The issue of foreignassets of politicians................................................Demand for Khalistanresurfaces................................................PEMRA handles Geocase clumsily

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OBSERVER REPORT

ISLAMABAD—In its first ever reaction overPemra’s decision to suspend Geo News for 15days, the Ministry of Defence said Saturdaythat it is not satisfied with the penalty awardedafter the private TV channel was declared guiltyof misconduct. In a formal complaint filed lateApril, the defence ministry had sought revo-cation of the private news channel’s licenceand prosecution of its editorial and manage-ment teams under regulatory laws for electronicmedia for allegedly bringing premier spyagency Inter-Services Intelligence into disre-pute and harming national interest.

On Friday, the Pakistan Electronic MediaRegulatory Authority (Pemra) suspended thelicence of Geo News for 15 days and fined itRs10 million to be paid before the expiry of thesuspension period. It said the suspension pe-riod may be extended if the fine is not paid, andthat proceedings for the revocation of GeoNews’ licence shall be initiated in case the lic-ensee persists in its violations. But the defenseministry appears to be seeking a harsher pun-ishment for the private media group.

“We reserve the right to take it up thematter at the next appellate level for en-hancement of punishment awarded toGeo,” Minister for Defence Khawaja Asifsaid in an official statement on Saturday.

Shortly after Pemra’s statement, thechannel was blocked by nearly all cable op-erators countrywide.

Hours before the penalty was announced,Geo said it was suing the ISI for defamation

over accusations of being anti-state. GeoNews, part of the privately-owned Jang Group,also gave the ISI 14 days to issue a publicapology and pay $500 million in damages.

The lawsuit was announced in news ar-ticles published in the group’s daily news-papers, Jang and The News. On the defa-mation lawsuit, the defence minister said:“We are ready and waiting to reply the suitfiled by Geo and fully prepared to defendthe charges leveled against Ministry of De-fence and ISI in the Court of law.

The minister further said that the Geowas spreading anarchy through their chan-nel in the country. We are endeavoring forprevention of yellow journalism.

Pemra penalty on Geonot satisfactory: AsifReady to reply the lawsuit filed by Geo

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Iran, Pakistanink prisoners’swap MoUTEHRAN—Iranian andPakistani officials havesigned a memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) onprisoners swap dealbetween the two countriesin a recent meeting in Iran,a senior official announcedon Saturday.

MoU was signed byIran’s Justice MinisterMostafa Pourmohammadiand Pakistani PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif’ssenior advisor for nationalsecurity and foreign affairsSartaj Aziz in Tehran inMay, Pakistani ConsulGeneral Mohammad TaherQureishi said in a meetingwith Sistan and

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CAIRO—Egypt has banned unauthorizedpreachers from giving sermons or teachingIslam in mosques and other public places,according to a decree on Saturday markinga further step in official efforts to curb Is-lamist influence. The decree issued by in-terim President Adly Mansour’s office alsothreatened fines and jail for freelance imams,especially if they wore clerical garmentsassociated with the respected Al-Azharcenter of Sunni learning in Cairo.

Selected employees of the religious en-dowments ministry will be empowered by

the justice ministry to arrest anyone caughtviolating the decree, it added.

“No preacher will mount a minbar nextFriday without a permit,” the ministry saidon its Facebook page, referring to the tradi-tional raised pulpit in a mosque. The deci-sion was taken to “preserve national secu-rity,” it said. The military-backed govern-ment sees mosques as recruiting groundsfor Islamist parties and has moved to bringthem under tighter control since the armytoppled President Mohamed Mursi of the

Egypt bans unlicensed preachers,tightens grip on mosques

Decree threatens fines, jail for free lance Imams

Altaf releasedon bail

L O N D O N — M u t t a h i d aQaumi Movement (MQM)chief AltafH u s s a i nwas re-leased onbail from apolice sta-tion in Lon-don onearly Satur-day morning. Altaf Hussainwas interviewed at the po-lice station after being dis-charged from WellingtonHospital. The interviewlasted for nine hours afterwhich Altaf Hussain’s law-yers filed bail application

TARIQ SAEED

PESHAWAR—The securityforces continued to be un-der attack in Bajaur agencywhere IED blasts in the re-mote border areas Saturdaymorning resulted in the mar-tyrdom of at least two sol-diers and serious injuries tomany others. On the otherhand a grand tribal Jirga ofthe elders appealed to thegovernment to halt what ittermed unannounced opera-tion in the North Waziristanagency saying most fac-tions of the Taliban in NorthWaziristan have given the

Jirga mandate to seek peacein the agency.

Reports reaching hereand as confirmed by the In-ter Services Public Rela-tions (ISPR) said at least twosecurity personnel weremartyred and number ofothers injured in twolandmine blasts in differentareas of Bajaur Agency onSaturday. According to de-tails, unknown miscreantstargeted security forces ve-hicle through an ImprovisedExplosive Device (IED)blast in Bara Kamrang areain Tehsil Nawagai of Bajaur

2 soldiers martyred, severalinjured in terrorist blasts

Indian govt aimsto step updefence

procurementMUMBAI—India’s military,one of the world’s largestarms importers, aims tospeed up defence procure-ment in the interests of “na-tional security,” thecountry’s new defence min-ister announced Saturday.The policy announcementcomes just after the newright-wing Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP) government ofPrime Minister NarendraModi was sworn in late lastmonth.

India’s weapons acqui-sition programme wasbogged down by a string ofgraft scandals under the pre-vious Congress led govern-ment of Manmohan Singhthat was ousted in generalelections staggered overApril and May. “Nationalsecurity is an issue whichhas always been a priorityissue for us (the BJP),” De-fence Minister Arun Jaitleytold reporters.

India needed more de-fence procurement andfaster procurement, Jaitleyadded. The country still hasa number of procurementneeds, including for fighterjets, combat helicopters, aswell as artillery, drones andelectronic warfare systems,as it seeks to update its age-ing military hardware.

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak chairing a meeting for regularizing illegalgas connections in gas producing districts of province.

CM approves plan forKarak gas connections

PESHAWAR—Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has approvedthe provision of loan to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines limited(SNGPL) under the arrangement Suigas authorities willregularize all illegal gas connections in district Karak andKohat. For this purpose all details would be provided tothe Department of Energy and Power for onward arrange-ments. The decision to this effect was taken at a meetingheld with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the chair.

Besides Federal Secretary Petroleum and Natural Re-sources Abid Saeed, Managing Director SNGPL ArifHameed, Parliamentary Secretary Planning and Develop-ment Mian Khaleeq-ur-Rehman, Chief Secretary KP AmjadAli Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Khalid Pervez, Secre-tary Finance Sayed Badshah Bokhari and Secretary En-ergy Sahibzada Saeed, elected public representatives fromsouthern districts and elite of the area were also present.

The meeting decided that SNGPL under a written agree-ment with the representatives of the Karak Jirga will haveto regularize all domestic connections and in this connec-tion both the company and local administration would beextended full cooperation and no illegal connections willbe allowed in future.—APP

ABDUL KHALIQ QURESHI

ABBOTTABAD—Mere provisioning of justice, theentire evils out of our civil society cannot beeliminated.

The lawyers’ fraternity should work toconclude injustice far away from civil soci-ety, and to launch work for strengtheningjudiciary by eliminating corruption, poverty,and price hike to abrogate traditional but ar-t i f icial mechanism. This was stated byPeshawar High Court Judge (PHCJ) JusticeAbdul Latif Khan in a meeting held at Dis-tr ict Bar Associat ion(DBA), Mansehra onSaturday for oath taking ceremony of newlyelected office bearers.

Initially, justice Abdul Latif Khan took overthe oath from the elected cabinet members ofpresident of DBA Mansehra, Munir HussainLughmani Advocate, vice president MuhammadShafiq, General Secretary Wajehul Mulk, andcongratulated them for the assumption of their

‘Lawyers fraternity can help eradicate injustice’new offices together with to bear their newlyoffices responsibilities.

Justice Abdul Latif Khan said that the DBA,Mansehra already possessed glaring but promi-nent traditions in which various lawyers’ frater-nity affiliated with the numerous institutionsbased on different school of thoughts and withthe political parties also.

He said that the DBA Mansehra has createda unique example by electing him its presidentwithout holding any combat, to which the entireavailable bar associations within the jurisdic-tional territory, should follow such an examplein their future appropriate annual time of elec-tions prominently.

He divulged that he was a practicing lawyerof DBA Mansehra so in the light which he isfeeling pleasure and happiness by taking oathfrom the elected office bearers of this Bar Asso-ciation.

Justice Abdul Latif Khan while emphasizingover the issue of senior and junior lawyers said

that the senior lawyers should transfer their abili-ties to new comer lawyers enabling them to workfor provisioning quick justice at the door step ofthe litigants.

On concluding session of the meeting forthe further one year unanimously elected presi-dent DBA Mansehra, Munir Hussain LughmaniAdvocate went on to say that the lawyers’ fra-ternity had sacrificed their lives for the restora-tion of rights of judiciary along with supremacyof law was also included in their 2007 country-wide movement.

He said that implementation of orders passedby judiciary from time to time should be obeyedwith letter and spirit.

He also informed justice Abdul Latif Khanthat deficiency of judges at lower courts levelshould be completed soon, in reply of whichJustice Latif khan assured his full support toappoint judges from lawyers quota would becompleted as well as deputed soon in the dis-trict, Mansehra.

Awarding Multan bigcity status lauded

MULTAN—President Federal Revenue Alliance Employ-ees Union (Multan Chapter) Tahir Khakwani lauded ChiefMinister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for awarding Multanas status of “Big City” and added that it would offer hand-some increase in salaries of government employees.

Talking to APP, Tahir Khawkani informed that it waslong standing demand of the local government employ-ees. The addition in salaries would be in house hiring orrental ceiling. He informed that there would be addition ofRs 2260 in salaries of employees in working in scale-1 to 2.Similarly, Rs 3310 in salaries of employees working in scalesthree to six, Rs 5035 in scales seven to ten, Rs 7360 inscales 11 to 13, Rs 9305 in scales 14 to 16, Rs 12310 forscale 17 to 18, Rs 16055 for scale 19, Rs 20260 for grade 20,Rs 24385 for grade 21 and Rs 30600 for the employeesworking in grade 22, would be raised under the big cityallowance.

He hoped that Chief Minister Punjab MuhammadShahbaz Sharif would issue notification very soon inthis regard. It is pertinent to mention here that ChiefMinister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif had an-nounced Multan as big city on June-5, during his visitto the city.—APP

Paramedics appriseTarakai of grievances

SWABI—A representative delegation of paramedics as-sociation, headed by Buland Iqbal, met provincial HealthMinister Shahram Khan Tarakai on Saturday and ap-prised about their grievances including implementationof Time-scale, upgradation and health profession allow-ance.

The delegation which comprised provincial leadersof paramedics’ staff including Mujahid Azam of KTH,Habib Khan of HMC, Anwar Khan, Zakir Yousafzai,Faizur Rehman from Batgram, Khalid Usman of Karak,Taj Muhammad of Mardan and Fazal Karim of Swabi,had detailed discussion with the minister in this re-gard.

The delegation told the minister, though a servicestructure for paramedic staff was announced in 2006but due to some complication it was yet to be imple-mented.

The service structure, they said could only providebenefit to only 20% of the total employees while employ-ees having service span of 25 to 30 years could not get anybenefit of this structure and were still working in scale-9which was a unjust.

They demanded a similar time-scale and up gra-dation formula on the pattern of teachers andclerks.

The Minister termed their demands as just full and fairand asked the concerned officers for prompt steps to ad-dress them. He also assured the delegation that provincialgovernment would try its best to address problems of theparamedic staff.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Patron-In-Chief, Pakistan Peoples Party has con-demned registration of an FIR against morethan 6,000 farmers for holding protest dem-onstration at Okara bypass in Punjab anddemanded immediate withdrawal of cases.

In a statement issued here Saturday,Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan KissanIttehad had held the peaceful protest for theirgenuine demands and rights early this weekbut the Punjab government and its authori-ties ignored them and didn’t heed their cries.

FIR against 6,000 farmers in Punjab

Bilawal warns Punjab tostop anti-farmers policy

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economyand targeting farmers and implicating themin concocted cases won’t be tolerated any-where in Pakistan,” he added.

He said PPP belongs to farmers, grow-ers, peasants, workers, youth, students andall segments of the society and no injusticewith anyone from working class would un-attended. “PPP stands for the genuinerights of the farmers as Shaheed ZulfikarAli Bhutto & Shaheed Benazir Bhutto hadalways been struggling for the rights ofmasses and laid down their lives for them,”he stated.

Mahtabcondemn BajaurAgency blasts

PESHAWAR—The KhyberPakhtunkhwa Governor,Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khanhas strongly condemnedtwo separate landmineblasts in different areas ofBajaur Agency here on Sat-urday and expressed hisdeep shock and sorrow overthe loss of precious lives ofsecurity personnel.

Expressing his deepsympathies with members ofthe bereaved families, theGovernor said that the im-mortal sacrifices of the of-ficers and jawans of our se-curity forces for the securityof the country will never goin vain and will always beremembered with great pride.

The elements involvedin the heinous crime, headded, will also no more re-main at large and will bebrought to court of law andjustice.

He also prayed for eter-nal peace of the departedsouls and courage to thebereaved families to bear theirreparable loss with pa-tience. He has also wishedearly recovery of the in-jured.—APP

JUIS electionsN O W S H E R A — M a u l a n aIrfanul Haq Haqqani andMaulana Anwarullah BachaAzakhel were today electedPresident and General Secre-tary of the Jamiat Ulema Is-lam (Sami) District NoswheraChapter respectively.

The electoral meeting ofJUIS Nowshera was held atJamia Darul Uloom HaqqaniAkorat Khattak under Chair-manship of Central NazimElections Maulana SyedYusaf Shah, Central DeputyGeneral Secretary MaulanaHamidul Haq Haqqani andProvincial Nazim ElectionsMaulana Muhammad Israel.

The JUIS Ulema andmembers from the entire dis-trict attended the electoralmeeting wherein office bear-ers for District Nowsheraand Tehsil Nowshera wereelected unanimously.—APP

KARAK—Death toll due to epidemicmeasles arises to five as three more chil-dren died of the disease here on Saturday.Different areas of Karak district of KhyberPakhtunkhwa (KP) are in the grip of measlessince the mercury has gone up.

Three children identified as Huzaifa,Abdullah and Mureeb who were undertreatment at District Headquarters (DQH)Hospital expired on Saturday mounting

Three more children die of measlesdeath tally to five since last 10 days.

Eight more children affected of measlesand under treatment at hospital are statedto be in critical condition.

The people belonging to different areasaffected of the disease have expressed con-cerns over the prevailing situation and theycriticized the health authorities and distrctadministration for not taking any step toovercome the disease.—INP

HYDERABAD: Activists of Young Doctors Association Sindh hold a protest in favour of their demands on Saturday.

MANSEHRA: Relatives of the person killed in road accident, mourn at a local hospitalon Saturday.

HYDERABAD—The Inspector General Po-lice Sindh Iqbal Mehmood has asked allSenior superintendents and Deputy Super-intendents of Police to keep vigil on theactivities of arms dealers in order to ascer-tain the numbers of sold weapons.

The crime should be combated strictlywith protection for the life and property ofcommon man and in this respect no negli-gence will be tolerated, he maintained whileaddressing the SSPs and DSPs ofHyderabad Region in a meeting held herethe other day.The IGP has directed the of-ficers not to waste time in completion ofinvestigation of the registered cases andsubmit the challans of accused persons withrequired evidences so that could be takento task by the court of law.

The criminals are being saved from pun-ishment because of weak evidences of theircases, he said and warned that if any negli-gence or partiality of any police officerfound, he will be dealt accordingly.

The IGP also directed the police offic-ers to increase mobile patrolling for curb-ing of street crimes and highways dacoities.

Effective operation should also belaunched in the areas and hideouts of theoutlaws and proclaimed offenders andabsconders should be arrested at the earli-est, he said and directed the establishmentof police check posts on roads with avail-ability of at least two vehicles so that thedeployed police staff of the check posts

IG asks officials to keep eyeon activities of arms dealers

Announces 5 mobile vehicles for 2 districtscould effective control the crimes in its ju-risdiction.

He directed the appointment of a sepa-rate Deputy Superintendent of Police In-vestigation for early disposal of cases. Healso underlined the need of holding regularmeetings of the offices of the police, CIDand Crime Branch so that law and ordercould be controlled in effective mannerthrough joint collaboration.

The IGP Sindh informed that variousprojects have been prepared for police wel-fare and preference is being given to the fami-lies of those policemen who sacrificed theirlives. Besides financial assistance, he in-formed that employment to the children ofmartyred will be given. An area of 300 acresland has also been pointed out where plotswill be given to the heirs of martyred, heinformed and added that all paper work hadbeen completed for establishment of first everPolice Cadet College in the province.

He assured that complete security willbe provided to business community andpolice personnel will be deployed at impor-tant shopping areas particularly during themonth of Ramzan-ul-Mubarak.

A total of 50 motorbikes have been pro-vided to Rapid Response Force (RRF) ofHyderabad and soon bullet proof jacketswill be provided to RRF, he said. The IGPdirected the deployment of ladies police atResham Bazaar Hyderabad and further ac-tivation of Women Police Station.—APP

SUKKUR—About six people lost their lives and 14 otherswere injured in an road accident near Sabzi Mandi, Sukkur,here on Saturday.

According to local Police, a truck collided with a van inSukkur, leaving six dead and at least 14 injured.

Ayaz Mugheri, Sadam, Muzmal Khokhar, Shabir Jogiwere died on the spot, said Sukkur police.Protests brokeout in the area after the collision and a large contingent ofthe police was called to the scene.

The injured were taken to Civil Hospital Sukkur formedical treatment, where five people are reportedly in criti-cal condition.

Enraged demonstrators attempted to burn the truck inprotest and threw rocks at police vehicles.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Members ProvincialAssembly Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Syed Awais QadirShah have expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in aroad accident on Sabzi Mandi Sukkur on Saturday. Theyexpressed condolences and sympathies with the bereavedfamilies and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

They directed the Sukkur commissioner and the pro-

ISLAMABAD—The government plans toexpand the network of Sweet Homes to theentire country to provide free education andaccommodation to the orphans and otherdeserving children.

According to Radio Pakistan quotingan official source, thirty-two Sweet Homesare currently operational in different partsof the country.

Over three thousand children are beingprovided free education, meals, medicaltreatment, boarding and lodging at thesehomes, he added.

He said a comprehensive policy will beintroduced to start public private partner-ship scheme to get funds for Sweet Homes.

Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) ManagingDirector Sheikh Abdul Waheed earlier as-sured that “Great Homes” would be set upfor the senior citizens having no resourcesto earn a livelihood.

Plan to expand networkof Sweet Homes

“First project of “Great Homes” is be-ing started in Lahore and the plan would beextended to other cities gradually,” he said.Waheed said that the existing chain of“Sweet Homes” where needy students arebeing provided education and accommo-dation would be further strengthened.

The PBM MD urged different businesschambers to individually hold public wel-fare programmes from time to time to facili-tate the common man.

PBM, in collaboration with theRawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and In-dustry (RCCI), would start a campaign tocreate awareness among the massesabout importance of social work, invitingphilanthropists to come forward for thenoble cause and needy/patients to con-tact the organisation for financial assis-tance. staff reportNUST hosts int’l work-shop.—APP

22 die, scores injuredin road accidents

Four burnt to death as van catches firevincial health authorities to provide the best possible treat-ment to the injured.Sargodha: Five persons of a family including three womenwere killed and two children injured in a road accident inKotmomin police limits on Saturday.

Police said Aamer Shakoor of Lahore alongwith his sixfamily members was riding a vehicle when its tyre burstand it hit a trailer near Kotmomin Interchange. As a result,Aamer Shakoor, Basit Ali, Sammia Shakoor, Asma Bibi andArfa died on the spot while Faizan (3) and Aiman (5) wereinjured. Police have shifted the injured to a local hospitalin a serious condition.Mansehra: At least five passengers were killed and 24 othersinjured when a minibus fell into a ravine at Gandhian here onSaturday morning.According to police, the bus travelling fromRawalpindi to Skardu fell into a gorge at Gandhian when itsdriver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a sharpturn. People said the incident took place due to over speed.

Rescue workers and locals shifted the bodies and in-jured passengers to hospitals in Mansehra andAbbottabad.—APP

Ombudsman role is to combatmal-administration: Riaz

RAFIULLAH MANDOKHAIL

ZHOB—Secretary Provincial OmbudsmanRiaz Ahmad has said that the ombudsmanis an institution in the administrative setupto curb and combat maladministration, miti-gate masses grievances and provide themspeedy justice.

Secretary Ombudsman, who was speak-ing at a one-day seminar held at assemblyhall on Saturday, highlighted the role ofOmbudsman in fostering the cause of goodgovernance. The seminar was aimed at cre-ating awareness about the Ombudsman.

Director and Children’s CommissionerSyed Munawar Shah, Deputy Commis-sioner Zhob Nazar Muhammad Khetran,Deputy Commissioner Sherani SaeedAhmed Umrani, ADC Taj MuhammadHariphal, Regional Director Nadeem Tahir,Assistant Commissioner Ali Ashgar, Ad-

visor to Ombudsman Sheikh MuhabatMandokhail and head of departments in alarge number attended the seminar.

He said Ombudsman work was continu-

ing since Caliph Hazrat Umer, while thesystem started in Pakistan in 1983 and inBalochistan in 2001. The Provincial Om-budsman Balochistan is charged with theresponsibility to protect the rights of thepeople, ensuring adherence to the rule oflaw, diagnosing, redressing and rectifyingand injustice done to a person throughmaladministration and suppressing corruptpractices. Secretary maintained.

Mal-administration include an act of theholder of a public office which is contrary tolaw, arbitrary, biased, oppressive, discrimi-natory, misuse of power, corrupt motivessuch as bribery, favoritism, nepotism, ad-ministrative excesses and neglect, inatten-tion, delay, incompetence, inefficiency andinaptitude in the administration or dischargeof duties and responsibilities. He said.

“The vision of Provincial OmbudsmanSecretariat is to promote high standards of

governance, accountability and efficiencythrough administrative justice and its mis-sion is to redress public grievances in fair,prompt and transparent manners.” He added

ZHOB: Ombudsman’s Secretary Balochistan Riaz Ahmed visiting the Central Jail onSaturday.

Academia-industrylinkages to reduce

unemploymentFAISALABAD—Prof Dr. IqrarAhmad Khan Vice Chancel-lor University of AgricultureFaisalabad (UAF) has saidthat strengthened academia-industry linkages and pro-motion of research couturewill help the country to copewith different challenges in-cluding food insecurity,power crisis, unemploy-ment, low productivity andpoverty.

He was chairing theconcluding session ofweeklong training work-shop titled ‘capacity build-ing in the technical pro-posal writing for PARC-ALP grants’ arranged byOffice of Research Innova-tion and Research (ORIC),UAF in collaboration withPakistan Agricultural Re-search Council, here onSaturday.

He said that researchwork should not be piled upin library and it must betransferred into goods andservices. Keeping in view,the University had expe-dited its outreach and com-munity oriented programmeto educate the farmersabout latest agriculturaltools.

He said, the food inse-curity is one of major areasas it hits 58 percent popu-lation of the country. If ourfarmers do not adopt themodern pattern of agricul-ture, the country cannot ful-fill the dream of food secu-rity. He said that the UAFresearch portfolio hastouched to Rs 2 billionwhich was just less than400 million four yearsago.—APP

Mobile phonesrecoveredfrom jail

QUETTA—The FrontierCorps (FC) Balochistan re-covered six mobile phonesets and sims from prison-ers in Hudda Jail in the pro-vincial capital, here.

A spokesman for the FCsaid that FC teams con-ducted search operation inHudda jail and recovered sixmobile phone sets and simsof different mobile phonenetworks.

The police have beenasked to investigate into thematter. Further probe wasunderway. Abbottabad: Asix-member armed dacoitgang allegedly robbed theHabib Bank branch at Linkroad Abbottabad and in-jured its two guards here onFriday.

District Police Officer(DPO) Muhammad AliGandapur while giving de-tails of the incident told themedia that the dacoitsbarged into a HBL situatedLink road Abbottabad at 12noon.

They allegedly held thebank’s staff hostage on gunpoint and injured the bankguards, looted Rs. 839,000cash from the cash counter,he added.

One of the bank cus-tomer disclosed and claimedthat the armed robbers alsolooted the bank customers,snatched their purse, cellphones and wrest watches.

The DPO further saidthat the robbers were report-edly speaking Pushto lan-guage as “we have the closecircuit TV cameras (CCTV)footage of the robberswhich will help us duringinvestigation”.—APP

UN for greatercommitment to

tackle AIDSISLAMABAD—UN officialswarned that despite signifi-cant efforts, the AIDS epi-demic is far from being to-tally wiped out and urgedmore investment and inno-vation was required to endthe global epidemic.

UN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon told the UNGeneral Assembly’s annualmeeting on review ofprogress in tackling AIDSthat the number of peopleaccessing HIV treatmentglobally increased nearly 20percent between 2011 and2012 alone, Xinhua reported.

In his latest report onthe issue, Ban outlinedprogress achieved in the 10target areas designed to haltthe spread of HIV and AIDSby the end of 2015, as it wasset out three years ago byworld leaders in the 2011Political Declaration.

He said that the worldis making “solid headway”in meeting some of the tar-gets and commitments fromthe declaration, such as ex-panding treatmentaccess,eliminating HIV in-fections among childrenand keeping their mothersalive, and mobilising re-sources.

“We have the tools, thescience and the knowledgeto end AIDS once and forall. But we cannot let confi-dence turn to complacency,“he stated.—APP

Foolproofsecurity directiveFAISALABAD—DivisionalCommissioner Faisalabad,Sardar Akram Jawed di-rects Securi ty Personals(SP) to take concrete stepsfor foolproof security inthe Faisalabad Divisionand their in-charge Offic-ers should adopt maximumprecautionary measures toavert any terrorist inci-dent .

This was stated by Di-visional CommissionerSardar Akram Jawed whilechairing a meeting of Di-visional Intelligence Com-mittee here. RPO Ch.Muhammad NawazWarraich, DCO Noor-ul-Amin Mangal and Officersof various local intel l i -gence departments alsoattended the Meeting.

The Commissionersaid that it was paramountduty of security personalsto protect the l i fe andproperty of the ci t izensand make appropriate ar-rangements for the secu-rity of sensitive places andadded that the security of-f icials should not lapsesecuri ty of vi tal placesand keep the security ar-rangements on high alertbasis .

He further advised thatthe securi ty officersshould also depute theirstaff for security and pro-tect ion of Chinese andother foreign countriestechnicians working inFaisalabad and appoint amost responsible officeras ‘Focal Person’ in thisrespect who should keepconstant liaison with for-eign nationals working orstaying in Faisalabad.

Commissioner also di-rected that adequate secu-ri ty measures should beadopted at all monuments,masajid, imambargah andother religious places ofworship, especially strictsecuri ty measures beadopted on Shab-e-Baratat all mosques and wor-ship places.

He also suggestedtightening the security inRamzan Bazaars inFaisalabad and takingUlema in confidence tomaintain rel igious har-mony.—APP

Private schools forced toclose from tomorrow

MANSOOR PIRZADA

GHOTKI—Deputy Director Private Schools conductedsecret visit at private schools during summer vacations inDaharki on Monday. According to details, Ghulam MujtabaDayo Deputy Director Private Schools and Asif MangiAssistant Director conducted a secret visit at variousschools including

The Citizen Foundation (TCF), The Educators, EngroSahara School, Kids Garden, Ghazali Al-Madina and otherschools. The institutes were open even after the officialannouncement of summer vacations, while students werecompelled to study and bear the load shedding due therecovery of monthly fees. Hearing the news of visit, prin-cipals of several schools left their offices.Sukkur: Parts of the upper Sindh remained in the grip ofsevere heat wave on Saturday while experts predicting theprevailing harsh weather conditions to persist during thenext couple of days.

Weather, remained hot and dry in different parts of theupper Sindh. In Sukkur, mercury rose as high as 48 degreeCelsius, while in Jaccobabad was recorded 50 C,Rohri 48C, Khairpur 48, Ghotki 47 and Shikarpur 48 C.

In Sukkur, people avoided unnecessarily coming out,decreasing traffic on otherwise busy roads at noon and inthe afternoon.—APP

Harsh weatherconditions to persist

ISLAMABAD—Parts of the upper Sindh remained in thegrip of severe heat wave on Saturday while experts pre-dicting the prevailing harshweather conditions to persistduring the next couple ofdays.

Weather, remained hotand dry in different parts ofthe upper Sindh. In Sukkur,mercury rose as high as 48degree Celsius, while in Jaccobabad was recorded 50C,Rohri 48 C, Khairpur 48, Ghotki 47 and Shikarpur 48 C.

In Sukkur, people avoided unnecessarily coming out,decreasing traffic on otherwise busy roads at noon and inthe afternoon.

The Multan Met office has forecast hot and dryweather with chances of dust raising winds for the cityand its suburbs during the next 24 hours.—APP

The issue of foreignassets of politicians

THE Lahore High Court has issued notices to sixty three top politicians of the country to come up with their response about their alleged stashing of money abroad. The court issued the direction on a

petition seeking directions for the politicians to bring their foreign assetsback to Pakistan.

The issue of hiding money in foreign banks particularly the Swiss Bankskeeps on surfacing periodically. After the latest petition in the LHC, peopleare evincing keen interest in the news stories being published in the news-papers and carried by the electronic media. They wonder how the all pow-erful people keep their money abroad instead of maintaining their accountsat home. Similarly other issues like bank defaults of billions of rupees alsoappear over the media and once in the past, the Supreme Court also tookserious notice of this phenomenon. The question of hiding money in for-eign banks is very serious and we believe the Lahore High Court took theappropriate step enabling the politicians to come clean after filing theirresponse on the issue. However, we are of the considered opinion thatdoing business in a foreign country to earn profit cannot be criticised asinvestors of many countries are doing this in Pakistan. However, if peoplekeep their money in foreign banks, it gives the impression of ill-gottenwealth. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar revealed in the National Assemblylast month that at least $200 billion of ‘Pakistani money’ was stashedaway in Swiss banks and the government was engaging with Swiss au-thorities to get to the money, hidden away by various Pakistani nationals.This situation calls for immediate corrective action. To put the enormityof this amount into perspective, Pakistan’s total external debt stands at$150 billion and its gross domestic product is said to be around $300billion. The country can, theoretically, pay off all its debt with the moneyin Swiss banks and still have nearly a quarter of it left over. We stronglyrecommend that this issue should be resolved once for all and wouldstress that such people should themselves come forward with an expla-nation which is acceptable to all concerned in Pakistan.

Demand forKhalistan resurfaces

THE Khalistan Movement – demand for a separate homeland of Sikhnation in Indian Punjab – reached its zenith in 1970s and 1980s but the

struggle of Sikhs subsided after the Indian government used brutal force inJune 1986 to wipe out those who passed a resolution for creation of Khalistan.The Indian army entered into the Golden Temple – the holiest place ofSikhs – killing 439 people in the Complex and desecrating the Akal Takht.Though the insurgency was crushed but Sikh political groups such as theKhalsa Raj Party and SAD (A) continued to pursue an independent Khalistanthrough non-violent means.

And now again the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)Simranjit Singh Man has demanded creation of a state of Khalistan to act asa buffer state between three nuclear powers of China, India and Pakistan.He claimed that the proposed country would be an abode of peace for be-lievers of different religions. Wounds of Operation Blue Star continue tofester even after over three decades and despite propaganda by some circlesthe demand for a separate Sikh state of Khalistan, for which militant leaderJarnail Singh Bhindranwale had led an armed struggle in Punjab, seems tobe resurfacing. According to Sukhwinder Singh, nephew of Satwant Singh,who had shot late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to avenge Operation BlueStar, there is resentment in the hearts of Sikhs as promises made to themhave never been fulfilled. Sikhs always wanted to have their own sepa-rate identity and the demand for Khalistan is aimed at achieving that ob-jective. However, it is time for the rulers in New Delhi to ponder as towhy there are dozens of freedom movements in India including Punjab.The fact remains that minorities do not consider themselves safe in aHindu dominated society where majority loses no opportunity of tram-pling their rights, threatening their life, making demands for ban on reli-gious symbols and worship places of minorities and even demand theiroutright expulsion from the country. People of Indian Punjab feel thatthey are not free and that police and military forces have occupied theterritory and are guilty of serious human right violations, which includetorture, rape and murder. No doubt, Khalistan is an internal issue of Indiabut in the present day world issues of human rights are echoed in eachand every corner of the globe. It is to be seen how India handles thesimmering demand for a separate Sikh state in the days to come.

PEMRA handlesGeo case clumsily

THE Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) suspended on Friday the licence of Geo News for 15 days and fined it

Rs. 10 million. The action was taken on a complaint filed by the Minis-try of Defence.

PEMRA Authority is, no doubt, authorized to take such decisions butthe way it has been done has made the entire episode further controver-sial. We believe that Geo issue has been mishandled by the regulator rightfrom the day one. PEMRA is there to take cognisance of such issues butit has to follow rules and procedures and act swiftly to contain the dam-age. It is intriguing that the issue was allowed to linger on for forty longdays and it engulfed the entire Pakistan. As the Authority failed to take aprompt and firm notice, the issue assumed critical and crucial dimen-sions with the passage of every day. A nerve shattering debate contin-ued and ended with suspension of broadcast of Geo for a fortnight. Butthe decision has been made controversial, as private members have al-leged that they were not taken into confidence and that it was a show ofpublic sector members of the Authority. They have vowed to challengethe decision in the court of law and it would be for the judiciary todeliver verdict. We believe that as the issue involved prestige of na-tional institutions and freedom of the press, serious attempts should bemade to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion. There is also need to reformPEMRA and make it a truly neutral and powerful institution as it has, attimes, to tackle highly complicated and serious issues.

Kashmir and Article-370

Moderntimes for

Shakespeare

TO coincide with The Bard’s400th death anniversary in2016, the Hogarth

Shakespeare initiative is about toengage in something rather unique:re-tell William Shakespeare’s bodyof works for a contemporary audi-ence. A galaxy of talented authorshave been allocated portfolios — andyou cannot fault the pedigree here,it’s a star-studded line-up: MargaretAtwood for Tempest, Gillian Flynnfor Hamlet, Howard Jacobson forThe Merchant of Venice, Jo Nesbofor Macbeth. And so on.

This kind of a broad, organisedscale is perhaps unprecedented, butit’s not the only time thatShakespeare has been reinvented.When Baz Luhrmann re-enactedRomeo and Juliet for the big screen(replacing ‘and’ with the plus sign,and calling the mega cinematic out-ing Romeo + Juliet), there werehowls of protest from some quarters:it was felt that a classic is a classic isa classic. Shakespeare doesn’t needto be reformatted using opulent, tech-savvy Hollywood standards.

These voices, however, weresoon to be drowned by Luhrmann’strademark over-the-top trippingover. So much so, that whenBollywood director VishalBharadwaj forayed into The Bard’sdomain with Maqbool (Macbeth setin modern-day India, and meticu-lously scripted in Hindi), and fol-lowed it up with Omkara (Othello),it was a trend that received fulsomecritical acclaim. It was suddenly allright for the greatest playwright inthe English language to be “re-cast”in different languages even — andset to a popular beat.

One may argue that it is essen-tial to re-cast Shakespeare’s body ofwork — across various artisticgenres — for non-English speakingaudiences to realise his genius. Fairpoint. But what about the Englishspeaking — and reading — audi-ences? Why do these readers need amodernist, 21st-century tweak?

The answer may be a deafen-ing silence as everyone tries not toreveal too much about the moderngeneration not wanting to make aneffort to get to know Shakespeare.

So, the Hogarth project may besimply trying to keep The Bard’srelevance alive by engaging withcontemporary readers in prose theywill be able to identify with. “Thisabove all: to thine own self be true,And it must follow, as the night theday, Thou canst not then be false toany man.” —Khaleej Times

*****

G7 gets coldfeet in takingRussia to task

THE bloc has made little realdifference to its position,even if it threatened to deepen

sanctions regime The seven mostindustrialised nations on Earth havegiven up on any hope of challeng-ing Russia’s annexation of theUkrainian territory of Crimea andtheir threat of further sanctions atthe G7 meeting last week in Brus-sels was focused entirely on gettingMoscow to stop destablising east-ern Ukraine. Their actions seem un-likely to make much difference onthe ground as gangs of Russian sol-diers roam the streets at will.

The leaders of the G7 madelittle real difference to their posi-tion, even if they threatened todeepen the existing sanctions re-gime to include what is describedas ‘Phase 3’, which would covertrade, finance and energy. To date,the US and European Union (EU)have only imposed relatively minortravel bans and asset freezes ondozens of Russian officials in reac-tion to the seizure of Crimea.

Putin’s regime is able to ignoresuch threats from the West as theyare unlikely to make much differ-ence. He has already stolen a largechunk of a sovereign Europeanstate and got away with it. And hesees the individual EU states do-ing nothing on their own. Russianoligarchs. If each of these threecountries took unilateral steps tosupport what the G7 says is its in-tention, Russia will be badly hurtand forced to rethink it policies.But the G7 states do not want torisk their own prosperity and areallowing Russia to get away withgangsterism on a vast scale.—Gulf News

MEDIA WATCH

THE new Indian Minister ofState in Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh has re-

vealed about beginning the processto abrogate Article-370 that grantsspecial status to Jammu and Kash-mir. It would not amount to verboseif one says that without peacefulsettlement of Kashmir, peace andtranquillity in this volatile region isstill light years away.

BJP considers the Article as theonly legally binding provision aboutthe disputed Himalayan state with theIndian Union. His revelation has trig-gered the controversy about the spe-cial autonomous status to Jammu andKashmir. J&K Chief Minister seesthe Article 370, as the only Constitu-tional link between Kashmir and restof India. While terming Jitendra’sviews as ill-informed and irrespon-sible, the Chief Minister has statedthat “long after Modi government isa distant memory, either J&K wouldnot be a part of India or article-370will still exist. Actualisation of theBJP agenda is a manifestation ofcriminal eye closure to the ground re-alities and understanding the genesisof inserting Article-370 in the IndianConstitution. This unwarranted moveis prone to further push the region intohigh-tension rather paving way tofacilitate conducive environment thatmay help in achieving the targets ofeconomic uplift and development,Modi sarkar intends to implement.During heated debate about Prime

Modi and future of Indian union

STAUNCH Hindu nationalistNarendra Modi propelled hisright-wing fascist party BJP to

a stunning electoral triumph on May16, 2014, with the biggest winningmargin any government in India hasever enjoyed in the last three decades.

Modi’s victory has cast a spellof gloom among religious minori-ties in India, particularly the 165million Indian Muslims accountingfor one-sixth of India’s population,because of his anti-Muslim stance.As Chief Minister Gujarat, he hadturned a blind eye to the massacreof over 2000 Muslims of Gujaratand rapes of hundreds of women in2002. Despite international outcryand calls for remorse, and the US,Germany and UK refusing him visa,he refused to apologise for not tak-ing steps to control the rampagingHindu zealots. He got elected asChief Minister Gujarat three timesin a row essentially because of hishatred against Muslims. Only 10%Muslims voted for him. Even a sec-tion of seculars and liberals in Indiaare feeling uneasy because of BJP’sdisdain for secularism and fascina-tion for Hindutva.

BJP swept the elections on theslogans of enforcing Hindutva in In-dia and adopting a hard line ap-proach towards Pakistan. Modi keptusing communal and caste card andremained committed to philosophyof Hindutva. He was harsh onBengali speaking Muslims in Assamand vowed to throw them out. Thereasons that made tea-selling Modipopular were his humble roots,simple way of living, aggressivecampaigning as opposed to lack-lus-tre campaign of Congress and suc-cessful economic model he appliedin Gujarat during his stint as Chief

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Sunday Magazine

Sadia Zahid MalikEditor

Ph: 2852027-8, Ext: 116Email: magazinesocialdiary@hotmail.com

A nickname is theheaviest stone thatthe devil can throwat a man.

Minister from 2001 onwards.As opposed to India’seconomy, which is in the gripof stagflation, Modi managedto keep the economic indica-tors of Gujarat in positive.Gujarat accounted for 15% of

industrial output and 22% of exportsdespite having 5% population. TheCorporate sector, which was given afree hand by Modi played a key rolein up swinging economic indicatorsin Gujarat. His corporate driveneconomy undoubtedly made the richricher and the poor poorer.

Modi’s sins against non-Muslimsin Gujarat during his 13-year infa-mous rule were cleverly smoke-screened by his spin masters under themyth of development. Anti-Modi jour-nalists, writers and intellectuals werecoerced and gagged by RSS thugs.Besides the development myth, otherreasons why the vast multitudes pre-ferred BJP over the Congress, was theunprecedented corruption and mal-ad-ministration of the Congress led UPAgovernment. Moreover, liberal flow ofmoney and backup support providedby the Corporate sector coupled withefficient electoral spadework done bycommitted RSS workers were majorfactors which gave such an amazingvictory to BJP.

Modi and his Cabinet memberswere sworn in on May 26, 2014. Allthe heads of neighbouring States ofSAARC members including NawazSharif took part in the ceremony. Inthe 45-member cabinet, only oneMuslim could find a berth. Indianshave attached high hopes in Modi andare confident that he will control cor-ruption, ensure political stability, en-force good governance and onceagain make India shining.

Modi is up for challenging times.India’s economy, which boomed from2004 to 2008 with GDP at 8.2%fizzled in 2011. India’s ‘misery ‘in-dex’ of the late 1980s has returned tohaunt the Indian leadership. Withsuch dismally low economic indica-tors and poverty and education lev-

els having dropped, it will be an up-hill task for the incoming governmentto upturn the economy. Modi’s questfor bringing Indian economy at parwith China will remain illusory if hedoesn’t bring a radical change in hisxenophobic thinking and restrain hisneo-fascist proclivities.

The stigma of Gujarat andMuzaffarnagar pogrommes willhaunt Modi. Modi, not only requiresrepairing his sullied reputation, healso needs to urgently break the de-stabilizing cycle of stagflation and alsoto refurbish putrid banks. The povertystricken Indians who voted him topower with high hopes do not wanthim to blow trumpets of war, but ex-pect him to alleviate their sufferingsand lift them out of the whirlpool ofpoverty, create jobs for the impover-ished jobless youth and better theirlives. He must not overlook fact thatdespite his impressive victory, 69% ofIndian voters have voted against him.While India needs development, theIndians, particularly the minorities aremore in need of security.

It is also to be seen whether heremains stuck to his jingoistic com-mitments he made during election-eering campaign or displays someforesight and wisdom. If he remainsinflexible on the issue of Kashmir,dithers on issues of Siachin, SirCreek and dams on rivers, and heabrogates Article 370 of Indian Con-stitution depriving occupied Kash-mir of its special autonomous sta-tus, composite dialogue even if itgets resumed will be of no conse-quence. Revision of Indian nucleardoctrine to ‘first strike’ option, fur-ther rise in defence budget, eager-ness to consolidate Indian militarypresence in Afghanistan and to de-velop Chahbahar Port in Iran at thecost of Gawadar would underscoreIndia’s future belligerent designs.

Notwithstanding Nawaz Sharif’seagerness to promote friendly tieswith India, Pakistan may be up forbumpy times because of Modi’s pro-fessed aggressive posture against

—William Hazlitt British essayist.

Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Delhi yatra,repeated show of smile, handshakesand photo taking sessions, conveyinga message that BJP wants to work onthe agenda that may bring feel goodcondition. In less than a week’s time,the fundamentalist Indian Sarkar un-der the thumb of extremist HinduGroup Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) has started work to repeal theArticle-370 which grants special sta-tus to the state of Jammu and Kash-mir. It was no one other than first In-dian Prime Minister Jawahirlal Nehruwho brought the Kashmir issue on thetable of UN Security Council in 1948,and is enough to understand that reso-lution of the Kashmir dispute is not soeasy as the BJP mandarins think. IfIndia really wants to achieve economicdevelopment, peaceful resolution ofthe Kashmir is essential.

It is good that UN is ready to me-diate as the mechanism outlined inthe Simla Agreement 1972 to resolvethe Kashmir dispute bilaterally hasmiserably failed. In the post 9/11 sce-nario, India is using the so-called ter-rorism phenomenon as an excusewhich will never deliver in terms ofpeace and resolution of Kashmir dis-pute. India cannot play down thegravity of Kashmir dispute throughvarious diplomatic juggernauts andpolitical machinations. Therefore, anindependent mediation as provided inUN Resolutions of 1948 and 1949,is the viable solution.

In my article “BJP’s landslide vic-tory’ published in Pakistan Observedon 30 May, 2014, I had concluded that“Pakistan is ready to resolve all out-standing differences and disputesthrough result-oriented dialogue. Only

time will tell as to whether BJP gov-ernment focuses on fundamentalistagenda i.e uniform civil code, promo-tion of religious intolerance, protec-tion of cows, building of temple onthe disputed Ayudhya site and opposi-tion to special constitutional status ofMuslim majority Kashmir, or facili-tates the flame-shaped memorial as theflames of reformation and peacefulregional environment. Although theCongress claiming to hold secular cre-dentials, never bothered during its de-cade long rule, to have good relations,taking refuge behind so-called issueof terrorism”.

In this arena of security that en-compasses the mantra of business,trade and economy, India’s focus onterrorism shows its reluctance to cometo serious business and remove thecauses that has blurred the situation.It is a fait accompli that Kashmir isthe bone of contention between SouthAsia’s neighbouring nuclear powers.Until and unless this unfinished agenda(Kashmir dispute) of the partition planis not completed, talk of peace and sta-bility would be day dreaming. The AllParties Hurriat Conference Chairmanin his reaction to Dr. Jitendra’s claimhas stated that special status to Kash-mir under Article-370 has been dilutedby Indian governments after 1953.Presence of 700,000 troops in the stateof 7 million populations is indicativeof Indian leadership’s approach forconverting Kashmir into a police state.Blatant human rights violations, ex-tra-judicial killings, fake encountersetc. have become a routine in thisMuslim majority state. JKLF leaderYasin Malik while terming NationalConference and Peoples Democratic

Party opposition to repeal the Article-370, a drama has vowed to launch“Quit Kashmir “campaign tostrengthen ongoing liberation move-ment in the valley. Syed Ali Geelanisees the pro-Indian parties stance anabsurd efforts to “cash the situation”.

India must avoid copying Israelipattern of grabbing through a demo-graphic change. India is sitting onthe powder as other post-indepen-dence separatist movements in thefrontier region of North-East Indiacalled seven sisters states (cover anarea of 255,511+ around 45 millionpopulation)-Arunachal Pradesh,Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura andSikhs demand for Khalistan, posingthreat to Indian integrity, due to theirstrong reservations about govern-ment in New Delhi. In addition, ram-pant corruption and rising incidentsof gang rapes is an other skeleton inthe cupboard.

The fundamentalist and extrem-ist Jews’ leadership resort to allforms of destructions and continu-ous killing sprees, has not succeededto quell Palestinians freedomstruggle. Rather, it is gaining mo-mentum day by day. Israeli cannotsleep peacefully even for one dayand will not though world’s unwar-ranted and illegal backing is alwaysthere to help out the land grabbingIsraeli leadership. India must acceptthe reality and start work on findinglasting solution to the Kashmir dis-pute according to the wishes of theKashmiris instead of engaging infutile exercise to repeal Article-370.—The writer is Islamabad-basedpolitical analyst.

Pakistan. Modi will remain in afriendly and cooperative mood aslong as Pakistan agree to Indianterms and restrict its dealings to tradeand development, people-to-peoplecontact and control of terrorism ema-nating from Pakistan and not fromIndia, and puts the core issues in acold freezer. He will like a fawningand not an aggressive Nawaz Sharif.He will come in his true self and startbreathing out fire the moment Paki-stan insists on simultaneously tack-ling the core issues and developingties on equal terms.

Optimistic elements, however,tend to remain in sunlight arguingthat India under a hardliner willprove more assertive and decisive inresolving disputes between the twoarch-rivals and in removing socio-economic inequities in India. Theyforget that there is vast difference inthe chemistry of Vajpayee and Modi.Coming months will bring to lightwhether Modi will relinquish hiscore agenda of Hindutva or fulfil theyearning desire of his mother partyRSS which wants building of RamTemple in Ayodhya and persecutionof Indian Muslims and other reli-gious minorities. Even if he desiresto moderate his stance and tries topursue Congress’s soft Hindutvapursued since 1947, the RSS hawkswill make sure that he fulfils the hardHindutva agenda. Modi will remainindebted to RSS, which is the ideo-logical fountainhead of BJP and en-abled him to win the political race.

Sitting atop tattered economyand having seen the rout of Con-gress, Modi will have to choose be-tween spewing ethnic/communalfires to promote Hindutva anddreaming of becoming a worldpower at the cost of its neighbours,or improving his image and puttingthe frayed house in order. Choice offormer course will for sure spell di-saster and BJP will meet the fate ofCongress in 2019 elections.—The writer, a retired Brig, isdefence analyst and researcher.

Asif Haroon RajaEmail: asifharoon7751@yahoo.com

Fazal HakeemEmail:ddsaarc22@yahoo.com

Voice of the People

Closure of PRCSblood bank outlet

MASOOD ALAM

I have learnt media that the BloodBank run by the Red Crescent So-ciety of Pakistan at Clifton RoadKarachi has been closed. Earlier, Iused to visit to the said Blood Bankfor donating blood regularly. Twoyears ago, I was informed by thedoctors deputed in the Blood Bankthat the collection of blood wastemporarily suspended. Accordingto the Press reports, the manage-ment of Red Crescent Society(Sindh) has closed the Blood Bankfor want of funds.

It is strange that the manage-ment did not show any indicationof closing down the Blood Banktill 2011 and they could not be ableto visualise its financial con-straints. Deplorably, now theBlood Bank is finally closed downby them! I recall that I was en-rolled by the Red Crescent Soci-ety as a member of their BloodDonors’ Club in a ceremony ar-ranged by PRCS Management atHotel Mehran on June 14, 2009,when the society was celebratingBlood Donors’ Day.

I understand that the existenceof a Blood Bank is essential for ahumanitarian institution like RedCrescent Society. I know that thesociety was running the BloodBank in its Blood Bank Complexfor decades and quite a large num-ber of people used to approach thesociety for donating blood for theuse of suffering humanity. I availthis opportunity to raise my voiceagainst the closure of Blood Bankin Karachi. Especially when SindhBlood Transfusion Authority wasprepared to provide assistance tothe Red Crescent organisation forcontinuing their services of bloodcollection and subsequent transfu-sion to the needy.

I, therefore, appeal to thePresident of Pakistan and the Gov-ernor of Sindh to take immediatenotice of such an act of mal-ad-ministration on the part of RedCrescent Society in the Provinceof Sindh. I hope, the other mem-bers of BRCS Blood Donors Clubjoin me in this appeal.—Karachi

Budget 2014-15and HBFCM RIZWAN ISMAIL

I don’t remember when the mostimportant economic issue likehousing finance was dealt with ina Federal budget. But surely the bigthing this time is, in the Federalbudget of 2014-2015.

The government of NawazSharif, and his Finance MinisterIshaq Dar have very specificallydealt with the issue of housing inthe country and to finance this sec-tor and the country’s prominenthousing finance institution, theHouse Building Finance CompanyLimited or HBFC.

Housing is a very big issue;hence in the budget speech. So, thepresent government surely de-serves big thanks! Taking this op-portunity, I would like to requestthe honourable Prime Minister andthe Finance Minister, to considera few other steps to strengthenhousing finance in the country,thus resultantly increasing thehousing and construction activitiesin the country.

To give appropriate boost tomortgage financing in the country,and thus stimulating the economy,the Finance Minister might havealso announced making the lend-ing in housing sector the prioritylending, and persuading the banksand financial institutions to put cer-tain portion of their portfolio in thissector. HBFC probably for the first

Yet another controversial verdictSAKHI SARWAR

At last, the second version of the PEMRA verdict, coined by the government sponsored members andthe just-appointed acting Chairman, is out. There is a wide divide, as it is in PEMRA itself, on the

magnitude of the offence committed by Geo and the punishment announced. Some say, it is an eye-washwhile the others think, it is O’Kay. But the legal position is still hanging in the balance; there are twoverdicts – both are valid, but the first takes precedence. Despite the announcement of the punishment -eye-wash, engineered, a sponsored favour in disguise, controversial or rightful and genuine, the Geo isstill venomous and against the State agencies and has filed a suit for damages. What an arrogance!Desecration and defamation of State agencies cost Geo 15-day suspension and 10 million, while the self-esteem of Geo - an entity opposed to the Two-Nation theory and campaigning (under-cover) for ‘AkhandBharat’ through ‘Aman ki Aasha’, amounts to 50 billion as claimed in the damages petition; what amockery of law and what a stubbornness of the media house proven to be working against Pakistan onbehest of the enemies of Pakistan. PEMRA is divided as was the Judiciary in December 1997, all stateinstitutions are under the process of disintegration, government has become a party against its owninstitutions and is instrumental in sabotaging the writ and integrity of PEMRA, TV channels are throw-ing venom upon the rival channels, anchors are biased and prejudiced, corrupt members sitting in theParliament proclaim that Parliament is supreme, journalists believe that they are the king makers andthey have the mandate to judge what is in national interest and what is not, hence nobody can remindthem the Code of ethics for media, nobody can ask them to read the full text of Article 19 of the Consti-tution, public dealing departments like WAPDA, SNGPL, Income Tax, Police and even Education port-folio are submerged in corruption, the poor and vulnerable people are the target of law enforcementwhile the influential and law makers are above law, people are facing the worst kind of load-sheddingand lawlessness – what a state of affairs. We are really ‘waiting for Allah’ to set us in order, discipline andgood governance. We ourselves and our leaders in authority are bent upon disintegrating our stateinstitutions and hence heading towards self intimidation and thus total collapse. God help Pakistan!!—Islamabad

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

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Diplomacy & the modern world

DIPLOMACY has been practiced since the inception ofCivilization. In the ancient

times diplomats were sent only forspecific negotiations and their area ofinfluence was so limited that theywould return immediately after theirmission concluded. Their sole pur-pose was to seek interaction withother states to develop friendly rela-tions as well resolving certain issuesbetween the two countries. Diplo-macy and trade have also beenclosely linked with each other. Earlymodern diplomacy started with theEuropean Renaissance. The rules ofmodern diplomacy further developedto resolve political issues and con-flicts among the European Powers.Ambassador became the top rankingrepresentative of the state. The con-gress of Vienna of 1815 was the hallmark in establishing an internationalsystem of diplomatic ranks to resolvedisputes among the European powers.

Bismarck of Germany was re-nowned for his skill in exercising di-plomacy in the international relations.So the role of diplomat from the po-sition of a negotiator evolved into apersona that represented an autono-mous state in the area of political af-fairs. Vienna Convention on diplo-matic relations in 1961 formalized therights of the diplomats to protect themfrom the danger of being persecutedwhile they are on their diplomatic

mission. Diplomatic immunityis also given in case a crime iscommitted by a diplomat.

No country can afford tokeep itself aloof in this com-plex political world. Interna-tional diplomacy is a part of

international laws, governed by cer-tain conventions, rules and princi-pals laid down by internationalbodies namely by the UNO. It isan art of conducting negotiationsin regional and international rela-tions to resolve conflicts and is-sues through diplomacy. It alsoprovides opportunity to make goodties with other countries for devel-oping socio-political, cultural andeconomic cooperation.

Diplomatic mission is carriedout by the diplomats who representtheir country in the UNO or in anycountry where they are deputed.There are different groups of peoplewho are on diplomatic mission, likeAmbassadors who are the fullIncharge of the Embassy and EnvoyExtraordinary and Minister Plenipo-tentiary, Minister Resident andCharge D, Affaires etc.

This is the sole responsibility ofthe head of the state to guide, planand give a correct direction to diplo-macy in the foreign affairs. In theformation and organization of for-eign affairs the Secretary of the State/ Foreign Minister and the SecretaryForeign Affairs play a vital role. Theforeign office is the main institutionin regard to the looking after of in-ternational affairs.

There are many types of diplo-macy, which have been instrumentalin the development of international

relations. Diplomacy either-singletrack, track two, multi-track, summitand open / secret has its merit anddemerits, however, it is influenced bya complicated combination of differ-ent interrelated factors depending onthe specific nature of issues in theirhistorical perspective.

Modern day’s challenges afterthe cold war era are more complexowing to the growing extremism inreligious and political ideologies.During the two World Wars, coldwar era, tension between the two op-posite blocks, diplomacy became asubsidiary instrument of power poli-tics and ideology. Despite manyflaws and weaknesses internationaldiplomacy had had its significanceby developing multinational institu-tions and regional and sub-regionalorganizations. The EU, APEC,ASEAN, CIS, NAFTA and SAARChave come into existence through theexercise of diplomacy.

The instrument of Public diplo-macy was much used by the Ameri-cans during the cold war era as the con-duct of international relations. Inter-national law is related with its enforce-ment quality by ensuring to abide bythe agreements, treaties, protocols con-ventions, covenant, acts and memo-randum of understanding so on.

In the modern international law,the significance of “InternationalTreaty” to create international ruleshas fairly increased. Despite all theseefforts failures have also been ob-served in the enforcement mechanismin certain cases. Enlarging and insti-tutionalizing the “Universality” ofHuman rights is one of the most im-portant achievements made by the in-

ternational treaties after the WorldWar-II. The Geneva conventionsplayed crucial role in formulatinghumanitarian laws.

Accords, alliances, conventionsand treaties are the result of nego-tiations carried out through somekind of diplomacy. The United Statesand Great Britain ended the revolu-tionary war with the treaty of Parisin 1783. In 1973 representatives of80 countries agreed on a conventionon international trade in EndangeredSpecies (CITES) to protect rareplants and animals around the world.The North Atlantic Treaty Organi-zation (NATO) was formed in 1949to serve as a bulwark against threatsby the communist Warsaw Pact inEastern Europe. The US-South Ko-rea mutual defence treaty in 1953 isexample of bilateral agreement be-tween two countries. SimilarlyKYOTO accord was done amongnations to limit the emissions ofgreenhouse gases.

Therefore, diplomacy as an in-strument to maintain internationalharmony among nations or to com-plete a specific agenda between thetwo countries for the bilateral rela-tionship is necessary in this politi-cal world and without diplomacy,much at the world’s affairs wouldbe abolished, international organi-zation would not exist and the worldwould be at a constant state of war.In the absence of diplomatic rela-tions with a country of interest, itis difficult to achieve a successfulpursuit of foreign policy goal.—The writer is political and socialcolumnist & analyst.

Views From Abroad

India’s feudal rapists

WHEN a distressed father isreporting his daughter’sdisappearance to a police-

man in India, there are some ques-tions he doesn’t want to hear. “Whatis your caste?” is one of them. Yet,the father, Sohan Lal, said this wasthe first thing the police asked himlast Tuesday, when he begged themfor help. After revealing his low-castebackground as a Shakya, Mr. Lal saidthe officers mocked him and refusedto lift a finger.

Hours later, Mr. Lal’s daughter,12, and a female cousin, 14, werefound hanging by their scarves froma mango tree in Katra Saadatganj, inthe state of Uttar Pradesh. They hadbeen raped. His daughter had lastbeen seen with a group of brothersfrom the Yadav caste, which is thedominant caste in the village.

Our understanding of their deathswill be incomplete until we recognizethe role of the caste system in India’srape crisis. For much of India’s his-tory the lower castes, especially theDalits (once known as untouchables),

have been routinely raped by thelandowning upper castes. Better le-gal protections, urbanization and so-cial mobility have helped reducecaste-based discrimination, but notenough. Dalit women are still themost likely to be victims of gangrapes. An analysis of Uttar Pradesh’scrime statistics for 2007 by thePeople’s Union for Civil Libertiesshowed that 90 percent of rape vic-tims in 2007 were Dalit women.

Since December 2012, when a 23-year-old woman from the Kurmi caste,another low caste, died after beinggang-raped and attacked with an ironrod by five men in a moving bus, In-dia has been undergoing a process ofsoul-searching. Yet the caste systemhas not been mentioned enough in thedebate. While attacks against Westerntourists and women in urban centershave attracted a great deal of attention,rapes of lower-caste women routinelyfail to provoke an outcry. Prime Min-ister Narendra Modi, for example, hasyet to condemn the rape and murderin Katra Saadatganj.

It is no surprise that the castesystem, and the unequal society itproduces, leads to moral blind spotsthat hide rapes from public view.

Caste historically determined whereyou lived, what you did, whom youmarried, even what you ate. Thoughupper-caste men are rarely impris-oned for raping Dalits, they have awidely accepted defence at their dis-posal, should they ever need one:They would never touch a lower-caste woman for fear of being “pol-luted.” In one famous 1995 case, aDalit woman’s allegations of gangrape were dismissed by a judge whoclaimed that “an upper-caste mancould not have defiled himself by rap-ing a lower-caste woman.” Caste dis-crimination is exacerbated by corruptand inefficient governance, which en-courages people to seek politicalpower through caste allegiances.

When the police and judiciarycannot be relied on to resolve dis-putes, rape often becomes a meansof retribution. This has been appar-ent in Hindu-Muslim riots as well asin intercaste conflict. “Rape is aweapon to silence the assertions ofthe community. A way to teach us alesson. To show us, including ourmen, that they are helpless and can-not protect their own women,” saidAsha Kowtal, a Dalit activist. Suchthinking seems to have been at work

Amana Fontanella-Khanin March, in the state of Haryana,when four lower-caste girls weregang-raped and dumped on a trainstation platform more than 100 milesfrom their homes.

But we cannot rely on theshock value of particularly horrificcases to lead to change; we needstructural solutions. The govern-ment should start by amending the1989 Prevention of Atrocities Act,which is designed to address caste-based violence. The conviction rateunder the act is notoriously low —according to a 2012 report, morethan half of all cases are closedbefore they reach the courts. In thecase of Mr. Lal’s daughter and hercousin, the police did not registerthe crime under the act at all.Amendment proposals that wouldensure crucial witness protection,more legal support and specialcourts are sitting in Parliamentright now, awaiting approval.

There is no doubt that it waswrong for the police to ask Mr. Lalabout caste. But for the rest of us,when it comes to understandingIndia’s rape crisis, not talking aboutcaste is just as bad.— Courtesy: The New York Times

time got the right attention of thegovernment in the budget of 2014-15. Without a vibrant and activeHBFC, the government could notachieve any objective in housingsector. HBFC, hence, must be madea forceful organization, which wouldbe able to drive this sector.—Islamabad

Islamic bankingin Pakistan

RANA DILAWAR, M AYYUB

Banking sector has immense impor-tance for the growth and economicdevelopment of a country. Pakistanhas a growing economy and bank-ing sector is playing a vital role init. Being a Muslim nation our firstpriority should be Islamic Banking.Efforts for elimination of Ribastarted during 1970s and most of thesignificant and practical steps weretaken in 1980. In 1980 initial stepswere taken by the State Bank of Pa-kistan by changing the rules andregulations of the Banking sector.After that in 2001 first certificate hadbeen issued to Meezan Bank as a fullfledged Islamic Bank.

Many people think that there isno concept of Banking in Islam. Ob-viously, the concept of Banking isnot categorically prescribed inQuran and Hadith, but the funda-mentals and a comprehensive codehas been provided, which lays downthe foundation of Islamic banking.Shahriah provides the guide lineabout conducting business in fairway. Ulema can play an importantrole for the promotion of Islamicbanking. They can create awarenessin people about Islamic banking andmobilize the society for eliminationof riba. This is their religious obli-gation to tell the people how strictlyriba is prohibited in Islam. Ulemashould give the reference to theQuran and Hadith to people.

Awareness of Islamic banks canalso be created by media. People canbe encouraged to deposit their sav-ings in the banks.

Most of the people have sparemoney and they do not deposit theirmoney in the banks. Such savingremains idol unless it is invested forproductive purpose. If people de-posit their savings in the banks, itleads to the financial strength of thecountry and enhances employmentopportunities in the country.

Proper steps should be takento educate the people; enhance-ment in the Islamic banking train-ing of the staff should be taken intoconsideration.—Islamabad

What isarticle 370

F Z KHAN

Pakistan projects Omar Abdullah asa puppet Chief Minister in Srinagar,but his recent statement has causedstir in New Delhi. Reports suggestthat the newly installed Modi gov-ernment took a serious view of atweet by IHK CM Omar Abdullah,which has been taken as a threat tosecede from India.

“Mark my words and save thistweet – long after Modi governmentis a distant memory, either J&Kwon’t be part of India or Article 370will still exist.” Whereas OmarAbdullah has categorically deniedmaking any kind of threat to secedefrom India, his statement has kick-started a controversial debate acrossIndia, which, observers predict, maydeprive him of his Chief Ministerialoffice in Srinagar.

In fact Omar Abdullah reactedto Jitendra Singh’s statement,which said “the consultation pro-cess had begun to repeal Article370” of the Indian Constitution thatgives Kashmiris the right to decidewhich Indian laws apply to them.In an interview, Abdullah told BBC

Hindi that his tweet had been mis-construed, the fact remains thatArticle 370 was the only link Kash-mir had with India. PDP ChiefMehbooba Mufti also lambasted atJitendra’s statement and vowed toresist any such move. Leaders of theAll Parties Hurriyat Conferencealso opposed New Delhi’s decisionto get the Article 370 repealed.Another debate whether the with-drawal of US forces from Afghani-stan would help contain the free-dom struggle in Held Kashmir orfoment further violence.

This was in the light of a re-ported statement by Syed Salauddin,chairman of the UJC, in which hewarned that Indian targets could beattacked after international forceswithdraw from Afghanistan. ButOmar Abdullah dispelled the im-pression, saying, “the presence ofNATO in Afghanistan may havecontributed to a decrease in the vio-lence in Kashmir but it is not theoverriding factor. The withdrawal offorces will not lead to reversal of thesituation to the early 1990s whenmilitancy was at its peak.”

Islamabad needs to understandthe gravity of the situation and re-new, in clear and unambiguousterms that the resolution of theKashmir issue can only be achievedthrough the implementation of theUN Resolutions. Silence onPakistan’s part would leave thepeople of Kashmir more isolated;and would give Modi sarkar a freehand to do away with Article 370.If it says it is internal matter of In-dia, then the argument can weakenPakistan’s official stance on the is-sue of Kashmir and Kashmiris’right to self-determination.—Islamabad

Animal testingMAHAM MAZHAR

I strongly condemn animal testing;I believe that animal rights shouldbe taken seriously. Animal testing isextremely cruel, unethical and com-pletely unnecessary. It should bebanned and outlawed, animal experi-ments are unkind and cause a lot ofpain to animals. Sometimes, itproves to be inapplicable to humansbecause animals’ bodies are not ex-actly the same as our own.

Although, so many alternativesare available to us like, Harvard’sWayss institute has created organs-on-chips that contain human cellsgrown in a state of the art systemthat mimic the structure and func-tion of human organs and organssystem. The chips can be used in-stead of animals in disease research,drugs testing and toxicity testingand researchers at the EuropeanUnion’s reference library for alter-natives of animal testing, developedfive different tests of human bloodcells to detect contaminants indrugs and many such alternativeshave been developed but manymedical, pharmaceutical and cos-metic companies are still doing ani-mal experimentation.

The question is, why do we teston some poor innocent animal thathasn’t done anything wrong? Whyshould animals suffer when they arenever going to use these products?This is my humble request to thegovernment to take some seriousaction against this cruelty prevail-ing in the country.—Via email

Mahrukh A MughalEmail:drdanish56@yahoo.com

Modi’s maltreatment of Muslims & ME

HINDU politics and culture,dominated by the fundamentalist parties such as BJP,

RSS, VHP, Shiv Sena and other simi-lar groups, which have been propa-gating Hindutva (Hindu nationalism)are feeling pleasure, because Indianelections based on media campaignagainst Islam and Muslims and otherminorities, enabled BJP hardlinerNarendra Modi to get a land slid-ing victory in the Indian elections2014. Whereas the Indian Hinduscelebrated Modi’s victory, whohimself is follower of the Hinduextremism and has become PrimeMinister of India, the Muslim com-munity and other minorities in In-dia feel insecure and perturbed.

Muslims are well-aware ofNarendra Modi’s agenda to reducethe Muslim community in India tosecond class citizens. Muslim anxi-ety in India is multiplying due the factthat during the election campaign,Hindu majority was mobilized on‘hate Muslim’ slogans. Hence, Modiregime is likely to target and perse-cute Muslims in India. Besides, othersimilar events against them, the mas-sacre of Muslims in Gujarat mightbe cited as an example of the BJPbrutalities. While destruction anddesecration of Babari Mosque in In-dia led to the burning of HinduManders (Places of Hindu worships)and destruction of Hindu property inPakistan. Similarly, maltreatment ofMuslims—hating them in India willhave dire repercussions for Hindusin the Middle East including non-

Arab Islamic countries.If the BJP led Modi govern-

ment started harassing andcleansing Muslims in India, theheat will especially be felt byHindus living in Middle East.In this regard, some forward

looking members of Hindu commu-nity are already feeling the heat, asMuslim anxiety in India is surgingthrough media projections about pos-sible governing style of Modi in In-dia. Insular minded Modi and Hinduextremists of the BJP stand fullycharged to govern India with ironhand especially when question ofMuslim community and other minori-ties is to be addressed. This has beenthe elusive dream of Modi and theBJP to forcibly convert all non-HinduIndians into Hinduism. Their powermotives are guided by their religiousbeliefs. Therefore, tough times areahead for Muslims to face in India

In this respect, anti-Muslim ap-proach of the BJP and India’s newPrime Minister Narendar Modi couldbe judged from the fact that encour-aged by the election-victory of the BJP,on May 28, this year, in a provocativeact to disturb communal harmonyamong different religious communi-ties in India, Rashtriya Hindu Andolan,a little known Mangalore-basedHindutva outfit and activists fromvarious right wing groups organizeda protest in Mangalore in front ofthe office of Deputy Commissionerby demanding the authorities to banthe morning Muslim call to prayer(Azan) across the country.

Now, the analysts believe thatModi’s narrow mindedness wouldentrap him into street quarrels andslanted politics, blended with socialprejudice and political biases. Mus-lims are likely to be the main targetof Modi torment and the BJP perse-

cution. This will certainly result intoa chain reaction, loaded with publicemotions against Hindu communityliving in the Middle East and otherIslamic countries. Internally, Indiawill face the worst turmoil.

However, Muslim countries willnot be able to control public reactionagainst Hindus, in case, Muslims arepersecuted in India. Obviously mal-treatment, oppressive tactics and cruelinjustice against Muslims in India willcause Hindu distress in the IslamicWorld, particularly in the Middle East.So, the overseas Hindus, especially inthe Middle East are equally worriedas practical manifestation of Modi’sstyle of governance is likely to be up-setting the Indian Muslims.

The incessant and unjust Indianpropaganda against Pakistan is be-yond anybody’s cognition. It simplyspeaks of Hindu deep seated animos-ity against Pakistan and Pakistanipublic. Nevertheless, Modi and hisHindu followers must understand thatin socio-political arena, public moti-vation, based on exploitation of nega-tive emotions may offer temporalgains, but in the longer run such gim-micks prove fatal and disastrous. Nodoubt, Modi has won election using‘hate Muslim’ slogan, its practicalmanifestation will create negativebacklash. Under the leadership ofModi, maltreatment and socio-politi-cal marginalizing of Muslims in In-dia will send pessimistic message toHindu community, which is living inthe Middle East.

In this connection, our own po-litical leadership and media—espe-cially of the other Arab and non-Arabcountries, must give a matching re-sponse to the BJP-led new govern-ment. In this context, they must makeit clear that Modi’s victory in Indianelections is a source of concern not

only for Muslim community in In-dia, but also for the regionalneighbours and the Islamic World.They must point out that Modi’selection campaign was based onnegative emotional appeal in which,he used Pakistan as enemy, whiletipping-off Muslims to go to Paki-stan. In this respect, exploiting emo-tions negatively will have seriousconsequences for both the nuclearcountries, South Asia and theMiddle East.

These Islamic entities must in-dicate that Indian media already toesHindu mindset and conducts propa-ganda against Islamabad and the In-dian Muslims in one way or theother. That is why, Hindus hate Mus-lims in India and Pakistan. By speak-ing in optimistic tone, our own elec-tronic media and that of the MuslimWorld must counter Indian propa-ganda, and suggest to the new lead-ership in New Delhi to avoid play-ing with the fire, otherwise, the re-sults would be disastrous.

Nonetheless, Prime MinisterModi must understand that everyaction has its own opposite and equalreaction. Therefore, let us give peacea chance, before the propagandistsspoil the issue to a point of no re-turn. In order to settle all the issuesincluding the thorny dispute ofKashmir with Pakistan, which areessential for peace of the region, BJPand Prime Minister Modi must for-get that they won the elections onthe basis of anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan slogans. Consequently,Modi‘s maltreatment of Muslims byemboldening the BJP would havefrightening repercussions in the Is-lamic countries, especially theMiddle East and Pakistan.—The writer is Lahore-basedfreelance columnist.

Sajjad ShaukatEmail: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Thai army takes wind out ofred shirts’ sails

NIRMAL GHOSH

Across Myanmar, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi isstepping up her campaign to change the Constitution bystaging street rallies in crowded cities and dusty villages

that draw thousand-strong crowds.She has also begun to broaden her message by challenging

the role of the powerful military, which has the clout to veto anycharter changes.

At a rally in Lewe town, Naypyidaw, on Sunday, Suu Kyitold a huge crowd: “We are not attacking the military, whoseduty is to protect the country and people. When the military wasestablished, it regarded the people as parents.

“I am just urging the military not to take the role it shouldn’ttake because I want it to be loved by the people.”

The twin messages of Suu Kyi’s public campaign are closelyrelated.

Her real goal is to change Article 59F of the charter, whichbars her from the presidency because of her marriage to a Britishacademic and her two sons’ British citizenship.

But to do that, she has to first succeed in amending Article436, which states that the support of more than 75 per cent oflawmakers is needed for any charter change.

This effectively gives the military, which holds 25 per centof seats in the national Parliament, a veto on any constitutionalamendments.

But the Nobel laureate’s move to mobilise the public on thisissue is facing a growing pushback from the Tatmadaw, as theMyanmar army is officially known.

The Union Election Commission (UEC), chaired by retiredarmy general Tin Aye, recently reminded Suu Kyi that she sworean oath to the Constitution and so she should not criticise it.

In a letter on May 22, the commission told Suu Kyi that shehad made illegal and unconstitutional comments in saying themilitary should not be afraid of constitutional change in supportof democratic reform.

It also warned that her comments could jeopardise the re-registration of her party, the National League for Democracy(NLD), ahead of by-elections later this year and a general elec-tion at the end of next year.

The NLD responded tersely by saying that the UEC’s cau-tion was inappropriate, and challenged its authority to decide onconstitutional matters.

NLD spokesman Nyan Win told The Straits Times in a phoneinterview on Thursday that the party is not intimidating the army,and is instead aiming to give the military “a chance to be good inParliament”.

Some analysts are sceptical of Suu Kyi’s high-pressure pub-lic tactics.

Former political prisoner Khin Zaw Win wrote in an e-mailthat the street rallies were intended as a “short cut to power onthe shoulders of a gullible public”.

Aside from the huge rallies, the NLD and activists from the“88 Generation” pro-democracy movement have collected morethan 380,000 signatures in Yangon alone demanding a change toArticle 436.

Dr Khin Zaw Win, who is based in Yangon, also pointed outthat a committee has already been set up to review thousands ofproposals to change the Constitution.

“Since a proper process is already under way, strong publicpressure is perhaps uncalled for,” he said.

—Courtesy: Straits Times.

Suu Kyi facespushback from armyover public pressure

PAUL TAYLOR

AS Moscow and the West dig in for a prolonged stand-offover Russia’s annexation of Crimea, risking spillover toother former Soviet republics and beyond, here are 10

ways in which the Ukraine crisis could change attitudes and policyaround the world.

1) Russia diminished: Russia’s role in international affairs isdiminished, at least temporarily. Moscow has been de facto ex-cluded from the Group of Eight industrialized powers. Its bids tojoin the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Develop-ment and the International Energy Agency are frozen. Westernsummits with Moscow are canceled until further notice.

President Vladimir Putin’s attempt to use the BRICS groupof emerging powers to mitigate isolation by the West falteredover Chinese and Indian unease at the Crimean precedent fordisputes about Tibet and Kashmir. A joint BRICS statement con-demned sanctions but made no mention of Crimea or Ukraine.

2) NATO revived: Just when it looked to be losing relevanceas its mission in Afghanistan limps to a close, the U.S.-led mili-tary alliance is back in business. An increase in allied air patrolsand war games showing the flag in Poland and the Baltic statesis on the agenda, and Warsaw wants faster deployment of U.S.missile defense systems in central Europe.

Under U.S. pressure, some European countries may rethinkcuts in defense spending. Neutral Sweden and Finland, perceiv-ing Russia anew as a potential threat, may increase security ef-forts and cooperate more closely with NATO.

3) Energy diversification: The energy map of Europe is be-ing redrawn with accelerated action to reduce dependence onRussian oil and gas. EU states are set to build more liquefiednatural gas terminals, upgrade pipeline networks and grids andexpand a southern gas supplies through Georgia and Turkey tosouthern and central Europe.

The EU gets a third of its oil and gas from Russia, and 40percent of that gas is pumped across Ukraine. Europe may nowlook to tap its own shale gas reserves and expand nuclear power,despite environmental concerns. “I see the danger of more nuclear- which is C02-free, which is also part of the discussion, but it isthe wrong path,” said Gerhard Roiss, chief executive of Austria’sOMV, a big importer of Russian gas into central Europe.

4) China factor: The diplomatic alliance between Russia andChina, which often vote together in the U.N. Security Council,could change in one of two directions - either rapprochementthrough a stronger energy partnership, with new pipelines beingbuilt to pump Russian oil and gas spurned by Europe to Beijing;or a cooling if China distances itself more from Putin’s behaviorand sees less benefit in closer ties with an economically weak-ened and relatively isolated Moscow. For now, President XiJinping is refusing to take sides in public.

5) U.S. leadership: Washington’s global leadership role, weak-ened by the rise of emerging powers and by retrenchment underPresident Barack Obama, has been partially restored.

Despite his disengagement from wars in Iraq and Afghani-stan and strategic “pivot” towards Asia, events have pushedObama back into the old-fashioned role of “Leader of the FreeWorld” in an East-West crisis in Europe.

The crisis has swept aside European anger over U.S. spyingon global communications and put a new premium on coopera-tion. In Brussels last week Europeans appealed to Obama to sellthem shale gas, and both sides agreed to speed talks on a transat-lantic free trade and investment pact. Yet U.S. strategists sayAmerican economic interests and the security challenges of man-aging a rising China mean Asia will remain the priority and Eu-rope will have to do more for itself.

—Courtesy: Global Opinion.

Ten ways the Ukrainecrisis may

change the world

FRANCIS X. CLINES

THE world looked back to the future lastweek as 18 national leaders gathered tocommemorate the 70th anniversary of the

D-Day invasion that triggered the end to WorldWar II’s apocalyptic ravaging of Europe.

For all the celebration of peace, wisps ofthe Cold War that so quickly followed that glo-bal struggle were in the air along the sacredFrench battlefronts, stirred by PresidentVladimir V. Putin of Russia’s continued flirta-tion with the old rhetoric, veiled threats andregional chess moves of the defunct Sovietempire. For his part, President Obama workedto brace the European alliance as if it were the1950s. “Further Russian provocations will onlymean more isolation and costs for Russia,” Mr.Obama declared in Poland.

The Question of a soldier: Despite all thefocus on wars past, cold or lethal, it was thejagged reality of contemporary combat againstmodern hit-and-run terrorism that preoccupiedMr. Obama and his critics in the suddenlyemerging form of Sgt.

Bowe Bergdahl, a soldier who the Armysaid walked off his post without permission inAfghanistan in 2009.

Nearly five years of captivity by the Talibanfollowed and Sergeant Bergdahl’s release aweek ago ignited a furious debate aboutwhether swapping the soldier for five Talibanmilitants, held for more than a decade at the

Warfare’s Never-Ending StoryGuantánamo Bay prison, was a deal Mr. Obamashould have made. The president’s warm em-brace of the sergeant’s grateful parents was soonfollowed by cries from Mr. Obama’s Republi-can antagonists and some Afghanistan war vet-erans that the 28-year-old infantryman shouldbe considered no patriot, and could be viewedas a deserter deserving court-martial who en-dangered patrols that went looking for him.Capitol Hill Democrats were angry, too, at notbeing informed in advance about the release ofGuantánamo prisoners, as required by law. Atthe D-Day invasion beaches, President Obamabroadened the ideals of warfare’s sacrifice tolink the old war’s soldiers to “this 9/11 genera-tion” of warriors “who chose to serve a causegreater than self.”

Back home, however, notions of an easycelebration of Sergeant Bergdahl’s return werealready dead. Even the sergeant’s hometown,Hailey, Idaho, where proud banners, prayersand ribbons had long wafted, had secondthoughts about staging a hero’s welcome homeon June 28.

The “Bowe Is Back” celebration was can-celed and officials in the town of 7,900 admit-ted they feared a crush of visitors “who bothwant to support or protest against it.” “Now isnot the time,” one resident said, shocked at howfast the sergeant had become a lightning rodfor political divisiveness.

It was hard to tell whether critics were moremotivated by fears that the five freed Taliban

would quickly return to battle — despite prom-ised restraints for a year in Qatar, the broker inthe negotiated swap — or by the complicatedprofile presented by Sergeant Bergdahl, whoclearly marched to a different drummer than therest of his unit. He had slipped away from histent near the Pakistan border, reportedly takinga backpack but not his weapons, in demonstrat-ing his free spirit. He told his parents in an emailbefore his capture that while the Afghan peopleneeded American help, “what they get is the mostconceited country in the world telling them thatthey are nothing and that they are stupid,” Roll-ing Stone magazine reported. “I am sorry foreverything here,” his parents quoted their son.

Military investigators found previous in-cidents in which Sergeant Bergdahl wanderedoff from his duties at a training range in Cali-fornia and a remote outpost in Afghanistan. Buthe returned both times, according to peoplebriefed on a classified report.

“I think we can all agree we’re not dealingwith a war hero here,” a visibly angry SenatorJoe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia,said, criticizing a closed briefing by adminis-tration officials defending the swap. (“Was HeWorth It?” was Time magazine’s cover ques-tion, as if a soldier’s behavior and politics mustpass muster as a condition for his return.)

Far easier to hail an uncomplicated warhero. The domestic front has long found pridein the notion that American warriors, particu-larly those World War II veterans celebrated

anew last week as “the greatest generation,”are ironclad patriots. Beyond the gloss of ev-ery war’s nostalgia, however, there inevita-bly are legions who felt compelled to retreatfrom the trenches. In World War II, there were50,000 American deserters in the Europeantheater, according to war records, and mostwere those who broke down in the battle zone,not behind the lines, according to CharlesGlass, author of the World War II history “TheDeserters.” (Whether Sergeant Bergdahl wassimply AWOL — absent without leave, alesser offense — or a full deserter is a ques-tion for military authorities studying his re-lease.)

President Obama offered no apology ascommander in chief for his duty to retrieve anAmerican soldier captured by the enemy.

“I am responsible for those kids,” he de-clared in Brussels, stressing that the sergeant’shealth was found to be deteriorating and hisrescue depended on a fast swap.

“This is not a political football,” he insisted.But the Republicans’ attack lines in the elections,with control of Congress at stake, were alreadyheating up over the swap for Sergeant Bergdahl.

The new cold war: In Europe, the Frenchpresident, François Hollande, worked out a bitof Nouvelle Cold War diplomacy, first dining ata Champs-Élysées restaurant Thursday withPresident Obama, then hurrying back to his resi-dence to host a late dinner for President Putin.

—Courtesy: Global Opinion.

China sends more shipsto Vietnam waters

Poroshenkosworn in asUkraine’spresident

KIEV (Ukraine)—Ukraine’snew president on Saturdaycalled for dialogue with thecountry’s east, gripped by aviolent separatist insurgency,and for armed groups to laydown their weapons but said hewon’t talk with rebels he called“gangsters and killers.”

Petro Poroshenko’s inau-gural address after taking theoath of office in parliamentgave little sign of a quick reso-lution to the conflict in the east,which Ukrainian officials sayhas left more than 200 peopledead.

He also took a firm line onRussia’s annexation of Crimeathis spring, insisting that theBlack Sea peninsula “was, isand will be Ukrainian.” Hegave no indication of howUkraine could regain control ofCrimea, which Russian Presi-dent Vladimir Putin has saidwas allotted to Ukraine un-justly under Soviet leaderNikita Khrushchev.

Rebel leaders in the eastdismissed Poroshenko’sspeech.

“This statement doesn’tconcern us,” said the so-calledprime minister of the insurgentDonetsk People’s Republic,Alexander Borodai, accordingto the RIA Novosti newsagency.

Poroshenko offered am-nesty to rebels who “don’t haveblood on their hands.” But “Idon’t believe it,” said ValeryBolotov, the insurgent leader inthe Luhansk region. Rebels inboth Luhansk and Donetskhave declared their regions in-dependent.

The new president prom-ised “I will bring you peace,”but did not indicate whetherUkrainian forces would scaleback their offensives againstthe insurgency, which Ukrainesays is fomented by Russia.

Russia has insisted onUkraine ending its military op-eration in the east. AmbassadorMikhail Zurabov, representingMoscow, at the inauguration,said Poroshenko’s statements“sound reassuring,” but “for usthe principal thing is to stop themilitary operation,” RIANovosti reported.

German Chancellor AngelaMerkel, left, andUkraine's …German Chancellor AngelaMerkel, left, and Ukraine’s Presi-dent-elect Petro Poroshenkospeak to As president,Poroshenko is commander-in-chief of the military and appointsthe defense and foreign minis-ters. The prime minister is ap-pointed by the parliament.The48-year-old Poroshenko, oftencalled “The Chocolate King”because of the fortune he madeas a confectionery tycoon, waselected May 25. He replacesOleksandr Turchynov, whoserved as interim president afterRussia-friendly president ViktorYanukovych fled the country inFebruary after months of streetprotests against him.

The fall ofYanukovych aggravated long-brewing tensions in eastern andsouthern Ukraine, whose ma-jority native Russian speakersdenounced the new govern-ment as a nationalist putsch thataimed to suppress them.

Within a month, the BlackSea peninsula of Crimea wasannexed by Russia after a se-cession referendum and anarmed insurgency arose in theeastern provinces of Donetskand Luhansk.—AP

BANGKOK—Thai army takes the windout of red shirts’ sails Red shirt leaderKritsanapong Phrombuengram standing infront of the doors of a Chiang Mai hotelraided by soldiers after the coup.

Tight surveillance and pre-emptivedetentions have snuffed out mass resis-tance to the May 22 coup by the Thai mili-tary.

It has also left regional leaders of thecountry’s anti-coup red shirt network re-flecting on their inability to sustain theirmovement.

Under the weight of martial law, theuprising vowed by red shirt leaders up-country - where the movement draws mostof its support - has melted away. Someleaders partly blame themselves for this.

Pichit Tamool, a red shirt leader inChiang Mai province, a stronghold of theousted government, told The StraitsTimes: “It was a mistake to let our sup-porters rely too much on their leaders fordirection. They couldn’t do anything bythemselves.”

The United Front for DemocracyAgainst Dictatorship (UDD), a red shirtumbrella group, relied on key figures tomobilise their supporters, he said. It wasneutered when troops rounded up regionalleaders countrywide within hours of thecoup.

While flash mobs of protesters havebeen playing cat and mouse games withsoldiers in Bangkok, north and north-east-

Thai army dampens red shirts’ volcanic sails

ern Thailand have seen mere squeaks ofanti- coup activity.

The junta has warned againstcriticising the coup, and stationed troopsat important rallying points to head offdemonstrations. Political gatherings offive or more people have been declaredillegal.

On the day of the coup, Pichit remem-bered receiving dozens of phone calls fromsupporters, after he was detained by themilitary in Chiang Mai. “They asked mewhat to do,” he said. “I told them to de-cide for themselves.”

In the end, just under 100 people inChiang Mai turned up for a protest on thefirst two days after the coup, a stark con-trast to the thousands Pichit could regu-larly mobilise for rallies.

“The people were so afraid they didn’tcome out,” he said. “We had top leaders,regional leaders, and then provincial lead-ers. But when the leader in every layerwas taken, it collapsed.”

In Phayao, a northern province thathas its own “red shirt district”, fearhas also taken root. Local red shirtleader Siriwat Japamata has asked hiscompatriots to lie low until martiallaw is lifted. “We have to stay safe,”he said. “There’s no way for us to re-sist now.”

The red shirt movement grew out ofthe 2006 military coup that ousted thenPrime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The

controversial billionaire turned politicianendeared himself to the rural masses withsignature policies like universal healthcare but alarmed the royalist elite by up-setting the old patronage-based politicalorder.

Not all the red shirts support Thaksin,who lives abroad to evade a jail sentencefor a graft-related conviction. But theyclose ranks to protect electoral democracyin a country where governments have beenregularly overthrown by the military. Thekingdom has witnessed no fewer than 19attempted coups - and 12 successful ones- since 1932.

In 2010, the red shirts rallied inBangkok for months to pressure the thenDemocrat-led government to hold elec-tions. This led to a bloody military crack-down that killed more than 90 people.

More recently, the UDD massed thou-sands of supporters at the western edge ofBangkok, to oppose any attempt to topplethe Thaksin-linked Puea Thai government.This raised fears of a possible confronta-tion between them and thousands of anti-government protesters who had occupiedthe inner reaches of the capital for months.

In hindsight, it was probably awrong move, said Mr KritsanapongPhrombuengram, a red shirt leaderfrom the Rak Chiang Mai 51 faction.

“If not for the rally, the military wouldnot have had the pretext to stage a coup,”he said.—ANN

HANOI—Vietnamese Fisheries SurveillanceDepartment (VSFD) staff has reported high-ca-pacity Chinese vessels in waters around theHaiyang Shiyou-981 rig, which is illegally stand-ing in Viet Nam’s waters.

They said the vessels had bulbous bowsand were accompanied by two Chinese coast-guard ships. Together with Chinese fishingvessels, they kept on hampering Vietnamesevessels, occasionally throwing stones andbottles.

China still has a fleet of between 110-115ships around the rig, including about 40 coast-guard vessels, about 30 cargo ships and tugboats,35-40 fishing vessels and four military ships.

The Vietnamese surveillance departmentsaid Chinese ships continued to operate in groupsto prevent Vietnamese law-enforcement shipsfrom approaching the rig.

They blasted sirens, fired water cannons andshowed they were ready to ram Vietnamese ves-

sels any time, the department said.However, Vietnamese law-enforcement

ships persistently maintained their positionsabout 9-11 nautical miles from the rig.

Vietnamese fishermen continued to trawl forfish about 25-20 nautical miles from the rig, thedepartment said.

VN mission replies to ChinaEarlier on Thursday, the Vietnamese delegationto the United Nations and the World TradeOrganisation in Geneva sent a note protestingagainst China’s actions to other WTO and UNcountries.

The messages updated developments onChina’s illegal placement of an oil rig andprovocative actions in Viet Nam’s exclusiveeconomic zone and continental shelf.

The note demanded China immediately andunconditionally withdraw the rig and compen-sate for losses caused to the Vietnamese side.—ANN

TOKYO—Arrangements arebeing made for a visit to Japanby Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi in early July, ithas been learned.

Government officials fromboth Japan and India told TheYomiuri Shimbun of the newlyinaugurated Indian primeminister’s planned trip to Ja-pan on Thursday. He will likelymeet with Prime MinisterShinzo Abe while staying inJapan.

Since the time Modi servedas chief minister of the west-ern state of Gujarat, he hasbeen known as a politicianfriendly to Japan, having beenproactive in inviting Japanesecorporate investment to India.

Modi has given top prior-ity to rebuilding the economy

Modi to visit Japanin early July

of India, where annual growthhas dropped to around 4 per-cent. He is thought to put greatweight on relations with Japan,seeing the future of bilateralcooperation between the coun-tries as promising, according tothe Japanese officials.

On his visit to Japan, Modiand Abe are expected to dis-cuss a range of topics of inter-est to both countries, accord-ing to the officials. These in-clude the following:

—Accelerating bilateraltalks, resumed last year, towardthe early conclusion of a Japan-India atomic energy coopera-tion agreement.

—Exporting the MaritimeSelf-Defense Force’s US-2amphibious search and rescueaircraft to India.—ANN.

Iraq gunmen takevarsity, students

held hostagesB A G H D A D — M i l i t a n t sstormed a university filled withhundreds of students in Iraq’srestive Anbar province Satur-day, briefly taking studentshostage before withdrawingfrom the school amid gunfire,officials and witnesses said.

The attack on Anbar Uni-versity comes as Islamic ex-tremists and other anti-govern-ment militias have held parts ofthe nearby provincial capital ofRamadi and the city of Fallujahsince December amid risingtensions between Sunni Mus-lims and the Shiite-led govern-ment in Baghdad. While shell-ing and gunbattles continuebetween the militants and gov-ernment-allied forces, theschool largely has been leftalone while civilians fled theviolence.

That changed early Saturdaymorning as the gunmen killedthree police officers on guard atthe university’s gate, a police anda military official said. The gun-men then detained dozens of stu-dents inside a university dorm,the officials said. Sabah Karhout,the head of Anbar’s provincialcouncil, told reporters that hun-dreds of students were inside theuniversity compound when theattack started.

Ahmed al-Mehamdi, a stu-dent who was taken hostage,said he awoke to the crackle ofgunfire, looked out the windowand saw armed men dressed inblack racing across the campus.Minutes later, the gunmen en-tered the dormitory and orderedeverybody to stay in theirrooms while taking othersaway, he said.

The Shiite students at theschool were terrified, al-Mehamdi said, as the gunmenidentified themselves as be-longing to an al-Qaida splin-ter group known as the Is-lamic State of Iraq and theLevant.

The Sunni terror group,fighting in Syria with otherrebels trying to topple Presi-dent Bashar Assad, is knownfor massive, bloody attacks inIraq as well often targetingShiites that they view as her-etics.

The Islamic State did notimmediately claim the attackon the school, which says it hasmore than 10,000 students,making it one of the country’slargest.

Several hours later, gun-men left the university underunclear circumstances.—AP

Balouchistan Deputy Gov-ernor General in the provin-cial capital city of Zahedan.In May, Iran and Pakistansigned 9 MoUs in a bid tofurther expand mutual coop-eration in various fields ofsecurity.

The MoUs were signedbetween Iranian First VicePresident Eshaq Jahangiriand Pakistani Prime Minis-ter Mohammad NawazSharif in Tehran at the time.According to the MoUs,the two sides agreed to setup a joint committee on bor-der issues.

They also agreed toboost cooperation in theirfight against terrorism,drugs trafficking andmoney-laundering.—INP

Iran, PakistanFrom Page 1

NEW DELHI—In a new anti-Naxalite strategybeing readied by government, bureaucrats andsecurity personnel operating in Maoist-hit ar-eas may get special monetary benefits, out-of-turn promotions and choice posting after thecompletion of their tenure in these “danger-ous” places. Flagging Naxalite areas as the‘most dangerous zone’ in the country, the gov-ernment will enhance hardship allowance givento paramilitary personnel deployed in theseplaces more than what they get while servingin Jammu & Kashmir and Northeastern region.

At present, a paramilitary constable serv-ing in J&K gets around Rs 8,000 per month inaddition to his or her normal salary and otherentitlements.

The broad contours of the new strategywas discussed during a meeting convened byhome minister Rajnath Singh to review the stepsbeing taken to check the Maoist menace, offi-cial sources said, adding the incentives areaimed at attracting talented IAS and IPS offic-ers to work in Naxalite-hit areas. In anothermove, the new government has decided tochange the name of its Naxal Management di-vision in the home ministry to Left Wing Ex-tremism division.

As Naxal is a very restricted term, the newgovernment wants to give a much broader no-

menclature, a senior home ministry official said.Rajnath Singh has emphasized that the moraleof the forces should be kept high and devel-opment will take place only when there is animprovement in security situation.

The policy change appears to have beeninspired by the American model which givesits troops a choice posting besides special in-centives like danger pay, imminent danger pay,hardship duty pay, hazardous duty pay, pre-mium pay rest and recuperation travel allow-ance while serving in countries like Afghani-stan, Pakistan and Iran. The home minister,along with minister of state for home KirenRijiju, were briefed about various aspects ofleft wing extremism and the steps being takento control it. Singh also emphasized on com-pleting the existing development projects inNaxalite-hit areas, including construction of5,000km roads at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore andsetting up of 2,199 mobile phone towers at acost of Rs 3,000 crore. Singh promised to en-sure regular flow of funds for all developmentprojects. He asked the officials to review thepolicy under which forest lands are given tolandless tribals so that ‘pattas’ can be given togenuine applicants after showing leniency.Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar are amongthe nine worst Maoist-affected states.—PTI

Modi govt to tackle Maoism withincentives, benefits for troops

Altaf Hussainrestores two MQM

leaders’ membershipLONDON—Muttahida QaumiMovement (MQM) leaderAltaf Hussain’s bail in money-laundering case Saturday her-alded a bailout for suspendedparty leaders. Altaf Hussain ina telephonic meeting with theheads of different sections atMQM headquarters NineZero announced that he wasrestoring the membership ofAnees Advocate and SaleemShehzad.

Both these leaders weresuspended last year for vio-lating party’s code of con-duct. “I am grateful to every-one for standing by me in theordeal. I salute you all for allthe pains you took for me”,said he while talking to partymembers. He also praised theparty leaders for showingsuch a commendable disci-pline throughout the protestrallies staged to express soli-darity with him.—INP

SMIU admissionsto begin

from tomorrowKARACHI—The admissionsto various BS, MS and Di-ploma Programmes at SindhMadressatul Islam Univer-sity (SMIU) will commencefrom Monday, June 9, saysa statement issued, here onSaturday. The admissionswere offered for four year BSin Computer Science, MediaStudies, Environmental Sci-ences, Education, Account-ing and Finance and Busi-ness Administration.

Similarly, two year MSwas offered in ComputerScience, Media Studies, En-vironmental Sciences, Edu-cation and ManagementSciences. The universityhad offered MBA for 1 yearand 5 month, 2-year and 6month and 3 years and 5month, respectively, de-pending upon the earliereducational background ofthe candidates.

One year diplomaprogrammes are offered inEducational Managementand Early Childhood Devel-opment. —APP

Muslim Brotherhood lastJuly.

It said in April it had li-censed more than 17,000state-approved clerics togive Friday sermons to stopmosques from falling “intothe hands of extremists.” Italso disclosed it had re-moved 12,000 unapprovedpreachers.

According to the de-cree, “only designated spe-cialists at the Ministry of Re-ligious Endowments andauthorized preachers fromal-Azhar shall be permittedto practice public preachingand religious lessons inmosques or similar publicplaces.”

Only al-Azhar officialsand graduates as wellpreachers from the minis-try or the grand mufti’s of-f ice wil l be al lowed towear the trademark “tur-ban” - a red hat with awhite cloth band - androbes that designate an al-Azhar cleric, it said.

Unauthorized preach-ers face fines, jail terms upto a year and fines up to50,000 Egyptian pounds($7,000).

Wearing or denigratingal-Azhar garments in anyway will carry similar pen-alties, it added.—Reuters

Egypt bansFrom Page 1

Agency, which killed one security officialand injured two others. The dead body andinjured personnel were shifted to nearbyhospital. Some reports say a group of se-curity personals were on patrolling whentargeted by the road side explosion. TheSecurity forces cordoned off the area andstarted search operation.

In second incident another security of-ficial was killed, several injured at a remotesecurity post near Pak-Afghan border inBajaur Agency. ”Two soldiers embracedShahadat in Bajaur agency on Saturdaymorning in two IED explosion planted bythe terrorists along road side one each inBara Kamrang area and near a Pakistani poston Pak Afghan border”. The ISPR said.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor,Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan has stronglycondemned landmine blasts in different ar-eas of Bajaur Agency and expressed hisdeep shock and sorrow over the loss ofprecious lives of security personnel. Ex-pressing his deep sympathies with mem-bers of the bereaved families, the Governorsaid that the immortal sacrifices of the of-ficers and jawans of our security forces forthe security of the country will never go invain and will always be remembered withgreat pride. “The elements involved in theheinous crime, will not remain at large andwill be brought to book and justice. He alsoprayed for eternal peace of the departedsouls and courage to the bereaved familiesto bear the irreparable loss with patience.He has also wished early recovery of theinjured

In the meanwhile a grand tribal Jirga re-quested the government on Saturday tostop “unannounced military operations” inNorth Waziristan Agency. In a jointcommuniqué issued here Saturday the Jirgamembers said after ‘successful’ talks withthe government in Peshawar, most factionsof the Taliban in North Waziristan have

given the Jirga a mandate to seek peace inthe agency.

The Jirga called upon all the parties toestablish peace in accordance with thepeace agreement signed in 2006 while con-tinuing efforts to resume peace talks. TheJirga also requested for the relaxation ofthe curfew imposed in the agency. The Jirga,statement added, will initiate dialogue withvarious factions of the Taliban upon its re-turn to Bannu. It may be recalled that onJune 6, a heated debate between the 65-member tribal Jirga and Peshawar CorpsCommander reached the conclusion thattribal elders will play their role in restoringpeace in North Waziristan within 15 days.

The Jirga comprising 65 elders ofUthmanzai, Wazir and Dawar tribes fromNorth Waziristan, led by Haji SherMuhammad, the successor of the Faqir ofIpi, met with Corps Commander LieutenantGeneral Khalid Rabbani to discuss militaryaction in North Waziristan Agency. Theyalso held meeting with the KhyberPukhtunkhwa Governor Sardar MehtabAbbasi. The Jirga assured the governmentthat they would make efforts to restorepeace in the region through negotiation.The tribal elders from North Waziristan wereon Friday given a 15-day deadline to expelforeign fighters from the region. The grandJirga was also told that military action willbe taken if peace in the North Waziristanregion is not established within 15 days.The Jirga was also told to ensure safety ofgovernment installations and the convoysof security forces. Governor Mehtab calledupon tribal elders to come forward and playa role to restore peace in tribal areas. Hesaid that restoration of peace in tribal areasis a pre-requisite for progress and develop-ment of the country. Certainly repatriationof IDPs, progress and development are im-possible without peace in Fata.

2 soldiers martyredFrom Page 1

“Some mechanism needs tobe set up to expedite theprocurement process,” hesaid.

“This government iscommitted to national secu-rity and we feel the red tapeinvolved in purchase of de-fence equipments must becut down,” Jaitley said onthe sidelines of a ceremonyto commission twocoastguard ships. “Balanc-ing the resource constraintand making available all theresources that are requiredfor national security is go-ing to be the approach ofthe government,” Jaitley,who is also finance minis-ter, said.

Jaitley said coastal secu-rity topped the priorities ofthe government and induc-tion of new vessels wouldhelp Coast Guard officialssecure the coastline.—AFP

which was accepted and hewas released from police sta-tion. Earlier, Altaf Hussainwas transferred to the po-lice station on Friday afterdischarging from the hospi-tal. According to reports,doctors had termed AltafHussain’s angiography re-ports satisfactory, followingwhich, the Scotland Yard de-cided to move MQM chiefto the station again. Policesources said Hussain wasreleased on a personal bailwithout any charges framedagainst him with the condi-tion that he would appearbefore authorities wheneverrequired.

Soon after he was re-leased, he addressed via tele-phone his party lawmakersand workers who were par-

Altaf released on bailFrom Page 1

Punjab seeks CPSP coop forbetter health facilities

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Advisor to ChiefMinister Punjab on HealthKhawaja Salman Rafique haslauded the services of Col-lege of Physicians & Sur-geons Pakistan (CPSP) atnational and internationallevel and sought its coopera-tion for extending betterhealth facilities to the masses.

Speaking at a function ofthe College of Physicians &Surgeons Pakistan inLahore, Khawaja Salmansaid, “The services of CPSPare exemplary at nationaland international level. Thebenefit from the services ofspecialist doctors and su-pervisors can be obtainedthrough better liaison be-tween CPSP and Govern-ment of the Punjab.” In thisway better facilities can beprovided to the masses. Thenation can be served by us-ing the latest technology inthe field of medical profes-sion in a better way, he said.

President CPSP Prof.

Zafar Ullah Chaudhry saidon the occasion that theCPSP is trying to providespecialist doctors through-out the country. The stan-dard of medical research andeducation will improve withthe launch of essential creditpoints, he said, adding: “Allstandard facilities along withinformation technology willbe provided at all regionalcenters.”

Prof. Khalid MasoodGondal, DGIR, CPSP, threw lighton the national and interna-tional services of CPSP. He saidrecognition of CPSP degree inSaudi Arabia is a result of fel-lows and supervisors untiringefforts. He said new fivestoreys building at RegionalCenter will be completed in sixmonths. The new block willconsist of workshop halls, skilllab and residences for examin-ers. Prof. Ijaz Ahsan, ex-Presi-dent, CPSP, appreciated thefounder President of CPSP Gen.W. A. Burki and the presentcouncil and wished to continuethe journey of success.

BAGHDAD—In the northern city of Mosul,heavy fighting between militants and se-curity forces entered its second day onSaturday, killing 21 police and 38 militants,an officer and mortuary employee said.

Fighting erupted in Mosul on Fridaymorning and continued into the night, whiletwin suicide bombings targeted a minoritygroup east of the city, and soldiers shot deadsuicide bombers to its south. At least 36people were killed in Friday’s violence inMosul and elsewhere in Nineveh province.

A day earlier, militants seized severalparts of Samarra in a major assault that wasonly repelled after house-to-house fight-ing and helicopter strikes in which dozensdied. A crisis broke out in the desert prov-ince of Anbar, west of Baghdad, in Decem-ber when security forces dismantled a

CAIRO—An Egyptian court sen-tenced 10 supporters of the outlawedMuslim Brotherhood to death in ab-sentia on Saturday but postponedsentencing of its leader and other se-nior members tried in the case, judicialsources said. Those sentenced wereconvicted on charges including incit-ing violence and blocking a major roadnorth of Cairo during protests after thearmy toppled Islamist PresidentMohamed Mursi last July.

All 10 were assumed to be in hid-ing amid a state crackdown on thegroup since Mursi’s ouster. One ofthose sentenced was Abdul Rahmanal-Barr, a member of the Brotherhood’sGuidance Council, the movement’sexecutive board. Mohamed Abdel-Maqsoud, a well-known Salafipreacher who fled to Qatar after Mursiwas toppled, was also sentenced inabsentia.

Death sentence recommendationsin Egypt are passed on to thecountry’s grand mufti, the highest re-ligious authority, for his review. Thecourt can ignore his opinion and itsrulings can be appealed. Judge HassanFareed said the verdict for the rest ofthe defendants would be announcedat a hearing on July 5.

Those 38 defendants include theIslamist movement’s General GuideMohamed Badie and senior memberMohamed El-Beltagy, along with formerministers from Mursi’s government.“Down with the military court!” shoutedthe defendants in the courtroom.

Speaking from the cage where de-fendants are held in Egyptian court-rooms, Beltagy yelled condemnationsagainst the judiciary, which he saidwas serving Egypt’s militarized state.He wore the dark uniform worn bydefendants already sentenced in other

trials. He was given a one-year prisonsentence in April for insulting the ju-diciary, the first sentence handed to aleader of the organisation since it wasoutlawed.

Egypt’s biggest political force un-til last year, the Brotherhood has beendriven underground and declared aterrorist organisation. Badie wasamong 683 people sentenced to deathin April. Hundreds of Brotherhoodsupporters and members of the secu-rity forces have been killed sinceMursi’s ouster and thousands de-tained by security forces.

Secular activists are also in jail. TheNew York-based Committee to ProtectJournalists said last month 16 journal-ists were imprisoned in Egypt. The mili-tary-backed government in place sinceMursi’s ouster accuses the Brother-hood of turning to violence. The groupdenies that accusation.—Reuters

Egypt court sentences 10Brotherhood supporters to death

longstanding Sunni Arab protest campnear provincial capital Ramadi.

Anti-government fighters subsequentlyseized control of parts of Ramadi and all ofFallujah, to its east, and security forceshave so far failed to drive them out. TheUnited Nations said on Friday that the con-flict in Anbar is believed to have forcednearly 480,000 people from their homes.

They join some 1.1 million others dis-placed by past years of violence in Iraq.More than 900 people were killed last month,according to figures separately compiledby the United Nations and the government.

So far this year, more than 4,300 peoplehave been killed, according to AFP figures.Officials blame external factors for the ris-ing bloodshed, particularly the civil war inneighbouring Syria.—AFP

59 killed in northernIraq fighting

ticipating in a sit-in protestat Karachi’s NumaishChowrangi against theirleader’s arrest in London.Hussain commended theparticipants of the sit-in fortheir passion and commit-ment, adding that truth mustalways be spoken.

The MQM chief said hehad remained patientthroughout his recent ordealand did not beg for his free-dom. He further said that heand his party knew how tostand up to oppression.Hussain also thanked PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif andformer president Asif AliZardari.

He also expressed hisgratitude for the PakistanPeoples Party (PPP) for con-demning his arrest and also

thanked Tahirul Qadri,Chaudhry Shujaat andPervez Musharraf.

He admitted that the Pa-kistani prime minister hadplayed a positive role in thematter and expressed his de-termination that, if neces-sary, he would be preparedto sacrifice his life for truth.Hussain also thanked trad-ers, transporters, scholarsand artists for supportingthe MQM during a difficulttime. He also said that allformer colleagues who wereangry with the MQM havebeen forgiven. The MQMchief directed his support-ers to end their protests andconcluded his speech bypraying for Pakistan’s deliv-erance from all internal andexternal dangers.—NNI

Indian govt aimsto step updefence

procurementFrom Page 1

Zuma inhospital formedi-testsJOHANNESBURGSouth AfricanPresident Jacob Zuma wasadmitted to a hospital fortests on Saturday, anddoctors are satisfied withhis condition, his officesaid. The announcementcame two weeks afterZuma was inaugurated fora second five-year termfollowing the electionvictory last month of theruling African NationalCongress party. “Yester-day President Zuma wasadvised to rest following ademanding election andtransition program to thenew administration,” hisoffice said in a statement.No further details weregiven. In a separatestatement on Friday,Zuma’s office said thepresident would take a fewdays off from publicengagements whilecontinuing to perform officialduties from home. —AP

Tutu leadspro-democracycrusadeJOHANNESBURG—South African Nobel peacelaureate Desmond Tutuand a raft of human rightsorganisations have signedan open letter demandingreforms from Swaziland’sKing Mswati III, denounc-ing arbitrary arrests andprosecutions. “We write toexpress our concern aboutthe state of freedom ofexpression, judicialindependence, and the ruleof law in the Kingdom ofSwaziland,” reads theletter, whose authenticity aTutu spokesman con-firmed Friday.—AFP

Morgan inICU after 6vehicles crashWA S H I N G T O N—The actorand comedianTracy Morgan was criti-cally injured early on Sat-urday after the limousinebus in which he was ridingwas hit by a tractor-trailerin a six-vehicle accident onthe New Jersey Turnpike,the State Police said. Atleast one person was killedin the crash, which oc-curred about 1 a.m., theState Police said, on thenorthbound side of theturnpike in Cranbury Town-ship in Middlesex County,about 45 miles from NewYork City. The person wasnot immediately identified.Sgt. Gregory Williams of theState Police said that Mr.Morgan, 45, a former “Sat-urday Night Live” and “30Rock” cast member, hadbeen a passenger in the lim-ousine bus, which over-turned after being struck bythe tractor-trailer.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stands at right as U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and New Zealand’s Gover-nor-General Jerry Mateparae guides Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II to her position for a group photo, with FrenchPresident Francois Hollande, in the background, talking with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as they take partin commemorations for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, in Benouville in Normandy, France.

WASHINGTON–The US space agencyNASA has been warned that its mis-sion to send humans to Mars willfail unless its revamps its methodsand draws up a clear, well-plannedstrategy to conquer the red planet.

The National Research Councilsaid in a congressionally-mandatedreport that Washington should use“stepping stones” to achieve its goalof a manned flight to Mars.

This could involve exploring anasteroid, building a moon outpostor building more international coop-eration with countries like China.

“To continue on the presentcourse... is to invite failure, disillu-sionment and the loss of thelongstanding international percep-tion that human spaceflight is some-thing the United States does best,”said the NRC’s 286-page report.

NASA warned plan to send humans to Mars may failNASA welcomed the report’s

findings, saying it was consistentwith the agency’s Mars plan ap-proved by Congress and PresidentBarack Obama’s administration.

It promised to “thoroughly re-view the report and all of its recom-mendations” but insisted that it wasworthwhile to set a goal of walkingon Mars to set the bar high for other,parallel projects.“The horizon goalfor human space exploration is Mars.All long-range space programs, byall potential partners, for humanspace exploration converge on thisgoal,” it said in a statement.

“A sustainable program of hu-man deep space exploration musthave an ultimate, ‘horizon’ goal thatprovides a long-term focus that isless likely to be disrupted by majortechnological failures and accidents

along the way and the vagaries ofthe political process and economicscene.”To date the world’s spaceagencies have only managed to sendunmanned robotic rovers to Mars,the latest being NASA’s $2.5 billionCuriosity rover, which toucheddown in August 2012.

The US space agency’s olderOpportunity rover has been in op-eration for more than 10 years.

But advancing human explora-tion into the outer reaches of spacewill require decades of work, hun-dreds of billions of dollars of fund-ing and “significant risk to humanlife,” according to the NRC report.

That, the report said, makes itimpossible for the United States togo to Mars within the current USspace budget. Instead, it called forincreased cooperation with other

nations, including with space rivalChina, as well as funding from theprivate sector and other sources.

Current federal law bars NASAfrom participating in bilateral pro-grams with China, which the NationalResearch Council warned “reducessubstantially the potential interna-tional capability that might be pooledto reach Mars.”“Given the rapid de-velopment of China’s capabilities inspace, it is in the best interests ofthe United States to be open to fu-ture international partnerships.”

The report’s authors said thatreturning to the moon would fosterbetter international cooperationgiven the interest about the desti-nation in other countries, and sucha mission would help develop tech-nology to land and eventually liveon Mars.—AFP

MOSCOW/KIEV—Russian PresidentVladimir Putin on Saturday ordered theborder service to reinforce the stateborder with Ukraine, the Kremlin pressservice told Russian news agencies.

Putin issued the order for borderguards to take all necessary measuresto prevent illegal crossings, Russiannews agencies reported.

Kiev said Thursday that it hadabandoned three border postsneighbouring Russia in the volatileLugansk region of eastern Ukraineafter attacks by separatists.

It has also said that fighters areentering Ukraine frequently from Rus-sia, some having travelled from theNorth Caucasus region.

Russian Prime Minister DmitryMedvedev said Thursday that thou-sands of Ukrainians are fleeing thecombat zone into bordering Russianregions and 4,000 have sought refu-gee status.

But Ukraine’s border service saidthat no Ukrainian had requested refu-gee status at the border with Russiaand that the numbers of travellers en-tering and leaving the country were

Putin orders guards toreinforce Ukraine border

Kiev’s new leader stands up to Moscow over Crimea, Europeroughly equal.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s new presi-dent Petro Poroshenko said his coun-try would never give up Crimea andwould not compromise on its path to-wards closer ties with Europe, spell-ing out a defiant message to Russia inhis inaugural speech on Saturday.

The 48-year-old billionaire tookthe oath of office before parliament,buoyed by Western support but fac-ing a crisis in relations with Russia asa separatist uprising seethes in theeast of his country.

Russia annexed the Crimean pen-insula in March, weeks after streetprotests ousted Poroshenko’s pro-Moscow predecessor ViktorYanukovich, in a move that has pro-voked the deepest crisis in relationswith the West since the Cold War.

“Citizens of Ukraine will never en-joy the beauty of peace unless wesettle our relations with Russia. Rus-sia occupied Crimea, which was, is,and will be, Ukrainian soil,”Poroshenko said in a speech that drewa standing ovation. He said he haddelivered that message to Russian

President Vladimir Putin when the twomet on Friday at a World War Twoanniversary ceremony in France.

There is no prospect of Russia re-versing its takeover of Crimea, but inwhat could be a positive signal fromMoscow, Russian news agencies re-ported Putin had ordered the FederalSecurity Service to strengthen protec-tion of the border with Ukraine andprevent people crossing illegally.

The move was potentially signifi-cant because Ukraine and Westerngovernments have been pressingMoscow to stop what they say is aflow of Russian arms and fighters intoeastern Ukraine.

Russia denies it is backing theuprising but journalists have encoun-tered Russian nationals among theseparatist ranks.

Poroshenko, who earned his for-tune as a confectionery entrepre-neur and is known locally as the“Chocolate King”, said he intendedto sign the economic part of an as-sociation deal with the EuropeanUnion as a step towards full mem-bership.—AFP/Reuters

KABUL—Flooding in a remote part ofnorthern Afghanistan has claimed more than50 lives and forced thousands to flee theirhomes, a provincial official said on Satur-day.

The authorities in Guzargah-e-Nur saidthe death toll could climb to 100 and calledfor emergency assistance from the centralgovernment.

It was the latest in a string of deadlyflash floods, landslides and avalanches inAfghanistan’s rugged northern mountains,where roads are poor and many villages arevirtually cut off from the rest of the coun-try.

Lt. Fazel Rahman, the police chief in theGuzirga i-Nur district of the northeasternBaghlan province, said 54 bodies have beenrecovered, including the remains of womenand children, but many others are still miss-ing. He said the death toll could climb to100 and called for emergency assistancefrom the central government.

“So far no one has come to help us.People are trying to find their missing fam-ily members,” Rahman said, adding that thedistrict’s police force was overstretched bythe scale of the disaster.

Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, spokes-man for the Afghan Defence Ministry, saidtwo Army helicopters have been sent tothe area to provide assistance.

The Afghanistan Natural Disaster Man-agement Authority (ANDMA) has stock-

Afghan floods renderover 50 dead,

thousands homelesspiles of food and other supplies in Baghlanprovince and has started the process ofshipping them to the affected area, saidMohammad Aslim Sayas, deputy directorof the agency.

He said a delegation has been sent tothe affected villages to assess needs.Guzirga i-Nur district is located more than140 kilometres north of the provincial capi-tal Puli Khumri.

Jawed Basharat, the spokesman for theBaghlan provincial police, said they wereaware of the flooding, but that it would takeeight to nine hours for them to reach thearea by road.Afghans living in the northern mountainshave largely been spared from the country’sdecades of war, but are no strangers to natu-ral disasters.

Last month a landslide triggered byheavy rain buried large sections of a re-mote northeastern village in theBadakhshan province bordering China, dis-placing some 700 families. Authorities haveyet to provide an exact figure on the num-ber of dead from the May 2 landslide, andestimates have ranged from 250 to 2,700.Officials say it will be impossible to dig upall the bodies.

A landslide in Baghlan province in2012 killed 71 people. After days of diggingunearthed only five bodies, authorities de-cided to halt the recovery effort and turnthe area into a memorial for the dead.—AP

WASHINGTON — The U.S.announced Saturday that it issending two top negotiatorsto Geneva for direct talks withIranian officials over Tehran’snuclear programme.

The discussions involv-ing Deputy Secretary of StateWilliam Burns andUndersecretary of State forPolitical Affairs WendySherman are set for Mondayand Tuesday.

An interim deal reachedin November by Iran and sixworld powers — the U.S.,Russia, China, Britain, Franceand Germany — limited Iran’suranium enrichment program.In exchange, some penaltiesimposed against Iran wereeased. But sanctions such asthose targeting Iran’s oil im-ports, have remained in place.Those nuclear talks are sched-uled to resume June 16. There’san informal deadline of July 20for a comprehensive deal.

Iran’s official IRNA newsagency said the upcomingU.S. talks would be followedby separate discussions inRome between Iranian andRussian officials on Tuesdayand Wednesday. IRNAquoted Abbas Araqchi, a se-nior member of Iran’s nuclear

US officials to hold directtalks on Iran nukes

negotiating team, as sayingthat the Islamic Republicplanned to hold other bilat-eral talks as well with the otherworld powers, but those meet-ings had yet to be set.

Iran insists its program isfor peaceful energy and medi-cal research purposes. Much

122 ‘missingpersons’ tracedin BalochistanOBSERVER REPORT

QUETTA—A total of 122‘missing persons’ weretraced and recovered inBalochistan during thelast three years, an officialof Home and Tribal AffairsDepartment said Saturday.

Requesting anonymityas he was not authorisedto speak to media, the of-ficial said that the ‘miss-ing persons’ belonged toBaloch nationalist groups.He, however, informedthat according to officialrecords, 143 cases of miss-ing persons were stillpending before the ‘miss-ing persons’ commissionand the Supreme Court.

The commission, con-stituted on the directivesof the apex court fouryears ago, has so far dis-posed of more than 600cases, according to an an-nouncement made in May.

According to the offi-cial, 52 cases of missingpersons were disposed offby the commission and theapex court owing to lackof evidence and neces-sary documents.

S I A L K O T — P a k i s t a nTehreek-i-Insaf chief ImranKhan on Saturday nightclaimed that the May 11general elections last yearwere the biggest fraud in thecountry’s history. Speakingto a rally organised here toprotest against alleged rig-ging in last year’s polls, hesaid the people were look-ing at the judiciary to getjustice, adding that theywould be justified to go outon the streets if they weredeprived of this fundamen-tal right.

Pointing towards al-leged rigging in several con-stituencies and typing mis-takes by the Election Com-mission of Pakistan (ECP),Khan demanded of ‘the freejudges of the country’ todeliver justice. He alsopointed out sacrifices givenby the PTI for the free judi-ciary.

Assailing the ruling Pa-kistan Muslim League-N forbeing hesitant in investigat-ing the alleged rigging, thePTI chief said the govern-ment was scared about itsfuture.

He reiterated that thevote went to some while theseats went to another. The

Imran claims 2013 polls ‘biggestfraud’ in Pakistan’s historyBudget 2014-15 is only for the rich

cricketer-turned-politicianalleged that the DPOHafizabad ran the electioncampaign for the PML-N.

The rally administrationplayed an audio recordingas a proof.

“System of oppressioncannot go any further … wewill go to courts and comeout on the streets as well,”he added.

“People faced jails andharassments; I also spent 8days in jail. People are look-ing at you. The biggestfraud in the history of thecountry was May 11’s elec-tion.” PTI chief asked the

judiciary what side they areon.

Quoting HamidZaman’s case, he said thatPTI leader spent 57 lakhrupees to gain justice andhe has been wanderingaround for a year now.

“Tell me HonourableJustice where shouldpeople like us and HamidZaman would go if we don’tget justice?” he asked.

Talking about federalbudget for the fiscal year2014-2015, he said that thisbudget is business-centric,claiming that it benefitsonly rich. “You should allknow by now that thisyear’s budget is only forrich people. It’s for thosewho earn billions of rupeesand evade tax. This budgetis not for labourers andfarmers and poor house-holds,” he said.“This budget is for no oneother than a small segmentof society. Until you allstruggle for it, there will beno real democracy in thecountry. Those who gainfrom the budget are thosewho embezzled the moneyand sent it abroad. Whowill bring this moneyback?”

of the world fears Iran may betrying to develop nuclearweapons. The new face-to-face talks come as the dead-line approaches for worldpowers and Iran to trans-late their interim nuclearagreement into a compre-hensive deal.—AP

BOTH psoriasis patients and the peoplewho live with them say psoriasis negatively impacts their quality of life, ac-

cording to a new study. And both groups tendto report more depression and anxiety thanpeople not affected by the condition.

About 7.5 millionAmericans have psoriasis,which is characterized byitchy, painful plaques on theskin. Previous research hasfound that people with pso-riasis have a higher risk ofcardiovascular and autoim-mune diseases and developmore infections than thosewithout psoriasis. The con-dition has also been linkedto psychiatric disorders.

“The number of stud-ies per year about qualityof life in psoriasis keepsgrowing year after year andthanks to these studies weknow that psoriatic pa-tients have an impairmentof their quality of life aswell as higher levels ofanxiety and depression, feelings of stigma-tization, higher risk of suicidality and loweremployment rate, among other problems,”Dr. Eliseo Martinez-Garcia told ReutersHealth in an email.

Martinez-Garcia is a dermatologist atVirgen de las Nieves University Hospital inGranada, Spain and the lead author of the newstudy. “However, very few studies have ad-dressed how this problem can affect (the)people who live with these patients, and noneof them had evaluated globally quality of life,anxiety and depression,” Martinez-Garcia said.“The impact of the dermatological conditionson patients’ cohabitants has been largely ig-

nored.”The researchers had noticed that co-

habitants of patients had difficulty cop-ing with issues related to psoriasis, likehaving to avoid activities such as travelor social meetings, as well as spending

time every day to help thepatient with treatment. Totake a more scientific look,they studied 130 adults: 34people with psoriasis, 49people who lived with pso-riasis patients and 47 healthypeople who did not live withpsoriasis patients, to serve asa comparison group.

The impact of psoriasis onquality of life was measuredwith 10-question surveystaken by the patients and thecohabitants. Depression andanxiety were measured withseparate surveys completed bymembers of all three groups.The researchers found thatpsoriasis impaired the qualityof life of 88 percent of the co-habitants and that their qual-

ity of life scores were closely linked withthe scores of the patients.

One-third of cohabitants reported beinghighly affected by the psoriasis and only afew felt no effect. Anxiety and depressionlevels did not differ between patients andcohabitants, but were significantly higherthan levels seen in the comparison group,according to findings published in the Jour-nal of the American Academy of Dermatol-ogy.

“A lot of psoriatic patients that are notdoing any treatment would be surprisedabout how much their condition could beimproved,” Martinez-Garcia said.

Psoriasis linked to worse qualityof life for family members, too

LIAQAT TOOR

ISLAMABAD—It was one ofthe hottest days on Friday inIslamabad when mercury shotup to unbearable degree, butit tapered off to pleasantevening with a colourful galaheld by Embassy of Nepal tocelebrate its Republic and Na-tional Day.

Bharat Raj Paudyal, Am-bassador of Nepal was in thecentral stage to put up thisgrand show to share happiestmoments of his country withcitizens of his host country.

The envoy from this Hima-layan state, Bharat Raj Paudyalis a seasoned diplomat, gener-ally a quite man with a lot ofwisdom and insight who ismaking efforts to augmenttrade between Pakistan andNepal which is not satisfacto-rily at present.

It was his day as on his in-vitation politicians, parliamen-tarians, members of DiplomaticCorps, businessmen, Nepalesenationals in Pakistan, formerdiplomats, and retired seniorcivil servants and friends ofNepal converged to make per-fect setting in a local hotel forjubilation.

Paramount role of Nepal in South Asia is reckoned with

Pakistan, Nepal supportive to each on world foraTrade with Pakistan to be augmented: Nepalese ambassador, Hot day tapered off to

pleasant evening and colourful galaANP leader Haji Adeel,

Former Foreign MinisterGohar Ayub, ex-diplomatAkram Zaki and former Min-

ister Wazir Ali Jogezai were

among the prominent figureswho attended the jubilations.

The ceremony kicked off

with the arrival of Abdul Qadir

Baloch, Minister for SAFRONwho represented Governmentof Pakistan at the reception.

After playing of nationalanthems and cake cutting tra-dition on the occasion, the par-ticipants of the show settled ingroups to discuss anything onthe world including Pak-Nepal

relations.The moving spirit of the

show was the ambassador andof course his spouse, whogreeted all his guests with asmile and enthusiasm. All hiscompanions in the embassywere also present to make thisshow a great success.

Two screens in the hall in-stalled in the corners were dis-playing documentaries onNepal with beautiful background music. Nepal withMount Everest, the highestPeak and magical sites is oneof the most attractive destina-tions of tourists and climbers.To create awareness on tourismindustry of Nepal, a stall withbooklets was also arranged onthe occasion.

The guests were treatedwith tasteful traditional dishes

on the occasion. Pakistan and Nepal enjoy

very close relationship.People-to-people contacts arevery strong and supportive.On international fora andSAARC platform, both thecountries also extend coopera-tion to each other.

Though trade volume isnot in consonance with theircordial relations and closeproximity, efforts are on tostrengthen connectivity. Easyaccess to each other’s countrycan make the difference. Be-sides bilateral relations,SAARC is the forum which isneeded to be activated to ac-celerate pace of trade and eco-nomic relations as great poten-tial exists in both countries toachieve that end.

Nepal’s Tourism industryis well developed and can bemade a great attraction forPakistani tourists and climb-ers. Paper products, tea, Len-tils, spices, ginger, Pashminaand handicrafts are export-able items from Nepal whilePakistan is strong in export-ing garments, electronic andengineering goods, rice,chemicals and sports and sur-gical goods.

Ambassador of Nepal Bharat Raj Paudyal, Chief Guest Federal Minister for SAFRONAbdul Qadir Baloch, ANP Leader Haji Adeel, Ambassador of Argentine Rodolfo MartinSaravia, Former Foreign Secretary Akram Zaki and Ambassador of Bangladesh SohrabHussain, cutting the cake during a ceremony to celebrate the Republic Day and NationalDay of Nepal, at a local hotel.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

People filling their pots with drinking water from a filtration plant because of non-availability of clean water at their homes.

ISLAMABAD—Capital Development Au-thority (CDA) in its operation againstsub-standard and un-hygienic food stuffduring the last week has issued 43 no-tices, 17 challans to the violators and par-tially sealed the three restaurants by con-tinuing its operation against sub-standardand un-hygienic food stuff during the lastweek.

During the operation, two restaurantsat G -10 Markaz and one at G-8 Markazwere partially sealed. Furthermore 10 li-ters of non-branded ketchup, 30 litters of

non-branded soft drinks, 150 litters of sub-standard soda water, three chemical drumsand 49 un-hygienic utensils were confis-cated and then destroyed, said a press re-lease issued here.

Member Administration of the Author-ity, Amir Ali Ahmed has directed Direc-torate of Health Services to continue op-eration against sub-standards fruit anddrink sellers in the city to make certainthe supply of hygienic food stuff formasses during summer season.

He said that the action should be

taken against sellers of sub-standards,un-hygienic and expired food stuff as perprincipals of public health and relevantrules.

The special teams were taking actionagainst sale of un-hygienic food stuff andsubmitting their weekly progress report tothe Member Administration.

The said action was taken by two spe-cially formed Directorate of Health Ser-vices teams each headed by a Food Inspec-tor working under supervision of HealthOfficer.—APP

Three restaurants sealed

Operation against unhygienicfood underway

ISLAMABAD—Short stories collection ofArif Rana represents down-trodden seg-ment of our society, said Dr. Inamul HaqJavaid, educationist, well known thinkerand Managing Director of National BookFoundation (NBF).

He stated this while addressing alaunching ceremony of Arif Rana’s booktitled ‘Adha Kunwan’ held under NBFhere. A large number of writers, scholarsand people from different walks of life at-tended the ceremony.

Dr. Inamul Haq Javaid said, “we found

Arif Rana’s book launched at NBFvery impressive angles of expression in theArif Rana who has been depicting his ideasin his creatings showing himself as firmbeliever of his ideology of life, supporterof poor people and true lover to his moth-erland. Rafiq Tahir, joint educational ad-visor CAD said that the writer is toweringsupporter of dawn trodden segments of thesociety and inspires them to stand firmlyagainst the tides of time and aggression ofpowerful segment of our society.

He said that NBF has spacious andwell maintained auditorium for holding the

launching ceremonies of books on proseor poetry to serve the nation through cre-ating a good habit of reading and intro-ducing well known authors, poets andscholars.

Mehboob Zafar read the article writ-ten by Sarmad Sehbai on the occassion andsaid, “We found the novel ideas of truelove, waiting for good days to come andsupport depressed people and it is no de-nying fact that the writer knows how tosay difficult and complicated expressionsin an easy way.—APP

ISLAMABAD—A two-day exhibition titled“Women in the Creative Industry” began ata local hotel on Saturday to highlightwomen’s economic empowerment in thecountry.

United Nations and Industrial Develop-ment Organization (UNIDO) have joinedhands to organize this event to provide a plat-form to women entrepreneurs across Paki-stan to showcase their talents.

The exhibition was inaugurated byKhizar Hayat, Additional Secretary of Min-istry of Industries and Trade, Esam Alqarrah,United Nations and Industrial DevelopmentOrganization (UNIDO) and Dr. ShahinaWaheed, National Programme Coordinator,UNIDO-WED Programme.

The on-going inspirational exhibitiondisplays creative, cultural products for deco-rative and daily use including fashion design,home textile ranges, jewellery, marble mo-saic and inlay products and handicrafts

amongst a variety of other items.The exhibition has bought together some

of the new members of the programme whoare very excited at the prospects of display-ing their work on such an esteemed platform.Others have been a part of the programmesince its inception and are equally contentwith the audience turnout.

These aspiring Pakistani women entre-preneurs have been a part of numeroustrainings led by UNIDO International Ex-perts and local Master Trainers.

UNIDO-WED Programme interventionsin the country specifically focus on promot-ing gender integration in creative, non-tra-ditional sub-sectors.

These efforts to build capacity of womendevelop their linkages with national and in-ternational markets and develop partnershipswith value chain operators. The exhibitionis source of attraction to a large number oflocal and foreign buyers.—APP

Cultural products displayed

Exhibition on ‘Women inCreative Industry’

Appointment ofacting PEMRA

chief challengedISLAMABAD—The appoint-ment of Pervaiz Rathore asActing Chairman of PakistanElectronic Media RegulatoryAuthority (PEMRA) was chal-lenged in Islamabad high courton Saturday.

In its plea, Israr Abbasi,who is a private member of theauthority, has argued that athree-member provisional com-mittee was already working onthe compliant of Defence Min-istry against Geo.—NNI

04:30 01:3005:30

09:00

Zohr

Asr

Isha

Fajar

Meghrab at Sunset

Brothers in Islamestablish regularprayers & charity

A large number of passengers standing on a shelterless bus stop in sizzling hot weather.

A man jumps into water beat the heat, in a nearby water pond on Saturday.

June 8

RAJA Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq, Leader of the House inSenate will be chief guest atAnnual Certificate/Prize Dis-tribution of Anjuman-e-Taleemul Islam, Shah Faisal JamiaIslamia, 20-E, Sector G-7/3-2,Service Road, on 08.06.2014 at10:00 a.m.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—An impressivetwo-day textile thesis exhibi-tion displaying a variety of in-terior and apparel productswith unique styles and design-ing by the graduating studentsof the Iqra University openedhere in the university campuson Saturday.

The empirical demonstra-tion of creativity put on displayin the form of different variet-ies of products by eight stu-dents of textile designing de-partment was inaugurated bySenator Osman Saifullah.

Appreciating the thesis and

Textile thesis exhibition displaying a varietyof interior and apparel products

projects in exhibition, the sena-tor said the display was a won-derful manifestation of thesebrilliant students’ creation whohad put the amalgamation ofdiverse themes in one show.

He said the work wouldhelp students groom for profes-sion to win respect in practicallife by giving boost to thecountry’s textile industrythrough their such excellentwork.

He took round of stalls,where students briefed himabout their respective work oftextile dimensions includingknitted, woven and printedfabrics,furniture, apparel, inte-

rior designs etc.Besides students, dignitar-

ies of textile industry were vis-iting the show and took keeninterest in the excellent thesisdisplay, saying the work wouldpromote creativity and passionamong students.

Arooj, lecture talking tosaid the Iqra university wasplaying an important role inpromoting quality educationin the country and added itsstudents were effectively con-tributing towards thecountry’s socio-economic de-velopment by serving in eachdepartment of public and pri-vate sector.

Senator Osman Saifullah and Chancellor Hunaid Lakhani with the faculty members and student on the inaugural cer-emony of Textile Thesis Exhibition 2014 at Iqra University on Saturday.

Examination ofB-1 constables

todayRAWALPINDI—Examinationfor promotion list B-1 con-stables will be held on June 8(Sunday).

As per schedule, first pa-per of promotion list B-1 ex-amination will be held at 9 amon June 8, at Police Lines No 1Rawalpindi and second paperwill be held at 2 pm on June, 8as well.

According to Rawalpindipolice spokesman, the result ofwritten test will be put to dis-play on June, 12 while inter-views of successful constableswill be held on June 13 and14.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

RAWALPINDI—City Traffic Police (CTP) haveheld one-day workshop at Army College ofManagement Sciences to promote awarenessamong students about traffic rules and roadsafety.

According to CTP Spokesman, EducationWing Incharge Muhammad Irfan delivered lec-tures in this connection.

The instructor said, “We must be aware

of driving principles and drive vehicles ac-cording to the rule of law. We will be the ex-cellent driver, only if we follow the traffic dis-cipline.” The students were urged to observetraffic rules to avoid traffic mess and accidents.Education Wing, using multimedia, public ad-dress system and pamphlets gave briefing ontraffic rules and road safety.

He said most of the traffic accidents on roadsoccur due to the negligence on part of the driv-ers.

City Traffic Police holdsworkshop at Army College

RAWALPINDI—Tehsil Municipal Admin-istration (TMA) Rawal Town, Chaklalaand Rawalpindi Cantonment Boards havebeen asked to remove all the encroach-ments particularly from the banks ofNullah Lai before start of Monsoon sea-son.

Monitoring Committee for desiltingand cleanliness of Nullah Lai in its meet-ing expressed satisfaction over the paceof dredging work continued here to clearNullah Lai from Katarian to Amar Chowkarea. First meeting of the committee,chaired by Managing Director (MD) Wa-ter and Sanitation Authority (WASA) RajaShoukat Mahmood held here on Saturday.The meeting was attended among other byrepresentatives of TMA, Rawal Town,Federal Flood Commission, Rescue 1122,Civil Defence, Met Department, triple onebrigade, Rawalpindi and Chaklala Canton-

ment Boards.Director Sewerage WASA Zahor

Ahmed Dogar told the meeting that thedredging work of Nullah Lai, started onMay 24 would be performed till June 24.The work will be completed with an esti-mated cost of Rs 15 million.

The committee made recommenda-tions to TMA and Cantonment Boards thatall the encroachments from low lying ar-eas particularly from the banks of NullahLai should immediately be removed.

He said, WASA had already devised aplan for preventing flood in Nullah Lai andother nullahs of the town.

The citizens particularly living in low-lying areas of the city and near nullahs,have been urged not to throw garbage andsolid waste in nullahs and drains as theycreate blockage in the way of flood water.

He said 11 other Nullahs and drains

of the town, which flow into Nullah Lai,are also being cleared. The peoples role isessential especially in protecting low ly-ing areas of the city from flood devasta-tion. Solid waste, garbage, shopping bagsshould not be thrown in Nullahs as theycreate blockage in the way of flood water.Resultantly the flood water plays havocwith the properties and lives of the people,he added.

Gawalmandi. City Sadar Road, DhokeCharg Deen, Pirwadhi, New Katrian andDhoke Naju are critical sections of NullahLai which are being cleared of silt and solidwaste, he informed.

He said that Nullah Lai at Katrian Pull,Pirwadhai, City Saddar area, Moti Mahal,Aamar Chowk, High Court areas will es-pecially be cleared and the work would becompleted before the start of monsoonrains.—APP

TMA asked to removeencroachments from Nullah Leh

STAFF REPORTER

RAWALPINDI—Excise and Taxation Depart-ment Rawalpindi has launched a grand opera-tion against token tax and custom duty default-ers here.

Two hundred vehicles being defaulters onpayment of custom duty and token tax and with-out having registration documents have been im-pounded by Excise and Taxation Departmentduring the operation.

Special operation launched on the directivesof Director General Excise and Taxation PunjabNaseem Sadiq while Director Headquarter

Muhammad Irfan Khalid and Director Exciseand Taxation Rawalpindi Shakeel ur Rehmanare supervising the operation.

According to Shakeel ur Rehman, the staffof motor registration branches, excise and taxa-tion department took part in the operation and500 vehicles were checked on various city roadsincluding Satellite Town, Bunni and Civil Lines.The teams tasked with the checking duty willcontinue their work and strict action in accor-dance with the law would be taken against therules violators.

The non registered vehicles are also beingimpounded.

E&T impounds 200 vehicles inoperation against tax defaulters

RAWALPINDI—Federal Minister for ReligiousAffairs & Interfaith Harmony SardarMuhammad Yousaf said Friday that the first Hajjflight would leave for Saudi Arabia on August27.

Addressing a function organized in his honorat Jamia Furkania Madina at Kohati bazaar, herehe said that better arrangements would be inplace to facilitate the pilgrims this year and theywould feel the difference.

He further said that best accommodationwould be provided to them during their stay inthe holy land and every effort is being made tofacilitate them.

He said that Hajj fare has been decreased so

that maximum number of pilgrims could per-form the religious obligation .

The Hajj fare has been decreased from2,72,000 to 2,45,000, he informed. He said thatban on proceeding for Umra would be lifted inthe upcoming Ramzan, terming it a policy ofthe Saudi government. The Minister said thatHajj policy is totally based on merit and it isensured at every level. He dispelled the impres-sion that Member National Assembly and other’sdo not enjoy Hajj Quota. Sardar Yousaf said talkshad been resumed with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban and expressed the hope that these wouldbe successful and bring peace in the country.—APP

First Hajj flight fromAug 27: Sardar Yousaf

ISLAMABAD—Awami Muslim League(AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmedsubmitted a petition against theRawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Busproject in the Supreme Court on Satur-day.

The petition to the court stated thatthe project is largely driven by corrup-tion and asked that the Supreme Courtto order an investigation into the mat-

ter. The Punjab government is named asa respondent in the application. Further,the petition stated that Murree Road,which runs from Islamabad toRawalpindi, was dug up, causing a lotof problems for traders who use thatroute to transport goods. The fundamen-tal rights of people are being violatedby the project, it stated further.

The request was filed under Article

184 (3) of the constitution which states:“Without prejudice to the provisions ofArticle 199, the Supreme Court shall, ifit considers that a question of public im-portance with reference to the enforce-ment of any of the fundamental rightsconferred by Chapter I of Part II is in-volved have the power to make an orderof the nature mentioned in the said Ar-ticle.”—NP

Sheikh Rashed submits petitionagainst Metro Bus project in SC

Several roads closed due toMetro Bus project

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—While commuters in capital cityof Islamabad are finding it extremely difficultto reach their places of duty during the morn-ing with long queues on major roads as sev-eral roads are closed due to construction ofMetro Bus route, the model traffic police inIslamabad is absent at the crossings and seen afew meters away in making challans of viola-tors who try to find some way to get out of thetraffic mess.

A number of drivers interviewed by INPsaid on Saturday that the problem is particu-larly serious at crossings along the 9th Av-enue where there are long queues of vehiclesbut no traffic constable is seen to regulate thetraffic. A press photographer was challanedon Fazl-e-Haq road as he was returning to hisoffice after covering a protest by PTI work-ers in front of ECP on Friday. He lost his va-let there which had his driving license and

national identity card and while he was tak-ing a turn at the road, he found himself in atraffic mess from four sides and no trafficConstable at the point.

Finally when he got out, he found one atsome distance signaling him to stop. Ultimatelythe photographer was fined which he asked acolleague to pay immediately to avoid impound-ing of his vehicle. Similar stories have been toldby a large number of people who say that theIslamabad traffic police was once a model andknown for good behaviour but now it is onlybusy in making challans to complete its targetat the end of the financial year.

They never listen to the view point of mo-torists and insist that what they say is only right.They asked the Inspector General and SSP Traf-fic to look into this sorry state of affairs by vis-iting the busy roads during morning rush hoursas the commuters are stuck up because of con-struction of Metrobus route and absence of traf-fic police at the crossings and U-turns.

RAWALPINDI—Rawalpindi administration hasstarted monitoring of 300 girls and boys hostelsillegally set up in the garrison city. In this con-nection, the administration has decided to col-lect details of the inmates of the hostels.

The city admin noticed that there was norecord of the residents of the hostels and the guestswho visit the dwellers. Currently, 20,000 to

25,000 male and female students are residing inthe hostels. The hostels owners are receivingRs3000 to Rs8000 from each resident and two tothree persons are allotted a room.In greed to makemaximum money, the owners do not obtain iden-tification documents from them. This can proveto be a grave security lapse, therefore the admin-istration decided to take the action.—INP

Monitoring of 300 hostels

RAWALPINDI—The Airport Security Force(ASF) on Saturday foiled a drugs smuggling bidby seizing 5 kilograms of heroin from a UK-bound passenger at Benazir Bhutto Internationalairport.

According to ASF sources, a passenger

named Muhammad Afzal hailing from KalarSydan was going to board PIA flight PK 785for London when ASF searched his bags. At leastfive kgs of heroin was recovered. The accusedwas handed over to anti narcotic forces for in-vestigation.—INP

5 kg heroin seized at BB airport

36 outlawsarrested; wine,

hashish andweapons recoveredISLAMABAD—Police havenabbed 36 outlaws besides re-covering weapons, hashish andwine from accused, a policespokesman said on Saturday.

According to details, BaniGala police arrested twobootleggers accused QaisarMehmood,Bilal and recov-ered nine cans of beer andwine bottle from their posses-sion.

Shahzad Town police ar-rested accused Jan Muhammadand recovered one 30 bore pis-tol from him while Ramanapolice arrested 13 accused per-sons for their alleged involve-ment in immoral activities dur-ing raid at Mirabadia.

Bhara Kau police arrestedaccused Qaisar Mehmud andIsrhat Mehmud involved inmurder case and recoveredmurder weapon (30 bore pis-tol) from them.

Sabzi Mandi police nabbed12 persons in violation of sec-tion 144. Ramana police ar-rested accused Zain Nooranifor having four wine bottleswhile accused Zahid Mehmudwas apprehended for giving hishouse on rent to a proclaimedoffender.

Nilore police arrestedtwo thieves accused BadshahKhan and Riaz Khan whiletwo proclaimed offenderswere also arrested during ef-forts to nab criminals atlarge.

During checking in variousareas of the city, 70 motorbikesand four vehicles were im-pounded for being driven with-out authentic documents.—APP Good sleeping

may helps toincrease memoryISLAMABAD—A team of re-searchers have unraveled thata good night’s sleep plays a sig-nificant role in improvingmemory and learning abilitiesof the brain.

Scientists from China andthe United States indicated thatsleep could promote new con-nections between neurons,Khaleej Times reported.

To do the required tests,researchers at New York Uni-versity School of Medicine andPeking University ShenzhenGraduate School trained micein a new skill of walking on topof a rotating rod.

Using special laser-scanningmicroscopes, they then observedthe living brain to see what hap-pened inside the brain cells ofanimals divided into two groupsincluding sleeping and sleep de-prived animals.—APP

Muzaffarabad: Forest Minister Sardar Javed Ayub inquiring about health of Sardar Muhammad Qasim here onSaturday.

MUZAFFARABAD: DSP Zafar Ali Awan giving interview to journalist- GehangirHussain Awan here on Saturday.

Kashmir remains still an alphabet - backgrounder

SRINAGAR—At least four Kashmiri stu-dents have been expelled from their hostelin a Ghaziabad college in the Indian state ofUttar Pradesh day after a Kashmiri studentwas beaten by local students.

The students Peer Umair, Bilal Ahmad,Adil Nabi and Dilawar Javid were notifiedby the college authorities to leave the hos-tel. The students were pursuing BBA andB Tech degrees at H R Institute of Engi-neering and Technology, Ghaziabad, UttarPradesh.“Yes, the students have beenasked to leave the hostel,” Anil Tyagi, ChiefWarden of the college, told mediamen.“Their removal was recommended by theofficial committee which was assigned to

Kashmiri students expelledfrom Ghaziabad hostel

investigate the matter,” he said. He refusedto comment why the students were expelled.“The committee recommended and it hadto be done,” he said.

One of the students, DilawarJavid, talk-ing to Srinagar-based media persons overphone said that instead of punishing localsenior students, the college authoritiesthrew them out.On Thursday, a Kashmiri student Umair wasbeaten up by a group of seniors when hescreamed after receiving an electric shockin the hostel’s washroom while taking a bath.The incident had triggered protests frommore than 100 Kashmiri students studyingin the college.—KMS

DELHI—Urging Lok Sabha speakerSumitra Mahajan to provide adequatespace to members from Jammu &Kashmir to connect with the parlia-ment and rest of the country with theiraccumulated problems, PDP presidentMehbooba Mufti called for a nationalconsensus on resolution of Kashmirand the issues of Jammu & Kashmir.

Speaking on the election of SumitraMahajan as the Speaker of the LokSabha, Mehbooba said though J&Kis electorally a small state with just sixmembers in the LS, it deserves greateraccommodation in view of the prob-lems this state has been facing eversince independence.

“Though we are a small state, butit faces more problems than the rest ofthe country,” she said adding repre-sentatives from J&K are charged withgreater responsibilities as the peoplewho vote for them face tremendousodds in doing so. She said the recentelections have particularly generated

Mehbooba calls for all-consensus on Kashmira new atmosphere of hope in the stateand people at large expect their repre-sentatives to deliver in terms of fillingthe trust deficit with rest of the coun-try, resolving their problems and bring-ing a positive change in their lives.

Mehbooba said with more than350 first time members in the LS theHouse reflects the change in the coun-try and we expect that this freshnessof representation also proves refresh-ing for the biggest challenges that thecountry faces in J&K.

She expressed the hope that a newand positive approach towards theproblems of J&K would mark thechange in the complexion of theHouse.

“Kashmir faces acute problems ofdevelopment deficit and unemploy-ment which need to be addressed withunderstanding and consideration,”she said.

Referring to Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’s remarks that he

would follow the Vajpayee line in deal-ing with J&K, Mehbooba said thestrong mandate that he has receivedin the LS elections should hopefullyhelp his government in adopting abold approach to the problems of thestate.

“Vajpayee had said that Kashmirissue will be resolved within the ambitof humanity (Insanyet Kay Dairey MaKashmir Maslay Ka Hal NikalaeyGeay). Also to address the externaldimension of Kashmir problemVajpaee had adopted policy of recon-ciliation saying (Hum Doost BadelSaktay Hain Humsaya Nahi),” sheadded.

She said Kashmir has always pre-sented a moral and political challengeto all the prime ministers and it ishoped that the imitative taken by PrimeMinister Vajpayee are carried forwardboth in respect of mending the rela-tions with Pakistan and also resolv-ing Kashmir.—RK

SRINAGAR—In occupied Kashmir, the Chair-man of All Parties Hurriyet Conference,Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has castigated theNarendra Modi-led Indian Government forattempting to polarize Jammu and Kashmir.

The APHC Chairman addressing a gath-ering in Srinagar said that it was unfortu-nate that the BJP and its wings were hell-bent to divide the disputed Jammu andKashmir in the name of religion and geog-raphy. His remarks came in response to theNarendra Modi-led Indian government’sproposed move to rename Azad Jammu andKashmir as “Pakistan Occupied JammuKashmir”.“The move of the new regime atNew Delhi is aimed at affecting the geogra-phy of Jammu and Kashmir. The people ofKashmir will not accept this proposal atany cost,” he said. He said that theKashmiris belonging to all religions heldthe same view that Jammu and Kashmir wasa disputed territory, which needed to beresolved as per their aspirations.

The APHC Chairman referring to the BJPsaid that calling Azad Jammu and Kashmiras Pakistan occupied Kashmir reflected ill-thinking and shortsightedness. “Partieswith communal mindset must learn to ac-cept realities. They should call other side

Mirwaiz castigates Indian govtfor polarizing J&K

of Kashmir as Azad Kashmir,” he said. TheMirwaiz said that first BJP started with thetalk on revocation of Article 370 and nowthey wanted to see Jammu and Kashmirdivided on communal lines.

He said that some parties were tryingto create 1947-like situation for their pettypolitical and electoral gains. “Efforts areafoot to polarize Jammu and Kashmir. Butsuch efforts will have serious repercussionsand entire responsibility will be on the par-ties having communal agenda,” he stated.

The APHC Chairman urged theKashmiris to be vigilant about these ele-ments and put in their best efforts to up-hold the communal harmony in the terri-tory. He said that giving different names tovarious regions of Jammu and Kashmir wasa dangerous plan.

The Mirwaiz urged people to ensure thatthe golden jubilee of his party, Jammu andKashmir Awami Action Committee (AAC),was observed with zeal on June 20. “AACwill observe 50 years of its formation onJune 20. People must reach Municipal Parkin Srinagar to mark the anniversary. We willpass important resolutions there. We willalso reveal our future policy vis-à-vis Kash-mir solution,” he added.—KMS

Panditsinseparable ofKashmiri life:

MalikGANDERBAL—JKLF chair-man Mohammad YasinMalik has visi ted KheerBhavani temple inTulmulla, Ganderbal andinteracted with KashmiriPandits.

He said the Panditswere inseparable compo-nent of Kashmir’s land andlife.

Malik accompanied byJKLF leaders SheikhAbdul Rashid, ShowkatAhmad Dar, MohammadJamal,Bashir AhmadRather Boya , Gayas uddin and Shahid Makyavisi ted Tulumulla thismorning. At the Kheerbhavani temple, he inter-acted with KashmiriPandits , who had comefrom Jammu and differentparts of India, to pay theirobeisance at the shrine.

Welcoming them to theValley, Malik said they(Pandits) are an inalien-able part of “our life andsoul”. “We have comehere to assure you thatevery Kashmiri wants anddesires your early returnto Valley so that our na-tion gets rid of its imper-fect ion”. Stat ing thatPandits have equal right tolive in the Valley, he said,“It is rel igious duty ofKashmiri Muslims to safe-guard rights of Pandits.

Our rel igion and be-loved Prophet Muhammad(SAW) taught us toler-ance, equality, justice, re-l igious harmony and re-specting others.”

Malik said Kashmir hasbeen a living example of re-ligious tolerance and har-mony and Kashmiris willnever like to abandon this“jewel of ours”.

Recall ing the historyof great victory of Jerusa-lem (Bait Ul Maqadas) byMuslim troops, he said,“Our beloved Prophet(SAW) taught us to re-spect the religious placesand rel igious r i tuals ofothers and his great com-panion and caliph HazratUmar (RA) practical lyshowed this on the occa-sion of victory of Jerusa-lem (Bait Ul Maqadas).”—RK

TULMULLA—Thousands of KashmiriPandits thronged Khirbawani temple hereand pinned hope on Prime MinisterNarendra Modi-led government for theirdignified return to the Valley.

On the occasion of Mela Khirbawanifestival, the temple dedicated to RagnyaDevi here in Tulmulla area of centralKashmir’s Ganderbal district, witnessedcelebrations and religious fervor.

Thousands of Kashmiri Pandit devo-tees had started arriving at the famousKhirbawani temple since Thursday to cel-ebrate the annual festival.

Nestled in the shade of mammoth Chinartrees in this village in central Kashmir’sGanderbal district, the temple witnessedmassive number of devotees, most of themmigrated Kashmiri Pandits, who had comefrom various parts of the State and outsidethe state.

Keeping the faith alive, thousands ofdevotees joined the annual festival with re-ligious fervour and festivity at theKhirbawani temple here.

The entire route from Ganderbal to theshrine wore a festive look as vehicles car-rying pilgrims in colorful dresses convergedin long rows at the shrine.

Singing hymns and chanting slogans,the devotees made it to Khirbawani temple.

For ensuring peaceful festival, the gov-ernment particularly district administrationhad made elaborate security arrangements.

On the occasion, the Pandit communityshared views about their return with mostof them pinning hopes on the NarendraModi-led government in seeking thecommunity’s dignified return to the Valley.

Talking to Rising Kashmir, various Kash-mir Pandits who had migrated to Jammu andother parts during the mass migration inearly nineties pinned hope on the recently-elected Narendra Modi-led government inDelhi for their dignified return to the Valley.

“We hope that Modiji didn’t turn up ashis predecessors who never wanted digni-fied return of displaced Kashmiri Panditsto their homeland,” B K Das, a Kashmir

Pandits ready to return to KashmirPandit said.

Das said he was residing in Zainakotearea of Srinagar and migrated to Jammu on16 January 1990 after the mass migration.

Das accused the government of ne-glecting the displaced Kashmiri Pandits.

Another Kashmiri Pandit devotee, A KKoul said he lived in Tangmarg area of northKashmir before migration and wished toreturn to his motherland provided the gov-ernment facilitated their return in a digni-fied way.

“I have been coming here every year,”he said. “We want to come back and thatdesire would remain with me till I am alive.”

He said the tall claims of the govern-ment of ensuing peaceful return of KashmiriPandits to the Valley were nowhere to beseen.

Meanwhile, many youngsters ex-pressed their wish to return and settle intheir homeland where their elders and par-ents have lived, however, they said thatthe government must provide employmentto them.

Priyanka, 25-year-old, whose parentshad lived in Fatehpora area of south Kash-mir Anantnag district, was seen very en-thusiastic about her return to the Valley.

“I would love to put up in Kashmirwhich is my homeland and where my par-ents have lived,” Priyanka told Rising Kash-mir.

Priyanka said she was doing herpostgraduation from Jammu University andhad applied for a teacher’s post under PrimeMinister’s employment package in 2009 andwas awaiting her selection.

Another young girl, Arshita secondedher views.“This is the love, which brings us back toKashmir every year and it is our desire toput up here,” she said. “The governmentmust create job opportunities for KashmirPandits here in the Valley so that they settleand live a dignified life.”

“Ab Modi sarkaar hai, who kuch karega(Now that there is Modi government, theywill do something,” she said.—RK.

School girl‘molested’ in IHKKULGAM—All the shopsand educational institu-tions were closed onSatruday in south Kashmir’sYaripora town in Kulgamdistrict after a school girlwas allegedly molested bya school teacher. Hundredsof people came out onstreets to protest against thealleged molestation by ateacher.—RK.

SRINAGAR—Chief Patron Jammu KashmirMahaz-e-Azadi (MeA) Muhammad AzamInqilabi has said Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) showed a revolutionary path to theentire humanity. In a statement here, Inqilabisaid Muhammad (SAW) created an army offaithful in just 23 years. “ProphetMuhammad (SAW), he said, laid the foun-dation of Islamic empire from Masjid-Nabviand Medina and expanded it to Mekkah,Yemen, Syria, Erdun and other regions.

“Then Khulafa?u ar-Rashidin accom-plished the expansion of frontiers of Islamicdomain. And Iran, Turkey, Egypt becamepart of Khilfat-e-Islamia,” he said. MeApatron said unfortunately the MuslimUmmah fell-a-prey to political polarizationand balkanization within due to the menaceof group particularism and sectarianism.

“It appears the fragmentation is the hall-mark of Muslim Ummah. It is only nimaz,roza, haj and umrah which typify and epito-mize the essence of Islam. “However therevival of caliphate is not the prioritizedagenda of the Ummah. Such is the form offixation of this Ummah. A situation so de-plorable indeed,” the statement reads.

He said tyrannical totalitarianism ofMuslim rulers is the root cause of unrest

Combined effort of Muslim countries canresolve Kashmir, Palestine issues: Inqilabi

and anarchy in Muslim countries. “TodayKashmir is an issue for Kashmiris and Paki-stanis only. Palestine is an issue for Pales-tinians and Iranians only. This situation isdeplorable as both Kashmir and Palestineare actually issues of entire Muslim world,”he said. Kashmir and Palestine, he said, canbe solved by combined effort of Muslimcountries. Inqilabi appealed OIC to play apro-active role in the affairs of Muslim world.“Member countries of OIC should limit tradewith India and make oil supply conditionalto the resolution of Kashmir.”He advised UJC supremo, Syed Salahu-ud-din, to present these points before the “sup-portive think tanks which would guide in-tellectuals, Ulemas and Scholars of Muslimworld for organized resistance to solve is-sues concerning Muslim Ummah.” “ThenIndia will be forced to see reason in Kash-mir case and would prefer objectivity indealing with the dispute,” he said. MeApatron said to help Kashmiris out of the“quagmire of suppression and oppression,combined Muslim effort is necessary and areligious obligation as well.” “All otherways would only strengthen the status-quoand are a form of distraction and escap-ism,” he added. NNI

COMMEMTS:

The moral and legal conundrumthat is Article 370, which grants thestate of Jammu and Kashmir spe-cial autonomous status, with theUnion government having directhold on only three matters: de-fence, foreign policy and commu-nications, needs deliberation andout-of-the-box thinking. First of all,while the ‘sacrosanct’ nature ofArticle 370 must be questioned,what cannot be forgotten is theconvoluted history behind thehalf-baked ascension that hap-pened under Maharaja Hari Singhover a period of two years fromSeptember 1947 till June 1949, whenleaders like Sheikh Abdullah, withhis aides, formally joined the na-

tional Constituent assembly andbegan the process of drafting theunique and sensitive legal agree-ment.

The formulation of the highlycontentious and sensitive accordallowed J&K to carry on as an au-tonomous state under the Unionof India, until Article 370 was ab-rogated by the orders of the Presi-dent (of course after consider-ations with the Union government)and with consent of the state as-sembly. There are far too many le-gal and constitutional hurdles totamper or tinker with Article 370,even though it is definitely notabove legislative reconfiguration,indeed abolition after due prepa-ration. And there lies the rub. Ar-ticle 370 had six special provisions

for J&K, and some of them, haveover period of time, and since theimposition of Armed Forces (Spe-cial Powers) Act, have actually gotdiluted.

Moreover, attempts to revisitthe constitutional law (such asBeg-Parthasarthy Accord, 1975, oreven former PM ManmohanSingh’s round table leading to Jus-tice S Saghir Ahmed’s working re-port in 2010) have fast reacheddeadends. Needless to say thatKashmir, typically, has been at theheart of India’s diplomatic and stra-tegic problems with Pakistan, withthe latter country still hell-bent onassuming a legitimate moral rightover the region.

While Kashmiris, includingmajority Muslims and (the perse-

cuted) minority Pandits, have beenat the receiving end of the Indo-Pak one-upmanship, with bothmilitancy and Indian armed forcesimperiling lives of innocent civil-ians for over two decades now,cultural nationalism of any huecannot be the fulcrum on whichthis heavy diplomatic burden mustbe lifted.

Furthermore, it must not beforgotten that abolishing Article370 has been a saffron agenda…Because BJP has always advo-cated that Kashmir is an integralpart of India, without solicitingthe opinions and aspirations ofthe actual Kashmiris, the latestbrouhaha doesn’t come as a sur-prise.—The Millennium Post via KO

SRINAGAR—Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir (HCJK) has lashed out at thegovernment for, what it said, its policy of putting hundreds of pro-freedom leaders andactivists behind the bars, terming it the reflection of rulers’ ‘sick mentality’. The amal-gam, at a meeting of its leaders held here with Shabir Ahmad Shah in chair, pledged thatthey would discharge their duties in a responsible manner, take the mission of freedomto its logical end and work in accordance with the constitution adopted by the Hurriyatin 1993.

The meeting was also attended by Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Yusuf Naqash,Farooq Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Iqbal Mir, Bashir Ahmad Dar and Javid Ahmad. “In themeeting, it was realized that the people of Kashmir particularly youth, by offering invalu-able sacrifices for the achieving the right to self determination, are penning down apriceless history of the Kashmir movement.

The leaders also applauded the bravery and valor of the youth who stand at fore-front against the forces,” a HCJK statement said. The statement said the people ofKashmir, by ‘completely boycotting’ the recently concluded parliamentary electionsgave a befitting reply to main-stream parties that we want nothing less than the right toself determination. “In the meeting, the policy of so-called administration of puttinghundreds of Hurriyat leaders and activists behind bars was severely criticized and termedit sick mindedness of the administration.

Despite all such restrictions, the leaders pledged to discharge all their duties in aresponsible manner and take the Kashmir mission to its logical conclusion. They alsoreiterated their pledge to work as per the constitution of Hurriyat and to encouragethose offering invaluable sacrifices,” statement further said. Statement quoting the lead-ers said the Hurriyat will continue its endeavor to find a lasting solution to pendingKashmir issue, adding, “The leaders also urged United Nations to fulfill its responsibili-ties with regards to Kashmir issue and shun the policy of being the mute spectator.

The UN should resolve the issue of 1.5 crore people as it concerns their future.” Inthe meeting, tributes were also paid to the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeinion his 25th death anniversary and also urged the present regime of Iran to fulfill itsresponsibilities towards finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue by following thefootsteps of late supreme leader, statement added. Meanwhile, in a separate statement,HCJK condoled the demise of the father of Wajahat Qureshi.

The amalgam expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and also prayed for thedeparted soul. HCJK in its statement also paid homage to late general secretary Mahaz-e-Azadi Ghulam Rasool Zahgeer on his 10th death anniversary.—NNI

Kashmiri youth offeringinvaluable sacrifices: HCJK

Kashmir disputemain cause ofdisharmony,

instability in SouthAsia: Geelani

SRINAGAR—Appealing theIslamic Republic of Iran toplay its role for final settle-ment of Kashmir issue,chairman Hurriyat Confer-ence (G) Syed Ali Geelanihas said this dispute hasbecome the major reason ofdisharmony, instability anduneasiness in the entireSouth Asia region and Iranalso can’t escape its nega-tive impacts.

In a statement issuedhere, Geelani said for ful-f i l l ing i ts “expansionistdesigns, India wants tocontinue i ts control ofJammu and Kashmir” andeven wants to establish itssupremacy over othercountries of the region.

“To neutralize its dan-gerous designs, it is vitalfor Iran, Afghanistan andPakistan to strengthentheir brotherly relation-ship,” said Geelani. Prais-ing their stand against theimperialistic forces of Iranin a meeting with the Ira-nian envoy Ghulam RazaHassan at his residence,Geelani said, “If I had traveldocuments I would first ofall prefer to visit Iran andPakistan and reveal the dif-ficulties Kashmiri peopleare facing, to the Muslimbrethren of both the coun-tries.

I will aware them aboutthe human rights viola-tions in Jammu and Kash-mir.”

The Iranian envoy vis-ited Geelani’s residence at08:45 am and had a detailedmeeting with him whichlasted for an hour. Express-ing best wishes forGeelani, Ghulam Raza saidIran supports Kashmiris inthe struggle for their birthrights and favours that thisdispute be resolved ac-cording to the wishes of itspeople.

Informing the guestsabout the history of Kash-mir, Geelani said that accord-ing to the principles andconditions of partition,‘Kashmir was never and inno way part of India.’ “Therewas about 85 per cent Mus-lim population in Jammu andKashmir at that time andthere were no geographicalrelations with India.By these two parties. It isthe issue of the future of13 million people and itcan’t be solved withoutaddressing the wishes, as-pirations and sacrifices ofits people. India and Paki-stan have held 150 roundsof talks till now but neitherhas Kashmir issue pro-gressed an inch forwardnor is it possible in future.Geelani highlighted theneed of stronger andbrotherly relation betweenIran, Afghanistan and Pa-kistan.—NNI

Regardless of age,re-gardless of posi-tion, re-gardless ofthe business wehappen to be in, allof us need to under-stand the impor-tance of brand-ing.We are CEOs of ourown companies:Me, Inc. To be inbusiness today, ourmost impor-tant jobis to be head mar-keter for the brandcalled You.—Tom Peters

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar being briefed by Mr. Zahid Muzaffar,Chairman ODGCl and advisor to Ministry of petroleum and Natural resources at the Finance Ministry.

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—The high rate of Gas Infrastruc-ture Development Cess levied by the gov-ernment is feared to hamper industrialgrowth, which has taken a kick start due topositive policies.

President, Lasbela Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (LCCI) Ismail Suttar hasstrongly urged the government to withdrawthe enormous increase in Gas InfrastructureDevelopment Cess (GIDC) per MMBTU forindependent power plant, Captive PowerProducers, CNG and industrial consumerwhich is more than 200 percent as comparedto the current rate to the Cess.

GID Cess can hamperindustrial growth pace

He apprehended that this enormousincrease in GIDC would jeopardize the mea-sures taken by the government in FederalBudget 2014-15 to boost industrial activi-ties as it would add about 30% to the costof production for those industries that usecaptive power generation and would leavenegative effects on their competitiveness.

This will also increase the cost ofpower and will affect other industrial con-sumers as well. LCCI Chief said the levy ofthis enormous increase of GIDC on CNGwould add enormously to the cost of CNGdirectly affecting the common people as itwill add to cost of both public and privatetransportation.

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—In order to provide aplatform for entire Islamic BankingIndustry of Pakistan, Meezan Bankorganized first-ever training accredi-tation workshop for Islamic Bankingin Pakistan at its Head Office jointlywith Finance Accreditation Agency(FAA), Malaysia. The training wasconducted by Dr. Amat Taap – CEOFAA.

This workshop was attended byprominent bankers and Shariah schol-ars of many Islamic banks, Islamicbank window operations of conven-tional banks, Modaraba Associationand academic professionals.

While conducting the workshop,Dr. Amat Taap – CEO FAA empha-sized on the need of quality trainingin the Islamic Banking & Finance in-dustry. He added that Pakistan isranked as No. 1 in Islamic Finance

education providers. He furtherbriefed the audience on the impor-tance, benefit and procedure of theproposed Finance Accreditation Pro-gram.

Mr. Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, EVP-Head of Product Development andShariah Compliance (PDSC) - MeezanBank, in his opening remarks stressedon the importance of capacity build-ing as it is one the major challengesthat Islamic Banking industry faces.

FAA is an international and inde-pendent quality assurance and ac-creditation body established by theCentral Bank of Malaysiaand Securi-ties Commission Malaysia.

FAA is responsible for quality as-surance and promotion of learning ini-tiatives within the financial servicesindustry.

The agency has association withmany institutions and organizationswhich include CFA Institute (USA),

CIMA (UK), IRTI (Islamic Develop-ment Bank) and the World Bank.

Meezan Bank, the 8th largest bankin Pakistan in terms of branch network,provides a comprehensive range ofIslamic banking products and servicesthrough a retail banking network of352 branches in 103 cities, supportedby a countrywide network of over 300ATMs, Visa debit cards, a 24/7 CallCenter and internet banking facility.

Meezan Bank has been consis-tently recognized as the best Islamicbank in Pakistan by numerous localand international institutions includ-ing CFA Society - Pakistan,Asiamoney magazine – Hong Kong,Islamic Finance News - Malaysia, Glo-bal Finance magazine, New York andAsset AAA - Hong Kong.

The Bank has also received “BestResearch and Development in IslamicFinance 2013” award by Global IslamicFinance Awards (GIFA), London.

Accreditation workshop for Islamic Banking organised

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—All the top ten exporting coun-tries of the Halal products are non-Muslimstates.

Mufti Ahsan Zafar, country represen-tative of South Africa National Halal Au-thority (SANHA) said talking to media hereon Saturday.

He said that Halaal food is the safestfood for consumption and even the non-Muslims have recognized it.

He said Pakistan has the capacity tobecome Kitchen of the World for Halal prod-ucts as it has a huge potential to win a ma-jor share out of total $3 trillion Global Halalmarket. He said that there was a strong need

No Muslim country among top10 Halal products exporters

to develop standards of our Halal productsto boost our exports especially in theMiddle East and Europe.

Demand for Halal food products is in-creasing rapidly with the escalating popu-lation growth rate and socio-economic con-ditions.

He said that the promotion of Halal ex-ports would also open up new economicopportunities and employment for theyouth and traders.

Producers outside the Muslim world,from Brazil to the US and Australia, are per-forming well into the Halal market and do-ing a roaring business despite the fact thatthe concept of halaal entirely belongs toMuslims.

ISLAMABAD—New draft to amend the or-ganizational and legal framework of Na-tional Tariff Commission (NTC) is ready andwill be presented to the Cabinet for approvalany time soon, said the Minister for Com-merce Khurram Dastagir while chairing ameeting.

With a revitalized NTC in place, thegovernment will ensure that effective andtimely interventions are made to safeguardthe interests of traders; manufacturers andconsumers by imposing safeguard dutiesprovided within the framework of regionaland international trade agreements.

The government is planning to takefresh start in its trade relations with all itstrading partners and is expecting a hugeincrease in the quantum of trade which ne-cessitates the presence of an empoweredNTC, says a statement issued by the Min-istry of Commerce here.

The Minister said that special cellsestablished in NTC will keep a constantliaison with all the stakeholders and willact swiftly on complaints of distortions intrade by using its powers to impose anti-

New draft to amendNational Tariff

Commission on cardsdumping and regulatory duties.

The Minister was of the view that theGovernment will not leave the local tradersand manufacturers in lurch and will use alltrade defense mechanisms to protect theinterests of Pakistani people.

He further stated that the amendeddraft of NTC will resolve the issue of quo-rum which has resulted in the slow work-ing of NTC.

The Commission will be established onprofessional lines and highly technical of-ficials will be appointed in the Commissionhaving vast experience in economics andlaw. This will solve the capacity issues ofthe Commission, Dastagir said.

Elaborating further details of the pro-posed draft of the Commission, the Minstersaid that new NTC will have a completedatabase of investigations and a digital li-brary to access to the latest cases.

Furthermore, detailed SOP’s will be putin place for trade remedy investigations,which will greatly enhance the case dis-posal capacity and efficiency of NTC.—APP

Pakistani buyerspurchase 100,000tonnes Black SeawheatHAMBURG—Buyers inPakistan have purchasedabout 100,000 tonnes ofBlack Sea region wheat asthe country continues anew round of wheatimports, European traderstold to media. This bringsPakistani wheat purchas-ing to about 200,000tonnes this week followingprevious deals for 100,000tonnes reported onMonday. Of the total onThursday, traders said50,000 tonnes waspurchased at $275 c&f forAug. 15 to Sept. 15shipment and 50,000tonnes at $280 a tonne c&ffor September 15 toOctober 15 shipment,traders said.—Agencies

SBP injects Rs64,700m into marketKARACHI—State Bank ofPakistan (SBP) injected Rs64, 700 million into themarket during its openmarket operation (OMO).The injection is for sevendays and the rate of returnis 9.9 percent, said SBPrelease.—APP

Pakistan Postsaves Rs806.8mISLAMABAD—PakistanPost has earned commis-sion amounting to Rs806.8million during the periodJuly to March 2013-14 bycollecting an amount ofRs161, 365.865 millionthrough national savingsschemes. According toEconomic Survey 2013-14,Pakistan Post has beendoing Saving Bank workas an agency function onbehalf of the Ministry ofFinance under the Govern-ment Savings Bank Act1873 on commission basis.Pakistan Post Savings Bankoffers the largest network ofsavings bank servicesacross the country. It ispopular both in urban andrural areas, but its opera-tions in rural areas of thecountry are wide spread. Inmost of the remote areas, itis the only banking serviceavailable.—APP

ATM proper main-tenance urgedISLAMABAD—The AutoTeller Machine (ATM)cardholders appealed theauthorities concerned toensure proper maintenanceof the facility owned bypublic and private sectorbanks. “ATMs are consid-ered to be a source of relieffor the consumers in needof fast cash, but they havein fact become a source ofannoyance, particularly onsalary days,” a number ofATM card holder said whiletalking to media.

Those, who often visitATM kiosks to get cash,said they tried several ATMmachines in the federalcapital but failed to takemoney. This is particularlyobserved during the firstweek of every month whensalaried employees have towithdraw money.Messageslike ‘Out of cash,’ ‘Sorry forinconvenience,’ ‘ATM isclosed for maintenance areusually displayed says anATM user.—APP

OBSERVER REPORT

ISLAMABAD—National Productivity Orga-nization (NPO), Ministry of Industries &Production in collaboration with AsianProductivity Organization (APO) – Japanand Arid Agriculture University is orga-nizing a five-day International workshopon Irrigation Water for enhancing Produc-tivity in achieving food safety ResourceManagement in Pakistan.

Mr. Arif Ibrahim who is additional Sec-retary, Ministry of Industries & Produc-tions as well as Alternate APO director,was the chief guest of the inauguratingsession.

Recognizing this event as a very im-portant event he appreciated the effortsof NPO & APO in regards to reviewingcurrent agricultural policies within differ-ent regions of Pakistan.

He added that Pakistan’s Agriculturesector contributes between 21-25 percent

NPO, APO to introduce innovativemanagement in irrigation water

of Pakistan’s GDP and employs about halfof the labour force.

He said that Pakistan is blessed withfertile lands, rivers, suitable climate andrich soil, however due to mismanagementand inadequate drainage and irrigationsystems, water logging and salinity, theagricultural production is below to its po-tential.

Since agriculture is a main user of wa-ter; therefore sustainability of agriculturedepends on timely and adequately avail-ability of water. Pakistan’s agriculture isdependent on irrigation that supplies over90% of the agricultural production.

CEO-NPO, Dr. Sher Muhammad whileaddressing to the gathering said that man-aging water for food security needs theadoption of agricultural best practices. In-tegrated land and water management prac-tices such as organic farming andagronomical activities can be helpful toenhance land and water use productivityon a sustainable basis.

KARACHI—Anti-Smuggling Wing of Di-rectorate Customs Intelligence & Investi-gation-FBR, Karachi confiscated 800smuggled tyres worth Rs 15 million from agodown in Karachi. According to officialsources, a joint raid conducted by Intelli-gence officers and Pakistan Rangers onsecret information has resulted in seizure

of 800 smuggled tyres worth Rs 13 million.They said that a suspect, who was al-

legedly involved in this illicit business, hadalso been taken into custody. Moreover,sources said that further investigation wasunderway and FIR and Challan would besubmitted in the competent Court after le-gal proceedings. —Agencies

Customs seize 800 smuggled tyres

Weekly opening& closing ratesDuring the week ended June 06, 2014 at Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX) thetotal value traded was recorded at PKR 11,133 million. Number of lots traded werereported at 54,881. Major business was contributed by crude oil amounting to PKR6,354 million followed by gold (PKR 4,182, million) and silver (PKR 597 million).

Currency Selling Buying

USA 98.50 98.30

UK 165.58 165.25

Euro 134.58 134.26

Canada 90.19 90.01

Switzerland 110.48 11.25

Australia 91.93 91.74

Sweden 14.80 14.77

Japan 09625 0.9605

Norway 16.46 16.43

Singapore 78.61 78.45

Denmark 18.03 17.99

Saudi Arabia 26.26 26.21

Hong Kong 12.71 12.21

Kuwait 349.45 348.74

Malaysia 30.59 30.53

Newzealand 83.63 83.46

Qatar 27.06 26.76

UAE 26.82 26.76

Kr. Won 0.0965 0.0963

Thailand 3.023 3.017

FAISALABAD—Faisalabad Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (FCCI) has completed itsrecommendations for provincial budget 2014-15 and forwarded them to the Punjab Gov-ernment after due consultation with leadingbusiness and industrial associations of thecity.

These proposals were discussed in a meet-ing, which was also attended by office-bear-ers and representatives of All Pakistan Tex-tile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA),Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association(PHMA), Anjumane Tajran City, Anjuman-e-Tajran Aminpur Bazaar, Faisalabad ClothBoard, Industrialists Association of PISC,Powerlooms Association, Dyes & ChemicalsAssociation, Sizing Association, InstallmentAssociation in addition to Director Excise &Taxation Faisalabad.

Engr. Suhail Bin Rashid, President FCCIsaid that majority of the associations haverejected Survey, categories and ValuationTables for property tax and most of themhave suggested 25 percent increase in theexisting rate of property tax without indulg-ing into the intricacies of classification andvaluation. However, some associations saidthat due to slump in local market this rateshould not be increased more than 10 per-cent.

He said that APTPMA has demanded aseparate category for industrial units housedin various rating areas of Faisalabad. They

FCCI finalizes provincialbudget recommendations

said that there should be only three catego-ries (i) up to 2 acres (ii) from 2-10 acres and (iii)above 10 acres. The godowns and offices ofthe industrial units should also be consid-ered part of the factory and industry rateshould be applied on their offices andgodowns.

In order to facilitate the government togenerate more funds, the participants of themeeting unanimously supported a proposalto increase lifetime token on motorcycle fromRs 1200 to Rs 2000. Similarly, the governmentshould also levy and recover taxes fromQuingQui Rickshaws as commercial vehicles.

He appreciated the gesture of Kh. Amjad,Chairman PHMA that Government washeavily spending on development projectsand now we are duty bound to contributeour share in the form of enhanced taxes andduties.

Engr Suhail Bin Rashid also appreciatedthe various steps taken by the Punjab Gov-ernment particularly the Excise and TaxationDepartment in regard to Computerization ofMotor Vehicle and Registration, Web basedmotor vehicle tax Calculator, SMS for verifi-cation of Token Tax and particulars of ve-hicles through 9966, un-detachable NumberPlates, Scanning and Data entry of historicalrecord etc. and assured government shoulddiscourage the practice of coercive measureemployed by tax collectors as these were maincause of expanding tax net in Pakistan.—APP

ISLAMABAD—Exports from Pakistan(goods only) to UK during the firstquarter of the current year (January toMarch 2014) were recorded at œ274.87million compared to œ220.08 millionover the same period last year, a sig-nificant increase of 24.90%.

The total trade (goods only) hasalso risen by 26.20% and amounted toœ397.87 million in the first quarter of2014 as compared to total trade ofœ315.27 in first quarter of 2013.

According to a press release ofPakistan High Commission to Londonreaching here Friday, Pakistan’s im-ports from the United Kingdom alsoshowed an upward trend, reachingœ123 million, an increase of 29.22%.

Bilateral trade between Pakistanand the United Kingdom is conductedunder the Trade & InvestmentRoadmap agreed by both the govern-ments under the Enhanced StrategicDialogue.

In 2013, Prime Minister NawazSharif and David Cameron agreed toachieve a bilateral trade target of œ3billion by 2015.

According to Dr Ijlal Khattak, Com-mercial Counsellor at High Commissionfor Pakistan, London, exports from Pa-kistan to the United Kingdom duringthe first quarter of 2014 grew at muchhigher rates than other countries in theregion including India (8.17%), China(7.43%) and Bangladesh with an actualdecline of -7.57% in the first quarter of2014.

While enumerating the reasons forsuch unprecedented increase in trade,he pointed out that GSP Plus has defi-nitely made Pakistan an attractive des-tination for international buyers butproducts, not covered under the EU’sconcessionary arrangement, have alsoshown an impressive export growth,indicating a general confidence of in-ternational buyer for Pakistan’s prod-

ucts which is purely due to currenttrade & economic policies put in placeby the present government.

Products with significant exportgrowth to UK included vegetableplaiting materials, articles of basemetal, glass and glassware, man-madefilaments, beverages, spirits and vin-egar, man-made filaments, edible fruit& nuts, knitted or crocheted fabrics,articles of apparel and clothing acces-sories etc.

Similarly, products with significantimport growth included ships, boatsand floating structures with an in-crease of lacs gums, resins, wool, fineand coarse animal hair, articles ofstone, plaster, ceramic products, woodand articles of wood, rubber articles,man-made staple fibers and etc.

The U.K. remains amongPakistan’s top five export destinationswith balance of trade strongly in favourof Pakistan.—APP

Pak-UK trade registers 24.90pchike in 2014 1st quarter

Samsung Pakistanto hold fashion pa-rade 2014LAHORE—Continuing itsefforts of promoting localtalent, Samsung Pakistan,is all set to promote Paki-stani fashion in the inter-national community bybeing the co-sponsor ofFashion Parade 2014.Fashion Parade is a one ofits kind event, showcasingthe work of notable de-signers from Pakistan atKensington PalaceOrangery, London on the9th of June 2014.

Powered by the GalaxyS5, the event will be show-casing the works of sevenwell-known Pakistani de-signers - ‘ Faiza Samee,Ayesha Hashwani, NomiAnsari, Zara Shahjehan,Seher Tareen and NazneenTariq’. The designers willbe showcasing ‘fusionconcept collections’ thatwill symbolize and promotegood trade relations be-tween the two countries:Britain and Pakistan alongwith brining both the fash-ion worlds closer. Theevent will be attended bya hoard of local and Inter-national celebrities, in-cluding the British Fash-ion Council’s Head ofEvent Mr. JosefJammerbund and MediaHead Anna Orsiniamongst others includingPakistani icons Ali Zafar,Humaima Malik, ZohaibHasan.—PR

WorldcallTelecom

managementteam visits LSE

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—The seniormanagement of WorldcallTelecom Limited visitedthe Lahore Stock Ex-change to participate inthe Corporate BriefingProgram. CBP is an inter-active program initiated bythe Lahore Stock Ex-change under the Corpo-rate Communications De-partment to encouragecompanies to come for-ward and share theirfinancials and non finan-cial projects before themembers, TREC Holders,investors and the media toabridge the communica-tion gap between the listedcompanies and the marketparticipants.

CEO – Worldcall Ltd,Mr. Babar Ali Syed andCFO – Worldcall Ltd, Mr.Muhammad Murtaza Razaand Muhammad AzharSaeed, officiating Com-pany Secretary- WorldcallLtd along with the manage-ment team drove throughthe company’s insights;highlighting productknowledge, vision, history,future projections and thefinancial standing of thecompany.

Worldcall TelecomLimited- the company thatbelieves, ‘the future is inyour hands’ has experi-enced the rich and therough times, however, thecompany has managed tosurvive. While addressingto the participants, themanagement of theWorldcall Ltd, expressingprofound gratitude in-formed that the companyis accredited as the pio-neers in introducing mul-tiple products and ser-vices comprising broad-band infrastructure.

SHEIKHPURA: Minister for State for Petroleum and Natural Resouces, Jam KamalKhan offering Dua after inauguration of Hascol Machike Installation.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The country has importedmobile handsets and other telecom appa-ratus worth US $ 662.1 million during firstnine months of current fiscal year. Of thetotal imports in three quarters, the countryimported cellular mobile sets with batteryworth US $ 293.1 million and other telecomapparatus worth US $ 369 million. Sourcesat Pakistan Telecommunication Authority(PTA) on said the first two quarters of theyear witnessed a raise in total telecom im-ports mostly on account of demand of cel-lular mobile handsets.

The import of mobile handsets have

reached above US $ 293 million during Julyto December 2013 as owing to high demandthe authorities allowed import of cheaperChinese brand mobile handsets.

They said with huge telecom market ofover 136 million subscribers, telecom com-panies and manufacturing industry shouldput efforts for telecom manufacturing inthe country and added several mobilehandsets manufacturing companies areshowing interest to invest on public-pri-vate partnership basis. It is mentioned here that the country wit-nessed total telecom imports worth US $ 766.3million during 2010-11, US $ 954 million dur-ing 2011-12, 918.4 million during 2012-13.

Telecom imports reach$662.1m in 9 months

BEIJING: Chinese nationals visiting the Pakistan’s pavilion during second China-South Asia Exposition at Kunming International Convention and Exhibition centre.

ISLAMABAD—Managing Director OverseasPakistani Foundation (OPF) Iftikhar Babarsaid that overseas worker’s remittances reg-istered commendable growth during July-April, 2013-14, growing by 11.5 percentagainst 6.4 percent growth recorded in thecorresponding period of last year. Talkingto APP Iftikhar Babar said that the consis-tent growth in remittances reflects a shiftfrom informal to formal avenues to remitfunds from overseas Pakistanis.

Babar further said that overseas work-ers were the main source of economic growthof the country after exports. The countryattained 4.14 per cent growth in the outgo-ing fiscal year, which is the highest one (insix years) since 2008-09,” Babar informed.Iftikhar Babar further said that economicgrowth during the current government

Overseas remittances registercredible growth in economy

would help lead to prosperity through pov-erty alleviation. “Overseas Pakistani Work-ers remittances increased by 11.5 per centduring first ten months of the current finan-cial year and reached $ 12.9 billion against $11.6 billion of the same period of last year,Babar said. The Government and State Bankof Pakistan (SBP) have focused on promo-tion of formal channel for international re-mittances through banks and differentmoney transfer services under the PakistanRemittances Initiatives (PRI), he added.

“The country’s economy grew by 4.14per cent during fiscal year 2013-14 against3.6 per cent last year (2012-13) despite vari-ous challenges, Iftikhar Babar further saidthat economic growth during the currentgovernment would help lead to prosperitythrough poverty alleviation.”—APP

BF empoweringcommunities

via mobilizationOBSERVER REPORT

LAHORE—Buksh Founda-tion has taken another stepto accomplish its missionto empower societies bycreating avenues for de-velopment through Com-munity Mobilization.Buksh Foundation has amission to “Empower theunderprivileged, to makethem productive and helpincreasing equity in thesociety; the drive is toachieve sustainability,bring innovation in ap-proach and create measur-able impaction the globaleconomy.

Fiza Farhan-CEO ofBuksh Foundation said:“Our focus at Buksh Foun-dation is to empower com-munities through problemsolving while involvingthem in the mobilization pro-cess directly, which is cre-ating linkages for the entirecommunity, as individualsas well as families participateto resolve the problems theyface every day. Communityparticipation will also en-hance the concept of capac-ity building; therefore willbring a new dynamics indomestic mobilization.The process of mobilizationthat Buksh Foundation fol-lows is to identify the issueor problem affecting the en-tire or most parts of the com-munity. Implementationthrough people’s participa-tion of groups will ultimatelyhelp in understanding theculture of the villages andtherefore, will also benefit asa source of giving moreknowledge about issuesand limitations of theplaces, individuals and fam-ily members. The processwill also assess the results,improve and scale up theprocess.

ISLAMABAD—Mari Petroleum Com-pany Limited (MPCL) as Operator ofGhauri Joint Venture (GJV) has made asignificant oil discovery in Ghauri X-1Well located at village Dhemak in dis-trict Jhelum. The 3800 meter deep GhauriWell discovery is a landmark achieve-ment being the first hydrocarbon dis-covery in the eastern part of PotoharPlateau. It would go a long way in ex-ploiting the so far un-tapped potentialopportunities in the area for other E&PCompanies operating in this region.

The Ghauri X-1 Well flowed oil 22Api gravity from Sakessar Formation atflow rate of5500 Barrels/Day with 1100psi pressure (Post-Acid) at 32/64”choke size. The in-place oil reserves areestimated at 22 million barrels, with ex-

MPCL discovers ‘black gold’ in Ghauri Blockpected additional volume in the KussakFormation which has also flowed Oil atthe rate of 136 barrels /Day with nitro-gen kick off owing the tight nature ofthe reservoir. This well is considered tobe among the top ranking oil-produc-ing wells in the country.

Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed (Retd) CEO/MD of Mari Petroleum Company Lim-ited while addressing the employees onthis historic occasion said “By the graceof Almighty Allah and dedicated effortsof MPCL’s team along with participa-tion of J.V partners and the office ofDirectorate General Petroleum Conces-sions, we have made a major oil discov-ery in Sakessar Formation, easternPotohar region in Ghauri X-1 Well. Hecongratulated the entire staff of MPCL,

the Board of Directors and GJV forachieving this cherished milestone. Thediscovery will go a long way in mitigat-ing the energy shortage and have pro-gressive bearing on nationaleconomy”.

The GJV comprises MPCL-Opera-tor with 35% working interest, PPL andMOL 35% and 30% respectively. WithGhauri X-1 discovery the company hasmade yet another significant and mile-stone success; following its lastmonth’s discovery of gas/condensatein its Sujjal Well located in Thatta Dis-trict of Sindh Province.

Ghauri X-1 discovery has furtherenhanced MPCL exploration well suc-cess rate, which already ranked as thehighest in the country.—PR

Govt’s efforts toovercome

challenges hailedISLAMABAD—B.A Malik ananalyst said that the govern-ment of Pakistan MuslimLeague Nawaz (PML-N) isworking on various powerprojects to generate electric-ity through coal, hydel, gasand other resources forovercoming energy crisis inthe county.

“The government is fac-ing so many challenges in-cluding energy crisis, terror-ism and extremism, he said.

Talking to Radio Paki-stan, he said that govern-ment is paying special atten-tion to energy-related

QUETTA: Women visiting a stall during Pakistan International Gems and JewelryExhibition at local hotel.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan today informed theUnited Nations that by the end of this de-cade, Pakistan would be transformed froman energy deficient country to a regional ex-porter of power.

In a statement to the United Nations’Sustainable Energy for All Forum, Ambas-sador Masood Khan, Pakistan’s PermanentRepresentative to the United Nations saidthat in Pakistan, the Government has devel-oped a National Power Policy to provide af-fordable energy through an efficient genera-tion, transmission and distribution system.

Ambassador Khan said that to addresswater and energy security, a series of smalland large Hydel Projects have been initiated.He said, “Six projects totaling 388 MW ofHydel power are expected to come online byFebruary 2015. In addition, another 247 MWof Hydel power would be linked to nationalgrid by 2017”. He added that Pakistan hasalso launched two major mega power projectsof 7100 MW and 4500 MWs, whose comple-

Pak Ambassador addresses UN’sSustainable Energy for All Forum

tion is targeted by 2020.This was an historic Forum that was be-

ing attended by more than 1,000 participantsrepresenting governments, international or-ganizations, business and civil society.

Ambassador Khan said that this Forumwould help attainment of two objectives: tobuild a global partnership with the privatesector and multilateral development banksfor universal energy access; and to translatecommitments into kilowatts of energy.

Highlighting Pakistan governments’ ef-forts to develop sustainable energy, Paki-stani envoy said that Pakistan was planningto generate more than 2000 MW of wind elec-tricity to come online in 2016 and that it hasestablished a 10,000-acre Solar Park, whichwould generate 1000 MW, and would be onethe biggest solar power projects in the worldwith direct link to the national grid for trans-mission.

He said that Pakistan’s goal was to de-crease the cost of energy generation from12c per unit today to less than 10c per unitby 2017.

RAWALPINDI—Attock Refinery Limited(ARL) was awarded the “Best SustainabilityReport Award 2013” in the local listed com-panies’ category by Association of Char-tered Certified Accountants (ACCA) andWorld Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Honorable FederalMinister for Planning & Development wasthe Chief Guest on the occasion and pre-sented this award to Mr. M. Adil Khattak,Chief Executive Officer, ARL at an impres-sive ceremony.

This award aims to recognize and re-ward those organizations which report anddisclose environmental, social andsustainability performance to encouragebest practices in environmental, social andsustainability reporting to raise awareness

of reporting corporate social responsibilityissues and performance.

Mr. M. Adil Khattak, CEO ARL duringthe award ceremony expressed his grati-tude to the ACCA-WWF management andAward Judging Committee for recognizingARL efforts by giving this prestigiousaward.

He said that our focus on sustainabilityreporting is not new.

We have won the ACCA-WWFSustainability Reporting Award consecu-tively three times in a row in years 2007 to2009 and remained on the judging panel forthe next three years from 2010 to 2012 andnow it is an immense pleasure that we haveagain secured our position after a gap ofthree years.—PR

ARL wins best sustainability report award

FOXBOROUGH, United States: Mexico players defend against a kick by Portugal’s Miguel Veloso during their international friendly match, at Gillette Stadium.

FOXBOROUGH—Portugal badly missed thefirepower of captain Cristiano Ronaldo as theylabored to an entertaining 1-0 win over fel-low World Cup qualifiers Mexico in their USfriendly on Friday.

Portugal are sweating on the fitness oftalisman Ronaldo with the Brazil showpiecesix days away. Having settled for a scorelessdraw with Greece last weekend they weretoothless once more.

The game looked all set to end goallessuntil stand-in skipper Bruno Alves popped upin injury time with a thumping header to seala victory Portugal barely deserved.

Manchester United winger Nani had beenanonymous, while gangly forward Eder failedto convince, leaving Portugal coach PauloBento with plenty to ponder ahead ofTuesday’s final warm-up match with the Re-public of Ireland.

Mexico, playing their last friendly beforeheading to Brazil, have their problems too.

They dropped striker Javier Hernandezafter he failed to fire in a 1-0 defeat to Bosniaon Tuesday, but neither Giovani Dos Santosnor Oribe Peralta did enough to suggest theycan trouble the hosts Brazil on June 17.Mexico enjoyed the better of the opening ex-

changes to both halves and had the ball in thenet after just two minutes, but Hector Morenowas ruled offside after prodding the ball in.

Portugal responded when Vieirinha hadtheir first shot on target in the 14th minute,Mexico keeper Jesus Corona turning the ballround his near post.

As well as Ronaldo, the Portuguese —who face Germany in their June 16 World Cupopener — were also missing through injurykey defender Pepe and experienced midfielderRaul Meireles.

Yet they began to dominate in front of the56,000 crowd at the impressive Foxboroughhome of the NFL’s New England Patriots,Eder drawing another save from Corona witha first-time snapshot.

The chances began stacking up in the sec-ond half: Corona was quickly down to his nearpost to deny Fabio Coentrao, while AndresGuardado flashed the ball just wide for theMexicans as they finished the stronger.

Hector Herrera might have grabbed a win-ner for Mexico but Eduardo dived to his rightand then saved from substitute Alan Pulidowith two minutes left to keep the fast-fadingPortuguese in the game, before Alves madehis late intervention. —AFP

ISLAMABAD—The three-day MargallSports Festival organized by Capital De-velopment Authority (CDA) concludedhere at National Cricket Ground.

Director General Sports and Culture,CDA Asif Shahjhan was the chief guestof the concluding ceremony of the eventwhich was held here at National CricketGround, Jinnah Supper Market , F-7Sector. General Secretary CDA MazdoorUnion (CBA), Chaudhry MuhammadYasin was also present on the occasion.

The festival was started on Tuesdayin which tournaments of different gamesincluding Cricket, Football, basket ball,lawn tennis, rugby and hockey wereplayed. The festival was held at differ-ent grounds of the city.

Chairman CDA, Maroof Afzal hasappreciated the Directorate of Sports andCulture CDA for organizing successfulfestival. Stressing on the important roleof sports in personality grooming of the

HashnagirClub advancein T20 cricket

PESHAWAR—Hashnagir clubdefeated Bashir Bilour club byeight wickets in ongoing Fron-tier Foundation Lions Twenty20 Cricket Tournament beingplayed here at Gymkhanaground on Saturday.

Bashir Bilour club won thetoss and elected to bat first bysetting up a meager runs targetof 61 runs for the loss of allwickets after playing 13.7overs. Only Atiq made 21 runsand Fakre Alam scored 17runs, none of the other batsmencould cross the double figures.For Hashnagir club SarzaminKhan claimed three wickets,Zamin Gul and Kaleem gottwo wickets each while Wajidand Rais got one wicket each.

In reply, Hashnagir clubchased the target for the lossof two wickets with Wajid andRais scored 23 runs each. ForBashir Bilour club Junaid andIsmail took one wicket each.Sarzamin Khan was declaredman of the match.—APP

THE HAGUE—International Hockey Federa-tion (FIH) will be helping Pakistan in the re-sumption of International hockey, Presidentof the federation Leandro Nagre said on Sat-

urday.“We

will be send-ing a strongofficial FIHdelegation toP a k i s t a nlater this yearto meet theauthorit iesand resolvedifferent is-sues,” he tolda group of re-porters at theKyocera Sta-dium wherehe waswatching the

World Cup matches, writes APP Senior Cor-respondent Ehsan Qureshi.

“There are some important issues to solve.It’s not an easy task but we will do our best toresolve them,” he pointed out.

“Because of these issues Pakistan cannothold international events in Pakistan. But wecan relocate them to other countries”, FIHPresident said. He said on the persuasion ofQasim Zia, FIH delegation would spend sev-

eral days in Pakistan to work plan and meetconcerned authorities in resolving the prob-lems. He said he will be personally visitingPakistan in October or November to meet gov-ernment and Pakistan Hockey Federation of-ficials and discuss remedial steps for start ofbilateral series before holding internationaltournaments. “We will be doing things stepby step to resolve the issue to see internationalhockey returns to Pakistan,” he said.

He revealed that teams from Argentina,Poland and other countries are ready to visitPakistan and FIH will further encourage vis-iting Pakistan.

Negre Leandro said Pakistan can alsostage an event in Dubai and invite teams fromAustralia and India and other countries, whoare ready to play in United Arab Emirates. FIHwill fully support and assist that event.

He said due to lack of internationalhockey, PHF is facing serious financial prob-lems and FIH wanted to fully support them.

He said 4-time former Champion Paki-stan is being missed in the World Cup and theywanted to see their return to big events.

“We know what Pakistan had contributedin hockey and they are pioneer of launching itand gifting the World Cup,” he recalled. Healso defended FIH Rule Board’s decision ofintroduction of four-quarter of 60 minutes.

FIH chief said to cover-up the time, clockswill be stopped during penalty corners, injuryand celebration times.—APP

FIH to help Pakistanresuming Int’l hockey

Portugal seal late winover Mexico

youth, Chairman CDA directed the Di-rectorate of Sports and Culture to con-tinue with such activities in future aswell. He assured full patronage and sup-port of the CDA administration for pro-motion of sports in the city.

On the concluding day of the festi-val, final matches of different gameswere held. Boots pharmacy CricketTeam won the inter-departmental tapeball cricket tournament by defeatingUniversity of Sargodha team in the fi-nal match. The inter-departmental tapeball tournament was participated by six-teen teams.

Similarly, Pak-Turk School won theinter- school football tournament by de-feating Najam Model School, JhangiSaidaan in the final match. Inter-clubfootball tournament was participated bysixteen teams. Mehran Football Club de-feated Huma football club in the finalmatch and won the title of the tourna-

ment. Muhammad Ali Jinnah University(MAJU) defeated Mehar Ali Shah AridAgriculture University in the final matchof Inter-University basketball tourna-ment. The Inter- University basket balltournament was played by eight teams.

Pak-Turk school defeated the CitySchool in the final match of inter-schoollawn tennis tournament. Six teams par-ticipated in the Inter-School lawn ten-nis tournament.

Jins Rugby club defeated BritishHigh Commission to win the final matchof inter-club rugby tournament. Thirtytwo (32) teams took part in the inter-clubhockey tournament. IMCB G-10/4 teamdefeated IMCB F-7/3 team in the finalmatch of boy’s category of Hockey tour-nament.

A large number of people from dif-ferent walks of life attended the conclud-ing ceremony. Prizes were also distrib-uted among the winning teams. —APP

Margalla SportsFestival concludes

HYDERABAD: A group of boys playing cricket at a roadside park.

ROTTERDAM—Former President PakistanHockey Federation (PHF) Qasim Zia will berepresenting Pakistan in the Executive Boardmeeting of International Hockey Federation(FIH) being held at TheHague on June 10.

Despite election ofAkhtar Rasool as the PHFChief, Qasim Zia remainedon the Executive Board ofFIH and will attend the meet-ing. However the agenda ofthe meeting was not avail-able. But according to reportsit will take various issuespertaining to hockey acrossthe globe including OlympicGames, World Cup and othercontinental competition.

4-time World ChampionPakistan, once power houseof world hockey and launch-ing Hockey World Cup failedto qualify for this prestigious event for thefirst time in the 43-year-old history of thischampionship.

Akhtar Rasool and PHF Secretary RanaMujaid Ali are already in Netherlands to meetthe officials of various federations to pursuethem to visit Pakistan for the revival of inter-

national hockey ahead of the 17th AsianGames being held in Incheon (Korea) fromSeptember 19 to October 4. In the meantimetop PHF officials Akhtar Rasool and Rana

Mujahid will be meetingLeandro Negre to secure hissupport for the revival of in-ternational hockey. “Ourmain objectives of cominghere was to secure the sup-port of FIH and other coun-tries for the resumption of in-ternational hockey in Paki-stan”, he said.

He said he will also bemeeting the officials of Ko-rean and Malaysian federa-tions to arrange the Pakistanteam’s tour of those countriesahead of Asian Games. Paki-stan will be defending thecrown in Asian Games whichthey won at Guangzhou in2010.

Rana Mujahid said he will also be meet-ing Indian Hockey Federation in a bid to ar-range Indo-Pakistan series. “Resumption ofinternational hockey is of prime importancefor the revival and for the upliftment of Paki-stan hockey,” he added.—APP

Qasim Zia to attend FIHExecutive Board meeting

ISLAMABAD: Players in action at Sports Complex in a match held in connection with junior karate championship.

Hasan guides AlamgirGymkhana to victory

KARACHI—Talented wicket-keeper/batsman MohammadHasan slammed a fine centuryas Alamgir Gymkhana trouncedNorth Shire CC by 169 runs toreach the semi-finals of theKCCA Zone-VI Daud KhanMemorial cricket tournamenthere the other day.

Hasan scored 118 with theaid of 13 boundaries and one sixand opener Jaahid Shaukat Alimade 58 (four fours) to helpAlamgir Gymkhana amass 279-9 in the allotted 40 overs. ZaheerKhan claimed four wickets for37 runs and Ibadullah three for53. North Shire CC, in reply,were shot out for 119 in 30 overswith Zia-ul-Hasan scoring 43.Mohammad Waqas returned ex-cellent figures of three wicketsfor only one run while fellowslow left-armer Shiraz Hussaintook three for 14.

Sakhi Hasan Gymkhanaalso moved into the last-fourround with a four-wicket winagainst Unity Gymkhana at theSakhi Hasan Gymkhana

Ground. Syed Farhan Ali (68with eight fours and two sixes)and Munawwar Aziz (51 withfive boundaries) excelled asSakhi Hasan Gymkhanaachieved their target of 224 forthe loss of six wickets in 33overs. Spinner Naved Noorsnared four wickets for 44 runs.

Earlier, Shahrukh Asim hit71 with the help of nine fours asand a brace of sixes in UnityGymkhana’s total of 223-9 in 40overs. Syed Farhan Ali alsoshone with the ball to grab threewickets for 30 runs.

Summarised scores: SakhiHasan Gymkhana beat UnityGymkhana by four wickets atSakhi Hassan GymkhanaGround.

Unity Gymkhana 223-9 in40 overs (Shahrukh Asim 71,Masoom Ali 30, Khurram Asim30; Syed Farhan Ali 3-30,Sikander Ali 2-38); SAKHIHASAN GYMKHANA 224-6in 33 overs (Syed Farhan Ali 68,Munawwar Aziz 51, MusawwarHussain Zaidi 32; Naved Noor

4-44). Alamgir Gymkhana beatNorth Shire CC by 169 runs atKCCA Stadium.

Alamgir Gymkhana 279-9in 40 overs (Mohammad Hassan118, Jaahid Shaukat Ali 58,Faraz Ali 29; Zaheer Khan 4-37,Ibadullah 3-53); NORTHSHIRE CC 119 in 30 overs Zia-ul-Hasan 43, Ibadullah 25, MaazWarsi 21; Mohammad Waqas 3-1, Shiraz Hussain 3-14).—Agencies

Boxing campLAHORE—Lahore DivisionBoxing Association will set upsummer coaching camps for U-17 boys from June 10 at fourvenues across the city.

The venues to hold thecamps are Racecourse Park,Islamia College, Civil Lines,Punjab College of Commerce,and Government Post GraduateCollege, Wahdat Road.

International coach YousufButt will supervise all thecamps. —APP

Rumour has it:Rawalpindi

Express set totie the knot

KARACHI—Rumours begancircling on Saturday ofPakistan’s former speedster andRawalpindi Express ShoaibAkhtar having decided to tie theknot.

Television reports said ear-lier today that Akhtar had de-cided to marry the daughter ofMushtaq Khan, a businessmanfrom Haripur.

According to reports,Akhtar’s family had met Khanwhile performing Hajj last yearand had asked thebusinessman’s wife for help infinding a suitable match forAkhtar.

Reports further statedthat both families have beenvisiting each other since thenand decided that Khan’sdaughter would be married toAkhtar.

However, there seems tobe no veracity in the news anda Twitter account believed tobe maintained by Akhtar him-self denied it.—Agencies

NBP dominateWAPDA open

badmintontournament

LAHORE— The NationalBank of Pakistan (NBP) estab-lished its domination on theconcluding day of All PakistanWAPDA Open BadmintonTournament by winning finalsof all the three events of the dayincluding Men’s Single,Women’s Single and Men’sDouble.

The 6-day tournament wasorganized by WAPDA SportsBoard and WAPDA BadmintonManagement Team here atWAPDA Sports Complex.

In Men’s single final MuradAli of NBP defeated RizwanAzam also hailing form NBP by2-0. In Women’s Single Final,Palwasha Bashir of NBP over-powered Saima Waqas ofWAPDA by 2-0.

In Men’s Double Final,Kashif Sulehri and RizwanAzam of NBP beat Irfan Saeedand Azeem Sarwar of SNGPLby 2-0. —NNI

PHILADELPHIA: Costa Rica’s Celso Borges (5) takes a shot on goal as Ireland’s Stephen Kelly, Richard Keogh and goal keeper David Forde defendduring the first half of an international friendly soccer match in Chester.

BIPIN DANI

OBSERVER

CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI—Yograj Singh,who liked his son YuvrajSingh, was diagnosed withcancer, will return to India inthe first week of July.

Former fast bowlerYograj, who played one Testand six ODIs’ for India, willreturn with his son, Victor.

Speaking exclusively overhis mobile, Vicky (who prefersto be known as Vicky YograjSingh) says, “I am leaving forUSA on 9th June and will staywith my father in USA and weboth will return in the firstweek of July”. Yograj’s sec-ond wife Satveer Kaur (also

Yograj’s younger son flies to US: Scheduledto return with dad in 1st week of July

known as Meena) has been inIndia to look after their two chil-dren (son and daughter) andYograj, after being dischargedfrom the hospital is staying withhis sister-in-law’s (Simran’s)house in Madison Mississipi.“The dad underwent surgery andis on his way to recovery. He isnot required chemotherapy”, theson added.

Yuvraj is believed to havehad suggested the name of hisdoctor, Dr Lawrence H Einhornfor the treatment. “(But) well, Ibelieve that doctor has retiredand that he specializes in thatspecific cancer.

Therefore my dad, insteadof going to Indianapolis, tooktreatment in New York “, Vic-tor added. Yuvraj’s cancer was

better labelled as mediastinalseminoma.

Yuvraj and Vicky, the twobrothers of two different moth-ers, are in regular contact witheach other. “Yes, I am in touchwith him (Yuvraj), who wasalso well supported by our dad(during his difficult time)”,added Vicky.

“I don’t play any gamesprofessionally but for a hobbyI play basketball”, said Vicky.“My dad is a very strong manand he will surely come outfrom the nightmare”, he signedoff.

Yograj had marriedSatveer after divorcing his firstwife Shabnam Singh, Yuvrajand his other brotherZorawar’s mother.

PHILADELPHIA—Ten-man Costa Rica playedto a 1-1 draw with Ireland on Friday in theTicos’ final friendly before they head to theWorld Cup finals in Brazil.

Costa Rica had been hoping for a morale-boosting victory after falling 3-1 to WorldCup-bound Japan on Monday.

But their chances dimmed in the 41stminute when defender Giancarlo Gonzalezwas sent off for elbowing Ireland forwardKevin Doyle.

Doyle had opened the scoring for Irelandin the 18th minute with a crisp header of across from Marc Wilson. Down a man, CostaRica continued to press in the second half and

got their chance after Ireland goalkeeper DavidForde brought down Marco Urena in the area.

Celso Borges converted the resulting pen-alty in the 64th minute and Patrick Pemberton,who replaced Keylor Navas in the Costa Ricangoal at halftime, kept it level when he saved apenalty from Robbie Keane that was awardedafter a foul by Heiner Mora. Ireland, whodidn’t qualify for the finals, will test anotherWorld Cup-bound team on Tuesday when theyplay Portugal at MetLife Stadium in East Ru-therford, New Jersey.

Costa Rica will open their World Cup cam-paign against Uruguay on June 14 and willalso face Italy and England in Group D.—AFP

Ten-man Costa Ricadraw 1-1 with Ireland

MIAMI—Steven Gerrard will captainEngland at a World Cup for the secondtime but believes Brazil willbe the first tournament heholds the role ‘for real’ hav-ing not felt that previous man-ager Fabio Capello truly be-lieved in him as skipper.

Liverpool midfielderGerrard captained England inSouth Africa four years agobut only after first choice RioFerdinand was injured andJohn Terry was stripped of therole due to the controversysurrounding him at the time.

“Capello didn’t believe inme as his number one captain,Roy does. I don’t know whatit was, I think he did believein me as a player and our re-lationship was totally fine, I enjoyedworking under him, but at the time whenhe had to pick a captain we had Rio

Ferdinand here and John Terry as well,”Gerrard told reporters on Friday.

“Maybehe thought theywere going to of-fer something dif-ferent from me ormaybe they werehis preferredchoice which wastotally up to him.But for me now Iknow that I’mRoy’s number onecaptain which is abig confidenceboost for me,” hesaid. WhileGerrard enjoyshaving the fullbacking of his

manager in his captaincy skills he saidthe formal position doesn’t change hisbehavior as a senior member of a youth-

ful squad. “I’d have still behaved in thesame way four years ago (as now). If Iwanted to go and put my arm around aplayer or show a bit of authority I’d doit in front of John. I’m sure he respectedthat. “Just because I’m the captain withthe armband on I still want the likes ofFrank (Lampard) and Wayne (Rooney)and Phil Jagielka to be leaders in therewith me and backing me up and we do ittogether. But of course I’d rather be cap-tain than vice-captain for sure,” headded. The 34-year-old says he is rel-ishing being part of a young squad thathe believes is better than the one Capellotook to the last World Cup.

“There are two players pushing inevery position to get into the 11 and Idon’t think there’s much between thosetwo players in every position. I think themanager is probably capable of pickingfour or five teams for the Italy game andyou wouldn’t see much difference in thestandard,” he said.—AFP

Gerrard revels in England captaincy

BERLIN—Germany’s World Cup hopes suffereda severe blow on Saturday when midfielderMarco Reus was ruled out of the tournament dueto an ankle injury sustained in their final warmupgame. Germany, who take on Ghana, Portugaland United States in Group G, leave for Brazilon Saturday evening with 22-year-oldSampdoria defender Shkodran Mustafi book-ing an unexpected last-minute ticket followingReus’s injury. Reus turned his ankle shortly be-fore the break in their 6-1 victory over Armenia

on Friday in Mainz, partially tearing the anteriorligament above his left ankle on the eve of theteam’s departure for Brazil. “Both for him andfor us it is extremely bitter,” coach Joachim Loewtold reporters. “Marco was in top form and bothin the training camp and in the friendlies againstCameroon and Armenia left an outstanding im-pression. “He had played a central role in our

planning for Brazil.” The lightning-quick Reus,who enjoyed a superb season at BorussiaDortmund, was seen as a key player inGermany’s quest to claim their first internationaltitle in 18 years. Mustafi, who won his only capin May against Poland, was surprisingly part ofthe provisional squad but missed the cut as oneof three players omitted from the final squad ear-lier this week. Revised German World

Cup squad after the German football fed-eration announced Marco Reus had been ruled

out of the finals on Saturday(club and shirt number in brack-ets): Goalkeepers: ManuelNeuer (Bayern Munich), Ro-man Weidenfeller (BorussiaDortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler(Hannover 96)

Defenders: JeromeBoateng (Bayern Munich),Erik Durm, KevinGrosskreutz (both BorussiaDortmund), BenediktHoewedes (Schalke 04),Matthias Ginter (SCFreiburg), Mats Hummels(Borussia Dortmund), PhilippLahm (Bayern Munich), PerMertesacker (Arsenal/ENG),Shkodran Mustafi (Samdoria/ITA), Midfielders: JulianDraxler (Schalke 04), Sami

Khedira (Real Madrid/ESP), Christoph Kramer(Borussia Monchengladbach), Toni Kroos(Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/ENG),Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio/ITA),Lukas Podolski (Arsenal/ENG), Thomas Mueller(Bayern Munich), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea/ENG), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich). —AFP

Germany’s Reus out ofWorld Cup, Mustafi called up

PARIS—The world’s top two players, RafaelNadal and Novak Djokovic, will contestSunday’s French Open final following theSpaniard’s 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 centre court demoli-tion of Andy Murray on Fri-day. Earlier Djokovic hadwon through his semi-finalwith a 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 winover Ernests Gulbis OfLatvia.

Top seed and eight-timewinner Nadal now stands justone win away from becom-ing the first man to take theFrench Open title five timesin a row, surpassing BjornBorg. He also is on the cuspof a 14th Grand Slam title, which would puthim level at second best on the all-time listwith Pete Sampras and three behind RogerFederer. Murray failed in his bid to become

the first British player to contest the FrenchOpen final since Bunny Austin 77 years agoand will now turn his attention to defendinghis Wimbledon crown.

It was his worst loss to Nadal in nineGrand Slam match-ups between the two, sur-passing the nine games he managed in the2008 Wimbledon quarter-finals.—AFP

Nadal to play Djokovicin French Open final

Marco-Rues Shkodran Mustafi

German player Hannah Gablac vies for the ball with Argentina player Rocio Sanchez during the Field Hockey WorldCup Women’s tournament match Germany vs Argentina.

Rain washesout third day ofSL tour match

NORTHAMPTON—(APP/AFP)- Rain washed out the third day’splay in the tour match betweenNorthamptonshire and SriLanka at Northampton on Sat-urday.

Heavy early morning rainmeant the match could not re-sume as scheduled at 11:00amlocal time (1000GMT) and,with puddles on the outfield, theumpires abandoned play for theday at 12:10pm (1110GMT).

Play will re-start 30 minutesearlier than scheduled on Sun-day at 10:30am (0930GMT),weather permitting.

Northamptonshire were146 for five in reply to SriLanka’s first innings 558 foreight declared, a deficit of412, at stumps on the secondday.—AFP

Argentinaremain on

trackTHE HAGUE (Nether-lands)—Argentina stayedon course for a semi-finalspot in the men’s hockeyWorld Cup with a 3-1 vic-tory against New Zealand atthe Kyocera Stadium here.

A hat-trick of penaltycorner conversions byGonzalo Peillat lifted the Ar-gentine challenge againstNew Zealand, who until thenwere heading the Group Btable with a maximum of sixpoints from their earlier twogames.

After a goalless first ses-sion, Peillat opened the ac-count with his first penaltycorner strike in the 44thminute, only for NewZealand to equalise with aflash strike by StephenJenness five minutes later.

Peillat got into the scor-ing act again in the 51st and69th minute to give Argen-tina three points from thecrucial encounter.

Argentina had earliershocked reigning Olympicchampions Germany 1-0 tothrow the pool wide open.

The Argentines nowhave six points from threegames, the same as NewZealand.

Hosts and OlympicGames silver medallists TheNetherlands have six pointsfrom two successive victo-ries, and they were sched-uled to face Germany lateron Friday in a crucial gamethat would have immensebearing on which teamsfrom this group make it tothe semi-finals.

Germany have threepoints from two earlier out-ings.—Agencies

Fernandaodies in

helicoptercrash

SAO PAULO—Fernandao, theswashbuckling striker who ledInternacional to CopaLibertadores and World ClubCup triumphs in 2006, has diedin a helicopter crash in centralBrazil, his former club said onSaturday.

He was 36. The helicoptercrashed with five people onboard and none survived, ac-cording to news reports. “I amsaddened by death ofFernandao, a hero to allInternacional fans and all lov-ers of football,” Brazilian Presi-dent Dilma Rousseff, herself anInter fan, said on Twitter.

“On the field he was worldchampion, off the field he wasan example of a man of char-acter.” Fernando Lucio daCosta played 190 times for thePorto Alegre club and scored77 goals. He also managed theside in 2012.—AFP

SAO PAULO—Brazilian former World Cup-winning captain Cafu insists his protestingcountryman will soon get into the right spiritonce the World Cup kicks offon Thursday.

Brazilians are enduringtough times, with metro strikesbringing commuter misery toSao Paulo amid protests at themammoth cost of the WorldCup.

But the people will get intocelebration mode once theevent begins, Cafu insistedSaturday.

“The political situation isboiling over—and I wish thetalk could be of football. Butthat’s currently not possiblegiven all the political argu-ments,” 2002 World Cup-win-ning skipper Cafu said on theday he turned 44.

He believes, however, that the atmospherewill change once Brazil kick off against Croatiain Sao Paulo on Thursday.

“There are strikes all around the world and

in general this has nothing to do with the WorldCup.

“This is a moment that the people feel theycan make their voices heard most clearly in the

Cup foreground,” the only manto have appeared in threeWorld Cup finals told Germansports news agency and AFPsubsidiary SID.

“We are currently goingthrough tough times as a coun-try. That is why there is nogreat joy coursing through inthe run-up to the event.

“But once it gets going,you will see a totally differentBrazil,” Cafu forecast, insist-ing the celebrations would thenbegin to take hold.

He stressed that he backedthe protests as long as theywere not violent.

At the same time, hefeared they could be even larger than thosewhich marred last year’s Confederations Cup“as this is a bigger event” with even more at-tention focused on the host nation.—AFP

Brazil will celebrate comekickoff: Cafu

BOTH psoriasis patients and the peoplewho live with them say psoriasis negatively impacts their quality of life, ac-

cording to a new study. And both groups tendto report more depression and anxiety thanpeople not affected by the condition.

About 7.5 million Ameri-cans have psoriasis, which ischaracterized by itchy, pain-ful plaques on the skin. Pre-vious research has found thatpeople with psoriasis have ahigher risk of cardiovascularand autoimmune diseases anddevelop more infections thanthose without psoriasis. Thecondition has also been linkedto psychiatric disorders.

“The number of studiesper year about quality of lifein psoriasis keeps growingyear after year and thanks tothese studies we know thatpsoriatic patients have an im-pairment of their quality oflife as well as higher levels ofanxiety and depression, feel-ings of stigmatization, higher risk ofsuicidality and lower employment rate, amongother problems,” Dr. Eliseo Martinez-Garciatold Reuters Health in an email.

Martinez-Garcia is a dermatologist atVirgen de las Nieves University Hospital inGranada, Spain and the lead author of the newstudy. “However, very few studies have ad-dressed how this problem can affect (the)people who live with these patients, and noneof them had evaluated globally quality of life,anxiety and depression,” Martinez-Garciasaid. “The impact of the dermatological con-ditions on patients’ cohabitants has been

Psoriasis linked to worse qualityof life for family members, too

A boy looks on the damaged vehicle on road in Johar Mor after robbery in a jeweller’s shopon Saturday.

Workers of MQM celebrating bail of their leader Altaf Hussain.—PO Photo Sultan Chaki

Women residents of Lyari hold a protest demonstration outside Karachi Press Club onSaturday.—PO Photo

largely ignored.”The researchers had noticed that cohabi-

tants of patients had difficulty coping withissues related to psoriasis, like having to avoidactivities such as travel or social meetings, aswell as spending time every day to help the

patient with treatment. Totake a more scientific look,they studied 130 adults: 34people with psoriasis, 49people who lived with pso-riasis patients and 47 healthypeople who did not live withpsoriasis patients, to serve asa comparison group.

The impact of psoriasison quality of life was mea-sured with 10-question sur-veys taken by the patients andthe cohabitants. Depressionand anxiety were measuredwith separate surveys com-pleted by members of allthree groups. The research-ers found that psoriasis im-paired the quality of life of88 percent of the cohabitants

and that their quality of life scores wereclosely linked with the scores of the patients.

One-third of cohabitants reported beinghighly affected by the psoriasis and only afew felt no effect. Anxiety and depression lev-els did not differ between patients and cohabi-tants, but were significantly higher than lev-els seen in the comparison group, accordingto findings published in the Journal of theAmerican Academy of Dermatology.

“A lot of psoriatic patients that are notdoing any treatment would be surprised abouthow much their condition could be improved,”Martinez-Garcia said.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Additional Inspector General(AIG) Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo paidsurprise visits to two 15 helpline centres inthe city on Saturday. AIG Karachi has alsosuspended SHO FB Area Inspector KhalidMughal, In-charge Ferozeabad 15 Unit anda ASI on account of negligence.

As per reports, AIG Karachi in-spected two police help line units inKorangi Industrial Area andFerozeabad. In his visit to Korangi In-

SHO FB Area suspended

AIG pays surprisevisit to 15 centres

dustrial Area 15 Unit, he met with staffpresent there in absence of in-charge,who had gone to Supreme Court (SC).

The staff explained the AIG Karachiabout their working modalities and con-sequent problems. Thebo advised themto record every incident or a call to helpappropriately and more precisely the re-sponse they provide. He emphasized onincreasing the level of coordination be-tween 15 and concerned police stations.

He expressed his displeasure on thepresent state of the site and advised that

a computer should be fixed there too inorder to maintain record properly. Hepaid next visit to 15 Unit Ferozabadsituated at Shara-e-Quaideen bridge. In-charge of the unit Inspector HumayunKhan was not present while the otherstaff remained unable to explain the waythey are operating to AIG.

Thebo was unhappy when he knowthat this unit is operating without a landline phone and also there is a compre-hensive communication system inclu-sive of the VHF radio which is also not

functioning. He suspended the In-charge for not doing anything about itand told his personal staff to take nec-essary action in order for improvement.

Later, he ordered demotion and sus-pension of SHO FB Industrial Area Inspec-tor Khalid Mughal. He also suspended ASIJaffery and further ordered his transfer outof city. Thebo warned all Karachi policepersonnel that any negligence in perform-ing official duties would bring departmen-tal action against the person responsible.He expected them to improve the services.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Rich tributes were paid to the martyrsof 1972 labour movement in SITE area of Karachiat a memorial meeting organised by Pakistan Insti-tute of Labour Education and Research Saturday.Six workers had lost their lives for the rights of theindustrial workers in Karachi.

Trade unionists, human rights activists andlabour leaders attended the event to pay homage tothe martyrs of the 1972 labour movement. In theirspeeches they eulogized the sacrifices of the work-ers for the cause of labour movement. The labourmovement had backing from other sections of thesociety like students, women and common people.

The peaceful movement of the workers startedin December 1971 and continued till June 1972against the forced removal of the workers, negativeattitude of the mill owners and anti-workers poli-cies of the government. When workers were pro-testing against removal of the workers outside FerozTextile Mills in SITE areas, the police opened fireto disperse the workers, as a result one leader of thealliance of the workers of SITE industrial area,

Tributes paid to martyrs of 1972 labour movementMuttahida Mazdoor Federation, Shoaib was killed onJune 7, 1972. On the occasion of funeral of that workeron June 8 a large number of labourers of all industrialestates of Karachi had gathered and they protestedthe police action a day ago. The police again openedfire on the workers, which killed five other workers.

The speakers said the 1972 movement was com-pletely peaceful, but the government officials gave ita violent colour by opening fires on peaceful protest-ing workers. They said today’s labour movement canget inspiration by remembering the sacrifices of theworks in the past. They regretted that the conditionsof workers in 2014 are worse than the conditions in1972. As compared to the period 42 years ago, nowonly two to three percent workers are organized un-der the trade unions. Senior labour leader ShafeeqGhouri said the year 1972 can be remembered as veryimportant for the labour movement of Pakistan. Thefirst labour policy was also announced in the sameyear. He said the labour should take part in politicsand this should be initiated from the local govern-ment elections, where labour leaders should be sent.

He deplored that trade union movement has dete-riorated in Pakistan. It is a fact that due to globalization

the trade unions are discouraged as most of labour arehired on contract system. Pocket unions are being en-couraged in the industries in Pakistan. Saeed AhmedKhan of Sui Southern Gas Company Trade paid trib-utes to the deceased workers of 1972 movement andsaid it is a fact that two of the martyred workers wereoffice bearers of their unions that proves that leaderswere practically taking part in the movements.

Abdul Hai of Human Rights Commission of Pa-kistan said industrial society is declining in Pakistan,which is the reason that labour movement is also miss-ing. He said feudal bureaucracy has destroyed thehuman rights situation. A pressure be developed forimplementation of Labour Policy. He said technicaleducation is essential for the working class to get outof economic crisis. Labour leader Wakeel Khan Swatirecalled the events of the labour movement and saidthe movement was not based on linguistic basis, butthere was only one slogan: “Mazdoor Mazdoor BhaiBhai”. There were arrest warrants for labour leadersUsman Baloch and Karamat Ali, but they were pro-vided protection in labour localities of Pashtoonspeaking workers and police failed to arrest thembecause the labour was united at that time.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Ahl-e Sunnat Wa Jamaat beinga peaceful party had never been involvedin violence and terrorism but still there weresome selective officials in Sindh govern-ment, who were showing their religious biasby inflicting agony onto the activists ofASWJ. Law enforcement agencies person-nel in plain clothes had on Saturday at about3 AM kidnapped 3 activists of ASWJ. Lawenforcement agencies should relkease themimmediately or else ASWJ would be com-pelled to take to street against tat tyranni-cal and extra-judicial acts of the law enforc-ers.

ASWJ leader Al lama Rab NawazHanafi, Dr Muhammad Fayyaz and AllamaTak Muhammad Hanafi said this in a jointstatement issued Saturday. Allama Hanafi

Allama Hanafi shows concern overkidnapping of ASWJ workers

said that personnel of law enforcementaganecies in plain clothes were continu-ously harassing men, women and childrenwhile breaking into their homes uinlawfully,which was creating unrest among the ac-tivists of ASWJ.

He said that anti-Islam and anti-Paki-stan forces were conspiring against ASWJby conducting unlawful acts and were mak-ing attempts to provoke sentiments of theSunni majority. It was so strange that Sindhgovernment had failed to nab target killersand terrorists that had murdered SunniUlema and workers. Abduction of ASWJlocal leaders and workers from GulbergTown was a deliberate attempt to incite theworkers to react and hence Sindh HighCourt should take notice of the entire situ-ation and play its role for release of ASWJlocal leaders and workers.

KARACHI—Three persons werekilled in separate firing incidentshere on Saturday while Rangerarrested four target killers andrecovered illegal weapons fromtheir possession. Armed men onmotorcycles gunned down a po-liceman at M.A. Jinnah Road onSaturday morning. Deceased

Three killed, four targetkillers arrested in operation

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Federal Investigation Agency(FIA) had taken 12 Pakistani citizens fromJinnah International Airport Karachi, whowere deported from Belgrade and Turkey.

FIA takes deportedcitizens into custody

Seven of the deported Pakistani citizens werebound for Europe via land routes in Turketwhile 5 had reached Belgrade to attend spe-cial sports event of the blind and the deaf.

However, at the time they reachedBelgrade, the sorts event had already been

concluded while they were neither blind nordeaf but had duped the authorities of the twocountries but were held and deported. FIAhad after taking those 12 Pakistani citizensinto custody started investigation to reach thereal hands involved in human trafficking.

policeman was identified asYousuf and he was posted atGarden Headquarters, policesources said. In another incidentof firing armed men opened fireat a dumper in Steel Town. A manwas killed and another injured inthe incident.

During a robbery incidentat Jinnah Square in Malir, ci-vilian shot dead the robber whowas identified as MohammadAli, police sources said. In alate night incident Kalri policestation personnel signalled

three motorcycle riders to stopbut they opened fire over thepolicemen. The police incounter fire injured three ac-cused and arrested them. Ac-cording to police the accusedwere fleeing after a robbery.

Police captured arms andimpounded a motorbike fromthem, officials said. Paramili-tary Rangers in a raid inChakiwara arrested four targetkillers and captured illegalweapons from their possession.According to sources, the four

alleged target killers linkedwith Lyari Gang War. Theyhave confessed their involve-ment in killing of more than100 people, kidnapping for ran-som, extortion and other hei-nous crimes.

A large quantity of weap-ons were seized from the pos-session of the accused, sourcessaid. Arrested men were movedto undisclosed place for inter-rogation, sources added.Armed men on motorcyclesgunned down a policeman at

M.A. Jinnah Road on Saturdaymorning. Deceased policemanwho was identified as Yousufand posted at Garden Head-quarters, police sources said. Inanother incident of firingarmed men opened fire at adumper in Steel Town.

A man was killed and an-other injured in the incident.During a robbery incident atJinnah Square in Malir, civil-ian shot dead a robber who wasidentified as Mohammad Ali,police sources said.—INP

BOTH psoriasis patients and the peoplewho live with them say psoriasis negatively impacts their quality of life, ac-

cording to a new study. And both groups tendto report more depression and anxiety thanpeople not affected by the condition.

About 7.5 million Ameri-cans have psoriasis, which ischaracterized by itchy, pain-ful plaques on the skin. Pre-vious research has found thatpeople with psoriasis have ahigher risk of cardiovascularand autoimmune diseases anddevelop more infections thanthose without psoriasis. Thecondition has also been linkedto psychiatric disorders.

“The number of studiesper year about quality of lifein psoriasis keeps growingyear after year and thanks tothese studies we know thatpsoriatic patients have an im-pairment of their quality oflife as well as higher levels ofanxiety and depression, feel-ings of stigmatization, higher risk ofsuicidality and lower employment rate, amongother problems,” Dr. Eliseo Martinez-Garciatold Reuters Health in an email.

Martinez-Garcia is a dermatologist atVirgen de las Nieves University Hospital inGranada, Spain and the lead author of the newstudy. “However, very few studies have ad-dressed how this problem can affect (the)people who live with these patients, and noneof them had evaluated globally quality of life,anxiety and depression,” Martinez-Garciasaid. “The impact of the dermatological con-ditions on patients’ cohabitants has been

Psoriasis linked to worse qualityof life for family members, too

DCO Lahore Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi is checking quality and prices of commodities being sold atBadami Bagh Vegetable and Fruit Mandi.

A young man plunging into Canal water to beat the heat, in provincial capital.

largely ignored.”The researchers had noticed that cohabi-

tants of patients had difficulty coping withissues related to psoriasis, like having to avoidactivities such as travel or social meetings, aswell as spending time every day to help the

patient with treatment. Totake a more scientific look,they studied 130 adults: 34people with psoriasis, 49people who lived with pso-riasis patients and 47 healthypeople who did not live withpsoriasis patients, to serve asa comparison group.

The impact of psoriasison quality of life was mea-sured with 10-question sur-veys taken by the patients andthe cohabitants. Depressionand anxiety were measuredwith separate surveys com-pleted by members of allthree groups. The research-ers found that psoriasis im-paired the quality of life of88 percent of the cohabitants

and that their quality of life scores wereclosely linked with the scores of the patients.

One-third of cohabitants reported beinghighly affected by the psoriasis and only afew felt no effect. Anxiety and depression lev-els did not differ between patients and cohabi-tants, but were significantly higher than lev-els seen in the comparison group, accordingto findings published in the Journal of theAmerican Academy of Dermatology.

“A lot of psoriatic patients that are notdoing any treatment would be surprised abouthow much their condition could be improved,”Martinez-Garcia said.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Principal Post-graduate Medical Institute andLahore General Hospital Prof.Anjum Habib Vohra has saidthat brain tumor is completelycurable disease and all facili-ties of microsurgery are avail-able in Pakistan. Early diagno-sis can enhance the possibili-ties for complete recovery. Hesaid that Institute of NeuroSciences which is being set upat Lahore General Hospital onthe directions of Chief Minis-ter Muhammad ShahbazSharif, will provide all diag-nostic, treatment and researchfacilities under one roof.

He expressed these viewswhile addressing a press confer-ence at PGMI on the eve ofWorld Brain Tumor Day, hereon Saturday. He said that Insti-tute of Neuro Sciences will pro-vide opportunities for the pro-

motion of neurosurgery in Punjabas well as training and updatingthe knowledge of doctors. He saidthat Lahore General Hospital isplaying a very important role inneurosurgery and the patients of

head injuries and traffic accidentsare brought to this hospital fromall over the country. He disclosedthat the World Tumor Day is be-ing observed from 2000 and theobjective of observing this day is

to highlight the importance andseverity of the situation. AnjumHabib Vohra said that though theneurosurgeons are very scarce inPakistan but all the tertiary hospi-tals in Punjab have treatment and

diagnostic facilities of neuro dis-eases. He said that surgery is theinitial treatment of brain tumorbut sometimes doctors could notbring out the whole tumor, there-fore, radiation is required for fur-ther treatment. He said that bothfacilities are available in Paki-stan. He said that permanentheadache nozia and vomitingare the early symptoms of braintumor. He said that advance-ment in the health sector andlatest research has improved thetreatment of brain diseases andthe majority of patients are re-covered completely. He said thatneurosurgeons are very rare andonly seventeen full professorsand two hundred neurosurgeonsare available in the country of19 crore population. He urgedupon the doctors to come for-ward and join the field of mi-crosurgery to overcome theshortage of neurosurgeons inPakistan.

Brain tumor is completely curable disease

Principal PGMI Professor Anjum Habib talking to newsman in connection with the WorldTumor Day. Five persons riding a motorcycle going on a main road and not being checked by any traffic

warden.

Punjab govt. seeks CPSP cooperationfor better health facilities

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Advisor to ChiefMinister Punjab on HealthKhawaja Salman Rafique haslauded the services of Collegeof Physicians & Surgeons Pa-kistan (CPSP) at national andinternational level and soughtits cooperation for extending

better health facilities to themasses.

Speaking at a function ofthe College of Physicians &Surgeons Pakistan in Lahore,Khawaja Salman said, “Theservices of CPSP are exem-plary at national and interna-tional level. The benefit fromthe services of specialist doc-tors and supervisors can be ob-tained through better liaisonbetween CPSP and Govern-ment of the Punjab.” In thisway better facilities can be pro-vided to the masses. The nationcan be served by using the lat-

est technology in the field ofmedical profession in a betterway, he said.

President CPSP Prof. ZafarUllah Chaudhry said on theoccasion that the CPSP is try-ing to provide specialist doc-tors throughout the country.The standard of medical re-search and education will im-prove with the launch of essen-tial credit points, he said, add-ing: “All standard facilitiesalong with information tech-nology will be provided at allregional centers.”

Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal,

DGIR, CPSP, threw light on thenational and international servicesof CPSP. He said recognition ofCPSP degree in Saudi Arabia is aresult of fellows and supervisorsuntiring efforts. He said new fivestoreys building at Regional Cen-ter will be completed in sixmonths. The new block will con-sist of workshop halls, skill laband residences for examiners.Prof. Ijaz Ahsan, ex-President,CPSP, appreciated the founderPresident of CPSP Gen. W. A.Burki and the present council andwished to continue the journey ofsuccess.

LAHORE—The district administration hasdecided to constitute a District Anti-Quackery Committee comprising all stake-holders in the city. This was decided atPunjab Healthcare Commission (PHC)meeting to review the possible steps toeradicate quackery from the city.

The Committee will review the effec-tiveness of actions taken against quacksin Lahore on a monthly basis and wouldmake recommendations for future coursesof action to be adopted.

Plan to constitute committee against quackeryThe meeting also discussed possible

collaboration between the PunjabHealthcare Commission and the districtmanagement in tackling quackery in theprovincial capital. The meeting waschaired by the Chief Operating Officer,PHC, Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan andwas attended by the DCO, Lahore, Dr.Ahmed Javed Qazi, EDO Health Lahore,Dr. Zulfiqar Ali and other concerned of-ficers the PHC.

The participants of the meeting were

apprised of the PHC’s strategy to abolishquackery and the strict actions that had sofar been taken in this regard in the provinceparticularly in Khanewal where the DCOhad initiated a major crackdown againstquacks in collaboration with the PHC.

The meeting resolved that stringentactions would be taken against unquali-fied practitioners or quacks by the districtmanagement under the PHC Act, and therelevant provisions of the PMDC Ordi-nance, 1962 (as amended in 2012).—APP

LAHORE—The performance of PunjabGovernment is regarded as most effec-tive among provincial governments by65.73 percent of all the respondents. It isrevelled in an opinion survey conductedby the Herald in partnership with theIslamabad-based Sustainable Develop-ment Survey Institute. The survey, con-ducted as the PML(N)-led governmentcompletes its first year in power, engaged1354 respondents from across all four

Punjab stands tall interm of performance

provinces.Almost 50 percent of all respondents

regard Chief Minister Punjab ShahbazSharif to have been the most effectiveChief Executive in the past year, followedby Chief Minister KPK Pervaiz Khattak15.36 percent and Chief Minister SindhSyed Qaim Ali Shah 11.15 percent. 25.24percent Sindh based respondents deem theperformance of Qaim Ali Shah govern-ment as very low.

A plurality of respondents believesthat relations between the governmentand judiciary improved during the ten-ure of current federal government. Theopinion survey, conducted during themonth of May 2014, employs a samplingmethodology trends, including those per-taining to gender, ethnicity, age and ru-ral-urban divide. The survey sample alsofaces into account a variety of incomegroups and educational level.—NNI

PRESS RELEASE

LAHORE—Provincial Minister for Education,Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan has said that due tothe prejudice, PTI leaders have lost their senses.He said that Mahmood ur Rasheed should look atthe performance of his government in KPK beforecriticizing Punjab government. He said thatMahmood ur Rasheed by realizing the realityshould accept the failure of his government in KPK.

Commenting upon the statement of

PTI creating hindrancein development process

Mahmood ur Rasheed here Saturday, RanaMashhood Ahmed Khan said that the reality ofthose showing rosy picture to the people hasbeen exposed. He said that PTI leaders are uti-lizing all their energies for creating hindrancesin the development process of the country anddestabilizing the present system. RanaMashhood said that the claimants of bringingchange and improving the living standard of thepeople could not change the situation in a prov-ince and how they will run the country.

Exhibition onCultural

preservationCITY REPORTER

LAHORE—Exhibition on‘Cultural preservation and res-toration through Art and Craft’was organized under the super-vision of Dr. Sadia Shaukat atTownship Campus, Universityof Education, Lahore. Differ-ent models were presented byMasters’ Education students.The purpose of this event wasto raise awareness about cul-tural preservation and restora-tion and to enhance under-standing of cultural signifi-cance and suggest strategies topreserve historical sites andbuildings which will furtherhelp for publicizing the culturalheritage and encouraging pub-lic involvement in their conser-vation. Students presented dif-ferent models of cultural sites,historical buildings, monu-ments and archaeological sitesby using old newspapers andmagazines.