicated that the Governmentwas in the process of bringing positive changes in rules and businessenvironment to enhance the export in collaboration with the industry.

The resolve of S M Muneer is encouraging as it comes not from abureaucrat but a personality with vast and varied business experience andbackground and therefore, we are sure he means what he says. The functionof the TDAP is to facilitate trade and with the firsthand knowledge of theground situation, its Chairman was definitely in a position to bring abouta visible change in the overall business and trade environment to enhanceexports significantly. Doubling of the export target is not at all a difficultproposition if the Government strives hard to remove bottlenecks andcreate enabling environment. The new Government has been able to gettrade preferences from the European Union and the Prime Minister wasfocusing on forging economic ties with a number of other countries.Increased inflow of foreign aid is reflective of the confidence of donorsand multilateral institutions in the economic policies of the Governmentand this would help create necessary environment to attract foreigninvestment in different sectors of the economy. Similarly, passion of MianNawaz Sharif to create, improve and expand the infrastructure would alsobear positive fruit in coming years. Rationalization of taxes and tariff andresolution of the energy crisis would also help accelerate the pace ofindustrialization. But most important of all is the issue of law and order,which must be tackled on urgent basis if we are really interested to turnPakistan into an economic giant, as visualized by the Prime Minister.

Nothing wrong in Britain’sChristian identity

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has said Britain is a Christian country and called for the revival of traditional Christian values

to counter country’s moral collapse. However, it has attracted criticismfrom some who condemned it saying that the statement will sow the seedsof sectarianism and division in a tolerant society.

The fact is that Britain has been a Christian-majority nation for morethan a millennium and the official religion in the country is the Angli-can Church (Church of England). Thus in our view there is nothingwrong in Cameron’s statement as every nation has its religious and cul-tural identity and every revealed religion has a common message ofgood of the human being. Like Britain as a Christian country, Pakistanis a genuine Islamic State and the only consideration in Pakistan or forthat matter in UK and other countries should be to accommodate theminorities by recognising their equal rights and opportunities of wor-ship should be facilitated. Religion transforms the spiritual, physicaland moral state of a country and Mr Cameron was perfectly right whenhe stated that he felt the healing power of faith in his own life. A coun-try without a religious base is like a rudderless ship and it would losemoral values because moral factors are usually interwoven with reli-gious practices and social power structures. Perhaps keeping this in viewMr Cameron said that Bible has helped to give Britain a set of valuesand morals, which made Britain what it is today. It is a recognised factthat religion plays a big role in governing a nation and sets the basicnorms and customs of a society. In most democratic and Islamic na-tions, it guides the leaders to set some laws that people must follow nomatter how modern the society is. Therefore, we would urge the so-called Humanists and Seculars in UK and other parts of the world thatthe culture of religion bashing should be done away with because in ourview every religion stands for tolerance, care for fellow beings and peacefor all, which are the needs of the present time.

Managing regional strategic environment

Whathappened to

the Asia pivot?

WHEN President BarackObama scrubbed an October trip to Asia to attend

to the government shutdown inWashington, Asian leaders worriedthat it meant the United Stateslacked sufficient interest in the re-gion to remain a powerful presence.This week, Obama will finallymake the trip, but it may not beenough to reassure allies and oth-ers. Why not? Two obvious reasons.One is Russia’s annexation ofCrimea and its aggressive activitiesin eastern Ukraine, which have fo-cused Washington’s attention onhow to assure the security of Eu-rope. The fear is that this new threatwill divert American attention andresources to the task of bolsteringNATO and containing Russia, at theexpense of its Pacific role.

Another is that the administra-tion trumpeted its intent to makeAsia a higher priority — the Asiapivot — but has repeatedly disap-pointed. In 2011, reported PeterNicholas and Christi Parsons in theTribune, “US foreign policy re-volves around a single idea: WithUS involvement in Iraq and Af-ghanistan coming to a close, Wash-ington is focusing on the fast-grow-ing Pacific region to curb the influ-ence of China.” But the world hashad a way of preventing any “singleidea” from enjoying a monopoly onthe US global agenda. Afghanistan,Iran, Syria and the Israeli-Palestin-ian conflict have all demanded theirshare of the spotlight. Ukraine is thelatest crisis to preoccupy the presi-dent and his advisers. Cuts in thedefence budget mean the US willhave fewer military assets to bringto bear in the world. So Asian al-lies figure they’re bound to getshortchanged. That doesn’t have tobe the case. The US has been theundisputed dominant naval powerin Asia since World War II, whileChina only recently unveiled its firstaircraft carrier — a refurbished usedvessel with limited capabilities. Thedefence cuts, if they stick, are likelyto come mostly from shrinking theArmy, on the assumption that Iraq-style nation building is a thing ofthe past. The end of the Iraq engage-ment and the drawdown in Afghani-stan mean that the American mili-tary won’t have to do more with lessbut less with less. Some of the re-sources — financial, military anddiplomatic — that once poured intothose two countries can now be de-voted to Asia as well as Europe.

The US has proven in the pastthat it’s capable of addressing dan-gers in both places. The Pacific al-liances were established in the sameera that NATO came into being. Wefought wars in Korea and Vietnamwhile facing down the Soviet threatin Europe. We’re a global power,with the means to act in more thanone place at a time. The events inUkraine don’t diminish the impor-tance of maintaining peace and sta-bility in Asia; they underline it. Nordoes Washington’s failure to usemilitary force in this instance meanit would react similarly if China at-tacked one of our many Asian al-lies. We had no treaty commitmentto protect Ukraine — but we dowith many of China’s neighbours.Beijing’s aggressive posture, mean-while, has pushed its neighbourstoward more cooperation withWashington. Nor is security theonly item on the board. The admin-istration also recognizes the impor-tance of commerce with a regionthat accounts for 40 percent of theglobal economy. Negotiations aregoing on for a trade agreement withthe US and 11 other Pacific Rimnations. Commerce SecretaryPenny Pritzker says more than aquarter of her foreign commercialservices officers are in Asia, morethan in any other part of the world.None of the administration’s chal-lenges are easy. Hammering out agood trade accord is anything but asure thing. Countering a strongerand more assertive China will betricky. North Korea remains thewildest of wild cards. There are lim-its to the time and energy of Ameri-can policymakers, who are obligedto respond to immediate emergen-cies even when they have equallyvital long-term work elsewhere. Butthose realities are just part of life ina turbulent and perilous world. TheUnited States didn’t become theworld’s only superpower withoutdeveloping a capacity for copingwith multiple challenges at once. It’sObama’s task to convince Asians thatour capacity and resolve are undi-minished. — Chicago Tribune

MEDIA WATCH

TO assume a prominent role inAfghanistan in the aftermathof ISAF/ NATO troops’ re-

duction, India has firmed up an ar-rangement with Russia to supplyarms to Afghanistan for whichNew Delhi will pay to Russia. Thefirst order under this deal is al-ready being executed. While Rus-sia may separately supply its ownrange of Kalashnikovs, Indian fi-nancing will largely focus on ar-tillery guns, air support in the formof choppers and even armoured ve-hicles, including tanks.

Afghanistan and India countriesconstitute Pakistan’s troubledneighbourhood; and who-so-ever ison the helm of affairs would deter-mine the future course of Pakistan’sbilateral relations with these coun-tries. Political baggage limits thespace available to diplomats and his-toric baggage limits the extent ofinitiatives which the political lead-ership of the three countries couldsafely take. As of now, NarendraModi and Dr Abdullah Abdullah arepoised to lead their respective coun-tries; both are known for their com-paratively stiff attitude towards Pa-kistan. Like anchorperson HamidMir, both Naredra Modi andAbdullah Adbullah are pathologi-cally predisposed to blame on ISIwhat does or does not happen in theirrespective countries.

The foreign policy section of theBJP manifesto attempts to be inspir-ing by talking of “Shreshtha Bharat”(Great India) and positing an Indiathat works towards commandingrather than demanding its rightfulplace in the comity of nations and aplace at the high table of global gov-ernance. This is in contrast to theCongress’ manifesto which does notespouse such aspirations and con-tinues with its focus on entitlements

as the only remedy. It would havebeen more credible for the BJP tospell out the principal drivers andstrategy for achieving ShreshthaBharat. Modi has raised the country’sexpectations sky-high on this count— if he attempt to deliver on foreignpolicy related electoral promises, thenthere would certainly be regional tur-bulences.

A second innovation in the BJPmanifesto is the idea of crafting a“web of alliances” to boost India’sweight on the global stage. It standsin contrast to Congress’s obsessionwith the traditional conception ofnon-alignment. However, BJP seemsto share the Congress’s aversion toalliances with big powers like theUnited States. In fact, neither partymentions relations with the US. Delhihad already established treaty-basedalliances with its smaller Himalayanneighbours and defence cooperationwith middle powers like Indonesiaand Egypt in the Nehru era. Morerecently, India has signed strategicpartnerships with a number of coun-tries in the extended neighbourhood,including Afghanistan.

A third important element, astrategic conception of the subcon-tinent finds some expression in theCongress manifesto, which saysdeeper economic engagement withthe neighbours is “critical for real-izing the true potential of the re-gion”. The BJP criticizes the Con-gress for its recent drift in relationswith the neighbours, but offers littlemore than the assertion that it will“pursue friendly relations” with allneighbours. BJP’s emphasis is onprojecting a muscular regionalpolicy: “where required we will nothesitate from taking strong stand andsteps”. However, bravado is not asubstitute for a comprehensiveneighbourhood strategy. The mani-festo has revealed the BJP’s lack ofa grand strategy for the region. Thisvagueness would offer Modi consid-erable freedom—oscillating be-tween pragmatism and jingoism.

While delivering a recent talk atJamia Millia Islamia University onPakistan’s foreign policy, Pakistan’sHigh Commissioner to India, MrAbdul Basit, said that Indo-Pak tiesare “too much into negativity” andit was incumbent upon theleaderships in India and Pakistan tocreate a peaceful environment in theregion for resolution of problemsthat had bedeviled the relationshipbetween the neighbours. He advo-cated resolution of Kashmir issue:“You can always call it (Jammu andKashmir) integral part of India butit is the distance between our twocountries and also one of the com-ponents of composite dialogue. Soit is important whether we resolve itin Shimla agreement or throughmediation but we need to resolve theissue according to the aspirations tothe people of Jammu and Kashmir.”He emphasized that both India andPakistan should not take the dialogueprocess as a “favour by one to an-other” and called for a sustainedcomprehensive dialogue processwhich need not reinvent the wheel.

The race to succeed PresidentKarzai has narrowed to a two-wayfight between Ashraf Ghani and DrAbdullah Abdullah. Ashraf Ghaniseeks rapprochement with Pakistan,along the lines of France and Ger-many after World War II. He wantsto end years of suspicion and mis-trust with Pakistan and forge a “spe-cial relationship” with the nuclearpower. Abdullah is a seasoned po-litical operator. As foreign ministerunder Karzai he was known for hisstiff articulations about Pakistan andwas generally perceived as a pro-India guy. However, over a periodof time, he has mellowed down andbalanced his approach. To outsideobservers, there appears to be littleto differentiate between Ghani andAbdullah’s policies. Both want tosign a security pact with the UnitedStates, desire reconciliation with theTaliban and look forward to consti-tutional changes that will create

Break the begging bowl

FEAR, uncertainty and insecurity together with poor governance, cronyism, wholesale

corruption and worst energy crisisduring the infamous Zardari rulewasted away whatever little eco-nomic gains had been made duringMusharraf ’s regime. Willfulmisdoings and absence of rule of lawand accountability dried up foreigninvestment, stopped the wheels ofindustry, destroyed public sectorenterprises, piled up massive foreignand domestic debt and impoverishedthe economy. By the time the newdemocratic dispensation took overpower in June 2013, the country hadreached the brink of collapse andwas on the verge of being declareda failed State.

Cleaning up of cobwebs andrestoration of economic health is aHerculean task for the incumbentgovernment. Despite significantsteps taken by PML-N regime in thelast ten months of its rule, Pakistan’seconomy has not stabilized. Infla-tion and price spiral have not comedown although the economic indi-cators are steadying. The malaise istoo jumbled up and complex. Oneof the biggest hurdles in the way ofcrossing the Rubicon Line is theongoing war on terror which hasbled Pakistan profusely and drainedits economy. Pakistan which had arespectable standing till 2004 among

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Jean de La Bruyere—French satirist

more leadership positions. Reply-ing to a question about DrAbdullah’s likelihood of succeed-ing President Karzai, his image asanti-Pakistan and a background ofvery cordial relations with India,Pakistan’s MOFA spokespersoncommented: “It is for the people ofAfghanistan to decide who willcome into power in Afghanistan.We have said that we are not sup-porting one party or theother…whoever forms the govern-ment, irrespective of that, Pakistanwould focus on building and en-hancing our bilateral relations withAfghanistan”.

These days, diplomatic circlesin Delhi are abuzz with rumors thatIndia-Iran-Afghanistan and Israel’ssecret agencies have chalked out astrategy to defame Pakistan at inter-national level by portraying Pakistanas epicenter of terrorism. Accordingto the reports, CIA’s involvement isalso being hinted upon. Even thoughIran’s participation in such an activ-ity is a farfetched possibility, how-ever Pak-Iran relations are certainlyon a down slide.

Given the likely make-up ofemerging political leadership in thetwo neighbouring counties and con-tinuous erosion of credibility be-tween Pakistan and Iran, Prime Min-ister Nawaz Sharif’s vision of peace-ful neighbourhood may not be easyto achieve in short term. While thismay stay as long term objective,Pakistan should prepare itself tohandle an irritant neighbourhood,sporadically touching—but notbreaching—the boundary of hostil-ity. Friendly neighbourhood mayappear an innocent and noble for-eign policy objective; yet it may notbe possible to achieve it at least inshort to medium timeframe. It wouldbe more appropriate for Pakistan torealistically lower the objective toachieving “non-hostileneighbourhood”.—The writer is Consultant to IPRIfor Policy and Strategic Response.

If poverty is themother of crime,stupidity is its father.

the comity of nations is nowdubbed as the most dangerouscountry in the world. USA,India and Afghanistan, sup-posed to be the allies of Paki-stan in the GWOT, kept heap-ing scorn and baseless allega-

tions on Pakistan’s premier institu-tions and stabbed Pakistan in the backwhenever opportunity came theirway. For the last 13 years the US lead-ers have over and over again beenlying to Pakistan that two enjoy stra-tegic relationship and that they wantto build lasting relations based onmutual trust and respect. In reality UShas forged strategic relations withIndia and Afghanistan while it hastreated Pakistan more as a foe and lessas an ally. It has backed Indo-Afghancovert war to destabilize Pakistan anddismember it from within so that itsnukes could be disabled.

The US think tanks and govern-ment controlled media as well as of-ficials have been circulating storiesof breakup of Pakistan by 2015 andspews venom against Pak Army, ISIand nuclear program. The US openlysupports the Baloch separatists seek-ing independence of Balochistan.Segment of Pak media, particularlyJang-Geo Group, promotes Indianagenda as is seen on the occasion ofHamid Mir’s shooting incident inKarachi. The whole world knowsthat India and Afghanistan areheavily involved in covert opera-tions against Pakistan. Late BalachMarri and Brahamdagh Bugti weresheltered by Afghan government.Fugitives Fazlullah, Khalid OmarKhurasani and Faqir Muhammad areenjoying the hospitality of Afghan

government since 2009. Kunar andNuristan are their safe havens fromwhere they are launching their mili-tants since 2011. Not for once theUS has admonished the two coun-tries involved in cross border terror-ism, or any concern shown on thesanctuaries. It has looked the otherway to over 70 training camps estab-lished by RAW and RAAM under thesupervision of Afghan National Di-rectorate of Security along Pak-Af-ghan border to train, equip and launchterrorists into FATA and Balochistan.Indian Embassy and four Consulateslatched with 14 Indian intelligenceunits in Afghanistan are entirely fo-cused towards Pakistan.

Not only India and Afghanistanhave been given a clean chit, theircomplaints are listened to with com-passion by Washington and accord-ingly Pakistan is censured. Ironi-cally, the absurd stance of the chieftrouble maker India that it is the vic-tim of terrorism is acknowledged bythe west. The whole flak comes onPakistan which has sacrificed themost and is the biggest victim of ter-rorism. Well knowing that India isthe arch enemy of Pakistan, the USbolstered India’s conventional de-fence capability significantly andalso upgraded her nuclear capabil-ity by signing civil nuclear deal.Heavy tilt in the military balance inher favour has made India more ag-gressive and uncompromising. TheUS helped India in consolidating herpresence in Afghanistan thereby fa-cilitating her plans to encircle Paki-stan. India’s water terrorism aimedat forcing Pakistan to give up Kash-mir is jeopardizing the lives of 180

million Pakistanis. Illegal construc-tion of dams has not been objectedto by the west.

India’s worst human rightsabuses in Indian Occupied Kashmir(IOK) against Muslim Kashmirissince 1989 have been ignored. In-stead of pressuring India to abide bythe UN resolutions and hold a plebi-scite in IOK, the US presses Paki-stan to accept India’s plan of con-verting Line of Control into inter-national border. India and Pakistancan live as peaceful and friendlyneighbors once Kashmir dispute isresolved and not otherwise. Both theUS and India tried hard to spoilPakistan’s relations with Iran andChina and has been putting hurdlesin the Iran-Pakistan gas pipelineproject. In spite of hostile stance ofthe trio, Pakistan leadership has beenconsistently pursuing self-defeatingpolicy of appeasement. Incumbentgovernment is making efforts to re-duce dependence upon the US byleaning more heavily upon China,Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States,Turkey and South Korea to over-come its energy crisis and improveits economy.

Until and unless Pakistan get ridof US imposed war, reforms its po-litical, judicial, financial and admin-istrative systems, enforces rule oflaw and strict accountability of thelaw breakers, terrorists and crimi-nals, strap up out-of-control media,breaks the begging bowl and standson its own economic feet, it will re-main dependant and vulnerable toexploitation and fragmentation.—The writer, a retired Brig, isdefence analyst and researcher.

Asif Haroon RajaEmail: asifharoon7751@yahoo.com

Iqbal KhanEmail:tweets@wonderous101

Voice of the People

Who attackedHamid Mir

MUKHTAR BUTT

This is not first time that a jour-nalist has been attacked. Recent at-tack on Hamid Mir in Karachineeds to be condemned in highestterms. We pray Allah for his earlyrecovery. The family has all theright to lodge FIR and name thesuspects. But the way anchors ofGeo TV channel reacted andstarted passing judgements andhurled accusations against DG ISIand the Army also needs to be con-demned in highest terms.

The brother of injured anchorused very dirty language against ISIand the Army without any justifica-tion. It is so regrettable that this inci-dent is being given undue coverageby other channels also to settle per-sonal scores but at what cost. Let thisbe made very clear that it is the na-tional interest that is supreme and restcomes after this. In the past HakimSaeed was killed, likewise a mostrenowned journalist the country everhad Salahuddin was also killed as hecame out of office, the families nevernamed any body except they waitedfor the police to find out the murder-ers. For God sake don’t malign ISIand Army. They are the custodiansand protecting every one of us. Stopholding debates on this incident as itis not in the interest of state.

Prime Minister has already an-nounced a three member Commis-sion to investigate and submit itsreport within three weeks; all thosewho have any evidence should vol-unteer and appear before the Com-mission. As said earlier the familymay say anything but others haveno right to take cover under familysentiments and start accusingArmy. Some media circles have thehistory of antagonising state insti-tutions, corporate sector, private en-trepreneurs; even the known statepersonalities are ridiculed and hu-miliated in the name of freedom ofexpression and the east targets arethe President, Prime Minister, Min-isters etc. The anchorperson hasbeen very critical on Taliban, there-fore any one could have plannedthis game. But it is really surpris-ing that Minister of Defence whois known for his rhetoric and cham-pions in protecting state institutionsis keeping mum.

Lastly Pakistan is passingthrough difficult phase of its his-tory. Government is talking toTaliban though Army had reserva-tions. A section of media did its bestto create misunderstanding be-tween Army and civilian govern-ment but thanks to the vision of PMwho managed to control the situa-tion and what certain anchors werehoping met with utter disappoint-ment when PM took salute at pass-ing out parade of 129 PMA Longcourse. PM praised the Army andmade special mention of GenRaheel Sharif’s professional com-petence and lauded great sacrificeof his brother Major Shabbir SharifShaheed Nishan e Haider for thishomeland. Since this did not suitour enemies so they created a sceneby targeting Hamid Mir. We shouldnever jump to conclusions and startaccusing people and institutions.Naming people in advance has be-come a fashion in this country.Benazir Bhutto had mentionedname of Brig Ejaz and Hameed Gulbut the nation by now knows whokilled her. We sympathise with thefamily members and hope theyshall wait for the findings of theCommission so that culprits arepunished as per law.—Karachi

Changed standards:Abandoned values

SHOMAILA SADAF

I wish we, the human beings, werestill evolving rather than undergo-ing the changes. Change is unavoid-able, but evolution at this point ismore desirable. Devoid of content-ment, the demonic side of us has al-

Speaking walls of PakistanAIMEN TEHSEEN

Pakistanis generally indulge in wall chalking due to lack of platforms for them to express their emotions. Whether wall chalking helps in creating awareness for the people on different things or not, it

can be gathered from a research that approximately 60% of the general public think that wall chalkingis a way of creating awareness and the other 40% think that it’s not the tool for creating awareness.There are laws against wall chalking and illegal advertisements but are not duly implemented. Govern-ment cannot root out the problem since it itself consists of political parties that are themselves involvedin wall chalking for political purposes. In other countries, street walls are considered as the source ofbeauty of a country and they take very good care of their country’s beauty and cleanness just for thesake of their country’s name and prestige. But in Pakistan, as people are divided in too many groups andparties, so to highlight their parties, their achievements, their ideologies or products, they use street wallsto write different slogans in favour of their own party, ideology or product; and even against theiropponents. They write and paint bad words with different colours which gives a bad impression of thecountry not only on citizens but also on tourists while they visit Pakistan. By seeing this wall chalking bydifferent parties, the seller of various products and ideologies also started advertising their products,slogans or ideologies on the walls of street to avoid the expense; and now each and every street looks likea page of a story book which is very negative aspect of our society. We should think about this issueseriously and save the beauty and prestige of our Pakistan which is our first and foremost duty. This isnot only the duty of our government but of all citizens.—Karachi

DISCLAIMER

Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

THE articles, columns andletters are published on thesepages in good faith. However,the contents of these writingsmay not necessarily match theviews of the newspaper.

—Editor

Role of media in society

However, according toMaynard Hutchison, the proponent of the Social Respon-

sibility Theory and architect of themodern view of the freedom of ex-pression” freedom comes with re-sponsibility”. A balance has to bestruck between freedom of expres-sion and social responsibility. Thereis no concept of unbridled freedomof expression any where in the world.

Media being fourth pillar of thestate is supposed to use the freedomof expression to promote national in-tegration and cohesion, protect andsafeguard human rights and civil lib-erties and act as a responsible watch-dog against the government. Invent-ing and fanning controversies by re-sorting to speculative reporting and thepropensity to indulge in reading toomuch between the lines into the state-ments made by government function-aries and public figures, not only ne-gates the freedom of expression but is

A Brotherhood inquiry in bad faith

IMAGINE that an elected president is ousted by the military. Thatthe president’s party is declared a

“terrorist” organization. That dozensof protesters are shot in the streets,thousands of people imprisoned andhundreds sentenced to death. Howshould a liberal democracy respond?Presumably, by condemning thecoup, denouncing the violence anddefending the rights of the politicalopposition. But not, it seems, if youare the British government. All theevents I describe have happened inEgypt. The democratically electedpresident, Mohamed Morsi, wasoverthrown by the army last July. TheMuslim Brotherhood, of which hewas a leader, was declared a terroristgroup; protesters were killed by se-curity forces, and at least 16,000people have been jailed; last month,529 Egyptians were sentenced todeath in the killing of a policeman.

And Britain’s latest response?Prime Minister David Cameron hasannounced an investigation into theMuslim Brotherhood in Britain, tounderstand “what its beliefs are interms of the path of extremism andviolent extremism, what its connec-

tions are with other groups.” In hisannouncement, Mr. Cameron raisedthe spectre of the brutal murder lastyear of a British soldier, Lee Rigby,hacked to death by two Islamists ona London Street. The link was mis-leading and disingenuous. There is noevidence to suggest that the MuslimBrotherhood was involved in this orany similar terrorist attack in Britain.The Muslim Brotherhood is a reac-tionary movement with deeply illib-eral views, which seeks to establishan Islamic caliphate under Shariahrule. In Egypt and elsewhere, theBrotherhood has been involved inviolent confrontation with the au-thorities, but it is not a terrorist orga-nization in the mould of Al Qaeda.Tellingly, the only countries that con-sider the Brotherhood as such areEgypt, Saudi Arabia, the United ArabEmirates, Syria and Russia.

The threat posed by the MuslimBrotherhood is largely to the stabil-ity of autocratic regimes in theMiddle East. For more than half acentury, Egypt’s secular dictators,from Gamal Abdel Nasser to HosniMubarak, savagely repressed theorganization, fearing its appeal to themasses — a fear realized when, inJune 2012, Mr. Morsi won thenation’s first democratic presidentialelections with more than half of thepopular vote. The Brotherhood did

Views From Abroad

not initiate Arab Spring uprisings buttook advantage of the political tur-moil. Mr. Morsi’s presidential tri-umph in Egypt made the Saudi re-gime fear that it might be challengedby newly emboldened Islamists athome. So in March, Saudi Arabiajoined Egypt in declaring the Broth-erhood a “terrorist organization.”

Western foreign policy, too, hasbeen shaped by fear of instability andunrest. Britain and America are of-ten the loudest voices proclaiming thevirtues of democracy. In practice,they tend to take an instrumental viewof its applicability. Autocrats whowork in the West’s interests are gen-erally preferred to democrats whochallenge them. Nowhere has thisbeen more apparent than in the re-sponse to the Arab Spring. Wherepro-democratic protests have chal-lenged governments that Westernpowers oppose, as in Libya or Syria,the West has been keen to supportthose movements. But where theyhave risen against governmentsdeemed useful to the West, the re-sponse has been equivocal.

For years, Western powers sup-ported the dictatorial Mubarak regimein Egypt. In 2009, President Obamadescribed Mr. Mubarak as “a stalwartally,” while just days before Mr.Mubarak’s ouster in 2011, the formerprime minister of Britain, Tony Blair,

Kenan Malik

also detrimental to the nationalinterests. All the ethical andprofessional codes of conductdrawn by the internationalmedia bodies including theInternational Federation ofJournalists underscore the

need for media outlets and journaliststo refrain from such proclivities.

The freedom enjoyed by mediain Pakistan is the best thing that hasever happened in this land of the pure.It has played an admirable role insafeguarding democracy and in therestoration of the independent judi-ciary. However it has also exhibitedstreaks of over-indulgence occasion-ally and sparked unnecessary contro-versies and misgivings between thestate institutions. The case in point isthe media contrived controversy overthe statement of the Defence Minis-ter and the reported reaction of theCOAS. The electronic channels whoare always craving to find new issuesfor their round the clock news bulle-tins and beat their competitors evenat the cost of credibility and socialresponsibility, immediately startedgiving different interpretations to thestatement and putting an easy-sellingperspective on it. For more than a

week the subject remained in thelimelight and different scenarios weredrawn up by the media commenta-tors, intelligentsia and certain politi-cal circles portraying an alarmingsituation which could even destabi-lize the system. A startling revelationabout the whole episode is that themedia actually picked up an oldspeech of the Defence Minister outof context and tried to use it as a whip-ping horse to stoke the controversy,purported to foment misgivings andconfrontation between the state insti-tutions. If that is true as repeatedlyclaimed by the Minister, then this ir-responsible action of the media con-stitutes intellectual dishonesty andmisuse of the freedom of expression.

Ever since the recommencementof dialogue with the TTP, a certainsection of the media also has been try-ing to rub in the notion that contraryto the claims of the government thatall stakeholders were on the samepage in regards to the strategyadopted it, the establishment lookedat the problem in a different light. Theimpression has been effectively nul-lified by the reported deliberations ofthe recently held meetings of theCorps Commanders and the cabinet

committee on National Security. Asagainst the speculation in the back-drop of announcement of the TTPnot to extend the ceasefire, the cabi-net committee on National Securitywhich was presided by the PrimeMinister and attended by all the ser-vices chiefs and DG ISI among oth-ers, endorsed the government stanceto carry forward the strategy of en-gaging with those militants whowere receptive to peace initiatives.The reported differences between themilitary leaders and the governmentover the release of TTP prisonersalso stand denounced in view of thefact that the released persons werein the custody of the security estab-lishment and they could not havebeen released without their consent.The country is passing through acritical phase of its history which re-quires all the segments of the soci-ety including the media to behavein a responsible manner and refrainfrom such indiscretions which couldundermine the institutional bonho-mie and scuttle the government ef-forts to grapple with the menace ofterrorism.— The writer is Islamabad-basedfreelance columnist.

India standstill..!

INDIA has come to a standstill:No rapes, murders, no scams orcases of corruption, no railway

derailments or road accidents, justnothing at all. Nothing is happen-ing in India anymore. You don’tbelieve me? Look at newspapers.

Front the first page to the last,it’s only elections. What the can-didate in Madurai wore, what thecandidate from Kashmir ate, whatthe man from Mumbai said, or thewoman from some remote village

in Bihar swore. You would think thewhole country is obsessed with elec-tions, it’s really not so; the journal-ists are. I talked to a fellow journalistat the press club where I’d gone toquench my thirst: “There was a ter-rible accident on the western expresshighway,” I told him as he downedhis second mug of what I thought wasorange juice, “Three people werekilled instantly!”

“Seventy eight voter turn out inRehna village!” he told me absent-mindedly. “Did you cover yester-days IPL matches?” I asked, “KingsXI Punjab seem to be doing quitewell!” “Modi wore a cream vest overa brown kurta, this is certainly a newtrend, wonder who gave him thiscolour combination, wonder whether

he got all the women votes for thisor they were turned off? It must be afashion designer advising him, weshould write a page on Modi’s coloursense!”

“There’s a leopard lose in theNational Park!” I said, “Maybe youneed to write a piece warning peoplefrom going there for their morningwalks!” “Modi learning Tamil, so hecan talk to Amma after the elections!”said my journalist friend as hedowned the second glass of what Ithought was orange juice and askedfor another.

“The leopard seems to be head-ing out of the National Park andonto the road!” I said reading fromtranscripts sent by my friend,“maybe you should print this alarm-

ing piece of news!” “BJP dropsharsh poll anthem, to projectsofter and more positive Modi!”said my companion as hescribbled the headlines onto hisiPad and sent it to his editor.

I heard a noise and saw theleopard in the air springing at myjournalistic friend, “Quick!” Ishouted, “Jump, it’s an angry, vio-lent leopard!” “Modi springs onIndia!” said my journalist friend ashe downed what I thought was or-ange juice and then felt the leopard’sclaws all over him, tearing himapart. “It’s a leopard!” I shouted.“It’s Modi,” sighed my journalistfriend with his last breath, “Modicannot change his spots..!”—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

praised him as “a force for good.” Itis small surprise that it will be ledby Sir John Jenkins, who happensto be Britain’s ambassador to SaudiArabia. A key member of his teamwill be Sir John Sawers, the currentchief of the Secret Intelligence Ser-vice (also known as MI6) — and aformer ambassador to Egypt, from2001 to 2003, when he acquiredclose contacts with Mr. Mubarak’sadministration. The political charac-ter of the investigation could hardlybe clearer.

The Muslim Brotherhood hasloathsome beliefs. It needs to be ro-bustly challenged — but not inways that undermine democraticvalues. The main consequence ofMr. Cameron’s investigation will beto embolden the authoritarian re-gimes in Cairo and Riyadh; theEgyptian government has alreadywelcomed Britain’s move. The hy-pocrisies of the West over democ-racy are not invisible to its enemies.The cynicism behind Mr.Cameron’s move against the Mus-lim Brotherhood may actuallystrengthen the influence of groupsthat seek change through terrorismrather than the ballot box. It wouldbe an irony indeed if the investiga-tion helped to create very monsterit is supposed to protect us from.— Courtesy: The New York Times

most taken over. Instilled with con-fusion, we, the so-called humans areepicureans. Look at us, the grit whichwas once supposed to say no to theimpious, and stand for the right, isnow being subversive. The forgottenhistory gives us the bleak clues that,besides food, shelter and clothing,respect, faith and dignity were con-tingent to humanity. The fadingmemories draw blurred pictures inour mind that respect amidst the fel-low humans was unconditional; faithin goodness had total supremacy, dig-nified were sage and could not bedeterred. Now hardly a few of us re-member that whatever we are doingis based on sheer convenience. In thefaçade of personal identity, we arehovering over the vicious circle ofabsurd egotism.

Momentary gains have becomethe long terms aims of people. Par-ents are slighted by their own chil-dren, in the face of behest and ques-tioning, while teachers face bicker-ing of the students, as their only aimis to gain good grades. This superfi-cial need is a grave affront to thementor’s position. When the richbully the poor by posturing, what theyhave is their right. Don’t think it is ablame game; rather it is a point wherepondering on to the ado might enableus to walk back to the real innate de-sires and needs. Not realizing the dis-crepancies now would leave tormentsuffering for our souls. It is a colos-sal burden, which will someday takeits course of action, but by then, wemight be abandoned by the MotherNature. Realization and modificationwould be conducive in subsiding thisallegation on our soul. Roars andscreams of our souls, instead of be-ing overruled, should be listened care-fully; they are not simple cries!

On daily basis, the right is in-dicted of wrong, the feeble are madeto inhabit the realm of yearns only.Every other news makes us sob,when a young child is physicallyabused, fraudulent takes away thehard earned money of the owner,leaving his hands clutched in jitter.The television bombards us withnews, where maimed men, womenand children, lie helplessly on thehospital beds. Every now and thenthe young girls are buried alive inthe name of respect. The most trivialmatters are highlighted in the nameof awareness. Freedom of speech isthe manifestation of crushing thedignity of humans!

In the glory of humanity, the laby-rinth that has complicated the simplephenomena of humility and solemn-ness needs to be solved. The fact ofbeing absorbed in one’s own self andpersonal benefits should be subsided,as this would not pay for long. Knit-ting respect, faith and dignity togetherin definite terms would bring achange long awaited in our socialsetup. Building every block of rela-tionship with the bricks of respect,would build a respectful relationship.Faith in the base and dignity at thetop is not an unpractised phenom-enon, but certainly a forgotten one.—Islamabad

Sports with heavybikes and carsSYED OMER NADEEM

Bikes and cars these days are becom-ing a massive craze for the youth ofPakistan most prominently Karachi.People not only possess incredibleautomobiles but they are well trainedto ride and drive them withunmatchable skills. Living anony-mously out there in this era of tech-nology you will find the most dex-terous and practiced individuals forbike and car races in Karachi and theother big cities of Pakistan.

The question that arises is that,why is their talent still unacknowl-edged? It is because of the lack of aplatform that they need. Bike and carraces should be legally practiced inPakistan especially in Karachi.Karachiites keeping up with the tra-dition of being highly dynamic notonly have unfathomable insight inthe field of automobiles but theyown extraordinary vehicles ofSuzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki,BMW etc. and the models include

Justice is superior..?

DOUBTLESSLY, Justice isone of the values revived byour religion Islam and given

an extraordinary status. Once a manof intelligence and understanding putthis question to Hazrat Ali (RA) andI quote, “ Which is superior, justiceor generosity?” (Hikam 437). Herethe question is about two humanqualities. Apparently the answer tothe above question seems both obvi-ous and easy: generosity is superiorto justice, for what is justice exceptobservance of the rights of others andavoiding violating them; but a gen-erous man willingly foregoes his ownright in favour of another person. Thejust man does not transgress the rightsof others or he safeguards their rightsfrom being violated. But the gener-ous man sacrifices his own right foranother’s sake. Therefore, generos-ity must be superior to justice.

From Hazrat ‘Ali’s view-point, it is the principle of jus-tice that is of crucial signifi-cance in preserving the balanceof society, and winning good-will of the public. Its practicecan ensure the health of soci-

ety and bring peace to its soul. Op-pression, injustice and discriminationcannot bring peace and happiness-even to the tyrant or the one in whoseinterest the injustice is perpetrated. Itis lamentable that incidents of instantmob justice are so rampant that not asingle day passes by without such sto-ries being reported in the newspapersor broadcast over the radios and pic-tures of merciless attacks beingshown on the TV. These Incidents ofinstant justice are not perpetratedagainst individuals who are privatepersons only, but even against Gov-ernment officials. However, the ad-ministrative organs themselves do notfollow the law and are attracted byshortcuts.

We were brought up in a societywhich respected Police authority evenwhere there was just one policemanamong a group of people. But that is

not so nowadays. Even police stationsare targets of attack. Rowdy peoplestorm the police posts, overpower thepolicemen and often kill the peopleunder police custody. But some blacksheep of the Police department whoought to know better on this subject,on a number of times, are reported tohave shot dead some suspects. Mystudents of law, whenever I am in theLaw College, always ask this ques-tion, “Sir, why are such incidents hap-pening in our Pakistani society? Is itbecause of lack of civic education?Is it an indication that people do nothave confidence in the Judiciary orin the judicial process?

It is a well-known fact our courtprocess is at snail’s pace and courtsdo not deliver with the desirablespeed. I have no hesitation whatso-ever to admit that such instancescontribute to the negative attitude tothe courts, particularly, our districtjudiciary. Such incidents instigatethe ordinary man to a resort to ‘self-help’ or to a draconian“ panchayatsystem” which they deem is a fasterand a sure way of settling scores thancourt process. It is n any exaggera-

tion to say that there are a numberof factors which cause these delays.Some factors are outside the con-trol of the Judiciary while others aresaddled on the laps of Judges. Themost serious shortcoming of all isthat they are still employing veryoutmoded ways.

There is a lot of injustice andindiscrimination in our society.Hope is fading away from the soci-ety. Unfortunately our society isbeing ranked as one of morally de-cays and dying society where thereis no respect for human life and dig-nity. In this dismal situation in thesociety, it is only and only ourcourts, our judges who can save thisdying and sinking society. Now orNever- Say this country, save thisstate and society by providingspeedy justice to the litigant pub-lic. However, I implore and urge allhonourable judges and even thosewho are affiliated with the admin-istrative and social justice to resolveto do all in their power to win backthe confidence of the people of dis-trict Judiciary.—The writer is freelance columnist.

BMW ZX10 (the one used in aBollywood movie as well), YamahaR1, Suzuki GSXR, Vmax, SuzukiHayabusa, Kawasaki ZX14x andeven Harley Davidson. The cars in-clude Mazda RX8, Porshe, Ferrari,Dodge, Nissan 240x, 350z(Fairlady), Skyline GTR, Silvia,Selica, Supra, Camaro, Ford Mus-tang GT, SUVs that are Ford F150Raptor, Hummer, Tundra etc.

Malikon Motors and Torquemotorsports in Karachi while BashiMotor Sports in Punjab deal inheavy bikes and Car Deals and PakWheels deal with the cars and standamong the most highlighted partiesin the regard. From common pub-lic and politicians to celebrities andartists, all of them love to own thesebikes and cars and bring them onthe tracks in DHA phase VIII onweekends, specifically Sundaymornings. Passionate individualsand groups of people have teamedup for the promotion of the causeby creating factions namelyKarachi Bikers, Karachi FreestyleBikers, Racers Edge, RX8 club,KCR, Speed Chasers etc.

Like the countries we usuallyfollow, Pakistan too should makethese races and displays legal andofficial for the sake of the talentedperformers and the interested audi-ence. People are well-equipped andvery well-trained to carry out differ-ent stunts with ease and expertise.There should be organized tracks forthese stunts and races. Above all,these performers have all the safetygears to let the entertainment bemore enjoyable and less dangerous.Whether it is one wheelie for abouta kilometer, stand up wheelie orfront chair wheelie they are trainedto the level of exceptional profes-sionalism. When we have this muchtalent why not provide them with aproper arena and cash the advantagesthat tag along. There is a dire needto properly regulate the activity,chalk out dedicated rules of thegame, motivate the insurance com-panies to bring these thrillingadventurists in the fold of life insur-ance schemes, provide these profes-sionals dedicated routs and tracksaway from the normal traffic routsand normal roads to avoid any mis-hap and traffic hazards. It should bemade mandatory for the clubs spon-soring such sports to maintain propermedical centres, causalty outfits andambulance services to meet any un-toward accident.—Karachi

Why dowe write?

AREEBA ARIF

Writing is an expression of one’sthoughts, ideas, feelings and transfer-ring of entire pressure boiling insidethe brain of a person onto a piece ofpaper. Writing is unfortunately not socommon among students these days.They write only when it is an assign-ment, a homework or an examination.

Creative writing is neither prac-ticed by students nor encouraged byteachers. We usually believe in rotelearning and never try to storm ourbrain to bring out the creativity hid-den inside, on a piece of paper. Writ-ing or creative writing is a result ofeffective reading. The more onereads, the more avenues of knowl-edge, literature and understanding areopened. No matter if a person is nota good writer, still writing must be aregular practice as it helps us relaxand let the mind believe that it has away out for the emission of constantlyevolving thoughts!—Via email

Malik M AshrafEmail:ashrafazim2000@yahoo.com

Hashim AbroEmail:hashimabro@hotmail.com

MAXIM TRUDOLYUBOV

The annexation of Crimea, themedia offensive against Kiev andthe threat of military force against

Ukraine are President Vladimir V.Putin’s ultimate response to Russia’sown failures. His latest actions are aveiled recognition that all of his otherefforts to prove that Russia is regainingthe Soviet Union’s status as a global su-perpower have come to nothing.

Putin and his cronies preside over acountry with the planet’s largest land massand the vast material wealth that comes withit. Russia is one of the world’s largest pro-ducers of oil, gas, diamonds and nickel. Itboasts one of the largest mechanised forcesof any army and a nuclear arsenal that iscomparable to or even larger than that ofthe United States. Kremlin officials love toregale their countrymen with orations re-calling Russia’s military triumphs, its space

Kremlin’s failure

Chen Qingzu, 56, stands in a small room with the walls and ceiling covered in bras hecollected, in Sanya, Hainan province, China. Chen has collected about 5,000 bras over 20years after touring more than 30 different colleges around the country, aimed at raisingawareness of breast cancer.

A pro-Russian armed man escorts Ukrainian journalist Irma Krat after a news conference in Slaviansk. Pro-Russianseparatists in eastern Ukraine have detained a Ukrainian journalist, accusing her of “war crimes” during the Euromaidanprotests that toppled the Moscow-backed president, her lawyer said. Krat, 29, was held by militants in the city of Slaviansk,said Oleg Veremienko, a lawyer for the online television news site Krat runs. Russian Internet channel Life News postedvideo of her being escorted by masked men in combat gear and of an activist saying she was under arrest.

programme, its cultural significance — on andon, ad nauseam.

Yet the reality behind the rhetoric isbleak. No matter how many warheads hecommands, no matter how much wealthhis sycophants amass, no matter how muchpublicity his propagandists attract, Putinis constantly reminded — mostly by theWestern press and by the shrinking poolof domestic independent news media —that he has been doing a poor job.

Transparency International ranked Rus-sia among the top 30 per cent in its Corrup-tion Perceptions Index last year. The WorldEconomic Forum finds it the least competi-tive of the so-called BRICS — Brazil, Rus-sia, India, China and South Africa. Its busi-ness and investment climate is fraught withhostility and risk. It is repeatedly cited byhuman rights organisations as economically,politically and socially “unfree.” The qual-ity of life for most Russians is embarrass-ingly low, while the number of its billion-

aires is obscenely high.Much the same can be said for

Ukraine. Under President Viktor F.Yanukovych a government and businesselite grew wealthy as corruption spread andthe quality of everyday ?life deteriorated.

While Russia is not the nation Putinyearns it to be, it would be unfair to saythat the country has never tried to resolveits problems. A tax and an administrativereform programme was implemented dur-ing his first term as president, from 2000to 2004. Numerous initiatives to fight cor-ruption have been announced, and Mos-cow is currently seeking to improveRussia’s standing in the World Bank’sDoing Business index and other indices.

But those responsible for improvinggovernance have never had the power todo so: Modernisation programmes havealways been stymied. In a phrase coinedby the political scientist Nikolay Petrov,the reformers in Russia Inc. have always

been mere managers, never real sharehold-ers in the country’s fate.

There was a time when the Kremlintried to play with the problem by produc-ing its own (“fairer”) assessments of so-cial and economic conditions. A few yearsago the Moscow State Institute for Inter-national Relations published a list of na-tions with strong “international influence”potential, ranking Russia as seventh fromthe top. If only they continued that rank-ing, Russia would be on the way to No. 1right now. The growth of Russian GDPwould have been endlessly celebrated, andthe state-run media would be certain totrumpet the news whenever Putin wonpraise from a Western publication.

But the internal conflict between demo-cratic reform and the status quo has ended.Most Russian sources of honest informa-tion and constructive criticism — the inde-pendent media, academia, the businesscommunity — are blocked. Most formerly

autonomous government institutions, suchas the courts and the Parliament, have beendestroyed or brought under control. Thecountry’s managers are reduced to actingas Kremlin errand boys who are kept busyminimising the damage while Russia Inc.’s“shareholders” loot the nation. But as theRussians stumbled along, the Ukrainianssought more radical solutions to surmountsimilar problems: stronger economic tieswith Western Europe, a greater push forparliamentary democracy, and the one ac-tion that Putin absolutely could not abide:the deposition of a ruler who had alwaysdone Moscow’s bidding.

Putin thought if he let go of Ukrainehe would be seen as a “lame duck,” anautocrat who allowed regime change in asmaller country with parallel problems. Aneighbouring state that implemented all thereforms Putin himself aborted would posean obvious threat to his rule. It would pro-vide millions of Russians with a clear ex-

ample of non-Russian, non-authoritar-ian prosperity and freedom.

The revolutionary aspirations ex-pressed by protesters in Kiev’s Maidan areexactly what Putin wants to suppress inRussia. His reasons are not just geopoliti-cal. He realises that the quality of gover-nance in Kiev is worse than in Moscow,but that Russian aspirations are not too farbehind those in Ukraine. While the Krem-lin permits Russian official TV channelsto call Ukraine a corrupt and failed state,to describe its leaders as populist, nation-alist or even fascist, such media descrip-tions of leaders in Russia are taboo.

The Russian regime is looking atwhat is happening in Ukraine through aglass darkly, without realising that whatit is seeing reflects its own image. Putindoes not like what he sees. So he is pun-ishing Ukraine for Russia’s failure to putits own house in order.

—Courtesy: Khaleej Times

SEOUL—The first distress callfrom a sinking South Koreanferry was made by a boy witha shaking voice, three minutesafter the vessel made its fate-ful last turn. He called theemergency 119 number whichput him through to the fire ser-vice, which in turn forwardedhim to the coastguard two min-utes later. That was followed byabout 20 other calls from chil-dren on board the ship to theemergency number, a fire ser-vice officer told Reuters.

The Sewol ferry sank lastWednesday on a routine tripsouth from the port of Incheonto the traditional honeymoonisland of Jeju. Of the 476 pas-sengers and crew on board, 339were children and teachers ona high school outing. Only 174people have been rescued andthe remainder are all presumedto have drowned.

The boy who made the firstcall, with the family name ofChoi, is among the missing.His voice was shaking andsounded urgent, a fire officertold MBC TV. It took a whileto identify the ship as theSewol. “Save us! We’re on aship and I think it’s sinking,”Yonhap news agency quotedhim as saying.

First sign of South Koreaferry disaster was callfrom a frightened boy

The fire service official askedhim to switch the phone to thecaptain, and the boy replied: “Doyou mean teacher?” The pronun-ciation of the words for “captain”and “teacher” is similar in Korean.The captain of the ship, Lee Joon-seok, 69, and other crew mem-bers have been arrested on negli-gence charges. Lee was alsocharged with undertaking an “ex-cessive change of course withoutslowing down”.

Authorities are also inves-tigating the Yoo family, whichcontrols the company that ownsthe ferry, Chonghaejin MarineCo Ltd, for possible financialwrongdoing amid growingpublic scrutiny. An official atthe Financial Supervisory Ser-vice (FSS) told Reuters it wasinvestigating whetherChonghaejin or the Yoo familyengaged in any illegal foreignexchange transactions. The of-ficial did not elaborate.

Another person familiarwith the matter told Reutersthat prosecutors were lookinginto suspected tax evasion bythe firm, its affiliates or the Yoofamily with assistance from theNational Tax Service. Aspokesman at the tax agencydeclined to comment on thematter. —Reuters

ABDULKHALEQ ABDULLA

The US popularity worldwide is at its lowest since 2009.This was a recent BBC headline. The June 2013 BBCpoll found that negative views towards the US are so

pervasive that America presently ranks as the second-mostunpopular nation in the world. The decline in US popularitywas the sharpest during 2012 — it went from 47 per cent to40 per cent, which was the same where it was in 2009 whenthe BBC headline at the time had declared that the worldview of the US went from bad to worse.

In December 2013, the Pew annual survey found that afull majority of Americans, 70 per cent, said the US waslosing respect internationally. A growing number of Ameri-cans believed that America’s global power and prestige werein decline.

The survey also found out that the American public wasgrowing extremely sceptical about the country’s internationalinvolvement. Today, domestic support for US global engage-ment is near historical lows and an increasing percentage ofAmericans want the US to mind its own business and payattention to problems at home rather than get entangled ininternational crises.

Another end-of-the-year BBC survey in 2013 askedpeople which country did they think was the greatest threatto peace in the world. The US topped the list by a substan-tial margin. Pakistan was at a distant second place.

The US ranks even higher as a perceived threat to worldpeace among people in the Middle East. The widespreaduse of drones and surveillance are reasons that are oftencited for this impression of the US as a major menace toworld peace.

How does this hugely negative public opinion of Americaaround the globe resonate in the corridors of power in thedeeply divided Congress? Does this concern the forever bick-ering folks in Washington? Is it of any immediate interest tothe visibly confused Barack Obama and his consumed ad-ministration?

The quick answer is apparently ‘no’. There is not oneshred of evidence to indicate that they have any impact onpolicies or induce any reaction. A dysfunctional Washing-ton is too detached these days from home and internationalrealities and seems to live in a bubble of its own.

Politics in Washington, like the TV series House ofCards, is fun to watch but sadly America is living a momentof great political paralysis and extreme disunity in the once-decent American body politics as told by Alexis deTocqueville.

As Washington fails to function, the world is watchingthe tale of the two sharply divided Americans: Republicansversus Democrats; rich versus poor; black versus white andthe North versus the South. This political paralysis comesat a moment when the US is about to cross a historical mile-stone and retreat to number two in global power rankings.

For the first time in about 200 years an Asian power, nota western power, will be the number one economic power-house in the world. This is bound to happen in barely fiveyears from now.

How can a completely paralysed Washington deal withthe imminent challenge of becoming number 2? Is Wash-ington prepared to stomach the number-two ranking or willpoliticians, intellectuals and the US think-tanks indulge inwishful thinking that this is not going to happen?

America is currently confronted with some very seriouschoices. Yet, Washington is laterally incapable of makingthem. Extreme forces are pulling America apart. There is nocentre any more in American democracy.

Washington’s politics of the 21st century has becomethe art of the impossible not the art of the possible. Thenation’s capital is not delivering and no one is in the moodto compromise. America is virtually at a point of perpetualdeadlock.

Trust, or the lack of it, is at the core of the current mal-aise in American politics. Trust is in short supply these daysin America in toto. Republicans will never trust Obama justas Democrats had a hard time trusting George W. Bush.

The wheeling-dealing politicians in Washington live infoxholes of their own making. They are fortifying their po-sitions for the next election, the next legislative fight andnext TV show. They get on each other’s nerves, and 80 percent of Americans have already given up on Washingtonpolitics.

It is not just the Congress, but even the once-popularObama had his approval rating hit a new low in a March2014 survey. American’s do not trust him as much as theydid a year ago.

They say he looks impotent and unable to pursue theCongress to do even little things. Nowonder the US lookedso miserable in the latest opinion polls. According to theEdelman Trust Barometer Survey, confidence in the gov-ernment had dropped sharply by 10 points — from 59 percent to 49 per cent in 2014. Just 10 years ago, the US lookedformidable and the story then was of America the Super-power of the 21st Century.

The story now is that of a retreating and visibly paraly-sed America. It fits into Fareed Zakaria’s thesis that we arein the “post-American world”.

As for the view of the US among its close friends in thispart of the world, the key word is “unreliable” America.This was succinctly stated last week by a senator during acongressional hearing. He said: “Our allies around the worldare asking: Why are we still allying ourselves with the US?They are unreliable.

Their government is always bickering. They cannot cometogether in Washington to do anything. Do you think, if weare ever invaded or ever get into trouble, the United Statescould possibly muster the political support necessary to cometo our assistance? Do not count on America any more.

The America of 2014 is viewed around the world as fad-ing and unreliable — one that cannot be counted on.

— Courtesy Gulf News

US credibilitygoing from

bad to worse

US probeschemical attacks

in SyriaDAMASCUS—The UnitedStates is looking into reports thatchemical weapons have beenused in two separate attacks inSyria. More than 100 people aresaid to be suffering from severerespiratory damage in the Idlibtown of Telminnis, according toboth the Syrian opposition andgovernment.

Barrel bombs containingchlorine gas are alleged to havebeen dropped by helicopter.White House spokesperson JayCarney said the US was tryingto verify claims: “We have in-dications of the use of a toxicindustrial chemical, probablychlorine, in Syria this month inthe opposition dominated vil-lage of Kafr Zeita. We are ex-amining allegations that thegovernment was responsible.We take all allegations of the useof chemicals in combat veryseriously. And we are workingto determine what happened.”

The Syrian governmentsays chlorine gas has been usedin the Hama province town ofKafr Zeita, but was unleashedby the al-Qaeda linked Jabhatal-Nusra. Two people are saidto have been killed and dozenscontaminated by the chlo-rine.— Agencies

Pyongyang‘close to another

nuke test’PYONGYANG—North Koreacould well be preparing to carryout its fourth nuclear test,South Korea’s Defence Minis-try said yesterday, citing a sig-nificant step up in activity at theNorth’s main test site. “Ourmilitary is currently detectinga lot of activity in and aroundthe Punggye-ri nuclear testsite,” spokesman Kim Min-seok told a press briefing.

“We are thinking of possi-bilities that the North may stagea surprise nuclear test or justpretend to stage a nuclear test,”Mr Kim said, adding that theJoint Chiefs of Staff had set upa special taskforce in casePyongyang goes ahead with anunderground detonation.

US President BarackObama is due to arrive in SouthKorea on Friday for a two-dayvisit, and there has been wide-spread speculation the Northmay stage a provocation to co-incide with the trip. Mr Kimdeclined to give details of themonitored activity, but said itmight be no more than a “de-ception tactic” to raise tensionsahead of the visit.—AFP

VenezuelanCapital hit by fresh

wave of riotsCARACAS—A fresh bout ofviolence broke out on Sundayin the Venezuelan capital ofCaracas. Demonstrators op-posed to the government ofPresident Nicolas Maduro werebeaten back by police withwater cannons and tear gas af-ter launching petrol bombs inthe district of Chacao. Othermasked protestors burned effi-gies of the president in a dayof demonstrations entitled“Rally for Democracy.”

The demonstrations beganin February when protestorsdemanded action againstVenezuela’s high rates of crimeand food shortages, and spiral-ing inflation rate. Over 40people have died in the con-tinuing violence, with hundredsarrested. Supporters of thepresident have also been pro-testing, with tens of thousandsof people dressed in red takingto the streets.—Agencies

Cyclone halts aerial search forMalaysian Airlines flight MH370

Ten killed inattack on Iraqipolling stationBAGHDAD—Police say gun-men have attacked a pollingstation in northern Iraq, killing10 guards. The attack late onApril 21 came a little more thanone week before Iraqis are dueto vote in parliamentary elec-tions April 30.

An Associated Press reportquoted police as saying the as-sault in a village outside thecity of Kirkuk was carried outby gunmen wearing Iraqi mili-tary uniforms. The incidentwas reported shortly after morethan 30 people were reportedkilled in a series of attacks else-where in Iraq on April 21.

Violence has alreadyforced the cancellation of theupcoming election in parts ofAnbar Province, where securityforces have been battling SunniIslamist militants who haveseized parts of two cities. In thepast year, Iraq has seen almostdaily attacks, most targetingsecurity forces and communi-ties of the country’s Shi’itemajority.—AP

Piles of bodiesin South Sudanslaughter: UN

NAIROBI (KENYA)—TheU.N.’s top humanitarian offi-cial in South Sudan says hesaw “piles and piles” of bod-ies after rebels belonging toone ethnic group slaughteredmembers of other groups in aremote town. Toby Lanzer toldThe Associated Press in aphone interview Tuesday thatthe killings are “quite possi-bly a game-changer” for a con-flict that has been raging sincemid-December.

U.N. human rights inves-tigators said Monday that hun-dreds of civilians were killedlast week because of theirethnicity after rebel forcesseized Bentiu, the capital of oil-producing Unity state. Lanzersaid thousands of civilians arenow streaming to the U.N. basein Bentiu because many believemore violence is coming.—AP

KUALA LUMPUR—Aerial search for the crashed Malaysian jet was suspended today due to atropical cyclone over the southern Indian Ocean, as a robotic mini-submarine scouring the seabedfailed to locate the plane’s wreckage after nine missions. “Planned air search activities have beensuspended for today due to poor weather conditions in the search area as a result of TropicalCyclone Jack,” Perth-based Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) said on the 46th day of thesearch for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

“It has been determined that the current weather conditions are resulting in heavy seas and poorvisibility, and would make any air search activities ineffective and potentially hazardous,” it said. Au-tonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Bluefin-21, a US Navy probe equipped with side-scan sonar,has searched approximately two thirds of the focused underwater search area to date.—Agencies

TOKYO—Japanese officials said onTuesday there was still a significantway to go before reaching a broadagreement on trade with the UnitedStates, a day before President BarackObama visits for a summit. A U.S.-Ja-pan agreement is critical to the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a12-nation grouping that would stretchfrom Asia to Latin America. A TPP dealis central to Obama’s policy of expand-ing the U.S. presence in Asia.

Japanese Prime Minister ShinzoAbe has also touted the TPP as a mainelement of his economic strategy to in-crease growth and shake off years ofstagnation. As the talks dragged on overrecent days, officials from both sidesplayed down the chance of reaching anagreement before Obama’s visit. But

Japan has not narrowed tradedifferences with US, negotiator says

the longer the standoff goes on, themore doubt could grow about prospectsfor the trade pact.

“We still have a lot of issues left todiscuss,” Japan’s Deputy Chief Nego-tiator Hiroshi Oe told reporters. “Inthese circumstances, I cannot say thatwe have narrowed our differences.” Oespoke after talks with U.S. ActingDeputy Trade Representative WendyCutler in Tokyo about trade terms forthe TPP. Breaking a U.S.-Japan dead-lock over access to Japan’s farm andauto markets is seen as key to finaliz-ing the TPP.

The United States wants Japan toopen its rice, beef and pork, dairy, andsugar markets - politically powerfulsectors that Abe has vowed to defend.Japan wants a timetable on U.S. prom-

ises to drop tariffs of 2.5 percent onimports of passenger cars and 25 per-cent on light trucks.

Gaps remain over the size of cutsin tariffs on beef and pork as well, Japa-nese media have reported. JapaneseEconomics Minister Akira Amari alsoacknowledged that the many hours ofnegotiations had not narrowed the gapwith the United States. The two coun-tries will likely announce a strong bondat a summit between Abe and Obamathis week, Amari said. Obama is sched-uled to be in Tokyo until Friday.

A final deal, however, could be muchfurther off. TPP negotiators are due to re-convene in Vietnam in mid-May and tradeministers will meet at an Asia-PacificEconomic Cooperation gathering inChina that month.—Agencies

sacrifices rendered by Pakistan Army ingeneral and ISI in particular. He has beenmonitoring the issue of Hamid Mir attackvery critically and has condemned the al-legations against ISI.

On Tuesday, he said that attack onHamid Mir is a tragic incident not only forthe family of Hamid Mir but also for thewhole journalistic community of Pakistanand the nation as well, which is highly con-demnable. ”But in last two days, basingon this incident the way national institu-tions of Pakistan are being attacked andare being blamed without any proof, thatis very alarming”. Nisar showed his greatconcern over the issue. ”The way vitaldefence institutions have been criticizedand blamed, such precedent is not foundin any country of the world”, he added.

“Its height that the negative propa-

ganda against institutions exercised by theparticular circles has been publicized byour enemies across the globe”, Ch Nisarshowed his anger.

The Interior Minister said that officersand soldiers of our Armed Forces are sac-rificing their lives every day for the pro-tection of Pakistan, such one-sided andnegative propaganda is not alarming onlybut is condemnable. ”Once the govern-ment has established a commission ofthree judges of the Supreme Court, suchblame game does not have any meaning”,he further added.

Nisar has been the first minister tocome up very openly to support ISI andPakistan Army. He suspects this incidentas a misleading one to hinder and sabo-tage the ongoing peace process with theTaliban.

Gen Raheel, Nisar back ISIFrom Page 1

they have failed in their designs associal media is in a state of shock andcriticizing maligning Pakistan’s armedforces and ISI. According tosources, some two weeks before theattack on Mir, Intelligence Bureau(IB) had issued an advisory to sometwelve high profile journalists re-questing them to take extra carewhile moving out. They (the secu-rity agencies) had credible informa-tion that some banned outfit or ter-rorist organization might attackthem. In the letter the journalistswere requested to inform the officialsof the IB, whose names were men-tioned in that letter, regarding theirmovement.

Hamid Mir’ name was also in thelist, rather his name was on the topof the list, the sources further said.However, they regretted that Mr Mirnot only kept the security officialsunaware of his Karachi visit, but pre-ferred to travel in a rented car fromairport to his Karachi office and itwas a serious security lapse. The

gunmen who shot at him not onlyknew about his schedule of the day,they very well understood the im-pact of the attack. “Those behindattack on Mr Mir took full advan-tage of his hostile criticism of thesecurity agencies and by attackingMr Mir, they partially succeeded inpitching a part of media against themost trusted, elevated, strong andstable institution of the country i.e.Inter-Services Intelligence or (ISI),”they further said.Two former armyofficers when contacted to commenton the charges leveled by Mir andhis brother regarding involvement ofsecurity agency in attack on him,ruled out any such possibility. In-volvement of ISI is out of question,ridiculous, said one of the senior re-tired officers adding “Everyoneknows his criticism is sometime outof proportion and without any logic.The agency attack on him wouldbenefit only the third party thatwants to exploit the situation.”

“If it was ISI, Mir would have

been dead there and then. The ISIsnipers are not so poor at shootingthat they cannot hit a target despitefiring twelve or more times,” said theother retired army officer. He ridi-culed the very notion of involvementof a prestigious state institution inthis dirty game. The propaganda isalready dying its natural death andthose who were carried away by it inthe beginning are analyzing it with amature approach, said he.

On the other hand, security agen-cies are closely monitoring the situa-tion and are in “the full know” of theentire drama being staged by certainelements in the wake of tragic attackon Mr Mir. “We know where the con-spiracy was hatched; who is leadingit; who provided funds and the play-ers behind the game,” said a seniorofficial. Welcoming the formation ofjudicial commission, he said the proofswould be produced before the three-member commission which is properforum and at that time everyone willcome to know about the facts.

Mir, a victim of anti-Pakistan conspiracyFrom Page 1

mand exploration, while in the second phasethere would be final auction on April 23, pro-vided demand received were greater thansupply. The government had received sealedbids received on April 14 and officials claimthe demand was greater than sup-ply. Offi-cials are hopeful that the auction would alsobring more than $ 1 billion investment in thecountry and that it would be a great successin the country’s telecom history. They alsosay the money would help raise GDP growthand would create around nine hundredthousand new jobs in the telecom sector.

The Dr Ismail Shah had earlier told themedia persons in Islamabad that a total of 50MHz was being offered in the auction, with30 MHz in 2100 band and 20 MHz in 1800band. He said the base price for 10 MHz in2100 band was $ 295 million and 10 MHz in1800 band was $ 210 million.

These prices were calculated after ex-tensive market assessment and spectrumvaluation by the PTA consultant and valuepartners, he added. He said the PTA hadchosen Simultaneous Multiple Round As-cending (SMRA) mechanism, which was themost preferred auctioning mechanism andwidely used in modern day auctions world-wide. He said SMRA was also preferred overthe traditional open cry-out auctioningmodel as it allowed both auctioneer and bid-der flexibility to simultaneously bid on lotsof their choice, privacy and time to makeeducated decisions during the auction pro-cess. Some of the recent auctions conducted

in the United States, Sweden, Norway, HongKong and Canada were all SMRA-basedones, the PTA chief said. With regard to spec-trum auction process, he said, “All lots areauctioned simultaneously over a series ofrounds and in each round, bids will be sub-mitted on individual lots at the announcedprices. “At the end of each round, a stand-ing high bidder is identified for each lot.

Once the standing high bidder is commit-ted to the lot, it cannot withdraw,” he added.Dr Shah said the standing high bidder wasreleased from its commitment when outbidby another one. He said,” When a lot receivesat least one bid, the price for the lot increasesin the next round. The bid increments will beupto a maximum of 3% of the last bid price,which will be decided by the PTA after eachround in consultation with the consultant.”He also highlighted some salient features ofthe auction which included that each biddermust show interest in a minimum of 10 MHzand a maximum of 15 MHz in the 2100 band.In order to be eligible for 10 MHz in the 1800band, a bidder must win at least 10 MHz inthe 2100. Exact lot configurations are beingdesigned with maximization of overall benefitin view. He said a successful bidder must payeither 100 per cent upfront or 50 per cent ofthe winning bid amount within 30 days andremaining 50% with markup at the rate of Libor+ 3 per cent would be paid in equal annualinstalments in five years. Licenses to suc-cessful bidders will be issued for a period of15 years, he added. —NNI

3G, 4G spectrum auction todayFrom Page 1

treatment.The three alleged mili-

tants in injured conditionwere brought by six peoplein an ambulance to the LRHPeshawar where police ar-rested all of them. Thesemilitants might have beenin-jured in a gun battle withthe security forces or due toinfighting and were laterbrought to the hospital fortreatment, sources added.

The police officialspresent on the scene re-fused to give details aboutthe arrests and took awaythe suspects in a police mo-bile. Deputy Superintendentof Police (DSP) SaleemAman told that few injuredpersons were brought to thehospital but they were notadmitted for treatment. Thehospital sources said thatthe suspects includingthree injured were broughtto the hospital but the po-lice arrested them as soonas they were brought in andtook them away.—INP

9 suspectedFrom Page 1

(Hafiz Abdul Kareem) to al-low Hajj business to KuwaitAirlines, in addition to tra-ditionally approved PIA,Shaheen Airlines and SaudiAirlines. An important as-pect in this decision is thefact that out of the foreigncarriers, only Saudi Airlinesoperates directly betweenKSA and Pakistan and therest touch base at their re-spective countries.

The adverse workingrelationship between theMinister and the Secre-tary may result into hin-drance of forthcomingHajj operation. The per-sonal interests of the Min-ister being manipulatedthrough his own men doesnot show the transpar-ency of the Hajj Operationand PML(N) governmentmay face the same resultsas of the previous govern-ment of PPP.

People shouldFrom Page 1

tionary identity.Among rumors circulat-

ing for weeks was the al-leged expulsion of severalnuclear scientists fromIran’s Atomic EnergyOrganisation in connectionwith the 5+1 talks. After longevading the sensitive issue,a spokesman for the agencyfinally offered an answer onMonday.

“Only a limited numberof people were concernedand they were neither sci-entists nor were they fired,”said Behruz Kamalvandi, aliaison between the nuclearagency and national parlia-ment. His comments, madeto radical Islamic studentsin a Tehran University, wascarried by

Iran: Nuclear agencyFrom Page 1

also been collected duringthe investigation.Memon expressed hope thatthe elements involved in theattack would soon be ar-rested. He further added thata case would be registeredby Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Sindhgovernment has constituteda seven-member joint inter-rogation team to investigatean assassination attempt onHamid Mir.

The team comprisingmembers from the seven

agencies will be authorizedto interrogate any one relat-ing to the case.Members of the country’sprincipal spy outfit the In-ter-Services Intelligence,

Military Intelligence, Rang-ers SS Wing and CIDbranch of the Sindh policewill probe the issue.

The team will start work-ing from Wednesday.

US Navy test firesFrom Page 1

leave the government buildings that theyhave occupied in the past two weeks.

Russia has in turn accused the Ukrai-nian government of stirring up the troubleand told Washington it must influence Kievto prevent “hotheads” from provoking abloody conflict.

Biden, however, put the onus on Mos-cow. “We’ve heard a lot from Russian offi-cials in the past few days. But now it’s timefor Russia to stop talking and start acting,”he told a news conference. “We will notallow this to become an open ended pro-cess. Time is short in which to makeprogress.”

Russia’s annexation of Crimea fromUkraine and the eastern rebellion havedeepened the worst East-West crisis sincethe Cold War, and Biden demanded the re-moval of Russian forces near Ukraine’sfrontier which Moscow insists are merelyon exercises.

“No nation should threaten its neigh-bors by amassing troops along the border.We call on Russia to pull these forces,”Biden said after meeting Ukrainian PrimeMinister Arseny Yatseniuk.

Moscow denies it is orchestrating themilitants, who say they want the chance tojoin Crimea in becoming part of Russia fol-lowing the overthrow of Moscow-backedpresident Viktor Yanukovich after monthsof street protests in Kiev.

But Washington, which signed lastweek’s accord in Geneva along with Mos-cow, Kiev and the European Union, has saidit would decide “in days” on additionalsanctions if Russia does not take steps to

Biden warns on Ukraine as RussiaFrom Page 1

12 million eligible votes, andthe failure of Taliban mili-tants to stage high-profileattacks that day.

The Obama administra-tion has been looking atoptions for a possible re-sidual U.S. force for months.

“The discussion is verymuch alive,” said one U.S.official who asked not to beidentified. “They’re lookingfor additional options under10,000" troops.There are now about 33,000U.S. troops in Afghanistan,down from 100,000 in 2011,when troop numbers peakeda decade into a conflict origi-nally intended to deny alQaeda sanctuary in Af-ghanistan after the Septem-ber 11, 2001, attacks.

With British and otherforeign troops scheduled todepart in lock step with U.S.soldiers, the size of any re-sidual U.S. force could addfuel to a debate in Washing-ton over whether Taliban-led violence will intensifyamid the vacuum left byWestern forces, as someU.S. military officials ex-pect.Military leaders, includingAmerican General JoeDunford, who heads U.S.and NATO forces in Af-ghanistan, has identified10,000 soldiers as the mini-mum needed to help trainand advise Afghan forcesfighting the insurgency, ar-guing a smaller forcewould struggle to protectitself.

During a March visit toWashington, Dunford toldlawmakers that withoutforeign soldiers support-ing them, Afghan forceswould begin to deteriorate“fairly quickly” in 2015.The Afghan air force, stillseveral years away frombeing self-sufficient, willrequire even more assis-tance, he said.

A smaller U.S. forcecould have other unin-tended consequences,possibly discouraging al-ready skeptical lawmakersfrom fully funding U.S.commitments to help fundAfghan forces.—Reuters

US forceFrom Page 1

blast was a congested area and the ex-plosion could have been more fatal if car-ried late but since it was early morning,there was little rush in the area.

Police and the rescue teams immedi-ately rushed to the site of the blast andshifted the victims to District HospitalCharsadda for treatment while number ofblast victims were transported toPeshawar owing to their critical condition.

The law enforces are also reported tohave kicked off grand search operationin the area though miscreants, as usual,continued to be at large.

Earlier, a Police party was ambushedin Badhber area in the outskirts ofPeshawar on Kohat road Monday late inthe night that left a couple of cops in-jured. As the police returned the fire theassaulter escaped from the scene but ap-peared again and opened indiscriminatefiring on the police party headed by asub-inspector when it was shifting thewounded cops to hospital. Five Policemen including the incharge and driver ofthe ambulance were killed in the secondattack. The Badhber area is closed toDarra Adam Khel, a semi tribal belt as wellas the Khyber agency.

In the meanwhile the KhyberPukhtunkhwa Governor, Sardar MehtabAhmad Khan has strongly condemned the

Police van targetedin Charsadda; 3 dead

From Page 1

bomb blast in District Charsadda, targetingpolice jawaans on Tuesday and said thatthe nation will always feel proud on theimmortal sacrifices of the police cops andofficers who have been ensuring securityto people at the cost of their own lives.

The Governor has also expressed hisdeep shock over the loss of precious livesespecially of the police jawaans who haveembraced martyrdom in incidents of simi-lar nature in Badhber area of Peshawarearlier last night and further observed thathe fully share the grief and sorrows ofthe bereaved families.

Soon after the occurrence of thetragic incidents, the Governor telephoni-cally contacted the IGP, Mr. Nasir KhanDurrani and while expressing his deepfeelings also desired to ensure provisionof best available treatment facilities to theinjured and make their early recovery pos-sible. The Governor also wished earlyrecovery of the injured.

Expressing his deep sympathies withmembers of the bereaved families, theGovernor has said that the elements in-volved in the heinous crime will no re-main at large and no effort will be sparedto bring them to court of law. He has alsoprayed for the eternal peace of the de-parted souls and courage to them to bearthe irreparable loss with patience.

Strategic Plans Division,Lieutenant General ZubairMahmood Hayat, Com-mander Army StrategicForces Command, Lieuten-ant General Obaid UllahKhan, Chairman NESCOM,Mr Muhammad IrfanBurney and other seniormilitary officials and scien-tists. Addressing thetroops in the exercise area,Chairman Joint Chiefs ofStaff Committee com-mended the troops onachieving technical andoperational excellence inoperating the state of theart weapon system.

He expressed his satis-faction over the traininggoals achieved during theexercise and expected thatthe officers and men en-trusted with the task of de-terring aggression wouldcontinue to maintain pro-fessional excellence.

General RashadMahmood also congratu-lated all the Scientists andEngineers for the success-ful launch of GhaznaviMissile, as another milestone which has furtherstrengthened the defencepotential of Pakistan be-sides assuring peace in theregion.—INP

Nuclear capableFrom Page 1

the official news agencyIRNA. “If a boss doesn’thave the authority to shufflearound a few among his15,000-strong personnel, heshouldn’t be called a boss,”he added, accusinghardliners of exploiting thenuclear issue for “politicalgains and to win seats inparliament.”

“Why do you politicizethe issue? Let’s stop nag-ging and avoid destroyingeach other so we can reachour goals on the interna-tional arena,” saidKamalvandi, charging that“some people are taking thelead from the supremeleader,” Ayatollah AliKhamenei, on the nuclearissue.—AP

mation Minister said thestate institutions are stand-ing with those who talk withproper reasoning and madeit clear that there are no al-legations against ISI and assuch it is not an issue.

He said during the pastfive years all the institutionsworked in harmony to pro-mote democracy and therewas no difference of opin-ion on national agenda.

He said that is the rea-son that Pakistan is gettingits lost place in the interna-tional community. He saidto move on the path ofprogress, all institutionswill have to work collec-tively. In reply to a ques-tion, the Information Min-ister said that deadlock ispart of the dialogue pro-cess and stated that thetalks with TTP were mov-ing ahead and hoped thatthere would be progresssoon. He said it makes nodifference if PervezMusharraf moves from one

PR: No rift amonginstitutions

From Page 1

to another city by pointingout that law is the same allover the country be itKarachi,Lahore orIslamabad. Pervaiz Rashidregretted that certainbooks encour-aged vio-lence and hatred and saidit was responsibility of ev-ery one to promote loveand unity instead of ha-tred and violence.He said he would feel realhappiness when similarfunctions were held inFATA or Waziristan andschools and colleges therewould start functioning.About attack on HamidMir, the Information Min-ister said it shows the blackside of the picture butpointed out that the otherbright side of the picture isthat the government, all po-litical parties and the entirenation is standing together.He said Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif himself vis-ited Hamid Mir to inquireabout his health. —INP

DCO Javed Ahmed Qazi distributing pamphlets regarding awareness campaign againstdengue, in front of Town Hall.

agement for framing allega-tions on the Inter ServicesIntelligence and its Chief,Lieutenant General ZaheerulIslam. The network had aireda portrait of the ISI chief, al-leging that he was respon-sible for the attack on an-chor and senior journalistHamid Mir.

The injured journalisthad informed a friend, fam-ily members and the man-agement of Geo TV, about apossible attack on him.

Mir was injured after hisarrival in Karachi on Satur-day when unknown gun-men opened fire on the ve-hicle he was traveling in nearNatha Khan area onShahrah-i-Faisal road.

implement the agreement.In Moscow, Prime Minister Dmitry

Medvedev said the country could deal withtougher measures if necessary.

“We shan’t give up on cooperation withforeign companies, including from West-ern countries, but we will be ready for un-friendly steps,” he told parliament.

“I am sure we can minimize their impact,”he said. “We will not allow our citizens tobecome hostages of political games.”

So far the United States and EU haveimposed visa bans and asset freezes on onlya limited number of Russians over the an-nexation of Crimea last month.

Medvedev said some Russian bankshad been shut out of international pay-ments systems, calling this “a violation ofexisting agreements” which “must not gounpunished”.

The EU has been more cautious thanthe United States in imposing sanctions,with some member states worried aboutantagonizing a country which supplies athird of Europe’s gas.

Medvedev said Russia was more inter-ested than ever in diversifying its gas ex-ports and described talk of Europe import-ing U.S. gas as a substitute as “a bluff”.

Putting the counter argument, Britainsaid leading Western economies had totackle the issue when the Group of Sevennations meet next month, noting how Rus-sia has cut off supplies to Ukraine duringpast disputes over prices.

“It can’t be right for Russia to hold in-dividual countries to ransom,” said EnergySecretary Ed Davey.

DefenceFrom Page 1

Power tariff cut byRe. 1 per unitISLAMABAD—National Elec-tric Power Regulatory Au-thority on Tuesday de-creased power tariff by Re 1per unit due to depreciatedvalue of dollar. CentralPower Purchasing Agencyhad filed a petition toNEPRA for cut in powerprice by Re.1 per unit forhearing. They said that itwould provide a sigh of re-lief to overburdened powerconsumers of the country.The decrease in the powertariff will be applicable fromMay 01 which will be car-ried out in monthly fuel ad-justment charges.—INP

2 peace committeemembers shot dead KHYBER AGENCY—Twomembers of peace commit-tee in Bara Tehsil of KhyberAgency were killed in sepa-rate incidents of terrorism onTuesday. According to re-ports, one member of thepeace commit-tee was shotdead by armed men inAkakhel area of Bara whilethe other member of thecommittee from the agencywas killed in firing by mis-creants in Jehangirabad areaof Peshawar. The militantsparticularly target membersof peace committees inFATA who supportgovernment’s efforts to re-store peace and order in thetroubled agencies.—INP

Father strangulatestwo sonsNOWSHERA—A mercilessfather strangulated to deathtwo sons over dispute withher wife here on Tuesday.According to details, theaccused had dispute withhis wife who went to herparents home along withtwo children, three year oldWahid and six year oldWaheed. The accused wentto the house of his in lawsand demanded that his twosons be handed over to him.When the wife refused to doso, he strangulated the twosons, killing them on thespot and fled from the scene.Police took the dead bodiesof the diseased to hospitaland started search for theaccused.—INP

DSP, guard injuredin blastQUETTA—A bomb blastTuesday injured DeputySuperintendent of Police(DSP), his guard and threeother people in Dera MuradJamali in Balochistan prov-ince, police said. Police saidthe roadside bomb wasdetonated with the help of aremote-controlled device asthe vehicle of DSP AbdulGhaffar passed through ahighway near. Witnessessaid the vehicle was dam-aged in the explosion. Theysaid they heard firing afterthe blast. No group claimedresponsibility of the attack.—NNI

NEW DELHI—Some Indian teachersforce children from lower castes and mi-nority religions to clean toilets and sitseparately from their classmates as partof “persistent” discrimination in class-rooms, a rights group said on Tuesday.

Human Rights Watch said pupils frommarginalised communities often droppedout of school and started working aslabourers rather than face continued hu-miliation at the hands of teachers andprincipals.

The 77-page study on schools wascompiled through interviews with morethan 160 teachers, principals, parents andstudents in four states which have largepopulations of low-caste poor, indig-enous tribals and Muslims.“India’s immense project to educate allits children risks falling victim to deeplyrooted discrimination by teachers andother school staff against the poor andmarginalised,” said the report’s authorJayshree Bajoria.

“Instead of encouraging children fromat-risk communities who are often the firstin their families to ever step inside a class-room, teachers often neglect or even mis-treat them,” she said.

Teachers force Muslim, lower castestudents to clean toilets in India

Children from Muslim communitieswere among those often made to sit at theback of classrooms or in separate rooms.They were called derogatory names, weredenied leadership roles and were servedfood last, the report said.

The report comes as a mammoth gen-eral election is underway which is likely tovault Narendra Modi and BJP to powerafter a decade of Congress party rule.Some children said they were segregatedand neglected because they were consid-ered dirty, while Muslim students said theywere called “mullahs”, a term for an Is-lamic cleric, instead of by their names.

India’s Parliament passed landmarklegislation in 2009 that guarantees stateschooling for children aged six to 14 andenrolments have reached more than 90percent nationally.

But HRW said the law does not con-tain punishments for those who discrimi-nate in the classroom.Most education authorities have failed toestablish proper mechanisms to monitorand track children, who were at r1isk ofdropping out, and acting to ensure theywere able to remain in school, the reportsaid.—AFPCHARSADDA: Police officials inspecting the site of a bomb attack on a police van in Charsadda bazaar, on Tuesday.

A multi-national maritime exercise is being held with a view to promote pragmatic cooperation among navies fromvarious countries. Warships from seven countries are invited to attend the joint exercise codenamed Sea Cooperation2014. Pakistan navy ship Shamsheer is participating in the multi-maritime exercise on Tuesday.

NAIROBI —Gunmen in South Sudan whotargeted civilians including children and theelderly left “piles and piles” of bodies, manyof them in a mosque and a hospital, theU.N.’s top humanitarian official in the coun-try said Tuesday.

Toby Lanzer told The Associated Pressin a phone interview Tuesday that the eth-nically targeted killings in a provincial capi-tal are “quite possibly a game-changer” fora conflict that has been raging since mid-December and that has exposedlongstanding ethnic hostilities.

There was also a disturbing echo ofRwanda, which is marking the 20th anni-versary this month of its genocide that killedan estimated 1 million people. The Rwandangenocide saw kill orders broadcast by ra-dio and it happened in South Sudan, Lanzersaid.

“It’s the first time we’re aware of that alocal radio station was broadcasting hatemessages encouraging people to engagein atrocities,” said Lanzer, who was inBentiu on Sunday and Monday. “And thatreally accelerates South Sudan’s descentinto an even more difficult situation fromwhich it needs to extract itself.”

U.N. human rights investigators said late

‘Piles and piles’ of bodiesin S. Sudan slaughter

Monday that hundreds of civilians werekilled last week because of their ethnicityafter rebel forces seized Bentiu, the capitalof oil-producing Unity state. Those rebelforces are Nuer, the same ethnic group thatformer Vice President Riek Machar, who isnow a rebel leader, comes from.

Lanzer said thousands of civilians fromseveral ethnic groups are streaming to theU.N. peacekeeping base in Bentiu becausemany believe more violence is coming. Thebase now holds 25,000 people but has onlyone liter of water per person per day andonly one latrine per 350 people.

“The risk of a public health crisisinside our base is enormous,” he said.Raphael Gorgeu, the head of Doctors With-out Borders in South Sudan, said peoplewill die inside the U.N. base in coming daysbecause of the water and sanitation situa-tion.

As rebel forces entered Bentiu lastweek, residents were led to believe that byentering the mosque they would be safe,Lanzer said, citing accounts from survivors.But once inside they were robbed of moneyand mobile phones and a short while latergunmen began killing, both inside themosque and inside the city hospital.—AP

Pakistan Navygets WPNS

observer statusHAMEED SHAHEEN

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Navyon Tuesday secured an ob-server status in the 21-mem-ber States international forumof West Pacific Naval Sym-posium (WPNS), during animportant meeting held inChina’s naval port ofQingdao. Full members ofWPNS are: Australia, Brunei,Cambodia, Canada, Chile,China, France, Indonesia, Ja-pan, Malaysia, New Zealand,Papua New Guinea, Peru, thePhilippines, Republic of Ko-rea, Russia, Singapore, Thai-land, Tonga, United Statesand Vietnam. China is one offounder member of WPNS es-tablished in 1987. Pakistan,Bangladesh, India andMexico are observers ofWPNS. Pakistan’s WPNS in-clusion came via consensusamong the 21 membersstates.

Pakistan Naval Chief is onan official visit to China thesedays. ‘The WPNS was es-tablished in 1987 with goalsto promote cooperation be-tween the navies of its mem-ber countries, strengthenmutual understanding andtrust, and jointly safeguardregional maritime security. Itcomprises navies whosecountries border the PacificOcean region’.

As per Charter of WPNS,an observer automaticallybecomes permanent memberafter five years period.

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—A new group of Taliban hastaken seat in Karachi with designs for con-ducting terrorism on a vast scale. The newemerging Taliban group was being identi-fied as Jeedaar (Courageous) Group.

The intelligence agencies of the coun-try have disclosed about the presence ofthis new terrorist group in Karachi andhence the security forces have been askedto take necessary measures for security. Theintelligence sources has claimed in their re-port that the new Jeedaar group was hidingin north of the port city and was busy infinalizing a huge destructive plan in the cityand it was feared that the new Taliban groupmight target the security forces.

According to sources, Police authori-ties in this regard have issued instructions

TTP New Jeedaar group preparingfor massive destruction in Karachi

to the Special Branch of Police to stay vigi-lant and compile particulars of criminals andterrorists and details about their activitieson the basis of concrete evidences. SpecialBranch has also been instructed to compilelist of areas at the police station level con-cerned where banned religious outfits weredominating.

The sources claimed that members ofthe new Taliban group hailed fromMohmand Agency, who recently arrived inKarachi and were composing their strengthwith the connivance of the local perpetra-tors.

Sources also claimed that powerful landmafia and drugs mafia was backing the newJeedaar group of Taliban in Karachi.

In this regard, Sindh police and intelli-gence agencies have compiled 2 differentreports on law and order in Karachi.

LONDON — Britain’s U.K.Independence Partylaunched its European elec-tion campaign Tuesday witha series of billboards carry-ing a stark message: Theyare coming to take your job.

One billboard from therising Euroskeptic party de-picts a construction workerbegging for change underthe headline “EU policy atwork.” Another says 26 mil-lion people in Europe arelooking for work, adding:“And whose jobs are theyafter?”

Party leader NigelFarage said the posterswere “a hard-hitting reflec-tion of reality.”

Others called themalarmist and xenophobic.Labour Party lawmaker MikeGapes accused UKIP of run-ning “a campaign designedto sow fear and animosityand hatred towards immi-grants.” Conservative legis-lator Nicholas Soames,grandson of wartime PrimeMinister Winston Churchill,called the ads “deeply divi-sive, offensive and igno-rant.”

Free movement of laboris a central principle of the28-nation EU bloc. Censusdata shows that about 2 mil-lion people from other EUcountries live in Britain.That is only slightly morethan the number of Britonsliving elsewhere in Europe

EC to hold LBpolls in KP

before June 30I S L A M A B A D —Elec t ionCommission says it is readyto hold local bodies’ elec-tions in KhyberPakhtunkhwa before 30thof June without biometricsystem.

Briefing newsmen inIslamabad on Tuesday, Di-rector General Election Com-mission Sher Afghan saidrules have been framed anddelimitations completed inthat province. —NNI

UK anti-EU party focuseson immigrant threat

— a fact UKIP tends not tomention.

UKIP’s aim is to pull Brit-ain out of the EU, and itsmessage is finding an in-creasingly receptive audi-ence among Britons disillu-sioned with mainstream par-ties.One billboard image, show-ing the blue and yellow EUflag burning a hole in theUnion Jack under the slogan“Who really runs this coun-try?” appeals to a frustra-tion with European bureau-cracy felt across the conti-nent.

“We’re not anti-Eu-ropean,” Farage said Tues-day. “We want a Europe ofnation states that live to-gether and trade together.And that’s why it’s not justUKIP. There are otherEuroskeptic parties doingwell across the north of Eu-rope.” The party, which hasno seats in Britain’s Houseof Commons, hopes to makea breakthrough in the May22 elections for the Euro-pean Parliament, where itcurrently has nine ofBritain’s 73 seats. Somepolls suggest it could re-ceive more votes than anyother British party.And it has increasinglydeep pockets. The billboardcampaign is funded by awider 1.5 million pound ($2.5million) donation from busi-nessman Paul Sykes.—AP

Policemankilled during

robbery attemptSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Two people, in-cluding a policeman, werekilled and one person wasreported injured in Karachion Tuesday. The incidenttook place in the city’s Gar-den Town near the Karachizoo during a robbery at-tempt at a booking office ofthe Pakistan InternationalAirlines.

Police reached the siteand an exchange of fire tookplace between the robbersand the law-enforcers withInspector Qamar Satti los-ing his life.

The robbers fled thearea immediately afterwardsand the injured were shiftedto a nearby hospital for medi-cal treatment.

Tuesday’s incidentcomes a day after PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif pre-sided over a meeting on lawand order and the ongoingoperation against terroristsin Karachi.

It was reported, how-ever, that the premier hadexpressed displeasure overthe poor law and order situ-ation in the city and hadquestioned officials presentas to why the condition haddeteriorated after becomingstable for some time.

He had also directed of-ficials to take stricter actionto ensure peace.

ISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt on Tuesday sus-pended the notificationwhich declared MaulanaMuhammad AhmadLudhianvi of the AhleSunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ)as winning candidate fromJhang NA-89. The ElectionCommission of Pakistan andan election tribunal had de-clared Ludhianvi the winnerafter Pakistan MuslimLeague Nawaz (PML-N)MNA Sheikh Muhammad

SC suspends Ludhianvielection notification

Akram was disqualified forallegedly being a loan de-faulter. The election tribunalhad passed the order on apetition filed by Ludhianviin which he had allegedthat Akram was not an eli-gible candidate as he did notfulfill the condition of being“sadiq and ameen” (truthfuland trustworthy). A three-member bench of apex courtheaded by Justice AnwarZaheer Jamali was hearingthe case.—INP

THE authors of a new study say thatmanipulating alcohol drinkers’sense of control can counteract the

negative feelings that motivate them todrink. People who have a strong sense ofcontrol believe their livesare controlled by theirown choices rather thanthe actions of others,luck or other external fac-tors.

Feeling a lack of con-trol often impairspeople’s ability toachieve their goals andcan reduce their qualityof life and damage theirhealth, the authors say.“The most importantfinding from the study isthat simple techniquescan be used to changedrinkers’ feelings of con-trol - this includes in-creasing their feeling thatthey can control theirdrinking,” Miles Cox toldReuters Health in an email.

Cox, from Bangor University in the UK,co-authored the study along with ZohrehShamloo of Ferdowsi University ofMashhad in Iran. They published theirfindings in the journal Addictive Behav-iors. “The techniques that we used bothimproved drinkers’ motivation and de-creased their urges to drink alcohol,” Coxsaid.

Those techniques included givingpositive feedback along with reminders torelax and hints on how to complete spe-cific tasks. For their study, Shamloo and

Cox enrolled 106 students from BangorUniversity who were light to moderatedrinkers. The participants filled out ques-tionnaires designed to measure theirsense of control over completing upcom-

ing tasks, as well as their urgeto drink alcohol.

The tasks includedviewing a series of cards ona computer screen to deter-mine what the images on thecards had in common andsolving five sets of ana-grams. The researchers ran-domly assigned participantsto a “high sense of control”group, a “low sense of con-trol” group or a group thatreceived no interventionwhile completing the tasks.

Participants in thehigh sense of control groupwere allowed to choose theirtasks and were given hintson how to complete them. Inaddition, they were in-structed on how to control

their emotions - such as, “Don’t worry ifyou can’t find the right answer; stayingcalm and relaxed will help you do better.”They were also given positive feedbackabout their performance. Participants inthe low sense of control group didn’t getany clues on how to solve the tasks andreceived feedback based on their perfor-mance with no encouragement or discour-agement.

After completing the tasks, partici-pants answered the questionnaires againand their urge to drink alcohol was reas-sessed.

Improving feelings of controlmay curb desire to drink

CITY REPORTER

I S L A M A B A D — F e d e r a lMinister for Information,Broadcasting and NationalHeritage Pervaiz Rashidsaid on Tuesday whilespeaking at the inauguralceremony of NationalBook Day, that books werea means to spread love andbrotherhood.

“Those books shouldbe read, which lead topeace instead of chaosand war. Hate materialshould be shunned.”

Pervaiz Rashid saidhate material developed amindset that was prone toviolence and not ready tolisten to the voice of logic.

These minds should bepersuaded to listen to op-posing views with patienceand tolerance and not tosuppress difference ofopinion, he stated.

The minister said Na-tional Book Day was in-deed a landmark in the in-tellectual and literary his-tory of Pakistan.

“It brings in its wake a

High Commissioner of Bangladesh Sohrab Hussain taking interest in the art piecesdisplayed during an exhibition “The Colours of Mind” by Jahangir Hussain atJharoka Art Gallery. —PO Photo

Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashidadminstring oath to the members of civil society, students, teachers, intellectuals andwriters to devote their leisure time for the book reading at opening ceremony of Na-tional Book Day at Pakistan Friendship centre.

National Book Day

Books are a means tospread love, brotherhood

whole lot of activities aimedat generating creative think-ing, promoting intellectual

refinement, cultivating newideas and creating a strongurge to nurture love forbooks and book reading.”

“Books make mankindnobler, better, wise andpromise us new hopes and

infuse our imagination withunbounded energy. Read-ing a book is like lighting acandle; it helps us see all

that exists around us and ap-pears to be invisible.”

The minister said,”It will

be a moment of happiness forPakistan when a day comeswhen such book events areheld in Waziristan and FATA,

where schools and collegeswere closed and extremistgroups resorted to violenceto achieve goals.”

He emphasized thatunited efforts would makePakistan a peaceful andprosperous country.

He urged the NationalBook Foundation to intro-duce electronic readinggadgets and turn writtenmaterial into electronicbooks to create interest ofyoung generation in bookreading. The minister as-sured of the government’scooperation to the Founda-tion in developing readinghabits among people.

He took oath from theaudience that they wouldmake books an integral partof their lives and give duerespect to intellectuals, aca-demics and scholars.

Managing DirectorNational Book FoundationDr Inamul Haq told aboutthe efforts made for mak-ing books accessible atpublic places and helpingpeople buy affordablebooks.—APP

ISLAMABAD—High Commissioner ofUK to Pakistan Mr. Philip Bartoncalled on Federal Minister for Interiorand Narcotics Control ChaudhryNisar Ali Khan here Tuesday.

Overall security situation in theregion came under discussion withparticular reference to FATA and Af-ghanistan.

The Minister said that peace in Af-ghanistan is a key to peace in entireregion and Pakistan will continue towork closely with new Afghan gov-ernment for establishing lasting peacein the region.

He hoped that durable peace willprevail in the region especially inFATA as a result of government’spolicy of dialogue. He added that

Pakistan, UK relations haveflowered into special relationship

government is trying to expedite thisprocess of dialogue with positiveoutcome without any inordinate de-lay.

Expressing his views on bilateralrelations between Pakistan and UK,the Minister said that both countriesenjoy decades old political and eco-nomic relations which have now flow-ered into “Special Relationship”.

This has been manifestedthrough exchange of high profile vis-its between the two countries. Healso praised the institutional sup-portof UK in capacity building of civilarmed forces of Pakistan.

The High Commissioner ap-preciated the commitment of presentgovernment of Pakistan in putting the

country on the path of peace anddevelopment.

He also highlighted the areaswhere UK could play a more vibrantrole like policing, counter terrorism,anti human and drug trafficking.

Appreciating the recently an-nounced National Internal SecurityPolicy the Higher Commissioner par-ticularly mentioned the cooperationbuild up in this sector in recent past.He hoped that forthcoming visit ofPrime Minister will add to alreadystrong relationship between twocountries.

The Minister said that close Paki-stan-UK relations can play very im-portant role in the developing Geo-political situation of the region.—INP

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Self restrain onthe part of trichotomous or-gans of the state ensures thegood governance, basic hu-man rights, justice and libertyfor the citizen of a society,said Mr Justice (R) RanaBhag-wandas, Former Justiceof Supreme Court of Pakistan.

He stated these viewsduring a detailed lecture onthe topic of “The Role of Ju-diciary in Good Governance”which was arranged by theDepartment of Governanceand Public Policy at NationalUniversity of Modern Lan-guages (NUML), Islamabad,on Tues-day.

He said that the consti-tution of Pakistan is based ontrichotomy of powers and itincludes Legislature, Execu-tive and Judiciary and thepowers of each organ wereprecisely and concisely de-fined. Mr Justice (R)Bhagwandas said that no or-gan was superior and inferiorbut every organ was subor-

Self-restrain by state organs key to good governance

Faculty members and other officials of University along with Justice (R) RanaBhagwandas and Rector Maj Gen (R) Masood Hasan.—PO Photo by Sultan Bashir

dinate to the Constitution ofPakistan and each exercisedits powers as per the limits andboundaries defined by theConstitution in larger interestof nation and public.

The access on the part ofany organ resulted into badgovernance. He said three or-gans of the state must have asound relationship based onmutual respect. This relation-ship can be based on a soundfooting only if there was will-ing and not grudging recog-nition of the limits of their ac-tivities.

The three organs of thestate may have differences ofopinion but again the Consti-tution of 1973 vividly explainshow to avoid such differenceand each organ could con-tinue its free and fair func-tioning without interfering oraffecting others.

He also said that good-ness and dutifulness shouldnot be expected only fromjudges rather it was held uponevery human being, citizenand person to do his/her duty

and demonstrate the truesymbol of patriotism to cre-ate a better world, countryand society.

Mr Bhagwandas said thatthere was a big difference inJudicial Activism and JudicialAdventurism as former in-

volved the exercise of judicialpowers for the larger interestof public while later had nosuch considerations.CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Mian Abdul Manan, Chair-man, Standing Committee on Parliamen-tary Affairs of National Assembly has as-sured to present a public bill of rent con-trol act for Islamabad in the national as-sembly for its enactment into a law.

This was said by Khalid Chaudhry,Senior Vice President, Islamabad Cham-ber of Commerce & Industry and Secre-tary Information, Traders Action Commit-tee, Islamabad while addressing a meet-ing of business community.

He said it is difficult to get passed a

Rent control bill to be presented in National Assembly

private bill and it was agreed that the pri-vate rent control bill to be presented byAsad Umar, MNA of PTI would be mergedwith the public bill for its smooth pas-sage.

Khalid Chaudhry said due to lack of abalanced rent law, local businessmen arefacing many problems and hoped that thepassage of new rent law would providegreat relief to all stakeholders.

He appealed to the Federal Ministerfor Interior that till the passage of newrent law from the parliament, all forcedevictions should be stopped in the fed-eral capital.

ISLAMABAD—Mr. Zaheer A.Janjua, Pakistan’s ambassa-

President for cementing Pak-Russia relations

dor-designate to RussiaTuesday called on PresidentMamnoon Hussain at theAiwan-e-Sadr.

The President while fe-licitating the Ambassador-designate on his new re-sponsibilities said that Pa-kistan values its relationswith Russia and urged thenewly appointed ambassa-

dor to focus on further ce-menting Pakistan’s bilateralrelations with Russia.

He said that Pakistanand Russia were importantplayers in the region andtherefore the two countriesneeded to further consoli-date their relations and en-hance mutual cooperationfor peace, prosperity and

stability of the region. ThePresident also urged theAmbassador-designate toespecially focus on enhanc-ing trade ties of the countrywith the host country as thecurrent volume of bilateraltrade does not commensu-rate with the trade potentialexisting between the twocountries.

Mr. Zaheer A. Janjua, Am-bassador designate thankedthe President for reposingconfidence in him and as-sured that he would concen-trate on augmentingPakistan’s bilateral ties withRussia with particular focuson enhancing trade, busi-ness and economic ties.—INP

ISLAMABAD—In order to remove the ru-mors, misconceptions and overcome the lackof knowledge about the Polio vaccinationfrom the mind of Tribal people, Iqbal Inter-national Institute of Re-search and Dialogue,International Islamic University Islamabadhas set 5 days training program for the TribalLeaders, Teachers, Ulema from all the 7 Agen-cies of Federally Administrative Tribal Areaof Pakistan. 25 members from different clansjoined the training program.

It is worth mentioning that IRD has also

Training of tribal leadersfor polio free Pakistan

published leaf-let containing twenty Fatwasfrom all the top recognized Jamias of Paki-stan and Muftis of different sects to makethe way clear that polio vaccination is Halaland it is obligation of every Muslim to con-tribute in the campaign of Polio eradication.Islamic University with the collaboration ofWHO has already organized Internationalconference on Polio Eradication in the Lightof Islam which was joined by the eminentscholars, medical experts, Ulema and Muftisfrom across the Pakistan and abroad.—INP

`

05:00 01:3005:15

08:30

Zohr

Asr

Isha

Fajar

Meghrab at Sunset

Brothers in Islamestablish regularprayers & charity

April 23A peace conference is beingheld on the occasion of Na-tional Book Festival on April23, at 1400 hrs at Pak-ChinaFriendship centre, Islamabad.

April 24

“OBESITY Walk” will be heldon Thursday, April 24, 3:00 pm- 6:30 pm at F-8/3 Green Belt,near Centaurus Mall,Islamabad. The walk will beorganised by Vagus Foundationin collaboration with VeriteMedia to create awarenessamong the masses about obe-sity, which kills thousands ofpeople every year worldwide.

***Public Forum will hold a dis-cussion on Anti TerrorismLaws and Human Rights onThursday, April 24, 2014, atHotel Serena (Shamadan Hall),Islamabad.

***Closing ceremony of NationalBook Day celebrations willheld at Pak China FriendshipCentre, on 24th April, 2014,Time:04: 30 Pm. SenatorPervaiz Rashid Minister forinformation, Broadcasting andNational Heritage will preside.

April 25

THREE-day 2nd IslamabadLiterature Festival (ILF) byOxford University Press(OUP) to start from April 25.

April 28

A reception will be held by TheHigh Commissioner of the Re-public of South Africa, His Ex-cellency, Mr. Mpendulo Kumalo,on the occasion of National Dayof his country on Monday April28th at 19:00 hrs. The venue ofthe reception will be MarqeeHall, Marriott Hotel.

April 28Institute of Policy Studies,Islamabad will hold Interna-tional Conference “Pakistanand China Bilateral and Be-yond Bilateral Exchanges” onMonday April 28, 2014, 1,St=8, F-6/3 Islamabad

CRIME REPORTER

RAWALPINDI—Rawalpindi Police under itsongoing drive against anti-social elements havearrested 16 lawbreakers besides recovering 3850grams charras, eight bottles of liquor, 120 literwine, four pistols 30 bore with eight rounds andfireworks items from the possession of the ar-rested accused.

According to police spokesman, Waris Khanpolice held Irfan and recovered 1230 gramscharras. Airport police netted Wahab for hav-ing 1030 grams charras.

Taxila police nabbed Sahab Khan for pos-

16 outlaws rounded up,illegal weapons recovered

sessing 1040 grams charras while another ac-cused namely Saeed was sent behind the barsfor carrying 550 grams charras.

RA Bazar police apprehended Arshad andrecovered eight bottles of liquor. Saddar Wahpolice netted Dilshad for having 120 liters wine.

Meanwhile, New Town police conducted araid at Faizan Hotel in Faizabad area androunded up five accused identified as JawadAbbasi, Nafees Ahmed, Qamar Abbas, Saira andSadaf as they were allegedly involved in im-moral activities.

Other accused were netted for having ille-gal weapons, drugs and fireworks items.

Sasta Bazarsto be

converted intomodel marketsRAWA L P I N D I—AssistantCommissioner Cantt. NaziaParveen Sudhan Tuesday said‘Sasta-Bazars’ operating in thelocality would be convertedinto model markets to providequality edible items to the citi-zens at controlled prices.

She visited three bazaarsincluding Chur Chowk, ChungiNo-22 and Committee Chowkbazaars and announced to setup model markets there to fa-cilitate the common man, forwhich the government has re-leased Rs18.4 million.—APP

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Islamabad Po-lice have prepared a standardoperating procedure (SOP) toensure effective security ar-rangements for banks, moneyexchange offices and impor-tant commercial centers.

This SOP has beenchalked out following the di-rections from Minister for In-terior Ch. Nisar Ali Khan un-der supervision of AIG (Op-erations) Sultan Azam Temuriwho held different sessionswith SDPOs, SHO and otherrelevant stakeholders to final-ize it.

AIG (Operations) saidthat it has been directed to allSDPOs and SHOs to arrangemeetings with senior officialsof administration from banksand money exchangers andask them to follow SOP in trueletter and spirit.

He said administration ofbanks and money exchangers

Police devise SOP for security of banks, money exchange offices

should be asked to installCCTV cameras inside theiroffices and parking lots.Banks should install alarm tobe linked with nearest policestation or other bank.

He said two or threetrained security guards havingbullet proof jacket and helmetshould be deployed in eachbank and money exchangeoffice.

He said all banks andmoney exchange office in onemarket should have contractwith same security companyhaving similar respondingunit. In case of cash transfer,security guard should bepresent in the vehicle havingfixed cash box.

AIG (Operations) saidthat banks and money ex-change offices should havebullet proof glass box wheresecurity guard, alarm systemand CCTV cameras systemshould be placed to effectivelytackle any untoward situation. AIG Sultan Azam Temuri addressing a security meeting held at CPO. All SPs, SDOs and SHOs are present on the occasion.

He directed all police of-ficials to hold meetings withtraders in markets in their re-spective areas and take stepsto ensure effective securitythere.

In case of any bankdacoity in future, the SHO ofrespective police station willbe responsible and disciplin-ary action to be taken againsthim.

Temuri said joint patrol-ling by teams of Islamabadpolice, Ranges and elite forcehas been started.

He directed all SDPOsand SHOs for effective stepsagainst street criminals, carthieves and receivers and en-sure crackdown againstabsconders and those involvedin criminal activities.

AIG (Operations) saidthat performance of eachSHO would be reviewed infuture and those having poorperformance would have tobe accountable.—APP

RAWALPINDI—A delegation of studentsfrom different schools of Balochistan vis-ited Fatima Jinnah Women University(FJWU) here on Tuesday.

The educational visit was arranged incollaboration with Balochistan Rural Sup-port Programme (BRSP). The delegationmet Vice Chancellor Professor Dr SaminaAmin Qadir and discussed the matters ofmutual interest.

The purpose of the session was to in-

Balochistan students visit FJWU

crease the collaboration between the insti-tutes and provide information to the stu-dents.

Admin Officer Ms. Humaira Sadiabriefed the delegation about establishment,programmes, research initiatives and fu-ture plans of the university followed by adetailed question answer session.

The visiting delegates appreciated theuniversity infrastructure and the facilitiesbeing provided to the university students

and faculty to ensure quality teaching,learning and research. They showed keeninterest in establishing linkages with someof the departments of the university.

Later the delegates were given a guidedtour of the Campus Radio (Voice ofWomen) and Television Studio (Vision ofWomen). Later, Dr Shamim Zaidi pre-sented the university souvenir to the wor-thy guests as a token of appreciation.—APP

ISLAMABAD—A sharp rise in the pricesof school stationery, particularly note-books, has baffled parents from low in-come families in the twin cities.

This price hike is well-timed with thebeginning of new academic session.

It is learnt that some booksellers areselling textbooks by artificially increasingthe prices of private publishers.

These days, classes of higher second-ary levels have just begun in twin cities

High school stationery,textbooks become expensive

and students are rushing to markets to pur-chase the syllabus.

Ehtasham Ali, a customer at a bookshop in Aabpare Market told APP that in-crease of Rs5 to Rs10 is made on eachnotebook, depending on its size. The stu-dents, mainly affected by this situation, arebelonging to lower middle class, whoseparents are already facing problems due toinflation.

Farhan Ali, an Intermediate student

said he purchased a journal for Rs55,whereas the same was purchased fewmonths back at Rs35.

Fariha Bibi a mother of a studentsaid,” I came to Urdu Bazar, Rawalpindito buy notebooks of good quality at af-fordable rates but in vain as the prices ofthe notebooks were high.

The rates of notebooks had increasedbut their quality remain the same, sheadded.—APP

Citizens asked to properlydispose of solid waste

ISLAMABAD—The residents of twin cities ofRawalpindi and Islamabad have been advisedto properly dispose of solid waste at their housesto prevent access to egg-laying female mosqui-toes.

According to health experts, people shouldavoid water storage practices and take other spe-cial preventive measures to protect themselvesfrom dengue virus.

They said mosquitoes breed primarily incontainers like earthenware jars, metal drums andconcrete cisterns used for domestic water stor-age, as well as discarded plastic food contain-ers, used automobile tyres and other items thatcollect rain water.

Dr Sharif Astori of the Federal GovernmentPoly Clinic (FGPC) said that dengue is a mos-quito-borne infection, which in recent years hasbecome a major public health concern.

He said dengue fever is a severe, flu-likeillness that affects infants, young children andadults. He added the spread of dengue is attrib-uted to expanding geographic distribution of thefour dengue viruses and of their mosquito vec-tors, the most important of which is the pre-dominantly urban species aedes aegypti.

He said the rapid growth of urban popula-tion is bringing ever greater numbers of peopleinto contact with this vector, especially in areasthat are favourable for mosquito breeding likewhere household water storage is common andwhere solid waste disposal services are inad-equate.

Dr Astori said dengue viruses are transmit-ted to humans through the bites of infective fe-male aedes mosquitoes. He added that mosqui-toes generally acquire the virus while feedingon the blood of an infected person.—APP

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Institute of Legis-lative Development and Transparency(PILDAT) has launched membership pro-cess for the 6th Youth Parliament- 2014 andinvited Expressions of Interest (EOI) fromapplicants from the four provinces, AzadKashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and FederallyAdministrated Tribal Areas (FATA) .

For the 6th batch running, the YouthParliament Pakistan, a PILDAT project thatis successfully running since 2007, is aimedat strengthening democracy through foster-

PILDAT launches membershipprocess for Youth Parliament

ing in young Pakistanis democratic values,the importance of dialogue, tolerance forothers’ views, an understanding of the con-cept of Parliament and its role in democraticdecision-making and oversight.

The Youth Parliament Pakistan drawsits membership from young Pakistanis agedbetween 18-29 years on the basis of popu-lation through an open merit-based selec-tion process from across the country.

EOIs have been invited from applicantsfrom Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, KhyberPakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, AzadJammu and Kashmir and the Federally

Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), said apress release issued here.

The YPP serves as a useful platform tovoice young people’s concerns about arange of national and international issuesand conveying these to the Pakistani Par-liament and Government while also aidingtheir personal development as useful andinvolved citizens.

The final 60 members selected will gothrough an intensive parliamentary simu-lation that is patterned after the NationalAssembly of Pakistan, but also borrowsfrom the idea of an ideal Parliament

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Finance,Senator Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting at the Fi-nance Ministry, Tuesday to discuss the latestplans of the Ministry of Information Technol-ogy for the intro-duction of E-office Systems indifferent Ministries of the government.

The Minister of State for IT, Ms. AnushaReh-man Khan briefed the Finance Ministerabout the E-office project. She informed that E-office application will be implemented in aphased manner by the Ministry of IT. The con-figuration of the network is initiated with thesupport of National Telecommunication Corpo-ration. With the application of this project, E-filing would be a possibility and different Fed-

eral Ministries and Divisions will be connectedto each other through an internet. She informedthat an agreement was already signed betweenPTCL and Electronic Government Di-rector-ate (EGD) in December last year for provid-ing data hosting facilities by PTCL for theimplementation of the E-office project. Accord-ing to Ms. Anusha Rehman, the E-office repli-cation system in the first phase is being in-stalled in six Federal Ministries/Divisions in-cluding Prime Minister’s Office, National As-sembly Se-cretariat, Finance Ministry, Plan-ning Division, Scientific and TechnologicalResearch Division and Ministry of Informa-tion Technology.—INP

E-office system infederal ministries

AC Cant Rawalpindi Nazia Parveen visiting Sasta Bazaar Chungi Number 22 to ensure fair pricing.

Chairman CDA, Maroof Afzal during a walk to create awareness on dengue disease, on Tuesday.

MUZAFFARABAD: Chief Secretary of Azad Kashmir Khizar Hayat Gondal with members of Staff College, Quetta.

ISLAMABAD: Senior Minister of Azad Kashmir Ch Muhammad Yasin shaking handwith Federal Minister for Finance, Ishaq Dar.

MUZAFFARABAD: Opposition leader Raja Farooq Haider Khan with members of Mus-lim League (N).

SRINAGAR: Chairperson of Kashmir Tehreek-e-Khawateen, Zamruda Habib and oth-ers during the elections boycott campaign.

SRINAGAR—In occupied Kashmir,complete shutdown, marked by dem-onstrations, continued for the secondconsecutive day, today, in Shopianand Sopore towns against the arrestof innocent youth by Indian troopsand police.

People took to the streets and heldprotests in Shopian and Soporeagainst the arrest of dozens of youthduring the past one week. The policeresorted to brute force against the pro-testers, injuring many of them. Peoplealso staged demonstrations andclashed with Indian forces’ personnelon the visit of a puppet minister toSadunara area of Bandipora district.

Besides Shopian and Sopore, Indianpolice have arrested hundreds of peopleincluding Hurriyet leaders, MuhammadYasin Malik, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, BashirAhmed Butt and Firdous Ahmed Shahfrom across the occupied territory. Syed

Shutdown, demos in Shopian,Sopore against arrests

Ali Gilani, Shabbir Ahmed Shah,Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, NayeemAhmed Khan and Dr GhulamMuhammad Ganai have been put underhouse arrest. The actions have beentaken to prevent the people from con-ducting anti-election campaign.

The All Parties Hurriyet Confer-ence spokesman in a statement inSrinagar strongly denounced thecrackdown against resistance leadersand activists terming it as the worstkind of state terrorism. Senior APHCleader, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, in a state-ment issued in Srinagar urged theKashmiri people to observe completestrike in Islamabad, Srinagar andBaramulla constituencies respectivelyon 24th April, 30th April and 7th Maywhen polling would be held in theseconstituencies. He asked them to to-tally boycott the sham polls.

Hurriyet leaders including Zafar

Akbar Butt, Muhammad YousufNaqash, Zamruda Habib, Abdul AhadParra and Ghulam Ahmad Parray ad-dressing public gatherings at differentplaces in connection with the electionboycott campaign said that holding ofso-called elections in the territorycould not be a substitute of Kashmiris’right to self-determination. On the otherhand, unidentified gunmen killed threepersons in two separate attacks in Tralarea of Pulwama district.

Meanwhile, some hackers hackedthe official website of Bharatiya JanataParty leader, Lal Krishna Advani, andposted messages of “free-Kashmir”on the portal. The hackers called foran end to militarised governance inoccupied Kashmir. The messagesposted on the site term freedom ofKashmir from India as the goal of thosewho hacked Advani’s websitelkadvani.in.—KMS

ANANTNAG—People’s DemocraticParty (PDP) patron MuftiMohammed Sayeed has said thatJammu and Kashmir was at thecrossroads of historic opportunityfor change where great hope andpromise would lie ahead for itspeople. He expressed the hope thatthe new government at the Centrewould carry forward the peace pro-cess with Pakistan in the interestof the people of the region.

“The subcontinent’s turbulenthistory makes it imperative forboth, India and Pakistan to resolvetheir mutual conflicts and forge astrong alliance towards achievingthe desired level of human devel-opment and economic prosperityfor the region,” Mufti said whileaddressing impressive election ral-lies in Noorabad and Dooru as-sembly segments of Anantnagparliamentary constituency. Hesaid peace and progress in thesubcontinent had, probably, beennever as critically linked with sta-bility in Jammu & Kashmir as theywere in the present scenario.

“Obviously, the future wouldnow solely be determined by theregion’s political leadership on howthey cope up with the challengeamid fast-changing equations,” he

New Indian govt should renew peace process with Pakistan: Muftisaid and added that the people ofJammu & Kashmir were the higheststake-holders in the Indo-Pak peaceprocess. Mufti emphasized that theonus would now lie on the new gov-ernment in New Delhi to consolidatethe peace initiative, launched by thethen Prime Minister Atal BehariVajpayee from Srinagar in April 2003and carried forward by Dr ManmohanSingh through cross-LoC ConfidenceBuilding Measures.

“The fruits of peace and prosper-ity would be shared not only by thepeople from all the regions of the state,but the whole subcontinent as well,”he said adding, “I am confident ofpositive action, at the highest level,towards consolidation of the Indo-Pak peace initiatives around J&K.”

Mufti said it was heartening tonote that the constituency for peaceand reconciliation was becominglarger and louder in the sub-conti-nent and as a strong regional voicePDP played a modest role in ensur-ing popular legitimacy of the peaceprocess within and outside thestate. He said PDP’s ‘Self-rule’ of-fered a viable framework for theamicable settlement of the Kashmirissue encompassing both the bilat-eral and the internal dimensions ofthe problem.

Mufti said the confidence build-ing process would have an impact onthe ground only when conducive at-mosphere was created within the statewhere the people were in control ofthe things and their life and dignitywas not threatened. “This would bepossible only when we send strongpolitical representatives both to theParliament and the state legislature,”he said. Mufti said alongside thebroader political and economic initia-tives, PDP addressed the basic de-velopmental requirements of the stateas well, while heading the coalitiongovernment between 2002 and 2005.

“While during our previous termin government, various initiativeswere taken in horticulture, tourism,power and education sectors includ-ing abolition of toll tax, establishmentof fruit mandis, setting up of tourismdevelopment authorities, opening ofthree new universities, adding fivecampuses to the universities of Kash-mir and Jammu, opening 42 degreecolleges and upgrading thousands ofschools, if people give us the man-date, in our next term focus would beon the development of infrastructurein road communication, health, power,employment generation and socialsectors,” he said.

Accusing National Conference of

exploiting the people through emo-tive slogans, Mufti said instead ofgoing to the people with their reportcard, the functionaries of the NC-Congress coalition governmentwere just beating about the bush. “Iam sure that the emancipated peopleof Kashmir won’t now get carriedaway by the emotive and propagan-dist rhetoric of NC leaders and wouldlook for alternative representativeswho would serve them better. I chal-lenge the present government toshowcase a single project of publicimportance that it has accomplishedduring the past five and a half yearsof its rule, while on the other handthe signposts of the developmentalinitiatives by PDP-led governmentare visible in every nook and cornerof the state,” he said.

He urged the voters to supportPDP candidate Mehbooba Mufti bypressing Inkpot button on the Elec-tronic Voting Machine. PDP lead-ers Choudhary Zulfikar, MLA fromDarhal in Rajouri, Peer MohammedHussain, Abdul Majid Padroo,Farooq Indrabi, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, Choudhary Gulzar AhmadKhatana, advocate MohammedHussain, Shabir Ahmed, AbdulRazak, Imtiyaz Khatana and othersalso addressed these rallies.—NNI

SRINAGAR—In occupied Kashmir, theChairperson of Kashmir Tehreek-e-Khawateen (KTK), Zamruda Habib, hassaid that India is increasing its troops ingarb of so-called elections in the territory.Zamruda Habib addressing various gath-erings of women in Kulgam, Quimoh,Aabgam, Bogam and Nanibok areas in con-nection with the elections boycott cam-paign said that the number of troops wasbeing increased so that people could beforced to cast vote and the world could bedeceived that the people voted in favour ofIndia.

She urged the Kashmiri people to com-pletely boycott the sham polls and remain

‘India increasing troops inIHK in garb of sham polls’

in their houses on the days of polling. Shesaid that the Kashmiris were not againstthe democratic process but actually therewas no democracy in the occupied terri-tory and the innocent people were beingmassacred in the name of so-called Indiandemocracy.

Zamruda Habib said that the people ofKashmir had rendered countless sacrificesfor securing their right to self-determina-tion and they would continue their struggletill it reached its logical conclusion. She saidthat the farcical elections were no solutionto the Kashmir dispute. On the occasion,anti-poll pamphlets were also distributedamong the people.—KMS

SRINAGAR—Terming the election process a“futile exercise”, members of the Jammu Kash-mir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) has saidthat “India is holding elections just to hood-wink the international community about thecircumstances in Kashmir.” At a seminar orga-nized in the remembrance of Asiya Jeelani, oneof civil society members who became a victimof the bomb blast at Kupwara in 2004, the speak-ers highlighted the sufferings of Kashmir’s andsaying that elections hold no relevance at aplace where people are oppresses.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. AltafHussain, member of the civil society saidthat India is holding election just to hood-wink the international community. “They(India) are trying to show the internationalcommunity that everything is normal inKashmir. History is witness that election inJK has never been fair,” Altaf said. “Theinstitution of election has no relevance inKashmir at all,” Altaf added.

Terming elections a deceitful exercise, hesaid that India is suppressing Kashmir’s like

Election process inKashmir a futile exercise

Yasin Malik, Chairman JKLF and other sepa-ratists who are time and again put behindbars because of the poll boycott campaigns.A noted columnist of the valley, Dr.JavedIqbal, also spoke on the occasion. Whilereferring to the economy of Jammu and Kash-mir, he said that the Jammu and Kashmir statewas not deficit in natural resources.

“Our state is not deficient in economy.We are self sufficient and ready for the free-dom. People have been deceiving us in thename if election,” Iqbal said. Meanwhile,the seminar was attended by other promi-nent journalist of the valley, Zaheerudin whowhile terming elections as futile said thatelections could never be fare in presenceof troops. “How can we forget the massa-cres that have taken place in valley andvote? Zaheer said. Many families of the vic-tims who have lost their lives due to con-flict also attended the seminar. AshrafMatto, father of late Tufail Matto, who wasmartyred by security persons in 2010, alsospoke on the occasion.—NNI

JAMMU—While celebrating 23rd year of‘Schedule Tribe Status’ granted to Gujjar-Bakerwal tribes of Jammu and Kashmir byGovernment of India, the community lead-ers pleaded that their tribes should begiven more rights and extra constitutionalsafeguards in the state. Tribal Research andCultural Foundation – a premierorganisation of tribes, organized theprogramme.

The speakers stated that communityshould unite under one banner and start acrusade for recognition of their identity andideology in the state and fight vigorouslytop get tribal rights. They said, “Gujjar werebeing suppressed by some anti-tribal forcesin J&K since 1947 and were denied equalopportunity in society”. Dr Javaid Rahi , Sec-retary Tribal Foundation said that ‘Reser-vation’ granted to Gujjars-Bakerwals com-munity in Jammu and Kashmir under Sched-uled Tribe category 23 year back was not anaid or charity but it was the right of tribes.

He impressed upon the youth to chalkout a strategy to fight against poverty andilliteracy among Gujjar and Bakerwals, and

Gujjar, Bakerwal leaderspledge to fight for tribal rights

work for economic stability, food securityfor nomads. The speakers pushed vigor-ously for bifurcation of their separate shareof 8% out of total 10% reservation avail-able to 12 ST groups with plea that Gujjarsand Bakerwals are not as forward as to com-pete with other tribes especially those eighttribes’ live in different districts includingthe Ladakh region A seven point resolu-tion was unanimously adopted by the com-munity member.

The resolutions debated were grant ofPolitical Reservation to Gujjars-Bakerwals inState Assembly /Council and Parliament, in-clusion of Gojri in the eighth schedule ofIndia, extension of Forest Right Act to J&K,rehabilitation of nomads, provide educationto nomadic Gujjar children, provide adequaterepresentation to Tribal Officers in state ad-ministration and Police, bifurcate 8% shareof Gujjars /Bakerwals in ST. Those who alsospoke include Ch. Rahim Ali Chechi, HamadKhatana, Shah Nawaz, Ch H D Parveiz ,Mehmmod Ali Chouhan, Karamat Hussain,Tajamal Hussain, Talib Hassan, MunirChowdhary and others.—NNI

Unidentifiedgunmen kill

three personsin Pulwama

SRINAGAR—In occupiedKashmir, unidentified gunmenhave killed three persons intwo separate attacks inPulwama district. The un-known gunmen shot at andkilled Muhammad AnwarKhanday, Ghulam Nabi Mirand his son, Firdous AhmadMir, in Tral area of the district.

Muhammad AnwarKhanday was headman(Nambardar) of Amlar vil-lage in Tral and GhulamNabi Mir a Sarpanch ofBatgund village of Tral, alocal police officer said. Hesaid that Firodus was a Gov-ernment employee workingas Panchayat Inspector.

Meanwhile, over a dozenpeople were injured when In-dian paramilitary and policepersonnel used brute forceand fired bullets to dispersepro-freedom and anti-Indiademonstrators in Baramulla,Sopore, Palhallan, Bandiporaand Pulwama areas. One ofthe injured identified as UmarAshraf, who received pelletinjuries, was shifted to a hos-pital in Srinagar for treat-ment.—KMS

Yasin flayscrackdown

against liberationleaders, activists

SRINAGAR—The Chairmanof Jammu and Kashmir Lib-eration Front, MuhammadYasin Malik, has condemnedthe arrest of pro-liberationleaders and activists by In-dian police to prevent themfrom conducting peacefulelection boycott campaign.The JKLF Chairman, whoalong with other party lead-ers including advocateBashir Ahmad Butt, BashirAhmad Kashmiri andMuhammad Azeem Zargarremains in police custody,termed the action as undemo-cratic and unilateral statesponsored violence.

He said that the crack-down, arrests and raids hadonce again proved that In-dian establishment and itscronies in the occupied terri-tory were unable to fight pro-liberation camp politically. Hesaid that the police were alsoin search of many other JKLFleaders and activiststhroughout Valley.—KMS

Shabbir urgesKashmiris toboycott polls

ISLAMABAD—Senior leaderof the All Parties HurriyetConference, Shabbir AhmedShah, has called upon theKashmiri people to boycottthe sham polls on April 24,30 and May 7, by observingcomplete shutdown tohonour the invaluable sac-rifices rendered by theKashmiri martyrs for theKashmir cause.

Shabbir Ahmed Shahsaid that the Kashmiri mar-tyrs had given their preciousblood for the right to self-determination and not forthe formation of puppet re-gimes in the occupied terri-tory, KMS reported.

He pointed out thaton one hand, the puppetsof India were befoolingthe people of Kashmir inthe name of developmentunder the garb of such far-cical polls and on theother, New Delhi was mis-leading the world commu-nity that the Kashmiripeople had accepted i tsrule.—APP

BSF, PakRangers holdflag meeting

JAMMU—SF and PakistaniRangers had a flag meetingat the International Borderin Jammu district duringwhich they discussed vari-ous issues, including prob-lems of farmers cultivatingland near the borderline.The flag meeting took placeat R S Pura border betweenBSF officials headed by DIGJ C Singla and Pak officers,officials said.

They discussed issuesrelating to farmers, strayingof cattle, removal of thickbushes and high grasspatches and problems ofwater stagnation near theZero Line.—NNI

SRINAGAR—Terming thecontribution of people fromall walks of life towards re-forming the society as in-evitable, Hurriyat Confer-ence (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz

Reforming society hasbecome inevitable: Mirwaiz

Umar Farooq has stressedupon the Islamic scholars,civil society, religious insti-tutions and parents to playtheir responsible role in thisregard.

According to a state-ment issued here, in con-nection with the social re-form campaign, Mirwaizwhile addressing a gather-ing at Zoonimar Srinagar,said that eradication of so-cial ills from the societywas our social and reli-gious obligations. He saidthat preaching goodnessfollowing the path shownby the holy Quran to stopthe evil comes within theambit of praying. Stressingupon people to show theircommitment towards poli-tics, freedom struggle, and

social reforms, Mirwaizsaid that degradation ofsocial and moral values inthe society would havenegative fallout on thefreedom struggle.

Mirwaiz said that justlike Kashmiris won’t com-promise on their politicalfuture, people here can’tremain silent or turn ablind eye towards the so-cial issues and problemsfaced by the society atlarge. The Hurriyat (M)chairman stated thatKashmiris were passingthrough testing timessince past many decades,adding overlook collectivesocial responsibilities isthe reason why peoplehave to face problems in allfields of life.—NNI

The secret ofbusiness is to

know somethingthat nobody else

knows.

—Aristotle Onassis

LSE gains 45.68 pointsLAHORE—Lahore StockExchange here Tuesdaywitnessed bullish trend bygaining 45.68 points, asthe LSE Index-25 openedwith 5444.50 points andclosed at 5490.18 points.The market’s overallsituation also corre-sponded to an upwardtrend as it remained at2.224 million shares toclose against previousturnover of 1.792 millionshares, showing anupward move of 431,600shares. While, out of thetotal 104 active scrips 28moved up, 17 shed valuesand 59 remained equal.The Major Gainers of theday were Service Indus-tries Limited, AttockRefinery Limited and AkzoNobel Pakistan Limited byrecording increase in theirper share value by Rs 6.06,Rs 2.65 and Rs 2.29respectively. EngroCorporation Limited,Netsol TechnologiesLimited and ORIX LeasingPakistan Limited lost theirper share value by Rs 4.71,Rs 1.90 and Rs 1.25respectively.—APP

Shipping activity at PQKARACHI—Two shipscarrying containers,chemical were berthed atQasim InternationalContainers Terminal andMulti Purpose Terminalrespectively. Meanwhilefour more ships carryingcontainers, cement alsoarrived at outer anchorageof Port Qasim during last24 hours. Berth occu-pancy was 45% at the porton Tuesday where fiveships namely SafmarineNgami, Atlantic Glory,David Schulte, MTKarachi and Feng Hai-35are currently occupyingberths to load/offloadcontainers, chemical,canola seeds, furnace oiland edible oil respectivelyduring last 24 hours. Acargo volume of 62939tonnes comprising 56366tonnes imports and 6573inclusive of containerizedcargo carried in 1206containers (TEUs) werehandled at the Port duringlast 24 hours.—APP

Rates for conversionKARACHI—The followingrates will be applicable forconversion into rupees ofForeign CurrencyDeposits, Dollar BearerCertificates, ForeignCurrency Bearer Certifi-cates, Special U.S. DollarBonds and profits thereonby all banks and forproviding Forward Coveron Foreign CurrencyDeposits (excluding F.E-25 deposits) by the StateBank on April 23, 2014.The rates are US Dollar Rs98.1218, Japanese Yen Rs0.9571, Pound Sterling Rs165.0899 and Euro Rs.135.4669.—APP

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Finance Mohammad Ishaq Daron Tuesday directed the administrative Secretaries of dif-ferent Ministries / Divisions to re-evaluate the recommen-dations regarding concessionary regime so that new in-vestments in textile, energy and ship making sectors areencouraged and level playing field is created for all thestakeholders in the economy beside harvesting the fruitsof GSP plus status accorded to Pakistan. The FinanceMinister, stated this while chairing a meeting of the HighPowered Committee constituted by the Federal Govern-ment to review concessionary regime was held here atFederal Bureau of Revenue (FBR).

Ministers for Planning, Development and Reform,Commerce, Textile Industry and Chairman Board of In-vestment also participated in the meeting along withthe respective Federal Secretaries / Additional Secre-taries. The Committee had threadbare discussions re-garding the said existing concessionary regime with

Dar directs administrative secretariesto reassess concessionary regime

recommendations

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, in a meet-ing with Ambassador of Japan Hiroshi Inomata to discuss assistance in energy sectorreforms programme.

the view to identify concessions / exemptions, whichcould be rationalized, simplified, minimized and deletedin the budget 2014-15. While appreciating the spadework done by the technical sub-committee in consul-tation with the representatives of the various Cham-bers of Commerce & Industry, the Finance Ministerdirected the administrative Secretaries of differentMinistries / Divisions to re-evaluate the recommenda-tions so that new investments in textile, energy andship making sectors are encouraged and level playingfield is created for all the stakeholders in the economybeside harvesting the fruits of GSP plus status ac-corded to Pakistan.

The Minister also directed that while re-evaluating therecommendations of the technical sub-committee, conces-sions affecting common man should not be withdrawnand cascading principles of tariff rationalization be ob-served in letter and spirit.—APP

ISLAMABAD—The SECP’s Enforcement De-partment while enforcing compliance of cor-porate and allied laws, initiated 86 show-cause proceedings and concluded 54 pro-ceedings against chief executives, directorsand auditors of companies in February andMarch. While facilitating companies tostrengthen their capital base, the departmentallowed three listed companies to issueshares by way of otherwise than right at adiscount and at par. In order to strengthenthe existing regime of Corporate Social Re-sponsibility (CSR) reporting, the SECP hasjoined hands with the ICAP for the externalassurances of the CSR reports.

CSR reports assist organizations in un-derstanding and communicating their vi-sion of combining a company’s profitabil-ity with social responsibility and environ-mental care. Both the SECP and the ICAPhave reaffirmed their commitment to devel-oping a framework for external assurancein accordance with prominent internationalassurance standards, and within a mutu-ally agreed time frame. In March 2014, thedepartment organized a joint SECP-ICAP

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Trade Development Authority ofPakistan (TDAP) will extend help to the RiceExporters Association of Pakistan (REAP)for establishing a Rice Technical Trainingand Research Institute near Lahore. ChiefExecutive Officer (CEO) Trade DevelopmentAuthority of Pakistan (TDAP) S. M. Muneerheld out assurance in this regard while speak-ing at a dinner reception arranged by theREAP in his honour at a local hotel.

Muneer asked the rice exporters to submita proposal about proposed Kala Shah KakuRice Research and Technical Training Insti-tute and he would take it up with the Com-merce Ministry and ensure release of requiredfunds. He said that a meeting of the ExportDevelopment Fund (EDF) is being held inIslamabad on April 24 and he would also raisethis issue in this meeting. He said that the As-sociation should apply for this project and as-sured that the Authority would pave the wayfor passage of this application in this regard.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—The Punjab government on Tues-day approved 19 development schemes ofdifferent development Sectors with an esti-mated cost of Rs: 25708.182 million. Theseschemes were approved in the 40th meetingof Provincial Development Working Party ofcurrent fiscal year 2013-14 presided over bythe Punjab Planning and Development BoardChairman, Muhammad Irfan Elahi, says P&DSpokesman.

Provincial Secretary P&D Arif AnwarBaloch, members of the Planning & Develop-ment Board, Provincial Secretaries concernedand other senior representatives of the rel-evant Provincial Departments also attendedthe meeting.

According to Spokesman P&D, the ap-proved development schemes included: Land

Several development schemes costing Rs 25708.182m approvedAcquisition and Partial Development of AreaDevelopment Scheme Sheikhupura-II at thecost of Rs. 429.812 Million, Widening of Ca-nal Bank Road Underpass at Jail Road, Un-derpass Chobucha, and Remodeling of all Ex-isting Underpasses at the cost of Rs. 8504.555Million, Construction of Elevated Expresswayalongwith Metro Bus Service (EEW & MBS)from Jail Road / Main Boulevard Gulberg toRing Road Motorway M-2, Lahore at the costof Rs. 5719.000 million, Construction of DualCarriageway Approach Road from Barki Roadto Aashiyana Housing Scheme, Lahore(length = 2.278 Km, W= (24’+24’) Carriage-way+ (12’+12’) Service Road (PC-II) at the costof Rs. 578.254 Million, Bus Terminal Cum-Commercial Complex at Railway Station,Lahore (PC-II) at the cost of Rs. 20.000 mil-lion, Establishment of Zoo at Multan (PC-II)at the cost of Rs. 7.700 Million, Dualization of

Hasilpur-Bahawalpur Road (length=77.25 km),District Bahawalpur at the cost of Rs. 4945.681million, Construction of High Security Prisonin Southern Punjab (one at Sahiwal) at thecost of Rs. 1032.905 million, Hiring of consult-ant for preparation of TORs / Bidding docu-ments for International Bidding regardingTopographic survey and geotechnical stud-ies for land sliding Zonization of Murree Hillarea mainly located between old Rawalpindi-Murree Road and Islamabad Murree Express-way, in Murree. (PC-II) at the cost of Rs. 1.476million, Dualization / Improvement of GolraRoad from G.T. Road to Kashmir HighwayIslamabad length=1.92 km, District Rawalpindiat the cost of Rs. 323.128 million, Dualizationof Lahore-Faisalabad-Jhang-Bhakkar Road(Section Faisalabad By-Pass Sadar Chowk toJhang City Phase-I) from km No.155.75 to169.05, length=13.30 km at the cost of Rs.

987.315 million, Feasibility Study for theproject Dualization of Sheikhupura-Gujranwala Road, length 54.33 km (projectlength=44.8 km)(under PPP mode) PC-II at thecost of Rs. 52.536 million, Section from km3.90 to 14.65 length 10.75 km falls in DisttSheikhupura, Section from km 14.65 to 48.70length: 34.05 km falls in Distt Gujranwala,Dualization of Faisalabad – Sargodha Roadfrom Faisalabad Byepass to Chiniot, length=20km (under PPP mode) PC-II at the cost of Rs.18.983 million, Section from km 14 to 19.98length 5.98 km falls in District Faisalabad, Sec-tion from km 19.98 to 34 length: 14.02 km fallsin District Chiniot, Feasibility Study for theProject:- Dualization of Faisalabad Ring Road,length=98 km (PC-II) (under PPP mode) at thecost of Rs. 94.059 million, Duzalitation ofBahawalpur-Hasilpur-Bahawalnagar Road(section Hasil-Bahawalnagar), length 80-km

(under PPP mode) PC-II at the cost of Rs.81.482 million, Construction of Metalled Roadfrom Bahawalpur-Hasilpur Road at km No.14to Quaid-E-Azam Solar Park Lal Sohanra ViaChak No.5/BC (length:10.90 km) DistrictBahawalpur (Revised) at the cost of Rs.502.475 million, Widening / Improvement ofRoad from Vehari to Hasilpur length: 48.68 kmin District Vehari / Bahawalpur at the cost ofRs. 1044.764 million, Widening / Improvementof Sher Shah Road from Aziz Hotel to SherShah Bye Pass, length 16.79 km in DistrictMultan (Revised) at the cost of Rs. 347.029million and Widening and Improvement ofTibba Sultan Pur to Luddan Road via Mitroofrom km 9.35 to 43.40 and 44.80 to 65.25,L=54.50 Km I/C W/I of Link Road Karam Purto Burana L=8.80 km total length of road 63.60km in District Vehari at the cost of Rs. 1017.028million.

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—The KhyberPakhtunkhwa Minister forIndustries Shaukat AliYousafzai has lauded therole of the Bank of Khyberin economic stability of theprovince and said inspitethe worst terrorism andother challenges, the ser-vices of the said bank werehighly appreciable. Empha-sizing the restoration ofpeace for national develop-ment, he said the peacefuldialogue was the only so-lution of terrorism but un-fortunately seriousnesswas not shown from boththe sides i.e., the Govern-ment and Taliban. He saidthe Federal Governmentshould adopt clear strategyto make the ongoing nego-tiations process success-ful.

This he said while ad-dressing the oath takingceremony of EmployeesWorkers Union of the Bankof Khyber in Peshawar.Managing Director, Bankof Khyber, PresidentUnion, General Secretary,Managing committee, divi-sional heads, officers andworkers attended the cer-emony. Managing Direc-

SECP initiates show-causeproceedings

meeting.The issues regarding adoption of the

IFRS for SMEs, conversion of ICAP’s Fi-nancial Reporting Guidelines into standardsfor NGOs, accounting issues relating tomutual funds, reforms in practice manage-ment regime, and revision of the format ofthe auditor’s report were discussed in de-tail. Joint SECP-ICAP committees wereformed for further action. Furthermore, astrategy was developed to harmonize thecorporate governance regime in Pakistan.

The department accorded approvalsand relaxation from certain provisions oflaws and rules. The approvals pertained toappointment of cost auditors under the 1998Companies (Audit of Cost Accounts)Rules, filing of consolidated financial state-ments, changing the venue of annual gen-eral meeting (AGM), printing of computer-ized national identity card (CNIC) numberon dividend warrants, and registering as agroup. In addition, 72 investor complaintspertaining to non-issuance of shares, non-verification of transfer deeds and non-pay-ment of dividends were resolved.—INP

Yousafzai lauds BoK rolefor economic stability

tor, of the Bank of Khyberand the President of Unionhighlighted the role ofbank and briefed the min-ister about issues andproblems being faced bythe said bank as well as theunion.

Provincial MinisterShaukat Ali Yousafzai as-sured that he would try hislevel best to resolve theproblems and would moti-vate the provincial depart-ments to deposit their fundsin the Bank of Khyber. Healso lauded the coordinationand pleasant relations be-tween the Bank and itsUnion and congratulatedthe whole team for their ser-vices to the people.

Shuakat Yousafzai saidthe province was facing theworst terrorism since lastdecade, which had badly af-fected the provincial insti-tutions. He said the situa-tion needed to be taken se-riously. He further statedthat PTI leadership andpresent provincial govern-ment have always sup-ported the negotiation pro-cess and would continue itsassistance in this regard. Heurged Federal Governmentto adopt clear strategy toprotect the nation.

LPG price easedby Rs10/kg

KARACHI—Gas marketingcompanies Tuesday slicedthe prices of Liquefied Pe-troleum Gas (LPG) by Rs10per kilogram. Chairman LPGdistributors association,Irfan Khokhar said that thedecision has been taken af-ter reduction in LPG tariffsin international market.After recent decrease ofRs10/kg in LPG, Rs 100 andRs385 have decreasedprices of domestic and com-mercial gas cylinders re-spectively. Irfan Khokharsaid that due governmentpolicy further decrease inLPG price was expected inthe days to come and gasprice will be reduced by al-most 50 percent against pe-troleum products.—INP

ISLAMABAD: Jenie Borlaug Laube, daughter of Dr NE Borlaug founder of Green Revolution and Chairperson,BGRI-USA inaugurated the Establishment of Borlaug Institute of South Asia at NARC, Islamabad, on the occasion ofcelebrations of 100th birthday of Dr Borlauag. Federal Secretary (MNFS&R) Asghar, Dr Iftikhar Ahmad, ChairmanPARC, Dr M Munir Goraya, Focal Person (BC), Representatives of International Dev Partners (USDA/CIMMYR/ICARDA) and PARC/NARC senior scientists are present at the event.

TDAP assures support for REAPMuneer said that the Authority would

help the genuine exporters and businessmento participate in the international exhibitions,activating the commercial counselors abroadand arranging meetings with foreign buyersduring these visits to fetch more orders andenhance the rice and other exports from Paki-stan. Regarding trade with India, he said thathopefully this issue would be settled afterelections being held in India. He said thatpolitics and business were two differentthings. However, he said that Pakistan wantedtrade with India on equal footings.

S. M. Muneer announced that theTDAP would be arranging two big exhibi-tions namely ‘Lifestyle Pakistan’ in Delhifrom September 11 to 14, 2014 and secondan annual feature ‘Pakistan Expo’ from Oc-tober 23-26, 2014 in Karachi. He said thatduring last few years there were hardly anyreal visitor or buyer to Pakistani Expo butthis year it has been ensured that only realand genuine businessmen should attend itno matter if the attendance remains low.

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC)Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R)Government of Pakistan, International Maize and Wheat Im-provement Centre (CIMMYT) and the United States Depart-ment of Agriculture (USDA) have jointly started celebrationof Green Revolution Father and Nobel Peace Prize holder Dr.Norman E. Borlaug’s 100th Birthday and 50 Years of Paki-stan-US Cooperation in Agriculture here at National Agricul-tural Research Centre (NARC) Chakshahzad Islamabad onTuesday.

The delegation visited Wheat Research field farm area ofNARC to observe wheat NUWYT. Dr. Shahid Masood, Mem-

PARC-CIMMYT sign MoAber (PSD) was also briefed the foreign delegates about na-tional wheat testing systems in Pakistan, biofortified high Znwheat, Zero tillage wheat, ridge planting of wheat, bed plan-tation of wheat, wheat rust research in Pakistan, wheat rustscreening, rust surveillance in Pakistan, etc.

The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) andThe International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center(CIMMYT) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement(MoA) at here PARC (HQs) Islamabad for implementation ofvarious development projects in Pakistan such as WheatProductivity Enhancement Program (W-PEP) and AgriculturalInnovation Program (AIP).—INP

PTCL postspositive resultsfor 1st quarter

MULTAN—Pakistan Telecom-munication Company Limited(PTCL), on Tuesday an-nounced strong first quarterresults riding on the back ofits growing fixed and wirelessbroadband business. PTCL’s

revenue during the periodstood at Rs 21.1 billion andshowed a significant increaseof 9 percent, with net profitstanding at Rs 3.4 billion, whilegross profit was recorded atRs 7.6 billion. PTCL cashflows remain healthy andstable due to the consistentgrowth in the subscriberbase and strong market po-sition, says a press release.PTCL Group revenues wereRs 33.4 billion for the periodended March 31, 2014, anincrease of 4 percent over thesame period last year, whilenet earnings of the Groupstood at Rs 4.4 billion.

President & CEO PTCL,Walid Irshaid, expressed hispleasure at this strong perfor-mance of the company andsaid: “Our solid first quarterresults again demonstrate ourability to grow our businessand perform for our custom-ers and shareholders.”—PR

Governor SBPto inaugurate

IFEC tomorrowK A R A C H I — G o v e r n o rState Bank of PakistanAshraf Wathra to inaugu-rate 3rd Islamic FinanceConference and Exhibition(IFEC) on April 24 inKarachi at local hotelwhereas CEOs and Presi-dents of different IslamicBanks will chair differentsessions. Prominentspeakers at the event willhighlight the prevailingboom and expansion of Is-lamic Banking globally andlocally and its emergingpotential and scope goingforward. Chairing differentsessions on various sub-jects, they will raise the is-sues and challenges of Is-lamic banking in the cur-rent scenario and suggestdifferent solutions andideas to address them inthe local market. —PR

JLI announces1st quarter

financial resultsISLAMABAD—Jubilee LifeInsurance Company, thelargest insurance companyfrom the private sector,announced an impressivebatch of results for the fi-nancial quarter ending on31 March 2014. The resultswere declared by the Boardof Directors who met un-der the chairmanship ofMr. Kamal A. Chinoy toreview the performance ofthe company.

The company re-ported a pre-tax profit ofRs295 million for the firstquarter of 2014, up 45%from Rs 204 million for thesame quarter in the pre-ceding year.—PR

RCCI hails ideaof single digit

system for GSTcollection

RAWALPINDI—RawalpindiChamber of Commerce andIndustry (RCCI) on Tues-day welcomed the pro-posal for collecting singledigit General Sales Tax(GST) which in turn wouldoffer relief to the common.President RCCI Dr ShimailDaud Arain while comment-ing on a news report bysection of press, observedthat the fresh approach ofFederal Board of Revenue(FBR) on the collection ofGST is highly appreciablewhich not only the busi-ness community but alsothe general public wouldwelcome, if implemented.

He said that the stepwould help considerablycurtail the tax percentagethus enlarging the tax net.The inclusion of fresh tax-payers, the gap between taxrevenue and tax percentagewould be plugged, headded. Dr Arain pointedout that fresh legislation tocheck rampant trends of taxevasion was need of thehour with the approach tobring those entire well to doin the tax net without anydiscrimination. Not onlythis, but also there is a direneed for enacting strict lawsto check the theft of utili-ties including electricity andgas and issuance of newconnection for the facilitiesbe made mandatory forthose who are regular taxpayers.—APP

Currency Selling Buying

USA 97.60 97.40

UK 163.91 163.57

Euro 134.65 134.37

Canada 88.56 88.38

Switzerland 110.30 110.08

Australia 91.27 91.08

Sweden 14.77 14.74

Japan 0.9507 0.9488

Norway 16.30 16.27

Singapore 77.78 77.63

Denmark 18.03 18.00

Saudi Arabia 26.02 25.97

Hong Kong 12.59 12.55

Kuwait 346.90 346.19

Malaysia 29.90 29.84

Newzealand 83.77 83.60

Qatar 26.81 26.75

UAE 26.57 26.52

Kr. Won 0.0938 0.0936

Thailand 3.021 3.015

Daily opening& closing ratesTotal Volume (Lots): 8,100Traded Value (Rs): 1,785,799,912

Commodity ................ Price Quotation .................... Open .............. CloseCRUDE OIL ............... $ Per Barrel ............................. 104.12 ............ 103.28SILVER ....................... $ Per Ounce ............................ 19.352 ............ 19.512GOLD ......................... $ Per Ounce ............................ 1,286.3 ........... 1,291.7GOLD ......................... Rs Per 10 gms ......................... 41,252 ............ 41,396MTOLAGOLD .......... Rs Per Tola ............................. 48,736 ............ 49,600GOLD ......................... Rs Per Tola ............................. 48,736 ............ 49,600RICEIRRI6 ................. Rs Per 100 kg .......................... 3,348 .............. 3,347PALMOLEIN ............ Rs Per Maund ........................ 4,531 .............. 4,560SUGAR ...................... Rs Per kg ................................. 45.01 .............. 44.91ICOTTON .................. US Cents per pound ............. 92.71 .............. 93.19WHEAT ..................... Rs Per 100 kg 3,278 ............... 3,277

The total value traded was PKR 1,785m. The numbers of lots traded were 8,100 andindex closed at 3003. Major business was contributed by crude oil amounting to PKR899m, followed by gold (PKR 846 m) and silver (PKR 39 m). While there was 22percent increase in gold value traded to PKR 846m from PKR 692m, there was also4 percent increase in silver value to PKR 39m from 38m.

SUKKUR: Minister of State for Water and Power, Ch Abid Sher Ali, addressing a pressconference at SEPCO office.

ISLAMABAD: Senior officers of FBR with the participants and faculty of 100th Na-tional Management Course who visited FBR house.

ISLAMABAD: Ajmal Baloch, Central Organizing Secretary, Traders action commit-tee, Islamabad and Khalid Chaudhry, SVP Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Indus-try in a group photo with traders.

KARACHI: Administrator Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Rauf Akhtar Farooquiwith PCF delegation includes PCF Governing body members Hamid Maker HelplineTrust, Umar Ghauri the Consumers Eye Pakistan, Madam Farkhandah, Chairman PCFKaukab Iqbal and secretary Shaikh Rashid Alam.

ISLAMABAD—The Senate was in-formed on Tuesday that the import ofLNG from Qatar will start by the endof this year and negotiations are un-derway in this regard. Minister for Pe-troleum and Natural Resources ShahidKhaqan Abbasi told the House dur-ing Question Hour that governmentis considering a proposition of import-ing LNG from Qatar based on govern-ment-to-government arrangements.He said the government also intendsto invite open tenders for procurementof LNG to establish transparency.

He said Pakistan State Oil Com-pany Limited and Qatargas OperatingCompany Limited have been nomi-nated by respective governments tonegotiate import of LNG from Qatar.He said a draft Heads of Agreement

LNG import from Qatar to startby end of this year: Khaqan

has been received from Qatargas,which is being reviewed. The Minis-ter said the terms and conditions andprice are yet to be discussed and fi-nalized. He said the import will startafter signing of the agreement.

To a question, Shahid KhaqanAbbasi said that the government iscommitted to complete Iran-PakistanGas Pipeline Project but due to inter-national sanctions on Iran, Pakistanis unable to undertake the construc-tion of the pipeline. He said we havetaken up with the Iranian leadershipthat they should table the issue atappropriate forum for exemption fromthe gas sanctions. He said after thelifting of the sanctions the work onthe pipeline will be completed.

The Minister said that as per Bank-

able Feasibility Study the total cost ofthe project estimated in 2012 is around1.86 billion dollars. He said Iran hascompleted the gas pipeline from theSouth Pars gas filed up-till Iranshehrwhich comprises of 900 km. He saidthe work on remaining 250 km of thepipeline is likely to start soon.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Pakistanhas been able to complete phase-I of theproject by completing the Front End En-gineering and Design, detailed RouteSurvey, Social and Environment ImpactAssessment Study and Feasibility Study.He said the concrete markers have beeninstalled along the whole route and landacquisition process has been initiated.He said the work on the phase-II will beinitiated after the lifting of the interna-tional sanctions on Iran.—INP

100th NMCparticipantsvisits FBR

ISLAMABAD—A group offifty-three senior civil ser-vants undergoing the100thNational ManagementCourse (NMC), along withthe Rector, Dean and thefaculty of the NationalSchool of Public Policy(NSPP) visited FBR House,here today. The group waswelcomed by Member Fa-cilitation & Taxpayers’ Edu-cation (FATE) Mrs. RiffatShaheen Qazi. She briefedthe visiting officers and fac-ulty of NMC about the or-ganizational structure, work-ing and revenue collectionperformance of FBR. Shealso highlighted the chal-lenges faced by FBR andthe way forward to resolvethese issues.

The Chairman FBR Mr.Tariq Bajwa, in his com-ments, gave a detailed out-line of the various policy andoperational challenges facedby FBR and highlighted thestrategies adopted by FBRto address these issues. Healso discussed the major ini-tiatives of FBR to enhancerevenue generation throughaudit and enforcement initia-tives and efforts broaden thetax base.—PR

ContinentalBiscuits setsrecord in sale

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Oreo biscuitshave taken the Pakistanimarket by a storm, sellingover 300 million biscuits injust six months. Oreo hasbeen locally manufacturedsince October 2013 by Con-tinental Biscuits Ltd. (CBL);the makers in Pakistan of theLU brand of biscuits and anexclusive affiliate of globalsnacks group.

Mr. Hasan Ali Khan,Managing Director andChairman of CBL said, “thesuccess of Oreo in Pakistanhas been overwhelming.However, with the globalappeal of Oreo as a biscuitthat transcends all ages, wefelt it would only be a mat-ter of time before it wouldbe wholly embraced by Pa-kistani families, who em-body a similar ethos of to-getherness.

CCBPL startstree plantation

driveKARACHI—Coca-Cola Bev-erages Pakistan Limited(CCBPL), in collaborationwith the Punjab Forestry,Wildlife and Fisheries Depart-ment, will plant 30,000 treesalong the Ravi River belt inLahore. The project was initi-ated from Jallo Park, whereCCBPL representatives alongwith the Punjab Forestry de-partment, officials plantedtrees to kick-off the campaign.

Zafar Abbas Jafri, Direc-tor Public Affairs and Com-munications (PAC) atCCBPL said, “CCBPL hasadopted an integrated ap-proach to sustainabilitywhere climate protection isa key component to its busi-ness strategy. The companybelieves in being a reliablepartner to the communitieswhere it operates, andstands for finding solutionsto common problems.”

He added, “we willjointly plant 30,000 treesacross Lahore to mitigate theeffects of pollution.”—PR

ABL posts 1stquarter results

includingRs 1.02b profit

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Askari Bankannouncement leads thebanking sector and its re-sults are ahead of analysts’expectations. The Bank hasreported strong growth in allincome streams. Net interestincome increased by ahealthy 16% compared tothe corresponding quarterdue to growth in lending –advances deposits ratio(ADR) reaching 64%, andan impressive 2% decline incost of funds. Non-interestincome almost doubledcompared to the corre-sponding quarter due to in-creased revenues from tradeand business and gainsfrom stock market. The im-provement in non-perform-ing loans appears to be at-tributable to recovery thatis also depicted by a net re-versal of provisions for thequarter, adding to the bot-tom line profits.

Askari Bank wentthrough a major overhaul in2013 that followed thechange of guards when itsmajority shareholding wasacquired by the Fauji Group,which is ranked amongstthe largest business con-glomerates in Pakistan.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Sindh Chief Minister (CM)Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that SindhGovernment is encouraging local and for-eign investment in energy sector, throughpublic private partnership joint venture pro-viding tax holiday with other incentives tofill the 15 years gap in power generationand over come to energy crises. He invitedto the public and private investment com-panies of the France to come forward andavail the opportunities of investment herein Sindh which is rich with untapped natu-ral resources of power generation.

This he observed while talking to theConsul General of France FrançoisDall’orso, who called on him at CM HouseTuesday. The CM said that France wasclose associate and friendly country of Pa-kistan. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the pioneerof the friendship between both countrieswho had signed the historical nuclear agree-ment with France, for the development and

Sindh govt encouraging foreigninvestment in energy sector: CM

prosperity of Pakistan. He said that unfor-tunately, Pakistan including Sindh Provincestill facing the energy crises, in spite ofhaving natural resources such as coal re-serves, wind corridors, environment of so-lar energy. He said that after the 18th amend-ment provinces have became empoweredto negotiate and enter into agreement forany kind of foreign investment or trade andcommerce activities.

He said that Sindh was rich with naturalresources and having vast potential of in-vestment specially in energy, agricultureand irrigation sectors and France can availthese opportunities of investment for bet-terment of both countries. He said thatSindh Government has already been en-tered in agreement with investing compa-nies of China, Turkey and other countriesand was providing good incentives to thesecompanies. He offered to the Consul Gen-eral for availing the investment opportuni-ties here in Sindh for which full support willbe provided to them.

ISLAMABAD—Exports oftextile products from thecountry witnessed positivegrowth of 7.99 percent dur-ing the first nine months ofthe current fiscal year whencompared to the corre-sponding period of lastyear. The overall textile ex-ports from the country wererecorded at $10.385 billionduring July-March (2013-14)as compared to the exportsof $9.616 billion during July-March (2012-13), accordingto the latest data of PakistanBureau of Statistics (PBS).

The textile products thatwitnessed positive growth intrade included raw cotton,exports of which increased by43.48 percent by surging from$126.774 million last year to$181.895 million during cur-rent year. The exports of cot-ton cloths increased from$1.986 billion last year to $2.125 billion during currentyear, showing an increase of6.99 percent while the exportsof yarn (other than cottonyarn) increased by 10.03 per-cent by going up from $30.619million to $33.691 million.

Exports of knitwear in-creased by 10.21 million bysurging from $1.513 millionlast year to $1.667 million thisyear, while the exports ofbedwear increased from$1.318 million to $1.6 million,

Textile exports up7.99pc in 3 quarters

showing increase of 21.39percent. Exports ofreadymade garments in-creased from $1.308 billion to$1.43 billion, an increase of9.36 while exports of art, silkand synthetic textile in-creased from $277.268 millionto $288.955 million, showingincrease of 4.22 million.

The other textile thatwitnessed increase in tradeincluded madeup articles(excluding towels andbeadwear), exports of whichincreased by 17.94 percentby going up from $433.653million to $511.439 million.The textile products thatwitnessed negative growthin trade during the periodunder review included cot-ton yarn, exports of whichdecreased from $1.668 bil-lion to $1.569 billion, show-ing decrease of 5.93 percent.

Similarly, the exports ofcotton carded or combeddecreased by 42.53 percentby reducing from $5.711 mil-lion to $3.282 million, exportsof towels decreased by 2.55percent by falling from$576.076 billion last year to$561.412 million this yearwhereas the exports oftents, canvas and tarpulindecreased by 23.84 percentby going down from $82.834million to $63.088 million, thedata revealed.—APP

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—In order to increase sales oflocally made cars and increase revenue col-lection the auto industry has emphasizedon need to curb undue concessions to ille-gally imported used vehicle and to revisethe fixed duty set under SRO 577.

The valuation done under the SRO 577is based on old prices which puts local in-dustry at a disadvantage.

Regarding Income Tax Ordinance 2001,the industry proposed that the governmentshould reduce Turnover tax from 1% to 0.2%on the turnover of authorized dealers ofvehicle manufacturers, as being allowed tomotorcycle dealers, distributors of FMCG,pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, oil productsunder Part-III to Second Schedule to In-come Tax Ordinance, 2001.

Similarly, the government should elimi-nate withholding tax at 3.5% under section153 on sale by authorized dealers of ve-hicle manufacturers, as allowed to distribu-tors of pharmaceutical, cigarettes, textilesector, etc. under Part-II to Second Sched-ule to Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

The benefit of both the proposed reduc-

Act according to law in case of import of used cars!

Concession to import of usedcar a threat to local industry

tions is that wholesale-retail mechanism (maybe implemented, as applicable internation-ally) will improve volumes on account ofstock availability and healthy competition.Income of dealers will be subject to normaltaxation that will enhance documentation andmay increase tax to income ratio.

Auto Industry has also appealed the gov-ernment to act according to the spirit of thelaw in case of import of used cars and insteadof fixing duties under special but outdatedSRO 577 of 2005 should impose duties oncurrent global rates of vehicles. It is pertinentto mention here that duty is being charged atthe the rate of $4400 for 800 cc categorywhereas the current rate of the same categoryvehicles are approximately $12000.

Citing an example sources pointed outthat CNF Karachi price of new Toyota Vitzis $18,800 and the import duty on new car is55 percent which along with 17% GSTamounts to $15,903 and with 36 percentdepreciation on three years old used carsthe duty should be $10,178. They saidSRO577 in 2005 assessed the tax on newVitz at $5500 only and its 36 percent depre-ciated value comes to $3,520. They said thisanomaly is visible in taxes on all vehicles.

ISLAMABAD: Members of Pakistan Boy Scouts and participants marching during opening ceremony of the 37thHEC Intervarsity Athletics (Men) Championship at Jinnah Stadium organized by Directorate of Sports COMSATSInstitute of Information Technology.

HARIPUR: A view of volleyball match during Jashn-e-Hazara Volleyball Championship 2014.

PESHAWAR—Blue Stars Mayar, United clubSheikh Maltoon Town, Bakhsali clubMardan and Young United Toru moved tothe quarter-finals after recording victoriesagainst their respective rivals in the ongo-ing Mardan Inter-District Football Champi-onship being played simultaneously atYounis Stadium Mardan and Sports Com-plex Mardan grounds on Tuesday.

The Championship is being played withthe joint collaboration of District SportsOffice and District Football Association inwhich apart from the first match played atYounis Stadium Mardan all the three othermatches of the League round ended in adraw.

In the first match Blue Star Mayar de-feated Lucky Star Mardan by a solitary goalin the thrill-packed encounter. The twoteams made incisive rallies of attacks butpoor finishing marred their overall efforts.

It was only in the dying moment of thesecond session before a goal-less first ses-sion when Fahim Khan slammed in a beau-tiful goal after dodging three defenders justin front of the goal-mouth. Lucky Star didsome efforts but they have not more timeto strike back and thus Blue Stars movedinto the quarter-finals.

Blue Stars, United Club,Bakhshali & Young United

reach quarter-finalsIn the second match United club Sheikh

Maltoon and Shaheen club Baghdada,Mardan played Rehmat Ullah for Sheheenclub Baghdada Mardana.

In the third match Bakhshali club alsoheld Islamabad club Mardan in a 1-1 drawencounter. Islamabad club also needed avictory against Bakhshali club while theformer needed a draw for the qualificationto the quarter-finals after the League roundand thus Bakhshali moved to the quarter-finals.

Islamabad took the lead in the 9thminute when Jan Ullah netted a fine goal.Islamabad was also leading the first ses-sion but it was in the second session inwhich Bakhshali club staged a comebackand tied the tally through Munawar Khanon the field attempt.

In the last match played at Gen. EhsanSports Complex ground, Young United cluband Aka Khail club played a 2-2 draw. Thematch also produced great thrill. YoungUnited scored two goals in the 17th and28th minute through Mubashir and ZamanKhan on the field attempt while for Aka khailclub tied the tally in the second-half’s 55thand 69th minute.—APP

NWA crickettrials on 25th

PESHAWAR—A trials to se-lect under the aegis of Paki-stan Cricket Board at Patiground, Miran Shah, NorthWaziristan Agency (NWA)will be held on April 25 Sec-retary Regional Cricket As-sociation FATA ShakeelAhmad Dawar told APPhere on Tuesday.

The players registeredin the North WaziristanAgency, FR Bannu, FR LakkiMarwat will be eligible toparticipate in the trials toselect team for the forthcom-ing Grade-II.

The players have beendirected to appear in the tri-als on April 25 at 8am. Hesaid the selection committeeheaded by PCB selectorFawad Khan along withAkhya Jan will thoroughlymonitor the player.—APP

PE S H AWA R—Punjab Universi ty,Sargodha University, University of Cen-tral Punjab and Karachi University Tues-day qualified for the semi-finals of theongoing All-Pakistan Inter-UniversityMen Cricket Championship being playedunder the aegis of Directorate of SportsAbdul Wali Khan University Mardan atdifferent venues in here at Mardan.

Now Punjab Universi ty wil l faceSargodha University in the first semi-fi-nal to be played at Gen Ehsan SportsComplex Mardan and University of Cen-tral Punjab will face Karachi Universityin the second semi-final to be played atCampus ground of Universi ty ofPeshawar.

Earlier, in the last group match playedat Universi ty Campus ground herePunjab University won the toss and in-vited Islamia College Universi tyPeshawar to bat first, Islamia CollegeUniversity while bating first score a mea-

ger runs total of 106 runs wherein AmjadAli made an unbeaten knock of 40 runsincluding four boundaries. Imran Shahadded another vital 28 runs and BabarKhan scored 24 runs, none of the otherbatsmen could cross the double figures.

For Punjab University right-arm me-dium fast bowler Ahmad Hassan claimedfour wickets for just 20 runs in his sevenovers spell, Majid Ali took two wicketsfor 18 runs only in his seven overs spelland Mohsin took two wickets for just 3runs in his three overs spell.

In reply, Punjab University chasedthe target for the loss of three wicketsonly wherein Babar Manzoor smashed acracking 60 runs including two sixes andfour boundaries, Ali Manzoor, hisyounger brother, made 27 runs. For ICUPAbid Riaz, Shoaib Afridi and Imran Shahtook one wicket each. Thus Punjab Uni-versity won the match by seven wick-ets .—APP

LAHORE—PIA routed Amry White8-1 and Army Red prevailed overRailways 7-3 as both fashioned outwide margin victories on the sec-ond day of the 9th Nishan-e-HaiderHockey Tournament at theMutiullah hockey StadiumBahawalpur on Tuesday.

Airlines took firm 4-0 lead atbreak and kept their onslaughts inthe following session for an impres-sive win. PIA comprising experi-enced Olympians and internationalsbeat Army (White) in a one sidedaffair, said the information madeavailable here.

PIA forwards dominated theproceedings of the match since be-ginning. Two goals by Ahsanullahon penalty corners in the 4th and7th minutes exerted pressure ontheir opponents. Ammad Butt andImran Khan netted field goals in the18th and 25th minutes.

PIA scored four more goals inthe second half Imran Khan scored

Wide margin victories for PIA,Army in Nishan-e-Haider hockey

a field goal in the 38th minute.Ahsanullah completed hat-trick ofhis goals in the 46th minute. Nohaizand Afsar added field goals in the58th and 60th minutes respectively.Army’s consolatory goal wasscored by Nouman Butt in the 65thminute. Haider Rasool and AtifMalik supervised the match.

In the second match two goalseach by Shahid Ali Khan and na-tional team player Mohammed Imranenabled Army (Red) to register acomfortable win against Railways.Army’s Shahid opened the accountfor his team in the 7th minutethrough a field goal. Only three min-utes later Railways’ Yasir success-fully converted a penalty corner inthe 10th minute to level the score.Mohammed Imran neatly netted apenalty corner in the 22nd minuteto give his team a 2-1 lead whichwas again equaled by a beautifulfield goal by Railways’ Junaid in the24thminute. Army scored two goals

in a span of three minutes to endthe first half at 4-2. Shahid scored agoal on penalty corner in the 32ndminute while Habib-ur-Rehmanscored a f ield goal in the 35thminute.

Railways’ forwards fai led tomaintain their tempo in the secondhalf as Army men frequently madeinroads into Railways’ area andscored three more goals .Mohammad Imran converted an-other penalty corner in the 44thminute, Mohammed Kashif scoreda field goal in the 57th minute whileMohammed Safeer hammered theseventh goal for Army in the 63rdminute. Kamran Maqsood scoredthe third goal for Railways in the60th minute. Munawar Hussain andMohammed Mushtaq supervisedthe match.

Matches for tomorrow, Wednes-day, Pakistan Steel vs Railways.WAPDA vs Police. NBP vs PortQasim Authority.—APP

PU, SU, UCP and KUenter into All-Pakistan

Inter-University semi-finals

Trials forselection of

talentedplayers beginsLAHORE—Open trials toselect the talented playersfrom the Province ofBalochistan were held onTuesday at Quetta under thesupervision of PakistanHockey Federation.

According to informa-tion made available here,PHF National SelectionCommittee comprising,Islahuddin Siddiqui (Chair-man) and Arshad AliChawdhry, Ayaz Mahmood,Khalid Bashir, MusaddiqHussain (members) con-ducted the trials.

Shahnaz Sheikh, Man-ager & Chief Coach of Paki-stan senior hockey teamalso observed the perfor-mance of the players.

To pick the talentedplayers from the Province ofSindh, the trials will be con-ducted by the National Se-lection Committee at HockeyClub of Pakistan StadiumKarachi on April 24 and25.—APP

Trainingcamps of SBP

SPORTS REPORTER

LAHORE— The trainingcamps of the Sports BoardPunjab (SBP) teams will beheld in the last week of thismonth to prepare its teamsfor the Pakistan SportsBoard (PSB)’s Inter-Provin-cial Boys and Girls Compe-titions to be held at variousvenues of the country nextmonth.

Top performers of thePunjab Youth Festival willbe provided opportunity toexhibit their skills in thecamps and then in the megaevents.

According to the sched-ule, the competitions will getunderway with under-14boys and under-16 girlscompetitions in Karachifrom May 15 to 17. TheBoys’ Taekwondo Contestswill be held in Hyderabadfrom May 6 to 8, the girlsJudo event will be organisedin Islamabad from May 6 to8, Boys and girls Badmintoncompetitions will be playedin Lahore from May 20 to 22while boys hockey matcheswill be held here from May20 to 24.

HAFIZABAD: Rescues 1122 holds a cycle race to mark the International Earth Mother Day.

KARACHI—Mohammad Majid Ali smashed a spectacu-lar break of 140 on his way to registering a 4-1 victoryagainst Baqar Kamani on the opening day of the 18thKarachi Club Open Snooker Challenge at KC’s AmirBakhsh Billiards Hall here. Majid recorded his career-best break in the third frame during his match againstBaqar.

Majid’s only blemish was losing the second frame,otherwise he dominated the match with breaks of 33 inthe first and fifth frame. Asim Ghani extended Pakistan’stop cueist Abdul Sattar before going down fighting 3-4.

Asim was awarded the first frame after Sattar’s latearrival. He also won the second to make it 2-0. The matchwas locked 3-3 but experienced Sattar won the decider70-17 to seize the match.

Meanwhile, former Asian number two MohammadSajjad, former Pakistan number one Khurram Agha andImran Shehzad also won their matches with ease.

Khurram beat Asad Kamani 4-1 with a break of 58 inthe first frame and seasoned international ImranShahzad also lost a frame before out-potting HussainFerozpur 4-1.

In the day’s other matches, Sultan Mohammad beatOmer Salim, Sohail Shahzad beat Rizwan Jumbo, ZulfiqarQadir overwhelmed Vishan Gir 4-1, Qasim Kamanidowned Mohammad Ishtiq 4-1 and Sharjeel Mahmoodoverpowered Naveen Perwani 4-2.—APP

Majid smashes 140-breakat KC Open Snooker

KCCA electionsnow on May 2

KARACHI—Long-awaitedelections of the Karachi CityCricket Association (KCCA)will now be held here at theNational Stadium on May 2at 9:30am, the PakistanCricket Board (PCB) an-nounced on Tuesday.

The KCCA electionswere twice postponed due todifferent reasons and lasttime due to the change ofelection commissionerMohammad Siddique. ThePCB announced the newdate for the KCCA electionsafter the appointment of newelection commissionerAhmed Shehzad Farooq,who will supervise the elec-tions.

In the meantime, the PCBalso notified the elections ofKCCA Zone-V to completethe process. Now 27 electedoffice-bearers of sevenKCCA zones will cast theirvotes for the posts of presi-dent, secretary and treasurer.

Elected office-bearers in-cluding presidents, secretar-ies and treasurers of theseven zones will be eligibleto take part in the elections.The Nadeem Omar Group in-cludes Nadeem Omar (presi-dent), Mohammad Ishaq (sec-retary) and Shah Shafiuddin(treasurer) while Prof. EjazAhmed Faruqi (president),Shafiq Kazmi (secretary) andMusheer Rabbani (treasurer)are candidates for Prof. Faruqigroup.—APP

KARACHI—Pakistan Chess Players Asso-ciation (PCPA) is planning to hold an Inter-national Rated Chess Championship herein the city in November.

This was decided in an Executive Coun-cil Meeting of PCPA held here the otherday. PCPA will conduct the championshipwith the active support of Mind Sports As-sociation of Pakistan (MSAP), TariqRasheed Khan announced on Tuesday.

Dr. Naeem Hamid Mirza, Secretary Gen-eral, Chess Federation of Pakistan wel-comed this event and assured fullest sup-port to MSAP.

A couple of Grand Masters and a num-ber of International Masters will also beinvited to feature in the biggest-ever inter-national chess event in Pakistan to boostthe game in the country, MSAP Director,said.

International Master Shahzad Mirza,who is also the Secretary General of PCPA,said it will have an International flavor withthe participation of foreign players fromIran, India and some Gulf countries.

A handsome prize money of overRs.300,000 will be at the offer in the cham-pionship.

The selection format of the champion-ship is planned as under ten internation-ally rated/titled players will be selected byinvitation or by the provincial associationsfrom Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwaand Balochistan.

Six players each from Punjab and Sindh

International Rated Chessevent in November

and four each from KPK and Balochistanprovinces will be eligible to appear in theinternational event.

Besides men players, eight women play-ers will also be invited to take part whileOpen entry in the event can be availed byrecognized chess players on payment ofRs.10,000.

Chess Players from all over the countryare excited at this mega event as reportedby Pakistan best chess player IMMahmood Lodhi, IM and Shahzad Mirza,IM being the PCPA representatives ViceChairman and Secretary General.PCPA de-cided also to approach the CFP and recom-mend leniency in its handling of the ChessPlayers who participated in a recent eventin Lahore.

It is expected that these players will beallowed to participate in the forthcomingNational Chess Championship to be heldat Lahore from April 25.

“Holding of international chess eventwill be a big boost and help the players toimprove their international ranking,Mahmood Lodhi said.

“I am eagerly looking forward to thisinternational event. After the nationals I willlaunch special preparations for this event”,he said on his return after taking part intwo GM International events in Malaysiaand Thailand.

Shahzad Mirza said they are preparingpaper work and soon start sending invita-tions to foreign associations.—APP

Punjab karatechampionship

LAHORE—Punjab KarateAssociation (PKA) is orga-nizing Hamza ShahbazPunjab Karate champion-ship here from April 26.

The teams of 22 districtKarate Associations are tak-ing part in this competition,said a spokesman of PKAon Tuesday.

He said the prior to thestart of the event a refereescourse will be organized tohighlight World KarateRules. Naseem Qarshi, ChiefReferee of Pakistan KarateFederation will conduct thecourse.—APP

Anti-NarcoticsJeevay Pakistan

CyclingRally today

MUZAFFARGARH—Anti-Narcotics Jeevay PakistanCycling Rally will leave forIslamabad on Wednesday(April 23), with an objectiveto sensitize youth abouthorrors of drug addictionand promote healthy envi-ronment. Sports OfficerArmy College Multan LateefSial (gold medalist) wouldlead the cycling rally. Com-missioner Dera Ghazi Khandivision Sohail Shehzad,and DCO Shoukat Ali wouldinaugurate the rally.

The cyclists wouldcover the distance in 11phases. The cyclist wouldreach Multan in first phase,Khanewal in second phase,Chechawatni in third phase,Okara in fourth phase,Pattoki in fifth and Lahorein sixth phase.—APP

WASHINGTON: Bernard Hopkins of the US lands a right on Beibut Shumenov of the US during their WBA & IBALight-heavyweight title fight at the DC Armory.

Farbraceresigns as SriLanka’s coachCOLOMBO—Sri Lanka wereleft searching for their sev-enth coach in four years af-ter Paul Farbrace resignedon Tuesday to take up apossible assignment withEngland, Sri Lanka Cricketsaid.

Farbrace, 46, has beenlinked to the post of assis-tant coach to Peter Moores,who was named England’schief coach last week re-placing Zimbabwean AndyFlower.

The England and WalesCricket Board (ECB) haveyet to confirm Farbrace’sappointment, but Sri Lankanchiefs appeared certain thatthe Englishman will returnto his home nation.

“National coach PaulFarbrace tendered his resig-nation and has indicated hisunavailability to continuewith immediate effect in or-der to take up an appoint-ment with the ECB,” SriLanka Cricket said in a state-ment.—AFP

MADRID—Real Madrid coach CarloAncelotti says he will not start CristianoRonaldo in the first leg of their Champions

League semi-final against Bayern Munichon Wednesday if there is any risk of theWorld Player of the Year aggravating a ham-string injury.

The Portuguese has missed Real’s lastfour games due to the problem, but has

Ancelotti taking no riskswith Ronaldo

Zambia’sMr Footballdead at 78

LUSAKA—Zambia’s much-loved football commentatorDennis Liwewe—one of Af-rican sport’s bestrecognised voices—hasdied aged 78, a familyspokesman said on Tues-day.

“He passed away thismorning at LevyMwanawasa hospital. Hewas 78 years old and hashad liver problems,” PongaLiwewe, his eldest son, toldAFP.

Liwewe’s high-pitchedtone, breathless cadenceand reservoir of footballingknowledge made him a dis-tinctive and celebrated com-mentator, but he was alsoregarded as an elder states-man of the game in Zambiaand in the region.

When the entire Zam-bian side perished in a planecrash in 1993, Liwewe be-came a driving force behindthe creation of a determinednew team that managed tocome second during the1994 Africa Cup of Nations.

His death prompted anoutpouring of tributes onsocial media.

NEW DELHI—The Supreme Court hasasked the Justice Mudgal committeeto investigate the IPL corruption is-sue, and in particular the 13 namesmentioned in the sealed envelope,with the assistance of other investi-gators. Mukul Mudgal has communi-cated to the court his willingness to

take up the investigation and has beenasked to specify the terms and mo-dalities on April 29, the next date ofhearing.

Mudgal told CNN-IBN: “We (thepanel) have given our consent, it isentirely for the Supreme Court to de-cide... I will wait for the SupremeCourt’s order.”

The development suggests thecourt will not, at this point, entertainthe BCCI’s proposed three-memberinquiry panel, which included RaviShastri, former judge JN Patel andformer director of the CBI, RKRaghavan. The Cricket Association ofBihar, the complainants in the case,had raised objections to the BCCI

Indian SC asks Mudgalcommittee to continue probe

panel during the arguments on Tues-day.

The Mudgal committee was set upby the court in October last year toinvestigate the fixing allegations thatarose during the IPL’s 2013 season. Ithad submitted its report in Februarythis year; a report that included asealed envelope - to be seen only bythe judges - with the names of 13people who, the committee said,should be further investigated. Thatis what the court has now asked theMudgal committee to investigate.

The court will make a formal an-nouncement in regard to the compo-sition of a new panel and the termsand modalities of its operations onTuesday.

The offer to Mudgal was made at ahearing this morning, following whichthe court adjourned for lunch andawaited Mudgal’s reply. When it re-assembled, Gopal Subramaniam, whoappeared on behalf of the Mudgalpanel in the morning, was attendingto another case. The court then issuedorders to the Mudgal committee’s sec-retary Vidushpat Singhania that thepanel should return on Tuesday withthe names of its members, as well asthe details of the official agencies itneeded to assist the investigation.

At its previous hearing on April16, the Supreme Court had revealedthat Srinivasan was one of 13 individu-als facing allegations of corruption. Ithad asked the BCCI to come to thenext hearing with constructive correc-tive measures on conducting a fairprobe into the IPL corruption scan-dal. In response to the court directive,the BCCI held an emergent workingcommittee meeting on Sunday and putforward the names of Shastri, Patel andRaghavan.

During Tuesday’s hearing,

Subramaniam provided details ofRaghavan’s deposition before theMudgal committee. Raghavan hadbeen invited by the Mudgal commit-tee to suggest measures to tackle bet-ting in cricket, due to his experience inthe 2000 CBI investigation into match-fixing. Raghavan told the Mudgalcommittee that he was not in a posi-tion to talk about Srinivasan becausehe owned a cricket club in Chennaithat functioned under the aegis of theTamil Nadu Cricket Associationheaded by Srinivasan, making him anadministrator in the TNCA set-up. TheCAB was represented by AbhishekManu Singhvi, who is a member of theupper house of the Indian parliament.

The case dates back to June 2013,when the Cricket Association of Bihar(CAB) secretary Aditya Verma raisedcharges of a conflict of interest in theBCCI’s original two-member inquirypanel for the IPL corruption issue. ABombay High Court ruling later termedthe probe panel “illegal”. The BCCIand the CAB filed petitions in the Su-preme Court against this order, withthe CAB contending that the BombayHigh Court could have suggested afresh mechanism to look into the cor-ruption allegations.

The Supreme Court then appointeda three-member committee, headed byformer High Court judge MukulMudgal and comprising additional so-licitor general L Nageswara Rao andNilay Dutta to conduct an independentinquiry into the allegations of corrup-tion against Srinivasan’s son-in-lawGurunath Meiyappan, India Cements,and Rajasthan Royals team ownerJaipur IPL Cricket Private Ltd, as wellas with the larger mandate of allega-tions around betting and spot-fixing inIPL matches and the involvement ofplayers.—AFP

WASHINGTON—Hopkins, the oldest majorworld champion in boxing history, won a splitdecision over Kazak fighter BeibutShumenov to take the World Boxing Asso-ciation title and keep his International Box-ing Federation crown.

“The only thing I want to know before Ileave this game is that I gave it all,” Hopkinssaid.

“It’s another page. Every page is his-tory. Money is great but history is some-thing you can’t get rid of.”

Now Hopkins, who turns 50 in January,wants to meet Haitian-born Canadian south-paw Adonis Stevenson, who defends hisWorld Boxing Council belt next monthagainst Poland’s Andrzej Fonfara.

Hopkins, who made 20 defences of hismiddleweight crown and ruled that divisionfor a decade, says he would even fightMontreal-based Stevenson in Canada, wherenearly all of his fights have been staged.

“I want to be the undisputed championby the end of this year. Between now andJanuary 2015, let’s do it,” Hopkins said.

“I set out to be the best in the light-heavyweight division. I’m thirsty for that likeI was at middleweight.”

But when pondering what could be the

Ageless Hopkins pitches50-50 Mayweather deal

final act of a career that began in 1988,Hopkins made it clear he hopes welterweightstar Mayweather would answer his challengeto jump up in weight while he drops andthey meet at middleweight.

“I’ll give anybody a run for their money.If they are unbeaten I will take their 0, givethem their first loss,” Hopkins said. “I couldmake 165, 168 (pounds) real comfortably.”

Mayweather, 45-0, is nearing one ofboxing’s most iconic numbers, the 49-0 ca-reer record of the late heavyweight legendRocky Marciano.

“If I do a fight, it would be one of thebiggest in the world. We will do it in a sta-dium somewhere,” Hopkins said.

“After I become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world, if therewas one big fight out there, I know what Iwould call it — 50-50. He wants to passMarciano. He wants to get to 50 and I am 50.That would be huge.

“I would love to do that. But let me getpast Stevenson first.”

‘Not fighting creampuffs’Hopkins listed Mayweather, the sport’s

top pay-per-view money spinner, as the topactive pound-for-pound fighter with AndreWard next.—AFP

ABU DHABI—Chennai Super Kingscrushed Delhi Daredevils by 93 runsin a thoroughly one-sided game in hereat Sheikh Zayad Stadium.

Super Kings started steadily afterchoosing to bat, but Suresh Raina’sbusy fifty in the middle and a late surgecatapulted them to 177. Their quickstied Daredevils down with accurateswing bowling, and electric catchingfrom Raina and Faf du Plessis made itharder.

The middle order sank without afight, and by the halfway stage of thechase, the match was as good as over.

ABU DHABI: Faf du Plessis was immaculate in the field during Chennai Super Kingsvs Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2014.

Chennai crush Delhi by 93 runs in IPLBy the 16th over, Super Kings hadwrapped up their biggest win in termsof runs.

Super Kings were 34 for 1 after theend of the Powerplay and 65 for 1 af-ter ten overs. They took 58 off the lastfour overs with swift contributionsfrom MS Dhoni, du Plessis and MithunManhas. Dhoni blitzed 32 off 15.

Raina ensured Super Kings did notstall before the late assault but he wasalso to start Daredevils’ downfall.Ishwar Pandey and Ben Hilfenhauswere probing with their outswingers,and when Mayank Agarwal tried to

break free with an attempted chip overcover, Raina made ground to snap upthe mishit.

Daredevils were 17 for 3 in the fifthover, and were going nowhere fromthere. At 50 for 5 in the tenth over andCoulter-Nile unavailable, Daredevilsneeded a miracle from the last battingpair of Karthik and Jimmy Neesham.Instead, R Ashwin hit his Tamil Naduteam-mate’s middle stump with his firstball in the 13th over, and along withRavindra Jadeja, ran through what-ever remained of the Daredevils line-up.—APP

MANCHESTER (United Kingdom)—Manchester United on Tuesday sackedmanager David Moyes fol-lowing a disastrous ten-month spell at the world-fa-mous club, with veteranmidfielder Ryan Giggsnamed as interim manager.

Moyes, 50, succeededAlex Ferguson at the helmof the Premier League sideon July 1 but the movequickly became a fiascowith the team slumping to aseries of embarrassing de-feats.

After feverish specula-tion in the British media,United confirmed Moyes’sdeparture in a brief state-ment.

“Manchester United an-nounces that David Moyes has left theclub,” United said.

“The club would like to place on recordits thanks for the hard work, honesty andintegrity he brought to the role.”

United later confirmed Giggs would fillin on a caretaker basis.

returned to full training ahead of the clashwith the European champions and is ex-pected to take his place in Ancelotti’sstarting line-up.

“Cristiano has trained normally todayand has trained well in the past few days.Tomorrow we will have another test withhim to be sure and then we will take a deci-sion,” Ancelotti told his pre-match pressconference on Tuesday.

“He will play if everyone can be as-sured that he can play without any prob-lem. We are confident at the moment, butthe decision will be taken tomorrow.

“If there is a risk of a recurrence of theinjury he will not play because we need tothink that this is a tie of two games and willnot be decided tomorrow. The decisivematch in the tie will come next Tuesday.”

In Ronaldo’s absence, Gareth Bale hascome to the fore as the Welshman hasstruck three times in the last four games,including a sensational solo run and fin-ish to win the Copa del Rey for Realagainst Barcelona last week.

Bale also overcame flu-like symptomsto train on Tuesday and Ancelotti believeshe is enjoying his best run of form sinceLos Blancos paid a reported world recordfee to bring him to Madrid from TottenhamHotspur last year.

“He is very happy at the moment. Yes-terday he had a small problem, but todayhe was fine and has the confidence andenthusiasm the whole team has at the mo-

ment.“After scoring a goal like

that against Barcelona in afinal it is normal that he isfull of confidence.

“At the start of the sea-son he had a problem withinjuries but once he beganto train everything has gonewell. He has played very welland scored a lot of goals, buthe still wants to improve fornext season.”

Madrid will come upagainst a familiar foe on theBayern bench as formerBarcelona boss PepGuardiola will put his un-beaten record at theSantiago Bernabeu as acoach on the line onWednesday.

Comparisons have beendrawn between Guardiola’steams at Barca and Bayerndue to their relentless suc-cess and ability to dominatepossession of the ball.

However, rather than sitback and hit Bayern on thecounter-attack, Ancelottiwants Madrid to imposetheir own style of play onthe German champions.

“Barcelona and Bayernare different, but the phi-losophy Guardiola has im-posed is the same.—AFP

“Following the departure of DavidMoyes as manager, Manchester United has

announced that Ryan Giggs, the club’s mostdecorated player, will assume responsibil-ity for the first team until a permanent ap-pointment can be made,” said anotherstatement. “The club will make no furthercomment on this process until it is con-cluded.”—AFP

Man Utd sack Moyes, Giggsappointed interim manager

Kiwi all-rounderRyder agreesEssex move

LONDON—New Zealand all-rounder Jesse Ryder hassigned for Essex until theend of the season, the En-glish county side an-nounced on Tuesday.

“I’m thrilled to havebeen given the opportunityto represent Essex,” Ryder,29, said in a statement onthe Essex website.

“This couldn’t have comeat a better time as I want toget as much cricket as pos-sible over the New Zealandwinter. It’s an added bonusthat there are a few guys Ihave played with before, theside looks very strong, andthey have got off to a goodstart for the season.” Themove remains subject to visaapproval, but New ZealandCricket (NZC) have signed ano-objection certificate.

Previously, Ryder had tobe placed into a medically-induced coma in March 2013after being attacked at a barin Christchurch.—AFP

THE authors of a new study say that manipulating alcohol drinkers’ sense of control can counteract the negative feelings

that motivate them to drink. People who have astrong sense of control believe their lives arecontrolled by their ownchoices rather than the ac-tions of others, luck or otherexternal factors.

Feeling a lack of controloften impairs people’s abil-ity to achieve their goals andcan reduce their quality oflife and damage their health,the authors say. “The mostimportant finding from thestudy is simple techniquescan be used to change drink-ers’ feelings of control - thisincludes increasing their feel-ing that they can control theirdrinking,” Miles Cox toldReuters Health in an email.

Cox, from Bangor Uni-versity in the UK, co-authored the study along withZohreh Shamloo of FerdowsiUniversity of Mashhad in Iran. They publishedtheir findings in the journal Addictive Behav-iors. “The techniques that we used both im-proved drinkers’ motivation and decreased theirurges to drink alcohol,” Cox said.

Those techniques included giving positivefeedback along with reminders to relax and hintson how to complete specific tasks. For theirstudy, Shamloo and Cox enrolled 106 studentsfrom Bangor University who were light to mod-erate drinkers. The participants filled out ques-tionnaires designed to measure their sense ofcontrol over completing upcoming tasks, as wellas their urge to drink alcohol. The tasks included

viewing a series of cards on a computer screento determine what the images on the cardshad in common and solving five sets of ana-grams. The researchers randomly assignedparticipants to a “high sense of control” group,

a “low sense of control” groupor a group received no interven-tion while completing tasks.

Participants in the highsense of control group were al-lowed to choose their tasks andwere given hints on how to com-plete them. In addition, theywere instructed on how to con-trol their emotions - such as,“Don’t worry if you can’t findthe right answer; staying calmand relaxed will help you dobetter.” They were also givenpositive feedback about theirperformance. Participants in thelow sense of control groupdidn’t get any clues on how tosolve the tasks and receivedfeedback based on their perfor-mance with no encouragementor discouragement.

After completing the tasks, participantsanswered the questionnaires again and theirurge to drink alcohol was reassessed. The re-searchers found that at the beginning of theexperiment, the urge to drink was the sameacross all three groups. But after the taskswere completed, the high sense of controlgroup had a decreased urge to drink while thelow sense of control group had an increasedurge to drink. Members of the no interven-tion group had no change.

“Our study was conducted with univer-sity students. The same research should nowbe conducted with other populations.

Improving feelings of controlmay curb desire to drink

Traffic Police assisting citizens during ‘Traffic Awareness, Education Drive’ in the city.—PO photo Sultan Chaki

Parties in SA take a U-turn on PPO

Students busy in solving question papers during annual HSSC (Part-I) examination.

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Political parties in Sindhassembly had taken a U-turn overt theissue of Pakistan Protection Ordinace-2014 and had now reached a consensusthat the said ordinance should not be an-nihilated but should be promulgated withcertain amendments as the said ordinancewas need of the hour.

With this new stance, Sindh assem-bly had forwarded a resolution on PPOto the standing committee on law andparliamentary affairs for compiling rec-ommendations for amendments in thePPO as the provincial assembly had de-clined to continue to resolve for the an-nihilation of the PPO as was witnessedduring previous sessions. MuttahiddaQaumi Movement (MQM) had in thisregard prepared to table a resolution inthe House in past session but had failedto table it owing to a ruckus that hadspilled in the House over kidnappings and

killings of MQM workers out of court,by the law enforcement agencies. Theacting Speaker of the provincial assem-bly Shehla Raza had also reminded theMQM lawmakers to table that resolutionduring the ruckus in previous session.

In this past session on Tuesday, thelawmakers form MQM, PakistanPeople’s Party (PPP) and PakistanTehreek-e Insaf (PTI) had spoken atlength on PPO and besides expression ofserious reservations and criticism onPPO, the House had unanimously passedthe resolution should be referred to thestanding committee on Law and Parlia-mentary Affairs for suggesting amend-ments to PPO. The resolution from MQMlawmaker Khawaja Izhar Ul Hassan wasalso on the agenda of the Sindh assem-bly on Apr 15.

PPP lawmakers that had always op-posed the PPO and termed it an anti-hu-manity law was also reciprocated in thesimilar voice by MQM. PPP lawmakers

had with a twist in their point of viewover the PPO agreed that though the PPOhad carried a lot of flaws in it but amidthe prevailing circumstances in the coun-try, the PPO was need of the hour as with-out it the menace of terrorism could neverbe eliminated.

MQM parliamentary leader in Sindhassembly Syed Sardar Ahmed said thatlaws were being promulgated for eradi-cation of lawlessness but PPO wouldcause lawlessness to escalate. MQM law-maker Erum Azeem Farooq said promul-gation of PPO was tantamount to breech-ing constitution of Pakistan and it was acrime against humanity.

Opposition leader in Sindh assemblySyed Faisal Sabzwari said that by theresolution, it was aimed at dispatchingthe sentiments of the people of Sindh tothe federal government and said that thefederal government rather imposingBlack Laws should strengthen the na-tional institutions.

Artists performing during a function to pay tribute to legendary singer late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—We are not accepting anypressure from any corner and continue inour drive for encroachment free Karachi;this is the commitment of Karachi Met-ropolitan Corporation that encroachmentsshould not be allowed in any parts of cityany more, especially on road sides.

This was stated by AdministratorKarachi Metropolitan Corporation RaufAkhtar Farooqui in a meeting with theDelegation of Pakistan Consumers’ Fed-eration (PCF)” – (The apex ConsumerBody of Pakistan) headed by ChairmanPCF Kaukab Iqbal delegation comprisedby PCF Governing body members HamidMaker Helpline Trust, Umar GhauriChairman The Consumers Eye Pakistan,Secretary General PCF Shaikh RashidAlam, Madam Farkhandah and Air com-modore Inamullah Khan.

PCF Chairman Kaukab Iqbal assuresfull support on behalf of Pakistan Con-sumers’ Federation (PCF) to Administra-tor Karachi Rauf Akhtar Farooqui in hisefforts for the betterment of Karachi, Healso congratulated for finishing encroach-

ments in Saddar Empress Market Saddarand Sohrab Goth. Kaukab Iqbal askedAdministrator Karachi to take concreteaction against Violators of Consumerrights.

Appreciating establishment of “Paki-stan Consumers’ Federation (PCF)” Ad-ministrator Karachi Rauf Akhtar Farooquipledged his commitment that KarachiMetropolitan Corporation will not toler-ate fleecing of the people especially thecommon man at the hands of adulteratorsand profiteers. He assured that we willnot let adulterators and profiteers inKarachi and he will continue his effortstill the results are achieved to the satis-faction of the consumers.

He said that his administrative offi-cials have been permanently deputed atthe bazaars vegetable and fruit Markets/mandis to check artificial shortage of thesecommodities and profiteering. Adminis-trator Karachi Rauf Akhtar Farooqui as-sured his full cooperation.

He assured delegation that soon hewill chair a long meeting with PakistanConsumers’ Federation (PCF). He alsogave directive to his PA to make sure that

all responsible heads of Health, consumeraffair and others must be present in thatcoming meeting.

Hamid Maker briefed AdministratorKarachi Metropolitan Corporation RaufAkhtar Farooqui in detail about the es-tablishment of Pakistan Consumers’ Fed-eration. He said that in Pakistan activerecognizable consumer associations cameinto existence in the new millennium andthe names of Helpline Trust, ConsumerAssociation of Pakistan, Consumers EyePakistan, Consumer Forum, PakistanConsumers Bureau and Consumer Foun-dation are at the fore front of consumermovement in Pakistan. In a country likePakistan where importance of consumerrelated issues like consumer rights andConsumer rights protection is rather aneglected and untouched area.

It is with this back ground that theseActive Pioneer consumer organizationsjoin hands in the better interest of the con-sumers and the society of Pakistan. Thisall put the very burden of consumer rightsresponsibility on the shoulders of a Fed-eration of Consumer Associations thePakistan Consumer’s Federation.

Drive against encroachmentsto be continued

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Home Department Sindhhas imposed a ban on inter-district move-ment of wheat outside the limits of dis-trict except that the supply of wheat tothe flour mills in Karachi (being non-growing area) under section 144 Cr.P.C.

According to details Home Depart-ment Sindh has imposed a ban on inter-district movement of wheat while forKarachi from four districts Larkana,Qamber-Shadadkot and Jamshoro aredesignated for purchase of wheat by theflour mills of Karachi at the rate ofRs.1250/- per 40 kg in the grower inter-est. To maintain the transparency in this

regard two check posts have been estab-lished at Dharma Qamber-Shadadkot dis-trict (which will cover District Larkanaand Qamber-Shadadkot) and at Sehwan(which will cover Dadu and JamshoroDistricts). According to notification theauthorized Officers will issue Permits tothe vehicles carrying wheat from aboveDistricts on production of copies of Food-grain license with original stamp of Rollerflour Mill original letter of wheat brokerand original guilty of the consignment.

The Assistant Director Food Larkanaand Vigilance Officer/Deputy SecretaryFood Government of Sindh are the au-thorized Officer respectively while thetruck drivers are bound to produce all

documents mentioned as above will pro-duce at Kathore check post Karachi forentry and checking purpose.

Proper record should be maintainedby the office of Deputy Director FoodKarachi. Beside this daily wheat share ofeach Flour Mills is fixed as 600 wheatbags. The wheat stocks being transportedby any flour mills beyond their daily dueshare will be seized on government ac-count without any notice. In a statementissued here Minister for Food JamMehtab Hussain Dahar has said that in-ter-district ban on movement of wheatwill be in benefit of the growers and therewill be no shortage of wheat in Karachias well and it will also curb corruption.

Ban on inter-district movementof wheat sans Karachi

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Commissioner Karachi ShoaibSiddiqui rolled out the Sarsabz wa Pursakoon(Green and Peaceful) Karachi tree plantationcampaign on the occasion of Earth Day Tues-day. During this campaign, 300, 000 saplingof local, indigenous and environment friendlytrees, sourced from the provincial Forest De-partment, will be planted across Karachi overthe next three months.

The campaign was rolled out with treeplantation at Ramzan Goth near Hawks bay,in collaboration with Indus Earth Trust (IET),an NGO that has been working in 3 UCs inthat area.

IET has undertaken to plant 10,000 treesin the area over a period of 1 year, with theassistance of the community. These would in-

clude fruit trees, vegetables and fodder crops.Sarsabz wa Pursakoon Karachi has been ini-tiated by the Commissioner in collaborationwith National Forum for Environment &Health. The aim is to plant 50000 with thecollaboration of various individuals, institu-tions and organizations, and monitor theirgrowth to make Karachi green.

The Commissioner also interacted withthe community members, listened to theirproblems. He directed the Assistant Commis-sioner to resolve their issues regarding elec-tricity supply, primary education and also di-rected to have their non-functional ReverseOsmosis Water filtration Plant repaired im-mediately. He also directed the NGOs to un-dertake an awareness raising campaign forthe residents of these over 250 hundred yearold village.

Tree planting campaignlaunched on Earth Day

Contemptof court

notice to CSIRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Sindh HighCourt had following its suomotu notice on drought inTharparkar issued con-tempt to court notice toSindh Chief secretary on apetition filed by PakistanInstitute of Labour Educa-tion and Research (PILER),which was heard by a 2-member bench headed byChief Justice Sindh HighCourt.

The counsel of the pe-titioner advocate FaisalSiddiqui apprised thehigher court that the highercourt had asked the stake-holders to suggest namesand proposals for formationof a commission but Sindhgovernment had formed thecommission under the aegisof former Justice ZahidQurban Alavi due to whichcourts orders were failing tobe implemented and orderswere lacking compliance.

The higher court hadthus issued contempt to courtnotice to Sindh Chief Secre-tary and directed him to sub-mit his reply in the highercourt on Apr 29.

THE authors of a new study say that manipulating alcohol drinkers’ sense of control can counteract the negative feelings

that motivate them to drink. People who have astrong sense of control believe their lives arecontrolled by their ownchoices rather than the ac-tions of others, luck or otherexternal factors.

Feeling a lack of controloften impairs people’s abil-ity to achieve their goals andcan reduce their quality oflife and damage their health,the authors say. “The mostimportant finding from thestudy is simple techniquescan be used to change drink-ers’ feelings of control - thisincludes increasing their feel-ing that they can control theirdrinking,” Miles Cox toldReuters Health in an email.

Cox, from Bangor Uni-versity in the UK, co-authored the study along withZohreh Shamloo of FerdowsiUniversity of Mashhad in Iran. They publishedtheir findings in the journal Addictive Behav-iors. “The techniques that we used both im-proved drinkers’ motivation and decreased theirurges to drink alcohol,” Cox said.

Those techniques included giving positivefeedback along with reminders to relax and hintson how to complete specific tasks. For theirstudy, Shamloo and Cox enrolled 106 studentsfrom Bangor University who were light to mod-erate drinkers. The participants filled out ques-tionnaires designed to measure their sense ofcontrol over completing upcoming tasks, as wellas their urge to drink alcohol. The tasks included

viewing a series of cards on a computer screento determine what the images on the cardshad in common and solving five sets of ana-grams. The researchers randomly assignedparticipants to a “high sense of control” group,

a “low sense of control” groupor a group received no interven-tion while completing tasks.

Participants in the highsense of control group were al-lowed to choose their tasks andwere given hints on how to com-plete them. In addition, theywere instructed on how to con-trol their emotions - such as,“Don’t worry if you can’t findthe right answer; staying calmand relaxed will help you dobetter.” They were also givenpositive feedback about theirperformance. Participants in thelow sense of control groupdidn’t get any clues on how tosolve the tasks and receivedfeedback based on their perfor-mance with no encouragementor discouragement.

After completing the tasks, participantsanswered the questionnaires again and theirurge to drink alcohol was reassessed. The re-searchers found that at the beginning of theexperiment, the urge to drink was the sameacross all three groups. But after the taskswere completed, the high sense of controlgroup had a decreased urge to drink while thelow sense of control group had an increasedurge to drink. Members of the no interven-tion group had no change.

“Our study was conducted with univer-sity students. The same research should nowbe conducted with other populations.

Improving feelings of controlmay curb desire to drink

Punjab University Department of Library & Information Sciences Chairperson Prof Dr Kanwal Ameen leading awareness walk on World Book andCopyright on Tuesday.

DCO Javed Ahmed Qazi distributing pamphlets regarding awareness campaign againstdengue, in front of Town Hall.

PU celebrates World Book, Copyright DaySALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Punjab University ViceChancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran hassaid that the darkness of ignorance couldnot be removed from society withoutpromotion of knowledge in the country.

He said that there were 1.5 billionMuslims in the world but they have nocontribution to creation of new knowl-edge. He was addressing a seminar or-ganized by PU Department of Libraryand Information Sciences (DLIS) andPU Library at Al Raazi Hall here onTuesday.

PU DLIS Chairperson Prof DrKanwal Amin, Chief LibrarianChaudhry Muhammad Hanif, ProfEmeritus Prof Dr Khawaja MuhammadZakria, Farrukh Sohail Goindi, ProfHasan Shahnawaz Zaidi, publishers,

faculty members and a large number ofstudents were present on the occasion.Earlier, Dr Kanwal Amin led a walkfrom IER corridor to Al Raazi Hall forawareness raising regarding book read-ing habits.

Addressing the ceremony, DrMujahid Kamran said that the only op-tion for Pakistan to progress was educa-tion. Dr Mujahid Kamran said that theaverage educational spending of nationswas around 5 percent of GDP while Pa-kistan was spending 2 percent or lessthan 2 percent of GDP on education. Hesaid that the US’s total GDP was 14 tril-lion dollars while it was spending 980billion dollars only on education andspending a huge amount on research anddevelopment.

He said that Pakistan’s GDP stoodaround 250 billion dollars while we were

spending less than 5 billion dollars oneducation. Dr Kamran said that around750 verses of Holy Qur’an stressed toresolve mysteries of the world while theverses related to legislation were around250, which reflected the importance ofknowledge in the Holy Qur’an.

He said that an Australian Jewishscientist and researcher Gideon Polyahad revealed in his book “Body Count”that there had been 1.3 billion avoid-able deaths during the period from 1950to 2005 of which 600 million wereMuslims.

He said that in the past, people as-sociated with a specific group were re-cruited without merit in Punjab Univer-sity who turned the great alma matterinto an arena but the incumbent admin-istration had brought the PU to the newheights of academics. Gypsy women making decoration pieces to earn their livelihood, at canal bank on Tuesday.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Provincial Minister for Environ-ment Protection and Chairman Police ReformsCommittee, Col R Shuja Khanzada has saidthat government is focusing multiple chal-lenges like security, energy and economy. Gov-ernment has accepted these challenges that willbe faced, attended and solved in public inter-est during its tenure. This was stated by him while addressing aconsultative workshop related to amendmentof the Punjab Environmental Protection Act1997, held at Lahore on Tuesday.

The Minister said that the current situa-tion is calling for a new era of green cities. Inorder to make our cities green and acceleratethe world’s transition to a clean, more sustain-able future, we need to change our life style.

He said that in the wake of 18th amend-

ment to the constitution of the Islamic Repub-lic of Pakistan and consequent devolution ofthe subject of environment to the province Pa-kistan Environment Protection Act 1997 wasamended in 2012 by Punjab Province.

Now there is need to make certain amend-ments in the act to make it more effective. TheMinister said that Punjab Government is alsofocusing on making environment clean and se-cure for people along with other issues. He saidthat counter terrorism department has been es-tablished and many reforms have been intro-duced to provide life and money protection tothe people. Col Shuja Khanzada said that addi-tional 6000MW in the medium term (3-5years)to the national grid will be added through pri-vate and public investment in important coalbased power plants. He informed that sites havebeen identified at Sahiwal, Jhang, Rahim YarKhan, Muzaffargarh, Kasur and Sheikhupura.

Govt determined toaddress challenges

Shahbaz reviewslaw, order situation

Additional budget forprovision of health services

OBSERVER REPORT

LAHORE—Punjab Chief Minister, MuhammadShahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meet-ing today which reviewed the law and order situ-ation in the province. Provincial Ministers RanaSanaullah Khan, Col (Retd) Shujja Khanzada, IGPolice Punjab, Secretary Home and concerned of-ficers were present.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minis-ter said that maintenance of law and order inthe province is the top priority of the govern-ment and all out resources are being spent forthe protection of life and property of the citi-zens.

He said that police force is being equipped withlatest weapons and modern training. He said thatpolice should perform its duties honestly and effi-

ciently for safeguarding the life, property andhonour of the masses.

He said that modern technology should be uti-lized for curbing crime and improving law andorder. He said that police should utilize all its en-ergies and resources for bringing the criminal el-ements to justice and busting of criminal gangs.IG Police gave a detailed briefing on law and or-der situation in the province.

OBSERVER REPORT

LAHORE—Punjab Minister for Excise & Taxationand Finance Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman has saidthat campaign against dengue is a continuous ef-fort and will uphold this campaign during currentseason.

He said that Punjab government has provided19 percent additional budget for the provision ofhealth services in Punjab and by increasing thehealth budget up to 102 billion rupees. He said thatUlema have deep respect among the masses andthey should communicate them about protectivesteps regarding dengue virus in their individual as

well as collective contacts. During the awarenesscampaign against dengue at Wasanpura, MujtabaShuja ur Rehman told the people that elected rep-resentatives played a commendable role in promot-ing public awareness against dengue in previousyears and efforts will be made by the governmentto prevent dengue virus taking serious proportionsduring current season.

He said that Ulema can successfully executethe awareness campaign during prayers to the so-ciety. He said that in present season, with the coop-eration of masses, we would be succeeded to con-trol over the dengue virus and all available resourcesare being utilized for this purpose. Meanwhile,

presiding over a meeting of Austerity Committee,Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that maintenanceof peace, up-gradation of security and uplift ofhealth and education sectors are the top priority ofthe Punjab government and huge funds are beingprovided for this purpose.

The Committee gave approval to installationof scanners at 69 entry points from KP to monitortraffic on G.T. Road, Motorway and other routes.The local and foreign investors are showing keeninterest in investment in industrial sector and Punjabgovernment will provide them peaceful environ-ment as well as maximum facilities, the Ministerconcluded.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The Disaster Risk Management Society of Gov-ernment College University, Lahore in collaboration with Res-cue 1122 has organised a two-day Basic Life Support & RescueTraining to teach the students techniques and methods of cop-ing with disasters like fire, flood, earthquake etc.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahmanchaired the closing ceremony of the training which was alsoattended by Punjab Rescue Service 1122 Director General DrRizwan Naseer, GCU Dean Faculty of Sciences Prof Dr IslamUllah Khan and Disaster Risk Management Society Adviser Dr

Ali Iqtadar Mirza. Addressing the ceremony, Dr Rizwan Naseersaid that most the accidents could be prevented by awareness,good management and supervision combined with effectivetraining. “Rescue 1122 has rescued more than 25 million peoplekeeping the response time of 7 minutes,” he added.

Vice Chancellor Prof Rahman said that the basic life sup-port and rescue trainings should be compulsory for every stu-dent at the college and university levels, adding that it was alsotheir religious obligation to help others. The Vice Chancellorappreciated the Rescue 1122 team members and asked them toimpart rescue training to the students of all the educational in-stitutes of Pakistan.

Techniques, methods for coping with disasters