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Rs22.00 Vol ii no 206 22 pages Lahore edition pakistantoday.com.pk Sunday, 22 January, 2012 Safar 27, 1433 Govt given wrong advice Mansoor’s visit hinges on River Kabul on army security ISLAMABAD AmeR SIAl g Sheikh writes to COaS, aG seeking military In an amazing development, Pakistan has decided to help Afghanistan develop water security g asks aG why he should not be held in storage and hydel power generation on the River Kabul and then import the surplus contempt for defying court orders on security power, without knowing that developing water reserves on the river would lead to ISLAMABAD significant water reduction in the River StAff RepoRt Indus system. An official source said this unique commitment was given at a two-day KRAM Sheikh, the counsel for Man - meeting of the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint soor Ijaz, on Saturday wrote two Economic Commission held recently in separate letters to Attorney General Islamabad. However, he said top officials Maulvi Anwarul Haq Pakistan and attending the meeting did not know that 65 Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq percent share of water in Kabul River APervez Kayani regarding security for his client originated from River Kunhar in Chitral upon his arrival in the country for recording his and building of water reserves in statement before the “memogate” commission. Afghanistan would significantly decline the Sheikh expressed reservations over the re - water availability in Pakistan, as the water ports that security would be provided by the from Kabul River ultimately entered the Interior Ministry. In his letter to the AG, he country. Afghanistan is being helped by the asked why a contempt of court case should not international financial institutions to build be filed against him for not complying with more than 10 water reservoirs and hydel court orders of deploying army for Mansoor power projects on the River Kabul. SRINAGAR: Indian policemen manhandle a woman during a protest rally Ijaz’s security. In his letter to the AG, Sheikh Mujeebur Rahman Khan has further con - Pakistan has serious reservations over the on Saturday to mark the 22nd martyrdom anniversary of Gaw Kadal said: “You had also undertaken before the firmed that there shall be no other focal per - plans as it will lead to massive water massacre where more than 52 people were killed and 250 sustained commission that you would communicate the son for coordination with me on the security shortage for irrigation in the country. Both cell number of the Battalion Commander for of Mr Mansoor Ijaz (his person and the equip - bullet injuries when Indian troops opened fire on January 21,1990. afp the countries have no treaty on sharing the making arrangement of security of person of ment containing forensic evidence). That fur - water resources of the River Kabul that Mansoor Ijaz and equipment/evidence which ther Dr Mujeeb had promised to fax me the they mutually share. he is bringing along. aforementioned details in writing which he ‘N’ backtracks from anti-govt strategy That you have not communicated any has not done so until the writing of this letter Continued on page 04 such number or name to the undersigned until despite passage of considerable time. This ISLAMABAD meeting of the central working date nor have you communicated the security turn of events regarding security arrange - IRfAN BuKhARI committee and parliamentary arrangements so far. To the contrary one Dr ments was communicated to my client, Mr party to send the PPP-led Mujeebur Rahman Khan claiming himself to Mansoor Ijaz, who is not willing to accept the After failing to take the much coalition government packing. be DIG Security & Counter Terrorism, has same.” “Last evening, all of a sudden, the same trumpeted ‘Go Zardari Go’ The PML-N central leaders had called me and informed me that he has been interior minister, within 24 hours of my client movement to its logical end, the decided on January 12 in a appointed as the focal person to contact me as having obtained visa for Pakistan, has an - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz hurriedly-called meeting chaired counsel of Mr Mansoor Ijaz for providing him nounced that his ministry is going to be exclu - (PML-N) has, on the advice of by Nawaz Sharif that the party security. He has further informed me that this sively responsible for the security of my client. smaller opposition parties, and other opposition parties decision has been taken in a meeting chaired Continued on page 04 shelved its three-step strategy by your good self attended by secretary inte - devised on January 12, in a joint Continued on page 04 rior and secretary defence amongst others. Dr SeCuRity wiLL be pRoVided undeR aRtiCLe 245 | page 04 LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:35 AM Page 2

02 News Sunday , 22 January , 2012 lahore NewS foreIGN NewS Today’s political or not, lahoris get a new food spot Supreme court works in its domain: cJ AIDS kills 28,000 in china in 2011 Quick Look Story on Page 08 Story on Page 05 Story on Page 17

Three Germans arrested Mansoor to be placed on ECL on in Peshawar parliamentary body’s direction: Malik PESHAWAR StAff RepoRt g Police and intelligence agencies on Provision of security responsibility of Interior Ministry, not army or ISI Saturday took three Germans into custody in Peshawar and sent them to Islamabad. ISLAMABAD AGeNcIeS Police sources said law enforcing agencies US embassy says no security for Mansoor Ijaz personnel raided their residence at ISLAMABAD: The US embassy in Islamabad has said it would not provide security NTERIoR Minister Rehman Malik University Town- Peshawar where the to Mansoor Ijaz who intends to appear before a tribunal investigating the has said that Mansoor Ijaz’s name Germans were residing illegally and took “memogate”. It said Ijaz was a common US citizen and would be coming to Pakistan would be placed on the Exit Control them into custody after sealing the on his own wish, adding that he would be treated like other US citizens. The embassy List (ECL) if asked by the parliamen - residence to send them to to Islamabad. officials said Mansoor Ijaz would be treated as other US citizens were treated. Ijaz tary committee investigating the Sources said that the foreigners identified would not be allowed to live in the embassy, the officials added. The statement has mIemo scam. as Roloff Shmith, Kriston Wild and Lorez given birth to new apprehensions regarding his appearance before the commission. “Mansoor Ijaz will be provided security were staying at Park Lane at University The Pakistani government has also kept mum over the issue. However, government by the Interior Ministry. This is not the task summoned Mansoor Ijaz, he should appear Town and did not possess legal documents. officials say Ijaz had not been invited in the country and he would be treated like a of the army or the ISI,” the interior minister before it too. He said the government put Police asked them to show their travel common US citizen. Ijaz had requested fool-proof security through his lawyer. He got said after reviewing arrangements at the F- names of a number of people on the ECL on documents, which they were unable to a visa from Pakistan High Commission in London two days ago and said he was all 9 Park where an area of 80 kanals has been the recommendation of the Public Accounts produce and therefore their passports were set to appear before the memo commission. But, he refused to disclose date of his reserved for holding public meetings and Committee, of which Chaudhry Nisar Ali seized. It was learnt that the foreigners had arrival due to security reasons. AGeNcIeS protests in Islamabad. It would be inaugu - Khan, the NA leader of the opposition, re - wavered between relating themselves to rated by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani mained chairman. Malik said for the gov - German embassy and introducing soon. Malik pointed out that the parliamen - ernment, parliamentary committees were minister said a meeting of ministries of de - the opposition in Punjab Assembly would themselves as NGo workers. Sources said tary committee had summoned Mansoor very honorable and the government would fence, interior and attorney general would become party in the parliamentary commit - Kriston Wild was a serving German Army Ijaz for his testimony in the memo scam and implement their recommendations. The in - be held in the next couple of days to discuss tee to enquire from Mansoor Ijaz about his colonel and had served in Kosovo and if “he does not appear before it, the commit - terior minister said the ISI was an intelli - security to be provided to Ijaz. He said the involvement in conspiracies against the Kabul and been stationed at Peshawar for tee can direct the government to put his gence agency, not a security agency and if counsel for Mansoor Ijaz would have to pro - present and past PPP governments. He the last few months illegally. SP name on the ECL”. He pointed out that the the army’s security was needed for someone, vide all record of his (Mansoor) engage - made it clear that whatever application was Cantonment Dr Mian Muhammad Saeed prime minister and ministers appeared be - then there is a constitutional way to arrange ments to arrange for the security. filed against Mansoor Ijaz would meet all said all the three Germans were sent to fore the parliamentary committees and if it security or call in the army. The interior To a question, Malik said the leader of legal requirements. Islamabad for further interrogation. Newage Cables founder passes away Hold polls under army Mir Muhammad Azam, founder and chairman of Newage Cables (Pvt) Ltd passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2012. His funeral prayer will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2012 (today) at 2pm at his residence 95-B Model Town, Lahore. The bereaved include his sons Asim Jalil Azam, Asif Kamal, Amer Bakht Azam, daughter Noshaba Mudassar, supervision, says Musharraf daughters-in-law Jaria Asim and Zahra Amer, son-in-law Dr Mudassar Khokhar, and grandchildren Adnan Jalil Azam, Aleena Azam, Alman Jalil Azam, Sameer Mudassar, ISLAMABAD try,” he said, adding that he was return - Gen (r) Rehan Burney, Lt Gen (r) Ma - Sahir Mudassar, Ali Amer and Mehak Amer. StAff RepoRt ing to his homeland to take part in the sood Perwaiz, Lt Gen (r) Munir Hafiez, next elections but his return was being Lt Gen (r) Syed Absar Hussain, Lt Gen Former president and APML chief Gen - blocked by registration of false cases. He (r) Sajjad Akram, Lt Gen (r) Shahid eral (r) Pervez Musharraf has called for insisted that he did not aim at returning Hamid, Gen (r) Zarrar Azim, Vice Adm holding of transparent general elections using any foreign channel and rather was (r) ST Naqvi, Vice Adm (r) Shamoon under the army’s supervision, formation counting on public support for his re - Alam Khan, Air Marshal (r) Rashid of a caretaker government three months turn. He also expressed commitment Kaleem, Air Marshal (r) Shahid Hamid, before the polls and permission to him for with the armed forces, adding that the Maj Gen (r) Asif Akhtar, Maj Gen (r) taking part in the elections. last drop of his blood was for the army Farid Faiz Ch, Maj Gen (r) Farrukh Addressing an audience of 168 re - and the country. ‘Pakistan First’ is a Javed, Maj Gen (r) Ghazanfar Ali Khan, tired army officers through video-link at forum of retired armed forces officers Maj Gen (r) Haroon Sikandar Pasha, Maj a local hotel under the banner of ‘Pak - with a large representation of all three Gen (r) Malik Iftikhar Khan, Maj Gen (r) istan First’ on Saturday, Musharraf said services from all over Pakistan and Javed Aslam Tahir, Maj Gen (r) Jamshed fake cases were being registered against around 93,000 members from ex-ser - Ayaz, Maj Gen (r) Sultan Habib, Maj Gen him to block his return. Insisting that he vicemen association are affiliated with it. (R) Rashid Qureshi, Maj Gen (r) Tanvir - was not a coward, Musharraf said trans - The forum claims to be non-political and ullah and Maj Gen (r)Zafar Abbas. The parent elections were impossible under having no affiliation with any political retired army officers passed a unani - the incumbent regime and since the army party and supports democracy and the mous resolution that all citizens includ - was an institution, which ensured guar - rule of law. Top ranked former generals ing Gen Musharraf had the right to antee for the country’s security, general attended the meeting including two four return to and live in Pakistan and contest elections should be supervised by the star generals, 17 three star generals, 25 elections according to democratic norms. armed forces. However, the former dic - major generals, and around 50 “We feel that Gen (r) Pervez Mushar - tator said democracy was the only answer brigadiers. These included ex-GCSC raf should be provided with a level playing to all issues faced by the country but in - General (r) Muhammad Aziz Khan, ex- field in the political arena and also pro - sisted that some elements were conspir - CNS Adm (r) Shahid Karimullah, Lt Gen vided protocol and security by the govern - ing to defame the army and the (r) Khalid Maqbool, Lt Gen (r) Tanwir ment as befits any ex-president of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. Naqvi, Lt Gen (r) Anis Abbasi, Lt Gen (r) Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the resolu - “Such elements are launching anti- Salahuddin Satti, Lt Gen (r) Hamid tion said. The resolution also condemned army propaganda to weaken the coun - Javed, Lt Gen (r) Javed Alam Khan, Lt army and ISI bashing. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:35 AM Page 3

Sunday , 22 January , 2012 News 03 arTS & eNTerTaINMeNT SPorTS CoMMeNT ustad Baqir: A journey towards recognition? ‘It’s for umpires and Icc to rule on action legitimacy’ Another petition They’re easy come, easy go. A hike again? Today’s The government may have no other option. humayun Gauhar says: Balance and equity: Justice must be done and seen to be done. fahd husain says: Quick Swiss letter, and spirit: It must be written. Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad says: PM in the courthouse: Too many hyperactive spectators. Look Story on Page 14 Story on Page 18 articles on Page 12-13

Undeterred, Railways US desperate for alternate supply route LAHORE: The US military and civil cargo passing through Pakistan is likely to increase twenty-folds during the next three years, but Washington is trying hard to find out some other routes to expedite the delivery and cut costs, Pakistan Today learnt on Saturday. Documents made available with Pakistan Today indicate that a couple of US senators had written a letter to the US Marine Corps Commander General James N Mattis and the US Army Commanding officer Major General Kevin A Leonard, in hopes to procure which they pointed out that officials of the Customs and Border Protection-Agriculture Inspection Service (CBPAIS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) had indicated that ports in were fraught with problems, with an estimated fail rate of around 10 percent. “In fact, some military cargo is reportedly stored unprotected outside of the port’s gates,” they added. They underscored that the costs associated with operations in Karachi were vulnerable to significant fee increases, thereby increasing overall drawdown costs and slowing the US military’s exit. They estimated that the US military would retrograde Chinese locomotives about 887,000 to 1.7 million pieces of cargo from Afghanistan to the United States by December 2014. Document show that ISLAMABAD be assembled at Locomotive Factory Risalpur currently, the cargo was pre-screened by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and APHIS at a consolidated location in mIAN ABRAR and the delay in finalising the transaction has Afghanistan before it was sent to the Karachi port for a secondary wash by Pakistani sub-contractors. ImRAN ADNAN left the factory without work. Additionally, the ESPITE disapproval by the fed - delay in opening the Letter of Credit is causing eral cabinet and the formation of a recurring financial loss of Rs 125,000 per day a committee to probe the con - as obligatory payments comprising commit - tract to purchase 75 locomotives ment charges. According to Railways Ministry from a Chinese company, Rail - summary sent for the consideration of the cab - Dways ministry official are still hopeful that the inet, the procurement of 75 diesel electric loco - government will condone the violation of Public motives was approved by ECNEC on Procurement Regulatory Agency (PPRA) rules December 14, 2005 at a cost of Rs 12,700 mil - for the procurement. lion, with a foreign exchange component of Rs An official source said that a committee 8,400 million. A contract agreement of constituted by the Prime Minister, headed by $105.143 million duly vetted by the Law and the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Justice Division was signed between the gov - and including secretaries of ministries of fi - ernment and Dongfang Electric Corporation, nance, railways and General Manager Pakistan China on December 31, 2008. A down pay - Railways (PR) Lahore, to look into the allega - ment of $ 15.771 million, comprising 15 percent tions had recommended that the federal gov - of the contract amount, was released to the ernment condone the deviations from PPRA firm in June 2009. A buyer’s loan agreement rules to avoid delay in procuring the locomo - was signed with Export-Import Bank of China tives. The source said, “the alleged violation of on December 14, 2009 and an amount of $ rules are minor in nature and any further delay 10.801 million was transferred to China Exim in procurement of the locomotives will be detri - Bank and Sinosure in March 2010. However, mental to Pakistan Railways interests.” An Letter of Credit has not yet been ossied/. acute shortage of locomotives has stalled the The National Assembly Standing Commit - freight sector and resulted in the suspension of tee on Railways had referred to certain proce - main line passenger train linkages, causing ex - dural flaws, a deviation from PPRA Rules 2004 tensive loss of revenue to the PR. the rectification of which requires exemption by out of the total 75 locomotives, 50 were to the competent authority. New parties lack public support: pM

SARGODHA necessities of life to the people at their NNI doorsteps and utilising all available resources for the improvement of the masses, who were Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday the real strength of the democratic process. said a revolution was only possible with the “We are the committed persons and will support of the masses and new entrants in pol - remain with you today and in the future itics did not have support of the people. also,” the prime minister said. He said he Addressing a public gathering in Sargodha came to Sargodha to fulfil the promise of Be - after inaugurating and laying the foundation nazir Bhutto, as she announced that she stones of a number of development projects, would “be here as prime minister, therefore, Gilani said some parties came into power I am here as her representative”. The prime through crutches, but were washed away be - minister said other political parties were cause they did not have roots in the masses. misguiding the masses, adding that new po - He said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) litical parties did not have any concrete pro - government was committed to providing basic gramme or manifesto. No one can get immunity sitting at home: ramday

ISLAMABAD: Former Supreme Court Jstice (r) Khalilur Rehman Ramday on Saturday said no one could get immunity while staying at home and one had to go to the court to claim it. In an interview with a private TV channel, Ramday said the letter, which was written to the Swiss authorities had no link with criminal law, while the government of Pakistan did not give any application in this regard. He said one of the foremost obligations of the SC was to interpret the law and constitution. oNlINe LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:35 AM Page 4

04 News Sunday, 22 January, 2012 Taliban video highlights revenge on pakistan military DERA ISMAIL kHAn “our pious women were curity forces. ReuteRS also targeted. To avenge those one of the men shoves a comrades, we will kill these clip into his assault rifle and IFTEEN Pakistani men. We warn the government fires a few rounds into the soldiers stood blind - of Pakistan that if the killing of back of the heads of a few of folded, handcuffed our friends is not halted, this the soldiers. “God is greatest,” to each other on a will be the fate of you all.” the Taliban yell. barren hilltop as one Before death, one of the other fighters step up Fof their bearded Taliban cap - men described how dozens of and take turns pumping bul - tors held an AK-47 rifle and Taliban fighters stormed lets into the men, some wear - spoke with fury about revenge. their fort in the northwestern ing green military uniforms. He left no doubt what Tank district and kidnapped Each time a soldier collapses, would come at any second. the soldiers. the man standing next to him Pakistan’s Taliban ab - “They attacked us with is pulled in that direction by ducted the paramilitary troops rockets, killed a sentry. one the handcuffs. on December 23 from near the ran away. The Taliban en - The Taliban and Pak - country’s Tribal Areas to tered the fort and captured us istan’s military, one of the avenge military operations. with our weapons,” he said, largest in the world, have en - Now they have released a sitting in rows with other sol - tered exploratory peace talks video as a warning to Pak - diers with their arms folded that raised hopes that their istan’s 600,000-member and legs crossed in front of conflict, which has killed army, which has failed to break Taliban banners. thousands of people, could the back of the insurgents de - “They tied our hands, put ease, or even end one day. spite superior firepower and a us in a Datsun and took us But the talks have faltered, series of offensives against away.” a senior Pakistani security offi - their strongholds in forbidding The video then shows the cial told Reuters, and the video BuSteD!: A police official looks at a German citizen who along with two others, including a German army colonel, were mountain regions. men standing quietly. Taliban — copied to compact discs and arrested for setting up an illegal office in peshawar. INp “Twelve of our comrades chanting can be heard. “We will distributed in street markets in were besieged and mercilessly cross all limits to avenge your areas near the porous border martyred in the Khyber Agency blood,” it said, referring to with Afghanistan — is likely to SC works in its domain, says CJp PIC medicine reaction (area),” said the militant. fighters killed by Pakistani se - enrage the army. death toll reaches 30 kARACHI constitutional limits and it and supremacy of constitu - Mansoor to be provided security under article 245: aG NNI was the responsibility of tion. In the ceremony, 23 MOnItORInG DESk lawyers and every citizen to lawyers, including a female ISLAMABAD: Attorney General Justice (r) Maulvi Anwarul Haq said on Saturday Chief Justice of Pakistan protect the constitution lawyer and two lawyers At least 30 people have died that memogate scandal’s main character Mansoor Ejaz will be provided security on (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad and to obey the law. He from Balochistan, were al - due to reaction of medicines his arrival under Article 245 of the constitution. In a statement, Anwar said that Chaudhry on Saturday said said it was unfortunate that lowed to contest in the provided by the Punjab In - provision of security to Mansoor was taken after consultation with Defence the Supreme Court (SC) it was the PCo judges that Supreme Court. “We wel - stitute of Cardiology (PIC) Secretary Nargis Sethi, as under Article 245, services of the armed forces might be functioned in its own con - dealt a blow to the constitu - come the new lawyers. We to needy patients. sought for provision of security to visiting guests. INp stitutional domain. Ad - tion in the past. Comment - have played our part of the According to media reports, dressing a lawyers’ role ing on the lawyers’ innings; now, tomorrow be - more than 150 patients have signing ceremony at the movement, the CJ said the longs to you,” he told the reached different hospitals Karachi Registry of movement was still in gathering, adding that any - of Lahore after reaction Supreme Court, the CJ said progress and that lawyers one of them could become from the medicines pro - Mansoor’s visit the Supreme Court had al - had struggled for the the chief justice of Pakistan vided by the PIC. ways worked within the restoration of democracy in the future. Continued fRom page 1 ments to ensure that he is Chief of General Staff at Earlier report Page 07 before the commission on GHQ, to whom I am also The very people from whom 24th January 2012.” sending a direct request,” my client fears for his life Sheikh said unless “you the lawyer added. and liberty are now trying assure me that the Ministry In the letter to CoAS, ‘N’ backtracks from anti-govt strategy to be solely responsible for of Interior will not be in - Sheikh said: “Now that my his foolproof safety”, he volved with the personal client Mansoor Ijaz has ob - Continued fRom page 1 three-step strategy to re - nations from the assemblies, the government for another said. “Therefore, I am writ - security of my client and tained visa for Pakistan and move government had been saying the options could six months. ing to call upon you: a) To unless, either through you is finalising his travel would move a no-confidence unanimously devised by damage national integrity. “If the no-confidence immediately advise the or directly, relevant per - arrangements for Pakistan, motion against Prime Minis - party’s central leaders, but it “These leaders reminded move fails, you cannot bring Ministry of Interior not to sonnel of Pakistan Army, in I call upon you to assure me ter Yousaf Raza Gilani. They was the resistance from Nawaz that he would be un - similar move for another six get involved in the security compliance with the com - of your readiness to meet had also decided that in case other smaller opposition able to pull masses from months,” he said, adding arrangement of my client mission’s direction, do not your legal obligation to of failure, which they were parties like the JUI-F, JI, Sindh and Balochistan out that personally, he was in and to kindly confirm the assure me of their logistic comply with the direction considering sure, the PML-N PPP-Sherpao that forced the for the long march and it favour of moving no-trust same to me maximum dur - arrangement to ensure my of Honorable Commission would lead a long march to - PML-N to drop the plan,” would consequently provide motion against the PM as it ing the course of the day i.e client’s personal safety by sharing with me the ac - wards Islamabad and if the said a PML-N leader seeking an opportunity to the PPP to meant withdrawing PML- 21st January 2012. b) To from the point of arrival to tual logistical arrangement second option failed too, the not to be attributed. He said play the Sindh card … Qazi N’s support for the PM, who help me ensure that the di - the point of departure from that you have made on party’s lawmakers would the whole central command and Sherpao also cautioned had been declared “dishon - rection of the Honorable Pakistan, I will not be in a ground to ensure my tender en-bloc resignations of other opposition parties Nawaz that any attempt to est” by the apex court. Commission is imple - position to advise my client client’s personal safety from parliament and provin - disagreed with the PML-N’s dissolve the Punjab govern - Dastgir said the PML-N mented, in that army per - to travel to Pakistan to be from the point of his arrival cial assemblies. opposition three-step strategy and was ment by his brother Shahbaz was leaning towards the sonnel are made formally before the commission on in Pakistan to you ToDAY, Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali unanimous on the viewpoint would also restrict his long march option for and directly responsible for 24th January 2012”. that is exactly in accor - Khan had also hinted in a that any no-confidence mo - party’s growth in other three which masses were being my client’s personal safety, “And if this happens, dance with the commis - press conference outside the tion against the PM would provinces, as this step would mobilised across the coun - commencing from the point the responsibility for my sion’s direction. Unless Parliament House the same inadvertently turn into a be taken against national try. “Consultations are un - of his arrival until the point client’s failure to appear army personnel are going evening that his party might confidence motion for Gi - harmony,” the source said. derway within the party of his departure from Pak - before the commission will to be directly responsible bring no-confidence motion lani, as the opposition Khurram Dastgir Khan, whether to lead only a long istan. be on the government, for my client’s personal against the PM. He had fur - lacked the required strength PML-N deputy secretary in - march towards Islamabad Please note that I need which may prompt me to safety and that logistic ther announced that the in the House. formation, said no-trust de - or also tender resignations your assurance ToDAY, so request the commission to arrangements to that end PML-N, along with other op - The source said Fazlur cision was not final, as there from the assemblies. A final that I can confirm to my record my client’s state - are in place, I will not be in position parties including Rehman, Qazi Hussain was a powerful argument decision will be made client the exact arrange - ment outside Pakistan, a position to advise my PML-Likeminded, PPP- Ahmed, Mahmud Khan from a few leaders that a no- soon,” he added. Mean - ments that are in place on something that is barred client to travel to Pakistan Sherpao, JUI-F and JI, Achakzai and Aftab Ahmed confidence motion against while, Nawaz Sharif left for the ground. It is only after neither by law nor by the to be before the commis - would give a clear roadmap Khan Sherpao rubbished the the PM without the required London along with his fam - my such confirmation that order of the Supreme sion on 24th January 2012 to remove the PPP govern - PML-N’s proposals of a long strength in the House would ily on a 10-day personal my client Mansoor Ijaz will Court. I am also sending a as his life will be under ment in a day or two. “The march and tendering resig - mean creating legitimacy for visit on Saturday. finalise his travel arrange - copy of this letter to the threat.” Govt given wrong advice on River Kabul

Continued fRom page 1 NGo, IUCN in 2010, and international community of Pakistan, who should states could win; and dis - schemes would only lead to the River Kabul for hydel currently posted on its web - and has relatively the upper show the generosity of spirit cussions on the Kabul wa - curtailing the water flow to power generation and then The government is not site asks the government to edge in resolving the con - which is an integral part of ters should be de-linked Pakistan. When Dr Shahid exporting it to Pakistan. aware of the complete situa - resolve the water issues with flicts.” being truly a good neigh - from both historic griev - Ahmad was contacted to ex - He said some unfriendly tion as it was not appropri - Afghanistan. Then he directs his own bour after resolving the ances and from the other plain how being a govern - elements in the international ately briefed on the issue; The report says, “The government saying, “As pending issues of mistrust; Durand Line-related is - ment servant he could direct community were making sub - the source said, adding that current situation is very un - Pakistan is a more devel - extends an invitation to sues.” his own government, his tle attempts to dissuade fi - even some reports written certain politically between oped country than Afghanistan to explore ways What the writer misses reply was, “I have only given nancing of hydel power by the government servants the basin states of Kabul Afghanistan, therefore, the in which the principles of completely is the fact that a technical advice”. projects on Pakistan’s main gave a wrong picture. River basin, Afghanistan change must start in Pak - the International Water the Kabul River’s major The source said the ad - rivers and were facilitating He mentioned a report, and Pakistan. The upper ri - istan to develop a mindset Laws could be respected, source is River Kunhar vice given by the report fi - neighbour states to develop “Towards Kabul Water parian, Afghanistan is de - to assist the neighbour in while providing a win-win which originates from Pak - nanced by the international water storages on its rivers. Treaty: Managing Shared veloping new irrigation and building the infrastructure.” situation for both the basin istan and secondly that irri - NGo was similar to a report India recently managed to get Water Resources” written by hydro-power infrastructure Asking his own govern - states. With good will there gated farming is not compiled by Indian origin carbon credits from the United a government servant Dr for the benefits of future ment to show courage, he are multiple ways in which possible in majority of the authors of the World Bank Nations for Nimoo Bazgo dam Shahid Ahmad of PARC, fi - generations. Afghanistan is writes, “There must be lead - the treaty could be negoti - mountainous areas of the who too have proposed in the disputed territory of In - nanced by an international currently supported by the ership from the government ated so that both the basin Kabul River basin. Any such building water reservoirs on dian-held Kashmir. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:35 AM Page 5

Sunday , 22 January , 2012 News 05 Supreme Court works in its domain: CJ

kARACHI NNI

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday said the Supreme Court (SC) functioned in its own constitutional domain. Addressing a lawyers’ role signing ceremony at the Karachi Registry of Supreme Court, the CJ said the Supreme Court had always worked within the constitutional limits and it was the responsibility of lawyers and every citizen to protect AS SNoW fAllS: A man walks with his books in Quetta. INp the constitution and to obey the law. He said it was unfortunate that it was the PCo judges that dealt a blow to the constitution in the past. Commenting on the lawyers’ movement, the CJ said the movement was still in progress and that lawyers New parties lack public had struggled for the restoration of democracy and supremacy of constitution. In the ceremony, 23 lawyers, including a female lawyer and two lawyers from Balochistan, were allowed to contest in the Supreme support, says Gilani Court. “We welcome the new lawyers. We have played our part of the g PM says PPP govt committed to providing basic necessities to people innings; now, tomorrow belongs to you,” he told the gathering, adding SARGODHA mentioned in their speeches and wel - that anyone of them could become the NNI come addresses, would be fulfilled and chief justice of Pakistan in the future. all development projects would be com - RIME Minister Yousaf pleted in time. Referring to the presence Raza Gilani on Saturday of a large number of women in the public said a revolution was only meeting, the prime minister said the PM’s vehicle number possible with the support Pakistan Baitul Maal had been directed of the masses and new en - to give sewing machines to deserving Ptrants in politics did not have support women to enable them to earn an hon - found fake of the people. ourable living. Addressing a public gathering in The prime minister said projects ISLAMABAD: The registration Sargodha after inaugurating and laying worth Rs 3.5 billion projects had been number of the vehicle used by Prime the foundation stones of a number of de - completed in Sargodha in electricity and Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to velopment projects, Gilani said some gas sectors by the present government. appear before the Supreme Court on parties came into power through Gilani also announced upgrading the Friday has been found fake. crutches, but were washed away because medical college being constructed in the According to details, the prime they did not have roots in the masses. district to a teaching hospital. He also minister drove to the SC on January He said the Pakistan People’s Party announced to open regional offices of 20 in a white Toyota Land Cruiser (PPP) government was committed to ture also,” the prime minister said. He parties did not have any concrete pro - Sui Gas and Income Tax departments. bearing the registration number LRZ- providing basic necessities of life to the said he came to Sargodha to fulfil the gramme or manifesto. The prime minister added that each 786. The Excise and Taxation people at their doorsteps and utilising all promise of Benazir Bhutto, as she an - Gilani said a number of projects had union council would have an IT centre Department’s record shows that the available resources for the improvement nounced that she would “be here as been inaugurated in Sargodha and they that would start functioning soon. registration number on the prime of the masses, who were the real prime minister, therefore, I am here as would play an important role in the im - The prime minister said when minister’s car was false, as it was strength of the democratic process. her representative”. The prime minister provement of the people’s living stan - “there will be elections in 2013, I will allotted to a silver-coloured Honda “We are the committed persons and said other political parties were misguid - dard. He assured the local come to you for votes on the basis of car owned by a citizen Muhammad will remain with you today and in the fu - ing the masses, adding that new political representatives that their demands, performance”. Riaz Ahsan, son of Chaudhry Muhammad Ahsanullah. INp Mansoor Ijaz to be placed on eCl on parliamentary committee’s direction: Malik

g Provision of security responsibility of Interior Ministry, not army or ISI US embassy says no security for Mansoor Ijaz ISLAMABAD and if “he does not appear before it, the needed for someone, then there is a con - ISLAMABAD: The US embassy in Islamabad has said it would not provide security AGeNcIeS committee can direct the government to stitutional way to arrange security or call to Mansoor Ijaz who intends to appear before a tribunal investigating the put his name on the ECL”. in the army. “memogate”. It said Ijaz was a common US citizen and would be coming to Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said He pointed out that the prime minis - The interior minister said a meeting on his own wish, adding that he would be treated like other US citizens. The that Mansoor Ijaz’s name would be ter and ministers appeared before the of ministries of defence, interior and at - embassy officials said Mansoor Ijaz would be treated as other US citizens were placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) if parliamentary committees and if it sum - torney general would be held in the next treated. Ijaz would not be allowed to live in the embassy, the officials added. The asked by the parliamentary committee in - moned Mansoor Ijaz, he should appear couple of days to discuss security to be statement has given birth to new apprehensions regarding his appearance before the vestigating the memo scam. before it too. He said the government put provided to Ijaz. He said the counsel for commission. The Pakistani government has also kept mum over the issue. However, “Mansoor Ijaz will be provided secu - names of a number of people on the ECL Mansoor Ijaz would have to provide all government officials say Ijaz had not been invited in the country and he would be rity by the Interior Ministry. This is not on the recommendation of the Public Ac - record of his (Mansoor) engagements to treated like a common US citizen. Ijaz had requested fool-proof security through his the task of the army or the ISI,” the inte - counts Committee, of which Chaudhry arrange for the security. lawyer. He got a visa from Pakistan High Commission in London two days ago and rior minister said after reviewing Nisar Ali Khan, the NA leader of the op - To a question, Malik said the leader said he was all set to appear before the memo commission. But, he refused to arrangements at the F-9 Park where an position, remained chairman. Malik said of the opposition in Punjab Assembly disclose date of his arrival due to security reasons. Meanwhile, Counsel for Ijaz, area of 80 kanals has been reserved for for the government, parliamentary com - would become party in the parliamentary Akram Sheikh on Saturday said his client would not appear before the parliamentary holding public meetings and protests in mittees were very honorable and the gov - committee to enquire from Mansoor Ijaz committee. Talking to private TV channel, Sheikh said the parliamentary committee Islamabad. It would be inaugurated by ernment would implement their about his involvement in conspiracies was not authorised to summon Mansoor Ijaz. To a question regarding security of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani soon. recommendations. against the present and past PPP govern - Ijaz, Sheikh said that it was better to contact Husain Haqqani for the security of Malik pointed out that the parliamen - The interior minister said the ISI was ments. He made it clear that whatever ap - Mansoor Ijaz instead of asking Interior Minister Rehman Malik to provide him tary committee had summoned Mansoor an intelligence agency, not a security plication was filed against Mansoor Ijaz security. Sheikh said he was considering filing a contempt of court petition against Ijaz for his testimony in the memo scam agency and if the army’s security was would meet all legal requirements. Malik for issuing threatening statements against Ijaz. AGeNcIeS LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:35 AM Page 6

06News Sunday, 22 January, 2012 138 families forced to become IDPs by militancy, cold BARA INp

Hundreds of families from Khyber Agency’s militancy-hit areas have started migrating to refugee camps and other safe areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP). KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said that at least 138 families from the Shalobar Tribe of tehsil Bara moved to Jalozai Camp due to the uncertain law and order situation and intense cold weather. The internally displaced families are being provided with basic amenities including shelter, food and medical aid. Sources said that unstable conditions due to military operations, commodity shortages and intense cold weather forced residents to migrate and another three to five thousand families could also migrate. Meanwhile, PDMA called an emergency meeting of UNHCR, WFo and UNICEF on Monday to discuss steps to provide facilities to new Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Major political parties fear PTI’s tsunami: Imran lAmB oN coAlS: tribals preparing traditional Sajji in Dera Ghazi Khan as demand increases during winter. ONLINE OkARA AGeNcIeS Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman US will step up efforts to Imran Khan said on Saturday that some political parties which had always enjoyed power in the country were fearful of the imminent tsunami of people under the PTI. Talking to reporters after meeting former MPA and PTI leader Muhammad Asghar defeat al Qaeda: White House and his son Umar Asghar, Imran said that some political parties were calling the WASHInGtOn executing very deliberately and effec - breathing room to help train up which six of its soldiers were killed in “people’s tsunami” a destruction for the AGeNcIeS tively, and we will continue to focus Afghan security forces so that we a helicopter crash and French threat country because they could imagine their our efforts on executing that policy could then draw down our forces, as to withdraw from Afghanistan. defeats in the upcoming elections due to HE United States will continue that brought a surge in forces that al - we have begun doing, and transfer se - “our thoughts and prayers go out the growing popularity of the PTI. The to focus on its efforts in lowed us to focus our efforts on taking curity lead to the Afghans by the end to the French people and the families PTI chief promised that his party would Afghanistan with regards to the the fight to al Qaeda,” White House of 2014”, he said. of those who lost loved ones in this not allow any of its members to deceive war against terrorism and de - Press Secretary Jay Carney told re - “So that process is in place. It’s a tragic incident. Four French soldiers the people of the country. He said the feating al Qaeda, Taliban and porters. The US will pursue “the goal process that we obviously are signifi - perished in Afghanistan. France is a PTI’s upcoming rally in Quetta on March oTther extremist organisations, the White of disrupting, dismantling and ulti - cantly engaged in, but it includes all valued member of the NATo ISAF 23 would bring permanent peace to House said on Saturday. mately defeating al Qaeda, with the of our ISAF partners,” Carney said in coalition, and their forces have served Balochistan, and some key personalities “The president laid out an other goal of stabilising Afghanistan response to a question on the latest alongside ours with valour and hon - would announce their PTI membership Afghanistan strategy that he has been to give the Afghan government developments in Afghanistan, in our,” he said. on the occasion. Magsi expresses ‘no confidence’ Pir Pagara becomes in Balochistan govt PMl-f president QUETTA: Balochistan Governor Sardar Zulfikar Magsi expressed “no confidence” in the provincial government, saying it was avoiding action PIR JO GOtH to control lawlessness and not resolving people’s problems. Addressing AGeNcIeS the annual convocation of Balochistan University (BU) on Saturday, the governor said ministers had no concern for the problems of the people Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi, the new Pir and “one proof of that is the presence of just one minister in the Pagara, was appointed the new chairman of convocation” of BU. Magsi resented that disfigured dead bodies were the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional being found in the province. The governor said that he had spoken to (PML-F) on Saturday. Rashdi was elected the army chief about the disfigured bodies, but added that people would the new president during a party meeting have to stand up and raise their voice against those who were behind headed by interim party chief Sultan such acts. The governor awarded degrees to 204 students. AGeNcIeS Mehmood Khan. The meeting also paid tribute to the late Pir Pagara. Rashdi, also known as Raja Saeen, was appointed the new Pir Pagara after the death of his father Grossman in Kabul in Shah Mardan Shah earlier this month. He was the eldest son of the late Pir Pagara from his first marriage. The newly-elected Pir Pagara VIII, 55, started his political connection with peace career during the era of General Ziaul Haq when he was elected MPA in the non-party elections of 1985. He was elected to the talks with Taliban Sindh Assembly two more times. He also served as minister for irrigation, works and with the US. The Taliban confirmed kABuL services in the Sindh government. NNI that there have been “some sort of talks” between its representatives and US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan US officials and agreed to opening a rickshaw crushes Marc Grossman on Saturday arrived political office in Qatar. They had re - in Kabul to meet Afghan President cently said holding talks did not mean Hamid Karzai regarding peace talks acceptance of the Afghan constitution. two school children with the Taliban. Karzai’s chief spokesman Aimal Faizi kASuR The Afghan government recently said the Afghan government would not StAff RepoRt said the visit was aimed at improving ignore the Afghan constitution in the relations between Kabul and Washing - peace talks. He said the Afghan gov - Two school children died in an accident ton, and also to discuss Afghan peace ernment had stressed that the consti - near Khudian on Saturday morning. efforts. There are reports that Gross - tution as well as women’s rights had to Reports said Irfan, grade 7, and Mansoor, man’s aim is to also make clear the be respected as a precondition for the grade 8, were walking to attend class at Afghan government’s role in the talks talks. “The constitution is a prestigious Government Higher Secondary School with the Taliban as the Afghan presi - national document and it has to be re - Khudian when an unregistered peter- dent has been concerned about being spected. No deals, under no circum - engine rickshaw crashed into them. The marginalised from the talks. stances, will be made to bring any rickshaw driver managed to flee. A protest Grossman’s visit comes after the changes to it or to ignore other na - ensued and Kasur-Deepalpur Road was Taliban said it would open a political tional interests,” the president’s blocked. Protestors dispersed after the DSP office in Qatar before talks are held spokesman said. claimed to have arrested the accused. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:35 AM Page 7

Sunday, 22 January, 2012

political or not, lahoris get a new food spot PaGe 08 PIC-brewed poison kills 12 more 150 more patients admitted to different hospitals with dengue-like symptoms developed in reaction to PIC’s medicine

LAHORE Hospital, the symptoms of this disease AGeNcIeS include low count of platelets and white cells along with marks on the body. WELVE more people including Some patients also bleed from various women died of the ‘mysterious’ parts of their body. reaction being produced by a other members of the committee in - medicine provided to the heart clude PIC Chief Executive Prof Muham - patients by the Punjab Institute mad Azhar, SIMS Principal Prof Faisal Tof Cardiology raising the total death toll Masood, Prof Irshad Hussain, Prof. to 26 on Saturday. Farzana Chaudhry, Prof Bashir Ahmad, More than 150 patients have been Prof Farkhanda Kokab, Addl. Secretary admitted at different hospitals of La - Health Technical) Dr. Muhammad hore including Mayo and Jinnah hospi - Anwar Janjua, Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Prof. tals after reaction from medicines from Munazza Qayyum, Mufti Abdul Salam, PIC while the number of affected people Prof Nosheen , Dr Mubashir Attique, and the number of deaths is also in - Prof Tahir Javed, Sheikh Akhtar Hussain creasing sharply. and Ayyaz Ali. Meanwhile, the probe committee Special arrangements have been formed to identify the mysterious disease made for the patients at the hospital. could not reach any conclusion even after Khan, while talking to a private TV two days. channel, said that deaths due to medicine Committee Head Dr Azhar said the reaction were deplorable and strict action health secretary has been requested to will be taken against the responsible. form a team to inspect the manufacturing Provincial Health Minister Dr Saeed and packing processes of the concerned Elahi said the tragedy happened due to medicine factories producing the suspi - improper storage of medicines. Dr Saeed cious medicines. promised stern action against the people Most of the patients were admitted to behind this mishap. Punjab Institute of Cardiology, after they Meanwhile, Punjab Governor Sardar had consumed blood-thinning medicines Latif Khosa had taken notice over death and had then developed this mysterious of people due to mysterious disease and disease. According to sources, the disease sought reports from health department has killed more than 26 people, a claim immediately in this regard. that has been denied by the Punjab PATIENTS POURING IN: over 80 Health Department. more patients of the mysterious disease A 48-member committee was have reported at different hospitals while formed under Lahore Allama Iqbal Med - five more have died, Mayo Hospital Ad - ical College Principal Prof Dr Javed dition Medical Superintendent Dr Abdul 35 in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital were re - due to some alleged reaction by adminis - Akram for investigating the deaths. Ac - Majeed said on Saturday. “Some 80 pa - ferred from Punjab Institute of Car - tering cardiac medicines which were pro - FOR MORE INFORMATION cording to Dr Afzal Shaheen of Jinnah tients including 45 in Mayo Hospital and diaoloy (PIC) suspecting dengue fever vided by the PIC store,” he added. CONTACT: 042-99200688 ‘Frustrated’ traffic warden slugs it out on citizens

nEWSDESk attacked him also. Reportedly, the rickshaw driver used A traffic warden allegedly sparked a protest foul language against the warden and soon by rickshaw drivers and students when he members of Muttahida Rickshaw Drivers’ slapped a student at the Punjab University Union gathered with their rickshaws which underpass on Saturday. numbered over 300 and blocked the traffic During the rush hours, a traffic warden in protest. The students also staged a posted on the PU bridge stopped a student protest against the Traffic Police outside on a motorcycle from passing through what the Lahore Press Club and demanded that was termed by some as ‘a very complicated the warden be asked to resign. traffic mess’. The warden asked the student “This will teach the traffic wardens a to hand his licence over so that he could be lesson. They have been booking people for booked, however, the student said he had no reason because they have to meet their already been booked earlier in the day and monthly quota and this warden was so there was no point in booking him again. frustrated he actually tried to use physical The argument heated up and the warden force to get a challan. Rickshaw drivers will then started hitting the student. A rickshaw not tolerate this,” said Raheem Jan, a rick - driver who was passing by asked the war - shaw driver. The Traffic Police spokesman, den not to hit the boy at which the enraged Ali Nawaz, was not available for comments warden turned to the rickshaw driver and despite repeated attempts. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:35 AM Page 8

08Lahore Sunday, 22 January, 2012 weaTher UPDaTeS 17 Political or not, high° C 080 C Lahoris get a low CloUDY MoNDaY TUeSDaY weDNeSDaY new food spot 19° C I 06°C 17° C I 06°C 17°C I 05°C

PraYer TIMINGS fajr Sunrise Zuhr asr Maghrib Isha 05:36 07:00 12:15 15:08 17:28 18:53

CITY DIreCTorY

g at the fort road food Street inauguration, people demand restoration of Gawalmandi Street eMerGeNCY helP g Doubt Sharifs’ intention of ‘destroying’ PMl-Q’s ‘achievement’ to establish their own reSCUe 1122 eDhI CoNTrol 115 LAHORE MoTorwaY PolICe 130 YASIR hABIB/AlI tAhIR PolICe 15 HE curtain was finally raised on Sharifs’ GoVerNor’S hoUSe 99200081-7 food street officially named the ‘Fort Road ChIef MINISTer’S hoUSe 99203226 Food Street’ with massive publicity blitz and pump and show on Saturday behind fIre BrIGaDe 16 the Badshahi Mosque. BoMB DISPoSal 99212111 TThis food street is a part of nine food streets MCl CoMPlaINTS 99211022-29 planned by Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif. lahore waSTe DISPoSal 1139 Contrary to lofty claims made by the manage - ment of Fort Road Food Street that non-political fig - ure would inaugurate it to keep its identity hoSPITalS non-partisan, PML-N MNA Hamza Shahbaz, son of CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, formally opened the Fort MID CITY 37573382-3 Road Food Street while Sharifs’ close aide Pervaiz SerVICeS 99203402-11 Rashid, Asif Kirmani and other PML-N members ac - MaYo 99211100-9 companied him also. The inauguration proved that GeNeral 35810892-8 the food street was very much a political move and it could, like its ancestor in Gawalmandi, face demoli - SheIkh ZaID 35865731 tion if a different government comes to power. added. Management of Food Street arranged a also showed the cleanliness and the maintenance SIr GaNGa raM 99200572 Society for Development and Management of loan from Punjab Bank with the facilitation of gov - of the Fort Road Food Street after the project was UCh 35763573-5 Fort Road Food Street Chairman Habib Khan, ear - ernment. The CDGL role in the management was finished. Saima Ali, a mother of three said that the ITTefaQ 35881981-85 lier, characterised the new food street as non-po - just ceremonial and DCo Ahed Cheema had been street was magnificently decorated and the colour litical, saying it would not be associated with any made its first president. theme was highly attractive. “I think that the main CMh 366996168-72 political party. Talking to Pakistan Today, Habib The Fort Road Food Street is a constant re - selling point of this food street which sets this ShoUkaT khaNUM 35945100 Khan argued that the inauguration was organised minder of the city’s vibrant past. Its pathway is apart from others made earlier is the historical lo - JINNah 111-809-809 by City District Government Lahore which called lined on either side with kiosks, ready to appease cation of the street, the Badshahi Mosque has cer - aDIl (DefeNCe) 36667275 MNA Hamza Shahbaz as chief guest to open the the customers’ appetite with barbecue and freshly tainly elevated the entire project and has added in Fort Road Food Street. “We have nothing to do cooked handis. With facade lighting of old build - to its significance”, she said. ChIlDreN’S 99230901-3 with the invitation to Hamza Shahbaz and other ings and projecting balconies, the atmosphere is Suleman Azhar said the city had been given a DefeNCe NaTIoNal hoSPITal 111-17-18-19 inaugural arrangements,” he added. wonderfully conducive to the enjoyment of the new cultural spot where families could come and Rashid Ali, resident of the area told Pakistan best of Lahore. The food street has made a wide spend time together. “There are very few entertain - Today that most of the buildings falling within the range of cuisines available in a single area. Mem - ment spots in the city, family usually go to restau - BlooD BaNk premises of food street were either owned by bers of middle class society will prefer them be - rants and hotels for entertainment purposes, as multinationals or people close to the ruling party cause they are less expensive than hotels or Lahories love food, now that the this street has been bigwigs in Punjab. EDo (Finance) Moazam Supra high-quality restaurants. During the inaugural made families can have good culture food along faTMID 35210834-8 who registered the Society for Development and ceremony of the food street, a pictorial was shown with historical sightseeing”, he said. “Now let’s see ISlaMIC allIaNCe 37588649/37535435 Management of Fort Road Food Street said it was at this occasion which explained the statuses of how the managers of Fort Road Food Street main - the first time that special by-laws and Standard building before and after the establishment of Fort tain this place, it would be a great challenge”, he operative procedures (SoPs) were laid down to Road Food Street. The pictures showed the differ - added. one of the restaurant owners said he saw ensure the longevity of food street. Law depart - ences in the façade of the building used for food great future of his business and area. “Today is the CoMPlaINT ment vetted the workability paraphernalia, he outlets before and after the project. The picture first day but I am very hopeful,” he said. It may be recalled that Gawalmandi Food waPDa 111-000-118 Street in Lahore was the first food street in Pak - istan that was shut down. others food streets in - SUI GaS 1199 cluded Anarkali Food Street, Melody Food Street and the food street in Blue Area in Islamabad, Burns Road in Karachi, the food street at Cunning - ham park in Peshawar. The idea of food street raIlwaYS came to Kamran Lashari, former chairman of tourism development corporation of Punjab, and CITY STaTIoN (eNQUIrY) 117 the project itself came as a joint venture between LDA and TDCP. Recreated by the Parks and Hor - reSerVaTIoN 99201772 ticulture Authority (PHA) to recapture the idyllic, raIlwaY PolICe 1333 old-time atmosphere of the City, the 200-yard street in the heart of former Gawalmandi at Cham - berlain Road had been turned into a street and aIrPorT was thronged by people of all ages. flIGhT eNQUIrY 114 PIa reSerVaTIoN 111-786-786 ARAbIc cAllIGRAphy DOcUMENTARy MAKING cOURSE ThESIS DISplAy, 2012 ColleGeS / UNIVerSITIeS

PUNJaB UNIVerSITY 99231257 kINNaIrD ColleGe 99203781-4 QUeeN MarY ColleGe 36362942 DaTe aND TIMe: JUNe 1, 2012, 4PM To 6PM DaTe: J aN 30,2012 DaTe: J aN 16 To 20 GoVT. ColleGe UNIVerSITY 111-000-010 VeNUe: h aST-o-NeeST CeNTer VeNUe: l awreNCe GarDeN VeNUe: NaTIoNal ColleGe UMT 35212801-10 CallIGraPhY ClaSSeS are on-going, interested Be a successful documentary maker and learn the of arTS (NCa) lUMS 35608000 students can enroll throughout the year. The art from the media professionals including orya all bachelors’ classes of NCa including architecture, UeT 36288666 duration of one module is three months. There are Maqbool Jan. textile, miniature paintings, sculpture, interior design lCwU 99203072 four modules of learning calligraphyt: primary, and others to show their final thesis in an secondary, advanced and higher. The course includes exhibition SUPerIor ColleGe 111-000-078 traditional pen and traditional paper making. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:35 AM Page 9

Sunday, 22 January, 2012 Lahore09 GCU raises rs 10m for Flood affectees get deserving students LAHORE new houses in Layyah StAff RepoRt The Government College University Lahore Endowment Fund Trust (GCU EFT) Lahore has raised LAHORE a play ground and market area. sibility in future as well. an amount of Rs 10 million for those the deserving StAff RepoRt Sheikh Arshad said the LCCI was Earlier, in his address, Khosa said students who cannot afford their academic charges. thankful to the Punjab government, the Punjab government believed in The amount was raised at a fundraiser chaired by HE Lahore Chamber of Com - particularly the Provincial Disaster service to masses and it would reach Punjab Governor Sardar Muhammad Latif Khosa (an merce and Industry on Satur - Management Authority, for providing every corner of the province to ensure old Ravian), while GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr day handed over another 50 all the logistics and required infra - all facilities to the masses. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman, EFT President Iqbal Z houses to the flood affectees structure for the early completion of He said Chief Minister Shahbaz Ahmad, Secretary Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt and of Basti Pir Baksh (District this mega project. Sharif was working day in and day out noted businessmen from all over the country TLayyah) that has now become a model He said it was one of the best ex - to make the province a land of oppor - attended the annual fundraiser. Speaking on village. amples of public-private partnership tunities and tranquillity and the days the occasion, Khosa said nations had progressed The ceremony was jointly as the Provincial Disaster Manage - are not very far when the people would by the mean of developing their educational presided over by Punjab government ment Authority, headed by Khalid taste the fruit of his hard work. institutions but unfortunately in Pakistan education was not Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Sher Dil, and the Lahore Chamber of The designing and town planning given due priority. He said endowment fund trust of Harvard University, US alone stood Khosa and former LCCI Senior Vice Commerce and Industry had been of the village was done by the govern - 32 billion dollars and this was what which made the America a superpower. He said President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad. working hand-in-hand for the last six ment while construction work was student unions inculcated awareness among students and played effective role in their Former Executive Committee Mian months for the constructions in those completed by the Lahore Chamber of character building. He said that it is the Bukhari Auditorium of the GC University which Zahid Javaid was also part of LCCI flood affected areas where devastation Commerce and Industry. taught him art of public speaking and tolerance to face criticism. “This is where I am delegation while DCo Layyah Mush - was more than 90 per cent. The Lahore Chamber of Com - hooted and appreciated,” he added. Prof Khaleeq revealed that the Endowment Fund had taq Ahmad Anjum was also present Arshad said the LCCI was also merce and Industry had already swelled to Rs 128 million with the efforts of old Ravians. He said that he wanted to on the occasion. thankful to the DCo Layyah Mushtaq contributed Rs 15 million to the cause provide free education to all GCU students, but unfortunately resources did not allow him. The model village, completed in a Ahmad Anjum and the District admin - as it had donated Rs 10 million in However, he said, despite all the budgetary deficits, he had slashed the university fee by 35 period of five months with a cost of Rs istration for their cooperation during Prime Flood Relief Fund and another percent and hostels charges by almost 50 percent. He said the university wa also giving 60 million, now has a school for boys, all construction phases. rupees five million in Chief Minister financial aid to students from its own budget, besides GCU EFT would also give away 11 an industrial home for women, a dis - He said that LCCI would continue Punjab fund for rehabilitation of golden and 15 silver scholarships to students this year. He said each golden scholarship pensary, a veterinary clinic, a mosque, to fulfill its Corporate-Social Respon - flood Affectees. covered the hostels and university fee of a student. LUMS holds SSE advisory Board meeting

LAHORE Sohail Qureshi (SSE Dean) and members StAff RepoRt of the faculty. An overview of the school’s progress The LUMS School of Science and Engineer - and constraints provided during the meet - ing (SSE) held its 11th Annual Advisory ing enabled the Advisory Board to make Board (AB) Meeting from January 16 to 19. suggestions that can contribute to the The Advisory Board comprises distin - growth of the SSE. The AB members also guished academic and corporate leaders met with the SSE students which was an who provide counsel to the Board of excellent opportunity for them to learn Trustees, the vice-chancellor and the dean from people who are leaders in their cho - pertaining to the academic and administra - sen fields. tive matters of SSE. During this visit, a Research Sympo - This year the visiting members in - sium was also held by the SSE on January cluded Dr Richard Larson (MIT), Dr 16, which was attended by the visiting Ad - Robert Jaffe (MIT), Dr Steve Berry (Uni - visory Board members, faculty, students versity of Chicago), Dr Khalid Aziz (Stan - and visitors. The symposium included a ford University), Dr Mehmood Khan (Pepsi poster display that provided an opportu - Co), Dr Hubertus von Dewitz (Siemens) nity for the SSE faculty to showcase their and Dr Ashok Mittal (IIT Kanpur) research. The guests mingled and inter - Also in attendance at the meeting were acted freely with the different research the LUMS Management Committee, Dr groups asking them questions about their Adil Najam (LUMS Vice-Chancellor), Dr respective areas of interest. Miskeen hijazi remembered LAHORE StAff RepoRt

Dr Miskeen Ali Hijazi was a shining chapter of the world of knowledge and journalism and his services are unforgettable, said Dr Mughees-ud- Din Sheikh, former dean of Mass Communication Department Punjab University. He was addressing a function organised by the Public Relations officers Association to mark the third death anniversary of renowned journalist, critic and distinguished educationist Prof Dr Miskeen Ali Hijazi, who was also a former chairman of the PU Department of Mass Communication. He said Dr Miskeen was a legend and living nations never forgot their heroes. He eulogised meritorious services rendered by him for the promotion of healthy and responsible journalism. Hijazi was one of the great personalities ever produced by the Punjab varsity in the discipline of education and journalism. He not only loved his students but always guided them in their character building. Former principal of Punjab University Law College Prof Dr Dil Muhammad, former DGPR Aslam Dogar, Chief PRo Dr Nadeemul-Hassan Gilani, Dr Anjam Zia, Dr Waqar Chaudhry and Wasif Nagi also paid tributes to the late Dr Miskeen Hijazi for his meritorious services. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:36 AM Page 10

10Lahore Sunday, 22 January, 2012 ‘e-Health essential for healthcare system’ LAHORE Britain, Switzerland, Spain, East Africa, the efficiency, safety and sustainability of and implementing eHealth services and care workers. We have to move away from StAff RepoRt Nepal, Philippines and Afghanistan are the healthcare system. He announced to infrastructure in their health sectors. a reliance on tools such as pen, paper and participating in the conference. make e-Health an essential part of the Speaking on the occasion, eHealth As - human memory to an environment where HE health experts at the Third Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, curricula of various professional courses sociation of Pakistan (eHAP) President Dr patients, care providers and healthcare International e-Health Confer - Punjab Education Minister Mujtaba at the UHS. World Health organisation Haroon Roedad Khan said that the confer - managers can reliably access and share ence called for a fundamental Shuja-ur-Rehman said that the govern - (WHo) regional focal person for eHealth ence was dedicated to Arfa Karim Rand - health information in real time across ge - shift in the way information was ment was taking all necessary measures Hani Farouk said that e-Health should be hawa to honour her exceptional work and ographic and health sector boundaries. accessed and shared across the for the administration, promotion, devel - viewed as both, the essential infrastruc - her efforts in the field of information tech - The only way this can be achieved is Thealth system in Pakistan on Saturday. opment and use of information technol - ture underpinning information exchange nology. He announced that the “Arfa through formulation and implementation The two-day conference, organised by ogy in the province. The education between all participants in a healthcare Karim Gold Medal” would be awarded of world class e-Health policy.” the e-Health Association of Pakistan, minister said that eHealth could play a system and as a key enabler and driver of every year to the best paper on e-Health. The aim of the conference is to iden - started at the University of Health Sci - crucial role in controlling epidemics, such improved health outcomes. He said that for the successful prepa - tify and prioritise the areas of e-Health ences (UHS). The theme of the confer - as polio and dengue fever, through an ef - He said that the WHo had recognised ration of an indigenous e-Health strategy, development in Pakistan that could lead ence is “Road to National e-Health fective surveillance system. e-Health as the way to achieve cost-effec - the close cooperation between healthcare to the formation of a National e-Health Strategy for Pakistan”. Around 400 par - UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Hussain tive and secure use of Information and and telecommunication professionals was Strategy for the country. The conference ticipants including medical students, In - Mubbashar said that the better use of in - Communication Technologies (ICTs) for essential. He said further, “The health includes panel discussions, paper presen - formation Technology experts, health formation technology should enable the health and related fields and urged its system in Pakistan is straining to deal tations, scientific poster competitions, providers, policy makers and experts on implementation of national healthcare member states to consider drawing up with the increasing cost and demand keynote addresses and workshops on the e-Health from Canada, United States, reforms and policy agendas, improving long-term strategic plans for developing pressures and a shortage of skilled health - e-Health technology.

‘Clerics can help PhD scholar represents PU controlling dengue’ Youth looted after in Beijing event

LAHORE LAHORE: Ayesha Siddiqui, a PhD Scholar in Fine Arts StAff RepoRt being intoxicated (Studio Practice) at Punjab University College of Art and Design (PUCAD), has represented the PU and Pakistan Punjab Minister for Labour Welfare LAHORE hundreds of thousands of rupees were reduced to in 4th Asian Art Expo held in Beijing, China, from Jan 5 and Auqaf Haji Ehsan-ud-Din Qureshi StAff RepoRt ashes in different incidents of fire on Saturday. to 8. Earlier, the curators of the grand international art has said that religious scholars have According to details, fire broke out in the shop of exhibition had selected paintings of Ayesha. It is worth deep respect among the masses, A youth was deprived of cash and mobile phone Habib Ahmed in the Madina Market, Rang Mahal due mentioning that Ayesha has the honour of representing therefore, they should communicate by swindlers in the Gulberg Police Station precincts to short circuiting, causing a loss of Rs 200,000. The Pakistan in 13th and 14th Asian Art Biennale (2008 and protective steps regarding dengue virus on Saturday. Rescue 1122 personnel reached the spot and con - 2010 respectively) in Dhaka Bangladesh and also in 3rd to the public in their individual as well According to details, some unidentified persons trolled the fire. In another incident, the upper floor of Asian Art Expo in Beijing last year. She has read papers as collective contacts. He asked the offered tea to 20-year-old Akmal Abbas who fell un - a house in Bhaikay Wala Mor caught fire due to short in international conferences and published articles on ulema to teach the people regarding conscious after taking the intoxicating tea. The circuiting. Moreover, fire broke out in the house of the contemporary painting trends in Pakistan, in various cleanliness of atmosphere so that to swindlers fled away from the scene with the mobile Amjad on Nisbat Road, damaging valuables, includ - magazines and journals of repute. She has worked on a avoid dengue mosquito, fever and other phone and cash from Akmal’s pocket. The victim was ing home appliances, worth Rs 100,000. research project on Lahore Fort for Lok Virsa Islamabad. epidemic disease during spring season. found by locals and taken to a nearby hospital by TwO BOOkIES ARRESTED: The police claimed She has ten solo shows of paintings and drawings to her He said that Ulema can successfully Rescue 1122. to have arrested two bookies in the Sabza Zar Police credit and preparing for eleventh and also working on execute the awareness campaign in MAN fOUND DEAD: A middle-aged man was Station precincts on Saturday. her book “Picture Wall of the Lahore Fort.” PU Vice- mosques especially during prayer hours found dead under mysterious circumstances in the According to details, the police raided a gam - Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has congratulated to the society. While talking to Bhati Gate Police Station precincts on Saturday. bling den upon receiving information and arrested Ayesha Siddiqui for this honour to represent the varsity delegations of Ulemas and labourers at The locals of the area found the body and in - two bookies, who have a criminal history as well. and country at the prestigious art exhibition. his residence, Qureshi said that with formed the police. The police suspected that the de - The arrested were identified as Shahid and Haseeb. the cooperation of people, especially ceased, yet to identified, had died of taking excessive The police have also recovered dishes, television the Ulema dengue fever would be drug dose. The body was shifted to the morgue. sets, mobiles phones and cash from the possession US consul general avoided in coming season. fIRE cLAIMS vALUABLES: Valuables worth of the accused. honours teachers UMT signs roa with IPo LAHORE StAff RepoRt

US Consul General Nina Fite on Saturday honoured the teachers who completed a training that will ensure that more of Pakistan’s children will have the opportunity to attend mainstream schools. Nina Fite was on hand at the Rising Sun and Education and Welfare Society in Lahore for a certificate ceremony for 30 teachers who successfully completed a US Agency for International Development (USAID) supported course in Special Education. “I am proud that our assistance supported an initiative that reaffirms the right to education of every individual here in the Punjab and across Pakistan,” Fite remarked. The teachers were the fifth graduating class of a year-long USAID funded program that will train 750 teachers in the Punjab. LAHORE pReSS ReleAS

In order to explore the avenues of mutual cooperation for establishing linkages among students and industries, a new programme has been launched by Intellectual Property organisation of Pakistan. In this connection a Record of Agreement (RoA) between Intellectual Property organization (IPo) and Centre of Law and Policy (CLP) University of Management and Technology was signed on Saturday. Pakistan IPo Director General Sajjad Ahmad Bhutta and CLP Director Syed Imad-ud-Din Asad signed the agreement. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:36 AM Page 11

Sunday , 22 January , 2012 Editor’s mail 11 a show of humility or pomp and glory Children of lesser gods Mr Yousaf Raza Gilani – the prime in a motorcade of dozens of escort vehi - – to watchfully examine the nitty-gritty spilt milk. Sanity should have prevailed We, the common people of Pakistan, accused in “a case of a brazen and bla - cles with sirens wailing and roaring heli - of the prime minister’s arrival in ad - from the outset. are the lowest class of people in the tant failure or refusal of the Federal Gov - copters hovering a few meters above. He vance. Mr Malik deserves all the praise as world. We have to face torture and men - ernment to obey and execute the was waving cheerfully to the party The PPP leaders who flocked the his cameo appearance in this episode too tal pain at home as well as outside. When relevant judgment and directions of the crowds and well-wishers assembled in apex court to show solidarity with their worked wonders for his party and the we leave for offices in the morning we Supreme Court” (as observed by the five- the vicinity of the apex court. All this in - parliamentary leader in fact succeeded in government. However, the court, per - have to leave with empty stomachs due member apex court bench in Jan 10 ver - deed exposed the prime minister’s true advocating their, what many believe, haps mercifully and thankfully, exempted to absence of gas. dict), who happens to be the prime intention in adopting a ‘solemn’ ap - “martyrdom” case more magnificently the prime minister from appearing in We cannot iron our clothes due to minister of Pakistan – decided to “bow proach to ‘respectfully’ and ‘humbly’ sur - and prophetically than their chief res - person on Febuary 1, otherwise repetition absence of light. While going to office we before the law” in a carefully orches - render before the highest judicial forum cuer, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, flanked by of the Jan 19 unbridled show of power have to face abuses of traffic and police trated pomp and ceremony that unfolded – in sheer negation of the equity that constitutional wizard Raza Rabbani, who could have once again landed lawyers, sergeants. We have no right even to drive Thursday morning on the Constitution enunciates equality among all citizens were picked by the prime minister some - judges, journalists and litigants, espe - our cars freely on the roads as these Avenue in the capital. before law. what belatedly but purposely to defend cially the general public, who live in the roads are for politicians, judges, prime Fearing that heavens will start falling If the prime minister had been sum - him in Court Room No 4 on that eventful capital or travel on the Constitution Av - minister, president and the VIPs of Pak - at around 9:30am or soon afterwards, moned, none other than the court itself day. enue, into a quagmire of inconveniences istan. our law enforcing agencies laid a siege to should have ensured that its dignity and It was none other than Rehman and troubles that descended along with on 19 January, we could not reach in the so-called “Red Zone” in a pre-dawn decorum does not get jeopardised and Malik – our ambitious interior minister showers in the Red Zone on Jan 19. time because our prime minister was deployment. Then nobody was allowed to compromised, come what may. It should who once dreamt of getting the coveted Also, it saved the people of Pakistan going to appear before the Supreme enter the zone on their vehicles and peo - have acted robustly to jealously guard its command of the ISI – who orchestrated from watching live the second act of Court. We are inferior common Pakista - ple, including lawyers, litigants and jour - esteem, particularly when it was thought - this pomp and circumstance. Speaking in “shock and awe” drama produced by pyg - nis born to be insulted and maltreated by nalists, had to traverse miles to reach the ful of the 1997 event of summoning a the Senate of Pakistan later in the day, he mies who still fondly look forward to cap - the authorities and the police. It doesn't Supreme Court building. prime minister and the ensuing rowdy - ‘regretted’ for scrambling helicopters turing any chance to preside over a matter even if I don't reach to the Follies of those who matter in this ism and ransacking at the hands of a ahead of the prime minister’s arrival congregation of giants. Supreme Court in my personal case that country did not end here. The prime mob. Therefore, it should have autho - while responding to criticism of the fol - ASAD SIDDIQUI has got fixed after a decade. It only mat - minister emerged himself driving a Prado rised someone – from its administration lies. But, there was no use to cry over Lahore ters that the Prime Minister reaches there with his undue, illegal and unjusti - fied protocol just to take adjournment The immunity issue from the Supreme Court. What is immunity? People don’t For God sake’s, Mr Prime Minister, know anything about immunity, and they politicians, VIPs and police officials, es - do not want to know anything. They sim - pecially belonging to traffic cadre and ply know that no one is above the law as those deputed on pickets in red zone law treats everyone equally. There is con - and in the Supreme Court, have pity on fusion in the country about immunity. I us – the inferior Pakistanis. Stop tortur - think judiciary is the best forum to inter - ing us mentally, physically and finan - pret this issue. I appeal to the Apex Court cially. to settle the controversy once and for - DANIAL KHAN ever. Rawalpindi TARIQ HUSSAIN KHAN Karachi a calculated move It is an unfortunate reflection on the Plea for early elections shallowness of thinking of the Pakistani media as well as politicians that the Sanity demands the current govern - mere possibility of postponement of ment to call for early polls as it is crucial General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf’s re - for the future of the country as well as for turn to Pakistan is being interpreted as its happy climax. In Egypt, Muhammad a sign of weakness. Elbradi has decided not to take part in The fact is that, as per his press talk presidential elections even after his suc - in London on January 19, he has not cess in revolution just because he thinks even finally decided about postponing that the democratic system which will be the date of his return. Even if he does formed will not be in its true essence a so, it will be a strategic move on his part democratic because of military interfer - and obviously anyone has the right to ence in it. exercise such freedom. He has therefore decided to continue Actually, these frivolous reactions activities outside the political system coming from various quarters represent with its youth. Ironically, here in Pak - the inner desire of many people who are istan, in spite of perceiving the threat of Bravo! pakistan tigers scared and who want that the former military coup, government has main - president should not return at all. They tained the status quo of silence in this re - ‘Pakistan beats England’ was the breaking news of the day. Saeed Ajml literally knocked them over, spun them out and know that once he is back on the na - gard. Considering the option from The people of Pakistan were waiting for a long long time for this Umar Gul in the second innings and made sure that no English tional scene, he will expose many of opposition leaders for early polls will be moment. Bravo! our team! You really deserve the batsman was able to make a stand on the pitch. those champions of democracy who suitable for survival of democracy. praise. After what happened a year ago in England, which If they continue their performance, we can surely win this have been hiding behind the screen of IZHAR HUSSAIN landed three of our top cricketers in jail and with bans on play - series and show the English the true spirit of cricket and what it public ignorance – and they don’t want Larkana ing international cricket, it was only but a befitting reply that means to challenge the Pakistan Tigers. people to know the facts. our team has come up with. What really made it worth some - NASEEMA ZAHEER All right thinking Pakistanis who thing was the way we defeated them. Toranto, Canda Musharraf’s return have had enough of those who presently Media reports say that Musharraf hold the reins of power in Pakistan feel says that if there is a military coup he will Protecting the corrupt getting elected on public offices with creed or social status. that the country needs a leader who un - side with the military. The damage in - false promises to serve them, or by hav - In every society there is corruption, derstands their problems and is willing flicted to the image of Pakistan and its A section of media, under the garb of ing occupied executive assignments as theft and crime, but once caught, these to do something about them. armed forces by this man can never be analysts-cum-anchors, would like us to paid servants? criminals must be punished, if we want The present government has given matched with any of the actions of the believe that Prime Minister Gilani has The looted money belongs to the un - to survive. Crimes are supposed to be the nation nothing but lawlessness, worst enemies of Pakistan. The biggest done us a favour by presenting himself fortunate taxpayers and neither Mushar - committed by criminals and thugs in the corruption, price rises and destruc - damage was the loss of fear from the before court, although his administration raf nor the Charter of Democry (CoD) manner of thieves who take steps to tion of public entities that were once hearts of the enemies of Pakistan. had deliberately defied implementation had any right to decide that such crimes evade being caught by police and not as a the country’s pride, such as Pakistan In any situation, the perception of of Supreme Court orders on NRo in could be waived off without due process matter of right, as if it were perks of Steel Mills, PIA and Pakistan Rail - strength of the opponent is the biggest 2009 and destroyed almost every institu - of law. holding an office. ways. deterrent against aggression. And if fear tion of the state. We have to decide whether Pakistan our PM deserved ovation if he had The people want a leadership that of our power and our resolve to use our Given their arguments, it seems to be will be reduced to safe haven for elite shown some remorse or regret, instead of has given positive results in the past and power is removed from the hearts and destiny of this unfortunate nation to be corrupt members of paid establishment, considering that he has done us a favour who is better than General (Retd) Per - minds of our enemy, then believe me, plundered endlessly by a handful of men or those who were elected, or will there by presenting himself before the vez Musharraf to deliver this, especially everything is lost. whose greed has no limitation. Can I ask be rule of law in Pakistan? Supreme Court, when he had been forced now that he has formally entered poli - And the proof of my statement can them, which law allows crooks and rob - There is no precedence in recent his - to do so by circumstances beyond his tics and is ready and willing to play his be gauged by the fact how easily Afghan bers to get away with their ill-gotten tory where nations have developed, while control. due role in national affairs. forces have been attacking and killing the wealth, if they have accumulated this by the state has failed to enforce rule of law MALIK TARIQ ALI MUHAMMAD YAHYA ASIF men of a nuclear power in the past. successfully duping people of Pakistan by without any discrimination as to caste, Lahore Karachi Moreover, how easily Musharraf allowed India to build fence along the Line of “objection m’lord” Control, which is not allowed as per in - ternational law. This is with reference to Nasim It is so strange that a case that is still tions on lawyers and party loyalists who government. SYED NAYYAR UDDIN AHMAD Zehra’s article “Objection m' lord” (21 to be argued in the court of law is openly are damaging the sanctity of the institu - Lastly, the writer has rightly sug - Lahore Jan). Her analysis of prime minister's debated by media to influence the court tion. Actually after the historic move - gested to the Chief Justice to ban such appearance in the contempt notice in the and try to thrust own opinion on the ment by lawyers and civil society in the activities, but this alone will not help till The year 2012 Supreme Court is not much different courts. This drama goes on in the name year 2007 for the restoration of the judi - such time as media is also debarred in than any analysis that we witness daily of 180 million people who are least both - ciary, undue discussions in media and initiating debates on these cases and What good 2012 can bring? All over in TV talk shows that mostly are subjec - ered on these issues. Such acts otherwise polarisation of lawyers’ behaviour is in - stops live coverage. We must show pa - the world, the people are holding im - tive and not objective. Ms Zehra's con - attract provision of contempt of court. terfering and affecting the neutrality of tience and wait for the judgment, once it mense expectations as if something clusions also do not substantially point If our media stops giving live cover - our courts. is out it may be debated for any duration miraculous will happen that would un - to any reform/improvement. age to such events the undue hype will Chief Justice should take suo motu but not before that. tangle us from the devil’s snare of social, I object to the unnecessary coverage not be created. In fact, TV channels are a on lawyers’ activities in the Supreme Pakistan is passing through its most economic and political repercussions. and publicity given to the event by the major contributing factor in creating an Court premises and ban raising of slo - critical period since its existence. We all We see the economies of this intercon - media prior to the date of hearing. So undue and unnecessary atmosphere of gans in favour of judges and the govern - have to be patient and show better sense nected, globalised and increasingly what if the PM was summoned in the uncertainty and rowdyism by covering ment. It should also condition the of responsibility, ridiculing own institu - shrunken world crushed almost irrevoca - apex court. We all trumpet that everyone the event. manner in which media propagates the tions will not help. As responsible citi - bly after the great 2008 global economic is equal before law, if we believe in this There is a mad race going on be - cases under review in the Supreme zens, all of us must show maturity and recession and its revival will take time. then this was just another appearance tween various TV channels to give Court. These steps will strengthen the the anchors in media are no exception. HADIA MUKHTAR SINGAPURI and did not warrant the artificial hype as "breaking news". Sooner or later, the judiciary and remove self-created appre - MUKHTAR AHMED Karachi if heavens are going to fall. Supreme Court will have to put restric - hensions as if judiciary is against the Karachi

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12 Comment Sunday , 22 January , 2012 another petition of tensions and extensions Balance and equity he Supreme Court’s direction to the government to submit a written assurance within two weeks that it the quality of justice should not be strained has no intention of sacking the CoAS and the DG suspicions. Now wait for them to say: one T ISI has come at a time when there have been signs 1. Rescind the NRo, certainly, but learns! of thaw in the frosty ties between the civilian and military balance and equity demand that 8. The Charter of Democracy is an leadership. everyone who got away under unusual document untypical of A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar other devices must also be made Pakistan’s warring politicians. Not Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing on Friday a petition answerable. otherwise, justice will adhering to it is typical. As the seeking to block any attempt by the government to remove be selective. CoD requires, no judge who has the army and ISI Chiefs. Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul 2. Rescind the Saudi deal that par - ever supported any deviation from Haq rubbished the claim and drew the court’s attention to doned the Sharifs and hear all the the constitution and taken oath Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani rejecting the perception cases against them. Would anyone under any PCo should ever again in his recent statement. The AG also objected to the innocent accept a pardon? Anyone hold the office of judge at any maintainability of the petition, which he believed, was filed innocent would consider accepting level. on the basis of conjectures but it was overruled with the CJ a pardon an insult and insist on only when all these cornerstones By Humayun Gauhar clearing his name. are met and all doubts and suspicions telling him: “That’s why we have issued you notice. The 3. Rescind the general pardon for Dr removed will the judiciary be seen to country needs improvement in the state of affairs”. A Q Khan and find out whether he be impartial and pristine. If you don’t The order issued by the bench is reminiscent of a similar ith so much to say really sold national secrets or not have it in you to do all this, forget assurance sought by the apex court in october 2010 and such little space to and who else was involved, if any. everything and declare them ‘past and following media reports that the government was planning say it in, best to Would anyone innocent accept a closed transactions’ which the judici - to reverse the March 16, 2009 notification of reinstating the KISS – ‘Keep It pardon? Anyone innocent would ary has been known to do. superior court judges dismissed by Musharraf. And the law Simple, Stupid’. consider it an insult and insist on The question is: since the prime ministry had to comply with the direction despite the PM’s IW know how bad this government is, clearing his name. minister has taken oath under the con - assurance in the National Assembly that he had no intention but I don’t want it to go because I see 4. Being a judge in one’s own cause is stitution to uphold the constitution, of withdrawing the executive order. none better to replace it, none that can inequitable and unbalanced. Thus, how can he write a letter to the Swiss As for the aforesaid case, the petitioner has raised a point realistically win elections. Best to let equity and balance demand that authorities to reopen the cases against that after giving extensions to the CoAS and ISI chief, the the system proceed. It’s as simple as parliament being the highest the president when the constitution government cannot remove them before time. There can be a that. I hate the British Westminster branch of government with the gives him immunity? counter-argument to this misplaced logic: If the government parliamentary system but I reluctantly upper hand hears the charges lev - Wouldn’t that be tantamount to vi - accept it because it has national con - elled against the chief justice in the olating his oath by violating a consti - is empowered to extend the service of a civil or military sensus. Thus, I don’t want it to be 2007 reference against him and tutional clause? Can Supreme Court officer, how can it be restrained from curtailing the extended made to collapse lest it destroys our not the Supreme Judicial Council judges who have also taken oaths tenures. country. It’s as simple as that. Put since being judged by one’s peers under the constitution and are sworn But having said that, the government cannot initiate any simply, our ruling elite’s priorities are is tantamount to judging in one’s to uphold it insist that the prime min - such move especially when the tension between the civilian all wonky because it is so alienated: own cause. It is most incumbent ister causes such a letter to be written? and military arms of the state, originating with Memogate, while the country dies they worry for judges to be seen to be without Isn’t that tantamount to insisting that seems to have abated to some extent. All that is needed is to about a memo and a letter. It’s essen - blemish, else how will people have he violate the constitution? Isn’t such discourage such petitioners who’re bent upon creating tially a power struggle within the elite confidence in their impartiality? insistence itself a violation of the con - confusion when the country is already faced with that the people have nothing to do The chief justice has always main - stitution? multifaceted crises. with. tained that the charges against him All this kafuffle considering the The irony is that the one whom the were facetious, so he should have concept of immunity doesn’t exist in National Reconciliation ordinance no compunction in proving it. Islam. Aren’t we supposed to be an ‘Is - a hike again? didn’t benefit could be the fall guy. 5. Parliament must determine lamic Republic’? And to say that im - While the Supreme Court called the whether the executive order munity didn’t apply to Musharraf prime minister “dishonest”, he raised restoring the sacked judges is in because he was an ‘illegal’ president The long and short of it his stature by first getting what line with the constitution. The cute while it does to Zardari because he is he prime minister has decided to take a leaf out of amounted to a vote of confidence and argument that they were never ‘legal’ is to forget that the Supreme the Raja Ashraf manual: giving a deadline which then going to the Supreme Court. He sacked is just so much sophistry Court that included the current chief won this round, but the fight contin - cannot and will not be met. This is not because the and slight of semantics. justice legitimised Musharraf’s ues. No one knows where it will end. 6. Justice delayed is justice denied. takeover and took and gave oaths honourable PM is not to be taken for his word but T There are certain immutable cor - Air Marshal Asghar Khan’s case under the PCo of 2000. When you try because it is clear that the crises can only be solved in the nerstones of justice. holding fire must be decided ur - to be too cute, you look clownish. long run and six months is not it. 1. Respect for the constitution which gently. None of his letters to vari - The concept of self-notice or suo But while the PM is serving up some appeasement for the divides power between three ous chief justices was answered. moto becomes questionable when un - public, the ECC is also preparing to serve a concoction of its branches of government – parlia - The registrar refused to receive his dertaken at will without a process to own making. The committee presided over by the finance ment-legislature, executive and ju - hand-delivered letter. Where’s im - decide where self-notice is justified minister has approved of a price-hike in electricity tariffs diciary. It is a fine balance. Each partiality? and where not. Is it impartial, equi - (which Nepra is not on board with yet). This is to pay off the must work in synchronicity, not 7. Equity and balance means that table, balanced and just that while interest on the loan that it has taken to deal with the IPPs’ conflict, by recognising the limits something cannot be legal at one hundreds of lawyers who are officers liabilities. What is being engineered is a ‘debt swap’ which of their domains. Independence time or in one set of circumstances of the court contemn the judiciary by will partially allay our circular debt demons and assist in has limits that end where the do - and illegal at another time and an - showering flower petals on a self-con - restructuring the energy sector in the long run. But in the mains of others begin. Any trans - other set of circumstances. What is fessed murderer are ignored, the short run, this will amount to the consumer bailing out the gression and balance is lost. wrong is wrong and what is right is Supreme Court finds time to take self- government and the IPPs. But the short run is what the 2. Balance and equity must always be right. Thus, Provisional Constitu - notice of Atiqa odho’s bottles while seen to exist. tional orders caused by deviations the hunger and incremental degrada - consumer cares about because, as they say, in the long run 3. Justice must not only be done, it from the constitution can either be tion of teeming millions goes unno - we’re all dead. must also be seen to be done. legal or illegal, not both. Changing ticed? Surely it couldn’t possibly be The fact that these problems are not widely understood – 4. Impartiality. Justice cannot be se - times and circumstances have because she is beautiful, could it? and that the media also compounds the confusion with its lective. It must be blind. nothing to do with it. The doubt in Could it be because she is in General populist pandering – means that this step will also be seen as 5. Justice delayed is justice denied. many minds is: was the PCo of Musharraf’s party? Kidhar hain niga - evidence of the government’s bad governance. While it is 6. Justice must be egalitarian. No one 2000 made legal because it en - hain, kidhar hai nishana – ‘Where is true that the incumbent dispensation’s lollygagging in the is above the law, least of all judges. abled a certain set of judges to re - the target, where the aim’. past four years has not helped matters, it cannot be denied The law must apply equally to all. main in office and the 2007 PCo oh! Before I forget, do read the ar - that revising pricing strategies and phasing out 7. one cannot be a judge in one’s own made illegal because some of the ticle ‘Absolut Justice’ by Amir Zia in unsustainable subsidies is the first step to deal with the cause. same judges lost their jobs because the January 2012 edition of Newsline. crises. The absence of any of these cor - of it and another set benefited? Is Drunks should raise a toast to it, espe - nerstones means absence of justice. this balanced and equitable? Is it cially in the legal fraternity. The government really is in a bind here. The fiscal crunch To heal the wounds of our national just? The ‘upholding a principle’ that it is experiencing is debilitating. Its budget deficit is psyche, it is imperative that we remove argument becomes flippant and The writer is a political slated to rise to almost Rs 1.53 trillion (if it puts the all doubts and misgivings by discover - inane when applied when conven - analyst. He can be contacted at hu - sovereign guarantees that it has given for this debt swap on ing the truth behind all allegations and ient and not when inconvenient. [email protected] the books). If the government continues its spending binge (of which the subsidies in the energy sector are but an example), it also needs to generate the money. It can’t keep adding to its debt because it will hit the wall soon and there is no bailout on the cards. It can either raise taxes or tariffs – Regional press both at which the public balks. or it can print money which means more inflation. Thus, the public pays no matter what. Therefore, rationalising tariffs is a necessary evil the Terrorism and development government has to deal with. These crises have been in the making a long time and there is no short-run palliative. The Daily Pashtun Post the intensity of terrorism has increased in many areas such as sectors have been mismanaged and it’s about time that a Swat and the tribal regions. Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has said time and proper strategy was developed for the long haul. t was during the Muttahidda Majlis-e-Amal’s tenure in again that the incumbent provincial government has taken Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that acts of terrorism started to substantive steps for the development of the province. He has Ispread. These acts later on increased in frequency and in - also stressed that the masses will soon start reaping the bene - tensity and that left an indelible impact on the province in par - fits with the completion of these developmental projects across ticular and the country in general. Not only did these acts take the province. Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami the precious lives of hundreds of people along with causing sig - The CM has reiterated that his government is mindful of nificant material losses but they also took a heavy toll by the problems of the masses and is trying to address these prob - Arif Nizami thwarting any possibilities of investment (either by locals or lems through the undertaking of these development projects. Editor foreigners). But the completion of these projects would mean nothing if Lahore – Ph: 042-36298305-10 Fax: 042-36298302 The incumbent government though has made efforts to peace was not restored and terrorism curtailed. Karachi – Ph: 021-34330811-3 Fax: 021-34330900 bring peace to the region by calling upon traditional tribal jir - Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287414-6 Fax: 051-2287417 gas amongst other things but the central government has not – Translated from the original Pashto by Abdur Rauf Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: [email protected] completely backed these efforts with its support. Resultantly, Khattak LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:36 AM Page 13 Sunday , 22 January , 2012 Comment 13

pM in the courthouse Swiss letter, and spirit Keeping calm and carrying on? A judgement is a judgement forefront of the struggle for the ing. Unfortunately the trends restoration of independent ju - is becoming all too common. requirements of a functioning ent as far as this principle is con - diciary indicated that the gov - Unless this is retrained, this state. By answering to the sum - cerned. The fact that it is defying ernment wanted to pursue the will lead to terrible conse - mons, the prime minister gave the court because it can, and the matter with due respect to the quences for society. the right message to the nation individual cannot, violates the court and strictly on legal The minorities are the that he bows before the majesty fundamental spirit of the law. If grounds. worst victim. Pressure exerted of the exalted court. The court the powerful can flout judge - A good beginning. This by radicalised lawyers is mak - acknowledged this by saying it ments while the weak can't, then however should by no means ing it difficult for a member of was a great day for the rule of the basis of the rule of law is un - provide an assurance that the the minority community ac - law. dercut, and the glue that holds a PM is off the hook now. His cused of blasphemy to hire a The form was spot on. The modern and civilized society to - fate and that of Zardari hinges counsel. substance was not. Herein lies gether will begin to come apart. By Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad now on whether Aitzaz is able When the trial of Mumtaz the bad news. This is no rocket science. But to convince the court that the Qadri, the self confessed killer The court has given a judge - the logic is crippled when it president enjoys blanket im - of Governor Taseer, started at By Fahd Husain ment, and the government does smashes into the harsh realities M Gilani’s appearance in munity from all types of crim - a Rawalpindi court, a crowd of not like it. It feels the court has of realpolitik. Consider this a the Supreme Court inal cases. As things stand, the extremist lawyers and madras - not judged it on merit; rather it clash of political science versus Pbrought to light a num - justices do not subscribe to the sah students descended on the t is actually not that compli - has allowed personal grudges to political practice. The former ber of important trends. First view. building in support of Qadri. cated. Are the judges always override its sense of justice and carves out broad frameworks and foremost, the appearance This bring to an end the The authorities had to drive Iright? No. Should their fairplay. The government does under which political entities indicates that that the govern - hype created by a section of the judge to a makeshift court judgements always be followed not say this publicly, but its min - and players can practice the art ment has now decided to fight media which had predicted hastily set up in a heavily pro - in letter and spirit? Yes. ions are not so circumspect. In - of politics for the greater good. the case legally rather than po - that the hearing would be brief tected building in Islamabad. Here's why: The rule of law nuendos fly like a hail of burning The latter focuses on the pursuit litically. and lead to some extraordi - The judge who found depends on this. And modern arrows. The likes of Babar Awan of naked power. Babar Awan talked more nary decision by the apex Qadri guilty of the crime and societies depend on the rule of are in fact as nuanced as a And naked power is what politics than law while defend - court in the contempt pro - sentenced him to be hanged law. That is how the system sledgehammer crashing into a continues to define politics as ing the government’s position. ceedings. received death threats. He had works. It doesn't always produce glass door. practiced in Pakistan. PPP is no He gave the impression of outside the Supreme to be shifted outside the coun - pristine justice, and neither does Let us for a moment assume exception. In fact, given a simi - playing to the gallery. He took Court building, the media trial try, along with family, as the it always punish the guilty or re - that the NRo judgement is lar situation, other parties are up issues that were irrelevant of the government leaders administration believed it ward the wronged. But these odd faulty. Let us also assume that likely to respond in a generally from a legal point of view. He continued. Without waiting could not provide him security discrepancies are the price soci - ordering the government to similar fashion. The past is proof talked about the injustices for the judgment on the issue inside Pakistan. eties pay for maintaining order, write a letter to a foreign govern - enough. Power politics has its done to the PPP, including de - of presidential immunity, In the presence of these preserving a structured way of ment against its own president own logic and unfortunately this nial of justice to Zulfikar Ali Mian Nawaz Sharif demanded extremist lawyers, it is difficult life and ensuring that the gov - (and party co-chairman) is – to logic is perceived as conven - Bhutto (ZAB) and Benazir that PM Gilani must write the for a court to pass a judgment erned are governed in a civilised say the least – unfair. Even if tional political wisdom in Pak - Bhutto. He referred to the cre - letter to the Swiss authorities not liked by them. It is time manner. these assumptions hold true, istan. This may in some measure ation of Bangladesh in 1971, to open the cases against the bar associations step in to What we are witnessing as does it mean the government, on explain the dysfunctional state darkly hinting that the NRo Zardari. rein in their radicalised mem - the NRo hearings unfold is a vi - the basis of its genuine griev - of governance in the country. case could lead to the separa - While Aitzaz Ahsan was bers and the law colleges make olation of this basic principle of ances, has the right to refuse im - Politicians are by nature tion of Sindh. He spoke about briefing the media outside the necessary amendments in the modern governance. In the day- plementing the judgement? ruthlessly practical. It is only the the PPP being always a victim court, a group of lawyers curriculum to instil in their to-day wrangling between the Supplant the government steel cage of laws and expecta - and after ZAB and Benazir, a shouted “Zardari ka jo yaar students a respect for law and judges and the government, we with an individual, and the argu - tions of the electorate that keep grave was now being prepared hai, ghaddar hai ghadar hai.” an acceptance of judgments tend to lose sight of the macro- ment becomes clearer. If a court their power lust in check. This for President Zardari. They were, thus, killing two against their wishes. problem this tussle is generat - convicts a person on murder way they are forced to balance PM Gilani on the other birds with one stone. They had It was interesting to note ing: a problem which will return charges, and we know he did not their own individual ambitions hand appeared before the decided that while Zardari was the reaction of the MQM to haunt us if it is not settled as commit the murder, what does against the notion of larger soci - court along with the governors the real culprit, Aitzaz who which is one of the govern - per the norms of modern socie - he do? He appeals to a higher etal interests. When this equa - of the four provinces and the was fighting the contempt case ment allies to PM Gilani’s ap - tal requirements. court, and then a higher one, till tion is imbalanced, and naked leaders of ANP and PML(Q) as against Gilani in the apex pearance in the court. While In fact, the larger principle he reaches the apex court. Even power begins to dominate larger an expression of the recogni - court was also a traitor. This other coalition leaders accom - of judicial sanctity overrides the there if his appeal is turned principles, we find ourselves in a tion of the majesty of the amounted to putting pressure panied the prime minister to omissions and commissions of down, he is sent to jail on death situation that we are seeing in court. He was respectful but on the court also to deliver a show respect for the court and individual judges, or benches or row. He may be an innocent the NRo case. firm. He said he had no inten - judgment of their liking. If solidarity for the PM, the even collective judgements on man, and he is paying the price It is not really that compli - tion to defame or ridicule the anybody vindicating Zardari MQM declined to join the particular cases. What is at stake of a faulty judicial system, but he cated. For the greater good of superior judiciary. “That is not through legal means was a company. MQM leaders were is the running of the state above still goes to jail. There are nu - this republic, the letter must be my intention. We have the traitor, those accepting Aitzaz however present at the presi - and beyond the harsh realities – merous cases where people held written. highest respect for your deci - Ahsan’s plea automatically dent’s dinner in the evening. and dictates – of power politics. on death row are released years sion (NRo verdict), but at the also fell in the same category. The message: We are with you Let us put this in the present – and even decades – later when The writer hosts a prime - same time, the constitution is This brings us to another to enjoy the perks and privi - context. First, the good part: the a fresh investigation proves they time talk show on ARY News. in between.” important social issue. Like a leges but don’t expect us to be seven member bench of the were innocent and the court was He has worked as Director The court took notice of section of the media, a section with you at a moment of trial Supreme Court hearing the NRo wrong. The single individual suf - News of Express News and the gesture and Gilani was ex - of the legal community too is and tribulation. case summoned the prime min - fers a bad judgement because Dunya News and Editor The empted from personal appear - not willing to wait for the ister and he appeared before there is nothing more he can do. News, Islamabad. He can be ance in future. The court’s judgment. They want The writer is a former them on Thursday. This very act A judgement, good or bad, is al - reached at replacement of Babar Awan by the accused to go unheard and academic and a political an - – howsoever grudgingly it may ways implemented. [email protected] or on Aitzaz Ahsan who was in the demand a verdict of their lik - alyst. have been done – fulfilled the The government is no differ - Twitter @fahdhusain LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:38 AM Page 14

14 Sunday , 22 January , 2012 IN LIMELIGHT Ustad Baqir Raza Khan: lahore: actress Nadia performs during the A journey towards 33rd Bolan awards. INp recognition?

FRAAz MAHMuD lahore: filmstar Meera poses ALENT during the Bolan awards. INp knows no boundaries. If it is in a palace, it can Talso be found in a hut. But the talent that flourishes in a hut is usually exploited due to lack of opportunities and resources. A poor artist struggles throughout his life to get mastery over his art but people never give him the status he deserves. Specialist Banjo player Ustad Baqir Raza Khan is also a victim of such ex - ploitation. He was born in District Ferozpur, now in and directors. Bhatacharya, Tafu Khan, India, in 1947, but his par - He played banjo for Master Abdullah, Nazir Ali, ents migrated to Pakistan Madam Noor Jahan’s some Kalay Khan, K K Rajan, after partition. He was ever green numbers which Kamal Ahmad, Wajahat very much interested in include Ve tu qarar mera Atray, Anayat Ali and playing banjo even from payar mere haniyan, Wazir Afzal. He also his childhood, so despite Sonay di taveetri and Koka worked with famous film extreme poverty, he me paya mahiya. He also director Masood Butt who bought his first banjo in played banjo for a song is still active in Lollywood. 1963 and devoted his life Tere ishq nachaya kar k Despite working with SaNTa MoNICa: actress hilary Swank to get mastery over it. thayya thayya with Saain such big names and, being arrives at oVo opening night of Cirque Du MaCaU: farhan akhtar and his wife adhuna attend the red His love for music Akhtar, for Sad lo ik waar a part of all time hits, no - Soleil at Santa Monica Pier, California. afp carpet event before the Zee Cine awards 2012. afp took him to Radio Pak - Madinay walay G with body knows about Ustad istan where he learnt the Alam Lohar, for Dunya Baqir Raza today. He is liv - science of banjo from var - pese di o yaar with Mehdi ing at a small village in Dis - ious musicians. In 1982, Hassan, for Tere ishq trict Kasur and leading a he got approved in the nachaya gali gali with Ma - miserable life. He is not a radio and Central Produc - sood Rana and for Rukh single example rather a tion Unit recorded his dolday te akh meri with representative of all the de - tunes. While working for Madam Afshan. prived artists of the country the radio, he worked with The musicians with who demand nothing but various singers, musicians whom he worked are: Debo recognition.

Musician Johnny Otis dies aged 90 LOnDOn AGeNcIeS

Johnny otis always said he identified far more with black culture than his own Greek origins Johnny otis, dubbed the “godfather of rhythm and blues”, has died aged 90. The bandleader, who had been unwell for several years, passed away at his home in Los Angeles, his manager said. Best known for the track Willie and MUMBaI: Bipasha Basu poses the Hand Jive, he also wrote Every Beat of ents of American music and he was a great My Heart, a hit for Gladys Knight and the American,” said music historian Tom during the promotion of MaCaU: Dia Mirza attends the red carpet Pips in 1961. “He is one of the greatest tal - Reed, adding “He could do it all.” upcoming film ‘Jodi Breakers’. afp event before the Zee Cine awards 2012. afp

Avatar sequel will be even better: Worthington Winslet had to Vidya to set Zee Cine Awards on fire mumBAI: after roping in the hottest stars of the industry to burn the stage with their stellar dance acts over the years, the world’s biggest viewers’ choice award - Zee Cine awards 2012 is proud to announce that Bollywood’s “Silk”iest leading lady is all set to rock the stage at vomit the glitzy ceremony in Macau this year. following the announcements of Srk & Priyanka Chopra as hosts and Shahid kapoor’s dancing tribute to Dev anand, the latest addition to the glitzy star performers’ list will be the current darling of Bollywood – Vidya Balan! after repeatedly her universally applauded performance in this year’s runaway hit ‘The Dirty Picture’ Vidya’s oomph quotient has for film scene shot through the roof and the actress has been brought on board to raise a toast to India’s southern sirens at ‘Pan loNDoN: kate winslet has revealed Bahar presents Zee Cine awards 2012’. that she left the set of her new loS ANGeleS: Avatar star Sam Worthington waiting and digesting the movie so he can as Balan performs to a medley of movie Carnage "smelling of sick" has said James cameron is concentrating unleash a movie that takes Avatar and chartbusters from southern cinema, her every night as she had to on making the sequel outdo the original, explodes it and expands it even better." moves will bring out the unmistakable projectile vomit over and over which was the highest-grossing film of all cameron announced there would be two flavor and inimitable style of the again for one key scene. The 36- time. the Australian actor, who played the sequels to the oscar-winning film in 2010. dancers from south Indian cinema. year-old actress admits that lead male role in the blockbuster, has In an interview he gave some idea of what Burning down the stage with the the excess vomit made the set reportedly signed up for Avatar 2 but says his audience can expect when the films raunchy ‘Naka Muka’, Vidya will finish rather unpleasant to work on, there is no set date for production to start. eventually make it on to the big screen. the performance with a flourish, but she enjoyed every moment "We've talked about the sequel but Jim "part of my focus in the second film is in shimmying to her own ‘ooh la la, ooh of it. "I'm actually quite proud of does what he wants to do," Worthington creating a different environment - a la la’ ditty. “My performance this year my vomiting! It was everywhere: in said, referring to cameron. "that's the different setting within pandora," he said. at Zee Cine awards 2012 will be my hair, down my cleavage, and I'd thing. he'll do the sequel when it's a "And I'm going to be focusing on the ocean inspired by the immensely entertaining go home every night totally challenge for him. he doesn't have to do it on pandora, which will be equally rich and styles of some of the most iconic disgusting and smelling of sick, but I for the money and he's not going to be told diverse and crazy and imaginative, but it southern sirens including Silk. let’s loved it," Contactmusic quoted her what to do. "And when he does it, it's just won't be a rainforest. "I'm not saying hope the audience has as much fun as as telling People magazine. The exciting for an audience. that's who he we won't see what we've already seen; I do when I perform live at The film, directed by roman Polanski, is based on the hit Broadway play makes movies for. "I think he's kind of we'll see more of that as well." AGeNcIeS Venetian® Macao!” said Vidya. AGeNcIeS God of Carnage. AGeNcIeS LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:38 AM Page 15 15

lahore: an artist Raunchy James cameron performs during the Despite her success with ballads, James 33rd Bolan awards. INp Obituary: Etta James did not neglect the rougher edge of her voice, recording the blues standard, Call My is the king of... Name, in 1966. In 1967 she moved to Fame LOS AnGELES Studios in Alabama where she wrote and AGeNcIeS recorded one of her most beautiful, and best-known songs, I'd Rather Go Blind. De - preston! TTA JAMES, who has died at spite her success, she found it difficult to the age of of 73, had a rich, LOS AnGELES break out of the black music market and it AGeNcIeS contralto voice that breathed was a British blues band, Chicken Shack - life into a host of musical gen - fronted by Christine Perfect - later McVie, Until last week, the closest thing to res, from blues to jazz, R&B to who took the song into the UK charts in sEoul. Many top performers cited her as a Hollywood I'd seen in the ramshackle 1969. The 1970s saw her career begin to fal - working class suburb of Preston in huge influence on their careers, but she had ter under the pressure of her heroin addic - to wait 40 years before winning major recog - Melbourne's north was Hail lead actor tion and the consequent legal problems. (and ex-con) Daniel P. Jones driving nition from the music industry. She began She spent months either in rehab, or in jail singing in the 1950s, battled substance abuse around Preston Market carpark. where she was sent for various offences, in - Now that's gonna change with news for the best part of a decade, then bounced cluding failed payments and driving stolen back to win a string of awards and bring her that Mr 3D himself, James Cameron, cars. "I was hooked for fifteen years," she has opened the first international music to a new audience. Jamesetta Hawkins later recalled. "I resorted to it when money was born in Los Angeles on 25 Jan 1938, the office of his 3D production business in got really short and things got really tough. Preston (of all places) with illegitimate daughter of a 14-year-old I used to get sick all the time, miss gigs, African-American girl and a white father cinematographer Vince Pace. To crib turn out bad shows and generally got on the from the press release: whom James never met. In her autobiogra - wrong track." In 1974 she was sentenced to phy, James says she was convinced that her Cameron said he hoped the company, a drug treatment programme, in lieu of jail, father was Minnesota Fats, the famous pool Cameron Pace Group, would make it and spent 17 months in a psychiatric hospi - hustler but, "I didn't have the courage, or Their first record, Roll With Me Henry, easier for television and filmmakers to tal. It marked a turning point. "It took a means, to confront him". Like many black topped the R&B charts in 1955 - although adopt 3D technology. good-hearted judge to make me stop and artists of the time she began singing gospel some radio stations objected to the sugges - Andrew Wight, producer of 3D feature examine myself," she wrote in her autobi - in a church choir in Los Angeles before she tive title. The Peaches disappeared from Sanctum, was appointed managing ography. However, when she finished her went to live with relatives in San Francisco. the scene and James set out on a solo ca - director of CPG's Australian office. He rehab she became involved with a former She got together with two other girls to form reer, scoring some minor hits and experi - said the company would allow drug user and went back onto heroin. She a group which was auditioned by the late leg - menting with various musical styles filmmakers in Australia to use the recalled the next few years as the lowest endary bandleader and impresario, Johnny including rock 'n' roll. In 1960 she signed same technology Cameron used in part of her life, struggling to get gigs to pay otis. "I was just a little sc hoolkid," she said to the legendary Chess Records where the Avatar. He said Melbourne was chosen in 1974, "and I was bumming around at boss, Leonard Chess, decided James would the rent. It wasn't until 1988, after treat - because it was home to many being a delinquent. "[Johnny] asked me to find success as a ballad singer. In 1961 she ment at the Betty Ford Clinic, that she fi - international sporting events, audition for him and, I will always remem - released the album, At Last, which featured nally beat her addiction and released including the Melbourne Cup and ber, I was so bashful that I had to go into a string of her previous R&B hits. The title Seven Year Itch, an album that was a grand prix. Its filmmaking community the bathroom and sing from there." track, a cover of a 1941 number first per - showcase for a new, more raunchy style of had also 'embraced' 3D technology, he formed by Glen Miller, was to become her singing. In 1994 the music industry said. The Preston site includes office At Last signature tune, much played at weddings awarded her her first Grammy for a collec - and warehouse space where the MaCaU: Shah rukh khan and Immediately spotting her potential, because of the sweet orchestral arrange - tion of Billie Holliday songs, Mystery company will store 3D cameras, wife Gauri attend the Zee otis rearranged her first name and trans - ment. In all, she achieved no fewer than Lady.Her warts and all autobiography, A production and servicing equipment. formed her vocal group into The Peaches. Cine awards red carpet. afp 10 chart hits between 1961 and 1963. Rage to Survive, was published in 1998. There will also be a 3D screening room. No word as yet whether Messrs Cameron, Pace and Wight will also be stepping out for dumplings at LAHORE Zulfi, Zeba David was also pres - Preston's legendary one Noodle AGeNcIeS ent. Micho Salahuddin who was Friendship... but let's hope they get to Pakistan's first art cafe present at the ceremony said discover this and other gems in their The cafe trend has become so that,” People now have devel - most unlikely new location. popular these days especially in oped a concept of live music Lahore. We witness some great and paintings. They prefer a cafes now depending upon dif - nice atmosphere. Ceramics and ferent tastes and for different graphic designers have also dis - age groups. Not only the food played their work. The food is the ambiance of these cafes is also amazing and offers a great simple outstanding. These cafes menu”. Zeba David said that,” are a regular spot for teenagers, We love the idea of this café housewives for their kitty par - where everyone can sit together ties and also business for their and have food as well as admire meetings over a cup of coffee. the paintings. Even if you don’t Ze grill followed the same trend buy it you can at least appreci - and recently opened its Art Cafe ate art.” The owner Mansoor which is the first Art Cafe in said that he hoped people will Pakistan. The special feature of like the food as well as the café. this café is that different artists He also mentioned that people have displayed their paintings appreciate their food. It will be in the café. Along with paint - a very good combination of art ings another interesting as well and food. Aitzaz Ahsan said as entertaining feature is live that,” This concept should MaCaU: Zeenat aman artistic because of these special of Ijaz Art Gallery. Many artists music where various traditional features. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan were present at the opening work, it has added to the cul - attends the Zee Cine awards musical instruments are played. did the opening ceremony of ceremony. Lahore Art Council’s ture of Lahore. He appreciated 2012 red carpet event. afp The ambiance of the café is very this café along with the owner deputy director Zulfiqar Ahmad the café.

Hrithik Roshan plans big bash for sister Manya files for mumBAI: divorce celebrations are already on to MUMBaI: Manisha koirala is facing relationship trouble once again. The actress, once highly bring in hrithik's acclaimed for her roles in movies like ‘Dil Se,’ ‘khamoshi’ ‘Bombay’ and ‘1942: a love Story’, sister, Sunaina's is in the news for her marital troubles. The 42-year-old Manisha who married her long 40th birthday on time friend and businessman Samrat January 22, 2012. Dahal in June 2010, went through a We hear doting turbulent time with her husband. Just dad Rakesh six months after the wedding the Roshan has just actress declared on a social gifted his networking site that she wasn’t happy daughter a high- with her marriage and her husband end sedan, which had become her “worst enemy.” The she adores. And, couple then apparently patched up hrithik and and all was well, or so it seemed. But Suzzane Roshan recently, at a party hosted by Manisha, have planned a she allegedly announced to her surprise birthday friends that she had filed her divorce bash for the lady. and was ready to move on in life. The Said our source, development follows close on the "Both father and heels of reports that Manisha has son have decided taken refuge in the wellness to make Sunaina's University, 80 miles away from birthday special. Chennai, where she apparently is to top it all, learning how to cope with stress and Sunaina herself is depression. well we sure do hope busy with the Manya stays strong during this tough production of time and tries to get her bearings their film Krrish soon. AGeNcIeS 3." AGeNcIeS LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:39 AM Page 16 16 Foreign News Sunday , 22 January , 2012 China faces ‘bigger challenges’ in Dragon year: wen BEIJInG Afp

China will face “bigger challenges” in the new Year of the Dragon its Prime Minister Wen Jiabao warned Saturday, as he pledged economic reforms to improve wealth distribution, state media reported. “We are going to face bigger challenges in the new year,” Wen said in a meeting with top officials, ahead of Monday, the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, the most favorable and revered sign in the 12- year Chinese zodiac. The prime minister said China had made a good start to the Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) “at a time of an austere and complicated international economic situation”. The new year is set to be key politically, as President Hu Jintao ends his second term as party head and hands over to a successor, widely expected to be Vice President Xi Jinping, kicking off a once-in-a-decade leadership handover. The new party head will take over Hu’s presidency in March 2013, when Premier Wen Jiabao and his government will also step down. Wen said the main government objective was maintaining price stability alongside rapid economic development. Last year, Beijing made some gains in the battle against inflation, as the rate went down from 6.55 percent in July to 4.1 percent in December. However, the mAle: maldivian riot police detain a demonstrator on Saturday. Dozens of anti-government activists were arrested in the maldivian capital as the government accused them of whipping gross domestic product growth of the up religious extremism. afp world’s second largest economy continued to fall: 10.4 percent in 2010 to 9.7 percent in the first quarter of 2011. In the second it was at 9.5 percent, to 9.1 percent in the third, 8.9 percent in the fourth. Swiss Mogadishu govt investment bank UBS has forecast China’s GDP growth could slow to less than 8.0 France pledges commitment vows to eradicate percent in the first quarter. Shebab militia Police kill senior MOGADISHu to Afghanistan despite killings Afp Qaeda in Iraq leader kABuL Somali transitional government forces vowed Afp Saturday to rid Mogadishu of all “violent BAGHDAD elements,” a day after a major offensive Afp RANCE appeared to lessen aimed at dislodging Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab militia from the capital. “There are still a few Police killed a senior leader of Al-Qaeda’s the prospect of an early pockets of resistance of the defeated front group in Iraq in clashes while withdrawal from the 10- terrorists. They launched at least six attempting to arrest him on Saturday, the year war in Afghanistan on desperate counter-attacks last night, but the interior ministry said in a statement. Majid Saturday, stressing its Fcommitment to the country after an TFG (government forces) and AMISoM Hassan Ali, head of the Islamic State of (African Union Mission in Somalia) troops Iraq’s operations in the main northern city Afghan soldier killed four of its troops. have repelled them,” a government military of Mosul, was killed and 19 Al-Qaeda Defence Minister Gerard Longuet official said as the Shebab vowed to fight on. fighters, two of them Palestinian, arrested and Chief of Defence staff Admiral “our forces consolidated the positions they in the gunfight south of the city. “The third Edouard Guillaud flew into Afghanistan captured yesterday and the situation is quiet division of the federal police ... killed the for emergency talks a day after the pres - this morning, but the military campaign to chief of the ISI in Mosul,” the statement ident threatened to order a swift exit of eliminate violent elements from Mogadishu said. It said Ali, who is also known as Abu its 3,600 troops on the ground. Paris re - will continue,” added the official, Abdulahi Ayman, was hiding in the village of Rufaila, acted furiously after an Afghan soldier Mohamed. Meanwhile an official in just outside Mosul, a former Al-Qaeda on Friday shot dead four unarmed sol - Galmudug, a semi-autonomous province of bastion in which the jihadists retain a diers and wounded 15 others as they KABul: french Defence minister Gerard longuet stands in front of the four coffins of central Somalia, said a foreigner had been foothold, when federal police forces completed a work-out on the training french soldiers to pay his respects during a ceremony at Kabul Airport on Saturday. afp kidnapped there. The foreigner of unknown conducted an assault on the area. “During base they shared with Afghan troops. nationality was on the airport road near the the arrests, heavy clashes erupted between “The entire point of this visit is to assess led NATo force fighting the Taliban and mander of the 3rd Afghan army town of Galkayo “when two pickup trucks full the police and the terrorists,” the statement the position that we have to take,” training Afghan soldiers to take respon - brigade. on Sunday, the French minis - of gunmen stopped the vehicle and took him said. “During these clashes, he was killed Longuet told reporters after arriving in sibility for security by the end of 2014 ter will meet Afghan President Hamid away,” he said. Mohamed said six Somali and 19 terrorists were arrested, including Kabul to make recommendations to when foreign troops are scheduled to Karzai, the Afghan defence and interior government troops had been killed and 18 two Palestinians.” Federal police officers President Nicolas Sarkozy on the future withdraw. Longuet refused to be drawn ministers, US commander General wounded since the start of the offensive in recovered magnetic “sticky bombs”, of the deployment. The French role in about the possibility of an early with - John Allen and other senior command - Mogadishu. An AFP photographer said three roadside bombs, and several bags of the US-led NATo mission is unpopular drawal, saying only: “I’ll talk about that ers in the International Security Assis - Somali soldiers and a government official explosives, as well as weapons and at home and Friday’s killings come less with the president, he’s my only boss.” tance Force. A classified report leaked were killed when Shebab fighters attacked a ammunition as a result of the operation, than 100 days before presidential elec - Friday’s attack was the second time in a to The New York Times says attacks by convoy including journalists near the front according to the statement. tions. Longuet appeared to distance month that French troops were shot Afghan soldiers on NATo soldiers are himself slightly from the prospect of an dead by a man in Afghan army uniform, increasing and are a “systemic” prob - line. Mohamed said Friday’s offensive left 22 immediate withdrawal, saying: “The bringing the country’s overall death toll lem, rather than rooted in isolated in - Shebab fighters dead, a claim denied by the mission remains exactly the same, to to 82 since troops deployed in 2001. cidents. The report puts the killings rebels, who also said they withdrew from roadside bomb kills 11 bring about a stable force” and “to han - Longuet held talks with General down to a decade of contempt that each some positions for tactical reasons. “The dover” to the Afghans. “We must reflect Jean-Pierre Palasset, the French com - side has for the other, and profound ill Christian enemy and their allied apostate in order to support a mission that is a mander on the ground at their main will among both civilians and soldiers Somali troops attacked our positions from in Syria prison truck success.” France is one of the largest base in eastern Afghanistan, and was on both sides. It downplayed the role of four directions,” Shebab spokesman Sheik then due to meet General Nazar, com - Taliban infiltrators in the incidents. Abdulaziz Abu Musab told reporters. nICOSIA contributors to the 130,000-strong US- Afp

A roadside bomb killed 11 detainees being transported in a Syrian prison truck in Idlib province in the northwest on Saturday, the Syrian observatory for Human Rights said. Brothers win almost half of Egypt parliament seats “Eleven prisoners were killed in the explosion which targeted a prison truck on CAIRO ond place with 121 seats or nearly 25 per - house of parliament, is made up of 498 the SCAF, to which Mubarak handed the road between Idlib town and the village Afp cent, while the liberal Wafd Party follows elected MPs and 10 appointed by the rul - over power, will continue to hold on to of Mastumeh,” the Britain-based group’s with nearly nine percent. The FJP se - ing military. It will hold its first session some sort of power after the transition. chairman, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP by The Muslim Brotherhood’s party has won cured 127 seats on party lists and its can - on Monday. once elections for parlia - The military has been the backbone of telephone. A number of security personnel 47.18 percent of seats in the Egyptian didates won another 108 in ment’s upper house, or Shura Council, Egyptian politics ever since the fall of accompanying the prisoners were wounded, parliament, the electoral commission an - first-past-the-post constituency votes, ac - are concluded in February, the two cham - the monarchy in 1952, and every presi - Abdel Rahman said, without being able to nounced on Saturday as it gave the final cording to the results announced on Sat - bers are to choose a 100-member panel to dent since has emerged from the top provide details. Separately, the observatory results from marathon polls. urday. The landmark election was the draft a new constitution. A new president ranks of the armed forces. In Egypt’s reported that a member of the security forces The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) first since the overthrow of veteran pres - is then to be elected by June under the complex electoral system, voters cast was killed in fighting between dissidents and won 235 seats in the new People’s Assem - ident Hosni Mubarak in February last timetable set by the military rulers who ballots for party list candidates to make soldiers at Kfarnebel, in the Zawiya bly, or 47.18 percent, committee head year. It was launched in November and announced that candidates can register up two thirds of parliament, and direct mountains of Idlib province, with troops Abdel Moez Ibrahim said. The ultra-con - carried out in three stages for the presidency from April 15. votes for individual candidates for the using heavy machineguns. servative Salafist Al Nur party is in sec - The People’s Assembly, or lower But there is widespread belief that remaining third. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:39 AM Page 17 Sunday , 22 January , 2012 Foreign News 17 Yemen MPs approve controversial Saleh immunity law

SAnAA of their duties,” but specifies that the erupted in January last year must not be linked militants might trigger a delay to tained in a bombing at the presidential Afp amnesty “does not apply to acts of terror - allowed to evade justice. Pillay urged de - the poll. But a senior official of Saleh’s palace last June, the GPC official told ism.” The transitional government of na - cision-makers in Yemen to respect the General People’s Congress (GPC) party, AFP. “once he has completed his treat - HE Yemeni parliament tional unity, which is led by the prohibition in international law against Sultan al-Barakani, insisted on Wednes - ment in New York, he will return to adopted on Saturday a law parliamentary opposition, had submitted amnesties for gross human rights viola - day that the vote would be held on time. Yemen to continue to leading the party.” giving veteran President Ali 11th-hour amendments on Friday reduc - tions. Leaders of the protest movement The Gulf-brokered transition agree - Late last month, Saleh announced his Abdullah Saleh immunity ing the scope of the amnesty offered to have also kept up demonstrations against ment foresees that Hadi will be the sole intention to visit the United States “in from prosecution in return for the president’s aides following a public the immunity pledge demanding that candidate but his nomination has been order to create favourable conditions ... sTtepping down under a Gulf-brokered outcry. The immunity pledge, which was Saleh and his cohorts be put on trial. strongly criticised by the protest move - for the presidential election.” But a senior transition deal. a key element of the hard-won Gulf deal Parliament also adopted a law ap - ment because of his close links with official declared shortly afterwards that The law adopted gives Saleh, in that Saleh signed in November, has been proving Saleh’s longtime deputy, Vice Saleh. Barakani said that, ahead of the the trip had been cancelled following a power since 1978, “complete” immunity, strongly criticised by Western human President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, as election, the veteran president, who re - request from his ruling party that he re - and also offers partial protection from rights groups and the United Nations. consensus candidate in the election for mains in office on an honorary basis, main in Yemen until after the vote. on legal action to his aides. The final text UN High Commissioner for Human his successor, which is due to be held on would travel abroad. “In the coming days, Tuesday, US Secretary of State Hillary says Saleh’s lieutenants cannot face pros - Rights Navi Pillay said earlier this month February 21. There had been speculation he will visit the sultanate of oman and Clinton criticised Saleh’s failure to go ecution for “actions that were politically that anyone who had committed abuses that mounting violence in the south and then Ethiopia before travelling to New abroad, saying that he had given an un - motivated and carried out in the exercise during the mass protests in Yemen that east between the army and Al-Qaeda York for treatment” for wounds he sus - dertaking to do so.

Maoist landmine hamas says Meshaal attack kills 12 wants to step policemen in India down as leader PAtnA GAzA CItY Afp Afp

A landmine attack by Maoist rebels in Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, who eastern India killed at least 12 policemen survived a 1997 Israeli assassination bid, and injured three others, authorities said has confirmed he wants to step down after on Saturday. The attack, targeting a police eight years in the post, the Islamist vehicle in Jharkhand state, was to protest movement said Saturday. “Political bureau against the killing of one of the top Maoist chief Khaled Meshaal has notified Hamas’s leaders Koteswar Rao — better known as consultative council that he does not wish Kishenji — by security forces last year, to be a candidate for the movement’s police said. “The Maoists triggered a future leadership,” a statement said. Senior powerful landmine targeting the police Hamas figures have asked the Damascus- vehicle in Garhwa district,” senior police based Meshaal to reconsider, the statement official Suman Gupta told AFP by said. They urged him to leave it to the telephone from state capital Ranchi. The consultative council to decide “on the basis policemen were apparently trapped by the of the higher interests of the movement,” Maoists in a forested area of the district, stressing that it was “not a purely personal Gupta added. The Maoist insurgency, matter.” Meshaal, 55, will remain active in which began in 1967, feeds off land Hamas “in the service of the people, the disputes, police brutality and corruption, movement and the Palestinian cause,” the and is strongest in the poorest and most statement stressed. The political bureau is deprived areas of India, many of which Hamas’s principal decision-making body are rich in natural resources. The attack and its members are elected by secret was the latest in a series of rebel strikes ballot by the much larger consultative on often poorly tra ined police battling council. The next elections are expected to the Maoist rebels, fighting to overthrow be held in July or August, Hamas sources all state and national authorities. Last said. Among the leading candidates to month, another landmine attack by replace Meshaal, are his number two, Maoist rebels in the same state struck a Mussa Abu Marzuq, who also lives in exile; convoy of a senior politician, killing 10 the leader of the Hamas government in policemen and a young boy. The Gaza, Ismail Haniya, and another increasingly lethal insurgency has prominent Gaza Hamas figure, Mahmud spread to around 20 of India’s 29 states Zahar. The Hamas confirmation that and has been described by Prime Meshaal wants to step down comes amid Minister Singh as the country’s biggest press reports of growing friction between internal security threat. the Damascus-based leadership-in-exile and the movement’s Gaza wing, which has ruled the territory since ousting forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud festival reading of Abbas in 2007. A series of meetings which Meshaal has held with Abbas in recent rushdie book stirs months in a bid to reconcile the two factions and unify their rival administrations have reportedly drawn anger in India criticism from some Gaza leaders. JAIPuR Afp aIDS kills 28,000 Indian police examined television footage on Saturday pending any formal in China in 2011 investigation after Salman Rushdie’s banned novel “The Satanic Verses” was BEIJInG read out at a literary festival. Rushdie was NABluS: palestinian demonstrators bang on pots as they march in this West Bank city to protest against the government’s recently Afp forced to withdraw from appearing at the announced economic austerity measures on Saturday. afp Jaipur Literature Festival due to security AIDS killed 28,000 people in China last fears when some Muslim groups threatened year, and another 48,000 new infections to demonstrate at the event over the from the HIV virus were discovered in allegedly blasphemous book. Fellow the country, according to an official authors at the festival expressed their croatia gears up for key vote on EU entry report on Saturday. In China 780,000 opposition to the campaign against Indian- people live with the HIV virus, of which born Rushdie, and on Friday writers Hari zAGREB ing the organisers. Political leaders vote was “one of the most important 154,000 developed AIDS, a report jointly Kunzru and Amitava Kumar read out Afp across the board have lobbied hard for decisions in Croatia’s history”. produced by China’s Ministry of Health, passages of “The Satanic Verses” from the a positive outcome of the referendum In the 1990s, when other post- the Joint United Nations Programme on stage in protest. “We are examining the Croatia geared up Saturday for a refer - and on Saturday Croatia’s leading communist countries in central and HIV/AIDS and the World Health footage,” deputy inspector general of Jaipur endum on entry into the European dailies emphasized the benefits of eastern Europe were strengthening organization said. In September 2011 police Biju George Joseph told AFP. “The Union, a vote that political leaders here membership in the bloc, seen as a their democracies and paving their way there were 136,000 people receiving authors have been told to stick to their say will shape the future of the Balkan break with the volatile Balkans region. towards EU integration, Croatia’s EU anti-viral treatment for the disease, it topics and not enter any controversy.” “It country 20 years after independence. “Croatia’s (2009) entry into NATo and aspirations were halted by the 1991-95 said, making the treatment coverage rate was only some sentences taken from the Surveys in the last few months the EU definitely separates us from la - war with rebel Serbs and its legacy. It 73.5 percent, an increase of 11.5 book, they did not have a copy of the book have consistently showed that around tent political insecurity of the rest of was not until 2000 that the election of percentage points compared to 2009. itself,” he added. Muslim activists said they 60 percent of Croatians will say ‘yes’ in the western Balkans,” commented the pro-European rulers enabled Croatia’s The report, quoted by China’s official would register their claims with the police Sunday’s vote, allowing the former Yu - influential Jutarnji List daily. transformation into a genuine parlia - state media Xinhua, said some new that the reading was illegal. “We will goslav republic to join the bloc in July In a column entitled “Decision on mentary democracy eligible for EU trends had appeared, notably “a rise in discuss the matter with our people and after 2013. An anti-EU protest in the capital EU: Chaos or Stability” the paper said candidate status. However long and the number of imported cases and those that we will lodge a formal complaint with Zagreb, which managed to attract only that “for Croatia EU entry is an issue of often thorny accession talks that transmitted sexually”. Sexual relations police,” Engineer Salim, who represents the some 200 mostly elderly people, ended lasting peace and stability”. on Friday opened in 2005 dampened enthusiasm are the first source of contamination of Rajasthan Muslim Forum, a Jaipur-based in scuffles with police Saturday as pro - President Ivo Josipovic gave a televised for the EU, and the current economic the HIV virus in China, where a huge umbrella organisation, told AFP. “It is an testers tried to remove an EU flag from address to the nation when he urged crisis within the bloc has eroded it fur - blood contamination scandal erupted in offence. Action must be taken against those the main square. voters to “Say ‘yes’ to Croatia, say ‘yes’ ther, so for many Croatians Sunday’s the central Henan province in the 1990s. who did it,” he said. Five people were detained, includ - to Europe.” He said the outcome of the vote will be a pragmatic one. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:40 AM Page 18

Sunday , 22 January , 2012

Challenging the status quo Page 20

Ijaz Butt justifies decisions of his tenure ‘It’s for umpires and ICC LAHORE StAff RepoRt Much criticised former chairman of the to rule on action legitimacy’ Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt has insisted that the present performance of the DuBAI against the bowler before and that your game is in good national team has vindicated the decisions Afp we've been pretty successful. order," said Trott. taken by the board during his tenure. "Pak - "With regards to delivery Trott said he was confident istan has achieved the unthinkable by up - NGLAND batsman action and stuff, that wouldn't England can stage a comeback. setting England in the first Test. Whatever Jonathan Trott on be beneficial for us to worry "Since I have been a part of we did to revive our cricket team is vindi - Saturday refused to about the legitimiacy of some - this team for two and a bit cated," Butt said. The former Test cricketer be drawn into the on - one's action, it's important that years, we've had a few losses, E we won the next game and don't but we have managed to bounce faced lot of criticism during his three year going controversy over Pak - stint as the chief of the PCB before being re - istani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal's take our attention off that," said back in the following games, so placed by present chairman, Zaka Ashraf in action, saying it was up to the Trott. "It's their (on-field um - it's a case of hopefully being october last year. Many critics and former game's governing body and of - pires) job, its not our job to do able to do that again," he said. players blamed Butt for a one-man show in ficials to decide. anything with regards to oppo - England team director Pakistan cricket and not respecting senior The prelude to the three- sition players, we've got to Andy Flower said he has his players especially after his standoff with for - Test series was surrounded by worry about outselves. The fact own views on Ajmal's action. mer one-day skipper, Shahid Afridi, which Ajmal's mystery delivery which of the matter is we are 1-0 down "I don't think that (Ajmal's led to his sacking as . "When we de - he claimed to unveil against and we've got to win the next action) has got into the guys cided to appoint Misbah-ul-Haq as captain England. Ajmal took a career match." heads," said Flower on Friday. for all three formats of the game there was best 7-55 and 3-42 to help Pak - The second Test starts in "our job is to deal with lot of criticism directed at me and the istan rout England by ten wick - Abu Dhabi from January 25. whatever bowlers bowl against board. But he has lived up to the expecta - ets inside three days, triggering Dubai will stage the thrid and us and the ICC's job is to police tions and faith we had in him. "Misbah has doubts over the legitimacy of final Test from February 3-7. the guy. I have got my own pri - shown he is a mature and sensible captain," his bowling action which was The teams will also play four vate views and talking about he insisted. Butt, whose tenure saw the at - already questioned and cleared one-day and three Twenty20 them here is not going to help tack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009 and in 2009. internationals. any situations," said Flower. the spot-fixing scandal in 2010, said he had Former England paceman Trott, 30, praised Ajmal but Flower accepted England's taken decisions keeping in mind the long Bob Willis sparked the contro - refused to accept England three-day capitulation was a term benefits of the Pakistan cricket. "I am versy by saying he has problems needed specific preparations shock. "It was a bit of a shock. happy to see the team doing so well for the with Ajmal's doosra -- a deliv - against him. We played and batted poorly. past many months," he said. Butt attrib - ery bowled with the same ac - "of course, whenever some - Test cricket is a tough game. If uted the consistently good performances to tion but turns the other way body takes ten whether you give people an opening like more discipline among the players and in than an off-break. seamer or spinner, I don't think that they will punish you. The the team. "The players are taking pride in When asked about Ajmal's you go around preparing for a Pakistan side is good enough to their performances and there is competition action, Trott said: "It's not re - specific type of bowling or a do that," said Flower, a former DUBaI: england's Jonathan Trott looks on during a training session for places in the team which is a good and ally my place, I've played person you try and make sure Zimbabwe batsman. at the ICC Global Cricket academy. REUTERS positive sign," he said. Butt said the team management deserved a lot of credit for in - stalling a new disciplined culture in the Mani asks PCB to stop team. He said he might have made mis - takes in his tenure but his intention was al - running after BCCI ways to see Pakistan cricket team do well. "At the end of the day the board and the LAHORE players are partners and should have one StAff RepoRt common aim to see Pakistan win," he stressed. Butt, however, said Pakistan Former ICC President Ehsan Mani has ad - would have to work harder to win the series vised the Pakistan Cricket Board to stop against England. "England is a top side so "wasting time" in trying to convince the the players need to BCCI for resumption of bilateral cricket ties remain focused. between the two countries. "The Pakistan But if Saeed board is wasting its time because cricket Ajmal, Umar ties between the two countries have always Gul and other been influenced by politics between the two bowlers con - governments," Mani said in a television in - tinue their terview. "Instead of running after the In - form Pak - dian board and trying to convince them, istan can get the PCB should utilise its energies in seek - more victo - ing government help and support in order ries," he to get bilateral ties resumed," he said. Mani said. said efforts needed to be made to get the Indian government to give clearance for bi - lateral matches. "That is why this matter has to be resolved at the political and gov - ernment level and not by the boards. It is DUBaI: Pakistan's captain Misbah-ul-haq and teammates during a practice session at the ICC Global Cricket academy in Dubai Sports City. afp important for Pakistan and India to play cricket but this is something for the politi - cians to realise," he added. Since Zaka Ashraf took over as Chairman, PCB has pOA DISpElS IMpRESSION Of RIGGING plAN made several attempts to convince the BCCI to give a go ahead for Pakistan's scheduled tour to India next year which has Arif reveals polls procedure for transparency now been shelved due to various reasons, LAHORE The PoA has for the first time since tary. And all that has been done accord - procedure an email has been forwarded to mainly the organisation of the Asia Cup in ASheR Butt the inception of the Pakistan olympics ing to the Article IX (4) (a) of the con - all the candidates with the nomination Bangladesh in March. Mani said it was Movement chalked out an election proce - stitution,” he mainatined. forms and now they have enough time to most unfortunate that Pakistan was not HE Pakistan olympics Association dure which was never been come into Islamabad olympics Association Pres - return their nomination papers. We have getting any international cricket. "I think will this coming March would see force. And PoA president after consult - ident Brig Arif Mahmud Siddiqui on Fri - not given any cut off date for collecting the the ICC need to do more to get teams to T lot of trading carried out with its ing the PoA constitution and the IoC day termed the formation of the election forms and instead emailed all the relevant now play in Pakistan. That is why it is good president Lt Gen ® Arif Hasan facing Charter issued the elections rules. commission as Gen Arif’s move to get documents to them,” he added. that the PCB has also taken the initiative by tough opposition in the PoA elections. Addressing a press conference on Sat - himself elected for the third term. He said that Khaliq Khan has even inviting Bangladesh," he said. "It is time in - Although Gen Arif claimed to have urday at the olympics House, Gen Arif dis - The LoA President termed the move talked to Asif Bajwa, secretary PHF on ternational teams played in Pakistan which the support of 75 officials, his immediate pelled the impression that he was not only as unethical but also contrary to phone informing him about the procedure is a nation of 180 million people most of rivals Qasim Zia, President Pakistan manipulating a move to rig the elections. IoC Charter. He further said, since General and no one has filed any objection so far. whom are passionate about Hockey Federation and Maj Gen (retd) H was flanked by Ch Yaqoob, Arif Hasan himself (so far) is contesting the He further stated that there was also cricket and deserve to Mohammad Akram Sahi, President Ath - Shaukat Javed and PoA secretary election himself he should not be appoint - contrasting reports on show of hands or see international cricket letics Federation of Pakistan too claimed Khaliq Khan. “We have formed an Elec - ing his hand picked election commission secret balloting. “PoA constitution is at home," he added. to have got ample support to overthrow tion Commission having three advo - with absolute powers without any repre - clear in this regard and where its is silent The PCB has sent its Gen Arif from presidency. cates in the body and have sent to the sentation from the General Council of PoA it is stated that IoC charter should be fol - Chief operating officer The PoA on Saturday revealed a aspiring candidates. And if the candi - or the other contenders. IoA considers the lowed which calles for secret ballot. And Subhan Ahmad to complete procedure of rules that should dates have any objection to any rule move as uncalled for and non transparent. if anyone have any objection on that he Dhaka to convince their be followed for the coming elections dur - they can approach the Election Com - Therefore IoA will protest against this should ask the Election Commission. We Cricket Board to send ing which at least 96 sports officials will mission following the procedure laid move, Brig Arif Siddiqui added. would be willing to suggest to the Election a security cast their votes and in case the court pro - out in the constitution. Gen Arif, however, stated that they Commission to have an agent of every delegation ceedings of three federations took final “Ali Raza (advocate) is the chairman have also requested the olympics Commit - candidate with the ballot boxes at the to Pakistan shape then there would be 104 voters. of the commission while Dr Irfan Ma - tee of Asia and the International olympics time of shifting and counting of the votes. ahead of The procedure was given for the first time sood Sheikh (advocate) and Lt Col ® Committee to send their representatives to Like all the other candidates, Qasim the series because there has never been a situation Khalid Hussain are its members and monitor the elections. “We wanted to keep Zia and Gen Akran Sahi, Gen Arif also to be held when voting had taken place. owais Waheed (advocate) is the secre - everything transparent and following the claimed to have the support of 75 officials. in April. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:40 AM Page 19

Sunday , 22 January , 2012 Sports 19 americans set to rise again: Serena MELBOuRnE lana Kuznetsova. "Svetlana is a grand slam she said. "I just think, you know, I'm trying Afp champion and she (Stephens) almost came to come in here and win this match, play through in that. I think John (Isner) this girl. That's all I really think about." Serena Williams Saturday said she was un - played really well. He played marathon And Williams was in ominous form as she concerned at being the last American stand - matches, so that was tough. dominated Arn, the world number 92, to ing at the Australian open, and backed the "Andy (Roddick) unfortunately had to win in less than an hour on Saturday. The great tennis nation to rise again as new stars retire, it wasn't necessarily his fault. I think 32-year-old Hungarian had a break point mature. The 13-time grand slam queen, who we are all doing pretty well. I'm still in the in the opening game, but could not press hammered Hungary's Greta Arn 6-1, 6-1 to tournament. We're just all fighting." Rod - her advantage as Williams stepped up to move serenely into the fourth round, said dick was forced to retire with a hamstring overpower her opponent and run away players like John Isner and Sloane Stephens strain while playing Lleyton Hewitt, US with the match in 59 minutes. showed the United States had a bright future. number one Mardy Fish went out to Ale - Williams broke Arn twice in the first set She was speaking after no American jandro Falla and five-set specialist Isner and three times in the second as the Hungar - man reached the last 16 for the first time exited at the hands of Feliciano Lopez. ian wilted on the big stage of a grand slam in the open era, among editions US players While Williams' sister Venus skipped Mel - centre court. But Williams, playing only her have entered. Vania King, the only other bourne because of an autoimmune disease, second tournament since the US open last American woman left on Saturday, was inexperienced Stephens was beaten in the September, said she still had some way to go beaten by Ana Ivanovic. "I think Sloane second round. But Williams said she didn't before she was fully match-fit. "I'm nowhere Stephens played really well. I think she even think of her nationality when she near where I want to be, but I'm trying to play MelBoUrNe: Serena williams of the US hits a shot against Greta arn of hungary in their just played tough players," said Williams, stepped on court. "I really don't think when through it," she said. "I'm really rusty -- I'm third round australian open match. afp referring to the 18-year-old's loss to Svet - I go out there that I'm the last American," just trying to play through the rust." adnan has no guilt Mr, Jr Mr Pakistan replacing brother Djokovic and Murray Contest finals today LAHORE LAHORE StAff RepoRt StAff RepoRt

Pakistan's young wicketkeeper Adnan power into fourth round The 60th Mr and Junior Mr Pakistan Com - Akmal says he has no guilt over replacing his MELBOuRnE petition and National Bodybuilding Cham - elder brother Kamran in the national team. Afp pionships finals will be held on January 22 "No, there is no such feeling that I am taking here at Alhamra Hall. According to Sheikh his place in the team. our family believes EFENDING champion Farooq, secretary Pakistan Bodybuilding that whoever plays for Pakistan should give Novak Djokovic blitzed his Federation, the competition is being held in his best and contribute to the team doing way into the Australian collaboration with the Wapda Sports Board well," PTI quoted Adnan from Dubai. 26- open fourth round on Sat - and is being participated by musclemen year-old Adnan, who stood out in first Test urday, conceding just two from all the four provinces Punjab, Sindh, against England with his sharp keeping and Dgames as big guns Andy Murray and Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islam - impressive batting, said he was proud to be Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also eased abad, Tafa, Army, olice, HEC, Railways and the third Akmal brother to play for Pakistan. through. The Serbian top seed, yet to Wapda. Lt Gen ® Arif Hasan HI(M) will be "There is no competition among us brothers. drop a set in Melbourne as he chases the chief guest of the prize distribution cere - We try to support each other all the time. a third consecutive grand slam title, mony and give the trophies to the winners. Kamran is presently out of the team but he destroyed hapless Mahut 6-0, 6-1, 6- is playing domestic cricket and is there for 1 in just 74 minutes. me," said Adnan who has been Pakistan's Last year's beaten finalist Mur - ameen threatens regular wicketkeeper in Tests since late ray, the British fourth seed, had no felt sorry for him," Djokovic said. but in that time he has reached the 2010. "Kamran was the first in our family to trouble dispatching Frenchman "Evidently he was not moving well, semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US khan with legal action play for Pakistan and is the eldest. So obvi - Michael Llodra in a night match that he was not able to perform his best, open quarter-finals. After putting Gil ously he has a special place for us," he said. featured some crowd-thrilling rallies. but he didn't want to retire and he to the sword on Saturday, the 26-year- LOnDOn Adnan became the third Akmal brother to And French sixth seed Tsonga, who wanted to stay all the way so I wish old Tsonga said he saw no pressing Afp play for Pakistan after Kamran and Umar lost to Djokovic in the 2008 Mel - him happy birthday." Djokovic, who need to recruit a replacement mentor. and he had 45 dismissals behind the stumps bourne final, was also in a hurry, de - broke Mahut's serve eight times and "I mean, it's not the first one Mustafa Ameen, the International Boxing in 11 Tests he has featured in so far. Kamran, molishing Portugal's Frederico Gil, made only eight unforced errors in the (tournament without a coach), so I Federation official at the centre of the Amir 30, played in 53 Tests, 137 oDIs and 38 ranked 107th, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. 20 games, is bidding to become the feel good. I'm oK," he said. "You can Khan world title fight controversy, threatened Twenty20 International matches after his Djokovic, who set the tennis world fifth man to win three consecutive also improve your game by yourself. legal action against the British star on Friday. debut in 2002 but has not been selected for alight in 2011, barely broke sweat as he grand slams after winning Wimbledon I've improved a lot. "I'm here because Khan lost his WBA and IBF light-welter - the national team since 2011 World Cup. His reached the round of 16 in Melbourne and the US open last year. Murray was maybe I had a coach, but now I feel weight titles on a split decision to American last appearance was in World Cup semifinal for the sixth straight year. He looked also in commanding form, seeing off like I have to follow my opinion opponent Lamont Peterson in Washington against India at Mohali. Adnan said he was in ominous form as he set up a clash 46th-ranked Llodra 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 and maybe a bit more." on December 10. But Ameen, an IBF official delighted to be part of a team that has been with two-times grand slam champion will play Mikhail Kukushkin of Kaza - Tsonga, unbeaten in eight matches who was ringside but had no official role at doing well in Tests in the last one year. "Yes Lleyton Hewitt after the Australian's khstan in the round of 16. He was al - this season after winning his eighth the fight, was accused by Khan of interfering it is a good feeling to be part of a winning gutsy four-set win over Canadian ways in control of the erratic ATP singles title in Doha, said he in - with the judges' scorecards. "Amir Khan is team and I think we are doing well because power-server Milos Raonic in the Frenchman, breaking six times and tended to go it alone until results forced going to have to apologise," Ameen told Sky everyone contributes in some way to the night match on Rod Laver Arena. hitting an impressive 48 winners. a rethink. Gil was the first Portuguese Sports News. "I'm going to tell you that I am team," he said. Adnan, who scored a match- Djokovic leads Hewitt 4-1. Mahut, who Meanwhile Tsonga, the top- man to reach the third round at a grand already in the process - you are hearing it first winning 61 against England, said he had shares the record for the longest-ever ranked French player, said not having slam. In other action on Saturday, - I will litigate this. "I am already in discus - faced no pressure while at the crease. "No, tennis match of 11 hours and five min - a coach had done him no harm at all Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer, a semi- sions with some of the most successful legal there was no pressure I was just watching utes with John Isner at Wimbledon after seeing off Gil to set up a match finalist last year, saw off Argentina's firms in Britain regarding the slander, the li - every ball and than deciding what to do. two years ago, struggled with a left with Japan's 24th seed, Kei Nishikori. Juan Ignacio Chela 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 and bellous statements that have been made When you are playing for your country than knee injury on his 30th birthday. Tsonga parted company with long- will play Richard Gasquet in the next against me by Amir Khan and other individu - you are expected to do well and contribute "Credit to Nicolas. obviously, he had time coach Eric Winogradsky last round. French 14th seed Gael Monfils als in the press and I intend to fully seek a in some way to the team," he said. some strapping around his knee and I April and has since been on his own, bowed out in five sets to Kukushkin. remedy in a legal form, in a court of law. Sri lanka turn the tide on Sa pCB unveils Bhutto Women kIMBERLEY Afp ScoReBoARD South AfRIcA Sri Lanka celebrated a rare success Friday on A. petersen c tharanga b herath 37 Cricket Challenge Trophy a tour to South Africa with a five- victory G. Smith c Dilshan b malinga 68 A.B. de Villiers b perera 96 in the fourth one-day international. c. Ingram lbw b Kulasekara 1 LAHORE Big knocks from captain Tillakaratne Dil - J.p. Duminy c Sangakkara b perera 36 StAff RepoRt shan (87), man-of-the-match Thisara Perera f. du plessis c Sangakkara b herath 5 W. parnell run out (tharanga) 21 (69) and Dinesh Chandimal (59) lifted the vis - R. peterson not out 23 The Pakistan Cricket Board on Satur - itors to 304-5 after the home side reached 299- V. philander not out 2 day unveiled the trophy of the Shaheed 7 with skipper AB de Villiers (96) to the fore. eXtRAS (b4, w6) 10 Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Women totAl (7 wkts, 50 overs) 299 After keeping close to the six-run-an- fall of wickets: 1-84 (petersen), 2-171 (Smith), 3-172 Cricket Challenge Cup here at the over target at the De Beers Diamond oval for (Ingram), 4-242 (Duminy), 5-250 (De Villiers), 6-252 (Du Gaddafi Satdium conference hall. much of the innings, the Sri Lankan batsman plessis), 7-289 (parnell) Captains of all the six participating BoWlING: malinga 10-0-57-1 (4w), Kulasekara 8-0-40-1, hit out against a South African attack sorely Senanayake 10-1-53-0, perera 4-0-34-2 (2w), mathews 1-0-6-0, teams - Kainat Imtiaz (Sindh), Salma missing rested fast bowler Dale Steyn. Dilshan 8-0-60-0, herath 9-0-45-2 Faiz (KPK), Sana Gulzar (Punjab), Unfortunately, the win came too late for SRI lANKA u. tharanga c De Villiers b tsotsobe 6 Nahida Bibi (Balochistan), Mariam the tourists to affect the five-game series t. Dilshan c Duminy b tsotsobe 87 Hassan Shah (Federal) and with the Proteas taking a winning 3-0 lead K. Sangakkara c petersen b peterson 32 (ZTBL) - were present on the occasion three days ago thanks to a four-run win in a D. chandimal b tsotsobe 59 lahore: The captains of all the six participating teams of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir l. thirimanne c Duminy b philander 13 and had a photo session while holding rain-hit Bloemfontein contest. t. perera not out 69 the trophy. The Zarai Taraqyati Bank Bhutto women Cricket Challenge Cup hold the trophy at an unveiling ceremony. STaff pHOTO But the outcome in this northern Cape A. mathews not out 21 Ltd supported tournament will start eral Capital and the ZTBL. These teams opening day while three matches a day eXtRAS (b4, lb5, w6, nb2) 17 city did emphasise the steady improvement totAl (5 wkts, 48.4 overs) 304 from January 22 (today) and will be have further been divided into two have been scheduled later on, with two of Sri Lanka after a nightmare opening fall of wickets: 1-17 (tharanga), 2-100 (Sangakkara), 3-168 played at the Gaddafi Stadium and the pools, with the winner of each pool to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium and match in which they were bowled for 43 to (Dilshan), 4-194 (thirmanne), 5-246 (chandimal) Kinnaird College ground. qualifying for the final. The opening one at the Kinnaird College ground. The BoWlING: morkel 8-0-43-0 (2w), tsotsobe 10-0-51-3 (1w), suffer a humiliating 258-run loss. philander 6-0-39-1 (2w), parnell 9-0-52-0 (1nb), Duminy 4.4-0- The first edition of this T20 compe - ceremony of the event will be held on winner will be given Rs 100,000 and "This was a fantastic effort as we were 37-0, peterson 6-0-47-1, Du plessis 5-0-26-0 (1w) tition is being participated by national January 22 at the Kinnaird College the runner-up team will be awarded Rs hoping to restrict South Africa to 250 or 260 Result: Sri lanka win by five wickets level players who have been divided into Ground while the final will be played on 50,000 while the Player of the Tourna - man of the match: thisara perera (SRI) runs," said Dilshan, "and on a personal note Series: South Africa lead five-match series 3-1 six teams including Punjab, Sindh, Khy - January 24 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. ment would get Rs 25,000 and the it was nice getting a big score again." toss: South Africa ber Pakhtoonkhaw, Balochistan, Fed - Two matches will be played on the Player of the Match receives Rs 10,000. LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:41 AM Page 20

20 Sports Sunday , 22 January , 2012 and being in the last 16 of the Champions ALL BASeS CoVeReD League, Madrid’s season is on the verge of kunWAR kHuLDunE SHAHID disintegration. Nonetheless, despite the HE previous week has witnessed Challenging the status quo hullabaloo surrounding the game every sin - some major sporting convulsions; gle time, the scribe believes that El-Classico Pakistan making a mockery of Eng - is an overhyped, overblown, over-politi - land’s number one ranking was one Pakistan thump England, the first major of the year is up for grabs cised footballing show in an undoubtedly T skewed league anyway – for genuine pas - of them. Then there were massive local ri - valries that concluded on both ends of the in Australia and rivalries simmer in Madrid and Los Angeles sion and rivalry the old Firm derby beats El-Classico any day. status quo in Spanish football and the plan, and executed it masterfully. The tri - The top three in men’s tennis; Novak very best in the world. NBA. Meanwhile the chasing pack is vying umph against England is the biggest coup Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer Nevertheless, the Muhammad Ali of ten - chANGe of GuARD IN l.A? to change the monopoly over majors of the that the Pakistani side has conjured up in combine for a mammoth 30 Grand Slam ti - nis, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga might lie in the wait top three ranked players in tennis. the realm of test cricket for many a year. tles between them. In fact, over the past for Andy Murray in the quarters, and the pAKIStAN oVeRpoWeR the BeSt Whilst it was a genuine team perform - seven years since the Australian open in Frenchman has his own duck breaking to do ance, there are two individuals that stand 2005, there has only been a single major title at the biggest stage in tennis. If matters go out – two talismanic figures that have been which has not been won by someone called according to seeding, Murray versus Tsonga the vanguards of Pakistan cricket’s resur - Djokovic, Nadal or Federer – Del Potro’s US would be the pick of the quarters, and one gence over the past year or so. While Mis - open triumph in 2009 being the sole anom - that Djokovic will be on the watch out for. bah-ul-Haq the batsman has been a aly. While it’s Federer and Nadal who have ReAl IN BARcA’S pocKet dependable wall throughout this transfor - the biggest shares of the pie – amassing 26 mation, it’s Misbah-ul-Haq the captain that of the aforementioned 30 majors – it is has possibly been the best thing to happen Djokovic who is the current man to beat, to Pakistan cricket for over a decade. It’s winning three of the four majors last year the off-field stability and the dressing room amongst scores of other titles. Having to harmony, that Misbah has synthesized, compete with one of them would have been that has resulted in the on-field metamor - a gargantuan task; but now with three hu - phosis of a team that was shrouded by mongous mountains to climb to reach prom - scandals not so long ago. Then there is ised land, the chasing pack are clutching at Saeed Ajmal – the man of the match at straws to trace any inkling of optimism. Dubai; a top three bowler in all three crick - of the men striving to change the status eting formats – who has evolved into the quo in tennis and break their respective best spinner – if not the best bowler – in Grand Slam noughts it’s Andy Murray’s world cricket during the same time span. name that inevitably stands at the head of Lesser mortals would have succumbed the queue. Murray’s “so close yet so far” ex - The monotonous landslide in Dubai, that to the disparagement following St Lucia ploits in majors have been well documented, saw Pakistan outmaneuver the English side 2010 and Mohali 2011, but the fact that the not only in this column but any piece of ten - in every possible way culminated an 18 nis literature that the readers might get their The Clippers took a massive step in the respective careers of Ajmal and Misbah right direction by overcoming their Los month search for redemption for Pakistan. picked up after these demoralising lows, hands on. Now with Ivan Lendl pulling the Having a 1-0 lead might not be decisive as far strings attached to the Scott’s neurons, Angeles rivals Lakers last Sunday 102-94 speaks volumes about their mettle and re - at the Staples Center arena, as the former as the series is concerned but the overpow - solve – the two characteristics, that despite things might finally come together for the ering performance, against the world’s best, world number four – since the Czech has his continues its quest of coming out of the having all the cricketing talent in the world, shadows of the latter. Chris Paul had a big has completed the transformation of our Pakistani players have failed to put on own final hurdle melancholies to share with cricket side – from being the butt of global Murray. Murray is on collision course with game with 33 points, six assists and three show, especially in the current millennium. steals with Blake Griffin providing able scorn to now being a veritable cricketing If the team can continue to showcase this the current favourite Djokovic for a semi power. The fact that the zenith of our recent final showdown, and if the two meet it could Spanish champions Barcelona again came support with 22 points and 14 rebounds. mental fortitude and grit, we’ll continue to Kobe Bryant had a huge game for the Lak - past has been traced against the side against climb up the pecking order in cricket. be an ideal opportunity for the Lendl-Mur - from behind to give their archenemy the whom we located our nadir in an unceremo - ray team to assess themselves against the proverbial hand gesture in the shape of a 2- ers with 42 points, but it wasn’t good nious summer of 2010 is truly the icing on chAlleNGING the top thRee 1 triumph at the Santiago Bernabeu in the enough to save his side from a momen - the cake. All the same, we must guard against first leg of the Copa Del Rey quarter final. tous defeat – that ended the 16-time NBA complacency – something that captain Mis - Barca would now be the overwhelming Champions’ five game winning streak. bah-ul-Haq has been keen on ensuring – be - favourites to progress into the semis with Lakers had won 16 of the past 22 meetings cause England is too good a side to perform the second leg due at the Nou Camp in the and three of the four games last season, as wretchedly again. And yes, labeling the coming week – which would be the but with Chris Paul coming to the fore, the English performance as ‘wretched’ is incred - 1875421st El-Classico being played out in Clippers look a formidable unit this year. ibly generous on the part of this writer. the last year or so. Real Madrid have now Heading into Sunday’s conquest Paul av - Being on the receiving end of a 10- won 22 of the last 24 games in all competi - eraged 16.1 points and 8.8 assists per wicket bashing flattered England to be hon - tions and much to the agony of the Madrid game, and the all-star guard is the one est; had their tail not wagged in both the faithful the two losses have come at the being touted as the defining factor that innings they would’ve had been staring hands of Barcelona. Mourinho has tried can turn the tilted intra-city rivalry finally down the barrel of an innings and 200 odd everything to curtail Barcelona’s hegemony in the Clippers’ favour and making his run mauling. To be fair, the English bowlers over El-Classico – deploying three holding side a force in the NBA, after having spent did a reasonable job, and toiled hard on a midfielders to disturb the Catalan side’s ages lurking in periphery of the league not-so-conducive wicket. But their batting possession play in the latest edition for ex - and under the apparition of their illustri - left a lot to be desired (generosity again); ample – but he is failing to do one over the ous neighbours. And if the Chauncey and it’s hard to envisage a formidable lineup archrivals, which has resulted in three Billups inspired 91-89 win over defending putting up similar shifts in the next two home defeats for Real against Barca in the Champions Dallas Mavericks is anything matches. However, one should take nothing past 12 months. Even with a five point lead to go by, it’s not only the Lakers that need away from Pakistan who stuck to their game over the European champions in La Liga to be wary of the Clippers’ resurgence. The greATesT rivAlry of The Premier leAgue erA sure that it still is the most keenly followed EPL game. arguably the most notable player rivalry, not only in Trafford in 2002; the ‘pizza gate’ episode in 2004 Comment Ever since Arsene Wenger took on the reins at the this fixture but in the history of the Premier League after United ended Arsenal’s 49 match unbeaten run J.k WALI North London club in 1996, the club rivalry with was contested between Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira in controversial circumstances; the two sides outdo - United and scores of individual rivalries shot up! – sk ippers of their sides for so long and the midfield ing each other in the semi final and final of the As far as fan following in Wenger and Ferguson might bear resemblance to engines and heartbeats of their respective clubs. F.A Cup in 2004 (United) and 2005 (Arse - longtime chums nowadays, but there was a time Who can forget the tunnel clash before the game nal) respectively; Arsenal doing the double Pakistan is concerned, when they couldn’t bear the talk of the other kicked off at Highbury in February 2005, when over United thanks to Adebayor’s late win - and loathed each other from the locus of their Keane famously shouted out to Vieira, “I’ll see ner at old Trafford and Henry’s famous no football fixture heart – much to the intrigue of football follow - you out there”. The Frenchman scored in the last gasp headed winner – one of proba - ers. Then there used be a plethora of player en - game, but United won the game 4-2 in what was bly one and a half headers that he stands out mities; starting off with the Ian Wright–Peter one of the most entertaining and feisty matches scored in his entire Arsenal ca - Schmeichel rivalry, where the legendary Arsenal in the history of the two clubs’ matchups. reer – in 2006-07; United’s more than striker customarily failed to get the better of the Being the top dogs in the country, and Cristiano Ronaldo inspired big Dane, and the Englishman’s frustration great rivals to boot, also mean that the two win over Arsenal in the Arsenal eventually culminated in a well-documented English giants have played out some of the Champions League in two-footed lunge on the former United biggest matches in the history of the 2009 – still referred to as taking on goalkeeper in one of their last encounters. English game. Ever since “Black Tuesday” by Arse - Martin Keown’s leap over Ruud Van Wenger’s side did the dou - nal fans and recently the Man United Nistelrooy after the Dutch striker ble in 1998 to slash 8-2 thrashing at old Traf - missed the spot kick at old Trafford United’s dominance in ford, the revenge for RoM 1997 till 2005, Arse - in September 2003 – the start of the the 90s the two teams which Arsenal would love nal-United matches were season in which Arsenal rewrote have served up some of to serve up today. f ‘the’ match-ups of the year. history and finished the season the tastiest encounters. Tonight’s game at the By far the top two sides in the unbeaten as the ‘Invinci - From ‘butter fingered Emirates between the two country for most of that era, they bles’ – is another mo - Barthez’ in 2001; Ar - great rivals sees possibly competed for most of the avail - ment etched in the senal rubbing it in, by two of the most mundane able silverware and while Liver - history books of this leg - lifting the league tro - lineups that the fixture has pool, Newcastle, Leeds or Chelsea endary duel. However, phy after a 1-0 win at old seen over the past 15 years or so. would occasionally throw a spanner There are no two ways about the into the works. From the undoubted fact that the current United side is ‘big two’, it evolved into the notorious no way near the one of the best sides ‘big four’ – which has recently been ex - under Alex Ferguson, and even tended into an unmitigated ‘big six’. though Arsenal are showing a quasi The fact that the popularity of football in resurgence, this is still far from being Pakistan was on the up – owing mostly to an in - Wenger’s best group as well. How - crease in cable connections and augmentation ever, with Arsenal chasing Chelsea of Premier League coverage – in the abovemen - for the coveted fourth spot and tioned epoch, football devotees were primarily di - United trying to fend off the chal - vided into two major categories: Arsenal fans and lenge of their noisy neighbours for the Man United fans. And even though Arsenal’s recent EPL title, there is still a lot resting on decline has meant that there is not as much at stake the game. And of course with Thierry when the two sides lock horns, as it was around 10 Henry and Paul Scholes returning, it years ago, the respective fan bases in our country en - would just be like the good old days… LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:41 AM Page 21

Sunday , 22 January , 2012 Sports 21

on Team Misbah The captain we don’t deserve, but the captain we need in terms of giving the team a strategic Comment game-plan but also with his relentless bat. AnuM YOuSAF In 11 Test innings as captain, Misbah-ul- E was called calm. A euphemism for Haq has scored 632 runs at an average of boring. He was called dependable. A 90.28 with seven fifties and one century. h euphemism for boring. He was called Many would argue that Pakistan has methodical. A euphemism for, yes you done well in Tests under Misbah because his guessed it, boring. The quintessential Pak - caution is the text-book Test match tem - istani cricketing fan, whose cricket (ir)ratio - perament and that these defensive tactics nality relies more on pathos rather than would fare badly in the oDIs of today where SpoRtS thiS Week her opponent in figuring out how hard longest match in history, two years ago logos, does not take to liking Misbah easily. achievable targets are growing faster than she has hit the ball and how much spin at Wimbledon. He is clearly over - When they look at him, they see not a tech - the BCCI’s coffers and run-scoring is fast ALI AkBAR In MELBOuRnE is on it. The screamers will claim that matched as he is unable to serve and nically sound batsman but one whose strike and furious. To these people, one would say HERE is very little not this is their natural exhalation as they volley against Djokovic's impenetrable rate is about as exciting as room tempera - that Team Misbah has been no mean shakes to like about Australia. hit the ball, but surprisingly, they don't defence. The competition ant the top of ture. When they look at him, they see not the at these mean oDIs either. Consider. Under It is everything that the scream when they are practicing. men's tennis is so tough that it has en - wins in which he was instrumental but they Misbah, Pakistan has played 18 oDIs and first world should be Many old timers claim that these play - gendered players with almost no weak - see that lop that rested easily in the hands of won 15 of them. Not bad, not bad at all. and more. What sets it ers are taking undue advantage and that ness and with court speed and defence Sreesanth in 2007 and the climbing required Then why this constant whinging about the apart is the mood of this should be reined in. Martina that has never been seen before. run-rate on the scoreboard in Mohali. When defensiveness of Misbah especially given the people, friendly, Navratilova is one of those who think Djokovic is one such beast of a player, they look at him, they see not a staid and that his approach works? positive, confident in the fact that their screaming borders on cheating and should someone who made Rafael Nadal solid skipper but a stolid one. T For Pakistanis fed on cricket built country is functioning like it should be stopped. Certainly it takes away from the throw up his hands and say that he Thus, when he was selected as our cap - around a stinger of a pace attack, this ‘lay and the future is assured. All this is ev - graceful spectacle that a tennis match is. It does not know how to beat him. tain ahead of the much-loved Lala, many low, go slow’ approach (which now centred ident at Melbourne Park, where two of is however doubtful whether the authorities The only players with a chance people’s dislike of him grew even more vis - around our spin doctors and seamers) was the greatest sporting sites are located. will take any steps that will upset the player against Djokovic would be the stroke ceral. His (deceptively) risk-averse behav - dissonant and disorienting which could ex - The iconic Melbourne Cricket ground hierarchy. players like Federer and Del Potro, iour is anathema to the average Pakistani plain the criticism against Misbah’s ‘apolo - on one side of the Yarra river and the Novak Djokovic, on the other players who can attack him and hit fed incessantly on an addictive concoction getic’ cricket. But it’s critical to understand Rod Laver Arena on the other. hand, plies his trade in complete si - through the court. of socio-cultural endorphins and socio-po - that Misbah was picking up the pieces of a Yet, the Arena is only a part of the entire lence, marked only by the squealing of Djokovic is scheduled to meet Andy litical adrenaline. badly shattered outfit. complex that makes up the Australian open his shoes on the Plexi - Murray in the semifinals. Murray has added There is no arguing with the Misbah de - His critics say Pakistan are not playing facility. There is the HiSense arena, which cuhion pavement. Ivan Lendl to his already extensive en - tractors: after all, you can’t reason some - like Pakistan under Misbah. Precisely, be - is also covered as is the Laver arena. There His opponent, tourage in a bid to inculcate some backbone body out of something they weren’t cause Misbah understands that now is the is the Margaret Court Arena which en - Nicolas into his game. But it is Murray's fragile tem - reasoned into. And this is what Misbah nay- time for Pakistan to not play like Pakistan. genders some of the best atmosphere of Mahut is perament that is holding him back, some - saying is/was: unreasonable. How can we His approach may be defensive but his strat - the tournament as the entry is open to the thing that invariably lets him down in the select somebody as a captain who isn’t even agems are well-crafted. His on-field leader - general ticket holders and is always vi - loser of final stages of tournaments. Federer is an automatic selection for the team, they ship has been near faultless. From bowling brant and noisy. This is also the location the scheduled to play Nadal in the semis and say. He is so conciliatory with the cricketing selection (who but a fearless leader gives a where Markos Baghdatis suffered a this should be another nervy contest as Fed - powers that be, they say. He is everything spinner the 6th over in the first innings of a meltdown creating a record of sorts, de - erer has a mental block against his arch Pakistani cricket is not, they lament. test) to field placement have been the right stroying four perfectly good racquets rival. Meanwhile, Djokoic continues his ef - But here’s the thing about Misbah: he calls. That tuk-tuk (the onomatopoeic mock - during his match against Stan fortless dismantling of Mahut's game, mak - just doesn’t care. Just like his batting, he has ery of him) is not just the sound of his reliable Wawrinka. At the end of ing hardly any unforced errors and serving gone about this captaincy business with a bat but that of the clockwork of the ‘best crick - this mayhem, Baghdatis with pace and accuracy. It was the serve that dogged determination. Despite the barrage eting brain in the country’ (Geoff Lawson). looked up at his support - had impeded his progress to the top and of criticism about his ‘listlessness’ and ‘defen - His off-field leadership has been re - ers with a sheepish grin once, in early 2011, he had fixed it, there was sive’ cricket in the last year, Misbah has been markable too. Knitting a team together that and then proceeded to no stopping him. He remains the odds on at it, engineering a paradigm shift in this has been badly scarred, nay lacerated, by take the third set from favourite for the title. team. Unlike the change the other Khan Niazi controversies is no mean feat. Saying that Wawinka. Another player who has set the Aus - from Mianwali wants to bring, this is not a he is ‘defensive’ is no criticism (Take note: There is much that tralian open alight is Bernard Tomic, the tsunami but a slow and sure trickle. Zaheer Abbass). Given the state Pakistan Maria Sharapova should rising Australian. on the surface, Tomic has Let’s do some simple number-crunch - cricket was in, that ‘offensive’ cricket is bet - be thankful for. Her father, nothing outstanding in his repertoire, but ing for those still not on the Misbah band - ter cricket is not a value judgement we were Yuri Sharapov had sold he has great feel, mixing up the pace and wagon yet. Under his captaincy, Pakistan in a position to make. Yes, the attacking in - everything and moved to spin of his shots. on Friday night, he had an has been unbeaten in the past six Test se - stinct is missing (as many would remember Florida to train his young epic battle with Dolgopolov, a Ukrainian ries it has played. Yes, two of these were from the 2010 Test against SA and the sec - daughter under the eagle who plays a similar style. Both used a de - against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe but two ond oDI against SL) but so is the losing in - eye of Nick Bolletieri. It did lightful array of slices and spins, taking one of these were also wins against Sri Lanka stinct. Rebuilding the team takes not take her long to repay back to the days when John McEnroe used and New Zealand. That is not to forget the precedence over attacking cricket. this trust, winning Wimble - to slice and dice his opponents into submis - two draws against the Proteas (one of which As Waqar Younis (perhaps the only don at seventeen years of age. sion. But Tomic is no McEnroe and might we could have won had he dared but could man whose efforts in rebuilding this team Since then she has stayed in never become one, unless he improves his have lost too), and the drawn short series are more underappreciated than Misbah’s) the top ten but the results have serve and court movement. He certainly against the Windies. has acknowledged, “I have to give full been harder to come by, a series of in - promises to be a contender at the major But even those who had been saying credit to Misbah as he has stabilised the juries hampering her. But her business tennis events as does the talented Dolgo - that Team Misbah had not been given an team and leads from the front....He makes empire has blossomed into a multi - polov. adequate Test up till now must now also the boys feel comfortable and relaxed so million dollar empire. Her's is one of Aisam Qureshi is still in the men's and hold their peace after the ‘pommelling’ of they actually enjoy their cricket.” the most highly sought after en - mixed doubles draw. He has a quite the Poms. England is after all the big one, Misbah has said, “Entertainment can dorsements in tennis. winnable men's doubles match against the numero uno of Test-playing nations wait.” And this is where I disagree with him. But to watch Sharapova a Canadian-German team and should that gave a comprehensive thumping not Because winning is entertaining enough for play tennis is sheer torture. justify his number eight seeding by too long ago to the erstwhile numero uno. me. Those crying out that his approach is Every time she hits the ball, reaching the quarters in both This is a side that has four batsmen in the boring, would they we rather revert to the she let's out a high events. one wanted to get his Top Ten in the ICC rankings, cleaned out ‘exciting’ days of 2010? Because watching pitched scream that views on his prospects but a re - for under 200 in consecutive innings. This Amir deliver the bowling spell of his life and must be disconcerting quest for an interview was is after all the team with a bowling attack find out the next day that he is involved in for her opponent. smoothly evaded. This was quite that has gone on a romp of 18.17 wickets spot-fixing is not entertaining. Watching Worse still, the scream disappointing because this column per Test in the last year. the world number one team capitulate in drowns out the has been one of his biggest support - Not an easy team to beat one would say back-to-back innings is. Uninteresting sound of the ball ers and he has been giving interviews but Misbah’s methodical team made it look times for Pakistan cricket. But ‘uninterest - impacting her rac - to all and sundry at the venue. so in the first Test. ing’ here is not a euphemism for ‘boring’. quet, something And he has led from the front not only Looking forward to the second Test! that is vital to LHR 22-01-2012_Layout 1 1/22/2012 2:41 AM Page 22

Sunday , 22 January , 2012 22 162 killed in new violence in northern Nigeria

g Islamist group Boko Haram thought to be behind attacks

kAnO Around 100 people waited outside the morgue Afp to collect their relatives’ remains. Residents re - ported bodies in the streets, and officials from UN battles and coordinated the Red Cross and the National Emergency bomb attacks targeting secu - Management Agency said they were working to rity forces have spread chaos in collect bodies and deliver them to morgues. Nigeria’s second-largest city They declined to provide figures on the number Kano, with some 162 people re - of dead, saying they would do so later. Gported dead in the streets on Saturday. A police source on condition of anonymity A 24-hour curfew was also imposed on said dozens were killed. “There are heavy casu - Kano, the largest city in Nigeria’s mainly Mus - alties around the police headquarters,” the po - lim north and which exploded into violence on lice source said. “A lot of civilians have been shot Friday evening, with eight police and immi - by the attackers. It’s difficult to give a death toll, gration offices or residences targeted. The but the number of the dead runs into dozens.” main newspaper in Nigeria’s north reported Details began to emerge of the attacks, which that a purported spokesman for Islamist were said to include at least two suicide lANDIKotAl: Security officials survey the rubble of a school which was hit by explosives on Saturday. afp group Boko Haram had claimed responsibility bombers. At state police headquarters, a would- for the violence, saying it was in response to be suicide bomber sought to join the convoy of authorities’ refusal to release their members the police commissioner, the police source said, from custody. Scores of such attacks in Nige - but jumped out of the car and sought to escape afghans must lead ria’s north have been blamed on Boko Haram. when officers opened fire. He was shot dead, the peace talks with Some 20 huge blasts could be heard in the source said. President Goodluck Jonathan de - civilian aid to pakistan city as a suicide bomber attacked a regional po - clared a state of emergency on December 31 in Taliban, says karzai lice office and a car bomb rocked the outside of parts of four states hard hit by attacks blamed state police headquarters after the attacker fled on Boko Haram. Kano was not included. Most kABuL and was shot dead, police sources said. A num - of the recent major attacks have taken place in uninterrupted, says US AGeNcIeS ber of other police posts were targeted, includ - the country’s northeast. The limitations of the ing a secret police building, as well as Nigerian authorities were recently highlighted Afghan President Hamid immigration offices. Gunshots rang out in sev - when the alleged mastermind of a Christmas WASHInGtOn Karzai on Saturday insisted eral areas, and a local television journalist was Day attack outside a church that killed 44 peo - Afghans to lead the process of AGeNcIeS among those shot dead as he covered the vio - ple escaped police custody in suspicious circum - talks and reconciliation with lence. At least 11 police officers were believed to stances. Attacks specifically targeting Christians US costs soar for new the Taliban and other Afghan The United States has not interrupted be among the dead. An AFP correspondent have also given rise to fears of a wider religious armed groups, saying the talks counted at least 80 bodies in the morgue at civilian aid to Pakistan in the aftermath of conflict in the country, with Christian leaders belonged to Afghans. “Peace Kano’s main hospital, many of them with gun - warning they would defend themselves. Some the NATo attack on November 26 that war supply routes process and talks belong to shot wounds. The toll was thought to be higher. have even evoked the possibility of civil war. killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, the US State LAHORE: The United States is paying six Afghans and no foreign Department has said. “Civilian assistance times as much to send war supplies to country or organisation can to Pakistan continues and has not been troops in Afghanistan through alternate deprive the Afghan nation of interrupted since the tragic November 26 routes after Pakistan’s punitive decision in this right,” President Karzai incident,” the State Department said. November to close border crossings to told the parliament while Islamabad furiously closed down NATo NATo convoys, according to an internet inaugurating its second year. supply routes after the strike on the two source which quoted the Associated Press. He said his government would border posts. Since the passage of the Pentagon figures provided to the AP show no longer oppose the Taliban Kerry-Lugar-Berman legislation in october it is now costing about $104 million per office in Qatar if it helped 2009, the US government has disbursed month to send the supplies through a bring peace to Afghanistan. $2.2 billion in civilian assistance, including longer northern route. That is $87 million “Afghanistan hoped that the approximately $550 million in emergency more per month than when the cargo Taliban would open their humanitarian assistance, the State moved through Pakistan. While US office inside their own Department said. In financial year 2011, officials have acknowledged that using country, or in an important the United States disbursed approximately alternate transportation routes for Afghan Islamic country like Saudi $855 million (not including any emergency war supplies is more expensive and takes Arabia or Turkey. However, humanitarian assistance) to Pakistan, the longer, the total costs had not been despite all these and because statement said. “our non-humanitarian revealed until now. The Pentagon provided of the inclination of the Afghan people for peace and civilian assistance funds are spent in five the cost figures to the AP on Thursday. US to end the pretexts for war, we priority sectors: energy, economic growth, officials said the elevated costs are likely to do not oppose the Taliban stabilisation of the border regions, continue for some time, as US-Pakistan office in Qatar and we have education, and health,” it added. NEWSDESK tensions remain high. agreed on this. We have agreed to the establishment of an office for the Taliban in Qatar for the sake of peace and for the sake of achieving the aspiration of peace,” he said. officer killed, two troops hurt in kurram

PARACHInAR AGeNcIeS

An army officer was killed and two security personnel were injured in separate incidents in Kurram Agency on Saturday. The first incident took place in the Talai area of Central Kurram Agency where a landmine explosion killed Pakistan Army’s Lieutenant Atta Muhammad. A security official was injured in a hand-grenade attack in Amlook Killay area. He was taken to Tall Hospital. In another incident, militants attacked a security forces vehicle in the Chapri area of Lower Kurram with a remote-controlled explosive device, leaving a soldier identified as Bashirullah injured.

Published by Arif Nizami for Nawa Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.