Continued on Page 7

More politicians join PML-N

People’s problems uppermoston PML-N agenda: NawazSALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Pakistan MuslimLeague-Nawaz (PML-N) Presi-dent Mian Nawaz SharifWednesday said that he is mak-ing a just struggle for securingthe future of coming genera-tions and putting the country onthe road to progress and pros-perity.

“If Allah Almighty pro-vided an opportunity to thePML-N to serve the masses asa result of general elections,we would sincerely work dayand night to address the issuesfaced by the countrymen as

well as country,” he saidwhile talking to PPP leadersfrom D.G. Khan ZeeshanLeghari and Azeem Shah andPTI leader from SargodhaDastgir Luk who called onhim here at Model Town andannounced to join the PML-N reposing full confidence inthe leadership of NawazSharif.

They also vowed to devotetheir energies for strengtheningthe party and resolving the is-sues faced by people.

Nawaz Sharif maintainedthat people are fully awareabout the political elements

who believe in rendering self-less services to the masses andare indulged in corruption.

The PML-N leader alsochaired meeting of PML-N dis-trict Pakpattan. Addressing themeeting, Nawaz said the PML-N is fully aware about problemsfaced by the countrymen and ifvoted to power we would attachpriority to address public is-sues.

He said the goal of bring-ing progress and prosperitycannot be achieved withouteradication of terrorism forwhich practical steps areneeded.

Continued on Page 7

Continued on Page 7

Polls scheduleafter 10 days:Secy ECPISLAMABAD—The ElectionCommission of Pakistan(ECP) Secretary IshtiakAhmed Wednesday saidschedule of election-2013would be issued after 10 days.

Talking to media personshere, Ishtiak Ahmed said only10 days were left for thedissolution of the parliament,and added whatever is to bedone has to be done withinthese 10 days.

He said a cell of SBP,FBR, Nadra and NAB

Continued on Page 7

PML-Nnominates threefor caretaker PMSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Opposition leaderin the National AssemblyChaudhry Nisar Wednesdaysaid Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has shortlisted three names i.e., RasoolBaksh Paleejo, Justice (Retd.)Nasir Aslam Zahid and Justice(Retd.) Shakirullah Jan for theslot of caretaker primeminister.

Addressing a newsconference here Wednesday,Nisar said that the PML-N hadchosen three candidates for theoffice of caretaker prime

Int’l meddlingled to terrorismin AfghanistanSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—ForeignSecretary Jalil Abbas Jilani onWednesday said the role ofinternational forces inAfghanistan had led toterrorism in the war-torncountry.

Speaking at a conferenceon Afghanistan in Islamabad,the foreign secretary saidterrorism would continue toaffect the country even afterthe withdrawal of Nato forces.

The US plans to end its

Continued on Page 7

Security, corruption mess

Army for clean-upbefore polls

AFZAL BAJWA

ISLAMABAD—Asserting as theonly unwavering institutionamid political transition, Paki-stan army has urged upon politi-cal leader-ship to go for law andorder be-sides accountabilitybefore general elections, well-placed sources told PakistanObserver.

According to the sources,the armed forces’ top brass be-lieves that politically electedfunctionaries must be held re-sponsible for the misgivings,lacking, and blatant failures ontheir part. “The army do notwant to share the responsibilityof the outgoing government’smiserable failure in the counterterror measures,” the sourcesadded.

“For instance,” the sourcessaid, “army did up to mark inthe Swat and Malakand opera-tion. Conse-quently, the brainsin uniform complain that thepolitical ad-ministration mis-

handled the subsequent opera-tions with the internally dis-placed person (IDPs)programme on top of them,” thesources maintained.

According to the sources,the military leadership was con-vinced that the militants that hadliterally scattered after Swat/Malakand and South Wa-ziristanoperation, regained strength af-ter dissolution of the national

resolve against violent extrem-ism.

The situation especially thatof security threatening alreadyfrag-ile economy has warrantedthe army to convey these con-cerns through behind the scenechan-nels besides expressing onthe record ‘readiness’ to handleat least the extent of law andorder that the political govern-ment could not.

According to reports,Chief of Army Staff GeneralAshfaq Per-vaiz who dashed toKarachi in the wake of worsen-ing security of the financial capi-tal of the country has again ex-pressed his institution’s readi-ness and pre-pared to assist thecivil administration to maintainlaw and or-der. Earlier he hadexpressed readiness to takeoverBalochistan to arrest deteriorat-ing state of security in the prov-ince.

After having a briefing at

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI: The port city ofKarachi was paralysed withinjust one hour on Wednesday atabout 2:30 PM, only 90 min-utes ahead of scheduled pressconference of the MuttahidaQaumi Movement Co-Ordina-tion Committee.

All of a sudden gunmen

Guns rule Karachi—No govt in sightsprung into action in their typi-cal style Wednesday afternoon,terrorizing the citizens and trad-ers by firing shots in the air andforcing the markets and shop-keepers to pull their shuttersdown and transporters to keeptheir wheels jammed.

Unidentified armed men hadstarted aerial firing in differentareas of the city and forced the

closure of scattered shops anddesignated shopping centres.The panic was spread in the cityand the people had started rush-ing to their homes leaving theiroffices and private businesses.

Gulshan-e Iqbal, TariqRoad, Saddar, North Karachi,Federal B Area, Malir, Landhi,Korangi, Ancholi, Gulistan-eJauhar, Jama Cloth, M A Jinnah

Road, Safora Chowrangi, Regal,Boulton Market, Bohri Bazar,Water Pump, Rizvia Society,Liaquatabad, Gharibabad,Hassan Square, Ayesha Manzil,Kharadar, Mithadar, andRanchor Lines there was hardlyany area spared was terror trad-ers.

Some ill-fated persons gotinjured as a result of firing by

the unidentified scruplous ele-ments in various parts of the city.Ambulance Services remainedon high alert during the day, ac-cording to Sindh SecretaryHealth. In the event of firing in-cidents in different parts of thecity, all ambulance services wereordered to stand as on high alertso as to cope up with any majoruntoward situation in the city.

Chief Justice IftikharMuhammad Chaudhary andChief of Army Staff (COAS)General Ashfaq Pervez Kayaniwere in the city when it wasforced to shut down for almosta whole long hour.

The Chief Justice of Paki-stan was in the city for hearingthe suo motu case on KarachiContinued on Page 7

Continued on Page 7

Sindh govt fires police chief

Govt not sincereover law, order: CJ

KARACHI—The provincialgovernment of Sindh axed theInspector General of police onWednesday over a bomb attackthat killed 50 people in a ShiaMuslim neighbourhood ofKarachi, following stingingcriticism by the country’s ChiefJustice Iftikhar MuhammadChaudhry.

A three-member bench ofthe apex court headed by ChiefJustice Iftikhar Muhammad

Chaudhry resumed the hearingover Abbas Town tragedy at theSupreme Court’s Karachi regis-try.

During the hearing, ChiefJustice Iftikhar Chaudhry re-marked that the Rangers hadcompletely failed at establishinglaw and order in the city, and thatthe government did not appearserious over the issue.

He further said that inci-

MQM cancels strikefor indefinite period

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Muttahida QaumiMovement (MQM) withdrewthe call for strike for an indefi-nite period over non-arrest of theterrorists that carried the AbbasTown carnage.

The transporters, privateschool management, traders’bodies, businessmen communityand people from walks of lifehailed the decision by the MQM.

However, the MQM Co-Or-dination Committee said that itwould continue with its peace-ful protest till the terrorists werearrested and brought to task.

The MQM Co-OrdinationCommittee withdrew its deci-sion for going to strike for anindefinite period in a secondemergency press conference ithad addressed at 8PM onWednesday.

Earlier, the MMQM Co-Or-

dination Committee memberRaza Haroon made that an-nouncement in first press con-ference he had addressed at thethe Khursheed Begum Secre-tariat in Azizabad at 4PM.

Dr Sagheer Ahmed,Waseem Aftab, Amir Khan,Kunwar Khalid Younus andother members were present.

Haroon had said that the ter-rorists had freely operated in thecity and carried sabotage activi-ties without any fear while thecitizens had been pinned to wallas they had been pushed into theocean of insecurity and fright.“The MQM that enjoys the larg-est public mandate in the cityand other urban areas of theprovince had no other option butto start a protest campaignagainst the terrorists, which wasits democratic right. The MQMcould not sit idle and it could not

Continued on Page 7

Continued on Page 7

Senatepasses 24th

ConstitutionalAmend Bill

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The Senate onWednesday approved the 24thConstitutional Amendment Billfor the creation of BahawalpurJanoobi Punjab province after70 votes were cast in its favour.

Minister for Law and Jus-tice Farooq H. Naek had movedthe bill in Senate. Despite astrong protest by the opposition,particularly PML-N and a walk-out, no votes opposing theamendment were cast.

Muttahida Qaumi Move-ment, despite being a part of theopposition, did not participate inthe protest or walkout.

The bill will amend sevenarticles of the constitution topave the way for the creation ofa new province and proposesthat the new province shall com-prise territories of Multan,Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan,Mianwali and Bhakkar districts.

The bill would be presentedin the National Assembly.

The Senate also passed theDefence Housing AuthorityIslamabad Bill, 2013 with theobject of carrying out schemes

Venezuelabegins ChavezfarewellCARACAS—Venezuelansbegan on Wednesday to bidfarewell to late President HugoChavez, whose body was to liein state for three days tohonour the firebrand leftistwho ruled the oil-rich nationfor 14 years.

The body of the 58-year-old former paratrooper wasto be escorted by a four-horsecortege from the Caracasmilitary hospital where hedied from cancer to amilitary academy heconsidered his secondhome.—Agencies

Court suspendsEgypt’s

parliamentelection

CAIRO—An Egyptian adminis-trative court on Wednesday or-dered the suspension of parlia-mentary elections scheduled tobegin next month, throwing thecountry’s politics deeper intoconfusion.

The ruling is likely to forcea delay in the elections and addsa new legal battle to Egypt’s in-tertwined crises. The country iscaught in political fights be-tween the Islamist president and

CaretakerPM’s namebefore 16

March: ShahSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minis-ter of Religious AffairsKhursheed Shah said onWednesday that name of care-taker Prime Minister (PM) willbe announced before March 16while the President would an-nounce date of election afterconsultation with all four chiefministers.

Talking to media inIslamabad, Khursheed Shah saidevery conspiracy of postpone-ment of elections would bemade unsuccessful and electionswill be held on time.

After midnight of March 16interim government will be in-stalled while elections in allprovinces will be conducted onsame day. Replying to a ques-tion Shah said.

Details on Page 15

ISLAMABAD—The indepen-dent U.N. body tasked withmonitoring the production andconsumption of narcoticsworldwide warned Tuesday ofthe increase in use of psycho-active substances known as‘legal highs’ which reproducethe effect of illegal drugs, andrepresent a threat to publichealth. “In recent years, therehas been an unprecedentedsurge in the abuse of new psy-choactive substances”, saidthe President of the Vienna-based International NarcoticsControl Board (INCB),Raymond Yans, says a messgereceived here.

According to the latestINCB annual report, these ‘le-gal highs’ are easily availableover the Internet, with theirnumbers estimated to be inthe hundreds and growingsteadily. In Europe alone, al-most one new substance isappearing every week, Yanssaid. Previously, between

2000 and 2005 there was anaverage of five notificationsof new substances per year.Clear action must be takennow by governments to pre-vent and deal with the abuseof these so-called ‘legalhighs’ which are already athreat to public health andpose a significant challengeto public health systems.

The report also states thatthe abuse of prescriptiondrugs has continued to spreadin all regions of the world. Inparticular, there has been anunabated increase in the con-sumption of drugs used for thetreatment of attention deficithyperactivity disorder(ADHD) in a number of coun-tries. Another major issue isthe abuse of tranquilizers andsedatives. More than 6 per centof secondary school studentshave already abused tranquil-izers in some countries, high-lighting another alarming trendof drug abuse, Yans said.

He added that the drugproblem is a truly global prob-lem that necessitates a globalsolution at an international,national and community level,and stressed the importance offollowing existing interna-tional drug control conven-tions to prevent drug-relatedtrafficking. The report alsooutlines the situation in eachgeographical region, notingthat North America remains thebiggest illicit drug market in theworld, as well as the region re-porting the highest drug-re-lated mortality rate with ap-proximately one in every 20deaths among people agedfrom 15 to 64 in North Americarelated to drug abuse.

Cannabis remains themost widely cultivated, traf-ficked and abused drug inAfrica, the report says, butamphetamine-type stimu-lants are increasingly seen asa new threat in the region.There have also been higher

levels of cocaine abuse inWest Africa, as the region hasemerged as a transit area fornarcotics from SouthAmerica to the Europeanmarket in recent years. InSouth America, the total areaof illicit coca bush cultivationhas slightly decreased com-pared to the previous years.

However, there continueto be large seizures of can-nabis. Central America and theCaribbean continue to be usedas major transit areas for co-caine trafficked from SouthAmerica to the North Ameri-can market, which is havingdestabilizing effects in thesecountries due to an increasein the levels of drug-relatedviolence. This continues toconstitute a major threat topublic security particularly inMexico, where according toGovernment figures more than60,000 people have been killedas a result of drug-related vio-lence since 2006.—APP

ISLAMABAD—All the provin-cial governments includingState of Azad Jammu & Kash-mir, Gilgit Baltistan and Fed-erally Administered TribalAreas (FATA) have finalizedskills development plans inline with National Skill Strat-egy to modernize technicaland vocational educationand training (TVET) in thecountry. National conferencejointly held by National Vo-cational & Technical Train-ing Commission (NAVTTC)and Technical Education &Vocational Training Authori-ties (TEVTAS) where Federal,provincial and regional skilldevelopment plans pre-

sented.TVET reform Support

Programme is co-financed bythe European Union, the Em-bassy of Kingdom of theNetherlands and Federal re-public of Germany. The con-ference was designed to en-able the provincial TEVTAs/agencies and NAVTTC topublicly present their skillsdevelopment plans whichhave been developed in linewith the National Skills Strat-egy (NSS).

NAVTTC Director Gen-eral Skil ls s tandards andCurricula Shahid AshrafTarar termed the confer-ence as a major achieve-

ment which will illustratethe act ion being under-taken to advance skills de-velopment and the TVETsector across Pakistan. Hesaid all the skill develop-ment plans reflects aroadmap for revampingTVET sector of Pakistan,enabling stakeholders andinternational donor organi-zations to understand theactions that were underway.

Dr. Ute Hoffmann, Coor-dinator TVET Reform Sup-port Programme, lauded theefforts of NAVTTC, TEVTAsand all the public and privatesector organizations for put-ting energies in preparation

of the skills developmentplans. She said it was an im-portant occasion, as for thefirst time NSS has been trans-lated into action plans, to beundertaken at different lev-els.

Implementation of theseplans will enable Pakistan toproduce skilled workforce forits economic and social de-velopment, she added. Lateron, representatives fromTEVTA KhyberPakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh,Balochistan, Azad Jammu &Kashmir and officials fromthe Directorate of TechnicalEducation FATA presentedtheir respective skill devel-

opment plans.These plans have been

facilitated by local and inter-national experts from TVETreform Support Programmeand guide the governmentand donor funding into areasof priority with the greatesteconomic impact. The plansalso outline economic impli-cations, growth, employmenttrends as well as highlightparticular policy, regulatory,funding, infrastructure andimplementation issues andorganizational structuresavailable for TVET and anystrengthening required toimplement activitiesplanned.—APP

Skill development plans finalized to modernise TVET

Anti-narcotics panel warns ofwidespread increase in use of ‘legal highs’

QUETTA—Jamiat Tulba-e-Islam described, it the re-sponsibility of the govern-ment to ensure the life andproperty of citizens and thelapses in security arrange-ments lead to acts of terror-ism in the province. Accord-ing to a JTI press releasehere, the office bearers urgedthe people to vote those inthe upcoming general elec-tions who really have theability to represent them andredress their grievances.

The government is answer-

able to the masses about theirsecurity and ensuring peace inits jurisdiction, they said andexpressed resentment over lackof facilities and preparednessto effectively deal emergencyat Civil Hospital, one of themajor public sector hospitals inthe provincial capital. CitizensAction Committee Quetta ex-pressed deep concern over de-teriorating law and order situa-tion in the province and de-manded of the government fortaking concrete measures torestore peace to the province.

In a statement here Tues-day, Salahudin Kakar, RafiullahMengal, Muzamal Khan andothers said the incidents ofbomb blasts, firing on passen-gers coaches and targeted kill-ings had made the environmentdreadful and the citizens findthemselves extremely vulner-able even at their homes. Theydemanded of the provincialgovernment for evolving aneffective strategy to restorepeace to the province so thatthe citizens could have a sighof relief.—APP

JTI: Vote those in pollscapable to serve mases

Eight Pakistanisdeportedfrom Iran

CHAGHI—Eight illegal Paki-stanis were deported by theIranian authorities at Taftanborder on Wednesday. Ac-cording to Levies force offi-cials, the handed over eightpersons were given in thecustody of Federal Investi-gation Agency for necessaryaction. 174 criminals ar-rested: Quetta police havedetained some 174 criminalsduring a span of one week,police sources said.

Sources said that on thedirectives of CCPO QuettaMir Zubair Mehmood, policelaunched search operationsthat resulted into arrest of 174criminals, besides recovery ofarms and ammunition. Thedetained included wanted invarious heinous crimes andabsconder, they added.CCPO commending the ef-forts of the police announcedRs one lakh for Airport PSstaffers and Rs 50000 for NewSariab PS. It may be men-tioned here that police havelaunched crackdown againstthe criminals, illegal arms andvehicles to maintain peaceand tranquility in the provin-cial capital and its adjoiningareas.—APP

Sherpao blastsgovt for failingto restore peace

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—Qaumi WatanParty (QWP) provincial Chair-man Sikandar Hayat KhanSherpao on Wednesdaycriticised the government forfailing to restore peace andsolve problems of thePakhtuns over the last fiveyears. “Those claiming to havegiven identity to the Pakhtunshave in fact exposed them tountold miseries,” he told a well-attended public meeting inLower Dir district.

Condemning the Karachibombing, he said his partyhad a comprehensiveprogramme to establish sus-tainable peace and serve thePakhtun nation. SikandarSherpao asked the govern-ment to ensure timely polls sothat the country could besteered out of the prevailingcrises.

Coming down hard onthe provincial government,he said those affected by actsof subversion in KhyberPakhtunkhwa received lesscompensation compared tothe financial aid being of-fered to the victims of terroracts in other provinces.Sikandar Sherpao said thegovernment had been unableto revive the infrastructure inMalakand division, whichwas destroyed by the 2010floods and acts of sabotage.

ISLAMABAD—Minister forInformation and Broadcast-ing Qamar Zaman Kaira saidWednesday the InformationMinistry and its attacheddepartments had to play verysensitive role in keeping themasses informed and project-ing the positive image of thegovernment.

Addressing as chief guestat oath-taking ceremony ofthe Information Staff WelfareAssociation here, he said thatin the developing countriesdue to non-availability ofenough funds all problems

could not be resolved. Kairaappreciated the role of PressInformation Department (PID)and other attached depart-ments of the ministry in high-lighting the achievements ofthe government. He hopedthat the newly establishedstaff welfare association willstrive for resolution of theproblems of the PID.

He also hoped that thePID will also play construc-tive role in upcoming generalelections. While speakingabout the demands of theassociation president Abdul

Malik Gujjar,he said that hehad advised the Principal In-formation Officer to preparea summary for its approvalfrom the Prime Minister.

Kaira promised that hewould try to get some suit-able plot and building allot-ted for the PID in coming fewdays. He also announced Rs500,000 grant for the welfareassociation and directed thePIO for payment of hono-rarium to the PID staff.In theend he administered oath tothe newly-elected office bear-ers of the association.—APP

PID geared up to energeticprojection of govt gains: Kaira

STAFF REPORTER

P E S H A W A R — K h y b e rPakhtunkhwa Governor, En-gineer Shaukatullah Wednes-day said the establishment ofRescue-1122 institution inFATA is dire need of the re-spective people and measureswould be taken actively tomaterialize it within the short-est possible time. During abriefing on the proposedproject at Governor’s Househere, he stressed upon expe-ditious work on establishmentof Rescue-1122 in FATA.

Meanwhile the KhyberPakhtunkhwa Governor, Engr.Shaukatullah has said that thesacrifices offered by the of-ficers and the jawans whilefulfilling their duties would

not go vain and always be re-membered with great respectand regard. He was address-ing a condolence referenceheld at Governor’s House hereWednesday, wherein homagewas paid to the former APALandi Kotal, Shaheed KhalidMumtaz Kundi who wasmartyred in the tragic incidentof the terrorist attack at theoffice of the Political Agent ofKhyber Agency, last month.

The ceremony was alsoaddressed by MNA fromKhyber Agency, MaulanaHafiz Noorul Haq Qadri, Po-litical Agent, MutahirzebKhan, prominent elders,Malik Waris Khan Afridi,Malik Faizullah Jan, MalikDariya Khan and AdditionalChief Secretary FATA, Dr.

Tashfin Khan besides tribalelders of Khyber Agency.

The Governor said thatresult oriented investiga-tions would be perused tobring the culprits, involvedin the incidents, to justice.He said that country hasbeen achieved by render-ing matchless sacrif ices,adding we are still facingthe challenges of samelevel while struggling toensure stability and secu-rity.

He also gave compensa-tion cheques to heirs of mar-tyrs and injured in the tragicincident. He said that the fi-nancial assistance representsthe solidarity and commit-ment of the government to theaffected families.

CHAMAN: FC 85 Gulistan Wing Commander Lt Col Rashid Akhtar checking 1800 kg of hashish seized at Pak-Afghan border which was being smuggled to Pakistan from Afghanistan.

279 solarenergy lamps

distributedKHANEWAL—A total of 279solar energy lamps were dis-tributed among 244 femaleand 35 male students of dis-trict colleges on merit hereWednesday. Addressing thedistribution ceremony atGovernment College forWomen, Member ProvincialAssembly Nishat AhmedKhan said that nation’s de-velopment is linked witheducation and the Punjabgovernment was utilizing allresources for educationalrevolution in the province.Deputy Director CollegesMuhammad Jahangir in-formed that previously 664solar energy lamps were dis-tributed among second yearmale.— APP

PPP governmentprovided 150,000

SARGODHA—Chairman Na-tional Vocational and Tech-nical Education MumatazAkhtar Kahloon said thatPPP led government pro-vided 150,000 employmentsto educated youth during itsfive years tenure. Address-ing a press conference onWednesday after inaugurat-ing party offices at Farooqaand Sahiwal Tehsil (NA-68),he said that for eliminatingpoverty from the society, thePPP government launchedBenazir Income SupportProgramme for stabilizingwomen economically and forthis purpose Rs 300,000 weregiven to women underWasleela-e-Haq programmeto start reasonable busi-ness.—APP

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Meteo-rological Department onWednesday forecast mainlydry weather in most parts of thecountry during next 24 hours.According to met office, conti-nental air is prevailing over mostparts of the country. In KhyberPakhtunkhwa mainly dryweather is expected in mostparts of the province duringnext 24 hours.

Day temperatures arelikely to rise in the plain ar-eas of the province. In Sindhdry weather is expected inmost parts of the provinceduring next 24 hours. Daytemperatures are likely to risein Sindh. While inBalochistan dry weather isexpected in most parts of theprovince during next 24hours. Day temperatures arelikely to rise in the Southernparts of the province.

Moreover, in Kashmir andGilgit-Baltistan mainly Cold

Dry weather forecasteand dry weather is expectedin most parts of Kashmir andGB during next 24 hours. TheKP Met Office here onWednesday predicted dryweather in most parts ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)and FATA with no predictionof rain.

According to Met Office

here, continental air is prevail-ing over most parts of thecountry and that dry weatheris expected in most parts ofthe country including KP andFATA. The day temperaturewill remain above normal 4-6C in plain areas of the coun-try in next 48 hours.—APP

QUETTA—Balochistan gov-ernment would distribute freetextbooks among 1.2 millionstudents in sixteen districts ofthe province. ChairmanBalochistan Textbook BoardAbdul Qayum Babai told APPhere Wednesday that distri-bution of free textbooksamong the students of classone to 10th had already beenlaunched following the end ofwinter vocations of schoolsin winter zone of the province.

“The Textbook Board hasgot completed the publishingof new textbook and has pro-vided bulk of text books tothe provincial education de-

1.2m Balochistan studentsto have free textbook

partment for onward distribu-tion among the studentsacross the province”, he said,Steps have been taken toshun the sale of free textbookin open market by the corruptofficials of the department,he added. Meanwhile, TheFulbright Programme in Pa-kistan has started acceptingapplications for 2014. The USgovernment’s flagship schol-arship programme awardsfull scholarships to deserv-ing Pakistani students whowish to complete their Mas-ters or PhD, in a field of theirchoice, in universities acrossthe United States. —APP

PESHAWAR: PHC Chief Justice, Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and United NationsDevelopment Programme Marc-Andre Franche offering Dua after opening researchwing at judicial complex.

OIC hands over1000 housing

units to DG Khanflood affectees

HAMEED SHAHEEN

I S L A M A B A D — T h eOrganisation of Islamic Coop-eration has delivered one hun-dred housing units, a school,a health center and a mosqueto the people of the D. G. Khanvillage in Multan, Punjab Prov-ince. The handover ceremonywas held for the D. G. Khanvillagers, affected by the disas-trous floods that hit Pakistanin the summer of 2010. The cer-emony was attended by rep-resentatives of OIC and Paki-stan govt, says an OIC report.

The project waslaunched at the directions ofthe OIC Secretary General,Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, whohad announced OIC pledgesat the Donors’ Conferencefor the benefit of the victimsof the Pakistan floods in July2010.The Organisation of Is-lamic Cooperation thankedCameron, whose permanentrepresentative to the OIC,Ambassador Tijani, handedover the keys to the villag-ers, for contributing the larg-est share towards the financ-ing of the project. Guyanawas also thanked for its con-tribution in the building ofthe village. The OIC also paidtribute to Pakistan for provid-ing facilities to the OIC tocomplete the project. The D.G. Khan village project hadbeen planned by the OIC incollaboration with the YouthParliament of Pakistan.

Governor for setting upRescue-1122 in FATA

CM approves Rs 110m for UoPPESHAWAR—Chief Minister KhyberPakhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Khan Hotihas approved a grant of Rs. 110 millionfor University of Peshawar (UoP) for theyear 2012-13. Out of 110 million rupees100 million would be spent on purchaseof transport for the university whereasthe rest of 10 million have been allo-cated for Peshawar University Teach-ers Association (PUTA). Moreover,CM has approved a supplementary

grant of 30 million rupees for Long Land schools and col-lege district Chitral. The CM has advised that the grantshould be utilized for increase in salary of the teachingstaff, purchase of multi-media and computers, construc-tion of garage and to meet other requirements. Journalistcommunity Tuesday walked out from proceedings of pro-vincial assembly to protest over financial crisis in Associ-ated Press of Pakistan. Newsmen covering KhyberPakhtunkhwa assembly’s proceedings went out of thehouse under the leadership of Shahab Ahmad of Aaj TV toexpress solidarity with their colleagues in APP who arefacing problems in getting their salary on time from the lastseveral years and due to non-payment of their allowances.Taking notice of the boy-cott, Speaker KP, KiramatullahKhan directed Provincial Minister for Information, MianIftikhar Hussain who met with the protesting journalists.The newsmen apprised Information Minister that from thelast four years the employees of APP are suffering due tofinancial crisis. The APP staffers are not getting salarieson time besides their allowances have been stopped andarrears of increase in salaries announced by governmentin the last three years are not being paid.—APP

Consultations for caretaker setupStaff Reporter

PESHAWAR—Khyber PakthunkhwaMinister for Information, Transport andCulture, Mian Iftikhar Hussain saidWednesday consultations with allstakeholders including opposition par-ties were underway pertaining to for-mation of Caretaker setup in the prov-ince. Chief Minister Ameer Haider KhanHoti will soon meet Opposition Leaderin Provincial Assembly, Akram KhanDurrani again for developing consen-

sus on a name for caretaker Chief Minister and hiscabinet,he added. He was talking to mediapersons afterdistributing cheques among 153 artisans of KhyberPakthunkhkwa under aegis of Directorate of Culture’sAnnual Development Programme (ADP) scheme “Assis-tance and Support of the Cultural Community of the Prov-ince” here at Nishtar Hall. The KP Government has estab-lished Rs.200 million founds for financial support and as-sistance of locals artists and Rs. Six million were alreadydistributed among 130 local artists. Khyber PakthunkhwaSecretary Information Azmat Hanif Orakzai were alsopresent and distributed cheques among the artists selectedfrom across the province. The Information Minister saidno consensus with opposition parties has been developedon formation of Caretaker Chief Minister and cabinet. Heexpressed the hope to resolve this issue in line with pa-rameters laid down in the constitution. Earlier in his ad-dress as chief guest, he said despite limited resources, theprovincial government has provided full support to arti-sans of the province to help address their financial prob-lems. The soil of Khyber Pakthunkhwa, he said, was veryrich in producing international and local artists whom notonly earned name for themselves but also for the country.

Balochistan development speeded upISLAMABAD—Federal Minister forPostal Services Sardar AlhajMuhammad Umar Gorgaij Wednesdaysaid that government has initiatedrecord development projects inBalochistan for the welfare of thepeople. Talking to APP, he said that vari-ous development projects were initiatedincluding dams, roads and others infra-structure projects. “The developmentwork done during last five years in

Balochistan, were never carried out in the history of thecountry. He said that the present government has imple-mented NFC award to provinces on the desire of the massesfor the welfare of the people of the province. Talking aboutPak-Iran gas pipeline project, he said that President AsifAli Zardari recently visited Iran and signed the projectwhich is one of the bold steps for resolving the energycrisis in the country. He expressed the hope that this projectwill end the energy crisis in the country. The minister saidthat thousands sacked employees reinstated and dailywages and contract employees regularized by the presentgovernment during last five years. He said All Parties Con-ference (APC) of JUI-F and ANP for peace in the countrywas a good initiative, adding that table talk is the onlyoption for resolving various issues. The minister askedthe PPP workers to utilize their energy for winning theforthcoming general elections by the party. He saidShaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto still rules over thehearts of the people. Last month, Balochistan’s coalitiongovernment led by Aslam Raisani was dismissed andgovernor’s rule was imposed. Yet in the present scenariono government even governor’s rule appears to be able topacify the restive province. The fact is that Balochistan isvirtually under the control of the military establishment.The provincial government has limited authority.—APP

PPP wants S Punjab provinceISLAMABAD—PPP leader and MemberPunjab Assembly Syed Ahmed MujtabaGilani has said that PPP want to formSouth Punjab province in the larger in-terest of the area but PML-N did not par-ticipate in the meeting of ParliamentaryCommission on new provinces as theywere against the formation of new prov-inces. Talking to Radio Pakistan he saidPPP government carried out record de-velopments during its tenure. He said that

President Asif Ali Zardari visited Multan on the invitationof former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and appre-ciated developmental projects in South Punjab. He said thatformer prime minister Gilani completed record developmen-tal projects in the area to address people’s deprivation. Formerprime minister and PPP senior vice chairman Syed YusufRaza Gilani praised President Asif Ali Zardari for his supportin uplifting the backward areas of the country includingSouth Punjab on war footing. Gilani said that uplift of back-ward areas was essential to extend the development to thepeople as their right and role of the President was com-mendable in this connection. It was not just South Punjabbut all other under developed areas of the country remainedin focus for development, Gilani said adding that recorddevelopment projects worth Rs 3 trillion were executed orwere under execution during the on-going five- year tenureof the government. He said the PPP was the name of anideology and its leaders and workers believe in serving thepeople whether in power or not. The pace of developmentwas swift, Gilani said adding that one can hardly witnessexamples that a leader who laid the foundation of a projectwould also be opening it for welfare of the people.—APP

Anti-poliodrive continues

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—The anti-poliocampaign on Wednesdaycontinues for the third con-secutive day in different ar-eas of Peshawar and Feder-ally Administered Tribal Ar-eas (FATA). The health au-thorities plan to administerpolio vaccine to 700,000 chil-dren and seven thousandsteams have been formed toachieve the target.

Rememberingunforgettable Agha

Muneer AkhtarKHALID BUTT

THE sudden and unexpected passing awayof one of my oldest

cricketing friends fromSahiwal (former Montgom-ery) in Lahore on Mondaycame as a shock to me and hismany friends all over thecountry. Agha Muneer hadbeen one of the oldest cricketplayers and organizers of thatsporting city which producedmany a great player.

Agha Muneer was widelyknown cricket figure, withclose pals like Ijaz Butt, Col.Nayyar, Brig. Syed Ali, Capt.Naseer, General (rtd) WaheedMalik, Javed Qayum andmany others who would allmiss his joyful and lovelycompany.

My deep condolence toBegum Muneer, his daugh-ter Prof. Shazia of PunjabUniversity, brother AghaZaheer Akhtar, formerly ofKarachi Sea Customs andnephew Agha Pervez Bashir(of Lahore Gymkhana fame).

SWAT: Students presenting military tableau during Annual Day of at a local school.

QUETTA—At least threecoalminers were reportedkilled in an incident of mudsliding in Chamalang area ofBalochistan. The lethal mud-sliding incident took placenear a private coalmine inChamalang area of DistrictLoralai on Tuesday night,where three coalminers losttheir lives. Owing to the ab-sence of communication sys-tem, the rescue efforts weredelayed and helplesscoalminers identified asMuhammad Ibrahim, AbdulRahim and Abdul Halim, losttheir lives.

Later on, the rescue

teams recovered bodies ofthe killed coalminers with thehelp of local coalmine work-ers of Chamlang. Accordingto the official tally, over 300hundred coalminers havebeen killed and many moreinjured since 2005 in contin-ued lethal mishaps inBalochistan. APP adds: Aman was killed and anothersustained injuries over anold enmity by unknown gun-men here on Wednesday.

According to police, thevictim identified asMuhammad Luqman andMuhammad Iqbal werestanding near taxi stand

when armed assailants ridinga motorbike opened fire onthem and fled from the scene.As a result, MuhammadLuqman died on the spotwhile another sustainedwounds.

Khanpur: One personkilled and a woman was in-jured when a speeding trailerhit a motorcycle on nationalhighway here Wednesday.According to details,Sharafat Ali alias Kala andShamim Mai were going toChani Goth on a motorcycle,while crossing near TrandaMuhammad Panah a trailerran over them.—APP

WAQAS ASHRAF

KASUR—The PML(N) willform government in all theprovinces of Pakistan andafter becoming the prime min-ister, Mian Nawaz Sharfiwould resolve the problemsof the country. These viewswere expressed by MNAHamza Shahbaz Sharif whileaddressing a public gather-ing at new bus terminal here.Addressing the rally, HamzaShahbaz said the inflation,unemployment and loadshedding were main issues ofPakistan and the PML (N)government would solvethese problems.

He said President Asif Ali

Zardari should tell themassess from where he gotthe money for his luxuriouspalace which had been builtin Lahore. He added that thePPP governement did notdeliver to the masses andagriculture land of Sindhhave become barren. He saidthe people of Sindh havebeen disappointed by thepolicies of PPP governmentand now were supportingNawaz Sharif for theprogress and prosperity ofthe country.

He lamented that theeducated youth have de-grees in their hands but wereunable to get jobs.“PML (N) government would

create employment opportu-nities for them within threemonths of their goverment.He said the law and ordersituation of Karachi was verypoor and it needed specialattention to improve. He saidthe terrorism mind wouldchange when the children ofpoor class people would getquality education.

Hamza also inauguratedthe newly constructedKasur-Deepalpur road. Onthis occasion, MNA MalikRasheed Ahmed Khan, MNAWaseem Akhtar Sheikh,Malik Ahmed Saeed and thecandidate from 178Mubashar Nawaz were alsopresent.

M A N S E H R A — P a k i s t a nTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chair-man Imran Khan once againconfidently said that hisparty will defeat PakistanMuslim Leagu-N (PML-N)and Pakistan People’s Party(PPP) in the elections. Ad-dressing a public gatheringhere, Khan said that bothAsif Zardari and NawazSharif have damaged andlooted the country but thepeople would reject them thistime in the elections. Aftercoming into power, the PTIwill overcome all the prob-lems and will make the coun-try an attractive place for theforeign investors, he said.

He further said that era ofdynastic politics is over and

Imran Khan loud oncrushing PML-N, PPP

that PTI will not offer funds toMNAs and MPAs as bribe.Imran also said that he wouldbring reforms in the police sys-tem. NNI Chairman PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ImranKhan on Tuesday called forappointing a non-political in-dividual as caretaker primeminister of the country.

Addressing public gath-erings in Haripur, Hawailianand Abbottabad, he said thepeople were well-aware oftheir political tights and themasses would make account-able the political parties in theforthcoming general elec-tions. He said the people hadto join PTI for bringing realchange in the country, add-ing it was PTI.—APP

BASHIR AHMAD RAHMANI

HAFIZABAD—On thepointation of a thief, theKaleke police raided thehouse of proclaimed of-fender Muhammad AslamRajoka in Mailoana villageand seized eight live handgrenades and explosive ma-terial. According to policesource, a thief Shafqat Aliintruded into the house ofproclaimed offender Aslam inMailoana and spotted eighthand grenades and some ex-plosive material hidden inthe house.

The frightened thief ranaway from the house and in-formed the Kaleke policewhich alongwith bomb dis-posal squad rushed to thespot and defused the gre-nades and explosive mate-

rial.The police source said

Muhammad Aslam Rajoka,Nasrullah, Nazim Bhatti andothers had murdered schoolteacher Ajmal Khan Bhattiabout three years back andsince then they were de-clared Proclaimed Offenders.Aslam had stocked the handgrenades and explosive ma-terial to blow up the housesof their rivals.

The police have regis-tered a case against AslamRajoka and others and are in-vestigating. The POs havenot yet been arrested. How-ever, the police have ar-rested the informant thiefShafqat.

*****The city police have reg-

istered a case againstManzar, Ansar and nine oth-

ers of Dhanoway Dogran onthe charge of allegedly at-tacking Emergency Ward ofDHQ Hospital Hafizabad,ransacking the furnitures,broken window panes andinjuring two hospital employ-ees Sarfraz and Asif. The po-lice have so far arrestedManzar, Ansar and three oth-ers.

According to villagers,they took a pregnant womanQamar Bibi to the emergencyward in the hospital but thedoctors and paramedicalstaff evinced little interest.Afterward, angereddependants of Qamar Bibiraided the hospital and ran-sacked the Emergency Ward.

*****Hundreds of men and

women belonging to ShiaCommunity today taken out

a rally and staged sit-in dem-onstration to protest againstthe genocide of Muslims inKarachi and Quetta.

The protesters whichwere led by Syeda ShamaGilani Chairperson HussainiAlliance Women Wing,Syed Hussain Ali ShahPresident HA, Haji LiaquatZawar Khano protested bybeating their chests andraised slogans against therulers and law enforcingagencies which have miser-ably failed to prevent targetkilling of Shias in the coun-try.

They demanded that ef-fective measures should beadopted to stop target kill-ings otherwise the Shia Com-munity would be constrainedto launch protest against therulers in the whole country.

Police raid PO house, 8 hand grenades seized

Zardari clarify expenses onhuge Lahore palace : Hamza

Police foil terror bid, defuse 40-kg bomb

Mudslide kills 3 coalminers

Peshawar: Vice Chancellor UoP Prof Dr Muhammad Rasul Jan visiting stalls at theProject and Chart Exhibition held at the Institute of Physics and Electronics.

FAISALABAD: Women workers are busy in carpeting of a road totally ignorant ofWomen’s Day to be observed tomorrow.

ISLAMABAD—A delegationof Sukkur Press Club (SPC)led by Saeed Jahan Alias LalaAsad called on Prime Minis-ter Raja Pervez Ashraf hereat the Prime Minister House.The Prime Minister said hewas pleased to learn thatSukkur Press Club has a tra-dition of visiting variousparts of the country to havefirst hand information ofevents and issues.

The Prime Minister saidthat Islam ordains its follow-ers to see for themselves andinvestigate before testifying.It is all the more necessaryfor media persons as theyhave to report on sensitiveissues which have an impacton millions of people, he

Sukkur Press Clubteam meets Raja

added. The Prime Ministerhailed the role of media ingeneral and Sukkur PressClub in particular for uphold-ing and supporting the causeof democracy in Pakistan.

The president SPCthanked the government forproviding the club a grant ofRs. 105 million for building acomplex which has an audi-torium as well as other facili-ties and can compete withany modern press club of theworld. He informed the PrimeMinister that the complexalso has a video conferencefacility which can link theclub to the rest of the world.wMinister for Religious Af-fairs Syed Khurshid Shah,Minister for Information.—APP

ISLAMABAD—The provinceshave been asked to effec-tively run awareness cam-paigns to educate parents toadminister anti-polio dropsto their children during ev-ery national drive. Accord-ing to an official of Ex-panded Programme on Im-munization, district healthmanagers have been di-rected to properly managethe immunization drives fol-lowing the set strategy.

He said they have beenasked to ensure 100 per centcoverage during the nationalanti-polio drive to vaccinateall children to protect themfrom the crippling disease.He added such directionshave been issued after re-ceiving complaints from thecitizens that district healthteams mostly miss the chil-dren during anti-polio drives.He said due to law and order

Provinces asked to runpolio awareness drives

situation, health teams couldnot continue anti-polio drivein Swat that resulted increasein polio cases in the area.

He, however, said thatnow after improving the situ-ation polio drops were admin-istered to children in Swat inrecent polio eradicationdrives. He added the govern-ment has planned to immunizemaximum number of childrenin Swat during every polioeradication drive. Dr WasimKhawaja from Pakistan Insti-tute of Medical Sciences(PIMS) said, polio is a highlyinfectious viral disease, whichmainly affects young chil-dren. They added the virus istransmitted through contami-nated food and water, andmultiplies in the intestine, fromwhere it can invade the ner-vous system. He said initialsymptoms of polio includedfever.—APP

KHAIRPUR—Armed personslooted Rs 3 million from aMela contractor in Ranipur onWednesday. According todetails, three unidentifiedarmed motorcyclist inter-cepted the organiser ofRanipur Mela, Abdul HameedMemon, at National Highwayin the jurisdiction of Ranipurpolice station when he wasgoing to Hyderabad.

The accused looted Rsthree million from him at gunpoint. On resistance the ac-cused attacked him with aknife. As a result he was in-jured and shifted to RanipurHospital for treatment whilethe armed persons managedto escape. Ranipur policereached the spot on receipt

Armed persons snatchRs 3m from contractor

of information and pursuedthe culprits but could nottrace them.

Muzaffargarh: Policehave arrested drug pedlarsand recovered marijuana(Charas) and liquor from theirpossession here Wednesday.According to details, in ageneral hold up police havearrested Shahid Ali andAhmad Nawaz and recov-ered 50 liter liquor from theirpossession. Meanwhile on atip off police arrested the ac-cused Yunas and Saqib, re-trieved 1 kilogram marijuana(Charas) and 13 liter liquorfrom their possession respec-tively. Police have registeredseparate cases, and startedinvestigation.—APP

Balochistan comes topolitical mainstreamPML-N scored double victory on Tuesday as it not only re-estab

lished its visible presence in Hazara by embracing several of theprominent figures of the area into its folds, but also achieved a

breakthrough in Balochistan where former Senator Lashkari Raisanialong with several others joined the party. This was an important de-velopment in the sense that Raisani was former President of PPPBalochistan and apparently his decision is being seen as a big setbackto the ruling party.

Joining of Raisani and Humayun Kurd is surely a major boost toPML-N, which is eager to establish its footholds in all the four prov-inces to rebut propaganda of its opponents that it is mainly confinedto Punjab. But this development is more important and significantfrom the point of view of Balochistan situation as joining of a majorpolitical party by some stalwarts is being viewed as a step towardspolitical mainstreaming of the province. This would in turn mean scut-tling of the efforts of a handful of elements that are talking aboutseparation and other things at the behest of their foreign masters.PML(N) definitely deserves credit for making good moves in the prov-ince which will go a long way in promoting national harmony andsolidarity. It has established good working relationship with otherpopular parties of the province like JWP and PKMAP as well as JUI(F)of Maulana Fazlur Rehman. There are also reports that almost allnationalist parties of the province are planning to take part in theforthcoming general elections and should that happens it would givethe much-needed legitimacy to the political process in the province.We are confident that the leadership emerging out of the next elec-tions would be able to resolve problems of the people and helpstrengthen the federation. Already, handing over of management ofGwadar Port to China and signing of IP gas pipeline agreement withIran mean tremendous boost to the economic activities in Balochistanand these appreciable political developments would send a strong buthealthy message across borders about things to come in the province.

Raja’s India visit atthis point of time

REPORTS in the media that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf wouldbe visiting Ajmer Sharif on Saturday has caused surprise among

the people particularly at this point of time when he will be having lastweek in office as Chief Executive of the country. During the finaldays, a Prime Minister is required to settle all the pending issues byclearing his desk so that the caretaker set up could feel comfortable anddevote its entire attention to the holding of free, fair and transparentelections.

Raja Pervez Ashraf reportedly had to postpone scheduled pilgrim-age to the shrine of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti twice in the last fiveyears and he could have done so for another week till transfer of power.According to officials, he will be going to Amjer Sharif with his familyand other relatives to pay his respect to the Saint for successfully com-pleting his term and pray for the well being of the country. While wedo not question the devotion that Raja Saheb has to the Sufi Saint, butemphasise that visits to religious places are unofficial and should notbe undertaken at official expenses. The national exchequer will beburdened, as millions of dollars will be spent for just one day’s visit.The Hindu extremist organisation Shiv Sena has opposed the visit whilethe officials had made it clear that there would be no bilateral meet-ings. In fact the visit is not an isolated one but part of the culture of theruling class that draws maximum benefits for their own and familymembers pleasure at state expenses till the last moment in office.

Pakistan can gofor TAPI as well

THINGS are moving ahead with appreciable speed on the front ofIran-Pakistan gas pipeline project but the United States is still harp-

ing on the same old mantra of “I would not agree”. During his visit toTarbela on Tuesday, US Ambassador Richard Olson reiterated hiscountry’s opposition to IP but added that Washington supports TAPIproject.

Though Olson was there in Tarbela in connection with completionof the first phase of upgradation of power station, which was a happyoccasion, but he marred the achievement by making comments that arenever welcomed in Pakistan. It is strange that on the one hand the UnitedStates claims that it was fully alive to the growing energy requirementsof Pakistan but on the other hand it is opposing tooth and nail genuineattempts being made by the country towards energy security. Pakistanhas lived for five years in darkness and many of its industries shifted toother countries just because of energy crisis and in the given situation itis duty of all of its friends to extend a helping hand to meet the chal-lenge. The much-delayed IP gas project is, in fact, just a beginning as itwould not bridge the entire gap between demand and supply of gas,rather it would only feed some power plants in Sindh. This effectivelymeans that Pakistan would definitely need to pursue the TAPI gas pipe-line project as well and we would urge Olson to prevail upon his au-thorities concerned to help expedite this project but not at the cost ofIP. IP has reached advanced stages of implementation as formal con-struction work on Pakistani side of the border is scheduled to begin onMarch 11. Perhaps, Pakistan would not have needed Iranian gas forsome years had there been urgency on the part of the US and others tofacilitate implementation of TAPI that is there on papers since 1990s.

Living in the make believe!

A fool bolts pleasure,then complains ofmoral indigestion.

Wrongfight

PRESIDENT Obama beganhis second term with a promise to push harder on energy

and climate change. The events ofthe past week remind us that hewon’t have to contend just with Re-publicans and coal-state Democratsdetermined to oppose reasonablemeasures to combat global warm-ing. He will also have to sidestepenvironmentalists demanding thathe fight the wrong battles.

Last Friday, the State Depart-ment released a new draft analysisof the Keystone XL oil pipeline,opposition to which has become acounterproductive obsession ofmany in the environmental move-ment. In its 2,000 pages, the reportdismantled the case that nixing theCanadian pipeline must be a prior-ity for anyone concerned about cli-mate change, explaining anew thataccepting or rejecting the projectwon’t make much difference to glo-bal emissions, US oil consumptionor world oil markets. Under anti-Keystone activists’ very best sce-nario — Keystone XL and all othernew pipeline capacity restricted —they could hope to reduce Canadianoil-sands production by only 2 to 4percent by 2030.

The analysis underscores theextent to which activists havetrumped up a relatively mundaneinfrastructure issue into the premierenvironmental fight of this decade,leading to big marches and acts ofcivil disobedience to advance acause that is worthy of neither. Theactivists ought to pick more impor-tant fights. Until they do, the presi-dent should ignore their pressure.Mr. Obama should also ignore thecomplaints about Ernest Moniz,whom the president nominatedMonday to head the Energy Depart-ment. Mr. Moniz, an MIT profes-sor, favours renewable sources ofelectricity — but also nuclear powerand natural gas. That’s a sin amongsome in the environmental move-ment, although it should not be. Mr.Moniz was right, for example, whenhe argued that natural gas can helpcut the nation’s carbon emissionsover the next couple of decades,because burning it produces half theemissions of burning coal. What’sneeded is not knee-jerk oppositionto natural gas but, rather, sensibleregulations to ensure that commu-nities near well sites are safe and thatthe country sees the most emissionsbenefits from its use of the fuel. Mr.Obama so far has taken that course,and we hope his appointment of Mr.Moniz means that he will stay ontrack. Instead of indulging in distrac-tions, Mr. Obama and his friends inthe environmental movement shouldpush for policies that could make asignificant difference by cutting de-mand for carbon-intensive fuels. Aswe argued Sunday, a carbon tax is acause that really is worth fightingfor. — The Washington Post

*****

BD needsstability

ABOUT 80 people have beenkilled in Bangladesh in thelast 40 days in riots over the

trial of a handful of alleged warcriminals, who are accused ofcrimes against humanity during thebloody nine-month war of indepen-dence in 1971. The conflict startedwhen a war crimes tribunal passeda death sentence against one of theoffenders, a fugitive, followingwhich the workers of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh took to thestreets in protest. Jamaat, a politi-cal party, had opposedBangladesh’s independence fromPak, along with the Muslim League.

The fact that some of its mem-bers collaborated and participated inthe killings, torture and rapes hasbeen well documented. Some ofthese crimes have come to the sur-face after four decades. However,the life sentence handed down onthe second offender, Abdul QaderMulla — whose record is among theworst — raised eyebrows amongmany. The latest round of violencehas strengthened calls to ban theJamaat and other extremist politicalparties, especially those supportingterrorism. While it is important forthe Bangladesh government to carryout fair trials and ensure justice, italso has a responsibility to ensurepeace and stability. Bangladesh, ademocracy, also needs to decide ifit wants to let extremist forces carryout their agenda on its soil. If not,then the time for the decision isnow. — Gulf News

MEDIA WATCH

Minna Antrim—US writer

The so-called strategic relationship between the US andthis country appears to be in

a state of flux, not that there everwas a period when it wasn’t! Themuck raised by WikiLeaks is all butforgotten (short public memory andall that!). But the latest pronounce-ments coming out of Washingtonand the hints dropped by respon-sible persons who ought to knowbetter, give one the queasy feelingthat things are not proceeding theway they ought to. There was thetime when the diplomats of theLand of the Pure, who had the rightconnections to be posted to suchcoveted stations as Washington,New York and London, used to praythat the country got a column or twoof mention in the lordly press of thearea. Not any more. Now, with allthe headlines we are cadging dayafter day, they must be praying forthe day when the mention of thecountry would disappear from thefront pages.

So many earthshaking leadingarticles have appeared in the West-ern media that one does not knowwhere to begin. When BarackObama got elected the first time,there was a general feeling of ela-tion in this country. It was felt thatthe new president was a good andhonorable man and like all goodmen he could be counted upon toright all the wrongs that had been

Indian anti-Pak role in Afghanistan

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A recently released video byWashington Free Beaconpointed out that the US new

Secretary of Defence Chuck Hageldisclosed during a speech atOklahoma’s Cameron University in2011, “India has always used Af-ghanistan as a second front” and“has over the years financed prob-lems for Pakistan on that side of theborder.” Earlier, the then NATOcommander in Afghanistan, Gen.McChrystal had revealed: “Indianpolitical and economic influence isincreasing in Afghanistan…is likelyto exacerbate regional tensions.”

These remarks are quite sharpto some of American top officialswho had been accusing Pakistan ofcross-border terrorism in Afghani-stan. During his trip to India andKabul, last year, US ex-Secretaryof Defence Leon Panetta revivedsimilar old blame game against Pa-kistan. He also encouraged NewDelhi on October 26, 2012, sayingthat India has vital role to play inAfghanistan and it will be helpfulfor peace and stability in the region,adding, “Our new defence policyhinges upon this strategy.” The USwhich signed an agreement of stra-tegic partnership with Afghanistan,has finally decided to keep around10,000 troops and six military basesin that country permanently after thecomplete withdrawal of NATOforces. In fact, America seeks toobtain multiple strategic designs bycontrolling the energy resources ofCentral Asia, and weakening Paki-stan, China, Iran and Russia.

In this respect, by availing thegolden opportunity of the 9/11, In-

dia has left no stone unturnedin getting its hold in Afghani-stan by manipulating USstrategy. In this regard, stiffresistance of the Taliban mili-tants against the occupyingforces created unending law-

lessness in the country which has be-come a most suitable place for In-dian secret agency RAW to imple-ment a conspiracy to fulfill itscountry’s strategic designs againstIran, China and particularly Paki-stan, while achieving collectivegoals of the US against these coun-tries including Russia. However,India which has already investedbillion of dollars in Afghanistan,signed a wide-ranging strategicagreement with that country on Oc-tober 5, 2011 also includes to helptrain Afghan security forces, whileassisting Kabul in diversifiedprojects. Apparently, it is open stra-tegic agreement, but secretly, Indiaseeks to further strengthen its gripin Afghanistan to get strategic depthagainst Islamabad.

Besides, with the cooperation ofAfghan President Hamid Karzai andAfghan intelligence-National Direc-torate of Security (NDS), and withthe tactical assistance of AmericanCIA and Israeli Mossad, RAW haswell-established anti-Pakistan espio-nage network in Afghanistan. Forthis sinister move, a religiousMadrassa of Wakhan, located in Af-ghanistan is functioning under thepatronage of Indian officials. It isbeing used for brainwashing of veryyoung boys who are Afghans and so-called Indian Muslims.

Posing themselves as PakistaniTaliban, they have joined the ranksand files of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pa-kistan and other banned extremistoutfits. In this context, India’s sev-eral secret training camps are alsopresent in Afghanistan from wherehighly trained militants, equipped

with sophisticated weapons are be-ing sent to Pakistan’s various placesto conduct target killings, bombblasts, suicide attacks, assaults oncivil and military installations in-cluding religious leaders to fomentsectarian violence.

Particularly, RAW has perenni-ally been arranging similar subver-sive acts in Balochistan through theiraffiliated militant groups such asBalochistan Liberation Army(BLA), Jundollah (God’s soldiers)and other Baloch separatist ele-ments. India is also in collusion withthe Balochi separatist leaders whotook shelter in Afghanistan. For ex-ample, on July 23, 2008, in an inter-view with the BBC from Afghani-stan, Brahmdagh Bugti had statedthat they “have the right to acceptforeign arms and ammunition fromanywhere including India.”

Notably, in the recent years, aseries of international conferenceswere held in order to bring stabilityand peace in Afghanistan before theforeign troops commence with-drawal from that country in 2013,which would be completed in 2014.For this purpose, US-led developednations also pledged billions of dol-lars for the development of Afghani-stan. A recent meeting of NATO de-fence minsters, held in Brussels,decided a sum of $6.5bn for thatwar-torn country. Besides, Ameri-can top officials have repeatedlyagreed that without the help ofIslamabad, stability cannot beachieved in Afghanistan. Pakistanis also facilitating US-backed dia-logue with the Afghan Taliban. Be-sides, NATO has started moving itsequipments via Pakistani route.

Nevertheless, taking note of In-dian negative approach, in the recentpast, US Senator John McCain re-minded the Obama administrationthat encouraging India to take a moreactive role in Afghanistan, while si-

multaneously criticising Pakistancould be a recipe for disaster. Infact, India wants instability in Af-ghanistan, which favours its secretgoals against Pakistan. But Paki-stan seeks stability in Afghanistan,which is not possible owing to In-dian presence in that country.Therefore, Pakistan has legitimateconcerns in Afghanistan.

It is notable that that Pakistan’scivil and military leadership hasrepeatedly pointed out Indian inter-ference, cross-border terrorismfrom Afghanistan including TTPlocation there, but US-led NATOand Afghan top officials have takenno action. And Federal MinisterRehnam Malik has openly re-marked that based in Afghanistan,RAW has been supporting subver-sive activities in Pakistan. None-theless, in the post-2014 scenario,despite the presence of Americantroops on small scale, New Delhiwhich has been assisting the North-ern Alliance against the Afghanmilitants will not be in a positionto maintain its network due to suc-cessful guerrilla warfare of theTaliban. Afghanistan will bethrown in an era of uncertainty andcivil war. In that drastic situation,foreign donors will not be able tosustain their economic aid in thatlawless country.

By showing realistic approach,US and other western countriesshould realise that unlike India,Pakistan shares common geo-graphical, historical, religious andcultural bonds with Afghanistan,while there is a co-relationship ofstability in Afghanistan and Paki-stan, which is essential for theirglobal and regional interests. Andby abandoning its faulty strategy inthis region and double game withIslamabad, especially Americamust check Indian anti-Pakistanrole in Afghanistan.

done to this country and thisregion. The feeling wasstrengthened by the fact thathe was awarded the NobelPeace Prize. As it turnedout, this was a simplisticview which did not stand thetest of time. Policy makingin the sole superpower is acomplicated and convoluted

business and mere change of lead-ership at the top does not necessi-tate a change in priorities, especiallyin the field of foreign affairs.

The re-election of PresidentObama had the cynics lookingaskance. Let us face it, people in thiscountry are not asking for the moon.The one question that came to theirsimplistic mind was: why can’t theyleave our country alone? We havemore than enough troubles as it is.The man in the street does not knowwhether he is coming or going. Theworld as we know it is in a state ofutter chaos. When the Cold Warended, there were fond hopes thatthis would mark the beginning of theend of the madness inherent inarmed conflict; and that thenceforthat least a virtual peace would reign.But no such luck. The sole super-power that emerged out of the ashes- phoenix-like - took it upon itselfto devise a brand new conflict. Theshaken world was not allowed eventhe proverbial respite that comes toall those that have gone through thevirtual hell that is the war of this era.

The peoples of the world had setgreat store by the dawn of the newmillennium but regrettably that tooturned out to be a damp squib. Theconflagration that was lit all aroundthanks to the New World Order or-dained by the neo-cons has left analready shaken world staggering.One is at a loss to describe the man-

ner in which the Western visual me-dia have been choreographing thecarnage in the War on Terror. Whatthe world has seen are no more thanrepetitious images of the mighty andmurderous war machines out to ‘lib-erate’ this land from the clutches ofthe ‘bad guys’ .

One cannot blame the networks,either. They can hardly be totally ob-

jective so long as they have anagenda to push. The Western newsmedia made no secret of their gleewhen the post nine/eleven wars werelet loose. The good guys had at longlast been given the green light andall that remained was their reception,complete with trumpets and bou-quets from the people they were sentout to ‘liberate’. The one outstand-ing casualty of what may be termedas America’s ‘friendly fire’ has beenthe generally accepted concept ofhuman rights. The Geneva Conven-

tions have emerged out of the cur-rent conflicts in a tattered state. Letus look at the facts. When it suitsthe interests of the ‘liberators’, theyconveniently reject the GenevaConventions as ‘irrelevant’. Butwhen they are at the receiving end,the least innocuous breach causesthem such anguish as to justify sev-eral prime time hours on television.The valiant efforts of the Americantelevision networks to justify theunjustifiable notwithstanding, thehorrible cruelty of the bombingcampaigns in Afghanistan (andIraq) has become all too evident.The tragedy of the co-lateral kill-ings by the drones are another story.

The wars have brought in theirwake a humanitarian tragedy of im-mense proportions. Now that thedeed is done and the invaders haveridden roughshod over all that isgood and fair, there is little fun inwhining about the Geneva Conven-tions and the responsibilities of oc-cupying armies written therein vis-à-vis pillage and hazards to civilians,their property and institutions. Theseare matters that are now of little orno import. In the war-torn countryof Afghanistan, people will hope andpray that the long-suffering peopleof this unfortunate land will someday be enabled to enjoy an indepen-dent existence with total control overtheir own resources. Talking of re-sources brings to mind what AlanGreenspan had reportedly come upwith in his memoir. The Bush ad-ministration was outraged by MrGreenspan’s allegation that “the Iraqwar is largely about oil”. Therein laythe rub. The wars in Iraq and Af-ghanistan, it would appear, are nodifferent from the wars in the pastwaged by those who coveted whatis not theirs by right.

Khalid SaleemEmail: binwakeel@yahoo.com

Friendly FireFriendly FireFriendly FireFriendly FireFriendly Fire

Sajjad ShaukatEmail: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

The Bushadministration was

outraged by MrGreenspan’s

allegation that “theIraq war is largelyabout oil”. Therein

lay the rub. Thewars in Iraq andAfghanistan, it

would appear, areno different from

the wars in the pastwaged by those

who coveted whatis not theirs by

right.

Voice of the People

In the recent past there has beenmuch media hype about the thawin India-Pakistan relations relat-

ing to free trade, Pakistan’s grant-ing of Most Favoured Nation (MFN)status to India, Visa liberalization be-tween two states and giving India atransit route to access Central AsianRepublicans. All these efforts got asetback when Indian troops startedfiring across the LoC that killedsome civilians as well as Pakistanisoldiers. This is a clear violation ofinternational law, UN Charter andNovember 2003 ceasefire agreementbetween India and Pakistan. ForPakistan this is not a new thing aswe know India does not have a ten-dency to respect the bilateral agree-ments when it comes to Pakistan.The occupation of Siachen has beena violation of Simla agreement andthe construction of dams on West-ern rivers by India is a violation ofIndus Water Treaty.

A part from LoC incident, recentdevelopments in Indian Held Kash-mir have seriously impaired theIndo-Pak relations. Following theKashmir day on February 5 (Paki-stani and the Kashmiri on both sides

Kashmir on defining pathDecades of

load-sheddingRAJA GHAZANFAR A KHAN

It is one of the most serious prob-lem of Pakistan for the Pakistanipeoples that they are facing the loadshedding from 8 hours to 18 hourscontinuously since 1983 uptil nowbut there is no load shedding in theresidented sectors of bureaucrats,officers and wapda officers colonies.But on others side, the general poorpeople of Pakistan now becomemost upsett and are in mental wor-ries because they don’t find any hopeof ending of load shedding from thisand all forth coming govts. It hasnow become a permanent routine byall the political parties to give moreand more tension and mental wor-ries to people of Pakistan. All poli-ticians and bureaucrates officers arenot fearing from the Aazab of theAllah and they also con sider thepoor people of Pakistan worse thanthe animals.

Educational careers of the stu-dents have been upsett. Small chil-dren fell down from their cots indarkness. Lizards fell in the drink-ing water or meal dish. Sometimesmost serious patients are lying ofdead in the houses in darkness. Ifour govt is really sincere in solvingthe problem of load sheding. I willadvise the govt that Wapda Depart-ment should be handed over to for-eign firm. Only a foreign firm canmanages to run the department ofWapda most efficiently. It is the onlyreal solution of eradication of loadshedding in the country of Pakistan.—Rawalpindi

Educationproblem in Sindh

AGHA SHAHEEN KHAN

“Get education from cradle tograve” is the common saying wehave been hearing, but how?Sindhis passing through the dark days dueto substandard education system.There is no doubt that Sindh hasgiven birth to many great personali-ties who have earned name and fameall over the world and they madewhole Nation to be proud of them.But today getting higher educationhas become the dream of the allyoung students who pass their in-termediate with flying colors. Aftercompleting their intermediate theyare facing financial hardships due tolack of resources in continuing fur-ther education.

There are any reasons behindthis and one of them is dearth ofuniversities especially in interiorSindh. Students after doing inter-mediate sit idle at their homes af-ter applying in engineering andmedical universities of public sec-tor whose expenses are in afford-able range. if they are selected. Butwhen they are not selected due tolimited quota of seats for their re-spective cities then there is no al-ternative available to them exceptcontinuing their education privatelyfrom a college.

They attempt for simple B.Aand B. Sc from college side. Themain reason for their full-stop toregular tertiary studies is high costof education in private universitiesand poor standard of public sectoruniversities in interior Sindh. Theprevailing situation of education hascaused frustration among the stu-dents belonging to remote areas ofSindh. The Government of Sindh isrequested to kindly invest more ineducation sector, ensure quality edu-cation in all the universities by main-taining peace and discipline there.The cost of education should alsobe kept on affordable level to createmore chances for rural students.—Ghotki

Govt ignoringPak Railways

MALIK UMAR DRAZ AWAN

Since 2008 PPP led Government isneglecting Pakistan Railways con-tinuously. In every budget Govern-ment announced specific amount forthe development of Railway butunfortunately it proved only politi-cal slogan. Pakistan Railways pro-vides mode of transportation in thefarthest corners of the country andbrings them closer for business,sightseeing and education. It catersto large scale movement of peopleand freight. An effective railwayssystem facilitates trade and reducestransportation cost in comparison toother means of transportation andeventually promote rural develop-ment and national integration. Rail-way also provides a sufficient helpto armed forces in transporting theirhuman resources, equipment.

PR has a potential and alwaysplayed a crucial role in the develop-ment of Pakistan. Economy andtrade directly depends upon Railwaynetwork. For the progress of busi-ness and trade, a successful rail net-

Free hand to killerNIAZ BETAB

Former Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar Abdul Rehman Dashti’sassassination has gone unnoticed. He was mercilessly assassi-

nated on March 5, 2012. The news was circulated in the electronicand print media by an old friend. The irony is that his nominatedassassin, who is also the father of a MNA, has still not been ar-rested. He often travels within and outside of the country. Thevictim’s family members have sent letters to the Supreme Court(SC) and high courts demanding strict action against the assassinbut the courts have remained silent. The state has already left themdisappointed by not taking any action. Now all this forces one tothink that if a government posted high official’s assassin roams freelywithout being disturbed, what about those poor people who comeunder the boots of such ruthless killers?—Islamabad

READERS

Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

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

—Editor

work is necessary. Through its 7791KMs wide track it combines and con-nects people of all provinces.

Recently, Railway fell into a cri-sis due to shortage of locomotives andlack of funds. To decrease the deficitof department Government shouldsupport and take bold steps for im-proving state run department.

Government should purchasenew locomotives for the operation ofrail network because only 100 loco-motives cannot run whole networksmoothly. It should give funds forrepairing of track which has com-pleted its age. For the developmentof economy and prosperity of Paki-stani nation, an effective Railwaynetwork is vital.—Lahore

Ladies hair cuttingbarbershops

KHURSHID BAI MATRON

This is in reference of a city desknews, published a few days ago inPakistan Observer about the worstdirty position inside barbershop andalso use of unhygenic tools etc We,working women of poor families.,who are doing jobs in various govtdepartments and private firms/officesas a lady secretay, stenotypist, teach-ers, nurses, packers, receiptionists,etc,are also facing such problemsbecause,we working women dontfind any time to shampoo ,combing,set our own hair and facialepilating our self and also can notafford the payment of heavy chargesof hair dressing of Rs 500/- or morein a beauty parlours hence we work-ing women get our hair cutting,shampooing,shaving,facial bleach-ing, etc in the barbershops whocharge Rs 70/- to 100/- for ladies haircutting shampooing,colouring,faialbleaching. etc

Although male barbers of suchbarbershop are doing ladies hair cut-ting in more decent ways than ladiesbeauty parlours but there are prob-lems for getting hair cutting and otherservices in such barber shops. Be-cause such barbershops exist in oneroom by making a wooden partitionor curtain for The making of a La-dies hair dressing partition but it isnot a proper way of Purdah becauseof talking of male clients out sidepartition or curtains.

The barbers are using dirty tow-els, aprons, low quality shampoo, oil,shaving cream,lotion, and shavingblades. while doing the ladies haircutting ,dressing etc. Similarly, suchbarbershops are not in tidy and neat.The wash basin for doing ladies hairshampooing are also most dirty andstinking. I will request the city mayor/administrator of municipility thatsuch ladies hair cutting barbershopsshould be checked and drastic actiontaken against owners of such ladieshair cutting barber shop, who are us-ing time barred ladies hair cuttingtools and other equipments/appli-ances etc. and also low quality cos-metics. It is also requested thatseperate ladies hair cutting barber-shops should be set up for ladies onlyin which no male clients should beallowed barbers and their helpers, etcso that working women should gettheir hair cutting in Complete Purdah.—Lahore

Exploitationof consumers

MUHAMMAD ZAHEER ABBAS

Securing the interests of the consumeris the paramount responsibility of thestate. In Pakistan, this area was ig-nored due to lack of political will. In1995, the Islamabad Consumer Pro-tection Act was enacted. It was fol-lowed by enactments at the provin-cial level, for instance the PunjabConsumer Protection Act (CPA)2005, in the context of devolution ofpowers plan.

Unfortunately, all these lawshave remained dormant due to lackof awareness about the laws. Con-sumers face severe problems every-day, especially during travel on theG T Road or motorway. They haveno other choice but to buy substan-dard and unhygienic food items atprices much higher than normal,rather double the price in most in-stances. This is a blatant violation ofArticle 18 and Article 19 of thePunjab Consumer Protection Act,

Telling secrets

After a long delay, the WhiteHouse has agreed to send theSenate and House intelli-

gence committees all 11 secret legalmemos that it has relied on to killsuspected terrorists, including Ameri-can citizens, in other countries withoutjudicial oversight. This is a good stepby the president, who came into officepromising transparency on national se-curity — but has so far held his cardsas close as his predecessor did.

The American Civil Liberties,The New York Times and severalother organizations have been wait-ing for over a year for these docu-ments. Recently the Senate used the

nomination of John Brennan as di-rector of central intelligence as anexcuse to step up pressure, and theWhite House gave way.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, thechairman of the Senate IntelligenceCommittee, said: “I have reached anagreement with the White House toprovide the committee access to allOLC opinions related to the targetedkilling of Americans in a way that al-lows members to fulfil their oversightresponsibilities.”

The OLC is the Office of LegalCounsel at the Justice Department,which tells the rest of the executivebranch whether a policy is legal —and gives legal cover. So long asyou’re following OLC’s guidance,you don’t have to worry about get-ting dragged before a judge. The need

for transparency and oversight doesnot end here. Senators and Represen-tatives on the intelligence committeeshave a right to know theadministration’s reasoning — but sodo legislators who don’t happen tosit on those committees as well as thegeneral public. We all need to knowwhat’s going on. The documentsshould be made public for everyoneto read, with any national securitysecrets redacted.

Congress, moreover, shouldcompel the White House to submitits so-called kill list and kill orders toindependent review. Ms Feinstein lastmonth suggested setting up a newcourt, modelled after the one that ap-proves intelligence-gathering wire-taps, for targeted killings. We’ve beencalling for exactly that on our edito-

rial page for some time now. It’s truethat, through leaks and reporting, wehave a sense of how the administra-tion justifies its targeted killingpolicy. But we remain in the darkon many basic points.

I’ve been trying to get the WhiteHouse to answer this question: DoesPresident Obama think he has thepower to authorize, without judicialapproval or even review, the killingin the United States of an Americancitizen suspected of terrorism. Nosuccess so far. Meanwhile the Sen-ate intelligence committee voted toconfirm Mr. Brennan as director ofthe CIA, hours after the WhiteHouse agreed to provide more in-formation on the legal basis for itstargeted killings program.— Courtesy: The New York Times

Andrew Rosenthal

of the LoC have been observing 5thFebruary as Kashmir Day since1990. The people of Pakistan ex-press solidarity with the people ofJammu and Kashmir who are strug-gling for their right of self determi-nation), Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri washanged on mere allegations of be-ing part of the planning of attack onIndian Parliament on December 13,2001. His execution and lack of ac-cess to proper legal council hasraised questions about Indian judi-cial system and the role of Indianmedia. Majority of Kashmiri peopleconsider that Afzal Guru could notreceive fair trial and without havingdirect evidence he was awardeddeath sentence.

India has been criticized not onlyby Kashmiris and some Indian hu-man right activists such as ArundhatiRoy and others but by Internationalhuman rights organizations also.These organizations otherwise re-main indifferent to human rights vio-lations in Kashmir whether it is thekilling of hundreds and thousands ofinnocent people in Kashmir or theissue of missing persons or the dis-covery of mass graves in Kashmir.These international human rights or-ganizations are just being used bysome powerful states to enhancetheir own political agendas by criti-cizing the human rights standards of

other states. In the aftermath ofhanging of Afzal Guru on February9, 2013 curfew was imposed acrossKashmir Valley for nearly a weekas an attempt to contain the deterio-ration of law and order situation incase of protest against his execution.Due to India’s mishandling of AfzalGuru’s case, it missed an opportu-nity to build trust and confidencewith the Kashmiri youth who maynot be as much aware of armedstruggle of the Kashmiri people dur-ing the decade of 1990s. SumitGanguly, an eminent writer has iden-tified the cause of sudden unrest anduprising in Kashmir in 1989 as the‘short-sighted policies on the part ofvarious regimes in New Delhi thatcreated conducive conditions for therise of Kashmiri freedom struggle in1989. Now this case can have farreaching implications for the futureas well. A number of questions arebeing raised that what will be thefuture course of action of the peopleof Kashmir? Will they abandon theirpeaceful struggle for their right ofself determination as it has alreadyreceived a setback in the post 9/11international political environment?

Pakistan’s Foreign Officespokesman also made it clear thatthere was no change or shift inPakistan’s policy on the disputedstate. Pakistan always strives to re-

Views From Abroad

In our great country not manyawards are won through meritor hard work, most are won

through right connections!The stationmaster of the local

suburban station came and stoodby me, leaving his office in the ca-pable hands of his assistant, “There’s an award for the best keptstation,” he whispered to me spit-ting a wad of red betel nut leavesonto the platform. “Interesting,” Isaid as I watched the red juice flowover the concrete surface. “My sta-tion will win the award!” said thestationmaster with a determinedglare.“You’ll have to work hard at

it,” I said watching with reneweddisgust, a pair of urchins passingwater straight onto the tracks. “It willbe a great day for the passengers ofthis station!” said the stationmastersmiling at the people around himwho frowned back at him.

“I am sure they are already de-lighted,” I said watching with hor-ror an old lady slipping on the redbetel nut juice that had trailed ontothe railway tracks.

“Stupid woman!” said thestationmaster to me as the publicpoured water all over her face to re-vive her, “Now she has made themdirty the platform. Come let us movefrom here and have some tea!”

The canteen boy at the tea stallpoured some soapy water into aglass, rinsed it, and threw it onto theplatform. “He always washes theglass when he sees me, “ said thestationmaster proudly, “He knows I

am strict about cleanliness!” “Lookslike the award is yours then!” I vol-unteered sarcastically. “Of course itis,” said the stationmaster movingamicably out of the way of a pas-senger gargling after he’d eatensomething from the stall, “See howparticular this passenger is to cleanhis mouth! The award is mine!”“You better start working on it rightaway,” I told the stationmaster seri-ously, as an express train rushed byand raised a cloud of dust that laterlay thick on the betel nut juice andgargled water, “There is a lot of workthat needs to be done!”

“I have already done every-thing!” said the stationmaster, “Theaward is mine! All the newspaperswill write about it, the minister him-self may come here to be photo-graphed with me on this platform. Itwill be a red letter day for all of us!”“You must talk to your juniors and

Right connections..!other employees immediately!” Isaid. “I already have, and they areoverjoyed!”

“Overjoyed?” I asked, watch-ing a railway sweeper sweeping allthe platform garbage onto thetracks, “Don’t they realize theywill have to work hard to win?”

“They are overjoyed they havealready won!” said thestationmaster as he spat anotherwad of betel nut juice onto the plat-form. “But, what about all this?” Iasked, looking at the filth allaround. “Who cares,” said the sta-tion master as he looked at me witha grin, “Who cares when the rail-way minister’s PA’s brother is aclose friend of my wife’s sister.You must come for the award cer-emony tomorrow..!” Like I said,in our country it’s all about theright connections.—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

Talks prospects with militants

A five-point declaration wassigned by All Parties Conference (APC) on February

28, 2013 called upon by JamiatUlema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F). The ma-jor stipulations in the declarationwere; first, a 17-member grand jirgashould be expanded having repre-sentation of all schools of thoughtof the country, second, a trust be es-tablished for the welfare of the in-jured and the families of those killed(about 50,000 victims of War onTerror) in terrorism related incidents.

Third, the jirga should com-mence negotiations under the guide-lines set by APC, fourth, practicalsteps should be taken to eliminatelawlessness, and fifth, the present,interim and the next elected govern-ments and the future oppositionwould be bound to implement thisdeclaration. The APC was attendedby nearly 30 political and religiousparties except Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf of Imran Khan.

The calling for APC is a re-sponse to the Talibans call for po-litical dialogue early in this month.A similar APC was held by ANP onFebruary 14 but having no substan-tial outcome than this one. The ANP-backed APC had lesser representa-tion and only called for dialogueswith militant groups but failed to

provide a clear course of action.However, one point is common inboth APCs that is resort to politicaldialogue for internally conflict-rid-den Pakistani state.

The move is positive in a man-ner that there would be a win-winsituation for both parties. At least,peace and stability are the commonobjective in the country and region.However, one point is to be contem-plated; the timing of APC when thepresent government is going aftertwo weeks is arousing concernsamong masses. Albeit, a clause ofbinding this declaration by thepresent, interim and coming govern-ment is provided yet who wouldguarantee to implement this decla-ration after elections.

Taliban and the Army would beamongst stakeholders. It is high timeto initiate this process after a decadelong war. In the beleaguered tensesituation where sectarianism at onehand and targeted killing are erod-ing the state writ, the talks seem tobe a sliver-lining in the dark cloudsof lawlessness. Moreover, there is adire need to initiate a process forchalking out a Grand strategy toeliminate extremism, run the stag-nant economy and build a pluralis-tic society.

Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) spokes-person, Ehsanullah Ehsan said thatthe political ‘shura’ or council of theTaliban described the five-point dec-laration a ‘welcoming’ sign on

March 1, 2013, the very next dayfrom the announcement of APC dec-laration. The bargaining and accom-modative attitude from both govern-ment and Taliban depict that it iscommonality of interest for allstakeholders that the APC backed

tribal jirga be initiate peace talksamong the Taliban, the army, and allother decision makers.

However, the spokesman of Pa-kistani Taliban was still waiting fora “positive response” from the Pa-kistani military on the offer ofpeace talks with the militants.Army is one of the major stakehold-ers in peace process. It is to be seenthat what would be response of

Army. A major demand from Pa-kistani side is the ‘ceasefire’ fromTaliban. Nevertheless, Talibansaid, “ceasefire and such modali-ties can be discussed when we kickstart the peace process.” Amidsuch developments, KhyberPakhtunkhwa Governor, EngineerShaukatullah said that his officewould serve as coordination officeof a tribal jirga to facilitate nego-tiations between the governmentand Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan(TTP). The governor had agreedto establish ‘Shuhada Trust’ andhad announced a sum of Rs. 10million for that. In this context, theinitiatives and unabated support ofthe governor Pakhtunkha for peaceprocess is appreciable.

Given all these developments incounter-militancy strategy, restora-tion of peace is in the larger nationalinterest. The talks with Talibanswould also put positive implicationsfor regional peace efforts in the wakeof post-US withdrawal scenario.Commenting on the APC declara-tion, Fazl-ur-Rehman of JUI-F saidthat even the US and Europe hadtaken great interest in the success ofthe jirga. No denial, a stable Paki-stan and Afghanistan would proveto be a stable region and this stableregion would be the harbinger ofstable world.—The writer is Research Fellow,South Asian Strategic StabilityInstitute.

which requires the seller to displaythe price list and issue a formal re-ceipt to the purchaser.

The violation may be reported tothe Punjab Consumer ProtectionCouncil (PCPC) but complaints areseldom lodged because the generalpopulation is simply unaware of theprotection afforded under the law.The attention of government authori-ties as well as print and electronicmedia should be drawn to this prob-lem. The media can play a pivotal roleto spread awareness about existinglaws. The government may improveits implementation mechanism byallowing complaints through the useof modern means of communication.A helpline or hotline for such com-plaints may also help consumers toreport violations without hassle.—Islamabad

Monitoring roadsMUBASHIR MAHMOOD

The twin blasts that targeted a resi-dential building in Abbas Town killedmore than 46 people and woundedaround 140. Many children were alsokilled in the tragic incident. Accord-ing to media reports, police and lawenforcement agencies reached theincident after one hour and this delaywas because hundreds of police of-ficers were present at the engagementceremony of PPP leader SharmilaFarooqi at Mohatta Palace.

A few hours after the attack, manypeople started criticising SharmilaFarooqi and the Karachi police on so-cial networking websites. It is time thatCCTV cameras in Karachi were in-stalled in massive numbers. I have readmany times that around 3,000 to 4,000CCTV cameras are already installedin different zones in Karachi from thetoll plaza at the entrance to Karachi toall the main roads and streets. All ourroads should be covered by this CCTVsystem, which should be linked to acommand and control system. When-ever any incident occurs (mobilesnatching, robbery, murder or bombblast) the police can see from wherethe accused arrived on the scene of thecrime and where he fled. It is hopedthat the next government after elec-tions will make sure to do this. It willrequire a lot of money but will ensurelaw and order in the metropolitan city.—Karachi

A sad situationSAANWAL K BARLAAS

“To forget pain is to be painless; toforget care is to be rid of it; to goabroad is to accomplish both” —Mark Twain. It is a huge irony thatwhat Mark Twain remarked morethan a century ago still seems to holdtrue when we glimpse the presentsituation of Pakistan. In Mark Twain’stime, the situation of western coun-tries was pitiable and so has wittywords were indeed particularly truethen. Astonishingly, it is not just thehassled Hazaras who are patheticallydesperate and are abandoning thiscountry; it is not only the religiousminorities; it is not even the under-privileged ones; it is everyone, eachand every Pakistani.

Educated and uneducated peoplealike cling to the first opportunitythey stumble upon to leave theirhomeland. To someone not well ac-quainted with Pakistan, thisbehaviour might well come across asmanic. Yet, technically, there is noteven a single reason why one shouldnot abandon this land named Paki-stan. Scores of youngsters are blindlyfervent about foreign lands, taking forgranted a fantastic fate.The so-callededucation consultants who now runbusinesses in every nook and crannyof all towns and cities here are rob-bing people of their hard-earned sav-ings. Hundreds of unaware young-sters are exploited by these maliciousagents who have some sort of ‘un-derstanding’ with law enforcementagencies. It is a sad situation.—Via email

solve this issue through meaningfuldialogue in accordance with UNresolutions as well as the aspirationsof Kashmiri people.

Kashmir presents a unique ex-ample for being the oldest issue onthe agenda of United Nations Secu-rity Council. It was India that ap-proached the United Nations Secu-rity Council on January 1, 1948 andtook the Kashmir issue to the UN.Security Council has passed a num-ber of resolutions regarding the hold-ing of plebiscite in Kashmir butIndia’s non-compliance with UNresolutions has not triggered anyforceful action from the world body.One major reason for this inactionmay be that resolutions on Kashmirwere passed under chapter six of theUN Charter that does not have anymandatory enforceability as opposedto the resolutions passed under chap-ter seven of the Charter.

Now the most pressing ques-tions are how the future of Kashmirwill be decided? How far theKashmiris’ struggle for their rightswill go unnoticed by the major pow-ers? And how far international hu-man rights organizations will remainsilent on the grave human rights vio-lations in Kashmir?—The writer is a researcher atIslamabad Policy ResearchInstitute (IPRI).

Saman ZulfqarEmail: samanz.pk@gmail.com

S Adnan A Bukhari

Given all thesedevelopments in

counter-militancystrategy, restoration

of peace is in thelarger national

interest. The talkswith Talibans would

also put positiveimplications forregional peace

efforts in the wakeof post-USwithdrawalscenario.

PROF OLIVIER ROY

FRANCE’S official waraims in Mali are: 1) combatting “Islamic terrorism”

and 2) re-establishing Mali’s ter-ritorial integrity. The question ishow those aims relate to one an-other. Is Mali threatened by “Is-lamic terrorism”? That depends onwhat one means by the term, andit is clear that we are still stuck inthe kind of semantic and politicalconfusion introduced by the Bushadministration when it launchedits “war on terror” after the 11 Sep-tember 2001 attacks.

“Islamic terrorism” is a no-tion capacious enough to containalmost anything: al-Qaeda, natu-rally, but also parties that are pri-marily nationalist, such asHamas; local movements thatwant to establish sharia, such asthe Taliban in Afghanistan orAnsar Dine in Mali; indeed, moreor less any religious party thatspeaks of Islamic law. (Somewould include even the MuslimBrotherhood under this heading.)This confusion prevents theelaboration of a clear, long-termstrategy, because it conflates le-gitimate actors, with whom thewest can and must negotiate,even if they are anti-western,with terrorists whose sole objec-tive is confrontation with the westand who have no social base.

The territorial integrity ofMali is threatened above all byTuareg groups in the north of thecountry, who consider them-selves, rightly or wrongly, to havebeen ignored by successiveMalian governments run largelyby black Africans from the south.These are long-standing griev-ances, going back more than 30years, and are the consequenceof the colonial division betweenNorth Africa, which is mostly inthe hands of Arabs, and CentralAfrica, largely in the control ofblack Africans. The Tuaregs havebeen the losers in this partition,and are now concentrated in

Chad, Mali and Niger. Excludedfrom power, they have profitedfrom cross-border smuggling andhave taken advantage of regionalconflicts (including the revolu-tion in Libya) to arm themselves.Meanwhile, their recent appeal toIslam has allowed them to poseas bearers of a universal message,their tribal identity notwithstand-ing. In truth, the Tuareg question

is a matter of ethno-national ten-sions and has little to do withIslamism. It is a problem that canonly be resolved by political ne-gotiation that aims to establish amore equitable balance of power.In order to re-establish Mali’s ter-ritorial integrity, a solid and stablecentral state is required (for themoment, such a thing does notexist). Rather than restoring aviable state for all Malians, theFrench intervention risks exacer-bating ethnic tensions by hand-ing power back to a particularfaction that is unwilling to shareit. A second problem, not re-stricted to Mali, is the religiousradicalisation of movements that

are primarily ethno-nationalist innature. Historically, the Tuaregshave been represented by secu-lar groups, such as the NationalMovement for the Liberation ofAzawad, which began the latestuprising. Today, these are accom-panied by Salafist elements, suchas Ansar Dine, which emphasisethe implementation of sharia lawand the construction of an Islamic

emirate (whose borders wouldcorrespond more or less to thoseof the area to which the national-ists are laying claim). This hasbeen a recurrent phenomenon inthe Muslim world since the 1980s– think of the mujahedin in Af-ghanistan being followed by theTaliban. Hamas in Gaza andHezbollah in Lebanon exemplifythe Islamicisation of nationalistor regionalist movements.

Curiously, it is in tribal zonessuch as Afghanistan, Pakistan,Yemen and Mali, that the muta-tion of regionalist struggles intoreligious conflicts has gone fur-thest. National or ethnic self-as-sertion doubles up as a demand

for the creation of “Islamic emir-ates”. Southern Afghanistan is agood example of a tribal society(in this case, the Pashtuns) ex-pressing its ethnic identity in theform of a religious movement (theTaliban). It happens because theappeal to sharia allows suchgroups to overcome tribal divi-sions without threatening the tribalsystem as a whole. This is an old

phenomenon – one thinks of theSudanese Mahdi in the 1880s orthe Rif war in Morocco in the1920s. To view such movementsthrough the prism of “Islamic ter-rorism” is absurd and dangerous.The recent split in Ansar Dinebetween a Salafist tendency anda Tuareg nationalist group is aclear indication that this complexof factors (sharia law, tribal coa-litions and ethno-nationalistclaims) can be reassembled invarious ways, with one or theother of the elements taking pre-cedence. A new movement inMali, the Islamic Movement forAzawad, attaches more impor-tance to tractable political de-

mands than to the introduction ofsharia. It should be a partner inany negotiation.

There is nothing new or dis-tinctive about the activities of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb(AQIM), the Movement forUnity and Jihad in West Africa(Mujao) or any of the other smallbands of international jihadistsoperating in the Sahel. Thegroups linked to al-Qaeda are no-madic, almost by definition –they are not anchored in the so-cieties in which they operate.

The set-up has been the samefor two decades; al-Qaeda iscomposed of internationaljihadists and is never the expres-sion of local social or politicalinterests. The composition of thegroup that attacked the InAmenas gas plant in Algeria is aprime example: its memberswere from several different coun-tries and of various races, andalso included converts. Al-Qaeda’s main recruiting groundis still the west, rather than soci-eties in the Muslim world (it hasrecruited few Malians). AQIMhas no sociological roots in theSahel; instead, it trades on its al-liance with local Salafist forcesand also with delinquent, crimi-nal elements. This was equallythe case in Afghanistan and Pa-kistan. Al-Qaeda acts mostly onthe periphery of the Muslimworld (Bosnia, Chechnya, Af-ghanistan, Yemen, the Sahel) butrarely in the heart of the MiddleEast (the brief episode of AbuMusab al- Zarqawi in Iraq ex-cepted). It is not a political move-ment that seeks to establish au-thentic local Islamic emirates; itsprincipal target is the west, as theattack on the Algerian gas com-plex, in which non-Muslim ex-patriates were singled out, shows.Al-Qaeda’s strategy is global anddeterritorialised – it aims to mul-tiply confrontations, with thewest always in its sights. Simplyput, al-Qaeda is parasitic uponlocal conflicts, which have their

own logic, and tries to radicalisethem in an anti-western directionso as to lure the west into the trapof intervention.

The Bush administration didnot grasp the deterritorialisednature of al-Qaeda and desper-ately sought to reduce the num-ber of sanctuaries available to itby controlling territory, throughdeployment of troops on theground. This strategy is hopeless:to occupy territory requires hun-dreds of thousands of soldiers,and usually by the time they arein place al-Qaeda has already fled(this was the case in Afghanistanin 2001). In this sense, and what-ever moral and legal reservationsone might have about it, Presi-dent Obama’s anti-terrorist strat-egy – not to deploy the army andinstead to use drones, the intelli-gence services and special forces– is much more effective and

much less costly, because it istailored to fit al-Qaeda’s distinc-tive modus operandi.

It would be absurd for theFrench to think they could evictal-Qaeda from the Maghreb byoccupying territory: al-Qaedawould simply regroup a little fur-ther away. And if the aim is thedestruction of these groups, thatis also absurd. Given the smallnumbers of fighters involved (afew hundred) and given that al-Qaeda recruits internationally, itwould be easy for them to takeflight, to cross borders or to re-turn to London or Toronto injeans and without beards. Al-Qaeda is a nuisance but not a stra-tegic threat. It would lose much

of its potency if the local forces ittakes advantage of could be per-suaded that they have no reasonto protect it. This did not happenin Afghanistan in 2001, whenMullah Omar, against the adviceof his Taliban lieutenants, refusedto extradite Osama Bin Laden; itdid happen in Bosnia and Iraq,where local fighters ended up driv-ing out foreign jihadists. And itcould happen in Yemen and Syria,and should happen in Mali, if ne-gotiations are opened with localelements. But, for that to occur,these forces should not be labelled“terrorists we don’t talk to”. Whyhas France intervened in Mali?There are several reasons. First,the urgency. In threatening thecapital, Bamako, Islamist groupsare endangering Mali’s very ex-istence, which cannot be toler-ated. The Malian government,weak as it is, asked France to in-

tervene, even in the absence ofany bilateral assistance agree-ment. The fall of Bamako woulddamage French credibility badlyand would open a Pandora’s box,with unimaginable conse-quences. In short, intervention isseen as the lesser evil.

There are two further reasonswhy France has entered the con-flict without reservations. First,there is François Hollande’s needto look like he’s boss and to putan end to the incessant compari-sons with Nicolas Sarkozy, anactivist president who had “his”war in Libya. Second is the pres-sure to intervene put on Hollandeby the French army. The army didnot feel at ease in Afghanistan,

where it was always the juniorpartner to the Americans (theBritish know what this is like).Things weren’t any better inLibya, where the army felt it wastreated like a band of mercenar-ies subject to Sarkozy’s whims –and all for a cause it did not be-lieve in. The French officer corpsis very “culturalist” and often hasa “civilisational” view of currentconflicts. It is suspicious of thevarious Arab springs, which havebrought Islamists to power.

Moreover, the war in Libyawas fought mainly by the Frenchnavy and air force, leaving thearmy marginalised. It now wantsto reassert its pre-eminence.There is what one might call a“corporatist” dimension here thatcannot be ignored.

By intervening in Mali, thearmy is back where it thinks itbelongs. After the withdrawal

from Afghanistan, it can showthat it is indispensable and so pro-tect itself against looming bud-get restrictions. A prolongeddearth of external operationscould lead the government toquestion the usefulness of muchof its defence spending (there isnothing outlandish about this: itis what is happening in Sweden,for instance, and most Europeancountries are in the process ofsacrificing their armed forces, theassumption being that, if it comesto the crunch, we can always relyon the Americans to do thejob).—The writer is a Professorwho analyses Mali’s growingturmoil which can severely af-fect neighbours.

An analysis of factors behind Mali’s internal turmoil

French troops arrive in Timbuktu, Mali.

There is nothing new or distinctive about theactivities of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

(AQIM), the Movement for Unity and Jihad in WestAfrica (Mujao) or any of the other small bands ofinternational jihadists operating in the Sahel. Thegroups linked to al-Qaeda are nomadic, almost by

definition – they are not anchored in the societies inwhich they operate.

Comprehensive BeijingReview’s latest interviewwith Bheki Langa, S Af-

rican Ambadssador to PeoplesRepublic of China on changingworld order, the first such frankcomments:

2013 is an important year forSouth Africa. The country will

host the Fifth BRICS Summit inMarch and it also celebrates the15th anniversary of the establish-ment of diplomatic relations withChina. On January 31, BhekiLanga, South African Ambassa-dor to China, shared his thoughtson the upcoming BRICS Sum-mit and relations between Chinaand South Africa with BeijingReview. An edited transcript ofhis opinions follows: Beijing Re-view: What are your expectationsfor the Fifth BRICS Summit?

Bheki Langa: BRICS andAfrica—Partnership for Devel-opment, Integration and Industri-alization will be the theme of theFifth BRICS Summit takingplace in Durban in March.

South Africa’s accession tothe BRICS grouping was in largepart premised on the country’srole as a financial and logisticalgateway to sub-Saharan Africa,as well as on the continent’s hugeeconomic potential. Africa is thefastest growing power after Asiaand offers the highest returns oninvestment of any region. The Af-rican continent is home to 60 per-cent of the world’s unused arableland. In 2010, six of the world’sfastest growing economies werelocated in Africa, and Africa’soutput is expected to expand by50 percent over the next fouryears. Economic growth is ex-pected to expand by an averageof 5.5 percent annually in the next

five years.It was this potential, com-

bined with the economic powerof Brazil, Russia, India andChina, that will enable theBRICS grouping to pave the wayfor “a new global pattern focus-ing on South-South relations ...overriding previous East-West

and North-South constructs anddivisions.”

This was in line with the un-derlying principle for SouthAfrica’s partnership with BRICS,that of advancing the role ofemerging economies in interna-tional relations, to ultimately helpfashion a more equitable globalpolitical and financial architec-ture. With South Africa’s uniquehistory and independent foreign

policy, we bring our own experi-ence and perspective to theBRICS collaboration.

BRICS members suggestedestablishing a BRICS develop-ment bank at their last summit.How do you feel about this sug-gestion and what role could thisnew bank play if it is established?

To build a BRICS develop-ment bank is not a new idea. Itwas talked about at the G20 Sum-mit in Seoul in 2010. With a to-tal population accounting forabout 40 percent of the world’stotal, the total GDP of BRICS na-

tions accounts for nearly 20 per-cent of the world’s GDP and con-tributes half of the growth in theglobal economy. There is a hugeamount of savings in the BRICScountries, which is not fully used.So the idea started there, it’sabout how to use the hugeamount of savings which are un-

used.With its own development

bank, the BRICS countries canwork together to shape a new in-ternational monetary system.

As export-led economies, theBRICS countries feel the impactsharply each time global finan-cial crises hit. Drawing on ourexperience with successful re-forms, it’s necessary for us to setup such a bank for our common

development according to ourown conditions.

Some have suggested thatbecause South Africa is the small-est of the BRICS nations in termsof population and GDP, it maynot deserve a place in this clubof leading developing nations.How do you respond to that?

The rationale for SouthAfrica’s consideration was a mat-ter of crucial importance toBRICS Member States—namelythe role of emerging economiesin advancing the restructuring ofthe global political, economic and

financial architecture into onethat is more equitable, balancedand rests on multi-lateralism.

Those who constantly referto this particular issue completelymiss the point, namely, thatBRICS is not all about size andnumbers, but rather about ideasand ideology. BRICS is a re-

sponse to the current global po-litical and financial architectures,which are dominated by certainplayers. South Africa has aproven record of contributing tothe discourse of multi-lateralismand advocating for the rights ofemerging economies.

Among developing countrieswe are still the biggest investoron the African continent. Thismeans that, although our

economy is small in relation toother BRICS members, we haveattributes that have positioned uswell in the world and which willallow us to bring special insightto the work of BRICS.

As a member of BRICS, howcan South Africa promote its ownand other African countries’ eco-nomic development and repre-sent the interests of the Africancontinent? Our country, as amember of the Brazil, Russia, In-dia, China and South Africa bloc(BRICS), is playing an importantrole in the shifting and distribu-

tion of international power. Thisshift is expected to give rise to amulti-polar world order.

Our interaction with fellowBRICS states is premised onthree levels of engagement:firstly, national, where we ad-vance our national interests. Sec-ondly, regional, where we pro-mote regional integration and in-teraction with specific emphasison the African Union mandate topromote infrastructure develop-ment across the continent. And,thirdly, on a global level, wherewe advocate for a more inclusiveglobal governance system.

What role do China andSouth Africa play in each othersdevelopment plans? What stepsare South Africa taking to scaleup its relationship with China?

The bilateral relationship be-tween the two countries isgrounded in the ComprehensiveStrategic Partnership Agreement(CSPA) signed by our respectiveleaders in August 2010, whichcontinues to guide interactionsbetween South Africa and China.As partners, the two countries canlearn from each other and de-velop the best possible models foraddressing the issue of socio-eco-nomic development in our re-spective countries. In terms of bi-lateral trade, China has becomeSouth Africa’s largest trade part-ner. Both sides are looking atways of encouraging furthertrade, but are also concentratingon the quality of trade rather thanthe quantity. We enjoy coopera-tion in numerous fields and, as areflection of the growing ties be-tween the two countries, in July2012 our leaders proposed the es-tablishment of a joint work groupto coordinate the implementationof various bilateral projects.

Xavier Carim, Deputy Direc-tor General at the SA Departmentof Trade and Industry, has saidthat South Africa wants to alignits interests to support the inte-gration agenda in Africa, ratherthan just focusing on access toresources. What does this meanto you?

Trade between our countriesis skewed in favor of China, andso South Africa is running a tradedeficit with China. Through dis-cussions with the Chinese Min-istry of Commerce, South Africaand China have agreed to pro-mote value-added exports fromSouth Africa to China in order tolower the trade deficit and diver-sify trade away from primarycommodities to include moremanufactured goods.

In this light, South Africawill certainly be measuring fu-ture successes in trade relationsby evaluating the reduction in thetrade deficit and the increases invalue-added exports from SouthAfrica to China.—Courtesy: Beijing Review.

An Eye Opener

A Changing World Order

Eye-opener: Participants in a bilateral tour aimed at learning about South Korea’s atomic energy operations visit the ShinKori plant in Ulsan, which faces the Sea of Japan.

CARL BILDT

Europe is taking the necessary economic steps to ensure peace within its own

borders. But, as Swedish ForeignMinister Carl Bildt writes, Euro-peans cannot have peace at homeif it has turmoil just beyond itsborders. Europe must rise to thechallenge of helping to create aslarge a sphere of well-governedand reasonably prosperous statesaround it as possible.

Next year, it will be 100years since a fateful shot inSarajevo unleashed those guns ofAugust, which were made fa-

mous by Barbara Tuchman andthe then-British Foreign Secre-tary Sir Edward Grey.

Call me a Europe optimist,if you will. The economic turn-around battle will be won.

Looking out from his mag-nificent office, Grey saw thelamps go out over all of Europeand wondered when they wouldcome on again. What followedwas decades of destruction, dic-tatorship, division and darkness.

For all the progress achievedin Europe since then, there havealso been substantial setbacks.Quite late in the century, we couldnot prevent a decade of conflictfrom erupting in the Balkans,much as had been the case nearthe beginning of the century, withall the human suffering that fol-lowed.

Let us not forget the positive,though. What at the time of Ger-man reunification was still theEuropean Community changedinto the far more ambitious Eu-ropean Union, due to having 28member nations, including theaccession of Croatia this summer.

What we have done is to pro-vide an anchor for open societ-ies, open economies, the rule oflaw and freedom for the 100 mil-lion people living in Central andEastern Europe. These values hadbeen denied to them for two fullgenerations and sometimes muchlonger.

The change has been noth-ing short of astounding. Take thePolish capital Warsaw.

Not that long ago it was agrey city in an oppressed coun-try with a decaying economy.Now, it is a bustling and colorful

metropolis in a rapidly growingeconomy of a country with itsnew free voice in the councils ofEurope and the world.

At the same time, we havebeen struggling — and still are— with getting the mechanismsof deeper economic, financial andmonetary integration right, nota-bly within the eurozone area.

But for all the present doom,I find it important to point out thatdecisive steps have been taken.Substantial reforms to budgets,labor markets and public admin-istration have been agreed uponby national parliaments.

Europe has provided an an-

chor for open societies, openeconomies, the rule of law andfreedom for the 100 millionpeople living in Central and East-ern Europe.

are being reduced. The bur-den of debt is gradually beingtackled. The labor market re-forms will show positive results,even though they do take time tocome to full fruition. That is not

political ineptitude — rather, itfollows the economic textbooks.

We simply need to under-stand the asynchronicity of thelaws of economics and the me-dia. The latter always focus ontransmitting the pain to thepublic at large, which is unde-niably associated with thesemeasures.

The pain is immediate, andthe payoff always comes later.The pain is news. The positiveresult, when it materializes, is by

definition old hat and thereforenot a “news” item.

Call me a Europe optimist,if you will. The economic turn-around battle will be won.

That is why, in my view, it isimportant not to overemphasizethe eurozone’s current troubles.They are important, but there isa larger agenda to be aware of.

Simply put, we Europeanscannot have peace at home if wehave turmoil just outside ourdoor. And here we face huge tasksin the decades ahead.

Seeking peace is now (thank-fully) no longer about ourselves.It is primarily about how secure

our neighbors are. We need tocreate as large a sphere of well-governed and reasonably pros-perous states around us as pos-sible.

After the integration of the100 million people of Central andEastern Europe, we now have the100 million people of Southeast-ern Europe knocking on our door.Turkey, with its vibrant economyand society, is the most impor-tant of these countries.

Towards Europe’s South, weface a Levant in turmoil and trag-edy. The civil war in Syria killshundreds every day. The MiddleEast peace process is neither aprocess nor on the road to peace.Egypt is struggling vehementlywith its future.

We need to understand theasynchronicity of the laws of eco-nomics and the media. The painis immediate and newsworthy.Success, which comes later, is oldhat.

And, immediately South ofthe Sahara, the Sahel region’s fra-gility was recently vividly illus-trated in Mali.

Helping to stabilize these re-gions and countries is a momen-tous task. We are talking aboutstability-promoting and state-as-sisting efforts that will have to besustained for decades in order tohave any chance of success.

All of the tasks on the Eu-ropean agenda today are steepones — reforming our econo-mies, strengthening our integra-tion, developing our institutions,and strengthening our neighbor-hood by promoting integration,rule of law and prosperouseconomies. —Globalist.

Europe is taking the necessary economic steps toensure peace within its own borders. But, as SwedishForeign Minister Carl Bildt writes, Europeans cannothave peace at home if it has turmoil just beyond its

borders. Europe must rise to the challenge of helpingto create as large a sphere of well-governed and rea-

sonably prosperous states around it as possible.

Continental diplomatic wrestling

Readying Europe forThis Global Age

2013 is an important year for South Africa. Thecountry will host the Fifth BRICS Summit in March and

it also celebrates the 15th anniversary of theestablishment of diplomatic relations with China. On

January 31, Bheki Langa, South African Ambassador toChina, shared his thoughts on the upcoming BRICS

Summit and relations between China and South Africawith Beijing Review.

Swedish Foreign MinisterCarl Bildt

ISLAMABAD: Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff, PAF receivingMajor General Mubarak Mohammad Al-Kumait al Khayarin, Commander of the QatarEmiri Air Force, at Air Headquarters on Wednesday.

representatives has beenestablished in the ECP toensure thorough scrutiny ofthe candidates.

He said the majority of thecountry wants implementationof articles 62 and 63 of the con-stitution for holding free, fairand transparent elections.

Responding to a question,the ECP secretary said thatnomination paper draft has beensent to the Law Ministry aftermaking few changes.

The ECP secretary said theElection Commission wantselections on time. He saidmaking of laws is not the re-sponsibility of the ECP, ratherthe Law Ministry was respon-sible for the same.

Election Commission ofPakistan (ECP) has taken noticeof new appointments, provisionof loans and job regularizationby the Sindh, Punjab and Fed-eral governments.

In a statement, DirectorGeneral ECP Syed Sher Afgansaid Punjab government regu-larized 100,000 employees ofgrade 1-16, while the Sindh gov-ernment provided loans to300,000 youths under WaseelaRozgar Scheme.

He said both the provincialgovernments violated ECP or-ders, which is tantamount to af-fect the election results.

The ECP also took notice ofmaking Farooq Awan as mem-ber finance of PTA by the fed-eral government.

The commission has soughtreply in three and seven daysfrom Federal, Punjab and Sindhgovernments respectively.—INP

combat operations in Afghani-stan by the end of 2014 and isencouraging the Afghan govern-ment to engage the Taliban mili-tants for a peaceful end to theconflict. The Taliban, however,appear reluctant to work withKabul.

Jilani added that Pakistan’sarmy and intelligence agencieswere in close contact with theirAfghan counterparts over coop-eration on security-related issues.

The foreign secretary saidPakistan had allocated funds fordevelopment projects in Af-ghanistan, adding that 20 milliondollars were for assisting theAfghan National Army (ANA).

Int’l meddlingFrom Page 1

Polls scheduleafter 10 days:

Secy ECPFrom Page 1

minister after due consultationwith the opposition parties andhe would be replying to PrimeMinister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’sletter on Thursday(today).

He said the name of RasoolBaksh Paleejo has been floatedfor the slot of caretaker PM onthe recommendations of oppo-sition parties.

After consultation with PTIthrough Jamaat-e-Islami Paki-stan Secretary General LiaquatBalouch, the said three nameswould be conveyed to the PrimeMinister Raja Pervaiz Ashrafthrough a letter, he added. Hesaid consultations have alsobeen made with those partieswhich have no representation inthe Parliament.

Nisar also rejected all me-dia reports regarding backdoor talks between the PPPand PML-N and stated thatthere is no back channel dia-logue going on regarding care-taker setup as the PML-N doesnot believe in such channels.

The Opposition leadersaid all out efforts have beenmade to propose the names ofimpartial persons for care-taker PM.

Answering a question, hesaid the PML-N wants elec-tions for National and Provin-

PML-N nominates threefor caretaker PM

From Page 1cial Assemblies on same day.

Nisar alleged the PPP-ledgovernment for ‘stealing’ elec-tion process in Sindh andBalochistan. If due consulta-tion was not made with the op-position parties in Sindh andBalochistan for caretaker chiefministers there, the decisionabout dissolution of Punjabgovernment would be taken af-ter due consideration, hewarned.

How the MQM could bedubbed as opposition as its gov-ernor is still serving in the Sindhgovernment, Nisar questioned?Under a well-thought-out strat-egy the PPP has allotted oppo-sition benches to its allies whoenjoyed five years on treasurybenches, whereas the govern-ment was reluctant to appointopposition leaders in Sindh andBalochistan assemblies unlesstheir tenure ended, he said.

According to him, the‘genuine opposition’ in Sindhincludes PML-F, Jamaat-e-Islami and other parties, butthey are not being consultedwhich is unacceptable.

The PML-N leaderslammed the PPP-led govern-ment for their bid of ‘pre-pollrigging’ in Sindh throughformer allies.

To another question, Nisarsaid that Punjab Chief Minis-ter Muhammad Shahbaz Sharifis going to write a letter to Op-position Leader in Punjab As-sembly Raja Riaz for caretakerChief Minister in Punjab.

Expressing grave concernover state of economy in thecountry, Nisar said the PPP-ledgovernment through FinanceMinistry and FBR are causingdents on poor nationaleconomy so that new govern-ment fails to deliver. He regret-ted that new gates are beingopened to whiten the blackmoney while the PML-Nwould oppose tooth and nailthe proposed Tax AmnestyBill.

He said FBR chairman isa political appointee and politi-cal aide of President Zardari,alleging that the chairman wasclearing cases of influentialpeople through deals.

He invited the attention ofSupreme Court and ElectionCommission of Pakistan to-wards what he claimed ram-pant corruption in Ministry ofFinance and said national kittyis being used for personal ob-jectives. He also alleged that aspecial fund is being createdfor PPP.

Commanderof the QatarEmiri Air

Force visits AirHeadquarters

ISLAMABAD—Major GeneralMubarak Mohammad Al-Kumait Al Khayarin, Com-mander of the Qatar Emiri AirForce visited Air Headquarters,Islamabad today.

The distinguished guestwas received by Air Chief Mar-shal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chiefof the Air Staff, Pakistan AirForce.

On his arrival, a smartlyturned out contingent of Paki-stan Air Force presented theGuard of Honour.

Later he was introduced toPrincipal Staff Officers of Paki-stan Air Force. He also calledon Air Chief Marshal TahirRafique Butt, Chief of the AirStaff, Pakistan Air Force, in hisoffice.

Both the dignitaries re-mained together for some timeand discussed matters of profes-sional interest.

The distinguished guest alsoattended a briefing at Air Head-quarters on the organization,role and functioning of PakistanAir Force.—Agencies

dents of terrorism continued inthe city despite the presence of11,000 Rangers personnel whoenjoyed special policing powers.

The court ordered theRangers’ chief to use his11,000 troops to safeguard thecity’s entry points and not al-low “a single bullet to enter”.

Rangers’ Director GeneralRizwan Akhtar said his troopsconducted overnight opera-tions and arrested 59 suspectsin the blast.

The court ordered thecountry’s three main intelli-gence agencies, Inter-ServicesIntelligence (ISI), Military In-telligence (MI) and the Intel-ligence Bureau (IB), to submitreports on Friday on the blast.

The court also issued no-tices to officials of the federalgovernment and intelligenceagencies summoning them toappear in court on Mar 8.

The court also instructedfor the suspension of Malir Po-lice chief SP Rao Anwar.

The Chief Justice hadtaken suo motu notice on anoffice note sent by the SC Reg-istrar based on clippings of dif-ferent newspapers over adeadly bombing last week inKarachi’s Abbas Town inwhich around 50 people re-portedly lost their lives andalmost 200 others were in-jured.

Anwer Mansoor Khan,lawyer for Sindh provincialgovernment, told a SupremeCourt hearing in Karachi onWednesday that police chiefFayyaz Leghari was being re-moved from his post, alongwith one of his deputies.

Leghari was also removedfrom his post in June 2011, butwas later reinstated, after se-curity forces shot dead an un-armed man in a public park.Chief Justice IftikharMohammad Chaudhryslammed the government andsecurity agencies for negli-gence, demanding to knowwhy heads had not rolled afterSunday’s attack.

“We’ll not allow anyone toenjoy public office at the costof public taxes and do nothingto safeguard their lives andproperties,” Chaudhry said.

“Those who died in theblast and others who are con-tinuously being targeted inother terrorist acts are not for-eigners. They are our ownblood, they pay taxes for oursalaries.”—Agencies

Sindh govtFrom Page 1

law and order and Abbas TownBomb Blast tragedy.

On the other hand, the Chiefof the Army Staff GeneralAshfaq Pervez Kiyani was alsoin the city and had receivedbriefing on city situation at thecorps headquarters in the city.

The untoward situation inthe city was not unexpected butthe intensity of the situation was,however, not expected to be ex-tremely horrible. The entire cityhad been shut down just in anhour.

The untoward situation inthe city was followed by the in-cident of fire that erupted in agodown of New Fruit and Veg-etable Market located on SuperHighway. The fire tenders fromall departments were summonedto slake the flames and to pre-vent the remaining market from

Guns rule Karachi—No govt in sightFrom Page 1

being gutted. The smoke thathad been visible to the nakedeyes from many miles had cre-ated panic among the citizensand the rumours had spread thatthe rioters had torched vehicles.

However, the fear of the citi-zens for seeing vehicles torchedwas turned into reality as the ri-oters had also set a few passen-ger coaches on fire.

The untoward situation thathad instilled panic and fearamong the hearts of the citizenshad worsened when the passen-ger coaches had also vanishedfrom roads all of a sudden. Men,women, boys and girls werewandering from here to there inorder to get a cab to reach homesafely. However, the cab driv-ers also started making haywhile the sun shine and de-manded extra tariff.

As a result of firing, 4 per-son shad been gunned downwhile a ffew sustained bulletinjuries.

Children and teachers re-mained stranded inside schoolsfor hours as they had no otheroption but to wait till the situa-tion improves outside.

The gunmen also forced thepetrol pumps across the city toshut down.

Fear gripped the citizens, asthey remained clueless as towhat caused the Karachi’s situ-ation which was completelypeaceful till afternoon to get sobad within moments.

Meanwhile, businesseswere also forced to close downin Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas andNawabshah, after similar inci-dents of firing coincided withthose of Karachi.

Corps Headquarters Karachiover the dangerous law and or-der situation in the city, theArmy Chief ex-pressed con-cerns. He was quoted as sayingthat the enemies of the countrywere targeting its financial hubto dampen the economy. He alsoremembered 5000 martyredtroops of the army during thewar on terror and said rest oftheir colleagues are ready to sac-rifice their lives for the country.

“It is the foremost duty ofPakistan army to safeguard thesolidarity of the country and thearmy will fulfil this responsibil-ity at all costs,” the chief wasquoted as addressing the brief-ing at Ka-rachi Corps Headquar-ters.

The sources told PakistanOb-server that the Chief rushedback to the GHQ in Rawalpindi“the way generals move duringthe fire-fighting season.” Thesources hinted that a crucialmeeting be-tween President AsifAli Zardari and General Kayaniwas on cards wherein the fateof law and order across countrywould be decided.

Army forclean-up

before pollsFrom Page 1

leave the people on the mercyof the terrorists.”

The protest campaign wouldcontinue till the moment the ter-rorists were arrested and in thisregard, the public transporters,traders and businessmen shouldjoin the MQM and keep all kindsof trade and other business ac-tivities suspended quite volun-tarily.

He said that the MQM wasfully aware of the consequencesof the problems that would in-flict the citizens but amid thedevastating circumstances, theMQM believed that it was thehigh time that the traders, busi-nessmen community, peoplefrom every walks of life shouldstand united against the rampantsabotage activities done by theterrorists.

He said that the frigid atti-tude of the leaders of politicalparties over the sad tragedy ofAbbas town was regrettable be-cause they had been sympathiz-ing with the perpetrators ratherthan standing beside the ag-grieved families.

He lambasted the govern-ment and the law enforcementagencies for failing to arrest theterrorists that had carried thesabotage activities one after an-other.

The terrorists that had car-ried out two major sabotage ac-tivities in Quetta, one onAlamdar Road and the other onKirmani Road were yet to bearrested.

He appealed to the people ofthe city, transporters of goodsand passenger transport, traders

MQM cancels strikefor indefinite period

From Page 1

and businessmen to show soli-darity with the aggrieved fami-lies of the victims of AbbasTown.

He said that it was the na-tional duty of the government torehabilitate the affected familiesfailing which the MQM wouldfill the gap and would performthe rehabilitation work on itsown because the MQM couldnot leave the people that hadelected it for many times.

Waseem Aftab while speak-ing on the occasion said that itwas very sad to note that therewere some political and religiousparties that launched a TrainMarch from Karachi toRawalpindi but they did not cometo the Abbas Town to show sym-pathy to the affected people.

and projects of land develop-ment for the welfare of the be-reaved families of martyrs, warinjured, disabled and other per-sons of the defence forces.

The said bill was alsomoved by Minister for Law andJustice Farooq H. Naek and wasunanimously passed by the Sen-ate. The National Assembly hasalready passed the bill.

the mainly liberal and secularopposition, and at the same timeprotests against PresidentMohammed Morsi and his rul-ing Muslim Brotherhood havemounted around the country.

In the Suez Canal city ofPort Said, scene of some of theheaviest protests, a new roundsof violence entered a fourth dayas protesters clashed with policeeven as the military tried to in-tervene to stop the unrest.

The court verdict was in re-sponse to dozens of complaintsquestioning the legality of thelaw organizing the election,which Morsi’s Islamist alliespushed through parliament.

The court ruled that the pro-cess of the law’s passage wasimproper. Presiding judgeAbdel-Meguid el-Muqanen saidthat the law must be reviewedby the Supreme ConstitutionalCourt to determine its confor-mity to the constitution. Heruled that, in the meantime, thepresidential decree calling forelections based on the law wasannulled.

Morsi’s legal adviser,Mohammed Fouad Gadallah,said the state would appeal theadministrative court ruling. Atthe same time, he said, it willsubmit the law to the constitu-tional court for review. The ap-peal aims to establish the rightof the president to call the elec-tions, which the court called intoquestion by annulling the de-cree.

He said that during the ap-peals, the government wouldrespect the ruling suspending theelection. “The verdict will berespected and implemented,” hetold The Associated Press.

He said the opening of theapplication period for candi-

Court suspends Egypt’s parliament electionFrom Page 1

Senatepasses 24th

ConstitutionalAmend Bill

From Page 1

dates, which had been due tostart Saturday, would be delayedin light of the ruling.

That could delay the entireelection process. The multi-phase election was supposed tobegin in April 22 and last fornearly two months.

“As it stands, we don’t haveelections, even if temporarily,”said Negad Borai, a rights ac-tivist. “This reinforces the po-litical crisis.”

The ruling Islamists havepresented the election as a steptoward bringing stability to thecrisis-ridden country. But theircall of the vote amid the waveof protests that began in No-vember and has since spiraledhad seemed to heighten the cri-sis.

The opposition had called aboycott of the vote, saying nowwas not the time for an electionand that Morsi must first loosenhis grip on power. The opposi-tion has accused Morsi’s Mus-lim Brotherhood of monopoliz-ing rule and imposing their owndecisions, and say the group hasshown itself as incapable of run-ning the country.

Morsi’s supporters, in turn,say Islamists have a right to ruleafter repeated election victoriesand accuse the opposition of try-ing to use street unrest to reversetheir wins. Even without theopposition boycott, Islamistswould likely win a majority inthe upcoming parliament elec-tions.

The opposition had opposedthe election law, expressing con-cerns over gerrymandering bythe Brotherhood, which domi-nates the parliament, and com-plaining it was not consultedbefore it was drafted.

In its ruling on Wednesday,the administrative court saidparliament had not observed theright of the constitutional courtto review the election law, in-cluding any revisions in it, toensure it conforms to the con-stitution. When the judge readthe verdict, lawyers in the courtroom broke out in chants of“God is great.”

A voice in the room said:“We are regaining the stateback.”

Egypt’s political crisis hasbeen mired in various judicialdisputes, including an outcryamong the opposition followingMorsi’s decision last Novemberto grant himself immunity fromthe judicary’s supervision. Helater revoked this right, in theface of massive protests.

At the heart of the electiondispute is a loosely worded ar-ticle in the newly adopted con-stitution that deprives the con-stitutional court from review-ing election laws after parlia-ment passes them. The admin-istrative court appeared to bearguing that the article meansparliament must consult theconstitutional court beforepassing the law.

Initially, parliament sent thedraft bill to the constitutionalcourt, which rejected it, askinglawmakers to amend nearly adozen articles, including thedrawing of districts.—AP

Int’l Women’sDay tomorrow

LAHORE—Like other parts ofthe globe, the InternationalWomen’s Day will be observedhere on Friday.

Various NGO’s, women’sgroups, women wings of politi-cal parties, governmental de-partments and educational insti-tutes will organize variousprogrammes in the provincialcapital.

Lahore Chamber of Com-merce and Industry’s StandingCommittee on Women Entrepre-neurs Development and Re-source Centre will organizeprogramme to mark the dayfrom March 8 to 10, aimed topromote women entrepreneur-ship and for the awareness ofwomen empowerment in thecountry.—APP

Anti-polio drivesecurity tightenedPESHAWAR—Security has beenbeefed up for the vaccinatorsand other relevant staff deployedto administer polio vaccines tounder five children in provincialcapital. Talking to media per-sons a senior police official saidon Wednesday that 20 to 25 po-lio teams are working in the ju-risdiction of each police station.SPs and SHOs are supervisingthe security of the teams. Hesaid that three police personnelwere performing their dutieswith each polio team while morecontingent of police have beendeployed in outskirts and sensi-tive areas of Peshawar. The anti-polio campaign continued forthe third consecutive day in dif-ferent areas of Peshawar andFederally Administered TribalAreas (FATA). The health au-thorities intend to administerpolio vaccine to 700,000 chil-dren and seven thousands teamshave been formed to achieve thetarget. However, 200,000 chil-dren in South and NorthWaziristan tribal areas would bedeprived of the polio drops onsecurity grounds. 22,000 teamshave been formed to administerpolio vaccine to 800,000 chil-dren in Peshawar. —INP

RAWALPINDI: PML-F chief Pir Sibghatullah Shah Pagara Rasheedi, flanked by Awami Muslim League PresidentSheikh Rashid, talking to media after a meeting at Lal Haweli.

STAFF REPORTER

RAWALPINDI—The PakistanMuslim League-Functional(PML-F) chief Pir Pagara hassaid that it would be a miracle ifthe Pakistan People’s Party(PPP) manages to secure morethan 50 seats in the NationalAssembly in the upcomingpolls. Speaking to the media atLal Haweli in Rawalpindi, thePML-F chief said public senti-ment was polarized against thePPP.

“I have been in Punjab forpast five days. I met a lot of dif-

ferent people. In Sindh we hadthe perception that the PPP willtake a clear majority in polls.But after looking at the reactionof people in different areas, I amnot so sure.”

The Pir Pagara in a matter-of-fact manner said that it wouldbe very difficult for the PPP tosecure enough seats to form agovernment in the centre.“Maybe my figures are not ac-curate, but there are around 340seats in the National Assembly,and if the PPP manages to se-cure even 50 seats in the upcom-ing polls, it will be a miracle.”

“It is not the point of whatother parties have worked for,rather it is the PPP that has de-stroyed itself in the way it hasrun the country so far.”

The PML-F chief said thatany government that is electedinto power will have to face theafter effects of the incumbentgovernment’s five year term.“They have pushed the countryfar back.

The situation is so bad thateven the government that iselected into power, it will be aheadache for them to take thecountry forward.”.

PPP cannot secure morethan 50 NA seats: Pagara

ISLAMABAD —Richard Olson,US Ambassador to Pakistan, saidon Wednesday that 2014 is not anexit year for the United States andthat the US will not disengagefrom the region.

In a speech at a conference onthe situation in Afghanistan post-2014 at the National University ofModern Languages, AmbassadorRichard Olson stated that “2014is not an exit. It is a continuationof a long-term commitment andengagement with the Afghanpeople. 2014 is not 1989. TheUnited States will not disengagefrom the region.”

Ambassador Olson notedthat, “The internationalcommunity’s financial and politi-cal commitment, and the nearly$20 billion in pledges for securityand development assistance thathave already been made through2024, stands out as a defining dif-ference between 2014 and 1989.The United States, and nationsacross the globe, have unambigu-ously committed to Afghanistan’sfuture.” “As President Obamaand President Karzai agreed inWashington, Afghan-led peaceand reconciliation is the surestway to end violence and ensurethe lasting stability of Afghanistanand the region,” AmbassadorOlson recalled. “The U.S. role isto help advance such a process,including by supporting an officein Qatar, where negotiations cantake place between the AfghanHigh Peace Council and autho-rized representatives of theTaliban.” In order to facilitate anegotiated peace, AmbassadorOlson called for the United Statesand Pakistan to work together withpurpose, noting, “For the sake ofAfghanistan, Pakistan, and the re-

gion, Pakistan’s full support to anAfghan-led, Afghan-owned peaceprocess is needed now.”

Ambassador Olson alsoreiterated the United States com-mitment to a cooperative andlong-term partnership with Paki-stan. “The U.S. relationship withPakistan is not shaped solely byour commitments and responsi-bilities in Afghanistan. This part-nership is far broader than any oneissue, and centered on areas ofmutual interest,” he said. “It isnot dictated solely by the require-ments of today, but rooted in thejoint realization that the securityand prosperity of our peoples isbetter served when we remainengaged, and cooperate.”

For Pakistan, supportingprogress toward peace in Afghani-stan is not a matter of altruism,but is instead a critical sovereigninterest. “I need only cite your ci-vilian and military leaders whohave stated clearly and repeatedlythat continued violence and in-

creased instability in Afghanistanequates to increased instability andviolence in Pakistan. We agreeand are acutely aware of thatnexus”, he said. Sustainablepeace in Afghanistan is not onlygood for Afghanistan, but offersthe promise of significant divi-dends for regional development.We are encouraged by the grow-ing scope of engagement betweenPakistan and Afghanistan andhope we can work together to ad-vance a common vision for peaceand prosperity in Pakistan andacross the region. He assured thatthe United States will remain com-mitted to ensuring a stable andpeaceful Afghanistan. And wewill continue to view the U.S.-Pakistan partnership as one ofcritical and growing importance.We will also maintain cooperationwith Pakistan in our joint effortsto counter extremism, combat ter-rorism, and protect both ourpeoples from the scourge of sense-less violence.—Online

No disengagement fromthe region: Olson

BEIRUT—The number of Syrianswho have fled their war-ravagedcountry and are seeking assistancehas now topped the 1 millionmark, the U.N. refugee agencysaid Wednesday, warning thatSyria is heading toward a “full-scale disaster.”

In Syria, activists said rebelscompleted their takeover of thenorthern city of Raqqa after seiz-ing two key security buildingsthere. If confirmed, it would bethe first major city to fall com-pletely into rebel hands sinceSyria’s conflict began nearly twoyears ago.The U.N., meanwhile, said about20 peacekeepers in a force thatmonitors the cease-fire betweenIsrael and Syria in the GolanHeights were detained Wednesdayby about 30 armed fighters. U.N.deputy spokesman Eduardo del

Buey said the U.N. observerswere stopped near an observationpost which sustained damage andwas evacuated last weekend fol-lowing heavy combat.

In Geneva, the U.N. HighCommissioner for Refugees, An-tonio Guterres, said that the fig-ure of 1 million refugees is basedon reports from his agency’s fieldoffices in countries neighboringSyria that have provided safe ha-ven for refugees escaping the civilwar.

“With a million people inflight, millions more displacedinternally, and thousands ofpeople continuing to cross theborder every day, Syria is spiral-ing toward full-scale disaster,”Guterres said. Syria’s populationis about 22 million.

In addition, several hundredthousand Syrians who have fled

their country have not yet regis-tered as refugees, suggesting thetotal number well exceeds 1 mil-lion, said Adrian Edwards, aspokesman for the U.N. refugeeagency.

Syria’s uprising began inMarch 2011 with protests againstPresident Bashar Assad’s authori-tarian rule. When the governmentcracked down on demonstrators,the opposition took up arms andthe conflict turned into a full-blown civil war. The U.N. esti-mates that more than 70,000people have been killed.

The pace of refugees fleeingthe battered country has pickedup dramatically over the pastthree months. In Lebanon, 19-year-old Bushra, a mother of two,became the millionth Syrian refu-gee registered in the region sincethe conflict began.—AP

UN: number of Syrianrefugees reaches 1m

4 including younggirl shot deadKARACHI—At least four morepersons, including a girl, werekilled in unstoppable violence inthe metropolis. According to po-lice, a 40-year-old man, QadirHussain, was gunned down nearEye Hospital in Korangi. In an-other firing incident, Rashid, 38,was killed in Landhi sector 36-B. Abdul Wahid Jan, 25, was shotdead in Memon Goth, Malir. Abullet-riddled body of an 18-year-old girl, Aneesa, was found froma ground near Al-Asif Square,Sohrab Goth. —NNI

Dozen militantskilled in Orakzai

TARIQ SAEED

PESHAWA—As the operationagainst the miscreants challeng-ing the writ of the governmentin Aurakzai agency continued,bloody clashes between thetrouble makers and the securityforces in Momozai area of theagency Wednesday resulted inkilling of at least a dozen mili-tants while an

Army officer and four sol-diers also sustained injuries.

This has brought the num-ber of militants mowed downduring three days ground andair offensive to more thanthirty.

The PAF jet planes duringstrikes on militants’ positions inupper and lower and upperAurakzai agencies on Mondayand Tuesday had left more thanfifteen alleged terrorists dead.

Reports reaching here said,the security forces during opera-tion against the militants inMomozai area in upper Aurakzaiclashed with the miscreants thatled to the killing of at least 12militants.

Missing containers:SC directs FBR chief

to recover moneyISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt on Wednesday directed thechairman of Federal Bureau ofRevenue (FBR), Ali ArshadHakeem, to recover money fromthe accused in the InternationalSecurity Assistance Force (Isaf)missing containers’ case.

According to a private TVchannel, the case was heard by athree-member bench of the apexcourt, headed by Chief JusticeIftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry,Justice Gulzar Ahmed and JusticeSheikh Azmat Saeed.—NNI

Musharraf attack case

Court revokesdeath sentenceof two convicts

ISLAMABAD—Supreme Courton Wednesday revoked death sen-tences for two accused in a casepertaining to the attack on formerpresident Pervez Musharraf.A three-member bench of the apexcourt headed by Chief JusticeIftikhar Mohammad Chaudhryhad reserved the verdict in the caseon February 28 against the proce-dure adopted by a military courtto enhance the sentence of RanaNaveed and Amir Sohail whowere convicted for their role in thesuicide attack.

However, the apex courtmaintained Rana Naveed’s lifeimprisonment and Amir Sohail’s20 year imprisonment sentences.

Field General Court Martial(FGCM) on July 21, 2005 hadawarded sentence to the two ac-cused of the case. Naveed wasawarded life imprisonment,whereas Sohail was awarded 20-year incarceration..—INP

WASHINGTON—The U.S.Army is planning to leave about$6 billion worth of equipmentin Afghanistan after 2014.

The service is in the middleof planning a major “retrograde”that will account for the bulk ofthe vehicles, gear, and othermateriel after more than 11 yearsof war. The Army has approxi-mately 1.38 million pieces ofequipment in Afghanistan val-ued at roughly $28 billion. Of

US Army to leave $6b worthof gear in Afghanistan

that, it plans to bring home about757,000 pieces, or about $21 bil-lion worth of materiel, and “di-vest itself” of about 628,000pieces of equipment valued atabout $6 billion, according toWayne Hall, an Army spokesmanat the Pentagon.

“We will bring back thoseitems that will support the Army’sapproved force,” Hall said. “Wewill also bring home items withsecurity trade restrictions.” —INP

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Member FederalCouncil of Pakistan People’sParty and MPA from PA-200Multan Ahmed Hussain Deharcalled on Punjab Chief Minis-ter Muhammad Shahbaz Sharifand expressing full confidencein the leadership of MianMuhammad Nawaz Sharif an-nounced to join Pakistan Mus-lim League-N. ChairmanLahore Transport CompanyKhawaja Ahmed Hassan andAdvisor Zaeem Hussain Qadriwere also present on the occa-sion.

Ahmed Hussain Dehar wasthe close companion of formerPrime Minister Yousaf RazaGillani and President PPPMultan Division from 1997.Ahmed Hussain Dehar has senthis resignation from member-ship of provincial assembly tothe Speaker Punjab Assembly.

Welcoming the joining of

Gilani’s close aide AhmedHussain Dehar joins PML-N

PML-N by Ahmed HussainDehar, Chief MinisterMuhammad Shahbaz Sharifsaid that the party will furtherstrengthen in the area.

The Chief Minister saidthat due to the politics of pub-lic service, PML-N has be-come the most popular partyof the country and Zar BabaForty Thieves will be givencrushing defeat in the forth-coming general elections.

He said people are fullyaware that who committed cor-ruption and who served themasses. He said that Rs.260billion have been spent duringthe last five years for theprogress and prosperity of thepeople of South Punjab.

On this occasion, AhmedHussain Dehar said that he hasjoined PML-N uncondition-ally and sent his resignationfrom membership of provin-cial assembly to the SpeakerPunjab Assembly.

Well toxic gasclaims twobrothers’ livesLORALAI—Two brothers onWednesday suffocated to deathdue to poisonous gas filled ina well during cleaning processin Anmbrig area of Loralai.According to father KamalKhan, his two sons namedNasrullah Khan andMuhammad Khan went downto well for cleaning it and didnot come up from the well af-ter many hours. They were re-trieved from the well in uncon-scious condition by local people.They were rushed to nearby hos-pital and the doctor pronouncedthem dead. The hospital sourcessaid that they died due to toxicgas filled in the well. —INP

NAB to takeaction againstdefaultersISLAMABAD—NAB has startedits strategy to initiate the legalproceedings through issuanceof notices to all electricity billsdefaulters. Chairman NABAdmiral (Retd) Fasih Bokhariin a detailed meeting Wednes-day with Minister for Waterand Power, Ch. AhmedMukhtar decided to take actionagainst electricity bills default-ers (private consumers). In thisregard terms of reference havebeen decided between NABand Ministry of Water andPower . Ministry of Water andPower will refer all cases to theNAB and the Bureau will takeaction under National Ac-countability Ordinance 1999.MoWP will provide list ofelectricity bills defaulters byMonday evening, March 11,2013.—INP

KARACHI—Chief of the NavalStaff Admiral Muhammad AsifSandila Wednesday visited dif-ferent ships of foreign naviesparticipating in the Multina-tional Exercise AMAN-13.

Upon his arrival, the NavalChief was presented guard ofhonor by smartly turned out con-tingents of the respective ships.He met officers and menonboard and appreciated theirparticipation in this international

exercise.The Naval Chief visited

ships of friendly countries ofTurkey, China, UAE, Malaysia,Sri Lanka, UK, Australia,Bangladesh and Italy where hewas briefed on the operationalcapabilities of the visitingnavies.

While recording his remarksin the visitors’ book, the NavalChief stated that the exerciseAMAN would further

Naval Exercise Aman-13

Naval Chief visits foreign navy shipsstrengthen ties among the par-ticipating navies and help devisea common strategy to curb themenace of terrorism at high seas.

During his visit to Chinesenavy ship, Admiral Sandila ob-served that Pakistan and Chinaenjoy long standing friendly ties.He hoped that these cordial re-lations would be further consoli-dated and mutual cooperation indefence sector would also beenhanced in future.—NNI

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Government ofSindh had on the directivesof Sindh Chief Minister SyedQaim Ali Shah depositedRs250 million in the accountsof the local government ofKarachi. The Abbas Townbomb blast was a nationaltragedy that had saddenedpeople across the board.However, it was not just touse the tragedy for scoringpolitical points. There werecertain elements that wantedto spoil the peace and tran-quility in the city and hadcaused the city to shut, whichwas a shameful politicalmaneouvour. There were cer-

tain people that had quit the gov-ernment and had been levellingallegation on the governmentthat it had failed.”

Pakistan People’s Party(PPP) Karachi Chapter Presi-dent MNSA Abdul Qadir Patel,Deputy Speaker of Sindh As-sembly Shahla Raza andKarachi Commissioner SyedHashim Raza Zaidi said this ina joint press conference theyaddressed Wednesday at SindhChief Minister House.

Special assistants to theSindh CM Waqar Mehdi, RashidHussain Rabbani and NajmiAlam were present.

Shahla Raza said that a sur-vey had been completed to de-termine the extent of the losses.

The affected people were rela-tives of the people in the gov-ernment but the relief activitieswere impeded under a plannedconspiracy so as to defame thegovernment and character assas-sination was also conductedthrough electronic media. Thegovernment would not sit idleuntil the last of the affected wasnot rehabilitated.

Karachi CommissionerSyed Hashim Raza Zaidi on theoccasion said that the estimatedloss was amounted to Rs120.75million and 50 were lost and 140were injured in the Abbas TownBomb Blast tragedy.

The Commissioner said that75 apartments and 65 shopswere destroyed in the tragedy.

There were 7 unidentified vic-tims, identity process of whomwas being started through thecollection of samples for DNA.

MNA Abdul Qadir Patelsaid that the Abbas Town trag-edy was a very sad incident inthe history of the country thathad traumatized the aggrievedfamilies and the government.

However, the entire areawas converted into a No Goarea and elected representa-tives were barred from reach-ing the affected area, whichwas a planned conspiracy.

PPP leaders Shahla Raza,Shazia Atta Marri, Faisal RazaAbidi and others were not al-lowed to enter the area. Thosethat had prevented the PPP

leaders and did not allowthem to start relief and reha-bilitation activities andcriticised the governmentwere team B of the terroriststhat carried out the AbbasTown tragedy.

He said that the destroyedbuildings would be recon-structed and after necessarylegal procedures, the ag-grieved families would begiven the compensationmoney.

It was said that those whohad recently parted ways withthe government were now lev-elling false allegations againstthe government for its failureand were closing the city un-der a planned conspiracy.

PPP lambastes MQM for politicizing Abbas Town tragedy

THE brains of children from low-income families process informationdifferently to those of their

wealthier counterparts, US research sug-gests.

Normal nine and 10-year-olds from rich andpoor backgrounds haddiffering electrical activ-ity in a part of the brainlinked to problem solving.

The Journal of Cogni-tive Neuroscience studywas described as a“wake-up call” about theimpact of deprivation.

A UK researcher saidit could shed light onearly brain development.

The 26 children in thestudy, conducted at theUniversity of California,Berkeley, were measuredusing an electroencepha-lograph (EEG), whichmeasured activity in the“prefrontal cortex” of the brain.

Half were from low income homes, andhalf from high income families.

During the test, an image the childrenhad not been briefed to expect wasflashed onto a screen, and their brain re-sponses were measured.

Those from lower income familiesshowed a lower prefrontal cortex re-sponse to it than those from wealthierhouseholds. Dr Mark Kishiyama, one ofthe researchers, said: “The low socioeco-nomic kids were not detecting or process-ing the visual stimuli as well - they werenot getting that extra boost from the pre-

frontal cortex.”Since the children were, in health

terms, normal in every way, the research-ers suspected that “stressful environ-ments” created by low socioeconomic

status might be to blame.Previous studies have

suggested that children inlow-income families arespoken to far less - on av-erage hearing 30 millionfewer words by the age offour.

Professor ThomasBoyce, another of the re-searchers, said that talkingmore to children couldboost prefrontal cortex de-velopment.

“We are certainly notblaming lower socioeco-nomic families for not talk-ing to their kids - there areprobably a zillion reasonswhy that happens.”

His colleague, Profes-sor Robert Knight, added: “This is awake-up call - it’s not just that these kidsare poor and more likely to have healthproblems, but they might actually notbe getting full brain development fromthe stressful and relatively impoverishedenvironment associated with low socio-economic status.”He said that with“proper intervention and training”, im-provements could be made, even in olderchildren.Dr Emese Nagy, from the Uni-versity of Dundee, said that it was a “pio-neering” study which could aid under-standing of how environment could af-fect brain development.

Brain tests show childwealth gap

ISLAMABAD: A boy walks past a broken road at G-7/2 which may cause any severe accident.

ISLAMABAD: An attractive view of seasonal flowers flourishing and blooming in alocal park marking the spring season.

CITY REPORTER

IS L A M A B A D—The stu-dents from Roots Millen-nium Schools, Millen-nium Campus I-9/3,Islamabad visited KalyalPublic School as part ofthe “social responsibilityby empowering publicprivate partnership ven-ture.

They were accompa-nied by their subjectteacher and a represen-tative Change- in Educa-tion which is a social sec-tor ini t iat ive of RootsMillennium Schools, Pa-kistan.

The Millennials con-ducted various activitiesincluding drawing andcoloring, Chinese whis-pers, general knowledge,hide the f lag, and acouple of quick competi-tions. The visitors werepleasantly surprised todiscover that the childrenat the school could eas-ily comprehend instruc-tions in English and mostof them surpassed theirintellectual expectations,which is a direct conse-

Empowering public privatepartnership venture

quence of the investmentin the school by the man-agement of Change in Edu-cation, who have adoptedthe school since 2011.

Birthday boyMuhammad Taki Jawadshared sweets with the

class of 10-year olds andthe rest of the students ofthe school.

Other students in-cluded Abeeha Shah,Sumbal Tauheed, RidaSatti, Hira Satti, KhushanShahad and Juhaina

Mubarak. They were ac-companied by Global Per-spectives teacher Mr. TjHussain and National Pro-gram Manager Change inEducation, Ms. Irum Gilani.Ms. Gilani also gave awaygifts to the brightest stu-

dents who answered themost general knowledgeques t ions .

The faculty membersat the school expressedtheir grat i tude to CEORoots MillenniumSchools Mr. FaisalMushtaq for facilitatingthe field trip which notonly helped the GlobalPerspectives studentslearn more about the dif-ference in education be-tween public and privateinst i tut ions, appreciateeveryday bounties theytake for granted, and con-tribute to the educationof the community.

The activity will de-velop a spirit of sharingand contributing for thegreater good of Pakistan.

The management ofRoots MillenniumSchools under the dy-namic leadership of Mr.Faisal Mushtaq vowed tocontinue this posi t ivetrend of creating learningopportunit ies for bothsides of the social divideand inculcate a spirit ofgraciousness among ourfuture generations.ISLAMABAD: Students of Roots Millennium Schools during visit to Kalyal Public School.

Action againstunregistered

NGOs in CapitalISLAMABAD—The govern-ment is taking action againstthe unregistered NGOs and asurvey will be conducted in thecapital city to ascertain suchNGOs and to take actionagainst them.This was statedby Parliamentary Secretary forInterior Rai Mujtaba Kharalwhile replying to a call atten-tion notice in NA moved byDr. Talat Mahesar and othersregarding rampant increase inthe number of NGOs workingon different issues withoutregistration in Islamabad andother parts of the country.

Replying to another callattention notice moved byChaudhary MuhammadBarjees Tahir and others re-garding unscheduled load-shedding in Islamabad andother parts of the country,Minister of State for Water andPower Tasneem AhmadQureshi told the House thatthe total production capacityof electricity from differentsources is 18000 MW but dueto the shortage of water, thehydel production has been af-fected to a great deal. He saidefforts are underway to maxi-mize the production to over-come the unscheduled load-shedding in the country.—INP

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Concludingceremony of InternationalTravelling Expo titled “Ener-gies, for a SustainableWorld” launched by Paki-stan Science Foundation(PSF) in collaboration withEmbassy of France, will beconcluded on Thursday,here at National Centre forPhysics (NCP), Quaid-e-Azam University.

PSF Chairman Prof. Dr.Manzoor H. Soomro inaugu-rated the Expo,which willtravel from Islamabad toMuzzafarabad (AJK), Gilgit,Abbottabad, Gujrat, Larkanaduring March-April, 2013.

NCP Advisor Prof. Dr.Aslam Baig, PSF MemberScience Dr. Khalil AhmedIbupoto, France Embassy’sCooperation Attach‚ for De-velopment and Humanitar-ian Affairs Mr. Gilles Angelsand PSF Principal ScientificOfficer Dr. Naushaba Atta

were also present at the in-augural ceremony attendedby scientists, teachers andstudents from different edu-cational institutions.

Addressing the launch-ing ceremony, Dr. Soomrourged the students that aftervisiting the expo the studentsmay experiment to developsuch things at their schoolsand homes.

He advised them to ex-plore what the Expo tells themand develop their own ideasfor sustainable use of energyto overcome global energycrisis.

He said PSF as part of itsscience popularization activi-ties holds S&T Fairs and Ex-hibitions for creating scienceawareness among the stu-dents and general public.

In this regard, so farmore than 2 million students,teachers and general visitorshave participated in theseexpos, which mainly includefive National S&T Fairs, four

World Travelling Expo at QAU

ISLAMABAD—Helpline ofIslamabad Police- Rescue 15received 23674 calls duringthe last month and providedimmediate assistance to thepeople seeking assistancefrom police.

Out of these calls, 8120calls were regarding generalinformation while 1478 dis-tressed calls were immedi-ately responded and assis-tance was provided to thepeople.

Out of these calls, 62were related to ambulanceservice while police staff atvarious desks in hospitalsincluding PIMS and PolyClinic provided immediatehelp to 605 persons.

Meanwhile, 74 crime

Rescue 15 receives 23,674 calls during Febscenes were visited by Res-cue 15 staff for collectingevidences and providing as-sistance during investiga-tion process.

Bomb Disposal Squadchecked 1205 vehicles atvarious entry points andVehicles’ Verification Cellchecked 525 cars as well as29 motorbikes.

A total of 28354 vehicleswere verified by SMS ser-vice of Rescue 15 and staffof WAPDA, Fire brigadeand SNGPL were also con-veyed complaints of citizensfor immediate redressal.

A total of 18 lost childrenand persons were reunitedwith their families and effortsof Rescue 15 were lauded by

the heirs of these persons.IGP Islamabad Bani

Amin Khan said that Rescue15 is delivering valuable ser-vices for the cause of hu-manity and helping peopleout from the distressed situ-ations. He said that 38 ve-hicles have been providedto Rescue 15 for helping citi-zens and ‘respond time’ ofthis service is only four min-utes .

He appreciated the staffof Rescue 15 and further di-rected to maintain the qual-ity of service with profes-sional commitment and dedi-cations. “The way Rescue 15is serving the citizens ispraise worthy,” he main-tained.—APP

ISLAMABAD—The Embassyof Japan in collaboration withthe Pakistan National Coun-cil of the Arts is organizingan Ikebana Workshop (Japa-nese art of flower arrange-ment) at the National Art Gal-lery (PNCA) from March 21to 28.

Professor of Ikebana,Asifa Ataka, who studied theart from one of the leadingflower arrangement schoolsin Japan, Ikenobo has been

Japanese Embassy to holdfree Ikebana workshop

specially invited fromKarachi to conduct the work-shop, said a news release is-sued here Monday.

Interested people are re-quired to register their namesto Mushtaq Moeeni, SeniorCultural Advisor, Embassyof Japan, on Telephone: 051-9072225 or by sending anemail at(mushtaq.moeeni@ib.mofa.go.jp)after filling the registrationform.

Registration forms areavailable on Embassywebsite; www.pk.emb-japan.go.jp. It is to men-tioned that there is no regis-tration fee for the workshop.

However, flower ar-rangement equipments andmaterials will be brought bythe participants according tothe instructions of theIkebana expert.

The last date for regis-tration is March 10.—APP

Poetry book ‘Benazir’ launchedCITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minis-ter for Religious Affairs SyedKhursheed Shah has said thatthe country always needed adynamic and charismatic lead-ership like Shaheed ZulfiqarAli Bhutto and ShaheedMohtarma Benazir Bhutto foramoilarating the lot of thepoor.

He was addressing asthe chief guest at the booklaunching ceremony ofCollection of Poetry titled“Benazir” written by SaeedAkhtar here on Wednes-

day. While Deputy SpeakerNational Assembly FaisalKarim Kundi presided overthe ceremony.

Syed Khursheed Shahsaid that Saeed Akhtar ’sbook “Benazir” is the voiceof heart for her belovedleader. He congratulatedthe writer and said that thebook is basically a tribute toShaheed Benazir Bhutto.

Khursheed Shah saidShaheed Benazir Bhutto wasexemplary leader and asmuch if we wrote in the loveof Benazir that is less.

Deputy Speaker Na-

tional Assembly Faisal KarimKundi lauded the work ofSaeed Akhtar.

He said that PPP wouldgo in the court of masses andlet them decide our future. Hesaid that the assemblieswould be dissolved onMarch 16.

He stressed for unityamong all the political forcesfor resolving various issuesbeing faced by the country.

He said that our youthare very talented and if weprovide better opportunitiesto them, our future would bebright. Seven gamblers

arrestedISLAMABAD—Islamabad Po-lice arrested seven gamblersduring raid at Shehzad townarea besides recoveringcash, five mobile phones andone dagger from their pos-session, a police spokesmansaid on Wednesday.

The nabbed personswere identified as Ishaq,Khalid, Raza Gull, Riaz,Nadeem, Yasir Mehmoodand Ruksar.Cases havebeen registered againstthese nabbed persons andfurther investigation is un-derway from them.—APP

International travelling Exposand a large number of sci-ence caravan exhibitions. He said the students andteachers should take maxi-mum benefit from PSF Sci-ence Caravan, Inquiry-BasedScience Education, LondonInternational Young Scien-tists Forum programmes thatare specially meant for stu-dents.

He also made a mentionto PSF collaboration withdifferent organizations in-cluding Pak-Turk Founda-tion, Intel Education Initia-tive Pakistan, National Cen-ter for Physics and univer-sities etc to promote scienceeducation in the countrythrough science competi-tions, fairs and scienceOlympiads.

He said the reason forholding the Energy Expo atNCP was to plan some newprogrammes jointly in orderto build such exhibitions inthe country.

ISLAMABAD: Major General Mubarak Mohammad Al-Kumait Al-Khayarin, CommanderQatar Emiri Air Force called on Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral MuhammadShafiq in his office at Naval Headquarters.

ISLAMABAD: A man arranging strawberries, most popular fruit of the season, to earnlivelihood for his family.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

ISLAMABAD: Customs officials showing the liquor bottles which were being smuggled from Benazir Bhutto Inter-national Airport.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

ISLAMABAD: Activists of Joint Action Committee Federal Directorate of Educationhold a sit-in outside FDE, in support of their demands.—PO photo

ISLAMABAD—A delegationof senior officials from CitoB.V, a Netherland based in-ternational reputed organi-zation working in the areasof testing and assessment,paid visit to the Higher Edu-cation Commission (HEC)here at Islamabad.

The main objective ofthe visit was to compre-hend the state of highereducation in Pakistan andexplore the possibilities ofcooperation in the fields oftesting and assessment andhigher education sector. Mr.Marten Roorda CEO and Dr.Henk Moelands DirectorCito International met withsenior HEC officials andrepresentatives of accredi-tation councils.

Cito delegation lauds HEC’squality assurance reforms

The Executive DirectorHEC Prof. Dr. MukhtarAhmed welcomed the del-egation and apprised themabout the scope, functionsand role of HEC forstrengthening higher edu-cation sector in Pakistan.He informed that the estab-lishment of the HEC in 2002has brought revolutionarychanges in higher educationsector of Pakistan.

The HEC has accom-plished more in ten yearssince its establishmentthan was achieved in thefirst 55 years of Pakistan’sexistence.

He also informed thatdue to revolutionary re-forms in the sector, Paki-stani universities have

been reflected among thetop world and Asian uni-versities.

During last decade, in-ternational collaborationswith leading organizationsand higher education insti-tutions of academically ad-vanced countries havebeen established through-out the globe. He said thatNational Testing Service(NTS) Pakistan has alreadybeen working as reputedtesting and assessment or-ganization and HEC wouldencourage their collabora-tions with international or-ganizations like Cito tobring the quality of test-ing and assessment in Pa-kistan at par with interna-tional standards.—NNI

ISLAMABAD—On the direc-tions of chief coordinatorto the Prime Minister ,Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani,the BGP (Pakistan) interna-tional has made payment ofcompensation to MasoodSadiq s/o Ch. SafdarHussain of village KanialBajrana, Tehsil Gujar Khan,Distr ict Rawalpindi fordamage caused to hishouse during a seismic op-eration in the area.

The applicant MasoodSadiq of vi l lage KanialBajrana approached thePrime Minister, stating thatthe BGP Pakistan (Interna-tional) and their sub-con-tractors had conductedseismic operat ion acrosshis land, during which hishouse was badly damageddue to vibration of heavymachinery.

He, therefore, claimed

Compensation paid toowner of damaged house

compensation of his housedamage. His request wasforwarded to the Ministryof Petroleum & Natural Re-sources for set t lement ofthe issue.

It had been reported bythe Ministry of Petroleum& Natural Resources thatthe matter had been settledwith the applicant and theBGP Pakistan (Interna-tional) had made the com-pensation charges Rs.300,000 to him.

The applicant , on re-ceiving the compensationamount, thanked the PrimeMinister , Raja PervezAshraf and the Chief Co-ordinator, MuhammadSadiq Sanjrani for theprompt act ion on his re-quest and prayed for theirlong lives and success ofthe present government.—APP

Police nab 22suspicious

personsISLAMABAD—Islamabad Po-lice, in a search operation inBlue Area, have apprehended22 suspicious persons.

According to details,Kohsar Police Station, on thedirectives of SSP IslamabadYasin Farooq, conducted theoperation against anti-socialelements, aiming at ensuringfoolproof security in the fed-eral capital.

The police registeredcases against the nabbedpersons and started investi-gation.—INP

RAWALPINDI—Staffers of allsessions, family and civilcourts of the District Courtshave held a demonstrationand complete strike in theJudicial Complex protestingthe ban on parking of ve-hicles and motorcycles of theemployees.

The courts remainedfunctionally closed from9:00am to 12:00pm due to theprotest demonstration. Thedemonstrators chanted slo-gans in favour of their de-

Mobile phonejammers installed

in Adiala JailR A W A L P I N D I — M o b i l ephone jammers have beeninstalled in Adiala Central Jailto stop illegal communica-tion.

Sources said that sensi-tive agencies have expressedconcerns over the use ofmobile phone from inside thejail upon which four jammershave been installed on cen-tral tower in the detentioncentre.

However, it is yet to beobserved whether installa-tion of jammers would impedeillegal communication as thesame had been installed inthe detention centre but therequired result could not beachieved.—INP

District Courts staffersprotest ban on parking

mands.The district bar had put a

ban on the parking of ve-hicles and motorcycles of theemployees of the courts theother day that infuriated thestaffers.

The leaders of the dem-onstration said that they werethe backbone of the courtsystem and if their vehicleswould not be allowed to en-ter the complex, how wouldthe system work. They saidthe administration and bar

were banning the parking onthe lame excuse of terroristthreats.

Later, District and Ses-sions Judge Syed MaroofAhmed Ali and AdditionalSessions Judge MuhammadKaleem Khan allowed thestaffers to park their motor-cycles in the complex andasked them to end the pro-test.

Therefore, the demon-strators returned to their workpeacefully.—INP

Ban on sale offirework

material violatedRAWALPINDI—Firework-ma-terial is being sold in the ba-zaars of the city without anycheck.

Chief Minister ShahbazSharif imposed restriction onthe sale and use of fireworkmaterial three years beforebut the ban has not beenimplemented.

It has been reported thatthe makers of such materialalso get injured and somelose their lives.

The sale of the explosivematerial is going on in thebusiest bazaar of the city,namely Narankari bazaar, inaddition to Bagh Sardaran,Bunny Market, Dhok Ratta,Babu Lal Hussain Road, andRaja bazaar. Godowns of fire-work material are also presentin the abovementionedplaces. To add to this, fireworksubstance is also prepared onorder. The authorities con-cerned are not paying heedto the state of affairs, whereasthe Police has vowed to takeaction in this regard.—Online

Undue raisein transport

faresRAWALPINDI—In spite ofthe notification for decreasein petroleum products, thetransporters have increasedthe fares on their own.

The situation has led toquarrels between the pas-sengers and the transport-ers such that the commut-ers who do not pay theoverstated fare are forcedto get down from the ve-hicle.

Even if certain publictransport vehicles run onCNG, the fare is increased af-ter every raise in the price ofpetrol.

Secretary RegionalTransport Authority andother authorities concernedare doing nothing to resolvethe matter.—Online

Commandoesdeployed at Pindi

railway stationRAWALPINDI—Security hasbeen tightened atRawalpindi railway stationwhile commandoes havebeen deployed and secretcameras have been installedtherein in view of securityconcerns.

As many as 26 secretcameras will be installed atdifferent places on the sta-tion. However 3 secret cam-eras have been installed sofar.

On the other hand nocamera has been installed atIslamabad railway station.Scanning machines have alsobeen erected at the sta-tions.—Online

Decision taken tolaunch MSc

Statistics classesin Pindi colleges

RAWALPINDI—Decision hasbeen taken to launch MScstatistics and commerceclasses in boys and girls col-leges of Rawalpindi.

In pursuance of direc-tives of education depart-ment Punjab MSc statisticsclasses will be started in oneboys college and commerceclass in another boys col-lege. Classes will commencefrom new academic year.

Punjab government hasalso accorded permission tostart MSc statistics classesin Government Post Gradu-ate College Satellite townRawalpindi from the new aca-demic year.—Online

Westridge residentsdecry apathy ofsanitation staff

RAWALPINDI—The residentsof Westridge Colony haveexpressed concern over poorsanitation as garbage couldbe seen scattered in thestreets due to negligence ofsanitation staff.

Residents talking to INPcomplained that sanitationstaff visits their areas aftertwo weeks which turns thegarbage into heaps causingtrouble for them.

Muhammad Shahid, aresident of Street No.6, saidthat dwellers of WestridgeColony clean their streets ontheir own instead of con-cerned staff, adding thatsanitation staff remainsabsents for weeks.

Expressing outrage overthe step motherly treatment,the residents demandedconcerned authorities to en-sure proper sanitation in theirlocality.—INP

Commander QatarAir Force calls onVC of Naval Staff

I S L A M A B A D —ommanderQatar Emiri Air Force, MajorGeneral Mubarak MohammadAl-Kumait Al-Khayarin onWednesday called on ViceChief of Naval Staff, Vice Ad-miral Muhammad Shafiq in hisoffice at Naval Headquartershere.

They held detailed dis-cussion on professional mat-ters, said a press release is-sued by Pakistan Navy.

Major General MubarakMohammad joined QatarEmiri Air Force in 1977. Be-sides commanding the QatarEmiri Air Force, he has hadthe privilege to hold a num-ber of Command and Staffappointments including Of-ficer Commanding FighterWing, Director Operations,Plans and Training.—PP

Lady of familyis top mostinfluencer

ISLAMABAD—According to aGilani Research FoundationSurvey carried out by GallupPakistan, Lady of the family(54%) is the top most influ-encer for conservation ofelectricity in the household,followed by Man of the fam-ily (45%).

A nationally representa-tive sample of men andwomen from across the fourprovinces was asked “Whoin your opinion can playmajor role towards electric-ity conservation at home?”Responding to this, Lady ofthe family (54%) is the topmost influencer for conser-vation of electricity in thehousehold, followed byMan of the family (45%).—INP

ISLAMABAD—Senate Stand-ing Committe on Heritageand Integration urged tohand over the Pak-ChinaFriendship Centre, TouristServices and Youth Ex-change Programme to Min-istry of National Heritage andIntegration being the culturalentities. The committe hadtheir first introductory meet-ing here on Wednesday atPakistan National Council ofArts (PNCA), where theywere briefed about the differ-ent departments attached tothe ministry of heritage andintergration.

The committe noticedthat the different departments

Senate body recommendshanding over cultural

entities to ministrybelonging to PNCA, had notbeen handed over to minis-try after the 18th Amendmentdespite different resolutionspassed. The committee notedthat cultural activities couldplay vital role in peace mak-ing efforts and projecting thesoft image of the countrythrough its cultural activitiesat international level.

PNCA needs to do muchmore to enhance role for pro-motion of national integra-tion, Officials of ministry in-formed the Senate body thatPNCA has overall 1085 em-ployees, 14 departments andthey had allocation of Rs 794billion.—APP

Education Atlasproject launchedISLAMABAD—A Pakistan Edu-cation Atlas project was for-mally launched on Wednes-day to improve the dissemina-tion of educational statisticsand indicators by using Geo-graphical information system(GIS) technologies.

The project initiated in2010 was completed with col-laboration of World FoodProgram and the erstwhileMinistry of Education andTraining through NEMISand the academy of educa-tional planning and manage-ment AEPAM, Islamabad.

Federal Minister for edu-cation and training SheikhWaqas Akram appreciated theefforts of AEPAM and paidspecial thanks to world foodprogram. He said that this newsystem will help us make soundeducational planning, monitor-ing and evaluation. He desiredthat the system be extended tounion council level.—APP

I S L A M A B A D —IslamabadElectric Supply Company(IESCO) has upgraded 66KVPinanwal Grid Station into132KV to facilitate the valuedcustomers.

After up-gradation of thesystem more stable andsmooth electricity supplycould be ensued.

According to the details,66KV Grid Station Pinanwalsituated in the vicinity of PindDadan Khan has been up-graded into 132KV.

Two New Power Trans-formers having the capac-ity of 10/13MVA has beeninstalled in the Grid Sta-tion.

It is pertinent to men-tion here that prior to instal-lation of these Power Trans-formers two Power Trans-formers 10/13 and 7.5MVAwere exiting.

66KV Pinanwal GridStation upgraded

Due to installation ofthese Power Transformersmore stable and smooth elec-tricity supply could be en-sured whereas technicallosses also be reduced.

New electricity connec-tion could be made possibleto the consumers.

With the installation ofthese Power Transformers at132KV Pinanwal Grid Station,the electricity of Pinanwal,Dharyala Jalib, Chak Mujahidand surrounding areas will bemore stable and smooth ascompared to the past.

The Project of augmen-tation and upgradation washeaded by Abid Qaiser(Project Director) GSCwhereas officers contributedtheir services were ShahidRaza Khalil (XEN T&G), EjazAhmad Bhutta (SDO T&G)and others.—APP

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—President Inter-national Islamic University,Islamabad (IIUI) Prof. Dr.Ahmad Yousif Al-Draiweesh,has said that Islam has pro-vided woman a prestigiousstatus in the society.

He made these remarkswhile addressing a meeting ofthe female faculty membersand administrative staff of fe-male campus of the university.

The female faculty mem-bers and workers of Interna-tional Islamic University are

Islam provides prestigiousstatus to woman

playing their role with respon-sibility and sincerity not onlywithin the campus but outsideof the university and abroad.

He added that teachersare role models for the stu-dents and they should studyIslam in depth so that the realface of Islam could be intro-duced and propagandaagainst it could be countered.

Dr. Al-Draiweesh said lifeof Holy Prophet (PBUH) is thebest model which containingguidance for us about eachand every matter of life.

He said that being a Mus-

lim and teacher we shouldplay our role within and out-side of the university becausethis is the demand of our po-sition.

He announced that prizeswould be awarded to bestteachers on their performanceas a teacher as well as a socialworker.

Prof. Dr. Sahibzada Sajidur Rehman, Vice PresidentIIUI, Dr. Mumtaz Ahmad, VicePresident Academics and Dr.Zaitoon Begum, Director Fe-male Campus also addressedon the occasion.

March 8-10

LOK Virsa is going toorganise ‘Women Lok andFolk Festival’ that will startfrom March 8 and concludeon March 10. The festivalis aimed at encouraging thewomen who performedwell in their respectivefields. Skilled women fromall over the country willparticipate in the festival,especially the makers ofhandicrafts.

March 8

PAKISTAN National Coun-cil of the Arts, Ministry ofNational Heritage and Inte-gration in collaboration withMinistry of Narcotics Con-trol has arranged Stagy Play‘Suhani Mai’ on Friday, at7 pm at PNCA auditorium,F-5/1.

06:00 01:3004:45

07:45

MUZAFFARABAD: Led by Senior AJK PP leader Sardar Tabarik Ali a party processionon its way to public meeting venue for participation.

MUZAFFARABAD: Thousands of persons applauding artists during rehearsal forWorld Shawl Day.

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Chairman ERRA, Major General Muhammad Azim Asif, called on AJK President Sardar Yaqoob Khan.

A long term lossQAZI SYED SAJAD

A politician thinks of the next election; astatesman thinks of the next generation.~James Freeman Clarke, Sermon. Theuntimely, tragic and politically surcharged

execution of Parliament attack convict MohammadAfzal Guru has genuinely opened up a floodgate ofview points and speculations. To this writer it hasled to the emergence of a transitional phase in In-dian political system. The larger picture is that thehanging has done lot of disservice to the country asa whole than the bereaved family.

Till yesterday Indian Nation Congress (whichsometimes is taken as synonym with India) wasperceived as an epitome of non-violence, satyagrah,tolerance and soft approach. But now it is lookedas something completely different. There are peoplewho are now going to the extent of declaring Con-gress as harder than the hardest BJP. What bafflesthe minds of various political pundits is the seem-ingly unison of ideologies between these two archrival parties. After all baring some less importantissues both parties now seem to be alike in terms ofstrong centre, Pakistan bashing, tough on terror

approach and so on. I think a voter will be in afix to choose between these two in the upcomingelection of 2014.

The other matter of concern is the pronounce-ment of a pure socio-political judgment by Su-preme Court of India. The founding fathers ofIndian nation held Supreme Court in high esteemand wanted this vital organ to be an impartial,impersonal and politically neutral law adjudicat-ing agency. The phrase “collective conscience’’used by the apex court has already attractedplethora of criticism and venomous remarks.Even senior lawyers in Supreme Court have comedown heavily on this emotive verdict. Not inform-ing the family about the rejection of their mercyplea, secret hanging and denial of body to be-reaved family are some other legal excesses whichmade a dint in the Indian legal system.

The happenings in Jantar Mantar New Delhiand Dehradun will not be out of place to men-tion. The ruthless beating of peacefully protest-

ing Kashmiri students by certain goons along withpolicemen and their subsequent detainment tar-nished the sanctity of Art 19 of Indian constitu-tion guaranteeing right to assemble and freedomof expression. Even after their release they arebeing harassed by various communal patriots andmany of them have left their studies mid way.These highly educated students are completelyawestruck about the huge difference they witnessbetween theory and practice of Indian State. Theimage of India which would be now in their mindsis anybody’s guess.

Jammu and Kashmir is the only state with anegotiated relationship with Indian Union. Ar-ticle 370 guarantees this special status. Althoughthis arrangement was badly tampered with overthe years, the situation has now reached to theextent that this state is treated badly then otherstates. Pertinently there was no uproar over theresolution passed by Tamil Nadu Assembly seek-ing clemency for foreign LTTE terrorists.

And now when Chief Minister has himself ad-mitted that his government was not consulted andcentral government went ahead with the executionof a Kashmiri state subject of its own, the realiza-tion that Kashmir is treated as colony is picking upmore ground. Not seeking an opinion from a ChiefMinister on an issue concerning about the securityof his state and threatening even his political careerby all yardsticks is sheer injustice. As a matter offact people in Kashmir had a clouded memory oftumultuous years of 2008 and 2010, but now withthe shabby treatment of their elected government,secret hanging of a Kashmiri, who is widely be-lieved to be falsely implicated and subsequent staterepression has led to the revival of separatist ten-dency. With continuously imposing curfews theimage of Omar Abdullah has already suffered bodyblows. He is less seen as a competent Chief Minis-ter and more perceived as a cop maintaining lawand order in his state on the behest of Central Gov-ernment. Such a realization is bound to alter the

political discourse in Kashmir for a great deal oftime. Congress itself which over the years succeededin creating a niche in valley has lost much of itscredibility. If reports are to be believed then localcongressmen were also sidetracked by their highcommand and kept in dark about the execution plan.

The common line is that India has done agreat mistake by executing Afzal Guru. It hasserved no purpose. Terrorism is not going to stopwith such a tit for tat approach. Had it been sothen there would not have been terrorist strikesin Hyderabad (AP) barely 12 days after hang-ing episode. The disadvantages seem to be fargreater. Even at international level India hasbeen criticized. The UN and EU have alreadyexpressed their displeasure. Back home a largechunk of scholars, academicians and lawyershave openly criticized the decision. Indian Mus-lim leaders who rarely spoke about Kashmirrelated issues have also broken their silence. DrZafarul-Islam Khan, President of All India Mus-lim Majlis-e Mushawarat (AIMMM), said thatAfzal Guru did not get a fair trial and his execu-tion was legally and morally unjustified andhasty. Courtesy:—Kashmir Watch.

SRINAGAR—The Indian au-thorities, today, imposed curfewand strict restrictions inSrinagar, Baramulla, Sopore,Pulwama, Shopian and otherparts of the Kashmir Valley toprevent people from protestingagainst the killing of a univer-sity student by Indian troops.

The student, Tahir AhmadSofi was shot dead, yesterday,by troops during a protest dem-onstration in Baramulla townagainst the killing of theKashmiri research scholar,Mudassir Kamran Malla in In-dian city of Hyderabad Deccan.

Indian paramilitary forcesand police personnel were de-ployed in strength, all major

Indian authorities imposecurfew, curbs in IHKAnti-India protest demonstrations to continue

roads were blocked and internetservices were suspended acrossthe Valley to thwart anti-Indiaprotests. People, however, de-fying restrictions came out oftheir houses in different areas ofSrinagar and protested againstIndian state terrorism.

During demonstrations,people raised Pakistan’s na-tional flags. Police also bargedinto the houses and ransackedhousehold goods. Clashes werereported between police anddemonstrators from differentparts of the Valley.

The APHC Chairman,Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, veteranHurriyet leader, Syed AliGilani, Syed Agha Hassan Al-

Moosvi Al-Safvi and otherHurriyet leaders and organiza-tions including Mukhtar AhmadWaza, Zafar Akbar Butt, BashirAhmad Butt, Farooq AhmadDar, Aasiya Andrabi, YasmeenRaja, Javed Ahmad Mir,Muhammad Azam Inqilabi,Jamaat-e-Islami, DemocraticFreedom Party, Peoples Free-dom League and Jammu andKashmir National Front con-demned the killing of the stu-dent.

In Geneva, speakers at aseminar organized by the WorldMuslim Congress said that In-dia violated international normsand standards by secretly hang-ing Muhammad Afzal Guru in

Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Besides UNSpecial Rapporteur, Alfred deZayas a large number of peopleincluding Kashmiri leaders,Barrister Abdul MajeedTramboo, Professor NazirAhmad Shawl and Syed FaizNaqshbandi addressed the semi-nar. Sardar Amjad Yousufhosted the function.

A Delhi-based well-known Indian social activistand Supreme Court lawyer,Prashant Bhushan in a mediainterview urging New Delhi tourgently resolve the Kashmirdispute, said that no Kashmiriwas safe in any part of Indiaas communal forces were rul-ing the country.—KMS

Geelani extendsDelhi stay

SRINAGAR—Dispelling ru-mors that he was arriving in theValley on March 6, HurriyatConference (G) chairman SyedAli Geelani has said he has notfinalized the date as to when hewould return to Kashmir fromNew Delhi.

In a media interviewGeelani said: “I am not comingon March 6. I haven’t decidedabout my return plans so far. Ihaven’t booked any ticket aswell.” The veteran leader saidhe would beforehand inform thepeople about his arrival.

Pertinently, the Hurriyat (G)chairman left for Delhi in De-cember last year. According toHurriyat spokesman, due to se-vere cold conditions in Kash-mir, Geelani needs to stay in awarm atmosphere.

“That’s why he stays inNew Delhi for some time. Hebeing an aged man can’t bearthe biting cold as he is also suf-fering from multiple ailments,”the spokesman said.—NNI

UJC backsMajlis

SRINAGAR—United JihadCouncil (UJC) Chairman SyedSalahuddin has expressed satis-faction over the formation of theunited front of pro-freedom par-ties under the banner ofMuttahida Majlis-e-Mushawarat (MMM).

“MMM should devise ajoint strategy to give the move-ment a new direction,” UJCspokesman Syed SadaqatHussain said in a statementwhile quoting Salahuddin. Heasked the people to followMMM programme in letter andspirit. Sadaqat said that chair-ing a special meeting of UJC,Salahuddin said cautioned pro-freedom leaders against fallingprey to the divisive designs ofIndia. “Agencies are workingovertime to break this joint fo-rum. But I caution you not tofall prey to their designs,”Salahuddin said.

UJC has also warned thepeople not to work against themovement. “Writing is clear onthe wall for those people whoare working against the move-ment. These people have soldtheir consciences for petty in-terests. It is better for them todistance from the activities doneby India to control Kashmir.Otherwise history will not for-give them,” the statementsaid.—NNI

JAMMU—Amid uproar andnoisy scenes, the two houses ofstate legislature have discussedthe hanging of MuhammadAfzal Guru with the oppositionand treasury benches tradingcharges.

Opposition Peoples Demo-cratic Party (PDP) leaderMehbooba Mufti initiated thedebate in the Legislative Assem-bly, saying it was “inhumane”that Guru’s family was not al-lowed to meet him one last timebefore his execution in Delhi onFebruary 9.

A PDP member also de-manded debate on the death ofa Kashmiri student inHyderabad. Mehbooba soughtsuspension of all regular busi-ness of the house to “discuss thisissue of urgent nature”. The rul-ing National Conference and theCommunist Party of India-

Amid ruckus Legislaturedebates Afzal hanging

Marxist too wanted a discus-sion.

Mehbooba blamed the chiefminister for his failure to pro-tect the life of Afzal Guru. If wereally want to bring back bodywe don’t need any resolution.Let us resolve once for all thatthere will be no Afzal Guru andMaqbool Bhatt in future” shesaid and demanded from thestate government to bring awhite paper on how manypeople of the state are lodgedin jails outside.

She said a number of per-sons have been involved in kill-ing of innocent persons in fakeencounters as also during peace-ful street protests. “There arethousands of unmarked gravesand enforced disappearancesbut none of the perpetrators hasbeen punished so far.” She alsoquestioned Congress’s stand

that it is hard on terror.Mehbooba said: “Had the

state government acted in time,Afzal Guru’s life could havebeen saved. While Tamil Naduand Punjab could save the livesof the two convicts from theirstates who were sentenced todeath, Omar Abdullah’s govern-ment did nothing.”

The remarks drew vehe-ment protests from members ofthe National Conference. Thechief minister plunged into thediscussion, accusing the PDP of“politicizing the issue”.

“The PDP makes it appearlike I was the one responsiblefor the hanging of Afzal Guru,”Omar said. In the vitriolic ex-change that followed, PDPmembers raised slogans andrushed towards the Speaker’spodium raising slogans againstthe government.—NNI

JAMMU—Optimistic MLALangate Engineer Sheikh Rashidhas said like British Governmentone day Indian governmentwould also apologize for hangingMohammad Afzal Guru,Mohammad Maqbool Bhat andother innocents who were killedfor no real reason.

“It is my faith that one dayIndian government will say sorryfor hanging Afzal Guru,Mohammad Maqbool Bhat,Gowkadal killing and killing ofone million people in two decadesin Kashmir like British govern-ment did on the killing inJallianwala Bagh (Punjab),”Rashid told journalists here.

Referring to the letters writ-ten by the Omar Abdullah andMufti Mohammed Sayeed toDelhi seeking mortal remains of

Like Britain, India will alsoapologize: MLA Rashid

Afzal Guru, the IndependentMLA said “Writing letters showsthe helplessness of the leadersfrom ruling and opposition par-ties, who have been working onDelhi’s directions. “Now theywant to save their image so thatthey can go before the people inKashmir that was why they aredemanding the return of mortalremains of Afzal Guru,” the MLAsaid. He said that his resolutionon Afzal Guru could not be passedlast year due to lack of supportfrom ruling National Conferenceand even PDP did not supportedme then and now they are cryingfor the mortal returns.

They kept criminal silenceover the resolution only becauseof blessing from Delhi, he al-leged.

Hitting at CPI (M) leader

Mohammed Yousaf Tarigami,Rashid said, “What was moresurprising is that even Tarigamispoke for the return of mortal re-mains of Guru. Last time when Iwas pushing for it all he did wassupporting the ones who wereavoiding the resolution.”

He said that now the opposi-tion PDP is trying to come cleanby saying that they remained si-lent because the resolution onGuru could be sabotaged. “It isalso not a hidden fact that nextday when he was staging a pro-test dharna outside the Secretariatwith the panches and sarpanches,from Chief Minister OmarAbdullah to opposition leaderMehbooba Mufti passed fromthere, but nobody bothered aboutthe issue or about the protesters,”Rashid recalled.—NNI

JAMMU—Terming the deci-sion of hanging Parliament at-tack convict Mohammad AfzalGuru as narrow-mindedness,CPI (M) leader MohammadYousuf Tarigami has said NewDelhi has always undermineddemocratic institutions inJammu and Kashmir.

“The way and circum-stances under which Guru washanged by New Delhi has re-inforced the extendibility ofKashmiris.

He was figuring at 28th inthe list and hanged before thosewho figured before him. A feel-ing of alienation has beenstrengthened further. And thefeeling that a Kashmiri is ex-pendable while those fromother parts of India are not willonly be reinforced,” Tarigamitold Assembly.

Delhi undermines democraticinstitutions in JK: Tarigami

Maintaining that he can un-derstand the helplessness of thegovernment, which is accusedof being part and parcel in de-cision over Guru’s hanging,Tarigami said Delhi has alwaysundermined democratic institu-tions in J&K. “The state gov-ernments and Chief Ministersare being rendered valueless”.

He said instead of invest-ing to bridge the gap betweenSrinagar and Delhi, GoI rubbedsalt on injuries of people ofKashmir by hanging Guru.

Questioning the judicialstructure of India, Tarigamisaid Guru was awarded deathsentence by the court to sat-isfy the consciousness of ma-jority of the people of coun-try. “If that was the case, thenwhy questions were raised bycivil society and larger sec-

tion of people? It was all toplease the people involved injingoism and small section ofmedia”.

He said in case hangingwould have been in national in-terests, he would have been thefirst person to support the de-cision. “Can GoI tell how manyhearts it won after hangingGuru? Has this hanging con-tributed to strengthen securitygrid in Kashmir? The fact isthat all efforts invested by it inKashmir to bridge the gap be-tween people of Kashmir andNew Delhi are questionednow,” CPI (M) leader said.

He said the present leader-ship in New Delhi has goneaway from the ideology ofprominent leaders like Ma-hatma Gandhi and PanditJawahar Lal Nehru.—NNI

SRINAGAR—Expressing hishelplessness in reining in thearmy’s activities in civilian ar-eas, Indian held Kashmir chiefminister Omar Abdullah brokedown in the legislative councilwhen the opposition People’sDemocratic Party (PDP) cor-nered him over the alleged kill-ing of a 24-year-old man inBaramulla by the securityforces.

According to some reports,a group of youths had peltedstones on a Rashtriya Riflesconvoy in Baramulla during aprotest against the mysterioussuicide of a Pulwama youth inHyderabad on Saturday. Abouta dozen soldiers then chasedthe youths, entered the nearbyKakar Hamam village in the

Omar Abdullah wants to protest,but can’t do for chair’s sake

district’s old town, beat up theresidents and smashed the win-dowpanes of some houses. Thisled to a clash between the sol-diers and the residents. The sol-diers then allegedly fired, kill-ing Tahir Ahmad Sofi and in-juring four people.

In the legislative council,PDP legislators taunted Omarover the killing and thenwalked out. Addressing theUpper House, an emotionalOmar said every time there wasnews of deaths in the state, theopposition always blamed him,when it was hardly his fault.

“I too want to protest, butmy chair doesn’t allow me to doso,” he said. “Mujhe mushkil horahi hai bolne mein ... Agar usprocession mein koi militant

nahi tha, toh procession par golikyo chalai gayi? ... Mein kahanjaaun? (I am finding it hard tospeak ... If there was no mili-tant in that procession, why wasit fired upon? ... Where shouldI go?) ... Why we are talking ofdevelopment and health carehere if such things continue tohappen?”

Earlier in his address,Omar said the Armed Forces(Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)should be repealed from placeswhere the army was not re-quired. He said the AFSPA is-sue was not on the“backburner” and if IromSharmila could fast in protestagainst the Act for 12 yearswhy could he not just speakagainst it.—INP

APHC denounceshouse arrest of

Kashmiri leadershipSRINAGAR—All PartiesHurriyet Conference (APHC)has strongly condemned thecontinued house arrest of itsChairman, Mirwaiz UmarFarooq, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi, MukhtarAhmed Waza and illegal deten-tion of Hurriyet leaders includ-ing Shabbir Ahmad Shah,Mukhtar Ahmad Waza andNayeem Ahmad Khan, demand-ing their immediate release.

The APHC in an extraordi-nary meeting held in Srinagar,today, said that arrests and useof brute force were no solutionto the situation of the occupiedterritory but would make it morecomplicated.

It also castigated the au-thorities for imposing curbs onthe political and religious activi-ties of the Hurriyet leaders term-ing the action as frustration ofthe puppet administration. Theparticipants of the meeting saidthat the safe and peaceful futureof the people of Kashmir, Paki-stan and India was linked to theamicable resolution of theKashmir dispute.

Paying tributes to the 1990Zakoora martyrs, the meetingsaid that the sacrifices of mar-tyrs would not be allowed to gowaste. They said that theHurriyet Conference wouldcontinue its struggle till theKashmiri people achieved theirright to self-determination.

The meeting was presidedover by senior APHC leader,Professor Abdul Ghani Butt,and attended among others byMusaddiq Aadil, Syed BashirAndrabi and Ghulam NabiZaki..—Online

Afzal’s hangingcreated mistrust:

PadgaonkarSRINAGAR—The former chiefinterlocutor and journalist DilipPadgaongar has said AfzalGuru’s secret execution has cre-ated a huge mistrust betweenpeople of Kashmir and NewDelhi.

“For last couple of years,numerous initiatives were takento build the trust of the peopleespecially that of the Valley andto a greater extent the goal hadbeen achieved. However, thesecret execution of Afzal Guruwashed away all those initia-tives and Valley was againpushed to cynicism and mis-trust,” Padgaonkar told a localnews gathering agency, KNSover phone from Pune.

He said he has raised hisvoice against denying Guru alast meeting with his family.“The hanging of Guru has notcreated mistrust and widenedgap between Delhi and Kashmironce again”.

Referring to mysteriousdeath of Kashmiri youthMudasir Ahmad Malla inHyderabad, Padgaonkar said,“Suicides were being commit-ted everywhere in the countryand the people of J&K mustwait till the inquiry report wasmade public”.—NNI

Perpetual devotion towhat a man calls his

business, is only to besustained by per-petual neglect of

many other things.—Robert Louis

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterRaja Pervez Ashraf onWednesday stressed theneed for more investment inenergy sector.

The Prime Minister wastalking to Esam YousifJanahi, Chairman andFounder of Gulf FinanceHouse at the Prime MinisterHouse here.

He said Pakistan andBahrain had close and broth-erly relations. Recalling his

meeting with Amir of Bahrain,Sheikh Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa in Kuwait recently, thePrime Minister praised himfor his warmth and gracious-ness.He appreciated the Gulf Fi-nance House Bahrain fordoing well financially anddrew the attention of theChairman to huge invest-ment potential in Pakistan.The Prime Minister said Pa-kistan had a good wind cor-ridor, hydel potential andcoal reserves. He said the

Independent Power Produc-ers (IPPs) installed wayback in 1994 were doingroaring business.

Jahani said his companywas examining the possibil-ity of investing in energysector in Pakistan. TheChairman Gulf FinanceHouse, while talking to thePrime Minister said the in-vestment policies of Paki-stan were conducive andattractive for foreign inves-tors because of rewardingreturns on investments.

Raja wants energy sectorinvestment prioritization

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance Saleem H. Mandviwalla chairing the meeting of the Economic Coordina-tion Committee of the Cabinet.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—India wouldonly be granted the status ofMost Favoured Nation(MFN) after removing theapprehensions of all stake-holders, state minister AbbasKhan Afridi said Wednesday.Answering a question inSenate he said the ministrywas consulting other minis-tries and private sector stake-holders to assess and evalu-ate level playing field en-joyed by Pakistani exportersto India, non- tariff barriersbeing faced by Pakistan ex-porters and issues of marketexcess of Pakistani productsto India.

He said the ministry of

commerce will submit thecase to the cabinet for com-plete normalization of traderelations with Indian in duecourse. Senator Sughra Imamsaid the Government shouldnot grant the status of MFNin haste. The whole agricul-ture sector has been kept innegative list. The ministersaid federal cabinet had onlyendorsed the decision ofcommerce ministry to normal-ize the trade relations withIndia and directed the com-merce division to completethe process for grantingMFN status to India.

The cabinet had ac-corded approval of a nega-tive list of 1209 items for im-ports from India replacing the

Positive list. In a written re-ply to another question thestate minister said country’sexports had registered 22 per-cent increase in 2013.

Giving details he said in2011-12 Pakistan’s importswere $ 44911.9 million as com-paring the $23624.2 million. In2010-11 country’s importswere $40413.6 million as com-paring to exports of $ 24810.4million. In 2009-10 country’sexports were $19290.0 millionas comparing to imports of$34709.9 million. In 2008-9country’s imports were $34822.1 million as comparingto $ 17688.1 million. In 2007-08 country’s imports were $39965.5 million as comparingto $ 19052.1 million.

MFN status to India after removingstakeholders apprehensions

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Minister forRailways Haji GhulamAhmad Bilour on Wednes-day informed the NationalAssembly that currently,Pakistan Railways (PR) has281 non-functional DieselElectric Locomotives due tonon availability of spareparts. In response to vari-ous questions during Ques-tion Hour, he said that 250out of 281 locomotives werebeing repaired/rehabilitated

under different repair plansand projects with the ap-proximate cost Rs.1.721 mil-lion.

To a supplementary ques-tion he said that only provi-sion of new 400 locomotivescould turn PR into a profit-able earning organization. Hesaid that hundred acres ofrailways land was retrievedfrom the illegal occupant andefforts were being made tovacate the remaining land. Toanother question, the minis-ter said that the total route

length of railways networkwas 7791 km and no trackhas been removed since2008 to date. He said thatthere was no proposal un-der consideration to obtainloan of Rs.650 million fromAsian Development Bankfor rehabilitation of PR.

In response to a ques-tion, Haji Ghulam Bilour toldthe House that three pairsof Mail/Express trains andone shuttle train had beenintroduced during the lasttwo years.

PR has 281 non-functionaldiesel locomotives

ISE-10 up by8.11 points

I S L A M A B A D —IslamabadStock Exchange (ISE-10) wit-nessed bullish trend here onMonday as the index was upby 8.11 points to close at3513.57 points as comparedto the previous day’s trading.

Out of 142 companiesshares traded, the price of 49increased, while the shareprice of 99 companies de-creased whereas zero com-pany remain stable in today’strading.

Unilever Pakistan re-mained the top gainer with anincrease of Rs. 74.99 pershare while the share pricesof Mitchell fruits Farms de-creased by Rs. 4.50 during theWednesday trading.

Fauji Cement Company,Lafrge Pakistan Cement andNIB Bank remained the vol-ume leaders with 50,000,45,000 and 20,000 shares re-spectively. —APP

Mahmoodappointed DeputyGovernor of SBPISLAMABAD—The FederalGovernment has appointedAshraf Mahmood Wathra asDeputy Governor, StateBank of Pakistan (SBP) for aperiod of three years from thedate he assumes office. Anotification issued by the Fi-nance Division, Islamabadon Wednesday said.

According to a state-ment of SBP, Mr. Wathrabrings 35 years of commer-cial & investment bankingexperience to his new as-signment.

He is currently servingthe National Bank of Paki-stan (NBP) as its Senior Ex-ecutive Vice President &Group Chief, Credit Man-agement Group, since Octo-ber, 2012.

Before joining NBP, Mr.Wathra served Habib BankLimited from April 1999 toSeptember 2012 in various re-sponsible capacities such asRegional General Manager(Bangladesh), Executive VicePresident & Regional Gen-eral Manager (Singapore),Executive Vice President,Group Executive and RiskManager & Senior Credit Of-ficer, Asset Remedial Man-agement Group.

He was attached withFaysal Bank Limited fromMay 1992 to March 1999 insenior positions such as Ex-ecutive Vice President &Country Risk Manager, Ex-ecutive Vice President & Re-gional Manager and SeniorVice President & Chief Man-ager.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—A team of theCompetition Commission ofPakistan, headed by itsChairperson, Ms. RahatKaunain Hassan, and com-prising its Members, con-ducted an advocacy sessionat the Rawalpindi Chamber ofCommerce & Industry(RCCI).

The advocacy sessionwas also attended by Mem-bers of CCP Mr. AbdulGhaffar, Dr. Joseph Wilsonand Dr. Shahzad Ansar, Reg-istrar of the Commission Mr.Ikram ul Haque Qureshi,President RCCI Mr. ManzarKhurshid Sheikh, Senior VicePresident Ch. Pervaiz AhmedWarriach, members of theExecutive Committee andgeneral body in large num-ber.

Addressing the session,CCP Chairperson explained

to the participants of themeeting the four pillars ofCompetition Act, 2010, i.e.Section 3 (Abuse of Domi-nant Position), Section 4 (Pro-hibited Agreements), Section10 (Deceptive MarketingPractices), and Section 11(Approval of Mergers), be-sides highlighting the keyenforcement actions, andother recently handled mat-ters.

She said that over the lastfive years, the Commissionhas demonstrated indepen-dence and autonomythrough its decisions. “Wehave issued orders thatspeak for our independenceand autonomy, however, atthe same time we have exer-cised self-restraint, which isessential for a law enforce-ment agency,” the Chairper-son maintained. She in-formed the participants thatas a result of effective en-

forcement, CCP got ‘Fair’ rat-ing and our performance hasbeen termed ‘impressivelyconsistent’ in an independentthird-party evaluation con-ducted by the Global Com-petition Review (GCR), a UKbased entity, and was alsoshortlisted by GCR for theEnforcement Award in thecategory ‘Agency of theYear among top five out of42 agencies in the region ofAsia-Pacific, Middle Eastand Africa’ for 2012.

The Chairperson said thatCCP has imposed over PKR8.5 billion on various under-takings for violation of com-petition law, however, underthe Competition Act, the pen-alties to be recovered are de-posited in the Federal Con-solidated Fund. She said thatby imposing fines, CCP aimsat promoting compliancethrough deterrence while cre-ating a culture of competition.

Consumers can claim compensationbased on decisions of CCP: Hassan

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The All Paki-stan CNG Association(APCNGA) on Wednesdayflayed anti-CNG policies of thegovernment and announcedto opt for hunger strike in pro-test from March 12. We willprotest anti-CNG policies ofthe government, unjust gasdistribution, 5-day gasloadshedding for CNG sectorin Punjab and continuous dis-crimination by authorities,said Ghiyas AbdullahParacha, Chairman SupremeCouncil APCNGA.

Speaking to a press con-ference here, he said that allthe concerned departments

have been harassing CNG op-erators while false cases arebeing registered against CNGowners to discourageAPCNGA.

Ghiyas Abdullah Parachasaid that all the concerned au-thorities have been directed tocontinue annoy CNG opera-tors continuously after March16 when assembles will be dis-solved. He informed that con-cerned top officials have beenwarned of dire consequencesif they showed any reluctancein penalising CNG sector whichis total disregarded of the lawand very unfortunate.

Five-day gasloadshedding in Punjab is un-acceptable as it amounts to

punishing 80 million massesliving in that province, Parachaadded. The leaders of the CNGsector said that some top gov-ernment functionaries, hand inglove with petrol and liquid gasmafia, have laid siege to theCNG sector aiming its annihi-lation which cannot be allowedunder any circumstances.

Government has been us-ing energy crisis to reap divi-dends by promoting influen-tial energy mafia which is worstkind of exploitation masseshave ever suffered in historyof Pakistan, he added. Parachasaid that never in the historyof this country such hardshipwas created for the public toensure personal prosperity.

Hunger strike againstanti-CNG policies announced

Conversion ratesKARACHI—The followingrates will be applicable forconversion into rupees ofForeign Currency Deposits,Dollar Bearer Certi ficates,Foreign Currency BearerCertificates, Special U.S.Dollar Bonds and profitsthereon by all banks and forproviding Forward Coveron Foreign CurrencyDeposits (excluding F.E. 25deposits) by the State Bankon March 7, 2013. The ratesare U.S. Dollar Rs 98.0771,Japanese Yen Rs 1.0499,Pound Sterling Rs 148.0180and Euro 127.8828.—APP

Taiwan, US to reopenstalled trade talksTAIPEI—Taiwan and theUnited States will resumestalled trade talks next weekafter Taipei removed a six-year-old ban on some USbeef imports, officials saidWednesday. The USdelegation will be led byDeputy US Trade Represen-tative Demetrios Marantis atthe two-day discussionsbeginning Monday, theAmerican Institute in Taiwan,the de facto embassy, said ina statement. Negotiations ona Trade and InvestmentFramework Agreement, seenas a precursor to a full freetrade agreement, have beendormant since 2007. Thehiatus was prompted whenTaiwan banned US beefcontaining ractopamine, adrug used in animal feed topromote lean meat. Taipeiamended the law in July 2012to allow imports of the meatto resume. Washington isthe island’s third largesttrade partner and a leadingarms supplier, despiteswitching diplomaticrecognition from Taipei toBeijing in 1979.—AFP

Hong Kong stocksend 0.96% higherHONG KONG—Hong Kongshares jumped 0.96 percenton Wednesday, taking astrong cue from Wall Street,where the Dow closed at arecord high. The benchmarkHang Seng Index added217.34 points to 22,777.84 onturnover of HK$73.25 billion($9.45 billion). The Dowfinished Tuesday 0.89 percenthigher at 14,253.77, beating bynearly 90 points its formerrecord seen on October 9,2007, just before the onset ofthe global financial crisis. Thesurge on the Dow comesdespite uncertainty in the USeconomy and as Washingtonbattles over how to trim itshuge deficit. Shares were alsohelped by a pick-up in thecountry’s services sector.Also on Wall Street, the S&P500 climbed 0.96 percent toclose at 1,539.79, just twopercent short of its ownrecord. Shares of Chinadevelopers reboundedfollowing two days of fallsafter Beijing announced newmeasures to curb risingproperty prices.—AFP

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Ali ArshadHakeem, Chairman FederalBoard of Revenue (FBR)along with his team visitedFederation of PakistanChamber of Commerce(FPCCI) Head Office,Karachi and held a meetingwith Haji Fazal Kadir KhanSherani, President, FPCCI.During the course of meet-ing various issues pertain-ing to taxes came under dis-cussion. While speaking onthe occasion, FPCCI Presi-dent Haji Fazal Kadir KhanSherani appreciated the ef-

forts of FBR for expansion ofincome tax network which willcontribute the tax share in theGDP.

He also appreciated theFBR’s strict action againstmalpractices, he howeveropined that the SRO and adhoc culture in the FBR po-lices should be eliminated.

The members of theFPCCI were of the view thatthe refund policy should bereviewed. They informed theFBR that the million of ru-pees were stuck-up in theform of outstanding refundpayment.

During the meeting, the

Chairman FBR accepted vari-ous demands of the FPCCImembers made in the meet-ing which was highly appre-ciated by the members ofFPCCI.

In response to FPCCIproposal, the Chairman FBRagreed to allow adjustmentof accumulated carry forwardinput sales tax instead of re-fund under SRO 647 dated2007.

The Chairman FBR fur-ther disclosed that FBR wastaking certain measures toprotect local industry againstonslaught of imported goodsin the local as well as the glo-

bal markets and all policiesin this respect would bedrafted in consultations withthe business community.

He also announced thepolicy of FBR to regularisenon-tax paid vehicles includ-ing public transport, whichwill be a great benefit to theprovinces of Balochistan,Baltistan and KhyberPukhtunkhwa and will be agreat benefit to the poormasses of these provinces.

During the meeting theissue of five percent incometax withholding on all im-ports instead of three per-cent for industrial manufac-

turers vide SRO 140 wasdiscussed, as well as thematter of life of recondi-tioned cars being importedinto Pakistan. The President,FPCCI also pointed out thehuge volume of smugglingof livestock from Pakistan toAfghanistan and Iran.

FBR team included MalikAbdus Samad, DeputyChairman, FBR; MuhammadRaza Baqar, Member, InlandRevenue, FBR; KhawajaTanveer Ahmed, Chief Com-missioner, Inland Revenue,FBR and Khalid Mahmood,Director General, Intelligenceand Investigation, FBR.

FBR set to protect local industry against onslaught of imported goods

Haji Fazal Kadir Khan Sherani, President FPCCI is presenting crest to Ali ArshadHakeem, Chairman FBR.

Mr. Imtiaz Haider, Com-missioner SMD, SECP saidthat SECP has been makingits best efforts to bring thecorporate sector at par withinternational level. The re-vised Code was meant tobring about necessaryamendments in view of therecent developments in thecorporate sector. Mr. ImtiazHaider also highlighted theother initiatives of SECPtaken for the developmentof the capital market of thecountry. He said that theCommission is activelyworking on e-voting systemfor the general body meet-ings participation by share-holders. Moreover, theSECP has also encouragedIPOs through electronicsystem and very soon acomprehensive system withthe collaboration of banksshall be in place.

TARIQ KHATTAK

ISLAMABAD—The IslamabadStock Exchange Limited (ISE)in collaboration with the Se-curities and Exchange Com-mission of Pakistan (SECP)conducted an awarenesssession on Revised Code ofCorporate Governance (theCode) at its auditorium.

The awareness sessionwas attended by Directors,CEOs, CFOs, company sec-retaries and internal auditorsof companies located in KPKand Rawalpindi/Islamabad.The session was openedwith the inaugural address byMian Ayyaz Afzal, ManagingDirector, ISE. The MD ISEappreciated the efforts of theSECP for introducing bestpractices in the corporatesector. He said that the ISEwas focusing on ensuringcompliance of the Code by

the companies. He said thatthe Code was initiallylaunched in 2002 as a part ofthe listing regulations of thestock exchanges. Later on, in2012, it was reviewed and fi-nalized after extensive stake-holders’ consultation bothby the Pakistan Institute ofCorporate Governance TaskForce and SECP. Mr. AkifSaeed, Executive Director,SECP highlighted the mainamendments in the revisedCode. Syed Mukhtar HussainJaffery, ChairmanDemutualization CommitteeISE apprised the participantsabout the philosophy of theCode of Corporate Gover-nance (CCG) and the imple-mentation timelines andschedules of the revisedCode. He said that the Codeshould not only be imple-mented by the listed entitiesin letter but also by spirit.

CCG must be implementedin letter & spirit: Mukhtar

Gold Tezab 51771.00Silver Tezabi 925.71

Gold Tezabi (24-Ct)48000.00Gold 22 Ct 43890.00SilverTezabi 830.00Silver Thobi 800.00

USA 98.00 97.80

UK 148.25 147.95

EURO 127.70 127.44

Canada 95.53 95.33

Switzerland 104.18 103.97

Australia 100.30 100.09

Sweden 15.27 15.24

Japan 1.0514 1.0493

Norway 17.15 17.11

Singapore 78.77 78.61

Denmark 17.13 17.09

Omani Riyal 256.00 246.00

Saudi Arabia 26.13 26.08

Hong Kong 12.64 12.61

Kuwait 345.42 344.72

Malaysia 31.62 31.56

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KR WON 0.0902 0.0900

Thailand 3.290 3.283

More than 25,000gems enterprisesoperate in PunjabISLAMABAD—Lahore hasbecome the 2nd largestjewellery production hub ofPakistan after Karachi, asmore than 25000 businessenterprises related to gemsand jewellery are operatingin Punjab, providing em-ployment to more than20,0000 individuals. Tradi-tionally Lahore has alwaysbeen a land of finesse arti-sans and this tradition hastranscended in the jewelleryindustry as well.

Continuing its progresson the mandate of develop-ment of gems and jewelleryindustry,Pakistan Gems andJewellery DevelopmentCompany (PGJDC) has es-tablished a Gems andJewellery Training andManufacturing Center(GJTMC) at Lahore. Thecenter is successfully pro-viding training and commonfacility services to the gemsand jewellery industry ofPunjab. Talking to APP, anofficial said the training cen-ter is not only for the jewel-lers but for everybody whowants to learn to designjewellery. “With its new ap-proach in jewellery making,GJTMC will help refine ar-tistic abilities to makejewellery while working in acreative and rewardingjewellery profession”.

Classes are taughtthrough live demonstra-tions, as well as thoughlectures supported bymultimedia presentationsand comprehensive exer-cises which provides stu-dents with rich and re-warding learning experi-ence in the best suited en-vironment. Official saidGJTMC Lahore pos-sesses a highly qualified,immensely experiencedand very dedicated fac-ulty who helps the stu-dents to bring forth theircreativity and convertdream ideas into beautifuljewellery pieces.

In an effort to furthersupport the growing indus-trialization of the province,PGJDC intends to open aGJTMC in thriving gems andjewellery industry ofSargodha in near future aswell. APP DR. Baig ap-pointed Chairman Pak-UAEbusiness councilISLAMABAD, Mar 6(APP): The President Fed-eration of Pakistan Chamberof Commerce & Industry(FPCCI) Senator Haji FazalKadir Khan Sherani has ap-pointed Dr. Mirza IkhtiarBaig as Chairman PAK-UAEBusiness Council of FPCCIfor the year 2013. The otherDirectors on the boardelected unopposed from Dr.Baig’s panel are: Mir ShakeelUr Rehman - IndependentMedia Corporation,Sirajuddin Aziz - Habib Met-ropolitan Bank, MirzaIshtiaq Baig Photo MagicInt’l LLC, Nasir H. Schon -Schon Group, Syed FarukhMazhar - SGS, Mirza OmairBaig - Lucky Cotton Mills,Junaid Ahmed - Dubai Is-lamic Bank and ImtiazHussain - Asia MegaFoods.—APP

ISLAMABAD: Senator Syed Muzafar Hussain Shah, Chairman Senate Committee of NFS&R presiding over ameeting on PARC initiatives.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The SenateStanding Committee on Na-tional Food Security and Re-search (NFSR) asked the Pa-kistan Agriculture ResearchCouncil (PARC) to take ap-propriate measures dissemi-nating information of agricul-tural research to thegrossroots level. The commit-tee met here Wednesdaywith Senator Syed MuzafarHussain Shah in the chairand discussed the differentissues related to agriculturaldevelopment and researchfor enhancing the productionof crops in the country.

The committee calledupon PARC to further con-vey the agricultural researchto the door step of the farm-ers particularly farming com-

munity living rural areas toenhancing their farm outputby utilizing the modern andinnovative technology.

Committee also directedthe research institute to de-velop the nurseries andseeds centers across thecountry to facilitate the farm-ers to enhance the agricul-ture output.

The meeting further di-rected the council to releaseits own newsletter or maga-zine containing the expertopinions and guidelines ofthe agricultural experts andcirculated it the Universitiesand all research institutes.The committee also directedthe council to initiate publicand private partnership todevelop the higher yield va-rieties of different crops offruit and vegetable.

PARC Chairman DrIftikhar Ahmed told the com-mittee that high yielding seedof wheat was introduced byNational Agriculture Re-search Council (NARC)which enhanced about 17mound output per acre. Be-sides, the PARC has also de-veloped hybrid seed ofcanola which is available atthe reasonable price in theopen market, he said.

It was further told thatthe PARC had developednew different types seedsvarieties in ten years whileit takes at least of 15 yearsto produce such seeds. Themeeting was attended bySenators, MuhammadKazim Khan, Nuzhat Sadiq,Muhammad ZafarullahKhan Dhandla and MohsinLeghari.

Senate body directs PARC forpublicizing latest researches

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan’s firstever project to measure mer-cury pollution in the air waslaunched here on Wednes-day. The collaborative projectstarted by Sustainable Devel-opment Policy Institute(SDPI), European Environ-mental Bureau (EEB) andZero Mercury WorkingGroup (ZMWG), is an at-tempt to identify and moni-tor ‘Mercury emission andrelease sites’ in various cit-ies of Pakistan and assess

their air quality to protectenvironment and humanhealth.

As part of commence-ment activities, the teams ofSDPI monitors have beentrained on Lumex MercuryAnalyzer and other special-ized field instruments to ac-curately collect and notemeasurements.

The project was formallylaunched by SDPI’s Execu-tive Director, Dr. AbidQayyum Suleri and DeputyExecutive Director, Dr. VaqarAhmad. Main feature of the

launch was a demo measure-ment of mercury pollution atSDPI office, which the teamselected as their first sam-pling site in Pakistan. Theteam took indoor and out-door air samples along withother climatic parameterssuch as temperature, humid-ity, wind speed and direction.The results showed mercurylevel to be between 10.44 -10.89 (n=9) nano gram percubic meter of the air. Theselevels are considered safe,and are far below than thepermissible limit (2000 ng/

M3) for safe occupationalhealth and safety.

SDPI monitoring team isnow going to visit Lahore forfurther monitoring at differ-ent sampling sites, includingdental clinics, light productsmanufacturing industry andchlor-alkali plant. Lahore visitwould be followed up by simi-lar studies at sites inPeshawar, Islamabad andRawalpindi.

The project has garneredwidespread support acrossthe country where Ministryof Disaster Management,

Pakistan Environmental Pro-tection Agency (Pak - EPA)and Institute of ChemicalSciences, Peshawar Univer-sity, Khyber PakhtunKhawahad already extended theirsupport for the study.

Mercury (Hg), known as‘quick silver’ poses seriousrisks not only to environmentbut also to human health.Earlier this month, 140 coun-tries in Geneva adopted aground-breaking, world’sfirst legally binding treaty onmercury, limiting the use andemission of health-hazard-

ous mercury.Mercury sources are

quite diverse, ranging fromthermometers, electric bulbs,and switches to powerplants, coal fired power sta-tions, metal smelters, goldmining and cement industry.It is also employed in somecosmetics like facial creamsand dental treatments likemercury amalgam filling. Apersistent pollutant, Mercuryis not limited to its source butit travels and sometimesfound thousands of kilome-ters away from the source.

Project launched to measure mercury pollution

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Internationalvisitors to the UAE spentover $589 million on their Visacards during the Dubai Shop-ping Festival 2013, register-ing a 19 per cent year-on-yeargrowth over DSF 2012, ac-cording to data issued byVisa Inc., the world’s largestretail electronic paymentsnetworks and a lead sponsorof the region’s premier shop-ping event.

The results collected bythe company’s VisaVue®Travel data service indi-cated the month-long retailand shopping extravaganzagot off to an excellent start,with spending on overseas-issued Visa cards in the firstweek of DSF touching

$153.35 million. The Fridayof the first weekend of thesale also witnessed recordspending, with over $25 mil-lion spent on overseas Visacards.

The data also revealedthat cardholders from Russia,Kingdom of Saudi Arabiaand the United Kingdomwere the top spenders dur-ing DSF 2013, contributing inexcess of $82 million, $66 mil-lion and $53 million respec-tively to the UAE economy.Visa cardholders from each ofthese countries showed sig-nificant increase in spendingcompared to DSF 2012, withRussians spending 34 percent more on their Visa cardscompared to last year’s sale,while Saudis spent 26 percent more than DSF 2012.

Visa registers 19pcincrease in spending

MCCI for firefighting toolsin factories

MU LTA N—Multan Cham-ber of Commerce and Indus-try (MCCI) on Wednesdaystressed the need for in-stalling fire extinguishequipments at all industrialunits to ensure safety ofworkers at the work place.

In addition to installa-tion of equipment at the in-dustrial units, labour de-partment should also playa pivotal role to ensure thatworkers should not be ex-posed to any kind of risksincluding fire eruption atthe work place, said MCCIpresident MuhammadKhan Saddozai while ad-dressing a fire safety semi-nar.

Industrialists and busi-nessmen got a detai ledbriefing through multime-dia from experts of FireSafety Inst i tute (FSI)Multan during the seminar.Workers should havemasks, gloves, and al lother safety gadgets fortheir protection, Saddozaisaid.

MCCI senior vice presi-dent Bakhtawar TanweerSheikh said that in additionto ensuring safety of work-ers, the fire safety systemswere also part of interna-tional standards whichmust be met to have accessto lucrative foreign marketsfor Pakistani products. Helaid stress on ceaseless ad-vocacy which should in-clude efforts to highlightbenefits behind meeting theinternational standards forworkers safety.

He said that standardsshould be implemented andmust be monitored regu-larly to avoid recurrence oftragic f ire incidents thathad cost l ives of manyworkers in Karachi andLahore. FSI head AbdurRahman said that situationregarding availabil i ty ofproper fire safety arrange-ments was not encourag-ing and added that indus-trialists and business com-munity must take the initia-tive to improve it.—APP

ISLAMABAD: Syed Mazhar Hussain, PTCL SEVP HR and Abdul Sattar Naeem, EVPHR Services with the winner and runner-up players of PTCL Inter-Regional TableTennis Tournament.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Tele-communication CompanyLimited (PTCL) Inter-Re-gional Table TennisTournament’s first phase hasconcluded at the company’sOfficers Club F-8, Islamabad.The 14 day tournament sawa large number of employeescompeting in categories ofMen’s Singles, Women’sSingles, Men’s Doubles,Women’s Doubles, Veteran’sSingles, Veteran’s Doublesand Mixed Doubles.

In the Men’s Singles fi-nal, Amir Kundi emerged aswinner by brilliantly defeat-ing Asim Akhtar, whileImran-Ul-Haq and HaroonRafiq defeated Aamir Kundi& Salman A Farooqi after anenthralling match in Men’sDoubles final. BehramShahrokh Aslam stood theground in his contest withAqdus Faraz Tahir inVeteran’s Singles beforeteaming up with AbdulSattar to defeat Sana UllahShaikh & Abdul RashidQuadry in Veteran’sDoubles.

In Women’s Singles,Azka Hamid was the clearwinner, while Tasnim Akhtarand Saira Javed beat AzkaHamid and Nida Iftikhar inWomen’s Doubles. Mr. &Mrs. Aqdus Faraz Tahir beattheir rivals Azka Hamid andRaza Sarwar in the MixedDoubles finals. The matchesdrew large number of spec-tators comprising of employ-ees as well as their familieswho appreciated the sports-manship and level of com-petition displayed by theplayers.

Syed Mazhar Hussain,PTCL Senior Executive VicePresident (SEVP) HR pre-sented awards among theplayers reiterating that thecompany shall carry on withits efforts to bring PTCL fam-ily closer through co-curricu-lar activities in future as well,enabling employees toshowcase their athletic abili-ties, sporting passion andteam spirit.

Abdul Sattar Naeem, Ex-ecutive Vice President (EVP)HR Services and other seniorofficials were also present atthe occasion.

PTCL inter-regional tabletennis tourney concludes

PQ shippingactivity

KARACHI—Four ships car-rying containers and iron orewere berthed at Qasim Inter-national Containers Terminaland IOCB Terminal on Tues-day, port sources said hereWednesday. Four more shipscarrying containers, iron oreand edible oil also arrived atouter anchorage of PortQasim during the last 24hours.

Berth occupancy was95% on Wednesday where atotal of ten ships namelyMSC Nllgun, Deira, MaerskKalamata, Hanjin Venezia,Mercy Wisdom, Denny-Z,Mycenae, Daiduing Sunrise,M.T Lahore and BungaAkasia are currently occupy-ing berths to load/ offloadcontainers, cement, wheat,rice, iron ore, furnace oil andedible oil respectively. Acargo volume of 155778tonnes comprising 115573tonnes imports and 40205tonnes exports inclusive ofcontainerised cargo carried in3344 containers (TEUs) washandled at the Port during thelast 24 hours. —APP

Intel signs MoUwith PSF

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD —Intel Pakistanhas signed a Memorandumof Understanding (MoU)with Pakistan Science Foun-dation (PSF - Federal Minis-try of Science & Technol-ogy) to support Intel Paki-stan in holding Science Fairsall over the country.

The MoU will bring IntelPakistan and PSF together towork for accelerating the paceand scale of education in Pa-kistan and will create aware-ness and promote research inSciences. PSF works to pro-mote scientific research andprovide funding for researchprojects in the areas of Agri-cultural Sciences, BiologicalSciences, Bio-technologyand Genetic Engineering,Chemical Sciences, Informa-tion Technology, Mathemati-cal Sciences, EnvironmentalSciences, Engineering, Earthsciences, Medical sciencesand Physics. The Founda-tion has so far funded 1031research projects in variousfields of Science and Tech-nology and has been sup-porting Intel in conductingthe Intel ISEF affiliated Na-tional Science Fairs eversince the inception of theprogram in Pakistan in theyear 2003.

S.Africa’s MTNearnings miss asforex rates bite

JOHANNESBURG—Africantelecoms giant MTN onWednesday reported weakerthan expected earnings, as cur-rency fluctuations bit into theSouth African company’s bot-tom line. Revenue jumpednearly 10.9 percent in 2012 to135 billion rand ($15 billion), butheadline earnings per share in-creased just 1.9 percent to 10.89cents from 10.69 cents.

The mobile giant operatesin 22 African and Middle East-ern countries, and now has189.3 million customers, up over15 percent. The company saidforeign currency losses in mar-kets like Iran and Syria resultedin the bottom line shrinking anda marginal profit according toadjusted earnings. It has beena tough year for the South Af-rica-based firm, fending off graftallegations linked to Iran andincreasingly competitive mobilemarkets. “The year wascharacterised by the continuedglobal economic slowdown,increasingly competitive mobilemarkets as well as regulatoryand political challenges,” thefirm said in a statement.—AFP

FAISALABAD: A view of a factory closed due to load-shedding.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minis-ter for Communications Dr.Arbab Alamgir Khan has saidthat NHA has portfolio of Rs.750 billion all over Pakistan,but the available budgetaryallocations do not match itsportfolio. Average allocationsof 20-25 billion per annum donot enable NHA to completeits project in time, he added.Federal Minister said thiswhile addressing the 26thMeeting of National HighwayCouncil (NHC) held in Minis-try of Communications, hereon Wednesday.

Dr. Arbab Alamgir Khansaid that a planned priority ofprojects is needed to be imple-mented in letter and spirit toensure timely realization ofproject. Due to ill planningcost of projects increases andthis has declined, the comple-tion rate, he added.

Secretary Communica-tions Anwaar Ahmed Khanwhile speaking at the occa-sion told that NHA has thecapacity to complete NationalHighway Network projectswithin the PSDP allocation.The projects outside NationalHighway Network exert pres-sure on the budgetary alloca-tion through diversion offunds towards those projects.He proposed that NHAshould be given additionalbudget for such schemes sothat the progress of the projectis not affected.

The meeting discussedmatters relating to revenuegeneration and stressed uponincreasing the revenue gen-eration to make the organiza-tion self sufficient. The Fed-eral Minister proposed that adedicated separate revenuedepartment should be madewithin NHA to look after it.Chairman NHA told that a

committee has been formed todiscuss the matter and itwould submit its report withintwo weeks.

The NHC took a policydecision on construction ofbridges across major rivers as4-Lane to provide accessacross and keeping in viewthe increasing volume of traf-fic and economic activity.Secretary Communicationstold that Prime Minister ofPakistan has also approvedthe proposal. He also quotedthe construction of ThakotBridge and KhushalgarhBridge which will give impe-tus to economic activity inthe area.

Secretary Planning saidthat cost effectiveness ofeach bridge should be takeninto account while makingsuch decisions. Provision ofmore 2-lane bridges, than asingle 4-lane bridge may fa-cilitate more people, he added.

NHA has portfolio of Rs 750ball over country: Arbab

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Ministry ofCommerce has strongly re-futed the news items appear-ing in a section of the mediathat the selection of tradeofficers was made on politi-cal recommendations. In astatement issued to the me-dia, the Ministry of Com-merce has stated that it wasnot unusual in Pakistan to tryto influence the selectionprocess by using references.However, the selection pro-cess was conducted on com-plete professional lines. Awritten test was conductedby LUMS to short-list thecandidates.

A high-powered inter-ministerial selection boardheaded by the CommerceMinister, with federal secre-taries of Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, Ministry of Com-merce, Ministry of Textiles,Board of Investment, Secre-tary Establishment Divisionand Chief Executive TDAPinterviewed all the shortlistedcandidates to select the bestprofessionals to representthe trade interests of Paki-stan, abroad. An impressionhas also been created in themedia that the weightage ofwritten test in the final selec-tion was only 20%. It is toclarify that in the past, thewritten test did not have anyweightage, at all, in the se-lection process and only in-terview mattered.

The weightage to thewritten test was introducedin the last selection policyapproved by the Prime Min-ister in May 2012. Thus, thisweightage of written test wasnot only to allow entry for

interview, but 20% markswere allocated for it in the fi-nal assessment. It may bementioned that the job de-scription of a trade officerrequires more than the theo-retical knowledge of the traderelated matters. It entailsstrong interpersonal skills toact as trade diplomat andstrong networking ability foreffective trade promotion.Therefore, the interview hasa stronger weightage thanwritten test in the final selec-tion process.

The selection processwas conducted impartiallyand professionally, withoutany political influence. Thebest example of the fair se-lection is that one of the ladyofficers, selected for one ofthe most important postingstations (London) has de-clined the offer.

Selection of trade officerson merit: Ministry

SOFIA—In a rundown area onthe edge of Bulgaria’s capital,where violent protests overpower prices brought down thegovernment last month, someresidents are risking their livesand their neighbours’ wrath tosteal electricity.

Struggling to make endsmeet in the European Union’spoorest country, thieves bypassthe meter or piggyback on some-one else’s supply.

“They do tricky stuff - put-ting toothpicks in the lightswitches, so that the electricityin the entrance can go on andthey can hook up to it,” saidLora Todorova, administrator ofa communist-era apartmentblock in Modern Suburb, a dis-trict that belies its name.

No one seems to be doinganything about it, she says, notthe police, nor the power com-panies, but then few things runas well as they ought.

Six years after joining theEU, governance in Bulgaria re-mains deeply dysfunctional andgraft ridden, despite efforts inBrussels to force Sofia to cleanup its act. It is the bloc’s secondmost corrupt member, saysTransparency International.

“Our compatriots makeclear they want simple things -they want decent politicians,they don’t want to be robbed,they do not want to be lied to,and they want to live goodlives,” President RosenPlevneliev said in a speech lastweek. With next month’s elec-

tions almost certainly heading fora hung parliament and raisingquestions over economic stabil-ity, those aspirations are unlikelyto be met any time soon.

Outgoing premier Boiko

Borisov has alienated his poten-tial coalition partners, while hismain rival, Socialist leader SergeiStanishev, whose party is neckand neck with Borisov’s, says hewon’t be premier if his partywins. Some think a new political

force could come from nowhere,inspired by the dramatic rise ofcomic Beppe Grillo’s Five StarMovement in Italy’s elections lastmonth.

“The phrase lions led by don-

keys comes to mind when I thinkof the Bulgarian people and someof the politicians they get,” saidAndy Anderson, a Briton whoruns Stara Planina Properties inthe town of Ruse on the Danube.

Bulgaria’s population has

shrunk 7 percent in a decade to7.3 million as citizens fled itstoxic mix of corruption, weakrule of law and poor infrastruc-ture. Many in the bloc, and espe-cially in Britain, are concerned

that a flood of migrants will leaveBulgaria and neighboring Roma-nia when the last remaining re-strictions are lifted at the end ofthis year.

Both countries, whose justicesystems are under EU monitor-

ing, will remain blocked frompassport-free travel into theSchengen zone due to corruptionand organized crime.

Successive governmentshave failed to solve hundreds of

high-profile contract killings thathave plagued Sofia and other cit-ies since the late 1990s.

Everyday life is a struggle,made worse by frequent low-level corruption. Even hospitalpatients must visit a cash point

first as doctors and nurses insiston extra payment above their tinysalaries. All of which helped fueldemonstrations that have contin-ued for nearly a month. Threeprotestors have even set them-selves on fire in protest at highfuel prices and low standards ofliving. Two of them died.

In response, Bulgaria cutelectricity prices by an average 7percent from March 1 and is re-voking the licence of Czech util-ity CEZ, saying the distributorsare to blame for the high bills.The companies say they havedone nothing wrong.

“I am positive that there issome kind of conspiracy with theelectricity bills,” outgoing pre-mier Borisov said.

By risking a diplomatic rowwith the Czech government,which is the majority owner ofCEZ, and the rest of the EU,Bulgaria has alarmed investorsand highlighted a tendencyamong some new EU members,like Hungary and Romania, totest the bloc’s rules.

In the meantime, Bulgariansexpect little will change. “We livein a time where corruption dic-tates the actions of politicians,”said student Grigor Radkov, 24,walking in central Sofia, whereplush shops and pedestrianisedstreets are a far cry from the sur-rounding estates.

Other residents have unusu-ally high bills, and inspectorsfrom CEZ, distributor for thearea, have confirmed there havebeen thefts, she said.—Reuters

Bulgaria suffers massive power shortage

Protestors march on a boulevard during a demonstration in central Sofia.

Karzai calls onAfghan troops toclean up own act

KABUL—Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai is calling on hisown security forces to clean uptheir act and end incidents of tor-ture and abuse of the Afghanpeople.

The remarks are a shift intone from Karzai’s speeches thathave solely blamed foreigntroops for abuse.

Karzai told parliamentWednesday that Afghan forcesare violating their own people’srights, making it harder for himto raise the issue when abuses arecarried out by foreigners.

He says he didn’t initiallywant to believe reports that hisown security forces had torturedprisoners.

Karzai has also blamed U.S.special operations troops togetherwith Afghan forces for a seriesof alleged incidents in Wardakprovince, and has called for thewithdrawal of U.S. special opera-tions troops there. U.S. officialssay they are investigating.—AP

Malaysian troopsstill hunting

gunmen afterSabah assault

FELDA SAHABAT—Malaysiansoldiers expanded their hunt forelusive Philippine militants onBorneo island on Wednesday, aday after an all-out assault withfighter jets, mortars and hundredsof troops failed to end the secu-rity crisis.

The nearly month-long con-frontation in Sabah state wassparked when gunmen sailedfrom the nearby southern Philip-pines to press an ancient claim tothe resource-rich region.

Clashes killed at least 27people including eight Malaysianpolicemen in the days leading upto the assault, raising concerns ofbroader insecurity ahead of elec-tions in Malaysia.

Malaysian police said onegunman was shot on Wednesday,and warned residents to be onalert for members of the groupwho had likely escaped intopalm-oil plantations that domi-nate the coastal area and whocould be posing as farmers. It wasunclear if the gunman had beenkilled.—Reuters

CA R A C A S—Venezuelansmourned the death of HugoChavez and prepared onWednesday for his body to liein state as attention turns to anew election to succeed the so-cialist leader after 14 years oftumultuous and divisive rule.

The 58-year-old presidentdied on Tuesday after a two-yearbattle with cancer that was firstdetected in his pelvis. He hadsuffered multiple complicationsfollowing his latest operation onDecember 11 and had not beenseen in public since then.

The future of Chavez’s self-styled leftist revolution, whichwon him passionate supportfrom the poor but alienated op-ponents who called him a dicta-tor, now rests on the shouldersof his preferred successor, VicePresident Nicolas Maduro.

“In the immense pain of thishistoric tragedy that has affectedour fatherland, we call on all thecompatriots to be vigilant forpeace, love, respect and tran-quility,” Maduro said. “We askour people to channel this pain

into peace.”Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver and unionleader, will be the government’scandidate at a new presidentialelection that is likely to pit him

against opposition leader andstate governor HenriqueCapriles.

The authorities said a newvote would be called within 30days, but it was not immediatelyclear if that meant the election

would be held within 30 days -or whether the date for the ballotwould be announced within 30days. Military commandersquickly pledged loyalty toMaduro, who becomes caretakerleader until the new election.

Much of Caracas was quietovernight, with streets desertedespecially in richer parts of thecapital. Most shops locked theirdoors as the news spread, fear-ing looting.

Despite having weeks tocome to terms with their leader’slikely demise, Chavez supporterswere wrought with grief.

“He was our father,” saidNancy Jotiya, 56, sobbing inCaracas’ central Plaza Bolivar.“He taught us to defend our-selves. Chavismo is not over! Weare the people; we will fight!”

Hundreds of emotional“chavista” loyalists gathered out-side the military hospital wherethe president spent his last twoweeks. A female TV reporterfrom neighboring Colombia wasbeaten up, and gunshots werefired in the air.—Reuters

Venezuelans mourn Chavez, focusturns to funeral, then election

BEIRUT—One million peoplehave fled Syria’s civil war, pil-ing pressure on the country’sneighbors who are struggling tosupport them, the United Na-tions refugee agency said onWednesday.

Around half the refugeesare children, most of them agedunder 11, and the numbers leav-ing are mounting every week,UNHCR added.

“With a million people inflight, millions more displacedinternally, and thousands ofpeople continuing to cross theborder every day, Syria is spi-raling towards full-scale disas-ter,” UN High Commissionerfor Refugees António Guterressaid in a statement.

“We are doing everythingwe can to help, but the interna-tional humanitarian responsecapacity is dangerouslystretched. This tragedy has to bestopped.”

Nearly two years ago, Syr-ians started trickling out of the

country when President Basharal-Assad’s forces started shoot-ing at pro-democracy protests.

The uprising has since turnedinto an increasingly sectarianstruggle between armed rebelsand government soldiers and mi-litias. An estimated 70,000people have been killed.

UNHCR said the number ofSyrians quitting their country hasincreased dramatically since thebeginning of the year with morethan 400,000 - nearly half the to-tal figure - since January 1st.

They arrive traumatized,without possessions and havinglost members of their families, itadded. Most have fled to Leba-non, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq andEgypt and some arrive in NorthAfrica and Europe.

Lebanon - the country clos-est to Syria’s embattled capital ofDamascus - is the smallest of thecountry’s neighbors but has re-ceived the most refugees. Includ-ing Syrian workers and self-sup-porting Syrian families, one in

five people in Lebanon is nowSyrian.

Refugee flows into Lebanonhave doubled to 4,400 a day inthe past three weeks, UNHCRrepresentative in LebanonNinette Kelley told Reuters in aninterview.

But despite pledges of $1.5billion by international donors fora U.N. response plan to helpSyria’s displaced, only 25 percent has been funded, UNHCRsaid.

In Jordan, energy, water,health and education services arebeing strained to the limit, theagency added. Turkey has spentmore than $600 million settingup 17 refugee camps, with moreunder construction.

There is no end in sight forSyria’s civil war and internationalpowers are divided over how torespond to it. Russia and Shi’iteIran support their historical allyAssad while the United Statesand Sunni Muslim Gulf countriesback the opposition.—AP

One million refugeeshave fled Syria: UN

KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysiansecurity forces on Wednesdaybattled a group of Filipino intrud-ers in the rugged terrain ofBorneo after they escaped a mili-tary assault with fighter jets andmortar fire on their hideout, po-lice said. One Filipino was shotand believed killed.

It was not clear if any of theintruders suffered any casualtiesin Tuesday’s assault before theymelted away into the jungles,chased by hundreds of Malaysiansecurity forces. Previous clashesbetween the two sides have left19 intruders and eight policemendead.

Malaysia’s national policechief Ismail Omar said securityforces exchanged gunfire in ahilly coastal district thick withfoliage slightly after dawn. Oneclansman was shot and possiblykilled, he said.

“We’re in a good position.We ask the public not to panic,”Ismail said, adding that authori-ties would expand their searcharea beyond the current 4 squarekilometers (1.5 square miles).

The bizarre security crisisinvolves some 200 armed mem-bers of a Philippine Muslim clan,

which claims to have a royal an-cestral right over Malaysia’s re-source-rich eastern state ofSabah.

They arrived with little fan-fare from southern Philippines, ashort boat ride away, three weeksago and occupied a remote partof Sabah after scaring away thevillagers.

Ignoring appeals by the Ma-laysian government as well asPhilippine President BenignoAquino III, the intruders haverefused to leave to highlight theirclaim.

The crisis has caught bothcountries by surprise. Few inMalaysia or the Philippines evenknow about the Filipino groupled by Jamalul Kiram III, whoclaims to be the sultan, or thehereditary ruler, of the southern,predominantly Muslim provinceof Sulu in the Philippines.

Sabah and Sulu are separatedby a narrow strip of the Sulu Seathat at its shortest span can be tra-versed by boat in 30 minutes.

The two provinces haveshared traditional ties and people,who are of the same ethnic stock,frequently travel back andforth.—AP

Armed Filipinos elusiveafter Malaysian assault

Lebanon urges AL to reinstate SyriaCAIRO—Lebanese Foreign Minister AdnanMansour called on Wednesday for Syria’ssuspension from the Arab League to be liftedin order to help find a political solution tothe conflict in the country. Damascus wassuspended from membership of the Cairo-based League in November 2011, eightmonths into what began as a peaceful popu-lar uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. “I call for Syria’s membership of theArab League to be unblocked,” Mansour told

a League ministerial meeting. “Communication with Syria ... isessential for a political solution.” Lebanese Prime Minister NajibMikati’s government is dominated by a coalition including themilitant group Hezbollah and its mainly Shi’ite and Christian al-lies who support Assad. Mikati, who has sought to follow a policyof “dissociation” from the conflict in Lebanon’s dominant neigh-bor, has said his country would respect any decisions taken by theLeague over Syria. However, Mansour has been critical of theCairo-based organization’s steps against Damascus. “We have heldmeetings over two years and taken decision after decision think-ing that with them we will be providing Syria with security andstability by removing the regime and replacing it with another -while Syria sank into blood and destruction,” said Mansour. Qatar,which has led efforts at the League against Damascus, blamedAssad for nearly two years of bloodshed in Syria in which anestimated 70,000 people have been killed. “The person whobrought a sea of blood is Bashar because he did not commit to theArab decisions and did not cooperate with us,” Qatari Prime Min-ister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani told the meeting.One million refugees have fled Syria, piling pressure on its neigh-bors, including Lebanon, which are struggling to support them,the United Nations refugee agency said on Wednesday.—Reuters

VP Maduro succeeds ChavezCARACAS—Even in death, Hugo Chavez’sorders are being followed. The man heanointed to succeed him, Vice PresidentNicolas Maduro, will continue to run Ven-ezuela as interim president and be the gov-erning socialists’ candidate in an election tobe called within 30 days. Foreign MinisterElias Jaua confirmed that Tuesday, just hoursafter Maduro, tears running down his face,announced the death of Chavez, the larger-than-life former paratroop officer who had

presided over Venezuela as virtually a one-man show for morethan 14 years. It was not immediately clear when the presidentialvote would be held. Considerable funereal pageantry was expectedto honour Chavez, the political impresario widely adored amongVenezuela’s poor for putting the oil-rich state in their service. Sevendays of mourning were declared, all school was suspended for theweek and friendly heads of state were expected in this economi-cally challenged and violence-afflicted nation for an elaboratefuneral Friday. No date or place were announced for Chavez’sburial. Venezuela’s constitution specifies that the speaker of theNational Assembly, currently Diosdado Cabello, should assumethe interim presidency if a president can’t be sworn in. But theofficials left in charge by Chavez before he went to Cuba in De-cember for his fourth cancer surgery in a little less than two yearshave not been especially assiduous about heeding the constitu-tion, and human rights and free speech activists are concernedthey will flaunt the rule of law. Some in anguish, some in fear,Venezuelans raced for home and stocked up on food and waterafter the government announced Chavez’s death, declining to saywhat exactly killed him. On Monday night, the government hadsaid the president had been weakened by a severe, new respira-tory infection. Tuesday was a day fraught with mixed signals,some foreboding. Just a few hours before announcing Chavez’sdeath, Maduro virulently accused enemies, domestic and foreignand clearly including the United States, of trying to undermineVenezuelan democracy.—Reuters.

Obama popularity dropsWASHINGTON—Less than two months intohis second term, President Barack Obama’sapproval rating has dropped and Americansblame him and his fellow Democrats almostas much as his Republican opponents for afiscal mess. A Reuters/Ipsos online poll re-leased on Wednesday showed 43 percent ofpeople approve of Obama’s handling of hisjob, down 7 percentage points from Febru-ary 19. Most of that steep drop came in theweek to February 26 when it was becoming

clear that Washington was going to be unable to put aside partisandifferences and agree to halt automatic budget cuts which startedlast Friday. Confounding the White House’s efforts to blame Re-publicans for the cuts, most respondents in the online survey holdboth Democrats and Republicans responsible. Obama shot out ofthe gate in January at the start of his second four years in theWhite House, promising gun control and immigration legislationas well as efforts to tackle climate change and expand gay rights.But Ipsos pollster Julia Clark said the survey shows Obama’s hon-eymoon is now over, partly due to the “sequestration” cuts whichwill likely curtail public services like air traffic control and na-tional parks as well as funding for the Pentagon. “People are see-ing things are back to business as usual in Washington,” she said.“They are reading about the immense fallout this is going to havein terms of how it’s going to affect the military and individuals.”Thirty-eight percent of Americans believe all the political actorsinvolved - Republican and Democratic members of Congress alongwith Obama - deserve most of the blame for the cuts. Twenty-seven percent think Republicans in Congress are responsible, 17percent blamed Obama and 6 percent thought Democrats were toblame. Nearly half of independent voters, 49 percent, said bothsides deserve the blame. “I think this frustration is being reflectedcertainly in their view of the president and Congress as well. Thisis a pox on everyone’s house really,” Clark said. The fall inObama’s rating was similar to that in the Gallup three-day aver-age tracking poll which shows his approval dropping 7 percent-age points from late February to last weekend before recoveringslightly. —Reuters

Chaldean patriarch enthroned in IraqBAGHDAD—Iraq’s Chaldean CatholicChurch enthroned a new patriarch during aceremonial mass Wednesday that was heldamid tight security in Baghdad. The mass atSt. Joseph’s Chaldean church in downtownBaghdad marked the final step as Louis Sako,64, replaced Emmanuel III Delly, who hasretired. Iraqi troops sealed off all roads lead-ing to the church in the middle-class neigh-borhood of Karradah and worshippers weresearched by security forces before going in.Last month, bishops of the Eastern rite church

chose Sako, archbishop of Kirkuk since 2003, as their patriarchand later, Pope Benedict XVI approved the election. Sako wasordained in 1974, earned two doctorates in Rome and Paris in the1980s and then returned to Iraq. He has written books on churchfathers. He speaks Arabic, Chaldean, French, English and Italian.Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, Iraqi Christians have sufferedrepeated violence by Islamic militants and hundreds of thousandshave fled the country. The most recent Iraq census in 1978 saidthere were 1.4 million Christians in the country, but the numberdropped significantly to only several hundred thousand followingthe invasion. The vast majority of Iraqi Catholics are Chaldean witha small Assyrian Catholic minority. During Wednesday’s ceremony,Sako said he will push for dialogue with Muslim clerics, both Sunnisand Shiites, to ensure co-existence and cooperation in Iraq. “I willwork along with my Muslim brothers in order to provide our coun-try with a better future,” he said. Senior Iraq officials, includingPrime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Sunni parliament speakerOsama al-Nujaifi attended the ceremony. —Reuters

BEIJING—China’s new leadersare planning a system of nationalresidence permits to replace thehousehold registration or ‘hukou’regime, a government sourcesaid, a vital reform that will boostits urbanization campaign anddrive consumption-led growth.

The hukou system, whichdates to 1958, has split China’s1.3 billion people along urban-rural lines, preventing many ofthe roughly 800 million Chinesewho are registered as rural resi-dents from settling in cities andenjoying basic urban welfare andservices.

Critics have called forchanges for years and a govern-ment researcher told Reuters a“unified national residence per-mit system” would be adopted aspolicy in a document to be pub-lished after the current annualsession of parliament.

Benefits and entitlement un-der the new system would be“basically equal”, he said, al-though the changes would beeased in slowly. He did not say

how long it would take. “Thetrend is to dilute the urban-ruralhousehold registration divide”,said the researcher, who wasbriefed on the details but declinedto be identified because the planhas not yet been made public.

Previous administrationshave experimented with reformon the fringes of hukou for yearsbut have not delivered on calls tooverhaul the system, which af-fords different welfare and civicservices to urban and rural citi-zens. In a speech to parliamenton Tuesday that laid out the blue-print of the new leaders, outgo-ing Premier Wen Jiabao saidhukou reforms should be accel-erated to drive an urbanizationeffort that he said would under-pin economic development.

Zhang Ping, head of the Na-tional Development and ReformCommission, China’s main eco-nomic planning agency, said onWednesday that guidelines for theurbanization plan would belaunched in the first half of2013.—Reuters

China eyes residence permits toreplace divisive hukou system

SEOUL/UNITED NATIONS—South Korea’s military said itwill strike back at North Koreaand target its top leadership ifPyongyang launches a threat-ened attack in response to whatit says are “hostile” drills be-tween U.S. and South Koreanforces.

One of North Korea’s topgenerals, in a rare appearance onstate television on Tuesday, saidPyongyang had torn up its ar-mistice deal with Washingtonand threatened military actionagainst the U.S. and South Ko-rea if the drills went ahead. Themilitary exercises began onMarch 1. Tensions haveratcheted higher across the Ko-

rean peninsula since the North,under youthful leader Kim Jong-un who took office just over ayear ago after the death of hisfather, launched a long rangerocket last December.

He followed this with a thirdnuclear test on February 12, trig-gering the prospect of more U.N.sanctions that are due to be for-mally announced on Thursdayafter the United States and China,the North’s one major diplomatically, struck a deal to punishPyongyang.

At the same time, North Ko-rea has stepped up its militarythreats against South Korea andthe United States, prompting theterse warning from Seoul on

Wednesday that it would notstand idly by if its territory wasattacked.

“We have all preparations inplace for strong and decisivepunishment, not only against thesource of the aggression and itssupport forces but also the com-manding element,” Major Gen-eral Kim Yong-hyun of theSouth Korean army told a pressconference.

North Korea’s bellicoserhetoric rarely goes beyond that,although in 2010 it sank a SouthKorean naval vessel, killing 46sailors and in the same yearshelled a South Korean island,killing civilians. Stung by criti-cism it took too long to respond

S-Korea to strike back if North attackedto the island shelling, SouthKorea’s military has relaxed itsrules, allowing commanders onthe ground to respond to aggres-sion instead of needing permis-sion from top military brass.

South Korea’s new PresidentPark Geun-hye had pledged toengage with the North if itdropped its nuclear plans but nowfaces the prospect of a hostilechallenge early in her 5-yearterm. The proposed fresh sanc-tions would explicitly ban thesale to Pyongyang of items cov-eted by North Korea’s rulingelite, such as yachts and racingcars, a U.N. Security Council dip-lomat said on condition of ano-nymity. In 2009, Italian authori-

ties blocked the sale of two yachtsworth more than $10 million thatthey believed were headed forKim Jong-il, the current Kim’sfather, who enjoyed copiousamounts of luxury brandy andfresh sushi in a country where athird of the population is mal-nourished.

The new sanctions will tar-get North Korea’s financial trans-actions, which often involve us-ing cash couriers that make themhard to trace, and its criminal ac-tivities such as drugs and coun-terfeiting. The U.S. ambassadorto the United Nations, SusanRice, said the new sanctionswould target “the illicit activitiesof North Korean diplomatic per-

sonnel, North Korean banking re-lationships, (and) illicit transfersof bulk cash”.

North Korea was slappedwith sanctions in 2006 thatbanned the import of a range ofluxury goods from jet skis toFenders and Harleys followingits first nuclear test in a bid to hitthe high-life of the Kim familyand its hangers on. The impov-erished country, whose economyis smaller than it was 20 yearsago, has been subject to sanctionsof some kind from the UnitedStates for almost all of its exist-ence and since 2006 has seenUnited Nations sanctions im-posed for its long range rocketand nuclear tests.—Reuters

BIPIN DANI

OBSERVER

CORRESPONDENT

MU M B A I—The recentlyconcluded Test match inHyderabad saw SachinTendulkar’s longest wait.The 40-year-old, India’smaster-blaster, who hasabove 34,000 runs in his24-year-long internationalcareer, had to wait for109.4 overs-the most hehad to wait with his padson. Vijay Murali andCheteshwar Pujara’s part-nership made him to waitfor 7 hours & 15 minutesfor his 7 runs.

Sachin could have ex-perienced ‘mixed-emo-tions’, according to Dr.Chaitanya Sridhar, theSport Psychologist whoseDoctoral Research was onthe ‘Emotional Labour(Work) of Indian and

Sachin may have experienced mixed-emotions for his longest wait in

Hyderabad Test: Sports PsychologistAustalian cricketers.

Speaking exclusivelyfrom Bangalore, she said, “he(Sachin) would have beenhappy as India was in apretty good place. Yet, towait that long would be alittle frustrating for anyone.Hence the phrase ‘mixedemotions’- happy and a littlefrustrated due to the long-wait”.

“What an athlete thinkswould depend on his/her‘conditioning and state ofmind, along with how theteam is placed’. Given theamount of pressure we puton him everytime, he mighthave focused either on whatmay or may not go well or justkept his mind blank and fo-cused on the match.Thoughts might spring upevery now and then. No ex-perienced player will be hav-ing a ‘mental dialogue’ forthe entire span he was pad-

ded up”, she said.Adding further, she

says, “however, being pad-ded up is also a ‘sign ofreadiness’.. it would havetaken a lot of ‘mental en-ergy to defocus’, especiallywhen the wait is very long.‘Regaining focus’ when ac-tually batting would requiresome effort. This is akin tohis 7-hour wait and scoring7 runs”.

“On the other hand,Sachin is one of the sea-soned players who has si-lenced his critics with hisbat on many occassionsand being one of the most‘mentally tough players’,by now he would havelearnt the art of ‘mind con-trol’ and staying focusedon the ‘present moment andenjoying the game’. And,think about the rest, whenhe goes in to bat”, shesigned off.

ISLAMABAD: Students taking part in different events during the Athletics’ competition in the Sports Week of Air University at Sports Complex.

MANCHESTER—CristianoRonaldo scored the decisivegoal as Real Madrid contro-versially came from behindto win 2-1 at ManchesterUnited and reach the Cham-pions League quarter-finals.

In a breathless game,Nani forced Sergio Ramos toput through his own goal inthe 48th minute to giveUnited a 2-1 aggregate leadin the last 16 tie, only for thePortuguese winger to thenbe sent off for a foul onAlvaro Arbeloa.

Madrid immediatelyseized the initiative,equalising through substi-tute Luka Modric in the 66thminute and then earning vic-tory through United old boyRonaldo on his return to OldTrafford.

Madrid manager JoseMourinho conceded his sidehad been fortunate to gothrough, telling ITV: “Inde-pendent of the (Nani) deci-sion, the best team lost. We

Champions League

Real oust United onway to Quarters

didn’t deserve to win, butfootball is like this.”

United’s defeat meantthat Ryan Giggs’ 1,000th ap-pearance in senior footballended in disappointment,while Madrid can dream of a10th European title after re-invigorating their season inrecent weeks.

United manager AlexFerguson had sprung a ma-jor surprise by namingWayne Rooney on the sub-stitutes’ bench, but Giggswas included in the startingXI as he became only thethird British outield player toplay in 1,000 games.

A wave of applause forRonaldo rippled around theground at kick-off and theMadrid number seven unex-pectedly found himself in di-rect opposition to Giggs,who started the match in anunfamiliar role on the rightflank.

Giggs roused the homefans with a determined run

down the wing in the 20thminute and from the cornerhe won, United came withina hair’s breadth of taking thelead.

Nemanja Vidic met Giggs’inswinging corner with atypically emphatic headerthat came back off the right-hand post and goalkeeperDiego Lopez reacted well tosmother Danny Welbeck’sinstinctive follow-up.

Madrid then enjoyed abrief spell in the ascendancy,with Rio Ferdinand blockingfrom Ronaldo and goal-keeper David de Gea thwart-ing Gonzalo Higuain beforeRamos had a goal ruled outfor a foul on Robin vanPersie.

The action soon swangthe other way, however,with Lopez doing brilliantlyto divert a shot fromWelbeck over the bar afterhe had allowed a stingingeffort from van Persie to getaway from hi..—AFP

ENGLAND: Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo center shoots at goalduring the UEFA Champions League round of second leg football match between Manches-ter United and Real Madrid.

FAISALABAD: Students posing for a photo during the Annual Sports Day of Punjab Model College.

LARKANA: Students playing snooker during 6th Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir BhuttoAnnual Sports Week 2013 at Chandka Medical College.

1st day ofEngland-NZ

Test washed outDUNEDIN—Bad light andheavy rain prevented play onthe first day of the openingTest between New Zealandand England on Wednesday,as the tourists lost spinnerGraeme Swann without a ballbeing bowled.

The Black Caps won thetoss and chose to bowl inovercast conditions, hopingfor early swing, but condi-tions worsened and theteams were unable to take thefield. Play was officiallycalled off after an inspectionat the tea interval.

While England go intothe three-Test series as firmfavourites, they suffered ablow when Swann wasforced from the side at thelast minute after a long-stand-ing elbow injury flared up,requiring surgery by a USspecialist.—AFP

CERILLY (France)—Germany’s Marcel Kittel

won the second stage of theParis-Nice race, a 200.5kmride from Vimory to Cerilly, onTuesday.However, the overall lead isheld by Italian Elia Viviani,who benefited from over-night leader French cham-pion Nacer Bouhanni crash-ing out of the race when hecame to grief 58km from thefinish and suffered a mouthinjury.

The 22-year-old was laterdiagnosed with two brokenteeth and needed eightstitches to repair the split lip.“The x-rays revealed no frac-tures or even any cracked ribswhich was what we feared,”said FDJ team doctor GerardGuillaume.

The 24-year-old Kittel -who counts a stage win onthe Tour of Spain in 2011amongst his honours - over-took four riders, includingViviani, to take the stage in asprint finish. Viviani finishedsecond with Australian Leigh

Cycling: Kittel wins stage asFrench champion crashes out

Howard taking the final placeon the podium.

“I am very happy to havehad this opportunity,” saidKittel. “After the first stage,I was very disappointed notto have a chance to win be-cause I had a puncture about10km from the finish. “It’simportant for me to win a raceon the World Tour and alsoto do it so early in the sea-son but it is probably the lastchance for me to win on thisyear’s Paris-Nice,” he added.

Viviani has a seven sec-ond lead to protect overFrenchman Sylvain Chavanelwith compatriot Damien

Gaudin third overall and afurther second adrift. “Itgives me great satisfaction tohave the yellow jersey whichwas my objective,” enthusedViviani. “I didn’t win thestage but Kittel was verystrong, too strong for me to-day. “I’ve taken a look at theprofile for the next stage andit’s going to be difficult toretain the jersey but I have agood team and I’m going totry my best.”

Stage three features a170.5km ride from Chatel-Guyonto Brioude and includes a cat-egory two climb just 15km fromthe finish.—AFP

CMC Larkanaannual sportsweek starts

LARKANA—The Sixth ShaheedBenazir Bhutto Annual SportsWeek-2013, organised jointlyby Sindh Peoples StudentsFederation (SPSF) CMC Unit,the Administration of ShaheedMohtarma Benazir BhuttoMedical University andChandka Medical College(CMC) started from Wednes-day at CMC Larkana.

It will continue till Mon-day. Vice ChancellorSMBBMU Larkana ProfessorAkbar Haider Soomro alongwith Principal CMC ProfessorAssadullah Mahar inaugu-rated the Sports Week onWednesday by opening of abadminton match.—APP

KARACHI—Pakistan Bil-liards and Snooker Federa-tion (PBSF) has no plan topostpone the upcomingAsian Snooker Champion-ship scheduled to be heldhere in April/May.

“At this stage we have noplans to postpone it. We areresorting to wait-and-seepolicy,” he told a group ofreporters at KarachiGymkhana on Wednesday.

“It is too early to predictthings. We are hoping tostage (it) here as per plan,”he commented.

No plans to postponeAsian Snooker: Alamgir

sian Confederation of Bil-liards Sports (ACBS) allo-cated the event to Pakistanwhich is scheduled to be heldat a local five star hotel fromApril 27 to May 3.

“At this stage we are noteven thinking to shift it toIslamabad,” he said.

“The cost of shifting ofthe event would be veryhigh as compared toKarachi,” he said. Pak-IndiaSnooker series which was tobe held here from March 7 to10 has been postponed onSunday last.—APP

Shama club winRight to Play

Super-6 Twenty20Cricket trophy

PESHAWAR—Shama clubclinched the trophy after de-feating Gymkhana Stars inthe final of the Right to PlaySuper-6 Twenty20 crickettournament played here atArbab Niaz Cricket Stadiumon Wednesday.

Director General KhyberPakhtunkhwa Directorate ofSports Iltaf Khan Umarzaiwas the chief guest on thisoccasion, PresidentPeshawar District CricketAssociation Syed Fayyaz AliShah, Senior Vice PresidentMalik Farman, former Presi-dent Peshawar DistrictCricket Association AsgharKhan, former internationalTest umpire Mian Said Shah,Organizing Secretary andformer Secretary General ofPeshawar District CricketAssociation Hanif Shah, of-ficials and players were alsopresent on this occasion.

Shama club skipperHamad-ul-Hasan won thetoss and elected to bat firstgrabed 269 runs target with acracking 66 balls center knockof Adil Amin 144 runs includ-ing 12 boundaries and sixsixes. Muhammad ShoaibKhan hammered another el-egant knock of 67 runs off 32balls with six boundaries andtwo sixes, Hamad-ul-Hasanmade 26 runs and were theleading runs contributors.

For Gymkhana Stars AzizUllah claimed two wickets,Saqib took two wickets whileAhmad Gul and Rushtam gotone wicket each.—APP

Youth FestivalGujranwala Bar

win cricket, LahorePress bag TT title

LAHORE—Gujranlawa wonthe Bar Association crickettitle beating Rawalpindi in thefinal here at Mehran clubWednesday while LahorePress Club reached the finalof badminton at the IqbalPark Sports Complex Gymna-sium and their table tennisteam clinched the title ofPunjab festival at Johar TownHall.

On the third day of thefinal phase of the PunjabYouth Festival, PHA got walkover and reached the final toface Sports Board Punjabteam for the departmentstable tennis title.

SBP table tennis teammade its way to the final beat-ing Motorway Police.—APP

THE brains of children from low-income families process informationdifferently to those of their wealthier

counterparts, US research suggests.Normal nine and 10-year-olds from rich

and poor backgroundshad differing electrical ac-tivity in a part of the brainlinked to problem solving.

The Journal of Cogni-tive Neuroscience studywas described as a “wake-up call” about the impactof deprivation.

A UK researcher saidit could shed light on earlybrain development.

The 26 children in thestudy, conducted at theUniversity of California,Berkeley, were measuredusing an electroencepha-lograph (EEG), which mea-sured activity in the “pre-frontal cortex” of thebrain.

Half were from low in-come homes, and half from high incomefamilies.

During the test, an image the childrenhad not been briefed to expect wasflashed onto a screen, and their brain re-sponses were measured.

Those from lower income familiesshowed a lower prefrontal cortex responseto it than those from wealthier house-holds. Dr Mark Kishiyama, one of the re-searchers, said: “The low socioeconomickids were not detecting or processing thevisual stimuli as well - they were not get-ting that extra boost from the prefrontal

Brain tests show childwealth gap

cortex.”Since the children were, in health

terms, normal in every way, the research-ers suspected that “stressful environ-ments” created by low socioeconomic

status might be to blame.Previous studies have

suggested that children inlow-income families arespoken to far less - on av-erage hearing 30 millionfewer words by the age offour.

Professor ThomasBoyce, another of the re-searchers, said that talkingmore to children couldboost prefrontal cortex de-velopment.

“We are certainly notblaming lower socioeco-nomic families for not talk-ing to their kids - there areprobably a zillion reasonswhy that happens.”

His colleague, Profes-sor Robert Knight, added: “This is awake-up call - it’s not just that these kidsare poor and more likely to have healthproblems, but they might actually notbe getting full brain development fromthe stressful and relatively impoverishedenvironment associated with low socio-economic status.”He said that with“proper intervention and training”, im-provements could be made, even in olderchildren.Dr Emese Nagy, from the Uni-versity of Dundee, said that it was a “pio-neering” study which could aid under-standing of how environment could af-fect brain development.

KARACHI: Employees of Sobhraj Hospital hold a demonstration in support of theirdemands.

KARACHI: Firefighters extinguishing fire that was erupted at New Sabzi Mandi on Supper Highway.

KARACHI—The Universityof Karachi is launching itsfirst-ever alumni body onMarch 11 as named Univer-sity of Karachi Alumni, anofficial said on Wednesday .

Through this alumnibody, the University will en-sure that good communica-tion link is establishedamongst the alumni as wellas between the University. Toachieve this it has estab-lished an office in the PublicRelation Office, where ad-ministrative facilities are pro-vided to its alumni for thecompletion of their member-ship.

KU invites alumni forregistration as official body

Not only this, the officewill be responsible to build acohesive network of UoKAlumni. It will ensure unhin-dered communicationthroughout the year that in-cludes timely announcementof University events as well.

The office aims toorganise different alumnibased activities that will helpin connecting the alumniaround the globe.

It is pertinent to note thatgraduates from colleges andinstitutes affiliated to KarachiUniversity are also eligible toobtain the membership.

These measures will keep

the alumni informed aboutthe whereabouts andachievements of fellowalumni, as well as importantdevelopments at the Univer-sity.

To provide a more effi-cient communication link, awebsite will soon be devel-oped to provide up to dateinformation regarding alumnievents. Also, the latest de-velopments at the Universitywill be announced throughthis website.

An electronic version ofthe University Magazine willalso be available on thewebsite.—APP

KARACHI—CommissionerKarachi Syed Hashim RazaZaidi has said that the com-pensation amount announcedby the government for theaffectees of twin blast atAbbas Town would be pro-vided to them in two to threedays.

He said this while talkingto media representatives in arelief camp set up in AbbasTown on Tuesday evening.

The CommissionerKarachi said technical surveyof affected buildings havebeen completed and 85 percent

Abbas Town blasts affectees toget compensation: Commissioner

debris have been lifted.Lifting of debris from

blasts-hit buildings along withother works at affected placein Abbas Town would be com-pleted by Wednesdayevening, he added.

Syed Hashim Raza Zaidihimself was present in reliefcamp for several hours andmonitored the restoration andrelief works. Injured peopleand relatives of blasts’ victimsalso met with him and sharedtheir problems.

He said that all necessaryfacilities along with special at-

tention for treatment of the in-jured have been provided.

He said that the arrange-ments of residence along withfood and water for victims ofAbbas Town have been made,on the directives of Sindh Gov-ernor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan.

Eight families have beenshifted immediately to a schoolof New Rizvia Society on tem-porary basis whereas the ar-rangements for shifting re-maining families along withtheir goods have been made,the Commissioner Karachisaid.—APP

Police on highalert

KARACHI—Sindh policespokesman on wednesdaysaid that the police have beenput on high alert in view ofthe city situation.

The mobile motorcyclepatrolling, snap checking,picketing and action againstthe alleged criminals intensi-fied, said a police statementhere.

For the protection of thelives and property of thepeople, action is beingtaken without any distinc-tion against miscreants andalleged criminals, itadded.—APP

Ebad for arrest ofperpetrators

at the earliestSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Sindh Governor,Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, onWednesday presided overan emergent meeting of thepolice, rangers and intelli-gence agencies at the Gov-ernor House here.

A Governor House state-ment said that Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan directed that theperpetrators of Abbas Townblasts be arrested at the ear-liest.

He further directed thataction against the terroristsin the province be speededup and that there be coor-dinated system of informa-tion of the intel l igenceagencies.

The Governor also in-structed that rangers and thepolice should take promptaction on the basis of intelli-gence information.

Sharjeel warnsagainst forced

closure of shopsIRFAN ALIGI

KA R A C H I—Sindh Infor-mation Minister SharjeelEnam Memon has asked thelaw enforcement agenciesto ensure complete protec-tion of lives and propertyof the people of the ci tyand deal with the perpetra-tors with an iron hand. Noone should be allowed tojeopardize lives of the in-nocent people.

He said that the govern-ment would not allow anyoneto force the trades and shop-keepers to keep their busi-nesses closed and those thatwould force the people toshut their shops would facethe music.

The Minister asked thetraders to keep their shopsand businesses outletsopen and it would be thegovernment;’ responsibil-ity to ensure their full se-curity.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Karachi Waterand sewerage Board(KW&SB) Managing Direc-tor Misbahuddin Fareedhad been extra active inmaking the collection of rev-enue improved but to noavail.

The financial crunchhad escalated in his tenureas the MD to its apex. OnTuesday, the MD had is-

KW&SB now chasesslums for water charges

sued orders for collectingimprovement and better-ment charges from the ArmyCantonment Boards of thecity while a dispute with theDHA was yet to be resolvedbecause the DHA had beensuffering from acute watershortage from the Board.Recently, the MD had is-sued orders for the estab-lishment of Kachi Abadis(Spatial Settlement) rev-enue Generation Cell

(KARGC).The Board had said that

the objective of the estab-lishment of the KARGC wasto expedite revenue collec-tion campaign from the resi-dential and commercial con-sumers of water.Mehmood Qadir and JawaidShamim had been made in-charge of the KARGC andthey would prepare a datain different categories inthree months.

FATA children’sscholarships

KARACHI—Chancellor ofKASBIT and Chairman ofKASB Foundation, Arif AliShah Bukhari had a formalmeeting with former chancel-lor Gerhard Schroeder of Ger-many.

The meeting was heldduring an international con-ference in Istanbul, Turkey,said a statement here onWednesday.

It said that Bukhari ap-prised the former Germanchancellor about the suc-cessful implementation of theFATA Children’s ScholarshipProgramme.

The programme was runby KASB Foundation withthe support of the GermanForeign Office to educate thechildren from FATA re-gion.—APP

FUUASTextends

admission dateKARACHI—The FederalUrdu University of Arts, Sci-ence and Technology(FUUAST) has extended thelast date for admission.

According to a spokes-person of the institution hereon Wednesday said that lastdate of admission has beenextended, for the EveningProgramme of the Faculty ofBusiness Administration,Commerce and Economics atits Abdul Haq Campus tillMarch 11.—APP

AKU to markCancer

Survivor DayKARACHI—Aga Khan Uni-versity (AKU) hospital willcelebrate Cancer SurvivorDay on March 9 to acknowl-edge those who have bravedthe disease often consideredas terminal ailment.

The event will also be aninspiration for those recentlydiagnosed as would meet thesurvivors, said the organiserson Wednesday. It is expectedto generate support for fami-lies with cancer patientsaround as an awareness ses-sion will be held on the occa-sion addressing the commu-nity at large.

Cancer specialists includ-ing consultants, radiologistsand nurses will speak to theparticipants and respond toqueries raised by all con-cerned sections.—APP

KARACHI—Pakistan IslamicMedical Association (PIMA)Wednesday urged the gov-ernment to ensure absoluteprotection for ambulance ser-vices and their staff offeredby different Non Govern-mental Organizations (NGOs)in Karachi.

According to a press re-lease, President of PIMA Dr.Misbah-ul-Aziz and SindhPresident, Dr. Abdul AzizMemon have said that ambu-lances and the associatedstaff meeting an essentialneed of the citizens must beconsidered as “neutral” by allstakeholders.

“The vehicles and thestaff manning them mustnecessarily be granted immu-

Security sought forambulance service, staff

nity by all.”Dr. Aziz said there was

also an urgent need to de-clare all hospitals, clinics andhealthcare facilities as “arms-free zone.”

Dr. Memon demanded ofthe authorities to ensure foolproof security arrangementsfor professionals associatedwith a profession meant toserve the ailing humanity.

Their security must beadopted as a collective re-sponsibility of all stakehold-ers.

They reiterated that pro-tection of people in generalmust be ensured in all partsof the province with par-ticular reference toKarachi.—APP

KW&SBorders to payKESC bills

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The High Courtof Sindh through a DivisionalBench order has taken cog-nizance that Karachi Waterand Sewerage Board(KW&SB) is not paying itscurrent monthly bills toKarachi Electric supply Com-pany (KESC) and has orderedKWSB to commence payingits current monthly bills fromFebruary, 2013 directly toKESC.

In return, KESC will re-store power to those facili-ties (of KW&SB), which arecurrently disconnected.

The supply of electricityto all of KW&SB’s facilitieshas been made subject topayment of monthly currentbills by KW&SB to KESCwhich amounts to approxi-mately Rs. 350 to 400 Millionper month.

Due to non-payment ofcurrent monthly bills toKESC, the outstandingamounts owed to it byKWSB have risen to a stag-gering Rs. 21 Billion.

The Order dated Febru-ary 28, 2013 has been wel-comed by KESC manage-ment, as it will help reducethe liquidity crunch on KESCas it will start receiving itscurrent monthly bills fromKW&SB.

This will also stop thetotal outstanding payablefrom increasing, for which theFederal Government is di-rectly liable to make paymentto KESC under the terms ofthe Implementation Agree-ment.

WAF condemns extremists,militants for killing citizensKARACHI—Women ActionForum (WAF) has con-demned all extremist elementsfor killing of people, terroristattacks without any justifica-tion.

WAF members in a reso-lution adopted on Wednes-day demanded that militantorganisations must face pub-lic criminal prosecutionthrough due process of law.

They said the criminaljustice system must becomeresponsive to the needs ofcitizens and the impunitywith which these terroristsoperate must be revoked.“Above all their fundingsources must be halted,”

WAF members demanded.The activists said peace

is not simply cessation of kill-ing and that there cannot bepeace without justice. Ex-pressing their unstintingsupport for democracy, theydemanded that political par-ties must fulfill their mandateof representation.

“Political parties muststand by families of victimsof terrorism, survivors of vio-lence and ordinary citizenswho are the aggrievedparty,” they said.

WAF members urged thepolitical parties to prioritiseinterests and concerns ofvulnerable groups.—APP

KARACHI: Rangers’ soldiers showing the ammunition recovered during a search op-eration in Bakhar Goth area.

DEPRESSION and anxiety createhavoc with brain chemicals. Depression and anxiety are two fac-

tors that can cause havoc in a person’sgeneral health. Depression is caused dueto a number of factors rang-ing from emotional turmoilto too much exertion atwork.

These create undesir-able reactions in the bodyand cause ill health. Thereare a number of neu-rotransmitters and chemi-cals in the brain that areresponsible for maintain-ing balance in the body.When a person is stressed,these elements are im-pacted. In several cases,important chemicals in theneither brain such as norepinephrine, dopamine andserotonin that are respon-sible for calming the brainand inducing sleep are lostdue to stress.

Emotional and psychological problemsthat follow depression and anxiety; Ow-ing to the high stress life that people areliving these days, there is a large increasein the number of cases of depression andanxiety. Being depressed can increase emo-tional degeneration. Loss of self esteem isone of the major emotional side effects ofdepression. The person begins to becomeintroverted and withdrawn.

Anxiety creates a constant feeling of fearin a person that can cause strain in personaland professional lives. Further, people suf-fering with such a problem develop other prob-

Anxiety, depressiondestroys brain effectiveness

lems such as insomnia. If not treated in time,they can lead to serious problems that canresult in suicides.Depression and anxiety iscaused due to a number of factors. The lead-ing causes are some kind of tragedy such as

loss of a loved one, divorces,failure in professional frontand other incidents that canmake a solid impact on a per-son. Depression can also becaused due to drugs used forillnesses.

Many drugs that areused to treat diabetes, can-cer, cardiovascular diseases,insomnia and Alzheimer’shave been known to causedepression and anxiety.Among the two genders, ithas been found that womenare more susceptible to de-pression and anxiety thanmen. Women can also sufferdepression during major hor-monal changes in the bodysuch as menopause, preg-

nancy and childbirth. Excessive loss andgain of weight can also lead to these prob-lems.

A person who suffers from depres-sion and anxiety tends exhibit symptomssuch as unprecedented and unreason-able fear, withdrawal, sweating, tightshoulders, stiff neck, irregular breathingand irregular heart beat. A good physi-atrist will be able to cure the problemthrough a combination of medicines,counseling and therapy. Healthy livinghabits, eating nutritious food and ad-equate exercise can be very effective inreducing depression and anxiety.

LAHORE: Educators burning photocopies of their degrees during a demonstration insupport of their demands.

LAHORE: PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif chairing a meeting to discuss elections in Okara Division.

LAHORE: Women are busy in sowing the seeds in a farm.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Raja Riaz, Oppo-sition leader in the PunjabAssembly, has urged theopponents of the SouthernPunjab Province to lendtheir support for the causeas it was reflective of theaspirations of the peoplewho firmly believed that thenew province was the onlysolution to mitigate theirdepravation on permanentbasis.

He said that the PPP hadbeen struggling for the cre-ation of new province keep-

PPP seeks cooperation forSouth Punjab province

ing in view the sentiments ofthe people and would con-tinue the movement till thedream of the people cametrue. “Welfare of the peopleis the prime consideration ofthe policies of PPP” headded.

He advised the leader-ship of other political partiesto extend requisite coopera-tion to the government in re-solving the issue of newprovince sooner than later.“By opposing the southernPunjab province they wouldearn the enmity of thepeople, they should lend

helping hand instead andthus win their hearts andminds.’’

He said it was well known,that “government at the doorstep is the best government”.Keeping in view this rationaleit is easy to infer that the newprovince would be the greatsource of comfort and con-venience for the people as inthe eventuality they neednot to travel hundreds ofmiles to Lahore after spend-ing large amount of moneybesides undergoing the tor-ture of delay in getting theirproblems resolved.

Int’l Women’sDay tomorrowLAHORE—Like other parts ofthe globe, the InternationalWomen’s Day will be ob-served here on Friday.

Various NGO’s, women’sgroups, women wings of po-litical parties, governmentaldepartments and educationalinstitutes will organize vari-ous programmes in the pro-vincial capital.

Lahore Chamber of Com-merce and Industry’s Stand-ing Committee on WomenEntrepreneurs Developmentand Resource Centre will or-ganize programme to markthe day from March 8 to 10,aimed to promote women en-trepreneurship and for theawareness of women em-powerment in the country.

Fashion Show and athree-day exhibition will alsobe held in which a large num-ber of leading brands will beput on display during theevent. Kashf Foundation hasalso arranged a “Kashf En-trepreneurs Awards Cer-emony 2013” here at NoorJahan Banquet Hall, GardenTown on Thursday.

Aurat Foundation willalso hold a candlelit vigiltitled “The Gender Agenda:Gaining Momentum” here infront of Punjab Assembly onThursday.—APP

Students advisedto respect

traffic lawsLAHORE—CTO LahoreSohail Chaudhry advised thestudents to respect trafficrules for smooth traffic flowand safe journey on roads.

Delivering lecture to stu-dents regarding road safety andtraffic awareness at FC Collegehere on Wednesday, he saidthat students should play animportant role for further im-provement in traffic system.

He said traffic systemcould be improved by creat-ing awareness about trafficrules and road safety.

On the occasion, learnerpermits were issued to 311 stu-dents. Later, the principal andother speakers lauded the per-formance of city traffic policein their speeches.—APPSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Unavailability ofdrinking water at Lahore Rail-way Station riled passengersas they were compelled to buycostly bottled water.

Most of the water taps aremissing or broken at almost allplatforms of the station andthe situation causes ampleproblems especially for minorchildren, women and elderlypeople.

Passengers told media per-sons here on Wednesday therailway station administrationhad been informed about theunavailability of water but ithad not taken any actionagainst for the last many daysbut no action has been takenin this regard so far while mer-

cury level was getting raisedin the provincial capital.

It was observed that can-teens and kiosks were charg-ing exorbitant prices for thebottled drinking water.

“Bottled water worth Rs 30is being sold for Rs 50 by ven-dors at plat form number 2, 3,4, 5, 3A, 8 and 9”, passengerssaid. Some regular commutersalleged that vendors bribe therailway officials for creatingartificial water shortage so thatpeople would have to buycostly water bottles.

Asad, Ashfaq, Tariq,Usman and some other dailycommuters told this scribe thatdrinking water had becomescarce at plat form number 3,3A, 8 and 9.

Passenger said that single

water dispenser was function-ing at platform number 2 whileothers were un-operational atall platforms.

Tariq, Shahid and Fraz al-leged the railway authoritiesdid not try to facilitate the pas-sengers, adding that they didnot even have time to examinethe facilities.

The concerned Railwayofficial, on contacting, rejectedthe allegations of any miscon-duct or bribe and said that nowater tap were missing at anyplatform, however, he admit-ted that only three water dis-pensers were not on sight dueto some technical faults.

He said that missing waterdispensers would be re-in-stalled in a few days after re-pairing.

Unavailability of water atrailways station irks passengers

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Punjab ChiefMinister MuhammadShahbaz Sharif has saidthat there is a need for im-mediate steps for restoringpeace in Balochistan andremoving sense of depriva-tion of the Balochi people.He said that upholding ofhuman rights and improve-ment of the situation inBalochistan is of vital im-portance. He said thatgrievances of the people ofBalochistan should be re-dressed and if given oppor-tunity by Allah Almightyand the masses, the prob-lems of the province wouldbe solved without wastingany time. He said thatPunjab government has in-creased the quota of re-served seats for Balochistudents in educational in-stitutions of Punjab by 160percent. He said that Paki-stan Muslim League will befurther strengthened with

Shahbaz pleads immediate actionfor Balochistan peace restoration

the joining of Nawab HajiLashkeri Raeesani and otherBalochi leaders.

He was talking to the del-egations of Balouch leadersled by Nawab Haji LashkeriRaeesani who have quit Pa-kistan Peoples Party andjoined Pakistan MuslimLeague-N, here Wednesday.Overall political situation ofthe country, especially inBalochistan and other mat-ters of mutual interest werediscussed in the meeting.

Former Member Provin-cial Assembly Ismail Gujarand patron-in-chief of HinduCouncil Dr. Ramesh Kumarwere also present on the oc-casion. Welcoming the deci-sion of Nawab Haji LashkeriRaeesani and other politicalleaders of Balochistan to joinPML-N, MuhammadShahbaz Sharif said thatPunjab government is striv-ing for promotion of nationalsolidarity and removing thesense of deprivation of thepeople of Balochistan. He

said that people of all unitsof Pakistan are united andtheir hearts beat in unison.

He said that people ofPunjab have always ex-tended all-out help and as-sistance to the people ofother provinces in the timeof need and played due rolefor the promotion of inter-provincial harmony. He saidthat Balochistan, Sindh andKPK houses will be con-structed in Punjab and landhas been allocated for thispurpose. He said that Punjabset a noble example of love,sacrifice and brotherhood bygiving its share of eleven bil-lion rupees to Balochistanunder National Finance Com-mission Award. He said ev-ery patriotic Pakistani is con-cerned over the situation pre-vailing in Balochistan andthere is a need to solve thisissue with consultation of allBalochi leaders. The ChiefMinister informed the delega-tion that Punjab governmenthas increased 2566 seats for

Balochi students in the edu-cational institutions ofPunjab.

He said that earlier therewere 1608 seats for the stu-dents of Balochistan but now4174 boy and girl students ofBalochistan will benefit fromeducational facilities in theprovince. He expressed hopethat the number of studentsof Balochistan studying inPunjab will cross the figureof 20 thousand during thenext five years.

He said that Punjab gov-ernment has also includedthe students of Balochistan,Sindh, KPK, Azad Kashmir,Gilgit-Baltistan andIslamabad in its laptopsscheme, Ujala programme,educational endowment fundand award of prizes to posi-tion-holder boy and girl stu-dents. He said that the vol-ume of PEEF has increasedto ten billion rupees and anincrease of two billion rupeesis being made every year. Hesaid that more than 40 thou-sand students were giveneducational scholarshipsfrom PEEF during the last fiveyears.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Minister for Plan-ning & Development PunjabChaudhry Abdul GhafoorKhan has said that the 350,000metric ton storage capacitywould be constructed by theprivate party while the govern-ment will pay storage-fee forthe facility.

In order to ensure food se-curity in the Punjab Provinceand to provide healthy wheatto the consumers by develop-ing scientific and modernizedstorage facilities, the proposalof the Provincial Food depart-ment to construct modern silosthrough Public Private Partner-ship has been approved in the

Punjab govt striving hardto ensure food security

steering committee meeting.He said this while presid-

ing over the seventh meetingof Public Private PartnershipSteering Committee held onWednesday in Planning & De-velopment Department Lahore.The Chairman Planning & De-velopment Board JavaidAslam, Provincial Secretaries ofPlanning & Development, Fi-nance and other relevant de-partments also attended themeeting.

Minister P&D directed therelevant departments to com-plete these valuable projectswithin given time frame so thatthe public may be able to ben-efit from them. During thesteering committee meeting,

two mega projects of road andtransport sectors were pre-sented for approval including“Vehicle Inspection & Certifi-cation System” in Punjab toensure road safety and en-hance the life of vehicles andthe project of “Southern Loopof Lahore Ring Road”. TheSteering Committee allowedProvincial Transport depart-ment to advertise the project ofVehicle Inspection & Certifica-tion System to seek proposalsfrom private parties whereas forthe project of Southern Loopof Lahore Ring Road, the Trans-port Department was advisedto prepare a comprehensiveproject structure before adver-tising it in the newspapers.

LABARDMela attracts

massesSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—City elite, toppoliticians, bureaucrats andheads of various special edu-cation institutions onWednesday joined thou-sands of special children towelcome spring at LABARDMela at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Parkon Wednesday.

Over the years, theLABARD Mela has becomea great attraction for the spe-cial children as it has attainedthe status of annual culturalevent of the City. As manyas 7000 special children be-longing to various institu-tions took part in differentactivities. There were 50 stallswhere free food and otherstuff was made available tothe participants.

The very objective ofholding this mela is to giveencouragement to the dis-abled persons for makingthem useful citizens of thesociety so that they could beable to play a positive role intheir future life.

Member National Assem-bly (MNA) & LABARDPresident Pervez Malik, DCOLahore Noor-ul-AminMengal, DG PHAMuhammad Mahmood, LCCIPresident Farooq Iftikhar,Vice President Mian AbuzarShad, LABARD Senior VicePresident Mian Nusratuddin,Joint Secretary MuhammadSaeed Khan, Ahmer Malik.